have / hav/ • v. (has / haz; (h)əz/ ; past had / had; (h)əd/ ) [tr.] 1. (also have got) possess, own, or hold: he had a new car and a boat have you got a job yet? I don't have that much money on me he's got the equipment with him. ∎  possess or be provided with (a quality, characteristic, or feature): the ham had a sweet, smoky flavor she's got blue eyes the house has gas heat. ∎  (have oneself) inf. provide or indulge oneself with (something): he had himself two highballs. ∎  be made up of; comprise: in 1989 the party had 10,000 members. ∎  used to indicate a particular relationship: he's got three children do you have a client named Pedersen? ∎  be able to make use of (something available or at one's disposal): how much time have I got for the presentation? ∎  have gained (a qualification): he's got a BA in English. ∎  possess as an intellectual attainment; know (a language or subject): he knew Latin and Greek; I had only a little French.2. experience; undergo: I went to a few parties and had a good time I was having difficulty in keeping awake. ∎  (also have got) suffer from (an illness, ailment, or disability): I've got a headache. ∎  (also have got) let (a feeling or thought) come into one's mind; hold in the mind: he had the strong impression that someone was watching him we've got a few ideas we're kicking around I've no doubt he's as busy as I am. ∎  experience or suffer the specified action happening or being done to (something): she had her bag stolen. ∎  cause (someone or something) to be in a particular state or condition: I want to have everything ready in good time I had the TV on with the sound turned down. ∎  (also have got) inf. have put (someone) at a disadvantage in an argument (said either to acknowledge that one has no answer to a point or to show that one knows one's opponent has no answer): you've got me there; I've never given the matter much thought. ∎  cause (something) to be done for one by someone else: it is advisable to have your carpet laid by a professional. ∎  tell or arrange for something to be done: she had her long hair cut always having the builders in to do something. ∎  (usu. be had) inf. cheat or deceive (someone): I realized I'd been had. ∎ vulgar slang engage in sexual intercourse with (someone).3. (have to do something or have got to do something) be obliged or find it necessary to do the specified thing: you don't have to accept this situation we've got to plan for the future. ∎  need or be obliged to do (something): he's got a lot to do. ∎  be strongly recommended to do something: if you think that place is great, you have to try our summer house. ∎  be certain or inevitable to happen or be the case: there has to be a catch.4. perform the action indicated by the noun specified (used esp. in spoken English as an alternative to a more specific verb): he had a look around the color green has a restful effect. ∎  organize and bring about: are you going to have a party? ∎  eat or drink: I'll have the vegetable plate. ∎  give birth to or be due to give birth to: she's going to have a baby.5. (also have got) show (a personal attribute or quality) by one's actions or attitude: he had little patience with technological gadgetry | if you've got the drive to finish your degree. ∎  [often in imper.] exercise or show (mercy, pity, etc.) toward another person: God have mercy on me! ∎  not accept; refuse to tolerate: I can't have you insulting Tom like that.6. (also have got) place or keep (something) in a particular position: Mary had her back to me I soon had the trout in a net. ∎  hold or grasp (someone or something) in a particular way: he had me by the throat.7. be the recipient of (something sent, given, or done): she had a letter from Mark. ∎  take or invite into one's home so as to provide care or entertainment, esp. for a limited period: we're having the children for the weekend.• aux. v. used with a past participle to form the perfect, pluperfect, and future perfect tenses, and the conditional mood: I have finished he had asked her she will have left by now I could have helped, had I known “Have you seen him?” “Yes, I have.”• n. (the haves) inf. people with plenty of money and possessions: an increasing gap between the haves and have-nots.PHRASES: have a care (or an eye, etc.) see care, eye, etc.have got it bad inf. be very powerfully affected emotionally, esp. by love. ∎  be in a situation where one is treated badly or exploited: if you think you've got it bad now, how would you like to be paid to collect pebbles?have had it inf. 1. be in a very poor condition; be beyond repair or past its best: the car had had it. ∎  be extremely tired: tomorrow she would drive on through Germany, but for today, she'd had it. ∎  have lost all chance of survival: the Cold War is ended—Marxism's had it.2. be unable to tolerate someone or something any longer: I've had it with him—he's humiliated me once too often!have it1. express the view that (used to indicate that the speaker is reporting something that they do not necessarily believe to be fact): rumor had it that although he lived in a derelict house, he was really very wealthy.2. win a decision, esp. after a vote: the ayes have it.3. have found the answer to something: “I have it!” Rosa exclaimed.have it both ways see both.have it coming deserve punishment or downfall.have (got) it in for inf. feel a particular dislike of (someone) and behave in a hostile manner toward them.have (got) it in one (to do something) inf. have the capacity or potential (to do something): everyone thinks he has it in him to produce a literary classic.have it out inf. attempt to resolve a contentious matter by confronting someone and engaging in a frank discussion or argument: give her the chance of a night's rest before you have it out with her.have a nice day used to express good wishes when parting.have (got) nothing on inf. 1. be not nearly as good as (someone or something), esp. in a particular respect: bright though his three sons were, they had nothing on Sally.2. have nothing (or something) on someone know nothing (or something) discreditable or incriminating about someone: I am not worried—they've got nothing on me.have nothing to do with see do¹ .have one too many see many.have (got) something to oneself be able to to use, occupy, or enjoy something without having to share it with anyone else.have —— to do withsee do¹ .PHRASAL VERBS: have at attempt or attack forcefully or aggressively.have (got) something on be wearing something: she had a blue dress on.have something out undergo an operation to extract the part of the body specified: she had her wisdom teeth out.