goodwife (gud´waif') pl. -wives' (-waivz') •n. [Archaic] 1 a wife or a mistress of a household 2 a title equivalent to Mrs., applied to a woman ranking below a lady [ME: see GOOD & WIFE]

goodwill (-wil´) •n. 1 a friendly or kindly attitude; benevolence 2 cheerful consent; willingness 3 Accounting an intangible asset which takes into account the value added to a business firm as a result of patronage, reputation, etc. Also, exc. for sense 3, good will

goody¹ (gud´i:) pl. good´ies •n. [Colloq.] 1 something considered very good to eat, as a piece of candy Æ 2 GOODY-GOODY •adj. [Colloq.] GOODY-GOODY •interj. a child's exclamation of approval or delight

goody² (gud´i:) pl. good´ies •n. [Archaic] a woman, esp. an old woman or housewife, of lowly social status: used as a title with the surname [
Goodyear (gud´yir'), Charles 1800-60; U.S. inventor: originated the process for vulcanizing rubber

goody-goody (gud´i: gud'i:) •adj. [Colloq.] moral or pious in an affected or canting way Æ n. [Colloq.] a goody-goody person Also good·y-two-shoes (-tu:´shu:z´) [redupl. of GOODY¹]

gooey (gu:'i:) goo´i·er, goo´i·est •adj. [Slang] 1 sticky, as glue 2 sticky and sweet 3 overly sentimental [GOO + -EY]

goof (gu:f) •n. [Slang] 1 a stupid, silly, or credulous person 2 a mistake; blunder •vi. [Slang] 1 to make a mistake; blunder, fail, etc. 2 to waste time, shirk one's duties, etc.: usually with off or around [prob. < dial. goff < Fr goffe, stupid < It goffo]

goofball (-böl') •n. [Slang] a pill containing a barbiturate, or sometimes a stimulant drug, tranquilizer, etc., esp. when used nonmedicinally Also goof ball [prec. + BALL¹]

goof-off (-öf') •n. a person who wastes time or avoids work; shirker

goofy (gu:f´i:) goof´i·er, goof´i·est •adj. [Slang] like or characteristic of a goof; stupid and silly goof´i·ly •adv. goof´i·ness •n.

googol (gu:´göl', -gäl') •n. 1 the number 1 followed by 100 zeros; 10¹00 2 any very large number [arbitrary use by E. Kasner (1878-1955), U.S. mathematician, of a child's word]

googolplex (-göl pleks', -gäl-) •n. the number 1 followed by a googol of zeros; 10 to the power googol [prec. + L -plex, -fold]

goo-goo (gu:´gu:´) •n. an advocate or worker for political reform [< Goo(d) Go(vernment Association), a Boston reform society]

goo-goo eyes (gu:´gu:'-) [Slang] amorously inviting glances

gook¹ (guk, gu:k) •n. [Slang] any sticky, greasy, or slimy substance [GOO + (GUN)K]

gook² (gook) •n. [Slang, Chiefly Mil.] a native of Asia, esp. of Japan, Korea, Vietnam, etc.: a hostile and contemptuous term [< ?]

goombah (gu:m´bä') •n. an older man who is a friend, protector, advisor, etc.

goombay (gu:m´bei) •n. a dance of the Bahamas done to syncopated rhythms of a band using drums, maracas, sticks, and improvised instruments

goon (gu:n) •n. [Slang] 1 a ruffian or thug, esp. one hired to help break a strike, etc. [< ?] 2 a person who is awkward, grotesque, stupid, etc. [after Alice the Goon, grotesque comic-strip figure created by E. C. Segar (1894-1938), U.S. cartoonist]

gooney bird (gu:´ni:) ALBATROSS Also goo´ny bird [< gooney, sailors' name for the albatross, orig. simpleton, prob. < or akin to ME gonen, to gape < OE ganian: see YAWN]

goop (gu:p) •n. [Slang] any sticky, semiliquid substance goop´y, goop´i·er, goop´i·est, •adj. [GOO + (SOU)P]

goosander (gu:s æn´dэr) •n. the common merganser: see MERGANSER [prob. < fol., after bergander, sheldrake]

goose (gu:s) pl. geese or goos´es •n. 1 any of various long-necked, web-footed, wild or domestic waterfowl that are like ducks but larger; esp., a female as distinguished from a gander 2 the flesh of a goose, used for food 3 a silly person 4 a tailor's pressing iron with a long handle curved somewhat like the neck of a goose 5 [Slang] a sudden, playful prod in the backside •vt. goosed, goos´ing [Slang] Æ 1 to prod suddenly and playfully in the backside so as to startle Æ 2 to feed gasoline to (an engine) in irregular spurts Æ 3 to prod, or stir, into action cook someone's goose [Colloq.] to spoil one's chances, hopes, etc. [ME gose < OE gos, akin to Du & Ger gans, ON gas < IE *Ghans > L anser; vt. 1 prob. for the fact that geese sometimes attack children from the rear]

goose barnacle any of a number of barnacles (genera Lepas and Mitella) that attach themselves by a long, fleshy stalk to rocks, ship bottoms, etc. Also called gooseneck barnacle [from the fable that geese grew from them]

goose egg [Slang] Æ 1 zero or a score of zero 2 a large swelling or lump, esp. one caused by a blow

goose flesh a roughened condition of the skin in which the papillae are erected, caused by cold, fear, etc. Also Æ goose bumps (or pimples or skin)

goose step a marching step, as of troops passing in review, in which the legs are raised high and kept stiff and unbent goose-step (gu:s´step'), -stepped', -step'ing, •vi.

gooseberry (gu:s´ber'i:, -bэ ri:; gu:z´-) pl. -ries •n. 1 a small, sour berry used in making preserves, pies, etc.: it resembles a currant but is larger 2 any of various prickly shrubs (genus Ribes) of the saxifrage family which produce gooseberries [as if < GOOSE + BERRY, but prob. folk-etym. form for *grose berie, akin to dial. grosel, gooseberry (< Fr groseille), Du kruisbezie, Ger krausbeere]

goosefoot (gu:s´fu:t') •adj. designating a family (Chenopodiaceae, order Caryophyllales) of dicotyledonous plants, including spinach and beets •n. pl. -foots any of a genus (Chenopodium) of weedy plants of the goosefoot family, with small green flowers and, frequently, scurfy or fleshy foliage

gooseherd (gu:s´hørd') •n. a person who tends geese [ME gosherde: see HERD²]

gooseliver (gu:s´liv'эr) •n. smoked liver sausage

gooseneck (gu:s´nek') •n. any of various mechanical devices shaped like a goose's neck, as an iron joint for pipes, a flexible rod for supporting a desk lamp, etc.

goosey or goosy (gu:s´i:) goos´i·er, goos´i·est •adj. 1 a) like or characteristic of a goose b) foolish; stupid 2 [Slang] a) easily upset or disturbed by a sudden, playful prod in the backside b) nervous; jumpy

GOP Grand Old Party (Republican Party)

gopher snake 1 [Western] regional var. of BULLSNAKE 2 INDIGO SNAKE

gopher wood Bible the wood used to make Noah's ark: Gen. 6:14 [Heb gofer]

gopher¹ (gou´fэr) •n. 1 any of a family (Geomyidae) of burrowing rodents about the size of a large rat, with wide cheek pouches; pocket gopher 2 any of a number of striped ground squirrels (genus Citellus) found on the prairies of North America 3 a burrowing land tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) found in SE U.S. [earlier magofer, prob. < AmInd] 4 [G-] [Colloq.] a native or inhabitant of Minnesota (called the Gopher State) [< ? Fr gaufre, honeycomb (see GOFFER): so called from its habit of burrowing]

gopher² (gou´fэr) •n. [Slang] alt. sp. of GOFER

Gorakhpur (gör´эk pur') city in Uttar Pradesh, NE India: pop. 306,000

goral (gou´rэl, gör´эl) pl. -rals •n.or -ral any of a genus (Naemorhedus) of goat antelopes found in Asian mountains from the S Himalayas to Siberia [< native (Himalayan) name]

Gorbachev (gör´bэ chöf', gör'bэ chöf´), Mi·kha·il S(ergeyevich) (mi:'khä i:l´) 1931- ; general secretary of the Communist Party of the U.S.S.R. (1985-91)

gorcock (gör´käk') •n. [Brit. Dial.] the male red grouse [prob. < GORE¹ + COCK¹, because of its color]

Gordian knot (gör´di: эn) 1 Gr. Legend a knot tied by King Gordius of Phrygia, which an oracle reveals will be undone only by the future master of Asia: Alexander the Great, failing to untie it, cuts the knot with his sword 2 any perplexing problem cut the Gordian knot to find a quick, bold solution for a perplexing problem

gordian worm (gör´di: эn) any of a phylum (Nematomorpha) of long, thin, worms parasitic in insects when immature and free-swimming as adults; horsehair worm

Gordon (gör´dªn) 1 a masculine name 2 Charles George 1833-85; Brit. general in China, Egypt, & Sudan: called Chinese Gordon [Scot < surname Gordon]

Gordon setter (görd´ªn) any of a breed of setter having a soft, black coat with tan markings [after a Scot dog fancier, the 4th Duke of Gordon (c. 1745-c. 1827)]

Gore (gör), Albert (Arnold, Jr.) 1948- ; vice president of the U.S. (1993- )

gore¹ (gör) •n. blood shed from a wound, esp. when clotted [ME gore, filth < OE gor, dung, filth, akin to ON gor, Welsh gor, MDu gore < IE base *gwher-, hot > WARM, L fornax, furnace]

gore² (gör) gored, gor´ing •vt. to pierce with or as with a horn or tusk [ME goren < gore, a spear < OE gar: see GORE3]

gore³ (gör) •n. 1 a small, triangular piece of land as where two roads diverge 2 a tapering piece of cloth made or inserted in a skirt, sail, etc. to give it fullness •vt. gored, gor´ing to make or insert a gore or gores in [ME gore < OE gara, corner < base of gar, a spear, akin to MDu gheere, Ger gehre, gusset < IE base *ghaiso-, a stake, javelin > Ger geissel, a whip]

Gorgas (gör´gэs), William Crawford 1854-1920; U.S. army medical officer: chief sanitary officer in the Canal Zone during construction of the Panama Canal

gorge (görj) •n. 1 the throat or gullet 2 the crop or stomach of a hawk 3 a) the maw or stomach of a voracious being or animal b) food or a meal to fill or stuff the stomach c) the contents of the stomach 4 a feeling of resentment, disgust, anger, etc. {to make one's gorge rise} 5 the entrance from the rear into a bastion or projecting section of a fortification 6 a deep, narrow pass between steep heights Æ 7 a mass that blocks up a passage {an ice gorge} •vi. gorged, gorg´ing to eat gluttonously •vt. 1 to fill the gorge of; glut 2 to swallow greedily [ME < OFr, throat, gullet < LL *gurga, throat, narrow pass, for L gurges, whirlpool < IE base *gwer-, to swallow up > L vorare]

gorgeous (gör´jэs) •adj. 1 brilliantly showy; magnificent or sumptuous; splendid 2 [Colloq.] beautiful, wonderful, delightful, etc.: a generalized term of approval gor´geous·ly •adv. gor´geous·ness •n. [ME gorgeouse, altered < OFr gorgias, beautiful, glorious, ? akin to gorgiere, ruff for the neck < gorge: see GORGE]

gorgerin (gör´jэr in) •n. Archit. the part of a column just below the top molding or between the shaft and the capital [Fr < gorgère < OFr gorgiere: see GORGEOUS]

gorget (gör´jit) •n. 1 a piece of armor to protect the throat: see ARMOR, illus. 2 a collar 3 an article of clothing covering the neck and breast, formerly worn by women; wimple 4 a patch of color, often iridescent, on the throat of a bird, as on a male hummingbird [ME < OFr gorgete < gorgiere: see GORGEOUS]

Gorgon (gör´gэn) •n. 1 Gr. Myth. any of three sisters with snakes for hair, so horrible that the beholder is turned to stone 2 [g-] any ugly, terrifying, or repulsive woman Gor·go´ni·an •adj. [ME < L Gorgo (gen. Gorgonis) < Gr Gorgō < gorgos, terrible, fierce]

gorgonian (gör gou´ni: эn) •n. any of an order (Gorgonacea) of colonial anthozoans with a horny, axial skeleton that branches, as in the sea whips, or forms an open network, as in the sea fans [ModL Gorgonia, name of the genus < L, coral (< Gorgo, prec.) + -AN]

gorgonize (gör´gэn aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to petrify or stupefy, as with a look [GORGON + -IZE]

Gorgonzola (gör'gэn zou´lэ) •n. a white Italian pressed cheese with veins of blue-green mold and a strong flavor [It, after Gorgonzola, town in Italy near Milan]

gorhen (gör´hen') •n. the female red grouse; moorhen [prob. < GORE¹ + HEN, with reference to the color]

gorilla (gэ ril´э) •n. 1 the largest, and most powerful of the great apes (Gorilla gorilla), native to the jungles of equatorial Africa: the adult male weighs up to 225 kg (c. 500 lbs.): historically misrepresented since it is generally shy, intelligent, and vegetarian 2 [Slang] a) a person regarded as like a gorilla in appearance, strength, etc. b) a gangster; thug [< Gr gorillai, a tribe of hairy women, recorded by Hanno, Carthaginian navigator, as the native name in use in W Africa in the 5th c. B.C. for wild creatures found there]

Gorki or Gorky (gör´ki:), Max·im (mæk´sim) (pseud. of Aleksei Maximovich Peshkov) 1868-1936; Russ. novelist & playwright

Gorki, Gorkiy, or Gorky (gör´ki:) old name of NIZHNY NOVGOROD

Gorky (gör´ki:), Ar·shile (är´shi:l) (born Vosdanig Manoog Adoian) 1904-48: U.S. artist, born in Turkish Armenia

Gorlovka (gäř lôf´kä) city in SE Ukraine, in the Donets Basin: pop. 342,000

gormand (gör´mэnd) •n. var. of GOURMAND

gormandize (gör´mэn daiz') •n. rare var. of GOURMANDISE •vi., vt. -ized', -iz'ing to eat or devour like a glutton [< the n.] gor´mand·iz'er •n. [< Fr gourmandise < OFr gourmand: see GOURMAND]

gormless (görm´lis) •adj. [Brit. Colloq.] slow-witted; stupid [altered < dial. gaumless < gaum, gome, care < ME gome < ON gaum, akin to OE gieme, care, Goth gaumjan, to heed]

gorp (görp) •n. a mixture of raisins, nuts, bits of chocolate, etc. eaten as by hikers for quick energy [< ?]

gorse (görs) •n. FURZE gors´y •adj. [ME gorst < OE < IE base *Ghers-, to stiffen, bristle > L horrere, to stand on end]

gory (gör´i:) gor´i·er, gor´i·est •adj. 1 full of, covered with, or like gore; bloody 2 characterized by much bloodshed or slaughter {a gory fight} gor´i·ly •adv. gor´i·ness •n.

gosh (gäsh, gösh) •interj. an exclamation of surprise, wonder, etc.: a euphemism for God

goshawk (gäs´hök') •n. a large, swift, powerful hawk (Accipiter gentilis) with short wings and a long, rounded tail: see HAWK¹, illus. [ME goshauk < OE goshafoc: see GOOSE & HAWK¹]

Goshen (gou´shэn) Bible the fertile land assigned to the Israelites in Egypt: Gen. 45:10 •n. a land of plenty [Heb]

gosling (gäz´liŋ) •n. 1 a young goose 2 a young and foolish or inexperienced person [ME goslynge (see GOOSE & -LING¹), for geslynge < ON gæslingr]

gospel (gäs´pэl) •n. 1 [often G-] a) the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles; specif., the Christian doctrine of the redemption of man through Jesus as Christ b) the history of the life and teachings of Jesus 2 [G-] a) any of the first four books of the New Testament b) an excerpt from any of these books read in a religious service 3 anything proclaimed or accepted as the absolute truth: also gospel truth 4 any doctrine or rule widely or ardently maintained 5 an evangelistic Protestant religious music, esp. a kind that evolved from spirituals and the black churches in the U.S.; also, a melismatic singing style characteristic of black gospel, often employing antiphonal patterns •adj. [often G-] of or having to do with (the) gospel or evangelism [ME godspell, gospel (with assimilated -d-) < OE gōdspel, orig., good story, good news: intended as transl. of LL(Ec) evangelium (see EVANGEL), tidings, but later by shortening of o it became gŏdspel as if < god, God + spel, story]

gospeler (-эr) •n. 1 [Now Rare] a reader of the Gospel in a religious service 2 an ardent preacher or supporter of the Gospel or of a gospel: derisive term Also gos´pel·ler [ME gospellere < OE godspellere]

gospodin (gäs pä dyi:n´) pl. -da´ (-dä´) •n. [Archaic] a Russian title of respect, more formal than English Mr. [Russ, lit., lord < IE base *ghostis, stranger, guest: see HOSPICE]

Gosport (gäs´pört) seaport in Hampshire, S England, on Portsmouth harbor: pop. 82,000 gossamer (gäs´э mэr) •n. 1 a filmy cobweb floating in the air or spread on bushes or grass 2 a very thin, soft, filmy cloth Æ 3 a lightweight waterproof coat 4 anything like gossamer in lightness, flimsiness, etc. •adj. light, thin, and filmy Also gos´sa·mer·y (-mэr i:) [ME gosesomer, lit., goose summer: with allusion to the warm period in fall (St. Martin's summer) when geese are in season and gossamer is chiefly noticed]

gosport (tube) (gäs´pört') a flexible speaking tube for communicating between different compartments in an airplane: used to train students [after prec.]

gossan (gäs´эn, gäz´-) •n. Mining rusty iron deposits often occurring where the upper part of a vein has been weathered and oxidized [Cornish gossen < gos, blood < Old Cornish guit]

gossip (gäs´эp) •n. 1 [Now Dial.] a) a godparent b) a close friend 2 a person who chatters or repeats idle talk and rumors, esp. about the private affairs of others 3 a) such talk or rumors b) chatter •vi. to be a gossip or engage in gossip gos´sip·y •adj. [ME godsip, gossyp (with assimilated -d-) < Late OE godsibbe, godparent: see GOD & SIB]

gossoon (gä su:n´) •n. 1 a boy 2 a servant boy [altered < Fr garçon, boy, attendant < OFr gars: see GASKET]

gossypol (gäs´э pöl, -poul') •n. a toxic, phenolic pigment, C30H30O8, in cotton plants: it inhibits sperm production and is used experimentally as a male contraceptive [Ger < ModL Gossypium, genus name of cotton + -ol, -OL¹]

got (gät) •vt., vi. pt. & alt. pp. of GET See usage note at GOTTEN

Gotama (gö´tэ mэ) alt. sp. of GAUTAMA: see BUDDHA

Göteborg (yö´tэ bôř´yª) seaport in SW Sweden, on the Kattegat: pop. 424,000

Goth abbrev. Gothic Goth (gäθ, göθ) •n. 1 any member of a Germanic people that invaded and conquered most of the Roman Empire in the 3d, 4th, and 5th centuries A.D.: see also OSTROGOTH, VISIGOTH 2 an uncouth, uncivilized person; barbarian [< LL Gothi, pl. (for OE Gotan) < Gr Gothoi, pl. < base of Goth *Gutans, pl., or Gut (thiuda), Gothic (people)]

Gotham (gäθ´эm; also gou´θэm; for 1, Brit gout´-, gät´-) 1 a village near Nottingham, England, whose inhabitants, the wise men of Gotham, were, according to legend, very foolish 2 name for New York City Goth´am·ite' (-ait') •n.

Gothic (gäθ´ik) •adj. 1 of the Goths or their language 2 designating, of, or related to a style of architecture developed in W Europe between the 12th and 16th cent. and characterized by the use of ribbed vaulting, flying buttresses, pointed arches, steep, high roofs, etc. 3 [sometimes g-] a) medieval b) not classical c) barbarous; uncivilized 4 of or having to do with a type of fiction that uses remote, gloomy (and, formerly, medieval) settings and a sinister, eerie atmosphere to suggest horror and mystery •n. 1 the East Germanic language of the Goths: it is known chiefly from the Bible translation of Bishop Ulfilas (4th cent. A.D.) 2 Gothic style, esp. in architecture 3 Printing Æ a) [often g-] a style of sans-serif type b) a heavy, ornate style of type, now used especially in calligraphy Goth´i·cal·ly •adv. Goth´ic·ness •n. [LL Gothicus: see GOTH]

Gothic arch a pointed arch

Gothicism (-i siz'эm) •n. 1 barbarism; rudeness 2 conformity to or use of Gothic style Goth´i·cist •n.

Gothicize (-i saiz') -cized', -ciz'ing •vt. to make Gothic

Gotland (gät´lэnd; Swed göt´-) Swed. island in the Baltic, off the SE coast of Sweden: 1,225 sq. mi. (3,173 sq. km)

gotten (gät´ªn) •vt., vi. alt. pp. of GET USAGE—although both gotten and got are accepted past participles for most senses of the verb get, gotten has become the prevailing form in the U.S. in all speech and writing, especially for the senses of receiving, becoming, or arriving; the gradual acceptance of gotten over the past 40 years or so has probably been facilitated by the desire to distinguish between possession, as in the informal I've got a car, and acquisition, as in I've gotten a car; these forms are not commonly used in most other English-speaking countries, where the standard form for possession is have (I have a car) and the standard past participle is got (for instance, in Britain, I have got a car means I have acquired a car)

Götterdämmerung (göt'эř dem´эř uŋ) Ger. name for RAGNAROK •n. the total, usually violent, collapse of a society, regime, institution, etc. [Ger, twilight of the gods]

Göttingen (göt´iŋ эn) city in central Germany, in the state of Lower Saxony: pop. 133,000

Gottschalk (gät´shök'), Louis Mo·reau (mö rou´) 1829-69; U.S. composer

gouache (gwäsh) •n. 1 a way of painting with opaque colors ground in water and mixed with a preparation of gum 2 a pigment of this sort 3 a painting made with such pigments [Fr < It guazzo, water color, spray, pool < L aquatio, watering, watering place < aqua, water: see ISLAND]

Gouda (cheese) (gau´dэ, gu:´-; Du khau´dä) a mild, semisoft to hard cheese similar to Edam and sometimes coated with red wax [after Gouda, Netherlands, city where orig. produced]

Goudy (gau´di:), Frederic William 1865-1946; U.S. printer & designer of printing types

gouge (gauj) •n. 1 a chisel with a curved, hollowed blade, for cutting grooves or holes in wood 2 a) an act of gouging b) the groove or hole made by gouging 3 any deep groove or hole that is considered a blemish 4 [Colloq.] an act of overcharging or cheating of money; extortion or swindle •vt. gouged, goug´ing 1 to make a groove, hole, etc. in (something) with or as with a gouge 2 to scoop out; dig or force out {to gouge out dirt} Æ 3 in fighting, to push one's thumb into the eye of Æ 4 [Colloq.] to cheat out of money, etc.; also, to overcharge Æ goug´er •n. [ME < OFr < VL gubia, for LL gulbia < Celt (as in OIr gulban, goad, thorn) < IE base *gelebh-, to scrape, hollow out > Gr glaphein, to carve]

goulash (gu:´läsh'; also, -læsh') •n. a stew made of beef or veal and onions, and sometimes other vegetables, and seasoned with paprika Also Hungarian goulash [Ger gulasch < Hung gulyás, lit., cattle herder (< gulya, cattle), hence herdsman's food]

Gould (gu:ld), Jay (born Jason Gould) 1836-92; U.S. financier

Gounod (gu: nou´; E gu:´nou), Charles (François) (shåřl) 1818-93; Fr. composer

gourami (gu:r´э mi:, gur´э-) pl. -mies •n.or -mi any of various families of tropical, freshwater percoid fishes; esp., a nest-building food fish (Osphronemus goramy) of SE Asia [Malay gurami]

gourd (görd, gurd) •adj. designating a family (Cucurbitaceae, order Violales) of dicotyledonous plants, including the squash, melon, cucumber, and pumpkin •n. 1 any trailing or climbing plant belonging to the gourd family 2 any of the ornamental, inedible fruits of these or related plants, esp. of a yellow-flowered variety (Cucurbita pepo ovifera) of the pumpkin Æ 3 the dried, hollowed-out shell of such a fruit, used as a drinking cup, dipper, etc. 4 [Slang] the head: usually in the phrase out of one's gourd, crazy, foolish, etc. [ME gourde < OFr gouorde < L cucurbita]

gourde (gurd, gu:rd) •n. the basic monetary unit of Haiti: see MONEY, table [Fr, fem. of gourd, numb, heavy, dull < L gurdus, dull, heavy, stupid]

gourmand (gur mänd´; goor´mänd', -mэnd; Fr gu:ř mäñ´) •n. 1 orig., a glutton 2 a person with a hearty liking for good food and drink and a tendency to indulge in them to excess 3 GOURMET SYN. EPICURE [ME gourmaunt < OFr gourmand, altered < ? gormet: see GOURMET]

gourmandise (gur mэn di:z´; Fr gu:ř mäñ di:z´) •n. the tastes or connoisseurship of a gourmand [Fr]

gourmet (gur mei´, gör-; gur´mei, gör´-; Fr gu:ř me´) •n. a person who likes and is an excellent judge of fine foods and drinks; epicure SYN. EPICURE [Fr < OFr gormet, gromet, servant, wine taster, vintner's assistant: meaning infl. by GOURMAND]

Gourmont (gu:ř mouñ´), Ré·my de (řэ mi:´ dэ) 1858-1915; Fr. poet, novelist, & literary critic

gout (gaut) •n. 1 a hereditary form of arthritis resulting from a disturbance of uric acid metabolism, characterized by an excess of uric acid in the blood and deposits of uric acid salts, usually in the joints of the feet and hands, esp. in the big toe 2 a large splash, clot, glob, etc. [ME goute < OFr, gout, lit., a drop < L gutta, a drop: orig. attributed to a discharge of drops of humors]

gouty (gaut´i:) gout´i·er, gout´i·est •adj. 1 having, or tending to have, gout 2 of or like gout 3 resulting from or causing gout 4 swollen with gout gout´i·ly •adv. gout´i·ness •n.

gov or Gov 1 government 2 governor

govern (gûv´эrn) •vt. 1 to exercise authority over; rule, administer, direct, control, manage, etc. 2 to influence the action or conduct of; guide; sway {to govern public opinion} 3 to hold in check; restrain; curb {to govern one's temper} 4 to regulate the speed of (an automobile, etc.) by means of a governor 5 to be a rule or law for; determine {the scientific principles governing a phenomenon} 6 Gram. a) to require (a word) to be in a certain case or mood b) to require (a particular case or mood): used as of prepositions with noun cases, esp. in highly inflected languages, and, in English, more loosely, of any interrelationship between forms In English grammar, the term may apply to any interrelationship between forms, as to that between a preposition and a following pronoun •vi. to exercise the function of governing; rule gov´ern·a·ble •adj. SYN.—govern implies the exercise of authority in controlling the actions of the members of a body politic and directing the affairs of state, and generally connotes as its purpose the maintenance of public order and the promotion of the common welfare; rule now usually signifies the exercise of arbitrary or autocratic power; administer implies the orderly management of governmental affairs by executive officials [ME governen < OFr gouverner < L gubernare, to pilot (a ship), direct, guide < Gr kybernan, to steer, govern, prob. of non-IE orig.]

governance (gûv´эr nэns) •n. the act, manner, function, or power of government [ME < OFr gouvernance < ML gubernantia < prp. of L gubernare: see GOVERN]

governess (gûv´эr nis) •n. 1 a woman employed in a private home to train and teach a child or children 2 [Obs.] a woman governor

government (gûv´эrn mэnt; often, -эr mэnt) •n. 1 a) the exercise of authority over a state, district, organization, institution, etc.; direction; control; rule; management b) the right, function, or power of governing 2 a) a system of ruling, controlling, etc. b) an established system of political administration by which a nation, state, district, etc. is governed {we need honest government} c) the study of such systems; political science 3 all the people or agencies that administer or control the affairs of a nation, state, institution, etc.; administration {the election resulted in a new government} 4 [often G-] the executive or administrative branch of government of a particular nation as constituted by the political party or coalition in power {the U.S. Government} 5 [Now Rare] a governed territory 6 Gram. the influence of one word over the case or mood of another •adj. of or relating to government Æ gov'ern·men´tal •adj. Æ gov'ern·men´tal·ly •adv. [OFr governement: see GOVERN & -MENT]

governor (gûv´эr nэr; often, -э nэr) •n. 1 a person who governs; esp., a) a person appointed to govern a dependency, province, town, fort, etc. Æ b) the elected head of any State of the U.S. c) any of the group of persons who direct an organization or institution {the board of governors of a hospital} d) [Chiefly Brit.] the person in charge of an organization or institution, as a prison 2 a mechanical device for automatically controlling the speed of an engine or motor as by regulating the intake of fuel, steam, etc. 3 [Brit. Colloq.] a person having authority; esp., one's father or employer: often a term of address [ME governour < OFr governeor < L gubernator, a pilot, steersman, governor]

governor general pl. governors general or governor generals 1 a governor who has subordinate or deputy governors; specif., one who is appointed by the British Sovereign, as in the Commonwealth 2 in some countries of the Commonwealth, a person appointed as a symbolic representative of the British monarch Also [Brit.] gov´er·nor-gen´er·al pl. gov´er·nors-gen´er·al •n.

governorship (-ship') •n. the position, function, or term of office of a governor

govt or Govt government

gowan (gau´эn) •n. [Scot.] any yellow or white field flower; esp., the English daisy [< obs gollan, yellow flower < ME < or akin to ON goll, GOLD]

Gower (gau´эr, gou´эr), John 1330-1408; Eng. poet

gowk (gauk, gouk) •n. [Brit. Dial.] 1 a cuckoo 2 a simpleton [ME goke, gouk < ON gaukr, akin to OE geac, Ger gauch, of echoic orig.]

gown (gaun) •n. 1 a long, loose outer garment; specif., a) a woman's dress, esp. one that is elegant or formal b) DRESSING GOWN c) a nightgown, nightshirt, etc. d) a loose, cotton smock worn by a surgeon e) a long, flowing robe worn as a symbol of office or status by certain officials, clergymen, scholars, etc. 2 the members of a college or university as distinct from the other residents of the community {conflicts between town and gown} •vt. to dress in a gown, as in an academic or ecclesiastic robe [ME goune < OFr < LL gunna, loose robe, orig., fur cloak]

gownsman (gaunz´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. a person entitled to wear the gown of his profession or office

goy (goi) pl. goys or goy·im (goi´im) •n. a non-Jew; gentile: often used contemptuously goy´ish •adj. [Yidd < Heb, tribe, nation]

Goya (y Lucientes) (gô´yä i: lu: θyen´teis), Fran·cis·co Jo·sé de (fřän θi:s´kô hô se´ ðe) 1746-1828; Sp. painter

GP or gp general practitioner

gpm gallons per minute

GPO 1 General Post Office 2 General Printing Office

gps gallons per second

Gr 1 Greece 2 Greek gr 1 grade 2 grain(s) 3 gram(s) 4 grammar 5 great 6 gross 7 group

Gr Brit or Gr Br Great Britain

gr wt gross weight

Graafian follicle (or vesicle) (græf´i: эn, gräf´-) any of the small, round, fluid-filled sacs in the ovary of higher mammals, each of which contains a maturing ovum surrounded by hormone-secreting cells Etymology [after R. de Graaf (1641-73), Du anatomist]

grab (græb) grabbed, grab´bing •vt. 1 to seize or snatch suddenly; take roughly and quickly 2 to get possession of by unscrupulous methods Æ 3 [Slang] to attract strongly the attention of; impress greatly •vi. to grab or try to grab something: often with for, at, onto, etc. •n. 1 the act of grabbing 2 something grabbed 3 any of various mechanical devices for clutching something to be hoisted 4 [Chiefly Brit.] CLAMSHELL (sense 2) SYN. TAKE Æ up for grabs [Slang] available to the highest bidder, most aggressive person, etc. grab´ber •n. [prob. < MDu grabben, akin to ON grapa, GRASP < IE base *ghrebh- > Sans grabh-, to seize]

grab bag 1 a large container holding various wrapped or bagged articles that are sold unseen, the buyer drawing one at random and paying a fixed price 2 something like this in having a variety of things

grabble (græb´эl) grab´bled, grab´bling •vi. 1 to feel about with the hands; grope 2 to sprawl •vt. to seize [Du grabbelen, freq. of MDu grabben, GRAB]

grabby (græb´i:) -bi·er, -bi·est •adj. grasping; avaricious

graben (grä´bэn) •n. a relatively long, narrow area of the earth's crust that has subsided between two bordering faults: cf. HORST [Ger, a ditch < OHG grabo < graban, to dig: see GRAVE²]

Gracchus (græk´эs) 1 Ga·ius Sem·pro·ni·us (gei´эs sem prou´ni: эs) 153-121 B.C.; Rom. statesman & social reformer 2 Ti·ber·i·us Sempronius (tai bir´i: эs) 163-133 B.C.; Rom. statesman and social reformer: brother of Gaius The two brothers are called the Grac´chi (-ai)

grace (greis) •n. 1 beauty or charm of form, composition, movement, or expression 2 an attractive quality, feature, manner, etc. 3 [G-] any of the Graces 4 a) a sense of what is right and proper; decency b) thoughtfulness toward others 5 goodwill; favor 6 [Archaic] mercy; clemency 7 a) a period of time granted beyond the date set for the performance of an act or the payment of an obligation; temporary exemption b) favor shown by granting such a delay 8 a short prayer in which blessing is asked, or thanks are given, for a meal 9 [G-] a title of respect or reverence used in speaking to or of an archbishop, duke, or duchess: preceded by Your or by His or Her 10 [pl.] Music ornamental notes or effects collectively, as appoggiaturas, slides, trills, etc. 11 Theol. a) the unmerited love and favor of God toward mankind b) divine influence acting in a person to make the person pure, morally strong, etc. c) the condition of a person brought to God's favor through this influence d) a special virtue, gift, or help given to a person by God •vt. graced, grac´ing 1 to give or add grace or graces to; decorate; adorn 2 to bring honor to; dignify 3 Music to add a grace note or notes to fall from grace to do wrong; sin have the grace to be so aware of what is proper as (to do something) in the good (or bad) graces of in favor (or disfavor) with with bad grace sullenly or reluctantly with good grace graciously or willingly [ME < OFr < L gratia, pleasing quality, favor, thanks < gratus, pleasing < IE base *gwer-, to lift up the voice, praise > Sans grnāti, (he) sings, praises & OIr bard, bard] Grace (greis) a feminine name: dim. Gracie [see GRACE]

grace cup 1 a) a cup passed around for drinking a toast after grace at the end of a meal b) the toast 2 a parting drink or toast

grace note Music a note not necessary to the melody, added only for ornamentation: it is usually printed as a small note with a slant line through the stem, just before the note that it embellishes, its short time value subtracted from the preceding or following note, depending on context

grace period extra time allowed, as for payment of a note, insurance premium, etc. after it is due

graceful (greis´fэl) •adj. having grace, or beauty of form, composition, movement, or expression; elegant grace´ful·ly •adv. grace´ful·ness •n.

graceless (greis´lis) •adj. 1 lacking any sense of what is right or proper 2 without grace; clumsy or inelegant grace´less·ly •adv. grace´less·ness •n.

Graces (greis´iz) Gr. Myth. the three sister goddesses who have control over pleasure, charm, and beauty in human life and in nature: Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia [transl. of L Gratiae (see GRACE), transl. of Gr Charites, pl. of Charis: see CHARISMA]

gracias (gřä´θi: äs', -si:-) •interj. thank you [Sp]

gracile (græs´il) •adj. 1 slender; slim 2 gracefully slender [by assoc. with GRACE] 3 graceful gra·cil·i·ty (græ sil´э ti:, grэ-) •n. [L gracilis, scanty]

gracioso (grei'shi: ou´sou; Sp gřä θyô´sô) •n. a clown or buffoon in Spanish comedies [Sp]

gracious (grei´shэs) •adj. 1 having or showing kindness, courtesy, charm, etc. 2 merciful; compassionate 3 indulgent or polite to those held to be inferiors 4 characterized by the taste, luxury, and social ease associated with prosperity, education, etc. {gracious living} 5 [Archaic] having pleasing qualities; attractive •interj. an expression of surprise gra´cious·ly •adv. gra´cious·ness •n. [ME < OFr < L gratiosus, in favor, popular, kind < gratia: see GRACE]

grackle (græk´эl) •n. Æ any of several blackbirds somewhat smaller than a crow; esp., the common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) [L graculus, jackdaw < IE echoic base *ger- > CRANE, CROW¹]

grad (græd) •n. [Colloq.] a graduate

gradate (grei´deit') -dat'ed, -dat'ing •vt., vi. to pass or cause to pass by imperceptible degrees from one to another; shade into one another, as colors [back-form. < fol.]

gradation (grei dei´shэn, grэ-) •n. 1 the act or process of forming or arranging in grades, stages, or steps 2 a gradual change by steps or stages from one condition, quality, etc. to another 3 a gradual shading of one tint, tone, or color into another 4 a step, stage, or degree in a graded series; transitional stage {the many gradations between good and bad} 5 Geol. the process of wearing away high areas of land by erosion and building up low areas by deposition 6 Linguis. ABLAUT: in full vowel gradation gra·da´tion·al •adj. gra·da´tion·al·ly •adv. [Fr < L gradatio < gradatus, having steps or grades < gradus: see GRADE]

grade (greid) •n. 1 any of the stages in an orderly, systematic progression; step; degree 2 a) a degree or rating in a scale classifying according to quality, rank worth, intensity, etc. {grade A eggs} b) any of the official ranks or ratings of officers or enlisted men {an army colonel and a navy captain are in grade O-6} c) an accepted standard or level {up to grade} d) a group of people of the same rank, merit, worth, etc. Æ 3 a) the degree of rise or descent of a sloping surface, as of a highway, railroad, etc. b) such a sloping surface 4 the ground level around a building Æ 5 a) any of the divisions in a school curriculum usually equal to one year; most systems in the U.S. include twelve grades after the kindergarten b) a group of pupils forming such a division in a school Æ 6 a mark or rating on an examination, in a school course, etc. Æ 7 Animal Husbandry an animal with one parent of pure breed 8 Linguis. any of the various forms in which a vowel may appear in grammatically or etymologically related forms as a result of gradation •vt. grad´ed, grad´ing 1 to arrange or classify by grades; rate according to quality, rank, worth, etc.; sort 2 to give a GRADE (sense 6) to 3 to gradate Æ 4 to level or slope (ground, a road, etc.) evenly Æ 5 Animal Husbandry to improve by crossing with a pure breed: often with up •vi. 1 to assume an indicated rank or position in a series; be of a certain grade 2 to change gradually; go through a series of stages Æ at grade on the same level Æ make the grade 1 to get to the top of a steep incline 2 to overcome obstacles and succeed Æ the grades elementary school [Fr < L gradus, a step, degree, rank < gradi, to step, walk < IE base *ghredh-, to stride > Goth griths, step]

-grade (greid) combining form forming adjectives walking or moving (in a specified manner) {plantigrade} [< L gradi, to walk: see GRADE]

grade crossing the place where a railroad intersects another railroad or a roadway on the same level

grade school ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

grade separation a crossing with an overpass or underpass

grader (greid´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that grades 2 a pupil in a (specified) grade at a school [a fifth grader]: sometimes, in compounding, written -grader

gradient (grei´di: эnt) •adj. ascending or descending with a uniform slope •n. 1 a) a slope, as of a road or railroad b) the degree of such slope 2 Biol. a gradation in rate of growth, metabolism, etc. in an organism, growing part, or developing embryo Æ 3 Math. a vector pointing in the direction of the most rapid increase of a function and having coordinates that are the partial derivatives of the function 4 Physics the rate of change of a physical quantity, as temperature or pressure, with distance [L gradiens (gen. gradientis), prp. of gradi, to step: see GRADE]

gradine (grei di:n´, grei´di:n') •n. 1 one of a series of steps or seats arranged in tiers 2 a shelf at the back of an altar, as for candlesticks Also gra·din (grei´din, greid´ªn) [Fr < It gradino, dim. of grado < L gradus: see GRADE]

gradual (græ´ju: эl; -ju wэl, -jэ wэl; often græ´jul, -jэl) •adj. taking place by almost imperceptible steps or degrees; developing little by little, not sharply or suddenly •n. [often G-] [ML graduale, book of hymns orig. sung on steps of a pulpit < L gradus] 1 a set of usually Scriptural verses following the Epistle at Mass 2 an official book containing the words and musical notation for the parts of the Mass sung by others than the celebrant: in full Gra·du·a·le Ro·ma·num (grä'du: ä´lei rou mä´num) grad´u·al·ly •adv. grad´u·al·ness •n. [ML gradualis < L gradus: see GRADE]

gradualism (-iz'эm) •n. the principle of seeking to achieve social or political changes or goals gradually grad´u·al·ist •n., adj. grad'u·al·is´tic •adj.

graduate (for n. & adj. græ´ju: it; -ju wit, -jэ wit; occas., -ju: eit' or, -ju weit', -jэ weit'; for v. græ´ju: eit'; -ju weit', -jэ weit') •n. 1 a person who has completed a course of study at a school or college and has received a degree or diploma 2 a flask, tube, or other container marked with a progressive series of degrees (lines or numbers or both) for measuring liquids or solids •vt. -at'ed, -at'ing 1 to give a degree or diploma to in recognition of the completion of a course of study at a school or college 2 [Colloq.] to become a graduate of {to graduate college} 3 to mark (a flask, tube, gauge, etc.) with degrees for measuring 4 a) to arrange or classify into grades according to amount, size, etc. b) to arrange in grades or stages {graduated income tax} •vi. 1 to become a graduate of a school or college 2 to change, esp. advance, by degrees •adj. 1 having been graduated from a school, college, etc. Æ 2 designating, of, or for instruction or research in various fields leading to degrees above the bachelor's grad´u·a'tor •n. [< ML graduatus, pp. of graduare, to graduate < L gradus: see GRADE]

graduation (græ'ju: ei´shэn; græ'ju wei´-, -jэ wei´-) •n. 1 a) a graduating or being graduated from a school or college b) the ceremony connected with this; commencement 2 a) a marking of a flask, tube, gauge, etc. with a series of degrees for measuring b) one or all of the degrees marked; a degree or scale 3 an arrangement or classification into grades according to amount, size, etc. [ML graduatio < pp. of graduare: see GRADUATE]

gradus (grei´dэs) •n. 1 a dictionary of prosody for help in writing Greek or Latin poetry 2 a book of piano studies, études, etc. arranged in a progressive order of difficulty [< L Gradus (ad Parnassum), lit., step (to Parnassus), title of a book on prosody]

Graeae (gri:´i:') Gr. Myth. the three old sisters who act as guards for the Gorgons and have only one eye and one tooth to share among them [L < Gr Graiai, pl. of graia, old woman < grais, old, akin to gēras, old age: see GERIATRICS]

Graecism (gri:´siz'эm) •n. alt. sp. of GRECISM

Graecize (-saiz') -cized', -ciz'ing •vt., vi. alt. sp. of GRECIZE

Graeco- (gri:´kou) combining form GRECO-

Graf (gřäf) pl. Graf´en (-эn) •n. a German, Austrian, or Swedish title of nobility corresponding to earl or count [Ger]

graffito (grэ fi:t´ou) pl. -fi´ti (-i:) •n. [sometimes pl., with sing. v.] an inscription, slogan, drawing, etc. scratched, scribbled, or drawn, often crudely, on a wall or other public surface [It, a scribbling < graffio, a scratch < L graphium: see GRAFT]

graft (græft, gräft) •n. 1 a) a shoot or bud of one plant or tree inserted or to be inserted into the stem or trunk of another, where it continues to grow, becoming a permanent part; scion b) the act or process of inserting such a bud or shoot c) the place on a plant or tree where such a bud or shoot has been inserted d) a tree or plant with such an insertion 2 a joining of one thing to another as if by grafting Æ 3 a) the act of taking advantage of one's position to gain money, property, etc. dishonestly, as in politics b) anything acquired by such illegal methods, as an illicit profit from government business 4 Surgery a) a piece of skin, bone, or other living tissue transplanted or to be transplanted from one body, or place on a body, to another, where it grows and becomes a permanent part b) such a transplanting •vt. 1 a) to insert (a shoot or bud) as a graft b) to insert a graft of (one plant) in another c) to produce (a fruit, flower, etc.) by means of a graft 2 to join or make as one Æ 3 to obtain (money, etc.) by graft 4 Surgery to transplant (a graft) •vi. 1 to be grafted 2 to make a graft on a plant Æ 3 to obtain money or property by graft graft´er •n. [with unhistoric -t, for earlier graff < ME graffe < OFr, a pencil < L graphium < Gr grapheion, stylus (see GRAPHIC): from resemblance of the scion to a pointed pencil]

graftage (-ij) •n. 1 the act or science of grafting 2 the state of being grafted

graham (grei´эm, greim) •adj. designating or made of whole-wheat flour {graham crackers} [after S. Graham (1794-1851), U.S. dietary reformer] Graham (grei´эm) 1 Billy (legal name William Franklin Graham) 1918- ; U.S. evangelist 2 Martha c. 1893-1991; U.S. dancer & choreographer

Grahame (grei´эm), Kenneth 1859-1932; Brit. writer

Graiae (grai´i:', grei´i:') var. of GRAEAE

Graian Alps (grei´эn) division of the W Alps, along the French-Italian border: highest peak c. 13,320 ft. (4,060 m)

Grail (greil) Medieval Legend the cup or platter used by Jesus at the Last Supper, and by Joseph of Arimathea to collect drops of Jesus' blood at the Crucifixion: the quest for the Grail, which disappeared, is treated in Malory's Morte Darthur, Wagner's Parsifal, etc. Also Holy Grail [ME graal < OFr < ML gradalis, flat dish, cup < ? VL *cratalis < L crater, mixing bowl: see CRATER]

grain (grein) •n. 1 a small, hard seed or seedlike fruit, esp. that of any cereal plant, as wheat, rice, corn, rye, etc. 2 a) cereal seeds in general b) the seeds of a specific cereal c) any plant or plants producing cereal seeds: also called corn in Great Britain 3 a) a tiny, solid particle, as of salt or sand b) a crystal or crystals collectively; also crystallization, esp. of sugar 4 a tiny bit; slightest amount {a grain of sense} 5 the smallest unit in the system of weights used in the U.S., Great Britain, and Canada, equal to .0648 gram: one pound avoirdupois equals 7,000 grains; one pound troy or apothecaries' weight equals 5,760 grains: abbrev. gr [orig. from the weight of a grain of wheat] 6 a) the arrangement or direction of fibers, layers, or particles of wood, leather, stone, paper, etc. b) the markings or texture due to a particular arrangement c) paint or other surface finish imitating such markings or texture d) a granular surface appearance 7 a) that side of a piece of leather from which the hair has been removed b) the markings on that side 8 a) disposition; nature b) essential quality 9 [Obs.] a) kermes or cochineal b) a red dye made from either c) any fast dye d) [Archaic] color or shade •vt. 1 to form into grains; granulate 2 to paint or otherwise finish (a surface) in imitation of the grain of wood, marble, etc. 3 a) to remove the hair from (hides) b) to put a finish on the grain surface of (leather) •vi. to form grains against the (or one's) grain contrary to one's feelings, nature, wishes, etc.; irritating or displeasing [ME greyne < OFr grein, a seed, grain (< L granum, a seed, kernel) & grainne, seed or grain collectively (< LL grana, fem., orig. pl. of L granum) < IE base *Ger-, to become ripe > CORN¹, KERNEL]

grain alcohol ethyl alcohol, esp. when made from grain

grain elevator a tall warehouse, often cylindrical, for collecting, storing, and discharging grain

grain sorghum any of various strains of sorghum grown primarily for grain

grainfield (grein´fi:ld') •n. a field where grain is grown

grainy (grein´i:) grain´i·er, grain´i·est •adj. 1 having a clearly defined grain: said of textures or surfaces, as of wood 2 consisting of grains; coarsely textured; granular grain´i·ness •n.

grallatorial (græl'э tör´i: эl) •adj. of or pertaining to long-legged water birds of various orders, as herons and cranes [ModL grallatorius < L grallator, walker on stilts < grallae, stilts (akin to gradi: see GRADE) + -IAL]

gram abbrev. 1 grammar 2 grammatical

-gram (græm) combining form forming nouns 1 something written down, drawn, or recorded {telegram, electrocardiogram} 2 a telegram or singing telegram, or something resembling this in some way: used esp. in nonce compounds {Mailgram, Candygram} [< Gr gramma: see GRAM¹]

gram atom Chem. the quantity of an element having a weight in grams numerically equal to the element's atomic weight: a gram atom of copper, the atomic weight of which is 63.54, is a quantity of copper weighing 63.54 grams Also gram-a·tom·ic weight (græm´э täm´ik)

gram calorie CALORIE (sense 1)

gram molecule MOLE4 Also gram-mo·lec·u·lar weight (græm´mэ lek´yu lэr)

gram¹ (græm) •n. the basic unit of mass in the metric system, equal to about ¹/28 ounce (.0022046 pound or 15.43 grains): officially equal to the weight of one cubic centimeter of distilled water at 4°C: abbrev. g or gm [Fr gramme < LL gramma, weight of two oboli < Gr, small weight, lit., what is written < graphein, to write: see GRAPHIC]

gram² (græm) •n. any of certain leguminous plants, used as fodder; esp., the chickpea [Port grāo < L granum: see GRAIN]

gram³ (græm) •n. [Colloq.] short for GRANDMOTHER

grama (græm´э, grä´mэ) •n. any of a genus (Bouteloua) of native range grasses of the W U.S. Also grama grass [Sp < L gramen, GRASS]

gramarye or gramary (græm´э ri:) •n. [Archaic] magic; the occult [ME gramery, grammar, magic < OFr gramaire, GRAMMAR]

gramercy (grэ mør´si:, græm´эr si:) •interj. [Archaic] 1 thank you very much; many thanks 2 an exclamation of surprise [ME < OFr grant merci < grant, GRAND + merci, thanks: see MERCY]

gramicidin (græm'i said´ªn) •n. any of a group of chemically related antibiotic polypeptides produced by a soil bacillus (Bacillus brevis) and used in medicines to treat various bacterial infections, esp. of the skin and eyes [GRAM(-POSITIVE) + -i- + -CID(E) + -IN¹]

gramineous (grэ min´i: эs) •adj. 1 of the grass family 2 of or like grass; grassy [L gramineus < gramen, GRASS]

graminivorous (græm'i niv´э rэs) •adj. feeding on grasses; grass-eating [< L gramen, GRASS + -I- + -VOROUS]

grammar (græm´эr) •n. 1 that part of the study of language which deals with the forms and structure of words (morphology), with their customary arrangement in phrases and sentences (syntax), and now often with language sounds (phonology) and word meanings (semantics) 2 the system of a given language at a given time 3 a body of rules imposed on a given language for speaking and writing it, based on the study of its GRAMMAR (sense 2) or on some adaptation of another, esp. Latin, grammar 4 a book or treatise on grammar 5 one's manner of speaking or writing as judged by prescriptive grammatical rules {his grammar was poor} 6 a) the elementary principles of a field of knowledge b) a book or treatise on these [ME gramer < OFr gramaire < L grammatica (ars, art) < Gr grammatikē (technē, art), grammar, learning < gramma, something written (see GRAM¹): in L & Gr a term for the whole apparatus of literary study: in the medieval period, specif., the study of Latin, hence all learning as recorded in Latin (cf. GRAMMAR SCHOOL in Brit usage), and the occult sciences as assoc. with this learning: see GRAMARYE, GLAMOUR]

grammar school Æ 1 [Now Rare] an elementary school: the term was variously applied to different school levels, esp. to that between the fifth and eighth grades 2 in England a) orig., a school where Latin was taught b) a government-supported secondary school preparing pupils for college

grammarian (grэ mer´i: эn) •n. a specialist or expert in grammar [ME gramarian < MFr gramarien]

grammatical (grэ mæt´i kэl) •adj. 1 of, relating to, or according to grammar 2 conforming to the rules of grammar gram·mat'i·cal´i·ty •n. gram·mat´i·cal·ly •adv. gram·mat´i·cal·ness •n. [LL grammaticalis < L grammatica: see GRAMMAR]

gramme (græm) •n. [Brit.] older var. of GRAM¹

Grammy (græm´i:) pl. -mys •n.or -mies any of the awards made annually in the U.S. for special achievement in the recording industry: given by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences [GRAM(OPHONE) + -my (as in EMMY)]

Gram-negative (græm´neg´э tiv) •adj. [also g-] designating bacteria that do not retain the color stain: see GRAM'S METHOD

gramophone (græm´э foun') •n. now chiefly Brit. var. of PHONOGRAPH [so named (1887) by E. Berliner, U.S. inventor, by arbitrary inversion of PHONOGRAM]

Grampian (græm´pi: эn) region of NE Scotland, on the North Sea: 3,360 sq. mi. (8,700 sq. km); pop. 497,000

Grampian Mountains mountain range across central & N Scotland, dividing the Highlands from the Lowlands: highest peak, Ben Nevis: also Grampian Hills or Grampians

Gram-positive (græm´päz´э tiv) •adj. [also g-] designating bacteria that retain the color stain: see GRAM'S METHOD

gramps (græmps) •n. [Colloq.] short for GRANDFATHER

grampus (græm´pэs) pl. -pus·es •n. 1 a playful, black-and-white dolphin (Grampus griseus) 2 KILLER WHALE [earlier graundepose, altered (after GRAND) < ME grapays < OFr graspeis < L crassus piscis < crassus, fat (see CRASS) + piscis, FISH]

Gram's method (græmz) a method of staining bacteria for the purpose of classification, involving treatment with crystal violet, an iodine solution, and alcohol: the violet stain is retained by Gram-positive bacteria or lost by Gram-negative bacteria when the alcohol is applied [after Hans C. J. Gram (1853-1938), Dan physician]

Gramsci (gräm´shi:), Antonio 1891-1937; It. Communist leader & Marxist theoretician

gran (græn) •n. [Colloq.] short for GRANDMOTHER

Gran Chaco (gřän chä´kô) CHACO

Granada (grэ nä´dэ; Sp gřä nä´ðä) 1 former Moorish kingdom in S Spain 2 city in this region: site of the Alhambra: pop. 262,000

granadilla (græn´э dil´э) •n. the edible fruit of certain passionflowers [Sp < dim. of granada, pomegranate < L granatus, containing seeds < granum, seed: see GRAIN]

Granados (grэ nä´dous), Enrique 1867-1916; Sp. composer

granary (græn´э ri:; often grein´-) pl. -ries •n. 1 a building for storing threshed grain 2 a region that produces much grain [L granarium < granum: see GRANADILLA & -ARY]

grand (grænd) •adj. 1 higher in rank, status, or dignity than others having the same title {a grand duke} 2 most important; chief; main; principal {the grand ballroom} 3 imposing because of great size, beauty, and extent; magnificent {grand scenery} 4 handsome and luxurious; characterized by splendor and display {a grand banquet} 5 eminent; distinguished; illustrious 6 self-important; pretentious; haughty 7 lofty and dignified, as in style 8 complete; overall {the grand total} 9 [Colloq.] very good; excellent, delightful, admirable, etc.: a general term of approval 10 Music full; complete {a grand chorus} •n. 1 GRAND PIANO Æ 2 pl. grand [Slang] a thousand dollars grand´ly •adj. grand´ness •n. SYN.—grand is applied to that which makes a strong impression because of its greatness (in size or some favorable quality), dignity, and splendor [the Grand Canyon]; magnificent suggests a surpassing beauty, richness, or splendor, or an exalted or glorious quality [a magnificent voice]; imposing suggests that which strikingly impresses one by its size, dignity, or excellence of character [an imposing array of facts]; stately suggests that which is imposing in dignified grace and may imply a greatness of size [a stately mansion]; majestic adds to stately the idea of lofty grandeur [the majestic Rockies]; august suggests an exalted dignity or impressiveness such as inspires awe [an august personage]; grandiose is often used disparagingly of a grandeur that is affected or exaggerated [a grandiose manner] [ME graunt < OFr grand, grant < L grandis, full-grown, great (replacing magnus in LL & Romance languages), prob. < IE base *gwrendh-, to swell up > Gr brenthos, pride]

grand- (grænd) combining form of the generation older (or younger) than {grandmother, grandson}: see GREAT- [OFr (see GRAND), replacing OE ealde-, ME olde-: see OLD]

Grand Army of the Republic an association of Union veterans of the Civil War, formed in 1866: the last member died in 1956

Grand Banks (or Bank) large shoal in the North Atlantic, southeast of Newfoundland: noted fishing grounds: c. 500 mi. (800 km) long

Grand Canal 1 canal in NE China, extending from Tianjin to Hangzhou: c. 1,000 mi. (1,600 km) 2 main canal in Venice

Grand Canyon 1 deep gorge of the Colorado River, in NW Ariz.: over 200 mi. (320 km) long; 4-18 mi. (6-28 km) wide; 1 mi. (1.6 km) deep 2 national park (Grand Canyon National Park) including 105 mi. (169 km) of this gorge: 1,875 sq. mi. (4,850 sq. km)

Grand Coulee (ku:´lÈ) dam on the Columbia River, NE Wash.: 550 ft. (167 m) high; over 4,000 ft. (1,220 m) long

grand duchess 1 the wife or widow of a grand duke 2 a woman who has the rank of a grand duke and rules a grand duchy 3 in czarist Russia, a royal princess

grand duchy the territory or a country ruled by a grand duke or a grand duchess

grand duke 1 the sovereign ruler of a grand duchy, ranking just below a king 2 in czarist Russia, a prince of the royal family

Grand Falls old name of CHURCHILL FALLS

Grand Forks city in E N.Dak.: pop. 49,000

Grand Guignol (gřäñ gi: nyôl´) [occas. g- g-] any dramatic production designed to shock and horrify its audience with its gruesome or macabre content [the name of a former theater in Paris noted for such drama]

grand jury a special jury of a statutory number of citizens, usually more than 12, that investigates accusations against persons charged with crime and indicts them for trial before a petit jury if there is sufficient evidence

Grand Lama DALAI LAMA

grand larceny See LARCENY

grand mal (grænd´ mæl´, græn'-; gränd'mäl´, grän'-; Fr gřäñ mål´) a type of epilepsy in which there are convulsions and loss of consciousness: distinguished from PETIT MAL [Fr, lit., great ailment]

Grand Manan (mэ næn´) island of New Brunswick at the entrance to the Bay of Fundy: 57 sq. mi. (147 sq. km)

grand monde (gřäñ mouñd´) fashionable society [Fr, great world]

grand opera opera, generally on a serious theme, in which the whole text is set to music

grand piano a large piano with strings set horizontally in a wing-shaped case supported on three legs

Grand Prairie city in NE Tex.: suburb of Dallas: pop. 100,000

Grand Pré (græn prei´; Fr gřäñ přei´) village in central Nova Scotia, on Minas Basin: site of an early Acadian settlement & the setting of Longfellow's Evangeline

grand prix (gřäñ při:´; E grænd'pri:´, græn'-; gränd'-, grän'-) first prize; highest award in a competition [Fr, great prize]

Grand Rapids city in SW Mich.: pop. 189,000 (met. area 688,000) [after the rapids on the Grand River]

grand right and left Folk Dancing an interweaving of two concentric circles of dancers, one moving clockwise, one counterclockwise, giving right and left hands alternately to successive partners

grand slam Æ 1 Baseball (designating) a home run hit when there is a runner on each base: also grand´-slam´mer 2 a) Bridge the winning of all the tricks in a deal by the declarer Æ b) the winning of all of a group of select competitions in a particular sport, as golf

Grand Teton National Park (ti:´tän) national park in NW Wyo.; 472 sq. mi. (1,222 sq. km): it includes a section of a range (Teton Range) of the Rockies: highest peak, 13,766 ft. (4,195 m) [Fr, lit., big breast: from the contours of the mountains]

grand tour 1 a tour of continental Europe formerly taken by young men of the British aristocracy to complete their education 2 any tour like this 3 a conducted inspection tour, as of a building

grandam (græn´dæm', -dэm) •n. [Now Rare] 1 a grandmother 2 an old woman Also sp. gran´dame [ME grandame < Anglo-Fr graund dame: see GRAND- & DAME]

grandaunt (grænd´ænt') •n. GREAT-AUNT

grandchild (grænd´chaild', græn´-) pl. -chil'dren (-chil'dren) •n. a child of one's son or daughter

granddad, grand-dad, or grandad (græn´dæd', græn´-) •n. [Colloq.] short for GRANDFATHER

granddaddy (græn´dæd'i:) •n. [Colloq.] 1 GRANDDAD 2 a) the biggest or best of its kind b) the first or oldest of its kind

granddaughter (-döt'эr) •n. a daughter of one's son or daughter

grande dame (gränd däm; Fr gřäñd dåm´) a woman, esp. an older one, of great dignity or prestige [Fr, great lady]

grandee (græn di:´) •n. 1 a Spanish or Portuguese nobleman of the highest rank 2 a man of high rank; important personage [Sp & Port grande: see GRAND]

Grande-Terre (grän´ter´) E island of the two major islands of Guadeloupe, West Indies: also Grand Terre

grandeur (græn´jэr, -jur'; -dyur') •n. the quality of being grand; specif., a) splendor; magnificence b) moral or intellectual greatness; nobility [Fr < grand: see GRAND]

grandfather (grænd´fä'ðэr, græn´-) •n. 1 the father of one's father or mother: also a term of respectful familiarity to any elderly man 2 a male ancestor; forefather •vt. [Colloq.] to exempt (an activity, practice, person, etc.) from a new law or regulation: sometimes with in or into

grandfather (or grandfather's) clock a large clock with a pendulum, contained in a tall, narrow case

grandfather clause 1 a former law in some Southern States waiving electoral literacy requirements for those whose forebears voted before the Civil War, thus keeping the franchise for illiterate whites 2 a clause in some legislation forbidding or regulating a certain activity, which exempts those already engaged in it before the legislation was passed

grandfatherly (-li:) •adj. 1 of a grandfather 2 having traits considered typical of grandfathers; kindly, indulgent, benign, etc.

grandiflora (græn'di flör´э) •adj. bearing large flowers •n. any of a group of rose varieties with clusters of large to medium-sized flowers on long stems: created by crossing floribunda and hybrid tea roses [ModL < L grandis, GRAND + flos (gen. floris), FLOWER]

grandiloquent (græn dil´э kwэnt) •adj. using high-flown, pompous, bombastic words and expressions SYN. BOMBASTIC gran·dil´o·quence •n. gran·dil´o·quent·ly •adv. [< L grandiloquus < grandis, GRAND + loqui, to speak, after ELOQUENT]

grandiose (græn´di: ous', græn'di: ous´; also, -ouz') •adj. 1 having grandeur or magnificence; imposing; impressive 2 seeming or trying to seem very important; pompous and showy SYN. GRAND gran´di·ose'ly •adv. gran'di·os´i·ty (-äs´э ti:) •n. [Fr < It grandioso < L grandis, great, GRAND]

grandioso (gřän dyô´sô; E græn'di: ou´sou) •adj., adv. Musical Direction in a grand, noble style [It]

grandma (græn´mэ, -mä'; græm´mэ, græ´mэ, -mä'; grænd´-; -mö') •n. [Colloq.] GRANDMOTHER Also grand·ma·ma (grænd´mэ mä´, -mä´mэ; græn´-)

grandmaster (grænd´mæs´tэr) •n. 1 orig., a winner of an international chess tournament 2 any exceptionally skilled chess player Also grand master

grandmother (græn´mûð'эr, grænd´-; grænd´mûð'эr, græn´-; græm´mûð'-, græ´mûð'-) •n. 1 the mother of one's father or mother: also a term of respectful familiarity to any elderly woman 2 a female ancestor

grandmotherly (-li:) •adj. 1 of a grandmother 2 having traits considered typical of grandmothers; kindly, indulgent, solicitous, etc. 3 [Colloq.] fussy

grandnephew (grænd´nef'yu:, græn´-) •n. [Chiefly Brit.] the grandson of one's brother or sister; great-nephew

grandniece (-ni:s') •n. the granddaughter of one's brother or sister; great-niece

grandpa (græn´pэ, -pä'; græm´-; grænd´-; -pö') •n. [Colloq.] GRANDFATHER Also grand·pa·pa (grænd´pэpä´, -pä´pэ; græn´-)

grandparent (grænd´per'эnt, græn´-) •n. a grandfather or grandmother

grandsire (grænd´sair') •n. [Archaic] 1 a grandfather 2 a male ancestor 3 an old man

grandson (grænd´sûn', græn´-) •n. a son of one's son or daughter

grandstand (grænd´stænd') •n. the main seating structure for spectators at a sporting event, etc. Æ vi. [Colloq.] to try to gain the applause of an audience by or as by making an unnecessarily showy play (grandstand play), as in baseball grand´stand'er •n.

granduncle (grænd´ûŋ'kэl) •n. GREAT-UNCLE

grange (greinj) •n. 1 orig., a granary 2 a farm with its dwelling house, barns, etc. Æ 3 [G-] any local lodge of the Grange Æ the Grange the Patrons of Husbandry, an association of farmers organized in the U.S. in 1867 for mutual welfare and advancement [ME < Anglo-Fr graunge (OFr grange) < ML granica < L granum, GRAIN]

granger (grein´jэr) •n. Æ 1 a farmer Æ 2 [G-] a member of the Grange grang´er·ism' •n.

grangerize (grein´jэr aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. [Rare] 1 to illustrate (a book already printed) with engravings, prints, etc. obtained elsewhere, often by clipping them from other books 2 to damage (a book) by clipping such engravings, etc. grang´er·ism' •n. [after J. Granger, author of a Biographical History of England (1769), which included blank pages for such illustrations]

grani- (græn´i, -э) combining form grain {granivorous} [< L granum, GRAIN]

Granicus (grэ nai´kэs) river in ancient Mysia (W Asia Minor): site of a battle (334 B.C.) in which Alexander the Great defeated the Persians

graniferous (grэ nif´эr эs) •adj. bearing grain [< L granifer: see GRAIN & -FEROUS]

granite (græn´it) •n. a very hard, crystalline, plutonic rock, gray to pink in color, consisting of feldspar, quartz, and smaller amounts of other minerals gra·nit·ic (grэ nit´ik) •adj. [It granito, granite, lit., grained, pp. of granire, to reduce to grains < grano < L granum, a seed, GRAIN]

graniteware (-wэr') •n. 1 a variety of ironware for household use, coated with a hard enamel that looks somewhat like granite 2 a variety of fine, hard pottery

granitoid (græn´i toid') •adj. like granite

granivorous (grэ niv´э rэs) •adj. feeding on grain and seeds [GRANI- + -VOROUS]

granny knot a knot like a square knot but with the ends crossed the wrong way: it will slip under strain: see KNOT¹, illus.

granny or grannie (græn´i:) pl. -nies •n. [Colloq.] 1 a grandmother 2 an old woman 3 any fussy, exacting person Æ 4 [South] a midwife •adj. of a style like that formerly worn by many elderly women [granny nightgown]; specif., designating spectacles (granny glasses) with small, often oval, lenses and thin, wirelike metal frames

Granny Smith a popular variety of green apple

grano- (græn´ou, -э) combining form of or like granite {granolith} [Ger grano-: see GRANOPHYRE]

granola (grэ nou´lэ) •n. a prepared breakfast cereal of rolled oats, wheat germ, sesame seeds, brown sugar or honey, bits of dried fruit or nuts, etc. [coined (c. 1870) < ? L granum, grain + -ola, It dim. suffix]

granolith (græn´ou liθ', -э-) •n. a concrete used for flooring, pavement, etc., containing crushed or chipped granite or other stone gran'o·lith´ic •adj. [GRANO- + -LITH]

granophyre (græn´ou fair', græn´э-) •n. a rock similar to granite in composition and appearance, but containing larger crystals of quartz and feldspar in a matrix of a finer grain gran'o·phyr´ic (-fir´ik) •adj. [Ger granophyr, arbitrary blend < granit, GRANITE + porphyr, PORPHYRY]

grant (grænt, gränt) •vt. 1 to give (what is requested, as permission, etc.); assent to; agree to fulfill 2 a) to give or confer formally or according to legal procedure b) to transfer (property) by a deed 3 to acknowledge for the sake of argument; admit as true without proof; concede •n. 1 the act of granting 2 something granted, as property, a tract of land, an exclusive right or power, money from a fund, etc. Æ 3 a territorial subdivision in Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont SYN. GIVE take for granted to consider as true, already settled, requiring no special attention, etc.; accept as a matter of course grant´a·ble •adj. grant´er •n. [ME granten < OFr graanter, craanter, to promise, assure < VL *credentare, to promise, yield < L credens, prp. of credere, to believe: see CREED] Grant (grænt) 1 Cary (born Archibald Leach) 1904-86; U.S. motion-picture actor, born in England 2 Ulysses Simp·son (simp´sэn) (born Hiram Ulysses Grant) 1822-85; 18th president of the U.S. (1869-77): commander in chief of Union forces in the Civil War

grantee (græn ti:´) •n. Law a person to whom a grant is made

grant-in-aid (grænt'in eid´) pl. grants'-in-aid´ •n. a grant of funds, as by the Federal government to a State or by a foundation to a writer, scientist, artist, etc., to support a specific program or project

grantor (grænt´эr, græn tör´) •n. Law a person who makes a grant

grantsmanship (grænts´mэn ship') •n. 1 the art of acquiring grants-in-aid 2 skill in doing this [< GRANT + -MANSHIP]

granular (græn´yu: lэr, -yэ-) •adj. 1 containing or consisting of grains or granules 2 like grains or granules 3 having a grainy surface gran'u·lar´·i·ty (-ler´э ti:) •n. gran´u·lar·ly •adv. Etymology [< LL granulum (see GRANULE) + -AR]

granular snow 1 a rare form of opaque precipitation consisting of very tiny ice crystals 2 CORN SNOW

granulate (græn´yu: leit', -yэ-) -lat'ed, -lat'ing •vt., vi. 1 to form into grains or granules 2 to make or become rough on the surface by the development of granules gran´u·la'tor or gran´u·lat'er •n. gran´u·la'tive •adj.

granulation (græn'yu: lei´shэn, -yэ-) •n. 1 formation into granules or grains 2 Med. a) the formation of a small mass of tiny red granules of newly formed capillaries, as on the surface of a wound that is healing b) the mass itself

granule (græn´yu:l, -yul) •n. 1 a small grain 2 a small, grainlike particle or spot; specif., any of the small, bright areas on the sun's photosphere that last only a few minutes [< LL granulum, dim. of L granum, GRAIN]

granulite (græn´yu: lait', -yэ-) •n. a metamorphic rock consisting of uniformly sized, interlocked mineral grains in which coarse and finer bands may alternate gran'u·lit´ic (-lit´ik) •adj. [prec. + -ITE¹]

granulocyte (-lou sait') •n. any of several types of white blood cells with a granular cytoplasm gran'u·lo·cyt´ic •adj. [GRANUL(E) + -o- + -CYTE]

granuloma (græn'yu: lou´mэ, -yэ-) pl. -mas or -ma·ta (-mэ tэ) •n. a firm, tumorlike granulation formed as a reaction to chronic inflammation, as from foreign bodies, bacteria, etc. gran'u·lo´ma·tous (-tэs) •adj. [GRANUL(E) + -OMA]

granulose (græn´yu: lous', -yэ-) •adj. GRANULAR

Granville-Barker (græn´vil bär´kэr), Har·ley (här´li:) 1877-1946; Eng. playwright, critic, & actor

grape (greip) •n. 1 any of various small, round, smooth-skinned, juicy berries, generally purple, red, or green, growing in clusters on woody vines: grapes are eaten raw, used to make wine, or dried to make raisins 2 any of various vines (genus Vitis) of the grape family that bear grapes, including fox grape and muscadine; grapevine 3 a dark purplish red 4 GRAPESHOT •adj. designating a family (Vitaceae, order Rhamnales) of dicotyledonous, tendril-bearing, climbing, woody vines, including the Virginia creeper [ME grap, replacing earlier winberie (see WINE & BERRY) < OFr grape, bunch of grapes < graper, to gather with a hook < Frank *krappo (OHG chrapfo), a hook: for IE base see CRADLE]

grape hyacinth any of a group of small, hardy, bulbous plants (genus Muscari) of the lily family, with spikes of small, bell-shaped flowers of blue or white

grape ivy an evergreen climbing vine (Cissus incisa) of the grape family, common as a house plant

grape sugar GLUCOSE

grapefruit (greip´fru:t') •n. 1 a large, round, edible citrus fruit with a pale-yellow rind, juicy pulp, and a somewhat sour taste 2 the semitropical evergreen tree (Citrus paradisi) of the rue family, that bears grapefruit [so named because it grows in clusters]

grapery (greip´эr i:) pl. -er·ies •n. a place, esp. an enclosed area or building, where grapes are grown

grapeshot (greip´shät') •n. a cluster of small iron balls formerly fired from a cannon

grapevine (greip´vain') •n. 1 any of the woody vines that bear grapes Æ 2 a secret means of spreading or receiving information; also, the spreading of news or gossip from one person to another: with the: in full grapevine telegraph Æ 3 an unfounded report; hearsay; rumor

-graph (græf, gräf) combining form forming nouns 1 something that writes or records {telegraph} 2 something written, drawn, or recorded {monograph} [Gr -graphos < graphein: see GRAPHIC]

graph paper paper with small ruled squares on which to draw graphs, diagrams, etc.

graph¹ (græf, gräf) •n. 1 a diagram, as a curve, broken line, series of bars, etc., representing the successive changes in a variable quantity or quantities 2 Math. a) a curve or surface showing the values of a function b) a diagram consisting of nodes and links and representing logical relationships or sequences of events •vt. to put in the form of, or represent by, a graph [short for graphic formula]

graph² (græf, gräf) •n. a writing-system unit which may be a representation of a phoneme, a syllable, etc. [see -GRAPH]

grapheme (græf´i:m') •n. Linguis. a class consisting of all the allographs representing a given unit of a writing system, or all those representing a given phoneme gra·phe´mic •adj. [graph, a spelling, occurrence of an allograph (< prec.) + -EME]

graphemics (græ fi:´miks) •n.pl. [with sing. v.] the branch of language study dealing with the relationship between speech sounds and the writing system of a language

-grapher (grэ fэr) combining form forming nouns the agent of a (specified) method or process for recording or describing {telegrapher, stenographer}

graphic (græf´ik) •adj. 1 describing or described in realistic and vivid detail; vivid 2 of the GRAPHIC ARTS 3 a) of handwriting; used or expressed in handwriting b) written, inscribed, or recorded in letters of the alphabet, meaningful symbols, etc. 4 having markings suggestive of written or printed characters {graphic granite} 5 a) of graphs or diagrams b) shown by graphs or diagrams Also graph´i·cal graph´i·cal·ly •adv. graph´ic·ness •n. [L graphicus < Gr graphikos, capable of painting or drawing, of writing < graphē, a drawing, writing < graphein, to write, orig., scratch, incise < IE base *gerebh- > CARVE, CRAB¹]

-graphic (græf´ik) combining form forming adjectives of or relating to a (specified) method or process for recording or describing {telegraphic, stenographic} Also -graph´i·cal (-эl)

graphic arts 1 any form of visual artistic representation, esp. painting, drawing, photography, etc. 2 those arts in which impressions are printed from various kinds of blocks, plates, screens, etc. as engraving, etching, lithography, serigraphy, dry point, offset, etc.

graphic equalizer an electronic equalizer with set ranges of frequencies which may be increased or reduced independently

graphics (græf´iks) •n.pl. [with sing. v.] 1 the art of making drawings, as in architecture or engineering, in accordance with mathematical rules 2 calculation of stresses, etc. from such drawings 3 a) design, including the use of typography, as employed in the graphic arts b) GRAPHIC ARTS (sense 2) [< GRAPHIC]

graphite (græf´ait') •n. a soft, black, lustrous form of carbon found in nature and used for lead in pencils, for crucibles, lubricants, electrodes, etc. gra·phit·ic (grэ fit´ik) •adj. [Ger graphit < Gr graphein, to write (see GRAPHIC): from its use as writing material]

graphitize (græf´i taiz') -tized', -tiz'ing •vt. 1 to change into graphite as by heating 2 to put graphite in or on

grapho- (græf´ou, -э) combining form writing or drawing {graphology} [Fr < Gr graphē, a writing: see GRAPHIC]

graphology (græf äl´э ji:) •n. the study of handwriting, esp. as a clue to character, aptitudes, etc. graph·ol´o·gist •n. [Fr graphologie: see GRAPHO- & -LOGY]

Graphophone (græf´э foun') trademark for an early type of phonograph [arbitrary inversion (as if GRAPHO- + -PHONE) < PHONOGRAPH]

-graphy (grэ fi:) combining form forming nouns 1 a process or method of writing, recording, or representing (in a specified way) {calligraphy, photography} 2 a descriptive science or a treatise dealing with such a science {geography} [L -graphia < Gr, writing < graphein, to write: see GRAPHIC]

grapnel (græp´nэl) •n. 1 a small anchor with usually four or five curved, pointed arms 2 an iron bar with claws at one end for grasping and holding things [ME grapnell, dim. < OFr grapin, grapil < Prov < grapa, a hook < Frank *krappo: see GRAPE]

grappa (gřä´pä) •n. an Italian brandy distilled from the lees left after pressing grapes to make wine [It < Gmc *krappa, akin to Frank *krappo: see GRAPE]

grapple (græp´эl) •n. 1 GRAPNEL (sense 2) 2 a device consisting of two or more hinged, movable iron prongs for grasping and moving heavy objects 3 a coming to grips; hand-to-hand fight •vt. grap´pled, grap´pling to grip and hold; seize •vi. 1 to use a GRAPNEL (sense 2) 2 to struggle in hand-to-hand combat; wrestle 3 to struggle or try to cope (with) {to grapple with a problem} grap´pler •n. [OFr grapil: see GRAPNEL]

grappling iron (or hook) GRAPNEL (sense 2) Also grap´pling •n.

grapy (grei´pi:) •adj. of or like grapes; specif., tasting distinctly of grapes: said of some wines, often with negative intent: see FRUITY (sense 1b) Also sp. grap´ey [ME grapi]

GRAS generally recognized as safe: designating food additives that cause no known harm when used as intended

grasp (græsp, gräsp) •vt. 1 to take hold of firmly with or as with the hand or arms; grip 2 to take hold of eagerly or greedily; seize 3 to take hold of mentally; understand; comprehend •vi. 1 to reach for and try to seize: with at 2 to accept eagerly: with at •n. 1 the act of grasping; grip or clasp of the hand or arms 2 a firm hold; control; possession 3 the power to hold or seize; reach 4 power of understanding; comprehension SYN. TAKE grasp´a·ble •adj. grasp´er •n. [ME graspen, by metathesis < *grapsen, prob. < MLowG (as in LowG, Fris grapsen), akin to Norw dial. grapsa, to scratch, ON grapa, to snatch: see GRAB]

grasping (græs´piŋ) •adj. 1 that grasps 2 eager for gain; avaricious SYN. GREEDY grasp´ing·ly •adv.

Grass (gřäs; E gräs), Gün·ter (Wilhelm) (gün´teř; E gu:n´tэr) 1927- ; Ger. writer grass (græs, gräs) •n. 1 any of various plants of the grass family that are usually used for food, fodder, or grazing and as lawns 2 any grasslike plant of various families having similar uses 3 ground covered with grass; pasture land or lawn 4 grasslike lines on a radarscope produced by interference of random noise signals Æ 5 [Slang] marijuana 6 [Brit. Slang] an informer; stool pigeon [short for grasshopper, rhyming slang for COPPER²] •adj. designating a family (Poaceae, order Cyperales) of monocotyledonous plants with long, narrow leaves, jointed stems, flowers in spikelets, and seedlike fruit, including wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, sugar cane, bamboo, sorghum, and bluegrass •vt. 1 to put (an animal or animals) out to pasture or graze 2 to grow grass over; cover with grass 3 to lay (textiles, etc.) on the grass for bleaching by the sun 4 [Brit. Slang] to inform against, as to the police •vi. 1 to become covered with grass 2 [Brit. Slang] to act as an informer; inform (on) go to grass 1 to graze 2 to rest or retire Æ 3 go to the devil! let the grass grow under one's feet to waste one's time or neglect one's opportunities grass´like' •adj. Etymology [ME gras < OE gærs, græs, akin to Ger gras < IE *ghrō-, GROW]

grass carp a large, weed-eating carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) brought to the U.S. from E Asia to consume the plants in clogged waterways, lakes, etc.; white amur

grass cloth a cloth made of plant fibers, as of jute or hemp

grass roots [Colloq.] Æ 1 the common people, orig. those esp. of rural or nonurban areas, thought of as best representing the basic, direct political interests of the electorate Æ 2 the basic or fundamental source or support, as of a movement grass-roots (græs´ru:ts´) •adj.

grass snake Æ a) GARTER SNAKE Æ b) GREEN SNAKE

grass tree any of a genus (Xanthorrhoea) of plants of the grass-tree family, native to Australia, with short, thick, woody trunks and grasslike leaves: some produce fragrant resins

grass widow 1 a woman divorced or otherwise separated from her husband 2 a woman whose husband is often away for short periods of time [Early ModE, discarded mistress (similar to Du grasweduwe, Ger strohwittwe): prob. allusion is to bed of grass or straw as opposed to the conjugal bed]

grass widower 1 a man divorced or otherwise separated from his wife 2 a man whose wife is often away for short periods of time

grasshopper (græs´häp'эr) •n. 1 any of various families (esp. Acrididae) of leaping, plant-eating orthopteran insects with powerful hind legs adapted for jumping 2 a cocktail made of green crème de menthe, cream, and, usually colorless crème de cacao Æ 3 [Mil. Slang] a small, light airplane for scouting, liaison, and observation Etymology [ME grashoppere, extended with -er suffix (see -ER) < greshoppe < OE gærshoppe < gærs (see GRASS) + base of hoppian (see HOP¹)]

grassland (græs´lænd') •n. 1 land with grass growing on it, used for grazing; pasture land 2 land or region where grass predominates; prairie

grassplot (-plät') •n. a piece of ground with grass growing on it; esp., a lawn

grass-tree (græs´tri:') •adj. designating a family (Xanthorrhoeaceae, order Liliales) of monocotyledonous plants

grassy (græs´i:) grass´i·er, grass´i·est •adj. 1 of or consisting of grass 2 covered with or containing grass 3 green like growing grass grass´i·ness •n.

grate¹ (greit) grat´ed, grat´ing •vt. 1 to grind into shreds or particles by rubbing or scraping 2 to rub against (an object) with a harsh, scraping sound 3 to grind (the teeth) together with a rasping sound 4 to irritate; annoy; fret •vi. 1 to grind or rub with a harsh scraping or rasping sound 2 to make a harsh or rasping sound 3 to have an irritating or annoying effect [ME graten < OFr grater (Fr gratter) < Frank *kratton, akin to OHG chrazzōn (Ger kratzen), to scratch < IE base *gred- > Alb gërrusë, scraper]

grate² (greit) •n. 1 GRATING¹ (sense 1) 2 a frame of metal bars for holding fuel in a fireplace, stove, or furnace 3 a fireplace 4 Mining a screen for grading ores •vt. grat´ed, grat´ing to provide with a grate [ME, trellis, lattice < ML grata, crata < L cratis, a hurdle, CRATE]

grateful (greit´fэl) •adj. 1 feeling or expressing gratitude; thankful; appreciative 2 causing gratitude; welcome; pleasing grate´ful·ly •adv. grate´ful·ness •n. [obs grate, pleasing (< L gratus: see GRACE) + -FUL]

grater (greit´эr) •n. a utensil with a rough surface on which to grate spices, vegetables, cheese, etc.

Gratian (grei´shэn) (L. name Flavius Gratianus) A.D. 359-383; Rom. emperor (375-383)

gratification (græt'i fi kei´shэn) •n. 1 a gratifying or being gratified 2 something that gratifies; cause for satisfaction 3 [Archaic] reward or recompense for services or benefits

gratify (græt´i fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. 1 to give pleasure or satisfaction 2 to give in to; indulge; humor 3 [Archaic] to reward grat´i·fi'er •n. [Fr gratifier < L gratificare, gratificari, to oblige, please < gratus, pleasing (see GRACE) + -ficare, -FY]

gratin (grät´ªn, grät´-; Fr gřå tæñ´) •n. See AU GRATIN

gratinéed (græ'ti: neid´) •adj. with a browned crust of bread crumbs and grated cheese Also gra'ti·né´

grating¹ (greit´iŋ) •n. 1 a framework of parallel or latticed bars set in a window, door, etc. 2 parallel bars or crossbars, sometimes curved or patterned, in a framework set in a sidewalk, ship's hatchway, etc. 3 DIFFRACTION GRATING [< GRATE² + -ING]

grating² (greit´iŋ) •adj. 1 harsh and rasping 2 irritating or annoying grat´ing·ly •adv. [prp. of GRATE¹]

gratis (greit´is, græt´-) •adv., adj. without charge or payment; free [L < gratia, a favor: see GRACE]

gratitude (græt´i tu:d', -tyu:d') •n. a feeling of thankful appreciation for favors or benefits received; thankfulness [Fr < ML gratitudo < L gratus, pleasing: see GRACE]

Grattan (græt´ªn), Henry 1746-1820; Ir. statesman

gratuitous (grэ tu:´i tэs, -tyu:´-) •adj. 1 a) given or received without charge or payment; free b) granted without obligation 2 without cause or justification; uncalled-for gra·tu´i·tous·ly •adv. [L gratuitus < gratus: see GRACE]

gratuitous contract Law a contract for the benefit of the person for whom it is made, without a reciprocal promise of benefit to the maker

gratuity (grэ tu:´i ti:, -tyu:´-) pl. -ties •n. a gift of money to a waitress, porter, etc. for a service or favor; tip SYN. PRESENT [Fr gratuité < ML gratuitas < L gratuitus: see GRATUITOUS]

gratulate (græch´э leit') -lat'ed, -lat'ing •vt. [Archaic] 1 to express joy or gratification at the sight of 2 to congratulate grat'u·la´tion •n. grat´u·la·to'ry (græch´э-) •adj. [< L gratulatus, pp. of gratulari, CONGRATULATE]

Graubünden (gřau'bün´dэn) easternmost canton of Switzerland: 2,745 sq. mi. (7,109 sq. km): pop. 164,800

graupel (grau´pэl) •n. Meteorol. a kind of precipitation consisting of brittle, white ice particles having a snowlike structure; soft hail [Ger < graupeln, to sleet < graupelein, dim. of graupe, hulled barley, granule of ice < Slav, as in Pol, Serb krupa, kernel of grain, hail < IE *kreup-, scab, fragment (> ON hrufa, scale) < base *kreu-, to break > RUE¹]

Graustarkian (grau stärk´i: эn) •adj. of, like, or characteristic of colorful, implausible, highly melodramatic and romantic situations or circumstances [after Graustark, imaginary kingdom in novels by G. B. McCutcheon (1866-1928), U.S. novelist]

gravamen (grэ vei´mэn) pl. -mens or gra·vam´i·na (-væm´i nэ) •n. 1 a grievance 2 Law the essential part of a complaint or accusation [LL, lit., a burden, trouble < L gravare, to weigh down < gravis: see GRAVE1]

grave accent a mark ( ` ) used to indicate: a) the quality or length of a vowel, as in French chère b) in French, a distinction in meaning, as in où, where and ou, or c) secondary stress as in týpewrìter d) full pronunciation of a syllable normally elided in speech, as in lovèd

grave¹ (greiv) grav´er, grav´est •adj. 1 a) requiring serious thought; important; weighty {grave doubts} b) not light or trifling in nature or in consequence; grievous {a grave sin} 2 a) seriously threatening health, well-being, or life; critical; dangerous {a grave illness} b) seriously contrary to what is right or desirable; extremely bad {a grave fault} c) Theol. so evil as to cause spiritual death; mortal {a grave sin} 3 dignified and solemn or sedate in manner or mien 4 somber; dull {grave colors} 5 low or deep in pitch •n. GRAVE ACCENT SYN. SERIOUS grave´ly •adv. grave´ness •n. [Fr < L gravis, heavy, weighty < IE base *gwer-, heavy, mill > QUERN, Gr barys, heavy, Sans gurúh, grave]

grave² (greiv) •n. 1 a) a hole in the ground in which to bury a dead body b) any place of burial; tomb 2 final end or death; extinction •vt. graved, grav´en or graved, grav´ing [ME graven < OE grafan; akin to Ger graben < IE base *ghrebh-, to scratch, scrape] 1 [Obs.] a) to dig b) to bury 2 [Archaic] a) to shape by carving; sculpture b) to engrave; incise 3 to impress sharply and clearly; fix permanently have one foot in the grave to be very ill, old, or infirm; be near death make one turn (over) in one's grave to be or do something that would have shocked or distressed one now dead [ME < OE græf (akin to OFris gref, Ger grab) < base of grafan, to dig: see the vt.]

grave³ (greiv) graved, grav´ing •vt. to clean barnacles, etc. from (the hull of a wooden ship) and coat with pitch or tar [ME graven, prob. < OFr grave (Fr grève), beach, coarse sand (see GRAVEL): ships were orig. beached for cleaning the hulls]

grave4 (gřä´ve) •adj., adv. Musical Direction slow and with solemnity [It]

gravedigger (greiv´dig'эr) •n. a person whose work is digging graves

gravel (græv´эl) •n. 1 a loose mixture of pebbles and rock fragments coarser than sand, often mixed with clay, etc. 2 Med. a deposit of small concretions that form in the kidneys or gallbladder and that may be retained, passed on to the urinary bladder, or passed from the body •vt. -eled or -elled, -el·ing or -el·ling 1 to cover (a walk, driveway, etc.) with gravel 2 to embarrass or perplex Æ 3 [Colloq.] to irritate or annoy [ME < OFr gravelle, dim. of grave, coarse sand, seashore < or akin to Gaul *grava, stone < IE base *ghreu-, to rub hard, pulverize > GRIT]

gravel-blind (-blaind') •adj. almost completely blind [intens. synonym for SAND-BLIND]

gravelly (græv´эl i:) •adj. 1 full of, like, or consisting of gravel 2 sounding harsh or rasping {a gravelly voice}

graven (greiv´эn) •vt. alt. pp. of GRAVE²

graven image an idol made from stone or wood

Gravenhage see 'S GRAVENHAGE

Gravenstein (græv´эn sti:n', grä´vэn-; -stain') •n. a variety of large, yellow apple with red streaks [after Gravenstein, village in Denmark]

graver (grei´vэr) •n. 1 a cutting tool used by engravers and sculptors 2 an engraver; esp., a carver in stone [ME: see GRAVE², vt. & -ER]

Graves (greivz), Robert (Ranke) 1895-1985; Eng. poet, novelist, & critic Graves (gräv) •n. a red or white wine from the Graves district of the Bordeaux region

Graves' disease (greivz) EXOPHTHALMIC GOITER [after R. J. Graves (1797-1853), Ir physician]

graveside (greiv´said') •n. the area alongside a grave •adj. being, or taking place, beside a grave

gravestone (greiv´stoun') •n. an engraved stone marking a grave; tombstone [ME graveston]

Gravettian (grэ vet´i: эn) •adj. designating or of an Upper Paleolithic culture, characterized by flint points resembling a pointed knife blade with a blunted back [after La Gravette, France, site of archaeological discoveries + -IAN]

graveyard (greiv´yärd') •n. a burial ground; cemetery

graveyard shift [Colloq.] a work shift that starts during the night, usually at midnight

gravid (græv´id) •adj. pregnant gra·vid·i·ty (grэ vid´i ti:) •n. [L gravidus < gravis, heavy: see GRAVE¹]

gravimeter (grэ vim´эt эr) •n. 1 a device used to determine specific gravity, esp. of liquids 2 an instrument used to measure the earth's gravitational pull at different places on the earth [Fr gravimétre < L gravis, heavy (see GRAVE¹) + Fr -métre, -METER]

gravimetric (græv'i me´trik) •adj. 1 of or in terms of measurement by weight 2 of or pertaining to measurements of the pull of gravity Also grav'i·met´ri·cal grav'i·met´ri·cal·ly •adv. [< L gravis (see GRAVE¹) + METRIC]

gravimetry (grэ vim´э tri:) •n. the measurement of weight or density [< L gravis (see GRAVE¹) + -METRY]

gravitas (græv´i täs') •n. a certain reserved dignity; propriety and good taste in behavior and speech, as of a leader or official

gravitate (græv´i teit') -tat'ed, -tat'ing •vi. 1 to move or tend to move in accordance with the force of gravity 2 [Rare] to sink or settle 3 to be attracted or tend to move (toward something or someone) •vt. to cause to gravitate [< ModL gravitatus, pp. of gravitare (coined by Sir Isaac NEWTON) < L gravitas: see GRAVITY]

gravitation (græv'i tei´shэn) •n. 1 the act, process, or fact of gravitating 2 Physics a) the force by which every mass or particle of matter, including photons, attracts and is attracted by every other mass or particle of matter b) the tendency of these masses or particles to move toward each other grav'i·ta´tion·al •adj. grav'i·ta´tion·al·ly •adv. [ModL gravitatio: see GRAVITATE]

gravitational lens a massive celestial body, esp. a galaxy or cluster of galaxies, having enough gravity to refract light waves from a more distant object, esp. a quasar, so that an observer sees an amplified or multiple image

gravitational wave a very weak hypothetical wave of gravitational energy that should travel through space at the speed of light, thought to be caused by the sudden acceleration of a large mass

gravitative (græv´i teit'iv) •adj. 1 of or caused by gravitation 2 tending or causing to gravitate

graviton (-tän') •n. a theoretical subatomic particle, with no charge or mass, postulated as carrying gravitational forces between bodies; the quantum of gravitational energy [GRAVIT(ATION) + -ON]

gravity (græv´i ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the state or condition of being grave; esp., a) solemnity or sedateness of manner or character; earnestness b) danger or threat; ominous quality {the gravity of his illness} c) seriousness, as of a situation 2 weight; heaviness: see SPECIFIC GRAVITY, CENTER OF GRAVITY 3 lowness of musical pitch 4 gravitation, esp. terrestrial gravitation; force that tends to draw all bodies in the earth's sphere toward the center of the earth: see ACCELERATION OF GRAVITY •adj. operated by the force of gravity [L gravitas, weight, heaviness < gravis, heavy: see GRAVE¹]

gravlax (gräv´läks') •n. sliced salmon rubbed with salt, sugar, pepper, and dill, marinated, and served with a mustard sauce [Scand, prob. Swed < gravad, cured with spices + lax, salmon]

gravure (grэ vyur´, greiv´yэr) •n. 1 a) any process using intaglio printing plates b) such a plate or a print made by such a process 2 a) PHOTOGRAVURE b) ROTOGRAVURE [Fr < graver, to carve < Frank *graban, akin to GRAVE², vt.]

gravy (grei´vi:) pl. -vies •n. 1 the juice given off by meat in cooking 2 a sauce made by combining this juice with flour, seasoning, etc. Æ 3 [Slang] a) money easily or illegally obtained b) any extra benefit or value beyond that expected [ME grave, ? a misreading of OFr grané < ? grain, used as a name for cooking ingredients]

gravy boat a boat-shaped dish for serving gravy

gravy train [Slang] a sinecure, subsidy, etc. that allows one to live luxuriously without much work

Gray (grei) 1 Asa 1810-88; U.S. botanist 2 Thomas 1716-71; Eng. poet gray (grei) •adj. 1 of a color that is a mixture or blend of black and white 2 a) darkish; dull b) dreary; dismal 3 a) having hair that is gray b) old, or old and respected 4 wearing gray garments or uniforms 5 designating a vague, intermediate area, as between morality and immorality •n. 1 an achromatic color made by mixing or blending black and white: see COLOR 2 an animal or thing colored gray; esp., a gray horse 3 gray or unbleached fabric or clothing 4 [often G-] a) a person or group wearing a gray uniform b) a Confederate soldier •vt., vi. to make or become gray gray´ly •adv. gray´ness •n. [ME grai < OE græg, akin to Ger grau < IE base *Gher-, to shine, gleam > Czech zříti, to see] gray (grei) •adj. 1 of a color that is a mixture or blend of black and white 2 a) darkish; dull b) dreary; dismal 3 a) having hair that is gray b) old, or old and respected 4 wearing gray garments or uniforms 5 designating a vague, intermediate area, as between morality and immorality •n. 1 an achromatic color made by mixing or blending black and white: see COLOR 2 an animal or thing colored gray; esp., a gray horse 3 gray or unbleached fabric or clothing 4 [often G-] a) a person or group wearing a gray uniform b) a Confederate soldier •vt., vi. to make or become gray gray´ly •adv. gray´ness •n. [ME grai < OE græg, akin to Ger grau < IE base *Gher-, to shine, gleam > Czech zříti, to see]

gray eminence ÉMINENCE GRISE

gray market a market, as for imported goods, operating outside the authorized system of distribution gray marketeer (or marketer)

gray matter 1 grayish nerve tissue of the brain and spinal cord, consisting chiefly of nerve cells, with few nerve fibers: distinguished from WHITE MATTER 2 [Colloq.] intellectual capacity; brains

gray squirrel any of several large, gray squirrels (genus Sciurus), native to the U.S.

gray whale a mostly black, migratory whalebone whale (Eschrichtius robustus) of the N Pacific: it is the only member of its family (Eschrichtiidae)

gray wolf a large, gray wolf (Canis lupus) that hunts in packs, once common throughout the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere

grayback (grei´bæk') •n. any of certain birds, fish, whales, etc. with grayish coloring, as the hooded crow, alewife, or gray whale

graybeard (-bird') •n. an old man

grayfish (-fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' or -fish'es a dogfish (shark) •n.

gray-headed (-hed´id) •adj. 1 having gray hair 2 old

grayish (grei´ish) •adj. somewhat gray

graylag (grei´læg') •n. the European wild gray goose (Anser anser) [short for gray lag goose: from its color and its late migration]

grayling (grei´liŋ) pl. -ling or -lings •n. 1 any of a genus (Thymallus) of arctic, freshwater game trout with a long dorsal fin 2 any of various large wood nymph butterflies [GRAY + -LING¹: from the color]

graymail (grei´meil') •n. [Colloq.] social pressure intended to compel someone, esp. a public official, to reveal sensitive information

Gray's Inn see INNS OF COURT

graywacke (grei´wæk') •n. 1 a nonporous, dark-colored sandstone containing angular particles of other rocks 2 a fine-grained conglomerate resembling sandstone [partial transl. of Ger grauwacke: see GRAY & WACKE]

Graz (gräts) city in SE Austria: pop. 243,000

graze¹ (greiz) grazed, graz´ing •vt. 1 to feed on (growing grass, herbage, a pasture, etc.) 2 to put livestock to feed on (growing grass, herbage, etc.) 3 to tend (feeding livestock) 4 to feed on the pasturage of (land) •vi. 1 to feed on growing grass, etc. 2 [Colloq.] a) to snack all day instead of eating regular meals b) to eat small portions of different foods, as appetizers, samples of entrees, etc. graz´er •n. [ME grasen < OE grasian < base of græs, gærs, GRASS]

graze² (greiz) grazed, graz´ing •vt. 1 to touch or rub lightly in passing 2 to scrape or scratch in passing {a bullet grazed his thigh} •vi. to scrape, touch, or rub lightly against something in passing •n. 1 the act of grazing 2 a slight scratch or scrape caused by grazing [prob. < prec. in sense to come close to the grass]

grazier (grei´zhэr; -zi: эr) •n. [Chiefly Brit.] a person who grazes beef cattle for sale

grazing (grei´ziŋ) •n. 1 land to graze on; pasture 2 [Colloq.] the eating of snacks all day long or the eating of small portions of different foods

grazioso (gřä tsyô´sô) •adj., adv. Musical Direction with grace; in a smooth, elegant manner [It < L gratiosus: see GRACIOUS]

GRE trademark for Graduate Record Examination

grease (gri:s; for v., also gri:z) •n. 1 melted animal fat 2 any thick, oily substance or lubricant 3 an inflammation of the skin of a horse's fetlock or pastern characterized by cracked skin and an oily discharge: also grease heel 4 a) the oily substance in uncleaned wool; suint b) an uncleaned fleece (also grease wool) •vt. greased, greas´ing 1 to smear or lubricate with grease 2 to influence by giving money to; bribe or tip: chiefly in grease the palm (or hand) of in (the) grease 1 fat and ready to be killed: said of game animals 2 in an uncleaned condition: said of wood or fur [ME gresse < OFr craisse < VL *crassia < L crassus, fat, thick: see CRASS]

grease cup a small cup over a bearing in machinery, for holding a supply of grease to lubricate the bearing

grease monkey [Slang] a mechanic, esp. one who works on automobiles or airplanes

grease pencil a pencil of compressed grease and coloring matter used for marking on signs or paper with a glossy finish

greaseball (gri:s´böl') •n. [Slang] 1 a person of Mediterranean or Latin American origin: a term of contempt or hostility [from stereotypical notions that such persons have dark, oily hair] 2 GREASER (sense 2)

greasepaint (-peint') •n. a mixture of grease and coloring matter used by performers in making up for the stage, etc.

greaser (gri:s´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that greases Æ 2 [Slang] a poor or working-class youth, esp. in the 1950's, often characterized as being rough in manner, wearing a leather jacket, having oily hair, riding a motorcycle, etc.: usually a somewhat derogatory term 3 [Slang] a person of Latin American, specif. Mexican, origin: a term of contempt or hostility [from stereotypical notions that such persons have dark, oily hair]

greasewood (-wud') •n. 1 a thorny plant (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) of the goosefoot family, found in the desert regions of the W U.S., having fleshy leaves 2 any of several other similar plants

greasy (gri:´si:, gri:´zi:) greas´i·er, greas´i·est •adj. 1 smeared or soiled with grease 2 containing grease, esp. much grease 3 like grease; oily; unctuous; slippery greas´i·ly •adv. greas´i·ness •n.

greasy spoon a small, dingy restaurant that serves cheap food

great (greit) •adj. 1 of much more than ordinary size, extent, volume, etc.; esp., a) designating a thing or group of things larger than others of the same kind {the great cats are tigers, lions, etc.; the Great Lakes} b) large in number, quantity, etc.; numerous {a great company} c) long in duration {a great while} 2 much higher in some quality or degree; much above the ordinary or average; esp., a) existing in a high degree; intense {a great light, great pain} b) very much of a; acting much as (something specified) {a great reader} c) eminent; distinguished; illustrious; superior {a great playwright} d) very impressive or imposing; remarkable {great ceremony} e) having or showing nobility of mind, purpose, etc.; grand {a great man, great ideas} 3 of most importance; main; chief {the great seal} 4 [Colloq.] clever; expert; skillful: usually with at {great at tennis} Æ 5 [Colloq.] excellent; splendid; fine 6 [Now Chiefly Dial.] pregnant: chiefly in great with child •adv. [Colloq.] very well •n. a great or distinguished person: usually used in pl. SYN. LARGE great on [Colloq.] enthusiastic about the great those who are great great´ly •adv. great´ness •n. [ME grete < OE great, akin to Ger gross, Du groot < IE base *ghrēu-, rub hard over, crumble > GRIT, Welsh gro, sand: basic sense coarse, coarsegrained]

great- (greit) combining form older (or younger) by one generation: each additional great- shows one further generation removed {great-aunt, great-great-grandson} [< prec., taken as intensifier]

great ape any of a family (Pongidae) of primates consisting of the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan

great auk a large, flightless auk (Pinguinus impennis) of the N Atlantic, extinct since 1844

Great Australian Bight wide bay of the Indian Ocean, indenting S Australia: c. 720 mi. (1,150 km) wide

Great Barrier Reef coral reef off the NE coast of Queensland, Australia: 1,250 mi. (2,010 km) long

Great Basin vast inland region of the W U.S., between the Sierra Nevada & the Wasatch Mountains: the rivers & streams flowing into this region form lakes which have no outlet to the sea: c. 200,000 sq. mi. (518,000 sq. km)

Great Bear the constellation Ursa Major

Great Bear Lake lake in Fort Smith & Inuvik regions, Northwest Territories, Canada: 12,275 sq. mi. (31,792 sq. km)

Great Britain 1 principal island of the United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, & Wales, & administratively including adjacent islands except the Isle of Man & the Channel Islands 2 popularly, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

great calorie CALORIE (sense 2)

great circle any circle described on the surface of a sphere by a plane which passes through the center of the sphere; specif., such a circle on the earth's surface: a course (great-circle course) plotted along a great circle of the earth is the shortest route between any two points on the earth's surface

Great Dane any of a breed of very large, muscular dog with pointed, erect ears, a square muzzle, and a short, thick, smooth coat

Great Divide 1 a principal mountain watershed: specif., CONTINENTAL DIVIDE 2 any important dividing line cross the Great Divide to die

Great Dividing Range series of mountain ranges along E coast of Australia: highest peak, Mt. Kosciusko

Great Falls city in WC Mont., on the Missouri River: pop. 55,000

Great Glen of Scotland GLEN MORE

great gross a unit of quantity equal to twelve gross

great horned owl a large, pale gray and brownish American owl (Bubo virginianus) with two prominent tufts of black feathers on its head

Great Karroo see KARROO

Great Lakes chain of freshwater lakes in EC North America, emptying into the St. Lawrence River; Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, & Ontario

great laurel a large, E American shrub (Rhododendron maximum) of the heath family, with thick, oblong, dark-green leaves and delicate, white or pinkish flowers in cone-shaped clusters

Great Mogul 1 the title of the ruler of the Mongol empire in India 2 [g- m-] a person of importance

Great Plains sloping region of valleys & plains in WC North America, extending from Tex. north to S Alberta, Canada, & stretching east from the base of the Rockies for c. 400 mi. (644 km)

great primer a large size of printing type, 18 point, formerly used esp. for Bibles

Great Pyrenees any of a breed of large dog, bearlike in appearance, with a long, thick white coat, but falling ears, originally used in the Pyrenees to guard sheep and as a guide in snowy regions, now usually kept as a watchdog

Great Rift Valley depression of SW Asia & E Africa, extending from the Jordan River valley across Ethiopia & Somalia to the lakes region of E Africa

great room FAMILY ROOM

Great Russian the Russian language, as distinguished from Ukrainian and Belorussian, the two other East Slavic languages

Great Salt Lake shallow saltwater lake in NW Utah, fluctuating greatly in size from c. 1,100 (2,500) to c. 2,300 sq. mi. (5,950 sq. km)

Great Sandy Desert N section of the vast desert region of Western Australia

Great Schism 1 the division or conflict in the Roman Catholic Church from 1378 to 1417, when there were rival popes at Avignon and Rome: also called Schism of the West 2 the separation, final in 1472, of the Eastern Orthodox Church from the Roman Catholic Church: also called Schism of the East

great seal the chief seal of a nation or state, with which official papers are stamped as proof of their approval

Great Slave Lake lake in S Fort Smith Region, Northwest Territories, Canada: 10,980 sq. mi. (28,440 sq. km)

Great Smoky Mountains mountain range of the Appalachians, along the Tenn.-N.C. border: highest peak, Clingman's Dome: site of a national park (Great Smoky Mountains National Park): 795 sq. mi. (2,060 sq. km)

Great St. Bernard Pass mountain pass in the Pennine Alps, on the border between SW Switzerland & Italy: 8,110 ft. (2,470 m) high

Great Victoria Desert S section of the vast desert region of Western Australia

Great Vowel Shift the complex series of sound developments (c. 1400 to c. 1750) which changed the vowel system of Middle English into that of Modern English: Middle English long high vowels (i: and u:) changed to Modern English diphthongs (ai and au), and long mid and low vowels (ei, ou, and ä) were raised in their tongue positions to the Modern English sounds (i:, u:, and ei), but the orthography remained largely the same

Great Wall of China stone & earth wall extending across N China, built as a defense against invaders in the 3d cent. B.C., with later extensions: 15-30 ft. (4.5-9 m) high; 12-20 ft. (3.5-6 m) wide; c. 1,500 mi. (2,415 km) long

Great War World War I