b. To display for sale, in exhibition, or in competition: showed her most recent paintings.
2. To conduct; guide: showed them to the table.
3. To direct ones attention to; point out: show them the biggest squash in the garden.
4. To manifest (an emotion or condition, for example); reveal: showed displeasure at his remark; a carpet that shows wear.
5. To permit access to (a house, for example) when offering for sale or rent.
6. To reveal (oneself) as in ones behavior or condition: The old boat showed itself to be seaworthy.
7. To indicate; register: The altimeter showed that the plane was descending.
8.
a. To demonstrate by reasoning or procedure: showed that the hypothesis was wrong; a film that showed how to tune a piano.
b. To demonstrate to by reasoning or procedure; inform or prove to: showed him how to fix the camera; showed her that it could really happen.
9. To grant; bestow: showed no mercy to the traitors.
10. Law To plead; allege: show cause.
v.intr.
1. To be or become visible or evident.
2. Slang To make an appearance; show up: didnt show for her appointment.
3.
a. To be exhibited publicly: Whats showing at the movie theater tonight?
b. To give a performance or present an exhibition.
4. Sports To finish third or better in a horserace or dog race.
n.
1. A display; a manifestation: made a show of strength.
2.
a. A trace or indication, as of oil in a well.
b. The discharge of bloody mucus from the vagina indicating the start of labor.
c. The first discharge of blood in menstruation.
3. A false appearance; a pretense: only a show of kindness.
4.
a. A striking appearance or display; a spectacle.
b. A pompous or ostentatious display.
5. Display or outward appearance: This antique tea service is just for show. His smile was for show.
6.
a. A public exhibition or entertainment.
b. An exposition for the display or demonstration of commercial products: an auto show.
c. A usually competitive exhibition of domestic animals: won first place at the cat show.
7.
a. A radio or television program.
b. A movie.
c. A theatrical troupe or company.
8. Informal An affair or undertaking: ran the whole show.
9. Sports Third place at the finish, as in a horserace.
Phrasal Verbs:
show off
To display or behave in an ostentatious or conspicuous way.
show up
1. To be clearly visible.
2. To put in an appearance; arrive.
3. To expose or reveal the true character or nature of: showed their efforts up as a waste of time.
4. Informal To surpass, as in ability or intelligence.
Idioms:
get the show on the roadSlang
To get started.
show (ones) hand
1. Games To display ones cards with faces up.
2. To state ones intentions or reveal ones resources, especially when previously hidden.
show (ones) heels
To depart from quickly; flee.
show (someone) a good time
To occupy (someone) with amusing things; entertain.
[Middle English sheuen, shouen, from Old English scawian, to look at, display.]
Synonyms: show, display, expose, parade, exhibit, flaunt These verbs mean to present something to view. Show is the most general: She hated to show her feelings (John Galsworthy). Display often suggests an attempt to present something to best advantage: The dealer spread the rug out to display the pattern. Expose usually involves uncovering something or bringing it out from concealment: The excavation exposed a staggering number of artifacts. The term can often imply revelation of something better left concealed: Your comment exposes your insensitivity. Parade usually suggests a pretentious or boastful presentation: He early discovered that, by parading his unhappiness before the multitude, he produced an immense sensation (Thomas Macaulay). Exhibit implies open presentation that invites inspection: The works of art, by being publicly exhibited and offered for sale, are becoming articles of trade (Prince Albert). Flaunt implies an unabashed, prideful, often arrogant display: Every great hostelry flaunted the flag of some foreign potentate (John Dos Passos). See Also Synonyms at appear.
show /o/ n.1 [C] a play, movie, TV program, or other entertainment: She plays a young wife in the new Broadway show.||We watched a show about African animals on educational television.2 [C] a display or exhibition about a specific interest or product: a horse show||a boat show3 [C] usu.sing. a way of behaving that may not be sincere: She made a show of crying at her aunts funeral, though she didnt like her aunt!4to get the show on the road: to start moving or start doing s.t., not to delay any longer: We will be late if we dont get this show on the road!
Thesaurus: shown.1 a performance, presentation 2 a fair, an exposition, expo 3 an act, a pretense. v.showntSoUn or showed, showing, shows1 [T] to cause s.o. to see, to point out: Let me show you my new CD.2 [I;T] to cause to be known, to indicate: Your tears show that youre sad.3 [I;T] to put before the public, display: He showed a beagle at the dog show.||The downtown cinema is showing movies from the 1950s.4 [T] to teach, demonstrate (often used with how): She showed him how to eat a lobster.5it (all, just) goes to show: it proves: I started playing basketball and felt healthier; it just goes to show that exercise is good for you.6to show for: to have as a result: I earned a lot of money and spent it all; I have nothing to show for all my work.7 phrasal v.sep.to show (s.o. or s.t.) off:a. [I] to act in a way that calls attention to oneself: The boy shows off by telling people his father is very rich.b. [I;T] s.o. or s.t.: to put s.o. or s.t. before people with pride: She showed off her ruby ring when she met two friends for dinner.||She showed it off.8to show ones face: to appear (often used in a negative way): After getting so drunk at the last party, she was ashamed to show her face at the next one.9to show ones hand: a. (in a card game) to show ones cards to the other players b.fig. to let people know ones real thoughts or intentions: He didnt seem interested in the house, but showed his hand by offering a lot of money for it.10 phrasal v.sep. [T] to show s.o. around: to give a tour, to make a new place more familiar: This is your new office; let me show you around.11 phrasal v.sep. [T] to show s.o. out: to go to the door with a person who is leaving: The maid brought my coat and showed me out.12to show s.o. the door: to indicate that s.o. should go, isnt welcome: If you cant be more polite, I will show you the door.13 phrasal v.sep.to show s.o. or s.t. up:a. [I] to arrive (sometimes unexpectedly or late): They finally showed up at 11:30.b. [T] s.o.: to cause s.o. else to seem or look worse in some way: He showed you up by wearing a more expensive suit.c. [I;T] s.t.: to make s.t. visible: The strong light showed up the stains.
o
/ n. 1 [C] a play, movie, TV program, or other entertainment: She plays a young wife in the new Broadway show.||We watched a show about African animals on educational television. 2 [C] a display or exhibition about a specific interest or product: a horse show||a boat show 3 [C] usu. sing. a way of behaving that may not be sincere: She made a show of crying at her aunts funeral, though she didnt like her aunt! 4 to get the show on the road: to start moving or start doing s.t., not to delay any longer: We will be late if we dont get this show on the road!
v. shown 
)
awian, to look at, display.]