Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old Norse

gift

 noun
     
gift S2 W2 [countable]
1 something that you give someone, for example to thank them or because you like them, especially on a special occasion [= present]COLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS
give somebody a gift receive a gift make somebody a gift of something formal (=give someone something as a gift) birthday/wedding/Christmas etc gift free gift (=something that a shop or business gives you) make a good/ideal gift (=be a good gift) gift ideas (=ideas of things you could give someone)
The earrings were a gift from my aunt.
gift of
a generous gift of £50
The clock was given as a retirement gift when he left the police.
expensive wedding gifts
Enjoy a free gift with any purchase of $20 or more.
This excellent cookbook would make an ideal gift for anyone just going away to college.
2
a) a natural ability [= talent]
gift for
a gift for languages
He was a kind man, with a gift for forming lasting friendships.
gift of
She has the rare gift of being able to laugh at herself.
b) an ability that is given to you by God
gift of
He was said to have possessed the gift of prophecy.
➔ gifted
3

a gift

British English informal something that is easier or cheaper than you expected:
The third goal was an absolute gift.
4

gift (from God)

something good you receive or something good that happens to you, even though you might not deserve it:
This opportunity was a gift from God.
5

the gift of the gab

British English the gift of gab American English informal an ability to speak confidently and to persuade people to do what you want:
6

be in somebody's gift

British English formal if something is in your gift, you have the power to decide who it should be given to:
All appointments to military and administrative posts were in the gift of the king.
7

never/don't look a gift horse in the mouth

spoken used to tell someone to be grateful for something that has been given to them, instead of asking questions about it or finding something wrong with it

➔ God's gift to somebody/something

at god (3)
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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