what

what [hwut, hwät, wut, wät]

pron.

[ME hwat < OE hwæt, neut. of hwa, who < IE interrogative base * kwo-, * kwe- > WHERE, WHO, L qui, who what, Lith kàs, what, who]

I as an interrogative: which thing, event, circumstance, etc.?: used to ask for the specification of an identity, quantity, quality, etc., as:

1. the nature, class, name, purpose, etc. of a thing [what is that object? what is your address?]

a) an explanation or repetition of something previously said [you told them what?]

b) such an explanation or repetition: used elliptically [“Sh. Quiet!” “What?”]

2. a quantity, sum, etc. [what will it cost?]

3. the value, importance, or effect of something [what is life without music?]

II as a relative pronoun, with the meaning:

1. that which or those which [to know what one wants]

2. anything that [do what you will]

3. the exact person or thing that [he's not what he was five years ago]

4. that or who: a nonstandard usage [the man what gave it to me]

III as an intensifier in exclamations [what he said about her!]

IV in various other uses

1. [Informal, Chiefly Brit.] used to end a sentence with a general or rhetorical interrogative force [it's rather late, what?]

2. used to introduce a parenthetical element in a sentence [she has, what is rare, true tolerance]

3. used elliptically to mean “what it is,” “what to do,” etc. [I'll tell you what!]

n.

the true or basic quality of something [to uncover the what and why of their relationship]

adj.

1. which or which kind of: used interrogatively or relatively in asking for or specifying the nature, identity, etc. of a person or thing [what man told you that? he knows what role she played]

2. as much, or as many, as [take what time (or men) you need]

3. how great, surprising, magnificent, disappointing, etc.: in exclamations [what a man! what nonsense!]

adv.

1. in what respect? to what degree? how? [what does it matter?]

2. how greatly, surprisingly, etc.: in exclamations [what tragic news!]

3. Obs. why?

conj.

[Brit. Dial.] so far as; as much as [we warned them what we could]

interj.

used to express surprise, anger, confusion, etc. [what! no dinner?]

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and what not

and other things of all sorts

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what about

what is your wish, opinion, or information concerning [what about going to a movie?]

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what for

1. for what purpose? why?

2. Slang punishment; esp., a whipping [he gave his son what for!]

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what have you

Informal anything else of a similar sort [selling games, toys, or what have you]

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what if

1. what would happen if

2. what difference would it make if

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☆ what it takes

Informal whatever is necessary for success or popularity, as wealth, beauty, or intelligence

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what's what

Informal the true state of affairs

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what the devil or what the heck or what the hell

1. an exclamatory remark of surprise

2. what: used emphatically

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what though

what difference does it make that

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what with

1. because of [what with the snow and ice, we'll be late]

2. in view of; taking into account [what with the usual rush-hour traffic, I suspect you'll be late]