boast

The definition of boast means to brag about oneself or have something.

(verb)

An example of boast is a sales person gloating about how many sales they made in a month.

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See boast in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to do preliminary shaping on (sculpture, stonework, etc.) with a broad chisel

Origin: < ?

intransitive verb

  1. to talk proudly about deeds, abilities, etc., either one's own or those of someone close to one, esp. in a manner showing too much pride and satisfaction; brag
  2. Archaic to be vainly proud; exult

Origin: ME bosten < bost, n. < Anglo-Fr; prob. via Gmc *bausia- (cf. Norw baus, bold, haughty), ult. < IE *bhōu-, var. of base *bheu-, to grow, swell > be

transitive verb

  1. to boast about
  2. to glory in having or doing (something); be proud of: the town boasts a fine new library

noun

  1. the act of one who boasts
  2. anything boasted of

Related Forms:

See boast in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb boast·ed, boast·ing, boasts
verb, intransitive
To glorify oneself in speech; talk in a self-admiring way.
verb, transitive
  1. To speak of with excessive pride.
  2. To possess or own (a desirable feature): [the] capital of a region in the southeast that boasts bountiful coal fields” (US Air).
  3. To contain; have.
noun
  1. The act or an instance of bragging.
  2. A source of pride.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English bosten

Origin: , from bost, a brag

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Related Forms:

  • boastˈer noun
  • boastˈful adjective
  • boastˈful·ly adverb
  • boastˈful·ness noun
Usage Note: Some have objected to the use of boast as a transitive verb meaning “to possess or own (a desirable feature),” as in This network boasts an audience with a greater concentration of professionals and managers than any other broadcast vehicle. This usage is by now well established, however, and is acceptable to 62 percent of the Usage Panel.

transitive verb boast·ed, boast·ing, boasts
To shape or form (stone) roughly with a broad chisel.

Origin:

Origin: Origin unknown

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