what

Definitions


[wɒt], (Pronoun)

Definitions:
- asking for information specifying something
(e.g: what is your name?)

- the thing or things that (used in specifying something)
(e.g: what we need is a commitment)

- (in exclamations) emphasizing something surprising or remarkable
(e.g: what some people do for a crust!)


Phrases:
- and what have you
- and what not
- what about —?
- what for?
- what if —?
- what is more
- what of it?
- what of —?
- what say —?
- what with
- what's what
- what's with —?

Origin:
Old English hwæt, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wat and German was, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin quod


[wɒt], (Determiner)

Definitions:
- asking for information specifying something
(e.g: what time is it?)

- (referring to the whole of an amount) whatever
(e.g: he had been robbed of what little money he had)

- (in exclamations) how great or remarkable
(e.g: what luck!)


Phrases:
- and what have you
- and what not
- what about —?
- what for?
- what if —?
- what is more
- what of it?
- what of —?
- what say —?
- what with
- what's what
- what's with —?

Origin:
Old English hwæt, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wat and German was, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin quod


[wɒt], (Adverb)

Definitions:
- to what extent?
(e.g: what does it matter?)

- used to indicate an estimate or approximation
(e.g: see you, what, about four?)

- used for emphasis or to invite agreement
(e.g: pretty poor show, what?)


Phrases:
- and what have you
- and what not
- what about —?
- what for?
- what if —?
- what is more
- what of it?
- what of —?
- what say —?
- what with
- what's what
- what's with —?

Origin:
Old English hwæt, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wat and German was, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin quod




definition by Oxford Dictionaries