Search results for 'what':

what adj, pronoun 1 used in questions, indirect questions and statements, identifying, or seeking to identify or classify, a thing or person • What street are we in? • Tell me what flowers these are • I've just realized what man you meant. 2 used in exclamations expressing surprise, sympathy or other emotions • What! You didn't pass? • What a fool! • What she has to put up with! 3 used as a relative pronoun or adjective: that or those which; whatever; anything that • It is just what I thought • They gave what money they could. 4 used to introduce a suggestion or new information • I know what - let's go to the zoo! 5 used to ask for a repetition or confirmation of something said • What? I didn't catch what you said. adverb used in questions, indirect questions and statements: to how great an extent or degree? • What does that matter? give someone what for colloq to scold or punish them. know what it is to know and understand what is involved in a particular action or experience; to have experienced or suffered it • He knows what it is to be bullied. know what's what colloq to know what really goes on or what counts, etc; to know the truth of the matter. so what? or what of it? colloq why is that important? what about ...? an expression used to make a suggestion or ask an opinion, etc • What about stopping for a drink first? what else? could anything else be the case? what ... for? for what reason ...? to what purpose ...? • What did you do that for? what have you colloq other such things; whatnot • CDs, records, tapes or what have you. what if ...? 1 what would it matter if ...? • What if she did leave for good? 2 what would happen if ...? • What if he doesn't come back? what is more or what's more more to the point ...; in addition ... • They came, and what's more, they stayed all evening. what ... like? a request for a description or opinion on someone or something • What does he look like? • What was the theatre like? what next? often said in despair: what is to be done next? what will happen next? what now? 1 what can be done now? what other options are there? 2 what is the meaning of this latest interruption? what is wrong now? what of ...? 1 what comes or follows from ...? 2 what is the news of ...? what of it? see so what? above. what the hell an expression of indifference or abandoned caution • Oh what the hell, I'll buy both of them. what then? what would be the consequence? what's new? colloq 1 tell me the latest news. 2 there's nothing new about that! • She's drunk again. So what's new! what's up? what's the matter? is something wrong? what's with ...? colloq what's the matter with ...? what with because of ...; taking account of ... • We were exhausted, what with the delays and everything.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon hwæt.