English Meaning & Definitions
A place of burial for a dead body, typically a hole dug in the ground and marked by a stone or mound.
- “They visited the cemetery to place flowers on their grandfather's grave.”
- “The archaeologist carefully brushed the dirt away from the ancient grave.”
Giving cause for alarm; serious, solemn, or important.
- “The prime minister warned of the grave consequences of failing to act on climate change.”
- “He wore a grave expression as he delivered the unfortunate news.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “grave”.
Derived from the Old English 'græf' (a trench, pit, or grave), which shares roots with the Proto-Germanic '*grabą' and the verb 'to dig' (related to the modern 'grab'). The adjective sense, meaning 'serious' or 'weighty,' entered Middle English from the Old French 'grave,' which stems from the Latin 'gravis' (heavy, weighty, serious).
Think of a 'grave' situation as one so serious that it could put you in a grave.
Frequently Asked Questions About “grave”
1. What is the meaning of “grave” in English?
In English, grave (noun) is defined as: “A place of burial for a dead body, typically a hole dug in the ground and marked by a stone or mound.”.
2. How do you use “grave” in a sentence?
“They visited the cemetery to place flowers on their grandfather's grave.”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “grave”?
Derived from the Old English 'græf' (a trench, pit, or grave), which shares roots with the Proto-Germanic '*grabą' and the verb 'to dig' (related to the modern 'grab'). The adjective sense, meaning 'serious' or 'weighty,' entered Middle English from the Old French 'grave,' which stems from the Latin 'gravis' (heavy, weighty, serious).
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