v.tr. (past and past part. brought) 1 a come conveying esp. by carrying or leading. b come with. 2 cause to come or be present (what brings you here?). 3 cause or result in (war brings misery). 4 be sold for; produce as income. 5 a prefer (a charge). b initiate (legal action). 6 cause to become or to reach a particular state (brings me alive; brought them to their senses; cannot bring myself to agree). 7 adduce (evidence, an argument, etc.). bring about 1 cause to happen. 2 turn (a ship) around. bring-and-buy sale Brit. a kind of charity sale at which participants bring items for sale and buy what is brought by others. bring back call to mind. bring down 1 cause to fall. 2 lower (a price). 3 sl. make unhappy or less happy. 4 colloq. damage the reputation of; demean. bring forth 1 give birth to. 2 produce, emit, cause. bring forward 1 move to an earlier date or time. 2 transfer from the previous page or account. 3 draw attention to; adduce. bring home to cause to realize fully (brought home to me that I was wrong). bring the house down receive rapturous applause. bring in 1 introduce (legislation, a custom, fashion, topic, etc.). 2 yield as income or profit. bring into play cause to operate; activate. bring low overcome. bring off achieve successfully. bring on 1 cause to happen or appear. 2 accelerate the progress of. bring out 1 emphasize; make evident. 2 publish. bring over convert to one's own side. bring round 1 restore to consciousness. 2 persuade. bring through aid (a person) through adversity, esp. illness. bring to 1 restore to consciousness (brought him to). 2 check the motion of. bring to bear (usu. foll. by on) direct and concentrate (forces). bring to mind recall; cause one to remember. bring to pass cause to happen. bring under subdue. bring up 1 rear (a child). 2 vomit, regurgitate. 3 call attention to. 4 (absol.) stop suddenly. bring upon oneself be responsible for (something one suffers). bringer n.
[ OE bringan f. Gmc ]