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- DictionaryGain/ɡān/
verb
- 1. obtain or secure (something desired, favorable, or profitable): "the process has gained the confidence of the industry"
- 2. increase the amount or rate of (something, typically weight or speed): "I have gained weight over the years"
noun
- 1. an increase in wealth or resources: "the mayor was accused of using municipal funds for personal gain"
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5 days ago · 1. (transitive) to acquire (something desirable ); obtain. 2. (transitive) to win in competition. to gain the victory. 3. to increase, improve, or advance. the car gained speed. the shares gained in value.
Definition of gain verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
GAIN definition: 1. to get something useful or positive: 2. to get an advantage or something valuable from…. Learn more.
1 [transitive] to obtain or win something, especially something that you need or want gain something to gain entrance/entry/access to something The country gained its independence ten years ago. The party gained over 50% of the vote. I gained insight into the work of a journalist.
- English
- Basque
- French
- Louisiana Creole
- Middle English
- Middle French
- Welsh
Pronunciation
1. enPR: gān, IPA(key): /ɡeɪn/ 2. Rhymes: -eɪn
Etymology 1
From Middle English gayn, gain, gein (“profit, advantage”), from Old Norse gagn (“benefit, advantage, use”), from Proto-Germanic *gagną, *gaganą (“gain, profit", literally "return”), from Proto-Germanic *gagana (“back, against, in return”), a reduplication of Proto-Germanic *ga- (“with, together”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm (“next to, at, with, along”). Cognate with Icelandic gagn (“gain, advantage, use”), Swedish gagn (“benefit, profit”), Danish gavn (“gain, profit, success”), Gothic 𐌲�...
Etymology 2
From dialectal English gen, gin, short for again, agen (“against”); also Middle English gain, gayn, gein, ȝæn (“against”), from Old English gēan, geġn (“against”). More at against.
Etymology
From Proto-Basque *gaiN, further etymology unknown.
Pronunciation
1. IPA(key): /ɡai̯n/ [ɡãĩ̯n] 2. Rhymes: -ai̯n 3. Hyphenation: gain
Noun
gain inan 1. upper part, top 1.1. Synonym: gainalde 2. summit 2.1. Synonym: tontor 3. cream (butterfat part of milk which rises to the top) 3.1. Synonyms: esne-gain, goien 4. (figurative) cream (the best part of something)
Etymology
Inherited from Middle French gain, from Old French gaaing, deverbal from the verb gaaignier (“to earn, gain, seize, conquer by force”) (whence Modern French gagner).
Pronunciation
1. IPA(key): /ɡɛ̃/
Noun
gain m (plural gains) 1. a gain (of something), an instance of saving (something); an increase (in something) 1.1. Antonym: perte 1.2. un gain de temps ― an increase in time 1.3. un gain de productivité ― an increase in productivity 2. (usually in the plural) winnings, earnings, takings 3. (finance) gain, yield
Etymology
From French gagner (“to gain”), compare Haitian Creole gen.
Verb
gain 1. to have
Etymology 1
From Old English ġeġn, gæġn, from Proto-West Germanic *gagin, from Proto-Germanic *gagin; also influenced by Old Norse gegn, from the same Proto-Germanic form. Doublet of gayn (“direct, fast, good, helpful”).
Noun
gain m (plural gains) 1. income (financial) 1.1. 15th century, Rustichello da Pisa (original author), Mazarine Master (scribe), The Travels of Marco Polo, page 19, line 16: 1.1.1. et donnoit chascun iour de son gaaing pour Dieu 1.1.1.1. and every day he gave away some of his income for God
References
1. gain on Dictionnaire du Moyen Français (1330–1500)(in French)
Pronunciation
1. IPA(key): /ɡai̯n/
Adjective
gain 1. Soft mutation of cain.
Definitions of 'gain' 1. If a person or place gains something such as an ability or quality, they gradually get more of it. [...] 2. If you gain from something such as an event or situation, you get some advantage or benefit from it. [...] 3. To gain something such as weight or speed means to have an increase in that particular thing. [...] More.
[countable, uncountable] an increase in the amount of something, especially in wealth or weight. The opposition made unexpected gains in the last election. There is still scope for efficiency gains. Regular exercise helps prevent weight gain. gain from something a £3 000 gain from our investment.
