give
vb , gives, giving, gave , given mainly tr
1 also intr to present or deliver voluntarily (something that is one's own) to the permanent possession of another or others
2 often foll by: for to transfer (something that is one's own, esp. money) to the possession of another as part of an exchange
to give fifty pounds for a painting
3 to place in the temporary possession of another
I gave him my watch while I went swimming
4 when intr, foll by: of to grant, provide, or bestow
give me some advice
5 to administer
to give a reprimand
6 to award or attribute
to give blame, praise, etc.
7 to be a source of
he gives no trouble
8 to impart or communicate
to give news, give a person a cold
9 to utter or emit
to give a shout
10 to perform, make, or do
the car gave a jolt and stopped
11 to sacrifice or devote
he gave his life for his country
12 to surrender
to give place to others
13 to concede or yield
I will give you this game
14 intr
Informal to happen
what gives?
15 often foll by: to to cause; lead
she gave me to believe that she would come
16 foll by: for to value (something) at
I don't give anything for his promises
17 to perform or present as an entertainment
to give a play
18 to propose as a toast
I give you the Queen
19 intr to yield or break under force or pressure
this surface will give if you sit on it, his courage will never give
20 ♦
give as good as one gets to respond to verbal or bodily blows to at least an equal extent as those received
21 ♦
give battle to commence fighting
22 ♦
give birth often foll by: to
b to produce, originate, or create (an idea, plan, etc.)
23 ♦
give (a person) five or some skin
Slang to greet or congratulate (someone) by slapping raised hands
24 ♦
give ground to draw back or retreat
25 ♦
give (someone) one (Brit)
taboo slang to have sex with someone
26 ♦
give rise to to be the cause of
27 ♦
give me
Informal I prefer
give me hot weather any day!
28 ♦
give or take plus or minus
three thousand people came, give or take a few hundred
29 ♦
give way See →
way →
24
30 ♦
give (a person) what for
Informal to punish or reprimand (a person) severely
n
31 a tendency to yield under pressure; resilience there's bound to be some give in a long plank, there is no give in his moral views (See also)
→
give away →
give in →
give off →
give onto →
give out →
give over →
give up (Old English giefan; related to Old Norse gefa, Gothic giban, Old High German geban, Swedish giva) ♦
givable, giveable adj ♦
giver n
give-and-take
n
1 mutual concessions, shared benefits, and cooperation
2 a smoothly flowing exchange of ideas and talk
vb
♦
give and take intr
3 to make mutual concessions
give away
vb tr, adv
1 to donate or bestow as a gift, prize, etc.
3 to reveal or betray (esp. in the phrases give the game or show away)
4 to fail to use (an opportunity) through folly or neglect
5 to present (a bride) formally to her husband in a marriage ceremony
6 (Austral. and N.Z.)
informal to give up or abandon (something)
n
♦
giveaway
7 a betrayal or disclosure of information, esp. when unintentional
8 (Chiefly U.S. and Canadian) something given, esp. with articles on sale, at little or no charge to increase sales, attract publicity, etc.
9 (Journalism) another name for →
freesheet
10 (Chiefly U.S. and Canadian) a radio or television programme characterized by the award of money and prizes
a very cheap (esp. in the phrase giveaway prices)
b free of charge
a giveaway property magazine
give in
vb adv
1 intr to yield; admit defeat
2 tr to submit or deliver (a document)
give off
vb tr, adv to emit or discharge
the mothballs gave off an acrid odour
give onto
vb intr; prep to afford a view or prospect of
their new house gives onto the sea
give out
vb adv
1 tr to emit or discharge
2 tr to publish or make known
the chairman gave out that he would resign
3 tr to hand out or distribute
they gave out free chewing gum on the street
4 intr to become exhausted; fail
the supply of candles gave out
5 intr; foll by: to (Irish)
informal to reprimand (someone) at length
6 tr (Cricket) (of an umpire) to declare (a batsman) dismissed
give over
vb adv
1 tr to transfer, esp. to the care or custody of another
2 tr to assign or resign to a specific purpose or function
the day was given over to pleasure
3 Informal to cease (an activity)
give over fighting, will you!
give up
vb adv
2 tr to renounce (an activity, belief, etc.)
I have given up smoking
3 tr to relinquish or resign from
he gave up the presidency
4 tr; usually reflexive to surrender
the escaped convict gave himself up
5 tr to reveal or disclose (information)
6 intr to admit one's defeat or inability to do something
7 tr; often passive or reflexive to devote completely (to)
she gave herself up to caring for the sick