4 N‑UNCOUNT Grace is used in expressions such as a day's grace and a month's grace to say that you are allowed that amount of extra time before you have to finish something. □ She wanted a couple of days' grace to get the maisonette cleaned before she moved in. □ We have only a few hours' grace before the soldiers come.
5 VERB If you say that something graces a place or a person, you mean that it makes them more attractive. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He went to the beautiful old Welsh dresser that graced this homely room. □ [be V -ed + with/by ] Her shoulders were graced with mink and her fingers sparkled with diamonds.
6 N‑UNCOUNT In Christianity and some other religions, grace is the kindness that God shows to people because he loves them. □ [+ of ] It was only by the grace of God that no one died.
7 N‑VAR When someone says grace before or after a meal, they say a prayer in which they thank God for the food and ask Him to bless it. □ Leo, will you say grace?
8 N‑COUNT ; N‑PROPER You use expressions such as Your Grace and His Grace when you are addressing or referring to a duke, duchess, or archbishop. □ Your Grace, I have a great favour to ask of you.
9 → see also coup de grace , saving grace
10 PHRASE If someone falls from grace , they suddenly stop being successful or popular. [mainly WRITTEN ] □ All went well at first, and I was in high favour; but presently I fell from grace.
11 PHRASE If someone has the good grace to do something, they are polite enough or honest enough to do it. [APPROVAL ] □ He did not even have the grace to apologise. □ Many of us do stupid things in our youth, but we should have the good grace to admit them.
12 PHRASE If you do something unpleasant with good grace or with a good grace , you do it cheerfully and without complaining. If you do something with bad grace or with a bad grace , you do it unwillingly and without enthusiasm. □ He accepted the decision with good grace, and wished me the very best of luck. □ With appallingly bad grace I packed up and we drove north.
grace|ful /gre I sfʊl/
1 ADJ Someone or something that is graceful moves in a smooth and controlled way which is attractive to watch. □ His movements were so graceful they seemed effortless. □ …graceful ballerinas. ● grace|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ She stepped gracefully onto the stage.
2 ADJ Something that is graceful is attractive because it has a pleasing shape or style. □ His handwriting, from earliest young manhood, was flowing and graceful. ● grace|ful|ly ADV [ADV adj/-ed] □ She loved the gracefully high ceiling, with its white-painted cornice.
3 ADJ If a person's behaviour is graceful , it is polite, kind, and pleasant, especially in a difficult situation. □ Aubrey could think of no graceful way to escape Corbet's company. □ He was charming, cheerful, and graceful under pressure. ● grace|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ We managed to decline gracefully.
grace|less /gre I sləs/
1 ADJ Something that is graceless is unattractive and not at all interesting or charming. □ It was a massive, graceless house.
2 ADJ A graceless movement is clumsy and uncontrolled. □ …a graceless pirouette. ● grace|less|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He dropped gracelessly into a chair opposite her.
3 ADJ If you describe someone as graceless , you mean that their behaviour is impolite. □ She couldn't stand his blunt, graceless manner. ● grace|less|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The task fell to Mr Harris to deliver this bad news. It was gracelessly done.
gra|cious /gre I ʃəs/
1 ADJ If you describe someone, especially someone you think is superior to you, as gracious , you mean that they are very well-mannered and pleasant. [FORMAL ] □ She is a lovely and gracious woman.
2 ADJ If you describe the behaviour of someone in a position of authority as gracious , you mean that they behave in a polite and considerate way. [FORMAL ] □ She closed with a gracious speech of thanks. ● gra|cious|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Hospitality at the Presidential guest house was graciously declined.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use gracious to describe the comfortable way of life of wealthy people. □ He drove through the gracious suburbs with the swimming pools and tennis courts.
4 EXCLAM Some people say good gracious or goodness gracious in order to express surprise or annoyance. [FEELINGS ] □ Good gracious, look at that specimen will you?
grad /græ d/ (grads ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A grad is a graduate . [mainly AM , INFORMAL ]
gra|da|tion /grəde I ʃ ə n, [AM ] gre I d-/ (gradations ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Gradations are small differences or changes in things. [FORMAL ] □ But TV images require subtle gradations of light and shade.
grade ◆◇◇ /gre I d/ (grades , grading , graded )
1 VERB If something is graded , its quality is judged, and it is often given a number or a name that indicates how good or bad it is. □ [be V -ed] Dust masks are graded according to the protection they offer. □ [V n] South Point College does not grade the students' work. □ [V -ing] …a three-tier grading system.
2 N‑COUNT [oft adj N ] The grade of a product is its quality, especially when this has been officially judged. □ …a good grade of plywood. □ …a grade II listed building. ● COMB Grade is also a combining form. □ …weapons-grade plutonium. □ …aviation fuel and high-grade oil.