noun
1. the act of apportioning or distributing something
e.g. the captain was entrusted with the deal of provisions
2. the act of distributing playing cards
e.g. the deal was passed around the table clockwise
3. a particular instance of buying or selling
e.g. it was a package deal
I had no further trade with him
he's a master of the business deal
Synonym: tradebusiness deal
4. an agreement between parties (usually arrived at after discussion) fixing obligations of each
e.g. he made a bargain with the devil
he rose to prominence through a series of shady deals
Synonym: bargain
5. the type of treatment received (especially as the result of an agreement)
e.g. he got a good deal on his car
6. the cards held in a card game by a given player at any given time
e.g. I didn't hold a good hand all evening
he kept trying to see my hand
Synonym: hand
7. (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
e.g. a batch of letters
a deal of trouble
a lot of money
he made a mint on the stock market
see the rest of the winners in our huge passel of photos
it must have cost plenty
a slew of journalists
a wad of money
Synonym: batchflockgood dealgreat dealhatfulheaplotmassmessmicklemintmountainmucklepasselpeckpileplentypotquite a littleraftsightslewspatestacktidy sumwad
8. wood that is easy to saw (from conifers such as pine or fir)
Synonym: softwood
9. a plank of softwood (fir or pine board)
verb
1. take into consideration for exemplifying purposes
e.g. Take the case of China
Consider the following case
Synonym: considertakelook at
2. act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
e.g. This book deals with incest
The course covered all of Western Civilization
The new book treats the history of China
Synonym: covertreathandleplowaddress
3. do business
offer for sale as for one's livelihood
e.g. She deals in gold
The brothers sell shoes
Synonym: selltrade
4. sell
e.g. deal hashish
5. distribute cards to the players in a game
e.g. Who's dealing?
6. give (a specific card) to a player
e.g. He dealt me the Queen of Spades
7. give out as one's portion or share
Synonym: sharedivvy upportion outapportion
8. administer or bestow, as in small portions
e.g. administer critical remarks to everyone present
dole out some money
shell out pocket money for the children
deal a blow to someone
the machine dispenses soft drinks
Synonym: distributeadministermete outparcel outlotdispenseshell outdeal outdish outallotdole out
9. take action with respect to (someone or something)
e.g. How are we going to deal with this problem?
The teacher knew how to deal with these lazy students
10. behave in a certain way towards others
e.g. He deals fairly with his employees
11. be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
e.g. I can deal with this crew of workers
This blender can't handle nuts
She managed her parents' affairs after they got too old
Synonym: managecarehandle
12. direct the course of
manage or control
e.g. You cannot conduct business like this
Synonym: conductcarry on
13. come to terms with
e.g. We got by on just a gallon of gas
They made do on half a loaf of bread every day
Synonym: copeget bymake outmake docontendgrapplemanage