ɡreɪt adj. & n. --adj. 1 a of a size,
amount,
extent, or
intensity considerably
above the normal or
average;
big (made a great
hole;
take great
care; lived to a great age). b
also with implied
surprise,
admiration,
contempt,
etc.,
esp. in exclamations (you great idiot!; great stuff!;
look at
that great wasp). c reinforcing
other words denoting size,
quantity, etc. (a great big hole; a great many). 2
important,
pre-eminent;
worthy or
most worthy of
consideration (the great
thing is
not to
get caught). 3
grand,
imposing (a great
occasion; the great hall). 4 a (esp. of a
public or
historic figure)
distinguished;
prominent. b (the Great) as a
title denoting the most important of the
name (Alfred the Great). 5 a (of a person)
remarkable in
ability,
character,
achievement, etc. (great
men; a great thinker). b (of a thing)
outstanding of
its kind (the Great Fire). 6 (foll. by
at, on)
competent,
skilled, well-informed. 7
fully deserving the name
of;
doing a thing habitually or extensively (a great
reader; a great
believer in
tolerance; not a great
one for travelling). 8 (also greater) the larger of the name,
species, etc. (great
auk; greater celandine). 9 (Greater) (of a
city etc.) including
adjacent urban areas (Greater Manchester). 10 colloq. a
very enjoyable or
satisfactory;
attractive, fine (had a great
time; it
would be great if we won). b (as an exclam.) fine, very
good. 11 (in comb.) (in names of
family relationships) denoting one
degree further removed upwards or downwards (great-uncle; great-great-grandmother). --n. 1 a great or outstanding
person or thing. 2 (in pl.) (Greats) colloq. (at Oxford University) an honours
course or
final examinations in classics
and philosophy. øgreat and
small all classes or types. the Great Bear see
BEAR(2). Great Britain England, Wales, and Scotland. great
circle see CIRCLE. Great
Dane see DANE. great deal see
DEAL(1). great-hearted
magnanimous; having a
noble or
generous mind. great-heartedness magnanimity. the great
majority by
far the most. great
northern diver a diving
sea bird, Gavia immer, of the northern
hemisphere. great
organ the
chief manual in a
large organ, with its
related pipes and
mechanism. Great
Russian n. a
member or the
language of the
principal ethnic group in the
USSR; Russian. --adj. of or relating to
this people or language. great tit a
Eurasian songbird, Parus
major, with
black and
white head markings. great
toe the big toe. Great
War the
world war of 1914-18. to a great extent
largely. øøgreatness n. [OE great f. WG]
