as Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms; arsenic and arsenic compounds are used as herbicides and insecticides and various alloys; found in arsenopyrite and orpiment and realgar
    arsenic; atomic number 33.
  2. noun a United States territory on the eastern part of the island of Samoa
    American Samoa; Eastern Samoa.
  3. noun a metric unit of length equal to one ten billionth of a meter (or 0.0001 micron); used to specify wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation
    A; angstrom; angstrom unit.
  4. noun any of several fat-soluble vitamins essential for normal vision; prevents night blindness or inflammation or dryness of the eyes
    A; axerophthol; vitamin A; antiophthalmic factor.
  5. noun one of the four nucleotides used in building DNA; all four nucleotides have a common phosphate group and a sugar (ribose)
    A; deoxyadenosine monophosphate.
  6. noun (biochemistry) purine base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA
    A; adenine.
  7. noun the basic unit of electric current adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
    A; amp; ampere.
    • a typical household circuit carries 15 to 50 amps
  8. noun the 1st letter of the Roman alphabet
    a.
  9. noun the blood group whose red cells carry the A antigen
    A; type A; group A.
  10. adverb to the same degree (often followed by `as')
    equally; every bit.
    • they were equally beautiful
    • birds were singing and the child sang as sweetly
    • sang as sweetly as a nightingale
    • he is every bit as mean as she is

WordNet

As adverb & conjunction
Etymology
OE. as, als, alse, also, al swa, AS. eal swa, lit. all so; hence, quite so, quite as: cf. G. als as, than, also so, then. See Also.
Definitions
  1. Denoting equality or likeness in kind, degree, or manner; like; similar to; in the same manner with or in which; in accordance with; in proportion to; to the extent or degree in which or to which; equally; no less than; as, ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil; you will reap as you sow; do as you are bidden.
    His spiritual attendants adjured him, as he loved his soul, to emancipate his brethren. Macaulay.
    ✍ As is often preceded by one of the antecedent or correlative words such, same, so, or as, in expressing an equality or comparison; as, give us such things as you please, and so long as you please, or as long as you please; he is not so brave as Cato; she is as amiable as she is handsome; come as quickly as possible. "Bees appear fortunately to prefer the same colors as we do." Lubbock. As, in a preceding part of a sentence, has such or so to answer correlatively to it; as with the people, so with the priest.
  2. In the idea, character, or condition of, -- limiting the view to certain attributes or relations; as, virtue considered as virtue; this actor will appear as Hamlet.
    The beggar is greater as a man, than is the man merely as a king. Dewey.
  3. While; during or at the same time that; when; as, he trembled as he spoke.
    As I return I will fetch off these justices. Shak.
  4. Because; since; it being the case that.
    As the population of Scotland had been generally trained to arms . . . they were not indifferently prepared. Sir W. Scott.
    [See Synonym under Because.]
  5. Expressing concession. (Often approaching though in meaning).
    We wish, however, to avail ourselves of the interest, transient as it may be, which this work has excited. Macaulay.
  6. That, introducing or expressing a result or consequence, after the correlatives so and such. Obs.
    I can place thee in such abject state, as help shall never find thee. Rowe.
    The relations are so uncertain as they require a great deal of examination. Bacon.
  7. As if; as though. Obs. or Poetic
    He lies, as he his bliss did know. Waller.
  8. For instance; by way of example; thus; -- used to introduce illustrative phrases, sentences, or citations.
  9. Than. Obs. & R.
    The king was not more forward to bestow favors on them as they free to deal affronts to others their superiors. Fuller.
  10. Expressing a wish. Obs. "As have," i. e., may he have. Chaucer.
As noun
Etymology
See Ace.
Definitions
  1. An ace. Obs. Chaucer.
As noun
Etymology
L. as. See Ace.
Wordforms
plural Asses
Definitions
  1. A Roman weight, answering to the libra or pound, equal to nearly eleven ounces Troy weight. It was divided into twelve ounces.
  2. A Roman copper coin, originally of a pound weight (12 oz.); but reduced, after the first Punic war, to two ounces; in the second Punic war, to one ounce; and afterwards to half an ounce.

Webster 1913