gerund

[ jer-uh nd ]
/ ˈdʒɛr ənd /

noun Grammar.

(in certain languages, as Latin) a form regularly derived from a verb and functioning as a noun, having in Latin all case forms but the nominative, as Latin dicendī gen., dicendō, dat., abl., etc., “saying.” See also gerundive(def 1).
the English -ing form of a verb when functioning as a noun, as writing in Writing is easy.
a form similar to the Latin gerund in meaning or function.

Origin of gerund

1505–15; < Late Latin gerundium, Latin gerundum that which is to be carried on, equivalent to ger(ere) to bear, carry on + -undum, variant of -endum, gerund suffix

usage note for gerund

See me.

OTHER WORDS FROM gerund

ge·run·di·al [juh-ruhn-dee-uh l] /dʒəˈrʌn di əl/, adjective ge·run·di·al·ly, adverb non·ge·run·di·al, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for gerund

British Dictionary definitions for gerund

gerund
/ (ˈdʒɛrənd) /

noun

a noun formed from a verb, denoting an action or state. In English, the gerund, like the present participle, is formed in -ing the living is easy

Derived forms of gerund

gerundial (dʒɪˈrʌndɪəl), adjective

Word Origin for gerund

C16: from Late Latin gerundium, from Latin gerundum something to be carried on, from gerere to wage

Cultural definitions for gerund

gerund
[ (jer-uhnd) ]

A form of a verb that ends in -ing and operates as a noun in a sentence: “Thinking can be painful.”