What

Definition of what

1.   1a (1) —used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity, nature, or value of an object or matter <what is this> <what is wealth without friends> <what does he earn> <whathath God wrought> (2) —often used to ask for repetition of an utterance or part of an utterance not properly heard or understood <you said what>b (1) archaic :  who 1 —used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the identity of a person (2) —used as an interrogative expressing inquiry about the character, nature, occupation, position, or role of a person <what do you think I am, a fool> <what is she, that all our swains commend her — Shakespeare>c —used as an exclamation expressing surprise or excitement and frequently introducing a question <what, no breakfast>d —used in expressions directing attention to a statement that the speaker is about to make <you know what>e (1) —used at the end of a question to express inquiry about additional possibilities <is it raining, or snowing, or what> (2) —used with or at the end of a question usually in expectation of agreement <is this exciting, or what>f chiefly British —used at the end of an utterance as a form of tag question <a clever play, what>

2.   2chiefly dialect :  ⁴that 1, which 3, who 3

3.   3a :  that which :  the one or ones that <no income but what he gets from his writings> —sometimes used in reference to a clause or phrase that is yet to come or is not yet complete <gave also, what is more valuable, understanding>b :  the thing or things that <what you need is a vacation> <what angered us was the tone of the article>

4.   4a :  whatever 1a <say what you will>b obsolete :  whoever

what for

1.   1:  for what purpose or reason :  why —usually used with the other words of a question between what and for <what did you do that for> except when used alone

2.   2:  harsh treatment especially by blows or by a sharp reprimand <gave him what for in violent Spanish — New Yorker>

what have you

1.   :  whatnot <novels, plays, short stories, travelogues, and what have you — Haldeen Braddy>

what if

1.   1:  what will or would be the result if

2.   2:  what does it matter if <so what if he doesn't like it>

what of

1.   1:  what is the situation with respect to

2.   2:  what importance can be assigned to

what's more

1.   :  in addition :  furthermore

what's what

1.   :  the true state of things <knows what's what when it comes to fashion>

what though

1.   :  what does it matter if <what though the rose have prickles, yet 'tis plucked — Shakespeare>