What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Gain vs Grin - What's the difference?

gain | grin |

As nouns the difference between gain and grin

is that gain is the act of gaining or gain can be (architecture) a square or bevelled 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 while grin is .

As a preposition gain

is (obsolete) against.

As an adjective gain

is (obsolete) straight, direct; near; short.

As an adverb gain

is (obsolete) straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.

As a verb gain

is to acquire possession of what one did not have before.

gain

English

Etymology 1

From dialectal English (m), (m), short for (m), . More at (l).

Preposition

(English prepositions)
  • (obsolete) Against.
    • Derived terms
    * (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), (m), , from the adjective.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Straight, direct; near; short.
    • the gainest way
  • (obsolete) Suitable; convenient; ready.
  • (dialectal) Easy; tolerable; handy, dexterous.
  • (dialectal) Honest; respectable; moderate; cheap.
    • Derived terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (obsolete) Straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.
  • (dialectal) Suitably; conveniently; dexterously; moderately.
  • (dialectal) Tolerably; fairly.
    • gain quiet (= fairly/pretty quiet)

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) (m), . The Middle English word was reinforced by (etyl) . Related to (l), (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of gaining.
  • * Tennyson
    • the lust of gain
  • What one gains, as a return on investment or dividend.
    • No pain, no gain .
  • * Shakespeare
    • Everyone shall share in the gains .
  • (electronics) The factor by which a signal is multiplied.
    • Antonyms
    * loss
    Derived terms
    * autogain * gainful * gainsome

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To acquire possession of what one did not have before.
    • Looks like you've gained a new friend.
  • * Bible, Matthew xvi. 26
    • What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
  • * Alexander Pope
    • For fame with toil we gain , but lose with ease.
  • To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress.
    • The sick man gains daily.
  • * Bible, Ezekiel xxii. 12
    • Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion.
  • (dated) To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition.
    • to gain''' a battle; to '''gain a case at law
  • To increase.
  • * 1883 , (Howard Pyle), (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood)
    • Then they had bouts of wrestling and of cudgel play, so that every day they gained in skill and strength.
  • To be more likely to catch or overtake an individual.
    • I'm gaining (on you).
    gain ground
  • To reach.
    • to gain the top of a mountain
  • * 1907 , Jack London, The Iron Heel :
    • Ernest laughed harshly and savagely when he had gained the street.
  • To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate.
  • * Bible, Matthew xviii. 15
    • If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
  • * Dryden
    • to gratify the queen, and gain the court
  • To put on weight.
    • I've been gaining .
  • (of a clock or watch) To run fast.

    • Etymology 4

    Compare (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (architecture) A square or bevelled 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.

    • Anagrams

    * (l) * (l) * (l), (l) ----

    grin

    English

    Etymology 1

    Before 1000 CE - From (etyl) grinnen, from (etyl) grennian; compare to (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A smile in which the lips are parted to reveal the teeth.
  • * 1997, Linda Howard, Son of the Morning, Simon & Schuster, pages 364:
    • When the ceremony was finished a wide grin''' broke across his face, and it was that '''grin she saw, relieved and happy all at once.

    Verb

    (intransitive)
  • (lb) To smile, parting the lips so as to show the teeth.
  • :
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=15 citation , passage=‘No,’ said Luke, grinning at her. ‘You're not dull enough! […] What about the kid's clothes? I don't suppose they were anything to write home about, but didn't you keep anything? A bootee or a bit of embroidery or anything at all?’}}
  • (lb) To express by grinning.
  • :
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:Grinned horrible a ghastly smile.
  • *
  • *:"Mid-Lent, and the Enemy grins ," remarked Selwyn as he started for church with Nina and the children. Austin, knee-deep in a dozen Sunday supplements, refused to stir; poor little Eileen was now convalescent from grippe, but still unsteady on her legs; her maid had taken the grippe, and now moaned all day: "Mon dieu! Mon dieu! Che fais mourir! "
  • To show the teeth, like a snarling dog.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • *:The pangs of death do make him grin .
  • *
  • *:They burned the old gun that used to stand in the dark corner up in the garret, close to the stuffed fox that always grinned so fiercely. Perhaps the reason why he seemed in such a ghastly rage was that he did not come by his death fairly. And why else was he put away up there out of sight?—and so magnificent a brush as he had too.
    • Derived terms
    * fish-eating grin * pickin' and grinnin' * shit-eating grin

    See also

    * grimace * smile

    Etymology 2

    (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A snare; a gin.
  • * Remedy of Love
    • Like a bird that hasteth to his grin .

    Anagrams

    * ----