pres-ent³ n

[Sense: 1; Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: presenter; PRESENT²]
[Sense: 2-4; Date: 1200-1300; Origin: PRESENT¹]
[C] something you give someone on a special occasion or to thank them for something
→ gift
▪I was searching for a present for Mark.
birthday/Christmas present
▪I gave her a very special present for her birthday.
the present
a) the time that is happening now
▪Stop worrying about the past and live in the present.
▪The film is set sometime between 1995 and the present.
▪'When do you want to start?' 'Well, there's no time like the present (=used to say that if you are going to do something at all, you should do it now) .'
b) technical the form of the verb that shows what exists or is happening now
→ the present tense
at present
at this time
→ now
▪The item you want is not available at present.
▪At present, the airport handles 110 flights a day.
for the present
something that exists or will be done for the present exists now and will continue for a while, though it may change in the future
▪The company is still in business, at least for the present.