From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
gain
n 1: a quantity that is added; "there was an addition to
property taxes this year"; "they recorded the cattle's gain
in weight over a period of weeks" [syn: addition,
increase, gain]
2: the advantageous quality of being beneficial [syn: profit,
gain]
3: the amount of increase in signal power or voltage or current
expressed as the ratio of output to input [syn:
amplification, gain]
4: the amount by which the revenue of a business exceeds its
cost of operating [ant: loss, red, red ink]
v 1: obtain; "derive pleasure from one's garden" [syn: derive,
gain]
2: win something through one's efforts; "I acquired a passing
knowledge of Chinese"; "Gain an understanding of
international finance" [syn: acquire, win, gain] [ant:
lose]
3: derive a benefit from; "She profited from his vast
experience" [syn: profit, gain, benefit]
4: reach a destination, either real or abstract; "We hit Detroit
by noon"; "The water reached the doorstep"; "We barely made
it to the finish line"; "I have to hit the MAC machine before
the weekend starts" [syn: reach, make, attain, hit,
arrive at, gain]
5: obtain advantages, such as points, etc.; "The home team was
gaining ground"; "After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers
pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one
playoff berth in the Western Conference" [syn: gain,
advance, win, pull ahead, make headway, get ahead,
gain ground] [ant: drop off, fall back, fall behind,
lose, recede]
6: rise in rate or price; "The stock market gained 24 points
today" [syn: advance, gain]
7: increase or develop; "the peace movement gained momentum";
"the car gathers speed" [syn: gain, gather]
8: earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as
salary or wages; "How much do you make a month in your new
job?"; "She earns a lot in her new job"; "this merger brought
in lots of money"; "He clears $5,000 each month" [syn:
gain, take in, clear, make, earn, realize,
realise, pull in, bring in]
9: increase (one's body weight); "She gained 20 pounds when she
stopped exercising" [syn: gain, put on] [ant: lose
weight, melt off, reduce, slenderize, slim, slim
down, thin]