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graft1

Syllabification: (graft)

Pronunciation: /graft/

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Definition of graft

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.

2 Medicine a piece of living tissue that is transplanted surgically.
a surgical operation in which tissue is transplanted.

verb

[with object]

1insert (a shoot or twig) as a graft:it was common to graft different varieties onto a single tree trunk
insert a graft on (a stock).

2 Medicine transplant (living tissue) as a graft:they can graft a new hand onto the arm

3insert or fix (something) permanently to something else, typically in a way considered inappropriate:western-style government could not easily be grafted onto a profoundly different country

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

graft in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of graft in the British & World English dictionary

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