/ grɑːs; NAmE græs/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U ] a common wild plant with narrow green leaves and stems that are eaten by cows, horses, sheep, etc. :
a blade of grass
The dry grass caught fire.
2.
[ C ] any type of grass :
ornamental grasses
3.
[ sing. , U ] (usually the grass ) an area of ground covered with grass :
to cut / mow the grass
Don't walk on the grass .
Keep off the grass. (= on a sign)
4.
[ U ] ( slang ) marijuana
5.
[ C ] ( BrE , informal , usually disapproving ) a person, usually a criminal, who tells the police about sb's criminal activities and plans
—compare supergrass
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IDIOMS
- the grass is (always) greener on the other side (of the fence)
- not let the grass grow under your feet
- put sb out to grass
—more at snake noun
■ verb
[ v ] grass (on sb) (also ˌgrass sb ˈup ) (both BrE , informal ) to tell the police about sb's criminal activities
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- grass sth over
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English græs , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gras , German Gras , also ultimately to green and grow .