Main Entry: ¹put

Pronunciation: \ˈpu̇t\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): put; put·ting

Etymology: Middle English putten; akin to Old English putung instigation, Middle Dutch poten to plant

Date: 12th century

transitive verb 1 a : to place in a specified position or relationship : lay <put the book on the table> b : to move in a specified direction c (1) : to send (as a weapon or missile) into or through something : thrust (2) : to throw with an overhand pushing motion <put the shot> d : to bring into a specified state or condition <a reapportionment…that was put into effect at the September primaries — Current Biography> e : to prescribe a specified regimen for —usually used with on <put her on medication> <put him on a diet>
2 a : to cause to endure or suffer something : subject <put traitors to death> b : impose, inflict <put a special tax on luxuries>
3 a : to set before one for judgment or decision <put the question> b : to call for a formal vote on <put the motion>
4 a (1) : to convey into another form <want to put my feelings into words> (2) : to translate into another language or style <put the poem into English> (3) : adapt <lyrics put to music> b : express, state <putting it mildly>
5 a : to devote (oneself) to an activity or end <put himself to winning back their confidence> b : apply <put her mind to the problem> c : assign <put them to work> d : to cause to perform an action : urge <put the horse over the fence> e : impel, incite <put them into a frenzy>
6 a : repose, rest <puts his faith in reason> b : invest 1 <put her money in the company>
7 a : to give as an estimate <put the time as about eleven> b : attach, attribute <puts a high value on their friendship> c : impute <put the blame on the partners>
8 : bet, wager <put $2 on the favorite>intransitive verb 1 : to start in motion : go; especially : to leave in a hurry
2 of a ship : to take a specified course <put down the river>

— put forth 1 a : assert, propose b : to make public : issue
2 : to bring into action : exert
3 : to produce or send out by growth <put forth leaves>
4 : to start out

— put forward : propose <put forward a theory>

— put in mind : remind

— put one's finger on : identify <put his finger on the cause of the trouble>

— put one's foot down : to take a firm stand

— put one's foot in one's mouth : to make a tactless or embarrassing blunder

— put paid to chiefly British : to finish off : bring an end to

— put the arm on or put the bite on : to ask for money

— put the finger on : to inform on <put the finger on…heroin pushers — Barrie Zwicker>

— put the make on : to make sexual advances toward

— put to bed : to make the final preparations for printing (as a newspaper)

— put together 1 : to create as a unified whole : construct
2 : add, combine

— put to it : to give difficulty to : press hard <had been put to it to keep up>