-gram /-græm/ (-grams ) COMB -gram combines with nouns to form other nouns which refer to someone who dresses up in order to a bring a message to someone else, as a practical joke. □ Now he has only six or seven kissogram girls on his books.
gram|mar /græ mə r / (grammars )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Grammar is the ways that words can be put together in order to make sentences. □ He doesn't have mastery of the basic rules of grammar. □ …the difference between Sanskrit and English grammar.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Someone's grammar is the way in which they obey or do not obey the rules of grammar when they write or speak. □ His vocabulary was sound and his grammar excellent. □ …a deterioration in spelling and grammar among teenagers.
3 N‑COUNT A grammar is a book that describes the rules of a language. □ …an advanced English grammar.
4 N‑VAR A particular grammar is a particular theory that is intended to explain the rules of a language. □ Transformational grammars are more restrictive.
gram|mar|ian /grəmeə riən/ (grammarians ) N‑COUNT A grammarian is someone who studies the grammar of a language and writes books about it or teaches it.
gra m|mar school (grammar schools ) N‑VAR A grammar school is a school in Britain for children aged between eleven and eighteen who have a high academic ability. □ He is in the third year at Leeds Grammar School.
gram|mati|cal /grəmæ t I k ə l/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Grammatical is used to indicate that something relates to grammar. □ Should the teacher present grammatical rules to students? □ …grammatical errors. ● gram|mati|cal|ly ADV [ADV adj/-ed] □ …grammatically correct language.
2 ADJ If someone's language is grammatical , it is considered correct because it obeys the rules of grammar. □ …a new test to determine whether students can write grammatical English. ● gram|mati|cal|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ One in five undergraduates cannot write grammatically.
gramme /græ m/ → see gram
gramo|phone /græ məfoʊn/ (gramophones ) N‑COUNT A gramophone is an old-fashioned type of record player. [mainly BRIT ] □ …a wind-up gramophone with a big horn. □ …gramophone records. in AM, usually use phonograph
gran /græ n/ (grans ) N‑COUNT Some people refer to or address their grandmother as gran . [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ My gran's given us some apple jam.
grana|ry /græ nəri/ (granaries )
1 N‑COUNT A granary is a building which is used for storing grain.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] In Britain, Granary bread contains whole grains of wheat. [TRADEMARK ]
grand ◆◆◇ /græ nd/ (grander , grandest , grands ) The form grand is used as the plural for meaning 8 . 1 ADJ If you describe a building or a piece of scenery as grand , you mean that its size or appearance is very impressive. □ …this grand building in the center of town. □ The scenery of South Island is on a grand scale.
2 ADJ Grand plans or actions are intended to achieve important results. □ …a passionate anti-slavery crusader with grand ideas for education.
3 ADJ People who are grand think they are important or socially superior. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He is grander and even richer than the Prince of Wales.
4 ADJ If you describe an activity or experience as grand , you mean that it is very pleasant and enjoyable. □ The dinner was a grand success. □ He was having a grand time meeting new sorts of people.
5 ADJ You can describe someone or something as grand when you admire or approve of them very much. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN , APPROVAL ] □ He was a grand bloke.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] A grand total is one that is the final amount or the final result of a calculation. □ It came to a grand total of £220,329.
7 ADJ [ADJ n] Grand is often used in the names of buildings such as hotels, especially when they are very large. □ They stayed at The Grand Hotel, Budapest.
8 N‑COUNT A grand is a thousand dollars or a thousand pounds. [INFORMAL ] □ They're paying you ten grand now for those adaptations of old plays.
9 → see also grandly
gran|dad /græ ndæd/ (grandads ) also granddad N‑COUNT Your grandad is your grandfather. You can call your grandad 'Grandad'. [INFORMAL ] □ My grandad is 85.
gran|dad|dy /græ ndædi/ (grandaddies ) also granddaddy N‑COUNT Some people refer to or address their grandfather as grandaddy . [AM , INFORMAL ]
grand|child /græ ntʃa I ld/ (grandchildren ) N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's grandchild is the child of their son or daughter. □ Mary loves her grandchildren.
grand|dad /græ ndæd/ → see grandad
grand|daughter /græ ndɔːtə r / (granddaughters ) N‑COUNT [usu with poss] Someone's granddaughter is the daughter of their son or daughter. □ …a drawing of my granddaughter Amelia.
gran|dee /grændiː / (grandees )
1 N‑COUNT In the past, a grandee was a Spanish prince of the highest rank.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to someone, especially a politician, who is upper class and has a lot of influence as a grandee . [mainly BRIT ] □ He is a former defence secretary of the United States and a grandee of the Democratic Party.