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REFERENCE

gift

n. countable
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈɡɪft// UK //ɡˈɪft// gift General-service

n. something that you give to someone, usually for a special reason like a birthday. It is a way to show you care or to say thank you.

n. a thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present. Often used to describe a natural ability or talent in specific contexts.


SIMPLE

She gave me a beautiful gift for my birthday.

CONTEXTUAL

The charity received a generous gift from an anonymous donor to help build the new hospital wing.

COMPLEX

While the term often refers to physical objects, it can also describe an innate aptitude, such as a natural gift for languages or musical composition.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English gift (also yift, yifte, ȝift, ȝeft), partly from Old English ġift (“giving, consideration, dowry, wedding”) and Old Norse gipt (“gift, present, wedding”); both from Proto-Germanic *giftiz (“gift”). Equivalent to give + -t (etymologically yive + -t). Cognate with West Frisian jefte (“gift”), Saterland Frisian Gift (“gift”), German Low German Gift (“poison”), Dutch gift (“gift”) and its doublet gif (“poison”), German Gift (“poison”), Danish gift (“gift (obsolete); poison, venom”), Swedish gift (“gift, poison, venom”), Icelandic gift (“gift”). Doublet of yift. Distantly related to English habit, from Latin habitus.

Usage

Commonly used with the verbs 'give', 'receive', or 'present'.

Idioms10 entries

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