great | |
1. adj. Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i. e. having many parts or members) or duration (i. e. relatively long); very big. | |
A great storm is approaching our shores. | |
a great assembly | |
a great wait | |
2. adj. Of larger size or more importance than others of its kind. | |
the great auk | |
3. adj. (qualifying nouns of family relationship) Involving more generations than the word qualified implies (from 1510s). see Derived terms | |
great-grandfather | |
4. adj. (obsolete, postpositive, followed by 'with') Pregnant; large with young; full of. | |
great with child | |
great with hope | |
5. adj. (obsolete, except with 'friend' and similar words such as 'mate','buddy') Intimate; familiar. | |
6. adj. Extreme or more than usual. | |
great worry | |
7. adj. Of significant importance or consequence; important. | |
a great decision | |
8. adj. (applied to actions, thoughts and feelings) Arising from or possessing idealism; admirable; superior; commanding; heroic; illustrious; eminent. | |
a great deed | |
a great nature | |
a great history | |
9. adj. Impressive or striking. | |
a great show of wealth | |
10. adj. Much in use; favoured. | |
Poetry was a great convention of the Romantic era. | |
11. adj. (applied to persons) Endowed with extraordinary powers; of exceptional talents or achievements; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; remarkable; strong; powerful; mighty; noble. | |
a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, writer etc. | |
12. adj. Title referring to an important leader. | |
Alexander the Great | |
13. adj. Doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale; active or enthusiastic. | |
What a great buffoon! | |
He's not a great one for reading. | |
a great walker | |
14. adj. (often followed by 'at') Skilful or adroit. | |
a great carpenter | |
You are great at singing. | |
15. adj. (informal) Very good; excellent; wonderful; fantastic (from 1848). | |
Dinner was great. | |
16. adj. (informal, British) Intensifying a word or expression, used in mild oaths. | |
a dirty great smack in the face | |
Great Scott! | |
17. interj. Expression of gladness and content about something. | |
Great! Thanks for the wonderful work. | |
18. interj. sarcastic inversion thereof. | |
Oh, great! I just dumped all 500 sheets of the manuscript all over and now I have to put them back in order. | |
19. subst. A person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim. | |
Newton and Einstein are two of the greats of the history of science. | |
20. subst. (music) The main division in a pipe organ, usually the loudest division. | |
21. adv. very well (in a very satisfactory manner) | |
Those mechanical colored pencils work great because they don't have to be sharpened. | |