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Gerund

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ger⋅und

  [jer-uhnd]
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–noun Grammar.
1. (in certain languages, as Latin) a form regularly derived from a verb and functioning as a noun, having in Latin all case forms but the nominative, as Latin dicendī gen., dicendō, dat., abl., etc., “saying.”
2. the English -ing form of a verb when functioning as a noun, as writing in Writing is easy.
3. a form similar to the Latin gerund in meaning or function.
Origin:
1505–15; < LL gerundium, L gerundum that which is to be carried on, equiv. to ger(ere) to bear, carry on + -undum, var. of -endum, gerund suffix

Related forms:
ge⋅run⋅di⋅al  [juh-ruhn-dee-uhl] , adjective
ge⋅run⋅di⋅al⋅ly, adverb

Usage note:
See me.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ger·und   (jěr'ənd)   
n.  

  1. In Latin, a noun derived from a verb and having all case forms except the nominative.

  2. In other languages, a verbal noun analogous to the Latin gerund, such as the English form ending in -ing when used as a noun, as in singing in We admired the choir's singing.


[Late Latin gerundium, from alteration (modeled on participium, participle) of Latin gerundum, variant of gerendum, neuter gerundive of gerere, to carry on.]
ge·run'di·al (jə-rŭn'dē-əl) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

gerund [(jer-uhnd)]

A form of a verb that ends in -ing and operates as a noun in a sentence: “Thinking can be painful.”

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

gerund 
1513, from L.L. gerundium, from Old Latin gerundum "to be carried out," gerundive of gerere "to bear, carry." In L., a verbal noun used for all cases of the infinitive but the nominative; applied in Eng. to verbal nouns in -ing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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