Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

give       (gĭv)  Pronunciation Key  v.   gave (gāv), giv·en (gĭv'ən), giv·ing, gives v.   tr. To make a present of: We gave her flowers for her birthday. To place in the hands of; pass: Give me the scissors. To deliver in exchange or recompense; pay: gave five dollars for the book. To let go for a price; sell: gave the used car away for two thousand dollars. To administer: give him some cough medicine. To convey by a physical action: gave me a punch in the nose. To inflict as punishment: gave the child a spanking; was given life imprisonment for the crime. Law To accord by verdict: A decision was given for the plaintiff. To bestow, especially officially; confer: The Bill of Rights gives us freedom of speech. To accord or tender to another: Give him your confidence. To put temporarily at the disposal of: gave them the cottage for a week. To entrust to another, usually for a specified reason: gave me the keys for safekeeping. To convey or offer for conveyance: Give him my best wishes. Law To execute and deliver. Used especially in the phrase give bond. To endure the loss of; sacrifice: gave her son to the war; gave her life for her country. To devote or apply completely: gives herself to her work. To furnish or contribute: gave their time to help others. To offer in good faith; pledge: Give me your word. To allot as a portion or share. To bestow (a name, for example). To attribute (blame, for example) to someone; assign. To award as due: gave us first prize. To proffer to another: gave the toddler my hand. To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with a man. To perform for an audience: give a recital. To present to view: gave the sign to begin. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party. To propose as a toast. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report. To yield or produce: Cows give milk. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start. To administer: give him some cough medicine. To convey by a physical action: gave me a punch in the nose. To inflict as punishment: gave the child a spanking; was given life imprisonment for the crime. Law To accord by verdict: A decision was given for the plaintiff. To bestow, especially officially; confer: The Bill of Rights gives us freedom of speech. To accord or tender to another: Give him your confidence. To put temporarily at the disposal of: gave them the cottage for a week. To entrust to another, usually for a specified reason: gave me the keys for safekeeping. To convey or offer for conveyance: Give him my best wishes. Law To execute and deliver. Used especially in the phrase give bond. To endure the loss of; sacrifice: gave her son to the war; gave her life for her country. To devote or apply completely: gives herself to her work. To furnish or contribute: gave their time to help others. To offer in good faith; pledge: Give me your word. To allot as a portion or share. To bestow (a name, for example). To attribute (blame, for example) to someone; assign. To award as due: gave us first prize. To proffer to another: gave the toddler my hand. To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with a man. To perform for an audience: give a recital. To present to view: gave the sign to begin. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party. To propose as a toast. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report. To yield or produce: Cows give milk. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start. To bestow, especially officially; confer: The Bill of Rights gives us freedom of speech. To accord or tender to another: Give him your confidence. To put temporarily at the disposal of: gave them the cottage for a week. To entrust to another, usually for a specified reason: gave me the keys for safekeeping. To convey or offer for conveyance: Give him my best wishes. Law To execute and deliver. Used especially in the phrase give bond. To endure the loss of; sacrifice: gave her son to the war; gave her life for her country. To devote or apply completely: gives herself to her work. To furnish or contribute: gave their time to help others. To offer in good faith; pledge: Give me your word. To allot as a portion or share. To bestow (a name, for example). To attribute (blame, for example) to someone; assign. To award as due: gave us first prize. To proffer to another: gave the toddler my hand. To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with a man. To perform for an audience: give a recital. To present to view: gave the sign to begin. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party. To propose as a toast. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report. To yield or produce: Cows give milk. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start. To endure the loss of; sacrifice: gave her son to the war; gave her life for her country. To devote or apply completely: gives herself to her work. To furnish or contribute: gave their time to help others. To offer in good faith; pledge: Give me your word. To allot as a portion or share. To bestow (a name, for example). To attribute (blame, for example) to someone; assign. To award as due: gave us first prize. To proffer to another: gave the toddler my hand. To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with a man. To perform for an audience: give a recital. To present to view: gave the sign to begin. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party. To propose as a toast. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report. To yield or produce: Cows give milk. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start. To allot as a portion or share. To bestow (a name, for example). To attribute (blame, for example) to someone; assign. To award as due: gave us first prize. To proffer to another: gave the toddler my hand. To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with a man. To perform for an audience: give a recital. To present to view: gave the sign to begin. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party. To propose as a toast. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report. To yield or produce: Cows give milk. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start. To emit or utter: gave a groan; gave a muted response. To submit for consideration, acceptance, or use: give an opinion; give an excuse. To proffer to another: gave the toddler my hand. To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with a man. To perform for an audience: give a recital. To present to view: gave the sign to begin. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party. To propose as a toast. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report. To yield or produce: Cows give milk. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start. To perform for an audience: give a recital. To present to view: gave the sign to begin. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party. To propose as a toast. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report. To yield or produce: Cows give milk. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start. To offer as entertainment: give a dinner party. To propose as a toast. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report. To yield or produce: Cows give milk. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start. To be a source of; afford: His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure. To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition): The draft gave me a cold. To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase: You gave me to imagine you approved of my report. To yield or produce: Cows give milk. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start. To yield or produce: Cows give milk. To bring forth or bear: trees that give fruit. To produce as a result of calculation: 5 × 12 gives 60. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start. To manifest or show: gives promise of brilliance; gave evidence of tampering. To carry out (a physical movement): give a wink; give a start. To permit one to have or take: gave us an hour to finish. To take an interest to the extent of: "My dear, I don't give a damn" (Margaret Mitchell). v.   intr. To make gifts or donations: gives generously to charity. To yield to physical force. To collapse from force or pressure: The roof gave under the weight of the snow. To yield to change: Both sides will have to give on some issues. To afford access or a view; open: The doors give onto a terrace. Slang To be in progress; happen: What gives? n.   Capacity or inclination to yield under pressure. The quality or condition of resilience; springiness: "Fruits that have some give ... will have more juice than hard ones" (Elizabeth Schneider). To make a gift of. To present (a bride) to the bridegroom at a wedding ceremony. To reveal or make known, often accidentally. To betray. To devote to a particular purpose or use: gave the day over to merrymaking. To surrender (oneself) completely; abandon: finally gave myself over to grief. To surrender: The suspects gave themselves up. To devote (oneself) completely: gave herself up to her work. To cease to do or perform: gave up their search. To desist from; stop: gave up smoking. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago. To hand in; submit: She gave in her report. To cease opposition; yield. To allow to be known; declare publicly: gave out the bad news. To send forth; emit: gave out a steady buzzing. To distribute: gave out the surplus food. To stop functioning; fail. To become used up or exhausted; run out: Their determination finally gave out. To hand over; entrust. To devote to a particular purpose or use: gave the day over to merrymaking. To surrender (oneself) completely; abandon: finally gave myself over to grief. To surrender: The suspects gave themselves up. To devote (oneself) completely: gave herself up to her work. To cease to do or perform: gave up their search. To desist from; stop: gave up smoking. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago. To cause an activity to stop: ordered the combatants to give over. To surrender: The suspects gave themselves up. To devote (oneself) completely: gave herself up to her work. To cease to do or perform: gave up their search. To desist from; stop: gave up smoking. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago. To cease to do or perform: gave up their search. To desist from; stop: gave up smoking. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago. To part with; relinquish: gave up the apartment; gave up all hope. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago. To admit defeat. To abandon what one is doing or planning to do: gave up on writing the novel. Phrasal Verb(s): give away To make a gift of. To present (a bride) to the bridegroom at a wedding ceremony. To reveal or make known, often accidentally. To betray. give back To return: gave me back my book. give in To hand in; submit: She gave in her report. To cease opposition; yield. give of To devote or contribute: She really gave of her time to help. They give of themselves to improve the quality of education. give off To send forth; emit: chemical changes that give off energy. give out To allow to be known; declare publicly: gave out the bad news. To send forth; emit: gave out a steady buzzing. To distribute: gave out the surplus food. To stop functioning; fail. To become used up or exhausted; run out: Their determination finally gave out. give over To hand over; entrust. To devote to a particular purpose or use: gave the day over to merrymaking. To surrender (oneself) completely; abandon: finally gave myself over to grief. To cause an activity to stop: ordered the combatants to give over. give up To surrender: The suspects gave themselves up. To devote (oneself) completely: gave herself up to her work. To cease to do or perform: gave up their search. To desist from; stop: gave up smoking. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago. To cease to do or perform: gave up their search. To desist from; stop: gave up smoking. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago. To part with; relinquish: gave up the apartment; gave up all hope. To lose hope for: We had given the dog up as lost. To lose hope of seeing: We'd given you up an hour ago. To admit defeat. To abandon what one is doing or planning to do: gave up on writing the novel. Idiom(s): give a good account of (oneself) To behave or perform creditably. Idiom(s): give birth to To bear as offspring. To be the origin of: a hobby that gave birth to a successful business. Idiom(s): give ground To yield to a more powerful force; retreat. Idiom(s): give it to Informal To punish or reprimand severely: My parents really gave it to me for coming in late. Idiom(s): give or take Plus or minus a small specified amount: The chalet is close to the road, give or take a few hundred yards. Idiom(s): give rise to To be the cause or origin of; bring about. Idiom(s): give (someone) a hard time To make life difficult for; harass. To make fun of; tease. Idiom(s): give (someone) the eye To look at admiringly or invitingly. Idiom(s): give the lie to To show to be inaccurate or untrue. To accuse of lying. Idiom(s): give up the ghost To cease living or functioning; die. Idiom(s): give way To retreat or withdraw. To yield the right of way: gave way to an oncoming car. To relinquish ascendancy or position: as day gives way slowly to night. To collapse from or as if from physical pressure: The ladder gave way. To yield to urging or demand; give in. To collapse from or as if from physical pressure: The ladder gave way. To yield to urging or demand; give in. To abandon oneself: give way to hysteria. [Middle English given, from Old English giefan and Old Norse gefa; see ghabh- in Indo-European roots.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
give 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

give
noun
1.	the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
verb
1.	cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense; "She gave him a black eye"; "The draft gave me a cold"
2.	be the cause or source of; "He gave me a lot of trouble"; "Our meeting afforded much interesting information" [syn: yield]
3.	transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody; "I gave her my money"; "can you give me lessons?"; "She gave the children lots of love and tender loving care" [ant: take]
4.	convey or reveal information; "Give one's name"
5.	convey, as of a compliment, regards, attention, etc.; bestow; "Don't pay him any mind"; "give the orders"; "Give him my best regards"; "pay attention"
6.	organize or be responsible for; "hold a reception"; "have, throw, or make a party"; "give a course" [syn: hold]
7.	convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture; "Throw a glance"; "She gave me a dirty look"
8.	give as a present; make a gift of; "What will you give her for her birthday?"
9.	cause to happen or be responsible for; "His two singles gave the team the victory"
10.	dedicate; "give thought to"; "give priority to"; "pay attention to"
11.	give or supply; "The cow brings in 5 liters of milk"; "This year's crop yielded 1,000 bushels of corn"; "The estate renders some revenue for the family" [syn: render]
12.	transmit (knowledge or skills); "give a secret to the Russians"; "leave your name and address here"; "impart a new skill to the students" [syn: impart]
13.	bring about; "The trompe l'oeil-illusion establishes depth" [syn: establish]
14.	leave with; give temporarily; "Can I give you my keys while I go in the pool?"; "Can I give you the children for the weekend?"
15.	emit or utter; "Give a gulp"; "give a yelp"
16.	endure the loss of; "He gave his life for his children"; "I gave two sons to the war" [syn: sacrifice]
17.	place into the hands or custody of; "hand me the spoon, please"; "Turn the files over to me, please"; "He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers" [syn: pass]
18.	give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause; "She committed herself to the work of God"; "give one's talents to a good cause"; "consecrate your life to the church"
19.	give (as medicine); "I gave him the drug"
20.	give or convey physically; "She gave him First Aid"; "I gave him a punch in the nose"
21.	bestow; "give homage"; "render thanks"
22.	bestow, especially officially; "grant a degree"; "give a divorce"; "This bill grants us new rights" [syn: grant]
23.	move in order to make room for someone for something; "The park gave way to a supermarket"; "'Move over,' he told the crowd" [syn: move over]
24.	give food to; "Feed the starving children in India"; "don't give the child this tough meat" [syn: feed] [ant: famish]
25.	contribute to some cause; "I gave at the office" [syn: contribute]
26.	break down, literally or metaphorically; "The wall collapsed"; "The business collapsed"; "The dam broke"; "The roof collapsed"; "The wall gave in"; "The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice" [syn: collapse]
27.	estimate the duration or outcome of something; "He gave the patient three months to live"; "I gave him a very good chance at success"
28.	execute and deliver; "Give bond"
29.	deliver in exchange or recompense; "I'll give you three books for four CDs"
30.	afford access to; "the door opens to the patio"; "The French doors give onto a terrace" [syn: afford]
31.	present to view; "He gave the sign to start"
32.	perform for an audience; "Pollini is giving another concert in New York"
33.	be flexible under stress of physical force; "This material doesn't give"
34.	propose; "He gave the first of many toasts at the birthday party"
35.	accord by verdict; "give a decision for the plaintiff"
36.	manifest or show; "This student gives promise of real creativity"; "The office gave evidence of tampering"
37.	offer in good faith; "He gave her his word"
38.	submit for consideration, judgment, or use; "give one's opinion"; "give an excuse"
39.	guide or direct, as by behavior of persuasion; "You gave me to think that you agreed with me"
40.	allow to have or take; "I give you two minutes to respond"
41.	inflict as a punishment; "She gave the boy a good spanking"; "The judge gave me 10 years"
42.	occur; "what gives?"
43.	consent to engage in sexual intercourse with a man; "She gave herself to many men"
44.	proffer (a body part); "She gave her hand to her little sister"

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

give

In addition to the idioms beginning with give, also see hard time (give someone a); Indian giver; never give a sucker an even break; not care (give) a rap; not give someone the time of day; what's cooking (gives). Also see under idioms beginning with get and have.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: give
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: gave; giv·en; giv·ing
1 a : to make a gift of give the remainder of my estate to my wife> —compare CONVEY, SELL b : to grant or bestow by formal action gives citizens the right to vote>
2 a : to transfer from one's authority or custody gave the prisoner to the warden> b : to execute and deliver give bond> c : to communicate or impart to another give adequate notice> d : to offer or submit for the consideration of another <give testimony in court>
3 : to yield possession of by way of exchange give top dollar for your used car>
4 a : to impose as punishment b : to award by formal verdict given against the plaintiff> —giv·er noun

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Give

Give\ (g[i^]v), v. t. [imp. Gave (g[=a]v); p. p. Given (g[i^]v"'n); p. pr. & vb. n. Giving.] [OE. given, yiven, yeven, AS. gifan, giefan; akin to D. geven, OS. ge[eth]an, OHG. geban, G. geben, Icel. gefa, Sw. gifva, Dan. give, Goth. giban. Cf. Gift, n.]

1. To bestow without receiving a return; to confer without compensation; to impart, as a possession; to grant, as authority or permission; to yield up or allow.

For generous lords had rather give than pay. --Young.

2. To yield possesion of; to deliver over, as property, in exchange for something; to pay; as, we give the value of what we buy.

What shall a man give in exchange for his soul ? --Matt. xvi. 26.

3. To yield; to furnish; to produce; to emit; as, flint and steel give sparks.

4. To communicate or announce, as advice, tidings, etc.; to pronounce; to render or utter, as an opinion, a judgment, a sentence, a shout, etc.

5. To grant power or license to; to permit; to allow; to license; to commission.

It is given me once again to behold my friend. --Rowe.

Then give thy friend to shed the sacred wine. --Pope.

6. To exhibit as a product or result; to produce; to show; as, the number of men, divided by the number of ships, gives four hundred to each ship.

7. To devote; to apply; used reflexively, to devote or apply one's self; as, the soldiers give themselves to plunder; also in this sense used very frequently in the past participle; as, the people are given to luxury and pleasure; the youth is given to study.

8. (Logic & Math.) To set forth as a known quantity or a known relation, or as a premise from which to reason; -- used principally in the passive form given.

9. To allow or admit by way of supposition.

I give not heaven for lost. --Mlton.

10. To attribute; to assign; to adjudge.

I don't wonder at people's giving him to me as a lover. --Sheridan.

11. To excite or cause to exist, as a sensation; as, to give offense; to give pleasure or pain.

12. To pledge; as, to give one's word.

13. To cause; to make; -- with the infinitive; as, to give one to understand, to know, etc.

But there the duke was given to understand That in a gondola were seen together Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica. --Shak.

To give away, to make over to another; to transfer.

Whatsoever we employ in charitable uses during our lives, is given away from ourselves. --Atterbury.

To give back, to return; to restore. --Atterbury.

To give the bag, to cheat. [Obs.]

I fear our ears have given us the bag. --J. Webster.

To give birth to. (a) To bear or bring forth, as a child. (b) To originate; to give existence to, as an enterprise, idea.

To give chase, to pursue.

To give ear to. See under Ear.

To give forth, to give out; to publish; to tell. --Hayward.

To give ground. See under Ground, n.

To give the hand, to pledge friendship or faith.

To give the hand of, to espouse; to bestow in marriage.

To give the head. See under Head, n.

To give in. (a) To abate; to deduct. (b) To declare; to make known; to announce; to tender; as, to give in one's adhesion to a party.

To give the lie to (a person), to tell (him) that he lies.

To give line. See under Line.

To give off, to emit, as steam, vapor, odor, etc.

To give one's self away, to make an inconsiderate surrender of one's cause, an unintentional disclosure of one's purposes, or the like. [Colloq.]

To give out. (a) To utter publicly; to report; to announce or declare.

One that gives out himself Prince Florizel. --Shak.

Give out you are of Epidamnum. --Shak. (b) To send out; to emit; to distribute; as, a substance gives out steam or odors.

To give over. (a) To yield completely; to quit; to abandon. (b) To despair of. (c) To addict, resign, or apply (one's self).

The Babylonians had given themselves over to all manner of vice. --Grew.

To give place, to withdraw; to yield one's claim.

To give points. (a) In games of skill, to equalize chances by conceding a certain advantage; to allow a handicap. (b) To give useful suggestions. [Colloq.]

To give rein. See under Rein, n.

To give the sack. Same as To give the bag.

To give and take. (a) To average gains and losses. (b) To exchange freely, as blows, sarcasms, etc.

To give time (Law), to accord extension or forbearance to a debtor. --Abbott.

To give the time of day, to salute one with the compliment appropriate to the hour, as "good morning." "good evening", etc.

To give tongue, in hunter's phrase, to bark; -- said of dogs.

To give up. (a) To abandon; to surrender. "Don't give up the ship."

He has . . . given up For certain drops of salt, your city Rome. --Shak. (b) To make public; to reveal.

I'll not state them By giving up their characters. --Beau. & Fl. (c) (Used also reflexively.)

To give up the ghost. See under Ghost.

To give one's self up, to abandon hope; to despair; to surrender one's self.

To give way. (a) To withdraw; to give place. (b) To yield to force or pressure; as, the scaffolding gave way. (c) (Naut.) To begin to row; or to row with increased energy. (d) (Stock Exchange). To depreciate or decline in value; as, railroad securities gave way two per cent.

To give way together, to row in time; to keep stroke.

Syn: To Give, Confer, Grant.

Usage: To give is the generic word, embracing all the rest. To confer was originally used of persons in power, who gave permanent grants or privileges; as, to confer the order of knighthood; and hence it still denotes the giving of something which might have been withheld; as, to confer a favor. To grant is to give in answer to a petition or request, or to one who is in some way dependent or inferior.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Give

Give\, v. i. 1. To give a gift or gifts.

2. To yield to force or pressure; to relax; to become less rigid; as, the earth gives under the feet.

3. To become soft or moist. [Obs.] --Bacon .

4. To move; to recede.

Now back he gives, then rushes on amain. --Daniel.

5. To shed tears; to weep. [Obs.]

Whose eyes do never give But through lust and laughter. --Shak.

6. To have a misgiving. [Obs.]

My mind gives ye're reserved To rob poor market women. --J. Webster.

7. To open; to lead. [A Gallicism]

This, yielding, gave into a grassy walk. --Tennyson.

To give back, to recede; to retire; to retreat.

They gave back and came no farther. --Bunyan.

To give in, to yield; to succumb; to acknowledge one's self beaten; to cease opposition.

The Scots battalion was enforced to give in. --Hayward.

This consideration may induce a translator to give in to those general phrases. --Pope.

To give off, to cease; to forbear. [Obs.] --Locke.

To give

on or upon. (a) To rush; to fall upon. [Obs.] (b) To have a view of; to be in sight of; to overlook; to look toward; to open upon; to front; to face. [A Gallicism: cf. Fr. donner sur.]

Rooms which gave upon a pillared porch. --Tennyson.

The gloomy staircase on which the grating gave. --Dickens.

To give out. (a) To expend all one's strength. Hence: (b) To cease from exertion; to fail; to be exhausted; as, my feet being to give out; the flour has given out.

To give over, to cease; to discontinue; to desist.

It would be well for all authors, if they knew when to give over, and to desist from any further pursuits after fame. --Addison.

To give up, to cease from effort; to yield; to despair; as, he would never give up.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Give

Give\, v. t. To afford a view of; as, his window gave the park.