ask

[ ask, ahsk ]
/ æsk, ɑsk /

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

to make inquiry; inquire: to ask about a person.
to request or petition (usually followed by for): to ask for leniency; to ask for food.

Idioms for ask

    ask for it, to risk or invite trouble, danger, punishment, etc., by persisting in some action or manner: He was asking for it by his abusive remarks.

Origin of ask

before 900; Middle English asken, axen, Old English āscian, āxian; cognate with Old Frisian āskia, Old Saxon ēscon, Old High German eiscōn (German heischen), Sanskrit icchati (he) seeks

OTHER WORDS FROM ask

ask·er, noun un·ask·ing, adjective un·ask·ing·ly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for ask for (1 of 3)

ask for

verb (preposition)

to try to obtain by requesting he asked for help
(intr) informal to behave in a provocative manner that is regarded as inviting (trouble) she's asking for trouble; you're asking for it
Scot to ask after tell your parents I'm asking for them

British Dictionary definitions for ask for (2 of 3)

ask
/ (ɑːsk) /

verb

noun

a big ask or a tough ask British, Australian and NZ informal a task which is difficult to fulfil
See also ask after, ask for

Derived forms of ask

asker, noun

Word Origin for ask

Old English āscian; related to Old Frisian āskia, Old Saxon ēscon, Old High German eiscōn

British Dictionary definitions for ask for (3 of 3)

Ask
/ (ɑːsk) /

noun

Norse myth the first man, created by the gods from an ash tree

Idioms and Phrases with ask for (1 of 2)

ask for

Also, ask for it. To persist in an action despite the likelihood that it will bring trouble on oneself, as in Speeding as much as he does, he has been asking for a ticket and Mary deserved that low grade; in effect, she asked for it by not studying. [c. 1900] Also see ask for the moon.

Idioms and Phrases with ask for (2 of 2)

ask