adj., great·er, great·est.
- Very large in size.
- Larger in size than others of the same kind.
- Large in quantity or number: A great throng awaited us. See synonyms at large.
- Extensive in time or distance: a great delay.
- Remarkable or outstanding in magnitude, degree, or extent: a great crisis.
- Of outstanding significance or importance: a great work of art.
- Chief or principal: the great house on the estate.
- Superior in quality or character; noble: "For he was great, ere fortune made him so" (John Dryden).
- Powerful; influential: one of the great nations of the West.
- Eminent; distinguished: a great leader.
- Grand; aristocratic.
- Informal. Enthusiastic: a great lover of music.
- Informal. Very skillful: great at algebra.
- Informal. Very good; first-rate: We had a great time at the dance.
- Being one generation removed from the relative specified. Often used in combination: a great-granddaughter.
- Archaic. Pregnant.
- pl., greats, or great. One that is great: a composer considered among the greats.
- Music.
- A division of most pipe organs, usually containing the most powerful ranks of pipes.
- A similar division of other organs.
Very well: got along great with the teacher.
[Middle English grete, from Old English grēat, thick, coarse.]
greatly great'ly adv.greatness great'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
