Main Entry: ⁴grave

Pronunciation: \ˈgrāv, in sense 5 often ˈgräv\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): grav·er; grav·est

Etymology: Middle French, from Latin gravis heavy, grave — more at grieve

Date: 1539

1 a obsolete : authoritative, weighty b : meriting serious consideration : important <grave problems> c : likely to produce great harm or danger <a grave mistake> d : significantly serious : considerable, great <grave importance>
2 : having a serious and dignified quality or demeanor <a grave and thoughtful look>
3 : drab in color : somber
4 : low-pitched in sound
5 a of an accent mark : having the form ` b : marked with a grave accent c : of the variety indicated by a grave accent

synonyms see serious

— grave·ly adverb

— grave·ness noun