grand

Everyday

1. Grand means big, impressive and splendid, like a grand palace. tree →
2. Grand can mean important or proud. tree →
3. (informal, UK and Ireland) Grand means very good or fine: «That's grand, thanks.» tree →
4. (slang) A grand is a thousand pounds or dollars: «It cost five grand.» tree →
5. Grand in words like grandmother and grandson means one generation further. tree →

In the lessons

In stories it describes castles, balls and big occasions. In Ireland, «grand» is an everyday word for «fine» or «OK». In maths and money talk, «grand» means a thousand, and «grand total» means the final total of everything. Phrases: grand total, grand piano, grand prize, grand opening, the grand finale.

Examples

• The queen lived in a grand palace with a hundred rooms. tree →
• (Ireland) «How are you?» «I'm grand, thanks!» tree →
• The car cost ten grand. tree →
• The grand total for the trip was 450 dollars. tree →
• The school held a grand opening for the new library. tree →
• We won the grand prize in the raffle. tree →
• My mum's dad is my grandad. tree →
• It was indeed a grand wedding. tree →

Note

As «a thousand», the plural is often «grand»: «five grand», not «five grands». In maths: «3 grand» = three thousand; «grand total» = add up all the smaller totals. Irish «grand» means «fine», not «splendid». A «grand piano» is a big piano with a long body.