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 verb1: 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 intercourse5 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 toast8 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 : bear10 a: to yield possession of by way of exchange : pay b: to dispose of for a price : sell11 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 exposure15 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 verb1: to make gifts or presents2 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 activity5slang : 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 falsehood2: 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 way2: to yield oneself without restraint or control3 a: to yield to or as if to physical stress b: to yield to entreaty or insistence4: to yield place5: 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>.