quote

[kwoht]

verb (used with object)

quoted, quoting 

1. to repeat (a passage, phrase, etc.) from a book, speech, or the like, as by way of authority, illustration, etc.

2. to repeat words from (a book, author, etc.).

3. to use a brief excerpt from.

   The composer quotes Beethoven's Fifth in his latest work.

4. to cite, offer, or bring forward as evidence or support.

5. to enclose (words) within quotation marks.

6. Commerce.

   1. to state (a price).

   2. to state the current price of.

verb (used without object)

quoted, quoting 

1. to make a quotation or quotations, as from a book or author.

2. (used by a speaker to indicate the beginning of aquotation. )

noun

1. a quotation.

2. quotation mark.

quote

/ kwəʊt /

verb

1. to recite a quotation (from a book, play, poem, etc), esp as a means of illustrating or supporting a statement

2. (tr) to put quotation marks round (a word, phrase, etc)

3. stock exchange to state (a current market price) of (a security or commodity)

noun

1. an informal word for quotation quotation quotation quotation

2. (often plural) an informal word for quotation mark

   put it in quotes

interjection

1. an expression used parenthetically to indicate that the words that follow it form a quotation

   the president said, quote, I shall not run for office in November, unquote

Other Word Forms

• quoter noun
• outquote verb (used with object)
• prequote verb (used with object)
• requote verb (used with object)
• superquote verb
• unquoted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quote¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; 1880–85 quote for def. 9; Middle English coten, quoten, from Old French coter, from Medieval Latin quotāre “to divide into chapters and verses,” derivative of Latin quot “how many”

Word History and Origins

Origin of quote¹

C14: from Medieval Latin quotāre to assign reference numbers to passages, from Latin quot how many

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. quote unquote, so called; so to speak; as it were.

   If you're a liberal, quote unquote, they're suspicious of you.

Example Sentences

“Loan officers who are competing for business will often quote lower rates in order to get a customer’s business.”

From Salon

In the story, published on its website late in the evening, the newspaper quotes a spokesperson for Rayner saying she paid the "correct duty" on the purchase.

From BBC

"It's a number that gets quoted a lot. It is quite a high number but it is not what is being used for funding at all at the moment actually," he said.

From BBC

They will be questioned for obstructing the investigation to locate the painting, according to a judicial official quoted in local media.

From BBC

The judgement quotes from the statements she gave before her death to the police, the doctors and an executive magistrate.

From BBC

Related Words

• cite 
• name 
• recall 
• refer to www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

What is a basic definition of quote?

Quote means to repeat the exact words of a speaker or an author. A quote is also a passage or statement repeated in this way. Quote means to cite something as a form of proof. Quote has several other senses as a verb and a noun.To quote something or someone is to repeat the exact words they said or to recite the exact words written in a book.Real-life examples: Great speakers often quote other inspiring people when making speeches. Newspapers will often quote the people they interviewed to show the reader they aren’t making things up or paraphrasing. Religious leaders will often quote the words written in a holy book when giving sermons.Used in a sentence: The speaker quoted poet John Donne when she said, “No man is an island.” In this sense, quote is a phrase, statement, or written passage that another person repeats exactly.Real-life examples: The news will report quotes of politicians, economists, scientists, and other important people. Many popular sayings and phrases are quotes.Used in a sentence: “A house divided against itself cannot stand” is a famous Abraham Lincoln quote.Quote also means to offer something as evidence or supporting facts.Real-life examples: Lawyers and judges will often quote earlier court cases when making arguments. Religious leaders or followers will frequently quote religious texts when explaining what is and isn’t acceptable behavior.Used in a sentence: The attorney quoted the earlier legal decision when she argued that the new law was unjust.