English Explanatory Dictionary

hint

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A clue.
  2. An implicit suggestion that avoids a direct statement.
  3. A small, barely detectable amount.
  4. Information in a computer-based font that suggests how the outlines of the font's glyphs should be distorted in order to produce, at specific sizes, a visually appealing pixel-based rendering; an instance of hinting.
  5. An instruction to the database engine as to how a query should be executed, for example whether to use an index or not.
  6. An opportunity; occasion; fit time.
verb
  1. To imply without a direct statement; to provide a clue.
  2. To bring to mind by a slight mention or remote allusion; to suggest in an indirect manner.
  3. To develop and add hints to a font.
intj
  1. Signifies that something previously said should be taken as a hint or heeded closely.

Pronunciation

/hɪnt/ en-us-hint.ogg

Word forms

hint hints hinting hinted

Etymology

From Middle English hinten, hynten, variant of henten (“to lay hold of, catch”), from Old English hentan (“to seize, grasp”), from Proto-West Germanic *hantijan, from Proto-Germanic *hantijaną. Doublet of hent. Related also to hunt.

Synonyms

indication tip allusion implication innuendo insinuation nod touch trace ace atom atomy aught bissel bit crumb glimpse dab damn dash diddly glint dot spatter drop dusting fleck glimmer hint flip flyspeck grain halfpennyworth inch iota jot lick mite modicum molecule morceau morsel mote ooch ounce particle pennyworth piece pinch relish scantling semblance scent scintilla scooch scrap scruple shred skerrick skoosh

Derived words

broad hint drop a hint get the hint hintline Irish hint take a hint take the hint type hint hintable hinted hinter hintingly
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on H Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary