Collins English-English Dictionary

may [meɪ]

1. 1. vb [takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive used as an auxiliary] to indicate that permission is requested by or granted to someone

   he may go to the park tomorrow if he behaves himself

2. 2. vb [often foll by well] to indicate possibility

   the rope may break

   he may well be a spy

3. 3. vb to indicate ability or capacity, esp in questions

   may I help you?

4. 4. vb to express a strong wish

   long may she reign

5. 5. vb to indicate result or purpose: used only in clauses introduced by that or so that

   he writes so that the average reader may understand

6. 6. vb another word for might

7. 7. vb to express courtesy in a question

   whose child may this little girl be?

8. 8. vb [Etymology] Old English mæg, from magan: compare Old High German mag, Old Norse ma

9. 9. vb [Usage] It was formerly considered correct to use may rather than can when referring to permission as in: you may use the laboratory for your experiments, but this use of may is now almost entirely restricted to polite questions such as: may I open the window? The use of may with if in constructions such as: your analysis may have been more more credible if is generally regarded as incorrect, might being preferred: your analysis might have been more credible if

may [meɪ]

1. 1. n an archaic word for maiden

2. 2. n [Etymology] Old English mæg; related to Old High German mag kinsman, Old Norse magr a relative by marriage

may [meɪ]

1. 1. n may tree - a Brit name for hawthorn

2. 2. n short for may blossom

3. 3. n [Etymology] C16: from the month of May, when it flowers