what [hwuht, hwot, wuht, wot; unstressed hwuht, wuht] Show IPA
pronoun
1.
(used interrogatively as a request for specific information): What is the matter?
2.
(used interrogatively to inquire about the character, occupation, etc., of a person): What does he do?
3.
(used interrogatively to inquire as to the origin, identity, etc., of something): What are those birds?
4.
(used interrogatively to inquire as to the worth, usefulness, force, or importance of something): What is wealth without friends?
5.
(used interrogatively to request a repetition of words or information not fully understood, usually used in elliptical constructions): You need what?
noun
17.
the true nature or identity of something, or the sum of its characteristics: a lecture on the whats and hows of crop rotation.
adjective
18.
(used interrogatively before nouns): What news? What clothes shall I pack?
19.
whatever: Take what supplies you need.
adverb
20.
to what extent or degree? how much?: What does it matter?
21.
(used to introduce a prepositional phrase beginning with with ): What with storms and all, their return was delayed.
22.
Obsolete . for what reason or purpose? why?
interjection
23.
(used in exclamatory expressions, often followed by a question): What, no salt?
conjunction
24.
Older Use. as much as; as far as: He helps me what he can.
Idioms
25.
but what, Informal. but that; but who; who or that … not: Who knows but what the sun may still shine.
26.
Say what?, Slang. (used especially among teenagers) What's that you say? Would you repeat that?
27.
So what?, Informal. (an expression of disinterest, disinclination, or contempt.)
28.
what for,
a.
why: What are you doing that for?
b.
a punishment or scolding.
29.
what have you, other things of the same kind; so forth: money, jewels, stocks, and what have you.
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Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English hwæt; cognate with German was, Dutch wat, Old Norse hvat; akin to Gothic hwa, Latin quod, Greek tí
Usage note
24. See doubt.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
what's [hwuhts, hwots, wuhts, wots; unstressed hwuhts, wuhts] Show IPA
1.
contraction of what is or what has: What's the matter? What's been done?
2.
contraction of what does: What's she do for a living?
Usage note
See contraction.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2014.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
what (w?t, ( unstressed ) w?t)
— determiner
1. a. used with a noun in requesting further information about the identity or categorization of something: what job does he do?
b. ( as pronoun ): what is her address?
c. ( used in indirect questions ): does he know what man did this? ; tell me what he said
2. a. the (person, thing, persons, or things) that: we photographed what animals we could see
b. ( as pronoun ): bring me what you've written ; come what may
3. (intensifier; used in exclamations): what a good book!
— adv
4. in what respect? to what degree?: what do you care?
— pron
5. not standard which, who, or that, when used as relative pronouns: this is the man what I saw in the park yesterday
6. what about what do you think, know, feel, etc, concerning?
7. what for
a. for what purpose? why?
b. informal a punishment or reprimand (esp in the phrase give ( a person ) what for )
8. what have you someone, something, or somewhere unknown or unspecified: cars, motorcycles, or what have you
9. what if
a. what would happen if?
b. what difference would it make if?
10. what matter what does it matter?
11. informal what's what the true or real state of affairs
— interj
12. informal don't you think? don't you agree?: splendid party, what?
What what?
