Meaning of grave in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  3. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions
  4. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    US accent

    UK accent

  1. Verb

    grave

    Etymology

    Old English grafan ‘dig’, of Germanic origin; related to German graben, Dutch graven‘dig’ and German begraben‘bury’, also to grave and groove

    Definitions

    1. shape (a material like stone or wood) by whittling away at it

    Examples

    • « She is sculpting the block of marble into an image of her husband »

    Derived terms

  2. 2. carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface

    Examples

    • « engrave a pen »
    • « engraved the winner's name onto the trophy cup »

    Derived terms

  3. Classifying Adjective

    grave

    Definitions

    1. dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises

    Examples

    • « a grave God-fearing man »
    • « a quiet sedate nature »
    • « as sober as a judge »
    • « a solemn promise »
    • « the judge was solemn as he pronounced sentence »

    Synonyms

  4. 2. causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm

    Examples

    • « a dangerous operation »
    • « a grave situation »
    • « a grave illness »
    • « grievous bodily harm »
    • « a serious wound »
    • « a serious turn of events »
    • « a severe case of pneumonia »
    • « a life-threatening disease »

    Synonyms

  5. 3. of great gravity or crucial import

    Examples

    • « requiring serious thought »
    • « grave responsibilities »
    • « faced a grave decision in a time of crisis »
    • « a grievous fault »
    • « heavy matters of state »
    • « the weighty matters to be discussed at the peace conference »

    Synonyms

  6. Noun

    grave

    Etymology

    Old English græf, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch graf and German Grab

    Definitions

    1. death of a person

    Examples

    • « he went to his grave without forgiving me »
    • « from cradle to grave »
  7. 2. a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)

    Examples

    • « he put flowers on his mother's grave »
  8. 3. a mark (`) placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation

Famous quotes

  • « Marriage is the grave or tomb of wit. »
    Margaret Cavendish
  • « With respect to the first of these obstacles, it has often been made a matter of grave complaint against Political Economists, that they confine their attention to Wealth, and disregard all consideration of Happiness or Virtue. »
    Nassau William Senior
  • « I always figure from the cradle to the grave, we all have our individual journeys, and maybe my journey was a positive one and I accomplished certain things without stepping on too many toes. »
    Robert Duvall
  • « I think we have grave problems. I am very much concerned about environmental questions, even though in Finnish society, we are not facing the most urgent problems. »
    Harri Holkeri
  • « He whose head is in heaven need not fear to put his feet into the grave. »
    Matthew Henry

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