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put
17 dictionary results for: put
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
put       [poot] Pronunciation Key verb, put, put·ting, adjective, noun
–verb (used with object)
1.to move or place (anything) so as to get it into or out of a specific location or position: to put a book on the shelf.
2.to bring into some relation, state, etc.: to put everything in order.
3.to place in the charge or power of a person, institution, etc.: to put a child in a special school.
4.to subject to the endurance or suffering of something: to put convicted spies to death.
5.to set to a duty, task, action, etc.: I put him to work setting the table.
6.to force or drive to some course or action: to put an army to flight.
7.to render or translate, as into another language: He put the novel into French.
8.to provide (words) with music as accompaniment; set: to put a poem to music.
9.to assign or attribute: You put a political interpretation on everything.
10.to set at a particular place, point, amount, etc., in a scale of estimation: I'd put the distance at five miles.
11.to bet or wager: to put two dollars on a horse.
12.to express or state: To put it mildly, I don't understand.
13.to apply, as to a use or purpose: to put one's knowledge to practical use.
14.to set, give, or make: to put an end to an ancient custom.
15.to propose or submit for answer, consideration, deliberation, etc.: to put a question before a committee.
16.to impose, as a burden, charge, or the like: to put a tax on luxury articles.
17.to invest (often fol. by in or into): to put one's money in real estate; to put one's savings into securities.
18.to lay the blame of (usually fol. by on, to, etc.): He put my failure to lack of experience.
19.to throw or cast, esp. with a forward motion of the hand when raised close to the shoulder: to put the shot.
–verb (used without object)
20.to go, move, or proceed: to put to sea.
21.Informal. to begin to travel: to put for home.
22.to shoot out or grow, or send forth shoots or sprouts.
–noun
23.a throw or cast, esp. one made with a forward motion of the hand when raised close to the shoulder.
24.Also called put option. Finance. an option that gives the right to sell a fixed amount of a particular stock at a predetermined price within a given time, purchased by a person who expects the stock to decline. Compare call (def. 52).
—Verb phrases
25.put about,
a.Nautical. to change direction, as on a course.
b.to start (a rumor); circulate.
c.to inconvenience; trouble.
d.to disturb; worry.
e.to turn in a different direction.
26.put across,
a.to cause to be understood or received favorably: She put across her new idea. He puts himself across well.
b.to do successfully; accomplish: to put a project across.
c.to be successful in (a form of deception): It was obviously a lie, but he put it across.
27.put aside or by,
a.to store up; save.
b.Also, set aside. to put out of the way; place to one side: Put aside your books and come for a walk.
28.put away,
a.to put in the designated place for storage: Put away the groceries as soon as you get home.
b.to save, esp. for later use: to put away a few dollars each week.
c.to discard: Put away those childish notions.
d.to drink or eat, esp. in a large quantity; finish off: to put away a hearty supper after jogging.
e.to confine in a jail or a mental institution: He was put away for four years.
f.to put to death by humane means: The dog was so badly injured that the veterinarian had to put it away.
29.put down,
a.to write down; register; record.
b.to enter in a list, as of subscribers or contributors: Put me down for a $10 donation.
c.to suppress; check; squelch: to put down a rebellion.
d.to attribute; ascribe: We put your mistakes down to nervousness.
e.to regard or categorize: He was put down as a chronic complainer.
f.Informal. to criticize, esp. in a contemptuous manner; disparage; belittle.
g.Informal. to humble, humiliate, or embarrass.
h.to pay as a deposit.
i.to store for future use: to put down a case of wine.
j.to dig or sink, as a well.
k.to put (an animal) to death; put away.
l.to land an aircraft or in an aircraft: We put down at Orly after six hours.
30.put forth,
a.to bring out; bear; grow: The trees are putting forth new green shoots.
b.to propose; present: No one has put forth a workable solution.
c.to bring to public notice; publish: A new interpretation of the doctrine has been put forth.
d.to exert; exercise: We will have to put forth our best efforts to win.
e.to set out; depart: Dark clouds threatened as we put forth from the shore.
31.put forward,
a.to propose; advance: I hesitated to put forward my plan.
b.to nominate, promote, or support, as for a position: We put him forward for treasurer.
32.put in,
a.Also, put into. Nautical. to enter a port or harbor, esp. for shelter, repairs, or provisions.
b.to interpose; intervene.
c.to spend (time) as indicated.
33.put in for, to apply for or request (something): I put in for a transfer to another department.
34.put off,
a.to postpone; defer.
b.to confuse or perturb; disconcert; repel: We were put off by the book's abusive tone.
c.to get rid of by delay or evasion.
d.to lay aside; take off.
e.to start out, as on a voyage.
f.to launch (a boat) from shore or from another vessel: They began to put off the lifeboats as the fire spread.
35.put on,
a.to clothe oneself with (an article of clothing).
b.to assume insincerely or falsely; pretend.
c.to assume; adopt.
d.to inflict; impose.
e.to cause to be performed; produce; stage.
f.Informal. to tease (a person), esp. by pretending the truth of something that is untrue: You can't be serious—you're putting me on, aren't you?
g.to act in a pretentious or ostentatious manner; exaggerate: All that putting on didn't impress anyone.
36.put out,
a.to extinguish, as a fire.
b.to confuse; embarrass.
c.to be vexed or annoyed: He was put out when I missed our appointment.
d.to subject to inconvenience.
e.Baseball, Softball, Cricket. to cause to be removed from an opportunity to reach base or score; retire.
f.to publish.
g.to go out to sea.
h.to manufacture; prepare; produce.
i.to exert; apply: They were putting out their best efforts.
j.Slang: Vulgar. (of a woman) to engage in coitus.
37.put over,
a.to succeed in; accomplish: It will take an exceptional administrator to put over this reorganization.
b.to postpone; defer: Discussion of this point will be put over until new evidence is introduced.
38.put through,
a.to complete successfully; execute: He was not able to put through his project.
b.to bring about; effect: The proposed revisions have not as yet been put through.
c.to make a telephone connection for: Put me through to Los Angeles.
d.to make (a telephone connection): Put a call through to Hong Kong.
e.to cause to undergo or endure: She's been put through a lot the past year.
39.put up,
a.to construct; erect.
b.to can (vegetables, fruits, etc.); preserve (jam, jelly, etc.).
c.to set or arrange (the hair).
d.to provide (money); contribute.
e.to accommodate; lodge.
f.to display; show.
g.to stake (money) to support a wager.
h.to propose as a candidate; nominate: Someone is going to put him up for president.
i.to offer, esp. for public sale.
j.Archaic. to sheathe one's sword; stop fighting.
40.put upon, to take unfair advantage of; impose upon: Some of the employees felt put upon when they were asked to work late.
41.put up to, to provoke; prompt; incite: Someone put him up to calling us.
42.put up with, to endure; tolerate; bear: I couldn't put up with the noise any longer.
—Idioms
43.put it to, Slang.
a.to overburden with work, blame, etc.: They really put it to him in officer-training school.
b.to take advantage of; cheat: That used car dealer put it to me good.
44.put oneself out, to take pains; go to trouble or expense: She has certainly put herself out to see that everyone is comfortable.
45.put something over on, to take advantage of; deceive: He suspected that his friend had put something over on him, but he had no proof.
46.put to it, to be confronted with a problem; have difficulty: We were put to it to find the missing notebook.
47.stay put, Informal. to remain in the same position; refuse to move: The baby wouldn't stay put, and kept trying to climb out of the playpen.
[Origin: bef. 1000; ME put(t)en to push, thrust, put, OE *putian (as v. noun putung an impelling, inciting); akin to pytan, potian to push, goad, c. ON pota to thrust, poke]

—Synonyms 1. Put, place, lay, set mean to bring or take an object (or cause it to go) to a certain location or position, there to leave it. Put is the general word: to put the dishes on the table; to put one's hair up. Place is a more formal word, suggesting precision of movement or definiteness of location: He placed his hand on the Bible. Lay, meaning originally to cause to lie, and set, meaning originally to cause to sit, are used particularly to stress the position in which an object is put: lay usually suggests putting an object rather carefully into a horizontal position: to lay a pattern out on the floor. Set usually means to place upright: to set a child on a horse. 16. levy, inflict.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
put       (pŏŏt)  Pronunciation Key 
v.   put, put·ting, puts

v.   tr.
  1. To place in a specified location; set: She put the books on the table.
  2. To cause to be in a specified condition: His gracious manners put me at ease.
  3. To cause (one) to undergo something; subject: The interrogators put the prisoner to torture.
  4. To assign; attribute: They put a false interpretation on events.
  5. To estimate: We put the time at five o'clock.
  6. To impose or levy: The governor has put a tax on cigarettes.
  7. Games To wager (a stake); bet: put $50 on a horse.
  8. Sports To hurl with an overhand pushing motion: put the shot.
  9. To bring up for consideration or judgment: put a question to the judge.
  10. To express; state: I put my objections bluntly.
  11. To render in a specified language or literary form: put prose into verse.
  12. To adapt: The lyrics had been put to music.
  13. To urge or force to an action: a mob that put the thief to flight.
  14. To apply: We must put our minds to it.
  15. To force the purchase of (a stock or commodity) by exercising a put option.

v.   intr.
  1. To begin to move, especially in a hurry.
  2. Nautical To proceed: The ship put into the harbor.

n.  
  1. Sports An act of putting the shot.
  2. An option to sell a stipulated amount of stock or securities within a specified time and at a fixed price.

adj.   Informal
Fixed; stationary: stay put.
Phrasal Verbs:
put about Nautical
To change or cause to change direction; go or cause to go from one tack to another.
put across
  1. To state so as to be understood clearly or accepted readily: put her views across during the hearing.
  2. To attain or carry through by deceit or trickery.
  3. To renounce; discard: put all negative thoughts away.
  4. Informal To consume (food or drink) readily and quickly: put away the dinner in just a few minutes.
  5. Informal To confine to a mental health facility.
    1. Informal To kill: The injured cat was put away.
    2. To bury.
    3. To write down.
    4. To enter in a list.
    5. To bring to an end; repress: put down a rebellion.
    6. To render ineffective: put down rumors.
    7. To criticize: put me down for failing the course.
    8. To belittle; disparage: put down their knowledge of literature.
    9. To humiliate: "Many status games seem designed to put down others" (Alvin F. Poussaint).
    10. To assign to a category: Just put him down as a sneak.
    11. To attribute: Let's put this disaster down to inexperience.
    12. To delay; postpone: put off paying the bills.
    13. To persuade to delay further action: managed to put off the creditors for another week.
    14. To inconvenience: Did our early arrival put you out?
    15. To offend or irritate: I was put out by his attention to the television set.
    16. To make a telephone connection for: The operator put me through on the office line.
    17. To obtain a connection for (a telephone call).
    18. To make a display or the appearance of: put up a bluff.
    19. To engage in; carry on: put up a good fight.
    1. To write down.
    2. To enter in a list.
    3. To bring to an end; repress: put down a rebellion.
    4. To render ineffective: put down rumors.
    5. To criticize: put me down for failing the course.
    6. To belittle; disparage: put down their knowledge of literature.
    7. To humiliate: "Many status games seem designed to put down others" (Alvin F. Poussaint).
    8. To assign to a category: Just put him down as a sneak.
    9. To attribute: Let's put this disaster down to inexperience.
    10. To delay; postpone: put off paying the bills.
    11. To persuade to delay further action: managed to put off the creditors for another week.
    12. To inconvenience: Did our early arrival put you out?
    13. To offend or irritate: I was put out by his attention to the television set.
    14. To make a telephone connection for: The operator put me through on the office line.
    15. To obtain a connection for (a telephone call).
    16. To make a display or the appearance of: put up a bluff.
    17. To engage in; carry on: put up a good fight.
    1. To bring to an end; repress: put down a rebellion.
    2. To render ineffective: put down rumors.
    3. To criticize: put me down for failing the course.
    4. To belittle; disparage: put down their knowledge of literature.
    5. To humiliate: "Many status games seem designed to put down others" (Alvin F. Poussaint).
    6. To assign to a category: Just put him down as a sneak.
    7. To attribute: Let's put this disaster down to inexperience.
    8. To delay; postpone: put off paying the bills.
    9. To persuade to delay further action: managed to put off the creditors for another week.
    10. To inconvenience: Did our early arrival put you out?
    11. To offend or irritate: I was put out by his attention to the television set.
    12. To make a telephone connection for: The operator put me through on the office line.
    13. To obtain a connection for (a telephone call).
    14. To make a display or the appearance of: put up a bluff.
    15. To engage in; carry on: put up a good fight.
  9. To subject (an animal) to euthanasia.
  10. Slang
    1. To criticize: put me down for failing the course.
    2. To belittle; disparage: put down their knowledge of literature.
    3. To humiliate: "Many status games seem designed to put down others" (Alvin F. Poussaint).
    4. To assign to a category: Just put him down as a sneak.
    5. To attribute: Let's put this disaster down to inexperience.
    6. To delay; postpone: put off paying the bills.
    7. To persuade to delay further action: managed to put off the creditors for another week.
    8. To inconvenience: Did our early arrival put you out?
    9. To offend or irritate: I was put out by his attention to the television set.
    10. To make a telephone connection for: The operator put me through on the office line.
    11. To obtain a connection for (a telephone call).
    12. To make a display or the appearance of: put up a bluff.
    13. To engage in; carry on: put up a good fight.
    1. To assign to a category: Just put him down as a sneak.
    2. To attribute: Let's put this disaster down to inexperience.
    3. To delay; postpone: put off paying the bills.
    4. To persuade to delay further action: managed to put off the creditors for another week.
    5. To inconvenience: Did our early arrival put you out?
    6. To offend or irritate: I was put out by his attention to the television set.
    7. To make a telephone connection for: The operator put me through on the office line.
    8. To obtain a connection for (a telephone call).
    9. To make a display or the appearance of: put up a bluff.
    10. To engage in; carry on: put up a good fight.
  12. To consume (food or drink) readily; put away: puts down three big meals a day.
  13. To grow: Plants put forth new growth in the spring.
  14. To bring to bear; exert: At least put forth a semblance of effort when you scrub the floor.
  15. To offer for consideration: put forth an idea.
  16. To make a formal offer of: put in a plea of guilty.
  17. To introduce, as in conversation; interpose: He put in a good word for me.
  18. To spend (time) at a location or job: I put in eight hours at the office.
  19. To plant: We put in 20 rows of pine trees.
  20. To apply: put in for early retirement.
  21. Nautical To enter a port or harbor: The freighter puts in at noon.
    1. To delay; postpone: put off paying the bills.
    2. To persuade to delay further action: managed to put off the creditors for another week.
    3. To inconvenience: Did our early arrival put you out?
    4. To offend or irritate: I was put out by his attention to the television set.
    5. To make a telephone connection for: The operator put me through on the office line.
    6. To obtain a connection for (a telephone call).
    7. To make a display or the appearance of: put up a bluff.
    8. To engage in; carry on: put up a good fight.
  23. To take off; discard: put off a sweater.
  24. To repel or repulse, as from bad manners: His indifferent attitude has put us off.
  25. To pass (money) or sell (merchandise) fraudulently.
  26. To clothe oneself with; don: put on a coat; put socks on.
  27. To apply; activate: put on the brakes.
  28. To assume affectedly: put on an English accent.
  29. Slang To tease or mislead (another): You're putting me on!
  30. To add: put on weight.
  31. To produce; perform: put on a variety show.
  32. To extinguish: put out a fire.
  33. Nautical To leave, as a port or harbor; depart.
  34. To expel: put out a drunk.
  35. To publish: put out a weekly newsletter.
    1. To inconvenience: Did our early arrival put you out?
    2. To offend or irritate: I was put out by his attention to the television set.
    3. To make a telephone connection for: The operator put me through on the office line.
    4. To obtain a connection for (a telephone call).
    5. To make a display or the appearance of: put up a bluff.
    6. To engage in; carry on: put up a good fight.
  37. To make an effort.
  38. Baseball To retire a runner.
  39. Vulgar Slang To be sexually active. Used of a woman.
  40. To postpone; delay.
  41. To put across, especially to deceive: tried to put a lie over, but to no avail.
  42. To bring to a successful end: put the project through on time; put through a number of new laws.
  43. To cause to undergo: He put me through a lot of trouble.
    1. To make a telephone connection for: The operator put me through on the office line.
    2. To obtain a connection for (a telephone call).
    3. To make a display or the appearance of: put up a bluff.
    4. To engage in; carry on: put up a good fight.
  45. To erect; build.
  46. To preserve; can: put up six jars of jam.
  47. To nominate: put up a candidate at a convention.
  48. To provide (funds) in advance: put up money for the new musical.
  49. To provide lodgings for: put a friend up for the night.
  50. Sports To startle (game animals) from cover: put up grouse.
  51. To offer for sale: put up his antiques.
    1. To make a display or the appearance of: put up a bluff.
    2. To engage in; carry on: put up a good fight.

Phrasal Verb(s):
put about Nautical
To change or cause to change direction; go or cause to go from one tack to another.
put across
  1. To state so as to be understood clearly or accepted readily: put her views across during the hearing.
  2. To attain or carry through by deceit or trickery.
put away
  1. To renounce; discard: put all negative thoughts away.
  2. Informal To consume (food or drink) readily and quickly: put away the dinner in just a few minutes.
  3. Informal To confine to a mental health facility.
    1. Informal To kill: The injured cat was put away.
    2. To bury.
put by
To save for later use: "Some crops were so abundant they could even be put by" (Carole Lalli).
put down
    1. To write down.
    2. To enter in a list.
    3. To bring to an end; repress: put down a rebellion.
    4. To render ineffective: put down rumors.
    5. To criticize: put me down for failing the course.
    6. To belittle; disparage: put down their knowledge of literature.
    7. To humiliate: "Many status games seem designed to put down others" (Alvin F. Poussaint).
    8. To assign to a category: Just put him down as a sneak.
    9. To attribute: Let's put this disaster down to inexperience.
    1. To bring to an end; repress: put down a rebellion.
    2. To render ineffective: put down rumors.
    3. To criticize: put me down for failing the course.
    4. To belittle; disparage: put down their knowledge of literature.
    5. To humiliate: "Many status games seem designed to put down others" (Alvin F. Poussaint).
    6. To assign to a category: Just put him down as a sneak.
    7. To attribute: Let's put this disaster down to inexperience.
  3. To subject (an animal) to euthanasia.
  4. Slang
    1. To criticize: put me down for failing the course.
    2. To belittle; disparage: put down their knowledge of literature.
    3. To humiliate: "Many status games seem designed to put down others" (Alvin F. Poussaint).
    4. To assign to a category: Just put him down as a sneak.
    5. To attribute: Let's put this disaster down to inexperience.
    1. To assign to a category: Just put him down as a sneak.
    2. To attribute: Let's put this disaster down to inexperience.
  6. To consume (food or drink) readily; put away: puts down three big meals a day.
put forth
  1. To grow: Plants put forth new growth in the spring.
  2. To bring to bear; exert: At least put forth a semblance of effort when you scrub the floor.
  3. To offer for consideration: put forth an idea.
put forward
To propose for consideration: put forward a new plan.
put in
  1. To make a formal offer of: put in a plea of guilty.
  2. To introduce, as in conversation; interpose: He put in a good word for me.
  3. To spend (time) at a location or job: I put in eight hours at the office.
  4. To plant: We put in 20 rows of pine trees.
  5. To apply: put in for early retirement.
  6. Nautical To enter a port or harbor: The freighter puts in at noon.
put off
    1. To delay; postpone: put off paying the bills.
    2. To persuade to delay further action: managed to put off the creditors for another week.
  2. To take off; discard: put off a sweater.
  3. To repel or repulse, as from bad manners: His indifferent attitude has put us off.
  4. To pass (money) or sell (merchandise) fraudulently.
put on
  1. To clothe oneself with; don: put on a coat; put socks on.
  2. To apply; activate: put on the brakes.
  3. To assume affectedly: put on an English accent.
  4. Slang To tease or mislead (another): You're putting me on!
  5. To add: put on weight.
  6. To produce; perform: put on a variety show.
put out
  1. To extinguish: put out a fire.
  2. Nautical To leave, as a port or harbor; depart.
  3. To expel: put out a drunk.
  4. To publish: put out a weekly newsletter.
    1. To inconvenience: Did our early arrival put you out?
    2. To offend or irritate: I was put out by his attention to the television set.
  6. To make an effort.
  7. Baseball To retire a runner.
  8. Vulgar Slang To be sexually active. Used of a woman.
put over
  1. To postpone; delay.
  2. To put across, especially to deceive: tried to put a lie over, but to no avail.
put through
  1. To bring to a successful end: put the project through on time; put through a number of new laws.
  2. To cause to undergo: He put me through a lot of trouble.
    1. To make a telephone connection for: The operator put me through on the office line.
    2. To obtain a connection for (a telephone call).
put to Nautical
To head for shore.
put together
To construct; create: put together a new bookcase; put together a tax package.
put up
  1. To erect; build.
  2. To preserve; can: put up six jars of jam.
  3. To nominate: put up a candidate at a convention.
  4. To provide (funds) in advance: put up money for the new musical.
  5. To provide lodgings for: put a friend up for the night.
  6. Sports To startle (game animals) from cover: put up grouse.
  7. To offer for sale: put up his antiques.
    1. To make a display or the appearance of: put up a bluff.
    2. To engage in; carry on: put up a good fight.
put upon
To impose on; overburden: He was always being put upon by his friends.

Idiom(s):
put an end/a halt/a stop to
To bring to an end; terminate.

Idiom(s):
put down roots
To establish a permanent residence in a locale.

Idiom(s):
put in an appearance
To attend a social engagement, especially for a short time.

Idiom(s):
put it to (someone) Slang
  1. To overburden with tasks or work.
  2. To put blame on.
  3. To take unfair advantage of.
  4. To lay out the facts of a situation to (another) in a forceful candid manner.
  5. To defeat soundly; trounce.

Idiom(s):
put (one) in mind
To remind: You put me in mind of your grandmother.

Idiom(s):
put (oneself) out
To make a considerable effort; go to trouble or expense.

Idiom(s):
put (one's) finger on
To identify: I can't put my finger on the person in that photograph.

Idiom(s):
put (one's) foot down
To take a firm stand.

Idiom(s):
put (one's) foot in (one's) mouth
To make a tactless remark.

Idiom(s):
put paid to Chiefly British
To finish off; put to rest: "We've given up saying we only kill to eat; Kraft dinner and freeze-dried food have put paid to that one" (Margaret Atwood).

Idiom(s):
put (someone) in (someone's) place
To lower the dignity of (someone); humble.

Idiom(s):
put (someone) through (someone's) paces
To cause to demonstrate ability or skill; test: The drama coach put her students through their paces before the first performance.

Idiom(s):
put (someone) up to
To cause to commit a funny, mischievous, or malicious act: My older brother put me up to making a prank telephone call.

Idiom(s):
put something over on:
To deceive, cheat, or trick.

Idiom(s):
put the arm/bite/squeeze on Slang
To ask another for money.

Idiom(s):
put the finger on Slang
To inform on: The witness put the finger on the killer.

Idiom(s):
put the make/moves on Slang
To make sexual advances to.

Idiom(s):
put the screws to/on Slang
To pressure (another) in an extreme manner.

Idiom(s):
put the skids on Slang
To bring to a halt: "Sacrificing free speech to put the skids on prurient printed matter is not the correct path, the courts said" (Curtis J. Sitomer).

Idiom(s):
put to bed Informal
  1. To make final preparations for the printing of (a newspaper, for example).
  2. To make final preparations for completing (a project).

Idiom(s):
put to it
To cause extreme difficulty for: We were put to it to finish the book on time.

Idiom(s):
put to sleep
  1. To make weary; bore.
  2. To subject to euthanasia.
  3. To subject to general anesthesia.

Idiom(s):
put two and two together
To draw the proper conclusions from existing evidence or indications.

Idiom(s):
put up or shut up Slang
To have to endure (something unpleasant) without complaining or take the action necessary to remove the source of the unpleasantry.

Idiom(s):
put up with
To endure without complaint: We had to put up with the inconvenience.

[Middle English putten, back-formation from Old English *pūtte, past tense of pȳtan, to put out.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
put 
late O.E. putung "instigation, urging," lit. "putting;" also pytan "put out, thrust out" (of eyes), probably from Gmc. stem that also produced Dan. putte "to put," Swed. dial. putta. Meaning "act of casting a heavy stone overhead" (as a trial of strength) is attested from c.1300. Adj. phrase put out "angry, upset" is first recorded 1887; to put out, of a woman, "to offer oneself for sex" is from 1947. Verb phrase put down "snub" is from c.1400; put-down (n.) first recorded 1962. To put up with "tolerate, accept" (1755) was originally to put up, as in "to pocket." To put (someone) on "deceive" is from 1958; put-on "deception" is from 1937; from an earlier adj. meaning "assumed, feigned" (1621), a fig. extension of the notion of putting on costumes or disguises.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
put

noun
1. the option to sell a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date [syn: put option] [ant: call] 

verb
1. put into a certain place or abstract location; "Put your things here"; "Set the tray down"; "Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children"; "Place emphasis on a certain point" 
2. cause to be in a certain state; cause to be in a certain relation; "That song put me in awful good humor"; "put your ideas in writing" 
3. formulate in a particular style or language; "I wouldn't put it that way"; "She cast her request in very polite language" [syn: frame] 
4. attribute or give; "She put too much emphasis on her the last statement"; "He put all his efforts into this job"; "The teacher put an interesting twist to the interpretation of the story" 
5. make an investment; "Put money into bonds" [syn: invest] [ant: disinvest] 
6. estimate; "We put the time of arrival at 8 P.M." [syn: place] 
7. cause (someone) to undergo something; "He put her to the torture" 
8. adapt; "put these words to music" 
9. arrange thoughts, ideas, temporal events; "arrange my schedule"; "set up one's life"; "I put these memories with those of bygone times" [syn: arrange] 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

put

In addition to the idioms beginning with put, also see (put) at ease; (put on a) brave face; cart before the horse, put; clamp down (put the clamps on); flesh out (put flesh and bone on); for (put in one's) two cents; (put on a) hair shirt; hard put; (put) in effect; (put) in the picture; lay (put) one's cards on the table; lay (put) one's hands on; lay (put) the blame on; (put someone's) nose out of joint; not put something past someone; (put) off the track; (put) on a pedestal; (put) out of business; pull (put over) a fast one; put one's head on the block; throw (put) off the scent. Also see under set.


The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Investopedia - Cite This Source - Share This

Put

1. An option contract giving the owner the right, but not the obligation, to sell a specified amount of an underlying security at a specified price within a specified time.

2. The act of exercising a put option.

Investopedia Commentary

A put becomes more valuable as the price of the underlying stock depreciates.

Related Links

Options Basics Tutorial
Alternatives to Closing Below Intrinsic Value

See also: Call, Derivative, Option, Short

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
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Wallstreet Words - Cite This Source - Share This

put

  1. An option that conveys to its holder the right, but not the obligation, to sell a specific asset at a predetermined price until a certain date. In most cases, puts have 100 shares of stock as the underlying asset. For example, an investor may purchase a put option on GenCorp common stock that confers the right to sell 100 shares at $15 per share until September 21. Puts are sold for a fee by other investors who incur an obligation to purchase the asset if the option holder decides to sell. Investors purchase puts in order to take advantage of a decline in the price of the asset. Compare call 1. Also called put option. See also guarantee letter, synthetic put, transferable put right.
  2. Sale of an issue of bonds before maturity by forcing the issuer to buy at par. Few bond issues permit the holder this option.

Putting things into perspective: How to hedge, using puts. How to speculate, using puts.

A put option has an inverse relationship to the underlying security. As the value of the stock increases, the value of the put decreases. Like calls, puts can be used for both hedging and speculation. Puts can be purchased in conjunction with stock ownership as a form of insurance (that is, a hedge) against downside loss on a stock. If the stock price declines, the put holder can either sell the put and keep the stock, or exercise the put and sell the stock at the put's strike price. In either case, the increased value of the option will offset the stock loss to some degree. If the stock price rises beyond a certain level, the put will expire worthless. In this case, the put holder will lose the premium paid for the option but will still participate in the upward stock movement. The break-even point occurs when the stock price advances beyond the put's strike price plus the premium. Puts also can be used speculatively without a position in the underlying security. Instead of selling a stock short, an investor who anticipates a decline in the price of a stock can buy an at-the-money put. If the stock price rises, causing the put to expire worthless, the maximum loss is the premium paid for the put. But if the stock price declines substantially, the investor could make profits that far exceed the initial cost of the put.

Henry Nothnagel, Senior Vice PresidentOptions, Wachovia Securities, Inc., Chicago, IL

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today's Investor by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Wallstreet Words - Cite This Source - Share This

put

To force the seller of a put option to purchase shares of stock at the stipulated price. Puts are exercised by the owner only when the market price of the underlying stock is less than the strike price. Also called put to seller.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today's Investor by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: put
Function: noun
: PUT OPTION at, OPTION

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Put In Bay, OH Zip code(s): 43456

Put-in-Bay, OH (village, FIPS 65032) Location: 41.65307 N, 82.81510 W
Population (1990): 141 (171 housing units)
Area: 1.1 sq km (land), 0.5 sq km (water)

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Put

Put\, n. [See Pit.] A pit. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Put

Put\, obs. 3d pers. sing. pres. of Put, contracted from putteth. --Chaucer.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Put

Put\, n. [Cf. W. pwt any short thing, pwt o ddyn a squab of a person, pwtog a short, thick woman.] A rustic; a clown; an awkward or uncouth person.

Queer country puts extol Queen Bess's reign. --Bramston.

What droll puts the citizens seem in it all. --F. Harrison.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Put

Put\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Put; p. pr. & vb. n. Putting.] [AS. potian to thrust: cf. Dan. putte to put, to put into, Fries. putje; perh. akin to W. pwtio to butt, poke, thrust; cf. also Gael. put to push, thrust, and E. potter, v. i.]

1. To move in any direction; to impel; to thrust; to push; -- nearly obsolete, except with adverbs, as with by (to put by = to thrust aside; to divert); or with forth (to put forth = to thrust out).

His chief designs are . . . to put thee by from thy spiritual employment. --Jer. Taylor.

2. To bring to a position or place; to place; to lay; to set; figuratively, to cause to be or exist in a specified relation, condition, or the like; to bring to a stated mental or moral condition; as, to put one in fear; to put a theory in practice; to put an enemy to fight.

This present dignity, In which that I have put you. --Chaucer.

I will put enmity between thee and the woman. --Gen. iii. 15.

He put no trust in his servants. --Job iv. 18.

When God into the hands of their deliverer Puts invincible might. --Milton.

In the mean time other measures were put in operation. --Sparks.

3. To attach or attribute; to assign; as, to put a wrong construction on an act or expression.

4. To lay down; to give up; to surrender. [Obs.]

No man hath more love than this, that a man put his life for his friends. --Wyclif (John xv. 13).

5. To set before one for judgment, acceptance, or rejection; to bring to the attention; to offer; to state; to express; figuratively, to assume; to suppose; -- formerly sometimes followed by that introducing a proposition; as, to put a question; to put a case.

Let us now put that ye have leave. --Chaucer.

Put the perception and you put the mind. --Berkeley.

These verses, originally Greek, were put in Latin. --Milton.

All this is ingeniously and ably put. --Hare.

6. To incite; to entice; to urge; to constrain; to oblige.

These wretches put us upon all mischief. --Swift.

Put me not use the carnal weapon in my own defense. --Sir W. Scott.

Thank him who puts me, loath, to this revenge. --Milton.

7. To throw or cast with a pushing motion "overhand," the hand being raised from the shoulder; a practice in athletics; as, to put the shot or weight.

8. (Mining) To convey coal in the mine, as from the working to the tramway. --Raymond.

Put case, formerly, an elliptical expression for, put or suppose the case to be.

Put case that the soul after departure from the body may live. --Bp. Hall.

To put about (Naut.), to turn, or change the course of, as a ship.

To put away. (a) To renounce; to discard; to expel. (b) To divorce.

To put back. (a) To push or thrust backwards; hence, to hinder; to delay. (b) To refuse; to deny.

Coming from thee, I could not put him back. --Shak. (c) To set, as the hands of a clock, to an earlier hour. (d) To restore to the original place; to replace.

To put by. (a) To turn, set, or thrust, aside. "Smiling put the question by." --Tennyson. (b) To lay aside; to keep; to sore up; as, to put by money.

To put down. (a) To lay down; to deposit; to set down. (b) To lower; to diminish; as, to put down prices. (c) To deprive of position or power; to put a stop to; to suppress; to abolish; to confute; as, to put down rebellion or traitors.

Mark, how a plain tale shall put you down. --Shak.

Sugar hath put down the use of honey. --Bacon. (d) To subscribe; as, to put down one's name.

To put forth. (a) To thrust out; to extend, as the hand; to cause to come or push out; as, a tree puts forth leaves. (b) To make manifest; to develop; also, to bring into action; to exert; as, to put forth strength. (c) To propose, as a question, a riddle, and the like. (d) To publish, as a book.

To put forward. (a) To advance to a position of prominence or responsibility; to promote. (b) To cause to make progress; to aid. (c) To set, as the hands of a clock, to a later hour.

To put in. (a) To introduce among others; to insert; sometimes, to introduce with difficulty; as, to put in a word while others are discoursing. (b) (Naut.) To conduct into a harbor, as a ship. (c) (Law) To place in due form before a court; to place among the records of a court. --Burrill. (d) (Med.) To restore, as a dislocated part, to its place.

To put off. (a) To lay aside; to discard; as, to put off a robe; to put off mortality. "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet." --Ex. iii. 5. (b) To turn aside; to elude; to disappoint; to frustrate; to baffle.

I hoped for a demonstration, but Themistius hoped to put me off with an harangue. --Boyle.

We might put him off with this answer. --Bentley. (c) To delay; to defer; to postpone; as, to put off repentance. (d) To get rid of; to dispose of; especially, to pass fraudulently; as, to put off a counterfeit note, or an ingenious theory .(e) To push from land; as, to put off a boat.

To put on or upon. (a) To invest one's self with, as clothes; to assume. "Mercury . . . put on the shape of a man." --L'Estrange. (b) To impute (something) to; to charge upon; as, to put blame on or upon another. (c) To advance; to promote. [Obs.] "This came handsomely to put on the peace." --Bacon. (d) To impose; to inflict. "That which thou puttest on me, will I bear." --2 Kings xviii. 14. (e) To apply; as, to put on workmen; to put on steam. (f) To deceive; to trick. "The stork found he was put upon." --L'Estrange. (g) To place upon, as a means or condition; as, he put him upon bread and water. "This caution will put them upon considering." --Locke. (h) (Law) To rest upon; to submit to; as, a defendant puts himself on or upon the country. --Burrill.

To put out. (a) To eject; as, to put out and intruder. (b) To put forth; to shoot, as a bud, or sprout. (c) To extinguish; as, to put out a candle, light, or fire. (d) To place at interest; to loan; as, to put out funds. (e) To provoke, as by insult; to displease; to vex; as, he was put out by my reply. [Colloq.] (f) To protrude; to stretch forth; as, to put out the hand. (g) To publish; to make public; as, to put out a pamphlet. (h) To confuse; to disconcert; to interrupt; as, to put one out in reading or speaking. (i) (Law) To open; as, to put out lights, that is, to open or cut windows. --Burrill. (j) (Med.) To place out of joint; to dislocate; as, to put out the ankle. (k) To cause to cease playing, or to prevent from playing longer in a certain inning, as in base ball.

To put over. (a) To place (some one) in authority over; as, to put a general over a division of an army. (b) To refer.

For the certain knowledge of that truth I put you o'er to heaven and to my mother. --Shak. (c) To defer; to postpone; as, the court put over the cause to the next term. (d) To transfer (a person or thing) across; as, to put one over the river.

To put the hand to or unto. (a) To take hold of, as of an instrument of labor; as, to put the hand to the plow; hence, to engage in (any task or affair); as, to put one's hand to the work. (b) To take or seize, as in theft. "He hath not put his hand unto his neighbor's goods." --Ex. xxii. 11.

To put through, to cause to go through all conditions or stages of a progress; hence, to push to completion; to accomplish; as, he put through a measure of legislation; he put through a railroad enterprise. [U.S.]

To put to. (a) To add; to unite; as, to put one sum to another. (b) To refer to; to expose; as, to put the safety of the state to hazard. "That dares not put it to the touch." --Montrose. (c) To attach (something) to; to harness beasts to. --Dickens.

To put to a stand, to stop; to arrest by obstacles or difficulties.

To put to bed. (a) To undress and place in bed, as a child. (b) To deliver in, or to make ready for, childbirth.

To put to death, to kill.

To put together, to attach; to aggregate; to unite in one.

To put this and that (or two and two) together, to draw an inference; to form a correct conclusion.

To put to it, to distress; to press hard; to perplex; to give difficulty to. "O gentle lady, do not put me to 't." --Shak.

To put to rights, to arrange in proper order; to settle or compose rig