Dictionary
out
Pronunciation: (out), [key]—
adv.
1. away from, or not in, the normal or usual place, position, state, etc.:
out of alphabetical order; to go out to dinner.
2. away from one's home, country, work, etc., as specified:
to go out of town.
3. in or into the outdoors:
to go out for a walk.
4. to a state of exhaustion, extinction, or depletion:
to pump a well out.
5. to the end or conclusion; to a final decision or resolution:
to say it all out.
6. to a point or state of extinction, nonexistence, etc.:
to blow out the candle; a practice on the way out.
7. in or into a state of neglect, disuse, etc.; not in current vogue or fashion:
That style has gone out.
8. so as not to be in the normal or proper position or state; out of joint:
His back went out after his fall.
9. in or into public notice or knowledge:
The truth is out at last.
10. seeking openly and energetically to do or have:
to be out for a good time.
11. not in present possession or use, as on loan:
The librarian said that the book was still out.
12. on strike:
The miners go out at midnight.
13. so as to project or extend:
to stretch out; stick your tongue out.
14. in or into activity, existence, or outward manifestation:
A rash came out on her arm.
15. from a specified source or material:
made out of scraps.
16. from a state of composure, satisfaction, or harmony:
to be put out over trifles.
17. in or into a state of confusion, vexation, dispute, variance, or unfriendliness:
to fall out about trifles.
18. so as to deprive or be deprived:
to be cheated out of one's money.
19. so as to use the last part of:
to run out of gas.
20. from a number, stock, or store:
to point out the errors.
21. aloud or loudly:
to cry out.
22. with completeness or effectiveness:
to fill out.
23. thoroughly; completely; entirely:
The children tired me out.
24. so as to obliterate or make undecipherable:
to cross out a misspelling; to ink out.
25. all out, with maximum effort; thoroughly or wholeheartedly:
They went all out to finish by Friday.
26. out and away, to a surpassing extent; far and away; by far:
It was out and away the best apple pie she had ever eaten.
27. out for, aggressively determined to acquire, achieve, etc.:
He's out for all the money he can get.
28. out from under, out of a difficult situation, esp. of debts or other obligations:
The work piled up while I was away and I don't know how I'll ever get out from under.
29. out of,
a. not within:
out of the house.
b. beyond the reach of:
The boat's passengers had sailed out of hearing.
c. not in a condition of:
out of danger.
d. so as to deprive or be deprived of.
e. from within or among:
Take the jokers out of the pack.
f. because of; owing to:
out of loyalty.
g. foaled by (a dam):
Grey Dancer out of Lady Grey.
30. out of it, Informal.
a. not part of or acceptable within an activity, social group, or fashion:
She felt out of it because none of her friends were at the party.
b. not conscious; drunk or heavily drugged.
c. not alert or clearheaded; confused; muddled.
d. eliminated from contention:
If our team loses two more games, we'll be out of it.
31. out of sight. See
sight (def. 19).
32. out of trim, Naut.(of a ship) drawing excessively at the bow or stern.
—
adj.
1. not at one's home or place of employment; absent:
I stopped by to visit you last night, but you were out.
2. not open to consideration; out of the question:
I wanted to go by plane, but all the flights are booked, so that's out.
3. wanting; lacking; without:
We had some but now we're out.
4. removed from or not in effective operation, play, a turn at bat, or the like, as in a game:
He's out for the season because of an injury.
5. no longer having or holding a job, public office, etc.; unemployed; disengaged (usually fol. by
of):
to be out of work.
6. inoperative; extinguished:
The elevator is out. Are the lights out?
7. finished; ended:
before the week is out.
8. not currently stylish, fashionable, or in vogue:
Fitted waistlines are out this season.
9. unconscious; senseless:
Two drinks and he's usually out.
10. not in power, authority, or the like:
a member of the out party.
11. Baseball.
a. (of a batter) not succeeding in getting on base:
He was out at first on an attempted bunt.
b. (of a base runner) not successful in an attempt to advance a base or bases:
He was out in attempting to steal second base.
12. beyond fixed or regular limits; out of bounds:
The ball was out.
13. having a pecuniary loss or expense to an indicated extent:
The company will be out millions of dollars if the new factory doesn't open on schedule.
14. incorrect or inaccurate:
His calculations are out.
15. not in practice; unskillful from lack of practice:
Your bow hand is out.
16. beyond the usual range, size, weight, etc. (often used in combination):
an outsize bed.
17. exposed; made bare, as by holes in one's clothing:
out at the knees.
18. at variance; at odds; unfriendly:
They are out with each other.
19. moving or directed outward; outgoing:
the out train.
20. not available, plentiful, etc.:
Mums are out till next fall.
21. external; exterior; outer.
22. located at a distance; outlying:
We sailed to six of the out islands.
23. Cricket.not having its innings:
the out side.
24. of or pertaining to the playing of the first nine holes of an 18-hole golf course (opposed to
in):
His out score on the second round was 33.
—
prep.
1. (used to indicate movement or direction from the inside to the outside of something):
He looked out the window. She ran out the door.
2. (used to indicate location):
The car is parked out back.
3. (used to indicate movement away from a central point):
Let's drive out the old parkway.
—
interj.
1. begone! away!
2. (used in radio communications to signify that the sender has finished the message and is not expecting or prepared to receive a reply.) Cf.
over (def. 61).
3. Archaic.(an exclamation of abhorrence, indignation, reproach, or grief (usually fol. by
upon):
Out upon you!
—
n.
1. a means of escape or excuse, as from a place, punishment, retribution, responsibility, etc.:
He always left himself an out.
2. a person who lacks status, power, or authority, esp. in relation to a particular group or situation.
3. Usually,
outs. persons not in office or political power (distinguished from
ins).
4. Baseball.a put-out.
5. (in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) a return or service that does not land within the in-bounds limits of a court or section of a court (opposed to
in).
6. something that is out, as a projecting corner.
7. Print.
a. the omission of a word or words.
b. the word or words omitted.
8. Northern Brit. Dial.an outing.
9. be on the or at outs with, Informal.to be estranged from (another person); be unfriendly or on bad terms with:
He is on the outs with his brother.
—
v.i.
1. to go or come out.
2. to become public, evident, known, etc.:
The truth will out.
3. to make known; tell; utter (fol. by
with):
Out with the truth!
—
v.t.
1. to eject or expel; discharge; oust.
2. to intentionally expose (a secret homosexual, esp. a public figure).
out-
a prefixal use of
out, adv., occurring in various senses in compounds (
outcast, outcome, outside), and serving also to form many transitive verbs denoting a going beyond, surpassing, or outdoing in the particular action indicated (
outbid, outdo, outgeneral, outlast, outstay, outrate).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
