Collins English-English Dictionary

pass [pɑːs]

1. 1. vb to go onwards or move by or past (a person, thing, etc)

2. 2. vb to run, extend, or lead through, over, or across (a place)

   the route passes through the city

3. 3. vb to go through or cause to go through (an obstacle or barrier)

   to pass a needle through cloth

4. 4. vb to move or cause to move onwards or over

   he passed his hand over her face

5. 5. vt. [tr] to go beyond or exceed

   this victory passes all expectation

6. 6. vt. to gain or cause to gain an adequate or required mark, grade, or rating in (an examination, course, etc)

   the examiner passed them all

7. 7. vt. [often foll by away or by] to elapse or allow to elapse

   we passed the time talking

8. 8. vi. [intr] to take place or happen

   what passed at the meeting?

9. 9. vi. to speak or exchange or be spoken or exchanged

   angry words passed between them

10. 10. vi. to spread or cause to spread

    we passed the news round the class

11. 11. vi. to transfer or exchange or be transferred or exchanged

    the bomb passed from hand to hand

12. 12. vi. [intr] to undergo change or transition

    to pass from joy to despair

13. 13. vi. [when tr, often foll by down] to transfer or be transferred by inheritance

    the house passed to the younger son

14. 14. vi. to agree to or sanction or to be agreed to or receive the sanction of a legislative body, person of authority, etc

    the assembly passed 10 resolutions

15. 15. vt. [tr] (of a legislative measure) to undergo (a procedural stage) and be agreed

    the bill passed the committee stage

16. 16. vt. [when tr, often foll by on or upon] to pronounce or deliver (judgment, findings, etc)

    the court passed sentence

17. 17. vt. to go or allow to go without comment or censure

    the intended insult passed unnoticed

18. 18. vi. [intr] to opt not to exercise a right, as by not answering a question or not making a bid or a play in card games

19. 19. vi. [physiol] to discharge (urine, faeces, etc) from the body

20. 20. vi. [intr] to come to an end or disappear

    his anger soon passed

21. 21. vi. [intr; usually foll by for or as] to be likely to be mistaken for or accepted as (someone or something else)

    you could easily pass for your sister

22. 22. vi. a euphemism for die

23. 23. vt. [intr; foll by away, on, or over] [tr] [chiefly US] to fail to declare (a dividend)

24. 24. vi. [intr; usually foll by on or upon] [chiefly US] (of a court, jury, etc) to sit in judgment; adjudicate

25. 25. vi. [sport] to hit, kick, or throw (the ball) to another player

26. 26. n the act of passing

27. 27. n a route through a range of mountains where the summit is lower or where there is a gap between peaks

28. 28. n (capital as part of a name)

    the Simplon Pass

29. 29. n a way through any difficult region

30. 30. n a permit, licence, or authorization to do something without restriction

    she has a pass to visit the museum on Sundays

31. 31. n a document allowing entry to and exit from a military installation

32. 32. n a document authorizing leave of absence

33. 33. n [Brit] the passing of a college or university examination to a satisfactory standard but not as high as honours

34. 34. n (as modifier)

    a pass degree

35. 35. n Compare honours

36. 36. n a dive, sweep, or bombing or landing run by an aircraft

37. 37. n a motion of the hand or of a wand as a prelude to or part of a conjuring trick

38. 38. n [informal] an attempt, in words or action, to invite sexual intimacy (esp in the phrase make a pass at)

39. 39. n a state of affairs or condition, esp a bad or difficult one (esp in the phrase a pretty pass)

40. 40. n [sport] the transfer of a ball from one player to another

41. 41. n [fencing] a thrust or lunge with a sword

42. 42. n [bridge] the act of passing (making no bid)

43. 43. n a variant of pase

44. 44. n [bullfighting] [archaic] a witty sally or remark

45. 45. interj [bridge] a call indicating that a player has no bid to make

46. 46. interj See also pass by pass off pass out pass over pass up

47. 47. interj [Etymology] C13: from Old French passer to pass, surpass, from Latin passus step, pace¹