Main Entry: ¹give

Pronunciation: \ˈgiv\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): gave \ˈgāv\; giv·en \ˈgi-vən\; giv·ing

Etymology: Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Swedish giva to give; akin to Old English giefan, gifan to give, and perhaps to Latin habēre to have, hold

Date: 13th century

transitive verb 1 : to make a present of <give a doll to a child>
2 a : to grant or bestow by formal action <the law gives citizens the right to vote> b : to accord or yield to another <gave him her confidence>
3 a : to put into the possession of another for his or her use <gave me his phone number> b (1) : to administer as a sacrament (2) : to administer as a medicine c : to commit to another as a trust or responsibility and usually for an expressed reason d : to transfer from one's authority or custody <the sheriff gave the prisoner to the warden> e : to execute and deliver <all employees must give bond> f : to convey to another <give them my regards>
4 a : to offer to the action of another : proffer <gave her his hand> b : to yield (oneself) to a man in sexual intercourse
5 a : to present in public performance <give a concert> b : to present to view or observation <gave the signal to start>
6 : to provide by way of entertainment <give a party>
7 : to propose as a toast
8 a : to designate as a share or portion : allot <all the earth to thee and to thy race I give — John Milton> b : to make assignment of (a name) c : to set forth as an actual or hypothetical datum <give the dimensions of the room> d : to attribute in thought or utterance : ascribe <gave the credit to you>
9 a : to yield as a product, consequence, or effect : produce <cows give milk> <84 divided by 12 gives 7> b : to bring forth : bear
10 a : to yield possession of by way of exchange : pay b : to dispose of for a price : sell
11 a : to deliver by some bodily action <gave him a push> b : to carry out (as a bodily movement) <gave a cynical smile> c : to inflict as punishment d : to award by formal verdict <judgment was given against the plaintiff>
12 : to offer for consideration, acceptance, or use <gives no reason for his absence>
13 a : to suffer the loss of : sacrifice b : to offer as appropriate or due especially to something higher or more worthy <gave his spirit to God> c : to apply freely or fully : devote <gave themselves to their work> d : to offer as a pledge <I give you my word>
14 a : to cause one to have or receive <mountains always gave him pleasure> b : to cause a person to catch by contagion, infection, or exposure
15 a : to allow one to have or take <give me time> b : to lead or attempt to lead —used with an infinitive <you gave me to understand you'd be late>
16 : to care to the extent of <didn't give a hoot>intransitive verb 1 : to make gifts or presents
2 a : to yield to physical force or strain b : to collapse from the application of force or pressure c : to undergo or submit to change <for the strike to be settled, something has to give>
3 : to afford a view or passage : open <the window gives onto the terrace>
4 : to enter wholeheartedly into an activity
5 slang : to be happening <wants to know what gives>

— give a good account of : to acquit (oneself) well

— give birth : to have a baby <gave birth last Thursday>

— give birth to 1 : to produce as offspring <gave birth to a son>
2 : to be the source of

— give chase : to set off in pursuit

— give ground : to withdraw before superior force : retreat

— give of : to make available : provide generously <freely gave of their time>

— give or take : as an estimate accurate within (an amount to be added or subtracted)

— give place to : to be replaced or succeeded by <optimism gave place to worry>

— give rise to : to be the cause or source of : produce

— give the gun : to open the throttle of : speed up

— give the lie to 1 : to accuse of falsehood
2 : to show to be false, inaccurate, or invalid

— give tongue of hounds : to begin barking on the scent

— give way 1 a : retreat b : to yield the right of way
2 : to yield oneself without restraint or control
3 a : to yield to or as if to physical stress b : to yield to entreaty or insistence
4 : to yield place
5 : to begin to row

synonyms give, present, donate, bestow, confer, afford mean to convey to another as a possession. give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means <give alms> <gave her a ride on a pony> <give my love to your mother>. present carries a note of formality and ceremony <present an award>. donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity) <donate a piano to the orphanage>. bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver <bestow unwanted advice>. confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor) <confer an honorary degree>. afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver <the trees afford shade> <a development that affords us some hope>.