Noun

1. A division, a portion, a share.

   We gave three deals of grain in tribute to the king.

2. An indefinite quantity or amount; a lot (now usually qualified by or ).
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII.2:

     Than the knyght armyte put a thynge in hys nose and a litill dele of watir in hys mowthe, and than Sir Launcelot waked of hys swowghe.

   • 1814, Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, ch. 2:

     There is a vast deal of difference in memories, as well as in every thing else, and therefore you should make allowance for your cousin, and pity her deficiency.

   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick, ch. 32:

     There is a deal of obscurity concerning the identity of the species thus multitudinously baptized.

Synonyms

allotment, apportionment, distribution, doling out, sharing, sharing out batch, flock, good deal, great deal, hatful, heap, load, lot, mass, mess, mickle, mint, muckle, peck, pile, plenty, pot, quite a little, raft, sight, slew, spate, stack, tidy sum, wad, whole lot, whole slew

Etymology 2

, from , from . Cognate with Dutch , German , Swedish ; and with Lithuanian , Russian .

Verb

1. To distribute among a number of recipients, to give out as one’s portion or share.

   The fighting is over; now we deal out the spoils of victory.

2. To administer or give out, as in small portions.
   • 1820, Sir Walter Scott, The Abbot, ch. 30:

     "Away, proud woman!" said the Lady; "who ever knew so well as thou to deal the deepest wounds under the pretence of kindness and courtesy?"

3. To distribute cards to the players in a game.

   I was dealt four aces.

   The cards were shuffled and dealt by the croupier.

4. To pitch.

   The whole crowd waited for him to deal a real humdinger.

5. To have dealings or business.
   • 1838, Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. 11:

     Mr. Brownlow contrived to state his case; observing that, in the surprise of the moment, he had run after the boy because he saw him running away; and expressing his hope that, if the magistrate should believe him, although not actually the thief, to be connected with thieves; he would deal as leniently with him as justice would allow.

6. To take action; to act.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book IV:

     Wel said syr Uwayne go on your waye, and lete me dele.

7. To trade professionally (followed by in).

   She deals in gold.

8. To sell, especially to sell illicit drugs.

   This club takes a dim view of members who deal drugs.

9. To be concerned with.
   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses, episode 14:

     Science, it cannot be too often repeated, deals with tangible phenomena.

10. To handle, to manage, to cope.
    • 1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, ch 19:

      Then there was the sound of a struggle, and I knew that the attendants were dealing with him.

    I can't deal with this.

Synonyms

apportion, divvy up, share, share out, portion out administer, allot, deal out, dish out, dispense, distribute, dole out, hand out, lot, mete out, parcel out, shell out pitch, throw sell, trade, bargain sell

Noun

1. An act of dealing or sharing.
2. The distribution of cards to players; a player's turn for this.

   I didn’t have a good deal all evening.

   I believe it's your deal.

3. A particular instance of buying or selling, a transaction

   We need to finalise the deal with Henderson by midnight.

4. Specifically, a transaction offered which is financially beneficial; a bargain.
   • 2009, The Guardian, Virginia Wallis, 22 Jul 2009:

     You also have to look at the kind of mortgage deals available to you and whether you will be able to trade up to the kind of property you are looking for.

5. An agreement between parties; an arrangement
   • 2009, Jennifer Steinhauer, New York Times, 20 Jul 2009:

     California lawmakers, their state broke and its credit rating shot, finally sealed the deal with the governor Monday night on a plan to close a $26 billion budget gap.

   He made a deal with the devil.

6. A situation, occasion, or event.

   "I've never killed anybody before. I don't see what's the big deal."

   Line spoken by character played by John Travolta in the movie Broken Arrow.

   What's the deal?

7. A thing, an unspecified or unidentified object.

   The deal with four tines is called a pitchfork.

Synonyms

hand business deal, sale, trade, transaction contract, pact

Etymology 3

, cognate with Old English .

Noun

1. Wood that is easy to saw (from conifers such as pine or fir)
2. A plank of softwood (fir or pine board)