Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

say

 - 7 dictionary results

say

1  [sey] verb, said, say⋅ing, adverb, noun, interjection
Use say in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to utter or pronounce; speak: What did you say? I said “Hello!”
2. to express in words; state; declare; word: Say it clearly and simply. It's hard to know how to say this tactfully.
3. to state as an opinion or judgment: I say her plan is the better one.
4. to be certain, precise, or assured about; determine: It is hard to say what is wrong.
5. to recite or repeat: to say one's prayers.
6. to report or allege; maintain: People say he will resign.
7. to express (a message, viewpoint, etc.), as through a literary or other artistic medium: a writer with something to say.
8. to indicate or show: What does your watch say?
9. to assume as a hypothesis or estimate: Let's say, for the sake of argument, that it's true.
–verb (used without object)
10. to speak; declare; express an opinion.
–adverb
11. approximately; about: It's, say, 14 feet long.
12. for example: If you serve, say tuna fish and potato chips, it will cost much less.
–noun
13. what a person says or has to say.
14. the right or opportunity to speak, decide, or exercise influence: to have one's say in choosing the candidate.
15. a turn to say something: It is now my say.
–interjection
16. (used to express surprise, get attention, etc.)
—Idiom
17. that is to say, that is what is meant; in other words: I believe his account of the story, that is to say, I have no reason to doubt it.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME seyen, seggen, OE secgan; c. D zeggen, G sagen, ON segja; akin to saw 3

Related forms:
sayer, noun

say

2  [sey]
–verb (used with object), noun British Dialect.
assay.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME sayen, aph. var. of assayen to assay

say

3  [sey]
–noun
a thin silk or woolen fabric similar to serge, much used in the 16th century.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME < OF saie < L saga, pl. of sagum woolen cloak, said to be < Gaulish

Say

  [sey]
–noun
1. Jean Bap⋅tiste  [zhahn ba-teest] , 1767–1832, French economist. Compare Say's law.
2. Thomas, 1787–1834, U.S. entomologist.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To say
say   (sā)   
v.   said (sěd), say·ing, says (sěz)

v.   tr.

  1. To utter aloud; pronounce: The children said, "Good morning."

  2. To express in words: Say what's on your mind.

    1. To state as one's opinion or judgment; declare: I say let's eat out.

    2. To state as a determination of fact: It's hard to say who is right in this matter.

    3. To indicate; show: The clock says half past two.

    4. To give nonverbal expression to; signify or embody: It was an act that said "devotion."

  4. To repeat or recite: said grace.

  5. To report or maintain; allege.

    1. To indicate; show: The clock says half past two.

    2. To give nonverbal expression to; signify or embody: It was an act that said "devotion."

  7. To suppose; assume: Let's say that you're right.

v.   intr.
To make a statement; express oneself: The story must be true because the teacher said so.
n.  

  1. A turn or chance to speak: Having had my say, I sat down.

  2. The right or power to influence or make a decision: Citizens have a say in the councils of government. All I want is some say in the matter.

  3. Archaic Something said; a statement.

adv.  

  1. Approximately: There were, say, 500 people present.

  2. For instance: a woodwind, say an oboe.

interj.  Used to express surprise or appeal for someone's attention.

[Middle English seien, from Old English secgan; see sekw-3 in Indo-European roots.]
say'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Computing Dictionary

say
A human may "say" things to a computer by typing them on a terminal. "To list a directory verbosely, say "ls -l"." Tends to imply a newline-terminated command (a "sentence").
A computer may "say" things to you, even if it doesn't have a speech synthesiser, by displaying them on a terminal in response to your commands. This usage often confuses mundanes.
[The Jargon File]

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

say

In addition to the idioms beginning with say, also see before you can say Jack Robinson; cry (say) uncle; do as I say; give (say) the word; go without (saying); have a say in; I dare say; I'll say; needless to say; never say die; never say never; not to mention (say nothing of); on one's say-so; strange to say; suffice it to say; that is (to say); to say the least; you can say that again; you don't say. Also see under said.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see say on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way