graft

[ graft, grahft ]

/ græft, grɑft /

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See synonyms for: graft / grafting / grafter on Thesaurus.com

noun

Horticulture.

a bud, shoot, or scion of a plant inserted in a groove, slit, or the like in a stem or stock of another plant in which it continues to grow.
the plant resulting from such an operation; the united stock and scion.
the place where the scion is inserted.

Surgery. a portion of living tissue surgically transplanted from one part of an individual to another, or from one individual to another, for its adhesion and growth.

an act of grafting.

verb (used with object)

to insert (a graft) into a tree or other plant; insert a scion of (one plant) into another plant.

to cause (a plant) to reproduce through grafting.

Surgery. to transplant (a portion of living tissue, as of skin or bone) as a graft.

to attach as if by grafting: an absurdity grafted onto an otherwise coherent body of thought.

Nautical. to cover (a rope) with a weaving of rope yarn.

verb (used without object)

to insert scions from one plant into another.

to become grafted.

OTHER WORDS FOR graft

4 transplant, join, adhere.

6 implant, transplant.

See synonyms for graft on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of graft

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

graft·er, noun

Words nearby graft

Graeffe method, Graf, Gräfenberg spot, graffiti, graffito, graft, graftage, grafter, graft hybrid, grafting, Grafton

Other definitions 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

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

OTHER WORDS FROM graft

graft·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use graft in a sentence

He led several high-profile investigations at USA Today, including stories surrounding the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, FBI agent and convicted spy Robert Hanssen, and allegations of bribery and graft among Olympic officials.
Edward T. Pound, tenacious ‘old-school’ investigative reporter, dies at 77|Matt Schudel|July 29, 2021|Washington Post
He shut down the investigation in February amid persistent allegations of graft against his own son.
Who Goes From President to Prisoner?|Daniel Malloy|March 2, 2021|Ozy
A third, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, is under pretrial detention over graft allegations.
Who Goes From President to Prisoner?|Daniel Malloy|March 2, 2021|Ozy
Maliga suspects the proto-plastids might contain or produce signaling molecules that help the graft wound heal.
Plant Cells of Different Species Can Swap Organelles|Viviane Callier|January 20, 2021|Quanta Magazine

“This is not what you would expect from a plant cell,” said Pal Maliga, a plant scientist at Rutgers University who has independently found genetic evidence for the transfers of chloroplasts and mitochondria inside grafts.
Plant Cells of Different Species Can Swap Organelles|Viviane Callier|January 20, 2021|Quanta Magazine
The old culture of the Party of Regions—its lack of transparency, the graft and the shady deal making—has returned.
East Ukraine: Back in the USSR|Jamie Dettmer|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And the military support groups' letter suggests that widespread graft has continued under its successors.
Corruption Eats Away at Ukraine Military|Charles McPhedran|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The country was ranked 144 of 177 nations surveyed by Transparency International in its 2013 graft perception index.
Corruption Eats Away at Ukraine Military|Charles McPhedran|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It's just typical political graft … It was a lot more about quantity than quality.
Did Christie Go Easy on a Human Trafficker Just to Bust a Small-Time Pol?|Olivia Nuzzi|March 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For most people, this is irrelevant; politics should be clean, regardless of the benefits of honest graft.
Mayor Gray’s ‘Uncle Earl’ Confession|Jamelle Bouie|March 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Those that are crying the loudest against the grafters are just waiting for a chance to graft good and hard themselves.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
Graft among British policemen is unknown and bribery altogether unheard of.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy
To carry out your metaphor of the tree, the graft cut from the parent stock must bear fruit for itself.
Alone|Marion Harland
The big graft in this neck-a woods is political, and the Red Tower gang is only set-a cogs in the bull-wheel.
The Wreckers|Francis Lynde
But I am determined that Hatch shall not be allowed to work his graft a second time upon the people who are trusting me.
The Wreckers|Francis Lynde

British Dictionary definitions for graft (1 of 2)

graft¹

/ (ɡrɑːft) /

noun

horticulture

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
the plant resulting from the union of scion and stock
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

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
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)

the acquisition of money, power, etc, by dishonest or unfair means, esp by taking advantage of a position of trust
something gained in this way, such as profit from government business
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

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.

Cultural definitions for graft

graft

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

graft

OTHER WORDS FOR graft

Origin of graft

OTHER WORDS FROM graft

Words nearby graft

Other definitions for graft (2 of 2)

Origin of graft

OTHER WORDS FROM graft

Words related to graft

How to use graft in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for graft (1 of 2)

Derived forms of graft

Word Origin for graft

British Dictionary definitions for graft (2 of 2)

Derived forms of graft

Word Origin for graft

Scientific definitions for graft

Cultural definitions for graft