释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024boast1 /boʊst/USA pronunciation v. - to speak (of someone or something) with exaggeration and too much pride, esp. about oneself: [no object]He was always boasting.[~ + of/about + object]boasting about his law school.[~ + that clause]boasted that he had won every track award in school.
- [~ + object] to be proud to own or have;
be lucky to possess: The town boasts two new schools. n. [countable] - a thing boasted of;
a cause for pride:It was my boast that I never missed a day of work. - instances of exaggerated speech or bragging:empty boasts.
boast•er, n. [countable] boast•ful, adj. boast•ful•ly, adv. boast•ful•ness, n. [uncountable]boast•ing•ly, adv. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024boast1 (bōst),USA pronunciation v.i. - to speak with exaggeration and excessive pride, esp. about oneself.
- to speak with pride (often fol. by of ):He boasted of his family's wealth.
v.t. - to speak of with excessive pride or vanity:He boasts himself a genius.
- to be proud in the possession of:The town boasts a new school.
n. - a thing boasted of;
a cause for pride:Talent is his boast. It is her boast that she has never betrayed a friend. - exaggerated or objectionable speech;
bragging:empty boasts and threats.
- Middle English bost (noun, nominal), bosten (verb, verbal), of uncertain origin, originally 1250–1300
boast′ing•ly, adv. boast′less, adj. - 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged Boast, brag imply vocal self-praise or claims to superiority over others. Boast usually refers to a particular ability, possession, etc., that may be one of such kind as to justify a good deal of pride:He boasts of his ability as a singer.Brag, a more colloquial term, usually suggests a more ostentatious and exaggerated boasting but less well-founded:He brags loudly of his marksmanship.
boast2 (bōst),USA pronunciation v.t. [Masonry.]- Buildingto dress or shape (stone) roughly.
- of uncertain origin, originally 1815–25
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: boast /bəʊst/ vb - (intr; sometimes followed by of or about) to speak in exaggerated or excessively proud terms of one's possessions, skills, or superior qualities; brag
- (transitive) to possess (something to be proud of): the city boasts a fine cathedral
n - a bragging statement
- a possession, attribute, attainment, etc, that is or may be bragged about
Etymology: 13th Century: of uncertain originˈboaster n ˈboasting n , adj |