vb1. to go onwards or move by or past (a person, thing, etc)
2. to run, extend, or lead through, over, or across (a place): the route passes through the city.
3. to go through or cause to go through (an obstacle or barrier): to pass a needle through cloth.
4. to move or cause to move onwards or over: he passed his hand over her face.
5. (tr) to go beyond or exceed: this victory passes all expectation.
6. (Education) to gain or cause to gain an adequate or required mark, grade, or rating in (an examination, course, etc): the examiner passed them all.
7. (often foll by: away or by) to elapse or allow to elapse: we passed the time talking.
8. pass the time of day with someone to spend time amicably with someone, esp in chatting, with no particular purpose
9. (intr) to take place or happen: what passed at the meeting?.
10. to speak or exchange or be spoken or exchanged: angry words passed between them.
11. to spread or cause to spread: we passed the news round the class.
12. to transfer or exchange or be transferred or exchanged: the bomb passed from hand to hand.
13. (intr) to undergo change or transition: to pass from joy to despair.
14. (Law) (when: tr, often foll by down) to transfer or be transferred by inheritance: the house passed to the younger son.
15. (Law) to agree to or sanction or to be agreed to or receive the sanction of a legislative body, person of authority, etc: the assembly passed 10 resolutions.
16. (Law) (tr) (of a legislative measure) to undergo (a procedural stage) and be agreed: the bill passed the committee stage.
17. (Law) (when: tr, often foll by on or upon) to pronounce or deliver (judgment, findings, etc): the court passed sentence.
18. to go or allow to go without comment or censure: the intended insult passed unnoticed.
19. (Card Games) (intr) to opt not to exercise a right, as by not answering a question or not making a bid or a play in card games
20. (Physiology) physiol to discharge (urine, faeces, etc) from the body
21. (Physiology) pass water to urinate
22. (intr) to come to an end or disappear: his anger soon passed.
23. (intr; usually foll by for or as) to be likely to be mistaken for or accepted as (someone or something else): you could easily pass for your sister.
24. (Biology) (
intr; foll by away, on, or over) a euphemism for
die11 25. (Banking & Finance) (tr) US to fail to declare (a dividend)
26. (Law) (intr; usually foll by on or upon) US (of a court, jury, etc) to sit in judgment; adjudicate
27. (Ball Games, other than specified) sport to hit, kick, or throw (the ball) to another player
28. bring to pass to cause to happen
29. come to pass to happen
n30. the act of passing
31. (Physical Geography)
a. a route through a range of mountains where the summit is lower or where there is a gap between peaks
b. (capital as part of a name): the Simplon Pass.
32. (Physical Geography) a way through any difficult region
33. (Law) a permit, licence, or authorization to do something without restriction: she has a pass to visit the museum on Sundays.
34. (Military)
a. a document allowing entry to and exit from a military installation
b. a document authorizing leave of absence
35. (Education)
a. the passing of a college or university examination to a satisfactory standard but not as high as honours
b. (
as modifier):
a pass degree. Compare
honours2 36. (Aeronautics) a dive, sweep, or bombing or landing run by an aircraft
37. (Theatre) a motion of the hand or of a wand as a prelude to or part of a conjuring trick
38. an attempt, in words or action, to invite sexual intimacy (esp in the phrase make a pass at)
39. a state of affairs or condition, esp a bad or difficult one (esp in the phrase a pretty pass)
40. (Ball Games, other than specified) sport the transfer of a ball from one player to another
41. (Fencing) fencing a thrust or lunge with a sword
42. (Bridge) bridge the act of passing (making no bid)
43. (Bullfighting)
bullfighting a variant of
pase 44. a witty sally or remark
[C13: from Old French passer to pass, surpass, from Latin passūs step, pace1]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003
pass (pæs, pɑs) v.t.1. to move past; go by: to pass a car on the road.
2. to let go without notice, action, etc.; disregard.
3. to cause or allow to go through a barrier, obstacle, etc.: The guard passed the visitor.
4. to go across or over (a stream, threshold, etc.); cross.
5. to endure or undergo.
6. to undergo or complete successfully: to pass an examination.
7. to cause or permit (a person) to complete an examination, course of study, etc., successfully.
8. to go beyond (a point, degree, stage, etc.); surpass.
9. to cause to go or move onward: to pass a rope through a hole.
10. to cause to go or march by: to pass troops in review.
11. to allow to elapse or slip by; spend: How did you pass the time?
12. to cause to circulate or spread: to pass rumors.
13. to cause to be accepted or received: to pass bad checks.
14. to convey from one person to another.
15. to discharge or void from the body.
16. to sanction or approve, esp. by vote: Congress passed the bill.
17. to obtain the approval or sanction of: The bill passed the Senate.
18. to express; pronounce: to pass judgment.
19. to omit the usual or regular payment of (a dividend).
20. to make a passing shot against (an opponent in tennis).
21. to transfer (a ball or puck) to a teammate.
22. (in feats of magic) to perform a pass on.
23. to pledge.
v.i.24. to go or move onward; proceed.
25. to come to or toward, then go beyond: to pass through town.
26. to go away; depart: The feeling will pass.
27. to elapse: The day passed quickly.
28. to come to an end: The crisis soon passed.
29. to die (often fol. by away or on).
30. to take place; happen; occur.
31. to go by or move past.
32. to go about or circulate.
33. to serve as a marginally acceptable substitute: The copy isn't very good but it will pass.
34. to live or be known as a member of a racial or ethnic group other than one's own, esp. to live and be known as a white person though having some black ancestry.
35. to be transferred: The crown passed to the king's nephew.
36. to be interchanged: Sharp words passed between them.
37. to undergo transition or conversion: to pass from a solid to a liquid state.
38. to go or get through a barrier, test, etc., successfully.
39. to go unheeded or unchallenged: I let the insult pass.
40. to express or pronounce an opinion or judgment: Will you pass on the authenticity of this drawing?
41. to be voided, as excrement or a kidney stone.
42. to obtain the approval or sanction of a legislative body, committee, or the like.
43. to make a pass, as in football or ice hockey.
44. Cards.a. to forgo one's opportunity to bid.
b. to throw in one's hand.
45. (in fencing) to thrust.
46. pass for, to be accepted as; be considered: material that passed for silk.
47. pass off,a. to present, offer, or sell by fraud or deceit.
b. to cause to be accepted under a false identity: He passed himself off as a doctor.
c. to continue to completion; occur: The meeting passed off without incident.
48. pass out, to faint.
49. pass over, to disregard; ignore.
50. pass up, to refuse or neglect to take advantage of, as an opportunity.
n.51. an act of passing.
52. a narrow route across a low notch or depression in a mountain barrier.
53. a road, channel, or other means of passage, as through an obstructed region.
54. a permission or license to pass, go, come, or enter.
55. written permission given a soldier to be absent briefly from a station.
56. a free ticket or permit.
57. a particular stage or state of affairs: The situation came to a dreadful pass.
58. a single movement, effort, etc.: We made a pass at the enemy airfield.
59. a gesture, action, or remark that is intended to be sexually inviting: He made a pass at her.
60. a jab with the arm, esp. one that misses its mark.
61. the transfer of a ball or puck from one teammate to another.
63. Cards. the act or statement of not bidding or raising another bid.
64. (in feats of magic)
a. a passing of the hand over, along, or before anything.
b. the transference or changing of objects by or as if by sleight of hand; a manipulation.
66. a thrust or lunge made in fencing.
Idioms:1. bring to pass, to cause to happen; bring about.
2. come to pass, to happen; occur.
3. pass the time of day, to chat.
[1175–1225; Middle English < Old French
passer < Vulgar Latin
*passāre, derivative of Latin
passus step,
pace1]
pass.1. passenger.
2. passim.
3. passive.