Definition of "say" in 英语

verb

1. (transitive) To pronounce.

   • Please say your name slowly and clearly.

2. (transitive) To recite.

   • Martha, will you say the Pledge of Allegiance?

3. (transitive) To tell, either verbally or in writing.

   • He said he would be here tomorrow.
   • I want to say I’m sorry for yesterday. — It’s okay, Anna.

4. (transitive) To indicate in a written form.

   • The sign says it’s 50 kilometres to Paris.
   • What time does it say on the clock?

5. (impersonal, transitive) To have a common expression; used in singular passive voice or plural active voice to indicate a rumor or well-known fact.

   • They say "when in Rome, do as the Romans do", which means "behave as those around you do."

6. (informal, imperative, transitive) Suppose, assume; used to mark an example, supposition or hypothesis.

   • A holiday somewhere warm – Florida, say – would be nice.
   • Say he refuses. What do we do then?
   • Say your family is starving and you don't have any money, is it okay to steal some food?

7. (intransitive) To speak; to express an opinion; to make answer; to reply.

8. (transitive, informal, of a possession, especially money) To bet as a wager on an outcome; by extension, used to express belief in an outcome by the speaker.

noun

1. (countable, uncountable(?)) A chance to speak; the right or power to influence or make a decision.

   • To have a say

adverb

1. For example; let us assume.

   • Pick a color you think they'd like, say, peach.
   • He was driving pretty fast, say, fifty miles per hour.

interjection

1. (US, colloquial) Used to gain someone's attention before making an inquiry or suggestion

   • Say, what did you think about the movie?

noun

1. A type of fine cloth similar to serge.

verb

1. To try; to assay.

noun

1. Trial by sample; assay; specimen.

   • If those principal works of God […] be but certain tastes and says, as if were, of that final benefit.