5 N‑COUNT A gag is a joke. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ about ] …a gag about policemen giving evidence in court.
6 VERB [only cont] If you say that someone is gagging for something or is gagging to do something, you are emphasizing that they want to have it or do it very much. [INFORMAL ] □ [V + for ] Girls everywhere are gagging for a car like this. □ [V to-inf] There are thousands of students absolutely gagging to come to this university.
gaga /gɑː gɑː/
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone is gaga , you mean that they cannot think clearly any more, especially because they are old. [INFORMAL ] □ If you don't keep your brain working you go gaga.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If someone goes gaga over a person or thing, they like them very much. [INFORMAL ] □ My daughter is just gaga over men with hairy chests.
gag|gle /gæ g ə l/ (gaggles ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] You can use gaggle to refer to a group of people, especially if they are noisy or disorganized. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] A gaggle of journalists sit in a hotel foyer waiting impatiently.
gai|ety /ge I I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Gaiety is a feeling, attitude, or atmosphere of liveliness and fun. □ Music rang out adding to the gaiety and life of the market.
gai|ly /ge I li/
1 ADV [ADV with v] If you do something gaily , you do it in a lively, happy way. □ Magda laughed gaily.
2 ADV [ADV -ed] Something that is gaily coloured or gaily decorated is coloured or decorated in a bright, pretty way. □ He put on a gaily coloured shirt. □ …gaily painted front doors.
gain ◆◆◇ /ge I n/ (gains , gaining , gained )
1 VERB If a person or place gains something such as an ability or quality, they gradually get more of it. □ [V n] Students can gain valuable experience by working on the campus radio or magazine. □ [V + in ] While it has lost its tranquility, the area has gained in liveliness.
2 VERB If you gain from something such as an event or situation, you get some advantage or benefit from it. □ [V n + from ] The company didn't disclose how much it expects to gain from the two deals. □ [be V -ed + by ] There is absolutely nothing to be gained by feeling bitter. □ [V + from ] It is sad that a major company should try to gain from other people's suffering.
3 VERB To gain something such as weight or speed means to have an increase in that particular thing. □ [V n] Some people do gain weight after they stop smoking. □ [V amount] She gained some 25lb in weight during her pregnancy. [Also V ] ● N‑VAR Gain is also a noun. □ Excessive weight gain doesn't do you any good.
4 VERB If you gain something, you obtain it, especially after a lot of hard work or effort. □ [V n] They realise that passing exams is no longer enough to gain a place at university.
5 PHRASE If you do something for gain , you do it in order to get some advantage or profit for yourself, and for no other reason. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …buying art solely for financial gain.
6 PHRASE If something such as an idea or an ideal gains ground , it gradually becomes more widely known or more popular. □ The Christian right has been steadily gaining ground in state politics.
7 PHRASE If you do something in order to gain time , you do it in order to give yourself enough time to think of an excuse or a way out of a difficult situation. □ I hoped to gain time by keeping him talking.
▸ gain on PHRASAL VERB If you gain on someone or something that is moving in front of you, you gradually get closer to them. □ [V P n] The Mercedes began to gain on the van. SYNONYMS gain VERB
1
acquire: I recently acquired some wood from a holly tree.
receive: They will receive their awards at a ceremony in Stockholm.
obtain: Evans was trying to obtain a false passport and other documents.
2
benefit: Both sides have benefited from the talks.
profit: Jennifer felt she might profit from a more relaxed lifestyle.
gain|er /ge I nə r / (gainers ) N‑COUNT [oft adj N ] A gainer is a person or organization who gains something from a particular situation. □ Overall, there were more losers than gainers.
gain|ful /ge I nfʊl/ ADJ [ADJ n] If you are in gainful employment, you have a job for which you are paid. [FORMAL ] □ …opportunities for gainful employment. ● gain|ful|ly ADV [ADV -ed] □ Both parents were gainfully employed.
gain|say /ge I nse I / (gainsays , gainsaying , gainsaid ) VERB If there is no gainsaying something, it is true or obvious and everyone would agree with it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] There is no gainsaying the fact that they have been responsible for a truly great building.
gait /ge I t/ (gaits ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A particular kind of gait is a particular way of walking. [WRITTEN ] □ His movements were clumsy, and his gait peculiarly awkward.
gal /gæ l/ (gals ) N‑COUNT Gal is used in written English to represent the word 'girl' as it is pronounced in a particular accent. □ …a Southern gal who wants to make it in the movies.
gal also gal. gal is a written abbreviation for gallon or gallons . □ Diesel cost over £1/gal in some places.
gala /gɑː lə, [AM ] ge I lə/ (galas ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A gala is a special public celebration, entertainment, performance, or festival. □ …a gala evening at the Royal Opera House.