n. & v.
n. 1 a vegetation belonging to a group of small plants with green blades that are eaten by cattle, horses, sheep, etc. b any species of this. c any plant of the family Gramineae, which includes cereals, reeds, and bamboos. 2 pasture land. 3 grass-covered ground, a lawn (keep off the grass). 4 grazing (out to grass; be at grass). 5 sl. marijuana. 6 Brit. sl. an informer, esp. a police informer. 7 the earth's surface above a mine; the pit-head. 8 sl. asparagus.
v. 1 tr. cover with turf. 2 tr. US provide with pasture. 3 Brit. sl. a tr. betray, esp. to the police. b intr. inform the police. 4 tr. knock down; fell (an opponent). 5 tr. a bring (a fish) to the bank. b bring down (a bird) by a shot. at grass out of work, on holiday, etc. grass bird Austral. any of various warblers, esp. of the genus Megalurus, living among reeds. grass-box a receptacle for cut grass on a lawnmower. grass-cloth a linen-like cloth woven from ramie etc. grass court a grass-covered lawn-tennis court. grass of Parnassus a herbaceous plant, Parnassia palustris. grass parakeet Austral. a parakeet, esp. of the genus Neophema, frequenting grassland. grass roots 1 a fundamental level or source. 2 ordinary people, esp. as voters; the rank and file of an organization, esp. a political party. grass skirt a skirt made of long grass and leaves fastened to a waistband. grass snake 1 Brit. the common ringed snake, Natrix natrix. 2 US the common greensnake, Opheodrys vernalis. grass tree = BLACKBOY. grass widow (or widower) a person whose husband (or wife) is away for a prolonged period. grass-wrack eel-grass. not let the grass grow under one's feet be quick to act or to seize an opportunity. grassless adj. grasslike adj.
[ OE grs f. Gmc, rel. to GREEN, GROW ]