I. ˈgraft, -aa(ə)-, -ai-, -ȧ- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English graften, alteration of graffen — more at graff
transitive verb
1.
a. : to unite (plants or scion and stock) to form a graft
impossible to graft unrelated trees successfully
: cause (a scion) to unite with a stock in a graft
grafted a branch of white roses on his red rose tree
b. : to insert scions in (a plant)
possible to cut back an old apple and graft it with scions of a better variety
c. : to propagate (a plant) by grafting
apples and most other fruits are grafted to retain desirable qualities that do not come true from seed
d. : to perform the operation of preparing grafts on or of
graft all our own replacement trees
2.
a. : to join or fasten as if by grafting so as to bring about a close union
the jute industry was also grafted on to a local textile trade
a hopeful ending grafted on to the story — David Sylvester
the level of industrial civilization grafted on to a world of feudal manners — Frank Gibney
the rail that was especially grafted on to the grand staircase — Emily Hahn
turn him adrift, grafting upon him a sense of failure — Dixon Wecter
b. : to implant (living tissue) so as to form an organic union (as in a lesion)
were able to graft new skin over the badly burned area of the arm
grafted a new piece of artery into the ruptured portion of the old artery
c. : to join or mend invisibly ; especially : to weave together with a needle (two unfinished or broken edges of knitted fabric)
3. : to cover (as a rope, ringbolt, or stanchion on a boat) with a weaving of small cord
intransitive verb
1. : to become grafted
many pears graft well on quince rootstocks
2. : to perform grafting (as of a fruit tree or shrub)
grafting is used especially to increase the numbers of a clonal plant or to improve the vigor of a plant of a weak-rooted variety
3. : to engage in graft
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English grafte, alteration of graffe — more at graff
1.
a. : the growth or an individual resulting from the union of scion and stock : a grafted plant (as a rosebush)
some excellent two-year-old grafts on dwarf rootstocks
an expert can turn out a surprising number of grafts in a day
b. : scion 1
c. : the point of insertion of a scion upon a stock
the graft should be high enough to prevent the formation of scion roots
also : the area of joining of scion and stock in grafting
a poor graft may break after several years satisfactory growth
2.
a. : the act of grafting or of joining one thing to another as if by grafting
a strange partial graft of Nordic traits on broad-faced and broad-headed Mongolian physique — A.L.Kroeber
b. : something grafted in this way ; specifically : a piece of living tissue used in grafting — see autograft , heterograft , homograft
3.
a. : the acquisition of money, position, or other profit by dishonest or questionable means (as by actual theft or by taking advantage of a public office or a position of trust or employment to obtain fees, perquisites, profits on contracts, or pay for work not done or service not performed) : illegal or unfair practice for profit or personal gain
tried to clear the graft , waste, and inefficiency out of government
claimed that any large and complex business organization tended to breed graft because of the inevitable towering hierarchy of command
b. : something gained in this way
no matter how much graft his subordinates may have garnered — Green Peyton
c. : something given as payment to one engaged in such a practice
forced to pay out graft to local politicians to avoid being annoyed by the police
d. : a means or method of making such gain or advantage
systematic appropriation of public funds by lawless political groups … and the more honest graft of special favors to real-estate or public-service interests — H.E.Davis
[s]graft.jpg[/s] [
graft 1c: a scion, b stock
]
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Dutch graft, gracht ditch, canal, from Middle Dutch; derivative from the stem of Middle Dutch graven to dig, Old High German graban — more at grave
now dialect England : ditch , trench
IV. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: alteration of grave (I)
1. dialect England : dig
2. dialect England : work
V. noun
( -s )
dialect chiefly Britain : work , labor ; also : trade , occupation