[give] vb gave ; giv.en ; giv.ing [ME, of Scand origin; akin to OSw giva to give; akin to OE giefan, gifan to give, and perh. to L habere to have, hold] vt (13c) 1: to make a present of "~ a doll to a child"
2. a: to grant or bestow by formal action "the law ~s citizens the right to vote" b: to accord or yield to another "gave him her confidence" 3 a: to put into the possession of another for his use b (1): to administer as a sacrament (2): to administer as a medicine c: to commit to another as a trust or responsibility and usu. for an expressed reason d: to transfer from one's authority or custody "the sheriff gave the prisoner to the warden" e: to execute and deliver "all employees must ~ bond" f: to convey to another "~ them my regards"
4. a: to offer to the action of another: proffer "gave her his hand" b: to yield (oneself) to a man in sexual intercourse
5. a: to present in public performance "~ a concert" b: to present to view or observation "gave the signal to start"
6: to provide by way of entertainment "~ a party" 7: to propose as a toast
8. a: to designate as a share or portion: allot "all the earth to thee and to thy race I ~ --John Milton" b: to make assignment of (a name) c: to set forth as an actual or hypothetical datum "~ the dimensions of the room" d: to attribute in thought or utterance: ascribe "gave the credit to you"
9. a: to yield as a product, consequence, or effect: produce "cows ~ milk" "84 divided by 12 ~s 7" b: to bring forth: bear
10. a: to yield possession of by way of exchange: pay b: to dispose of for a price: sell 11 a: to deliver by some bodily action "gave him a push" b: to carry out (as a bodily movement) "gave a cynical smile" c: to inflict as punishment d: to award by formal verdict "judgment was given against the plaintiff" 12: to offer for consideration, acceptance, or use "~s no reason for his absence" 13 a: to suffer the loss of: sacrifice b: to offer as appropriate or due esp. to something higher or more worthy "gave his spirit to God" c: to apply freely or fully: devote "gave themselves to their work" d: to offer as a pledge "I ~ you my word" 14 a: to cause one to have or receive "mountains always gave him pleasure" b: to cause a person to catch by contagion, infection, or exposure 15 a: to allow one to have or take "~ me time" b: to lead or attempt to lead--used with an infinitive "you gave me to understand you'd be late" 16: t : to acquit (oneself) well -- give birth : to have a baby "gave birth last Thursday" -- give birth to 1: to produce as offspring "gave birth to a son"
2: to be the source of -- give chase : to set off in pursuit -- give ground : to withdraw before superior force: retreat -- give of : to make available: provide generously "freely gave of their time" -- give or take : as an estimate accurate within (an amount to be added or subtracted) -- give place to : to be replaced or succeeded by "optimism gave place to worry" -- give rise to : to be the cause or source of: produce -- give the gun : to open the throttle of: speed up -- give the lie to 1: to accuse of falsehood
2: to show to be false, inaccurate, or invalid -- give tongue of hounds: to begin barking on the scent -- give way 1 a: retreat b: to yield the right of way
2: to yield oneself without restraint or control 3 a: to yield to or as if to physical stress b: to yield to entreaty or insistence
4: to yield place
5: to begin to row syn give, present, donate, bestow, confer, afford mean to convey to another as a possession. give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means "give alms" "gave her a ride on a pony" "give my love to your mother". present carries a note of formality and ceremony "present an award". donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity) "donate a piano to the orphanage". bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver "bestow unwanted advice". confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor) "confer an honorary degree". afford implies a giving or bestowing usu. as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver "the trees afford shade" "a development that affords us some hope".
[2]give n (1868) 1: capacity or tendency to yield to force or strain: flexibility
2: the quality or state of being springy