HOW

adv., conj., & n. --interrog. adv. 1 by what means, in what way (how do you do it?; tell me how you do it; how could you behave so disgracefully?; but how to bridge the gap?). 2 in what condition, esp. of health (how is the patient?; how do things stand?). 3 a to what extent (how far is it?; how would you like to take my place?; how we laughed!). b to what extent good or well, what ... like (how was the film?; how did they play?). --rel. adv. in whatever way, as (do it how you can). --conj. colloq. that (told us how he'd been in India). --n. the way a thing is done (the how and why of it). øand how! sl. very much so (chiefly used ironically or intensively). here's how! I drink to your good health. how about 1 would you like (how about a game of chess?). 2 what is to be done about. 3 what is the news about. how are you? 1 what is your state of health? 2 = how do you do? how come? see COME. how do? an informal greeting on being introduced to a stranger. how do you do? a formal greeting. how-do-you-do (or how-d'ye-do) n. (pl. -dos) an awkward situation. how many what number. how much 1 what amount (how much do I owe you?; did not know how much to take). 2 what price (how much is it?). 3 (as interrog.) joc. what? ('She is a hedonist.' 'A how much?'). how now? archaic what is the meaning of this? how so? how can you show that that is so? how's that? 1 what is your opinion or explanation of that? 2 Cricket (said to an umpire) is the batsman out or not? [OE hu f. WG]