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. adj. Comparative form of good.
2. adj. better
3. adv. Comparative form of well.
4. v. To improve.
5. n. An entity, usually animate, deemed superior to another.
6. n. alternative spelling of bettor.

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. 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. 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.