graft1

 
Pronunciation: /grɑːft/

noun

  • 1a shoot or twig inserted into a slit on the trunk or stem of a living plant, from which it receives sap.
  • an instance of grafting a shoot or twig on to a living plant.
  • 2 Medicine a piece of living tissue that is transplanted surgically.
  • a surgical operation in which tissue is transplanted.

verb

[with object and adverbial]
  • 1insert (a shoot or twig) as a graft: it was common to graft different varieties on to a single tree trunk
  • insert a graft on (a trunk or stem).
  • 2 Medicine transplant (living tissue) as a graft: they can graft a new hand on to the nerve ends
  • 3combine or integrate (an idea, system, etc.) with another, typically in a way considered inappropriate: old values have been grafted on to a new economic class

Origin:

late Middle English graff, from Old French grafe, via Latin from Greek graphion 'stylus, writing implement' (with reference to the tapered tip of the scion), from graphein 'write'. The final -t is typical of phonetic confusion between -f and -ft at the end of words; compare with tuft