deal

views updated May 14 2018

deal1 / dēl/ • v. (past and past part. dealt / delt/ ) 1. [tr.] distribute (cards) in an orderly rotation to the players for a game or round. ∎  (deal someone in) include a new player in a card game by giving them cards. ∎  distribute or mete out (something) to a person or group.2. [intr.] take part in commercial trading of a particular commodity: directors were prohibited from dealing in the company's shares. ∎ fig. be concerned with: a movie that deals in ideas and issues. ∎ inf. buy and sell illegal drugs. [tr.] Frankie started dealing cocaine. 3. [intr.] (deal with) take measures concerning (someone or something), esp. with the intention of putting something right: the government had been unable to deal with the economic crisis. ∎  cope with (a difficult person or situation). ∎  treat (someone) in a particular way: life had dealt harshly with her. ∎  have relations with (a person or organization), esp. in a commercial context. ∎  take or have as a subject; discuss.4. inflict (a blow) on (someone or something): hopes of recovery were dealt another blow.• n. 1. an agreement entered into by two or more parties for their mutual benefit, esp. in a business or political context. ∎  an attractive price on a commodity; a bargain. ∎  a particular form of treatment given or received: working mothers get a bad deal.2. a significant but unspecified amount of something: he lost a great deal of blood.3. [in sing.] the process of distributing the cards to players in a card game. ∎  a player's turn to distribute cards. ∎  the round of play following this. ∎  the set of hands dealt to the players.PHRASES: a big deal inf. a thing considered important: they don't make a big deal out of minor irritations. ∎  an important person; a celebrity. ∎  (big deal) used to express one's contempt for something regarded as impressive or important by another person.a raw (or rough) deal inf. a situation in which someone receives unfair or harsh treatment.a good (or great) deal a large amount: I don't know a great deal about politics. ∎  to a considerable extent.cut a deal inf. make an agreement.it's a deal inf. used to express one's assent to an agreement.deal2 • n. fir or pine wood, esp. when sawn into planks of a standard size. ∎  a plank of such wood.

deal

views updated Jun 27 2018

deal 1 †part, portion; quantity, amount. OE. dǣl = OS. dēl (Du. deel), (O)HG, teil, Goth. dails :- Gmc. *dailiz, f. *dail-; see DOLE 1.
So deal vb. A. †divide; distribute, bestow among a number OE.; deliver (blows) XIII; B. †take part in XII; have to do with XIII. OE. dǣlan = OS. dēlian, (O)HG. teilen, ON. deila, Goth. dailjan. Hence deal sb. distribution of cards XVII; transaction (orig. U.S.) XIX.

deal

views updated May 11 2018

deal Softwood planking imported to Britain, especially from the Baltic region. Usually it is composed of Scots pine (red deal) or Norway spruce (white deal).

deal

views updated Jun 08 2018

deal 2 plank, board of fir or pine XIV; wood of these XVII. Introduced through the Baltic trade in timber. — MLG., MDu. dele plank, floor, corr. to OHG. dil, dil(l)o, dilla (G. diele), ON. þilja, OE. þille :- Gmc. *þelaz, *þeliz, *þeljōn.

deal

views updated May 29 2018

deal.
1. Softwood (e.g. pine).

2. Fir or pine board of a standard size.

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