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gerund

The definition of a gerund is a grammar term used to describe a verb that acts like a noun.

(noun)

An example of a gerund is the word "skiing" in the sentence "Skiing is something I like to do," since "skiing" is the thing you like doing and not the action of the sentence.

See gerund in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

in Latin, a verbal noun in the singular of all cases but the nominative, used to indicate continuing or generalized action (Ex.: probandi in onus probandi, “the burden of proving”)
in other languages, any of various forms analogous of this; specif., an English verbal noun ending in -ing that has all the uses of the noun but retains certain syntactic characteristics of the verb, such as the ability to take an object or an adverbial modifier (Ex.: playing in “Playing golf is his only exercise”)

Origin: LL gerundium < L gerundus, ger. of gerere, to do, carry out

Related Forms:

gerundial adjective

See gerund in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

In Latin, a noun derived from a verb and having all case forms except the nominative.
In other languages, a verbal noun analogous to the Latin gerund, such as the English form ending in -ing when used as a noun, as in singing in We admired the choir's singing.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin gerundium

Origin: , from alteration (modeled on participium, participle)

Origin: of Latin gerundum

Origin: , variant of gerendum

Origin: , neuter gerundive of gerere, to carry on

Related Forms: