GREAT


Meaning of GREAT in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ greɪt ]

( greater, greatest, greats)

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.

1.

You use great to describe something that is very large. Great is more formal than big .

The room had a great bay window.

...a great hall as long and high as a church.

ADJ : ADJ n

2.

Great means large in amount or degree.

I’ll take great care of it...

Benjamin Britten did not live to a great age.

ADJ

3.

You use great to describe something that is important, famous, or exciting.

...the great cultural achievements of the past...

America can be great again.

ADJ

• great‧ness

A nation must take certain risks to achieve greatness.

N-UNCOUNT

4.

You can describe someone who is successful and famous for their actions, knowledge, or skill as great .

Wes Hall was once one of the West Indies’ great cricketers.

...the great George Padmore.

ADJ : usu ADJ n

• great‧ness

Abraham Lincoln achieved greatness.

N-UNCOUNT

5.

The greats in a particular subject or field of activity are the people who have been most successful or famous in it. ( JOURNALISM )

...all the greats of Hollywood.

...cycling’s all-time greats.

N-PLURAL : with supp

6.

The greats of popular modern music are records that have been successful and that continue to be popular. ( JOURNALISM )

...a medley of rock’n’roll greats.

N-PLURAL

7.

If you describe someone or something as great , you approve of them or admire them. ( INFORMAL )

Arturo has this great place in Cazadero...

They’re a great bunch of guys...

I think she’s great.

ADJ [ approval ]

8.

If you feel great , you feel very healthy, energetic, and enthusiastic.

I feel just great.

ADJ : feel ADJ

9.

You use great in order to emphasize the size or degree of a characteristic or quality.

...a great big Italian wedding.

...her sense of colour and great eye for detail.

ADJ [ emphasis ]

10.

You say great in order to emphasize that you are pleased or enthusiastic about something.

Oh great! That’ll be good for Fergus.

EXCLAM [ feelings ]

11.

You say great in order to emphasize that you are angry or annoyed about something.

‘Oh great,’ I thought. ‘Just what I need.’

EXCLAM [ feelings ]

12.

Great is used as part of the name of a species of plant or animal when there is another species of the same plant or animal which is smaller and has different characteristics.

...the great white shark.

N-IN-NAMES

see also greater

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Английский словарь Коллинз COBUILD для изучающих язык на продвинутом уровне.