graft

1
[ graft, grahft ]
/ græft, grɑft /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR graft ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

to insert scions from one plant into another.
to become grafted.

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Origin of graft

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; earlier graff, Middle English graffe, craffe, from Old French graife, greffe, graffe, from Late Latin graphium “hunting knife” (Latin: “stylus”), from Greek grapheîon “pencil, paint brush,”derivative of gráphein “to write”; so called from the resemblance of the point of a (cleft) graft to a stylus; English excrescent t as in against

OTHER WORDS FROM graft

grafter, noun

Words nearby graft

Graeffe method, Graf, Gräfenberg spot, graffiti, graffito, graft, graftage, graft hybrid, grafting, Grafton, graft-versus-host disease

Definition for graft (2 of 2)

graft2
[ graft, grahft ]
/ græft, grɑft /

noun

the acquisition of money, gain, or advantage by dishonest, unfair, or illegal means, especially through the abuse of one's position or influence in politics, business, etc.
a particular instance, method, or means of thus acquiring gain or advantage.
the gain or advantage acquired.
British Slang. work; labor.

verb (used with object)

to obtain by graft.

verb (used without object)

to practice graft.

Origin of graft

2
First recorded in 1855–60; perhaps special use of graft1

OTHER WORDS FROM graft

grafter, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to graft

corruption, bribe, implant, affix, propagate, shoot, splice, union, sprout, scion, slip, bud, jointure, hybridization, money, pay, share, thievery, juice, gain

Example sentences from the Web for graft

British Dictionary definitions for graft (1 of 2)

graft1
/ (ɡrɑːft) /

noun

horticulture
  1. a piece of plant tissue (the scion), normally a stem, that is made to unite with an established plant (the stock), which supports and nourishes it
  2. the plant resulting from the union of scion and stock
  3. the point of union between the scion and the stock
surgery a piece of tissue or an organ transplanted from a donor or from the patient's own body to an area of the body in need of the tissue
the act of joining one thing to another by or as if by grafting

verb

horticulture
  1. to induce (a plant or part of a plant) to unite with another part or (of a plant or part of a plant) to unite in this way
  2. to produce (fruit, flowers, etc) by this means or (of fruit, flowers, etc) to grow by this means
to transplant (tissue) or (of tissue) to be transplanted
to attach or incorporate or become attached or incorporatedto graft a happy ending onto a sad tale

Derived forms of graft

grafter, noungrafting, noun

Word Origin for graft

C15: from Old French graffe, from Medieval Latin graphium, from Latin: stylus, from Greek grapheion, from graphein to write

British Dictionary definitions for graft (2 of 2)

graft2
/ (ɡrɑːft) informal /

noun

work (esp in the phrase hard graft)
  1. the acquisition of money, power, etc, by dishonest or unfair means, esp by taking advantage of a position of trust
  2. something gained in this way, such as profit from government business
  3. a payment made to a person profiting by such a practice

verb

(intr) to work
to acquire by or practise graft

Derived forms of graft

grafter, noun

Word Origin for graft

C19: of uncertain origin
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

Medical definitions for graft

graft
[ grăft ]

v.

To transplant or implant tissue surgically into a body part to replace a damaged part or compensate for a defect.

n.

Material, especially living tissue or an organ, surgically attached to or inserted into a body part to replace a damaged part or compensate for a defect.
The procedure of implanting or transplanting such material.
The configuration or condition resulting from such a procedure.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for graft

graft
[ grăft ]

Noun

A shoot or bud of one plant that is inserted into or joined to the stem, branch, or root of another plant so that the two grow together as a single plant. Grafts are used to strengthen or repair plants, create dwarf trees, produce seedless fruit, and increase fruit yields without requiring plants to mature from seeds.
A piece of body tissue that is surgically removed and then transplanted or implanted to replace a damaged part or compensate for a defect. See also allograft autograft and xenograft.

Verb

To join a graft to another plant.
To transplant or implant a graft.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for graft

graft

In politics, the illegal acceptance of bribes by government officials.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.