better

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. adj. Greater in excellence or higher in quality.
2. adj. More useful, suitable, or desirable: found a better way to go; a suit with a better fit than that one.
3. adj. More highly skilled or adept: I am better at math than English.
4. adj. Greater or larger: argued for the better part of an hour.
5. adj. More advantageous or favorable; improved: a better chance of success.
6. adj. Healthier or more fit than before: The patient is better today.
7. adv. In a more excellent way.
8. adv. To a greater extent or degree: better suited to the job; likes it better without sauce.
9. adv. To greater advantage; preferably: a deed better left undone. See Usage Notes at best, have, rather.
10. adv. More: It took me better than a year to recover.
11. n. One that is greater in excellence or higher in quality.
12. n. A superior, as in standing, competence, or intelligence. Usually used in the plural: to learn from one's betters.
13. v. To make better; improve: trying to better conditions in the prison; bettered myself by changing jobs. See Synonyms at improve.
14. v. To surpass or exceed.
15. v. To become better.
16. idiom. better off In a better or more prosperous condition: would be better off taking the train instead of driving; felt better off after the rise in stock prices.
17. idiom. for the better Resulting in or aiming at an improvement: Her condition took a turn for the better.
18. idiom. get To outdo or outwit; defeat.
19. idiom. think better of To change one's mind about (a course of action) after reconsideration: I almost bought an expensive watch, but then I thought better of it.
20. n. Variant of bettor.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. As comparative of good: Of superior quality or excellence, whether personal, physical, mental, moral, or social, essential or acquired: as, he is a better man than his brother; better times are at hand; a better position.
2. Of superior value, use, fitness, acceptableness, etc.; more profitable or suitable for a purpose; more useful, eligible, or desirable: as, copper is a better conductor than iron.
3. Larger; greater: as, the better part of a day was spent in shopping.
4. As comparative of well: More in accordance with one's wish or desire; more satisfactory.
5. More healthy; having sounder health.
6. More just, right, or proper.
7. To be quite well again; be fully recovered.
8. n. That which has superior excellence; that which is better.
9. n. A superior; one who has a claim to precedence on account of rank, age, merit, skill, power, or office: as, give place to your betters.
10. n. Advantage; superiority; victory: chiefly in the phrases to get, gain, or have the better of (a person or thing).
11. In a more excellent way or manner: as, to behave better; the land is better cultivated and the government better administered.
12. In a superior degree: as, to know a man better than some one else knows him.
13. More, without any idea of superior excellence: as, it is better than a mile to the town.
14. To make better; improve; ameliorate; increase the good qualities of; as, manure betters land; discipline may better the morals.
15. To improve upon; surpass; exceed; outdo.
16. To advance the interest of; support; give advantage to.
17. Synonyms Amend, Improve, Better, etc. (see amend), meliorate, promote.
18. To grow better; become better; improve: as, his condition is bettering.
19. n. One who lays bets or wagers. Also bettor.

Wiktionary

1. n. alternative spelling of bettor.
2. adj. comparative form of good or well: more good or well
3. adv. comparative form of well: more well
4. v. transitive To improve.
5. v. Had better.
6. n. An entity, usually animate, deemed superior to another.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. adj. Having good qualities in a greater degree than another.
2. adj. Preferable in regard to rank, value, use, fitness, acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect.
3. adj. Greater in amount; larger; more.
4. adj. Improved in health; less affected with disease.
5. adj. More advanced; more perfect.
6. n. Advantage, superiority, or victory; -- usually with of.
7. n. One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in merit, social standing, etc.; -- usually in the plural.
8. In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success.
9. More correctly or thoroughly.
10. In a higher or greater degree; more.
11. colloq. More, in reference to value, distance, time, etc..
12. v. To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of.
13. v. To improve the condition of, morally, physically, financially, socially, or otherwise.
14. v. To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel.
15. v. obsolete To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of.
16. v. To become better; to improve.
17. n. One who bets or lays a wager.

WordNet 3.0

1. adj. (comparative of `good') changed for the better in health or fitness
2. adv. from a position of superiority or authority
3. n. the superior one of two alternatives
4. v. to make better
5. v. surpass in excellence
6. adj. (comparative of `good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
7. n. something superior in quality or condition or effect
8. n. someone who bets
9. adj. (comparative and superlative of `well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable
10. adj. more than half
11. v. get better
12. n. a superior person having claim to precedence
13. adv. comparative of `well'; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.