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