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| hint [ hint ] |
transitive and intransitive verb (past and past participle hint·ed, present participle hint·ing, 3rd person present singular hints) |
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| Definition: |
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suggest something indirectly: to convey an idea or information in a roundabout way
  The President hinted that he might not seek a second term.
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noun (plural hints) |
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| Definition: |
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1. indirect suggestion: an idea or information conveyed in a roundabout way
Our daughter has been dropping hints that she'd like a guitar for her birthday.
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2. piece of advice: a useful piece of advice, or a practical suggestion
The book had lots of useful hints on how to grow vegetables.
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3. very small amount: an amount or trace of something that is so small that it can only just be noticed
The walls need a hint of yellow.
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| [Early 17th century. Probably alteration of obsolete hent "grasp" < Germanic] |
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| hint·ing·ly adverb |
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take the hint to understand what is being implied or suggested and to act accordingly
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