What

Definition:

  • (pron., a., & adv.) As an interrogative pronoun, used in asking questions regarding either persons or things; as, what is this? what did you say? what poem is this? what child is lost?
  • (pron., a., & adv.) As an exclamatory word: -- (a) Used absolutely or independently; -- often with a question following.
  • (pron., a., & adv.) Used adjectively, meaning how remarkable, or how great; as, what folly! what eloquence! what courage!
  • (pron., a., & adv.) Sometimes prefixed to adjectives in an adverbial sense, as nearly equivalent to how; as, what happy boys!
  • (pron., a., & adv.) As a relative pronoun
  • (pron., a., & adv.) Used substantively with the antecedent suppressed, equivalent to that which, or those [persons] who, or those [things] which; -- called a compound relative.
  • (pron., a., & adv.) Used adjectively, equivalent to the . . . which; the sort or kind of . . . which; rarely, the . . . on, or at, which.
  • (pron., a., & adv.) Used adverbially in a sense corresponding to the adjectival use; as, he picked what good fruit he saw.
  • (pron., a., & adv.) Whatever; whatsoever; what thing soever; -- used indefinitely.
  • (pron., a., & adv.) Used adverbially, in part; partly; somewhat; -- with a following preposition, especially, with, and commonly with repetition.
  • (n.) Something; thing; stuff.
  • (interrog. adv.) Why? For what purpose? On what account?

Compare what with other words:

synthesize vs. what

wait vs. what

what vs. whot

whap vs. what

ghat vs. what

wham vs. what

phat vs. what

what vs. whit

what vs. whet

hat vs. what

chat vs. what

hell vs. what

happy vs. what

comes vs. what

what vs. wow

from vs. what

various vs. what

mobile vs. what

what vs. whatever

book vs. what

stimulate vs. what

want vs. what