I. ˈchüz verb
( chose ˈchōz ; cho·sen ˈchōz ə n ; or obs chose ; choosing ; chooses )
Etymology: Middle English chesen, chosen, chusen, from Old English cēosan; akin to Old High German kiosan to choose, Old Norse kjōsa, Gothic kiusan to choose, test, Latin gustare to taste, enjoy, Greek geuesthai to taste, Sanskrit juṣate he enjoys, tastes, loves
transitive verb
1.
a. : to select (as one thing over another) especially with free will and by exercise of judgment
choose the lesser of two evils
b. : to decide upon especially by vote : elect
the town twice chose him as mayor
2.
a. : to consider or assume as fitting, proper, or advantageous especially from personal preference
for recreation he chooses tennis and swimming
b. : to be inclined to (as by arbitrary decision or personal preference) — often used with the infinitive
I do not choose to enter into particulars — Tobias Smollett
3. now dialect : to wish to have : want
the landlady now returned to know if we did not choose a more genteel apartment — Oliver Goldsmith
intransitive verb
1. : to make a selection
he may choose as best he can
2. archaic : to do as one pleases
if you will not have me, choose — Shakespeare
3. : to take an alternative — used only after can in the negative
they go because they cannot choose
and often followed by but plus infinitive
he can't choose but to listen
4. : to see fit : have the inclination
you can take them all if you choose
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English chose, alteration (influenced by chosen to choose) of chois choice
1. obsolete : selection
2. dialect : turn to choose : choice