graft 1
— grafter , n.
/graft, grahft/ , n.
1. Hort.
a. a bud, shoot, or scion of a plant inserted in a groove, slit, or the like in a stem or stock of another plant in which it continues to grow.
b. the plant resulting from such an operation; the united stock and scion.
c. the place where the scion is inserted.
2. Surg. a portion of living tissue surgically transplanted from one part of an individual to another, or from one individual to another, for its adhesion and growth.
3. an act of grafting.
v.t.
4. to insert (a graft) into a tree or other plant; insert a scion of (one plant) into another plant.
5. to cause (a plant) to reproduce through grafting.
6. Surg. to transplant (a portion of living tissue, as of skin or bone) as a graft.
7. to attach as if by grafting: an absurdity grafted onto an otherwise coherent body of thought.
8. Naut. to cover (a rope) with a weaving of rope yarn.
v.i.
9. to insert scions from one plant into another.
10. to become grafted.
[ 1350-1400; earlier graff, ME graffe, craffe graife, greffe, graffe graphium hunting knife (L: stylus) grapheion, deriv. of gráphein to write; so called from the resemblance of the point of a (cleft) graft to a stylus ]
Syn. 10. implant, transplant, plant, join, adhere.
graft 2
— grafter , n.
/graft, grahft/ , n.
1. the acquisition of money, gain, or advantage by dishonest, unfair, or illegal means, esp. through the abuse of one's position or influence in politics, business, etc.
2. a particular instance, method, or means of thus acquiring gain or advantage.
3. the gain or advantage acquired.
4. Brit. Slang. work; labor.
v.t.
5. to obtain by graft.
v.i.
6. to practice graft.
[ 1855-60; perh. special use of GRAFT 1 ]