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v. dealt (dĕlt), deal·ing, deals v.tr. 1. To give out in shares or portions; apportion: a critic who deals out as much praise as blame. See Synonyms at distribute. 2. Games a. To distribute (playing cards) among players. b. To give (a specific card) to a player while so distributing. 3. To sell: deal prescriptions; deal cocaine. 4. To administer; deliver: dealt him a blow to the stomach. v.intr. 1. To be occupied or concerned: a book that deals with the Middle Ages. 2. To behave in a specified way toward another or others; have transactions: deal honestly with competitors. 3. To take action with respect to someone or something: The committee will deal with this complaint. 4. Informal To cope: I can't deal with all of this arguing! 5. To do business; trade: dealing in diamonds. 6. Games To distribute playing cards. 7. Slang To buy and sell drugs, especially illegally. 8. Baseball To throw a pitch. n. Phrasal Verbs: 1. The act or a round of apportioning or distributing. 2. Games a. Distribution of playing cards. b. The cards so distributed; a hand. c. The right or turn of a player to distribute the cards. d. The playing of one hand. 3. An indefinite quantity, extent, or degree: has a great deal of experience. 4. a. An agreement, especially one that is mutually beneficial. See Synonyms at agreement. b. A business transaction: struck a deal to buy a car dealership. c. A legal contract: signed a deal to play for a new team. 5. Informal A sale favorable especially to the buyer; a bargain. 6. Informal Treatment received: a raw deal; a fair deal. 7. Informal The situation or background information regarding something: What's the deal with the new teacher? deal in 1. To include (someone) in a card game by dealing cards to that person. 2. To include (someone) in an enterprise or undertaking. deal out 1. To exclude (someone) from a card game by not giving cards to that person. 2. To exclude (someone) from an enterprise or undertaking. [Middle English delen, from Old English dǣlan, to divide, share; see dail- 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.
n. 1. a. A fir or pine board cut to standard dimensions. b. Such boards or planks considered as a group. 2. Fir or pine wood. [Middle English dele, from Middle Dutch and Middle Low German dele, plank.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
