vb (
mainly tr) ,
gives,
giving,
gave (
ɡeɪv)
or given (
ˈɡɪvən)
1. (also intr) to present or deliver voluntarily (something that is one's own) to the permanent possession of another or others
2. (often foll by for) to transfer (something that is one's own, esp money) to the possession of another as part of an exchange: to give fifty pounds for a painting.
3. to place in the temporary possession of another: I gave him my watch while I went swimming.
4. (when: intr, foll by of) to grant, provide, or bestow: give me some advice.
5. to administer: to give a reprimand.
6. to award or attribute: to give blame, praise, etc.
7. to be a source of: he gives no trouble.
8. to impart or communicate: to give news; give a person a cold.
9. to utter or emit: to give a shout.
10. to perform, make, or do: the car gave a jolt and stopped.
11. to sacrifice or devote: he gave his life for his country.
12. to surrender: to give place to others.
13. to concede or yield: I will give you this game.
14. (intr) to happen: what gives?.
15. (often foll by to) to cause; lead: she gave me to believe that she would come.
16. (foll by for) to value (something) at: I don't give anything for his promises.
17. (Theatre) to perform or present as an entertainment: to give a play.
18. to propose as a toast: I give you the Queen.
19. (intr) to yield or break under force or pressure: this surface will give if you sit on it; his courage will never give.
20. give as good as one gets to respond to verbal or bodily blows to at least an equal extent as those received
21. (Military) give battle to commence fighting
22. (Medicine) to bear (offspring)
23. to produce, originate, or create (an idea, plan, etc)
24. give a person five give a person some skin to greet or congratulate someone by slapping raised hands
25. give ground to draw back or retreat
26. give it up for someone to applaud someone
27. give someone one Brit to have sex with someone
28. give rise to to be the cause of
29. give me I prefer: give me hot weather any day!.
30. give or take plus or minus: three thousand people came, give or take a few hundred.
32. give a person what for to punish or reprimand a person severely
[Old English giefan; related to Old Norse gefa, Gothic giban, Old High German geban, Swedish giva]
ˈgivable ˈgiveable adj ˈgiver nCollins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003
give (gɪv) v. gave, giv•en, giv•ing, n. v.t.1. to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation: to give a birthday present to someone.
2. to hand to someone: Give me that plate, please.
3. to place in someone's care: I gave the folders to your assistant.
4. to grant (permission, opportunity, etc.) to someone: Give me a chance.
5. to impart or communicate: to give advice; to give a cold to someone.
6. to set forth or show; present; offer: to give no reason for one's actions.
7. to pay or transfer possession to another in exchange for something: They gave five dollars for the picture.
8. to furnish, provide, or proffer: to give evidence.
9. to provide as an entertainment or social function: to give a Halloween party.
10. to administer: to give medicine to a patient.
11. to put forth, emit, or utter; issue: to give a cry.
12. to assign or admit as a basis of calculation or reasoning (usu. used passively): These facts being given, the theory makes sense.
13. to produce, yield, or afford: to give good results.
14. to make, do, or perform: to give a lurch.
15. to perform or present publicly: to give a concert.
16. to cause; be responsible for (usu. fol. by an infinitive): They gave me to understand that you would be there.
17. to care about something to the value or extent of (something signifying “even a little bit”): I don't give a hoot about their opinion. Frankly, I don't give a damn!
18. to relinquish or sacrifice: to give one's life for a cause.
19. to convey or transmit: Give Grandma my love.
20. to assign or allot: They gave him the nickname “Scooter.”
21. to bestow (the object of one's choice), as if by providence: Give me the wide open spaces anytime.
22. to connect, as through a switchboard: Give me 235-7522.
23. to present to an audience: Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the governor of Texas.
24. to attribute or ascribe: to give the devil his due.
25. to cause: Strawberries give me a rash.
26. to apply fully or freely; devote: to give one's attention to a problem.
27. to award by verdict or after consideration: A decision was given for the defendant.
28. to inflict as a punishment on another; impose a sentence of: The judge gave him ten years.
29. to pledge, offer as a pledge, or execute and deliver: She gave him her word.
30. to propose as the subject of a toast (fol. by an indirect object): Ladies and gentlemen, I give you our country.
31. to bear to a man; deliver (fol. by an indirect object): She gave him a beautiful baby boy.
32. to sire upon a woman; father (fol. by an indirect object): He gave her two children in four years.
33. to concede or grant, as a point in an argument.
v.i.34. to make a gift or gifts; contribute: to give to the United Way.
35. to yield somewhat, as to influence or force; compromise: Each side must give on some points.
36. to yield somewhat when subjected to weight, force, pressure, etc.: A horsehair mattress doesn't give much.
37. to collapse; break down; fall apart: The old chair gave when I sat on it.
38. to be warm and open in relationships with others: a withdrawn person who doesn't know how to give.
39. Informal. to divulge information: Okay now, give! What happened?
40. to afford a view or passage; face, open, or lead (usu. fol. by on, onto, etc.): This door gives onto the hallway.
41. give away,a. to give as a present; bestow.
b. to present (the bride) to the bridegroom in a marriage ceremony.
c. to disclose, betray, or expose.
42. give back, to return (something), as to the owner; restore.
43. give in,a. to acknowledge defeat; yield.
b. to hand in; deliver: to give in one's timecard.
44. give of, to devote or contribute generously of: to give of oneself.
45. give off, to put forth; emit: The gardenia gives off a strong fragrance.
46. give out,a. to send out; emit.
b. to make public; announce.
c. to distribute; issue.
d. to become exhausted or used up.
47. give over,a. to put into the care or custody of; transfer.
b. to submit fully: She gave herself over to tears.
c. to devote to a specified activity: The day was given over to relaxing.
d. to cease; stop: to give over complaining.
48. give up,a. to abandon hope; despair.
b. to desist from; renounce: to give up smoking.
c. to surrender; relinquish.
d. to devote (oneself) entirely to.
n.49. the quality or state of being resilient; springiness.
Idioms:1. give it to, Informal. to reprimand or punish.
2. give or take, plus or minus a specified amount; more or less.