show, v. & n.
--v. (past part. shown or showed)
1 intr. & tr. be, or allow or cause to be, visible; manifest; appear (the buds are beginning to show; white shows the dirt).
2 tr. (often foll. by to) offer, exhibit, or produce (a thing) for scrutiny etc. (show your tickets please; showed him my poems).
3 tr. a indicate (one's feelings) by one's behaviour etc. (showed mercy to him). b indicate (one's feelings to a person etc.) (showed him particular favour).
4 intr. (of feelings etc.) be manifest (his dislike shows).
5 tr. a demonstrate; point out; prove (has shown it to be false; showed that he knew the answer). b (usu. foll. by how to + infin.) cause (a person) to understand or be capable of doing (showed them how to knit).
6 tr. (refl.) exhibit oneself as being (showed herself to be fair).
7 tr. & intr. (with ref. to a film) be presented or cause to be presented.
8 tr. exhibit (a picture, animal, flower, etc.) in a show.
9 tr. (often foll. by in, out, up, etc.) conduct or lead (showed them to their rooms).
10 intr. = show up 3 (waited but he didn't show).
11 intr. US finish in the first three in a race.
--n.
1 the act or an instance of showing; the state of being shown.
2 a a spectacle, display, exhibition, etc. (a fine show of blossom). b a collection of things etc. shown for public entertainment or in competition (dog show; flower show).
3 a a play etc., esp. a musical. b a light entertainment programme on television etc. c any public entertainment or performance.
4 a an outward appearance, semblance, or display (made a show of agreeing; a show of strength). b empty appearance; mere display (did it for show; that's all show).
5 colloq. an undertaking, business, etc. (sold the whole show).
6 colloq. an opportunity of acting, defending oneself, etc. (gave him a fair show; made a good show of it).
7 Med. a discharge of blood etc. from the vagina at the onset of childbirth.

Idiom:
give the show (or whole show) away demonstrate the inadequacies or reveal the truth. good (or bad or poor) show! colloq.
1 that was well (or badly) done.
2 that was lucky (or unlucky). nothing to show for no visible result of (effort etc.). on show being exhibited. show business colloq. the theatrical profession. show-card a card used for advertising. show one's cards = show one's hand. show cause Law allege with justification. show a clean pair of heels colloq. retreat speedily; run away. show one's colours make one's opinion clear. show a person the door dismiss or eject a person. show one's face make an appearance; let oneself be seen. show fight be persistent or belligerent. show the flag see FLAG(1). show forth archaic exhibit; expound.
show one's hand
1 disclose one's plans.
2 reveal one's cards. show house (or flat etc.) a furnished and decorated house (or flat etc.) on a new estate shown to prospective buyers. show in see sense 9 of v. show a leg colloq. get out of bed.
show off
1 display to advantage.
2 colloq. act pretentiously; display one's wealth, knowledge, etc. show-off n. colloq. a person who shows off. show of force proof that one is prepared to use force. show of hands raised hands indicating a vote for or against, usu. without being counted.
show oneself
1 be seen in public.
2 see sense 6 of v. show out see sense 9 of v.
show-piece
1 an item of work presented for exhibition or display.
2 an outstanding example or specimen. show-place a house etc. that tourists go to see. show round take (a person) to places of interest; act as guide for (a person) in a building etc. show-stopper colloq. a performance receiving prolonged applause. show one's teeth reveal one's strength; be aggressive.
show through
1 be visible although supposedly concealed.
2 (of real feelings etc.) be revealed inadvertently. show trial esp. hist. a judicial trial designed by the State to terrorize or impress the public.
show up
1 make or be conspicuous or clearly visible.
2 expose (a fraud, impostor, inferiority, etc.).
3 colloq. appear; be present; arrive.
4 colloq. embarrass or humiliate (don't show me up by wearing jeans).
show the way
1 indicate what has to be done etc. by attempting it first.
2 show others which way to go etc. show the white feather appear cowardly (see also white feather). show willing display a willingness to help etc. show-window a window for exhibiting goods etc.

Etymology:
ME f. OE sceawian f. WG: cf. SHEEN

N  fashion, style, ton, bon ton, society, good society, polite society, monde, drawing-room, civilized life, civilization, town, beau monde, high life, court, world, fashionable world, gay world, Vanity Fair, show, manners, breeding, air, demeanor, savoir faire, gentlemanliness, gentility, decorum, propriety, biens_eance, conventions of society, Mrs, Grundy, punctilio, form, formality, etiquette, point of etiquette, dress, custom, mode, vogue, go, rage, prevailing taste, fad, trend, bandwagon, furore, thing, in thing, craze, chic, last word, man of fashion, woman of fashion, man of the world, woman of the world, height of fashion, pink of fashion, star of fashion, glass of fashion, leader of fashion, arbiter elegantiarum, the beautiful people, the fashion set, upper ten thousand, elite, smart set, the four hundred, in crowd, fashionable, in fashion, a la mode, comme il faut, admitted in society, admissible in society, presentable, conventional, genteel, well-bred, well mannered, well behaved, well spoken, gentlemanlike, gentlemanly, ladylike, civil, polite, polished, refined, thoroughbred, courtly, distingue, unembarrassed, degage, janty, jaunty, dashing, fast, modish, stylish, chic, trendy, recherche, newfangled, all the rage, all the go, with it, in, faddish, in court, in full dress, in evening dress, en grande tenue, fashionably, for fashion's sake, a la francaise, a la parisienne, a l' anglaise, a l' americaine, autre temps autre mauers, chaque pays a sa guise.

VB  quail, be cowardly, be a coward, funk, cower, skulk, sneak, flinch, shy, fight shy, slink, turn tail, run away, show, the white feather.

N  ostentation, display, show, flourish, parade, etalage, pomp, array, state, solemnity, dash, splash, splurge, glitter, strut, pomposity, pretense, pretensions, showing off, fuss, magnificence, splendor, coup d'oeil, grand doings, coup de theatre, stage effect, stage trick, claptrap, mise en scene, tour de force, chic, demonstration, flying colors, tomfoolery, flourish of trumpets, pageant, pageantry, spectacle, exhibition, exposition, procession, turn out, set out, grand function, f=ete, gala, field day, review, march past, promenade, insubstantial pageant, dress, court dress, full dress, evening dress, ball dress, fancy dress, tailoring, millinery, man millinery, frippery, foppery, equipage, ceremony, ceremonial, ritual, form, formality, etiquette, puncto, punctilio, punctiliousness, starched stateliness, stateliness, mummery, solemn mockery, mouth honor, attitudinarian, fop, ostentatious, showy, dashing, pretentious, janty, jaunty, grand, pompous, palatial, high-sounding, turgid gairish, garish, gaudy, gaudy as a peacock, gaudy as a butterfly, gaudy as a tulip, flaunting, flashing, flaming, glittering, gay, splendid, magnificent, sumptuous, theatrical, dramatic, spectacular, ceremonial, ritual, solemn, stately, majestic, formal, stiff, ceremonious, punctilious, starched, dressed to kill, dressed to the nines, decjed out, all decked out, en granite tenue, in best bib and tucker, in Sunday best, endimanch_e, chic, with flourish of trumpet, with beat of drum, with flying colors, ad captandum vulgus, honores mutant mores.

VB  be become visible, appear, open to the view, meet the eye, catch the eye, basset, present itself, show manifest itself, produce itself, discover itself, reveal itself, expose itself, betray itself, stand forth, stand out, materialize, show, arise, peep out, peer out, crop out, start up, spring up, show up, turn up, crop up, glimmer, loom, glare, burst forth, burst upon the view, burst upon the sight, heave in sight, come in sight, come into view, come out, come forth, come forward, see the light of day, break through the clouds, make its appearance, show its face, appear to one's eyes, come upon the stage, float before the eyes, speak for itself, attract the attention, reappear, live in a glass house, expose to view.

N  appearance, phenomenon, sight, spectacle, show, premonstration, scene, species, view, coup d'oeil, lookout, outlook, prospect, vista, perspective, bird's-eye view, scenery, landscape, picture, tableau, display, exposure, mise en sc ne, rising of the curtain, phantasm, phantom, pageant, spectacle, peep-show, raree-show, gallanty-show, ombres chinoises, magic lantern, phantasmagoria, dissolving views, biograph, cinematograph, moving pictures, panorama, diorama, cosmorama, georama, coup de theatre, jeu de theatre, pageantry, insignia, aspect, angle, phase, phasis, seeming, shape, guise, look, complexion, color, image, mien, air, cast, carriage, port, demeanor, presence, expression, first blush, face of the thing, point of view, light, lineament feature trait lines, outline, outside, contour, face, countenance, physiognomy, visage, phiz, cast of countenance, profile, tournure, cut of one s jib, metoposcopy, outside, apparent, seeming, ostensible, on view, apparently, to all seeming, to all appearance, ostensibly, seemingly, as it seems, on the face of it, prima facie, at the first blush, at first sight, in the eyes of, to the eye, editio princeps.

VB  appear, be visible, become visible, seem, look, show, present the appearance of, wear the appearance of, carry the appearance of, have the appearance of, bear the appearance of, exhibit the appearance of, take the appearance of, take on the appearance of, assume the appearance, present the semblance of, wear the semblance of, carry the semblance of, have the semblance of, bear the semblance of, exhibit the semblance of, take the semblance of, take on the semblance of, assume the semblance of, look like, cut a figure, figure, present to the view, show, appear, be visible, become visible, seem, look, show, present the appearance of, wear the appearance of, carry the appearance of, have the appearance of, bear the appearance of, exhibit the appearance of, take the appearance of, take on the appearance of, assume the appearance, present the semblance of, wear the semblance of, carry the semblance of, have the semblance of, bear the semblance of, exhibit the semblance of, take the semblance of, take on the semblance of, assume the semblance of, look like, cut a figure, figure, present to the view, show.

VB  be attentive, attend, advert to, observe, look, see, view, remark, notice, regard, take notice, mark, give attention to, pay attention to, pay heed to, give heed to, incline an ear to, lend an ear to, trouble one's head about, give a thought to, animadvert to, occupy oneself with, contemplate, look at, look to, look after, look into, look over, see to, turn the mind to, bend the mind to, apply the mind to, direct the mind to, give the mind to, turn the eye to, bend the eye to, apply the eye to, direct the eye to, give the eye to, turn the attention to, bend the attention to, apply the attention to, direct the attention to, give the attention to, have an eye to, have in one's eye, bear in mind, take into account, take into consideration, keep in sight, keep in view, have regard to, heed, mind, take cognizance of entertain, recognize, make note of, take note of, note, examine cursorily, glance at, glance upon, glance over, cast the eyes over, pass the eyes over, run over, turn over the leaves, dip into, perstringe, skim, take a cursory view of, examine, examine closely, examine intently, scan, scrutinize, consider, give one's mind to, bend one's mind to, overhaul, revise, pore over, inspect, review, pass under review, take stock of, fix the eye on, rivet attention on, fix attention on, devote the eye to, fix the mind on, devote the thoughts to, hear out, think out, mind one's business, revert to, watch hearken to, listen to, prick up the ears, have the eyes open, keep the eyes open, come to the point, meet with attention, fall under one's notice, fall under one's observation, be under consideration, catch the eye, strike the eye, attract notice, catch the attention, awaken the attention, wake the attention, invite the attention, solicit the attention, attract the attention, claim the attention excite the attention, engage the attention, occupy the attention, strike the attention, arrest the attention, fix the attention, engross the attention, absorb the attention, rivet the attention, catch the mind, awaken the mind, wake the mind, invite the mind, solicit the mind, attract the mind, claim the mind excite the mind, engage the mind, occupy the mind, strike the mind, arrest the mind, fix the mind, engross the mind, absorb the mind, rivet the mind, catch the thoughts, awaken the thoughts, wake the thoughts, invite the thoughts, solicit the thoughts, attract the thoughts, claim the thoughts excite the thoughts, engage the thoughts, occupy the thoughts, strike the thoughts, arrest the thoughts, fix the thoughts, engross the thoughts, absorb the thoughts, rivet the thoughts, be present to the mind, be uppermost in the mind, bring under one's notice, point out, point to, point at, point the finger at, lay the finger on, indigitate, indicate, direct attention to, call attention to, show, put a mark upon, call soldiers to 'attention', bring forward.

VB  be evidence, evince, show, betoken, tell of, indicate, imply, involve, argue, bespeak, breathe, have weight, carry weight, tell, speak volumes, speak for itself, rest upon, depend upon, repose on, bear witness, give evidence, testify, depose, witness, vouch for, sign, seal, undersign, set one's hand and seal, sign and seal, deliver as one's act and deed, certify, attest, acknowledge, make absolute, confirm, prove (demonstrate), indorse, countersign, corroborate, support, ratify, bear out, uphold, warrant, adduce, attest, cite, quote, refer to, appeal to, call, call to witness, bring forward, bring into court, allege, plead, produce witnesses, confront witnesses, place into evidence, mark into evidence, collect evidence, bring together evidence, rake up evidence, experiment, have a case, make out a case, establish, authenticate, substantiate, verify, make good, quote chapter and verse, bring home to, bring to book.

VB  demonstrate, prove, establish, make good, show, evince, manifest, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, verify, settle the question, reduce to demonstration, set the question at rest, make out, make out a case, prove one's point, have the best of the argument, draw a conclusion, follow, follow of course, follow as a matter of course, follow necessarily, stand to reason, hold good, hold water, convince, persuade (belief).

N  manifestation, plainness, plain speaking, expression, showing, exposition, demonstration, exhibition, production, display, show, showing off, premonstration, exhibit, indication, publicity, disclosure, openness panchement, evidence, manifest, apparent, salient, striking, demonstrative, prominent, in the foreground, notable, pronounced, flagrant, notorious, arrant, stark staring, unshaded, glaring, defined, definite, distinct, conspicuous, obvious, evident, unmistakable, indubitable, not to be mistaken, palpable, self-evident, autoptical, intelligible, plain, clear, clear as day, clear as daylight, clear as noonday, plain as a pike staff, plain as the sun at noon-day, plain as the nose on one's face, plain as the way to parish church, explicit, overt, patent, express, ostensible, open, open as day, naked, bare, literal, downright, undisguised, exoteric, unreserved, frank, plain-spoken, candid (veracious), barefaced, manifested, disclosed, capable of being shown, producible, inconcealable, unconcealable, no secret, manifestly, openly, before one's eyes, under one's nose, to one's face, face to face, above board, cartes sur table, on the stage, in open court, in the open streets, in market overt, in the face of day, face of heaven, in broad daylight, in open daylight, without reserve, at first blush, prima facie, on the face of, in set terms, cela saute aux yeux, he that runs may read, you can see it with half an eye, it needs no ghost to tell us, the meaning lies on the surface, cela va sans dire, res ipsa loquitur, clothing the palpable and familiar, fari quae sentiat, volto sciolto i pensieri stretti, you don't need a weatherman to know which way the.

VB  make manifest, render manifest, bring forth, bring forward, bring to the front, bring into view, give notice, express, represent, set forth, exhibit, show, show up, expose, produce, hold up to view, expose to view, set before one, place before one, lay before one, one's eyes, tell to one's face, trot out, put through one's paces, bring to light, display, demonstrate, unroll, lay open, draw out, bring out, bring out in strong relief, call into notice, bring into notice, hold up the mirror, wear one's heart upon his sleeve, show one's face, show one's colors, manifest oneself, speak out, make no mystery, make no secret of, unfurl the flag, proclaim, indicate, disclose, elicit, be manifest, appear, transpire, speak for itself, stand to reason, stare one in the face, rear its head, give token, give sign, give indication of, tell its own tale.

buffalo bill's wild west show, chat show, dog show, dumb show, false show, floor show, galanty show, game show, horse show, ice show, light show, make a show of, minstrel show, motion-picture show, moving-picture show, news show, panel show, picture show, puppet show, road show, shadow show, show bill, show biz, show business, show card, show girl, show me state, show off, show the door, show time, show trial, show up, show window, stage show, steal the show, strip show, talk show, television show, tv show, variety show, wild west show