New Oxford
`American Dictionary
`
`THIRD EDITION
`
`Edited by
`
`Angus Stevenson
`
`Christine A. Lindberg
`
`FIRST EDITION
`
`ElizabethJ. Jewell
`
`Frank Abate
`
`OXFORD
`UNIVERSITY PRESS
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1009
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`1
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`APPLE 1009
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`OXFORD
`UNIVERSITY PRESS
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`Copyright © 2010 by Oxford University Press
`First edition 2001
`Second edition 2005
`Third edition 2010
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`The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
`Data available
`
`ISBN 978-0-19-539288-3
`7986
`Printed in the United States of America
`on acid-free paper
`
`1536233313150735
`
`2
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`

`

`bluff
`
`188
`
`
`
`73
`
`_
`
`-
`
`
`
`
`
`> v. [no obj.) try to deceive someone as to one’sabilities
`—ORIGIN Middle English (in the sense ‘dull,
`BM > abbr. # Bachelor of Medicine. m Bachelg
`or intentions: he’s been bluffing all along | he bluffed
`insensitive’): perhaps of Scandinavian origin and
`Music. m bowel movement. # basal metabo};
`related to Old Norse blunda ‘shut the eyes.’
`his way onto an Antarctic supply vessel| (with obj.)
`the object is to bluffyour opponentinta submtission.
`@ board measure. @ black male. m British, Muse F
`blunt in-stru-mentpn. a heavy object without
`BMI > abbr. body mass index.
`a (ina card game) bet heavily on a weak hand in
`a sharp edgeorpoint, used as a weapon, m an
`order to deceive opponents.
`BMOCp abbr. big man on campus.
`imprecise or heavy-handed way of doing something:
`—PHRASES call someone's bluff challenge someone
`as a promotional method, direct mail has been a blunt
`B-mov-ie p n. a low-budget movie, esp. (forma,
`thoughtto be bluffing: she was tempted to calf Iris
`instrument.
`one made for use as a companion to the Main 4
`bluff, hardly believinghe'd carry out his threat,
`— DERIVATIVES bluft-er n.
`attraction in a double feature: [as modifier] q Benoy
`blur/blar/ » v. (blurs, blurring, blurred) make
`actress.
`"t
`— ORIGIN late i7th cent. (originally in the sense
`ot become unclear or less distinct:[with obj.) tears
`BMR> abbr. basal metabolic rate.
`blurred her vision | his novels blur the boundaries
`‘blindfold, hoodwink’): from Dutch bluffen‘brag,’
`BMus > abbr. Bachelor of Music.
`
`or bluf‘bragging.’ The current sense (originally US, between criticism andfiction|(no obj.] as daylight
`waned, the pages hlurred,
`mid 19th cent.) originally referred to bluffing in the
`BMXp n. organized bicycle racing ona dirt tr
`gameof poker.
`> n. a thing that cannot be seen or heardclearly: the
`esp. for youngsters: [as modifier] a BMX track, mal
`pale blur of herface | the words were a blur. @ an
`bluff? > adj. direct in speech or behavior but ina
`of bicycle designed to be used for such racing
`indistinct memory or impressionof events, typically
`good-natured way:a big, bluff, hearty man.
`— ORIGIN 1970s: from theinitial letters of bicyels
`— DERIVATIVES bluff-ly adv., bluff-ness n.
`motocross, with X standing for cross.
`j
`Bete they happened very fast: theday before was
`ablur.
`— ORIGIN early 18th cent. (in the sense ‘surly, abrupt
`bnp abbr.billion.
`in manner’): figurative use of aturr’. The current
`— DERIVATIVES blur-ry adj. (blurrier, blurriest).
`a
`Bn. » abbr. @ Baron. g Battalion.
`- ORIGIN mid.16th cent. (in the sense ‘smear that
`positive connotation dates from the early igth cent.
`
`partially obscures something’): perhapsrelated to
`BLEAR.
`B'nai B'rith /ba'na ‘brivH/ a Jewish organizatign |
`bluff? > n. 1 2 steepcliff, bank, or promontory.
`founded in New Yorkin 1843..1t pursues
`;
`2 Canadian a grove or clump oftrees. -
`» adj. (of a cliff or a ship’s bow) having a vertical or
`educational, humanitarian, and cultural activigje,
`Blu-ray /'bl60,ra/ » n. a format of DVD designed for
`steep broad front.
`'
`the storage of high-definition video and data.
`and attempts to safeguard therights and interes
`— ORIGIN early 21st cent.: from blu, a respelling of
`of Jews aroundthe world.
`j
`
`— ORIGIN early 17th cent. (as an adjective, originally
`Lue (from the calor of the laser used to read and
`~ ORIGIN Hebrew,literally ‘sons of the covenant’
`in nautical use): of unknownorigin. The Canadian
`sense dates from the mid 18th cent.
`
`write this type of DVD), + nay’.
`BO > abbr. m informal body odor. m best offer, » box
`office. w back order. m (alsoB/GQorb/o)(in
`blurb /blarb/ » n. a short description of a book,
`blu-ing /"b160iNG/ (also blueing) » n. 4 chiefly historical
`
`bookkeeping) broughtover.
`movie, or other product written for promotional
`blue powder used to preserve the whiteness of
`bopabbr. best offer.
`purposes and appearing on the coverof a book or in
`laundry.
`:
`an advertisement.
`2 a grayish-blue finish on metal produced by
`bo-a /'b6a/ > n. 4 a constrictor snake that bears liye
`
`heating.
`> v. [with obj.) informal write or contribute such a passage
`young and may reach greatsize, native to Ame
`for (a book, movie, or other product).
`bluish /'blddisH/ (also blueish) » adj. having a blue
`Africa, Asia, and somePacific islands. @ Family:
`~ ORIGIN early 2oth cent.: coined by Gelett Burgess
`tinge; somewhat blue,
`Boidae, several genera and numerousspecies,
`(died 1951), American humorist.
`See also Boa constrictor. @ any snakethat isa
`Blum /'bidom), Léon (1872-1950), French statesman;
`constrictor.
`blurred /blerd/ » adj. unable to see or be seen
`prime minister 1936-37, 1938, and 1946-47. As
`
`clearly: blurred vision | the camera caught only
`2 a long thin stole of feathers or fur worn aroun da
`France'sfirst socialist and Jewish prime minister,
`two blurred images. a not clear or distinct; hazy:
`woman's neck, typically as part of evening dress.”
`Blum introduced significant labor reforms.
`the blurred distinctions between childhood and
`~ ORIGIN late Middle English: from Latin (ment ona
`adulthood.
`Blume /bldom/, Judy Sussman (1938-), US author,
`
`inthe writings of Pliny), of unknown ultimate
`mostly of fiction for young adults. Her works
`origin.
`include Are You There, God?It's Me, Margaret
`bo-a con:stric-tor p> n. a large and typically boldly
`
`(1970), Tales ofa Fourth Grade Nothing (1972),
`marked snake that kills by coiling arounditsprey
`Forever... (1975), and, for adults, Wifey (1977) and
`Summer Sisters (1998).
`and asphyxiating it, native to tropical America,
`® Boa constrictor, family Boidae.
`Blu-men-bach /'bld0man,bak/, Johann Eriedrich
`boar /b6r/ » n. (pl. same or boars) 4 (also wild
`(1752-1840), Germanphysiologist and anatomist,
`boar) a tusked Eurasian wild pig from which
`He is regarded as the founder of physical
`
`domestic pigs are descended. @ Sus scrofa, family:
`anthropology, although his approach has since been
`Suidae. @ the flesh of the wild boar as food.
`much modified, He classified modern human beings
`2 an uncastrated domestic male pig. m the full-
`into five broad categories (Caucasian, Mongoloid,
`
`grown male of certain other animals, esp. a badger,
`Malayan, Ethiopian, and American), based mainly
`on cranial measurements.
`guineapig, or hedgehog.
`
`— ORIGIN Old English bar, related to Dutch beera
`GermanBér.
`blun-der/‘blendar/ » n. a stupid or careless mistake.
`> v. [no abj,| make sucha mistake; act orspeak
`
`board /bérd/ pn. 4 along,thin,flat piece of wood
`clumsily: the mayor and the City Council have’
`or other hard material, used for floors or other |
`blundered in an ill-advised campaign| | blundered on
`building purposes: loose boards creaked as | wal
`in my explanation| (as adj. plundering) blundering
`actors. @ move clumsily or as if unable to see: we
`on them | sections of board. = (the boards) inforeal
`the stage of a theater.
`were blundering around in the darkness.
`2 a thin,flat, rectangular piece of wood or
`—DERIVATIVES blun-der-er n., blun-der-ing-ly adv,
`—ORIGIN Middle English: probably of Scandinavian
`otherstiff material used for various purposes,
`origin and related to euino.
`in particular: m a vertical surface on which to
`write or pin notices. m a horizontal surface on
`blun-der-buss /‘blandar,bas/ p n. 1 historical a short-
`which to cut things, play games, or perform
`barreled large-bored gun with a flared muzzle, used
`at short range.
`_
`otheractivities. ma flat insulating sheet used as
`amounting for an electronic circuit: agraphics
`2 an action or way of doing something regarded as
`
`board. w the piece of equipment on which a petsot
`lacking in subtlety and precision: economists resort
`stands in surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding,
`too quickly to the blunderbuss ofregulation.
`and certain other sports. @ (boards) the wooden
`~ ORIGIN mid 17th cent.; alteration (byassociation
`
`structure surrounding an ice-hockeyrink. m (usth’
`with aunper) of Dutch donderbus, literally ‘thunder
`boards) fasketball informal term for BacksoARD,.
`gun.’
`
`referring specifically to rebounding: the absence 4
`center David Robinson to dominate on the
`@ (boards) piecesof thick stiff cardboard or,
`
`q
`originally, wood used for book covers.
`3 treated as sing: or pl.) a group of people constituted
`as the decision-making body of an organization"
`sits on the board of directors| [in names| the Federdl
`Reserve Board | [as modifier] a board meeting.
`
`4 the provision of regular meals when one stayS.,.
`somewhere,in return for paymentor services:J"
`room and board will be free. @ archaic a table set fof
`a meal.
`a
`
`5 Sailing a distance covered by a vesselin a singlé
`i
`tack.
`bv. 1 [with obj.j get on or into (a ship,aircraft, of otail
`vehicle): we boarded the plane for Oslo | [no obj) tt’)
`would notbe able to board without a ticket. m (b®_
`
`boarding)(of an aircraft) be ready for passens®at
`to embark:flight 172 to Istanbul is now boardins ©
`gate 37.
`sift
`
`2 [no obj| live and receive regular meals ina hous)
`return for payment orservices: the cousins bod!
`*
`for a while with Ruby. m (of a student) live at ci
`
`during the semester in return for payment.#[ “ale
`obj.) provide (a person or animal) with regulat ™és
`
`and somewheretolive in return for payment:
`44°”
`may have to be boarded at kennels.
`
`blurt /blart/ » v. [with obj.) say (something) suddenly
`and withoutcareful consideration: she wouldn't
`blurt out words she did not mean| |with direct speech] “It
`wasn't my idea," Gordon blurted.
`— ORIGIN late 16th cent.: probably imitative.
`blush /blest/ » v. [no obj.] develop a pink tinge in the
`face from embarrassment or shame:she blushed at
`the unexpected compliment| (with complement] Kate
`felt herself blushing scarlet. m feel embarrassed or
`ashamed: {with infinitive) he blushed to think of how
`he'd paraded himself. m (often as adj. blushing) (of
`a flower or other thing) be or becomepink orpale
`red: the trees are loaded with blushing blossoms.
`> n. 1 a reddeningofthe face as a sign of
`embarrassment or shame:ite had brought a faint
`blush to her cheeks. = a pink or pale red tinge: the
`roses were white with a lovely pink blush.
`another
`term for BLUSsHER (Sense 1).
`2 (also blush wine) a wine with a slight pink tint
`made in the manner of white wine but from red
`grape varieties.
`-PHRASES at first blush at thefirst glimpse or
`impression.
`—ORIGIN Old English biyscan; related to modern
`Dutch blozen.
`blush-er /‘blosiar/ » n. 1 a cosmetic of a powder.or
`cream consistency used to give a warmcolor to the
`cheeks. Also called satus.
`2 (the blusher) a woodland toadstool that has
`a buff cap bearing fluffy white spots and white
`flesh that turns pink whenbruisedorcut. It
`is native to both Eurasia and North America.
`® Amanita rubescens, family Amanitaceae,class
`Basidiomycetes.
`blus-ter /‘blostar/ p v. [no obj. talk ina loud,
`aggressive, or indignant way with little effect: you
`threaten and bluster, but won't carry it through| [with
`direct speech) “I don’t care what hesays," blustered |
`(as adj. blustering) a blustering oully, w (of a storm,
`wind, or rain) blow or beatfiercely and noisily: @
`winter gale blustered against the sides of the house|
`(as adj, blustering) the blustering wind.
`>n. loud, aggressive, or indignant talk with little
`effect: their threats contained a measureof bluster.
`—DERIVATIVES blus-ter-er n.
`— ORIGIN late Middle English: ultimately imitative.
`blus-ter-y /'blastaré/ » adj. (of weatheror a period
`of time) characterized by strong winds: a gusty,
`blustery day. m (of a wind) blowing in strong gusts.
`blvd. » abbr. boulevard.
`Bly /bli/, Nellie (1867-1922), US journalist and social
`reformer; pseudonym of ElizabethJane Cochrane.
`As a reporterfor the Pittsburgh Dispatch, she wrote
`about child labor and unsafe working conditions in
`factories .
`B lym-pho-cyte > n.Physiology anotherterm for B cet,
`
`
`
`blunderbuss
`
`blunge/blonj/ » v.[with obj.] mix (clay or other
`materials) with waterin a revolving apparatus for
`use in ceramics.
`— DERIVATIVES blung-er n.
`~ ORIGIN early 19th cent.: blend of aLenp and PLUNGE.
`blunt/biant/ » adj. 4 (of a knife, pencil, etc.) having
`a worn-down edge orpoint; not sharp:a blunt knife.
`a paving a flat or rounded end: the blune tipofthe
`leaf.
`2 (of a person or remark) uncompromisingly
`forthright: he ts as blunt as a kick inthe shins |a
`blunt statement offact.
`> n.informal a hollowed-outcigarfilled with marijuana.
`> v. make or become lesssharp: |with obj. wood can
`blunt your ax | {no obj.) the edge may blunt very
`rapidly. w (with obj.) weaken or reduce (something):
`their determination had been blunted.
`— DERIVATIVES blunt-ly adv., blunt-ness n.
`
`3
`
`

`

`756
`graphics card
`granophyre
`the winemaking industry. Genus Vitis, family
`gran tu-ris-mo /gran t00'rizm6/ (abbr.: GT) » a.
`gran-o-phyre /‘grana,fi(a}r/ » n. Geology a granitic
`Vitaceae: many species, in particular V. vinifera and
`(pl gran turismos) a high-performance model of
`rock consisting of intergrown feldspar and quartz
`the American V. labrusca.
`automobile,
`crystals in a medium- to fine-grained groundmass.
`2 informal used to refer to the circulation of rumors
`=-oRiGIN mid 2oth cent: lialian,literally ‘great
`—DERIVATIVES gran-o-phy-ric / grana'firik/ adj.
`touring.’
`and unofficial information:Id heard through the
`-ORIGIN late 19th cent.: from German Granophyr,
`from Grenit ‘granite’ + Porphyr (see ronpiuvey).
`grapevine that the business was nearly settied,
`gran-wlar /'geanyalar/ » adj. 1 resembling or
`consisting of small grains or particles. m having a
`Grant’ /grant/, Cary (1904-86), US actor; born in
`graph’/craf/ » n. a diagram showing therelation
`Britain; born Alexander Archibald Leach. He made
`roughened surface or structure.
`between variable quantities, typically of two
`his mark as a debonair leading man, starring in such
`variables, each measured along oneofa pair ofaxes
`2 technical characterized by a high level of
`at right angles. m= Mathematics a collection of points
`granularity; a granular database.
`movies as Holiday (1938), The Philadelphia Story
`=ORIGIN late 18th cent.: from late Latin granulum
`(1040), North by Northwest (1959), and Charade
`whose coordinatessatisfy a given relation.
`(SCE GRANULE) +-aAR".
`£1963).
`® v, [with obj.| plot or trace on a graph.
`-ORIGIN late 19th cent.: abbreviation of graphir
`Grant®, Duncan (James Corrow) (1885-1978),
`gramw-lar-i-ty |granya'larité/ » n. 4 the quality or
`condition of being granular.
`formula.
`Scottish painter and designer; a member of the
`2 technical the scale or level of detail present in a set
`Bloomsbury Group.
`graph?>a.Linguistics a visual symbol representing
`of data or other phenomenon:the granularity ofthis
`Grant?, Ulysses Simpson (1822-85), 18th president
`a unit of sound or other feature of speech. Graphs
`war ts not the sand that covers most ofthe country,
`of the US 1869-77; barn Hiram Ulysses Grant.
`include not only letters of the alphabet but also
`but these details that have proved so elusive.
`As supreme commander of the Union army, he
`punctuation marks.
`defeated the Confederate army in 1865 witha
`— ORIGIN 1930s: from Greek graphé writing.
`gran-u-late /‘granya,lat/ v. 1 [with obj] (usu. as
`policy of attrition. Asa popular general elected to
`adj. granulated) form (something) into grains
`-graph >» comb. form 4 in nouns denoting something
`the presidency, he lacked political experience and
`or particles: granulated sugar. m= |ne obj] (of a
`written or drawn in # specified way: autograph,
`was Unable to check widespread political corruption
`substance) take the form of grains or particles: the
`2 in nouns denoting an instrumentthat records:
`and inefficiency. During his first administration, the
`syrup would not grantlate property.
`seismograpit.
`15th Amendmentwasratified (giving all qualified
`2 [no obj.] (often as adj. granulating) Medicine (of a
`—ORIGIN from French -graphe, based on Greek
`male citizens the right te vote) and the national
`wound or lesion) form a grainy surface as part of
`graphos ‘written, writing”
`the healing process. m (as adj.
`}) chiefly
`graph-eme /‘sgrafém/ > a. Linguistics the smallest
`Biology having a roughened surface: the skin is densely
`meaningful contrastive unit in a writing systen:.
`granulated,
`Compare with pHomeme.
`-DERIVATIVES gran-u-la-tion /granya'lashan/ n.,
`~DERIVATIVES gra-phe-mic /(ra'fémik/
`gran-u-la-tor /-latar/ n.
`adj., gra-phe-mi-cal-ly /gra'fémik(a)lé/ adv.,
`gran-u-la-tion tis-sue » n, new vascular tissue in
`gra-phe-mics /gra'fémiks/ n.
`granular form on an ulcer or the healing surface of
`- ORIGIN 1930s: from GRAPH +-EME.
`a wound,
`graph-ene /‘grafen/ » a. a fullerene consisting of
`gran-ule /‘granyd0l/ » n. a small compact particle of
`bonded carbon atoms in sheet form one atom thick.
`a substance: coffee granules.
`—ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from late Latin granulum,
`-grapher » comb. form indicating a person concerned
`diminutive of Latin granum ‘grain.
`with a subject denoted by a noun ending in -graphy
`(such as geographer corresponding to geography),
`granu-lite /'granya,lit/ » a.
`a fine-grained,
`-ORIGIN from Greek -graphos ‘writer’ +-eR',
`granular metamorphic rock in which the main
`component minerals are typically feldspars and
`graph-ic /'grafik/ » adj. 4 of or relating to vista!
`quartz.
`art, esp. involving drawing, engraving, or lettering:
`—DERIVATIVES gran-w-lit-ic /granya,litik/ adj.
`his mature graphic work. w giving a vivid picture
`—ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from GRANULE + -ITE’.
`with explicit detail: he gave a graphic descriptionof
`the torture. = Computing of, relating to, or denoting a
`gran-u-lo-cyte /‘granyala,sit/ » a. Physiology a white
`visual image: graphic information such as charts und
`blood cell with secretory granules in its cytoplasm,
`diagrams.
`@.g., an eosinophil or a basophil.
`2 of or in the form of a graph,
`—DERIVATIVES gran-u-lo-cyt-ic /granyala'sitik/ adj.
`—ORIGIN early 20th cent.: from late Latin granulum
`3 [attrib,] Geology of or denoting rocks having a surface
`‘granule’ + -crTE.
`texture resembling cuneiform writing.
`> . Computing-a graphical item displayed on a screen yp
`gran-u-lo-ma /granya'idma/ & n. (pl. granulomas or
`stored as data.
`granulomata /-mata/) Medicine a mass of granulation
`—ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek
`tissue, typically produced in response to infection,
`inflammation, or the presence of a foreign substance.
`graphikos, from graphé ‘writing, drawing,”
`-DERIVATIVES gran-u-lom-a-tous /-‘limatos/ adj.
`-graphic » comb. form in adjectives corresponding
`to nouns ending in -graphy (such as demograpitic
`gran-u-lo-met-ric /,granyole'metrik/ » adj, relating
`to the size, distribution, or measurementof grain
`corresponding to demography).
`sizes in sand, rock, or other deposits.
`- ORIGIN from or suggested by Greek -graphikos,
`from graphé ‘writing, drawing’; partly from -craewy
`gran-u-lose /‘granya,lés/ » adj. consisting of or
`OF -GRAPH + -IC.
`covered with small grains or granules.
`graph-i-cal /‘grafikal/ » adj. 4 of, relating to, or
`gra-num /‘granam/ singular form of Grana.
`in the form ofa graph:flowcharts are graphical
`grape /grap/ » n.1 a berry, typically green
`presentations.
`(classified as white), purple, red, or black, growing
`2 of or relating to visual art or computer graphice
`in clusters ona grapevine, eaten as fruit, and used
`high-resolution graphical display.
`in making wine. = (the grape) informal wine: an
`—DERIVATIVES graph-i-cal-ly /-ik(e)lé/ adv.
`exploration of the grape.
`2 short for GRAPESHOT.
`-graphical » comb. form equivalent to -crapnic.
`-DERIVATIVES grap-ey (also grapy) adj. (grapier,
`-graphically » comb. form in adverbs
`corresponding to nouns ending in -graphic (such as
`ORIGIN Middle English (also in the Old French
`demographically corresponding to demographic)
`sense): from Old French, ‘bunch ofgrapes,’ probably
`graph-i-cal us-er in-ter-face (abbr.: Gu!) » n,
`from graper*gather grapes,’ from grap ‘hook’
`Computing a visual way of interacting with a computer
`(denoting an implement used in harvesting grapes),
`using items such as windows, icons, and menus,
`of Germanic origin.
`used by most modern operating systems.
`grape-fruit /'srap,frdot/ > n. (pl same) 1 a large,
`graph-ic arts » plural n_ the visual arts based on thy
`round, yelluw citrus fruit with zn acid, juicy pulp.
`use of line and tone rather than three-dimensiony!
`2 the tree bearing this fruit, @ Citrus paradisi,
`family Rutaceae.
`work or the use of color. = (graphic art) the activa)
`of practicing these arts, esp. as a subject ofstudy,
`- ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from Grape + FRUIT
`—DERIVATIVES graph-ic art-ist n.
`{probably because the fruits grow in clusters).
`graph-ic de-sign > n. the art or skill of combininy
`grape hy-a-cinth » n. a small Eurasian plant of
`text and pictures in advertisements, magazines, or
`the lily family, with clusters of small, globular blue
`books.
`flowers, cultivated as an ornamental or for use in
`—DERIVATIVES graph-ic de-sign-er p.
`perfume, @ Genus Muscari, family Liliaceae.
`graph-ic e-qual-iz-er » n. an electronic device oy
`grape i-vy p n. an evergreen climbing plant of the
`grape family that is grown as a houseplant. # Genus
`computer program that allowsthe separate contre)
`Cissus, family Vitaceae: several species, in particular
`of the strength and quality of selected frequency
`bands.
`C. rhombifolia.
`seed oil /grap,séd/ » n. oil extracted from
`graph-ic nov-el p a. a novelin comic-strip formar,
`the residue of grapes that have been juiced.
`graph-ics /‘grafiks/ » plural n. |usu. treated as sing.) 4 phe
`grape-shot/‘grap,siat/ » n, historical ammunition
`products of the graphic arts, esp. commercial design
`or illustration,
`consisting of a number of small iron balls fired
`together from a cannon.
`2 the use of diagrams in calculation and design,
`3 (also computer graphics) treated as plj visua!
`grape sug-ar & n. dextrose presentin or derived
`images produced by computer processing. mw |tmexe
`from grapes.
`as sing.| the use af computers linked to display
`grape-vine /'grap,vin/ n. 4 a vine native to both
`screens to generate and manipulate visual images
`Eurasia and North America, esp. one bearing fruit
`(grapes) used for eating or winemaking. Numerous
`graph-ics card » n. Computing a printed circuit board
`cultivars and hybrids have been developed for
`
`that controls the output to a display screen,
`
`park system was established.
`
`Ulysses 5. Grant
`grant /¢rant/ & v. [with two obj | 1 agree to give or
`allow (something requested) to: a letter granting
`them permissionto smoke. m= give (a right, power,
`property, etc.) formally or legally to: thre amendment
`thet granted women the right to vote.
`2 agree or admit to (someone) that (something)is
`true: he hasn't made much progress, I'll grant you that.
`& n. 4 a sum of money given by an organization, esp.
`a government, for a particular purpose. m formal the
`action of granting something: we had to recommend
`the grant or refusal ofbroadcasting licenses. m law a
`legal conveyance or formal conferment: a grant of
`jand | a grant ofprobate.
`2 a geographical subdivision in New Hampshire,
`Vermont, and Maine,
`—PHRASES take someone/something for granted
`fail to appreciate someone or something that is very
`familiar or obvious: the comforts that people take for
`Sranted | she took him for granted. take something
`for granted # assume that sometiting is true
`without questioningit: those companies challenged
`beliefs that everyone else tookfor granted.
`—DERIVATIVES grant-a-ble adj., grant-er n.
`-ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French granter
`“consent to support,’ variant of creanter ‘to
`guarantee,’ based on Latin credere ‘entrust.
`grant-ed /'grantid/ & adv. [sentence adverb] admittedly;
`it fs true (used to introduce a factorthat is opposed
`tothe main line of argument but is not regarded
`as so strong as to invalidate it): granted, silting
`around the house may not be your idea of the perfect
`retirement, but what's your choice when inflation is
`eroding the vale of your nest eg?
`> conj. (granted that) even assuming that: granred
`that officers were used to making decisions, they still
`couldn’ be expected ta understand.
`gran-tee /gran'té/ » n. chiefly [aw a person to whom a
`grant or conveyance is made.
`Gran-tha /gronta/ » n. a southern Indian alphabet
`dating from the 5th century ab, used by Tamil
`Brahmans when writing Sanskrit transcriptions of
`their sacred books.
`—ORIGIN from Sanskrit granthe (see Aoi Grant).
`Granth Sa-hib ‘grant 'sa(h)ib/ (or Granth)short
`for Guru Grant Sane.
`grant-in-aid » n. (pi. grants-in-aid) an amount of
`money given to a local government, an institution,
`or a particular scholar.
`gramtor /gran‘tér, ‘grantar/ » n. chiefly Law a person or
`institution that makes a grant or conveyance.
`grants-man-ship /\grantsman,suip/ » a. the skill or
`practice of obtaining grants-in-aid, esp. for research.
`—DERIVATIVES grants-man a,
`
`4
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`graticule
`757
`raphics tablet
`excessive consumption can leadto lathyrism. Also
`w act decisively to the advantage of (something): we
`‘aph-ics tab-let > n, Computing an input device
`called curckune Pea. @ Lathyrus sativus, family
`must grasp the opportunities offered.
`consistingof a flat, pressure-sensitive pad that the
`Leguminosae.
`> ni, fin sing.a firm hold or grip: the child slipped from
`user draws on or points at with a special stylus, to
`hergrasp. m a person's poweror capacity to attain
`
`guide a pointer displayed on the screen.
`grass-quit /‘sras,kwit/ » n. a small Caribbean and
`something: he knew success was within his grasp. ma
`tropical American songbird related to the buntings,
`ite /gra,fit/ > n. a gray, crystalline, allotropic
`the male being partly or mainly black. @ Family
`person's understanding: meanings that are beyond
`form of carbon that occurs as a mineralin some
`
`rygrasp| his grasp ofdetail.
`Emberizidac (subfamily Emberizinae): three genera,
`rocks and can be made from coke.It is used as a
`~PHRASES grasp at straws (or a straw) see stnaw.
`in particular Tiaris, and several species.
`solid lubricant, in pencils, and as a moderator in
`asp the nettle Grit. tackle a difficulty boldly.
`
`nuclear reactors.
`grass roots (also grassroots |'gras,rd0ts/) » plural
`use a nettle stings when touched lightly, but
`n. the most basic level of an activity or organization:
`DERIVATIVES graphitic /gra'fitik/ adj.
`not when grasped firmly.)
`
`ORIGIN late 18th cent.: coined in German (Graphit),
`the whole campaign would be conducted at the grass
`roots | [as modifier] trying to improve the sport's image
`from Greek graphein ‘write’ (because of its use as
`—DERIVATIVES grasp-a-ble adj., ware: A
`ORIGIN late Middle English: perhaps related ta
`
`pencil “lead”).
`GROPE.
`at the grass-roots level. = ordinary people regarded
`as the main body of an organization’s membership:
`‘Ptize /grafi,tiz/ » v. technical convert or be
`grasp-ing /‘graspinG/ > adj. greedy; avaricious:
`you have lost touch with rhe grass roots of the party.
`converted into graphite.
`
`grasping, power-hungry individuals.
`DERIVATIVES graph-i-ti-za-tion | grafitizasHan/ n.
`grass ski > n. each of a pair of short skis with rollers
`-DERIVATIVES grasp-ing-ly adv., grasp-ing-ness n.
`
`on the bottom, for going down grass-covered slopes.
`-ol-o-gy /era'filaje/ » a. 4 the study of
`Grass /gras/, Ginter (Wilhelm) (1927-), German
`—DERIVATIVES grass ski-ing 1.
`handwriting, for example, as used to infer a person's
`novelist, poet, and playwright. His works are
`character,
`
`grass skirt > n. a skirt made of long grass and leaves
`intellectual and experimental and often reflect his
`fastened to a waistband, associated esp. with female
`2 Linguistics the study of written and printed symbols
`socialist yiews. Notable works: The Tin Drum (1959),
`
`and of writing systems.
`dancers from some Pacific islands.
`The Plebeians Rehearse the Liprising (1966), and The
`
`DERIVATIVES graph-o-log-i-cal /grafa'lajikal/ adj.,
`snake > n, a common harmless Eurasian snake
`Flounder (1977). Nobel Prize for Literature (1999).
`graph-ol-o-gist /-jist/ n.
`that typically has a yellowish band around the neck
`grass /gras/ » n. 1 vegetation consistingof typically
`-OR(GIN mid 19th cent.: from Greek graphée
`and is often found in or near water. @ Natrix natrix,
`short plants with long narrow leaves, growing wild
`‘writing’ + -LoGy.
`family Colubridae. = another term for GREEN SNAKE.
`or cultivated on lawns and pasture, and as a fodder
`
`paper » n. paper printed with a network
`crop. = ground covered with grass: he sat down on
`grass tet-a-ny > n. a disease oflivestock caused by
`ofsmall squares to assist the drawing of graphs or
`magnesium deficiency, occurring esp, when thereis
`the grass. m pastureland:the farms were mostlygiven
`
`other diagrams.
`over tograss,
`a change from indoor feeding to outdoor grazing.
`the-o-ry > n. the mathematical theory of the
`2 the mainly herbaceous plant that constitutes such
`grass wid-ow p> n. a woman whose husband ts away
`properties and applications of graphs,
`vegetation, which has jointed stems and spikes of
`often or for a prolonged period.
`
`» comb. form [in nouns denoting:| 4 a descriptive
`small, wind-pollinated flowers.
`=ORIGIN early 16th cent. (denoting an unmarried
`science: geograpity.
`woman with a child): from crass + winow, perhaps
`Grasses belong to the targe family Gramineae
`2 a technique of producing images: radiography.
`from the idea of the couple having tain on the grass
`(or Poaceae; the grass family), and form the
`3 astyle or method of writing or drawing:
`instead of in bed, The current sense dates from the
`dominant vegetation of many areas of the world.
`calligraphy. w writing about(a specified
`mid 19th cent.; compare with Dutch grasweduwe
`The possession of a growing point that is mainly
`subject): hagiography. = a writvenorprinted list:
`and German Strofwitwe ‘straw widow,
`at ground level makes grasses suitable as the food
`filmography.
`grass-y /'grasé/ » adj. (grassier, grassiest) of or
`of many grazing animals, and for use in lawns and
`ORIGIN From or suggested by Greek -grephia
`
`covered with grass:grassy slopes. m characteristic of
`playing fields.
`‘writing.’
`grass: an intense grassy green,
`3 informal marijuana.
`grap-nel
`|’
`Ll >.
`—HERIVATIVES grass-i-ness n.
`Leapea ®
`agrappling hook. ma
`4 Brit. informal a police informer. [perhaps related to
`grate" /grat/ » v. 1 [with obj. reduce (something, esp.
`the igth-cent. rhyming slang grasshopper ‘copper.’]
`small anchor with several
`food) to small shreds by rubbingit on a grater: peel
`> v. [with obj} 4 (usu. be
`d) cover (an area of
`flukes.
`and roughly grate the carrots | (as adj. grated) grated
`ground) with grass: hillsides so closely grassed over,
`ORIGIN late Middle
`cheese.
`they seem ta be painted green. m feed (livestock)
`English: from an
`2 [no obj] make an unpleasant rasping sound: the
`with grass.
`Anglo-Norman French
`hinges ofthe door grated, # (grate against) rub
`2 [no obj,] Brit. informal inform the police of criminal
`diminutive ofOld French
`against something with such a sound: his helmet
`activity or plans: someone had grassed on the thieves.
`grapon, of Germanic
`gratedagainst the top of the door. = havean
`—PHRASES the grass is always greener on the
`origin.
`irritating effect: he had a juvenile streak that grated
`other side of the fence proverb other people's lives
`grap-pa /‘grips/ & n. a
`on her nerves.
`:
`or situations always seem better than one’s own.
`brandy distilled from
`the€ermented residue not let the grass grow under one's feet not delay©- ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old French
`
`of grapes after they
`in acting or taking an opportunity.
`grater, of Germanic origin; related to German
`have been