great

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
great/ɡreɪt/

▶adjective

• 1 of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above average.

  ■ (Greater) (of a city) including adjacent urban areas.

• 2 of ability, quality, or eminence considerably above average.

  ■ (the Great) a title denoting the most important person of the name specified.

  ■ informal very good; excellent.

• 3 important or most important.

  ■ particularly deserving a specified description: I was a great fan of Hank's.

• 4 [in combination] (in names of family relationships) denoting one degree further removed upwards or downwards.

▶noun

• 1 a distinguished person.

• 2 (Greats) another term for literae humaniores.

▶adverb informal very well.

– phrases
the great and the good often ironic distinguished and worthy people collectively.
great and small of all sizes, classes, or types.
Great Scott! dated expressing surprise or amazement. [arbitrary euphemism for Great God!]

– derivatives
greatness noun.

– origin OE grēat ‘big’, of W. Gmc origin.