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grant¹ /gra:nt||grænt/ v [T] 1 fml to agree to fulfil or allow to be fulfilled: They granted her request. | At last my wish was granted. (=what I wished for happened) 2 fml to give, especially as a favour: In response to the lawyer's appeals, the Home Secretary granted a free pardon. | [+obji)+obj(d)] The country was granted its independence in 1961. | They have been granted permission to pull down the old theatre. 3 to admit the truth of (something) to (someone): I had to grant the logic of his argument. | [+obj(+that)] I grant you (that) the government isn't very popular at the moment, but I still think it will win the next election. 4 granted yes (but): 'We were very successful last year.' 'Granted. But can we do it again this year?' 5 granted that (in an argument) even though; even supposing that: Granted that he should send money to help with the bills, it doesn't mean he will. 6 take something/someone for granted: a) to accept a fact or situation without questioning its rightness: I took it for granted that you'd want to come with us, so I bought you a ticket. b) to treat someone or something with too little attention or concern; not recognize the true value of: He's so busy with his job that he takes his family for granted.
grant² n money given especially by the state for a particular purpose, such as to a university or to a student during a period of study: She finds it difficult to live on her grant. | We got a home improvement grant (=money to spend on improving our house) from the local council.
Grant, Ca·ry /'kæril'kæri/ (1904–86) a US film actor, who was born in the UK. He is known for being very good-looking and for appearing as characters who are confident, amusing, and relaxed, in humorous films such as Bringing Up Baby (1938), His Girl Friday (1940), and The Philadelphia Story (1940). → see colour photo on page A32
Grant, Hugh /hju:/ (1960–) a British film actor who usually appears as a typical UPPER-CLASS ENGLISHMAN in films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually.
Grant, Ulysses S. (1822–85) a US army leader who commanded the army of the Union (=the northern US states) during the American CIVIL WAR. His military victories, especially the one at Appomattox against General Robert E. LEE, helped the Union to win the war. He was US President from 1869 to 1877.
grant-aided 'school n AIDED SCHOOL
grant-in-'aid n pl. grants-in-aid AmE 1 an amount of money from taxes given by the national government to state or city governments for a specific purpose 2 an amount of money given to support a student, artist, or organization by a government or a CHARITY
'grant-maintained ,school n a British state school controlled by its governors and headteacher and not by the local education authority
gran·u·lar /'grænjʊlə/ adj made of, full of, or covered with granules
gran·u·lat·ed /'grænjʊleɪtɪd/ adj (of white sugar) in the form of not very fine powder → compare CASTER SUGAR
gran·ule /'grænjʊl/ n a small bit like a fine grain: a granule of sugar | instant coffee granules
grape /greɪp/ n a small round juicy fruit usually either green (called 'white') or dark purple (called 'black'), which grows on a VINE and is used for making wine: a bunch of grapes → see also SOUR GRAPES and see picture at FRUIT
grape·fruit /'greɪpfruːt/ n pl. grapefruit or grapefruits a round yellow fruit with a thick skin, like a very large orange but with a more acid taste
grape·shot /'greɪpʃɒt||-ʃɑːt/ n [U] small iron balls fired together in a mass from large guns in former times
Grapes of 'Wrath, The (1939) a novel by John STEINBECK which describes how a family called Joad had to leave their farm in the DUST BOWL in the US state of Oklahoma during the GREAT DEPRESSION of the 1930s, and the difficulties they had in moving to California and trying to work on farms there. The book was made into a successful film in 1940.
grape·vine /'greɪpvaɪn/ n 1 [the S] an unofficial way of spreading news: I heard about your success on/through the office grapevine. 2 [C] rare a climbing plant that bears grapes; VINE
graph /græf, grɑ:f||græf/ n a planned drawing, such as a curved line, which shows how (usually two) different values are related to each other: This graph shows how the number of road accidents has increased over the last ten years. → see picture at CHART
graph·ic /'græfɪk/ adj 1 giving a clear and detailed description or lifelike picture, especially in words, sometimes more detailed than necessary or than one would like; VIVID: The newspaper article gave a graphic description of the earthquake. | Spare me (=don't tell me) all the graphic details! 2 [A no comp.] concerned with or including drawing, printing, LETTERING etc: The graphic arts include calligraphy and lithography.
graphic² n [usually pl.] a drawing or similar representation of an object: The graphics on the package suggest a high-tech product. → see also COMPUTER GRAPHICS
graph·i·cal·ly /'græfɪkli/ adv 1 in a graphic manner: She described the events so graphically that I could almost see them. 2 fml by means of a graph: It is easier to represent these statistics graphically than to describe them in words.
graphic de'sign n [U] the art of combining pictures, words, and decoration in the making of books, magazines, advertisements etc → -er n
graphic novel n a NOVEL (=long written story) in which the story is told in a series of pictures drawn inside boxes like in a COMIC
'graphics ,card also 'graphics a,dapter n a CIRCUIT BOARD that connects to a computer and allows the computer to show video images on its screen
graph·ite /'græfaɪt/ n [U] a black substance which is a kind of CARBON and is used for the writing material in the middle of pencils (when it is usually called 'lead') and also in paints, oil for machines, and electrical equipment
gra·phol·o·gy /græ'fɒlədʒi||-'fɑː/ n [U] the study of handwriting as a guide to character → -gist n
'graph ,paper n [U] paper with squares marked on it, on which GRAPHS can be easily measured out and drawn
grap·ple /'græpl/ v
grapple with sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] 1 to take hold of and struggle with: She grappled with the bank robber, but was thrown to the ground. 2 to work hard to deal with something difficult: Don't interrupt John; he's grappling with the accounts.
'grappling ,iron also 'grappling ,hook n an iron instrument with several hooks, which when tied to a rope can be used for holding a boat still, for searching for an object on the bottom of a river or lake, or (formerly) for pulling an enemy's boat close to one's own
Gras·mere /'græsmɪə||'græs-/ a lake and village in the LAKE DISTRICT in northwest England. The poet William WORDSWORTH lived there from 1799 to 1808, and many tourists visit his home, Dove Cottage.
grasp¹ /gra:sp||græsp/ v [T] 1 to take or keep a firm hold of, especially with the hands: Grasp the rope with both hands. 2 to succeed in understanding: I think I grasped the main points of the speech. | They failed to grasp the full significance of these events. 3 to try or be eager to take: to grasp an opportunity 4 grasp the nettle to deal firmly with an unpleasant job or subject → see CLASP² (USAGE)
grasp at sthg. phr v [T] to reach for; try to take or hold: (fig.) He grasped at the first flimsy excuse that came to his mind.
grasp² n [S] 1 a firm hold with the hands or arms: I kept her hand in my grasp. | The kitten wriggled out of my grasp. 2 one's power or ability to reach or gain something: Success is within our grasp. 3 one's power or ability to understand something: This work is beyond my grasp. | She seems to have a good grasp of the subject. 4 especially lit control or power: in the grasp of wicked men
grasp·ing /'gra:spɪŋ||'græs-/ adj derog eager for more, especially more money, and often ready to use unfair or dishonest methods: Don't let those grasping taxi drivers overcharge you.
grass¹ /gra:s||græs/ n 1 [U] various kinds of common low-growing green plant whose blades and stems are eaten by sheep, cows etc, on hills and in fields 2 [U] land covered by grass: Don't walk on the grass. I'm just going to cut the grass. (= LAWN) 3 [C usually pl.;U] any of various green plants with