great (greater comparative) (greatest superlative) (greats plural )
1 adj You use great to describe something that is very large. Great is more formal than big.
ADJ n
The room had a great bay window., ...a great hall as long and high as a church.
2 adj Great means large in amount or degree.
I'll take great care of it..., Benjamin Britten did not live to a great age.
3 adj You use great to describe something that is important, famous, or exciting.
...the great cultural achievements of the past..., America can be great again.
greatness n-uncount
A nation must take certain risks to achieve greatness.
4 adj You can describe someone who is successful and famous for their actions, knowledge, or skill as great.
usu ADJ n
Wes Hall was once one of the West Indies' great cricketers., ...the great George Padmore.
greatness n-uncount
Abraham Lincoln achieved greatness.
5 n-plural The greats in a particular subject or field of activity are the people who have been most successful or famous in it. (JOURNALISM) with supp
...all the greats of Hollywood., ...cycling's all-time greats.
6 n-plural The greats of popular modern music are records that have been successful and that continue to be popular. (JOURNALISM)
...a medley of rock'n'roll greats.
7 adj If you describe someone or something as great, you approve of them or admire them.
INFORMAL, approval Arturo has this great place in Cazadero..., They're a great bunch of guys..., I think she's great.
8 adj If you feel great, you feel very healthy, energetic, and enthusiastic.
feel ADJ
I feel just great.
9 adj You use great in order to emphasize the size or degree of a characteristic or quality., (emphasis)
...a great big Italian wedding., ...her sense of colour and great eye for detail.
10 exclam You say great in order to emphasize that you are pleased or enthusiastic about something., (feelings)
Oh great! That'll be good for Fergus.
11 exclam You say great in order to emphasize that you are angry or annoyed about something., (feelings)
`Oh great,' I thought. `Just what I need.'
12 n-in-names Great is used as part of the name of a species of plant or animal when there is another species of the same plant or animal which is smaller and has different characteristics. ...the great white shark. →
greater
great-
Great- is used before some nouns that refer to relatives. Nouns formed in this way refer to a relative who is a further generation away from you. For example, your great-aunt is the aunt of one of your parents. prefix
...Davis's great-grandmother.
Great Britain
Great Britain is the island consisting of England, Scotland, and Wales, which together with Northern Ireland makes up the United Kingdom. n-proper
(=GB)
