Webster's English Dictionary

what

1. what \(')hwa:t, (')hw*t, (')wa:t, (')w*t\ pn [ME, fr. OE hwt, neut 
   of hwa- who - more at WHO] 1a1: - used as an interrogative expressing 
   inquiry about the identity of  an object or matter {~ is this} {~ are those 
   things on the table} - often used to ask for repetition of an utterance or 
   part of an utterance not properly heard or understood {found ~} 1a2: a 
   person or thing of how much value or consequence {~ is weal th without 
   friends} archaic  1b1: WHO - used as an interrogative expressing inquiry 
   about the i dentity of a person 1b2: - used as an interrogative expressing 
   inquiry about the character,  occupation, position, or role of a person {~ 
   do you think I am, a fool} 1c: how much {~ does breakfast cost}  1d: - used 
   as an exclamation expressing surprise or excitement and frequ ently 
   introducing a question {~, no breakfast} 1e: one or ones of what sort {do 
   not recognize him for ~ he is}  1f: SOMETHING - used in expressions 
   directing attention to a state ment that the speaker is about to make {I'll 
   tell you ~} 1g: - used at the end of a question to express inquiry about 
   additional  possibilities {is it raining, or snowing, or ~} chiefly Brit  
   1h: - used at the end of an utterance as a tag apparently inviting agree 
   ment or disagreement {a clever play, ~} chiefly substand  2: THAT, WHICH, 
   WHO  3a: that which : the one or ones that {no income but ~ he gets f rom 
   his writings} - sometimes used in reference to a clause or phrase that is 
   yet to come or is not yet complete {gave also, ~ is more valuable, 
   understanding} 3b: as much or as many as  3c: the kind that : the same as 
   {the speech was very much ~ ever yone expected} 4a: WHATEVER {say ~ you 
   will}  obs  4b: WHOEVER  chiefly dial  1: what kind of - used either 
   inseparably or with a verb and its subject  between what and for {what is 
   he for a fool -Shak.} {what for tobacco are you smoking} 2: for what 
   purpose or reason : WHY - usu. used with the other w ords of a question 
   between what and for {what did you do that for} except when used alone 3: 
   punishment esp. by blows or by a sharp reprimand {gave him what fo r in 
   violent Spanish -New Yorker} : what not  1: what will or would be the 
   result if  2: what does it matter if  : the qualities or resources needed 
   for success or for attainment of a go al : any of various other things that 
   might also be mentioned {paper clips , pins, and what not} 1: what is the 
   situation with respect  2: to what importance can be assigned to  : the 
   true state of things {knows what's what when it comes to fa shion} : what 
   does it matter if {what though the rose have prickles, yet  'tis plucked 
   -Shak.} {what though the sky is cloudy today} - what for 
2. what av [ME, fr. OE hwt, fr. hwt, pron.] obs  1: WHY  2a: in 
   what respect : HOW  2b: how much {~ does he care}  3a: PARTLY - used two or 
   more times in the same sentence to introd uce prepositional phrases in 
   parallel construction {~ with the war, ~ with the sweat, ~ with the 
   gallows, and ~ with poverty, I am custom-shrunk -Shak.} 3b: - used to 
   introduce a prepositional phrase that expresses cause and  usu. has more 
   than one object; used principally before phrases beginning with with {~ 
   with unemployment and high prices}
3. what aj [1what] 1a1: - used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about 
   the identity or  nature of a person, object, or matter {~ minerals do we 
   export} 1a2: how much  1b: how remarkable or surprising esp. for good or 
   bad qualities or great o r small size - used esp. in exclamatory utterances 
   and dependent clauses {~ mountains} {remember ~ fun we had} {~ a 
   suggestion} {~ a charming girl} 2a1: WHATEVER  2a2: {ornament} ANY {of ~ 
   description soever}  2b: the ... that : as much or as many ... as {~ 
   survivors had be en found}