graft.
A small shoot or scion of a tree inserted in another tree, the stock of which is to support and nourish it. The two unite and become one tree, but the graft determines the kind of fruit.
Meaning & usage
A small shoot or scion of a tree inserted in another tree, the stock of which is to support and nourish it. The two unite and become one tree, but the graft determines the kind of fruit.
A branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot.
A portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English graffe, from Old French greffe (“stylus”), from Latin graphium (“stylus”), from Ancient Greek γραφείον (grapheíon), from γράφειν (gráphein, “to write”); probably akin to English carve. So named from the resemblance of a scion or shoot to a pointed pencil. Doublet of graphium. Compare graphic, grammar.
To insert (a graft) in a branch or stem of another tree; to propagate by insertion in another stock; also, to insert a graft upon.
To insert scions (grafts) from one tree, or kind of tree, etc., into another; to practice grafting.
To implant a portion of (living flesh or akin) in a lesion so as to form an organic union.
To join (one thing) to another as if by grafting, so as to bring about a close union.
To cover, as a ring bolt, block strap, splicing, etc., with a weaving of small cord or rope yarns.
To form a graft polymer
Where this word comes from
From Middle English graffe, from Old French greffe (“stylus”), from Latin graphium (“stylus”), from Ancient Greek γραφείον (grapheíon), from γράφειν (gráphein, “to write”); probably akin to English carve. So named from the resemblance of a scion or shoot to a pointed pencil. Doublet of graphium. Compare graphic, grammar.
A ditch, a canal.
The depth of the blade of a digging tool such as a spade or shovel.
A narrow spade used in digging drainage trenches.
Where this word comes from
From Middle Dutch graft (“canal”), from graven (“dig”). The contemporary senses “depth of digging blade” and “narrow spade” may have a separate history, but this is uncertain. Compare Old English grafet (“trench”), Old Norse grǫft (“the action of digging”). Attested from the 17th century. Doublet of gracht.
Corruption in official life.
Illicit profit by corrupt means, especially in public life.
A criminal’s special branch of practice.
A con job.
A cut of the take (money).
A bribe, especially on an ongoing basis.
Work; labor requiring effort.
We had to put in a lot of hard graft to get the job done.
A job or trade.
Where this word comes from
Uncertain. Some lexicographers suggest an extended use of Etymology 2, above, expanding from “digging” to work more generally, and from there to dishonest work. Others, however, suggest an extension from Etymology 1, shifting from “a shoot or scion” to the notion of corruption through the idea of excrescence.
To work hard.
To obtain illegal gain from bribery or similar corrupt practices.
Where this word comes from
Uncertain. Some lexicographers suggest an extended use of Etymology 2, above, expanding from “digging” to work more generally, and from there to dishonest work. Others, however, suggest an extension from Etymology 1, shifting from “a shoot or scion” to the notion of corruption through the idea of excrescence.
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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.