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Definition of grass noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

grass

noun
 
/ɡrɑːs/
 
/ɡræs/
Idioms
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  1. [uncountable] a common wild plant with narrow green leaves and stems that are eaten by cows, horses, sheep, etc.
    • a blade of grass
    • The dry grass caught fire.
    Extra Examples
    • I sowed a little bag of grass seed.
    • I've walked along that path for so many years I know every blade of grass.
    • The dog came running through the long grass.
    • There were only a few clumps of coarse grass for the animals to eat.
    • We parked on the grass verge by the side of the road.
    Topics Plants and treesa2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • green
    • coarse
    • rough
    … of grass
    • blade
    • clump
    • tuft
    verb + grass
    • eat
    • cut
    • mow
    grass + verb
    • grow
    grass + noun
    • clippings
    • cuttings
    • seed
    preposition
    • across the grass
    • in the grass
    • on the grass
    See full entry
  2. [countable] any type of grass
    • ornamental grasses
    see also elephant grass, lemongrass, marram grass
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • green
    • coarse
    • rough
    … of grass
    • blade
    • clump
    • tuft
    verb + grass
    • eat
    • cut
    • mow
    grass + verb
    • grow
    grass + noun
    • clippings
    • cuttings
    • seed
    preposition
    • across the grass
    • in the grass
    • on the grass
    See full entry
  3. [singular, uncountable]
    (usually the grass)
    an area of ground covered with grass
    • to cut/mow the grass
    • on the grass Don't walk on the grass.
    • Keep off the grass. (= on a sign)
    • on grass He plays better on grass (= on a grass court, when playing tennis).
    Extra Examples
    • You're not allowed to walk on the grass.
    • They all set off across the grass.
    • We all sat down on the grass.
    Topics Gardensa2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • green
    • coarse
    • rough
    … of grass
    • blade
    • clump
    • tuft
    verb + grass
    • eat
    • cut
    • mow
    grass + verb
    • grow
    grass + noun
    • clippings
    • cuttings
    • seed
    preposition
    • across the grass
    • in the grass
    • on the grass
    See full entry
  4. [uncountable] (informal) marijuanaTopics Social issuesc2
  5. [countable] (British English, informal, usually disapproving) a person, usually a criminal, who tells the police about somebody’s criminal activities and plans compare supergrassTopics Crime and punishmentc2
  6. Word OriginOld English græs, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gras, German Gras, also ultimately to green and grow.
Idioms
the grass is (always) greener on the other side (of the fence)
  1. (saying) said about people who never seem happy with what they have and always think they could be happier in a different place or situation
kick something into the long grass/into touch
  1. (British English) to reject something or treat it as not important; to stop dealing with a problem
    • He tends to deal with disputes by kicking them into the long grass.
not let the grass grow under your feet
  1. to not delay in getting things done
put somebody out to grass
  1. (informal) to force somebody to stop doing their job, especially because they are old
a snake (in the grass)
  1. (disapproving) a person who pretends to be your friend but who cannot be trusted
    • I came to realize that he's just a snake in the grass.
See grass in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee grass in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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