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graft 1 (grăft)
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v. graft·ed, graft·ing, grafts
v.tr.
1.
a. To unite (a shoot or bud) with a growing plant by insertion or by placing in close contact.
b. To join (a plant or plants) by such union.
2. To transplant or implant (living tissue, for example) surgically into a bodily part to replace a damaged part or compensate for a defect.
3. To join or unite closely: graft new customs onto old.
v.intr.
1. To make a graft.
2. To be or become joined.
n.
1.
a. A detached shoot or bud united or to be united with a growing plant.
b. The union or point of union of a detached shoot or bud with a growing plant by insertion or attachment.
c. A plant produced by such union.
2.
a. Material, especially living tissue or an organ, surgically attached to or inserted into a bodily part to replace a damaged part or compensate for a defect.
b. The procedure of implanting or transplanting such material.
c. The configuration or condition resulting from such a procedure.

[Middle English graften, alteration of graffen, probably from Old French grafier, from graffe, stylus, graft (from its shape), from Latin graphium, stylus; see GRAFFITO. N., Middle English grafte, alteration of graffe, from Old French.]

grafter n.
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graft1

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
graft 2 (grăft)
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n.
1. Deceitful or fraudulent use of one's position, especially in public office, to obtain personal profits or advantages.
2. Money or advantage obtained by such means.
intr.v. graft·ed, graft·ing, grafts
To gain money or advantage through deceit or fraud.

[Origin unknown.]

grafter n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.