gain-n; 4 Senses

Sense Number 1: a measurable increase in quantity of something

Commentary:GAIN[+quantity][+additive]
NOTE: Implies an increase of an amount, not the difference in financial revenue and cost (see Sense 4)

Examples:
Have you noticed a gain in weight over the past two months?
The town is unhappy about the recent gains in their property taxes.
This stock has been showing a gain in price every 10 minutes. (a price increase)
The software firm has been making gains in market share in both Europe and Asia.
The candidate's gains in the polls last month have been largely eroded.

Mappings:
PropBank: gain.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 2: a state or circumstance of advantage or benefit

Commentary:GAIN[+state][+circumstances][+advantageous]

Examples:
We have made only small gains in the battle against malaria.
There is much gain in being honest.
The gain in being famous is offset by a loss of personal privacy.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 3: signal power as a ratio of output over input, amplification

Commentary:GAIN[+quantity][+ratio]

Examples:
Can you reduce the gain of these stereo speakers?
The electrical engineering test had a question about 'gain'.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 4: financial profit, costs substracted from revenues

Commentary:GAIN[+quantity][+difference]
NOTE: implies two pre-existing quantities ('cost' and 'revenue') from which the gain is calculated. (in contrast to Sense 1)
NOTE: refers only to FINANCIAL increases, not other types of increases.

Examples:
Mary's mutual funds had a good year and she had to pay capital gains on them.
John's company didn't make any gains last year, but saw a net loss.
The manufacturing firm showed a gain of ten thousand dollars this month on the balance sheet.

Mappings:
PropBank: gain.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4