quote

[ kwoht ]

verb (used with object)

, quot·ed, quot·ing.

1. to repeat (a passage, phrase, etc.) from a book, speech, or the like, as by way of authority, illustration, etc.
2. to repeat words from (a book, author, etc.).
3. to use a brief excerpt from:

   The composer quotes Beethoven's Fifth in his latest work.

4. to cite, offer, or bring forward as evidence or support.
5. to enclose (words) within quotation marks.
6. Commerce.
   1. to state (a price).
   2. to state the current price of.

verb (used without object)

, quot·ed, quot·ing.

1. to make a quotation or quotations, as from a book or author.
2. (used by a speaker to indicate the beginning of a quotation. )

noun

1. a quotation.
2. quotation mark.

quote

/ kwəʊt /

verb

1. to recite a quotation (from a book, play, poem, etc), esp as a means of illustrating or supporting a statement
2. tr to put quotation marks round (a word, phrase, etc)
3. stock exchange to state (a current market price) of (a security or commodity)

noun

1. an informal word for quotation quotation quotation quotation
2. often plural an informal word for quotation mark

   put it in quotes

interjection

1. an expression used parenthetically to indicate that the words that follow it form a quotation

   the president said, quote, I shall not run for office in November, unquote

Other Words From

• quoter noun
• outquote verb (used with object) outquoted outquoting
• pre·quote verb (used with object) prequoted prequoting
• re·quote verb (used with object) requoted requoting
• super·quote verb superquoted superquoting noun
• un·quoted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quote¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; 1880–85 quote fordef 9; Middle English coten, quoten, from Old French coter, from Medieval Latin quotāre “to divide into chapters and verses,” derivative of Latin quot “how many”

Word History and Origins

Origin of quote¹

C14: from Medieval Latin quotāre to assign reference numbers to passages, from Latin quot how many

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. quote unquote, so called; so to speak; as it were:

   If you're a liberal, quote unquote, they're suspicious of you.

Example Sentences

The quote led to a rare public rebuke of a political candidate by a police chief and calls for Jurado to quit the race or apologize.

From Los Angeles Times

The subsequent quote tweet attested, “Average coworker phone wallpaper,” receiving over 28,000 likes.

From Slate

But I’d be sorely tempted to include him just for that quote.

From Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, the other signature Harris economic policy, which she was quick to quote on the debate stage, was increasing the tax write-off for small businesses to $50,000, which, even if the lower ends of the income distribution were all entrepreneurs, is neither succinct or immediate.

From Slate

And he said, quote unquote, ‘Go F yourself, madam’.

From BBC

Related Words

• cite
• name
• recall
• refer to