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