/ əˈwɔːd; NAmE əˈwɔːrd/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] award (for sth) (often in names of particular awards) a prize such as money, etc. for sth that sb has done :
to win / receive / get an award for sth
He was nominated for the best actor award.
an award presentation / ceremony
the Housing Design Award
—see also Academy Award
2.
[ C ] an increase in the amount of money sb earns :
an annual pay award
3.
[ C , U ] the amount of money that a court decides should be given to sb who has won a case; the decision to give this money :
an award of £600 000 libel damages
4.
[ U ] the official decision to give sth (such as a diploma ) to sb :
Satisfactory completion of the course will lead to the award of the Diploma of Social Work.
5.
[ C ] ( BrE ) money that students get to help pay for living costs while they study or do research
■ verb
award (sb) sth | award sth (to sb) to make an official decision to give sth to sb as a payment, prize, etc. :
[ vn ]
He was awarded damages of £50 000.
[ vn , vnn ]
The judges awarded equal points to both finalists.
The judges awarded both finalists equal points.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense issue a judicial decision , also denoting the decision itself): from Anglo-Norman French awarder , variant of Old French esguarder consider, ordain, from es- (from Latin ex thoroughly) + guarder watch (over), based on a word of Germanic origin related to ward ; compare with guard .