graft
gb/ɡɹˈæft/ us/ɡɹˈæft/
B2
English
kemény munka, gürcölés, keményen dolgozik, gürcöl, korrupció, oltás, olt, szövetátültetés, átültetett szövet, átültet, ráerőltet
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
1
kemény munka
A2
gürcölés
C1
Usage pattern:
a lot of graft
It took a lot of graft to get the place ready for opening.
Sok kemény munka kellett ahhoz, hogy a hely készen álljon a nyitásra.
Behind her success was years of graft and determination.
A sikere mögött évek kemény munkája és elszántsága állt.
I don’t mind the graft if the pay is fair.
Learner examples
Learning English takes a lot of graft.
Az angoltanulás sok kemény munkát igényel.
This job is hard graft.
Ez a munka kemény meló.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse graft (hard work) with craft (skill) or graph (a diagram).
Meaning
hard work and effort
Collocations
a lot of graft
|hard graft
|years of graft
|the graft of building
|the graft of training
|back-breaking graft
|reward for your graft
Synonyms
hard work (most general and neutral.)
|
toil (emphasizes difficulty and tiredness.)
|
slog (emphasizes boring, tiring work.)
Antonyms
idleness (lack of work or effort.)
|
leisure (free time rather than work.)
Themes
work
|daily_life
Definition
hard work, especially for a long time.
hard work and sustained effort, especially physical work.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
2
gürcöl
C1
Usage pattern:
graft (all day/night)
He grafted for years before he could afford his own place.
Évekig keményen dolgozott, mire megengedhetett magának egy saját lakást.
We’ve been grafting all morning to finish the move.
Egész délelőtt keményen dolgoztunk, hogy befejezzük a költözést.
If you graft, you’ll get results.
Learner examples
I graft every day at my job.
Minden nap keményen dolgozom a munkahelyemen.
Common mistake:
This sense is mainly British/Irish; in American English it may be misunderstood.
Meaning
work very hard
Collocations
graft all day
|graft away
|graft for a living
|graft to make ends meet
|graft on the site
|graft in the kitchen
Synonyms
work hard (neutral and widely used.)
|
toil (more literary; suggests heavy effort.)
|
slog (suggests tiring, repetitive work.)
Antonyms
slack off (do less work than you should.)
|
loaf (spend time idly; avoid work.)
Themes
work
|daily_life
Definition
to work very hard.
to work very hard, especially doing physical work.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
3
korrupció
B2
Usage pattern:
graft in [an organization/government]
The mayor resigned after allegations of graft.
A polgármester lemondott a korrupciós vádak után.
The report describes years of graft in the department.
A jelentés évekig tartó korrupciót ír le az osztályon.
The new law aims to reduce graft and bribery.
Learner examples
The newspaper reported graft in the local government.
Az újság korrupcióról számolt be a helyi önkormányzatban.
Common mistake:
This is not related to plants or medical grafts; it means corruption and illegal profit.
Meaning
corrupt use of public power
Collocations
political graft
|government graft
|widespread graft
|allegations of graft
|anti-graft campaign
|graft and bribery
|graft investigation
Synonyms
corruption (broader term; includes many kinds of dishonesty.)
|
bribery (specifically taking or offering bribes.)
|
embezzlement (specifically stealing money you control at work.)
Antonyms
integrity (honesty and strong moral principles.)
|
probity (formal word for strict honesty.)
Themes
politics
|law
|business
Definition
corruption, especially in government.
illegal or dishonest gain made by using a public position or influence, for example taking bribes or stealing public money.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
oltás
C1
Usage pattern:
a graft of [plant]
Apple trees are often grown from a graft rather than from seed.
Az almafákat gyakran oltással szaporítják, nem magról nevelik.
The gardener checked the graft to make sure it had taken.
A kertész ellenőrizte az oltást, hogy biztosan megeredt-e.
A clean cut helps the graft heal quickly.
Meaning
joining parts of two plants
Collocations
a successful graft
|tree graft
|fruit-tree graft
|grafting technique
|graft compatibility
|graft failure
|graft union
Synonyms
grafting (the same process, named as an activity.)
Themes
plants
|gardening
Definition
a method of joining two plants so they grow together.
the horticultural method of joining a shoot or bud from one plant to the stem or rootstock of another so they grow as a single plant.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
5
olt
C1
Usage pattern:
graft [a cutting/scion] onto [a rootstock/plant]
They grafted a pear variety onto a hardy rootstock.
Egy körtefajtát ellenálló alanyra oltottak.
You can graft roses in late winter under the right conditions.
Megfelelő körülmények között késő télen is lehet rózsát oltani.
She learned how to graft fruit trees from her grandfather.
Meaning
join plant parts to grow together
Collocations
graft a cutting onto a rootstock
|graft a branch onto a tree
|graft roses
|graft fruit trees
|graft successfully
|graft by hand
Synonyms
bud (a specific related technique using a bud rather than a cutting.)
Themes
plants
|gardening
Definition
to join one plant to another so they grow as one plant.
to join a shoot, bud, or branch from one plant to another plant so they grow together as one.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
6
Usage pattern:
a graft to [body part]
The surgeon performed a graft to repair the damaged skin.
A sebész szövetátültetést végzett, hogy helyreállítsa a sérült bőrt.
Doctors monitored the graft for signs of infection.
Az orvosok figyelték az átültetett szövetet, hogy vannak-e fertőzésre utaló jelek.
The patient needed a bone graft after the accident.
Learner examples
He had a skin graft on his arm.
Bőrátültetése volt a karján.
Common mistake:
A graft is tissue moved from one place to another; it is not the same as a cast or bandage.
Meaning
transplanted tissue or the procedure
Collocations
skin graft
|bone graft
|corneal graft
|a graft operation
|a graft site
|graft rejection
|a graft takes
Synonyms
transplant (broader; can include whole organs as well as tissue.)
|
implant (often artificial material; not necessarily living tissue.)
Themes
health
|medicine
Definition
a piece of tissue put on another part of the body to help it heal.
a piece of living tissue (such as skin or bone) that is moved to repair another part of the body, or the operation in which this is done.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
7
átültet
C1
Usage pattern:
graft [tissue/skin] onto [body part]
Surgeons grafted skin onto the burn area.
A sebészek bőrt ültettek át az égett területre.
They grafted tissue from her thigh to her lower leg.
A combjából ültettek át szövetet az alsó lábszárára.
The doctor explained how the graft would heal over time.
Meaning
transplant tissue onto the body
Collocations
graft skin onto
|graft tissue onto
|graft bone into
|graft from a donor
|graft successfully
|graft fails
Synonyms
transplant (more common general term in medicine.)
Themes
health
|medicine
Definition
to put living tissue onto a damaged part of the body.
to transplant a piece of living tissue, such as skin or bone, to another part of the body to repair damage.
VERB
C1
8
ráerőltet
B2
Usage pattern:
graft [something] onto [something]
They tried to graft new procedures onto an old system that couldn’t support them.
Megpróbáltak új eljárásokat ráerőltetni egy régi rendszerre, amely ezt nem bírta el.
The film grafts a happy ending onto an otherwise bleak story.
A film egy boldog befejezést erőltet rá egy egyébként sivár történetre.
You can’t just graft a modern interface onto outdated hardware.
Learner examples
They grafted new rules onto the old plan.
Új szabályokat erőltettek rá a régi tervre.
Common mistake:
This figurative use is common with 'onto'; it implies the addition may not fit well.
Meaning
add something that doesn’t naturally fit
Collocations
graft a new system onto the old one
|graft extra rules onto
|graft an ending onto a story
|graft features onto a product
|graft changes onto a plan
Synonyms
attach (more neutral; no suggestion of awkwardness.)
|
append (suggests adding at the end.)
|
bolt on (informal; emphasizes an add-on rather than integration.)
Antonyms
remove (take something away rather than add it.)
|
strip out (remove an added part from a system.)
Themes
language
|business
|technology
Definition
to add something to something else, often awkwardly.
to attach or add something to an existing system, plan, or story, often in a way that feels unnatural or forced.
Grammar
Dictionary form
graft
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈæft/
US/ɡɹˈæft/
Syllables & stress
graft (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (graft)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: graft
- Plural: graft, grafts
Verb
- Base: graft
- 3rd Person Singular: grafts
- Present Participle: grafting
- Past: grafted
Word family
Forms
grafts
noun
grafting
verb
grafted
verb
Related words
grafter
noun
Advanced or less common
autograft
noun
allograft
noun
Expressions
bone graft
1/bˈoʊn ɡɹˈæft/
fixed phrase
technical
bone tissue used for repair
a medical procedure using bone to repair bone.
Examples
- The dentist recommended a bone graft before the implant.
- A bone graft can help the fracture heal properly.
- She recovered quickly after the bone graft procedure.
graft on
1/ɡɹˈæft ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
add something as an extra
to add an extra part to something.
Examples
- They grafted on a new approval step without fixing the real problem.
- The company grafted on a service fee at the last minute.
- You can’t just graft on features and expect the product to feel coherent.
Learner examples
- They grafted on extra costs.
graft rejection
1/ɡɹˈæft ɹɪd͡ʒˈɛkʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
body attacks transplanted tissue
when the body does not accept a transplant.
Examples
- The team watched closely for signs of graft rejection.
- Medication can reduce the risk of graft rejection.
- Early graft rejection is sometimes reversible with treatment.
hard graft
1/hˈɑɹd ɡɹˈæft/
fixed phrase
informal
very hard work
very hard work.
Examples
- There’s no shortcut—you have to do the hard graft.
- Most of the hard graft happens before anyone notices results.
- They’ve done the hard graft, and now the project is finally moving.
Learner examples
- This exam needs hard graft.
skin graft
1/skˈɪn ɡɹˈæft/
fixed phrase
technical
skin moved to repair injury
an operation where skin is moved to cover damaged skin.
Examples
- He needed a skin graft after the burn.
- The doctor explained how to care for the skin graft at home.
- The skin graft healed well with no complications.
Learner examples
- She had a skin graft on her hand.