entail

Everyday

1. (verb) To include or need something as a necessary part or result: «The job entails a lot of travel». tree →
2. (logic) If A entails B, then whenever A is true, B must also be true. tree →
3. (noun, law, old) A rule that property must pass down to certain heirs, often eldest sons, as in old English novels. tree →

In the lessons

A formal exam word. In everyday talk: «What does the job entail?» = what do you have to do? In maths and logic: «entail» means «it follows that». In history and old novels: entailed estates. Phrases: «what does it entail?», «entail risk», «entail cost».

Examples

• What does being class monitor entail? tree →
• Owning a dog entails walking it every day. tree →
• The trip will entail an early start. tree →
• Building the shed entailed a lot of work. tree →
• If a number ends in 0, that entails it can be divided by 10. tree →
• The house was entailed, so it went to a cousin, not the daughters. tree →

Note

Regular verb. Formal; in speech say «involve», «mean», «need». Do not confuse with «entrails» (insides of an animal). In logic, «A entails B» does not mean «B entails A».