quote

views updated May 29 2018

quote / kwōt/ • v. [tr.] 1. repeat or copy out (a group of words from a text or speech), typically with an indication that one is not the original author or speaker: he quoted a passage from the Psalms| [with direct speech] “The stream mysterious glides beneath,” Melinda quoted | [intr.] when we told her this she said, and I quote, “Phooey!” ∎  repeat a passage from (a work or author) or statement by (someone): the prime minister was quoted as saying that he would resist all attempts to “sabotage” his government he quoted Shakespeare, Goethe, and other poets. ∎  mention or refer to (someone or something) to provide evidence or authority for a statement, argument, or opinion: they won't be here at all in three years time—you can quote me on that. ∎  (quote someone/something as) put forward or describe someone or something as being: heavy teaching loads are often quoted as a bad influence on research. 2. give someone (the estimated price of a job or service): the agent quoted a fare of $180. ∎  (usu. be quoted) Stock Market give (a company) a quotation or listing on a stock exchange: an organization that is quoted on the Stock Exchange.• n. 1. a quotation from a text or speech: a quote from Wordsworth. 2. a quotation giving the estimated cost for a particular job or service: quotes from different insurance companies. ∎  Stock Market a price offered by a broker for the sale or purchase of a stock or other security. ∎  Stock Market a quotation or listing of a company on a stock exchange. 3. (quotes) quotation marks.PHRASES: quote —— unquote inf. used parenthetically when speaking to suggest quotation marks, to indicate the beginning and end of a statement or passage that one is reciting or repeating, in particular: ∎  used to indicate the speaker's verbatim recitation of written words: on page three, the second sentence says, quote, There has never been a better time to invest in the commodities market, unquote. ∎  used to repeat a spoken passage, esp. to emphasize the speaker's detachment from or disagreement with the original: I swear to you, this is exactly what they told me: quote, You cannot bring a wheelchair into this restaurant during the dinner rush, unquote.quote, unquote inf. 1. used parenthetically when speaking to suggest quotation marks, to precede a statement or passage that one is reciting or repeating, in particular: ∎  used to indicate the speaker's verbatim recitation of written words: the brochure describes the view as, quote, unquote, unforgettably breathtaking. ∎  used to repeat a spoken passage, esp. to emphasize the speaker's detachment from or disagreement with the original: and then Marty says—quote, unquote—None of those bastards deserve a fair trial.2. used parenthetically when speaking to suggest quotation marks, to precede a word or phrase that is meant to be sarcastic, mocking, or disapproving in its context, specifically to challenge a previous assertion that the word or phrase was appropriate in its context: then she shows up with her quote, unquote sophisticated friends.

quote

views updated Jun 27 2018

quote †mark with numbers or (marginal) references XIV; cite or refer to; †note XVI; repeat (a passage) from a book, etc. XVII. — medL. quotāre number, f. quot how many, or quota QUOTA.
So quotation †numbering XV; †marginal reference XVI; (typogr.) large quadrat used for filling up blanks (orig. between marginal references); quoting, passage quoted XVII; price of stocks, etc. XIX. — medL. quotātiō, -ōn-.