Library / English Dictionary

PRIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something given as a token of victory

Synonyms:

prize; trophy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

accolade; award; honor; honour; laurels (a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "prize"):

apple of discord ((classical mythology) a golden apple thrown into a banquet of the gods by Eris (goddess of discord--who had not been invited); the apple had 'for the fairest' written on it and Hera and Athena and Aphrodite all claimed it; when Paris (prince of Troy) awarded it to Aphrodite it began a chain of events that led to the Trojan War)

booby prize (a prize given to one who finishes last in a contest)

bronze medal (a trophy made of bronze (or having the appearance of bronze) that is usually awarded for winning third place in a competition)

cup; loving cup (a large metal vessel with two handles that is awarded as a trophy to the winner of a competition)

gold medal (a trophy made of gold (or having the appearance of gold) that is usually awarded for winning first place in a competition)

silver; silver medal (a trophy made of silver (or having the appearance of silver) that is usually awarded for winning second place in a competition)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Goods or money obtained illegally

Synonyms:

booty; dirty money; loot; pillage; plunder; prize; swag

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

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

stolen property (property that has been stolen)

Meronyms (parts of "prize"):

cut (a share of the profits)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Something given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition or for winning a lottery

Example:

the prize was a free trip to Europe

Synonyms:

award; prize

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

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

gift (something acquired without compensation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "prize"):

premium (a prize, bonus, or award given as an inducement to purchase products, enter competitions initiated by business interests, etc.)

prize money (any money given as a prize)

jackpot (any outstanding award)

door prize (tickets are passed out at the entrance to a dance or party or other social function and a prize is awarded to the holder of the winning ticket)

gratuity (an award (as for meritorious service) given without claim or obligation)

fellowship (money granted (by a university or foundation or other agency) for advanced study or research)

scholarship (financial aid provided to a student on the basis of academic merit)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of superior grade

Example:

select peaches

Synonyms:

choice; prime; prize; quality; select

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

superior (of high or superior quality or performance)

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Regard highly; think much of

Example:

We prize his creativity

Synonyms:

esteem; prise; prize; respect; value

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

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

consider; reckon; regard; see; view (deem to be)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "prize"):

think the world of (esteem very highly)

fear; revere; reverence; venerate (regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of)

admire; look up to (feel admiration for)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The chefs prize the vegetables

Sense 2

Meaning:

To move or force, especially in an effort to get something open

Example:

Raccoons managed to pry the lid off the garbage pail

Synonyms:

jimmy; lever; prise; prize; pry

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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

open; open up (cause to open or to become open)

"Prize" entails doing...:

loose; loosen (make loose or looser)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Hold dear

Example:

I prize these old photographs

Synonyms:

appreciate; prize; treasure; value

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

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

consider; reckon; regard; see; view (deem to be)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "prize"):

do justice (show due and full appreciation)

recognise; recognize (show approval or appreciation of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue prize the movie

Credits

 Context examples: 

His poem won the first prize of ten dollars, his campaign song the second prize of five dollars, his essay on the principles of the Republican Party the first prize of twenty-five dollars.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

There is no competition for the prize: the honey-hunters harvest the honey and honeyguides devour the wax combs left behind.

(How humans and wild Honeyguide birds call each other to help, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

These threads are proposed as prizes for those persons whom the emperor has a mind to distinguish by a peculiar mark of his favour.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

‘You are the same Percy Trevelyan who has had so distinguished a career and won a great prize lately?’ said he.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Challenger struts about like a prize peacock, and Summerlee is silent, but still sceptical.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Two lines more prized had never fallen from the pen of the most distinguished author—never more completely blessed the researches of the fondest biographer.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I eagerly seized the prize and returned with it to my hovel.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

A prize given for achievement in a specific area, including monies given on the basis of merit.

(Award, NCI Thesaurus)

These animals are highly prized for their fur and are used in biomedical research for auditory system research as well as bacterial infections caused by Listeria, Yersinia and Pseudomonas.

(Chinchilla, NCI Thesaurus)

Asteroids and comets are considered more or less pristine remnants from our solar system's formation, and many meteorites are prized samples from asteroids that happen to be conveniently delivered to Earth.

(Vitamin B3 might have been made in space, delivered to Earth by meteorites, NASA)