Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
GAIN
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English gayne, from Anglo-French gaigne, gain, from gaaigner to till, earn, gain, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German weidanōn to hunt for food, Old English wāth pursuit, hunt
Date: 14th century
resources or advantage acquired or increased ; profit , the act or process of gaining,
3. an increase in amount, magnitude, or degree , the increase (as of voltage or signal intensity) caused by an amplifier, the signal-gathering ability of an antenna,
II. verb
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. to acquire or get possession of usually by industry, merit, or craft , to win in competition or conflict , c. to arrive at ; reach , attain , traverse , cover , to get by a natural development or process , to establish a specific relationship with ,
2. to make an increase of (a specified amount) , to increase in (a particular quality) , to win to one's side ; persuade , to cause to be obtained or given ; attract , to run fast by the amount of , intransitive verb to get advantage ; profit ,
2. increase , to increase in weight, to improve in health or ability, to run fast, to get closer to something pursued, gainer noun