Definition of grave
(Entry 1 of 6)
2a
: death sense 1a
believes there is life beyond the grave
b
: death sense 4
grave
adjective
graver; gravest
Definition of grave (Entry 2 of 6)
1a
: meriting serious consideration : important
grave problems
b
: likely to produce great harm or danger
a grave mistake
c
: significantly serious : considerable, great
grave importance
2
: having a serious and dignified quality or demeanor
a grave and thoughtful look
3a
of an accent mark
: having the form `
b
: marked with a grave accent
c
: of the variety indicated by a grave accent
4
: low-pitched in sound
5
: drab in color : somber
grave
noun (2)Definition of grave (Entry 3 of 6)
: a grave accent ` used to show that a vowel is pronounced with a fall of pitch (as in ancient Greek), that a vowel has a certain quality (such as è in French), that a final e is stressed and close and that a final o is stressed and low (as in Italian), that a syllable has a degree of stress between maximum and minimum (as in phonetic transcription), or that the e of the English ending -ed is to be pronounced (as in "this cursèd day")
grave
adverb or adjectiveDefinition of grave (Entry 4 of 6)
: slowly and solemnly
—used as a direction in music
grave
verb (1)Definition of grave (Entry 5 of 6)
grave
verb (2)
graved; graving
Definition of grave (Entry 6 of 6)
: to clean and pay with pitch
grave a ship's bottom
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for grave
The first known use of grave was before the 12th century
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