gain 1 (g?n)v. gained, gain·ing, gains v.tr.1. To come into possession or use of; acquire: gained a small fortune in real estate; gained vital information about the enemy’s plans.2. To attain in competition or struggle; win: gained a decisive victory; gained control of the company.3. To obtain through effort or merit; achieve: gain recognition; gain a hearing for the proposal.4. To secure as profit or reward; earn: gain a living; gain extra credits in school.5. a. To manage to achieve an increase of: a movement that gained strength; gained wisdom with age.b. To increase by (a specific amount): gained 15 pounds; the market gained 30 points.6. To come to; reach: gained the top of the mountain.7. To become fast by (a specified amount of time). Used of a timepiece: My watch gains four minutes a day.v.intr.1. To increase; grow: gained in experience and maturity; a painting that gained in value.2. To become better; improve: gaining in health.3. To obtain a profit or advantage; benefit: stood to gain politically by his opponent’s blunder.4. To move closer to a person or thing that is moving ahead; close a gap: The runners in the back gained steadily on the leader.5. To put on weight: I began to gain when I went off my diet.6. To operate or run fast. Used of a timepiece.n.1. a. Something gained or acquired: territorial gains.b. Progress; advancement: The country made economic gains under the new government.2. The act of acquiring; attainment.3. An increase in amount or degree: a gain in operating income.4. Electronics An increase in signal power, voltage, or current by an amplifier, expressed as the ratio of output to input. Also called amplification.5. The reflectivity of a projection screen, usually expressed relative to the reflectivity of a standard surface of magnesium carbonate.Idioms: gain ground To progress, advance, or increase: Stock prices gained ground yesterday. gain time1. To run too fast. Used of a timepiece.2. To delay or prolong something until a desired event occurs.[From Middle English gayne, booty (from Old French gaigne, gain, gain, from gaaignier, to gain, of Germanic origin; see wei?- in Indo-European roots) and Middle English gein, advantage (from Old Norse gegn, ready, and from Old French gain, gain).]gain 2 (g?n)n. A notch or mortise cut into a board to receive another part.tr.v. gained, gain·ing, gains 1. To cut out a gain in.2. To join by or fit into a gain.[Origin unknown.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.gain (?e?n) vb1. (tr) to acquire (something desirable); obtain2. (tr) to win in competition: to gain the victory. 3. to increase, improve, or advance: the car gained speed; the shares gained in value. 4. (tr) to earn (a wage, living, etc)5. (intr; usually foll by on or upon) a. to get nearer (to) or catch up (on)b. to get farther away (from)6. (tr) (esp of ships) to get to; reach: the steamer gained port. 7. (Horology) (of a timepiece) to operate too fast, so as to indicate a time ahead of the true time or to run fast by a specified amount: this watch gains; it gains ten minutes a day. 8. gain ground to make progress or obtain an advantage9. gain time a. to obtain extra time by a delay or postponementb. (of a timepiece) to operate too fastn10. something won, acquired, earned, etc; profit; advantage11. an increase in size, amount, etc12. the act of gaining; attainment; acquisition13. (Electronics) electronics Also called: amplification the ratio of the output signal of an amplifier to the input signal, usually measured in decibels[C15: from Old French gaaignier, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German weidenen to forage, hunt] ?gainable adjgain (?e?n) n (Building) a notch, mortise, or groove, esp one cut to take the flap of a butt hingevb (Building) (tr) to cut a gain or gains in[C17: of obscure origin]GAIN (?e?n) (in Canada) n acronym for (Banking & Finance) Guaranteed Annual IncomeCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014gain (ge?n) v.t. 1. to get (something desired), esp. as a result of one’s efforts; obtain; secure: to gain possession of land; to gain permission to enter. 2. to acquire as an increase or addition: to gain weight; to gain speed. 3. to obtain as a profit or advantage: He didn’t stand to gain much by the deal. 4. to win; get in competition: to gain a prize. 5. to win (someone) to one’s own side or point of view: to gain supporters. 6. (of a watch or clock) to run fast by (a specified amount): My watch gains six minutes a day. 7. to reach, esp. by effort; get to; arrive at: to gain one’s destination. v.i. 8. to improve; make progress; advance: to gain in health. 9. to get nearer, as in pursuit (usu. fol. by on or upon): Our horse was gaining on the favorite. 10. to draw away from or farther ahead of one’s competitors, pursuers, etc. (usu. fol. by on or upon). 11. (of a watch or clock) to run fast. n. 12. profit or advantage: I see no gain in this plan. 13. an increase or advance: a gain in weight; a gain in power. 14. gains, profits or winnings. 15. the act of gaining; acquisition. 16. a. a measure of the increase in signal amplitude produced by an amplifier, expressed as the ratio of output to input. b. the effectiveness of a directional antenna as compared with a standard, nondirectional one. [1425?75; If you gain something such as an ability or quality, you gradually get more of it.If you earn wages or a salary, you are paid money for work that you do.Be Careful!Don’t say ‘She gains $200 a week.’