English Explanatory Dictionary

guide

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Someone who guides, especially someone hired to show people around a place or an institution and offer information and explanation, or to lead them through dangerous terrain.
  2. A document or book that offers information or instruction; guidebook.
  3. A sign that guides people; guidepost.
  4. Any marking or object that catches the eye to provide quick reference.
  5. Synonym of legend, a key to symbols, abbreviations, and terms on a map, chart, etc.
  6. A device that guides part of a machine, or guides motion or action.
  7. A blade or channel for directing the flow of water to the buckets in a water wheel.
  8. A grooved director for a probe or knife in surgery.
  9. A strip or device to direct the compositor's eye to the line of copy being set.
  10. A spirit believed to speak through a medium.
  11. A member of a group marching in formation who sets the pattern of movement or alignment for the rest.
verb
  1. To serve as a guide for someone or something; to lead or direct in a way; to conduct in a course or path.
  2. To steer or navigate, especially a ship or as a pilot.
  3. To exert control or influence over someone or something.
  4. To supervise the education or training of someone.
  5. To act as a guide.
name
  1. A village in Blackburn with Darwen borough, Lancashire, England (OS grid ref SD7025).
name
  1. A county of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, China.

Pronunciation

gīd /ɡaɪd/ en-us-guide.ogg gwāʹdǔʹ

Word forms

guide guides guiding guided no-table-tags glossary guidest guidedst guideth

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyd-der. Proto-Germanic *wītaną Frankish *wītanbor. Old Occitan guidar Old Occitan guidabor. Old French guidebor. Middle English guide English guide c. 1325–75. From Middle English guide, from the Old French guide, from Old Occitan guida, from guidar, from Frankish *wītan (“to show the way, lead”), from Proto-Germanic *wītaną (“to see, know; go, depart”), from Proto-Indo-European *weyd- (“to see, know”). Cognate with Old English wītan (“to see, take heed to, watch after, guard, keep”). Related also to English wit.

Synonyms

interpreter guider xenagogue legend

Derived words

ABC guide Adirondack guide boat audio guide buying guide career guide court guide dog guide field guide Girl Guide guidance guide board guideboard guide book guidebook Guide Bridge guidecraft guide dog guideless guidelight guidelike guide line guideline guide on the side guidepost guide price guiderail guide rail guide rope guideship guide shoe guide star guidestone guideway guidewheel guidewire guide word guideword guidon handguide hand guide honey guide honeyguide hornguide horn guide I need a guide lightguide miniguide mountain guide outguide photoguide program guide shopping guide showguide strategy guide study guide style guide superguide teleguide tour guide tourist guide

Translations

Bulgarian: вода́ч Finnish: johdatin Finnish: johde Macedonian: во́дилка Māori: paparangi Māori: matua Russian: направля́ющая Scottish Gaelic: iùl Tatar: тигезләгеч
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