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n. 1. a. The time stated in terms of the day, month, and year: What is the date of your birth? b. A statement of calendar time, as on a document. 2. a. A particular point or period of time at which something happened or existed, or is expected to happen: the date of their wedding. b. dates The years of someone's birth and death: Beethoven's dates were 1770 to 1827. 3. The time during which something lasts; duration: "Summer's lease hath all too short a date" (Shakespeare). 4. The time or historical period to which something belongs: artifacts of a later date. 6. a. An engagement to go out socially with another person, often out of romantic interest. b. One's companion on such an outing. 7. An engagement for a performance: has four singing dates this month. v. dat·ed, dat·ing, dates v.tr. 1. To mark or supply with a date: date a letter. 2. To determine the date of: date a fossil. 3. To betray the age of: Pictures of old cars date the book. 4. To go on a date or dates with. v.intr. Idioms: 1. To have origin in a particular time in the past: This statue dates from 500 BC. 2. To become old-fashioned. 3. To go on dates. out of date No longer in style; old-fashioned: clothes that went out of date last year. to date Until now: To date, only half of those invited have responded. up to date In or into accordance with current information, styles, or technology: brought me up to date on the project's status. [Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin data, from Latin data (Romae), issued (at Rome) (on a certain day), feminine past participle of dare, to give; see dō- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] data·ble, datea·ble adj. dater n. |
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