~ 1
■ verb ( ~es , ~ing ; past went ; past participle ~ne )
1》 move from one place to another; travel.
↘engage in a specified activity: she used to ~ hunting.
↘( ~ to ) attend or visit for a purpose.
↘pass time in a particular way: they went for two months without talking.
↘lie or extend in a certain direction.
2》 leave; depart.
↘(of time) pass or elapse.
↘come to an end.
↘disappear or be used up.
3》 ( be ~ing to be/do something ) used to express a future tense: I'm ~ing to be late.
4》 pass into or be in a specified state, especially an undesirable one: her mind went blank.
↘( ~ to/into ) enter into a specified state or course of action: she went back to sleep.
↘make a sound of a specified kind.
↘( ~ by/under ) be known or called by (a specified name).
5》 turn out in a specified way.
↘be acceptable or permitted: anything ~es.
6》 be harmonious, complementary, or matching.
7》 (of a machine or device) function.
↘continue in operation or existence.
8》 fit into or be regularly kept in a particular place.
9》 informal urinate or defecate.
10》 informal say.
■ noun ( plural ~es ) informal
1》 chiefly Brit. an attempt or trial.
2》 Brit. a person's turn to do or use something.
↘a single item, action, or spell of activity: he drank a pint in one ~.
3》 Brit. spirit or energy.
↘vi~rous activity: it's all ~.
4》 dated a state of affairs.
↘an attack of illness.
Phrases
all the ~ Brit. informal, dated in fashion.
~ figure! N. Amer. informal said to express the belief that something is amazing or incredible.
~ halves (or shares ) share something equally.
~ing!, ~ne! an auctioneer's announcement that bidding is closing or closed.
~ing on —— ( Brit. also ~ing on for —— ) approaching a specified time, age, or amount.
~ to show (or prove ) serve as evidence or proof.
have a ~ at chiefly Brit. attack or criticize.
have —— ~ing for one informal used to indicate how much someone has in their favour or to their advantage.
make a ~ of informal be successful in.
on the ~ informal very active or busy.
to be ~ing on with Brit. to start with; for now.
to ~ N. Amer. (of food or drink from a restaurant or cafe) to be consumed off the premises.
who ~es there? said by a sentry as a challenge.
Phrasal verbs
~ about
1》 begin or carry on work at: you went about it in the wrong way.
2》 Sailing change to an opposite tack.
~ against oppose or resist.
↘be contrary to or unfavourable for.
~ ahead proceed or be carried out.
~ along with agree to.
~ at energetically attack or tackle.
~ back on fail to keep (a promise).
~ down
1》 be defeated in a contest.
2》 be recorded or remembered in a particular way.
3》 elicit a specified reaction.
4》 N. Amer. informal happen.
5》 Brit. informal be sent to prison.
6》 Brit. informal finish one's studies and leave a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge.
~ for
1》 decide on.
2》 attempt to gain or attain.
3》 launch oneself at in attack.
4》 end up having a specified negative result.
5》 apply to; have relevance for.
~ in for
1》 Brit. enter (a competition) or take (an examination).
2》 like or habitually take part in.
~ into
1》 investigate or enquire into.
2》 (of a whole number) be capable of dividing another, typically without a remainder.
~ off
1》 (of a gun or bomb) explode or fire.
↘(of an alarm) begin to sound.
2》 Brit. (of food) begin to decompose.
3》 Brit. informal begin to dislike.
4》 ~ to sleep.
~ on
1》 continue or persevere.
↘talk at great length.
↘continue speaking or doing something after a pause.
↘ informal said when encouraging someone or expressing disbelief.
2》 take place.
3》 proceed to do.
4》 [usu. with negative ] informal have a specified amount of care or liking for.
~ out
1》 (of a fire or light) be extinguished.
2》 (of the tide) ebb.
3》 leave home to ~ to a social event.
4》 carry on a regular romantic relationship.
5》 (in some card games) be the first to dispose of one's cards.
~ over
1》 examine or check the details of.
2》 change one's allegiance or religion.
3》 be received in a specified way.
~ round ( chiefly US also ~ around )
1》 spin; revolve.
2》 be sufficient to supply everybody present.
~ through
1》 under~ (a difficult period or experience).
2》 search through or examine carefully.
3》 be officially approved or completed.
4》 informal use up or spend.
~ to! archaic said to express disbelief, impatience, or admonition.
~ under (of a business) become bankrupt.
~ up
1》 explode or suddenly burst into flames.
2》 Brit. informal begin one's studies at a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge.
~ with
1》 consent or agree to.
2》 have a romantic or sexual relationship with.
~ without suffer lack or deprivation.
Origin
OE gān , of Gmc origin; the form went was orig. the past tense of wend .
Usage
The use of ~ followed by and , as in I must ~ and change , is regarded by some traditionalists as incorrect. For more details, see usage at and .
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~ 2
■ noun a Japanese board game of territorial possession and capture.
Origin
C19: Japanese.
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~
N. Amer. informal (of a machine) stop working properly.
→ fritz