Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - give

I. [c red]USED WITH NOUNS DESCRIBING ACTIONS (gives, giving, gave, given) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. You can use give with nouns that refer to physical actions. The whole expression refers to the performing of the action. For example, She gave a smile means almost the same as ‘She smiled’. She stretched her arms out and gave a great yawn... He reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. VERB: no cont, V n, V n n 2. You use give to say that a person does something for another person. For example, if you give someone a lift, you take them somewhere in your car. I gave her a lift back out to her house... He was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation... Sophie asked her if she would like to come and give art lessons. VERB: V n n, V n n, V n 3. You use give with nouns that refer to information, opinions, or greetings to indicate that something is communicated. For example, if you give someone some news, you tell it to them. He gave no details... Would you like to give me your name?... He asked me to give his regards to all of you... He gave the cause of death as multiple injuries. VERB: V n, V n n, V n to n, V n as n 4. You use give to say how long you think something will last or how much you think something will be. A BBC poll gave the Labour Party a 12 per cent lead... VERB: V n n 5. People use give in expressions such as I don’t give a damn to show that they do not care about something. (INFORMAL) They don’t give a damn about the country. VERB: no cont, no passive, with brd-neg, V n c darkgreen]feelings 6. If someone or something gives you a particular idea or impression, it causes you to have that idea or impression. They gave me the impression that they were doing exactly what they wanted in life... The examiner’s final report does not give an accurate picture. VERB: V n n, V n 7. If someone or something gives you a particular physical or emotional feeling, it makes you experience it. He gave me a shock... It will give great pleasure to the many thousands of children who visit the hospital each year. VERB: V n n, V n to n, also V n 8. If you give a performance or speech, you perform or speak in public. Kotto gives a stupendous performance... I am sure you remember Mrs Butler who gave us such an interesting talk last year. VERB: V n, V n n 9. If you give something thought or attention, you think about it, concentrate on it, or deal with it. I’ve been giving it some thought... Priority will be given to those who apply early. VERB: V n n, V n to n/-ing 10. If you give a party or other social event, you organize it. That evening, I gave a dinner party for a few close friends. = have VERB: V n II. [c red]TRANSFERRING (gives, giving, gave, given) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. If you give someone something that you own or have bought, you provide them with it, so that they have it or can use it. They gave us T-shirts and stickers... He gave money to the World Health Organisation to help defeat smallpox... Americans are still giving to charity despite hard economic times. VERB: V n n, V n to n, V to n 2. If you give someone something that you are holding or that is near you, you pass it to them, so that they are then holding it. Give me that pencil... He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to him. VERB: V n n, V n to n 3. To give someone or something a particular power or right means to allow them to have it. ...a citizen’s charter giving rights to gays... The draft would give the president the power to appoint the central bank’s chairman. = grant VERB: V n to n, V n n III. [c red]OTHER USES, PHRASES, AND PHRASAL VERBS (gives, giving, gave, given) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. Please look at category 7 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword. 1. If something gives, it collapses or breaks under pressure. My knees gave under me. VERB: V 2. You say that you are given to understand or believe that something is the case when you do not want to say how you found out about it, or who told you. (FORMAL) We were given to understand that he was ill... V-PASSIVE: be V-ed to-inf c darkgreen]vagueness 3. see also given 4. You use give me to say that you would rather have one thing than another, especially when you have just mentioned the thing that you do not want. I’ve never had anything barbecued and I don’t want it. Give me a good roast dinner any day. PHRASE: PHR n 5. If you say that something requires give and take, you mean that people must compromise or co-operate for it to be successful. ...a happy relationship where there’s a lot of give and take. PHRASE 6. Give or take is used to indicate that an amount is approximate. For example, if you say that something is fifty years old, give or take a few years, you mean that it is approximately fifty years old. They grow to a height of 12 ins–give or take a couple of inches. PHRASE: PHR amount 7. to give the game away: see game to give notice: see notice to give rise to: see rise to give way: see way