[put] vb put ; put.ting [ME putten; akin to OE putung instigation, MD poten to plant] vt (12c) 1 a: to place in a specified position or relationship: lay "~ the book on the table" b: to move in a specified direction c (1): to send (as a weapon or missile) into or through something: thrust (2): to throw with an overhand pushing motion "~ the shot" d: to bring into a specified state or condition "a reapportionment ... that was ~ into effect at the September primaries --Current Biog."
2. a: to cause to endure or suffer something: subject "~ traitors to death" b: impose, inflict "~ a special tax on luxuries" 3 a: to set before one for judgment or decision "~ the question" b: to call for a formal vote on "~ the motion"
4. a (1): to convey into another form "want to ~ my feelings into words" (2): to translate into another language or style "~ the poem into English" (3): adapt "lyrics ~ to music" b: express, state "putting it mildly"
5. a: to devote (oneself) to an activity or end "~ himself to winning back their confidence" b: apply "~ her mind to the problem" c: assign "~ them to work" d: to cause to perform an action: urge "~ the horse over the fence" e: impel, incite "~ them into a frenzy"
6. a: repose, rest "~s his faith in reason" b: invest "~ her money in the company"
7. a: to give as an estimate "~ the time as about eleven" b: attach, attribute "~s a high value on their friendship" c: impute "~ the blame on the partners" 8: bet, wager "~ $2 on the favorite" ~ vi 1: to start in motion: go; esp: to leave in a hurry
2. of a ship: to take a specified course "~ down the river" -- put forth 1 a: assert, propose b: to make public: issue
2: to bring into action: exert
3: to produce or send out by growth "put forth leaves"
4: to start out -- put forward : propose "put forward a theory" -- put in mind : remind -- put one's finger on : identify "put his finger on the cause of the trouble" -- put one's foot down : to take a firm stand -- put one's foot in one's mouth : to make a tactless or embarrassing blunder -- put paid to Brit: to finish off: wipe out -- put the arm on or put the bite on : to ask for money -- put the finger on : to inform on "put the finger on ... heroin pushers --Barrie Zwicker" -- put the make on : to make sexual advances toward -- put to bed : to make the final preparations for printing (as a newspaper) -- put together 1: to create as a unified whole: construct
2: add, combine -- put to it : to give difficulty to: press hard "had been put to it to keep up"
[2]put n (14c) 1: a throw made with an overhand pushing motion; specif: the act or an instance of putting the shot
2: an option to sell a specified amount of a security (as a stock) or commodity (as wheat) at a fixed price at or within a specified time--compare call 3d [3]put adj (1848): being in place: fixed, set "stay ~ until I call"