| 1 |
[ adjective ] relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
Examples "a great juicy steak" "a great multitude" "the great auk" "a great old oak" "a great ocean liner" "a great delay" Used in print ("Editorials"...)The flood is not as great - only 700 a week according_to one apparently conservative account - but it is symptomatic . (Schubert Ogden, Christ Without Myth....)Nor is it necessary to look_for such evidence in the great urban_centers of our culture that are admittedly almost entirely secularized and so profoundly estranged from the conventional forms in which the gospel has been communicated . To_be_sure , when this is pointed_out , a common response among certain churchmen is to fulminate about `` the little flock '' and `` the great crowd '' and to take solace from Paul 's castigation of the `` wisdom of the wise '' in the opening chapter of First_Corinthians . (Organic Gardening and Farming,...)Pansies are supposed to like it cool , but those great velvety flowers were healthy and perky in the glaring sun . It has a great many assets to recommend it and if you have n't made avocado a part of your diet yet , you really should . Related terms |
| 2 |
[ adjective ] more than usual
Examples "great expectations" "great worry" Used in print (The Atlanta Constitution...)However , the jury said it believes `` these two offices should be combined to achieve greater efficiency and reduce the cost of administration '' . (The Times-Picayune, [New Orleans]...)Though it was a great relief when the big brains on these shows turned_out to be frauds and phonies , it did irreparable damage to the ego of the editor and many_another intelligent , well-informed American . (The Christian Science Monitor,...)And to an industry that prides itself on authenticity , he urged greater realism . (Edward E. Kelly, S.J., "Christian Unity in England"...)The Protestants themselves are the first to admit the great falling_off in effective membership in their churches . The English saints are widely venerated , quite naturally , and now there is great hope that the Forty_Martyrs and Cardinal_Newman will soon be canonized . Related terms |
| 3 |
[ adjective ] (used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
Synonyms Examples "our distinguished professor" "an eminent scholar" "a great statesman" Used in print (Musical America, LXXXI:5...)Thus in Prokofieff the Union_of_Soviet_Socialist_Republics produced one of the great composers of the Twentieth Century . (R. F. Shaw, "The `Private Eye`"...)A brief list of the great detective 's little idiosyncrasies would provide Dr._Freud with ample food_for_thought . The great detective modestly agrees . Linked to Holmes even in death , Moriarty represents the alter-ego of the great detective , the image of_what our hero might have become were he not a public servant . (William C. Smith, "Why Fear Ideas?"...)We scour literature for them ; here we find stored the wisdom of great minds . Related terms |
| 4 |
[ adjective ] of major significance or importance
Synonyms Examples "a great work of art" "Einstein was one of the outstanding figures of the 20th century" Used in print (John R. Sargent, "Where To Aim Your Planning for Bigger...)Companies of all types have made great advances in production capabilities and efficiencies - in modern equipment and new processes , enlarged R_+_D facilities , faster new product development . (Sports Age, 24:9...)But with all the changes in philosophy , dress and terrain - a_few things remain constant , including the devotion of Americans to the great field_sports , hunting and fishing . (James Boylan, "Mutinity"...)These questions have remained one of the great sea mysteries of_all_time . Second , they believed it important to determine the fate of the captain - a man whose name is permanently stamped on our maps , on American towns and counties , on a great American river , and on half a_million square_miles of Arctic seas . (Randall Stewart, "A Little History, a Little Honesty: A...)How did it happen , for_example , that the state university , that great symbol of American democracy , failed to flourish in New_England as it did in other parts of the country ? Related terms |
| 5 |
[ adjective ] remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree or magnitude or effect
Examples "a great crisis" "had a great stake in the outcome" Used in print (William G. Pollard, Physicist and Christian....)`` Since 1692 a great but superficial change has wiped_out God 's beard and the Devil 's horns , but the world is still gripped between two diametrically opposed absolutes . (Philip Jos‚ Farmer, The Lovers....)In his great and glorious wisdom , he knew that our enemies the Israelites must not be able to read therein what we planned '' . Related terms |
| 6 |
[ adjective ] (informal) very good
Examples "a bully pulpit" "a neat sports car" "had a great time at the party" "you look simply smashing" Used in print (St. Louis Post-Dispatch,...)Friend is off to a great start with a 4 - 0 record but is n't likely to see action here this week . Benington said , `` I 've never seen a player have a game as great as Mankowski did against Bradley that day '' . (The Providence Journal...)LaGuardia 's multi lingual rallies , when he is running for Congress , are well staged , and wind_up in a wild Jewish folk-dance that is really great musical_theater . (Mr. America, 4:6...)Well , sir , they did real great ! Related terms |
| 7 |
[ adjective ] marked by active interest and enthusiasm
Examples "an avid sports fan" "a great walker" "an eager beaver" Related terms |
| 8 | |
| 9 | |
| * |
|