graft
graft1 / graft/ • n. 1. Horticulture a shoot or scion inserted into a slit of stock, from which it receives sap. ∎ an instance of inserting a shoot or scion in this way.2. Med. a piece of living tissue that is transplanted surgically. ∎ a surgical operation in which tissue is transplanted.• v. [tr.] 1. Horticulture insert (a scion) as a graft: it was common to graft different varieties onto a single tree trunk. ∎ insert a graft on (a stock).2. Med. transplant (living tissue) as a graft: they can graft a new hand onto the arm. ∎ fig. insert or fix (something) permanently to something else, typically in a way considered inappropriate: western-style government could not easily be grafted onto a profoundly different country.graft2 • n. practices, esp. bribery, used to secure illicit gains in politics or business; corruption: sweeping measures to curb official graft. ∎ such gains: government officials grow fat off bribes and graft.• v. [intr.] make money by shady or dishonest means.DERIVATIVES: graft·er n.graft3 Brit., inf. • n. hard work: turning those dreams into reality was sheer hard graft.• v. [intr.] work hard: I need people prepared to go out and graft.DERIVATIVES: graft·er n.