Gain /(?)/

Gain

n.
  1. A square or beveled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam. (Arch.)

Gain

a.
  1. Convenient; suitable; direct; near; handy; dexterous; easy; profitable; cheap; respectable. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Gain

n.
  1. That which is gained, obtained, or acquired, as increase, profit, advantage, or benefit; -- opposed to loss.
    But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
    — Phil. iii. 7.
    Godliness with contentment is great gain.
    — 1 Tim. vi. 6.
    Every one shall share in the gains.
  2. The obtaining or amassing of profit or valuable possessions; acquisition; accumulation.

Gain

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Gained; p. pr. & vb. n. Gaining

  1. To get, as profit or advantage; to obtain or acquire by effort or labor; as, to gain a good living.
    What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
    — Matt. xvi. 26.
    To gain dominion, or to keep it gained.
    For fame with toil we gain, but lose with ease.
  2. To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition; as, to gain a battle; to gain a case at law; to gain a prize.
  3. To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate.
    If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
    — Matt. xviii. 15.
    To gratify the queen, and gained the court.
  4. To reach; to attain to; to arrive at; as, to gain the top of a mountain; to gain a good harbor.
    Forded Usk and gained the wood.
  5. To get, incur, or receive, as loss, harm, or damage. [Obs. or Ironical]
    Ye should . . . not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
    — Acts xxvii. 21.

Phrases & Compounds
Gained day
the calendar day gained in sailing eastward around the earth.
To gain ground
to make progress; to advance in any undertaking; to prevail; to acquire strength or extent.
To gain over
to draw to one's party or interest; to win over.
To gain the wind
to reach the windward side of another ship.
Syn. -- To obtain; acquire; get; procure; win; earn; attain; achieve.

See Obtain. -- To Gain, Win. Gain implies only that we get something by exertion; win, that we do it in competition with others. A person gains knowledge, or gains a prize, simply by striving for it; he wins a victory, or wins a prize, by taking it in a struggle with others.

Gain

v. i.
  1. To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress; as, the sick man gains daily.
    Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion.
    — Ezek. xxii. 12.
    The English have not only gained upon the Venetians in the Levant, but have their cloth in Venice itself.
    My good behavior had so far gained on the emperor, that I began to conceive hopes of liberty.