Collins English-English Dictionary

must [m^st]

1. 1. vb [takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive] used as an auxiliary to express obligation or compulsion: you must pay your dues. In this sense, must does not form a negative. If used with a negative infinitive it indicates obligatory prohibition

2. 2. vb used as an auxiliary to indicate necessity

   I must go to the bank tomorrow

3. 3. vb used as an auxiliary to indicate the probable correctness of a statement

   he must be there by now

4. 4. vb used as an auxiliary to indicate inevitability

   all good things must come to an end

5. 5. vb used as an auxiliary to express resolution

6. 6. vb on the part of the speaker when used with I or we

   I must finish this

7. 7. vb on the part of another or others as imputed to them by the speaker, when used with you, he, she, they, etc

   let him get drunk if he must

8. 8. vb [used emphatically] used as an auxiliary to express conviction or certainty on the part of the speaker

   he must have reached the town by now, surely

   you must be joking

9. 9. vb [followed by away] used with an implied verb of motion to express compelling haste

   I must away

10. 10. n an essential or necessary thing

    strong shoes are a must for hill walking

11. 11. n [Etymology] Old English moste past tense of motan to be allowed, be obliged to; related to Old Saxon motan, Old High German muozan, German müssen

must [m^st]

1. 1. n the newly pressed juice of grapes or other fruit ready for fermentation

2. 2. n [Etymology] Old English, from Latin mustum new wine, must, from mustus (adj) newborn

must [m^st]

1. 1. n mustiness or mould

2. 2. n [Etymology] C17: back formation from musty

must [m^st]

1. 1. n a variant spelling of musth