Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Impressive in size, appearance, or general effect; magnificent: Used to describe something large, splendid, or imposing.
   • Of great importance or distinction; principal; chief: Refers to the most important or highest-ranking element.
   • Ambitious in scope or scale: Describing an action or plan that is large, sweeping, or comprehensive.
   • Excellent; wonderful; very good: Used informally to express high approval or delight.
   • Dignified or noble in appearance or behavior: Suggesting high status, formality, or moral loftiness.

2. Noun:

   • A grand piano: A large piano with a horizontal frame and strings.
   • A thousand dollars or pounds: A slang term for one thousand units of currency.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • They held the reception in the grand ballroom of the hotel. (Describing impressive size and splendor)
  • The grand prize for the competition is an all-expenses-paid trip. (Referring to the most important or chief prize)
  • The company has grand plans for international expansion. (Describing ambitious, large-scale plans)
  • "We had a grand time at the party!" she exclaimed. (Informal use meaning excellent or wonderful)
  • The ambassador spoke with a grand and solemn manner. (Describing dignified, noble behavior)

• Noun:

  • The concert pianist preferred the rich sound of a grand. (Referring to a grand piano)
  • He paid five grand for that used car. (Slang for five thousand dollars)

Advanced Usage

• "In the grand scheme of things": When considering the larger, overall picture or long-term perspective.
  • This setback is minor in the grand scheme of things.
• "Grand finale": The final and most impressive part of a performance or series of events.
  • The fireworks display served as the grand finale of the festival.
• "Grand gesture": A large, conspicuous, and often generous action intended to impress or express strong feeling.
  • He made a grand gesture by filling her office with flowers.

Variants and Related Words

• Grandeur (n): Splendor and impressiveness, especially of appearance or style.
  • The grandeur of the ancient palace left us speechless.
• Grandiose (adj): Extravagantly or pretentiously imposing in appearance or style; also, conceived on a very grand or ambitious scale.
  • His grandiose plans were never realized due to lack of funding.
• Grandly (adv): In a grand or impressive manner.
  • The doors opened grandly to welcome the guests.

Synonyms

• Magnificent: Extremely beautiful, elaborate, or impressive.
• Majestic: Having or showing impressive beauty or dignity.
• Imposing: Grand and impressive in appearance.
• Splendid: Magnificent; very impressive.
• Principal: First in order of importance; main.

Related Phrases

• Grand total: The final total after everything has been added up.
  • The grand total for the project came to just over a million dollars.
• Grand opening: A special event to celebrate the official opening of a new business or building.
  • The store's grand opening attracted hundreds of customers.

Idioms

• Play the grand seigneur: To act in a lordly or generous manner.
  • For the evening, he decided to play the grand seigneur and paid for everyone's dinner.
• Grand old man (or woman): A respected elderly person, especially one who is a long-standing authority in a particular field.
  • At 90, she was considered the grand old woman of American literature.

Adjective

1. used of a person's appearance or behavior; befitting an eminent person
   • his distinguished bearing
   • the monarch's imposing presence
   • she reigned in magisterial beauty
2. the most important and magnificent in adornment
   • grand ballroom
   • grand staircase
3. large and impressive in physical size or extent
   • the bridge is a grand structure
4. of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
   • an exalted ideal
   • argue in terms of high-flown ideals- Oliver Franks
   • a noble and lofty concept
   • a grand purpose
5. extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
   • a fantastic trip to the Orient
   • the film was fantastic!
   • a howling success
   • a marvelous collection of rare books
   • had a rattling conversation about politics
   • a tremendous achievement
6. rich and superior in quality
   • a princely sum
   • gilded dining rooms
7. of or befitting a lord
   • heir to a lordly fortune
   • of august lineage
8. of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
   • an expansive lifestyle
   • in the grand manner
   • collecting on a grand scale
   • heroic undertakings

Noun

1. a piano with the strings on a horizontal harp-shaped frame; usually supported by three legs
2. the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100