as1
(æz; unstressed əz)
adv. 1. to the same degree or extent; equally: It's not as hot today.
2. for example: spring flowers, as the tulip.
3. thought or considered to be: the square as distinct from the rectangle.
4. in the manner indicated: She sang as promised.
conj. 5. to the same degree or extent that: to run quick as a rabbit.
6. in the degree, manner, etc., of or that: Do as we do.
7. at the same time that; while; when: Pay as you enter.
8. since; because: As you are leaving last, lock the door.
9. though: Strange as it seems, it is so.
10. that the result or effect was: His voice was so loud as to make everyone stare.
11. Informal. that: I don't know as I do.
pron. 12. that; who; which (usu. prec. by such or the same): I have the same trouble as you had.
13. a fact that: She spoke the truth, as can be proved.
prep. 14. in the role, function, or status of: to act as leader.
Idioms: 1. as … as, (used to express similarity or equality between one person or thing and another): as rich as Croesus.
2. as far as, to the degree or extent that: It is an excellent plan, as far as I can tell.
3. as for or to, with respect to; about; concerning: As for staying away, I wouldn't think of it.
4. as good as, a. equivalent to: as good as new.
b. true to; trustworthy as: as good as his word.
5. as if or though, as it would be if: It was as if the world had come to an end.
6. as is, in whatever condition something is in when offered, esp. if damaged.
7. as it were, in a way; so to speak: He became, as it were, a man without a country.
8. as of, beginning on; on and after; from: This price is effective as of June 23.
9. as such, a. as being what is indicated; in that capacity: An officer of the law, as such, is entitled to respect.
b. in itself or in themselves: The job, as such, does not appeal to me.
10. as yet, up to the present time.
[before 1000; Old English
alswā, ealswā all so (see
also), quite so, quite as, as; c. Middle Dutch
alse, Old High German
alsō]
usage: As a conjunction, one sense of
as is “because”:
As she was bored, Sue left the room. as also has an equally common use in the sense “while, when”:
As the parade passed by, the crowd cheered. These two senses sometimes result in ambiguity:
As the gates were closed, he walked away. (When? Because?)
as…
as is standard in both positive and negative constructions:
as happy as a lark; not as humid today as it was yesterday. so…
as is sometimes used in negative constructions (
not so humid as it was) and in questions (
“What is so rare as a day in June?” ). The phrase
as far as generally introduces a clause:
As far as money is concerned, the council has exhausted all its resources. In some informal speech and writing,
as far as is treated as a preposition and followed only by an object:
As far as money, the council has exhausted all its resources. as to as a compound preposition has long been standard:
As to your salary, that too will be reviewed. This is occasionally criticized as a vague substitute for
about or
concerning, which can certainly be substituted. See also
all, farther, like. as2
(æs)
n., pl. as•ses (ˈæs ɪz, -iz) 1. a copper coin of ancient Rome.
2. an ancient Roman unit of weight, equal to about 12 ounces.
[1595–1605; < Latin]
AS
1. American Samoa.
2. Anglo-Saxon.
As
Chem. Symbol. as-
var. of
ad- before
s: assert. A.S.
1. Anglo-Saxon.
2. Associate in Science.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.