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deliver

[dih-liv-er]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to carry and turn over (letters, goods, etc.) to the intended recipient or recipients: to deliver mail; to deliver a package.
  2. to give into another's possession or keeping; surrender: to deliver a prisoner to the police; to deliver a bond.
  3. to bring (votes) to the support of a candidate or a cause.
  4. to give forth in words; utter or pronounce: to deliver a verdict; to deliver a speech.
  5. to give forth or emit: The oil well delivers 500 barrels a day.
  6. to strike or throw: to deliver a blow.
  7. to set free or liberate: The Israelites were delivered from bondage.
  8. to release or save: Deliver me from such tiresome people!
  9. to assist (a female) in bringing forth young: The doctor delivered her of twins.
  10. to assist at the birth of: The doctor delivered the baby.
  11. to give birth to: She delivered twins at 4 a.m.
  12. to disburden (oneself) of thoughts, opinions, etc.
  13. to make known; assert.
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verb (used without object)
  1. to give birth.
  2. to provide a delivery service for goods and products: The store delivers free of charge.
  3. to do or carry out as promised: an ad agency known for delivering when a successful campaign is needed.
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adjective
  1. Archaic. agile; quick.
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Origin of deliver

1175–1225; Middle English delivren < Old French delivrer < Late Latin dēlīberāre to set free, equivalent to dē- de- + līberāre to liberate
Related formsde·liv·er·er, nounmis·de·liv·er, verb (used with object)out·de·liv·er, verb (used with object)pre·de·liv·er, verb (used with object)un·de·liv·ered, adjectivewell-de·liv·ered, adjective

Synonyms

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1. hand over, transfer, cede, yield. 4. communicate, announce, proclaim, publish. 7. emancipate, release. 8. redeem, rescue.

Antonyms

7. confine.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for deliver

deliver

verb (mainly tr)
  1. to carry (goods, etc) to a destination, esp to carry and distribute (goods, mail, etc) to several placesto deliver letters; our local butcher delivers
  2. (often foll by over or up) to hand over, transfer, or surrender
  3. (often foll by from) to release or rescue (from captivity, harm, corruption, etc)
  4. (also intr)
    1. to aid in the birth of (offspring)
    2. to give birth to (offspring)
    3. (usually foll by of)to aid or assist (a female) in the birth (of offspring)
    4. (passive foll by of)to give birth (to offspring)
  5. to utter or present (a speech, oration, idea, etc)
  6. deliver the goodsSee deliver (def. 11)
  7. to utter (an exclamation, noise, etc)to deliver a cry of exultation
  8. to discharge or release (something, such as a blow or shot) suddenly
  9. mainly US to cause (voters, constituencies, etc) to support a given candidate, cause, etccan you deliver the Bronx?
  10. deliver oneself of to speak with deliberation or at lengthto deliver oneself of a speech
  11. deliver the goods informal to produce or perform something promised or expected
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Derived Formsdeliverable, adjectivedeliverability, noundeliverer, noun

Word Origin

C13: from Old French delivrer, from Late Latin dēlīberāre to set free, from Latin de- + līberāre to free
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for deliver

v.

c.1200, "save, rescue, set free, liberate," from Old French delivrer "to set free; remove; save, preserve; hand over (goods)," also used of childbirth, from Late Latin deliberare, from de- "away" (see de-) + Latin liberare "to free" (see liberal (adj.)).

Childbirth sense in English, "to bring (a woman) to childbirth," is from c.1300. Sense of "hand over, give, give up, yield" is c.1300. in English, which brings it in opposition to its root. Meaning "project, throw" is 1590s. Related: Delivered; delivering.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
deliver in Medicine

deliver

(dĭ-lĭv′ər)
v.
  1. To assist a woman in giving birth to a baby.
  2. To extract something from an enclosed place, as a foreign body or a tumor.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Idioms and Phrases with deliver

deliver

In addition to the idiom beginning with deliver

  • deliver the goods

also see:

  • signed, sealed, and delivered
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.