graft Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (surgery) tissue or organ transplanted from a donor to a recipient; in some cases the patient can be both donor and recipient
    transplant.
  2. noun the practice of offering something (usually money) in order to gain an illicit advantage
    bribery.
  3. noun the act of grafting something onto something else
    grafting.
  4. verb cause to grow together parts from different plants
    ingraft; engraft.
    • graft the cherry tree branch onto the plum tree
  5. verb place the organ of a donor into the body of a recipient
    transplant.

WordNet

Graft noun
Etymology
OE. graff, F. greffe, originally the same word as OF. grafe pencil, L. graphium, Gr. , , fr. to write; prob. akin to E. carve. So named from the resemblance of a scion or shoot to a pointed pencil. Cf. Graphic, Grammar.
Definitions
  1. A small shoot or scion of a tree inserted in another tree, the stock of which is to support and nourish it. The two unite and become one tree, but the graft determines the kind of fruit.
  2. A branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot.
  3. (Surg.) A portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty.
Graft transitive verb
Etymology
F. greffer. See Graft, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Grafted; present participle & verbal noun Grafting
Definitions
  1. To insert (a graft) in a branch or stem of another tree; to propagate by insertion in another stock; also, to insert a graft upon. Formerly written graff.
  2. (Surg.) To implant a portion of (living flesh or akin) in a lesion so as to form an organic union.
  3. To join (one thing) to another as if by grafting, so as to bring about a close union.
    And graft my love immortal on thy fame ! Pope.
  4. (Naut.) To cover, as a ring bolt, block strap, splicing, etc., with a weaving of small cord or rope-yarns.
Graft intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To insert scions from one tree, or kind of tree, etc., into another; to practice grafting.

Webster 1913