ENGLISH
REFERENCE

gain

v. · n.
US //ˈɡeɪn// UK //ɡˈeɪn// gain
  1. 1 to acquire or obtain (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to get something that is useful or positive, such as information, experience, or an advantage.

    to obtain or acquire something desirable or advantageous. Transitive — takes a direct object.

    Example

    She hoped to gain some work experience during her summer internship.

    Example

    By volunteering at the local clinic, the medical student hoped to gain practical insights that textbooks alone could not provide.
  2. 2 to increase in amount (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to increase in a specific quality like weight, speed, or height.

    to increase in a particular measurement or quality. Often used with 'weight' or 'speed'.

    Example

    The car began to gain speed as it went down the hill.

    Example

    The patient began to gain weight steadily once the new nutritional plan was implemented by the hospital staff.
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  1. 3 to reach a place (v.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    to arrive at a destination, especially after a difficult journey.

    to reach or arrive at a destination through effort or progress.

    Example

    The climbers finally gained the summit just before the sun went down.

    Example

    After hours of struggling through the dense undergrowth, the explorers finally gained the crest of the ridge and saw the valley below.
  2. 4 to catch up (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to get closer to someone you are chasing or following.

    to narrow the distance between oneself and a person or thing being pursued. Usually used with the preposition 'on'.

    Example

    The police car was gaining on the stolen vehicle during the chase.

    Example

    Despite his late start, the lead runner noticed that the challenger was slowly gaining on him during the final lap.
    • fall behind
  3. 5 profit or advantage (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    an increase in wealth, power, or a similar advantage.

    an increase in wealth, assets, or advantage; often used in financial or political contexts.

    Example

    The company reported a significant gain in profits this year.

    Example

    The unexpected political gain in the northern territories shifted the balance of power within the coalition government.
  4. 6 signal increase (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Electronics

    the amount by which an electronic signal is made stronger.

    the ratio of output power or voltage to input power or voltage in an electronic system.

    Example

    You can adjust the gain on the microphone if the sound is too quiet.

    Example

    The engineer increased the gain on the amplifier to compensate for the signal loss over the long cable run.
  5. 7 woodworking notch (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Architecture

    a small cut or hole made in a piece of wood to hold another piece.

    a notch or mortise cut into a timber to receive the end of another beam or joist.

    Example

    The carpenter cut a gain into the post to support the crossbeam.

    Example

    The structural integrity of the floor depended on the precision of each gain cut into the primary girders.
Etymology 1

From Middle English gayn, gain, gein (“profit, advantage”), from Old Norse gagn (“benefit, advantage, use”), from Proto-Germanic gagną, gaganą (“gain, profit", literally "return”), from Proto-Germanic gagana (“back, against, in return”), a reduplication of Proto-Germanic ga- (“with, together”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm (“next to, at, with, along”). Cognate with Icelandic gagn (“gain, advantage, use”), Swedish gagn (“benefit, profit”), Danish gavn (“gain, profit, success”), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌲𐌴𐌹𐌲𐌰𐌽 (gageigan, “to gain, profit”), Old Norse gegn (“ready”), dialectal Swedish gen (“useful, noteful”), Latin cum (“with”); see gain-, again, against. Compare also Middle English gaynen, geinen (“to be of use, profit, avail”), Icelandic and Swedish gagna (“to avail, help”), Danish gavne (“to benefit”). The Middle English word was reinforced by Middle French gain (“gain, profit, advancement, cultivation”), from Old French gaaing, gaaigne, gaigne, a noun derivative of gaaignier, gaigner (“to till, earn, win”), from Frankish waiþanōn (“to pasture, graze, hunt for food”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic waiþiz, waiþō, waiþijō (“pasture, field, hunting ground”); compare Old High German weidōn, weidanōn (“to hunt, forage for food”) (Modern German Weide (“pasture”)), Old Norse veiða (“to catch, hunt”), Old English wǣþan (“to hunt, chase, pursue”). Related to wide.

Etymology 2

From dialectal English gen, gin, short for again, agen (“against”); also Middle English gain, gayn, gein, ȝæn (“against”), from Old English gēan, geġn (“against”). More at against.

Etymology 3

From Middle English gayn, gein, geyn (“straight, direct, short, fit, good”), from Old Norse gegn (“straight, direct, short, ready, serviceable, kindly”), from gegn (“opposite, against”, adverb) (whence gagna (“to go against, meet, suit, be meet”)); see above. Adverb from Middle English gayn, gayne (“fitly, quickly”), from the adjective.

Etymology 4

Compare Welsh gan (“a mortise”).

Idioms2 entries

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