Gain — Defs

01 n. A square or beveled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the …

1.
A square or beveled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam.(Arch.)

02 a. Convenient; suitable; direct; near; handy; dexterous; easy; profitable; cheap; respectable.

1.
Convenient; suitable; direct; near; handy; dexterous; easy; profitable; cheap; respectable.[Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

03 n. That which is gained, obtained, or acquired, as increase, profit, advantage, or benefit; -- opposed to loss.

1.
That which is gained, obtained, or acquired, as increase, profit, advantage, or benefit; -- opposed to loss.
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” — Phil. iii. 7.

“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” — 1 Tim. vi. 6.

“Every one shall share in the gains.” — Shak.
2.
The obtaining or amassing of profit or valuable possessions; acquisition; accumulation.

04 v. t. To get, as profit or advantage; to obtain or acquire by effort or labor; as, to gain a good living.

imp. & p. p. Gained; p. pr. & vb. n. Gaining

1.
To get, as profit or advantage; to obtain or acquire by effort or labor; as, to gain a good living.
“What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” — Matt. xvi. 26.

“To gain dominion, or to keep it gained.” — Milton.

“For fame with toil we gain, but lose with ease.” — Pope.
2.
To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition; as, to gain a battle; to gain a case at law; to gain a prize.
3.
To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate.
“If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” — Matt. xviii. 15.

“To gratify the queen, and gained the court.” — Dryden.
4.
To reach; to attain to; to arrive at; as, to gain the top of a mountain; to gain a good harbor.
“Forded Usk and gained the wood.” — Tennyson.
5.
To get, incur, or receive, as loss, harm, or damage.[Obs. or Ironical]
“Ye should . . . not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.” — Acts xxvii. 21.

Phrases & compounds

Gained day — the calendar day gained in sailing eastward around the earth.

To gain ground — to make progress; to advance in any undertaking; to prevail; to acquire strength or extent.

To gain over — to draw to one's party or interest; to win over.

To gain the wind — to reach the windward side of another ship.

Syn. To obtain; acquire; get; procure; win; earn; attain; achieve.

See Obtain. -- To Gain, Win. Gain implies only that we get something by exertion; win, that we do it in competition with others. A person gains knowledge, or gains a prize, simply by striving for it; he wins a victory, or wins a prize, by taking it in a struggle with others.

05 v. i. To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress; as, …

1.
To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress; as, the sick man gains daily.
“Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion.” — Ezek. xxii. 12.

“The English have not only gained upon the Venetians in the Levant, but have their cloth in Venice itself.” — Addison.

“My good behavior had so far gained on the emperor, that I began to conceive hopes of liberty.” — Swift.