Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - give

 I. verb  (gave; ~n; giving)  Etymology: Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Swedish giva to ~; akin to Old English giefan, gifan to ~, and perhaps to Latin habere to have, hold  Date: 13th century  transitive verb  1. to make a present of ~ a doll to a child  2.  a. to grant or bestow by formal action the law ~s citizens the right to vote  b. to accord or yield to another gave him her confidence  3.  a. to put into the possession of another for his or her use gave me his phone number  b.  (1) to administer as a sacrament  (2) to administer as a medicine  c. to commit to another as a trust or responsibility and usually for an expressed reason  d. to transfer from one's authority or custody the sheriff gave the prisoner to the warden  e. to execute and deliver all employees must ~ bond  f. to convey to another ~ them my regards  4.  a. to offer to the action of another ; proffer gave her his hand  b. to yield (oneself) to a man in sexual intercourse  5.  a. to present in public performance ~ a concert  b. to present to view or observation gave the signal to start  6. to provide by way of entertainment ~ a party  7. to propose as a toast  8.  a. to designate as a share or portion ; allot all the earth to thee and to thy race I ~ — John Milton  b. to make assignment of (a name)  c. to set forth as an actual or hypothetical datum ~ the dimensions of the room  d. to attribute in thought or utterance ; ascribe gave the credit to you  9.  a. to yield as a product, consequence, or effect ; produce cows ~ milk 84 divided by 12 ~s 7  b. to bring forth ; bear  10.  a. to yield possession of by way of exchange ; pay  b. to dispose of for a price ; sell  11.  a. to deliver by some bodily action gave him a push  b. to carry out (as a bodily movement) gave a cynical smile  c. to inflict as punishment  d. to award by formal verdict judgment was ~n against the plaintiff  12. to offer for consideration, acceptance, or use ~s no reason for his absence  13.  a. to suffer the loss of ; sacrifice  b. to offer as appropriate or due especially to something higher or more worthy gave his spirit to God  c. to apply freely or fully ; devote gave themselves to their work  d. to offer as a pledge I ~ you my word  14.  a. to cause one to have or receive mountains always gave him pleasure  b. to cause a person to catch by contagion, infection, or exposure  15.  a. to allow one to have or take ~ me time  b. to lead or attempt to lead — used with an infinitive you gave me to understand you'd be late  16. to care to the extent of didn't ~ a hoot  intransitive verb  1. to make gifts or presents  2.  a. to yield to physical force or strain  b. to collapse from the application of force or pressure  c. to undergo or submit to change for the strike to be settled, something has to ~  3. to afford a view or passage ; open the window ~s onto the terrace  4. to enter wholeheartedly into an activity  5. slang to be happening wants to know what ~s Synonyms:  ~, present, donate, bestow, confer, afford mean to convey to another as a possession. ~ the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means ~ alms gave her a ride on a pony ~ my love to your mother. present carries a note of formality and ceremony present an award. donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity) donate a piano to the orphanage. bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the ~r bestow unwanted advice. confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor) confer an honorary degree. afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the ~r the trees afford shade a development that affords us some hope.  II. noun  Date: 1868  1. capacity or tendency to yield to force oR STRAIN ; FLEXIBILITY  2. the quality or state of being springy