noun
- something that belongs.
- belongings, possessions; goods; personal effects.
verb (used without object)
- to be in the relation of a member, adherent, inhabitant, etc. (usually followed by to): He belongs to the Knights of Columbus.
- to have the proper qualifications, especially social qualifications, to be a member of a group: You don’t belong in this club.
- to be proper or due; be properly or appropriately placed, situated, etc.: Books belong in every home. This belongs on the shelf. He is a statesman who belongs among the great.
Verb Phrases
- belong to,
- to be the property of: The book belongs to her.
- to be a part or adjunct of: That cover belongs to this jar.
noun
- secure relationship; affinity (esp in the phrase a sense of belonging)
verb (intr)
- (foll by to) to be the property or possession (of)
- (foll by to) to be bound to (a person, place, or club) by ties of affection, dependence, allegiance, or membership
- (foll by to, under, with, etc) to be classified (with)this plant belongs to the daisy family
- (foll by to) to be a part or adjunct (of)this top belongs to the smaller box
- to have a proper or usual placethat plate belongs in the cupboard
- informal to be suitable or acceptable, esp sociallyalthough they were rich, they just didn’t belong
mid-14c., “to go along with, properly relate to,” from be- intensive prefix, + longen “to go,” from Old English langian “pertain to, to go along with,” of unknown origin. Senses of “be the property of” and “be a member of” first recorded late 14c. Cognate with Middle Dutch belanghen, Dutch belangen, German belangen. Replaced earlier Old English gelang, with completive prefix ge-.
see to the victor belong the spoils.