beg: Meaning and Definition of

beg

Pronunciation: (beg), [key]
— v., begged, beg•ging.
—v.t.
  1. to ask for as a gift, as charity, or as a favor: to beg alms; to beg forgiveness.
  2. to ask (someone) to give or do something; implore: He begged me for mercy. Sit down, I beg you.
  3. to take for granted without basis or justification: a statement that begs the very point we're disputing.
  4. to fail or refuse to come to grips with; avoid; evade: a report that consistently begs the whole problem.
—v.i.
  1. to ask alms or charity; live by asking alms.
  2. to ask humbly or earnestly: begging for help; begging to differ.
  3. (of a dog) to sit up, as trained, in a posture of entreaty.
  4. to request or obtain release from an obligation, promise, etc.: He had promised to drive us to the recital but begged off at the last minute.
  5. to assume the truth of the very point raised in a question.
  6. to remain open or available, as a position that is unfilled or an unsold item: The job went begging for lack of qualified applicants.

beg

Pronunciation: (bāg, beg), [key]
— n.
  1. bey.

beg.

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. begin.
  2. beginning.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also:
  • beg (Thesaurus)