donate

give, present, donate, bestow, confer, afford mean to convey to another as a possession. give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means.

• • give alms
• • gave her a ride on a pony
• • give my love to your mother

present carries a note of formality and ceremony.

• • present an award

donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity).

• • donate a piano to the orphanage

bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver.

• • bestow unwanted advice

confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor).

• • confer an honorary degree

afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver.

• • the trees afford shade
• • a development that affords us some hope