Definition of give
gave
play
\ˈgāv\;
given
play
\ˈgi-vən\;
giving
1
: to make a present of
- give a doll to a child
2 a
: to grant or bestow by formal action
- the law gives citizens the right to vote
b
: to accord or yield to another
- gave him her confidence
3 a
: to put into the possession of another for his or her use
- gave me his phone number
b (1)
: to administer as a sacrament
(2)
: to administer as a medicine
c
: to commit to another as a trust or responsibility and usually for an expressed reason
d
: to transfer from one's authority or custody
- the sheriff gave the prisoner to the warden
e
: to execute and deliver
- all employees must give bond
f
: to convey to another
- give them my regards
4 a
: to offer to the action of another : proffer
- gave her his hand
b
: to yield (oneself) to a man in sexual intercourse
5 a
: to present in public performance
- give a concert
b
: to present to view or observation
- gave the signal to start
6
: to provide by way of entertainment
- give a party
7
: to propose as a toast
8 a
: to designate as a share or portion : allot
- all the earth to thee and to thy race I give
- —John Milton
b
: to make assignment of (a name)
c
: to set forth as an actual or hypothetical datum
- give the dimensions of the room
d
: to attribute in thought or utterance : ascribe
- gave the credit to you
9 a
: to yield as a product, consequence, or effect : produce
- cows give milk
- 84 divided by 12 gives 7
b
: to bring forth : bear
11 a
: to deliver by some bodily action
- gave him a push
b
: to carry out (a movement, facial expression, etc.)
- gave a cynical smile
c
: to inflict as punishment
d
: to award by formal verdict
- judgment was given against the plaintiff
12
: to offer for consideration, acceptance, or use
- gives no reason for his absence
13 a
: to suffer the loss of : sacrifice
- gallantly gave his life for his country
b
: to offer as appropriate or due especially to something higher or more worthy
- gave his spirit to God
c
: to apply freely or fully : devote
- gave themselves to their work
d
: to offer as a pledge
- I give you my word
14 a
: to cause one to have or receive
- mountains always gave him pleasure
b
: to cause a person to catch by contagion, infection, or exposure
15 a
: to allow one to have or take
- give me time
b
: to lead or attempt to lead
—used with an infinitive
- you gave me to understand you'd be late
16
: to care to the extent of
- didn't give a hoot
1
: to make gifts or presents
- gave generously to charities
2 a
: to yield to physical force or strain
b
: to collapse from the application of force or pressure
- The canvas chair gave under her weight.
c
: to undergo or submit to change
- for the strike to be settled, something has to give
3
: to afford a view or passage : open
- the window gives onto the terrace
4
: to enter wholeheartedly into an activity
5
slang
: to be happening
- wants to know what gives
—
give birth
: to have a baby
- gave birth last Thursday
—
give birth to
1
: to produce as offspring
- gave birth to a son
2
: to be the source of
—
give chase
: to set off in pursuit
—
give of
: to make available : provide generously
- freely gave of their time
—
give or take
: as an estimate accurate within (an amount to be added or subtracted)
- weighs 150 pounds, give or take a few pounds
—
give place to
: to be replaced or succeeded by
- optimism gave place to worry
—
give the gun
: to open the throttle of : speed up
—
give the lie to
1
: to accuse of falsehood
2
: to show to be false, inaccurate, or invalid
—
give tongue
of hounds
: to begin barking on the scent
—
give way
1 a
: retreat
b
: to yield the right of way
2
: to yield oneself without restraint or control
3 a
: to yield to or as if to physical stress
- The roof gave way under heavy snow.
b
: to yield to entreaty or insistence
- After several hours of debate, the opposition finally gave way.
4
: to yield place
- Farmland has given way to shopping malls.
5
: to begin to row
