gag Hear it!

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gag definition

gag (gag)

transitive verb gagged, gagging gag′·ging

  1. to cause to retch or choke
  2. to put something over or into the mouth of, so as to keep from talking, crying out, etc.
  3. to keep from speaking or expressing oneself freely, as by intimidation
  4. to prevent or limit speech in (a legislative body)
  5. Mech. to choke or stop up (a valve, etc.)

Etymology: ME gaggen, of echoic orig.

intransitive verb

  1. to retch or choke
  2. Informal to make a gag or gags; joke

noun

  1. something put into or over the mouth to prevent talking, crying out, etc.
  2. ☆ any restraint of free speech
  3. a device for holding the jaws open for dental work or for any surgery inside the mouth
    1. a comical remark or act; joke, as one interpolated by an actor on the stage
    2. a practical joke or hoax

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
gag Synonyms

gag

v.

  1. To stop the mouth

    choke, muzzle, muffle, obstruct, stifle, smother, throttle, strangle, garrote, silence by violence, tape up, suffocate.

  2. To forbid expression to

    silence, constrain, suppress, repress, hush; see also quiet 2.

  3. To retch

    be nauseated, sicken, choke; see vomit.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

gag Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • crack: Matt thinks it makes Brian pretty dull - he even turned down a cracking gag for his wedding speech.

Adjective modifier

  • throwaway: Nowadays, of course, the Comic Relief joke is to use the inclusion of a high profile celebrity as a throwaway gag.

Modifies a noun

  • reel: The next bonus material item, the 7 minute Evans gag reel, is a true gem.

Noun used with modifier

  • fart: But then he'll veer off at a tangent, or throw in a fart gag and the feeling is lost.

Possessives

  • dart: Until next time, Ben ' The Yellow Dart ' Lancaster don't get the ' yellow dart ' gag?
gag usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"gag." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/gag>

APA Style

gag. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/gag

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