First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1give
verb \ˈgiv\
gave \ˈgāv\ giv·en \ˈgi-vən\ giv·ing
Definition of GIVE
transitive verb
1
: to make a present of <give a doll to a child>
2
a : to grant or bestow by formal action <the law gives citizens the right to vote> b : to accord or yield to another <gave him her confidence>
3
a : to put into the possession of another for his or her use <gave me his phone number> b (1) : to administer as a sacrament (2) : to administer as a medicine c : to commit to another as a trust or responsibility and usually for an expressed reason d : to transfer from one's authority or custody <the sheriff gave the prisoner to the warden> e : to execute and deliver <all employees must give bond> f : to convey to another <give them my regards>
4
a : to offer to the action of another : proffer <gave her his hand> b : to yield (oneself) to a man in sexual intercourse
5
a : to present in public performance <give a concert> b : to present to view or observation <gave the signal to start>
6
: to provide by way of entertainment <give a party>
7
: to propose as a toast
8
a : to designate as a share or portion : allot <all the earth to thee and to thy race I give — John Milton> b : to make assignment of (a name) c : to set forth as an actual or hypothetical datum <give the dimensions of the room> d : to attribute in thought or utterance : ascribe <gave the credit to you>
9
11
a : to deliver by some bodily action <gave him a push> b : to carry out (as a bodily movement) <gave a cynical smile> c : to inflict as punishment d : to award by formal verdict <judgment was given against the plaintiff>
12
: to offer for consideration, acceptance, or use <gives no reason for his absence>
13
14
a : to cause one to have or receive <mountains always gave him pleasure> b : to cause a person to catch by contagion, infection, or exposure
15
a : to allow one to have or take <give me time> b : to lead or attempt to lead —used with an infinitive <you gave me to understand you'd be late>
16
: to care to the extent of <didn't give a hoot>
intransitive verb
1
: to make gifts or presents
2
a : to yield to physical force or strain b : to collapse from the application of force or pressure c : to undergo or submit to change <for the strike to be settled, something has to give>
3
: to afford a view or passage : open <the window gives onto the terrace>
4
: to enter wholeheartedly into an activity
5
slang : to be happening <wants to know what gives>
— give a good account of
: to acquit (oneself) well
— give birth
: to have a baby <gave birth last Thursday>
— give birth to
1
: to produce as offspring <gave birth to a son>
2
: to be the source of
— give chase
: to set off in pursuit
— give ground
: to withdraw before superior force : retreat
— give of
: to make available : provide generously <freely gave of their time>
— give or take
: as an estimate accurate within (an amount to be added or subtracted)
— give place to
: to be replaced or succeeded by <optimism gave place to worry>
— give rise to
: to be the cause or source of : produce
— give the gun
: to open the throttle of : speed up
— give the lie to
1
: to accuse of falsehood
2
: to show to be false, inaccurate, or invalid
— give tongue
of hounds : to begin barking on the scent
— give way
1
a : retreat b : to yield the right of way
2
: to yield oneself without restraint or control
3
a : to yield to or as if to physical stress b : to yield to entreaty or insistence
4
: to yield place
5
: to begin to row
See give defined for English-language learners
See give defined for kids
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Origin of GIVE
Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Swedish giva to give; akin to Old English giefan, gifan to give, and perhaps to Latin habēre to have, hold
Related to GIVE
Synonym Discussion of GIVE
give, present, donate, bestow, confer, afford mean to convey to another as a possession. give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means <give alms> <gave her a ride on a pony> <give my love to your mother>. present carries a note of formality and ceremony <present an award>. donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity) <donate a piano to the orphanage>. bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver <bestow unwanted advice>. confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor) <confer an honorary degree>. afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver <the trees afford shade> <a development that affords us some hope>.
2give
noun
Definition of GIVE
1
: capacity or tendency to yield to force or strain : flexibility
2
: the quality or state of being springy
See give defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of GIVE
1868
GIVE[1] Defined for Kids
1give
verb \ˈgiv\
gave \ˈgāv\giv·en \ˈgiv-ən\giv·ing
Definition of GIVE for Kids
1
: to hand over to be kept : present <He gave her a present.>
2
: to cause to have <Don't give me trouble.>
3
: to let someone or something have <give permission>
4
: to offer for consideration or acceptance <Can you give an example?>
5
: 2utter <give a yell> <give a speech>
7
: 1pay 1 <She gave me 20 dollars for my old skates.>
8
: to deliver by some bodily action <I gave her a hug.>
9
: to yield as a product : produce <Two plus two gives four.>
10
: to yield slightly <The mattress gave under our weight.>
— give in
: to stop trying to fight <I begged Mom for permission till she gave in.>
— give out
1
: tell 6 <Don't give out your phone number.>
2
: to stop working <The car finally gave out.>
— give up
1
: to let go of <He gave up his seat to an elderly woman.>
2
: quit <Oh, I give up trying to reason with you.>
— give way
1
: to break down : collapse <The bridge gave way.>
2
: to be unable to resist <No one gave way to fear.>
Synonym Discussion of GIVE
give, present, and donate mean to hand over to someone without looking for a return. give can be used of anything that is delivered in any way. <Please give me your coat.> <I gave a friend a gift.> present is used when something is given with some ceremony. <They presented a trophy to the winner.> donate is used for giving to a charity. <Some kind person donated the toys.>
2give
noun
Definition of GIVE for Kids
: the ability to be bent or stretched <The rope was tight, but still had some give.>
Medical Dictionary
give
transitive verb \ˈgiv\
gave \ˈgāv\ giv·en \ˈgiv-ən\ giv·ing
Medical Definition of GIVE
1
: to administer as a medicine
2
: to cause a person to catch by contagion, infection, or exposure
—give birth
: to have a baby <gave birth last Thursday>
—give birth to
: to produce as offspring <gave birth to a daughter>
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