greedy ["gri di] adj. showing greed; desiring money, possessions, or power too strongly. (Adv: greedily. Comp: greedier; sup: greediest.) green ["grin] 1. n. the color of grass or of the leaves of trees in the summer; the color made when blue and yellow are mixed together. (Plural only for types and instances.) 2. n. a grassy area. 3. adj. of the color of grass. (Comp: greener; sup: greenest.) 4. adj. unripe; not yet ripe or mature. (Comp: greener; sup: greenest.) 5. adj. without experi- ence; young. (Figurative on R. Comp: greener; sup: greenest.) → have a green thumb green with envy envious; jealous. greenhouse ["grin haUs] n., irreg. a building with a glass roof and glass walls where the temperature is controlled so that plants can grow inside all year round. (Plural: [ haU z@z].) greens n. the leaves of certain plants eaten as food. (Treated as plural.) greet ["grit] tv. to welcome some- one; to address someone, espe- cially upon meeting or arrival. greeting ["gri tIN] n. a word, phrase, or action—such as Hello— said or done when meeting some- one or when answering the telephone. grew ["gru] past tense of grow. grid ["grId] 1. n. a series of lines arranged vertically and horizon- tally forming squares, especially as found on maps or graphs. 2. n. a series of rods, bars, or wires arranged as in Q. 3. n. a network of electrical lines spread over a large area; a network of roads. grief ["grif] n. sorrow; distress. (No plural.) → come to grief grill ["grIl] 1. n. a grid of metal rods set over a fire, on which food is placed to cook; a barbecue Q. 2. n. an outdoor stove that cooks food placed on a framework of rows of metal bars. 3. tv. to cook food on Q or W. 4. tv. to question someone forcefully and thor- oughly. 5. iv. [for food] to be cooked on Q or W. grille ["grIl] 1. n. a grate above the front bumper of a car in front of the radiator. (Compare this with grill.) 2. n. a grid of metal bars placed in a door or window. grim ["grIm] 1. adj. not likely to turn out well. (Adv: grimly. Comp: grimmer; sup: grimmest.) 2. adj. [looking] stern and harsh. (Adv: grimly. Comp: grimmer; sup: grimmest.) grime ["graIm] n. thick, oily dirt. (No plural.) grin ["grIn] 1. n. a big smile. 2. iv. to smile widely so that one’s teeth show. grin and bear it to endure some- thing unpleasant in good humor. grind ["graInd] 1. tv., irreg. to make something into a powder or tiny chunks, by crushing or pounding it. (Past tense and past participle: ground.) 2. tv., irreg. to rub things together with force. grind someone down to wear someone down by constant greedy 246 04 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 246 TLFeBOOK requests; to wear someone down by constant nagging. grind something away to remove something by grinding. grind something down to make something smooth or even by grinding. grind something out 1. to produce something by grinding. 2. to pro- duce something in a mechanical or perfunctory manner. → have an ax to grind grind something up to pulverize or break something up by crushing, rubbing, or abrasion. grind to a halt to slow to a stop; to run down. grindstone ["graInd ston] n. a thick, round wheel of stone that is used to sharpen knives. → keep one’s nose to the grindstone → put one’s nose to the grindstone grip ["grIp] 1. tv. to hold someone or something tightly with one’s hands. 2. n. a tight hold on some- one or something. → come to grips with something → lose one’s grip grip someone’s attention to attract and hold someone’s attention. gripe ["graIp] n. a complaint. gripe (about someone or some- thing ) to complain about someone or something; to whine about someone or something. grit one’s teeth to grind one’s teeth together in anger or determina- tion. groan ["gron] 1. n. a loud, deep noise of pain, disappointment, or disapproval. 2. iv. to make a loud, deep noise of pain, disappoint- ment, or disapproval. 3. iv. [for an enormous bulk] to make a deep noise or creak. groan under the weight of some- thing to suffer under the burden or domination of something. grocer ["gro s#] n. someone who owns or runs a grocery store; someone who sells food and basic supplies. groceries ["gros riz ] n. items bought at a grocery store. (Treated as plural, but not counta- ble.) grocery (store) ["gros ri ] n. a store where food can be bought. groom ["grum] 1. n. a man who is getting married. 2. tv. to clean and comb a horse. 3. tv. to make some- one’s hair neat. 4. tv. to prepare someone for a specific duty. ground ["graUnd] 1. past tense and past participle of grind. 2. adj. broken or chopped into powder or into tiny chunks by grinding. 3. n. the surface of the earth. (No plu- ral.) 4. tv. to cause a pilot, air- plane, or bird to stay on the surface of the earth. (Past tense and past participle: grounded.) 5. tv. to make someone stay in a cer- tain place as punishment. (Figura- tive on R. Past tense and past participle: grounded.) 6. tv. to make an electrical device safer by extending a wire into E. (Past tense and past participle: grounded.) → break new ground → cover a lot of ground → cut the ground out from under someone → from the ground up ground 247 04 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 247 TLFeBOOK → gain ground → get one’s feet on the ground → get something off (the ground) → have one’s ear to the ground → hold one’s ground → keep one’s ear to the ground → keep one’s feet on the ground → stand one’s ground ground beef ["graUnd "bif] n. beef that has been chopped or ground fine; hamburger. (No plural.) grounded in fact based on facts. grounds n. the remains of pow- dered coffee beans after coffee has been made from them. (Treated as plural, but not countable.) grounds for something a basis or cause for legal action such as a lawsuit. group ["grup] 1. n. a number of people or things considered as a unit; a category. 2. tv. to arrange people or things into categories; to place things or people together in Q. grow ["gro] 1. tv., irreg. to care for plants, causing them to mature. (Past tense: grew; past participle: grown.) 2. iv., irreg. to become bigger, larger, or more powerful; to increase. 3. iv., irreg. to become a certain way. grow into something to develop into something. grow to do something to gradually begin to do certain things, using verbs such as feel, know, like, need, respect, sense, suspect, think, want, wonder, etc. growl ["graUl] 1. n. a deep, threat- ening sound, especially one made in anger. 2. iv. to make a deep, threatening sound; to say some- thing in a deep, threatening way, especially when angry or irritated. grown ["gron] 1. Past participle of grow. 2. adj. fully developed; adult; mature; ripe. growth ["groT] 1. n. development; the amount someone or something develops in a certain period of time. (No plural.) 2. n. an increase; the process of becoming bigger, larger, or more powerful. (No plural.) 3. n. an unnatural or unhealthy lump of tissue; a tumor. guarantee [gEr @n "ti] 1. n. a writ- ten document that promises that a certain product will operate prop- erly for a certain amount of time. 2. n. a written or verbal promise that one will be responsible for something, especially for certain debts or actions. 3. tv. to promise that something will be done. (The object can be a clause with that U.) 4. tv. to promise to be respon- sible for certain debts, actions, or results. 5. tv. to provide Q, prom- ising that a product will work properly for a period of time. guard ["gard] 1. n. someone or some creature that watches and protects someone or something. 2. the adj. use of Q. 3. tv. to pro- tect someone or something; to keep someone or something from escaping. guess ["gEs] 1. n. an opinion or statement that is given without really knowing what is true. 2. tv. to make a successful try at figuring out the right answer to a question. (The object can be a clause with that U.) 3. tv. to think that some- thing will probably happen; to ground beef 248 04 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 248 TLFeBOOK suppose that something will hap- pen. (The object is a clause with that U.) → hazard a guess → Your guess is as good as mine. guess at something to make a guess at getting the right answer to a ques- tion. guest ["gEst] 1. n. someone who visits another person’s home because of an invitation. 2. n. someone who is taken to dinner or to a place of entertainment by someone else, who is paying for it. 3. n. someone who is invited by an organization or government to make a visit. 4. n. a customer of a hotel, motel, etc. guest of honor a guest who gets special attention from everyone; the person for whom a party, cele- bration, or ceremony is given. guide ["gaId] 1. n. someone who shows someone else the way. 2. n. someone who leads tours. 3. n. a book or chart of information about a thing or a place. 4. tv. to lead someone to the right place. 5. tv. to lead a tour. 6. tv. to direct the business of something; to con- trol something. 7. tv. to advise someone. guilt ["gIlt] 1. n. the feeling that one has done something wrong or bad. (No plural.) 2. n. the burden or responsibility of having done something wrong or bad. (No plural.) guilty ["gIl ti] adj. having broken a rule or done something wrong; judged in a court to have done a crime; not innocent. (Adv: guiltily. Comp: guiltier; sup: guiltiest.) → find someone guilty guinea pig ["gIn i pIg] 1. n. a small rodent, often kept as a pet or used in medical and scientific experi- ments. 2. n. someone who is being used in an experiment. (Figurative on Q.) → serve as a guinea pig gulf ["g^lf] 1. n. an area of sea, larger than a bay, surrounded by land on two or three sides. 2. n. a large or wide separation. (Figura- tive on Q.) gum ["g^m] 1. n. a soft, sticky, fla- vored substance that people chew. (Plural only for types and in- stances.) 2. n. the upper or lower ridge of flesh that covers the jaw bones and surrounds the bases of the teeth. gun ["g^n] 1. n. a weapon that shoots bullets. 2. n. a device or tool that has a handle and trigger like Q, used for applying or installing something. → beat the gun → fire a gun → jump the gun → stick to one’s guns gun for someone to be looking for someone, presumably to harm that person, as with a gun. gush ["g^S] 1. n. a large flow of a fluid. 2. iv. to flow out rapidly and in large amounts. 3. tv. to allow a fluid to flow; to make fluid flow. gust ["g^st] 1. n. a strong rush of wind or smoke. 2. iv. [for the wind] to move in short, strong bursts. gut ["g^t] 1. n. the area of the intes- tines or stomach. (No plural.) gut 249 04 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 249 TLFeBOOK 2. tv. to take the intestines and organs out of an animal. gut feeling and gut reaction; gut response a personal, intu- itive feeling or response. gut reaction Go to gut feeling. gut response Go to gut feeling. guts 1. n. the intestines. (Treated as plural, but not countable. Collo- quial.) 2. n. courage. (Treated as plural, but not countable. Collo- quial.) → hate someone’s guts gutter ["g^t #] 1. n. a metal chan- nel hanging on the edge of a roof to carry away water when it rains. 2. n. the wide, wooden channel on either side of a bowling lane. 3. n. on a street, a lower, formed chan- nel that leads water and other waste to the entrance of a sewer. → in the gutter guy ["gaI] 1. n. a man; a boy. (Informal.) 2. n. a person, male or female, especially in the plural. (Informal.) gym ["dZIm] 1. n. a gymnasium. 2. the adj. use of Q. gymnasium [dZIm "nez i @m] n. a large room or building for physical education, physical training, or certain sports events such as bas- ketball and wrestling. (Can be shortened to gym.) gyp someone out of something to deceive someone in order to get something of value. gut feeling 250 04 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 250 TLFeBOOK habit ["hAb It] 1. n. an action that is done over and over, usually without thinking about it. 2. n. an addiction; a strong need for drugs, tobacco, alcohol, etc. 3. n. the uni- form worn by a monk or a nun. → break a habit → break one’s habit → break the habit hack something down to chop something down. hack something up 1. to chop something up into pieces. 2. to damage or mangle something. had ["hAd] 1. past tense and past participle of have. 2. aux. the past- tense form of have T, used in forming the past perfect verb form. (Used before the past par- ticiple of a verb. Reduced to ’d in contractions. See also has.) → been had → have had its day had better is obliged to; should. (Often -’d better.) (had) known it was coming Go to knew it was coming. hadn’t ["hAd nt] cont. had not. hag ["hAg] n. an ugly old woman; a witch. hail ["hel] 1. n. round pellets of ice that fall from the sky like rain. (No plural. Number is expressed with hailstone(s).) 2. n. a group of things that come in small, sharp units. 3. n. a continual series of demands, objections, questions, etc. 4. tv. to greet or welcome someone with cheers, joy, and approval. 5. tv. to honor and praise someone or something; to praise and approve something eagerly. 6. iv. [for Q] to fall from the sky. hail-fellow-well-met friendly to everyone; falsely friendly to every- one. (Usually said of males.) hailstone ["hel ston] n. a small, round ball of ice that falls from the sky like rain. hailstorm ["hel storm] n. a storm that produces or includes hail. hair ["hEr] 1. n. the strands or fibers that grow on the body of an ani- mal, especially the ones that grow on top of the heads of humans. (No plural. Treated as singular.) 2. n. one of the strands or fibers that grow on the body of an ani- mal as in Q. → by a hair’s breadth → curl someone’s hair → get in someone’s hair → hang by a hair → let one’s hair down → make someone’s hair stand on end → neither hide nor hair → part someone’s hair → tear one’s hair (out) hair of the dog that bit one a drink of liquor taken when one has a hangover; a drink of liquor taken when one is recovering from drinking too much liquor. hairbrush ["hEr br@S] n. a brush used for smoothing hair and mak- ing it look orderly. haircut ["hEr k@t] 1. n. an act or instance of cutting hair, especially the hair on top of someone’s head. 2. n. the particular way that one’s hair has been cut; a hairstyle. 251 H 04 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 251 Copyright 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc . Click Here for Terms of Use. TLFeBOOK hairy ["hEr i] adj. covered with hair; having a lot of hair. (Comp: hairier; sup: hairiest.) hale and hearty well and healthy. half ["hAf] 1. n., irreg. either of two equal parts that form a complete thing. (Plural: halves.) 2. n. a por- tion—as described in Q—of the amount of people or things already mentioned or referred to. (Treated as singular or plural.) 3. adj. being Q of an amount; being one of two equal parts. 4. adv. part of the way; not com- pletely. → at half-mast → one’s better half → six of one and half a dozen of the other halfhearted ["hAf "hart Id] adj. not too enthusiastic; without excite- ment. (Adv: halfheartedly.) → be halfhearted (about someone or something ) halfway ["hAf "we] 1. adj. at the middle; in the middle. 2. adv. to the point that is Q. → meet someone halfway hall ["hOl] 1. n. a passage that con- nects rooms and stairways inside a house or building. (See also hall- way .) 2. n. a large room for big meetings, lectures, dances, etc. 3. n. a building where college stu- dents live, sleep, study, or have classes. → city hall hallway ["hOl we] n. a hall; a pas- sage that connects rooms and stairways inside a house or build- ing. halt ["hOlt] 1. iv. to stop. 2. tv. to cause someone or something to stop. → grind to a halt halves ["hAvz] plural of half. ham ["hAm] 1. n. the upper part of a hog’s rear hip and thigh, pre- served by salt and a special kind of wood smoke. 2. n. Q eaten as food. (Plural only for types and instances.) ham something up to perform in something in an exaggerated and exhibitionist manner. hamburger ["hAm b# g#] 1. n. beef that has been ground into tiny bits. (No plural.) 2. n. a sand- wich made of cooked ground beef and a specially shaped bun. hammer ["hAm #] 1. n. a tool with a heavy metal head that is used to pound nails or to break things. 2. tv. to hit something with Q. → fight someone or something hammer and tongs → go at it hammer and tongs hammer (away) at someone to interrogate someone; to ask ques- tions endlessly of someone. (Figu- rative.) hammer something down to pound something down, making it even with the surrounding area. hammer something home to try extremely hard to make someone understand or realize something. hammer something in(to someone ) and pound something in(to someone ) to teach some- thing to someone intensively, as if one were driving the information in by force. hammer something in(to some- thing ) and pound something in(to something ) to drive some- hairy 252 04 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 252 TLFeBOOK thing into something as with a hammer. hand ["hAnd] 1. n. the structure at the end of the arm used for grasp- ing; the most distant part of the arm, below the wrist. 2. n. the cards given or dealt to someone in a card game; one session in a game of cards. 3. n. side; direction. (No plural.) 4. n. one of the pointers on a clock or watch. 5. tv. to give something to someone by using one’s Q. 6. the adj. use of Q or R. → be putty in someone’s hands → bite the hand that feeds one → bound hand and foot → by a show of hands → can’t see one’s hand in front of one’s face → close at hand → come away empty-handed → dirty one’s hands → do something by hand → eat out of someone’s hand → fold one’s hands → force someone’s hand → from hand to hand → get one’s hands dirty → get the upper hand (on someone ) → go away empty-handed → have clean hands → have one’s hand in the till → have one’s hands full (with someone or something ) → have one’s hands tied → have someone or something in one’s hands → have someone’s blood on one’s hands → have something at hand → in hand → join hands → know someone or something like the back of one’s hand → know someone or something like the palm of one’s hand → live from hand to mouth → one’s hands are tied → put one’s hand to the plow → shake hands → shake someone’s hand → show one’s hand → sit on its hands → sit on one’s hands → soil one’s hands → take the law into one’s own hands → tie someone’s hands → Time hangs heavy on someone’s hands. → wait on someone hand and foot → wash one’s hands of someone or something → with both hands tied behind one’s back → with one hand tied behind one’s back hand in glove (with someone ) very close to someone. hand over fist [for money and merchandise to be exchanged] very rapidly. hand over hand [moving] one hand after the other (again and again). hand something down [for a court] to issue a ruling. (Legal.) hand something down from some- one to someone to pass some- thing down through many generations. hand something down (to some- one ) to pass on something to a younger person, often a younger relative. hand something off (to someone ) to give a football directly to another player. (Football.) hand something out (to someone ) to pass something, usually papers, out to people. hand something out (to someone) 253 04 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 253 TLFeBOOK handicap ["hAn di kAp] 1. n. a dis- ability; a disadvantage; something that hinders someone from doing something in the usual way. 2. n. [in sports or games] placing restrictions on a better player in order to make the event more competitive. 3. tv. to prevent someone from doing something in the usual way; to hinder someone. handkerchief ["hAN k# tSIf] n. a square of soft fabric used to wipe one’s nose or face. handle ["hAn d@l] 1. n. the part of an object that is held on to so that the object can be used, moved, picked up, pushed, pulled, opened, or closed. 2. tv. to feel someone or something with one’s hands; to use one’s hands on someone or some- thing. 3. iv. [for something] to work in a certain way while being used; [for a vehicle or boat] to be guided, driven, or steered. → fly off the handle → get a handle on something → have a handle on something handle someone with kid gloves to be very careful with a touchy person; to deal with someone who is very difficult. hands down easily and without opposition; indisputably. handsome ["hAn s@m] 1. adj. very attractive; [of a male] very good- looking. (Adv: handsomely. Comp: handsomer; sup: handsomest.) 2. adj. ample; generous; more than enough. (Adv: handsomely. Comp: handsomer; sup: handsomest.) handwriting ["hAnd raIt IN] 1. n. writing done by hand with a pen or pencil instead of with a type- writer or computer. (No plural form.) 2. n. one’s own style of writing; a sample of one’s own handwriting. (No plural form.) → see the (hand)writing on the wall hang ["hAN] 1. tv., irreg. to suspend something from a higher place, using a rope, chain, etc. (Past tense and past participle: hung.) 2. tv., irreg. to attach something to a wall. 3. tv. to execute a person by suspending the person by the neck. (Past tense and past partici- ple: hanged for this sense.) 4. iv., irreg. to be suspended over some- thing; to remain above someplace or thing. → get the hang of something → have something hanging over one’s head → keep someone or something hanging in midair → leave someone or something hanging in midair → Time hangs heavy on someone’s hands. hang (around) and hang (out) to waste time somewhere; to do nothing for a period of time. hang around ( someplace ) to loiter someplace; to be in a place or in an area, doing nothing in particular. hang around with someone to spend time doing nothing in par- ticular with someone. hang back (from someone or something ) to lag back behind someone or something; to stay back from someone or something, perhaps in avoidance. hang by a hair and hang by a thread to be in an uncertain posi- handicap 254 04 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 254 TLFeBOOK tion; to depend on something very insubstantial for support. hang by a thread Go to hang by a hair. hang fire to delay or wait; to be delayed. hang in the balance to be in an undecided state; to be between two equal possibilities. Hang on! Be prepared for fast or rough movement. hang on 1. to wait awhile. 2. to survive awhile. (Figurative.) 3. to linger or persist. hang on someone’s every word to listen carefully to everything someone says. hang on (to someone or some- thing ) and hold on (to someone or something ) 1. to grasp someone or something. 2. to keep someone or something. hang one’s hat up somewhere to take up residence somewhere. hang (out) Go to hang (around). hang out (with someone or some- thing ) to associate with someone or a group on a regular basis. hang someone in effigy to hang a dummy or some other figure of a hated person. hang together 1. [for something or a group of people] to hold together; to remain intact. 2. [for a story] to flow from element to element and make sense. 3. [for people] to spend time together. hang up 1. [for a machine or a computer] to grind to a halt; to stop because of some internal complication. 2. to replace the telephone receiver after a call. hangar ["hAN #] n. a large building where airplanes are stored and serviced. hanger ["hAN #] n. a wooden, metal, or plastic frame for sus- pending clothing inside a closet. happen ["hAp @n] iv. to occur; to take place. → can’t wait (for something to happen) happen to do something to do something by chance, without planning to do it; to have the good or bad fortune to do something. happen to someone or something to be done to someone or some- thing; to be experienced by some- one or something. happen (up)on someone or some- thing to find someone or some- thing, as if by accident. happiness ["hAp i n@s] n. being happy; being glad or joyful. (No plural.) happy ["hAp i] 1. adj. [of someone or some creature] feeling or show- ing joy or being in a good mood; [of someone] glad, pleased, or willing. (Adv: happily. Comp: hap- pier; sup: happiest.) 2. adj. causing joy; joyful. (Adv: happily. Comp: happier; sup: happiest.) → (as) happy as a clam → hit a happy medium → strike a happy medium harbor ["har b#] 1. n. a sheltered port where ships and boats can anchor safely. 2. tv. to keep some- thing in one’s mind, especially bad feelings toward someone. harbor 255 04 7/23/03 8:49 AM Page 255 TLFeBOOK . empty-handed → dirty one’s hands → do something by hand → eat out of someone’s hand → fold one’s hands → force someone’s hand → from hand to hand → get one’s hands dirty → get the upper hand. adj. use of Q or R. → be putty in someone’s hands → bite the hand that feeds one → bound hand and foot → by a show of hands → can’t see one’s hand in front of one’s face → close at hand → come. one’s hands → have something at hand → in hand → join hands → know someone or something like the back of one’s hand → know someone or something like the palm of one’s hand → live from hand