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 verb1 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 verb1: to start in motion : go ; especially : to leave in a hurry2of a ship : to take a specified course <put down the river>

— put forth

1 a: assert, propose b: to make public : issue2: to bring into action : exert3: 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 : construct2: add, combine

— put to it

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