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n. 1. a. Something offered or won as an award for superiority or victory, as in a contest or competition. b. Something offered or won in a lottery or similar game of chance. 2. Something worth striving for; a highly desirable possession. adj. 1. Offered or given as a prize: a prize cup. 2. Given a prize, or likely to win a prize: a prize cow. 3. Worthy of a prize; first-class: our prize azaleas. tr.v. prized, priz·ing, priz·es 1. To value highly; esteem or treasure. See Synonyms at appreciate. 2. To estimate the worth of; evaluate. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. Something seized by force or taken as booty, especially an enemy ship and its cargo captured at sea during wartime. [Alteration of Middle English prise, from Old French, from feminine past participle of prendre, from Latin prehendere, prēndere, to seize; see ghend- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
tr.v. prized, priz·ing, priz·es also prised or pris·ing or pris·es To move or force with a lever; pry: prized open the antique chest. n. Chiefly Southern US Something used as a lever or for prying. [From Middle English prise, instrument for prying, probably from prise, the taking of something; see PRIZE2.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
