Library / English Dictionary

GIFT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of giving

Synonyms:

gift; giving

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("gift" is a kind of...):

share-out; sharing (a distribution in shares)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gift"):

oblation; offering (the act of contributing to the funds of a church or charity)

bestowal; bestowment; conferment; conferral (the act of conferring an honor or presenting a gift)

accordance; accordance of rights (the act of granting rights)

endowment (the act of endowing with a permanent source of income)

charity (an activity or gift that benefits the public at large)

contribution; donation (act of giving in common with others for a common purpose especially to a charity)

alms-giving; almsgiving (making voluntary contributions to aid the poor)

Derivation:

gift (give as a present; make a gift of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Natural abilities or qualities

Synonyms:

endowment; gift; natural endowment; talent

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("gift" is a kind of...):

natural ability (ability that is inherited)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gift"):

raw talent (powerfully impressive talent)

flair; genius (a natural talent)

bent; hang; knack (a special way of doing something)

Derivation:

gift (give qualities or abilities to)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Something acquired without compensation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("gift" is a kind of...):

acquisition (something acquired)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "gift"):

gift horse (a gift (usually of inferior quality) that should be accepted uncritically)

giveaway (a gift of public land or resources for the private gain of a limited group)

freebee; freebie (something that is free (usually provided as part of a promotional scheme))

bestowal; bestowment (a gift that is bestowed or conferred)

lagniappe (a small gift (especially one given by a merchant to a customer who makes a purchase))

enrichment (a gift that significantly increases the recipient's wealth)

contribution; donation (a voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to some worthwhile cause)

present (something presented as a gift)

award; prize (something given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition or for winning a lottery)

aid; assistance; economic aid; economic assistance; financial aid; financial assistance (gift of money or other material help to support a person or cause)

largess; largesse (a gift or money given (as for service or out of benevolence); usually given ostentatiously)

bride price (money or property given (in some societies) by the bridegroom to the family of his bride)

dower; dowery; dowry; portion (money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage)

free lunch (something acquired without effort or payment or obligation)

devise ((law) a gift of real property by will)

bequest; legacy ((law) a gift of personal property by will)

Derivation:

gift (give as a present; make a gift of)

gift (give qualities or abilities to)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give as a present; make a gift of

Example:

What will you give her for her birthday?

Synonyms:

gift; give; present

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "gift"):

render; submit (make over as a return)

tender (offer or present for acceptance)

donate (give to a charity or good cause)

treat (provide with a gift or entertainment)

deed over; grant (transfer by deed)

cede; deliver; give up; surrender (relinquish possession or control over)

bequeath; leave; will (leave or give by will after one's death)

bung; fee; tip (give a tip or gratuity to in return for a service, beyond the compensation agreed on)

raffle; raffle off (dispose of in a lottery)

give away (make a gift of)

distribute; give out; hand out; pass out (give to several people)

dower; endow (furnish with an endowment)

regift (give a present that one has received to someone else)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Derivation:

gift (the act of giving)

gift (something acquired without compensation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Give qualities or abilities to

Synonyms:

empower; endow; endue; gift; indue; invest

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "gift" is one way to...):

enable (render capable or able for some task)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "gift"):

cover (invest with a large or excessive amount of something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody with something

Derivation:

gift (natural abilities or qualities)

gift (something acquired without compensation)

Credits

 Context examples: 

“You have a grand gift of silence, Watson,” said he.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I approached to take it: a welcome gift it was.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"This is an excellent monograph by my gifted friend, Ray Lankester!" said he.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Its being a gift of my brother's need not make the smallest difference in your accepting it, as I assure you it makes none in my willingness to part with it.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

The four travelers passed a sleepless night, each thinking of the gift Oz had promised to bestow on him.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

I did not even know, till I understood his design, that the living was vacant; nor had it ever occurred to me that he might have had such a living in his gift.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

No—I cannot call them gifts; but they are things that I have valued very much.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Modesty and a humble mind, said she, are the very first and rarest gifts in page or squire.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Yes—the late Mr. Darcy bequeathed me the next presentation of the best living in his gift.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

But he had not that supreme gift of the artist, the knowledge of when to stop.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)