I. ˈau̇t adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ūt; akin to Old High German ūz out, Greek hysteros later, Sanskrit ud up, out
Date: before 12th century
1.
a.
(1) : in a direction away from the inside or center
went out into the garden
(2) : outside
it's raining out
b. : from among others
c. : away from the shore
d. : away from home or work
out to lunch
e. : away from a particular place
2.
a. : so as to be missing or displaced from the usual or proper place
left a word out
threw his shoulder out
b. : into the possession or control of another
lend out money
c. : into a state of loss or defeat
was voted out
d. : into a state of vexation
they do not mark me, and that brings me out — Shakespeare
e. : into groups or shares
sorted out her notes
parceled out the farm
3.
a. : to the point of depletion, extinction, or exhaustion
the food ran out
turn the light out
all tuckered out
b. : to completion or satisfaction
hear me out
work the problem out
c. : to the full or a great extent or degree
all decked out
stretched out on the floor
4.
a. : in or into the open
the sun came out
b. : out loud
cried out
c. : in or into public circulation
the evening paper isn't out yet
hand out pamphlets
the library book is still out
5.
a. : at an end
before the day is out
b. : in or into an insensible or unconscious state
she was out cold
c. : in or into a useless state
landed the plane with one engine out
d. : so as to end the offensive turn of another player, a side, or oneself in baseball
threw him out
fly out
6. — used on a two-way radio circuit to indicate that a message is complete and no reply is expected
II. verb
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1. : eject , oust
2. : to identify publicly as being such secretly
wanted to out pot smokers
especially : to identify as being a closet homosexual
intransitive verb
: to become publicly known
the truth will out
III. preposition
Date: 13th century
— used as a function word to indicate an outward movement
ran out the door
looked out the window
IV. adjective
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : situated outside : external
b. : out-of-bounds
2. : situated at a distance : outlying
the out islands
3. : not being in power
4. : absent
5. : removed by the defense from play as a batter or base runner in a baseball inning
two men out
6. : directed outward or serving to direct something outward
the out basket
7. : not being in vogue or fashion
8. : not to be considered : out of the question
9. : determined 1
was out to get revenge
10. : engaged in or attempting a particular activity
won on his first time out
11. : publicly known or identified as a homosexual
V. noun
Date: 1717
1. : outside
2. : one who is out of office or power or on the outside
a matter of out s versus ins
3.
a. : an act or instance of putting a player out or of being put out in baseball
b. : a player that is put out
4. : a way of escaping from an embarrassing or difficult situation
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- on the outs