Library / English Dictionary

GAD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: gadded    , gadding   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse onward

Example:

cowboys know not to squat with their spurs on

Synonyms:

gad; spur

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("gad" is a kind of...):

goad; prod (a pointed instrument that is used to prod into a state of motion)

Meronyms (parts of "gad"):

rowel (a small spiked wheel at the end of a spur)

Holonyms ("gad" is a part of...):

boot (footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic free-floating anxiety and such symptoms as tension or sweating or trembling or lightheadedness or irritability etc that has lasted for more than six months

Synonyms:

anxiety reaction; GAD; generalized anxiety disorder

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("GAD" is a kind of...):

anxiety disorder (a cover term for a variety of mental disorders in which severe anxiety is a salient symptom)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Wander aimlessly in search of pleasure

Synonyms:

gad; gallivant; jazz around

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "gad" is one way to...):

cast; drift; ramble; range; roam; roll; rove; stray; swan; tramp; vagabond; wander (move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Credits

 Context examples: 

For example, deficiency in tyrosine hydroxylase activity leads to a movement disorder similar to Parkinson's disease and may play a role in Parkinson's disease and the development of an autoimmune response against glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) may trigger the destruction of insulin-secreting cells and type I diabetes.

(Neurotransmitter Biosynthesis Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

Also called GAD.

(Generalized anxiety disorder, NCI Dictionary)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 (GAD-7) If you checked off any problems, how difficult have these problems made it for you to do your work, take care of things at home, or get along with other people?

(GAD-7 - Problems Made it Difficult to Work, Take Care of Things, or Get Along with Other People, NCI Thesaurus)

Mrs Musgrove thinks all her servants so steady, that it would be high treason to call it in question; but I am sure, without exaggeration, that her upper house-maid and laundry-maid, instead of being in their business, are gadding about the village, all day long.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

So it naturally fell out that Meg got into the way of gadding and gossiping with her friend.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

And on Mrs Musgrove's side, it was, I make a rule of never interfering in any of my daughter-in-law's concerns, for I know it would not do; but I shall tell you, Miss Anne, because you may be able to set things to rights, that I have no very good opinion of Mrs Charles's nursery-maid: I hear strange stories of her; she is always upon the gad; and from my own knowledge, I can declare, she is such a fine-dressing lady, that she is enough to ruin any servants she comes near.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I don't intend to gad about with you, but leave you free to go where you like, while I amuse myself in my own way.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

John came home early, Meg gadded no more, and that greatcoat was put on in the morning by a very happy husband, and taken off at night by a most devoted little wife.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)