~ 1
■ noun
1》 a compact mass, especially one without a definite or regular shape.
↘a swelling under the skin.
2》 informal a heavy, ungainly, or slow-witted person.
3》 ( the ~ ) Brit. informal casual employment in the building trade.
■ verb
1》 (often ~ things together ) put in an indiscriminate mass or group.
2》 Brit. carry (a heavy load) somewhere with difficulty.
Phrases
a ~ in the throat a feeling of tightness in the throat caused by strong emotion.
take (or get ) one's ~s informal, chiefly N. Amer. be attacked, punished, or defeated.
Derivatives
~er noun
Origin
ME: perh. from a Gmc base meaning 'shapeless piece'.
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~ 2
■ verb ( ~ it ) informal accept or tolerate something whether one likes it or not.
Origin
C16 (in the sense 'look sulky'): symbolic of displeasure; cf. words such as dump and grump .