Definition of date
1 : the brown, oblong edible fruit of a palm (Phoenix dactylifera) cookies with raisins and chopped dates
2 : the tall palm with pinnate leaves that yields the date
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Did You Know?
The word date that means “the fruit of the palm” and the word date that means “the time of an event” look alike, but they are not related. The word for the fruit can be traced back to the Greek word daktylos, meaning “finger” and “toe.” No one knows why the fruit was called by the word for finger—perhaps because of its small size and shape or the long, slender shape of the palm’s leaves. The word for “the time of an event” comes from Latin and derives from the Latin phrase data Romae, meaning “given at Rome,” an expression used before the date on letters and documents. The word data comes from the Latin word dare, “to give.” In later Latin, the word data came to be used alone to stand for the date, and it came into English as date.
Origin and Etymology of date
Middle English, from Anglo-French, ultimately from Latin dactylus — more at dactyl
date
Definition of date
1a : the time at which an event occurs the date of his birth on this date in historyb : a statement of the time of execution (see execution 1) or making the date on the letter
2 : duration the short date of all things sweet — Rebecca P. Parkin
3 : the period of time to which something belongs a style from a later date
4a : an appointment to meet at a specified time set up a date with her lawyer; especially : a social engagement (see engagement 1a) between two persons that often has a romantic character asked her out on a dateb : a person with whom one has a usually romantic date bringing a date to the dance
5 : an engagement for a professional performance (as of a dance band) concert dates
to date
: up to the present moment her best album to date
Origin and Etymology of date
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin data, from data (as in data Romae given at Rome), feminine of Latin datus, past participle of dare to give; akin to Latin dos gift, dowry, Greek didonai to give
date
Definition of date
dated
;dating
transitive verb
1 : to determine the period of time to which something belongs : to determine the date (see 2date 3) of date an antique dated the fossils to the Triassic period
2 : to record the time of the execution or making of : mark with the date forgot to date the check a letter dated the fifth of September
3a : to mark with characteristics typical of a particular periodb : to show up plainly the age of old-fashioned decor that really dates the house
4 : to make a usually romantic social arrangement to meet with : to have a date with someone she dated in high school
intransitive verb
1 : to estimate or compute a date (see 2date 3) or chronology : to reckon chronologically scientific dating techniques
2 : originate a friendship dating from college days jewelry dating back to the 1700s
3 : to become outmoded or dated
4 : to go out on usually romantic dates wasn't allowed to date until she was sixteen
Examples of date in a Sentence
She dated a couple guys during college.
He only dates younger women.
They've been dating for six months.
Don't forget to sign and date the application.
The letter was not dated.
a memo dated July 12th, 2003
Historians date the document to the early 1700s.
The ancient building was dated by a coin found in one of the rooms.
Scientists use various techniques to date fossils.
Origin and Etymology of date
see 2date
DATE Defined for Kids
Definition of date for Students
: the sweet brownish fruit of an Old World palm (date palm)
History for date
The English word for the fruit of the date palm comes by way of French and Latin from a Greek word daktylos. The original meaning of this Greek word was “finger,” but it was also used for the fruit. A cluster of dates on a palm tree must have looked to someone like the fingers on a hand.
Definition of date for Students
1 : the day, month, or year on which an event happens or happened What is your date of birth?
2 : a statement of time on something (as a coin, letter, book, or building) Write the date on your paper.
3 : appointment 1 Louis paid no attention to the other birds. He had a date to keep. — E. B. White, The Trumpet of the Swan
4 : an arrangement to meet between two people usually with romantic feelings for each other It's not a date—we're just friends.
5 : either of two people who meet for a usually romantic social engagement Do you have a date for the dance?
Definition of date for Students
dated
;dating
1 : to write the date on Be sure to date the letter.
2 : to find or show the date or age of Scientists dated the fossil.
3 : to belong to or have survived from a time My house dates from colonial times.
4 : to make or have a date with I'm dating him tonight.
5 : to go together regularly on romantic social engagements They've been dating for a year.
Learn More about date
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See words that rhyme with date Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for date Spanish Central: Translation of date Nglish: Translation of date for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of date for Arabic speakers
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