give
- noun
- /ɡɪv/
- Informal
- Certain behaviors are regarded as characteristically Hawaiian: generosity, gift giving, humility, observing symmetry in exchange.
They have some give to them, but not a ton.
- They have some give to them, but not a ton.
- Leg injuries, there's less give and it's hot.
- It feels like freshly dried hair with a little bit of give and volume.
- There's just not all that much give and the suspension, it just feels pretty rough.
- He pulls out some give to your top at the beach.
Examples
-
A wide and varied scope of motivations for volunteering and giving was identified in this study.
Academic text (2008) -
The material has an ever so slight give to it, just a little bit of give.
-
There's a little give to them, but I like them.
-
They have declared their marriage by the giving of rings.
-
The rubber band has just the right amount of give to hold the papers together without snapping.
-
When I squeeze the sponge, I can feel a little give before it returns to its original shape.
-
The fabric is designed with a slight give, making it comfortable to wear all day long.
Synonyms
Ability to bend or change shape without breaking
The ability of a material to be pulled without breaking
Ability of a material to return to its original shape after being stretched or squashed
Being able to bend and move the body easily
A material that goes back to its original shape after being bent, stretched, or squeezed
The ability of something to go back to its shape after being pushed or pulled
A body part or material that returns to its shape after stretching
How easily a structure returns to its original shape after it is bent or stretched
The ability to bend or change shape without breaking
Ability of a material to be shaped into a curve without breaking
Idioms
- Informal
To stop someone from working at their job, usually because of bad work or behavior
- Informal
To respond equally strongly when someone attacks or criticizes you
- Informal
So generous that they would give almost everything to help others
- Offensive
A joking way to say someone is not good enough to do something as a job
- Informal
Allowing a small favor makes someone try to take much more than you wanted
- Archaic
To show you do not respect someone by putting your thumb to your nose and wiggling your fingers
- Informal
Allow someone freedom to show ability or make mistakes that reveal their true character
Tell someone angrily that you are upset with them
Compounds
- Jargon
A basketball move where a player passes the ball then runs toward the basket to get the ball back
How Flexible
Surface Forms
Etymology
Give as a noun comes from the idea of 'yielding' and means how much something will 'let go' or bend. So a cushion with a lot of give has more 'flexibility' or softness.