date

noun (1)

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\ ˈdāt

Definition of date

(Entry 1 of 3)

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

date

noun (2)

Definition of date (Entry 2 of 3)

1a : the time at which an event occurs the date of his birth on this date in history

b : a statement of the time of execution (see execution sense 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 sense 1a) between two persons that often has a romantic character asked her out on a date

b : 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

date

verb

dated; dating

Definition of date (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to determine the period of time to which something belongs : to determine the date (see date entry 2 sense 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 period

b : 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 date entry 2 sense 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

Other Words from date Synonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about 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.

Examples of date in a Sentence

Verb 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.