prize 1
/pruyz/ , n.
1. a reward for victory or superiority, as in a contest or competition.
2. something that is won in a lottery or the like.
3. anything striven for, worth striving for, or much valued.
4. something seized or captured, esp. an enemy's ship and cargo captured at sea in wartime.
5. the act of taking or capturing, esp. a ship at sea.
6. Archaic. a contest or match.
adj.
7. having won a prize: a prize bull; a prize play.
8. worthy of a prize.
9. given or awarded as a prize.
[ 1250-1300; in senses referring to something seized, continuing ME prise something captured, a seizing pre ( he ) nsa, n. use of fem. ptp. of pre ( he ) ndere to take; in senses referring to something won, sp. var. of PRICE (ME pris ( e )) since the late 16th century ]
Syn. 1. premium. See reward .
prize 2
/pruyz/ , v.t., prized, prizing .
1. to value or esteem highly.
2. to estimate the worth or value of.
[ 1325-75; ME prisen prisier, var. of preisier to PRAISE ]
Syn. 1. See appreciate .
prize 3
/pruyz/ , v. , prized, prizing , n.
v.t.
1. pry 2 .
n.
2. leverage.
3. a lever.
Also, prise .
[ 1350-1400; ME prise pre ( he ) nsa. See PRIZE 1 ]