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put

put definition

put (po̵ot)

transitive verb put, putting put′·ting

1. to drive or send by a blow, shot, or thrust to put a bullet in a target
2. to propel with an overhand thrust from the shoulder to put the shot
1. to make do something to put a dog through its tricks
2. to force put an army to flight
to cause to be in a certain position or place; place; set put the box here
1. to cause to be in a specified condition, situation, relation, etc. put her at ease
2. to make undergo; subject put it to a trial
to impose put a tax on luxuries
1. to bring to bear (on); apply (to) to put one's mind on one's work
2. to bring in or add; introduce; inject to put life into a party
3. to bring about; effect to put a stop to cheating
to attribute; assign; ascribe to put the blame where it belongs
to express; state put it in plain language
to translate
to present for consideration, decision, etc. to put the question
1. to estimate as being: with at to put the cost at $50
2. to fix or set (a price, value, etc.) on
to adapt or fit (words) to music
1. to bet (money) on
2. to invest (money) in or into

Etymology: ME putten < or akin to OE potian, to push: mod. senses prob. < Scand, as in Dan putte, Swed dial. putta, to put away, push, akin to OE pyttan, to sting, goad

intransitive verb

to take one's course; move; go (in, out, back, etc.)

noun

a cast or thrust; esp., the act of putting the shot
an option to sell a given quantity of a stock, commodity, etc. at a specified price and within a specified time: puts are purchased in anticipation of, or to protect against, a decline in the price of the stock, commodity, etc.

adjective

Informal immovable; fixed stay put

put Idioms

put about

to change the course of (a sailing vessel) to another tack
to move in another direction

put across

Informal

☆ to cause to be understood or accepted
to carry out with success
to carry out by trickery

put ahead

to reset the hands of (a clock) to a later time

put aside

or put by

to reserve for later use
to give up; discard

put away

put aside
Informal to consign to a jail, mental hospital, etc.
Informal to consume (food or drink)
to kill (a pet) to prevent suffering

put back

to replace
to reset the hands of (a clock) to an earlier time
☆ to demote (a pupil)

put down

1. to crush; repress; squelch
2. to deprive of authority, power, or position; degrade
to write down; record
to attribute (to)
to consider as; classify
to land or make a landing in an aircraft
put away (sense ) (see phrase above)
☆ Slang to belittle, reject, criticize, or humiliate

put forth

to grow (leaves, shoots, etc.)
to bring into action; exert
to propose; offer
to bring out; publish; circulate
to leave a port

put forward

to advance or present (a plan, etc.)

put in

to enter a port or harbor
to enter (a claim, request, etc.)
to interpose; insert
Informal to spend (time) in a specified manner

put in for

to request or apply for

put it on

Slang to make a pretentious show; pretend or exaggerate

put it over on

☆

Informal to deceive; trick

put it there!

☆

Slang shake hands with me: an expression of agreement, reconciliation, etc.

put off

to leave until later; postpone; delay
to discard
to evade; divert
to perturb; upset; distress

put on

to clothe, adorn, or cover oneself with
to take on; add to put on a few pounds
to assume or pretend
to apply (a brake, etc.)
to stage (a play)
☆ Slang to fool (someone) by playing on the person's credulity; hoax

put on to

☆

to inform (someone) about (something)

put out

to expel; dismiss
to extinguish (a fire or light)
☆ to spend (money)
to disconcert; confuse
to distress; ruffle; vex
to inconvenience
1. to publish
2. to produce and distribute
3. to supply, offer, or display
Slang to engage in sexual intercourse, often promiscuously: usually said of a woman
Baseball to cause (a batter or runner) to be out by a fielding play

put over

to postpone; delay
☆ Informal put across

put paid to

Brit. to put an end to; terminate

put something over on

☆

Informal to deceive; trick

put through

☆ to perform successfully; carry out
to cause to do or undergo
to connect (someone) by telephone with someone else

put to it

to place in a difficult situation; press hard

put up

to offer, as for consideration, decision, auction, etc.
to offer as a candidate
to preserve or can (fruits, vegetables, etc.)
to erect; build
to lodge, or provide lodgings for
☆
1. to advance or provide (money)
2. Slang to do or produce what is needed or wanted
to arrange (the hair) with curlers, bobby pins, etc.
to carry on to put up a struggle
Informal to incite (a person) to some action
to sheathe (one's sword)