- The definition of prize is something that has received an award, is worthy of an award or is the award.
An example of prize used as an adjective is in the phrase "prize check," which means a check given as an award.
- Prize is defined as something given to a winner of a contest, or something of value taken by force.
- An example of a prize is a gold trophy to a winner of a race.
- An example of a prize is a dictator who is captured by an opposing army.
- Prize means to place high value on.
An example of prize is to love a cherished gift from one's grandmother.
prize
transitive verb
prized, prizing- Obsolete to set a value upon; price
- to value highly; esteem
Origin of prize
Middle English pris: see pricenoun
- something offered or given to the winner of a contest
- something won in a game of chance, lottery, etc.
- a reward, premium, or the like
- anything worth striving for; any enviable or highly valued possession
- Archaic a contest or match
adjective
- that has received a prize: a prize novel
- worthy of a prize; first-rate
- given as a prize
noun
- Obsolete the act of capturing
- something taken by force; esp., a captured enemy ship and its cargo
- Dialectal
- a tool for prying; lever
- leverage
Origin of prize
Middle English prise, a taking hold ; from Old French a taking ; from feminine past participle of prendre, to take ; from Classical Latin prehendere: see prehensileprize
noun
- Something offered or won as an award for superiority or victory, as in a contest or competition.
- Something worth striving for; a highly desirable possession.
adjective
- Offered or given as a prize: a prize cup.
- Given a prize, or likely to win a prize: a prize cow.
- Worthy of a prize; first-class: our prize azaleas.
transitive verb
prized prized, priz·ing, priz·es- To value highly; esteem or treasure. See Synonyms at appreciate.
- To estimate the worth of; evaluate.
Origin of prize
Alteration of Middle English pris, value, price, reward; see price.
noun
Origin of prize
Alteration of Middle English prise, from Old French, from feminine past participle of prendre, from Latin prehendere, prēndere, to seize; see ghend- in Indo-European roots.also prise
transitive verb
prized prized, priz·ing, priz·es also prised or pris·ing or pris·esnoun
Origin of prize
From Middle English prise, instrument for prying, probably from prise, the taking of something; see prize2.prize
(plural prizes)
- That which is taken from another; something captured; a thing seized by force, stratagem, or superior power.
- (military, nautical) Anything captured by a belligerent using the rights of war; especially, property captured at sea in virtue of the rights of war, as a vessel.
- An honour or reward striven for in a competitive contest; anything offered to be competed for, or as an inducement to, or reward of, effort.
- That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery.
- Anything worth striving for; a valuable possession held or in prospect.
- A contest for a reward; competition.
- A lever; a pry; also, the hold of a lever. Also spelled prise.
Do not confuse with price.
From Middle English prise, from Old French prise (“a taking, capture, a seizure, a thing seized, a prize, booty, also hold, purchase”), from French prise, from pris, past participle of prendre (“to take, to capture”), from Latin prendere (“to take, seize”); see prehend. Compare prison, apprise, comprise, enterprise, purprise, reprisal, suprise, etc.
(third-person singular simple present prizes, present participle prizing, simple past and past participle prized)
From Middle English prysen, from Old French priser (“to set a price or value on, esteem, value”), from pris (“price”), from Latin pretium (“price, value”); see price. Compare praise, appraise, apprize.
