graft

/ɡræft/
noun
  1. A piece of living tissue that is surgically attached to a part of the body to replace damaged or missing tissue.
    • The surgeon used a skin graft to cover the burn wound.
    • After the accident, he needed a bone graft to repair his leg.
    • The patient's body accepted the graft without complications.
  2. A shoot or bud from one plant that is inserted into another plant so that they grow together.
    • The gardener made a graft from a strong apple tree onto a weaker one.
    • She learned how to do a simple graft to combine two rose varieties.
    • The graft took well, and the tree now produces both types of fruit.
  3. Hard work, especially when done over a long period.
    • Getting that promotion took years of hard graft.
    • The project was a success thanks to everyone's graft.
    • He's not afraid of a bit of graft to achieve his goals.
  4. The use of dishonest or illegal means to gain money or advantage, especially in politics or business.
    • The mayor was accused of graft and bribery.
    • They promised to clean up the graft in the construction industry.
    • The investigation uncovered widespread graft in the city council.
verb
  1. To attach a piece of living tissue surgically to a part of the body.
    • Doctors grafted skin from his thigh onto his burned arm.
    • They will graft a new blood vessel to restore circulation.
    • The surgeon successfully grafted the donor tissue onto the patient's heart.
  2. To insert a shoot or bud from one plant into another so they grow together.
    • You can graft a rose bud onto a stronger rootstock.
    • He grafted a branch from the pear tree onto the apple tree.
    • She grafted the vine onto a disease-resistant root.
  3. To work hard, especially over a long period.
    • He grafted for years to build his business from scratch.
    • They grafted all summer to save enough money for college.
    • She grafted away at her studies until she passed the exam.
  4. To obtain money or advantage dishonestly, especially in politics or business.
    • The official was caught grafting public funds.
    • He was accused of grafting from the charity's accounts.
    • They grafted their way to wealth by taking bribes.
What does "graft" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean