| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| good |
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| PRONUNCIATION: |  g d |
| ADJECTIVE: | Inflected forms: bet·ter ( b t  r), best ( bst)
1. Being positive or desirable in nature; not bad or poor: a good experience; good news from the hospital. 2a. Having the qualities that are desirable or distinguishing in a particular thing: a good exterior paint; a good joke. b. Serving the desired purpose or end; suitable: Is this a good dress for the party? 3a. Not spoiled or ruined: The milk is still good. b. In excellent condition; sound: a good tooth. 4a. Superior to the average; satisfactory: a good student. b. Used formerly to refer to the U.S. Government grade of meat higher than standard and lower than choice. 5a. Of high quality: good books. b. Discriminating: good taste. 6. Worthy of respect; honorable: ruined the family's good name. 7. Attractive; handsome: good looks. 8. Beneficial to health; salutary: a good night's rest. 9. Competent; skilled: a good machinist. 10. Complete; thorough: a good workout. 11a. Reliable; sure: a good investment. b. Valid or true: a good reason. c. Genuine; real: a good dollar bill. 12a. In effect; operative: a warranty good for two years; a driver's license that is still good. b. Able to continue in a specified activity: I'm good for another round of golf. 13a. Able to pay or contribute: Is she good for the money that you lent her? b. Able to elicit a specified reaction: He is always good for a laugh. 14a. Ample; substantial: a good income. b. Bountiful: a good table. 15. Full: It is a good mile from here. 16a. Pleasant; enjoyable: had a good time at the party. b. Propitious; favorable: good weather; a good omen. 17a. Of moral excellence; upright: a good person. b. Benevolent; kind: a good soul; a good heart. c. Loyal; staunch: a good Republican. 18a. Well-behaved; obedient: a good child. b. Socially correct; proper: good manners. 19. Sports a. Landing within bounds or within a particular area of a court and therefore in play: The first serve was wide, but the second was good. b. Passing between the uprights of the goal and therefore scoring, as a field goal in football. 20. Used to form exclamatory phrases expressing surprise or dismay: Good heavens! Good grief! | | NOUN: | 1a. Something that is good. b. A good, valuable, or useful part or aspect. 2. Welfare; benefit: for the common good. 3. Goodness; virtue: There is much good to be found in people. 4. goods a. Commodities; wares: frozen goods. b. Portable personal property. c. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Fabric; material. 5. goods Slang Incriminating information or evidence: tried to get the goods on the crook. | | ADVERB: | Informal Well. | | IDIOMS: | as good as Practically; nearly: as good as new. but good Informal Used as an intensive: The pipe started to leak but good. for good Permanently; forever: I'm moving to Europe for good. good and Informal Very; thoroughly: I'll do it when I'm good and ready. no good Informal 1. Worthless. 2. Futile; useless: It's no good arguing with them. to the good 1. For the best; advantageous. 2. In an advantageous financial position: ended up to the good. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English, from Old English g d. See ghedh- in Appendix I. | | USAGE NOTE: | Good is properly used as an adjective with linking verbs such as be, seem, or appear: The future looks good. The soup tastes good. It should not be used as an adverb with other verbs: The car runs well (not good). Thus, The dress fits well and looks good. See Usage Note at well2.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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