Etymology : Middle English, from Old English ut; akin to Old High German uz out, Greek hysteros later, Sanskrit ud up, out
Pronunciation : aut
Function : adverb
Date : before 12th century
1. pref. in a manner that surpasses, exceedingly. one who or that which lacks status or significance; way of escape (Informal); player or batter that is retired from the playing field (Baseball); serve or ball that falls out of bounds (Sports). serve or place a ball out of bounds (Sports); be exposed or revealed (especially about concealed information); expel (Archaic). exterior, external; wanting, lacking; directed away from; absent; retired from play (Baseball); out of bounds (Sports); extinguished; not in use, unfashionable; incorrect; unconscious. adoutside; on the exterior; on the outskirts; until the end; completely. prep. away from; outside of. get out of here!.
2. openly living as a homosexual; see:
"closet ".
3. to declare publicly the homosexuality of someone. Very popular direct-action of the "Gay " community in the 1990s, in an attempt to bring a higher profile to homosexuality. out\out\ , adv. [oe. out, ut, oute, ute, as. ūt, and ūte, ūtan, fr. ūt; akin to d. uit, os. ūt, g. aus, ohg. ūz, icel. ūt, sw. ut, dan. ud, goth. ut, skr. ud. ?198. cf. about, but, prep., carouse, utter, a.] in its original and strict sense, out means from the interior of something; beyond the limits or boundary of somethings; in a position or relation which is exterior to something; -- opposed to in or into. the something may be expressed after of, from, etc. (see:
out of, below); or, if not expressed, it is implied; as, he is out; or, he is out of the house, office, business, etc.; he came out; or, he came out from the ship, meeting, sect, party, etc. out is used in a variety of applications, as:.
4. away; abroad; off; from home, or from a certain, or a usual, place; not in; not in a particular, or a usual, place; as, the proprietor is out, his team was taken out. "my shoulder blade is out." he hath been out (of the country) nine years.
5. beyond the limits of concealment, confinement, privacy, constraint, etc., actual of figurative; hence, not in concealment, constraint, etc., in, or into, a state of freedom, openness, disclosure, publicity, etc.; as, the sun shines out; he laughed out, to be out at the elbows; the secret has leaked out, or is out; the disease broke out on his face; the book is out. leaves are out and perfect in a month. she has not been out [in general society] very long. james.
6. beyond the limit of existence, continuance, or supply; to the end; completely; hence, in, or into, a condition of extinction, exhaustion, completion; as, the fuel, or the fire, has burned out. "hear me out." deceitiful men shall not live out half their days. iv.
7. when the butt is out, we will drink water.
8. beyond possession, control, or occupation; hence, in, or into, a state of want, loss, or deprivation; -- used of office, business, property, knowledge, etc.; as, the democrats went out and the whigs came in; he put his money out at interest. "land that is out at rack rent." "he was out fifty pounds." fell. i have forgot my part, and i am out.
9. beyond the bounds of what is true, reasonable, correct, proper, common, etc.; in error or mistake; in a wrong or incorrect position or opinion; in a state of disagreement, opposition, etc.; in an inharmonious relation. "lancelot and i are out." wicked men are strangely out in the calculating of their own interest. very seldom out, in these his guesses.
10. not in the position to score in playing a game; not in the state or turn of the play for counting or gaining scores.note: out is largely used in composition as a prefix, with the same significations that it has as a separate word; as outbound, outbreak, outbuilding, outcome, outdo, outdoor, outfield. see also:
the first note under over, adv.
11. In its original and strict sense, out means from the interior of something; beyond the limits or boundary of somethings; in a position or relation which is exterior to something; opposed to in or into.
12. The something may be expressed after of, from, etc. ; or, if not expressed, it is implied; as, he is out; or, he is out of the house, office, business, etc.; he came out; or, he came out from the ship, meeting, sect, party, etc.
13. Away; abroad; off; from home, or from a certain, or a usual, place; not in; not in a particular, or a usual, place; as, the proprietor is out, his team was taken out.
14. Beyond the limits of concealment, confinement, privacy, constraint, etc., actual of figurative; hence, not in concealment, constraint, etc., in, or into, a state of freedom, openness, disclosure, publicity, etc.; as, the sun shines out; he laughed out, to be out at the elbows; the secret has leaked out, or is out; the disease broke out on his face; the book is out.
15. Beyond the limit of existence, continuance, or supply; to the end; completely; hence, in, or into, a condition of extinction, exhaustion, completion; as, the fuel, or the fire, has burned out.
16. Beyond possession, control, or occupation; hence, in, or into, a state of want, loss, or deprivation; used of office, business, property, knowledge, etc.; as, the Democrats went out and the Whigs came in; he put his money out at interest.
17. Beyond the bounds of what is true, reasonable, correct, proper, common, etc.; in error or mistake; in a wrong or incorrect position or opinion; in a state of disagreement, opposition, etc.; in an inharmonious relation.
18. Not in the position to score in playing a game; not in the state or turn of the play for counting or gaining scores.
19. One who, or that which, is out; especially, one who is out of office; generally in the plural.
20. A place or space outside of something; a nook or corner; an angle projecting outward; an open space; chiefly used in the phrase ins and outs; as, the ins and outs of a question.
21. See under In.
22. A word or words omitted by the compositor in setting up copy; an omission.
23. To cause to be out; to eject; to expel.
24. To come out with; to make known.
25. To give out; to dispose of; to sell.
26. To come or go out; to get out or away; to become public.
27. Expressing impatience, anger, a desire to be rid of; with the force of command; go out; begone; away; off. a failure by a batter or runner to reach a base safely in baseball; "you only get 3 outs per inning" be made known; be disclosed or revealed; "The truth will out" reveal somebody else's homosexuality; "This actor was outed last week" outer or outlying; "the out islands" no longer fashionable; "that style is out these days" outside of an enclosed space; "she is out" outward from a reference point; "he kicked his legs out" away from home; "they went out last night".