the area of interior wall between a window stool and the floor.
17.
Mining. the roof of a stope or drift.
18.
Sports.
a.
a player whose regular position is behind that of players who make initial contact with the opposing team, as behind the forward line in football or nearest the player's own goal in polo.
b.
the position occupied by this player.
–verb (used with object)
19.
to support, as with authority, influence, help, or money (often fol. by up): to back a candidate; to back up a theory with facts.
20.
to bet on: to back a horse in the race.
21.
to cause to move backward (often fol. by up): to back a car.
22.
to furnish with a back: to back a book.
23.
to lie at the back of; form a back or background for: a beach backed by hills.
24.
to provide with an accompaniment: a singer backed by piano and bass.
25.
to get upon the back of; mount.
26.
to write or print on the back of; endorse; countersign.
27.
Carpentry. to attach strips of wood to the upper edge of (a joist or rafter) to bring it to a desired level.
28.
Nautical.
a.
to alter the position of (a sail) so that the wind will strike the forward face.
b.
to brace (yards) in backing a sail.
c.
to reinforce the hold of (an anchor) by means of a smaller one attached to it and dropped farther away.
–verb (used without object)
29.
to go or move backward (often fol. by up).
30.
Nautical. (of wind) to change direction counterclockwise (opposed to veer).
–adjective
31.
situated at or in the rear: at the back door; back fence.
32.
far away or removed from the front or main area, position, or rank; remote: back settlements.
33.
belonging to the past: back files; back issues.
34.
in arrears; overdue: back pay.
35.
coming or going back; moving backward: back current.
Phonetics. (of a speech sound) produced with the tongue articulating in the back part of the mouth, as in either of the sounds of go.
—Verb phrases
38.
back away, to retreat; withdraw: They gradually began to back away from their earlier opinion.
39.
back down, to abandon an argument, opinion, or claim; withdraw; retreat: He backed down as soon as a member of the audience challenged his assertion.
40.
back off,
a.
to back down: Now that the time for action had arrived, it was too late to back off.
b.
Textiles. to reverse (the spindle) in mule spinning prior to winding on the newly spun length of yarn.
41.
back out or out of, to fail to keep an engagement or promise; withdraw from; abandon: Two entrants have backed out of competing in the marathon. You can't back out now.
42.
back up,
a.
to bring (a stream of traffic) to a standstill: A stalled car backed up traffic for miles.
b.
Printing. to print a sheet again on its other side.
c.
Printing. to fill in (the thin copper shell of an electrotype) with metal in order to strengthen it.
d.
to move backward: Back up into the garage.
e.
to reinforce: We backed up the cardboard with slats so it wouldn't fall down.
f.
to support or confirm: He backed up my story and they let us go.
g.
Computers. to duplicate (a file or a program) as a precaution against failure.
43.
back up for, AustralianInformal. to return for more of, as another helping of food.
—Idioms
44.
back and fill,
a.
Nautical. to trim the sails of a boat so that the wind strikes them first on the forward and then on the after side.
b.
to change one's opinion or position; vacillate.
45.
back and forth, South Midland U.S.
a.
to go back and forth, as in running errands or visiting: He spent the day backing and forthing to the post office.
b.
to work in an aimless or ineffective way; expend effort with little result.
46.
back water,
a.
Nautical. to reverse the direction of a vessel.
b.
to retreat from a position; withdraw an opinion: I predict that the council will back water on the tax issue.
47.
be flat on one's back,
a.
to be helpless or beaten: He's flat on his back after a long succession of failures.
b.
to be confined to one's bed because of illness.
48.
behind one's back, in one's absence; without one's knowledge; treacherously; secretly: I'd rather talk to him about it directly than discuss it behind his back.
49.
break someone's back, to cause a person to fail, esp. to cause to become bankrupt: His family's extravagance is breaking his back.
50.
break the back of,
a.
to complete the principal or hardest part of (a project, one's work, etc.): He finally broke the back of the problem.
b.
to overcome; defeat: They broke the back of our union.
51.
get off one's back, Informal. to cease to find fault with or to disturb someone: The fight started when they wouldn't get off my back.
52.
get one's back up, Informal. to become annoyed; take offense: She gets her back up whenever someone mentions her family's influence.
53.
have one's back to the wall, to be in a difficult or hopeless situation.
54.
in back of, behind: He hid in back of the billboard. What could be in back of his strange behavior? Also, back of.
55.
on one's back, Informal. finding fault with or disturbing someone: The boss is always on my back about promptness.
to forsake or neglect: He was unable to turn his back on any suffering creature.
b.
to leave behind, as in anger.
Origin: bef. 1000; ME bak, OE bæc back of the body; c. OFris bek, OS, ON bak; perh. < IE *bhogo- bending; cf. bacon
Related forms:
backless, adjective
Synonyms: 19.sustain, abet, favor, assist; countenance, endorse. 29.retire, retreat, withdraw. 31.Back,hind,posterior,rear refer to something situated behind something else. Back means the opposite of front: back window. Hind, and the more formal word posterior, suggest the rearmost of two or more often similar objects: hind legs; posterior lobe. Rear is used of buildings, conveyances, etc., and in military language it is the opposite of fore: rear end of a truck; rear echelon.
Antonyms: 1, 31.front.
Usage note: 51.Although some object to their use, the phrases in back of and the shorter—and much older—back of with the meaning “behind” are fully established as standard in American English: The car was parked (in) back of the house. Both phrases occur in all types of speech and writing.
to receive or come to have possession, use, or enjoyment of: to get a birthday present; to get a pension.
2.
to cause to be in one's possession or succeed in having available for one's use or enjoyment; obtain; acquire: to get a good price after bargaining; to get oil by drilling; to get information.
3.
to go after, take hold of, and bring (something) for one's own or for another's purposes; fetch: Would you get the milk from the refrigerator for me?
4.
to cause or cause to become, to do, to move, etc., as specified; effect: to get one's hair cut; to get a person drunk; to get a fire to burn; to get a dog out of a room.
5.
to communicate or establish communication with over a distance; reach: You can always get me by telephone.
6.
to hear or hear clearly: I didn't get your last name.
7.
to acquire a mental grasp or command of; learn: to get a lesson.
8.
to capture; seize: Get him before he escapes!
9.
to receive as a punishment or sentence: to get a spanking; to get 20 years in jail.
10.
to prevail on; influence or persuade: We'll get him to go with us.
11.
to prepare; make ready: to get dinner.
12.
(esp. of animals) to beget.
13.
Informal. to affect emotionally: Her pleas got me.
14.
to hit, strike, or wound: The bullet got him in the leg.
15.
Informal. to kill.
16.
Informal. to take vengeance on: I'll get you yet!
17.
to catch or be afflicted with; come down with or suffer from: He got malaria while living in the tropics. She gets butterflies before every performance.
18.
Informal. to puzzle; irritate; annoy: Their silly remarks get me.
19.
Informal. to understand; comprehend: I don't get the joke. This report may be crystal-clear to a scientist, but I don't get it.
–verb (used without object)
20.
to come to a specified place; arrive; reach: to get home late.
21.
to succeed, become enabled, or be permitted: You get to meet a lot of interesting people.
22.
to become or to cause oneself to become as specified; reach a certain condition: to get angry; to get sick.
23.
(used as an auxiliary verb fol. by a past participle to form the passive): to get married; to get elected; to get hit by a car.
24.
to succeed in coming, going, arriving at, visiting, etc. (usually fol. by away, in, into, out, etc.): I don't get into town very often.
25.
to bear, endure, or survive (usually fol. by through or over): Can he get through another bad winter?
26.
to earn money; gain.
27.
Informal. to leave promptly; scram: He told us to get.
28.
to start or enter upon the action of (fol. by a present participle expressing action): to get moving; Get rolling.
–noun
29.
an offspring or the total of the offspring, esp. of a male animal: the get of a stallion.
30.
a return of a ball, as in tennis, that would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent.
31.
BritishSlang.
a.
something earned, as salary, profits, etc.: What's your week's get?
b.
a child born out of wedlock.
—Verb phrases
32.
get about,
a.
to move about; be active: He gets about with difficulty since his illness.
b.
to become known; spread: It was supposed to be a secret, but somehow it got about.
c.
to be socially active: She's been getting about much more since her family moved to the city.
Also, get around.
33.
get across,
a.
to make or become understandable; communicate: to get a lesson across to students.
b.
to be convincing about; impress upon others: The fire chief got across forcefully the fact that turning in a false alarm is a serious offense.
34.
get ahead, to be successful, as in business or society: She got ahead by sheer determination.
35.
get ahead of,
a.
to move forward of, as in traveling: The taxi got ahead of her after the light changed.
b.
to surpass; outdo: He refused to let anyone get ahead of him in business.
to begin; act: They wanted to get going on the construction of the house.
b.
to increase one's speed; make haste: If we don't get going, we'll never arrive in time.
53.
get it, Informal.
a.
to be punished or reprimanded: You'll get it for breaking that vase!
b.
to understand or grasp something: This is just between us, get it?
54.
get it off, Slang:Vulgar. to experience orgasm.
55.
get it on,
a.
Informal. to work or perform with satisfying harmony or energy or develop a strong rapport, as in music: a rock group really getting it on with the audience.
b.
Slang:Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse.
56.
get it up, Slang:Vulgar, to achieve an erection of the penis.
57.
get off on, Slang. to become enthusiastic about or excited by: After years of indifference, she's getting off on baseball.
get there, to reach one's goal; succeed: He wanted to be a millionaire but he died before he got there.
61.
get together,
a.
to accumulate; gather: to get together a portfolio of 20 stocks.
b.
to congregate; meet: The alumnae chapter gets together twice a year.
c.
to come to an accord; agree: They simply couldn't get together on matters of policy.
62.
get up,
a.
to sit up or stand; arise.
b.
to rise from bed.
c.
to ascend or mount.
d.
to prepare; arrange; organize: to get up an exhibit.
e.
to draw upon; marshal; rouse: to get up one's courage.
f.
to acquire a knowledge of.
g.
(to a horse) go! go ahead! go faster!
h.
to dress, as in a costume or disguise: She got herself up as an astronaut.
i.
to produce in a specified style, as a book: It was got up in brown leather with gold endpapers.
63.
has or have got,
a.
to possess or own; have: She's got a new car. Have you got the tickets?
b.
must (fol. by an infinitive): He's got to get to a doctor right away.
c.
to suffer from: Have you got a cold?
Origin: 1150–1200; (v.) ME geten < ON geta to obtain, beget; c. OE -gietan (> ME yeten), G -gessen, in vergessen to forget; (n.) ME: something gotten, offspring, deriv. of the v.
Related forms:
get⋅ta⋅ble, get⋅a⋅ble, adjective
Synonyms: 1, 2.Get,obtain,acquire,procure,secure imply gaining possession of something. Get may apply to coming into possession in any manner, and either voluntarily or not. Obtain suggests putting forth effort to gain possession, and acquire stresses the possessing after an (often prolonged) effort. Procure suggests the method of obtaining, as that of search or choice. Secure, considered in bad taste as a would-be-elegant substitute for get, is, however, when used with discrimination, a perfectly proper word. It suggests making possession sure and safe, after obtaining something by competition or the like. 2.win, gain. 7.apprehend, grasp. 10.induce, dispose. 12.engender.
Usage note: For nearly 400 years, forms of get have been used with a following past participle to form the passive voice: She got engaged when she was 19. He won't get accepted with those grades. This use of get rather than of forms of to be in the passive is found today chiefly in speech and informal writing. In British English got is the regular past participle of get, and gotten survives only in a few set phrases, such as ill-gotten gains. In American English gotten, although occasionally criticized, is an alternative standard past participle in most senses, especially in the senses “to receive” or “to acquire”: I have gotten (or got) all that I ever hoped for. Have or has got in the sense “must” has been in use since the early 19th century; often the have or has is contracted: You've got to carry your passport at all times. The use of have (or has) got in the sense of “to possess” goes back to the 15th century; it is also frequently contracted: She's got a master's degree in biology. These uses are occasionally criticized as redundant on the grounds that have alone expresses the meaning adequately, but they are well established and fully standard in all varieties of speech and writing. In some contexts in American English, substituting gotten for got produces a change in meaning: She's got (possesses) a new job. She's gotten (has aquired) a new job. He's got to (must) attend the wedding. He's gotten to (has been allowed or enabled to) attend. The children have got (are suffering from) the measles. The children have gotten (have caught) the measles. The use of got without have or has to mean “must” (I got to buy a new suit) is characteristic of the most relaxed, informal speech and does not occur in edited writing except in representations of speech. Gotta is a pronunciation spelling representing this use.
Pronunciation note: The pronunciation/gɪt/Show Spelled Pronunciation[git]Show IPAfor get has existed since the 16th century. The same change is exhibited in/kɪn/[kin]for can and/yɪt/[yit]for yet. The pronunciation /gɪt/[git]is not regional and occurs in all parts of the country. It is most common as an unstressed syllable: Let's get going! /ˈlɛtsgɪtˈgoʊɪŋ/[lets--git-goh-ing]. In educated speech the pronunciation /gɪt/[git]in stressed syllables is rare and sometimes criticized. When get is an imperative meaning “leave immediately,” the pronunciation is usually facetious: Now get! /ˌnaʊˈgɪt/[nou--git].
of, pertaining to, or belonging to oneself or itself (usually used after a possessive to emphasize the idea of ownership, interest, or relation conveyed by the possessive): He spent only his own money.
2.
(used as an intensifier to indicate oneself as the sole agent of some activity or action, prec. by a possessive): He insists on being his own doctor.
–verb (used with object)
3.
to have or hold as one's own; possess: They own several homes.
4.
to acknowledge or admit: to own a fault.
5.
to acknowledge as one's own; recognize as having full claim, authority, power, dominion, etc.: He owned his child before the entire assembly. They owned the king as their lord.
–verb (used without object)
6.
to confess (often fol. by to, up, or up to): The one who did it had better own up. I own to being uncertain about that.
—Idioms
7.
come into one's own,
a.
to take possession of that which is due or owed one.
b.
to receive the recognition that one's abilities merit: She finally came into her own as a sculptor of the first magnitude.
8.
get one's own back, to get revenge and thereby a sense of personal satisfaction, as for a slight or a previous setback; get even with somebody or something: He saw the award as a way of getting his own back for all the snubs by his colleagues.
9.
hold one's own,
a.
to maintain one's position or condition: The stock market seems to be holding its own these days.
b.
to be equal to the opposition: He can hold his own in any fight.
10.
of one's own, belonging to oneself: She had never had a room of her own.
11.
on one's own,
a.
by dint of one's own efforts, resources, or sense of responsibility; independently: Because she spoke the language, she got around the country very well on her own.
b.
living or functioning without dependence on others; independent: My son's been on his own for several years.
Origin: bef. 900; (adj.) ME owen, OE āgen (c. G eigen, ON eigenn), orig. ptp. of āgan to possess (see owe); (v.) ME ownen, OE āgnian, āhnian, deriv. of āgen
get (gět) v.
got (gŏt), got·ten (gŏt'n) or got, get·ting, gets
v.
tr.
To come into possession or use of; receive: got a cat for her birthday.
To meet with or incur: got nothing but trouble for her efforts.
To go after and obtain: got a book at the library; got breakfast in town.
To go after and bring: Get me a pillow.
To purchase; buy: get groceries.
To acquire as a result of action or effort: He got his information from the Internet. You can't get water out of a stone.
To earn: got high marks in math.
To accomplish or attain as a result of military action.
To arrive at; reach: When did you get home?
To reach and board; catch: She got her plane two minutes before takeoff.
To be subjected to; undergo: got a severe concussion.
To receive as retribution or punishment: got six years in prison for tax fraud.
To sustain a stated injury to: got my arm broken.
To gain or have understanding of: Do you get this question?
To learn (a poem, for example) by heart; memorize.
To find or reach by calculating: get a total; can't get the answer.
To perceive by hearing: I didn't get your name when we were introduced.
To cause to become or be in a specified state or condition: got the children tired and cross; got the shirt clean.
To make ready; prepare: get lunch for a crowd.
To cause to come or go: got the car through traffic.
To cause to move or leave: Get me out of here!
To take, especially by force; seize: The detective got the suspect as he left the restaurant.
Informal To overcome or destroy: The ice storm got the rose bushes.
To evoke an emotional response or reaction in: Romantic music really gets me.
To annoy or irritate: What got me was his utter lack of initiative.
To present a difficult problem to; puzzle.
To take revenge on, especially to kill in revenge for a wrong.
Informal To hit or strike: She got him on the chin. The bullet got him in the arm.
To have current possession of. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: We've got plenty of cash.
Nonstandard To have current possession of. Used in the past tense form with the meaning of the present: They got a nice house in town.
To have as an obligation. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: I have got to leave early. You've got to do the dishes.
Nonstandard To have as an obligation. Used in the past tense with the meaning of the present: I got to git me a huntin' dog.
To go after and obtain: got a book at the library; got breakfast in town.
To go after and bring: Get me a pillow.
To purchase; buy: get groceries.
To acquire as a result of action or effort: He got his information from the Internet. You can't get water out of a stone.
To earn: got high marks in math.
To accomplish or attain as a result of military action.
To arrive at; reach: When did you get home?
To reach and board; catch: She got her plane two minutes before takeoff.
To be subjected to; undergo: got a severe concussion.
To receive as retribution or punishment: got six years in prison for tax fraud.
To sustain a stated injury to: got my arm broken.
To gain or have understanding of: Do you get this question?
To learn (a poem, for example) by heart; memorize.
To find or reach by calculating: get a total; can't get the answer.
To perceive by hearing: I didn't get your name when we were introduced.
To cause to become or be in a specified state or condition: got the children tired and cross; got the shirt clean.
To make ready; prepare: get lunch for a crowd.
To cause to come or go: got the car through traffic.
To cause to move or leave: Get me out of here!
To take, especially by force; seize: The detective got the suspect as he left the restaurant.
Informal To overcome or destroy: The ice storm got the rose bushes.
To evoke an emotional response or reaction in: Romantic music really gets me.
To annoy or irritate: What got me was his utter lack of initiative.
To present a difficult problem to; puzzle.
To take revenge on, especially to kill in revenge for a wrong.
Informal To hit or strike: She got him on the chin. The bullet got him in the arm.
To have current possession of. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: We've got plenty of cash.
Nonstandard To have current possession of. Used in the past tense form with the meaning of the present: They got a nice house in town.
To have as an obligation. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: I have got to leave early. You've got to do the dishes.
Nonstandard To have as an obligation. Used in the past tense with the meaning of the present: I got to git me a huntin' dog.
To acquire as a result of action or effort: He got his information from the Internet. You can't get water out of a stone.
To earn: got high marks in math.
To accomplish or attain as a result of military action.
To arrive at; reach: When did you get home?
To reach and board; catch: She got her plane two minutes before takeoff.
To be subjected to; undergo: got a severe concussion.
To receive as retribution or punishment: got six years in prison for tax fraud.
To sustain a stated injury to: got my arm broken.
To gain or have understanding of: Do you get this question?
To learn (a poem, for example) by heart; memorize.
To find or reach by calculating: get a total; can't get the answer.
To perceive by hearing: I didn't get your name when we were introduced.
To cause to become or be in a specified state or condition: got the children tired and cross; got the shirt clean.
To make ready; prepare: get lunch for a crowd.
To cause to come or go: got the car through traffic.
To cause to move or leave: Get me out of here!
To take, especially by force; seize: The detective got the suspect as he left the restaurant.
Informal To overcome or destroy: The ice storm got the rose bushes.
To evoke an emotional response or reaction in: Romantic music really gets me.
To annoy or irritate: What got me was his utter lack of initiative.
To present a difficult problem to; puzzle.
To take revenge on, especially to kill in revenge for a wrong.
Informal To hit or strike: She got him on the chin. The bullet got him in the arm.
To have current possession of. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: We've got plenty of cash.
Nonstandard To have current possession of. Used in the past tense form with the meaning of the present: They got a nice house in town.
To have as an obligation. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: I have got to leave early. You've got to do the dishes.
Nonstandard To have as an obligation. Used in the past tense with the meaning of the present: I got to git me a huntin' dog.
To obtain by concession or request: couldn't get the time off; got permission to go.
To arrive at; reach: When did you get home?
To reach and board; catch: She got her plane two minutes before takeoff.
To be subjected to; undergo: got a severe concussion.
To receive as retribution or punishment: got six years in prison for tax fraud.
To sustain a stated injury to: got my arm broken.
To gain or have understanding of: Do you get this question?
To learn (a poem, for example) by heart; memorize.
To find or reach by calculating: get a total; can't get the answer.
To perceive by hearing: I didn't get your name when we were introduced.
To cause to become or be in a specified state or condition: got the children tired and cross; got the shirt clean.
To make ready; prepare: get lunch for a crowd.
To cause to come or go: got the car through traffic.
To cause to move or leave: Get me out of here!
To take, especially by force; seize: The detective got the suspect as he left the restaurant.
Informal To overcome or destroy: The ice storm got the rose bushes.
To evoke an emotional response or reaction in: Romantic music really gets me.
To annoy or irritate: What got me was his utter lack of initiative.
To present a difficult problem to; puzzle.
To take revenge on, especially to kill in revenge for a wrong.
Informal To hit or strike: She got him on the chin. The bullet got him in the arm.
To have current possession of. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: We've got plenty of cash.
Nonstandard To have current possession of. Used in the past tense form with the meaning of the present: They got a nice house in town.
To have as an obligation. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: I have got to leave early. You've got to do the dishes.
Nonstandard To have as an obligation. Used in the past tense with the meaning of the present: I got to git me a huntin' dog.
To succeed in communicating with, as by telephone: can't get me at the office until nine.
To become affected with (an illness, for example) by infection or exposure; catch: get the flu; got the mumps.
To be subjected to; undergo: got a severe concussion.
To receive as retribution or punishment: got six years in prison for tax fraud.
To sustain a stated injury to: got my arm broken.
To gain or have understanding of: Do you get this question?
To learn (a poem, for example) by heart; memorize.
To find or reach by calculating: get a total; can't get the answer.
To perceive by hearing: I didn't get your name when we were introduced.
To cause to become or be in a specified state or condition: got the children tired and cross; got the shirt clean.
To make ready; prepare: get lunch for a crowd.
To cause to come or go: got the car through traffic.
To cause to move or leave: Get me out of here!
To take, especially by force; seize: The detective got the suspect as he left the restaurant.
Informal To overcome or destroy: The ice storm got the rose bushes.
To evoke an emotional response or reaction in: Romantic music really gets me.
To annoy or irritate: What got me was his utter lack of initiative.
To present a difficult problem to; puzzle.
To take revenge on, especially to kill in revenge for a wrong.
Informal To hit or strike: She got him on the chin. The bullet got him in the arm.
To have current possession of. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: We've got plenty of cash.
Nonstandard To have current possession of. Used in the past tense form with the meaning of the present: They got a nice house in town.
To have as an obligation. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: I have got to leave early. You've got to do the dishes.
Nonstandard To have as an obligation. Used in the past tense with the meaning of the present: I got to git me a huntin' dog.
To gain or have understanding of: Do you get this question?
To learn (a poem, for example) by heart; memorize.
To find or reach by calculating: get a total; can't get the answer.
To perceive by hearing: I didn't get your name when we were introduced.
To cause to become or be in a specified state or condition: got the children tired and cross; got the shirt clean.
To make ready; prepare: get lunch for a crowd.
To cause to come or go: got the car through traffic.
To cause to move or leave: Get me out of here!
To take, especially by force; seize: The detective got the suspect as he left the restaurant.
Informal To overcome or destroy: The ice storm got the rose bushes.
To evoke an emotional response or reaction in: Romantic music really gets me.
To annoy or irritate: What got me was his utter lack of initiative.
To present a difficult problem to; puzzle.
To take revenge on, especially to kill in revenge for a wrong.
Informal To hit or strike: She got him on the chin. The bullet got him in the arm.
To have current possession of. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: We've got plenty of cash.
Nonstandard To have current possession of. Used in the past tense form with the meaning of the present: They got a nice house in town.
To have as an obligation. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: I have got to leave early. You've got to do the dishes.
Nonstandard To have as an obligation. Used in the past tense with the meaning of the present: I got to git me a huntin' dog.
To procreate; beget.
To cause to become or be in a specified state or condition: got the children tired and cross; got the shirt clean.
To make ready; prepare: get lunch for a crowd.
To cause to come or go: got the car through traffic.
To cause to move or leave: Get me out of here!
To take, especially by force; seize: The detective got the suspect as he left the restaurant.
Informal To overcome or destroy: The ice storm got the rose bushes.
To evoke an emotional response or reaction in: Romantic music really gets me.
To annoy or irritate: What got me was his utter lack of initiative.
To present a difficult problem to; puzzle.
To take revenge on, especially to kill in revenge for a wrong.
Informal To hit or strike: She got him on the chin. The bullet got him in the arm.
To have current possession of. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: We've got plenty of cash.
Nonstandard To have current possession of. Used in the past tense form with the meaning of the present: They got a nice house in town.
To have as an obligation. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: I have got to leave early. You've got to do the dishes.
Nonstandard To have as an obligation. Used in the past tense with the meaning of the present: I got to git me a huntin' dog.
To cause to undertake or perform; prevail on: got the guide to give us the complete tour.
To take, especially by force; seize: The detective got the suspect as he left the restaurant.
Informal To overcome or destroy: The ice storm got the rose bushes.
To evoke an emotional response or reaction in: Romantic music really gets me.
To annoy or irritate: What got me was his utter lack of initiative.
To present a difficult problem to; puzzle.
To take revenge on, especially to kill in revenge for a wrong.
Informal To hit or strike: She got him on the chin. The bullet got him in the arm.
To have current possession of. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: We've got plenty of cash.
Nonstandard To have current possession of. Used in the past tense form with the meaning of the present: They got a nice house in town.
To have as an obligation. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: I have got to leave early. You've got to do the dishes.
Nonstandard To have as an obligation. Used in the past tense with the meaning of the present: I got to git me a huntin' dog.
Baseball To put out.
To begin or start. Used with the present participle: I have to get working on this or I'll miss my deadline.
To have current possession of. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: We've got plenty of cash.
Nonstandard To have current possession of. Used in the past tense form with the meaning of the present: They got a nice house in town.
To have as an obligation. Used in the present perfect form with the meaning of the present: I have got to leave early. You've got to do the dishes.
Nonstandard To have as an obligation. Used in the past tense with the meaning of the present: I got to git me a huntin' dog.
v.
intr.
To become or grow to be: eventually got well.
To be successful in coming or going: When will we get to Dallas?
To be successful in becoming: get free of a drug problem.
Used with the past participle of transitive verbs as a passive voice auxiliary: got stung by a bee.
To become drawn in, entangled, or involved: got into debt; get into a hassle.
To be able or permitted: never got to see Europe; finally got to work at home.
To be successful in becoming: get free of a drug problem.
Used with the past participle of transitive verbs as a passive voice auxiliary: got stung by a bee.
To become drawn in, entangled, or involved: got into debt; get into a hassle.
Informal To depart immediately: yelled at the dog to get.
To work for gain or profit; make money: puts all his energy into getting and spending.
n.
The act of begetting.
Progeny; offspring.
To make progress.
To advance, especially in years.
To enter.
To arrive: We got in late last night.
To fire (a round of ammunition, for example): got off two shots before the deer disappeared.
To write and send, as a letter.
To feel great pleasure or gratification.
To experience euphoria, for example, as a result of taking a drug.
To make progress; continue: get on with a performance.
To advance in years.
To leave or escape.
To cause to leave or escape.
To succeed in making contact; reach.
To make oneself understood.
To begin. Used with the present participle: got to reminiscing.
To start to deal with: didn't get to the housework until Sunday.
To arise from bed or rise to one's feet.
To climb.
Chiefly British Slang A foolish or contemptible person.
Sports A return, as in tennis, on a shot that seems impossible to reach.
To make understandable or clear: tried to get my point across.
To be convincing or understandable: How can I get across to the students?
To be or continue to be on harmonious terms: gets along with the in-laws.
To manage or fare with reasonable success: can't get along on those wages.
To make progress.
To advance, especially in years.
To enter.
To arrive: We got in late last night.
To fire (a round of ammunition, for example): got off two shots before the deer disappeared.
To write and send, as a letter.
To feel great pleasure or gratification.
To experience euphoria, for example, as a result of taking a drug.
To make progress; continue: get on with a performance.
To advance in years.
To leave or escape.
To cause to leave or escape.
To succeed in making contact; reach.
To make oneself understood.
To begin. Used with the present participle: got to reminiscing.
To start to deal with: didn't get to the housework until Sunday.
To arise from bed or rise to one's feet.
To climb.
To go away; leave.
To circumvent or evade: managed to get around the real issues.
Informal To convince or win over by flattering or cajoling.
To travel from place to place: It is hard to get around without a car.
To become known; circulate: Word got around.
To touch or reach successfully: The cat hid where we couldn't get at it.
To try to make understandable; hint at or suggest: I don't know what you're getting at.
To discover or understand: tried to get at the cause of the problem.
Informal To bribe or influence by improper or illegal means: He got at the judge, and the charges were dismissed.
To break free; escape.
To leave or go away: wanted to come along, but couldn't get away.
To pass or outstrip.
To succeed at a level of minimal acceptibility or with the minimal amount of effort: just got by in college.
To succeed in managing; survive: We'll get by if we economize.
To be unnoticed or ignored by: The mistake got by the editor, but the proofreader caught it.
To descend.
To give one's attention. Often used with to:Let's get down to work.
To exhaust, discourage, or depress: The heat was getting me down.
To swallow: got the pill down on the first try.
To describe in writing.
Informal To lose one's inhibitions; enjoy oneself wholeheartedly.
To enter.
To arrive: We got in late last night.
To fire (a round of ammunition, for example): got off two shots before the deer disappeared.
To write and send, as a letter.
To feel great pleasure or gratification.
To experience euphoria, for example, as a result of taking a drug.
To make progress; continue: get on with a performance.
To advance in years.
To leave or escape.
To cause to leave or escape.
To succeed in making contact; reach.
To make oneself understood.
To begin. Used with the present participle: got to reminiscing.
To start to deal with: didn't get to the housework until Sunday.
To arise from bed or rise to one's feet.
To climb.
To become or cause to become involved: She got in with the wrong crowd. Repeated loans from the finance company got me deeper in debt.
To become accepted, as in a club.
To succeed in making or doing: got in six deliveries before noon.
To become involved in: got into trouble by stealing cars.
Informal To be interested in: got into gourmet cooking.
To start, as on a trip; leave.
To fire (a round of ammunition, for example): got off two shots before the deer disappeared.
To write and send, as a letter.
To feel great pleasure or gratification.
To experience euphoria, for example, as a result of taking a drug.
To make progress; continue: get on with a performance.
To advance in years.
To leave or escape.
To cause to leave or escape.
To succeed in making contact; reach.
To make oneself understood.
To begin. Used with the present participle: got to reminiscing.
To start to deal with: didn't get to the housework until Sunday.
To arise from bed or rise to one's feet.
To climb.
To escape, as from punishment or danger: got off scot-free.
To obtain a release or lesser penalty for: The attorney got her client off with a slap on the wrist.
Slang To act or speak with effrontery. Used in the imperative to express contempt or disdainful disbelief.
Slang To have an orgasm.
Slang
To feel great pleasure or gratification.
To experience euphoria, for example, as a result of taking a drug.
To make progress; continue: get on with a performance.
To advance in years.
To leave or escape.
To cause to leave or escape.
To succeed in making contact; reach.
To make oneself understood.
To begin. Used with the present participle: got to reminiscing.
To start to deal with: didn't get to the housework until Sunday.
To arise from bed or rise to one's feet.
To climb.
To get permission to leave one's workplace: got off early and went fishing.
To be or continue on harmonious terms: gets on well with the neighbors.
To manage or fare with reasonable success.
To make progress; continue: get on with a performance.
To advance in years.
To leave or escape.
To cause to leave or escape.
To succeed in making contact; reach.
To make oneself understood.
To begin. Used with the present participle: got to reminiscing.
To start to deal with: didn't get to the housework until Sunday.
To arise from bed or rise to one's feet.
To climb.
To acquire understanding or knowledge: got on to the con game.
To leave or escape.
To cause to leave or escape.
To succeed in making contact; reach.
To make oneself understood.
To begin. Used with the present participle: got to reminiscing.
To start to deal with: didn't get to the housework until Sunday.
To arise from bed or rise to one's feet.
To climb.
To become known: Somehow the secret got out.
To publish, as a newspaper.
To prevail against; overcome.
To recover from: finally got over the divorce.
To get across.
To arrive at the end of; finish or complete.
To succeed in making contact; reach.
To make oneself understood.
To begin. Used with the present participle: got to reminiscing.
To start to deal with: didn't get to the housework until Sunday.
To arise from bed or rise to one's feet.
To climb.
To begin. Used with the present participle: got to reminiscing.
To start to deal with: didn't get to the housework until Sunday.
To arise from bed or rise to one's feet.
To climb.
To influence or affect, especially adversely: The noise really gets to me.
To bring together; gather.
To come together.
To arrive at an agreement.
To arise from bed or rise to one's feet.
To climb.
To act as the creator or organizer of: got up a petition against rezoning.
To dress or adorn: She got herself up in a bizarre outfit.
To find within oneself: got up the nerve to quit.
Phrasal Verb(s): get aboutTo be out of bed and beginning to walk again, as after an illness. get across
To make understandable or clear: tried to get my point across.
To be convincing or understandable: How can I get across to the students?
get afterTo urge or scold: You should get after them to mow the lawn. get along
To be or continue to be on harmonious terms: gets along with the in-laws.
To manage or fare with reasonable success: can't get along on those wages.
To make progress.
To advance, especially in years.
To go away; leave.
get around
To circumvent or evade: managed to get around the real issues.
Informal To convince or win over by flattering or cajoling.
To travel from place to place: It is hard to get around without a car.
To become known; circulate: Word got around.
get at
To touch or reach successfully: The cat hid where we couldn't get at it.
To try to make understandable; hint at or suggest: I don't know what you're getting at.
To discover or understand: tried to get at the cause of the problem.
Informal To bribe or influence by improper or illegal means: He got at the judge, and the charges were dismissed.
get away
To break free; escape.
To leave or go away: wanted to come along, but couldn't get away.
get backTo return to a person, place, or condition: getting back to the subject. get by
To pass or outstrip.
To succeed at a level of minimal acceptibility or with the minimal amount of effort: just got by in college.
To succeed in managing; survive: We'll get by if we economize.
To be unnoticed or ignored by: The mistake got by the editor, but the proofreader caught it.
get down
To descend.
To give one's attention. Often used with to:Let's get down to work.
To exhaust, discourage, or depress: The heat was getting me down.
To swallow: got the pill down on the first try.
To describe in writing.
Informal To lose one's inhibitions; enjoy oneself wholeheartedly.
get in
To enter.
To arrive: We got in late last night.
To become or cause to become involved: She got in with the wrong crowd. Repeated loans from the finance company got me deeper in debt.
To become accepted, as in a club.
To succeed in making or doing: got in six deliveries before noon.
get into
To become involved in: got into trouble by stealing cars.
Informal To be interested in: got into gourmet cooking.
get off
To start, as on a trip; leave.
To fire (a round of ammunition, for example): got off two shots before the deer disappeared.
To write and send, as a letter.
To feel great pleasure or gratification.
To experience euphoria, for example, as a result of taking a drug.
To escape, as from punishment or danger: got off scot-free.
To obtain a release or lesser penalty for: The attorney got her client off with a slap on the wrist.
Slang To act or speak with effrontery. Used in the imperative to express contempt or disdainful disbelief.
Slang To have an orgasm.
Slang
To feel great pleasure or gratification.
To experience euphoria, for example, as a result of taking a drug.
To get permission to leave one's workplace: got off early and went fishing.
get on
To be or continue on harmonious terms: gets on well with the neighbors.
To manage or fare with reasonable success.
To make progress; continue: get on with a performance.
To advance in years.
To acquire understanding or knowledge: got on to the con game.
get out
To leave or escape.
To cause to leave or escape.
To become known: Somehow the secret got out.
To publish, as a newspaper.
get over
To prevail against; overcome.
To recover from: finally got over the divorce.
To get across.
get through
To arrive at the end of; finish or complete.
To succeed in making contact; reach.
To make oneself understood.
get to
To begin. Used with the present participle: got to reminiscing.
To start to deal with: didn't get to the housework until Sunday.
To influence or affect, especially adversely: The noise really gets to me.
get together
To bring together; gather.
To come together.
To arrive at an agreement.
get up
To arise from bed or rise to one's feet.
To climb.
To act as the creator or organizer of: got up a petition against rezoning.
To dress or adorn: She got herself up in a bizarre outfit.
To find within oneself: got up the nerve to quit.
Idiom(s):
get around toTo find the time or occasion for.
Idiom(s):
get away withTo escape the consequences of (a blameworthy act, for example): got away with cheating.
Idiom(s):
get back atTo take revenge on.
Idiom(s):
get crackingTo begin to work; get started.
Idiom(s):
get evenTo obtain revenge.
Idiom(s):
get even withTo repay with an equivalent act, as for revenge.
Idiom(s):
get goingTo make a beginning; get started.
Idiom(s):
get hold/ahold of
To bring into one's grasp, possession, or control.
To communicate with, especially by telephone.
Idiom(s):
get it Informal To be punished or scolded.
Idiom(s):
get it on Slang
To become filled with energy or excitement.
To engage in sexual intercourse.
Idiom(s):
get nowhereTo make no progress.
Idiom(s):
get (one's) Informal To receive one's due punishment: After sassing his parents, he really got his.
Idiom(s):
get on the stickTo begin to work.
Idiom(s):
get out ofTo gain release from the obligation of: She tried to get out of taking her brother to the mall. He couldn't get out of his date on Saturday.
Idiom(s):
get (someone's) goatTo make angry or vexed.
Idiom(s):
get somewhere Informal To make progress.
Idiom(s):
get there Informal To make progress or achieve success.
Idiom(s):
get wind ofTo learn of: got wind of the scheme.
[Middle English geten, from Old Norse geta; see ghend- in Indo-European roots.] get'a·ble, get'ta·ble adj.
Usage Note: The use of get in the passive, as in We got sunburned at the beach, is generally avoided in formal writing. In less formal contexts, however, the construction can provide a useful difference in tone or emphasis, as between the sentences The demonstrators were arrested and The demonstrators got arrested. The first example implies that the responsibility for the arrests rests primarily with the police, while the example using get implies that the demonstrators deliberately provoked the arrests. · In colloquial use and in numerous nonstandard varieties of American English, the past tense form got has the meaning of the present. This arose probably by dropping the helping verb have from the past perfects have got, has got:We've got to go, we've got a lot of problems became We got to go, we got a lot of problems. The reanalysis of got as a present-tense form has led to the creation of a third singular gots in some varieties of English, especially African American Vernacular English.
n. one's support or second in a fight. (From back-up.) : I need a back I can depend on.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
get (so's)
tv. to get someone excited. : I've got some news that'll really get your motor running.
tv. to get someone sexually aroused. : She knows how to get his motor running.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History
back
O.E. bæc "back, backwards, behind," from P.Gmc. *bakam (cf. O.S., M.Du. bak, O.Fris. bek), which mostly has been ousted in other modern Gmc. languages by words akin to Mod.E. ridge. Verb "to move (something) back" is from 1486; meaning "to support" (as by a bet) is first attested 1548. Backbiting is first recorded c.1175; backslide in the religious sense is from 1581; backwoods is from 1709. Back-date first recorded 1946. Backside "rump" is first recorded 1500. Back door "devious, shady, illegal" is from 1643. The verb back off "retreat" is attested from 1930s. Back down in fig. sense of "withdraw a charge" is first attested 1859, Amer.Eng., from notion of descending a ladder, etc. Back-firing "premature ignition in an internal-combustion engine" is first recorded 1897. Back-stabber in the fig. sense is from 1906. Back-seat driver first attested 1926. Back-track "retrace one's steps" is from 1904. Back-to-nature (adj.) is first attested 1915. Backpack is 1914 as a noun, 1916 as a verb. The back of (one's) hand has been used to imply contempt and rejection since at least 1300; to know something like the back of one's hand, implying familiarity, is first attested 1943. Back bench in the House of Commons sense is from 1874. Back-hand as a tennis stroke dates from 1657. Back-talk "impertinent retort" is first recorded 1858, originally often used in literary attempts at low Irish idiom. To be on the back burner in the figurative sense is from 1960. Back-formation coined by Eng. lexicographer James Murray (1837-1915).
get
c.1200, from O.N. geta "to obtain, reach" (p.t. gatum, pp. getenn), from P.Gmc. *getan (cf. O.E. begietan "to beget," O.Swed. gissa "to guess," lit. "to try to get"), from PIE base *ghe(n)d- "seize" (cf. Gk. khandanein "to hold, contain," Lith. godetis "be eager," second element in L. prehendere "to grasp, seize," Welsh gannu "to hold, contain," O.C.S. gadati "to guess, suppose"). Meaning "to seize mentally, grasp" is from 1892. O.E., as well as Du. and Fris., had the root only in compounds (cf. beget, forget). Vestiges of O.E. cognate *gietan remain obliquely in pp. gotten and original pt. gat. The word and phrases built on it take up 29 columns in the OED 2nd edition. Slang get over "recover, rebound" is from 1687. Getaway "escape" is from 1852. Get-up "equipment or costume" is from 1847. Get-rich-quick (adj.) is from 1902. Get wind of "become acquainted with" is from 1840, from earlier to get wind "to get out, become known" (1722).
own (v.)
evolved in early M.E. from O.E. geagnian, from root agan "to have, to own" (see own), and in part from own (adj.) (q.v.). It became obsolete after c.1300, but was revived early 17c., in part as a back-formation of owner (1340), which continued. To own up "make full confession" is from 1853.
Main Entry: back Pronunciation: 'bak Function: noun 1 a: the rear part of the human body especially from the neck to the end of the spine b: the corresponding part of a lower animal (as a quadruped) c:SPINAL COLUMN 2: the part of the upper surface of the tongue behind the front and lying opposite the soft palate when the tongue is at rest
Main Entry: get Pronunciation: (')get Function: transitive verb Inflected Form: got/(')gät/; gotorgot·ten/'gät-&n/; get·ting : to catch or become affected by (a disease or bodily condition) <got measles from his brother> <gother period>
Also get back to. Return to a person, place, or condition. For example, What time will you get back? or I hope he'll get back to the subject of this report. [c. 1600]
Recover something, as in When will I get this book back?[c. 1800]
[bak] 
