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About OALD 7

A noun, symbol, abbr.
noun (also a) (pl. As, A's, a's )
1 [C, U] the first letter of the English alphabet: 'Apple' begins with (an) A/'A'.
2 A [C, U] (music) the 6th note in the SCALE of C MAJOR
3 [C, U] the highest mark/grade that a student can get for a piece of work or course of study: She got (an) A in/for Biology. He had straight A's (= nothing but A's) all through high school.
4 A [U] used to represent the first of two or more possibilities: Shall we go for plan A or plan B?
5 A [U] used to represent a person, for example in an imagined situation or to hide their identity: Assume A knows B is guilty.see also A-FRAME, A LEVEL, A-ROAD
from A to B from one place to another: For me a car is just a means of getting from A to B.
from A to Z including everything there is to know about sth: He knew his subject from A to Z.
symbol
1 used in Britain before a number to refer to a particular important road: the A34 to Newbury
2 used (but not in the US) before numbers which show standard METRIC sizes of paper: a sheet of A4 paper (= 297×210mm) A3 (= 420×297mm) A5 (= 210×148mm)
abbr. (in writing) AMP(S)

a strong form (also an strong form ) indefinite article The form a is used before consonant sounds and the form an before vowel sounds. When saying abbreviations like 'FM' or 'UN', use a or an according to how the first letter is said. For example, F is a consonant, but begins with the sound/e/and so you say: an FM radio. U is a vowel but begins with/j/and so you say: a UN declaration.
1 used before countable or singular nouns referring to people or things that have not already been mentioned: a man/horse/unit an aunt/egg/hour/x-ray I can only carry two at a time. There's a visitor for you. She's a friend of my father's (= one of my father's friends).
2 used before uncountable nouns when these have an adjective in front of them, or phrase following them: a good knowledge of French a sadness that won't go away
3 any; every: A lion is a dangerous animal.
4 used to show that sb/sth is a member of a group or profession: Their new car's a BMW. She's a Buddhist. He's a teacher. Is that a Monet (= a painting by Monet)?
5 used in front of two nouns that are seen as a single unit: a knife and fork
6 used instead of one before some numbers: A thousand people were there.
7 used when talking about prices, quantities and rates PER: They cost 50p a kilo. I can type 50 words a minute. He was driving at 50 miles an hour.
8 a person like sb: She's a little Hitler.
9 used before sb's name to show that the speaker does not know the person: There's a Mrs Green to see you.
10 used before the names of days of the week to talk about one particular day: She died on a Tuesday.

a- prefix (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) not; without: atheist atypical asexually

A1 adj. (informal) very good: The car was in A1 condition.

A2 (level) noun [C, U] a British exam usually taken in Year 13 of school or college (= the final year) when students are aged 18. Students must first have studied a subject at AS level before they can take an A2 exam. Together AS and A2 level exams form the A-level qualification, which is needed for entrance to universities: A2 exams Students will normally take three A2 subjects. He's doing an A2 (level) in History. More than 20 subjects are on offer at A2 level at our college.

AA abbr.
1 (usually the AA) Automobile Association (a British organization which provides services for car owners)
2 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

AAA abbr.
1 American Automobile Association (an American organization which provides services for car owners)
2 (in the UK) Amateur Athletic Association

A & E abbr. ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY

A and P abbr. the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (a US company that has food shops/stores in all the states of the US)

A & R abbr. artists and repertoire (= the department in a record company that is responsible for finding new singers and bands and getting them to sign a contract with the company)

aardvark NAmE noun an animal from southern Africa that has a long nose and tongue and that eats insects

aargh NAmE exclamation used to express fear, anger, or some other strong emotion: Aarghget that cat off the table!

aback adv.
be taken aback (by sb/sth) to be shocked or surprised by sb/sth: She was completely taken aback by his anger.see also TAKE SB ABACK note at SURPRISE

abacus noun (pl. abacuses ) a frame with small balls which slide along wires. It is used as a tool or toy for counting.

abaft NAmE adv. (technical) in or behind the STERN (= back end) of a ship

abalone NAmE noun [C, U] a SHELLFISH that can be eaten and whose shell contains MOTHER-OF-PEARL

abandon verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 ~ sb (to sth) to leave sb, especially sb you are responsible for, with no intention of returning: The baby had been abandoned by its mother. People often simply abandon their pets when they go abroad. The study showed a deep fear among the elderly of being abandoned to the care of strangers.
2 ~ sth (to sb/sth) to leave a thing or place, especially because it is impossible or dangerous to stay LEAVE: Snow forced many drivers to abandon their vehicles. They had to abandon their lands to the invading forces. He gave the order to abandon ship (= to leave the ship because it was sinking).
3 to stop supporting or helping sb; to stop believing in sth: The country abandoned its political leaders after the war. By 1930 he had abandoned his Marxist principles.
4 to stop doing sth, especially before it is finished; to stop having sth: They abandoned the match because of rain. She abandoned hope of any reconciliation. We had to abandon any further attempt at negotiation.
5 ~ yourself to sth (literary) to feel an emotion so strongly that you can feel nothing else: He abandoned himself to despair.
noun [U] (formal) an uncontrolled way of behaving that shows that sb does not care what other people think: He signed cheques with careless abandon. see GAY adj.

abandoned adj.
1 left and no longer wanted, used or needed: an abandoned car/house The child was found abandoned but unharmed. There was an abandoned supermarket trolley in the middle of the road.
2 (of people or their behaviour) wild; not following accepted standards

abandonment noun [U] (formal)
1 the act of leaving a person, thing or place with no intention of returning: their childhood abandonment by their mother
2 the act of giving up an idea or stopping an activity with no intention of returning to it: the government's abandonment of its new economic policy

abase verb [VN] ~ yourself (formal) to act in a way that shows that you accept sb's power over you
abasement noun [U]

abashed adj. [not before noun] embarrassed and ashamed because of sth that you have done UNABASHED

abate verb (formal) to become less strong; to make sth less strong: [V] The storm showed no signs of abating. They waited for the crowd's fury to abate. [VN] Steps are to be taken to abate pollution.
abatement noun [U]

abattoir noun (BrE) = SLAUGHTERHOUSE

abaya NAmE noun a full-length piece of clothing worn over other clothes by Arab men or women

abba (also appa ) noun (IndE) (especially as a form of address) a father

abbess noun a woman who is the head of a CONVENT

abbey noun a large church together with a group of buildings in which MONKS or NUNS live or lived in the past: Westminster Abbey a ruined abbey

abbot noun a man who is the head of a MONASTERY or an ABBEY

abbreviate verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (to sth) to make a word, phrase or name shorter by leaving out letters or using only the first letter of each word SHORTEN: the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (usually abbreviated to JPL)
abbreviated adj.: Where appropriate, abbreviated forms are used.

abbreviation noun
1 [C] ~ (of/for sth) a short form of a word, etc.: What's the abbreviation for 'Saint'?
2 [U] the process of abbreviating sth

ABC noun, abbr.
noun [sing.] (BrE) (NAmE ABCs [pl.])
1 all the letters of the alphabet, especially as they are learnt by children: Do you know your ABC?
2 the basic facts about a subject: the ABC of gardening see EASY
abbr. American Broadcasting Company (a large national American television company): 'Good Morning America' on ABC

abdicate verb
1 to give up the position of being king or queen: [V] He abdicated in favour of his son. [VN] She was forced to abdicate the throne of Spain.
2 [VN] ~ responsibility/your responsibilities to fail or refuse to perform a duty
abdication noun [U, C]

abdomen noun
1 the part of the body below the chest that contains the stomach, BOWELS, etc.
2 the end part of an insect's body that is attached to its THORAX

abdominal NAmE adj., noun
adj. [only before noun] (anatomy) relating to or connected with the abdomen: abdominal pains
nounabdominals (also informal abs) [pl.] the muscles of the abdomen

abduct verb [VN] to take sb away illegally, especially using force KIDNAP: He had attempted to abduct the two children.
abduction noun [U, C]: child abduction

abductee noun a person who has been abducted

abductor noun
1 a person who abducts sb
2 (also abductor muscle) (anatomy) a muscle that moves a body part away from the middle of the body or from another partcompare ADDUCTOR

abed adv. (old use) in bed

Aberdeen Angus NAmE noun a breed of cow that is black, has no horns and is used for its meat

Aberdonian NAmE noun a person from Aberdeen in Scotland
Aberdonian adj.

aberrant adj. (formal) not usual or not socially acceptable: aberrant behaviour

aberration noun [C, U] (formal) a fact, an action or a way of behaving that is not usual, and that may be unacceptable: a temporary aberration of his exhausted mind A childless woman was regarded as an aberration, almost a social outcast.

abet verb (-tt-) [VN] to help or encourage sb to do sth wrong: He was abetted in the deception by his wife. see AID v.

abeyance noun [U]
in abeyance (formal) not being used, or being stopped for a period of time: Legal proceedings are in abeyance, while further enquiries are made.

ABH abbr. (BrE, law) ACTUAL BODILY HARM

abhor verb (-rr-) [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to hate sth, for example a way of behaving or thinking, especially for moral reasons DETEST, LOATHE

abhorrence NAmE noun [U, sing.] (formal) a feeling of strong hatred, especially for moral reasons: He had an abhorrence of waste of any kind.

abhorrent NAmE adj. (formal) ~ (to sb) causing hatred, especially for moral reasons REPUGNANT: Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society.

abide verb (abided, abided) In sense 2 abode is also used for the past tense and past participle.
1 [VN] can't/couldn't ~ sb/sth to dislike sb/sth so much that you hate having to be with or deal with them BEAR, STAND: I can't abide people with no sense of humour. He couldn't abide the thought of being cooped up in an office.
2 [V + adv. / prep.] (old use or formal) to stay or live in a place: May joy and peace abide in us all.
abide by sth to accept and act according to a law, an agreement, etc.: You'll have to abide by the rules of the club. We will abide by their decision.

abiding adj. (formal) (of a feeling or belief) lasting for a long time and not changing: He is an artist with an abiding concern for humanity.

ability noun (pl. -ies)
1 [sing.] ~ to do sth the fact that sb/sth is able to do sth: The system has the ability to run more than one program at the same time. Everyone has the right to good medical care regardless of their ability to pay. A gentle form of exercise will increase your ability to relax. INABILITY
2 [C, U] a level of skill or intelligence: Almost everyone has some musical ability. He was a man of extraordinary abilities. students of mixed abilities A woman of her ability will easily find a job. I try to do my job to the best of my ability (= as well as I can).

-ability, -ibility -ABLE

ab initio NAmE adv., adj. (from Latin, law or formal)
adv. from the beginning: The agreement was declared void ab initio.
adj. starting from the beginning: the ab initio design of a new car

abiotic NAmE adj. (technical) not involving biology or living things: abiotic processes

abject adj. [usually before noun] (formal)
1 terrible and without hope: abject poverty/misery/failure
2 without any pride or respect for yourself: an abject apology
abjectly adv.

abjure NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to promise publicly that you will give up or reject a belief or a way of behaving RENOUNCE

ablation noun [U] (geology) the loss of material from a large mass of ice, snow or rock as a result of the action of the sun, wind or rain

ablative noun (grammar) (in some languages) the form that a noun, a pronoun or an adjective can take to show, for example, who or what sth is done by or where sth comes fromcompare ACCUSATIVE, DATIVE, GENITIVE, NOMINATIVE, VOCATIVE
ablative adj.

ablaze adj. [not before noun]
1 burning quickly and strongly: The whole building was soon ablaze. Cars and buses were set ablaze during the riot.
2 ~ (with sth) full of bright colours or light: The trees were ablaze with the colours of autumn. There were lights still ablaze as they drove up to the house.
3 ~ (with sth) full of strong emotion or excitement: He turned to her, his eyes ablaze with anger.

able
(WORD FAMILY: able adj. unable | ability noun inability | disabled adj. | disability noun ) adj.
1 ~ to do sth (used as a modal verb) to have the skill, intelligence, opportunity, etc. needed to do sth: You must be able to speak French for this job. A viral illness left her barely able to walk. I didn't feel able to disagree with him. Will you be able to come? UNABLE note at CAN^1
2 (abler , ablest ) intelligent; good at sth: the ablest student in the class We aim to help the less able in society to lead an independent life.see also ABLY

-able, -ible suffix (in adjectives)
1 that can or must be: calculable taxable
2 having the quality of: fashionable comfortable changeable
-ability, -ibility (in nouns): capability responsibility -ably, -ibly (in adverbs): noticeably incredibly

able-bodied adj. physically healthy, fit and strong in contrast to sb who is weak or disabled: Military service is compulsory for every able-bodied male between 18 and 27. Disabled and able-bodied children can enrol on the athletics course.

ableism noun [U] unfair treatment of disabled people by giving jobs or other advantages to ABLE-BODIED people

able seaman noun a sailor of lower rank in the British navy

ablutions noun [pl.] (formal or humorous) the act of washing yourself

ably adv. skilfully and well: We were ably assisted by a team of volunteers.see also ABLE (2)

ABM noun (CanE) automated banking machine; a machine inside or outside a bank, in a shopping centre, etc. from which you can get money at any time of day by putting in a special card

abnegation noun [U] (formal) the act of not allowing yourself to have sth that you want; the act of rejecting sth
abnegate verb [VN]

abnormal NAmE adj. different from what is usual or expected, especially in a way that is worrying, harmful or not wanted: abnormal levels of sugar in the blood They thought his behaviour was abnormal. The ship was blown off course by abnormal weather conditions. NORMAL
abnormally NAmE adv.: abnormally high blood pressure

abnormality NAmE noun (pl. -ies) [C, U] a feature or characteristic in a person's body or behaviour that is not usual and may be harmful, worrying or cause illness: abnormalities of the heart congenital/foetal abnormality

Abo NAmE noun (pl. Abos) (AustralE, taboo, informal) an extremely offensive word for an Aborigine

aboard NAmE adv., prep. on or onto a ship, plane, bus or train ON BOARD: We went aboard. He was already aboard the plane. The plane crashed killing all 157 passengers aboard. All aboard! (= the bus, boat, etc. is leaving soon) Welcome aboard! (= used to welcome passengers or a person joining a new organization, etc.)

abode NAmE noun [usually sing.] (formal or humorous) the place where sb lives: homeless people of no fixed abode (= with no permanent home) You are most welcome to my humble abode.see also ABIDE v., RIGHT OF ABODE

abolish NAmE verb [VN] to officially end a law, a system or an institution: This tax should be abolished.

abolition noun [U] the ending of a law, a system or an institution: the abolition of slavery

abolitionist noun a person who is in favour of the abolition of sth

A-bomb noun = ATOM BOMB

abominable NAmE adj. extremely unpleasant and causing disgust APPALLING, DISGUSTING: The judge described the attack as an abominable crime. We were served the most abominable coffee.
abominably NAmE adv.: She treated him abominably.

Abominable Snowman noun = YETI

abominate NAmE verb [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to feel hatred or disgust for sth/sb

abomination NAmE noun (formal) a thing that causes disgust and hatred, or is considered extremely offensive: a concrete abomination masquerading as a hotel

aboriginal adj., noun
adj.
1 (usually Aboriginal) relating to the original people living in Australia: the issue of Aboriginal land rights
2 relating to the original people, animals, etc. of a place and to a period of time before Europeans arrived: the aboriginal peoples of Canada aboriginal art/culture
noun (usually Aboriginal) a member of a race of people who were the original people living in a country, especially Australiasee also KOORI

aborigine noun
1 a member of a race of people who were the original people living in a country
2 Aborigine a member of the race of people who were the original people of Australiasee also KOORI

abort NAmE verb
1 [VN] to end a PREGNANCY early in order to prevent a baby from developing and being born alive: to abort a child/pregnancy/foetus
2 [V] (technical) to give birth to a child or young animal too early for it to survive: The virus can cause pregnant animals to abort.see also MISCARRY
3 [often passive] to end or cause sth to end before it has been completed, especially because it is likely to fail: [VN] We had no option but to abort the mission. [V] (computing) If the wrong password is given the program aborts.

abortion NAmE noun
1 [U] the deliberate ending of a PREGNANCY at an early stage: to support/oppose abortion a woman's right to abortion abortion laws I've always been anti-abortion.
2 [C] a medical operation to end a PREGNANCY at an early stage: She decided to have an abortion. TERMINATIONcompare MISCARRIAGE

abortionist NAmE noun a person who performs abortions, especially illegally

abortive NAmE adj. (formal) (of an action) not successful; failed UNSUCCESSFUL: an abortive military coup abortive attempts to divert the course of the river

abound verb [V] to exist in great numbers or quantities: Stories about his travels abound.
abound with/in sth to have sth in great numbers or quantities: The lakes abound with fish.see also ABUNDANCE, ABUNDANT

about adv., prep., adj.
adv.
1 a little more or less than; a little before or after APPROXIMATELY: It costs about $10. They waited (for) about an hour. He arrived (at) about ten.
2 nearly; very close to: I'm just about ready. This is about the best we can hope for.
3 (especially BrE) in many directions; here and there: The children were rushing about in the garden.
4 (especially BrE) in no particular order; in various places: Her books were lying about on the floor.
5 (especially BrE) doing nothing in particular: People were standing about in the road.
6 (especially BrE) able to be found in a place: There was nobody about. There's a lot of flu about. She's somewhere aboutI saw her a few minutes ago.
7 (technical or formal) facing the opposite direction: He brought the ship about. note at AROUND
that's about all | that's about it used to say that you have finished telling sb about sth and there is nothing to add: 'Anything else?' 'No, that's about it for now.'more at JUST adv., OUT adv.
prep.
1 on the subject of sb/sth; in connection with sb/sth: a book about flowers Tell me all about it. What's she so angry about? There's something strange about him. I don't know what you're on about (= talking about). There's nothing you can do about it now.
2 used to describe the purpose or an aspect of sth: Movies are all about making money these days. What was all that about? (= what was the reason for what has just happened?)
3 busy with sth; doing sth: Everywhere people were going about their daily business. And while you're about it ... (= while you're doing that)
4 (especially BrE) in many directions in a place; here and there: We wandered about the town for an hour or so. He looked about the room.
5 (especially BrE) in various parts of a place; here and there: The papers were strewn about the room.
6 (especially BrE) next to a place or person; in the area mentioned: She's somewhere about the office.
7 (literary) surrounding sb/sth: She wore a shawl about her shoulders.
how/what about ... ?
1 used when asking for information about sb/sth: How about Ruth? Have you heard from her? I'm having fish. What about you?
2 used to make a suggestion: How about going for a walk? What about a break?
adj.
be about to do sth to be close to doing sth; to be going to do sth very soon: I was just about to ask you the same thing.
not be about to do sth to not be willing to do sth; to not intend to do sth: I've never done any cooking and I'm not about to start now.

VOCABULARY BUILDING

ways of saying about

The flight takes approximately three hours.

The tickets cost about £20 each.

The repairs will cost 200, give or take a few dollars.

How much will it cost, more or less?

We are expecting thirty or so people to come.

She must be 25 or thereabouts.

Profits have fallen by roughly 15.

You can expect to earn round about £40,000 a year.

The price is somewhere around 800.

She earns somewhere in the region of £25,000.

All these words and phrases are used in both speaking and writing; about is the most common and approximately the most formal.

about-turn (BrE) (also about-face NAmE, BrE) noun [sing.] a complete change of opinion, plan or behaviour: The government did an about-turn over nuclear energy.

above prep., adv., adj.
prep.
1 at or to a higher place or position than sth/sb: The water came above our knees. We were flying above the clouds. the people in the apartment above mine A captain in the navy ranks above a captain in the army. They finished the year six places above their local rivals.
2 more than sth; greater in number, level or age than sb/sth: Inflation is above 6%. Temperatures have been above average. We cannot accept children above the age of 10.
3 of greater importance or of higher quality than sb/sth: I rate her above most other players of her age.
4 too good or too honest to do sth: She's not above lying when it suits her. He's above suspicion (= he is completely trusted).
5 (of a sound) louder or clearer than another sound: I couldn't hear her above the noise of the traffic.
above all most important of all; especially: Above all, keep in touch.
above yourself (disapproving) having too high an opinion of yourselfmore at OVER prep.
adv.
1 at or to a higher place: Put it on the shelf above. Seen from above the cars looked tiny. They were acting on instructions from above (= from sb in a higher position of authority).
2 greater in number, level or age: increases of 5% and above A score of 70 or above will get you an 'A'. children aged 12 and above
3 earlier in sth written or printed: As was stated above ... See above, page 97.
adj. [only before noun] mentioned or printed previously in a letter, book, etc.: Please write to us at the above address.
the above noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.]: Please notify us if the above is not correct. All the above (= people mentioned above) have passed the exam.

WHICH WORD?

above / over

Above and over can both be used to describe a position higher than something: They built a new room above/over the garage. When you are talking about movement from one side of something to the other, you can only use over: They jumped over the stream. Over can also mean 'covering': He put a blanket over the sleeping child.

Above and over can also mean 'more than'. Above is used in relation to a minimum level or a fixed point: 2000 feet above sea levelTemperatures will not rise above zero tonight. Over is used with numbers, ages, money and time: He's over 50.It costs over £100.We waited over 2 hours.

above board adj., adv. legal and honest; in a legal and honest way: Don't worry; the deal was completely above board. If you do everything above board, you will have to pay tax on your earnings.
If card players keep their hands above the table (the board), other players can see what they are doing.

above-mentioned adj. [only before noun] mentioned or named earlier in the same letter, book, etc.

abracadabra exclamation a word that people say when they do a magic trick, in order to make it successful

abrade verb [VN] (technical) to rub the surface of sth, such as rock or skin, and damage it or make it rough

abrasion noun (technical)
1 [C] a damaged area of the skin where it has been rubbed against sth hard and rough: He suffered cuts and abrasions to the face.
2 [U] damage to a surface caused by rubbing sth very hard against it: Diamonds have extreme resistance to abrasion.

abrasive adj., noun
adj.
1 an abrasive substance is rough and can be used to clean a surface or to make it smooth: abrasive kitchen cleaners Rub down with fine abrasive paper.
2 (of a person or their manner) rude and unkind; acting in a way that may hurt other people's feelings: an abrasive style/tone/comment Throughout his career he was known for his abrasive manner.
abrasively adv. abrasiveness noun [U]
noun a substance used for cleaning surfaces or for making them smooth

abreast adv. ~ (of sb/sth) next to sb/sth and facing the same way: cycling two abreast A police car drew abreast of us and signalled us to stop.
keep abreast of sth to make sure that you know all the most recent facts about a subject: It is almost impossible to keep abreast of all the latest developments in computing.

abridge verb [VN] to make a book, play, etc. shorter by leaving parts out: She has been asked to abridge the novel for radio.
abridged adj.: an abridged edition/version UNABRIDGED abridgement (also abridgment) noun [U, C]

abroad adv. (especially BrE)
1 in or to a foreign country: to be/go/travel/live abroad She worked abroad for a year. imports of cheap food from abroad He was famous, both at home and abroad (= in his own country and in other countries). For a holiday abroad you need a valid passport.
2 (formal) being talked about or felt by many people: There was news abroad that a change was coming.
3 (old use) outside; outdoors

abrogate verb [VN] (technical) to officially end a law, an agreement, etc. REPEAL: The rule has been abrogated by mutual consent.
abrogation noun [U]

abrupt adj.
1 sudden and unexpected, often in an unpleasant way: an abrupt change/halt/departure The accident brought his career to an abrupt end.
2 speaking or acting in a way that seems unfriendly and rude; not taking time to say more than is necessary BRUSQUE, CURT: an abrupt manner She was very abrupt with me in our meeting.
abruptly adv.: The interview ended abruptly. abruptness noun [U]

ABS abbr. anti-lock braking system

abs noun [pl.] (informal) = ABDOMINALS

abscess noun a swollen and infected area on your skin or in your body, full of a thick yellowish liquid (called PUS): a painful abscess on the gum

abscissa (pl. abscissae or abscissas) noun (mathematics) the COORDINATE that gives the distance along the horizontal AXIScompare ORDINATE

abscond NAmE verb [V]
1 ~ (from sth) to escape from a place that you are not allowed to leave without permission: She absconded from every children's home they placed her in.
2 ~ (with sth) to leave secretly and take with you sth, especially money, that does not belong to you: He absconded with the company funds.

abseil (BrE) (NAmE rappel) verb [V] ~ (down, off, etc. sth) to go down a steep CLIFF or rock while attached to a rope, pushing against the slope or rock with your feet
abseil (BrE) (NAmE rappel) noun

absence noun
1 [U, C] ~ (from ... ) the fact of sb being away from a place where they are usually expected to be; the occasion or period of time when sb is away: absence from work repeated absences from school The decision was made in my absence (= while I was not there). We did not receive any news during his long absence.see also LEAVE
2 [U] the fact of sb/sth not existing or not being available; a lack of sth: The case was dismissed in the absence of any definite proof. the absence of any women on the board of directors PRESENCE
absence makes the heart grow fonder (saying) used to say that when you are away from sb that you love, you love them even moremore at CONSPICUOUS

absent adj., verb
adj.
1 ~ (from sth) not in a place because of illness, etc.: to be absent from work PRESENT
2 ~ (from sth) not present in sth: Love was totally absent from his childhood. PRESENT
3 showing that you are not really looking at or thinking about what is happening around you: an absent expressionsee also ABSENTLY
verb [VN] ~ yourself (from sth) (formal) to not go to or be in a place where you are expected to be: He had absented himself from the office for the day.

absentee noun a person who is not at a place where they were expected to be

absentee ballot noun (NAmE) = POSTAL VOTE

absenteeism noun [U] the fact of being frequently away from work or school, especially without good reasons

absentee landlord noun a person who rents their property to sb, but does not live in it and rarely visits it

absentia IN ABSENTIA

absently adv. in a way that shows you are not looking at or thinking about what is happening around you: He nodded absently, his attention absorbed by the screen.

absent-minded adj. tending to forget things, perhaps because you are not thinking about what is around you, but about sth else FORGETFUL: Grandpa's becoming quite absent-minded.
absent-mindedly adv.: She absent-mindedly twisted a strand of hair around her fingers. absent-mindedness noun [U]

absinthe noun [U] a very strong green alcoholic drink that tastes of ANISEED

absolute adj., noun
adj.
1 total and complete: a class for absolute beginners absolute confidence/trust/silence/truth 'You're wrong,' she said with absolute certainty. Around them the darkness was absolute, the silence oppressive.
2 [only before noun] used, especially in spoken English, to give emphasis to what you are saying: There's absolute rubbish on television tonight. He must earn an absolute fortune. 4 Mb is the absolute minimum you need to run the program. What an absolute idiot I've been!
3 definite and without any doubt or confusion: There was no absolute proof. He taught us that the laws of physics were absolute. The divorce became absolute last week.see also DECREE ABSOLUTE
4 not limited or restricted: absolute power/authority an absolute ruler/monarchy (= one with no limit to their power)
5 existing or measured independently and not in relation to sth else: Although prices are falling in absolute terms, energy is still expensive. Beauty cannot be measured by any absolute standard.compare RELATIVE
noun an idea or a principle that is believed to be true or valid in any circumstances: Right and wrong are, for her, moral absolutes.

absolute alcohol noun [U] (chemistry) a form of ETHANOL that contains less than 1% water

absolutely adv.
1 used to emphasize that sth is completely true: You're absolutely right. He made it absolutely clear. I'm not absolutely certain I posted it. It was absolutely pouring with rain.
2 ~ no ... | ~ nothing used to emphasize sth negative: She did absolutely no work. There's absolutely nothing more the doctors can do.
3 used with adjectives or verbs that express strong feelings or extreme qualities to mean 'extremely': I was absolutely furious with him. She absolutely adores you. He's an absolutely brilliant cook.
4 used to emphasize that you agree with sb, or to give sb permission to do sth: 'They could have told us, couldn't they?' 'Absolutely!' 'Can we leave a little early?' 'Absolutely!'
5 ~ not used to emphasize that you strongly disagree with sb, or to refuse permission: 'Was it any good?' 'No, absolutely not.'

absolute magnitude noun [U] (astronomy) a measure of how bright a star, planet, etc. is, as it would be seen at a standard distance from the earthcompare APPARENT MAGNITUDE

absolute majority noun more than half of the total number of votes or winning candidates: 280 seats are needed for an absolute majority in the National Assembly.

absolute music noun [U] music that is written for instruments only as music, not to represent or show sth elsecompare PROGRAMME MUSIC

absolute temperature noun [U, C] temperature measured from absolute zero in degrees KELVIN

absolute zero noun [U] the lowest temperature that is thought to be possible

absolution noun [U] (especially in the Christian Church) a formal statement that a person is forgiven for what he or she has done wrong

absolutism noun [U]
1 a political system in which a ruler or government has total power at all times
2 belief in a political, religious or moral principle which is thought to be true in any circumstances
absolutist noun, adj.

absolve NAmE verb [VN] ~ sb (from/of sth)
1 to state formally that sb is not guilty or responsible for sth: The court absolved him of all responsibility for the accident.
2 to give ABSOLUTION to sb: I absolve you from all your sins.

absorb NAmE verb [VN]
LIQUID/GAS
1 to take in a liquid, gas or other substance from the surface or space around: Plants absorb oxygen. The cream is easily absorbed into the skin. Let the rice cook until it has absorbed all the water.
MAKE PART OF STH LARGER
2 [often passive] to make sth smaller become part of sth larger: The surrounding small towns have been absorbed into the city. The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.
INFORMATION
3 to take sth into the mind and learn or understand it TAKE IN: It's a lot of information to absorb all at once. It took me several days to absorb the fact of her death. They spent a week in Paris just absorbing the atmosphere.
INTEREST SB
4 to interest sb very much so that they pay no attention to anything else ENGROSS: This work had absorbed him for several years.
HEAT/LIGHT/ENERGY
5 to take in and keep heat, light, energy, etc. instead of reflecting it: Black walls absorb a lot of heat during the day.
SHOCK/IMPACT
6 to reduce the effect of a blow, hit, etc.: This tennis racket absorbs shock on impact. The bats have graphite shafts that absorb the vibration.see also SHOCK ABSORBER
MONEY/TIME/CHANGES
7 to use up a large supply of sth, especially money or time: The new proposals would absorb $80 billion of the federal budget.
8 to deal with changes, effects, costs, etc.: The company is unable to absorb such huge losses.

absorbable NAmE adj. able to be absorbed, especially into the body: absorbable gases

absorbance NAmE noun (physics) the ability of a substance to absorb light

absorbed NAmE adj. [not usually before noun] ~ in sth/sb very interested in sth/sb so that you are not paying attention to anything else: She seemed totally absorbed in her book.

absorbent NAmE adj. able to take in sth easily, especially liquid: absorbent paper/materials
absorbency noun [U]: Cotton has high absorbency.

absorbent cotton noun [U] (US) = COTTON WOOL

absorbing NAmE adj. interesting and enjoyable and holding your attention completely: an absorbing book/game note at INTERESTING

absorption NAmE noun [U]
1 the process of a liquid, gas or other substance being taken in: Vitamin D is necessary to aid the absorption of calcium from food.
2 the process of a smaller group, country, etc. becoming part of a larger group or country: the absorption of immigrants into the host country
3 ~ (in sth) the fact of sb being very interested in sth so that it takes all their attention: His work suffered because of his total absorption in sport.

abstain verb [V] ~ (from sth)
1 to choose not to use a vote, either in favour of or against sth: Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained.
2 to decide not to do or have sth, especially sth you like or enjoy, because it is bad for your health or considered morally wrong: to abstain from alcohol/sex/drugs
3 (IndE) to stay away from sth: The workers who abstained from work yesterday have been suspended.see also ABSTENTION, ABSTINENCE

abstainer noun
1 a person who chooses not to vote either in favour of or against sth
2 a person who never drinks alcohol

abstemious adj. (formal) not allowing yourself to have much food or alcohol, or to do things that are enjoyable: He was a hard-working man with abstemious habits.

abstention noun
1 [C, U] ~ (from sth) an act of choosing not to use a vote either in favour of or against sth: The voting was 15 in favour, 3 against and 2 abstentions. Voter abstention is seen as the only real form of dissent in elections.
2 [U] (formal) the act of not allowing yourself to have or do sth enjoyable or sth that is considered bad: The Church insisted on abstention from all luxuries.see also ABSTAIN

abstinence noun [U] (formal) the practice of not allowing yourself sth, especially food, alcoholic drinks or sex, for moral, religious or health reasons: total abstinence from strong drinksee also ABSTAIN

abstinent adj. not allowing yourself sth, especially alcoholic drinks, for moral, religious or health reasons

abstract adj., noun, verb
adj.
1 based on general ideas and not on any particular real person, thing or situation: abstract knowledge/principles The research shows that pre-school children are capable of thinking in abstract terms.compare CONCRETE adj. (2)
2 existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical reality: We may talk of beautiful things but beauty itself is abstract.
3 (of art) not representing people or things in a realistic way, but expressing the artist's ideas about them: the work of American abstract expressionists like Mark Rothkocompare FIGURATIVE (2), REPRESENTATIONAL
abstractly adv.
noun
1 an abstract work of art: Kandinsky's first pure abstracts are marked by their wild colour.
2 a short piece of writing containing the main ideas in a document SUMMARY
in the abstract in a general way, without referring to a particular real person, thing or situation: Legal questions rarely exist in the abstract; they are based on real cases. I'm just talking in the abstract now.
verb [VN]
1 ~ sth (from sth) to remove sth from somewhere: She abstracted the main points from the argument. a plan to abstract 8 million gallons of water from the river
2 (technical) to make a written summary of a book, etc.

abstracted adj. (formal) thinking deeply about sth and not paying attention to what is around you: He was listening to music and had an abstracted expression.
abstractedly adv.

abstract expressionism noun [U] a style and movement in abstract art that developed in New York in the middle of the 20th century and tries to express the feelings of the artist rather than showing a physical object
abstract expressionist noun: abstract expressionists like Jackson Pollock abstract expressionist adj. [usually before noun]: abstract expressionist art

abstraction noun
1 [C, U] (formal) a general idea not based on any particular real person, thing or situation; the quality of being abstract
2 [U] (formal) the state of thinking deeply about sth and not paying attention to what is around you: She was gazing in abstraction at the far corner of the room.
3 [U, C] (technical) the action of removing sth from sth else; the process of being removed from sth else: water abstraction from rivers

abstractionism noun [U]
1 (technical) the principles and practices of ABSTRACT art
2 the expression of ideas in an abstract way
abstractionist noun, adj. [usually before noun]

abstract noun noun (grammar) a noun, for example goodness or freedom, that refers to an idea or a general quality, not to a physical objectcompare COMMON NOUN, PROPER NOUN

abstruse adj. (formal, often disapproving) difficult to understand: an abstruse argument

absurd NAmE adj.
1 completely ridiculous; not logical and sensible RIDICULOUS: That uniform makes the guards look absurd. Of course it's not true, what an absurd idea.
2 the absurdnoun [sing.] things that are or that seem to be absurd: He has a good sense of the absurd.
absurdity noun [U, C] (pl. -ties): It was only later that she could see the absurdity of the situation. absurdly adv. RIDICULOUSLY: The paintings were sold for absurdly high prices.

absurdism NAmE noun [U] the belief that humans exist in a world with no purpose or order
absurdist noun absurdist adj. [usually before noun]: absurdist literature

ABTA abbr. Association of British Travel Agents (an organization in Britain that protects customers, for example by giving them back the money for their tickets if a travel agent goes BANKRUPT)

abundance noun [sing., U] ~ (of sth) (formal) a large quantity that is more than enough
in abundance in large quantities: Fruit and vegetables grew in abundance on the island.

abundant adj. (formal) existing in large quantities; more than enough PLENTIFUL: Fish are abundant in the lake. We have abundant evidence to prove his guilt.

abundantly adv.
1 ~ clear very clear: She made her wishes abundantly clear.
2 in large quantities: Calcium is found most abundantly in milk.

abuse noun, verb
noun
1 [U, sing.] ~ (of sth) the use of sth in a way that is wrong or harmful MISUSE: alcohol/drug/solvent abuse He was arrested on charges of corruption and abuse of power. The system of paying cash bonuses is open to abuse (= might be used in the wrong way). What she did was an abuse of her position as manager.
2 [U, pl.] unfair, cruel or violent treatment of sb: child abuse sexual abuse reported abuses by the secret police She suffered years of physical abuse.
3 [U] rude and offensive remarks, usually made when sb is very angry: to scream/hurl/shout abuse a stream/torrent of abuse INSULTS: The man burst into a torrent of foul-mouthed racist abuse.
verb [VN]
1 to make bad use of sth, or to use so much of sth that it harms your health: to abuse alcohol/drugs He systematically abused his body with heroin and cocaine.
2 to use power or knowledge unfairly or wrongly: She abused her position as principal by giving jobs to her friends. He felt they had abused his trust by talking about him to the press (= tricked him, although he had trusted them).
3 to treat a person or an animal in a cruel or violent way, especially sexually: All the children had been physically and emotionally abused. He had abused his own daughter (= had sex with her). The boy had been sexually abused.
4 to make rude or offensive remarks to or about sb INSULT: The referee had been threatened and abused.
abuser noun: a drug abuser a child abuser

abusive adj.
1 (of speech or of a person) rude and offensive; criticizing rudely and unfairly: abusive language/remarks He became abusive when he was drunk.
2 (of behaviour) involving violence: an abusive relationship
abusively adv.

abut verb (-tt-) ~ (on/onto) sth (formal) (of land or a building) to be next to sth or to have one side touching the side of sth: [V] His land abuts onto a road. [also VN]

abysmal adj. extremely bad or of a very low standard TERRIBLE: His manners are abysmal.
abysmally adv.

abyss noun [usually sing.] (formal or literary) a very deep wide space or hole that seems to have no bottom: Ahead of them was a gaping abyss. (figurative) an abyss of ignorance/despair/loneliness They took a long look into the abyss before deciding whether to jump. (figurative) The country is stepping back from the edge of an abyss.

abyssal adj. (technical) relating to the bottom of the ocean, especially to depths of between 3 000 and 6 000 metres

AC abbr.
1 (also ac, a/c) (especially NAmE) AIR CONDITIONING
2 ALTERNATING CURRENT (an electric current that changes direction at regular intervals many times a second)compare DC

a/c (in writing) abbr.
1 account
2 AIR CONDITIONING

acacia (also acacia tree) noun a tree with yellow or white flowers. There are several types of acacia tree, some of which produce a sticky liquid used in making glue.

academia (also formal or humorous academe ) noun [U] the world of learning, teaching, research, etc. at universities, and the people involved in it: leading figures from academia and industry

academic adj., noun
adj.
1 [usually before noun] connected with education, especially studying in schools and universities: The students return in October for the start of the new academic year. high/low academic standards an academic career The enrolment criteria are geographical rather than academic.
2 [usually before noun] involving a lot of reading and studying rather than practical or technical skills: academic subjects/qualifications
3 good at subjects involving a lot of reading and studying: She wasn't very academic and hated school.
4 not connected to a real or practical situation and therefore not important: It is a purely academic question. The whole thing's academic nowwe can't win anyway.
academically adv.: You have to do well academically to get into medical school. He wasn't very well qualified academically but had a lot of experience.
noun a person who teaches and/or does research at a university or college

academician NAmE noun a member of an academy (2)

academicism (also academism ) noun [U] (technical) the use of formal rules and traditions in art or literature

academic year noun the period of the year during which students go to school or university

academy noun (pl. -ies)
1 a school or college for special training: the Royal Academy of Music a police/military academy
2 (usually Academy) a type of official organization which aims to encourage and develop art, literature, science, etc.: the Royal Academy of Arts
3 a SECONDARY SCHOOL in Scotland or a private school in the US

Academy AwardTM (also Oscar) noun one of the awards given every year by the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievement in the making of films/movies

Acadian noun
1 a French-speaking Canadian from New Brunswick, and parts of Quebec near it, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island
2 (in the US) a person from Louisiana whose family originally came from the French COLONY of Acadia in what is now Nova Scotia

acanthus noun [C, U] a plant which grows in warm regions, and which has shiny leaves with sharp points, and long thin parts with flowers on

a cappella adj. (of music) for singing voices alone, without musical instruments
a cappella adv.

ACAS abbr. (in Britain) Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. ACAS is an organization that helps employers and employees settle disagreements.

accede verb ~ (to sth) (formal)
1 to agree to a request, proposal, etc.: [V] He acceded to demands for his resignation. Japan had little choice but to accede. [also V speech]
2 [V] to achieve a high position, especially to become king or queen: Queen Victoria acceded to the throne in 1837.see also ACCESSION

accelerando NAmE adv., adj. (music) gradually increasing in speed
accelerando noun (pl. accelerandos)

accelerate verb
1 to happen or to make sth happen faster or earlier than expected: [V] Inflation continues to accelerate. [VN] Exposure to the sun can accelerate the ageing process.
2 [V] (of a vehicle or person) to start to go faster: The runners accelerated smoothly around the bend. The car accelerated to overtake me. DECELERATE

acceleration noun
1 [U, sing.] ~ (in sth) an increase in how fast sth happens: an acceleration in the rate of economic growth
2 [U] the rate at which a vehicle increases speed: a car with good acceleration acceleration from 0-60 mph in 11.2 seconds
3 [U] (physics) the rate at which the VELOCITY (= speed in a particular direction) of an object changes: acceleration caused by gravity

accelerator noun
1 (BrE) (also gas pedal NAmE, BrE) the PEDAL in a car or other vehicle that you press with your foot to control the speed of the engine
2 (physics) a machine for making ELEMENTARY PARTICLES move at high speeds

accelerator board (also accelerator card) noun (computing) a CIRCUIT BOARD that can be put into a small computer to increase the speed at which it processes information

accelerometer NAmE noun (physics) an instrument for measuring ACCELERATION

accent noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] a way of pronouncing the words of a language that shows which country, area or social class a person comes from: a northern/Dublin/Indian/Scottish accent a strong/broad accent (= one that is very noticeable) She spoke English with an accent.compare DIALECT
2 [sing.] a special importance that is given to sth EMPHASIS: In all our products the accent is on quality.
3 [C] the emphasis that you should give to part of a word when saying it STRESS: In 'today' the accent is on the second syllable.
4 [C] a mark on a letter to show that it should be pronounced in a particular way: Canapé has an accent on the 'e'.
verb [VN] to emphasize a part of sth: The women accent their eyes with make-up.

accented adj.
1 spoken with a foreign accent: He spoke heavily accented English.
2 (technical) spoken with particular emphasis: accented vowels/syllables
3 (technical) (of a letter of the alphabet) written or printed with a special mark on it to show it should be pronounced in a particular way: accented characters

accentuate verb [VN] to emphasize sth or make it more noticeable: Her short hair accentuated her huge eyes. The fundamental patterns of inequality have remained and have been accentuated by the war.
accentuation noun [U]

accept verb
OFFER/INVITATION
1 to take willingly sth that is offered; to say 'yes' to an offer, invitation, etc.: [V] He asked me to marry him and I accepted. [VN] Please accept our sincere apologies. Please accept this small token of my appreciation. He is charged with accepting bribes from a firm of suppliers. It was pouring with rain so I accepted his offer of a lift. She's decided not to accept the job. She said she'd accept $15 for it. REFUSE
RECEIVE AS SUITABLE
2 [VN] to receive sth as suitable or good enough: My article has been accepted for publication. This machine only accepts coins. Will you accept a cheque?
AGREE
3 [VN] to agree to or approve of sth: They accepted the court's decision. He accepted all the changes we proposed. She won't accept advice from anyone. Everything about the child's adoption was against accepted practice. REJECT
RESPONSIBILITY
4 [VN] to admit that you are responsible or to blame for sth: He accepts full responsibility for what happened. You have to accept the consequences of your actions.
BELIEVE
5 ~ sth (as sth) to believe that sth is true: [VN] I don't accept his version of events. Can we accept his account as the true version? [V that] I am not prepared to accept that this decision is final. I accept that this will not be popular. [VN that] It is generally accepted that people are motivated by success. [VN to inf] The workforce is generally accepted to have the best conditions in Europe. This pattern is only used in the passive.
DIFFICULT SITUATION
6 ~ sth (as sth) to continue in a difficult situation without complaining, because you realize that you cannot change it: [VN] You just have to accept the fact that we're never going to be rich. Nothing will change as long as the workers continue to accept these appalling conditions. They accept the risks as part of the job. [V that] He just refused to accept that his father was no longer there.
WELCOME
7 [VN] ~ sb (into sth)| ~ sb (as sth) to make sb feel welcome and part of a group: It may take years to be completely accepted by the local community. She had never been accepted into what was essentially a man's world. He never really accepted her as his own child. REJECT
ALLOW SB TO JOIN
8 ~ sb (into sth)| ~ sb (as sth) to allow sb to join an organization, attend an institution, use a service, etc.: [VN] The college he applied to has accepted him. She was disappointed not to be accepted into the club. The landlord was willing to accept us as tenants. [VN to inf] She was accepted to study music. REJECT

acceptable adj.
1 agreed or approved of by most people in a society: Children must learn socially acceptable behaviour.
2 ~ (to sb) that sb agrees is of a good enough standard or allowed: We want a political solution that is acceptable to all parties. For this course a pass in English at grade B is acceptable. Air pollution in the city had reached four times the acceptable levels.
3 not very good but good enough: The food was acceptable, but no more. UNACCEPTABLE
acceptability noun [U] acceptably adv.

acceptance noun
1 [U, C] the act of accepting a gift, an invitation, an offer, etc.: Please confirm your acceptance of this offer in writing. He made a short acceptance speech/speech of acceptance.
2 [U] the act of agreeing with sth and approving of it: The new laws have gained widespread acceptance.
3 [U] the process of allowing sb to join sth or be a member of a group: Your acceptance into the insurance plan is guaranteed. Social acceptance is important for most young people.
4 [U] willingness to accept an unpleasant or difficult situation: acceptance of death/suffering

acceptation noun (linguistics) the meaning that a word or expression is generally accepted as having

access noun, verb
noun [U]
1 ~ (to sth) a way of entering or reaching a place: The only access to the farmhouse is across the fields. Disabled visitors are welcome; there is good wheelchair access to most facilities. The police gained access through a broken window. There is easy access by road.compare EGRESS
2 ~ (to sth) the opportunity or right to use sth or to see sb/sth: Students must have access to good resources. You need a password to get access to the computer system. access to confidential information Journalists were denied access to the President. Many divorced fathers only have access to their children at weekends (= they are allowed by law to see them only at weekends).compare VISITATION
verb [VN]
1 (computing) to open a computer file in order to get or add information
2 (formal) to reach, enter or use sth: The loft can be accessed by a ladder.

access course noun (BrE) a course of education that prepares students without the usual qualifications, in order that they can study at university or college: A popular weekly evening class is the Access Course, which is designed for those considering higher education. an access course in science and technology

accessible adj. ~ (to sb)
1 that can be reached, entered, used, seen, etc.: The remote desert area is accessible only by helicopter. These documents are not accessible to the public.
2 easy to understand: Her poetry is always very accessible. a programme making science more accessible to young people
3 (of a person) easy to talk to and get to know INACCESSIBLE
accessibility noun [U]

accession noun ~ (to sth)
1 [U] the act of becoming a ruler of a country: the accession of Queen Victoria to the thronesee also ACCEDE
2 [U] the act of becoming part of an international organization: the accession of new member states to the EU in 2004 the new accession states of the EU
3 [C] (technical) a thing that is added to a collection of objects, paintings, etc. in a library or museum

accessorize (BrE also -ise) verb [V, VN] to add fashionable items or extra decorations to sth, especially to your clothes

accessory noun, adj.
noun (pl. -ies)
1 [usually pl.] an extra piece of equipment that is useful but not essential or that can be added to sth else as a decoration: bicycle accessories a range of furnishings and accessories for the home
2 [usually pl.] a thing that you can wear or carry that matches your clothes, for example a belt or a bag: fashion accessories to dress up your wardrobe
3 ~ (to sth) (law) a person who helps sb to commit a crime or who knows about it and protects the person from the police: He was charged with being an accessory to murder. an accessory before/after the fact (= before/after the crime was committed)
adj. (technical) not the most important when compared to others: the accessory muscles of respiration

access road noun a road used for driving into or out of a particular place: an access road to an industrial estatecompare SLIP ROAD

access time noun [U, C] (computing) the time taken to obtain data stored in a computer: an average access time of less than 100 milliseconds

accidence noun [U] (old-fashioned) the part of grammar that deals with the INFLECTIONS of words (= changes in their form according to their function in the sentence)

accident noun
1 [C] an unpleasant event, especially in a vehicle, that happens unexpectedly and causes injury or damage: a car/road/traffic accident He was killed in an accident. One in seven accidents is caused by sleepy drivers. The accident happened at 3 p.m. to have an accident a serious/minor accident a fatal accident (= in which sb is killed) accidents in the home a climbing/riding accident Take out accident insurance before you go on your trip. I didn't mean to break itit was an accident.
2 [C, U] something that happens unexpectedly and is not planned in advance: Their early arrival was just an accident. It is no accident that men fill most of the top jobs in nursing. an accident of birth/fate/history (= describing facts and events that are due to chance or circumstances) note at LUCK
accidents will happen people say accidents will happen to tell sb who has had an accident, for example breaking sth, that it does not matter and they should not worry
by accident in a way that is not planned or organized ON PURPOSE, DELIBERATELY: We met by accident at the airport. Helen got into acting purely by accident.more at CHAPTER, WAIT v.

accidental adj. happening by chance; not planned: a verdict of accidental death I didn't think our meeting was accidentalhe must have known I would be there.
accidentally adv.: As I turned around, I accidentally hit him in the face. The damage couldn't have been caused accidentally.

accident and emergency (BrE) (abbr. A & E) (NAmE emergency room) noun [U] the part of a hospital where people who need urgent treatment are taken: the hospital accident and emergency departmentsee also CASUALTY

accident-prone adj. more likely to have accidents than other people: She was the most accident-prone of the four children.

acclaim verb, noun
verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (as sth) to praise or welcome sb/sth publicly: a highly/widely acclaimed performance The work was acclaimed as a masterpiece.
noun [U] praise and approval for sb/sth, especially an artistic achievement: international/popular/critical acclaim

acclamation noun [U]
1 (formal) loud and enthusiastic approval or welcome
2 (technical) the act of electing sb using a spoken not written vote: The decision was taken by acclamation.

acclimate verb (NAmE) = ACCLIMATIZE: Competitors should arrive two weeks earlier to get acclimated to the sweltering heat.
acclimation noun [U]

acclimatize (BrE also -ise) (NAmE also acclimate) verb ~ (yourself) (to sth) to get used to a new place, situation or climate: [V] Arrive two days early in order to acclimatize. It takes many months to acclimatize to life in the tropics. [VN] She was fine once she had acclimatized herself to the cold.
acclimatization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

accolade noun (formal) praise or an award for an achievement that people admire

accommodate NAmE verb
1 [VN] to provide sb with a room or place to sleep, live or sit: The hotel can accommodate up to 500 guests. The aircraft is capable of accommodating 28 passengers.
2 [VN] to provide enough space for sb/sth: Over 70 minutes of music can be accommodated on one CD. The old town hall now accommodates a Folk Museum.
3 [VN] (formal) to consider sth, such as sb's opinion or a fact, and be influenced by it when you are deciding what to do or explaining sth: Our proposal tries to accommodate the special needs of minority groups. She modified her views so as to accommodate the objections of American feminists.
4 [VN] ~ sb (with sth) (formal) to help sb by doing what they want OBLIGE: I have accommodated the press a great deal, giving numerous interviews. I'm sure the bank will be able to accommodate you.
5 ~ to sth| ~ sth/yourself to sth (formal) to change your behaviour so that you can deal with a new situation better: [V] I needed to accommodate to the new schedule. [also VN]

accommodating NAmE adj. willing to help and do things for other people OBLIGING: They are very accommodating to foreign visitors. David was gentle, generous and accommodating to a fault.

accommodation NAmE noun
1 [U] (BrE) a place to live, work or stay in: rented/temporary/furnished accommodation Hotel accommodation is included in the price of your holiday. The building plans include much needed new office accommodation. First-class accommodation is available on all flights.
2 accommodations [pl.] (NAmE) somewhere to live or stay, often also providing food or other services: More and more travelers are looking for bed and breakfast accommodations in private homes.
3 [C, U] (formal) an agreement or arrangement between people or groups with different opinions which is acceptable to everyone; the process of reaching this agreement: They were forced to reach an accommodation with the rebels. The two countries should be persuaded to work towards some sort of mutual accommodation.

accompaniment noun ~ (to sth)
1 [C, U] music that is played to support singing or another instrument: traditional songs with piano accompaniment
2 [C] something that you eat, drink or use together with sth else: The wine makes a good accompaniment to fish dishes.
3 [C] (formal) something that happens at the same time as another thing: High blood pressure is a common accompaniment to this disease.
to the accompaniment of sth
1 while a musical instrument is being played: They performed to the accompaniment of guitars.
2 while sth else is happening: She made her speech to the accompaniment of loud laughter.

accompanist noun a person who plays a musical instrument, especially a piano, while sb else plays or sings the main part of the music

accompany verb (accompanies, accompanying, accompanied, accompanied) [VN]
1 (formal) to travel or go somewhere with sb: His wife accompanied him on the trip. I must ask you to accompany me to the police station. Warships will accompany the convoy.
2 to happen or appear with sth else: strong winds accompanied by heavy rain Each pack contains a book and accompanying CD. Shouts of protest accompanied this announcement. The text is accompanied by a series of stunning photographs.
3 ~ sb (at/on sth) to play a musical instrument, especially a piano, while sb else sings or plays the main tune: The singer was accompanied on the piano by her sister.

accomplice NAmE noun a person who helps another to commit a crime or to do sth wrong

accomplish NAmE verb [VN] to succeed in doing or completing sth ACHIEVE: The first part of the plan has been safely accomplished. I don't feel I've accomplished very much today. That's it. Mission accomplished (= we have done what we aimed to do).

accomplished NAmE adj. very good at a particular thing; having a lot of skills: an accomplished artist/actor/chef She was an elegant and accomplished woman.

accomplishment NAmE noun
1 [C] an impressive thing that is done or achieved after a lot of work ACHIEVEMENT: It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.
2 [C, U] a skill or special ability: Drawing and singing were among her many accomplishments. a poet of rare accomplishment
3 [U] (formal) the successful completing of sth: Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.

accord NAmE noun, verb
noun a formal agreement between two organizations, countries, etc.: The two sides signed a peace accord last July.
in accord (with sth/sb) (formal) in agreement with: This action would not be in accord with our policy. Botanists are not in complete accord about how many species exist.
of your own accord without being asked, forced or helped: He came back of his own accord. The symptoms will clear up of their own accord.
with one accord (BrE, formal) if people do sth with one accord, they do it at the same time, because they agree with each other
verb (formal)
1 ~ sth to sb/sth| ~ sb/sth sth to give sb/sth authority, status or a particular type of treatment: [VN, VNN] Our society accords great importance to the family. Our society accords the family great importance.
2 [V] ~ (with sth) to agree with or match sth: These results accord closely with our predictions. His views accord with public opinion. We ensure that our goods accord with modern standards.

accordance NAmE noun
in accordance with sth (formal) according to a rule or the way that sb says that sth should be done: in accordance with legal requirements We acted in accordance with my parents' wishes.

accordingly NAmE adv.
1 in a way that is appropriate to what has been done or said in a particular situation: We have to discover his plans and act accordingly.
2 (used especially at the beginning of a sentence) for that reason THEREFORE: The cost of materials rose sharply last year. Accordingly, we were forced to increase our prices.

according to /kd t; NAmE krd/ prep.
1 as stated or reported by sb/sth: According to Mick, it's a great movie. You've been absent six times according to our records.
2 following, agreeing with or depending on sth: The work was done according to her instructions. Everything went according to plan. The salary will be fixed according to qualifications and experience.

accordion NAmE noun a musical instrument that you hold in both hands to produce sounds. You press the two ends together and pull them apart and press buttons and/or keys to produce the different notes.see also PIANO ACCORDION

accost NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to go up to sb and speak to them, especially in a way that is rude or threatening: She was accosted in the street by a complete stranger.

account noun, verb
noun
AT BANK
1 (abbr. a/c) an arrangement that sb has with a bank, etc. to keep money there, take some out, etc.: I don't have a bank account. to have an account at/with a bank to open/close an account What's your account number please? I paid the cheque into my savings account. a joint account (= one in the name of more than one person)see also BUDGET ACCOUNT, CHECKING ACCOUNT, CURRENT ACCOUNT, DEPOSIT ACCOUNT
BUSINESS RECORDS
2 [usually pl.] a written record of money that is owed to a business and of money that has been paid by it: to do the accounts to keep the accounts up to date the accounts departmentsee also EXPENSE ACCOUNT, PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
WITH SHOP/STORE
3 (BrE also credit account) (NAmE also charge account) an arrangement with a shop/store or business to pay bills for goods or services at a later time, for example in regular amounts every month: Put it on my account please. We have accounts with most of our suppliers. note at BILL
REGULAR CUSTOMER
4 (business) a regular customer: The agency has lost several of its most important accounts.
COMPUTING
5 an arrangement that sb has with a company that allows them to use the Internet, send and receive messages by email, etc.: an Internet/email account
DESCRIPTION
6 a written or spoken description of sth that has happened: She gave the police a full account of the incident. The diaries contained detailed accounts of the writer's experiences in China. note at REPORT
7 an explanation or a description of an idea, a theory or a process: the Biblical account of the creation of the world
by/from all accounts according to what other people say: I've never been there, but it's a lovely place, by all accounts.
by your own account according to what you say yourself: By his own account he had an unhappy childhood.
give a good/poor account of yourself (BrE) to do sth or perform well or badly, especially in a contest: The team gave a good account of themselves in the match.
of no/little account (formal) not important: Emotional matters were of no account to them during the war.
on account if you buy sth or pay on account, you pay nothing or only a small amount immediately and the rest later
on sb's account because of what you think sb wants: Please don't change your plans on my account.
on account of sb/sth because of sb/sth: She retired early on account of ill health. The marsh is an area of great scientific interest on account of its wild flowers.
on no account | not on any account (used to emphasize sth) not for any reason: On no account should the house be left unlocked.
on your own account
1 for yourself: In 1992 Smith set up in business on his own account.
2 because you want to and you have decided, not sb else: No one sent me, I am here on my own account.
on this/that account (formal) because of the particular thing that has been mentioned: Weather conditions were poor, but he did not delay his departure on that account.
put/turn sth to good account (formal) to use sth in a good or helpful way: He turned his artistic talents to good account by becoming a sculptor.
take account of sth | take sth into account to consider particular facts, circumstances, etc. when making a decision about sth: The company takes account of environmental issues wherever possible. Coursework is taken into account as well as exam results. The defendant asked for a number of other offences to be taken into account.more at BLOW n., CALL v., SETTLE v.
verb [usually passive] (formal) to have the opinion that sb/sth is a particular thing: [VN-ADJ] In English law a person is accounted innocent until they are proved guilty. [VN-N] The event was accounted a success.
there's no accounting for taste (saying) used to say how difficult it is to understand why sb likes sb/sth that you do not like at all: She thinks he's wonderfuloh well, there's no accounting for taste.
account for sth
1 to be the explanation or cause of sth EXPLAIN: The poor weather may have accounted for the small crowd. Oh well, that accounts for it (= I understand now why it happened).
2 to give an explanation of sth EXPLAIN: How do you account for the show's success? He was unable to account for the error.
3 to be a particular amount or part of sth: The Japanese market accounts for 35% of the company's revenue.
account for sb/sth
1 to know where sb/sth is or what has happened to them, especially after an accident: All passengers have now been accounted for. Three files cannot be accounted for.
2 (informal) to defeat or destroy sb/sth: Our anti-aircraft guns accounted for five enemy bombers.
account for sth (to sb) to give a record of how the money in your care has been spent: We have to account for every penny we spend on business trips.

accountable adj. [not usually before noun] ~ (to sb) (for sth) responsible for your decisions or actions and expected to explain them when you are asked: Politicians are ultimately accountable to the voters. Someone must be held accountable for the killings. The state spends taxpayers' money and should be held accountable.
accountability noun [U]: proposals for greater police accountability the accountability of a company's directors to the shareholders

accountancy noun [U] the work or profession of an accountant

accountant noun a person whose job is to keep or check financial accounts

account executive noun a business person, especially one working in advertising, who is responsible for dealing with one of the company's regular customers

accounting noun [U] the process or work of keeping financial accounts: a career in accounting accounting methods

accounts payable noun [pl.] (business) money that is owed by a company

accounts receivable noun [pl.] (business) money that is owed to a company

accoutre (US accouter) verb [VN] (formal) ~ sb (in/with sth) to dress sb in a particular type of clothing or give them a particular type of equipment, especially a noticeable or impressive type: She arrived accoutred in an ankle-length leather coat.

accoutrements (US also accouterments ) noun [pl.] (formal or humorous) pieces of equipment that you need for a particular activity: There was the waiting surgeon, green-gowned nurses and all the alarming accoutrements of modern medicine.

accredit verb [VN]
1 [usually passive] ~ sth to sb| ~ sb with sth (formal) to believe that sb is responsible for doing or saying sth: The discovery of distillation is usually accredited to the Arabs of the 11th century. The Arabs are usually accredited with the discovery of distillation. She is accredited with having first introduced the word into the language.
2 [usually passive] ~ sb to ... (technical) to choose sb for an official position, especially as an AMBASSADOR: He was accredited to Madrid.
3 to officially approve sth/sb as being of an accepted quality or standard: Institutions that do not meet the standards will not be accredited for teacher training.

accreditation noun [U] official approval given by an organization stating that sb/sth has achieved a required standard: a letter of accreditation The Accreditation of Prior Learning scheme allows work experience to be added towards qualifications.

accredited adj. [usually before noun]
1 (of a person) officially recognized as sth; with official permission to be sth: our accredited representative Only accredited journalists were allowed entry.
2 officially approved as being of an accepted quality or standard: a fully accredited school/university/course

accretion noun (technical or formal)
1 [C] a layer of a substance that is slowly added to sth
2 [U] the process of new layers being slowly added to sth: the accretion of sand by wind action

accrue verb (formal)
1 [V] ~ (to sb) (from sth) to increase over a period of time: economic benefits accruing to the country from tourism Interest will accrue if you keep your money in a savings account.
2 [VN] to allow a sum of money or debts to grow over a period of time ACCUMULATE: The firm had accrued debts of over $6m.
accrual noun [U, C]: the accrual of interest

acculturate verb [V, VN] (formal) to learn to live successfully in a different culture; to help sb to do this: people who have acculturated to the United States The course is designed to acculturate new staff.
acculturation noun [U]

accumulate verb
1 [VN] to gradually get more and more of sth over a period of time AMASS: I seem to have accumulated a lot of books. By investing wisely she accumulated a fortune. We have accumulated a great amount of evidence. note at COLLECT
2 [V] to gradually increase in number or quantity over a period of time BUILD UP: Debts began to accumulate. Dust and dirt soon accumulate if a house is not cleaned regularly. note at COLLECT
accumulation noun [U, C]: the accumulation of wealth an accumulation of toxic chemicals

accumulative adj. (formal) growing by increasing gradually: the accumulative effects of pollution

accumulator noun
1 (computing) a section of a computer that is used for storing the results of what has been calculated
2 (BrE) (NAmE storage battery) a large battery that you can fill with electrical power (= that you can RECHARGE)
3 (BrE) a bet on a series of races or other events, where the money won or originally bet is placed on the next race, etc.

accuracy noun [U] the state of being exact or correct; the ability to do sth skilfully without making mistakes: They questioned the accuracy of the information in the file. Candidates are judged on technical accuracy as well as artistic expression. She hits the ball with great accuracy. INACCURACY

accurate adj.
1 correct and true in every detail: an accurate description/account/calculation accurate information/data Accurate records must be kept. The police are trying to obtain a more accurate picture of crime levels. note at TRUE
2 able to give completely correct information or to do sth in an exact way: a highly accurate electronic compass accurate to within 3 mm My watch is not very accurate. Scientists have found a more accurate way of dating cave paintings.
3 an accurate throw, shot, weapon, etc. hits or reaches the thing that it was aimed at INACCURATE
accurately adv.: The article accurately reflects public opinion. You need to hit the ball accurately.

accursed NAmE adj. (old-fashioned) having a CURSE (= a bad magic SPELL) on it: an accursed house His line would be accursed to the last generation.

accusation noun [C, U] ~ (of sth) (against sb)| ~ (that ... ) a statement saying that you think a person is guilty of doing sth wrong, especially of committing a crime; the fact of accusing sb: accusations of corruption/cruelty/racism I don't want to make an accusation until I have some proof. No one believed her wild accusations against her husband. He denied the accusation that he had ignored the problems. There was a hint of accusation in her voice.

accusative noun (grammar) (in some languages) the form of a noun, a pronoun or an adjective when it is the DIRECT OBJECT of a verb, or connected with the DIRECT OBJECT: In the sentence, 'I saw him today', the word 'him' is in the accusative.compare ABLATIVE, DATIVE, GENITIVE, NOMINATIVE, VOCATIVE
accusative adj.: The accusative forms of the pronouns 'I', 'he', 'she' and 'we' are 'me', 'her', 'him' and 'us'.

accusatory NAmE adj. (formal) suggesting that you think sb has done sth wrong: He pointed an accusatory finger in her direction.

accuse
(WORD FAMILY: accuse verb | accusation noun | accusing adj. | accusatory adj. | accused noun ) verb [VN] ~ sb (of sth) to say that sb has done sth wrong or is guilty of sth: to accuse sb of murder/theft She accused him of lying. The government was accused of incompetence. (formal) They stand accused of crimes against humanity.
accuser noun

the accused noun (pl. the accused) a person who is on trial for committing a crime: The accused was found innocent. All the accused have pleaded guilty.compare DEFENDANT

accusing adj. showing that you think sb has done sth wrong: an accusing look/finger/tone Her accusing eyes were fixed on him. The report points an accusing finger at the insurance industry.
accusingly adv.: 'Edward!' she said accusingly.

accustom verb
accustom yourself/sb to sth to make yourself/sb familiar with sth or become used to it: It took him a while to accustom himself to the idea. She quickly accustomed herself to the darkness. Education should accustom children to thinking for themselves.

accustomed adj.
1 ~ to sth/to doing sth familiar with sth and accepting it as normal or usual USED TO: to become/get accustomed to sth My eyes slowly grew accustomed to the dark. She was a person accustomed to having eight hours' sleep a night. This was not the kind of behaviour I was accustomed to.
2 [usually before noun] (formal) usual HABITUAL: He took his accustomed seat by the fire. UNACCUSTOMED

AC/DC adj. (slang) = BISEXUAL

ace noun, adj.
noun
1 a PLAYING CARD with a large single symbol on it, which has either the highest or the lowest value in a particular card game: the ace of spades/hearts/diamonds/clubs
2 (informal) a person who is very good at doing sth: a soccer/flying ace an ace marksman
3 (in TENNIS) a SERVE (= the first hit) that is so good that your opponent cannot reach the ball: He served 20 aces in the match.
an ace up your sleeve (BrE) (NAmE an ace in the hole) (informal) a secret advantage, for example a piece of information or a skill, that you are ready to use if you need to
hold all the aces to have all the advantages in a situation: The union soon realized that the management held all the aces.
play your ace to use your best argument, etc. in order to get an advantage in a situation
within an ace of sth/of doing sth (BrE) very close to sth: We came within an ace of victory.
adj. (informal) very good: We had an ace time.

acellular adj. (biology) not consisting of or divided into cells

acer noun [C, U] a tree or plant that is often grown for its attractive leaves and bright autumn/fall colours

acerbic NAmE adj. (formal) (of a person or what they say) critical in a direct and rather cruel way: The letter was written in her usual acerbic style.
acerbity NAmE noun [U]

acetaminophen noun [U, C] (NAmE) = PARACETAMOL

acetate noun
1 [U] a chemical made from acetic acid, used in making plastics, etc.
2 [U] a chemical used to make FIBRES which are used to make clothes, etc.
3 [C] a transparent plastic sheet that you can write or print sth on and show on a screen using an OVERHEAD PROJECTOR

acetic acid noun [U] the acid in VINEGAR that gives it its taste and smell

acetone NAmE noun [U] a clear liquid with a strong smell used for cleaning things, making paint thinner and producing various chemicals

acetylene (also ethyne) noun [U] (symb C2H2) a gas that burns with a very hot bright flame, used for cutting or joining metal

ach exclamation (ScotE) used to express the fact that you are surprised, sorry, etc.

achcha exclamation (IndE, informal)
1 used to show that the speaker agrees with, accepts, understands, etc. sth: Achcha! We'll meet at eight.
2 used to express surprise, happiness, etc.: 'She's going to marry the Minister's son.' 'Achcha, is that so?'

ache verb, noun
verb
1 [V] to feel a continuous dull pain HURT: I'm aching all over. Her eyes ached from lack of sleep. (figurative) It makes my heart ache (= it makes me sad) to see her suffer. note at HURT
2 ~ for sb/sth (formal) to have a strong desire for sb/sth or to do sth LONG: [V] I was aching for home. [V to inf] He ached to see her.
noun (often in compounds) a continuous feeling of pain in a part of the body: Mummy, I've got a tummy ache. Muscular aches and pains can be soothed by a relaxing massage. (figurative) an ache in my heart (= a continuous sad feeling)see also ACHY, BELLYACHE, HEARTACHE

achieve verb
1 [VN] to succeed in reaching a particular goal, status or standard, especially by making an effort for a long time ATTAIN: He had finally achieved success. They could not achieve their target of less than 3% inflation.
2 [VN] to succeed in doing sth or causing sth to happen ACCOMPLISH: I haven't achieved very much today. All you've achieved is to upset my parents.
3 [V] to be successful: Their background gives them little chance of achieving at school.
achievable adj.: Profits of $20m look achievable. achievable goals UNACHIEVABLE

achievement noun
1 [C] a thing that sb has done successfully, especially using their own effort and skill: the greatest scientific achievement of the decade It was a remarkable achievement for such a young player. They were proud of their children's achievements.
2 [U] the act or process of achieving sth: the need to raise standards of achievement in education Even a small success gives you a sense of achievement (= a feeling of pride).

achiever noun
1 a person who achieves a high level of success, especially in their career
2 (after an adjective) a person who achieves the particular level of success that is stated: a low achiever

Achilles heel noun [sing.] a weak point or fault in sb's character, which can be attacked by other people: The desire for publicity became her Achilles heel. The enemy had an Achilles heel somewhere, if only he could find it.
Named after the Greek hero Achilles. When he was a small child, his mother held him below the surface of the river Styx to protect him against any injury. She held him by his heel, which therefore was not touched by the water. Achilles died after being wounded by an arrow in the heel.

Achilles tendon (also Achilles) noun the TENDON that connects the muscles at the back of the lower part of the leg to the heel

achkan noun a piece of men's clothing that reaches to the knees, with buttons down the front, worn in S Asia

achy adj. (informal) suffering from a continuous slight pain: I feel all achy. an achy back

acid noun, adj.
noun
1 [U, C] (chemistry) a chemical, usually a liquid, that contains HYDROGEN and has a pH of less than seven. The HYDROGEN can be replaced by a metal to form a salt. Acids are usually sour and can often burn holes in or damage things they touch.compare ALKALIsee also ACETIC ACID, AMINO ACID, ASCORBIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, HYDROCHLORIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, NITRIC ACID, NUCLEIC ACID, SULPHURIC ACID
2 [U] (slang) = LSD
adj.
1 (technical) that contains acid or has the essential characteristics of an acid; that has a pH of less than seven: Rye is tolerant of poor, acid soils.compare ALKALINE
2 that has a bitter sharp taste SOUR: acid fruit note at BITTER
3 (of a person's remarks) critical and unkind SARCASTIC, CUTTING: an acid wit

acid drop noun (BrE) a type of hard sweet/candy with a sour taste

acid house noun [U] a type of electronic music with a strong steady beat, often played at parties where some people take harmful drugs

acidic adj.
1 very sour: Some fruit juices are very acidic.
2 containing acid: acidic soil

acidify verb (acidifies, acidifying, acidified, acidified) [V, VN] (technical) to become or make sth become an acid

acidity noun [U] the state of having a sour taste or of containing acid: to test the acidity of soil

acid jazz noun [U] a type of dance music that combines JAZZ, FUNK, SOUL, and HIP HOP

acidly adv. in an unpleasant or critical way: 'Thanks for nothing,' she said acidly.

acid rain noun [U] rain that contains harmful chemicals from factory gases and that damages trees, crops and buildings: Sulphur, falling as acid rain, is killing fish in the Great Lakes.

acid salt noun (chemistry) a salt formed when the HYDROGEN of an acid is not completely replaced

acid test (also litmus test especially in NAmE) noun [sing.] a way of deciding whether sth is successful or true: The acid test of a good driver is whether he or she remains calm in an emergency.

acidulous NAmE adj. (formal) having a sour taste

ack-ack noun [U] (informal) the repeated firing of guns at aircraft

ackee (also akee) noun
1 [C] a type of tree that produces bright red fruit, originally from W Africa
2 [U] the fruit from this tree, which is poisonous to eat unless it is completely RIPE

acknowledge NAmE verb
ADMIT
1 to accept that sth is true: [VN] She refuses to acknowledge the need for reform. Are you prepared to acknowledge your responsibility? a generally acknowledged fact [V that] I did not acknowledge that he had done anything wrong. [VN to inf] It is generally acknowledged to be true. [also V -ing] note at ADMIT
ACCEPT STATUS
2 ~ sb/sth (as sth) to accept that sb/sth has a particular authority or status RECOGNIZE: [VN] The country acknowledged his claim to the throne. [VN, VN to inf] He is widely acknowledged as the best player in the world. He is widely acknowledged to be the best player in the world.
REPLY TO LETTER
3 [VN] to tell sb that you have received sth that they sent to you: All applications will be acknowledged. Please acknowledge receipt of this letter.
SMILE/WAVE
4 [VN] to show that you have noticed sb/sth by smiling, waving, etc.: I was standing right next to her, but she didn't even acknowledge me. He waved, acknowledging the applause.
EXPRESS THANKS
5 [VN] to publicly express thanks for help you have been given: I gratefully acknowledge financial support from several local businesses. He is always ready to acknowledge his debt to his teachers.

acknowledgement (also acknowledgment) NAmE noun
1 [sing., U] an act of accepting that sth exists or is true, or that sth is there: This report is an acknowledgement of the size of the problem. She gave me a smile of acknowledgement (= showed that she had seen and recognized me). There is acknowledgement on his part that he was to blame.
2 [C, U] an act or a statement expressing thanks to sb; something that is given to sb as thanks: I was sent a free copy in acknowledgement of my contribution. The flowers were a small acknowledgement of your kindness.
3 [C] a letter saying that sth has been received: I didn't receive an acknowledgement of my application.
4 [C, usually pl.] a statement, especially at the beginning of a book, in which the writer expresses thanks to the people who have helped: a page of acknowledgements

acme noun [usually sing.] (formal) the highest stage of development or the most excellent example of sth HEIGHT: the acme of engineering achievement

acne noun [U] a skin condition, common among young people, that produces many PIMPLES (= spots), especially on the face and neck: to suffer from/have acne

acolyte noun
1 (formal) a person who follows and helps a leader: the Emperor's faithful acolytes
2 (technical) a person who helps a priest in some church ceremonies

aconite noun [C, U] a wild plant with yellow or blue flowers and a poisonous root that is sometimes used to make drugs

acorn NAmE noun the small brown nut of the OAK tree, that grows in a base shaped like a cup see OAK

acoustic adj. (NAmE also acoustical )
1 related to sound or to the sense of hearing
2 [usually before noun] (of a musical instrument or performance) designed to make natural sound, not sound produced by electrical equipment
acoustically adv.

acoustician noun a scientist who studies sound

acoustics noun
1 [pl.] (also acoustic [sing.]) the shape, design, etc. of a room or theatre that make it good or bad for carrying sound: The acoustics of the new concert hall are excellent.
2 [U] the scientific study of sound

acquaint verb [VN] ~ sb/yourself with sth (formal) to make sb/yourself familiar with or aware of sth: Please acquaint me with the facts of the case. You will first need to acquaint yourself with the filing system.

acquaintance noun
1 [C] a person that you know but who is not a close friend: Claire has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He's just a business acquaintance. I bumped into an old acquaintance on the train.
2 [U, C] ~ (with sb) (formal) slight friendship: He hoped their acquaintance would develop further.
3 [U, C] ~ with sth (formal) knowledge of sth: I had little acquaintance with modern poetry.
make sb's acquaintance | make the acquaintance of sb (formal) to meet sb for the first time: I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Mrs Baker. I made the acquaintance of several musicians around that time.
of your acquaintance (formal) that you know: No one else of my acquaintance was as rich or successful.
on first acquaintance (formal) when you first meet sb: Even on first acquaintance it was clear that he was not 'the right type'.more at NOD v.

acquaintance rape noun [U, C] (especially NAmE) the crime of RAPING sb, committed by a person he or she knows

acquaintanceship noun [U, C, usually sing.] (formal) a slight friendship with sb or knowledge of sth: It was unfair to judge her on such a brief acquaintanceship.

acquainted adj. [not before noun]
1 ~ with sth (formal) familiar with sth, having read, seen or experienced it: The students are already acquainted with the work of Shakespeare. Employees should be fully acquainted with emergency procedures.
2 ~ (with sb) not close friends with sb, but having met a few times before: I am well acquainted with her family. We got acquainted at the conference (= met and started to get to know each other).

acquiesce verb [V] ~ (in sth) (formal) to accept sth without arguing, even if you do not really agree with it: Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up. She explained her plan and reluctantly he acquiesced. note at AGREE

acquiescence noun [U] (formal) the fact of being willing to do what sb wants and to accept their opinions, even if you are not sure that they are right: There was general acquiescence in the UN sanctions.
acquiescent adj.: The peasants proved more acquiescent than had been expected.

acquire verb [VN] (formal)
1 to gain sth by your own efforts, ability or behaviour: She has acquired a good knowledge of English. How long will it take to acquire the necessary skills? He has acquired a reputation for dishonesty. I have recently acquired a taste for olives.
2 to obtain sth by buying or being given it: The company has just acquired new premises. How did the gallery come to acquire so many Picassos? I've suddenly acquired a stepbrother.
an acquired taste a thing that you do not like much at first but gradually learn to like: Abstract art is an acquired taste.

acquired character (also acquired characteristic) noun (biology) a change to a living thing that is not produced by GENES, but which has happened because of how or where the thing lives

acquisition noun
1 [U] the act of getting sth, especially knowledge, a skill, etc.: theories of child language acquisition
2 [C] something that sb buys to add to what they already own, usually sth valuable: His latest acquisition is a racehorse. The money will be spent on acquisitions for the university library.
3 [C, U] (business) a company, piece of land, etc. bought by sb, especially another company; the act of buying it: They have made acquisitions in several EU countries. the acquisition of shares by employees The group has announced its first overseas acquisition: a successful software company.

acquisitive adj. (formal, disapproving) wanting very much to buy or get new possessions: the post-war acquisitive society It is an acquisitive company looking for ways to expand.
acquisitiveness noun [U]: We rejected the acquisitiveness of our parents' generation.

acquit verb (-tt-) [VN]
1 ~ sb (of sth) to decide and state officially in court that sb is not guilty of a crime: The jury acquitted him of murder. Both defendants were acquitted. She was acquitted on all charges. He was acquitted on the grounds of insufficient evidence. CONVICT
2 ~ yourself well, badly, etc. (formal) to perform or behave well, badly, etc.: He acquitted himself brilliantly in the exams.

acquittal noun [C, U] an official decision in court that a person is not guilty of a crime: The case resulted in an acquittal. The jury voted for acquittal. CONVICTION

acre noun a unit for measuring an area of land; 4 840 square yards or about 4 050 square metres: 3 000 acres of parkland a three-acre wood (informal) Each house has acres of space around it (= a lot of space).

acreage noun [U, C] an area of land measured in acres: The aim is to increase the forestry acreage by 60% by the end of the decade.

acrid adj. having a strong, bitter smell or taste that is unpleasant PUNGENT: acrid smoke from burning tyres The fog was yellow and acrid and bit at the back of the throat. note at BITTER

acrimonious NAmE adj. (formal) (of an argument, etc.) angry and full of strong bitter feelings and words BITTER: His parents went through an acrimonious divorce.
acrimoniously adv.: Talks broke down acrimoniously.

acrimony NAmE noun [U] (formal) angry bitter feelings or words: The dispute was settled without acrimony.

acrobat noun an entertainer who performs difficult acts such as balancing on high ropes, especially at a CIRCUS

acrobatic adj. involving or performing difficult acts or movements with the body: acrobatic feats an acrobatic dancer
acrobatically adv.

acrobatics noun [pl.] acrobatic acts and movements: acrobatics on the high wire (figurative) vocal acrobatics (= performing skilfully with the voice when singing)

acrolect noun (linguistics) a form of a language that is considered to have a higher status than other formscompare BASILECT

acronym noun a word formed from the first letters of the words that make up the name of sth, for example 'AIDS' is an acronym for 'acquired immune deficiency syndrome'

acropolis NAmE noun (in an ancient Greek city) a castle, or an area that is designed to resist attack, especially one on top of a hill

across NAmE adv., prep.
adv. For the special uses of across in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example come across is in the phrasal verb section at come.
1 from one side to the other side: It's too wide. We can't swim across. The yard measures about 50 feet across.
2 in a particular direction towards or at sb/sth: When my name was called, he looked across at me.
3 across from opposite: There's a school just across from our house.
4 (of an answer in a CROSSWORD) written from side to side: I can't do 3 across.
prep.
1 from one side to the other side of sth: He walked across the field. I drew a line across the page. A grin spread across her face. Where's the nearest bridge across the river?
2 on the other side of sth: There's a bank right across the street.
3 on or over a part of the body: He hit him across the face. It's too tight across the back.
4 in every part of a place, group of people, etc. THROUGHOUT: Her family is scattered across the country. This view is common across all sections of the community.

acrostic NAmE noun a poem or other piece of writing in which particular letters in each line, usually the first letters, can be read downwards to form a word or words

acrylamide noun [U, C] a substance used in various industrial processes. Acrylamide is also found in food that has been cooked at high temperatures, and may be a cause of cancer.

acrylic adj., noun
adj. made of a substance produced by chemical processes from a type of acid: acrylic paints/fibres an acrylic sweater
noun
1 [U] a type of FIBRE produced by chemical processes, used to make clothes, etc.
2 [C, usually pl.] a type of paint used by artists

ACT abbr. American College Test (an exam that some HIGH SCHOOL students take before they go to college)

act noun, verb
noun
STH THAT SB DOES
1 [C] a particular thing that sb does: an act of kindness acts of terrorism The murder was the act of a psychopath. a criminal act note at ACTION
LAW
2 [C] a law that has been passed by a parliament: an Act of Congress the Higher Education Act 2002 A Committee on Safety of Medicines was set up under the Act.
PRETENDING
3 [sing.] a way of behaving that is not sincere but is intended to have a particular effect on others: Don't take her seriouslyit's all an act. You could tell she was just putting on an act.
IN PLAY/ENTERTAINMENT
4 [C] one of the main divisions of a play, an OPERA, etc.: a play in five acts The hero dies in Act 5, Scene 3.
5 [C] one of several short pieces of entertainment in a show: a circus/comedy/magic act
6 [C] a performer or group of musicians: They were one of rock's most impressive live acts.
act of God (law) an event caused by natural forces beyond human control, such as a storm, a flood or an EARTHQUAKE
be/get in on the act (informal) to be/become involved in an activity that sb else has started, especially to get sth for yourself: New companies want to get in on the act and provide cable services.
do, perform, stage a disappearing/vanishing act (informal) to go away or be impossible to find when people need or want you
get your act together (informal) to organize yourself and your activities in a more effective way in order to achieve sth: He needs to get his act together if he's going to pass.
a hard/tough act to follow a person who is so good or successful at sth that it will be difficult for anyone else coming after them to be as good or successful: She has been an excellent principal and will be a hard act to follow.
in the act (of doing sth) while you are doing sth: He was caught in the act of stealing a car. It is often difficult to tell when someone is using drugs unless they are caught in the act.more at CLEAN v., READ v.
verb
DO STH
1 [V] to do sth for a particular purpose or in order to deal with a situation: It is vital that we act to stop the destruction of the rainforests. The girl's life was saved because the doctors acted so promptly. He claims he acted in self-defence.
BEHAVE
2 [V] to behave in a particular way: John's been acting very strangely lately. Stop acting like spoilt children! She was acting as if she'd seen a ghost. In spoken English people often use like instead of as if or as though in this meaning, especially in NAmE: She was acting like she'd seen a ghost. This is not considered correct in written BrE.
PRETEND
3 to pretend by your behaviour to be a particular type of person: [V-N] He's been acting the devoted husband all day. [V-ADJ] I decided to act dumb. He acts all macho, but he's a real softie underneath.
PERFORM IN PLAY/MOVIE
4 to perform a part in a play or film/movie: [V] Have you ever acted? Most of the cast act well. [VN] Who's acting (= taking the part of) Hamlet? The play was well acted.
PERFORM FUNCTION
5 [V] ~ as/like sth to perform a particular role or function: Can you act as interpreter? A five-year sentence should act as a deterrent to others. hormones in the brain that act like natural painkillers
HAVE EFFECT
6 [V] ~ (on sth) to have an effect on sth: Alcohol acts quickly on the brain. It took a few minutes for the drug to act.
see AGE n., FOOL n., OWN v.
act for/on behalf of sb to be employed to deal with sb's affairs for them, for example by representing them in court
act on/upon sth to take action as a result of advice, information, etc.: Acting on information from a member of the public, the police raided the club. Why didn't you act on her suggestion?
act sthout
1 to perform a ceremony or show how sth happened, as if performing a play: The ritual of the party conference is acted out in the same way every year. The children started to act out the whole incident.
2 to act a part in a real situation: She acted out the role of the wronged lover.
act up (informal)
1 to behave badly: The kids started acting up.
2 to not work as it should: How long has your ankle been acting up?

acting noun, adj.
noun [U] the activity or profession of performing in plays, films/movies, etc.: She started her acting career while still at school.
adj. [only before noun] doing the work of another person for a short time TEMPORARY: the acting manager

acting pilot officer noun an officer of low rank in the British AIR FORCE

actinium noun [U] (symb Ac) a chemical element. Actinium is a RADIOACTIVE metal.

action noun, verb
noun
WHAT SB DOES
1 [U] the process of doing sth in order to make sth happen or to deal with a situation: The time has come for action if these beautiful animals are to survive. Firefighters took action immediately to stop the blaze spreading. What is the best course of action in the circumstances? She began to explain her plan of action to the group.see also DIRECT ACTION, INDUSTRIAL ACTION
2 [C] a thing that sb does: Her quick action saved the child's life. Each of us must take responsibility for our own actions.
LEGAL PROCESS
3 [C, U] a legal process to stop a person or company from doing sth, or to make them pay for a mistake, etc.: A libel action is being brought against the magazine that published the article. He is considering taking legal action against the hospital.
IN WAR
4 [U] fighting in a battle or war: military action soldiers killed in action
IN STORY/PLAY
5 [U] the events in a story, play, etc.: The action takes place in France.
EXCITING EVENTS
6 [U] exciting events: I like films with plenty of action. New York is where the action is.
EFFECT
7 [U] ~ of sth (on sth) the effect that one substance or chemical has on another: the action of sunlight on the skin The action of the rushing water cleans the gully.
OF PART OF THE BODY
8 [U, C] (technical) the way a part of the body moves or functions: a study of the action of the liver
OF MACHINE
9 [sing.] the MECHANICAL parts of a piano, gun, clock, etc. or the way the parts movesee also PUMP-ACTION
actions speak louder than words (saying) what a person actually does means more than what they say they will do
in action if sb/sth is in action, they are doing the activity or work that is typical for them: Just press the button to see your favourite character in action. I've yet to see all the players in action.
into action if you put an idea or a plan into action, you start making it happen or work: The new plan for traffic control is being put into action on an experimental basis.
out of action not able to work or be used because of injury or damage: Jon will be out of action for weeks with a broken leg. The photocopier is out of action today.
a piece/slice of the action (informal) a share or role in an interesting or exciting activity, especially in order to make money: Foreign firms will all want a piece of the action if the new airport goes ahead.more at EVASIVE, SPRING v., SWING v.
verb [VN] to make sure that sth is done or dealt with: Your request will be actioned.

SYNONYMS

action

move act gesture deed feat

These are all words for a thing that sb does.

action a thing that sb does: Her quick action saved the child's life.

move (used especially in journalism) an action that you do or need to do to achieve sth: They are waiting for the results of the opinion polls before deciding their next move.

act a thing that sb does: an act of kindness

ACTION OR ACT?

These two words have the same meaning but are used in different patterns. An act is usually followed by of and/or used with an adjective. Action is not usually used with of but is often used with his, her, etc.: a heroic act of bravery a heroic action of bravery his heroic actions/acts during the war. Action often combines with take but act does not: We shall take whatever acts are necessary.

gesture a thing that you do or say to show a particular feeling or intention: They sent some flowers as a gesture of sympathy.

deed (formal literary) a thing that sb does that is usually very good or very bad: heroic/evil deeds

feat (approving) an action or piece of work that needs skill, strength or courage: The tunnel is a brilliant feat of engineering.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

a(n) act/gesture/feat of sth

to perform a(n) action/act/deed/feat

to make a move/gesture

a heroic/brave/daring action/move/act/gesture/deed/feat

a kind/charitable/generous action/act/gesture/deed

a(n) evil/terrible action/act/deed

actionable adj. giving sb a valid reason to bring a case to court: Our lawyer advised us that the breach of contract was actionable.

actioner noun (NAmE, informal) = ACTION MOVIE

action figure noun a DOLL representing a soldier or a character from a film/movie, TV show, etc.

action film noun (BrE) = ACTION MOVIE

action group noun (often as part of a name) a group that is formed to work for social or political change: the Child Poverty Action Group

Action ManTMnoun
1 a toy in the form of a soldier
2 an active and aggressive man: The illness damaged his Action Man image.

action movie noun (NAmE also informal actioner) (BrE also action film) (informal) a film/movie that has a lot of exciting action and adventure

action-packed adj. full of exciting events and activity: an action-packed weekend

action painting noun [U, C] a style of painting in which paint is thrown or poured onto paper in a way that is not planned or organized; a painting done in this way

action point noun a suggestion for action that must be taken, especially one that is made in a meeting

action replay noun (BrE)
1 (NAmE instant replay) part of sth, for example a sports game on television, that is immediately repeated, often more slowly, so that you can see a goal or another exciting or important moment again
2 an event or a situation that repeats sth that has happened before: It was an action replay of the problems of his first marriage.

action research noun [U] studies done to improve the working methods of people who do a particular job or activity, especially in education

action stations noun [pl.] the positions to which soldiers go to be ready for fighting

activate verb [VN] to make sth such as a device or chemical process start working: The burglar alarm is activated by movement. The gene is activated by a specific protein.
activation noun [U]

active adj., noun
adj.
BUSY
1 always busy doing things, especially physical activities: Although he's nearly 80, he is still very active. INACTIVE: Before our modern age, people had a more physical and active lifestyle.
TAKING PART
2 involved in sth; making a determined effort and not leaving sth to happen by itself: They were both politically active. active involvement/participation/support/resistance She takes an active part in school life. The parents were active in campaigning against cuts to the education budget. They took active steps to prevent the spread of the disease.
DOING AN ACTIVITY
3 doing sth regularly; functioning: sexually active teenagers animals that are active only at night The virus is still active in the blood. an active volcano (= likely to ERUPT) INACTIVEcompare DORMANT
LIVELY
4 lively and full of ideas: That child has a very active imagination.
CHEMICAL
5 having or causing a chemical effect: What is the active ingredient in aspirin? INACTIVE
GRAMMAR
6 connected with a verb whose subject is the person or thing that performs the action: In 'He was driving the car', the verb is active.compare PASSIVE

actively adv.: Your proposal is being actively considered. She was actively looking for a job.
noun (also active voice) [sing.] the form of a verb in which the subject is the person or thing that performs the action: In 'She drove the car', 'she' is the subject and the verb 'drove' is in the active.compare PASSIVE

active citizen noun a person who is actively involved in trying to improve things in their local community

active list noun
1 a list of people that an organization may contact at any time to provide them with a service or information, or to ask them to do sth: Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors.
2 a list of officers or former officers connected to one of the armed forces who can be called for duty

active service (NAmE also active duty) noun [U] the work of a member of the armed forces, especially during a war: troops on active service

activist noun a person who works to achieve political or social change, especially as a member of an organization with particular aims: gay activists
activism noun [U]

activity noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] a situation in which sth is happening or a lot of things are being done: economic activity The streets were noisy and full of activity. Muscles contract and relax during physical activity.compare INACTIVITY
2 [C, usually pl.] a thing that you do for interest or pleasure, or in order to achieve a particular aim: leisure/outdoor/classroom activities The club provides a wide variety of activities including tennis, swimming and squash. illegal/criminal activities

actor noun a person who performs on the stage, on television or in films/movies, especially as a profession

actor-manager noun an actor who is in charge of a theatre company and acts in the plays that they perform

actress noun a woman who performs on the stage, on television or in films/movies, especially as a profession Many women now prefer to be called actors, although when the context is not clear, an actor is usually understood to refer to a man.

actual adj. [only before noun]
1 used to emphasize sth that is real or exists in fact: What were his actual words? The actual cost was higher than we expected. James looks younger than his wife but in actual fact (= really) he is five years older.
2 used to emphasize the most important part of sth: The wedding preparations take weeks but the actual ceremony takes less than an hour.

WHICH WORD?

actual / current / present

Actual does not mean current or present. It means 'real' or 'exact', and is often used in contrast with something that is not seen as real or exact: I need the actual figures, not an estimate.

Present - 'existing or happening now ': How long have you been in your present job?

Current also means 'existing or happening now', but can suggest that the situation is temporary: The factory cannot continue its current level of production.

Actually does not mean 'at the present time'. Use currently, at present or at the moment instead.

note at PRESENTLY

actual bodily harm noun [U] (abbr. ABH) (BrE, law) the crime of causing sb physical injurycompare GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM

actuality noun (pl. -ies) (formal)
1 [U] the state of sth existing in reality: The building looked as impressive in actuality as it did in photographs.
2 [C, usually pl.] things that exist FACTS, REALITIES: the grim actualities of prison life

actualize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to make sth real; to make sth happen: He finally actualized his dream.

actually adv.
1 used in speaking to emphasize a fact or a comment, or that sth is really true: What did she actually say? It's not actually raining now. That's the only reason I'm actually going. There are lots of people there who can actually help you. I didn't want to say anything without actually reading the letter first.
2 used to show a contrast between what is true and what sb believes, and to show surprise about this contrast: It was actually quite fun after all. The food was not actually all that expensive. Our turnover actually increased last year.
3 used to correct sb in a polite way: We're not American, actually. We're Canadian. Actually, it would be much more sensible to do it later. They're not married, actually.
4 used to get sb's attention, to introduce a new topic or to say sth that sb may not like, in a polite way: Actually, I'll be a bit late home. Actually, I'm busy at the momentcan I call you back? note at ACTUAL

actuary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a person whose job involves calculating insurance risks and payments for insurance companies by studying how frequently accidents, fires, deaths, etc. happen
actuarial NAmE adj.

actuate verb [VN] (formal)
1 to make a machine or device start to work ACTIVATE: The timer must have been actuated by radio control.
2 [usually passive] to make sb behave in a particular way MOTIVATE: He was actuated entirely by malice.

acuity noun [U] (formal) the ability to think, see or hear clearly: a child's visual acuity

acumen noun [U] the ability to understand and decide things quickly and well: business/commercial/financial acumen

acupressure (also shiatsu) noun [U] a form of medical treatment, originally from Japan, in which pressure is applied to particular parts of the body using the fingers

acupuncture noun [U] a Chinese method of treating pain and illness using special thin needles which are pushed into the skin in particular parts of the body

acupuncturist noun a person who is trained to perform acupuncture

acute adj.
1 very serious or severe: There is an acute shortage of water. acute pain the world's acute environmental problems Competition for jobs is acute. The scandal was an acute embarrassment for the President.
2 an acute illness is one that has quickly become severe and dangerous: acute appendicitis CHRONIC
3 (of the senses) very sensitive and well developed KEEN: Dogs have an acute sense of smell.
4 intelligent and quick to notice and understand things: He is an acute observer of the social scene. Her judgement is acute.
5 (geometry) (of an angle) less than 90°
acuteness noun [U]

acute accent noun the mark placed over a vowel to show how it should be pronounced, as over the e in fiancécompare CIRCUMFLEX, GRAVE^2, TILDE, UMLAUT

acute angle noun an angle of less than 90° compare OBTUSE ANGLE, REFLEX ANGLE, RIGHT ANGLE

acutely adv.
1 ~ aware/conscious noticing or feeling sth very strongly: I am acutely aware of the difficulties we face.
2 (describing unpleasant feelings) very; very strongly: acutely embarrassed

-acy -CY

acyclic adj.
1 (technical) not occurring in cycles
2 (chemistry) (of a COMPOUND or MOLECULE) containing no rings of atoms

acyclovir NAmE noun [U] (medical) a drug that is used to treat viruses

AD (BrE) (NAmE A.D.) abbr. used in the Christian CALENDAR to show a particular number of years since the year when Christ was believed to have been born (from Latin 'Anno Domini'): in (the year) AD 55 in 55 AD in the fifth century ADcompare AH, BC, BCE, CE

ad noun (informal) = ADVERTISEMENT: We put an ad in the local paper. an ad for a new chocolate barsee also BANNER AD

SYNONYMS

ad

advertisement commercial promotion advert trailer

These are all words for a notice, picture or film telling people about a product, job or service.

ad (informal) a notice, picture or film telling people about a product, job or service: We put an ad in the local paper. an ad for a new chocolate bar He was scanning the classified ads (= the section in a newspaper with small advertisements arranged in groups according to their subject).

advertisement a notice, picture or film telling people about a product, job or service; an example of sth that shows its good qualities; the act of advertising sth and making it public: Put an advertisement in the local paper to sell your car. Dirty streets are no advertisement for a prosperous society. When you are talking about a notice, picture or film telling people about a product, job or service, advertisement can be shortened to the more informal ad or (BrE) advert. When you are talking about an example of sth that shows its good qualities, advertisement can be shortened to advert.

commercial an advertisement on television or on the radio.

promotion a set of advertisements for a particular product or service; activities done in order to increase the sales of a product or service: a special promotion of local products She works in sales and promotion.

advert (BrE informal) an advertisement: I never watch the adverts on TV.

trailer (especially BrE) a series of short scenes from a film/movie or television programme, shown in advance to advertise it.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

a(n) ad/advertisement/commercial/promotion/advert/trailer for sth

a TV/television/radio/cinema ad/advertisement/commercial/promotion/advert

a job ad/advertisement/advert

to run/show a(n) ad/advertisement/commercial/advert/trailer

adage noun a well-known phrase expressing a general truth about people or the world SAYING: According to the old adage, a picture is worth a thousand words.

adagio NAmE noun (pl. -os) (music) a piece of music to be played slowly
adagio adj., adv.

Adam noun see KNOW v.

adamant adj. determined not to change your mind or to be persuaded about sth: Eva was adamant that she would not come.
adamantly adv.: His family were adamantly opposed to the marriage.

adamantine adj. (literary) very strong and impossible to break

Adam's apple noun the lump at the front of the throat that sticks out, particularly in men, and moves up and down when you swallow

adapt verb
1 [VN] ~ sth (for sth) to change sth in order to make it suitable for a new use or situation MODIFY: Most of these tools have been specially adapted for use by disabled people. These styles can be adapted to suit individual tastes.
2 ~ (yourself) (to sth) to change your behaviour in order to deal more successfully with a new situation ADJUST: [V] We have had to adapt quickly to the new system. A large organization can be slow to adapt to change. The organisms were forced to adapt in order to survive. It's amazing how soon you adapt. [VN] It took him a while to adapt himself to his new surroundings.
3 [VN] ~ sth (for sth) (from sth) to change a book or play so that it can be made into a play, film/movie, television programme, etc.: Three of her novels have been adapted for television.

adaptable adj. (approving) able to change or be changed in order to deal successfully with new situations: Older workers can be as adaptable and quick to learn as anyone else. Successful businesses are highly adaptable to economic change.
adaptability noun [U]

adaptation (also less frequent adaption ) noun
1 [C] a film/movie, book or play that is based on a particular piece of work but that has been changed for a new situation: a screen adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'
2 [U] the process of changing sth, for example your behaviour, to suit a new situation: the adaptation of desert species to the hot conditions

adaptive adj. (technical) concerned with changing; able to change when necessary in order to deal with different situations

adaptor (also adapter) noun
1 a device for connecting pieces of electrical equipment that were not designed to fit together
2 (BrE) a device for connecting more than one piece of equipment to the same SOCKET (= a place in the wall where equipment is connected to the electricity supply)

ADC abbr. AIDE-DE-CAMP

add verb
1 [VN] ~ sth (to sth) to put sth together with sth else so as to increase the size, number, amount, etc.: A new wing was added to the building. Shall I add your name to the list? Next add the flour. The juice contains no added sugar. Chlorine is added to the water to kill bacteria. The plan has the added (= extra) advantage of bringing employment to rural areas.
2 ~ A to B| ~ A and B (together) to put numbers or amounts together to get a total: [VN] Add 9 to the total. If you add all these amounts together you get a huge figure. [also V] SUBTRACT
3 ~ sth (to sth) to say sth more; to make a further remark: [VN] I have nothing to add to my earlier statement. [V speech] 'And don't be late,' she added. [V that] He added that they would return a week later.
4 [VN] ~ sth (to sth) to give a particular quality to an event, a situation, etc.: The suite will add a touch of class to your bedroom.
add insult to injury to make a bad relationship with sb worse by offending them even more
added to this ... | add to this ... used to introduce another fact that helps to emphasize a point you have already made: Add to this the excellent service and you can see why it's the most popular hotel on the island.
add sthin to include sth with sth else: Remember to add in the cost of drinks.
add sthon (to sth) to include or attach sth extra: A service charge of 15% was added on to the bill.related noun ADD-ON
add to sth to increase sth in size, number, amount, etc.: The bad weather only added to our difficulties. The house has been added to (= new rooms, etc. have been built on to it) from time to time.
add up (informal)
1 (especially in negative sentences) to seem reasonable; to make sense: His story just doesn't add up.
2 (not used in the progressive tenses) to increase by small amounts until there is a large total: When you're feeding a family of six the bills soon add up.
add up| add sthup to calculate the total of two or more numbers or amounts: The waiter can't add up. Add up all the money I owe you.
add up to sth
1 to make a total amount of sth: The numbers add up to exactly 100.
2 to lead to a particular result; to show sth AMOUNT TO STH: These clues don't really add up to very much (= give us very little information).

ADD abbr. ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER

the Addams Family noun [sing.] a family of strange characters who live in a large dark house, created in 1935 by the CARTOONIST Charles Addams for the New Yorker magazine

addendum noun (pl. addenda ) (formal) a section of extra information that is added to sth, especially to a book

adder noun a small poisonous snake, often with diamond-shaped marks on its back. Adders are the only poisonous snakes in Britain.

addict noun
1 a person who is unable to stop taking harmful drugs: a heroin/drug/nicotine addict the treatment and rehabilitation of addicts
2 a person who is very interested in sth and spends a lot of their free time on it: a video game addict

addicted adj. [not before noun] ~ (to sth)
1 unable to stop taking harmful drugs, or using or doing sth as a habit: to become addicted to drugs/gambling It did not take James very long to get addicted.
2 spending all your free time doing sth because you are so interested in it: He's addicted to computer games.

addiction noun [U, C] ~ (to sth) the condition of being addicted to sth: cocaine addiction He is now fighting his addiction to alcohol. an addiction to TV game shows

addictive adj.
1 if a drug is addictive, it makes people unable to stop taking it: Heroin is highly addictive. Marijuana is said to be psychologically though not physically addictive.
2 if an activity or type of behaviour is addictive, people need to do it as often as possible because they enjoy it: I find jogging very addictive. Some people have an addictive personality.

add-in noun (computing)
1 a computer program that can be added to a larger program to allow it do more things
2 = EXPANSION CARD
add-in adj. [only before noun]: add-in software

addition noun
1 [U] the process of adding two or more numbers together to find their total: children learning addition and subtraction SUBTRACTION
2 [C] ~ (to sth) a thing that is added to sth else: the latest addition to our range of cars an addition to the family (= another child) (NAmE) to build a new addition onto a house last minute additions to the government's package of proposals
3 [U] ~ (of sth) the act of adding sth to sth else: Pasta's basic ingredients are flour and water, sometimes with the addition of eggs or oil.
in addition (to sb/sth) used when you want to mention another person or thing after sth else: In addition to these arrangements, extra ambulances will be on duty until midnight. There is, in addition, one further point to make.

additional adj. more than was first mentioned or is usual EXTRA: additional resources/funds/security The government provided an additional £25 million to expand the service.
additionally adv. IN ADDITION: Additionally, the bus service will run on Sundays, every two hours.

addition reaction noun (chemistry) a chemical reaction in which the whole of one MOLECULE combines with the whole of another to form a single larger moleculecompare ELIMINATION REACTION

additive noun a substance that is added in small amounts to sth, especially food, in order to improve it, give it colour, make it last longer, etc.: food additives The classification of additives by 'E' number is made under an EC directive. additive-free orange juice chemical additives in petrol

addle verb [VN] to make sb unable to think clearly; to confuse sb: Being in love must have addled your brain.

addled adj.
1 (old-fashioned) confused; unable to think clearly: his addled brain
2 (BrE) (of an egg) not fresh; bad to eat

add-on noun a thing that is added to sth else: The company offers scuba-diving as an add-on to the basic holiday price. add-on software (= added to a computer)

address noun, verb
noun NAmE
1 [C] details of where sb lives or works and where letters, etc. can be sent: What's your name and address? I'll give you my address and phone number. Is that your home address? Please note my change of address. Police found him at an address (= a house or flat/apartment) in West London. people of no fixed address (= with no permanent home)see also FORWARDING ADDRESS
2 [C] (computing) a series of words and symbols that tells you where you can find sth using a computer, for example on the Internet: What's your email address? The project has a new website address
3 [C] a formal speech that is made in front of an audience: tonight's televised presidential address note at SPEECH
4 [U] form/mode of ~ the correct title, etc. to use when you talk to sb
verb [VN]
1 [usually passive] ~ sth (to sb/sth) to write on an envelope, etc. the name and address of the person, company, etc. that you are sending it to by mail: The letter was correctly addressed, but delivered to the wrong house. Address your application to the Personnel Manager.compare READDRESSsee also SAE, SASE
2 to make a formal speech to a group of people: to address a meeting The President has been asked to address the assembly.
3 ~ sb| ~ sth to sb (formal) to say sth directly to sb: I was surprised when he addressed me in English. Any questions should be addressed to your teacher. The book is addressed to the general reader.
4 ~ sb (as sth) to use a particular name or title for sb when you speak or write to them: There are different ways in which to address a member of the royal family. The judge should be addressed as 'Your Honour'. In Britain, a surgeon is addressed as 'Mr' not 'Dr'.
5 ~ (yourself to) sth (formal) to think about a problem or a situation and decide how you are going to deal with it: Your essay does not address the real issues. We must address ourselves to the problem of traffic pollution.

addressable adj.
1 (of a problem or situation) that can be addressed: Let's start with the more easily addressable issues.
2 (computing) (of a part of a computer system) that is identified using its own address: Up to fifty alarms and other addressable devices are connected to the fire control panel.

address book noun
1 a book in which you keep addresses, phone numbers, etc.
2 a computer file where you store email and Internet addresses

addressee noun a person that a letter, etc. is addressed to

adduce NAmE verb [VN] [often passive] (formal) to provide evidence, reasons, facts, etc. in order to explain sth or to show that sth is true CITE: Several factors have been adduced to explain the fall in the birth rate. The defending lawyer was able to adduce evidence of his client's innocence.

adductor (also adductor muscle) noun (anatomy) a muscle that moves a body part towards the middle of the body or towards another partcompare ABDUCTOR

adenoids noun [pl.] pieces of soft TISSUE at the back of the nose and throat, that are part of the body's IMMUNE SYSTEM and that can swell up and cause breathing difficulties, especially in children
adenoidal adj.: an adenoidal voice (= one that sounds as though you are talking through your nose, caused by adenoids swelling)

adept adj. ~ (at/in sth)| ~ (at/in doing sth) good at doing sth that is quite difficult SKILFUL: He became adept at getting even the shyest students to talk.
adept noun adeptly adv.

adequate adj. ~ (for sth)| ~ (to do sth) enough in quantity, or good enough in quality, for a particular purpose or need: an adequate supply of hot water The room was small but adequate. The space available is not adequate for our needs. There is a lack of adequate provision for disabled students. He didn't give an adequate answer to the question. training that is adequate to meet the future needs of industry INADEQUATE
adequacy noun [U]: The adequacy of the security arrangements has been questioned. INADEQUACY adequately adv.: Are you adequately insured? INADEQUATELY

ADHD abbr. ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

adhere NAmE verb [V] ~ (to sth) (formal) to stick firmly to sth: Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria adhere to the surface of the red cells. Clean the surface first, or the paint will not adhere. There was oil adhering to the bird's feathers.
adhere to sth (formal) to behave according to a particular law, rule, set of instructions, etc.; to follow a particular set of beliefs or a fixed way of doing sth: For ten months he adhered to a strict no-fat low-salt diet. She adheres to teaching methods she learned over 30 years ago. Staff should adhere strictly to the safety guidelines. The diet will work if it is adhered to.

adherence NAmE noun [U] the fact of behaving according to a particular rule, etc., or of following a particular set of beliefs, or a fixed way of doing sth: strict adherence to the rules

adherent NAmE noun (formal) a person who supports a political party or set of ideas SUPPORTER

adhesion noun [U] (technical) the ability to stick or become attached to sth

adhesive noun, adj.
noun [C, U] a substance that you use to make things stick together: Use a good waterproof adhesive in addition to the screws.
adj. that can stick to sth STICKY: adhesive tapesee also SELF-ADHESIVE

ad hoc NAmE adj. (from Latin) arranged or happening when necessary and not planned in advance: an ad hoc meeting to deal with the problem The meetings will be held on an ad hoc basis.
ad hoc adv.

ad hominem NAmE adj., adv. (formal) directed against a person's character rather than their argument: an ad hominem attack

adieu NAmE exclamation (old use or literary) goodbye: I bid you adieu.

ad infinitum adv. (from Latin) without ever coming to an end; again and again: You cannot stay here ad infinitum without paying rent. The problem would be repeated ad infinitum.

adipose NAmE adj. (technical) (of body TISSUE) used for storing fat

adjacent adj. ~ (to sth) (of an area, a building, a room, etc.) next to or near sth: The planes landed on adjacent runways. Our farm land was adjacent to the river.

adjacent angle noun (geometry) one of the two angles formed on the same side of a straight line when another line meets it

adjective noun (grammar) a word that describes a person or thing, for example big, red and clever in a big house, red wine and a clever idea: 'Reliable' is not an adjective that could be applied to my car.
adjectival adj.: an adjectival phrase adjectivally adv.: In 'bread knife', the word 'bread' is used adjectivally.

adjoin verb (formal) to be next to or joined to sth: [VN] A barn adjoins the farmhouse. [also V]
adjoining adj. [usually before noun]: They stayed in adjoining rooms. We'll have more space if we knock down the adjoining wall (= the wall between two rooms).

adjourn NAmE verb [often passive] to stop a meeting or an official process, especially a trial, for a period of time: [V] The court adjourned for lunch. [VN] The trial has been adjourned until next week. The chairman may adjourn the meeting at any time.
adjournment noun [C, U]: The judge granted us a short adjournment.
adjourn to ... (formal or humorous) to go to another place, especially in order to relax: I suggest we adjourn to the bar for a drink.

adjudge verb [usually passive] (formal) to make a decision about sb/sth based on the facts that are available: [VN-ADJ] The company was adjudged bankrupt. [VN-N] The tour was adjudged a success. [VN to inf] The reforms were generally adjudged to have failed. This pattern is only used in the passive.

adjudicate verb
1 ~ (on/upon/in sth)| ~ (between A and B) to make an official decision about who is right in a disagreement between two groups or organizations: [V] A special subcommittee adjudicates on planning applications. [VN] Their purpose is to adjudicate disputes between employers and employees.
2 [V] to be a judge in a competition: Who is adjudicating at this year's contest?
adjudication noun [U, C]: The case was referred to a higher court for adjudication. The adjudication will be published tomorrow. adjudicator noun: You may refer your complaint to an independent adjudicator. The adjudicators praised the high standard of all the entries.

adjunct noun
1 (grammar) an adverb or a phrase that adds meaning to the verb in a sentence or part of a sentence: In 'She went home yesterday' and 'He ran away in a panic', 'yesterday' and 'in a panic' are adjuncts.
2 (formal) a thing that is added or attached to sth larger or more important: The memory expansion cards are useful adjuncts to the computer.

adjure NAmE verb [VN to inf] (formal) to ask or to order sb to do sth: He adjured them to tell the truth.

adjust verb
1 [VN] ~ sth (to sth) to change sth slightly to make it more suitable for a new set of conditions or to make it work better: Watch out for sharp bends and adjust your speed accordingly. This button is for adjusting the volume. Adjust your language to the age of your audience. The brakes need to be adjusted.
2 ~ (to sth/to doing sth)| ~ (yourself to sth) to get used to a new situation by changing the way you behave and/or think ADAPT: [V] It took her a while to adjust to living alone. It can be difficult to adjust to being a parent. After a while his eyes adjusted to the dark. They'll be finethey just need time to adjust. [VN] You'll quickly adjust yourself to student life. My eyes were still trying to adjust themselves to the strong sunlight.
3 [VN] to move sth slightly so that it looks neater or feels more comfortable: He smoothed his hair and adjusted his tie.see also WELL ADJUSTED

adjustable adj. that can be moved to different positions or changed in shape or size: adjustable seat belts The height of the bicycle seat is adjustable.

adjustable spanner (BrE) (also monkey wrench NAmE, BrE) noun a tool that can be adjusted to hold and turn things of different widthscompare SPANNER, WRENCH

adjustment noun [C, U]
1 a small change made to sth in order to correct or improve it: I've made a few adjustments to the design. Some adjustment of the lens may be necessary.
2 a change in the way a person behaves or thinks: She went through a period of emotional adjustment after her marriage broke up.

adjutant noun an army officer who does office work and helps other officers

Adjutant General noun (pl. Adjutants General)
1 an officer of very high rank in the British army who is responsible for organization
2 the officer of very high rank in the US army who is in charge of organization

ad-lib verb (-bb-) to say sth in a speech or a performance that you have not prepared or practised IMPROVISE: [V] She abandoned her script and began ad-libbing. [VN] I lost my notes and had to ad-lib the whole speech. He ad-libbed his way through the meeting.
ad lib noun: The speech was full of ad libs. ad lib adj.: an ad lib speech ad lib adv.: She delivered her lines ad lib.

adman noun (pl. admen ) (informal) a person who works in advertising

admin noun [U] (BrE, informal) = ADMINISTRATION: a few admin problems She works in admin.

administer verb [VN]
1 [often passive] to manage and organize the affairs of a company, an organization, a country, etc. MANAGE: to administer a charity/fund/school the high cost of administering medical services The pension funds are administered by commercial banks.
2 to make sure that sth is done fairly and in the correct way: to administer justice/the law The questionnaire was administered by trained interviewers.
3 ~ sth (to sb) (formal) to give or to provide sth, especially in a formal way: The teacher has the authority to administer punishment. A taxi driver administered first aid to the victims. The priest was called to administer the last rites.
4 [often passive] ~ sth (to sb) (formal) to give drugs, medicine, etc. to sb: The dose was administered to the child intravenously. Police believe his wife could not have administered the poison.
5 ~ a kick, a punch, etc. (to sb/sth) (formal) to kick or to hit sb/sth: He administered a severe blow to his opponent's head.

administration noun
1 (also BrE informal admin) [U] the activities that are done in order to plan, organize and run a business, school or other institution: Administration costs are passed on to the customer. the day-to-day administration of a company I work in the Sales Administration department.
2 [U] the process or act of organizing the way that sth is done: the administration of justice
3 [C] the people who plan, organize and run a business, an institution, etc.: university administrations
4 (often Administration) [C] the government of a country, especially the US: the Bush administration Successive administrations have failed to solve the country's economic problems.
5 [U] (formal) the act of giving a drug to sb: the administration of antibiotics

administrative NAmE adj. connected with organizing the work of a business or an institution: an administrative job/assistant/error
administratively adv.

administrator noun a person whose job is to manage and organize the public or business affairs of a company or an institution: a hospital administrator

admirable adj. (formal) having qualities that you admire and respect COMMENDABLE: Her dedication to her work was admirable. He made his points with admirable clarity.
admirably adv.: Joe coped admirably with a difficult situation.

admiral noun an officer of very high rank in the navy: The admiral visited the ships under his command. Admiral Lord Nelsonsee also REAR ADMIRAL, RED ADMIRAL

Admiral of the Fleet (BrE) (US Fleet Admiral) noun an admiral of the highest rank in the navy

the Admiral's Cup noun [sing.] a competition that takes place every two years in which three YACHTS from different countries race against each other

the Admiralty noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] (in Britain in the past) the government department controlling the navy

admiration noun [U] ~ (for sb/sth) a feeling of respect and liking for sb/sth: I have great admiration for her as a writer. to watch/gaze in admiration

admire verb [VN]
1 ~ sb/sth (for sth)| ~ sb (for doing sth) to respect sb for what they are or for what they have done: I really admire your enthusiasm. The school is widely admired for its excellent teaching. You have to admire the way he handled the situation. I don't agree with her, but I admire her for sticking to her principles.
2 to look at sth and think that it is attractive and/or impressive: He stood back to admire his handiwork. I've just been admiring your new car. Let's just sit and admire the view.
admiring adj.: She was used to receiving admiring glances from men. admiringly adv.

admirer noun
1 ~ of sb/sth a person who admires sb/sth, especially a well-known person or thing: He is a great admirer of Picasso's early paintings.
2 a man who is attracted to a woman and admires her: She never married but had many admirers.

admissible adj. that can be allowed or accepted, especially in court: Photographs are usually admissible evidence provided it can be proved that they are authentic. The claim was not admissible under the current policy. INADMISSIBLE
admissibility noun [U]

admission noun
1 [U, C] ~ (to sth) the act of accepting sb into an institution, organization, etc.; the right to enter a place or to join an institution or organization: Hospital admission is not necessary in most cases. Hospital admissions for asthma attacks have doubled. countries applying for admission to the European Union the university admissions policy/office Last admissions to the park are at 4 p.m. They tried to get into the club but were refused admission. She failed to gain admission to the university of her choice. Is there any charge for admission? There was a steady decline in cinema admissions during the 1960s.
2 [C] ~ (of sth)| ~ (that ... ) a statement in which sb admits that sth is true, especially sth wrong or bad that they have done: an admission of guilt/failure/defeat The minister's resignation was an admission that she had lied. He is a thief by his own admission (= he has admitted it).
3 [U] the amount of money that you pay to go into a building or to an event: admission charges/prices £5 admission What's the admission?

admit verb (-tt-)
ACCEPT TRUTH
1 ~ (to sth/to doing sth)| ~ (to sb) (that ... ) to agree, often unwillingly, that sth is true CONFESS: [V] She admits to being strict with her children. Don't be afraid to admit to your mistakes. It was a stupid thing to do, I admit. [VN] He admitted all his mistakes. She stubbornly refuses to admit the truth. Why don't you just admit defeat (= recognize that you cannot do sth) and let someone else try? Admit it! You were terrified! [V (that)] They freely admit (that) they still have a lot to learn. I couldn't admit to my parents that I was finding the course difficult. You must admit that it all sounds very strange. [VN that] It was generally admitted that the government had acted too quickly. [V speech] 'I'm very nervous,' she admitted reluctantly. [VN to inf] The appointment is now generally admitted to have been a mistake. This pattern is only used in the passive.
ACCEPT BLAME
2 ~ (to sth/to doing sth) to say that you have done sth wrong or illegal CONFESS TO: [V] She admitted to having stolen the car. He refused to admit to the other charges. [VN] She admitted theft. He refused to admit his guilt. [V -ing] She admitted having driven the car without insurance.
ALLOW TO ENTER/JOIN
3 [VN] ~ sb/sth (to/into sth) to allow sb/sth to enter a place: Each ticket admits one adult. The narrow windows admit little light into the room. You will not be admitted to the theatre after the performance has started.
4 [VN] ~ sb (to/into sth) to allow sb to become a member of a club, a school, or an organization: The society admits all US citizens over 21. Women were only admitted into the club last year.
TO HOSPITAL
5 [VN] [often passive] ~ sb to/into a hospital, an institution, etc. to take sb to a hospital, or other institution where they can receive special care: Two crash victims were admitted to the local hospital.
admit of sth (formal) to show that sth is possible or probable as a solution, an explanation, etc.

SYNONYMS

admit

acknowledge concede confess allow grant

These words all mean to agree, often unwillingly, that sth is true.

admit to agree, often unwillingly, that sth is true: It was a stupid thing to do, I admit.

acknowledge (rather formal) to accept that sth exists, is true or has happened: She refuses to acknowledge the need for reform.

concede (rather formal) to admit, often unwillingly, that sth is true or logical: He was forced to concede (that) there might be difficulties.

ADMIT OR CONCEDE?

When sb admits sth, they are usually agreeing that sth which is generally considered bad or wrong is true or has happened, especially when it relates to their own actions. When sb concedes sth, they are usually accepting, unwillingly, that a particular fact or statement is true or logical.

confess (rather formal) to admit sth that you feel ashamed or embarrassed about: She was reluctant to confess her ignorance.

allow (formal) to agree that sth is true or correct: He refuses to allow that such a situation could arise.

grant to admit that a statement or claim is true, usually while denying that a greater claim is also true: She's an intelligent woman, I grant you, but she's no genius. Granted, he is a beginner, but he should know the basic rules.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to admit/acknowledge/concede/confess/allow/grant that

to admit/confess to sth

to admit/concede/confess sth to sb

you must admit/acknowledge/concede/confess/allow/grant sth

to hate to admit/confess sth

to admit/acknowledge the truth

to admit/confess your mistakes/ignorance

admittance noun [U] (formal) the right to enter or the act of entering a building, an institution, etc.: Hundreds of people were unable to gain admittance to the hall. He was refused admittance into the country.

admittedly adv. used, especially at the beginning of a sentence, when you are accepting that sth is true: Admittedly, it is rather expensive but you don't need to use much. Admittedly, Venice wasn't a very big place, but there was little chance of meeting her again accidentally.

admixture noun (formal)
1 a mixture: an admixture of aggression and creativity
2 something, especially a small amount of sth, that is mixed with sth else: a French-speaking region with an admixture of German speakers

admonish NAmE verb (formal)
1 ~ sb (for sth/for doing sth) to tell sb firmly that you do not approve of sth that they have done REPROVE: [VN] She was admonished for chewing gum in class. [also V speech, VN speech]
2 to strongly advise sb to do sth: [VN to inf] A warning voice admonished him not to let this happen. [also V speech, VN speech]

admonition (also less frequent admonishment NAmE ) noun [C, U] (formal) a warning to sb about their behaviour: To William he had written a letter full of the gravest admonitions, urging him to think carefully about what he was committing himself to.
admonitory NAmE adj.: The sergeant lifted an admonitory finger at us.

ad nauseam adv. (from Latin) if a person says or does sth ad nauseam, they say or do it again and again so that it becomes boring or annoying: Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam.

ado noun
without further/more ado (old-fashioned) without delaying; immediately: We set to work without further ado.

adobe NAmE noun [U] mud that is dried in the sun, mixed with STRAW and used as a building material: adobe walls/houses/dwellings The floors were bare adobe and the walls painted blue.

adolescence noun [U] the time in a person's life when he or she develops from a child into an adult PUBERTY: Adolescence brings about major changes in a young person's body.

adolescent noun a young person who is developing from a child into an adult: adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 and the problems they face
adolescent adj.: adolescent boys/girls/experiences

Adonis NAmE noun an extremely attractive young man
From the name of the beautiful young man in ancient Greek myths, who was loved by both Aphrodite and Persephone. He was killed by a wild boar but Zeus ordered that he should spend the winter months in the underworld with Persephone and the summer months with Aphrodite.

adopt NAmE verb
CHILD
1 to take sb else's child into your family and become its legal parent(s): [V] a campaign to encourage childless couples to adopt [VN] to adopt a child She was forced to have her baby adopted.compare FOSTER
METHOD
2 [VN] to start to use a particular method or to show a particular attitude towards sb/sth: All three teams adopted different approaches to the problem.
SUGGESTION
3 [VN] to formally accept a suggestion or policy by voting: to adopt a resolution The council is expected to adopt the new policy at its next meeting.
NEW NAME/COUNTRY
4 [VN] to choose a new name, a country, a custom, etc. and begin to use it as your own: to adopt a name/title/language Early Christians in Europe adopted many of the practices of the older, pagan religions.
WAY OF BEHAVING
5 [VN] (formal) to use a particular manner, way of speaking, expression, etc.: He adopted an air of indifference.
CANDIDATE
6 [VN] ~ sb (as sth) (BrE, politics) to choose sb as a candidate in an election or as a representative: She was adopted as parliamentary candidate for Wood Green.

adopted NAmE adj.
1 an adopted child has legally become part of a family which is not the one in which he or she was born: Danny is their adopted son.
2 an adopted country is one in which sb chooses to live although it is not the one they were born in

adopter NAmE noun
1 a person who adopts a child
2 a person who starts using a new technology: early/late adopters of DVD players

adoption NAmE noun
1 [C, U] the act of adopting a child: She put the baby up for adoption.
2 [U] the decision to start using sth such as an idea, a plan or a name: the adoption of new technology
3 [C, U] (BrE, politics) the act of choosing sb as a candidate for an election: his adoption as the Labour candidate

adoptive NAmE adj. [usually before noun] an adoptive parent or family is one that has legally adopted a child: his adoptive father

adorable adj. very attractive and easy to feel love for: What an adorable child!
adorably adv.

adoration noun [U] a feeling of great love or worship: He gazed at her with pure adoration. The painting is called 'Adoration of the Infant Christ'.

adore verb (not used in the progressive tenses)
1 [VN] to love sb very much: It's obvious that she adores him. note at LOVE
2 (informal) to like sth very much: [VN] I simply adore his music! Don't you just adore that dress! [V -ing] She adores working with children. note at LIKE

adoring adj. [usually before noun] showing much love and admiration: her adoring grandmother He waved to the adoring crowds.
adoringly adv.

adorn NAmE verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sth/sb (with sth) (formal) to make sth/sb look more attractive by decorating it or them with sth: The walls were adorned with paintings. The children adorned themselves with flowers. Gold rings adorned his fingers. (ironic) Graffiti adorned the walls.
adornment noun [U, C]: A plain necklace was her only adornment.

adrenal gland noun either of the two small organs above the KIDNEYS that produce ADRENALIN and other HORMONES

adrenalin noun [U] a substance produced in the body when you are excited, afraid or angry. It makes the heart beat faster and increases your energy and ability to move quickly: The excitement at the start of a race can really get the adrenalin flowing. a rush/surge of adrenalin A shot of adrenalin was given as an antidote to the wasp sting.

adrift adj. [not before noun]
1 if a boat or a person in a boat is adrift, the boat is not tied to anything or is floating without being controlled by anyone: The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days.
2 (BrE) (of a person) feeling alone and without a direction or an aim in life: young people adrift in the big city
3 no longer attached or fixed in the right position: I nearly suffocated when the pipe on my breathing apparatus came adrift. (figurative) She had been cut adrift from everything she had known. (figurative) Our plans had gone badly adrift.
4 ~ (of sb/sth) (BrE) (in sport) behind the score or position of your opponents: The team are now just six points adrift of the leaders.
cast/set sb adrift (usually passive) to leave sb to be carried away on a boat that is not being controlled by anyone: (figurative) Without language human beings are cast adrift.

adroit adj. (formal) skilful and clever, especially in dealing with people SKILFUL: an adroit negotiator
adroitly adv.: He adroitly avoided answering my questions. adroitness noun [U]

ADSL abbr. asymmetric digital subscriber line (a system for connecting a computer to the Internet using a telephone line)

adsorb NAmE verb [VN] (technical) if sth adsorbs a liquid, gas or other substance, it holds it on its surface: The dye is adsorbed onto the fibre.

adsorbent NAmE adj. (technical) (of a substance or material) able to adsorb gases or liquids

ADT abbr. ATLANTIC DAYLIGHT TIME

aduki noun = ADZUKI

adulation NAmE noun [U] (formal) admiration and praise, especially when this is greater than is necessary: The band enjoy the adulation of their fans wherever they go.
adulatory NAmE adj.

adult noun, adj.
noun
1 a fully grown person who is legally responsible for their actions GROWN-UP: Children must be accompanied by an adult. Why can't you two act like civilized adults?
2 a fully grown animal: The fish return to the river as adults in order to breed.
adj.
1 fully grown or developed: preparing young people for adult life the adult population adult monkeys
2 behaving in an intelligent and responsible way; typical of what is expected of an adult GROWN-UP: When my parents split up, it was all very adult and open.
3 [only before noun] intended for adults only, because it is about sex or contains violence: an adult moviesee also ADULTHOOD

adult education (also continuing education) noun [U] education for adults that is available outside the formal education system, for example at evening classes

adulterate verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sth (with sth) to make food or drink less pure by adding another substance to it CONTAMINATE: The water supply had been adulterated with chemicals from the soil.see also UNADULTERATED
adulteration noun [U]

adulterer noun (formal) a person who commits adultery

adulteress noun (formal) a woman who commits adultery

adultery noun [U] sex between a married person and sb who is not their husband or wife: He was accused of committing adultery.
adulterous adj.: an adulterous relationship

adulthood noun [U] the state of being an adult: a child reaching adulthood

adumbrate NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to give a general idea or description of sth without details OUTLINE

ad valorem adj., adv. (finance) (of a tax) according to the estimated value of the goods being taxed

advance NAmE noun, verb, adj.
noun
FORWARD MOVEMENT
1 [C] the forward movement of a group of people, especially armed forces: We feared that an advance on the capital would soon follow. enemy advances
DEVELOPMENT
2 [C, U] ~ (in sth) progress or a development in a particular activity or area of understanding: recent advances in medical science We live in an age of rapid technological advance. major advances in the field of physics
MONEY
3 [C, usually sing.] money paid for work before it has been done or money paid earlier than expected: They offered an advance of £5 000 after the signing of the contract. She asked for an advance on her salary. The bank will give you an advance of 95% of the purchase price.
SEXUAL
4 advances [pl.] attempts to start a sexual relationship with sb: He had made advances to one of his students. She rejected his sexual advances.
PRICE INCREASE
5 [C] ~ (on sth) (business) an increase in the price or value of sth: Share prices showed significant advances.
in advance (of sth)
1 before the time that is expected; before sth happens: a week/month/year in advance The rent is due one month in advance. It's cheaper if you book the tickets in advance. People were evacuated from the coastal regions in advance of the hurricane.
2 more developed than sb/sth else: Galileo's ideas were well in advance of the age in which he lived.
verb
MOVE FORWARD
1 [V] ~ (on/towards sb/sth) to move forward towards sb/sth, often in order to attack or threaten them or it: The mob advanced on us, shouting angrily. The troops were finally given the order to advance. They had advanced 20 miles by nightfall. the advancing Allied troops She closed the door firmly and advanced towards the desk.compare RETREAT
DEVELOP
2 if knowledge, technology, etc. advances, it develops and improves: [V] Our knowledge of the disease has advanced considerably over recent years. [VN] This research has done much to advance our understanding of language learning.
HELP TO SUCCEED
3 [VN] to help sth to succeed FURTHER: Studying for new qualifications is one way of advancing your career. They worked together to advance the cause of democracy.
MONEY
4 ~ sth (to sb)| ~ (sb) sth to give sb money before the time it would usually be paid: [VN, VNN] We are willing to advance the money to you. We will advance you the money.
SUGGEST
5 [VN] (formal) to suggest an idea, a theory, or a plan for other people to discuss PUT FORWARD: The article advances a new theory to explain changes in the climate.
MAKE EARLIER
6 [VN] (formal) to change the time or date of an event so that it takes place earlier BRING FORWARD: The date of the trial has been advanced by one week. POSTPONE
MOVE FORWARD
7 (formal) to move forward to a later part of sth; to move sth forward to a later part: [V] Users advance through the program by answering a series of questions. [VN] This button advances the tape to the beginning of the next track.
INCREASE
8 [V] (business) (of prices, costs, etc.) to increase in price or amount: Oil shares advanced amid economic recovery hopes.
adj. [only before noun]
1 done or given before sth is going to happen: Please give us advance warning of any changes. We need advance notice of the numbers involved. No advance booking is necessary on most departures.
2 ~ party/team a group of people who go somewhere first, before the main group: The advance party for a winter ascent of Mount Everest has arrived in Nepal.

advanced NAmE adj.
1 having the most modern and recently developed ideas, methods, etc.: advanced technology advanced industrial societies Sweden has a reputation for advanced and stylish design.
2 (of a course of study) at a high or difficult level: There were only three of us on the advanced course. an advanced student of English
3 at a late stage of development: the advanced stages of the disease
of advanced years | sb's advanced age used in polite expressions to describe sb as 'very old': He was a man of advanced years. (humorous) Even at my advanced age I still know how to enjoy myself!

advanced level noun = A LEVEL: For this course, you need two GCE Advanced Level passes.

advanced placement noun [U] (abbr. AP) an advanced course for high school students in the US by which students can gain college CREDITS before they actually go to college

advance guard (also advanced guard) noun [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of soldiers who go somewhere to make preparations before other soldiers arrive

advance man noun (especially NAmE) a person who is sent to a place to make preparations for the visit of an important person or group of people

advancement NAmE noun (formal)
1 [U, C] the process of helping sth to make progress or succeed; the progress that is made: the advancement of knowledge/education/science
2 [U] progress in a job, social class, etc.: There are good opportunities for advancement if you have the right skills.

advancing NAmE adj. ~ years/age used as a polite way of referring to the fact of time passing and of sb growing older: She is still very active, in spite of her advancing years.

advantage NAmE noun, verb
noun [C, U]
1 ~ (over sb) a thing that helps you to be better or more successful than other people: a big/great/definite advantage Being tall gave him an advantage over the other players. an unfair advantage (= sth that benefits you, but not your opponents) She had the advantage of a good education. Is there any advantage in getting there early? You will be at an advantage (= have an advantage) if you have thought about the interview questions in advance. companies seeking competitive advantage over their trading rivals DISADVANTAGE
2 a quality of sth that makes it better or more useful: A small car has the added advantage of being cheaper to run. the advantages of living in a small town Each of these systems has its advantages and disadvantages. DISADVANTAGE
3 (in TENNIS) the first point scored after a score of 40-40: Advantage Roddick.
be/work to your advantage to give you an advantage; to change a situation in a way that gives you an advantage: It would be to your advantage to attend this meeting. Eventually, the new regulations will work to our advantage.
take advantage of sth/sb
1 to make use of sth well; to make use of an opportunity: She took advantage of the children's absence to tidy their rooms. We took full advantage of the hotel facilities.
2 to make use of sb/sth in a way that is unfair or dishonest EXPLOIT: He took advantage of my generosity (= for example, by taking more than I had intended to give).
to (good/best) advantage in a way that shows the best of sth: The photograph showed him to advantage. May was the month to see the garden to best advantage.
turn sth to your advantage to use or change a bad situation so that it helps you: Every magician has a trick that goes wrong, but you can turn this to your advantage by pretending it was deliberate and making the audience laugh.
verb [VN] (formal) to put sb in a better position than other people or than they were in before

advantaged NAmE adj. being in a good social or financial situation: We aim to improve opportunities for the less advantaged in society. DISADVANTAGED

advantageous adj. ~ (to sb) good or useful in a particular situation BENEFICIAL: A free trade agreement would be advantageous to both countries. DISADVANTAGEOUS
advantageously adv.: He rearranged his business affairs advantageously by investing his money overseas.

advent noun
1 [sing.] the ~ of sth/sb the coming of an important event, person, invention, etc.: the advent of new technology
2 Advent [U] the period of four weeks before Christmas in the Christian religion

Advent calendar noun a piece of stiff paper with a picture and 24 small doors with numbers on. Children open a door each day during Advent and find a picture or a piece of chocolate behind each one.

adventitious adj. (formal) happening by accident; not planned

Advent Sunday noun [U, C] the first Sunday in Advent, which is on or close to 30 November

adventure noun
1 [C] an unusual, exciting or dangerous experience, journey or series of events: her adventures travelling in Africa When you're a child, life is one big adventure. adventure stories Popper described science as the greatest adventure in the world.
2 [U] excitement and the willingness to take risks, try new ideas, etc.: a sense/spirit of adventure I set out across the country looking for adventure.

adventure game noun a type of computer game in which you play a part in an adventure

adventure playground noun (BrE) an area where children can play, with large structures, ropes, etc. for climbing on

adventurer noun
1 (old-fashioned) a person who enjoys exciting new experiences, especially going to unusual places: He's a romantic at heart, a born adventurer.
2 (often disapproving) a person who is willing to take risks or act in a dishonest way in order to gain money or power

adventuresome NAmE adj. (NAmE) = ADVENTUROUS

adventuress noun (old-fashioned)
1 a woman who enjoys exciting new experiences, especially going to unusual places
2 (often disapproving) a woman who is willing to take risks or act in a dishonest way in order to gain money or power

adventurism noun [U] (disapproving) a willingness to take risks in business or politics in order to gain sth for yourself: He condemned what he saw as undisciplined adventurism.

adventurous adj.
1 (NAmE also adventuresome) (of a person) willing to take risks and try new ideas; enjoying being in new, exciting situations: For the more adventurous tourists, there are trips into the mountains with a local guide. Many teachers would like to be more adventurous and creative.
2 including new and interesting things, methods and ideas: The menu contained traditional favourites as well as more adventurous dishes. an adventurous new production of the play
3 full of new, exciting or dangerous experiences: an adventurous trip/lifestyle My interests include anything adventurous or challenging. UNADVENTUROUS
adventurously adv.

adverb NAmE noun (grammar) a word that adds more information about place, time, manner, cause or degree to a verb, an adjective, a phrase or another adverb: In 'speak kindly', 'incredibly deep', 'just in time' and 'too quickly', 'kindly', 'incredibly', 'just' and 'too' are all adverbs.see also SENTENCE ADVERB
adverbial NAmE adj.: 'Very quickly indeed' is an adverbial phrase.

adverbial particle noun (grammar) an adverb used especially after a verb to show position, direction of movement, etc.: In 'come back', 'break down' and 'fall off', 'back', 'down' and 'off' are all adverbial particles.

adversarial NAmE adj. (formal or technical) (especially of political or legal systems) involving people who are in opposition and who make attacks on each other: the adversarial nature of the two-party system an adversarial system of justice

adversary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (formal) a person that sb is opposed to and competing with in an argument or a battle OPPONENT: his old political adversary

adversative NAmE adj. (grammar) (of a word or phrase) expressing sth that is opposed to or the opposite of what has been said: the adversative conjunction 'but'

adverse NAmE adj. [usually before noun] negative and unpleasant; not likely to produce a good result: adverse change/circumstances/weather conditions Lack of money will have an adverse effect on our research programme. They have attracted strong adverse criticism. This drug is known to have adverse side effects.
adversely adv.: Her health was adversely affected by the climate.

adversity NAmE noun [U, C] (pl. -ies) (formal) a difficult or unpleasant situation: courage in the face of adversity He overcame many personal adversities.

advert NAmE noun (BrE) = ADVERTISEMENT: the adverts on television When the adverts came on I got up to put the kettle on. note at AD

advertise NAmE verb
1 ~ sth (as sth) to tell the public about a product or a service in order to encourage people to buy or to use it: [V] If you want to attract more customers, try advertising in the local paper. [VN] to advertise a product/a business/your services The cruise was advertised as the 'journey of a lifetime'. I bought the camera and case as advertised in the catalogue.
2 ~ (for sb/sth) to let people know that sth is going to happen, or that a job is available by giving details about it in a newspaper, on a notice in a public place, on the Internet, etc.: [V] We are currently advertising for a new sales manager. [VN] We advertised the concert quite widely.
3 [VN] to show or tell sth about yourself to other people PUBLICIZE: I wouldn't advertise the fact that you don't have a work permit. She coughed to advertise her presence.

advertisement NAmE noun
1 [C] (also informal ad) (BrE also advert) ~ (for sth) a notice, picture or film telling people about a product, job or service: Put an advertisement in the local paper to sell your car.see also CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS note at AD
2 [C] (BrE also advert) ~ for sth an example of sth that shows its good qualities: Dirty streets and homelessness are no advertisement for a prosperous society. note at AD
3 [U] the act of advertising sth and making it public: We are employing an assistant to help with the advertisement of the group's activities. note at AD

advertiser NAmE noun a person or company that advertises

advertising NAmE noun [U] the activity and industry of advertising things to people on television, in newspapers, on the Internet, etc.: A good advertising campaign will increase our sales. Cigarette advertising has been banned. radio/TV advertising Val works for an advertising agency (= a company that designs advertisements). a career in advertising

advertorial NAmE noun an advertisement that is designed to look like an article in the newspaper or magazine in which it appears

advice noun [U] ~ (on sth) an opinion or a suggestion about what sb should do in a particular situation: advice on road safety They give advice for people with HIV and AIDS. Follow your doctor's advice. We were advised to seek legal advice. Let me give you a piece of advice. A word of advice. Don't wear that dress. Take my advice. Don't do it. I chose it on his advice.

advice column, advice columnist noun (NAmE) = AGONY COLUMN, AGONY AUNT/UNCLE

advisable adj. [not usually before noun] ~ (to do sth) sensible and a good idea in order to achieve sth: Early booking is advisable. It is advisable to book early. INADVISABLE
advisability noun [U]

advise verb
1 ~ (sb) (against sth/against doing sth) to tell sb what you think they should do in a particular situation: [V] I would strongly advise against going out on your own. [VN] Her mother was away and couldn't advise her. I'd advise extreme caution. [VN to inf] Police are advising people to stay at home. I'd advise you not to tell him. [V that] They advise that a passport be carried with you at all times. (BrE also) They advise that a passport should be carried with you at all times. [VN that] It is strongly advised that you take out insurance. [V -ing] I'd advise buying your tickets well in advance if you want to travel in August. [V speech, VN speech] 'Get there early,' she advised (them).see also ILL-ADVISED, WELL ADVISED note at RECOMMEND
2 ~ (sb) on sth| ~ (sb) about sth/about doing sth to give sb help and information on a subject that you know a lot about: [V] We employ an expert to advise on new technology. [VN] She advises the government on environmental issues. [V wh-] The pharmacist will advise which medicines are safe to take. [VN wh-] Your lawyer can advise you whether to take any action.
3 ~ sb (of sth) (formal) to officially tell sb sth INFORM: [VN] Please advise us of any change of address. [VN wh-] I will contact you later to advise you when to come. [VN that] I regret to advise you that the course is now full.

advisedly adv. (formal) if you say that you are using a word advisedly, you mean that you have thought carefully before choosing it

advisement noun [U] (NAmE, formal) advice: the University Advisement Center
take sth under advisement to think carefully about sth before making a decision about it: The judge has taken the matter under advisement.

adviser (also advisor) noun ~ (to sb) (on sth) a person who gives advice, especially sb who knows a lot about a particular subject: a financial adviser a special adviser to the President on education

advisory adj., noun
adj. having the role of giving professional advice: an advisory committee/body/service the Careers Advisory Service He acted in an advisory capacity only.
noun (pl. -ies) (NAmE) an official warning that sth bad is going to happen: a tornado advisory

advocaat noun [U, C] (especially BrE) a strong alcoholic drink made from eggs, sugar and BRANDY

advocacy noun [U]
1 ~ (of sth) (formal) the giving of public support to an idea, a course of action or a belief: He won the Peace Prize for his advocacy of non-violent protest.
2 (technical) the work of lawyers who speak about cases in court

advocate verb, noun
verb (formal) to support sth publicly: [VN] The group does not advocate the use of violence. [V -ing] Many experts advocate rewarding your child for good behaviour. [V that] The report advocated that all buildings be fitted with smoke detectors. (BrE also) The report advocated that all buildings should be fitted with smoke detectors. note at RECOMMEND [also VN -ing]
noun
1 ~ (of/for sth/sb) a person who supports or speaks in favour of sb or of a public plan or action: an advocate for hospital workers a staunch advocate of free speechsee also DEVIL'S ADVOCATE
2 a person who defends sb in court note at LAWYER

adze (BrE) (US adz) noun a heavy tool with a curved blade at RIGHT ANGLES to the handle, used for cutting or shaping large pieces of wood

adzuki (also adzuki bean, aduki) noun a type of small round dark red BEAN that you can eat

aegis noun
under the aegis of sb/sth (formal) with the protection or support of a particular organization or person: Medical supplies are being sent under the aegis of the Red Cross.

aeolian (BrE) (NAmE eolian) NAmE adj. (technical) connected with or caused by the action of the wind

aeon (BrE) (also eon NAmE, BrE) noun
1 (formal) an extremely long period of time; thousands of years: Only yesterdayand it seemed aeons ago, not just a few hourshe had been a happily married man.
2 (geology) a major division of time, divided into ERAS: aeons of geological history

aerate NAmE verb [VN]
1 to make it possible for air to become mixed with soil, water, etc.: Earthworms do the important job of aerating the soil.
2 to add a gas, especially CARBON DIOXIDE, to a liquid under pressure: aerated water
aeration NAmE noun [U]

aerial NAmE noun, adj.
noun (BrE) (also antenna NAmE, BrE) a piece of equipment made of wire or long straight pieces of metal for receiving or sending radio and television signals: a forest of television aerials on the roofs
adj.
1 from a plane: aerial attacks/bombardment/photography an aerial view of Palm Island Not all patterns and marks seen on aerial photographs represent archaeological sites.
2 in the air; existing above the ground: The banyan tree has aerial roots. Bees have half a dozen aerial dances to indicate where to find nectar.

aerialist NAmE noun a person who performs high above the ground on a TIGHTROPE or TRAPEZE

aerie (NAmE) = EYRIE

aero- NAmE combining form (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) connected with air or aircraft: aerodynamic aerospace

aerobatics NAmE noun [pl.] exciting and skilful movements performed in an aircraft, such as flying upside down, especially in front of an audience: a spectacular display of aerobatics by the Red Arrows
aerobatic adj.: an aerobatic display

aerobic NAmE adj.
1 (biology) needing OXYGEN: aerobic bacteria
2 (of physical exercise) especially designed to improve the function of the heart and lungs ANAEROBIC

aerobics NAmE noun [U] physical exercises intended to make the heart and lungs stronger, often done in classes, with music: to do aerobics

aerodrome NAmE (BrE) (US airdrome) noun (old-fashioned) a small airport

aerodynamics NAmE noun
1 [pl.] the qualities of an object that affect the way it moves through the air: Research has focused on improving the car's aerodynamics.
2 [U] the science that deals with how objects move through air
aerodynamic adj.: the car's aerodynamic shape (= making it able to move faster) aerodynamically adv.

aerofoil NAmE (BrE) (NAmE airfoil) noun the basic curved structure of an aircraft's wing that helps to lift it into the air

aerogramme (BrE) (NAmE aerogram) NAmE (also air letter NAmE, BrE) noun a sheet of light paper that can be folded and sent by air as a letter

aeronaut NAmE noun a traveller in a HOT-AIR BALLOON or AIRSHIP

aeronautics NAmE noun [U] the science or practice of building and flying aircraft
aeronautical adj.: an aeronautical engineer

aeroplane NAmE (BrE) (NAmE airplane) (also plane BrE, NAmE) noun a flying vehicle with wings and one or more engines

aerosol NAmE noun a metal container in which a liquid such as paint or HAIRSPRAY is kept under pressure and released as a spray: ozone-friendly aerosols an aerosol can/spray

aerospace NAmE noun [U] the industry of building aircraft and vehicles and equipment to be sent into space: jobs in aerospace and defence the aerospace industry

aerostat NAmE noun (technical) an aircraft filled with hot air, such as an AIRSHIP or HOT-AIR BALLOON

aesthete (NAmE also esthete) NAmE noun (formal, sometimes disapproving) a person who has a love and understanding of art and beautiful things

aesthetic (NAmE also esthetic) NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 concerned with beauty and art and the understanding of beautiful things: an aesthetic appreciation of the landscape The benefits of conservation are both financial and aesthetic.
2 made in an artistic way and beautiful to look at: Their furniture was more aesthetic than functional.
aesthetically (NAmE also es-) adv.: aesthetically pleasing colour combinations
noun
1 [C] the aesthetic qualities and ideas of sth: The students debated the aesthetic of the poems.
2 aesthetics [U] the branch of philosophy that studies the principles of beauty, especially in art
aestheticism (NAmE also es-) NAmE noun [U]

the Aesthetic Movement noun [sing.] a group of people in England in the 1880s who believed that art and literature had value in themselves rather than needing any moral purpose

aetiology (BrE) (NAmE etiology) NAmE noun [U] (medical) the scientific study of the causes of disease

afar adv.
from afar (literary) from a long distance away: He loved her from afar (= did not tell her he loved her). Even from afar the castle was most impressive.

afara (also limba ) noun
1 [C] a tall tree that grows in W Africa
2 [U] the wood from this tree, often used for making furniture
3 [C] (WAfrE) a bridge, usually made of wood

AFC abbr.
1 (BrE) Association Football Club: Leeds United AFC
2 (NAmE) American Football Conference (one of the two groups of teams in the NFL)
3 (BrE) Air Force Cross (an award given to members of the AIR FORCE, for being brave when flying rather than when fighting the enemy)
4 automatic frequency control (a system which allows radios and televisions to continue to receive the same signal)

affable adj. pleasant, friendly and easy to talk to GENIAL
affability noun [U] affably adv.

affair NAmE noun
PUBLIC/POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
1 affairs [pl.] events that are of public interest or political importance: world/international/business affairs an expert on foreign affairs (= political events in other countries) affairs of statesee also CURRENT AFFAIRS
EVENT
2 [C, usually sing.] an event that people are talking about or describing in a particular way: The newspapers exaggerated the whole affair wildly. The debate was a pretty disappointing affair. She wanted the celebration to be a simple family affair.
RELATIONSHIP
3 [C] a sexual relationship between two people, usually when one or both of them is married to sb else: She is having an affair with her boss. They had a passionate affair for six months.see also LOVE AFFAIR
PRIVATE BUSINESS
4 affairs [pl.] matters connected with a person's private business and financial situation: I looked after my father's financial affairs. She wanted to put her affairs in order before she died.
5 [sing.] a thing that sb is responsible for (and that other people should not be concerned with) BUSINESS: How I spend my money is my affair.
OBJECT
6 [C] (old-fashioned) (with an adjective) an object that is unusual or difficult to describe: Her hat was an amazing affair with feathers and a huge brim.
see STATE n.

affaire NAmE noun (from French, literary) a love affair

affect verb
1 [VN] [often passive] to produce a change in sb/sth: How will these changes affect us? Your opinion will not affect my decision. The south of the country was worst affected by the drought.
2 [VN] [often passive] (of a disease) to attack sb or a part of the body; to make sb become ill/sick: The condition affects one in five women. Rub the cream into the affected areas.
3 [VN] [often passive] to make sb have strong feelings of sadness, pity, etc.: They were deeply affected by the news of her death. Try not to let his problems affect you too much.
4 (formal) to pretend to be feeling or thinking sth: [VN] She affected a calmness she did not feel. [also V to inf]
5 [VN] (formal, disapproving) to use or wear sth that is intended to impress other people PUT ON: I wish he wouldn't affect that ridiculous accent.

WHICH WORD?

affect / effect

affect verb = 'to have an influence on sb/sth': Does television affect children's behaviour? It is not a noun.

effect noun = 'result, influence': Does television have an effect on children's behaviour?

effect verb is quite rare and formal and means 'to achieve or produce'. They hope to effect a reconciliation.

affectation noun [C, U] behaviour or an action that is not natural or sincere and that is often intended to impress other people: His little affectations irritated her. Kay has no affectation at all. He raised his eyebrows with an affectation of surprise (= pretending to be surprised).

affected adj. (of a person or their behaviour) not natural or sincere: an affected laugh/smile UNAFFECTED
affectedly adv.

affecting adj. (formal) producing strong feelings of sadness and sympathy

affection noun
1 [U, sing.] ~ (for sb/sth) the feeling of liking or loving sb/sth very much and caring about them: Mr Darcy's affection for his sister Children need lots of love and affection. He didn't show his wife any affection. She was held in deep affection by all her students. I have a great affection for New York.
2 affections [pl.] (formal) a person's feelings of love: Anne had two men trying to win her affections. The object of her affections was a young man named Paul.

affectionate adj. showing caring feelings and love for sb LOVING: He is very affectionate towards his children. an affectionate kiss
affectionately adv.: William was affectionately known as Billy.

affective adj. (technical) connected with emotions and attitudes: affective disorders

affidavit noun (law) a written statement that you swear is true, and that can be used as evidence in court: to make/swear/sign an affidavit

affiliate verb, noun
verb
1 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (with/to sb/sth) to link a group, a company, or an organization very closely with another larger one: The hospital is affiliated with the local university. The group is not affiliated to any political party.
2 ~ (yourself) (with sb/sth) to join, to be connected with, or to work for an organization: [VN] The majority of people questioned affiliated themselves with a religious group. The doctors are affiliated with the Relief Fund. [also V]
noun a company, an organization, etc. that is connected with or controlled by another larger one: an affiliate of the World Bank

affiliated adj. [only before noun] closely connected to or controlled by a group or an organization: All affiliated members can vote. a government-affiliated institute UNAFFILIATED

affiliation noun [U, C] (formal)
1 a person's connection with a political party, religion, etc.: He was arrested because of his political affiliation.
2 one group or organization's official connection with another: Trade unions have a long history of affiliation to the Labour Party.

affinity noun (pl. -ies) (formal)
1 [sing.] ~ (for/with sb/sth)| ~ (between A and B) a strong feeling that you understand sb/sth and like them or it RAPPORT: Sam was born in the country and had a deep affinity with nature. Humans have a special affinity for dolphins.
2 [U, C] ~ (with sb/sth)| ~ (between A and B) a close relationship between two people or things that have similar qualities, structures or features: There is a close affinity between Italian and Spanish.

affinity card noun a CREDIT CARD printed with the name of an organization, for example a charity, which receives a small amount of money each time the card is used

affinity group noun (especially NAmE) a group of people who share the same interest or purpose

affirm NAmE verb (formal) to state firmly or publicly that sth is true or that you support sth strongly CONFIRM: [VN] Both sides affirmed their commitment to the ceasefire. The decision was affirmed by the Court of Appeal. [V that] I can affirm that no one will lose their job. [also V speech]
affirmation NAmE noun [U, C]: She nodded in affirmation.

affirmative NAmE adj., noun
adj. (formal) an affirmative word or reply means 'yes' or expresses agreement: an affirmative response to the question NEGATIVE
affirmatively adv.: 90% voted affirmatively.
noun (formal) a word or statement that means 'yes'; an agreement or a CONFIRMATION: (formal) She answered in the affirmative (= said 'yes'). NEGATIVE

affirmative action noun [U] (especially NAmE) = POSITIVE DISCRIMINATION

affix verb, noun
verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sth (to sth) (formal) to stick or attach sth to sth else: The label should be firmly affixed to the package.
noun (grammar) a letter or group of letters added to the beginning or end of a word to change its meaning. The prefix un- in unhappy and the suffix -less in careless are both affixes.

afflict verb [VN] [often passive] (formal) to affect sb/sth in an unpleasant or harmful way: About 40% of the country's population is afflicted with the disease. Aid will be sent to the afflicted areas. Severe drought has afflicted the region.

affliction noun [U, C] (formal) pain and suffering or sth that causes it

affluent adj. having a lot of money and a good standard of living PROSPEROUS, WEALTHY: affluent Western countries a very affluent neighbourhood note at RICH
affluence noun [U]: The 1950s were an age of affluence in America. PROSPERITY

afford NAmE verb
1 [no passive] (usually used with can, could or be able to, especially in negative sentences or questions) to have enough money or time to be able to buy or to do sth: [VN] Can we afford a new car? None of them could afford £50 for a ticket. She felt she couldn't afford any more time off work. I'd give up work if I could afford it. [V to inf] We can't afford to go abroad this summer. She never took a taxi, even though she could afford to. [VN to inf] He couldn't afford the money to go on the trip.
2 [no passive] (usually used with can or could, especially in negative sentences and questions) if you say that you can't afford to do sth, you mean that you should not do it because it will cause problems for you if you do: [V to inf] We cannot afford to ignore this warning. (formal) They could ill afford to lose any more staff. [VN] We cannot afford any more delays.
3 (formal) to provide sb with sth: [VN] The tree affords some shelter from the sun. The legislation aims to afford protection to employees. [VNN] The programme affords young people the chance to gain work experience.
affordability NAmE noun [U] affordable NAmE adj.: affordable prices/housing note at CHEAP

afforestation NAmE noun [U] (technical) the process of planting areas of land with trees in order to form a forestcompare DEFORESTATION
afforest NAmE verb [VN] [usually passive]: Large areas are being afforested each year.

affray noun [C, usually sing., U] (law) a fight or violent behaviour in a public place: The men were charged with affray/with causing an affray.

affricate noun (phonetics) a speech sound that is made up of a PLOSIVE followed immediately by a FRICATIVE, for example and in chair and jar

affront noun, verb
noun [usually sing.] ~ (to sb/sth) a remark or an action that insults or offends sb/sth: His speech was an affront to many in the local community.
verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to insult or offend sb: He hoped they would not feel affronted if they were not invited. an affronted expression His attitude really affronted her.

Afghan coat NAmE noun (BrE) a type of coat made from the skin of a sheep, with long wool around the edges

Afghan hound noun a tall dog with long soft hair and a pointed nose

aficionado NAmE noun (pl. -os) a person who likes a particular sport, activity or subject very much and knows a lot about it: a ballet aficionado/an aficionado of ballet This coffee is regarded by aficionados as one of the world's finest.

afield adv.
far/farther/further afield far away from home; to or in places that are not near: You can hire a car if you want to explore further afield. Journalists came from as far afield as China.

aflame adj. [not before noun] (literary)
1 burning; on fire ABLAZE: The whole building was soon aflame.
2 full of bright colours and lights ABLAZE: The woods were aflame with autumn colours.
3 showing excitement or embarrassment: eyes/cheeks aflame

AFL-CIO NAmE abbr. American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. The AFL-CIO is an organization of TRADE/LABOR UNIONS.

afloat NAmE adj. [not before noun]
1 floating on water: Somehow we kept the boat afloat. He could not swim and only a life jacket kept him afloat.
2 (of a business, etc.) having enough money to pay debts; able to survive: They will have to borrow £10 million next year, just to stay afloat.

afoot adj. [not before noun] being planned; happening: There are plans afoot to increase taxation. Changes were afoot.

aforementioned NAmE (also aforesaid NAmE ) (also said) adj. [only before noun] (formal or law) mentioned before, in an earlier sentence: The aforementioned person was seen acting suspiciously. Insurance is included on all aforesaid items.

aforethought NAmE adj. see MALICE

a fortiori NAmE adv. (formal or law) (from Latin) for or with an even stronger reason

afoul adv. (NAmE)
run afoul of sth to do sth that is not allowed by a law or rule or sth that people in authority disapprove of: to run afoul of the law

afraid adj. [not before noun]
1 ~ (of sb/sth)| ~ (of doing sth)| ~ (to do sth) feeling fear; frightened because you think that you might be hurt or suffer: Don't be afraid. It's all over. There's nothing to be afraid of now. Are you afraid of spiders? I started to feel afraid of going out alone at night. She was afraid to open the door.
2 ~ of doing sth| ~ to do sth| ~ (that ... ) worried about what might happen: She was afraid of upsetting her parents. Don't be afraid to ask if you don't understand. The boy wasn't afraid to say what he believed. Tamsin was afraid of making a fool of herself. We were afraid (that) we were going to capsize the boat.
3 ~ for sb/sth worried or frightened that sth unpleasant, dangerous, etc. will happen to a particular person or thing: I'm not afraid for me, but for the baby. They had already fired three people and he was afraid for his job.
I'm afraid used as a polite way of telling sb sth that is unpleasant or disappointing, or that you are sorry about: I can't help you, I'm afraid. I'm afraid we can't come. I'm afraid that it's not finished yet. He's no better, I'm afraid to say. 'Is there any left?' 'I'm afraid not.' 'Will it hurt?' 'I'm afraid so.'

SYNONYMS

afraid

frightened scared alarmed paranoid apprehensive

All these words describe feeling or showing fear.

afraid [not before noun] feeling fear; worried that sth bad might happen: There's nothing to be afraid of. Aren't you afraid (that) you'll fall?

frightened feeling fear; worried that sth bad might happen: a frightened child She was frightened that the glass would break.

scared (rather informal) feeling fear; worried that sth bad might happen: The thieves got scared and ran away.

AFRAID, FRIGHTENED OR SCARED?

Scared is more informal, more common in speech, and often describes small fears. Afraid cannot come before a noun. It can only take the preposition of, not about. If you are afraid/frightened/scared of sb/sth/doing sth or afraid/frightened/scared to do sth, you think you are in danger of being hurt or suffering in some way. If you are frightened/scared about sth/doing sth, it is less a fear for your personal safety and more a worry that sth unpleasant might happen.

alarmed [not before noun] afraid that sth dangerous or unpleasant might happen: She was alarmed at the prospect of travelling alone.

paranoid (rather informal) afraid or suspicious of other people and believing that they are trying to harm you, in a way that is not reasonable: You're just being paranoid.

apprehensive (rather formal) slightly afraid that sth bad might happen: I was a little apprehensive about the effects of what I had said.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

Don't be afraid/frightened/scared/alarmed.

frightened/scared/paranoid/apprehensive about

afraid/frightened/scared/apprehensive that

afraid/frightened/scared of spiders, etc.

to feel/look/sound afraid/frightened/scared/alarmed/apprehensive

to get frightened/scared/paranoid

afraid/frightened/scared to open the door, etc.

A-frame (also A-frame house) noun (especially NAmE) a house with very steep sides that meet at the top in the shape of the letter A

A-frame tent noun = RIDGE TENT

afresh adv. (formal) again, especially from the beginning or with new ideas: It was a chance to start afresh.

African adj., noun
adj. of or connected with Africa
noun a person from Africa, especially a black person

African American noun a person from America who is a member of a race of people who have dark skin, originally from Africa
African American adj.

African Canadian noun a Canadian citizen whose family was originally from Africa
African Canadian adj.

African renaissance noun [sing.] a period of time when Africa will experience great development in its economy and culture. Some people believe that this started at the end of the 20th century.

African violet noun a small E African plant with heart-shaped leaves and bluish-purple, pink or white flowers

Afrikaans noun [U] a language that has developed from Dutch, spoken in South Africa

Afrikaner noun a person from South Africa, usually of Dutch origin, whose first language is Afrikaans

Afro NAmE noun (pl. -os) a HAIRSTYLE sometimes worn by black people and popular in the 1970s, in which the hair forms a round mass of tight curls

Afro- NAmE combining form (in nouns and adjectives) African: Afro-Asian

Afro-Caribbean noun a person who comes, or whose family comes, from the Caribbean and who is a member of a group of people with dark skin who originally came from Africa
Afro-Caribbean adj.

aft NAmE adv. (technical) in, near or towards the back of a ship or an aircraft: fore and aft of the cockpit
aft adj.: The ship was moored to the dock fore and aft.compare FORE

after NAmE prep., conj., adv., adj.
prep.
1 later than sth; following sth in time: We'll leave after lunch. They arrived shortly after 5. Not long after that he resigned. Let's meet the day after tomorrow/the week after next. After winning the prize she became famous overnight. After an hour I went home (= when an hour had passed). (NAmE) It's ten after seven in the morning (= 7.10 a.m.)
2 ... after ... used to show that sth happens many times or continuously: day after day of hot weather I've told you time after time not to do that.see also one after another at ONE
3 behind sb when they have left; following sb: Shut the door after you. I'm always having to clean up after the children (= clean the place after they have left it dirty and untidy). He ran after her with the book. She was left staring after him.
4 next to and following sb/sth in order or importance: Your name comes after mine in the list. He's the tallest, after Richard. After you (= Please go first). After you with the paper. (= Can I have it next?)
5 in contrast to sth: It was pleasantly cool in the house after the sticky heat outside.
6 as a result of or because of sth that has happened: I'll never forgive him after what he said.
7 despite sth; although sth has happened: I can't believe she'd do that, not after all I've done for her.
8 trying to find or catch sb/sth: The police are after him. He's after a job at our place.
9 about sb/sth: She asked after you (= how you were).
10 in the style of sb/sth; following the example of sb/sth: a painting after Goya We named the baby 'Ena' after her grandmother.
11 after- (in adjectives) happening or done later than the time or event mentioned: after-hours drinking (= after closing time) an after-school club after-dinner mints
after all
1 despite what has been said or expected: So you made it after all!
2 used when you are explaining sth, or giving a reason: He should have paid. He suggested it, after all.
be after doing sth (IrishE)
1 to be going to do sth soon; to be intending to do sth soon
2 to have just done sth
conj. at a time later than sth; when sth has finished: I'll call you after I've spoken to them. Several years after they'd split up they met again by chance in Paris.
adv. later in time; afterwards: That was in 1996. Soon after, I heard that he'd died. I could come next week, or the week after. And they all lived happily ever after.
adj. [only before noun] (old use) following; later: in after years

afterbirth NAmE noun (usually the afterbirth) [sing.] the material that comes out of a woman or female animal's body after a baby has been born, and which was necessary to feed and protect the baby PLACENTA

afterburner NAmE noun (technical) a device for increasing the power of a JET ENGINE

aftercare NAmE noun [U]
1 care or treatment given to a person who has just left hospital, prison, etc.: aftercare services
2 (BrE) service and advice that is offered by some companies to customers who have bought a car, WASHING MACHINE, etc.: When you buy one of our products you will receive details of our comprehensive aftercare package.

after-effect noun [usually pl.] the after-effects of a drug, an illness or an unpleasant event are the feelings that you experience later as a result of it

afterglow NAmE noun [usually sing.] (literary)
1 the light that is left in the sky after the sun has set: the lingering sunset which left a distinctive purple afterglow
2 a pleasant feeling after a good experience: He was basking in the afterglow of love.

after-image noun (technical) an image that your eye still sees after the thing that you were looking at is no longer there

afterlife NAmE noun [sing.] a life that some people believe exists after death: Most Christians believe in an afterlife of some sort, often referred to as heaven.

aftermath NAmE noun [usually sing.] the situation that exists as a result of an important (and usually unpleasant) event, especially a war, an accident, etc.: A lot of rebuilding took place in the aftermath of the war. the assassination of the Prime Minister and its immediate aftermath

aftermost NAmE adj. [only before noun] (technical) nearest to the STERN of a ship or the tail of an aircraft

afternoon NAmE noun [U, C] the part of the day from 12 midday until about 6 o'clock: this/yesterday/tomorrow afternoon In the afternoon they went shopping. She studies art two afternoons a week. Are you ready for this afternoon's meeting? The baby always has an afternoon nap. Come over on Sunday afternoon. Where were you on the afternoon of May 21?see also GOOD AFTERNOON

afternoons NAmE adv. during the afternoon every day: Afternoons he works at home.

afters NAmE noun [U] (BrE, informal) a sweet dish that you eat at the end of a meal: fruit salad for afterssee also DESSERT, PUDDING, SWEET n.

after-sales service noun [U] the fact of providing help to customers after they have bought a product, usually involving doing repairs that are needed or giving advice on how to use the product

aftershave NAmE noun [U, C] a liquid with a pleasant smell that men sometimes put on their faces after they shave

aftershock NAmE noun a small EARTHQUAKE that happens after a bigger one: The area suffered a series of aftershocks measuring up to 6.3 on the Richter scale.

aftersun NAmE noun [U, C] cream, etc. that you put on your skin after you have been out in the sun
aftersun adj. [only before noun]: aftersun lotion

aftertaste NAmE noun [sing.] a taste (usually an unpleasant one) that stays in your mouth after you have eaten or drunk sth

afterthought NAmE noun [usually sing.] a thing that is thought of, said or added later, and is often not carefully planned: They only invited Jack and Sarah as an afterthought.

afterwards NAmE (especially BrE) (NAmE usually afterward) adv. at a later time; after an event that has already been mentioned: Afterwards she was sorry for what she'd said. Let's go out now and eat afterwards. Shortly afterwards he met her again.

afterword NAmE noun a section at the end of a book that says sth about the main text, and may be written by a different authorcompare FOREWORD

ag exclamation (SAfrE) used when you are reacting to sth that has been said, or when you are angry or irritated by sth: Ag, don't worry about it. Ag, no man!

AgaTM noun (BrE) a type of British cooker/stove made of solid iron that is also used for heating. 'Aga saga' is a humorous name for a novel about the lives of British middle-class women, because Agas are very popular with this group.

again adv.
1 one more time; on another occasion: Could you say it again, please? When will I see you again? This must never happen again. Once again (= as had happened several times before), the train was late. I've told you again and again (= many times) not to do that. I'll have to write it all over again (= again from the beginning).
2 showing that sb/sth is in the same place or state that they were in originally: He was glad to be home again. She spends two hours a day getting to work and back again. You'll soon feel well again.
3 added to an amount that is already there: The cost is about half as much again as it was two years ago. I'd like the same again (= the same amount or the same thing).
4 used to show that a comment or fact is connected with what you have just said: And again, we must think of the cost.
5 then/there ~ used to introduce a fact or an opinion that contrasts with what you have just said: We might buy it but then again we might not.
6 used when you ask sb to tell you sth or repeat sth that you think they have told you already: What was the name again? see NOW adv., SAME pron., TIME n.

against /enst; enst/ prep. For the special uses of against in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example count against sb is in the phrasal verb section at count.
1 opposing or disagreeing with sb/sth: the fight against terrorism We're playing against the league champions next week. We were rowing against the current. That's against the law. She was forced to marry against her will. Are you for or against the death penalty? She is against seeing (= does not want to see) him. I'd advise you against doing that.
2 not to the advantage or favour of sb/sth: The evidence is against him. Her age is against her.compare FOR prep. (7)
3 close to, touching or hitting sb/sth: Put the piano there, against the wall. The rain beat against the windows.
4 in order to prevent sth from happening or to reduce the damage caused by sth: an injection against rabies They took precautions against fire. Are we insured against theft?
5 with sth in the background, as a contrast: His red clothes stood out clearly against the snow. (figurative) The love story unfolds against a background of civil war.
6 used when you are comparing two things: You must weigh the benefits against the cost. Check your receipts against the statement. What's the rate of exchange against the dollar? see AS conj., STACKED

agape^1 adj. [not before noun] (formal) if a person's mouth is agape, it is wide open, especially because they are surprised or shocked: He watched the spectacle, mouth agape.

agape^2 noun [U] (religion) Christian love rather than sexual or romantic love

agar (also agar-agar) noun a substance like jelly, used by scientists for growing CULTURES

agaric noun a type of FUNGUS with a large top, that looks like a MUSHROOM

agate noun [U, C] a hard stone with bands or areas of colour, used in jewellery

agave NAmE noun a plant that grows in hot dry areas of N and S America, with sharp points on the leaves and tall groups of flowers

agbada noun a long ROBE (= long piece of clothing) worn by men in some parts of W Africa

age noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] the number of years that a person has lived or a thing has existed: He left school at the age of 18. She needs more friends of her own age. children from 5-10 years of age Young people of all ages go there to meet. When I was your age I was already married. He started playing the piano at an early age. All ages admitted. Children over the age of 12 must pay full fare. She was beginning to feel her age (= feel that she was getting old). He was tall for his age (= taller than you would expect, considering his age). There's a big age gap between them (= a big difference in their ages). ways of calculating the age of the earth
2 [C, U] a particular period of a person's life: middle age 15 is an awkward age. He died of old age.see also THE THIRD AGE
3 [C] a particular period of history: the nuclear age the age of the computersee also BRONZE AGE, IRON AGE, NEW AGE, STONE AGE
4 [U] the state of being old: Wine improves with age. The jacket was showing signs of age. the wisdom that comes with age
5 ages [pl.] (also an age [sing.]) (informal, especially BrE) a very long time: I waited for ages. It'll probably take ages to find a parking space. Carlos left ages ago. It's been an age since we've seen them.
6 [C] (geology) a length of time which is a division of an EPOCH
be/act your age to behave in a way that is suitable for sb of your age and not as though you were much younger: Isn't it time you started acting your age?
come of age
1 when a person comes of age, they reach the age when they have an adult's legal rights and responsibilities: The money will go to the children when they come of age.see also COMING OF AGE
2 if sth comes of age, it reaches the stage of development at which people accept and value it: It was the year that concern for the environment really came of age.
look your age to seem as old as you really are and not younger or older: She doesn't look her age; I thought she was ten years younger.
under age not legally old enough to do a particular thing: It is illegal to sell cigarettes to children who are under age.see also UNDERAGEmore at ADVANCED, CERTAIN, DAY, FEEL v., GRAND adj., RIPE
verb (aging, aged, aged In BrE the present participle can also be spelled ageing.)
1 [V] to become older: As he aged, his memory got worse. The population is aging (= more people are living longer).
2 [VN] to make sb/sth look, feel or seem older: The shock has aged her. Exposure to the sun ages the skin. These photos have been artificially aged.
3 to develop in flavour over a period of time; to allow sth to do this MATURE: [V] The cheese is left to age for at least a year. [VN] The wine is aged in oak casks.

-age suffix (in nouns)
1 the action or result of: breakage
2 a state or condition of: bondage
3 a set or group of: baggage
4 an amount of: mileage
5 the cost of: postage
6 a place where: anchorage

aged adj.
1 [not before noun] of the age of: They have two children aged six and nine. volunteers aged between 25 and 40
2 (formal) very old: my aged aunt note at OLD
3 the aged noun [pl.] very old people: services for the sick and the aged

age group (also less frequent age bracket) noun people of a similar age or within a particular range of ages: men in the older age group education for the 16-18 age group Which age bracket are you? (Please tick the box).

ageing (BrE) (also aging NAmE, BrE) noun, adj.
noun [U] the process of growing old: signs of ageing skin care products which claim to halt the ageing process
adj. [usually before noun] becoming older and usually less useful, safe, healthy, etc.: ageing equipment an ageing rock star He takes care of his ageing mother.

ageism (NAmE also agism) noun [U] unfair treatment of people because they are considered too old: ageism in job advertisements
ageist adj.: ageist and sexist remarks ageist attitudes about life after 40 ageist noun

ageless adj. (literary)
1 never looking old or never seeming to grow old TIMELESS: Her beauty appeared ageless.
2 existing for ever; impossible to give an age to TIMELESS: the ageless mystery of the universe

age limit noun the oldest or youngest age at which you are allowed to do sth: the upper/lower age limit

age-long adj. [usually before noun] (formal) having existed for a very long time: age-long traditions

agency noun (pl. -ies)
1 a business or an organization that provides a particular service especially on behalf of other businesses or organizations: an advertising/employment agency You can book at your local travel agency. international aid agencies caring for refugeessee also DATING AGENCY, NEWS AGENCY, PRESS AGENCY
2 (especially NAmE) a government department that provides a particular service: the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
through the agency of (formal) as a result of the action of sb/sth: He obtained his position through the agency of an old friend.

agenda noun a list of items to be discussed at a meeting: The next item on the agenda is the publicity budget. For the government, education is now at the top of the agenda (= most important). In our company, quality is high on the agenda. Newspapers have been accused of trying to set the agenda for the government (= decide what is important).see also HIDDEN AGENDA

WHICH WORD?

agenda / diary / schedule / timetable

A book with a space for each day where you write down things that you have to do in the future is called a diary or a datebook (NAmE) (not an agenda). You may also have a calendar on your desk or hanging up in your room, where you write down your appointments. A diary or a journal is also the record that some people keep of what has happened during the day: the Diary of Anne Frank.

In BrE your schedule is a plan that lists all the work that you have to do and when you must do each thing and a timetable is a list showing the fixed times at which events will happen: a bus/train timetable. In NAmE these are both called a schedule.

agent noun
1 a person whose job is to act for, or manage the affairs of, other people in business, politics, etc.: an insurance agent Our agent in New York deals with all US sales. If you're going to rent out your house while you're abroad, you'll need someone to act as your agent here.see also ESTATE AGENT, LAND AGENT, TRAVEL AGENT
2 a person whose job is to arrange work for an actor, musician, sports player etc. or to find sb who will publish a writer's work: a theatrical/literary agentsee also PRESS AGENT
3 = SECRET AGENT: an enemy agentsee also DOUBLE AGENT, SPECIAL AGENT
4 (formal) a person or thing that has an important effect on a situation: The charity has been an agent for social change.
5 (technical) a chemical or a substance that produces an effect or a change or is used for a particular purpose: cleaning/oxidizing agents
6 (grammar) the person or thing that does an action (expressed as the subject of an active verb, or in a 'by' phrase with a passive verb) compare PATIENTsee also FREE AGENT

agent-general noun (pl. agents-general) the representative of an Australian state or Canadian PROVINCE in a foreign country

agent noun noun (grammar) a noun that refers to a person or thing that does an action, for example 'worker' or 'elevator'

Agent Orange noun [U] a chemical that destroys plants, used as a weapon by the US during the war in Vietnam

agent provocateur NAmE (also provocateur) noun (pl. agents provocateurs NAmE ) (from French) a person who is employed by a government to encourage people in political groups to do sth illegal so that they can be arrested

age of consent noun [sing.] the age at which sb is legally old enough to agree to have a sexual relationship

age-old adj. [usually before noun] having existed for a very long time: an age-old custom/problem

age-set noun (EAfrE) a group of boys or men of a similar age

agglomerate verb, noun, adj. (formal)
verb NAmE to form into a mass or group; to collect things and form them into a mass or group: [V] These small particles agglomerate together to form larger clusters. [VN] They agglomerated many small pieces of research into a single large study.
noun NAmE a mass or collection of things: a multimedia agglomerate (= group of companies)
adj. NAmE formed into a mass or group

agglomeration NAmE noun [C, U] (formal) a group of things put together in no particular order or arrangement: an ugly agglomeration of buildings

agglutinative adj. (linguistics) = SYNTHETIC

aggrandizement (BrE also -isement) noun [U] (formal, disapproving) an increase in the power or importance of a person or country: Her sole aim is personal aggrandizement. He was a strong and greedy monarch who pursued a course of military aggrandizement from the beginning of his reign.

aggravate verb [VN]
1 to make an illness or a bad or unpleasant situation worse WORSEN: Pollution can aggravate asthma. Military intervention will only aggravate the conflict even further.
2 (informal) to annoy sb, especially deliberately IRRITATE
aggravating adj.: aggravating circumstances/factors Her constant interruptions were very aggravating. aggravation noun [U, C]: The drug may cause an aggravation of the condition. I don't need all this aggravation at work.

aggravated adj. [only before noun] (law) an aggravated crime involves further unnecessary violence or unpleasant behaviour: aggravated assault/burglary

aggregate noun, adj., verb
noun
1 [C] a total number or amount made up of smaller amounts that are collected together: a record aggregate of 285 points The three smaller parties gained an aggregate of 25 per cent of the vote.
2 [U, C] (technical) sand or broken stone that is used to make concrete or for building roads, etc.
in (the) aggregate (formal) added together as a total or single amount: Businesses are, in the aggregate, deeper in debt than ever before.
on aggregate (BrE, sport) when the scores of a number of games are added together: They won 4-2 on aggregate.
adj. [only before noun] (economics or sport) made up of several amounts that are added together to form a total number: aggregate demand/investment/turnover an aggregate win over their rivals
verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (with sth) (formal or technical) to put together different items, amounts, etc. into a single group or total: The scores were aggregated with the first round totals to decide the winner.
aggregation noun [U, C]: the aggregation of data

aggregator noun (computing) an Internet company that collects information about other companies' products and services and puts it on a single website: a news aggregator

aggression noun [U]
1 feelings of anger and hatred that may result in threatening or violent behaviour: The research shows that computer games may cause aggression. Nowadays our aggression is channelled into sports.
2 a violent attack or threats by one person against another person or by one country against another country: unprovoked military aggression

aggressive adj.
1 angry, and behaving in a threatening way; ready to attack: He gets aggressive when he's drunk. a dangerous aggressive dog
2 acting with force and determination in order to succeed: an aggressive advertising campaign A good salesperson has to be aggressive in today's competitive market.
aggressively adv.: 'What do you want?' he demanded aggressively. aggressively marketed products aggressiveness noun [U]

aggressor noun a person, country, etc. that attacks first: They are seen as the aggressors in the civil war.

aggrieved adj.
1 ~ (at/by sth) feeling that you have been treated unfairly: He had every right to feel aggrieved at the decision.
2 (law) suffering unfair or illegal treatment and making a complaint: the aggrieved party (= person) in the case

aggro NAmE noun [U] (BrE, informal)
1 violent aggressive behaviour: Don't give me any aggro or I'll call the police.
2 problems and difficulties that are annoying: I had a lot of aggro at the bank.

aghast NAmE adj. [not before noun] ~ (at sth) filled with horror and surprise when you see or hear sth HORRIFIED: Erica looked at him aghast. He stood aghast at the sight of so much blood.

agile NAmE adj.
1 able to move quickly and easily NIMBLE: a strong and agile athlete
2 able to think quickly and in an intelligent way: an agile mind/brain
agility noun [U]: He had the agility of a man half his age.

aging, agism = AGEING, AGEISM

agitate verb
1 ~ (for/against sth) to argue strongly for sth you want, especially for changes in a law, in social conditions, etc. CAMPAIGN: [V] political groups agitating for social change [V to inf] Her family are agitating to have her transferred to a prison in the UK.
2 [VN] to make sb feel angry, anxious or nervous: This remark seemed to agitate her guest.
3 [VN] (technical) to make sth, especially a liquid, move around by stirring or shaking it: Agitate the mixture to dissolve the powder.

agitated adj. showing in your behaviour that you are anxious and nervous: Calm down! Don't get so agitated.

agitation noun
1 [U] worry and anxiety that you show by behaving in a nervous way: Dot arrived in a state of great agitation.
2 [U, C] ~ (for/against sth) public protest in order to achieve political change: widespread agitation for social reform
3 [U] (technical) the act of stirring or shaking a liquid

agitato NAmE adj., adv. (music) (used as an instruction) in a quick and excited or nervous way

agitator noun (disapproving) a person who tries to persuade people to take part in political protest: a known agitator and troublemaker

agitprop NAmE noun [U] the use of art, films/movies, music, etc. to spread LEFT-WING political ideas

agleam adj. [not before noun] (literary) shining brightly: His skin was agleam with sweat.

aglow NAmE adj. [not before noun] (literary) shining with warmth and colour or happiness: Christmas trees aglow with lights children's faces all aglow

AGM abbr. (BrE) the abbreviation for 'annual general meeting' (an important meeting which the members of an organization hold once a year in order to elect officers, discuss past and future activities and examine the accounts)

agnosia NAmE noun [U] (medical) the lack of the ability to recognize things and people

agnostic NAmE noun a person who believes that it is not possible to know whether God exists or notcompare ATHEIST
agnostic adj. agnosticism NAmE noun [U]

ago NAmE adv. used in expressions of time with the simple past tense to show how far in the past sth happened: two weeks/months/years ago The letter came a few days ago. She was here just a minute ago. a short/long time ago How long ago did you buy it? It was on TV not (so) long ago. He stopped working some time ago (= quite a long time ago). They're getting married? It's not that long ago (= it's only a short time ago) that they met!

agog NAmE adj. [not before noun] excited and very interested to find out sth: We were all agog with curiosity.

a gogo NAmE adj. [after noun] (informal) in large quantities: There's jazz a gogo on our website. GALORE

agogo NAmE noun (pl. -os) a musical instrument used in Latin and African music consisting of two or more joined metal CONES that are played by hitting them with a piece of wood

agonize (BrE also -ise) verb [V] ~ (over/about sth) to spend a long time thinking and worrying about a difficult situation or problem: I spent days agonizing over whether to take the job or not.

agonized (BrE also -ised) adj. suffering or expressing severe pain or anxiety: agonized cries After five months of agonized debate they signed the treaty.

agonizing (BrE also -ising) adj. causing great pain, anxiety or difficulty: his father's agonizing death It was the most agonizing decision of her life.

agonizingly (BrE also -isingly) adv. used meaning 'extremely' to emphasize sth negative: an agonizingly slow process

agony noun (pl. -ies) [U, C] extreme physical or mental pain: Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. It was agony not knowing where the children were. She waited in an agony of suspense. The worst agonies of the war were now beginning. Tell me now! Don't prolong the agony (= make it last longer). It is inhuman to keep a man facing the agony of execution for so long. see PILE v.

agony aunt (BrE) (NAmE advice columnist) noun a person who writes in a newspaper or magazine giving advice in reply to people's letters about their personal problemscompare AGONY UNCLE

agony column (BrE) (NAmE advice column) noun part of a newspaper or magazine in which sb gives advice to readers who have sent letters about their personal problems

agony uncle noun (BrE) (NAmE advice columnist) a man who writes in a newspaper or magazine giving advice in reply to people's letters about their personal problemscompare AGONY AUNT

agora NAmE noun (pl. agorae or agoras) in ancient Greece, an open space used for markets and public meetings

agoraphobia NAmE noun [U] (technical) a fear of being in public places where there are many other people: She had agoraphobia and never wanted to go out of the house.compare CLAUSTROPHOBIA

agoraphobic NAmE noun a person who suffers from agoraphobia
agoraphobic adj.

agraphia noun [U] (medical) a medical condition in which a person loses the ability to write

agrarian NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (technical) connected with farming and the use of land for farming

agrarian revolution noun [sing.] (often the Agrarian Revolution) a period when farming in a country changes completely as a result of new methods or a change in who owns the land

agree verb
SHARE OPINION
1 ~ (with sb) (about/on sth)| ~ (with sth) to have the same opinion as sb; to say that you have the same opinion: [V] When he said that, I had to agree. He agreed with them about the need for change. I agree with her analysis of the situation. 'It's terrible.' 'I couldn't agree more (= I completely agree)!' [V (that)] We agreed (that) the proposal was a good one. [V speech] 'That's true', she agreed. DISAGREE
2 be agreed (on/about sth)| be agreed (that ... ) if people are agreed or sth is agreed, everyone has the same opinion about sth: [VN] Are we all agreed on this? [VN (that)] It was agreed (that) we should hold another meeting.
SAY YES
3 ~ (to sth) to say 'yes'; to say that you will do what sb wants or that you will allow sth to happen: [V] I asked for a pay rise and she agreed. Do you think he'll agree to their proposal? [V (that)] She agreed (that) I could go early. [V to inf] She agreed to let me go early.
DECIDE
4 to decide with sb else to do sth or to have sth: [VN] They met at the agreed time. Can we agree a price? They left at ten, as agreed. [V] Can we agree on a date? [V to inf] We agreed to meet on Thursday. [V wh-] We couldn't agree what to do.
ACCEPT
5 [VN] to officially accept a plan, request, etc. APPROVE: Next year's budget has been agreed.
BE THE SAME
6 [V] ~ (with sth) to be the same as sth TALLY: The figures do not agree. Your account of the accident does not agree with hers. DISAGREE
GRAMMAR
7 [V] ~ (with sth) to match a word or phrase in NUMBER, GENDER or PERSON: In 'Tom likes jazz', the singular verb 'likes' agrees with the subject 'Tom'.
agree to differ if two people agree to differ, they accept that they have different opinions about sth, but they decide not to discuss it any longer: We must just agree to differ on this.
not agree with sb (of food) to make you feel ill/sick: I love strawberries, but they don't agree with me.

SYNONYMS

agree

approve consent acquiesce

These words all mean to say that you will do what sb wants or that you will allow sth to happen.

agree to say that you will do what sb wants or that you will allow sth to happen: He agreed to let me go early.

approve to officially agree to a plan, suggestion or request: The committee unanimously approved the plan.

consent (rather formal) to agree to sth or give your permission for sth: She finally consented to answer our questions.

acquiesce (formal) to accept sth without arguing, even if you do not really agree with it: Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to agree/consent to sth

to agree/consent to do sth

to be prepared/willing/unwilling/forced to agree/approve/consent/acquiesce

to refuse to agree/approve/consent/acquiesce

to agree to/approve/consent to a request

to agree to a demand

to readily agree to/approve/consent to/acquiesce in sth

to reluctantly agree to/approve/consent to/acquiesce in sth

agreeable adj. (formal)
1 pleasant and easy to like: We spent a most agreeable day together. He seemed extremely agreeable. DISAGREEABLE
2 [not before noun] ~ (to sth) willing to do sth or allow sth: Do you think they will be agreeable to our proposal?
3 ~ (to sb) able to be accepted by sb: The deal must be agreeable to both sides.

agreeably adv. (formal) in a pleasant, nice way: an agreeably warm day They were agreeably surprised by the quality of the food. They chatted agreeably while waiting.

agreement noun
1 [C] ~ (with sb)| ~ (between A and B) an arrangement, a promise or a contract made with sb: an international peace agreement The agreement (= the document recording the agreement) was signed during a meeting at the UN. An agreement was finally reached between management and employees. They had made a verbal agreement to sell. They had an agreement never to talk about work at home.see also GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT, PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT
2 [U] the state of sharing the same opinion or feeling: Are we in agreement about the price? The two sides failed to reach agreement. DISAGREEMENT
3 [U] the fact of sb approving of sth and allowing it to happen: You'll have to get your parents' agreement if you want to go on the trip.
4 [U] ~ (with sth) (grammar) (of words in a phrase) the state of having the same NUMBER, GENDER or PERSON CONCORD: In the sentence 'They live in the country', the plural form of the verb 'live' is in agreement with the plural subject 'they'.

agri- AGRO-

agribusiness noun [U, C] (technical) an industry concerned with the production and sale of farm products, especially involving large companies

agriculturalist noun an expert in agriculture who gives advice to farmers

agriculture noun [U] the science or practice of farming: The number of people employed in agriculture has fallen in the last decade.
agricultural adj.: agricultural policy/land/production/development

agritourism NAmE noun [U] holidays/vacations in which tourists visiting a country stay with local people who live in the countryside

agro- NAmE (also agri- ) combining form (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) connected with farming: agro-industry agriculture

agrochemical NAmE noun any chemical used in farming, especially for killing insects or for making plants grow better: the impact of agrochemicals on the environment

agroforestry NAmE noun [U] farming that includes growing trees to produce wood

agro-industry noun [U] industry connected with farming
agro-industrial adj.

agronomist NAmE noun a scientist who studies the relationship between crops and the environment
agronomy noun [U]

aground adv. if a ship runs/goes aground, it touches the ground in shallow water and cannot move: The oil tanker ran/went aground off the Spanish coast.
aground adj. [not before noun]: They plan to refloat the ship now aground on the island of Stroma.

ague noun [U] (old-fashioned) a disease such as MALARIA that causes fever and SHIVERING (= shaking of the body)

AH (BrE) (US A.H.) abbr. used in the Muslim CALENDAR to show a particular number of years since the year when Muhammad left Mecca in AD 622 (from Latin 'Anno Hegirae'): a Koran dated 556 AHcompare AD, BC, BCE, CE

ah exclamation used to express surprise, pleasure, admiration or sympathy, or when you disagree with sb: Ah, there you are. Ah, this coffee is good. Ah well, better luck next time. Ah, but that may not be true.

aha exclamation used when you are expressing pleasure that you have understood sth or found sth out: Aha! So that's where I left it!

ahchoo exclamation = ATISHOO

ahead adv. For the special uses of ahead in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example press ahead (with sth) is in the phrasal verb section at press.
1 further forward in space or time; in front: I'll run ahead and warn them. The road ahead was blocked. We've got a lot of hard work ahead. This will create problems in the months ahead. He was looking straight ahead (= straight forward, in front of him).
2 earlier IN ADVANCE: The party was planned weeks ahead.
3 winning; further advanced: Our team was ahead by six points. You need to work hard to keep ahead.

ahead of prep.
1 further forward in space or time than sb/sth; in front of sb/sth: Two boys were ahead of us. Ahead of us lay ten days of intensive training.
2 earlier than sb/sth: I finished several days ahead of the deadline.
3 further advanced than sb/sth; in front of sb, for example in a race or competition: She was always well ahead of the rest of the class. His ideas were way ahead of his time.

ahem exclamation used in writing to show the sound of a short cough made by sb who is trying to get attention or to say sth that is difficult or embarrassing: Ahem, can I make a suggestion?

ahistorical NAmE adj. (formal) not showing any knowledge of history or of what has happened before

-aholic NAmE suffix (in nouns) liking sth very much and unable to stop doing or using it: a shopaholic a chocaholic

ahoy exclamation used by people in boats to attract attention: Ahoy there! Ship ahoy! (= there is a ship in sight)

AI abbr.
1 ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION: AID or artificial insemination by a donor
2 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

aid noun, verb
noun
1 [U] money, food, etc. that is sent to help countries in difficult situations: economic/humanitarian/emergency aid An extra £10 million in foreign aid has been promised. aid agencies (= organizations that provide help) medical aid programmessee also FINANCIAL AID, LEGAL AID
2 [U] help that you need to perform a particular task: He was breathing only with the aid of a ventilator. This job would be impossible without the aid of a computer.
3 [U] (formal) help that is given to a person: One of the staff saw he was in difficulty and came to his aid (= helped him).see also FIRST AID
4 [C] an object, a machine, etc. that you use to help you do sth: a hearing aid Photos make useful teaching aids.
in aid of sth/sb (BrE) in order to help sb/sth: collecting money in aid of charity
what's ... in aid of? (BrE) used to ask why sth is happening: What's all this crying in aid of?
verb~ (sb/sth) (in sth/in doing sth)| ~ sb (with sth) (formal) to help sb/sth to do sth, especially by making it easier ASSIST: [V] The new test should aid in the early detection of the disease. [VN] This feature is designed to aid inexperienced users. They were accused of aiding his escape. They were accused of aiding him in his escape. Aided by heat and strong winds, the fire quickly spread. Some perfumes aid restful sleep. [also VN to inf]
aid and abet (law) to help sb to do sth illegal or wrong: She stands accused of aiding and abetting the crime.

aid climbing (also aiding) noun [U] the sport of climbing steep rock surfaces with a lot of equipment to help youcompare FREE CLIMBING

aide noun a person who helps another person, especially a politician, in their job: White House aides

aide-de-camp NAmE noun (pl. aides-de-camp NAmE ) (abbr. ADC) an officer in the army or navy who helps a more senior officer

aide-memoire noun (from French) (pl. aides-memoire, aides-memoires) a thing, especially a book or document, that helps you to remember sth

aiding noun [U] = AID CLIMBING

AIDS (BrE usually Aids) noun [U] the abbreviation for 'Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome' (an illness which attacks the body's ability to resist infection and which usually causes death): AIDS research/education/victims He developed full-blown AIDS five years after contracting HIV.

aikido NAmE noun [U] (from Japanese) a Japanese system of fighting in which you hold and throw your opponent

ail verb [VN]
1 (formal) to cause problems for sb/sth: They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry.
2 (old use) to make sb ill/sick: What is ailing you?

aileron NAmE noun (technical) a part of the wing of a plane that moves up and down to control the plane's balance

ailing adj. (formal)
1 ill/sick and not improving: She looked after her ailing father.
2 (of a business, government, etc.) having problems and getting weaker: measures to help the ailing economy A new art gallery will give a boost to this ailing industrial city.

ailment noun an illness that is not very serious: childhood/common/minor ailments note at DISEASE

aim noun, verb
noun
1 [C] the purpose of doing sth; what sb is trying to achieve: the aims of the lesson She went to London with the aim of finding a job. Our main aim is to increase sales in Europe. Bob's one aim in life is to earn a lot of money. Teamwork is required in order to achieve these aims. She set out the company's aims and objectives in her speech. note at PURPOSE
2 [U] the action or skill of pointing a weapon at sb/sth: Her aim was good and she hit the lion with her first shot. The gunman took aim (= pointed his weapon) and fired.
take aim at sb/sth (NAmE) to direct your criticism at sb/sth
verb
1 ~ (at doing sth)| ~ (at/for sth) to try or plan to achieve sth: [V] The government is aiming at a 50% reduction in unemployment. They're aiming at training everybody by the end of the year. We should aim for a bigger share of the market. He has always aimed high (= tried to achieve a lot). [V to inf] They are aiming to reduce unemployment by 50%. We aim to be there around six.
2 [VN] be aimed at to have sth as an aim: These measures are aimed at preventing violent crime.
3 ~ (sth) (at sb/sth)| ~ (for sb/sth) to point or direct a weapon, a shot, a kick, etc. at sb/sth: [V] I was aiming at the tree but hit the car by mistake. Aim for the middle of the target. [VN] The gun was aimed at her head.
4 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth at sb to say or do sth that is intended to influence or affect a particular person or group: The book is aimed at very young children. My criticism wasn't aimed at you.

aimless adj. having no direction or plan: My life seemed aimless.
aimlessly adv.: He drifted aimlessly from one job to another. aimlessness noun [U]: He worried about his son's aimlessness and lack of ambition.

ain't short form (non-standard or humorous)
1 am not/is not/are not: Things ain't what they used to be.
2 has not/have not: I ain't got no money. You ain't seen nothing yet.
if it ain't broke, don't fix it (informal) used to say that if sth works well enough, it should not be changed

aioli NAmE noun [U] (from French) a thick cold sauce made of MAYONNAISE and GARLIC

air NAmE noun, verb
noun
GAS
1 [U] the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth and that we breathe: air pollution Let's go out for some fresh air. I need to put some air in my tyres. currents of warm air whales coming up for air (= in order to breathe) The act lays down a minimum standard for air quality. note at OUTSIDE
SPACE
2 [U] (usually the air) the space above the ground or that is around things: I kicked the ball high in/into the air. Spicy smells wafted through the air. Music filled the night air.see also OPEN AIR
FOR PLANES
3 [U] the space above the earth where planes fly: It only takes three hours by air (= in a plane). air travel/traffic The temple was clearly visible from the air. A surprise air attack (= from aircraft) was launched at night.
IMPRESSION
4 [sing.] the particular feeling or impression that is given by sb/sth; the way sb does sth: The room had an air of luxury. She looked at him with a defiant air. There was an air of complete confidence about her.
TUNE
5 [C] (old-fashioned) (often used in the title of a piece of music) a tune: Bach's Air on a G string
BEHAVIOUR
6 airs [pl.] (disapproving) a way of behaving that shows that sb thinks that they are more important, etc. than they really are: I hate the way she puts on airs.
airs and graces (BrE, disapproving) a way of behaving that shows that sb thinks that they are more important, etc. than they really are AIRS: Even when he became a star he didn't have any airs and graces.
float/walk on air to feel very happy: Most couples feel they are walking on air on their wedding day.
in the air felt by a number of people to exist or to be happening: There's romance in the air.
on/off (the) air broadcasting or not broadcasting on television or radio: We will be back on air tomorrow morning at 7. The programme was taken off the air over the summer.
up in the air not yet decided: Our travel plans are still up in the air.more at BREATH, CASTLE, CLEAR v., NOSE n., PLUCK v., THIN adj.
verb
CLOTHES
1 (especially BrE) to put clothing, etc. in a place that is warm or has plenty of air so that it dries completely and smells fresh; to be left to dry somewhere: [VN] Air the sheets well. [V] Leave the towels out to air.
A ROOM
2 (BrE) (NAmE air (sth) out) to allow fresh air into a room or a building; to be filled with fresh air: [VN] The rooms had all been cleaned and aired. Leave the window open to air the room. [also V]
OPINIONS
3 [VN] to express your opinions publicly VOICE: The weekly meeting enables employees to air their grievances.
RADIO/TV PROGRAMME
4 (especially NAmE) to broadcast a programme on the radio or on television; to be broadcast: [VN] The show will be aired next Tuesday night. [V] The program aired last week.
air out| air sthout (NAmE) = AIR (2)

airbag NAmE noun a safety device in a car that fills with air if there is an accident, to protect the people in the car

airbase NAmE noun a place where military aircraft fly from and are kept, and where some staff live

air bed (BrE) (also air mattress NAmE, BrE) noun a large plastic or rubber bag that can be filled with air and used as a bed: You can sleep on the air bed. She was lying on an air bed in the swimming pool.

airborne NAmE adj.
1 [not before noun] (of a plane or passengers) in the air: Do not leave your seat until the plane is airborne.
2 [only before noun] carried through the air: airborne seeds/virusescompare WATERBORNE
3 [only before noun] (of soldiers) trained to jump out of aircraft onto enemy land in order to fight: an airborne division

air brake noun a BRAKE in a vehicle that is worked by air pressure

air bridge (BrE) (NAmE jetway) noun a bridge that can be moved and put against the door of an aircraft, so people can get on and off

airbrush NAmE noun, verb
noun an artist's tool for spraying paint onto a surface, that works by air pressure
verb [VN] ~ sth (out) to paint sth with an airbrush; to change a detail in a photograph with an airbrush: an airbrushed photograph of a model Somebody had been airbrushed out of the picture.

AirbusTM NAmE noun a large plane that carries passengers over short and medium distances

air chief marshal noun an officer of very high rank in the British AIR FORCE: Air Chief Marshal Sir Robin Hall

air commodore noun an officer of high rank in the British AIR FORCE: Air Commodore Peter Shaw

air conditioner noun a machine that cools and dries air

air conditioning (also air con) noun [U] (abbr. AC, a/c) a system that cools and dries the air in a building or car: Is the air conditioning on?
air-conditioned adj.: air-conditioned offices The restaurant is fully air-conditioned.

air-cooled adj. made cool by a current of air: an air-cooled engine

air corridor noun an area in the sky that aircraft must stay inside when they fly over a country

air cover noun [U] protection which aircraft give to soldiers and military vehicles on the land or sea

aircraft NAmE noun (pl. aircraft) any vehicle that can fly and carry goods or passengers: fighter/transport/military aircraftsee also LIGHT AIRCRAFT

aircraft carrier noun a large ship that carries aircraft which use it as a base to land on and take off from

aircraftman NAmE , aircraftwoman NAmE noun (pl. -men , -women ) the lowest rank in the British AIR FORCE: Aircraftman John Green

aircrew NAmE noun [C+sing./pl. v.] the pilot and other people who fly a plane, especially in the air force: RAF aircrew training Not all the aircrew who flew that night returned.

air-dash verb [V + adv. / prep.] (IndE, informal) (especially of officials) to go somewhere by plane suddenly and/or quickly: The minister air-dashed to Delhi because of the parliamentary crisis.

airdrome NAmE noun (US) = AERODROME

airdrop NAmE noun the act of dropping supplies, soldiers, etc. from an aircraft by PARACHUTE: The UN has begun making airdrops of food to refugees.
airdrop verb (-pp-) [VN]

air-dry verb to dry sth using the air; to become dry in the air: [VN] air-dried ham [also V]

Airedale NAmE noun a large TERRIER (= type of dog) with rough black and brown hair

airer NAmE noun (BrE) a frame for drying clothes on

airfare NAmE noun the money that you pay to travel by plane: Take advantage of low-season airfares.

airfield NAmE noun an area of flat ground where military or private planes can take off and land

airflow NAmE noun [U] the flow of air around a moving aircraft or vehicle

airfoil NAmE noun (NAmE) = AEROFOIL

air force noun [C+sing./pl. v.] the part of a country's armed forces that fights using aircraft: the US Air Force air-force officers

Air Force One noun the name given to a special aircraft in the US AIR FORCE when the US President is using it

airfreight NAmE noun [U] goods that are transported by aircraft; the system of transporting goods by aircraft
airfreight verb [VN]

air freshener noun [C, U] a substance or device for making a place smell more pleasant

air guitar noun [C, U] used to describe a person playing an imaginary electric GUITAR, especially while listening to ROCK music: Whenever he hears this music, he starts playing air guitar.

air gun (also air rifle) noun a gun that uses air pressure to fire small metal balls (called PELLETS)

airhead NAmE noun (informal, disapproving) a stupid person: She's a total airhead!

air hostess noun (BrE, old-fashioned) a female FLIGHT ATTENDANT

airily NAmE adv. (formal) in a way that shows that you are not worried or that you are not treating sth as serious: 'There's nothing wrong with him,' she said airily.

airing NAmE noun [sing.]
1 the expression or discussion of opinions in front of a group of people: an opportunity to give your views an airing The subject got a thorough airing in the British press.
2 the act of allowing warm air to make clothes, beds, etc. fresh and dry: to give the sheets/blankets/clothes an airing Open the windows and give the house a good airing.

airing cupboard noun (BrE) a warm cupboard in which clean sheets, clothes, etc. are put to make sure they are completely dry

air kiss noun a way of saying hello or goodbye to sb by kissing them near the side of their face but not actually touching them
air-kiss verb [V, VN]

air lane noun a route regularly used by aircraft

airless NAmE adj. not having any fresh or moving air or wind, and therefore unpleasant: a stuffy, airless room The night was hot and airless.

air letter noun = AEROGRAMME

airlift NAmE noun, verb
noun an operation to take people, soldiers, food, etc. to or from an area by plane, especially in an emergency or when roads are closed or dangerous: an airlift of food and medical supplies to the besieged city
verb [VN] to take sb/sth to or from an area by plane, especially in an emergency or when roads are closed or dangerous: Two casualties were airlifted to safety. Over 200 residents were airlifted off the island.compare SEALIFT

airline NAmE noun [C+sing./pl. v.] a company that provides regular flights to take passengers and goods to different places: international airlines an airline pilot

airliner NAmE noun a large plane that carries passengers

airlock NAmE noun
1 a small room with a tightly closed door at each end, which you go through to reach another area at a different air pressure, for example on a SPACECRAFT or SUBMARINE
2 a bubble of air that blocks the flow of liquid in a PUMP or pipe

airmail NAmE noun [U] the system of sending letters, etc. by air: Send it airmail/by airmail. an airmail envelope/letter

airman NAmE , airwoman NAmE noun (pl. -men , -women )
1 a member of the British AIR FORCE, especially one below the rank of an officer
2 a member of one of the lowest ranks in the US AIR FORCE: Airman Brines

air marshal noun
1 an officer of very high rank in the British AIR FORCE: Air Marshal Gordon Black
2 an armed guard who is employed by an AIRLINE to travel on a plane with the passengers in order to protect the plane from TERRORISTS

air mattress noun (especially NAmE) = AIR BED

Air MilesTMnoun [pl.] points that you collect by buying plane tickets and other products, which you can then use to pay for air travel

airmiss NAmE noun (BrE) an occasion when two or more aircraft fly too close to one another and a crash nearly happens

air officer noun any one of the most senior officers in the British AIR FORCE

air pistol noun a small gun that uses air pressure to fire small metal balls (called PELLETS)

airplane NAmE noun (NAmE) = PLANE: They arrived in Belgium by airplane. an airplane crash/flight a commercial/jet/military airplane

air plant noun an American plant whose leaves take in water and food from the water or air around it, rather than having roots in the soil

airplay NAmE noun [U] time that is spent broadcasting a particular record, performer, or type of music on the radio: The band is starting to get a lot of airplay.

air pocket noun
1 a closed area that becomes filled with air: Make sure there are no air pockets around the roots of the plant.
2 an area of low air pressure that makes a plane suddenly drop while flying: The plane hit an air pocket.

airport NAmE noun a place where planes land and take off and that has buildings for passengers to wait in: Gatwick Airport waiting in the airport lounge

airport fiction noun [U] novels that are popular and easy to read, often bought by people at airports

air power noun [U] military forces involving aircraft

air pump noun a piece of equipment for sending air into or out of sth: an air pump used to filter water in a fish tank

air quality noun [U] the degree to which the air is clean and free from pollution

air quotes noun [pl.] imaginary quotation marks made in the air with your fingers when you are speaking, to show that you are using a word or phrase in an unusual way

air raid noun an attack by a number of aircraft dropping many bombs on a place: The family was killed in an air raid. an air-raid shelter/warning

air rifle noun = AIR GUN

air-sea rescue noun [C, U] (especially BrE) the process of rescuing people from the sea using aircraft: an air-sea rescue helicopter

airship NAmE noun a large aircraft without wings, filled with a gas which is lighter than air, and driven by engines

air show noun a show at which people can watch aircraft flying

airsick NAmE adj. [not usually before noun] feeling ill/sick when you are travelling on an aircraft
airsickness noun [U]

airspace NAmE noun [U] the part of the sky where planes fly, usually the part above a particular country that is legally controlled by that country: The airspace over Europe is becoming more and more crowded. The jet entered Chinese airspace without permission.

airspeed NAmE noun the speed of an aircraft relative to the air through which it is movingcompare GROUND SPEED

airstream NAmE noun a movement of air, especially a strong one

air strike noun an attack made by aircraft

airstrip NAmE (also landing strip) noun a narrow piece of cleared land that an aircraft can land on

air support noun [U] help which aircraft give to soldiers and military vehicles on the land or sea

air terminal noun
1 a building at an airport that provides services for passengers travelling by plane
2 (BrE) an office in a city from which passengers can catch buses to the airport

airtight NAmE adj. not allowing air to get in or out: Store the cake in an airtight container. (figurative) an airtight alibi (= one that cannot be proved to be false)

airtime NAmE noun [U]
1 the amount of time that is given to a particular subject on radio or television: Celebrities and politicians vie for prime-time television and radio airtime. They are calling for more airtime for Jazz.
2 the amount of time that is paid for when you are using a mobile phone/cellphone: This deal gives you 180 minutes free airtime a month.

air-to-air adj. [usually before noun] from one aircraft to another while they are both flying: an air-to-air missile

air-to-ground adj. [usually before noun] directed or operating from an aircraft to the surface of the land: air-to-ground weapons

air-to-surface adj. [usually before noun] moving or passing from a flying aircraft to the surface of the sea or land: air-to-surface missiles

air traffic control noun [U]
1 the activity of giving instructions by radio to pilots of aircraft so that they know when and where to take off or land: air traffic control systems
2 the group of people or the organization that provides an air traffic control service: The pilot was given clearance to land by air traffic control.

air traffic controller noun a person whose job is to give instructions by radio to pilots of aircraft so that they know when and where to take off or land

air vice-marshal noun an officer of very high rank in the British AIR FORCE: Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Burns

airwaves NAmE noun [pl.] radio waves that are used in broadcasting radio and television: More and more TV and radio stations are crowding the airwaves. A well-known voice came over the airwaves.

airway NAmE noun
1 (medical) the passage from the nose and throat to the lungs, through which you breathe: Prevent the tongue falling back and obstructing the airway.
2 (often used in names of AIRLINES) a route regularly used by planes: British Airways

airworthy NAmE adj. (of aircraft) safe to fly
airworthiness noun [U]

airy NAmE adj.
1 with plenty of fresh air because there is a lot of space: The office was light and airy.
2 (formal) acting or done in a way that shows that you are not worried or that you are not treating sth as serious: He dismissed her with an airy wave.see also AIRILY
3 (formal, disapproving) not serious or practical: airy promises/speculation

airy-fairy adj. (BrE, informal, disapproving) not clear or practical

aisle noun a passage between rows of seats in a church, theatre, train, etc., or between rows of shelves in a supermarket: an aisle seat (= in a plane) Coffee and tea are in the next aisle.compare GANGWAY
go/walk down the aisle (informal) to get marriedmore at ROLL v.

aitch noun the letter H written as a word: He spoke with a cockney accent and dropped his aitches (= did not pronounce the letter H at the start of words).

ajar adj. [not before noun] (of a door) slightly open: I'll leave the door ajar.

aka abbr. also known as: Antonio Fratelli, aka 'Big Tony'

akimbo NAmE adv.
(with) arms akimbo with your hands on your hips and your elbows pointing away from your body

akin adj. ~ to sth (formal) similar to: What he felt was more akin to pity than love.

akinesia noun [U] (medical) lack of the ability to make your body move
akinetic adj.

-al suffix
1 (in adjectives) connected with: magical verbalsee also -ALLY
2 (in nouns) a process or state of: survival

à la / l/ prep. (from French) in the same style as sb/sth else: a new band that sings à la Beatles

alabaster NAmE noun [U] a type of white stone that is often used to make statues and decorative objects: an alabaster tomb (literary) her pale, alabaster (= white and smooth) skin

à la carte NAmE adj., adv. (from French) if food in a restaurant is à la carte, or if you eat à la carte, you choose from a list of dishes that have separate prices, rather than having a complete meal at a fixed price: There is an excellent à la carte restaurant for hotel residents. It was more expensive to eat à la carte.

alack exclamation (old use or humorous) used to show you are sad or sorry: Alas and alack, we had missed our bus.

alacrity noun [U] (formal) great willingness or enthusiasm: They accepted the offer with alacrity.

Aladdin noun a character from a traditional story, who had a magic lamp. When he rubbed the lamp, a GENIE appeared and did whatever Aladdin wanted.

Aladdin's cave noun a place where there are many wonderful objects

à la mode NAmE adj., adv. (from French)
1 [not before noun] (old-fashioned) fashionable; in the latest fashion: We'll get Papa to buy you something a little more à la mode.
2 [after noun] (NAmE) served with ice cream: apple pie à la mode

alarm NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U] fear and anxiety that sb feels when sth dangerous or unpleasant might happen: 'What have you done?' Ellie cried in alarm. I felt a growing sense of alarm when he did not return that night. The doctor said there was no cause for alarm. note at FEAR
2 [C, usually sing.] a loud noise or a signal that warns people of danger or of a problem: She decided to sound the alarm (= warn people that the situation was dangerous). I hammered on all the doors to raise the alarm. By the time the alarm was raised the intruders had escaped.see also FALSE ALARM
3 [C] a device that warns people of a particular danger: a burglar/fire/smoke alarm The cat set off the alarm (= made it start ringing). A car alarm went off in the middle of the night (= started ringing).
4 = ALARM CLOCK: The alarm went off at 7 o'clock.
alarm bells ring/start ringing if you say that alarm bells are ringing, you mean that people are starting to feel worried and suspicious: The government's proposal has set alarm bells ringing for people on low incomes.
verb
1 to make sb anxious or afraid WORRY: [VN] The captain knew there was an engine fault but didn't want to alarm the passengers. [also VN to inf] note at FRIGHTEN
2 [VN] to fit sth such as a door with a device that warns people when sb is trying to enter illegally

alarm call noun
1 a telephone call which is intended to wake you up: Could I have an alarm call at 5.30 tomorrow, please?
2 a cry of warning made by a bird or animal

alarm clock (also alarm) noun a clock that you can set to ring a bell, etc. at a particular time and wake you up: I set the alarm clock for 7 o'clock.

alarmed NAmE adj. [not before noun]
1 ~ (at/by sth) anxious or afraid that sth dangerous or unpleasant might happen: She was alarmed at the prospect of travelling alone. note at AFRAID
2 protected by an alarm: This door is alarmed.

alarming NAmE adj. causing worry and fear: an alarming increase in crime The rainforests are disappearing at an alarming rate.
alarmingly adv.: Prices have risen alarmingly.

alarmist NAmE adj. (disapproving) causing unnecessary fear and anxiety: A spokesperson for the food industry said the TV programme was alarmist.
alarmist noun

alas exclamation (old use or literary) used to show you are sad or sorry: For many people, alas, hunger is part of everyday life.

alb noun a long white item of clothing worn by a priest in some churches

albatross NAmE noun
1 a very large white bird with long wings that lives in the Pacific and Southern Oceans
2 [usually sing.] (formal) a thing that causes problems or prevents you from doing sth: The national debt is an albatross around the president's neck.

albeit conj. (formal) although: He finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to help us.

albinism noun [U] (technical) the condition of being an albino

albino NAmE noun (pl. -os) a person or an animal that is born with no colour (= PIGMENT) in the hair or skin, which are white, or in the eyes, which are pink
albino adj. [only before noun]

Albion noun [U] (literary) an ancient name for Britain or England

album noun
1 a book in which you keep photographs, stamps, etc.: a photo album
2 a collection of pieces of music that have been recorded on one record, CD or CASSETTE: the band's latest albumcompare SINGLE

albumen NAmE noun [U] (technical) the clear inside part of an egg that is white when cooked WHITEcompare YOLK

Alcatraz noun a small US island near San Francisco where there is a former prison: The clinic felt like Alcatraz. There was no escape.

alchemist noun a person who studied alchemy

alchemy noun [U]
1 a form of chemistry studied in the Middle Ages which involved trying to discover how to change ordinary metals into gold
2 (literary) a mysterious power or magic that can change things

alcheringa (also Dreamtime) noun [U] according to some Australian Aboriginals, the time when the first people were created

alcohol NAmE noun [U]
1 drinks such as beer, wine, etc. that can make people drunk: He never drinks alcohol. alcohol abuse
2 the clear liquid that is found in drinks such as beer, wine, etc. and is used in medicines, cleaning products, etc.: Wine contains about 10% alcohol. The food and drink industry has responded to the demand for low- and no-alcohol drinks. levels of alcohol in the blood He pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol. low-alcohol beer alcohol-free beersee also ABSOLUTE ALCOHOL

alcoholic NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 connected with or containing alcohol: alcoholic drinks NON-ALCOHOLICsee also SOFT DRINK
2 caused by drinking alcohol: The guests left in an alcoholic haze.
noun (also NAmE informal lush) a person who regularly drinks too much alcohol and cannot easily stop drinking, so that it has become an illness

Alcoholics Anonymous noun [U] (abbr. AA) an international organization, begun in Chicago in 1935, for people who are trying to stop drinking alcohol. They have meetings to help each other: self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous meet at the centre twice a week.

alcoholism NAmE noun [U] the medical condition caused by drinking too much alcohol regularly

alcopop NAmE noun (BrE) a sweet FIZZY drink (= with bubbles) that contains alcohol

alcove NAmE noun an area in a room that is formed by part of a wall being built farther back than the rest of the wall: The bookcase fits neatly into the alcove.

al dente adj. (from Italian) (of cooked food, especially PASTA) firm, but not hard, when bitten
al dente adv.

alder noun a tree like a BIRCH that grows in northern countries, usually in wet ground

alderman NAmE noun (pl. -men )
1 (in England and Wales in the past) a senior member of a town, BOROUGH or county council, below the rank of a MAYOR, chosen by other members of the council
2 (feminine alderwoman, pl. -women ) (in the US, Canada and Australia) an elected member of a town or city council: Alderman Tim Evans

ale noun
1 [U, C] a type of beer, usually sold in bottles or cans. There are several kinds of ale: brown/pale ale
2 [C] a glass, bottle or can of ale: Two light ales please.
3 [U] (old-fashioned) beer generallysee also BROWN ALE, GINGER ALE, REAL ALE

alec, aleck SMART ALEC

alehouse noun (old-fashioned, BrE) a place where people used to drink beer

alert NAmE adj., verb, noun
adj.
1 able to think quickly; quick to notice things: Suddenly he found himself awake and fully alert. Two alert scientists spotted the mistake. Try to stay alert while driving at night. an alert mind mentally alert
2 ~ to sth aware of sth, especially a problem or danger: We must be alert to the possibility of danger. She was alert to the slightest sound.
alertly adj. alertness noun [U]
verb [often passive]
1 to warn sb about a dangerous or urgent situation: [VN] Neighbours quickly alerted the emergency services. Alerted by a noise downstairs, he sat up and turned on the light. [also VN (that), VN to inf]
2 [VN] ~ sb to sth to make sb aware of sth: They had been alerted to the possibility of further price rises.
noun
1 [sing., U] a situation in which people are watching for danger and ready to deal with it: Police are warning the public to be on the alert for suspicious packages. More than 5 000 troops have been placed on (full) alert.
2 [C] a warning of danger or of a problem: a bomb/fire alertsee also RED ALERT

A level (also advanced level) noun [C, U] a British exam taken in a particular subject, usually in the final year of school at the age of 18: You need three A levels to get onto this university course. What A levels are you doing? I'm doing maths A level. two A level passes/two passes at A levelcompare GCE, GCSE, GNVQ

Alexander technique NAmE noun [sing., U] a method of improving sb's health by teaching them how to stand, sit, and move correctly

alexandrine NAmE adj. (technical) (of lines of poetry) containing six IAMBIC FEET
alexandrine noun

alexia noun [U] (medical) the inability to recognize written words or letters, usually because of brain damage WORD BLINDNESS

alfalfa noun [U] a plant with small divided leaves and purple flowers, grown as food for farm animals and as a salad vegetable

alfresco NAmE adj. outdoors: an alfresco lunch party
alfresco adv.: eating alfresco

algae noun [U, pl.] (sing. alga ) (technical) very simple plants with no real leaves, STEMS or roots that grow in or near water, including SEAWEED
algal adj. [only before noun]: algal blooms/growth

algebra noun [U] a type of mathematics in which letters and symbols are used to represent quantities
algebraic adj.

algicide noun [C, U] a substance which kills algae

Algol (also ALGOL) NAmE noun [U] an early computer language used for scientific calculations

Algonquian NAmE noun [U] a large family of N American Indian languages

algorithm noun (especially computing) a set of rules that must be followed when solving a particular problem

alhaja noun (WAfrE) a woman who is a Muslim and has completed a religious journey to Mecca (often used as a title)compare alhaji

alhaji noun (WAfrE) a man who is a Muslim and has completed a religious journey to Mecca (often used as a title)compare alhaja

-alia suffix (in plural nouns) items connected with the particular area of activity or interest mentioned: kitchenalia

alias adv., noun
adv. used when a person, especially a criminal or an actor, is known by two names: Mick Clark, alias Sid Brown Inspector Morse, alias John Thaw (= John Thaw plays the part of Inspector Morse) John Thaw, alias Inspector Morse of the famous TV series
noun
1 a false or different name, especially one that is used by a criminal: He checked into the hotel under an alias.
2 (computing) a name that can be used instead of the usual name for a file, Internet address, etc.: You can also use our easy-to-remember forwarding alias.

Ali Baba noun a character in an old Arabian story who discovers that saying the magic words 'Open Sesame!' will open the door of the CAVE where thieves have hidden gold and jewellery

alibi noun
1 evidence that proves that a person was in another place at the time of a crime and so could not have committed it: The suspects all had alibis for the day of the robbery.
2 an excuse for sth that you have done wrong

Alice band noun (BrE) a band which holds your hair back away from your face, but lets it hang freely at the back

Alice in Wonderland noun [U] used to describe a situation that is very strange, in which things happen that do not make any sense and are the opposite of what you would expect: The country's economic system is pure Alice in Wonderland.
Alice-in-Wonderland adj. [only before noun]: I felt I was in an Alice-in-Wonderland world. In the Alice-in-Wonderland world of European agriculture, farmers are paid more to grow more even when nobody wants to buy what they produce.
From the title of a children's story by Lewis Carroll.

alien adj., noun
adj.
1 ~ (to sb/sth) strange and frightening; different from what you are used to HOSTILE: an alien environment In a world that had suddenly become alien and dangerous, he was her only security.
2 (often disapproving) from another country or society; foreign: an alien culture alien influences that threatened their way of life
3 ~ to sb/sth (disapproving) not usual or acceptable: The idea is alien to our religion. A referendum is alien to the party's concept of democracy. Cruelty was quite alien to him.
4 connected with creatures from another world: alien beings from outer space
noun
1 (NAmE also non-citizen) (law or technical) a person who is not a citizen of the country in which they live or work: an illegal aliencompare RESIDENT ALIEN
2 a creature from another world: aliens from outer space

alienable adj. (formal) able to be taken or given away INALIENABLE

alienate verb [VN]
1 to make sb less friendly or sympathetic towards you: His comments have alienated a lot of young voters.
2 ~ sb (from sth/sb) to make sb feel that they do not belong in a particular group: Very talented children may feel alienated from the others in their class.
alienation noun [U]: The new policy resulted in the alienation of many voters. Many immigrants suffer from a sense of alienation.

alight adj., verb
adj. [not before noun]
1 on fire: A cigarette set the dry grass alight. A car was overturned and set alight. Her dress caught alight in the fire.
2 (formal) (of faces or eyes) showing a feeling of happiness or excitement: The children's faces were alight with enthusiasm. see WORLD
verb [V] (formal or literary)
1 ~ (in/on/upon sth) (of a bird or an insect) to land in or on sth after flying to it LAND
2 ~ (from sth) to get out of a bus, a train or other vehicle GET OFF: Do not alight from a moving bus.
alight on/upon sth to think of, find or notice sth, especially by chance: Eventually, we alighted on the idea of seeking sponsorship. Her eyes suddenly alighted on the bundle of documents.

align verb
1 ~ (sth) (with sth) to arrange sth in the correct position, or to be in the correct position, in relation to sth else, especially in a straight line: [VN] Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard. [V] The top and bottom line of each column on the page should align.
2 [VN] ~ sth (with/to sth) to change sth slightly so that it is in the correct relationship to sth else: Domestic prices have been aligned with those in world markets.
align yourself with sb/sth to publicly support an organization, a set of opinions or a person that you agree with: Newspapers traditionally align themselves with one political party.

alignment noun [U, C]
1 arrangement in a straight line: the alignment of the sun, moon and earth at a particular time A bone in my spine was out of alignment.
2 political support given to one country or group by another: Japan's alignment with the West

alike adj., adv.
adj. [not before noun] very similar: My sister and I do not look alike. Airports are all alike to me.compare UNLIKE
adv.
1 in a very similar way: They tried to treat all their children alike.
2 used after you have referred to two people or groups, to mean 'both' or 'equally': Good management benefits employers and employees alike. see GREAT adj., SHARE v.

alimentary canal noun the passage in the body that carries food from the mouth to the ANUS

alimony NAmE noun [U] (especially NAmE) the money that a court orders sb to pay regularly to their former wife or husband when the marriage is endedcompare MAINTENANCE, PALIMONY

A-line adj. (of a skirt or dress) wider at the bottom than at the top

aliquot NAmE noun
1 (technical) a small amount of sth that is taken from a larger amount, especially when it is taken in order to do chemical tests on it
2 (mathematics) a quantity which can be exactly divided into another

A-list adj. [usually before noun] used to describe the group of people who are considered to be the most famous, successful or important: He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties.compare B-LIST

alive adj. [not before noun]
1 living; not dead: We don't know whether he's alive or dead. Is your mother still alive? Doctors kept the baby alive for six weeks. I was glad to hear you're alive and well. She had to steal food just to stay alive. He was buried alive in the earthquake.
2 ~ (with sth) full of emotion, excitement, activity, etc.: Ed was alive with happiness. Her eyes were alive with interest.
3 continuing to exist: to keep a tradition alive Money from charities is keeping the theatre alive.
4 ~ with sth full of living or moving things: The pool was alive with goldfish.
5 ~ to sth aware of sth; knowing sth exists and is important: to be alive to the dangers/facts/possibilities The government should be alive to the problems faced by industry.
alive and kicking very active, healthy or popular
bring sth alive to make sth interesting: The pictures bring the book alive. The teacher brought history alive with fascinating stories.
come alive
1 (of a subject or an event) to become interesting and exciting COME TO LIFE: The game came alive in the second half. New political issues suddenly came alive after the election.
2 (of a place) to become busy and full of activity COME TO LIFE: The city starts to come alive after dark. The fishing villages come alive in spring.
3 (of a person) to show interest in sth and become excited about it: She came alive as she talked about her job.more at EAT

alkali noun [C, U] (chemistry) a chemical substance that reacts with acids to form a salt and gives a SOLUTION with a pH of more than seven when it is dissolved in watercompare ACID

alkaline adj.
1 (chemistry) having the nature of an alkali
2 (technical) containing alkali: alkaline soilcompare ACID

alkalinity noun [U] the state of being or containing an ALKALI

alkaloid noun (biology or medical) a poisonous substance found in some plants. There are many different alkaloids and some are used as the basis for drugs.

alkane noun (chemistry) any of a series of COMPOUNDS that contain CARBON and HYDROGEN: Methane and propane are alkanes.

Alka-SeltzerTM noun [C, U] a medicine that you mix with water to make a drink that helps with INDIGESTION

alkene noun (chemistry) any of a series of gases that contain HYDROGEN and CARBON and that have a double BOND (= force of attraction) between two of the CARBON atoms

all det., pron., adv.
det.
1 (used with plural nouns. The noun may have the, this, that, my, her, his, etc. in front of it, or a number.) the whole number of: All horses are animals, but not all animals are horses. Cars were coming from all directions (= every direction). All the people you invited are coming. All my plants have died. All five men are hard workers.
2 (used with uncountable nouns. The noun may have the, this, that, my, her, his, etc. in front of it.) the whole amount of: All wood tends to shrink. You've had all the fun and I've had all the hard work. All this mail must be answered. He has lost all his money.
3 used with singular nouns showing sth has been happening for a whole period of time: He's worked hard all year. She was unemployed for all that time.
4 the greatest possible: In all honesty (= being as honest as I can), I can't agree.
5 consisting or appearing to consist of one thing only: The magazine was all advertisements. She was all smiles (= smiling a lot).
6 any whatever: He denied all knowledge of the crime.
and all that (jazz, rubbish, etc.) (informal) and other similar things: I'm bored by historydates and battles and all that stuff.
not all that good, well, etc. not particularly good, well, etc.: He doesn't sing all that well.
not as bad(ly), etc. as all that not as much as has been suggested: They're not as rich as all that.
of all people, things, etc. (informal) used to express surprise because sb/sth seems the least likely person, example, etc.: I didn't think you, of all people, would become a vegetarian.
of all the ... (informal) used to express anger: I've locked myself out. Of all the stupid things to do!more at FOR prep.
pron.
1 the whole number or amount: All of the food has gone. They've eaten all of it. They've eaten it all. I invited some of my colleagues but not all. Not all of them were invited. All of them enjoyed the party. They all enjoyed it. His last movie was best of all.
2 (followed by a relative clause, often without that) the only thing; everything: All I want is peace and quiet. It was all that I had. note at ALTOGETHER
all in all when everything is considered: All in all it had been a great success.
all in one having two or more uses, functions, etc.: It's a corkscrew and bottle-opener all in one.
and all
1 also; included; in addition: She jumped into the river, clothes and all (= with her clothes on).
2 (informal) as well; too: 'I'm freezing.' 'Yeah, me and all.'
(not) at all in any way; to any degree: I didn't enjoy it at all.
in all as a total ALTOGETHER: There were twelve of us in all for dinner. That's £25.40 in all.
not at all used as a polite reply to an expression of thanks: 'Thanks very much for your help.' 'Not at all, it was a pleasure.'
your all everything you have: They gave their all (= fought and died) in the war.more at ABOVE prep., AFTER prep., END v., END n., FOR prep., SIDE n.
adv.
1 completely: She was dressed all in white. He lives all alone. The coffee went all over my skirt.
2 (informal) very: She was all excited. Now don't get all upset about it.
3 ~ too ... used to show that sth is more than you would like: I'm all too aware of the problems. The end of the trip came all too soon.
4 (in sports and games) to each side: The score was four all.
all along all the time; from the beginning: I realized it was in my pocket all along.
all around ALL ROUND
all the better, harder, etc. so much better, harder, etc.: We'll have to work all the harder with two people off sick.
all but
1 almost: The party was all but over when we arrived. It was all but impossible to read his writing.
2 everything or everyone except sth/sb: All but one of the plates were damaged.
all in
1 physically tired EXHAUSTED: At the end of the race he felt all in.
2 (BrE) including everything: The holiday cost £250 all in.see also ALL-IN
all of sth (often ironic) used to emphasize an amount, a size, etc. usually when it is very small: It must be all of 100 metres to the car!
all over
1 everywhere: We looked all over for the ring.
2 what you would expect of the person mentioned: That sounds like my sister all over.
all round (BrE) (NAmE all around)
1 in every way; in all respects: a good performance all round
2 for each person: She bought drinks all round.
all there (informal) having a healthy mind; thinking clearly: He behaves very oddly at timesI don't think he's quite all there.
be all about sb/sth used to say what the most important aspect of sth is: It's all about money these days.
be all for sth/for doing sth to believe strongly that sth should be done: They're all for saving money where they can.
be all over sb (informal) to show a lot of affection for or enthusiasm about sb: He was all over her at the party.
be all that (US, informal) to be very attractive or impressive: He thinks he's all that.
be all up (with sb) (old-fashioned, informal) to be the end for sb: It looks as though it's all up with us now (= we are ruined, have no further chances, etc.).

all- combining form (in adjectives and adverbs)
1 completely: an all-British cast an all-inclusive price
2 in the highest degree: all-important all-powerful

all-action adj. [only before noun] having a lot of exciting events: an all-action movie

Allah noun the name of God among Muslims

all-American adj.
1 having good qualities that people think are typically American: a clean-cut all-American boy
2 (of a sports player) chosen as one of the best players in the US

all-around adj. (NAmE) = ALL-ROUND

allay verb [VN] (formal) to make sth, especially a feeling, less strong: to allay fears/concern/suspicion

the All Blacks noun [pl.] the RUGBY team of New Zealand

all-Canadian adj.
1 chosen as one of the best in, or representing the whole of, Canada, for example in sports
2 having qualities that people think are typically Canadian

the all-clear noun [sing.]
1 a signal (often a sound) which shows that a place or situation is no longer dangerous: The children hid in the basement until the all-clear sounded.
2 if a doctor gives sb the all-clear, they tell the person that he/she does not have any health problems: (figurative) The building was given the all-clear following tests.
3 permission to do sth: The ship was given the all-clear to sail.

all-comers noun [pl.] anyone who wants to take part in an activity or a competition

all-consuming adj. (of an interest) taking up all of your time or energy: an all-consuming love of jazz

all-day adj. [only before noun] continuing for the whole day: an all-day meeting

allegation noun ~ (of sth) (against sb)| ~ (that ... )| ~ (about sb/sth) a public statement that is made without giving proof, accusing sb of doing sth that is wrong or illegal ACCUSATION: Several newspapers made allegations of corruption in the city's police department. allegations of dishonesty against him an allegation that he had been dishonest to investigate/deny/withdraw an allegation The committee has made serious allegations about interference in its work. note at CLAIM

allege verb [often passive] (formal) to state sth as a fact but without giving proof: [V (that)] The prosecution alleges (that) she was driving carelessly. [VN that] It is alleged that he mistreated the prisoners. [VN to inf] He is alleged to have mistreated the prisoners. This pattern is only used in the passive. [VN] This procedure should be followed in cases where dishonesty has been alleged. [also V speech]
alleged adj. [only before noun] (formal): the alleged attacker/victim/killer (= that sb says is one) the alleged attack/offence/incident (= that sb says has happened) The girl gave evidence in court against her alleged attacker. allegedly adv.: crimes allegedly committed during the war

allegiance noun [U, C] ~ (to sb/sth) a person's continued support for a political party, religion, ruler, etc.: to pledge/swear allegiance to sb/sth to switch/transfer/change allegiance an oath/a vow/a statement of allegiance People of various party allegiances joined the campaign. He affirmed his allegiance to the president.

allegory NAmE noun [C, U] (pl. -ies) a story, play, picture, etc. in which each character or event is a symbol representing an idea or a quality, such as truth, evil, death, etc.; the use of such symbols: a political allegory the poet's use of allegorysee also FABLE
allegorical NAmE adj.: an allegorical figure/novel allegorically adv.

allegro NAmE noun (pl. -os) (music) a piece of music to be played in a fast and lively manner
allegro adj., adv.

allele noun (biology) one of two or more possible forms of a GENE that are found at the same place on a CHROMOSOME

alleluia noun, exclamation = HALLELUJAH

all-embracing adj. (formal) including everything: an all-embracing theory an all-embracing study of human society

all-encompassing adj. (formal) including everything: The risks detailed here are not all-encompassing.

Allen keyTM (BrE) (NAmE Allen wrenchTM) noun a small tool used for turning an Allen screw

Allen screwTMnoun a screw with a hole that has six sides

allergen NAmE noun a substance that causes an allergy

allergic NAmE adj.
1 ~ (to sth) having an allergy to sth: I like cats but unfortunately I'm allergic to them.
2 caused by an allergy: an allergic reaction/rash
3 [not before noun] ~ to sth (informal, humorous) having a strong dislike of sth/sb: You could see he was allergic to housework.

allergy NAmE noun (pl. -ies) ~ (to sth) a medical condition that causes you to react badly or feel ill/sick when you eat or touch a particular substance: I have an allergy to animal hair. Hay fever is caused by an allergy to pollen.

alleviate verb [VN] to make sth less severe EASE: to alleviate suffering A number of measures were taken to alleviate the problem.
alleviation noun [U]: the alleviation of poverty

alley noun
1 (also alleyway ) a narrow passage behind or between buildings: a narrow/dark alley The car was hidden down a narrow alley in the downtown area. He ran down one of the dark alleys at the back of the shops.see also BLIND ALLEY, BOWLING ALLEY
2 (NAmE) = TRAMLINES
(right) up your alley (NAmE) = (RIGHT) UP YOUR STREET at STREET: A teaching job would be right up her alley.

alley cat noun a cat that lives on the streets

alley-oop exclamation, noun
exclamation used when sb does a clever movement with their body or with an object
noun (in BASKETBALL) a high curving pass aimed over or near the BASKET

alliance noun
1 ~ (with sb/sth)| ~ (between A and B) an agreement between countries, political parties, etc. to work together in order to achieve sth that they all want: to form/make an alliance The Social Democrats are now in alliance with the Greens. an alliance between education and business to develop the use of technology in schools
2 a group of people, political parties, etc. who work together in order to achieve sth that they all want: The Green Alliance was formed to campaign against environmental damage.

allied adj.
1 (often Allied) [only before noun] connected with countries that unite to fight a war together, especially the countries that fought together against Germany in the First and Second World Wars: Italy joined the war on the Allied side in 1915. Many civilians died as a result of allied bombing. allied forces/troops
2 ~ (to/with sth) (formal) (of two or more things) similar or existing together; connected with sth: medicine, nursing, physiotherapy and other allied professions In this job you will need social skills allied with technical knowledge.see also ALLY

alligator noun a large REPTILE similar to a CROCODILE, with a long tail, hard skin and very big JAWS, that lives in rivers and lakes in N and S America and China

alligator clip noun (especially NAmE) = CROCODILE CLIP

alligator pear noun (NAmE) = AVOCADO

all-important adj. extremely important: Posture is all-important when you are sitting at a desk. Lack of parking space is affecting the town's all-important tourist industry.

all-in adj. [only before noun] (BrE) including the cost of all parts of sth INCLUSIVE: an all-in price of £500 with no extras to pay The all-in holiday includes fares, full board and entrance to museums.

all-inclusive adj. including everything or everyone: Our trips are all-inclusivethere are no hidden costs.

all-in-one adj. [only before noun] (BrE) able to do the work of two or more things that are usually separate: an all-in-one shampoo and conditioner The all-in-one body suit looks great with jeans.
all-in-one noun: We sell printers and scanners, and all-in-ones that combine the two.

all-in wrestling noun [U] (especially BrE) a form of WRESTLING in which there are very few rules

alliteration noun [U] (technical) the use of the same letter or sound at the beginning of words that are close together, as in sing a song of sixpence
alliterative NAmE adj.

allium noun (technical) any plant that belongs to the same group as onions and GARLIC

all-night adj. [only before noun]
1 (of a place) open through the night: an all-night cafe
2 (of an activity) continuing through the night: an all-night party

all-nighter noun (NAmE, informal) a time when you stay awake all night studying

allocate verb ~ sth (for sth)| ~ sth (to sb/sth)| ~ (sb/sth) sth to give sth officially to sb/sth for a particular purpose: [VN] They intend to allocate more places to mature students this year. A large sum has been allocated for buying new books for the library. [VN, VNN] More resources are being allocated to the project. The project is being allocated more resources.

allocation noun
1 [C] an amount of money, space, etc. that is given to sb for a particular purpose: We have spent our entire allocation for the year.
2 [U] the act of giving sth to sb for a particular purpose: the allocation of food to those who need it most

allochthonous NAmE adj. (technical) (of rock) formed at a distance from its present positioncompare AUTOCHTHONOUS

allomorph NAmE noun (linguistics) one possible form of a particular MORPHEME. The forms , and in cats, dogs and horses are allomorphs of the plural ending s.

allophone NAmE noun
1 (phonetics) a sound that is slightly different from another sound, although both sounds belong to the same PHONEME and the difference does not affect meaning. For example, the at the beginning of little is different from the at the end.
2 (CanE) a person who comes to live in Canada, especially Quebec, from another country, whose first language is neither French nor English
allophone adj.: Within French-speaking Quebec, anglophone, allophone and Aboriginal minorities also exist.

all-or-nothing adj. used to describe two extreme situations which are the only possible ones: an all-or-nothing decision (= one which could either be very good or very bad)

allosaurus noun a type of large DINOSAUR

allot NAmE verb (-tt-) ~ sth (to sb/sth)| ~ (sb/sth) sth to give time, money, tasks, etc. to sb/sth as a share of what is available: [VN] I completed the test within the time allotted. [VN, VNN] How much money has been allotted to us? How much money have we been allotted?

allotment NAmE noun
1 [C] (BrE) a small area of land in a town which a person can rent in order to grow vegetables on it
2 [C, U] (formal) an amount of sth that sb is given or allowed to have; the process of giving sth to sb: Water allotments to farmers were cut back in the drought. the allotment of shares to company employees

allotrope NAmE noun (chemistry) one of the different forms in which a chemical element exists. For example, diamond and GRAPHITE are allotropes of CARBON.

allotropy NAmE noun [U] (chemistry) the existence of two or more allotropes of a chemical element

all-out adj. [only before noun] using or involving every possible effort and done in a very determined way: all-out war an all-out attack on the opposition
all out adv.: We're going all out to win.

allow verb
LET SB/STH DO STH
1 to let sb/sth do sth; to let sth happen or be done: [VN to inf] His parents won't allow him to stay out late. He is not allowed to stay out late. They shouldn't be allowed to get away with it. She won't allow herself to be dictated to. He allowed his mind to wander. [VN] Smoking is not allowed in the hall. [V -ing] We do not allow smoking in the hall.
2 [VNN] to let sb have sth: You're allowed an hour to complete the test. I'm not allowed visitors. I sometimes allow myself the luxury of a cigar.
3 [VN, usually + adv. / prep.] [usually passive] to let sb/sth go into, through, out of, etc. a place: No dogs allowed (= you cannot bring them in). The prisoners are allowed out of their cells for two hours a day. The crowd parted to allow her through. You won't be allowed up (= out of bed) for several days.
MAKE POSSIBLE
4 to make sth possible: [VN] A ramp allows easy access for wheelchairs. [also V -ing]
TIME/MONEY/FOOD, etc.
5 [VN] ~ sth (for sb/sth) to make sure that you have enough of sth for a particular purpose: How much time would you allow for the trip? You need to allow three metres of fabric for the dress.
ACCEPT/ADMIT
6 (formal) to accept or admit sth; to agree that sth is true or correct: [VN] The judge allowed my claim. 'Objection!' 'I'll allow it.' [V that] He refuses to allow that such a situation could arise. [VNN] She was very helpful when my mother was illI'll allow you that. [also V speech] compare DISALLOW note at ADMIT
allow me used to offer help politely: 'Allow me,' he said, taking the tray from her.more at REIN n.
allow for sb/sth to consider or include sb/sth when calculating sth: It will take about an hour to get there, allowing for traffic delays. All these factors must be allowed for.
allow of sth (formal) to make sth possible: The facts allow of only one explanation.

allowable adj.
1 that is allowed, especially by law or by a set of rules: It's not allowable under union rules. What is the maximum allowable number of users on the network?
2 (BrE) allowable amounts of money are amounts that you do not have to pay tax on: allowable deductions/contributions/losses

allowance noun
1 an amount of money that is given to sb regularly or for a particular purpose: an allowance of $20 a day a clothing/living/travel allowance Do you get an allowance for clothing?see also ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE
2 the amount of sth that is allowed in a particular situation: a baggage allowance of 20 kilos Roman soldiers received a salt allowance, called salarium, the origin of the word salary.
3 (BrE) an amount of money that can be earned or received before you start paying tax: personal tax allowances
4 (especially NAmE) = POCKET MONEY
make allowance(s) for sth to consider sth, for example when you are making a decision or planning sth: The budget made allowance for inflation. The plan makes no allowance for people working at different rates.
make allowances (for sb) to allow sb to behave in a way that you would not usually accept, because of a problem or because there is a special reason: You have to make allowances for him because he's tired.

alloy noun, verb
noun [C, U] a metal that is formed by mixing two types of metal together, or by mixing metal with another substance: Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. alloy steel
verb [VN] ~ sth (with sth) (technical) to mix one metal with another, especially one of lower value

all-party adj. [usually before noun] involving all political parties: all-party support

all-pervading (also all-pervasive) adj. affecting every part of sth: an all-pervading sense of gloom

all-points bulletin noun (abbr. APB) (US) a radio message sent to every officer of a police force, giving details of people who are suspected of a crime, of stolen vehicles, etc.

all-powerful adj. having complete power: the all-powerful secret police

all-purpose adj. [only before noun] having many different uses; able to be used in many situations: Cheddar is an all-purpose cheese for cooking and eating. Each child had one pair of all-purpose shoes.

all-purpose flour noun [U] (NAmE) = PLAIN FLOUR

all right (also non-standard or informal alright) adj., adv., exclamation
adj., adv.
1 acceptable; in an acceptable manner OK: Is the coffee all right? Are you getting along all right in your new job? 'They're off to Spain next week.' 'It's all right for some, isn't it? (= some people are lucky)'
2 safe and well OK: I hope the children are all right. Do you feel all right? note at WELL
3 only just good enough OK: Your work is all right but I'm sure you could do better.
4 that can be allowed OK: Are you sure it's all right for me to leave early?
5 used to emphasize that there is no doubt about sth: 'Are you sure it's her?' 'Oh, it's her all right.'
I'm all right, Jack (BrE, informal) used by or about sb who is happy with their own life and does not care about other people's problems
it'll be all right on the night (saying) used to say that a performance, an event, etc. will be successful even if the preparations for it have not gone wellmore at BIT
exclamation
1 used to check that sb agrees or understands OK: We've got to get up early, all right?
2 used to say that you agree OK: 'Can you do it?' 'Oh, all right.'
3 used when accepting thanks or when sb says they are sorry OK: 'I'm really sorry.' 'That's all right, don't worry.'
4 used to get sb's attention OK: All right class, turn to page 20.

all-round (BrE) (NAmE all-around) adj. [only before noun]
1 including many different subjects, skills, etc.: an all-round education
2 (of a person) with a wide range of skills or abilities: She's a good all-round player.

all-rounder noun (BrE) a person who has many different skills and abilities

All Saints' Day noun a Christian festival in honour of the SAINTS, held on 1 November

all singing , all dancing adj. [only before noun] (BrE, informal) (of a machine or system) having a lot of advanced technical features and therefore able to perform many different functions: With these extras your PC will become the all singing, all dancing box the salesman claimed it would be.

All Souls' Day noun a Christian festival in honour of the dead, held on 2 November

allspice noun [U] the dried BERRIES of a tree from the West Indies, used in cooking as a spice

all-star adj. [only before noun] including many famous actors, players, etc.: an all-star cast

all-star game noun (NAmE) a game played between the best players in their sport: the East-West All-Star Game

all-terrain vehicle noun = ATV

all-ticket adj. [usually before noun] for which tickets need to be obtained in advance: an all-ticket match

all-time adj. [only before noun] (used when you are comparing things or saying how good or bad sth is) of any time: one of the all-time great players my all-time favourite song Unemployment reached an all-time record of 3 million. Profits are at an all-time high/low.

allude verb
allude to sb/sth (formal) to mention sth in an indirect way: The problem had been alluded to briefly in earlier discussions.see also ALLUSION note at MENTION

allure NAmE noun [U] (formal) the quality of being attractive and exciting: sexual allure the allure of the big city

alluring NAmE adj. attractive and exciting in a mysterious way: an alluring smile
alluringly adv.

allusion noun [C, U] ~ (to sb/sth) something that is said or written that refers to or mentions another person or subject in an indirect way (= ALLUDES to it): His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. Her poetry is full of obscure literary allusion.

allusive adj. (formal) containing allusions: an allusive style of writing

alluvial adj. [usually before noun] (technical) made of sand and earth that is left by rivers or floods: alluvial deposits/soil/plains

alluvium noun [U] (geology) sand and earth that is left by rivers or floods

all-weather adj. [usually before noun] suitable for all types of weather: an all-weather football pitch

all-wheel drive noun (especially NAmE) = FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE

ally noun, verb
(WORD FAMILY: ally verb noun | allied adj. | alliance noun )
noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a country that has agreed to help and support another country, especially in case of a war: our European/NATO allies a loyal ally of the United States
2 [C] a person who helps and supports sb who is in a difficult situation, especially a politician: a close ally and friend of the prime minister His sister was his ally against their grandparents.
3 the Allies [pl.] the group of countries including Britain and the US that fought together in the First and Second World Wars: the Western Allies
verb (allies, allying, allied, allied) ~ (yourself) with sb/sth to give your support to another group or country: [VN] The prince allied himself with the Scots. [also V]

-ally suffix (makes adverbs from adjectives that end in -al): magically sensationally

Alma Mater (also alma mater) noun [sing.] (especially NAmE) the school, college or university that sb went to: He donated $20 million to his alma mater, Colombia University.

almanac (also less frequent almanack) noun
1 a book that is published every year giving information for that year about a particular subject or activity: a cricket almanac
2 a book that gives information about the sun, moon, times of the TIDES (= the rise and fall of the sea level), etc. for each day of the year

almighty adj.
1 (in prayers) having complete power: Almighty God, have mercy on us.
2 [only before noun] (informal) very great or severe: an almighty bang/crash/roar
3 (taboo, offensive) used in the expressions shown in the example, to express surprise or anger: Christ/God Almighty! What the hell do you think you are doing?
4 the Almightynoun [sing.] God: to pray to the Almighty

almond noun the flat pale sweet nut of the almond tree used in cooking and to make almond oil: ground almonds blanched almonds (= with their skins removed) almond paste almond eyes (= eyes shaped like almonds) almond blossom (= the flowers of the almond tree)

almoner noun (old-fashioned, BrE) a person employed by a hospital to help patients with their financial and social problems, now usually called a 'medical social worker'

almost NAmE adv. not quite; NEARLY: I like almost all of them. It's a mistake they almost always make. The story is almost certainly false. It's almost time to go. Dinner's almost ready. He slipped and almost fell. Their house is almost opposite ours. They'll eat almost anything. Almost no one (= hardly anyone) believed him.

synonyms

almost / nearly / practically

These three words have similar meanings and are used frequently with the following words:

almost ~

nearly ~

practically ~

certainly

(numbers)

all

all

all

every

every

always

no

entirely

every

nothing

impossible

finished

impossible

empty

died

anything

They are used in positive sentences: She almost/nearly/practically missed her train. They can be used before words like all, every and everybody: Nearly all the students have bikes.I've got practically every CD they've made. Practically is used more in spoken than in written English. Nearly is the most common with numbers: There were nearly 200 people at the meeting. They can also be used in negative sentences but it is more common to make a positive sentence with only just: We only just got there in time. (or: We almost/nearly didn't get there in time.)

Almost and practically can be used before words like any, anybody, anything, etc.: I'll eat almost anything. You can also use them before no, nobody, never, etc. but it is much more common to use hardly or scarcely with any, anybody, ever, etc.: She's hardly ever in (or: She's almost never in).

Almost can be used when you are saying that one thing is similar to another: The boat looked almost like a toy.

In BrE you can use very and so before nearly: He was very nearly caught.

note at HARDLY

alms noun [pl.] (old-fashioned) money, clothes and food that are given to poor people

almshouse noun (in the past in Britain) a house owned by a charity where poor people (usually the old) lived without paying rent

aloe NAmE noun a tropical plant with thick leaves with sharp points that contain a lot of water. The juice of some types of aloe is used in medicine and COSMETICS.

aloe vera NAmE noun
1 [U] a substance which comes from a type of aloe, used in products such as skin creams
2 [C] the aloe that this substance comes from

aloft NAmE adv. (formal) high in the air: She held the glass aloft.

aloha NAmE exclamation a Hawaiian expression, used to say hello or goodbye

aloha shirt noun = HAWAIIAN SHIRT

alone NAmE adj. [not before noun] adv.
1 without any other people: I don't like going out alone at night. He lives alone. Finally the two of us were alone together. She was sitting all alone in the hall. Tom is not alone in finding Rick hard to work with.
2 without the help of other people or things: It's hard bringing up children alone. The assassin said he had acted alone.
3 lonely and unhappy or without any friends: Carol felt all alone in the world. I've been so alone since you went away.
4 used after a noun or pronoun to show that the person or thing mentioned is the only one: You can't blame anyone else; you alone made the decision.
5 used after a noun or pronoun to emphasize one particular thing: The shoes alone cost £200.
go it alone to do sth without help from anyone: Andrew decided to go it alone and start his own business.
leave/let sb alone to stop annoying sb or trying to get their attention: She's asked to be left alone but the press photographers follow her everywhere.
leave/let sth alone to stop touching, changing, or moving sth: I've told you beforeleave my things alone!
let alone used after a statement to emphasize that because the first thing is not true or possible, the next thing cannot be true or possible either: There isn't enough room for us, let alone any guests. I didn't have any clothes, let alone a passport.
stand alone
1 to be independent or not connected with other people, organizations or ideas: These islands are too small to stand alone as independent states. The problems that research is designed to solve do not stand alone, but are part of a wider context.
2 to be not near other objects or buildings: The arch once stood alone at the entrance to the castle.more at TIME n.

WHICH WORD?

alone / lonely / lone

Alone, and on your own, by yourself, which are less formal and are the normal phrases used in spoken English, describe a person or thing that is separate from others. They do not mean that the person is unhappy: I like being alone in the house.I'm going to London by myself next week.I want to finish this on my own (= without anyone's help).

Lone/solitary/single mean that there is only one person or thing there; lone and solitary may sometimes suggest that the speaker thinks the person involved is lonely: a lone jogger in the parklong, solitary walks.

Lonely (NAmE also lonesome) means that you are alone and sad: a lonely childSam was very lonely when he first moved to New York. It can also describe places or activities that make you feel lonely: a lonely house.

along NAmE prep., adv.
prep.
1 from one end to or towards the other end of sth: They walked slowly along the road. I looked along the shelves for the book I needed.
2 in a line that follows the side of sth long: Houses had been built along both sides of the river.
3 at a particular point on or beside sth long: You'll find his office just along the corridor.
adv. For the special uses of along in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example get along with sb is in the phrasal verb section at get.
1 forward: I was just walking along singing to myself. He pointed out various landmarks as we drove along.
2 with sb: We're going for a swim. Why don't you come along? I'll be along (= I'll join you) in a few minutes.
3 towards a better state or position: The book's coming along nicely.
along with sb/sth in addition to sb/sth; in the same way as sb/sth: She lost her job when the factory closed, along with hundreds of others.

alongside /lsad; NAmE l/ prep.
1 next to or at the side of sth: A police car pulled up alongside us. a lifeboat moored alongside the yacht Much of the land alongside the river is below sea level.
2 together with or at the same time as sth/sb: Traditional beliefs still flourish alongside a modern urban lifestyle.
alongside adv.: Nick caught up with me and rode alongside.

aloo (also alu) noun [U] (IndE) potatoes

aloof adj. [not usually before noun] not friendly or interested in other people DISTANT, REMOTE: He was a cold man, aloof and distant. She stayed aloof while the argument went on around her.
aloofness noun [U]: Her cool aloofness was seen as arrogance by some people.
keep/hold (yourself) aloof | remain/stand aloof to not become involved in sth; to show no interest in people: The Emperor kept himself aloof from the people.

aloud adv.
1 in a voice that other people can hear: The teacher listened to the children reading aloud. He read the letter aloud to us. 'What am I going to do?' she wondered aloud. note at LOUD
2 in a loud voice: She cried aloud in protest. see THINK v.

alpaca noun
1 [C] a S American animal that is related to the LLAMA and has long hair
2 [U] a type of soft wool or cloth made from the hair of the alpaca, used especially for making expensive clothes: an alpaca coat

alpenhorn NAmE (also alphorn) noun a very long wooden musical instrument that you blow into, used for signalling in the Alps

alpha noun the first letter of the Greek alphabet (A, )

alphabet noun a set of letters or symbols in a fixed order used for writing a language: Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet.
From alpha and beta, the first two letters of the Greek alphabet.

alphabetic (also alphabetical) adj. (of a written or printed character) being one of the letters of the alphabet, rather than a number or other symbolcompare NON-ALPHABETIC

alphabetical adj.
1 according to the correct order of the letters of the alphabet: The names on the list are in alphabetical order.
2 = ALPHABETIC
alphabetically adv.: arranged/listed/stored alphabetically The books should be ordered alphabetically by subject.

alphabetize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to arrange a list of words in alphabetical order

alphabet soup noun [U]
1 (informal) language which is extremely difficult to understand, especially because it contains many symbols or abbreviations
2 soup that contains PASTA in the shape of letters

alpha male noun [usually sing.] the man or male animal in a particular group who has the most power

alphanumeric NAmE (also alphanumerical ) adj. containing both letters and numbers: an alphanumeric code

alpha particle noun (technical) the NUCLEUS of a HELIUM atom; a PARTICLE with a positive electrical charge passing through it, that is produced in a nuclear reaction

alpha radiation noun [U] (technical) a type of RADIATION which comes from some substances when they decaycompare GAMMA RADIATION

alpha test noun (technical) a test done by a company on a new product that they are developingcompare BETA TEST
alpha-test verb [VN]

alphorn NAmE noun = ALPENHORN

alpine adj., noun
adj. existing in or connected with high mountains, especially the Alps in Central Europe: alpine villages/scenery/plants A wide variety of alpine flowers can be found at all altitudes.
noun any plant that grows best on mountains

Alpine skiing noun [U] the sport of SKIING down mountainscompare NORDIC SKIING

alpinist noun a person who climbs high mountains as a sport, especially in the Alps
alpinism noun [U]

already adv.
1 before now or before a particular time in the past: 'Lunch?' 'No thanks, I've already eaten.' We got there early but Mike had already left.
2 used to express surprise that sth has happened so soon or so early: Is it 10 o'clock already? You're not leaving already, are you?
3 used to emphasize that a situation or problem exists: I'm already late. There are far too many people already. We can't take any more. see ENOUGH det.

BRITISH/AMERICAN

already / just / yet

Already and yet are usually used with the present perfect tense, but in NAmE they can also be used with the simple past tense: I already did it.Did you eat yet?

However, this is much more common in spoken than in written English and some Americans do not consider it acceptable, even in speech. The present perfect is more common in NAmE and almost always used in BrE: I've already done it.Have you eaten yet?

Just is mostly used with the perfect tenses in BrE and with the simple past in NAmE: I've just had some bad news. (BrE) I just got some bad news. (NAmE)

alright adv. (informal) = ALL RIGHT Some people consider that this form should not be used in formal writing.

Alsatian (BrE) (also German shepherd NAmE, BrE) noun a large dog, often trained to help the police, to guard buildings or (especially in the US) to help blind people find their way

also NAmE adv. (not used with negative verbs) in addition; too: She's fluent in French and German. She also speaks a little Italian. rubella, also known as German measles I didn't like it that much. Also, it was much too expensive. Jake's father had also been a doctor (= both Jake and his father were doctors). She was not only intelligent but also very musical.

WHICH WORD?

also / as well / too

Also is more formal than as well and too, and it usually comes before the main verb or after be: I went to New York last year, and I also spent some time in Washington. In BrE it is not usually used at the end of a sentence. Too is much more common in spoken and informal English. It is usually used at the end of a sentence: 'I'm going home now.' 'I'll come too.'. In BrE as well is used like too, but in NAmE it sounds formal or old-fashioned.

When you want to add a second negative point in a negative sentence, use not...either: She hasn't phoned and she hasn't written either. If you are adding a negative point to a positive one, you can use notas well/too: You can have a burger, but you can't have fries as well.

also-ran noun a person who is not successful, especially in a competition or an election: A year ago he was just an also-ran for the Democratic nomination.

altar noun a holy table in a church or TEMPLE: the high altar (= the most important one in a particular church)
at/on the altar of sth (formal) because of sth that you think is worth suffering for: He was willing to sacrifice his happiness on the altar of fame.

altar boy noun a boy who helps the priest in church services, especially in the Roman Catholic church

altarpiece NAmE noun a painting or other piece of art, located near the ALTAR in a church

alter verb
1 to become different; to make sb/sth different: [V] Prices did not alter significantly during 2004. He had altered so much I scarcely recognized him. [VN] It doesn't alter the way I feel. Nothing can alter the fact that we are to blame. The landscape has been radically altered, severely damaging wildlife. This incident altered the whole course of events.
2 [VN] to make changes to a piece of clothing so that it will fit you better: We can have the dress altered to fit you.

alteration noun
1 [C] a change to sth that makes it different: major/minor alterations They are making some alterations to the house. an alteration in the baby's heartbeat
2 [U] the act of making a change to sth: The dress will not need much alteration.

altercation NAmE noun [C, U] (formal) a noisy argument or disagreement: A youth became involved in an altercation with a police officer over a parking ticket.

alter ego NAmE noun (pl. alter egos) (from Latin)
1 a person whose personality is different from your own but who shows or acts as another side of your personality: Superman's alter ego was Clark Kent.
2 a close friend who is very like yourself

alternate adj., verb, noun
adj. NAmE [usually before noun]
1 (of two things) happening or following one after the other regularly: alternate layers of fruit and cream Stretch up 30 times with alternate arms as a warm-up exercise.
2 if sth happens on alternate days, nights, etc. it happens on one day, etc. but not on the next: John has to work on alternate Sundays. The ferry service will initially run on alternate days, increasing eventually to daily sailings.
3 (especially NAmE) = ALTERNATIVE
alternately adv.: He felt alternately hot and cold.
verb NAmE
1 [VN] ~ A and B| ~ A with B to make things or people follow one after the other in a repeated pattern: Alternate cubes of meat and slices of red pepper. Alternate cubes of meat with slices of red pepper. Her music alternates moments of sudden quiet with moments of dramatic intensity.
2 [V] ~ (with sth) (of things or people) to follow one after the other in a repeated pattern: alternating dark and pale stripes Dark stripes alternate with pale ones.
3 [V] ~ between A and B to keep changing from one thing to another and back again: Her mood alternated between happiness and despair.
alternation NAmE noun [U, C]: the alternation of day and night Such rapid alternations of mood are a feature of her writing.
noun NAmE (NAmE) a person who does a job for sb who is away

alternate angles (also Z angles) noun [pl.] (geometry) equal angles formed on opposite sides of a line that crosses two parallel lines, in the position of the inner angles of a Z compare CORRESPONDING ANGLES

alternating current noun [U, C] (abbr. AC) an electric current that changes its direction at regular intervals many times a secondcompare DIRECT CURRENT

alternative NAmE noun, adj.
noun a thing that you can choose to do or have out of two or more possibilities: You can be paid in cash weekly or by cheque monthly; those are the two alternatives. We had no alternative but to fire Gibson. There is a vegetarian alternative on the menu every day. note at OPTION
adj. [only before noun]
1 (also alternate especially in NAmE) that can be used instead of sth else: an alternative method of doing sth Do you have an alternative solution?
2 different from the usual or traditional way in which sth is done: alternative comedy/lifestyles/values alternative energy (= electricity or power that is produced using the energy from the sun, wind, water, etc.)

alternative fuel noun [C, U] fuel which can be used instead of FOSSIL FUELS such as coal and oil, and instead of nuclear fuel

alternatively NAmE adv. used to introduce a suggestion that is a second choice or possibility: The agency will make travel arrangements for you. Alternatively, you can organize your own transport.

alternative medicine noun [C, U] any type of treatment that does not use the usual scientific methods of Western medicine, for example one using plants instead of artificial drugs

alternator NAmE noun a device, used especially in a car, that produces an ALTERNATING CURRENT

although (also US informal altho) NAmE conj.
1 used for introducing a statement that makes the main statement in a sentence seem surprising THOUGH: Although the sun was shining it wasn't very warm. Although small, the kitchen is well designed.
2 used to mean 'but' or 'however' when you are commenting on a statement: I felt he was wrong, although I didn't say so at the time.

WHICH WORD?

although / even though / though

You can use these words to show contrast between two clauses or two sentences. Though is used more in spoken than in written English. You can use although, even though and though at the beginning of a sentence or clause that has a verb. Notice where the commas go: Although/Even though/Though everyone played well, we lost the game.We lost the game, although/even though/though everyone played well.

You cannot use even on its own at the beginning of a sentence or clause instead of although, even though or though: Even everyone played well, we lost the game.

altimeter NAmE noun an instrument for showing height above sea level, used especially in an aircraft

altitude NAmE noun
1 [C, usually sing.] the height above sea level: We are flying at an altitude of 6 000 metres. The plane made a dive to a lower altitude.
2 [C, usually pl., U] a place that is high above sea level: Snow leopards live at high altitudes. The athletes trained at altitude in Mexico City.

altitude sickness noun [U] illness caused by a lack of OXYGEN, because of being very high above sea level, for example on a mountain

Alt key (also ALT key) noun a key on a computer keyboard which you press while pressing other keys, in order to change their function

alto NAmE noun, adj.
noun (pl. -os)
1 (also contralto) [C] a singing voice with a lower range than that of a SOPRANO; a person with an alto voice
2 [sing.] a musical part that is written for an alto voicecompare BARITONE, BASS, COUNTER-TENOR, TENOR
adj. [only before noun] (of a musical instrument) with the second highest range of notes in its group: an alto saxophonecompare SOPRANO, TENOR

altocumulus NAmE noun [U, C] (pl. altocumuli ) (technical) a layer of round clouds with flat bottoms lying at medium height, or one of the clouds which form this layer

altogether adv., noun
adv.
1 (used to emphasize sth) completely; in every way: The train went slower and slower until it stopped altogether. I don't altogether agree with you. I am not altogether happy about the decision. It was an altogether different situation.
2 used to give a total number or amount: You owe me £68 altogether.
3 used to introduce a summary when you have mentioned a number of different things: The food was good and we loved the music. Altogether it was a great evening.
noun
in the altogether (old-fashioned, informal) without any clothes on

WHICH WORD?

altogether / all together

Altogether and all together do not mean the same thing. Altogether means 'in total' or (in BrE) 'completely': We have invited fifty people altogether.I am not altogether convinced by this argument.

All together means 'all in one place' or 'all at once': Can you put your books all together in this box?Let's sing 'Happy Birthday'. All together now!

altostratus NAmE noun [U, C] (altostrati ) (technical) a layer of flat clouds lying at medium height, or one of the clouds which form this layer

altruism noun [U] (formal) the fact of caring about the needs and happiness of other people more than your own: Politicians are not necessarily motivated by pure altruism.
altruistic adj.: altruistic behaviour

alu = ALOO

alum noun [U] a substance formed from ALUMINIUM/ALUMINUM and another metal, used, for example, to prepare leather and to change the colour of things

alumina noun [U] (technical) a white substance found in many types of rock, especially CLAY

aluminium (BrE) (NAmE aluminum ) noun [U] (symb Al) a chemical element. Aluminium is a light, silver-grey metal used for making pans, etc.: aluminium saucepans/window frames aluminium foil (= for example, for wrapping food in)

alumna noun (pl. alumnae ) (formal, especially NAmE) a former woman student of a school, college or university

alumni noun [pl.] (especially NAmE) the former male and female students of a school, college or university: Harvard Alumni Association

alumnus noun (pl. alumni ) (formal, especially NAmE) a former male student of a school, college or university

alveolar BrE noun (phonetics) a speech sound made with the tongue touching the part of the mouth behind the upper front teeth, for example and in tie and die
alveolar adj.

alveolus BrE noun (pl. alveoli BrE ) (anatomy) one of the many small spaces in each lung where gases can pass into or out of the blood

always adv.
1 at all times; on every occasion: There's always somebody at home in the evenings. Always lock your car. She always arrives at 7.30. The children always seem to be hungry. We're not always this busy!
2 for a long time; since you can remember: Pat has always loved gardening. This is the way we've always done it. This painting is very goodEllie always was very good at art (= so it is not very surprising). Did you always want to be an actor?
3 for all future time: I'll always love you.
4 if you say a person is always doing sth, or sth is always happening, you mean that they do it, or it happens, very often, and that this is annoying: She's always criticizing me. That phone's always ringing. Why are you always complaining about my cooking?
5 can/could always ..., there's always ... used to suggest a possible course of action: If it doesn't fit, you can always take it back. If he can't help, there's always John.
as always as usually happens or is expected AS USUAL: As always, Polly was late for school.more at ONCE adv.

alyssum noun [C, U] one of several types of plant. Some types, with small white, blue, or pink flowers, are common in gardens.

Alzheimer's disease NAmE (also Alzheimer's) noun [U] a serious disease, especially affecting older people, that prevents the brain from functioning normally and causes loss of memory, loss of ability to speak clearly, etc. SENILE DEMENTIA

AM abbr. amplitude modulation (one of the main methods of broadcasting sound by radio)

am strong form BE

a.m. (NAmE also A.M.) abbr. between midnight and midday (from Latin 'ante meridiem'): It starts at 10 a.m.compare P.M.

amah noun (in S or E Asia) a woman employed by a family to clean, care for children, etc.

amalgam noun
1 [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sth) (formal) a mixture or combination of things: The film script is an amalgam of all three books. an amalgam of several companies and organizations
2 [U] (technical) a mixture of MERCURY and another metal, used especially to fill holes in teeth

amalgamate verb ~ (sth) (with/into sth)
1 if two organizations amalgamate or are amalgamated, they join together to form one large organization MERGE: [V] The company has now amalgamated with another local firm. A number of colleges have amalgamated to form the new university. [VN] The two companies were amalgamated into one. They decided to amalgamate the two schools.
2 [VN] ~ sth (into/with sth) to put two or more things together so that they form one MERGE: This information will be amalgamated with information obtained earlier
amalgamation noun [U, C]: the amalgamation of small farms into larger units

amanuensis noun (pl. amanuenses ) (formal)
1 a person who writes down your words when you cannot write, for example if you are injured and have an exam
2 an assistant, especially one who writes or types for sb

amaretti noun [pl.] small Italian biscuits that taste of ALMONDS

amaryllis noun [C, U] a tall white, pink or red flower shaped like a TRUMPET

amasi (also maas) noun [U] (SAfrE) sour milk

amass verb [VN] to collect sth, especially in large quantities ACCUMULATE: He amassed a fortune from silver mining. They amassed enough evidence to convict her. note at COLLECT

amateur noun, adj.
noun
1 a person who takes part in a sport or other activity for enjoyment, not as a job: The tournament is open to both amateurs and professionals.
2 (usually disapproving) a person who is not skilled: This work was done by a bunch of amateurs! PROFESSIONAL
amateurism noun [U]: New rules on amateurism allow payment for promotional work.
adj.
1 [usually before noun] doing sth for enjoyment or interest, not as a job: an amateur photographer
2 [usually before noun] done for enjoyment, not as a job: amateur athletics
3 = AMATEURISH PROFESSIONAL

amateur dramatics noun [U] (BrE) the activity of producing and acting in plays for the theatre, by people who do it for enjoyment, not as a job

amateurish (also amateur) adj. (usually disapproving) not done or made well or with skill: Detectives described the burglary as 'crude and amateurish'. PROFESSIONAL

amatory NAmE adj. [only before noun] (formal or humorous) relating to or connected with sexual desire or activity: his amatory exploits

amaze verb to surprise sb very much: [VN] Just the size of the place amazed her. [VN wh-] It never ceases to amaze me what some people will do for money. What amazes me is how long she managed to hide it from us. [VN (that)] It amazed her that he could be so calm at such a time. note at SURPRISE [also VN to inf]

amazed adj. ~ (at/by sb/sth)| ~ (how/that ... )| ~ (to see, find, learn, etc.) very surprised: an amazed silence I was amazed at her knowledge of French literature. We were amazed by his generosity. I was banging so loudly I'm amazed (that) they didn't hear me. She was amazed how little he had changed. We were amazed to find that no one was hurt.

amazement noun [U] a feeling of great surprise: To my amazement, he remembered me. She looked at him in amazement.

amazing adj. very surprising, especially in a way that makes you feel pleasure or admiration ASTOUNDING, INCREDIBLE: an amazing achievement/discovery/success/performance That's amazing, isn't it? It's amazing how quickly people adapt. It's amazing the difference a few polite words make. The amazing thing is, he really believes he'll get away with it.
amazingly adv.: Amazingly, no one noticed. The meal was amazingly cheap. I think you did amazingly well.

Amazon NAmE noun
1 (in ancient Greek stories) a woman from a group of female WARRIORS (= soldiers)
2 amazon (literary) a tall strong woman

ambassador noun an official who lives in a foreign country as the senior representative there of his or her own country: the British Ambassador to Italy/in Rome a former ambassador to the UN (figurative) The best ambassadors for the sport are the players.
ambassadorial adj.

ambassador-at-large noun (especially NAmE) an ambassador with special duties who is not attached to any particular country

ambassadress noun a female ambassador

amber noun [U]
1 a hard clear yellowish-brown substance, used in making decorative objects or jewellery: amber beads
2 a yellowish-brown colour: The traffic lights were on amber.
amber adj.

amber fluid (also amber liquid) noun [U] (AustralE, informal) beer

ambergris NAmE noun [U] a substance that is used in making some PERFUMES. It is produced naturally by a type of WHALE.

ambi- prefix (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) referring to both of two: ambidextrous ambivalent

ambidextrous adj. able to use the left hand or the right hand equally well

ambience (also ambiance) noun [sing.] the character and atmosphere of a place: the relaxed ambience of the city low lighting for added ambience

ambient adj.
1 [only before noun] (technical) relating to the surrounding area; on all sides: ambient temperature/light/conditions
2 (especially of music) creating a relaxed atmosphere: a compilation of ambient electronic music soft, ambient lighting

ambiguity noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] the state of having more than one possible meaning: Write clear definitions in order to avoid ambiguity. A lot of humour depends on ambiguity.
2 [C] a word or statement that can be understood in more than one way: There were several inconsistencies and ambiguities in her speech.
3 [C, U] the state of being difficult to understand or explain because of involving many different aspects: You must understand the ambiguity of my position.

ambiguous adj.
1 that can be understood in more than one way; having different meanings: an ambiguous word/term/statement Her account was deliberately ambiguous.
2 not clearly stated or defined: His role has always been ambiguous. UNAMBIGUOUS
ambiguously adv.: an ambiguously worded agreement

ambit noun [sing.] (formal) the range of the authority or influence of sth: This case falls clearly within the ambit of the 2001 act.

ambition noun ~ (to be/do sth)| ~ (of being/doing sth)
1 [C] something that you want to do or achieve very much: She never achieved her ambition of becoming a famous writer. His burning ambition was to study medicine. It had been her lifelong ambition. political/literary/sporting ambitions
2 [U] the desire or determination to be successful, rich, powerful, etc.: motivated by personal ambition She was intelligent but suffered from a lack of ambition.

ambitious adj.
1 determined to be successful, rich, powerful, etc.: a fiercely ambitious young manager They were very ambitious for their children (= they wanted them to be successful).
2 needing a lot of effort, money or time to succeed: the government's ambitious plans for social reform Jogging every morning? That's very ambitious, isn't it? UNAMBITIOUS
ambitiously adv.

ambivalent adj. ~ (about/towards sb/sth) having or showing both good and bad feelings about sb/sth: She seems to feel ambivalent about her new job. He has an ambivalent attitude towards her.
ambivalence noun [U, sing.] ~ (about/towards sb/sth): There was ambivalence among church members about women becoming priests. Many people feel some ambivalence towards television and its effect on our lives. ambivalently adv.

amble verb [V + adv. / prep.] to walk at a slow relaxed speed STROLL: We ambled down to the beach. They ambled along for miles. Mark ambled over to the girls.

ambrosia NAmE noun [U]
1 (in ancient Greek and Roman stories) the food of the gods
2 (literary) something that is very pleasant to eat

ambulance noun a vehicle with special equipment, used for taking sick or injured people to a hospital: the ambulance service ambulance staff Call an ambulance!

ambulance chaser noun (informal disapproving, especially NAmE) a lawyer who earns money by encouraging people who have been in an accident to make claims in court

ambulance worker noun (BrE) a person who drives an ambulance and treats sick or injured people before they are taken to a hospitalcompare PARAMEDIC

ambulant (also ambulatory) adj. (medical) (of a patient) able to walk; not having to stay in bed

ambulatory NAmE adj.
1 (formal) related to or adapted for walking: an ambulatory corridor
2 (formal) that is not fixed in one place and can move around easily MOBILE: an ambulatory care service
3 (medical) = AMBULANT

ambush noun, verb
noun [C, U] the act of hiding and waiting for sb and then making a surprise attack on them: Two soldiers were killed in a terrorist ambush. They were lying in ambush, waiting for the aid convoy. The government was defeated in its attempt to pass the law by an opposition ambush.
verb [VN] to make a surprise attack on sb/sth from a hidden position: The guerrillas ambushed them near the bridge. (figurative) She was ambushed by reporters.

ameba, amebic (US) = AMOEBA, AMOEBIC

ameliorate verb [VN] (formal) to make sth better: Steps have been taken to ameliorate the situation.
amelioration noun [U]

amen (also Amen) exclamation, noun a word used at the end of prayers and HYMNS, meaning 'may it be so': We ask this through our Lord, Amen. Amen to that (= I certainly agree with that).

amenable adj.
1 ~ (to sth) (of people) easy to control; willing to be influenced by sb/sth: They had three very amenable children. He seemed most amenable to my idea.
2 ~ to sth (formal) that you can treat in a particular way: 'Hamlet' is the least amenable of all Shakespeare's plays to being summarized.

amend verb [VN] to change a law, document, statement, etc. slightly in order to correct a mistake or to improve it: He asked to see the amended version. The law has been amended to read as follows: ...

amendment noun
1 [C, U] ~ (to sth) a small change or improvement that is made to a law or a document; the process of changing a law or a document: to introduce/propose/table an amendment (= to suggest it) She made several minor amendments to her essay. Parliament passed the bill without further amendment.
2 Amendment [C] a statement of a change to the CONSTITUTION of the US: The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote.

amends noun [pl.]
make amends (to sb) (for sth/for doing sth) to do sth for sb in order to show that you are sorry for sth wrong or unfair that you have done MAKE UP FOR STH: She tried to make amends for what she had said to her mother by buying her some flowers.

amenity NAmE noun [usually pl.] (pl. -ies) a feature that makes a place pleasant, comfortable or easy to live in: The campsite is close to all local amenities. Many of the houses lacked even basic amenities (= for example, baths, showers, hot water).

amenorrhoea (BrE) (NAmE amenorrhea) NAmE noun [U] (medical) a condition in which an adult woman does not MENSTRUATE (= there is no flow of blood from her WOMB every month)

Amerasian noun a person with one Asian parent and one parent from the US
Amerasian adj.

American noun, adj.
noun
1 a person from America, especially the USsee also AFRICAN AMERICAN, NATIVE AMERICAN
2 (also American English) the English language as spoken in the US
adj. of or connected with N or S America, especially the US: I'm American. American culture/tourists
as American as apple pie used to say that sth is typical of America

MORE ABOUT

America

The continent of America is divided into North America and South America. The narrow region joining North and South America is Central America.

North America, which is a geographical term, consists of the United States of America, Canada and Mexico. Latin America, a cultural term, refers to the non-English speaking countries of Central and South America, where mainly Portuguese and Spanish are spoken. Mexico is part of Latin America.

The United States of America is usually shortened to the USA, the US, the States or simply America: the US PresidentHave you ever been to the States?She emigrated to America in 1995. Many people from other parts of the continent dislike this use of America to mean just the US, but it is very common.

American is usually used to talk about somebody or something from the United States of America: Do you have an American passport?American football I'm not American, I'm Canadian. Latin American and South American are used to refer to other parts of the continent: Latin American dance musicQuite a lot of South Americans study here.

Americana noun [pl.] things connected with the US that are thought to be typical of it: She collects Fifties Americana.

American breakfast noun a large breakfast which can include CEREAL and cooked food, such as eggs with HAMsee also ENGLISH BREAKFAST, CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

American cheese noun [U] (US) a kind of orange cheese that is usually sold in thin slices wrapped in plastic

the American dream noun [sing.] the values and social standards that people traditionally try to achieve in the US, such as DEMOCRACY, equal rights and wealth

the American eagle noun a bird with a white head and white tail feathers that is the national symbol of the US

American football (BrE) (NAmE football) noun [U] a game played by two teams of 11 players, using an OVAL ball which players kick, throw, or carry. Teams try to put the ball over the other team's line.

American Indian noun = NATIVE AMERICAN

Americanism noun
1 [C] a word, phrase or spelling that is typical of American English, used in another variety of English
2 [U] the essential quality of being American

Americanize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to make sb/sth American in character
Americanization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

the American League noun (in the US) one of the two organizations for professional BASEBALLsee also NATIONAL LEAGUE

American plan noun [U] = FULL BOARD

americium noun [U] (symb Am) a chemical element. Americium is a RADIOACTIVE metal.

AmeriCorps noun a US organization whose members help in their communities, for example by building and repairing homes, cleaning parks and preventing crime. Members can receive money to pay for their education.

Amerindian noun (old-fashioned) = NATIVE AMERICAN

amethyst noun [C, U] a purple SEMI-PRECIOUS STONE, used in making jewellery: an amethyst ring

amiable adj. pleasant; friendly and easy to like AGREEABLE: an amiable tone of voice Her parents seemed very amiable.
amiability noun [U] amiably adv.: 'That's fine,' he replied amiably.

amicable adj. done or achieved in a polite or friendly way and without arguing: an amicable relationship An amicable settlement was reached. In spite of their disagreement they parted on amicable terms.
amicably adv.: The policeman chatted amicably to the bystanders.

amid (also mid, amidst ) prep. (formal)
1 in the middle of or during sth, especially sth that causes excitement or fear: He finished his speech amid tremendous applause. The firm collapsed amid allegations of fraud.
2 surrounded by sth: The hotel was in a beautiful position amid lemon groves.

amidships adv. (technical) in or near the middle part of a ship

amino acid NAmE noun (chemistry) any of the substances that combine to form the basic structure of PROTEINS: Eggs contain all eight essential amino acids which we depend on for good health.

amir = EMIR

the Amish BrE noun [pl.] the members of a strict religious group in N America. The Amish live a simple farming life and reject some forms of modern technology.
Amish adj.

amiss adj., adv.
adj. [not before noun] wrong; not as it should be: She sensed something was amiss and called the police. He shone a light inside and saw nothing amiss.
adv.
not come/go amiss (BrE) to be useful or pleasant in a particular situation: A little luck wouldn't go amiss right now!
take sth amiss (BrE) to feel offended by sth, perhaps because you have understood it in the wrong way: Would she take it amiss if I offered to help?

amity noun [U] (formal) a friendly relationship between people or countries

amma noun (IndE) (especially as a form of address) a mother

ammeter noun an instrument for measuring the strength of an electric current

ammo NAmE noun [U] (old-fashioned, informal) = AMMUNITION

ammonia NAmE noun [U] (symb NH3) a gas with a strong smell; a clear liquid containing ammonia, used as a cleaning substance

ammonite noun [C] a FOSSIL of a simple sea creature which no longer exists, and which was related to SNAILS

ammonium NAmE noun [U] (chemistry) a salt made from AMMONIA containing NITROGEN and HYDROGEN together with another element

ammunition noun [U]
1 a supply of bullets, etc. to be fired from guns: The bandits escaped with a rifle and 120 rounds of ammunition.
2 information that can be used against another person in an argument: The letter gave her all the ammunition she needed. These figures provide political ammunition to police chiefs arguing for more resources.

amnesia NAmE noun [U] a medical condition in which sb partly or completely loses their memory
amnesiac NAmE noun: This new discovery helps amnesiacs keep their memory.

amnesty noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C, usually sing., U] an official statement that allows people who have been put in prison for crimes against the state to go free: The president granted a general amnesty for all political prisoners. Guerrilla groups have accepted the government's offer of amnesty and have begun demobilizing.
2 [C, usually sing.] a period of time during which people can admit to a crime or give up weapons without being punished: 2 000 knives have been handed in during the month-long amnesty.

Amnesty International noun an international human rights organization that works to help people who have been put in prison for their beliefs or race and not because they have committed a crime. It also works to prevent TORTURE and punishment by death.

amniocentesis NAmE noun [U, sing.] a medical test that involves taking some liquid from a pregnant woman's WOMB in order to find out if the baby has particular illnesses or health problems: Pregnant women over the age of 35 will be offered (an) amniocentesis.

amniotic fluid NAmE noun [U] the liquid that surrounds a baby inside the mother's WOMB

amn't short form (ScotE, IrishE, non-standard) am not

amoeba (US also ameba) noun (pl. amoebas or amoebae ) a very small living creature that consists of only one cell

amoebic (US also amebic) adj. related to or similar to an amoeba

amoebic dysentery (US also amebic dysentery) noun [U] an infection of the INTESTINE caused by an amoeba

amok NAmE adv.
run amok to suddenly become very angry or excited and start behaving violently, especially in a public place: Some drunken students had run amok in the college car park.

among (also amongst ) prep.
1 surrounded by sb/sth; in the middle of sb/sth: a house among the trees They strolled among the crowds. I found the letter amongst his papers. It's OK, you're among friends now.
2 being included or happening in groups of things or people: A British woman was among the survivors. He was among the last to leave. This attitude is common among the under-25s. 'What was wrong with the job?' 'Well, the pay wasn't good, among other things.' Discuss it among yourselves first (= with each other).
3 used when you are dividing or choosing sth, and three or more people or things are involved: They divided the money up among the children.

amoral NAmE adj. not following any moral rules and not caring about right and wrong: Guy was greedy, amoral and dishonest.compare IMMORAL, MORAL
amorality noun [U]: His amorality helped him to survive in business.

amorous adj. showing sexual desire and love towards sb: Mary rejected Tony's amorous advances.
amorously adv.

amorphous NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (formal) having no definite shape, form or structure SHAPELESS: an amorphous mass of cells with no identity at all

amortize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN] (business) to pay back a debt by making small regular payments over a period of time
amortization, -isation NAmE noun [U, C]

amount noun, verb
noun [C, U]
1 a sum of money: The insurance company will refund any amount due to you. You will receive a bill for the full amount. Small amounts will be paid in cash.
2 ~ (of sth) (used especially with uncountable nouns) a quantity of sth: an amount of time/money/information We've had an enormous amount of help from people. The server is designed to store huge amounts of data.
any amount of sth a large quantity of sth: There's been any amount of research into the subject.
no amount of sth used for saying that sth will have no effect: No amount of encouragement would make him jump into the pool.
verb
amount to sth
1 to add up to sth; to make sth as a total: His earnings are said to amount to £300 000 per annum. They gave me some help in the beginning but it did not amount to much (= they did not give me much help).
2 to be equal to or the same as sth: Her answer amounted to a complete refusal. Their actions amount to a breach of contract. It'll cost a lotwell, take a lot of time, but it amounts to the same thing.

amour NAmE noun (old-fashioned, from French) a love affair, especially a secret one

amour propre NAmE noun [U] (from French) a feeling of pride in your own character and abilities: Vanity and amour propre played a greater role in Catherine's policies than in those of any other ruler of the period.

amp noun
1 (also ampere NAmE ) (abbr. A) the unit for measuring electric current: a 13 amp fuse/plug
2 (informal) = AMPLIFIER

amperage noun [U] the strength of an electric current, measured in AMPS

ampersand NAmE noun the symbol ( & ) used to mean 'and': She works for Bond & Green.

amphetamine noun [C, U] a drug that makes you feel excited and full of energy. Amphetamines are sometimes taken illegally.

amphibian noun any animal that can live both on land and in water. Amphibians have cold blood and skin without SCALES. FROGS, TOADS and NEWTS are all amphibians.compare REPTILE

amphibious adj.
1 able to live both on land and in water
2 (of military operations) involving soldiers landing at a place from the sea: an amphibious raid/assault
3 suitable for use on land or water: amphibious vehicles

amphitheatre (BrE) (NAmE -ter) NAmE noun
1 a round building without a roof and with rows of seats that rise in steps around an open space. Amphitheatres were used especially in ancient Greece and Rome for public entertainments.
2 a room, hall or theatre with rows of seats that rise in steps
3 (technical) an open space that is surrounded by high sloping land: The path emerges from the gorge into an open amphitheatre with slopes all around.

amphora NAmE noun (pl. amphorae NAmE or amphoras) a tall ancient Greek or Roman container with two handles and a narrow neck

ampicillin noun [U] a form of PENICILLIN that is used to treat certain infections

ample adj.
1 enough or more than enough PLENTY OF: ample opportunity/evidence/space/proof There was ample time to get to the airport. Ample free parking is available.
2 (of a person's figure) large, often in an attractive way: an ample bosom These clothes belonged to a man of more ample girth.
amply adv.: His efforts were amply rewarded.

amplifier (also informal amp) noun an electrical device or piece of equipment that makes sounds or radio signals louder: a 25 watt amplifier

amplify verb (amplifies, amplifying, amplified, amplified)
1 [VN] to increase sth in strength, especially sound: to amplify a guitar/an electric current/a signal
2 (formal) to add details to a story, statement, etc.: [V] She refused to amplify further. [VN] You may need to amplify this point.
amplification noun [U]: electronic amplification That comment needs some amplification.

amplitude NAmE noun [U, C] (physics) the greatest distance that a wave, especially a sound or radio wave, VIBRATES (= moves up and down)

amply adv. AMPLE

ampoule (US also ampule) NAmE noun a small container, usually made of glass, containing a drug that will be used for an INJECTION: The drugs stolen include an ampoule of adrenalin which could kill if injected.

amputate verb to cut off sb's arm, leg, finger or toe in a medical operation: [VN] He had to have both legs amputated. [V] They may have to amputate.
amputation noun [U, C]

amputee noun a person who has had an arm or a leg amputated

amulet noun a piece of jewellery that some people wear because they think it protects them from bad luck, illness, etc.

amuse verb
1 to make sb laugh or smile: [VN] My funny drawings amused the kids. This will amuse you. [VN to inf] It amused him to think that they were probably talking about him at that very moment.
2 [VN] to make time pass pleasantly for sb/yourself ENTERTAIN: She suggested several ideas to help Laura amuse the twins. I'm sure I'll be able to amuse myself for a few hours.

amused adj. ~ (at/by sth)| ~ (to see, find, learn, etc.) thinking that sb/sth is funny, so that you smile or laugh: There was an amused look on the President's face. We were all amused at his stories. He was amused to see how seriously she took the game. Janet was not amused (= she was annoyed or angry).
keep sb amused to give sb interesting things to do, or to entertain them so that they do not become bored: Playing with water can keep children amused for hours.

amuse-gueule noun (pl. amuse-gueules or amuse-gueule) (from French) a small item of food that you have before a meal

amusement noun
1 [U] the feeling that you have when sth is funny or amusing, or it entertains you: She could not hide her amusement at the way he was dancing. To my amusement he couldn't get the door open. Her eyes twinkled with amusement. His son was a continuous source of amusement and delight to him.
2 [C, usually pl.] a game, an activity, etc. that provides entertainment and pleasure: traditional seaside amusements including boats, go-karts and a funfair

amusement arcade (BrE) (also arcade NAmE, BrE) noun a place where you can play games on machines which you use coins to operate

amusement park noun a large park which has a lot of things that you can ride and play on and many different activities to enjoy

amusing adj. funny and enjoyable: an amusing story/game/incident She writes very amusing letters. I didn't find the joke at all amusing. note at FUNNY
amusingly adv.: The film amusingly pokes fun at the media.

amylase NAmE noun [U] (chemistry) an ENZYME (= a substance that helps a chemical change to take place) that allows the body to change some substances into simple sugars

amyl nitrite (also informal amyl) noun [U] a yellowish liquid that changes quickly to a gas. Amyl nitrite is used as a medicine and also as a drug that is taken for pleasure.

an indefinite article A

-an, -ana -IAN, -IANA

anabolic steroid NAmE noun an artificial HORMONE (= a chemical substance) that increases the size of the muscles. It is sometimes taken illegally by people who play sports.see also STEROID

anachronism noun
1 a person, a custom or an idea that seems old-fashioned and does not belong to the present: The monarchy is seen by many people as an anachronism in the modern world. She said nuclear weapons were an anachronism in the post cold war era.
2 something that is placed, for example in a book or play, in the wrong period of history: The book is full of anachronisms which suggests there were parts rewritten in later centuries.
anachronistic adj.: The costumes were anachronistic for a Victorian play.

anaconda NAmE noun a large S American snake of the BOA family, that crushes other animals to death before eating them

anaemia (BrE) (NAmE anemia) noun [U] a medical condition in which sb has too few red cells in their blood, making them look pale and feel weak

anaemic (BrE) (NAmE anemic) adj.
1 suffering from anaemia: She looks anaemic.
2 weak and not having much effect FEEBLE: an anaemic performance

anaerobic NAmE adj.
1 (biology) not needing OXYGEN: anaerobic bacteria
2 (of physical exercise) not especially designed to improve the function of the heart and lungs AEROBIC

anaesthesia (BrE) (NAmE anesthesia ) noun [U]
1 the use of anaesthetic during medical operations: surgery carried out under anaesthesia
2 (technical) the state of being unable to feel anything, especially pain

anaesthetic (BrE) (NAmE anesthetic) noun, adj.
noun [C, U] a drug that makes a person or an animal unable to feel anything, especially pain, either in the whole body or in a part of the body: How long will I be under the anaesthetic? They gave him a general anaesthetic (= one that makes you become unconscious). (a) local anaesthetic (= one that affects only a part of the body) We forget what life must have been like without anaesthetics and painkillers.
adj. [only before noun] containing a substance that makes a person or an animal unable to feel pain in all or part of the body: an anaesthetic drug/spray

anaesthetist (BrE) (NAmE anesthetist) noun a person who is trained to give anaesthetics to patients

anaesthetize (BrE also -ise) (especially BrE) (NAmE usually anesthetize) verb [VN] to make a person unable to feel pain, etc., especially by giving them an anaesthetic before a medical operation

AnaglyptaTM noun [U] a type of thick WALLPAPER with a raised pattern that you paint over

anagram noun a word or phrase that is made by arranging the letters of another word or phrase in a different order: An anagram of 'Elvis' is 'lives'.

anal adj.
1 connected with the ANUS: the anal region
2 (also anal-retentive) (disapproving) caring too much about small details and about how things are organized
anally adv.

analgesia NAmE noun [U] (medical) the loss of the ability to feel pain while still conscious

analgesic noun (medical) a substance that reduces pain PAINKILLER: Aspirin is a mild analgesic.
analgesic adj.: analgesic drugs/effects

analogous adj. (formal) ~ (to/with sth) similar in some way to another thing or situation and therefore able to be compared with it: Sleep has often been thought of as being in some way analogous to death. The two processes are not analogous.

analogue (BrE) (NAmE analog) NAmE adj., noun
adj. (technical)
1 (of an electronic process) using a continuously changing range of physical quantities to measure or store data: an analogue circuit/computer/signal
2 (BrE also analog) (of a clock or watch) showing the time using hands on a DIAL and not with a display of numberscompare DIGITAL
noun (formal or technical) a thing that is similar to another thing: Scientists are attempting to compare features of extinct animals with living analogues.

analogy noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] ~ (between A and B)| ~ (with sth) a comparison of one thing with another thing that has similar features; a feature that is similar: The teacher drew an analogy between the human heart and a pump. There are no analogies with any previous legal cases.
2 [U] the process of comparing one thing with another thing that has similar features in order to explain it: learning by analogy

analphabetic adj.
1 (technical) completely unable to read or write
2 = NON-ALPHABETIC
3 (linguistics) representing sounds with signs made of several parts rather than by single letters or symbols

anal-retentive adj. = ANAL

analysand noun (psychology) a person who is having PSYCHOANALYSIS

analyse (BrE) (NAmE analyze) verb
1 to examine the nature or structure of sth, especially by separating it into its parts, in order to understand or explain it: [VN] The job involves gathering and analysing data. He tried to analyse his feelings. The first step is to define and analyse the problem. [V wh-] We need to analyse what went wrong.
2 [VN] = PSYCHOANALYSE

analysis noun (pl. analyses )
1 [U, C] the detailed study or examination of sth in order to understand more about it; the result of the study: statistical analysis The book is an analysis of poverty and its causes. At the meeting they presented a detailed analysis of twelve schools in a London borough.
2 [U, C] a careful examination of a substance in order to find out what it consists of: The blood samples are sent to the laboratory for analysis. You can ask for a chemical analysis of your tap water.
3 [U] = PSYCHOANALYSIS: In analysis the individual resolves difficult emotional conflicts.
in the final/last analysis used to say what is most important after everything has been discussed, or considered: In the final analysis, it's a matter of personal choice.

analyst noun
1 a person whose job involves examining facts or materials in order to give an opinion on them: a political/food analyst City analysts forecast huge profits this year.see also SYSTEMS ANALYST
2 = PSYCHOANALYST

analytic adj.
1 (also isolating) (linguistics) (of languages) using word order rather than word endings to show the functions of words in a sentencecompare SYNTHETIC, AGGLUTINATIVE
2 = ANALYTICAL

analytical (also analytic ) adj.
1 using a logical method of thinking about sth in order to understand it, especially by looking at all the parts separately: She has a clear analytical mind. an analytic approach to the problem
2 using scientific analysis in order to find out about sth: analytical methods of research
analytically adv.: Tests that measure children's ability to think analytically are being introduced in a number of schools.

analyze (NAmE) = ANALYSE

anapaest (BrE) (NAmE anapest ) noun (technical) a unit of sound in poetry consisting of two weak or short syllables followed by one strong or long syllable
anapaestic, anapestic NAmE adj.

anaphor noun (grammar) a word or phrase that refers back to an earlier word or phrase, for example in the phrase 'My mother said she was leaving', where 'she' is used as an anaphor for 'my mother'

anaphora noun [U] the use of a word that refers to or replaces another word used earlier in a sentence, for example the use of 'does' in the sentence 'I disagree and so does John'
anaphoric NAmE adj.

anaphylaxis noun [U, C] (pl. anaphylaxes ) (medical) an extreme ALLERGIC reaction to sth that you eat or touch
anaphylactic adj.: anaphylactic shock

anarchism NAmE noun [U] the political belief that laws and governments are not necessary

anarchist NAmE noun a person who believes that laws and governments are not necessary
anarchistic NAmE adj.

anarchy NAmE noun [U] a situation in a country, an organization, etc. in which there is no government, order or control: The overthrow of the military regime was followed by a period of anarchy. There was complete anarchy in the classroom when their usual teacher was away.
anarchic NAmE (also less frequent anarchical ) adj.: It had become a lawless, anarchic city in which corruption thrived.

anathema noun [U, C, usually sing.] (formal) a thing or an idea which you hate because it is the opposite of what you believe: Racial prejudice is (an) anathema to me.

anatomist noun a scientist who studies anatomy

anatomy noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] the scientific study of the structure of human or animal bodies: the department of anatomy and physiology
2 [C, U] the structure of an animal or a plant: the anatomy of the horse human anatomy
3 [C] (humorous) a person's body: Various parts of his anatomy were clearly visible.
4 [C] (formal) an examination of what sth is like or why it happens: an anatomy of the current recession
anatomical NAmE adj.: anatomical diagrams anatomically adv.

ANC abbr. African National Congress (= a political party in South Africa)

-ance, -ence suffix (in nouns) the action or state of: assistance confidence

ancestor noun
1 a person in your family who lived a long time ago: His ancestors had come to America from Ireland. FOREBEAR
2 an animal that lived in the past which a modern animal has developed from: a reptile that was the common ancestor of lizards and turtles
3 an early form of a machine which later became more developed FORERUNNER: The ancestor of the modern bicycle was called a penny-farthing.compare DESCENDANT
ancestral adj.: her ancestral home (= that had belonged to her ANCESTORS)

ancestry noun [C, usually sing., U] (pl. -ies) the family or the race of people that you come from: to have Scottish ancestry He was able to trace his ancestry back over 1 000 years.

anchor noun, verb
noun
1 a heavy metal object that is attached to a rope or chain and dropped over the side of a ship or boat to keep it in one place: to drop anchor The ship lay at anchor two miles off the rocky coast. We weighed anchor (= pulled it out of the water).
2 a person or thing that gives sb a feeling of safety: the anchor of the family
3 (especially NAmE) = ANCHORMAN, ANCHORWOMAN
verb
1 to let an anchor down from a boat or ship in order to prevent it from moving away: [V] We anchored off the coast of Spain. [also VN]
2 [VN] to fix sth firmly in position so that it cannot move: Make sure the table is securely anchored.
3 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (in/to sth) to firmly base sth on sth else: Her novels are anchored in everyday experience.
4 (NAmE) to be the person who introduces reports or reads the news on television or radio: [VN] She anchored the evening news for seven years. [also V]

anchorage noun [C, U]
1 a place where ships or boats can anchor
2 a place where sth can be fastened to sth else: anchorage points for a baby's car seat

anchoress noun a female ANCHORITE

anchorite noun (in the past) a religious person who lived alone and avoided other people

anchorman NAmE , anchorwoman NAmE noun (pl. -men , -women ) (also anchor especially in NAmE) a man or woman who presents a radio or television programme and introduces reports by other people

anchovy NAmE noun [C, U] (pl. -ies) a small fish with a strong salty flavour: a pizza topped with cheese and anchovies

ancient adj.
1 belonging to a period of history that is thousands of years in the past MODERN: ancient history/civilization ancient Greece
2 very old; having existed for a very long time: an ancient oak tree ancient monuments (humorous) He's ancienthe must be at least fifty!
3 the ancientsnoun [pl.] the people who lived in ancient times, especially the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans
anciently adv.: The area where the market was anciently held (= in ancient times).

ancillary NAmE adj. ~ (to sth)
1 providing necessary support to the main work or activities of an organization AUXILIARY: ancillary staff/services/equipment ancillary workers in the health service such as cooks and cleaners
2 in addition to sth else but not as important: ancillary rights

-ancy, -ency suffix (in nouns) the state or quality of: expectancy complacency

and also especially after strong form conj. (used to connect words or parts of sentences)
1 also; in addition to: bread and butter a table, two chairs and a desk Sue and I left early. Do it slowly and carefully. Can he read and write? I cooked lunch. And I made a cake. (= you are emphasizing how much you have done) When and is used in common phrases connecting two things or people that are closely linked, the determiner is not usually repeated before the second: a knife and fork my father and mother, but a knife and a spoon my father and my uncle.
2 added to PLUS: 5 and 5 makes 10. What's 47 and 16? When numbers (but not dates) are spoken, and is used between the hundreds and the figures that follow: 2 264two thousand, two hundred and sixty-four, but 1964nineteen sixty-four.
3 then; following this: She came in and took her coat off.
4 go, come, try, stay, etc. ~ used before a verb instead of to, to show purpose: Go and get me a pen please. I'll come and see you soon. We stopped and bought some bread. In this structure try can only be used in the infinitive or to tell somebody what to do.
5 used to introduce a comment or a question: 'We talked for hours.' 'And what did you decide?'
6 as a result: Miss another class and you'll fail.
7 used between repeated words to show that sth is repeated or continuing: He tried and tried but without success. The pain got worse and worse.
8 used between repeated words to show that there are important differences between things or people of the same kind: I like city life but there are cities and cities.see also AND/OR

andante noun (music) a piece of music to be played fairly slowly
andante adv., adj.

and/or conj. (informal) used when you say that two situations exist together, or as an alternative to each other: There is no help for those with lots of luggage and/or small children.

androgen noun (biology) a male sex HORMONE, for example TESTOSTERONE

androgynous NAmE adj. having both male and female characteristics; looking neither strongly male nor strongly female: She had an androgynous sexiness.

android (also droid) noun a ROBOT that looks like a real person

anecdotal NAmE adj. based on anecdotes and possibly not true or accurate: anecdotal evidence Anecdotal evidence suggests there were irregularities at the polling station on the day of the election.
anecdotally adv.: This reaction has been reported anecdotally by a number of patients.

anecdote NAmE noun [C, U]
1 a short, interesting or amusing story about a real person or event: amusing anecdotes about his brief career as an actor The book is a rich store of anecdote.
2 a personal account of an event: This research is based on anecdote not fact.

anemia, anemic (NAmE) = ANAEMIA, ANAEMIC

anemometer NAmE (also wind gauge) noun an instrument for measuring the speed of the wind or of a current of gas

anemone noun a small plant with white, red, blue or purple flowers that are shaped like cups and have dark centressee also SEA ANEMONE

aneroid noun a type of BAROMETER that measures air pressure by the action of air on the ELASTIC lid of a box containing a VACUUM
aneroid adj.

anesthesia, anesthetic, anesthetist, anesthetize (NAmE) = ANAESTHESIA, ANAESTHETIC, ANAESTHETIST, ANAESTHETIZE

anesthesiologist NAmE noun (NAmE) a doctor who studies the use of anaesthetics

aneurysm noun (medical) an area of extreme swelling on the wall of an ARTERY

anew NAmE adv. (formal) if sb does sth anew, they do it again from the beginning or do it in a different way: They started life anew in Canada.

angel noun
1 a spirit who is believed to be a servant of God, and is sent by God to deliver a message or perform a task. Angels are often shown dressed in white, with wings.see also GUARDIAN ANGEL
2 a person who is very good and kind; a child who behaves well: John is no angel, believe me (= he does not behave well). Mary's children are little angels.
3 (informal) used when you are talking to sb and you are grateful to them: Thanks Dad, you're an angel. Be an angel and make me a cup of coffee.

angel dust noun [U] (informal) a powerful illegal drug that affects people's minds and causes them to see and hear things that are not there

Angeleno (also Angelino) NAmE noun (pl. -os) (informal) a person who lives in Los Angeles

angelfish noun (pl. angelfish or angelfishes) a type of brightly coloured FRESHWATER or SALTWATER fish with a thin deep body and long FINS

angel food cake noun [U, C] (NAmE) a light cake made with the white part of eggs without fat, often baked in a ring shape

angel hair noun [U] PASTA that looks like very thin string when it is cooked

angelic adj. good, kind or beautiful; like an angel: an angelic smile
angelically adv.

angelica noun [U] pieces of a plant with a sweet smell, that have been boiled in sugar and are used to decorate cakes

angelus (also the Angelus) noun [sing.] (in the Roman Catholic Church) prayers said in the morning, at midday and in the evening; a bell rung when it is time for these prayers

anger noun, verb
noun [U] ~ (at sb/sth) the strong feeling that you have when sth has happened that you think is bad and unfair: He was filled with anger at the way he had been treated. Jan slammed her fist on the desk in anger. Many people never really express any anger. the growing anger and frustration of young unemployed people
verb [VN] [often passive] to make sb angry: The question clearly angered him. She was angered by their selfishness and lack of concern.

angina (also technical angina pectoris ) noun [U] (medical) severe pain in the chest caused by a low supply of blood to the heart during exercise because the ARTERIES are partly blocked

angioplasty NAmE noun [C, U] (pl. -ies) (medical) a medical operation to repair or open a blocked BLOOD VESSEL, especially either of the two ARTERIES that supply blood to the heart

angle noun, verb
noun
1 the space between two lines or surfaces that join, measured in degrees: a 45° angle the rocket's angle of descentsee also ACUTE ANGLE, ADJACENT ANGLE, CORRESPONDING ANGLES, OBTUSE ANGLE, RIGHT ANGLE, WIDE-ANGLE LENS
2 the direction that sth is leaning or pointing in when it is not in a vertical or horizontal line: The tower of Pisa leans at an angle. The plane was coming in at a steep angle. His hair was sticking up at all angles.
3 a position from which you look at sth: The photo was taken from an unusual angle. The painting changes slightly when seen from different angles.
4 a particular way of presenting or thinking about a situation, problem, etc.: We need a new angle for our next advertising campaign. You can look at the issue from many different angles. The article concentrates on the human angle (= the part that concerns people's emotions) of the story.
verb
1 [VN] to move or place sth so that it is not straight or not directly facing sb/sth: He angled his chair so that he could sit and watch her.
2 [VN] to present information, a report, etc. based on a particular way of thinking or for a particular audience: The programme is angled towards younger viewers.
3 (usually go angling) [V] to catch fish with a line and a hook
angle for sth to try to get a particular reaction or response from sb, without directly asking for what you want: She was angling for sympathy.

angle bracket noun [usually pl.] one of a pair of marks, < >, used around words or figures to separate them from the surrounding text

angle grinder noun a tool with a round turning part that cuts or polishes hard materials such as metal

angler noun a person who catches fish (= goes angling) as a hobbycompare FISHERMAN

Anglican noun a member of the Church of England or of a Church connected with it in another country
Anglican adj.: the Anglican Church

Anglicism noun a word or phrase from the English language that is used in another language: Many French people try to avoid Anglicisms such as 'weekend' and 'shopping'.

Anglicize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to make sb/sth English in character: Gutmann anglicized his name to Goodman.

angling noun [U] (BrE) the art or sport of catching fish with a FISHING ROD, usually in rivers and lakes rather than in the sea

Anglo NAmE noun (pl. -os)
1 (especially US) a white person of European origin
2 (CanE, informal) = ANGLOPHONE

Anglo- NAmE combining form (in nouns and adjectives) English or British: Anglo-American Anglophile

Anglo-Catholic noun a member of the part of the Church of England that is most similar to the Roman Catholic Church in its beliefs and practices

anglomania NAmE noun [U] an extremely strong admiration for England or English customs

Anglo-Norman noun [U] a form of Norman French spoken in England in the MIDDLE AGES

Anglophile NAmE noun a person who is not British but who likes Britain or British things very much

Anglophobia NAmE noun [U] hatred or fear of England or Britain
Anglophobe NAmE noun: Her father was an Anglophobe. Anglophobic NAmE adj.

anglophone NAmE noun a person who speaks English, especially in countries where English is not the only language that is spoken: Canada's native anglophones
anglophone adj.: anglophone communities distinctions between Anglophone and Francophone Africa

Anglo-Saxon noun
1 [C] a person whose ANCESTORS were English
2 [C] an English person of the period before the Norman Conquest
3 [U] Old English
Anglo-Saxon adj.: Anglo-Saxon kings

angora noun
1 [C] a breed of cat, GOAT or RABBIT that has long smooth hair
2 [U] a type of soft wool or cloth made from the hair of the angora GOAT or RABBIT: an angora sweater

angostura NAmE noun [U] a bitter liquid, flavoured with the BARK of a tropical tree, that is used to give flavour to alcoholic drinks

angrez noun (pl. angrez) (IndE, informal) an English person

angry adj. (angrier, angriest) You can also use more angry and most angry.
1 ~ (at/about/over sth)| ~ with/at sb (about/for sth) having strong feelings about sth that you dislike very much or about an unfair situation: Please don't be angry with me. It wasn't my fault. The passengers grew angry about the delay. He felt angry at the injustice of the situation. Thousands of angry demonstrators filled the square. The comments provoked an angry response from union leaders. I was very angry with myself for making such a stupid mistake. Her behaviour really made me angry.
2 (of a wound) red and infected
3 (literary) (of the sea or the sky) dark and STORMY: the angry sea with its terrible waves
angrily adv.: Some senators reacted angrily to the President's remarks. He swore angrily.

SYNONYMS

angry

mad indignant cross irate

All these words describe people feeling and/or showing anger.

angry feeling or showing anger: Please don't be angry with me. Thousands of angry demonstrators filled the square.

mad [not before noun] (informal, especially NAmE) angry: He got mad and walked out. She's mad at me for being late. Mad is the usual word for 'angry' in informal American English. When used in British English, especially in the phrase go mad, it can mean 'very angry': Dad'll go mad when he sees what you've done. 'Go mad' can also mean 'go crazy' or 'get very excited'.

indignant feeling or showing anger and surprise because you think that you or sb else has been treated unfairly: She was very indignant at the way she had been treated.

cross (rather informal especially BrE) rather angry or annoyed: I was quite cross with him for being late. This word is often used by or to children.

irate very angry: irate customers an irate letter Irate is not usually followed by a preposition : She was irate with me/about it.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to look/sound/seem angry/mad/indignant/cross

They were angry/indignant/cross that they hadn't been invited.

It really makes me angry/mad/cross.

to get angry/mad/cross

to be angry/mad/indignant/cross about/at sth

angry/cross with sb (for doing sth)

angry young man noun a young man who is not happy with society and does not accept its rules

angst noun [U] (from German) a feeling of anxiety and worry about a situation, or about your life: songs full of teenage angst

angstrom noun (chemistry, physics) a very small unit of length, equal to 1x10minus10 metre used for measuring WAVELENGTHS and the distance between atoms

anguish noun [U] (formal) severe pain, mental suffering or unhappiness: He groaned in anguish. Tears of anguish filled her eyes.
anguished adj.: anguished cries an anguished letter from her prison cell

angular adj.
1 (of a person) thin and without much flesh so that the bones are noticeable: an angular face a tall angular woman gawky angular movements
2 having angles or sharp corners: a design of large angular shapes

animal noun, adj.
noun
1 a creature that is not a bird, a fish, a REPTILE, an insect or a human: the animals and birds of South America a small furry animal Fish oils are less saturated than animal fats. domestic animals such as dogs and cats
2 any living thing that is not a plant or a human: the animal kingdom This product has not been tested on animals.
3 any living creature, including humans: Humans are the only animals to have developed speech.compare VEGETABLE
4 a person who behaves in a cruel or unpleasant way, or who is very dirty: The person who did this is an animal, a brute.
5 a particular type of person, thing, organization, etc.: She's not a political animal. The government which followed the election was a very different animal.see also DUMB ANIMAL, HIGHER ANIMALS
adj. [only before noun] relating to the physical needs and basic feelings of people: animal desires/passion/instincts animal magnetism (= a quality in sb that other people find attractive, usually in a sexual way)

animal husbandry noun [U] (technical) farming that involves keeping animals to produce food

animal rights noun [pl.] the rights of animals to be treated well, for example by not being hunted or used for medical research: His research work was attacked by animal rights activists.

animate verb, adj.
verb [VN]
1 to make sth more lively or full of energy: A smile suddenly animated her face.
2 [usually passive] to make models, toys, etc. seem to move in a film/movie by rapidly showing slightly different pictures of them in a series, one after another
adj. (formal) living; having life: animate beings INANIMATE

animated adj.
1 full of interest and energy LIVELY: an animated discussion/conversation Her face suddenly became animated.
2 (of pictures, drawings, etc. in a film) made to look as if they are moving: animated cartoons/graphics/models
animatedly adv.: People were talking animatedly.

animateur noun (from French) a person whose job is to organize or encourage artistic or social projects and activities

animation noun
1 [U] energy and enthusiasm in the way you look, behave or speak: His face was drained of all colour and animation.see also SUSPENDED ANIMATION
2 [U] the process of making films/movies, videos and computer games in which drawings or models of people and animals seem to move: computer/cartoon animation
3 [C] a film/movie in which drawings of people and animals seem to move: The electronic dictionary included some animations.

animato NAmE adj., adv. (from Italian, music) (used as an instruction) in a lively way

animator noun a person who makes animated films

animatronics NAmE noun [U] the process of making and operating ROBOTS that look like real people or animals, used in films/movies and other types of entertainment
animatronic adj.

anime noun [U] Japanese film/movie and television ANIMATION, often with a SCIENCE FICTION subject

animism noun [U]
1 the belief that plants, objects and natural things such as the weather have a living soul
2 belief in a power that organizes and controls the universe
animist noun animistic adj.

animosity NAmE noun [U, C] (pl. -ies) ~ (toward(s) sb/sth)| ~ (between A and B) a strong feeling of opposition, anger or hatred HOSTILITY: He felt no animosity towards his critics. personal animosities between members of the two groups

animus noun [U, sing.] ~ (against sb/sth) (formal) a strong feeling of opposition, anger or hatred

anion noun (chemistry, physics) an ION with a negative electrical CHARGEcompare CATION

anise noun [U] a plant with seeds that smell sweet

aniseed noun [U] the dried seeds of the anise plant, used to give flavour to alcoholic drinks and sweets/candy

ankh noun an object or design like a cross but with a LOOP instead of the top arm, sometimes worn as jewellery. The ankh was used in ancient Egypt as the symbol of life.

ankle noun the joint connecting the foot to the leg: to sprain/break your ankle My ankles have swollen. We found ourselves ankle-deep in water. ankle boots (= that cover the ankle)

ankle-biter noun (NAmE, AustralE, NZE, humorous) a child

ankle sock (BrE) (US anklet) noun a type of very short sock: a girl in a blue dress and ankle socks

anklet noun
1 a piece of jewellery worn around the ankle
2 (US) = ANKLE SOCK

ankylosaur noun a type of plant-eating DINOSAUR covered with hard plates made of bone for protection

ankylosis NAmE noun [U] (medical) a disease that causes one or more of the joints of the body to join together and become stiff

anna noun (IndE)
1 an older brother
2 the leader of a group of young people who go around together and sometimes cause trouble

annalist noun a person who writes annals

annals noun [pl.]
1 an official record of events or activities year by year; historical records: His deeds went down in the annals of British history.
2 used in the title of academic JOURNALS: Annals of Science, vol. viii

anneal verb [VN] (technical) to heat metal or glass and allow it to cool slowly, in order to make it harder

annex verb [VN] to take control of a country, region, etc., especially by force OCCUPY: Germany annexed Austria in 1938.
annexation noun [U, C]

annexe (BrE) (also annex NAmE, BrE) noun
1 a building that is added to, or is near, a larger one and that provides extra living or work space: Our rooms were in the annexe.
2 (formal) an extra section of a document

annihilate verb [VN]
1 to destroy sb/sth completely: The human race has enough weapons to annihilate itself.
2 to defeat sb/sth completely: She annihilated her opponent, who failed to win a single game.
annihilation noun [U]: the annihilation of the whole human race

anniversary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a date that is an exact number of years after the date of an important or special event: on the anniversary of his wife's death to celebrate your wedding anniversary the theatre's 25th anniversary celebrations

annotate verb [VN] to add notes to a book or text, giving explanations or comments
annotation noun [C, U]: It will be published with annotations and index. The new edition is based on previously unpublished manuscripts with full annotation. annotated adj.: an annotated edition

announce verb
1 ~ (sth) (to sb) to tell people sth officially, especially about a decision, plans, etc.: [VN] They haven't formally announced their engagement yet. The government yesterday announced to the media plans to create a million new jobs. (figurative) A ring at the doorbell announced Jack's arrival. You cannot 'announce somebody something': They announced us their decision. [V that] We are pleased to announce that all five candidates were successful. [VN that] It was announced that new speed restrictions would be introduced. [also V wh-] note at DECLARE
2 to give information about sth in a public place, especially through a LOUDSPEAKER: [VN] Has our flight been announced yet? The winners will be announced in reverse order. [V that] They announced that the flight would be delayed. [also V speech]
3 to say sth in a loud and/or serious way: [V speech] 'I've given up smoking,' she announced. [V that] She announced that she'd given up smoking. [also VN] note at DECLARE
4 [VN] ~ yourself/sb to tell sb your name or sb else's name when you or they arrive at a place: Would you announce the guests as they arrive? (= call out their names, for example at a formal party)
5 [VN] to introduce, or give information about, a programme on radio or television

announcement noun
1 [C] a spoken or written statement that informs people about sth: to make an announcement Today's announcement of a peace agreement came after weeks of discussion. Announcements of births, marriages and deaths appear in some newspapers. a formal/an official/a public announcement note at STATEMENT
2 [U] the act of publicly informing people about sth: Announcement of the verdict was accompanied by shouts and cheers.

announcer noun
1 a person who introduces, or gives information about, programmes on radio or televisionsee also HOST, PRESENTER
2 a person who gives information about sth in a station, an airport, etc., especially through a LOUDSPEAKER

annoy verb
1 to make sb slightly angry IRRITATE: [VN] His constant joking was beginning to annoy her. It really annoys me when people forget to say thank you. I'm sure she does it just to annoy me. [VN to inf] It annoys me to see him getting ahead of me.
2 [VN] to make sb uncomfortable or unable to relax BOTHER: He swatted a fly that was annoying him.

annoyance noun
1 [U] the feeling of being slightly angry IRRITATION: He could not conceal his annoyance at being interrupted. Much to our annoyance, they decided not to come after all. She stamped her foot in annoyance. His behaviour caused great annoyance to his colleagues.
2 [C] something that makes you slightly angry: petty annoyances and irritations

annoyed adj. [not usually before noun] ~ (with sb) (at/about sth)| ~ (that ... )| ~ to find, see, etc. slightly angry IRRITATED: He was beginning to get very annoyed with me about my carelessness. I was annoyed with myself for giving in so easily. I bet she was annoyed at having to write it out again. I was annoyed that they hadn't turned up. He was annoyed to find himself going red.

annoying adj. making sb feel slightly angry IRRITATING: This interruption is very annoying. Her most annoying habit was eating with her mouth open.
annoyingly adv.

annual adj., noun
adj. [usually before noun]
1 happening or done once every year: an annual meeting/event/report
2 relating to a period of one year: an annual income/subscription/budget an average annual growth rate of 8% annual rainfallcompare BIANNUAL
noun
1 a book, especially one for children, that is published once a year, with the same title each time, but different contents: The children usually asked for comic or sporting annuals for Christmas.
2 any plant that grows and dies within one year or seasoncompare BIENNIAL n., PERENNIAL n.

annualized (BrE also -ised) adj. (technical) calculated for a period of a year but based on the amounts for a shorter period: In June, inflation stood at an annualized rate of 3.3 per cent.

annually adv. once a year: The exhibition is held annually.

annuity NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 a fixed amount of money paid to sb each year, usually for the rest of their life: She receives a small annuity.
2 a type of insurance that pays a fixed amount of money to sb each year: income from pensions, annuities and trusts

annul verb (-ll-) [VN] to state officially that sth is no longer legally valid: Their marriage was annulled after just six months.
annulment noun [C, U]

annular adj. (technical) shaped like a ring

annunciation noun [sing.] the Annunciation (in the Christian religion) the occasion when Mary was told that she was to be the mother of Christ, celebrated on 25 March

annunciator noun (physics) a bell, light or other device that shows which of several electrical CIRCUITS is in use

anode NAmE noun (technical) the ELECTRODE in an electrical device where OXIDATION occurs; the positive electrode in an ELECTROLYTIC cell and the negative electrode in a batterycompare CATHODE

anodize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to cover a metal, especially ALUMINIUM/ALUMINUM, with a layer of OXIDE in order to protect it

anodyne adj. (formal) unlikely to cause disagreement or offend anyone; not expressing strong opinions BLAND

anoint verb ~ sb/sth (with sth) to put oil or water on sb's head as part of a religious ceremony: [VN] The priest anointed her with oil. [also VN-N]

anomalous NAmE adj. (formal) different from what is normal or expected: He is in an anomalous position as the only part-time worker in the firm. They couldn't find an explanation for the seemingly anomalous results of the experiment.
anomalously adv.

anomaly NAmE noun (pl. -ies) ~ (in sth) a thing, situation, etc. that is different from what is normal or expected: the many anomalies in the tax system the apparent anomaly that those who produced the wealth, the workers, were the poorest

anomia NAmE noun [U] (medical) a medical condition in which sb cannot remember the names of common objects

anomie (also anomy) noun [U] (formal) a lack of social or moral standards

anon NAmE adv. (old-fashioned or literary) soon: See you anon. More about this anon.

anon. NAmE abbr. ANONYMOUS

anonymity noun [U]
1 the state of remaining unknown to most other people: Names of people in the book were changed to preserve anonymity. the anonymity of the city (= where people do not know each other) (especially NAmE) He agreed to give an interview on condition of anonymity (= if his name was not mentioned). The person donating the money insisted on complete anonymity. Anyone providing information to the police will be guaranteed anonymity.
2 the state of not having any unusual or interesting features: the anonymity of the hotel decor

anonymize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN] (technical) to remove any information from a test result, especially a medical test result, that shows who it belongs to

anonymous NAmE adj.
1 (of a person) with a name that is not known or that is not made public: an anonymous donor The money was donated by a local businessman who wishes to remain anonymous.
2 (abbr. anon.) written, given, made, etc. by sb who does not want their name to be known or made public: an anonymous letter
3 without any unusual or interesting features: long stretches of dull and anonymous countryside new housing estates with their anonymous tower blocks and large barren spaces
anonymously adv.

anonymous FTP noun [U] (computing) a system that allows anybody to DOWNLOAD files from the Internet without having to give their name

anorak noun
1 (especially BrE) a short coat with a HOOD that is worn as protection against rain, wind and cold
2 (BrE, informal) a person who spends a lot of time learning facts or collecting things that most other people think are boring

anorexia (also anorexia nervosa NAmE ) noun [U] an emotional DISORDER, especially affecting young women, in which there is an ABNORMAL fear of being fat, causing the person to stop eating, leading to dangerous weight losscompare BULIMIA

anorexic noun a person who is suffering from anorexia
anorexic adj.: She's anorexic.

another det., pron.
1 one more; an extra thing or person: Would you like another drink? 'Finished?' 'No, I've got another three questions to do.' We've still got another (= a further) forty miles to go. 'It's a bill.' 'Oh no, not another!' I got another of those calls yesterday.compare OTHER Another can be followed by a singular noun, by of and a plural noun, or by a number and a plural noun.
2 different; a different person or thing: Let's do it another time. We need another computer (= a new one). We can try thatbut whether it'll work is another matter. The room's too small. Let's see if they've got another one. I don't like this room. I'm going to ask for another.
3 a person or thing of a very similar type: She's going to be another Madonna (= as famous as her). There'll never be another like him.see also ONE ANOTHER
of one kind, sort, etc. or another used when you are referring to various types of a thing, without saying exactly what you mean: We've all got problems of one kind or another.more at ONE

A. N. Other noun [sing.] a person whose name is not known or not yet decided, for example in a list of players in a team

answer NAmE noun, verb
noun~ (to sth)
1 something that you say, write or do to react to a question or situation: I can't easily give an answer to your question. Have you had an answer to your letter? As if in answer to our prayers, she offered to lend us £10 000. I rang the bell, but there was no answer. She had no answer to the accusations. a question and answer session
2 something that you write or say in reply to a question in a test, an exam, an exercise, etc.; the correct reply to a question in a test, etc.: Write your answers on the sheet provided. Do you know the answer to question 12? (= the right one) The answers are at the back of the book. The sender of the first correct answer to be drawn will receive £100.
3 a solution to a problem: There is no easy answer. This could be the answer to all our problems. The obvious answer would be to cancel the party.
4 a person or thing from one place that may be thought to be as good as a famous person or thing from another place: The new theme park will be Britain's answer to Disneyland.
have/know all the answers (informal, often disapproving) to be confident that you know sth, especially when you actually do not: He thinks he knows all the answers.more at NO exclam.
verb
1 to say, write or do sth as a reaction to a question or situation REPLY: [V] I repeated the question, but she didn't answer. He answered as truthfully as he could. [VN] You haven't answered my question. to answer a letter/an advertisement to answer the phone (= to pick up the phone when it rings) to answer the door (= to open the door when sb knocks/rings) My prayers have been answered (= I have got what I wanted). He refused to answer the charges against him. Come on, answer me! Where were you? He answered me with a smile. We are grateful to all those people who answered our call for help with fund-raising. [V speech] 'I'd prefer to walk,' she answered. [VN speech] 'I'd prefer to walk,' she answered him. [V that] She answered that she would prefer to walk. [VNN] Answer me this: how did they know we were here? [also VN that]
2 [VN] (formal) to be suitable for sth; to match sth: Does this answer your requirements?
answer to the name of sth (especially of a pet animal) to be called sth: The dog was an ugly brute, answering to the name of Spike.more at DESCRIPTION
answer back to defend yourself against criticism: He was given the chance to answer back in a radio interview.
answer back| answer sb back to speak rudely to sb in authority, especially when they are criticizing you or telling you to do sth: Don't answer back! Stop answering your mother back!
answer for sth
1 to accept responsibility or blame for sth: You will have to answer for your behaviour one day. This government has a lot to answer for (= is responsible for a lot of bad things).
2 to promise that sb has a particular quality or can be relied on to do sth: I can answer for her honesty. Anne says she can answer for his ability to do the job well.
answer for sb (usually in negative sentences) to say that sb else will do sth or have a particular opinion: I agree, but I can't answer for my colleagues.
answer to sb (for sth) to have to explain your actions or decisions to sb: All sales clerks answer to the store manager.

WHICH WORD?

answer / reply

Verbs

Answer and reply are the most common verbs used for speaking or writing as a reaction to a question, letter, etc.

Note that you answer a person, question or letter, not answer to them, but you reply to somebody or something: I'm writing to answer your questionsI'm writing to reply to your questions.I'm writing to answer to your questions.

Answer can be used with or without an object: I haven't answered her email yet.I knocked on the door but nobody answered. Reply is often used with the actual words spoken: 'I won't let you down,' he replied.

Respond is less common and more formal: The directors were unwilling to respond to questions.

You can only answer a door or a phone.

see also REJOIN, RETORT, GET BACK TO SB

Nouns

Note the phrases in answer to and in reply to: I'm writing in answer to your letter.

see also RESPONSE, REJOINDER, RETORT

answerable NAmE adj.
1 [not before noun] ~ to sb (for sth) having to explain your actions to sb in authority over you: She was a free agent, answerable to no one for her behaviour.
2 [not before noun] ~ (for sth) responsible for sth and ready to accept punishment or criticism for it: Ministers must be made answerable for their decisions.
3 (of a question) that can be answered

answering machine (BrE also answerphone NAmE ) noun a machine which you connect to your telephone to answer your calls and record any message left by the person calling: I called several times, but only got the answering machine.

answerphone NAmE noun (BrE) = ANSWERING MACHINE: She left her name and number on his answerphone.

ant noun a small insect that lives in highly organized groups. There are many types of ant: an ants' nest an ant colonysee also ANTHILL
have ants in your pants (informal) to be very excited or impatient about sth and unable to stay still

-ant, -ent suffix
1 (in adjectives) that is or does sth: significant different
2 (in nouns) a person or thing that: inhabitant deterrent

antacid noun a medicine that prevents or corrects ACIDITY, especially in the stomach

antagonism noun [U, pl.] ~ (to/toward(s) sb/sth)| ~ (between A and B) feelings of hatred and opposition HOSTILITY: The antagonism he felt towards his old enemy was still very strong. You could sense the antagonism between them. the racial antagonisms in society

antagonist noun (formal) a person who strongly opposes sb/sth OPPONENT: He has always been the prime minister's most formidable antagonist in Parliament.

antagonistic adj. ~ (to/toward(s) sb/sth) (formal) showing or feeling opposition HOSTILE
antagonistically adv.

antagonize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to do sth to make sb angry with you: Not wishing to antagonize her further, he said no more.

the Antarctic NAmE noun [sing.] the regions of the world around the South Pole
Antarctic adj. [only before noun]: Antarctic explorerscompare ARCTIC

the Antarctic Circle noun [sing.] the line of LATITUDE 66° 30 Southcompare ARCTIC

ante noun [sing.]
raise/up the ante to increase the level of sth, especially demands or sums of money: His ex-wife has upped the ante in her alimony suit against him.

ante- prefix (in nouns, adjectives and verbs) before; in front of: ante-room antenatal antedatecompare POST-, PRE-

anteater noun an animal with a long nose and tongue that eats ANTS

antebellum adj. [only before noun] connected with the years before a war, especially the American Civil War: the laws of the antebellum American South

antecedent noun, adj.
noun
1 [C] (formal) a thing or an event that exists or comes before another, and may have influenced it
2 antecedents [pl.] (formal) the people in sb's family who lived a long time ago ANCESTORS
3 [C] (grammar) a word or phrase to which the following word, especially a pronoun, refers: In 'He grabbed the ball and threw it in the air', 'ball' is the antecedent of 'it'.
adj. (formal) previous: antecedent events

antechamber noun (formal) = ANTEROOM

antedate verb [VN] = PRE-DATE: The crypt antedates the rest of the building by several centuries.

antediluvian adj. (formal or humorous) very old-fashioned: criticism of Britain's antediluvian blasphemy law

antelope NAmE noun (pl. antelope or antelopes) an African or Asian animal like a DEER, that runs very fast. There are many types of antelope.

antenatal (BrE) (also prenatal NAmE, BrE) adj. [only before noun] relating to the medical care given to pregnant women: antenatal care/classes/screening an antenatal cliniccompare POST-NATAL

antenna noun
1 (pl. antennae ) either of the two long thin parts on the heads of some insects and some animals that live in shells, used to feel and touch things with FEELER: (figurative) The minister was praised for his acute political antennae (= ability to understand complicated political situations).
2 (pl. antennas or antennae) (especially NAmE) = AERIAL: radio antennas

antepenultimate adj. [only before noun] (formal) two before the last; third last: the antepenultimate item on the agenda

anterior NAmE adj. [only before noun] (technical) (of a part of the body) at or near the front: anterior and posterior ends of the embryo POSTERIOR

anteroom (also formal antechamber) noun a room where people can wait before entering a larger room, especially in an important public building

anthem noun
1 a song which has a special importance for a country, an organization, or a particular group of people and is sung on special occasions: The European anthem was played at the opening and closing ceremonies. The song could become an anthem for the classless society.see also NATIONAL ANTHEM
2 a short religious song for a CHOIR (= a group of singers), often with an organ

anthemic adj. (formal) (of a piece of music) that makes you feel happy and enthusiastic

anther noun (biology) the part of a flower at the top of a STAMEN that produces POLLEN

anthill noun a pile of earth formed by ANTS over their nests

anthologize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN] to include a writer or piece of writing in an anthology

anthology NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a collection of poems, stories, etc. that have been written by different people and published together in a book: an anthology of poems for children

anthracite noun [U] a very hard type of coal that burns slowly without producing a lot of smoke or flames

anthrax noun [U] a serious disease that affects sheep and cows and sometimes people, and can cause death

anthropo- NAmE combining form (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) connected with humans: anthropology

anthropocentric adj. believing that humans are more important than anything else
anthropocentrism noun [U]

anthropoid adj., noun (technical)
adj. (of an APE) looking like a human
noun any type of APE that is similar to a human: a theory about how man developed from being among the higher anthropoids to being human

anthropologist NAmE noun a person who studies anthropology

anthropology NAmE noun [U] the study of the human race, especially of its origins, development, customs and beliefs
anthropological NAmE adj.

anthropomorphic NAmE adj. (of beliefs or ideas) treating gods, animals or objects as if they had human qualities: an explanation of animal behaviour in anthropomorphic terms
anthropomorphism NAmE noun [U]

anthroposophy NAmE noun [U] a system for teaching and helping people to become as mentally and physically healthy as possible
anthroposophical NAmE adj.

anthurium NAmE noun a tropical plant that is grown for its attractive leaves and bright flowers

anti /ænti/ prep. (informal) if sb is anti sb/sth, they do not like or agree with that person or thing: They're completely anti the new proposals.compare PRO

anti- prefix (in nouns and adjectives)
1 opposed to; against: anti-tank weapons antisocialcompare PRO-
2 the opposite of: anti-hero anticlimax
3 preventing: antifreeze

anti-aircraft adj. [only before noun] designed to destroy enemy aircraft: anti-aircraft fire/guns/missiles

antibacterial NAmE adj. that kills bacteria: antibacterial treatments

antibiotic NAmE noun [usually pl.] a substance, for example PENICILLIN, that can destroy or prevent the growth of bacteria and cure infections: The doctor put her on antibiotics (= told her to take them).
antibiotic adj.: an antibiotic drug effective antibiotic treatment

antibody NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a substance that the body produces in the blood to fight disease, or as a reaction when certain substances are put into the body

anti-choice adj. (NAmE, disapproving) against giving women the right to have an ABORTIONcompare PRO-CHOICE

Antichrist (usually the Antichrist) noun [sing.] (in Christianity) the DEVIL; Christ's greatest enemy

anticipate verb
1 to expect sth: [VN] We don't anticipate any major problems. Our anticipated arrival time is 8.30. The eagerly anticipated movie will be released next month. [V -ing] They anticipate moving to bigger premises by the end of the year. [VN -ing] I don't anticipate it being a problem. [V that] We anticipate that sales will rise next year. [VN that] It is anticipated that inflation will stabilize at 3%.compare UNANTICIPATED
2 to see what might happen in the future and take action to prepare for it: [VN] We need someone who can anticipate and respond to changes in the fashion industry. [V wh-] Try and anticipate what the interviewers will ask. [also V that]
3 to think with pleasure and excitement about sth that is going to happen: [VN] We eagerly anticipated the day we would leave school. [also V -ing, VN -ing]
4 (formal) to do sth before it can be done by sb else FORESTALL: [VN] When Scott reached the South Pole he found that Amundsen had anticipated him. [also VN -ing]
anticipatory NAmE adj. (formal): a fast anticipatory movement by the goalkeeper

anticipation noun [U]
1 the fact of seeing that sth might happen in the future and perhaps doing sth about it now: He bought extra food in anticipation of more people coming than he'd invited.
2 a feeling of excitement about sth (usually sth good) that is going to happen: happy/eager/excited anticipation The courtroom was filled with anticipation.

anticlimax noun [C, U] a situation that is disappointing because it happens at the end of sth that was much more exciting, or because it is not as exciting as you expected: Travelling in Europe was something of an anticlimax after the years he'd spent in Africa. a sense/feeling of anticlimaxcompare CLIMAX
anticlimactic adj.

anticline noun (geology) an area of ground where layers of rock in the earth's surface have been folded into a curve that is higher in the middle than at the endscompare SYNCLINE

anticlockwise NAmE (BrE) (NAmE counterclockwise) adv., adj. in the opposite direction to the movement of the hands of a clock: Turn the key anticlockwise/in an anticlockwise direction. Moist air blew counterclockwise around the low pressure area. CLOCKWISE

anticoagulant NAmE noun (medical) a substance that stops the blood from becoming thick and forming CLOTS

anticonvulsant noun a drug used to prevent EPILEPTIC FITS or similar illnesses
anticonvulsant adj.

antics noun [pl.]
1 behaviour which is silly and funny in a way that people usually like: The bank staff got up to all sorts of antics to raise money for charity.
2 behaviour which is ridiculous or dangerous

anticyclone NAmE noun an area of high air pressure that produces calm weather conditions with clear skies: The anticyclone brought bright sunshine and calm conditions to most areas.compare DEPRESSION

antidepressant noun a drug used to treat DEPRESSION
antidepressant adj. [only before noun]: antidepressant drugs

antidote NAmE noun ~ (to sth)
1 a substance that controls the effects of a poison or disease: There is no known antidote to the poison.
2 anything that takes away the effects of sth unpleasant: A Mediterranean cruise was the perfect antidote to a long cold winter.

antifreeze noun [U] a chemical that is added to the water in the RADIATOR of cars and other vehicles to stop it from freezing: Lack of antifreeze is a major cause of highway breakdowns. Check the antifreeze to make sure there is enough in the system.

antigen noun (medical) a substance that enters the body and starts a process that can cause disease. The body then usually produces ANTIBODIES to fight the antigens.

antigravity noun [U] (physics) an imaginary force that works against GRAVITY

anti-hero noun the main character in a story, but one who does not have the qualities of a typical hero, and is either more like an ordinary person or is morally bad: Anthony Perkins is the evil anti-hero of the Hitchcock thriller 'Psycho'.

antihistamine noun [C, U] a drug used to treat ALLERGIES, especially HAY FEVER: antihistamine cream/injections/shots

anti-inflammatory adj. (of a drug) used to reduce INFLAMMATION
anti-inflammatory noun (pl. -ies)

anti-lock adj. [only before noun] anti-lock BRAKES stop the wheels of a vehicle locking if you have to stop suddenly, and so make the vehicle easier to control: an anti-lock braking system or ABS

antilogarithm NAmE NAmE (also antilog NAmE NAmE ) noun (mathematics) the number of which a particular number is the LOGARITHM

antimatter noun [U] (physics) matter that is made up of antiparticles

antimony NAmE noun [U] (symb Sb) a chemical element. Antimony is a silver-white metal that breaks easily, used especially in making ALLOYS.

antioxidant NAmE noun
1 (biology) a substance such as VITAMIN C or E that removes dangerous MOLECULES, etc., such as FREE RADICALS from the body
2 (chemistry) a substance that helps prevent OXIDIZATION, especially one used to help prevent stored food products from going bad

antiparticle NAmE noun (physics) a very small part of an atom that has the same mass as a normal PARTICLE but the opposite electrical CHARGE

antipasto NAmE noun (pl. antipasti ) (in Italian cooking) a small amount of food which you eat before the main part of a meal APPETIZER, STARTER

antipathy noun [U, C, usually sing.] (pl. -ies) ~ (between A and B)| ~ (to/toward(s) sb/sth) (formal) a strong feeling of dislike HOSTILITY: personal/mutual antipathy a growing antipathy towards the idea His professional judgement was coloured by his personal antipathies.
antipathetic adj. ~ (to sb/sth): antipathetic to change

anti-personnel adj. [only before noun] (of weapons) designed to kill or injure people, not to destroy buildings or vehicles, etc.: anti-personnel mines/bombs/devices

antiperspirant NAmE noun [U, C] a substance that people use, especially under their arms, to prevent or reduce sweatsee also DEODORANT

the Antipodes noun [pl.] (BrE) a way of referring to Australia and New Zealand, often used in a humorous way
Antipodean adj.: an Antipodean accent

antiproton NAmE noun (physics) a PARTICLE that has the same mass as a PROTON, but a negative electrical CHARGE

antipyretic adj. (of a drug) used to reduce or prevent fever
antipyretic noun

antiquarian NAmE adj., noun
adj. [usually before noun] connected with the study, collection or sale of valuable old objects, especially books: an antiquarian bookshop
noun (also less frequent antiquary NAmE ) a person who studies, collects or sells old and valuable objects

antiquark NAmE noun (physics) the ANTIPARTICLE of a QUARK

antiquated adj. (usually disapproving) (of things or ideas) old-fashioned and no longer suitable for modern conditions OUTDATED: antiquated legal procedures

antique adj., noun
adj. [usually before noun] (of furniture, jewellery, etc.) old and often valuable: an antique mahogany desk
noun an object such as a piece of furniture that is old and often valuable: Priceless antiques were destroyed in the fire. an antique shop (= one that sells antiques) an antique dealer (= a person who sells antiques)

antiquity noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] the ancient past, especially the times of the Greeks and Romans: The statue was brought to Rome in antiquity. classical antiquity a study of society from late antiquity to the fifteenth century
2 [U] the state of being very old or ancient: A number of the monuments are of considerable antiquity. Archaeologists found 40 bodies of varying antiquity in the area.
3 [C, usually pl.] an object from ancient times: Egyptian/Roman antiquities

anti-roll bar noun a metal bar that is part of a car's SUSPENSION, which stops the car from leaning too much when it goes around corners

antirrhinum noun (technical) a plant of the type that includes the SNAPDRAGON

anti-Semitism noun [U] hatred of Jews; unfair treatment of Jews
anti-Semitic adj.: anti-Semitic propaganda anti-Semite noun: He was a notorious anti-Semite.

antiseptic noun, adj.
noun [C, U] a substance that helps to prevent infection in wounds by killing bacteria DISINFECTANT: a mild/strong/powerful antiseptic Use antiseptic to clean and dress cuts. Dab the graze with antiseptic.
adj.
1 able to prevent infection: antiseptic cream/lotion/wipes Essential oils have powerful antiseptic properties.
2 very clean and free from bacteria STERILE: Cover the burn with an antiseptic dressing. antiseptic surgery

antisocial NAmE adj.
1 harmful or annoying to other people, or to society in general: antisocial behaviour antisocial tendencies/activities/habits
2 not wanting to spend time with other people: They'll think you're being antisocial if you don't go.compare SOCIABLE

antithesis noun [C, U] (pl. antitheses ) (formal)
1 the opposite of sth: Love is the antithesis of selfishness. Students finishing their education at 16 is the very antithesis of what society needs.
2 a contrast between two things: There is an antithesis between the needs of the state and the needs of the people.
antithetical adj.: A culture of violence is antithetical to the church's traditional teaching.

antitrade winds (also antitrades) noun [pl.] winds that blow in the opposite direction to the TRADE WINDS

antitrust adj. [only before noun] (of laws) preventing companies or groups of companies from controlling prices unfairly

antiviral adj. (of a drug) used to treat infectious diseases caused by a virus

antivirus adj. (computing) designed to find and destroy computer viruses: antivirus software

antler noun [usually pl.] one of the two horns that grow on the head of male DEER: Poachers in search of antlers prey on red deer.

ant lion noun a small insect that eats other insects, especially ANTS, which it catches in a hole made in the sand

antonym noun (technical) a word that means the opposite of another word OPPOSITE: 'Old' has two possible antonyms: 'young' and 'new'. a dictionary of antonymscompare SYNONYM

antsy adj. (NAmE, informal) impatient; not able to keep still

anus noun (anatomy) the opening in a person's bottom through which solid waste leaves the bodysee also ANAL

anvil noun an iron block on which a BLACKSMITH puts hot pieces of metal before shaping them with a HAMMER

anxiety noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] ~ (about/over sth) the state of feeling nervous or worried that sth bad is going to happen: acute/intense/deep anxiety Some hospital patients experience high levels of anxiety. Waiting for exam results is a time of great anxiety.
2 [C] a worry or fear about sth: If you're worried about your health, share your anxieties with your doctor.
3 [U] ~ to do sth| ~ for sth a strong feeling of wanting to do sth or of wanting sth to happen: the candidate's anxiety to win the vote the people's anxiety for the war to end

anxious adj.
1 ~ (about sth)| ~ (for sb) feeling worried or nervous: He seemed anxious about the meeting. Parents are naturally anxious for their children. note at WORRIED
2 causing anxiety; showing anxiety: There were a few anxious moments in the baseball game. an anxious look/face/expression
3 ~ to do sth| ~ for sth| ~ for sb to do sth| ~ that ... wanting sth very much: She was anxious to finish school and get a job. There are plenty of graduates anxious for work. He was anxious not to be misunderstood. I'm anxious for her to do as little as possible. She was anxious that he should meet her father.
anxiously adv.: to ask/look/wait anxiously Residents are anxiously awaiting a decision.

any det., pron., adv.
det.
1 used with uncountable or plural nouns in negative sentences and questions, after if or whether, and after some verbs such as prevent, ban, forbid, etc. to refer to an amount or a number of sth, however large or small: I didn't eat any meat. Are there any stamps? I've got hardly any money. You can't go out without any shoes. He forbids any talking in class. She asked if we had any questions. In positive sentences some is usually used instead of any: I've got some paper if you want it. It is also used in questions that expect a positive answer: Would you like some milk in your tea?
2 used with singular countable nouns to refer to one of a number of things or people, when it does not matter which one: Take any book you like. Any colour will do. Any teacher will tell you that students learn at different rates.see also in any case at CASE n., in any event at EVENT, at any rate at RATE n.
3 not just ~ used to show that sb/sth is special: It isn't just any dayit's my birthday!
pron.
1 used in negative sentences and in questions and after if or whether to refer to an amount or a number, however large or small: We need some more paint; there isn't any left. I need some stamps. Are there any in your bag? Please let me know how many are coming, if any. She spent hardly any of the money. He returned home without any of the others. In positive sentences some is usually used instead of any. It is also used in questions that expect a positive reply: I've got plenty of paperwould you like some?
2 one or more of a number of people or things, especially when it does not matter which: I'll take any you don't want. 'Which colour do you want?' 'Any of them will do.'
sb isn't having any (of it) (informal) somebody is not interested or does not agree: I suggested sharing the cost, but he wasn't having any of it.
adv.
1 used to emphasize an adjective or adverb in negative sentences or questions, meaning 'at all': He wasn't any good at French. I can't run any faster. Is your father feeling any better? I don't want any more. If you don't tell them, nobody will be any the wiser.
2 (NAmE, informal) used at the end of a negative sentence to mean 'at all': That won't hurt you any.

anybody NAmE pron. = ANYONE: Is there anybody who can help me? Anybody can use the poolyou don't need to be a member. She wasn't anybody before she got that job.

anyhow adv.
1 = ANYWAY
2 in a careless way; not arranged in an order: She piled the papers in a heap on her desk, just anyhow.

any more (BrE) (also anymore NAmE, BrE) adv. often used at the end of negative sentences and at the end of questions, to mean 'any longer': She doesn't live here any more. Why doesn't he speak to me any more? Now she won't have to go out to work any more. Do not use 'no more' with this meaning: She doesn't live here no more.

anyone (also anybody) pron.
1 used instead of someone in negative sentences and in questions after if/whether, and after verbs such as prevent, forbid, avoid: Is anyone there? Does anyone else want to come? Did anyone see you? Hardly anyone came. I forbid anyone to touch that clock. The difference between anyone and someone is the same as the difference between any and some. Look at the notes there.
2 any person at all; it does not matter who: Anybody can see that it's wrong. The exercises are so simple that almost anyone can do them.
3 (in negative sentences) an important person: She wasn't anyone before she got that job.

anyplace adv. (NAmE) = ANYWHERE

anything pron.
1 used instead of something in negative sentences and in questions; after if/whether; and after verbs such as prevent, ban, avoid: Would you like anything else? There's never anything worth watching on TV. If you remember anything at all, please let us know. We hope to prevent anything unpleasant from happening. The difference between anything and something is the same as the difference between any and some. Look at the notes there.
2 any thing at all, when it does not matter which: I'm so hungry, I'll eat anything.
3 any thing of importance: Is there anything (= any truth) in these rumours?
anything but definitely not: The hotel was anything but cheap. It wasn't cheap. Anything but.
anything like sb/sth (informal) (used in questions and negative statements) similar to sb/sth: He isn't anything like my first boss.
as happy, quick, etc. as anything (informal) very happy, quick, etc.: I felt as pleased as anything.
like anything (BrE, informal) very much: They're always slagging me off like anything.
not anything like used to emphasize that sth is not as good, not enough, etc.: The book wasn't anything like as good as her first one.
not for anything (informal) definitely not: I wouldn't give it up for anything.
or anything (informal) or another thing of a similar type: If you want to call a meeting or anything, just let me know.

any time (BrE) (also anytime NAmE, BrE) adv. at a time that is not fixed: Call me any time.
anytime soon (NAmE) used in negative sentences and questions to refer to the near future: Will she be back anytime soon?

anyway (also anyhow) adv.
1 used when adding sth to support an idea or argument BESIDES: It's too expensive and anyway the colour doesn't suit you. It's too late now, anyway.
2 despite sth; even so: The water was cold but I took a shower anyway. I'm afraid we can't come, but thanks for the invitation anyway.
3 used when changing the subject of a conversation, ending the conversation, or returning to a subject: Anyway, let's forget about that for the moment. Anyway, I'd better go nowI'll see you tomorrow.
4 used to correct or slightly change what you have said: She works in a bank. She did when I last saw her, anyway.

anywhere NAmE (NAmE also anyplace) adv.
1 used in negative sentences and in questions instead of somewhere: I can't see it anywhere. Did you go anywhere interesting? Many of these animals are not found anywhere else. He's never been anywhere outside Britain. The difference between anywhere and somewhere is the same as the difference between any and some. Look at the notes there.
2 in, at or to any place, when it does not matter where: Put the box down anywhere. An accident can happen anywhere.
anywhere pron.: I don't have anywhere to stay. Do you know anywhere I can buy a second-hand computer?

AOB NAmE abbr. any other business (the things that are discussed at the end of an official meeting that are not on the AGENDA)

A-OK NAmE adj., adv. (NAmE, informal) in good condition; in an acceptable manner: Everything's A-OK now. The party went off A-OK.

aorta NAmE noun (anatomy) the main ARTERY that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body once it has passed through the LUNGS

Aotearoa NAmE noun (NZE) the Maori name for New Zealand, usually translated as 'the land of the long white cloud'

AP abbr. ASSOCIATED PRESS

apace adv. (formal) at a fast speed; quickly: to continue/grow/proceed/develop apace The privatization of state companies continued apace.

Apache noun (pl. Apache or Apaches) a member of a Native American people, many of whom live in the US states of New Mexico and Arizona

apart NAmE adv.
1 separated by a distance, of space or time: The two houses stood 500 metres apart. Their birthdays are only three days apart. (figurative) The two sides in the talks are still a long way apart (= are far from reaching an agreement).
2 not together; separate or separately: We're living apart now. Over the years, Rosie and I had drifted apart. She keeps herself apart from other people. I can't tell the twins apart (= see the difference between them).
3 into pieces: The whole thing just came apart in my hands. We had to take the engine apart. When his wife died, his world fell apart.
4 used to say that sb/sth is not included in what you are talking about: Colin apart, not one of them seems suitable for the job. see JOKE v., POLE n., RIP v., WORLD

apart from (also aside from especially in NAmE) prep.
1 except for: I've finished apart from the last question.
2 in addition to; as well as: Apart from their house in London, they also have a villa in Spain. It was a difficult time. Apart from everything else, we had financial problems. You've got to help. Apart from anything else you're my brother. note at BESIDES

apartheid NAmE noun [U] the former political system in South Africa in which only white people had full political rights and other people, especially black people, were forced to live away from white people, go to separate schools, etc.: the pressures of life under apartheid

aparthotel NAmE noun a type of hotel that has apartments where you can cook your own meals as well as ordinary hotel rooms

apartment NAmE noun
1 (especially NAmE) a set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor of a buildingcompare CONDOMINIUM, FLAT
2 a set of rooms used for a holiday/vacation: self-catering holiday apartments
3 [usually pl.] (BrE) a room in a house, especially a large or famous house: You can visit the whole palace except for the private apartments.

apartment block (BrE) (NAmE apartment building) noun a large building with flats/apartments on each floor

apartment hotel noun (NAmE) a hotel that has apartments which you can rent for long or short periods of time

apartment house noun (US) a small apartment block

apathetic adj. showing no interest or enthusiasm: The illness made her apathetic and unwilling to meet people.
apathetically adv.: He looked at me apathetically.

apathy noun [U] the feeling of not being interested in or enthusiastic about anything: There is widespread apathy among the electorate. public/political/student apathy

apatosaurus (also brontosaurus) noun a very large DINOSAUR with a long neck and tail

APB abbr. (NAmE) ALL-POINTS BULLETIN

ape noun, verb
noun a large animal like a MONKEY, with no tail. There are different types of ape: the great apes (= for example, ORANG-UTANS or CHIMPANZEES)
go ape/apeshit (slang, especially NAmE) to become extremely angry or excited
verb [VN]
1 (BrE, disapproving) to do sth in the same way as sb else, especially when it is not done very well IMITATE: For years the British film industry merely aped Hollywood.
2 (especially NAmE) to copy the way sb else behaves or talks, in order to make fun of them MIMIC: We used to ape the teacher's southern accent.

apeman noun (pl. -men ) a large animal, half way between an APE and a human

aperçu NAmE noun (from French) a comment that makes sth easier to understand or that is amusing

aperitif noun (especially BrE) a drink, usually one containing alcohol, that people sometimes have just before a meal: Would you like an aperitif? This vermouth is a delicious aperitif.

aperture NAmE noun
1 (formal) a small opening in sth: The soldier fired the rifle through a narrow aperture in a pile of sandbags.
2 (technical) an opening that allows light to reach a LENS, especially in cameras: For flash photography, set the aperture at f.5.6. Open up the lens aperture to maximize the brightness of the shot. Binoculars of this aperture are very expensive.

apeshit noun
go apeshit GO APE

Apex (also APEX) abbr. (BrE) Advanced Purchase Excursion (a system that offers cheaper travel tickets when they are bought in advance)

apex noun [usually sing.] (pl. apexes) the top or highest part of sth: the apex of the roof/triangle (figurative) At 37, she'd reached the apex of her career.

aphasia noun [U] (medical) the loss of the ability to understand or produce speech, because of brain damage

aphid noun a very small insect that is harmful to plants. There are several types of aphid, including, for example, GREENFLY.

aphorism noun (formal) a short phrase that says sth true or wise: Johnson's aphorism: 'When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.'
aphoristic adj.

aphrodisiac noun a food or drug that is said to give people a strong desire to have sex: a powerful aphrodisiac Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.
aphrodisiac adj.: the aphrodisiac qualities of ginseng

apiary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a place where BEES are kept: The apiary was nearby; half a dozen hives faced south down the slope.

apiculture noun [U] (technical) = BEE-KEEPING
apicultural adj. apiculturist noun

apiece adv. (used after a noun or number) having, costing or measuring a particular amount each: Owen and Goddard scored a goal apiece. The largest stones weigh over five tonnes apiece.

aplenty adv., adj. [after noun] (formal) in large amounts, especially more than is needed: Criticisms of the government were to be found aplenty.

aplomb NAmE noun [U] if sb does sth with aplomb, they do it in a confident and successful way, often in a difficult situation: with considerable/great/remarkable aplomb He delivered the speech with his usual aplomb.

apnoea (BrE) (NAmE apnea) noun [U] (medical) a condition in which sb stops breathing temporarily while they are sleeping

apocalypse NAmE noun
1 [sing., U] the destruction of the world: Civilization is on the brink of apocalypse.
2 the Apocalypse [sing.] the end of the world, as described in the Bible
3 [sing.] a situation causing very serious damage and destruction: an environmental apocalypse

apocalyptic NAmE adj.
1 describing very serious damage and destruction in past or future events: an apocalyptic view of history apocalyptic warnings of the end of society
2 like the end of the world: an apocalyptic scene

apocope NAmE noun [U] (phonetics) the dropping of the last sound or sounds of a word, for example when cup of tea becomes cuppa teacompare SYNCOPE

apocrypha NAmE noun [pl.]
1 Apocrypha Christian religious texts that are related to the Bible but not officially considered to be part of it
2 writings which are not considered to be genuine

apocryphal NAmE adj. (of a story) well known, but probably not true: Most of the stories about him are apocryphal.

apogee noun [sing.]
1 (formal) the highest point of sth, where it is greatest or most successful: a religious community that was at its apogee in the twelfth century
2 (astronomy) the point in the ORBIT of the moon, a planet or other object in space when it is furthest from the planet, for example the earth, around which it turnscompare PERIGEE

apolitical adj.
1 (of a person) not interested in politics; not thinking politics are important
2 not connected with a political party: an apolitical organization Administration should be an apolitical tool of the government.

Apollonian NAmE adj.
1 connected with the ancient Greek god Apollo
2 (formal) connected with the controlled and reasonable aspects of human naturecompare DIONYSIAC

apologetic NAmE adj. ~ (about/for sth) feeling or showing that you are sorry for doing sth wrong or for causing a problem: 'Sorry,' she said, with an apologetic smile. They were very apologetic about the trouble they'd caused.
apologetically NAmE adv.: 'I'm sorry I'm late,' he murmured apologetically.

apologia NAmE noun (formal) a formal written defence of your own or sb else's actions or opinions: His book was seen as an apologia for the war.

apologist NAmE noun ~ (for sb/sth) a person who tries to explain and defend sth, especially a political system or religious ideas: apologists for nuclear power

apologize (BrE also -ise ) NAmE verb [V] ~ (to sb) (for sth) to say that you are sorry for doing sth wrong or causing a problem: Why should I apologize? Go and apologize to her. We apologize for the late departure of this flight.

apology NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C, U] ~ (to sb) (for sth) a word or statement saying sorry for sth that has been done wrong or that causes a problem: to offer/make/demand/accept an apology You owe him an apology for what you said. We should like to offer our apologies for the delay to your flight today. We received a letter of apology.
2 [C, usually pl.] information that you cannot go to a meeting or must leave early: The meeting started with apologies (= the names of people who said they could not go to the meeting). (formal) She made her apologies and left early.
make no apology/apologies for sth if you say that you make no apology/apologies for sth, you mean that you do not feel that you have said or done sth wrong

apoplectic adj.
1 very angry: He was apoplectic with rage at the decision.
2 (old-fashioned) connected with apoplexy: an apoplectic attack/fit

apoplexy noun [U] (old-fashioned) the sudden loss of the ability to feel or move caused by an injury in the brain A STROKE

aporia noun (technical) a situation in which two or more parts of a theory or argument do not agree, meaning that the theory or argument cannot be true

apostate NAmE noun (formal) a person who has rejected their religious or political beliefs
apostasy NAmE noun [U]

a posteriori NAmE adj., adv. (from Latin, formal) analysing sth by starting from known facts and then thinking about the possible causes of the facts, for example saying 'Look, the streets are wet so it must have been raining.'compare A PRIORI

apostle NAmE noun
1 Apostle any one of the twelve men that Christ chose to tell people about him and his teachings
2 ~ (of sth) (formal) a person who strongly believes in a policy or an idea and tries to make other people believe in it: an apostle of free enterprise

apostolic NAmE adj. (technical)
1 connected with the Apostles or their teaching: apostolic writings
2 connected with the Pope or Popes, who are considered to have had authority passed down to them from Christ's Apostles: The Pope appointed six apostolic administrators.

apostrophe NAmE noun
1 the mark ( ) used to show that one or more letters or numbers have been left out, as in she's for she is and '63 for 1963
2 the mark ( ) used before or after the letter 's' to show that sth belongs to sb, as in Sam's watch and the horses' tails
3 the mark ( ) used before the letter 's' to show the plural of a letter or number, as in How many 3's are there in 9? and There are two m's in 'comma'.

apostrophize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN]
1 to address what you are saying, or a poem, a speech in a play, etc. to a particular person
2 to add apostrophes to a piece of writing

apothecary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a person who made and sold medicines in the past

apotheosis NAmE noun [usually sing.] (pl. apotheoses ) (formal)
1 the highest or most perfect development of sth
2 the best time in sb's life or career
3 a formal statement that a person has become a god: the apotheosis of a Roman Emperor

app abbr. APPLICATION

appal (BrE) (NAmE appall) verb (-ll-) to shock sb very much HORRIFY: [VN] The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. The idea of sharing a room appalled her. The thought of having to do it all again appals me. [VN that] It appalled me that they could simply ignore the problem. [also VN to inf]

appalled adj. ~ (at sth) feeling or showing horror or disgust at sth unpleasant or wrong HORRIFIED: an appalled expression/silence We watched appalled as the child ran in front of the car. They were appalled at the waste of recyclable material.

appalling adj.
1 shocking; extremely bad: The prisoners were living in appalling conditions.
2 (informal) very bad: The bus service is appalling now.
appallingly adv.: appallingly bad/difficult The essay was appallingly written.

apparat noun [usually sing.] the system of officials, offices, etc. that a government, especially a Communist government, uses to run a country

apparatchik noun (from Russian, disapproving or humorous) an official in a large political organization: party apparatchiks

apparatus NAmE noun (pl. apparatuses)
1 [U] the tools or other pieces of equipment that are needed for a particular activity or task: a piece of laboratory apparatus Firefighters needed breathing apparatus to enter the burning house. note at EQUIPMENT
2 [C, usually sing.] the structure of a system or an organization, particularly that of a political party or a government: the power of the state apparatus
3 [C, usually sing.] (technical) a system of organs in the body: the sensory apparatus

apparel noun [U]
1 (especially NAmE) clothing, when it is being sold in shops/stores: The store sells women's and children's apparel.
2 (old-fashioned or formal) clothes, particularly those worn on a formal occasion: lords and ladies in fine apparel

apparent adj.
1 [not usually before noun] ~ (from sth) (that ... )| ~ (to sb) (that ... ) easy to see or understand OBVIOUS: It was apparent from her face that she was really upset. Their devotion was apparent. It soon became apparent to everyone that he couldn't sing. Then, for no apparent reason, the train suddenly stopped. note at CLEAR
2 [usually before noun] that seems to be real or true but may not be SEEMING: My parents were concerned at my apparent lack of enthusiasm for school. Their affluence is more apparent than real (= they are not as rich as they seem to be).see also APPEAR

apparently adv. according to what you have heard or read; according to the way sth appears: Apparently they are getting divorced soon. He paused, apparently lost in thought. I thought she had retired, but apparently (= in fact) she hasn't.

apparent magnitude noun [U] (astronomy) a measure of how bright a star, planet, etc. is, as it is seen from the earthcompare ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE

apparition noun a GHOST or an image of a person who is dead: Apparitions of a woman in white robes have been reported.

appeal noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] ~ (against sth) a formal request to a court or to sb in authority for a judgement or a decision to be changed: (BrE) to lodge an appeal (NAmE) to file an appeal (BrE) an appeal court/judge (NAmE) an appeals court/judge an appeal against the 3-match bansee also COURT OF APPEAL
2 [U] a quality that makes sb/sth attractive or interesting: mass/wide/popular appeal The Beatles have never really lost their appeal. The prospect of living in a city holds little appeal for me.see also SEX APPEAL
3 [C, U] ~ (to sb) (for sth)| ~ to sb to do sth an urgent and deeply felt request for money, help or information, especially one made by a charity or by the police: to launch a TV appeal for donations to the charity a look of silent appeal The child's mother made an emotional appeal on TV for his return. The police made an appeal to the public to remain calm.
4 [C] ~ to sth an indirect suggestion that any good, fair or reasonable person would act in a particular way: I relied on an appeal to his finer feelings.
verb
1 [V] ~ (to sb/sth) (against sth) to make a formal request to a court or to sb in authority for a judgement or a decision to be changed: He said he would appeal after being found guilty on four counts of murder. The company is appealing against the ruling. In North American English, the form appeal (sth) (to sb/sth) is usually used, without a preposition The company has ten days to appeal the decision to the tribunal.
2 [V] ~ (to sb) to attract or interest sb: The prospect of a long wait in the rain did not appeal. The design has to appeal to all ages and social groups.
3 [V] ~ (to sb) (for sth) to make a serious and urgent request: Nationalist leaders appealed for calm. I am appealing on behalf of the famine victims (= asking for money). Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward. Organizers appealed to the crowd not to panic.
4 ~ (to sth) to try to persuade sb to do sth by suggesting that it is a fair, reasonable, or honest thing to do: [V] They needed to appeal to his sense of justice. [also V speech]

appeal court noun
1 = COURT OF APPEAL
2 Appeals Court [C] (US) = COURT OF APPEALS

appealing adj.
1 attractive or interesting: Spending the holidays in Britain wasn't a prospect that I found particularly appealing. Brightly coloured packaging made the pens especially appealing to children. UNAPPEALING
2 showing that you want people to help you or to show you pity or sympathy: 'Would you really help?' he said with an appealing look.
appealingly adv.: The dog looked up at her appealingly.

appear NAmE verb
LOOK/SEEM
1 linking verb (not used in the progressive tenses) to give the impression of being or doing sth SEEM: [V-ADJ] She didn't appear at all surprised at the news. [V-N] He appears a perfectly normal person. [V to inf] She appeared to be in her late thirties. They appeared not to know what was happening. There appears to have been a mistake. [V (that)] It appears that there has been a mistake. It appears unlikely that interest rates will fall further. It would appear that this was a major problem.
BE SEEN
2 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to start to be seen: A bus appeared around the corner. Smoke appeared on the horizon. Three days later a rash appeared. Posters for the gig appeared all over town. New shoots are just appearing at the base of the plant.
BEGIN TO EXIST
3 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to begin to exist or be known or used for the first time: When did mammals appear on the earth? This problem first appeared in the inner cities.
OF BOOK/PROGRAMME
4 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to be published or broadcast: His new book will be appearing in the spring. It was too late to prevent the story from appearing in the national newspapers. These allegations appear in a forthcoming documentary.
IN MOVIE/PLAY
5 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to take part in a film/movie, play, television programme, etc.: He has appeared in over 60 movies. She regularly appears on TV. Next month he will be appearing as Bush in a new play on Broadway.
ARRIVE
6 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to arrive at a place: By ten o'clock Lee still hadn't appeared.
BE WRITTEN/MENTIONED
7 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to be written or mentioned somewhere: Your name will appear at the front of the book.
IN COURT
8 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to be present in court in order to give evidence or answer a charge: A man will appear in court today charged with the murder. She is expected to appear at Dumfries Sheriff Court on Monday. She appeared on six charges of theft. They will appear before magistrates tomorrow. He has been asked to appear as a witness for the defence.
9 [V] ~ for/on behalf of sb to act as sb's lawyer in court: Cherie Booth is the lawyer appearing for the defendant.see also APPARENTcompare DISAPPEAR

appearance NAmE noun
WAY STH LOOKS/SEEMS
1 [C, U] the way that sb/sth looks on the outside; what sb/sth seems to be: the physical/outward/external appearance of sth She had never been greatly concerned about her appearance. The dog was similar in general appearance to a spaniel. He gave every appearance of (= seemed very much to be) enjoying himself. Judging by appearances can be misleading. To all appearances (= as far as people could tell) he was dead. When she lost all her money, she was determined to keep up appearances (= hide the true situation and pretend that everything was going well).
SB/STH ARRIVING
2 [C, usually sing.] the fact of sb/sth arriving, especially when it is not expected: The sudden appearance of a security guard caused them to drop the money and run. I don't want to go to the party, but I suppose I'd better put in an appearance (= go there for a short time).
3 [C, usually sing.] the moment at which sth begins to exist or starts to be seen or used: the early appearance of daffodils in spring the appearance of organic vegetables in the supermarkets
IN PUBLIC
4 [C] an act of appearing in public, especially as a performer, politician, etc., or in court: The Dutch player will make his first appearance for Liverpool this Saturday. The singer's first public appearance was at the age of eight. the defendant's appearance in court
BEING PUBLISHED/BROADCAST
5 [C, usually sing.] an act of being published or broadcast: the appearance of claims about the minister's private life in the press

appease verb [VN] (formal, usually disapproving)
1 to make sb calmer or less angry by giving them what they want: The move was widely seen as an attempt to appease critics of the regime.
2 to give a country what it wants in order to avoid war
appeasement noun [U]: a policy of appeasement

appellant noun (law) a person who appeals against a decision made in court

appellate court NAmE noun (technical) a court in which people can appeal against decisions made in other courts of law

appellation noun (formal) a name or title

appellative adj., noun
adj. (formal) relating to the giving of a name
noun (technical) a common noun that is used to address a person or thing, for example 'mother' or 'doctor'

append verb [VN] ~ sth (to sth) (formal) to add sth to the end of a piece of writing: Footnotes have been appended to the document. The principal has the right to append comments to the final report.

appendage noun (formal) a smaller or less important part of sth larger: The two appendages hanging from the insect's mouth are used to detect and taste food. He treats his wife as no more than a mere appendage.

appendectomy noun [C, U] (pl. -ies) (medical) the removal of the APPENDIX by SURGERY

appendicitis noun [U] a painful swelling of the appendix that can be very serious

appendix noun (pl. appendices )
1 a small bag of TISSUE that is attached to the large INTESTINE. In humans, the appendix has no clear function: He had to have his appendix out (= removed).
2 a section giving extra information at the end of a book or document: Full details are given in Appendix 3.

appertain NAmE verb
appertain to sb/sth (formal) to belong or refer to sb/sth: rights appertaining to the property These figures appertain to last year's sales.

appetite noun
1 [U, C, usually sing.] physical desire for food: He suffered from headaches and loss of appetite. The walk gave me a good appetite. Don't spoil your appetite by eating between meals.
2 [C] ~ (for sth) a strong desire for sth: The public have an insatiable appetite for scandal. sexual appetites The preview was intended to whet your appetite (= make you want more).

appetizer (BrE also -iser) noun a small amount of food or a drink that you have before a meal: Some green olives make a simple appetizer.

appetizing (BrE also -ising) adj. (of food, etc.) that smells or looks attractive; making you feel hungry or thirsty: the appetizing aroma of sizzling bacon The meals he cooked were always nourishing but never particularly appetizing. UNAPPETIZING

applaud verb
1 to show your approval of sb/sth by clapping your hands: [V] He started to applaud and the others joined in. [VN] They rose to applaud the speaker. She was applauded as she came on stage.
2 [VN] ~ sb/sth (for sth) (formal) to express praise for sb/sth because you approve of them or it: We applaud her decision. His efforts to improve the situation are to be applauded. I applaud her for having the courage to refuse.

applause noun [U] the noise made by a group of people clapping their hands and sometimes shouting to show their approval or enjoyment: Give her a big round of applause! The audience broke into rapturous applause.

apple noun a round fruit with shiny red or green skin and firm white flesh: an apple pie apple sauce a garden with three apple treessee also ADAM'S APPLE, BIG APPLE, COOKING APPLE, CRAB APPLE, EATING APPLE, TOFFEE APPLE
the apple doesn't fall/never falls far from the tree (saying, especially NAmE) a child usually behaves in a similar way to his or her parent(s)
the apple of sb's eye a person or thing that is loved more than any other: She is the apple of her father's eye.
apples and oranges (NAmE) used to describe a situation in which two people or things are completely different from each other: They really are apples and oranges. It's a totally different situation, it's apples and oranges.more at AMERICAN adj., ROTTEN

apple cart noun see UPSET v.

applejack noun [U] (NAmE) a strong alcoholic drink made from CIDER (= an alcoholic drink made from the juice of apples)

apple pie noun
1 [C, U] apples baked in a dish with PASTRY on the bottom, sides and top: a slice of apple pie
2 [U] (NAmE) used to represent an idea of perfect home life and comfort: Who could argue against motherhood and apple pie? see AMERICAN adj.

apple-pie bed noun (BrE) a bed which, as a joke, has been made with one of the sheets folded back so that sb cannot stretch their legs out in it

apple-pie order noun [U] the state of being very carefully and neatly arranged: Everything was in apple-pie order.

applet noun (computing) a program which is run from within another program, for example from within an Internet BROWSER

appliance noun a machine that is designed to do a particular thing in the home, such as preparing food, heating or cleaning: electrical/household appliances They sell a wide range of domestic applianceswashing machines, dishwashers and so on. modern heating appliances of all types

applicable adj. [not usually before noun] ~ (to sb/sth) that can be said to be true in the case of sb/sth RELEVANT: Much of the form was not applicable (= did not apply) to me. Give details of children where applicable (= if you have any).
applicability noun [U]: The new approach had wide applicability to all sorts of different problems.

applicant noun ~ (for sth) a person who makes a formal request for sth (= applies for it), especially for a job, a place at a college or university, etc.: There were over 500 applicants for the job. Successful applicants will receive notification within the week.

application noun
FOR JOB/COURSE
1 [C, U] ~ (to sb) (for sth/to do sth) a formal (often written) request for sth, such as a job, permission to do sth or a place at a college or university: a planning/passport application His application to the court for bail has been refused. an application for membership/a loan/a licence an application form (= a piece of paper on which to apply for sth) Further information is available on application to the principal.
PRACTICAL USE
2 [U, C] ~ (of sth) (to sth) the practical use of sth, especially a theory, discovery, etc.: the application of new technology to teaching The invention would have wide application/a wide range of applications in industry.
OF PAINT/CREAM
3 [C, U] an act of putting or spreading sth, such as paint or medical creams, onto sth else: lotion for external application only (= to be put on the skin, not swallowed) It took three applications of paint to cover the graffiti.
OF RULE/LAW
4 [U] the act of making a rule, etc. operate or become effective: strict application of the law
COMPUTING
5 [C] (abbr. app) a program designed to do a particular job; a piece of software: a database application
HARD WORK
6 [U] (formal) determination to work hard at sth; great effort: Success as a writer demands great application.

applicator noun a small tool that is used to put a substance onto a surface, or to put sth into an object: Use the applicator to apply cream to the affected area.

applied adj. [usually before noun] (especially of a subject of study) used in a practical way; not THEORETICAL: applied mathematics (= as used by engineers, etc.)compare PURE (7)

applied linguistics noun [U] the scientific study of language as it relates to practical problems, in areas such as teaching and dealing with speech problems

appliqué NAmE noun [U] a type of NEEDLEWORK in which small pieces of cloth are sewn or stuck in a pattern onto a larger piece: an appliqué bedspread
appliquéd adj.

apply verb (applies, applying, applied, applied)
FOR JOB/COURSE
1 ~ (to sb/sth) (for sth) to make a formal request, usually in writing, for sth such as a job, a place at college, university, etc.: [V] to apply for a job/passport/grant to apply to a company/university You should apply in person/by letter. [V to inf] He has applied to join the army.
USE
2 [VN] ~ sth (to sth) to use sth or make sth work in a particular situation: to apply economic sanctions/political pressure The new technology was applied to farming.
PAINT/CREAM
3 [VN] ~ sth (to sth) to put or spread sth such as paint, cream, etc. onto a surface: Apply the cream sparingly to your face and neck. The glue should be applied to both surfaces.
BE RELEVANT
4 (not used in the progressive tenses) ~ (to sb/sth) to concern or relate to sb/sth: [V] Special conditions apply if you are under 18. What I am saying applies only to some of you. [VN] The word 'unexciting' could never be applied to her novels.
WORK HARD
5 [VN] ~ yourself (to sth/to doing sth) to work at sth or study sth very hard: You would pass your exams if you applied yourself. We applied our minds to finding a solution to our problem.
PRESS HARD
6 [VN] to press on sth hard with your hand, foot, etc. to make sth work or have an effect on sth: to apply the brakes (of a vehicle) Pressure applied to the wound will stop the bleeding.

appoint verb
1 ~ sb (to sth)| ~ sb (as) sth to choose sb for a job or position of responsibility: [VN] They have appointed a new head teacher at my son's school. She has recently been appointed to the committee. [VN-N] They appointed him (as) captain of the English team. [VN to inf] A lawyer was appointed to represent the child.
2 [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to arrange or decide on a time or place for doing sth: A date for the meeting is still to be appointed. Everyone was assembled at the appointed time.

appointee noun a person who has been chosen for a job or position of responsibility: the new appointee to the post

appointment noun
1 [C] ~ (with sb) a formal arrangement to meet or visit sb at a particular time, especially for a reason connected with their work: She made an appointment for her son to see the doctor. I've got a dental appointment at 3 o'clock. an appointment with my lawyer to keep an appointment Viewing is by appointment only (= only at a time that has been arranged in advance). Do you have an appointment? an appointment for a blood test
2 [C, U] ~ (as/to sth) the act of choosing a person for a job or position of responsibility; the fact of being chosen for a job, etc.: Following her recent appointment to the post ... his appointment as principal the appointment of a new captain for the England team appointments and dismissals
3 [C] (especially BrE) a job or position of responsibility: a permanent/first appointment The department wished him success in his new appointment as sales manager. note at JOB

apportion NAmE verb [VN] ~ sth (among/between/to sb) (formal) to divide sth among people; to give a share of sth to sb: They apportioned the land among members of the family. The programme gives the facts but does not apportion blame.
apportionment noun [U, sing.] (formal): The contract defines the apportionment of risks between employer and contractor. an apportionment of land The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives is based on the population of each state.

apposite adj. ~ (to sth) (formal) very appropriate for a particular situation or in relation to sth: Her remarks are extremely apposite to the present discussion.

apposition noun [U] (grammar) the use of a noun phrase immediately after another noun phrase which refers to the same person or thing: In the phrase 'Paris, the capital of France', 'the capital of France' is in apposition to 'Paris'.

appraisal noun [C, U]
1 a judgement of the value, performance or nature of sb/sth: He had read many detailed critical appraisals of her work. She was honest in her appraisal of her team's chances. The report has been subject to appraisal.
2 (BrE) a meeting in which an employee discusses with their manager how well they have been doing their job; the system of holding such meetings: I have my appraisal today. staff/performance appraisal The compamy has an annual appraisal system.

appraise verb [VN]
1 (formal) to consider or examine sb/sth and form an opinion about them or it: an appraising glance/look She stepped back to appraise her workmanship. His eyes coolly appraised the young woman before him.
2 to make a formal judgement about the value of a person's work, usually after a discussion with them about it: Managers must appraise all staff.

appraiser noun (NAmE) a person whose job is to examine a building and say how much it is worth

appreciable adj. large enough to be noticed or thought important CONSIDERABLE: The new regulations will not make an appreciable difference to most people. an appreciable effect/increase/amount The increase in salary will be appreciable.
appreciably adv.: The risk of infection is appreciably higher among children.

appreciate verb
1 [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) to recognize the good qualities of sb/sth: You can't really appreciate foreign literature in translation. His talents are not fully appreciated in that company. Her family doesn't appreciate her.
2 (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to be grateful for sth that sb has done; to welcome sth: [VN] I'd appreciate some help. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thanks for coming. I appreciate it. I would appreciate any comments you might have. I would appreciate it if you paid in cash. [V -ing] I don't appreciate being treated like a second-class citizen. [VN -ing] We would appreciate you letting us know of any problems.
3 (not used in the progressive tenses) to understand that sth is true REALIZE: [VN] What I failed to appreciate was the distance between the two cities. [V wh-] I don't think you appreciate how expensive it will be. [V that] We didn't fully appreciate that he was seriously ill.
4 [V] to increase in value over a period of time: Their investments have appreciated over the years. DEPRECIATE

appreciation noun
1 [U] pleasure that you have when you recognize and enjoy the good qualities of sb/sth: She shows little appreciation of good music. The crowd murmured in appreciation.
2 [U, sing.] ~ of sth a full or sympathetic understanding of sth, such as a situation or a problem, and of what it involves: I had no appreciation of the problems they faced.
3 [U] ~ (of/for sth) the feeling of being grateful for sth: Please accept this gift in appreciation of all you've done for us.
4 [U, sing.] ~ (in sth) increase in value over a period of time DEPRECIATION: an appreciation in the value of the house capital appreciation
5 [C] ~ (of sth) (formal) a piece of writing or a speech in which the strengths and weaknesses of sb/sth, especially an artist or a work of art, are discussed and judged: They were asked to write an appreciation of a poem of their choice.

appreciative adj.
1 ~ (of sth) feeling or showing that you are grateful for sth: The company was very appreciative of my efforts.
2 showing pleasure or enjoyment: an appreciative audience/smile appreciative laughter/comments
appreciatively adv.

apprehend verb [VN] (formal)
1 (of the police) to catch sb and arrest them: The police apprehended an armed suspect near the scene of the crime. The thief was apprehended in the act of stealing a car.
2 (old-fashioned) to understand or recognize sth: He was slow to apprehend danger.

apprehension noun
1 [U, C] worry or fear that sth unpleasant may happen ANXIETY: There is growing apprehension that fighting will begin again. He watched the election results with some apprehension. There is apprehension about the safety of the missing children. They shivered with apprehension. note at FEAR
2 [U] (formal) the act of capturing or arresting sb, usually by the police: the apprehension of the terrorists in the early hours of this morning

apprehensive adj. ~ (about/of sth)| ~ (that ... ) worried or frightened that sth unpleasant may happen: I was a little apprehensive about the effects of what I had said. You have no reason to be apprehensive of the future. She was deeply apprehensive that something might go wrong. an apprehensive face/glance/look note at AFRAID
apprehensively adv.

apprentice noun, verb
noun a young person who works for an employer for a fixed period of time in order to learn the particular skills needed in their job: an apprentice electrician/chef
verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (to sb) (as sth) (old-fashioned) to make sb an apprentice: He was apprenticed to his uncle as a carpenter.

apprenticeship noun [C, U] a period of time working as an apprentice; a job as an apprentice: She was in the second year of her apprenticeship as a carpenter. He had served his apprenticeship as a plumber. Apprenticeships were becoming more difficult to find.

apprise verb [VN] ~ sb of sth (formal) to tell or inform sb of sth: He saw no reason to apprise the committee of what had happened. We were fully apprised of the situation.

appro NAmE noun [U] (BrE, informal) if you buy goods, or if goods are sold on appro, you can use them for a time without paying until you decide if you want to buy them or not ON APPROVAL

approach NAmE verb, noun
verb
MOVE NEAR
1 to come near to sb/sth in distance or time: [V] We heard the sound of an approaching car/a car approaching Winter is approaching. The time is fast approaching when we shall have to make a decision. [VN] As you approach the town, you'll see the college on the left.
OFFER/ASK
2 [VN] ~ sb (about/for sth)| ~ sb (about doing sth) to speak to sb about sth, especially to ask them for sth or to offer to do sth: She approached the bank for a loan. We have been approached by a number of companies that are interested in our product. I'd like to ask his opinion but I find him difficult to approach (= not easy to talk to in a friendly way).
AMOUNT/QUALITY
3 [VN] to come close to sth in amount, level or quality: profits approaching 30 million dollars Few writers approach his richness of language.
PROBLEM/TASK
4 [VN] to start dealing with a problem, task, etc. in a particular way: What's the best way of approaching this problem?
noun
TO PROBLEM/TASK
1 [C] ~ (to sth) a way of dealing with sb/sth; a way of doing or thinking about sth such as a problem or a task: The school has decided to adopt a different approach to discipline. She took the wrong approach in her dealings with them.
MOVEMENT NEARER
2 [sing.] movement nearer to sb/sth in distance or time: She hadn't heard his approach and jumped as the door opened. the approach of spring They felt apprehensive about the approach of war.
OFFER/REQUEST
3 [C] the act of speaking to sb about sth, especially when making an offer or a request: The club has made an approach to a local company for sponsorship. She resented his persistent approaches.
PATH/ROAD
4 [C] a path, road, etc. that leads to a place: All the approaches to the palace were guarded by troops. a new approach road to the port
OF AIRCRAFT
5 [C] the part of an aircraft's flight immediately before landing: to begin the final approach to the runway
STH SIMILAR
6 [sing.] a thing that is like sth else that is mentioned: That's the nearest approach to an apology you'll get from him.
see CARROT

approachable NAmE adj.
1 friendly and easy to talk to; easy to understand: Despite being a big star, she's very approachable. an approachable piece of music UNAPPROACHABLE
2 [not before noun] that can be reached by a particular route or from a particular direction: The summit was approachable only from the south.

approbation noun [U] (formal) approval or agreement: a shout of approbation The King received the official approbation of the church.

appropriacy NAmE noun [U]
1 the extent to which sth is suitable or acceptable
2 (linguistics) the extent to which a word or phrase sounds correct and natural in relation to the situation it is used in

appropriate adj., verb
adj. NAmE ~ (for/to sth) suitable, acceptable or correct for the particular circumstances: an appropriate response/measure/method Now that the problem has been identified, appropriate action can be taken. Jeans are not appropriate for a formal party. The book was written in a style appropriate to the age of the children. Is now an appropriate time to make a speech? Please debit my Mastercard/Visa/American Express card (delete as appropriate). INAPPROPRIATE
appropriately adv.: The government has been accused of not responding appropriately to the needs of the homeless. The chain of volcanoes is known, appropriately enough, as the 'Ring of Fire'. appropriateness noun [U]: He questioned the appropriateness of their methods.
verb NAmE [VN] (formal)
1 to take sth, sb's ideas, etc. for your own use, especially illegally or without permission: He was accused of appropriating club funds. Some of the opposition party's policies have been appropriated by the government.
2 ~ sth (for sth) to take or give sth, especially money for a particular purpose: Five million dollars has been appropriated for research into the disease.compare MISAPPROPRIATE

appropriation NAmE noun
1 [U, sing.] (formal or law) the act of taking sth which belongs to sb else, especially without permission: dishonest appropriation of property The film company sued them over their appropriation of a cartoon character.compare MISAPPROPRIATION
2 [U, sing.] (formal) the act of keeping or saving money for a particular purpose: a meeting to discuss the appropriation of funds
3 [C] (formal) a sum of money to be used for a particular purpose, especially by a government or company: an appropriation of £20 000 for payment of debts

approval noun
1 [U] the feeling that sb/sth is good or acceptable; a positive opinion of sb/sth: She desperately wanted to win her father's approval. Do the plans meet with your approval? Several people nodded in approval. DISAPPROVAL
2 [U, C] ~ (for sth) (from sb) agreement to, or permission for sth, especially a plan or request: The plan will be submitted to the committee for official approval. parliamentary/congressional/government approval Senior management have given their seal of approval (= formal approval) to the plans. I can't agree to anything without my partner's approval. planning approvals The proposal is subject to approval by the shareholders (= they need to agree to it) They required/received approval for the proposal from the shareholders.
3 [U] if you buy goods, or if goods are sold on approval, you can use them for a time without paying, until you decide if you want to buy them or not

approve verb
1 [V] ~ (of sb/sth) to think that sb/sth is good, acceptable or suitable: I told my mother I wanted to leave school but she didn't approve. Do you approve of my idea? She doesn't approve of me leaving school this year. (formal) She doesn't approve of my leaving school this year. DISAPPROVE
2 [VN] to officially agree to a plan, request, etc.: The committee unanimously approved the plan. note at AGREE
3 [VN] [often passive] to say that sth is good enough to be used, or is correct: The course is approved by the Department for Education. The auditors approved the company's accounts.

approved school noun (BrE) a school where young people who had committed crimes were sent in the past

approving adj. showing that you believe that sb/sth is good or acceptable: He gave me an approving nod. DISAPPROVING
approvingly adv.: She looked at him approvingly and smiled.

approx abbr. APPROXIMATE, APPROXIMATELY

approximant NAmE noun
1 (phonetics) a speech sound made by bringing the parts of the mouth which produce speech close together but not actually touching, for example and in right and wet in many accents of English
2 (mathematics) a solution which is close to but not exactly the solution of a problem

approximate adj., verb
adj. NAmE (abbr. approx) almost correct or accurate, but not completely so: an approximate number/total/cost The cost given is only approximate. Use these figures as an approximate guide in your calculations. EXACT
verb NAmE (formal)
1 ~ (to) sth to be similar or close to sth in nature, quality, amount, etc., but not exactly the same: [VN] The animals were reared in conditions which approximated the wild as closely as possible. The total cost will approximate £15 billion. [V] His story approximates to the facts that we already know.
2 [VN] to calculate or estimate sth fairly accurately: a formula for approximating the weight of a horse

approximately NAmE adv. used to show that sth is almost, but not completely, accurate or correct: The journey took approximately seven hours. The two buildings were approximately equal in size.

approximation NAmE noun
1 an estimate of a number or an amount that is almost correct, but not exact: That's just an approximation, you understand. An approximation of the numbers expected to attend would be 350.
2 ~ (of/to sth) a thing that is similar to sth else, but is not exactly the same: Our results should be a good approximation to the true state of affairs.

appurtenance NAmE noun [usually pl.] (formal or humorous) a thing that forms a part of sth larger or more important

APR noun [sing.] the abbreviation for 'annual percentage rate' (the amount of interest a bank charges on money that it lends, calculated for a period of a year): a rate of 26.4% APR

après-ski noun [U] (from French) social activities and entertainments which take place in hotels and restaurants after a day's SKIING

apricot NAmE noun
1 [C] a round fruit with yellow or orange skin and a large seed inside: dried apricots
2 [U] a yellowish-orange colour
apricot adj.: The room was painted apricot and white.

April noun [U, C] (abbr. Apr.) the fourth month of the year, between March and May: She was born in April. (BrE) The meeting is on the fifth of April/April the fifth. (NAmE) The meeting is on April fifth. We went to Japan last April. I arrived at the end of April. last April's election April showers an April wedding

April Fool noun
1 a trick that is traditionally played on sb on 1 April (called April Fool's Day or All Fools' Day)
2 a person who has a trick played on them on April Fool's Day

a priori adj., adv. (from Latin, formal) using facts or principles that are known to be true in order to decide what the probable effects or results of sth will be, for example saying 'They haven't eaten anything all day so they must be hungry.': an a priori assumptioncompare A POSTERIORI

apron noun
1 a piece of clothing worn over the front of the body, from the chest or the waist down, and tied around the waist. Aprons are worn over other clothes to keep them clean, for example when cooking.compare PINAFORE
2 (technical) an area with a hard surface at an airport, where aircraft are turned around, loaded, etc.
3 (also apron stage) (technical) (in a theatre) the part of the stage that is in front of the curtain
(tied to) sb's apron strings (too much under) the influence and control of sb: The British prime minister is too apt to cling to Washington's apron strings.

apropos NAmE (also apropos of) prep. concerning or related to sb/sth: Apropos (of) what you were just saying ...

apse noun a small area, often in the shape of a SEMICIRCLE, usually at the east end of a church

apt adj.
1 suitable or appropriate in the circumstances: a particularly apt description/name/comment The song would have been more apt for a bass voice.
2 ~ to be ...| ~ to do sth likely or having a natural tendency to do sth: apt to be forgetful/careless Babies are apt to put objects into their mouths.
3 ~ pupil a person who has a natural ability to learn and understand
aptly adv.: the aptly named Grand Hotel aptness noun [U]

aptitude NAmE noun [U, C] ~ (for sth)| ~ (for doing sth) natural ability or skill at doing sth TALENT: She showed a natural aptitude for the work. His aptitude for dealing with children got him the job. an aptitude test (= one designed to show whether sb has the natural ability for a particular job or course of education)

aqua noun [U]
1 water (used especially on the labels on packages of food, drinks, medicines, etc. in order to show how much water they contain)
2 a bluish-green colour

aquaculture noun [U] the growing of plants in water for food

aqualung noun a piece of breathing equipment that a DIVER wears on his/her back when swimming underwater

aquamarine noun
1 [C, U] a pale greenish-blue SEMI-PRECIOUS STONE
2 [U] a pale greenish-blue colour
aquamarine adj.: an aquamarine sea

aquaplane verb, noun
verb [V]
1 (BrE) (NAmE hydroplane) (of a motor vehicle) to slide out of control on a wet road
2 to stand on a board that is pulled along on water behind a SPEEDBOAT in the sport of aquaplaning
noun a board that sb stands on in the sport of aquaplaning

aquaplaning noun [U]
1 the sport of being pulled along on a board behind a SPEEDBOAT on water
2 (BrE) (NAmE hydroplaning) the fact of a vehicle sliding on a wet surface, so that it is out of control

aquarium NAmE noun (pl. aquariums or aquaria )
1 a large glass container in which fish and other water creatures and plants are kept
2 a building where people can go to see fish and other water creatures

Aquarius NAmE (also the Water Bearer, the Water Carrier) noun
1 [U] the 11th sign of the ZODIAC
2 [sing.] a person born under the influence of this sign, that is between 21 January and 19 February
Aquarian NAmE noun, adj.

aquarobics NAmE noun [U] physical exercises that you do in water, often done in classescompare AEROBICS

aquatic adj. [usually before noun]
1 growing or living in, on or near water: aquatic plants/life/ecosystems
2 connected with water: aquatic sports

aquatint noun [U, C] (technical) a method of producing a picture using acid on a metal plate; a picture produced using this method

aqueduct noun a structure for carrying water, usually one built like a bridge across a valley or low ground

aqueous adj. (technical) containing water; like water: chemicals dissolved in an aqueous solution

aqueous humour (BrE) (NAmE aqueous humor) noun [U] (anatomy) the clear liquid inside the front part of the eyecompare VITREOUS HUMOUR

aquifer noun (geology) a layer of rock or soil that can absorb and hold water

aquiline adj. (formal) a person with an aquiline nose or aquiline features has a nose that is thin and curved, similar to that of an EAGLE

Arab noun, adj.
noun
1 a person from the Middle East or N Africa, whose ANCESTORS lived in the Arabian Peninsula
2 a type of horse originally from Arabia
adj. of or connected with Arabia or Arabs: Arab countries

arabesque noun
1 [C] (in BALLET) a position in which the dancer balances on one leg with the other leg lifted and stretched out behind parallel to the ground
2 [C, U] (in art) a type of design where lines wind around each other

Arabian adj. of or connected with Arabia Arabian is used to describe places: the Arabian peninsula. The people are Arabs and the adjective to describe them is Arab: Arab children. The language is Arabic: Arabic script

Arabic noun, adj.
noun [U] the language of the Arabs
adj. of or connected with the literature and language of Arab people: Arabic poetry

arabica noun [U] coffee or coffee BEANS from the most common type of coffee plant

Arabic numeral noun any of the symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. used for writing numbers in many countriescompare ROMAN NUMERAL

arable adj. connected with growing crops such as WHEAT: arable farming/farms/crops arable land/fields (= used or suitable for growing crops)

arachnid noun (technical) any small creature of the class that includes spiders, SCORPIONS, MITES and TICKScompare INSECT

arachnophobia NAmE noun [U] an extreme fear of spiders

arak = ARRACK

Aramaic noun [U] a language spoken in the Near East since the 6th century BC

Aran adj. [only before noun] (BrE) (of knitted clothing) with a traditional pattern of lines and diamond shapes made by raised STITCHES: an Aran sweater

Arawak noun [U] any of the languages of the Arawak people, from the north and west of S America

arbiter NAmE noun ~ (of sth) a person with the power or influence to make judgements and decide what will be done or accepted: The law is the final arbiter of what is considered obscene. an arbiter of taste/style/fashion

arbitrage NAmE noun [U] (business) the practice of buying sth (for example, shares or foreign money) in one place and selling it in another place where the price is higher
arbitrageur NAmE (also arbitrager NAmE ) noun: one of Wall Street's most famous arbitrageurs

arbitrary NAmE adj.
1 (of an action, a decision, a rule, etc.) not seeming to be based on a reason, system or plan and sometimes seeming unfair: The choice of players for the team seemed completely arbitrary. He makes unpredictable, arbitrary decisions.
2 (formal) using power without restriction and without considering other people: the arbitrary powers of officials
arbitrarily NAmE adv.: The leaders of the groups were chosen arbitrarily. The political frontiers in Africa were often arbitrarily drawn up by the old colonial powers. arbitrariness noun [U]: Court officials were suspected of arbitrariness and personal bias.

arbitrate NAmE verb ~ (in/on) (sth) to officially settle an argument or a disagreement between two people or groups: [V] to arbitrate in a dispute A committee was created to arbitrate between management and the unions. [also VN]

arbitration NAmE noun [U] the official process of settling an argument or a disagreement by sb who is not involved: Both sides in the dispute have agreed to go to arbitration. Trade unions want the question referred to arbitration.

arbitrator NAmE noun a person who is chosen to settle a disagreement

Arbor Day NAmE noun a day when people in the US, Australia, New Zealand and some other countries plant trees

arboreal NAmE adj. (technical) relating to trees; living in trees

arboretum NAmE noun (pl. arboretums or arboreta ) a garden where many different types of tree are grown, for people to look at or for scientific study

arboriculture NAmE noun [U] the study or practice of growing trees and SHRUBS
arboricultural NAmE adj.: an arboricultural specialist arboriculturist noun

Arborio NAmE noun [U] a type of Italian rice with a short grain

arbour (BrE) (NAmE arbor) NAmE noun a shelter in a garden/yard for people to sit under, made by growing climbing plants over a frame

arbutus NAmE noun a type of EVERGREEN tree with broad leaves, pink or white flowers and BERRIES like STRAWBERRIES

arc NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 (geometry) part of a circle or a curved line: to draw an arc using a compass
2 a curved shape: the arc of a rainbow The beach swept around in an arc.
3 (technical) an electric current passing across a space between two TERMINALSsee also ARC LAMP
verb (arcing NAmE , arced, arced NAmE ) [V] (technical)
1 to move in the shape of an arc
2 to form an electric arc

arcade NAmE noun
1 a covered passage with ARCHES along the side of a row of buildings (usually a row of shops/stores)
2 a covered passage between streets, with shops/stores on either side
3 (also shopping arcade) (both BrE) a large building with a number of shops/stores in itcompare SHOPPING MALL
4 = AMUSEMENT ARCADE: arcade games

Arcadia NAmE noun [sing.] a part of southern Greece used in poetry and stories to represent an idea of perfect country life

Arcadian NAmE adj. of or connected with Arcadia or an idea of perfect country life

arcana NAmE noun
1 [pl.] things that are secret or mysterious
2 [sing.] either of the two groups of cards in a TAROT PACK/DECK, the major arcana and the minor arcana.

arcane NAmE adj. (formal) secret and mysterious and therefore difficult to understand: the arcane rules of cricket

arch NAmE noun, verb, adj.
noun
1 a curved structure that supports the weight of sth above it, such as a bridge or the upper part of a building: a bridge with three arches
2 a structure with a curved top that is supported by straight sides, sometimes forming an entrance or built as a MONUMENT: Go through the arch and follow the path. Marble Arch is a famous London landmark.
3 the raised part of the foot formed by a curved section of bones
4 anything that forms a curved shape at the top: the delicate arch of her eyebrows
verb
1 if you arch part of your body, or if it arches, it moves and forms a curved shape: [VN] The cat arched its back and hissed. [also V]
2 [V] to be in a curved line or shape across or over sth: Tall trees arched over the path.
adj. [usually before noun] (often disapproving) seeming amused because you know more about a situation than other people: an arch tone of voice He tapped the side of his nose in an uncharacteristically arch gesture.
archly adv.: 'Guess what?' she said archly.

arch- NAmE combining form (in nouns) main; most important or most extreme: archbishop arch-enemy

archaeologist (NAmE also archeologist) NAmE noun a person who studies archaeology

archaeology (NAmE also archeology) NAmE noun [U] the study of cultures of the past, and of periods of history by examining the remains of buildings and objects found in the groundsee also INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY
archaeological (NAmE also archeological) NAmE adj.: archaeological excavations/evidence

archaeopteryx NAmE noun the oldest known bird, which existed about 150 million years ago

archaic NAmE adj.
1 old and no longer used: 'Thou art' is an archaic form of 'you are'.
2 very old-fashioned OUTDATED: The system is archaic and unfair and needs changing.
3 from a much earlier or ancient period of history: archaic art

archaism NAmE noun (technical) a very old word or phrase that is no longer used

archangel NAmE noun an ANGEL of the highest rank: the Archangel Gabriel

archbishop NAmE noun a BISHOP of the highest rank, responsible for all the churches in a large area: the Archbishop of Canterbury (= the head of the Church of England)

archbishopric NAmE noun
1 the position of an archbishop
2 the district for which an archbishop is responsible

archdeacon NAmE noun a priest just below the rank of BISHOP, especially in the Anglican Church

archdiocese NAmE noun a district under the care of an ARCHBISHOP

archduchess NAmE noun (in the past) the wife of an archduke or a daughter of the EMPEROR of Austria

archduke NAmE noun (in the past) a son of the EMPEROR of Austria: Archduke Franz Ferdinandcompare GRAND DUKE

arched NAmE adj. in the shape of an ARCH: a chair with an arched back

arch-enemy noun a person's main enemy

archeologist, archeology (NAmE) = ARCHAEOLOGIST, ARCHAEOLOGY

archer NAmE noun a person who shoots with a BOW and arrows

archery NAmE noun [U] the art or sport of shooting arrows with a BOW

archetypal NAmE adj. having all the important qualities that make sb/sth a typical example of a particular kind of person or thing: The Beatles were the archetypal pop group. It was the archetypal British suburb, built in the 1930s.

archetype noun the most typical or perfect example of a particular kind of person or thing: She is the archetype of an American movie star.

archipelago NAmE noun (pl. -os or -oes) a group of islands and the sea surrounding them: the Indonesian archipelago

architect NAmE noun
1 a person whose job is designing buildings, etc.
2 a person who is responsible for planning or creating an idea, an event or a situation: He was one of the principal architects of the revolution. Jones was the architect of the team's first goal.

architectonic NAmE adj. (technical) of or connected with architecture or architects

architectural NAmE adj. connected with architecture: architectural features
architecturally adv.: The house is of little interest architecturally.

architecture NAmE noun
1 [U] the art and study of designing buildings: to study architecture
2 [U] the design or style of a building or buildings: the architecture of the eighteenth century modern architecture
3 [C, U] (computing) the design and structure of a computer system

architrave NAmE noun (technical) the frame around a door or window

archive NAmE noun, verb
noun (also archives [pl.]) a collection of historical documents or records of a government, a family, a place or an organization; the place where these records are stored: the National Sound Archive archive film The BBC's archives are bulging with material.
verb [VN]
1 to put or store a document or other material in an archive
2 (computing) to move information that is not often needed to a tape or disk to store it

archivist NAmE noun a person whose job is to develop and manage an archive

arch-rival noun a person's main opponent: a game between Rangers and their arch-rivals Celtic

archway NAmE noun a passage or an entrance with an ARCH over it: We went through a stone archway into the courtyard.

arc lamp (also arc light) noun a lamp that gives very bright light that is produced by an electric ARC

Arctic NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 [only before noun] related to or happening in the regions around the North Pole: Arctic explorerscompare ANTARCTIC
2 arctic extremely cold: TV pictures showed the arctic conditions.
noun [sing.] the Arctic the regions of the world around the North Pole

the Arctic Circle noun [sing.] the line of LATITUDE 66° 30 Northcompare ANTARCTIC CIRCLE

Arctic tern noun a bird with a red beak that breeds in the Arctic and spends the winter in the Antarctic

ardent NAmE adj. [usually before noun] very enthusiastic and showing strong feelings about sth/sb PASSIONATE: an ardent supporter of European unity
ardently adv.: He gazed at her ardently. They had been ardently anti-Communist.

ardour (BrE) (NAmE ardor) NAmE noun [U] (formal) very strong feelings of enthusiasm or love PASSION: His revolutionary ardour was an example to his followers. romantic ardour

arduous NAmE adj. involving a lot of effort and energy, especially over a period of time: an arduous journey across the Andes The work was arduous.
arduously adv.: They searched arduously for clues.

are^1 strong form BE

are^2 NAmE noun a unit for measuring an area of land; 100 square metres

area NAmE noun
PART OF PLACE
1 [C] part of a place, town, etc., or a region of a country or the world: mountainous/desert areas rural/urban/inner-city areas There is heavy traffic in the downtown area tonight. She knows the local area very well. John is the London area manager. Wreckage from the plane was scattered over a wide area. The farm and surrounding area was flooded.see also CATCHMENT AREA, CONSERVATION AREA, DEVELOPMENT AREA, NO-GO AREA
2 [C] a part of a room, building or particular space that is used for a special purpose: the hotel reception area a play/parking/dining areasee also REST AREA, SERVICE AREA
PARTICULAR PLACE
3 [C] a particular place on an object: Move the cursor to a blank area of the computer screen. The tumour had not spread to other areas of the body.
SUBJECT/ACTIVITY
4 [C] ~ (of sth) a particular subject or activity, or an aspect of it: the areas of training and development Finance is Mark's area. The big growth area of recent years has been in health clubs.see also GREY AREA
MEASUREMENT
5 [C, U] the amount of space covered by a flat surface or piece of land, described as a measurement: the area of a triangle The room is 12 square metres in area. Britain occupies a total area of 88 798 square miles.
FOOTBALL
6 the area (BrE) (in football (SOCCER)) = THE PENALTY AREA: He shot from just outside the area.

area code noun (especially NAmE) the numbers for a particular area or city, that you use when you are making a telephone call from outside the local area: The area code for New York is 212.compare DIALLING CODE

arena noun
1 a place with a flat open area in the middle and seats around it where people can watch sports and entertainment: a concert at Wembley Arena
2 (formal) an area of activity that concerns the public, especially one where there is a lot of opposition between different groups or countries: the political/international arena

aren't short form
1 are not
2 (in questions) am not: Aren't I clever?

areola noun (pl. areolae ) the round area of skin around the NIPPLE (= on a breast)

arête noun (from French) a long sharp RIDGE along the top of a mountain

argent NAmE adj. (literary) silver

argon NAmE noun [U] (symb Ar) a chemical element. Argon is a gas that does not react with anything and is used in electric lights.

the Argonauts NAmE noun [pl.] (in ancient Greek stories) the sailors who travelled with Jason, the son of the king of Iolcos in Greece, on his adventures

argot NAmE noun [sing., U] (from French) words and phrases that are used by a particular group of people and not easily understood by others JARGON

arguable NAmE adj. (formal)
1 that you can give good reasons for: It is arguable that giving too much detail may actually be confusing. He had a good arguable case.
2 not certain; that you do not accept without question DEBATABLE: It is arguable whether the case should have ever gone to trial (= perhaps it should not have).

arguably NAmE adv. used, often before a comparative or superlative adjective, when you are stating an opinion which you believe you could give reasons to support: He is arguably the best actor of his generation.

argue NAmE verb
1 [V] ~ (with sb) (about/over sth) to speak angrily to sb because you disagree with them: My brothers are always arguing. We're always arguing with each other about money. I don't want to argue with youjust do it! He's offering to pay so who am I to argue?
2 ~ (for/against sth)| ~ (for/against doing sth) to give reasons why you think that sth is right/wrong, true/not true, etc., especially to persuade people that you are right: [V] They argued for the right to strike. [VN] She argued the case for bringing back the death penalty. He was too tired to argue the point (= discuss the matter). a well-argued article [V that] He argued that they needed more time to finish the project. [VN that] It could be argued that laws are made by and for men. [also V wh-]
3 [VN] (formal) to show clearly that sth exists or is true: These latest developments argue a change in government policy.
argue the toss (BrE, informal) to continue to disagree about a decision, especially when it is too late to change it or it is not very important
argue sb into/out of doing sth to persuade sb to do/not do sth by giving them reasons: They argued him into withdrawing his complaint.
argue with sth (usually used in negative sentences) (informal) to disagree with a statement: He's a really successful manyou can't argue with that.

argument NAmE noun
1 [C, U] ~ (with sb) (about/over sth) a conversation or discussion in which two or more people disagree, often angrily: We had an argument with the waiter about the bill. She got into an argument with the teacher. to win/lose an argument After some heated argument a decision was finally taken.
2 [C] ~ (for/against sth)| ~ (that ... ) a reason or set of reasons that sb uses to show that sth is true or correct: There are strong arguments for and against euthanasia. His argument was that public spending must be reduced. Her main argument was a moral one.
3 [U] ~ (about sth) the act of disagreeing in a conversation or discussion using a reason or set of reasons: Let's assume for the sake of argument (= in order to discuss the problem) that we can't start till March.

argumentation NAmE noun [U] logical arguments used to support a theory, an action or an idea

argumentative NAmE adj. a person who is argumentative likes arguing or often starts arguing: Everyone in the family was argumentative.

argy-bargy NAmE noun [U, C] (pl. argy-bargies) (BrE, informal) noisy disagreement

argyle NAmE noun [U] a knitted pattern of diamond shapes on a plain background, especially on a sweater or on socks

aria noun a song for one voice, especially in an OPERA or ORATORIO

-arian suffix (in nouns and adjectives) believing in; practising: humanitarian disciplinarian

arid adj.
1 (of land or a climate) having little or no rain; very dry: arid and semi-arid deserts Nothing grows in these arid regions. The pioneers hoped to transform the arid outback into a workable landscape.
2 (formal) with nothing new or interesting in it: an arid discussion
aridity noun [U]

Aries NAmE noun
1 [U] the first sign of the ZODIAC, the RAM
2 [sing.] a person born under the influence of this sign, that is between 21 March and 20 April

aright adv. (old-fashioned) correctly: Do I hear you aright?

arise verb (arose NAmE , arisen ) [V]
1 (rather formal) (especially of a problem or a difficult situation) to happen; to start to exist OCCUR: A new crisis has arisen. We keep them informed of any changes as they arise. Children should be disciplined when the need arises (= when it is necessary). A storm arose during the night.
2 ~ (out of/from sth) (rather formal) to happen as a result of a particular situation: injuries arising out of a road accident Emotional or mental problems can arise from a physical cause. Are there any matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting?
3 (formal) to begin to exist or develop: Several new industries arose in the town.
4 (old use or literary) to get out of bed; to stand up: He arose at dawn.
5 (old use) to come together to protest about sth or to fight for sth: The peasants arose against their masters.
6 (literary) (of a mountain, a tall building, etc.) to become visible gradually as you move towards it

aristocracy NAmE noun [C+sing./pl. v.] (pl. -ies) (in some countries) people born in the highest social class, who have special titles NOBILITY: members of the aristocracy the shift of power from the aristocracy to the bourgeoisie

aristocrat NAmE noun a member of the aristocracycompare COMMONER

aristocratic NAmE adj. belonging to or typical of the ARISTOCRACY NOBLE: an aristocratic name/family/lifestyle

Aristotelian adj. connected with Aristotle or his philosophy

arithmetic noun [U]
1 the type of mathematics that deals with the adding, multiplying, etc. of numbers: He's not very good at arithmetic.
2 sums involving the adding, multiplying, etc. of numbers: a quick bit of mental arithmetic I think there's something wrong with your arithmetic.

arithmetical (also arithmetic) adj. relating to arithmetic: an arithmetical calculation
arithmetically adv.

arithmetic mean noun = MEAN

arithmetic progression (also arithmetic series) noun a series of numbers that decrease or increase by the same amount each time, for example 2, 4, 6, 8compare GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION

the ark NAmE (also Noah's ark) noun [sing.] (in the Bible) a large boat which Noah built to save his family and two of every type of animal from the flood
out of the ark | sth went out with the ark (BrE, informal) if sb says that an object or a custom is out of the ark or went out with the ark, they think that it is old or old-fashioned: Those computers went out with the ark.

arm NAmE noun, verb
nounsee also ARMS
PART OF BODY
1 either of the two long parts that stick out from the top of the body and connect the shoulders to the hands: He escaped with only a broken arm. She threw her arms around his neck. The officer grabbed him by the arm (= grabbed his arm). She touched him gently on the arm. He held the dirty rag at arm's length (= as far away from his body as possible). They walked along arm in arm (= with the arm of one person linked with the arm of the other). She cradled the child in her arms. They fell asleep in each other's arms (= holding each other). He was carrying a number of files under his arm (= between his arm and his body). He walked in with a tall blonde on his arm (= next to him and holding his arm).
OF CLOTHING
2 the part of a piece of clothing that covers the arm SLEEVE: The arms will need shortening.
OF CHAIR
3 the part of a chair, etc. on which you rest your arms: She perched on the arm of his chair.
OF MACHINERY
4 a long narrow part of an object or a piece of machinery, especially one that moves, for example a record player
OF WATER/LAND
5 a long narrow piece of water or land that is joined to a larger area: A small bridge spans the arm of the river.
OF ORGANIZATION
6 [usually sing.] ~ (of sth) a section of a large organization that deals with one particular activity WING: the research arm of the company
cost/pay an arm and a leg (informal) to cost/pay a lot of money
keep sb at arm's length to avoid having a close relationship with sb: He keeps all his clients at arm's length.more at AKIMBO, BABE, BEAR v., CHANCE v., FOLD v., LONG adj., OPEN adj., RIGHT adj., SHOT n., TWIST v.
verb
1 ~ yourself/sb (with sth) to provide weapons for yourself/sb in order to fight a battle or a war: [VN] The men armed themselves with sticks and stones. (figurative) She had armed herself for the meeting with all the latest statistics. [V] The country was arming against the enemy.see also ARMED
2 [VN] to make a bomb, etc. ready to explodecompare DISARM

armada NAmE noun a large group of armed ships sailing together: The Spanish Armada was sent to attack England in 1588. (figurative) a vast armada of football fans

armadillo NAmE noun (pl. -os) an American animal with a hard shell made of pieces of bone, that eats insects and rolls into a ball if sth attacks it

Armageddon NAmE noun [sing., U]
1 (in the Bible) a battle between good and evil at the end of the world
2 a terrible war that could destroy the world: nuclear Armageddon

Armagnac NAmE noun [U] a type of French BRANDY

ArmaliteTM NAmE noun a type of light automatic RIFLE

armament NAmE noun
1 [C, usually pl.] weapons, especially large guns, bombs, tanks, etc.: the armaments industry
2 [U] the process of increasing the amount of weapons an army or a country has, especially to prepare for war.compare DISARMAMENT

armband NAmE noun
1 a cloth band worn around the arm as a sign of sth, for example that sb has an official position: The stewards all wore armbands. Many people at the funeral service were wearing black armbands.
2 either of two plastic rings that can be filled with air and worn around the arms by sb who is learning to swim

arm candy noun [U] (informal) a beautiful woman that a man takes with him when he goes to a public event in order to impress other people

armchair noun, adj.
noun NAmE a comfortable chair with sides on which you can rest your arms: to sit in an armchair
adj. NAmE [only before noun] knowing about a subject through books and television, rather than by doing it for yourself: an armchair critic/traveller a generation of armchair athletes who prefer to watch sports on TV rather than play

armed NAmE adj.
1 involving the use of weapons: an armed robbery an international armed conflict (= a war) Guerrillas have pledged to intensify the armed struggle against the new government. UNARMED
2 ~ (with a gun, etc.) carrying a weapon, especially a gun: The man is armed and dangerous. armed guards Police were heavily armed. He was armed with a rifle. UNARMED
3 ~ (with sth) knowing sth or carrying sth that you need in order to help you to perform a task: He was armed with all the facts. I sat down by the lake armed with a pair of binoculars.
armed to the teeth having many weapons

the armed forces (BrE also the armed services) noun [pl.] a country's army, navy and AIR FORCE

armful NAmE noun a quantity that you can carry in one or both arms: an armful of flowers

armhole NAmE noun the place in a coat, shirt, dress, etc. that your arm goes through

armistice NAmE noun [sing.] a formal agreement during a war to stop fighting and discuss making peace CEASEFIRE: The armistice was signed on 4 December.

armlet NAmE noun a band, usually made of metal, worn around the top of the arm

armlock NAmE noun (in WRESTLING) a way of holding an opponent's arm so that they cannot move: He had him in an armlock.

armoire NAmE noun (from French) a cupboard with drawers or shelves underneath, especially one that has a lot of decoration

armorial NAmE adj. connected with HERALDRY

armour (BrE) (NAmE armor) NAmE noun [U]
1 special metal clothing that soldiers wore in the past to protect their bodies while fighting: a suit of armour (figurative) Monkeys do not have any kind of protective armour and use their brains to solve problems.
2 metal covers that protect ships and military vehicles such as tanks
3 (technical) military vehicles used in war: an attack by infantry and armour see CHINK n., KNIGHT n.

armoured (BrE) (NAmE armored) NAmE adj.
1 (especially of a military vehicle) protected by metal covers: The cruiser was heavily armoured. an armoured car
2 using armoured vehicles: an armoured division

armoured personnel carrier (NAmE armored personnel carrier) noun a military vehicle used to transport soldiers

armourer (BrE) (NAmE armorer) NAmE noun a person who makes or repairs weapons and armour

armour-plated (BrE) (NAmE armor-) adj. (of vehicles) covered with sheets of metal to provide protection against bullets, etc.

armoury (BrE) (NAmE armory) NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 a place where weapons and armour are kept ARSENAL
2 (in the US or Canada) a building which is the HEADQUARTERS for training people who are not professional soldiers, for example the National Guard
3 (formal) the things that sb has available to help them achieve sth: Doctors have an armoury of drugs available.
4 all the weapons and military equipment that a country has: Britain's nuclear armoury

armpit NAmE (also NAmE informal pit) noun the part of the body under the arm where it joins the shouldersee also UNDERARM
the armpit of sth (informal, especially NAmE) the most unpleasant or ugly place in a country or region: The city has been called the armpit of America.

armrest NAmE noun the part of some types of seat, especially in planes or cars, which supports your arm: reclining seats with headrests and armrests a large centre armrest that folds down

arms NAmE noun [pl.]
1 (formal) weapons, especially as used by the army, navy, etc.: arms and ammunition Police officers in the UK do not usually carry arms.see also FIREARM, SMALL ARMS
2 = COAT OF ARMS: the King's Arms (= used as the name of a pub)
be under arms to have weapons and be ready to fight in a war
lay down your arms to stop fighting: The government called on the terrorists to lay down their arms.
take up arms (against sb) to prepare to fight: He encouraged his supporters to take up arms against the state.
(be) up in arms (about/over sth) (informal) (of a group of people) to be very angry about sth and ready to protest strongly about itmore at BEAR v., PRESENT v.

arms control noun [U] international agreements to destroy weapons or limit the number of weapons that countries have

arms race noun [sing.] a situation in which countries compete to get the most and best weapons

arm-twisting noun [U] (informal) the use of a lot of pressure or even physical force to persuade sb to do sth

arm-wrestling noun [U] a competition to find out which of two people is the strongest, in which they try to force each other's arm down onto a table

army NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] a large organized group of soldiers who are trained to fight on land: The two opposing armies faced each other across the battlefield.
2 the army [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] the part of a country's armed forces that fights on land: Her husband is in the army. After leaving school, Mike went into the army. an army officer army barracks/bases
3 [C+sing./pl. v.] a large number of people or things, especially when they are organized in some way or involved in a particular activity: an army of advisers/volunteers An army of ants marched across the path.

army surplus noun [U] clothing and equipment which the army no longer needs and is sold to the public: an army surplus store

arnica NAmE noun [U] a natural medicine made from a plant, used to treat BRUISES (= marks that appear on the skin after sb has fallen, been hit, etc.)

A-road noun (in Britain) a road that is less important than a MOTORWAY, but wider and straighter than a B-ROAD

aroma NAmE noun a pleasant, noticeable smell: the aroma of fresh coffee A delicious aroma was coming from the kitchen.

aromatherapy NAmE noun [U] the use of natural oils that smell sweet for controlling pain or for rubbing into the body during MASSAGE
aromatherapist noun

aromatic adj. having a pleasant noticeable smell FRAGRANT: aromatic oils/herbs The plant is strongly aromatic.

arose pt of ARISE

around adv., prep.
adv. For the special uses of around in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example come around to sth is in the phrasal verb section at come.
1 approximately: He arrived around five o'clock. The cost would be somewhere around £1 500.
2 on every side; surrounding sb/sth: I could hear laughter all around. a yard with a fence all around
3 (especially NAmE) (BrE usually round) moving in a circle: How do you make the wheels go around?
4 (especially NAmE) (BrE usually round) measured in a circle: an old tree that was at least ten feet around
5 in or to many places: We were all running around trying to get ready in time. This is our new officeKay will show you around. There were papers lying around all over the floor.
6 used to describe activities that have no real purpose: There were several young people sitting around looking bored.
7 present in a place; available: There was more money around in those days. I knocked but there was no one around. Digital television has been around for some time now.
8 active and well known in a sport, profession, etc.: a new tennis champion who could be around for a long time She's been around as a film director since the 1980s.
9 (especially NAmE) (BrE usually round) in a circle or curve to face another way or the opposite way: She turned the car around and drove off. They looked around when he called.see also ABOUT, ROUND
have been around to have gained knowledge and experience of the world
prep. (especially NAmE) (BrE usually round)
1 surrounding sb/sth; on each side of sth: The house is built around a central courtyard. He put his arms around her.
2 on, to or from the other side of sb/sth: Our house is just around the corner. The bus came around the bend. There must be a way around the problem.
3 in a circle: They walked around the lake.
4 to fit in with particular people, ideas, etc.: I can't arrange everything around your timetable!
5 in or to many places in an area: They walked around the town looking for a place to eat.

WHICH WORD?

around / round / about

Around and round can often be used with the same meaning in BrE, though around is more formal: The earth goes round/around the sun.They live round/around the corner.We travelled round/around India.She turned round/around when I came in. In NAmE only around can be used in these meanings.

Around, round and about can also sometimes be used with the same meaning in BrE: The kids were running around/round/about outside.I've been waiting around/round/about to see her all day. In NAmE only around can be used in these meanings. About or around can be used in both BrE and NAmE to mean 'approximately': We left around/about 8 o'clock.

around-the-clock adj. = ROUND-THE-CLOCK

arouse verb [VN]
1 to make sb have a particular feeling or attitude: to arouse sb's interest/curiosity/anger Her strange behaviour aroused our suspicions. Fox-hunting still succeeds in arousing a great deal of controversy.
2 to make sb feel sexually excited EXCITE
3 to make you feel more active and want to start doing sth: The whole community was aroused by the crime.
4 ~ sb (from sth) (formal) to wake sb from sleepsee also ROUSE
arousal noun [U]: emotional/sexual arousal

arpeggio NAmE noun (pl. -os) (music) the notes of a CHORD played quickly one after the other

arr. abbr.
1 (in writing) arrives; arrival: arr. London 06.00compare DEP.
2 (music) (in writing) arranged by: Handel, arr. Mozart

arrack (also arak) noun [U, C] a strong alcoholic drink made from rice or from the liquid (sap) inside COCONUT PALM trees

arraign verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (for sth) (law) to bring sb to court in order to formally accuse them of a crime: He was arraigned for murder. He was arraigned on a charge of murder.
arraignment noun [C, U]

arrange verb
1 to plan or organize sth in advance: [VN] The party was arranged quickly. She arranged a loan with the bank. Can I arrange an appointment for Monday? We met at six, as arranged. [V wh-] We've still got to arrange how to get to the airport. [V] We arranged for a car to collect us from the airport. I've arranged with the neighbours about feeding the cat while we are away. [V to inf] Have you arranged to meet him? [V that] I've arranged that we can borrow their car.
2 [VN] to put sth in a particular order; to make sth neat or attractive: The books are arranged alphabetically by author. I must arrange my financial affairs and make a will. She arranged the flowers in a vase.
3 [VN] ~ sth (for sth) to write or change a piece of music so that it is suitable for a particular instrument or voice: He arranged traditional folk songs for the piano.

arranged marriage noun a marriage in which the parents choose the husband or wife for their child

arrangement noun
1 [C, usually pl.] ~ (for sth) a plan or preparation that you make so that sth can happen: travel arrangements I'll make arrangements for you to be met at the airport.
2 [C, usually pl.] the way things are done or organized: She's happy with her unusual living arrangements. new security arrangements There are special arrangements for people working overseas.
3 [C, U] ~ (with sb) (to do sth) an agreement that you make with sb that you can both accept: an arrangement between the school and the parents We can come to an arrangement over the price. They had an arrangement that the children would spend two weeks with each parent. You can cash cheques here by prior arrangement with the bank.
4 [C, U] a group of things that are organized or placed in a particular order or position; the act of placing things in a particular order: plans of the possible seating arrangements the art of flower arrangement
5 [C, U] a piece of music that has been changed, for example for another instrument to play

arranger noun
1 a person who arranges music that has been written by sb different
2 a person who arranges things: arrangers of care services for the elderly

arrant adj. [only before noun] (old-fashioned) used to emphasize how bad sth/sb is: arrant nonsense

array noun, verb
noun
1 [usually sing.] a group or collection of things or people, often one that is large or impressive: a vast array of bottles of different shapes and sizes a dazzling array of talent
2 (computing) a way of organizing and storing related data in a computer memory
3 (technical) a set of numbers, signs or values arranged in rows and columns
verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal)
1 to arrange a group of things in a pleasing way or so that they are in order: Jars of all shapes and sizes were arrayed on the shelves.
2 to arrange soldiers in a position from which they are ready to attack

arrayed adj. [not before noun] ~ (in sth) (literary) dressed in a particular way, especially in beautiful clothes: She was arrayed in a black velvet gown.

arrears NAmE noun [pl.] money that sb owes that they have not paid at the right time: rent/mortgage/tax arrears
be in arrears | get/fall into arrears to be late in paying money that you owe: We're two months in arrears with the rent.
in arrears if money or a person is paid in arrears for work, the money is paid after the work has been done

arrest verb, noun
verb
1 [VN] [often passive] ~ sb (for sth) if the police arrest sb, the person is taken to a POLICE STATION and kept there because the police believe they may be guilty of a crime: A man has been arrested in connection with the robbery. She was arrested for drug-related offences. You could get arrested for doing that.
2 [VN] (formal) to stop a process or a development: They failed to arrest the company's decline.
3 [VN] (formal) to make sb notice sth and pay attention to it: An unusual noise arrested his attention.
4 [V] if sb arrests, their heart stops beating: He arrested on the way to the hospital.
noun [C, U]
1 the act of arresting sb: The police made several arrests. She was under arrest on suspicion of murder. Opposition leaders were put under house arrest (= not allowed to leave their houses).see also CITIZEN'S ARREST
2 an act of sth stopping or being interrupted: He died after suffering a cardiac arrest (= when his heart suddenly stopped).

arrestable offence noun (law) an offence for which sb can be arrested without a WARRANT from a judge

arresting adj. (formal) attracting a lot of attention; very attractive

arrival noun
1 [U, C] an act of coming or being brought to a place: Guests receive dinner on/upon arrival at the hotel. We apologize for the late arrival of the train. the arrival of the mail in the morning daily arrivals of refugees There are 120 arrivals and departures every day. DEPARTURE
2 [C] a person or thing that comes to a place: The first arrivals at the concert got the best seats. early/late/new arrivals We're expecting a new arrival (= a baby) in the family soon.
3 [U] the time when a new technology or idea is introduced: the arrival of pay TV

arrive verb [V]
1 (abbr. arr.) ~ (at/in/on ... ) to get to a place, especially at the end of a journey: I'll wait until they arrive. I was pleased to hear you arrived home safely. to arrive early/late for a meeting She'll arrive in New York at noon. The train arrived at the station 20 minutes late. By the time I arrived on the scene, it was all over. We didn't arrive back at the hotel until very late. The police arrived to arrest him.
2 (of things) to be brought to sb: A letter arrived for you this morning. Send your application to arrive by 31 October. We waited an hour for our lunch to arrive. The new product will arrive on supermarket shelves (= be available) early next year.
3 (of an event or a moment) to happen or to come, especially when you have been waiting for it: The wedding day finally arrived. The baby arrived (= was born) early.
sb has arrived (informal) somebody has become successful: He knew he had arrived when he was shortlisted for the Booker prize.
arrive at sth to decide on or find sth, especially after discussion and thought REACH: to arrive at an agreement/a decision/a conclusion to arrive at the truth

arriviste noun (from French, disapproving) a person who is determined to be accepted as a member of a social group, etc. to which they do not really belong

arrogance noun [U] the behaviour of a person when they feel that they are more important than other people, so that they are rude to them or do not consider them: He has a reputation for rudeness and intellectual arrogance.

arrogant adj. behaving in a proud, unpleasant way, showing little thought for other people
arrogantly adv.

arrogate verb
arrogate to yourself sth (formal) to claim or take sth that you have no right to: I do not arrogate to myself the right to decide.

arrow NAmE noun
1 a thin stick with a sharp point at one end, which is shot from a BOW: a bow and arrow to fire/shoot an arrow The road continues as straight as an arrow.
2 a mark or sign like an arrow (), used to show direction or position: Follow the arrows. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor.

arrowhead NAmE noun the sharp pointed end of an arrow

arrowroot NAmE noun [U] a plant whose roots can be cooked and eaten or made into a type of flour, used especially to make sauces thick; the flour itself

arroyo NAmE noun (pl. -os) (from Spanish) a narrow channel with steep sides cut by a river in a desert region

arse NAmE noun, verb
noun (BrE, taboo, slang)
1 (NAmE ass) the part of the body that you sit on; your bottom: Get off your arse (= stop sitting around doing nothing)!
2 (usually following an adjective) a stupid personsee also SMART-ARSE
My arse! (taboo, slang) used by some people to show they do not believe what sb has said
work your arse off (taboo, slang) to work very hardmore at KISS v., KNOW v., LICK v., PAIN n.
verb
can't be arsed (to do sth) (BrE, taboo, slang) to not want to do sth because it is too much trouble: I was supposed to do some work this weekend but I couldn't be arsed.
arse about/around (BrE, taboo, slang) to waste time by behaving in a silly way

arsehole NAmE (BrE) (NAmE asshole) noun (taboo, slang)
1 the ANUS
2 a stupid or unpleasant person: What an arsehole!

arse-licker (BrE) (NAmE ass-licker) noun (taboo, slang) a person who is too friendly to sb in authority and is always ready to do what they want
arse-licking (BrE) (NAmE ass-licking) noun [U]

arsenal NAmE noun
1 a collection of weapons such as guns and EXPLOSIVES: Britain's nuclear arsenal
2 a building where military weapons and EXPLOSIVES are made or stored

arsenic NAmE noun [U] (symb As) a chemical element. Arsenic is an extremely poisonous white powder.

arsey NAmE noun (AustralE, informal) very lucky

arson NAmE noun [U] the crime of deliberately setting fire to sth, especially a building: to carry out an arson attack

arsonist NAmE noun a person who commits the crime of arson

art NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U] the use of the imagination to express ideas or feelings, particularly in painting, drawing or SCULPTURE: modern/contemporary/American art an art critic/historian/lover Can we call television art? stolen works of art Her performance displayed great art.see also CLIP ART, FINE ART
2 [U] examples of objects such as paintings, drawings or SCULPTURES: an art gallery/exhibition a collection of art and antiques
3 [U] the skill of creating objects such as paintings and drawings, especially when you study it: She's good at art and design. an art teacher/student/college/class
4 the arts [pl.] art, music, theatre, literature, etc. when you think of them as a group: lottery funding for the artssee also PERFORMING ARTS
5 [C] a type of VISUAL or performing art: Dance is a very theatrical art.
6 [C, usually pl.] the subjects you can study at school or university which are not scientific, such as languages, history or literature: an arts degreecompare SCIENCE
7 [C, U] an ability or a skill that you can develop with training and practice: a therapist trained in the art of healing Letter-writing is a lost art nowadays. Appearing confident at interviews is quite an art (= rather difficult). see FINE adj.
verbthou art (old use) used to mean 'you are', when talking to one person

art deco (also Art Deco) NAmE noun [U] a popular style of decorative art in the 1920s and 1930s that has GEOMETRIC shapes with clear outlines and bright strong colours

art director noun
1 the person who is responsible for the pictures, photos, etc. in a magazine
2 the person who is responsible for the SETS and PROPS when a film/movie is being made

artefact (also artifact especially in NAmE) NAmE noun (technical) an object that is made by a person, especially sth of historical or cultural interest

arteriole NAmE noun (anatomy) a thin branch of an ARTERY that leads off into CAPILLARIES

arteriosclerosis NAmE noun [U] (medical) a condition in which the walls of the arteries become thick and hard, making it difficult for blood to flow

artery NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 any of the tubes that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body: blocked arteriescompare VEINsee also CORONARY ARTERY
2 a large and important road, river, railway/railroad line, etc.
arterial NAmE adj. [only before noun]: arterial blood/disease an arterial road

artesian well NAmE noun a hole made in the ground through which water rises to the surface by natural pressure

ArtexTM NAmE noun [U] (BrE) a type of very thick paint put on walls and ceilings to give an appearance of raised patterns

art form noun
1 [C] a particular type of artistic activity: The short story is a difficult art form to master. the development of cinema as an art form
2 [sing.] an activity that sb does very well and gives them the opportunity to show imagination: She has elevated the dinner party into an art form. He has turned complaining into an art form.

artful NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 (disapproving) clever at getting what you want, sometimes by not telling the truth CRAFTY: He was artful and cunning, and I didn't really trust him.
2 (of things or actions) designed or done in a clever way
artfully adv.: an artfully devised plot

art gallery (also gallery) noun a building where paintings and other works of art are shown to the public

art history noun [U] the study of the history of painting, SCULPTURE, etc.

art-house adj. art-house films/movies are usually made by small companies and are not usually seen by a wide audience

arthritic NAmE adj. suffering from or caused by arthritis: arthritic hands/pain

arthritis NAmE noun [U] a disease that causes pain and swelling in one or more joints of the bodysee also OSTEOARTHRITIS, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

arthropod NAmE noun (biology) an INVERTEBRATE animal such as an insect, spider, or CRAB, that has its SKELETON on the outside of its body and has joints on its legs

Arthurian NAmE adj. connected with the stories about Arthur, a king of ancient Britain, his Knights of the Round Table and COURT at Camelot: Arthurian legends

artichoke NAmE noun [C, U]
1 (also globe artichoke) a round vegetable with a lot of thick green leaves. The bottom part of the leaves and the inside of the artichoke can be eaten when cooked.
2 (BrE) = JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE

article NAmE noun
1 ~ (on/about sth) a piece of writing about a particular subject in a newspaper or magazine: Have you seen that article about young fashion designers?see also LEADING ARTICLE
2 (law) a separate item in an agreement or a contract: Article 10 of the European Convention guarantees free speech.
3 (formal) a particular item or separate thing, especially one of a set ITEM: articles of clothing toilet articles such as soap and shampoo The articles found in the car helped the police to identify the body.
4 (grammar) the words a and an (the indefinite article) or the (the definite article)

articled NAmE adj. (BrE) employed by a group of lawyers, ARCHITECTS or ACCOUNTANTS while training to become qualified: an articled clerk (= sb who is training to be a SOLICITOR) She was articled to a firm of solicitors.

article of faith noun (pl. articles of faith) something you believe very strongly, as if it were a religious belief: He tried to believe, as an article of faith, that his daughter was not guilty.

articulate verb, adj.
verb NAmE
1 [VN] (formal) to express or explain your thoughts or feelings clearly in words: She struggled to articulate her thoughts. It is the school's duty to articulate its practices to parents.
2 to speak, pronounce or play sth in a clear way: [V] He was too drunk to articulate properly. [VN] Every note was carefully articulated. [also V speech]
3 [V] ~ (with sth) (formal) to be related to sth so that together the two parts form a whole: [V] These courses are designed to articulate with university degrees.
4 (technical) ~ (with sth) to be joined to sth else by a joint, so that movement is possible; to join sth in this way: [V] bones that articulate with others [VN] a robot with articulated limbs
adj. NAmE
1 (of a person) good at expressing ideas or feelings clearly in words: He was unusually articulate for a ten-year-old. She is the most articulate critic of government policy.
2 (of speech) clearly expressed or pronounced: All we could hear were loud sobs, but no articulate words. INARTICULATE
articulately adv.

articulated NAmE adj. (BrE) (of a vehicle) with two or more sections joined together in a way that makes it easier to turn corners: an articulated lorry/trucksee also TRACTOR-TRAILER

articulation NAmE noun
1 [U] (formal) the expression of an idea or a feeling in words: the articulation of his theory
2 [U] (formal) the act of making sounds in speech or music: The singer worked hard on the clear articulation of every note. As he drank more wine, his articulation suffered.
3 [U, C, usually sing.] (technical) a joint or connection that allows movement

articulator NAmE noun (technical) an organ in the mouth used for making speech sounds, such as the tongue, lips, or teeth

articulatory NAmE adj. [only before noun] (technical) connected with the action of making speech sounds: articulatory movements/organs

artifact (especially NAmE) = ARTEFACT

artifice NAmE noun [U, C] (formal) the clever use of tricks to cheat sb CUNNING: Pretending to faint was merely (an) artifice. the artifices of the theatre

artificial NAmE adj.
1 made or produced to copy sth natural; not real: an artificial limb/flower/sweetener/fertilizer artificial lighting/light
2 created by people; not happening naturally: A job interview is a very artificial situation. the artificial barriers of race, class and gender
3 not what it appears to be FAKE: artificial emotion
artificiality NAmE noun [U] artificially NAmE adv.: artificially created lakes artificially low prices

SYNONYMS

artificial

synthetic false man-made fake imitation

These words all describe things that are not real, or not naturally produced or grown.

artificial made or produced to copy sth natural; not real: artificial flowers artificial light

synthetic made by combining chemical substances rather than being produced naturally by plants or animals: synthetic drugs shoes with synthetic soles

false not natural: false teeth a false beard

man-made made by people; not natural: man-made fibres such as nylon

fake made to look like sth else; not real: a fake-fur jacket

imitation [only before noun] made to look like sth else; not real: She would never wear imitation pearls.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to be/look artificial/synthetic/false/man-made/fake

artificial/synthetic/man-made fabrics/fibres/materials/products

artificial/synthetic/fake/imitation fur/leather

artificial/synthetic/false/fake/imitation diamonds/pearls

a fake tan

artificial insemination noun [U] (abbr. AI) the process of making a woman or female animal pregnant by an artificial method of putting male SPERM inside her, and not by sexual activity: artificial insemination by a donor, abbreviated to 'AID'

artificial intelligence noun [U] (abbr. AI) (computing) an area of study concerned with making computers copy intelligent human behaviour

artificial language noun a language invented for international communication or for use with computers

artificial life noun [U] (computing) the use of programs or systems that copy the behaviour of living things

artificial respiration (BrE also artificial ventilation) noun [U] the process of helping a person who has stopped breathing begin to breathe again, usually by blowing into their mouth or nosecompare MOUTH-TO-MOUTH RESUSCITATION

artillery NAmE noun
1 [U] large, heavy guns which are often moved on wheels: The town is under heavy artillery fire. artillery attacks/barrages/shells
2 the artillery [sing.] the section of an army trained to use these guns: He was a captain in the Royal Artillery.

artilleryman NAmE noun (pl. artillerymen ) a member of a REGIMENT (=section of the army) that is trained to use artillery

artisan NAmE noun (formal) a person who does skilled work, making things with their hands CRAFTSMAN: The hand-woven textiles were made by skilled local artisans.

artist NAmE noun
1 a person who creates works of art, especially paintings or drawings: an exhibition of work by contemporary British artists a graphic artist a make-up artist Police have issued an artist's impression of her attacker. In Paris she met a group of young artists: poets, film-makers and painters. (figurative) Whoever made this cake is a real artist.
2 = ARTISTE: a recording/solo artist

artiste NAmE (also artist) noun (especially BrE) a professional entertainer such as a singer, a dancer or an actor: Among the artistes appearing on our show tonight we have ... a mime artiste

artistic NAmE adj.
1 connected with art or artists: the artistic works of the period a work of great artistic merit the artistic director of the theatre an artistic temperament (= behaviour thought to be typical of artists, musicians, etc.)
2 showing a natural skill in or enjoyment of art, especially being able to paint or draw well: artistic abilities/achievements/skills/talent She comes from a very artistic family.
3 done with skill and imagination; attractive or beautiful: an artistic arrangement of dried flowers The decor inside the house was very artistic. see LICENCE
artistically NAmE adv.

artistic director noun the person in charge of deciding which plays, OPERAS, etc. a theatre company will perform, and the general artistic policy of the company

artistry NAmE noun [U] the skill of an artist: He played the piece with effortless artistry. an appreciation of the beauty and artistry of the painting

artless NAmE adj. (formal)
1 simple, natural and honest: the artless sincerity of a young child
2 made without skill or art

art nouveau (also Art Nouveau) NAmE noun [U] a style of decorative art and ARCHITECTURE popular in Europe and the US at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century that uses complicated designs and curved patterns based on natural shapes like leaves and flowers

arts and crafts noun [pl.] activities that need both artistic and practical skills, such as making cloth, jewellery and POTTERY

the Arts and Crafts Movement noun [sing.] a group of people in England at the end of the 19th century who wanted to show the importance and value of arts and crafts at a time when machines were being used more and more

artsy NAmE adj. (NAmE) = ARTY

artsy-fartsy NAmE adj. (especially NAmE) = ARTY-FARTY

art therapy noun [U] a type of PSYCHOTHERAPY in which you are encouraged to express yourself using art materials

artwork NAmE noun
1 [U] photographs and pictures prepared for books, magazines, etc.: Can you let me have the finished artwork for the poster by Friday?
2 [C] a work of art, especially one in a museum: 30 original artworks have gone missing from the museum.

arty NAmE (BrE) (NAmE artsy) adj. (informal, usually disapproving) seeming or wanting to be very artistic or interested in the arts: She hangs out with the arty types she met at drama school. Why do you pretend you like those boring, arty films?

arty-farty NAmE (BrE) (especially NAmE artsy-fartsy) adj. (informal, disapproving) connected with, or having an interest in, the arts: I expect he's out with his arty-farty friends.

arugula noun [U] (NAmE) = ROCKET (4)

arum lily NAmE noun (especially BrE) an African plant with large white PETALS

arvo NAmE noun (pl. -os) (AustralE, NZE, informal) afternoon: See you this arvo!

-ary suffix (in adjectives and nouns) connected with: planetary budgetary

Aryan NAmE noun
1 a member of the group of people that went to S Asia in around 1500 BC
2 a person who spoke any of the languages of the Indo-European group
3 (especially according to the ideas of the German Nazi party) a member of a Caucasian, not Jewish, race of people, especially one with fair hair and blue eyes
Aryan adj.

AS AS (LEVEL)

as strong form prep., adv., conj.
prep.
1 used to describe sb/sth appearing to be sb/sth else: They were all dressed as clowns. The bomb was disguised as a package.
2 used to describe the fact that sb/sth has a particular job or function: She works as a courier. Treat me as a friend. I respect him as a doctor. You can use that glass as a vase. The news came as a shock. She had been there often as a child (= when she was a child).
adv.
1 as ... as ... used when you are comparing two people or things, or two situations: You're as tall as your father. He was as white as a sheet. She doesn't play as well as her sister. I haven't known him as long as you (= as you have known him). He doesn't earn as much as me. He doesn't earn as much as I do. It's not as hard as I thought. Run as fast as you can. We'd like it as soon as possible.
2 used to say that sth happens in the same way: As always, he said little. The 'h' in honest is silent, as in 'hour'.
conj.
1 while sth else is happening: He sat watching her as she got ready. As she grew older she gained in confidence.
2 in the way in which: They did as I had asked. Leave the papers as they are. She lost it, just as I said she would.
3 used to state the reason for sth: As you were out, I left a message. She may need some help as she's new.
4 used to make a comment or to add information about what you have just said: As you know, Julia is leaving soon. She's very tall, as is her mother.
5 used to say that in spite of sth being true, what follows is also true THOUGH: Happy as they were, there was something missing. Try as he might (= however hard he tried), he couldn't open the door.
as against sth in contrast with sth: They got 27% of the vote as against 32% at the last election.
as and when used to say that sth may happen at some time in the future, but only when sth else has happened: We'll decide on the team as and when we qualify. I'll tell you more as and when (= as soon as I can).
as for sb/sth used to start talking about sb/sth REGARDING: As for Jo, she's doing fine. As for food for the party, that's all being taken care of.
as from .../as of ... used to show the time or date from which sth starts: Our fax number is changing as from May 12.
as if/as though in a way that suggests sth: He behaved as if nothing had happened. It sounds as though you had a good time. It's my birthday. As if you didn't know! 'Don't say anything' 'As if I would!' (= surely you do not expect me to)
as it is considering the present situation; as things are: We were hoping to finish it by next weekas it is, it may be the week after. I can't helpI've got too much to do as it is (= already).
as it were used when a speaker is giving his or her own impression of a situation or expressing sth in a particular way: Teachers must put the brakes on, as it were, when they notice students looking puzzled.
as to sth | as regards sth used when you are referring to sth: As to tax, that will be deducted from your salary.
as you do used as a comment on sth that you have just said: He smiled and I smiled back. As you do.more at WELL, YET

WHICH WORD?

as / like

You can use both as and like to say that things are similar.

Like is a preposition and is used before nouns and pronouns: He has blue eyes like me.

As is a conjunction and an adverb and is used before a clause, another adverb or a clause beginning with a preposition: She enjoys all kinds of music, as I do.Repeat these five steps, as in the last exercise.

In informal English like is frequently used as a conjunction or an adverb instead of as: Nobody understands him like I do.I don't want to upset him again like before. It is also used instead of as if: It looks like we're going to be late. These uses of like are common but are not considered correct in formal written English.

You will find more help on the use of as and like in the entries for particular verbs, such as act, behave, etc.

ASA abbr.
1 Advertising Standards Authority (an organization in Britain which controls the standard of advertising)
2 American Standards Association (used especially to show the speed of film): a 400 ASA film

asap abbr. as soon as possible

asbestos noun [U] a soft grey mineral that does not burn, used especially in the past in building as a protection against fire or to prevent heat loss

asbestosis NAmE noun [U] a disease of the lungs caused by breathing in asbestos dust

ASBO NAmE noun antisocial behaviour order (in the UK, an order made by a court which says that sb must stop behaving in a harmful or annoying way to other people)

ascend verb (formal) ~ (to sth) to rise; to go up; to climb up: [V] The path started to ascend more steeply. Mist ascended from the valley. The air became colder as we ascended. The results, ranked in ascending order (= from the lowest to the highest) are as follows: (figurative) He ascended to the peak of sporting achievement. Practise your scales ascending and descending. [VN] Her heart was thumping as she ascended the stairs. (figurative) to ascend the throne (= become king or queen) DESCEND

ascendancy (also ascendency) noun [U] (formal) ~ (over sb/sth) the position of having power or influence over sb/sth: moral/political/intellectual ascendancy The opposition party was in the ascendancy (= gaining control).

ascendant (also ascendent) noun
in the ascendant (formal) being or becoming more powerful or popular: British pop music is once again in the ascendant.

ascension noun [sing.]
1 the Ascension (in the Christian religion) the journey of Jesus from the earth into heaven: the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ
2 (formal) the act of moving up or of reaching a high position: her ascension to the throne

Ascension Day noun (in the Christian religion) the 40th day after Easter when Christians remember when Jesus left the earth and went into heaven

ascent noun
1 [C, usually sing.] the act of climbing or moving up; an upward journey: the first ascent of Mount Everest The cart began its gradual ascent up the hill. The rocket steepened its ascent. DESCENT
2 [C, usually sing.] an upward path or slope: At the other side of the valley was a steep ascent to the top of the hill. DESCENT
3 [U] (formal) the process of moving forward to a better position or of making progress: man's ascent to civilization

ascertain NAmE verb (formal) to find out the true or correct information about sth: [VN] It can be difficult to ascertain the facts. [V that] I ascertained that the driver was not badly hurt. [VN that] It should be ascertained that the plans comply with the law. [V wh-] The police are trying to ascertain what really happened. Could you ascertain whether she will be coming to the meeting? [VN wh-] It must be ascertained if the land is still owned by the government.
ascertainable NAmE adj. ascertainment NAmE noun [U]

ascetic adj. [usually before noun] not allowing yourself physical pleasures, especially for religious reasons; related to a simple and strict way of living: The monks lived a very ascetic life. Living hidden away in the mountains suited his ascetic character.
ascetic noun: monks, hermits and ascetics asceticism noun [U]: a life of private prayer and asceticism

ASCII noun [U] (computing) a standard code used so that data can be moved between computers that use different programs (the abbreviation for 'American Standard Code for Information Interchange'): Save the text as an ASCII file.

ascorbic acid NAmE noun [U] = VITAMIN C

ascot NAmE noun (NAmE) = CRAVAT

ascribe verb
ascribe sth to sb to consider or state that a book, etc. was written by a particular person ATTRIBUTE: This play is usually ascribed to Shakespeare.
ascribe sth to sb/sth (formal)
1 to consider that sth is caused by a particular thing or person: He ascribed his failure to bad luck.
2 to consider that sb/sth has or should have a particular quality: We ascribe great importance to these policies. ATTRIBUTE
ascribable adj. ~ to sb/sth: Their success is ascribable to the quality of their goods. ascription noun [C, U] ~ (to sb/sth): the ascription of meaning to objects and events

ASEAN abbr. Association of South East Asian Nations

aseptic adj. (medical) free from harmful bacteria SEPTIC

asexual adj.
1 (technical) not involving sex; not having sexual organs: asexual reproduction asexual animals like greenfly
2 not having sexual qualities; not interested in sex: the tendency to see old people as asexual
asexually adv.: to reproduce asexually

ASH abbr. Action on Smoking and Health (an organization in the UK that tries to make people stop smoking by showing how dangerous it is)

ash noun
1 [U] the grey or black powder that is left after sth, especially TOBACCO, wood or coal, has burnt: cigarette ash black volcanic ash She flicked ash out of the window carelessly.
2 ashes [pl.] what is left after sth has been destroyed by burning: The town was reduced to ashes in the fighting. the glowing ashes of the campfire (figurative) The party had risen, like a phoenix, from the ashes of electoral disaster. She had seen all her dreams turn to ashes.
3 ashes [pl.] the powder that is left after a dead person's body has been CREMATED (= burned): She wanted her ashes to be scattered at sea.
4 [C, U] (also ash tree) a forest tree with grey BARKsee also MOUNTAIN ASH
5 [U] the hard pale wood of the ash tree
6 (technical) the letter æ, used in Old English, and as a PHONETIC symbol to represent the vowel sound in cat see SACKCLOTH

ashamed adj. [not before noun]
1 ~ (of sth/sb/yourself)| ~ (that ... )| ~ (to be sth) feeling shame or embarrassment about sb/sth or because of sth you have done: She was deeply ashamed of her behaviour at the party. His daughter looked such a mess that he was ashamed of her. You should be ashamed of yourself for telling such lies. I feel almost ashamed that I've been so lucky. The football riots made me ashamed to be English. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. You act as if you're ashamed to be seen with me.
2 ~ to do sth unwilling to do sth because of shame or embarrassment: I'm ashamed to say that I lied to her. I cried at the end and I'm not ashamed to admit it. He felt ashamed to let her see him in this state.

WHICH WORD?

ashamed / embarrassed

You feel ashamed when you feel guilty because of something wrong that you have deliberately done: You should be ashamed of treating your daughter like that. Do not use ashamed when you are talking about something that is not very serious or important: I am sorry that I forgot to buy the milk.I am ashamed that I forgot to buy the milk.

You feel embarrassed when you have made a mistake or done something stupid or feel awkward in front of other people: I was embarrassed about forgetting his name.

ash blonde adj., noun
adj. (also ash blond)
1 (of hair) very pale blonde in colour
2 (of a person) having ash blonde hair
noun a woman with hair that is ash blonde in colour

ashen adj. (usually of sb's face) very pale; without colour because of illness or fear: They listened ashen-faced to the news. His face was ashen and wet with sweat.

Ashkenazi noun (pl. Ashkenazim ) a Jew whose ANCESTORS came from central or eastern Europecompare SEPHARDI

ashlar noun
1 [U] large square stones that are put on the front of walls to improve their appearance
2 [C] one of these stones

ashore adv. towards, onto or on land, having come from an area of water such as the sea or a river: to come/go ashore a drowned body found washed ashore on the beach The cruise included several days ashore. natural gas brought ashore by pipelines

ashram noun a place where Hindus who wish to live away from society live together as a group; a place where other Hindus go for a short time to say prayers before returning to society

ashtray noun a container into which people who smoke put ASH, cigarette ends, etc.: overflowing ashtrays

Ash Wednesday noun [U, C] the first day of Lentsee also SHROVE TUESDAY

Asia Minor noun [sing.] the western PENINSULA of Asia, which now forms most of Turkey

Asian noun, adj.
noun a person from Asia, or whose family originally came from Asia: British Asians In BrE Asian is used especially to refer to people from India or Pakistan. In NAmE it is used especially to refer to people from the Far East.
adj. of or connected with Asia: Asian music

Asian American noun a person from America whose family come from Asia, especially E Asia
Asian-American adj.

Asiatic adj. (technical) of or connected with Asia: the Asiatic tropics

A-side noun the side of a pop record that is considered more likely to be successfulcompare B-SIDE

aside adv., noun
adv.
1 to one side; out of the way: She pulled the curtain aside. Stand aside and let these people pass. He took me aside (= away from a group of people) to give me some advice. (figurative) Leaving aside (= not considering at this stage) the cost of the scheme, let us examine its benefits. All our protests were brushed aside (= ignored).
2 to be used later: We set aside some money for repairs.
3 used after nouns to say that except for one thing, sth is true: Money worries aside, things are going well.
noun
1 (in the theatre) something which a character in a play says to the audience, but which the other characters on stage are not intended to hear: Shakespeare's use of asides and soliloquies
2 a remark, often made in a low voice, which is not intended to be heard by everyone present: He made several mocking asides about the inadequacy of women.
3 a remark that is not directly connected with the main subject that is being discussed: I mention it only as an aside ...

aside from prep. (especially NAmE) = APART FROM: Aside from a few scratches, I'm OK.

asinine adj. (formal) stupid or silly RIDICULOUS

ask NAmE verb, noun
verb
QUESTION
1 ~ (sb) (about sb/sth) to say or write sth in the form of a question, in order to get information: [V speech] 'Where are you going?' she asked. [VN speech] 'Are you sure?' he asked her. [V] He asked about her family. How old are youif you don't mind me/my asking? [VN] The interviewer asked me about my future plans. Can I ask a question? Did you ask the price? [VNN] She asked the students their names. I often get asked that! [V wh-] He asked where I lived. [VN wh-] I had to ask the teacher what to do next. I was asked if/whether I could drive. You cannot say 'ask to sb': I asked to my friend what had happened.
REQUEST
2 to tell sb that you would like them to do sth or that you would like sth to happen: [VN to inf] All the students were asked to complete a questionnaire. Eric asked me to marry him. [V wh-] I asked whether they could change my ticket. [VN wh-] She asked me if I would give her English lessons. [V that] (formal) She asked that she be kept informed of developments. (BrE also) She asked that she should be kept informed.
3 ~ (sb) (for sth) to say that you would like sb to give you sth: [V] to ask for a job/a drink/an explanation I am writing to ask for some information about courses. [VN] Why don't you ask his advice? Can I ask a favour of you? [VNN] Why don't you ask him for his advice? Can I ask you a favour?
PERMISSION
4 to request permission to do sth: [V to inf] Did you ask to use the car? I asked to see the manager. [V wh-] I'll ask if it's all right to park here. [VN wh-] She asked her boss whether she could have the day off.
INVITE
5 [usually +adv./prep.] to invite sb: [VN] They've asked me to dinner. I didn't ask them in (= to come into the house). We must ask the neighbours round (= to our house). [VN to inf] She's asked him to come to the party.
MONEY
6 [VN] ~ sth (for sth) to request a particular amount of money for sth that you are selling: He's asking £2 000 for the car. How much were they asking for their house?
EXPECT/DEMAND
7 ~ sth (of sb) to expect or demand sth: [VN] I know I'm asking a great deal. You're asking too much of him. [VN to inf] I know it's asking a lot to expect them to win again. note at DEMAND
ask for it (informal) to deserve sth bad that happens to you or that sb does to you: 'You shouldn't have said that to her.' 'Well, she asked for it!'
be asking for trouble | be asking for it (informal) to behave in a way that is very likely to result in trouble
don't ask (informal) if you say don't ask to sb, you mean that you do not want to reply to their question, because it would be awkward, embarrassing, etc.: 'And what did he do then?' 'Don't ask!'
don't ask me (informal) if you say don't ask me, you mean that you do not know the answer to a question and are annoyed you have been asked: 'What will the meeting be about?' 'Don't ask me.'
for the asking if you can have sth for the asking, it is very easy for you to get it if you ask for it: The job is yours for the asking.
I ask you (informal) if you say I ask you, you are expressing disapproval, shock or anger about sth/sb: He told me I had to work late on Friday night. I ask you!
if you ask me (informal) in my personal opinion: Their marriage was a mistake, if you ask me.
ask after sb (BrE) to say that you would like to know how sb is, what they are doing, etc.: He always asks after you in his letters.
ask around to speak to a number of different people in order to try and get some information: I don't know of any vacancies in the company but I'll ask around.
ask sb back (especially BrE) to invite sb to come back to your house when you are both out together: I hoped he wouldn't ask me back.
ask for sb/sth to say that you want to speak to sb or be directed to a place: When you arrive, ask for Jane.
ask sb out to invite sb to go out with you, especially as a way of starting a romantic relationship: He's too shy to ask her out.
noun
a big ask (informal) a difficult thing to achieve or deal with: Beating the world champions is certainly a big ask for the team.

SYNONYMS

ask

enquire demand query

All these words mean to say or write sth in the form of a question, in order to get information.

ask to say or write sth in the form of a question, in order to get information: 'Where are you going?' she asked. She asked the students their names. Can I ask a question?

enquire/inquire (rather formal) to ask sb for information: I called the station to enquire about train times.

demand to ask a question very firmly: 'And where have you been?' he demanded angrily.

query (formal) to ask a question: 'Why ever not?' she queried.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to ask/enquire about/after sb/sth

to ask/enquire/demand sth of sb

to ask/enquire/demand/query what/who/how, etc.

to ask/enquire/query politely

to ask/enquire/demand angrily

askance adv.
look askance (at sb/sth) | look (at sb/sth) askance to look at or react to sb/sth with suspicion or doubt, or in a critical way: The opposition party looked askance at most of the government's proposed policies. She looked askance at him when he began to eat before everybody else. A waiter in a tuxedo looked askance at his jeans.

askari noun (EAfrE) a person who is employed to guard a building, valuable things, etc.; a SECURITY GUARD

askew adv., adj. [not before noun] not in a straight or level position CROOKED: His glasses had been knocked askew by the blow. Her hat was slightly askew. That picture is askew. He arrived out of breath with his shirt undone and his tie askew.

asking price noun the price that sb wants to sell sth forcompare SELLING PRICE

aslant NAmE adv. not exactly vertical or horizontal; at an angle: The picture hung aslant.

asleep adj. [not before noun] sleeping: The baby was sound asleep (= sleeping deeply) upstairs. I waited until they were all fast asleep (= sleeping deeply). He was so exhausted that he fell asleep at his desk. She was still half asleep (= not fully awake) when she arrived at work. The police found him asleep in a garage. AWAKE

SYNONYMS

asleep

fall asleep go to sleep get to sleep drift off nod off drop off

These words all mean to start to sleep.

fall asleep to start to sleep, sometimes when you do not intend to or in a situation that is not appropriate: When she finally fell asleep, she began to dream. I pinched myself to stop myself from falling asleep.

go to sleep to start to sleep, especially when you intend to: I shut my eyes and tried to go to sleep. He woke for a moment and then went to sleep again.

get to sleep to start sleeping, especially after a long time or when this is difficult: He took a long time getting to sleep that night.

drift off to fall asleep, especially gradually: I must have drifted off, because when I woke we were nearly home.

nod off (informal) to fall asleep for a short time, especially when you are sitting down and when you are not supposed to be sleeping: I was practically nodding off in that meeting.

drop off (BrE informal) to start sleeping lightly: I dropped off and missed the end of the film.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to fall asleep/go to sleep/drift off/nod off/drop off during/in the middle of sth

sb must have fallen asleep/gone to sleep/drifted off/nodded off/dropped off

to drift off/nod off/ drop off to sleep

to finally fall asleep/go to sleep/get to sleep/drift off/nod off

AS (level) noun [C, U] Advanced Subsidiary (level); a British exam usually taken in Year 12 of school or college (= the year before the final year) when students are aged 17. Together with A2 exams, AS levels form the A-level qualification, which is needed for entrance to universities: AS exams Students will normally take four or five AS subjects. She's doing an AS (level) in French. More than 20 subjects are on offer at AS level at our college.

asp noun a small poisonous snake found especially in N Africa

asparagus noun [U] a plant whose young green or white STEMS are cooked and eaten as a vegetable

aspartame NAmE noun [U] a sweet substance used instead of sugar in drinks and food products, especially ones for people who are trying to lose weight

aspect noun
1 [C] a particular part or feature of a situation, an idea, a problem, etc.; a way in which it may be considered: The book aims to cover all aspects of city life. the most important aspect of the debate She felt she had looked at the problem from every aspect. This was one aspect of her character he hadn't seen before. The consultancy gives advice to manufacturers on the health and safety aspects of their products.
2 [U, sing.] (formal) the appearance of a place, a situation or a person: Events began to take on a more sinister aspect. the dirty and seedy aspect of the bar
3 [C, usually sing.] (formal) the direction in which a building, window, piece of land, etc. faces; the side of a building which faces a particular direction ORIENTATION: Our room had a western aspect. The southern aspect of the school was dominated by the mountain.
4 [U, C] (grammar) the form of a verb that shows, for example, whether the action happens once or repeatedly, is completed or still continuingsee also PERFECT adj. (7), PROGRESSIVE adj.

aspen noun a type of POPLAR tree, with leaves that move even when there is very little wind

aspergillosis NAmE noun [U] a serious condition in which parts of the body, usually the lungs, become infected by FUNGI

asperity noun [U] (formal) the fact of being rough or severe, especially in the way you speak to or treat sb HARSHNESS: She pointed out, with some asperity, that it had all been my fault. There was a touch of asperity in his tone.

aspersions NAmE noun [pl.] (formal) critical or unpleasant remarks or judgements: I wouldn't want to cast aspersions on your honesty.

asphalt NAmE noun [U] a thick black sticky substance used especially for making the surface of roads

asphyxia noun [U] the state of being unable to breathe, causing death or loss of CONSCIOUSNESS: to die of asphyxia

asphyxiate verb [VN] to make sb become unconscious or die by preventing them from breathing SUFFOCATE: He was asphyxiated by the smoke. asphyxiating gases
asphyxiation noun [U]: The cause of death was asphyxiation.

aspic noun [U] clear jelly which food can be put into when it is being served cold: chicken breast in aspic

aspidistra noun a plant with broad green pointed leaves, often grown indoors

aspirant noun ~ (to/for sth) (formal) a person with a strong desire to achieve a position of importance or to win a competition: aspirants to the title of world champion They were asked to select the party candidate from 20 aspirants.
aspirant adj. [only before noun] = ASPIRING

aspirate noun, verb
noun (phonetics) the sound , as in house: The word 'hour' is pronounced without an initial aspirate.
verb [VN]
1 (medical) to remove liquid from a person's body with a machine: Samples were aspirated from the stomach.
2 (phonetics) to pronounce sth with an 'h' sound or with a breath

aspiration noun
1 [C, usually pl., U] ~ (for sth)| ~ (to do sth) a strong desire to have or do sth: I didn't realize you had political aspirations. He has never had any aspiration to earn a lot of money. What changes are needed to meet women's aspirations for employment?
2 [U] (phonetics) the action of pronouncing a word with an sound, as in house

aspirational adj. wanting very much to achieve success in your career or to improve your social status and standard of living: advertising aimed at the aspirational classes

aspirator noun (medical) a device or machine used for sucking liquid from a person's body

aspire verb ~ (to sth) to have a strong desire to achieve or to become sth: [V] She aspired to a scientific career. [V to inf] He aspired to be their next leader.

aspirin noun [U, C] (pl. aspirin or aspirins) a drug used to reduce pain, fever and INFLAMMATION: Do you have any aspirin? Take two aspirin(s) for a headache.

aspiring (also less frequent aspirant) adj. [only before noun]
1 wanting to start the career or activity that is mentioned: Aspiring musicians need hours of practice every day.
2 wanting to be successful in life: He came from an aspiring working-class background.

ass noun
1 (NAmE, taboo, slang) = ARSE
2 (BrE, informal) a stupid person FOOL: Don't be such an ass! I made an ass of myself at the meetingstanding up and then forgetting the question.
3 (BrE, old use) a DONKEY
get your ass in gear | move your ass (slang, especially NAmE) a rude way of telling sb to hurry: If you get your ass in gear, we can make it out of here tonight.
get your ass over/in here, etc. (slang, especially NAmE) a rude way of telling sb to come here, etc.more at COVER v., KICK v., KISS v., PAIN n.

assagai = ASSEGAI

assail verb [VN] (formal)
1 to attack sb violently, either physically or with words: He was assailed with fierce blows to the head. The proposal was assailed by the opposition party. (figurative) A vile smell assailed my nostrils.
2 [usually passive] to disturb or upset sb severely: to be assailed by worries/doubts/fears

assailant noun (formal) a person who attacks sb, especially physically ATTACKER: Police have issued a description and an artist's impression of the assailant. He was immune to the criticisms of his assailants.

assassin NAmE noun a person who murders sb important or famous, for money or for political reasons: a hired/professional assassin

assassinate NAmE verb [VN] [often passive] to murder an important or famous person, especially for political reasons: The prime minister was assassinated by extremists. a plot to assassinate the president
assassination NAmE noun [U, C]: The president survived a number of assassination attempts. the assassination of John F. Kennedy

assault noun, verb
noun
1 [U, C] ~ (on/upon sb) the crime of attacking sb physically: Both men were charged with assault. A significant number of indecent assaults on women go unreported. sexual assaults
2 [C] ~ (on/upon/against sb/sth) (by an army, etc.) the act of attacking a building, an area, etc. in order to take control of it ATTACK: An assault on the capital was launched in the early hours of the morning.
3 [C] ~ (on/upon sth) the act of trying to achieve sth that is difficult or dangerous: The government has mounted a new assault on unemployment (= in order to reduce it). Three people died during an assault on the mountain (= while trying to climb it).
4 [C] ~ (on/upon/against sb/sth) an act of criticizing sb/sth severely ATTACK: The paper's assault on the president was totally unjustified. The suggested closures came under assault from all parties.
verb [VN]
1 to attack sb violently, especially when this is a crime: He has been charged with assaulting a police officer. Four women have been sexually assaulted in the area recently.
2 (formal) to affect your senses in a way that is very unpleasant or uncomfortable: Loud rock music assaulted our ears.

assault and battery noun [U] (law) the crime of threatening to harm sb and then attacking them physically

assault course (BrE) (NAmE obstacle course) noun an area of land with many objects that are difficult to climb, jump over or go through, which is used, especially by soldiers, for improving physical skills and strength

assay noun [C, U] (technical) the testing of metals and chemicals for quality, often to see how pure they are
assay verb [VN]

assegai (also assagai) noun
1 a weapon consisting of a long stick with a sharp metal point on the end, used mainly in southern Africa
2 a South African tree which produces hard wood

assemblage noun (formal, technical) a collection of things; a group of people: Tropical rainforests have the most varied assemblage of plants in the world.

assemble verb
1 to come together as a group; to bring people or things together as a group: [V] All the students were asked to assemble in the main hall. She then addressed the assembled company (= all the people there). [VN] to assemble evidence/data The manager has assembled a world-class team. He tried to assemble his thoughts.
2 [VN] to fit together all the separate parts of sth, for example a piece of furniture: The shelves are easy to assemble. DISASSEMBLE note at BUILD

assembler noun
1 a person who assembles a machine or its parts
2 (computing) a program for changing instructions into MACHINE CODE
3 (computing) = ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE

Assemblies of God noun [pl.] the largest Pentecostal Church in the US (= one that emphasizes the gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as the power to heal people who are ill/sick)

assembly noun (pl. -ies)
1 (also Assembly) [C] a group of people who have been elected to meet together regularly and make decisions or laws for a particular region or country: State/legislative/federal/local assemblies Power has been handed over to provincial and regional assemblies. The national assembly has voted to adopt the budget. the California Assembly the UN General Assembly assembly elections an elected assembly
2 [U, C] the meeting together of a group of people for a particular purpose; a group of people who meet together for a particular purpose: They were fighting for freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. He was to address a public assembly on the issue. an assembly point (= a place where people have been asked to meet)
3 [C, U] a meeting of the teachers and students in a school, usually at the start of the day, to give information, discuss school events or say prayers together: The deputy headmaster was taking (= leading) school assembly that day.
4 [U] the process of putting together the parts of sth such as a vehicle or piece of furniture: Putting the bookcase together should be a simple assembly job. a car assembly plant the correct assembly of the parts

assembly language noun [C, U] (also assembler [C]) (computing) the language in which a program is written before it is changed into MACHINE CODE

assembly line noun = PRODUCTION LINE: workers on the assembly line

assemblyman , assemblywoman noun (pl. -men , -women ) a person who is an elected representative in a state assembly in the US

assembly room noun [usually pl.] (especially BrE) a public room or building in which meetings and social events are held

assent noun, verb
noun [U] ~ (to sth) (formal) official agreement to or approval of sth: The director has given her assent to the proposals. He nodded (his) assent. There were murmurs of both assent and dissent from the crowd. The bill passed in Parliament has now received the Royal Assent (= been approved by the king/queen). She is by common assent, the best person for the job.
verb~ (to sth) (formal) to agree to a request, an idea or a suggestion: [V] Nobody would assent to the terms they proposed. [also V speech]

assert NAmE verb
1 to state clearly and firmly that sth is true: [V that] She continued to assert that she was innocent. [VN] She continued to assert her innocence. The German Chancellor was anxious to assert his government's commitment to further European unity. [V speech] 'That is wrong,' he asserted. [VN that] It is commonly asserted that older people prefer to receive care from family members.
2 [VN] ~ yourself to behave in a confident and determined way so that other people pay attention to your opinions: You're too timidyou must try to assert yourself more.
3 [VN] to make other people recognize your right or authority to do sth, by behaving firmly and confidently: to assert your independence/rights I was determined to assert my authority from the beginning.
4 [VN] ~ itself to start to have an effect: Good sense asserted itself.

assertion NAmE noun
1 [C] a statement saying that you strongly believe sth to be true CLAIM: He was correct in his assertion that the minister had been lying. Do you have any evidence to support your assertions? note at CLAIM
2 [U, C] the act of stating, using or claiming sth strongly: the assertion of his authority The demonstration was an assertion of the right to peaceful protest.

assertive NAmE adj. expressing opinions or desires strongly and with confidence, so that people take notice: You should try and be more assertive. assertive behaviour SUBMISSIVE
assertively adv. assertiveness noun [U]: an assertiveness training course

assess verb
1 ~ sb/sth (as sth) to make a judgement about the nature or quality of sb/sth: [VN] It's difficult to assess the effects of these changes. to assess a patient's needs Interviews allow you to assess the suitability of candidates. The young men were assessed as either safe or unsafe drivers. I'd assess your chances as low. [V wh-] The committee assesses whether a building is worth preserving. We are trying to assess how well the system works.
2 [VN] ~ sth (at sth) to calculate the amount or value of sth ESTIMATE: They have assessed the amount of compensation to be paid. Damage to the building was assessed at £40 000.

assessment noun
1 [C] an opinion or a judgement about sb/sth that has been thought about very carefully EVALUATION: a detailed assessment of the risks involved his assessment of the situation An adequate environmental impact assessment was not carried out on the bypass project.
2 [U] the act of judging or forming an opinion about sb/sth: written exams and other forms of assessment Objective assessment of the severity of the problem was difficult.see also CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT
3 [C] an amount that has been calculated and that must be paid: a tax assessment

assessor noun
1 an expert in a particular subject who is asked by a court or other official group to give advice: The government appointed independent assessors to review the viability of the remaining coal mines.
2 a person who calculates the value or cost of sth or the amount of money to be paid: an insurance/tax assessor
3 a person who judges how well sb has done in an exam, a competition, etc.: College lecturers acted as external assessors of the exam results.

asset noun
1 ~ (to sb/sth) a person or thing that is valuable or useful to sb/sth: She'll be an asset to the team. In his job, patience is an invaluable asset. Being able to speak a foreign language is a major asset. I'm not sure if his forcefulness is an asset or a liability.
2 [usually pl.] a thing of value, especially property, that a person or company owns, which can be used or sold to pay debts: the net asset value of the company Her assets include shares in the company and a house in France. asset sales/management income from fixed asset investments financial/capital assets to freeze a country's assetscompare LIABILITY

asset-stripping noun [U] (business) (usually disapproving) the practice of buying a company which is in financial difficulties at a low price and then selling everything that it owns in order to make a profit

asshole NAmE noun (NAmE, taboo, slang) = ARSEHOLE

assiduous NAmE adj. (formal) working very hard and taking great care that everything is done as well as it can be DILIGENT: one of the most assiduous members of the team their assiduous efforts and attention to detail She was assiduous in her duties.
assiduity noun [U] assiduously adv.: He worked assiduously to earn the money for his son's education.

assign verb
1 ~ sth (to sb)| ~ (sb) sth to give sb sth that they can use, or some work or responsibility: [VN] The two large classrooms have been assigned to us. The teacher assigned a different task to each of the children. [VNN] We have been assigned the two large classrooms. The teacher assigned each of the children a different task.
2 ~ sb (to sth/as sth) to provide a person for a particular task or position: [VN] They've assigned their best man to the job. [VN to inf] British forces have been assigned to help with peacekeeping.
3 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb to sb/sth to send a person to work under the authority of sb or in a particular group: I was assigned to B platoon.
4 ~ sth to sth to say that sth has a particular value or function, or happens at a particular time or place: [VN] Assign a different colour to each different type of information. [VNN] The painting cannot be assigned an exact date.
5 [VN] ~ sth to sb (law) to say that your property or rights now belong to sb else: The agreement assigns copyright to the publisher. She has assigned the lease to her daughter.

assignation noun (formal or humorous) a meeting, especially a secret one, often with a lover: rumours about his secret assignations with his friend's wife

assignment noun
1 [C, U] a task or piece of work that sb is given to do, usually as part of their job or studies: You will need to complete three written assignments per semester. She is in Greece on an assignment for one of the Sunday newspapers. one of our reporters on assignment in China I had set myself a tough assignment. a business/special assignment note at TASK
2 [U] the act of giving sth to sb; the act of giving sb a particular task: his assignment to other duties in the same company

assimilate verb
1 [VN] to fully understand an idea or some information so that you are able to use it yourself: The committee will need time to assimilate this report. Some people can only assimilate change gradually.
2 ~ (sb) (into/to sth) to become, or allow sb to become, a part of a country or community rather than remaining in a separate group: [V] New arrivals find it hard to assimilate. [VN] Immigrants have been successfully assimilated into the community.
3 [VN] [often passive] ~ sth into/to sth to make an idea, a person's attitude, etc. fit into sth or be acceptable: These changes were gradually assimilated into everyday life.

assimilation noun
1 [U] the act of assimilating sb or sth, or being assimilated: the rapid assimilation of new ideas his assimilation into the community
2 [U, C] (phonetics) the act of making two sounds in speech that are next to each other more similar to each other in certain ways, for example the pronunciation of the in football as a ; an example of this

assist verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (sb) (in/with sth)| ~ (sb) (in doing sth) to help sb to do sth: [VN] We'll do all we can to assist you. We will assist you in finding somewhere to live. The play was directed by Mike Johnson, assisted by Sharon Gale. Two men are assisting the police with their enquiries (= are being questioned by the police). [VN to inf] a course to assist adults to return to the labour market [V] Anyone willing to assist can contact this number. We are looking for people who would be willing to assist in the group's work.
2 [VN] to help sth to happen more easily: activities that will assist the decision-making process
noun an action in HOCKEY, BASEBALL, etc. in which a player helps another player on the same team to score a goal or point: He had two goals and an assist in his first game of the season.

assistance noun [U] ~ (with sth)| ~ (in doing sth/to do sth) (formal) help or support: technical/economic/military assistance financial assistance for people on low incomes Can I be of any assistance? Despite his cries, no one came to his assistance. She offered me practical assistance with my research. The company provides advice and assistance in finding work. He can walk only with the assistance of crutches.

assistant noun, adj.
noun
1 a person who helps or supports sb, usually in their job: My assistant will now demonstrate the machine in action. a senior research assistant She works as a care assistant in an old people's home.see also PDA, PERSONAL ASSISTANT, TEACHING ASSISTANT
2 (BrE) = SHOP ASSISTANT: a sales assistant in a department store Maybe one of our assistants can help you make your choice?
3 (BrE) a student at university or college who spends time in a foreign country teaching his or her own language in a school
adj. [only before noun] (abbr. Asst) (often in titles) having a rank below a senior person and helping them in their work: the assistant manager Assistant Chief Constable Owen Assistant Attorney General William Weld

assistant professor noun (in the US and Canada) a teacher at a college or university who has a rank just below the rank of an ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

assistantship noun
1 (BrE) the position of being an ASSISTANT (3)
2 (NAmE) a paid position for a GRADUATE student that involves some teaching or research

assisted area noun (in Britain) a region where there are many unemployed people and the government gives help to businesses so that more people can have jobs

assisted suicide noun [U] the act of a person killing himself/herself with the help of sb such as a doctor, especially because he/she is suffering from a disease that has no cure

assizes noun a court in the past which travelled to each county of England and Wales: He was tried and sentenced at the assizes.
assize adj. [only before noun]: the assize court

ass-licker, ass-licking nouns (NAmE) = ARSE-LICKER, ARSE-LICKING

Assoc. abbr. (in writing) Association

associate verb, adj., noun
verb NAmE
1 [VN] ~ sb/sth (with sb/sth) to make a connection between people or things in your mind: I always associate the smell of baking with my childhood. He is closely associated in the public mind with horror movies. Most people immediately associate addictions with drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. You wouldn't normally associate these two writerstheir styles are completely different.
2 [V] ~ with sb to spend time with sb, especially a person or people that sb else does not approve of MIX: I don't like you associating with those people.
3 [VN] ~ yourself with sth (formal) to show that you support or agree with sth: May I associate myself with the Prime Minister's remarks? (= I agree with them) I have never associated myself with political extremism. DISSOCIATE
adj. NAmE [only before noun]
1 (often in titles) of a lower rank, having fewer rights in a particular profession or organization: associate membership of the European Union an associate member/director/editor She was only the associate producer of the movie.
2 joined to or connected with a profession or an organization: an associate company in Japan
noun NAmE
1 a person that you work with, do business with or spend a lot of time with: business associates a close political associate of The company is called Landor Associates. He was known to be one of the convicted man's associates.
2 (also Associate) an ASSOCIATE adj. (1) member
3 Associate (US) a person who has an Associate's degree (= one that is given after completing two years of study at a junior college)

associated NAmE adj.
1 if one thing is associated with another, the two things are connected because they happen together or one thing causes the other: the risks associated with taking drugs CONNECTED: Salaries and associated costs have risen substantially.
2 if a person is associated with an organization, etc. they support it: He no longer wished to be associated with the party's policy on education.
3 Associated used in the name of a business company that is made up of a number of smaller companies: Associated Newspapers

Associated Press noun (abbr. AP) a US news service. Its offices throughout the world send news to its members which include newspapers and television and radio stations.

associate professor noun (in the US and Canada) a teacher at a college or university who has a rank just below the rank of a professor

association NAmE noun
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] (abbr. Assoc.) an official group of people who have joined together for a particular purpose ORGANIZATION: Do you belong to any professional or trade associations? the Football Association a residents' associationsee also HOUSING ASSOCIATION
2 [C, U] ~ (with sb/sth) a connection or relationship between people or organizations: his alleged association with terrorist groups They have maintained a close association with a college in the US. The book was published in association with (= together with) British Heritage. She became famous through her association with the group of poets.
3 [C, usually pl.] an idea or a memory that is suggested by sb/sth; a mental connection between ideas: The seaside had all sorts of pleasant associations with childhood holidays for me. The cat soon made the association between human beings and food. Incense always had associations with religion for him.
4 [C] a connection between things where one is caused by the other: a proven association between passive smoking and cancer

Association Football noun [U] (BrE, formal) = FOOTBALL (1)

associationism NAmE noun [U] (philosophy, psychology) the theory that we think and learn by connecting many different very simple ideas in our minds

associative NAmE adj.
1 relating to the association of ideas or things
2 (mathematics) giving the same result no matter what order the parts of a calculation are done, for example (a × b) × c = a × (b × c)

assonance noun [U] (technical) the effect created when two syllables in words that are close together have the same vowel sound, but different consonants, or the same consonants but different vowels, for example, sonnet and porridge or cold and killed

assorted NAmE adj. of various different sorts: The meat is served with salad or assorted vegetables. The jumper comes in assorted colours. The children arrived back from the game with their assorted friends. a box of assorted chocolates

assortment NAmE noun [usually sing.] a collection of different things or of different types of the same thing MIXTURE: a wide assortment of gifts to choose from He was dressed in an odd assortment of clothes. an assortment of plates of varying sizes

Asst (also Asst. especially in NAmE) abbr. (in writing) Assistant: Asst Manager

assuage verb [VN] (formal) to make an unpleasant feeling less severe: His reply did little to assuage my suspicions. to assuage your guilt/fears

assume NAmE verb
1 to think or accept that sth is true but without having proof of it: [V (that)] It is reasonable to assume (that) the economy will continue to improve. Let us assume for a moment that the plan succeeds. She would, he assumed, be home at the usual time. [VN that] It is generally assumed that stress is caused by too much work. [VN] Don't always assume the worst (= that sth bad has happened). In this example we have assumed a unit price of $10. [VN to inf] I had assumed him to be a Belgian.
2 [VN] (formal) to take or begin to have power or responsibility TAKE: The court assumed responsibility for the girl's welfare. Rebel forces have assumed control of the capital.
3 [VN] (formal) to begin to have a particular quality or appearance TAKE ON: This matter has assumed considerable importance. In the story the god assumes the form of an eagle.
4 [VN] (formal) to pretend to have a particular feeling or quality PUT ON: He assumed an air of concern.

assumed NAmE adj. [only before noun] that you suppose to be true or to exist: the assumed differences between the two states

assumed name noun a name that sb uses that is not their real name PSEUDONYM: He was living under an assumed name.

assuming NAmE conj. ~ (that) used to suppose that sth is true so that you can talk about what the results might be: Assuming (that) he's still alive, how old would he be now? I hope to go to college next year, always assuming I pass my exams.

assumption noun
1 [C] a belief or feeling that sth is true or that sth will happen, although there is no proof: an underlying/implicit assumption We need to challenge some of the basic assumptions of Western philosophy. We are working on the assumption that everyone invited will turn up. It was impossible to make assumptions about people's reactions. His actions were based on a false assumption. She arrived at college with a whole set of assumptions inherited from her family.
2 [C, U] ~ of sth (formal) the act of taking or beginning to have power or responsibility: their assumption of power/control the assumption of responsibility by the government for the disaster

assurance NAmE noun
1 [C] a statement that sth will certainly be true or will certainly happen, particularly when there has been doubt about it GUARANTEE, PROMISE: They called for assurances that the government is committed to its education policy. Unemployment seems to be rising, despite repeated assurances to the contrary.
2 (also self-assurance) [U] belief in your own abilities or strengths CONFIDENCE: There was an air of easy assurance and calm about him. It was good to see some of her old assurance coming back.
3 [U] (BrE) a type of insurance in which money is paid out when sb dies or after an agreed period of time: a life assurance companysee also QUALITY ASSURANCE

assure NAmE verb
1 ~ sb (of sth) to tell sb that sth is definitely true or is definitely going to happen, especially when they have doubts about it: [VN (that)] You think I did it deliberately, but I assure you (that) I did not. We were assured that everything possible was being done. [VN] She's perfectly safe, I can assure you. We assured him of our support. I won't let you down, I can assure you of that. [VN speech] 'He'll come back,' Susan assured her.
2 ~ yourself (of sth) to make yourself certain about sth: [VN] He assured himself of her safety. [VN that] She assured herself that the letter was still in the drawer.
3 to make sth certain to happen GUARANTEE: [VN] Victory would assure a place in the finals. [VNN] Victory would assure them a place in the finals. This achievement has assured her a place in the history books.
4 [VN] (BrE) to INSURE sth, especially against sb's death: What is the sum assured? see REST v.

assured NAmE adj.
1 (also self-assured) confident in yourself and your abilities: He spoke in a calm, assured voice.
2 certain to happen GUARANTEED: Success seemed assured. note at CERTAIN
3 ~ of sth (of a person) certain to get sth: You are assured of a warm welcome at this hotel.

assuredly NAmE adv. (formal) certainly; definitely: Their attempts will most assuredly fail.

AST abbr. ATLANTIC STANDARD TIME

astatine noun [U] (symb At) a chemical element. Astatine is a RADIOACTIVE element which is found in small amounts in nature, and is produced artificially for use in medicine.

aster noun a garden plant that has pink, purple, blue or white flowers with many long narrow PETALS

asterisk noun the symbol ( * ) placed next to a particular word or phrase to make people notice it or to show that more information is given in another place: I've placed an asterisk next to the tasks I want you to do first. If you have an asterisk key on your telephone, please press it now.
asterisk verb: [VN] I've asterisked the tasks I want you to do first.

astern NAmE adv. (technical)
1 in, at or towards the back part of a ship or boat: with the wind and waves astern
2 if a ship or boat is moving astern, it is moving backwards

asteroid noun any one of the many small planets which go around the sun

asthma NAmE noun [U] a medical condition of the chest that makes breathing difficult: a severe asthma attack

asthmatic NAmE noun a person who suffers from asthma
asthmatic adj.: asthmatic patients an asthmatic attack

astigmatism noun [U] a fault in the shape of a person's eye that prevents them from seeing clearly

Asti Spumante noun [U] a light SPARKLING wine (= one with bubbles in) from the Asti region of Italy

astonish NAmE verb to surprise sb very much AMAZE note at SURPRISE: [VN] The news astonished everyone. She astonished us by saying she was leaving. [VN (that)] It astonishes me (that) he could be so thoughtless.

astonished NAmE adj. ~ (to find/hear/learn/see sth)| ~ (at/by sth/sb)| ~ (that ... ) very surprised AMAZED: He was astonished to learn he'd won the competition. My parents looked astonished at my news. She seemed astonished (that) I had never been to Paris. The helicopter landed before our astonished eyes.

astonishing NAmE adj. very surprising; difficult to believe AMAZING: She ran 100m in an astonishing 10.9 seconds. I find it absolutely astonishing that you didn't like it.
astonishingly adv.: Jack took the news astonishingly well. Astonishingly, a crowd of several thousands turned out to hear him.

astonishment NAmE noun [U] a feeling of very great surprise AMAZEMENT: To my utter astonishment, she remembered my name. He stared in astonishment at the stranger.

astound verb [VN] to surprise or shock sb very much ASTONISH: His arrogance astounded her. She was astounded by his arrogance. note at SURPRISE

astounded adj. ~ (to find, learn, see, etc. sth)| ~ (at/by sth)| ~ (that ... ) very surprised or shocked by sth, because it seems very unlikely ASTONISHED: an astounded expression How can you say that? I'm absolutely astounded. I was astounded to see her appear from the house. She looked astounded at the news. The doctors were astounded (that) he survived.

astounding adj. so surprising that it is difficult to believe ASTONISHING: There was an astounding 20% increase in sales.
astoundingly adv.

astrakhan NAmE noun [U] a type of black tightly-curled cloth made from the wool of a particular type of young sheep, used especially for making coats and hats; a type of cloth that is made to look like this

astral adj. [only before noun]
1 (technical) connected with the stars: astral navigation
2 connected with the spiritual rather than the physical world of existence: the astral plane

astray adv.
go astray
1 to become lost; to be stolen: Several letters went astray or were not delivered. We locked up our valuables so they would not go astray.
2 to go in the wrong direction or to have the wrong result: Fortunately the gunman's shots went astray. Jack's parents thought the other boys might lead him astray (= make him do things that are wrong). The argument is so complex, a reader might easily go astray.

astride prep., adv.
prep. with one leg on each side of sth: to sit astride a horse/bike/chair (figurative) a town astride the river
adv.
1 with legs or feet wide apart
2 with one leg on each side

astringent adj., noun
adj.
1 (technical) (of a liquid or cream) able to make the skin feel less OILY or to stop the loss of blood from a cut: an astringent lotion to have an astringent effect
2 (formal) critical in a severe or clever way: astringent writers/comments
3 (formal) (of a taste or smell) slightly bitter but fresh: the astringent taste of lemon juice
astringency noun [U]
noun a liquid or cream used in COSMETICS or medicine to make the skin less OILY or to stop the loss of blood from a cut

astro- NAmE combining form (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) connected with the stars or outer space: astronaut astrophysics

astrolabe noun (astronomy) a device used in the past for measuring the distances of stars, planets etc. and for calculating the position of a ship

astrologer NAmE noun a person who uses astrology to tell people about their character, about what might happen to them in the future, etc.

astrology NAmE noun [U] the study of the positions of the stars and the movements of the planets in the belief that they influence human affairs
astrological NAmE adj.: astrological influences

astrometry NAmE noun [U] (astronomy) the measurement of the position, movement and size of stars

astronaut noun a person whose job involves travelling and working in a SPACECRAFT

astronomer NAmE noun a scientist who studies astronomy

astronomical NAmE adj.
1 connected with ASTRONOMY: astronomical observations
2 (also astronomic) (informal) (of an amount, a price, etc.) very large: the astronomical costs of land for building The figures are astronomical.
astronomically adv.: Interest rates are astronomically high.

astronomical unit noun (abbr. AU) (astronomy) a unit of measurement equal to 149.6 million kilometres, which is the distance from the centre of the earth to the sun

astronomy NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of the sun, moon, stars, planets, etc.

astrophysics NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of the physical and chemical structure of the stars, planets, etc.
astrophysicist noun

AstroTurfTM NAmE noun [U] an artificial surface that looks like grass, for playing sports on: The outdoor game is now played on AstroTurf.

A student noun (especially NAmE) a student who gets or is likely to get the highest marks/grades in his/her work or exams

astute NAmE adj. very clever and quick at seeing what to do in a particular situation, especially how to get an advantage SHREWD: an astute businessman/politician/observer It was an astute move to sell the shares then. She was astute enough to realize that what Jack wanted was her money.
astutely adv. astuteness noun [U]

asunder adv. (old-fashioned or literary) into pieces; apart: families rent/torn asunder by the revolution

asylum noun
1 (also formal political asylum) [U] protection that a government gives to people who have left their own country, usually because they were in danger for political reasons: to seek/apply for/be granted asylum There was a nationwide debate on whether the asylum laws should be changed.
2 [C] (old use) a hospital where people who were mentally ill could be cared for, often for a long time

asylum seeker noun a person who has been forced to leave their own country because they are in danger and who arrives in another country asking to be allowed to stay there

asymmetric (also asymmetrical ) adj.
1 having two sides or parts that are not the same in size or shape: Most people's faces are asymmetric. SYMMETRICAL
2 (technical) not equal, for example in the way each side or part behaves: Linguists are studying the asymmetric use of Creole by parents and children (= parents use one language and children reply in another). Pilots need training in asymmetric flying (= when only one of two engines is working).
asymmetrically adv. asymmetry noun [C, U]

asymmetric bars (BrE) (NAmE uneven bars) noun [pl.] two bars on posts of different heights that are used by women for doing GYMNASTIC exercises on

asymptomatic adj. (medical) (of a person or illness) having no SYMPTOMS

asynchronous adj. (formal) (of two or more objects or events) not existing or happening at the same time
asynchronously adv.

at /t; strong form æt/ prep.
1 used to say where sth/sb is or where sth happens: at the corner of the street We changed at Crewe. They arrived late at the airport. At the roundabout take the third exit. I'll be at home all morning. She's at Tom's (= at Tom's house). I met her at the hospital. How many people were there at the concert?
2 used to say where sb works or studies: He's been at the bank longer than anyone else. She's at Yale (= Yale University).
3 used to say when sth happens: We left at 2 o'clock. at the end of the week We woke at dawn. I didn't know at the time of writing (= when I wrote). At night you can see the stars. (BrE) What are you doing at the weekend?
4 used to state the age at which sb does sth: She got married at 25. He left school at the age of 16.
5 in the direction of or towards sb/sth: What are you looking at? He pointed a gun at her. Somebody threw paint at the prime minister.
6 used after a verb to show that sb tries to do sth, or partly does sth, but does not succeed or complete it: He clutched wildly at the rope as he fell. She nibbled at a sandwich (= ate only small bits of it).
7 used to state the distance away from sth: I held it at arm's length. Can you read a car number plate at fifty metres?
8 used to show the situation sb/sth is in, what sb is doing or what is happening: The country is now at war. I felt at a disadvantage. I think Mr Harris is at lunch.
9 used to show a rate, speed, etc.: He was driving at 70 mph. The noise came at two-minute intervals (= once every two minutes).
10 ~ sb's/sth's best/worst, etc. used to say that sb/sth is as good, bad, etc. as they can be: This was Henman at his best. The garden's at its most beautiful in June.
11 used with adjectives to show how well sb does sth: I'm good at French. She's hopeless at managing people.
12 used with adjectives to show the cause of sth: They were impatient at the delay. She was delighted at the result.
13 (formal) in response to sth: They attended the dinner at the chairman's invitation.
14 (NAmE) used when giving a telephone number: You can reach me at 637-2335, extension 354.
15 (computing) the symbol (@) used in email addresses
at that used when you are giving an extra piece of information: He managed to buy a car after alland a nice one at that.
be at it again to be doing sth, especially sth bad: Look at all that graffitithose kids have been at it again.
where it's at (informal) a place or an activity that is very popular or fashionable: Judging by the crowds waiting to get in, this seems to be where it's at.

atavistic adj. (formal) related to the attitudes and behaviour of the first humans: an atavistic urge/instinct/fear

ataxia (also ataxy ) noun [U] (medical) the loss of full control of the body's movements
ataxic adj.

ate pt of EAT

-ate suffix
1 (in adjectives) full of or having the quality of: passionate Italianate
2 (in verbs) to give the thing or quality mentioned to: hyphenate activate
3 (in nouns) the status or function of: a doctorate
4 (in nouns) a group with the status or function of: the electorate
5 (chemistry) (in nouns) a salt formed by the action of a particular acid: sulphate

A-team noun [usually sing.]
1 the best sports team in a school, club, etc.
2 a group of the best workers, soldiers, etc.

atelier NAmE noun a room or building in which an artist works STUDIO

a tempo NAmE adv., adj. (from Italian, music) at the previous speed

atemporal adj. (formal) existing or considered without relation to time

atheism noun [U] the belief that God does not exist THEISM
atheistic adj.

atheist noun a person who believes that God does not existcompare AGNOSTIC

athlete noun
1 a person who competes in sports: Olympic athletes
2 (BrE) a person who competes in sports such as running and jumping
3 a person who is good at sports and physical exercise: She is a natural athlete.

athlete's foot noun [U] an infectious skin disease that affects the feet, especially between the toes

athletic adj.
1 physically strong, fit and active: an athletic figure/build a tall, slim athletic girl
2 [only before noun] (BrE) connected with sports such as running, jumping and throwing (= athletics): an athletic club/coach
athletically adv. athleticism noun [U]: She moved with great athleticism about the court.

athletics noun [U]
1 (BrE) (NAmE track and field) sports that people compete in, such as running and jumping
2 (NAmE) any sports that people compete in: students involved in all forms of college athletics

athletic shoe noun (NAmE) = TENNIS SHOE

athletic supporter noun (especially NAmE) = JOCKSTRAP

at-home noun, adj.
noun a party in sb's home: We're having an at-homecan you come?
adj.at-home [only before noun]
1 done or taking place at home: an at-home job
2 (of a parent) staying at home rather than going out to work: at-home dads

-athon NAmE suffix (in nouns) an event in which a particular activity is done for a very long time, especially one organized to raise money for charity: a swimathon

athwart /wt; NAmE wrt/ prep. (formal)
1 across; from one side to the other: They put a table athwart the doorway.
2 not agreeing with; opposite to: His statement ran athwart what was previously said.

-ation -ION

atishoo (BrE) (also ahchoo NAmE, BrE) exclamation the word for the sound people make when they SNEEZE

-ative suffix (in adjectives) doing or tending to do sth: illustrative talkative
-atively suffix (in adverbs): creatively

Atkins DietTM noun a diet in which you eat foods that contain a high level of PROTEIN (meat, eggs, cheese, etc.) and avoid foods that contain a high level of CARBOHYDRATES (bread, rice, fruit, etc.)

Atlantic Daylight Time noun [U] (abbr. ADT) the time used in summer in an area that includes the east of Canada, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, that is five hours earlier than GMT

Atlanticism noun [U] belief in or support for a close relationship between western Europe and N America
Atlanticist adj., noun

Atlantic Standard Time noun [U] (abbr. AST) (also Atlantic time) the time used in winter in an area that includes the east of Canada, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, that is four hours earlier than GMT

Atlantis noun [U] (in stories) an island full of beauty and wealth, that was said to have been covered by the sea and lost. There are many stories about people's attempts to find it.

atlas noun a book of maps: a world atlas a road atlas of Europe

ATM noun automated teller machine CASH MACHINE

ATM card noun (US) = CASH CARD

atmosphere NAmE noun
1 the atmosphere [sing.] the mixture of gases that surrounds the earth: the upper atmosphere pollution of the atmosphere
2 [C] a mixture of gases that surrounds another planet or a star: Saturn's atmosphere
3 [C] the air in a room or in a confined space; the air around a place: a smoky/stuffy atmosphere These plants love warm, humid atmospheres.
4 [C, U] the feeling or mood that you have in a particular place or situation; a feeling between two people or in a group of people: a party atmosphere The hotel offers a friendly atmosphere and personal service. Use music and lighting to create a romantic atmosphere. There was an atmosphere of mutual trust between them. The children grew up in an atmosphere of violence and insecurity. The old house is full of atmosphere (= it's very interesting). see HEAVY adj.

atmospheric adj.
1 [only before noun] related to the earth's atmosphere: atmospheric pollution/conditions/pressure
2 creating an exciting or emotional mood: atmospheric music a stunningly atmospheric performance The new restaurant is highly atmospheric.

atmospherics NAmE noun [pl.]
1 qualities in sth that create a particular atmosphere
2 noises that sometimes interrupt a radio broadcast

atoll NAmE noun an island made of CORAL and shaped like a ring with a lake of sea water (called a LAGOON) in the middle

atom noun the smallest part of a chemical element that can take part in a chemical reaction: the splitting of the atom Two atoms of hydrogen combine with one atom of oxygen to form a molecule of water.

atom bomb (also A-bomb) noun a bomb that explodes using the energy that is produced when an atom or atoms are split

atomic NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 connected with atoms or an atom: atomic structure
2 related to the energy that is produced when atoms are split; related to weapons that use this energy: atomic energy/power the atomic bomb the post-war atomic programme

atomic clock noun an extremely accurate clock which uses the movement of atoms or MOLECULES to measure time

atomicity noun (chemistry) the number of atoms in one MOLECULE of a substance

atomic mass noun = RELATIVE ATOMIC MASS

atomic number noun (chemistry) the number of PROTONS in the NUCLEUS (= centre) of an atom, which is characteristic of a chemical element. Elements are placed in the PERIODIC TABLE according to their atomic numbers.

atomic spectrum noun (chemistry) (pl. atomic spectra) a series of lines with characteristic FREQUENCIES which show the range of RADIATION that is characteristic of a chemical element

atomic theory noun (chemistry, physics) the theory that all elements are made up of small PARTICLES called atoms which are made up of a central NUCLEUS surrounded by moving ELECTRONS

atomic weight noun = RELATIVE ATOMIC MASS

atomism noun [U] (technical) the idea of analysing sth by separating it into its different partscompare HOLISM
atomistic adj.

atomize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to reduce sth to atoms or very small pieces

atomizer (BrE also -iser) noun a container that forces a liquid such as water or paint out as a very fine spray

atonal NAmE adj. (of a piece of music) not written in any particular KEY TONAL
atonality NAmE noun [U]

atone NAmE verb [V] ~ (for sth) (formal) to act in a way that shows you are sorry for doing sth wrong in the past MAKE AMENDS: to atone for a crime a desire to atone
atonement noun [U]: to make atonement for his sins Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement

atonic NAmE adj. (phonetics) (of a syllable) not stressed

atop /tp; NAmE tp/ prep. (especially NAmE) (old-fashioned or literary in BrE) on top of; at the top of: a flag high atop a pole a scoop of ice cream atop a slice of apple pie The children piled atop one another in the sand. Fruit and vegetable prices rose 1.3 per cent atop a 2 per cent gain last month. Coca-Cola is atop the list of best-selling soft drinks in the US.

atopic NAmE adj. (medical) relating to a form of ALLERGY where there is a reaction in a part of the body that does not have direct contact with the thing causing the ALLERGY

-ator suffix (in nouns) a person or thing that does sth: creator percolator

A to Z NAmE noun [sing.]
1 (BrE) a book containing street maps of all the areas of a large city
2 a book containing all the information you need about a subject or place: an A to Z of needlework

ATP noun [U] (BrE) the abbreviation for 'automatic train protection', a system for automatically stopping a train if the driver does not stop or go slower when a signal tells him/her to

at-risk adj. [only before noun] (of a person or group) in danger of being attacked or hurt, especially in their own home: Social services keep lists of at-risk children.

atrium noun
1 a large high space, usually with a glass roof, in the centre of a modern building: The reception was held in the atrium.
2 an open space in the centre of an ancient Roman VILLA (= a large house)
3 (anatomy) either of the two upper spaces in the heart that are used in the first stage of sending the blood around the body AURICLE

atrocious NAmE adj.
1 very bad or unpleasant TERRIBLE: She speaks French with an atrocious accent. Isn't the weather atrocious?
2 very cruel and shocking: atrocious acts of brutality
atrociously adv.

atrocity NAmE noun [C, usually pl., U] (pl. -ies) a cruel and violent act, especially in a war

atrophy noun, verb
noun [U] (medical) the condition of losing flesh, muscle, strength, etc. in a part of the body because it does not have enough blood: (figurative, formal) The cultural life of the country will sink into atrophy unless more writers and artists emerge.
verb (atrophies, atrophying, atrophied, atrophied) [V] if a part of the body atrophies, it becomes weak because it is not used or because it does not have enough blood: (figurative) Memory can atrophy through lack of use.
atrophied adj.: atrophied muscles atrophied religious values

attaboy exclamation (informal, especially NAmE) used when you want to encourage sb or show your admiration of them, especially a boy or mansee also ATTAGIRL

attach verb
1 [VN] ~ sth (to sth) to fasten or join one thing to another: Attach the coupon to the front of your letter. I attach a copy of my notes for your information. I attach a copy of the spreadsheet (= send it with an email). (figurative) They have attached a number of conditions to the agreement (= said that the conditions must be part of the agreement).compare DETACH
2 [VN] ~ importance, significance, value, weight, etc. (to sth) to believe that sth is important or worth thinking about: I attach great importance to this research. I wouldn't attach too much weight to these findings.
3 [VN] ~ yourself to sb to join sb for a time, sometimes when you are not welcome or have not been invited: He attached himself to me at the party and I couldn't get rid of him.
4 ~ to sb/sth (formal) to be connected with sb/sth; to connect sth to sth: [V] No one is suggesting that any health risks attach to this product. No blame attaches to you. [VN] This does not attach any blame to you.

attaché NAmE noun a person who works at an EMBASSY, usually with a special responsibility for a particular area of activity: a cultural attaché

attaché case noun a small hard flat case used for carrying business documentscompare BRIEFCASE

attached adj.
1 ~ (to sb/sth) full of affection for sb/sth: I've never seen two people so attached to each other. We've grown very attached to this house.compare UNATTACHED
2 [not before noun] ~ to sth working for or forming part of an organization: The research unit is attached to the university.
3 ~ (to sth) joined to sth: Please complete the attached application form.

attachment noun
1 [C, U] a strong feeling of affection for sb/sth: a child's strong attachment to its parents
2 [C, U] belief in and support for an idea or a set of values: the popular attachment to democratic government
3 [C] a tool that you can fix onto a machine, to make it do another job: an electric drill with a range of different attachments
4 [U, C] the act of joining one thing to another; a thing that joins two things together: All cars built since 1981 have points for the attachment of safety restraints. They discussed the attachment of new conditions to the peace plans. They had to check the strength of the seat attachments to the floor of the plane.
5 [U, C] (BrE) a short time spent working with an organization such as a hospital, school or part of the armed forces: She's on attachment to the local hospital. a 4-month training attachment
6 [C] (computing) a document that you send to sb using email

attack noun, verb
noun
VIOLENCE
1 [C, U] ~ (on sb) an act of using violence to try to hurt or kill sb: a series of racist attacks A child is recovering in hospital after a serious attack by a stray dog.
IN WAR
2 [C, U] ~ (on sb/sth) an act of trying to kill or injure the enemy in war, using weapons such as guns and bombs: to launch/make/mount an attack The patrol came under attack from all sides.see also COUNTER-ATTACK
CRITICISM
3 [C, U] ~ (on sb/sth) strong criticism of sb/sth in speech or in writing: a scathing attack on the government's policies The school has come under attack for failing to encourage bright pupils.
ACTION TO STOP STH
4 [C] ~ (on sth) an action that you take to try to stop or change sth that you feel is bad: to launch an all-out attack on poverty/unemployment
OF ILLNESS
5 [C] a sudden, short period of illness, usually severe, especially an illness that you have often: to suffer an asthma attack an acute attack of food poisoning a panic attack (figurative) an attack of the gigglessee also HEART ATTACK
OF EMOTION
6 [C] a sudden period of feeling an emotion such as fear: an attack of nerves
DAMAGE
7 [U, C] the action of sth such as an insect, or a disease, that causes damage to sth/sb: The roof timbers were affected by rot and insect attack.
IN SPORT
8 [sing.] (BrE) (NAmE offense) the players in a team whose job is to try to score goals or points: Germany's attack has been weakened by the loss of some key players through injury.compare DEFENCE
9 [C, U] the actions that players take to try to score a goal or win the game: a sustained attack on the Arsenal goal
verb
USE VIOLENCE
1 to use violence to try to hurt or kill sb: [VN] [often passive]: A woman was attacked and robbed by a gang of youths. The man attacked him with a knife. [V] Most dogs will not attack unless provoked.
IN WAR
2 to use weapons, such as guns and bombs against an enemy in a war, etc.: [VN] At dawn the army attacked the town. [V] The guerrillas attack at night.
CRITICIZE
3 [VN] ~ sb/sth (for sth/for doing sth) to criticize sb/sth severely: a newspaper article attacking the England football manager She has been attacked for ignoring her own party members.
DAMAGE
4 [VN] to have a harmful effect on sth: a disease that attacks the brain The vines were attacked by mildew.
DO STH WITH ENERGY
5 [VN] to deal with sth with a lot of energy and determination: Let's attack one problem at a time.
IN SPORT
6 [V] to go forward in a game in order to try to score goals or pointscompare DEFEND: Spain attacked more in the second half and deserved a goal.

attacker noun a person who attacks sb: She didn't really see her attacker.

attagirl NAmE exclamation (informal, especially NAmE) used when you want to encourage a girl or woman, or show your admiration of themsee also ATTABOY

attain verb [VN]
1 to succeed in getting sth, usually after a lot of effort: Most of our students attained five 'A' grades in their exams.
2 (formal) to reach a particular age, level or condition: The cheetah can attain speeds of up to 97 kph.

attainable adj. that you can achieve: attainable goals/objectives/targets This standard is easily attainable by most students. UNATTAINABLE

attainment noun (formal)
1 [C, usually pl.] (BrE) something that you achieved: a young woman of impressive educational attainments
2 [U] success in achieving sth: The attainment of his ambitions was still a dream. attainment targets (= for example in education) Bonus payments encourage the attainment of higher production targets.

attar (also otto) noun an ESSENTIAL OIL usually made from ROSE PETALS

attempt noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] ~ (to do sth)| ~ (at sth/at doing sth) an act of trying to do sth, especially sth difficult, often with no success: Two factories were closed in an attempt to cut costs. They made no attempt to escape. I passed my driving test at the first attempt. The couple made an unsuccessful attempt at a compromise.
2 [C] ~ (on sb/sb's life) an act of trying to kill sb: Someone has made an attempt on the President's life. an assassination/murder attempt
3 [C] ~ (on sth) an effort to do better than sth, such as a very good performance in sport: his attempt on the world land speed record a world-record attempt
verb to make an effort or try to do sth, especially sth difficult: [V to inf] I will attempt to answer all your questions. Do not attempt to repair this yourself. [VN] The prisoners attempted an escape, but failed.

attempted adj. [only before noun] (of a crime, etc.) that sb has tried to do but without success: attempted rape/murder/robbery We were shocked by his attempted suicide.

attend verb
1 to be present at an event: [VN] The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. to attend a wedding/funeral [V] We'd like as many people as possible to attend.
2 [VN] to go regularly to a place: Our children attend the same school. How many people attend church every Sunday?
3 [V] ~ (to sb/sth) (formal) to pay attention to what sb is saying or to what you are doing: She hadn't been attending during the lesson.
4 [VN] (formal) to happen at the same time as sth: She dislikes the loss of privacy that attends TV celebrity.
5 [VN] (formal) to be with sb and help them: The President was attended by several members of his staff.
attend to sb/sth to deal with sb/sth; to take care of sb/sth: I have some urgent business to attend to. A nurse attended to his needs constantly. (BrE, formal) Are you being attended to, Sir? (= for example, in a shop).

attendance noun
1 [U, C] the act of being present at a place, for example at school: Attendance at these lectures is not compulsory. Teachers must keep a record of students' attendances.
2 [C, U] the number of people present at an organized event: high/low/falling/poor attendances There was an attendance of 42 at the meeting. Cinema attendances have risen again recently.
be in attendance (formal) to be present at a special event: Several heads of state were in attendance at the funeral.
be in attendance (on sb) (formal) to be with or near sb in order to help them if necessary: He always has at least two bodyguards in attendance.
take attendance (NAmE) to check who is present and who is not present at a place and to mark this information on a list of namesmore at DANCE v.

attendance allowance noun [U] the money that a very sick or disabled older person receives from the government in Britain if they need sb to care for them at home nearly all the time

attendance centre (BrE) (NAmE attendance center) noun (in Britain) a place where young people who have broken the law must go regularly

attendant noun, adj.
noun
1 a person whose job is to serve or help people in a public place: a cloakroom/parking/museum attendantsee also FLIGHT ATTENDANT
2 a person who takes care of and lives or travels with an important person or a sick or disabled person
adj. [usually before noun] ~ (upon sth) (formal) closely connected with sth that has just been mentioned: attendant problems/risks/circumstances We had all the usual problems attendant upon starting a new business. She wanted to avoid the awards ceremony and all its attendant publicity.

attendee noun a person who attends a meeting, etc.

attender (especially BrE) (NAmE usually attendee) noun a person who goes to a place or an event, often on a regular basis: She's a regular attender at evening classes.

attention noun, exclamation
noun
LISTENING/LOOKING CAREFULLY
1 [U] the act of listening to, looking at or thinking about sth/sb carefully: the report's attention to detail He turned his attention back to the road again. Small children have a very short attention span. Please pay attention (= listen carefully) to what I am saying. Don't pay any attention to what they say (= don't think that it is important). She tried to attract the waiter's attention. I tried not to draw attention to (= make people notice) the weak points in my argument. An article in the newspaper caught my attention. I couldn't give the programme my undivided attention. (formal) It has come to my attention (= I have been informed) that ... (formal) He called (their) attention to the fact that many files were missing. (formal) Can I have your attention please?
INTEREST
2 [U] interest that people show in sb/sth: Films with big stars always attract great attention. As the youngest child, she was always the centre of attention.
3 [C, usually pl.] things that sb does to try to please you or to show their interest in you: She tried to escape the unwanted attentions of her former boyfriend.
TREATMENT
4 [U] special care, action or treatment: She was in need of medical attention. The roof needs attention (= needs to be repaired). for the attention of ... (= written on the envelope of an official letter to say who should deal with it)
SOLDIERS
5 [U] the position soldiers take when they stand very straight with their feet together and their arms at their sides: to stand at/to attentioncompare (STAND) AT EASE at EASE n.
exclamation
1 used for asking people to listen to sth that is being announced: Attention, please! Passengers for flight KL412 are requested to go to gate 21 immediately.
2 used for ordering soldiers to stand to attention

attention deficit disorder (also attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) noun [U] (abbr. ADD, ADHD) a medical condition, especially in children, that makes it difficult for them to pay attention to what they are doing, to stay still for long and to learn things

attentive adj.
1 listening or watching carefully and with interest: an attentive audience
2 ~ (to sb/sth) helpful; making sure that people have what they need: The hotel staff are friendly and attentive. Ministers should be more attentive to the needs of families.
attentively adv.: The children listened attentively to the story. attentiveness noun [U] INATTENTIVE

attenuate verb [VN] (formal) to make sth weaker or less effective: The drug attenuates the effects of the virus.
attenuation noun [U]

attenuated adj. (formal)
1 made weaker or less effective: an attenuated form of the virus
2 (of a person) very thin

attenuator noun (technical) a device consisting of a number of RESISTORS which reduce the strength of a radio sound or signal

attest verb (formal)
1 ~ (to sth) to show or prove that sth is true BEAR WITNESS TO: [V] Contemporary accounts attest to his courage and determination. She is, as countless stories about her attest, deeply religious. [also V that, VN]
2 to state that you believe that sth is true or genuine, for example in court: [VN] to attest a will The signature was attested by two witnesses. [also V that]

attic noun a room or space just below the roof of a house, often used for storing things: furniture stored in the attic an attic bedroomcompare GARRET, LOFT

attire noun [U] (formal) clothes: dressed in formal evening attire

attired NAmE adj. [not before noun] (formal or literary) dressed in a particular way: She was fashionably attired in a black evening gown.

attitude NAmE noun
1 [C] ~ (to/towards sb/sth) the way that you think and feel about sb/sth; the way that you behave towards sb/sth that shows how you think and feel: changes in public attitudes to marriage the government's attitude towards single parents to have a good/bad/positive/negative attitude towards sb/sth Youth is simply an attitude of mind. If you want to pass your exams you'd better change your attitude! You're taking a pretty selfish attitude over this, aren't you? A lot of drivers have a serious attitude problem (= they do not behave in a way that is acceptable to other people).
2 [U] confident, sometimes aggressive behaviour that shows you do not care about other people's opinions and that you want to do things in an individual way: a band with attitude You'd better get rid of that attitude and shape up, young man.
3 [C] (formal) a position of the body: Her hands were folded in an attitude of prayer. see STRIKE v.

attitudinal NAmE adj. (formal) related to the attitudes that people have: attitudinal changes in society

attn (also attn. especially in NAmE) abbr. (business) (in writing) for the attention of: Sales Dept, attn C Biggssee also FAO

atto- NAmE combining form (in units of measurement) a FACTOR of 10minus18: 200 attowatts

attorney NAmE noun
1 (especially NAmE) a lawyer, especially one who can act for sb in courtsee also DISTRICT ATTORNEY note at LAWYER
2 a person who is given the power to act on behalf of another in business or legal matters: She was made her father's attorney when he became ill.see also POWER OF ATTORNEY

Attorney General noun (pl. Attorneys General or Attorney Generals)
1 the most senior legal officer in some countries or states, for example the UK or Canada, who advises the government or head of state on legal matters
2 the Attorney General the head of the US Department of Justice and a member of the President's cabinet (= a group of senior politicians who advise the President)

attract verb [VN]
1 [usually passive] ~ sb (to sb/sth) if you are attracted by sth, it interests you and makes you want it; if you are attracted by sb, you like or admire them: I had always been attracted by the idea of working abroad. What first attracted me to her was her sense of humour.
2 ~ sb/sth (to sth) to make sb/sth come somewhere or take part in sth: The warm damp air attracts a lot of mosquitoes. The exhibition has attracted thousands of visitors.
3 to make people have a particular reaction: This proposal has attracted a lot of interest. His comments were bound to attract criticism. She tried to attract the attention of the waiter.
4 (physics) if a MAGNET or GRAVITY attracts sth, it makes it move towards it REPEL see OPPOSITE n.

attractant noun (technical) a substance which attracts sth, especially an animal: This type of trap uses no bait or other attractant.

attraction noun
1 [U, sing.] a feeling of liking sb, especially sexually: She felt an immediate attraction for him. Sexual attraction is a large part of falling in love. They felt a strong mutual attraction.
2 [C] an interesting or enjoyable place to go or thing to do: Buckingham Palace is a major tourist attraction. The main attraction at Giverny is Monet's garden. Attractions at the fair include a mini-circus, clowns, dancers and a jazz band.
3 [C, U] a feature, quality or person that makes sth seem interesting and enjoyable, and worth having or doing: I can't see the attraction of sitting on a beach all day. City life holds little attraction for me. She is the star attraction of the show. And there's the added attraction of free champagne on all flights.
4 [U] (physics) a force which pulls things towards each other: gravitational/magnetic attractioncompare REPULSION

attractive adj.
1 (of a person) pleasant to look at, especially in a sexual way: an attractive woman I like John but I don't find him attractive physically. note at BEAUTIFUL
2 (of a thing or a place) pleasant: a big house with an attractive garden Your new glasses are very attractive. Antique furniture is used to make an attractive contrast with a modern setting. That's one of the less attractive aspects of her personality.
3 having features or qualities that make sth seem interesting and worth having APPEALING: an attractive offer/proposition They are able to offer attractive career opportunities to graduates. UNATTRACTIVE
attractively adv.: The room is arranged very attractively. attractively priced hotel rooms attractiveness noun [U]: the attractiveness of travelling abroad

attributable adj. [not before noun] ~ to sb/sth probably caused by the thing mentioned: Their illnesses are attributable to a poor diet.

attribute verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 ~ sth to sth to say or believe that sth is the result of a particular thing: She attributes her success to hard work and a little luck.
2 ~ sth (to sb) to say or believe that sb is responsible for doing sth, especially for saying, writing or painting sth: The committee refused to attribute blame without further information. This play is usually attributed to Shakespeare.
attribution noun [U]: The attribution of this painting to Rembrandt has never been questioned.
noun a quality or feature of sb/sth: Patience is one of the most important attributes in a teacher. The most basic attribute of all animals is consciousness.

attributive adj. (grammar) (of adjectives or nouns) used before a noun to describe it: In 'the blue sky' and 'a family business', 'blue' and 'family' are attributive.compare PREDICATIVE
attributively adv.: Some adjectives can only be used attributively.

attrition noun [U] (formal)
1 a process of making sb/sth, especially your enemy, weaker by repeatedly attacking them or creating problems for them: It was a war of attrition. These were the economics not of efficiency but of attrition.
2 (especially NAmE) = NATURAL WASTAGE

attuned NAmE adj. [not before noun] ~ (to sb/sth) familiar with sb/sth so that you can understand or recognize them or it and act in an appropriate way: She wasn't yet attuned to her baby's needs.

ATV noun (especially NAmE) the abbreviation for 'all-terrain vehicle' (a small open vehicle with one seat and four wheels with very thick tyres, designed especially for use on rough ground without roads)see also QUAD BIKE

atypical adj. not typical or usual: atypical behaviour TYPICAL

AU abbr. ASTRONOMICAL UNIT

aubade NAmE noun a poem or piece of music written about or influenced by the early morning

aubergine NAmE (BrE) (NAmE eggplant) noun [C, U] a large vegetable with shiny dark purple skin and soft white flesh

auburn NAmE adj. (of hair) reddish-brown in colour
auburn noun [U]: the rich auburn of her hair

auction NAmE noun, verb
noun [C, U] a public event at which things are sold to the person who offers the most money for them: an auction of paintings The house is up for auction (= will be sold at an auction). A classic Rolls Royce fetched (= was sold for) £25 000 at auction. an Internet auction site
verb [VN] [usually passive] to sell sth at an auction: The costumes from the movie are to be auctioned for charity.
auction sthoff to sell sth at an auction, especially sth that is no longer needed or wanted: The Army is auctioning off a lot of surplus equipment.

auctioneer NAmE noun a person whose job is to direct an auction and sell the goods

auction house noun a company that sells things in auctions

auction room noun a building in which AUCTIONS are held

audacious adj. (formal) willing to take risks or to do sth shocking DARING: an audacious decision
audaciously adv.

audacity noun [U] brave but rude or shocking behaviour NERVE: He had the audacity to say I was too fat. The sheer audacity of the plan amazed everyone.

audible adj. that can be heard clearly: Her voice was barely audible above the noise. INAUDIBLE
audibility noun [U] audibly adv.: 'Yes?' she said, yawning audibly.

audience noun
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] the group of people who have gathered to watch or listen to sth (a play, concert, sb speaking, etc.): The audience was/were clapping for 10 minutes. an audience of 10 000 The debate was televised in front of a live audience.
2 [C] a number of people or a particular group of people who watch, read or listen to the same thing: An audience of millions watched the wedding on TV. TV/cinema/movie audiences His book reached an even wider audience when it was made into a movie. The target audience for this advertisement was mainly teenagers. note at WITNESS
3 [C] a formal meeting with an important person: an audience with the Pope note at INTERVIEW

audio NAmE adj. [only before noun] connected with sound that is recorded: audio and video cassettes
audio noun [U]: digital audio

audio- NAmE combining form (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) connected with hearing or sound: an audiobook (= a reading of a book on CASSETTE, CD, etc.) audio-visual

audio cassette noun a CASSETTE of tape on which sound has been recorded or on which you can record sound

audiolingual NAmE adj. (technical) relating to a method of language teaching that teaches speaking and listening rather than reading or writing

audiology NAmE noun [U] the science and medicine that deals with the sense of hearing
audiologist noun

audiometry NAmE noun [U] (technical) the measurement of how good a person's sense of hearing is

audiophile NAmE noun (informal) a person who is very interested in HI-FI equipment

audio tape noun [U] MAGNETIC tape on which sound can be recorded

audio typist noun a person who types letters or other documents from recordings

audio-visual adj. (abbr. AV) using both sound and pictures: audio-visual aids for the classroom

audit noun, verb
noun [C, U]
1 an official examination of business and financial records to see that they are true and correct: an annual audit a tax audit preparing the accounts for audit
2 an official examination of the quality or standard of sth: an environmental auditsee also GREEN AUDIT
verb [VN]
1 to officially examine the financial accounts of a company: We have just had our accounts audited.
2 (NAmE) to attend a course at college or university but without taking any exams or receiving credit: She audited classes at the University of California.

the Audit Commission noun [sing.] (in Britain) an organization that checks that public money is being spent in the best way by local governments

audition noun, verb
noun a short performance given by an actor, a singer, etc., so that sb can decide whether they are suitable to act in a play, sing in a concert, etc.: Auditions will be held from 9-12 on Friday. She had an audition for drama school.
verb
1 [V] ~ (for sth) to take part in an audition: She was auditioning for the role of Lady Macbeth. Hundreds of people auditioned.
2 [VN] ~ sb (for sth) to watch, listen to and judge sb at an audition: We auditioned over 200 children for the part.

auditor noun
1 a person who officially examines the business and financial records of a company: The auditors' report will be submitted to the directors at the end of the year.
2 (NAmE) a person who attends a college course, but without having to take exams and without receiving credit

auditorium noun (pl. auditoriums or auditoria )
1 the part of a theatre, concert hall, etc. in which the audience sits
2 (NAmE) a large building or room in which public meetings, concerts, etc. are held

auditory NAmE adj. (technical) connected with hearing: auditory stimuli

audit trail noun the detailed record of information on paper or on a computer that can be examined to prove what happened, for example what pieces of business were done and what decisions were made: There is an audit trail by way of tax invoices which VAT auditors can follow.

au fait NAmE adj. [not before noun] ~ (with sth) (from French) completely familiar with sth: I'm new here so I'm not completely au fait with the system.

Augean stables noun [pl.] (in ancient Greek stories) the very large stables which Hercules cleaned in a day by making a river flow through them

auger noun a tool for making holes in wood, that looks like a large CORKSCREW

aught pron. (old use) anything: Let us see if aught can be done for her.

augment verb [VN] (formal) to increase the amount, value, size, etc. of sth
augmentation noun [U, C]

augmentative adj. (linguistics) (of an AFFIX or a word using an affix) increasing a quality expressed in the original word, especially by meaning 'a large one of its kind'

au gratin NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (from French) covered in BREADCRUMBS or cheese and made brown by heating in an oven, etc.

augur verb [V] ~ well/badly (formal) to be a sign that sth will be successful or not successful in the future BODE: Conflicts among the various groups do not augur well for the future of the peace talks.

augury noun (pl. -ies) (literary) a sign of what will happen in the future OMEN

August noun [U, C] (abbr. Aug.) the 8th month of the year, between July and September: (BrE) August Bank Holiday (= a public holiday on the last Monday in August in Britain) To see how August is used, look at the examples at April.

august adj. [usually before noun] (formal) impressive, making you feel respect: an august group of statesmen

Augustan adj.
1 connected with or happening during the time of the Roman EMPEROR Augustus
2 connected with English literature of the 17th and 18th centuries that was written in a style that was considered CLASSICAL

auk noun a northern bird with short narrow wings that lives near the sea

auld lang syne noun an old Scottish song expressing feelings of friendship, traditionally sung at midnight on New Year's Eve

au naturel NAmE adj., adv. [not before noun] (from French) in a natural way: The fish is served au naturel, uncooked and with nothing added. Camping gave us a taste of living au naturel.

aunt NAmE noun
1 the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle: Aunt Alice My aunt lives in Canada.
2 (informal) used by children, with a first name, to address a woman who is a friend of their parentssee also AGONY AUNT

auntie (also aunty) NAmE noun (informal) aunt: Auntie Mary

Aunt Sally NAmE noun
1 (BrE) a game in which people throw balls at a model of a person's head to win prizes
2 a person or thing that a lot of people criticize: The foreign minister has become everybody's favourite Aunt Sally.

au pair NAmE noun (BrE) a young person, usually a woman, who lives with a family in a foreign country in order to learn the language. An au pair helps in the house and takes care of children and receives a small wage: She worked in Paris for six months as an au pair. There are very few male au pairs.

aura noun ~ (of sth) a feeling or particular quality that is very noticeable and seems to surround a person or place: She always has an aura of confidence. The mountains have a magical aura.

aural adj. (technical) connected with hearing and listening: aural and visual images aural comprehension tests
aurally adv.

aureate adj. (formal)
1 decorated in a complicated way: an aureate style of writing
2 made of gold or of the colour of gold GOLDEN

aureole NAmE noun (literary) a circle of light

au revoir NAmE exclamation (from French) goodbye (until we meet again)

auricle noun (anatomy)
1 either of the two upper spaces in the heart used to send blood around the body ATRIUMcompare VENTRICLE
2 the outer part of the ear

aurochs NAmE noun (pl. aurochs) a large wild OX that existed in the past

aurora australis NAmE noun [sing.] = THE SOUTHERN LIGHTS

aurora borealis noun [sing.] = THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

auscultation noun [U] (medical) the process of listening to sb's breathing using a STETHOSCOPE

auspices noun [pl.]
under the auspices of sb/sth with the help, support or protection of sb/sth: The community centre was set up under the auspices of a government initiative. a peacekeeping force under United Nations auspices

auspicious adj. (formal) showing signs that sth is likely to be successful in the future PROMISING: an auspicious start to the new school year It was an auspicious date for a wedding. Their first meeting was hardly auspicious. INAUSPICIOUS

Aussie (also Ozzie) NAmE noun (informal) a person from Australia
Aussie adj.

austere NAmE adj.
1 simple and plain; without any decorations: her austere bedroom with its simple narrow bed Their clothes were always austere.
2 (of a person) strict and serious in appearance and behaviour: My father was a distant, austere man.
3 allowing nothing that gives pleasure; not comfortable: the monks' austere way of life
austerely adv.

austerity noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] a situation when people do not have much money to spend because there are bad economic conditions: War was followed by many years of austerity. austerity measures and economic reforms
2 [U] the quality of being austere: the austerity of the monks' life
3 [C, usually pl.] something that is part of an austere way of life: the austerities of wartime Europe

austral NAmE adj. (formal) relating to the south

Australasia noun the region including Australia, New Zealand and the islands of the SW Pacific
Australasian adj., noun

Australia Day NAmE noun a national public holiday in Australia on 26 January, when people remember the founding of New South Wales on that date in 1788

Australian adj., noun
adj. of or connected with Australia
noun a person from Australia

Australian Rules noun [U] an Australian game, played by two teams of 18 players, using an OVAL ball, which may be kicked, carried or hit with the hand

Australopithecus NAmE noun [U, C] a creature similar to humans and APES that existed over one million years ago in Africa

Austrian blind noun a type of BLIND (= a covering for a window) made of material that hangs in folds

Austro- NAmE combining form (in nouns and adjectives) Austrian: the Austro-Hungarian border

autarchy (also autarky) NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U, C] = AUTOCRACY
2 [U] (economics) economic independence
autarchic (also autarkic) NAmE adj.

auteur NAmE noun a film/movie director who plays such an important part in making their films/movies that they are considered to be the author

authentic adj.
1 known to be real and genuine and not a copy INAUTHENTIC: I don't know if the painting is authentic.
2 true and accurate INAUTHENTIC: an authentic account of life in the desert the authentic voice of young black Americans
3 made to be exactly the same as the original: an authentic model of the ancient town Take a trip on an authentic Spanish galleon to the famous Papagayo beach.
authentically adv.: authentically flavoured Mexican dishes an authentically constructed Wild West town

authenticate verb [VN] ~ sth (as sth) to prove that sth is genuine, real or true: The letter has been authenticated by handwriting experts. Experts have authenticated the writing as that of Byron himself.
authentication noun [U]

authenticity noun [U] the quality of being genuine or true: The authenticity of the letter is beyond doubt. A sentry checked the ID card's authenticity then activated the electronic turnstile.

author noun, verb
noun
1 a person who writes books or the person who wrote a particular book: Who is your favourite author? He is the author of three books on art. best-selling author Joan Collins Who's the author?
2 the person who creates or starts sth, especially a plan or an idea: As the author of the proposal I cannot agree with you.
verb [VN] (formal) to be the author of a book, report, etc.

authoress noun (old-fashioned) a woman author

authorial adj. [usually before noun] (technical) coming from or connected with the author of sth: the authorial voice that speaks to the reader

authoring noun [U] (computing) creating computer programs without using programming language, for use in MULTIMEDIA products

authoritarian NAmE adj. believing that people should obey authority and rules, even when these are unfair, and even if it means that they lose their personal freedom: an authoritarian regime/government/state The school was very authoritarian and exam-orientated. Father was an authoritarian figure.
authoritarian noun: Father was a strict authoritarian. authoritarianism noun [U]

authoritative NAmE adj.
1 showing that you expect people to obey and respect you: an authoritative tone of voice
2 that you can trust and respect as true and correct: the most authoritative book on the subject
authoritatively adv.

authority NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
POWER
1 [U] the power to give orders to people: in a position of authority She now has authority over the people who used to be her bosses. Nothing will be done because no one in authority (= who has a position of power) takes the matter seriously.
2 [U] ~ (to do sth) the power or right to do sth: Only the manager has the authority to sign cheques. We have the authority to search this building.
PERMISSION
3 [U] official permission to do sth: It was done without the principal's authority. We acted under the authority of the UN.
ORGANIZATION
4 [C, usually pl.] the people or an organization who have the power to make decisions or who have a particular area of responsibility in a country or region: The health authorities are investigating the problem. I have to report this to the authorities. the immigration authoritiessee also LOCAL AUTHORITY
KNOWLEDGE
5 [U] the power to influence people because they respect your knowledge or official position: He spoke with authority on the topic. the moral authority to run the country
EXPERT
6 [C] ~ (on sth) a person with special knowledge SPECIALIST: She's an authority on criminal law.
have sth on good authority to be able to believe sth because you trust the person who gave you the information: I have it on good authority that he is going to be promoted.

authorization (BrE also -isation) NAmE noun
1 [U, C] official permission or power to do sth; the act of giving permission: You may not enter the security area without authorization. Who gave the authorization to release the data?
2 [C] a document that gives sb official permission to do sth: Can I see your authorization?

authorize (BrE also -ise) verb to give official permission for sth, or for sb to do sth: [VN] I can authorize payments up to £5 000. an authorized biography [VN to inf] [often passive] I have authorized him to act for me while I am away. The soldiers were authorized to shoot at will.see also UNAUTHORIZED

Authorized Version noun [sing.] an English version of the Bible that was translated in 1611 on the instructions of King James I of England

authorship NAmE noun [U]
1 the identity of the person who wrote sth, especially a book: The authorship of the poem is unknown.
2 the activity or fact of writing a book: He published the report in joint authorship with a colleague.

autism noun [U] a mental condition in which a person is unable to communicate or form relationships with others
autistic adj.: autistic behaviour/children

auto NAmE noun (pl. autos) (NAmE) a car: the auto industry

auto- NAmE (also aut-) combining form (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs)
1 of or by yourself: autobiography
2 by itself without a person to operate it: automatic

autobiography NAmE noun [C, U] (pl. -ies) the story of a person's life, written by that person; this type of writingcompare BIOGRAPHY
autobiographical adj.: an autobiographical novel (= one that contains many of the writer's own experiences)

auto bra noun (NAmE) = BRA (2)

autochanger NAmE noun a device that automatically changes one CD for another in a CD player

autochthonous NAmE adj.
1 (of people who live in a particular place) whose ANCESTORS all came from the same place INDIGENOUS
2 (technical) (of rock) formed in its present positioncompare ALLOCHTHONOUS

autoclave NAmE noun a strong closed container, used for processes that involve high temperatures or pressure

autocracy NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (also autarchy)
1 [U] a system of government of a country in which one person has complete power
2 [C] a country that is ruled by one person who has complete power

autocrat noun
1 a ruler who has complete power DESPOT
2 a person who expects to be obeyed by other people and does not care about their opinions or feelings
autocratic adj.: an autocratic manager autocratically adv.

autocross NAmE noun [U] a form of motor racing in which cars are driven over rough groundcompare RALLYCROSS

AutocueTM NAmE (BrE) (also teleprompter NAmE, BrE) noun a device used by people who are speaking in public, especially on television, which displays the words that they have to say

auto-da-fé NAmE noun [U, C] (from Portuguese) (pl. autos-da-fé) the practice of burning people who did not accept the religious beliefs of the Spanish Inquisition

autodidact NAmE noun (formal) a person who has taught himself or herself sth rather than having lessons
autodidactic NAmE adj.

auto-erotic adj. relating to the practice of sb getting sexual excitement from their own body

auto-exposure noun
1 [C] part of a camera which automatically adjusts the amount of light that reaches the film
2 [U] the ability of a camera to do this

autofocus NAmE noun
1 [C] part of a camera which automatically adjusts itself, so that the picture will be clear
2 [U] the ability of a camera to do this

autogenic NAmE adj. (formal) created by or from the thing itself

autogenic training noun [U] a way of relaxing and dealing with stress using positive thoughts and mental exercises

autograph NAmE noun, verb
noun a famous person's signature, especially when sb asks them to write it: Could I have your autograph? She was surrounded by autograph hunters outside the theatre.
verb [VN] (of a famous person) to sign your name on sth for sb to keep: The whole team has autographed a football, which will be used as a prize.

autoharp NAmE noun a musical instrument like a small HARP which has buttons that you press in order to play CHORDS

autohypnosis NAmE noun [U] the practice or fact of HYPNOTIZING yourself

autoimmune NAmE adj. [only before noun] (medical) an autoimmune disease or medical condition is one which is caused by substances that usually prevent illness: an autoimmune response

automaker NAmE noun (NAmE) a company that makes cars

automat noun (US) in the past, a restaurant in which food and drink were bought from machines

automate verb [VN] [usually passive] to use machines and computers instead of people to do a job or task: The entire manufacturing process has been automated. The factory is now fully automated.

automated teller machine noun (abbr. ATM) = CASH MACHINE

automatic adj., noun
adj.
1 (of a machine, device, etc.) having controls that work without needing a person to operate them: automatic doors a fully automatic driverless train automatic transmission (= in a car, etc.) an automatic rifle (= one that continues to fire as long as the TRIGGER is pressed)
2 done or happening without thinking INSTINCTIVE: Breathing is an automatic function of the body. My reaction was automatic.
3 always happening as a result of a particular action or situation: A fine for this offence is automatic.
automatically adv.: The heating switches off automatically. I turned left automatically without thinking. You will automatically get free dental treatment if you are under 18.
noun
1 a gun that can fire bullets continuously as long as the TRIGGER is pressed
2 (BrE) a car with a system of gears that operates without direct action from the drivercompare STICK SHIFT

automatic pilot (also autopilot) noun a device in an aircraft or a ship that keeps it on a fixed course without the need for a person to control it
be on automatic pilot to do sth without thinking because you have done the same thing many times before: I got up and dressed on automatic pilot.

automatic transmission noun [U, C] a system in a vehicle that changes the gears for the driver automatically: a car with automatic transmission

automatic writing noun [U] writing which is believed to have been done in an unconscious state or under a SUPERNATURAL influence

automation noun [U] the use of machines to do work that was previously done by people: Automation meant the loss of many factory jobs.

automatism NAmE noun [U] (art) a method of painting that avoids conscious thought and allows a free flow of ideas

automaton NAmE noun (pl. automatons or automata )
1 a person who behaves like a machine, without thinking or feeling anything ROBOT
2 a machine that moves without human control; a small ROBOT

automobile noun (NAmE) a car: the automobile industry an automobile accident

automotive NAmE adj. (formal) connected with vehicles which are driven by engines: the automotive industry

autonomic nervous system NAmE noun the part of your NERVOUS SYSTEM that controls processes which are unconscious, for example the process of your heart beating

autonomous NAmE adj.
1 (of a country, a region or an organization) able to govern itself or control its own affairs INDEPENDENT: an autonomous republic/state/province a federation of autonomous groups
2 (of a person) able to do things and make decisions without help from anyone else: Teachers aim to help children become autonomous learners.
autonomously adv.: Each bank acts autonomously.

autonomy NAmE noun [U]
1 the freedom for a country, a region or an organization to govern itself independently INDEPENDENCE: a campaign in Wales for greater autonomy
2 the ability to act and make decisions without being controlled by anyone else: giving individuals greater autonomy in their own lives

autopilot NAmE noun = AUTOMATIC PILOT

autopsy NAmE noun (pl. -ies) an official examination of a dead body by a doctor in order to discover the cause of death POST-MORTEM: an autopsy report to perform an autopsy

auto racing noun [U] (NAmE) = MOTOR RACING

auto-rickshaw NAmE noun a covered motor vehicle with three wheels, a driver's seat in front and a seat for passengers at the back, used especially in some Asian countries

autosave NAmE noun [sing.] (computing) the fact that changes to a document are saved automatically as you work
autosave verb [VN]

auto-suggestion noun [U] (psychology) a process that makes you believe sth or act in a particular way according to ideas that come from within yourself without you realizing it

autotelic NAmE adj. (technical) (of an activity or work of art) having a purpose or meaning simply by the fact of actually existing, being done, or having been created

autotroph NAmE noun (biology) a living thing that is able to make its own food using simple chemical substances such as CARBON DIOXIDEcompare HETEROTROPH
autotrophic NAmE adj.

autowind NAmE (also autowinder NAmE ) noun
1 [sing.] part of a camera which automatically winds the film forwards so that you can take the next picture
2 [U] the ability of a camera to do this
autowind verb [V]

autumn (especially BrE) (NAmE usually fall) noun [U, C] the season of the year between summer and winter, when leaves change colour and the weather becomes colder: in the autumn of 2004 in early/late autumn the autumn term (= for example at a school or college in Britain) autumn colours/leaves It's been a very mild autumn this year.

autumnal adj. [usually before noun] like or connected with autumn: autumnal colours

auxiliary adj., noun
adj.
1 (of workers) giving help or support to the main group of workers ANCILLARY: auxiliary nurses/workers/services
2 (technical) (of a piece of equipment) used if there is a problem with the main piece of equipment: an auxiliary pump
noun (pl. -ies)
1 (also auxiliary verb) (grammar) a verb such as be, do and have used with main verbs to show tense, etc. and to form questions and negatives: In the question 'Do you know where he has gone?', 'do' and 'has' are auxiliaries.
2 a worker who gives help or support to the main group of workers: nursing auxiliaries

auxiliary language noun a language used by speakers of different languages to communicate: Esperanto was invented as an auxiliary language.

auxin noun [U] a HORMONE found in plants

AV abbr. AUDIO-VISUAL

avail noun, verb
noun
to little/no avail (formal) with little or no success: The doctors tried everything to keep him alive but to no avail.
of little/no avail (formal) of little or no use: Your ability to argue is of little avail if the facts are wrong.
verb [VN] (formal or old-fashioned) to be helpful or useful to sb
avail yourself of sth (formal) to make use of sth, especially an opportunity or offer: Guests are encouraged to avail themselves of the full range of hotel facilities.

available adj.
1 (of things) that you can get, buy or find: available resources/facilities readily/freely/publicly/generally available Tickets are available free of charge from the school. When will the information be made available? Further information is available on request. This was the only room available. We'll send you a copy as soon as it becomes available. Every available doctor was called to the scene.
2 (of a person) free to see or talk to people: Will she be available this afternoon? The director was not available for comment.
availability noun [U]: the availability of cheap flights (BrE) This offer is subject to availability.

avalanche NAmE (NAmE also snowslide) noun a mass of snow, ice and rock that falls down the side of a mountain: alpine villages destroyed in an avalanche He was killed in an avalanche while skiing. (figurative) We received an avalanche of letters in reply to our advertisement.

Avalon NAmE noun [U] (in ancient stories) the place where King Arthur is said to have gone after his death

the avant-garde NAmE noun (from French)
1 [sing.] new and very modern ideas in art, music or literature that are sometimes surprising or shocking
2 [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] a group of artists, etc. who introduce new and very modern ideas
avant-garde adj.

avarice noun [U] (formal) extreme desire for wealth GREED
avaricious adj.

avast NAmE exclamation used to tell sailors to stop carrying out a particular action

avatar noun
1 (in Hinduism and Buddhism) a god appearing in a physical form
2 a picture of a person or an animal which represents a person, on a computer screen, especially in a computer game or CHAT ROOM

Ave. (NAmE also Av.) abbr. (used in written addresses) Avenue: Fifth Ave.

avenge verb [VN] ~ sth| ~ yourself on sb (formal) to punish or hurt sb in return for sth bad or wrong that they have done to you, your family or friends: He promised to avenge his father's murder. She was determined to avenge herself on the man who had betrayed her.
avenger noun

GRAMMAR POINT

avenge / revenge

Avenge is a verb; revenge is (usually) a noun.

People avenge something or avenge themselves on somebody: She vowed to avenge her brother's death.He later avenged himself on his wife's killers. You take revenge on a person.

In more formal or literary English, revenge can also be a verb. People revenge themselves on somebody or are revenged on them (with the same meaning): He was later revenged on his wife's killers. You cannot revenge something: She vowed to revenge her brother's death.

avenue NAmE noun
1 (abbr. Ave., Av.) a street in a town or city: a hotel on Fifth Avenue 120 Holland Park Avenue
2 (BrE) a wide straight road with trees on both sides, especially one leading to a big house: an avenue lined with plane trees
3 a choice or way of making progress towards sth: Several avenues are open to us. We will explore every avenue until we find an answer. He saw suicide as the only avenue left open to him.

aver verb (-rr-) (formal) to state firmly and strongly that sth is true ASSERT, DECLARE: [V that] She averred that she had never seen the man before. [also VN, V speech]

average adj., noun, verb
adj.
1 [only before noun] calculated by adding several amounts together, finding a total, and dividing the total by the number of amounts: an average rate/cost/price Average earnings are around £20 000 per annum. at an average speed of 100 miles per hour
2 typical or normal: 40 hours is a fairly average working week for most people. children of above/below average intelligence £20 for dinner is about average.
3 ordinary; not special: I was just an average sort of student.
averagely adv.: He was attractive and averagely intelligent.
noun [C, U]
1 the result of adding several amounts together, finding a total, and dividing the total by the number of amounts: The average of 4, 5 and 9 is 6. Parents spend an average of $220 a year on toys. If I get an A on this essay, that will bring my average (= average mark/grade) up to a B+.see also GRADE POINT AVERAGE
2 a level which is usual: Temperatures are above/below average for the time of year. 400 people a year die of this disease on average. Class sizes in the school are below the national average. see LAW
verb
1 [VN] [no passive] to be equal to a particular amount as an average: Economic growth is expected to average 2% next year. Drivers in London can expect to average about 12 miles per hour (= to have that as their average speed).
2 to calculate the average of sth: [VN] Earnings are averaged over the whole period. [also V]
average out (at sth) to result in an average amount over a period of time or when several things are considered: The cost should average out at about £6 per person. Sometimes I pay, sometimes he paysit seems to average out (= result in us paying the same amount).
average sthout (at sth) to calculate the average of sth

averse NAmE adj. [not before noun]
1 not ~ to sth/to doing sth liking sth or wanting to do sth; not opposed to doing sth: I mentioned it to Kate and she wasn't averse to the idea.
2 ~ to sth/to doing sth (formal) not liking sth or wanting to do sth; opposed to doing sth: He was averse to any change.

aversion NAmE noun [C, U] ~ (to sb/sth) a strong feeling of not liking sb/sth: a strong aversion He had an aversion to getting up early.

aversion therapy noun [U] a way of helping sb to lose a bad habit, by making the habit seem to be associated with an effect which is not pleasant

avert NAmE verb [VN]
1 to prevent sth bad or dangerous from happening: A disaster was narrowly averted. He did his best to avert suspicion. Talks are taking place in an attempt to avert a strike.
2 ~ your eyes, gaze, face (from sth) to turn your eyes, etc. away from sth that you do not want to see: She averted her eyes from the terrible scene in front of her.

avian adj. [usually before noun] (technical) of or connected with birds

avian flu noun [U] (formal) = BIRD FLU

aviary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a large CAGE or building for keeping birds in, for example in a ZOO

aviation noun [U] the designing, building and flying of aircraft: civil/military aviation the aviation business/industry

aviator noun (old-fashioned) a person who flies an aircraft: One of Australia's pioneering women aviators learnt to fly in the 1930s. an intrepid aviator

aviculture noun [U] the practice of breeding and caring for birds

avid adj.
1 [usually before noun] very enthusiastic about sth (often a hobby) KEEN: an avid reader/collector She has taken an avid interest in the project (= she is extremely interested in it).
2 ~ for sth wanting to get sth very much: He was avid for more information.
avidity noun [U] avidly adv.: She reads avidly.

avionics NAmE noun
1 [U] the science of ELECTRONICS when used in designing and making aircraft
2 [pl.] the electronic devices in an aircraft or a SPACECRAFT
avionic adj.

avocado NAmE noun (pl. -os) (BrE also avocado pear) a tropical fruit with hard, dark green skin, soft, light green flesh and a large seed inside. Avocados are not sweet and are sometimes eaten at the beginning of a meal.

avocation NAmE noun (formal) a hobby or other activity that you do for interest and enjoyment

avocet noun a bird that lives on or near water, with long legs and black and white feathers

avoid verb
1 to prevent sth bad from happening: [VN] The accident could have been avoided. They narrowly avoided defeat. The name was changed to avoid confusion with another firm. [VN -ing] They built a wall to avoid soil being washed away.
2 to keep away from sb/sth; to try not to do sth: [VN] He's been avoiding me all week. She kept avoiding my eyes (= avoided looking at me). I left early to avoid the rush hour. [V -ing] I've been avoiding getting down to work all day. You should avoid mentioning his divorce.
3 [VN] to prevent yourself from hitting sth: I had to swerve to avoid a cat.
avoid sb/sth like the plague (informal) to try very hard not to meet sb, do sth, etc.: She's been avoiding me like the plague since the party last Saturday.more at TRAP n.

avoidable adj. that can be prevented: Many deaths from heart disease are actually avoidable. UNAVOIDABLE

avoidance noun [U] ~ (of sth) not doing sth; preventing sth from existing or happening: A person's health improves with the avoidance of stress.see also TAX AVOIDANCE

avoirdupois NAmE noun [U] the system of weights based on the pound

avow verb (formal) to say firmly and often publicly what your opinion is, what you think is true, etc.: [V that] An aide avowed that the President had known nothing of the deals. [also VN, V speech]
avowal noun (formal): an avowal of love

avowed adj. [only before noun] (formal) that has been admitted or stated in public: an avowed anti-communist an avowed aim/intention/objective/purpose
avowedly adv.

avuncular adj. (formal) behaving in a kind and friendly way towards young people, similar to the way an uncle treats his nieces or nephews

aw exclamation (especially NAmE) used to express disapproval, protest, or sympathy: Aw, come on, Andy!

await verb [VN] (formal)
1 to wait for sb/sth: He is in custody awaiting trial. Her latest novel is eagerly awaited.
2 to be going to happen to sb: A warm welcome awaits all our guests. Who knows what dangers may await us?

awake adj., verb
adj. [not before noun] not asleep (especially immediately before or after sleeping): to be half/fully awake to be wide awake (= fully awake) I was still awake when he came to bed. The noise was keeping everyone awake. I was finding it hard to stay awake. He lies awake at night worrying about his job. She was awake (= not unconscious) during the operation on her leg.
verb (awoke NAmE , awoken NAmE ) (formal)
1 ~ (sb) (from/to sth) to wake up; to make sb wake up: [V] I awoke from a deep sleep. The girls awoke to the sound of rain rattling on the windows. [V to inf] He awoke to find her gone. [VN] Her voice awoke the sleeping child.
2 if an emotion awakes or sth awakes an emotion, you start to feel that emotion: [VN] His speech is bound to awake old fears and hostilities. [also V]
awake to sth to become aware of sth and its possible effects or results: It took her some time to awake to the dangers of her situation.compare WAKE

WHICH WORD?

awake / awaken / wake up / waken

Wake (up) is the most common of these verbs. It can mean somebody has finished sleeping: What time do you usually wake up? or that somebody or something has disturbed your sleep: The children woke me up.I was woken (up) by the telephone.

The verb awake is usually only used in writing and in the past tense awoke: She awoke to a day of brilliant sunshine. Waken and awaken are much more formal. Awaken is used especially in literature: The Prince awakened Sleeping Beauty with a kiss.

Awake is also an adjective: I was awake half the night worrying.Is the baby awake yet? Waking is not used in this way.

Look also at ASLEEP and the verb SLEEP.

awaken verb (formal)
1 [often passive] ~ (sb) (from/to sth) to wake up; to make sb wake up: [V] She awakened to the sound of birds singing. [V to inf] We awakened to find the others gone. [VN] He was awakened at dawn by the sound of crying. note at AWAKE
2 if an emotion awakens or sth awakens an emotion, you start to feel that emotion: [VN] The dream awakened terrible memories. [also V]
awaken (sb) to sth to become aware or to make sb aware of sth and its possible effects or results: I gradually awakened to the realization that our marriage was over.compare WAKEN

awakening noun
1 [C, usually sing.] an occasion when you realize sth or become aware of sth: If they had expected a warm welcome, they were in for a rude awakening (= they would soon realize that it would not be warm).
2 [C, U] the act of beginning to understand or feel sth; the act of sth starting or waking: sexual awakening the awakening of interest in the environment

award NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] ~ (for sth) (often in names of particular awards) a prize such as money, etc. for sth that sb has done: to win/receive/get an award for sth He was nominated for the best actor award. an award presentation/ceremony the Housing Design Awardsee also ACADEMY AWARD
2 [C] an increase in the amount of money sb earns: an annual pay award
3 [C, U] the amount of money that a court decides should be given to sb who has won a case; the decision to give this money: an award of £600 000 libel damages
4 [U] the official decision to give sth (such as a DIPLOMA) to sb: Satisfactory completion of the course will lead to the award of the Diploma of Social Work.
5 [C] (BrE) money that students get to help pay for living costs while they study or do research: a mandatory/discretionary award an award holder (= the person who has been given an award) He is eligible for the basic award.
verb~ (sb) sth| ~ sth (to sb) to make an official decision to give sth to sb as a payment, prize, etc.: [VN] He was awarded damages of £50 000. [VN, VNN] The judges awarded equal points to both finalists. The judges awarded both finalists equal points.

awardee NAmE noun a person who is awarded sth, such as a prize

award-winning adj. having won a prize: the award-winning TV drama

aware NAmE adj.
1 [not before noun] ~ (of sth)| ~ (that ... ) knowing or realizing sth: I don't think people are really aware of just how much it costs. He was well aware of the problem. Were you aware that something was wrong? Everybody should be made aware of the risks involved. As you're aware, this is not a new problem. As far as I'm aware, nobody has done anything about it. acutely/painfully (= very) aware
2 [not before noun] ~ (of sb/sth)| ~ (that ... ) noticing that sth is present, or that sth is happening: She slipped away without him being aware of it. They suddenly became aware of people looking at them. I was aware that she was trembling.
3 (used with an adverb) interested in and knowing about sth, and thinking it is important: Young people are very environmentally aware. UNAWARE

awareness NAmE noun [U, sing.] ~ (of sth)| ~ (that ... ) knowing sth; knowing that sth exists and is important; being interested in sth: an awareness of the importance of eating a healthy diet There was an almost complete lack of awareness of the issues involved. It is important that students develop an awareness of how the Internet can be used. to raise/heighten/increase public awareness of sth a greater/a growing/an increasing awareness of sth environmental awareness (= knowing that looking after the environment is important) Energy Awareness Week

awash NAmE adj. [not before noun]
1 ~ (with water) covered with water: The river had burst its banks and the road was awash.
2 ~ with sth having sth in large quantities: The city is awash with drugs. The computer market is awash with software for every kind of computer. The village is awash with history, legends and local charm.

away adv. For the special uses of away in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example get away with sth is in the phrasal verb section at get.
1 ~ (from sb/sth) to or at a distance from sb/sth in space or time: The beach is a mile away. The station is a few minutes' walk away. Christmas is still months away.
2 to a different place or in a different direction: Go away! Put your toys away. The bright light made her look away.
3 ~ (from sb/sth) not present ABSENT: She was away from work for a week. There were ten children away yesterday. Sorry, he's away.
4 used after verbs to say that sth is done continuously or with a lot of energy: She was still writing away furiously when the bell went. They were soon chatting away like old friends.
5 until disappearing completely: The water boiled away. The music faded away. They danced the night away (= all night).
6 (sport) at the opponent's ground or STADIUM: Chelsea are playing away this Saturday. an away match/gamecompare HOME
away with ... (literary) used to say that you would like to be rid of sb/sth: Away with all these rules and regulations!more at COBWEBS, DANCE v., FAR adv., RIGHT adv., STRAIGHT adv.

awe noun, verb
noun [U] feelings of respect and slight fear; feelings of being very impressed by sth/sb: awe and respect awe and wonder He speaks of her with awe. 'It's magnificent,' she whispered in awe.
be/stand in awe of sb/sth to admire sb/sth and be slightly frightened of them/it: While Diana was in awe of her grandfather, she adored her grandmother.
verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to fill sb with awe: She seemed awed by the presence of so many famous people.
awed adj.: We watched in awed silence.

awe-inspiring adj. impressive; making you feel respect and admiration: The building was awe-inspiring in size and design.

awesome adj.
1 very impressive or very difficult and perhaps rather frightening: an awesome sight awesome beauty/power They had an awesome task ahead.
2 (NAmE, informal) very good, enjoyable, etc.: I just bought this awesome new CD! Wow! That's totally awesome! note at GREAT
awesomely adv.: awesomely beautiful The issue is awesomely complex.

awestruck adj. (literary) feeling very impressed by sth: People were awestruck by the pictures the satellite sent back to earth.

awful adj., adv.
adj.
1 (informal) very bad or unpleasant: That's an awful colour. 'They didn't even offer to pay.' 'Oh that's awful.' It's awful, isn't it? The weather last summer was awful. I feel awful about forgetting her birthday. to look/feel awful (= to look/feel ill) There's an awful smell in here. The awful thing is, it was my fault. note at TERRIBLE
2 (informal) used to emphasize sth, especially that there is a large amount or too much of sth: It's going to cost an awful lot of money. There's not an awful lot of room. I feel an awful lot better than I did yesterday. (BrE) I had an awful job persuading him to come (= it was very difficult).
3 very shocking TERRIBLE: the awful horrors of war
awfulness noun [U]: the sheer awfulness of the situation
adv. (informal, especially NAmE) very; extremely: Clint is awful smart.

awfully adv. very; extremely TERRIBLY: I'm awfully sorry about that problem the other day. That name sounds awfully familiar. I'm not awfully keen on fish.

awhile adv. (formal or literary) for a short time

awkward NAmE adj.
1 making you feel embarrassed: There was an awkward silence. I felt awkward because they obviously wanted to be alone.
2 difficult to deal with DIFFICULT: Don't ask awkward questions. You've put me in an awkward position. an awkward customer (= a person who is difficult to deal with) Please don't be awkward about letting him come. It makes things awkward for everyone when you behave like that.
3 not convenient INCONVENIENT: Have I come at an awkward time?
4 difficult or dangerous because of its shape or design: This box is very awkward for one person to carry. This tool will reach into awkward corners, such as under kitchen units.
5 not moving in an easy way; not comfortable: He tried to dance, but he was too clumsy and awkward. I must have slept in an awkward positionI'm aching all over.
awkwardly adv.: 'I'm sorry,' he said awkwardly. She fell awkwardly and broke her ankle. an awkwardly shaped room awkwardness noun [U]: She laughed to cover up her feeling of awkwardness. There was no awkwardness between them.

awl noun a small pointed tool used for making holes, especially in leather

awning noun a sheet of strong cloth that stretches out from above a door or window to keep off the sun or rain: We sat under the blue and white striped awning of the cafe.

awoke pt of AWAKE

awoken pp of AWAKE

AWOL NAmE abbr. absent without leave (used especially in the armed forces when sb has left their group without permission): He's gone AWOL from his base. (humorous) The guitarist went AWOL in the middle of the recording.

awry adv., adj.
1 if sth goes awry, it does not happen in the way that was planned: All my plans for the party had gone awry.
2 not in the right position UNTIDY: She rushed out, her hair awry.

axe noun, verb
noun (especially BrE) (US usually ax)
1 a tool with a wooden handle and a heavy metal blade, used for chopping wood, cutting down trees, etc.see also BATTLEAXE, ICE AXE, PICKAXE
2 the axe [sing.] (informal) if sb gets the axe, they lose their job; if an institution or a project gets the axe, it is closed or stopped, usually because of a lack of money: Up to 300 workers are facing the axe at a struggling Merseyside firm. Patients are delighted their local hospital has been saved from the axe. Protesters, anxious over the spending cuts, urged councillors to think again before wielding the axe.
have an axe to grind to have private reasons for being involved in sth or for arguing for a particular cause: She had no axe to grind and was only acting out of concern for their safety. These criticisms are commonly voiced by those who have some political axe to grind.
verb (BrE) (NAmE ax) [VN] [often passive]
1 to get rid of a service, system, etc. or to reduce the money spent on it by a large amount: Other less profitable services are to be axed later this year.
2 to remove sb from their job: Jones has been axed from the team.
3 to kill sb with an axe

axel noun a jump in SKATING in which you jump from the front outside edge of one foot, turn in the air, and land on the outside edge of your other foot

axeman (pl. -men ) (especially BrE) (NAmE usually axman) noun (informal) a man who attacks other people with an axe

axial adj. of or related to an AXIS: an axial road

axiom noun (formal) a rule or principle that most people believe to be true: the old axiom that you can only succeed through hard work

axiomatic adj. [not usually before noun] (formal) true in such an obvious way that you do not need to prove it SELF-EVIDENT: It is axiomatic that life is not always easy.
axiomatically adv.

axion noun (physics) according to some theories, a PARTICLE smaller than an atom which is very light and has no electrical CHARGE

axis noun (pl. axes )
1 an imaginary line through the centre of an object, around which the object turns: Mars takes longer to revolve on its axis than the earth.
2 (technical) a fixed line against which the positions of points are measured, especially points on a GRAPH: the vertical/horizontal axis The real wage is measured along the horizontal axis and the quantity of labour is measured along the vertical axis. The main road is on a north-south axis.
3 (geometry) a line that divides a shape into two equal parts: an axis of symmetry The axis of a circle is its diameter
4 [usually sing.] (formal) an agreement or ALLIANCE between two or more countries: the Franco-German axis

axle noun a long straight piece of metal that connects a pair of wheels on a vehicle: the front/rear axle

axman (NAmE) = AXEMAN

Axminster noun [C, U] a type of thick carpet with a pattern, which is made on a machine

axon NAmE noun (biology) the long thin part of a nerve cell along which signals are sent to other cellscompare DENDRITE

ayah noun (IndE)
1 a woman whose job is caring for children, doing domestic work, etc.
2 a person whose job is caring for sb who is ill/sick

ayatollah NAmE noun a religious leader of Shiite Muslims in Iran

aye exclamation (old use or dialect)
1 yes: 'Did you see what happened?' 'Oh aye, I was there.'
2 always; still

ayes noun [pl.] the total number of people voting 'yes' in a formal debate, for example in a parliament: The ayes have it (= more people have voted for sth than against it). NOES

Ayurvedic medicine NAmE noun [U] a type of traditional Hindu medicine that treats illnesses using a combination of foods, HERBS and breathing exercises

azalea noun a plant or bush with large flowers that may be pink, purple, white or yellow, grown in a pot or in a garden

azimuth noun (astronomy) an angle related to a distance around the earth's HORIZON, used to find out the position of a star, planet, etc.

azoic NAmE adj. (formal) without any life or signs of life in the past: Marine life was discovered at depths previously thought to be azoic.

AZTTM NAmE noun [U] a drug that is used to treat AIDS

azure BrE adj. bright blue in colour like the sky: The sun shone out of a clear azure sky.
azure noun [U]

B noun, symbol
noun (also b) (pl. Bs, B's, b's )
1 [C, U] the second letter of the English alphabet: 'Butter' begins with (a) B/'B'.
2 B [C, U] (music) the 7th note in the SCALE of C MAJOR
3 B [C, U] the second highest mark/grade that a student can get for a piece of work: She got (a) B in/for History.
4 B [U] used to represent the second of two or more possibilities: Shall we go for plan A or plan B?
5 B [U] used to represent a person, for example in an imagined situation or to hide their identity: Let's pretend A meets B in the park.see also B-ROAD see A
symbol used in Britain before a number to refer to a particular secondary road: the B1224 to York

b. abbr. (in writing) born: Emily Clifton, b. 1800

B2B abbr. BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS

BA (BrE) (NAmE B.A.) noun the abbreviation for 'Bachelor of Arts' (a first university degree in an ARTS subject): to be/have/do a BA (BrE) Darren Green BA

baa noun the sound made by sheep or LAMBS
baa verb [V] (baaing, baaed or baa'd)

baa-lamb noun a child's word for a LAMB

baba noun
1 a small cake, often with RUM poured over it
2 (IndE, EAfrE) a father (often also used as a title or form of address for any older man, showing respect)
3 (IndE) a holy man
4 (IndE) (used especially as a form of address) a small child

Babbitt noun (NAmE) a person who is satisfied with a narrow set of values and thinks mainly about possessions and making money
From the name of the main character in the novel Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis.

babble noun, verb
noun [sing.]
1 the sound of many people speaking at the same time: a babble of voices
2 talking that is confused or silly and is difficult to understand: I can't listen to his constant babble.
3 the sounds a baby makes before beginning to say actual wordssee also PSYCHOBABBLE
verb
1 ~ (away/on) to talk quickly in a way that is difficult to understand: [V] They were all babbling away in a foreign language. I realized I was babbling like an idiot. [also V speech, VN]
2 [V] to make the sound of water flowing over rocks, like a stream: a babbling brook

babby noun (pl. -ies) (BrE, dialect) a baby

babe noun
1 (old use) a baby
2 (slang) a word used to address a young woman, or your wife, husband or lover, usually expressing affection but sometimes considered offensive if used by a man to a woman he does not know: What're you doing tonight, babe?
3 (informal) an attractive young woman
a babe in arms (old-fashioned) a very small baby that cannot yet walkmore at MOUTH n.

babel noun [sing.] (formal) the sound of many voices talking at one time, especially when more than one language is being spoken
From the Bible story in which God punished the people who were trying to build a tower to reach heaven (the tower of Babel) by making them unable to understand each others' languages.

babes in the wood noun [pl.] innocent people who are easily tricked or harmed
From a children's story about a boy and a girl who are left alone in a wood where they die and a bird covers them with leaves.

baboon NAmE noun a large African or Asian MONKEY with a long face like a dog's

babu noun (IndE) a person who works in an office

babushka noun (from Russian)
1 a Russian old woman or grandmother
2 a traditional Russian woman's HEADSCARF, tied under the chin

baby noun, adj., verb
noun (pl. -ies)
1 a very young child or animal: The baby's crying! a newborn baby My sister's expecting a baby. She had a baby last year. a baby boy/girl baby food/clothes a baby monkey/blackbird
2 (informal) the youngest member of a family or group: He's the baby of the team.
3 (disapproving) a person who behaves like a young child and is easily upset: Stop crying and don't be such a baby.
4 (slang, especially NAmE) a word used to address sb, especially your wife, husband or lover, in a way that expresses affection but that can be offensive if used by a man to a woman he does not know
be your/sb's baby (informal) to be a plan or project that sb is responsible for and cares about because they have created it
leave sb holding the baby (informal) to suddenly make sb responsible for sth important that is really your responsibility: He changed to another job and we were left holding the baby.
throw the baby out with the bathwater (informal) to lose sth that you want at the same time as you are trying to get rid of sth that you do not wantmore at CANDY, SLEEP v.
adj. [only before noun] baby vegetables are a very small version of particular vegetables, or are picked when they are very small: baby carrots
verb (babies, babying, babied, babied) [VN] to treat sb with too much care, as if they were a baby

baby blue adj. very pale blue in colour
baby blue noun [U]

baby blues noun [pl.] (informal) a depressed feeling that some women get after the birth of a baby POST-NATAL DEPRESSION

baby boom noun a period when many more babies are born than usual

baby boomer (NAmE also boomer) noun a person born during a baby boom, especially after the Second World War

baby bouncer noun (BrE) a type of seat that hangs from pieces of ELASTIC, in which a baby can sit and BOUNCE up and down

baby buggy noun
1 Baby BuggyTM (BrE) = BUGGY
2 (old-fashioned, NAmE) = PRAM

baby carriage noun (NAmE) = PRAM

baby-doll adj. used to describe a style of women's dress or NIGHTDRESS that is short with a high waist and is similar to the type of dress traditionally worn by DOLLS

baby-faced adj. with a face that looks young and innocent

baby fat noun [U] (NAmE) = PUPPY FAT

baby grand noun a small GRAND PIANO

BabygroTM NAmE noun (pl. -os) (BrE) a piece of clothing for babies, usually covering the whole body except the head and hands, made of a type of cloth that stretches easily

babyhood noun [U] the period of your life when you are a baby

babyish adj. (usually disapproving) typical of or suitable for a baby: Now she's nine, she thinks toys are babyish and wants a computer.

baby oil noun [U] oil used to make the skin softer

babysit verb (babysitting, babysat, babysat) (also sit) to take care of babies or children for a short time while their parents are out: [V] She regularly babysits for us. [VN] He's babysitting the neighbour's children.
babysitting noun [U]: I used to do babysitting to earn money.

babysitter (also sitter especially in NAmE) noun a person who takes care of babies or children while their parents are away from home and is usually paid to do this: I can't find a babysitter for tonight.see also CHILDMINDER

baby talk noun [U] the words or sounds a baby says when it is learning to talk; the special language adults sometimes use when talking to babies

baby tooth noun = MILK TOOTH

baby walker (BrE) (NAmE walker) noun a frame with wheels and a HARNESS for a baby who can walk around a room, supported by the frame

baccalaureate noun
1 the last SECONDARY SCHOOL exam in France and other countries, and in some international schools: to sit/take/pass/fail your baccalaureatesee also INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
2 (in the US) a religious service or talk for students who have completed HIGH SCHOOL or college

baccarat noun [U] a card game in which players hold two or three cards each and bet on whose cards will have the highest number left over when their value is divided by ten

bacchanalian adj. (formal) (of a party, etc.) wild and involving large amounts of alcohol: a bacchanalian orgy
From the name of the Greek god Bacchus (also called Dionysus), the god of wine and wild enjoyment.

baccy noun [U] (BrE, informal) TOBACCO

bach noun (NZE) a small holiday house

bachelor noun
1 a man who has never been married: an eligible bachelor (= one that many people want to marry, especially because he is rich) a confirmed bachelor (= a person who does not intend to marry; often used in newspapers to refer to a HOMOSEXUAL man)compare SPINSTER
2 (usually Bachelor) a person who has a Bachelor's degree (= a first university degree): a Bachelor of Arts/Engineering/Sciencesee also BA, BED, BSC
3 (CanE) = BACHELOR APARTMENT

bachelor apartment noun a small flat/apartment suitable for a person living alone

bachelorette noun (NAmE) a young woman who is not married

bachelor girl noun an independent young woman who is not married

bachelorhood NAmE noun [U] the time in a man's life before he is married

bachelor party noun (NAmE) = STAG NIGHT

bacillus noun (pl. bacilli ) a type of bacteria. There are several types of bacillus, some of which cause disease.

back noun, adj., adv., verb
noun
PART OF BODY
1 the part of the human body that is on the opposite side to the chest, between the neck and the tops of the legs; the part of an animal's body that CORRESPONDS to this: Do you sleep on your back or your front? He stood with his back to the door. They had their hands tied behind their backs. They set off with the wind at their backs (= behind them). I pulled (= injured the muscles in) my back playing squash. back pain a back massage A small boy rode on the elephant's back.see also BAREBACK, HORSEBACK
2 the row of bones in the middle of the back BACKBONE, SPINE: She broke her back in a riding accident. He put his back out (= DISLOCATED sth in his back) lifting the crates.
PART FURTHEST FROM FRONT
3 [usually sing.] ~ (of sth) the part or area of sth that is furthest from the front: We could only get seats at the back (= of the room). I found some old photos at the back of the drawer. He was shot in the back of the knee. The house has three bedrooms at the front and two at the back. (BrE) There's room for three people in the back. (NAmE) There's room for three people in back. (BrE) If you'd like to come round the back (= to the area behind the house), I'll show you the garden.see also HARDBACK, PAPERBACK, SHORT BACK AND SIDES
OF PIECE OF PAPER
4 [usually sing.] ~ (of sth) the part of a piece of paper, etc. that is on the opposite side to the one that has information or the most important information on it: Write your name on the back of the cheque.
OF BOOK
5 [usually sing.] ~ (of sth) the last few pages of a book, etc.: The television guide is at the back of the paper.
OF CHAIR
6 the part of a chair, etc. against which you lean your back
-BACKED
7 (in adjectives) used to describe furniture which has the type of back mentioned: a high-backed sofa
IN SPORT
8 (in sports) a player whose main role is to defend their team's goalcompare FORWARD n.see also FULLBACK, HALFBACK
at/in the back of your mind if a thought, etc. is at the back of your mind, you are aware of it but it is not what you are mainly thinking about: At the back of my mind was a small, warning voice, telling me it was wrong.
the back of beyond (informal) a place that is a long way from other houses, towns, etc.: We stayed in some farmhouse in the back of beyond.
back to back
1 if two people stand back to back, they stand with their backs facing or touching each othersee also BACK-TO-BACK
2 if two or more things happen back to back, they happen one after the other: The team had to play three games back to back.
back to front (BrE) (NAmE backwards) if you put on a piece of clothing back to front, you make a mistake and put the back where the front should be: I think you've got that sweater on back to front.compare INSIDE OUT at INSIDE n.
be glad, etc. to see the back of sb/sth (informal, especially BrE) to be happy that you will not have to deal with or see sb/sth again because you do not like them or it: Was I pleased to see the back of her! I can't wait to see the back of that old car.
behind sb's back without sb's knowledge or permission: Have you been talking about me behind my back? They went ahead and sold it behind my back.compare TO SB'S FACE at FACE n.
be on sb's back (informal) to keep asking or telling sb to do sth that they do not want to do, in a way that they find annoying: He's still on my back about that money I borrowed.
break the back of sth to finish the largest or most important part of a task: I want to break the back of this translation before the weekend.
get/put sb's back up (informal) to annoy sb: That sort of attitude really gets my back up!
get off sb's back (informal) to stop annoying sb, for example by criticizing them, or asking them to do sth: Just get off my back, will you!
have your back to the wall (informal) to be in a difficult situation in which you are forced to do sth but are unable to make the choices that you would like: We had our backs to the wall with no choice but to sell.
off the back of a lorry (BrE, informal, humorous) goods that fell off the back of a lorry were probably stolen. People say or accept that they came 'off the back of a lorry' to avoid saying or asking where they really came from.
on the back of sth as a result of an achievement or a success: The profits growth came on the back of a 26 per cent rise in sales.
(flat) on your back (informal) in bed because you are ill/sick: She's been flat on her back for over a week now. (figurative) The UK market was flat on its back (= business was very bad).
put your back into sth to use a lot of effort and energy on a particular task
turn your back to turn so that you are facing in the opposite direction
turn your back on sb/sth
1 to move so that you are standing or sitting with your back facing sb/sth: When on stage, try not to turn your back on the audience.
2 to reject sb/sth that you have previously been connected with: She turned her back on them when they needed her. Some newspapers have turned their backs on discussion and argument.more at COVER v., EYE n., KNOW v., PAT n., PAT v., PUSH v., ROD, SCRATCH v., SHIRT, STAB n., STAB v., STRAW, WATER n.
adj. [only before noun]
AWAY FROM FRONT
1 located behind or at the back of sth: We were sitting in the back row. back teeth a back room (= one at the back of a building) the back page of a newspapercompare FRONT adj.
FROM PAST
2 of or from a past time: a back number of the magazine
OWED
3 owed for a time in the past: back pay/taxes/rent
PHONETICS
4 (phonetics) (of a vowel) produced with the back of the tongue in a higher position than the front, for example in English compare CENTRAL, FRONT
on the back burner (informal) (of an idea, a plan, etc.) left for the present time, to be done or considered latersee also BACK-BURNERcompare ON THE FRONT BURNER at FRONT adj.
adv. For the special uses of back in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example pay sb back is in the phrasal verb section at pay.
AWAY FROM FRONT
1 away from the front or centre; behind you: I stepped back to let them pass. Sit back and relax. You've combed your hair back. He turned and looked back. She fell back towards the end of the race. FORWARD
AT A DISTANCE
2 at a distance away from sth: The barriers kept the crowd back. Stand back and give me some room.
UNDER CONTROL
3 under control; prevented from being expressed or coming out: He could no longer hold back his tears.
AS BEFORE
4 to or into the place, condition, situation or activity where sb/sth was before: Put the book back on the shelf. Please give me my ball back. He'll be back on Monday. It takes me an hour to walk there and back. Could you go back to the beginning of the story? She woke up briefly and then went back to sleep. We were right back where we started, only this time without any money.
IN PAST
5 in or into the past; ago: The village has a history going back to the Middle Ages. She left back in November. That was a few years back.
AT A PREVIOUS PLACE
6 at a place previously left or mentioned: We should have turned left five kilometres back. Back at home, her parents were worried. I can't wait to get back home.
IN RETURN
7 in return or reply: If he kicks me, I'll kick him back. Could you call back later, please?
back and forth from one place to another and back again repeatedly: ferries sailing back and forth between the islands
back in the day in the past: My dad's always talking about how great everything was back in the day.
back in the days at a particular time in the past: I was a fan back in the days when the band wasn't yet famous.
back of sth (NAmE, informal) behind sth: the houses back of the churchmore at EARTH n.
verb
MOVE BACKWARDS
1 [+adv./prep.] to move or make sth move backwards: [V] He backed against the wall, terrified. to back out of a parking space [VN] If you can't drive in forwards, try backing it in.compare REVERSE
SUPPORT
2 [VN] to give help or support to sb/sth: Her parents backed her in her choice of career. Doctors have backed plans to raise the tax on cigarettes. The programme of economic reform is backed (= given financial support) by foreign aid. a United Nations-backed peace plan
BET MONEY
3 [VN] to bet money on a horse in a race, a team in a competition, etc.: I backed the winner and won fifty pounds.
MUSIC
4 [VN] to play or sing music that supports the main singer or instrumentsee also BACKING
COVER BACK
5 [VN] ~ sth (with sth) [usually passive] to cover the back of sth in order to support or protect it
BE BEHIND
6 [VN] [usually passive] (BrE) to be located behind sth: The house is backed by fields.
back the wrong horse (BrE) to support sb/sth that is not successful
back away (from sb/sth) to move away backwards from sb/sth that is frightening or unpleasant; to avoid doing sth that is unpleasant
back down (on/from sth) (NAmE also back off) to take back a demand, an opinion, etc. that other people are strongly opposed to; to admit defeat: She refused to back down on a point of principle.
back off
1 to move backwards in order to get away from sb/sth frightening or unpleasant: As the riot police approached the crowd backed off.
2 to stop threatening, criticizing or annoying sb: Back off! There's no need to yell at me. The press have agreed to back off and leave the couple alone.
back off (from sth) to choose not to take action, in order to avoid a difficult situation: The government backed off from a confrontation.
back onto sth (BrE) (of a building) to have sth directly behind it: Our house backs onto the river.
back out (of sth) to decide that you are no longer going to take part in sth that has been agreed: He lost confidence and backed out of the deal at the last minute.
back up| back sthup to move backwards, especially in a vehicle: You can back up another two feet or so. I backed the car up to the door.
back sb/sthup
1 to support sb/sth; to say that what sb says, etc. is true: I'll back you up if they don't believe you. The writer doesn't back up his opinions with examples.
2 to provide support for sb/sth: two doctors backed up by a team of nurses The rebels backed up their demands with threats.related noun BACKUP
back sthup (computing) to prepare a second copy of a file, program, etc. that can be used if the main one fails or needs extra support: It's a good idea to back up your files onto floppy disk.related noun BACKUP

WHICH WORD?

at the back / at the rear / behind

At the back and at the rear have a similar meaning, but at the rear is used more in formal or official language: What's that at the back of the fridge?Smoking is only allowed at the rear of the aircraft. It is more usual to talk about the back door of a house but the rear exit of an aircraft or public building. If something is behind something else it is near to the back of it but not part of it. Compare: Our room was at the back of the hotel and There's a lovely wood just behind our hotel.

backache noun [U, C] a continuous pain in the back: (BrE) to have backache/a backache (NAmE) to have a backache

back alley noun a narrow passage behind or between buildings

back-alley adj. [only before noun] happening or done secretly, often illegally: a back-alley abortion

backbeat noun (music) a strong emphasis on one or two of the beats that are not normally emphasized, used especially in JAZZ and rock music

back bench noun [usually pl.] (in the House of Commons in Britain, and in certain other parliaments) any of the seats for Members of Parliament who do not have senior positions in the government or the other parties: He resigned as Home Secretary and returned to the back benches. back-bench MPscompare THE FRONT BENCH

backbencher noun (in the British and certain other parliaments) a member who sits in the rows of seats at the back, and who does not have an important position in the government or the oppositioncompare FRONTBENCHER

backbiting noun [U] unpleasant and unkind talk about sb who is not present: He was tired of all the backbiting and gossip in the office.

backboard NAmE noun the board behind the BASKET in the game of BASKETBALL

backbone NAmE noun
1 [C] the row of small bones that are connected together down the middle of the back SPINE
2 [sing.] the most important part of a system, an organization, etc. that gives it support and strength: Agriculture forms the backbone of the rural economy.
3 [U] the strength of character that you need to do sth difficult: He doesn't have the backbone to face the truth.

back-breaking adj. (of physical work) very hard and tiring

back-burner verb [VN] (informal, especially NAmE) to leave an idea or a plan for a time, to be done or considered later: Our expansion plans will have to be back-burnered in the current economic climate.compare ON THE BACK BURNER at BACK adj.

backchannel noun
1 a secret or unusual way of passing information to other people
2 (linguistics) a sound or sign that sb makes to show that they are listening to the person who is talking to them

backchat (BrE) (NAmE back talk) noun [U] (informal) a way of answering that shows no respect for sb in authority: If we gave the teachers any backchat, they used to give us extra work.

backcloth NAmE noun (BrE) = BACKDROP

backcomb NAmE (BrE) (NAmE tease) verb [VN] to COMB your hair in the opposite direction to the way it grows so that it looks thicker

back copy noun (BrE) = BACK ISSUE

backcountry noun [U] (NAmE) an area away from roads and towns, especially in the mountains

backcourt NAmE noun
1 (in TENNIS, BASKETBALL, etc.) the area at either end of the COURT
2 (in BASKETBALL) the players who form the defence
3 (ScotE) an area surrounded by walls but with no roof at the back of a building

backcrawl noun [U, sing.] (BrE) = BACKSTROKE

backdate verb [VN]
1 to write a date on a cheque or other document that is earlier than the actual datecompare POST-DATE
2 (BrE) to make sth, especially a payment, take effect from an earlier date: Postal workers are getting a 5.2% pay rise, backdated to February.

back door noun the door at the back or side of a building
by/through the back door in an unfair or indirect way: He used his friends to help him get into the civil service by the back door.

back-door adj. [only before noun] using indirect or secret means in order to achieve sth

backdraught (also backdraft) NAmE noun
1 a current of air that flows backwards down a CHIMNEY, pipe, etc.
2 an explosion caused by more OXYGEN being supplied to a fire, for example by a door being opened

backdrop NAmE (BrE also backcloth) noun
1 a painted piece of cloth that is hung behind the stage in a theatre as part of the SCENERY
2 everything that can be seen around an event that is taking place, but which is not part of that event: The mountains provided a dramatic backdrop for our picnic. note at ENVIRONMENT
3 the general conditions in which an event takes place, which sometimes help to explain that event: It was against this backdrop of racial tension that the civil war began.

back end noun (especially BrE)
1 the end of a period or process: the back end of last year
2 the part of sth which is behind the part that you can see
3 (informal) a person's bottom (= the part they sit on)

back-end adj. [only before noun]
1 relating to the end of a period or process
2 (computing) (of a device or program) not used directly by a user, but used by a program or computercompare FRONT-END

backer noun a person or company that gives support to sb/sth, especially financial support: The project receives its money from European backers.

backfield noun [sing., U]
1 (in AMERICAN FOOTBALL) the area of play behind the line of SCRIMMAGE
2 the players who play in or around this area

backfill verb [VN] to fill a hole with the material that has been dug out of it

backfire verb [V]
1 ~ (on sb) to have the opposite effect to the one intended, with bad or dangerous results: Unfortunately the plan backfired.
2 (of an engine or a vehicle) to make a sudden noise like an explosioncompare MISFIRE

backflip noun if sb does a backflip, they turn their body over backwards in the air and land on their feet again

back-formation noun [U, C] (linguistics) a word formed by removing or changing the beginning or end of a word that already exists. For example, cheeseburger is a back-formation from hamburger.

backgammon noun [U] a game for two people played on a board marked with long thin triangles. Players throw DICE and move pieces around the board.

background noun
FAMILY/EDUCATION, etc.
1 [C] the details of a person's family, education, experience etc.: a person's family/social/cultural/educational/class background The job would suit someone with a business background. In spite of their very different backgrounds, they immediately became friends.
PAST
2 [C, usually sing., U] the circumstances or past events which help explain why sth is how it is; information about these: the historical background to the war background information/knowledge The elections are taking place against a background of violence. Can you give me more background on the company?
OF PICTURE/PHOTO
3 [C, usually sing.] the part of a picture, photograph or view behind the main objects, people, etc.: a photograph with trees in the backgroundcompare FOREGROUND note at ENVIRONMENT
LESS IMPORTANT POSITION
4 [sing.] a position in which people are not paying attention to sb/sth or not as much attention as they are paying to sb/sth else: He prefers to remain in the background and let his assistant talk to the press. A piano tinkled gently in the background. background music There was a lot of background noise (= that you could hear, but were not listening to).compare FOREGROUND
COLOUR UNDER STH
5 [C, usually sing.] a colour or design on which sth is painted, drawn, etc.: The name of the company is written in red on a white background.
in the background (computing) (of a computer program) not being used at the present time and appearing on the screen behind programs that are being usedcompare IN THE FOREGROUNDmore at MERGE

backhand noun [usually sing.] (in TENNIS, etc.) a stroke played with the back of the hand turned in the direction towards which the ball is hit: He has a good backhand (= he can make good backhand strokes). a backhand volley/drivecompare FOREHAND

backhanded adj. having a meaning that is not directly or clearly expressed, or that is not intended
a backhanded compliment (US also left-handed compliment) a remark that seems to express admiration but could also be understood as an insult

backhander noun (BrE, informal) a secret and illegal payment made to sb in exchange for a favour BRIBE

backhoe NAmE noun a large vehicle with machinery for digging, used in building roads, etc.

backing noun
1 [U] help SUPPORT: financial backing The police gave the proposals their full backing.
2 [U, C] material attached to the back of sth in order to protect it or make it stronger: Remove the backing paper from the adhesive tape. The fabric has a special backing for durability.
3 [U, C, usually sing.] (in pop songs) music that accompanies the main singer or tune: a backing group/singer/track

backing store noun (BrE, computing) a part of a disk where data can be stored, that is not part of the main memory

back issue (BrE also back copy, back number) noun a copy of a newspaper or magazine from a date in the past

backlash noun [sing.] ~ (against sth)| ~ (from sb) a strong negative reaction by a large number of people, for example to sth that has recently changed in society: The government is facing an angry backlash from voters over the new tax.

backless adj. (of a dress) not covering most of the back

backlight noun, verb
noun [U] light from behind sth in a photograph or painting
verb (pt pp -lit or -lighted) [VN] to shine light on sth from behind
backlit adj.: a backlit photograph

backline noun
1 [C] a line marking the back of an area of play in a game
2 [C+sing./pl. v.] (in RUGBY) the players who form a line across the field behind the SCRUM or LINE-OUT

backlist noun the list of books that have been published by a company in the past and are still available

backlog NAmE noun a quantity of work that should have been done already, but has not yet been done: When she eventually returned to work, there was a tremendous backlog of paperwork to catch up on.

backlot NAmE noun an outdoor area in a film/movie studio, where pieces of SCENERY are made and some scenes are filmed

backmarker NAmE noun (BrE) the person, horse, etc. who is in last position in a race

backmost NAmE adj. [usually before noun] furthest back: the backmost teeth

back number noun (BrE) = BACK ISSUE

back office noun (business) the part of a business company which does not deal directly with the public

backpack noun, verb
noun (especially NAmE) = RUCKSACK
verb [V] (usually go backpacking) to travel on holiday/vacation carrying your equipment and clothes in a backpack: They went backpacking in Spain last year.
backpacker noun

back passage noun (BrE) a polite way of referring to sb's RECTUM (= the part of the body where solid waste leaves the body)

back-pedal verb (-ll-, NAmE -l-) [V]
1 ~ (on sth) to change an earlier statement or opinion; to not do sth that you promised to do: The protests have forced the government to back-pedal on the new tax.
2 to PEDAL backwards on a bicycle; to walk or run backwards

backplane noun (computing) a CIRCUIT BOARD that other devices can be connected to

back-projection noun
1 [U] the process of shining an image onto the back of a screen
2 [C] an image that has been shone onto the back of a screen

backrest noun part of a seat that supports sb's back

back room noun a room at the back of a building, away from the entrance, often where secret activities take place

back-room boys noun [pl.] (BrE) people who do important work for a person or an organization but who are not well known themselves: Much of a racing driver's success is due to the back-room boys.

backscratching noun [U] (informal, often disapproving) the fact of giving sb help in return for help that they have given you, often in connection with sth that might be illegal

back seat noun a seat at the back of a vehicle
take a back seat to allow sb else to play a more active and important role in a particular situation than you do: Many managers take a back seat and leave recruitment to specialists.

back-seat driver noun
1 a passenger in a vehicle who keeps giving advice to the driver about how he or she should drive
2 a person who wants to be in control of sth that is not really their responsibility

backsheesh = BAKSHEESH

backshift noun [U] (linguistics) the changing of a tense when reporting what sb said, for example when reporting the words 'What are you doing?' as 'He asked me what I was doing'

backside noun (informal) the part of the body that you sit on BEHIND, BOTTOM: Get up off your backside and do some work! see PAIN n.

back slang noun [U] (linguistics) informal language in which words are spoken as though they are spelled backwards

backslapping noun [U] loud and enthusiastic behaviour when people are praising each other for sth good they have done
backslapping adj. [only before noun]: backslapping tributes

backslash noun a mark ( \ ), used in computer commandscompare FORWARD SLASH

backsliding noun [U] the situation when sb fails to do sth that they agreed to do and returns to their former bad behaviour

backspace noun, verb
noun the key on the keyboard of a computer or TYPEWRITER which allows you to move backwards. On a computer keyboard this key also removes the last letter that you typed.
verb [V] to use the backspace key on a computer keyboard or on a TYPEWRITER

backspin noun [U] a backward spinning movement of a ball that has been hit, which makes it go less far than it normally would

back-stabbing noun [U] the action of criticizing sb when they are not there, while pretending to be their friend at other times

backstage adv.
1 in the part of a theatre where the actors and artists get ready and wait to perform: After the show, we were allowed to go backstage to meet the cast.
2 away from the attention of the public; in secret: I'd like to know what really goes on backstage in government.
backstage adj.: backstage staff backstage diplomacy

backstairs NAmE noun, adj.
noun [pl.] stairs at the back or side of a building, sometimes used by servants
adj. secret or dishonest: backstairs deals between politicians

backstitch noun [U, C] a method of sewing in which each STITCH begins at the middle of the previous one

backstory noun (pl. -ies) the things that are supposed to have happened before the events in a film/movie, novel, etc.

backstreet noun, adj.
noun a small quiet street, usually in a poor part of a town or city, away from main roads: He was born in the backstreets of Leeds.
adj. [only before noun] acting or happening secretly, often dishonestly or illegally: backstreet dealers

backstroke NAmE (BrE also backcrawl) noun [U, sing.] a style of swimming in which you lie on your back: Can you do (the) backstroke? He won the 100 metres backstroke (= the race).

backswing noun (sport) the backwards movement of your arm or arms before you hit the ball

back talk noun [U] (NAmE) = BACKCHAT

back-to-back noun (BrE) a house in a row of houses which share walls with the houses on each side and behind: back-to-backs built for the poor in the 19th century

backtrack verb [V]
1 to go back along the same route that you have just come along: The path suddenly disappeared and we had to backtrack.
2 to change an earlier statement, opinion or promise because of pressure from sb/sth

backup noun [U, C]
1 extra help or support that you can get if necessary: The police had backup from the army. We can use him as a backup if one of the other players drops out. a backup power supply
2 (computing) a copy of a file, etc. that can be used if the original is lost or damaged: Always make a backup of your work. a backup copysee also BACK UP

backup light noun (NAmE) = REVERSING LIGHT

backward NAmE adj.
1 [only before noun] directed or moving towards the back: She strode past him without a backward glance.
2 moving in a direction that means that no progress is being made RETROGRADE: She felt that going back to live in her home town would be a backward step.
3 having made less progress than normal; developing slowly: a backward part of the country, with no paved roads and no electricity a backward child (BrE, informal) She's not backward in coming forward (= she's not shy).compare FORWARD

backward classes noun [pl.] (in India) the people in a CASTE (= division of society) or community who are recommended by each state authority for special help in education and employment

backward-looking adj. (disapproving) opposed to progress or change

backwardness NAmE noun [U] the state of having made less progress than normal: the backwardness of rural areas

backwards NAmE (also backward especially in NAmE) adv.
1 towards a place or position that is behind: I lost my balance and fell backwards. He took a step backwards. FORWARD
2 in the opposite direction to the usual one: 'Ambulance' is written backwards so you can read it in the mirror. In the movie they take a journey backwards through time.
3 towards a worse state: I felt that going to live with my parents would be a step backwards. FORWARD
4 (NAmE) = BACK TO FRONT at BACK n.
backward(s) and forward(s) from one place or position to another and back again many times: She rocked backwards and forwards on her chair.
bend/lean over backwards (to do sth) to make a great effort, especially in order to be helpful or fair: I've bent over backwards to help him.more at KNOW v.

backwards compatible (also backward compatible) adj. (computing) able to be used with systems, machines or programs which are older

backwash NAmE noun [sing.]
1 the unpleasant result of an event
2 waves caused by a boat moving through water; the movement of water back into the sea after a wave has hit the beach

backwater noun
1 a part of a river away from the main part, where the water only moves slowly
2 (often disapproving) a place that is away from the places where most things happen, and is therefore not affected by events, progress, new ideas, etc.: a sleepy/quiet/rural backwater The region became more and more of an economic backwater.

backwoods noun [pl.] a place that is away from any big towns and from the influence of modern life

backwoodsman noun (pl. -men ) (NAmE) a person who lives in a region far from towns where not many people live, especially one who does not have much education or good manners

backyard NAmE noun
1 (BrE) an area with a hard surface behind a house, often surrounded by a wall
2 (NAmE) the whole area behind and belonging to a house, including an area of grass and the garden: a backyard barbecuesee also YARD
in your (own) backyard in or near the place where you live or work: The residents didn't want a new factory in their backyard. The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard (= from his own members).see also NIMBY

baclava = BAKLAVA

bacon noun [U] meat from the back or sides of a pig that has been CURED (= preserved using salt or smoke), usually served in thin slices: a rasher of bacon bacon and eggs smoked/unsmoked baconcompare GAMMON, HAM (1), PORK see HOME adv., SAVE v.

bacteria NAmE noun [pl.] (sing. bacterium ) the simplest and smallest forms of life. Bacteria exist in large numbers in air, water and soil, and also in living and dead creatures and plants, and are often a cause of disease
bacterial adj.: bacterial infections/growth

bactericide NAmE noun [U, C] (technical) a substance which is used to kill bacteria

bacteriology NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of bacteria
bacteriological NAmE adj. bacteriologist noun

bad adj., noun, adv.
adj. (worse NAmE worst NAmE )
UNPLEASANT
1 unpleasant; full of problems: bad news/weather/dreams/habits I'm having a really bad day. It was the worst experience of her life. Smoking gives you bad breath. Things are bad enough without our own guns shelling us.
POOR QUALITY
2 of poor quality; below an acceptable standard: bad conditions/driving a bad copy/diet I thought it was a very bad article. This isn't as bad as I thought. That's not a bad idea.
NOT GOOD AT STH
3 ~ at sth/at doing sth (of a person) not able to do sth well or in an acceptable way POOR: a bad teacher You're a bad liar! He's a bad loser (= he complains when he loses a game). She is so bad at keeping secrets.
SERIOUS
4 serious; severe: You're heading for a bad attack of sunburn. The engagement was a bad mistake. My headache is getting worse.
NOT APPROPRIATE
5 [only before noun] not appropriate in a particular situation: I know that this is a bad time to ask for help. He now realized that it had been a bad decision on his part.
WICKED
6 morally unacceptable: The hero gets to shoot all the bad guys. He said I must have done something bad to deserve it.
CHILDREN
7 [usually before noun] (especially of children) not behaving well NAUGHTY: Have you been a bad boy?
HARMFUL
8 [not before noun] ~ for sb/sth harmful; causing or likely to cause damage: Those shoes are bad for her feet. Weather like this is bad for business. Too much work is bad for your health.
PAINFUL
9 [usually before noun] (of parts of the body) not healthy; painful: I've got a bad back.
FOOD
10 not safe to eat because it has decayed: Put the meat in the fridge so it doesn't go bad.
TEMPER/MOOD
11 ~ temper/mood the state of feeling annoyed or angry: It put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day.
GUILTY/SORRY
12 feel ~ to feel guilty or sorry about sth: She felt bad about leaving him. Why should I want to make you feel bad?
ILL/SICK
13 feel/look ~ to feel or look ill/sick: I'm afraid I'm feeling pretty bad.
EXCELLENT
14 (badder, baddest) (slang, especially NAmE) good; excellent
Most idioms containing bad are at the entries for the nouns and verbs in the idioms, for example be bad news (for sb/sth) is at news. can't be bad (informal) used to try to persuade sb to agree that sth is good: You'll save fifty dollars, which can't be bad, can it?
have got it bad (informal, humorous) to be very much in love: You're not seeing him again tonight, are you? That's five times this weekyou've got it bad!
not bad (informal) quite good; better than you expected: 'How are you?' 'Not too bad.' That wasn't bad for a first attempt.
too bad (informal)
1 (ironic) used to say 'bad luck' or 'it's a shame' when you do not really mean it: If sometimes they're the wrong decisions, too bad.
2 a shame; a pity: Too bad every day can't be as good as this.
3 (old-fashioned) annoying: Really, it was too bad of you to be so late.
nounthe bad [U] bad people, things, or events: You will always have the bad as well as the good in the world.
go to the bad (old-fashioned) to begin behaving in an immoral way: I hate to see you going to the bad.
my bad (NAmE, informal) used when you are admitting that sth is your fault or that you have made a mistake: I'm sorrymy bad. That was my bad.
take the bad with the good to accept the bad aspects of sth as well as the good ones
to the bad (BrE) used to say that sb now has a particular amount less money than they did before: After the sale they were £300 to the bad.
adv. (NAmE, informal) badly: She wanted it real bad. Are you hurt bad?

VOCABULARY BUILDING

bad and very bad

Instead of saying that something is bad or very bad, try to use more precise and interesting adjectives to describe things:

an unpleasant/a foul/a disgusting smell

appalling/dreadful/severe weather

an unpleasant/a frightening/a traumatic experience

poor/weak eyesight

a terrible/serious/ horrific accident

a wicked/an evil/an immoral person

an awkward/an embarrassing/a difficult situation

We were working in difficult/appalling conditions.

To refer to your health, you can say: I feel unwell/sick/terrible; I don't feel (very) well.

In conversation, words like terrible, horrible, awful and dreadful can be used in most situations to mean 'very bad'.

badass adj. (NAmE, informal) (of a person) tough and aggressive
badass noun

bad breath noun [U] breath that smells unpleasant: Have I got bad breath? HALITOSIS

bad debt noun [C, U] a debt that is unlikely to be paid

baddy noun (pl. -ies) (BrE, informal) a bad or evil character in a film/movie, book, play, etc.: As usual, the cops get the baddies in the end. GOODY

bade pt of BID

badge noun
1 (BrE) a small piece of metal or plastic, with a design or words on it, that a person wears to show that they belong to an organization, support sth, have achieved sth, have a particular rank, etc.: She wore a badge saying 'Vote for Coates'. All employees have to wear name badges.compare BUTTON
2 (BrE) (NAmE patch) a piece of material that you sew onto clothes as part of a uniform: the school badge
3 a small piece of metal that you carry or wear to prove who you are, used, for example, by police officers: He pulled out a badge and said he was a cop.
4 (formal) something that shows that a particular quality is present: His gun was a badge of power for him.

badger noun, verb
noun an animal with grey fur and wide black and white lines on its head. Badgers are NOCTURNAL (= active mostly at night) and live in holes in the ground.
verb~ sb (into doing sth)| ~ sb (about sth) to put pressure on sb by repeatedly asking them questions or asking them to do sth PESTER: [VN] I finally badgered him into coming with us. Reporters constantly badger her about her private life. [VN to inf] His daughter was always badgering him to let her join the club.

bad hair day noun (informal) a day on which everything seems to go wrong

badinage NAmE noun [U] (from French, literary) friendly joking between people BANTER

badlands noun [pl.]
1 large areas of land that have been farmed too much with the result that plants will not grow there
2 the Badlands a large area of land in the western US where plants will not grow

bad language noun [U] words that many people find offensive SWEAR WORDS

badly adv. (worse, worst)
1 not skilfully or not carefully: to play/sing badly badly designed/organized WELL
2 not successfully: Things have been going badly. I did badly (= was not successful) in my exams. WELL
3 not in an acceptable way: to behave/sleep badly badly paid/treated The kids took the dog's death very badly (= they were very unhappy). WELL
4 in a way that makes people get a bad opinion about sth: The economic crisis reflects badly on the government's policies. She's only trying to help, so don't think badly of her. WELL
5 used to emphasize how much you want, need, etc. sb/sth: The building is badly in need of repair. They wanted to win so badly. I miss her badly.
6 used to emphasize how serious a situation or an event is: badly damaged/injured/hurt The country has been badly affected by recession. Everything's gone badly wrong!

badly off adj. (worse off, worst off)
1 not having much money POOR: We aren't too badly off but we can't afford a house like that. WELL OFF
2 not in a good situation: I've got quite a big room so I'm not too badly off. Lots of people are far worse off than we are. WELL OFF
be badly off for sth (BrE) to not have enough of sth

badmash noun (IndE) a dishonest man

badminton noun [U] a game like TENNIS played by two or four people, usually indoors. Players hit a small light kind of ball, originally with feathers around it (= a SHUTTLECOCK) across a high net using a RACKET.

bad-mouth verb [VN] (informal) to say unpleasant things about sb: No one wants to employ somebody who badmouths their former employer.

badness noun [U] the fact of being morally bad: There was not a hint of badness in him.

bad-tempered adj. often angry; in an angry mood: She gets very bad-tempered when she's tired. He sat in bad-tempered silence.

Bafana Bafana noun (SAfrE) a popular name for the South African national men's football (SOCCER) team

baffle verb, noun
verb to confuse sb completely; to be too difficult or strange for sb to understand or explain: [VN] His behaviour baffles me. [VN, VN wh-] I'm baffled as to why she hasn't called. I'm baffled why she hasn't called.
bafflement noun [U]: His reaction was one of bafflement. baffling adj.: Some of the country's customs are baffling to outsiders.
noun (technical) a screen used to control or prevent the flow of sound, light or liquid

BAFTA abbr., noun
abbr. British Academy of Film and Television Arts
noun an award presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts: He won a BAFTA for the role.

bag noun, verb
noun
CONTAINER
1 [C] (often in compounds) a container made of paper or plastic, that opens at the top, used especially in shops/stores: a plastic/polythene/paper bag a laundry/mail bag a black plastic rubbish/garbage bag
2 [C] a strong container made from cloth, plastic, leather, etc., usually with one or two handles, used to carry things in when shopping or travelling: a shopping bag a make-up bag He's upstairs unpacking his bags. She opened her bag (= her HANDBAG) and took out her comb.see also AIRBAG, BEANBAG, BUMBAG, GOODY BAG, PUNCHBAG, SANDBAG, TEA BAG
AMOUNT
3 [C] ~ (of sth) the amount contained in a bag: She ate a bag of chips.see also MIXED BAG, RAGBAG
4 bags (of sth) [U, pl.] (BrE, informal) a large amount or a large number of sth: Get in! There's bags of room.
UNDER EYES
5 bags [pl.] dark circles or loose folds of skin under the eyes, as a result of getting old or lack of sleep
UNPLEASANT WOMAN
6 [C] (informal, especially BrE) an insulting word for an unpleasant or bad-tempered older womansee also RATBAG, SCUMBAG, WINDBAG
BIRDS/ANIMALS
7 [C, usually sing.] all the birds, animals, etc. shot or caught on one occasion: We got a good bag today.
There are many other compounds ending in bag. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.
bag and baggage with all your possessions, especially secretly or suddenly: He threw her out onto the street, bag and baggage.
a bag of bones (informal) a very thin person or animal: The cat hadn't been fed for weeks and was just a bag of bones.
be in the bag (informal) if sth is in the bag, it is almost certain to be won or achieved
leave sb holding the bag (NAmE, informal) to suddenly make sb responsible for sth important, such as finishing a difficult job, that is really your responsibility: You two were going to fly off and leave me holding the bag.
(not) sb's bag (informal) (not) sth that you are interested in or good at: Poetry isn't really my bag.more at CAT, NERVE n., PACK v., TRICK n.
verb (-gg-) [VN]
PUT INTO BAGS
1 ~ sth (up) to put sth into bags: The fruit is washed, sorted and bagged at the farm.
CATCH ANIMAL
2 (informal) to catch or kill an animal: We bagged ten fish in two hours.
IN SPORT
3 (informal) to score a goal, point, etc.: Dublin bagged two goals in last night's win.
CLAIM STH
4 (BrE, informal) to claim sth as yours before sb else claims it; to take sth before sb else can get it: Sally had managed to bag the two best seats. Quick, bag that table over there!
5 (AustralE, NZE, informal) to criticize sb/sth
bags (I) ... (BrE) (NAmE dibs on ...) used to claim sth as yours before sb else can claim it: Bags I sit in the front seat!

bagatelle noun
1 [U] a game played on a board with small balls that you try to hit into holes
2 [C, usually sing.] (literary) a small and unimportant thing or amount: It cost a mere bagatelle.

bagel noun a hard bread roll shaped like a ring

baggage noun [U]
1 (especially NAmE) = LUGGAGE: excess baggage (= weighing more than the limit allowed on a plane) baggage handlers (= people employed to load and unload baggage at airports) (NAmE) We loaded our baggage into the car.
2 the beliefs and attitudes that sb has as a result of their past experiences: She was carrying a lot of emotional baggage. The party has now jettisoned its traditional ideological baggage. see BAG n.

WHICH WORD?

baggage / luggage

Luggage is the usual word in BrE, but baggage is also used, especially in the context of the bags and cases that passengers take on a flight. In NAmE baggage is usually used.

Both these words are uncountable nouns: Do you have a lot of luggage?Two pieces of luggage have gone missing.Never leave baggage unattended.

baggage car noun (NAmE) = LUGGAGE VAN

baggage reclaim (BrE) (NAmE baggage claim) noun [U] the place at an airport where you get your suitcases, etc. again after you have flown

BaggieTM noun (NAmE) a small bag made of clear plastic that is used for storing SANDWICHES, etc.

baggy adj. (of clothes) fitting loosely: a baggy T-shirt TIGHT

bag lady noun a woman who has no home and who walks around carrying her possessions with her

bag lunch noun (NAmE) a meal of SANDWICHES, fruit, etc. that you take to school, work, etc. in a bagcompare BOX LUNCH, PACKED LUNCH

bagpipes (also pipes) noun [pl.] (NAmE also bagpipe [sing.]) a musical instrument played especially in Scotland. The player blows air into a bag held under the arm and then slowly forces the air out through pipes to produce a noise.
bagpipe adj.: bagpipe music

baguette noun
1 (also French loaf, French stick) a LOAF of white bread in the shape of a long thick stick that is crisp on the outside and soft inside
2 a small baguette or part of one that is filled with food and eaten as a SANDWICH: a cheese baguette

bah exclamation used to show a sound that people make to express disapproval

Baha'i (also Bahai) noun [U] a religion that teaches that people and religions are the same, and that there should be peace

Bahasa Indonesia noun [U] the official language of Indonesia

Bahasa Malaysia noun [U] the official language of Malaysia

bail noun, verb
noun
1 [U] money that sb agrees to pay if a person accused of a crime does not appear at their trial. When bail has been arranged, the accused person is allowed to go free until the trial: Can anyone put up bail for you? She was released on £2 000 bail. Bail was set at $1 million. He committed another offence while he was out on bail (= after bail had been agreed). The judge granted/refused bail. She jumped/skipped bail (= did not appear at her trial).
2 [C, usually pl.] (in CRICKET) either of the two small pieces of wood on top of each set of three wooden posts (called STUMPS)
verb (BrE also bale)
1 to release sb on bail: [VN to inf] He was bailed to appear in court on 15 March. [also VN]
2 [V] (NAmE, informal) to leave a place, especially quickly: Sorry, I really have to bail.
3 [VN] ~ sb (up) (AustralE, NZE, informal) to approach sb and talk to them, often when they do not want this
bail out (of sth)
1 to jump out of a plane that is going to crash: The pilot bailed out and parachuted into the sea.
2 to escape from a situation that you no longer want to be involved in: I'd understand if you wanted to bail out of this relationship.
bail out| bail (sth)out to empty water from sth by lifting it out with your hand or a container: He had to stop rowing to bail water out of the boat. The boat will sink unless we bail out.
bail sbout to pay sb's bail for them
bail sbout (of sth) to rescue sb from a difficult situation: The government had to bail the company out of financial difficulty. Ryan's late goal bailed out his team. note at SAVE

bailey noun the open area of a castle, inside the outer wall

Bailey bridge noun a temporary bridge made of strips of metal that can be quickly put together, used especially by the armed forces

bailiff noun
1 (BrE) a law officer whose job is to take the possessions and property of people who cannot pay their debts
2 (BrE) a person employed to manage land or a large farm for sb else
3 (NAmE) an official who keeps order in court, takes people to their seats, watches prisoners, etc.

bailout noun an act of giving money to a company, a foreign country, etc. that has very serious financial problems: The airline was saved by a government bailout.

bain-marie noun (from French) a pan of hot water in which a bowl of food is cooked or warmed slowly

bairn NAmE noun (ScotE, NEngE) a child

bait noun, verb
noun [U, C]
1 food put on a hook to catch fish or in nets, traps, etc. to catch animals or birds: Live worms are used as bait. The fish took the bait.
2 a person or thing that is used to catch sb or to attract them, for example to make them do what you want: He had chosen the right bait to persuade her to go. The police used him as bait to trap the killers.
verb [VN]
1 to place food on a hook, in a trap, etc. in order to attract or catch an animal: He baited the trap with a piece of meat.
2 to deliberately try to make sb angry by making cruel or insulting remarks: The soldiers remained calm even though the crowd was baiting them.
3 -baiting (in compound nouns) the activity of attacking a wild animal with dogs: bear-baiting badger-baiting

bait-and-switch noun [C, usually sing.] a selling method where advertisements for low-priced products are used to attract customers, who are then persuaded to buy sth more expensive

baize noun [U] a type of thick cloth made of wool that is usually green, used especially for covering card tables and BILLIARD, SNOOKER or POOL tables

bake verb
1 ~ sth (for sb)| ~ (sb) sth to cook food in an oven without extra fat or liquid; to be cooked in this way: [VN] baked apples [VN, VNN] I'm baking a birthday cake for Alex. I'm baking Alex a cake. [V] the delicious smell of baking bread
2 to become or to make sth become hard by heating: [V] The bricks are left in the kiln to bake. [VN-ADJ] The sun had baked the ground hard. [also VN]
3 [V] (informal) to be or become very hot: We sat baking in the sun.see also HALF-BAKED

baked Alaska noun [C, U] a DESSERT made of cake and ice cream covered in MERINGUE and cooked quickly in a very hot oven

baked beans (NAmE also Boston baked beans) noun [pl.] small white BEANS cooked in a tomato sauce and usually sold in cans

baked potato (also jacket potato) noun a potato cooked in its skin in an oven: a baked potato and beans

bakehouse noun (old-fashioned) a building or an area where bread is made

BakeliteTM NAmE noun [U] a type of hard plastic used in the past for electrical equipment, etc.

baker noun
1 a person whose job is baking and selling bread and cakes
2 baker's (pl. bakers) (BrE) a shop that sells bread and cakes: I'm just going to the baker's.

baker's dozen noun [sing.] (old-fashioned) a group of thirteen (= one more than a dozen, which is twelve)
This phrase comes from bakers' old custom of adding one extra loaf to an order of a dozen.

bakery noun (pl. -ies) (NAmE also bakeshop) a place where bread and cakes are made and/or sold

bake sale noun (NAmE) an event at which cakes, etc. are baked and sold to make money, usually for a school or charity

bakeshop NAmE noun (NAmE) = BAKERY

bakeware NAmE noun [U] tins and other containers used for baking

Bakewell tart NAmE noun [C, U] a sweet PIE without PASTRY on the top, filled with jam and a cooked mixture that tastes of ALMONDS

baking noun, adj.
noun [U] the process of cooking using dry heat in an oven: a baking dish/tin
adj. (also baking hot) extremely hot: We waited for hours in the baking sun.

baking flour noun [U] (US) = SELF-RAISING FLOUR

baking powder noun [U] a mixture of powders that are used to make cakes rise and become light as they are baked

baking sheet (also baking tray) (both BrE) (NAmE cookie sheet) noun a small sheet of metal used for baking food on

baking soda noun [U] = SODIUM BICARBONATE

Bakke decision noun an important decision made by the US Supreme Court in 1978. A white man called Allan Bakke claimed that he had been illegally refused a place to study at medical school because black students with worse marks/grades were accepted. The Court decided that he should have been accepted, but that it is not wrong to consider a person's race when deciding whether to accept them.see also POSITIVE DISCRIMINATION

bakkie noun (SAfrE) a motor vehicle with low sides and no roof at the back, used for transporting goods or people, or as a carcompare PICKUP

baklava (also baclava) NAmE noun [C, U] a sweet dish from the Middle East, made from very thin PASTRY, nuts, and HONEY

baksheesh (also backsheesh) noun [U] (informal) (in some Asian countries) a small amount of money that is given as a gift to poor people, or given to sb to thank them or to persuade them to help you

balaclava (also balaclava helmet) noun (especially BrE) a type of hat made of wool that covers most of the head, neck and face: The two attackers were wearing balaclavas.

balafon NAmE noun a large type of XYLOPHONE (= a musical instrument with rows of wooden bars that you hit) that is used in W African music

balalaika noun a musical instrument like a GUITAR with a body shaped like a triangle and two, three, or four strings, popular especially in Russia

balance noun, verb
noun
EQUAL AMOUNTS
1 [U, sing.] ~ (between A and B) a situation in which different things exist in equal, correct or good amountssee also IMBALANCE: Try to keep a balance between work and relaxation. This newspaper maintains a good balance in its presentation of different opinions. Tourists often disturb the delicate balance of nature on the island. His wife's death disturbed the balance of his mind.
OF BODY
2 [U] the ability to keep steady with an equal amount of weight on each side of the body: Athletes need a good sense of balance. I struggled to keep my balance on my new skates. She cycled round the corner, lost her balance and fell off.
MONEY
3 [C, usually sing.] the amount that is left after taking numbers or money away from a total: to check your bank balance (= to find out how much money there is in your account)
4 [C, usually sing.] an amount of money still owed after some payment has been made: The balance of $500 must be paid within 90 days.
INSTRUMENT FOR WEIGHING
5 [C] an instrument for weighing things, with a bar that is supported in the middle and has dishes hanging from each end
(on) the balance of evidence/probability (formal) (considering) the evidence on both sides of an argument, to find the most likely reason for or result of sth: The balance of evidence suggests the Liberal party's decline began before the First World War.
(be/hang) in the balance if the future of sth/sb, or the result of sth is/hangs in the balance, it is uncertain: The long-term future of the space programme hangs in the balance. Tom's life hung in the balance for two weeks as he lay in a coma.
(catch/throw sb) off balance
1 to make sb/sth unsteady and in danger of falling: I was thrown off balance by the sudden gust of wind.
2 to make sb surprised and no longer calm: The senator was clearly caught off balance by the unexpected question.
on balance after considering all the information: On balance, the company has had a successful year.more at REDRESS v., STRIKE v., SWING v., TIP v.
verb
KEEP STEADY
1 ~ (sth) (on sth) to put your body or sth else into a position where it is steady and does not fall: [V] How long can you balance on one leg? [VN] The television was precariously balanced on top of a pile of books. She balanced the cup on her knee.
BE/KEEP EQUAL
2 ~ (sth) (out) to be equal in value, amount, etc. to sth else that has the opposite effect OFFSET: [VN] This year's profits will balance our previous losses. His lack of experience was balanced by a willingness to learn. [V] The good and bad effects of any decision will usually balance out.
3 [VN] ~ A with/and B to give equal importance to two contrasting things or parts of sth: She tries to balance home life and career.
COMPARE
4 ~ A against B to compare the relative importance of two contrasting things: The cost of obtaining legal advice needs to be balanced against its benefits.
MONEY
5 [VN] (finance) to show that in an account the total money spent is equal to the total money received; to calculate the difference between the two totals

balance beam noun (NAmE) = BEAM

balanced adj. [usually before noun] (approving) keeping or showing a balance so that different things or different parts of sth exist in equal or correct amounts: The programme presented a balanced view of the two sides of the conflict. a balanced diet (= one with the quantity and variety of food needed for good health)

balance of payments noun [sing.] the difference between the amount a country pays for imports and the amount it receives for exports in a particular period of time

balance of power noun [sing.]
1 a situation in which political or military strength is divided between two countries or groups of countries: a commitment to maintaining the balance of power in Europe
2 the power held by a small group which can give its support to either of two larger and equally strong groups: With 18% of the votes, the Green Party now holds the balance of power in the national assembly.

balance of trade (also trade balance) noun [sing.] the difference in value between imports and exports: a balance-of-trade deficit (= when a country spends more on imports than it earns from exports)

balance sheet noun (finance) a written statement showing the amount of money and property that a company has and listing what has been received and paid out

balancing act noun a process in which sb tries to please two or more people or groups who want different things: The UN must perform a delicate balancing act between the different sides in the conflict.

balcony noun (pl. -ies)
1 a platform that is built on the upstairs outside wall of a building, with a wall or rail around it. You can get out onto a balcony from an upstairs room.
2 an area of seats upstairs in a theatresee also CIRCLE, FIRST BALCONY

bald adj.
1 having little or no hair on the head: He started going bald in his twenties.
2 without any of the usual hair, marks, etc. covering the skin or surface of sth: Our dog has a bald patch on its leg. a bald tyre (= a tyre whose surface has become smooth)
3 without any extra explanation or detail to help you understand or accept what is being said: The bald fact is that we don't need you any longer. The letter was a bald statement of our legal position.see also BALDLY note at PLAIN
baldness noun [U]: He wore a hat to hide his baldness.
(as) bald as a coot (BrE, informal) completely bald

bald eagle noun a N American BIRD OF PREY (= a bird that kills other creatures for food) with a white head and white tail feathers. It is used as a symbol of the US.

balderdash NAmE noun [U] (old-fashioned) nonsense

bald-faced adj. (disapproving, especially NAmE) making no attempt to hide your dishonest behaviour BAREFACED, BLATANT: bald-faced lies

balding adj. starting to lose the hair on your head: a short balding man with glasses

baldly adv. in a few words with nothing extra or unnecessary: 'You're lying,' he said baldly.

baldy (also baldie) noun (pl. -ies) (informal) a person who has no hair or almost no hair on their head

bale noun, verb
noun a large amount of a light material pressed tightly together and tied up: bales of hay/straw/cotton/wool
verb
1 [VN] to make sth into bales: The waste paper is baled, then sent for recycling.
2 [VN, VN to inf] (BrE) = BAIL
bale out| bale sthout| bale sbout (BrE) = BAIL OUT, BAIL STH OUT, BAIL SB OUT

baleful adj. (literary) threatening to do sth evil or to hurt sb: a baleful look/influence
balefully adv.

baler noun a machine for making paper, cotton, HAY, etc. into BALES

balk (especially NAmE) = BAULK

Balkanize BrE verb [VN] to divide a region into smaller regions which are unfriendly or aggressive towards each other
Balkanization BrE noun [U]

the Balkans BrE noun [pl.] a region of SE Europe, including the countries to the south of the rivers Sava and Danube
Balkan adj.: the Balkan Peninsula

balky adj. (NAmE) (of a person or machine) refusing or failing to do what you want them to do

ball noun, verb
noun
1 a round object used for throwing, hitting or kicking in games and sports: a golf/tennis/cricket ball Bounce the ball and try and hit it over the net.
2 a round object or a thing that has been formed into a round shape: The sun was a huge ball of fire low on the horizon. a ball of string Some animals roll themselves into a ball for protection.
3 a kick, hit or throw of the ball in some sports: He sent over a high ball.
4 (in BASEBALL) a throw by the PITCHER that the BATTER does not have to hit because it is not accurate
5 ~ of the foot/hand the part underneath the big toe or the thumb
6 [usually pl.] (taboo, informal) a TESTICLEsee also BALLS
7 a large formal party with dancing
a ball and chain (BrE) a problem that prevents you from doing what you would like to do
the ball is in your/sb's court it is your/sb's responsibility to take action next: They've offered me the job, so the ball's in my court now.
a ball of fire (informal) a person who is full of energy and enthusiasm
get/set/start/keep the ball rolling to make sth start happening; to make sure that sth continues to happen
have a ball (informal) to enjoy yourself a lot
have something/a lot on the ball (US, informal) to be capable of doing a job very well; to be intelligent
(be) on the ball to be aware of and understand what is happening and able to react quickly: The new publicity manager is really on the ball.
play ball (with sb) (informal) to be willing to work with other people in a helpful way, especially so that sb can get what they want
the whole ball of wax (NAmE, informal) the whole thing; everything: I panicked, I criedthe whole ball of wax.more at CARRY v., DROP v., EYE n.
verb
1 to form sth or be formed into the shape of a ball: [V] Her hands balled into fists. [VN] My hands were balled into fists.
2 [VN] (NAmE, taboo, slang) (of a man) to have sex with a woman

ballad noun
1 a song or poem that tells a story: a medieval ballad about a knight and a lady
2 a slow popular song about love: Her latest single is a ballad.

balladeer NAmE noun a person who sings or writes ballads

ballad opera noun a type of play, popular in England in the early 18th century, containing pieces of music that were already well known

ball-and-socket joint noun (anatomy) a joint such as the hip joint, in which a ball-shaped part moves inside a curved hollow part

ballast noun [U]
1 heavy material placed in a ship or HOT-AIR BALLOON to make it heavier and keep it steady
2 a layer of stones that makes a strong base on which a road, railway/railroad, etc. can be built

ball bearingnoun a ring of small metal balls used in a machine to enable the parts to turn smoothly; one of these small metal balls

ballboy noun a boy who picks up the balls for the players in a TENNIS matchsee also BALLGIRL

ball-breaker noun (informal) a sexually aggressive woman who destroys men's confidence
ball-breaking adj.

ballcock NAmE noun a device with a floating ball that controls the amount of water going into a container, for example the water tank of a toilet

ballerina noun a female dancer in BALLETsee also PRIMA BALLERINA

ballet noun
1 [U] a style of dancing that tells a dramatic story with music but no talking or singing: She wants to be a ballet dancer. ballet shoes
2 [C] a story or work of art performed by a group of ballet dancers: 'Swan Lake' is one of the great classical ballets.
3 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of dancers who work and perform ballet together: members of the Royal Ballet

balletic adj. (formal, approving) smooth and elegant, like a movement or a dancer in ballet

balletomane NAmE noun a person who is very enthusiastic about BALLET

ball game noun
1 any game played with a ball
2 (NAmE) a game of BASEBALL: Are you going to the ball game?
a (whole) different/new ball game (informal) a completely different kind of situation: Camping in summer is fun, but in winter it's a whole different ball game.

ballgirl NAmE noun a girl who picks up the balls for the players in a TENNIS matchsee also BALLBOY

ballhawk noun (US, informal) a player who is good at getting or catching balls, especially in AMERICAN FOOTBALL, BASEBALL or BASKETBALL

ball hockey noun [U] (CanE) a version of ICE HOCKEY played on a hard surface without ice, and with a ball instead of a PUCK

ballistic adj. connected with ballistics
go ballistic (informal) to become very angry: He went ballistic when I told him.

ballistic missile noun a MISSILE that is fired into the air at a particular speed and angle in order to fall in the right place

ballistics noun [U] the scientific study of things that are shot or fired through the air, such as bullets and MISSILES

balloon noun, verb
noun
1 a small bag made of very thin rubber that becomes larger and rounder when you fill it with air or gas. Balloons are brightly coloured and used as decorations or toys: to blow up/burst/pop a balloon My balloon has burst! A thousand balloons were released to mark the event.compare TRIAL BALLOON
2 (also hot-air balloon) a large balloon made of strong material that is filled with hot air or gas to make it rise in the air, usually carrying a BASKET for passengers
when the balloon goes up (BrE, informal) when the trouble that you are expecting begins: We have to get out of here before the balloon goes up!more at LEAD^2
verb [V]
1 ~ (out/up) to suddenly swell out or get bigger: Her skirt ballooned out in the wind. Unemployment ballooned to fourteen per cent.
2 (usually go ballooning) to travel in a HOT-AIR BALLOON as a sport

balloonist noun a person who travels in a balloon as a sport

balloon tyre (BrE) (NAmE balloon tire) noun a large tyre containing air at low pressure, for travelling on surfaces that are soft or not even

balloon whisk noun a WHISK that you hold in your hand, made of thin pieces of curved wire

ballot noun, verb
noun
1 [U, C] the system of voting in writing and usually in secret; an occasion on which a vote is held: The chairperson is chosen by secret ballot. The union cannot call a strike unless it holds a ballot of members. note at ELECTION
2 (BrE also ballot paper) [C] the piece of paper on which sb marks who they are voting for: What percentage of eligible voters cast their ballots?
3 the ballot [sing.] the total number of votes in an election: She won 58.8% of the ballot.see also POLL
verb
1 [VN] ~ sb (on sth) to ask sb to vote in writing and secretly about sth POLL: The union balloted its members on the proposed changes.
2 [V] to vote secretly about sth: The workers balloted for a strike.

ballot box noun
1 [C] a box in which people put their ballots after voting
2 the ballot box [sing.] the system of voting in an election: The people make their wishes known through the ballot box.

ballot paper noun (BrE) = BALLOT (2)

ballpark NAmE noun
1 [C] (especially NAmE) a place where BASEBALL is played
2 [sing.] an area or a range within which an amount is likely to be correct or within which sth can be measured: The offers for the contract were all in the same ballpark. If you said five million you'd be in the ballpark. Give me a ballpark figure (= a number that is approximately right).

ballpoint (also ballpoint pen) noun a pen with a very small metal ball at its point, that rolls ink onto the papercompare BIRO

ballroom noun a very large room used for dancing on formal occasionscompare DANCE HALL

ballroom dancing noun [U] a type of dancing done with a partner and using particular fixed steps and movements to particular types of music such as the WALTZ

balls noun, verb
noun (taboo, slang)
1 [U] (BrE) nonsense: That's a load of balls!
2 [pl.] courage: She's got balls, I'll say that for her. It took a lot of balls to do that.
3 Balls! (BrE) exclamation used as a swear word when you are disagreeing with sth, or when you are angry about sth Less offensive ways to express this are 'Nonsense!', or 'Come off it!'
verb
balls sthup (BrE, taboo, slang) to spoil sth; to do sth very badlyrelated noun BALLS-UP A more polite way of saying this is foul sth up, mess sth up, or bungle sth.

balls-up noun (taboo slang, especially BrE) something that has been done very badly: I made a real balls-up of my exams.

ballsy adj. (informal, especially NAmE) showing a lot of courage and determination: She is one ballsy lady!

ballyhoo NAmE noun [U] (informal, disapproving) unnecessary noise and excitement

balm noun [U, C, usually sing.]
1 (also balsam) oil with a pleasant smell that is obtained from some types of trees and plants, used in the past to help heal wounds, for example
2 a liquid, cream, etc. that has a pleasant smell and is used to make wounds less painful or skin softer: lip balm He used a skin balm after shaving.
3 (literary) something that makes you feel calm or relaxed: The gentle music was a balm to his spirit.

balmoral NAmE noun
1 a type of round hat without a BRIM, often with RIBBONS attached, worn by some Scottish soldiers as part of their uniform
2 a strong heavy walking boot

balmy adj. (approving) (of the air, weather, etc.) warm and pleasant MILD: a balmy summer evening

baloney NAmE noun [U]
1 (informal, especially NAmE) nonsense; lies: Don't give me that baloney!
2 (NAmE) = BOLOGNA

balsa (also balsa wood) noun [U] the light wood of the tropical American balsa tree, used especially for making models

balsam noun
1 [U, C] = BALM
2 [C] any plant or tree from which BALM is obtained

balsamic vinegar noun [U] a dark sweet Italian VINEGAR, stored in wooden containers to give it flavour

balti NAmE noun [C, U] a type of meat or vegetable dish cooked in Pakistani style, usually served in a round metal pan which gives its name to the dish

Baltic adj. relating to the Baltic Sea in northern Europe and the countries surrounding it: the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

baluster noun any of the short posts that form a balustrade

balustrade noun a row of posts, joined together at the top, built along the edge of a BALCONY, bridge, etc. to prevent people from falling off, or as a decoration

bam exclamation (informal)
1 used to represent the sound of a sudden loud hit or a gun being fired: She pointed the gun at him andbam!
2 used to show that sth happens very suddenly: I saw him yesterday andbam!I realized I was still in love with him.

bamboo noun [C, U] (pl. -oos) a tall tropical plant that is a member of the grass family and has hard hollow STEMS that are used for making furniture, poles, etc.: a bamboo grove a bamboo chair bamboo shoots (= young bamboo plants that can be eaten)

bamboozle verb [VN] (informal) to confuse sb, especially by tricking them

ban verb, noun
verb (-nn-) [VN]
1 to decide or say officially that sth is not allowed PROHIBIT: Chemical weapons are banned internationally. a campaign to ban smoking in public places
2 [usually passive] ~ sb from sth/from doing sth to order sb not to do sth, go somewhere, etc., especially officially: He was banned from the meeting. She's been banned from leaving Greece while the allegations are investigated. (BrE) He was banned from driving for six months.
noun~ (on sth) an official rule that says that sth is not allowed: There is to be a total ban on smoking in the office. to impose/lift a ban

banal NAmE adj. (disapproving) very ordinary and containing nothing that is interesting or important: a banal conversation about the weather

banality noun (pl. -ies) [U, C] (disapproving) the quality of being banal; things, remarks, etc. that are banal: the banality of modern city life They exchanged banalities for a couple of minutes.

banana NAmE noun a long curved fruit with a thick yellow skin and soft flesh, that grows on trees in hot countries: a bunch of bananas
go bananas (slang) to become angry, crazy or silly: He lost his job and just went bananas. The British press has gone bananas, proclaiming the end of civilization as we know it.

banana belt noun (NAmE, informal) a region where the weather is warm

banana republic noun (disapproving, offensive) a poor country with a weak government, that depends on foreign money

banana skin noun (BrE, informal) something that could cause difficulty or embarrassment, especially to sb in a public position: Putting even more tax on fuel could prove to be a banana skin for the government.

banana split noun a cold DESSERT (= a sweet dish) made from a BANANA that is cut in half along its length and filled with ice cream, nuts, etc.

band noun, verb
noun
GROUP OF MUSICIANS
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] a small group of musicians who play popular music together, often with a singer or singers: a rock/jazz band She's a singer with a band.see also BOY BAND, GIRL BAND
2 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of musicians who play BRASS and PERCUSSION instruments: a military bandsee also BRASS BAND, MARCHING BAND, ONE-MAN BAND
GROUP OF PEOPLE
3 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who do sth together or who have the same ideas: a band of outlaws He persuaded a small band of volunteers to help.
STRIP OF MATERIAL/COLOUR
4 [C] a thin flat strip or circle of any material that is put around things, for example to hold them together or to make them stronger: She always ties her hair back in a band. All babies in the hospital have name bands on their wrists. She wore a simple band of gold on her finger.see also ARMBAND, HAIRBAND, HATBAND, RUBBER BAND, SWEATBAND, WAISTBAND
5 [C] a strip of colour or material on sth that is different from what is around it: a white plate with a blue band around the edge
OF RADIO WAVES
6 (also waveband) [C] a range of radio waves: Short-wave radio uses the 20-50 metre band.
RANGE
7 [C] a range of numbers, ages, prices, etc. within which people or things are counted or measured: the 25-35 age band tax bands
verb [VN] [usually passive]
WITH COLOUR/MATERIAL
1 to put a band of a different colour or material around sth: [VN-ADJ] Many insects are banded black and yellow. [also VN]
PUT INTO RANGE
2 (BrE) to be organized into bands of price, income, etc.: Tax is banded according to income.
band together to form a group in order to achieve sth: Local people banded together to fight the drug dealers.

bandage noun, verb
noun a strip of cloth used for tying around a part of the body that has been hurt in order to protect or support it
verb [VN] ~ sth (up) to wrap a bandage around a part of the body in order to protect it because it is injured: Don't bandage the wound too tightly. His injured leg was all bandaged up.

Band-AidTMnoun (especially NAmE)
1 = PLASTER (3)
2 (disapproving) a temporary solution to a problem that does not really solve it at all: The food and clothes sent to the victims of the earthquake are only a Band-Aid solution.

bandanna noun a piece of brightly coloured cloth worn around the neck or head

B and B (also B & B, b and b, b & b) abbr. (informal, especially BrE) BED AND BREAKFAST

band council noun (CanE) a local form of Aboriginal government in Canada, consisting of an elected chief and COUNCILLORS

bandeau NAmE noun
1 a narrow band worn around the head to hold the hair in place
2 a piece of women's clothing that is tied around the body to cover the breasts: a bandeau bikini top

bandh noun (IndE) a general strike

bandicoot noun
1 a small Australasian animal with a long nose and long tail, which eats mainly insects
2 (also bandicoot rat) an Asian RAT

banding (also streaming especially in BrE) noun [U] the policy of dividing school students into groups of the same level of ability

bandit noun a member of an armed group of thieves who attack travellers: Buses driving through the mountains have been attacked by bandits.

bandito NAmE (also bandido) NAmE noun (NAmE, from Spanish) (pl. -os) a Mexican BANDIT

banditry noun [U] (formal) acts of stealing and violence by bandits

bandleader noun a player who is in charge of a band, especially a JAZZ band

bandmaster NAmE noun a person who CONDUCTS a military or BRASS band

bandobast noun [U, C, usually sing.] (IndE) preparation or an arrangement for dealing with sth: The police bandobast was very effective.

bandolier (also bandoleer) NAmE noun a belt made for carrying bullets and worn over the shoulder

bandsaw noun a tool for cutting wood, etc. consisting of a steel belt that has sharp points (called teeth) along the edge and that goes around very fast

bandsman noun (pl. -men ) a musician who plays in a military or BRASS band

bandstand noun a covered platform outdoors, where musicians, especially a BRASS or military band, can stand and play

bandwagon noun [usually sing.] an activity that more and more people are becoming involved in: The World Cup bandwagon is starting to roll.
climb/jump on the bandwagon (informal, disapproving) to join others in doing sth that is becoming fashionable because you hope to become popular or successful yourself: politicians eager to jump on the environmental bandwagon
In the US, political PARADES often included a band on a wagon. Political leaders would join them in the hope of winning popular support.

bandwidth noun [C, U] (computing)
1 a band of FREQUENCIES used for sending electronic signals
2 a measurement of the amount of information that a particular computer network or Internet connection can send in a particular time. It is often measured in BITS per second.

bandy adj., verb
adj. (of the legs) curving, with the knees wide apart: to be bandy-legged
verb (bandies, bandying, bandied, bandied)
bandy words (with sb) (old-fashioned) to argue with sb or speak rudely to them
bandy sthabout/around [usually passive] if a name, a word, a story, etc., is bandied about/around, it is mentioned frequently by many people: His name was being bandied about as a future prime minister.

bane noun [sing.] the ~ of sb/sth something that causes trouble and makes people unhappy: The neighbours' kids are the bane of my life. The poor train service has been the bane of commuters for years.

baneful adj. (literary) evil or causing evil

bang verb, noun, adv., exclamation
verb
1 ~ (on) sth to hit sth in a way that makes a loud noise: [VN] The baby was banging the table with his spoon. [V] She banged on the door angrily. note at HIT
2 to close sth or to be closed with a loud noise SLAM: [VN] Don't bang the door when you go out! [V] A window was banging somewhere (= opening and closing noisily). [V-ADJ] The door banged shut behind her.
3 [VN + adv. / prep.] to put sth somewhere suddenly and violently SLAM: He banged the money down on the counter. She banged saucepans around irritably.
4 [VN] to hit sth, especially a part of the body, against sth by accident BUMP: She tripped and banged her knee on the desk.
5 [VN] (taboo, slang) (of a man) to have sex with a woman see DRUM n., HEAD n.
bang about/around to move around noisily: We could hear the kids banging around upstairs.
bang into sth to crash into or hit sth by mistake: I banged into a chair and hurt my leg.
bang on about sth (BrE, informal) to talk a lot about sth in a boring way GO ON: He keeps banging on about his new job.
bang sbup (BrE, informal) to put sb in prison: They have been banged up for something they didn't do.
bang sthup (NAmE, informal) to damage or injure sth: He banged up his truck. I banged up my knee pretty badly.
noun
1 a sudden loud noise: The door swung shut with a bang. Suddenly there was a loud bang and a puff of smoke.see also BIG BANG
2 a sudden painful blow on a part of the body: a bang on the head
3 bangs [pl.] (NAmE) = FRINGE (1)
4 = BHANG
5 (informal, computing) the symbol ( ! )
bang for your buck (NAmE, informal) if you get more, better, etc. bang for your buck, you get better value for the money you spend or the effort you put in to sth
with a bang (informal)
1 very successfully: The party went with a bang.
2 in a way that everyone notices; with a powerful effect: The team won their last four games, ending the season with a bang.more at EARTH n., SLAP adv.
adv. (informal, especially BrE) exactly; completely: Our computers are bang up to date. My estimate was bang on target. You're bang on time, as usualsee also SLAP BANG
bang goes sth (BrE, informal) used when you say that sth you hoped to have or achieve is no longer possible: Bang went my hopes of promotion.
go bang (informal) to burst or explode with a loud noise; to make a sudden loud noise: A balloon suddenly went bang. see RIGHT n.
exclamation used to show the sound of sth loud, like a gun: 'Bang, bang, you're dead!' shouted the little boy.

banged up adj. (NAmE, informal) injured or damaged: Two days after the accident she still looked pretty banged up. a banged-up old truck

banger noun (BrE, informal)
1 a SAUSAGE: bangers and mash
2 (NAmE beater) an old car that is in bad condition: You're not still driving that old banger, are you?
3 a FIREWORK that makes a loud noise when it explodes

Bangla noun [U]
1 the Bengali language
2 Bangladesh

bangle noun a piece of jewellery in the form of a large ring of gold, silver, etc. worn loosely around the wrist

bang-up adj. (NAmE, informal) very good: Thanksyou did a bang-up job.

bania noun (IndE)
1 a person who sells things
2 (disapproving) a person who is interested in making money

banish verb [VN]
1 [usually passive] ~ sb (from ... ) (to ... ) to order sb to leave a place, especially a country, as a punishment EXILE: He was banished to Australia, where he died five years later. The children were banished from the dining room.
2 ~ sb/sth (from sth) to make sb/sth go away; to get rid of sb/sth: The sight of food banished all other thoughts from my mind.

banishment noun [U] the punishment of being sent away from a place, especially from a country: a life of banishment in an alien country

banister (also bannister) noun (BrE also banisters [pl.]) the posts and rail which you can hold for support when going up or down stairs: to hold on to the banister/banisters The kids were sliding down the banisters.

banjo NAmE noun (pl. -os) a musical instrument like a GUITAR, with a long neck, a round body and four or more strings

bank noun, verb
noun
FOR MONEY
1 an organization that provides various financial services, for example keeping or lending money: My salary is paid directly into my bank. I need to go to the bank (= the local office of a bank). a bank loan a bank managersee also INVESTMENT BANK, MERCHANT BANK
IN GAMBLING
2 a supply of money or things that are used as money in some games, especially those in which gambling is involved
STH COLLECTED/STORED
3 an amount of sth that is collected; a place where sth is stored ready for use: a bank of knowledge a blood/sperm banksee also DATABANK
OF RIVER/CANAL
4 the side of a river, CANAL, etc. and the land near it: He jumped in and swam to the opposite bank. It's on the north bank of the Thames. a house on the banks of the River Severn (= on land near the river)
SLOPE
5 a raised area of ground that slopes at the sides, often at the edge of sth or dividing sth: There were low banks of earth between the rice fields. The girls ran down the steep grassy bank.
6 an artificial slope built at the side of a road, so that cars can drive fast around bends
OF CLOUD/SNOW, etc.
7 a mass of cloud, snow, etc., especially one formed by the wind: The sun disappeared behind a bank of clouds.
OF MACHINES, etc.
8 a row or series of similar objects, especially machines: a bank of lights/switches/computers
not break the bank (informal, humorous) if you say sth won't break the bank, you mean that it won't cost a lot of money, or more than you can afford: We can just get a sandwich if you wantthat won't break the bank.more at LAUGH v.
verb
MONEY
1 [VN] to put money into a bank account: She is believed to have banked (= been paid) £10 million in two years.
2 [V] ~ (with/at ... ) to have an account with a particular bank: The family had banked with Coutts for generations.
OF PLANE
3 [V] to travel with one side higher than the other when turning: The plane banked steeply to the left.
FORM PILES
4 [VN] ~ sth (up) to form sth into piles: They banked the earth (up) into a mound.
A FIRE
5 [VN] ~ sth (up) to pile coal, etc. on a fire so that the fire burns slowly for a long time: The fire was banked up as high as if it were midwinter.
bank on sb/sth to rely on sb/sth: I'm banking on your help. [+ to inf] I'm banking on you to help me. [+ -ing] I was banking on getting something to eat on the train. 'I'm sure he'll help.' 'Don't bank on it (= it is not likely to happen).'
bank up to form into piles, especially because of the wind: The snow had banked up against the wall.

bankable adj. (informal) likely to make money for sb: The movie's success has made her one of the world's most bankable stars.

bank account noun an arrangement that you have with a bank that allows you to keep your money there, to pay in or take out money, etc.: to open/close a bank account

bank balance noun the amount of money that sb has in their bank account at a particular time: My bank balance is always low at the end of the month.

bank card noun
1 (also banker's card) (both BrE) a plastic card provided by your bank that may be used as a CHEQUE CARD or DEBIT CARD or to get money from your account out of a machine
2 (NAmE) a credit card provided by your bank, that can also be used as a DEBIT CARD and to get money from your account out of a machine

bank draft (also banker's draft) noun a cheque paid by a bank to another bank or to a particular person or organization

banker noun
1 a person who owns a bank or has an important job at a bank: a merchant banker
2 a person who is in charge of the money in particular games

banker's order noun (BrE) an instruction to your bank to pay money to sb directly from your bank accountcompare STANDING ORDER

bank holiday (BrE) noun a public holiday, for example Christmas Day, New Year's Day, etc.: Bank Holiday Monday a bank holiday weekend (= a weekend followed by a Monday which is a holiday)see also HOLIDAYcompare LEGAL HOLIDAY, PUBLIC HOLIDAY

banking noun [U] the business activity of banks: She's thinking about a career in banking.

banknote NAmE noun (especially BrE) = NOTE: forged (= illegally copied) banknotes

bank rate noun the rate of interest charged by a bank for lending money, which is fixed by a central bank in a country

bankroll NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN] (informal, especially NAmE) to support sb/sth by giving money FINANCE: They claimed his campaign had been bankrolled with drug money.
noun (especially NAmE) a supply of money: He is the candidate with the biggest campaign bankroll.

bankrupt adj., noun, verb
adj.
1 without enough money to pay what you owe INSOLVENT: They went bankrupt in 1993. The company was declared bankrupt in the High Court.
2 ~ (of sth) (formal, disapproving) completely lacking in anything that has value: a government bankrupt of new ideas a society that is morally bankrupt
noun (law) a person who has been judged by a court to be unable to pay his or her debts
verb [VN] to make sb bankrupt: The company was almost bankrupted by legal costs.

bankruptcy noun [U, C] (pl. -ies) the state of being bankrupt INSOLVENCY: The company filed for bankruptcy (= asked to be officially bankrupt) in 2003. moral/political bankruptcy There could be further bankruptcies among small farmers.

bank statement (also statement) noun a printed record of all the money paid into and out of a customer's bank account within a particular period: All transactions appear on a monthly bank statement.

banner noun a long piece of cloth with a message on it that is carried between two poles or hung in a public place to show support for sth: A huge banner over the street said 'Welcome home'. Protesters carried a banner reading 'Save our Wildlife'.
under the banner (of sth) (formal)
1 claiming to support a particular set of ideas: They fought the election under the banner of 'No new taxes'.
2 as part of a particular group or organization: Troops are in the country under the banner of the United Nations.

banner ad noun an advertisement across the top or bottom or down the side of a page on the Internet

banner headline noun a line of words printed in large letters across the front page of a newspaper

banner year noun (NAmE) a year in which sth is especially successful: It was a banner year for Mexico's tourist industry.

bannister = BANISTER

banns noun [pl.] a public statement in church that two people intend to marry each other: to read/publish the banns

banoffi pie (also banoffee pie) NAmE noun a sweet food made with TOFFEE, BANANAS, and cream

banquet noun
1 a formal meal for a large number of people, usually for a special occasion, at which speeches are often made: a state banquet in honour of the visiting President
2 a large impressive meal

banqueting adj. connected with banquets: a banqueting hall

banquette noun a long soft seat along a wall in a restaurant, etc.

banshee noun (in Irish stories) a female spirit who gives a long sad cry as a warning to people that sb in their family is going to die soon

bantam noun a type of small chicken

bantamweight noun a BOXER weighing between 51 and 53.5 kilograms, or a WRESTLER who weighs between 52 and 57 kilograms, heavier than a FLYWEIGHT: a bantamweight champion

banter noun, verb
noun [U] friendly remarks and jokes: He enjoyed exchanging banter with the customers.
verb [V] ~ (with sb) to joke with sb: He bantered with reporters and posed for photographers.

bantering adj. (of a way of talking) amusing and friendly: There was a friendly, bantering tone in his voice.

banyan (also banyan tree) noun a S Asian tree with structures that grow down from the branches to the ground and then grow into new roots and TRUNKS

baobab NAmE noun a short thick tree, found especially in Africa and Australia, that lives for many years

bap noun (BrE) a round flat bread rollsee also BUN

baptism noun a Christian ceremony in which a few drops of water are poured on sb or they are covered with water, to welcome them into the Christian Church and often to name themcompare CHRISTENING
a baptism of fire a difficult introduction to a new job or activity

baptismal adj. [only before noun] connected with baptism: a baptismal service/ceremony

Baptist noun a member of a Christian Protestant Church that believes that baptism should take place when a person is old enough to understand what it means, and not as a baby
Baptist adj. [usually before noun]: a Baptist church

baptize (BrE also -ise) verb [usually passive] to give sb BAPTISM: [VN-N] She was baptized Mary. I was baptized a Catholic. [also VN] see also CHRISTEN

Bapu noun (IndE)
1 (used especially as a form of address) a father
2 a name by which Mahatma Gandhi is referred to, showing affection

bar noun, verb, prep.
noun
FOR DRINKS/FOOD
1 [C] a place where you can buy and drink alcoholic and other drinks: We met at a bar called the Flamingo. the island's only licensed bar (= one that is allowed to sell alcoholic drinks) a cocktail bar The hotel has a restaurant, bar and swimming pool. (BrE) I found David in the bar of the Red Lion (= a room in a pub where drinks are served).see also BARROOM, LOUNGE BAR, MINIBAR, PUBLIC BAR, SALOON BAR
2 [C] a long wide wooden surface where drinks, etc. are served: She was sitting at the bar. It was so crowded I couldn't get to the bar.
3 [C] (especially in compounds) a place in which a particular kind of food or drink is the main thing that is served: a sandwich bar a coffee barsee also OXYGEN BAR, SNACK BAR, WINE BAR
OF CHOCOLATE/SOAP
4 [C] a piece of sth with straight sides: a bar of chocolate/soap candy bars
OF METAL/WOOD
5 [C] a long straight piece of metal or wood. Bars are often used to stop sb from getting through a space: He smashed the window with an iron bar. All the ground floor windows were fitted with bars. a five-bar gate (= one made with five horizontal bars of wood)see also BULL BARS, ROLL BAR, SPACE BAR, TOW BAR
IN ELECTRIC FIRE
6 [C] a piece of metal with wire wrapped around it that becomes red and hot when electricity is passed through it: Switch another bar on if you're cold.
IN SPORTS
7 the bar [sing.] the CROSSBAR of a goal: His shot hit the bar.
OF COLOUR/LIGHT
8 [C] a band of colour or light: Bars of sunlight slanted down from the tall narrow windows.
THAT PREVENTS STH
9 [C, usually sing.] ~ (to sth) a thing that stops sb from doing sth: At that time being a woman was a bar to promotion in most professions.see also COLOUR BAR
IN MUSIC
10 (BrE) (NAmE measure) [C] one of the short sections of equal length that a piece of music is divided into, and the notes that are in it: four beats to the bar the opening bars of a piece of music
LAW
11 the Bar [sing.] (BrE) the profession of BARRISTER (= a lawyer in a higher court): to be called to the Bar (= allowed to work as a qualified BARRISTER)
12 the Bar [sing.] (NAmE) the profession of any kind of lawyer
MEASUREMENT
13 a unit for measuring the pressure of the atmosphere, equal to a hundred thousand NEWTONS per square metresee also MILLIBAR
not have a bar of sth (AustralE, NZE) to have nothing to do with sth: If he tries to sell you his car, don't have a bar of it.
behind bars (informal) in prison: The murderer is now safely behind bars.
verb (-rr-) [VN]
CLOSE WITH BARS
1 [usually passive] to close sth with a bar or bars: All the doors and windows were barred.
BLOCK
2 to block a road, path, etc. so that nobody can pass: Two police officers were barring her exit. We found our way barred by rocks.
PREVENT
3 ~ sb (from sth/from doing sth) to ban or prevent sb from doing sth: The players are barred from drinking alcohol the night before a match.
see HOLD n.
prep. except for sb/sth: The students all attended, bar two who were ill. It's the best result we've ever had, bar none (= none was better). see SHOUTING

VOCABULARY BUILDING

a bar of chocolate

If you want to describe a whole unit of a particular substance, or a group of things that are normally together, for example when you buy them, you need to use the correct word.

a bar of soap/chocolate; a candy bar

a block of ice/stone/wood

a bolt/roll/length of fabric

a cube of ice/sugar; an ice/sugar cube

a loaf of bread

a roll of film/carpet

a slab of marble/concrete

a stick of gum

a bunch of bananas/grapes

a bunch/bouquet of flowers

a bundle of papers/sticks

a set/bunch of keys

a set of chairs/glasses/clothes/guitar strings

baraza noun (EAfrE) a public meeting that is held in order to discuss important matters affecting the community

barb NAmE noun
1 the point of an arrow or a hook that is curved backwards to make it difficult to pull out
2 a remark that is meant to hurt sb's feelings: The accusation that she did not trust him was a barb that hurt more than he wanted to admit.see also BARBED

barbarian NAmE noun
1 a person long ago in the past who belonged to a European people which was considered wild and UNCIVILIZED: barbarian invasions of the fifth century
2 a person who behaves very badly and has no respect for art, education, etc.

barbaric NAmE adj.
1 cruel and violent and not as expected from people who are educated and respect each other: a barbaric act/custom/ritual The way these animals are killed is barbaric.
2 connected with BARBARIANS (1)
barbarically adv.: These prisoners have been treated barbarically.

barbarism NAmE noun [U]
1 a state of not having any education, respect for art, etc.: the long, slow descent of the Roman Empire into barbarism
2 cruel or violent behaviour: the barbarism of war

barbarity NAmE noun (pl. -ies) [U, C] behaviour that deliberately causes extreme pain or suffering to others: The barbarity of the old regime was eventually exposed.

barbarous NAmE adj. (formal)
1 extremely cruel and shocking: the barbarous treatment of these prisoners of war
2 showing a lack of education and good manners
barbarously adv.

barbecue NAmE noun, verb
noun (abbr. BBQ) (also informal barbie BrE, AustralE)
1 a metal frame for cooking food on over an open fire outdoors: I put another steak on the barbecue. a barbecue sausage (= cooked in this way)
2 an outdoor meal or party when food is cooked in this way: Let's have a barbecue!compare COOKOUT
verb [V, VN] to cook food on a barbecuecompare BROIL

barbecue sauce noun [C, U] a spicy sauce served with food that has been cooked on a barbecue

barbed NAmE adj.
1 (of an ARROW or a hook) having a point that is curved backwards (called a BARB)
2 (of a remark or comment) meant to hurt sb's feelings

barbed wirenoun [U] strong wire with short sharp points on it, used especially for fences: a barbed wire fence

barbell NAmE noun a long metal bar with weights at each end, used in the sport of WEIGHTLIFTING and for exercise

barber NAmE noun
1 a person whose job is to cut men's hair and sometimes to shave them
2 (also barber's) (both BrE) (pl. barbers) a shop where men can have their hair cutcompare HAIRDRESSER

barbershop NAmE noun
1 (especially NAmE) (BrE usually barber's) [C] a place where a barber works
2 [U] a type of light music for four parts sung by men, without instruments: a barbershop quartet

barber's pole noun a pole painted with a SPIRAL of red and white that is traditionally hung outside a barber's shop

barbie NAmE noun (BrE, AustralE, informal) = BARBECUE

Barbie dollTM (also Barbie) noun
1 a DOLL that looks like an attractive young woman
2 (informal) a woman who is sexually attractive, especially one who is thought to be stupid or boring

bar billiards noun [U] (BrE) a game played on a small table, in which you try to hit balls into holes without knocking down the small wooden objects that stand in front of the holes

barbiturate NAmE noun a powerful drug that makes you feel calm and relaxed or puts you to sleep. There are several types of barbiturate: He died from an overdose of barbiturates.

BarbourTM NAmE noun a type of coat, usually dark green, made of special cotton with WAX on it that protects against rain and wind

bar chart (also bar graph) noun a diagram which uses narrow bands of different heights to show different amounts, so that they can be compared

bar code noun a pattern of thick and thin lines that is printed on things you buy. It contains information that a computer can read.

bard NAmE noun (literary) a person who writes poems: the Bard of Avon (= Shakespeare)

bare NAmE adj., verb
adj. (barer, barest)
1 not covered by any clothes: She likes to walk around in bare feet. They wore shabby clothes and their feet were bare.see also BAREFOOT
2 (of trees or countryside) not covered with leaves; without plants or trees: the bare branches of winter trees a bare mountainside We looked out over a bare, open landscape, stripped of vegetation.
3 (of surfaces) not covered with or protected by anything: bare wooden floorboards Bare wires were sticking out of the cable. The walls were bare except for a clock.
4 (of a room, cupboard, etc.) empty: The fridge was completely bare. bare shelves a room bare of furniture
5 [only before noun] just enough; the most basic or simple: The family was short of even the bare necessities of life. We only had the bare essentials in the way of equipment. He did the bare minimum of work but still passed the exam. She gave me only the bare facts of the case. It was the barest hint of a smile. Nothing more is known apart from the bare statement issued to the press. note at NAKED, PLAIN
bareness noun [U]
the bare bones (of sth) the basic facts: the bare bones of the story
with your bare hands without weapons or tools: He was capable of killing a man with his bare hands. We pulled the wall down with our bare hands.
lay sth bare (formal) to show sth that was covered or to make sth known that was secret: Every aspect of their private lives has been laid bare.more at CUPBOARD
verb [VN] to remove the covering from sth, especially from part of the body: She was paid several thousand dollars to bare all (= take all her clothes off) for the magazine.
bare your soul (to sb) to tell sb your deepest and most private feelings
bare your teeth to show your teeth in an aggressive and threatening way: The dog bared its teeth and growled.

bareback NAmE adj., adv. on a horse without a SADDLE: a bareback rider riding bareback

barefaced NAmE adj. [only before noun] (disapproving) showing that you do not care about offending sb or about behaving badly BALD-FACED, BLATANT: a barefaced lie barefaced cheek

barefoot NAmE (also less frequent barefooted) adj., adv. not wearing anything on your feet: poor children going barefoot in the street

bareheaded NAmE adj., adv. not wearing anything to cover your head

bare-knuckle (also bare-knuckled) adj. [only before noun] (of a BOXER or BOXING match) without gloves

barely NAmE adv.
1 in a way that is just possible but only with difficulty: He could barely read and write. The music was barely audible. She was barely able to stand. We barely had time to catch the train.
2 in a way that almost does not happen or exist: She barely acknowledged his presence. There was barely any smell.
3 just; certainly not more than (a particular amount, age, time, etc.): Barely 50% of the population voted. He was barely 20 years old and already running his own company. They arrived barely a minute later.
4 only a very short time before: I had barely started speaking when he interrupted me. note at HARDLY

barf NAmE verb [V] (NAmE, informal) to VOMIT
barf noun [U]

barfly NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (informal) a person who spends a lot of time drinking in bars

bargain NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a thing bought for less than the usual price: I picked up a few good bargains in the sale. The car was a bargain at that price. bargain prices
2 ~ (with sb) an agreement between two or more people or groups, to do sth for each other: He and his partner had made a bargain to tell each other everything. I've done what I promised and I expect you to keep your side of the bargain (= do what you agreed in return). Finally the two sides struck a bargain (= reached an agreement).
into the bargain (BrE) (NAmE also in the bargain) (used to emphasize an extra piece of information) also; as well: Volunteers learn a lot and enjoy themselves into the bargain.more at HARD adj., STRIKE v.
verb [V] ~ (with sb) (about/over/for sth) to discuss prices, conditions, etc. with sb in order to reach an agreement that is acceptable NEGOTIATE: He said he wasn't prepared to bargain. In the market dealers were bargaining with growers over the price of coffee.
bargain sthaway to give sth away and not get sth of equal value in return: They felt that their leaders had bargained away their freedom.
bargain for/on sth (usually in negative sentences) to expect sth to happen and be prepared for it: We hadn't bargained for this sudden change in the weather. When he agreed to answer a few questions, he got more than he bargained for (= he got more questions, or more difficult ones, than he had expected). [+ -ing] I didn't bargain on finding them here as well. I hadn't bargained on them being here.

bargain basement noun a part of a large shop/store, usually in the floor below street level, where goods are sold at reduced prices: bargain-basement prices

bargain hunter noun a person who is looking for goods that are good value for money, usually because they are being sold at prices that are lower than usual
bargain hunting noun [U]

bargaining NAmE noun [U] discussion of prices, conditions, etc. with the aim of reaching an agreement that is acceptable NEGOTIATION: After much hard bargaining we reached an agreement. wage bargaining Exporters are in a strong bargaining position at the moment.see also COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, PLEA-BARGAINING

bargaining chip (BrE also bargaining counter) noun a fact or a thing that a person or a group of people can use to get an advantage for themselves when they are trying to reach an agreement with another group: Ownership of the land gives us a strong bargaining counter. Should nuclear weapons be used as bargaining chips in arms negotiations?

bargaining power noun [U] the amount of control a person or group has when trying to reach an agreement with another group in a business or political situation: The smaller states' efforts to exercise their collective bargaining power against multinationals have failed.

barge NAmE noun, verb
noun a large boat with a flat bottom, used for carrying goods and people on CANALS and rivers
verb [+adv./prep.] to move in an awkward way, pushing people out of the way or crashing into them PUSH: [V] He barged past me to get to the bar. [VN] They barged their way through the crowds.
barge in (on sb/sth) to enter a place or join a group of people rudely interrupting what sb else is doing or saying: I hope you don't mind me barging in like this. He barged in on us while we were having a meeting.

bargeboard NAmE noun a board that is fixed to the end of a roof to hide the ends of the wooden roof BEAMS

bargee NAmE noun a person who controls or works on a BARGE

bargepole NAmE noun see TOUCH v.

bar graph noun = BAR CHART

bar-hop verb [V] (-pp-) (NAmE, informal) to drink in a series of bars in a single day or evening

barista noun a person who works in a COFFEE BAR

baritone NAmE noun
1 a man's singing voice with a range between TENOR and BASS; a man with a baritone voice
2 a musical instrument that is second lowest in PITCH in its family
baritone adj. compare ALTO, BASS, TENOR

barium NAmE noun [U] (symb Ba) a chemical element that is a soft silver-white metal

barium meal noun a substance containing barium that a doctor gives sb to swallow before an X-RAY because it makes organs in the body easier to see

bark NAmE noun, verb
noun [U, C]
1 the outer covering of a tree
2 the short loud sound made by dogs and some other animals
3 a short loud sound made by a gun or a voice: a bark of laughter
sb's bark is worse than their bite (informal) used to say that sb is not really as angry or as aggressive as they sound
verb
1 [V] ~ (at sb/sth) when a dog barks, it makes a short loud sound: The dog suddenly started barking at us.
2 ~ (out) sth to give orders, ask questions, etc. in a loud, unfriendly way: [VN] She barked out an order. He barked questions at her. [also V speech]
3 (especially BrE) to rub the skin off your knee, etc. by falling or by knocking against sth GRAZE: I barked my shins when I fell on the steps.
be barking up the wrong tree (informal) to have the wrong idea about how to get or achieve sth: You're barking up the wrong tree if you're expecting us to lend you any money. see DOG n.

barker NAmE noun a person who stands outside a place where there is entertainment and shouts to people to go in

barking mad (also barking) adj. (BrE, informal) completely crazy

barley NAmE noun [U] a plant grown for its grain that is used for making food, beer and WHISKY; the grains of this plant

barley sugar noun [U] a hard clear sweet/candy made from boiled sugar

barley water noun [U] (BrE) a drink made by boiling BARLEY in water. It is usually flavoured with orange or lemon: lemon barley water

barley wine noun [U] a strong English beer

bar line noun (music) a vertical line used in written music to mark a division between BARS/MEASURES

barmaid NAmE noun (BrE) (NAmE bartender) a woman who works in a bar, serving drinks

barman NAmE noun (pl. -men ) (especially BrE) (NAmE usually bartender) a man who works in a bar, serving drinks

bar mitzvah NAmE noun
1 a ceremony and celebration for a Jewish boy who has reached the age of 13, at which he accepts the religious responsibilities of an adult
2 the boy who is celebrating this occasioncompare BAT MITZVAH

barmy NAmE adj. (BrE, informal) slightly crazy: The music is driving me barmy.

barn NAmE noun
1 a large farm building for storing grain or keeping animals in: a hay barn They live in a converted barn (= a barn that has been turned into a house).see also DUTCH BARN
2 a large plain ugly building: They live in a great barn of a house.
3 (NAmE) a building in which buses, trucks, etc. are kept when not being used
close, etc. the barn door after the horse has escaped (NAmE) STABLE DOOR

barnacle NAmE noun a small SHELLFISH that attaches itself to objects underwater, for example to rocks and the bottoms of ships

barnacle goose noun a GOOSE with a white face and a black neck that breeds in Greenland

Barnardo's NAmE noun a British charity that helps children with social, physical and mental problems
From Dr Thomas Barnardo, who opened a home for poor children without parents in London in 1870.

barn dance noun an informal social event at which people dance traditional COUNTRY DANCES

barnet NAmE noun (BrE, informal) a person's hair

barney NAmE noun (BrE, informal) an argument

barn owl noun a BIRD OF PREY (= a bird that kills other creatures for food) of the OWL family, that often makes its nest in BARNS and other buildings

barnstorm NAmE verb (especially NAmE) to travel quickly through an area making political speeches, or getting a lot of attention for your organization, ideas, etc.: [V] He barnstormed across the southern states in an attempt to woo the voters. [also VN]

barnstorming NAmE adj. [only before noun] a barnstorming performance or show of skill in a sports game, etc. is one that people find very exciting to watch: The England striker is having a barnstorming season.

barnyard NAmE noun an area on a farm that is surrounded by farm buildings: barnyard animals

barograph NAmE noun a BAROMETER that records information by drawing a line on a CHART

barometer NAmE noun
1 an instrument for measuring air pressure to show when the weather will change: The barometer is falling (= showing that it will probably rain).
2 something that shows the changes that are happening in an economic, social or political situation: Infant mortality is a reliable barometer of socio-economic conditions.
barometric adj.: barometric pressure

baron noun
1 a NOBLEMAN of the lowest rank. In Britain, barons use the title Lord; in other countries they use the title Baron.
2 a person who owns or controls a large part of a particular industry: a press baron drug barons

baroness NAmE noun
1 a woman who has the same rank as a baron. In Britain, baronesses use the title Lady or Baroness: Baroness Thatcher
2 the wife of a baron

baronet noun (abbr. Bart, Bt) (in Britain) a man who has the lowest rank of honour which can be passed from a father to his son when he dies. Baronets use the title Sir.compare KNIGHT (2)

baronetcy noun (pl. -ies) the rank or position of a baronet

baronial NAmE adj. [usually before noun] connected with or typical of a BARON: a baronial hall

barony noun (pl. -ies)
1 the rank or position of a BARON
2 an area of land that is owned and controlled by a BARON

baroque (also Baroque) NAmE adj. [usually before noun] used to describe European ARCHITECTURE, art and music of the 17th and early 18th centuries that has a grand and highly decorated style: baroque churches/music the baroque period
baroque (also Baroque) noun [sing.]: paintings representative of the baroque

barque NAmE noun a sailing ship with three or more MASTS (= posts that support the sails)

barrack verb [V, VN]
1 (BrE) to shout criticism at players in a game, speakers at a meeting, performers, etc.
2 ~ (for) sb (AustralE, NZE) to shout encouragement to a person or team that you support
barracking noun [U]

barracks noun [C+sing./pl. v.] (pl. barracks)
1 a large building or group of buildings for soldiers to live in: an army barracks The troops were ordered back to barracks.
2 any large ugly building or buildings
barrack adj. [only before noun]: a barrack unit

barracouta noun (pl. barracouta) a long thin fish found in the southern oceans

barracuda NAmE noun a large aggressive fish with sharp teeth, that lives in warm seas

barrage NAmE noun
1 [C, usually sing.] the continuous firing of a large number of guns in a particular direction, especially to protect soldiers while they are attacking or moving towards the enemy: an artillery barrage from at least 1 000 guns
2 [sing.] ~ (of sth) a large number of sth, such as questions or comments, that are directed at sb very quickly, one after the other, often in an aggressive way: a barrage of questions/criticisms/complaints the media's barrage of attacks on the President's wife
3 NAmE [C] a wall or barrier built across a river to store water, prevent a flood, etc.

barrage balloon noun a large BALLOON that floats in the air and is held in place by cables, used in the past to make the progress of enemy aircraft more difficult

barramundi noun (pl. barramundi) a large fish found in rivers in Australia and SE Asia

barrel noun, verb
noun
1 a large round container, usually made of wood or metal, with flat ends and, usually, curved sides: a beer/wine barrel
2 the contents of or the amount contained in a barrel; a unit of measurement in the oil industry equal to between 120 and 159 litres: They got through two barrels of beer. Oil prices fell to $9 a barrel.
3 the part of a gun like a tube through which the bullets are fired: Tom found himself looking down the barrel of a gun. The barrel was aimed directly at me. He fired one barrel and then fired again.
a barrel of laughs (often ironic) very amusing; a lot of fun: Life hasn't exactly been a barrel of laughs lately.
(get/have sb) over a barrel (informal) (to put/have sb) in a situation in which they must accept or do what you want: They've got us over a barrel. Either we agree to their terms or we lose the money.more at LOCK n., SCRAPE v., SHOOT v.
verb (-l-) [V + adv. / prep.] (NAmE, informal) to move very fast in a particular direction, especially in a way that you cannot control: He came barreling down the hill and smashed into a phone booth.

barrel-chested adj. (of a man) having a large rounded chest

barrel organ noun a musical instrument that is played by turning a handle, usually played in the streets for moneysee also ORGAN-GRINDER

barren adj.
1 (of land or soil) not good enough for plants to grow on it: a barren desert a barren landscape (= one that is empty, with few plants)
2 (of plants or trees) not producing fruit or seeds INFERTILE
3 (old-fashioned or formal) (of women or female animals) not able to produce children or young animals INFERTILE
4 [usually before noun] not producing anything useful or successful: The team will come through this barren patch and start to win again.
barrenness noun [U]

barrette noun (NAmE) = HAIRSLIDE

barricade noun, verb
noun a line of objects placed across a road, etc. to stop people from getting past: The police stormed the barricades the demonstrators had put up. a barricade made of doors, chairs and broken tables
verb [VN] to defend or block sth by building a barricade: They barricaded all the doors and windows.
barricade yourself in/inside (sth) to build a barricade in front of you in order to prevent anyone from coming in: He had barricaded himself in his room.

barrier noun
1 an object like a fence that prevents people from moving forward from one place to another: The crowd had to stand behind barriers. Show your ticket at the barrier. The car crashed into the safety barrier and burst into flames.see also CRASH BARRIER
2 ~ (to sth) a problem, rule or situation that prevents sb from doing sth, or that makes sth impossible: the removal of trade barriers Lack of confidence is a psychological barrier to success. Cost should not be a barrier to the use of legal services. The world of Disney is a magical experience that knows no age barriers.
3 ~ (between A and B)| ~ (against sth) something that exists between one thing or person and another and keeps them separate: The Yangtze river is a natural barrier to the north-east. There was no real barrier between reality and fantasy in his mind. Ozone is the earth's barrier against ultra-violet radiation. the language barrier (= when people cannot communicate because they do not speak the same language)
4 a particular amount, level or number which it is difficult to get past: the first player whose earnings passed the $10 million barrier

barrier method noun a method of avoiding becoming pregnant by stopping the SPERM from reaching the egg, for example by using a CONDOM

barrier reef noun a line of rock and CORAL in the sea, often not far from land

barring /br/ prep. except for; unless there is/are: Barring accidents, we should arrive on time.

barrio NAmE noun (from Spanish) (pl. -os)
1 a district of a city in Spain or in another Spanish-speaking country
2 (US) a district of a city in the US where a lot of Spanish-speaking people live

barrister noun a lawyer in Britain who has the right to argue cases in the higher courts of law note at LAWYER

barroom noun a room in which alcoholic drinks are served at a bar: a topic much discussed in barrooms across the country a barroom brawl

barrow NAmE noun
1 (BrE) a small open vehicle with two wheels from which fruit, vegetables, etc. are sold in the street
2 a large pile of earth built over a place where people were buried in ancient times
3 = WHEELBARROW

barrow boy noun (BrE) a man or boy who sells things from a barrow in the street

bar stool noun a tall seat for customers at a bar to sit on

Bart NAmE abbr. BARONET

bartender NAmE noun (especially NAmE) = BARMAID, BARMAN

barter NAmE verb ~ sth (for sth)| ~ (with sb) (for sth) to exchange goods, property, services, etc. for other goods, etc. without using money: [VN] The local people bartered wheat for tools. [V] The prisoners tried to barter with the guards for items like writing paper and books.
barter noun [U]: The islanders use a system of barter instead of money.

basal adj. (technical) forming or belonging to a bottom layer or base: basal cells of the skin

basalt NAmE noun [U] a type of dark rock that comes from VOLCANOES

base noun, verb, adj.
noun
LOWEST PART
1 [C, usually sing.] the lowest part of sth, especially the part or surface on which it rests or stands: the base of a column/glass a pain at the base of the spine The lamp has a heavy base. note at BOTTOM
ORIGINAL IDEA/SITUATION
2 [C] an idea, a fact, a situation, etc. from which sth is developed BASIS: She used her family's history as a base for her novel. His arguments have a sound economic base. note at BASIS
OF SUPPORT/INCOME/POWER
3 [C, usually sing.] the people, activity, etc. from which sb/sth gets most of their support, income, power, etc.: These policies have a broad base of support. an economy with a solid manufacturing base By broadening the tax base (= increasing the number of people who pay taxes) he could raise more revenue.see also CUSTOMER BASE, POWER BASE
FIRST/MAIN SUBSTANCE
4 [C, usually sing.] the first or main part of a substance to which other things are added: a drink with a rum base Put some moisturizer on as a base before applying your make-up.
MAIN PLACE
5 [C] the main place where you live or stay or where a business operates from: I spend a lot of time in Britain but Paris is still my base. The town is an ideal base for touring the area. You can use our apartment as a base in New York. The company has its base in New York, and branch offices all over the world.
OF ARMY, NAVY, etc.
6 [C, U] a place where an army, a navy, etc. operates from: a military/naval base an air base After the attack, they returned to base.
CHEMISTRY
7 [C] a chemical substance, for example an ALKALI, that can combine with an acid to form a salt
MATHEMATICS
8 [C, usually sing.] a number on which a system of counting and expressing numbers is built up, for example 10 in the DECIMAL system and 2 in the BINARY system
IN BASEBALL/ROUNDERS
9 [C] one of the four positions that a player must reach in order to score points
see also DATABASE
off base (NAmE, informal) completely wrong about sth: If that's what you think, you're way off base.more at COVER v., FIRST BASE, TOUCH v.
verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth/yourself in ... to use a particular city, town, etc. as the main place for a business, holiday/vacation, etc.: They decided to base the new company in York. We're going to base ourselves in Tokyo and make trips from there.
base sth on/upon sth to use an idea, a fact, a situation, etc. as the point from which sth can be developed: What are you basing this theory on?see also BASED
adj. (baser, basest) (formal) not having moral principles or rules: He acted from base motives.
basely adv.

baseball noun
1 [U] a game played especially in the US by two teams of nine players, using a BAT and ball. Each player tries to hit the ball and then run around four BASES before the other team can return the ball: a baseball bat/team/stadiumcompare ROUNDERS
2 [C] the ball used in this game

baseball cap noun a cap with a long PEAK (= a curved part sticking out in front), originally worn by BASEBALL players

baseboard NAmE noun (NAmE) = SKIRTING BOARD

base camp noun a camp where people start their journey when climbing high mountains

based adj. [not before noun]
1 ~ (on sth) if one thing is based on another, it uses it or is developed from it: The movie is based on a real-life incident. The report is based on figures from six different European cities.
2 (also in compounds) if a person or business is based in a particular place, that is where they live or work, or where the work of the business is done: We're based in Chicago. a Chicago-based company
3 -based (in compounds) containing sth as an important part or feature: lead-based paints a class-based societysee also BROAD-BASED

base form noun (grammar) the basic form of a word to which endings can usually be added, for example wall is the base form of walls and walled. The base form is the form in which words in the dictionary are usually shown.

base jumping (also BASE jumping) noun [U] the sport of jumping with a PARACHUTE from a high place such as a building or a bridge
base jumper noun

baseless adj. (formal) not supported by good reasons or facts UNFOUNDED: The rumours were completely baseless.

baseline noun [usually sing.]
1 (sport) a line marking each end of the COURT in TENNIS or the edge of the area where a player can run in BASEBALL
2 (technical) a line or measurement that is used as a starting point when comparing facts: The figures for 2001 were used as a baseline for the study.

baseman noun (pl. -men ) (in BASEBALL) a player who defends first, second or third base

basement noun a room or rooms in a building, partly or completely below the level of the ground: Kitchen goods are sold in the basement. a basement flat/apartment

base metal noun a metal that is not a PRECIOUS METAL such as gold

base rate noun (finance) a rate of interest, set by a central bank, that banks in Britain use when calculating the amount of interest that they charge on money they lendcompare PRIME RATE

bases
1 pl. of BASIS
2 pl. of BASE

bash verb, noun
verb (informal)
1 ~ (into sb/sth) to hit sb/sth very hard: [VN] He bashed her over the head with a hammer. [V] I braked too late and bashed into the car in front. note at HIT
2 [VN] to criticize sb/sth strongly: Bashing politicians is normal practice in the press. a liberal-bashing administrationsee also BASHING
bash away (on/at sth)| bash on (with sth) (BrE) to continue working hard at sth: He sat bashing away at his essay all day. We'll never get finished at this rate. We'd better bash on.
bash sthdown/in to destroy sth by hitting it very hard and often: The police bashed the door down. I'll bash your head in if you do that again.
bash sthout to produce sth quickly and in large quantities, but not of very good quality KNOCK OUT: She bashed out about four books a year.
bash sb up (BrE) to attack sb violently
noun (informal)
1 a hard hit: He gave Mike a bash on the nose.
2 a large party or celebration: a birthday bash She gave a big 40th birthday bash for her husband. a Fourth of July bash for 1 500 guests
have a bash (at sth) (BrE, informal) to try to do sth, especially when you are not sure if you will succeed: I'm not sure I'll be any good but I'll have a bash.

bashful adj. shy and easily embarrassed: He was too bashful to talk about sex.
bashfully adv.: She smiled bashfully. bashfulness noun [U]

bashing noun [U, C] (often in compounds)
1 (used especially in newspapers) very strong criticism of a person or group: union-bashing
2 a physical attack, or a series of attacks, on a person or group of people: gay-bashing (= attacking HOMOSEXUALS) to give sb a bashing

BASIC noun [U] a simple language, using familiar English words, for writing computer programs

basic adj.
1 ~ (to sth) forming the part of sth that is most necessary and from which other things develop: basic information/facts/ideas the basic principles of law Drums are basic to African music.
2 of the simplest kind or at the simplest level: The campsite provided only basic facilities. My knowledge of French is pretty basic.
3 [only before noun] necessary and important to all people: basic human rights the cost of basic foods
4 before anything extra is added: The basic pay of the average worker has risen by 3 per cent.

basically adv.
1 in the most important ways, without considering things that are less important ESSENTIALLY: Yes, that's basically correct. The two approaches are basically very similar. There have been some problems but basically it's a good system.
2 used when you are giving your opinion or stating what is important about a situation: Basically, there's not a lot we can do about it. He basically just sits there and does nothing all day. And that's it, basically.

Basic English noun [U] a set of 850 carefully chosen words of English, used for international communication

basics noun [pl.]
1 ~ (of sth) the most important and necessary facts, skills, ideas, etc. from which other things develop: the basics of computer programming This range of books for young children covers basics like the alphabet and numbers.
2 the simplest and most important things that people need in a particular situation: Some schools lack money for basics like books and pencils.
go/get back to basics to think about the simple or most important ideas within a subject or an activity instead of new ideas or complicated details: Managers should get back to basics and examine the kind of products people really want.

basil NAmE noun [U] a plant with shiny green leaves that smell sweet and are used in cooking as a HERB

basilect noun (linguistics) a form of a language that is considered to have a lower status than other formscompare ACROLECT

basilica noun a large church or hall with a curved end and two rows of columns inside

basilisk noun (in ancient stories) a creature like a snake, that can kill people by looking at them or breathing on them

basin noun
1 (especially BrE) = WASHBASIN
2 a large round bowl for holding liquids or (in British English) for preparing foods in; the amount of liquid, etc. in a basin: a pudding basin
3 an area of land around a large river with streams running down into it: the Amazon Basin
4 (technical) a place where the earth's surface is lower than in other areas of the world: the Pacific Basin
5 a sheltered area of water providing a safe HARBOUR for boats: a yacht basin

basis noun (pl. bases )
1 [sing.] the reason why people take a particular action: She was chosen for the job on the basis of her qualifications. Some videos have been banned on the basis that they are too violent.
2 [sing.] the way things are organized or arranged: on a regular/permanent/part-time/temporary basis on a daily/day-to-day/weekly basis
3 [C, usually sing., U] the important facts, ideas or events that support sth and that it can develop from: The basis of a good marriage is trust. This article will form the basis for our discussion. The theory seems to have no basis in fact.

SYNONYMS

basis

foundation base

These are all words for the ideas or facts that sth is based on.

basis [usually sing.] a principle, an idea or a fact that supports sth and that it can develop from: This article will form the basis for our discussion.

foundation [usually sing.] a principle, an idea or a fact that supports sth and that it develops from: Respect and friendship provide a solid foundation for marriage. The rumour is totally without foundation (= is not based on any facts).

BASIS OR FOUNDATION?

Foundation is often used to talk about larger or more important things than basis: He laid the foundation of Japan 's modern economy. These figures formed the basis of their pay claim.

base [usually sing.] an idea, a fact or a situation from which sth is developed: His arguments have a sound economic base.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

a/the basis/foundation/base for/of sth

a secure/solid/sound/strong/weak basis/foundation/base

to form the basis/foundation/base of sth

to give sb/provide (sb with) a/the basis/foundation/base

to threaten/undermine the basis/foundations of sth

to be without basis/foundation

bask NAmE verb [V] ~ (in sth) to enjoy sitting or lying in the heat or light of sth, especially the sun: We sat basking in the warm sunshine. A cat was basking on the windowsill.
bask in sth to enjoy the good feelings that you have when other people praise or admire you, or when they give you a lot of attention: He had always basked in his parents' attention. I never minded basking in my wife's reflected glory (= enjoying the praise, attention, etc. she got).

basket NAmE noun
1 a container for holding or carrying things. Baskets are made of thin strips of material that bends and twists easily, for example plastic, wire or WICKER: a shopping basket a picnic basket a clothes/laundry basket (= in which dirty clothes are put before being washed) a wicker/wire basket a cat/dog basket (= in which a cat or dog sleeps or is carried around)see also WASTE-PAPER BASKET
2 the amount contained in a basket: a basket of fruit
3 the net and the metal ring it hangs from, high up at each end of a BASKETBALL COURT; a point that is scored by throwing the ball through this net: to make/shoot a basket
4 (economics) a number of different goods or CURRENCIES: the value of the rupee against a basket of currencies see EGG n.

basketball NAmE noun
1 [U] a game played by two teams of five players, using a large ball which players try to throw into a high net hanging from a ring: a basketball game/coach/team
2 [C] the ball used in this game

basket case noun (informal)
1 a country or an organization whose economic situation is very bad
2 a person who is slightly crazy and who has problems dealing with situations

basketwork NAmE noun [U]
1 material twisted together in the style of a basket
2 the craft of making baskets, etc.

basking shark noun a large SHARK that swims close to the surface of the ocean

basmati (also basmati rice) noun [U] a type of rice with long grains and a delicate flavour

bas mitzvah noun = BAT MITZVAH

Basque NAmE noun, adj.
noun
1 [C] a person who was born in the Basque country
2 [U] the language of the people living in the Basque country of France and Spain
adj. connected with these people or their language

basque NAmE noun a piece of women's underwear that covers the body from just under the arms to the tops of the legs

bas-relief noun [U, C] a form of SCULPTURE in which the shapes are cut so that they are slightly raised from the background; a SCULPTURE made in this way

bass^1 noun, adj.see also BASS^2
noun
1 [U] the lowest tone or part in music, for instruments or voices: He always plays his stereo with the bass turned right up. He sings bass. a pounding bass linesee also DRUM AND BASScompare TREBLE
2 [C] a man's singing voice with a low range; a man with a bass voicecompare ALTO, BARITONE, TENOR
3 [sing.] a musical part that is written for a bass voice
4 (also bass guitar) [C] an electric GUITAR that plays very low notes: a bass player bass and drums Jackie Carrera on (= playing) bass.
5 [C] = DOUBLE BASS
adj. [only before noun] low in tone: a bass voice the bass clef (= the symbol in music showing that the notes following it are low) compare TREBLE

bass^2 noun [C, U] (pl. bass) a sea or FRESHWATER fish that is used for food: Fresh sea bass is a great delicacy.see also BASS^1

bass drum noun a large drum that makes a very low sound, used in ORCHESTRAS

basset (also basset hound) noun a dog with short legs, a long body and long ears

basset horn noun a type of large CLARINET with a bent MOUTHPIECE and an end piece that turns upwards

bassinet noun (especially NAmE) a small bed for a baby, that looks like a BASKET

bassist noun a person who plays the BASS GUITAR or the DOUBLE BASS

bassoon noun a musical instrument of the WOODWIND group. It is shaped like a large wooden tube with a double REED that you blow into, and produces notes with a low sound.

bassoonist noun a person who plays the bassoon

bastard NAmE noun
1 (taboo, slang) used to insult sb, especially a man, who has been rude, unpleasant or cruel: He's a real bastard. You bastard! You've made her cry.
2 (BrE, slang) a word that some people use about or to sb, especially a man, who they feel very jealous of or sorry for: What a lucky bastard! You poor bastard!
3 (BrE, slang) used about sth that causes difficulties or problems: It's a bastard of a problem.
4 (old-fashioned, disapproving) a person whose parents were not married to each other when he or she was born

bastardize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to copy sth, but change parts of it so that it is not as good as the original: He accused them of bastardizing his music.

baste verb [VN]
1 to pour liquid fat or juices over meat, etc. while it is cooking
2 to sew pieces of cloth together temporarily with long loose STITCHES

bastion noun
1 (formal) a group of people or a system that protects a way of life or a belief when it seems that it may disappear: a bastion of male privilege a bastion of freedom
2 a place that military forces are defending: Singapore was the last bastion of British defences in South-East Asia.

bat noun, verb
noun
1 a piece of wood with a handle, made in various shapes and sizes, and used for hitting the ball in games such as BASEBALL, CRICKET and TABLE TENNIS: a baseball/cricket batcompare RACKET
2 an animal like a mouse with wings, that flies and feeds at night (= it is NOCTURNAL). There are many types of bat.see also FRUIT BAT, OLD BAT, VAMPIRE BAT
like a bat out of hell (informal) very fast: She was driving like a bat out of hell.
off your own bat (BrE, informal) if you do sth off your own bat, it is your own idea and you do it without help or encouragement from anyone else: She made the suggestions entirely off her own bat.more at BLIND adj., RIGHT adv.
verb (-tt-) to hit a ball with a bat, especially in a game of CRICKET or BASEBALL: [V] He bats very well. Who's batting first for the Orioles? [also VN]
bat your eyes/eyelashes to open and close your eyes quickly, in a way that is supposed to be attractive
bat a thousand (NAmE, informal) to be very successful: He's made another sale? He's really batting a thousand!
go to bat for sb (NAmE, informal) to give sb help and support
not bat an eyelid (BrE) (NAmE not bat an eye) (informal) to show no surprise or embarrassment when sth unusual happens: She didn't bat an eyelid when I told her my news.
bat stharound (informal) to discuss whether an idea or a plan is good or not, before deciding what to do: It's just an idea we've been batting around.

batch noun, verb
noun
1 a number of people or things that are dealt with as a group: Each summer a new batch of students tries to find work. He worked his way through the batch of letters on his desk. We deliver the goods in batches.
2 an amount of food, medicine, etc. produced at one time: a batch of cookies loaves of bread baked in batches of 20 It is necessary to make new batches of flu vaccine whenever a different, virulent strain of flu makes an appearance.
3 (computing) a set of jobs that are processed together on a computer: to process a batch job a batch file/program
verb to put things into groups in order to deal with them: [VN] The service will be improved by batching and sorting enquiries. [also V]

batchmate noun (IndE) a person who is or was in the same year group as you at school or college

batch processing noun [U] (computing) a way of running a group of programs at the same time, usually automatically

bated adj.
with bated breath (formal) feeling very anxious or excited: We waited with bated breath for the winner to be announced.

bath NAmE noun, verb
noun (pl. baths NAmE )
1 [C] (BrE) (also bathtub, informal tub NAmE, BrE) a large, long container that you put water in and then get into to wash your whole bodysee also BIRD BATH
2 [C] (BrE) the water in a bath/ BATHTUB, ready to use: a long soak in a hot bath Please run a bath for me (= fill the bath with water).
3 [C] an act of washing your whole body by sitting or lying in water: I think I'll have a bath and go to bed. (especially NAmE) to take a bathsee also BUBBLE BATH
4 baths [pl.] (old-fashioned, BrE) a public building where you can go to swim: My father took me to the baths every Sunday.see also SWIMMING BATH, SWIMMING POOL
5 [C, usually pl.] a public place where people went in the past to wash or have a bath: Roman villas and bathssee also TURKISH BATH
6 [C] (technical) a container with a liquid such as water or a DYE in it, in which sth is washed or placed for a period of time. Baths are used in industrial, chemical and medical processes.see also BLOODBATH
take a bath (NAmE) to lose money on a business agreement
verb (BrE) (NAmE bathe)
1 [VN] to give a bath to sb: It's your turn to bath the baby.
2 [V] (old-fashioned) to have a bath

WHICH WORD?

bath / bathe / swim / sunbathe

When you wash yourself you can say that you bath (BrE) or bathe (NAmE), but it is much more common to say have a bath (BrE) or take a bath (NAmE).

You can also bath (BrE) or bathe (NAmE) another person, for example a baby.

You bathe a part of your body, especially to clean a wound.

When you go swimming it is old-fashioned to say that you bathe, and you cannot say that you bath or take a bath. It is more common to swim, go for a swim, have a swim or go swimming: Let's go for a quick swim in the pool.She goes swimming every morning before breakfast. What you wear for this activity is usually called a swimming costume in BrE and a bathing suit in NAmE.

When you lie in the sun in order to go brown you sunbathe.

Bath bun noun (BrE) a small round cake made of sweet bread with CURRANTS in and sugar on top

bath chair noun a special chair with wheels, used in the past for moving a person who was sick or old

bathe verb, noun
verb
1 [VN] to wash sth with water, especially a part of your body: Bathe the wound and apply a clean dressing. note at CLEAN
2 (NAmE) = BATH: [VN] Have you bathed the baby yet? [V] I bathe every day. note at BATH
3 [V] (old-fashioned) to go swimming in the sea, a river, etc. for enjoymentsee also SUNBATHE
4 [VN] ~ sth (in sth) (literary) to fill or cover sth with light: The moon bathed the countryside in a silver light.
noun [sing.] (BrE, formal) an act of swimming in the sea, a river, etc.: to go for a bathe

bathed adj. ~ in sth
1 (literary) covered with light: The castle was bathed in moonlight.
2 wet because covered with sweat or tears: I was so nervous that I was bathed in perspiration.

bather noun
1 [C] (BrE) a person who is swimming in the sea, a river, etc.
2 bathers [pl.] (AustralE) = SWIMMING COSTUME, SWIMMING TRUNKS

bathhouse NAmE noun
1 a public building in which there are baths, steam rooms, etc.
2 (NAmE) a building in which you change your clothes for swimming

bathing noun [U] (BrE) the activity of going into the sea, a river, etc. to swim: facilities for bathing and boating a safe bathing beach

bathing cap noun (especially NAmE) = SWIMMING CAP

bathing costume noun (BrE, old-fashioned) = SWIMMING COSTUME

bathing machine noun a shelter with wheels that people in the past went into to put swimming clothes on, which was then pulled to the edge of the sea so they could swim from it

bathing suit noun (NAmE or old-fashioned) = SWIMMING COSTUME

bath mat noun
1 a piece of material that you put beside the bath/ BATHTUB to stand on when you get out
2 a piece of rubber that you put on the bottom of the bath/ BATHTUB so that you do not slip

bathos NAmE noun [U] (formal) (in writing or speech) a sudden change, that is not always intended, from a serious subject or feeling to sth that is silly or not important: a serious play with moments of comic bathos

bathrobe NAmE (also robe) noun
1 a loose piece of clothing worn before and after taking a bath
2 (NAmE) = DRESSING GOWN

bathroom NAmE noun
1 a room in which there is a bath/ BATHTUB, a WASHBASIN and often a toilet: Go and wash your hands in the bathroom.
2 (NAmE) a room in which there is a toilet, a SINK and sometimes a bath/ BATHTUB or shower: I have to go to the bathroom (= use the toilet). Where's the bathroom? (= for example in a restaurant) note at TOILET

bathtub NAmE noun (especially NAmE) = BATH

bathwater NAmE noun [U] water in a bath/ BATHTUB see BABY n.

bathysphere NAmE noun a round container in which a person can be carried down to the deep ocean, usually used for scientific study

batik noun [U, C] a method of printing patterns on cloth using WAX (= a solid substance made from fat or oil) on the parts that will not have any colour; a piece of cloth printed in this way: a batik dress an exhibition of batiks and sculpture

batman noun (pl. -men ) (BrE) the personal servant of an officer in the armed forces

bat mitzvah (also bas mitzvah) noun
1 a ceremony and celebration that is held for a Jewish girl between the ages of 12 and 14 at which she accepts the religious responsibilities of an adult
2 the girl who is celebrating this occasioncompare BAR MITZVAH

baton NAmE noun
1 (especially BrE) = TRUNCHEON: a baton charge (= one made by police carrying batons, to force a crowd back)
2 a thin light stick used by the person (called a CONDUCTOR) who is in control of an ORCHESTRA, etc.: The orchestra played brilliantly under Previn's baton.
3 a small light stick that one member of a team in a RELAY race passes to the next person to run: to pass/hand over the baton (figurative) The President handed over the baton (= passed responsibility) to his successor.
4 a long stick that is held and thrown in the air by a person marching in front of a band, or by a MAJORETTE

baton round noun (BrE) a rubber or plastic bullet that is fired to control a crowd that has become violent

batsman noun (pl. -men ) (in CRICKET) the player who is hitting the ball

battalion noun
1 (BrE) a large group of soldiers that form part of a BRIGADE
2 (formal) a large group of people, especially an organized group with a particular purpose: a battalion of supporters

batten noun, verb
noun (technical) a long strip of wood that is used to keep other building materials in place on a wall or roof
verb
batten down the hatches
1 to prepare yourself for a period of difficulty or trouble: A natural tendency in times of recession is to batten down the hatches and think about our own needs.
2 (on a ship) to firmly shut all the entrances to the lower part, especially because a storm is expected
batten sthdown to fix sth firmly in position with wooden boards: He was busy battening down all the shutters and doors.
batten on sb (BrE, disapproving, formal) to live well by using other people's money, etc.

Battenberg NAmE (also Battenberg cake) noun [C, U] a cake made from two cakes that are different colours, covered with MARZIPAN

batter verb, noun
verb [often passive] ~ at/on sth| ~ sb/sth to hit sb/sth hard many times, especially in a way that causes serious damage: [V] She battered at the door with her fists. [VN] He had been badly battered about the head and face. Somebody had battered her to death. Severe winds have been battering the north coast. note at BEAT
batter sthdown to hit sth hard many times until it breaks or comes down: The police had to batter the door down.
noun
1 [U, C] a mixture of eggs, milk and flour used in cooking to cover food such as fish or chicken before you fry it, or to make PANCAKES
2 [U, C] (NAmE) a mixture of eggs, milk, flour, etc. used for making cakes
3 [C] (NAmE) (in BASEBALL) the player who is hitting the ball

battered NAmE adj.
1 old, used a lot, and not in very good condition: a battered old car
2 [usually before noun] attacked violently and injured; attacked and badly damaged by weapons or by bad weather: battered women/children The child had suffered what has become known as 'battered baby syndrome.' Rockets and shells continued to hit the battered port. After the hurricane, thousands were rescued from the battered coastal towns.

battering noun [U, sing.] a violent attack that injures or damages sb/sth: wife battering (figurative) The film took a battering from critics in the US.

battering ram noun a long, heavy piece of wood used in war in the past for breaking down doors and walls

battery noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a device that is placed inside a car engine, clock, radio, etc. and that produces the electricity that makes it work: to replace the batteries a rechargeable battery battery-powered/-operated a car battery The battery is flat (= it is no longer producing electricity).
2 [C] ~ (of sth) a large number of things or people of the same type: He faced a battery of questions. a battery of reporters
3 [C] (technical) a number of large guns that are used together
4 [C] (BrE) (often used as an adjective) a number of small CAGES that are joined together and are used for keeping chickens, etc. in on a farm: a battery hen battery eggscompare FREE-RANGE
5 [U] (law) the crime of attacking sb physicallysee also ASSAULT AND BATTERY see RECHARGE

battery farm noun (BrE) a farm where large numbers of chickens or other animals are kept in very small CAGES or crowded conditionscompare FACTORY FARM, FREE-RANGE
battery farming noun [U]

battle noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] a fight between armies, ships or planes, especially during a war; a violent fight between groups of people: the battle of Waterloo to be killed in battle a gun battle to go into battlesee also PITCHED BATTLE
2 [C] ~ (with sb) (for sth) a competition, an argument or a struggle between people or groups of people trying to win power or control: a legal battle for compensation a battle with an insurance company a battle of wits (= when each side uses their ability to think quickly to try to win) a battle of wills (= when each side is very determined to win) the battle of the sexes the endless battle between man and nature note at CAMPAIGN
3 [C, usually sing.] ~ (against/for sth) a determined effort that sb makes to solve a difficult problem or succeed in a difficult situation: her long battle against cancer to fight an uphill battle against prejudice a battle for survival his battle with alcoholism
the battle lines are drawn used to say that people or groups have shown which side they intend to support in an argument or contest that is going to begin
do battle (with sb) (over sth) to fight or argue with sb: He was quite prepared to do battle with his boss over his promotion.
half the battle the most important or difficult part of achieving sth: When you've got a difficult day ahead, getting a good night's sleep is often half the battle.more at FIGHT v., JOIN v.
verb~ (with/against sb/sth) (for sth) to try very hard to achieve sth difficult or to deal with sth unpleasant or dangerous: [V] She's still battling with a knee injury. Both teams battled hard. The two leaders are battling for control of the government. We had to battle against the elements to reach safety. It's vital that we keep battling away at the problem. I had to battle hard just to stay afloat. [VN] The two sides will battle it out in the final next week. (NAmE) He battled cancer for four years.

battleaxe (BrE) (NAmE battleax) noun
1 (informal, disapproving) an aggressive and unpleasant older woman: My landlady is an old battleaxe and has far too many house rules.
2 a heavy AXE with a long handle, used in the past as a weapon

battlecruiser noun a large fast ship used in war in the past, faster and lighter than a BATTLESHIP

battle cry noun
1 a shout that soldiers used to give in battle to encourage their own army or to frighten the enemy
2 a word or phrase used by a group of people who work together for a particular purpose, especially a political one

battledress noun [U] (BrE) the uniform that soldiers wear for training and when they go to fight

battle fatigue noun [U] = COMBAT FATIGUE

battle fatigues noun [pl.] = COMBAT FATIGUES

battlefield (also battleground ) noun
1 a place where a battle is being fought or has been fought: heavy casualties on the battlefield
2 a subject that people feel strongly about and argue about

battlements noun [pl.] a low wall around the top of a castle with spaces in it that people inside could shoot through

battle-scarred adj. a person or place that is battle-scarred has been in a war or fight and shows the signs of injury or damage: the battle-scarred regions in the north of the country

battleship noun a very large ship used in war, with big guns and heavy ARMOUR (= metal plates that cover the ship to protect it)

batty adj. (informal, especially BrE) (of people or ideas) slightly crazy, in a harmless way: a batty old man note at MAD

bauble noun
1 a piece of jewellery that is cheap and has little artistic value
2 (BrE) a decoration for a Christmas tree in the shape of a ball

baud noun (computing) a unit for measuring the speed at which electronic signals and information are sent from one computer to another

Bauhaus noun [U] (from German) a style and movement in German ARCHITECTURE and design in the early 20th century that was influenced by the methods and materials used in industry and placed emphasis on how things would be used

baulk (BrE) (NAmE usually balk) verb
1 [V] ~ (at sth) to be unwilling to do sth or become involved in sth because it is difficult, dangerous, etc.: Many parents may baulk at the idea of paying $100 for a pair of shoes. He baulked for a moment. 'I can't afford it,' he finally admitted.
2 [V] ~ (at sth) (of a horse) to stop suddenly and refuse to jump a fence, etc.
3 [VN] ~ sb (of sth) [usually passive] (formal) to prevent sb from getting sth or doing sth: She looked like a lion baulked of its prey.

bauxite noun [U] a soft mineral from which ALUMINIUM/ALUMINUM is obtained

bawd noun (old use) a woman who was in charge of a BROTHEL (= a house where men pay to have sex)

bawdy adj. (bawdier, bawdiest) (old-fashioned) (of songs, plays, etc.) loud, and dealing with sex in an amusing way

bawl verb
1 ~ (sth) (at sb)| ~ (sth) (out) to shout loudly, especially in an unpleasant or angry way: [V] She bawled at him in front of everyone. Some noisy students were bawling for more food. [VN] He sat in his office bawling orders at his secretary. [V speech] 'Get in here now!' she bawled.
2 to cry loudly, especially in an unpleasant and annoying way: [V] A child was bawling in the next room. [VN] He was bawling his eyes out (= crying very loudly). [also V speech]
bawl sbout (informal) to speak angrily to sb because they have done sth wrong: The teacher bawled him out for being late.

bay noun, verb, adj.
noun
1 [C] a part of the sea, or of a large lake, partly surrounded by a wide curve of the land: the Bay of Bengal Hudson Bay a magnificent view across the bay
2 [C] a marked section of ground either inside or outside a building, for example for a vehicle to park in, for storing things, etc.: a parking/loading bay Put the equipment in No 3 bay.see also SICKBAY
3 [C] a curved area of a room or building that sticks out from the rest of the building
4 [C] a horse of a dark brown colour: He was riding a big bay.
5 [C] a deep noise, especially the noise made by dogs when hunting
6 (also sweet bay) [C] = BAY TREE
7 [U] a HERB used to give flavour to food, made of the leaves of the bay tree
at bay when an animal that is being hunted is at bay, it must turn and face the dogs and HUNTERS because it is impossible to escape from them
hold/keep sb/sth at bay to prevent an enemy from coming close or a problem from having a bad effect WARD OFF: I'm trying to keep my creditors at bay. Charlotte bit her lip to hold the tears at bay.
verb [V]
1 (of a dog or WOLF) to make a long deep sound, especially while hunting HOWL: a pack of baying hounds
2 ~ (for sth) (usually used in the progressive tenses) to demand sth in a loud and angry way: The referee's decision left the crowd baying for blood (= threatening violence towards him).
adj. (of a horse) dark brown in colour: a bay mare

bay leaf noun the dried leaf of the BAY TREE that is used in cooking as a HERB

bayonet noun, verb
noun a long, sharp knife that is fastened onto the end of a RIFLE and used as a weapon in battle
verb [VN] to push a bayonet into sb in order to kill them: Innocent civilians had been shot and bayoneted.

bayou noun a branch of a river in the southern US that moves very slowly and has many plants growing in it

bay tree (also bay) noun a small tree with dark green leaves with a sweet smell that are used in cookingsee also BAY LEAF

bay window noun a large window, usually with glass on three sides, that sticks out from the outside wall of a house

bazaar noun
1 (in some Eastern countries) a street or an area of a town where there are many small shops
2 (in Britain, the US, etc.) a sale of goods, often items made by hand, to raise money for a charity or for people who need help

bazooka noun a long gun, shaped like a tube, which is held on the shoulder and used to fire ROCKETS at military vehicles

bazoom noun [usually pl.] (informal, especially NAmE) a woman's breast

BBC abbr. British Broadcasting Corporation. The BBC is a national organization which broadcasts television and radio programmes and which is paid for by the public and not by advertising: The news is on BBC One at 6. BBC Radio 5

the BBC World Service noun [sing.] a department of the BBC which broadcasts programmes, including news programmes, in English and many other languages to other countries

BBQ abbr. BARBECUE

BBS noun [C, U] (computing) bulletin board system (a system which allows a group of people to leave messages which the others in the group can read and reply to)

BC (BrE) (US B.C.) abbr. before Christ (used in the Christian CALENDAR to show a particular number of years before the year when Christ is believed to have been born): in (the year) 2000 BC the third century BCcompare AD, AH, BCE, CE

BCE (also B.C.E. especially in NAmE) abbr. before the Common Era (= before the birth of Christ, when the Christian CALENDAR starts counting years. BCE can be used to give dates in the same way as BC): in (the year) 2 000 BCE the third century BCEcompare AD, BC, CE

be strong form verb, auxiliary verb IRREGULAR VERBS
verb
1 linking verb [V-N] there is/are to exist; to be present: Is there a God? Once upon a time there was a princess ... I tried phoning but there was no answer. There's a bank down the road. Was there a pool at the hotel?
2 [V + adv. / prep.] to be located; to be in a place: The town is three miles away. If you're looking for your file, it's on the table. Mary's upstairs.
3 [V + adv. / prep.] to happen at a time or in a place: The party is on Friday evening. The meetings are always in the main conference room.
4 [V + adv. / prep.] to remain in a place: She has been in her room for hours. They're here till Christmas.
5 [V + adv. / prep.] to attend an event; to be present in a place: I'll be at the party. He'll be here soon (= will arrive soon).
6 [V + adv. / prep.] (only used in the perfect tenses) to visit or call: I've never been to Spain. He had been abroad many times. (BrE) Has the postman been yet? (NAmE) Has the mailman come yet?
7 [V] ~ from ... used to say where sb was born or where their home is: She's from Italy.
8 linking verb used when you are naming people or things, describing them or giving more information about them: [V-N] Today is Monday. 'Who is that?' 'It's my brother.' She's a great beauty. Susan is a doctor. He wants to be (= become) a pilot when he grows up. [V-ADJ] It's beautiful! Life is unfair. He is ten years old. 'How are you?' 'I'm very well, thanks.' Be quick! [V (that)] The fact is (that) we don't have enough money. [V -ing, V to inf] The problem is getting it all done in the time available. The problem is to get it all done in the time available.
9 linking verbit is/was used when you are describing a situation or saying what you think about it: [V-ADJ] It was really hot in the sauna. It's strange how she never comes to see us any more. He thinks it's clever to make fun of people. [V-N] It would be a shame if you lost it. It's going to be a great match.
10 linking verbit is/was used to talk about time: [V-N] It's two thirty. [V-ADJ] It was late at night when we finally arrived.
11 linking verb [V-N] used to say what sth is made of: Is your jacket real leather?
12 linking verb [V] ~ mine, yours, etc.| ~ for me, you, etc. used to say who sth belongs to or who it is intended for: The money's not yours, it's John's. This package is for you.
13 linking verb [V-N] to cost: 'How much is that dress?' 'Eighty dollars.' note at COST
14 linking verb [V-N] to be equal to: Three and three is six. How much is a thousand pounds in euros? Let x be the sum of a and b. London is not England (= do not think that all of England is like London).
15 linking verb [V-N] ~ everything, nothing, etc. (to sb) used to say how important sth is to sb: Money isn't everything (= it is not the only important thing). A thousand dollars is nothing to somebody as rich as he is.
Most idioms containing be are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example be the death of sb is at death. the be-all and end-all (of sth) (informal) the most important part; all that matters: Her career is the be-all and end-all of her existence.
as/that was as sb/sth used to be called: Jill Davis that was (= before her marriage) the Soviet Union, as was
(he, she, etc. has) been and done sth (BrE, informal) used to show that you are surprised and annoyed by sth that sb has done: Someone's been and parked in front of the entrance!see also GO AND DO STH
if it wasn't/weren't for ... used to say that sb/sth stopped sb/sth from happening: If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be alive today.
leave/let sb/sth be to leave sb/sth alone without disturbing them or it: Leave her be, she obviously doesn't want to talk about it. Let the poor dog be (= don't annoy it).
-to-be (in compounds) future: his bride-to-be mothers-to-be (= pregnant women)
auxiliary verb
1 used with a past participle to form the passive: He was killed in the war. Where were they made? The house was still being built. You will be told what to do.
2 used with a present participle to form progressive tenses: I am studying Chinese. I'll be seeing him soon. What have you been doing this week? I'm always being criticized.
3 used to make QUESTION TAGS (= short questions added to the end of statements): You're not hungry, are you? Ben's coming, isn't he? The old theatre was pulled down, wasn't it?
4 used to avoid repeating the full form of a verb in the passive or a progressive tense: Karen wasn't beaten in any of her games, but all the others were. 'Are you coming with us?' 'No, I'm not.'
5 ~ to do sth used to say what must or should be done: I am to call them once I reach the airport. You are to report this to the police. What is to be done about this problem?
6 ~ to do sth used to say what is arranged to happen: They are to be married in June.
7 ~ to do sth used to say what happened later: He was to regret that decision for the rest of his life (= he did regret it).
8 ~ not, never, etc. to be done used to say what could not or did not happen: Anna was nowhere to be found (= we could not find her anywhere). He was never to see his wife again (= although he did not know it would be so at the time, he did not see her again). She wanted to write a successful novel, but it was not to be (= it turned out never to happen).
9 if sb/it were to do sth ...| were sb/it to do sth ... (formal) used to express a condition: If we were to offer you more money, would you stay? Were we to offer you more money, would you stay?

be- prefix
1 (in verbs) to make or treat sb/sth as: Don't belittle his achievements (= say they are not important). An older girl befriended me.
2 (in adjectives ending in -ed) wearing or covered with: heavily bejewelled fingers bespattered with mud
3 (in verbs and adjectives ending in -ed) to cause sth to be: The ship was becalmed. The rebels besieged the fort.
4 used to turn INTRANSITIVE verbs (= without an object) into TRANSITIVE verbs (= with an object): She is always bemoaning her lot.

beach noun, verb
noun an area of sand, or small stones (called SHINGLE), beside the sea or a lake: tourists sunbathing on the beach a sandy/pebble/shingle beach a beach bar note at COAST
verb to come or bring sth out of the water and onto the beach: [VN] He beached the boat and lifted the boy onto the shore. a beached whale (= one that has become stuck on land and cannot get back into the water) [also V]

beach ball noun a large, light, coloured plastic ball that people play games with on the beach

beach buggy (also dune buggy) noun a small car used for driving on sand

beachcomber NAmE noun a person who walks along beaches collecting interesting or valuable things, either for pleasure or to sell

beachhead noun a strong position on a beach from which an army that has just landed prepares to go forward and attacksee also BRIDGEHEAD

beach volleyball noun [U] a form of VOLLEYBALL played on sand by teams of two players

beachwear NAmE noun [U] (used especially in shops/stores) clothes for wearing on the beach

beacon noun
1 a light that is placed somewhere to guide vehicles and warn them of danger: a navigation beacon (figurative) He was a beacon of hope for the younger generation.see also BELISHA BEACON
2 a radio station whose signal helps ships and aircraft to find their position: The plane was guided in by radio beacon.
3 (in the past) a fire lit on top of a hill as a signal

Beacon Hill noun an old, fashionable area of Boston in the US, where many rich families and politicians live

beacon school noun (BrE) a school that is officially recognized as being of a very high standard and a good example for other schools to follow

bead noun
1 [C] a small piece of glass, wood, etc. with a hole through it, that can be put on a string with others of the same type and worn as jewellery, etc.: a necklace of wooden beads A bead curtain separated the two rooms.see also WORRY BEADS
2 beads [pl.] a ROSARY: In one of the pews a woman was fingering her beads.
3 [C] a small drop of liquid: There were beads of sweat on his forehead.
draw/get a bead on sb/sth (especially NAmE) to aim carefully at sb/sth before shooting a gun: One of the police officers drew a bead on the gunman and fired.

beaded adj.
1 decorated with beads: a beaded dress
2 ~ with sth with small drops of a liquid on it: His face was beaded with sweat.

beading noun [U]
1 a strip of wood, stone or plastic with a pattern on it, used for decorating walls, doors and furniture
2 BEADS that are sewn together and used as a decoration on clothes

beady adj. (of eyes) small, round and bright; watching everything closely or with suspicion: (BrE) I shall certainly keep a beady eye on his behaviour. I could just see the bird's open beak and small beady eyes.

beady-eyed adj. (informal) watching carefully and noticing every small detail: We were being watched by a beady-eyed security guard.

beagle noun a small dog with short legs, used in hunting

beak noun
1 the hard pointed or curved outer part of a bird's mouth BILL: The gull held the fish in its beak.
2 (humorous) a person's nose, especially when it is large and/or pointed
3 (old-fashioned, BrE, slang) a person in a position of authority, especially a judge

beaked adj. (usually in compounds) having a beak, or the type of beak mentioned: flat-beaked beaked whales

beaker noun
1 (BrE) a plastic or paper cup, often without a handle, used for drinking from
2 (BrE) the amount contained in a beaker: a beaker of coffee
3 a glass cup with straight sides and a lip, used in chemistry, for example for measuring liquids

beam noun, verb
noun
1 a line of light, electric waves or PARTICLES: narrow beams of light/sunlight the beam of a torch/flashlight a laser/electron beam (BrE) The car's headlights were on full beam (= shining as brightly as possible and not directed downwards). (NAmE) a car with its high beams on
2 a long piece of wood, metal, etc. used to support weight, especially as part of the roof in a building: The cottage had exposed oak beams.
3 (especially BrE) (NAmE usually balance beam) a wooden bar that is used in the sport of GYMNASTICS for people to move and balance on: The gymnast performed a somersault on the beam.
4 a wide and happy smile: a beam of satisfaction
off beam (informal) not correct; wrong: Your calculation is way off beam.
verb
1 [no passive] ~ (sth) (at sb) to have a big happy smile on your face: [V] He beamed at the journalists. She was positively beaming with pleasure. [VN] The barman beamed a warm smile at her. His broad face beamed a hearty welcome. [V speech] 'I'd love to come,' she beamed (= said with a large smile).
2 [VN + adv. / prep.] to send radio or television signals over long distances using electronic equipment: Live pictures of the ceremony were beamed around the world.
3 [V + adv. / prep.] to produce a stream of light and/or heat: The morning sun beamed down on us. Light beamed through a hole in the curtain. see EAR

beamed adj. having beams of wood: a high beamed ceiling

bean noun, verb
noun
1 a seed, or POD containing seeds, of a climbing plant, eaten as a vegetable. There are several types of bean and the plants that they grow on are also called beans: broad beans runner beans beans (= BAKED BEANS) on toast
2 (usually in compounds) a seed from a coffee plant, or some other plants: coffee/cocoa beanssee also JELLY BEAN
full of beans/life having a lot of energy
not have a bean (BrE, informal) to have no moneymore at HILL, KNOW v., SPILL v.
verb [VN] (NAmE, informal) to hit sb on the head: I got beaned by a rock someone threw.

beanbag noun
1 a very large bag made of cloth and filled with small pieces of plastic, used for sitting on
2 a small bag made of cloth filled with BEANS or small pieces of plastic and used as a ball

bean counter noun (informal, disapproving) a person who works with money, for example as an ACCOUNTANT and who wants to keep strict control of how much money a company spends: a corporate bean counter keeping track of every penny

bean curd noun [U] = TOFU

beanfeast noun (old-fashioned, BrE) a party or celebration

beanie noun a small, round close-fitting hat

beano NAmE noun (pl. -os) (BrE, informal) a party

beanpole NAmE noun (informal, usually disapproving) a tall thin person

bean sprouts noun [pl.] BEAN seeds that are just beginning to grow, often eaten raw

beanstalk noun the tall fast-growing STEM of a BEAN plant

bear NAmE verb, noun
verb (bore borne NAmE )
ACCEPT/DEAL WITH
1 (used with can/could in negative sentences and questions) to be able to accept and deal with sth unpleasant STAND: [VN] The pain was almost more than he could bear. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him. [V -ing] I can't bear having cats in the house. [V to inf] How can you bear to eat that stuff? [V -ing, V to inf] He can't bear being laughed at. He can't bear to be laughed at. [also VN -ing] note at HATE
NOT BE SUITABLE
2 not ~ sth/doing sth to not be suitable for sth: [VN] Her later work does not bear comparison with her earlier novels (= because it is not nearly as good). The plan won't bear close inspection (= it will be found to be unacceptable when carefully examined). [V -ing] The joke doesn't bear repeating (= because it is not funny or may offend people). His sufferings don't bear thinking about (= because they are so terrible).
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR STH
3 [VN] (formal) to take responsibility for sth: She bore the responsibility for most of the changes. Do parents have to bear the whole cost of tuition fees? You shouldn't have to bear the blame for other people's mistakes.
NEGATIVE FEELING
4 ~ sth (against/towards sb)| ~ sb sth to have a feeling, especially a negative feeling: [VN] He bears no resentment towards them. [VNN] She bore him no ill will. [VN, VNN] He's borne a grudge against me ever since that day. He's borne me a grudge ever since that day.
SUPPORT WEIGHT
5 [VN] to support the weight of sb/sth: The ice is too thin to bear your weight.
SHOW
6 [VN] (formal) to show sth; to carry sth so that it can be seen: The document bore her signature. He was badly wounded in the war and still bears the scars. She bears little resemblance to (= is not much like) her mother. The title of the essay bore little relation to (= was not much connected with) the contents.
NAME
7 [VN] (formal) to have a particular name: a family that bore an ancient and honoured name
CARRY
8 [VN] (old-fashioned or formal) to carry sb/sth, especially while moving: three kings bearing gifts
YOURSELF
9 [VN] ~ yourself well, etc. (formal) to move, behave or act in a particular way: He bears himself (= stands, walks, etc.) proudly, like a soldier. She bore herself with dignity throughout the funeral.
CHILD
10 (formal) to give birth to a child: [VN] She was not able to bear children. [VNN] She had borne him six sons.
OF TREES/PLANTS
11 [VN] (formal) to produce flowers or fruit
TURN
12 [V] ~ (to the) left, north, etc. to go or turn in the direction mentioned: When you get to the fork in the road, bear right.
bear arms (old use) to be a soldier; to fight
bear fruit to have a successful result
bear hard, heavily, severely, etc. on sb (formal) to be a cause of difficulty or suffering to sb: Taxation bears heavily on us all.
be borne in on sb (formal, especially BrE) to be realized by sb, especially after a period of time: It was gradually borne in on us that defeat was inevitable.
bring sth to bear (on sb/sth) (formal) to use energy, pressure, influence, etc. to try to achieve sth or make sb do sth: We must bring all our energies to bear upon the task. Pressure was brought to bear on us to finish the work on time.more at BRUNT, CROSS n., GRIN v., MIND n., WITNESS n.
bear down on sb/sth
1 (especially BrE) to move quickly towards sb/sth in a determined or threatening way
2 (especially NAmE) to press on sb/sth: Bear down on it with all your strength so it doesn't move.
bear on sth (formal) to relate to sth AFFECT: These are matters that bear on the welfare of the community.
bear sb/sthout (especially BrE) to show that sb is right or that sth is true: The other witnesses will bear me out. The other witnesses will bear out what I say.
bear up (against/under sth) to remain as cheerful as possible during a difficult time: He's bearing up well under the strain of losing his job. 'How are you?' 'Bearing up.'
bear with sb/sth to be patient with sb/sth: She's under a lot of strain. Just bear with her. If you will bear with me (= be patient and listen to me) a little longer, I'll answer your question.
noun
1 a heavy wild animal with thick fur and sharp CLAWS (= pointed parts on the ends of its feet). There are many types of bear: a black bearsee also GRIZZLY BEAR, POLAR BEAR, TEDDY BEAR
2 (finance) a person who sells shares in a company, etc., hoping to buy them back later at a lower pricecompare BULLsee also BEARISH
like a bear with a sore head (informal) bad-tempered or in a bad-tempered way: I should keep out of his way. He's like a bear with a sore head this morning.

bearable NAmE adj. a person or thing that is bearable can be accepted or dealt with: She was the only thing that made life bearable. UNBEARABLE

beard NAmE noun, verb
noun [C, U] hair that grows on the chin and cheeks of a man's face; similar hair that grows on some animals: He has decided to grow a beard and a moustache. a week's growth of beard a goat's beard a false beardcompare MOUSTACHE
bearded adj.: a bearded face/man
verb [VN]
to beard the lion in his den to go to see an important or powerful person to tell them that you disagree with them, that you want sth, etc.

beardie NAmE noun (BrE, informal, disapproving) a man with a beard

bearer NAmE noun
1 a person whose job it is to carry sth, especially at a ceremony: coffin bearerssee also PALL-BEARER, RING BEARER, STANDARD-BEARER, STRETCHER-BEARER
2 a person who brings a message, a letter, etc.: I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
3 (formal) a person who has sth with them or is the official owner of sth, such as a document: A pass will allow the bearer to enter the building.
4 a person who has knowledge of sth, such as an idea or a tradition, and makes sure that it is not forgotten, by teaching others about it: In many societies, women play an important role as bearers of cultures and traditions.

bear hug noun an act of showing affection for sb by holding them very tightly and strongly in your arms

bearing NAmE noun
1 [U] ~ on sth the way in which sth is related to sth or influences it: Recent events had no bearing on our decision. Regular exercise has a direct bearing on fitness and health. Her comments didn't have much bearing on the subject.
2 [sing.] the way in which you stand, walk or behave: Her whole bearing was alert. a man of upright, military bearing
3 [C] (technical) a direction measured from a fixed point using a COMPASS: They took compass bearings on the tower.
4 [C] (technical) a part of a machine that supports a moving part, especially one that is turningsee also BALL BEARING
get/find/take your bearings to make yourself familiar with your surroundings in order to find out where you are or to feel comfortable in a place: He paused at the top of the hill, trying to get his bearings.
lose your bearings to become lost or confused

bearish NAmE adj. (finance) showing or expecting a fall in the prices of shares: a bearish market Japanese banks remain bearish.compare BULLISH

bear market noun (finance) a period during which people are selling shares, etc. rather than buying, because they expect the prices to fallcompare BULL MARKET

Béarnaise sauce NAmE noun [U] a sauce which contains eggs and HERBS

bearskin NAmE noun
1 the skin and fur of a BEAR: a bearskin rug
2 a tall hat of black fur worn for special ceremonies by some British soldiers

beast noun
1 (old-fashioned or formal) an animal, especially one that is large or dangerous, or one that is unusual: wild/savage/ferocious beasts mythical beasts such as unicorns and dragons
2 a person who is cruel and whose behaviour is uncontrolled ANIMAL
3 (informal, often humorous) an unpleasant person or thing: The maths exam was a real beast.
4 (informal) a thing of a particular kind ANIMAL: His new guitar is a very expensive beast.

beastly adj. (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) unpleasant HORRIBLE, NASTY: Don't be so beastly to him! This car's been nothing but troubleI wish I'd never bought the beastly thing!
beastliness noun [U]

beast of burden noun an animal used for heavy work such as carrying or pulling things

beat verb, noun, adj.
verb (beat, beaten )
IN GAME
1 [VN] ~ sb (at sth) to defeat sb in a game or competition: He beat me at chess. Their recent wins have proved they're still the ones to beat (= the most difficult team to beat).
CONTROL
2 [VN] to get control of sth DEFEAT: The government's main aim is to beat inflation.
BE TOO DIFFICULT
3 to be too difficult for sb DEFEAT: [VN] a problem that beats even the experts [VN wh-] It beats me (= I don't know) why he did it. What beats me is how it was done so quickly (= I don't understand how).
BE BETTER
4 [VN] to do or be better than sth: Nothing beats home cooking. You can't beat Italian shoes. They want to beat the speed record (= go faster than anyone before).
AVOID
5 [VN] to avoid sth: If we go early we should beat the traffic. We were up and off early to beat the heat.
HIT
6 to hit sb/sth many times, usually very hard: [V + adv. / prep.] Somebody was beating at the door. Hailstones beat against the window. [VN, often + adv. / prep.] Someone was beating a drum. She was beating dust out of the carpet (= removing dust from the carpet by beating it). An elderly man was found beaten to death. At that time children were regularly beaten for quite minor offences (= a punishment). The prisoners were beaten into submission (= they were beaten until they did what was wanted). [VN-ADJ] They beat him unconscious (= hit him until he became unconscious).
OF HEART/DRUMS/WINGS
7 to make, or cause sth to make, a regular sound or movement: [V] She's aliveher heart is still beating. We heard the drums beating. [VN] The bird was beating its wings (= moving them up and down) frantically.
MIX
8 [VN] ~ sth (up)| ~ A and B together to mix sth with short quick movements with a fork, etc.: Beat the eggs up to a frothy consistency. Beat the flour and milk together.
SHAPE METAL
9 ~ sth (out) (into sth) to change the shape of sth, especially metal, by hitting it with a hammer, etc.: [VN] beaten silver The gold is beaten out into thin strips. [VN-ADJ] The metal had been beaten flat.
MAKE PATH
10 [VN] ~ sth (through, across, along, etc. sth) to make a path, etc. by walking somewhere or by pressing branches down and walking over them: a well-beaten track (= one that has been worn hard by much use) The hunters beat a path through the undergrowth.
beat about the bush (BrE) (NAmE beat around the bush) to talk about sth for a long time without coming to the main point: Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.
beat sb at their own game to defeat or do better than sb in an activity which they have chosen or in which they think they are strong
beat your brains out (informal, especially NAmE) to think very hard about sth for a long time: I've been beating my brains out all weekend to get this script written.
beat your breast to show that you feel sorry about sth that you have done, especially in public and in an exaggerated way
beat the clock to finish a task, race, etc. before a particular time
beat it (slang) (usually used in orders) to go away immediately: This is private land, so beat it!
beat a path to sb's door if a lot of people beat a path to sb's door, they are all interested in sth that person has to sell, or can do or tell them: Top theatrical agents are beating a path to the teenager's door.
beat the rap (NAmE, slang) to escape without being punished
beat a (hasty) retreat to go away or back quickly, especially to avoid sth unpleasant
beat time (to sth) to mark or follow the rhythm of music, by waving a stick, tapping your foot, etc.: She beat time with her fingers.
beat sb to the punch (informal) to get or do sth before sb else can
can you beat that/it! (informal) used to express surprise or anger
if you can't beat them, join them (saying) if you cannot defeat sb or be as successful as they are, then it is more sensible to join them in what they are doing and perhaps get some advantage for yourself by doing so
off the beaten track far away from other people, houses, etc.: They live miles off the beaten track.
a rod/stick to beat sb with a fact, an argument, etc. that is used in order to blame or punish sb
take some beating to be difficult to beat: That score is going to take some beating. For sheer luxury, this hotel takes some beating.more at BLACK adj., DAYLIGHTS, DRUM n., HELL
beat sthdown to hit a door, etc. many times until it breaks open
beat down (on sb/sth) if the sun beats down it shines with great heat: The sun beat down on the desert sand.
beat sb/sth down (to sth) to persuade sb to reduce the price at which they are selling sth: He wanted $8 000 for the car but I beat him down to $6 000. I beat down the price to $6 000.
beat off (NAmE, taboo, slang) to MASTURBATE
beat sb/sthoff to force sb/sth back or away by fighting: The attacker was beaten off. She beat off a challenge to her leadership.
beat sthout
1 to produce a rhythm by hitting sth many times
2 to put a fire out by beating: We beat the flames out.
3 to remove sth by hitting it with a HAMMER, etc.: They can beat out the dent in the car's wing.
beat sb out of sth (NAmE, informal) to cheat sb by taking sth from them: Her brother beat her out of $200.
beat sb to sth/...| beat sb to it to get somewhere or do sth before sb else: She beat me to the top of the hill. I was about to take the last cake, but he beat me to it.
beat sbup to hit or kick sb hard, many times: He was badly beaten up by a gang of thugs.
beat up on sb (NAmE) to hit sb hard, especially sb who is young or weak: I've heard people say he used to beat up on his wife.
beat yourself up (about/over sth) (NAmE, informal) to blame yourself too much for sth: Look, there's no need to beat yourself up over this.
noun
OF DRUMS/HEART/WINGS
1 [C] a single blow to sth, such as a drum, or a movement of sth, such as your heart; the sound that this makes: several loud beats on the drum His heart missed a beat when he saw her.
2 [sing.] a series of regular blows to sth, such as a drum; the sound that this makes: the steady beat of the drumssee also HEARTBEAT
RHYTHM
3 [C] the main rhythm, or a unit of rhythm, in a piece of music, a poem, etc.: This type of music has a strong beat to it. The piece has four beats to the bar. Pause for two beats and then repeat the chorus.
OF POLICE OFFICER
4 [C] the area which a police officer walks around regularly and which he or she is responsible for: More police officers out on the beat may help to cut crime.
see HEART, WALK v.
adj. [not before noun] (informal) = DEAD BEAT

SYNONYMS

beat

batter pound pummel lash hammer

All these words mean to hit sb/sth many times, especially hard.

beat to hit sb/sth a lot of times, especially very hard: Someone was beating at the door. A young man was found beaten to death last night. At that time, children were often beaten for quite minor offences (= as a punishment).

batter to hit sb/sth hard a lot of times, especially in way that causes serious damage: He had been badly battered around the head and face. Severe winds have been battering the coast.

pound to hit sb/sth hard a lot of times, especially in a way that makes a lot of noise: Heavy rain pounded on the roof.

pummel to hit sb/sth a lot of times, especially with your fists (= tightly closed hands).

lash to hit sb/sth with a lot of force: The rain lashed at the window. The subject of lash is often rain, wind, hail, sea or waves.

hammer to hit sb/sth hard a lot of times, in a way that is noisy or violent: He hammered the door with his fists.

POUND OR HAMMER?

There is not much difference in meaning between these two, but to pound is sometimes a steadier action. To hammer can be more violent and it is often used figuratively.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to beat/batter/pound/pummel/lash/hammer sb/sth with sth

to beat/batter/pound/lash/hammer against sth

to beat/batter/pound/hammer on sth

to beat/batter/hammer sth down

to beat/batter sb about/around the head

the rain/wind/hail/sea beats/batters/pounds/lashes (at) sth

beatbox NAmE noun (informal)
1 an electronic machine that produces drum sounds
2 a radio, CASSETTE player, etc. that can be carried around and is used for playing loud music

beaten-up adj. = BEAT-UP

beater noun
1 (often in compounds) a tool used for beating things: a carpet beater an egg beater
2 a person employed to drive birds and animals out of bushes, etc., into the open, so they can be shot for sport
3 (NAmE, informal) = BANGERsee also WORLD-BEATER

the beat generation noun [sing.] a group of young people in the 1950s and early 1960s who rejected the way most people lived in society, wanted to express themselves freely, and liked modern JAZZ

beatific adj. (formal) showing great joy and peace: a beatific smile/expression

beatify verb (beatifies, beatifying, beatified, beatified) [VN] (of the Pope) to give a dead person a special honour by stating officially that he/she is very holycompare BLESS, CANONIZE
beatification noun [C, U]

beating noun
1 [C] an act of hitting sb hard and repeatedly, as a punishment or in a fight: to give sb a beating
2 [C] (informal) a very heavy defeat: The team has taken a few beatings this season.
3 [U] a series of regular blows to sth such as a drum, or movements of sth, such as your heart; the sound that this makes: He could hear the beating of his own heart. the beating of drums/wings
take some beating (BrE) to be difficult to do or be better than: As a place to live, Oxford takes some beating.

beatitude NAmE noun the Beatitudes [pl.] (in the Bible) the eight statements made by Christ about people who are BLESSED.

beatnik noun a young person in the 1950s and early 1960s who rejected the way of life of ordinary society and showed this by behaving and dressing in a different way from most people

beat-up (also beaten-up) adj. [usually before noun] (informal) old and damaged: a beat-up old truck

beau NAmE noun (pl. beaux or beaus NAmE ) (old-fashioned) a woman's male lover or friend

beaucoup NAmE det. (US, informal) many or a lot: You can spend beaucoup bucks (= a lot of money) on software.

the Beaufort scale NAmE noun [sing.] a range of numbers used for measuring how strongly the wind is blowing. The lowest number 0 means that there is no wind and the highest number 12 means that there is a HURRICANE (= a violent storm with very strong winds): The storm measured 10 on the Beaufort scale.
From Sir Francis Beaufort, the English admiral who invented it.

Beaujolais NAmE noun (pl. Beaujolais) [C, U] a light wine, usually red, from the Beaujolais district of France

beaut noun, adj., exclamation
noun (NAmE, AustralE, NZE, informal) an excellent or beautiful person or thing
adj., exclamation (AustralE, informal) excellent; very good

beauteous adj. (literary) beautiful

beautician noun a person, usually a woman, whose job is to give beauty treatments to the face and body

beautiful adj.
1 having beauty; pleasing to the senses or to the mind: a beautiful woman/face/baby/voice/poem/smell/evening beautiful countryside/weather/music She looked stunningly beautiful that night. What a beautiful thing to say!
2 very good or skilful: What beautiful timing!

SYNONYMS

beautiful

pretty handsome attractive lovely good-looking gorgeous

These words all describe people who are pleasant to look at.

beautiful (especially of a woman or girl) very pleasant to look at: She looked stunningly beautiful that night.

pretty (especially of a girl or woman) pleasant to look at: She's got a very pretty face. Pretty is used most often to talk about girls. When it is used to talk about a woman, it usually suggests that she is like a girl, with small, delicate features.

handsome (of a man) pleasant to look at; (of a woman) pleasant to look at, with large strong features rather than small delicate ones: He was described as 'tall, dark and handsome'.

attractive (of a person) pleasant to look at, especially in a sexual way: She's a very attractive woman.

lovely (of a person) beautiful; very attractive: She looked particularly lovely that night. When you describe sb as lovely, you are usually showing that you also have a strong feeling of affection for them.

good-looking (of a person) pleasant to look at, often in a sexual way: She arrived with a very good-looking man.

gorgeous (informal) (of a person) extremely attractive, especially in a sexual way: You look gorgeous!

ATTRACTIVE OR GOOD-LOOKING?

If you describe sb as attractive you often also mean that they have a pleasant personality as well as being pleasant to look at; good-looking just describes sb's physical appearance.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to look beautiful/pretty/handsome/attractive/lovely/gorgeous

to feel beautiful/pretty/attractive

a(n) beautiful/pretty/handsome/attractive/lovely/good-looking/gorgeous girl/woman

a(n) beautiful/handsome/attractive/lovely/good-looking/gorgeous boy/man

a(n) beautiful/pretty/handsome/attractive/lovely/good-looking face

very/extremely/exceptionally beautiful/pretty/handsome/attractive/lovely/good-looking

beautifully adv.
1 in a beautiful way: She sings beautifully. a beautifully decorated house
2 very well; in a pleasing way: It's all working out beautifully. My leg has healed beautifully.

beautify verb (beautifies, beautifying, beautified, beautified) [VN] to make sb/sth beautiful or more beautiful

beauty noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] the quality of being pleasing to the senses or to the mind: the beauty of the sunset/of poetry/of his singing a woman of great beauty The woods were designated an area of outstanding natural beauty. beauty products/treatment (= intended to make a person more beautiful) The sheer beauty of the scenery took my breath away.
2 [C] a person or thing that is beautiful: She had been a beauty in her day.
3 [C] an excellent example of its type: That last goal was a beauty!
4 [C] a pleasing feature ADVANTAGE: One of the beauties of living here is that it's so peaceful. The project will require very little work to start up; that's the beauty of it.
beauty is in the eye of the beholder (saying) people all have different ideas about what is beautiful
beauty is only skin-deep (saying) how a person looks is less important than their character

Beauty and the Beast noun
1 a traditional story about a young girl who saves a large ugly creature from a magic SPELL by her love. He becomes a HANDSOME prince and they get married.
2 (informal, humorous) two people of whom one is much more attractive than the other

beauty contest noun (BrE)
1 a competition to choose the most beautiful from a group of womencompare PAGEANT
2 (US beauty parade) an occasion on which several competing companies or people try to persuade sb to use their services: Ireland is to award four telecommunications licences in a beauty contest next year. The licence to operate the Digital Terrestrial Television retail company will be awarded via a hybrid of an auction and a beauty parade.

beauty mark noun (NAmE) = BEAUTY SPOT

beauty queen noun a woman who is judged to be the most beautiful in a BEAUTY CONTEST

beauty salon (also beauty parlour) (US also beauty shop) noun a place where you can pay for treatment to your face, hair, nails, etc., which is intended to make you more beautiful

beauty sleep noun [U] (humorous) enough sleep at night to make sure that you look and feel healthy and beautiful

beauty spot noun
1 (BrE) a place in the countryside which is famous because it is beautiful
2 (NAmE also beauty mark) a small dark spot on a woman's face, which used to be thought to make her more beautiful

beaux pl. of BEAU

beaver noun, verb
noun
1 [C] an animal with a wide flat tail and strong teeth. Beavers live in water and on land and can build DAMS (= barriers across rivers), made of pieces of wood and mud. It is an official symbol of Canada.see also EAGER BEAVER
2 [U] the fur of the beaver, used in making hats and clothes
3 [C] (taboo slang, especially NAmE) the area around a woman's sex organs
verb
beaver away (at sth) (informal) to work very hard at sth: He's been beavering away at the accounts all morning.

bebop NAmE (also bop) noun [U] a type of JAZZ with complicated rhythms

BEC abbr. Business English Certificate (British tests, set by the University of Cambridge, in English as a foreign language for students who are preparing for a career in business)

becalmed adj. (of a ship with a sail) unable to move because there is no wind

became pt of BECOME

because NAmE conj. for the reason that: I did it because he told me to. Just because I don't complain, people think I'm satisfied.
because of prep.: They are here because of us. He walked slowly because of his bad leg. Because of his wife('s) being there, I said nothing about it.

béchamel (also béchamel sauce) noun [U] a thick sauce made with milk, flour and butter WHITE SAUCE

bêche-de-mer NAmE noun a large SEA CUCUMBER that is eaten in China and Japan

beck noun (BrE, dialect) a small river STREAM
at sb's beck and call always ready to obey sb's orders: She is constantly at the beck and call of her invalid father. Don't expect to have me at your beck and call.

beckon verb
1 ~ to sb (to do sth) to give sb a signal using your finger or hand, especially to tell them to move nearer or to follow you SIGNAL: [V] He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. [VN] He beckoned her over with a wave. The boss beckoned him into her office. [VN to inf] She beckoned him to come and join them.
2 to appear very attractive to sb: [V] The clear blue sea beckoned. [VN] The prospect of a month without work was beckoning her.
3 [V] to be sth that is likely to happen or will possibly happen to sb in the future: For many kids leaving college the prospect of unemployment beckons.

become verb (became , become)
1 linking verb to start to be sth: [V-ADJ] It was becoming more and more difficult to live on his salary. It soon became apparent that no one was going to come. She was becoming confused. [V-N] She became queen in 1952. The bill will become law next year. She's studying to become a teacher. His job has become his whole life.
2 [VN] [no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to be suitable for sb: Such behaviour did not become her.
3 [VN] [no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to look attractive on sb SUIT: Short hair really becomes you.
what became, has become, will become of sb/sth? used to ask what has happened or what will happen to sb/sth: What became of that student who used to live with you? I dread to think what will become of them if they lose their home.

synonyms

become / get / go / turn

These verbs are used frequently with the following adjectives:

become ~

get ~

go ~

turn ~

involved

used to

wrong

blue

clear

better

right

sour

accustomed

worse

bad

bad

pregnant

pregnant

white

red

extinct

tired

crazy

cold

famous

angry

bald

ill

dark

blind

Become is more formal than get. Both describe changes in people's emotional or physical state, or natural or social changes.

Go is usually used for negative changes.

Go and turn are both used for changes of colour.

Turn is also used for changes in the weather.

becoming adj. (formal)
1 (of clothes, etc.) making the person wearing them look more attractive FLATTERING
2 suitable or appropriate for sb or their situation FITTING: It was not very becoming behaviour for a teacher. UNBECOMING

becquerel noun (abbr. Bq) (physics) a unit for measuring RADIOACTIVITY

BEd (also B.Ed. especially in NAmE) noun the abbreviation for 'Bachelor of Education' (a first university degree in education): (BrE) Sarah Wells BEd

bed noun, verb
noun
FURNITURE
1 [C, U] a piece of furniture for sleeping on: a single/double bed She lay on the bed (= on top of the covers). He lay in bed (= under the covers). I'm tiredI'm going to bed. It's time for bed (= time to go to sleep). I'll just put the kids to bed. He likes to have a mug of cocoa before bed (= before going to bed). to get into/out of bed to make the bed (= arrange the covers in a tidy way) Could you give me a bed for the night (= somewhere to sleep)? There's a shortage of hospital beds (= not enough room for patients to be admitted). He has been confined to bed with flu for the past couple of days.see also AIR BED, CAMP BED, SOFA BED, TWIN BED, WATERBED
OF RIVER/LAKE/SEA
2 [C] the bottom of a river, the sea, etc.: the ocean bed oyster beds (= an area in the sea where there are many OYSTERS)
FOR FLOWERS/VEGETABLES
3 [C] an area of ground in a garden/yard or park for growing flowers, vegetables, etc.: flower bedssee also SEEDBED
BOTTOM LAYER
4 [C] ~ of sth a layer of sth that other things lie or rest on: grilled chicken, served on a bed of rice The blocks should be laid on a bed of concrete.
GEOLOGY
5 [C] a layer of CLAY, rock, etc. in the groundsee also BEDROCK
(not) a bed of roses (not) an easy or a pleasant situation: Their life together hasn't exactly been a bed of roses.
get out of bed on the wrong side (BrE) (NAmE get up on the wrong side of the bed) to be bad-tempered for the whole day for no particular reason
go to bed with sb (informal) to have sex with sb
in bed used to refer to sexual activity: What's he like in bed? I caught them in bed together (= having sex).
you've made your bed and you must lie in/on it (saying) you must accept the results of your actions
take to your bed to go to bed and stay there because you are ill/sickmore at DIE v., WET v.
verb (-dd-) [VN]
1 ~ sth (in sth) to fix sth firmly in sth: The bricks were bedded in sand to improve drainage. Make sure that you bed the roots firmly in the soil.
2 (old-fashioned) to have sex with sb: He's been trying to bed her for weeks.
bed down to sleep in a place where you do not usually sleep: You have my room and I'll bed down in the living room.

bed and board noun [U] (BrE) a room to sleep in and food: She paid £80 a week for bed and board.

bed and breakfast noun (abbr. B and B, B & B)
1 [U] (BrE) a service that provides a room to sleep in and a meal the next morning in private houses and small hotels: Do you do bed and breakfast? Bed and breakfast costs £30 a night.compare FULL BOARD, HALF BOARD
2 [C] a place that provides this service: There were several good bed and breakfasts in the area.

bedazzle verb [VN] [usually passive] to impress sb very much with intelligence, beauty, etc.: He was so bedazzled by her looks that he couldn't speak.
bedazzlement noun [U]

bedbug noun a small insect that lives in dirty houses, especially in beds, where it bites people and sucks their blood

bedchamber noun (old use) a bedroom: the royal bedchamber

bedclothes NAmE (BrE also bedcovers) noun [pl.] the sheets and other covers that you put on a bed: She pulled the bedclothes up over her head.

bedcover noun (BrE)
1 = BEDSPREAD
2 bedcovers = BEDCLOTHES

bedding noun [U]
1 the sheets and covers that you put on a bed, often also the MATTRESS and the PILLOWS
2 STRAW, etc. for animals to sleep on

bedding plant noun a plant that is planted out in a garden bed, usually just before it gets flowers. It usually grows and dies within one year.

beddy-byes (BrE) (NAmE beddy-bye) noun [U] a child's word for bed, used when talking about the time sb goes to bed: Time for beddy-byes.

bedeck verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth/sb (with/in sth) (literary) to decorate sth/sb with flowers, flags, PRECIOUS STONES, etc.: The entrance hall was bedecked with trees and tropical plants. a flower-bedecked balcony

bedevil verb (-ll-, NAmE -l-) [VN] (formal) to cause a lot of problems for sb/sth over a long period of time BESET: The expedition was bedevilled by bad weather. This injury bedevilled him throughout his career.

bedfellow NAmE noun a person or thing that is connected with or related to another, often in a way that you would not expect: strange/unlikely bedfellows

bedhead noun the part of the bed which is at the end, behind the head of the person sleeping on it

bedjacket noun a short jacket worn when sitting up in bed

bedlam noun [U] a scene full of noise and confusion CHAOS: It was bedlam at our house on the morning of the wedding.

bedlinen noun [U] sheets and PILLOWCASES for a bed

Bedouin noun (pl. Bedouin) a member of an Arab people that traditionally lives in tents in the desert

bedpan noun a container used as a toilet by a person who is too ill/sick to get out of bed

bedpost NAmE noun one of the four vertical supports at the corners of a bed (especially an old type of bed with a wooden or metal frame)

bedraggled adj. made wet, dirty or untidy by rain, mud, etc.: bedraggled hair/clothes I barely recognized the bedraggled figure who staggered in from the storm.

bedridden adj. having to stay in bed all the time because you are sick, injured or old

bedrock NAmE noun
1 [sing.] a strong base for sth, especially the facts or the principles on which it is based: The poor suburbs traditionally formed the bedrock of the party's support. Honesty is the bedrock of any healthy relationship.
2 [U] the solid rock in the ground below the loose soil and sand

bedroll NAmE noun (especially NAmE) a thick piece of material or a SLEEPING BAG that you can roll up for carrying and use for sleeping on or in, for example when you are camping

bedroom noun, adj.
noun
1 a room for sleeping in: the spare bedroom a hotel with 20 bedrooms This is the master bedroom (= the main bedroom of the house).
2 -bedroomed having the number of bedrooms mentioned: a three-bedroomed house
adj. [only before noun] used as a way of referring to sexual activity: the bedroom scenes in the movie

bedroom community (also bedroom suburb) noun (both NAmE) = DORMITORY TOWN

bedside noun [usually sing.] the area beside a bed: His mother has been at his bedside throughout his illness. a bedside lamp The family are keeping a bedside vigil on her until she regains consciousness.

bedside manner noun [sing.] the way in which a doctor or other person talks to sb who is ill/sick: a sympathetic bedside manner

bedside table (especially BrE) (NAmE usually nightstand, night table) noun a small table beside a bed

bedsit (also bedsitter) (also formal bedsitting room) noun (all BrE) a room that a person rents and uses for both living and sleeping in

bedsore noun a painful and sometimes infected place on a person's skin, caused by lying in bed for a long time

bedspread (BrE also bedcover) (NAmE also spread) noun an attractive cover put on top of all the sheets and covers on a bed

bedstead noun the wooden or metal frame of an old-fashioned type of bed: a brass/an iron bedstead

bedtime noun [U] the time when sb usually goes to bed: It's way past your bedtime. Will you read me a bedtime story? a bedtime drink

bed-wetting noun [U] the problem of URINATING in bed, usually by children while they are asleep

bee noun
1 a black and yellow flying insect that can sting. Bees live in large groups and make HONEY (= a sweet sticky substance that is good to eat): a swarm of bees a bee sting Bees were buzzing in the clover.see also BEEHIVE, BEESWAX, BUMBLEBEE, QUEEN BEE
2 (NAmE) a meeting in a group where people combine work, competition and pleasure: a sewing beesee also SPELLING BEE
the bee's knees (informal) an excellent person or thing: She thinks she's the bee's knees (= she has a very high opinion of herself).
have a bee in your bonnet (about sth) (informal) to think or talk about sth all the time and to think that it is very important: Our teacher has a bee in his bonnet about punctuation.more at BIRD, BUSY adj.

the Beeb noun [sing.] an informal name for the BBC

beech noun
1 [C, U] (also beech tree) a tall forest tree with smooth grey BARK, shiny leaves and small nuts: forests planted with beech beech hedges The great beeches towered up towards the sky.see also COPPER BEECH
2 (also beechwood ) [U] the wood of the beech tree

beef noun, verb
noun
1 [U] meat that comes from a cow: roast/minced beef beef and dairy cattle a joint/fillet of beefsee also CORNED BEEF
2 [C] (informal) a complaint: What's his latest beef?
verb [V] ~ (about sb/sth) (informal) to complain a lot about sb/sth: Don't just beef about itdo something!
beef sthup (informal) to make sth bigger, better, more interesting, etc.: Security has been beefed up for the royal visit. They're taking on more workers to beef up production.

beefburger NAmE noun (BrE) = HAMBURGER

beefcake noun [U] (slang) men with big muscles, especially those that appear in sex shows and magazines

beefeater noun a guard who dresses in a traditional uniform at the Tower of London

beefsteak noun [C, U] = STEAK

beef tea noun [U] (BrE) a hot drink made by boiling beef in water. It used to be given to people who were sick.

beef tomato (also beefsteak tomato especially in NAmE) noun a type of large tomato

beefy adj. (beefier, beefiest) (informal) (of a person or their body) big or fat: beefy men/arms/thighs

beehive noun
1 = HIVE
2 a HAIRSTYLE for women, with the hair piled high on top of the head

bee-keeper noun a person who owns and takes care of BEES
bee-keeping noun [U]

beeline noun
make a beeline for sth/sb (informal) to go straight towards sth/sb as quickly as you can: As soon as she arrived at the party, she made a beeline for the food.

Beelzebub noun a name for the DEVIL

been NAmE BEsee also GO

been-to noun (WAfrE) a person who returns to his or her home in Africa after studying, working, etc. in a foreign country. People are often identified as been-tos because they have a different accent.

beep noun, verb
noun a short high sound such as that made by a car horn or by electronic equipment: The taxi gave a beep as it drew up to the house. Please leave your message after the beep and we'll call you back.
verb
1 [V] (of an electronic machine) to make a short high sound: The microwave beeps to let you know when it has finished.
2 when a car horn, etc. beeps or when you beep it, it makes a short noise: [V] The car behind started beeping at us. [VN] He beeped his horn at the cyclist.
3 [VN] (NAmE) = BLEEP (2)

beeper noun (especially NAmE) = BLEEPER

beer NAmE noun
1 [U, C] an alcoholic drink made from MALT and flavoured with HOPS. There are many types of beer: a barrel/bottle/glass of beer beers brewed in Germany a beer glass Are you a beer drinker?
2 [C] a glass, bottle or can of beer: Shall we have a beer?see also GINGER BEER, GUEST BEER, KEG BEER, ROOT BEER, SMALL BEER

beer belly (also beer gut) noun (informal) a man's very fat stomach, caused by drinking a lot of beer over a long period

beer cellar noun
1 a room for storing beer below a pub or bar
2 a pub or bar which is underground or partly underground

beer garden noun an outdoor area at a pub or bar with tables and chairs

beer mat noun (BrE) a small piece of cardboard that you put under a glass, usually in a bar, etc. in order to protect the surface below

beery NAmE adj. smelling of beer; influenced by the drinking of beer: She leaned away from his stale beery breath. They spent many beery hours talking of their dreams for the future.

beeswax noun [U] a yellow sticky substance that is produced by BEES and is used especially for making CANDLES and polish for wood

beet noun [C, U]
1 a plant with a root that is used as a vegetable, especially for feeding animals or making sugarsee also SUGAR BEET
2 (NAmE) = BEETROOT

beetle noun, verb
noun
1 an insect, often large and black, with a hard case on its back, covering its wings. There are several types of beetle: a black beetle a dung beetlesee also DEATH-WATCH BEETLE
2 BeetleTM (NAmE also bug) the English names for the original Volkswagen small car with a round shape at the front and the back
verb [V + adv. / prep.] (BrE, informal) to move somewhere quickly SCURRY: I last saw him beetling off down the road.

beetroot (BrE) (NAmE beet) noun [U, C] a plant with a round dark red root that is cooked and eaten as a vegetable

befall verb (befell , befallen ) [VN] (used only in the third person) (literary) (of sth unpleasant) to happen to sb: They were unaware of the fate that was to befall them.

befit verb (-tt-) [VN] (used only in the third person and in participles) (formal) to be suitable and good enough for sb/sth: It was a lavish reception as befitted a visitor of her status. He lived in the style befitting a gentleman.

befog NAmE verb [VN] to make sb confused: Her brain was befogged by lack of sleep.

before prep., conj., adv.
prep.
1 earlier than sb/sth: before lunch the day before yesterday The year before last he won a gold medal, and the year before that he won a silver. She's lived there since before the war. He arrived before me. She became a lawyer as her father had before her. Leave your keys at reception before departure. Something ought to have been done before now. We'll know before long (= soon). Turn left just before (= before you reach) the bank.
2 (rather formal) used to say that sb/sth is in a position in front of sb/sth: They knelt before the throne. Before you is a list of the points we have to discuss.compare BEHIND
3 used to say that sb/sth is ahead of sb/sth in an order or arrangement: Your name is before mine on the list. He puts his work before everything (= regards it as more important than anything else).
4 used to say that sth is facing sb in the future: The task before us is a daunting one. The whole summer lay before me.
5 in the presence of sb who is listening, watching, etc.: He was brought before the judge. She said it before witnesses. They had the advantage of playing before their home crowd.
6 (formal) used to say how sb reacts when they have to face sb/sth: They retreated before the enemy.
conj.
1 earlier than the time when: Do it before you forget. Did she leave a message before she went? Before I made a decision, I thought carefully about it.
2 until: It may be many years before the situation improves. It was some time before I realized the truth.
3 used to warn or threaten sb that sth bad could happen: Put that away before it gets broken.
4 (formal) rather than: I'd die before I apologized!
adv. at an earlier time; in the past; already: You should have told me so before. It had been fine the week before (= the previous week). That had happened long before (= a long time earlier). I think we've met before.

beforehand NAmE adv. earlier; before sth else happens or is done: two weeks/three days/a few hours beforehand I wish we'd known about it beforehand. He warned me beforehand what to expect.

befriend verb [VN] [usually passive] to become a friend of sb, especially sb who needs your help: Shortly after my arrival at the school, I was befriended by an older girl.

befuddled adj. confused and unable to think normally: He was befuddled by drink.

beg verb (-gg-)
1 ~ (sb) (for sth)| ~ (sth) (of/from sb) to ask sb for sth especially in an anxious way because you want or need it very much: [VN] They begged him for help. I managed to beg a lift from a passing motorist. She begged permission to leave. Forgive me, I beg you! Can I beg a favour of you? [V] He wants to see them beg for mercy. (formal) Don't leave me here, I beg of you! [VN to inf] She begged him not to go. [V to inf] He begged to be told the truth. [V speech] 'Give me one more chance,' he begged. [V that] (formal) She begged that she be allowed to go. (BrE also) She begged that she should be allowed to go. [also VN speech]
2 ~ (for sth) (from sb)| ~ sth (from sb) to ask sb for money, food, etc., especially in the street: [V] London is full of homeless people begging in the streets. The children were begging for food. a begging letter (= one that asks sb for money) a begging bowl (= used to beg for money with) [VN] We managed to beg a meal from the cafe owner.
3 [V] if a dog begs, it sits on its back legs with its front legs in the air, waiting to be given sth
beg leave to do sth (formal) to ask sb for permission to do sth: I beg leave to add a few comments of my own.
be going begging (BrE, informal) if sth is going begging, it is available because nobody else wants it: I'll have that last cake if it's going begging.
beg sb's pardon (formal, especially BrE) to ask sb to forgive you for sth you have said or done: He returned to beg her pardon for his sudden outburst.
beg the question
1 to make sb want to ask a question that has not yet been answered: All of which begs the question as to who will fund the project.
2 to talk about sth as if it were definitely true, even though it might not be: These assumptions beg the question that children learn languages more easily than adults.
I beg to differ used to say politely that you do not agree with sth that has just been said: 'At least she is good at her job.' 'Oh, I beg to differ.'
I beg your pardon
1 (formal) used to tell sb that you are sorry for sth you have said or done: I beg your pardon, I thought that was my coat.
2 used to ask sb to repeat what they have just said because you did not hear: 'It's on Duke Street.' 'I beg your pardon.' 'Duke Street.'
3 (especially BrE) used to tell sb that you are offended by what they have just said or by the way that they have said it: 'Just go away.' 'I beg your pardon!'
beg off to say that you are unable to do sth that you have agreed to do: He's always begging off at the last minute.

begad exclamation (old use) used to express surprise or for emphasis

began pt of BEGIN

beget verb (begetting, begot, begot NAmE In sense 1 begatis used for the past tense, and begottenis used for the past participle.) [VN]
1 (old use, for example in the Bible) to become the father of a child: Isaac begat Jacob.
2 (formal or old-fashioned) to make sth happen: Violence begets violence.
begetter noun

beggar noun, verb
noun
1 a person who lives by asking people for money or food: beggars sleeping on the pavement
2 (BrE, informal) used with an adjective to describe sb in a particular way: Aren't you dressed yet, you lazy beggar?
beggars can't be choosers (saying) people say beggars can't be choosers when there is no choice and sb must be satisfied with what is availablemore at WISH n.
verb [VN] to make sb/sth very poor: Why should I beggar myself for you?
beggar belief/description to be too extreme, shocking, etc. to believe/describe: It beggars belief how things could have got this bad.

beggarly NAmE adj. (literary) very small in amount

beggar-my-neighbour noun [U] a card game for two players in which the players try to win each other's cards

begin verb (beginning, began begun )
1 to start doing sth; to do the first part of sth: [VN] We began work on the project in May. I began (= started reading) this novel last month and I still haven't finished it. He always begins his lessons with a warm-up exercise. He began his political career as a student (= when he was a student). [V] Shall I begin? Let's begin at page 9. She began by thanking us all for coming. [V to inf] I began to feel dizzy. At last the guests began to arrive. She began to cry. It was beginning to snow. I was beginning to think you'd never come. [V -ing] Everyone began talking at once. When will you begin recruiting? note at START
2 [V] to start to happen or exist, especially from a particular time: When does the concert begin? Work on the new bridge is due to begin in September. The evening began well.
3 ~ as sth [V] to be sth first, before becoming sth else: He began as an actor, before starting to direct films. What began as a minor scuffle turned into a full-scale riot.
4 [V] to have sth as the first part or the point where sth starts: Use 'an' before words beginning with a vowel. 'I'm thinking of a country in Asia.' 'What does it begin with (= what is the first letter)?' Each chapter begins with a quotation. Where does Europe end and Asia begin? The path begins at Livingston village.
5 [V speech] to start speaking: 'Ladies and gentlemen,' he began, 'welcome to the Town Hall.'
6 to start or make sth start for the first time: [V] The school began in 1920, with only ten pupils. [VN] He began a new magazine on post-war architecture.
7 [V to inf] not ~ to make no attempt to do sth or have no chance of doing sth: I can't begin to thank you enough. He didn't even begin to understand my problem.
to begin with
1 at first: I found it tiring to begin with but I soon got used to it. We'll go slowly to begin with.
2 used to introduce the first point you want to make: 'What was it you didn't like?' 'Well, to begin with, our room was far too small.'more at CHARITY

WHICH WORD?

begin / start

There is not much difference in meaning between begin and start, though start is more common in spoken English: What time does the concert start/begin?She started/began working here three months ago. Begin is often used when you are describing a series of events: The story begins on the island of Corfu. Start, but not begin, can also mean 'to start a journey', 'to start something happening' or 'to start a machine working': We'll need to start at 7.00.Who do you think started the fire?The car won't start.

You can use either an infinitive or a form with -ing after begin and start, with no difference in meaning: I didn't start worrying/to worry until she was 2 hours late.

After the forms beginning and starting, the -ing form of the verb is not normally used: It's starting/beginning to rain.It's starting/beginning raining.

beginner noun a person who is starting to learn sth and cannot do it very well yet: She's in the beginners' class. Italian for beginners

beginner's luck noun [U] good luck or unexpected success when you start to do sth new

beginning noun
1 [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sth) the time when sth starts; the first part of an event, a story, etc.: We're going to Japan at the beginning of July. She's been working there since the beginning of last summer. We missed the beginning of the movie. Let's start again from the beginning. The birth of their first child marked the beginning of a new era in their married life. I've read the whole book from beginning to end and still can't understand it. At the beginning (of) is used for the time and place when something begins. In the beginning = at first and suggests a contrast with a later situation.
2 beginnings [pl.] the first or early ideas, signs or stages of sth: Did democracy have its beginnings in ancient Greece? He built up his multimillion-pound music business from small beginnings.
the beginning of the end the first sign of sth ending: The scandal was the beginning of the end of his career as a politician.

begone NAmE exclamation (old use) a way of telling sb to go away immediately

begonia NAmE noun a plant with large shiny flowers that may be pink, red, yellow or white, grown indoors or in a garden

begorra NAmE exclamation (IrishE, old-fashioned) used to express surprise

begot pt of BEGET

begotten pp of BEGET

begrudge verb (often used in negative sentences)
1 to feel unhappy that sb has sth because you do not think that they deserve it: [VNN] You surely don't begrudge him his happiness. [VN -ing] I don't begrudge her being so successful.
2 to feel unhappy about having to do, pay or give sth: [VN] I begrudge every second I spent trying to help him. [V -ing] They begrudge paying so much money for a second-rate service.

begrudgingly adv. = GRUDGINGLY

beguile verb [VN] (formal)
1 ~ sb (into doing sth) to trick sb into doing sth, especially by being nice to them: She beguiled them into believing her version of events.
2 to attract or interest sb: He was beguiled by her beauty. The tapestries continue to beguile all those who visit the cathedral.

beguiling adj. (formal) attractive and interesting but sometimes mysterious or trying to trick you: beguiling advertisements Her beauty was beguiling. This is perhaps the most beguiling resort on the island.
beguilingly adv.

beguine noun a Caribbean dance similar to a FOXTROT; a piece of music for this dance

begum noun a title of respect used for a Muslim woman of high rank and for a married Muslim woman: Begum Zia

begun pp of BEGIN

behalf NAmE noun
in behalf of sb | in sb's behalf (US) in order to help sb: We collected money in behalf of the homeless.
on behalf of sb | on sb's behalf
1 as the representative of sb or instead of them: On behalf of the department I would like to thank you all. Mr Knight cannot be here, so his wife will accept the prize on his behalf.
2 because of sb; for sb: Don't worry on my behalf.
3 in order to help sb: They campaigned on behalf of asylum seekers.

behave verb
1 [V + adv. / prep.] to do things in a particular way ACT: The doctor behaved very unprofessionally. They behaved very badly towards their guests. He behaved like a true gentleman. She behaved with great dignity. He behaved as if/though nothing had happened. They behave differently when you're not around. In spoken English people often use like instead of as if or as though, especially in NAmE: He behaved like nothing had happened. This is not considered correct in written BrE.
2 ~ (yourself) to do things in a way that people think is correct or polite: [V] Will you kids just behave! She doesn't know how to behave in public. The children always behave for their father. [VN] I want you to behave yourselves while I'm away. MISBEHAVE
3 -behaved (in adjectives) behaving in the way mentioned: well-/badly-behaved children
4 [V + adv. / prep.] (technical) to naturally react, move, etc. in a particular way: a study of how metals behave under pressure see OWN v.

behaviour (BrE) (NAmE behavior) noun
1 [U] the way that sb behaves, especially towards other people: good/bad behaviour social/sexual/criminal behaviour His behaviour towards her was becoming more and more aggressive.
2 [U, C] the way a person, an animal, a plant, a chemical, etc. behaves or functions in a particular situation: the behaviour of dolphins/chromosomes studying human and animal behaviour (technical) to study learned behaviours
behavioural (BrE) (NAmE behavioral ) adj.: children with behavioural difficulties behavioural science (= the study of human behaviour)
be on your best behaviour to behave in the most polite way you can

behaviourism (BrE) (NAmE behaviorism) noun [U] (psychology) the theory that all human behaviour is learnt by adapting to outside conditions and that learning is not influenced by thoughts and feelings
behaviourist (BrE) (NAmE behaviorist) noun

behead verb [VN] [usually passive] to cut off sb's head, especially as a punishment DECAPITATE: He was charged with treason and beheaded.

beheld pt, pp of BEHOLD

behemoth NAmE noun (formal) a very big and powerful company or organization: a multinational corporate behemoth

behest noun [sing.]
at sb's behest (old use or formal) because sb has ordered or requested it: at the King's behest/at the behest of the King

behind prep., adv., noun
prep.
1 at or towards the back of sb/sth, and often hidden by it or them: Who's the girl standing behind Jan? Stay close behind me. a small street behind the station She glanced behind her. Don't forget to lock the door behind you (= when you leave). The sun disappeared behind the clouds.compare IN FRONT OF note at BACK
2 making less progress than sb/sth: He's behind the rest of the class in reading. We're behind schedule (= late).
3 giving support to or approval of sb/sth: She knew that, whatever she decided, her family was right behind her.
4 responsible for starting or developing sth: What's behind that happy smile (= what is causing it)? He was the man behind the plan to build a new hospital.
5 used to say that sth is in sb's past: The accident is behind you now, so try to forget it. She has ten years' useful experience behind her.
adv.
1 at or towards the back of sb/sth; further back: She rode off down the road with the dog running behind. The others are a long way behind. He was shot from behind as he ran away. I had fallen so far behind that it seemed pointless trying to catch up.
2 in the place where sb/sth is or was: I was told to stay behind after school (= remain in school). This bag was left behind after the class.
3 ~ (with/in sth) late in paying money or completing work: She's fallen behind with the payments. He was terribly behind in his work.
noun (informal) a person's bottom. People often say 'behind' to avoid saying 'bottom'. BACKSIDE: The dog bit him on his behind.

behindhand adj. [not before noun] ~ (with/in sth) late in doing sth or in paying money that is owed: They were behindhand in settling their debts.

behold NAmE verb (beheld , beheld) [VN] (old use or literary) to look at or see sb/sth: Her face was a joy to behold. They beheld a bright star shining in the sky. see LO

beholden NAmE adj. ~ to sb (for sth) (formal) owing sth to sb because of sth that they have done for you: She didn't like to be beholden to anyone.

beholder NAmE noun see BEAUTY

behove NAmE (BrE) (NAmE behoove ) verb [VN to inf] it behoves sb to do sth (formal) it is right or necessary for sb to do sth: It behoves us to study these findings carefully. It ill behoves her (= she ought not) to criticize her colleagues.

beige adj. light yellowish-brown in colour
beige noun [U]

being noun
1 [U] existence: The Irish Free State came into being in 1922. A new era was brought into being by the war.see also WELL-BEING
2 [C] a living creature: human beings a strange being from another planet
3 [U] (formal) your mind and all of your feelings: I hated him with my whole being.see also BE v.

bejewelled (BrE) (US bejeweled) adj. (literary) decorated with PRECIOUS STONES; wearing jewellery: He gave a wave of his bejewelled hand.

bel noun (technical) a measurement of sound equal to 10 DECIBELS

belabour (BrE) (NAmE belabor) verb [VN]
belabour the point (formal) to repeat an idea, argument, etc. many times to emphasize it, especially when it has already been mentioned or understood: I don't want to belabour the point, but it's vital you understand how important this is.

belated adj. coming or happening late: a belated birthday present the government's belated response to the report on nursery education
belatedly adv.: He apologized belatedly.

belay verb [V, VN] (technical) (in climbing) to attach a rope to a rock, etc.; to make a person safe while climbing by attaching a rope to the person and to a rock, etc.

bel canto NAmE noun [U] (music) a style of OPERA or opera singing in the 19th century in which producing a beautiful tone was considered very important

belch verb
1 [V] to let air come up noisily from your stomach and out through your mouth: He wiped his hand across his mouth, then belched loudly. BURP
2 [V, VN] ~ (out/forth) (sth) to send out large amounts of smoke, flames, etc.; to come out of sth in large amounts SPEW OUT
belch noun: He sat back and gave a loud belch.

beleaguered NAmE adj.
1 (formal) experiencing a lot of criticism and difficulties: The beleaguered party leader was forced to resign.
2 surrounded by an enemy: supplies for the beleaguered city

belfry noun (pl. -ies) a tower in which bells hang, especially as part of a church

belie verb (belies, belying, belied, belied) [VN] (formal)
1 to give a false impression of sb/sth: Her energy and youthful good looks belie her 65 years.
2 to show that sth cannot be true or correct: Government claims that there is no poverty are belied by the number of homeless people on the streets.

belief noun
1 [U] ~ (in sth/sb) a strong feeling that sth/sb exists or is true; confidence that sth/sb is good or right: I admire his passionate belief in what he is doing. belief in God/democracy The incident has shaken my belief (= made me have less confidence) in the police.
2 [sing., U] ~ (that ... ) an opinion about sth; sth that you think is true: She acted in the belief that she was doing good. Contrary to popular belief (= in spite of what people may think), he was not responsible for the tragedy. There is a general belief that things will soon get better.
3 [C, usually pl.] something that you believe, especially as part of your religion: religious/political beliefs A society should be judged on its beliefs and values.compare DISBELIEF, UNBELIEF
beyond belief (in a way that is) too great, difficult, etc. to be believed: Dissatisfaction with the government has grown beyond belief. icy air that was cold beyond belief It is beyond belief that anyone could commit such a crime.more at BEGGAR v., BEST n.

believable adj. that can be believed PLAUSIBLE: Her explanation certainly sounded believable. a play with believable characters UNBELIEVABLE

believe verb (not used in the progressive tenses)
FEEL CERTAIN
1 to feel certain that sth is true or that sb is telling you the truth: [VN] I don't believe you! I believed his lies for years. The man claimed to be a social worker and the old woman believed him. I find that hard to believe. Believe me, she's not right for you. Don't believe a word of it (= don't believe any part of what sb is saying). [V (that)] People used to believe (that) the earth was flat. He refused to believe (that) his son was involved in drugs. I do believe you're right (= I think sth is true, even though it is surprising).
THINK POSSIBLE
2 to think that sth is true or possible, although you are not completely certain: [V (that)] Police believe (that) the man may be armed. [VN (that)] It is believed that the couple have left the country. [VN to inf] The vases are believed to be worth over $20 000 each. [V] 'Where does she come from?' 'Spain, I believe.' 'Does he still work there?' 'I believe so/not.' [VN-ADJ] Three sailors are missing, believed drowned. note at THINK
HAVE OPINION
3 [V (that)] to have the opinion that sth is right or true: The party believes (that) education is the most important issue facing the government. She believes that killing animals for food or fur is completely immoral.
BE SURPRISED/ANNOYED
4 don't/can't ~ sth used to say that you are surprised or annoyed at sth: [V (that)] She couldn't believe (that) it was all happening again. I don't believe I'm doing this! [V wh-] I can't believe how much better I feel.
RELIGION
5 [V] to have a religious faith: The god appears only to those who believe.
believe it or not (informal) used to introduce information that is true but that may surprise people: Believe it or not, he asked me to marry him!
believe (you) me (informal) used to emphasize that you strongly believe what you are saying: You haven't heard the last of this, believe you me!
don't you believe it! (informal) used to tell sb that sth is definitely not true: 'She wouldn't do a thing like that.' 'Don't you believe it!'
I don't believe it! (informal) used to say that you are surprised or annoyed about sth: I don't believe it! What are you doing here?
if you believe that, you'll believe anything (informal) used to say that you think sb is stupid if they believe that sth is true: 'He promised not to do it again.' 'Sure, and if you believe that, you'll believe anything.'
make believe (that ... ) to pretend that sth is truerelated noun MAKE-BELIEVE
not believe your ears/eyes (informal) to be very surprised at sth you hear/see: I couldn't believe my eyes when she walked in.
seeing is believing (saying) used to say that sb will have to believe that sth is true when they see it, although they do not think it is true now
would you believe (it)? (informal) used to show that you are surprised and annoyed about sth: And, would you believe, he didn't even apologize!
you/you'd better believe it! (informal) used to tell sb that sth is definitely true: 'He's not a bad player, is he?' 'You'd better believe it!'more at GIVE v.
believe in sb/sth to feel certain that sb/sth exists: Do you believe in God?
believe in sb to feel that you can trust sb and/or that they will be successful: They need a leader they can believe in. I never thought I could make it as an actor, but my parents always believed in me. note at TRUST
believe in sth to think that sth is good, right or acceptable: [+ -ing] I don't believe in hitting children. Do you believe in capital punishment?
believe sth of sb to think that sb is capable of sth: Are you sure he was lying? I can't believe that of him.

believer noun a person who believes in the existence or truth of sth, especially sb who believes in a god or religious faith UNBELIEVER
be a (great/firm) believer in sth to believe strongly that sth is good, important or valuable: I've always been a great believer in getting as much sleep as possible.

Belisha beacon noun (in Britain) a post with an orange flashing light on top marking a place where cars must stop to allow people to cross the road

belittle verb [VN] to make sb or the things that sb does seem unimportant: She felt her husband constantly belittled her achievements. By saying this, I do not mean to belittle the importance of his role.

bell noun
1 a hollow metal object, often shaped like a cup, that makes a ringing sound when hit by a small piece of metal inside it; the sound that it makes: A peal of church bells rang out in the distance. a bicycle bell His voice came down the line as clear as a bell. the bell of a trumpet (= the bell-shaped part at the end of it) a bell tower a bell-shaped flower wedding bells The dancers wore bells on their ankles.
2 an electrical device which makes a ringing sound when a button on it is pushed; the sound that it makes, used as a signal or a warning: Ring the bell to see if they're in. The bell's ringing! The bell went for the end of the lesson. An alarm bell went off. Warning bells started ringing in her head as she sensed that something was wrong.
give sb a bell (BrE, informal) to call sb by telephonemore at ALARM n., PULL v., RING v., SOUND adj.

belladonna NAmE noun [U]
1 = DEADLY NIGHTSHADE
2 a poisonous drug made from DEADLY NIGHTSHADE

bell-bottoms noun [pl.] trousers/pants with legs that become very wide below the knee

bellboy (especially NAmE) (NAmE also bellhop) noun a person whose job is to carry people's cases to their rooms in a hotel

bell curve noun (mathematics) a line on a GRAPH that rises to a high round curve in the middle, showing NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

belle noun (old-fashioned) a beautiful woman; the most beautiful woman in a particular place: You were the belle of the ball (= the most beautiful woman at a party, etc.). a dainty Southern beach belle from Virginia

belle époque NAmE noun [sing.] (from French) the period of comfortable and peaceful life before World War I

belles-lettres noun [U+sing./pl. v.] (from French, old-fashioned) studies or writings on the subject of literature or art, contrasted with those on technical or scientific subjects

bell glass noun a bell-shaped glass cover, especially for plants

bellhop NAmE noun (NAmE) = BELLBOY

bellicose NAmE adj. (formal) having or showing a desire to argue or fight AGGRESSIVE, WARLIKE
bellicosity NAmE noun [U]

-bellied BELLY

belligerent adj., noun
adj.
1 unfriendly and aggressive HOSTILE: a belligerent attitude He is always very belligerent towards me.
2 [only before noun] (formal) (of a country) fighting a war: the belligerent countries/states/nations
belligerence noun [U] belligerently adv.
noun (formal) a country or group that is fighting a war

bell jar noun a tall round glass cover, used by scientists

bellow NAmE verb
1 ~ (sth) (at sb) to shout in a loud deep voice, especially because you are angry YELL: [V] They bellowed at her to stop. Do you have to bellow in my ear? [VN] The coach bellowed instructions from the sidelines. [also V speech]
2 [V] when a large animal such as a BULL bellows, it makes a loud deep sound
bellow noun: to let out a bellow of rage/pain

bellows NAmE noun (pl. bellows) [C+sing./pl. v.] a piece of equipment for blowing air into or through sth. Bellows are used for making a fire burn better or for producing sound in some types of musical instruments: a pair of bellows (= a small bellows with two handles to be pushed together)

bell pepper noun (NAmE) = PEPPER (2)

bell pull noun a rope or handle that you pull to make a bell ring, for example to make sb in another room hear you

bell push noun (BrE) a button that you press to make an electric bell ring

bell-ringer (also ringer) noun a person who rings church bells as a hobby
bell-ringing noun [U] see also CAMPANOLOGIST, CAMPANOLOGY

bells and whistles noun [pl.] (especially computing) attractive extra features

bellwether noun [usually sing.] something that is used as a sign of what will happen in the future: University campuses are often the bellwether of change. Ohio is seen as a bellwether state in this election.

belly noun, verb
noun (pl. -ies)
1 the part of the body below the chest STOMACH, GUT: They crawled along on their bellies.see also BEER BELLY, POT BELLY
2 (literary) the round or curved part of an object: the belly of a ship
3 -bellied (in adjectives) having the type of belly mentioned: swollen-bellied round-bellied
go belly up (informal) to fail completely: Last year the business went belly up after one of the partners resigned.
verb (bellies, bellying, bellied, bellied) [V] ~ (out) (especially of sails) to fill with air and become rounder: The sails bellied out in the wind.

bellyache noun, verb
noun [C, U] (informal) a pain in the stomach: I've got (a) bellyache.
verb [V] (informal) to complain a lot about sth in an annoying or unreasonable way: He's always bellyaching about how much work he has to do.

belly button noun (informal) = NAVEL

belly dance noun a dance, originally from the Middle East, in which a woman moves her belly and hips around
belly dancer noun

bellyflop NAmE noun (informal) a bad DIVE into water, in which the front of the body hits the water flat

bellyful noun
have had a bellyful of sb/sth (informal) to have had more than enough of sb/sth, so that you cannot deal with any more: I've had a bellyful of your moaning.

belly laugh noun (informal) a deep loud laugh

belong NAmE verb (not used in the progressive tenses)
1 [V + adv. / prep.] to be in the right or suitable place: Where do these plates belong (= where are they kept)? Are you sure these documents belong together? Several of the points you raise do not belong in this discussion. A person like that does not belong in teaching.
2 [V] to feel comfortable and happy in a particular situation or with a particular group of people: I don't feel as if I belong here.
belonging noun [U]: to feel a sense of belonging
belong to sb
1 to be owned by sb: Who does this watch belong to? The islands belong to Spain.
2 an event, a competition, etc. that belongs to sb is one in which they are the most successful or popular: British actors did well at the award ceremony, but the evening belonged to the Americans.
belong to sth
1 to be a member of a club, an organization, etc.: Have you ever belonged to a political party?
2 to be part of a particular group type, or system: Lions and tigers belong to the cat family.

belongings NAmE noun [pl.] the things that you own which can be moved, for example not land or buildings POSSESSIONS: insurance of property and personal belongings She packed her few belongings in a bag and left. The burglars had gone through all his belongings. note at THINGS

beloved adj., noun
adj. (formal)
1 ~ by/of sb loved very much by sb; very popular with sb: the deep purple flowers so beloved by artists She was beloved by all who knew her.
2 [only before noun] loved very much: in memory of our dearly beloved son, John They were glad to be back in their beloved Ireland.
noun (old use or literary) a person who is loved very much by sb: It was a gift from her beloved.

below NAmE prep., adv.
prep.
1 at or to a lower level or position than sb/sth: He dived below the surface of the water. Please do not write below this line. Skirts will be worn below (= long enough to cover) the knee.
2 of a lower amount or standard than sb/sth: The temperatures remained below freezing all day. Her work was well below average for the class.
3 of a lower rank or of less importance than sb/sth: A police sergeant is below an inspector.
adv.
1 at or to a lower level, position or place: They live on the floor below. I could still see the airport buildings far below. See below (= at the bottom of the page) for references. The passengers who felt seasick stayed below (= on a lower DECK).
2 (of a temperature) lower than zero: The thermometer had dropped to a record 40 below (= -40 degrees).
3 at a lower rank: This ruling applies to the ranks of Inspector and below.

belt noun, verb
noun
1 a long narrow piece of leather, cloth, etc. that you wear around the waist: to do up/fasten/tighten a belt a belt bucklesee also BLACK BELT, LIFEBELT, SEAT BELT, SUSPENDER BELT
2 a continuous band of material that moves round and is used to carry things along or to drive machinerysee also CONVEYOR BELT, FAN BELT
3 an area with particular characteristics or where a particular group of people live: the country's corn/industrial belt We live in the commuter belt. a belt of rain moving across the countrysee also GREEN BELT
4 (informal) an act of hitting sth/sb hard: She gave the ball a terrific belt.
below the belt (of a remark) unfair or cruel: That was distinctly below the belt!
belt and braces (informal) taking more actions than are really necessary to make sure that sth succeeds or works as it should: a belt-and-braces policy
have sth under your belt (informal) to have already achieved or obtained sth: She already has a couple of good wins under her belt.more at TIGHTEN
verb
1 [VN] (informal) to hit sb/sth hard: He belted the ball right out of the park. I'll belt you if you do that again.
2 [V + adv. / prep.] (informal, especially BrE) to move very fast TEAR: A truck came belting up behind us.
3 [VN] to fasten a belt around sth: The dress was belted at the waist.
belt sthout (informal) to sing a song or play music loudly: Nobody can belt out a tune like she can. The band was belting out songs from the 1940s.
belt up (BrE)
1 (NAmE buckle up) (informal) to fasten your SEAT BELT (= a belt worn by a passenger in a vehicle)
2 (informal) used to tell sb rudely to be quiet SHUT UP: Just belt up, will you!

belt drive noun a system that uses a moving continuous belt to send power to part of a machine

belted adj. with a belt around it: a belted jacket

beltway noun (US) a RING ROAD, especially the one around Washington DC

beluga (pl. beluga or belugas) noun
1 [C] a type of small WHALE
2 [C] a type of large fish that lives in rivers and lakes in eastern Europe
3 (also beluga caviar) [U] a type of CAVIAR (= fish eggs), from a beluga

belvedere NAmE noun a small house or structure, sometimes with one side open, designed to give a beautiful view

bemoan NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to complain or say that you are not happy about sth: They sat bemoaning the fact that no one would give them a chance.

bemused adj. showing that you are confused and unable to think clearly BEWILDERED: a bemused expression/smile She looked somewhat shaken and bemused by what had happened.
bemuse verb [VN] bemusedly adv.

bench noun
1 [C] a long seat for two or more people, usually made of wood: a park bench
2 the bench [sing.] (law) a judge in court or the seat where he/she sits; the position of being a judge or MAGISTRATE: His lawyer turned to address the bench. She has recently been appointed to the bench.
3 [C, usually pl.] (in the British Parliament) a seat where a particular group of politicians sit: There was cheering from the Opposition benches.see also BACK BENCH, THE FRONT BENCH
4 the bench [sing.] (sport) the seats where players sit when they are not playing in the game: the substitutes' bench He started the game on the bench but finished as the team's top scorer.
5 [C] = WORKBENCH: a carpenter's bench

benchmark NAmE noun something which can be measured and used as a standard that other things can be compared with: Tests at the age of seven provide a benchmark against which the child's progress at school can be measured.

bench press noun an exercise in which you lie on a raised surface with your feet on the floor and raise a weight with both arms

bench test noun a test performed on a machine or part before it is sold
bench-test verb [VN]

benchwarmer NAmE noun (NAmE, informal) a sports player who is not chosen to play in a particular game, but is available if their team needs them SUBSTITUTE

bend verb, noun
verb (bent, bent )
1 [often +adv./prep.] (especially of sb's body or head) to lean, or make sth lean, in a particular direction: [V] He bent and kissed her. fields of poppies bending in the wind The doctor told me to avoid bending and stretching. His dark head bent over her. She bent forward to pick up the newspaper. Slowly bend from the waist and bring your head down to your knees. [VN] He bent his head and kissed her. She was bent over her desk writing a letter.
2 if you bend your arm, leg, etc. or if it bends, you move it so that it is no longer straight: [VN] Bend your knees, keeping your back straight. [V] Lie flat and let your knees bend.
3 [VN] to force sth that was straight into an angle or a curve: Mark the pipe where you want to bend it. The knives were bent out of shape. He bent the wire into the shape of a square.
4 to change direction to form a curve or an angle; to make sth change direction in this way: [V] The road bent sharply to the right. [VN] Glass and water both bend light.
bend sb's ear (about sth) (informal) to talk to sb a lot about sth, especially about a problem that you have
bend your mind/efforts to sth (formal) to think very hard about or put a lot of effort into one particular thing
bend the truth to say sth that is not completely true: I wasn't exactly lying when I said I hadn't seen herI was just bending the truth a little.
on bended knee(s) if you ask for sth on bended knee(s), you ask for it in a very anxious and/or HUMBLE way: I'd go down on bended knee if I thought she'd change her mind.more at BACKWARDS, RULE n.
bend sb to sth (formal) to force or persuade sb to do what you want or to accept your opinions: He manipulates people and tries to bend them to his will (= make them do what he wants). She managed to bend the committee to her opinion.
noun
1 [C] a curve or turn, especially in a road or river: a sharp bend in the road You took that bend very fast!see also HAIRPIN BEND
2 the bends [pl.] severe pain and difficulty in breathing experienced by a DIVER who comes back to the surface of the water too quickly
round the bend/twist (informal, especially BrE) crazy: She's gone completely round the bend. The children have been driving me round the bend today (= annoying me very much).

bender noun (slang) a period of drinking a lot of alcohol or taking a lot of drugs: to go on a bender

bendy adj. (BrE, informal)
1 that can be bent easily FLEXIBLE
2 with many bends: a bendy road

beneath /bni/ prep. (formal)
1 in or to a lower position than sb/sth; under sb/sth: They found the body buried beneath a pile of leaves. The boat sank beneath the waves.
2 not good enough for sb: He considers such jobs beneath him. They thought she had married beneath her (= married a man of lower social status).
beneath adv.: Her careful make-up hid the signs of age beneath.

Benedictine noun a member of a Christian group of MONKS or NUNS following the rules of St Benedict
Benedictine adj.: a Benedictine monastery

benediction noun [C, U] (formal) a Christian prayer of BLESSING: to sing/say/give a benediction his arms outstretched in benediction

benefaction noun [C] (formal) a gift, usually of money, that is given to a person or an organization in order to do good: A large proportion of their income comes from benefactions.

benefactive adj. (grammar) relating to the person or thing that benefits from the action of the verb, for example 'for you' in 'I bought this for you'

benefactor noun (formal) a person who gives money or other help to a person or an organization such as a school or charity: a generous benefactor friends and benefactors of the hospital

benefice noun the paid position of a Christian priest in charge of a PARISH

beneficent adj. (formal) giving help; showing kindness GENEROUS: the beneficent powers of Nature
beneficence noun [U]

beneficial adj. ~ (to sth/sb) improving a situation; having a helpful or useful effect ADVANTAGEOUS, FAVOURABLE: a good diet is beneficial to health DETRIMENTAL: They finally came to a mutually beneficial agreement.

beneficiary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) ~ (of sth)
1 a person who gains as a result of sth: Who will be the main beneficiary of the cuts in income tax?
2 a person who receives money or property when sb dies: She was the sole beneficiary of her father's will.

benefit noun, verb
noun
1 [U, C] an advantage that sth gives you; a helpful and useful effect that sth has: I've had the benefit of a good education. The new regulations will be of benefit to everyone concerned. It will be to your benefit to arrive early. He couldn't see the benefit of arguing any longer. the benefits of modern medicine It was good to see her finally reaping the benefits (= enjoying the results) of all her hard work. With the benefit of hindsight (= knowing what we have learnt since), we would do things differently. For maximum benefit, take the tablets before meals.see also COST-BENEFIT, FRINGE BENEFIT
2 [U, C] (BrE) money provided by the government to people who need financial help because they are unemployed, ill/sick, etc.: How long have you been on benefit?see also CHILD BENEFIT, HOUSING BENEFIT, SICKNESS BENEFIT
3 [C, usually pl.] an advantage that you get from a company in addition to the money that you earn; money from an insurance company: The insurance plan will provide substantial cash benefits to your family in case of your death.see also FRINGE BENEFIT
4 [C] an event such as a performance, a dinner, etc., organized in order to raise money for a particular person or charity: a benefit match/concert The proceeds from the benefit will go directly to the refugee camps.
for sb's benefit especially in order to help or be useful to sb: I have typed out some lecture notes for the benefit of those people who were absent last week. Don't go to any trouble for my benefit!
give sb the benefit of the doubt to accept that sb has told the truth or has not done sth wrong because you cannot prove that they have not: She may have been lying, but I felt I had to give her the benefit of the doubt.
verb (-t- or -tt-)
1 [VN] to be useful to sb or improve their life in some way: We should spend the money on something that will benefit everyone.
2 [V] ~ (from/by sth) to be in a better position because of sth: Who exactly stands to benefit from these changes? Most crime victims benefit greatly by talking about their experiences.

Benelux noun [U] a name for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, when they are thought of as a group

benevolent adj.
1 (formal) (especially of people in authority) kind, helpful and generous: a benevolent smile/attitude belief in the existence of a benevolent god a benevolent dictatorship MALEVOLENT
2 used in the names of some organizations that give help and money to people in need: the RAF Benevolent Fund
benevolence noun [U] benevolently adv.: smiling benevolently

Bengali NAmE noun
1 [C] a person from Bangladesh or West Bengal in eastern India
2 [U] the language of people from Bangladesh or West Bengal in eastern India
Bengali adj.

benighted adj. (old-fashioned)
1 (of people) without understanding
2 (of places) without the benefits of modern life

benign adj.
1 (formal) (of people) kind and gentle; not hurting anybody: You would never have guessed his intentions from the benign expression on his face.
2 (medical) (of TUMOURS growing in the body) not dangerous or likely to cause death MALIGNANT
benignly adv.: He smiled benignly.

bent adj., nounsee also BEND, BENT, BENT
adj.
1 not straight: a piece of bent wire Do this exercise with your knees bent (= not with your legs straight).
2 (of a person) not able to stand up straight, usually as a result of being old or ill/sick: a small bent old woman He was bent double with laughter.
3 (BrE, informal) (of a person in authority) dishonest
bent on sth/on doing sth determined to do sth (usually sth bad): She seems bent on making life difficult for me.see also HELL-BENT
noun [usually sing.] ~ (for sth) a natural skill or interest in sth: She has a bent for mathematics. people of a philosophical bent

bentwood noun [U] wood that is artificially shaped for making furniture: bentwood chairs

benzene noun [U] a clear liquid obtained from PETROLEUM and COAL TAR, used in making plastics and many chemical products

bequeath verb ~ sth (to sb)| ~ (sb) sth (formal)
1 to say in a WILL that you want sb to have your property, money, etc. after you die LEAVE: [VN, VNN] He bequeathed his entire estate to his daughter. He bequeathed his daughter his entire estate.
2 [VN, VNN] to leave the results of your work, knowledge, etc. for other people to use, especially after you have died

bequest noun (formal) money or property that you ask to be given to a particular person when you die: He left a bequest to each of his grandchildren.

berate verb [VN] (formal) to criticize or speak angrily to sb because you do not approve of sth they have done: She berated herself for being a bad mother.

bereave verb [VN] be bereaved if sb is bereaved, a relative or close friend has just died: The ceremony was an ordeal for those who had been recently bereaved.

bereaved adj. (formal)
1 having lost a relative or close friend who has recently died: recently bereaved families
2 the bereavednoun (pl. the bereaved) a person who is bereaved: an organization offering counselling for the bereaved

bereavement noun
1 [U] the state of having lost a relative or close friend because they have died: the pain of an emotional crisis such as divorce or bereavement a sense of bereavement learning to cope with bereavement bereavement counselling
2 [C] the death of a relative or close friend: A family bereavement meant that he could not attend the conference. She had suffered three bereavements in quick succession.

bereft adj. [not before noun] (formal)
1 ~ of sth completely lacking sth; having lost sth: bereft of ideas/hope
2 (of a person) sad and lonely because you have lost sth: He was utterly bereft when his wife died. The shock of his departure had left her feeling alone and bereft.

beret NAmE noun a round flat cap made out of soft cloth and with a tight band around the head

berg NAmE noun (SAfrE)
1 a mountain or group of mountains
2 (also the Berg) [sing.] the Drakensberg, a group of tall mountains in South Africa

bergamot NAmE noun
1 (also bergamot oil) [U] oil from the skin of a small orange
2 [U] a type of HERB

bergschrund NAmE noun (geology) a deep crack formed where a GLACIER (= a large moving mass of ice) meets the side of a mountain

beriberi noun [U] a disease that affects the nerves and heart, caused by a lack of VITAMIN B

berk NAmE noun (BrE, slang, old-fashioned) a stupid person IDIOT: I felt a right berk!

berkelium NAmE noun [U] (symb Bk) a chemical element. Berkelium is a RADIOACTIVE metal that is produced artificially from AMERICIUM and HELIUM.

berm NAmE noun (technical)
1 an area of ground at the side of a road; a raised area of ground at the side of a river or CANAL
2 a narrow raised area of sand formed on a beach by the waves coming in from the sea

Bermuda shorts NAmE (also Bermudas NAmE ) noun [pl.] SHORTS (= short trousers/pants) that come down to just above the knee: a pair of Bermudas

the Bermuda Triangle noun [sing.] an area in the Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico where a large number of ships and aircraft are believed to have disappeared in a mysterious way: This area of town is known as the Bermuda Triangle because drinkers can disappear into the pubs and clubs and be lost to the world.

berry noun (pl. -ies) (often in compounds) a small fruit that grows on a bush. There are several types of berry, some of which can be eaten: Birds feed on nuts and berries in the winter. blackberries/raspberries

berserk NAmE adj. [not usually before noun]
1 very angry, often in a violent or uncontrolled way: He went berserk when he found out where I'd been.
2 very excited: People were going berserk with excitement.

berth NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a place to sleep on a ship or train, or in a CARAVAN/CAMPER BUNK: a cabin with three berths
2 a place where a ship or boat can stop and stay, usually in a HARBOUR: a berth in dock Water and electricity are supplied at each berth. see WIDE adj.
verb to put a ship in a berth or keep it there; to sail into a berth: [VN] The ship is berthed at Southampton. [also V]

beryl noun [U] a transparent pale green, blue or yellow SEMI-PRECIOUS STONE, used in making jewellery

beryllium noun [U] (symb Be) a chemical element. Beryllium is a hard grey metal found mainly in the mineral BERYL.

beseech verb (besought, besought ) or (beseeched, beseeched) (formal) to ask sb for sth in an anxious way because you want or need it very much IMPLORE, BEG: [VN] Let him go, I beseech you! [also VN to inf, V]

beseeching adj. [only before noun] (formal) (of a look, tone of voice, etc.) showing that you want sth very much
beseechingly adv.

beset verb (besetting, beset, beset) [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to affect sb/sth in an unpleasant or harmful way: The team was beset by injury all season. It's one of the most difficult problems besetting our modern way of life. a life beset with financial worries

beside /bsad/ prep.
1 next to or at the side of sb/sth: He sat beside her all night. a mill beside a stream
2 compared with sb/sth: My painting looks childish beside yours.
be beside the point to not be important or closely related to the main thing you are talking about: Yes, I know it was an accident, but that's beside the point. They took my words out of context, but that's beside the point.
beside yourself (with sth) unable to control yourself because of the strength of emotion you are feeling: He was beside himself with rage when I told him what I had done. They were beside themselves with excitement.

WHICH WORD?

beside / besides

The preposition beside usually means 'next to something/somebody' or 'at the side of something/somebody': Sit here beside me. Besides means 'in addition to something': What other sports do you play besides hockey? Do not use beside with this meaning.

The adverb besides is not usually used on its own with the same meaning as the preposition. It is mainly used to give another reason or argument for something: I don't think I'll come on Saturday. I have a lot of work to do. Besides, I don't really like parties.She likes football. Besides, she likes tennis and basketball.

besides prep., adv.
prep. in addition to sb/sth; apart from sb/sth: We have lots of things in common besides music. Besides working as a doctor, he also writes novels in his spare time. I've got no family besides my parents. I've got plenty of other things to do besides talking to you. note at BESIDE
adv.
1 used for making an extra comment that adds to what you have just said: I don't really want to go. Besides, it's too late now. note at BESIDE
2 in addition; also: discounts on televisions, stereos and much more besides

WHICH WORD?

besides / apart from / except

The preposition besides means 'in addition to': What other sports do you like besides football? You use except when you mention the only thing that is not included in a statement: I like all sports except football. You can use apart from with both these meanings: What other sports do you like apart from football?I like all sports apart from football.

besiege verb [VN]
1 to surround a building, city, etc. with soldiers until the people inside are forced to let you in LAY SIEGE TO: Paris was besieged for four months and forced to surrender. (figurative) Fans besieged the box office to try and get tickets for the concert.
2 [usually passive] (especially of sth unpleasant or annoying) to surround sb/sth in large numbers: The actress was besieged by reporters at the airport.
3 ~ sb (with sth) to send so many letters, ask so many questions, etc. that it is difficult for sb to deal with them all: The radio station was besieged with calls from angry listeners.

besmirch NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to damage the opinion that people have of sb/sth SULLY: He had deliberately set out to besmirch her reputation.

besom noun a brush for sweeping floors, made from sticks tied onto a long handle

besotted NAmE adj. ~ (by/with sb/sth) loving sb/sth so much that you do not behave in a sensible way: He is completely besotted with his new girlfriend.

besought pt, pp of BESEECH

bespatter verb [VN] (literary) to accidentally cover sth with small drops of water

bespeak verb (bespoke NAmE bespoken NAmE ) [VN] (literary) to show or suggest sth: His style of dressing bespoke great self-confidence.

bespectacled adj. (formal) wearing SPECTACLES

bespoke NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (especially BrE, formal)
1 (NAmE usually custom-made) (of a product) made specially, according to the needs of an individual customer: bespoke software a bespoke suit TAILOR-MADE
2 making products specially, according to the needs of an individual customer: a bespoke tailor

best adj., adv., noun, verb
adj. (superlative of good)
1 of the most excellent type or quality: That's the best movie I've ever seen! He wrote his best songs before he was 25. She was one of the best tennis players of her generation. Is that your best suit? They've been best friends (= closest friends) since they were children. the company's best-ever results We want the kids to have the best possible education.
2 most enjoyable; happiest: Those were the best years of my life.
3 most suitable or appropriate: What's the best way to cook steak? The best thing to do would be to apologize. He's the best man for the job. It's best if you go now. I'm not in the best position to advise you.
Idioms containing best adj. are at the entries for the nouns and verbs in the idioms, for example on your best behaviour is at behaviour.
adv. (superlative of well, often used in adjectives)
1 most; to the greatest extent: Which one do you like best? Well-drained soil suits the plant best. her best-known poem
2 in the most excellent way; to the highest standard: He works best in the mornings. Britain's best-dressed woman The beaches are beautiful, but, best of all, there are very few tourists.
3 in the most suitable or appropriate way: Painting is best done in daylight. Do as you think best (= what you think is the most suitable thing to do).
as best you can not perfectly but as well as you are able: We'll manage as best we can.
noun [sing.] (usually the best)
1 the most excellent thing or person: We all want the best for our children. They only buy the best. They're all good players, but she's the best of all. We're the best of friends (= very close friends).
2 the highest standard that sb/sth can reach: She always brings out the best in people. The town looks its best (= is most attractive) in the spring. Don't worry about the examjust do your best. The roses are past their best now. I don't really feel at my best today.
3 something that is as close as possible to what you need or want: Fifty pounds is the best I can offer you. The best we can hope for in the game is a draw.
4 the highest standard that a particular person has reached, especially in a sport: She won the race with a personal best of 2 minutes 22.
all the best (informal) used when you are saying goodbye to sb or ending a letter, to give sb your good wishes
at best used for saying what is the best opinion you can have of sb/sth, or the best thing that can happen, when the situation is bad: Their response to the proposal was, at best, cool. We can't arrive before Friday at best.
be (all) for the best used to say that although sth appears bad or unpleasant now, it will be good in the end: I don't want you to leave, but perhaps it's for the best.
the best of a bad bunch (BrE also the best of a bad lot) (informal) a person or thing that is a little better than the rest of a group, although none are very good
the best of three, five, etc. (especially in games and sports) up to three, five, etc. games played to decide who wins, the winner being the person who wins most of them
the best that money can buy the very best: We make sure our clients get the best that money can buy.
do, mean, etc. sth for the best to do or say sth in order to achieve a good result or to help sb: I just don't know what to do for the best. I'm sorry if my advice offended youI meant it for the best.
have/get the best of sth to gain more advantage from sth than sb else: I thought you had the best of that discussion.
make the best of sth/it | make the best of things | make the best of a bad job to accept a bad or difficult situation and do as well as you can
to the best of your knowledge/belief as far as you know: He never made a will, to the best of my knowledge.
with the best (of them) as well as anyone: He'll be out there, dancing with the best of them.more at BUNCH n., HOPE v., LUCK n., SUNDAY
verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to defeat or be more successful than sb: He was determined not to be bested by his old rival.

best-before date noun (BrE) a date printed on a container or package, advising you to use food or drink before this date as it will not be of such good quality after that: The flour is not yet past its best-before date.

best boy noun the assistant to the person in charge of the electrical equipment used when making a film/movie

bestial NAmE adj. (formal) cruel and disgusting; of or like a BEAST: bestial acts/cruelty/noises

bestiality NAmE noun [U]
1 (technical) sexual activity between a human and an animal
2 (formal) cruel or disgusting behaviour: the sheer bestiality of these crimes

bestiary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a collection of descriptions of, or stories about, various types of animal, especially one written in the Middle Ages

bestir verb (-rr-) [VN] ~ yourself (formal or humorous) to start doing things after a period during which you have been doing nothing ROUSE: He needs to bestir himself and start looking for a job.

best man noun [sing.] a male friend or relative of the BRIDEGROOM at a wedding, who helps him during the wedding ceremonycompare BRIDESMAID

bestow NAmE verb [VN] ~ sth (on/upon sb) (formal) to give sth to sb, especially to show how much they are respected: It was a title bestowed upon him by the king.

best practice noun [U, C] a way of doing sth that is seen as a very good example of how it should be done and can be copied by other companies or organizations: These schools have been specially chosen to spread best practice in the region. The aim of this report is to promote best practice among smaller companies.

bestride verb [VN] (literary) to sit with one leg on either side of sth: He bestrode his horse.

best-seller (also bestseller) noun a product, usually a book, which is bought by large numbers of people: the best-seller list
best-selling adj.: a best-selling novel/author

besuited BrE adj. (formal) wearing a suit: besuited businessmen

bet verb, noun
verb (betting, bet, bet)
1 ~ (sth) (on/against sth) to risk money on a race or an event by trying to predict the result: [V] You have to be over 16 to bet. I wouldn't bet on them winning the next election. [VN] He bet $2 000 on the final score of the game. [VNN] She bet me £20 that I wouldn't do it. [also V that, VN that] see also BETTING, GAMBLE
2 (informal) used to say that you are almost certain that sth is true or that sth will happen: [V (that)] I bet (that) we're too late. You can bet (that) the moment I sit down, the phone will ring. [VN (that)] I'll bet you (that) he knows all about it.
I/I'll bet! (informal)
1 used to show that you can understand what sb is feeling, describing, etc.: 'I nearly died when he told me.' 'I bet!'
2 used to tell sb that you do not believe what they have just said: 'I'm going to tell her what I think of her.' 'Yeah, I bet!'
I wouldn't bet on it | don't bet on it (informal) used to say that you do not think that sth is very likely: 'She'll soon get used to the idea.' 'I wouldn't bet on it.'
you bet! (informal) used instead of 'yes' to emphasize that sb has guessed sth correctly or made a good suggestion: 'Are you nervous?' 'You bet!'
you can bet your life/your bottom dollar (on sth/(that) ... ) (informal) used to say that you are certain that sth will happen: You can bet your bottom dollar that he'll be late.
noun
1 an arrangement to risk money, etc. on the result of a particular event; the money that you risk in this way: to win/lose a bet We've got a bet on who's going to arrive first. He had a bet on the horses. 'Liverpool are bound to win.' 'Do you want a bet?' (= I disagree with you, I don't think they will.) They all put a bet on the race. I hear you're taking bets on whether she'll marry him. I did it for a bet (= because sb had agreed to pay me money if I did).
2 (informal) an opinion about what is likely to happen or to have happened: My bet is that they've been held up in traffic.
the/your best bet (informal) used to tell sb what is the best action for them to take to get the result they want: If you want to get around London fast, the Underground is your best bet.
a good/safe bet something that is likely to happen, to succeed or to be suitable: Clothes are a safe bet as a present for a teenager.more at HEDGE v.

beta NAmE noun the second letter of the Greek alphabet (B, )

beta blocker noun a drug used to control heart rhythm, treat severe chest pain and reduce high blood pressure

beta-carotene noun [U] a substance found in carrots and other plants, which is needed by humans

beta decay noun [sing.] (physics) the breaking up of an atom in which an ELECTRON is given off

betake verb (betook betaken ) [VN + adv. / prep.] (literary) ~ yourself to go somewhere: He betook himself to his room.

beta test noun a test on a new product, done by sb who does not work for the company that is developing the productcompare ALPHA TEST
beta-test verb [VN]

beta version noun [usually sing.] the version of a new product, especially computer software, that is almost ready for the public to buy or use, but is given to a few customers to test first

betel noun [U] the leaves of a climbing plant, also called betel, chewed by people in Asia

betel nut noun the slightly bitter nut of a tropical Asian PALM, that is cut into small pieces, wrapped in betel leaves, and chewed

bête noire noun (pl. bêtes noires NAmE ) (from French) a person or thing that particularly annoys you and that you do not like

betide verb see WOE

betoken NAmE verb [VN] (literary) to be a sign of sth: a clear blue sky betokening a fine day

betray verb [VN]
1 ~ sb/sth (to sb) to give information about sb/sth to an enemy: For years they had been betraying state secrets to Russia. He was offered money to betray his colleagues.
2 to hurt sb who trusts you, especially by not being loyal or faithful to them: She felt betrayed when she found out the truth about him. She betrayed his trust over and over again. I have never known her to betray a confidence (= tell other people sth that should be kept secret). note at CHEAT
3 to ignore your principles or beliefs in order to achieve sth or gain an advantage for yourself: He has been accused of betraying his former socialist ideals.
4 ~ sth/yourself to tell sb or make them aware of a piece of information, a feeling, etc., usually without meaning to GIVE AWAY: His voice betrayed the worry he was trying to hide. She was terrified of saying something that would make her betray herself (= show her feelings or who she was).

betrayal noun [U, C] the act of betraying sb/sth or the fact of being betrayed: a sense/a feeling/an act of betrayal I saw her actions as a betrayal of my trust. the many disappointments and betrayals in his life Memories of his betrayal still haunted her. a betrayal of their election promises a story of heroism, love and betrayal

betrothal NAmE noun ~ (to sb) (formal or old-fashioned) an agreement to marry sb ENGAGEMENT

betrothed NAmE adj. (formal or old-fashioned)
1 ~ (to sb) having promised to marry sb ENGAGED
2 sb's betrothednoun [sing.] the person that sb has promised to marry

better adj., adv., noun, verb
adj. (comparative of good)
1 of a higher standard or less poor quality; not as bad as sth else: We're hoping for better weather tomorrow. Her work is getting better and better. He is in a much better mood than usual. The meal couldn't have been better. There's nothing better than a long soak in a hot bath. If you can only exercise once a week, that's better than nothing (= better than taking no exercise at all).
2 more able or skilled: She's far better at science than her brother.
3 more suitable or appropriate: Can you think of a better word than 'nice'? It would be better for him to talk to his parents about his problems. You'd be better going by bus.
4 less ill/sick or unhappy: She's a lot better today. His leg was getting better. You'll feel all the better for a good night's sleep.
Most idioms containing better are at the entries for the nouns and verbs in the idioms, for example better luck next time is at luck. little/no better than almost or just the same as; almost or just as bad as: The path was no better than a sheep track.
that's (much) better
1 used to give support to sb who has been upset and is trying to become calmer: Dry your eyes now. That's better.
2 used to praise sb who has made an effort to improve: That's much betteryou played the right notes this time.
the bigger, smaller, faster, slower, etc. the better used to say that sth should be as big, small, etc. as possible: As far as the hard disk is concerned, the bigger the better.more at DISCRETION, HEAD n., PART n., PREVENTION
adv. (comparative of well)
1 in a more excellent or pleasant way; not as badly: She sings much better than I do. Sound travels better in water than in air. People are better educated now.
2 more; to a greater degree: You'll like her when you know her better. A cup of tea? There's nothing I'd like better! Fit people are better able to cope with stress.
3 used to suggest that sth would be a suitable or appropriate thing to do: The money could be better spent on more urgent cases. Some things are better left unsaid. You'd do better to tell her everything before she finds out from someone else.
Most idioms containing better are at the entries for the nouns, adjectives and verbs in the idioms, for example better the devil you know is at devil. be better off to have more money: Families will be better off under the new law. Her promotion means she's $100 a week better off. BE WORSE OFF
be better off (doing sth) used to say that sb is/would be happier or more satisfied if they were in a particular position or did a particular thing: She's better off without him. The weather was so bad we'd have been better off staying at home.
had better/best (do sth) used to tell sb what you think they should do: You'd better go to the doctor about your cough. We'd better leave now or we'll miss the bus. You'd better not do that again. 'I'll give you back the money tomorrow.' 'You'd better!' (= as a threat) note at SHOULD
noun
1 [sing., U] something that is better: the better of the two books I expected better of him (= I thought he would have behaved better).
2 your betters [pl.] (old-fashioned) people who are more intelligent or more important than you
for better or (for) worse used to say that sth cannot be changed, whether the result is good or bad
get the better of sb/sth to defeat sb/sth or gain an advantage: No one can get the better of her in an argument. She always gets the better of an argument. His curiosity got the better of him (= he didn't intend to ask questions, but he wanted to know so badly that he did).
so much the better/worse used to say that sth is even better/worse: We don't actually need it on Tuesday, but if it arrives by then, so much the better.more at CHANGE n., ELDER n., THINK v.
verb [VN]
1 [often passive] to be better or do sth better than sb/sth else: The work he produced early in his career has never really been bettered.
2 ~ yourself to improve your social position through education, a better job, etc.: Thousands of Victorian workers joined educational associations in an attempt to better themselves.

better half noun (informal) the person that you are married to, or your boyfriend or girlfriend

betterment NAmE noun [U] (formal) the process of becoming or making sth/sb better IMPROVEMENT: His life offered me no hope of betterment.

betting noun [U] the act of risking money, etc. on the unknown result of an event: illegal bettingsee also SPREAD BETTING
what's the betting ... ? | the betting is that ... (informal) it seems likely that ...: What's the betting that he gets his own way? The betting is that he'll get his own way.

betting shop noun (BrE) a shop where you can bet on horse races and other competitions

between prep., adv.
prep.
1 in or into the space separating two or more points, objects, people, etc.: Q comes between P and R in the English alphabet. I sat down between Jo and Diana. Switzerland lies between France, Germany, Austria and Italy. The paper had fallen down between the desk and the wall. (figurative) My job is somewhere between a secretary and a personal assistant.
2 in the period of time that separates two days, years, events, etc.: It's cheaper between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. Don't eat between meals. Children must attend school between the ages of 5 and 16. Many changes took place between the two world wars.
3 at some point along a scale from one amount, weight, distance, etc. to another: It weighed between nine and ten kilos. The temperature remained between 25 ° C and 30 ° C all week.
4 (of a line) separating one place from another: the border between Sweden and Norway
5 from one place to another: We fly between Rome and Paris twice daily.
6 used to show a connection or relationship: a difference/distinction/contrast between two things a link between unemployment and crime There's a lot of bad feeling between them. I had to choose between the two jobs.
7 shared by two or more people or things: We ate a pizza between us. This is just between you and me/between ourselves (= it is a secret).
8 by putting together the efforts or actions of two or more people or groups: We ought to be able to manage it between us. China and India between them account for a third of the world's population.
9 ~ doing sth used to show that several activities are involved: Between working full-time and taking care of the kids, he didn't have much time for hobbies.
adv. (usually in between) in the space or period of time separating two or more points, objects, etc. or two dates, events, etc.: The house was near a park but there was a road in between. I see her most weekends but not very often in between. see BETWIXT

betwixt adv., prep. (literary or old use) between
betwixt and between (old-fashioned) in a middle position; neither one thing nor the other: He found himself placed betwixt and between in the debate, agreeing with parts of each side's arguments.

bevel noun
1 a sloping edge or surface, for example at the side of a picture frame or sheet of glass
2 a tool for making sloping edges on wood or stone

bevelled (BrE) (NAmE beveled) adj. [usually before noun] having a sloping edge or surface: a bevelled mirror

beverage noun (formal) any type of drink except water: laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages

bevvy noun (pl. -ies) (BrE, informal) an alcoholic drink, especially beer: We went out for a few bevvies last night.

bevy noun [sing.] (informal) a large group of people or things of the same kind: a bevy of beauties (= beautiful young women)

bewail verb [VN] (formal or humorous) to express great sadness about sth

beware NAmE verb ~ (of sb/sth/of doing sth) (used only in infinitives and in orders) if you tell sb to beware, you are warning them that sb/sth is dangerous and that they should be careful: [V] Motorists have been warned to beware of icy roads. Beware of saying anything that might reveal where you live. [VN] It's a great place for swimming, but beware dangerous currents. [also V -ing]

bewigged adj. (formal) (of a person) wearing a WIG

bewilder verb [VN] [usually passive] to confuse sb: She was totally bewildered by his sudden change of mood. His complete lack of interest in money bewilders his family.
bewildered adj.: He turned around, with a bewildered look on his face.

bewildering adj. making you feel confused because there are too many things to choose from or because sth is difficult to understand CONFUSING: a bewildering array/range There is a bewildering variety of software available.
bewilderingly adv.: All the houses looked bewilderingly similar.

bewilderment NAmE noun [U] a feeling of being completely confused CONFUSION: to look/stare in bewilderment

bewitch verb [VN]
1 [often passive] to attract or impress sb so much that they cannot think in a sensible way: He was completely bewitched by her beauty.
2 to put a magic SPELL on sb ENCHANT

bewitching adj. so beautiful or interesting that you cannot think about anything else: a bewitching girl/smile a bewitching performance

beyond NAmE prep., adv.
prep.
1 on or to the further side of sth: The road continues beyond the village up into the hills.
2 later than a particular time: It won't go on beyond midnight. I know what I'll be doing for the next three weeks but I haven't thought beyond that.
3 more than sth: Our success was far beyond what we thought possible. She's got nothing beyond her state pension.
4 used to say that sth is not possible: The bicycle was beyond repair (= is too badly damaged to repair). The situation is beyond our control.
5 too far or too advanced for sb/sth: The handle was just beyond my reach. The exercise was beyond the abilities of most of the class.
be beyond sb (informal) to be impossible for sb to imagine, understand or do: It's beyond me why she wants to marry Jeff.
adv. on the other side; further on: Snowdon and the mountains beyond were covered in snow. The immediate future is clear, but it's hard to tell what lies beyond. the year 2005 and beyond see BACK n., DOUBT n.

bezel noun (technical) a ring with a long narrow cut around the inside, used to hold sth in place, such as the cover of a watch or mobile phone/cellphone

bezique noun [U] a card game for two players, played with a double pack but including the seven to ACE only in each SUIT

Bhagwan noun (IndE)
1 God: 'May Bhagwan bless you,' he said.
2 a title for a GURU or a god in the form of a man: Bhagwan Rajneesh

bhai noun (IndE)
1 a brother
2 used as a polite form of address to a man; in western India, often added to the first or last name: Suresh Bhai Gandhi Bhai

bhaji (also bhajia ) noun (pl. bhajis or bhajia)
1 [C] a spicy S Asian food consisting of vegetables fried in BATTER (= a mixture of flour and liquid)
2 [U] a S Asian dish of spicy fried vegetables

bhang (also bang) noun [U] the leaves and flower tops of the CANNABIS plant, used as a drug

bhangra noun [U] a type of popular music that combines traditional Punjabi music from India and Pakistan with Western pop music

Bharatanatyam noun [U] a CLASSICAL dance form from southern India

bhavan noun (IndE) a building made or used for a special purpose, for example for meetings or concerts

bhindi noun (pl. bhindi or bhindis) [C, U] (IndE) = OKRA

bi- combining form (in nouns and adjectives) two; twice; double: bilingual bicentenary Bi- with a period of time can mean either 'happening twice' in that period of time, or 'happening once in every two' periods.

bialy noun (pl. bialys) (US) a flat bread roll with chopped onions on the top

biannual adj. [only before noun] happening twice a year: a biannual meetingcompare ANNUALsee also BIENNIAL

bias noun, verb
noun
1 [U, C, usually sing.] a strong feeling in favour of or against one group of people, or one side in an argument, often not based on fair judgement: accusations of political bias in news programmes (= that reports are unfair and show favour to one political party) Employers must consider all candidates impartially and without bias. Some institutions still have a strong bias against women.
2 [C, usually sing.] an interest in one thing more than others; a special ability: The course has a strong practical bias. Leila had a marked scientific bias.
3 [U, sing.] the bias of a piece of cloth is an edge cut DIAGONALLY across the threads: The skirt is cut on the bias. a bias strip
verb (-s- or -ss-) [VN] ~ sb/sth (towards/against/in favour of sb/sth) to unfairly influence sb's opinions or decisions PREJUDICE: The newspapers have biased people against her.

bias-cut adj. (of cloth or of an item of clothing) cut across the natural direction of the lines in the cloth

biased (also biassed) adj.
1 ~ (toward(s)/against/in favour of sb/sth) having a tendency to show favour towards or against one group of people or one opinion for personal reasons; making unfair judgements: biased information/sources/press reports a biased jury/witness Their research was based on a biased sample (= a group of people/things containing more of one kind than normal, therefore not giving fair or accurate results). UNBIASED
2 ~ toward(s) sth/sb having a particular interest in one thing more than others: a school biased towards music and art

biathlon noun a sporting event that combines CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING and RIFLE shootingcompare DECATHLON, HEPTATHLON, PENTATHLON, TETRATHLON, TRIATHLON

bib noun
1 a piece of cloth or plastic that you put under babies' chins to protect their clothes while they are eating
2 (especially BrE) a piece of cloth or plastic with a number or special colours on it that people wear on their chests and backs when they are taking part in a sport, so that people know who they are
your best bib and tucker (humorous) your best clothes that you only wear on special occasions

bible noun
1 the Bible [sing.] the holy book of the Christian religion, consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament
2 the Bible [sing.] the holy book of the Jewish religion, consisting of the Torah (or Law), the PROPHETS, and the Writings
3 [C] a copy of the holy book of the Christian or Jewish religion
4 [C] a book containing important information on a subject, that you refer to very often: the stamp-collector's bible

Bible-bashing (also Bible-thumping) noun [U] (informal, disapproving) the act of teaching or talking about the Bible in public in a very enthusiastic or aggressive way
Bible-basher, Bible-thumpernoun

the Bible Belt noun [sing.] an area of the southern and middle western US where people have strong and strict Christian beliefs

biblical (also Biblical) adj.
1 connected with the Bible; in the Bible: biblical scholarship/times/scenes biblical stories/passages
2 very great; on a large scale: a thunderstorm of biblical proportions
know sb in the biblical sense (humorous) to have had sex with sb: He had known herbut not in the biblical sense.

biblio- NAmE combining form (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) connected with books: bibliophile

bibliography NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a list of books or articles about a particular subject or by a particular author; the list of books, etc. that have been used by sb writing an article, etc.: There is a useful bibliography at the end of each chapter.
2 [U] the study of the history of books and their production
bibliographer NAmE noun bibliographical adj.

bibliophile noun (formal) a person who loves or collects books

bib overalls noun [pl.] (NAmE) = DUNGAREES (1)

bibulous adj. (old-fashioned or humorous) liking to drink too much alcohol

bicameral adj. (technical) (of a parliament) having two main parts, such as the Senate and the House of Representatives in the US, and the House of Commons and the House of Lords in Britain: a bicameral assembly/legislature/congress

bicarb NAmE noun [U] (informal) = SODIUM BICARBONATE

bicarbonate NAmE noun [U] (chemistry) a salt made from CARBONIC ACID containing CARBON, HYDROGEN and OXYGEN together with another element

bicarbonate of soda noun [U] = SODIUM BICARBONATE

bicentenary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (BrE) (NAmE bicentennial) the year, or the day, when you celebrate an important event that happened exactly 200 years earlier: Mozart's bicentenary to celebrate/mark the bicentenary of sb/sth
bicentenary adj. [only before noun]: bicentenary celebrations

bicentennial noun (NAmE) = BICENTENARY
bicentennial adj. [only before noun] (especially NAmE): bicentennial celebrations

biceps noun (pl. biceps) the main muscle at the front of the top part of the arm: He showed off his bulging biceps.compare TRICEPS

bicker verb [V] ~ (about/over sth) to argue about things that are not important SQUABBLE: The children are always bickering about something or other.
bickering noun [U]

bicky (also bikky) noun (pl. -ies) (informal) a biscuit
big bickies (AustralE, NZE, informal) a large sum of money

bicoastal NAmE adj. (NAmE) involving people and places on both the east and west coasts of the US: a bicoastal educational initiative

bicycle noun, verb
noun (also informal bike) a road vehicle with two wheels that you ride by pushing the PEDALS with your feet: He got on his bicycle and rode off. We went for a bicycle ride on Sunday.
verb [V, usually + adv. / prep.] (old-fashioned) to go somewhere on a bicyclecompare BIKE, CYCLE

bicycle clip noun one of the two bands that people wear around their ankles when they are riding a bicycle to stop their trousers/pants getting caught in the chain

bicycle lane (also informal bike lane) noun (both NAmE) = CYCLE LANE

bicyclist noun (old-fashioned in British English, formal in North American English) a person who rides a bicyclecompare CYCLIST

bid^1 verb, nounsee also BID^2
verb (bidding, bid, bid)
1 to offer to pay a particular price for sth, especially at an AUCTION: [VN] I bid £2 000 for the painting. [V] We wanted to buy the chairs but another couple were bidding against us.
2 ~ (for sth)| (NAmE) ~ (on sth) to offer to do work or provide a service for a particular price, in competition with other companies, etc. TENDER: [V] A French firm will be bidding for the contract. [also V to inf]
3 [V to inf] (used especially in newspapers) to try to do, get or achieve sth ATTEMPT: The team is bidding to retain its place in the league.
4 (in some card games) to say how many points you expect to win: [VN] She bid four hearts. [also V]
what am I bid? used by an AUCTIONEER when he or she is selling sth: What am I bid for this vase?
noun
1 ~ (for sth) an offer by a person or a business company to pay a particular amount of money for sth: Granada mounted a hostile takeover bid for Forte. At the auction (= a public sale where things are sold to the person who offers most), the highest bid for the picture was £200. Any more bids?
2 ~ (for sth)| (NAmE also) ~ (on sth) an offer to do work or provide a service for a particular price, in competition with other companies, etc. TENDER: The company submitted a bid for the contract to clean the hospital.
3 ~ (for sth)| ~ (to do sth) (used especially in newspapers) an effort to do sth or to obtain sth: a bid for power a desperate bid to escape from his attackers
4 (in some card games) a statement of the number of points a player thinks he or she will win

bid^2 verbsee also BID^1 (bidding, bade bidden ) or (bidding, bid, bid)
1 ~ (sb) good morning, farewell, etc. (formal) to say 'good morning', etc. to sb: [VN, VNN] I bade farewell to all the friends I had made in Paris. I bade all my friends farewell.
2 (old use or literary) to tell sb to do sth: [VN inf] He bade me come closer. [also VN to inf, VN]

biddable adj. (formal, especially BrE) (of people) willing to obey and to do what they are told to: a very biddable little girl

bidder noun
1 a person or group that offers to pay an amount of money to buy sth: It went to the highest bidder (= the person who offered the most money).
2 a person or group that offers to do sth or to provide sth for a particular amount of money, in competition with others: There were six bidders for the catering contract.

bidding noun [U]
1 the act of offering prices, especially at an AUCTION: There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. Several companies remained in the bidding. A bidding war for the textile firm erupted.
2 the act of offering to do sth or to provide sth for a particular price: competitive bidding for the contract
3 (in some card games) the process of stating the number of points that players think they will win
4 (old-fashioned or formal) what sb asks or orders you to do: to do sb's bidding (= to obey sb) At his father's bidding (= because his father asked him to) he wrote to his lawyer.

biddy noun (pl. -ies) (informal, disapproving) an old woman, especially an annoying one

bide verb [V] (old use) = ABIDE
bide your time to wait for the right time to do sth: He decided to bide his time until he got an opportunity to talk to her alone.

bidet NAmE noun a low bowl in the bathroom, usually with taps/faucets, that you fill with water and sit on to wash your bottom

bidirectional adj. (technical) functioning in two directions

biennial adj., noun
adj. [usually before noun] happening once every two years: a biennial convention
biennially adv.see also ANNUAL, BIANNUAL
noun any plant that lives for two years, producing flowers in the second yearcompare ANNUAL, PERENNIAL

bier NAmE noun a frame on which the dead body or the COFFIN is placed or carried at a funeral

biff verb [VN] (old-fashioned, informal) to hit sb hard with your FIST: He biffed me on the nose.
biff noun

bifocals NAmE noun [pl.] a pair of glasses with each LENS made in two parts. The upper part is for looking at things at a distance, and the lower part is for looking at things that are close to you: He peered through his bifocals.compare VARIFOCALS
bifocal adj.: bifocal lenses

bifurcate NAmE verb [V] (formal) (of roads, rivers, etc.) to divide into two separate parts
bifurcation NAmE noun [C, U]

big adj., adv., verb
adj. (bigger, biggest)
LARGE
1 large in size, degree, amount, etc.: a big man/house/increase This shirt isn't big enough. It's the world's biggest computer company. (informal) He had this great big grin on his face. They were earning big money. The news came as a big blow.
OLDER
2 (informal) older: You're a big girl now. my big brother
IMPORTANT
3 [only before noun] important; serious: a big decision Tonight is the biggest match of his career. You are making a big mistake. She took the stage for her big moment. (informal) Do you really think we can take on the big boys (= compete with the most powerful people)?
AMBITIOUS
4 (informal) (of a plan) needing a lot of effort, money or time to succeed: They're full of big ideas.
POPULAR
5 ~ (in ... ) (informal) popular with the public; successful: Orange is the big colour this year. The band's very big in Japan.
ENTHUSIASTIC
6 (informal) enthusiastic about sb/sth: I'm a big fan of hers.
DOING STH A LOT
7 doing sth often or to a large degree: a big eater/drinker/spender
GENEROUS
8 ~ of sb (usually ironic) kind or generous: He gave me an extra five pounds for two hours' work. I thought 'That's big of you'.

bigness noun [U]
be/get too big for your boots to be/become too proud of yourself; to behave as if you are more important than you really are
a big cheese (informal, humorous) an important and powerful person, especially in an organization
big deal! (ironic, informal) used to say that you are not impressed by sth: So he earns more than me. Big deal!
the big enchilada (NAmE, informal, humorous) the most important person or thing
a big fish (in a small pond) an important person (in a small community)
a big girl's blouse (BrE, informal) a weak man, who is not brave or confident
a big noise/shot/name an important person
the big picture (informal, especially NAmE) the situation as a whole: Right now forget the details and take a look at the big picture.
the big stick (informal) the use or threat of force or power: The authorities used quiet persuasion instead of the big stick.
the big three, four, etc. the three, four, etc. most important countries, people, companies, etc.: She works for one of the Big Six.
give sb/get a big hand to show your approval of sb by clapping your hands; to be APPLAUDED in this way: Ladies and gentlemen, let's give a big hand to our special guests tonight ...
have a big mouth
1 to be bad at keeping secrets
2 to talk too much, especially about your own abilities and achievements
me and my big mouth (informal) used when you realize that you have said sth that you should not have said
no big deal (informal) used to say that sth is not important or not a problem: If I don't win it's no big deal.more at EYE n., FISH n., THING, WAY n.
adv. in an impressive way: We need to think big.
go over big (with sb) (informal) to make a good impression on sb; to be successful: This story went over big with my kids.
make it big to be very successful: He's hoping to make it big on TV.more at HIT v.
verb (-gg-)
big sb/sthup (BrE, slang) to praise or recommend sb/sth strongly: He's been bigging up the CD on his radio show.

synonyms

big / large / great

These adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:

big ~

large ~

great ~

man

numbers

success

house

part

majority

car

area

interest

boy

room

importance

dog

company

difficulty

smile

eyes

problem

problem

family

pleasure

surprise

volume

beauty

question

population

artist

difference

problem

surprise

Large is more formal than big and should be used in writing unless it is in an informal style. It is not usually used to describe people, except to avoid saying 'fat'.

Great often suggests quality and not just size. Note also the phrases: a large amount ofa large number ofa large quantity ofa great deal ofin great detaila person of great age.

bigamist noun a person who commits the crime of bigamy

bigamy noun [U] the crime of marrying sb when you are still legally married to sb elsecompare MONOGAMY, POLYGAMY
bigamous adj.: a bigamous relationship

the Big Apple noun [sing.] (informal) New York City: He wanted to take a bite out of the Big Apple (= to become familiar with New York).

the Big Bad Wolf noun [sing.] (informal) a dangerous and frightening enemy
From the wolf in several children's stories and the song Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

big band noun a large group of musicians playing JAZZ or dance music: the big-band sound

big bang noun [sing.] (usually the big bang) the single large explosion that some scientists suggest created the universe

Big Brother noun [sing.] a leader, a person in authority, or a government that tries to control people's behaviour and thoughts, but pretends to act for their benefit
From George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, in which the leader of the government, Big Brother, had total control over the people. The slogan 'Big Brother is watching you' reminded people that he knew everything they did.

big bucks noun [pl.] (NAmE, informal) a large amount of money: She'll be earning big bucks soon!

big business noun [U]
1 large companies which have a lot of power, considered as a group: links between politics and big business
2 something that has become important because people are willing to spend a lot of money on it: Health and fitness have become big business.

big cat noun any large wild animal of the cat family. LIONS, TIGERS and LEOPARDS are all big cats.

Big Chief noun (informal) the person in charge of a business or other organization

big dipper noun
1 (old-fashioned, BrE) a small train at an AMUSEMENT PARK, which goes very quickly up and down a steep track and around bendssee also ROLLER COASTER
2 the Big Dipper (NAmE) = THE PLOUGH

big end noun (in a car engine) the end of a connecting ROD that fits around the CRANKSHAFT

Bigfoot noun (pl. Bigfeet) (also Sasquatch) a large creature covered with hair like an APE, which some people believe lives in western N America

big game noun [U] large wild animals that people hunt for sport, for example ELEPHANTS and LIONS

biggie noun (informal) an important thing, person or event: This year is going to be the biggie in his career!

big government noun [U] (disapproving) a type of government that has a lot of control over people's lives and the economy

big gun noun (informal) a person who has a lot of power or influence

big hair noun [U] hair in a style that makes a large shape around the head

big-headed adj. (informal, disapproving) having a very high opinion of how important and clever you are; too proud
big-head noun

big-hearted adj. very kind; generous

bight noun a long curve in a coast: the Great Australian Bight

big league noun (NAmE)
1 [C] a group of teams in a professional sport, especially BASEBALL, that play at the highest level
2 the big league [sing.] (informal) a very successful and important group: Over the past year, the company has joined the big league.

big-league adj. (NAmE)
1 connected with sports teams that are in a big league
2 very important and successful

Big Man on Campus noun (abbr. BMOC) (NAmE, informal) a successful popular male student at a college or university

big mouth noun (informal) a person who talks a lot, especially about him- or herself, and who cannot keep secrets
big-mouthed adj.

Big Muddy noun (US, informal)
1 the Mississippi River
2 a name for Vietnam used especially by US soldiers who fought there

bigot noun a person who has very strong, unreasonable beliefs or opinions about race, religion or politics and who will not listen to or accept the opinions of anyone who disagrees: a religious/racial bigot

bigoted adj. showing strong, unreasonable beliefs or opinions and a refusal to change them

bigotry noun [U] the state of feeling, or the act of expressing, strong, unreasonable beliefs or opinions

the big screen noun [sing.] the cinema (when contrasted with television): The movie hits the big screen in July. her first big-screen success

the big smoke noun (BrE, informal) London, or another large city

big-ticket adj. [only before noun] (NAmE) costing a lot of money: big-ticket items

big time noun, adv. (informal)
nounthe big time great success in a profession, especially the entertainment business: a bit-part actor who finally made/hit the big timecompare SMALL-TIME
adv. on a large scale; to a great extent: This time they've messed up big time!

big toe noun the largest toe on a person's foot

big top (usually the big top) noun the large tent in which a CIRCUS gives performances

big wheel noun
1 (usually the Big Wheel) (BrE) (also Ferris wheel NAmE, BrE) a large wheel which stands in a vertical position at an AMUSEMENT PARK, with seats hanging at its edge for people to ride in
2 (NAmE, informal) an important person in a company or an organization

bigwig noun (informal) an important person: She had to entertain some boring local bigwigs.

bijou adj. [only before noun] (BrE, sometimes ironic) (of a building or a garden) small but attractive and fashionable: The house was terribly small and cramped, but the agent described it as a bijou residence.

bike noun, verb
noun (informal)
1 a bicycle: She got on her bike and rode off. I usually go to work by bike.see also MOUNTAIN BIKE, PUSHBIKE, QUAD BIKE
2 a motorcycle
on your bike! (BrE, informal) a rude way of telling sb to go away
verb
1 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] (informal) to go somewhere on a bicycle or motorcycle: My dad bikes to work every day.
2 [VN] (informal) to send sth to sb by motorcycle: I'll bike the contract over to you this afternoon.
biking noun [U]: The activities on offer include sailing and mountain biking.compare BICYCLE, CYCLE

bike lane noun (NAmE, informal) = CYCLE LANE

biker noun
1 a person who rides a motorcycle, usually as a member of a large group: a biker's leather jacket
2 a person who rides a bicycle, especially a MOUNTAIN BIKE

bikie noun (AustralE, NZE, informal) a member of a group of people who ride motorcycles

bikini noun a piece of clothing in two pieces that women wear for swimming and lying in the sun

bikini line noun the area of skin around the bottom half of a BIKINI and the hair that grows there, which some women remove

bikky = BICKY

bilabial noun (phonetics) a speech sound made by using both lips, such as /p m buy and
bilabial adj.

bilateral adj.
1 involving two groups of people or two countries: bilateral relations/agreements/trade/talks
2 (medical) involving both of two parts or sides of the body or brain: bilateral hearing impairment
bilaterally adv. compare MULTILATERAL, TRILATERAL, UNILATERAL

bilateral symmetry noun [U] the fact of the two halves of sth on either side of a particular line being exactly the same

bilberry NAmE (also whortleberry) noun (pl. -ies) a small dark blue BERRY that grows on bushes on hills and in woods in northern Europe and can be eaten. The bush is also called a bilberry.compare BLUEBERRY

bilby noun (pl. -ies) a small Australasian animal with a long nose, a long tail and big ears

bile noun [U]
1 the greenish brown liquid with a bitter unpleasant taste that is produced by the LIVER to help the body to deal with the fats we eat, and that can come into your mouth when you VOMIT with an empty stomach
2 (formal) anger or hatred: The critic's review of the play was just a paragraph of bile.

bile duct noun the tube that carries bile from the LIVER and the GALL BLADDER to the DUODENUM

bilge noun
1 [C] (also bilges [pl.]) the almost flat part of the bottom of a boat or a ship, inside or outside
2 (also bilge water) [U] dirty water that collects in a ship's bilge

bilharzia NAmE noun [U] a serious disease, common in parts of Africa and S America, caused by small WORMS that get into the blood

biliary NAmE adj. (medical) relating to BILE or to the BILE DUCT

bilingual adj.
1 able to speak two languages equally well because you have used them since you were very young: She is bilingual in English and Punjabi.
2 using two languages; written in two languages: bilingual education/communities a bilingual dictionary
bilingual noun: Welsh/English bilingualscompare MONOLINGUAL, MULTILINGUAL

bilious adj.
1 feeling as if you might VOMIT soon: I felt a little bilious after last night's dinner. a bilious attack
2 (of colours, usually green or yellow) creating an unpleasant effect: a bilious green dress
3 (formal) bad-tempered; full of anger

bilirubin noun [U] (medical) an orange substance produced in the LIVER

bilk verb [VN] (informal, especially NAmE) ~ sb (out of sth)| ~ sth (from sb) to cheat sb, especially by taking money from them: a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars

bill noun, verb
noun
FOR PAYMENT
1 a piece of paper that shows how much you owe sb for goods or services: the telephone/electricity/gas bill We ran up a massive hotel bill. She always pays her bills on time. I'll be sending you the bill for the dry-cleaning! The bills are piling up (= there are more and more that have still not been paid).
2 (especially BrE) (NAmE usually check) a piece of paper that shows how much you have to pay for the food and drinks that you have had in a restaurant: Let's ask for the bill.
MONEY
3 (NAmE) = NOTE (6): a ten-dollar bill
IN PARLIAMENT
4 a written suggestion for a new law that is presented to a country's parliament so that its members can discuss it: to introduce/approve/reject a bill the Education Reform Bill
AT THEATRE, etc.
5 a programme of entertainment at a theatre, etc.: a horror double bill (= two horror films/movies shown one after the other) Topping the bill (= the most important performer) is Robbie Williams.
ADVERTISEMENT
6 a notice in a public place to advertise an event POSTER: Post no bills (= a notice warning people not to stick bills in a particular place).see also HANDBILL
OF BIRDS
7 the hard pointed or curved outer part of a bird's mouth BEAK
8 -billed (in adjectives) having the type of bill mentioned: long-billed waders
ON HAT
9 (NAmE) = PEAK (4)
see also THE OLD BILL
fill/fit the bill to be what is needed in a particular situation or for a particular purpose: On paper, several of the applicants fit the bill.more at CLEAN adj., FOOT v.
verb
ASK FOR PAYMENT
1 [VN] ~ sb (for sth) to send sb a bill for sth: Please bill me for the books. You will be billed monthly for the service.
ADVERTISE
2 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth as sth to advertise or describe sb/sth in a particular way: He was billed as the new Tom Cruise.
3 [VN to inf] [usually passive] to advertise that sb/sth will do sth: She was billed to speak on 'ChinaYesterday and Today'.
bill and coo (old-fashioned, informal) if two people who are in love bill and coo, they kiss and speak in a loving way to each other

SYNONYMS

bill

statement account invoice tab check

These are all words for a record of how much you owe for goods or services you have bought or used.

bill a list of goods that you have bought or services that you have used, showing how much you owe; the price or cost of sth: the gas bill

statement a printed record of money spent, received, etc.: the company's annual financial statement a bank statement (= a record of money paid into and out of a bank account). a credit card statement

account an arrangement with a shop/store or business to pay bills for goods or services at a later time, for example in regular amounts every month: Put it on my account please. In British English this can also be called a credit account. In North American English it can be called a charge account.

invoice (rather formal) a bill for goods that sb has bought or work that has been done for sb: The builders sent an invoice for £250.

BILL OR INVOICE?

You would get a bill in a restaurant, bar or hotel; from a company that supplies you with gas, electricity, etc.; or from sb whose property you have damaged. An invoice is for goods supplied or work done as agreed between a customer and supplier, and is usually sent after the goods have been delivered or the work finished.

tab (rather informal) a bill for goods you receive but pay for later, especially for food or drinks in a restaurant or bar; the price or cost of sth: a bar tab Can I put it on my tab?

check (NAmE) a piece of paper that shows how much you have to pay for the food and drinks that you have had in a restaurant: Can I have the check, please? In British English the usual word for this is bill.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

the bill/invoice/tab/check for sth

to pay/settle a(n) bill/account/invoice/tab/check

to pick up (= pay) the bill/tab/check

to put sth on the/sb's bill/account/invoice/tab/check

to send/submit a(n) bill/invoice to a customer

to ask for/get the bill/check (= especially in a restaurant or bar)

She asked the waiter if she could have the bill/check.

billabong NAmE noun (in Australia) a lake that is formed when a river floods

billboard NAmE noun (especially NAmE) = HOARDING

billet noun, verb
noun a place, often in a private house, where soldiers live temporarily: The troops are all in billets (= not in camps or BARRACKS).
verb [V + adv. / prep.] [usually passive] to send soldiers to live somewhere temporarily, especially in private houses during a war: The troops were billeted in the town with local families.

billet-doux noun (pl. billets-doux ) (from French, humorous or literary) a love letter

billfold NAmE noun (NAmE) = WALLET

billhook noun a tool with a long handle and a curved blade, used for cutting the small branches off trees

billiards NAmE noun [U] a game for two people played with CUES (= long sticks) and three balls on a long table covered with green cloth. Players try to hit the balls against each other and into pockets at the edge of the table: a game of billiardscompare POOL, SNOOKER
billiard adj. [only before noun]: a billiard cue

billing noun
1 [U] the position, especially an important one, that sb is advertised or described as having in a show, etc.: to have top/star billing The team justified their billing as the clear favourites to win.
2 [U] the act of preparing and sending bills to customers
3 [C, usually pl.] the total amount of business that a company does in a particular period of time: billings around $7 million

billion number (plural verb)
1 (abbr. bn) 1 000 000 000; one thousand million: Worldwide sales reached 2.5 billion. half a billion dollars They have spent billions on the problem (= billions of dollars, etc.). You say a, one, two, several, etc. billion without a final 's' on 'billion'. Billions (of ... ) can be used if there is no number or quantity before it. Always use a plural verb with billion or billions, except when an amount of money is mentioned Two billion (people) worldwide are expected to watch the game. Two billion (dollars) was withdrawn from the account. There are more examples of how to use numbers at the entry for hundred.
2 a billion or billions (informal) a very large amount: Our immune systems are killing billions of germs right now.
3 (old-fashioned, BrE) 1 000 000 000 000; one million million TRILLION

billionaire NAmE noun an extremely rich person, who has at least a thousand million pounds, dollars, etc. in money or property: a Texas billionaire

bill of costs noun (BrE, law) a list of the charges and expenses that sb must pay to a lawyer or to sb who has won a legal case

bill of exchange noun (pl. bills of exchange) (business) a written order to pay a sum of money to a particular person on a particular date

bill of fare noun (pl. bills of fare) (old-fashioned) a list of the food that can be ordered in a restaurant MENU

bill of lading noun (pl. bills of lading) (business) a list giving details of the goods that a ship, etc. is carrying

bill of rights noun [sing.] a written statement of the basic rights of the citizens of a country: It was argued that the civil and political status and rights of the citizen must be enshrined in a bill of rights.

bill of sale noun (pl. bills of sale) (business) an official document showing that sth has been bought

billow NAmE verb, noun
verb [V]
1 (of a sail, skirt, etc.) to fill with air and swell out: The curtains billowed in the breeze.
2 if smoke, cloud, etc. billows, it rises and moves in a large mass: A great cloud of smoke billowed out of the chimney.
noun [usually pl.] a moving mass or cloud of smoke, steam, etc. like a wave: A farmer was burning straw, the yellow billows of smoke spiralling lazily upward.

billy noun (pl. -ies) (also billycan ) (both BrE) a metal can with a lid and a handle used for boiling water or for cooking when you are camping

billy club noun (NAmE) a short wooden stick used as a weapon by police officers

billy goat noun a male GOATcompare NANNY GOAT

billy-o NAmE noun
like billy-o (BrE, informal) very hard or fast: I ran like billy-o.

biltong NAmE noun [U] (SAfrE) raw dry meat that is eaten in small pieces. Biltong is preserved by being treated with salt.

bimbo NAmE noun (pl. -os) (informal, disapproving) a young person, usually a woman, who is sexually attractive but not very intelligent: He's going out with an empty-headed bimbo half his age.

bimetallic strip noun a strip made of two different types of metal which bends when it is heated, used in THERMOSTATS

bimonthly adj., adv. produced or happening every two months or twice each month: a bimonthly newsletter

bin noun, verb
noun
1 (BrE) a container that you put waste in: a rubbish binsee also DUSTBIN, WASTE BIN
2 a large container, usually with a lid, for storing things in: a bread bin
verb (-nn-) [VN] (BrE, informal) to throw sth away: Do you need to keep these letters or shall we bin them?

binary adj.
1 (computing, mathematics) using only 0 and 1 as a system of numbers: the binary system binary arithmetic
2 (technical) based on only two numbers; consisting of two parts: binary code/numberscompare UNARY
binary noun [U]: The computer performs calculations in binary and converts the results to decimal.

bin bag noun (BrE, informal) a large plastic bag for putting rubbish/garbage in

bind verb, noun
verb (bound, bound )
TIE WITH ROPE/CLOTH
1 [VN] ~ sb/sth (to sth)| ~ sb/sth (together) to tie sb/sth with rope, string, etc. so that they cannot move or are held together firmly: She was bound to a chair. They bound his hands together. He was left bound and gagged (= tied up and with a piece of cloth tied over his mouth).
2 [VN] ~ sth (up) to tie a long thin piece of cloth around sth: She bound up his wounds.
UNITE
3 [VN] ~ A and B (together)| ~ A to B to unite people, organizations, etc. so that they live or work together more happily or effectively: Organizations such as schools and clubs bind a community together. She thought that having his child would bind him to her forever.
MAKE SB DO STH
4 [usually passive] ~ sb (to sth) to force sb to do sth by making them promise to do it or by making it their duty to do it: [VN] He had been bound to secrecy (= made to promise not to tell people about sth). [VN to inf] The agreement binds her to repay the debt within six months.see also BINDING, BOUND
STICK TOGETHER
5 ~ (sth) (together) to stick together or to make things stick together in a solid mass: [V] Add an egg yolk to make the mixture bind. [VN] Add an egg yolk to bind the mixture together.
BOOK
6 [VN] [usually passive] to fasten the pages of a book together and put them inside a cover: two volumes bound in leather
SEW EDGE
7 [VN] [often passive] ~ sth (with sth) to sew the edge of sth to decorate it or to make it stronger: The blankets were bound with satin.
see HAND n.
bind sb over [usually passive]
1 (NAmE, law) to give sb BAIL while they are waiting to go to trial: He was bound over for trial.
2 (BrE, law) to give sb a formal warning that if they break the law again they will be punished: She was bound over to keep the peace for a year.
noun [sing.] (BrE, informal) an annoying situation that is often difficult to avoidsee also DOUBLE BIND
in a bind (NAmE) in a difficult situation that you do not know how to get out of

binder noun
1 [C] a hard cover for holding sheets of paper, magazines, etc. together: a ring binder
2 [C] a person or machine that puts covers on books
3 [C, U] a substance that makes things stick or mix together in a solid form
4 [C] a machine that fastens WHEAT into bunches after it has been cut

bindi noun a decorative mark worn in the middle of the FOREHEAD, usually by Hindu women

binding adj., noun
adj.~ (on/upon sb) that must be obeyed because it is accepted in law: a binding promise/agreement/contract The decision is binding on both parties. The judge said the document was not legally binding.
noun
1 [C, U] the cover that holds the pages of a book together: rare books in leather bindings
2 [C, U] cloth that is fastened to the edge of sth to protect or decorate it
3 [C] a device on a SKI that holds the heel and toe of your boot in place and releases the boot automatically if you fall

binding theory noun GOVERNMENT AND BINDING THEORY

bindweed noun [U] a wild plant that twists itself around other plants

bin-end noun (pl. bin-ends) (BrE) a bottle of wine which has its price reduced because all the other bottles of the same wine have been sold

binge noun, verb
noun (informal) a short period of time when sb does too much of a particular activity, especially eating or drinking alcohol: to go on a binge One of the symptoms is binge eating. I had a shopping binge with my credit card.
verb (bingeing or binging, binged, binged) [V] ~ (on sth) to eat or drink too much, especially without being able to control yourself: When she's depressed she binges on chocolate.

bingo NAmE noun, exclamation
noun [U] a game in which each player has a card with numbers on. Numbers are called out in no particular order and the first player whose numbers are all called out, or who has a line of numbers called out, wins a prize: to play bingo a bingo hall
exclamation used to express pleasure and/or surprise because you have found sth that you were looking for, or done sth that you were trying to do: The computer program searches, and bingo! We've got a match.

bin liner noun (BrE) a plastic bag that is placed inside a container for holding waste

binman noun (pl. -men ) (BrE, informal) = DUSTMAN

binocular NAmE adj. (technical) using two eyes to see: binocular vision

binoculars NAmE (also field glasses) noun [pl.] an instrument, like two small TELESCOPES fixed together, that makes objects that are far away seem nearer when you look through it: a pair of binoculars We looked at the birds through binoculars.

binomial NAmE noun
1 (mathematics) an expression that has two groups of numbers or letters, joined by the sign + or -
2 (linguistics) a pair of nouns joined by a word like 'and', where the order of the nouns is always the same, for example 'knife and fork'
binomial adj.

bint noun (BrE, slang) an offensive way of referring to a woman: a posh bint

bio- NAmE combining form (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) connected with living things or human life: biodegradable biography

biobreak NAmE noun a short period of time when you leave your computer or a meeting in order to go to the toilet/bathroom: I need to take a biobreak.

biochemist NAmE noun a scientist who studies biochemistry

biochemistry NAmE noun
1 [U] the scientific study of the chemistry of living things
2 [U, C] the chemical structure and behaviour of a living thing: Your biochemistry is almost identical to that of your cat.
biochemical NAmE adj.

biodata NAmE noun [U, pl.] information about a person and about what they have done in their life

biodegradable NAmE adj. a substance or chemical that is biodegradable can be changed to a harmless natural state by the action of bacteria, and will therefore not damage the environment NON-BIODEGRADABLE: All active ingredients of this soap powder are 98% biodegradable within three days.

biodegrade NAmE verb [V] (of a substance or chemical) to change back to a harmless natural state by the action of bacteria

biodiversity NAmE (also less frequent biological diversity) noun [U] the existence of a large number of different kinds of animals and plants which make a balanced environment: The mining project threatens one of the world's richest areas of biodiversity.

bioengineering NAmE noun [U] the use of engineering methods to solve medical problems, for example the use of artificial arms and legs

bioethics NAmE noun [U] (technical) the moral principles that influence research in medicine and biology

biofeedback NAmE noun [U] (technical) the use of electronic equipment to record and display activity in the body that is not usually under your conscious control, for example your heart rate, so that you can learn to control that activity

biogas NAmE noun [U] gas, especially METHANE, that is produced by dead plants and that can be burned to produce heat

biographer NAmE noun a person who writes the story of another person's life

biography NAmE noun [C, U] (pl. -ies) the story of a person's life written by sb else; this type of writing: Boswell's biography of Johnsoncompare AUTOBIOGRAPHY
biographical adj.

biohazard NAmE noun a risk to human health or to the environment, from a BIOLOGICAL source

biological NAmE adj.
1 connected with the science of biology: the biological sciences
2 connected with the processes that take place within living things: the biological effects of radiation the biological control of pests (= using living ORGANISMS to destroy them, not chemicals) a child's biological parents (= natural parents, not the people who adopted him/her)
3 (of washing powder, etc.) using ENZYMES (= chemical substances that are found in plants and animals) to get clothes, etc. clean: biological and non-biological powders

biological clock noun (technical) a natural system in living things that controls regular physical activities such as sleeping: (figurative) At 35, Kate's biological clock was ticking (= she was beginning to think that she would soon be too old to have children). The movements of the leaves are triggered by the plant's biological clock.

biological diversity noun = BIODIVERSITY

biological warfare (also germ warfare) noun [U] the use of harmful bacteria as weapons of war

biological weapon noun a weapon of war that uses harmful bacteriacompare CHEMICAL WEAPON

biologist NAmE noun a scientist who studies biology

biology NAmE noun [U]
1 the scientific study of the life and structure of plants and animals: a degree in biologycompare BOTANY, ZOOLOGY
2 the way in which the body and cells of a living thing behave: How far is human nature determined by biology? the biology of marine animals

bioluminescence NAmE noun [U] (biology) the natural production of light by living creatures such as GLOW-WORMS

biomass NAmE noun [U, sing.] (technical) the total quantity or weight of plants and animals in a particular area or volume

biome NAmE noun (biology) the characteristic plants and animals that exist in a particular type of environment, for example in a forest or desert

biomechanics NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of the physical movement and structure of living creatures

biomedical NAmE adj. [usually before noun] relating to how biology affects medicine

biometric NAmE adj. [usually before noun] using measurements of human features, such as fingers or eyes, in order to identify people: Biometric systems have several advantages over conventional identification methods. The major biometric methods include face, voice, fingerprint and iris (= the round, coloured part of the eye) recognition. Biometric devices work by matchingan individual's features to those recorded in the device's memory.

bionic NAmE adj. having parts of the body that are electronic, and therefore able to do things that are not possible for normal humans

biophysics NAmE noun [U] the science which uses the laws and methods of physics to study biology

biopic NAmE noun a film/movie about the life of a particular person: a political biopic about President Kennedy

biopsy NAmE noun (pl. -ies) the removal and examination of TISSUE from the body of sb who is ill/sick, in order to find out more about their disease

biorhythm NAmE noun [usually pl.] the changing pattern of how physical processes happen in the body, that some people believe affects human behaviour

bioscience NAmE noun [C, U] any of the LIFE SCIENCES (= sciences concerned with studying humans, animals or plants)

biosphere NAmE noun [sing.] (technical) the part of the earth's surface and atmosphere in which plants and animals can live

biotechnology NAmE (also informal biotech NAmE ) noun [U] (technical) the use of living cells and bacteria in industrial and scientific processes
biotechnological adj.: biotechnological research

biotic NAmE adj. (biology) of or related to living things

biotype NAmE noun (biology) a group of living things with exactly the same combination of GENES

bipartisan NAmE adj. involving two political parties: a bipartisan policy The Bill before Congress has bipartisan support.

bipartite NAmE adj. (technical) involving or made up of two separate parts

biped noun (technical) any creature with two feetcompare QUADRUPED

bipedal NAmE adj. (technical) (of animals) using only two legs for walking

biplane noun an early type of plane with two sets of wings, one above the othercompare MONOPLANE

bipolar NAmE (also manic-depressive) adj. (psychology) suffering from or connected with bipolar disorder
bipolar (also manic-depressive) noun

bipolar disorder (also bipolar affective disorder) noun [U, C] (also manic-depression [U]) (psychology) a mental illness causing sb to change suddenly from being extremely depressed to being extremely happy

birch NAmE noun
1 [C, U] (also birch tree [C]) a tree with smooth BARK and thin branches, that grows in northern countriessee also SILVER BIRCH
2 (also birchwood NAmE ) [U] the hard pale wood of the birch tree
3 the birch [sing.] the practice of hitting sb with a bunch of birch sticks, as a punishment

bird NAmE noun
1 a creature that is covered with feathers and has two wings and two legs. Most birds can fly: a bird's nest with two eggs in it a species of bird The area has a wealth of bird life. More than a third of Britain's bird species need urgent protection.see also GAME BIRD, SEABIRD, SONGBIRD, WATERBIRD
2 (BrE, slang, sometimes offensive) a way of referring to a young womansee also DOLLY BIRD
3 (informal) a person of a particular type, especially sb who is strange or unusual in some way: a wise old bird She is that rare bird: a politician with a social conscience.
be (strictly) for the birds (informal) to not be important or practical
the bird has flown the wanted person has escaped
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (saying) it is better to keep sth that you already have than to risk losing it by trying to get much more
the birds and the bees (humorous) the basic facts about sex, especially as told to children
a bird's-eye view (of sth) a view of sth from a high position looking down: From the plane we had a bird's eye view of Manhattan.
birds of a feather (flock together) (saying) people of the same sort (are found together)
give sb/get the bird (informal)
1 (BrE) to shout at sb as a sign of disapproval; to be shouted at
2 (NAmE) to make a rude sign at sb with your middle finger; to have this sign made at youmore at EARLY adj., KILL v., LITTLE adj.

bird bath noun a bowl filled with water for birds to wash in and drink from, usually in a garden/yard

birdbrain NAmE noun (especially NAmE) a stupid person

birdcage NAmE noun a CAGE in which birds are kept, usually one in a house

bird dog noun (NAmE, informal)
1 a dog used in hunting to bring back birds that have been shot
2 a person whose job involves searching for good players for a sports team

bird flu (also avian flu, chicken flu) noun [U] a serious illness that affects birds, especially chickens, that can be spread from birds to humans and that can cause death: Ten new cases of bird flu were reported yesterday.

birdie NAmE noun
1 (informal) a child's word for a little bird
2 (in GOLF) a score of one stroke less than PAR (= the standard score for a hole)compare BOGEY, EAGLE
3 (NAmE) = SHUTTLECOCK

birding NAmE noun [U] (NAmE) the activity of watching birds in their natural environment and identifying different breeds, as a hobbysee also BIRDWATCHING

birdlime NAmE noun [U] a sticky substance spread onto branches to trap small birds

bird of paradise noun (pl. birds of paradise) a bird with very bright feathers, found mainly in New Guinea

bird of passage noun (pl. birds of passage)
1 a bird that travels regularly from one part of the world to another at different seasons of the year
2 a person who passes through a place without staying there long

bird of prey noun (pl. birds of prey) a bird that hunts and kills other creatures for food. EAGLES, HAWKS and OWLS are all birds of prey.

birdseed NAmE noun [U] special seeds for feeding birds that are in CAGES

bird's nest soup noun [U] a type of Chinese soup, made from a substance that is found in birds' nests

birdsong NAmE noun [U] the musical sounds made by birds: The woods were full of sunlight and birdsong.

bird strike noun an occasion when a bird hits an aircraft: The aircraft suffered multiple bird strikes immediately after take-off.

bird table noun (BrE) a wooden platform in a garden on which people put food for birds

birdwatcher NAmE noun a person who watches birds in their natural environment and identifies different breeds, as a hobby ORNITHOLOGIST
birdwatching noun [U] see also BIRDING

biretta noun a square cap worn by Roman Catholic priests

biriani (also biriyani, biryani) noun [U, C] a S Asian dish made from rice with meat, fish, or vegetables: chicken biriani

BiroTM NAmE noun (pl. -os) (BrE) a plastic pen with a metal ball at the top that rolls ink onto the papercompare BALLPOINT

birth NAmE noun
1 [U, C] the time when a baby is born; the process of being born: The baby weighed three kilos at birth. John was present at the birth of both his children. It was a difficult birth. a hospital/home birth Mark has been blind from birth. Please state your date and place of birth.
2 [sing.] the beginning of a new situation, idea, place, etc.: the birth of a new society in South Africa
3 [U] a person's origin or the social position of their family: Anne was French by birth but lived most of her life in Italy. a woman of noble birth
give birth (to sb/sth) to produce a baby or young animal: She died shortly after giving birth. Mary gave birth to a healthy baby girl. (figurative) It was the study of history that gave birth to the social sciences.

birth certificate noun an official document that shows when and where a person was born

birth control noun [U] the practice of controlling the number of children a person has, using various methods of CONTRACEPTION: a reliable method of birth control

birthday NAmE noun the day in each year which is the same date as the one on which you were born: Happy Birthday! Oliver's 13th birthday a birthday card/party/present
in your birthday suit (humorous) not wearing any clothes

birthing NAmE noun [U] the action or process of giving birth: a birthing pool

birthmark NAmE noun a red or brown mark on a person's skin that has been there since they were born

birth mother noun the woman who gave birth to a child who has been adopted

birth partner noun a person whom a woman chooses to be with her when she is giving birth to a baby

birthplace NAmE noun
1 the house or area where a person was born, especially a famous person
2 the place where sth first happened: Hawaii was the birthplace of surfing.

birth rate noun the number of births every year for every 1 000 people in the population of a place: a low/high birth rate The birth rate is falling/rising.

birthright noun a thing that sb has a right to because of the family or country they were born in, or because it is a basic right of all humans: The property is the birthright of the eldest child. Education is every child's birthright.

birthstone NAmE noun a SEMI-PRECIOUS STONE that is associated with the month of sb's birth or their sign of the ZODIAC

birthweight NAmE noun [U, C] the recorded weight of a baby when it is born

biryani = BIRIANI

bis adv. (music) (used as an instruction) again

biscuit noun
1 [C] (BrE) a small flat dry cake for one person, usually sweet, and baked until crisp: a packet of chocolate biscuits a selection of cheese biscuits The cake has a biscuit base (= one made from crushed biscuits).compare COOKIEsee also DIGESTIVE BISCUIT, DOG BISCUIT
2 [C] (NAmE) a soft bread roll, often eaten with GRAVY
3 [U] a pale yellowish-brown colour
take the biscuit (BrE) (also take the cake NAmE, BrE) (informal) to be the most surprising, annoying, etc. thing that has happened or that sb has done: You've done some stupid things before, but this really takes the biscuit!

biscuit barrel noun (BrE) a container for biscuits

bisect verb [VN] (technical) to divide sth into two equal parts

bisexual adj., noun
adj.
1 sexually attracted to both men and women
2 (biology) having both male and female sexual organs
bisexuality noun [U]
noun a person who is bisexualcompare HETEROSEXUAL, HOMOSEXUAL

bishop noun
1 a senior priest in charge of the work of the Church in a city or district: the Bishop of Oxford Bishop Harriessee also ARCHBISHOP
2 a piece used in the game of CHESS that is shaped like a bishop's hat and can move any number of squares in a DIAGONAL line

bishopric noun
1 the position of a bishop
2 the district for which a bishop is responsible DIOCESE

bismuth noun [U] (symb Bi) a chemical element. Bismuth is a reddish-white metal that breaks easily and is used in medicine.

bison noun (pl. bison) a large wild animal of the cow family that is covered with hair. There are two types of bison, the N American (also called BUFFALO) and the European: a herd of bison

bisque noun [U, C] a thick soup, especially one made from SHELLFISH: lobster bisque

bistro NAmE noun (pl. -os) a small informal restaurant

bit noun
SMALL AMOUNT
1 a bit [sing.] (used as an adverb) (especially BrE) rather A LITTLE: These trousers are a bit tight. 'Are you tired?' 'Yes, I am a bit.' It costs a bit more than I wanted to spend. I can lend you fifty pounds, if you want. That should help a bit.
2 a bit [sing.] (especially BrE) a short time or distance: Wait a bit! Can you move up a bit? Greg thought for a bit before answering.
3 [C] ~ of sth (especially BrE) a small amount or piece of sth: some useful bits of information With a bit of luck, we'll be there by 12. I've got a bit of shopping to do. a bit of cake bits of grass/paper
PART OF STH
4 [C] (especially BrE) a part of sth larger: The best bit of the holiday was seeing the Grand Canyon. The school play was a huge successthe audience roared with laughter at all the funny bits.
LARGE AMOUNT
5 [sing.] a ~ (of sth) (informal, especially BrE) a large amount: 'How much does he earn?' 'Quite a bit!' The new system will take a bit of getting used to (= it will take a long time to get used to).
COMPUTING
6 [C] the smallest unit of information used by a computer
FOR HORSE
7 [C] a metal bar that is put in a horse's mouth so that the rider can control it
TOOL
8 [C] a tool or part of a tool for DRILLING (= making) holessee also DRILL
MONEY
9 (NAmE, informal) an amount of money equal to 12½ cents
SEXUAL ORGANS
10 bits [pl.] (BrE, informal) a person's sexual organs
see also BITE, BIT, BITTEN v.
the (whole) ... bit (informal, disapproving) behaviour or ideas that are typical of a particular group, type of person or activity: She couldn't accept the whole drug-culture bit.
bit by bit a piece at a time; gradually: He assembled the model aircraft bit by bit. Bit by bit memories of the night came back to me.
a bit much (informal) not fair or not reasonable: It's a bit much calling me at three in the morning. The noise from next door is getting a bit much.
a bit of a ... (informal, especially BrE) used when talking about unpleasant or negative things or ideas, to mean 'rather a ... ': We may have a bit of a problem on our hands. The rail strike is a bit of a pain.
a bit of all right (BrE, slang) a person that you think is sexually attractive: Dave's new girlfriend is a bit of all right, isn't she?
a bit of rough (BrE, slang) a person of a low social class who has a sexual relationship with sb of a higher class
a bit on the side (BrE, slang) the boyfriend or girlfriend of sb who is already married or in a steady sexual relationship with sb else: Is he your bit on the side?
bits and pieces/bobs (BrE, informal) small objects or items of various kinds: She stuffed all her bits and pieces into a bag and left.
do your bit (informal) to do your share of a task: We can finish this job on time if everyone does their bit.
every bit as good, bad, etc. (as sb/sth) just as good, bad, etc.; equally good, bad, etc.: Rome is every bit as beautiful as Paris. He's every bit as clever as she is.
get the bit between your teeth (informal) to become very enthusiastic about sth that you have started to do so that you are unlikely to stop until you have finished
not a bit | not one (little) bit not at all; not in any way: 'Are you cold?' 'Not a bit.' It's not a bit of use (= there's no point in) complaining. I don't like that idea one bit.
not a bit of it! (informal, BrE) used for saying that sth that you had expected to happen did not happen: You'd think she'd be tired after the journey but not a bit of it!
to bits
1 into small pieces: The book fell to bits in my hands. She took the engine to bits, then carefully put it together again.
2 (informal) very much: I love my kids to bits. She was thrilled to bits when I said I'd come.more at BLIND adj., CHAMP v.

BRITISH/AMERICAN

a bit / a little

In BrE it is common to use a bit to mean 'slightly' or 'to a small extent': These shoes are a bit tight.I'll be a bit later home tomorrow.Can you turn the volume up a bit?

It is more common in NAmE to say a little, or (informal) a little bit. You can also use these phrases in BrE: These shoes are a little bit too tight.I'll be a little later home tomorrow.Can you turn the volume up a little bit?

bitch noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a female dog: a greyhound bitch
2 [C] (slang, disapproving) an offensive way of referring to a woman, especially an unpleasant one: You stupid little bitch! She can be a real bitch.
3 [sing.] (slang) a thing that causes problems or difficulties: Life's a bitch.
4 [sing.] ~ (about sb/sth) (informal) a complaint about sb/sth or a conversation in which you complain about them: We've been having a bitch about our boss.see also SON OF A BITCH
verb [V] ~ (about sb/sth) (informal) to make unkind and critical remarks about sb/sth, especially when they are not there: She isn't the sort of person who bitches about others behind their back.

bitchin' (also bitching) adj. (slang, especially NAmE) very good

bitchy adj. (informal) saying unpleasant and unkind things about other people: bitchy remarks
bitchiness noun [U]

bite verb, noun
verb (bit , bitten )
USE TEETH
1 ~ (into/through/off sth) to use your teeth to cut into or through sth: [VN] She was bitten by the family dog. Stop biting your nails! [V] She bit into a ripe juicy pear. Does your dog bite? Come here! I won't bite! (= you don't need to be afraid) He bit off a large chunk of bread/He bit a large chunk of bread off.
OF INSECT/SNAKE
2 to wound sb by making a small hole or mark in their skin: [VN] We were badly bitten by mosquitoes. [V] Most European spiders don't bite.
OF FISH
3 [V] if a fish bites, it takes food from the hook of a FISHING LINE and may get caught
HAVE EFFECT
4 [V] to have an unpleasant effect: The recession is beginning to bite.
be bitten by sth to develop a strong interest in or enthusiasm for sth: He's been bitten by the travel bug.
bite the bullet (informal) to start to deal with an unpleasant or difficult situation which cannot be avoided: I wasn't happy with the way my career was going so I decided to bite the bullet and look for another job.
From the custom of giving soldiers a bullet to bite on during a medical operation without anaesthetic.
bite the dust (informal)
1 to fail, or to be defeated or destroyed: Thousands of small businesses bite the dust every year.
2 (humorous) to die
bite the hand that feeds you to harm sb who has helped you or supported you
bite your lip to stop yourself from saying sth or from showing an emotion
bite off more than you can chew to try to do too much, or sth that is too difficult
bite your tongue to stop yourself from saying sth that might upset sb or cause an argument, although you want to speak: I didn't believe her explanation but I bit my tongue.
I, etc. could have bitten my/his/her tongue out/off used when sb says sth stupid or embarrassing and immediately wishes they had not said itmore at HEAD n., ONCE adv.
bite back (at sb/sth) to react angrily, especially when sb has criticized or harmed you: The election was a chance for the people to bite back at the government.
bite sthback to stop yourself from saying sth or from showing your feelings: She bit back her anger.
bite into sth to cut into the surface of sth: The horses' hooves bit deep into the soft earth.
noun
USING TEETH
1 [C] an act of biting: The dog gave me a playful bite. He has to wear a brace to correct his bite (= the way the upper and lower teeth fit together).
FOOD
2 [C] a small piece of food that you can bite from a larger piece: She took a couple of bites of the sandwich. He didn't eat a bite of his dinner (= he ate nothing).
3 a ~ (to eat) [sing.] (informal) a small amount of food; a small meal: How about a bite of lunch? We just have time for a bite to eat before the movie.
OF INSECT/ANIMAL
4 [C] a wound made by an animal or insect: Dog bites can get infected. a mosquito/snake bite
STRONG TASTE
5 [U] a pleasant strong taste: Cheese will add extra bite to any pasta dish.
COLD
6 [sing.] a sharp cold feeling: There's a bite in the air tonight.
POWERFUL EFFECT
7 [U] a quality that makes sth effective or powerful: The performance had no bite to it. The sun had lost some of its bite by then.
OF FISH
8 [C] the act of a fish biting food on a hook: The fishermen waited all afternoon for a bite.
see also FROSTBITE, LOVE BITE, SOUND BITE
a bite at/of the cherry (BrE) an opportunity to do sth: You only get one bite at the cherry in life. They were eager for a second bite of the cherry.more at BARK n.

bite-sized (also bite-size) adj. [usually before noun]
1 small enough to put into the mouth and eat: Cut the meat into bite-sized pieces.
2 (informal) very small or short: The exams are taken in bite-size chunks over two years.

biting adj.
1 (of a wind) very cold and unpleasant
2 (of remarks) cruel and critical: biting sarcasm/wit
bitingly adv.

bitmap noun (computing) a way in which an image is stored with a fixed number of BITS (= units of information) for each unit of the image
bitmap verb (-pp-) [VN]

bitonal NAmE adj. (music) having parts in two different KEYS sounding together
bitonality NAmE noun [U]

bit part noun a small part in a film/movie

bit player noun
1 an actor with a small part in a film/movie: She was a bit player in a couple of movies.
2 a person or an organization that is involved in a situation but does not have an important role and has little influence: This country needs to be a leading partner in Europe, not a bit player.

bitstream noun (computing) a flow of data in BINARY form

bitten pp of BITE

bitter adj., noun
adj. more bitter and most bitter are the usual comparative and superlative forms, but bitterest can also be used.
1 (of arguments, disagreements, etc.) very serious and unpleasant, with a lot of anger and hatred involved: a long and bitter dispute
2 (of people) feeling angry and unhappy because you feel that you have been treated unfairly: She is very bitter about losing her job.
3 [usually before noun] making you feel very unhappy; caused by great unhappiness: to weep/shed bitter tears Losing the match was a bitter disappointment for the team. I've learnt from bitter experience not to trust what he says.
4 (of food, etc.) having a strong, unpleasant taste; not sweet: Black coffee leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.compare SWEET
5 (of weather conditions) extremely cold and unpleasant: bitter cold a bitter wind It's really bitter out today.
bitterness noun [U]: The pay cut caused bitterness among the staff. The flowers of the hop plant add bitterness to the beer.
a bitter pill (for sb) (to swallow) a fact or an event that is unpleasant and difficult to accept: The election defeat was a bitter pill for the party to swallow.
to/until the bitter end continuing until you have done everything you can, or until sth is completely finished, despite difficulties and problems: They were prepared to fight to the bitter end for their rights.
noun (BrE)
1 [U, C] a type of beer with a dark colour and a strong bitter taste, that is very popular in Britain: A pint of bitter, please.compare MILD
2 bitters [U+sing./pl. v.] a strong bitter alcoholic liquid that is made from plants and added to other alcoholic drinks to give flavour: gin with a dash of bitters

SYNONYMS

bitter

pungent sour acrid sharp acid

These words all describe a strong, unpleasant taste or smell.

bitter (of a taste or smell) strong and usually unpleasant; (of food or drink) having a bitter taste.

pungent (of a smell or taste) strong and usually unpleasant; (of food or smoke) having a pungent smell or taste: the pungent smell of burning rubber

sour (of a taste) bitter like the taste of a lemon or of fruit that is not ripe; (of food or drink) having a sour taste: Too much pulp produces a sour wine.

acrid (of a smell or taste) strong and unpleasant; (of smoke) having an acrid smell: acrid smoke from burning tyres

sharp (of a taste or smell) strong and slightly bitter; (of food or drink) having a sharp taste: The cheese has a distinctively sharp taste.

acid (of a taste or smell) bitter, like the taste of a lemon or of fruit that is not ripe; (of food or drink) having an acid taste.

WHICH WORD?

Bitter, sour, sharp and acid are all used more for tastes. Pungent and acrid are used more for smells. A bitter taste is usually unpleasant, but some people enjoy the bitter flavour of coffee or chocolate. You cannot use any other word to describe this flavour. Sour and acid both describe the taste of a lemon or fruit that is not ripe. Sour is usually a negative term; acid can be negative or simply descriptive. A sharp or pungent flavour is more strong than unpleasant, especially when describing cheese. A pungent smell is usually unpleasant, but some people enjoy the pungent smell of rich, spicy food. An acrid smell is always unpleasant; acrid is not used for the smell of food.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to taste bitter/pungent/sour/sharp/acid

to smell bitter/pungent/acrid/sharp

a(n) bitter/pungent/sour/acrid/sharp/acid taste/flavour

a(n) bitter/pungent/acrid/sharp/acid smell/odour

a(n) bitter/sour/sharp/acid fruit

pungent/sharp cheese

pungent/acrid smoke

bitter lemon noun [U] (BrE) a FIZZY drink (= with bubbles) that tastes of lemon and is slightly bitter

bitterly NAmE adv.
1 in a way that shows feelings of sadness or anger: She wept bitterly. They complained bitterly. The development was bitterly opposed by the local community.
2 (describing unpleasant or sad feelings) extremely: bitterly disappointed/ashamed
3 ~ cold very cold

bittern NAmE noun a European bird of the HERON family, that lives on wet ground and has a loud call

bitter-sweet adj. (BrE)
1 bringing pleasure mixed with sadness: bitter-sweet memories
2 (of tastes or smells) bitter and sweet at the same time

bitty adj. (BrE, informal) made up of many small separate parts, which do not seem to fit together well

bitumen NAmE noun [U]
1 a black sticky substance obtained from oil, used for covering roads or roofs
2 (AustralE, informal) the surface of a road that is covered with TAR: a kilometre and a half of bitumen

bituminous NAmE adj. containing bitumen

bitzer noun (AustralE, NZE, informal)
1 a thing that is made from parts that originally did not belong together
2 a dog that is a mixture of different breeds MONGREL

bivalve noun (technical) any SHELLFISH with a shell in two parts, for example a MUSSELcompare MOLLUSC

bivouac noun, verb
noun a temporary camp or shelter, without using a tent, that is made and used especially by people climbing mountains or by soldiers
verb (-ck-) [V] to spend the night in a bivouac

bivvy
noun (pl. bivvies) a tent or temporary shelter
verb (third person sing.pres.t. bivvies pres.part. bivvying pt, pp bivvied) [V] to sleep in a tent or temporary shelter

bi-wiring noun [U] (technical) the use of two wires instead of one between an AMPLIFIER and a SPEAKER to improve the sound quality

the biz noun [sing.] (informal) a particular type of business, especially one connected with entertainment: people in the music biz
be the biz (informal) to be very good

bizarre adj. very strange or unusual WEIRD: a bizarre situation/incident/story bizarre behaviour
bizarrely adv.: bizarrely dressed

blab verb (-bb-) ~ (to sb) (about sth) (informal) to tell sb information that should be kept secret: [V] Someone must have blabbed to the police. [also VN]

blabber verb [V] ~ (on) (about sth) (informal) to talk in a way that other people think is silly and annoying: What was she blabbering on about this time?

blabbermouth NAmE noun (informal, disapproving) a person who tells secrets because they talk too much

black adj., noun, verb
adj. (blacker, blackest)
COLOUR
1 having the very darkest colour, like night or coal: a shiny black car black storm clouds
WITH NO LIGHT
2 without light; completely dark: a black night
PEOPLE
3 (also Black) belonging to a race of people who have dark skin; connected with black people: a black woman writer black culture Black is the word most widely used and generally accepted in Britain. In the US the currently accepted term is African American.
TEA/COFFEE
4 without milk: Two black coffees, please.compare WHITE
DIRTY
5 very dirty; covered with dirt: chimneys black with smoke Go and wash your hands; they're absolutely black!
ANGRY
6 full of anger or hatred: She's been in a really black mood all day. Rory shot her a black look.
DEPRESSING
7 without hope; very depressing: The future looks pretty black. It's been another black day for the north-east with the announcement of further job losses.
EVIL
8 (literary) evil or immoral: black deeds/lies
HUMOUR
9 dealing with unpleasant or terrible things, such as murder, in a humorous way: 'Good place to bury the bodies,' she joked with black humour. The play is a black comedy.

blackness noun [U, sing.]: She peered out into the blackness of the night.
(beat sb) black and blue (to hit sb until they are) covered with BRUISES (= blue, brown or purple marks on the body)
not as black as he/she/it is painted not as bad as people say he/she/it is: He's not very friendly, but he's not as black as he's painted.more at POT n.
noun
COLOUR
1 [U] the very darkest colour, like night or coal: the black of the night sky Everyone at the funeral was dressed in black.
PEOPLE
2 (also Black) [C, usually pl.] a member of a race of people who have dark skin In this meaning black is more common in the plural. It can sound offensive in the singular. Instead, you can use the adjective ('a black man/woman') or, in the US, African American.
be in the black to have money, for example in your bank account: The company has managed to stay in the black for the year ending December 31.compare BE IN THE RED at RED
black and white having no colours except black, white and shades of grey (in photographs, on television, etc.): a film made in black and white black-and-white photos
in black and white in writing or in print: I never thought they'd put it in black and white on the front page.
(in) black and white in a way that makes people or things seem completely bad or good, or completely right or wrong: It's a complex issue, but he only sees it in black and white. This is not a black-and-white decision (= where the difference between two choices is completely clear).
verb [VN]
1 (BrE) to refuse to deal with goods or to do business with sb as a political protest BOYCOTT: The unions have blacked all imports from the country.
2 to make sth black BLACKEN
black out to become unconscious for a short time FAINT: The driver had probably blacked out at the wheel.related noun BLACKOUT
black sthout
1 to make a place dark by turning off lights, covering windows, etc.: A power failure blacked out the city last night. a house with blacked out windowsrelated noun BLACKOUT
2 to prevent sth such as a piece of writing or a television broadcast from being read or seen: Some lines of the document have been blacked out for security reasons.

blackamoor noun (old use, taboo) an offensive word for a black person

black and tan noun [U, C] (BrE) an alcoholic drink made by mixing dark beer called BITTER with very dark beer called STOUT

the black arts noun [pl.] = BLACK MAGIC

blackball verb [VN] to prevent sb from joining a club or a group by voting against them: He was blackballed when he tried to join the Country Club.

black belt noun
1 a belt that you can earn in a sport such as JUDO or KARATE which shows that you have reached a very high standard
2 a person who has gained a black belt

blackberry NAmE (pl. -ies) (BrE also bramble) noun a small soft black fruit that grows on a bush with THORNS in gardens/yards or in the countryside. The bush is also called a blackberry/bramble: blackberry and apple pie

blackberrying NAmE noun [U] the act of picking blackberries: Shall we go blackberrying?

blackbird NAmE noun
1 a European bird: the male is black with a yellow beak and the female is brown with a brown beak
2 a black N American bird, larger than the European blackbird, related to the STARLING

blackboard NAmE (also chalkboard especially in NAmE) noun a large board with a smooth black or dark green surface that teachers write on with a piece of CHALK: to write on the blackboardcompare WHITEBOARD

black box noun
1 (also flight recorder) a small machine in a plane that records all the details of each flight and is useful for finding out the cause of an accident
2 [usually sing.] (technical) a complicated piece of equipment, usually electronic, that you know produces particular results, but that you do not completely understand

black bun noun [C, U] a Scottish cake wrapped in PASTRY, eaten at New Year

black butter noun a sauce made by cooking butter

the Black Country noun [sing.] an area in the West Midlands of England where there used to be a lot of heavy industry

blackcurrant NAmE noun a small black BERRY that grows in bunches on a garden bush and can be eaten: blackcurrant jam a blackcurrant bush

the Black Death noun [sing.] the name used for the very serious infectious disease, (called BUBONIC PLAGUE), which killed millions of people in Europe and Asia in the 14th century

black diamond noun
1 [C] (BrE, informal) a lump of coal
2 [U, C] a dark form of diamond
3 [C] (NAmE) a slope that is difficult to SKI down: a black diamond run

the black economy (BrE) (NAmE the underground economy) noun [sing.] business activity or work that is done without the knowledge of the government or other officials so that people avoid paying tax on the money they earn

black empowerment (also black economic empowerment) noun [U] in southern Africa, a policy which aims to give black people the chance to earn more money, own more property, etc., and have a greater role in the economy than they did before

blacken verb
1 to make sth black; to become black: [VN] Their faces were blackened with soot. Smoke had blackened the walls. rows of blackened teeth [also V] note at BURN
2 [VN] ~ sb's name/reputation/character to say unpleasant things that give people a bad opinion of sb: He accused the newspaper of trying to blacken his name.

Black English noun [U] any of various forms of English spoken by black people, especially a form spoken in US cities

black eye noun an area of dark skin (called a BRUISE), that can form around sb's eye when they receive a blow on it

blackface noun
1 [C] a type of sheep with a black face
2 [U] a dark substance used by actors to make their skin look dark

black flag noun
1 a black flag used in motor racing to stop a driver who has done sth wrong
2 a flag with a SKULL AND CROSSBONES on it

blackfly noun (pl. blackfly or blackflies)
1 a small black or dark green insect that damages plants
2 (also black fly) a small black fly that sucks blood from humans and animals

Blackfoot noun (pl. Blackfeet or Blackfoot) a member of a Native American people, many of whom live in the US state of Montana and in Alberta in Canada

Black Forest gateau noun a type of chocolate cake with layers of CHERRIES and cream

black gold noun [U] (NAmE, informal) oil

blackguard NAmE noun (old-fashioned, BrE) a man who is dishonest and has no sense of what is right and what is wrong

blackhead noun a small spot on the skin, often on the face, with a black top

black hole noun an area in space that nothing, not even light, can escape from, because GRAVITY (= the force that pulls objects in space towards each other) is so strong there: (figurative) The company viewed the venture as a financial black hole (= it would use a lot of the company's money with no real result). (figurative) Thousands of people have been plunged into the black hole of unemployment.

black ice noun [U] ice in a thin layer on the surface of a road

black information noun [U] information kept by banks or other financial institutions about people who perhaps cannot be trusted to pay any money back that is lent to them

blackjack noun
1 (BrE also pontoon) [U] a card game in which players try to collect cards with a total value of 21 and no more
2 (especially NAmE) a type of CLUB used as a weapon, especially a metal pipe covered with leather

black knight noun (business) a company that tries to buy another company that does not want to be bought

blackleg noun (BrE, disapproving) a person who continues to work when the people they work with are on strike; a person who is employed to work instead of those who are on strikecompare STRIKE-BREAKERsee also SCAB

black light noun [U] ULTRAVIOLET or INFRARED RAYS, which cannot be seen

blacklist noun, verb
noun a list of the names of people, companies, products or countries that an organization or a government considers unacceptable and that must be avoided
verb [VN] to put the name of a person, a company, a product or a country on a blacklist: She was blacklisted by all the major Hollywood studios because of her political views.

black lung noun [U] (NAmE) a lung disease caused by breathing in coal dust over a long period of time

black magic noun [U] (also the black arts [pl.]) a type of magic which is believed to use the power of the DEVIL in order to do evil

blackmail noun, verb
noun [U]
1 the crime of demanding money from a person by threatening to tell sb else a secret about them
2 the act of putting pressure on a person or a group to do sth they do not want to do, for example by making threats or by making them feel guilty: emotional/moral blackmail
verb [VN] ~ sb (into doing sth) to force sb to give you money or do sth for you by threatening them, for example by saying you will tell people a secret about them: She blackmailed him for years by threatening to tell the newspapers about their affair. The President said he wouldn't be blackmailed into agreeing to the terrorists' demands.

blackmailer noun a person who commits blackmail

Black Maria noun (old-fashioned, BrE) a police van that was used in the past for transporting prisoners in

black mark noun (BrE) a note, either in writing on an official record, or in sb's mind, of sth you have done or said that makes people think badly of you: She earned a black mark for opposing company policy. The public scandal was a black mark against him.

black market noun [usually sing.] an illegal form of trade in which foreign money, or goods that are difficult to obtain, are bought and sold: to buy or sell goods on the black market a flourishing black market in foreign currency

black marketeer noun a person who sells goods on the black market

black mass noun a ceremony in which people worship the DEVIL

Black Muslim noun a member of a group of black people, especially in the US, who follow the religion of Islam and want a separate black society

blackout noun
1 a period when there is no light as a result of an electrical power failure
2 a situation when the government or the police will not allow any news or information on a particular subject to be given to the public: The government imposed a news blackout during the crisis.
3 (especially BrE) a period of time during a war when all lights must be put out or covered at night, so that they cannot be seen by an enemy attacking by air: It used to take hours to travel home in the blackout.
4 [usually pl.] (BrE) a covering for windows that stops light being seen from outside, or light from outside from coming into a room
5 a temporary loss of CONSCIOUSNESS, sight or memory: She had a blackout and couldn't remember anything about the accident.

black pepper noun [U] a black powder made from dried BERRIES (called PEPPERCORNS), used to give a spicy flavour to food: salt and freshly ground black pepper

Black Power noun [U] a movement supporting rights and political power for black people

black pudding (BrE) (NAmE blood sausage) noun [U, C] a type of large dark SAUSAGE made from pig's blood, fat and grain

Black Rod noun [U] an official who takes part in the opening ceremony of the British parliament

black sheep noun [usually sing.] a person who is different from the rest of their family or another group, and who is considered bad or embarrassing: the black sheep of the family

blackshirt (also Blackshirt) NAmE noun a member of a FASCIST organization, especially in the 1920s and 30s

blacksmith (also smith) noun a person whose job is to make and repair things made of iron, especially HORSESHOEScompare FARRIER

black spot noun (BrE) a place, a situation or an event that is a problem or that causes a lot of problems: an environmental black spot That corner is a notorious accident black spot (= a lot of accidents happen there). The one black spot on the horizon is that the team's sponsorship will be reduced next year.

blackthorn NAmE noun [U] a bush with THORNS with black branches, white flowers and sour purple fruit called SLOES

black tie noun a black BOW TIE worn with a DINNER JACKET
black tie adj.: The party is black tie (= dinner jackets should be worn). a black-tie dinner

blacktop NAmE noun, verb (NAmE) = TARMAC

black velvet noun [U, C] an alcoholic drink made by mixing very dark beer called STOUT with SPARKLING wine (= wine with bubbles)

black widow noun a poisonous American spider. The female black widow often eats the male.

bladder noun
1 an organ that is shaped like a bag in which liquid waste (= URINE) collects before it is passed out of the bodysee also GALL BLADDER
2 a bag made of rubber, leather, etc. that can be filled with air or liquid, such as the one inside a football

blade noun
1 the flat part of a knife, tool or machine, which has a sharp edge or edges for cutting , SCYTHEsee also RAZOR BLADE, SWITCHBLADE
2 one of the flat parts that turn around in an engine or on a HELICOPTER: the blades of a propeller rotor blades on a helicopter
3 the flat wide part of an OAR (= one of the long poles that are used to ROW a boat) that goes in the water
4 a single flat leaf of grass: Not a blade of grass stirred.
5 the flat metal part on the bottom of an ICE SKATEsee also SHOULDER BLADE

blading noun [U] the sport of moving on ROLLERBLADES

blag verb [VN] (-gg-) (BrE, informal) to persuade sb to give you sth, or to let you do sth, by talking to them in a clever or amusing way: I blagged some tickets for the game. We blagged our way into the reception by saying that we were from the press.

blah noun, adj.
noun [U] (informal) people say blah, blah, blah, when they do not want to give the exact words that sb has said or written because they think they are not important or are boring: They said, 'Come in, sit down, blah, blah, blah, sign here'.
adj. (NAmE, informal)
1 not interesting: The movie was pretty blah.
2 not feeling well; feeling slightly unhappy: I don't know what's wrong with me; I just feel kind of blah.

blame verb, noun
verb [VN] ~ sb/sth (for sth)| ~ sth on sb/sth to think or say that sb/sth is responsible for sth bad: She doesn't blame anyone for her father's death. A dropped cigarette is being blamed for the fire. Police are blaming the accident on dangerous driving.
be to blame (for sth) to be responsible for sth bad: If anyone's to blame, it's me. Which driver was to blame for the accident?
don't blame me (informal) used to advise sb not to do sth, when you think they will do it despite your advice: Call her if you like, but don't blame me if she's angry.
I don't blame you/her, etc. (for doing sth) (informal) used to say that you think that what sb did was reasonable and the right thing to do: 'I just slammed the phone down when he said that.' 'I don't blame you!'
only have yourself to blame used to say that you think sth is sb's own fault: If you lose your job, you'll only have yourself to blame.
noun [U] ~ (for sth) responsibility for doing sth badly or wrongly; saying that sb is responsible for sth: to lay/put the blame for sth on sb The government will have to take the blame for the riots. Why do I always get the blame for everything that goes wrong? I'm not interested in apportioning blame for the accident (= deciding how much each person involved was responsible for it).compare CREDIT n. (7)

blameless adj. doing no wrong; free from responsibility for doing sth bad INNOCENT: to lead a blameless life None of us is entirely blameless in this matter.
blamelessly adv.

blameworthy NAmE adj. (formal) deserving disapproval and criticism; responsible for doing sth wrong: blameworthy conduct Blameworthy or not, his father should pay some of the costs of repairing the damage.

blanch NAmE verb
1 [V] ~ (at sth) (formal) to become pale because you are shocked or frightened: He blanched visibly when he heard the news.
2 [VN] to prepare food, especially vegetables, by putting it into boiling water for a short time: Blanch the peas quickly before you freeze them.

blancmange NAmE noun [C, U] (BrE) a cold DESSERT (= a sweet dish) that looks like jelly, made with milk and flavoured with fruit

bland adj. (blander, blandest)
1 with little colour, excitement or interest; without anything to attract attention NONDESCRIPT: bland background music
2 not having a strong or interesting taste: a rather bland diet of soup, fish and bread
3 showing no strong emotions or excitement; not saying anything very interesting: a bland smile After the meeting, a bland statement was issued.
blandly adv. blandness noun [U]

blandishments noun [pl.] (formal) pleasant things that you say to sb or do for them to try to persuade them to do sth: He refused to be moved by either threats or blandishments.

blank adj., noun, verb
adj.
1 empty, with nothing written, printed or recorded on it: Sign your name in the blank space below. a blank CD Write on one side of the paper and leave the other side blank. She turned to a blank page in her notebook.
2 (of a wall or screen) empty; with no pictures, marks or decoration: blank whitewashed walls Suddenly the screen went blank.
3 showing no feeling, understanding or interest: She stared at me with a blank expression on her face. Steve looked blank and said he had no idea what I was talking about. Suddenly my mind went blank (= I could not remember anything).
4 [only before noun] (of negative things) complete and total: a blank refusal/denialsee also POINT-BLANK
blankly adv.: She stared blankly into space, not knowing what to say next. blankness noun [U]
noun
1 [C] an empty space on a printed form or document for you to write answers, information, etc. in: Please fill in the blanks. If you can't answer the question, leave a blank.
2 [sing.] a state of not being able to remember anything: My mind was a blank and I couldn't remember her name.
3 [C] (also blank cartridge) a CARTRIDGE in a gun that contains an EXPLOSIVE but no bullet: The troops fired blanks in the air. see DRAW v.
verb
1 [VN] (BrE, informal) to ignore sb completely: I saw her on the bus this morning, but she totally blanked me.
2 [V] (NAmE) to be suddenly unable to remember or think of sth: I knew the answer, but I totally blanked during the test.
blank out to suddenly become empty: The screen blanked out.
blank sthout
1 to cover sth completely so that it cannot be seen: All the names in the letter had been blanked out.
2 to deliberately forget sth unpleasant: She had tried to blank out the whole experience.

blank cheque (BrE) (NAmE blank check) noun
1 a cheque that is signed but which does not have the amount of money to be paid written on it
2 permission or authority to do sth that is necessary in a particular situation: The President was given a blank check by Congress to continue the war.

blanket noun, adj., verb
noun
1 a large cover, often made of wool, used especially on beds to keep people warm: It's cold tonightcan I have another blanket? The baby was wrapped in a blanket.see also ELECTRIC BLANKET
2 [usually sing.] ~ of sth a thick layer or covering of sth: a blanket of fog/snow/cloud (figurative) The trial was conducted under a blanket of secrecy.see also WET BLANKET
adj. [only before noun] including or affecting all possible cases, situations or people: a blanket ban on tobacco advertising a blanket refusal
verb [VN] [often passive] (formal) to cover sth completely with a thick layer: Snow soon blanketed the frozen ground.

blanket bath noun (BrE) an act of washing the whole of sb's body when they cannot get out of bed because they are sick, injured or old

blanket finish noun (BrE) a finish in a race, in which everyone is very close together

blankety-blank adj. [only before noun] (informal) used in place of a rude word that the speaker does not want to say: It's not my blankety-blank fault!

blank verse noun [U] (technical) poetry that has a regular rhythm, usually with ten syllables and five stresses in each line, but which does not RHYMEcompare FREE VERSE

blanquette noun [C, U] (from French) a dish consisting of WHITE MEAT (= meat such as chicken that is light in colour when cooked) in a pale sauce

blare NAmE verb, noun
verb~ (sth) (out) to make a loud unpleasant noise: [V] police cars with lights flashing and sirens blaring Music blared out from the open window. [VN] The radio was blaring (out) rock music.
noun [sing.] a loud unpleasant noise: the blare of car horns the constant blare of music from the house next door

blarney NAmE noun [U] (informal) talk that is friendly and amusing but probably not true, and which may be used to persuade or trick you
From Blarney, a castle in Ireland where there is a stone which is said to have magic powers: anyone who kisses the 'Blarney stone' is given the gift of speaking persuasively ('the gift of the gab').

blasé NAmE adj. ~ (about sth) not impressed, excited or worried about sth, because you have seen or experienced it many times before: Kids have become blasé about violence on television.

blaspheme verb [V, VN] to speak about God or the holy things of a particular religion in an offensive way; to swear using the names of God or holy things
blasphemer noun

blasphemy noun (pl. -ies) [U, C] behaviour or language that insults or shows a lack of respect for God or religion
blasphemous adj.: Many people found the film blasphemous. blasphemously adv.

blast NAmE noun, verb, exclamation
noun
EXPLOSION
1 [C] an explosion or a powerful movement of air caused by an explosion: a bomb blast 27 schoolchildren were injured in the blast. The blast ripped through the building.
OF AIR
2 [C] a sudden strong movement of air: A blast of hot air hit us as we stepped off the plane. the wind's icy blasts
LOUD NOISE
3 [C] a sudden loud noise, especially one made by a musical instrument that you blow, or by a whistle or a car horn: three short blasts on the ship's siren The driver opened the door letting out a blast of Bob Marley.
CRITICISM
4 [C] (used especially in newspapers) strong criticism: Blast for prison governors in judge's report.
FUN
5 [sing.] (especially NAmE) a very enjoyable experience that is a lot of fun: The party was a blast. We had a blast at the party.
a blast from the past (informal) a person or thing from your past that you see, hear, meet, etc. again in the present
(at) full blast with the greatest possible volume or power: She had the car stereo on at full blast.
verb
EXPLODE
1 to violently destroy or break sth into pieces, using EXPLOSIVES: [VN] They blasted a huge crater in the runway. They had to blast a tunnel through the mountain. All the windows were blasted inwards with the force of the explosion. The jumbo jet was blasted out of the sky. [V] Danger! Blasting in Progress! [also VN-ADJ]
MAKE LOUD NOISE
2 ~ (sth) (out) to make a loud unpleasant noise, especially music: [V] Music suddenly blasted out from the speakers. [VN] The radio blasted out rock music at full volume.
CRITICIZE
3 [VN] ~ sb/sth (for sth/for doing sth) (informal) to criticize sb/sth severely: The movie was blasted by all the critics.
HIT/KICK
4 [VN] (informal) to hit or kick sb/sth with a lot of force: He blasted the ball past the goalie. He blasted the policeman right between the eyes.
AIR/WATER
5 [VN] to direct air, water, etc. at sb/sth with a lot of force: Police blasted the demonstrators with water cannons.
DESTROY WITH DISEASE, etc.
6 [VN] [usually passive] to destroy sth such as a plant with disease, cold, heat, etc.: Their whole crop had been blasted by a late frost.
blast away if a gun or sb using a gun blasts away, the gun fires continuously and loudly: The machine guns blasted away non-stop.
blast off (of SPACECRAFT) to leave the ground LIFT OFF, TAKE OFF: The rocket blasted off at noon.related noun BLAST-OFF
exclamation (informal, especially BrE) people sometimes say Blast! when they are annoyed about sth: Oh blast! The car won't start.

blasted NAmE adj. [only before noun] (informal) used when you are very annoyed about sth: Make your own blasted coffee!

blast furnace noun a large structure like an oven in which iron ORE (= rock containing iron) is melted in order to take out the metal

blast-off noun [U] the moment when a SPACECRAFT leaves the ground: Blast-off is in 30 seconds.

blatant adj. (disapproving) (of actions that are considered bad) done in an obvious and open way without caring if people are shocked FLAGRANT: a blatant attempt to buy votes It was a blatant lie.
blatantly adv.: a blatantly unfair decision He just blatantly lied about it.

blather (also blether ) verb [V] ~ (on) (about sth) (informal, especially BrE) to talk continuously about things that are silly or unimportant: What are you blathering on about now?
blather (also blether) noun [U]

blaxploitation noun [U] the use of black people in films/movies, especially in a way which shows them in fixed ways that are different from real life

blaze verb, noun
verb
1 [V] to burn brightly and strongly: A huge fire was blazing in the fireplace. Within minutes the whole building was blazing. He rushed back into the blazing house.
2 [V] to shine brightly: The sun blazed down from a clear blue sky. The garden blazed with colour.
3 [V] ~ (with sth) (formal) if sb's eyes blaze, they look extremely angry: Her eyes were blazing with fury.
4 (also blazon) [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (across/all over sth) to make news or information widely known by telling people about it in a way they are sure to notice: The story was blazed all over the daily papers.
5 ~ (away) if a gun or sb using a gun blazes, the gun fires continuously: In the distance machine guns were blazing.
blaze a trail to be the first to do or to discover sth that others follow: The department is blazing a trail in the field of laser surgery.compare TRAILBLAZERmore at GUN n.
blaze up
1 to suddenly start burning very strongly
2 to suddenly become very angry
noun
1 [C] (used especially in newspapers) a very large fire, especially a dangerous one: Five people died in the blaze. More than 50 firefighters fought to bring the blaze under control.
2 [sing.] strong bright flames in a fire: Dry wood makes a good blaze.
3 [sing.] a ~ of sth a very bright show of lights or colour; an impressive or noticeable show of sth: The gardens are a blaze of colour. a blaze of lights in the city centre the bright blaze of the sun a blaze of glory They got married in a blaze of publicity.
4 [sing.] (a) ~ of sth a sudden show of very strong feeling: a blaze of anger/passion/hate
5 [C, usually sing.] a white mark on an animal's face
what/where/who the blazes ... ? (old-fashioned, informal) used to emphasize that you are annoyed and surprised, to avoid using the word 'hell': What the blazes have you done?
like blazes (old-fashioned, informal) very hard; very fast

blazer noun a jacket, not worn with matching trousers/pants, often showing the colours or BADGE of a club, school, team, etc.

blazing adj. [only before noun]
1 (also blazing hot) extremely hot: blazing heat a blazing hot day
2 extremely angry or full of strong emotion: She had a blazing row with Eddie and stormed out of the house.

blazon verb [VN]
1 [usually passive] ~ sth (on/across/over sth) = EMBLAZON: He had the word 'Cool' blazoned across his chest.
2 = BLAZE (4)

bleach verb, noun
verb to make sth white or pale by a chemical process or by the effect of light from the sun; to become white or pale in this way: [VN] His hair was bleached by the sun. bleached cotton/paper [VN-ADJ] She bleached her hair blonde. [V] bones of animals bleaching in the sun
noun [U, C] a chemical that is used to make sth become white or pale and as a DISINFECTANT (= to prevent infection from spreading)

bleachers NAmE noun [pl.] (NAmE) rows of seats at a sports ground

bleak adj. (bleaker, bleakest)
1 (of a situation) not encouraging or giving any reason to have hope: a bleak outlook/prospect The future looks bleak for the fishing industry. The medical prognosis was bleak. They faced a financially bleak Christmas.
2 (of the weather) cold and unpleasant: a bleak winter's day
3 (of a place) exposed, empty, or with no pleasant features: a bleak landscape/hillside/moor bleak concrete housing
bleakly adv.: 'There seems no hope,' she said bleakly. bleakly lit corridors It was a bleakly impressive coastline. bleakness noun [U]

blearily NAmE adv. with bleary eyes; in a tired way: 'I was asleep,' she explained blearily.

bleary NAmE adj. (of eyes) not able to see clearly, especially because you are tired: She had bleary red eyes from lack of sleep.

bleary-eyed adj. with bleary eyes and seeming tired: He appeared at breakfast bleary-eyed and with a hangover.

bleat verb
1 [V] to make the sound that sheep and GOATS make
2 ~ (on) (about sth) to speak in a weak or complaining voice: [V speech] 'But I've only just got here,' he bleated feebly. [also V that, V]
bleat noun: The lamb gave a faint bleat. bleating noun [U, C]: the distant bleating of sheep

bleed verb (bled, bled )
1 [V] to lose blood, especially from a wound or an injury: My finger's bleeding. She slowly bled to death. He was bleeding from a gash on his head.
2 [VN] (in the past) to take blood from sb as a way of treating disease
3 [VN] ~ sb (for sth) (informal) to force sb to pay a lot of money over a period of time: My ex-wife is bleeding me for every penny I have.
4 [VN] to remove air or liquid from sth so that it works correctly
5 [V] to spread from one area of sth to another area: Keep the paint fairly dry so that the colours don't bleed into each other.
bleed sb dry (disapproving) to take away all sb's money: The big corporations are bleeding some of these small countries dry.more at HEART

bleeder noun (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a rude way of referring to a person

bleeding adj., noun
adj. [only before noun] (BrE, slang) = BLOODY
noun [U] the process of losing blood from the body: Press firmly on the wound to stop the bleeding.

bleeding heart noun (disapproving) a person who is too kind and sympathetic towards people that other people think do not deserve kindness: a bleeding-heart liberal All the bleeding hearts and socialists oppose the changes to the immigration law.

bleep noun, verb
noun a short high sound made by a piece of electronic equipment
verb
1 [V] to make a short high electronic sound: The microwave will bleep when your meal is ready.
2 (BrE) (NAmE beep) [VN] to call sb on their bleeper: Please bleep the doctor on duty immediately.

bleeper (NAmE beeper) noun a small electronic device that you carry around with you and that lets you know when sb is trying to contact you, by making a sound: All the doctors in the hospital carry a bleeper.

blemish noun, verb
noun a mark on the skin or on an object that spoils it and makes it look less beautiful or perfect: make-up to cover blemishes (figurative) His reputation is without a blemish.
verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to spoil sth that is beautiful or perfect in all other ways

blench verb [V] (BrE, formal) to react to sth in a way that shows you are frightened: He blenched when he heard her name announced.

blend verb, noun
verb
1 [VN] ~ A with B| ~ A and B (together) to mix two or more substances together: Blend the flour with the milk to make a smooth paste. Blend together the eggs, sugar and flour. note at MIX
2 [V] ~ (with sth)| ~ (together) to form a mixture with sth: Oil does not blend with water. Oil and water do not blend.
3 ~ (with sth)| ~ (together) to combine with sth in an attractive or effective way; to combine sth in this way: [V] The old and new buildings blend together perfectly. [VN] Their music blends traditional and modern styles.
4 [VN] [usually passive] to produce sth by mixing different types together: blended whisky/tea see WOODWORK
blend in (with sth/sb) if sth blends in, it is similar to its surroundings or matches its surroundings: Choose curtains that blend in with your decor. The thieves soon blended in with the crowd and got away.
blend sthin (in cooking) to add another substance and mix it in with the others: Beat the butter and sugar; then blend in the egg.
blend into sth to look so similar to the background that it is difficult for you to see it separately: He blended into the crowd.
noun
1 a mixture of different types of the same thing: a blend of tea
2 [usually sing.] a pleasant or useful combination of different things: a blend of youth and experience

blended family noun (especially NAmE) a family that consists of two people and their children from their own relationship and from previous ones

blender (BrE also liquidizer) noun an electric machine for mixing soft food or liquid: Combine the milk and eggs in a blender.

bless verb, exclamation
verb (blessed, blessed ) [VN]
1 to ask God to protect sb/sth: They brought the children to Jesus and he blessed them. God bless you!
2 to make sth holy by saying a prayer over it: The priest blessed the bread and wine.
3 (formal) to call God holy; to praise God: We bless your holy name, O Lord.
4 (old-fashioned, informal) used to express surprise: Bless my soul! Here comes Bill! 'Where's Joe?' 'I'm blessed if I know (= I don't know)!'
be blessed with sth/sb to have sth good such as ability, great happiness, etc.: She's blessed with excellent health. We're blessed with five lovely grandchildren.
bless you said to sb after they have SNEEZED
bless you, her, him, etc. (informal) used to show that you are pleased with sb, especially because of sth they have done: Sarah, bless her, had made a cup of tea.more at GOD
exclamation (BrE, sometimes humorous) used to show affection towards sb because of sth they have done'He bought us all a present.' 'Oh, bless!'

blessed adj.
1 Blessed holy: the Blessed Virgin Mary
2 (in religious language) lucky: Blessed are the poor.
3 [only before noun] enjoyable in a way that gives you a sense of peace or a feeling of freedom from anxiety or pain: a moment of blessed calm
4 [only before noun] (old-fashioned, informal) used to express mild anger: I can't see a blessed thing without my glasses.
blessedly adv.: The kitchen was warm and blessedly familiar. blessedness noun [U]

blessing noun
1 [usually sing.] God's help and protection, or a prayer asking for this: to pray for God's blessing The bishop said the blessing.
2 [usually sing.] approval of or permission for sth: The government gave its blessing to the new plans. He went with his parents' blessing.
3 something that is good or helpful: Lack of traffic is one of the blessings of country life. It's a blessing that nobody was in the house at the time.see also MIXED BLESSING
a blessing in disguise something that seems to be a problem at first, but that has good results in the endmore at COUNT v.

blether verb, noun = BLATHER

blew pt of BLOW

blight verb, noun
verb [VN] to spoil or damage sth, especially by causing a lot of problems: His career has been blighted by injuries. an area blighted by unemployment
noun
1 [U, C] any disease that kills plants, especially crops: potato blight Many areas have been devastated by blights which destroyed cereal crops and vines.
2 [sing., U] ~ (on sb/sth) something that has a bad effect on a situation, a person's life or the environment: His death cast a blight on the whole of that year. urban blight (= areas in a city that are ugly or not cared for well) Her divorce was a great blight on her life.

blighter noun (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a way of referring to a person (usually a man) that you either find unpleasant or that you feel some sympathy for

Blighty noun [U] (BrE) a name for Britain or England, used especially by soldiers in the First and Second World Wars, and now sometimes used in a humorous way

blimey (also cor blimey NAmE ) exclamation (BrE, informal, slang) used to express surprise or anger: Blimey, it's hot today.

blimp noun
1 (especially NAmE) a small AIRSHIP (= an aircraft without wings)
2 (also Colonel Blimp) (old-fashioned, BrE, disapproving) an older person, especially an old army officer, with very old-fashioned political opinions
blimpish adj.

blind adj., verb, noun, adv.
adj. (blinder, blindest)
1 not able to see: Doctors think he will go blind. blind and partially sighted people One of her parents is blind.
2 the blindnoun [pl.] people who are blind: recorded books for the blind guide dogs for the blind
3 ~ (to sth) not noticing or realizing sth: She is blind to her husband's faults. I must have been blind not to realize the danger we were in.
4 [usually before noun] (of strong feelings) seeming to be unreasonable, and accepted without question; seeming to be out of control: blind faith/obedience It was a moment of blind panic.
5 [usually before noun] (of a situation or an event) that cannot be controlled by reason: blind chance the blind force of nature
6 that a driver in a car cannot see, or cannot see around: a blind driveway a blind bend/corner
blindness noun [U]: total/temporary/partial blindnesssee also BLINDLY
(as) blind as a bat (humorous) not able to see well: She's as blind as a bat without her glasses.
the blind leading the blind a situation in which people with almost no experience or knowledge give advice to others who also have no experience or knowledge
not a blind bit/the blindest bit of ... (BrE, informal) not any: He didn't take a blind bit of notice of me (= he ignored me). It won't make the blindest bit of difference (= it will make no difference at all).
turn a blind eye (to sth) to pretend not to notice sth bad that is happening, so you do not have to do anything about it: The authorities were either unaware of the problem or turned a blind eye to it.more at LOVE n.
verb [VN]
1 to permanently destroy sb's ability to see: She was blinded in the explosion. The attackers blinded him with acid.
2 to make it difficult for sb to see for a short time: When she went outside she was temporarily blinded by the sun. His eyes were blinded by tears.
3 ~ sb (to sth) to make sb no longer able to think clearly or behave in a sensible way: His sense of loyalty blinded him to the truth.
blind sb with science to confuse sb by using technical or complicated language that they do not understandmore at EFF
noun
1 (NAmE also shade, window shade) [C] a covering for a window, especially one made of a roll of cloth that is fixed at the top of the window and can be pulled up and downsee also VENETIAN BLIND
2 [sing.] something people say or do to hide the truth about sth in order to trick other people
adv. (in connection with flying) without being able to see; using instruments only
blind drunk extremely drunkmore at ROB, SWEAR

WHICH WORD?

blind / blindly

There are two adverbs that come from the adjective blind. Blindly means 'not being able to see what you are doing' or 'not thinking about something'. The adverb blind is mainly used in the context of flying and means 'without being able to see', 'using instruments only'.

blind alley noun a way of doing sth that seems useful at first, but does not produce useful results, like following a path that suddenly stops: Progress in science cannot be made without exploring blind alleys.

blind date noun a meeting between two people who have not met each other before. The meeting is sometimes organized by their friends because they want them to develop a romantic relationship: to go on a blind date

blinder noun
1 [C, usually sing.] (BrE, informal) something which is excellent, especially in sport: a blinder of a game
2 blinders [pl.] (NAmE) = BLINKERS

blindfold NAmE noun, verb, adj., adv.
noun something that is put over sb's eyes so they cannot see: She used a scarf as a blindfold.
verb [VN] to cover sb's eyes with a piece of cloth or other covering so that they cannot see: The hostages were tied up and blindfolded.
adj., adv. (BrE) (also blindfolded BrE, NAmE) with the eyes covered: The reporter was taken blindfold to a secret location. I knew the way home blindfold (= because it was so familiar). I could do that blindfold (= very easily, with no problems).

blinding adj. [usually before noun]
1 very bright; so strong that you cannot see: a blinding flash of light (figurative) a blinding (= very bad) headache
2 (BrE, informal) very good or enjoyable: We had a blinding day out in London last Saturday.

blindingly adv. very; extremely: The reason is blindingly obvious. The latest computers can work at a blindingly fast speed.

blindly adv.
1 without being able to see what you are doing: She groped blindly for the light switch in the dark room.
2 without thinking about what you are doing: He wanted to decide for himself instead of blindly following his parents' advice. note at BLIND

blind man's buff (BrE) (NAmE blind man's bluff) noun [U] a children's game in which a player whose eyes are covered with a piece of cloth tries to catch and identify the other players

blind side noun a direction in which sb cannot see very much, especially approaching danger

blindside verb [VN] (NAmE)
1 to attack sb from the direction where they cannot see you coming
2 [usually passive] to give sb an unpleasant surprise: Just when it seemed life was going well, she was blindsided by a devastating illness.

blind spot noun
1 an area that sb cannot see, especially an area of the road when they are driving a car: The rear-view mirror helps to reduce blind spots on both sides of the car.
2 if sb has a blind spot about sth, they ignore it or they are unwilling or unable to understand it: I have a blind spot where maths is concerned.
3 the part of the RETINA in the eye that is not sensitive to light
4 an area where a radio signal cannot be received

blind test noun a way of deciding which product out of a number of competing products is the best or most popular, or how a new product compares with others. People are asked to try the different products and to say which ones they prefer, but they are not told the names of the products: In blind tests, consumers chose our cola over more established brands.

blind trust noun a type of TRUST that takes care of sb's investments, without the person knowing how their money is being invested. It is used by politicians, for example, so that their private business does not influence their political decisions.

blindworm NAmE noun = SLOW-WORM

bling-bling (also bling) adj. (informal) wearing expensive shiny jewellery and bright fashionable clothes in order to attract attention to yourself
bling-bling (also bling) noun [U]

blini (also blinis) noun [pl.] (sing. blin) small Russian PANCAKES (= thin flat round cakes), served with SOUR CREAM

blink verb, noun
verb
1 when you blink or blink your eyes or your eyes blink, you shut and open your eyes quickly: [V] He blinked in the bright sunlight. Lucy blinked at him in astonishment. I'll be back before you can blink (= very quickly). When I told him the news he didn't even blink (= showed no surprise at all). [also VN] compare WINK
2 [V] to shine with an unsteady light; to flash on and off: Suddenly a warning light blinked.
blink sthaway/back to try to control tears or clear your eyes by blinking: She bravely blinked back her tears.
noun [usually sing.] the act of shutting and opening your eyes very quickly
in the blink of an eye very quickly; in a short time
on the blink (informal) (of a machine) no longer working correctly note at BROKEN

blinker noun
1 [C] (informal) = INDICATOR
2 blinkers (NAmE also blinders) [pl.] pieces of leather that are placed at the side of a horse's eyes to stop it from looking sideways: (figurative) We need to have a fresh look at the plan, without blinkers (= we need to consider every aspect of it).

blinkered NAmE adj. (disapproving) not aware of every aspect of a situation; not willing to accept different ideas about sth NARROW-MINDED: a blinkered policy/attitude/approach

blinking adj., adv. (BrE, old-fashioned, informal) a mild swear word that some people use when they are annoyed, to avoid saying 'bloody': Shut the blinking door!

blip noun
1 a bright light flashing on the screen of a piece of equipment, sometimes with a short high sound
2 a change in a process or situation, usually when it gets worse for a short time before it gets better; a temporary problem: a temporary blip

bliss noun [U] extreme happiness: married/wedded/domestic bliss My idea of bliss is a month in the Bahamas. Swimming on a hot day is sheer bliss. see IGNORANCE

blissful adj. extremely happy; showing happiness: We spent three blissful weeks away from work. a blissful smile We preferred to remain in blissful ignorance of (= not to know) what was going on. note at HAPPY
blissfully adv.: blissfully happy blissfully ignorant/unaware

B-list adj. [usually before noun] used to describe the group of people who are considered to be fairly famous, successful or important, but not as much as the A-LIST people: a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities

blister noun, verb
noun
1 a swelling on the surface of the skin that is filled with liquid and is caused, for example, by rubbing or burning: These shoes have given me blisters on my heels.see also FEVER BLISTER
2 a similar swelling, filled with air or liquid, on metal, painted wood or another surface
verb
1 to form blisters; to make sth form blisters: [V] His skin was beginning to blister. [VN] Her face had been blistered by the sun.
2 [V, VN] when a surface blisters or sth blisters it, it swells and cracks
3 [VN] (NAmE) to criticize sb strongly
blistered adj.: cracked and blistered skin blistered paintwork

blistering adj. [usually before noun]
1 (describing actions in sport) done very fast or with great energy: The runners set off at a blistering pace.
2 extremely hot in a way that is uncomfortable BAKING: a blistering July day blistering heat
3 very critical: a blistering attack
blisteringly adv.

blister pack (also bubble pack) noun a pack in which small goods, such as tablets, are sold, with each individual item in its own separate plastic or FOIL section on a piece of card

blithe adj. [usually before noun]
1 (disapproving) showing you do not care or are not anxious about what you are doing: He drove with blithe disregard for the rules of the road.
2 (literary) happy; not anxious: a blithe and carefree girl
blithely adv.: He was blithely unaware of the trouble he'd caused. 'It'll be easy,' she said blithely.

blithering adj. [only before noun] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) complete: He was a blithering idiot.

blitz noun, verb
noun
1 [C, usually sing.] something which is done with a lot of energy: an advertising/a media blitz (= a lot of information about sth on television, in newspapers, etc.)
2 [C, usually sing.] ~ (on sth) a sudden attack: Five shops were damaged in a firebomb blitz. (figurative) a blitz on passengers who avoid paying fares (figurative) I've had a blitz on the house (= cleaned it very thoroughly).
3 the Blitz [sing.] the German air attacks on Britain in 1940
verb [VN] to attack or damage a city by dropping a large number of bombs on it in a short time: London was heavily blitzed in the war.

blitzkrieg noun (from German) a sudden military attack intended to win a quick victory

blizzard NAmE noun
1 a SNOWSTORM with very strong winds: blizzard conditions The blizzard struck the north-east yesterday, causing serious damage. a raging/howling blizzard
2 a large quantity of things that may seem to be attacking you: a blizzard of documents

bloat NAmE verb to swell or make sth swell, especially in an unpleasant way: [VN] Her features had been bloated by years of drinking. [also V]

bloated NAmE adj.
1 full of liquid or gas and therefore bigger than normal, in a way that is unpleasant: a bloated body floating in the canal (figurative) a bloated organization (= with too many people in it)
2 full of food and feeling uncomfortable: I felt bloated after the huge meal they'd served.

bloater NAmE noun (BrE) a HERRING (a type of fish) that has been left in salt water and then smoked

bloatware NAmE noun [U] (informal, computing) programs which use too much memory

blob NAmE noun a small amount or drop of sth, especially a liquid; a small area of colour: a blob of ink a pink blob The street lights in the distance were blobs of orange light.

bloc NAmE noun a group of countries that work closely together because they have similar political interestssee also EN BLOC

block NAmE noun, verb
noun
SOLID MATERIAL
1 [C] a large piece of a solid material that is square in shape and usually has flat sides: a block of ice/concrete/stone a chopping block (= for cutting food on)see also BREEZE BLOCK, BUILDING BLOCK, CINDER BLOCK
BUILDING
2 [C] (BrE) a tall building that contains flats or offices; buildings that form part of a school, hospital, etc. which are used for a particular purpose: a tower block a block of flats an office block the university's science block note at BUILDING
STREETS
3 [C] a group of buildings with streets on all sides: She took the dog for a walk around the block.
4 [C] (NAmE) the length of one side of a piece of land or group of buildings, from the place where one street crosses it to the next: His apartment is three blocks away from the police station.
AREA OF LAND
5 [C] (especially NAmE) a large area of land
6 [C] (AustralE) an area of land for building a house on
AMOUNT
7 [C] a quantity of sth or an amount of time that is considered as a single unit: a block of shares a block of text in a document (BrE) The theatre gives discounts for block bookings (= a large number of tickets bought at the same time). The three-hour class is divided into four blocks of 45 minutes each.
THAT STOPS PROGRESS
8 [C, usually sing.] something that makes movement or progress difficult or impossible OBSTACLE: Lack of training acts as a block to progress in a career.see also ROADBLOCK, STUMBLING BLOCK, WRITER'S BLOCK
IN SPORT
9 [C] a movement that stops another player from going forward
10 the blocks [pl.] = STARTING BLOCKS
FOR PUNISHMENT
11 the block [sing.] (in the past) the piece of wood on which a person's head was cut off as a punishment
go on the block to be sold, especially at an AUCTION (= a sale in which items are sold to the person who offers the most money)
have been around the block (a few times) (informal) to have a lot of experience
put/lay your head/neck on the block to risk losing your job, damaging your reputation, etc. by doing or saying sth: It's not a matter that I'm prepared to put my head on the block for.more at CHIP n., KNOCK v., NEW
verb [VN]
1 to stop sth from moving or flowing through a pipe, a passage, a road, etc. by putting sth in it or across it: After today's heavy snow, many roads are still blocked. a blocked sink
2 ~ the/sb's way, exit, view, etc. to stop sb from going somewhere or seeing sth by standing in front of them or in their way: One of the guards moved to block her path. An ugly new building blocked the view from the window. His way was blocked by two large bouncers.
3 to prevent sth from happening, developing or making progress: The proposed merger has been blocked by the government.
4 to stop a ball, blow, etc. from reaching somewhere by moving in front of it: His shot was blocked by the goalie.
block sb/sthin to prevent a car from being able to be driven away by parking too close to it: He found that his car had been blocked in.
block sthin to draw or paint sth roughly, without showing any detail: I have blocked in the shapes of the larger buildings.
block sthoff to close a road or an opening by placing a barrier at one end or in front of it: The main roads of the city have been blocked off.
block sthout
1 to stop light or noise from coming in: Black clouds blocked out the sun. He put his hands over his ears to block out the noise.
2 to stop yourself from thinking about or remembering sth unpleasant: Over the years she had tried to block out that part of her life.
block sthup to completely fill a hole or an opening and so prevent anything from passing through it: One door had been blocked up. My nose is blocked up.

blockade NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 the action of surrounding or closing a place, especially a port, in order to stop people or goods from coming in or out: a naval blockade to impose/lift a blockade an economic blockade (= stopping goods from entering or leaving a country) blockades of roads by truck drivers protesting over pay
2 a barrier that stops people or vehicles from entering or leaving a place: The police set up blockades on highways leading out of the city.
verb [VN] to surround a place, especially a port, in order to stop people or goods from coming in or out: All the ports had been blockaded. Employees blockaded the entrance to the offices.

blockage NAmE noun
1 a thing that blocks flow or movement, for example of a liquid in a narrow place OBSTRUCTION: a blockage in an artery/a pipe/a drain
2 the state of being blocked: to cause/clear the blockage

block and tacklenoun [sing.] a piece of equipment for lifting heavy objects, which works by a system of ropes and PULLEYS (= small wheels around which the ropes are stretched)

blockbuster NAmE noun (informal) something very successful, especially a very successful book or film/movie: a Hollywood blockbuster
blockbusting adj.: a blockbusting performance

block capitals (also block letters) noun [pl.] separate capital letters: Please fill out the form in block capitals.

block diagram noun a diagram that uses shapes, lines and arrows to show how the parts in a process, system or machine are arranged

blockhead NAmE noun (informal) a very stupid person

blockhouse NAmE noun
1 a strong concrete shelter used by soldiers, for example during a battle
2 (NAmE) a house made of LOGS (= thick pieces of wood)

block vote noun a voting system in which each person who votes represents a number of people

blog NAmE noun, verb
noun a personal record that sb puts on their website giving an account of their activities and their opinions, and discussing places on the Internet they have visited
verb (-gg-) [V] to keep a blog
blogger noun

bloke NAmE noun (BrE, informal) a man: He seemed like a nice bloke.

blokeish (also blokish) NAmE adj. (BrE, informal) behaving in a way that is supposed to be typical of men, especially men enjoying themselves in a group: He is a popular politician with a blokeish image.

blonde NAmE adj., noun
adj. (also blond)
1 (of hair) pale gold in colour
2 (of a person) having blonde hair: a small, blond boy
noun a woman with hair that is pale gold in colour: Is she a natural blonde (= Is her hair naturally blonde)?

blood noun, verb
noun
1 [U] the red liquid that flows through the bodies of humans and animals: He lost a lot of blood in the accident. Blood was pouring out of a cut on her head. to give blood (= to have blood taken from you so that it can be used in the medical treatment of other people) to draw blood (= to wound a person so that they lose blood) a blood cell/sample the blood supply to the brain dried blood
2 -blooded (in adjectives) having the type of blood mentioned: cold-blooded reptilessee also BLUE-BLOODED, HOT-BLOODED, RED-BLOODED
3 [U] (formal) family origins: She is of noble blood. There is some Polish blood on his father's side.
4 [C] (old-fashioned, BrE) a rich and fashionable man: a young blood
bad blood (between A and B) (old-fashioned) feelings of hatred or strong dislike
be after/out for sb's blood (informal, often humorous) to be angry with sb and want to hurt or punish them
be/run in your blood to be a natural part of your character and of the character of other members of your family
blood is thicker than water (saying) family relationships are stronger than any others
sb's blood is up (BrE) somebody is very angry and ready to argue or fight
blood, sweat and tears very hard work; a lot of effort: The only way to succeed is through old-fashioned blood, sweat and tears.
have sb's blood on your hands to be responsible for sb's death: a dictator with the blood of thousands on his hands
like getting blood out of/from a stone almost impossible to obtain: Getting an apology from him was like getting blood from a stone.
make sb's blood boil to make sb extremely angry: The way he treats his employees really makes my blood boil.
make sb's blood run cold to make sb very frightened or fill them with horror: The sound of laughter in the empty house made my blood run cold.
new/fresh blood new members or employees, especially young ones, with new ideas or ways of doing things: This company badly needs to bring in some new blood.more at COLD adj., FLESH n., FREEZE v., SPILL v., SPIT v., STIR v., SWEAT v.
verb [VN] (especially BrE) to give sb their first experience of an activity

blood bank noun a place where blood is kept for use in hospitals, etc.

bloodbath NAmE noun [sing.] a situation in which many people are killed violently MASSACRE

blood brother noun a man who has promised to treat another man as his brother, usually in a ceremony in which their blood is mixed together

blood clot (also clot) noun a lump that is formed when blood dries or becomes thicker: a blood clot on the brain

blood count noun the number of red and white cells in sb's blood; a medical test to count these: Your blood count is normal. a full blood count

blood-curdling adj. (of a sound or a story) filling you with horror; extremely frightening: a blood-curdling scream/story

blood donor noun a person who gives some of his or her blood to be used in the medical treatment of other people

blood group (also blood type especially in NAmE) noun any of the different types that human blood is separated into for medical purposes: (BrE) What blood group are you? (NAmE) What blood type do you have? blood group/type O

blood heat noun [U] the normal temperature of a human body

bloodhound noun a large dog with a very good sense of smell, used to follow or look for people

bloodied adj. covered in blood: his bruised and bloodied nose

bloodless adj.
1 without any killing: a bloodless coup/revolution
2 (of a person or a part of the body) very pale: bloodless lips
3 lacking human emotion COLD, UNEMOTIONAL

bloodletting noun [U]
1 (formal) the killing or wounding of people BLOODSHED: the futile bloodletting of war
2 a medical treatment used in the past in which some of a patient's blood was removed

bloodline noun (technical) the set of ANCESTORS of a person or an animal

bloodlust noun [U] a strong desire to kill or be violent

blood money noun [U] (disapproving)
1 money paid to a person who is hired to murder sb
2 money paid to the family of a murdered person

blood orange noun a type of orange with red flesh

blood poisoning noun an illness where the blood becomes infected with harmful bacteria

blood pressure noun [U] the pressure of blood as it travels around the body: to have high/low blood pressure to take (= measure) sb's blood pressure

blood pudding noun [U, C] = BLACK PUDDING

blood-red adj. bright red in colour, like fresh blood

blood relation (also blood relative) noun a person related to sb by birth rather than by marriage

blood sausage noun [U, C] (NAmE) = BLACK PUDDING

bloodshed noun [U] the killing or wounding of people, usually during fighting or a war: The two sides called a truce to avoid further bloodshed. The march ended in violence and bloodshed.

bloodshot NAmE adj. (of eyes) with the part that is usually white full of red lines because of lack of sleep, etc.

blood sport noun [usually pl.] a sport in which animals or birds are killed

bloodstain noun a mark or spot of blood on sth: Police found bloodstains on her jacket.
bloodstained adj.: a bloodstained shirt

bloodstock NAmE noun [U] horses of pure breed, bred especially for racing

bloodstream noun [sing.] the blood flowing through the body: They injected the drug directly into her bloodstream.

bloodsucker noun
1 an animal or insect that sucks blood from people or animals
2 (informal, disapproving) a person who takes advantage of other people in order to gain financial benefit

blood sugar noun [U] the amount of GLUCOSE in your blood

blood test noun an examination of a small amount of your blood by doctors in order to make judgements about your medical condition

bloodthirsty NAmE adj.
1 wanting to kill or wound; enjoying seeing or hearing about killing and violence
2 (of a book, film/movie, etc.) describing or showing killing and violence

blood transfusion (also transfusion) noun [C, U] the process of putting new blood into the body of a person or an animal: He was given a blood transfusion.

blood type noun (especially NAmE) = BLOOD GROUP

blood vessel noun any of the tubes through which blood flows through the body: broken blood vessels The knife had missed the major blood vessels.see also ARTERY, CAPILLARY, VEIN

bloody^1 adj. [only before noun] adv.see also BLOODY^2 (BrE, taboo, slang) a swear word that many people find offensive that is used to emphasize a comment or an angry statement: Don't be such a bloody fool. That was a bloody good meal! What bloody awful weather! She did bloody well to win that race. He doesn't bloody care about anybody else. 'Will you apologize?' 'Not bloody likely (= Certainly not)!' The rail strike is a bloody nuisance. I can't get this bloody stupid thing to work. What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?
bloody well (BrE, taboo) used to emphasize an angry statement or an order: You can bloody well keep your jobI don't want it! 'I'm not coming.' 'Yes, you bloody well are!'

bloody^2 adj.see also BLOODY^1 (bloodier, bloodiest)
1 involving a lot of violence and killing: a bloody battle The terrorists have halted their bloody campaign of violence.
2 covered with blood; BLEEDING: to give sb a bloody nose (= in a fight) bloody fingerprints
bloodily adv. see SCREAM v.

Bloody Mary NAmE noun (pl. Bloody Marys) an alcoholic drink made by mixing VODKA with tomato juice

bloody-minded adj. (BrE, informal) behaving in a way that makes things difficult for other people; refusing to be helpful: Don't be so bloody-minded!
bloody-mindedness noun [U]: sheer bloody-mindedness

bloom noun, verb
noun (formal or technical)
1 [C] a flower (usually one on a plant that people admire for its flowers): the exotic blooms of the orchid The plant produced a single white bloom.
2 [sing., U] a healthy fresh appearance: the bloom in her cheeks the bloom of youth
in (full) bloom (of trees, plants, gardens, etc.) with the flowers fully open: The roses were in full bloom. He loved watching the garden come into bloom. daffodils in bloom
verb [V]
1 to produce flowers FLOWER: Most roses will begin to bloom from late May. Tulips were blooming as far as the eye could see.
2 to become healthy, happy or confident BLOSSOM: The children had bloomed during their stay on the farm. She was blooming with good health.

bloomer noun (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a mistake: He made a bit of a bloomer.

bloomers NAmE noun [pl.]
1 (informal) an old-fashioned piece of women's underwear like long loose UNDERPANTS
2 short loose trousers/pants that fit tightly at the knee, worn in the past by women for games, riding bicycles, etc.: a pair of bloomers

blooming adj. [only before noun] adv. (BrE, informal) a mild swear word, used to emphasize a comment or a statement, especially an angry one: What blooming awful weather!

bloop verb [V] (NAmE, informal) to make a mistake

blooper noun (NAmE) an embarrassing mistake that you make in public

blossom NAmE noun, verb
noun [C, U] a flower or a mass of flowers, especially on a fruit tree or bush: cherry/orange/apple blossom The trees are in blossom. She loved the spring, when the blossom was out.
verb [V]
1 (of a tree or bush) to produce blossom: The cherry trees blossomed early this year.
2 ~ (into sth) to become more healthy, confident or successful: She has visibly blossomed over the last few months. Their friendship blossomed into love.

blot NAmE verb, noun
verb (-tt-) [VN]
1 to remove liquid from a surface by pressing soft paper or cloth on it
2 to make a spot or spots of ink fall on paper
blot your copybook (old-fashioned, informal) to do sth to spoil the opinion that other people have of you
blot sthout
1 to cover or hide sth completely: Clouds blotted out the sun.
2 to deliberately try to forget an unpleasant memory or thought: He tried to blot out the image of Helen's sad face. She just wanted to sleep and blot out the terrifying events of the day.
noun
1 a spot or dirty mark on sth, made by ink, etc. note at MARK
2 ~ (on sth) something that spoils the opinion that other people have of you, or your happiness: Her involvement in the fraud has left a serious blot on her character. There was just a tiny blot on his happiness.
a blot on the landscape an object, especially an ugly building, that spoils the beauty of a place

blotch NAmE noun a mark, usually not regular in shape, on skin, plants, material, etc.: He had come out in (= become covered in) dark red blotches.

blotchy NAmE (BrE also blotched) adj. covered in blotches: her blotchy and swollen face

blotter NAmE noun
1 a large piece of blotting paper in a cover with a stiff back which is kept on a desk
2 (NAmE) the record of arrests in a police district

blotting paper noun [U] soft thick paper used for drying ink after you have written sth on a piece of paper: a piece/sheet of blotting paper

blotto NAmE adj. [not before noun] (old-fashioned, informal) very drunk: He got completely blotto at the party.

blouse NAmE noun a piece of clothing like a shirt, worn by women see BIG adj.

blouson NAmE noun a short loose jacket that is gathered together at the waist

blow NAmE verb, noun, exclamation
verb (blew blown NAmE In sense 13 blowed is used for the past participle.)
FROM MOUTH
1 [+adv./prep.] to send out air from the mouth: [V] You're not blowing hard enough! The policeman asked me to blow into the breathalyser. [VN] He drew on his cigarette and blew out a stream of smoke.
OF WIND
2 when the wind or a current of air blows, it is moving; when it blows, the wind is blowing: [V, often + adv. / prep.] A cold wind blew from the east. It was blowing hard. [VN] It was blowing a gale (= there was a strong wind).
MOVE WITH WIND/BREATH
3 [+adv./prep.] to be moved by the wind, sb's breath, etc.; to move sth in this way: [V] My hat blew off. [V-ADJ] The door blew open. [VN] I was almost blown over by the wind. She blew the dust off the book. The ship was blown onto the rocks. The bomb blast blew two passers-by across the street. [also VN-ADJ]
WHISTLE/INSTRUMENT
4 if you blow a whistle, musical instrument, etc. or if a whistle, etc. blows, you produce a sound by blowing into the whistle, etc.: [VN] The referee blew his whistle. [V] the sound of trumpets blowing
YOUR NOSE
5 [VN] ~ your nose to clear your nose by blowing strongly through it into a HANDKERCHIEF
A KISS
6 [VN, VNN] ~ (sb) a kiss to kiss your hand and then pretend to blow the kiss towards sb
SHAPE STH
7 [VN] to make or shape sth by blowing: to blow smoke rings to blow bubbles (= for example, by blowing onto a thin layer of water mixed with soap) to blow glass (= to send a current of air into melted glass to shape it)
ELECTRICITY
8 [V, VN] if a FUSE blows or you blow a FUSE, the electricity stops flowing suddenly because the FUSE (= a thin wire) has melted because the current was too strong
WITH EXPLOSIVES
9 [VN] to break sth open with EXPLOSIVES: The safe had been blown by the thieves.
SECRET
10 [VN] (informal) to make known sth that was secret: One mistake could blow your cover (= make your real name, job, intentions, etc. known). We're going to blow his operation wide open.
MONEY
11 [VN] ~ sth (on sth) (informal) to spend or waste a lot of money on sth: He inherited over a million dollars and blew it all on drink and gambling.
OPPORTUNITY
12 [VN] (informal) to waste an opportunity: She blew her chances by arriving late for the interview. You had your chance and you blew it.
EXCLAMATION
13 [VN] (BrE, informal) used to show that you are annoyed, surprised or do not care about sth: Blow it! We've missed the bus. Well, blow me down! I never thought I'd see you again. I'm blowed if I'm going to (= I certainly will not) let him treat you like that. Let's take a taxi and blow (= never mind) the expense.
LEAVE SUDDENLY
14 (NAmE, slang) to leave a place suddenly: [VN] Let's blow this joint. [also V]
blow your/sb's brains out to kill yourself/sb by shooting yourself/them in the head
blow chunks (NAmE, slang) to VOMIT
blow a fuse (informal) to get very angry
blow the gaff (on sb/sth) (BrE, informal) to tell sth secret, especially by mistake
blow hot and cold (about sth) (informal) to change your opinion about sth often
blow sb/sth out of the water (informal)
1 to destroy sb/sth completely
2 to show that sb/sth is not good by being very much better than it/them: A DVD music system plays discs that look like CDs, but blows them out of the water.
blow your mind (informal) to produce a very strong pleasant or shocking feeling: Wait till you hear this. It'll blow your mind.see also MIND-BLOWING
blow your own trumpet (especially BrE) (NAmE usually blow/toot your own horn) (informal) to praise your own abilities and achievements BOAST
This phrase refers to the custom of announcing important guests by blowing a horn.
blow your top (BrE) (NAmE blow your stack) (informal) to get very angry
blow up in sb's face if a plan, etc. blows up in your face, it goes wrong in a way that causes you damage, embarrassment, etc.
blow the whistle on sb/sth (informal) to tell sb in authority about sth wrong or illegal that sb is doingsee also WHISTLE-BLOWER see COBWEB, ILL adj., LARK n., LID, PUFF v., SOCK n., WAY n.
blow sbaway (informal, especially NAmE)
1 to kill sb by shooting them
2 to impress sb a lot or to make them very happy
3 to defeat sb easily: Mitchell blew away the other runners.
blow in| blow into sth (informal) to arrive or enter a place suddenly: Look who's just blown in! Have you heard who's blown into town?
blow sboff (NAmE) to deliberately not meet sb when you said you would; to end a romantic relationship with sb
blow out
1 if a flame, etc. blows out, it is put out by the wind, etc.: Somebody opened the door and the candle blew out.
2 if an oil or gas WELL blows out, it sends out gas suddenly and with forcerelated noun BLOWOUT
blow itself out when a storm blows itself out, it finally loses its force
blow sbout (NAmE, informal) to defeat sb easily
blow sthout to put out a flame, etc. by blowing
blow over to go away without having a serious effect: The storm blew over in the night. The scandal will soon blow over.
blow up
1 to explode; to be destroyed by an explosion: The bomb blew up. A police officer was killed when his car blew up. note at EXPLODE
2 to start suddenly and with force: A storm was blowing up. A crisis has blown up over the President's latest speech.
blow sthup
1 to destroy sth by an explosion: The police station was blown up by terrorists. note at EXPLODE
2 to fill sth with air or gas so that it becomes firm: The tyres on my bike need blowing up.
3 to make a photograph bigger ENLARGErelated noun BLOW-UP
4 to make sth seem more important, better, worse, etc. than it really is: The whole affair was blown up out of all proportion.
blow up (at sb) (informal) to get angry with sb LOSE YOUR TEMPER: I'm sorry I blew up at you.related noun BLOW-UP
noun
1 a hard hit with the hand, a weapon, etc.: She received a severe blow on the head. He was knocked out by a single blow to the head. The two men were exchanging blows. He landed a blow on Hill's nose.
2 ~ (to sb/sth) a sudden event which has damaging effects on sb/sth, causing sadness or disappointment: Losing his job came as a terrible blow to him. It was a shattering blow to her pride. The new cuts will be seen as a crippling blow for people on low incomes. The recent bomb attacks are a serious blow for the peace process.see also BODY BLOW
3 the action of blowing: Give your nose a good blow (= clear it completely). Try to put the candles out in one blow. I'll give three blows on the whistle as a signal.
a blow-by-blow account, description, etc. (of sth) (informal) a description of an event which gives you all the details in the order in which they happen: He insisted on giving us a blow-by-blow account of what had happened.
come to blows (over sth) to start fighting because of sth: We almost came to blows over what colour the new carpet should be.
soften/cushion the blow to make sth that is unpleasant seem less unpleasant and easier to acceptmore at DEAL v., STRIKE v.
exclamation (old-fashioned, BrE) used to show that you are annoyed about sth: Blow! I completely forgot it.

blow-dry verb [VN] to dry hair with a HAIRDRYER and shape it into a particular style
blow-dry noun: a cut and blow-dry

blower NAmE noun
1 [C] a device that produces a current of air: a hot-air blower
2 the blower [sing.] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) the telephone: I've been trying to get her on the blower all morning.see also WHISTLE-BLOWER

blowfly NAmE noun (pl. blowflies) a large fly that lays its eggs on meat and other food

blowhard NAmE noun (NAmE, informal, disapproving) a person who talks too proudly about sth they own or sth they have done

blowhole NAmE noun
1 a hole in the top of a WHALE'S head through which it breathes
2 a hole in a large area of ice, through which SEALS, etc. breathe

blowie NAmE noun (AustralE, NZE, informal) a BLOWFLY

blow-in noun (AustralE, informal) a person who has recently arrived somewhere

blow job noun (taboo, slang) the act of touching a man's PENIS with the tongue and lips to give sexual pleasure FELLATIO

blowlamp NAmE (BrE) (US torch, blowtorch) noun a tool for directing a very hot flame onto part of a surface, for example to remove paint

blown pp of BLOW

blowout NAmE noun
1 an occasion when a tyre suddenly bursts on a vehicle while it is moving PUNCTURE: to have a blowout
2 [usually sing.] (informal) a large meal at which people eat too much: a four-course blowout
3 (NAmE, informal) a large party or social occasion: We're going to have a huge blowout for Valentine's Day.
4 (NAmE, informal) an easy victory: The game was a blowout, 8-1. Utah had its fourth blowout victory over San Antonio.
5 a sudden escape of oil or gas from an OIL WELL

blowpipe NAmE noun
1 a weapon consisting of a long tube through which an arrow is blown
2 a long tube for blowing glass into a particular shape

blowsy (also blowzy) adj. (BrE, informal, disapproving) a woman who is blowsy is big and fat and looks untidy

blowtorch NAmE noun (NAmE) = BLOWLAMP

blow-up noun
1 an ENLARGEMENT of a photograph, picture or design: Can you do me a blow-up of his face?
2 (NAmE) an occasion when sb suddenly becomes angry

BLT abbr. bacon, lettuce and tomato, (used to refer to a SANDWICH filled with this): I'll have a BLT with extra mayonnaise.

blub verb [V] (-bb-) (BrE, informal) to cry

blubber noun, verb
noun [U] the fat of WHALES and other sea animals
verb (informal, disapproving) to cry noisily: [V] There he sat, blubbering like a baby. [also V speech]

bludge verb, noun (AustralE, NZE, informal)
verb
1 [V] to not do any work and live from what other people give you
2 [VN] to ask sb for sth especially because you cannot or do not want to pay for it yourself CADGE: The girls bludged smokes.
noun an easy job

bludgeon verb [VN]
1 to hit sb several times with a heavy object: She had been bludgeoned to death.
2 ~ sb (into sth/into doing sth) to force sb to do sth, especially by arguing with them: They tried to bludgeon me into joining their protest. She was determined not to be bludgeoned into submission.

bludger noun (AustralE, NZE, informal)
1 a lazy person
2 a person who asks other people for sth because they cannot or do not want to pay for it SCROUNGER

blue adj., noun
adj. (bluer, bluest)
1 having the colour of a clear sky or the sea/ocean on a clear day: piercing blue eyes a blue shirt
2 (of a person or part of the body) looking slightly blue in colour because the person is cold or cannot breathe easily: Her hands were blue with cold.
3 (informal) sad DEPRESSED: He'd been feeling blue all week.
4 films/movies, jokes or stories that are blue are about sex: a blue moviesee also TRUE-BLUE
blueness noun [U, sing.]: the blueness of the water
do sth till you are blue in the face (informal) to try to do sth as hard and as long as you possibly can but without success: You can argue till you're blue in the face, but you won't change my mind.more at BLACK adj., DEVIL, ONCE adv., SCREAM v.
nounsee also BLUES
1 [C, U] the colour of a clear sky or the sea/ocean on a clear day: bright/dark/light/pale blue The room was decorated in vibrant blues and yellows. She was dressed in blue.
2 [C] (BrE) a person who has played a particular sport for Oxford or Cambridge University; a title given to them: He's an Oxford rugby blue. She won a blue for rowing.
3 [C] (AustralE, NZE, informal) a mistake
4 [C] (AustralE, NZE, informal) a name for a person with red hair
5 [C] (AustralE, NZE, informal) a fight
out of the blue unexpectedly; without warning: The decision came out of the blue.more at BOLT n., BOY n.

blue baby noun a baby whose skin is slightly blue at birth because there is sth wrong with its heart

bluebell noun
1 a garden or wild flower with a short STEM and small blue or white flowers shaped like bells
2 (ScotE) = HAREBELL

blueberry NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a dark blue BERRY that grows on bushes in N America and can be eatencompare BILBERRY

bluebird NAmE noun a small N American bird with blue feathers on its back or head

blue-blooded adj. from a royal or NOBLE family
blue blood noun [U]

blue book noun
1 (US) a book with a blue cover used by students for writing the answers to examination questions
2 (NAmE) a book that lists the prices that people should expect to pay for used cars

bluebottle NAmE noun a large fly with a blue body

the blue channel noun [sing.] at an airport or port, the passage for passengers who have only travelled within the European Union

blue cheese noun [U, C] cheese with lines of blue MOULD in it

blue-chip adj. [only before noun] (finance) a blue-chip investment is thought to be safe and likely to make a profit: blue-chip companies

blue-collar adj. [only before noun] connected with people who do physical work in industry: blue-collar workers/voters/votescompare PINK-COLLAR, WHITE-COLLAR

blue crane noun a type of CRANE (= a large bird with long legs and a long neck) that has blue-grey feathers. It is the national bird of South Africa.

blue-eyed boy noun [usually sing.] (BrE, informal, often disapproving) a person treated with special favour by sb: He's the manager's blue-eyed boy.

blue flag noun
1 (BrE) a blue flag used in motor racing to show that a driver who is much further ahead is trying to pass
2 an award given to beaches in Europe that are clean and safe

blue funk noun = FUNK

bluegrass NAmE noun [U] a type of traditional American country music played on GUITARS and BANJOS

blue helmet noun a member of a United Nations force that is trying to prevent war or violence in a place

bluejay noun a large N American bird with blue feathers on its back and a row of feathers (called a CREST) standing up on its head

blue jeans noun [pl.] (especially NAmE) trousers/pants made of blue DENIM

blue law noun [usually pl.] (in the US) a law that bans business and certain other activities, such as sports, on Sundays

blue note noun (music) a note which is slightly lower than the third, fifth or seventh note of the SCALE, often used in JAZZ

blue-on-blue adj. [only before noun] (BrE) in a war, used to describe an accident or attack in which people are hit by a bomb or weapon that is fired by their own sidecompare FRIENDLY FIRE

blue pages noun [pl.] (in the US) the blue pages in a TELEPHONE DIRECTORY that give a list of government departments and their telephone numbers: Look in the blue pages, under US Department of State.

Blue Peter noun a blue flag with a white square in the centre, which is raised by a ship that is about to leave a port

blueprint noun
1 a PHOTOGRAPHIC print of a plan for a building or a machine, with white lines on a blue background: blueprints of a new aircraft
2 ~ (for sth) a plan which shows what can be achieved and how it can be achieved: a blueprint for the privatization of health care
3 (technical) the pattern in every living cell, which decides how the plant, animal or person will develop and what it will look like: DNA carries the genetic blueprint which tells any organism how to build itself.

blue riband (BrE) (also blue ribbon NAmE, BrE) noun an honour (sometimes in the form of a blue RIBBON) given to the winner of the first prize in a competition: a blue-riband event (= a very important one)

blues noun
1 (often the blues) [U] a type of slow sad music with strong rhythms, developed by African American musicians in the southern US: a blues band/singer
2 [C] (pl. blues) a blues song
3 the blues [pl.] feelings of sadness: the Monday morning bluessee also BABY BLUES

blue-sky adj. [only before noun] involving new and interesting ideas which are not yet possible or practical: The government has been doing some blue-sky thinking on how to improve school standards. The laboratory tries to maintain a balance between applied research and blue-sky research. A team of designers have been briefed to come up with blue-sky ideas to overhaul the company's image.

bluestocking NAmE noun (old-fashioned, BrE, sometimes disapproving) a well-educated woman who is more interested in ideas and studying than in traditionally FEMININE things

bluesy adj. having the slow strong rhythms and sad mood of blues music: a bluesy sound/voice

blue tit noun a small European bird of the TIT family, with a blue head, wings and tail and yellow parts underneath

BluetoothTM noun [U] a radio technology that makes it possible for mobile phones/cellphones, computers and other electronic devices to be linked over short distances, without needing to be connected by wires: Bluetooth-enabled devices

blue whale noun a type of WHALE that is the largest known living animal

bluff verb, noun, adj.
verb to try to make sb believe that you will do sth that you do not really intend to do, or that you know sth that you do not really know: [V] I don't think he'll shootI think he's just bluffing. [also VN]
bluff sb into doing sth to make sb do sth by tricking them, especially by pretending you have more experience, knowledge, etc. than you really have
bluff it out to get out of a difficult situation by continuing to tell lies, especially when they suspect you are not being honest
bluff your way in/out/through| bluff your way into/out of/through sth to succeed in dealing with a difficult situation by making other people believe sth which is not true: She successfully bluffed her way through the interview.
noun
1 [U, C] an attempt to trick sb by making them believe that you will do sth when you really have no intention of doing it, or that you know sth when you do not, in fact, know it: It was just a game of bluff. He said he would resign if he didn't get more money, but it was only a bluff.see also DOUBLE BLUFF
2 [C] a steep CLIFF or slope, especially by the sea or a river see CALL v.
adj. (of people or their manner) very direct and cheerful, with good intentions, although not always very polite: Beneath his bluff exterior he was a sensitive man.

bluish adj. fairly blue in colour: a bluish-green carpet

blunder noun, verb
noun a stupid or careless mistake: to make a terrible blunder a series of political blunders
verb [V] to make a stupid or careless mistake: The government had blundered in its handling of the affair.
blunder about, around, etc. to move around in an awkward way, knocking into things, as if you cannot see where you are going: I could hear him blundering around the bathroom in the dark.
blunder into sth
1 to knock into sth because you are awkward or are not able to see
2 to find yourself in a difficult or unpleasant situation by accident: She realized that she had blundered into a trap.
blunder on to continue doing sth in a careless or stupid way: I wasn't sure he understood what I was saying, but I blundered on with my explanation.

blunderbuss NAmE noun an old type of gun with a wide end

blunt adj., verb
adj. (blunter, bluntest)
1 without a sharp edge or point: a blunt knife This pencil's blunt! The police said he had been hit with a blunt instrument. SHARP
2 (of a person or remark) very direct; saying exactly what you think without trying to be polite: She has a reputation for blunt speaking. To be blunt, your work is appalling. note at HONEST
bluntness noun [U]
verb [VN]
1 to make sth weaker or less effective: Age hadn't blunted his passion for adventure.
2 to make a point or an edge less sharp

bluntly adv. in a very direct way, without trying to be polite or kind: To put it bluntly, I want a divorce. 'Is she dead?' he asked bluntly.

blur noun, verb
noun [usually sing.]
1 a shape that you cannot see clearly, often because it is moving too fast: His arm was a rapid blur of movement as he struck. Everything is a blur when I take my glasses off.
2 something that you cannot remember clearly: The events of that day were just a blur.
verb (-rr-)
1 if the shape or outline of sth blurs, or if sth blurs it, it becomes less clear and sharp: [V] The writing blurred and danced before his eyes. [VN] The mist blurred the edges of the buildings.
2 if sth blurs your eyes or VISION, or your eyes or vision blur, you cannot see things clearly: [VN] Tears blurred her eyes. [also V]
3 to become or make sth become difficult to distinguish clearly: [V] The differences between art and life seem to have blurred. [VN] She tends to blur the distinction between her friends and her colleagues.

blurb NAmE noun a short description of a book, a new product, etc., written by the people who have produced it, that is intended to attract your attention and make you want to buy it: publisher's blurbs The blurb says that this is Tarantino's greatest movie.

blurred NAmE adj.
1 not clear; without a clear outline or shape: She suffered from dizziness and blurred vision. a blurred image/picture
2 difficult to remember clearly: blurred memories She tried to piece together the blurred details and recollections of the accident.
3 difficult to distinguish, so that differences are not clear: blurred distinctions/boundaries

blurry adj. (informal) without a clear outline; not clear: blurry, distorted photographs (figurative) a blurry policy

blurt NAmE verb ~ sth (out) to say sth suddenly and without thinking carefully enough: [VN] She blurted it out before I could stop her. [V speech] 'She's pregnant,' Jack blurted. [also V that, V wh-] note at CALL

blush verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (with sth) (at sth) to become red in the face because you are embarrassed or ashamed GO RED: [V] to blush with embarrassment/shame She blushed furiously at the memory of the conversation. He looked away, blushing. [V-ADJ] He blushed scarlet at the thought. [also V-N]
2 [V to inf] to be ashamed or embarrassed about sth: I blush to admit it, but I quite like her music.
noun
1 the red colour that spreads over your face when you are embarrassed or ashamed: She felt a warm blush rise to her cheeks. He turned away to hide his blushes.
2 (NAmE) = BLUSHER see SPARE v.

blusher (NAmE also blush) noun [U, C] a coloured cream or powder that some people put on their cheeks to give them more colour

bluster verb
1 to talk in an aggressive or threatening way, but with little effect: [V speech] 'I don't know what you're talking about,' he blustered. [V] a blustering bully
2 [V] (of the wind) to blow violently: Outside the wind was blustering.
bluster noun [U]: I wasn't frightened by what he saidit was all bluster.

blustery adj. (of weather) with strong winds: blustery winds/conditions The day was cold and blustery.

Blu-tackTM noun [U] a blue sticky material used to attach paper to walls

Blvd. abbr. (used in written addresses) BOULEVARD

BMOC NAmE abbr. (US) BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

B-movie (also B-picture) noun a film/movie which is made cheaply and is not very good: a B-movie actress

BMX noun
1 [C] a strong bicycle which can be used for riding on rough ground
2 (also BMXing) [U] the sport of racing BMX bicycles on rough ground

bn abbr. (BrE) (in writing) BILLION

the BNP abbr. the British National Party (a small British political party on the extreme right)

BO NAmE noun [U] an unpleasant smell from a person's body, especially of sweat (the abbreviation for 'body odour'): She's got BO.

boa NAmE noun
1 = BOA CONSTRICTOR
2 = FEATHER BOA

boa constrictor NAmE (also boa) noun a large S American snake that kills animals for food by winding its long body around them and crushing them

boar noun (pl. boar or boars)
1 (also wild boar) a wild pig
2 a male pig that has not been CASTRATEDcompare HOG, SOW

board NAmE noun, verb
noun
PIECE OF WOOD etc.
1 [C, U] a long thin piece of strong hard material, especially wood, used, for example, for making floors, building walls and roofs and making boats: He had ripped up the carpet, leaving only the bare boards.see also CHIPBOARD, FLOORBOARD, HARDBOARD, SKIRTING BOARD
2 [C] (especially in compounds) a piece of wood, or other strong material, that is used for a special purpose: a blackboard I'll write it up on the board. (BrE) a noticeboard (NAmE) a bulletin board The exam results went up on the board. a diving board She jumped off the top board. a chessboard He removed the figure from the board.see also MESSAGE BOARD
IN WATER SPORTS
3 [C] = BODYBOARD, SAILBOARD, SURFBOARD
GROUP OF PEOPLE
4 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who have power to make decisions and control a company or other organization: She has a seat on the board of directors. The board is/are unhappy about falling sales. members of the board discussions at board level the academic board (= for example, of a British university) (NAmE) the Board of Education (= a group of elected officials who are in charge of all the public schools in a particular area)
ORGANIZATION
5 [C] used in the name of some organizations: the Welsh Tourist Board (= responsible for giving tourist information)
MEALS
6 [U] the meals that are provided when you stay in a hotel, GUEST HOUSE, etc.; what you pay for the meals: He pays £90 a week board and lodging.see also BED AND BOARD, FULL BOARD, HALF BOARD
EXAMS
7 boards [pl.] (old-fashioned, US) exams that you take when you apply to go to college in the US
IN THEATRE
8 the boards [pl.] (old-fashioned, informal) the stage in a theatre: His play is on the boards on Broadway. She's treading the boards (= working as an actress).
ICE HOCKEY
9 the boards [pl.] (NAmE) the low wooden wall surrounding the area where a game of ICE HOCKEY is played: The puck went wide, hitting the boards.
There are many other compounds ending in board. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.
across the board involving everyone or everything in a company, an industry, etc.: The industry needs more investment across the board. an across-the-board wage increase
go by the board (BrE) (of plans or principles) to be rejected or ignored; to be no longer possible: All her efforts to be polite went by the board and she started to shout.
on board on or in a ship, an aircraft or a train ABOARD: Have the passengers gone on board yet? (figurative) It's good to have you on board (= working with us) for this project.
take sth on board to accept and understand an idea or a suggestion: I told her what I thought, but she didn't take my advice on board.more at SWEEP v.
verb
GET ON PLANE/SHIP, etc.
1 to get on a ship, train, plane, bus, etc.: [VN] The ship was boarded by customs officials. [V] Passengers are waiting to board.
2 [V] be boarding when a plane or ship is boarding, it is ready for passengers to get on: Flight BA193 for Paris is now boarding at Gate 37.
LIVE SOMEWHERE
3 [V] ~ at .../with sb to live and take meals in sb's home, in return for payment: She always had one or two students boarding with her. He boarded at his aunt's house until he found a place of his own.
4 [V] to live at a school during the school year
board sb out (BrE) to arrange for sb to live somewhere away from their place of work, school, etc. in return for payment
board sthup to cover a window, door, etc. with wooden boards: Most buildings along the street had been boarded up.

boarder NAmE noun (especially BrE)
1 a child who lives at school and goes home for the holidays: boarders and day pupils
2 a person who pays money to live in a room in sb else's house LODGER

board game noun any game played on a board, often using DICE and small pieces that are moved around

boarding NAmE noun [U]
1 (BrE) long pieces of wood that are put together to make a wall, etc.
2 the arrangement by which school students live at their school, going home during the holidays: boarding fees

boarding card (BrE) (also boarding pass NAmE, BrE) noun a card that you show before you get on a plane or boat

boarding house noun a private house where people can pay for accommodation and meals

boarding kennel noun [usually pl.] (BrE) a place where people can leave their dogs to be taken care of when they go on holiday/vacationsee also KENNEL (2)

boarding school noun a school where children can live during the school yearcompare DAY SCHOOL

boardroom NAmE noun a room in which the meetings of the board of a company (= the group of people who control it) are held: a boardroom row

boardsailing NAmE noun [U] = WINDSURFING

boardwalk NAmE noun (especially NAmE) a path made of wooden boards, especially on a beach or near water

boast NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (about/of sth) to talk with too much pride about sth that you have or can do: [V] I don't want to boast, but I can actually speak six languages. She is always boasting about how wonderful her children are. He openly boasted of his skill as a burglar. [V that] Sam boasted that she could beat anyone at poker. [also V speech]
2 [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) to have sth that is impressive and that you can be proud of: The hotel also boasts two swimming pools and a golf course. Rhodes boasts 300 days of sunshine a year.
noun~ (that ... ) (often disapproving) something that a person talks about in a very proud way, often to seem more important or clever: Despite his boasts that his children were brilliant, neither of them went to college. It was her proud boast that she had never missed a day's work because of illness. Her claim that she could beat us all was clearly no idle/empty boast (= it was true).

boastful NAmE adj. (disapproving) talking about yourself in a very proud way: I tried to emphasize my good points without sounding boastful.

boat NAmE noun
1 a vehicle (smaller than a ship) that travels on water, moved by OARS, sails or a motor: a rowing/sailing boat a fishing boat You can take a boat trip along the coast.see also CANAL BOAT, LIFEBOAT, MOTORBOAT, POWERBOAT, SPEEDBOAT, STEAMBOAT
2 any ship: 'How are you going to France?' 'We're going by boat (= by FERRY).'see also GRAVY BOAT, SAUCE BOAT
be in the same boat to be in the same difficult situationmore at BURN v., FLOAT v., MISS v., PUSH v., ROCK v.

boater NAmE noun a hard STRAW hat with a flat top

boathook NAmE noun a long pole with a hook at one end, used for pulling or pushing boats

boathouse NAmE noun a building beside a river or lake for keeping a boat in

boating NAmE noun [U] the activity of using a small boat for pleasure: to go boating Local activities include walking, boating and golf.

boatman NAmE noun (pl. -men ) a man who earns money from small boats, either by carrying passengers or goods on them, or by renting them out

boat people noun [pl.] people who escape from their own country in small boats to try to find safety in another country: Vietnamese boat people

boatswain NAmE noun = BOSUN

boat train noun a train that takes passengers to or from a place where a boat arrives or leaves

boatyard NAmE noun a place where boats are built, repaired or kept

Bob NAmE noun
Bob's your uncle (BrE, informal) used to say how easy and quick it is to do a particular task: Press here and Bob's your uncle! It's disappeared.

bob NAmE verb, noun
verb (-bb-)
1 ~ (sth) (up and down) to move or make sth move quickly up and down, especially in water: [V] Tiny boats bobbed up and down in the harbour. [VN] She bobbed her head nervously. The maid bobbed a curtsy.
2 [VN] to cut sb's hair so that it is the same length all the way around
bob up to come to the surface suddenly: The dark head of a seal bobbed up a few yards away.
noun
1 a quick movement down and up of your head and body: a bob of the head
2 a style of a woman's hair in which it is cut the same length all the way around: She wears her hair in a bob.
3 (pl. bob) (informal) an old British coin, the SHILLING, worth 12 old pence: That'll cost a few bob (= a lot of money).
4 = BOBSLEIGH see BIT

bobbed NAmE adj. (of hair) cut so that it hangs loosely to the level of the chin all around the back and sides

bobber NAmE noun
1 a floating object used in fishing to hold the hook at the right depth
2 (BrE) a person who rides on a BOBSLEIGH

bobbin NAmE noun a small device on which you wind thread, used, for example, in a sewing machine

bobble NAmE noun, verb
noun (BrE) a small, soft ball, usually made of wool, that is used especially for decorating clothes POMPOM: a woolly hat with a bobble on top
verb (informal)
1 [V] to move along the ground with small BOUNCES: The ball somehow bobbled into the net.
2 [VN] (NAmE) to drop a ball or to fail to stop it: She tried to catch the ball but bobbled it.
3 [V] (BrE, informal) (of a piece of clothing, especially one made of wool) to become covered in very small balls of FIBRE

bobby NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a police officer
Named after Sir Robert Peel, the politician who created London's police force in the 19th century. Bobby is a familiar form of 'Robert'.

bobby-dazzler noun (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) an excellent or very special person or thing

bobby pin noun (NAmE) = HAIRGRIP

bobby socks noun [pl.] short white socks worn with a dress or skirt, especially by girls and young women in the US in the 1940s and 50s

bobcat NAmE noun a N American wild cat

bobs NAmE noun [pl.] see BIT n.

bobsleigh NAmE (BrE) (NAmE bobsled NAmE ) (also bob) noun a racing SLEDGE (= a vehicle for two or more people that slides over snow)

bobtail NAmE noun
1 a dog, cat or horse with a tail that has been cut short
2 a tail that has been cut short

bod NAmE noun (informal)
1 (BrE) a person: She's a bit of an odd bod (= rather strange).
2 a person's body: He's got a great bod.

bodacious NAmE adj. (informal, especially NAmE)
1 excellent; extremely good
2 willing to take risks or to do sth shocking AUDACIOUS

bode NAmE verb
bode well/ill (for sb/sth) (formal) to be a good/bad sign for sb/sth AUGUR: These figures do not bode well for the company's future. The look on her face boded ill for anyone who crossed her path that day.

bodge NAmE verb [VN] ~ sth (up/together) (BrE, informal) to make or repair sth in a way that is not as good as it should be: The fence was bodged together from old planks and doors.

Bodhisattva NAmE noun (in Mahayana Buddhism) a person who is able to reach NIRVANA (= a state of peace and happiness) but who delays doing this because of the suffering of other humans

bodhrán NAmE noun (IrishE) a shallow Irish drum that you hold sideways in your hand and play with a short wooden stick

bodice NAmE noun the top part of a woman's dress, above the waist

bodice-ripper noun (informal) a romantic novel or film/movie with a lot of sex in it, which is set in the past

bodily NAmE adj., adv.
adj. [only before noun] connected with the human body: bodily functions/changes/needs bodily fluids bodily harm (= physical injury)
adv.
1 by moving the whole of sb's body; by force: The force of the blast hurled us bodily to the ground. He lifted her bodily into the air.
2 in one piece; completely: The monument was moved bodily to a new site.

bodkin NAmE noun a thick needle with no point

body NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
OF PERSON/ANIMAL
1 [C] the whole physical structure of a human or an animal: a human/female/male/naked body parts of the body His whole body was trembling. body fat/weight/temperature/size/heat The heart pumps blood around the body.
2 [C] the main part of a body not including the head, or not including the head, arms and legs: She had injuries to her head and body. He has a large body, but thin legs.
3 [C] the body of a dead person or animal: a dead body The family of the missing girl has been called in by the police to identify the body.
MAIN PART
4 [sing.] the ~ of sth the main part of sth, especially a building, a vehicle or a book, an article, etc.: the body of a plane (= the central part where the seats are) the main body of the text
GROUP OF PEOPLE
5 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who work or act together, often for an official purpose, or who are connected in some other way: a governing/a regulatory/an advisory/a review body The governing body of the school is/are concerned about discipline. recognized professional bodies such as the Law Association An independent body has been set up to investigate the affair. A large body of people will be affected by the tax cuts. The protesters marched in a body (= all together) to the White House. a meeting of representatives of the student body and teaching staff
LARGE AMOUNT
6 [C] ~ of sth a large amount or collection of sth: a vast body of evidence/information/research large bodies of water (= lakes or seas) There is a powerful body of opinion against the ruling.
OBJECT
7 [C] (formal) an object: heavenly bodies (= stars, planets, etc.) an operation to remove a foreign body (= sth that would not usually be there) from a wound
OF DRINK/HAIR
8 [U] the full strong flavour of alcoholic drinks or the thick healthy quality of sb's hair: a wine with plenty of body Regular use of conditioner is supposed to give your hair more body.
-BODIED
9 (in adjectives) having the type of body mentioned: full-bodied red wines soft-bodied insectssee also ABLE-BODIED
CLOTHING
10 [C] (BrE) (NAmE bodysuit) a piece of clothing which fits tightly over a woman's upper body and bottom, usually fastening between the legs
body and soul with all your energy: She committed herself body and soul to fighting for the cause.
keep body and soul together to stay alive with just enough of the food, clothing, etc. that you need SURVIVE: They barely have enough money to keep body and soul together.more at BONE n., DEAD adj., SELL v.

VOCABULARY BUILDING

actions expressing emotions

Often parts of the body are closely linked to particular verbs. The combination of the verb and part of the body expresses an emotion or attitude.

action

part of body

you are

bite

lips

nervous

clench

fist

angry, aggressive

click

fingers

trying to remember sth

click

tongue

annoyed

drum/tap

fingers

impatient

hang

head

ashamed

lick

lips

anticipating sth good, nervous

nod

head

agreeing

purse

lips

disapproving

raise

eyebrows

inquiring, surprised

scratch

head

puzzled

shake

head

disagreeing

shrug

shoulders

doubtful, indifferent

stamp

foot

angry

wrinkle

nose

feeling dislike or distaste

wrinkle

forehead

puzzled

For example: She bit her lip nervously.He scratched his head and looked thoughtful.I wrinkled my nose in disgust.She raised questioning eyebrows.

body armour (BrE) (US body armor) noun [U] clothing worn by the police, etc. to protect themselves

body bag noun a bag for carrying a dead body in, for example in a war

body blow noun something which has damaging effects on sb/sth, creating problems or causing severe disappointment

bodyboard NAmE noun a short light type of SURFBOARD that you ride lying on your front
bodyboarding noun [U]

bodybuilding NAmE noun [U] the activity of doing regular exercises in order to make your muscles bigger and stronger
bodybuilder noun

body-check noun (in ICE HOCKEY) an attempt to prevent a player's movement by blocking them with your shoulder or hip

body clock noun the natural tendency that your body has to sleep, eat, etc. at particular times of the day: I only arrived in London yesterday, and my body clock is still on New York time.

body double noun a person who takes part in a film/movie in place of an actor when the scene involves being naked, or using special or dangerous skills

bodyguard NAmE noun [C+sing./pl. v.] a person or a group of people who are employed to protect sb: The President's bodyguard is/are armed.

body language noun [U] the process of communicating what you are feeling or thinking by the way you place and move your body rather than by words: I could tell from her body language that she was angry.

body odour noun [U] (abbr. BO) an unpleasant smell from a person's body, especially of sweat: Nobody told her she had a body odour problem.

body piercing (also piercing) noun [U] the making of holes in parts of the body as a decoration: tattooing and body piercing

the body politic noun [sing.] (formal) all the people of a particular nation considered as an organized political group: This new policy has touched a nerve in the American body politic.

body-popping noun [U] a way of dancing in which you make stiff movements like a ROBOT

body press noun a move in which a WRESTLER uses his/her body to hold his/her opponent down on the floor

body search noun a search of a person's body, for example by the police or by a customs official, for drugs, weapons, etc.

body shop noun
1 the part of a car factory where the main bodies of the cars are made
2 a place where repairs are made to the main bodies of cars

body slam noun a move in which a WRESTLER lifts his/her opponent and then throws him/her to the floor with force

bodysnatcher NAmE noun a person who stole bodies from GRAVEYARDS in the past, especially to sell for medical experiments

body stocking noun a piece of clothing that fits closely over the whole body from the neck to the ankles, often including the arms, worn for example by dancers

bodysuit BrE NAmE noun (NAmE) = BODY (10)

bodysurfing NAmE noun [U] the activity of riding on waves without a board

body swerve noun a sudden movement that you make to the side when running to avoid crashing into sb/sth

body warmer noun (BrE) a thick warm jacket without sleeves that you wear outdoors

bodywork NAmE noun [U] the main outside structure of a vehicle, usually made of painted metal: The car had damaged bodywork but a very good engine.

Boer noun
1 a South African whose family originally came from the Netherlands: the Boer War (= the war between the Boers and the British, 1899-1902)see also AFRIKANER
2 boer (SAfrE) a farmer
3 boer (SAfrE, disapproving) used to refer to a member of the police or the army, especially in the past

boerewors NAmE noun [U] (SAfrE) a spicy SAUSAGE that is prepared in a long piece and sold usually wound into a COIL (= a series of circles)

boffin NAmE noun (BrE, informal) a scientist, especially one doing research

bog NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] (an area of) wet soft ground, formed of decaying plants: a peat bogsee also BOGGY
2 [C] (BrE, slang) a toilet/bathroom: Have you got any bog roll (= toilet paper)? Sam was on the bog when I arrived.
verb (-gg-)
bog sth/sb down (in sth) [usually passive]
1 to make sth sink into mud or wet ground: The tank became bogged down in mud.
2 to prevent sb from making progress in an activity: We mustn't get bogged down in details.
bog off (BrE, taboo, slang) only used in orders, to tell sb to go away: Bog off, I'm trying to sleep!

bogan NAmE noun (AustralE, NZE, informal) a rude or socially unacceptable person

bogey NAmE noun
1 (also bogy) a thing that causes fear, often without reason
2 (also bogy) (both BrE) (NAmE booger) (informal) a piece of dried MUCUS from inside your nose
3 (also bogy) (BrE) = BOGEYMAN
4 (in GOLF) a score of one stroke over PAR (= the standard score for a hole)compare BIRDIE, EAGLE

bogeyman (also bogyman) NAmE noun (BrE also bogey, bogy) (NAmE usually boogeyman) (pl. -men ) an imaginary evil spirit that is used to frighten children: The bogeyman's coming!

boggle NAmE verb [V] ~ (at sth) (informal) to be slow to do or accept sth because you are surprised or shocked by it: Even I boggle at the idea of spending so much money.
sth boggles the mind (also the mind boggles) (informal) if sth boggles the mind or the mind boggles at it, it is so unusual that people find it hard to imagine or accept: The vastness of space really boggles the mind. 'He says he's married to his cats!' 'The mind boggles!'compare MIND-BOGGLING

boggy NAmE adj. (of land) soft and wet, like a BOG: boggy ground

bogie NAmE noun a small vehicle with wheels that runs on a railway/railroad track and can be put underneath a coach/car of a train

bog-standard adj. (BrE, informal) ordinary; with no special features AVERAGE: All you need is a bog-standard machinenothing fancy.

bogus NAmE adj. pretending to be real or genuine FALSE: a bogus doctor/contract bogus claims of injury by workers

bogy, bogyman = BOGEY, BOGEYMAN

bohemian NAmE noun a person, often sb who is involved with the arts, who lives in a very informal way without following accepted rules of behaviour: He liked to think of himself as a bit of a bohemian.
bohemian adj.: a bohemian existence/lifestyle her bohemian artist friends

bohrium noun [U] (symb Bh) a RADIOACTIVE chemical element, produced when atoms COLLIDE (= crash into each other)

boil verb, noun
verb
1 when a liquid boils or when you boil it, it is heated to the point where it forms bubbles and turns to steam or VAPOUR: [V] The water was bubbling and boiling away. [VN] Boil plenty of salted water, then add the spaghetti.
2 when a KETTLE, pan, etc. boils or when you boil a KETTLE, etc., it is heated until the water inside it boils : [VN] I'll boil the kettle and make some tea. [V] (BrE) The kettle's boiling. [V-ADJ] She left the gas on by mistake and the pan boiled dry (= the water boiled until there was none left).
3 to cook or wash sth in boiling water; to be cooked or washed in boiling water: [V] She put some potatoes on to boil. [VN] boiled carrots/cabbage [VN, VNN] to boil an egg for sb to boil sb an egg
4 [V] if you boil with anger, etc. or anger, etc. boils inside you, you are very angry: He was boiling with rage. She wanted to give vent to the fury boiling within her. see BLOOD n., WATCH v.
boil down| boil sthdown to be reduced or to reduce sth by boiling
boil sth down (to sth) to make sth, especially information, shorter by leaving out the parts that are not important: The original speech I had written got boiled down to about ten minutes.
boil down to sth (not used in the progressive tenses) (of a situation, problem, etc.) to have sth as a main or basic part: In the end, what it all boils down to is money, or the lack of it.
boil over
1 (of liquid) to boil and flow over the side of a pan, etc.: The milk is boiling over.
2 (informal) to become very angry
3 (of a situation, an emotion, etc.) to change into sth more dangerous or violent EXPLODE: Racial tension finally boiled over in the inner city riots.
boil up if a situation or an emotion boils up, it becomes dangerous, worrying, etc.: I could feel anger boiling up inside me.
boil sthup to heat a liquid or some food until it boils: She boiled up a large pan of water.
noun
1 [sing.] a period of boiling; the point at which liquid boils: (BrE) Bring the soup to the boil, then allow it to simmer for five minutes. (NAmE) Bring the soup to a boil. The sauce should thicken as it comes to the boil.
2 [C] a painful infected swelling under the skin which is full of a thick yellow liquid (called PUS)
off the boil (BrE) less good than before: The second series of the show really went off the boil.
on the boil very active: We have several projects all on the boil at once.

boiled sweet (BrE) (NAmE hard candy [U]) noun a hard sweet/candy made from boiled sugar, often with fruit flavours

boiler (also furnace especially in NAmE) noun a container in which water is heated to provide hot water and heating in a building or to produce steam in an engine: a central heating boiler a gas boiler a back boiler (= located behind a fire)

boilermaker NAmE noun
1 a person or company that makes boilers
2 (NAmE) a person who makes and repairs metal objects for industry
3 (NAmE) a drink of WHISKY followed immediately by a glass of beer

boilerplate NAmE noun [C, U] (NAmE) a standard form of words that can be used as a model for writing parts of a business document, legal agreement, etc.: The document is mostly boilerplate. a boilerplate letter

boiler room noun
1 a room in a building or ship containing the boiler
2 (NAmE) a room or office used by people using telephones to sell sth, especially shares, in an aggressive or a dishonest way

boiler suit noun (especially BrE) (NAmE usually coveralls) a piece of clothing like trousers/pants and a jacket in one piece, worn for doing dirty workcompare OVERALLS

boiling (also boiling hot) adj. very hot BAKING: You must be boiling in that sweater! a boiling hot day FREEZING

boiling point noun
1 the temperature at which a liquid starts to boil: The boiling point of water is 100°C.
2 the point at which a person becomes very angry, or a situation is likely to become violent: Racial tension has reached boiling point.

boisterous adj. (of people, animals or behaviour) noisy and full of life and energy: It was a challenge, keeping ten boisterous seven-year-olds amused. The children and the dogs raced out of the house to give me a boisterous welcome.
boisterously adv.

bok choy NAmE noun [U] (NAmE) = PAK CHOI

bold NAmE adj., noun
adj. (bolder, boldest)
1 (of people or behaviour) brave and confident; not afraid to say what you feel or to take risks: It was a bold move on their part to open a business in France. The wine made him bold enough to approach her. a bold and fearless warrior
2 (of shape, colour, lines, etc.) that can be easily seen; having a strong clear appearance: the bold outline of a mountain against the sky She paints with bold strokes of the brush.
3 (technical) (of printed words or letters) in a thick, dark TYPE: Highlight the important words in bold type. bold lettering
boldly adv.: boldly patterned/coloured He stepped boldly forward to speak. boldness noun [U]
be/make so bold (as to do sth) (formal) used especially when politely asking a question or making a suggestion which you hope will not offend anyone (although it may criticize them slightly): If I may be so bold as to suggest that he made a mistake in his calculations ...
(as) bold as brass (BrE, informal) without showing any respect, shame or fear: She marched in here, bold as brass, and demanded a pay rise.
noun (also boldface NAmE ) [U] (technical) thick, dark TYPE used for printing words or letters: Headwords are printed in bold.

bole NAmE noun the main STEM of a tree TRUNK

bolero NAmE noun (pl. -os)
1 a traditional Spanish dance; a piece of music for this dance: Ravel's Bolero
2 BrE a women's short jacket that is not fastened at the front

boletus (also bolete ) noun [C, U] a MUSHROOM with small round holes under the top part. Some types of boletus can be eaten.

boll NAmE noun the part of the cotton plant that contains the seeds

bollard NAmE noun
1 (BrE) a short thick post that is used to stop vehicles from going on to a road or part of a road
2 a short thick post on a ship, or on land close to water, to which a ship's rope may be tied

bollocking NAmE noun (BrE, taboo) an occasion when sb tells you that they are very angry with you, often by shouting at you: to give sb a bollocking to get a bollocking There are more polite ways to express this, for example to give sb/to get a rocket, or to tear a strip off sb.

bollocks NAmE noun (BrE, taboo, slang)
1 [U] nonsense: You're talking a load of bollocks!
2 [pl.] a man's TESTICLES
3 Bollocks!exclamation used as a swear word when sb is disagreeing with sth, or when they are angry about sth: Bollocks! He never said that!

boll weevil noun an insect that damages cotton plants

Bollywood NAmE noun [U] (informal) used to refer to the Hindi film/movie industry, which mainly takes place in the Indian city of Mumbai (formerly called Bombay)

bologna NAmE (also baloney) noun [U] (NAmE) a type of SAUSAGE that is put in SANDWICHES, made of a mixture of meats

bolometer NAmE noun (physics) a device for measuring RADIANT energy

bolo tie NAmE noun (NAmE) a string worn around the neck and fastened with a decorative CLASP or bar

Bolshevik NAmE noun a member of the group in Russia that took control after the 1917 Revolution
Bolshevik adj. Bolshevism NAmE noun [U]

bolshie (also bolshy) NAmE adj. (BrE, informal, disapproving) (of a person) creating difficulties or arguments deliberately, and refusing to be helpful: She was in a bolshie mood.

bolster NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN] ~ sth (up) to improve sth or make it stronger: to bolster sb's confidence/courage/morale Falling interest rates may help to bolster up the economy.
noun a long thick PILLOW that is placed across the top of a bed under the other pillows

bolt NAmE noun, verb, adv.
noun
1 a long, narrow piece of metal that you slide across the inside of a door or window in order to lock it: He slid back the bolt on the door.
2 a piece of metal like a screw without a point which is used with a circle of metal (= a NUT) to fasten things together: nuts and bolts
3 ~ of lightning a sudden flash of LIGHTNING in the sky, appearing as a line
4 a short heavy arrow shot from a CROSSBOW
5 a long piece of cloth wound in a roll around a piece of cardboard
a bolt from the blue an event or a piece of news which is sudden and unexpected; a complete surprise: Her dismissal came as a bolt from the blue.
make a bolt for sth | make a bolt for it to run away very fast, in order to escapemore at NUT n., SHOT v.
verb
1 to fasten sth such as a door or window by sliding a bolt across; to be able to be fastened in this way: [VN] Don't forget to bolt the door. [V] The gate bolts on the inside.
2 [VN] ~ A to B| ~ A and B together to fasten things together with a bolt: The vice is bolted to the workbench. The various parts of the car are then bolted together.
3 [V] if an animal, especially a horse, bolts, it suddenly runs away because it is frightened
4 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] (of a person) to run away, especially in order to escape: When he saw the police arrive, he bolted down an alley.
5 [VN] ~ sth (down) to eat sth very quickly: Don't bolt your food!
6 (NAmE) to stop supporting a particular group or political party: [VN] Many Democrats bolted the party to vote Republican. [also V]
7 [V] (of a plant, especially a vegetable) to grow too quickly and start producing seeds and so become less good to eat see STABLE DOOR n.
adv.
sit/stand bolt upright to sit or stand with your back straight

bolt-action adj. (of a gun) having a back part that is opened by turning a BOLT and sliding it back

bolt-hole noun (BrE) a place that you can escape to, for example when you are in a difficult situation: He felt he needed a bolt-hole where he could get away from the pressures of city life.

bolt-on adj. [only before noun] able to be easily added to a machine, etc. to make it able to do sth new

bolus NAmE noun
1 (medical) a single amount of a drug that is given at one time DOSE
2 (technical) a small round mass of substance, especially chewed food that is swallowed

boma NAmE noun (EAfrE, SAfrE) (in wild country) an area surrounded by a fence, often made of sticks, used to protect animals or people

bomb NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a weapon designed to explode at a particular time or when it is dropped or thrown: a bomb attack/blast/explosion a bomb goes off/explodes extensive bomb damage Hundreds of bombs were dropped on the city.see also DIRTY BOMB
2 the bomb [sing.] nuclear weapons (ATOMIC or HYDROGEN bombs): countries which have the bomb
3 a bomb [sing.] (BrE, informal) a lot of money: That dress must have cost a bomb! Some company directors make an absolute bomb.
4 a bomb [sing.] (NAmE, informal) a complete failure: The musical was a complete bomb on Broadway.
5 (NAmE) (in AMERICAN FOOTBALL) a long forward throw of the ball
6 (NAmE) a container in which a liquid such as paint or insect poison is kept under pressure and released as a spray or as FOAM: a bug bomb (= used for killing insects)
be the bomb (NAmE) to be very good; to be the best: Check out the new website. It's the bomb!
go down a bomb | go (like) a bomb (BrE) to be very successful: Our performance went down a bomb. The party was really going (like) a bomb. Her new novel is going like a bomb (= selling well).
go like a bomb (BrE) (of a vehicle) to go very fast
verb
1 [VN] to attack sb/sth by leaving a bomb in a place or by dropping bombs from a plane: Terrorists bombed several army barracks. The city was heavily bombed in the war.
2 [V + adv. / prep.] (BrE, informal) to move very fast, especially in a vehicle, in a particular direction: They were bombing down the road at about 80 miles an hour.
3 (NAmE, informal) to fail a test or an exam very badly: [VN] The exam was impossible! I definitely bombed it. [also V]
4 [V] (informal) (of a play, show, etc.) to fail very badly: His latest musical bombed and lost thousands of dollars.
be bombed out (of sth)
1 if you are bombed out, your home is destroyed by bombs: a programme of house-building for those who were bombed out of their homes
2 if a building is bombed out, it has been destroyed by bombs: a bombed out warehouse

bomb alert noun (BrE) = BOMB SCARE

bombard NAmE verb [VN] ~ sb/sth (with sth)
1 to attack a place by firing large guns at it or dropping bombs on it continuously: Madrid was heavily bombarded for several months.
2 to attack sb with a lot of questions, criticisms, etc. or by giving them too much information: We have been bombarded with letters of complaint. We are bombarded daily with propaganda about what we should eat.
bombardment noun [U, C]: The city came under heavy bombardment.

bombardier NAmE noun
1 the person on a military plane in the US AIR FORCE who is responsible for aiming and dropping bombs
2 a member of a low rank in the Royal Artillery (= a part of the British army that uses large guns)

bombast NAmE noun [U] (formal) words which sound important but have little meaning, used to impress people: His speech was full of bombast.
bombastic NAmE adj.: a bombastic speaker bombastic language

Bombay duck NAmE noun [U] dried fish eaten with CURRIES

Bombay mix NAmE noun [U] an Indian food consisting of LENTILS, PEANUTS and spices, eaten as a SNACK

bomb bay noun a part of an aircraft in which bombs are held and from which they can be dropped

bomb disposal noun [U] the job of removing or exploding bombs in order to make an area safe: a bomb disposal expert/squad/team

bombe NAmE noun [C, U] (from French) a frozen DESSERT (= sweet dish) in a round shape

bombed NAmE adj. [not before noun] (informal) extremely drunk: He got completely bombed last night.

bomber NAmE noun
1 a plane that carries and drops bombs
2 a person who puts a bomb somewhere illegally

bomber jacket noun a short jacket that fits tightly around the waist and fastens with a ZIP/ZIPPER

bombing NAmE noun [C, U] an occasion when a bomb is dropped or left somewhere; the act of doing this: recent bombings in major cities enemy bombing

bombora NAmE noun (AustralE)
1 a wave which forms over an underwater rock, sometimes producing a dangerous area of broken water
2 an area of rock underwater

bombproof NAmE adj. strong enough to give protection against an attack by a bomb

bomb scare (also bomb threat especially in NAmE) (BrE also bomb alert) noun an occasion when sb says that they have put a bomb somewhere and everyone has to leave the area

bombshell NAmE noun [usually sing.] (informal)
1 an event or a piece of news which is unexpected and usually unpleasant: The news of his death came as a bombshell. She dropped a bombshell at the meeting and announced that she was leaving.
2 a blond(e) bombshell a very attractive woman with blonde hair

bombsight NAmE noun a device used in an aircraft for aiming bombs

bomb site noun an area where all the buildings have been destroyed by bombs

Bon NAmE (also O-Bon NAmE ) noun [U] a Japanese Buddhist festival that takes place in August, when people show respect to the dead FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD, LANTERN FESTIVAL

bona fide NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (from Latin) genuine, real or legal; not false: a bona fide reason Is it a bona fide, reputable organization? You're a bona fide member of the team now.

bona fides NAmE noun [pl.] (from Latin) evidence that sb is who they say that they are; evidence that sb/sth is honest: Is there any doubt concerning his bona fides? to check sb's bona fides

bonanza noun [sing.]
1 a situation in which people can make a lot of money or be very successful: a cash bonanza for investors a bonanza year for the computer industry
2 a situation where there is a large amount of sth pleasant: the usual bonanza of sport in the summer

bonbon NAmE noun a sweet/candy, especially one with a soft centre

bonce NAmE noun (BrE, informal) a person's head

bond NAmE noun, verb
noun
STRONG CONNECTION
1 [C] ~ (between A and B) something that forms a connection between people or groups, such as a feeling of friendship or shared ideas and experiences: A bond of friendship had been forged between them. The agreement strengthened the bonds between the two countries. the special bond between mother and child
MONEY
2 [C] an agreement by a government or a company to pay you interest on the money you have lent; a document containing this agreement: government bondssee also JUNK BOND
3 [U] (law) (especially NAmE) a sum of money that is paid as BAIL: He was released on $5 000 bond.
4 [C] (also mortgage bond) (SAfrE) a legal agreement by which a bank lends you money to buy a house, etc. which you pay back over many years; the sum of money that is lent: to pay off a bond We had to take out a second bond on the property. bond rates (= of interest)
ROPES/CHAINS
5 bonds [pl.] (formal) the ropes or chains keeping sb prisoner; anything that stops you from being free to do what you want: to release sb from their bonds the bonds of oppression/injustice
LEGAL AGREEMENT
6 [C] (formal) a legal written agreement or promise: We entered into a solemn bond.
JOIN
7 [C] the way in which two things are joined together: a firm bond between the two surfaces
CHEMISTRY
8 [C] the way in which atoms are held together in a chemical COMPOUND
see WORD n.
verb
JOIN FIRMLY
1 ~ (A and B) (together)| ~ (A) to B to join two things firmly together; to join firmly to sth else: [VN] This new glue bonds a variety of surfaces in seconds. It cannot be used to bond wood to metal. [V] The atoms bond together to form a molecule.
DEVELOP RELATIONSHIP
2 ~ (with sb) to develop or create a relationship of trust with sb: Mothers who are depressed sometimes fail to bond with their children. [also VN]

bondage NAmE noun
1 (old-fashioned or formal) the state of being a SLAVE or prisoner SLAVERY: (figurative) women's liberation from the bondage of domestic life
2 the practice of being tied with ropes, chains, etc. in order to gain sexual pleasure

bonded warehouse noun a government building where imported goods are stored until tax has been paid on them

bonding NAmE noun [U]
1 the process of forming a special relationship with sb or with a group of people: mother-child bonding male bonding
2 (chemistry) the process of atoms joining together: hydrogen bonding

bone NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] any of the hard parts that form the SKELETON of the body of a human or an animal: He survived the accident with no broken bones. This fish has a lot of bones in it. The dog was gnawing at a bone. She had a beautiful face with very good bone structure.
2 [U] the hard substance that bones are made of: knives with bone handles
3 -boned (in adjectives) having bones of the type mentioned: fine-boned
a bone of contention a subject which causes disagreement and arguments between people
close to the bone (BrE, informal) (of a remark, joke, story, etc.) so honest or clearly expressed that it is likely to cause offence to some people: His comments about her size were a bit close to the bone. Some of the sex scenes in the play were judged by critics to be too close to the bone.
cut, pare, etc. sth to the bone to reduce sth, such as costs, as much as you possibly can: Their annual budget has already been pared to the bone.
have a bone to pick with sb (informal) to be angry with sb about sth and want to discuss it with them
make no bones about (doing) sth to be honest and open about sth; to not hesitate to do sth: She made no bones about telling him exactly what she thought of him.
not have a ... bone in your body to have none of the quality mentioned: She was honest and hard-working, and didn't have an unkind bone in her body.
throw sb a bone to give sb a small part of what they want as a way of showing that you want to help them, without offering them the main thing they want: She feels this new energy bill is just throwing a bone to the environmentalists.
to the bone affecting you very strongly: His threats chilled her to the bone.more at BAG n., BARE adj., FEEL v., FINGER n., FLESH n., SKIN n.
verb [VN] to take the bones out of fish or meat
bone up on sth (informal) to try to learn about sth or to remind yourself of what you already know about it: She had boned up on the city's history before the visit.

bone china noun [U] thin delicate CHINA made of CLAY mixed with crushed bone; cups, plates, etc. made of this

bone dry adj. [not usually before noun] completely dry: The ground was bone dry after the drought.

bonehead NAmE noun (informal) a stupid person

bone idle adj. (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) very lazy

boneless NAmE adj. (of meat or fish) without any bones: boneless chicken breasts

bone marrow (also marrow) noun [U] a soft substance that fills the hollow parts of bones: a bone marrow transplant

bonemeal NAmE noun [U] a substance made from crushed animal bones which is used to make soil richer

boner NAmE noun (NAmE, informal)
1 (taboo) an ERECTION of the PENIS
2 an embarrassing mistake

boneshaker NAmE noun (BrE, informal)
1 an old vehicle that is in bad condition
2 an old type of bicycle without rubber tyres

bonfire NAmE noun a large outdoor fire for burning waste or as part of a celebration

Bonfire Night (also Guy Fawkes night) noun [U, C] the night of 5 November, when there is a tradition in Britain that people light bonfires and have FIREWORKS to celebrate the failure of the plan in 1605 to destroy the parliament buildings with EXPLOSIVES

bong NAmE noun
1 the sound made by a large bell: the bongs of Big Ben
2 a long pipe for smoking CANNABIS and other drugs, which passes the smoke through a container of water

bongo NAmE (pl. -os) (also bongo drum) noun a small drum, usually one of a pair, that you play with your fingers

bonhomie NAmE noun [U] (from French, formal) a feeling of cheerful friendship: There was a casual bonhomie between the actors at rehearsals.

bonk NAmE noun, verb
noun (BrE, informal)
1 [sing.] an act of having sex with sb: She wasn't interested in having a quick bonk.
2 [C] the act of hitting sb on the head or of hitting your head on sth: He got a bonk on the head when he fell out of bed.
verb (BrE, informal)
1 to have sex with sb: [VN] He's been bonking one of his students. [also V]
2 [VN] to hit sb lightly on the head or to hit yourself by mistake: I bonked my head on the doorway.

bonkbuster NAmE noun (BrE, informal) a type of popular novel in which there is a lot of sex or romantic love

bonkers NAmE adj. [not before noun] (informal) completely crazy and silly: I'll go bonkers if I have to wait any longer. He thought I was stark raving bonkers to give up my job. see RAVING adv.

bon mot NAmE noun (pl. bons mots NAmE ) (from French, formal) a funny and clever remark: They loved a bon mot or anecdote but despised gossip.

bonne femme NAmE adj. [after noun] (from French) used in the names of dishes which are cooked in a simple way: salmon bonne femme

bonnet NAmE noun
1 a hat tied with strings under the chin, worn by babies and, especially in the past, by women
2 (BrE) (NAmE hood) the metal part over the front of a vehicle, usually covering the engine see BEE

bonny (also bonnie) NAmE adj. (bonnier, bonniest) (dialect, especially ScotE) very pretty; attractive: a bonny baby/lass

bonsai NAmE noun (pl. bonsai)
1 [C] a small tree that is grown in a pot and prevented from reaching its normal size
2 [U] the Japanese art of growing bonsai

bonsella NAmE noun (SAfrE, informal) something that you receive as a present or reward, especially money

bonus NAmE noun (pl. -es)
1 an extra amount of money that is added to a payment, especially to sb's wages as a reward: a £100 Christmas bonus productivity bonuses What is actually paid will depend on the bonus payments made at the end of the policy.
2 anything pleasant that is extra and more or better than you were expecting: Being able to walk to work is an added bonus of the new job. As a bonus, club members can get free tickets for all the family. One of the great bonuses of retirement is having time to spare.see also NO-CLAIMS BONUS

bon vivant NAmE (also bon viveur ) noun (from French) a person who enjoys going out with friends and eating good food, drinking good wine, etc.

bon voyage NAmE exclamation (from French) said to sb who is leaving on a journey, to wish them a good journey

bony NAmE adj.
1 (of a person or part of the body) very thin so that the bones can be seen under the skin: a bony hand a tall bony man
2 (of fish) full of small bones
3 consisting of or like bone

bonze NAmE noun a Japanese or Chinese Buddhist MONK

bonzer NAmE adj. (AustralE, NZE, informal) excellent

boo exclamation, noun, verb
exclamation, noun
1 a sound that people make to show that they do not like an actor, speaker, etc.: 'Boo!' they shouted, 'Get off!'. The speech was greeted with loud boos from the audience.
2 people shout Boo! when they want to surprise or frighten sb see SAY v.
verb to show that you do not like a person, performance, idea, etc. by shouting 'boo': [V] The audience booed as she started her speech. [VN] He was booed off the stage.

boob noun, verb
noun
1 (slang) a woman's breast
2 (BrE, informal) a stupid mistake: I made a bit of a boob throwing that file away.
3 (NAmE) a stupid person
verb [V] (informal) to make a stupid mistake

boo-boo noun
1 (informal) a stupid mistake: I think I've made a boo-boo.
2 (NAmE) a child's word for a small cut or injury: Do you want me to kiss your boo-boo?

boob tube noun
1 (BrE, informal) (NAmE tube top) a piece of women's clothing that is made of cloth that stretches and covers the chest
2 (NAmE, informal, disapproving) the television: The kids spend too much time in front of the boob tube.

booby noun (pl. -ies)
1 (informal) a stupid person: Don't be such a booby!
2 [usually pl.] (informal) a word for a woman's breast, used especially by children
3 a large tropical bird with brightly coloured feet that lives near the sea

booby prize noun a prize that is given as a joke to the person who is last in a competition

booby trap noun
1 a hidden bomb that explodes when the object that it is connected to is touched: Nobody went near the abandoned car in case it was a booby trap. a booby-trap device containing two kilos of explosives
2 a hidden device that is meant as a joke to surprise sb, for example an object placed above a door so that it will fall on the first person who opens the door

booby-trap verb (-pp-) [VN] to place a booby trap in or on sth

boofhead noun (AustralE, informal) a stupid person

booger noun (NAmE) = BOGEY (2)

boogeyman noun (NAmE) = BOGEYMAN

boogie NAmE noun, verb
noun (also boogie-woogie NAmE ) [U] a type of blues music played on the piano, with a fast strong rhythm
verb [V] (informal) to dance to fast pop music

boogie board noun a small board used for riding on waves in a lying position

boohoo exclamation used in written English to show the sound of sb crying

book noun, verb
noun
PRINTED WORK
1 [C] a set of printed pages that are fastened inside a cover so that you can turn them and read them: a pile of books hardback/paperback books
2 [C] a written work published in printed or electronic form: a book by Stephen King a book about/on wildlife reference/children's/library books
FOR WRITING IN
3 [C] a set of sheets of paper that are fastened together inside a cover and used for writing in: an exercise book a notebooksee also ADDRESS BOOK
OF STAMPS/TICKETS/MATCHES, etc.
4 [C] a set of things that are fastened together like a book: a book of stamps/tickets/matches a chequebook
ACCOUNTS
5 books [pl.] the written records of the financial affairs of a business ACCOUNTS: to do the books (= to check the accounts) You need to go over the books again; there's a mistake somewhere.
SECTION OF BIBLE, etc.
6 [C] a section of a large written work: the books of the Bible
FOR BETTING
7 [C] (BrE) a record of bets made on whether sth will happen, sb will win a race, etc.: They've opened a book on who'll win the Championship.
be in sb's good/bad books (informal) used to say that sb is pleased/annoyed with you: I'm in her good books at the moment because I cleared up the kitchen.
bring sb to book (for sth) (formal, especially BrE) to punish sb for doing sth wrong and make them explain their behaviour: We will ensure that people who commit fraud are brought to book through the courts.
by the book following rules and instructions in a very strict way: She always does everything by the book.
in my book (informal) used when you are giving your opinion: That's cheating in my book.
(be) on sb's books (to be) on an organization's list, for example of people who are available for a particular type of work: We have very few nurses on our books at the moment. Most of the houses on our books are in the north of the city.
throw the book at sb (informal) to punish sb who has committed an offence as severely as possible: 'Get this man down to the station and throw the book at him!' yelled Curtis.more at CLOSE^1 v., CLOSED, COOK v., HISTORY, JUDGE v., LEAF n., OPEN adj., READ v., SUIT v., TRICK n.
verb
1 (especially BrE) to arrange with a hotel, restaurant, theatre, etc. to have a room, table, seat, etc. on a particular date: [V] Book early to avoid disappointment. [VN] I'd like to book a table for two for 8 o'clock tonight. The performance is booked up (= there are no more tickets available). I'm sorrywe're fully booked.compare RESERVE
2 [VN] to arrange for sb to have a seat on a plane, etc.: I've booked you on the 10 o'clock flight.
3 [VN] to arrange for a singer, etc. to perform on a particular date: We've booked a band for the wedding reception.
4 [VN] (informal) to write down sb's name and address because they have committed a crime or an offence: He was booked for possession of cocaine.
5 [VN] (BrE, informal) (of a REFEREE) to write down in an official book the name of a player who has broken the rules of the game
book in/into sth (BrE) to arrive at a hotel, etc. and arrange to stay there: I got in at ten and booked straight into a hotel.
book sb in/into sth to arrange for sb to have a room at a hotel, etc.: I've booked you in at the Sheraton for the night.

bookable adj.
1 tickets, etc. that are bookable can be ordered in advance: All seats are bookable by phone.
2 (BrE) if an offence in football (SOCCER) is bookable, the name of the player responsible is written down in a book by the REFEREE as a punishment
3 (NAmE) if a crime is a bookable offence, the person responsible can be arrested

bookbinder noun a person whose job is fastening the pages of books together and putting covers on them
bookbinding noun [U]

bookcase noun a piece of furniture with shelves for keeping books on

book club noun
1 an organization that sells books cheaply to its members
2 = BOOK GROUP

bookend noun [usually pl.] one of a pair of objects used to keep a row of books standing up

book group (also book club, reading group) noun a group of people who meet together regularly to discuss a book they have all read

bookie noun (informal) = BOOKMAKER

booking noun
1 [C, U] (especially BrE) an arrangement that you make in advance to buy a ticket to travel somewhere, go to the theatre, etc.: a booking form/hall/clerk Can I make a booking for Friday? Early booking is recommended. No advance booking is necessary. We can't take any more bookings.compare RESERVATION
2 [C] an arrangement for sb to perform at a theatre, in a concert, etc.
3 [C] (BrE) (in football (SOCCER)) an act of the REFEREE writing a player's name in a book, as a punishment because an offence has been committed

booking office noun (BrE) a place where you can buy tickets, at a train or bus station or at a theatre

bookish adj. (often disapproving) interested in reading and studying, rather than in more active or practical things: He was more bookish and intellectual than many of his fellow students.

bookkeeper noun a person whose job is to keep an accurate record of the accounts of a business
bookkeeping noun [U]

book learning noun [U] knowledge from books or study rather than from experience

booklet noun a small thin book with a paper cover that contains information about a particular subject

bookmaker (also informal bookie) (also BrE formal turf accountant) noun a person whose job is to take bets on the result of horse races, etc. and pay out money to people who win
bookmaking noun [U]

bookmark NAmE noun
1 a strip of paper, etc. that you put between the pages of a book when you finish reading so that you can easily find the place again
2 (computing) a record of the address of a file, a page on the Internet, etc. that enables you to find it quickly
bookmark verb: [VN] Do you want to bookmark this site?

bookmobile noun (NAmE) = MOBILE LIBRARY

bookplate noun a decorative piece of paper that is stuck in a book to show the name of the person who owns it

bookseller noun a person whose job is selling books

bookshelf noun (pl. bookshelves ) a shelf that you keep books on

bookshop NAmE (especially BrE) (NAmE usually bookstore ) noun a shop/store that sells books

bookstall (especially BrE) (NAmE usually news-stand) noun a small shop/store that is open at the front, where you can buy books, newspapers or magazines, for example at a station or an airport

book token noun (BrE) a card, usually given as a gift, that you can exchange for books of a particular value: a £10 book token

bookworm NAmE noun a person who likes reading very much

Boolean adj. (mathematics, computing) connected with a system, used especially in COMPUTING and ELECTRONICS, that uses only the numbers 1 (to show sth is true) and 0 (to show sth is false)

Boolean operator noun (computing) a symbol or word such as 'or' or 'and', used in computer programs and searches to show what is or is not included

boom noun, verb
noun
IN BUSINESS/ECONOMY
1 ~ (in sth) a sudden increase in trade and economic activity; a period of wealth and success: a boom in car sales Living standards improved rapidly during the post-war boom. a boom year (for trade, exports, etc.) a property/housing boom a chaotic period of boom and bustcompare SLUMPsee also BABY BOOM
POPULAR PERIOD
2 [usually sing.] a period when sth such as a sport or a type of music suddenly becomes very popular and successful: The only way to satisfy the golf boom was to build more courses.
ON BOAT
3 a long pole that the bottom of a sail is attached to and that you move to change the position of the sail
SOUND
4 [usually sing.] a loud deep sound: the distant boom of the gunssee also SONIC BOOM
IN RIVER/HARBOUR
5 a floating barrier that is placed across a river or the entrance to a HARBOUR to prevent ships or other objects from coming in or going out
FOR MICROPHONE
6 a long pole that carries a MICROPHONE or other equipment
verb
MAKE LOUD SOUND
1 [V] to make a loud deep sound: Outside, thunder boomed and crashed.
2 ~ (out) to say sth in a loud deep voice: [V speech] 'Get out of my sight!' he boomed. [V] A voice boomed out from the darkness. He had a booming voice.
OF BUSINESS/ECONOMY
3 [V] to have a period of rapid growth; to become bigger, more successful, etc.: By the 1980s, the computer industry was booming. Business is booming!

boom box noun (especially NAmE) = GHETTO BLASTER

boomer noun
1 (NAmE) = BABY BOOMER
2 a large male KANGAROO

boomerang noun, verb
noun a curved flat piece of wood that you throw and that can fly in a circle and come back to you. Boomerangs were first used by Australian Aborigines as weapons when they were hunting: (figurative) The plan had a boomerang effect (= caused unexpected harm to the person responsible for it).
verb [V] if a plan boomerangs on sb, it hurts them instead of the person it was intended to hurt BACKFIRE

boomerang kid (also boomerang child) noun (informal) an adult child who returns home to live with his or her parents after being away for some time: With the country in tough economic times, more young American adults, over age 18, are returning to the family nest. Some boomerang kids may come and go for years, if not decades. Historically, the number of boomerang kids rises when the economy turns sour. The average boomerang child surveyed was 22 years old and had been away from home an average of two years.

boom town noun a town that has become rich and successful because trade and industry has developed there

boon noun ~ (to/for sb) something that is very helpful and makes life easier for you: The new software will prove a boon to Internet users.

boon companion noun (literary) a very good friend

boondocks NAmE (also boonies) noun [pl.] (NAmE, informal, disapproving) an area far away from cities or towns: He lives way out in the boondocks. a high school graduate from the boondocks

boondoggle NAmE noun (NAmE, informal) a piece of work that is unnecessary and that wastes time and/or money: The road improvement scheme was a gigantic boondoggle.

boor NAmE noun (old-fashioned) a rude unpleasant person

boorish NAmE adj. (of people and their behaviour) very unpleasant and rude

boost verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 to make sth increase, or become better or more successful: to boost exports/profits The movie helped boost her screen career. to boost sb's confidence/morale Getting that job did a lot to boost his ego (= make him feel more confident).
2 (NAmE, informal, becoming old-fashioned) to steal sth
noun [usually sing.]
1 something that helps or encourages sb/sth: a great/tremendous/welcome boost The tax cuts will give a much needed boost to the economy. Winning the competition was a wonderful boost for her morale.
2 an increase in sth: a boost in car sales
3 an increase in power in an engine or a piece of electrical equipment
4 (especially NAmE) an act of pushing sb up from behind: He gave her a boost over the fence.

booster noun
1 (also booster rocket) a ROCKET that gives a SPACECRAFT extra power when it leaves the earth, or that makes a MISSILE go further
2 a device that gives extra power to a piece of electrical equipment
3 an extra small amount of a drug that is given to increase the effect of one given earlier, for example to protect you from a disease for longer: a tetanus booster
4 a thing that helps, encourages or improves sb/sth: a morale/confidence booster
5 (especially NAmE) a person who gives their support to sb/sth, especially in politics: a meeting of Republican boosters

booster seat noun a seat that you put on a car seat, or on a chair at a table, so that a small child can sit higher

boot noun, verb
noun
1 a strong shoe that covers the foot and ankle and often the lower part of the leg: (BrE) walking boots (NAmE) hiking boots a pair of black leather boots cowboy bootssee also DESERT BOOT, FOOTBALL BOOT, WELLINGTON
2 (BrE) (NAmE trunk) the space at the back of a car that you put bags, cases, etc. in: I'll put the luggage in the boot. Did you lock the boot?see also CAR BOOT SALE
3 [usually sing.] (informal) a quick hard kick: He gave the ball a tremendous boot.
4 (NAmE) = CLAMP (2)
be given the boot | get the boot (informal) to be told that you must leave your job or that a relationship you are having with sb is over: He should have been given the boot years ago.
the boot is on the other foot (BrE) (NAmE the shoe is on the other foot) used to say that a situation has changed so that sb now has power or authority over the person who used to have power or authority over them
put/stick the boot in (BrE, informal)
1 to kick sb very hard, especially when they are on the ground
2 to attack sb by criticizing them when they are in a difficult situation: I wonder if the press will put the boot in?
to boot (old-fashioned or humorous) used to add a comment to sth that you have said: He was a vegetarian, and a fussy one to boot.more at BIG adj., FILL v., LICK v., TOUGH adj.
verb
1 [VN + adv. / prep.] to kick sb/sth hard with your foot: He booted the ball clear of the goal.
2 [V, VN] ~ (sth) (up) (computing) to prepare a computer for use by loading its OPERATING SYSTEM; to be prepared in this way
3 [VN] be/get booted (NAmE, informal) if you or your car is booted, a piece of equipment is fixed to the car's wheel so that you cannot drive it away, usually because the car is illegally parkedsee also CLAMP
boot sbout (of sth) (informal) to force sb to leave a place or job THROW OUT

bootboy noun (BrE)
1 (informal) a violent young man, especially one with very short hair and big heavy boots
2 in the past, a boy employed to clean boots and shoes

boot camp noun
1 a training camp for new members of the armed forces, where they have to work hard: He had recently graduated from Marine Corps boot camp.
2 a type of prison for young criminals where there is strict discipline

boot-cut adj. [usually before noun] boot-cut trousers/pants are slightly wider at the bottom of the legs where the material goes over the feet or shoes

bootee (also bootie) noun
1 a baby's sock, worn instead of shoes: a pair of bootees
2 a woman's short boot

booth NAmE noun
1 a small confined place where you can do sth privately, for example make a telephone call, or vote: a phone booth a polling/voting boothsee also PHOTO BOOTH, TOLLBOOTH
2 a small tent or temporary structure at a market, an exhibition or a FAIRGROUND, where you can buy things, get information or watch sth: The stalls and booths were doing a brisk trade.
3 a place to sit in a restaurant which consists of two long seats with a table between them

Boot Hill noun [U] (US, informal, humorous) (in the Wild West) a place where people are buried

bootlace noun [usually pl.] a long thin piece of leather or string used to fasten boots or shoes

bootlace tie noun a tie that is as thin as a piece of string

bootleg adj., verb
adj. [only before noun] made and sold illegally: a bootleg cassette (= for example, one recorded illegally at a concert)see also PIRATE
bootleg noun: a bootleg of the concert
verb (-gg-) [VN] to make or sell goods, especially alcohol, illegally
bootlegger noun bootlegging noun [U]

bootlicker noun (informal, disapproving) a person who is too friendly to sb in authority and is always ready to do what they want
bootlicking noun [U]

bootstrap noun
pull/drag yourself up by your (own) bootstraps (informal) to improve your situation yourself, without help from other people

booty (pl. -ies) noun
1 [U] valuable things that are stolen, especially by soldiers in a time of war LOOT
2 [U] (informal) valuable things that sb wins, buys or obtains: When we got home from our day's shopping, we laid all our booty out on the floor.
3 [C] (informal, especially NAmE) the part of the body that you sit on BUTTOCKS: to shake your booty (= to dance with great energy)

bootylicious adj. (informal, especially NAmE) sexually attractive: bootylicious babes

booze noun, verb
noun [U] (informal) alcoholic drink: Now he's off the booze (= he has given up drinking alcohol), he's a different person.
verb [V] (informal) (usually used in the progressive tenses) to drink alcohol, especially in large quantities: He's out boozing with his mates.

boozer noun (informal)
1 (BrE) a pub
2 a person who drinks a lot of alcohol

booze-up noun (BrE, informal) an occasion when people drink a lot of alcohol

boozy adj. (informal) liking to drink a lot of alcohol; involving a lot of alcoholic drink: one of my boozy friends a boozy lunch

bop NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] (BrE, informal) a dance to pop music; a social event at which people dance to pop music: Fancy a bop? There's a bop on in the village hall tonight.
2 [U] = BEBOP
verb (-pp-)
1 [V] (BrE, informal) to dance to pop music
2 [VN] to hit sb lightly

borage NAmE noun [U] a Mediterranean plant with blue flowers that are shaped like stars, and leaves covered with small hairs. Borage leaves are eaten raw as a salad vegetable.

borax noun [U] a white mineral, usually in powder form, used in making glass and as an ANTISEPTIC (= a substance that helps to prevent infection in wounds)

Bordeaux NAmE noun (pl. Bordeaux) [U, C] a red or white wine from the Bordeaux area of France. There are several types of Bordeaux.compare CLARET

bordelaise NAmE adj. (from French) cooked with red wine and onions

bordello NAmE noun (pl. -os) (especially NAmE) = BROTHEL

border NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 the line that divides two countries or areas; the land near this line: a national park on the border between Kenya and Tanzania Denmark's border with Germany in the US, near the Canadian border Nevada's northern border to cross the border to flee across/over the border border guards/controls a border dispute/incident a border town/state (figurative) It is difficult to define the border between love and friendship.
2 a strip around the edge of sth such as a picture or a piece of cloth: a pillowcase with a lace border
3 (in a garden) a strip of soil which is planted with flowers, along the edge of the grass: herbaceous borders
verb [VN]
1 (of a country or an area) to share a border with another country or area: the countries bordering the Baltic
2 to form a line along or around the edge of sth: Meadows bordered the path to the woods. The large garden is bordered by a stream.
border on sth
1 to come very close to being sth, especially a strong or unpleasant emotion or quality: She felt an anxiety bordering on hysteria.
2 to be next to sth: areas bordering on the Black Sea

SYNONYMS

border

boundary line frontier

These are all words for a line that marks the edge of sth and separates it from other areas or things.

border the line that separates two countries or areas; the land near this line: a national park on the border between Kenya and Tanzania

boundary a line that marks the edges of an area of land and separates it from other areas: The fence marked the boundary between my property and hers.

line an imaginary boundary between one area of land and another; a line on a map that shows this: lines of longitude and latitude

frontier (BrE) the line that separates two countries or areas; the land near this line: The river formed the frontier between the land of the Saxons and that of the Danes.

WHICH WORD?

The point where you cross from one country to another is usually called the border. In British English it can also be called the frontier, but this is often in a context of wildness, danger and uncertainty: The rebels control the frontier and the surrounding area. The line on a map that shows the border of a country can be called the boundary but 'boundary' is not used when you cross from one country to another: After the war the national boundaries were redrawn. Thousands of immigrants cross the boundary every day. Boundary is used for the borders between counties in Britain, both on the map and on the ground: We crossed the county boundary into Devon. States and counties in the US are separated by lines but 'line' is not used for national borders: crossing state/county lines national lines. Boundary can also be a physical line between two places, for example between property belonging to two different people, marked by a fence or wall: the boundary fence/wall between the properties

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

across/along/on/over a/the border/boundary/line/frontier

at the boundary/frontier

the border/boundary/frontier with a place

the northern/southern/eastern/western border/boundary/line/frontier

a national/common/disputed border/boundary/frontier

a county boundary/line

to share a border/boundary/frontier

a border/boundary/frontier dispute

a border/frontier crossing/post/area/town

Border collie noun a medium-sized black and white dog, often used as a SHEEPDOG

borderland NAmE noun
1 [C] an area of land close to a border between two countries
2 [sing.] an area between two qualities, ideas or subjects that has features of both but is not clearly one or the other: the murky borderland between history and myth

borderline NAmE adj., noun
adj. not clearly belonging to a particular condition or group; not clearly acceptable: In borderline cases teachers will take the final decision, based on the student's previous work. a borderline pass/fail in an exam
noun the division between two qualities or conditions: This biography sometimes crosses the borderline between fact and fiction.

bore verb, nounsee also BEAR, BORE, BORNE v.
verb
1 [VN] to make sb feel bored, especially by talking too much: I'm not boring you, am I? Has he been boring you with his stories about his trip?
2 ~ (into/through sth) to make a long deep hole with a tool or by digging: [V] The drill is strong enough to bore through solid rock. [VN] to bore a hole in sth
3 [V] ~ into sb/sth (of eyes) to stare in a way that makes sb feel uncomfortable: His blue eyes seemed to bore into her.
noun
1 [C] a person who is very boring, usually because they talk too much
2 [sing.] a situation or thing that is boring or that annoys you: It's such a bore having to stay late this evening.
3 [C] (also gauge especially in NAmE) the hollow inside of a tube, such as a pipe or a gun; the width of the hole: a tube with a wide/narrow bore a twelve-bore shotgun
4 [C] a strong, high wave that rushes along a river from the sea at particular times of the year
5 [C] (also borehole) a deep hole made in the ground, especially to find water or oil see CRASH v.

bored NAmE adj. ~ (with sb/sth)| ~ (with doing sth) feeling tired and impatient because you have lost interest in sb/sth or because you have nothing to do: The children quickly got bored with staying indoors. There was a bored expression on her face.
bored stiff | bored to death/tears | bored out of your mind extremely boredmore at WITLESS

boredom NAmE noun [U] the state of feeling bored; the quality of being very boring: I started to eat too much out of sheer boredom. Television helps to relieve the boredom of the long winter evenings. I noticed her short attention span and low boredom threshold (= she got bored very quickly).

borehole NAmE noun = BORE (5)

borewell NAmE noun (IndE) a pipe that is put into a hole that has been BORED in the ground, and used with a PUMP in order to get water from under the ground

boric acid noun [U] (chemistry) (symb B(OH)3) a chemical formed from BORAX, used in making glass and as an ANTISEPTIC (= a substance that helps to prevent infection in wounds)

boring adj. not interesting; making you feel tired and impatient: a boring man a boring job/book/evening
boringly adv.: boringly normal

SYNONYMS

boring

dull tedious uninteresting dry

These words all describe a subject, activity, person or place that is not interesting or exciting.

boring not interesting; making you feel tired and impatient: He's such a boring man! She found her job very boring.

dull not interesting or exciting: Life in a small town could be deadly dull.

tedious lasting or taking too long and not interesting, so that you feel bored and impatient: The journey soon became tedious.

uninteresting not attracting your interest or attention: The food was dull and uninteresting.

dry boring because it lacks human interest: Government reports tend to make dry reading.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to be boring/dull/tedious/uninteresting for sb

to find/make sb/sth boring/dull/tedious/uninteresting/dry

to get/become boring/dull/tedious

boring/dull/tedious/uninteresting/dry subjects/books

boring/dull/tedious/uninteresting jobs/work/games

a boring/dull/uninteresting place

a boring/dull man/woman/person

very/extremely/rather/pretty boring/dull/tedious/uninteresting/dry

slightly/a bit boring/dull/tedious/dry

deadly boring/dull

borlotti bean NAmE noun a type of BEAN with pink skin that changes to brown when cooked

born NAmE verb, adj.
verbbe born (used only in the passive, without by)
1 (abbr. b.) to come out of your mother's body at the beginning of your life: [VN] I was born in 1976. He was born in a small village in northern Spain. She was born into a very musical family. He was born of/to German parents. She was born with a weak heart. [VN-ADJ] Her brother was born blind (= was blind when he was born). [VN-N] John Wayne was born Marion Michael Morrison (= that was his name at birth).
2 [VN] (of an idea, an organization, a feeling, etc.) to start to exist: the city where the protest movement was born She acted with a courage born (out) of desperation.
3 -born (in compounds) born in the order, way, place, etc. mentioned: firstborn nobly-born French-bornsee also NEWBORN
be born to be/do sth to have sth as your DESTINY (= what is certain to happen to you) from birth: He was born to be a great composer.
born and bred born and having grown up in a particular place with a particular background and education: He was born and bred in Boston. I'm a Londoner, born and bred.
born with a silver spoon in your mouth (saying) having rich parents
in all my born days (old-fashioned, informal) used when you are very surprised at sth you have never heard or seen before: I've never heard such nonsense in all my born days.
not be born yesterday (informal) used to say that you are not stupid enough to believe what sb is telling you: Oh yeah? I wasn't born yesterday, you know.
there's one born every minute (saying) used to say that sb is very stupidmore at KNOW v., MANNER, WAY n.
adj. [only before noun] having a natural ability or skill for a particular activity or job: a born athlete/writer/leader a born loser (= a person who always loses or is unsuccessful)

born-again adj. [usually before noun] having come to have a strong belief in a particular religion (especially EVANGELICAL Christianity) or idea, and wanting other people to have the same belief: a born-again Christian a born-again vegetarian

borne NAmE
1 pp of BEAR
2 -borne (in adjectives) carried by: waterborne diseases

boron NAmE noun [U] (symb B) a chemical element. Boron is a solid substance used in making steel ALLOYS and parts for nuclear REACTORS.

borough NAmE noun a town or part of a city that has its own local government: the London borough of Westminster The Bronx is one of the five boroughs of New York. a borough council

borrow NAmE verb
1 [VN] ~ sth (from sb/sth) to take and use sth that belongs to sb else, and return it to them at a later time: Can I borrow your umbrella? Members can borrow up to ten books from the library at any one time.compare LEND
2 ~ (sth) (from sb/sth) to take money from a person or bank and agree to pay it back to them at a later time: [VN] How much did you have to borrow to pay for this? She borrowed £2 000 from her parents. [V] I don't like to borrow from friends.compare LEND
3 ~ (sth) (from sb/sth) to take words, ideas, etc. from another language, person, etc. and use them, as your own: [V] The author borrows heavily from Henry James. [VN] Some musical terms are borrowed from Italian.
be (living) on borrowed time
1 to still be alive after the time when you were expected to die: He's been living on borrowed time ever since his last heart attack.
2 to be doing sth that other people are likely to soon stop you from doing: According to the latest opinion polls, the government is living on borrowed time.

WHICH WORD?

borrow / lend

These two words are often confused. You borrow something from someone else, while they lend it to you: Can I borrow your pen?Can I borrow a pen from you?Here, I'll lend you my pen.

borrower NAmE noun a person or an organization that borrows money, especially from a bank: The interest rate was raised for borrowers.compare LENDER

borrowing NAmE noun
1 [C, U] the money that a company, an organization or a person borrows; the act of borrowing money: an attempt to reduce bank borrowings High interest rates help to keep borrowing down.
2 [C] a word, a phrase or an idea that sb has taken from another person's work or from another language and used in their own

borscht NAmE (BrE also borsch NAmE ) noun [U] a Russian or Polish soup made from BEETROOT (= a dark red root vegetable)

borstal NAmE noun [C, U] (in Britain in the past) a type of prison for young criminalssee also YOUTH CUSTODY

borzoi NAmE noun a large Russian dog with soft white hair

bosberaad noun (SAfrE) a meeting of business leaders, politicians, etc. at a place that is a long way from a town, in order to discuss important matters

bosom noun
1 [C] a woman's chest or breasts: her ample bosom She pressed him to her bosom.
2 [C] the part of a piece of clothing that covers a woman's bosom: a rose pinned to her bosom
3 the ~ of sth [sing.] a situation in which you are with people who love and protect you: to live in the bosom of your family They were welcomed into the bosom of the Church.

bosom friend (NAmE also bosom buddy) noun a very close friend: The two girls had become bosom friends.

bosomy adj. (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) (of a woman) having large breasts

boss NAmE noun, verb, adj.
noun
1 a person who is in charge of other people at work and tells them what to do: I'll ask my boss if I can have the day off. I like being my own boss (= working for myself and making my own decisions). Who's the boss (= who's in control) in this house?
2 (informal) a person who is in charge of a large organization: the new boss at IBM Hospital bosses protested at the decision. see SHOW v.
verb [VN] ~ sb (about/around) to tell sb what to do in an aggressive and/or annoying way: I'm sick of you bossing me around!
adj. (slang) very good: She's a real boss chick.

bossa nova NAmE noun [U, C] a Brazilian dance; a piece of music for this dance

bossy NAmE adj. (disapproving) always telling people what to do
bossily adv. bossiness noun [U]

bossyboots NAmE noun (pl. bossyboots) (informal, disapproving) a person who always tells people what they should do

Boston baked beans noun [pl.] (NAmE) = BAKED BEANS

bosun (also bo'sun, boatswain) NAmE noun an officer on a ship whose job is to take care of the equipment and the people who work on the ship

bot NAmE noun (computing) a computer program that performs a particular task again and again many times

botanical adj. connected with the science of botany

botanical garden (also botanic garden) noun [usually pl.] a park where plants, trees and flowers are grown for scientific study

botanist NAmE noun a scientist who studies botany

botany NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of plants and their structurecompare BIOLOGY, ZOOLOGY

botch NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN] ~ sth (up) (informal) to spoil sth by doing it badly: He completely botched up the interview. The work they did on the house was a botched job.
noun (also botch-up) (BrE, informal) a piece of work or a job that has been done badly: I've made a real botch of the decorating.

both NAmE det., pron.
1 used with plural nouns to mean 'the two' or 'the one as well as the other': Both women were French. Both the women were French. Both of the women were French. I talked to the women. Both of them were French/They were both French. I liked them both. We were both tired. Both of us were tired. We have both seen the movie. I have two sisters. Both of them live in London/They both live in London. Both (my) sisters live in London.
2 both ... and ... not only ... but also ...: Both his mother and his father will be there. For this job you will need a good knowledge of both Italian and Spanish.

bother NAmE verb, noun, exclamation
verb
1 (often used in negative sentences and questions) ~ (with/about sth) to spend time and/or energy doing sth: [V] He doesn't bother much about his appearance. 'Shall I wait?' 'No, don't bother'. It's not worth bothering with (= using) an umbrellathe car's just outside. I don't know why I bother! Nobody ever listens! If that's all the thanks I get, I won't bother in future! I don't know why you bother with that crowd (= why you spend time with them). [V to inf] He didn't even bother to let me know he was coming. [V -ing] Why bother asking if you're not really interested?
2 ~ sb (about/with sth) to annoy, worry or upset sb; to cause sb trouble or pain: [VN] The thing that bothers me is ... You don't sound too bothered about it. I don't want to bother her with my problems at the moment. That sprained ankle is still bothering her (= hurting). 'I'm sorry he was so rude to you.' 'It doesn't bother me.' [VN that] Does it bother you that she earns more than you? [VN to inf] It bothers me to think of her alone in that big house.
3 [VN] to interrupt sb; to talk to sb when they do not want to talk to you: Stop bothering me when I'm working. Let me know if he bothers you again. Sorry to bother you, but there's a call for you on line two.
be bothered (about sb/sth) (especially BrE) to think that sb/sth is important: I'm not bothered about what he thinks. 'Where shall we eat?' 'I'm not bothered.' (= I don't mind where we go).
can't be bothered (to do sth) used to say that you do not want to spend time and/or energy doing sth: I should really do some work this weekend but I can't be bothered. All this has happened because you couldn't be bothered to give me the message.
not bother yourself/your head with/about sth (especially BrE) to not spend time/effort on sth, because it is not important or you are not interested in itmore at HOT adj.
noun
1 [U] trouble or difficulty: You seem to have got yourself into a spot of bother. I don't want to put you to any bother (= cause you any trouble). Don't go to the bother of tidying up on my account (= don't make the effort to do it). 'Thanks for your help!' 'It was no bother.' Call them and save yourself the bother of going round. I don't mind looking after the children; they aren't any bother. She's been having a bit of bother with her car.
2 a bother [sing.] (BrE) an annoying situation, thing or person NUISANCE: I hope I haven't been a bother.
exclamation (BrE) used to express the fact that you are annoyed about sth/sb: Bother! I've left my wallet at home. Oh, bother him! He's never around when you need him.

botheration NAmE exclamation (old-fashioned) a word that people use to show that they are annoyed

bothersome NAmE adj. (old-fashioned) causing trouble or difficulty ANNOYING

bothy NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a small building in Scotland for farm workers to live in or for people to shelter in

BotoxTM NAmE noun [U] a substance that makes muscles relax. It is sometimes INJECTED into the skin around sb's eyes to remove lines and make the skin look younger.
Botox verb [VN] [usually passive]: Do you think she's been Botoxed?

bottle NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a glass or plastic container, usually round with straight sides and a narrow neck, used especially for storing liquids: a wine/beer/milk bottle Put the top back on the bottle.
2 [C] (also bottleful ) the amount contained in a bottle: He drank a whole bottle of wine.
3 the bottle [sing.] (informal) alcoholic drink: After his wife died, he really hit the bottle (= started drinking heavily).
4 [C, usually sing.] a bottle used to give milk to a baby; the milk from such a bottle (used instead of mother's milk): It's time for her bottle.
5 [U] (BrE, informal) courage or confidence, for example to do sth that is dangerous or unpleasant NERVE: It took a lot of bottle to do that. I didn't think she'd have the bottle to ask him.
verb [VN]
1 to put a liquid into a bottle: The wines are bottled after three years.
2 to put fruit or vegetables into glass containers in order to preserve them: Keep your empty jam jars for bottling next year's fruit.
bottled adj.: bottled beer/water/pickles bottled gas (= sold in metal containers for use in heating and cooking)
bottle it (BrE, informal) to not do sth, or not finish sth, because you are frightened
bottle out (of sth/doing sth) (BrE, informal) to not do sth that you had intended to do because you are too frightened
bottle sthup to not allow other people to see that you are unhappy, angry, etc., especially when this happens over a long period of time: Try not to bottle up your emotions.

bottle bank noun (BrE) a large container in a public place where people can leave their empty bottles so that the glass can be used again (= RECYCLED); a public place with several of these containers

bottle blonde (also bottle blond) adj. (disapproving) (of hair) artificially coloured blonde
bottle blonde noun

bottle-feed verb [VN, V] to feed a baby with artificial milk from a bottlecompare BREASTFEED

bottle-green adj. (especially BrE) dark green in colour: a bottle-green coat
bottle green noun [U]

bottleneck NAmE noun
1 a narrow or busy section of road where the traffic often gets slower and stops: He drove around the outside of the town to avoid the bottleneck in the centre. a traffic bottleneck
2 anything that delays development or progress, particularly in business or industry: to create/eliminate bottlenecks in the manufacturing process

bottle-opener noun a small tool for opening bottles with metal tops, for example beer bottles

bottle party noun (BrE) a party to which the people who have been invited are asked to bring a bottle, usually of wine

bottle store (also bottle shop) noun (AustralE, NZE, SAfrE) a shop/store that sells a variety of alcoholic drinks in bottles, cans, etc. to take away compare OFF-LICENCE

bottom NAmE noun, adj., verb
noun
LOWEST PART
1 [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sth) the lowest part of sth: Footnotes are given at the bottom of each page. The wind blew through gaps at the top and bottom of the door. I waited for them at the bottom of the hill. The book I want is right at the bottom (= of the pile). TOP: farmers who lived in the valley bottoms
2 [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sth) the part of sth that faces downwards and is not usually seen: The manufacturer's name is on the bottom of the plate.
OF CONTAINER
3 [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sth) the lowest surface on the inside of a container: I found some coins at the bottom of my bag. Allow the tea leaves to settle to the bottom of the cup.
OF RIVER/POOL
4 [sing.] the ground below the water in a lake, river, swimming pool, etc.: He dived in and hit his head on the bottom. I feel safe as long as I can touch the bottom.
END OF STH
5 the ~ (of sth) [sing.] (especially BrE) the part of sth that is furthest from you, your house, etc.: I went to the school at the bottom of our street. There was a stream at the bottom of the garden.
LOWEST POSITION
6 ~ (of sth) [sing.] the lowest position in a class, on a list, etc.; a person, team, etc. that is in this position: a battle between the teams at the bottom of the league You have to be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up. I was always bottom of the class in math. TOP
PART OF BODY
7 [C] (especially BrE) the part of the body that you sit on BACKSIDE, BEHIND
CLOTHING
8 [C, usually pl.] the lower part of a set of clothes that consists of two pieces: a bikini bottom a pair of pyjama/tracksuit bottomscompare TOP
OF SHIP
9 [C] the lower part of a ship that is below the surface of the water HULL
-BOTTOMED
10 (in adjectives) having the type of bottom mentioned: a flat-bottomed boat
at bottom used to say what sb/sth is really like: Their offer to help was at bottom self-centred.
be/lie at the bottom of sth to be the original cause of sth, especially sth unpleasant: We need to find out what lies at the bottom of these fears.
the bottom drops/falls out (of sth) people stop buying or using the products of a particular industry: The bottom has fallen out of the travel market.
bottoms up! (informal) used to express good wishes when drinking alcohol, or to tell sb to finish their drink
get to the bottom of sth to find out the real cause of sth, especially sth unpleasant: I won't rest until I've got to the bottom of this!more at HEAP n., HEART, PILE n., SCRAPE v., TOP n., TOUCH v.
adj. [only before noun] in the lowest, last or furthest place or position: the bottom line (on a page) your bottom lip the bottom step (of a flight of stairs) on the bottom shelf Put your clothes in the bottom drawer. Their house is at the bottom end of Bury Road (= the end furthest from where you enter the road). in the bottom right-hand corner of the page the bottom end of the price range to go up a hill in bottom gear We came bottom (= got the worst result) with 12 points. see BET v.see also ROCK-BOTTOM
verb
bottom out (of prices, a bad situation, etc.) to stop getting worse: The recession is finally beginning to show signs of bottoming out.

SYNONYMS

bottom

base foundation foot

These are all words for the lowest part of sth.

bottom [usually sing.] the lowest part of sth: Footnotes are given at the bottom of each page. I waited for them at the bottom of the hill.

base [usually sing.] the lowest part of sth, especially the part or surface on which it rests or stands: The lamp has a heavy base.

foundation [usually pl.] a layer of bricks, concrete, etc. that forms the solid underground base of a building: to lay the foundations of the new school

foot [sing.] the lowest part of sth: At the foot of the stairs she turned to face him.

BOTTOM OR FOOT?

Foot is used to talk about a limited number of things: it is used most often with tree, hill/mountain, steps/stairs and page. Bottom can be used to talk about a much wider range of things, including those mentioned above for foot. Foot is generally used in more literary contexts.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

at/near/towards the bottom/base/foot of sth

on the bottom/base of sth

(a) firm/solid/strong base/foundation(s)

bottom drawer noun (BrE) items for the house collected by a woman, especially in the past, in preparation for her marriage (and often kept in a drawer)compare HOPE CHEST

bottom feeder noun
1 (NAmE, informal) a person who earns money by taking advantage of bad things that happen to other people or by using things that other people throw away
2 a fish that feeds at the bottom of a river, lake or the sea

bottomless NAmE adj. (formal) very deep; seeming to have no bottom or limit: a bottomless abyss
a bottomless pit (of sth) a thing or situation which seems to have no limits or seems never to end: There isn't a bottomless pit of money for public spending. the bottomless pit of his sorrow

bottom line noun [sing.]
1 the bottom line the most important thing that you have to consider or accept; the essential point in a discussion, etc.: The bottom line is that we have to make a decision today.
2 (business) the amount of money that is a profit or a loss after everything has been calculated: The bottom line for 2004 was a pre-tax profit of £85 million. Sales last month failed to add to the company's bottom line.
3 the lowest price that sb will accept: Two thousandand that's my bottom line!

bottom-up adj. (of a plan, project, etc.) starting with details and then later moving on to more general principles: a bottom-up approach to tackling the problemcompare TOP-DOWN

botulin NAmE noun [U] the poisonous substance in the bacteria that cause BOTULISM

botulism NAmE noun [U] a serious illness caused by bacteria in badly preserved food

bouclé noun [U] wool which has small twists in it which look like knots; cloth made from this wool

boudoir noun (old-fashioned) a woman's small private room or bedroom

bouffant NAmE adj. (of a person's hair) in a style that raises it up and back from the head in a high round shape: a bouffant hairdo

bougainvillea (also bougainvillaea) noun a tropical climbing plant with red, purple, white or pink flowers

bough noun (formal or literary) a large branch of a tree

bought pt, pp of BUY

bouillabaisse noun [U] (from French) a spicy fish soup from the south of France

bouillon NAmE noun [U, C] a liquid made by boiling meat or vegetables in water, used for making clear soups or sauces

boulder NAmE noun a very large rock which has been shaped by water or the weather: huge granite boulders underneath the cliff fallen rocks and boulders

bouldering NAmE noun [U] the sport or activity of climbing on large rocks

boule (also boules) noun [U] a French game in which players take turns to roll metal balls as near as possible to a small ball

boulevard NAmE noun
1 (BrE) a wide city street, often with trees on either side
2 (abbr. Blvd.) (NAmE) a wide main road (often used in the name of streets): Sunset Boulevard

bounce verb, noun
verb
MOVE OFF SURFACE
1 if sth bounces or you bounce it, it moves quickly away from a surface it has just hit or you make it do this: [V] The ball bounced twice before he could reach it. Short sound waves bounce off even small objects. The light bounced off the river and dazzled her. [VN] She bounced the ball against the wall.
MOVE UP AND DOWNnoun
2 [V] (of a person) to jump up and down on sth: She bounced up and down excitedly on the bed.
3 [VN] to move a child up and down while he or she is sitting on your knee in order to entertain him or her
4 to move up and down; to move sth up and down: [V] Her hair bounced as she walked. [also VN]
5 [V + adv. / prep.] to move up and down in a particular direction: The bus bounced down the hill.
MOVE WITH ENERGY
6 [V + adv. / prep.] (of a person) to move somewhere in a lively and cheerful way: He bounced across the room to greet them.
CHEQUE
7 [V, VN] (informal) if a cheque bounces, or a bank bounces it, the bank refuses to accept it because there is not enough money in the account
IDEAS
8 [VN] ~ ideas (off sb)/(around) to tell sb your ideas in order to find out what they think about them: He bounced ideas off colleagues everywhere he went.
COMPUTING
9 [V, VN] ~ (sth) (back) if an email bounces or the system bounces it, it returns to the person who sent it because the system cannot deliver it
MAKE SB LEAVE
10 [VN] (informal, especially NAmE) ~ sb (from sth) to force sb to leave a job, team, place, etc.: He was soon bounced from the post.
be bouncing off the walls (informal) to be so full of energy or so excited that you cannot keep still: The kids have been bouncing off the walls all day.
bounce back to become healthy, successful or confident again after being ill/sick or having difficulties RECOVER: He's had a lot of problems, but he always seems to bounce back pretty quickly.
bounce sb into sth (BrE) to make sb do sth without giving them enough time to think about it
noun
MOVEMENT
1 [C] the action of bouncing: one bounce of the ball (NAmE) a bounce (= increase) in popularity
2 [U] the ability to bounce or to make sth bounce: There's not much bounce left in these balls. Players complained about the uneven bounce of the tennis court.
ENERGY
3 [U, C] the energy that a person has: All her old bounce was back. There was a bounce to his step.
OF HAIR
4 [U] the quality in a person's hair that shows that it is in good condition and means that it does not lie flat: thin fine hair, lacking in bounce
on the bounce (BrE, informal) one after the other, without anything else coming between: We've won six matches on the bounce.

bouncer noun
1 a person employed to stand at the entrance to a club, pub, etc. to stop people who are not wanted from going in, and to throw out people who are causing trouble inside
2 (in CRICKET) a ball thrown very fast that rises high after it hits the ground

bouncing adj. ~ (with sth) healthy and full of energy: a bouncing baby boy

bouncy adj.
1 that bounces well or that has the ability to make sth bounce: a very bouncy ball his bouncy blond curls (BrE) a bouncy castle (= a plastic castle or other shape which is filled with air and which children can jump and play on)
2 lively and full of energy

bound adj., verb, nounsee also BIND v.
adj. [not before noun]
1 ~ to do/be sth certain or likely to happen, or to do or be sth: There are bound to be changes when the new system is introduced. It's bound to be sunny again tomorrow. You've done so much workyou're bound to pass the exam. It was bound to happen sooner or later (= we should have expected it). You're bound to be nervous the first time (= it's easy to understand). note at CERTAIN
2 ~ (by sth)| ~ (by sth) (to do sth) forced to do sth by law, duty or a particular situation: We are not bound by the decision. You are bound by the contract to pay before the end of the month. (BrE, formal) I am bound to say I disagree with you on this point. They are legally bound to appear in court.
3 (in compounds) prevented from going somewhere or from working normally by the conditions mentioned: Strike-bound travellers face long delays. fogbound airports
4 ~ (for ... ) (also in compounds) travelling, or ready to travel, in a particular direction or to a particular place: homeward bound (= going home) a plane bound for Dublin Paris-bound northbound/southbound/eastbound/westbound
be bound up in sth very busy with sth; very interested or involved in sth: He's too bound up in his work to have much time for his children.
bound and determined (NAmE) very determined to do sth: I came here bound and determined to put the last 12 months behind me.
be bound together by/in sth to be closely connected: communities bound together by customs and traditions
bound up with sth closely connected with sth: From that moment my life became inextricably bound up with hers.
I'll be bound (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) I feel sure: They're up to some mischief, I'll be bound!more at HONOUR n.
verb
1 [V + adv. / prep.] to run with long steps, especially in an enthusiastic way: The dogs bounded ahead.
2 [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to form the edge or limit of an area: The field was bounded on the left by a wood.
noun (formal) a high or long jump: The dog cleared the gate in one bound.see also BOUNDS see LEAP n.

boundary noun (pl. -ies)
1 a real or imagined line that marks the limits or edges of sth and separates it from other things or places; a dividing line: national boundaries (BrE) county boundaries boundary changes/disputes The fence marks the boundary between my property and hers. Scientists continue to push back the boundaries of human knowledge. the boundary between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour He could just see her beyond the boundary wall of the cemetery. to extend the boundaries of high art to include some popular music note at BORDER
2 (in CRICKET) a hit of the ball that crosses the boundary of the playing area and scores extra points: He hit 13 boundaries from 183 balls.

bounden adj.
a/your bounden duty (old-fashioned, formal) something that you feel you must do; a responsibility which cannot be ignored: He felt it was his bounden duty to tell the police what he knew. We have a bounden duty to respond to this call for help.

bounder noun (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a man who behaves badly and cannot be trusted

bound form (also bound morpheme) noun (linguistics) a unit of language that can only be used as part of a word, not as a word on its own, for example 'ly' in 'slowly'

boundless adj. without limits; seeming to have no end INFINITE

bounds noun [pl.] the accepted or furthest limits of sth: beyond/outside/within the bounds of decency Public spending must be kept within reasonable bounds. It was not beyond the bounds of possibility that they would meet again one day. His enthusiasm knew no bounds (= was very great).
out of bounds
1 (in some sports) outside the area of play which is allowed: His shot went out of bounds.
2 (NAmE) not reasonable or acceptable: His demands were out of bounds.
out of bounds (to/for sb) (especially BrE) if a place is out of bounds, people are not allowed to go theresee also OFF-LIMITSmore at LEAP n.

bounteous adj. (formal or literary) giving very generously: a bounteous harvest

bountiful adj. (formal or literary)
1 in large quantities; large: a bountiful supply of food
2 giving generously GENEROUS: belief in a bountiful god bountiful nature

bounty noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U, C] (literary) generous actions; sth provided in large quantities: to thank the Lord for his bounty the bounties of nature
2 [C] money given as a reward: a bounty hunter (= sb who catches criminals or kills people for a reward)

bouquet noun
1 [C] a bunch of flowers arranged in an attractive way so that it can be carried in a ceremony or presented as a gift: The little girl presented the princess with a large bouquet of flowers. a bridal/wedding bouquet She received a bouquet of red roses on Valentine's Day.
2 [C, U] the pleasant smell of a type of food or drink, especially of wine: a red wine with a full flavour and a fragrant bouquet

bouquet garni NAmE NAmE noun (pl. bouquets garnis NAmE NAmE ) (from French) a bunch of different HERBS in a small bag, used in cooking to give extra flavour to food

bourbon NAmE noun
1 [U, C] a type of American WHISKY made with CORN (MAIZE) and RYE
2 [C] a glass of bourbon

bourgeois NAmE adj.
1 belonging to the middle class: a traditional bourgeois familysee also PETIT BOURGEOIS
2 (disapproving) interested mainly in possessions and social status and supporting traditional values: bourgeois attitudes/tastes They've become very bourgeois since they got married.
3 (politics) supporting the interests of CAPITALISM: bourgeois ideology
bourgeois noun (pl. bourgeois)

bourgeoisie NAmE noun the bourgeoisie [sing.+ sing./pl. v.]
1 the middle classes in society: the rise of the bourgeoisie in the nineteenth century
2 (politics) the CAPITALIST class: the proletariat and the bourgeoisie

Bourke NAmE noun
back of Bourke (AustralE) (in) the country, a long way from the coast and towns; in the OUTBACK
From the name of the town in New South Wales.

bourse NAmE noun (from French) a STOCK EXCHANGE, especially the one in Paris

bout noun
1 ~ (of sth/of doing sth) a short period of great activity; a short period during which there is a lot of a particular thing, usually sth unpleasant: a drinking bout the latest bout of inflation Regular exercise is better than occasional bouts of strenuous activity.
2 ~ (of sth) an attack or period of illness: a severe bout of flu/coughing He suffered occasional bouts of depression. (NAmE) a bout with the flu
3 a BOXING or WRESTLING match

boutique noun a small shop/store that sells fashionable clothes or expensive gifts

boutonnière NAmE noun (NAmE) = BUTTONHOLE (2)

bouzouki noun a Greek musical instrument with strings that are played with the fingers

bovine NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 (technical) connected with cows: bovine diseases
2 (disapproving) (of a person) stupid and slow: a look of bovine surprise/stupidity

BovrilTM NAmE noun
1 [U] a dark substance formerly made from beef, now made from YEAST, used in cooking and for making drinks
2 [U, C] a hot drink made by mixing Bovril with water

bovver boots NAmE noun [pl.] (informal) strong thick boots that cover the ankles and lower part of the legs and are tied with SHOELACES

bow^1 verb, nounsee also BOW^2
verb
1 [V] ~ (down) (to/before sb/sth) to move your head or the top half of your body forwards and downwards as a sign of respect or to say hello or goodbye: He bowed low to the assembled crowd. The people all bowed down before the Emperor.
2 [VN] to move your head forwards and downwards: She bowed her head in shame. They stood in silence with their heads bowed.
3 to bend or make sth bend: [V] The pines bowed in the wind. [VN] Their backs were bowed under the weight of their packs.
bow and scrape (disapproving) to be too polite to an important person in order to gain their approval: She was beginning to tire of all their bowing and scraping.
bow down to sb/sth (disapproving) to allow sb to tell you what to do
bow out (of sth) to stop taking part in an activity, especially one in which you have been successful in the past: She has finally decided it's time to bow out of international tennis.
bow to sth to agree unwillingly to do sth because other people want you to: They finally bowed to pressure from the public. She bowed to the inevitable (= accepted a situation in which she had no choice) and resigned.
noun
1 the act of bending your head or the upper part of your body forward in order to say hello or goodbye to sb or to show respect: She gave a slight bow of her head in greeting. The messenger made a formal bow and left the room.
2 (also bows [pl.]) the front part of a boat or shipcompare STERN n.
take a/your bow (of a performer) to bow to the audience as they are APPLAUDING you: She came back on stage to take another bow.more at SHOT n.

bow^2 NAmE noun, verbsee also BOW^1
noun
1 a weapon used for shooting arrows, consisting of a long curved piece of wood with a tight string joining its ends: He was armed with a bow and arrow.
2 a knot with two LOOPS and two loose ends which is used for decoration on clothes, in hair, etc. or for tying shoes: to tie your shoelaces in a bow Her hair was tied back in a neat bow. a dress decorated with bows and ribbons
3 a long thin piece of wood with thin string stretched along it, used for playing musical instruments such as the VIOLIN see STRING n.
verb [V, VN] to use a bow to play a musical instrument that has strings

bowdlerize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] (usually disapproving) to remove the parts of a book, play, etc. that you think are likely to shock or offend people EXPURGATE
Named after Dr Thomas Bowdler, who in 1818 produced a version of Shakespeare from which he had taken out all the material which he considered not suitable for family use.

bowel noun
1 [C, usually pl.] the tube along which food passes after it has been through the stomach, especially the end where waste is collected before it is passed out of the body: (medical) to empty/move/open your bowels (= to pass solid waste out of the body) bowel cancer/cancer of the bowel
2 the bowels of sth [pl.] (literary) the part that is deepest inside sth: A rumble came from the bowels of the earth (= deep underground).

bowel movement (also movement) noun (medical) an act of emptying waste material from the bowels; the waste material that is emptied

bower noun (literary) a pleasant place in the shade under trees or climbing plants in a wood or garden/yard: a shady/leafy bower a bower of roses

bowerbird NAmE noun a bird found in Australia, the male of which decorates a place with shells, feathers, etc. to attract females

bowfin NAmE noun (pl. bowfin or bowfins) an American fish with a large head that can survive for a long time out of water

bowie knife NAmE noun a large heavy knife with a long blade, used in hunting

bowl NAmE noun, verb
noun
CONTAINER
1 [C] (especially in compounds) a deep round dish with a wide open top, used especially for holding food or liquid: a salad/fruit/sugar, etc. bowl a washing-up bowl
AMOUNT
2 [C] (also bowlful ) the amount contained in a bowl: a bowl of soup
SHAPE
3 [C] the part of some objects that is shaped like a bowl: the bowl of a spoon a toilet/lavatory bowl
THEATRE
4 [C] (especially NAmE) (in names) a large round theatre without a roof, used for concerts, etc. outdoors: the Hollywood Bowl
BALL
5 [C] a heavy wooden ball that is used in the games of BOWLS and BOWLING
GAME
6 bowls [U] (NAmE also lawn bowling) a game played on an area of very smooth grass, in which players take turns to roll bowls as near as possible to a small ball
FOOTBALL GAME
7 [C] (NAmE) (in names) a game of AMERICAN FOOTBALL played after the main season between the best teams: the Super Bowl
verb
ROLL BALL
1 [V, VN] to roll a ball in the games of bowls and BOWLING
IN CRICKET
2 [V, VN] to throw a ball to the BATSMAN (= the person who hits the ball) note at THROW
3 [VN] ~ sb (out) to make the BATSMAN have to leave the field by throwing a ball that hits the WICKET
MOVE QUICKLY
4 [V + adv. / prep.] (BrE) to move quickly in a particular direction, especially in a vehicle: Soon we were bowling along the country roads.
bowl sb over
1 to run into sb and knock them down
2 to surprise or impress sb a lot

bow legs NAmE noun [pl.] legs that curve out at the knees
bow-legged NAmE adj.

bowler NAmE noun
1 (in CRICKET) a player who throws the ball towards the BATSMAN
2 (also bowler hat) (both especially BrE) (NAmE usually derby) a hard black hat with a curved BRIM and round top, worn, for example, in the past by men in business in Britain

bowline noun a rope that attaches one side of a sail to the BOW of a boat

bowling NAmE noun [U] a game in which players roll heavy balls (called BOWLS) along a special track towards a group of PINS (= bottle-shaped objects) and try to knock over as many of them as possiblecompare BOWLS

bowling alley noun a building or part of a building where people can go bowling: The complex contains a bowling alley, pool hall and indoor tennis courts.

bowling green noun an area of grass that has been cut short on which the game of BOWLS is played

bowman NAmE noun (pl. -men ) (old-fashioned) = ARCHER

Bow Street Runner NAmE noun (BrE, informal) a police officer in London, in the past

bowstring NAmE noun the string on a BOW^2 which is pulled back to shoot arrows

bow tie NAmE noun a man's tie that is tied in the shape of a bow and that does not hang down

bow-wow noun a child's word for a dog

box NAmE noun, verb
noun
CONTAINER
1 [C] (especially in compounds) a container made of wood, cardboard, metal, etc. with a flat stiff base and sides and often a lid, used especially for holding solid things: She kept all the letters in a box. a money box cardboard boxes a toolbox a matchbox
2 [C] a box and its contents: a box of chocolates/matches
IN THEATRE/COURT
3 [C] a small area in a theatre or court separated off from where other people sit: a box at the opera the witness/jury box
SHELTER
4 [C] a small shelter used for a particular purpose: a sentry/signal box (BrE) a telephone box I called him from the phone box on the corner.
SHAPE
5 [C] a small square or RECTANGLE drawn on a page for people to write information in: Put a cross in the appropriate box. to tick/check a box
TELEVISION
6 the box [sing.] (informal, especially BrE) the television: What's on the box tonight?
ON ROAD
7 [C] (BrE) = BOX JUNCTION: Only traffic turning right may enter the box.
IN SPORT
8 [C] an area on a sports field that is marked by lines and used for a particular purpose: (BrE) He was fouled in the box (= the penalty box).
FOR MAIL
9 [C] = BOX NUMBERsee also PO BOX
PROTECTION
10 [C] (BrE) a piece of plastic that a man wears over his sex organs to protect them while he is playing a sport, especially CRICKET
TREE/WOOD
11 [C, U] a small EVERGREEN tree or bush with thick dark leaves, used especially for garden HEDGES
12 (also boxwood) [U] the hard wood of this bush
give sb a box on the ears (old-fashioned) to hit sb with your hand on the side of their head as a punishmentmore at THINK v., TICK v., TRICK n.
verb
FIGHT
1 [V, VN] to fight sb in the sport of BOXING
PUT IN CONTAINER
2 [VN] ~ sth (up) to put sth in a box
box clever (BrE, informal) to act in a clever way to get what you want, sometimes tricking sb: Suzie realized that she had to box clever. She had to let Adam think she trusted him.
box sb's ears (old-fashioned) to hit sb with your hand on the side of their head as a punishment
box sb/sth in
1 to prevent sb/sth from being able to move by surrounding them with people, vehicles, etc.: Someone had parked behind us and boxed us in.
2 [usually passive] (of a situation) to prevent sb from doing what they want by creating unnecessary problems: She felt boxed in by all their petty rules.

boxcar NAmE noun (especially NAmE) a closed coach/car on a train, with a sliding door, used for carrying goods

boxed NAmE adj. put and/or sold in a box: a boxed set of original recordings

boxer NAmE noun
1 a person who boxes, especially as a job: a professional/amateur/heavyweight boxer
2 a large dog with smooth hair, a short flat nose and a tail that has usually been cut very short

BoxerciseTM NAmE noun [U] (BrE) a form of exercise that uses movements and equipment used in BOXING

boxer shorts (also boxers) (NAmE also shorts) noun [pl.] men's UNDERPANTS similar to the SHORTS worn by boxers: a pair of boxer shorts

boxful NAmE noun a full box (of sth)

boxing NAmE noun [U] a sport in which two people fight each other with their hands, while wearing very large thick gloves (called boxing gloves): a boxing champion/match heavyweight boxing

Boxing Day noun [U, C] (BrE) the first day after Christmas Day that is not a Sunday. Boxing Day is an official holiday in Britain and some other countries.

box junction (also box) noun (BrE) a place where two roads cross or join, marked with a pattern of yellow lines to show that vehicles must not stop

box kite noun a KITE in the shape of a long box which is open at both ends

box lunch noun (NAmE) a meal of SANDWICHES, fruit, etc. that you take to school, work, etc. in a boxcompare BAG LUNCH, PACKED LUNCH

box number (also box) noun a number used as an address, especially one given in newspaper advertisements to which replies can be sent

box office noun the place at a theatre, cinema/movie theater, etc. where the tickets are sold: The movie has been a huge box-office success (= many people have been to see it). Box-office receipts have exceeded expectations.

box room noun (BrE) a small room in a house for storing things in

box score noun the results of a BASEBALL game or other sporting event shown in the form of rows and columns which include details of each player's performance

box seat noun
in the box seat (AustralE, NZE, informal) in a position in which you have an advantage

boxwood NAmE noun [U] = BOX (12)

boxy NAmE adj. having a square shape: a boxy car

boy noun, exclamation
noun
1 [C] a male child or a young male person: a little/small/young boy I used to play here as a boy. The older boys at school used to tease him. Now she's a teenager, she's starting to be interested in boys. Be a good boy and get me my coat.see also OLD BOY, TOY BOY
2 [C] a young son: They have two boys and a girl. Her eldest boy is at college.
3 [C] (in compounds; offensive when used of an older man) a boy or young man who does a particular job: a delivery boysee also BACK-ROOM BOYS, BARROW BOY, BEST BOY
4 [C] a way of talking about sb who comes from a particular place, etc.: He's a local boy. a city/country boy
5 the boys [pl.] (informal) a group of male friends who often go out together: a night out with the boys
6 our boys [pl.] a way of talking with affection about your country's soldiers: a message of support for our boys serving overseas
7 (NAmE, taboo) used as an offensive way of addressing a black man, especially in the past
the boys in blue (informal) the police
boys will be boys (saying) you should not be surprised when boys or men behave in a noisy or rough way as this is part of typical male behaviourmore at JOB n., MAN n., WORK n.
exclamation (informal, especially NAmE) used to express feelings of surprise, pleasure, pain, etc.: Boy, it sure is hot! Oh boy! That's great! Boy, it hurts! Boy, am I glad to see you! They eat it for breakfast and boy is it good!

boy band noun a group of young men who sing pop music and dance

boycott NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN] to refuse to buy, use or take part in sth as a way of protesting: We are asking people to boycott goods from companies that use child labour.
noun~ (of/on sth) an act of boycotting sb/sth: a trade boycott of British goods a boycott on the use of tropical wood

boyf noun (BrE, informal) a boyfriend

boyfriend noun a man or boy that sb has a romantic or sexual relationship with

boyhood noun [U] (becoming old-fashioned) the time in a man's life when he is a boy: boyhood days/memories/friends He spent most of his boyhood with his grandparents. All his boyhood heroes were football players.

boyish adj. (approving) looking or behaving like a boy, in a way that is attractive: boyish charm/enthusiasm her slim boyish figure His boyish good looks made him popular with girls.
boyishly adv.

boyo NAmE noun (informal) used for addressing a boy or a man in Wales

boy racer noun (BrE, informal, disapproving) a man, especially a young man, who drives his car too fast and without care

Boy Scout noun (US or old-fashioned) a boy who is a member of the SCOUTS

boysenberry NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a large red fruit like a BLACKBERRY. The bush it grows on is also called a boysenberry.

boy wonder noun (informal, humorous) a boy or young man who is extremely good at sth

bozo NAmE noun (pl. -os) (informal, especially NAmE) a stupid person

bpi abbr. (computing) bits per inch (a measure of the amount of data that can fit onto a tape or disk)

bps abbr. (computing) bits per second (a measure of the speed at which data is sent or received)

Bq abbr. = BECQUEREL

Br. abbr. (in writing) British

bra
1 (also formal brassière) noun a piece of women's underwear worn to cover and support the breasts
2 (also car bra) (also auto bra) a tightly fitting cover that is put over the front end of a car to protect it, sometimes made of a material that absorbs the waves from police RADAR equipment, so that it is more difficult to tell if a driver is going too fast

braai noun, verb (SAfrE)
noun
1 (also braaivleis) a social event at which food is cooked outdoors over an open fire: We're having a braai at our place next Saturday. a bring-and-braai (= everyone brings their own meat)
2 the surface or piece of equipment where the fire is made
verb [VN, V] (braais, braaiing or braaing, braaied) to cook food over an open fire, especially as part of a social eventcompare BARBECUE

braaivleis noun (SAfrE)
1 = BRAAI (1)
2 [U] meat that is cooked over an open fire

brace noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a device that holds things firmly together or holds and supports them in position: a neck brace (= worn to support the neck after an injury)
2 [C] (NAmE braces [pl.]) a metal device that children wear inside the mouth to help their teeth grow straight: My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth.
3 braces (BrE) (NAmE suspenders) [pl.] long narrow pieces of cloth, leather, etc. for holding trousers/pants up. They are fastened to the top of the trousers/pants at the front and back and passed over the shoulders: a pair of braces
4 [C, usually pl.] (NAmE) = CALLIPER
5 [C] either of the two marks, { }, used to show that the words, etc. between them are connectedcompare BRACKET
6 [C] (pl. brace) a pair of birds or animals that have been killed in hunting: two brace of partridge(s) He scored a brace of goals. see BELT n.
verb
1 ~ sb/yourself (for sth) to prepare sb/yourself for sth difficult or unpleasant that is going to happen: [VN] UN troops are braced for more violence. They are bracing themselves for a long legal battle. [also VN to inf]
2 [VN] ~ sth/yourself (against sth) to press your body or part of your body firmly against sth in order to stop yourself from falling: They braced themselves against the wind.
3 [VN] to contract the muscles in your body or part of your body before doing sth that is physically difficult: He stood with his legs and shoulders braced, ready to lift the weights.
4 [VN] (technical) to make sth stronger or more solid by supporting it with sth: The roof was braced by lengths of timber.

brace and bit noun a tool for making holes, with a handle that you turn round and round

bracelet noun a piece of jewellery worn around the wrist or arm

bracer noun a drink, usually alcoholic, which is intended to give strength to the person who drinks it

brachiopod NAmE noun (biology) a shellfish that has two joined shells and uses small TENTACLES (= long thin parts) to find food

brachiosaurus noun a very large DINOSAUR whose front legs were much longer than its back legs

bracing adj. (especially of weather) making you feel full of energy because it is cold: bracing sea air

bracken noun [U] a wild plant with large leaves that grows thickly on hills and in woods and turns brown in the autumn/fall

bracket noun, verb
noun
1 (also round bracket) (both BrE) (also parenthesis NAmE or formal) [usually pl.] either of a pair of marks, ( ) placed around extra information in a piece of writing or part of a problem in mathematics: Publication dates are given in brackets after each title. Add the numbers in brackets first.see also ANGLE BRACKETcompare BRACE
2 [usually pl.] (NAmE) = SQUARE BRACKET
3 price, age, income, etc. ~ prices, etc. within a particular range: people in the lower income bracket Most of the houses are out of our price bracket. the 30-34 age bracket (= people aged between 30 and 34)
4 a piece of wood, metal or plastic fixed to the wall to support a shelf, lamp, etc.
verb [VN]
1 to put words, information, etc. between brackets
2 ~ A and B (together)| ~ A (together) with B [often passive] to consider people or things to be similar or connected in some way: It is unfair to bracket together those who cannot work with those who will not.

brackish adj. (of water) salty in an unpleasant way: brackish lakes/lagoons/marshes

brad noun a small thin nail with a small head and a flat tip

bradawl noun a small pointed tool used for making holes

brae noun (ScotE) (often in place names) a steep slope or hill

Braeburn NAmE noun a type of red and green apple

brag verb, noun
verb (-gg-) ~ to sb (about/of sth) (disapproving) to talk too proudly about sth you own or sth you have done BOAST: [V] He bragged to his friends about the crime. I'm not boasting but I think I did very well in the interview. [also V that, V speech]
noun [U] a card game which is a simple form of POKER

braggadocio NAmE noun [U] (literary) behaviour that seems too proud or confident

braggart NAmE noun (old-fashioned) a person who brags

Brahman (also Brahmin ) noun a Hindu who belongs to the CASTE (= division of society) that is considered the highest, originally that of priests

Brahmin noun
1 = BRAHMAN
2 (NAmE) a person who is rich and has a lot of influence in society, especially sb from New England whose family belongs to the highest social class: a Boston Brahmin

Brahms and Liszt adj. (BrE, informal) drunk (used especially in London by COCKNEYS)
From rhyming slang, in which Brahms and Liszt stands for 'pissed'.

braid noun, verb
noun
1 [U] thin coloured rope that is used to decorate furniture and military uniforms: The general's uniform was trimmed with gold braid. The curtains were trimmed with silk braid.
2 [C] (especially NAmE) = PLAIT: She wears her hair in braids.
verb [VN] (especially NAmE) = PLAIT: She'd braided her hair.

Braille (also braille) noun [U] a system of printing for blind people in which the letters of the alphabet and the numbers are printed as raised dots that can be read by touching them: All the exhibits are labelled in Braille.

brain noun, verb
noun
IN HEAD
1 [C] the organ inside the head that controls movement, thought, memory and feeling: damage to the brain brain cells She died of a brain tumour. a device to measure brain activity during sleep
FOOD
2 brains [pl.] the brain of an animal, eaten as food: sheep's brains
INTELLIGENCE
3 [U, C, usually pl.] the ability to learn quickly and think about things in a logical and intelligent way: It doesn't take much brain to work out that both stories can't be true. Teachers spotted that he had a good brain at an early age. You need brains as well as brawn (= intelligence as well as strength) to do this job.see also NO-BRAINER
INTELLIGENT PERSON
4 [C, usually pl.] (informal) an intelligent person: one of the best scientific brains in the country
5 the brains [sing.] the most intelligent person in a particular group; the person who is responsible for thinking of and organizing sth: He's always been the brains of the family. The band's drummer is the brains behind their latest venture.
have sth on the brain (informal) to think about sth all the time, especially in a way that is annoying: He has sex on the brain.more at BEAT v., BLOW v., CUDGEL v., PICK v., RACK v.
verb [VN] (informal) to kill a person or an animal by hitting them very hard on the head: I nearly brained myself on that low beam.

brainbox NAmE noun (BrE, informal) a person who is very intelligent

brainchild noun [sing.] an idea or invention of one person or a small group of people: The TV programme was the brainchild of the producer.

brain damage noun [U] permanent damage to the brain caused by illness or an accident
brain-damaged adj.

brain-dead adj.
1 suffering from serious damage to the brain and needing machines to stay alive: Doctors declared her clinically brain-dead.
2 (humorous) very stupid and boring; not intelligent: I was afraid of becoming brain-dead after months at home.

brain death noun [U] very serious damage to the brain that cannot be cured. A person who is suffering from brain death needs machines to keep them alive, even though their heart is still beating: a diagnosis of brain death

brain drain noun [sing.] (informal) the movement of highly skilled and qualified people to a country where they can work in better conditions and earn more money: a brain drain to the US

brainless adj. stupid; not able to think or talk in an intelligent way: Her husband's colleagues were brainless bores.

brainpower noun [U] the ability to think; intelligence: Most humans only use a fraction of their total useful brainpower.

brainstem noun (anatomy) the central part of the brain, which continues downwards to form the SPINAL CORD

brainstorm NAmE noun [sing.]
1 (BrE) a sudden inability to think clearly which causes unusual behaviour: She had a brainstorm in the exam and didn't answer a single question.
2 (NAmE) = BRAINWAVE

brainstorming NAmE noun [U] a way of making a group of people all think about sth at the same time, often in order to solve a problem or to create good ideas: a brainstorming session
brainstorm verb: [VN] Brainstorm as many ideas as possible. [also V]

brain surgery noun [U]
it's not brain surgery (informal) used to emphasize that sth is easy to do or understand ROCKET SCIENCE: Look, this isn't brain surgery we're doing here.

brain-teaser noun a problem that is difficult but fun to solve: There were some real brain-teasers in the quiz.

brainwash NAmE verb ~ sb (into doing sth) to force sb to accept your ideas or beliefs, for example by repeating the same thing many times or by preventing the person from thinking clearly: [VN] The group is accused of brainwashing its young members. Women have been brainwashed into thinking that they must go out to work in order to fulfil themselves. [also VN, VN to inf]
brainwashing noun [U]: the victims of brainwashing and torture

brainwave noun
1 (NAmE also brainstorm) a sudden good idea: I've had a brainwave!
2 an electrical signal in the brain

brainy adj. (informal) very intelligent: He's a brainy kid.

braise verb [VN] to cook meat or vegetables very slowly with a little liquid in a closed container: braising steak (= that is suitable for braising) The liver is then braised in olive oil.

brake noun, verb
noun
1 a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle: to put/slam on the brakes the brake pedal She stopped with a squeal/screech of the brakes.see also AIR BRAKE, DISC BRAKE, FOOTBRAKE, HANDBRAKE
2 ~ (on sth) a thing that stops sth or makes it difficult: High interest rates are a brake on the economy. see JAM v.
verb to go slower or make a vehicle go slower using the brake: [V] The car braked and swerved. The truck braked to a halt. You don't need to brake at every bend. She had to brake hard to avoid running into the car in front. [VN] He braked the car and pulled in to the side of the road.

brake fluid noun [U] liquid used in BRAKES to make the different parts move smoothly

brake light (NAmE also stop light) noun a red light on the back of a vehicle that comes on when the brakes are used

brake pad noun a thin block that presses onto the disc in a DISC BRAKE in a vehicle, in order to stop the vehicle

bramble noun
1 (especially BrE) a wild bush with THORNS on which BLACKBERRIES grow
2 (BrE) = BLACKBERRY

Bramley noun a type of large apple, used in cooking

bran noun [U] the outer covering of grain which is left when the grain is made into flour: breakfast cereal that contains bran

branch NAmE noun, verb
noun
OF TREE
1 a part of a tree that grows out from the main STEM and on which leaves, flowers and fruit grow: She climbed the tree and hid in the branches.
OF COMPANY
2 a local office or shop/store belonging to a large company or organization: The bank has branches all over the country. Our New York branch is dealing with the matter.
OF GOVERNMENT
3 a part of a government or other large organization that deals with one particular aspect of its work DEPARTMENT: the anti-terrorist branch
OF KNOWLEDGE
4 a division of an area of knowledge or a group of languages: the branch of computer science known as 'artificial intelligence'
OF RIVER/ROAD
5 a smaller or less important part of a river, road, railway/railroad, etc. that leads away from the main part: a branch of the Rhine a branch line (= a small line off a main railway line, often in country areas)
OF FAMILY
6 a group of members of a family who all have the same ANCESTORS: My uncle's branch of the family emigrated to Canada.
see ROOT n.
verb [V] to divide into two or more parts, especially smaller or less important parts: The accident happened where the road branches.
branch off
1 (of a road or river) to be joined to another road or river but lead in a different direction: Just after the lake, the path branches off to the right.
2 (of a person) to leave a road or path and travel in a different direction
branch out (into sth) to start to do an activity that you have not done before, especially in your work or business DIVERSIFY: The company branched out into selling insurance. I decided to branch out on my own.

brand noun, verb
noun
1 a type of product made by a particular company: Which brand of toothpaste do you use? (BrE) You pay less for the supermarket's own brand. (NAmE) You pay less for the store brand. brand loyalty (= the tendency of customers to continue buying the same brand) Champagne houses owe their success to brand image. the leading brand of detergentsee also OWN-BRAND
2 a particular type or kind of sth: an unorthodox brand of humour I don't think Bertha would appreciate your particular brand of sympathy.
3 a mark made with a piece of hot metal, especially on farm animals to show who owns them
verb [often passive]
1 ~ sb (as) sth to describe sb as being sth bad or unpleasant, especially unfairly: [VN] They were branded as liars and cheats. [VN-N] The newspapers branded her a hypocrite. [also VN-ADJ]
2 [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to mark an animal with a BRAND n. (3) to show who owns it

branded adj. [only before noun] (of a product) made by a well-known company and having that company's name on it: branded drugs/goods/products

branding noun [U] the activity of giving a particular name and image to goods and services so that people will be attracted to them and want to buy them: He sees contemporary branding as 'service with personality'. This marketing campaign is the most remarkable branding exercise of all time.

branding iron noun a metal tool that is heated and used to BRAND farm animals

brandish verb [VN] to hold or wave sth, especially a weapon, in an aggressive or excited way

brand name (also trade name) noun the name given to a product by the company that produces it

brand new adj. completely new: a brand new computer She bought her car brand new.

brandy noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U, C] a strong alcoholic drink made from wine.
2 [C] a glass of brandy

brandy butter noun [U] a very thick sweet sauce made with butter, sugar and brandy, often eaten with CHRISTMAS PUDDING

brandy snap noun (especially BrE) a thin crisp biscuit/cookie in the shape of a tube, flavoured with GINGER and often filled with cream

bran tub noun (BrE) a container that holds prizes hidden in BRAN, paper, etc., which children have to find as a game

brash adj. (disapproving)
1 confident in an aggressive way: Beneath his brash exterior, he's still a little boy inside.
2 (BrE) (of things and places) too bright or too noisy in a way that is not attractive: It was real gold but it still looked brash and cheap.
brashly adv. brashness noun [U]

brass NAmE noun
METAL
1 [U] a bright yellow metal made by mixing COPPER and ZINC; objects made of brass: solid brass fittings/door handles a brass plate (= a sign outside a building giving the name and profession of the person who works there) to clean/polish the brass
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
2 [U+sing./pl. v.] the musical instruments made of metal, such as TRUMPETS or FRENCH HORNS, that form a band or section of an ORCHESTRA; the people who play them: music for piano, strings and brasscompare PERCUSSION, STRINGS, WOODWIND, WIND INSTRUMENT
FOR A HORSE
3 [C] (BrE) a decorated piece of brass used as a decorative object, especially a round flat piece attached to a horse's HARNESS
IN CHURCH
4 [C] (especially BrE) a flat piece of brass with words or a picture on it, fixed to the floor or wall of a church in memory of sb who has died: a memorial brass
IMPORTANT PEOPLE
5 [U+sing./pl. v.] (especially NAmE) = TOP BRASS
MONEY
6 [U] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) money
see also BRASSY
brass monkeys | brass monkey weather (BrE, slang) if you say that it is brass monkeys or brass monkey weather, you mean that it is very cold weather
brass neck/nerve (BrE, informal) a combination of confidence and lack of respect: I didn't think she would have the brass neck to do that.
the brass ring (NAmE, informal) the opportunity to be successful; success that you have worked hard to get: The girls' outdoor track team has grabbed the brass ring seven times.
From the custom of giving a free ride to any child who grabbed one of the rings hanging around the side of a merry-go-round at a fairground.
(get down to) brass tacks (informal) (to start to consider) the basic facts or practical details of sthmore at BOLD, MUCK n.

brass band noun [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of musicians who play brass instruments: The village brass band plays regular concerts.

brassed off adj. (BrE, slang) annoyed FED UP

brasserie NAmE noun a type of restaurant, often one in a French style that is not very expensive

brassica noun a plant of a type that includes CABBAGE, RAPE and MUSTARD

brassière NAmE noun (formal) = BRA

brass knuckles noun [pl.] (NAmE) = KNUCKLEDUSTER

brass rubbing noun [U, C] the art of rubbing a soft pencil or CHALK on a piece of paper placed over a BRASS in a church; the pattern you get by doing this

brassy NAmE adj.
1 (sometimes disapproving) (of music) loud and unpleasant
2 (informal, disapproving) (of a woman) dressing in a way that makes her sexual attraction obvious, but without style: the brassy blonde behind the bar
3 like BRASS (1) in colour; too yellow and bright
4 (NAmE, informal) saying what you think, without caring about other people

brat noun (informal, disapproving) a person, especially a child, who behaves badly: a spoiled/spoilt brat

the brat pack noun [usually sing.] a group of famous young people, especially film/movie actors, who sometimes behave badly

bravado NAmE noun [U] a confident way of behaving that is intended to impress people, sometimes as a way of hiding a lack of confidence: an act of sheer bravado 'Don't threaten me,' she whispered with false bravado.

brave adj., verb, noun
adj. (braver, bravest)
1 (of a person) willing to do things which are difficult, dangerous or painful; not afraid COURAGEOUS: brave men and women Be brave! I wasn't brave enough to tell her what I thought of her.
2 (of an action) requiring or showing courage: a brave decision She died after a brave fight against cancer. He felt homesick, but made a brave attempt to appear cheerful.
3 ~ new (sometimes ironic) new in an impressive way: a vision of a brave new Britain
bravely adv. bravery noun [U] COURAGE: an award for outstanding bravery acts of skill and bravery
(a) brave new world a situation or society that changes in a way that is meant to improve people's lives but is often a source of extra problems: the brave new world of technology
put on a brave face | put a brave face on sth to pretend that you feel confident and happy when you do not: I had to put on a brave face and try to show him that I wasn't worried. She put a brave face on her illness.
verb [VN] to have to deal with sth difficult or unpleasant in order to achieve sth: He did not feel up to braving the journalists at the airport. Over a thousand people braved the elements (= went outside in spite of the bad weather) to attend the march. The firemen braved the flames to rescue the family.
noun
1 the brave [pl.] people who are brave: America, the land of the free and the home of the brave
2 [C] (old-fashioned) a Native American WARRIOR

bravo NAmE exclamation (becoming old-fashioned) people say Bravo! at the end of sth they have enjoyed, such as a play at the theatre

bravura NAmE noun [U] (formal) great skill and enthusiasm in doing sth artistic: a bravura performance

braw adj. (ScotE) fine: braw lads and bonny lasses It was a braw day.

brawl noun, verb
noun a noisy and violent fight involving a group of people, usually in a public place: a drunken brawl Police officers were injured in a mass brawl outside a nightclub. note at FIGHT
verb [V] to take part in a noisy and violent fight, usually in a public place: They were arrested for brawling in the street.
brawler noun

brawn noun [U]
1 physical strength: In this job you need brains as well as brawn.
2 (BrE) (NAmE headcheese) meat made from the head of a pig or CALF that has been boiled and pressed into a container, served cold in thin slices

brawny adj. (informal) having strong muscles BURLY: He was a great brawny brute of a man.

bray verb
1 [V] when a DONKEY brays, it makes a loud unpleasant sound
2 (of a person) to talk or laugh in a loud unpleasant voice: [V] He brayed with laughter. a braying voice [also V speech]
bray noun: a voice somewhere between a bray and a bellow

brazen adj., verb
adj.
1 (disapproving) open and without shame, usually about sth that people find shocking SHAMELESS: She had become brazen about the whole affair. his brazen admission that he was cheating
2 made of, or the colour of, BRASS (1)
brazenly adv.: She had brazenly admitted allowing him back into the house. brazenness noun [U]
verb
brazen it out to behave as if you are not ashamed or embarrassed about sth even though you should be: Now that everyone knew the truth, the only thing to do was to brazen it out.

brazier noun a large metal container that holds a fire and is used to keep people warm when they are outside: a brazier of red-hot charcoal

brazil (also brazil nut) noun the curved nut of a large S American tree. It has a hard shell with three sides.

Brazilian adj., noun
adj. from or connected with Brazil
noun a person from Brazil

Brazilian wax noun a style of removing a woman's PUBIC hair using WAX, in which almost all the hair is removed with only a very small central strip remaining

breach noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] ~ of sth a failure to do sth that must be done by law: a breach of contract/copyright/warranty They are in breach of Article 119. (BrE) (a) breach of the peace (= the crime of behaving in a noisy or violent way in public) Selling goods constituted a breach of regulation 10B.
2 [C, U] ~ of sth an action that breaks an agreement to behave in a particular way: a breach of confidence/trust a breach of security (= when sth that is normally protected is no longer secure)
3 [C] a break in a relationship between people or countries: a breach in Franco-German relations
4 [C] an opening that is created during a military attack or by strong winds or seas: They escaped through a breach in the wire fence. A breach in the mountain wall permits warm sea air to penetrate inland. see STEP v.
verb [VN]
1 to not keep to an agreement or not keep a promise BREAK: The government is accused of breaching the terms of the treaty.
2 to make a hole in a wall, fence, etc. so that sb/sth can go through it: The dam had been breached. Demonstrators breached police lines around the embassy.

bread noun [U]
1 a type of food made from flour, water and usually YEAST mixed together and baked: a loaf/slice/piece of bread white/brown/wholemeal breadsee also CRISPBREAD, FRENCH BREAD, GINGERBREAD
2 (old-fashioned, slang) money
take the bread out of sb's mouth to take away sb's job so that they are no longer able to earn enough money to livemore at DAILY adj., HALF det., KNOW v., SLICED

bread and butter noun [U]
1 slices of bread that have been spread with butter: a piece of bread and butter
2 (informal) a person or company's main source of income

bread-and-butter adj. [only before noun] basic; very important: Employment and taxation are the bread-and-butter issues of politics.

bread-and-butter pudding noun [U, C] a DESSERT (= sweet dish) consisting of layers of bread with butter on, cooked with dried fruit in a mixture of eggs and milk

breadbasket NAmE noun [sing.] (especially NAmE) the part of a country or region that produces large amounts of food, especially grain, for the rest of the country or region

bread bin (BrE) (NAmE breadbox NAmE ) noun a wooden, metal or plastic container for keeping bread in so that it stays fresh

breadboard NAmE noun a flat board used for cutting bread on

breadcrumbs noun [pl.] very small pieces of bread that can be used in cooking: fish coated with breadcrumbs

breaded adj. covered in breadcrumbs: breaded cod

breadfruit noun [C, U] (pl. breadfruit) a large tropical fruit with a thick skin, that tastes and feels like bread when it is cooked. It grows on a tree which is called a 'breadfruit tree'.

breadline noun [sing.] (BrE) the level of income of very poor people: Many people without jobs are living on the breadline (= are very poor).

bread pudding noun [U, C] a heavy cake or DESSERT (= sweet dish) made by pouring eggs and milk over bread and then cooking it with dried fruit and sugar

bread roll noun = ROLL

bread sauce noun [U] a thick sauce made with bread and spices, often served with chicken or TURKEY

breadstick noun
1 a long thin piece of bread, which is dry like a biscuit
2 a piece of fresh bread, baked in the shape of a small stick

breadth noun [U, C]
1 the distance or measurement from one side to the other; how broad or wide sth is WIDTH: She estimated the breadth of the lake to be 500 metres.compare LENGTH
2 a wide range (of knowledge, interests, etc.): He was surprised at her breadth of reading. The curriculum needs breadth and balance. a new political leader whose breadth of vision (= willingness to accept new ideas) can persuade others to change see LENGTH

bread tree (also bread palm) noun a large plant found in tropical and southern Africa whose thick main STEM can be made into a type of flour

breadwinner noun a person who supports their family with the money they earn: When the baby was born, I became the sole breadwinner.

break verb, noun
verb (broke NAmE broken NAmE )
IN PIECES
1 ~ (sth) (in/into sth) to be damaged and separated into two or more parts, as a result of force; to damage sth in this way: [V] All the windows broke with the force of the blast. The bag broke under the weight of the bottles inside it. She dropped the plate and it broke into pieces. [VN] to break a cup/window She fell off a ladder and broke her arm. He broke the chocolate in two.
STOP WORKING
2 to stop working as a result of being damaged; to damage sth and stop it from working: [V] My watch has broken. [VN] I think I've broken the washing machine.
SKIN
3 [VN] to cut the surface of the skin and make it BLEED: The dog bit me but didn't break the skin.
LAW/PROMISE
4 [VN] to do sth that is against the law; to not keep a promise, etc.: to break the law/rules/conditions to break an agreement/a contract/a promise/your word to break an appointment (= not to come to it) He was breaking the speed limit (= travelling faster than the law allows).
STOP FOR SHORT TIME
5 ~ (for sth) to stop doing sth for a while, especially when it is time to eat or have a drink: [V] Let's break for lunch. [VN] a broken night's sleep (= a night during which you often wake up) (especially BrE) We broke our journey in Oxford (= stopped in Oxford on the way to the place we were going to).
END STH
6 [VN] to interrupt sth so that it ends suddenly: She broke the silence by coughing. A tree broke his fall (= stopped him as he was falling). The phone rang and broke my train of thought. Someone laughed suddenly and the spell was broken.
7 [VN] to make sth end by using force or strong action: an attempt to break the year-long siege Management has not succeeded in breaking the strike.
8 [VN] to end a connection with sth or a relationship with sb: He broke all links with the Communist party.
ESCAPE
9 [V + adv. / prep.] ~ free (from sb/sth) (of a person or an object) to get away from or out of a position in which they are stuck or trapped: He finally managed to break free from his attacker.
DESTROY, BE DESTROYED
10 to destroy sth or make sb/sth weaker; to become weak or be destroyed: [VN] to break sb's morale/resistance/resolve/spirit The government was determined to break the power of the trade unions. The scandal broke him (= ruined his reputation and destroyed his confidence). [V] She broke under questioning (= was no longer able to bear it) and confessed to everything.
MAKE SB FEEL BAD
11 [VN] to make sb feel so sad, lonely, etc. that they cannot live a normal life: The death of his wife broke him completely.
OF WEATHER
12 [V] to change suddenly, usually after a period when it has been fine
SHOW OPENING
13 [V] to show an opening: The clouds broke and the sun came out.
OF DAY/DAWN/STORM
14 [V] when the day or DAWN or a storm breaks, it begins: Dawn was breaking when they finally left.see also DAYBREAK
OF NEWS
15 [V] if a piece of news breaks, it becomes known: There was a public outcry when the scandal broke. breaking news (= news that is arriving about events that have just happened)
16 [VN] ~ it/the news to sb to be the first to tell sb some bad news: Who's going to break it to her? I'm sorry to be the one to break the news to you.
OF VOICE
17 [V] if sb's voice breaks, it changes its tone because of emotion: Her voice broke as she told us the dreadful news.
18 [V] when a boy's voice breaks, it becomes permanently deeper at about the age of 13 or 14
A RECORD
19 [VN] to do sth better, faster, etc. than anyone has ever done it before: She had broken the world 100 metres record. The movie broke all box-office records.
OF WAVES
20 [V] when waves break, they fall and are dissolved into FOAM, usually near land: the sound of waves breaking on the beach The sea was breaking over the wrecked ship.
STH SECRET
21 [VN] to find the meaning of sth secret: to break a code
MONEY
22 [VN] (especially NAmE) to change a BANKNOTE for coins: Can you break a twenty-dollar bill?
Idioms containing break are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example break sb's heart is at heart.
break away (from sb/sth)
1 to escape suddenly from sb who is holding you or keeping you prisoner: The prisoner broke away from his guards.
2 to leave a political party, state, etc., especially to form a new one: The people of the province wished to break away and form a new state.related noun BREAKAWAY
3 to move away from a crowd or group, especially in a race: She broke away from the pack and opened up a two-second lead.

break down
1 (of a machine or vehicle) to stop working because of a fault: The telephone system has broken down. We (= the car) broke down on the freeway.related noun BREAKDOWN
2 to fail: Negotiations between the two sides have broken down.related noun BREAKDOWN
3 to become very bad: Her health broke down under the pressure of work.see also NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
4 to lose control of your feelings and start crying: He broke down and wept when he heard the news.
5 to divide into parts to be analysed: Expenditure on the project breaks down as follows: wages $10m, plant $4m, raw materials $5m.related noun BREAKDOWN
break sthdown
1 to make sth fall down, open, etc. by hitting it hard: Firefighters had to break the door down to reach the people trapped inside.
2 to destroy sth or make it disappear, especially a particular feeling or attitude that sb has: to break down resistance/opposition to break down sb's reserve/shyness Attempts must be made to break down the barriers of fear and hostility which divide the two communities.
3 to divide sth into parts in order to analyse it or make it easier to do: Break your expenditure down into bills, food and other. Each lesson is broken down into several units.related noun BREAKDOWN
4 to make a substance separate into parts or change into a different form in a chemical process: Sugar and starch are broken down in the stomach.related noun BREAKDOWN

break for sth to suddenly run towards sth when you are trying to escape: She had to hold him back as he tried to break for the door.

break in to enter a building by force: Burglars had broken in while we were away.related noun BREAK-IN
break sb/sth in
1 to train sb/sth in sth new that they must do: to break in new recruits The young horse was not yet broken in (= trained to carry a rider).
2 to wear sth, especially new shoes, until they become comfortable
break in (on sth) to interrupt or disturb sth: She longed to break in on their conversation but didn't want to appear rude. [+ speech] 'I didn't do it!' she broke in.

break into sth
1 to enter a building by force; to open a car, etc. by force: We had our car broken into last week.related noun BREAK-IN
2 to begin laughing, singing, etc. suddenly: As the President's car drew up, the crowd broke into loud applause.
3 to suddenly start running; to start running faster than before: He broke into a run when he saw the police. Her horse broke into a trot.
4 (BrE) to use a BANKNOTE of high value to buy sth that costs less: I had to break into a £20 to pay the bus fare.
5 to open and use sth that has been kept for an emergency: They had to break into the emergency food supplies.
6 to be successful when you get involved in sth: The company is having difficulty breaking into new markets.

break off
1 to become separated from sth as a result of force: The back section of the plane had broken off.
2 to stop speaking or stop doing sth for a time: He broke off in the middle of a sentence.
break sthoff
1 to separate sth, using force: She broke off a piece of chocolate and gave it to me.
2 to end sth suddenly: Britain threatened to break off diplomatic relations. They've broken off their engagement.

break out (of war, fighting or other unpleasant events) to start suddenly: They had escaped to America shortly before war broke out in 1939. Fighting had broken out between rival groups of fans. Fire broke out during the night.related noun OUTBREAK
break out (of sth) to escape from a place or situation: Several prisoners broke out of the jail. She needed to break out of her daily routine and do something exciting.related noun BREAKOUT
break out in sth to suddenly become covered in sth: Her face broke out in a rash. He broke out in a cold sweat (= for example, through fear).

break through to make new and important discoveries: Scientists think they are beginning to break through in the fight against cancer.related noun BREAKTHROUGH
break through| break through sth
1 to make a way through sth using force: Demonstrators broke through the police cordon. There was a police cordon around the site but the demonstrators still broke through.
2 (of the sun or moon) to appear from behind clouds: The sun broke through at last in the afternoon. At last the moon broke through the clouds and they could see their way.
break through sth to succeed in dealing with an attitude that sb has and the difficulties it creates OVERCOME: He had finally managed to break through her reserve.

break up
1 to separate into smaller pieces: The ship broke up on the rocks.
2 to come to an end: Their marriage has broken up.related noun BREAK-UP
3 to go away in different directions: The meeting broke up at eleven o'clock.
4 (especially BrE) to begin the holidays when school closes at the end of a term: When do you break up for Christmas?
5 (BrE) to become very weak: He was breaking up under the strain.
6 (NAmE) to laugh very hard: Woody Allen makes me just break up.
7 when a person who is talking on a mobile phone/cellphone breaks up, you can no longer hear them clearly because the signal has been interrupted
break sthup
1 to make sth separate into smaller pieces; to divide sth into smaller parts: The ship was broken up for scrap metal. Sentences can be broken up into clauses.
2 to end a relationship, a company, etc.: They decided to break up the partnership.related noun BREAK-UP
3 to make people leave sth or stop doing sth, especially by using force: Police were called in to break up the fight.
break up (with sb) to end a relationship with sb: She's just broken up with her boyfriend.related noun BREAK-UP

break with sth to end a connection with sth: to break with tradition/old habits/the past He broke with the party on the issue of Europe.
noun
SHORT STOP/PAUSE
1 [C] a short period of time when you stop what you are doing and rest, eat, etc.: a coffee/lunch/tea break Let's take a break. a break for lunch She worked all day without a break.
2 (also break time) (both BrE) (NAmE recess) [U] a period of time between lessons at school: Come and see me at break.
3 [C] a pause or period of time when sth stops before starting again: a break in my daily routine She wanted to take a career break in order to have children.
4 [C] a pause for advertisements in the middle of a television or radio programme: More news after the break.
HOLIDAY/VACATION
5 [C] a short holiday/vacation: We had a weekend break in New York. a well-earned break
CHANGE IN SITUATION
6 [sing.] ~ (in sth)| ~ (with sb/sth) the moment when a situation that has existed for a time changes, ends or is interrupted: He needed to make a complete break with the past. a break with tradition/convention (= a change from what is accepted, in sth such as art, behaviour, etc.) a break in the weather (= a change from one type of weather to a different one) a break in diplomatic relations
OPENING/SPACE
7 [C] ~ (in sth) a space or an opening between two or more things: We could see the moon through a break in the clouds. Wait for a break in the traffic before crossing the road.
OPPORTUNITY
8 [C] (informal) an opportunity to do sth, usually to get sth that you want or to achieve success: I got my lucky break when I won a 'Young Journalist of the Year' competition. We've had a few bad breaks (= pieces of bad luck) along the way. If you just give me a break, you won't regret it.
OF BONE
9 [C] a place where sth, especially a bone in your body, has broken: The X-ray showed there was no break in his leg.
IN TENNIS
10 (also break of serve) [C] a win in a game in which your opponent is SERVING: It was her second break in the set. break point (= a situation in which, if you win the next point, you win the game)
IN BILLIARDS/SNOOKER
11 [C] a series of successful shots by one player; the number of points scored in a series of successful shots: He's put together a magnificent break. a 147 break (= the highest possible break in SNOOKER) The champion began with breaks of 74 and 58.
break of day/dawn (literary) the moment in the early hours of the morning when it begins to get light
give me a break! (informal) used when sb wants sb else to stop doing or saying sth that is annoying, or to stop saying sth that is not true
give sb a break to give sb a chance; to not judge sb too severely: Give the lad a breakit's only his second day on the job.
make a break for sth/for it to run towards sth in order to try and escape: He suddenly leapt up and made a break for the door. They decided to make a break for it (= to try and escape) that night.more at CLEAN adj.

SYNONYMS

break

rest breather breathing space respite time out

These are all words for a short period of time spent relaxing.

break a short period of time when you stop what you are doing and rest or eat: Let's take a break. In British English break is a period of time between lessons at school. The North American English word is recess.

rest a period of relaxing, sleeping or doing nothing after a period of activity: We stopped for a well-earned rest.

breather (informal) a short pause in an activity to rest or relax: a five-minute breather

breathing space a short pause in the middle of a period of mental or physical effort: This delay gives the party a breathing space in which to sort out its policies.

BREATHER OR BREATHING SPACE?

You decide when to take a breather; a breathing space has to be given or won. A breather is for relaxing; a breathing space is for sorting things out.

respite a short break from sth difficult or unpleasant: The drug brought a brief respite from the pain.

time out (informal, especially NAmE) time for resting or relaxing away from your usual work or studies: Take time out to relax by the pool.

VOCABULARY BUILDING

words that mean 'break'

burst

The balloon hit a tree and burst.

crack

The ice started to crack.

crumble

Crumble the cheese into a bowl.

cut

Now cut the wire in two.

fracture

He fell and fractured his hip.

shatter

The vase hit the floor and shattered.

smash

Vandals had smashed two windows.

snap

I snapped the pencil in half.

split

The bag had split open on the way home.

tear

She tore the letter into pieces.

All these verbs, except cut, can be used with or without an object.

breakable adj. likely to break; easily broken

breakage noun
1 [C, usually pl.] an object that has been broken: The last time we moved house there were very few breakages.
2 [U, C] the act of breaking sth: Wrap it up carefully to protect against breakage.

breakaway adj., noun
adj. [only before noun] (of a political group, an organization, or a part of a country) having separated from a larger group or country: a breakaway faction/group/section a breakaway republic
noun [sing.]
1 an occasion when members of a political party or an organization leave it in order to form a new party, etc.
2 a change from an accepted style: a breakaway from his earlier singing style

breakbeat noun
1 [C] a series of drum beats that are repeated to form the rhythm of a piece of dance music: emcees rapping over breakbeats
2 [U] dance music, for example HIP HOP, that uses breakbeats

breakbone fever NAmE noun [U] = DENGUE

break-dancing noun [U] a style of dancing with ACROBATIC movements, often performed in the street
break-dance verb [V] break-dancer noun

breakdown noun
1 [C] an occasion when a vehicle or machine stops working: a breakdown on the motorway a breakdown recovery service
2 [C, U] a failure of a relationship, discussion or system: the breakdown of a marriage marriage breakdown a breakdown in communications The breakdown of the negotiations was not unexpected. the breakdown of law and order
3 [C, usually sing.] detailed information that you get by studying a set of figures: First, let's look at a breakdown of the costs.
4 [U] (technical) the breaking of a substance into the parts of which it is made: the breakdown of proteins in the digestive system
5 [C] = NERVOUS BREAKDOWN: She's still recovering from her breakdown.

breakdown lane noun (US) = HARD SHOULDER

breakdown truck (BrE) (NAmE tow truck) noun a truck that is used for taking cars away to be repaired when they have had a breakdown

breaker noun a large wave covered with white bubbles that is moving towards landsee also CIRCUIT-BREAKER, ICEBREAKER, HOUSEBREAKER, LAWBREAKER, RECORD-BREAKER, STRIKE-BREAKER, TIEBREAKER

breakfast noun, verb
noun [C, U] the first meal of the day: a big/hearty/light breakfast (especially BrE) a cooked breakfast Do you want bacon and eggs for breakfast? They were having breakfast when I arrived. She doesn't eat much breakfast.see also BED AND BREAKFAST, CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, ENGLISH BREAKFAST, POWER BREAKFAST, WEDDING BREAKFAST see DOG n.
verb [V] ~ (on sth) (formal) to eat breakfast

break-in noun an entry into a building using force, usually to steal sth: Police were called to three break-ins in the same area last night.

breaking and entering noun [U] (NAmE or old-fashioned) the crime of entering a building illegally and using force

breaking point (also break point) noun [U] the time when problems become so great that a person, an organization or a system can no longer deal with them: to be at/to reach breaking point to be stretched to breaking point

breakneck adj. [only before noun] very fast and dangerous: to drive, etc. at breakneck speed

breakout noun an escape from prison, usually by a group of prisoners: a mass breakout from a top security prison

break point noun
1 the point where sth, especially a computer program, is interrupted
2 break point (especially in TENNIS) a point that the person who is SERVING must win in order not to lose a game
3 = BREAKING POINT

breakthrough noun an important development that may lead to an agreement or achievement: to make/achieve a breakthrough a significant breakthrough in negotiations a major breakthrough in cancer research

break time noun [U] (BrE) = BREAK

break-up noun
1 the ending of a relationship or an association: the break-up of their marriage family break-ups
2 the division of a large organization or country into smaller parts: the break-up of the company

breakwater noun a wall built out into the sea to protect the SHORE or HARBOUR from the force of the waves

bream noun (pl. bream) a FRESHWATER or sea fish that is used for food

breast noun, verb
noun
PART OF BODY
1 [C] either of the two round soft parts at the front of a woman's body that produce milk when she has had a baby: She put the baby to her breast. breast cancer breast milk
2 [C] the similar, smaller part on a man's body, which does not produce milk
3 [C] (literary) the top part of the front of your body, below your neck CHEST: She cradled the child against her breast.
CLOTHING
4 [C] the part of a piece of clothing that covers your chest: A row of medals was pinned to the breast of his coat.
OF BIRD
5 [C] the front part of a bird's body: breast feathers The robin has a red breast.
MEAT
6 [C, U] meat from the front part of the body of a bird or an animal: chicken/turkey breasts breast of lamb
-BREASTED
7 (in adjectives) having the type of chest or breasts mentioned: a small-breasted/full-breasted woman bare-breasted the yellow-breasted male of the speciessee also DOUBLE-BREASTED, SINGLE-BREASTED
HEART
8 [C] (literary) the part of the body where the feelings and emotions are thought to be: a troubled breast
see also CHIMNEY BREAST see BEAT v., CLEAN adj.
verb [VN] (formal)
1 to reach the top of a hill, etc.: As they breasted the ridge, they saw the valley and lake before them.
2 to push through sth, touching it with your chest: He strode into the ocean, breasting the waves.

breastbone NAmE noun the long flat bone in the chest that the seven top pairs of RIBS are connected to STERNUM

breastfeed verb (breastfed, breastfed ) [V, VN] when a woman breastfeeds, she feeds her baby with milk from her breasts.compare BOTTLE-FEED, NURSE v. (6)

breastplate noun a piece of ARMOUR worn by soldiers in the past to protect the upper front part of the body

breast pocket noun a pocket on a shirt, or on the outside or inside of the part of a jacket that covers the chest

breast pump noun a device for getting milk from a woman's breasts, so that her baby can be fed later from a bottle

breaststroke NAmE noun [U, sing.] a style of swimming that you do on your front, moving your arms and legs away from your body and then back towards it in a circle: to swim breaststroke a slow breaststroke

breath noun
1 [U] the air that you take into your lungs and send out again: His breath smelt of garlic. bad breath (= that smells bad) We had to stop for breath before we got to the top. She was very short of breath (= had difficulty breathing). While there is breath left in my body, I will refuse.
2 [C] an amount of air that enters the lungs at one time: to take a deep breath He recited the whole poem in one breath.
3 ~ of sth [sing.] (formal) a small amount of sth; slight evidence of sth: a breath of suspicion/scandal
4 a ~ of air, wind [sing.] (literary) a slight movement of air
a breath of (fresh) air clean air breathed in after being indoors or in a dirty atmosphere: We'll get a breath of fresh air at lunchtime.
a breath of fresh air a person, thing or place that is new and different and therefore interesting and exciting
the breath of life to/for sb (literary) an essential part of a person's existence: Playing the violin has been the breath of life to her for over 20 years.
get your breath (again/back) (BrE) (also catch your breath NAmE, BrE) to breathe normally again after running or doing some tiring exercise
hold your breath
1 to stop breathing for a short time: Hold your breath and count to ten.
2 to be anxious while you are waiting for sth that you are worried about: He held his breath while the results were read out.
3 (informal) people say don't hold your breath! to emphasize that sth will take a long time or may not happen: She said she'd do it this week, but don't hold your breath!
in the same breath immediately after saying sth that suggests the opposite intention or meaning: He praised my work and in the same breath told me I would have to leave.
his/her last/dying breath the last moment of a person's life
out of breath having difficulty breathing after exercise: We were out of breath after only five minutes.
say sth, speak, etc. under your breath to say sth quietly so that people cannot hear: 'Rubbish!' he murmured under his breath.
take sb's breath away to be very surprising or beautiful: My first view of the island from the air took my breath away.more at BATED, CATCH v., DRAW v., SAVE v., WASTE v.

breathable adj. (technical) (of material used in making clothes) allowing air to pass through: Breathable, waterproof clothing is essential for most outdoor sports.

breathalyse (BrE) (NAmE breathalyze) verb [VN] [usually passive] to check how much alcohol a driver has drunk by making him or her breathe into a breathalyser: Both drivers were breathalysed at the scene of the accident.

breathalyser (BrE) (NAmE BreathalyzerTM) noun a device used by the police to measure the amount of alcohol in a driver's breath

breathe verb
AIR/BREATH
1 to take air into your lungs and send it out again through your nose or mouth: [V] He breathed deeply before speaking again. The air was so cold we could hardly breathe. She was beginning to breathe more easily. He was breathing heavily after his exertions. [VN] Most people don't realize that they are breathing polluted air.
2 [VN] to send air, smoke or a particular smell out of your mouth: He came up close, breathing alcohol fumes all over me.
SAY QUIETLY
3 (literary) to say sth quietly: [V speech] 'I'm over here,' she breathed. [also VN]
OF WINE
4 [V] if you allow wine to breathe, you open the bottle and let air get in before you drink it
OF CLOTH/SKIN
5 [V] if cloth, leather, skin, etc. can breathe, air can move around or through it: Cotton clothing allows your skin to breathe.
FEELING/QUALITY
6 [VN] (formal) to be full of a particular feeling or quality: Her performance breathed wit and charm.
breathe (easily/freely) again to feel calm again after sth unpleasant or frightening has ended: Once he was safely back in prison, she was able to breathe easily again.
breathe down sb's neck (informal) to watch closely what sb is doing in a way that makes them feel anxious and/or annoyed: I can't get any work done with you breathing down my neck.
breathe (new) life into sth to improve sth by introducing new ideas and making people more interested in it: The results of their research have breathed new life into the debate.
breathe your last (literary) to diemore at EASY adj., LIVE^1
breathe in to take air into your lungs through your nose or mouth INHALE: I want you to breathe in and hold your breath for as long as possible.
breathe sthin to take air, smoke, etc. into your lungs through your nose or mouth: His illness is a result of breathing in paint fumes over many years.
breathe out to send air out of your lungs through your nose or mouth EXHALE: Take a deep breath and then breathe out when I tell you.
breathe sthout to send air, smoke, etc. out of your lungs through your nose or mouth: Humans take in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide.

breather noun (informal) a short pause for rest or to relax: to take/have a breather Tell me when you need a breather. a five-minute breathersee also HEAVY BREATHER note at BREAK

breathing noun [U] the action of taking air into the lungs and sending it out again: Her breathing became steady and she fell asleep. Deep breathing exercises will help you relax. Heavy (= loud) breathing was all I could hear.

breathing space noun [C, U] a short rest in the middle of a period of mental or physical effort: After finishing one job she needed a breathing space before starting the next. note at BREAK

breathless adj.
1 having difficulty in breathing; making it difficult for sb to breathe: He arrived breathless at the top of the stairs. They maintained a breathless (= very fast) pace for half an hour. The dance left her feeling breathless and weak.
2 ~ (with sth) (formal) experiencing, or making sb experience, a strong emotional reaction: breathless with terror the breathless excitement of seeing each other again
3 (formal) with no air or wind: the breathless heat of a summer afternoon
breathlessly adv. breathlessness noun [U]

breathtaking adj. very exciting or impressive (usually in a pleasant way); very surprising: a breathtaking view of the mountains The scene was one of breathtaking beauty. He spoke with breathtaking arrogance.
breathtakingly adv.: a breathtakingly expensive diamond

breath test noun a test used by the police to show the amount of alcohol in a driver's breath: All drivers may be given random breath tests.

breathy adj. speaking or singing with a noticeable sound of breathing

bred pt, pp of BREED

breech noun the part of a gun at the back where the bullets are loaded

breech birth (also breech delivery) noun a birth in which the baby's bottom or feet come out of the mother first

breeches noun [pl.] short trousers/pants fastened just below the knee: a pair of breeches riding breeches

breed verb, noun
verb (bred, bred )
1 [V] (of animals) to have sex and produce young: Many animals breed only at certain times of the year.see also INTERBREED
2 [VN] ~ sth (for/as sth) to keep animals or plants in order to produce young ones in a controlled way: The rabbits are bred for their long coats. Greyhounds were originally bred as hunting dogs. the first panda to be bred in captivitysee also CROSS-BREED, PURE-BRED, THOROUGHBRED
3 [VN] to be the cause of sth: Nothing breeds success like success.
4 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth into sb to educate sb in a particular way as they are growing up: Fear of failure was bred into him at an early age.see also WELL BRED see BORN v., FAMILIARITY
noun
1 a particular type of animal that has been developed by people in a controlled way, especially a type of dog, cat or farm animal: Labradors and other large breeds of dog a breed of cattle/sheep, etc.
2 [usually sing.] a type of person: He represents a new breed of politician. Players as skilful as this are a rare breed.

breeder noun a person who breeds animals: a dog/horse/cattle, etc. breeder a top breeder of racehorses

breeding noun [U]
1 the keeping of animals in order to breed from them: the breeding of horses a breeding programme
2 the producing of young animals, plants, etc.: the breeding season
3 the family or social background that is thought to result in good manners: a sign of good breeding

breeding ground noun
1 [usually pl.] a place where wild animals go to produce their young: Some birds fly south to find good breeding grounds.
2 ~ (for sth) [usually sing.] a place where sth, especially sth bad, is able to develop: This area of the city has become a breeding ground for violent crime.

breeze noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a light wind: a sea breeze The flowers were gently swaying in the breeze. A light breeze was blowing.
2 [sing.] (informal) a thing that is easy to do: It was a breeze. Going down the hill would be a breeze after the long climb up! see SHOOT v.
verb [V + adv. / prep.] to move in a cheerful and confident way in a particular direction: She just breezed in and asked me to help.
breeze through sth to do sth successfully and easily: He breezed through the tests.

breeze block (BrE) (NAmE cinder block) noun a light building block, made of sand, coal ASHES and CEMENT

breezeway noun (NAmE) an outside passage with a roof and open sides between two separate parts of a building

breezy adj.
1 with the wind blowing quite strongly: It was a bright, breezy day. the breezy east coast
2 having or showing a cheerful and relaxed manner: You're very bright and breezy today!
breezily adv.: 'Hi folks,' he said breezily. breeziness noun [U]

brethren noun [pl.] (old-fashioned)
1 used to talk to people in church or to talk about the members of a male religious group: Let us pray, brethren.
2 people who are part of the same society as yourself: We should do all we can to help our less fortunate brethren.

Breton noun, adj.
noun
1 [U] the Celtic language of Brittany in NW France
2 [C] a person who was born in Brittany or who lives in Brittany
adj. connected with Brittany or its language or culture

breve noun (music) a note that lasts as long as eight CROTCHETS/QUARTER NOTES, which is rarely used in modern music

breviary NAmE noun (pl. -ries) a book containing the words of the service for each day in the Roman Catholic church

brevity noun [U] (formal)
1 the quality of using few words when speaking or writing CONCISENESS: The report is a masterpiece of brevity. Charles Dickens was not known for his brevity. For the sake of brevity, I'd like to make just two points.
2 the fact of lasting a short time: the brevity of human lifesee also BRIEF

brew verb, noun
verb
1 to make beer: [VN] The beer is brewed in the Czech Republic. [also V]
2 [VN] to make a hot drink of tea or coffee: freshly brewed coffee
3 [V] (especially BrE) (of tea or coffee) to be mixed with hot water and become ready to drink: Always let tea brew for a few minutes.
4 [V] ~ (up) (usually used in the progressive tenses) if sth unpleasant is brewing or brewing up, it seems likely to happen soon: Trouble has been brewing for some time now. A storm was brewing up out at sea.
brew up| brew sthup (BrE, informal) to make a hot drink of tea or coffee: Whose turn is it to brew up?related noun BREW-UP
noun
1 [C, U] a type of beer, especially one made in a particular place: I thought I'd try the local brew. home brew (= beer made at home)
2 [C, usually sing.] (BrE, informal) an amount of tea made at one time: I'll make a fresh brew. Let's have a brew.
3 [C, usually sing.] a mixture of different ideas, events, etc.: The movie is a potent brew of adventure, sex and comedy. His music is a heady brew (= a powerful mixture) of heavy metal and punk.
a witch's/an evil brew (BrE) an unpleasant drink that is a mixture of different things

brewer noun a person or company that makes beer: Six big brewers account for about 75% of total beer sales in the UK.

brewery noun (pl. -ies) a factory where beer is made; a company that makes beer

brewhouse noun a factory where beer is made BREWERY

brew-up noun (BrE, informal) an act of making tea: We always have a brew-up at 11 o'clock.

briar (also brier) noun
1 a wild bush with THORNS, especially a wild ROSE bush
2 a bush with a hard root that is used for making TOBACCO pipes; a tobacco pipe made from this root

bribe noun, verb
noun a sum of money or sth valuable that you give or offer to sb to persuade them to help you, especially by doing sth dishonest: It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. She had been offered a $50 000 bribe to drop the charges.
verb~ sb (with sth)| ~ sb (into doing sth) to give sb money or sth valuable in order to persuade them to help you, especially by doing sth dishonest: [VN] They bribed the guards with cigarettes. She was bribed into handing over secret information. He managed to bribe his way onto the ship. [also VN to inf]

bribery noun [U] the giving or taking of bribes: She was arrested on bribery charges. allegations of bribery and corruption

bric-a-brac noun [U] ORNAMENTS and other small decorative objects of little value: market stalls selling cheap bric-a-brac

brick noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] baked CLAY used for building walls, houses and other buildings; an individual block of this: The school is built of brick. a pile of bricks a brick wallsee also RED-BRICK
2 [C] a plastic or wooden block, used as a toy for young children to build things with
3 [C, usually sing.] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a friend that you can rely on when you need help: Thanks for looking after the children today - you're a real brick.
be up against a brick wall to be unable to make any progress because there is a difficulty that stops you
bricks and mortar a building, when you are thinking of it in connection with how much it cost to build or how much it is worth: They put their money into bricks and mortar.
make bricks without straw (BrE) to try to work without the necessary material, money, information, etc.more at CAT n., DROP v., HEAD n., TON n.
verb
brick sthin/up to fill an opening in a wall with bricks: The windows had been bricked up.

brickbat noun [usually pl.] an insulting remark made in public: The president has received many brickbats in the press recently. Each side in the dispute has been throwing brickbats at the other.

bricklayer (also BrE informal brickie) noun a person whose job is to build walls, etc. with bricks
bricklaying noun [U]

brickwork NAmE noun
1 [U] the bricks in a wall, building, etc.: Plaster had fallen away in places, exposing the brickwork.
2 brickworks [C] (pl. brickworks) (BrE) a place where bricks are made

bridal adj. [only before noun] connected with a bride or a wedding: a bridal gown the bridal party (= the bride and the bridegroom and the people helping them at their wedding, sometimes used to refer only to the bride and those helping her) a bridal suite (= a set of rooms in a hotel for a couple who have just got married) (NAmE) a bridal shower (= a party for a woman who will get married soon)

bride noun a woman on her wedding day, or just before or just after it: a toast to the bride and groom He introduced his new bride.

bridegroom (also groom) noun a man on his wedding day, or just before or just after it: I enjoyed the bridegroom's speech.

bridesmaid noun a young woman or girl who helps a BRIDE before and during the marriage ceremony: Jo asked her sister to be (a) bridesmaid.compare BEST MAN, PAGEBOY

bridge noun, verb
noun
OVER ROAD/RIVER
1 [C] a structure that is built over a road, railway/railroad, river, etc. so that people or vehicles can cross from one side to the other: We crossed the bridge over the river Windrush.see also SUSPENSION BRIDGE, SWING BRIDGE
CONNECTION
2 [C] a thing that provides a connection or contact between two different things: The book serves as a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern science. Cultural exchanges are a way of building bridges between countries.
OF SHIP
3 [C, usually sing.] (usually the bridge) the part of a ship where the captain and other officers stand when they are controlling and steering the ship: Who was on the bridge when the collision took place?
CARD GAME
4 [U] a card game for two pairs of players who have to predict how many cards they will win. They score points if they succeed in winning that number of cards and lose points if they fail.see also CONTRACT BRIDGE
OF NOSE
5 the ~ of sb's nose [sing.] the hard part at the top of the nose, between the eyes
OF GLASSES
6 [C] the part of a pair of glasses that rests on your nose
OF GUITAR/VIOLIN
7 [C] a small piece of wood on a GUITAR, VIOLIN, etc. over which the strings are stretched
FALSE TEETH
8 [C] a false tooth or false teeth, held permanently in place by being fastened to natural teeth on either side
see BURN v., CROSS v., WATER n.
verb
BUILD/FORM BRIDGE [VN] to build or form a bridge over sth: The valley was originally bridged by the Romans. A plank of wood bridged the stream.
bridge the gap/gulf/divide (between A and B) to reduce or get rid of the differences that exist between two things or groups of people

bridge-building noun [U] activities intended to make relations between two groups, countries, etc. friendlier

bridgehead noun
1 a strong position that an army has captured in enemy land, from which it can go forward or attack the enemy
2 [usually sing.] a good position from which to make progress: This agreement will be a bridgehead for further talks.

bridgework NAmE noun [U]
1 artificial teeth and the parts that keep them in place in the mouth
2 the work of making these teeth or putting them in place

bridging loan (BrE) (NAmE bridge loan) noun an amount of money that a bank lends you for a short time, especially so that you can buy a new house while you are waiting to sell your old one

bridie noun (ScotE) a small PIE containing meat

bridle noun, verb
noun a set of leather bands, attached to REINS, which is put around a horse's head and used for controlling it
verb
1 [VN] to put a bridle on a horse
2 [V] ~ (at sth) (literary) to show that you are annoyed and/or offended at sth, especially by moving your head up and backwards in a proud way: She bridled at the suggestion that she was lying.

bridle path (BrE also bridleway ) noun a rough path that is suitable for people riding horses or walking, but not for cars

Brie noun [U, C] a type of soft French cheese

brief adj., noun, verb
adj. (briefer, briefest)
1 lasting only a short time; short: a brief visit/meeting/conversation a brief pause/silence Mozart's life was brief.
2 using few words: a brief description/summary/account Please be brief (= say what you want to say quickly).
3 (of clothes) short and not covering much of the body: a brief skirtsee also BREVITY, BRIEFLY
in brief in a few words, without details: In brief, the meeting was a disaster. Now the rest of the news in brief.
nounsee also BRIEFS
1 (BrE) the instructions that a person is given explaining what their job is and what their duties are: It wasn't part of his brief to speak to the press. I was given the brief of reorganizing the department. to stick to your brief (= to only do what you are asked to do) to prepare/produce a brief for sb
2 (BrE, law) a legal case that is given to a lawyer to argue in court; a piece of work for a BARRISTER: Will you accept this brief?
3 (NAmE, law) a written summary of the facts that support one side of a legal case, that will be presented to a court
4 (BrE, informal) a SOLICITOR or a defence lawyer: I want to see my brief.
hold no brief for sb/sth (BrE, formal) to not support or be in favour of sb/sth: I hold no brief for either side in this war.
verb
1 ~ sb (on/about sth) to give sb information about sth so that they are prepared to deal with it: [VN] The officer briefed her on what to expect. I expect to be kept fully briefed at all times. [also VN to inf] compare DEBRIEF
2 [VN, VN to inf] (BrE, law) to give a lawyer, especially a BARRISTER, the main facts of a legal case so that it can be argued in court

briefcase noun a flat case used for carrying papers and documentscompare ATTACHÉ CASE

briefing noun
1 [C] a meeting in which people are given instructions or information: a press briefingcompare DEBRIEFING
2 [C, U] the detailed instructions or information that are given at such a meeting: Captain Trent gave his men a full briefing. a briefing session/paper

briefly adv.
1 for a short time: He had spoken to Emma only briefly. She met John briefly on Friday night.
2 in few words: Briefly, the argument is as follows ... Let me tell you briefly what happened.

briefs noun [pl.] men's UNDERPANTS or women's KNICKERS: a pair of briefs

brier = BRIAR

brig noun
1 a ship with two MASTS (= posts that support the sails) and square sails
2 (NAmE) a prison, especially one on a WARSHIP

Brig. abbr. (in writing) BRIGADIER

brigade noun
1 a large group of soldiers that forms a unit of an army
2 [usually sing.] (often disapproving) used, always with a word or phrase in front of it, to describe a group of people who share the same opinions or are similar in some other way: the anti-smoking brigadesee also FIRE BRIGADE see HEAVY adj.

brigadier NAmE noun (abbr. Brig.) an officer of high rank in the British army: Brigadier Michael Swift

brigadier general noun an officer of high rank in the US army, AIR FORCE or MARINES

brigand noun (old-fashioned) a member of a group of criminals that steals from people, especially one that attacks travellers BANDIT

bright adj., adv., noun
adj. (brighter, brightest)
1 full of light; shining strongly: bright light/sunshine a bright room Her eyes were bright with tears. a bright morning (= with the sun shining)
2 (of a colour) strong and easy to see: I like bright colours. a bright yellow dress Jack's face turned bright red.
3 cheerful and lively: His eyes were bright and excited. She gave me a bright smile. Why are you so bright and cheerful today? His face was bright with excitement. note at CHEERFUL
4 intelligent; quick to learn: the brightest pupil in the class Do you have any bright ideas (= clever ideas)? note at INTELLIGENT
5 giving reason to believe that good things will happen; likely to be successful: This young musician has a bright future. Prospects for the coming year look bright. a bright start to the week
brightly adv.: a brightly lit room 'Hi!' she called brightly. brightness noun [U]
bright and early very early in the morning: You're up bright and early today!
(as) bright as a button (BrE) intelligent and quick to understand
the bright lights the excitement of city life: Although he grew up in the country, he's always had a taste for the bright lights.
a bright spark (BrE, informal, often ironic) a lively and intelligent person, especially sb young: Some bright spark (= stupid person) left the tap running all night.
a/the bright spot a good or pleasant part of sth that is unpleasant or bad in all other ways: The win last week was the only bright spot in their last ten games.
look on the bright side to be cheerful or positive about a bad situation, for example by thinking only of the advantages and not the disadvantages
adv. (brighter, brightest) (literary) (usually with the verbs burn and shine) brightly: The stars were shining bright.
nounbrights [pl.] (NAmE) the HEADLIGHTS on a vehicle set to a position in which they are shining as brightly as possible and not directed downwards

SYNONYMS

bright

brilliant fluorescent luminous vivid vibrant

All these words describe things that are shining or full of light or colours that are strong and easy to see.

bright full of light; shining strongly; (of colours) strong and easy to see: a bright yellow dress

brilliant very bright: The sky was a brilliant blue.

fluorescent producing bright light by using some forms of radiation; appearing very bright when light shines on it; that can be seen in the dark: fluorescent lighting cyclists wearing fluorescent yellow armbands

luminous shining in the dark; very bright or too bright: luminous hands on a clock

vivid (approving) (of colours) bright and strong: His eyes were a vivid green.

vibrant (approving) (of colours) bright and strong: The room was decorated in vibrant blues and greens.

VIVID OR VIBRANT?

These two words are very similar, but vivid emphasizes how bright a colour is, while vibrant suggests a more lively and exciting colour or combination of colours.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

bright/brilliant/fluorescent light

bright/brilliant sunlight/sunshine

bright/brilliant/luminous eyes

bright/brilliant/vivid/vibrant colours

brighten verb
1 to become or make sth lighter or brighter in colour: [V] In the distance, the sky was beginning to brighten. [VN] a shampoo to brighten and condition your hair
2 ~ (sth) (up) to become, feel or look happier; to make sb look happier: [V] Her eyes brightened. He brightened up at their words of encouragement. [VN] A smile brightened her face.
3 ~ (sth) (up) to become or make sth become more pleasant or enjoyable; to bring hope: [VN] A personal letter will usually brighten up a person's day. [also V]
4 [VN] ~ sth (up) to make sth look more brightly coloured and attractive: Fresh flowers will brighten up any room in the house.
5 [V] ~ (up) (of the weather) to improve and become brighter: According to the forecast, it should brighten up later.

bright-eyed (also bright-eyed and bushy-tailed) adj. (of a person) full of interest and enthusiasm: Fresh-faced and bright-eyed, the five-year-olds trooped off to school.

bright young thing noun an enthusiastic and intelligent young person who wants to be successful in their career
From the name used in the 1920s for rich young people whose behaviour was considered shocking.

brill adj. (BrE, informal) very good

brilliant adj.
1 extremely clever or impressive: What a brilliant idea! a brilliant performance/invention
2 very successful: a brilliant career The play was a brilliant success.
3 very intelligent or skilful: a brilliant young scientist She has one of the most brilliant minds in the country. note at INTELLIGENT
4 (of light or colours) very bright: brilliant sunshine brilliant blue eyes note at BRIGHT
5 (BrE, informal) very good; excellent: 'How was it?' 'Brilliant!' Thanks. You've been brilliant (= very helpful). note at GREAT
brilliance noun [U]: There were flashes of brilliance from the soloists, but generally the playing and singing lacked sparkle. brilliantly adv.: The plan worked brilliantly. It was brilliantly sunny.

brilliantine noun [U] oil used in the past to make men's hair shiny

brim noun, verb
noun
1 the top edge of a cup, bowl, glass, etc.: two wine glasses, filled to the brim (figurative) She felt suddenly alive and full to the brim with enthusiasm.
2 the flat edge around the bottom of a hat that sticks out
3 -brimmed (in adjectives) having the type of brim mentioned: a wide-brimmed hat
verb (-mm-) [V] ~ (with sth) to be full of sth; to fill sth: Her eyes brimmed with tears. Tears brimmed in her eyes. The team were brimming with confidence before the game.
brim over (with sth) (of a cup, container, etc.) to be so full of a liquid that it flows over the edge OVERFLOW: (figurative) Her heart was brimming over with happiness.

brimful adj. ~ of sth completely full of sth: She's certainly brimful of energy. a jug brimful of cream

brimstone NAmE noun (old use) the chemical element SULPHUR

brindle (also brindled ) adj. (of dogs, cats and cows) brown with bands or marks of another colour

brine noun [U] very salty water, used especially for preserving food: a can of tuna in brinesee also BRINY

bring verb (brought, brought )
COME WITH SB/STH
1 ~ sb/sth (with you)| ~ sth (for sb)| ~ (sb) sth to come to a place with sb/sth: [VN] Don't forget to bring your books with you. She brought her boyfriend to the party. [VN, VNN] Bring a present for Helen. Bring Helen a present.
PROVIDE
2 ~ sb/sth sth| ~ sth to sb/sth to provide sb/sth with sth: [VNN] His writing brings him $10 000 a year. [VN] The team's new manager brings ten years' experience to the job.
CAUSE
3 [VN] to cause sth: The revolution brought many changes. The news brought tears to his eyes (= made him cry). Retirement usually brings with it a massive drop in income.
4 [VN + adv. / prep.] to cause sb/sth to be in a particular condition or place: to bring a meeting to an end Bring the water to the boil. Mismanagement had brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy. The article brought her into conflict with the authorities. Hello Simon! What brings you here?
MAKE SB/STH MOVE
5 to make sb/sth move in a particular direction or way: [VN + adv. / prep.] The judge brought his hammer down on the table. [VN -ing] Her cries brought the neighbours running (= made them run to her).
ACCUSATION
6 [VN] ~ sth (against sb) to officially accuse sb of a crime: to bring a charge/a legal action/an accusation against sb
FORCE YOURSELF
7 [VN to inf] ~ yourself to do sth to force yourself to do sth: She could not bring herself to tell him the news.
Idioms containing bring are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example bring sb/sth to heel is at heel.
bring sthabout to make sth happen CAUSE: What brought about the change in his attitude?

bring sb around (NAmE) = BRING SB ROUND
bring sth around (NAmE) = BRING STH ROUND

bring sb/sthback to return sb/sth: Please bring back all library books by the end of the week. He brought me back (= gave me a ride home) in his car.
bring sthback
1 to make sb remember sth or think about it again: The photographs brought back many pleasant memories.
2 to make sth that existed before be introduced again REINTRODUCE: Most people are against bringing back the death penalty.
bring sb sthback| bring sthback (for sb) to return with sth for sb: What did you bring the kids back from Italy? I brought a T-shirt back for Mark.

bring sb/sth before sb (formal) to present sb/sth for discussion or judgement: The matter will be brought before the committee. He was brought before the court and found guilty.

bring sbdown
1 to make sb lose power or be defeated: The scandal may bring down the government.
2 (in sports) to make sb fall over: He was brought down in the penalty area.
bring sthdown
1 to reduce sth: We aim to bring down prices on all our computers.
2 to land an aircraft: The pilot managed to bring the plane down in a field.
3 to make an aircraft fall out of the sky: Twelve enemy fighters had been brought down.
4 to make an animal or a bird fall down or fall out of the sky by killing or wounding it: He brought down the bear with a single shot.

bring sb/sthforth (old use or formal) to give birth to sb; to produce sth: She brought forth a son. trees bringing forth fruit

bring sthforward
1 to move sth to an earlier date or time: The meeting has been brought forward from 10 May to 3 May.
2 to suggest sth for discussion: Please bring the matter forward at the next meeting.
3 to move a total sum from the bottom of one page or column of numbers to the top of the next: A credit balance of $50 was brought forward from his September account.

bring sbin
1 to ask sb to do a particular job or to be involved in sth: Local residents were angry at not being brought in on (= asked for their opinion about) the new housing proposal. [+ to inf] Experts were brought in to advise the government.
2 (of the police) to bring sb to a police station in order to ask them questions or arrest them: Two men were brought in for questioning.
bring sb/sthin
1 to introduce a new law: They want to bring in a bill to limit arms exports.
2 to attract sb/sth to a place or business: We need to bring in a lot more new business.
3 to give a decision in court: The jury brought in a verdict of guilty.
bring sb in sth| bring in sth to make or earn a particular amount of money: His freelance work brings him in about $20 000 a year. The garage sale brought in about £200. How much does she bring in now?

bring sthoff to succeed in doing sth difficult PULL OFF: It was a difficult task but we brought it off. The goalie brought off a superb save.

bring sbon to help sb develop or improve while they are learning to do sth
bring sthon
1 to make sth develop, usually sth unpleasant CAUSE: He was suffering from stress brought on by overwork.
2 to make crops, fruit, etc. grow well
bring sth on yourself/sb to be responsible for sth unpleasant that happens to you/sb: I have no sympathyyou brought it all on yourself. He has brought shame and disgrace on the whole family.

bring sbout (BrE) to make people go on strike
bring sb out of himself, herself, etc. to help sb to feel more confident: She's a shy girl who needs friends to bring her out of herself.
bring sthout
1 to make sth appear: A crisis brings out the best in her.
2 to make sth easy to see or understand: That dress really brings out the colour of your eyes.
3 to produce sth; to publish sth: The band have just brought out their second album.
bring sth out in sth to make sb's skin be covered in spots, etc.: The heat brought him out in a rash.

bring sb round (BrE) (NAmE bring sb around) (also bring sb to) to make sb who is unconscious become conscious again
bring sb round (to ... ) (BrE) (NAmE bring sb around) to bring sb to sb's house: Bring the family round one evening; we'd love to meet them.
bring sb round (to sth) (BrE) (NAmE bring sb around) to persuade sb to agree to sth: He didn't like the plan at first, but we managed to bring him round.
bring sth round to sth (BrE) (NAmE bring sth around to sth) to direct a conversation to a particular subject

bring sb to = BRING SB ROUND

bring A and B together to help two people or groups to end a disagreement: The loss of their son brought the two of them together.

bring sbup
1 [often passive] to care for a child, teaching him or her how to behave, etc. RAISE: She brought up five children. He was brought up by his aunt. a well/badly brought up child [+ to inf] They were brought up to (= taught as children to) respect authority. [+N] I was brought up a Catholic.related noun UPBRINGING
2 (law) to make sb appear for trial: He was brought up on a charge of drunken driving.
bring sthup
1 to mention a subject or start to talk about it RAISE: Bring it up at the meeting.
2 (BrE) to VOMIT: to bring up your lunch
3 to make sth appear on a computer screen: Click with the right mouse button to bring up a new menu.
bring sb up against sth to force sb to know about sth and have to deal with it: Working in the slums brought her up against the realities of poverty.

bring-and-buy sale noun (BrE) a sale, usually for charity, at which people bring things for sale and buy those brought by others

brinjal noun [C, U] (IndE, SAfrE) an AUBERGINE/EGGPLANT (= a large vegetable with shiny dark purple skin and soft white flesh)

brink noun [sing.]
1 the ~ (of sth) if you are on the brink of sth, you are almost in a very new, dangerous or exciting situation: on the brink of collapse/war/death/disaster Scientists are on the brink of making a major new discovery. He's pulled the company back from the brink (= he has saved it from disaster). teetering/poised/hovering on the brink
2 (literary) the extreme edge of land, for example at the top of a CLIFF or by a river: the brink of the precipice see TEETER

brinkmanship (NAmE also brinksmanship ) noun [U] the activity, especially in politics, of getting into a situation that could be very dangerous in order to frighten people and make them do what you want: engaged in a deadly game of political brinkmanship

briny adj. (of water) containing a lot of salt SALTYsee also BRINE

brio NAmE noun [U] (formal) enthusiasm and individual style: She told her story with some brio.

brioche NAmE noun [C, U] a type of sweet bread made from flour, eggs and butter, usually in the shape of a small bread roll

briquette noun a small hard block made from coal dust and used as fuel

brisk adj. (comparative brisker , no superlative)
1 quick; busy: a brisk walk to set off at a brisk pace Ice-cream vendors were doing a brisk trade (= selling a lot of ice cream).
2 (of a person, their voice or manner) practical and confident; showing a desire to get things done quickly: His tone became brisk and businesslike.
3 (of wind and the weather) cold but pleasantly fresh: a brisk wind/breeze
briskly adv.: 'Never mind!' said Sybil briskly. briskness noun [U]

brisket noun [U] meat that comes from the chest of an animal, especially a cow

bristle noun, verb
noun
1 a short stiff hair: the bristles on his chin
2 one of the short stiff hairs or wires in a brush
verb [V]
1 ~ (with sth) (at sth) to suddenly become very annoyed or offended at what sb says or does: His lies made her bristle with rage.
2 (of an animal's fur) to stand up on the back and neck because the animal is frightened or angry
bristle with sth to contain a large number of sth: The whole subject bristles with problems. The newspapers bristled with tributes to the general.

bristly adj. like or full of bristles; rough: a bristly chin/moustache tussocks of bristly dry grass

Bristol fashion adj. [not before noun] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) in good order or neat and clean: all shipshape and Bristol fashion

bristols noun [pl.] (BrE, slang) a woman's breasts

Brit noun (informal) a person from Britain note at BRITISH

Britain noun [sing.] the island containing England, Scotland and Walessee also GREAT BRITAIN, UNITED KINGDOM

Britannia noun [sing.] a figure of a woman used as a symbol of Britain. She is usually shown sitting down wearing a HELMET and holding a SHIELD and a TRIDENT (= a long weapon with three points).

Britannic adj. (old-fashioned, formal) (used mainly in names or titles) relating to Britain or the British Empire: her Britannic Majesty (= the Queen)

Briticism (also Britishism ) noun a word or expression used in Britain but not in other English-speaking countries

British adj.
1 (abbr. Br.) connected with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or the people who live there: the British Government He was born in France but his parents are British. British-based/British-born/British-made
2 the Britishnoun [pl.] the people of the United Kingdom
Britishness noun [U]

MORE ABOUT

the British

There is no singular noun which is commonly used to refer to a person from Britain. Instead the adjective British is used: She's British.The British have a very odd sense of humour. The adjective English refers only to people from England, not the rest of the United Kingdom.

The noun Briton is used mainly in newspapers: The survivors of the avalanche included 12 Britons. It also describes the early inhabitants of Britain: the ancient Britons. Brit is informal and can sound negative. Britisher is now very old-fashioned.

note at SCOTTISH

the British Council noun [sing.] an organization that represents British culture in other countries and develops closer cultural relations with them

British English noun [U] the English language as spoken in Britain and certain other countries

Britisher noun (old-fashioned, NAmE, informal) a person from Britain

Britishism noun = BRITICISM

the British Lions noun [pl.] a RUGBY team of the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales that plays abroad

British overseas territory noun (BrE) an island or group of islands in which the British government is responsible for defence and relations with other countries

British Summer Time noun [U] (abbr. BST) the time used in the UK in summer that is one hour ahead of GMT

Briton noun (formal) a person from Britain: the ancient Britons the first Briton to climb Everest without oxygen note at BRITISH

Britpop NAmE noun [U] a type of popular music played by British groups in the 1990s, influenced by a variety of British musical traditions

brittle adj.
1 hard but easily broken: brittle bones/nails The paint was brittle with age.
2 a brittle mood or state of mind is one that appears to be happy or strong but is actually nervous and easily damaged: a brittle temperament
3 (of a sound) hard and sharp in an unpleasant way: a brittle laugh 'Not at all,' she said in a brittle voice, avoiding his eye.
brittleness noun [U]: the hardness and brittleness of coal There was a brittleness to his tone.

brittle bone disease noun [U] (medical)
1 a rare disease in which sb's bones break extremely easily
2 = OSTEOPOROSIS

Brittonic NAmE adj. = BRYTHONIC

bro NAmE noun (pl. bros) (informal)
1 a brother: Hugo's bro Jebb played bass guitar.
2 (especially NAmE) a friendly way of addressing a male person: Thanks, bro!

broach NAmE verb [VN] ~ (sth) (to/with sb) to begin talking about a subject that is difficult to discuss, especially because it is embarrassing or because people disagree about it: She was dreading having to broach the subject of money to her father. The report fails to broach some important questions.

B-road noun (in Britain) a road that is less important than an A-ROAD and usually joins small towns and villages

broad adj., noun
adj. (broader, broadest)
WIDE
1 wide: a broad street/avenue/river broad shoulders He is tall, broad and muscular. a broad smile/grin (= one in which your mouth is stretched very wide because you are very pleased or amused) NARROW (1)
2 used after a measurement of distance to show how wide sth is: two metres broad and one metre high
WIDE RANGE
3 including a great variety of people or things: a broad range of products a broad spectrum of interests There is broad support for the government's policies. She took a broad view of the duties of being a teacher (= she believed her duties included a wide range of things). a broad and balanced curriculum We must ensure the project is of advantage to the broader community and does not just benefit a few individuals. NARROW
GENERAL
4 [only before noun] general; not detailed: the broad outline of a proposal The negotiators were in broad agreement on the main issues. She's a feminist, in the broadest sense of the word. In broad terms, the paper argues that each country should develop its own policy. Computer viruses fall into three broad categories.
LAND/WATER
5 covering a wide area: a broad expanse of water the broad plains of the American West
ACCENT
6 if sb has a broad accent, you can hear very easily which area they come from STRONG: a broad Yorkshire accent
HINT
7 if sb gives a broad hint, they make it very clear what they are thinking or what they want
HUMOUR
8 (NAmE) dealing with sex in an amusing way: The movie mixes broad humor with romance.
see also BREADTH, BROADLY note at WIDE
a broad church (BrE) an organization that accepts a wide range of opinions: The party aims to be a broad church with members from all sections of society.
(in) broad daylight (in) the clear light of day, when it is easy to see: The robbery occurred in broad daylight, in a crowded street.
it's as broad as it's long (BrE, informal) it makes no real difference which of two possible choices you makemore at PAINT v.
noun (old-fashioned, NAmE, slang) an offensive way of referring to a woman

broadband noun [U]
1 (technical) signals that use a wide range of FREQUENCIEScompare NARROWBAND
2 a way of connecting a computer to the Internet, which allows you to receive information, including pictures, etc., very quickly: We have broadband at home now.

broad-based (also broadly-based) adj. based on a wide variety of people, things or ideas; not limited: broad-based support

broad bean (BrE) (NAmE fava bean) noun a type of round, pale green BEAN. Several broad beans grow together inside a fat POD.

broad-brush adj. [only before noun] dealing with a subject or problem in a general way rather than considering details: a broad-brush approach

broadcast NAmE verb, noun
verb (broadcast, broadcast)
1 to send out programmes on television or radio: [VN] The concert will be broadcast live (= at the same time as it takes place) tomorrow evening. Most of the programmes are broadcast in English. [V] They began broadcasting in 1922.
2 [VN] to tell a lot of people about sth: I don't like to broadcast the fact that my father owns the company.
noun a radio or television programme: (BrE) a party political broadcast (= for example, before an election) We watched a live broadcast of the speech (= one shown at the same time as the speech was made).

broadcaster NAmE noun
1 a person whose job is presenting or talking on television or radio programmes
2 a company that sends out television or radio programmes: the new Australian rugby broadcaster, Channel Ten

broadcasting NAmE noun [U] the business of making and sending out radio and television programmes: to work in broadcasting the British Broadcasting Corporation (= the BBC)

broaden verb
1 [V] to become wider: Her smile broadened.
2 to affect or make sth affect more people or things: [VN] a promise to broaden access to higher education The party needs to broaden its appeal to voters. [also V]
3 [VN] to increase your experience, knowledge, etc.: Few would disagree that travel broadens the mind (= helps you to understand other people's customs, etc.). Spending a year working in the city helped to broaden his horizons.
broaden out (of a road, river, etc.) to become wider WIDEN OUT

the broad jump noun [sing.] (NAmE) = THE LONG JUMP

broadleaved (also less frequent broadleaf ) adj. (technical) (of plants) having broad flat leaves

broadly adv.
1 generally, without considering details: Broadly speaking, I agree with you. broadly similar/comparable/equivalent/consistent
2 if you smile broadly, you smile with your mouth stretched very wide because you are very pleased or amused

broad-minded adj. willing to listen to other people's opinions and accept behaviour that is different from your own TOLERANT NARROW-MINDED
broad-mindedness noun [U]

Broadmoor noun a special hospital in southern England for criminals who are mentally ill and considered very dangerous

broadness noun [U] the quality of being broad

broadscale adj. on a large scale: The broadscale cutting down of trees is damaging the environment.

broadsheet noun
1 a newspaper printed on a large size of paper, generally considered more serious than smaller newspaperscompare TABLOID
2 a large piece of paper printed on one side only with information or an advertisement

broadside noun, adv., verb
noun an aggressive attack in words, whether written or spoken: The prime minister fired a broadside at his critics.
adv. with one side facing sth SIDEWAYS: The car skidded and crashed broadside into another car. (BrE) The boat swung broadside on to the current of the river.
verb [VN] (NAmE) to crash into the side of sth: The driver ran a stop light and broadsided the truck.

broad-spectrum adj. [only before noun] (technical) (of a drug or chemical) effective against a large variety of bacteria, insects, etc.

broadsword NAmE noun a large SWORD with a broad flat blade

Broadway noun [U] a street in New York City where there are many theatres, sometimes used to refer to the US theatre industry in general: a Broadway musical The play opened on Broadway in 2004.see also OFF-BROADWAY

brocade noun [U, C] a type of thick heavy cloth with a raised pattern made especially from gold or silver silk thread: brocade curtains rich velvets and brocades

brocaded adj. [usually before noun] made of or decorated with brocade

Broca's area NAmE noun (anatomy) an area in the front part of the brain connected with speech

broccoli NAmE noun [U] a vegetable with a thick green STEM and several dark green or purple flower heads

brochette NAmE noun (from French)
1 [C, U] a dish consisting of pieces of food cooked on a thin stick over a fire
2 [C] one of the sticks used for cooking food in this way

brochure NAmE noun a small magazine or book containing pictures and information about sth or advertising sth: a travel brochure Send for a free colour brochure today!

broderie anglaise NAmE noun [U] (from French) decoration with sewing on fine white cloth; the cloth decorated in this way

broer noun (SAfrE, informal)
1 a brother
2 (used of a boy or man) a friend
3 a friendly form of address that is used by one boy or man to another: How's it going, my broer?

brogue NAmE noun
1 [usually pl.] a strong shoe which usually has a pattern in the leather: a pair of brogues
2 [usually sing.] the accent that sb has when they are speaking, especially the accent of Irish or Scottish speakers of English

broil verb
1 [VN] (NAmE) to cook meat or fish under direct heat or over heat on metal bars: broiled chickencompare BARBECUE, GRILL
2 to become or make sb become very hot: [V] They lay broiling in the sun. [also VN]

broiler noun
1 (also broiler chicken) (especially NAmE) a young chicken suitable for broiling or ROASTING
2 (NAmE) the part inside the oven of a cooker/stove that directs heat downwards to cook food that is placed underneath itcompare GRILL

broke NAmE adj. [not before noun] (informal) having no money: I'm always broke by the end of the month. During the recession thousands of small businesses went broke (= had to stop doing business). flat/stony broke (= completely broke)see also BREAK
go for broke (informal) to risk everything in one determined effort to do sthmore at AIN'T

broken NAmE adj.
DAMAGED
1 that has been damaged or injured; no longer whole or working correctly: a broken window/plate a broken leg/arm pieces of broken glass How did this dish get broken? The TV's broken.see also BROKEN HEART
RELATIONSHIP
2 [usually before noun] ended or destroyed: a broken marriage/engagementsee also BROKEN HOME
PROMISE/AGREEMENT
3 [usually before noun] not kept
NOT CONTINUOUS
4 [usually before noun] not continuous; disturbed or interrupted: a night of broken sleep a single broken white line across the road
PERSON
5 [only before noun] made weak and tired by illness or difficulties: He was a broken man after the failure of his business.
LANGUAGE
6 [only before noun] (of a language that is not your own) spoken slowly and with a lot of mistakes; not FLUENT: to speak in broken English
GROUND
7 having a rough surface: an area of broken, rocky ground
see also BREAK, BROKE, BROKEN v.

SYNONYMS

broken

out of order broken-down on the blink

All these words describe sth that is damaged or no longer working correctly.

broken that has been damaged or injured; no longer whole or working correctly: a broken window/plate a broken leg/arm

out of order [not before noun] (rather formal) (of a machine, etc.) not working correctly: The toilets are all out of order.

broken-down [usually before noun] in a very bad condition; not working correctly; very tired and sick: a broken-down old car/horse

on the blink (informal) (of a machine) not working correctly: The fuel gauge had gone on the blink.

OUT OF ORDER OR ON THE BLINK?

Out of order is a slightly formal phrase, used especially about machines and equipment that are available for the public to use; you would be less likely to use it about your own phone, television, etc.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

The TV/video/washing machine is broken/on the blink.

The phone is out of order/on the blink.

broken-down adj. [usually before noun] in a very bad condition; not working correctly; very tired and sick: a broken-down old car/horse note at BROKEN

broken heart noun a feeling of great sadness, especially when sb you love has died or left you: No one ever died of a broken heart.
broken-hearted adj.: He was broken-hearted when his wife died.compare HEARTBROKEN

broken home noun a family in which the parents are divorced or separated: She comes from a broken home.

brokenly NAmE adv. (formal) (of sb's manner of speaking) in phrases that are very short or not complete, with a lot of pauses; not FLUENTLY: 'I'm sorry,' she murmured brokenly, 'Please don't go! Please ... '

broker NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a person who buys and sells things for other people: an insurance broker
2 = STOCKBROKERsee also HONEST BROKER, PAWNBROKER, POWER BROKER
verb [VN] to arrange the details of an agreement, especially between different countries: a peace plan brokered by the UN

brokerage NAmE noun [U]
1 the business of being a broker: a brokerage firm/house
2 an amount of money charged by a broker for work that he/she does

broker-dealer noun (finance) a person who works on the Stock Exchange buying shares from and selling shares to BROKERS and the publiccompare JOBBER

brolly NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (BrE, informal) = UMBRELLA

bromide NAmE noun [C, U] a chemical which contains BROMINE, used, especially in the past, to make people feel calm

bromine NAmE noun [U] (symb Br) a chemical element. Bromine is a dark red poisonous liquid and has a very strong unpleasant smell. It is mainly found in the form of salts in sea water.

bronchial NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (medical) of or affecting the two main branches of the WINDPIPE (called bronchial tubes) leading to the lungs: bronchial pneumonia bronchial asthma

bronchitis NAmE noun [U] an illness that affects the bronchial tubes leading to the lungs: He was suffering from chronic bronchitis.
bronchitic NAmE adj.: a bronchitic cough

bronchus NAmE noun (pl. bronchi NAmE ) (anatomy) any one of the system of tubes which make up the main branches of the WINDPIPE through which air passes in and out of the lungs

bronco NAmE noun (pl. -os) a wild horse of the western US: a bucking bronco in the rodeo

brontosaurus NAmE noun = APATOSAURUS

Bronx cheer NAmE noun (NAmE, informal) = RASPBERRY (2)

bronze NAmE noun, adj.
noun
1 [U] a dark reddish-brown metal made by mixing COPPER and tin: a bronze statue a figure cast in bronze
2 [U] a dark reddish-brown colour, like bronze
3 [C] a work of art made of bronze, for example a statue: a fine collection of bronzes
4 [C, U] = BRONZE MEDAL
adj. dark reddish-brown in colour: bronze skin

the Bronze Age noun [sing.] the period in history between the Stone Age and the Iron Age when people used tools and weapons made of bronze

bronzed NAmE adj. having skin that has been turned brown in an attractive way by the sun TANNED: strong bronzed arms

bronze medal (also bronze) noun [C, U] a MEDAL given as third prize in a competition or race: an Olympic bronze medal winner She won (a) bronze at the Olympics.compare GOLD MEDAL, SILVER MEDAL
bronze medallist (BrE) (NAmE bronze medalist) noun: She's an Olympic bronze medallist.

brooch NAmE (especially BrE) (NAmE usually pin) noun a piece of jewellery with a pin on the back of it, that can be fastened to your clothes

brood verb, noun
verb
1 [V] ~ (over/on/about sth) to think a lot about sth that makes you annoyed, anxious or upset: You're not still brooding over what he said, are you?
2 [V, VN] if a bird broods, or broods its eggs, it sits on the eggs in order to HATCH them (= make the young come out of them)
noun [C+sing./pl. v.]
1 all the young birds or creatures that a mother produces at one time CLUTCH
2 (humorous) a large family of children: She grew up amidst a lively brood of brothers and sisters.

brooding adj. (literary) sad and mysterious or threatening: dark, brooding eyes a brooding silence Ireland's brooding landscape

brood mare noun a female horse kept for breeding

broody adj.
1 (of a woman) wanting very much to have a baby: I reached the age of 27 and suddenly started to feel broody.
2 (of a female bird) wanting to lay eggs and sit on them: a broody hen
3 quiet and thinking about sth because you are unhappy or disappointed
broodiness noun [U]

brook noun, verb
noun a small river
verbnot brook sth/brook no ... (formal) to not allow sth: [VN] The tone in his voice brooked no argument. She would brook no criticism of her son. [also VN -ing]

broom noun
1 [C] a brush on the end of a long handle, used for sweeping floorssee also NEW BROOM
2 [U] a wild bush with small yellow flowers see NEW

broom cupboard noun (BrE)
1 a large built-in cupboard used for keeping cleaning equipment, etc. in
2 (often humorous) a very small room: I couldn't afford more than a broom cupboard to set up office in.

broomstick noun a broom with a long handle and small thin sticks at the end, or the handle of a broom. In stories WITCHES (= women with evil magic powers) ride through the air on broomsticks.

Bros (also Bros. especially in NAmE) abbr. (used in the name of a company) Brothers: Warner Bros

broth NAmE noun [U, C] thick soup made by boiling meat or fish and vegetables in water: chicken brothsee also SCOTCH BROTH see COOK n.

brothel NAmE (also bordello especially in NAmE) noun a house where people pay to have sex with PROSTITUTES

brothel creepers noun [pl.] (BrE, informal) SUEDE shoes with thick soft SOLES, popular in the 1950s

brother noun, exclamation
noun
IN FAMILY
1 a boy or man who has the same mother and father as another person: We're brothers. He's my brother. an older/younger brother a twin brother Does she have any brothers and sisters? Edward was the youngest of the Kennedy brothers. He was like a brother to me (= very close).see also HALF-BROTHER, STEPBROTHER
OTHER MEN
2 (pl. brothers or old-fashioned brethren) used for talking to or talking about other male members of an organization or other men who have the same ideas, purpose, etc. as yourself: We must work together, brothers! We are all brothers in the fight against injustice. He was greatly respected by his brother officers. We must support our weaker brethren.
IN RELIGIOUS GROUP
3 (also Brother) (pl. brethren or brothers) a male member of a religious group, especially a MONK: Brother Luke The Brethren meet regularly for prayer.
FORM OF ADDRESS
4 (NAmE, informal) used by black people as a form of address for a black man
AT COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY
5 (in the US) a member of a FRATERNITY (= a club for a group of male students at a college or university)
exclamation (old-fashioned, especially NAmE) used to express the fact that you are annoyed or surprised: Oh brother!

brotherhood NAmE noun
1 [U] friendship and understanding between people: to live in peace and brotherhood
2 [C+sing./pl. v.] an organization formed for a particular purpose, especially a religious society or political organization
3 [U] the relationship of brothers: the ties of brotherhood

brother-in-law (pl. brothers-in-law) noun the brother of your husband or wife; your sister's husband; the husband of your husband or wife's sistercompare SISTER-IN-LAW

brotherly NAmE adj. [usually before noun] showing feelings of affection and kindness that you would expect a brother to show: brotherly love/advice He gave her a brotherly kiss on the cheek.

brougham noun a type of CARRIAGE used in the past, which had a closed roof and four wheels and was pulled by one horse

brought pt, pp of BRING see LOW adj.

brouhaha noun [U, sing.] (old-fashioned, informal) noisy excitement or complaints about sth: the brouhaha over the photographs they printed

brow noun
1 (literary) the part of the face above the eyes and below the hair FOREHEAD: The nurse mopped his fevered brow. Her brow furrowed in concentration.
2 [usually pl.] = EYEBROW: One dark brow rose in surprise.
3 [usually sing.] the top part of a hill: The path disappeared over the brow of the hill.see also HIGHBROW, MIDDLEBROW, LOWBROW see KNIT v.

browbeat verb (browbeat, browbeaten ) [VN] ~ sb (into doing sth) to frighten or threaten sb in order to make them do sth INTIMIDATE: They were browbeaten into accepting the offer.

brown adj., noun, verb
adj. (browner, brownest)
1 having the colour of earth or coffee: brown eyes brown bread dark brown shoe polish a package wrapped in brown paper
2 having skin that is naturally brown or has been made brown by the sun: (BrE) I don't go brown very easily. After the summer in Spain, the children were brown as berries.
in a brown study (old-fashioned, BrE) thinking deeply so that you do not notice what is happening around you
noun [U, C] the colour of earth or coffee: leaves of various shades of brown Brown doesn't (= brown clothes do not) suit you.
verb to become brown; to make sth brown: [V] Heat the butter until it browns. The grass was browning in patches. [VN] Brown the onions before adding the meat.
browned off (with sb/sth) (BrE, informal) bored, unhappy and/or annoyed FED UP: By now the passengers were getting browned off with the delay.

brown ale noun (BrE)
1 [U, C] a type of mild sweet dark beer sold in bottles
2 [C] a bottle or glass of brown ale

brown-bag verb (-gg-) [VN] (NAmE, informal) to bring your lunch with you to work or school, usually in a brown paper bag: My kids have been brown-bagging it this week.

brown dwarf noun (astronomy) an object in space that is between a large planet and a small star in size, and produces heat

brownfield adj. [only before noun] (BrE) used to describe an area of land in a city that was used by industry or for offices in the past and that may now be cleared for new building development: a brownfield site

brown goods noun [pl.] small electrical items such as televisions, radios, music and video equipmentcompare WHITE GOODS

brownie noun
1 [C] a thick soft flat cake made with chocolate and sometimes nuts and served in small squares: a fudge brownie
2 the Brownies [pl.] a branch of the SCOUT ASSOCIATION for girls between the ages of seven and ten or eleven: to join the Brownies
3 [C] Brownie (BrE also Brownie Guide) a member of the Browniescompare CUB, GUIDE, SCOUT

brownie point noun [usually pl.] (informal) if sb does sth to earn brownie points, they do it to make sb in authority have a good opinion of them: She's just trying to win brownie points with the boss.
The Brownies is a club for young girls who are not yet old enough to be Guides. They are awarded points for good behaviour and achievements.

brownish (also less frequent browny ) adj. fairly brown in colour: You can't see in this light, but my new coat is a sort of brownish colour.

brown-nose verb [V] (informal, disapproving) to treat sb in authority with special respect in order to make them approve of you or treat you better: He got that promotion by brown-nosing.

brown-out noun (especially NAmE) a period of time when the amount of electrical power that is supplied to an area is reduced

brown rat (also common rat, Norway rat) noun a common type of RAT

brown rice noun [U] rice that is light brown because it has not had all of its outside part removed

brown sauce noun [U]
1 (BrE) a sauce made with VINEGAR and spices, sold in bottles
2 (NAmE) a sauce made with fat and flour, cooked until it becomes brown

brownstone NAmE noun (NAmE) a house built of, or with a front made of, a type of reddish-brown stone, which is also called brownstone: New York brownstones

brown sugar noun [U] sugar that has a brown colour and has only been partly REFINED

Brown v Board of Education noun a law case in 1954 which led to a decision of the US Supreme Court that made separate education for black and white children illegal

browse verb
1 to look at a lot of things in a shop/store rather than looking for one particular thing: [V] You are welcome to come in and browse. [VN] She browsed the shelves for something interesting to read.
2 ~ (through sth) to look through the pages of a book, newspaper, etc. without reading everything: [V] I found the article while I was browsing through some old magazines. [also VN]
3 [V, VN] (computing) to look for information on a computer, especially on the Internet
4 [V] ~ (on sth) (of cows, GOATS, etc.) to eat leaves, etc. that are growing high up
browse noun [sing.]: The gift shop is well worth a browse.

browser noun
1 (computing) a program that lets you look at or read documents on the Internet: a Web browser
2 a person who looks through books, magazines, etc. or at things for sale, but may not seriously intend to buy anything: There were one or two browsers in the bookstore.

brrr exclamation a sound that people make to show that they are very cold: Brrr, it's freezing here.

brucellosis NAmE noun [U] a disease caused by bacteria that affects cows and that can cause fever in humans

bruise verb, noun
verb
1 to develop a bruise, or make a bruise or bruises appear on the skin of sb/sth: [V] Strawberries bruise easily. [VN] She had slipped and badly bruised her face. note at INJURE
2 [VN] [usually passive] to affect sb badly and make them feel unhappy and less confident: They had been badly bruised by the defeat.
bruised adj.: He suffered badly bruised ribs in the crash. bruised fruit a bruised ego bruising noun [U]: She suffered severe bruising, but no bones were broken. internal bruisingsee also BRUISING adj.
noun
1 a blue, brown or purple mark that appears on the skin after sb has fallen, been hit, etc.: to be covered in bruises cuts and bruises a huge bruise over his eye note at INJURE
2 a mark on a fruit or vegetable where it is damaged

bruiser noun (informal) a large strong aggressive man: He looks like a real bruiser.

bruising adj. difficult and unpleasant, making you feel tired or weak: a bruising meeting/experience

bruit verb [VN] ~ sth (about) (formal) to spread a piece of news widely: This rumour has been bruited about for years. They issued a press release bruiting his achievement.

Brummie noun (BrE, informal) a person from the city of Birmingham in England
Brummie adj.: a Brummie accent

brunch noun [C, U] a meal that you eat in the late morning as a combination of breakfast and lunch

brunette noun a white-skinned woman with dark brown hair

brunt noun
bear, take, etc. the brunt of sth to receive the main force of sth unpleasant: Schools will bear the brunt of cuts in government spending.

brush noun, verb
noun
1 [C] an object made of short stiff hairs (called BRISTLES) or wires set in a block of wood or plastic, usually attached to a handle. Brushes are used for many different jobs, such as cleaning, painting and tidying your hair: a paintbrush a hairbrush a toothbrush brush strokes (= the marks left by a brush when painting) a dustpan and brush Apply the paint with a fine brush.
2 [sing.] an act of brushing: to give your teeth a good brush
3 [sing.] a light touch made in passing sth/sb: the brush of his lips on her cheek
4 [C] ~ with sb/sth a short unfriendly meeting with sb; an occasion when you nearly experience sth unpleasant: She had a nasty brush with her boss this morning. In his job he's had frequent brushes with death. a brush with the law
5 [U] land covered by small trees or bushes: a brush fire
6 [C] the tail of a FOX see DAFT adj., PAINT v., TAR v.
verb
1 to clean, polish, or make smooth with a brush: [VN] to brush your hair/teeth/shoes [VN-ADJ] A tiled floor is easy to brush clean.
2 [VN] ~ A with B| ~ B over A to put sth, for example oil, milk or egg, on sth using a brush: Brush the pastry with beaten egg. Brush beaten egg over the pastry.
3 [VN + adv. / prep.] to remove sth from a surface with a brush or with your hand: He brushed the dirt off his jacket. She brushed the fly away.
4 ~ (against/by/past) sb/sth to touch sb/sth lightly while moving close to them/it: [V] She brushed past him. His hand accidentally brushed against hers. [VN] The leaves brushed her cheek. He brushed her lips with his.
brush sb/sthaside to ignore sb/sth; to treat sb/sth as unimportant DISMISS: He brushed aside my fears.
brush sb/yourself down (BrE) = BRUSH SB/YOURSELF OFF
brush sthdown to clean sth by brushing it: to brush a coat/horse down
brush off to be removed by brushing: Mud brushes off easily when it is dry.
brush sboff to rudely ignore sb or refuse to listen to them: She brushed him off impatiently.related noun BRUSH-OFF
brush sb/yourself off to make sb/yourself tidy, especially after you have fallen, by brushing your clothes, etc. with your hands
brush sthup| brush up on sth to quickly improve a skill, especially when you have not used it for a time: I must brush up on my Spanish before I go to Seville.

brushback noun (in BASEBALL) a fast PITCH (= throw) that is aimed close to the BATTER'S body so they have to step back to avoid it

brush-off noun [sing.] (informal) rude or unfriendly behaviour that shows that a person is not interested in sb: Paul asked Tara out to dinner but she gave him the brush-off.

brushwood noun [U] small broken or dead branches of trees, often used to make fires

brushwork NAmE noun [U] the particular way in which an artist uses a brush to paint: the bold brushwork of her abstract paintings

brusque NAmE adj. using very few words and sounding rude ABRUPT, CURT: The doctor spoke in a brusque tone.
brusquely adv.: 'What's your name?' he asked brusquely. brusqueness noun [U]

Brussels sprout (also Brussel sprout, sprout) noun a small round green vegetable like a very small CABBAGE

brut adj. (of SPARKLING wine) having a very dry taste

brutal adj.
1 violent and cruel: a brutal attack/murder/rape/killing a brutal and repressive regime
2 direct and clear about sth unpleasant; not thinking of people's feelings: With brutal honesty she told him she did not love him.
brutality noun [U, C] (pl. -ies): police brutality the brutalities of war brutally adv.: He was brutally assaulted. Let me be brutally frank about this.

brutalism noun [U] (architecture) (sometimes disapproving) a style of architecture used especially in the 1950s and 60s which uses large concrete blocks, steel, etc., and is sometimes considered ugly and unpleasant
brutalist adj., noun

brutalize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN]
1 [usually passive] to make sb unable to feel normal human emotions such as pity: soldiers brutalized by war
2 to treat sb in a cruel or violent way: The prisoners were brutalized and deprived of basic rights.

brute noun, adj.
noun
1 (sometimes humorous) a man who treats people in an unkind, cruel way: His father was a drunken brute. You've forgotten my birthday again, you brute! an ugly brute
2 a large strong animal
3 a thing which is awkward and unpleasant
adj. [only before noun]
1 involving physical strength only and not thought or intelligence: brute force/strength
2 basic and unpleasant: the brute facts of inequality Their desire for independence has to do with brute economics.

brutish adj. unkind and violent and not showing thought or intelligence: Life for our early ancestors was nasty, brutish and short, according to the evidence.
brutishness noun [U]

Brythonic NAmE (also Brittonic) adj. relating to the southern group of Celtic languages, including Welsh, Cornish and Bretoncompare GOIDELIC

BS (BrE) (NAmE B.S.) abbr.
1 (US) = BSC
2 (BrE) the abbreviation for 'Bachelor of Surgery' (a university degree in medicine)
3 British Standard (used on labels, etc. showing a number given by the British Standards Institution which controls the quality of products): produced to BS4353
4 (US, taboo, slang) BULLSHIT: That guy's full of BS.

BSc (BrE) (NAmE B.S.) noun the abbreviation for 'Bachelor of Science' (a first university degree in science): to be/have/do a BSc in Zoology (BrE) Jill Ayres BSc

BSE (also informal mad cow disease) noun [U] the abbreviation for 'bovine spongiform encephalopathy' (a brain disease of cows that causes death)

BSI abbr. the British Standards Institution (the organization that decides the standard sizes for goods produced in Britain, and tests the safety of electrical goods, children's toys, etc.)

B-side noun the side of a pop record that is considered less likely to be successfulcompare A-SIDE

BST abbr. BRITISH SUMMER TIME

BTEC noun used to refer to any of a large group of British qualifications that can be taken in many different subjects at several levels (the abbreviation for 'Business and Technology Education Council'): a BTEC Higher National Diploma in Public Service Studies

BTW abbr. used in writing to mean 'by the way'

bubble noun, verb
noun
1 a ball of air or gas in a liquid, or a ball of air inside a solid substance such as glass: champagne bubbles a bubble of oxygen blowing bubbles into water through a strawsee also SPEECH BUBBLE
2 a round ball of liquid, containing air, produced by soap and water: The children like to have bubbles in their bath.
3 a small amount of a feeling that sb wants to express: a bubble of laughter/hope/enthusiasm
4 a good or lucky situation that is unlikely to last long: At the time the telecoms bubble was at its height.
the bubble bursts there is a sudden end to a good or lucky situation: When the bubble finally burst, hundreds of people lost their jobs. The optimistic bubble has now burst and economists agree the recession will continue.more at BURST v.
verb [V]
1 to form bubbles: The water in the pan was beginning to bubble. Add the white wine and let it bubble up. Cook until the cheese is golden and bubbling.
2 [usually +adv./prep.] to make a bubbling sound, especially when moving in the direction mentioned: I could hear the soup bubbling away. A stream came bubbling between the stones. Mike's laugh bubbled down the line.
3 ~ (over) with sth to be full of a particular feeling: She was bubbling over with excitement.
4 [+adv./prep.] (of a feeling) to be felt strongly by a person; to be present in a situation: Laughter bubbled up inside him. the anger that bubbled beneath the surface Long-standing ethnic tensions have bubbled to the surface. Match-rigging is still bubbling away in the background.
bubble under (especially BrE) (NAmE usually bubble under the radar) (informal) to be likely to be very successful or popular soon: Here are two records that are bubbling under.

bubble and squeak noun [U] a type of British food made from cold cooked potatoes and CABBAGE that are mixed together and fried

bubble bath noun
1 [U] a liquid soap that smells pleasant and makes a lot of bubbles when it is added to bath water
2 [C] a bath with bubble bath in the water: Lie back in a relaxing bubble bath.

bubblegum noun, adj.
noun [U] a type of CHEWING GUM that can be blown into bubbles
adj. [only before noun] simple in style, not serious and liked mainly by young people: This CD is pure bubblegum pop.

bubblejet printer noun a type of printer that uses bubbles of air to blow small dots of ink in order to form letters, numbers, etc. on paper

bubble pack noun = BLISTER PACK

bubble wrap (BrE) (NAmE Bubble Wrap TM) noun [U] a sheet of plastic which has lots of small raised parts filled with air, used for protecting things that are being carried or sent by post/mail

bubbly adj., noun
adj.
1 full of bubbles
2 (of a person) always cheerful, friendly and enthusiastic: Julie's bright, bubbly personality
noun [U] (informal) CHAMPAGNE: a bottle of bubbly

bubo NAmE noun (pl. buboes) (medical) a painful swelling of the LYMPH NODE under the arm or in the GROIN

bubonic plague NAmE (also the plague) noun [U] a disease spread by RATS that causes fever, swellings on the body and usually death

buccaneer NAmE noun
1 (in the past) a sailor who attacked ships at sea and stole from them PIRATE
2 (especially in business) a person who achieves success in a skilful but not always honest way

buccaneering NAmE adj. enjoying taking risks, especially in business: Virgin's buccaneering founder, Richard Branson

buck noun, verb
noun
1 [C] (informal) a US, Australian or New Zealand dollar; a South African RAND; an Indian RUPEE: They cost ten bucks. We're talking big bucks (= a lot of money) here.
2 [C] a male DEER, HARE or RABBIT (also called a buck rabbit)compare DOE, HART, STAG
3 [C] (SAfrE) a DEER, whether male or female: a herd of buck
4 [C] (old-fashioned, informal) a young man
5 the buck [sing.] used in some expressions to refer to the responsibility or blame for sth: It was my decision. The buck stops here (= nobody else can be blamed). I was tempted to pass the buck (= make sb else responsible).
From buck, an object which in a poker game is placed in front of the player whose turn it is to deal.
make a fast/quick buck (informal, often disapproving) to earn money quickly and easily: This is a long-term project. We are not out to make a quick buck.more at BANG n., MILLION
verb
1 [V] (of a horse) to jump with the two back feet or all four feet off the ground
2 [V] to move up and down suddenly or in a way that is not controlled: The boat bucked and heaved beneath them. The shotgun bucked in his hands.
3 [VN] (informal) to resist or oppose sth: One or two companies have managed to buck the trend of the recession. He admired her willingness to buck the system (= oppose authority or rules). The President is unlikely to buck pressure from the public.
buck your ideas up (BrE, informal) to start behaving in a more acceptable way, so that work gets done better, etc.
buck up (informal)
1 (often in orders) to become more cheerful CHEER UP: Buck up, kid! It's not the end of the game.
2 buck up! (old-fashioned) used to tell sb to hurry HURRY UP
buck sb up (BrE, informal) to make sb more cheerful CHEER UP: The good news bucked us all up.

bucket noun, verb
noun
1 (NAmE also pail) [C] an open container with a handle, used for carrying or holding liquids, sand, etc.: a plastic bucket (BrE) They were playing on the beach with their buckets and spades.
2 [C] a large container that is part of a CRANE or DIGGER and is used for lifting things
3 (also bucketful ) (NAmE also pail, pailful) [C] the amount contained in a bucket: two buckets/bucketfuls of water They used to drink tea by the bucket/bucketful (= in large quantities).
4 buckets [pl.] (informal) a large amount: To succeed in show business, you need buckets of confidence. We wept buckets. He was sweating buckets by the end of the race. The rain was coming down in buckets (= it was raining very heavily). see DROP n., KICK v.
verb
bucket down (BrE, informal) to rain heavily POUR: It's bucketing down.

bucket seat noun a seat with a curved back for one person, especially in a car

bucket shop noun (informal, especially BrE) a place that sells cheap plane tickets

buckeye noun
1 a N American tree that has bright red or white flowers and produces nuts
2 an orange and brown BUTTERFLY with large spots on its wings that look like eyes
3 Buckeye (US, informal) a person from the US state of Ohio

Buck House noun (BrE, often ironic) an informal name for Buckingham Palace: We stayed at Tom's place. It isn't exactly Buck House, but it's comfortable enough.

Buckingham Palace noun
1 the official home of the British royal family in London
2 the British royal family or the people who advise them: Buckingham Palace refused to comment.

buckle verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (sth on/up) to fasten sth or be fastened with a buckle: [VN] She buckled her belt. He buckled on his sword. [V] These shoes buckle at the side.
2 to become crushed or bent under a weight or force; to crush or bend sth in this way: [V] The steel frames began to buckle under the strain. (figurative) A weaker man would have buckled under the pressure. [VN] The crash buckled the front of my car.
3 [V] when your knees or legs buckle or when you buckle at the knees, your knees become weak and you start to fall
buckle down (to sth) (informal) to start to do sth seriously: I'd better buckle down to those reports.
buckle up (NAmE) = BELT UP at BELT v.
noun a piece of metal or plastic used for joining the ends of a belt or for fastening a part of a bag, shoe, etc.

Buckley's noun
not have Buckley's (chance) (AustralE, NZE, informal) used to suggest that sb has little or no hope of achieving a particular aim

buckminsterfullerene NAmE (also fullerene) noun [U] (also buckyballs [pl.]) (chemistry) an ALLOTROPE (= form) of CARBON with MOLECULES of 60 atoms arranged in a round hollow shape

buck naked adj. (NAmE, informal) (of a person) not wearing any clothes at all

buckram noun [U] a type of stiff cloth made especially from cotton or LINEN, used in the past for covering books and for making clothes stiffer

Buck's Fizz (NAmE mimosa) noun [U, C] an alcoholic drink made by mixing SPARKLING white wine (= with bubbles) with orange juice

buckshot NAmE noun [U] balls of LEAD that are fired from a SHOTGUN

buckskin noun [U] soft leather made from the skin of DEER or GOATS, used for making gloves, bags, etc.

buck teeth noun [pl.] top teeth that stick forward
buck-toothed adj.

buckwheat noun [U] small dark grain that is grown as food for animals and for making flour

buckyballs noun [pl.] (chemistry) = BUCKMINSTERFULLERENE

bucolic NAmE adj. (literary) connected with the countryside or country life: a stream winding through stately parks and bucolic meadows

bud noun, verb
noun
1 a small lump that grows on a plant and from which a flower, leaf or STEM develops: the first buds appearing in spring The tree is in bud already.
2 a flower or leaf that is not fully open
3 (NAmE, informal) = BUDDY: Listen, bud, enough of the wisecracks, OK?see also COTTON BUD, ROSEBUD, TASTE BUD see NIP v.
verb [V] to produce buds

Buddha noun
1 (also the Buddha) the person on whose teachings the Buddhist religion is based
2 [C] a statue or picture of the Buddha
3 [C] a person who has achieved ENLIGHTENMENT (= spiritual knowledge) in Buddhism

Buddhism noun [U] an Asian religion based on the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama (or Buddha)
Buddhist noun: a devout Buddhist Buddhist adj. [usually before noun]: a Buddhist monk/temple

budding adj. [only before noun] beginning to develop or become successful: a budding artist/writer our budding romance The budding young star is now hot property in Hollywood.

buddleia noun [C, U] a bush with purple or white flowers that grow in groups

buddy noun, verb
noun (pl. -ies)
1 (NAmE also bud) (informal) a friend: an old college buddy of mine Howard and Mick were drinking buddies.
2 (also bud) (both NAmE) used to speak to a man you do not know: 'Where to, buddy?' the driver asked.
3 (especially NAmE) a partner who does an activity with you so that you can help each other: The school uses a buddy system to pair newcomers with older students. Her driving buddy was in trouble.
verb (buddies, buddying, buddied, buddied)
buddy up (to/with sb) (NAmE)
1 = PAL UP (WITH SB): You and your neighbour might want to buddy up to make the trip more enjoyable.
2 to become friendly with sb in order to get an advantage for yourself

buddy movie noun (informal) a film/movie in which there is a close friendship between two people

budge verb (usually used in negative sentences)
1 to move slightly; to make sth/sb move slightly: [V] She pushed at the door but it wouldn't budge. The dog refused to budge. [VN] I heaved with all my might but still couldn't budge it.
2 to change your opinion about sth; to make sb change their opinion: [V] He won't budge an inch on the issue. [VN] He was not to be budged on the issue.
budge up (BrE, informal) to move, so that there is room for other people MOVE UP: Budge up a bit!

budgerigar noun (also informal budgie) (both BrE) a small bird of the PARROT family, often kept in a CAGE as a pet

budget noun, verb, adj.
noun
1 [C, U] the money that is available to a person or an organization and a plan of how it will be spent over a period of time: a monthly/an annual/a family budget the education/defence budget (= the amount of money that can be spent on this) an advertising budget of $2 million a big-budget movie We decorated the house on a tight budget (= without much money to spend). The work was finished on time and within budget (= did not cost more money than was planned). They went over budget (= spent too much money). budget cuts
2 (BrE also Budget) an official statement by the government of a country's income from taxes, etc. and how it will be spent: tax cuts in this year's budget a budget deficit (= when the government spends more money than it earns)
verb~ (sth) (for sth)| ~ sth (at sth) to be careful about the amount of money you spend; to plan to spend an amount of money for a particular purpose: [V] If we budget carefully we'll be able to afford the trip. I've budgeted for two new members of staff. [VN] Ten million francs has been budgeted for the project. The project has been budgeted at ten million francs. note at SAVE
budgeting noun [U]
adj. [only before noun] (used in advertising, etc.) low in price: a budget flight/hotel note at CHEAP

budget account noun (BrE) an arrangement with a shop/store or company to pay your bills in fixed regular amounts and not as one large payment

budgetary NAmE adj. connected with a budget: budgetary control/policies/reform note at ECONOMIC

budgie noun (BrE, informal) = BUDGERIGAR

buff noun, adj., verb
noun
1 [C] (used in compounds) a person who is very interested in a particular subject or activity and knows a lot about it: an opera buff
2 [U] a pale yellow-brown colour BEIGE
3 [U] soft strong yellowish-brown leathersee also BLIND MAN'S BUFF
in the buff (informal) wearing no clothes NAKED
adj.
1 pale yellow-brown in colour: a buff envelope BEIGE
2 (slang) physically fit and attractive with big muscles
verb [VN] ~ sth (up) to polish sth with a soft cloth: She buffed up the brass with a cloth.

buffalo NAmE noun (pl. buffalo or buffaloes)
1 a large animal of the cow family. There are two types of buffalo, the African and the Asian, which has wide, curved horns.see also WATER BUFFALO
2 = BISON

buffer noun, verb
noun
1 ~ (against sth)| ~ (between sth and sth) a thing or person that reduces a shock or protects sb/sth against difficulties: Support from family and friends acts as a buffer against stress. She often had to act as a buffer between father and son. a buffer state (= a small country between two powerful states that helps keep peace between them) a buffer zone (= an area of land between two opposing armies or countries)
2 (BrE) one of two round metal devices on the front or end of a train, or at the end of a railway/railroad track, that reduce the shock if the train hits sth
3 (computing) an area in a computer's memory where data can be stored for a short time
4 (also old buffer) (old-fashioned, BrE) a silly old man see HIT v.
verb [VN]
1 to reduce the harmful effects of sth: to buffer the effects of stress on health
2 ~ sb (against sth) to protect sb from sth: They tried to buffer themselves against problems and uncertainties.
3 (computing) (of a computer) to hold data for a short time before using it

buffet^1 NAmE nounsee also BUFFET^2
1 a meal at which people serve themselves from a table and then stand or sit somewhere else to eat: a buffet lunch/supper Dinner will be a cold buffet, not a sit-down meal. a finger buffet (= food that you can eat with your hands, not with a knife and fork)
2 a place, for example in a train or bus station, where you can buy food and drinks to eat or drink there, or to take away
3 (BrE) = BUFFET CAR
4 (especially NAmE) = SIDEBOARD (1)

buffet^2 see also BUFFET^1verb [VN] [often passive] to knock or push sb/sth roughly from side to side: to be buffeted by the wind (figurative, formal) The nation had been buffeted by a wave of strikes.
buffeting noun [U, C, usually sing.]: The tiny boat was ill-equipped for the buffeting it got from the wind and the rain.

buffet car NAmE (also buffet) noun (BrE) the part of a train where you can buy sth to eat and drink

buffoon noun (old-fashioned) a person who does silly but amusing things
buffoonery noun [U]

bug noun, verb
noun
1 [C] (especially NAmE) any small insect
2 [C] (informal) an infectious illness that is usually fairly mild: a flu bug There's a stomach bug going round (= people are catching it from each other). I picked up a bug in the office. note at DISEASE
3 (usually the ... bug) [sing.] (informal) an enthusiastic interest in sth such as a sport or a hobby: the travel bug She was never interested in fitness before but now she's been bitten by the bug.
4 [C] (informal) a small hidden device for listening to other people's conversations: They planted a bug in his hotel room.
5 [C] a fault in a machine, especially in a computer system or program
6 (NAmE) = BEETLE
verb (-gg-) [VN]
1 to put a special device (= a bug) somewhere in order to listen secretly to other people's conversations: They bugged her hotel room. They were bugging his telephone conversations. a bugging device
2 (informal) to annoy or irritate sb: Stop bugging me! It's something that's been bugging me a lot recently. She's really beginning to bug me.
bug off! (NAmE, informal) a rude way of telling sb to go away

bugaboo noun (NAmE, informal) a thing that people are afraid of

bugbear NAmE noun (especially BrE) a thing that annoys people and that they worry about: Inflation is the government's main bugbear.

bug-eyed adj. (informal) having eyes that stick out

bugger noun, verb
noun (BrE, taboo, slang)
1 an offensive word used to insult sb, especially a man, and to show anger or dislike: Come here, you little bugger! You stupid bugger! You could have run me over! Don't let the buggers get you down.
2 used to refer to a person, especially a man, that you like or feel sympathy for: Poor bugger! His wife left him last week. He's a tough old bugger. You daft bugger!
3 a thing that is difficult or causes problems: This door's a bugger to open. Question 6 is a real bugger. It's a bugger trying to remember the lines. see SILLY adj.
verb
1 (BrE, taboo, slang) used as a swear word when sb is annoyed about sth or to show that they do not care about sth at all: [V] Bugger! I've left my keys at home. [VN] Bugger it! I've burnt the toast. Oh, bugger the cost! Let's get it anyway. So I thought, bugger this for a lark.
2 [VN] (BrE, taboo, slang) to break or ruin sth: I think I've buggered the computer. This will bugger the rear suspension.
3 [VN] (taboo or law) to have ANAL sex with sb
bugger me (BrE, taboo, slang) used to express surprise: Bugger me! Did you see that?
bugger about/around (BrE, taboo, slang) to waste time by behaving in a silly way or with no clear purpose: Stop buggering about and get back to work. A more polite, informal way of saying this is mess about (BrE) or mess around (NAmE,BrE).
bugger sb about/around (BrE, taboo, slang) to treat sb in a way that is deliberately not helpful to them or wastes their time: I'm sick of being buggered about by the company. A more polite, informal way of saying this is mess sb about/around.
bugger off (BrE, taboo, slang) (often used in orders) to go away: Bugger off and leave me alone. Where is everyone? They've all buggered off.
bugger sthup (BrE, taboo, slang) to do sth badly or spoil sth: I buggered up the exam. Sorry for buggering up your plans. A more polite, informal way of saying this is foul sth up, mess sth up or bungle sth.

bugger all noun [U] (BrE, taboo, slang) nothing at all; none at all: There's bugger all on TV tonight. Well, she was bugger all help (= no help at all).

buggered NAmE adj. [not before noun] (BrE, taboo, slang)
1 very tired
2 broken or ruined: Oh no, the TV's buggered.
I'll be buggered (BrE, taboo, informal) used to express great surprise: Well, I'll be buggered! Look who's here.
I'm buggered if ... (BrE, taboo, slang) used to say that you do not know sth or to refuse to do sth: 'What's this meeting all about?' 'I'm buggered if I know.' Well I'm buggered if I'm going to help her after what she said to me.

buggery noun [U] (BrE, taboo, slang or law) ANAL sex

Buggins' turn noun [U] (BrE, informal) used to refer to the way in which it sometimes seems that people get jobs or are promoted not because they are good at what they do, but because they have been doing it for longer than anybody else

buggy noun (pl. -ies)
1 (BrE) (NAmE cart) a small car, often without a roof or doors, used for a particular purpose: a garden/golf buggysee also BEACH BUGGY
2 (also Baby BuggyTM) (both BrE) (NAmE stroller) a type of light folding chair on wheels in which a baby or small child is pushed alongcompare PUSHCHAIR
3 a light CARRIAGE for one or two people, pulled by one horse

bugle noun a musical instrument like a small TRUMPET, used in the army for giving signals

bugler noun a person who plays the bugle

buibui noun (EAfrE) an item of clothing worn by some Muslim women, consisting of a long black dress and piece of black cloth that covers the head showing only the face or eyes

build verb, noun
verb (built, built )
1 ~ sth (of/in/from sth)| ~ sth (for sb)| ~ sb sth to make sth, especially a building, by putting parts together: [VN] They have permission to build 200 new houses. Robins build nests almost anywhere. a house built of stone apartment blocks built in brick and concrete They had a house built for them. [VNN] David built us a shed in the back yard. [V] They're going to build on the site of the old power station.
2 [VN] to create or develop sth: She's built a new career for herself. We want to build a better life. This information will help us build a picture of his attacker.
3 [V] (of a feeling) to become gradually stronger: The tension and excitement built gradually all day. see CASTLE, ROME
build sth around sth [usually passive] to create sth, using sth else as a basis: The story is built around a group of high school dropouts.
build sthin| build sth into sth [often passive]
1 to make sth a permanent part of a larger structure: We're having new wardrobes built in. Manufacturers are now building modems into new computers. The pipes were built into the concrete.
2 to make sth a permanent part of a system, plan, etc.: A certain amount of flexibility is built into the system.see also BUILT-IN
build on sth to use sth as a basis for further progress: This study builds on earlier work. We will continue to build on our previous success.
build sth on sth [usually passive] to base sth on sth: an argument built on sound logic
build sthon| build sth onto sth to add sth (for example, an extra room) to an existing structure by building: They've built an extension on. The new wing was built onto the hospital last year.
build up (to sth) to become greater, more powerful or larger in number: All the pressure built up and he was off work for weeks with stress. The music builds up to a rousing climax.related noun BUILD-UP (1)
build up to sth| build yourself up to sth to prepare for a particular moment or event: Build yourself up to peak performance on the day of the exam. If you are building up to a competition you may wish to increase your fitness and endurance.related noun BUILD-UP (2)
build sb/sth up [usually passive] to give a very positive and enthusiastic description of sb/sth, often exaggerating your claims: The play was built up to be a masterpiece but I found it very disappointing.related noun BUILD-UP (3)
build sb/yourselfup to make sb/yourself healthier or stronger: You need more protein to build you up.
build sthup
1 to create or develop sth: She's built up a very successful business. These finds help us build up a picture of life in the Middle Ages. I am anxious not to build up false hopes (= to encourage people to hope for too much). The gallery has built up a fine collection of contemporary art. We've built up good relationships with our clients.
2 to make sth higher or stronger than it was before: The sea defences have been built up to ensure that such a disaster will not strike again.
noun [U, C, usually sing.] the shape and size of the human body: a man of average build

SYNONYMS

build

construct assemble erect set up put up put together

These words all mean to make sth, especially by putting different parts together.

build to make sth, especially a building, by putting parts together: a house built of stone They're going to build on the site of the old power station.

construct [often passive] (rather formal) to build sth such as a road, building or machine.

assemble (rather formal) to fit together all the separate parts of sth such as a piece of furniture or a machine: The cupboard is easy to assemble.

erect (formal) to build sth; to put sth in position and make it stand upright: Police had to erect barriers to keep crowds back.

set sth up to build sth or place sth somewhere: We decided to set up camp for the night.

put sth up to build sth or place sth somewhere: They're putting up new hotels in order to boost tourism in the area.

SET STH UP OR PUT STH UP?

Set sth up is not used for permanent buildings: They're setting up new hotels.. You set up camp but put up a tent. For other temporary structures you can use either word: to set up/put up a fence/barrier/shelter.

put sth together to make or prepare sth by fitting or collecting parts together: to put together a model plane

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to build/construct/erect/put up a house/bridge/wall

to build/construct/erect/put up some shelves

to build/construct/erect/put up a barrier/fence/shelter

to build/construct/assemble/put together a(n) engine/machine

to build/construct a road/railway/railroad/tunnel

to erect/put up a tent/statue/monument

to assemble/put together the parts/sections of sth

builder noun
1 a person or company whose job is to build or repair houses or other buildings
2 (usually in compounds) a person or thing that builds, creates or develops sth: a shipbuilder a confidence buildersee also BODYBUILDER

builders' merchant noun a person or shop that supplies materials to the building trade

building noun
1 [C] a structure such as a house or school that has a roof and walls: tall/old/historic buildings
2 [U] the process and work of building: the building of the school There's building work going on next door. the building trade building materials/costs/regulations

SYNONYMS

building

property premises complex structure block edifice

These are all words for a structure such as a house, office block or factory that has a roof and four walls

building a structure such as a house, office block or factory that has a roof and four walls

property a building or buildings and the surrounding land; land and buildings: We have a buyer who would like to view the property. The price of property has risen enormously. This word is often used when talking about buying/selling houses or other buildings and land.

premises [pl.] the building or buildings and surrounding land that a business owns or uses: The company is looking for larger premises.

complex a group of buildings of a similar type together in one place: a leisure complex

structure a thing that is made of several parts, especially a building: The pier is a wooden structure.

block (BrE) a tall building that contains flats or offices; a building that forms part of a school, hospital, etc. and is used for a particular purpose: a block of flats the school's science block

edifice (formal) a large impressive building.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

(a/an) commercial/industrial/residential building/property/premises/complex/block

an apartment building/complex/block

a/the school building/premises

a holiday property/complex

to build a(n) property/complex/structure/block/edifice

to erect a(n) building/property/complex/structure/block/edifice

to put up a building/property/structure/block

to demolish/pull down a(n) building/property/complex/structure/block/edifice

building block noun
1 [C] a piece of wood or plastic used as a toy for children to build things with
2 building blocks [pl.] parts that are joined together in order to make a large thing exist: Single words are the building blocks of language.

building site (especially BrE) (NAmE usually construction site) noun an area of land where sth is being built

building society noun (BrE) (US savings and loan association) an organization like a bank that lends money to people who want to buy a house. People also save money with a building society.

build-up noun
1 [sing., U] an increase in the amount of sth over a period of time: a steady build-up of traffic in the evenings carbon dioxide build-up in the atmosphere
2 [C, usually sing.] ~ (to sth) the time before an important event, when people are preparing for it: the build-up to the President's visit the build-up to her wedding
3 [C, usually sing.] a very positive and enthusiastic description of sth that is going to happen, that is intended to make people excited about it: The media has given the show a huge build-up.

built combining form (after adverbs and in compound adjectives) made in the particular way that is mentioned: a newly built station American-built carssee also PURPOSE-BUILT, WELL BUILT

built-in (also less frequent in-built) adj. [only before noun] included as part of sth and not separate from it: built-in cupboards a computer workstation with a built-in telephone, answering machine and fax (figurative) our built-in weaknessescompare INBUILT

built-up adj. [usually before noun] (especially BrE) (of an area of land) covered in buildings, roads, etc.: to reduce the speed limit in built-up areas

bulb noun
1 (also light bulb) the glass part that fits into an electric lamp, etc. to give light when it is switched on: a 60-watt bulb a room lit by bare bulbs (= with no decorative cover)
2 the round underground part of some plants, shaped like an onion, that grows into a new plant every year: the bulb fields of Holland
3 an object shaped like a bulb, for example the end of a THERMOMETER

bulbous adj. shaped like a bulb; round and fat in an ugly way: a bulbous red nose

bulgar (also bulgur) (also bulgar wheat) noun [U] a type of food consisting of grains of WHEAT that are boiled then dried

bulge verb, noun
verb [V]
1 ~ (with sth) (usually used in the progressive tenses) to be completely full (of sth): Her pockets were bulging with presents. a bulging briefcase
2 to stick out from sth in a round shape: His eyes bulged. South of Benghazi the coastline bulges out then in. see SEAM
noun
1 a lump that sticks out from sth in a round shape: the bulge of a gun in his pocket
2 (informal) fat on the body that sticks out in a round shape: That skirt's too tight. It shows all your bulges.
3 a sudden temporary increase in the amount of sth: After the war there was a bulge in the birth rate.

bulging adj. that stick out from sth in a round shape: bulging eyes

bulimia (also bulimia nervosa NAmE ) noun [U] an emotional DISORDER in which a person repeatedly eats too much and then forces him- or herself to VOMITcompare ANOREXIA
bulimic adj., noun

bulk noun, verb
noun
1 [sing.] the ~ (of sth) the main part of sth; most of sth: The bulk of the population lives in cities.
2 [U] the (large) size or quantity of sth: Despite its bulk and weight, the car is extremely fast. a bulk order (= one for a large number of similar items) bulk buying (= buying in large amounts, often at a reduced price) It's cheaper to buy in bulk.
3 [sing.] the weight or shape of sb/sth large: She heaved her bulk out of the chair.
verb [V]
bulk large (BrE, formal) to be the most important part of sth: The issue is likely to bulk large at the next summit meeting.
bulk sthout/up to make sth bigger, thicker or heavier: Sausages often have bread in them to bulk them out. He acquired another small airline and bulked up operations.

bulkhead noun (technical) a wall that divides a ship or an aircraft into separate parts

bulky adj. (bulkier, bulkiest)
1 (of a thing) large and difficult to move or carry: Bulky items will be collected separately.
2 (of a person) tall and heavy: The bulky figure of Inspector Jones appeared at the door.

bull noun
1 [C] the male of any animal in the cow family: a bull neck (= a short thick neck like a bull's)compare BULLOCK, COW, OX, STEER
2 [C] the male of the ELEPHANT, WHALE and some other large animalscompare COW
3 [C] (finance) a person who buys shares in a company, hoping to sell them soon afterwards at a higher pricecompare BEAR
4 [C] an official order or statement from the POPE (= the head of the Roman Catholic Church): a papal bull
5 [U] (slang) = BULLSHIT: That's a load of bull!
6 [C] = BULLSEYEsee also COCK AND BULL STORY
a bull in a china shop a person who is careless, or who moves or acts in a rough or awkward way, in a place or situation where skill and care are needed: You're not going to go storming in there like a bull in a china shop, are you?
take the bull by the horns to face a difficult or dangerous situation directly and with courage: Nora decided to take the bull by the horns and organize things for herself.more at RED adj., SHOOT v.

bull bars noun [pl.] (BrE) a set of strong metal bars fixed to the front of a large vehicle to protect it from damage

bulldog NAmE noun a short strong dog with a large head, a short flat nose and a short thick neck

Bulldog clipTMnoun (BrE) a metal device for holding papers together

bulldoze NAmE verb
1 [VN] to destroy buildings, trees, etc. with a bulldozer: The trees are being bulldozed to make way for a new superstore. The makeshift dwellings were bulldozed into the ground.
2 [+adv./prep.] to force your way somewhere; to force sth somewhere: [V] Andy Roland bulldozed through to score. [VN] He bulldozed his way to victory. They bulldozed the tax through Parliament.
3 [VN] ~ sb (into doing sth) to force sb to do sth: They bulldozed him into selling.

bulldozer NAmE noun a powerful vehicle with a broad steel blade in front, used for moving earth or knocking down buildings

bulldyke (also bulldike) noun (offensive) a LESBIAN who is thought to look very male or to act in a typically male way

bullet noun a small metal object that is fired from a gun: bullet wounds There were bullet holes in the door. He was killed by a bullet in the head.see also MAGIC BULLET, PLASTIC BULLET, RUBBER BULLET see BITE v.

bulletin noun
1 a short news report on the radio or television
2 an official statement about sth important: a bulletin on the President's health
3 a printed report that gives news about an organization or a group

bulletin board noun
1 (NAmE) = NOTICEBOARD
2 (computing) a place in a computer system where any user can write or read messages

bullet point noun an item in a list in a document, that is printed with a square, diamond or circle in front of it in order to show that it is important. The square, etc. is also called a bullet point.

bulletproof adj. that can stop bullets from passing through it: a bulletproof vest

bullet train noun (informal) a Japanese train that carries passengers at high speeds

bullfight noun a traditional public entertainment, popular especially in Spain, in which BULLS are fought and usually killed
bullfighter noun bullfighting noun [U] see also MATADOR

bullfinch noun a small European bird of the FINCH family, with a strong curved beak and a pink breast

bullfrog NAmE noun a large American FROG with a loud CROAK

bullheaded adj. (NAmE) unwilling to change your opinion about sth, in a way that other people think is annoying and unreasonable obstinate, stubborn: You're just being bullheaded now.
bullheadedness noun [U]

bullhorn NAmE noun (NAmE) = LOUDHAILER

bullion noun [U] gold or silver in large amounts or in the form of bars: gold bullion

bullish adj.
1 feeling confident and positive about the future: in a bullish mood
2 (finance) causing, or connected with, an increase in the price of shares: a bullish marketcompare BEARISH

bull market noun (finance) a period during which share prices are rising and people are buying sharescompare BEAR MARKET

bull mastiff noun a large strong dog with short smooth hair

bullock noun a young BULL (= a male cow) that has been CASTRATED (= had part of its sex organs removed)compare OX, STEER

bullpen noun (NAmE)
1 the part of a BASEBALL field where players practise PITCHING (= throwing) before the game
2 extra PITCHERS (= players who throw the ball) in a BASEBALL team who are used, if necessary, to replace the usual pitchers: The team's bullpen is solid this year.
3 a type of large office which is OPEN-PLAN (= it does not have walls dividing the office area)
4 a room where prisoners wait before they go into the court for their trial

bullring noun the large round area, like an outdoor theatre, where BULLFIGHTS take place

bullrush = BULRUSH

bull session noun (NAmE, informal) an occasion when people meet and talk in an informal way

bullseye (also bull) noun [usually sing.] the centre of the target that you shoot or throw at in shooting, ARCHERY or DARTS; a shot or throw that hits this: He scored a bullseye.

bullshit noun, verb
noun [U] (taboo, slang) (also informal bull) (abbr. BS) nonsense: That's just bullshit.
verb (-tt-) (taboo, slang) to say things that are not true, especially in order to trick sb: [V] She's just bullshitting. [VN] Don't try to bullshit me!
bullshitter noun

bull terrier noun a strong dog with short hair, a thick neck and a long nosesee also PIT BULL TERRIER

bully noun, verb, exclamation
noun (pl. -ies) a person who uses their strength or power to frighten or hurt weaker people: the school bully Leave him alone, you big bully!
verb (bullies, bullying, bullied, bullied) [VN] ~ sb (into sth/into doing sth) to frighten or hurt a weaker person; to use your strength or power to make sb do sth: My son is being bullied at school. I won't be bullied into signing anything.
bullying noun [U]: Bullying is a problem in many schools. He refused to give in to bullying and threats. bullying behaviour/tactics
exclamation
bully for you, etc. (informal) used to show that you do not think that what sb has said or done is very impressive: He's got a job in New York? Well, bully for him!

bully boy noun (BrE, informal) an aggressive violent man: The group have frequently used bully-boy tactics.

bully pulpit noun [sing.] (NAmE) a position of authority that gives sb the opportunity to speak in public about an issue: He intends to use the presidency as a bully pulpit to promote family values.

bulrush (also bullrush) noun a tall plant with long narrow leaves and a long brown head of flowers, that grows in or near water

bulwark NAmE noun
1 ~ (against sth) (formal) a person or thing that protects or defends sth: a bulwark against communism
2 a wall built as a defence
3 [usually pl.] the part of a ship's side that is above the level of the DECK

bum noun, verb, adj.
noun (informal)
1 (BrE) the part of the body that you sit on BACKSIDE, BEHIND, BOTTOM
2 (especially NAmE) a person who has no home or job and who asks other people for money or food: a beach bum (= sb who spends all their time on the beach, without having a job)
3 a lazy person who does nothing for other people or for society: He's nothing but a no-good bum!
bums on seats (BrE, informal) used to refer to the number of people who attend a show, talk, etc., especially when emphasizing the need or desire to attract a large number: They're not bothered about attracting the right audiencethey just want bums on seats.
give sb/get the bum's rush (informal, especially NAmE) to force sb/be forced to leave a place quickly: He was soon given the bum's rush from the club.
verb (-mm-) [VN]
1 ~ sth (off sb) (informal) to get sth from sb by asking CADGE: Can I bum a cigarette off you?
2 ~ sb (out) (NAmE, informal) to make sb feel upset or disappointed
bum around/about (informal) to travel around or spend your time with no particular plans: He bummed around the world for a year.
adj. [only before noun] (informal) of bad quality; wrong or useless: He didn't play one bum note. a bum deal (= a situation where you do not get what you deserve or have paid for)

bumbag (BrE) (NAmE fanny pack) noun (informal) a small bag attached to a belt and worn around the waist, to keep money, etc. in

bumble verb [V + adv. / prep.] to act or move in an awkward or confused way: I could hear him bumbling around in the kitchen.

bumblebee noun a large BEE covered with small hairs that makes a loud noise as it flies

bumbling adj. [only before noun] behaving in an awkward confused way, often making careless mistakes

bumboat NAmE noun a small boat that carries goods for sale to ships that are tied up or ANCHORED

bumf (also bumph) noun [U] (BrE, informal) written information, especially advertisements, official documents, forms, etc., that seem boring or unnecessary: He threw away my letter, thinking it was just more election bumf.

bumfluff noun [U] (informal) the soft hair that grows on the upper lip and chin of a boy, as his beard begins to grow

bummer noun a bummer [sing.] (informal) a disappointing or unpleasant situation: It's a real bummer that she can't come.

bump verb, noun
verb
1 [V] ~ against/into sb/sth to hit sb/sth by accident: In the dark I bumped into a chair. The car bumped against the kerb. note at HIT
2 [VN] ~ sth (against/on sth) to hit sth, especially a part of your body, against or on sth: Be careful not to bump your head on the beam when you stand up.
3 [+adv./prep.] to move across a rough surface: [V] The jeep bumped along the dirt track. [VN] The car bumped its way slowly down the drive. She entered the subway, bumping her bags down the steps.
4 [VN + adv. / prep.] to move sb from one group or position to another; to remove sb from a group: The airline apologized and bumped us up to first class. If you are bumped off an airline because of overbooking, you are entitled to compensation. The coach told him he had been bumped from the crew.
bump into sb (informal) to meet sb by chance: I bumped into Simon this morning.
bump sboff (informal) to murder sb
bump sthup (informal) to increase or raise sth: They bump up their prices in the summer months. We've bumped up the connection speed to make downloading much faster.
noun
1 [C] the action or sound of sth hitting a hard surface: He fell to the ground with a bump. We could hear loud bumps from upstairs where the children were playing.
2 [C] a swelling on the body, often caused by a blow LUMP: She was covered in bumps and bruises. How did you get that bump on your forehead?
3 [C] a part of a flat surface that is not even, but raised above the rest of it: a bump in the roadsee also BUMPY
4 [C] a slight accident in which your vehicle hits sth: I had a bump in the car earlier, but it wasn't serious.
5 the bumps [pl.] (BrE) (on a child's birthday) the act of lifting the child in the air and then putting them down on the ground, once for every year of their age: We gave her the bumps. see EARTH n., THING

bumper noun, adj.
noun a bar fixed to the front and back of a car, etc. to reduce the effect if it hits anything: a bumper sticker (= a sign that people stick on the bumper of their cars with a message on it) The cars were bumper to bumper on the road to the coast (= so close that their bumpers were nearly touching).
adj. [only before noun] (approving) unusually large; producing an unusually large amount: a bumper issue (= of a magazine, etc.) a bumper crop/harvest/season/year

bumper car noun (especially NAmE) = DODGEM

bumph = BUMF

bumpkin noun = COUNTRY BUMPKIN

bumptious adj. (disapproving) showing that you think that you are very important; often giving your opinions in a loud, confident and annoying way

bumpy adj. (bumpier, bumpiest)
1 (of a surface) not even; with a lot of bumps: a bumpy road/track bumpy ground
2 (of a journey) uncomfortable with a lot of sudden unpleasant movements caused by the road surface, weather conditions, etc.: a bumpy ride/flight
have/give sb a bumpy ride to have a difficult time; to make a situation difficult for sb

bun noun
1 [C] (BrE) a small round sweet cake: an iced bunsee also HOT CROSS BUN
2 [C] (BrE also bap) a small round flat bread roll: a hamburger buncompare ROLL
3 [C] long hair that has been twisted into a round shape and is worn on top or at the back of the head: She wore her hair in a bun.
4 buns [pl.] (slang, especially NAmE) the two sides of a person's bottom
have a bun in the oven (informal, humorous) to be pregnant

bunch noun, verb
noun
1 [C] ~ of sth a number of things of the same type which are growing or fastened together: a bunch of bananas/grapes, etc. a bunch of keys She picked me a bunch of flowers.
2 [sing.] a ~ (of sth) (informal, especially NAmE) a large amount of sth; a large number of things or people: I have a whole bunch of stuff to do this morning.
3 [sing.] (informal) a group of people: The people that I work with are a great bunch.
4 bunches [pl.] (BrE) long hair that is divided in two and tied at each side of the head: She wore her hair in bunches.
the best/pick of the bunch the best out of a group of people or thingsmore at BEST
verb~ (sth) (up) to become tight or to form tight folds; to make sth do this: [V] His muscles bunched under his shirt. Her skirt had bunched up round her waist. [VN] His forehead was bunched in a frown.
bunch up/together| bunch sb/sth up/together to move closer and form into a group; to make people or things do this: The sheep bunched together as soon as they saw the dog.

bundle noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a number of things tied or wrapped together; sth that is wrapped up: a bundle of rags/papers/firewood, etc. She held her little bundle (= her baby) tightly in her arms.
2 [C] a number of things that belong, or are sold together: a bundle of ideas a bundle of graphics packages for your PC
3 [sing.] a ~ of laughs, fun, joy, etc. (informal) a person or thing that makes you laugh: He wasn't exactly a bundle of laughs (= a happy person to be with) last night.
4 a bundle [sing.] (informal) a large amount of money: That car must have cost a bundle.
not go a bundle on sb/sth (BrE, informal) to not like sb/sth very muchmore at DROP v., NERVE n.
verb
1 [VN + adv. / prep.] to push or send sb somewhere quickly and not carefully: They bundled her into the back of a car. He was bundled off to boarding school.
2 [V + adv. / prep.] to move somewhere quickly in a group: We bundled out onto the street.
3 [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to supply extra equipment, especially software when selling a new computer, at no extra cost: A further nine applications are bundled with the system.
bundle sthup| bundle sthtogether to make or tie sth into a bundle: He bundled up the dirty clothes and stuffed them into the bag. The papers were all bundled together, ready to be thrown out.
bundle sb up (in sth) to put warm clothes or coverings on sb: I bundled her up in a blanket and gave her a hot drink.

bunfight noun (BrE, informal)
1 an impressive or important party or other social event
2 an angry argument or discussion

bung verb, noun
verb, adj. [VN + adv. / prep.] (BrE, informal) to put or throw sth somewhere, carelessly and quickly: Bung this in the bin, can you?
bung sth up (with sth) [usually passive] to block sth: My nose is all bunged up. The drains are bunged up with dead leaves.
noun
1 a round piece of wood, rubber, etc. used for closing the hole in a container such as a BARREL or JAR
2 (BrE, informal) an amount of money that is given to sb to persuade them to do sth illegal
adj. (AustralE, NZE, informal) broken

bungalow NAmE noun
1 (BrE) a house built all on one level, without stairscompare RANCH HOUSE
2 (in some Asian countries) a large house, sometimes on more than one level, that is not joined to another house on either side

bungee noun
1 a long rope which can stretch, that people tie to their feet when they do bungee jumping
2 (NAmE) a thick ELASTIC rope with a hook at each end that can be used to hold packages together, keep things in position, etc.

bungee jumping noun [U] a sport in which a person jumps from a high place, such as a bridge or a CLIFF, with a bungee tied to their feet: to go bungee jumping
bungee jump noun: to do a bungee jump

bungle verb, noun
verb to do sth badly or without skill; to fail at sth BOTCH: [VN] They bungled the job. a bungled robbery/raid/attempt [also V]
bungler noun bungling adj.: bungling incompetence
noun [usually sing.] something that is done badly and that causes problems: Their pay was late because of a computer bungle.

bunion noun a painful swelling on the foot, usually on the big toe

bunk noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a narrow bed that is fixed to a wall, especially on a ship or train
2 [C] (also bunk bed) one of two beds that are fixed together, one above the other, especially for children
3 [U] (old-fashioned, informal) nonsense BUNKUM
do a bunk (BrE, informal) to run away from a place without telling anyone
verb
bunk off| bunk off school/work (BrE, informal) to stay away from school or work when you should be there; to leave school or work early SKIVE, PLAY TRUANT: I'm going to bunk off this afternoon. She had bunked off work all week.

bunker noun, verb
noun
1 a strongly built shelter for soldiers or guns, usually underground: a concrete/underground/secret bunker
2 a container for storing coal, especially on a ship or outside a house: a coal bunker
3 (NAmE also sand trap, trap) a small area filled with sand on a GOLF COURSE: He hit his second shot into a bunker.
verb [VN] be bunkered (in GOLF) to have hit your ball into a bunker (and therefore to be in a difficult position)

bunkhouse noun a building for workers to sleep in

bunkum noun [U] (old-fashioned, informal) nonsense BUNK

bunny noun (pl. -ies) (also bunny rabbit) a child's word for a RABBIT see HAPPY adj.

bunny-hop noun a small jump forward in a CROUCHING position
bunny-hop verb [V] (-pp-)

bunny slope noun (NAmE) = NURSERY SLOPE

Bunsen burner NAmE noun an instrument used in scientific work that produces a hot gas flame

bunt verb [VN, V] (NAmE) (in BASEBALL) to deliberately hit the ball only a short distance
bunt noun

bunting noun
1 [U] coloured flags or paper used for decorating streets and buildings in celebrations
2 [C] a small bird related to the FINCH and SPARROW families. There are several types of bunting: a corn/reed/snow bunting

bunyip noun (AustralE) (in stories) a MONSTER that lives in or near water

buoy NAmE noun, verb
noun an object which floats on the sea or a river to mark the places where it is dangerous and where it is safe for boats to gosee also LIFEBUOY
verb [VN] [usually passive]
1 ~ sb (up) to make sb feel cheerful or confident: Buoyed by their win yesterday the team feel confident of further success. Knowing that all her friends were there buoyed up her spirits.
2 ~ sb/sth (up) to keep sb/sth floating on water: The raft was buoyed (up) by empty petrol cans.
3 ~ sth (up) to keep prices at a high or acceptable level: Trading on Wall Street was buoyed in part by rising bond prices.

buoyant NAmE adj.
1 (of prices, business activity, etc.) tending to increase or stay at a high level, usually showing financial success: a buoyant economy/market buoyant sales/prices a buoyant demand for homes
2 cheerful and feeling sure that things will be successful: They were all in buoyant mood.
3 floating, able to float or able to keep things floating: The boat bobbed like a cork on the waves: light and buoyant. Salt water is more buoyant than fresh water.
buoyancy noun [U]: the buoyancy of the market a mood of buoyancy a buoyancy aid (= sth to help you float)

buppie (also buppy) (pl. -ies) noun (SAfrE, informal) a black person who is a YUPPIE

bur = BURR

BurberryTM NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a type of RAINCOAT

burble NAmE verb
1 ~ (on) (about sth) (BrE, disapproving) to speak in a confused or silly way that is difficult to hear or understand: [V] What's he burbling about? [also V speech]
2 [V] to make the gentle sound of a stream flowing over stones

burbs NAmE noun the burbs [pl.] (NAmE, informal) = SUBURBS

burden NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 the ~ (of sth)| a ~ (on/to sb) a duty, responsibility, etc. that causes worry, difficulty or hard work: to bear/carry/ease/reduce/share the burden The main burden of caring for old people falls on the state. the heavy tax burden on working people I don't want to become a burden to my children when I'm old.
2 (formal) a heavy load that is difficult to carrysee also BEAST OF BURDEN
verb [VN]
1 ~ sb/yourself (with sth) to give sb a duty, responsibility, etc. that causes worry, difficulty or hard work: They have burdened themselves with a high mortgage. I don't want to burden you with my worries. to be burdened by high taxation UNBURDEN
2 be burdened with sth to be carrying sth heavy: She got off the bus, burdened with two heavy suitcases.

the burden of proof noun [sing.] (law) the task or responsibility of proving that sth is true: The burden of proof is on the prosecution.

burdensome NAmE adj. (formal) causing worry, difficulty or hard work ONEROUS: The new regulations will be burdensome for small businesses.

burdock NAmE noun [U] a plant with flowers that become PRICKLY and stick to passing animals

bureau NAmE noun (pl. bureaux or bureaus NAmE )
1 (BrE) a desk with drawers and usually a top that opens down to make a table to write on
2 (NAmE) = CHEST OF DRAWERS
3 an office or organization that provides information on a particular subject: an employment bureau
4 (in the US) a government department or part of a government department: the Federal Bureau of Investigation

bureaucracy NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] (often disapproving) the system of official rules and ways of doing things that a government or an organization has, especially when these seem to be too complicated: unnecessary/excessive bureaucracy We need to reduce paperwork and bureaucracy in the company.
2 [U, C] a system of government in which there are a large number of state officials who are not elected; a country with such a system: the power of the state bureaucracy living in a modern bureaucracy

bureaucrat NAmE noun (often disapproving) an official working in an organization or a government department, especially one who follows the rules of the department too strictly

bureaucratic NAmE adj. (often disapproving) connected with a bureaucracy or bureaucrats and involving complicated official rules which may seem unnecessary: bureaucratic power/control/procedures/organizations The report revealed a great deal of bureaucratic inefficiency. centralized bureaucratic administration
bureaucratically adv.

bureau de change NAmE noun (pl. bureaux de change NAmE ) (from French) an office at a hotel, in an airport, etc., where you can exchange money from one country for that from another

burette (US also buret) noun a glass tube with measurements on it and a tap/faucet at one end, used, for example, in chemical experiments for measuring out amounts of a liquid

burg NAmE noun (NAmE, informal) a town or city

burgeon NAmE verb [V] (formal) to begin to grow or develop rapidly
burgeoning adj.: a burgeoning population burgeoning demand

burger NAmE noun
1 = HAMBURGER
2 -burger (in compounds) finely chopped fish, vegetables, nuts, etc. made into flat round shapes like HAMBURGERS: a spicy beanburgersee also CHEESEBURGER, VEGGIE BURGER

burgh noun (old-fashioned or ScotE) a town or part of a city that has its own local government

burgher NAmE noun (old use or humorous) a citizen of a particular town

burglar NAmE noun a person who enters a building illegally in order to steal: Burglars broke into the gallery and stole dozens of priceless paintings.

burglar alarm noun an electronic device, often fixed to a wall, that rings a loud bell if sb tries to enter a building by force

burglary NAmE noun [U, C] (pl. -ies) the crime of entering a building illegally and stealing things from it HOUSEBREAKING: The youth was charged with three counts of burglary. a rise in the number of burglaries committed in the areacompare ROBBERY, THEFT

burgle NAmE (BrE) (NAmE burglarize NAmE ) verb [VN] to enter a building illegally, usually using force, and steal from it: We were burgled while we were away (= our house was burgled). The house next door was burgled.

burgoo NAmE noun (pl. -oos) (NAmE)
1 [U] a type of thick soup, especially one eaten outdoors
2 [C] an event at which burgoo is eaten outdoors

burgundy NAmE noun
1 Burgundy [U, C] (pl. -ies) a red or white wine from the Burgundy area of eastern France.
2 [U] a dark red colour
burgundy adj.: a burgundy leather briefcase

burial noun [U, C] the act or ceremony of burying a dead body: a burial place/mound/site Her body was sent home for burial. His family insisted he should be given a proper burial. baptism, marriage and burial services

burial ground noun a place where dead bodies are buried, especially an ancient place: a prehistoric burial ground

burka (also burkha) NAmE noun a long loose piece of clothing that covers the whole body, including the head and face, worn in public by Muslim women in some countries

burlap NAmE noun [U] (especially NAmE) = HESSIAN

burlesque NAmE noun
1 [C] a performance or piece of writing which tries to make sth look ridiculous by representing it in a humorous way PARODY: a burlesque of literary life
2 [U] (NAmE) a type of entertainment, popular in the past in the US, involving humorous acts, singing, dancing, etc. and often including STRIPTEASE
burlesque adj. [usually before noun]: The play was criticized for its burlesque treatment of serious issues.

burly NAmE adj. (of a man or a man's body) big, strong and heavy BRAWNY

burn NAmE verb, noun
verb (burnt, burnt NAmE ) or (burned, burned NAmE )
FIRE
1 [V] to produce flames and heat: A welcoming fire was burning in the fireplace. Fires were burning all over the city.
2 [V] (used especially in the progressive tenses) to be on fire: By nightfall the whole city was burning. Two children were rescued from the burning car. The smell of burning rubber filled the air.
3 to destroy, damage, injure or kill sb/sth by fire; to be destroyed, etc. by fire: [VN] to burn waste paper/dead leaves All his belongings were burnt in the fire. The cigarette burned a hole in the carpet. The house was burnt to the ground (= completely destroyed). [VN-ADJ] His greatest fear is of being burnt alive. [V] The house burned to the ground. Ten people burned to death in the hotel fire.
FUEL
4 if you burn a fuel, or a fuel burns, it produces heat, light or energy: [VN] a furnace that burns gas/oil/coke (figurative) Some people burn calories (= use food to produce energy) faster than others. [V] Which fuel burns most efficiently?
FOOD
5 if food burns, or if you burn it, it is spoiled because it gets too hot: [V] I can smell something burning in the kitchen. [VN] SorryI burnt the toast.
SUN/HEAT/ACID
6 to be damaged or injured by the sun, heat, acid, etc.; to damage or injure sb/sth in this way: [V] My skin burns easily (= in the sun). [VN] I got badly burned by the sun yesterday. The soup's hot. Don't burn your mouth. I burned myself on the stove.
OF PART OF BODY
7 [V] if part of your body burns or is burning, it feels very hot and painful: Your forehead's burning. Have you got a fever? Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. note at HURT
OF A LIGHT
8 [V] to produce light: Lights were burning upstairs, but no one answered the door.
FEEL EMOTION/DESIRE
9 ~ (with sth) (literary) to feel a very strong emotion or desire: [V] to be burning with rage/ambition/love [V to inf] He was burning to go climbing again.
GO FAST
10 [V + adv. / prep.] (informal) to move very fast in a particular direction: The car was burning down the road.
MAKE ANGRY
11 [VN] (NAmE, informal) to make sb very angry: So you did it just to burn me?
CD, etc.
12 [VN] to put information onto a CD, etc.
burn your bridges (BrE also burn your boats) to do sth that makes it impossible to return to the previous situation later: Think carefully before you resignyou don't want to burn your bridges.
burn the candle at both ends to become very tired by trying to do too many things and going to bed late and getting up early
burn your fingers | get your fingers burnt to suffer as a result of doing sth without realizing the possible bad results, especially in business: He got his fingers badly burnt dabbling in the stock market.
burn a hole in your pocket if money burns a hole in your pocket, you want to spend it as soon as you have it
burn the midnight oil to study or work until late at night
burn rubber (informal) to drive very fast
burn sth to a cinder/crisp to cook sth for too long or with too much heat, so that it becomes badly burntmore at EAR, MONEY
burn away| burn sthaway to disappear as a result of burning; to make sth do this: Half the candle had burnt away. The clothing on his back got burnt away in the fire.
burn down if a fire burns down, it becomes weaker and has smaller flames
burn down| burn sthdown to be destroyed, or to destroy sth, by fire: The house burned down in 1895.
burn sthoff
1 to remove sth by burning: Burn off the old paint before repainting the door.
2 to use energy by doing exercise: This workout helps you to burn off fat and tone muscles.
burn out| burn itself out (of a fire) to stop burning because there is nothing more to burn: The fire had burnt (itself) out before the fire engines arrived.
burn out| burn sthout to stop working or to make sth stop working because it gets too hot or is used too much: The clutch has burnt out.
burn out| burn yourself/sb out to become extremely tired or sick by working too hard over a period of time: If he doesn't stop working so hard, he'll burn himself out. By the age of 25 she was completely burned out and retired from the sport.related noun BURNOUT
burn sth out [usually passive] to destroy sth completely by fire so that only the outer frame remains: The hotel was completely burnt out. the burnt-out wreck of a car
burn up
1 to be destroyed by heat: The spacecraft burned up as it entered the earth's atmosphere.
2 (usually used in the progressive tenses) (informal) to have a high temperature: You're burning uphave you seen a doctor?
3 (of a fire) to burn more strongly and with larger flames
burn sb up (NAmE, informal) to make sb very angry: The way he treats me really burns me up.
burn sthup
1 to get rid of or destroy sth by burning: The fire burned up 1 500 acres of farmland.
2 to use CALORIES or energy by doing exercise: Which burns up more caloriesswimming or cycling?
noun
INJURY
1 [C] an injury or a mark caused by fire, heat or acid: minor/severe/third-degree burns cigarette burns on the furniture burn marks a specialist burns unit in a hospital
IN MUSCLES
2 the burn [sing.] the feeling that you get in your muscles when you have done a lot of exercise: Feel the burn!
RIVER
3 [C] (ScotE) a small river STREAM
see SLOW adj.

SYNONYMS

burn

char blacken scald scorch singe

These words all mean to damage, injure, destroy or kill sb/sth with heat or fire.

burn to damage, injure, destroy or kill sb/sth with fire, heat or acid; to be damaged, etc. by fire, heat or acid: She burned all his letters. The house burned down in 1995.

char [usually passive] to make sth black by burning it; to become black by burning: The bodies had been charred beyond recognition.

blacken [often passive] to make sth black: There was a row of brick houses, blackened by smoke.

CHAR OR BLACKEN?

Things that are charred have been burnt. Things can be blackened by fire or just by smoke, or by sth else entirely.

scald to burn part of your body with very hot liquid or steam.

scorch to burn and slightly damage a surface by making it too hot: I scorched my dress when I was ironing it.

singe to burn the surface of sth slightly, usually by mistake; to be burnt in this way: He singed his hair as he tried to light his cigarette.

SCORCH OR SINGE?

Things are scorched by heat or fire. Things can only be singed by fire or a flame.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to burn/scald yourself/your hand

to burn/scorch/singe your hair/clothes

burned out/charred/blackened/scorched remains/ruins/buildings

charred/blackened/scorched bodies/flesh/wood/paper

burner NAmE noun
1 the part of a cooker/stove, etc. that produces a flame
2 a large, solid, metal piece of equipment for burning wood or coal, used for heating a room: a wood burnersee also BUNSEN BURNER see BACK adj., FRONT adj.

burning NAmE adj., adv.
adj. [only before noun]
1 (of feelings, etc.) very strong; extreme: a burning desire to win He's always had a burning ambition to start his own business.
2 a ~ issue/question a very important and urgent problem: one of the burning issues of the day
3 (of pain, etc.) very strong and giving a feeling of burning note at PAINFUL
4 very hot; looking and feeling very hot: the burning sun her burning face
5 ~ eyes (literary) eyes that seem to be staring at you very hard
adv.burning hot very hot

burnish NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to polish metal until it is smooth and shiny
burnished adj. [usually before noun]: burnished gold/copper

burnous (NAmE usually burnoose) NAmE noun a long loose item of outer clothing with a HOOD (= covering for the head), worn by Arabs

burnout NAmE noun [C, U]
1 the state of being extremely tired or ill, either physically or mentally, because you have worked too hard
2 the point at which a ROCKET has used all of its fuel and has no more power

Burns Night noun [U, C] the evening of 25 January when Scottish people celebrate the birthday of the Scottish POET, Robert Burns, with traditional Scottish music, WHISKY and dishes such as HAGGIS

burnt NAmE adj. damaged or injured by burning: burnt toast Your hand looks badly burnt.

burnt ochre noun [U]
1 a deep yellow-brown colour
2 a yellow-brown PIGMENT, used in art

burnt offering noun
1 something (usually an animal) that is burnt in a religious ceremony as a gift offered to a god
2 (BrE, humorous) food that has been badly burnt by accident

burnt-out adj.
1 destroyed or badly damaged by fire: a burnt-out car
2 feeling as if you have done sth for too long and need to have a rest: I'm feeling burnt-out at workI need a holiday.

burnt sienna NAmE noun [U]
1 a deep red-brown colour
2 a deep red-brown PIGMENT, used in art

burnt umber NAmE noun [U]
1 a dark brown colour
2 a dark brown PIGMENT, used in art

burp NAmE verb (informal)
1 [V] to let out air from the stomach through the mouth, making a noise BELCH
2 [VN] to make a baby bring up air from the stomach, especially by rubbing or PATTING its back
burp noun

burr noun
1 [usually sing.] a strong pronunciation of the 'r' sound, typical of some accents in English; an accent with this type of pronunciation: She speaks with a soft West Country burr.
2 [usually sing.] the soft regular noise made by parts of a machine moving quickly WHIRR
3 (also bur) the seed container of some plants which is covered in very small hooks that stick to clothes or fur

burrito NAmE noun (pl. -os) (from Spanish) a Mexican dish consisting of a TORTILLA filled with meat or BEANS

burro NAmE noun (pl. -os) (NAmE, from Spanish) a small DONKEY

burrow NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 to make a hole or a tunnel in the ground by digging DIG: [V, usually + adv. / prep.] Earthworms burrow deep into the soil. moles burrowing away underground [VN + adv. / prep.] The rodent burrowed its way into the sand.
2 [+adv./prep.] to press yourself close to sb or under sth: [V] He burrowed down beneath the blankets. [VN] She burrowed her face into his chest.
3 [V + adv. / prep.] to search for sth under or among things: She burrowed in the drawer for a pair of socks. He was afraid that they would burrow into his past.
noun a hole or tunnel in the ground made by animals such as RABBITS for them to live in

bursa NAmE noun (pl. bursae or bursas) (anatomy) a part inside the body like a bag or sleeve, which is filled with liquid, especially around a joint so that it can work smoothly

bursar NAmE noun (especially BrE) a person whose job is to manage the financial affairs of a school or college

bursary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (especially BrE) an amount of money that is given to sb so that they can study, usually at a college or university GRANT, SCHOLARSHIP

bursitis NAmE noun [U] (medical) a condition in which a bursa becomes swollen and sore

burst NAmE verb, noun
verb (burst, burst)
1 to break open or apart, especially because of pressure from inside; to make sth break in this way: [V] That balloon will burst if you blow it up any more. The dam burst under the weight of water. Shells were bursting (= exploding) all around us. (figurative) He felt he would burst with anger and shame. a burst pipe [VN] Don't burst that balloon! The river burst its banks and flooded nearby towns. note at EXPLODE
2 [V + adv. / prep.] to go or move somewhere suddenly with great force; to come from somewhere suddenly: He burst into the room without knocking. The sun burst through the clouds. The words burst from her in an angry rush.
3 [V] be bursting (with sth) to be very full of sth; to be very full and almost breaking open: The roads are bursting with cars. to be bursting with ideas/enthusiasm/pride The hall was filled to bursting point. The hall was full to bursting. (informal) I'm bursting (for a pee)! (= I need to use the toilet right now).
be bursting to do sth to want to do sth so much that you can hardly stop yourself: She was bursting to tell him the good news.
burst sb's bubble to bring an end to sb's hopes, happiness, etc.: He seemed so happy, I couldn't burst his bubble so soon.
burst open | burst (sth) open to open suddenly or violently; to make sth open in this way: The door burst open. Firefighters burst the door open and rescued them.more at BUBBLE n., SEAM
burst in| burst into a room, building, etc. to enter a room or building suddenly and noisily: Suddenly the door flew open and Jo burst in.
burst in on sb/sth to interrupt sb/sth by entering a place suddenly and noisily: He burst in on the meeting.
burst into sth to start producing sth suddenly and with great force: The aircraft crashed and burst into flames (= suddenly began to burn). She burst into tears (= suddenly began to cry).
burst on/onto sth to appear somewhere suddenly in a way that is very noticeable: A major new talent has burst onto the literary scene.
burst out
1 to speak suddenly, loudly and with strong feeling: [+ speech] 'For heavens' sake!' he burst out.related noun OUTBURST note at CALL
2 to begin doing sth suddenly: [+ -ing] Karen burst out laughing.
noun
1 a short period of a particular activity or strong emotion that often starts suddenly: a sudden burst of activity/energy/anger/enthusiasm Her breath was coming in short bursts. I tend to work in bursts. spontaneous bursts of applause bursts of laughter
2 an occasion when sth bursts; the hole left where sth has burst: a burst in a water pipe
3 a short series of shots from a gun: frequent bursts of machine-gun fire

bursty NAmE adj. (burstier, burstiest)
1 (technical) used to describe data that is sent in small, sudden groups of signals: a bursty connection bursty Internet traffic
2 (informal) occurring at intervals, for short periods of time

burton NAmE noun
gone for a burton (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) lost or destroyed

bury verb (buries, burying, buried, buried)
DEAD PERSON
1 [VN] to place a dead body in a grave: He was buried in Highgate Cemetery. (figurative) Their ambitions were finally dead and buried.
2 [VN] (old-fashioned) to lose sb by death: She's 85 and has buried three husbands.
HIDE IN GROUND
3 [VN] to hide sth in the ground: buried treasure The dog had buried its bone in the garden.
COVER
4 [often passive] to cover sb/sth with soil, rocks, leaves, etc.: [VN] The house was buried under ten feet of snow. [VN-ADJ] The miners were buried alive when the tunnel collapsed.
5 [VN] to cover sth so that it cannot be seen: Your letter got buried under a pile of papers. He buried his face in his hands and wept.
HIDE FEELING
6 [VN] to ignore or hide a feeling, a mistake, etc.: She had learnt to bury her feelings.
PUT DEEPLY INTO STH
7 [VN] ~ sth (in sth) to put sth deeply into sth else: He walked slowly, his hands buried in his pockets. She always has her head buried in a book.
bury the hatchet | bury your differences to stop being unfriendly and become friends again: After not speaking to each other for years, the two brothers decided to bury the hatchet.more at HEAD n.
bury yourself in sth
1 to give all your attention to sth: Since she left, he's buried himself in his work.
2 to go to or be in a place where you will not meet many people: She buried herself in the country to write a book.

bus noun, verb
noun (pl. buses, US also busses)
1 a large road vehicle that carries passengers, especially one that travels along a fixed route and stops regularly to let people get on and off: Shall we walk or go by bus? A regular bus service connects the train station with the town centre. a bus company/driver a school buscompare COACHsee also BUS LANE, BUS SHELTER, BUS STATION, BUS STOP, MINIBUS, TROLLEYBUS
2 (computing) a set of wires that carries information from one part of a computer system to another
verb (-s- or -ss-) [VN]
1 ~ sb (from/to ... ) to transport sb by bus: We were bussed from the airport to our hotel.
2 (NAmE) to transport young people by bus to another area so that students of different races can be educated together
3 (NAmE) to take the dirty plates, etc. off the tables in a restaurant, as a job: He buses tables to help finance his tuition.

busboy noun (NAmE) a person who works in a restaurant and whose job is to clear the dirty dishes, etc.

busby noun (pl. -ies) a tall fur hat worn by some British soldiers for special ceremonies

bush noun
1 [C] a plant that grows thickly with several hard STEMS coming up from the root: a rose bush holly bushescompare TREE
2 [C] a thing that looks like a bush, especially an area of thick hair or fur
3 (often the bush) [U] an area of wild land that has not been cleared, especially in Africa and Australia; in New Zealand an area where the forest has not been cleared see BEAT v., BIRD

bushbaby noun (pl. bushbabies) a small African animal with large eyes, which lives in trees

bushed adj. [not before noun] (informal) very tired EXHAUSTED

bushel noun
1 [C] a unit for measuring grain and fruit (equal in volume to 8 gallons)
2 bushels [pl.] ~ (of sth) (NAmE, informal) a large amount of sth see HIDE v.

bush fire noun a fire in a large area of rough open ground, especially one that spreads quickly

bushfowl noun [C, U] (bushfowl or bushfowls) (WAfrE) a bird with a large body and brown and white feathers that walks a lot on the ground and is often used for food

bushido NAmE noun [U] (from Japanese) the system of honour and morals of the Japanese SAMURAI

bush-league adj. (NAmE, informal) of very low quality

Bushman noun (pl. -men )
1 a member of one of the races of people from southern Africa who live and hunt in the African BUSH
2 bushman a person who lives, works or travels in the Australian BUSH

bushmaster NAmE noun a poisonous snake from Central and S America

bushmeat noun [U] the meat of wild animals used as food, for example African animals: commercial bushmeat hunting

bushranger noun (AustralE, NZE) (in the past) an OUTLAW (= a person who has done sth illegal and is hiding to avoid being caught) who lives in the bush (= areas of wild land far away from large towns)

bush rat noun [C, U] (pl. bush rat or bush rats) (in W Africa) a type of large RODENT similar to a RAT that is found in wild areas and used for food

bush telegraph noun [U, sing.] (informal, humorous) the process by which information and news are passed quickly from person to person

bushwhack verb
1 [V] to live or travel in wild country
2 [V + adv. / prep.] to cut your way through bushes, plants, etc. in wild country: We had to bushwhack through undergrowth.
3 [VN] to attack sb very suddenly from a hidden position AMBUSH
4 [V] to fight as a GUERRILLA
bushwhacking noun [U]

bushwhacker noun
1 a person who lives or travels in an area of wild country
2 a person who fights in a GUERRILLA war

bushy adj.
1 (of hair or fur) growing thickly: a bushy beard/tail bushy eyebrows
2 (of plants) growing thickly, with a lot of leaves: bushy spring plants

bushy-tailed adj. BRIGHT-EYED

busily BUSY

business noun
TRADE
1 [U] the activity of making, buying, selling or supplying goods or services for money COMMERCE, TRADE: business contacts/affairs/interests a business investment It's been a pleasure to do business with you. She has set up in business as a hairdresser. When he left school, he went into business with his brother. She works in the computer business. They were both in the same line of business.see also AGRIBUSINESS, BIG BUSINESS, SHOW BUSINESS
WORK
2 [U] work that is part of your job: Is the trip to Rome business or pleasure? a business lunch He's away on business.
3 [U] the amount of work done by a company, etc.; the rate or quality of this work: Business was bad. Business was booming. Her job was to drum up (= increase) business. How's business? If we close down for repairs, we'll lose business.
COMPANY
4 [C] a commercial organization such as a company, shop/store or factory: to have/start/run a business business premises She works in the family business. They've got a small catering business. He wanted to expand the export side of the business.
RESPONSIBILITY
5 [U] something that concerns a particular person or organization: It is the business of the police to protect the community. I shall make it my business to find out who is responsible. My private life is none of your business (= does not concern you). It's no business of yours who I invite to the party.
IMPORTANT MATTERS
6 [U] important matters that need to be dealt with or discussed: the main business of the meeting He has some unfinished business to deal with.
EVENT
7 [sing.] (usually with an adjective) a matter, an event or a situation: That plane crash was a terrible business. I found the whole business very depressing. The business of the missing tickets hasn't been sorted out.
BEING A CUSTOMER
8 [U] (especially NAmE) = CUSTOM (3): We're grateful for your business.
any other business the things that are discussed at the end of an official meeting that do not appear on the AGENDA: I think we've finished item four. Now is there any other business?see also AOB
be in business (informal) to have everything that you need in order to be able to start sth immediately: All we need is a car and we'll be in business.
be the business (informal) to be very good
business as usual a way of saying that things will continue as normal despite a difficult situation
business is business a way of saying that financial and commercial matters are the important things to consider and you should not be influenced by friendship, etc.
get down to business to start dealing with the matter that needs to be dealt with, or doing the work that needs to be done: Let's get down to business right awaywe'll stop for coffee later.
go about your business to do the things that you normally do: streets filled with people going about their daily business
have no business doing sth | have no business to do sth to have no right to do sth: You have no business being here.
like nobody's business (BrE, informal) very much, very fast, very well, etc.: I've been working like nobody's business to get it finished in time.
not be in the business of doing sth not intending to do sth (which it would be surprising for you to do): I'm not in the business of getting other people to do my work for me.
out of business having stopped operating as a business because there is no more money or work available: The new regulations will put many small businesses out of business. Some travel companies will probably go out of business this summer.more at MEAN v., MIND v., PLY v.

business administration noun [U] the study of how to manage a business: a master's degree in business administration (= an MBA)

business card (also card) noun a small card printed with sb's name and details of their job and company: We exchanged business cards.compare VISITING CARD

business class (BrE also club class) noun [U] the part of a plane where passengers have a high level of comfort and service, designed for people travelling on business, and less expensive than first class: There were no seats available in business class.
business class (BrE also club class) adv.: I always fly business class.

the business end noun [sing.] ~ (of sth) (informal) the end of a tool or weapon which performs its main function

business hours noun [pl.] the hours in a day that a shop/store or company is open

businesslike adj. (of a person) working in an efficient and organized way and not wasting time or thinking about personal things: She adopted a brisk businesslike tone.

businessman , businesswoman noun (pl. -men , -women )
1 a person who works in business, especially at a high level
2 a person who is skilful in business and financial matters: I should have got a better price for the car, but I'm not much of a businessman.

business park noun an area of land that is specially designed for offices and small factories

business school noun a part of a college or university that teaches business, often to GRADUATES (= people who already have a first degree)

business studies noun [U+sing./pl. v.] the study of subjects connected with money and managing a business: a degree in business studies

business-to-business adj. [usually before noun] (abbr. B2B) done between one business and another rather than between a business and its ordinary customers: business-to-business transactions

busing (NAmE) = BUSSING

busk verb [V] to perform music in a public place and ask for money from people passing by
busker noun busking noun [U]

buskin noun a type of knee-length boot made of cloth or leather, worn in the past

bus lane noun a part of a road that only buses are allowed to use

busload NAmE noun (especially NAmE) a large group of people on a bus

busman's holiday noun [sing.] a holiday that is spent doing the same thing that you do at work

bus pass noun
1 a ticket that allows you to travel on any bus within a particular area for a fixed period of time
2 a ticket that allows people from particular groups (for example, students or old people) to travel free or at a reduced cost: (BrE, humorous) I'm not old enough for my bus pass yet!

bus shelter noun a structure with a roof where people can stand while they are waiting for a bus

bussing (also NAmE busing) noun [U] (in the US) a system of transporting young people by bus to another area so that students of different races can be educated together

bus station noun the place in a town or city where buses (especially to or from other towns) leave and arrive

bus stop noun a place at the side of a road that is marked with a sign, where buses stop

bust verb, noun, adj.
verb (bust, bust) or (busted, busted) [VN] (informal)
1 to break sth: I bust my camera. The lights are busted. Come out, or I'll bust the door down!
2 ~ sb/sth (for sth) (of the police) to suddenly enter a place and search it or arrest sb: He's been busted for drugs.
3 (especially NAmE) to make sb lower in military rank as a punishment DEMOTE
bust a gut (doing sth/to do sth) (informal) to make a great effort to do sth: It's a problem which nobody is going to bust a gut trying to solve.
... or bust (informal) used to say that you will try very hard to get somewhere or achieve sth: For him it's the Olympics or bust.
bust up (informal) (of a couple, friends, partners, etc.) to have an argument and separate BREAK UP: They bust up after five years of marriage.related noun BUST-UP
bust sthup (informal) to make sth end by disturbing or ruining it BREAK STH UP: It was his drinking that bust up his marriage.
noun
1 a stone or metal model of a person's head, shoulders and chest: a marble bust of Napoleon
2 (used especially when talking about clothes or measurements) a woman's breasts or the measurement around the breasts and back: What is your bust measurement, Madam? The dress was too big in the bust. exercises to tone the bust
3 (informal) an unexpected visit made by the police in order to arrest people for doing sth illegal: a drug bust
4 (NAmE) a thing that is not good: As a show it was a bust.
adj. [not usually before noun] (informal)
1 (BrE) broken: My watch is bust.
2 (of a person or business) failed because of a lack of money BANKRUPT: We're bust! We lost our money when the travel company went bust.

bustard NAmE noun a large European bird that can run fast

busted adj. [not before noun] (NAmE, informal) caught in the act of doing sth wrong and likely to be punished: You are so busted!

buster noun
1 (NAmE, informal) used to speak to a man you do not like: Get lost, buster!
2 (usually in compounds; often used in newspapers) a person or thing that stops or gets rid of sth: crime-busters

bustier noun a woman's tight top which does not cover the arms or shoulders

bustle verb, noun
verb [+adv./prep.] to move around in a busy way or to hurry sb in a particular direction: [V] She bustled around in the kitchen. [VN] The nurse bustled us out of the room.
noun
1 [U] busy and noisy activity: the hustle and bustle of city life
2 [C] a frame that was worn under a skirt by women in the past in order to hold the skirt out at the back

bustling adj. ~ (with sth) full of people moving about in a busy way: a bustling city The market was bustling with life.

bust-up noun (informal, especially BrE)
1 a bad argument or very angry disagreement ROW: Sue and Tony had a bust-up and aren't speaking to each other.
2 the end of a relationship BREAK-UP: the final bust-up of their marriage

busty adj. (informal) (of a woman) having large breasts

busy adj., verb
adj. (busier, busiest)
DOING STH
1 ~ (with sth/sb) having a lot to do; perhaps not free to do sth else because you are working on sth: Are you busy tonight? Kate's busy with her homework. I'm afraid the doctor is busy at the moment. Can he call you back? I'll be too busy to come to the meeting. The principal is a very busy woman. She was always too busy to listen. a very busy life
2 ~ (doing sth) spending a lot of time on sth: James is busy practising for the school concert. Let's get busy with the clearing up. They were busy enjoying themselves at the party.
PLACE
3 full of people, activity, vehicles, etc.: a busy main road Victoria is one of London's busiest stations.
PERIOD OF TIME
4 full of work and activity: Have you had a busy day? This is one of the busiest times of the year for the department. We had a busy weekend lined up.
TELEPHONE
5 (especially NAmE) being used ENGAGED: The line is busyI'll try again later. the busy signal
PATTERN/DESIGN
6 too full of small details: This wallpaper is too busy for the bedroom.

busily adv.: He was busily engaged repairing his bike.
as busy as a bee very busy
keep yourself busy to find enough things to do: Since she retired she's kept herself very busy.
verb (busies, busying, busied, busied) ~ yourself (with sth)| ~ yourself (in/with) doing sth to fill your time doing an activity or a task: [VN -ing] While we talked, Bill busied himself fixing lunch. [VN] She busied herself with the preparations for the party.

busybody NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (disapproving) a person who is too interested in what other people are doing: He's an interfering old busybody!

busy Lizzie noun a small plant with a lot of red, pink or white flowers, often grown indoors or in gardens

busywork NAmE noun [U] (NAmE) work that is given to sb to keep them busy, without really being useful

but strong form conj., prep., adv., noun
conj.
1 used to introduce a word or phrase that contrasts with what was said before: I got it wrong. It wasn't the red one but the blue one. His mother won't be there, but his father might. It isn't that he lied exactly, but he did tend to exaggerate.
2 however; despite this: I'd asked everybody but only two people came. By the end of the day we were tired but happy.
3 used when you are saying sorry about sth: I'm sorry but I can't stay any longer.
4 used to introduce a statement that shows that you are surprised or annoyed, or that you disagree: But that's not possible! 'Here's the money I owe you.' 'But that's not rightit was only £10.'
5 except: I had no choice but to sign the contract.
6 used before repeating a word in order to emphasize it: Nothing, but nothing would make him change his mind.
7 (literary) used to emphasize that sth is always true: She never passed her old home but she thought of the happy years she had spent there (= she always thought of them).
but for
1 if it were not for: He would have played but for a knee injury.
2 except for: The square was empty but for a couple of cabs.
but then (again)
1 however; on the other hand: He might agree. But then again he might have a completely different opinion.
2 used before a statement that explains or gives a reason for what has just been said: She speaks very good Italian. But then she did live in Rome for a year (= so it's not surprising).
you cannot/could not but ... (formal) used to show that everything else is impossible except the thing that you are saying: What could he do but forgive her? (= that was the only thing possible)
prep. except; apart from: We've had nothing but trouble with this car. The problem is anything but easy. Who but Rosa could think of something like that? Everyone was there but him. I came last but one in the race (= I wasn't last but next to last). Take the first turning but one (= not the first one but the one after it).
adv. only: I don't think we'll manage it. Still, we can but try. There were a lot of famous people there: Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, to name but two.
noun [usually pl.] a reason that sb gives for not doing sth or not agreeing: 'Let us have no buts,' he said firmly. 'You are coming.' With so many ifs and buts, it is easier to wait and see.

butane noun [U] a gas produced from PETROLEUM, used in liquid form as a fuel for cooking etc.

butch adj. (informal)
1 (of a woman) behaving or dressing like a man
2 (of a man) big, and often behaving in an aggressive way

butcher noun, verb
noun
1 a person whose job is cutting up and selling meat in a shop/store or killing animals for this purpose
2 butcher's (pl. butchers) a shop/store that sells meat: He owns the butcher's in the main street.
3 a person who kills people in a cruel and violent way
have/take a butcher's (BrE, slang) to have a look at sth
From rhyming slang, in which butcher's hook stands for 'look'.
verb [VN]
1 to kill people in a very cruel and violent way
2 to kill animals and cut them up for use as meat
3 (especially NAmE) to spoil sth by doing it very badly: The script was good, but those guys butchered it.

butcher block noun [U] (NAmE) a material used for surfaces in kitchens, especially those that you work on

butcher's block noun a thick block of wood on which a butcher cuts meat, also used in kitchens as a surface for cutting food on

butchery noun [U]
1 cruel, violent and unnecessary killing: When are they going to put an end to this butchery?
2 the work of preparing meat to be sold

butler noun the main male servant in a large house

butt verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 to hit or push sb/sth hard with your head
2 if an animal butts sb/sth, it hits them or it hard with its horns and head
butt in (on sb/sth)
1 to interrupt a conversation rudely: How can I explain if you keep butting in? [+ speech] 'Is that normal?' Josie butted in.
2 (informal) to become involved in a situation that does not concern you INTERFERE (IN): I didn't ask you to butt in on my private business.
butt out (informal, especially NAmE) used to tell sb rudely to go away or to stop INTERFERING in sth that does not concern them: Butt out, Neil! This is none of your business.
noun
1 the thick end of a weapon or tool: a rifle butt
2 the part of a cigarette or CIGAR that is left after it has been smoked: an ashtray full of cigarette butts
3 (BrE) a large round container for storing or collecting liquids: a water butt
4 (informal, especially NAmE) the part of the body that you sit on BUTTOCKS: Get off your butt and do some work! Get your butt over here! (= Come here!)
5 the act of hitting sb with your head: a butt from his headsee also HEADBUTT
be the butt of sth to be the person or thing that other people often joke about or criticize TARGET: She was the butt of some very unkind jokes.more at PAIN n.

butte noun (especially NAmE) a hill that is flat on top and is separate from other high ground

butter noun, verb
noun [U] a soft yellow food made from cream or milk, used in cooking and for spreading on bread: Fry the onions in butter. Do you want butter or margarine on your toast?see also BREAD AND BUTTER, PEANUT BUTTER
butter wouldn't melt (in sb's mouth) (informal) used to say that sb seems to be innocent, kind, etc. when they are not reallymore at KNIFE v.
verb [VN] to spread butter on sth: She buttered four thick slices of bread. see KNOW v.
butter sbup (informal) to say nice things to sb so that they will help you or give you sth: Stop trying to butter me up! He's always trying to butter up the boss.

butter bean noun a large pale yellow BEAN. Butter beans are often sold dried.

buttercream NAmE noun [U] a soft mixture of butter and sugar, used inside and on top of cakes

buttercup NAmE noun a wild plant with small shiny yellow flowers that are shaped like cups

butterfat NAmE noun [U] the natural fat contained in milk and milk products

butterfingers NAmE noun [sing.] (informal) a person who often drops things

butterfly NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a flying insect with a long thin body and four large, usually brightly coloured, wings: butterflies and moths She's like a butterfly. She flits in and out of people's lives.
2 [U] a swimming stroke in which you swim on your front and lift both arms forward at the same time while your legs move up and down together: She was third in the 200m butterfly (= a swimming race).
have butterflies (in your stomach) (informal) to have a nervous feeling in your stomach before doing sth

butterfly effect noun the idea that a very small change in one part of a system can have large effects in other parts

butter knife noun a knife that has a flat blade with a round end, used for spreading butter on bread

buttermilk NAmE noun [U] the liquid that remains after butter has been separated from milk, used in cooking or as a drink

butternut NAmE noun a N American tree grown as a decoration and for its wood

butterscotch NAmE noun [U]
1 a type of hard pale brown sweet/candy made by boiling butter and brown sugar together
2 (especially NAmE) a sauce flavoured with butterscotch, used for pouring on ice cream, etc.

buttery adj. like, containing or covered with butter: a rich buttery fruit cake The sun had flooded the day with a pale yellow buttery light.

buttock noun [usually pl.] either of the two round soft parts at the top of a person's legs: The beating had left red weals on his buttocks (= on his bottom).

button noun, verb
noun
1 a small round piece of metal, plastic, etc. that is sewn onto a piece of clothing and used for fastening two parts together: (BrE) to do up/undo your buttons (NAmE) to button/unbutton your buttons to sew on a button shirt buttons a row of gilt buttons
2 a small part of a machine that you press to make it work: the play/stop/rewind button Adam pressed a button and waited for the lift. Choose 'printer' from the menu and click with the right mouse button. The windows slide down at the touch of a button. see also PUSH-BUTTON
3 (especially NAmE) a BADGE, especially one with a message printed on it: He wore a button saying 'Life begins at 40!' see also BELLY BUTTON
on the button (informal, especially NAmE)
1 at exactly the right time or at the exact time mentioned: We arrived at 4 o'clock on the button.
2 exactly right: You're on the button there!
push all the (right) buttons (also press all the (right) buttons especially in BrE) (informal) to do exactly the right things to please sb: a new satirical comedy show that pushes all the right buttons
push sb's buttons (also press sb's buttons especially in BrE) (informal) to make sb react in either a positive or a negative way: I've known him for years, but I still don't know what pushes his buttons.more at BRIGHT adj.
verb
1 [VN] ~ sth (up) to fasten sth with buttons: She hurriedly buttoned (up) her blouse.
2 [V] ~ (up) to be fastened with buttons: [V] The dress buttons (up) at the back.
button it! (BrE, informal) used to tell sb rudely to be quiet

button-down adj. a button-down COLLAR, shirt, etc. has the ends of the collar fastened to the shirt with buttons

buttoned-up adj. (informal, especially BrE) not expressing your emotions openly

buttonhole NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a hole on a piece of clothing for a button to be put through
2 (BrE) (NAmE boutonnière) a flower that is worn in the buttonhole of a coat or jacket
verb (informal) [VN] to make sb stop and listen to you, especially when they do not want to: He buttonholed me just as I was going home.

button lift (BrE) (also PomaTM) noun a machine with poles which pulls people up the mountain on their SKIS

button mushroom noun a small young MUSHROOM used in cooking

buttress noun, verb
noun a stone or brick structure that supports a wall
verb [VN] (formal) to support or give strength to sb/sth: The sharp increase in crime seems to buttress the argument for more police officers on the street.

butty noun (pl. -ies)
1 (BrE, informal) a SANDWICH: a jam butty
2 (WelshE, informal) a friend; a person that you work with

buxom adj. (of a woman) large in an attractive way, and with large breasts

buy verb, noun
verb (bought, bought )
WITH MONEY
1 ~ sb sth| ~ sth (for sb) to obtain sth by paying money for it: [VNN, VN] He bought me a new coat. He bought a new coat for me. [VN] Where did you buy that dress? I bought it from a friend for £10. [V] If you're thinking of getting a new car, now is a good time to buy. [VN-ADJ] I bought my car second-hand. SELL
2 [VN] (of money) to be enough to pay for sth: He gave his children the best education that money can buy. Five pounds doesn't buy much nowadays.
3 [VN] to persuade sb to do sth dishonest in return for money BRIBE: He can't be bought (= he's too honest to accept money in this way).
OBTAIN
4 [VN] [usually passive] to obtain sth by losing sth else of great value: Her fame was bought at the expense of her marriage.
BELIEVE
5 [VN] (informal) to believe that sth is true, especially sth that is not very likely: You could say you were ill but I don't think they'd buy it (= accept the explanation).
(have) bought it (informal) to be killed, especially in an accident or a war: Joe finally bought it in a plane crash in Tunisia.
buy the farm (NAmE, informal) to die
buy time to do sth in order to delay an event, a decision, etc.: The negotiators kept the gunman talking to buy time for the hostages.more at BEST n., PIG n., PUP
buy sthin (BrE) to buy sth in large quantities
buy into sth
1 to buy shares in a company, especially in order to gain some control over it
2 (informal) to believe sth, especially an idea that many other people believe in: She had never bought into the idea that to be attractive you have to be thin.
buy sboff to pay sb money, especially dishonestly, to prevent them from doing sth you do not want them to do
buy sbout
1 to pay sb for their share in a business, usually in order to get total control of it for yourselfrelated noun BUYOUT
2 to pay money so that sb can leave an organization, especially the army, before the end of an agreed period
buy sthup to buy all or as much as possible of sth: Developers are buying up all the land on the island.
noun
STH BOUGHT
1 a good, better, etc. ~ a thing that is worth the money that you pay for it: That jacket was a really good buy. Best buys this week are carrots and cabbages.
2 something that is bought or that is for sale; the act of buying sth: Computer games are a popular buy this Christmas. The club has made some great buys this season (= it has bought good new players).

buyer noun
1 a person who buys sth, especially sth expensive: Have you found a buyer for your house?compare PURCHASER SELLER, VENDOR
2 a person whose job is to choose goods that will be sold in a large shop/store
a buyer's market a situation in which there is a lot of a particular item for sale, so that prices are low and people buying have a choice

buyer's remorse noun [U] (NAmE) the feeling of disappointment sb has after they have bought sth when they think they have made a mistake

buyout noun a situation in which a person or group gains control of a company by buying all or most of its shares: a management buyout

buzz verb, noun
verb
1 [V] (of a BEE) to make a continuous low sound: Bees buzzed lazily among the flowers.
2 [V] to make a sound like a BEE buzzing: The doorbell buzzed loudly. My ears were buzzing (= were filled with a continuous sound).
3 [V] ~ (with sth) to be full of excitement, activity, etc.: The place was buzzing with journalists. New York buzzes from dawn to dusk. My head was still buzzing after the day's events.
4 ~ (for sb/sth) to call sb to come by pressing a BUZZER: [V] The doctor buzzed for the next patient to come in. [also VN]
5 [VN] (informal) to fly very close to sb/sth, especially as a warning or threat
buzz about/around to move around quickly, especially because you are very busy: I've been buzzing around town all day sorting out my trip.
buzz off (informal) used to tell sb rudely to go away: Just buzz off and let me get on with my work.
noun
1 [C, usually sing.] (also buzzing [U, sing.]) a continuous sound like the one that a BEE, a BUZZER or other electronic device makes: the buzz of bees hunting nectar The buzz of the Entryphone interrupted our conversation. hums and buzzes from the amplifier
2 [sing.] the sound of people talking, especially in an excited way: The buzz of conversation suddenly stopped when she came into the room.
3 [sing.] (informal) a strong feeling of pleasure, excitement or achievement: a buzz of excitement/expectation She gets a buzz out of her work. Flying gives me a real buzz. You can sense the creative buzz in the city.
4 the buzz [sing.] (informal) news that people tell each other that may or may not be true RUMOUR: The buzz is that Matt is in Scotland. Have you heard anything?
give sb a buzz (informal) to telephone sb: I'll give you a buzz on Monday, OK?

buzzard NAmE noun
1 (BrE) a large European BIRD OF PREY (= a bird that kills other creatures for food) of the HAWK family
2 (NAmE) a large American bird like a VULTURE that eats the flesh of animals that are already dead

buzz cut noun a style of cutting the hair in which all the hair is cut very short, close to the skin of the head

buzzer noun an electrical device that produces a BUZZING sound as a signal: Put your fingers on the buzzer and be ready to answer.
at the buzzer (NAmE) at the end of a game or period of play: He missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer.

buzz group noun one of the small groups of people that a large group can be divided into in order to discuss and give their opinions about a particular subject. The information obtained is used by people doing MARKET RESEARCH.

buzz saw noun (NAmE) = CIRCULAR SAW

buzzword NAmE noun a word or phrase, especially one connected with a particular subject, that has become fashionable and popular and is used a lot in newspapers, etc.

b/w abbr. (in writing) black and white

bwana noun a word used in parts of E Africa to address a man who has authority over you, for example your employer

by prep., adv.
prep.
1 near sb/sth; at the side of sb/sth; beside sb/sth: a house by the river The telephone is by the window. Come and sit by me.
2 used, usually after a passive verb, to show who or what does, creates or causes sth: He was knocked down by a bus. a play by Ibsen Who's that book by? I was frightened by the noise.
3 used for showing how or in what way sth is done: The house is heated by gas. May I pay by cheque? I will contact you by letter. to travel by boat/bus/car/plane to travel by air/land/sea Switch it on by pressing this button.
4 used before particular nouns without the, to say that sth happens as a result of sth: They met by chance. I did it by mistake. The coroner's verdict was 'death by misadventure'.
5 not later than the time mentioned; before: Can you finish the work by five o'clock? I'll have it done by tomorrow. By this time next week we'll be in New York. He ought to have arrived by now/by this time. By the time (that) this letter reaches you I will have left the country.
6 past sb/sth: He walked by me without speaking.
7 during sth; in a particular situation: to travel by day/night We had to work by candlelight.
8 used to show the degree or amount of sth: The bullet missed him by two inches. House prices went up by 10%. It would be better by far (= much better) to ...
9 from what sth shows or says; according to sth: By my watch it is two o'clock. I could tell by the look on her face that something terrible had happened. By law, you are a child until you are 18.
10 used to show the part of sb/sth that sb touches, holds, etc.: I took him by the hand. She seized her by the hair. Pick it up by the handle!
11 used with the to show the period or quantity used for buying, selling or measuring sth: We rented the car by the day. They're paid by the hour. We only sell it by the metre.
12 used to state the rate at which sth happens: They're improving day by day. We'll do it bit by bit. It was getting worse by the minute (= very fast). The children came in two by two (= in groups of two).
13 used for giving more information about where sb comes from, what sb does, etc.: He's German by birth. They're both doctors by profession.
14 used when swearing to mean 'in the name of': I swear by Almighty God ...
15 used to show the measurements of sth: The room measures fifteen feet by twenty feet.
16 used when multiplying or dividing: 6 multiplied by 2 equals 12. 6 divided by 2 equals 3.
by the by/bye = BY THE WAY at WAY
adv.
1 past: Just drive by. Don't stop. He hurried by without speaking to me. Excuse me, I can't get by. Time goes by so quickly.
2 used to say that sth is saved so that it can be used in the future: I've put some money by for college fees.
3 in order to visit sb for a short time: I'll come by this evening and pick up the books.
by and by (old-fashioned) before long; soon: By and by she met an old man with a beard.

by- (also bye-) prefix (in nouns and verbs)
1 less important: a by-product
2 near: a bystander

bycatch noun [U] fish that are caught by ships by accident when other types of fish are being caught: Thousands of small fish are thrown back into the sea as bycatch.

bye exclamation, noun
exclamation (also bye-bye, bye-bye) (informal) goodbye: Bye! See you next week. She waved bye-bye and got into the car. Bye for now Dad!
noun (sport) a situation in which a player or team does not have an opponent in one part of the competition and continues to the next part as if they had won see BY

bye-byes noun
go (to) bye-byes (BrE, informal) used by small children or to small children, to mean 'go to sleep'

bye-law = BY-LAW

by-election noun (BrE) an election of a new Member of Parliament to replace sb who has died or left parliamentcompare GENERAL ELECTION

bygone NAmE adj. [only before noun] happening or existing a long time ago: a bygone age/era

bygones NAmE noun [pl.]
let bygones be bygones to decide to forget about disagreements that happened in the past

by-law (also bye-law) noun
1 (BrE) a law that is made by a local authority and that applies only to that area
2 (NAmE) a law or rule of a club or company

byline noun a line at the beginning or end of a piece of writing in a newspaper or magazine that gives the writer's name: It was accidentally printed under the wrong byline.

byname noun a name given to sb who has the same first name as sb else, so that it is clear who is being referred to

bypass noun, verb
noun
1 (especially BrE) a road that passes around a town or city rather than through the centre: the western bypass around the town the Newbury bypass
2 a medical operation on the heart in which blood is directed along a different route so that it does not flow through a part that is damaged or blocked; the new route that the blood takes: heart bypass surgery a triple bypass operation
verb [VN]
1 to go around or avoid a place: A new road now bypasses the town.
2 to ignore a rule, an official system or sb in authority, especially in order to get sth done quickly: They let us bypass the usual admissions procedure.

by-product noun
1 a substance that is produced during the process of making or destroying sth else: When burnt, plastic produces dangerous by-products.
2 a thing that happens, often unexpectedly, as the result of sth else: One of the by-products of unemployment is an increase in crime.

byre noun (old-fashioned, BrE) a farm building in which cows are kept COWSHED

byroad NAmE noun a minor road

bystander noun a person who sees sth that is happening but is not involved ONLOOKER: innocent bystanders at the scene of the accident note at WITNESS

byte noun a unit of information stored in a computer, equal to 8 BITS. A computer's memory is measured in bytes.

byway noun
1 [C] a small road that is not used very much: the highways and byways of the English countryside
2 byways [pl.] the less important areas of a subject

byword NAmE noun [usually sing.]
1 a ~ for sth a person or thing that is a well-known or typical example of a particular quality: The name Chanel became a byword for elegance.
2 (especially NAmE) a word or phrase that is well known or often used: Andy Warhol's provocative slogan, 'Everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes', became a sixties byword.

Byzantine NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 connected with Byzantium or the Eastern Roman Empire
2 used to describe ARCHITECTURE of the 5th to the 15th centuries in the Byzantine Empire, especially churches with high central DOMES and MOSAICS
3 (also byzantine) (formal) (of an idea, a system, etc.) complicated, secret and difficult to change: an organization of byzantine complexity

C noun, abbr., symbol
noun (also c) [C, U] (pl. Cs, C's, c's )
1 the third letter of the English alphabet: 'Cat' begins with (a) C/'C'.
2 C (music) the first note in the SCALE of C MAJORsee also MIDDLE C
3 C the third highest mark/grade that a student can get for a piece of work: She got (a) C/'C' in/for Physics.
abbr.
1 C. CAPE: C. Horn (= for example, on a map)
2 CELSIUS, CENTIGRADE: Water freezes at 0° C.
3 (also ©) (NAmE also C.) COPYRIGHT: © Oxford University Press 2005see also C. OF E., C. & W.
symbol (also c) the number 100 in ROMAN NUMERALS

c (BrE) (also c. NAmE, BrE) abbr.
1 (in writing) CENT(S)
2 (also C) (in writing) century: in the 19th c (NAmE) a C19th churchsee also CENT.
3 (also ca) (especially before dates) about; approximately (from Latin circa): c1890
4 (NAmE) (in cooking) cup: add 2c. flour

Caaba = KAABA

cab noun
1 a taxi
2 the place where the driver sits in a bus, train or lorry/truck

cabal NAmE noun (formal, usually disapproving) a small group of people who are involved in secret plans to get political power

Cabala = KABBALAH

cabaret NAmE noun
1 [C, U] entertainment with singing and dancing that is performed in restaurants or clubs in the evenings: a cabaret act/singer/band He made his name on the cabaret circuit.
2 [C] a restaurant or club where cabaret entertainment is performed: the theatres, restaurants and cabarets of London's West End

cabbage noun
1 [U, C] a round vegetable with large green, purplish-red or white leaves that can be eaten raw or cooked: Do you like cabbage? two cabbages white/red cabbagesee also CHINESE CABBAGE, PAK CHOI
2 [C] (BrE) = VEGETABLE (2)

cabbalistic adj. relating to secret or MYSTICAL beliefs

cabby (also cabbie) noun (pl. -ies) (informal) a person who drives a taxi

caber noun a long heavy wooden pole that is thrown into the air as a test of strength in the traditional Scottish sport of tossing the caber

Cabernet Sauvignon NAmE (also Cabernet) noun [U, C] a type of red wine, or the type of GRAPE from which it is made

cabin noun
1 a small room on a ship in which you live or sleep
2 one of the areas for passengers to sit in a plane
3 a small house or shelter, usually made of wood: a log cabin

cabin boy noun a boy or young man who works as a servant on a ship

cabin crew noun [C+sing./pl. v.] the people whose job is to take care of passengers on a plane: A member of the cabin crew demonstrated the safety procedures.

cabin cruiser noun = CRUISER

cabinet noun
1 (usually the Cabinet) [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of chosen members of a government, which is responsible for advising and deciding on government policy: a cabinet meeting (BrE) a cabinet minister (BrE) the shadow Cabinet (= the most important members of the opposition party)
2 [C] a piece of furniture with doors, drawers and/or shelves, that is used for storing or showing things: kitchen cabinets a medicine cabinet The china was displayed in a glass cabinet.see also FILING CABINET

cabinetmaker noun a person who makes fine wooden furniture, especially as a job

the Cabinet Office noun [sing.] (in Britain) a government department that is responsible for the work of the Cabinet and the CIVIL SERVICE

cabinet pudding noun [U, C] a hot PUDDING (= sweet dish) containing RAISINS, cooked in steam

cable noun, verb
noun
1 [U, C] thick strong metal rope used on ships, for supporting bridges, etc.
2 [C, U] a set of wires, covered in plastic or rubber, that carries electricity, telephone signals, etc.: overhead/underground cables a 10 000 volt cable fibre-optic cable
3 [U] = CABLE TELEVISION: We can receive up to 500 cable channels.
4 [C] (old-fashioned) a message sent by electrical signals and printed out
verb [V, VN] (old-fashioned) to send sb a CABLE n. (4)

cable car noun
1 a vehicle that hangs from and is pulled by a moving cable and that carries passengers up and down a mountain
2 (especially NAmE) a vehicle that runs on tracks and is pulled by a moving cable

cable stitch noun [U] a STITCH in knitting that makes a pattern like twisted rope

cable television (also cable, cable TV) noun [U] a system of broadcasting television programmes along wires rather than by radio waves

cabling noun [U] all the cables that are required for particular equipment or a particular system

caboodle noun
the whole (kit and) caboodle (informal) everything: I had new clothes, a new hairstylethe whole caboodle.

caboose noun (NAmE) the part at the back of a train where the person who is in charge of the train rides

cabriolet NAmE noun a car with a roof that can be folded down or removed CONVERTIBLEcompare SOFT TOP

cacao noun [U] a tropical tree with seeds that are used to make chocolate and COCOA; the seeds from this tree

cache noun, verb
noun
1 a hidden store of things such as weapons: an arms cache
2 (computing) a part of a computer's memory that stores copies of data that is often needed while a program is running. This data can be accessed very quickly.
verb [VN]
1 to store things in a secret place, especially weapons
2 (computing) to store data in a cache: This page is cached.

cachet NAmE noun [U, sing.] (formal) if sth has cachet, it has a special quality that people admire and approve of PRESTIGE: No other brand name has quite the same cachet. the cachet of the elegant Right Bank hotel

cack noun [U] (BrE, slang) solid waste matter that is passed from the body through the BOWELS

cack-handed adj. (BrE, informal, disapproving) a cack-handed person often drops or breaks things or does things badly CLUMSY

cackle verb, noun
verb
1 [V] (of a chicken) to make a loud unpleasant noise
2 to laugh in a loud unpleasant way: [V] They all cackled with delight. [also V speech]
noun
1 the loud noise that a HEN makes
2 a loud unpleasant laugh

cacophony NAmE noun [U, sing.] (formal) a mixture of loud unpleasant sounds
cacophonous adj.

cactus noun (pl. cactuses or cacti ) a plant that grows in hot dry regions, especially one with thick STEMS covered in SPINES but without leaves. There are many different types of cactus.

CAD noun [U] the abbreviation for 'computer-aided design' (the use of computers to design machines, buildings, vehicles, etc.)

cad noun (old-fashioned) a man who behaves in a dishonest or unfair way: He's no gentleman, he's a cad!

cadaver noun (technical) a dead human body CORPSE

cadaverous adj. (literary) (of a person) extremely pale, thin and looking ill/sick

caddie (also caddy) noun, verb
noun (pl. -ies) (in GOLF) a person who helps a player by carrying his or her CLUBS and equipment during a game
verb (caddies, caddying, caddied, caddied) [V] to act as a caddie in the game of GOLF

caddis (also caddis fly) noun a small insect. The young forms, called caddis worms, are often used for catching fish.

caddy noun (pl. -ies)
1 (especially BrE) = TEA CADDY
2 (NAmE) a small bag for storing or carrying small objects: a sewing/make-up caddy
3 = CADDIE

cadence noun
1 (formal) the rise and fall of the voice in speaking: He delivered his words in slow, measured cadences.
2 the end of a musical phrase

cadenza noun
1 (music) a short passage, usually near the end of a piece of CLASSICAL music, which is played or sung by the SOLOIST alone, and intended to show the performer's skill
2 (SAfrE) if sb has a cadenza, they react suddenly and angrily to sth, especially in a way that seems unreasonable or humorous

cadet noun a young person who is training to become an officer in the police or armed forces: army cadets

cadge verb ~ (sth) (from/off sb) (BrE, informal) to ask sb for food, money, etc. especially because you cannot or do not want to pay for sth yourself: [VN] I managed to cadge some money off my dad. [also V]
cadger noun

CadillacTM noun
1 a large and expensive US make of car
2 the ~ of sth (NAmE) something that is thought of as an example of the highest quality of a type of thing: This is the Cadillac of watches.

cadmium noun [U] (symb Cd) a chemical element. Cadmium is a soft poisonous bluish-white metal that is used in batteries and nuclear REACTORS.

cadre NAmE noun (formal)
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] a small group of people who are specially chosen and trained for a particular purpose: a cadre of scientific experts
2 [C] a member of this kind of group

CAE noun [U] a British test that measures a person's ability to speak and write English as a foreign language at an advanced level (the abbreviation for 'Certificate in Advanced English')

caecum (BrE) (NAmE cecum) noun (pl. caeca, ceca ) a small bag which is part of the INTESTINE, between the small and the large intestine

Caerphilly NAmE noun [U] a type of pale Welsh cheese

Caesarean NAmE (also Caesarian, Caesarean section, Caesarian section) (US also cesarean, C-section, cesarian) noun [C, U] a medical operation in which an opening is cut in a woman's body in order to take out a baby: an emergency Caesarean The baby was born by Caesarean section. She had to have a Caesarean.

Caesar salad NAmE noun [U, C] a salad of LETTUCE and CROUTONS served with a mixture of oil, lemon juice, egg, etc.

caesium (BrE) (NAmE cesium) noun [U] (symb Cs) a chemical element. Caesium is a soft silver-white metal that reacts strongly in water, used in PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS.

caesura NAmE noun (technical) a pause near the middle of a line of poetrycompare ENJAMBEMENT

cafe (also café) NAmE noun
1 a place where you can buy drinks and simple meals. Alcohol is not usually served in British or American cafes: There are small shops and pavement cafes around every corner.compare RESTAURANT
2 (SAfrE) a small shop/store that sells sweets, newspapers, food, etc. and usually stays open later than other shops/stores

cafeteria NAmE noun a restaurant where you choose and pay for your meal at a counter and carry it to a table. Cafeterias are often found in factories, colleges, hospitals, etc.: Consumer groups were urging school cafeterias to serve healthier food.

cafetière NAmE (BrE) (NAmE French press) noun a special glass container for making coffee with a metal FILTER that you push down

caff noun (BrE, informal) a CAFE serving simple, basic food: a transport caff

caffeinated adj. (of coffee or tea) containing caffeinecompare DECAFFEINATED

caffeine noun [U] a drug found in coffee and tea that makes you feel more activesee also DECAFFEINATED

caffè latte (also latte) noun (from Italian) a drink made by adding a small amount of strong coffee to a glass or cup of FROTHY steamed milk

caftan noun = KAFTAN

cage noun, verb
noun a structure made of metal bars or wire in which animals or birds are kept: a birdcage I don't like seeing animals in cages.see also RIBCAGE see RATTLE v.
verb~ sth (up) [VN] [usually passive] to put or keep an animal in a cage: The dogs are caged (up) at night.
caged adj.: He paced the room like a caged animal.

cagey adj. (cagier, cagiest) ~ (about sth) (informal) not wanting to give sb information EVASIVE, SECRETIVE: Tony is very cagey about his family.
cagily adv.

cagoule (also kagoul) noun (BrE) a long light jacket with a HOOD, worn to give protection from wind and rain

cahoots noun
be in cahoots (with sb) (informal) to be planning or doing sth dishonest with sb else BE IN COLLUSION

caiman (also cayman) noun (pl. -mans) a N and S American REPTILE similar to an ALLIGATOR

cairn NAmE noun a pile of stones which mark a special place such as the top of a mountain or a place where sb is buried

cajole NAmE verb ~ sb (into sth/into doing sth)| ~ sth out of sb to make sb do sth by talking to them and being very nice to them COAX: [VN] He cajoled me into agreeing to do the work. I managed to cajole his address out of them. [V] Her voice was soft and cajoling. [also V speech]

Cajun noun, adj.
noun
1 [C] a person of French origin from Louisiana who speaks an old form of French, also called Cajun
2 [U] a type of music originally played by Cajuns, that is a mixture of BLUES and FOLK MUSIC
adj. connected with the Cajuns, their language, music or spicy cooking: Cajun chicken/cuisine

cake noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] a sweet food made from a mixture of flour, eggs, butter, sugar, etc. that is baked in an oven. Cakes are made in various shapes and sizes and are often decorated, for example with cream or ICING: a piece/slice of cake to make/bake a cake a chocolate cake a birthday cake (BrE) a cake tin (= for cooking a cake in) (NAmE) a cake pansee also ANGEL FOOD CAKE, CHRISTMAS CAKE, FRUIT CAKE, SPONGE CAKE, WEDDING CAKE
2 [C] a food mixture that is cooked in a round flat shape: potato cakessee also CATTLE CAKE, FISHCAKE
have your cake and eat it (BrE) (also have your cake and eat it too NAmE, BrE) to have the advantages of sth without its disadvantages; to have both things that are available
a slice/share of the cake (BrE) (NAmE a piece/slice/share of the pie) a share of the available money or benefits that you believe you have a right to: Scotland is demanding a larger slice of the national cake.
take the cake (especially NAmE) = TAKE THE BISCUIT at BISCUITmore at HOT adj., ICING, PIECE n.
verb
1 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (in/with sth) to cover sth with a thick layer of sth soft that becomes hard when it dries: Her shoes were caked with mud.
2 [V] if a substance cakes, it becomes hard when it dries
caked adj.: caked blood

cakewalk noun [sing.] (informal) something that is extremely easy to do

CAL abbr. computer assisted learningcompare CALL

calabash noun
1 a container made from the hard covering of a fruit or vegetable; the fruit or vegetable from which a calabash is made GOURD
2 (also calabash tree) the tropical tree that produces these fruits

calabrese noun [U] a type of BROCCOLI (= a vegetable with a thick green STEM and green or purple flower heads)

calamine (also calamine lotion) noun [U] a pink liquid that you put on burnt or sore skin to make it less painful

calamitous adj. (formal) causing great damage to people's lives, property, etc. DISASTROUS: The bridge collapsed in the storm, with calamitous results.

calamity noun [C, U] (pl. -ies) an event that causes great damage to people's lives, property, etc. DISASTER: Sudan suffered a series of calamities during the 1980s. His financial help saved the magazine from total calamity.

calciferous adj. (geology) containing or producing CHALK or other forms of CALCIUM

calcify verb (calcifies, calcifying, calcified, calcified) [V, VN] (technical) to become hard or make sth hard by adding CALCIUM salts
calcification noun [U]

calcite noun [U] (chemistry) a white or clear mineral consisting of CALCIUM CARBONATE. It forms a major part of rocks such as LIMESTONE, MARBLE and CHALK.

calcium noun [U] (symb Ca) a chemical element. Calcium is a soft silver-white metal that is found in bones, teeth and CHALK.

calcium carbonate noun [U] (symb CaCO3) (chemistry) a white solid substance that exists naturally as CHALK, LIMESTONE and MARBLE

calculable adj. that can be calculated: a calculable riskcompare INCALCULABLE

calculate verb
1 to use numbers to find out a total number, amount, distance, etc. WORK OUT: [VN] Use the formula to calculate the volume of the container. Benefit is calculated on the basis of average weekly earnings. We haven't really calculated the cost of the vacation yet. [V wh-] You'll need to calculate how much time the assignment will take. [VN that] It has been calculated that at least 47 000 jobs were lost last year.
2 to guess sth or form an opinion by using all the information available ESTIMATE: [V that] Conservationists calculate that hundreds of species could be lost in this area. [V wh-] It is impossible to calculate what influence he had on her life.

calculated adj. [usually before noun] carefully planned to get what you want: a calculated insult He took a calculated risk (= a risk that you decide is worth taking even though you know it might have bad results).
be calculated to do sth to be intended to do sth; to be likely to do sth: Her latest play is calculated to shock. This sort of life is not calculated to appeal to a young man of 20.

calculating adj. (disapproving) good at planning things so that you have an advantage, without caring about other people: a cold and calculating killer I never realized you could be so calculating.

calculation noun
1 [C, U] the act or process of using numbers to find out an amount: Cathy did a rough calculation. By my calculation(s), we made a profit of £20 000 last year. Our guess was confirmed by calculation.
2 [C, U] the process of using your judgement to decide what the results would be of doing sth
3 [U] (disapproving) careful planning for yourself without caring about other people: an act of cold calculation

calculator noun a small electronic device for calculating with numbers: a pocket calculator

calculus noun [U] the type of mathematics that deals with rates of change, for example in the slope of a curve or the speed of a falling object

caldera NAmE noun (technical) a very large hole in the top of a VOLCANO, usually caused by an ERUPTION

caldron (NAmE) = CAULDRON

Caledonian NAmE adj. connected with Scotland

calendar noun
1 a page or series of pages showing the days, weeks and months of a particular year, especially one that you hang on a wall: a calendar for 2006see also ADVENT CALENDAR
2 (NAmE) a record of what you have to do each day; the book in which you write this down
3 [usually sing.] a list of important events or dates of a particular type during the year: This is one of the biggest weeks in the racing calendar. a major festival in the church's calendar These days the tennis calendar has become so crowded.
4 a system by which time is divided into fixed periods, showing the beginning and end of a year: the Islamic calendar

calendar month noun (technical)
1 one of the twelve months of the yearcompare LUNAR MONTH
2 a period of time from a particular date in one month to the same date in the next one

calendar year noun (technical) the period of time from 1 January to 31 December in the same year

calf NAmE noun (pl. calves NAmE )
1 [C] the back part of the leg between the ankle and the knee: I've torn a calf muscle.
2 [C] a young cow
3 [C] a young animal of some other type such as a young ELEPHANT or WHALE
4 [U] = CALFSKIN
in/with calf (of a cow) pregnant

calfskin NAmE (also calf) noun [U] soft thin leather made from the skin of calves, used especially for making shoes and clothing

calibrate verb [VN] (technical) to mark units of measurement on an instrument such as a THERMOMETER so that it can be used for measuring sth accurately

calibration noun (technical)
1 [U] the act of calibrating: a calibration error
2 [C] the units of measurement marked on a THERMOMETER or other instrument: The dial has calibrations from 1 to 5.

calibre (especially BrE) (NAmE usually caliber) noun
1 [U] the quality of sth, especially a person's ability STANDARD: He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. The firm needs more people of your calibre.
2 [C] the width of the inside of a tube or gun; the width of a bullet: a.22 calibre bullet a high calibre weapon

calico NAmE noun [U]
1 (especially BrE) a type of heavy cotton cloth that is usually plain white
2 (especially NAmE) a type of rough cotton cloth that has a pattern printed on it

calico cat noun (NAmE) = TORTOISESHELL (2)

californium NAmE noun [U] (symb Cf) a chemical element. Californium is a RADIOACTIVE metal produced artificially with CURIUM or AMERICIUM.

caliper (especially NAmE) = CALLIPER

caliph noun a title used by Muslim rulers, especially in the past

caliphate NAmE noun
1 the position of a caliph
2 an area of land that is ruled over by a caliph

calisthenics noun (NAmE) = CALLISTHENICS

CALL abbr. computer assisted language learningcompare CAL

call verb, noun
verb
GIVE NAME
1 to give sb/sth a particular name; to use a particular name or title when you are talking to sb: [VN-N] They decided to call the baby Mark. His name's Hiroshi but everyone calls him Hiro. What do they call that new fabric? [VN] They called their first daughter after her grandmother. We call each other by our first names here.see also CALLED
DESCRIBE
2 to describe sb/sth in a particular way; to consider sb/sth to be sth: [VN-N] I wouldn't call German an easy language. Are you calling me a liar? He was in the front room, or the lounge or whatever you want to call it. [VN-ADJ] Would you call it blue or green? [VN-N] I make it ten pounds forty-three you owe me. Let's call it ten pounds.
3 ~ yourself sth to claim that you are a particular type of person, especially when other people question whether this is true: Call yourself a friend? So why won't you help me, then? She's no right to call herself a feminist.
SHOUT
4 ~ (sth) (out)| ~ (out) to sb (for sth) to shout or say sth loudly to attract sb's attention: [V] I thought I heard somebody calling. She called out to her father for help. [VN] Did somebody call my name? He called out a warning from the kitchen. [V speech] 'See you later!' she called.
5 to ask sb to come by shouting or speaking loudly: [VN] Will you call the kids in for lunch? [V] Did you call?
TELEPHONE
6 to ask sb/sth to come quickly to a particular place by telephoning: [VN] to call the fire department/the police/a doctor/an ambulance The doctor has been called to an urgent case. [VN, VNN] I'll call a taxi for you. I'll call you a taxi.
7 to telephone sb: [V] I'll call again later. [VN] I called the office to tell them I'd be late. My brother called me from Spain last night. note at PHONE
ORDER SB TO COME
8 [VN + adv. / prep.] [usually passive] (formal) to order sb to come to a place: Several candidates were called for a second interview. The ambassador was called back to London by the prime minister. He felt called to the priesthood (= had a strong feeling that he must become a priest).
VISIT
9 (especially BrE) to make a short visit to a person or place: [V] Let's call on John. I'll call round and see you on my way home. He was out when I called to see him.
MEETING/STRIKE, etc.
10 [VN] to order sth to happen; to announce that sth will happen: to call a meeting/an election/a strike
OF BIRD/ANIMAL
11 [V] to make the cry that is typical for it
IN GAMES
12 to say which side of a coin you think will face upwards after it is thrown: [VN] to call heads/tails [also V]
IN DANCES
13 [V, VN] to shout out the steps for people performing a SQUARE DANCE or COUNTRY DANCE
call sb's bluff to tell sb to do what they are threatening to do, because you believe that they will not be cruel or brave enough to do it
call sth into play (formal) to make use of sth: Chess is a game that calls into play all your powers of concentration.
call sth into question to doubt sth or make others doubt sth QUESTION: His honesty has never been called into question.
call it a day (informal) to decide or agree to stop doing sth: After forty years in politics I think it's time for me to call it a day (= to retire).
call it quits (informal)
1 to agree to end a contest, disagreement, etc. because both sides seem equal
2 to decide to stop doing sth
call sb names to use insulting words about sb
call the shots/tune (informal) to be the person who controls a situation
call a spade a spade to say exactly what you think without trying to hide your opinion
call time (on sth) (BrE) to say or decide that it is time for sth to finish
call sb to account (for/over sth) to make sb explain a mistake, etc. because they are responsible for it
call sb/sth to order to ask people in a meeting to be quiet so that the meeting can start or continuemore at CARPET n., MIND n., PAY v., POT n., WHAT
call at ... (BrE) (of a train, etc.) to stop at a place for a short time: This train calls at Didcot and Reading.
call sb away to ask sb to stop what they are doing and to go somewhere else: She was called away from the meeting to take an urgent phone call.
call back| call sb back to telephone sb again or to telephone sb who telephoned you earlier: She said she'd call back. I'm waiting for someone to call me back with a price.
call for sb (especially BrE) to collect sb in order to go somewhere: I'll call for you at 7 o'clock.
call for sth
1 to need sth: The situation calls for prompt action. 'I've been promoted.' 'This calls for a celebration!'see also UNCALLED FOR
2 to publicly ask for sth to happen: They called for the immediate release of the hostages. The opposition have called for him to resign.
call sthforth (formal) to produce a particular reaction: His speech called forth an angry response.
call in to telephone a place, especially the place where you work: Several people have called in sick today.
call sbin to ask for the services of sb: to call in a doctor/the police
call sthin to order or ask for the return of sth: Cars with serious faults have been called in by the manufacturers.
call sb/sthoff to order a dog or a person to stop attacking, searching, etc.
call sthoff to cancel sth; to decide that sth will not happen: to call off a deal/trip/strike They have called off their engagement (= decided not to get married). The game was called off because of bad weather.
call on/upon sb (formal)
1 to formally invite or ask sb to speak, etc.: I now call upon the chairman to address the meeting.
2 to ask or demand that sb do sth: I feel called upon (= feel that I ought) to warn you that ...
call sb out
1 to ask sb to come, especially to an emergency: to call out an engineer/a plumber/the troops
2 to order or advise workers to stop work as a protestrelated noun CALL-OUT
call sbup
1 (especially NAmE) to make a telephone call to sb
2 to make sb do their training in the army, etc. or fight in a war CONSCRIPT, DRAFT
3 to give sb the opportunity to play in a sports team, especially for their countryrelated noun CALL-UP
call sthup
1 to bring sth back to your mind RECALL: The smell of the sea called up memories of her childhood.
2 to use sth that is stored or kept available: I called his address up on the computer. She called up her last reserves of strength.
noun
ON TELEPHONE
1 [C] (also phone call) the act of speaking to sb on the telephone: to get/have/receive a call from sb to give sb/to make a call Were there any calls for me while I was out? I'll take (= answer) the call upstairs. I left a message but he didn't return my call. a local call a long-distance call note at PHONEsee also WAKE-UP CALL
LOUD SOUND
2 [C] a loud sound made by a bird or an animal, or by a person to attract attention: the distinctive call of the cuckoo a call for help
VISIT
3 [C] a short visit to sb's house: The doctor has five calls to make this morning. (old-fashioned) to pay a call on an old friend
REQUEST/DEMAND
4 [C] ~ (for sth) a request, an order or a demand for sb to do sth or to go somewhere: calls for the minister to resign calls for national unity This is the last call for passengers travelling on British Airways flight 199 to Rome. (formal) a call to arms (= a strong request to fight in the army, etc.)see also CURTAIN CALL
5 [U] no ~ for sth| no ~ (for sb) to do sth no demand for sth; no reason for sb's behaviour: There isn't a lot of call for small specialist shops nowadays.
6 [C] ~ on sb/sth a demand or pressure placed on sb/sth: She is a busy woman with many calls on her time.
OF A PLACE
7 [sing.] ~ (of sth) (literary) a strong feeling of attraction that a particular place has for you: the call of the sea/your homeland
TO A PARTICULAR JOB
8 [sing.] ~ (to do sth) a strong feeling that you want to do sth, especially a particular job: He felt the call of the priesthood early on in his life.
DECISION
9 [C] (informal) a decision: It's your call! a good/bad call That's a tough call.
IN TENNIS
10 [C] a decision made by the UMPIRE: There was a disputed call in the second set.
IN CARD GAMES
11 [C] a player's BID or turn to BID
the call of nature (humorous) the need to go to the toilet
have first call (on sb/sth) to be the most important person or thing competing for sb's time, money, etc. and to be dealt with or paid for before other people or things: The children always have first call on her time.
(be) on call (of a doctor, police officer, etc.) available for work if necessary, especially in an emergency: I'll be on call the night of the party. The doctor had been on call for 48 hours and was exhausted.more at BECK, CLOSE^2 adj.

SYNONYMS

call

cry out exclaim blurt burst out

These words all mean to shout or say sth loudly or suddenly.

call to shout or say sth loudly to attract sb's attention: I thought I heard someone calling.

cry out (sth) to shout sth loudly, especially when you need help or are in trouble: She cried out for help. I cried out his name.

exclaim to say sth suddenly and loudly, especially because of a strong emotion: 'It isn't fair!' he exclaimed angrily.

blurt to say sth suddenly and without thinking carefully enough: He blurted out the answer without thinking.

burst out to say sth suddenly and loudly, especially with a lot of emotion: 'He's a bully!' the little boy burst out.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to call/cry out/exclaim/blurt out (sth) to sb

to call/cry out for sth

to cry out/exclaim/blurt out/burst out in/with sth

to call/cry out/exclaim/blurt out/burst out suddenly

to call/cry out/exclaim/burst out loudly

callback noun
1 [C] a telephone call which you make to sb who has just called you
2 [U, C] = RINGBACK
3 [U, C] (computing) a process by which the user of a computer or telephone system proves their identity by contacting a computer, which then contacts them
4 [C] (especially NAmE) an occasion when you are asked to return somewhere, for example for a second interview when you are trying to get a job
5 [C] an occasion when people are asked to return goods that they have bought, usually because they are not safe

call box noun
1 (BrE) = PHONE BOX
2 (NAmE) a small box beside a road, with a telephone in it, to call for help after an accident, etc.

call centre (BrE) (NAmE call center) noun an office in which a large number of people work using telephones, for example arranging insurance for people, or taking customers' orders and answering questions

called adj. [not before noun] having a particular name: What's their son called? I don't know anyone called Scott. I've forgotten what the firm he works for is called. What's it called again? Yeah, that's right. A modem.see also SO-CALLED

caller noun
1 a person who is making a telephone call: The caller hung up. an anonymous caller
2 a person who goes to a house or a building: You had a caller this morning.
3 a person who shouts out the steps for people performing a SQUARE DANCE or COUNTRY DANCE

caller ID noun [U] a system that uses a device on your telephone to identify and display the telephone number of the person who is calling you

call girl noun a PROSTITUTE who makes her arrangements by telephone

calligraphy noun [U] beautiful HANDWRITING that you do with a special pen or brush; the art of producing this: a poem written in neat italic calligraphy
calligrapher noun

call-in noun (NAmE) = PHONE-IN

calling noun
1 a strong desire or feeling of duty to do a particular job, especially one in which you help other people VOCATION: He realized that his calling was to preach the gospel.
2 (formal) a profession or career: My father considered engineering one of the highest possible callings.

calling card noun (NAmE)
1 = VISITING CARD
2 = PHONECARD

calliper noun (BrE) (also caliper NAmE, BrE)
1 callipers [pl.] an instrument with two long thin parts joined at one end, used for measuring the DIAMETER of tubes and round objects (= the distance across them): a pair of callipers
2 (BrE) (NAmE brace) [C, usually pl.] a metal support for weak or injured legs

callisthenics (BrE) (NAmE calisthenics) noun [U+sing./pl. v.] physical exercises intended to develop a strong and attractive body

call letters noun [pl.] (NAmE) the letters that are used to identify a radio or television station: the call letters WNBC

callous adj. not caring about other people's feelings or suffering CRUEL, UNFEELING: a callous killer/attitude/act a callous disregard for the feelings of others
callously adv. callousness noun [U]

calloused (BrE) (NAmE callused) adj. (of the skin) made rough and hard, usually by hard work: calloused hands

call-out noun an occasion when sb is called to do repairs, rescue sb, etc.: a call-out charge ambulance call-outs

callow NAmE adj. (formal, disapproving) young and without experience INEXPERIENCED: a callow youth

call sign noun the letters and numbers used in radio communication to identify the person who is sending a message

call-up (BrE) noun
1 [U, C, usually sing.] an order to join the armed forces CONSCRIPTION, THE DRAFT: Because of his occupation, he was not liable for call-up. to receive your call-up papers young men of call-up age
2 [C] the opportunity to play in a sports team, especially for your country: His recent form has earned him a call-up to the England squad.

callus noun an area of thick hard skin on a hand or foot, usually caused by rubbing: The calluses on her palm showed how hard she had had to work.

callused (NAmE) = CALLOUSED

call waiting noun [U] a telephone service that tells you if sb is trying to call you when you are using the telephone

calm adj., verb, noun
adj. (calmer, calmest)
1 not excited, nervous or upset: It is important to keep calm in an emergency. Try to remain calm. Her voice was surprisingly calm. The city is calm again (= free from trouble and fighting) after yesterday's riots.
2 (of the sea) without large waves
3 (of the weather) without wind: a calm, cloudless day
calmly adv.: 'I'll call the doctor,' he said calmly. calmness noun [U]
verb [VN] to make sb/sth become quiet and more relaxed, especially after strong emotion or excitement: Have some tea; it'll calm your nerves. His presence had a calming influence.see also TRAFFIC CALMING
calm down| calm sb/sthdown to become or make sb become calm: Look, calm down! We'll find her. We waited inside until things calmed down. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself down.
noun [C, U]
1 a quiet and peaceful time or situation: the calm of a summer evening The police appealed for calm.
2 a quiet and relaxed manner: Her previous calm gave way to terror. Alex spoke with studied calm.
the calm before the storm a calm time immediately before an expected period of violent activity or argument

WHICH WORD?

calm / calmness

The noun calm is usually used to talk about a peaceful time or situation: There was a short period of uneasy calm after the riot. It can also be used to describe a person's manner: She spoke with icy calm. Calmness is usually used to talk about a person: We admired his calmness under pressure.

Calor gasTM NAmE (BrE) (US cooking gas) noun [U] a type of gas stored as a liquid under pressure in metal containers and used for heating and cooking in places where there is no gas supply

calorie noun
1 a unit for measuring how much energy food will produce: A fried egg contains about 100 caloriesabout the same as you would burn off if you ran a mile. No sugar for me, thanksI'm counting my calories. a low-calorie drink/diet
2 (technical) a unit for measuring a quantity of heat; the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a gram of water by one degree Celsius

calorific adj. [usually before noun] (technical) connected with or producing heat: the calorific value of food (= the quantity of heat or energy produced by a particular amount of food)

calorimeter noun (technical) a device which measures the amount of heat in a chemical reaction

calque (also loan translation) noun (linguistics) a word or expression in a language that is a translation of a word or expression in another language: 'Traffic calming' is a calque of the German 'Verkehrsberuhigung'.

calumny noun (pl. -ies) (formal)
1 [C] a false statement about a person that is made to damage their reputation: He accused the press of publishing vicious calumnies.
2 [U] the act of making such a statement SLANDER: a campaign of gossip and calumny

Calvados NAmE noun [U] a French drink made by DISTILLING apple juice

calve NAmE verb [V] (of a cow) to give birth to a CALF

calves pl. of CALF

Calvinist (also Calvinistic) adj.
1 connected with a Church that follows the teachings of the French Protestant, John Calvin
2 having very strict moral attitudes
Calvinism noun [U] Calvinist noun

calypso NAmE noun [C, U] (pl. -os) a Caribbean song about a subject of current interest; this type of music

calyx noun (pl. calyxes or calyces ) (technical) the ring of small green leaves (called SEPALS) that protect a flower before it opens

CAM abbr. computer aided manufacturing

cam noun a part on a wheel that sticks out and changes the CIRCULAR movement of the wheel into up-and-down or backwards-and-forwards movement

camaraderie NAmE noun [U] a feeling of friendship and trust among people who work or spend a lot of time together: the wartime spirit of camaraderie

camber noun a slight downward curve from the middle of a road to each side

Cambrian adj. (geology) of the first PERIOD of the Palaeozoic; of the rocks formed during this time
the Cambrian noun [sing.]

cambric noun [U] a type of thin white cloth made from cotton or LINEN

camcorder NAmE noun a video camera that records pictures and sound and that can be carried around

came pt of COME

camel noun
1 [C] an animal with a long neck and one or two HUMPS on its back, used in desert countries for riding on or for carrying goodscompare DROMEDARY
2 [U] = CAMEL HAIR: a camel coat see STRAW

camel hair noun [U] (also camel) a type of thick soft pale brown cloth made from camel's hair or a mixture of camel's hair and wool, used especially for making coats: a camel-hair coat

camellia noun a bush with shiny leaves and white, red or pink flowers that look like ROSES and are also called camellias

Camembert NAmE noun [U, C] a type of soft French cheese with a strong flavour

cameo NAmE noun (pl. -os)
1 a small part in a film/movie or play for a famous actor: a cameo role/appearance
2 a short piece of writing that gives a good description of sb/sth
3 a piece of jewellery that consists of a raised design, often of a head, on a background of a different colour: a cameo brooch/ring

camera noun a piece of equipment for taking photographs, moving pictures or television pictures: Just point the camera and press the button. Cameras started clicking as soon as she stepped out of the car. a TV/video camera a camera crew
in camera (law) in a judge's private room, without the press or the public being present: The trial was held in camera.
on camera being filmed or shown on television: Are you prepared to tell your story on camera?

cameraman , camerawoman noun (pl. -men , -women ) a person whose job is operating a camera for making films/movies or television programmes

camera obscura NAmE noun an early form of camera consisting of a dark box with a tiny hole or LENS in the front and a small screen inside, on which the image appears

camerawork NAmE noun [U] the style in which sb takes photographs or uses a film/movie camera

camiknickers NAmE noun [pl.] (BrE) a piece of women's underwear that covers both the upper and lower body, combining FRENCH KNICKERS and a CAMISOLE

camisole NAmE noun a short piece of women's underwear that is worn on the top half of the body and is held up with narrow strips of material over the shoulders

camogie NAmE noun [U] an Irish ball game similar to HURLING played by two teams of 15 girls or women

camomile = CHAMOMILE

camouflage noun, verb
noun
1 [U] a way of hiding soldiers and military equipment, using paint, leaves or nets, so that they look like part of their surroundings: a camouflage jacket (= covered with green and brown marks and worn by soldiers) troops dressed in camouflage
2 [U, sing.] the way in which an animal's colour or shape matches its surroundings and makes it difficult to see: The whiteness of polar bears and arctic foxes provides camouflage. The leopard's spots act as (a) camouflage. Predators make as much use of camouflage as their prey do.
3 [U, sing.] behaviour that is deliberately meant to hide the truth: Her angry words were camouflage for the way she felt.
verb [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to hide sb/sth by making them or it look like the things around, or like sth else: The soldiers camouflaged themselves with leaves. Her size was camouflaged by the long loose dress she wore. note at HIDE

camp noun, verb, adj.
noun
IN TENTS
1 [C, U] a place where people live temporarily in tents or temporary buildings: Let's return to camp. to pitch/make camp (= put up tents) to break camp (= to take down tents)see also HOLIDAY CAMP
HOLIDAY/VACATION
2 [C, U] a place where young people go on holiday/vacation and take part in various activities or a particular activity: a tennis camp He spent two weeks at camp this summer. summer campsee also FAT CAMP
PRISON, etc.
3 [C] (used in compounds) a place where people are kept in temporary buildings or tents, especially by a government and often for long periods: a refugee camp a camp guardsee also CONCENTRATION CAMP, PRISON CAMP, TRANSIT CAMP
ARMY
4 [C, U] a place where soldiers live while they are training or fighting: an army camp
GROUP OF PEOPLE
5 [C] a group of people who have the same ideas about sth and oppose people with other ideas: the socialist camp We were in opposing camps. People are split into two camps on this issue.
6 [C] one of the sides in a competition and the people connected with it: There was an air of confidence in the England camp.
see FOOT n.
verb
LIVE IN TENT
1 [V] to put up a tent and live in it for a short time: I camped overnight in a field.
2 [V] go camping to stay in a tent, especially while you are on holiday/vacation: They go camping in France every year.
STAY FOR SHORT TIME
3 [V] ~ (out) to live in sb's house for a short time, especially when you do not have a bed there: I'm camping out at a friend's apartment at the moment.
camp out to live outside for a short time: Dozens of reporters camped out on her doorstep.
camp it up (BrE, informal) to behave in a very exaggerated manner, especially to attract attention to yourself or to make people laugh
adj.
1 (of a man or his manner) deliberately behaving in a way that some people think is typical of a HOMOSEXUAL EFFEMINATE: He's so camp, isn't he?
2 exaggerated in style, especially in a deliberately amusing way: The movie is a camp celebration of the fashion industry.

campaign noun, verb
noun
1 ~ (against/for sth) a series of planned activities that are intended to achieve a particular social, commercial or political aim: to conduct a campaign a campaign against ageism in the workplace the campaign for parliamentary reform an anti-smoking campaign Today police launched (= began) a campaign to reduce road accidents. an advertising campaign an election campaign the President's campaign team/manager
2 a series of attacks and battles that are intended to achieve a particular military aim during a war: the North African campaign Air battles had dominated the campaign. a bombing campaign
verb~ (for/against sb/sth) to take part in or lead a campaign, for example to achieve political change or in order to win an election: [V] We have campaigned against whaling for the last 15 years. The party campaigned vigorously in the north of the country. [V to inf] They are campaigning to save the area from building development.
campaigning noun [U]

SYNONYMS

campaign

battle struggle drive war fight

These are all words for an effort made to achieve or prevent sth.

campaign a series of planned activities that are intended to achieve a particular social, commercial or political aim: the campaign for parliamentary reform an advertising campaign

battle a competition or argument between people or groups of people trying to win power or control: She finally won the legal battle for compensation. the endless battle between man and nature

struggle a competition or argument between people or groups of people trying to win power or control: the struggle for independence the struggle between good and evil

BATTLE OR STRUGGLE?

In many cases you can use either word, but a struggle is always about things that seem absolutely necessary, such as life and death or freedom. A battle can also be about things that are not absolutely necessary, just desirable, or about the pleasure of winning: the battle/struggle between good and evil a legal struggle for compensation a struggle of wills/wits.

drive an organized effort by a group of people to achieve sth: the drive for greater efficiency a drive to reduce energy consumption

CAMPAIGN OR DRIVE?

A campaign is usually aimed at getting other people to do sth; a drive may be an attempt by people to get themselves to do sth: From today, we're going on an economy drive (= we must spend less). A campaign may be larger, more formal and more organized than a drive.

war [sing.] an effort over a long period of time to get rid of or stop sth bad: the war against crime

fight [sing.] the work of trying to stop or prevent sth bad or achieve sth good; an act of competing, especially in a sport: Workers won their fight to stop compulsory redundancies.

WAR OR FIGHT?

A war is about stopping things, like drugs and crime, that everyone agrees are bad. A fight can be about achieving justice for yourself.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

a campaign/battle/struggle/drive/war/fight for/against sth

a(n) strong/intensive/determined/concerted campaign/drive

a one-man/one-woman/personal campaign/battle/struggle/war/fight

a bitter/fierce campaign/battle/struggle/drive/war/fight

to launch/mount/start/lead/be engaged in/carry on/keep up a campaign/battle/struggle/drive/war/fight

to conduct/organize/run/manage a campaign/drive/war/fight

to win/lose a battle/struggle/war/fight

campaigner noun a person who leads or takes part in a campaign, especially one for political or social change: a leading human rights campaigner a campaigner on environmental issues a campaigner for women priests an old/veteran/seasoned campaigner (= a person with a lot of experience of a particular activity) (especially NAmE) Bush campaigners (= people working for Bush in a campaign)

campanile noun a tower that contains a bell, especially one that is not part of another building

campanology NAmE noun [U] (formal) the study of bells and the art of ringing bells
campanologist nounsee also BELL-RINGER

camp bed (BrE) (NAmE cot) noun a light narrow bed that you can fold up and carry easily

camper noun
1 a person who spends a holiday/vacation living in a tent or at a holiday camp
2 (also camper van) (both BrE) (NAmE RV, recreational vehicle) (also motorhome NAmE, BrE) a large vehicle designed for people to live and sleep in when they are travelling
3 (NAmE) = CARAVAN see HAPPY adj.

campfire noun an outdoor fire made by people who are sleeping outside or living in a tent: singing around the campfire

camp follower noun
1 a person who supports a particular group or political party but is not a member of it
2 (in the past) a person who was not a soldier but followed an army from place to place to sell goods or services

campground noun (NAmE) = CAMPSITE

camphor noun [U] a white substance with a strong smell, used in medicine, for making plastics and to keep insects away from clothes

camping noun [U] living in a tent, etc. on holiday/vacation: Do you go camping? a camping trip camping equipment

campsite noun
1 (also camping site) (both BrE) (NAmE campground) a place where people on holiday/vacation can put up their tents, park their CARAVAN, CAMPER, etc., often with toilets, water, etc.
2 (NAmE) a place in a campground where you can put up one tent or park one CAMPER, etc.

campus noun the buildings of a university or college and the land around them: She lives on campus (= within the main university area). campus life

camshaft NAmE noun a long straight piece of metal with a CAM on it joining parts of machinery, especially in a vehicle

can^1 modal verbsee also CAN^2 (negative cannot NAmE , short form can't NAmE , pt could strong form , negative could not, short form couldn't )
1 used to say that it is possible for sb/sth to do sth, or for sth to happen: I can run fast. Can you call back tomorrow? He couldn't answer the question. The stadium can be emptied in four minutes. I can't promise anything, but I'll do what I can. Please let us know if you cannot attend the meeting.
2 used to say that sb knows how to do sth: She can speak Spanish. Can he cook? I could drive a car before I left school.
3 used with the verbs 'feel', 'hear', 'see', 'smell', 'taste': She could feel a lump in her breast. I can hear music.
4 used to show that sb is allowed to do sth: You can take the car, if you want. We can't wear jeans at work.
5 (informal) used to ask permission to do sth: Can I read your newspaper? Can I take you home?
6 (informal) used to ask sb to help you: Can you help me with this box? Can you feed the cat, please?
7 used in the negative for saying that you are sure sth is not true: That can't be Maryshe's in New York. He can't have slept through all that noise.
8 used to express doubt or surprise: What can they be doing? Can he be serious? Where can she have put it?
9 used to say what sb/sth is often like: He can be very tactless sometimes. It can be quite cold here in winter.
10 used to make suggestions: We can eat in a restaurant, if you like. I can take the car if necessary.
11 (informal) used to say that sb must do sth, usually when you are angry: You can shut up or get out! note at MODAL
can't be doing with sth (informal) used to say that you do not like sth and are unwilling to accept it: I can't be doing with people who complain all the time.
no can do (informal) used to say that you are not able or willing to do sth: Sorry, no can do. I just don't have the time.

WHICH WORD?

can / may

Can and cannot (or can't) are the most common words used for asking for, giving or refusing permission: Can I borrow your calculator?You can come with us if you want to.You can't park your car there.

May (negative may not) is used as a polite and fairly formal way to ask for or give permission: May I borrow your newspaper?You may come if you wish. It is often used in official signs and rules: Visitors may use the swimming pool between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.Students may not use the college car park. The form mayn't is almost never used in modern English.

GRAMMAR POINT

can / could / be able to / manage

Can is used to say that somebody knows how to do something: Can you play the piano? It is also used with verbs of seeing, noticing, etc.: I can hear someone calling and with passive infinitives: The DVD can be rented from your local store.

Can or be able to are used to say that something is possible or that somebody has the opportunity to do something: Can you/are you able to come on Saturday?

You use be able to to form the future and perfect tenses and the infinitive: You'll be able to get a taxi outside the station.I haven't been able to get much work done today.She'd love to be able to play the piano.

Could is used to talk about what someone was generally able to do in the past: Our daughter could walk when she was nine months old.

You use was/were able to or manage (but not could) when you are saying that something was possible on a particular occasion in the past: I was able to/managed to find some useful books in the library.I could find some useful books in the library. In negative sentences, could not can also be used: We weren't able to/didn't manage to/couldn't get there in time. Could is also used with this meaning with verbs of seeing, noticing, understanding, etc.: I could see there was something wrong.

Could have is used when you are saying that it was possible for somebody to do something in the past but they did not try: I could have won the game but decided to let her win.

note at MAY

can^2 noun, verbsee also CAN^1
noun
1 (BrE also tin) [C] a metal container in which food and drink is sold: a can of beans a beer/paint can In NAmE can is the usual word used for both food and drink. In BrE can is always used for drink, but tin or can can be used for food, paint, etc.
2 [C] the amount contained in a can: We drank a can of Coke each.
3 [C] a metal or plastic container for holding or carrying liquids: an oil can a watering can
4 [C] a metal container in which liquids are kept under pressure and let out in a fine spray when you press a button on the lid: a can of hairspray
5 the can [sing.] (NAmE, slang) prison
6 the can [sing.] (NAmE, slang) the toilet
a can of worms (informal) if you open up a can of worms, you start doing sth that will cause a lot of problems and be very difficult
be in the can (informal) (especially of filmed or recorded material) to be completed and ready for usemore at CARRY
verb (-nn-) [VN]
1 (especially NAmE) to preserve food by putting it in a can
2 (NAmE, informal) to dismiss sb from their job FIRE, SACK

Canada Day noun (in Canada) a national holiday held on 1 July to celebrate the original joining together of PROVINCES to form Canada in 1867

Canada goose noun a common N American GOOSE with a black head and neck

Canadian adj., noun
adj. from or connected with Canada
noun a person from Canada

Canadian football noun [U] a form of football played in Canada, similar to AMERICAN FOOTBALL, but with twelve players on each team

canal noun
1 a long straight passage dug in the ground and filled with water for boats and ships to travel along; a smaller passage used for carrying water to fields, crops, etc.: the Panama/Suez Canal an irrigation canal
2 a tube inside the body through which liquid, food or air can passsee also ALIMENTARY CANAL

canal boat noun a long narrow boat used on canals

canalize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN]
1 (technical) to make a river wider, deeper or straighter; to make a river into a canal
2 (formal) to control an emotion, activity, etc. so that it is aimed at a particular purpose CHANNEL
canalization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

canapé NAmE noun [usually pl.] a small biscuit or piece of bread with cheese, meat, fish, etc. on it, usually served with drinks at a party

canard NAmE noun (formal) a false report or piece of news

canary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a small yellow bird with a beautiful song, often kept in a CAGE as a pet see CAT

canasta noun [U] a card game played with two packs of cards by two pairs of players who try to collect sets of cards

cancan noun (often the cancan) [sing.] a fast dance in which a line of women kick their legs high in the air

cancel verb (-ll-, US -l-)
1 [VN] to decide that sth that has been arranged will not now take place: All flights have been cancelled because of bad weather. The wedding was cancelled at the last minute. Don't forget to cancel the newspaper (= arrange for it not to be delivered) before going away.compare POSTPONE
2 to say that you no longer want to continue with an agreement, especially one that has been legally arranged: [VN] to cancel a policy/subscription Is it too late to cancel my order? The US has agreed to cancel debts (= say that they no longer need to be paid) totalling $10 million. [V] No charge will be made if you cancel within 10 days.
3 [VN] to mark a ticket or stamp so that it cannot be used again
cancel out| cancel sthout if two or more things cancel out or one cancels out the other, they are equally important but have an opposite effect on a situation so that the situation does not change: Recent losses have cancelled out any profits made at the start of the year. The advantages and disadvantages would appear to cancel each other out.

cancelbot NAmE noun (computing) a program that can find and remove messages that groups of people on the Internet do not want to receive

cancellation (NAmE also cancelation) noun
1 [U, C] a decision to stop sth that has already been arranged from happening; a statement that sth will not happen: We need at least 24 hours' notice of cancellation. a cancellation fee Heavy seas can cause cancellation of ferry services. Cancellations must be made in writing.
2 [C] something that has been cancelled: Are there any cancellations for this evening's performance? (= tickets that have been returned)
3 [U] the fact of making sth no longer valid: the cancellation of the contract

Cancer noun
1 [U] the fourth sign of the ZODIAC, the CRAB
2 [sing.] a person born under the influence of this sign, that is between 22 June and 22 July, approximately
Cancerian NAmE noun, adj.

cancer noun
1 [U, C] a serious disease in which GROWTHS of cells, also called cancers, form in the body and kill normal body cells. The disease often causes death: lung/breast cancer cancer of the bowel/stomach Most skin cancers are completely curable. The cancer has spread to his stomach. Smokers face an increased risk of developing lung cancer. cancer patients cancer research
2 [C] (literary) an evil or dangerous thing that spreads quickly: Violence is a cancer in our society.
cancerous adj.: to become cancerous cancerous cells/growths/tumours

candela noun (physics) (abbr. cd) a unit for measuring the amount of light that shines in a particular direction

candelabra (also less frequent candelabrum ) noun (pl. candelabra, candelabras, US also candelabrums) an object with several branches for holding CANDLES or lights

candid adj.
1 saying what you think openly and honestly; not hiding your thoughts: a candid statement/interview To be candid, I can't stand her.see also CANDOUR
2 a candid photograph is one that is taken without the person in it knowing that they are being photographed: He mingled among the guests and took the candid shots which were much more fun than the formal group photographs.
candidly adv.: She candidly admitted her mistakes.

candida noun [U] (medical) the FUNGUS that can cause an infection of THRUSH

candidacy noun [C, U] (pl. -ies) (also candidature especially in BrE) the fact of being a candidate in an election: to announce/declare/withdraw your candidacy for the post

candidate noun
1 ~ (for sth) a person who is trying to be elected or is applying for a job: one of the leading candidates for the presidency a presidential candidate (BrE) He stood as a candidate in the local elections. There were a large number of candidates for the job. The party intends to field a candidate in the next general election.
2 (BrE) a person taking an exam: Candidates are allowed to use dictionaries in this examination. a candidate for the degree of MPhil
3 ~ (for sth) a person or group that is considered suitable for sth or that is likely to get sth or to be sth: Our team is a prime candidate for relegation this year. Your father is an obvious candidate for a heart attack.

candidature noun (especially BrE) = CANDIDACY

candied adj. [only before noun] (of fruit or other food) preserved by boiling in sugar; cooked in sugar: candied fruit candied peel (= of oranges)

candle noun a round stick of WAX with a piece of string (called a WICK) through the middle which is lit to give light as it burns: a flickering candle The room was lit by candles. to blow out/snuff out a candle
cannot hold a candle to sb/sth is not as good as sb or sth else: His singing can't hold a candle to Pavarotti's.more at BURN v., WORTH adj.

candlelight noun [U] the light that a candle produces: to read by candlelight

candlelit adj. [only before noun] lit by candles: a romantic candlelit dinner

candlestick noun an object for holding a candle: silver candlesticks

candlewick noun [U] a type of soft cotton cloth with a raised pattern of threads, used especially for making BEDSPREADS

can-do adj. [only before noun] (informal) willing to try new things and expecting that they will be successful: a can-do attitude/spirit Texas is a state of big opportunity, a can-do place.

candour (BrE) (NAmE candor) noun [U] the quality of saying what you think openly and honestly FRANKNESS: 'I don't trust him,' he said, in a rare moment of candour.see also CANDID

C & W abbr. COUNTRY AND WESTERN

candy noun [U, C] (pl. -ies) (NAmE) sweet food made of sugar and/or chocolate, eaten between meals; a piece of this SWEET: a box of candy a candy store a candy bar Who wants the last piece of candy?see also ARM CANDY, EYE CANDY
be like taking candy from a baby (informal) used to emphasize how easy it is to do sth: I thought it was going to be difficult to get funding for the project, but in the end it was like taking candy from a baby.

candy apple noun (NAmE) = TOFFEE APPLE

candy-ass noun (NAmE, slang) a person who gets frightened easily and therefore does not deserve respect

candyfloss NAmE (BrE) (NAmE cotton candy) noun [U] a type of sweet/candy in the form of a mass of sticky threads made from melted sugar and served on a stick, especially at FAIRGROUNDS

candyman noun (US, slang) a person who sells illegal drugs

candy-striped adj. (of cloth or clothes) with a pattern of white and pink stripes

cane noun, verb
noun
1 [C] the hard hollow STEM of some plants, for example BAMBOO or sugar: bean plants supported by bamboo canes
2 [U] these STEMS used as a material for making furniture, etc.: a cane chair
3 [C] a piece of cane or a thin stick, used to help sb to walk: He clutched a top hat and a silver-topped cane.see also WALKING STICK
4 [C] a piece of cane or a thin stick, used in the past in some schools for beating children as a punishment: to get the cane (= be punished with a cane)
verb [VN] to hit a child with a cane as a punishment
caning noun [U, C]: the abolition of caning in schools

cane rat noun a type of large RODENT found in wild areas of Africa, which can be used for foodsee also CUTTING GRASS

cane sugar noun [U] sugar obtained from the juice of SUGAR CANE

canine adj., noun
adj. connected with dogs: London's canine population her canine companion, Goldie
noun
1 (also canine tooth) one of the four pointed teeth in the front of a human's or animal's mouthcompare INCISOR, MOLAR
2 (formal) a dog

canister noun
1 a container with a lid for holding tea, coffee, etc.
2 a strong metal container containing gas or a chemical substance, especially one that bursts when it is fired from a gun or thrown: tear-gas canisters
3 a flat round metal container used for storing film: a film canister

canker noun
1 [U] a disease that destroys the wood of plants and trees
2 [U] a disease that causes sore areas in the ears of animals, especially dogs and cats
3 [C] (literary) an evil or dangerous influence that spreads and affects people's behaviour

canker sore noun (NAmE) = MOUTH ULCER

cannabis noun [U] a drug made from the dried leaves and flowers or RESIN of the HEMP plant, which is smoked or eaten and which gives the user a feeling of being relaxed. Use of the drug is illegal in many countries.

canned adj.
1 (BrE also tinned) (of food) preserved in a can: canned food/soup
2 ~ laughter/music the sound of people laughing or music that has been previously recorded and used in television and radio programmes

cannellini bean noun (from Italian) a type of curved whitish BEAN

cannelloni NAmE noun [U] (from Italian) large tubes of PASTA filled with meat or cheese

cannery noun (pl. -ies) a factory where food is put into cans

cannibal noun
1 a person who eats human flesh: a tribe of cannibals
2 an animal that eats the flesh of other animals of the same kind
cannibalism noun [U]: to practise cannibalism cannibalistic adj.

cannibalize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN]
1 to take the parts of a machine, vehicle, etc. and use them to repair or build another
2 (business) (of a company) to reduce the sales of one of its products by introducing a similar new product: We believe the two perfumes appeal to different buyers and won't cannibalize one another's sales.
cannibalization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

cannon noun, verb
noun (pl. cannon or cannons)
1 an old type of large heavy gun, usually on wheels, that fires solid metal or stone balls: Three cannon opened fire. a burst of cannon firesee also LOOSE CANNON, WATER CANNON
2 an automatic gun that is fired from an aircraft
verb [V + adv. / prep.] to hit sb/sth with a lot of force while you are moving: He ran around the corner, cannoning into a group of kids.

cannonade noun a continuous firing of large guns

cannonball noun a large metal or stone ball that is fired from a CANNON

cannon fodder noun [U] soldiers who are thought of not as people whose lives are important, but as material to be used up in war: The soldiers were little more than cannon fodder.

cannot NAmE = CAN NOT: I cannot believe the price of the tickets!

cannula noun (pl. cannulae or cannulas) (medical) a thin tube that is put into a VEIN or other part of the body, for example to give sb medicine

cannulate verb [VN] (medical) to put a thin tube into a part of sb's body
cannulation noun [U]

canny adj. intelligent, careful and showing good judgement, especially in business or politics: a canny politician a canny move He was canny enough to see that they were trying to trap him.
cannily adv.: She cannily concealed her delight at his suggestion.

canoe noun, verb
noun a light narrow boat which you move along in the water with a PADDLEsee also KAYAK
verb (canoeing, canoed, canoed) [V] (often go canoeing) to travel in a canoe

canoeing noun [U] the sport of travelling in or racing a CANOE: to go canoeing

canoeist noun a person travelling in a canoe

canon noun
1 a Christian priest with special duties in a CATHEDRAL
2 (formal) a generally accepted rule, standard or principle by which sth is judged: the canons of good taste market sovereignty, the central canon of Thatcherism
3 a list of the books or other works that are generally accepted as the genuine work of a particular writer or as being important: the Shakespeare canon 'Wuthering Heights' is a central book in the canon of English literature.
4 a piece of music in which singers or instruments take it in turns to repeat the MELODY (= tune): a canon for tenor and bass

canonic NAmE adj.
1 (music) in the form of a canon
2 = CANONICAL

canonical NAmE (also canonic NAmE ) adj.
1 included in a list of holy books that are accepted as genuine; connected with works of literature that are highly respected
2 according to the law of the Christian Church: canonical rules
3 (technical) in the simplest accepted form in mathematics: the standard canonical form for a matrix

canonical form noun (linguistics) the most basic form of a GRAMMATICAL structure or expression, for example the infinitive in the case of a verb

canonize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] [usually passive] (of the POPE) to state officially that sb is now a SAINTcompare BEATIFY
canonization, -isation NAmE noun [C, U]

canon law noun [U] the law of the Christian church

canoodle verb [V] (BrE, old-fashioned, informal) (of two people) to kiss and touch each other in a sexual way

can-opener noun (especially NAmE) = TIN-OPENER

canopy noun (pl. -ies)
1 a cover that is fixed or hangs above a bed, seat, etc. as a shelter or decoration
2 a layer of sth that spreads over an area like a roof, especially branches of trees in a forest: a canopy of leaves a glorious canopy of stars We could see the sky through gaps in the forest canopy.
3 a cover for the COCKPIT of an aircraft

canst verb thou canst (old use) used to mean 'you can', when talking to one person

cant noun, verb
noun [U] statements, especially about moral or religious issues, that are not sincere and that you cannot trust HYPOCRISY: His speech was full of political, social and religious cant.
verb [V, VN] (formal) to be or put sth in a sloping position

can't short form cannot

Cantab abbr. (used after degree titles) of Cambridge University: James Cox MA (Cantab)

cantabile adj., adv. (from Italian, music) in a smooth singing style

Cantabrigian adj. (formal or humorous) relating to Cambridge in England, or to Cambridge University

cantaloupe noun a MELON (= a type of fruit) with a green skin and orange flesh

cantankerous adj. bad-tempered and always complaining: a cantankerous old man

cantata noun a short musical work, often on a religious subject, sung by SOLO singers, often with a CHOIR and ORCHESTRAcompare MOTET, ORATORIO

canteen noun
1 (especially BrE) a place where food and drink are served in a factory, a school, etc.
2 a small container used by soldiers, travellers, etc. for carrying water or other liquid
3 ~ of cutlery (BrE) a box containing a set of knives, forks and spoons

canteen culture noun [U] (BrE, disapproving) a set of old-fashioned and unfair attitudes that are said to exist among police officers

canter noun, verb
noun [usually sing.] a movement of a horse at a speed that is fairly fast but not very fast; a ride on a horse moving at this speed: She set off at a canter.
verb (of a horse or rider) to move or make a horse move at a canter: [V] We cantered along the beach. [also VN] compare GALLOP, TROT

canticle noun a religious song with words taken from the Bible

cantilever noun a long piece of metal or wood that sticks out from a wall to support the end of a bridge or other structure: a cantilever bridge

canto NAmE noun (pl. -os) one of the sections of a long poem

canton NAmE noun one of the official regions which some countries, such as Switzerland, are divided into

Cantonese noun, adj.
noun
1 (also Yue ) [U] a form of Chinese spoken mainly in SE China, including Hong Kong
2 [C] (pl. Cantonese) a person whose first language is Cantonese
adj. of or relating to people who speak Cantonese, or their language or culture: Cantonese cooking

cantonment NAmE noun a military camp, especially a permanent British military camp in India in the past

Cantopop NAmE noun [U] (SEAsianE) a type of popular music that combines Cantonese words and Western pop music

cantor noun the person who leads the singing in a SYNAGOGUE or in a church CHOIR

Canuck noun (NAmE, informal) a person from Canada, especially sb whose first language is French. In the US this term is often offensive.

Canute NAmE noun used to describe a person who tries to stop sth from happening but will never succeed: His efforts to stem the tide of violent crime have been as effective as Canute's.
From the story of a Danish king of England who was said to have stood in front of the sea and shown people that he was not able to order the water that was moving in towards the land to turn back. The story is often changed to suggest that Canute really thought that he could turn back the sea.

canvas noun
1 [U] a strong heavy rough material used for making tents, sails, etc. and by artists for painting on
2 [C] a piece of canvas used for painting on; a painting done on a piece of canvas, using oil paints: a sale of the artist's early canvases
under canvas in a tent: They spent the night under canvas.

canvass verb
1 ~ (sb) (for sth) to ask sb to support a particular person, political party, etc., especially by going around an area and talking to people: [V] He spent the whole month canvassing for votes. [VN] Party workers are busy canvassing local residents.
2 [VN] to ask people about sth in order to find out what they think about it: He has been canvassing opinion on the issue. People are being canvassed for their views on the proposed new road.
3 [VN] ~ support to try and get support from a group of people DRUM UP
4 [VN] to discuss an idea thoroughly: The proposal is currently being canvassed.
canvass noun: to carry out a canvass canvasser noun

canyon noun a deep valley with steep sides of rock: the Grand Canyon in Arizona

canyoning noun [U] a sport in which you jump into a mountain stream and allow yourself to be carried down at high speed

CAP abbr. Common Agricultural Policy (of the European Union)

cap noun, verb
noun
HAT
1 a type of soft flat hat with a PEAK (= a hard curved part sticking out in front). Caps are worn especially by men and boys, often as part of a uniform: a school capsee also BASEBALL CAP, CLOTH CAP, MOB CAP
2 (usually in compounds) a soft hat that fits closely and is worn for a particular purpose: a shower cap
3 a soft hat with a square flat top worn by some university teachers and students at special ceremoniescompare MORTAR BOARD
IN SPORT
4 (BrE) a cap given to sb who is chosen to play for a school, country, etc.; a player chosen to play for their country, etc.: He won his first cap (= was first chosen to play) for England against France. There are three new caps in the side.
ON PEN/BOTTLE
5 a cover or top for a pen, bottle, etc.: a lens capsee also FILLER CAP, HUBCAP note at LID
LIMIT ON MONEY
6 an upper limit on an amount of money that can be spent or borrowed by a particular institution or in a particular situation: The government has placed a cap on local council spending.
IN TOY GUNS
7 a small paper container with EXPLOSIVE powder inside it, used especially in toy guns
FOR WOMAN
8 (BrE) = DIAPHRAGM (2)
see also ICE CAP, THINKING CAP
go cap in hand (to sb) (BrE) (US go hat in hand) to ask sb for sth, especially money, in a very polite way that makes you seem less important: There's no way he'll go cap in hand to his brother.
if the cap fits (, wear it) (BrE) (NAmE if the shoe fits (, wear it)) (informal) if you feel that a remark applies to you, you should accept it and take it as a warning or criticism: I didn't actually say that you were lazy, but if the cap fits ...more at FEATHER n.
verb (-pp-) [VN]
COVER TOP
1 [usually passive] ~ sth (with sth) to cover the top or end of sth with sth: mountains capped with snow snow-capped mountains
LIMIT MONEY
2 [often passive] (especially BrE) to limit the amount of money that can be charged for sth or spent on sth: a capped mortgage
BEAT
3 (especially BrE) to say or do sth that is funnier, more impressive, etc. than sth that has been said or done before: What an amazing story. Can anyone cap that?
TOOTH
4 [usually passive] to put an artificial covering on a tooth to make it look more attractive: He's had his front teeth capped. CROWN
IN SPORT
5 [usually passive] (BrE) to choose sb to play in their country's national team for a particular sport: He has been capped more than 30 times for Wales.
to cap/top it all (informal) used to introduce the final piece of information that is worse than the other bad things that you have just mentioned: And then, to cap it all, it started to rain!

capability noun [C, U] (pl. -ies)
1 ~ (to do sth/of doing sth) the ability or qualities necessary to do sth: Animals in the zoo have lost the capability to catch/of catching food for themselves. beyond/within the capabilities of current technology Age affects the range of a person's capabilities. a company's production capabilities
2 the power or weapons that a country has for war or for military action: Britain's nuclear/military capability

capable adj.
1 ~ of sth/of doing sth having the ability or qualities necessary for doing sth: He's quite capable of lying to get out of trouble. I'm perfectly capable of doing it myself, thank you. You are capable of better work than this.
2 having the ability to do things well SKILLED, COMPETENT: She's a very capable teacher. I'll leave the organization in your capable hands. INCAPABLE
capably adv.: He managed the conference very capably.

capacious adj. (formal) having a lot of space to put things in ROOMY: capacious pockets

capacitance noun [U] (physics)
1 the ability of a system to store an electrical charge
2 a comparison between change in electrical charge and change in electrical POTENTIAL

capacitor noun (physics) a device used to store an electrical charge

capacity noun (pl. -ies)
OF CONTAINER
1 [U, C, usually sing.] the number of things or people that a container or space can hold: The theatre has a seating capacity of 2 000. a fuel tank with a capacity of 50 litres The hall was filled to capacity (= was completely full). They played to a capacity crowd (= one that filled all the space or seats). a hard disk storage capacity of 500 megabytes
ABILITY
2 [C, usually sing., U] ~ (for sth/for doing sth)| ~ (to do sth) the ability to understand or to do sth: She has an enormous capacity for hard work. Limited resources are restricting our capacity for developing new products. your capacity to enjoy life intellectual capacity
ROLE
3 [C, usually sing.] the official position or function that sb has ROLE: acting in her capacity as manager We are simply involved in an advisory capacity on the project.
OF FACTORY/MACHINE
4 [sing., U] the quantity that a factory, machine, etc. can produce: The factory is working at full capacity.
OF ENGINE
5 [C, U] the size or power of a piece of equipment, especially the engine of a vehicle: an engine with a capacity of 1 600 ccs

caparisoned adj. in the past a caparisoned horse or other animal was one covered with a decorated cloth: 12 state coaches, each drawn by eight horses caparisoned in red velvet embroidered with gold

cape noun
1 a loose outer piece of clothing that has no sleeves, fastens at the neck and hangs from the shoulders, like a CLOAK but shorter: a bullfighter's cape
2 (abbr. C.) (often in place names) a piece of high land that sticks out into the sea: Cape Horn

caped adj. wearing a cape: a caped and hooded figure

caper noun, verb
noun
1 [usually pl.] the small green flower BUD of a Mediterranean bush, preserved in VINEGAR and used to flavour dishes and sauces
2 (informal) an activity, especially one that is illegal or dangerous: A call to the police should put an end to their little caper. He's involved in some sort of organized crime caper.
3 an amusing film/movie that contains a lot of action: a British spy caper
4 a short jumping or dancing movement: He cut a little celebratory caper (= jumped or danced a few steps) in the middle of the road.
verb [V, usually + adv. / prep.] (formal) to run or jump around in a happy and excited way

capercaillie NAmE noun a large GROUSE (= a type of large bird) similar to a TURKEY, the male of which spreads out his tail feathers to attract females

capillary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (anatomy) any of the smallest tubes in the body that carry blood

capillary action noun [U] (technical) the force that makes a liquid move up a narrow tube

capital noun, adj.
noun
CITY
1 (also capital city) [C] the most important town or city of a country, usually where the central government operates from: Cairo is the capital of Egypt. Troops are stationed in and around the capital. a tour of six European capital cities (figurative) Paris, the fashion capital of the world
MONEY
2 [sing.] a large amount of money that is invested or is used to start a business: to set up a business with a starting capital of £100 000
3 [U] wealth or property that is owned by a business or a person: capital assets capital expenditure (= money that an organization spends on buildings, equipment, etc.)
4 [U] (technical) people who use their money to start businesses, considered as a group: capital and labour
LETTER
5 (also capital letter) [C] a letter of the form and size that is used at the beginning of a sentence or a name (= A,B,C rather than a,b,c): Use block capitals (= separate capital letters). Please write in capitals/in capital letters.
ARCHITECTURE
6 the top part of a column
make capital (out) of sth to use a situation for your own advantage: The opposition parties are making political capital out of the government's problems.
adj.
PUNISHMENT
1 [only before noun] involving punishment by death: a capital offence
LETTER
2 [only before noun] (of letters of the alphabet) having the form and size used at the beginning of a sentence or a name: English is written with a capital 'E'.compare LOWER CASE
EXCELLENT
3 (old-fashioned, BrE) excellent
with a capital A, B, etc. used to emphasize that a word has a stronger meaning than usual in a particular situation: He was romantic with a capital R.

capital gains noun [pl.] profits that you make from selling sth, especially property: to pay capital gains tax

capital goods noun [pl.] (business) goods such as factory machines that are used for producing other goodscompare CONSUMER GOODS

capital-intensive adj. (of a business, an industry, etc.) needing large amounts of money in order to operate wellcompare LABOUR-INTENSIVE

capitalism noun [U] an economic system in which a country's businesses and industry are controlled and run for profit by private owners rather than by the government: the growth of industrial capitalism in the Westcompare SOCIALISM

capitalist noun, adj.
noun
1 a person who supports capitalism: conflicts between capitalists and workers
2 a person who owns or controls a lot of wealth and uses it to produce more wealth
adj. (also less frequent capitalistic ) based on the principles of capitalism: a capitalist society/system/economy

capitalize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN]
1 to write or print a letter of the alphabet as a capital; to begin a word with a capital letter: All capitalized words are explained in the glossary.
2 (business) to sell possessions in order to change them into money
3 [usually passive] (business) to provide a company etc. with the money it needs to function
capitalization, -isation NAmE noun [U, sing.]
capitalize on/upon sth to gain a further advantage for yourself from a situation TAKE ADVANTAGE OF STH: The team failed to capitalize on their early lead.

capital letter noun = CAPITAL (5)

capital punishment noun [U] punishment by death

capital sum noun a single payment of money that is made to sb, for example by an insurance company

capitation noun [C, U] (technical) a tax or payment of an equal amount for each person; the system of payments of this kind: a capitation allowance for books and equipment a capitation fee for each pupil

capitol noun
1 (usually the Capitol) [sing.] the building in Washington DC where the US Congress (= the national parliament) meets to work on new laws
2 [usually sing.] a building in each US state where politicians meet to work on new laws: the California state capitol

Capitol Hill (also informal the Hill) noun [sing.] used to refer to the US Capitol and the activities that take place there

capitulate verb [V] ~ (to sb/sth)
1 to agree to do sth that you have been refusing to do for a long time GIVE IN, YIELD: They were finally forced to capitulate to the terrorists' demands.
2 to stop resisting an enemy and accept that you are defeated SURRENDER: The town capitulated after a three-week siege.
capitulation noun [C, U]

CapletTM noun a long narrow tablet of medicine, with rounded ends, that you swallow

capoeira noun [U] a Brazilian system of movements which is similar to dance and MARTIAL ARTS

capon NAmE noun a male chicken that has been CASTRATED (= had part of its sex organs removed) and made fat for eating

cappella A CAPPELLA

cappuccino NAmE noun (pl. -os)
1 [U] a type of coffee made with hot FROTHY milk and sometimes with chocolate powder on the top
2 [C] a cup of cappuccino

caprice noun (formal)
1 [C] a sudden change in attitude or behaviour for no obvious reason WHIM
2 [U] the tendency to change your mind suddenly or behave unexpectedly

capricious adj. (formal)
1 showing sudden changes in attitude or behaviour UNPREDICTABLE: a movie star who was capricious and difficult to please
2 changing suddenly and quickly CHANGEABLE: a capricious climate
capriciously adv. capriciousness noun [U]

Capricorn NAmE noun
1 [U] the 10th sign of the ZODIAC, the Goat
2 [C] a person born under the influence of this sign, that is between 21 December and 20 January, approximately

capri pants (also capris) noun [pl.] a type of trousers/pants for women ending between the knee and the foot

caps noun [pl.] (technical) capital letters: a title printed in bold caps

capsicum noun (technical) a type of plant which has hollow fruits. Some types of these are eaten as vegetables, either raw or cooked, for example SWEET PEPPERS or CHILLIES.

capsize NAmE verb [V, VN] if a boat capsizes or sth capsizes it, it turns over in the water

capstan noun a thick CYLINDER that winds up a rope, used for lifting heavy objects such as an ANCHOR on a ship

capstone NAmE noun
1 a stone placed at the top of a building or wall
2 (especially NAmE) the best and final thing that sb achieves, thought of as making their career or life complete: This award is a fitting capstone to his career.

capsule NAmE noun
1 a small container which has a measured amount of a medicine inside and which dissolves when you swallow it: The medicine can be taken in tablet or capsule form. Take two 30ml capsules a day.
2 a small plastic container with a substance or liquid inside
3 the part of a SPACECRAFT in which people travel and that often separates from the main ROCKET: the cramped conditions of a space capsule
4 (technical) a shell or container for seeds or eggs in some plants and animalssee also TIME CAPSULE

Capt. abbr. captain

captain noun, verb
noun
1 the person in charge of a ship or commercial aircraft: Captain Cook The captain gave the order to abandon ship. Captain Jones and his co-pilot
2 an officer of fairly high rank in the navy, the army and the US AIR FORCE: Captain Lance Pricesee also GROUP CAPTAIN
3 the leader of a group of people, especially a sports team: She was captain of the hockey team at school. He has just been made team captain.
4 an officer of high rank in a US police or fire department
verb [VN] to be a captain of a sports team or a ship

captaincy noun [C, usually sing., U] (pl. -ies) the position of captain of a team; the period during which sb is captain

captain general noun (pl. captains general) a very high rank in the British army, held by an important person who is not a soldier

captain of industry noun (pl. captains of industry) used in newspapers, etc. to describe a person who manages a large business company

caption noun, verb
noun words that are printed underneath a picture, CARTOON, etc. that explain or describe itsee also CLOSED-CAPTIONED
verb [VN] [usually passive] to write a caption for a picture, photograph, etc.: The cartoon was captioned 'The English abroad'.

captivate verb [VN] [often passive] to keep sb's attention by being interesting, attractive, etc. ENCHANT: The children were captivated by her stories.

captivating adj. taking all your attention; very attractive and interesting ENCHANTING: He found her captivating. We spent a week relaxing on the captivating island of Capri.

captive adj., noun
adj.
1 kept as a prisoner or in a confined space; unable to escape: captive animals They were taken captive by masked gunmen. captive breeding (= the catching and breeding of wild animals) note at PRISONER
2 [only before noun] not free to leave a particular place or to choose what you want do to: A salesman loves to have a captive audience (= listening because they have no choice).
noun a person who is kept as a prisoner, especially in a war: Talks have persuaded the terrorists to set the captives free.

captivity noun [U] the state of being kept as a prisoner or in a confined space: He was held in captivity for three years. Wild animals do not always breed well in captivity. The bird had escaped from captivity.

captor noun (formal) a person who captures a person or an animal and keeps them as a prisoner: The hostages were treated well by their captors.

capture verb, noun
verb [VN]
CATCH
1 to catch a person or an animal and keep them as a prisoner or in a confined space: Allied troops captured over 300 enemy soldiers. The animals are captured in nets and sold to local zoos.
TAKE CONTROL
2 to take control of a place, building, etc. using force: The city was captured in 1941.
3 to succeed in getting control of sth that other people are also trying to control: The company has captured 90% of the market.
MAKE SB INTERESTED
4 ~ sb's attention/imagination/interest to make sb interested in sth: They use puppets to capture the imagination of younger audiences.
FEELING/ATMOSPHERE
5 to succeed in accurately expressing a feeling, an atmosphere, etc. in a picture, piece of writing, film/movie, etc. CATCH: The article captured the mood of the nation.
FILM/RECORD/PAINT
6 [often passive] ~ sb/sth on film/tape/canvas, etc. to film/record/paint, etc. sb/sth: The attack was captured on film by security cameras.
SB'S HEART
7 ~ sb's heart to make sb love you
COMPUTING
8 to put sth into a computer in a form it can use
noun [U] the act of capturing sb/sth or of being captured: the capture of enemy territory He evaded capture for three days. data capture

capybara NAmE noun (pl. capybara or capybaras) an animal like a very large RABBIT with thick legs and small ears, which lives near water in S and Central America

car (also BrE formal motor car) (NAmE also automobile) noun
1 a road vehicle with an engine and four wheels that can carry a small number of passengers: Paula got into the car and drove off. 'How did you come?' 'By car.' Are you going in the car? a car driver/manufacturer/dealer a car accident/crash Where can I park the car?see also COMPANY CAR
2 (also railcar both NAmE) a separate section of a train: Several cars went off the rails.
3 (BrE) (in compounds) a coach/car on a train of a particular type: a sleeping/dining car

carafe noun a glass container with a wide neck in which wine or water is served at meals; the amount contained in a carafe

caramel noun
1 [U, C] a type of hard sticky sweet/candy made from butter, sugar and milk; a small piece of this
2 [U] burnt sugar used for adding colour and flavour to food: ice cream with caramel saucesee also CRÈME CARAMEL
3 [U] a light brown colour

caramelize (BrE also -ise) verb
1 [V] (of sugar) to turn into caramel
2 [VN] to cook sth, especially fruit, with sugar so that it is covered with caramel

carapace noun (technical) the hard shell on the back of some animals such as CRABS, that protects them

carat noun (abbr. ct)
1 a unit for measuring the weight of diamonds and other PRECIOUS STONES, equal to 200 milligrams
2 (especially BrE) (NAmE usually karat) a unit for measuring how pure gold is. The purest gold is 24 carats: an 18-carat gold ring

caravan noun
1 (BrE) (NAmE camper) a road vehicle without an engine that is pulled by a car, designed for people to live and sleep in, especially when they are on holiday/vacation: a caravan site/park
2 (BrE) a covered vehicle that is pulled by a horse and used for living in: a Gypsy caravan
3 a group of people with vehicles or animals who are travelling together, especially across the desert

caravanning noun [U] (BrE) the activity of spending a holiday/vacation in a caravan: Camping and caravanning attract people of all ages.

caravanserai (BrE) (NAmE caravansary pl. -ies) noun
1 in the past, a place where travellers could stay in desert areas of Asia and N Africa
2 (formal) a group of people travelling together

caraway noun [U] the dried seeds of the caraway plant, used to give flavour to food: caraway seeds

carbine NAmE noun a short light RIFLE

carbohydrate NAmE noun
1 [C, U] a substance such as sugar or STARCH that consists of CARBON, HYDROGEN and OXYGEN. Carbohydrates in food provide the body with energy and heat.
2 carbohydrates [pl.] foods such as bread, potatoes and rice that contain a lot of carbohydrate: I'm trying to cut down on carbohydrates.

carbolic NAmE (also carbolic acid) noun [U] a chemical that kills bacteria, used as an ANTISEPTIC and as a DISINFECTANT (= to prevent infection from spreading): carbolic soap

car bomb noun a bomb hidden inside or under a car: a car bomb attack outside the embassy

carbon NAmE noun
1 [U] (symb C) a chemical element. Carbon is found in all living things, existing in a pure state as diamond, GRAPHITE and BUCKMINSTERFULLERENE: carbon fibre
2 [C] = CARBON COPY
3 [C] a piece of CARBON PAPER

carbonara NAmE adj. (from Italian) carbonara sauce is made with BACON and eggs and served with PASTA: spaghetti carbonara

carbonate NAmE noun (chemistry) a salt that contains CARBON and OXYGEN together with another chemical

carbonated NAmE adj. (technical) (of a drink) containing small bubbles of CARBON DIOXIDE FIZZY: carbonated mineral water

carbon copy (also carbon) noun
1 a copy of a document, letter, etc. made with CARBON PAPERsee also CC
2 a person or thing that is very similar to sb/sth else: She is a carbon copy of her sister.

carbon cycle noun [C, U] the processes by which carbon is changed from one form to another within the environment, for example in plants and when wood or oil is burned

carbon dating (also formal radiocarbon dating) noun a method of calculating the age of very old objects by measuring the amounts of different forms of carbon in them

carbon dioxide noun [U] (symb CO2) a gas breathed out by people and animals from the lungs or produced by burning CARBON

carbonic acid NAmE noun [U] (chemistry) a very weak acid that is formed when carbon dioxide is dissolved in water

carboniferous NAmE adj. (geology)
1 producing or containing coal
2 Carboniferous of the period in the earth's history when layers of coal were formed underground

carbonize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb
1 [V, VN] to become CARBON, or to make sth become carbon
2 [VN] to cover sth with CARBON
carbonization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

carbon monoxide noun [U] (symb CO) a poisonous gas formed when CARBON burns partly but not completely. It is produced when petrol/gas is burnt in car engines.

carbon paper noun thin paper with a dark substance on one side, that is used between two sheets of paper for making copies of written or typed documents

car boot sale noun (BrE) an outdoor sale where people sell things that they no longer want, using tables or the backs of their cars to put the goods on

carborundum NAmE noun [U] (chemistry) a very hard black solid substance, used as an ABRASIVE

carboy NAmE noun a large round bottle, usually protected by an outer frame of wood and used for storing and transporting dangerous liquids

car bra noun = BRA (2)

carbuncle NAmE noun
1 a large painful swelling under the skin
2 a bright red JEWEL, usually cut into a round shape

carburettor (BrE) (NAmE carburetor) NAmE noun the part of an engine, for example in a car, where petrol/gas and air are mixed together

carburize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN] (technical) to add CARBON to iron or steel in order to make the surface harder

carcass (BrE also less frequent carcase) NAmE noun the dead body of an animal, especially of a large one or of one that is ready for cutting up as meat: vultures scavenging for carcasses on the road She boiled up the chicken carcass (= the bones of a cooked chicken) to make soup.

carcinogen NAmE noun a substance that can cause cancer: known/potential/suspected carcinogens exposure to chemical carcinogens in cigarette smoke

carcinogenic NAmE adj. likely to cause cancer: the carcinogenic effects of some pesticides used on fruit

carcinoma NAmE noun (medical) a cancer that affects the top layer of the skin or the LINING of the organs inside the stomach

car coat noun a short coat for a man, designed to be worn while driving

card NAmE noun, verb
noun
PAPER
1 [U] (BrE) thick stiff paper: a piece of card The model of the building was made of card.
WITH INFORMATION
2 [C] a small piece of stiff paper or plastic with information on it, especially information about sb's identity: a membership card an appointment cardsee also GREEN CARD, IDENTITY CARD, LOYALTY CARD, RED CARD, REPORT CARD, YELLOW CARD
3 [C] = BUSINESS CARD: Here's my card if you need to contact me again.
4 [C] = VISITING CARD
FOR MONEY
5 [C] a small piece of plastic, especially one given by a bank or shop/store, used for buying things or obtaining money: I put the meal on (= paid for it using) my card. a phone cardsee also CASH CARD, CHARGE CARD, CHEQUE CARD, CHIP CARD, CREDIT CARD, SMART CARD, SWIPE CARD
WITH A MESSAGE
6 [C] a piece of stiff paper that is folded in the middle and has a picture on the front of it, used for sending sb a message with your good wishes, an invitation, etc.: a birthday/get-well/good luck cardsee also CHRISTMAS CARD, GREETINGS CARD
7 [C] = POSTCARD: Did you get my card from Italy?
IN GAMES
8 [C] = PLAYING CARD: Let's have a game of cards. (BrE) a pack of cards (NAmE) a deck of cardssee also TRUMP CARD, WILD CARD
9 cards [pl.] a game or games in which PLAYING CARDS are used: Who wants to play cards? I've never been very good at cards. She won £20 at cards.
COMPUTING
10 [C] a small device containing an electronic CIRCUIT that is part of a computer or added to it, enabling it to perform particular functions: a printed circuit card a graphics/network/sound cardsee also EXPANSION CARD
PERSON
11 [C] (old-fashioned, informal) an unusual or amusing person
HORSE RACES
12 [C] a list of all the races at a particular RACE MEETING (= a series of horse races): a race card
FOR WOOL/COTTON
13 [C] (technical) a machine or tool used for cleaning and COMBING wool or cotton before it is spun
sb's best/strongest/winning card something that gives sb an advantage over other people in a particular situation
get your cards (BrE, informal) to be told to leave a job
give sb their cards (BrE, informal) to make sb leave their job
have a card up your sleeve to have an idea, a plan, etc. that will give you an advantage in a particular situation and that you keep secret until it is needed
hold all the cards (informal) to be able to control a particular situation because you have an advantage over other people
hold/keep/play your cards close to your chest to keep your ideas, plans, etc. secret
lay/put your cards on the table to tell sb honestly what your plans, ideas, etc. are
on the cards (BrE) (NAmE in the cards) (informal) likely to happen: The merger has been on the cards for some time now.
play the ... card to mention a particular subject, idea or quality in order to gain an advantage: He accused his opponent of playing the immigration card during the campaign.see also RACE CARD
play your cards right to deal successfully with a particular situation so that you achieve some advantage or sth that you want: If you play your cards right, the job could be yours when she leaves.more at SHOW v., STACKED
verb [VN]
1 (technical) to clean wool using a wire instrument
2 (NAmE, informal) to ask a person to show their identity card as a means of checking how old they are, for example if they want to buy alcohol

cardamom NAmE noun [U] the dried seeds of a SE Asian plant, used in cooking as a spice: cardamom pods

cardboard NAmE noun, adj.
noun [U] stiff material like very thick paper, often used for making boxes: a cardboard box a piece of cardboard a model made out of cardboard
adj. [only before noun] not seeming real or genuine: a novel with superficial cardboard characters

cardboard city noun an area of a city where people who have nowhere to live sleep outside, protected only by cardboard boxes

card-carrying adj. [only before noun] known to be an official and usually active member of a political organization: a card-carrying member of the Conservative party

card catalog noun (NAmE) = CARD INDEX

card game noun a game in which playing cards are used

cardholder NAmE noun a person who has a credit card from a bank, etc.: Cardholders pay interest on the amount of money left unpaid.

cardiac NAmE adj. [only before noun] (medical) connected with the heart or heart disease: cardiac disease/failure/surgery to suffer cardiac arrest (= an occasion when a person's heart stops temporarily or permanently)

cardigan NAmE (NAmE also cardigan sweater) noun a knitted jacket made of wool, usually with no COLLAR and fastened with buttons at the front

cardinal NAmE noun, adj.
noun
1 a priest of the highest rank in the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinals elect and advise the POPE: Cardinal Hume
2 (also cardinal number) a number, such as 1, 2 and 3, used to show quantity rather than ordercompare ORDINAL
3 a N American bird. The male cardinal is bright red.
adj. [only before noun] (formal) most important; having other things based on it: Respect for life is a cardinal principle of English law.

cardinal points noun [pl.] (technical) the four main points (North, South, East and West) of the COMPASS

cardinal sin noun
1 (sometimes humorous) an action that is a serious mistake or that other people disapprove of: He committed the cardinal sin of criticizing his teammates.
2 a serious SIN in the Christian Church

cardinal vowel noun (phonetics) one of a set of vowels which are used as reference points when describing the vowels in a particular language

card index (also index) (both BrE) (NAmE card catalog) noun a box of cards with information on them, arranged in alphabetical order

cardio- NAmE combining form (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) connected with the heart: cardiogram

cardiologist NAmE noun a doctor who studies and treats heart diseases
cardiology noun [U]

cardiovascular NAmE adj. (medical) connected with the heart and the BLOOD VESSELS (= the tubes that carry blood around the body)

cardphone NAmE noun (BrE) a public telephone in which you use a plastic card (= a PHONECARD) instead of money

card sharp noun a person who cheats in games of cards in order to make money: He was dressed like some Dodge City card sharp.

card swipe noun an electronic device through which you pass a credit card, etc. in order to record the information on it, open a door, etc.

card table noun a small table for playing card games on, especially one that you can fold

care NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U] the process of caring for sb/sth and providing what they need for their health or protection: medical/patient care How much do men share housework and the care of the children? the provision of care for the elderly skin/hair care productssee also COMMUNITY CARE, DAY CARE, EASY-CARE, HEALTH CARE, INTENSIVE CARE
2 [U] attention or thought that you give to sth that you are doing so that you will do it well and avoid mistakes or damage: She chose her words with care. Great care is needed when choosing a used car. Fragilehandle with care (= written on a container holding sth which is easily broken or damaged)
3 [C, usually pl., U] (formal) a feeling of worry or anxiety; something that causes problems or anxiety: I felt free from the cares of the day as soon as I left the building. Sam looked as if he didn't have a care in the world.
care of sb (NAmE also in care of sb) (abbr. c/o) used when writing to sb at another person's address: Write to him care of his lawyer.
in care (BrE) (of children) living in an institution run by the local authority rather than with their parents: The two girls were taken into care after their parents were killed.
in the care of sb/in sb's care being cared for by sb: The child was left in the care of friends. You won't come to any harm while you're in their care.
take care (informal) used when saying goodbye: Bye! Take care!
take care (that .../to do sth) to be careful: Take care (that) you don't drink too much! Care should be taken to close the lid securely.
take care of sb/sth/yourself
1 to care for sb/sth/yourself; to be careful about sth: Who's taking care of the children while you're away? She takes great care of her clothes. He's old enough to take care of himself. You should take better care of yourself.
2 to be responsible for or to deal with a situation or task: Don't worry about the travel arrangements. They're all being taken care of. Celia takes care of the marketing side of things.
under the care of sb receiving medical care from sb: He's under the care of Dr Parks. refugees under the care of the relief agencies
verb (not used in the progressive tenses)
1 ~ (about sth) to feel that sth is important and worth worrying about: [V] She cares deeply about environmental issues. I don't care (= I will not be upset) if I never see him again! He threatened to fire me, as if I cared! [V wh-] I don't care what he thinks. [V that] She doesn't seem to care that he's been married four times before.
2 [V] ~ (about sb) to like or love sb and worry about what happens to them: He genuinely cares about his employees. They care an awful lot about each other.
3 [V to inf] to make the effort to do sth: I've done this job more times than I care to remember.
couldn't care less (informal) used to say, often rudely, that you do not think that sb/sth is important or worth worrying about: Quite honestly, I couldn't care less what they do.
for all you, I, they, etc. care (informal) used to say that a person is not worried about or interested in what happens to sb/sth: I could be dead for all he cares!
who cares? | What do I, you, etc. care? (informal) used to say, often rudely, that you do not think that sth is important or interesting: Who cares what she thinks?
would you care for ... | would you care to ... (formal) used to ask sb politely if they would like sth or would like to do sth, or if they would be willing to do sth: Would you care for another drink? If you'd care to follow me, I'll show you where his office is. note at WANTmore at DAMN n., FIG n., HOOT n., TUPPENCE
care for sb
1 to look after sb who is sick, very old, very young, etc. TAKE CARE OF: She moved back home to care for her elderly parents.see also UNCARED FOR
2 to love or like sb very much: He cared for her more than she realized. note at LOVE
not care for sb/sth (formal) to not like sb/sth: He didn't much care for her friends.

SYNONYMS

care

caution prudence discretion wariness

These are all words for attention or thought that you give to sth in order to avoid mistakes or accidents.

care attention or thought that you give to sth that you are doing so that you will do it well and avoid mistakes or damage: She chose her words with care.

caution care that you take in order to avoid danger or mistakes; not taking any risks: The utmost caution must be exercised when handling explosives.

prudence (rather formal) being sensible and careful when you make judgements and decisions; avoiding unnecessary risks: As a matter of prudence, keep a record of all your financial transactions. Prudence is used particularly in financial contexts.

discretion (rather formal) care in what you say or do, in order to keep sth secret or to avoid causing embarrassment or difficulty for sb; the quality of being discreet: This is confidential, but I know that I can rely on your discretion.

wariness [sing.] (formal) care when dealing with sb/sth because you think there may be a danger or problem: Her wariness of him turned to deepest mistrust.

CAUTION OR WARINESS?

You use caution when dealing with things or situations that involve physical or financial risk. Wariness is more often a reaction to people that you think might be dangerous or not to be trusted.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to do sth with care/caution/prudence/discretion/wariness

great/extreme care/caution/prudence/discretion/wariness

to need/require/call for/urge/advise/exercise/use care/caution/prudence/discretion

to proceed with care/caution

WHICH WORD?

take care of / look after / care for

You can take care of or, especially in BrE, look after someone who is very young, very old, or sick, or something that needs keeping in good condition: We've asked my mother to take care of/look after the kids while we're away.You can borrow my camera if you promise to take care of/look after it.

In more formal language you can also care for someone: She does some voluntary work, caring for the elderly, but care for is more commonly used to mean 'like': I don't really care for spicy food.

care assistant noun (BrE) = CARE WORKER

careen verb [V + adv. / prep.] (especially NAmE) (of a person or vehicle) to move forward very quickly especially in a way that is dangerous or uncontrolled HURTLE

career NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 the series of jobs that a person has in a particular area of work, usually involving more responsibility as time passes: a career in politics a teaching career What made you decide on a career as a vet? She has been concentrating on her career. a change of career That will be a good career move (= something that will help your career). a career soldier/diplomat, etc. (= a professional one) (BrE) a careers adviser/officer (= a person whose job is to give people advice and information about jobs) note at WORK
2 the period of time that you spend in your life working or doing a particular thing: She started her career as an English teacher. He is playing the best tennis of his career. My school career was not very impressive.
verb [V + adv. / prep.] (of a person or vehicle) to move forward very quickly, especially in an uncontrolled way HURTLE: The vehicle careered across the road and hit a cyclist.

career break noun a period of time when you do not do your usual job, for example because you have children to care for

careerist NAmE noun (often disapproving) a person whose career is more important to them than anything else: a careerist politician
careerism noun [U]

career woman noun a woman whose career is more important to her than getting married and having children

carefree NAmE adj. having no worries or responsibilities: He looked happy and carefree. a carefree attitude/life

careful NAmE adj.
1 [not before noun] ~ (to do sth)| ~ (not to do sth)| ~ (when/what/how, etc.)| ~ (of/about/with sth) giving attention or thought to what you are doing so that you avoid hurting yourself, damaging sth or doing sth wrong: Be careful! He was careful to keep out of sight. Be careful not to wake the baby. You must be careful when handling chemicals. Be careful what you say. Be careful of the traffic. Please be careful with my glasses (= Don't break them). I'm very careful about washing my hands before eating (= I make sure I do it). Be careful you don't bump your head.
2 giving a lot of attention to details: a careful piece of work a careful examination of the facts After careful consideration we have decided to offer you the job. CARELESS
carefully NAmE adv.: Please listen carefully. She put the glass down carefully. Drive carefully. CARELESSLY
carefulness noun [U]
you can't be too careful used to warn sb that they should take care to avoid danger or problems: Don't stay out in the sun for too longyou can't be too careful.
careful with money not spending money on unimportant things: His mother had always been careful with money.

caregiver NAmE noun (NAmE) = CARER

care in the community noun [U] = COMMUNITY CARE

care label noun a label attached to the inside of a piece of clothing, giving instructions about how it should be washed and ironed

careless NAmE adj.
1 not giving enough attention and thought to what you are doing, so that you make mistakes: It was careless of me to leave the door open. Don't be so careless about/with spelling. a careless worker/driver CAREFUL
2 resulting from a lack of attention and thought: a careless mistake/error
3 ~ of sth (formal) not at all worried about sth: He seemed careless of his own safety.
4 not showing interest or effort CASUAL: She gave a careless shrug. a careless laugh/smile
carelessly adv.: Someone had carelessly left a window open. She threw her coat carelessly onto the chair. 'I don't mind,' he said carelessly. carelessness noun [U]: a moment of carelessness

careline NAmE noun a telephone service that you can call to get advice or information on a company's products: Call our customer careline for advice.

carer NAmE (BrE) (NAmE caregiver) noun a person who takes care of a sick or old person at home: Carers do not always realize that they can receive financial support.

caress verb, noun
verb [VN] to touch sb/sth gently, especially in a sexual way or in a way that shows affection: His fingers caressed the back of her neck.
noun a gentle touch or kiss to show you love sb

caret noun a mark (^) placed below a line of printed or written text to show that words or letters should be added at that place in the text

caretaker NAmE noun, adj.
noun
1 (BrE) (NAmE, ScotE janitor) (NAmE also custodian) a person whose job is to take care of a building such as a school or a block of flats or an apartment building
2 (especially NAmE) a person who takes care of a house or land while the owner is away
3 (especially NAmE) a person such as a teacher, parent, nurse, etc., who takes care of other people
adj. [only before noun] in charge for a short time, until a new leader or government is chosen: a caretaker manager/government

caretaker speech noun [U] (linguistics) a simple way of speaking that is used when talking to a child or other person who is learning to speak a language

care worker (also care assistant) (both BrE) noun a person whose job is to help and take care of people who are mentally ill, sick or disabled, especially those who live in special homes or hospitals

careworn NAmE adj. looking tired because you have a lot of worries: her careworn features

cargo NAmE noun [C, U] (pl. -oes, NAmE also -os) the goods carried in a ship or plane: The tanker began to spill its cargo of oil. a cargo ship

cargo pants (also cargoes) (BrE also combats, combat trousers) noun [pl.] loose trousers that have pockets in various places, for example on the side of the leg above the knee

Carib noun [U] the language of a people living mainly near the coast in the north-east of S America

Caribbean noun, adj.
nounthe Caribbean the region consisting of the Caribbean Sea and its islands, including the West Indies, and the coasts which surround it
adj. connected with the Caribbean

caribou noun (pl. caribou) a N American REINDEER

caricature NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a funny drawing or picture of sb that exaggerates some of their features: a cruel caricature of the prime minister
2 [C] a description of a person or thing that makes them seem ridiculous by exaggerating some of their characteristics: He had unfairly presented a caricature of my views.
3 [U] the art of drawing or writing caricatures: The portrait verged on caricature.
caricaturist noun
verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sb/sth (as sth) to produce a caricature of sb; to describe or present sb as a type of person you would laugh at or not respect: She was unfairly caricatured as a dumb blonde.

caries NAmE noun [U] (medical) decay in teeth or bones: dental caries

carillon NAmE noun
1 a set of bells on which tunes can be played, sometimes using a keyboard
2 a tune played on bells

caring NAmE adj. [usually before noun] kind, helpful and showing that you care about other people: He's a very caring person. caring parents Children need a caring environment. (BrE) a caring profession (= a job that involves looking after or helping other people)

carious NAmE adj. (medical) (of bones or teeth) decayed

carjacking NAmE noun [U, C] the crime of forcing the driver of a car to take you somewhere or give you their car, using threats and violencecompare HIJACKING
carjack verb [VN] carjacker noun

carload NAmE noun the number of people or things that a car is carrying or is able to carry: A carload of American tourists arrived.

carmine NAmE adj. (formal) dark red in colour
carmine noun [U]

carnage NAmE noun [U] the violent killing of a large number of people SLAUGHTER: a scene of carnage the carnage of the First World War How can we reduce the carnage on our roads?

carnal NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (formal or law) connected with the body or with sex: carnal desires/appetites
carnally NAmE adv.

carnal knowledge noun [U] (old-fashioned or law) = SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

carnation NAmE noun a white, pink or red flower, often worn as a decoration on formal occasions: He was wearing a carnation in his buttonhole.

carnelian NAmE (also cornelian NAmE ) noun [C, U] a red, brown or white stone, used in jewellery

carnival NAmE noun
1 [C, U] a public festival, usually one that happens at a regular time each year, that involves music and dancing in the streets, for which people wear brightly coloured clothes: There is a local carnival every year. the carnival in Rio a carnival atmosphere
2 [C] (NAmE) = FAIR n. (1)
3 [C] (NAmE) = FÊTE
4 [sing.] ~ of sth (formal) an exciting or brightly coloured mixture of things: this summer's carnival of sport

carnivore NAmE noun any animal that eats meatcompare HERBIVORE, INSECTIVORE, OMNIVORE
carnivorous NAmE adj.: a carnivorous dietcompare OMNIVOROUS

carnosaur NAmE noun a large DINOSAUR with very short front legs

carob (also carob tree) noun a southern European tree with dark brown fruit that can be made into a powder that tastes like chocolate

carol noun, verb
noun (also Christmas carol) a Christian religious song sung at Christmas: a carol service (= a church ceremony in which people sing carols)
verb (-ll-, NAmE -l-) [V, VN, V speech] to sing sth in a cheerful way

carol singing noun [U] the singing of Christmas carols especially in a church or outdoors, often to collect money for charity
carol singer noun

carom verb [V] (especially NAmE) to hit a surface and come off it fast at a different angle

carotene noun [U] a red or orange substance found in carrots and other plantssee also BETA-CAROTENE

carotid artery NAmE noun (anatomy) either of the two large ARTERIES in the neck that carry blood to the head

carouse verb [V] (literary) to spend time drinking alcohol, laughing and enjoying yourself in a noisy way with other people

carousel noun
1 (especially NAmE) = MERRY-GO-ROUND (1)
2 a moving belt from which you collect your bags at an airport

carp NAmE noun, verb
noun [C, U] (pl. carp) a large FRESHWATER fish that is used for food
verb [V] ~ (at sb) (about sth) to keep complaining about sb/sth in an annoying way

carpaccio NAmE noun [U] (from Italian) an Italian dish consisting of thin slices of raw meat or fish, served with a sauce

carpal NAmE noun (anatomy) any of the eight small bones that form the wrist

carpal tunnel syndrome NAmE noun [U] (medical) a painful condition of the hand and fingers caused by pressure on a nerve because of repeated movements over a long period

car park noun (BrE) an area or a building where people can leave their carssee also GARAGE, MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKcompare PARKING LOT

carpe diem NAmE exclamation (from Latin) an expression used when you want to say that sb should not wait, but should take an opportunity as soon as it appears

carpel NAmE noun (biology) the part of a plant in which seeds are produced

carpenter NAmE noun a person whose job is making and repairing wooden objects and structurescompare JOINER

carpentry NAmE noun [U]
1 the work of a carpenter
2 things made by a carpenter

carpet NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U] a thick WOVEN material made of wool, etc. for covering floors or stairs: a roll of carpet
2 [C] a piece of carpet used as a floor covering, especially when shaped to fit a room: to lay a carpet a bedroom carpet (BrE) We have fitted carpets (= carpets from wall to wall) in our house.see also CARPETING, RED CARPET, RUG
3 [C] ~ (of sth) (literary) a thick layer of sth on the ground: a carpet of snow
(be/get called) on the carpet (informal, especially NAmE) called to see sb in authority because you have done sth wrong: I got called on the carpet for being late.more at SWEEP v.
verb [VN] [usually passive]
1 to cover the floor of a room with a carpet: The hall was carpeted in blue.
2 ~ sth (with/in sth) (literary) to cover sth with a thick layer of sth: The forest floor was carpeted with wild flowers.
3 (informal, especially BrE) to speak angrily to sb because they have done sth wrong REPRIMAND: Senior officials were carpeted for leaking information to the press.

carpet bag noun a bag used in the past for carrying your things when travelling

carpetbagger NAmE noun
1 (disapproving) a politician who tries to be elected in an area where he or she is not known and is therefore not welcome
2 a person from the northern states of the US who went to the South after the Civil War in order to make money or get political power

carpet-bomb verb [VN]
1 to drop a large number of bombs onto every part of an area
2 (business) to send an advertisement to a very large number of people, especially by email: They carpet-bombed the public with commercials for their product.
carpet-bombing noun [U]

carpeting NAmE noun
1 [U] carpets in general or the material used for carpets: new offices with wall-to-wall carpeting (NAmE) We need new carpeting (= a new carpet) in the living room.
2 [C] (BrE, informal) an act of speaking angrily to sb because they have done sth wrong: The boss gave him a severe carpeting.

carpet slipper noun [usually pl.] (old-fashioned, BrE) a type of SLIPPER (= a shoe that you wear in the house), with the upper part made of cloth

carpet sweeper noun a simple machine for cleaning carpets, with a long handle and brushes that go around

car phone noun a radio telephone for use in a car

car pool noun
1 a group of car owners who take turns to drive everyone in the group to work, so that only one car is used at a time
2 (BrE) (also motor pool US, BrE) a group of cars owned by a company or an organization, that its staff can use

carpool NAmE verb [V] if a group of people carpool, they travel to work together in one car and divide the cost between them

carport NAmE noun a shelter for a car, usually built beside a house and consisting of a roof supported by posts

carrel noun a small area with a desk, separated from other desks by a dividing wall or screen, where one person can work in a library

carriage noun
1 (also coach) (both BrE) (NAmE car) [C] a separate section of a train for carrying passengers: a railway carriage
2 [C] a road vehicle, usually with four wheels, that is pulled by one or more horses and was used in the past to carry people: a horse-drawn carriage
3 (BrE) (also handling NAmE, BrE) [U] (formal) the act or cost of transporting goods from one place to another: £16.95 including VAT and carriage Orders are despatched within 28 days but allow time for carriage. a contract for the carriage of goods
4 [C] a moving part of a machine that supports or moves another part, for example on a TYPEWRITER: a carriage return (= the act of starting a new line when typing)
5 [sing.] (old-fashioned) the way in which sb holds and moves their head and body BEARING: She showed her pedigree on her face and in her carriage.see also BABY CARRIAGE, UNDERCARRIAGE

carriage clock noun a small clock inside a case with a handle on top

carriage house noun (US) = MEWS HOUSE

carriageway noun (BrE)
1 one of the two sides of a MOTORWAY or other large road, used by traffic moving in the same direction: the eastbound carriageway of the M50see also DUAL CARRIAGEWAY
2 the part of a road intended for vehicles, not people walking, etc.: Vehicles should be parked as close as possible to the edge of the carriageway.

carrier noun
1 a company that carries goods or passengers from one place to another, especially by air: Delta Air Lines, the third-largest carrier in the US
2 a military vehicle or ship that carries soldiers or equipment from one place to another: an armoured personnel carriersee also AIRCRAFT CARRIER, PEOPLE CARRIER
3 a person or animal that passes a disease to other people or animals but does not suffer from it
4 a metal frame that is fixed to a bicycle and used for carrying bags
5 a person or thing that carries sth: Aquarius, the Water Carrier a baby carrier (= for carrying a baby on your back or in front of you)
6 (BrE) = CARRIER BAG
7 a company that provides a telephone or Internet service: a telecoms carrier mobile-phone carriers

carrier bag (also carrier) noun (BrE) a paper or plastic bag for carrying shopping

carrier pigeon noun a PIGEON (= a type of bird) that has been trained to carry messages

carrion noun [U] the decaying flesh of dead animals: crows feeding on carrion

carrion crow noun a type of medium-sized CROW

carrot noun
1 [U, C] a long pointed orange root vegetable: grated carrot a pound of carrots
2 [C] a reward promised to sb in order to persuade them to do sth INCENTIVE: They are holding out a carrot of $120 million in economic aid. It's a big carrot he's dangling in front of Marler's nose.
the carrot and (the) stick (approach) if you use the carrot and stick approach, you persuade sb to try harder by offering them a reward if they do, or a punishment if they do not: The emphasis is on the carrot of incentive rather than the stick of taxes.

carroty adj. (sometimes disapproving) (of hair) orange in colour

carry verb (carries, carrying, carried, carried)
TAKE WITH YOU
1 [VN] to support the weight of sb/sth and take them or it from place to place; to take sb/sth from one place to another: He was carrying a suitcase. She carried her baby in her arms. The injured were carried away on stretchers. a train carrying commuters to work
2 [VN] to have sth with you and take it wherever you go: Police in many countries carry guns. I never carry much money on me.
OF PIPES/WIRES
3 [VN] to contain and direct the flow of water, electricity, etc.: a pipeline carrying oil The veins carry blood to the heart.
DISEASE
4 if a person, an insect, etc. carries a disease, they are infected with it and might spread it to others although they might not become sick themselves: Ticks can carry a nasty disease which affects humans.
REMEMBER
5 [VN + adv. / prep.] ~ sth in your head/mind to be able to remember sth
SUPPORT WEIGHT
6 [VN] to support the weight of sth: A road bridge has to carry a lot of traffic.
RESPONSIBILITY
7 [VN] to accept responsibility for sth; to suffer the results of sth: He is carrying the department (= it is only working because of his efforts). Their group was targeted to carry the burden of job losses.
HAVE AS QUALITY/FEATURE
8 [VN] to have sth as a quality or feature: Her speech carried the ring of authority. My views don't carry much weight with (= have much influence on) the boss. Each bike carries a ten-year guarantee.
9 [VN] to have sth as a result: Crimes of violence carry heavy penalties. Being a combat sport, karate carries with it the risk of injury.
OF THROW/KICK
10 [VN + adv. / prep.] if sth that is thrown, kicked, etc. carries a particular distance, it travels that distance before stopping: The fullback's kick carried 50 metres into the crowd.
OF SOUND
11 [V, often + adv. / prep.] if a sound carries, it can be heard a long distance away
TAKE TO PLACE/POSITION
12 [VN] ~ sth/sb to/into sth to take sth/sb to a particular point or in a particular direction: The war was carried into enemy territory. Her abilities carried her to the top of her profession.
APPROVAL/SUPPORT
13 [VN] [usually passive] to approve of sth by more people voting for it than against it: The resolution was carried by 340 votes to 210.
14 [VN] to win the support or sympathy of sb; to persuade people to accept your argument: His moving speech was enough to carry the audience. She nodded in agreement, and he saw he had carried his point.
HAVE LABEL
15 [VN] to have a particular label or piece of information attached: Cigarettes carry a health warning.
NEWS STORY
16 [VN] if a newspaper or broadcast carries a particular story, it publishes or broadcasts it
ITEM IN STORE
17 [VN] if a shop/store carries a particular item, it has it for sale: We carry a range of educational software.
BABY
18 [VN] be carrying sb to be pregnant with sb: She was carrying twins.
YOURSELF
19 [VN + adv. / prep.] to hold or move your head or body in a particular way: to carry yourself well
ADDING NUMBERS
20 [VN] to add a number to the next column on the left when adding up numbers, for example when the numbers add up to more than ten
be/get carried away to get very excited or lose control of your feelings: I got carried away and started shouting at the television.
carry all/everything before you to be completely successful
carry the ball (US, informal) to take responsibility for getting sth done: My co-worker was sick, so I had to carry the ball.
carry the can (for sb/sth) (BrE, informal) to accept the blame for sth, especially when it is not your fault
carry a torch for sb to be in love with sb, especially sb who does not love you in returnmore at DAY, FAR adv., FAST adv., FETCH
carry sb back (to sth) to make sb remember a time in the past: The smell of the sea carried her back to her childhood.
carry sthforward (also carry sthover) to move a total amount from one column or page to the next
carry sthoff
1 to win sth: He carried off most of the prizes.
2 to succeed in doing sth that most people would find difficult: She's had her hair cut really short, but she can carry it off.
carry on
1 (especially BrE) to continue moving: Carry on until you get to the junction, then turn left.
2 (informal) to argue or complain noisily: He was shouting and carrying on.related noun CARRY-ON
carry on (with sth)| carry sthon to continue doing sth: Carry on with your work while I'm away. After he left I just tried to carry on as normal (= do the things I usually do). Carry on the good work! [+ -ing] He carried on peeling the potatoes.
carry on (with sb) (old-fashioned) to have a sexual relationship with sb when you should not: His wife found out he'd been carrying on with another woman.
carry sthout
1 to do sth that you have said you will do or have been asked to do: to carry out a promise/a threat/a plan/an order
2 to do and complete a task: to carry out an inquiry/an investigation/a survey Extensive tests have been carried out on the patient.
carry over to continue to exist in a different situation: Attitudes learned at home carry over into the playground.
carry sthover
1 to keep sth from one situation and use it or deal with it in a different situation
2 to delay sth until a later time: The match had to be carried over until Sunday.
3 = CARRY STH FORWARD
carry sb through| carry sb through sth to help sb to survive a difficult period: His determination carried him through the ordeal.
carry sth through to complete sth successfully: It's a difficult job but she's the person to carry it through.
carry through (on/with sth) (NAmE) to do what you have said you will do: He has proved he can carry through on his promises.

carrycot NAmE noun (BrE) a small bed for a baby, with handles at the sides so you can carry it

carry-on noun
1 [usually sing.] (BrE, informal) a display of excitement, anger or silly behaviour over sth unimportant: What a carry-on!
2 (NAmE) a small bag or case that you carry onto a plane with you: Only one carry-on is allowed. carry-on baggage

carry-out noun (US, ScotE) = TAKEAWAY: Let's get a carry-out. carry-out coffees

carry-over noun
1 [usually sing.] something that remains or results from a situation in the past: His neatness is a carry-over from his army days. Stock prices fell today in a carry-over of selling from Wednesday's drop.
2 an amount of money that has not been used and so can be used later: The £20 million included a £7 million carry-over from last year's underspend.

car seat noun
1 (also child seat) a special safety seat for a child, that can be fitted into a car
2 a seat in a car

carsick NAmE adj. [not usually before noun] feeling ill/sick because you are travelling in a car: Do you get carsick?
carsickness noun [U]

cart NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a vehicle with two or four wheels that is pulled by a horse and used for carrying loads: a horse and cart
2 (also handcart) a light vehicle with wheels that you pull or push by hand
3 (NAmE) = TROLLEY: a shopping/baggage cart a serving cart
4 (NAmE) = BUGGY: a golf cart
put the cart before the horse to put or do things in the wrong order
verb [VN]
1 [usually +adv./prep.] to carry sth in a cart or other vehicle: The rubbish is then carted away for recycling.
2 [+adv./prep.] (informal) to carry sth that is large, heavy or awkward in your hands: We had to cart our luggage up six flights of stairs.
3 [+adv./prep.] (informal) to take sb somewhere, especially with difficulty: The demonstrators were carted off to the local police station.

carte blanche NAmE noun [U] (from French) ~ (to do sth) the complete freedom or authority to do whatever you like: He was given carte blanche to say what he liked in the report. to have carte blanche

cartel NAmE noun [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of separate companies that agree to increase profits by fixing prices and not competing with each other: to operate an illegal cartel

Cartesian NAmE adj. connected with the French PHILOSOPHER Descartes and his ideas about philosophy and mathematics

carthorse NAmE noun a large strong horse used especially in the past for heavy work on farms

cartilage NAmE noun [U, C] the strong white TISSUE that is important in support and especially in joints to prevent the bones rubbing against each other: I've damaged the cartilage in my knee.

cartilaginous NAmE adj. (anatomy) made of cartilage

cartload NAmE noun
1 the amount of sth that fills a CART
2 [usually pl.] (informal) a large amount of sth: There's cartloads of junk in the garage.

cartographer NAmE noun a person who draws or makes maps

cartography NAmE noun [U] the art or process of drawing or making maps
cartographic NAmE adj.

carton NAmE noun
1 a light cardboard or plastic box or pot for holding goods, especially food or liquid; the contents of a carton: a milk carton/a carton of milk
2 (NAmE) a large container in which goods are packed in smaller containers: a carton of cigarettes

cartoon NAmE noun
1 an amusing drawing in a newspaper or magazine, especially one about politics or events in the news
2 = COMIC STRIP
3 (also animated cartoon) a film/movie made by photographing a series of gradually changing drawings or models, so that they look as if they are moving: a Walt Disney cartoon a cartoon character
4 (technical) a drawing made by an artist as a preparation for a painting

cartoonist NAmE noun a person who draws cartoons

cartouche NAmE noun an OBLONG or OVAL shape which contains a set of ancient Egyptian HIEROGLYPHS, often representing the name and title of a king or queen

cartridge NAmE noun
1 (NAmE also shell) a tube or case containing EXPLOSIVE and a bullet or SHOT, for shooting from a gun
2 a case containing sth that is used in a machine, for example film for a camera, ink for a printer, etc. Cartridges are put into the machine and can be removed and replaced when they are finished or empty.
3 a thin tube containing ink which you put inside a pen

cartridge paper noun [U] (BrE) thick strong paper for drawing on

cart track noun (BrE) a rough track that is not suitable for ordinary cars, etc.

cartwheel NAmE noun
1 a fast physical movement in which you turn in a circle sideways by putting your hands on the ground and bringing your legs, one at a time, over your head: to do/turn cartwheels
2 the wheel of a CART
cartwheel verb [V]

carve NAmE verb
1 to make objects, patterns, etc. by cutting away material from wood or stone: [VN] a carved doorway The statue was carved out of a single piece of stone. The wood had been carved into the shape of a flower. The beads were carved from solid ivory. (figurative) Over the centuries, melting snow had carved valleys in the landscape. [V] She carves in both stone and wood.
2 [VN] to write sth on a surface by cutting into it: They carved their initials on the desk. A Latin inscription had been carved on the lid of the box.
3 to cut a large piece of cooked meat into smaller pieces for eating: [VN] Who's going to carve the turkey? [also V, VNN]
4 [VN] [no passive] ~ sth (out) (for yourself) to work hard in order to have a successful career, reputation, etc.: She has carved a place for herself in the fashion world. He succeeded in carving out a career in the media.
carved in stone (of a decision, plan, etc.) unable to be changed: People should remember that our proposals aren't carved in stone.
carve sthup (disapproving) to divide a company, an area of land, etc. into smaller parts in order to share it between people: They have been accused of carving up the industry for their own benefit.

carvery NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (BrE) a restaurant that serves ROAST meat

carve-up noun [sing.] (BrE, informal) the dividing of sth such as a company or a country into separate parts

carving NAmE noun
1 [C, U] an object or a pattern made by cutting away material from wood or stone: stone/wooden carvings There is some fine carving on the facade.
2 [U] the art of making objects in this way

carving knife noun a large sharp knife for cutting cooked meat

car wash noun a place with special equipment, where you can pay to have your car washed

caryatid noun (architecture) a statue of a female figure used as a supporting PILLAR in a building

Casanova NAmE noun a man who has sex with a lot of women
From Giovanni Jacopo Casanova, an Italian man in the 18th century who was famous for having sex with many women.

casbah = KASBAH

cascade noun, verb
noun
1 a small WATERFALL, especially one of several falling down a steep slope with rocks
2 a large amount of water falling or pouring down: a cascade of rainwater
3 (formal) a large amount of sth hanging down: Her hair tumbled in a cascade down her back.
4 (formal) a large number of things falling or coming quickly at the same time: He crashed to the ground in a cascade of oil cans.
verb [V + adv. / prep.]
1 to flow downwards in large amounts: Water cascaded down the mountainside.
2 (formal) to fall or hang in large amounts: Blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders.

case noun, verb
noun
SITUATION
1 [C] a particular situation or a situation of a particular type: In some cases people have had to wait several weeks for an appointment. The company only dismisses its employees in cases of gross misconduct. It's a classic case (= a very typical case) of bad planning.see also WORST-CASE note at EXAMPLE, SITUATION
2 the case [sing.] ~ (that ... ) the true situation: If that is the case (= if the situation described is true), we need more staff. It is simply not the case that prison conditions are improving.
3 [C, usually sing.] a situation that relates to a particular person or thing: In your case, we are prepared to be lenient. I cannot make an exception in your case (= for you and not for others). note at EXAMPLE
POLICE INVESTIGATION
4 [C] a matter that is being officially investigated, especially by the police: a murder case a case of theft
IN COURT
5 [C] a question to be decided in court: The case will be heard next week. a court case to win/lose a case When does her case come before the court?see also TEST CASE
ARGUMENTS
6 [C, usually sing.] ~ (for/against sth) a set of facts or arguments that support one side in a trial, a discussion, etc.: the case for the defence/prosecution Our lawyer didn't think we had a case (= had enough good arguments to win in a court of law). the case for/against private education The report makes out a strong case (= gives good arguments) for spending more money on hospitals. You will each be given the chance to state your case.
CONTAINER
7 [C] (often in compounds) a container or covering used to protect or store things; a container with its contents or the amount that it contains: a pencil case a jewellery case a packing case (= a large wooden box for packing things in) The museum was full of stuffed animals in glass cases. a case (= 12 bottles) of champagnesee also VANITY CASE
8 [C] = SUITCASE: Let me carry your case for you.
OF DISEASE
9 [C] the fact of sb having a disease or an injury; a person suffering from a disease or an injury: a severe case of typhoid The most serious cases were treated at the scene of the accident.
PERSON
10 [C] a person who needs, or is thought to need, special treatment or attention: He's a hopeless case.
GRAMMAR
11 [C, U] the form of a noun, an adjective or a pronoun in some languages, that shows its relationship to another word: the nominative/accusative/genitive case Latin nouns have case, number and gender.
as the case may be used to say that one of two or more possibilities is true, but which one is true depends on the circumstances: There may be an announcement about this tomorrowor not, as the case may be.
be on sb's case (informal) to criticize sb all the time: She's always on my case about cleaning my room.
be on the case to be dealing with a particular matter, especially a criminal investigation: We have two agents on the case.
get off my case (informal) used to tell sb to stop criticizing you
a case in point a clear example of the problem, situation, etc. that is being discussed
in any case whatever happens or may have happened: There's no point complaining nowwe're leaving tomorrow in any case.
(just) in case ( ... ) because of the possibility of sth happening: You'd better take the keys in case I'm out. You probably won't need to callbut take my number, just in case. In case (= if it is true that) you're wondering why Jo's herelet me explain ...
in case of sth (often on official notices) if sth happens: In case of fire, ring the alarm bell.
in that case if that happens or has happened; if that is the situation: 'I've made up my mind.' 'In that case, there's no point discussing it'more at REST v.
verb [VN]
case the joint (informal) to look carefully around a building so that you can plan how to steal things from it at a later time

casebook noun a written record kept by doctors, lawyers, etc. of cases they have dealt with

cased adj. ~ in sth completely covered with a particular material: The towers are made of steel cased in granite.see also CASING

case history noun a record of a person's background, past illnesses, etc. that a doctor or SOCIAL WORKER studies

case law noun [U] (law) law based on decisions made by judges in earlier casescompare COMMON LAW, STATUTE LAWsee also TEST CASE

caseload NAmE noun all the people that a doctor, SOCIAL WORKER, etc. is responsible for at one time: a heavy caseload

casement (also casement window) noun a window that opens on HINGES like a door

case-sensitive adj. (computing) a program which is case-sensitive recognizes the difference between capital letters and small letters

case study noun a detailed account of the development of a person, a group of people or a situation over a period of time

casework NAmE noun [U] social work (= work done to help people in the community with special needs) involving the study of a particular person's family and background

caseworker NAmE noun (especially NAmE) a SOCIAL WORKER who helps a particular person or family in the community with special needs

cash noun, verb
noun [U]
1 money in the form of coins or notes/bills: How much cash do you have on you? Payments can be made by cheque or in cash. Customers are offered a 10% discount if they pay cash. The thieves stole £500 in cash. see also HARD CASH, PETTY CASH
2 money in any form: The museum needs to find ways of raising cash. I'm short of cash right now. I'm constantly strapped for cash (= without enough money). Local schools have been starved of cash for a number of years.
cash down (BrE) (also cash up front NAmE, BrE) with immediate payment of cash: to pay for sth cash down
cash in hand (BrE, informal) if you pay for goods and services cash in hand, you pay in cash, especially so that the person being paid can avoid paying tax on the amount: a cash-in-hand payment of £20
cash on delivery (abbr. COD) a system of paying for goods when they are delivered
verb [VN] ~ a cheque/check to exchange a cheque/check for the amount of money that it is worth: Traveller's cheques can be cashed at most hotels.
cash in your chips (informal) to die: He cashed in his chips last summer aged 65.
cash in (on sth) (disapproving) to gain an advantage for yourself from a situation, especially in a way that other people think is wrong or immoral: The film studio is being accused of cashing in on the singer's death.
cash sthin to exchange sth, such as an insurance policy, for money before the date on which it would normally end
cash up (BrE) (NAmE cash out) to add up the amount of money that has been received in a shop/store, club, etc., especially at the end of the day: The men broke into the office while staff were cashing up.

cash and carry noun [C, U] a large WHOLESALE shop/store that sells goods in large quantities at low prices to customers from other businesses who pay in cash and take the goods away themselves; the system of buying and selling goods in this way

cashback (BrE) (US cash-back) noun
1 [U] if you ask for cashback when you are paying for goods in a shop/store with a DEBIT CARD (= a plastic card that takes money directly from your bank account), you get a sum of money in cash, that is added to your bill: Would you like cashback? Customers are allowed up to £30 cashback on each purchase.
2 [U, C] a sum of money that is offered to people who buy particular products or services: There's £200 cashback on this computer if you buy before January 31. Choose our First-time Buyer's Mortgage and get up to £1,500 cashback to buy those essential items for your new home!

cash bar noun a bar at a wedding, party, etc., at which the guests have to pay for their own drinks rather than getting them free

cash box noun a box with a lock for keeping money in, usually made of metal

cash card noun (BrE) (US ATM card) a plastic card used to get money from a CASH MACHINE (= a machine in or outside a bank)compare CHEQUE CARD, DEBIT CARD

cash cow noun (business) the part of a business that always makes a profit and that provides money for the rest of the business

cash crop noun a crop grown for selling, rather than for use by the person who grows itcompare SUBSISTENCE

cash desk noun (BrE) the place in a shop/store where you pay for goods that you have bought

cash dispenser noun (BrE) = CASH MACHINE

cashew (also cashew nut) noun the small curved nut of the tropical American cashew tree, used in cooking and often eaten salted with alcoholic drinks

cash flow noun [C, U] the movement of money into and out of a business as goods are bought and sold: a healthy cash flow (= having enough money to make payments when necessary) Many companies fail through poor cash flow. cash-flow problems

cashier NAmE noun, verb
noun a person whose job is to receive and pay out money in a bank, shop/store, hotel, etc.
verb [VN] [usually passive] to make sb leave the army, navy, etc. because they have done sth wrong

cashless adj. done or working without using cash: We are moving towards the cashless society.

cash machine (BrE also cash dispenser, CashpointTM) (also ATM NAmE, BrE) noun a machine in or outside a bank, etc., from which you can get money from your bank account using a special plastic card

cashmere NAmE noun [U] fine soft wool made from the long hair of a type of GOAT, used especially for making expensive clothes: a cashmere sweater The scarf is 70% cashmere.

cash register (BrE also till) (NAmE also register) noun a machine used in shops/stores, restaurants, etc. that has a drawer for keeping money in, and that shows and records the amount of money received for each thing that is sold

cash-starved adj. [only before noun] without enough money, usually because another organization, such as the government, has failed to provide it: cash-starved public services

cash-strapped adj. [only before noun] without enough money: cash-strapped governments/shoppers

casing noun [C, U] a covering that protects sth: The keyboard has a black plastic casing.

casino NAmE noun (pl. -os) a public building or room where people play gambling games for money

cask NAmE noun a small wooden BARREL used for storing liquids, especially alcoholic drinks; the amount contained in a cask: a wine cask/a cask of wine

casket NAmE noun
1 a small decorated box for holding jewellery or other valuable things, especially in the past
2 (NAmE) = COFFIN

Cassandra noun a person who predicts that sth bad will happen, especially a person who is not believed
From the name of a princess in ancient Greek stories to whom Apollo gave the ability to predict the future. After she tricked him, he stopped people from believing her.

cassava (also manioc) noun [U]
1 a tropical plant with many branches and long roots that you can eat
2 the roots of this plant, which can be boiled, fried, ROASTED or made into flour: cassava flour

casserole NAmE noun
1 [C, U] a hot dish made with meat, vegetables, etc. that are cooked slowly in liquid in an oven: a chicken casserole Is there any casserole left?
2 [C] (also casserole dish) a container with a lid used for cooking meat, etc. in liquid in an oven
casserole verb [VN]

cassette noun
1 a small flat plastic case containing tape for playing or recording music or sound: a cassette recorder/player available on cassette a video cassette (= for recording sound and pictures)
2 a plastic case containing film that can be put into a camera

cassis (also crème de cassis ) noun [U, C] (from French) a strong sweet alcoholic drink made with BLACKCURRANTS

cassock noun a long piece of clothing, usually black or red, worn by some Christian priests and other people with special duties in a church

cassoulet noun [U] (from French) a dish consisting of meat and BEANS cooked slowly in liquid

cassowary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a very large bird related to the EMU, that does not fly. It is found mainly in New Guinea.

cast NAmE verb, noun
verb (cast, cast)
A LOOK/GLANCE/SMILE
1 to look, smile, etc. in a particular direction: [VN] She cast a welcoming smile in his direction. He groaned, casting his eyes to the ceiling. [also VNN]
LIGHT/A SHADOW
2 [VN] to make light, a shadow, etc. appear in a particular place: The setting sun cast an orange glow over the mountains. (figurative) The sad news cast a shadow over the proceedings (= made people feel unhappy).
DOUBT
3 [VN] ~ doubt/aspersions (on/upon sth) to say, do or suggest sth that makes people doubt sth or think that sb is less honest, good, etc.: This latest evidence casts serious doubt on his version of events.
FISHING LINE
4 [V, VN] to throw one end of a FISHING LINE into a river, etc.
THROW
5 [VN] (literary) to throw sb/sth somewhere, especially using force: The priceless treasures had been cast into the Nile. They cast anchor at nightfall.
SKIN
6 [VN] when a snake casts its skin, the skin comes off as part of a natural process SHED
SHOE
7 [VN] if a horse casts a shoe, the shoe comes off by accident
ACTORS
8 ~ sb (as sb) to choose actors to play the different parts in a film/movie, play, etc.; to choose an actor to play a particular role: [VN] The play is being cast in both the US and Britain. He has cast her as an ambitious lawyer in his latest movie. [also V]
DESCRIBE
9 [VN] ~ sb (as sth)| ~ sb (in sth) to describe or present sb in a particular way: He cast himself as the innocent victim of a hate campaign. The press were quick to cast her in the role of 'the other woman'.
VOTE
10 [VN] ~ a/your vote/ballot (for sb/sth) to vote for sb/sth
SHAPE METAL
11 [VN] ~ sth (in sth) to shape hot liquid metal, etc. by pouring it into a hollow container (called a MOULD): a statue cast in bronze (figurative) an artist cast in the mould of (= very similar to) Miro
cast your mind back (to sth) to make yourself think about sth that happened in the past: I want you to cast your minds back to the first time you met.
cast your net wide to consider a lot of different people, activities, possibilities, etc. when you are looking for sth: It's worth casting your net wide when applying for your first job.
cast a spell (on sb/sth) to use words that are thought to be magic and have the power to change or influence sb/sthmore at ADRIFT, CAUTION n., DIE n., EYE n., LIGHT n., LOT n.
cast about/around for sth to try hard to think of or find sth, especially when this is difficult: She cast around desperately for a safe topic of conversation. The authorities are clearly casting about for someone to blame.
cast sb/sthaside (formal) to get rid of sb/sth because you no longer want or need them DISCARD: Casting modesty aside, she outlined the reason for her success. He cast the newspaper aside impatiently.
be cast away to be left somewhere after a SHIPWRECKrelated noun CASTAWAY
be cast down (by sth) (literary) to be sad or unhappy about sthsee also DOWNCAST
cast off| cast sthoff
1 to undo the ropes that are holding a boat in a fixed position, in order to sail away
2 (in knitting) to remove STITCHES from the needles in a way that forms an edge that will not come undone
cast sthoff (formal) to get rid of sth because you no longer want or need it: The town is still trying to cast off its dull image.
cast on| cast sthon (in knitting) to put the first row of STITCHES on a needle
cast sb/sthout (literary) to get rid of sb/sth, especially by using force: He claimed to have the power to cast out demons.related noun OUTCAST
noun
ACTORS
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] all the people who act in a play or film/movie: The whole cast performs/perform brilliantly. members of the cast an all-star cast (= including many well-known actors) the supporting cast (= not the main actors, but the others) a cast list
IN SHAPING METAL
2 [C] an object that is made by pouring hot liquid metal, etc. into a MOULD (= a specially shaped container)
3 [C] a shaped container used to make an object MOULD
APPEARANCE
4 [sing.] (BrE, formal) the way that a person or thing is or appears: He has an unusual cast of mind. I disliked the arrogant cast to her mouth.
THROW
5 [C] an act of throwing sth, especially a fishing line
ON ARM/LEG
6 [C] = PLASTER CAST: Her leg's in a cast.
see also OPENCAST

castanets noun [pl.] a musical instrument that consists of two small round pieces of wood that you hold in the hand and hit together with the fingers to make a noise. Castanets are used especially by Spanish dancers.

castaway NAmE noun a person whose ship has sunk (= who has been SHIPWRECKED) and who has had to swim to a lonely place, usually an island

caste NAmE noun
1 [C] any of the four main divisions of Hindu society, originally those made according to functions in society: the caste system high-caste Brahmins
2 [C] a social class, especially one whose members do not allow others to join it: the ruling caste
3 [U] the system of dividing society into classes based on differences in family origin, rank or wealth

castellated adj. (architecture) built in the style of a castle with BATTLEMENTS

castellations noun [pl.] the top edge of a castle wall, that has regular spaces along it

caster (NAmE) = CASTOR

caster sugar (also castor sugar) noun [U] (BrE) white sugar in the form of very fine grains, used in cooking

castigate verb [VN] ~ sb/sth (for sth) (formal) to criticize sb/sth severely: He castigated himself for being so stupid.
castigation noun [U]

casting NAmE noun
1 [U] the process of choosing actors for a play or film/movie: Casting was completed by May. an odd piece of casting a casting director
2 [C] an object made by pouring hot liquid metal, etc. into a MOULD (= a specially shaped container)

casting couch noun used to refer to a process in which actors are chosen for a film/movie, etc. if they have sex with the person in charge of choosing the actors

casting vote noun [usually sing.] the vote given by the person in charge of an official meeting to decide an issue when votes on each side are equal: You have the casting vote. The chairman gave his casting vote in favour.

cast iron noun [U] a hard type of iron that does not bend easily and is shaped by pouring the hot liquid metal into a MOULD (= a specially shaped container)

cast-iron adj.
1 made of cast iron: a cast-iron bridge
2 very strong or certain; that cannot be broken or fail: a cast-iron guarantee/promise a cast-iron excuse/alibi

castle NAmE noun
1 a large strong building with thick high walls and towers, built in the past by kings or queens, or other important people, to defend themselves against attack: Windsor Castle a medieval castlesee also SANDCASTLE
2 (also rook) (in CHESS) any of the four pieces placed in the corner squares of the board at the start of the game, usually made to look like a castle
(build) castles in the air (BrE) (to have) plans or dreams that are not likely to happen or come true: As a child he would wander round the boatyards, building castles in the air about owning a boat one day.more at ENGLISHMAN

cast-off (especially BrE) (also hand-me-down especially in NAmE) noun [usually pl.] a piece of clothing that the original owner no longer wants to wear: She used to wear her sister's cast-offs.
cast-off (also hand-me-down) adj.: a cast-off overcoat

castor (BrE) (NAmE caster) NAmE noun one of the small wheels fixed to the bottom of a piece of furniture so that it can be moved easily

castor oil noun [U] a thick yellow oil obtained from a tropical plant and used in the past as a type of medicine, usually as a LAXATIVE

castor sugar noun [U] = CASTER SUGAR

castrate NAmE verb [VN] to remove the TESTICLES of a male animal or person
castration noun [U, C]

casual adj., noun
adj.
WITHOUT CARE/ATTENTION
1 [usually before noun] not showing much care or thought; seeming not to be worried; not wanting to show that sth is important to you: a casual manner It was just a casual remarkI wasn't really serious. He tried to sound casual, but I knew he was worried. They have a casual attitude towards safety (= they don't care enough).
2 [usually before noun] without paying attention to detail: a casual glance It's obvious even to the casual observer.
NOT FORMAL
3 not formal: casual clothes (= comfortable clothes that you choose to wear in your free time) family parties and other casual occasions
WORK
4 [usually before noun] (BrE) not permanent; not done, or doing sth regularly: casual workers/labour Students sometimes do casual work in the tourist trade. They are employed on a casual basis (= they do not have a permanent job with the company).
RELATIONSHIP
5 [usually before noun] without deep affection: a casual acquaintance a casual friendship to have casual sex (= to have sex without having a steady relationship with that partner)
BY CHANCE
6 [only before noun] happening by chance; doing sth by chance: a casual encounter/meeting a casual passer-by The exhibition is interesting to both the enthusiast and the casual visitor. The disease is not spread by casual contact.

casually adv.: 'What did he say about me?' she asked as casually as she could. They chatted casually on the phone. dressed casually in jeans and T-shirt casualness noun [U]: He was sure that the casualness of the gesture was deliberate.
noun (BrE)
CLOTHES
1 casuals [pl.] informal clothes or shoes: dressed in casuals She changed into flat casuals before walking round the town.
WORKER
2 [C] a casual worker (= one who does not work permanently for a company)

casualization noun [U] the practice of employing temporary staff for short periods instead of permanent staff, in order to save costs

casualty noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a person who is killed or injured in war or in an accident: road casualties Both sides had suffered heavy casualties (= many people had been killed).
2 [C] a person that suffers or a thing that is destroyed when sth else takes place VICTIM: She became a casualty of the reduction in part-time work (= she lost her job). Small shops have been a casualty of the recession.
3 [U] (also casualty department, accident and emergency) (all BrE) (NAmE emergency room) the part of a hospital where people who need urgent treatment are taken: The victims were rushed to casualty. We waited in casualty until a doctor could see us.

casuistry noun [U] (formal, disapproving) a way of solving moral or legal problems by using clever arguments that may be false

casus belli noun (pl. casus belli) (formal) an act or situation that is used to justify a war

cat noun
1 a small animal with soft fur that people often keep as a pet. Cats catch and kill birds and mice: cat foodsee also KITTEN, TOMCAT
2 a wild animal of the cat family: the big cats (= LIONS, TIGERS, etc.)see also FAT CAT, WILDCAT
be the cat's whiskers/pyjamas (informal) to be the best thing, person, idea, etc.: He thinks he's the cat's whiskers (= he has a high opinion of himself).
let the cat out of the bag to tell a secret carelessly or by mistake: I wanted it to be a surprise, but my sister let the cat out of the bag.
like a cat on hot bricks (BrE) very nervous: She was like a cat on hot bricks before her driving test.
like a cat that's got the cream (BrE) (US like the cat that got/ate/swallowed the canary) very pleased with yourself SMUG: She looked like a cat that's got the cream. She was almost purring with pleasure.
(has the) cat got your tongue? said to sb, especially a child, who stays silent when expected to speak, for example after being asked a question
look like sth the cat brought/dragged in (informal) (of a person) to look dirty and untidy
not have/stand a cat in hell's chance (of doing sth) to have no chance at all
play (a game of) cat and mouse with sb | play a cat-and-mouse game with sb to play a cruel game with sb in your power by changing your behaviour very often, so that they become nervous and do not know what to expect: He thought the police were playing some elaborate game of cat and mouse and waiting to trap him.
put/set the cat among the pigeons (BrE) to say or do sth that is likely to cause trouble: Then she told them she was dropping out of college. That really set the cat among the pigeons.
when the cat's away the mice will play (saying) people enjoy themselves more and behave with greater freedom when the person in charge of them is not theremore at CURIOSITY, RAIN v., ROOM n., WAY n.

catabolism (also katabolism) noun [U] (biology) the process by which chemical structures are broken down and energy is released

cataclysm noun (formal) a sudden disaster or a violent event that causes change, for example a flood or a war: to survive the cataclysm of the Black Death
cataclysmic adj. [usually before noun]

catacombs NAmE noun [pl.] a series of underground tunnels used for burying dead people, especially in ancient times

catafalque noun a decorated platform on which the dead body of a famous person is placed before a funeral

Catalan noun, adj.
noun
1 [U] a language spoken in Catalonia, Andorra, the Balearic Islands and parts of southern France
2 [C] a person who was born in or who lives in Catalonia
adj. connected with Catalonia, its people, its language, or its culture

catalepsy noun [U] (medical) a condition in which sb's body becomes stiff and they temporarily become unconscious
cataleptic adj.

catalogue (NAmE also catalog) NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a complete list of items, for example of things that people can look at or buy: a mail-order catalogue (= a book showing goods for sale to be sent to people's homes) to consult the library catalogue An illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition. an online catalogue
2 a long series of things that happen (usually bad things): a catalogue of disasters/errors/misfortunes
verb [VN]
1 to arrange a list of things in order in a catalogue; to record sth in a catalogue
2 to give a list of things connected with a particular person, event, etc.: Interviews with the refugees catalogue a history of discrimination and violence.

catalyse (BrE) (NAmE catalyze) verb [VN] (chemistry) to make a chemical reaction happen faster
catalysis noun [U]: the catalysis of organic reactions catalytic adj.: catalytic processes

catalyst noun
1 (chemistry) a substance that makes a chemical reaction happen faster without being changed itself: Chlorine will act as a catalyst.
2 ~ (for sth) a person or thing that causes a change: I see my role as being a catalyst for change. The riots were later seen as the catalyst for the new political developments.

catalytic converter NAmE noun a device used in the EXHAUST system of vehicles to reduce the damage caused to the environment: a car fitted with a catalytic converter

catamaran noun a fast sailing boat with two HULLScompare TRIMARAN

catamite noun (old use) a boy kept as a SLAVE for a man to have sex with

cataphor noun (linguistics) a word that refers to or has the same meaning as a later word. For example in 'When he saw me, Steve looked shocked', 'he' is a cataphor for 'Steve'.

cataphora noun [U] (linguistics) the use of a cataphor

catapult noun, verb
noun
1 (BrE) (NAmE slingshot) a stick shaped like a Y with a rubber band attached to it, used by children for shooting stones
2 a weapon used in the past to throw heavy stones
3 a machine used for sending planes up into the air from a ship
verb [+adv./prep.] to throw sb/sth or be thrown suddenly and violently through the air: [VN] She was catapulted out of the car as it hit the wall. (figurative) The movie catapulted him to international stardom. [also V]

cataract noun
1 a medical condition that affects the LENS of the eye and causes a gradual loss of sight
2 (literary) a large steep WATERFALL

catarrh noun [U] thick liquid (called PHLEGM) that you have in your nose and throat because, for example, you have a cold

catastrophe noun
1 a sudden event that causes many people to suffer DISASTER: Early warnings of rising water levels prevented another major catastrophe.
2 an event that causes one person or a group of people personal suffering, or that makes difficulties: The attempt to expand the business was a catastrophe for the firm. We've had a few catastrophes with the food for the party.
catastrophic NAmE DISASTROUSadj.: catastrophic effects/losses/results (US) a catastrophic illness (= one that costs a very large amount to treat) catastrophically adv.: to fail catastrophically

catastrophe theory noun [U] (mathematics) part of mathematics that deals with systems that sometimes change suddenly

catatonia NAmE noun [U] (medical) a condition resulting from a mental illness, especially SCHIZOPHRENIA, in which a person does not move for long periods

catatonic NAmE adj. (medical) not able to move or show any reaction to things because of illness, shock, etc.: a catatonic trance

catbird seat NAmE noun
be in the catbird seat (NAmE) to have an advantage over other people or be in control of a situation

cat burglar noun a thief who climbs up the outside of a building in order to enter it and steal sth

catcall noun [usually pl.] a noise or shout expressing anger at or disapproval of sb who is speaking or performing in public

catch verb, noun
verb (caught, caught )
HOLD
1 [VN] to stop and hold a moving object, especially in your hands: She managed to catch the keys as they fell. 'Throw me over that towel, will you?' 'OK. Catch!' The dog caught the stick in its mouth.
2 [VN] to hold a liquid when it falls: The roof was leaking and I had to use a bucket to catch the drips.
3 [VN, usually + adv. / prep.] to take hold of sb/sth: He caught hold of her arm as she tried to push past him.
CAPTURE
4 [VN] to capture a person or an animal that tries or would try to escape: The murderer was never caught. Our cat is hopeless at catching mice. How many fish did you catch?
SB DOING STH
5 to find or discover sb doing sth, especially sth wrong: [VN -ing] I caught her smoking in the bathroom. You wouldn't catch me working (= I would never work) on a Sunday! She caught herself wondering whether she had made a mistake. [VN + adv. / prep.] He was caught with bomb-making equipment in his home. Mark walked in and caught them at it (= in the act of doing sth wrong). thieves caught in the act You've caught me at a bad time (= at a time when I am busy).
BE IN TIME
6 [VN] to be in time to do sth, talk to sb, etc.: I caught him just as he was leaving the building. I was hoping to catch you at home (= to telephone you at home when you were there). The illness can be treated provided it's caught (= discovered) early enough. (BrE) to catch the post (= post letters before the box is emptied) (BrE, informal) Bye for now! I'll catch you later (= speak to you again later).
BUS/TRAIN/PLANE
7 [VN] to be in time for a bus, train, plane, etc. and get on it: We caught the 12.15 from Oxford. I must goI have a train to catch.
HAPPEN UNEXPECTEDLY
8 [VN] to happen unexpectedly and put sb in a difficult situation: His arrival caught me by surprise. She got caught in a thunderstorm.
SEE/HEAR
9 [VN] (informal, especially NAmE) to see or hear sth; to attend sth: Let's eat now and maybe we could catch a movie later. note at SEE
ILLNESS
10 [VN] to get an illness: to catch measles I think I must have caught this cold from you.
BECOME STUCK
11 ~ (sth) (in/on sth) to become stuck in or on sth; to make sth become stuck: [V] Her dress caught on a nail. [VN] He caught his thumb in the door.
HIT
12 [+adv./prep.] to hit sb/sth: [VN] The stone caught him on the side of the head. [VNN] She caught him a blow on the chin.
NOTICE
13 [VN] to notice sth only for a moment: She caught sight of a car in the distance. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. I caught a look of surprise on her face. He caught a whiff of her perfume.
HEAR/UNDERSTAND
14 [VN] to hear or understand sth: Sorry, I didn't quite catch what you said.
INTEREST
15 [VN] ~ sb's interest, imagination, attention, etc. if sth catches your interest, etc., you notice it and feel interested in it
SHOW ACCURATELY
16 [VN] to show or describe sth accurately CAPTURE: The artist has caught her smile perfectly.
LIGHT
17 [VN] if sth catches the light or the light catches it, the light shines on it and makes it shine too: The knife gleamed as it caught the light.
THE SUN
18 [VN] (informal) if you catch the sun, you become red or brown because of spending time in the sun
BURN
19 to begin to burn: [VN] The wooden rafters caught fire. [V] These logs are wet: they won't catch.
IN CRICKET
20 [VN] to make a player unable to continue BATTING by catching the ball they have hit before it touches the ground
catch your breath
1 to stop breathing for a moment because of fear, shock, etc.
2 to breathe normally again after running or doing some tiring exercise
catch your death (of cold) (old-fashioned, informal) to catch a very bad cold
catch sb's eye to attract sb's attention: Can you catch the waiter's eye?
catch it (BrE) (NAmE catch hell, get it) (informal) to be punished or spoken to angrily about sth: If your dad finds out you'll really catch it!
catch sb napping (BrE) to get an advantage over sb by doing sth when they are not expecting it and not ready for it
catch sb on the hop (informal) to surprise sb by doing sth when they are not expecting it and not ready for it
catch sb red-handed to catch sb in the act of doing sth wrong or committing a crime
catch sb with their pants down (BrE also catch sb with their trousers down) (informal) to arrive or do sth when sb is not expecting it and not ready, especially when they are in an embarrassing situationmore at BALANCE n., CLEFT adj., FANCY n., RAW n., ROCK n., SHORT adj.
catch at sth = CLUTCH AT STH
catch on to become popular or fashionable: He invented a new game, but it never really caught on.
catch on (to sth) (informal) to understand sth: He is very quick to catch on to things.
catch sb out
1 to surprise sb and put them in a difficult position: Many investors were caught out by the fall in share prices.
2 to show that sb does not know much or is doing sth wrong: They tried to catch her out with a difficult question.
catch up on sth
1 to spend extra time doing sth because you have not done it earlier: I have a lot of work to catch up on.
2 to find out about things that have happened: We spent the evening catching up on each other's news.
be/get caught up in sth to become involved in sth, especially when you do not want to be: Innocent passers-by got caught up in the riots.
catch up (with sb) (BrE also catch sb up)
1 to reach sb who is ahead by going faster: Go on ahead. I'll catch up with you. I'll catch you up.
2 to reach the same level or standard as sb who was better or more advanced: After missing a term through illness he had to work hard to catch up with the others.
catch up with sb
1 to finally start to cause problems for sb after they have managed to avoid this for some time: She was terrified that one day her past problems would catch up with her.
2 if the police or authorities catch up with sb, they find and punish them after some time: The law caught up with him years later when he had moved to Spain.
noun
OF BALL
1 [C] an act of catching sth, for example a ball: to make a catch
AMOUNT CAUGHT
2 [C] the total amount of things that are caught: a huge catch of fish
FASTENING
3 [C] a device used for fastening sth: a catch on the door safety catches for the windows I can't open the catch on this bracelet.
DIFFICULTY
4 [C, usually sing.] a hidden difficulty or disadvantage: All that money for two hours' workwhat's the catch?
CHILD'S GAME
5 [U] a child's game in which two people throw a ball to each other
PERSON
6 [sing.] (old-fashioned) a person that other people see as a good person to marry, employ, etc.: He's a good catch.
(a) catch-22 | a catch-22 situation (informal) a difficult situation from which there is no escape because you need to do one thing before doing a second, and you cannot do the second thing before doing the first: I can't get a job because I haven't got anywhere to live but I can't afford a place to live until I get a jobit's a catch-22 situation.

catch-all noun
1 (especially NAmE) a thing for holding many small objects
2 a group or description that includes different things and that does not state clearly what is included or not
catch-all adj. [only before noun]: a catch-all phrase/term

catch crop noun (BrE) a crop that is grown in the space between two main crops, or at a time when no main crop is being grown

catcher noun
1 (in BASEBALL) the player who stands behind the BATTER and catches the ball if he or she does not hit it
2 (usually in compounds) a person or thing that catches sth: a rat catcher

catching adj. [not before noun]
1 (of a disease) easily caught by one person from another INFECTIOUS
2 (of an emotion or a mood) passing quickly from one person to another INFECTIOUS: Try to be as enthusiastic as possible (enthusiasm is catching)!

catchline noun
1 (technical) a short line of text which can be easily noticed, for example at the top of a page
2 a phrase used in an advertisement

catchment area NAmE noun
1 (BrE) the area from which a school takes its students, a hospital its patients, etc.
2 (also catchment) (technical) the area from which rain flows into a particular river or lake

catchpenny adj. (old-fashioned) (of a product or service) produced or provided just to make money, without being of good quality

catchphrase noun a popular phrase that is connected with the politician or entertainer who used it and made it famous

catch-up noun [U] the act of trying to reach the same level or standard as sb who is ahead of you: It was a month of catch-up for them.
play catch-up to try to equal sb that you are competing against in a sport or game: After our bad start to the season we were always playing catch-up.

catchy adj. (informal) (catchier, catchiest) (of music or the words of an advertisement) pleasing and easily remembered: a catchy tune/slogan

catechism noun [usually sing.] a set of questions and answers that are used for teaching people about the beliefs of the Christian religion

categorical NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (formal) expressed clearly and in a way that shows that you are very sure about what you are saying: to make a categorical statement to give a categorical assurance
categorically adv.: He categorically rejected our offer.

categorize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] ~ sb/sth (as sth) to put people or things into groups according to what type they are CLASSIFY: Participants were categorized according to age. His latest work cannot be categorized as either a novel or an autobiography.

category NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a group of people or things with particular features in common CLASS: Students over 25 fall into a different category. The results can be divided into three main categories.

cater verb ~ (for sb/sth) to provide food and drinks for a social event: [V] (BrE) Most of our work now involves catering for weddings. [VN] (NAmE) Who will be catering the wedding?
cater for sb/sth to provide the things that a particular person or situation needs or wants: The class caters for all ability ranges.
cater to sb/sth to provide the things that a particular type or person wants, especially things that you do not approve of: They only publish novels which cater to the mass-market.

caterer noun a person or company whose job is to provide food and drinks at a business meeting or for a special occasion such as a wedding

catering noun [U] the work of providing food and drinks for meetings or social events: Who did the catering for your son's wedding?

caterpillar NAmE noun a small creature like a WORM with legs, that develops into a BUTTERFLY or MOTH (= flying insects with large, sometimes brightly coloured, wings). Caterpillars eat the leaves of plants.

Caterpillar trackTMnoun a metal belt fastened around the wheels of a heavy vehicle, used for travelling over rough or soft ground

caterwaul NAmE verb [V] to make the loud unpleasant noise that is typical of a cat: pounding drums and caterwauling guitars

catfight noun (informal) a fight between women

catfish noun (pl. catfish) a large fish with long stiff hairs, like a cat's WHISKERS, around its mouth. There are several types of catfish, most of which are FRESHWATER fish.

cat flap (BrE) (NAmE cat door) noun a hole cut in the bottom of the door to a house, covered by a piece of plastic that swings, so a pet cat can go in and out

catgut (also gut) noun [U] thin strong string made from animals' INTESTINES and used in making musical instruments

catharsis NAmE noun [U, C] (pl. catharses ) (technical) the process of releasing strong feelings, for example through plays or other artistic activities, as a way of providing relief from anger, suffering, etc.
cathartic NAmE adj.: It was a cathartic experience.

cathedral noun the main church of a district, under the care of a BISHOP (= a priest of high rank): St Paul's Cathedral (BrE) a cathedral city

Catherine wheel (especially BrE) (NAmE usually pinwheel) noun a round flat FIREWORK that spins around when lit

catheter noun a thin tube that is put into the body in order to remove liquid such as URINE

cathode NAmE noun (technical) the ELECTRODE in an electrical device where REDUCTION occurs; the negative electrode in an ELECTROLYTIC cell and the positive electrode in a batterycompare ANODE

cathode ray tube noun a VACUUM tube inside a television or computer screen, etc. from which a stream of ELECTRONS produces images on the screen

Catholic noun = ROMAN CATHOLIC: They're Catholics.
Catholicism NAmE noun [U] = ROMAN CATHOLICISM

catholic adj.
1 Catholic = ROMAN CATHOLIC: Are they Catholic or Protestant? a Catholic church
2 (often Catholic) (technical) connected with all Christians or the whole Christian Church
3 (formal) including many or most things: to have catholic tastes (= to like many different things)

cation noun (chemistry, physics) an ION with a positive electrical CHARGEcompare ANION

catkin noun a long thin hanging bunch, or short standing group, of soft flowers on the branches of trees such as the WILLOW

catmint (BrE) (also catnip , NAmE, BrE) noun [U] a plant that has white flowers with purple spots, leaves covered with small hairs and a smell that is attractive to cats

catnap noun a short sleep
catnap verb (-pp-) [V]

cat-o' nine-tails noun [sing.] a WHIP made of nine strings with knots in them, that was used to punish prisoners in the past: He was flogged with a cat-o' nine tails.

CAT scan (also CT scan) noun a medical examination that uses a computer to produce an image of the inside of sb's body from X-RAY or ULTRASOUND pictures

cat's cradlenoun
1 [U] a game in which you wrap string around the fingers of both hands to make different patterns
2 [C] a pattern made with string in a game of cat's cradle: (figurative) He sat on his heels, weaving an intricate cat's cradle of thread for the ship's rigging.

CatseyeTM noun (BrE) one of a line of small objects that are fixed into a road and that reflect a car's lights in order to guide traffic at night

catsuit BrE noun a piece of women's clothing that fits closely and covers the body and legs

cattery noun (pl. -ies) (BrE) a place where people can pay to leave their cats to be cared for while they are away

cattle noun [pl.] cows and BULLS that are kept as farm animals for their milk or meat: a herd of cattle twenty head of cattle (= twenty cows) dairy/beef cattle The prisoners were herded into trucks like cattle.

cattle cake noun [U] (BrE) food for cows pressed into flat cakes

cattle duffing noun (AustralE) the stealing of cows

cattle grid (BrE) (NAmE cattle guard) noun metal bars that are placed over a hole that has been made in the road. Cars can pass over the metal bars but animals such as sheep and cows cannot.

cattle plague noun [U] (BrE) = RINDERPEST

catty adj. (informal) (cattier, cattiest) (of a woman) saying unkind things about other people BITCHY, SPITEFUL: a catty comment
cattiness noun [U]

catty-corner(ed) (also kitty-corner(ed)) adj., adv. (NAmE, informal) opposite and at a DIAGONAL angle from sth/sb: a restaurant catty-corner from the theater Motorcyclists cut catty-cornered across his yard.

catwalk noun
1 (NAmE also runway) the long stage that models walk on during a fashion show: a catwalk model/show
2 a narrow platform for people to walk on, for example along the outside of a building or a bridge

Caucasian noun a member of any of the races of people who have pale skin
Caucasian adj.: The police are looking for a Caucasian male in his forties.

caucus noun (especially NAmE)
1 a meeting of the members or leaders of a political party to choose candidates or to decide policy; the members or leaders of a political party as a group: 20 states will hold precinct caucuses on Tuesday to choose delegates to the parties' national conventions.
2 a group of people with similar interests, often within a larger organization or political party: the Congressional Black Caucus

caught pt, pp of CATCH

cauldron (NAmE also caldron) noun a large deep pot for boiling liquids or cooking food over a fire: a witch's cauldron (figurative) The stadium was a seething cauldron of emotion.

cauliflower NAmE noun [U, C] a vegetable with green leaves around a large hard white head of flowers: Do you like cauliflower? two cauliflowers

cauliflower cheese (BrE) (NAmE cauliflower with cheese) noun [U] a hot dish of cauliflower cooked and served in a cheese sauce

cauliflower ear noun an ear that is permanently swollen because it has been hit many times: the boxer's cauliflower ear

caulk verb [VN] to fill the holes or cracks in sth, especially a ship, with a substance that keeps out water

causal adj.
1 (formal) connected with the relationship between two things, where one causes the other to happen: the causal relationship between poverty and disease
2 ~ conjunction/connective (grammar) a word such as because that introduces a statement about the cause of sth

causality (also causation) noun [U] (formal) the relationship between sth that happens and the reason for it happening; the principle that nothing can happen without a cause

causation noun [U] (formal)
1 the process of one event causing or producing another event
2 = CAUSALITY

causative adj.
1 (formal) acting as the cause of sth: Smoking is a causative factor in several major diseases.
2 (grammar) a causative verb expresses a cause, for example blacken which means 'to cause to become black'compare ERGATIVE, INCHOATIVE

cause noun, verb
noun
1 [C] the person or thing that makes sth happen: Unemployment is a major cause of poverty. There was discussion about the fire and its likely cause. Drinking and driving is one of the most common causes of traffic accidents. note at REASON
2 [U] ~ (for sth) a reason for having particular feelings or behaving in a particular way: There is no cause for concern. The food was excellentI had no cause for complaint. with/without good cause (= with/without a good reason)
3 [C] an organization or idea that people support or fight for: Animal welfare campaigners raised £70 000 for their cause last year. a good cause (= an organization that does good work, such as a charity) fighting for the Republican cause The donation is the biggest private gift to a humanitarian cause.see also LOST CAUSE
4 [C] (law) a case that goes to court
be for/in a good cause worth doing, because it is helping other peoplemore at COMMON adj.
verb to make sth happen, especially sth bad or unpleasant: [VN] Do they know what caused the fire? Are you causing trouble again? Doctors say her condition is causing some concern. The bad weather is causing problems for many farmers. deaths caused by dangerous driving [VN to inf] The poor harvest caused prices to rise sharply. [VNN] The project is still causing him a lot of problems.

cause célèbre noun (from French) (pl. causes célèbres ) an issue that attracts a lot of attention and is supported by a lot of people

causeway noun a raised road or path across water or wet ground: The islands are linked by causeways and bridges. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway.

caustic adj.
1 (of a chemical substance) able to destroy or dissolve other substances CORROSIVE: a caustic cleaning product caustic liquid which blisters the skin
2 critical in a bitter or SARCASTIC way SCATHING: caustic comments/wit Her speech was a caustic attack on government officials.
caustically adv.: 'You are no help at all,' she said caustically.

caustic soda noun [U] a chemical used in making paper and soap

cauterize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] (medical) to burn a wound, using a chemical or heat, in order to stop the loss of blood or to prevent infection

caution noun, verb
noun
1 [U] care that you take in order to avoid danger or mistakes; not taking any risks: extreme/great caution Statistics should be treated with caution. He could find himself making enemies as well as friends unless he proceeds with the utmost caution. note at CARE
2 [C] (BrE) a warning that is given by the police to sb who has committed a crime that is not too serious: As a first offender, she got off with a caution.
3 [U, C] (formal) a warning or a piece of advice about a possible danger or risk: a word/note of caution Some cautions must be mentionedfor example good tools are essential to do the job well.
throw/cast caution to the wind(s) to stop caring about how dangerous sth might be; to start taking risks: He threw caution to the wind and dived into the water after the child.
verb
1 ~ (sb) against sth| ~ sb about sth to warn sb about the possible dangers or problems of sth: [V] I would caution against getting too involved. [VN] Sam cautioned him against making a hasty decision. [V that] The government cautioned that pay increases could lead to job losses. [also VN to inf, VN that, V speech, VN speech]
2 [VN] (BrE, law) to warn sb officially that anything they say may be used as evidence against them in court: Suspects must be cautioned before any questions are asked.
3 [VN] [usually passive] (BrE, law) ~ sb (for sth) to warn sb officially that they will be punished if they do sth wrong or illegal again: She wasn't sent to the juvenile court; instead she was cautioned.

cautionary NAmE adj. giving advice or a warning: a cautionary tale about the problems of buying a computer In her conclusion, the author sounds a cautionary note.

cautious adj. ~ (about sb/sth)| ~ (about doing sth) being careful about what you say or do, especially to avoid danger or mistakes; not taking any risks: He was very cautious about committing himself to anything. The government has been cautious in its response to the report. They've taken a very cautious approach. They expressed cautious optimism about a solution to the crisis.
cautiously adv.: She looked cautiously around and then walked away from the house. I'm cautiously optimistic. cautiousness noun [U]

WHICH WORD?

cautious / careful

A cautious person is nervous that something may be dangerous or unwise, so they only do it very slowly or after a lot of thought. (opposite = rash)

A careful person is not nervous but does take extra care to make sure that everything is correct or nothing goes wrong. (opposite = careless)

Notice also:

Be careful / Take care when you drive on icy roads.

Caution / Warning - thin ice.

cava noun [U, C] a type of SPARKLING white wine (= with bubbles) from Spain

cavalcade noun a line of people on horses or in vehicles forming part of a ceremony

Cavalier NAmE noun a supporter of the King in the English Civil War (1642-49)compare ROUNDHEAD

cavalier NAmE adj. [usually before noun] not caring enough about sth important or about the feelings of other people: The government takes a cavalier attitude to the problems of prison overcrowding.

cavalry noun (usually the cavalry) [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] (in the past) the part of the army that fought on horses; the part of the modern army that uses ARMOURED vehicles: The cavalry charged up the hill to engage the rebels.

cavalry twill noun [U] a strong cloth made of wool, used for making trousers/pants and clothes for sports

cavatina noun a short simple ARIA in OPERA

cave noun, verb
noun a large hole in the side of a hill or under the ground: the mouth (= the entrance) of the cave The area contains vast underground cave systems. a cave-dweller (= a person who lives in a cave)
verb
cave in (on sb/sth) (of a roof, wall, etc.) to fall down and towards the centre: The ceiling suddenly caved in on top of them.related noun CAVE-IN
cave in (to sth) to finally do what sb wants after you have been strongly opposing them: The President is unlikely to cave in to demands for a public inquiry.see also CAVING

caveat noun (formal, from Latin) a warning that particular things need to be considered before sth can be done: Any discussion of legal action must be preceded by a caveat on costs.

caveat emptor noun (from Latin) the principle that a person who buys sth is responsible for finding any faults in the thing they buy: The sale is subject to the caveat emptor principle.

cave-in noun the fact of sth suddenly collapsing

caveman noun (pl. -men )
1 a person who lived in a CAVE thousands of years ago
2 (informal) a man who behaves in an aggressive way

cave painting noun a PREHISTORIC painting on the walls of a CAVE, often showing animals and hunting scenes

caver (also potholer) (both BrE) (NAmE spelunker ) noun a person who goes into CAVES under the ground as a sport or hobbycompare SPELEOLOGIST

cavern NAmE noun a CAVE, especially a large one: The underground cavern was formed where water used to flow.

cavernous NAmE adj. (formal) (of a room or space) very large and often empty and/or dark; like a CAVE: the vast, cavernous space of the empty concert hall

caviar (also caviare) noun [U] the eggs of some types of fish, especially the STURGEON, that are preserved using salt and eaten as a very special and expensive type of food

cavil verb (-ll-, NAmE -l-) [V] ~ (at sth) (formal) to make unnecessary complaints about sth QUIBBLE: Several countries cavilled at the cost of the project.

caving (also potholing) (both BrE) (NAmE spelunking) noun [U] the sport or activity of going into CAVES under the ground: He had always wanted to go caving.

cavity noun (pl. -ies)
1 a hole or empty space inside sth solid: the abdominal cavity
2 a hole in a tooth

cavity wall noun a wall consisting of two walls with a space between them, designed to prevent heat from escaping: cavity wall insulation

cavort NAmE verb [V + adv. / prep.] to jump or move around in a noisy, excited and often sexual way: The photos showed her cavorting on the beach with her new lover.

caw noun the unpleasant sound that is made by birds such as CROWS and ROOKS
caw verb [V]

cayenne (also cayenne pepper) noun [U] a type of red pepper used in cooking to give a hot flavour to food

cayman = CAIMAN

CB noun [U] the abbreviation for 'Citizens' Band' (a range of waves on a radio on which people can talk to each other over short distances, especially when driving): A truck driver used his CB radio to call for help.

CBE noun the abbreviation for 'Commander (of the Order) of the British Empire' (an award given in Britain to some people for a special achievement): He was made a CBE in 1995. Jon Adams CBE

CBI abbr. Confederation of British Industry (an important organization to which businesses and industries belong)

CBS abbr. Columbia Broadcasting System (an American recording and broadcasting company that produces records, television programmes, etc.)

cc abbr.
1 carbon copy (to) (used on business letters and emails to show that a copy is being sent to another person): to Luke Peters, cc Janet Gold
2 cubic centimetre(s): an 850cc engine

CCRA abbr. Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (the department of the Canadian government that deals with personal income tax, and with taxes on goods that are bought and sold)

CCTV abbr. CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION

CD (also disc) noun a small disc on which sound or information is recorded. CDs are played on a special machine called a CD player. CD is an abbreviation for 'compact disc'.

CD-I noun
1 [U] a MULTIMEDIA system which uses CDs that can react to instructions given by the user (the abbreviation for 'compact disc interactive')
2 [C] the type of CD that this type of system uses

CD-R noun [C, U] a CD on which information, sound and pictures can be recorded once only (an abbreviation for 'compact disc recordable')

Cdr (also Cdr. especially in US) abbr. (in writing) COMMANDER: Cdr (John) Stone

CD-ROM (BrE) (US CD/ROM) NAmE noun [C, U] a CD on which large amounts of information, sound and pictures can be stored, for use on a computer (an abbreviation for 'compact disc read-only memory'): The software package contains 5 CD-ROMs. The encyclopedia is available on CD-ROM. a CD-ROM drive (= in a computer)compare ROM

CD-RW NAmE noun [C, U] a CD on which information, sound and pictures can be recorded and removed more than once (an abbreviation for 'compact disc rewritable')

CDT abbr.
1 (BrE) Craft, Design and Technology (taught as a subject in schools)
2 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME

CE abbr.
1 (in Britain) Church of England
2 (also C.E. especially in NAmE) Common Era (= the period since the birth of Christ when the Christian CALENDAR starts counting years). CE can be used to give dates in the same way as AD.compare AD, BC, BCE

cease verb (formal) to stop happening or existing; to stop sth from happening or existing: [V] Welfare payments cease as soon as an individual starts a job. [V to inf] You never cease to amaze me! [VN] They voted to cease strike action immediately. He ordered his men to cease fire (= stop shooting). [V -ing] The company ceased trading in June.see also CESSATION see WONDER n.

ceasefire noun a time when enemies agree to stop fighting, usually while a way is found to end the fighting permanently TRUCE: a call for an immediate ceasefire a permanent/a temporary/an interim ceasefire Observers have reported serious violations of the ceasefire.

ceaseless adj. (formal) not stopping; seeming to have no end CONSTANT, INTERMINABLE: the ceaseless rain His ceaseless questions began to annoy me.
ceaselessly adv.

cecum (NAmE) = CAECUM

cedar noun
1 [C] a tall EVERGREEN tree with wide spreading branches
2 (also cedarwood) [U] the hard red wood of the cedar tree, that has a sweet smell

cede verb [VN] ~ sth (to sb) (formal) to give sb control of sth or give them power, a right, etc., especially unwillingly: Cuba was ceded by Spain to the US in 1898.see also CESSION

cedilla noun the mark placed under the letter c in French, Portuguese, etc. to show that it is pronounced like an s rather than a k; a similar mark under s in Turkish and some other languages

ceilidh noun a social occasion with music and dancing, especially in Scotland and Ireland

ceiling noun
1 the top inside surface of a room: She lay on her back staring up at the ceiling. a large room with a high ceiling The walls and ceiling were painted white.
2 the highest limit or amount of sth: price ceilingscompare FLOOR
3 (technical) the greatest height at which a particular aircraft is able to fly: an aircraft with a ceiling of 20 000 feetsee also GLASS CEILING see HIT v.

ceiling rose (also rose) noun (technical) a round object that is fixed to the ceiling of a room for the wires of an electric light to go through

celandine noun [U, C] a small wild plant with yellow flowers that grows in the spring

celeb noun (informal) = CELEBRITY

celebrant noun
1 a priest who leads a church service, especially the COMMUNION service; a person who attends a service: Bishop Harris was principal celebrant at the mass.
2 (NAmE) a person who is celebrating sth, for example at a party

celebrate verb
1 to show that a day or an event is important by doing sth special on it: [V] Jake's passed his exams. We're going out to celebrate. [VN] We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in Florence. How do people celebrate New Year in your country?
2 [VN] to perform a religious ceremony, especially the Christian COMMUNION service
3 [VN] (formal) to praise sb/sth: songs that celebrate the joys of romantic love a movie celebrating the life and work of Martin Luther King

celebrated adj. famous for having good qualities: a celebrated painter one of Rodin's most celebrated works

celebration noun
1 [C] a special event that people organize in order to celebrate sth: birthday/wedding celebrations
2 [U, C] the act of celebrating sth: Her triumph was a cause for celebration. a party in celebration of their fiftieth wedding anniversary The service was a celebration of his life (= praised what he had done in his life).

celebratory NAmE adj. celebrating sth or marking a special occasion: a celebratory drink/dinner

celebrity noun (pl. -ies)
1 (also informal celeb) [C] a famous person: TV celebrities
2 [U] the state of being famous FAME: Does he find his new celebrity intruding on his private life?

celeriac noun [U] a large white root vegetable which is a type of CELERY and which is eaten raw or cooked

celery noun [U] a vegetable with long crisp light green STEMS that are often eaten raw: a stick of celery

celesta (also celeste ) noun a small musical instrument with a keyboard, that produces a sound like bells

celestial NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (formal or literary) of the sky or of heaven: celestial bodies (= the sun, moon, stars, etc.) celestial light/musiccompare TERRESTRIAL

celiac disease (NAmE) = COELIAC DISEASE

celibate adj., noun
adj.
1 not married and not having sex, especially for religious reasons: celibate priests
2 not having sex: I've been celibate for the past six months.
celibacy noun [U]: a vow of celibacy
noun (formal) a person who has chosen not to marry; a person who never has sex

cell noun
1 a room for one or more prisoners in a prison or police stationsee also PADDED CELL
2 a small room without much furniture in which a MONK or NUN lives
3 the smallest unit of living matter that can exist on its own. All plants and animals are made up of cells: blood cells the nucleus of a cellsee also STEM CELL
4 each of the small sections that together form a larger structure, for example a HONEYCOMB
5 a device for producing an electric current, for example by the action of chemicals or light: a photoelectric cell
6 a small group of people who work as part of a larger political organization, especially secretly: a terrorist cell
7 one of the small squares in a SPREADSHEET computer program in which you enter a single piece of data
8 (informal, especially NAmE) = CELLPHONE

cellar noun
1 an underground room often used for storing things: a coal cellar
2 = WINE CELLARsee also SALT CELLAR

cellist noun a person who plays the CELLO

cellmate noun a prisoner with whom another prisoner shares a cell

cello NAmE (also formal violoncello) noun (pl. -os) a musical instrument with strings, shaped like a large VIOLIN. The player sits down and holds the cello between his or her knees.

CellophaneTM noun [U] a thin transparent plastic material used for wrapping things

cellphone NAmE (also cellular phone) noun (especially NAmE) = MOBILE PHONE: cellphone users I talked to her on my cellphone. The use of cellular phones is not permitted on most aircraft.

cellular adj.
1 connected with or consisting of the cells of plants or animals: cellular structure/processes
2 connected with a telephone system that works by radio instead of wires: a cellular network cellular radio
3 (BrE) (of cloth) loosely WOVEN for extra warmth: cellular blankets

cellulite noun [U] a type of fat that some people get below their skin, which stops the surface of the skin looking smooth

celluloid noun [U]
1 a thin transparent plastic material made in sheets, used in the past for cinema film
2 (old-fashioned) used as a way of referring to films/movies

cellulose NAmE noun [U]
1 a natural substance that forms the cell walls of all plants and trees and is used in making plastics, paper, etc.
2 any COMPOUND of cellulose used in making paint, LACQUER, etc.

Celsius (also centigrade) adj. (abbr. C) of or using a scale of temperature in which water freezes at 0° and boils at 100°: It will be a mild night, around nine degrees Celsius. the Celsius Scale
Celsius noun [U]: temperatures in Celsius and Fahrenheit

Celt noun
1 a member of a race of people from western Europe who settled in ancient Britain before the Romans came
2 a person whose ANCESTORS were Celts, especially one from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Cornwall or Brittany

CELTA noun [U] a British qualification from the University of Cambridge for teachers with little or no experience of teaching English as a foreign language (the abbreviation for 'Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults')

Celtic adj. connected with the Celts or their language: Celtic history

Celtic cross noun a cross with the vertical part longer than the horizontal part and a circle round the centre

the Celtic fringe noun [sing.] (BrE) the people in Ireland and western parts of Britain whose ANCESTORS were CELTS, often used to refer to Ireland, Scotland and Wales

Celtic harp (also clarsach) noun a small HARP used in Scottish and Irish music

cement noun, verb
noun [U]
1 a grey powder made by burning CLAY and LIME that sets hard when it is mixed with water. Cement is used in building to stick bricks together and to make very hard surfaces: Use a mixture of one part cement to four parts sand.
2 the hard substance that is formed when cement becomes dry and hard: a floor of cement a cement floorsee also CONCRETE, MORTAR
3 a soft substance that becomes hard when dry and is used for sticking things together or filling in holes: dental cement (= for filling holes in teeth)
4 (formal) something that unites people in a common interest: values which are the cement of society
verb [VN]
1 [often passive] ~ A and B (together) to join two things together using cement, glue, etc.
2 to make a relationship, an agreement, etc. stronger STRENGTHEN: The President's visit was intended to cement the alliance between the two countries.

cementation noun [U]
1 (chemistry) the process of changing a metal by heating it together with a powder
2 (geology) the process of grains of sand, etc. sticking together to form SEDIMENTARY rocks

cement mixer (also concrete mixer) noun a machine with a drum that holds sand, water and cement and turns to mix them together

cemetery NAmE noun (pl. -ies) an area of land used for burying dead people, especially one that is not beside a churchcompare CHURCHYARD, GRAVEYARD

cenotaph NAmE noun a MONUMENT built in memory of soldiers killed in war who are buried somewhere else

censer noun a container for holding and burning INCENSE (= a substance that produces a pleasant smell), used especially during religious ceremonies

censor noun, verb
noun a person whose job is to examine books, films/movies, etc. and remove parts which are considered to be offensive, immoral or a political threat
verb [VN] to remove the parts of a book, film/movie, etc. that are considered to be offensive, immoral or a political threat: The news reports had been heavily censored.

censorious adj. (formal) tending to criticize people or things a lot CRITICAL: She fixed her daughter with a censorious eye.

censorship NAmE noun [U] the act or policy of CENSORING books, etc.: press censorship The decree imposed strict censorship of the media.

censure noun, verb
noun [U] (formal) strong criticism: a vote of censure on the government's foreign policy
verb [VN] ~ sb (for sth) (formal) to criticize sb severely, and often publicly, because of sth they have done REBUKE: He was censured for leaking information to the press.

census noun (pl. censuses) the process of officially counting sth, especially a country's population, and recording various facts: to take a census

cent noun (abbr. c, ct) a coin and unit of money worth 1% of the main unit of money in many countries, for example of the US dollar or of the eurosee also PER CENT, RED CENT
put in your two cents' worth (NAmE) = PUT IN YOUR TWO PENNYWORTH

cent. abbr. century: in the 20th cent.

centaur noun (in ancient Greek stories) a creature with a man's head, arms and upper body on a horse's body and legs

centenarian NAmE noun a person who is 100 years old or more

centenary NAmE (pl. -ies) (BrE) (also centennial NAmE, BrE) noun the 100th anniversary of an event: The club will celebrate its centenary next year. the centenary year centenary celebrationssee also BICENTENARY, TERCENTENARY

centennial noun (especially NAmE) = CENTENARY: The year 1889 was the centennial of the inauguration of George Washington.see also BICENTENNIAL

center (NAmE) = CENTRE

centerboard, centered, centerfold, centerpiece (NAmE) = CENTREBOARD, CENTRED, CENTREFOLD, CENTREPIECE

centi- combining form (in nouns)
1 hundred: centipede
2 (often used in units of measurement) one hundredth: centimetre

centigrade adj. = CELSIUS: a temperature of 40 degrees centigrade
centigrade noun [U]: temperatures in centigrade and Fahrenheit

centigram (also centigramme) noun a unit for measuring weight. There are 100 centigrams in a gram.

centilitre (BrE) (NAmE centiliter) noun (abbr. cl) a unit for measuring liquids. There are 100 centilitres in a litre.

centimetre (BrE) (NAmE centimeter) noun (abbr. cm) a unit for measuring length. There are 100 centimetres in a metre.

centipede noun a small creature like an insect, with a long thin body and many legs

central adj.
1 most important: The central issue is that of widespread racism. She has been a central figure in the campaign. Prevention also plays a central role in traditional medicine. Reducing inflation is central to (= is an important part of) the government's economic policy. note at MAIN
2 having power or control over other parts: the central committee (= of a political party) The organization has a central office in York.
3 in the centre of an area or object: central London Central America/Europe/Asia There will be rain later in central and eastern parts of the country. the central area of the brain
4 easily reached from many areas: The flat is very centraljust five minutes from Princes Street. a central location
5 (phonetics) (of a vowel) produced with the centre of the tongue in a higher position than the front or the back, for example in birdcompare BACK, FRONT
centrality noun [U] (formal): the centrality of the family as a social institution centrally adv.: The hotel is centrally located for all major attractions. a centrally planned economy Is the house centrally heated (= does it have central heating)?

Central America noun [U] the part of N America that consists of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama
Central American adj., noun

central bank noun a national bank that does business with the government and other banks, and issues the country's coins and paper money

Central Daylight Time noun [U] (abbr. CDT) the time used in summer in the central US and Canada, which is seven hours earlier than GMT

Central European Time noun [U] (abbr. CET) the time used in central and part of western Europe, which is one hour later than GMT

central government noun [U, C] the government of a whole country, rather than LOCAL GOVERNMENT which is concerned with smaller areas

central heating noun [U] a system for heating a building from one source which then sends the hot water or hot air around the building through pipes: gas-fired central heating

the Central Intelligence Agency noun [sing.] = CIA

centralism noun [U] a way of organizing sth, such as government or education, that involves one central group of people controlling the whole system
centralist adj.: centralist control of schools

centralize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to give the control of a country or an organization to a group of people in one particular place: a highly centralized system of government
centralization, -isation NAmE noun [U]: the centralization of political power

central locking noun [U] a system for locking a car in which all the doors can be locked or opened at the same time

central nervous system noun (anatomy) the part of the system of nerves in the body that consists of the brain and the SPINAL CORDsee also NERVOUS SYSTEM

central processing unit noun (computing) (abbr. CPU) the part of a computer that controls all the other parts of the system

central reservation (BrE) (NAmE median, median strip) noun a narrow strip of land that separates the two sides of a major road such as a MOTORWAY or INTERSTATE

Central Standard Time noun [U] (abbr. CST) the time used in winter in the central US and Canada, which is six hours earlier than GMT

central tendency noun (statistics) the tendency of values of a VARIABLE to be close to its average value

Central time noun [U] the time at the line of LONGITUDE 90°W, which is the standard time in the central US and Canada

centre (BrE) (NAmE center) noun, verb
noun
MIDDLE
1 [C] the middle point or part of sth: the centre of a circle a long table in the centre of the room chocolates with soft centres
TOWN/CITY
2 [C] (especially BrE) (NAmE usually downtown [usually sing.]) the main part of a town or city where there are a lot of shops/stores and offices: in the town/city centre the centre of town a town-centre car park
3 [C] a place or an area where a lot of people live; a place where a lot of business or cultural activity takes place: major urban/industrial centres a centre of population Small towns in South India serve as economic and cultural centres for the surrounding villages.
BUILDING
4 [C] a building or place used for a particular purpose or activity: a shopping/sports/leisure/community centre the Centre for Policy Studies
OF EXCELLENCE
5 [C] ~ of excellence a place where a particular kind of work is done extremely well: Darlington could become a regional centre of excellence for nursery nurse training.
OF ATTENTION
6 [C, usually sing.] the point towards which people direct their attention: Children like to be the centre of attention. The prime minister is at the centre of a political row over leaked Cabinet documents.
-CENTRED
7 (in adjectives) having the thing mentioned as the most important feature or centre of attention: a child-centred approach to teachingsee also SELF-CENTRED
IN POLITICS
8 (usually the centre) [sing.] a MODERATE (= middle) political position or party, between the extremes of LEFT-WING and RIGHT-WING parties: a party of the centre Are her views to the left or right of centre? a centre party
IN SPORT
9 [C] = CENTRE FORWARD
see FRONT n., LEFT adv.
verb [VN] to move sth so that it is in the centre of sth else: Carefully centre the photograph on the page and stick it in place.
centre around/on/round/upon sb/sth| centre sth around/on/round/upon sb/sth to be or make sb/sth become the person or thing around which most activity, etc. takes place: State occasions always centred around the king. Discussions were centred on developments in Eastern Europe.
centre sth in ... [usually passive] to make somewhere the place where an activity or event takes place: Most of the fighting was centred in the north of the capital.

centre back (BrE) (NAmE center back) noun (in football (SOCCER) and some other sports) a player or position in the middle of the back line of players

centreboard (BrE) (NAmE centerboard) NAmE noun a board that can be passed through a hole in the bottom of a sailing boat to keep it steady when sailing

centred (BrE) (NAmE centered) NAmE adj. (especially NAmE) calm, sensible and emotionally in control: My family helps to keep me centred.see also CENTRE (7)

centrefold (BrE) (NAmE centerfold) NAmE noun
1 a large picture, often of a young woman with few or no clothes on, folded to form the middle pages of a magazine
2 a person whose picture is the centrefold of a magazine

centre forward (also centre) (both BrE) (NAmE center forward, center) noun (in football (SOCCER) and some other sports) a player or position in the middle of the front line of players

centre half (BrE) (NAmE center half) noun (in football (SOCCER) and some other sports) a player or position in the middle of the HALFBACK line of players

centre of gravity noun (pl. centres of gravity) the point in an object at which its weight is considered to act

centrepiece (BrE) (NAmE centerpiece) NAmE noun
1 [sing.] the most important item: This treaty is the centrepiece of the government's foreign policy. The water lily is obviously the centrepiece of any water garden.
2 a decoration for the centre of a table

centre spread noun the two facing middle pages of a newspaper or magazine

centre stage (BrE) (NAmE center stage) noun [U] an important position where sb/sth can easily get people's attention: Education is taking centre stage in the government's plans. This region continues to occupy centre stage in world affairs.
centre stage adv.: The minister said, 'We are putting full employment centre stage'.

-centric suffix
1 having a particular centre: geocentric
2 (often disapproving) based on a particular way of thinking: Eurocentric ethnocentric

centrifugal adj. (technical) moving or tending to move away from a centre

centrifugal force (also centrifugal force) noun (physics) a force that appears to cause an object travelling around a centre to fly away from the centre and off its CIRCULAR path

centrifuge noun a machine with a part that spins around to separate substances, for example liquids from solids, by forcing the heavier substance to the outer edge

centripetal adj. (technical) moving or tending to move towards a centre

centrist noun a person with political views that are not extreme MODERATE
centrist adj.: a centrist politician

centurion NAmE noun (in ancient Rome) an army officer who commanded 100 soldiers

century noun (pl. -ies)
1 a period of 100 years
2 (abbr. c, cent.) any of the periods of 100 years before or after the birth of Christ: the 20th century (= AD1901-2000 or 1900-1999) eighteenth-century writers By the close of this century another two billion people will have been born.
3 (in CRICKET) a score of 100 RUNS by one player see TURN n.

CEO NAmE abbr. chief executive officer (the person with the highest rank in a business company)

cep noun a type of MUSHROOM which many people consider to be one of the best to eat

cephalic BrE adj. (anatomy) in or related to the head

cephalopod NAmE noun (biology) a type of MOLLUSC with a combined head and body, large eyes and eight or ten TENTACLES (= long thin legs). The TENTACLES have many SUCKERS on them (= round parts that suck). OCTOPUS and SQUID are cephalopods.

ceramic noun
1 [C, usually pl.] a pot or other object made of CLAY that has been made permanently hard by heat: an exhibition of ceramics by Picasso
2 ceramics [U] the art of making and decorating ceramics
ceramic adj.: ceramic tiles

cereal NAmE noun
1 [C] one of various types of grass that produce grains that can be eaten or are used to make flour or bread. WHEAT, BARLEY and RYE are all cereals: cereal crops
2 [U] the grain produced by cereal crops
3 [C, U] food made from the grain of cereals, often eaten for breakfast with milk: breakfast cereals a bowl of cereal

cerebellum noun (pl. cerebellums or cerebella ) (anatomy) the part of the brain at the back of the head that controls the activity of the muscles

cerebral NAmE adj.
1 relating to the brain: a cerebral haemorrhage
2 (formal) relating to the mind rather than the feelings INTELLECTUAL: His poetry is very cerebral.

cerebral palsy noun [U] a medical condition usually caused by brain damage before or at birth that causes the loss of control of movement in the arms and legs

cerebrum noun (pl. cerebra ) (anatomy) the front part of the brain, responsible for thoughts, emotions and personality

ceremonial NAmE adj., noun
adj. relating to or used in a ceremony: ceremonial occasions a ceremonial sword The post of mayor is largely ceremonial (= there are no real duties, only ceremonies to attend).
ceremonially adv.
noun [U, C] the system of rules and traditions that states how things should be done at a ceremony or formal occasion: The visit was conducted with all due ceremonial. the ceremonials of the medieval church

ceremonious NAmE adj. (formal) behaving or performed in an extremely formal way: She unveiled the picture with a ceremonious gesture. UNCEREMONIOUS
ceremoniously adv.: Dr North ceremoniously raised his glass to offer a toast.

ceremony NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a public or religious occasion that includes a series of formal or traditional actions: an awards/opening ceremony a wedding/marriage ceremony
2 [U] formal behaviour; traditional actions and words used on particular formal occasions: The royal guests were welcomed with pomp and ceremony.
stand on ceremony (BrE) to behave formally: Please don't stand on ceremony (= Please be natural and relaxed) with me.
without ceremony in a very rough or informal way: He found himself pushed without ceremony out of the house and the door slammed in his face.see also MASTER OF CEREMONIES

cerise adj. pinkish-red in colour
cerise noun [U]

cerium NAmE noun [U] (symb Ce) a chemical element. Cerium is a silver-white metal used in the production of glass and CERAMICS.

cert NAmE noun (BrE, informal) a thing that is sure to happen or be successful CERTAINTY: That horse is a dead cert for (= is sure to win) the next race.

cert. abbr.
1 CERTIFICATE
2 CERTIFIED

certain NAmE adj., pron.
adj.
1 ~ (that ... )| ~ (to do sth)| ~ (of sth/of doing sth) that you can rely on to happen or to be true: It is certain that they will agree/They are certain to agree. She looks certain to win an Oscar. The climbers face certain death if the rescue today is unsuccessful. If you want to be certain of getting a ticket, book now. note at SURE
2 ~ (that ... )| ~ (of/about sth) firmly believing sth; having no doubts: She wasn't certain (that) he had seen her. Are you absolutely certain about this? I'm not certain who was there. To my certain knowledge he was somewhere else at the time (= I am sure about it).
3 used to mention a particular thing, person or group without giving any more details about it or them: For certain personal reasons I shall not be able to attend. Certain people might disagree with this. They refused to release their hostages unless certain conditions were met.
4 (formal) used with a person's name to show that the speaker does not know the person: It was a certain Dr Davis who performed the operation.
5 slight; noticeable, but difficult to describe: That's true, to a certain extent. I felt there was a certain coldness in her manner.
for certain without doubt: I can't say for certain when we'll arrive.
make certain (that ... ) to find out whether sth is definitely true: I think there's a bus at 8 but you'd better call to make certain.
make certain of sth/of doing sth to do sth in order to be sure that sth else will happen: You'll have to leave soon to make certain of getting there on time.
of a certain age if you talk about a person being of a certain age, you mean that they are no longer young but not yet old: The show appeals to an audience of a certain age.
pron.certain of ... (formal) used for talking about some members of a group of people or things without giving their names: Certain of those present were unwilling to discuss the matter further.

SYNONYMS

certain

bound sure definite assured

These are all words describing sth that will definitely happen or is definitely true.

certain that you can rely on to happen or be true: It's certain that they will agree. They are certain to agree.

bound [not before noun] certain to happen, or to do or be sth. Bound is only used in the phrase bound to do/be, etc.: There are bound to be changes when the new system is introduced. You've done so much workyou're bound to pass the exam.

sure certain to happen or be true; that can be trusted on relied on: She's sure to be picked for the team. It's sure to rain.

definite (rather informal) certain to happen; that is not going to change: Is it definite that he's leaving?

assured (formal) certain to happen: Victory seemed assured. They were assured of victory.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

certain/sure/assured of sth

certain/bound/sure to do sth

certain/definite that

I couldn't say for certain/sure/definite.

to be/seem/look certain/bound to/sure/definite/assured

by no means certain/bound to/sure/definite/assured

fairly/quite/absoutely certain/sure/definite

certainly NAmE adv.
1 without doubt DEFINITELY: Without treatment, she will almost certainly die. Certainly, the early years are crucial to a child's development. I'm certainly never going there again. She was certainly attractive but you couldn't call her beautiful. note at SURELY
2 (used in answer to questions) of course: 'May I see your passport, Mr Scott?' 'Certainly.' 'Do you think all this money will change your life?' 'Certainly not.'

certainty NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a thing that is certain: political/moral certainties Her return to the team now seems a certainty.
2 [U] the state of being certain: There is no certainty that the president's removal would end the civil war. I can't say with any certainty where I'll be next week.

certifiable NAmE adj.
1 a person who is certifiable can or should be officially stated to be INSANE: (informal) He's certifiable (= he's crazy).
2 (especially NAmE) good enough to be officially accepted or recommended

certificate noun, verb
noun NAmE (abbr. cert.)
1 an official document that may be used to prove that the facts it states are true: a birth/marriage/death certificate
2 an official document proving that you have completed a course of study or passed an exam; a qualification obtained after a course of study or an exam: a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (= a British qualification for teachers)
verb NAmE [VN, VN to inf] (BrE) to give sb an official document proving that they have successfully completed a training course, especially for a particular profession

certificated NAmE adj. (BrE) having the certificate which shows that the necessary training for a particular job has been done

certification NAmE noun [U] (technical)
1 the act of CERTIFYING sth: the medical certification of the cause of death
2 the process of giving certificates for a course of education: the certification of the exam modules

certified cheque (BrE) (NAmE certified check) noun a cheque that a bank guarantees

certified mail noun [U] (NAmE) = RECORDED DELIVERY

certified public accountant noun (NAmE) = CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT

certify NAmE verb (certifies, certifying, certified, certified)
1 ~ sb/sth (as) sth to state officially, especially in writing, that sth is true: [V (that)] He handed her a piece of paper certifying (that) she was in good health. This (= this document) is to certify that ... [VN-ADJ] He was certified dead on arrival. The accounts were certified (as) correct by the finance department. [also VN to inf]
2 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (as sth) to give sb an official document proving that they are qualified to work in a particular profession
3 [usually passive] (BrE, law) to officially state that sb is mentally ill, so that they can be given medical treatment: [VN] Patients must be certified before they can be admitted to the hospital. [also VN-ADJ]

certitude NAmE noun [U, C] (formal) a feeling of being certain; a thing about which you are certain: 'You will like Rome,' he said, with absolute certitude. the collapse of moral certitudes

cerulean adj. (literary) deep blue in colour

cerumen noun [U] (technical) a substance like WAX which is produced in the ear EARWAX

cervical NAmE adj. [only before noun] (anatomy)
1 connected with the cervix: cervical cancer
2 connected with the neck: the cervical spine

cervical smear noun (BrE) = SMEAR TEST

cervix NAmE noun (pl. cervices or cervixes ) (anatomy) the narrow passage at the opening of a woman's WOMB

cesarean, cesarian (NAmE) = CAESAREAN

cesium (NAmE) = CAESIUM

cessation noun [U, C] (formal) the stopping of sth; a pause in sth: Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

cession noun [U, C] (formal) the act of giving up land or rights, especially to another country after a warsee also CEDE

cesspit (also cesspool ) noun
1 a covered hole or container in the ground for collecting waste from a building, especially from the toilets
2 a place where dishonest or immoral people gather: a cesspit of corruption

CET abbr. CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME

cetacean adj., noun (biology)
adj. (also cetaceous ) connected with the group of creatures that includes WHALES and DOLPHINS
noun a WHALE, DOLPHIN, or other sea creature that belongs to the same group

cf. abbr. (in writing) compare

CFC noun [C, U] a type of gas used especially in AEROSOLS (= types of container that release liquid in the form of a spray). CFCs are harmful to the layer of the gas OZONE in the earth's atmosphere. (abbreviation for 'chlorofluorocarbon')

CFL abbr. Canadian Football League (the organization of professional football teams in Canada)

CGI abbr. computer-generated imagery: 'Dinosaur' combines CGI animation with live-action location shots.

chaat noun [U] a S Asian dish consisting of fruit or vegetables with spices

Chablis noun [U, C] a type of dry white French wine

chacha noun (IndE)
1 an uncle
2 a male cousin of your parents
3 a male friend of your family

cha-cha (also cha-cha-cha) noun a S American dance with small fast steps: to dance/do the cha-cha

chaconne NAmE noun (music) a piece of music with a slow regular rhythm, used for dancing in the 18th century

chad noun the small piece that is removed when a hole is made in a piece of card, etc.

chador noun a large piece of cloth that covers a woman's head and upper body so that only the face can be seen, worn by some Muslim women

chafe verb
1 if skin chafes, or if sth chafes it, it becomes sore because the thing is rubbing against it: [V] Her wrists chafed where the rope had been. [VN] The collar was far too tight and chafed her neck.
2 [V] ~ (at/under sth) (formal) to feel annoyed and impatient about sth, especially because it limits what you can do: He soon chafed at the restrictions of his situation. Young people often go through a phase of chafing under parental control.

chaff NAmE noun, verb
noun [U]
1 the outer covering of the seeds of grain such as WHEAT, which is separated from the grain before it is eaten
2 STRAW (= dried STEMS of WHEAT) and HAY (= dried grass) cut up as food for cows see WHEAT
verb [VN] (old-fashioned or formal) to make jokes about sb in a friendly way TEASE

chaffinch noun a small European bird of the FINCH family

chafing dish noun a metal pan used for keeping food warm at the table

chagrin NAmE noun [U] (formal) a feeling of being disappointed or annoyed: To her chagrin, neither of her sons became doctors. Jon had discovered parties, wine and women, much to the chagrin of his parents.
chagrined adj.

chai noun [U] (IndE, informal) tea

chain noun, verb
noun
METAL RINGS
1 [C, U] a series of connected metal rings, used for pulling or fastening things; a length of chain used for a particular purpose: a short length of chain She wore a heavy gold chain around her neck. The mayor wore his chain of office. a bicycle chain The prisoners were kept in chains (= with chains around their arms and legs, to prevent them from escaping).
CONNECTED THINGS
2 [C] a series of connected things or people: to set in motion a chain of events a chain of command (= a system in an organization by which instructions are passed from one person to another) mountain/island chains Volunteers formed a human chain to rescue precious items from the burning house.see also FOOD CHAIN
OF SHOPS/HOTELS
3 [C] a group of shops/stores or hotels owned by the same company: a chain of supermarkets/a supermarket chain
RESTRICTION
4 [C, usually pl.] (formal or literary) a thing that restricts sb's freedom or ability to do sth: the chains of fear/misery
IN HOUSE BUYING
5 [C, usually sing.] (BrE) a situation in which a number of people selling and buying houses must each complete the sale of their house before buying from the next person
see BALL n., LINK n., WEAK
verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sb/sth (to sb/sth)| ~ sb/sth (up) to fasten sth with a chain; to fasten sb/sth to another person or thing with a chain, so that they do not escape or get stolen: The doors were always locked and chained. She chained her bicycle to the gate. The dog was chained up for the night. (figurative) I've been chained to my desk all week (= because there was so much work).

chain gang noun a group of prisoners chained together and forced to work

chain letter noun a letter sent to several people asking them to make copies of the letter and send them on to more people

chain-link fence noun a fence made of wire in a diamond pattern

chain mail (also mail) noun [U] ARMOUR (= covering to protect the body when fighting) made of small metal rings linked together

chain reaction noun
1 (chemistry, physics) a chemical or nuclear change that forms products which themselves cause more changes and new products
2 a series of events, each of which causes the next: It set off a chain reaction in the international money markets.

chainsaw noun a tool made of a chain with sharp teeth set in it, that is driven by a motor and used for cutting wood

chain-smoke verb [V, VN] to smoke cigarettes continuously, lighting the next one from the one you have just smoked
chain-smoker noun

chain store (BrE also multiple, multiple store) noun a shop/store that is one of a series of similar shops/stores owned by the same company

chair NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a piece of furniture for one person to sit on, with a back, a seat and four legs: a table and chairs Sit on your chair! an old man asleep in a chair (= an ARMCHAIR) dining/kitchen chairssee also ARMCHAIR, DECKCHAIR, EASY CHAIR, HIGH CHAIR, MUSICAL CHAIRS, ROCKING CHAIR, WHEELCHAIR
2 the chair [sing.] the position of being in charge of a meeting or committee; the person who holds this position: She takes the chair in all our meetings. Who is in the chair today? He was elected chair of the city council. All remarks should be addressed to the chair.
3 [C] the position of being in charge of a department in a university: He holds the chair of philosophy at Oxford.
4 the chair [sing.] (US, informal) = THE ELECTRIC CHAIR
verb [VN] to act as the chairman or chairwoman of a meeting, discussion, etc.: Who's chairing the meeting?

chairlift NAmE noun a series of chairs hanging from a moving cable, for carrying people up and down a mountain

chairman NAmE noun (pl. -men )
1 the person in charge of a meeting, who tells people when they can speak, etc.
2 the person in charge of a committee, a company, etc.: the chairman of the board of governors (= of a school) The chairman of the company presented the annual report. note at GENDER

chairmanship NAmE noun
1 [C] the position of a chairman or chairwoman: the chairmanship of the committee
2 [U] the state of being a chairman or chairwoman: under her skilful chairmanship

chairperson NAmE noun (pl. -persons) a chairman or chairwomansee also CHAIR (2)

chairwoman NAmE noun (pl. -women ) a woman in charge of a meeting, a committee or an organization note at GENDER

chaise noun a CARRIAGE pulled by a horse or horses, used in the past

chaise longue NAmE noun (pl. chaises longues NAmE ) (from French)
1 a long low seat with a back and one arm, on which the person sitting can stretch out their legs
2 (NAmE) (also informal chaise lounge) a long chair with a back that can be vertical for sitting on or flat for lying on outdoors

chakra noun (in YOGA) each of the main centres of spiritual power in the human body

chalet NAmE noun
1 a wooden house with a roof that slopes steeply down over the sides, usually built in mountain areas, especially in Switzerland
2 (BrE) a small house or HUT, especially one used by people on holiday/vacation at the sea

chalice noun a large cup for holding wine, especially one from which wine is drunk in the Christian COMMUNION service see POISON v.

chalk noun, verb
noun
1 [U] a type of soft white stone: the chalk cliffs of southern England
2 [U, C] a substance similar to chalk made into white or coloured sticks for writing or drawing: a piece/stick of chalk drawing diagrams with chalk on the blackboard a box of coloured chalks
chalk and cheese (BrE) if two people or things are like chalk and cheese or as different as chalk and cheese, they are completely different from each other: Frank and I will never get along. We're chalk and cheese.more at LONG adj.
verb [VN] ~ sth (up) (on sth) to write or draw sth with chalk: She chalked (up) the day's menu on the board. A message was chalked on the door'Back at 11 o'clock.' a chalked outline of a human body The scores were chalked up on the wall.
chalk up sth (informal) to achieve or record a success, points in a game, etc.: The team chalked up their tenth win this season. As a Hollywood actor he has chalked up a number of box-office successes. They will have chalked up 40 years of marriage this summer.
chalk sth up to sth (NAmE, informal) to consider that sth is caused by sth: We can chalk that win up to a lot of luck. see EXPERIENCE n.

chalkboard NAmE noun (especially NAmE) = BLACKBOARD

the chalkface noun [sing.] (BrE) used to talk about the activity of teaching in a school, especially as compared with theories of education or with tasks such as preparing and marking work: teachers at the chalkface

chalky adj. containing chalk or like chalk

challenge noun, verb
noun
1 a new or difficult task that tests sb's ability and skill: an exciting/interesting challenge The role will be the biggest challenge of his acting career. to face a challenge (= to have to deal with one) Destruction of the environment is one of the most serious challenges we face. Schools must meet the challenge of new technology (= deal with it successfully). I'm looking forward to the challenge of my new job.
2 an invitation or a suggestion to sb that they should enter a competition, fight, etc.: to accept/take up a challenge to mount a challenge
3 ~ (to sth) a statement or an action that shows that sb refuses to accept sth and questions whether it is right, legal, etc.: It was a direct challenge to the president's authority. Their legal challenge was unsuccessful.
verb
1 [VN] to question whether a statement or an action is right, legal, etc.; to refuse to accept sth DISPUTE: The story was completely untrue and was successfully challenged in court. She does not like anyone challenging her authority. This discovery challenges traditional beliefs.
2 ~ sb (to sth) to invite sb to enter a competition, fight, etc.; to suggest strongly that sb should do sth (especially when you think that they might be unwilling to do it): [VN] Mike challenged me to a game of chess. [VN to inf] The opposition leader challenged the prime minister to call an election.
3 [VN] to test sb's ability and skills, especially in an interesting way: The job doesn't really challenge her.
4 [VN] to order sb to stop and say who they are or what they are doing: We were challenged by police at the border.

challenged adj. (especially NAmE) (used with an adverb) a polite way of referring to sb who has a DISABILITY of some sort: a competition for physically challenged athletes (humorous) I'm financially challenged at the moment (= I have no money).

challenger noun a person who competes with sb else in sport or in politics for an important position that the other person already holds: the official challenger for the world championship title

challenging adj.
1 difficult in an interesting way that tests your ability: challenging work/questions/problems a challenging and rewarding career as a teacher note at DIFFICULT
2 done in a way that invites people to disagree or argue with you, or shows that you disagree with them: She gave him a challenging look. 'Are you really sure?' she demanded.

chamber noun
1 [C] a hall in a public building that is used for formal meetings: The members left the council chamber. the Senate/House chambersee also CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
2 [C+sing./pl. v.] one of the parts of a parliament: the Lower/Upper Chamber (= in Britain, the House of Commons/House of Lords) the Chamber of Deputies in the Italian parliament Under Senate rules, the chamber must vote on the bill by this Friday.
3 [C] (in compounds) a room used for the particular purpose that is mentioned: a burial chamber Divers transfer from the water to a decompression chamber.see also GAS CHAMBER
4 [C] an space in the body, in a plant or in a machine, which is separated from the rest: the chambers of the heart the rocket's combustion chamber the chamber of a gun (= the part that holds the bullets)
5 [C] a space under the ground which is almost completely closed on all sides: They found themselves in a vast underground chamber.
6 [C] (old use) a bedroom or private room: Lady Eleanor was found dead in her chamber.

chamberlain NAmE noun an official who managed the home and servants of a king, queen or important family in past centuries

chambermaid NAmE noun a woman whose job is to clean bedrooms, usually in a hotel

chamber music noun [U] CLASSICAL music written for a small group of instruments

Chamber of Commerce noun a group of local business people who work together to help business and trade in a particular town

chamber of horrors noun [sing.] a part of a museum displaying objects used to kill people in a cruel and painful way or scenes showing how they died

chamber orchestra noun a small group of musicians who play CLASSICAL music together

chamber pot (also offensive pisspot) noun a round container that people in the past had in the bedroom and used for URINATING in at nightcompare POTTY

chambré NAmE adj. [not before noun] (from French) (of red wine) at room temperature

chameleon noun
1 a small LIZARD (= a type of REPTILE) that can change colour according to its surroundings
2 (often disapproving) a person who changes their behaviour or opinions according to the situation

chamfer noun (technical) a cut made along an edge or on a corner so that it slopes rather than being at 90°

chamois noun (pl. chamois)
1 NAmE [C] an animal like a small DEER, that lives in the mountains of Europe and Asia
2 (also shammy) (BrE also chamois leather, shammy leather) [U, C] a type of soft leather, made from the skin of GOATS, sheep, etc.; a piece of this, used especially for cleaning windows
3 [U] (NAmE) a type of soft thick cotton cloth, used especially for making shirts

chamomile (also camomile) noun [U] a plant with a sweet smell and small white and yellow flowers. Its dried leaves and flowers are used to make tea, medicine, etc.: chamomile tea

champ verb, noun
verb [V, VN] (especially of horses) to bite or eat sth noisily
champing at the bit (informal) impatient to do or start doing sth: Gerry's champing at the bit to go to college.
noun an informal way of referring to a champion, often used in newspapers: Scottish champs celebrate victory!

champagne noun [U, C] a French SPARKLING white wine (= one with bubbles) that is drunk on special occasions: a glass of champagne a champagne reception (= a formal social occasion at which champagne is served) at the Imperial Hotel There are a number of fine champagnes (= types of champagne) available at very reasonable prices.

champagne socialist noun (BrE, disapproving) a person who has SOCIALIST ideas but is rich or has social advantages

champers NAmE noun [U] (BrE, informal) = CHAMPAGNE

champion noun, verb
noun
1 a person, team, etc. that has won a competition, especially in a sport: the world basketball champions a champion jockey/boxer/swimmer, etc. the reigning champion (= the person who is champion now)
2 ~ (of sth) a person who fights for, or speaks in support of, a group of people or a belief: She was a champion of the poor all her life.
verb [VN] to fight for or speak in support of a group of people or a belief: He has always championed the cause of gay rights.

championship noun
1 (also championships [pl.]) a competition to find the best player or team in a particular sport: the National Basketball Association Championship He won a silver medal at the European Championships.
2 the position of being a champion: They've held the championship for the past two years.

chance NAmE noun, verb, adj.
noun
1 [C, U] ~ of doing sth| ~ that ...| ~ of sth happening| ~ of sth a possibility of sth happening, especially sth that you want: Is there any chance of getting tickets for tonight? She has only a slim chance of passing the exam. There's a slight chance that he'll be back in time. There is no chance that he will change his mind. What chance is there of anybody being found alive? Nowadays a premature baby has a very good chance of survival. The operation has a fifty-fifty chance of success. The chances are a million to one against being struck by lightning. an outside chance (= a very small one)
2 [C] ~ (of sth)| ~ (to do sth)| ~ (for sb to do sth) a suitable time or situation when you have the opportunity to do sth: We won't get another chance of a holiday this year. Please give me a chance to explain. It was the chance she had been waiting for. There will be a chance for parents to look around the school. Jeff deceived me once alreadyI won't give him a second chance. This is your big chance (= opportunity for success). Tonight is your last chance to catch the play at your local theatre.
3 [C] an unpleasant or dangerous possibility: When installing electrical equipment don't take any chances. A mistake could kill. The car might break down but that's a chance we'll have to take.
4 [U] the way that some things happen without any cause that you can see or understand: I met her by chance (= without planning to) at the airport. Chess is not a game of chance. It was pure chance that we were both there. We'll plan everything very carefully and leave nothing to chance. note at LUCK
as chance would have it happening in a way that was lucky, although it was not planned: As chance would have it, John was going to London too, so I went with him.
be in with a chance (of doing sth) (BrE, informal) to have the possibility of succeeding or achieving sth: 'Do you think we'll win?' 'I think we're in with a chance.' He's in with a good chance of passing the exam.
by any chance used especially in questions, to ask whether sth is true, possible, etc.: Are you in love with him, by any chance?
the chances are (that) ... (informal) it is likely that ...: The chances are you won't have to pay.
chance would be a fine thing (BrE, informal) people say chance would be a fine thing to show that they would like to do or have the thing that sb has mentioned, but that they do not think that it is very likely
give sb/sth half a chance to give sb/sth some opportunity to do sth: That dog will give you a nasty bite, given half a chance.
no chance (informal) there is no possibility: 'Do you think he'll do it?' 'No chance.'
on the off chance (that) because of the possibility of sth happening, although it is unlikely: I didn't think you'd be at home but I just called by on the off chance.
stand a chance (of doing sth) to have the possibility of succeeding or achieving sth: The driver didn't stand a chance of stopping in time.
take a chance (on sth) to decide to do sth, knowing that it might be the wrong choice: We took a chance on the weather and planned to have the party outside.
take your chances to take a risk or to use the opportunities that you have and hope that things will happen in the way that you want: He took his chances and jumped into the water.more at CAT, DOG n., EVEN adj., EYE n., FAT adj., FIGHT v., SNOWBALL n., SPORTING
verb
1 (informal) to risk sth, although you know the result may not be successful: [VN] She was chancing her luck driving without a licence. 'Take an umbrella.' 'No, I'll chance it' (= take the risk that it may rain). [V -ing] I stayed hidden; I couldn't chance coming out.
2 (formal) to happen or to do sth by chance: [V to inf] If I do chance to find out where she is, I'll inform you immediately. They chanced to be staying at the same hotel. [V (that)] It chanced (that) they were staying at the same hotel.
chance your arm (BrE, informal) to take a risk although you will probably fail
chance on/upon sb/sth (formal) to find or meet sb/sth unexpectedly or by chance: One day he chanced upon Emma's diary and began reading it.
adj. [only before noun] not planned UNPLANNED: a chance meeting/encounter

chancel NAmE noun the part of a church near the ALTAR, where the priests and the CHOIR (= singers) sit during services

chancellery NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C, usually sing.] the place where a chancellor has his or her office
2 [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] the staff in the department of a chancellor

chancellor (also Chancellor) NAmE noun (often used in a title)
1 the head of government in Germany or Austria: Chancellor Adenauer
2 (BrE) = CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: MPs waited for the chancellor's announcement.
3 the official head of a university in Britain. Chancellor is an HONORARY title.compare VICE CHANCELLOR
4 the head of some American universities
5 used in the titles of some senior state officials in Britain: the Lord Chancellor (= a senior law official)

Chancellor of the Exchequer noun (in Britain) the government minister who is responsible for financial affairs

chancer NAmE noun (BrE, informal) a person who is always looking for opportunities to gain an advantage, even when they do not deserve to do so

chancery NAmE noun [sing.]
1 Chancery (law) a division of the High Court in Britain
2 (especially BrE) an office where public records are kept
3 (also chancery court) a court in the US that decides legal cases based on the principle of EQUITY
4 the offices where the official representative of a country works, in another country

chancre noun (medical) a sore area on the body, which is not painful, especially one on the outer sex organs, caused by disease

chancroid noun [U] an infection that is passed from one person to another during sexual activity, that causes swelling in the GROIN

chancy NAmE adj. (informal) involving risks and UNCERTAINTY RISKY: Working for yourself can be a chancy business.

chandelier NAmE noun a large round frame with branches that hold lights or CANDLES. Chandeliers are decorated with many small pieces of glass and hang from the ceiling: a crystal chandelier

chandler NAmE (also ship's chandler) noun a person or shop/store that sells equipment for ships

change verb, noun
verb
BECOME/MAKE DIFFERENT
1 [V] to become different: Rick hasn't changed. He looks exactly the same as he did at school. changing attitudes towards education Her life changed completely when she won the lottery.
2 [VN] to make sb/sth different: Fame hasn't really changed him. Computers have changed the way people work.
3 ~ (sb/sth) (from A) to/into B to pass or make sb/sth pass from one state or form into another: [V] Caterpillars change into butterflies. Wait for the traffic lights to change. The lights changed from red to green. [VN] With a wave of her magic wand, she changed the frog into a handsome prince.
4 [VN] to stop having one state, position or direction and start having another: Leaves change colour in autumn. The wind has changed direction. Our ship changed course.
REPLACE
5 [VN] ~ sb/sth (for sb/sth)| ~ sth (to sth) to replace one thing, person, service, etc. with sth new or different: I want to change my doctor. We change our car every two years. We changed the car for a bigger one. Marie changed her name when she got married. She changed her name to his. That back tyre needs changing.
EXCHANGE
6 [VN] ~ sth (with sb) (used with a plural object) to exchange positions, places, etc. with sb else, so that you have what they have, and they have what you have: At half-time the teams change ends. Can we change seats? Can I change seats with you?
CLOTHES
7 ~ (into sth)| ~ (out of sth) to put on different or clean clothes: [V] I went into the bedroom to change. She changed into her swimsuit. You need to change out of those wet things. [VN] (especially BrE) I didn't have time to get changed before the party (= to put different clothes on). (especially NAmE) I didn't have time to change clothes before the party.
BABY
8 [VN] to put clean clothes or a clean NAPPY/ DIAPER on a baby: She can't even change a nappy. The baby needs changing. There are baby changing facilities in all our stores.
BED
9 [VN] to put clean sheets, etc. on a bed: to change the sheets Could you help me change the bed?
MONEY
10 [VN] ~ sth (into sth) to exchange money into the money of another country: Where can I change my traveller's cheques? to change dollars into yen
11 [VN] ~ sth (for/into sth) to exchange money for the same amount in different coins or notes: Can you change a £20 note? to change a dollar bill for four quarters
GOODS
12 [VN] ~ sth (for sth) (BrE) to exchange sth that you have bought for sth else, especially because there is sth wrong with it; to give a customer a new item because there is sth wrong with the one they have bought: This shirt I bought's too smallI'll have to change it for a bigger one. Of course we'll change it for a larger size, Madam.
BUS/TRAIN/PLANE
13 to go from one bus, train, etc. to another in order to continue a journey: [V] Where do I have to change? Change at Reading (for London). [VN] I stopped in Moscow only to change planes.see also UNCHANGING
change hands to pass to a different owner: The house has changed hands several times.
change horses in midstream to change to a different or new activity while you are in the middle of sth else; to change from supporting one person or thing to another
change your/sb's mind to change a decision or an opinion: Nothing will make me change my mind.
change your tune (informal) to express a different opinion or behave in a different way when your situation changes: Wait until it happens to himhe'll soon change his tune.
change your ways to start to live or behave in a different way from before: He was in trouble with the police as a teenager but now he's completely changed his ways.more at CHOP v., LEOPARD, PLACE n.
change stharound/round to move things or people into different positions: You've changed all the furniture around.
change back (into sb/sth) to return to a previous situation, form, etc.: Only time will tell whether things can ever change back to the way they were. The music changed back to a funky disco beat.
change back (into sth) to take off your clothes and put on what you were wearing earlier: She changed back into her work clothes.
change sth back (into sth) to exchange an amount of money into the CURRENCY that it was in before: You can change back unused dollars into pounds at the bank.
change down (BrE) to start using a lower gear when you are driving a car, etc.: Change down into second. to change down from fourth (gear) into third
change over (from sth) (to sth) to change from one system or position to another: The farm has changed over to organic methods.related noun CHANGEOVER
change up (BrE) to start using a higher gear when driving a car, etc.: Change up into fifth.
noun
DIFFERENCE
1 [C, U] ~ (in/to sth) the act or result of sth becoming different: a change in the weather important changes to the tax system There was no change in the patient's condition overnight. She is someone who hates change. social/political/economic change
STH NEW AND INTERESTING
2 a change [sing.] ~ (from sth) the fact of a situation, a place or an experience being different from what is usual and therefore likely to be interesting, enjoyable, etc.: Finishing early was a welcome change. Let's stay in tonight for a change. Can you just listen for a change? It makes a change to read some good news for once.
REPLACING STH
3 [C] ~ (of sth)| ~ (from sth to sth) the process of replacing sth with sth new or different; a thing that is used to replace sth: a change of address a change of government a change from agriculture to industry There will be a crew change when we land at Dubai. (BrE) Let's get away for the weekend. A change of scene (= time in a different place) will do you good.
OF CLOTHES
4 ~ of clothes, etc. [C] an extra set of clothes, etc.: She packed a change of clothes for the weekend. I keep a change of shoes in the car.
MONEY
5 [U] the money that you get back when you have paid for sth giving more money than the amount it costs: Don't forget your change! That's 40p change. The ticket machine gives change.
6 [U] coins rather than paper money: Do you have any change for the phone? a dollar in change (= coins that together are worth one dollar) I didn't have any small change (= coins of low value) to leave as a tip. He puts his loose change in a money box for the children. Could you give me change for a ten pound note (= coins or notes that are worth this amount)?
OF BUS/TRAIN/PLANE
7 [C] an occasion when you go from one bus, train or plane to another during a journey: The journey involved three changes.
a change for the better/worse a person, thing, situation, etc. that is better/worse than the previous or present one: Voters see the new leader as a change for the better.
a change of heart if you have a change of heart, your attitude towards sth changes, usually making you feel more friendly, helpful, etc.: Dan did not want to get married but recently he's had a change of heart.
a change of mind an act of changing what you think about a situation, etc.
get no change out of sb (BrE, informal) to get no help or information from sb: We got no change out of the legal department.more at RING v., WIND^1 n.

changeable adj. likely to change; often changing UNPREDICTABLE: The weather is very changeable at this time of year. She experienced changeable moods and panic attacks.compare UNCHANGEABLE
changeability noun [U]

changed adj. [only before noun] (of people or situations) very different from what they were before: She's a changed woman since she got that job. This will not be possible in the changed economic climate. UNCHANGED

changeless adj. (formal) never changing

changeling noun (literary) a child who is believed to have been secretly left in exchange for another, especially (in stories) by FAIRIES

the change of life noun [sing.] (informal) = MENOPAUSE

changeover NAmE noun a change from one system, or method of working to another SWITCH: the changeover from a manual to a computerized system a changeover period

change purse noun (NAmE) a small bag made of leather, plastic, etc. for carrying coins compare PURSE

changing room noun (especially BrE) a room for changing clothes in, especially before playing sportscompare LOCKER ROOM

channel noun, verb
noun
ON TELEVISION/RADIO
1 [C] a television station: What's on Channel 4 tonight? a movie/sports channel to change/switch channels
2 [C] a band of radio waves used for broadcasting television or radio programmes: terrestrial/satellite channels
FOR COMMUNICATING
3 [C] (also channels [pl.]) a method or system that people use to get information, to communicate, or to send sth somewhere: Complaints must be made through the proper channels. The newsletter is a useful channel of communication between teacher and students. The company has worldwide distribution channels. Steps are being taken to implement a ceasefire through diplomatic channels.
FOR IDEAS/FEELINGS
4 [C] a way of expressing ideas and feelings: The campaign provided a channel for protest against the war. Music is a great channel for releasing your emotions.
WATER
5 [C] a passage that water can flow along, especially in the ground, on the bottom of a river, etc.: drainage channels in the rice fields
6 [C] a deep passage of water in a river or near the coast that can be used as route for ships
7 [C] a passage of water that connects two areas of water, especially two seas: the Bristol Channel
8 the Channel [sing.] the area of sea between England and France, also known as the English Channel: the Channel Tunnel cross-Channel ferries news from across the Channel (= from France)
verb (-ll-, NAmE usually -l-) [VN]
IDEAS/FEELINGS
1 ~ sth (into sth) to direct money, feelings, ideas, etc. towards a particular thing or purpose: He channels his aggression into sport.
MONEY/HELP
2 ~ sth (through sth) to send money, help, etc. using a particular route: Money for the project will be channelled through local government.
WATER/LIGHT
3 to carry or send water, light, etc. through a passage: A sensor channels the light signal along an optical fibre.

channel-hop (also channel-surf) verb (-pp-) [V] to repeatedly switch from one television channel to another

the Channel Islands noun [pl.] a group of islands near the north-western coast of France that belong to Britain but have their own parliaments and laws

chant NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] words or phrases that a group of people shout or sing again and again: The crowd broke into chants of 'Out! Out!' football chants
2 [C, U] a religious song or prayer or a way of singing, using only a few notes that are repeated many times: a Buddhist chantsee also GREGORIAN CHANT
verb
1 to sing or shout the same words or phrases many times: [VN] The crowd chanted their hero's name. [V] A group of protesters, chanting and carrying placards, waited outside. [V speech] 'Resign! Resign!' they chanted.
2 [V, VN] to sing or say a religious song or prayer using only a few notes that are repeated many times
chanting noun [U]: The chanting rose in volume.

chanter NAmE noun (music) the part of a set of BAGPIPES that is like a pipe with finger holes, on which the music is played

chanterelle noun a yellowish MUSHROOM that grows in woods and has a hollow part in the centre

chanteuse noun (from French) a female singer of popular songs, especially in a NIGHTCLUB

chantry NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (also chantry chapel) a small church or part of a church paid for by sb, so that priests could say prayers for them there after their death

chanty, chantey (NAmE) = SHANTY (2)

Chanukkah, Chanukah = HANUKKAH

chaos NAmE noun [U] a state of complete confusion and lack of order: economic/political/domestic chaos Heavy snow has caused total chaos on the roads. The house was in chaos after the party. The country was thrown/plunged into chaos by the President's death.

chaos theory noun [U] (mathematics) the study of a group of connected things that are very sensitive so that small changes in conditions affect them very much

chaotic NAmE adj. in a state of complete confusion and lack of order: The traffic in the city is chaotic in the rush hour.
chaotically NAmE adv.: The office was chaotically busy today.

chap noun (BrE, informal, becoming old-fashioned) used to talk about a man in a friendly way: He isn't such a bad chap really. Come on, chaps, let's go for a drink!

chap. abbr. (in writing) chapter

chaparral noun [U] (NAmE) an area of dry land that is covered with small bushes

chapatti (also chapati) noun a type of flat round S Asian bread

chapel noun
1 [C] a small building or room used for Christian worship in a school, prison, large private house, etc.: a college chapel
2 [C] a separate part of a church or CATHEDRAL, with its own ALTAR, used for some services and private prayer: a Lady chapel (= a chapel DEDICATED to Mary, the mother of Jesus)
3 [C, U] (BrE) the word for a church used in some Christian DENOMINATIONS, for example by Nonconformists in Britain: a Methodist chapel a Mormon chapel She always went to chapel on Sundays.
4 [C] a small building or room used for funeral services, especially at a CEMETERY or CREMATORIUM
6 [C+sing./pl. v.] (BrE) a branch of a TRADE/LABOR UNION in a newspaper office or printing house; the members of the branch

chapel of rest noun (BrE) a room at an UNDERTAKER'S where dead bodies are kept before the FUNERAL

chaperone (BrE also chaperon) NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 (in the past) an older woman who, on social occasions, took care of a young woman who was not married
2 a person who takes care of children in public, especially when they are working, for example as actors
3 (NAmE) a person, such as a parent or a teacher, who goes with a group of young people on a trip or to a dance to encourage good behaviour
verb [VN] to act as a chaperone for sb, especially a woman

chapkan noun a long coat worn by men, especially in northern India and Pakistan

chaplain noun a priest or other Christian minister who is responsible for the religious needs of people in a prison, hospital, etc. or in the armed forcescompare PADRE, PRIEST

chaplaincy noun (pl. -ies) the position or work of a chaplain; the place where a chaplain works

chaplet noun a circle of leaves, flowers or JEWELS worn on the head

chapped adj. (of the skin or lips) rough, dry and sore, especially because of wind or cold weather

chaps noun [pl.] leather coverings worn as protection over trousers/pants by COWBOYS, etc. when riding a horse: a pair of chaps

chapter noun
1 (abbr. chap.) [C] a separate section of a book, usually with a number or title: I've just finished Chapter 3. in the previous/next/last chapter Have you read the chapter on the legal system?
2 [C] a period of time in a person's life or in history: a difficult chapter in our country's history
3 [C+sing./pl. v.] all the priests of a CATHEDRAL or members of a religious community: a meeting of the dean and chapter
4 [C] (especially NAmE) a local branch of a society, club, etc.: the local chapter of the Rotary club
chapter and verse the exact details of sth, especially the exact place where particular information may be found: I can't give chapter and verse, but that's the rough outline of our legal position.
a chapter of accidents (BrE) a series of unfortunate events: The whole affair has been a chapter of accidents from start to finish.

chapter house noun a building where all the priests of a CATHEDRAL or members of a religious community meet

char verb, noun
verb (-rr-)
1 [V, VN] to become black by burning; to make sth black by burning itsee also CHARRED note at BURN
2 [V] (old-fashioned, BrE) to work as a cleaner in a house: She went out charring in the mornings.
noun (old-fashioned, BrE)
1 [C] = CHARWOMAN
2 [U] (informal) tea: a cup of char

charabanc noun (old-fashioned, BrE) an early type of bus, used in the past especially for pleasure trips

character noun
QUALITIES/FEATURES
1 [C, usually sing.] all the qualities and features that make a person, groups of people, and places different from others: to have a strong/weak character character traits/defects The book gives a fascinating insight into Mrs Blair's character. Generosity is part of the American character. The character of the neighbourhood hasn't changed at all.
2 [C, usually sing., U] the way that sth is, or a particular quality or feature that a thing, an event or a place has NATURE: the delicate character of the light in the evening The police pointed out the illegal character of the protest action. buildings that are very simple in character
3 [U] (approving) strong personal qualities such as the ability to deal with difficult or dangerous situations: Everyone admires her strength of character and determination. He showed great character returning to the sport after his accident. Adventure camps are considered to be character-building (= meant to improve sb's strong qualities).
4 [U] (usually approving) the interesting or unusual quality that a place or a person has: The modern hotels here have no real character. a face with a lot of character
STRANGE/INTERESTING PERSON
5 [C] (informal) (used with an adjective) a person, particularly an unpleasant or strange one: There were some really strange characters hanging around the bar.
6 [C] (informal) an interesting or unusual person: She's a character!
REPUTATION
7 [C, U] (formal) the opinion that people have of you, particularly of whether you can be trusted or relied on: She was a victim of character assassination (= an unfair attack on the good opinion people had of her). a slur/attack on his character My teacher agreed to be a character witness for me in court. a character reference (= a letter that a person who knows you well writes to an employer to tell them about your good qualities)
IN BOOK/PLAY/MOVIE
8 [C] a person or an animal in a book, play or film/movie: a major/minor character in the book cartoon characters Clint Eastwood's character is the most sympathetic in the movie.
SYMBOL/LETTER
9 [C] a letter, sign, mark or symbol used in writing, printing or on computers: Chinese characters a line 30 characters long optical character recognition
in character | out of character typical/not typical of a person's character: Her behaviour last night was completely out of character.
in character (with sth) in the same style as sth: The new wing of the museum was not really in character with the rest of the building.

character actor noun an actor who always takes the parts of interesting or unusual people

character code noun (computing) a combination of numbers that is used to represent a particular letter, number or symbol

characterful NAmE adj. very interesting and unusual

characteristic adj., noun
adj.~ (of sth/sb) very typical of sth or of sb's character: She spoke with characteristic enthusiasm. UNCHARACTERISTIC
characteristically adv.: Characteristically, Helen paid for everyone.
noun~ (of sth/sb) a typical feature or quality that sth/sb has: The need to communicate is a key characteristic of human society. The two groups of children have quite different characteristics. Personal characteristics, such as age and sex are taken into account. genetic characteristics

characterization (BrE also -isation) noun [U, C]
1 the way that a writer makes characters in a book or play seem real: a work of comic brilliance and masterly characterization The film is worth seeing for its fine characterizations.
2 (formal) the way in which sb/sth is described or defined PORTRAYAL: the characterization of physics as the study of simplicity

characterize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] (formal)
1 to be typical of a person, place or thing: the rolling hills that characterize this part of England
2 [often passive] to give sth its typical or most noticeable qualities or features: The city is characterized by tall modern buildings in steel and glass.
3 ~ sb/sth (as sth) to describe or show the qualities of sb/sth in a particular way: activities that are characterized as 'male' or 'female' work How would you characterize the mood of the 1990s?

characterless NAmE adj. having no interesting qualities

character recognition noun [U] the ability of a computer to read numbers or letters that are printed or written by hand

charade NAmE noun
1 [C] a situation in which people pretend that sth is true when it clearly is not PRETENCE: Their whole marriage had been a charadethey had never loved each other.
2 charades [U] a game in which one player acts out the syllables of a word or title and the other players try to guess what it is: Let's play charades.

charbroil NAmE verb [VN] to cook meat or other food over CHARCOAL

charcoal NAmE noun [U]
1 a black substance made by burning wood slowly in an oven with little air. Charcoal is used as a fuel or for drawing: charcoal grilled steaks a charcoal drawing
2 (also charcoal grey) a very dark grey colour

chard NAmE (also Swiss chard) noun [U] a vegetable with thick white STEMS and large leaves

Chardonnay NAmE noun [U, C] a type of white wine, or the type of GRAPE from which it is made

charge NAmE noun, verb
noun
MONEY
1 [C, U] ~ (for sth) the amount of money that sb asks for goods and services: We have to make a small charge for refreshments. admission charges Delivery is free of charge. note at RATE
2 [C, U] (NAmE, informal) = CHARGE ACCOUNT, CREDIT ACCOUNT: Would you like to put that on your charge? 'Are you paying cash?' 'No, it'll be a charge.'
OF CRIME/STH WRONG
3 [C, U] an official claim made by the police that sb has committed a crime: criminal charges a murder/an assault charge He will be sent back to England to face a charge of (= to be on trial for) armed robbery. They decided to drop the charges against the newspaper and settle out of court. After being questioned by the police, she was released without charge. a charge of theft/rape/attempted murder
4 [C] a statement accusing sb of doing sth wrong or bad ALLEGATION: She rejected the charge that the story was untrue. Be careful you don't leave yourself open to charges of political bias.
RESPONSIBILITY
5 [U] a position of having control over sb/sth; responsibility for sb/sth: She has charge of the day-to-day running of the business. They left the au pair in charge of the children for a week. He took charge of the farm after his father's death. I'm leaving the school in your charge.
6 [C] (formal or humorous) a person that you have responsibility for and care for
ELECTRICITY
7 [C, U] the amount of electricity that is put into a battery or carried by a substance: a positive/negative charge
RUSH/ATTACK
8 [C] a sudden rush or violent attack, for example by soldiers, wild animals or players in some sports: He led the charge down the field.
EXPLOSIVE
9 [C] the amount of EXPLOSIVE needed to fire a gun or make an explosionsee also DEPTH CHARGE
STRONG FEELING
10 [sing.] the power to cause strong feelings: the emotional charge of the piano piece
TASK
11 [sing.] (formal) a task or duty: His charge was to obtain specific information.
bring/press/prefer charges against sb (law) to accuse sb formally of a crime so that there can be a trial in court
get a charge out of sth (NAmE) to get a strong feeling of excitement or pleasure from sthmore at REVERSE v.
verb
MONEY
1 ~ (sb/sth) for sth| ~ (sb) sth (for sth) to ask an amount of money for goods or a service: [VN] What did they charge for the repairs? The restaurant charged £20 for dinner. We won't charge you for delivery. They're charging £3 for the catalogue. Calls are charged at 36p per minute. [VNN] He only charged me half price. [V] Do you think museums should charge for admission? [also V to inf, VN to inf]
2 [VN] ~ sth to sth to record the cost of sth as an amount that sb has to pay: They charge the calls to their credit-card account. (NAmE) Don't worry. I'll charge it (= pay by credit card).
WITH CRIME/STH WRONG
3 [VN] ~ sb (with sth/with doing sth) to accuse sb formally of a crime so that there can be a trial in court: He was charged with murder. Several people were arrested but nobody was charged.
4 [VN] ~ sb (with sth/with doing sth) (formal) to accuse sb publicly of doing sth wrong or bad: Opposition MPs charged the minister with neglecting her duty.
RUSH/ATTACK
5 to rush forward and attack sb/sth: [V] The bull put its head down and charged. We charged at the enemy. [also VN]
6 [V + adv. / prep.] to rush in a particular direction: The children charged down the stairs. He came charging into my room and demanded to know what was going on.
WITH RESPONSIBILITY/TASK
7 [VN] (usually passive) ~ sb with sth (formal) to give sb a responsibility or task: The committee has been charged with the development of sport in the region. The governing body is charged with managing the school within its budget.
WITH ELECTRICITY
8 [VN] ~ (sth) (up) to pass electricity through sth so that it is stored there: Before use, the battery must be charged. The shaver can be charged up and used when travelling.
WITH STRONG FEELING
9 [VN] (usually passive) ~ sth (with sth) (literary) to fill sb with an emotion: The room was charged with hatred. a highly charged atmosphere
GLASS
10 [VN] (BrE, formal) to fill a glass: Please charge your glasses and drink a toast to the bride and groom!
GUN
11 [VN] (old use) to load a gun

chargeable NAmE adj. ~ (to sb/sth)
1 (of a sum of money) that must be paid by sb: Any expenses you may incur will be chargeable to the company.
2 (of income or other money that you earn) that you must pay tax on: chargeable earnings/income

charge account noun (NAmE) = ACCOUNT n (3)

charge capping noun [U] (BrE) the act of setting a limit on the amount of money that the local government of an area can charge people in order to pay for public services

charge card noun a small plastic card provided by a shop/store which you use to buy goods there, paying for them latersee also CREDIT CARD

chargé d'affaires NAmE noun (pl. chargés d'affaires NAmE ) (from French)
1 an official who takes the place of an AMBASSADOR in a foreign country when he or she is away
2 an official below the rank of AMBASSADOR who acts as the senior representative of his or her country in a foreign country where there is no AMBASSADOR

chargehand NAmE noun (BrE) a worker in charge of others on a particular job, but below the rank of a FOREMAN

charge nurse noun (BrE) a nurse, especially a man, who is in charge of a hospital WARD

charger NAmE noun
1 a piece of equipment for loading a battery with electricity
2 (old use) a horse that a soldier rode in battle in the past: knights on white chargers

charge sheet noun (BrE) a record kept in a police station of the names of people that the police have stated to be guilty of a crime (= that they have charged)

chargesheet NAmE verb [VN] (IndE) ~ sb (for sth) to accuse sb formally of committing an offence and to ask for an official reply or defence

chargrill NAmE verb [VN] [usually passive] to cook meat, fish, or vegetables over a very high heat so that the outside is slightly burnt

chariot noun an open vehicle with two wheels, pulled by horses, used in ancient times in battle and for racing

charioteer NAmE noun the driver of a chariot

charisma noun [U] the powerful personal quality that some people have to attract and impress other people: The President has great personal charisma. a lack of charisma

charismatic adj., noun
adj.
1 having charisma: a charismatic leader UNCHARISMATIC
2 (of a Christian religious group) believing in special gifts from God; worshipping in a very enthusiastic way
charismatically adv.
noun (often Charismatic) a charismatic Christian

charitable adj.
1 connected with a charity or charities: a charitable institution/foundation/trust a charitable donation/gift (BrE) to have charitable status (= to be an official charity)
2 helping people who are poor or in need: His later years were devoted largely to charitable work.
3 kind in your attitude to other people, especially when you are judging them: Let's be charitable and assume she just made a mistake. UNCHARITABLE
charitably adv.: Try to think about him a little more charitably.

charity noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] an organization for helping people in need: Many charities sent money to help the victims of the famine. The concert will raise money for local charities.
2 [U] the aim of giving money, food, help, etc. to people who are in need: Most of the runners in the London Marathon are raising money for charity. Do you give much to charity? a charity concert (= organized to get money for charity) to live on/off charity (= to live on money which other people give you because you are poor)
3 [U] (formal) kindness and sympathy towards other people, especially when you are judging them: Her article showed no charity towards her former friends.
charity begins at home (saying) you should help and care for your own family, etc. before you start helping other people

charity shop (BrE) (NAmE thrift shop/store) noun a shop/store that sells clothes and other goods given by people to raise money for a charity

charlady NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (old-fashioned, BrE) = CHARWOMAN

charlatan NAmE noun a person who claims to have knowledge or skills that they do not really have: He knows nothing about medicinehe's a complete charlatan.

charleston NAmE noun (usually the charleston) [sing.] a fast dance that was popular in the 1920s

charley horse NAmE noun [usually sing.] (NAmE, informal) = CRAMP: Ow! I just got a charley horse in my leg.

charlie NAmE noun (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a silly person: You must have felt a proper charlie!

charlotte NAmE noun [U, C] a cooked PUDDING (= sweet dish) containing fruit and layers of cake or bread

charm NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U] the power of pleasing or attracting people: a man of great charm The hotel is full of charm and character.
2 [C] a feature or quality that is pleasing or attractive: her physical charms (= her beauty)
3 [C] a small object worn on a chain or BRACELET, that is believed to bring good luck: a lucky charm a charm bracelet
4 [C] an act or words believed to have magic power SPELL
work like a charm to be immediately and completely successful: Those new pills you gave me worked like a charm.more at THIRD
verb
1 to please or attract sb in order to make them like you or do what you want: [VN] He was charmed by her beauty and wit. [V] Her words had lost their power to charm.
2 [VN] to control or protect sb/sth using magic, or as if using magic: He has led a charmed life (= he has been lucky even in dangerous or difficult situations).
charm sth out of sb to obtain sth such as information, money, etc. from sb by using charm: She managed to charm his address out of the porter.

charmed circle noun [sing.] a group of people who have special influence: the charmed circle of the senator's advisers

charmer NAmE noun a person who acts in a way that makes them attractive to other people, sometimes using this to influence otherssee also SNAKE CHARMER

charming NAmE adj.
1 very pleasant or attractive: The cottage is tiny, but it's charming. She's a charming person. What a charming name.
2 (ironic, informal) used to show that you have a low opinion of sb's behaviour: They left me to tidy it all up myself. Charming, wasn't it?
charmingly adv.

charmless NAmE adj. (formal) not at all pleasant or interesting: a charmless industrial town

charm offensive noun a situation in which a person, for example a politician, is especially friendly and pleasant in order to get other people to like them and to support their opinions

charm school noun a school where young people are taught to behave in a polite way

charnel house NAmE noun a place used in the past for keeping dead human bodies or bones

charred NAmE adj. [usually before noun] burnt and black: the charred remains of a burnt-out car

chart NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a page or sheet of information in the form of diagrams, lists of figures, etc.: a weather chart a sales chart (= showing the level of a company's sales)see also BAR CHART, FLOW CHART, PIE CHART
2 [C] a detailed map of the sea: a naval chart
3 the charts [pl.] (especially BrE) a list, produced each week, of the pop music records that have sold the most copies: The album went straight into the charts at number 1. to top the charts (= to be the record that has sold more copies than all the others) a chart hit
verb [VN]
1 to record or follow the progress or development of sb/sth: The exhibition charts the history of the palace. His job was to chart the progress of the spacecraft.
2 to plan a course of action: She had carefully charted her route to the top of her profession.
3 to make a map of an area MAP: Cook charted the coast of New Zealand in 1768.

charter NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a written statement describing the rights that a particular group of people should have: the European Union's Social Charter of workers' rights a rail passenger's charter a charter of rights for people with disabilities
2 [C] a written statement of the principles and aims of an organization CONSTITUTION: the United Nations Charter
3 [C] an official document stating that a ruler or government allows a new organization, town or university to be established and gives it particular rights: The Royal College received its charter as a university in 1967. Certain towns were allowed to hold weekly markets, by royal charter.
4 [sing.] ~ (for sth) (BrE) a law or policy that seems likely to help people do sth bad: The new law will be a charter for unscrupulous financial advisers. a blackmailer's charter
5 [U] the hiring of a plane, boat, etc.: a yacht available for charter
verb [VN]
1 to hire/rent a plane, boat, etc. for your own use: a chartered plane They flew to Athens and then chartered a boat to the island.
2 to state officially that a new organization, town or university has been established and has special rights

chartered NAmE adj. [only before noun]
1 (BrE) qualified according to the rules of a professional organization that has a royal charter: a chartered accountant/surveyor/engineer, etc.
2 (of an aircraft, a ship or a boat) hired for a particular purpose: a chartered plane

chartered accountant (BrE) (US certified public accountant) noun a fully trained and qualified ACCOUNTANT

charter flight noun a flight in an aircraft in which all the seats are paid for by a travel company and then sold to their customers, usually at a lower cost than that of a SCHEDULED FLIGHT

charter member noun (NAmE) = FOUNDER MEMBER

chartreuse NAmE noun [U]
1 a green or yellow LIQUEUR (= a strong sweet alcoholic drink)
2 a pale yellow or pale green colour

chart-topping adj. [only before noun] (of a record, singer, etc.) having reached the highest position in the popular music CHARTS: his latest chart-topping hit
chart-topper noun

charwoman NAmE noun (pl. -women ) (also char, charlady) (both BrE, old-fashioned) a woman whose job is to clean a house, an office building, etc.

chary NAmE adj. ~ of sth/of doing sth not willing to risk doing sth; fearing possible problems if you do sth WARY

chase verb, noun
verb
RUN/DRIVE AFTER
1 [VN] ~ (after) sb/sth to run, drive, etc. after sb/sth in order to catch them: [VN] My dog likes chasing rabbits. The kids chased each other around the kitchen table. We were chased by a bull while crossing the field. [V] He chased after the burglar but couldn't catch him.
MONEY/WORK/SUCCESS
2 [VN] to try to obtain or achieve sth, for example money, work or success: Too many people are chasing too few jobs nowadays. The team is chasing its first win in five games.
MAN/WOMAN
3 ~ (after) sb (informal) to try to persuade sb to have a sexual relationship with you: [V] Kevin's been chasing after Jan for months. [VN] Girls are always chasing him.
REMIND SB
4 [VN] (informal) to persuade sb to do sth that they should have done already: I need to chase him about organizing the meeting.
RUSH
5 [V + adv. / prep.] (informal) to rush or hurry somewhere: I've been chasing around town all morning looking for a present for Sharon.
METAL
6 [VN] (technical) to cut patterns or designs on metal: chased silver
chase your (own) tail (informal) to be very busy but in fact achieve very little
chase sb/sthaway, off, out, etc. to force sb/sth to run away: Chase the cat outwe don't want her in the kitchen. This particular fish chases off any other fish that enters its territory.
chase sbup to contact sb in order to remind them to do sth that they should have done already: We need to chase up all members who have not yet paid.
chase sthup (BrE) (NAmE chase sthdown) to find sth that is needed; to deal with sth that has been forgotten: My job was to chase up late replies.
noun
RUNNING/DRIVING AFTER
1 [C] (often used with the) an act of running or driving after sb/sth in order to catch them: The thieves were caught by police after a short chase. a high-speed car chase We lost him in the narrow streets and had to give up the chase (= stop chasing him). to take up the chase (= start chasing sb) The chase is on!
FOR SUCCESS/MONEY/WORK
2 [sing.] a process of trying hard to get sth: Three teams are involved in the chase for the championship. the title chase
IN SPORT
3 the chase [sing.] hunting animals as a sport: She enjoyed the thrill of the chase.
4 [C] = STEEPLECHASEsee also WILD GOOSE CHASE
cut to the chase (informal) to stop wasting time and start talking about the most important thing: Right, let's cut to the chase. How much is it going to cost?
give chase to begin to run after sb/sth in order to catch them: We gave chase along the footpath.

chaser noun
1 a drink that you have after another of a different kind, for example a stronger alcoholic drink after a weak one: a beer with a whisky chaser
2 a horse for STEEPLECHASE racing (= in which horses must jump over a series of fences)

Chasidism noun [U] = HASIDISM

chasm noun
1 [C] (literary) a deep crack or opening in the ground
2 [sing.] ~ (between A and B) (formal) a very big difference between two people or groups, for example because they have different attitudes GULF: the yawning chasm of the generation gap

chassé noun a dance step made by sliding one foot to the place where your other foot is
chassé verb (chassés, chasséing, chasséd, chasséd) [V]

chasseur noun [U] (from French) chasseur sauce is made with wine and MUSHROOMS and served with meat

chassis noun (pl. chassis ) the frame that a vehicle is built on

chaste adj.
1 (old-fashioned) not having sex with anyone; only having sex with the person that you are married to: to remain chaste
2 (formal) not expressing sexual feelings: a chaste kiss on the cheek
3 (formal) simple and plain in style; not decorated: the cool, chaste interior of the hall She wore a chaste gold chain around her neck.
chastely adv.: He kissed her chastely on the cheek.

chasten verb [VN] [often passive] (formal) to make sb feel sorry for sth they have done: He felt suitably chastened and apologized. She gave them a chastening lecture. It was a chastening experience.

chastise verb [VN]
1 ~ sb (for sth/for doing sth) (formal) to criticize sb for doing sth wrong: He chastised the team for their lack of commitment.
2 (old-fashioned) to punish sb physically BEAT: Parents are no longer allowed to chastise their children as they did in the past.
chastisement noun [U]

chastity noun [U] the state of not having sex with anyone or only having sex with the person you are married to; being CHASTE: vows of chastity (= those taken by some priests)

chastity belt noun a device worn by some women in the past to prevent them from being able to have sex

chasuble noun a piece of clothing with no sleeves, worn by a priest over his/her other clothes

chat verb, noun
verb (-tt-) [V]
1 ~ (away) (to/with sb)| ~ (about sth/sb) to talk in a friendly informal way to sb: My kids spend hours chatting on the phone to their friends. Within minutes of being introduced they were chatting away like old friends. What were you chatting about?
2 to exchange messages with other people on the Internet, especially in a CHAT ROOM: He's been on the computer all morning, chatting with his friends.
chat sbup (BrE, informal) to talk in a friendly way to sb you are sexually attracted to: She went straight over and tried to chat him up. John was in the bar chatting up the barmaid.
noun
1 [C] (especially BrE) a friendly informal conversation: I just called in for a chat. I had a long chat with her. note at DISCUSSION
2 [U] talking, especially informal conversation: That's enough chat from meon with the music! note at DISCUSSION

chateau (also château) NAmE noun (pl. chateaux or chateaus NAmE ) (from French) a castle or large country house in France

chatline noun
1 a telephone service which allows a number of people who call in separately to have a conversation, especially for fun
2 a telephone service which people can call to talk to sb about sex in order to feel sexually excited: premium-rate sex chatlines

chat room noun an area on the Internet where people can communicate with each other, usually about one particular topic

chat show (BrE) (also talk show NAmE, BrE) noun a television or radio programme in which famous people are asked questions and talk in an informal way about their work and opinions on various topics: a chat-show host

chattel noun [C, U] (law or old-fashioned) something that belongs to you: Women are now considered as equal partners, not as chattels or housekeepers.see also GOODS AND CHATTELS

chatter verb, noun
verb [V]
1 ~ (away/on) (to sb) (about sth) to talk quickly and continuously, especially about things that are not important: They chattered away happily for a while. The children chattered to each other excitedly about the next day's events.
2 (of teeth) to knock together continuously because you are cold or frightened: Her teeth chattered as she dressed.
3 (of birds or MONKEYS) to make a series of short high sounds: The only sounds we could hear were the birds chattering in the trees.
the chattering classes (BrE) the people in society who like to give their opinions on political or social issues: Constitutional reform is popular among the chattering classes.
noun [U]
1 continuous rapid talk about things that are not important: Jane's constant chatter was beginning to annoy him. idle chatter
2 a series of quick short high sounds that some animals make: the chatter of monkeys
3 a series of short sounds made by things knocking together: the chatter of teeth

chatterbox NAmE noun (informal) a person who talks a lot, especially a child

chatty adj. (chattier, chattiest) (informal, especially BrE)
1 talking a lot in a friendly way: You're very chatty today, Alice.
2 having a friendly informal style: a chatty letter

chat-up noun [C, U] an occasion when a person is talking to sb in a way that shows they are interested in them sexually: Is that your best chat-up line?

chauffeur NAmE noun, verb
noun a person whose job is to drive a car, especially for sb rich or important
verb [VN] to drive sb in a car, usually as your job: He was chauffeured to all his meetings. a chauffeured limousine With young children, you spend a lot of your time chauffeuring them around to all their various activities.

chauvinism NAmE noun [U] (disapproving)
1 an aggressive and unreasonable belief that your own country is better than all others: It was a typical case of British chauvinism and insularity.
2 = MALE CHAUVINISM

chauvinist NAmE noun
1 = MALE CHAUVINIST
2 a person who has an aggressive and unreasonable belief that their own country is better than all others
chauvinistic NAmE (also less frequent chauvinist) adj. chauvinistically adv.

chav noun (BrE, slang) a young person, often without a high level of education, who follows a particular fashion

ChB abbr. (BrE) Bachelor of Surgery

cheap adj., adv.
adj. (cheaper, cheapest)
LOW PRICE
1 costing little money or less money than you expected INEXPENSIVE: cheap fares Personal computers are cheap and getting cheaper. Cycling is a cheap way to get around. A good education is not cheap. (BrE) Calls cost 36p a minute cheap rate. The printer isn't exactly cheap at £200. immigrant workers, used as a source of cheap labour (= workers who are paid very little, especially unfairly)see also DIRT CHEAP EXPENSIVE
2 charging low prices: a cheap restaurant/hotel a cheap taxi firm (BrE) We found a cheap and cheerful cafe (= one that is simple and charges low prices but is pleasant). EXPENSIVE: Italy is a very cheap country to visit.
POOR QUALITY
3 (disapproving) low in price and quality: cheap perfume/jewellery/shoes (BrE) a cheap and nasty bottle of wine
UNKIND
4 unpleasant or unkind and rather obvious: I was tired of his cheap jokes at my expense. a comedian who is always looking for cheap laughs to score a cheap political advantage
LOW STATUS
5 (disapproving) having a low status and therefore not deserving respect: He's just a cheap crook. His treatment of her made her feel cheap (= ashamed, because she had lost her respect for herself).
NOT GENEROUS
6 (NAmE) (BrE mean) (informal, disapproving) not liking to spend money: Don't be so cheap!

cheapness noun [U]
cheap at the price (also cheap at twice the price) (BrE also cheap at half the price) so good or useful that the cost does not seem too much: To buy all the recommended equipment is expensive, but as an investment for the future it is cheap at the price.
on the cheap spending less money than you usually need to spend to do sth: a guide to decorating your house on the cheap to acquire valuable works of art on the cheapmore at LIFE
adv. (comparative cheaper, no superlative) (informal) for a low price: I got this dress cheap in a sale.
be going cheap to be offered for sale at a lower price than usual: Look in the paper to see if there are any computers going cheap.
sth does not come cheap something is expensive: Violins like this don't come cheap.

SYNONYMS

cheap

competitive budget affordable reasonable inexpensive

These words all describe a product or service that costs little money or less money than you expected.

cheap costing little money or less money than you expected; charging low prices. Cheap can also be used in a disapproving way to suggest that sth is poor quality as well as low in price: a bottle of cheap perfume.

competitive (of prices, goods or services) as cheap as or cheaper than those offered by other companies; able to offer goods or services at competitive prices.

budget [only before noun] (used especially in advertising) cheap because it offers only a basic level of service.

affordable cheap enough for most people to afford.

reasonable (of prices) not too expensive.

inexpensive (rather formal) cheap. Inexpensive is often used to mean that sth is good value for its price. It is sometimes used instead of cheap, because cheap can suggest that sth is poor quality.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

cheap/competitive/budget/affordable/reasonable prices/fares/rates

cheap/competitive/budget/affordable/inexpensive goods/products/services

to be/become/seem/sound cheap/competitive/affordable/reasonable/inexpensive

quite/relatively/extremely/very cheap/competitive/affordable/reasonable/inexpensive

cheapen verb [VN]
1 to make sb lose respect for himself or herself DEGRADE: She never cheapened herself by lowering her standards.
2 to make sth lower in price: to cheapen the cost of raw materials
3 to make sth appear to have less value: The movie was accused of cheapening human life.

cheaply adv. without spending or costing much money: I'm sure I could buy this more cheaply somewhere else. a cheaply made movie You can live very cheaply in Italy.

cheapo NAmE adj. [only before noun] (informal, disapproving) cheap and often of poor quality: cheapo CD players

cheapskate noun (informal, disapproving) a person who does not like to spend money: We really need a new heater, but the landlord's such a cheapskate we'll never get it.

cheat verb, noun
verb
1 [VN] to trick sb or make them believe sth which is not true: She is accused of attempting to cheat the taxman. Many people feel cheated by the government's refusal to hold a referendum. He cheated his way into the job.
2 [V] ~ (at sth) to act in a dishonest way in order to gain an advantage, especially in a game, a competition, an exam, etc.: He cheats at cards. You're not allowed to look at the answersthat's cheating. Anyone caught cheating will be automatically disqualified from the examination.
3 [V] ~ (on sb) (of sb who is married or who has a regular sexual partner) to have a secret sexual relationship with sb else: He's cheating on his wife.
cheat death (often used in newspapers) to survive in a situation where you could have died
cheat sb (out) of sth to prevent sb from having sth, especially in a way that is not honest or fair: They cheated him out of his share of the profits.
noun (especially BrE)
1 (also cheater especially in NAmE) [C] a person who cheats, especially in a game: You little cheat! Are you accusing me of being a cheat? a plan to crack down on tax cheats
2 [sing.] something that seems unfair or dishonest, for example a way of doing sth with less effort than it usually needs: It's really a cheat, but you can use ready-made pastry if you want.
3 [C] (computing) a program you can use to move immediately to the next stage of a computer game without needing to play the game: There's a cheat you can use to get to the next level.

SYNONYMS

cheat

fool deceive betray take in trick con

These words all mean to make sb believe sth that is not true, especially in order to get what you want.

cheat to make sb believe sth that is not true, in order to get money or sth else from them: She is accused of attempting to cheat the taxman. He cheated his way into the job. Cheat also means to act in a dishonest way in order to gain an advantage, especially in a game, competition or exam: You're not allowed to look at the answersthat's cheating.

fool to make sb believe sth that is not true, especially in order to laugh at them or to get what you want: Just don't be fooled into investing any money with them.

deceive to make sb believe sth that is not true, especially sb who trusts you, in order to get what you want: She deceived him into handing over all his savings.

betray to hurt sb who trusts you, especially by deceiving them or not being loyal to them: She felt betrayed when she found out the truth about him.

take sb in [often passive] to deceive sb, usually in order to get what you want: I was taken in by her story.

trick to deceive sb, especially in a clever way, in order to get what you want.

con (rather informal) to deceive sb, especially in order to get money from them or get them to do sth for you: They had been conned out of £100000.

WHICH WORD?

Many of these words involve making sb believe sth that is not true, but some of them are more disapproving than others. Deceive is probably the worst because people typically deceive friends, relations and others who know and trust them. People may feel cheated/betrayed by sb in authority who they trusted to look after their interests. If sb takes you in they may do it by acting a part and using words and charm effectively. If sb cheats/fools/tricks/cons you, they may get sth from you and make you feel stupid. However, sb might fool you just as a joke; and to trick sb is sometimes seen as a clever thing to do, if the person being tricked is seen as a bad person who deserves it.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to cheat/fool/trick/con sb out of sth

to cheat/fool/deceive/betray/trick/con sb into doing sth

to feel cheated/fooled/deceived/betrayed/tricked/conned

to fool/deceive yourself

to cheat/trick/con your way into sth

cheat sheet noun (informal) a set of notes to help you remember important information, especially one taken secretly into an exam room

check verb, noun, exclamation
verb
EXAMINE
1 [VN] ~ sth (for sth) to examine sth to see if it is correct, safe or acceptable: Check the container for cracks or leaks. She gave me the minutes of the meeting to read and check. Check the oil and water before setting off. Check your work before handing it in. Customs officers have the right to check all luggage going through customs.
MAKE SURE
2 ~ (with sb) to find out if sth is correct or true or if sth is how you think it is: [V (that)] Go and check (that) I've locked the windows. [V] 'Is Mary in the office?' 'Just a moment. I'll go and check.' [V wh-] You'd better check with Jane what time she's expecting us tonight.see also CROSS-CHECK, DOUBLE-CHECK
CONTROL
3 [VN] to control sth; to stop sth from increasing or getting worse: The government is determined to check the growth of public spending. She tied some strips of cloth around the wound to check the bleeding.
4 [VN] to stop yourself from saying or doing sth or from showing a particular emotion: to check your anger/laughter/tears She wanted to tell him the whole truth but she checked herselfit wasn't the right moment.
COATS/BAGS/CASES
5 [VN] (NAmE) to leave coats, bags, etc. in an official place (called a CHECKROOM) while you are visiting a club, restaurant, etc.: Do you want to check your coats?
6 [VN] (NAmE) to leave bags or cases with an official so that they can be put on a plane or train: How many bags are you checking?
MAKE MARK
7 [VN] (NAmE) = TICK: Check the box next to the right answer.
check in (at ... ) to go to a desk in a hotel, an airport, etc. and tell an official there that you have arrived: Please check in at least an hour before departure. We've checked in at the hotel.related noun CHECK-IN
check sthin to leave bags or cases with an official to be put on a plane or train: We checked in our luggage and went through to the departure lounge.related noun CHECK-IN
check into ... to arrive at a hotel or private hospital to begin your stay there: He checked into a top London clinic yesterday for an operation on his knee.
check sb/sthoff (NAmE) = TICK SB/STH OFF: Check the names off as the guests arrive. As I packed my case I checked everything off on my list.
check on sb/sth to make sure that there is nothing wrong with sb/sth: I'll just go and check on the children.
check out to be found to be true or acceptable after being examined: The local police found her story didn't check out.
check out (of ... ) to pay your bill and leave a hotel, etc.: Guests should check out of their rooms by noon. I'm sorry, they aren't here. They checked out this morning.related noun CHECKOUT (2)
check sb/sthout
1 to find out if sth is correct, or if sb is acceptable: The police are checking out his alibi. We'll have to check him out before we employ him.
2 (informal) to look at or examine a person or thing that seems interesting or attractive: Check out the prices at our new store! Hey, check out that car!
check sthout to borrow sth from an official place, for example a book from a library: The book has been checked out in your name.
check over/throughsth to examine sth carefully to make sure that it is correct or acceptable: Check over your work for mistakes. We checked through the photographs to make sure there were none missing.
check up on sb to make sure that sb is doing what they should be doing: My parents are always checking up on me.
check up on sth to find out if sth is true or correct: I need to check up on a few things before I can decide.
noun
EXAMINATION
1 [C] ~ (for/on sth) an act of making sure that sth is safe, correct or in good condition by examining it: Could you give the tyres a check? a health check The drugs were found in their car during a routine check by police. a check for spelling mistakes I'll just have a quick check to see if the letter's arrived yet. It is vital to keep a check on your speed (= look at it regularly in order to control it).see also REALITY CHECK
INVESTIGATION
2 [C] ~ (on sb/sth) an investigation to find out more information about sth: The police ran a check on the registration number of the car. Was any check made on Mr Morris when he applied for the post?
CONTROL
3 [C] ~ (on/to sth) (formal) something that delays the progress of sth else or stops it from getting worse: A cold spring will provide a natural check on the number of insects. the most fundamental check to the power of the British monarchy
4 checks [pl.] (formal) rules that are designed to control the amount of power, especially political power, that one person or group hassee also CHECKS AND BALANCES
PATTERN
5 [C, U] a pattern of squares, usually of two colours: Do you prefer checks or stripes? a check shirt/suit a yellow and red check skirtsee also CHECKED
MONEY
6 [C] (US) = CHEQUE
7 [C] (NAmE) = BILL: Can I have the check, please? note at BILL
FOR COATS/BAGS
8 [C] (NAmE) coat ~ a place in a club, restaurant, etc. where you can leave your coat or bag
9 [C] (NAmE) a ticket that you get when you leave your coat, bag, etc. in, for example, a restaurant or theatre
IN GAME
10 [U] (in CHESS) a position in which a player's king (= the most important piece) can be directly attacked by the other player's pieces: There, you're in check.see also CHECKMATE
MARK
11 (also check mark) [C] (NAmE) = TICK
hold/keep sth in check to keep sth under control so that it does not spread or get worse: Maggie managed to keep her temper in check. The epidemic was held in check by widespread vaccination.more at RAIN CHECK
exclamation used to show that you agree with sb or that sth on a list has been dealt with: 'Do you have your tickets?' 'Check.' 'Passport?' 'Check.'

SYNONYMS

check

examine inspect go over sth

These words all mean to look at sth/sb closely to make sure that everything is correct, in good condition, or acceptable.

check to look at sb/sth closely to make sure that everything is correct, in good condition, safe or satisfactory: Check your work before handing it in.

examine to look at sb/sth closely to see if there is anything wrong or to find the cause of a problem: The goods were examined for damage on arrival.

inspect to look at sb/sth closely to make sure that everything is satisfactory; to officially visit a school, factory, etc. in order to check that rules are being obeyed and that standards are acceptable: Make sure you inspect the goods before signing for them. The Tourist Board inspects all recommended hotels at least once a year.

CHECK, EXAMINE OR INSPECT?

All these words can be used when you are looking for possible problems, but only check is used for mistakes: Examine/Inspect your work before handing it in. Only examine is used when looking for the cause of a problem: The doctor checked/inspected her but could find nothing wrong. Examine is used more often about a professional person: The surveyor examined the walls for signs of damp. Inspect is used more often about an official: Public health officials were called in to inspect the restaurant.

go over sth to check sth carefully for mistakes, damage or anything dangerous: Go over your work for spelling mistakes before you hand it in.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to check/examine/inspect/go over (sth) for sth

to check/examine/inspect/go over sth to see if/whether

to check/examine/inspect/go over sth carefully/thoroughly

checkbook = CHEQUEBOOK

checkbox NAmE (BrE also tickbox) noun a small square on a computer screen that you click on with the mouse to choose whether a particular function is switched on or off

checked adj. having a pattern of squares, usually of two colours: checked materialsee also CHECK

checker nounsee also CHECKERS
1 (especially US) a person who works at the CHECKOUT in a supermarket
2 (in compounds) a computer program that you use to check sth, for example the spelling and grammar of sth you have written: a spelling/grammar/virus checker
3 a person who checks things: a quality control checker

checkerboard NAmE noun (NAmE) = DRAUGHTBOARD

checkered adj. (especially NAmE) = CHEQUERED

checkers NAmE noun [U] (NAmE) = DRAUGHTS

check-in noun
1 [C, U] the place where you go first when you arrive at an airport, to show your ticket, etc.: The airline apologizes for long delays at check-ins today. Aim to arrive at check-in at least two hours before departure.
2 [U] the act of showing your ticket, etc. when you arrive at an airport: Do you know your check-in time? (BrE) the check-in desk (NAmE) the check-in counter

checking account (US) (CanE chequing account) noun = CURRENT ACCOUNT

checklist noun a list of the things that you must remember to do, to take with you or to find out: The following is a checklist of points to look for when choosing a coursebook. a checklist for proofreaders

checkmate (also mate) noun [U]
1 (in CHESS) a position in which one player cannot prevent his or her king (= the most important piece) being captured and therefore loses the gamesee also CHECKcompare STALEMATE
2 a situation in which sb has been completely defeated
checkmate (also mate) verb: [VN] His king had been checkmated. She hoped the plan would checkmate her opponents.

checkout noun
1 [C] the place where you pay for the things that you are buying in a supermarket: a checkout assistant/operator long queues at the checkouts
2 [U] the time when you leave a hotel at the end of your stay: At checkout, your bill will be printed for you. The hotel's extra benefits include late checkout.

checkpoint noun a place, especially on a border between two countries, where people have to stop so their vehicles and documents can be checked: There are border guards at the checkpoint crossing. The soldier stopped the motorist at a roadside checkpoint.

checkroom noun (NAmE) = CLOAKROOM

checks and balances noun [pl.]
1 influences in an organization or political system which help to keep it fair and stop a small group from keeping all the power
2 (in the US) the principle of government by which the President, Congress and the Supreme Court each have some control over the otherscompare SEPARATION OF POWERS

checksum noun (computing) the total of the numbers in a piece of DIGITAL data, used to check that the data is correct

check-up noun an examination of sth, especially a medical one to make sure that you are healthy: to go for/to have a check-up a medical/dental/routine/thorough check-up

Cheddar (also Cheddar cheese) noun [U] a type of hard yellow cheese

cheek noun, verb
noun
1 [C] either side of the face below the eyes: chubby/rosy/pink cheeks He kissed her on both cheeks. Couples were dancing cheek to cheek.
2 -cheeked (in adjectives) having the type of cheeks mentioned: chubby-cheeked/rosy-cheeked/hollow-cheeked
3 [C] (informal) either of the BUTTOCKS
4 [U, sing.] (BrE) talk or behaviour that people think is annoying, rude or lacking in respect NERVE: What a cheek! He had the cheek to ask his ex-girlfriend to babysit for them. I think they've got a cheek making you pay to park the car.
cheek by jowl (with sb/sth) very close to sb/sth: The guests, packed cheek by jowl, parted as he entered.
turn the other cheek to make a deliberate decision to remain calm and not to act in an aggressive way when sb has hurt you or made you angrymore at ROSE n., TONGUE n.
verb [VN] (BrE, informal) to speak to sb in a rude way that shows a lack of respect: 'Don't cheek your mother, Sam!'

cheekbone NAmE noun the bone below the eye

cheeky adj. (cheekier, cheekiest) (BrE, informal) rude in an amusing or an annoying way: You cheeky monkey! a cheeky grin You're getting far too cheeky! note at RUDE
cheekily adv. cheekiness noun [U]

cheep verb [V] (of young birds) to make short high sounds: We heard the birds cheeping as their mother fed them.
cheep noun: the shrill cheep of the baby starlings

cheer NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a shout of joy, support or praise: A great cheer went up from the crowd. cheers of encouragement Three cheers for the winners! (= used when you are asking a group of people to cheer three times, in order to CONGRATULATE sb, etc.) BOO
2 [C] (NAmE) a special song or poem used by CHEERLEADERS
3 [U] (formal or literary) an atmosphere of happiness
verb
1 to shout loudly, to show support or praise for sb, or to give them encouragement: [V] We all cheered as the team came on to the field. Cheering crowds greeted their arrival. [VN] The crowd cheered the President as he drove slowly by. BOO
2 [VN] [usually passive] to give hope, comfort or encouragement to sb: She was cheered by the news from home.
cheering noun [U]: He came on stage amid clapping and cheering. cheering adj.: The results of the test were very cheering.
cheer sbon to give shouts of encouragement to sb in a race, competition, etc.: The spectators cheered the runners on.
cheer up| cheer sb/sthup to become more cheerful; to make sb/sth more cheerful: Oh, come oncheer up! Give Mary a call; she needs cheering up. Bright curtains can cheer up a dull room.

cheerful NAmE adj.
1 happy, and showing it by the way that you behave: You're not your usual cheerful self today. He felt bright and cheerful and full of energy. You're in a cheerful mood. a cheerful, hard-working employee a cheerful smile/voice
2 giving you a feeling of happiness: a bright, cheerful restaurant walls painted in cheerful (= light and bright) colours a chatty, cheerful letter
cheerfully adv.: to laugh/nod/whistle cheerfully I could cheerfully have killed him when he said that (= I would have liked to). She cheerfully admitted that she had no experience at all (= she wasn't afraid to do so). cheerfulness noun [U]

SYNONYMS

cheerful

bright cheery jolly merry in a good mood

All these words describe people who feel happy and show this in their behaviour.

cheerful happy and showing it in your behaviour or expression: a cheerful, hard-working employee

bright (of a person or their expression) cheerful and lively: He felt bright and cheerful and full of energy.

CHEERFUL OR BRIGHT?

When describing people, bright is used in the phrase bright and cheerful or after the verbs be/feel: I was not feeling very bright that morning. You can say a cheerful boy/girl but a bright boy/girl is intelligent, not cheerful.

cheery (informal) (of a person or their manner) cheerful: The telephonist at the other end was cheery and casual.

jolly (rather informal) (of a person or their manner) cheerful: The manager was fat and jolly.

merry (literary) (of a person or their manner) cheerful: A merry crowd of villagers watched the proceedings.

CHEERY, JOLLY OR MERRY?

All these words describe sb's manner, appearance or behaviour more than their inner feelings. Jolly and merry can sound slightly old-fashioned. Jolly people are often large and fat; cheery people can be any shape or size.

in a good mood (of a person) feeling happy so that you behave well to other people, usually because sth good has happened to you: He was not in a good mood that day.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to be cheerful/bright/cheery/jolly/merry/in a good mood

to sound cheerful/bright/cheery

to feel cheerful/bright

a cheerful/cheery/jolly/merry person

in a cheerful/bright/cheery/jolly/merry mood

very cheerful/bright/cheery/jolly/merry

cheerio NAmE exclamation (BrE, informal) goodbye: Cheerio! I'll see you later. Cheerio now. Cheerio then. See you on Wednesday.

cheerleader NAmE noun
1 (in the US) one of the members of a group of young people (usually women) wearing special uniforms, who encourage the crowd to CHEER for their team at a sports event
2 a person who supports a particular politician, idea, or way of doing sth: one of the leading cheerleaders for the President's welfare policies

cheerless NAmE adj. (formal) (of a place, etc.) without warmth or colour so it makes you feel depressed GLOOMY: a dark and cheerless room a damp and cheerless December afternoon

cheers NAmE exclamation
1 a word that people say to each other as they lift up their glasses to drink
2 (BrE, informal) goodbye: Cheers then. See you later.
3 (BrE, informal) thank you

cheery NAmE adj. (cheerier, cheeriest) (informal) (of a person or their behaviour) happy and cheerful: a cheery remark/smile/wave He left with a cheery 'See you again soon'. note at CHEERFUL
cheerily adv.

cheese noun
1 [U, C] a type of food made from milk that can be either soft or hard and is usually white or yellow in colour; a particular type of this food: Cheddar cheese goat's cheese (= made from the milk of a GOAT) a cheese sandwich/salad a chunk/piece/slice of cheese a selection of French cheeses a cheese knife (= a knife with a special curved blade with two points on the end, used for cutting and picking up pieces of cheese)see also AMERICAN CHEESE, BLUE CHEESE, CAULIFLOWER CHEESE, COTTAGE CHEESE, CREAM CHEESE, MACARONI CHEESE
2 cheese! what you ask sb to say before you take their photograph see BIG adj., CHALK n., HARD adj.

cheeseboard NAmE noun
1 a board that is used to cut cheese on
2 a variety of cheeses that are served at the end of a meal: The meal finished with the cheeseboard and fresh fruit.

cheeseburger NAmE noun a HAMBURGER with a slice of cheese on top of the meat

cheesecake noun [C, U] a cold DESSERT (= a sweet dish) made from a soft mixture of CREAM CHEESE, sugar, eggs, etc. on a base of cake or crushed biscuits/cookies, sometimes with fruit on top: a strawberry cheesecake Is there any cheesecake left?

cheesecloth NAmE noun [U] a type of loose cotton cloth used especially for making shirts

cheesed off adj. [not before noun] ~ (with/about sb/sth) (BrE, informal) annoyed or bored: He's cheesed off with his job.

cheese-paring adj. (disapproving) not liking to spend money MEAN
cheese-paring noun [U]

cheese straw noun (BrE) a stick of PASTRY with cheese in it, eaten as a SNACK

cheesy adj.
1 (informal) of low quality and without style CORNY, TACKY: an incredibly cheesy love song
2 (of a smile) done in an exaggerated, and probably not sincere way: She had a cheesy grin on her face.
3 smelling or tasting of cheese

cheetah noun a wild animal of the cat family, with black spots, that runs very fast

chef noun a professional cook, especially the most senior cook in a restaurant, hotel, etc.

chef-d'oeuvre NAmE noun (pl. chefs-d'oeuvre NAmE ) (from French, formal) a very good piece of work, especially the best work by a particular artist, writer, etc. MASTERPIECE

chef's salad (also chef salad) noun (NAmE) a large salad consisting of LETTUCE, tomato and other vegetables with slices of cheese and meat such as chicken or HAM on top

Chelsea boot noun a boot with ELASTIC sides, usually with a high heel

Chelsea bun noun (BrE) a small round cake containing dried fruit

chemical adj., noun
adj.
1 connected with chemistry: a chemical element the chemical industry
2 produced by or using processes which involve changes to atoms or MOLECULES: chemical reactions/processes
chemically adv.: The raw sewage is chemically treated.
noun a substance obtained by or used in a chemical process: Farmers are being urged to reduce their use of chemicals and work with nature to combat pests.

chemical engineering noun [U] the study of the design and use of machines in industrial chemical processes
chemical engineer noun

chemical warfare noun [U] the use of poisonous gases and chemicals as weapons in a war: biological and chemical warfare

chemical weapon noun a weapon that uses poisonous gases and chemicals to kill and injure peoplecompare BIOLOGICAL WEAPON

chemin de fer NAmE noun [U] a card game which is a form of BACCARAT

chemise noun a loose dress or piece of women's underwear

chemist noun
1 (also dispensing chemist) (both BrE) (NAmE druggist) a person whose job is to prepare and sell medicines, and who works in a shopcompare PHARMACIST
2 chemist's (pl. chemists) (BrE) a shop/store that sells medicines and usually also soap, make-up, etc.: You can obtain the product from all good chemists. Take this prescription to the chemist's. I'll get it at the chemist's. a chemist's/chemist shopsee also DRUGSTOREcompare PHARMACY
3 a scientist who studies chemistry: a research chemist

chemistry noun [U]
1 the scientific study of the structure of substances, how they react when combined or in contact with one another, and how they behave under different conditions: a degree in chemistry the university's chemistry department inorganic/organic chemistrysee also BIOCHEMISTRY
2 (technical) the chemical structure and behaviour of a particular substance: the chemistry of copper We do not fully understand the chemistry of genes. The patient's blood chemistry was monitored regularly.
3 the relationship between two people, usually a strong sexual attraction: sexual chemistry The chemistry just wasn't right.

chemo NAmE noun [U] (informal) = CHEMOTHERAPY

chemoreceptor NAmE noun (biology) a cell or sense organ that is sensitive to chemical STIMULI, making a response possible

chemotherapy NAmE (also informal chemo) noun [U] the treatment of disease, especially cancer, with the use of chemical substances: a course of chemotherapycompare RADIATION, RADIOTHERAPY

chenille noun [U] a type of thick, soft thread; cloth made from this: a chenille sweater

cheongsam NAmE noun (from Chinese) a straight, tightly fitting silk dress with a high neck and short sleeves and an opening at the bottom on each side, worn by women from China and Indonesia

cheque (BrE) (US check) noun a printed form that you can write on and sign as a way of paying for sth instead of using money: a cheque for £50 to write a cheque to make a cheque out to sb to pay by cheque to cash a cheque (= to get or give money for a cheque)see also BLANK CHEQUE, TRAVELLER'S CHEQUE

chequebook (BrE) (US checkbook) noun a book of printed cheques

chequebook journalism noun [U] (BrE, disapproving) the practice of journalists paying people large amounts of money to give them personal or private information for a newspaper story

cheque card (also cheque guarantee card) noun (both BrE) a card that you must show when you pay by cheque to prove that the bank you have an account with will pay the money on the chequecompare CASH CARD

chequered (BrE) (also checkered NAmE, BrE) NAmE adj.
1 ~ past/history/career a person's past, etc. that contains both successful and not successful periods
2 having a pattern of squares of different colours

the chequered flag (BrE) (also checkered flag NAmE, BrE) noun a flag with black and white squares that is waved when a driver has finished a motor race

chequing account noun (CanE) = CURRENT ACCOUNT

cherish verb [VN] (formal)
1 to love sb/sth very much and want to protect them or it: Children need to be cherished. her most cherished possession
2 to keep an idea, a hope or a pleasant feeling in your mind for a long time: Cherish the memory of those days in Paris. He cherishes the hope that one day they will meet again.

Cherokee noun (pl. Cherokee or Cherokees) a member of a Native American people, many of whom now live in the US states of Oklahoma and North Carolina

cheroot noun a type of CIGAR with two open ends

cherry noun, adj.
noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a small soft round fruit with shiny red or black skin and a large seed inside
2 (also cherry tree) [C] a tree on which cherries grow, or a similar tree, grown for its flowers: cherry blossom a winter-flowering cherry
3 (also cherrywood ) [U] the wood of the cherry tree
4 (also cherry red) [U] a bright red colour see BITE n.
adj. (also cherry red) bright red in colour: cherry lips

cherry brandy noun [U, C] a strong sweet alcoholic drink made with CHERRIES and BRANDY

cherry-pick verb [VN, V] to choose the best people or things from a group and leave those which are not so good

cherry picker noun
1 a type of tall CRANE which lifts people up so that they can work in very high places
2 a person who picks CHERRIES

cherry tomato noun a type of very small tomato

cherub noun
1 (pl. cherubs or cherubim ) (in art) a type of ANGEL, shown as a small fat, usually male, child with wings: carvings of Madonnas and cherubscompare SERAPH
2 (pl. cherubs) (informal) a pretty child; a child who behaves well: I was quite a good student - no cherub, but no devil either.
cherubic adj. (formal): a cherubic face (= looking round and innocent, like a small child's)

chervil NAmE noun [U] a plant with leaves that are used in cooking as a HERB

Cheshire NAmE (also Cheshire cheese) noun [U] a type of pale cheese

chess noun [U] a game for two people played on a board marked with black and white squares on which each playing piece (representing a king, queen, castle, etc.) is moved according to special rules. The aim is to put the other player's king in a position from which it cannot escape (= to CHECKMATE it).

chessboard NAmE noun a board with 64 black and white squares that chess is played on: the pieces on the chessboard

chessman noun (pl. -men ) any of the 32 pieces used in the game of chess

chest noun
1 the top part of the front of the body, between the neck and the stomach: The bullet hit him in the chest. She gasped for breath, her chest heaving. a chest infection chest pains a hairy chest
2 -chested (in adjectives) having the type of chest mentioned: flat-chested broad-chested
3 a large strong box, usually made of wood, used for storing things in and/or moving them from one place to another: a medicine chest a treasure chestsee also HOPE CHEST, TEA CHEST, WAR CHEST
get sth off your chest to talk about sth that has been worrying you for a long time so that you feel less anxious: Why not tell her how you feel? It might do you good to get it off your chest.more at CARD n.

chesterfield NAmE noun
1 a type of SOFA that has arms and a back that are all the same height
2 (CanE) any type of SOFA

chest freezer noun a large FREEZER which has a lid rather than a door

chestnut noun, adj.
noun
1 (also chestnut tree) [C] a large tree with spreading branches, that produces smooth brown nuts inside cases which are covered with SPIKES. There are several types of chestnut tree.see also HORSE CHESTNUT
2 [C] a smooth brown nut of a chestnut tree, some types of which can be eaten: roast chestnuts The dessert was a rich mixture of chestnut purée and cream. see also WATER CHESTNUTcompare CONKER
3 [U] a deep reddish-brown colour
4 [C] a horse of a reddish-brown colour
5 old chestnut [C] (informal) an old joke or story that has been told so many times that it is no longer amusing or interesting
adj. reddish-brown in colour

chest of drawers noun (pl. chests of drawers) (NAmE also bureau, dresser) a piece of furniture with drawers for keeping clothes in

chesty adj. (informal, especially BrE) suffering from or showing signs of chest disease: I'm a bit chesty at night. a chesty cough

chevron noun
1 a line or pattern in the shape of a V
2 a piece of cloth in the shape of a V which soldiers and police officers wear on their uniforms to show their rank

chew verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (at/on/through sth)| ~ sth (up) to bite food into small pieces in your mouth with your teeth to make it easier to swallow: [V] After the operation you may find it difficult to chew and swallow. [VN] teeth designed for chewing meat He is always chewing gum.
2 ~ (on sth) to bite sth continuously, for example because you are nervous or to taste it: [V] Rosa chewed on her lip and stared at the floor. The dog was chewing on a bone. [VN] to chew your nails
chew the fat (informal) to have a long friendly talk with sb about sth: Randall stayed chewing the fat for a while. They met up once a year to chew the fat about the old days.more at BITE v.
chew sthover to think about or discuss sth slowly and carefully
noun
1 an act of chewing sth
2 a type of sweet/candy that you chew
3 a piece of TOBACCO that you chew

chewing gum (also gum) noun [U] a sweet/candy that you chew but do not swallow

chewing-stick noun a stick made from the STEM or root of particular plants that you chew at one end and then use to clean your teeth (used in some parts of Africa and Asia)

chewy adj. (of food) needing to be chewed a lot before it can be swallowed

Cheyenne noun (pl. Cheyenne or Cheyennes) a member of a Native American people, many of whom now live in the US states of Oklahoma and Montana

chez /e/ prep. (from French) at the home of: I spent a pleasant evening chez the Stewarts.

chi noun the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet (X, )

Chianti noun [U, C] a dry red wine from the region of Tuscany in Italy

chiaroscuro NAmE noun [U] (art) the way light and shade are shown; the contrast between light and shade

chiasmus NAmE noun [U, C] (pl. chiasmi ) (technical) a technique used in writing or in speeches, in which words, ideas, etc. are repeated in reverse order

chic adj. very fashionable and elegant STYLISH: She is always so chic, so elegant. a chic new restaurant
chic noun [U]: a perfectly dressed woman with an air of chic that was unmistakably French

chica noun (US, from Spanish, informal) a girl or young woman

Chicana NAmE noun (especially US, from Spanish) a girl or woman living in the US whose family came from Mexicocompare CHICANO, LATINO

chicane noun (BrE) a sharp double bend, either on a track where cars race, or on an ordinary road to stop vehicles from going too fast

chicanery noun [U] (formal) the use of complicated plans and clever talk in order to trick people

Chicano NAmE noun (pl. -os) (especially US, from Spanish) a person living in the US whose family came from Mexicocompare CHICANA, LATINO

chichi adj. used to describe a style of decoration that contains too many details and lacks taste

chick noun
1 a baby bird, especially a baby chicken
2 (old-fashioned, sometimes offensive) a way of referring to a young woman

chickadee noun a small N American bird of the TIT family. There are many types of chickadee.

chicken noun, verb, adj.
noun
1 [C] a large bird that is often kept for its eggs or meat: They keep chickens in the back yard. free-range chickenscompare COCK, HEN
2 [U] meat from a chicken: fried/roast chicken chicken stock/soup chicken breasts/livers/thighs chicken and chipssee also SPRING CHICKEN
a chicken-and-egg situation, problem, etc. a situation in which it is difficult to tell which one of two things was the cause of the other
play chicken to play a game in which people do sth dangerous for as long as they can to show how brave they are. The person who stops first has lost the game: The children had been playing chicken by running across the railway line.more at COUNT v., HEADLESS, HOME adv.
verb
chicken out (of sth/of doing sth) (informal) to decide not to do sth because you are afraid: You're not going to chicken out, are you? Kim put my name down for a sponsored parachute jump but I chickened out at the last moment.
adj. [not before noun] (informal) not brave; afraid to do sth COWARDLY

chicken feed noun [U] (informal) an amount of money that is not large enough to be important: We're going to make so much money that five thousand will look like chicken feed.

chicken flu noun [U] = BIRD FLU

chickenpox NAmE noun [U] a disease, especially of children, that causes a slight fever and many spots on the skin: to catch/get/have chickenpox

chicken run noun an area surrounded by a fence in which chickens are kept

chickenshit noun, adj.
noun [U] (NAmE, slang) nonsense
adj. (NAmE, slang) (of a person) not brave COWARDLY

chicken wire noun [U] thin wire made into sheets like nets with a pattern of shapes with six sides

chick flick noun (informal) a film/movie that is intended especially for women

chick lit noun [U] (informal) novels that are intended especially for women, often with a young, single woman as the main character

chickpea noun (especially BrE) (NAmE usually garbanzo, garbanzo bean) a hard round seed, like a light brown PEA, that is cooked and eaten as a vegetable

chickweed noun [U] a small plant with white flowers that often grows as a WEED over a wide area

chicle noun [U] a substance produced by the SAPODILLA tree and used to make CHEWING GUM

chico NAmE noun (pl. -os) (US, from Spanish, informal) a boy or young man

chicory noun [U]
1 (BrE) (NAmE endive) [C, U] a small pale green plant with bitter leaves that are eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable. The root can be dried and used with or instead of coffee.
2 (NAmE) = ENDIVE (1)

chide verb ~ sb (for sth/for doing sth) (formal) to criticize or blame sb because they have done sth wrong REBUKE: [VN] She chided herself for being so impatient with the children. [V speech] 'Isn't that a bit selfish?' he chided. [also VN speech]

chief adj., noun
adj. [only before noun]
1 most important: the chief cause/problem/reason one of the President's chief rivals note at MAIN
2 (often Chief) highest in rank: the Chief Education Officer the chief financial officer of the company Detective Chief Inspector Williams
3 -in-chief (in nouns) of the highest rank: commander-in-chiefsee also CHIEFLY
noun
1 a person with a high rank or the highest rank in a company or an organization: army/industry/police chiefs
2 (often as a title) a leader or ruler of a people or community: Chief Buthelezi Chief Crazy Horse
too many chiefs and not enough Indians (BrE, informal) used to describe a situation in which there are too many people telling other people what to do, and not enough people to do the work

chief constable noun (in Britain) a senior police officer who is in charge of the police force in a particular area: Chief Constable Brian Turner

chief executive noun
1 the person with the highest rank in a company or an organization: The chief executive addressed the board.
2 Chief Executive the President of the US

chief executive officer noun (abbr. CEO) the person in a company who has the most power and authority

chief inspector noun (in Britain) a police officer above the rank of an INSPECTOR

chief justice (also Chief Justice) noun the most important judge in a court, especially the US Supreme Court

chiefly adv. not completely, but as a most important part PRIMARILY, MAINLY: We are chiefly concerned with improving educational standards. He's travelled widely, chiefly in Africa and Asia.

chief master sergeant noun an officer of middle rank in the US AIR FORCE

chief of staff noun (pl. chiefs of staff) an officer of very high rank, responsible for advising the person who commands each of the armed forcessee also JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

chief petty officer noun an officer of middle rank in the navy

chief superintendent noun (in Britain) a police officer above the rank of SUPERINTENDENT

chieftain noun the leader of a people or a CLAN in Scotland

chief technician noun an officer of middle rank in the British AIR FORCE

chief warrant officer noun an officer of middle rank in the US armed forces

chiffon NAmE noun [U] a type of fine transparent cloth made from silk or NYLON, used especially for making clothes

chigger (also jigger ) noun a small FLEA that lives in tropical regions and lays eggs under a person's or animal's skin, causing painful areas on the skin

chignon NAmE noun (from French) a style for women's hair in which the hair is pulled back and twisted into a smooth knot at the back: long hair worn in a chignon

chihuahua NAmE noun a very small dog with smooth hair

chikungunya noun [U] a disease similar to DENGUE caused by a virus, found in E Africa and parts of Asia and carried by MOSQUITOES

chilblain noun [usually pl.] a painful red swelling on the hands or feet that is caused by cold or bad CIRCULATION of the blood

child noun (pl. children )
1 a young human who is not yet an adult: a child of three/a three-year-old child men, women and children an unborn child not suitable for young children I lived in London as a child. a child starsee also BRAINCHILD, LATCHKEY CHILD, POSTER CHILD, SCHOOLCHILD
2 a son or daughter of any age: They have three grown-up children. a support group for adult children of alcoholics They can't have children.see also GODCHILD, GRANDCHILD, LOVE CHILD, ONLY CHILD, STEPCHILDcompare KID
3 a person who is strongly influenced by the ideas and attitudes of a particular time or person: a child of the 90s
4 (disapproving) an adult who behaves like a child and is not MATURE or responsible
be with child (old-fashioned) to be pregnant
be child's play (informal) to be very easy to do, so not even a child would find it difficult

child abuse noun [U] the crime of harming a child in a physical, sexual or emotional way: victims of child abuse

childbearing NAmE noun [U] the process of giving birth to children: women of childbearing age Some women defer childbearing in favour of a career.

child benefit noun [U] (in Britain) money that the government regularly pays to parents of children up to a particular age

childbirth NAmE noun [U] the process of giving birth to a baby: pregnancy and childbirth His wife died in childbirth.

childcare NAmE noun [U] the care of children, especially while parents are at work: childcare facilities for working parents Organizing childcare for three small children is difficult.

childhood noun [U, C] the period of sb's life when they are a child: childhood, adolescence and adulthood in early childhood childhood memories/experiences She had a happy childhood. He married his childhood sweetheart. childhood cancer
a/sb's second childhood a time in the life of an adult person when they behave like a child again

childish adj.
1 connected with or typical of a child: childish handwriting
2 (disapproving) (of an adult) behaving in a stupid or silly way IMMATURE: Don't be so childish! MATUREcompare CHILDLIKE
childishly adv.: to behave childishly childishness noun [U]

childless adj. having no children: a childless couple/marriage

childlike adj. (usually approving) having the qualities that children usually have, especially INNOCENCE: childlike enthusiasm/simplicity/delightcompare CHILDISH

childminder noun (BrE) a person, usually a woman, who is paid to care for children while their parents are at work. A childminder usually does this in his or her own home.see also BABYSITTER

childproof adj. designed so that young children cannot open, use, or damage it: childproof containers for medicines

child restraint noun a belt, or small seat with a belt, that is used in a car to control and protect a child

child seat noun = CAR SEAT

chili (NAmE)
1 [C] = CHILLI
2 [U] = CHILLI CON CARNE

chill noun, verb, adj.
noun
1 [sing.] a feeling of being cold: There's a chill in the air this morning. A small fire was burning to take the chill off the room.
2 [C] an illness caused by being cold and wet, causing fever and SHIVERING (= shaking of the body)
3 [sing.] a feeling of fear: a chill of fear/apprehension His words sent a chill down her spine. The news of the disaster cast a chill over the party.
verb
1 [VN] [usually passive] to make sb very cold: They were chilled by the icy wind. Let's go home, I'm chilled to the bone (= very cold).
2 when food or a drink chills or when sb chills it, it is made very cold but it does not freeze: [V] Let the pudding chill for an hour until set. [VN] This wine is best served chilled. chilled foods (= for example in a supermarket) chilled champagne
3 [VN] (literary) to frighten sb: His words chilled her. What he saw chilled his blood/chilled him to the bone.
4 [V] (informal) to spend time relaxing: We went home and chilled in front of the TV.
chill out (informal) to relax and stop feeling angry or nervous about sth: They sometimes meet up to chill out and watch a movie. Sit down and chill out!
adj. (formal) (especially of weather and the wind) cold, in an unpleasant way: the chill grey dawn a chill wind

chilled-out (also chilled) adj. (informal) very relaxed: a chilled-out atmosphere He felt totally chilled.

chill factor noun the extent to which the wind makes the air feel colder; a number which represents this

chilli (BrE) (NAmE chili) noun (pl. chillies, NAmE chilies)
1 (NAmE also chili pepper) [C, U] the small green or red fruit of a type of pepper plant that is used in cooking to give a hot taste to food, often dried or made into powder, also called chilli or chilli powder
2 [U] = CHILLI CON CARNE

chilli con carne NAmE (especially BrE) (BrE also chilli) (NAmE also chili) noun [U] a hot spicy Mexican dish made with meat, BEANS and chillies

chilling adj. frightening, usually because it is connected with sth violent or cruel: a chilling story The film evokes chilling reminders of the war.

chillout noun [U] a style of electronic music that is not fast or lively and is intended to make you relaxed and calm: We are giving away a free copy of Pure Jazz Chillout! I love chillout music. It's a great way to lie back, relax and drift into another world. It's a loud club with space for dancing and a fully-equipped chillout room (= a quiet room where you can relax and listen to chillout music) at the rear.

chilly adj.
1 (especially of the weather or a place, but also of people) too cold to be comfortable: It's chilly today. I was feeling chilly. note at COLD
2 not friendly: The visitors got a chilly reception.
chilliness noun [U]

chime verb, noun
verb (of a bell or a clock) to ring; to show the time by making a ringing sound: [V] I heard the clock chime. Eight o'clock had already chimed. [VN] The clock chimed midday.
chime in (with sth) to join or interrupt a conversation: He kept chiming in with his own opinions. [+ speech] 'And me!' she chimed in.
chime (in) with sth (of plans, ideas, etc.) to agree with sth; to be similar to sth: His opinions chimed in with the mood of the nation.
noun a ringing sound, especially one that is made by a bell: door chimessee also WIND CHIMES

chimenea (also chiminea ) noun (from Spanish) a piece of equipment made of CLAY in which you can make a fire, with a round body and a tall narrow part through which the smoke can escape

chimera (also chimaera) NAmE noun
1 (in ancient Greek stories) a creature with a LION'S head, a GOAT'S body and a snake's tail, that can breathe out fire
2 (formal) an impossible idea or hope

chimney noun
1 a structure through which smoke or steam is carried up away from a fire, etc. and through the roof of a building; the part of this that is above the roof: He threw the paper onto the fire and it flew up the chimney. the factory chimneys of an industrial landscape
2 (technical) a narrow opening in an area of rock that a person can climb up

chimney breast noun (BrE) the wall around the bottom part of a chimney, above a FIREPLACE

chimney piece noun (BrE) a brick or stone structure that is built over a FIREPLACE

chimney pot noun (BrE) a short wide pipe that is placed on top of a chimney

chimney stack noun (BrE)
1 the part of the chimney that is above the roof of a building
2 (NAmE smokestack) a very tall chimney, especially one in a factory

chimney sweep (also sweep) noun a person whose job is to clean the inside of chimneys

chimpanzee (also informal chimp) noun a small intelligent African APE (= an animal like a large MONKEY without a tail)

chin noun the part of the face below the mouth and above the neck: A strap fastens under the chin to keep the helmet in place.see also DOUBLE CHIN
(keep your) chin up (informal) used to tell sb to try to stay cheerful even though they are in a difficult or unpleasant situation: Chin up! Only two exams left.
take sth on the chin (informal) to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation without complaining, trying to make excuses, etc.: In this business, you have to learn to take criticism on the chin.more at CHUCK v.

china noun [U]
1 white CLAY which is baked and used for making delicate cups, plates, etc.: a china vasesee also BONE CHINA
2 cups, plates, etc. that are made of china: She got out the best china. see BULL, TEA

china-blue noun pale greyish-blue in colour
china blue noun [U]

china clay noun [U] = KAOLIN

chinagraph NAmE (also chinagraph pencil) noun (BrE) a soft pencil used to write on hard surfaces such as glass

Chinatown noun [U, C] the area of a city where many Chinese people live and there are Chinese shops/stores and restaurants

chinchilla noun
1 [C] an animal like a RABBIT with soft silver-grey fur. Chinchillas are often kept on farms for their fur.
2 [U] the skin and fur of the chinchilla, used for making expensive coats, etc.

Chinese adj., noun (pl. Chinese)
adj. from or connected with China
noun
1 [C] a person from China, or whose family was originally from China
2 [U] the language of China

Chinese cabbage noun [U] (BrE also Chinese leaves [pl.] Chinese leaf [U]) a type of vegetable that is eaten cooked or in salads. There are two types of Chinese cabbage, one with long light-green leaves and thick white STEMS which is similar to LETTUCE and one with darker green leaves and thicker white STEMS. The first type is usually called 'Chinese leaves' in British English and the second type is called 'pak choi'(BrE) or 'bok choi'(NAmE).

Chinese chequers (BrE) (NAmE Chinese checkers) noun [U] a game for two to six players who try to move the playing pieces from one corner to the opposite corner of the board, which is shaped like a star

Chinese lantern noun
1 a lamp that is inside a paper case, with a handle to carry it
2 a plant with white flowers and round orange fruits inside a material like paper

Chinese whispers noun [U] (BrE) the situation when information is passed from one person to another and gets slightly changed each time

Chink noun (taboo, slang) a very offensive word for a Chinese person

chink noun, verb
noun
1 a narrow opening in sth, especially one that lets light through: a chink in the curtains
2 ~ of light a small area of light shining through a narrow opening
3 [usually sing.] the light ringing sound that is made when glass objects or coins touch: the chink of glasses
a chink in sb's armour a weak point in sb's argument, character, etc., that can be used in an attack
verb when glasses, coins or other glass or metal objects chink or when you chink them, they make a light ringing sound CLINK: [V] the sound of bottles chinking [VN] We chinked glasses and drank to each other's health.

chinless adj. (of a man) having a very small chin (often thought of as a sign of a weak character)
a chinless wonder (BrE, humorous, disapproving) a young, upper-class man who is weak and stupid

chinoiserie noun [U] (art) the use of Chinese images, designs and techniques in Western art, furniture and ARCHITECTURE

chinook noun
1 (also chinook wind) a warm dry wind that blows down the east side of the Rocky Mountains at the end of winter
2 (also chinook salmon) a large N Pacific SALMON which is eaten as food

chinos NAmE noun [pl.] informal trousers/pants made from strong cotton: a pair of chinos

chintz noun [U, C] a type of shiny cotton cloth with a printed design, especially of flowers, used for making curtains, covering furniture, etc.

chintzy adj.
1 (BrE) covered in or decorated with chintz
2 (NAmE, informal) cheap and not attractive
3 (NAmE, humorous) not willing to spend money CHEAP, STINGY

chin-up noun (especially NAmE) = PULL-UP

chinwag noun [sing.] (BrE, informal) a friendly, informal conversation with sb that you know well CHAT

chip noun, verb
noun
1 the place from which a small piece of wood, glass, etc. has broken from an object: This mug has a chip in it.
2 a small piece of wood, glass, etc. that has broken off an object: chips of wood chocolate chip cookies (= biscuits containing small pieces of chocolate)
3 (BrE) (also French fry, fry NAmE, BrE) [usually pl.] a long thin piece of potato fried in oil or fat: All main courses are served with chips or baked potato.see also FISH AND CHIPS
4 (NAmE) = CRISP: potato chips
5 = MICROCHIP: chip technologysee also V-CHIP
6 a small flat piece of plastic used to represent a particular amount of money in some types of gambling: (figurative) The release of prisoners was used as a bargaining chip.
7 (also chip shot) (in GOLF, football (SOCCER), etc.) an act of hitting or kicking a ball high in the air so that it lands within a short distance: She left herself with a short chip to the green.see also BLUE-CHIP
a chip off the old block (informal) a person who is very similar to their mother or father in the way that they look or behave
have a chip on your shoulder (about sth) (informal) to be sensitive about sth that happened in the past and become easily offended if it is mentioned because you think that you were treated unfairly: He has a real chip on his shoulder about being adopted.
have had your chips (BrE, informal) to be in a situation in which you are certain to be defeated or killed
when the chips are down (informal) used to refer to a difficult situation in which you are forced to decide what is important to you: I'm not sure what I'll do when the chips are down. When the chips are down he always finds the courage to carry on.more at CASH v.
verb (-pp-)
1 to damage sth by breaking a small piece off it; to become damaged in this way: [VN] a badly chipped saucer She chipped one of her front teeth. [V] These plates chip easily.
2 [VN + adv. / prep.] to cut or break small pieces off sth with a tool: Chip away the damaged area. The fossils had been chipped out of the rock. It took a long time to chip a hole in the wall. It needs skill to chip a block of stone into a recognizable shape.
3 [VN, V] (especially in GOLF and football (SOCCER)) to hit or kick the ball so that it goes high in the air and then lands within a short distance
4 [VN] ~ potatoes (BrE) to cut potatoes into long thin pieces and fry them in deep oil
5 [VN] to put a MICROCHIP under the skin of a dog or other animal so that it can be identified if it is lost or stolen
chip away at sth to keep breaking small pieces off sth: He was chipping away at the stone. (figurative) They chipped away at the power of the government (= gradually made it weaker).
chip in (with sth) (informal)
1 to join in or interrupt a conversation; to add sth to a conversation or discussion: Pete and Anne chipped in with suggestions. [+ speech] 'That's different,' she chipped in.
2 (also chip in sth) to give some money so that a group of people can buy sth together CONTRIBUTE: If everyone chips in we'll be able to buy her a really nice present. We each chipped in (with) £5.
chip off| chip sthoff to damage sth by breaking a small piece off it; to be damaged in this way: He chipped off a piece of his tooth. The paint had chipped off.

chip and PIN (also chip and pin) (both BrE) noun [U] a system of paying for sth with a credit card or DEBIT CARD in which the card has information stored on it in the form of a MICROCHIP and you prove your identity by typing a number (your PIN) rather than by signing your name: Chip and PIN is designed to combat credit card fraud.

chipboard NAmE noun [U] a type of board that is used for building, made of small pieces of wood that are pressed together and stuck with glue: They had nailed chipboard across the broken window.

chip card noun a plastic card on which information is stored in the form of a MICROCHIP: Chip cards will be the money of the future.

chipmunk noun a small N American animal of the SQUIRREL family, with light and dark marks on its back

chipolata noun (especially BrE) a small thin SAUSAGE

chipper adj., noun
adj. (informal) cheerful and lively
noun
1 a machine which cuts wood into very small pieces
2 a device which cuts potatoes into chips/fries
3 (ScotE, IrishE, informal) a chip shop

chippings noun [pl.] (BrE) small pieces of stone or wood

chippy noun, adj.
noun (also chippie) (pl. -ies) (BrE, informal)
1 = CHIP SHOP
2 = CARPENTER
adj. (informal) (of a person) getting annoyed or offended easily

chip shop (also informal chippy, chippie) noun (in Britain) a shop that cooks and sells fish and chips and other fried food for people to take home and eat

chip shot noun = CHIP (7)

chiromancy NAmE noun [U] the practice of telling what will happen in the future by looking at the lines on sb's PALMS PALMISTRY
chiromancer NAmE noun

chiropodist NAmE (especially BrE) (NAmE usually podiatrist) noun a person whose job is the care and treatment of people's feet

chiropody NAmE (especially BrE) (NAmE usually podiatry) noun [U] the work of a chiropodist

chiropractic NAmE noun [U] the medical profession which involves treating some diseases and physical problems by pressing and moving the bones in a person's SPINE or joints; the work of a chiropractor

chiropractor NAmE noun a person whose job involves treating some diseases and physical problems by pressing and moving the bones in a person's SPINE or jointscompare OSTEOPATH

chirp NAmE (also chirrup ) verb
1 [V] (of small birds and some insects) to make short high sounds: The sparrows/crickets were chirping.
2 [V, V speech] to speak in a lively and cheerful way
chirp (also chirrup) noun

chirpy NAmE adj. (informal) lively and cheerful; in a good mood
chirpily adv. chirpiness noun [U]

chirrup verb, noun = CHIRP

chisel noun, verb
noun a tool with a sharp flat edge at the end, used for shaping wood, stone or metal
verb (-ll-, US usually -l-)
1 [often +adv./prep.] to cut or shape wood or stone with a chisel: [VN] A name was chiselled into the stone. She was chiselling some marble. a temple chiselled out of solid rock [also V]
2 [VN] ~ sb (out of sth) (informal, especially NAmE) to get money or some advantage from sb by cheating them: They chiseled him out of hundreds of dollars.
chiseller noun

chiselled (BrE) (NAmE chiseled) adj. (of a person's face) having clear strong features

chi-square test NAmE noun (statistics) a calculation that is used to test how well a set of data fits the results that were expected according to a theory

chit noun (BrE)
1 a short written note, signed by sb, showing an amount of money that is owed, or giving sb permission to do sth: Do I need to sign a chit for these drinks?
2 (old-fashioned, disapproving) a young woman or girl, especially one who is thought to have no respect for older people: a mere chit of a girl

chit-chat noun [U] (informal) conversation about things that are not important CHAT: We spent the afternoon in idle chit-chat.

chitterlings NAmE noun [pl.] pig's INTESTINES, eaten as food

chivalrous adj. (of men) polite, kind and behaving with honour, especially towards women GALLANT
chivalrously adv.

chivalry noun [U]
1 polite and kind behaviour that shows a sense of honour, especially by men towards women
2 (in the Middle Ages) the religious and moral system of behaviour which the perfect KNIGHT was expected to follow: the age of chivalry

chives noun [pl.] the long thin leaves of a plant with purple flowers. Chives taste like onions and are used to give flavour to food.
chive adj. [only before noun]: a chive and garlic dressing

chivvy verb (chivvies, chivvying, chivvied, chivvied) ~ sb (into sth)| ~ sb (along) (BrE) to try and make sb hurry or do sth quickly, especially when they do not want to do it: [VN] He chivvied them into the car. If you don't chivvy the others along, we'll never get there on time. [also VN to inf]

chlamydia noun [U] (medical) a disease caused by bacteria, which is caught by having sex with an infected person

chloride noun [U, C] (chemistry) a COMPOUND of CHLORINE and another chemical elementsee also SODIUM CHLORIDE

chlorinate verb [VN] to put chlorine in sth, especially water: Is the swimming pool chlorinated?
chlorination noun [U]: a chlorination plant

chlorine noun [U] (symb Cl) a chemical element. Chlorine is a poisonous greenish gas with a strong smell. It is often used in swimming pools to keep the water clean.

chlorofluorocarbon NAmE noun (chemistry) a CFC; a COMPOUND containing CARBON FLUORINE and CHLORINE that is harmful to the OZONE LAYER

chloroform NAmE noun [U] (symb CHCl3) a clear liquid used in the past in medicine, etc. to make people unconscious, for example before an operation

chlorophyll NAmE noun [U] the green substance in plants that absorbs light from the sun to help them growsee also PHOTOSYNTHESIS

chloroplast NAmE noun (biology) the structure in plant cells that contains CHLOROPHYLL and in which PHOTOSYNTHESIS takes place

choc NAmE noun (BrE, informal) a chocolate: a box of chocs

chocaholic = CHOCOHOLIC

choccy NAmE noun (pl. -ies) [U, C] (BrE, informal) chocolate; a sweet/candy made of chocolate: a box of choccies

choc ice noun (BrE) a small block of ice cream covered with chocolate

chock-a-block NAmE (also chocka NAmE ) adj. [not before noun] ~ (with sth/sb) (BrE, informal) very full of things or people pressed close together: The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. It was chock-a-block in town today (= full of people).

chock-full NAmE adj. [not before noun] ~ (of sth/sb) (informal) completely full

chocoholic (also chocaholic) NAmE noun (informal) a person who likes chocolate very much and eats a lot of it

chocolate NAmE noun
1 [U] a hard brown sweet food made from COCOA BEANS, used in cooking to add flavour to cakes, etc. or eaten as a sweet/candy: a bar/piece of chocolate a chocolate cake a chocolate factorysee also MILK CHOCOLATE, PLAIN CHOCOLATE
2 [C] a sweet/candy that is made of or covered with chocolate: a box of chocolates
3 [U, C] (BrE) = HOT CHOCOLATE: a mug of drinking chocolatecompare COCOA
4 [U] a dark brown colour

chocolate-box adj. [only before noun] (BrE) (especially of places) very pretty, but in a way that does not seem real: a chocolate-box village

Choctaw NAmE noun (pl. Choctaw or Choctaws) a member of a Native American people, many of whom now live in the US state of Oklahoma

choice noun, adj.
noun
1 [C] ~ (between A and B) an act of choosing between two or more possibilities; something that you can choose: women forced to make a choice between family and career We are faced with a difficult choice. We aim to help students make more informed career choices. Resources are finite, and choices have to be made between competing priorities and needs. There is a wide range of choices open to you. note at OPTION
2 [U, sing.] the right to choose or the possibility of choosing: If I had the choice, I would stop working tomorrow. He had no choice but to leave (= this was the only thing he could do). She's going to do it. She doesn't have much choice, really, does she? This government is committed to extending parental choice in education. After a delicious meal with free wine, the choice is yours: a quiet drink in the bar, the late night disco or a stroll along the beach beneath a starry sky. Sandy had to tell his tale in halting Italian. Since Franco spoke no English, he had no choice in the matter.
3 [C] a person or thing that is chosen: She's the obvious choice for the job. Hawaii remains a popular choice for winter vacation travel. This colour wasn't my first choice. She wouldn't be my choice as manager. I don't like his choice of friends (= the people he chooses as his friends).
4 [sing., U] the number or range of different things from which to choose: The menu has a good choice of desserts. There wasn't much choice of colour.see also HOBSON'S CHOICE, MULTIPLE-CHOICE
by choice because you have chosen: I wouldn't go there by choice.
of choice (for sb/sth) (used after a noun) that is chosen by a particular group of people or for a particular purpose: It's the software of choice for business use.
of your choice that you choose yourself: First prize will be a meal for two at the restaurant of your choice.more at PAY v., SPOILT
adj. (choicer, choicest) [only before noun]
1 (especially of food) of very good quality
2 (NAmE) (of meat) of very good, but not the highest, quality
3 ~ words/phrases carefully chosen words or phrases: She summed up the situation in a few choice phrases. (humorous) He used some pretty choice (= rude or offensive) language.

SYNONYMS

choice

favourite preference selection pick

These are all words for a person or thing that is chosen, or that is liked more than others.

choice a person or thing that is chosen: She's the obvious choice for the job.

favourite/favorite a person or thing that you like more than the others of the same type: Which one's your favourite?

preference a thing that is liked better or best: Tastes and preferences vary from individual to individual.

FAVOURITE OR PREFERENCE?

Your favourites are the things you like best, and that you have, do, listen to, etc. often; your preferences are the things that you would rather have or do if you can choose.

selection a number of people or things that have been chosen from a larger group: A selection of reader's comments are published below.

pick (rather informal especially NAmE) a person or thing that is chosen: She was his pick for best actress.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

sb's choice/favourite/preference/pick for sth

sb's choice/selection/pick as sth

an obvious choice/favourite/selection

a(n) excellent/good/popular/fine choice/selection

choir noun
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who sing together, for example in church services or public performances: She sings in the school choir.
2 [C] the part of a church where the choir sits during services

choirboy NAmE , choirgirl NAmE noun a boy or girl who sings in the choir of a churchsee also CHORISTER

choirmaster NAmE noun a person who trains a CHOIR to sing

choke NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (on sth) to be unable to breathe because the passage to your lungs is blocked or you cannot get enough air; to make sb unable to breathe: [V] He was choking on a piece of toast. She almost choked to death in the thick fumes. [VN] Very small toys can choke a baby.
2 [VN] to make sb stop breathing by squeezing their throat STRANGLE: He may have been choked or poisoned.
3 ~ (with sth) to be unable to speak normally especially because of strong emotion; to make sb feel too emotional to speak normally: [V] His voice was choking with rage. [VN] Despair choked her words. 'I can't bear it,' he said in a choked voice.see also CHOKED
4 [VN] ~ sth (up) (with sth) to block or fill a passage, space, etc. so that movement is difficult: The pond was choked with rotten leaves. The roads are choked up with traffic.
5 [V] (NAmE, informal) to fail at sth, for example because you are nervous
choke sthback to try hard to prevent your feelings from showing: to choke back tears/anger/sobs
choke sthdown to swallow sth with difficulty
choke sthoff
1 to prevent or limit sth: High prices have choked off demand.
2 to interrupt sth; to stop sth: Her screams were suddenly choked off.
choke out| choke out sth to say sth with great difficulty because you feel a strong emotion: He choked out a reply. [+ speech] 'I hate you!' she choked out.
choke up (NAmE) to find it difficult to speak, because of the strong emotion that you are feeling: She choked up when she began to talk about her mother.
noun
1 a device that controls the amount of air flowing into the engine of a vehicle: the choke button If the car won't start, try giving it a bit more choke (= reducing the flow of air into the engine by pulling out the choke).
2 an act or the sound of choking: She gave a little choke of laughter.

choked NAmE adj. [not before noun] ~ up (about sth)| (BrE also) ~ (about sth) (informal) upset or angry about sth, so that you find it difficult to speak

choker NAmE noun a piece of jewellery or narrow band of cloth worn closely around the neck: a pearl choker

chola NAmE noun (from Spanish) a woman from Latin America who has both Spanish and Native American ANCESTORScompare CHOLO

cholera NAmE noun [U] a disease caught from infected water that causes severe DIARRHOEA and VOMITING and often causes death

choleric NAmE adj. (formal) easily made angry BAD-TEMPERED: He was a choleric, self-important little man.

cholesterol NAmE noun [U] a substance found in blood, fat and most TISSUES of the body. Too much cholesterol can cause heart disease: a high cholesterol level

cholo NAmE noun (pl. -os) a person from Latin America who has both Spanish and Native American ANCESTORScompare CHOLA

chomp NAmE verb ~ (on/through sth) to eat or bite food noisily MUNCH: [VN] He chomped his way through two hot dogs. [V] She was chomping away on a bagel.

choo-choo noun (pl. choo-choos) a child's word for a train

chook noun (AustralE, NZE, informal)
1 a chicken
2 an offensive word for an older woman

choose verb (chose NAmE , chosen NAmE )
1 ~ (between A and/or B)| ~ (A) (from B)| ~ sb/sth as sth to decide which thing or person you want out of the ones that are available: [V] You choose, I can't decide. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from. She had to choose between giving up her job or hiring a nanny. [VN] Sarah chose her words carefully. We have to choose a new manager from a shortlist of five candidates. This site has been chosen for the new school. He chose banking as a career. We chose Paul Stubbs as/for chairperson. [V wh-] You'll have to choose whether to buy it or not. [V to inf] We chose to go by train. [VN to inf] We chose Paul Stubbs to be chairperson.
2 to prefer or decide to do sth: [V] Employees can retire at 60 if they choose. [V to inf] Many people choose not to marry.see also CHOICE n.
there is nothing/not much/little to choose between A and B there is very little difference between two or more things or peoplemore at PICK v.

SYNONYMS

choose

select pick opt go for single out

These words all mean to decide which thing or person you want out of the ones that are available.

choose to decide which thing or person you want out of the ones that are available: You chooseI can't decide.

select [often passive] to choose sb/sth, usually carefully, from a group of people or things: He was selected for the team. a randomly selected sample of 23 schools

pick (rather informal) to choose sb/sth from a group of people or things: She picked the best cake for herself.

CHOOSE, SELECT OR PICK?

Choose is the most general of these words and the only one that can be used without an object. When you select sth, you choose it carefully, unless you actually say that it is selected randomly/at random. Pick is a more informal word and often a less careful action, used especially when the choice being made is not very important.

opt to choose to take or not to take a particular course of action: After graduating she opted for a career in music. After a lot of thought, I opted against buying a motorbike.

go for sth (rather informal) to choose sth: I think I'll go for the fruit salad.

single sb/sth out to choose sb/sth from a group for special attention: She was singled out for criticism.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to choose/select/pick/single out A from B

to choose/select/pick between A and/or B

to opt/go for sb/sth

to choose/opt to do sth

to choose/select/pick your words carefully

to choose/select/pick sb/sth carefully/at random

randomly chosen/selected/picked

well chosen/selected

chooser noun see BEGGAR n.

choosy adj. (choosier, choosiest) (informal) careful in choosing; difficult to please FUSSY, PICKY: I'm very choosy about my clothes.

chop NAmE verb, noun
verb (-pp-)
1 ~ sth (up) (into sth) to cut sth into pieces with a sharp tool such as a knife: [VN] Chop the carrots up into small pieces. Add the finely chopped onions. He was chopping logs for firewood. (figurative) The country was chopped up into small administrative areas. [also V]
2 [VN] [usually passive] (informal) to reduce sth by a large amount; to stop sth CUT: The share price was chopped from 50 pence to 20 pence.
3 [VN] to hit sb/sth with a short downward stroke or blow
chop and change (BrE, informal) to keep changing your mind or what you are doing
chop (away) at sth to aim blows at sth with a heavy sharp tool such as an AXE
chop sthdown to make sth, such as a tree, fall by cutting it at the base with a sharp tool
chop sthoff (sth) to remove sth by cutting it with a sharp tool: He chopped a branch off the tree. (informal) Anne Boleyn had her head chopped off.
noun
1 [C] a thick slice of meat with a bone attached to it, especially from a pig or sheep: a pork/lamb chop
2 [C] an act of cutting sth with a quick downward movement using an AXE or a knife: Give the mushrooms a quick chop before adding them to the pan.
3 [C] an act of hitting sb/sth with the side of your hand in a quick downward movement: a karate chop
4 chops [pl.] (informal) the part of a person's or an animal's face around the mouth: The dog sat licking its chops.
get/be given the chop (BrE, informal)
1 (of a person) to be dismissed from a job: The whole department has been given the chop.
2 (of a plan, project, etc.) to be stopped or ended: Three more schemes have got the chop.
be for the chop (BrE, informal)
1 (of a person) to be likely to be dismissed from a job: Who's next for the chop?
2 (of a plan, project, etc.) to be likely to be stopped or ended
not much chop (AustralE, NZE, informal) not very good or useful

chop-chop exclamation (BrE, informal) hurry up!: Chop-chop! We haven't got all day!
From pidgin English based on a Chinese word for 'quick'.

chopper NAmE noun
1 [C] (informal) = HELICOPTER
2 [C] a large heavy knife or small AXE
3 [C] (NAmE) a type of motorcycle with a long piece of metal connecting the front wheel to the HANDLEBARS
4 choppers [pl.] (informal) teeth

chopping board (BrE) (NAmE cutting board) noun a board made of wood or plastic used for cutting meat or vegetables on

choppy NAmE adj. (choppier, choppiest)
1 (of the sea, etc.) with a lot of small waves; not calm: choppy waters
2 (NAmE, disapproving) (of a style of writing) containing a lot of short sentences and changing topics too often

chopstick NAmE noun [usually pl.] either of a pair of thin sticks that are used for eating with, especially in some Asian countries

chop suey NAmE noun [U] a Chinese-style dish of small pieces of meat fried with vegetables and served with rice

choral adj. connected with, written for or sung by a CHOIR (= a group of singers): choral music

chorale NAmE noun
1 a piece of church music sung by a group of singers
2 (especially NAmE) a group of singers; a CHOIR

chord NAmE noun
1 (music) two or more notes played together
2 (mathematics) a straight line that joins two points on a curve see also VOCAL CORDS
strike/touch a chord (with sb) to say or do sth that makes people feel sympathy or enthusiasm: The speaker had obviously struck a chord with his audience.

chore noun
1 a task that you do regularly: doing the household/domestic chores note at TASK
2 an unpleasant or boring task: Shopping's a real chore for me.

chorea noun [U] (medical) a condition in which parts of the body make quick sudden movements that cannot be controlled

choreograph NAmE verb [VN] to design and arrange the steps and movements for dancers in a BALLET or a show: (figurative) There was some carefully choreographed flag-waving as the President drove by.

choreography NAmE noun [U] the art of designing and arranging the steps and movements in dances, especially in BALLET; the steps and movements in a particular ballet or show
choreographer NAmE noun choreographic NAmE adj.

choric BrE adj. (technical) relating to a CHORUS that is spoken in a play, etc.

chorister NAmE noun a person, especially a boy, who sings in the CHOIR of a church

chorizo NAmE noun [U, C] (pl. -os) (from Spanish) a spicy Spanish or Latin American SAUSAGE

chortle NAmE verb to laugh loudly with pleasure or because you are amused: [V] Gill chortled with delight. [also V speech]
chortle noun

chorus noun, verb
noun
1 [C] part of a song that is sung after each VERSE REFRAIN: Everyone joined in the chorus.
2 [C] a piece of music, usually part of a larger work, that is written for a CHOIR (= a group of singers): the Hallelujah Chorus
3 [C+sing./pl. v.] (often in names) a large group of singers CHOIR: the Bath Festival Chorus
4 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of performers who sing and dance in a musical show: the chorus line (= a line of singers and dancers performing together)
5 a ~ of sth [sing.] the sound of a lot of people expressing approval or disapproval at the same time: a chorus of praise/complaint a chorus of voices calling for her resignation A chorus of laughter greeted his remark.see also DAWN CHORUS
6 [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] (in ancient Greek drama) a group of performers who comment together on the events of the play
7 [sing.] (especially in 16th century drama) an actor who speaks the opening and closing words of the play
in chorus all together IN UNISON: 'Thank you,' they said in chorus.
verb to sing or say sth all together: [V speech] 'Hello, Paul,' they chorused. [also VN]

chorus girl noun a girl or young woman who is a member of the chorus in a musical show, etc.

chose pt of CHOOSE

chosen pp of CHOOSE

chough noun a bird of the CROW family, with blue-black feathers and red legs

choux pastry noun [U] a type of very light PASTRY made with eggs

chow noun
1 [U] (slang) food
2 (also chow chow) [C] a dog with long thick hair, a curled tail and a blue-black tongue, originally from China

chowder noun [U] a thick soup made with fish and vegetables: clam chowder

chowk noun (IndE) an open area with a market at a place where two roads meet in a city: Chandni Chowk

chow mein noun [U] a Chinese-style dish of fried NOODLES served with small pieces of meat and vegetables: chicken chow mein

Chrimbo (also Crimbo) NAmE noun [U] (BrE, informal) Christmas

Chrissake (also Chrissakes ) noun [U] (taboo, informal)
for Chrissake a swear word that many people find offensive, used to show that you are angry, annoyed or surprised: For Chrissake, listen!

Christ (also Jesus, Jesus Christ) noun, exclamation
noun the man that Christians believe is the son of God and on whose teachings the Christian religion is based
exclamation (taboo, informal) a swear word that many people find offensive, used to show that you are angry, annoyed or surprised: Christ! Look at the timeI'm late!

christen verb
1 to give a name to a baby at his or her baptism to welcome him or her into the Christian Church: [VN-N] The child was christened Mary. [VN] Did you have your children christened?
2 to give a name to sb/sth: [VN-N] This area has been christened 'Britain's last wilderness'. They christened the boat 'Oceania'. [also VN]
3 [VN] (informal) to use sth for the first time: Let's have a drink to christen our new wine glasses.

Christendom noun [U] (old-fashioned) all the Christian people and countries of the world

christening noun a Christian ceremony in which a baby is officially named and welcomed into the Christian Churchcompare BAPTISM

Christian adj., noun
adj.
1 based on or believing the teachings of Jesus Christ: the Christian Church/faith/religion She had a Christian upbringing. a Christian country
2 connected with Christians: the Christian sector of the city
3 (also christian) showing the qualities that are thought of as typical of a Christian; good and kind
noun a person who believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ or has been BAPTIZED in a Christian church: Only 10% of the population are now practising Christians.

the Christian era noun [sing.] the period of time that begins with the birth of Christ

Christianity noun [U] the religion that is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the belief that he was the son of God

Christian name noun (BrE) (in Western countries) a name given to sb when they are born or when they are CHRISTENED; a personal name, not a family name: We're all on Christian name terms here.

Christian Science noun [U] the beliefs of a religious group called the Church of Christ Scientist, which include the belief that the physical world is not real and that you can cure illness only by prayer
Christian Scientist noun

Christmas noun [U, C]
1 (also Christmas Day) 25 December, the day when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ: Christmas dinner/presentssee also BOXING DAY
2 (also Christmastime) the period that includes Christmas Day and the days close to it: the Christmas holidays/vacation Are you spending Christmas with your family? Happy Christmas! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!see also WHITE CHRISTMAS

Christmas box noun (BrE, old-fashioned) a small gift, usually of money, given at Christmas to sb who provides a service during the year, for example a POSTMAN

Christmas cake noun [C, U] a fruit cake covered with MARZIPAN and ICING, traditionally eaten in Britain at Christmas

Christmas card noun a card with a picture on it that you send to friends and relatives at Christmas with your good wishes

Christmas carol noun = CAROL

Christmas cracker noun = CRACKER

Christmas Eve noun [U, C] the day before Christmas Day, 24 December; the evening of this day

Christmas pudding noun [C, U] a hot PUDDING (= a sweet dish) like a dark fruit cake, traditionally eaten in Britain at Christmas

Christmas stocking (also stocking) noun a long sock which children leave out when they go to bed on Christmas Eve so that it can be filled with presents

Christmassy adj. (informal) typical of Christmas: We put up the decorations and the tree and started to feel Christmassy at last.

Christmastime noun [U, C] = CHRISTMAS (2)

Christmas tree noun an EVERGREEN tree, or an artificial tree that looks similar, that people cover with decorations and coloured lights and have in their homes or outside at Christmas

chroma NAmE noun [U] (technical) the degree to which a colour is pure or strong, or the fact that it is pure or strong

chromakey NAmE noun [U] (technical) a method for adding images over the images on a piece of film
chromakey verb [VN]

chromatic adj. (music) of the chromatic scale, a series of musical notes that rise and fall in SEMITONES/HALF TONEScompare DIATONIC

chromatography NAmE noun [U] (chemistry) the separation of a mixture by passing it through a material through which some parts of the mixture travel further than others
chromatographic NAmE adj.

chrome NAmE noun [U] a hard shiny metal used especially as a covering which protects another metal; chromium or an ALLOY of chromium and other metals: glittering modern buildings of chrome, steel and glass

chrome steel (also chromium steel) noun [U] a hard steel containing CHROMIUM that is used for making tools

chrome yellow noun [U] a bright yellow PIGMENT, used in art

chromium NAmE noun [U] (symb Cr) a chemical element. Chromium is a hard grey metal that shines brightly when polished and is often used to cover other metals in order to prevent them from RUSTING: chromium-plated steel

chromium steel noun [U] = CHROME STEEL

chromosome NAmE noun (biology) one of the very small structures like threads in the NUCLEI (= central parts) of animal and plant cells, that carry the GENES: Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes in their cells.see also SEX CHROMOSOME, X CHROMOSOME, Y CHROMOSOME
chromosomal NAmE adj.: chromosomal abnormalities

chronic NAmE adj.
1 (especially of a disease) lasting for a long time; difficult to cure or get rid of: chronic bronchitis/arthritis/asthma the country's chronic unemployment problem a chronic shortage of housing in rural areas ACUTE
2 having had a disease for a long time: a chronic alcoholic/depressive
3 (BrE, informal) very bad: The film was just chronic.
chronically NAmE adv.: a hospital for the chronically ill

chronic fatigue syndrome noun [U] = ME

chronicle NAmE noun, verb
noun a written record of events in the order in which they happened: the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Her latest novel is a chronicle of life in a Devon village.
verb [VN] (formal) to record events in the order in which they happened: Her achievements are chronicled in a new biography out this week.
chronicler NAmE noun

chrono- NAmE combining form (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) connected with time: chronological

chronograph NAmE noun
1 a device for recording time extremely accurately
2 a STOPWATCH

chronological NAmE adj.
1 (of a number of events) arranged in the order in which they happened: The facts should be presented in chronological order.
2 ~ age (formal) the number of years a person has lived as opposed to their level of physical, mental or emotional developmentcompare MENTAL AGE
chronologically adv.

chronology NAmE noun (pl. -ies) [U, C] the order in which a series of events happened; a list of these events in order: Historians seem to have confused the chronology of these events. a chronology of Mozart's life

chronometer NAmE noun a very accurate clock, especially one used at sea

chrysalis noun (also chrysalid) the form of an insect, especially a BUTTERFLY or MOTH, while it is changing into an adult inside a hard case, also called a chrysaliscompare PUPA

chrysanthemum noun a large, brightly coloured garden flower that is shaped like a ball and made up of many long narrow PETALS

chub noun (pl. chub) a FRESHWATER fish with a thick body

chubby adj. slightly fat in a way that people usually find attractive: chubby cheeks/fingers/hands She was eleven years old and pretty in a chubby sort of way.
chubbiness noun [U]

chuck verb, noun
verb (informal)
1 (especially BrE) to throw sth carelessly or without much thought: [VN, usually + adv. / prep.] He chucked the paper in a drawer. [VNN] Chuck me the newspaper, would you? note at THROW [also V]
2 [VN] ~ sth (in/up) to give up or stop doing sth: You haven't chucked your job! I'm going to chuck it all in (= give up my job) and go abroad.
3 [VN] (BrE) to leave your boyfriend or girlfriend and stop having a relationship with him or her: Has he chucked her?
4 [VN] (informal) to throw sth away: That's no goodjust chuck it.
chuck sb under the chin (old-fashioned, BrE) to touch sb gently under the chin in a friendly way
it's chucking it down (BrE, informal) it's raining heavily
chuck sthaway| chuck sthout to throw sth away: Those old clothes can be chucked out.
chuck sb off (sth)| chuck sb out (of sth) to force sb to leave a place or a job: They got chucked off the bus. You can't just chuck him out.
noun
1 [C] a part of a tool such as a DRILL that can be adjusted to hold sth tightly
2 [sing.] (NEngE, informal) a friendly way of addressing sb: What's up with you, chuck?
3 (also chuck steak) [U] meat from the shoulder of a cow

chucker out noun (BrE, informal) a person employed to make people leave a social event if they have not been invited or if they cause trouble

chuckle verb ~ (at/about sth) to laugh quietly: [V] She chuckled at the memory. [also V speech]
chuckle noun: She gave a chuckle of delight.

chuffed adj. [not before noun] ~ (about sth) (BrE, informal) very pleased: He was chuffed to bits to learn that he had won.

chuffing adj. (BrE, slang) a mild swear word that some people use when they are annoyed, to avoid saying 'fucking': The whole chuffing world's gone mad.

chug verb, noun
verb (-gg-)
1 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to move making the sound of an engine running slowly: The boat chugged down the river.
2 [VN] (NAmE, slang) to drink all of sth quickly without stopping
noun the sound made by a chugging engine

chukka noun one of the periods of 7½ minutes into which a game of POLO is divided

chum noun (old-fashioned, informal) a friend: an old school chum

chummy adj. (old-fashioned, informal) very friendly
chummily adv. chumminess noun [U]

chump noun (old-fashioned, informal) a stupid person: Don't be such a chump!

chunder verb [V] (BrE, informal) to VOMIT
chunder noun [U]

chunk noun
1 a thick solid piece that has been cut or broken off sth: a chunk of cheese/masonry
2 (informal) a fairly large amount of sth: I've already written a fair chunk of the article.
3 (linguistics) a phrase or group of words which can be learnt as a unit by sb who is learning a language. Examples of chunks are 'Can I have the bill, please?' and 'Pleased to meet you'. see BLOW v.

chunking noun [U] (linguistics) the use of chunks (3) in language

chunky adj. (chunkier, chunkiest)
1 thick and heavy: a chunky gold bracelet (BrE) a chunky sweater
2 having a short strong body: a squat chunky man
3 (of food) containing thick pieces: chunky marmalade

chunter verb [V] ~ (on) (about sth) (BrE, informal) to talk or complain about sth in a way that other people think is boring or annoying WITTER: He's always chuntering on about something or other.

church NAmE noun
1 [C] a building where Christians go to worship: a church tower The procession moved into the church. church services
2 [U] a service or services in a church: How often do you go to church? (BrE) They're at church (= attending a church service). (NAmE) They're in church. Church is at 9 o'clock. note at SCHOOL
3 Church [C] a particular group of Christians: the Anglican Church the Catholic Church the Free Churchessee also DENOMINATION
4 (the) Church [sing.] the ministers of the Christian religion; the institution of the Christian religion: The Church has a duty to condemn violence. the conflict between Church and State to go into the Church (= to become a Christian minister) see BROAD adj.

churchgoer NAmE noun a person who goes to church services regularly
churchgoing noun [U]

churchman NAmE , churchwoman NAmE noun (pl. -men , -women ) = CLERGYMAN, CLERGYWOMAN

the Church of England noun (abbr. CE, C. of E.) [sing.] the official Church in England, whose leader is the Queen or King

the Church of Scotland noun [sing.] the official (Presbyterian) Church in Scotland

churchwarden NAmE noun (in the Anglican Church) a person who is chosen by the members of a church to take care of church property and money

churchy NAmE adj. (churchier, churchiest) (disapproving) (of a person) religious in a way that involves going to church, PRAYING, etc. a lot, but often not accepting other people's views

churchyard NAmE noun an area of land around a church, often used for burying people incompare CEMETERY, GRAVEYARD

churidar noun tight trousers worn with a KAMEEZ or KURTA

churl NAmE noun (old-fashioned) a rude unpleasant person

churlish NAmE adj. (formal) rude or bad-tempered: It would be churlish to refuse such a generous offer.
churlishly adv. churlishness noun [U]

churn NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (sth) (up) if water, mud, etc. churns, or if sth churns it (up), it moves or is moved around violently: [V] The water churned beneath the huge ship. [VN] Vast crowds had churned the field into a sea of mud.
2 if your stomach churns or if sth churns your stomach, you feel a strong, unpleasant feeling of worry, disgust or fear: [V] My stomach churned as the names were read out. [also VN]
3 ~ (sb) (up) to feel or to make sb feel upset or emotionally confused: [V] Conflicting emotions churned inside him. [also VN]
4 [VN] to turn and stir milk in a special container in order to make butter
churn sthout (informal, often disapproving) to produce sth quickly and in large amounts: She churns out novels at the rate of three a year.
noun
1 a machine in which milk or cream is shaken to make butter
2 (BrE) a large metal container in which milk was carried from a farm in the past

chute noun
1 a tube or passage down which people or things can slide: a water chute (= at a swimming pool) a laundry/rubbish/garbage chute (= from the upper floors of a high building)
2 (informal) = PARACHUTE

Chutes and LaddersTMnoun [U] (US) a children's game played on a special board with pictures of chutes and ladders on it. Players move their pieces up the ladders to go forward and down the chutes to go back.see also SNAKES AND LADDERS

chutney noun [U] a cold thick sauce made from fruit, sugar, spices, and VINEGAR, eaten with cold meat, cheese, etc.

chutzpah noun [U] (often approving) behaviour, or a person's attitude, that is rude or shocking but so confident that people may feel forced to admire it NERVE

Ci abbr. CURIE(S)

CIA abbr. Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA is a department of the US government which collects information about other countries, often secretly.

ciabatta noun [U, C] (from Italian) a type of Italian bread made in a long flat shape; a SANDWICH made with this type of bread

ciao exclamation (from Italian, informal) goodbye

cicada NAmE noun a large insect with transparent wings, common in hot countries. The male makes a continuous high sound after dark by making two MEMBRANES (= pieces of thin skin) on its body VIBRATE (= move very fast): Cicadas buzzed in the heat of the day.

CID abbr. Criminal Investigation Department. The CID is the department of the British police force that is responsible for solving crimes.

-cide combining form (in nouns)
1 the act of killing: suicide genocide
2 a person or thing that kills: insecticide
-cidal (in adjectives): homicidal

cider noun
1 (BrE) (NAmE hard cider) [U, C] an alcoholic drink made from the juice of apples: dry/sweet cider cider apples a cider press (= for squeezing the juice from apples)
2 (NAmE) [U, C] a drink made from the juice of apples that does not contain alcohol
3 [C] a glass of cidercompare PERRY

cigar noun a roll of dried TOBACCO leaves that people smoke, like a cigarette but bigger and without paper around it: cigar smoke see CLOSE adj.

cigarette NAmE noun a thin tube of paper filled with TOBACCO, for smoking: a packet/pack of cigarettes to light a cigarette

cigarette end (BrE) (also cigarette butt NAmE, BrE) noun the part of a cigarette that is left when sb has finished smoking it

cigarette holder noun a narrow tube for holding a cigarette in while you are smoking

cigarette lighter noun = LIGHTER

cigarette paper noun a thin piece of paper in which people roll TOBACCO to make their own cigarettes

cigarillo NAmE noun (pl. -os) a small CIGAR

ciggy noun (pl. -ies) (informal) a cigarette

cilantro NAmE noun [U] (NAmE) the leaves of the CORIANDER plant, used in cooking as a HERB

ciliary muscle noun (anatomy) a muscle in the eye that controls how much the LENS curves

cimbalom (also cymbalom) noun a large musical instrument that consists of a board or box over which strings of different lengths are stretched, that you play with your fingers or with two small hammers

C.-in-C. abbr. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

cinch noun, verb
noun [sing.] (informal)
1 something that is very easy DODDLE: The first question is a cinch.
2 (especially NAmE) a thing that is certain to happen; a person who is certain to do sth: He's a cinch to win the race.
verb [VN]
1 (especially NAmE) to fasten sth tightly around your waist; to be fastened around sb's waist
2 (NAmE) to fasten a GIRTH around a horse
3 (NAmE, informal) to make sth certain

cinder noun [usually pl.] a small piece of ASH or partly burnt coal, wood, etc. that is no longer burning but may still be hot: The logs had turned into blackened cinders. a cinder track (= a track for runners made with finely crushed cinders) see BURN v.

cinder block noun (NAmE) = BREEZE BLOCK

Cinderella noun [usually sing.] a person or thing that has been ignored and deserves to receive more attention: For years radio has been the Cinderella of the media world.
From the European fairy tale about a beautiful girl, Cinderella, who was treated in a cruel way by her two ugly sisters. She had to do all the work and received no reward or thanks until she met and married Prince Charming.

cine adj. [only before noun] (BrE) connected with films/movies and the film/movie industry: a cine camera/film/photographer

cineaste (also cineast) noun (from French) a person who knows a lot about films/movies and is very enthusiastic about them

cinema noun
1 (BrE) (NAmE movie theater, theater) [C] a building in which films/movies are shown: the local cinema
2 the cinema [sing.] (BrE) (NAmE the movies [pl.]) when you go to the cinema or to the movies, you go to a cinema/movie theater to see a film/movie: I used to go to the cinema every week.
3 [U, sing.] (especially BrE) (NAmE usually the movies [pl.]) films/movies as an art or an industry: one of the great successes of British cinema

cinema-goer noun (BrE) = FILM-GOER

CinemaScopeTM NAmE noun a method of showing films/movies which makes the picture on the screen very wide

cinematic adj. (technical) connected with films/movies and how they are made: cinematic effects/techniques

cinematography NAmE noun [U] (technical) the art or process of making films/movies
cinematographer NAmE noun cinematographic adj.

cinéma-vérité (also ciné-vérité ) noun [U] (from French) a style of making films/movies which are about real life or are very realistic

cinephile noun a person who is very interested in films/movies

cinnabar noun [U]
1 a bright red mineral that is sometimes used to give colour to things
2 the bright red colour of cinnabar

cinnamon noun [U] the inner BARK of a SE Asian tree, used in cooking as a spice, especially to give flavour to sweet foods: cinnamon sticks ground cinnamon

cipher (also cypher) noun
1 [U, C] a secret way of writing, especially one in which a set of letters or symbols is used to represent others CODE: a message in ciphersee also DECIPHER
2 [C] (formal, disapproving) a person or thing of no importance: To her employers she was a mere cipher, with no human feelings at all.
3 (BrE) the first letters of sb's name combined in a design and used to mark things: The glasses were engraved with the Queen's cipher.

circa /sk; NAmE srk/ prep. (from Latin) (abbr. c) (used with dates) about: born circa 150 BC

circadian NAmE adj. [only before noun] (technical) connected with the changes in the bodies of people or animals over each period of 24 hours: Jet lag occurs because jet travel ignores the circadian timekeeper.

circle NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a completely round flat shape: Cut out two circles of paper. see also SEMICIRCLE
2 the line that forms the edge of a circle: Draw a circle. She walked the horse round in a circle.see also ANTARCTIC CIRCLE, ARCTIC CIRCLE, TURNING CIRCLE
3 a thing or a group of people or things shaped like a circle: a circle of trees/chairs The children stood in a circle.see also CORN CIRCLE, CROP CIRCLE
4 (BrE) (also balcony NAmE, BrE) an upper floor of a theatre or cinema/movie theater where the seats are arranged in curved rows: We had seats in the circle.see also DRESS CIRCLE
5 a group of people who are connected because they have the same interests, jobs, etc.: the family circle She's well known in theatrical circles. a large circle of friendssee also CHARMED CIRCLE, INNER CIRCLE, VICIOUS CIRCLE
come, turn, etc. full circle to return to the situation in which you started, after a series of events or experiences
go round in circles to work hard at sth or discuss sth without making any progress
run round in circles (informal) to be busy doing sth without achieving anything important or making progress
verb
1 ~ (around) (above/over sb/sth) to move in a circle, especially in the air: [V] Seagulls circled around above his head. He flew lower and circled around the lake. [VN] The plane circled the airport to burn up excess fuel.
2 [VN] to draw a circle around sth: Spelling mistakes are circled in red ink.

circlet NAmE noun a round band made of PRECIOUS METAL, flowers, etc., worn around the head for decoration

circuit NAmE noun
1 a line, route, or journey around a place: The race ended with eight laps of a city centre circuit. The earth takes a year to make a circuit of (= go around) the sun.
2 the complete path of wires and equipment along which an electric current flows: an electrical circuit a circuit diagram (= one showing all the connections in the different parts of the circuit)see also INTEGRATED CIRCUIT, PRINTED CIRCUIT, SHORT CIRCUIT
3 (in sport) a series of games or matches in which the same players regularly take part: the women's tennis circuit
4 a track for cars or motorcycles to race around
5 a series of places or events of a particular kind at which the same people appear or take part: the lecture/cabaret circuitsee also CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION
6 a regular journey made by a judge to hear court cases in each of the courts of law in a particular area: a circuit judge

circuit board noun a board that holds electrical circuits inside a piece of electrical equipment

circuit-breaker noun a device that can automatically stop an electric current if it becomes dangerous

circuitous NAmE adj. (formal) (of a route or journey) long and not direct ROUNDABOUT: He took us on a circuitous route to the hotel. The journey was circuitous and slow.
circuitously adv.

circuitry NAmE noun [U] a system of electrical CIRCUITS or the equipment that forms this

circuit training noun [U] a type of training in sport in which different exercises are each done for a short time

circular NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 shaped like a circle; round: a circular building
2 moving around in a circle: a circular tour of the city Using small circular movements, massage the muscles on either side of the spine.
3 (of an argument or a theory) using an idea or a statement to prove sth which is then used to prove the idea or statement at the beginning
4 (of a letter) sent to a large number of people
circularity NAmE noun [U]: There is a dangerous circularity about this argument.
noun a printed letter, notice or advertisement that is sent to a large number of people at the same time

circular saw (NAmE also buzz saw) noun a SAW in the form of a metal disc that turns quickly, driven by a motor, and is used for cutting wood, etc.

circulate NAmE verb
1 when a liquid, gas, or air circulates or is circulated, it moves continuously around a place or system: [V] The condition prevents the blood from circulating freely. [VN] Cooled air is circulated throughout the building.
2 if a story, an idea, information, etc. circulates or if you circulate it, it spreads or it is passed from one person to another: [V] Rumours began to circulate about his financial problems. [also VN]
3 [VN] ~ sth (to sb) to send goods or information to all the people in a group: The document will be circulated to all members.
4 [V] to move around a group, especially at a party, talking to different people

circulation NAmE noun
1 the movement of blood around the body: Regular exercise will improve blood circulation. to have good/bad circulation
2 [U] the passing or spreading of sth from one person or place to another: the circulation of money/information/ideas A number of forged tickets are in circulation. The coins were taken out of circulation. Copies of the magazine were withdrawn from circulation. putting computer viruses into circulation
3 [U] the fact that sb takes part in social activities at a particular time: Anne has been ill but now she's back in circulation. I was out of circulation for months after the baby was born.
4 [C, usually sing.] the usual number of copies of a newspaper or magazine that are sold each day, week, etc.: a daily circulation of more than one million
5 [U, C] the movement of sth (for example air, water, gas, etc.) around an area or inside a system or machine: Poor air circulation can cause condensation.

circulatory NAmE adj. relating to the circulation of the blood: the circulatory system

circumcise NAmE verb [VN]
1 to remove the FORESKIN of a boy or man for religious or medical reasons
2 to cut off part of the sex organs of a girl or woman

circumcision NAmE noun [U, C] the act of circumcising sb; the religious ceremony when sb, especially a baby, is circumcised

circumference NAmE noun [C, U] a line that goes around a circle or any other curved shape; the length of this line: the circumference of the earth The earth is almost 25 000 miles in circumference. compare PERIMETER

circumflex NAmE (also circumflex accent) noun the mark placed over a vowel in some languages to show how it should be pronounced, as over the o in rôlecompare ACUTE ACCENT, GRAVE^2, TILDE, UMLAUT

circumlocution NAmE noun [U, C] (formal) using more words than are necessary, instead of speaking or writing in a clear, direct way
circumlocutory NAmE adj.

circumnavigate NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to sail all the way around sth, especially all the way around the world
circumnavigation NAmE noun [U]: the circumnavigation of the globe

circumscribe NAmE verb [VN]
1 [often passive] (formal) to limit sb/sth's freedom, rights, power, etc. RESTRICT: The power of the monarchy was circumscribed by the new law.
2 (technical) to draw a circle around another shape
circumscription NAmE noun [U]

circumspect NAmE adj. (formal) thinking very carefully about sth before doing it, because there may be risks involved CAUTIOUS: He was very circumspect in his financial affairs.
circumspection NAmE noun [U] circumspectly adv.

circumstance NAmE noun
1 [C, usually pl.] the conditions and facts that are connected with and affect a situation, an event or an action: The company reserves the right to cancel this agreement in certain circumstances. changing social and political circumstances I know I can trust her in any circumstance. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the boy's death. The ship sank in mysterious circumstances. She never discovered the true circumstances of her birth. note at SITUATION
2 circumstances [pl.] the conditions of a person's life, especially the money they have: Grants are awarded according to your financial circumstances. family/domestic/personal circumstances
3 [U] (formal) situations and events that affect and influence your life and that are not in your control: a victim of circumstance (= a person who has suffered because of a situation that they cannot control) He had to leave the country through force of circumstance (= events made it necessary). We were simply thrown together by circumstance on the long journey.
in/under the circumstances used before or after a statement to show that you have thought about the conditions that affect a situation before making a decision or a statement: Under the circumstances, it seemed better not to tell him about the accident. She did the job very well in the circumstances.
in/under no circumstances used to emphasize that sth should never happen or be allowed: Under no circumstances should you lend Paul any money. Don't open the door, in any circumstances.more at POMP, REDUCE

circumstantial NAmE adj.
1 (law) containing information and details that strongly suggest that sth is true but do not prove it: circumstantial evidence The case against him was largely circumstantial.
2 (formal) connected with particular circumstances: Their problems were circumstantial rather than personal.

circumvent NAmE verb [VN] (formal)
1 to find a way of avoiding a difficulty or a rule: They found a way of circumventing the law.
2 to go or travel around sth that is blocking your way
circumvention NAmE noun [U]

circus NAmE noun
1 [C] a group of entertainers, sometimes with trained animals, who perform skilful or amusing acts in a show that travels around to different places
2 the circus [sing.] a show performed by circus entertainers, usually in a large tent called a BIG TOP: We took the children to the circus.
3 [sing.] (informal, disapproving) a group of people or an event that attracts a lot of attention: A media circus surrounded the royal couple wherever they went. the American electoral circus
4 [C] (BrE) (used in some place names) a round open area in a town where several streets meet: Piccadilly Circus
5 [C] (in ancient Rome) a place like a big round outdoor theatre for public games, races, etc.

cirque NAmE noun = CORRIE

cirrhosis NAmE noun a serious disease of the LIVER, caused especially by drinking too much alcohol

cirrocumulus NAmE noun (technical) a broken layer of small clouds

cirrostratus NAmE noun (technical) a thin layer of fairly flat clouds very high up in the sky

cirrus noun [U] (technical) a type of light cloud that forms high in the sky

CIS abbr. Commonwealth of Independent States (a group of independent countries that were part of the Soviet Union until 1991)

cissy (BrE) = SISSY

cistern NAmE noun (BrE) a container in which water is stored in a building, especially one in the roof or connected to a toilet

citadel noun (in the past) a castle on high ground in or near a city where people could go when the city was being attacked: (figurative) citadels of private economic power

citation noun
1 [C] words or lines taken from a book or a speech QUOTATION
2 [C] an official statement about sth special that sb has done, especially about acts of courage in a war: a citation for bravery
3 [U] (formal) an act of citing or being cited: Space does not permit the citation of the examples.
4 [C] (NAmE) = SUMMONS: The judge issued a contempt citation against the woman for violating a previous court order.

cite verb [VN] (formal)
1 ~ sth (as sth) to mention sth as a reason or an example, or in order to support what you are saying: He cited his heavy workload as the reason for his breakdown. note at MENTION
2 to speak or write the exact words from a book, an author, etc. QUOTE: She cited a passage from the President's speech.
3 (law) to order sb to appear in court; to name sb officially in a legal case: He was cited for contempt of court. She was cited in the divorce proceedings.
4 ~ sb (for sth) to mention sb officially or publicly because they deserve special praise: He was cited for bravery.

citified adj. (usually disapproving) characteristic of a city: his citified surroundings

citizen noun
1 a person who has the legal right to belong to a particular country: She's Italian by birth but is now an Australian citizen. British citizens living in other parts of the European Union
2 a person who lives in a particular place: the citizens of Budapest When you're old, people treat you like a second-class citizen.see also SENIOR CITIZENcompare SUBJECT (6)

citizenry noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] (formal) (less formal in NAmE) all the citizens of a particular town, country, etc.

citizen's arrest noun an arrest made by a member of the public, not by the police

Citizens' Band noun [U] = CB

citizenship noun [U]
1 the legal right to belong to a particular country: French citizenship You can apply for citizenship after five years' residency.
2 the state of being a citizen and accepting the responsibilities of it: an education that prepares young people for citizenship

citric adj. relating to fruit such as lemons, oranges and LIMES: a citric flavour

citric acid noun [U] a weak acid found in the juice of lemons and other sour fruits

citron noun [C, U] a yellow fruit like a large lemon

citronella noun [U] a type of grass from which an oil used in PERFUMES and soap is obtained

citrus noun [U] fruit belonging to the group of fruit that includes oranges, lemons, LIMES and GRAPEFRUIT: citrus fruit/trees/growers fabric in bright citrus shades (= orange, yellow or green)

cittern NAmE noun an early type of musical instrument with strings, played like a GUITAR

city noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a large and important town: the city centre one of the world's most beautiful cities a major city the country's capital city Mexico City Manchester City Football Clubsee also INNER CITY
2 [C] (BrE) a town that has been given special rights by a king or queen, usually one that has a CATHEDRAL: the city of York
3 [C] (NAmE) a town that has been given special rights by the state government
4 [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] all the people who live in a city: The city turned out to welcome the victorious team home.
5 the City [sing.] (BrE) Britain's financial and business centre, in the oldest part of London: a City stockbroker What is the City's reaction to the cut in interest rates?
6 [U] (informal) used after other nouns to say that a place is full of a particular thing: It's not exactly fun city here is it? cardboard city (= full of people living in cardboard boxes because they have nowhere else to live) see FREEDOM

the City and Guilds Institute noun [sing.] (in Britain) an organization that gives qualifications in technical subjects and practical skills

city desk noun
1 (BrE) the department of a newspaper that deals with financial news
2 (NAmE) the department of a newspaper that deals with local news

city editor noun
1 (BrE) a journalist who is responsible for financial news in a newspaper or magazine
2 (NAmE) a journalist who is responsible for local news in a newspaper or magazine

city father noun [usually pl.] a person with experience of governing a city

city gent noun (BrE, informal) a business person, especially a man who works in the financial area of London

city hall noun [C, U] (NAmE) the local government of a city and the offices it uses: Protesters marched to City Hall.

cityscape noun the appearance of a city or urban area, especially in a picture; a picture of a city

city slicker noun (informal, often disapproving) a person who behaves in a way that is typical of people who live in big cities

city state noun (especially in the past) an independent state consisting of a city and the area around it (for example, Athens in ancient times)

civet noun
1 [C] a wild animal like a cat, that lives in central Africa and Asia
2 [U] a substance with a strong smell, obtained from a civet, and used in making PERFUME

civic adj. [usually before noun]
1 officially connected with a town or city: civic buildings/leaders
2 connected with the people who live in a town or city: a sense of civic pride (= pride that people feel for their town or city) civic duties/responsibilities

civic centre noun
1 (BrE) the area where the public buildings are, in a town
2 civic center (NAmE) a large building where public entertainments and meetings are held: Atlanta Civic Center

civic holiday noun (CanE) a holiday that is taken on the first Monday in August in all of Canada apart from Quebec, Alberta and Prince Edward Island

civics noun [U] (especially NAmE) the school subject which studies the way government works and deals with the rights and duties that you have as a citizen and a member of a particular society

civil adj.
1 [only before noun] connected with the people who live in a country: civil unrest (= that is caused by groups of people within a country)see also CIVIL WAR
2 [only before noun] connected with the state rather than with religion or with the armed forces: a civil marriage ceremony
3 [only before noun] involving personal legal matters and not criminal law: a civil courtcompare CRIMINALsee also CIVIL LAW
4 polite in a formal way but possibly not friendly: The less time I have to spend being civil to him the better! UNCIVIL
civilly adv.: She greeted him civilly but with no sign of affection.

civil defence (BrE) (NAmE civil defense) noun [U] the organization and training of ordinary people to protect themselves from attack during a war or, in the US, from natural disasters such as HURRICANES

civil disobedience noun [U] refusal by a large group of people to obey particular laws or pay taxes, usually as a form of peaceful political protest

civil engineering noun [U] the design, building and repair of roads, bridges, CANALS, etc.; the study of this as a subject
civil engineer noun

civilian noun a person who is not a member of the armed forces or the police: Two soldiers and one civilian were killed in the explosion.
civilian adj. [usually before noun]: He left the army and returned to civilian life.compare MILITARY

civility noun (formal)
1 [U] polite behaviour: Staff members are trained to treat customers with civility at all times.
2 civilities [pl.] remarks that are said only in order to be polite: She didn't waste time on civilities.

civilization (BrE also -isation) NAmE noun
1 [U] a state of human society that is very developed and organized: the technology of modern civilization The Victorians regarded the railways as bringing progress and civilization.
2 [U, C] a society, its culture and its way of life during a particular period of time or in a particular part of the world: the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome diseases that are common in Western civilization
3 [U] all the people in the world and the societies they live in, considered as a whole: Environmental damage threatens the whole of civilization.
4 [U] (often humorous) a place that offers you the comfortable way of life of a modern society: It's good to be back in civilization after two weeks in a tent!

civilize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to educate and improve a person or a society; to make sb's behaviour or manners better: The girls in a class tend to have a civilizing influence on the boys.

civilized (BrE also -ised) adj.
1 well-organized socially with a very developed culture and way of life: the civilized world rising crime in our so-called civilized societies civilized peoples
2 having laws and customs that are fair and morally acceptable: No civilized country should allow such terrible injustices.
3 having or showing polite and reasonable behaviour: We couldn't even have a civilized conversation any more.
4 typical of a comfortable and pleasant way of life: Breakfast on the terracehow civilized! Let's go somewhere civilized and have a meal. UNCIVILIZED

civil law noun [U] law that deals with the rights of private citizens rather than with crime

civil liberty noun [C, usually pl., U] the right of people to be free to say or do what they want while respecting others and staying within the law: an infringement of our civil liberties

the Civil List noun [sing.] a sum of money that is given to the British royal family each year by Parliament

civil marriage noun a marriage with no religious ceremony

civil partnership noun a relationship between two people of the same sex, recognized as having the same legal status as a marriage between a man and a woman

civil rights noun [pl.] the rights that every person in a society has, for example to be treated equally, to be able to vote, work, etc. whatever their sex, race or religion: the civil rights leader Martin Luther King civil rights for disabled people

the civil rights movement noun [sing.] (in the US) the campaign in the 1950s and 1960s to change the laws so that African Americans have the same rights as others

civil servant noun a person who works in the civil service

the civil service noun [sing.] the government departments in a country, except the armed forces, and the people who work for them: He had a long career in the civil service.

civil war noun
1 [C, U] a war between groups of people in the same country: the Spanish Civil War 30 years of bitter civil war
2 the Civil War the war fought in the US between the northern and the southern states in the years 1861 to 1865

civvies noun [pl.] (slang) (used by people in the armed forces) ordinary clothes, not military uniform

Civvy Street noun [U] (old-fashioned, BrE, slang) ordinary life outside the armed forces

CJD abbr. CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASEsee also NEW VARIANT CJD

cl abbr. (pl. cl or cls) CENTILITRE: 75cl

clack verb [V] if two hard objects clack, they make a short loud sound when they hit each other: Her heels clacked on the marble floor.
clack noun [sing.]: the clack of high heels on the floor the click-clack of her knitting needles

clad adj. (usually formal)
1 ~ (in sth) (often used after an adverb or in compounds) wearing a particular type of clothing DRESSED: She was clad in blue velvet. warmly/scantily clad leather-clad motorcyclists
2 -clad (in compounds) covered in a particular thing: snow-clad hills

cladding noun [U] a covering of a hard material, used as protection

claim verb, noun
verb
SAY STH IS TRUE
1 to say that sth is true although it has not been proved and other people may not believe it: [V (that)] He claims (that) he was not given a fair hearing. [V to inf] I don't claim to be an expert. [VN] Scientists are claiming a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer. [VN that] It was claimed that some doctors were working 80 hours a week. [also V speech, VN to inf]
DEMAND LEGAL RIGHT
2 [VN] to demand or ask for sth because you believe it is your legal right to own or to have it: A lot of lost property is never claimed. He claimed political asylum.
MONEY
3 to ask for money from the government or a company because you have a right to it: [VN] He's not entitled to claim unemployment benefit. She claimed damages from the company for the injury she had suffered. You could have claimed the cost of the hotel room from your insurance. [V] You can claim on your insurance for that coat you left on the train.
ATTENTION/THOUGHT
4 [VN] to get or take sb's attention: A most unwelcome event claimed his attention.
GAIN/WIN
5 [VN] to gain, win or achieve sth: She has finally claimed a place on the team.
CAUSE DEATH
6 [VN] (of a disaster, an accident, etc.) to cause sb's death: The car crash claimed three lives.
claim sthback to ask or demand to have sth returned because you have a right to it: You can claim back the tax on your purchases.
noun
SAYING STH IS TRUE
1 [C] ~ (that ... ) a statement that sth is true although it has not been proved and other people may not agree with or believe it: The singer has denied the magazine's claim that she is leaving the band. a report examining claims of corrupt links between politicians
LEGAL RIGHT
2 [C, U] ~ (on/to sth) a right that sb believes they have to sth, especially property, land, etc.: They had no claim on the land. She has more claim to the book's success than anybody (= she deserves to be praised for it).
FOR MONEY
3 [C] ~ (for sth) a request for a sum of money that you believe you have a right to, especially from a company, the government, etc.: You can make a claim on your insurance policy. to put in a claim for an allowance a claim for £2 000 Make sure your claims for expenses are submitted by the end of the month. a three per cent pay claim Complete a claim form (= an official document which you must use in order to request money from an organization).
claim to fame (often humorous) one thing that makes a person or place important or interesting: His main claim to fame is that he went to school with the Prime Minister. The town's only claim to fame is the castle.
have a claim on sb to have the right to demand time, attention, etc. from sb: You have no claim on me any more.
lay claim to sth to state that you have a right to own sth: He laid claim to the property.
make no claim used when you are saying that you cannot do sth: I make no claim to understand modern art.more at STAKE v.

SYNONYMS

claim

allegation assertion contention

These are all words for a statement that sth is true, although it has not been proved.

claim a statement that sth is true, although it has not been proved.

allegation (rather formal) a public statement that is made without giving proof, accusing sb of doing sth that is wrong or illegal.

assertion (rather formal) a statement of sth that you strongly believe to be true, although it has not been proved.

CLAIM OR ASSERTION?

When the point in doubt is a matter of opinion, not fact, use assertion: She made sweeping claims about the role of women in society. When you are talking about a matter of fact you can use either word; an assertion may be slightly stronger than a claim and it is a more formal word.

contention (formal) a belief or opinion that you express, especially in an argument.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

a(n) claim/allegation/assertion/contention that

a(n) claim/allegation/assertion about/of sth

false/unfounded/conflicting claims/allegations/assertions/contentions

to make/challenge/withdraw a(n) claim/allegation/assertion/contention

claimant noun
1 a person who claims sth because they believe they have a right to it: a claimant to the throne
2 (BrE) a person who is receiving money from the state because they are unemployed, etc.: sickness benefit claimants

clairvoyance NAmE noun [U] the power that some people are believed to have to be able to see future events or to communicate with people who are dead or far away
clairvoyant NAmE noun: to consult a clairvoyant clairvoyant adj.

clam
noun a SHELLFISH that can be eaten. It has a shell in two parts that can open and close: clam chowder/soup The moment I mentioned the children he closed up like a clam (= became silent and refused to discuss the topic).
verb (-mm-)
clam up (on sb) (informal) to refuse to speak, especially when sb asks you about sth

clambake noun (NAmE) an outdoor party, especially for eating clams and other SEAFOOD

clamber verb [V + adv. / prep.] to climb or move with difficulty or a lot of effort, using your hands and feet SCRAMBLE: The children clambered up the steep bank.

clammy adj. damp in an unpleasant way: His skin felt cold and clammy. clammy hands

clamour (BrE) (NAmE clamor) verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (for sth) (formal) to demand sth loudly: [V] People began to clamour for his resignation. [V to inf] Everyone was clamouring to know how much they would get. [V speech] 'Play with us!' the children clamoured.
2 [V] (of many people) to shout loudly, especially in a confused way: A crowd of reporters clamoured around the car.
noun [sing., U] (formal)
1 a loud noise especially one that is made by a lot of people or animals: the clamour of the market the incessant clamour of monkeys and birds
2 ~ (for sth) a demand for sth made by a lot of people: The clamour for her resignation grew louder.
clamorous adj.

clamp verb, noun
verb
1 ~ A to B| ~ A and B (together) to hold sth tightly, or fasten two things together, with a clamp: [VN] Clamp one end of the plank to the edge of the table. Clamp the two halves together until the glue dries. [also VN-ADJ]
2 [+adv./prep.] to hold or fasten sth very tightly so that it does not move; to be held tightly: [VN] He had a cigar clamped between his teeth. She clamped a pair of headphones over her ears. I clamped a hand on his shoulder. A mobile phone was clamped to her ear. [V] Her lips clamped tightly together.
3 [VN] [often passive] (BrE) to fix a clamp to a car's wheel so that the car cannot be driven away: Her car had been clamped. She'd been (= her car had been) clamped.
clamp down (on sb/sth) to take strict action in order to prevent sth, especially crime: a campaign by police to clamp down on street crime The US government is clamping down on drugs.related noun CLAMPDOWN
clamp sth on sb (especially NAmE) to force sb to accept sth such as a restriction or law: The army clamped a curfew on the city.
noun
1 a tool for holding things tightly together, usually by means of a screw
2 (also wheel clamp) (both BrE) (US Denver boot, boot) a device that is attached to the wheel of a car that has been parked illegally, so that it cannot be driven away

clampdown noun [usually sing.] sudden action that is taken in order to stop an illegal activity: a clampdown on drinking and driving

clamshell adj. [only before noun] having a lid or other part that opens and shuts like the shell of a CLAM: a clamshell phone
clamshell noun

clan noun [C+sing./pl. v.]
1 a group of families who are related to each other, especially in Scotland: the Macleod clan clan warfare
2 (informal, sometimes humorous) a very large family, or a group of people who are connected because of a particular thing: one of a growing clan of stars who have left Hollywood

clandestine adj. (formal) done secretly or kept secret: a clandestine meeting/relationship the clandestine sale of weapons

clang verb [usually +adv./prep.] to make a loud ringing sound like that of metal being hit; to cause sth to make this sound CLANK: [V] Bells were clanging in the tower. [V-ADJ] The gates clanged shut. [VN] The trams clanged their way along the streets.
clang (also clanging) noun [usually sing.]: the clang of the school bell

clanger noun (BrE, informal) an obvious and embarrassing mistake: Mentioning her ex-husband was a bit of a clanger. He was always dropping clangers (= making embarrassing mistakes or remarks).

clangour (BrE) (NAmE clangor) noun (formal) a continuous loud crashing or ringing sound
clangorous adj.

clank verb to make a loud sound like pieces of metal hitting each other; to cause sth to make this sound: [V] clanking chains [V-ADJ] I heard a door clank shut. [VN] The guard clanked his heavy ring of keys.
clank (also clanking) noun [usually sing.]

clannish adj. (often disapproving) (of members of a group) not showing interest in people who are not in the group

clansman noun (pl. -men ) a member of a CLAN: Will you call on your clansmen to fight with us?

clap verb, noun
verb (-pp-)
1 to hit your open hands together several times to show that you approve of or have enjoyed sth: [V] The audience cheered and clapped. [VN] Everyone clapped us when we went up to get our prize.
2 ~ (your hands) to hit your open hands together: [VN] She clapped her hands in delight. He clapped his hands for silence. [V] Everyone clapped in time to the music.
3 [VN] ~ sb on the back/shoulder to lightly hit sb with your open hand, usually in a friendly way
4 [VN + adv. / prep.] to put sth/sb somewhere quickly and suddenly: 'Oh dear!' she cried, clapping a hand over her mouth. to clap sb in irons/jail/prison In the old days they would have clapped you in jail for that.
clapping noun [U]: I could hear the sound of clapping from the other room. see EYE n.
noun
1 [sing.] an act of clapping the hands; the sound this makes: Give him a clap! (= to praise sb at the end of a performance)
2 [C] a sudden loud noise: a clap of thunder
3 (also the clap) [U] (informal) a disease of the sexual organs, caught by having sex with an infected person GONORRHOEA

clapboard NAmE noun [U] (especially NAmE) = WEATHERBOARD

Clapham omnibus noun (BrE)
the man on the Clapham omnibus (BrE, informal) an ordinary person who is typical of many others: Can you persuade the man on the Clapham omnibus that it is useful?

clapped out adj. (BrE, informal) (of a car or machine) old and in bad condition: The van's totally clapped out. a clapped-out old Mini

clapper noun the piece of metal inside a bell that hits the sides and makes the bell ring
like the clappers (BrE, informal) extremely fast: to run/ride/drive like the clappers

clapperboard NAmE noun a device that is used when making films/movies. It consists of two connected boards that are hit together at the start of a scene, and its purpose is to help to match the pictures with the sound.

claptrap noun [U] (informal) stupid talk that has no value

claque noun a group of people who are paid to clap or BOO a performer or public speaker

claret noun
1 [U, C] a dry red wine, especially from the Bordeaux area of France. There are several types of claret.
2 [U] a dark red colour

clarify verb (clarifies, clarifying, clarified, clarified)
1 (formal) to make sth clearer or easier to understand: [VN] to clarify a situation/problem/issue I hope this clarifies my position. The law on drugs needs to be clarified. Talking to someone has helped clarify my feelings. [V wh-] She asked him to clarify what he meant.
2 [VN] to make sth, especially butter, pure by heating it: clarified butter
clarification noun [U, C]: I am seeking clarification of the regulations.

clarinet noun a musical instrument of the WOODWIND group. It is shaped like a pipe and has a REED and a MOUTHPIECE at the top that you blow into.

clarinettist (also clarinetist) noun a person who plays the clarinet

clarion call noun [sing.] (formal) a clear message or request for people to do sth: a clarion call for action

clarity noun [U]
1 the quality of being expressed clearly: a lack of clarity in the law The brilliant clarity of his argument could not be faulted.
2 the ability to think about or understand sth clearly: clarity of thought/purpose/vision
3 if a picture, substance or sound has clarity, you can see or hear it very clearly, or see through it easily: the clarity of sound on a CD

clarsach NAmE noun = CELTIC HARP

clash noun, verb
noun
FIGHT
1 ~ (with sb)| ~ (between A and B) a short fight between two groups of people: Clashes broke out between police and demonstrators. Eight people were wounded in a clash with border guards. note at FIGHT
ARGUMENT
2 ~ (with sb) (over sth)| ~ (between A and B) (over sth) an argument between two people or groups of people who have different beliefs and ideas CONFLICT: a head-on clash between the two leaders over education policy
DIFFERENCE
3 the difference that exists between two things that are opposed to each other CONFLICT: a clash of interests/opinions/cultures a personality clash with the boss
OF TWO EVENTS
4 a situation in which two events happen at the same time so that you cannot go to or see them both: a clash in the timetable/schedule
OF COLOURS
5 the situation when two colours, designs, etc. look ugly when they are put together
LOUD NOISE
6 a loud noise made by two metal objects being hit together: a clash of cymbals/swords
IN SPORT
7 (used in newspapers, about sports) an occasion when two teams or players compete against each other: Bayern's clash with Roma in the European Cup
verb
FIGHT/COMPETE
1 [V] ~ (with sb) to come together and fight or compete in a contest: The two sets of supporters clashed outside the stadium. The two teams clash in tomorrow's final. Demonstrators clashed violently with police.
ARGUE
2 [V] ~ (with sb) (over/on sth) to argue or disagree seriously with sb about sth, and to show this in public: The leaders clashed with party members on the issue. The leaders and members clashed on the issue.
BE DIFFERENT
3 [V] ~ (with sth) (of beliefs, ideas or personalities) to be very different and opposed to each other: His left-wing views clashed with his father's politics. His views and his father's clashed. They have clashing personalities.
OF TWO EVENTS
4 [V] ~ (with sth) (of events) to happen at the same time so that you cannot go to or see them both: Unfortunately your party clashes with a wedding I'm going to. There are two good movies on TV tonight, but they clash.
OF COLOURS
5 [V] ~ (with sth) (of colours, patterns or styles) to look ugly when put together: The wallpaper clashes with the carpet. The wallpaper and the carpet clash. Do you think these colours clash?
MAKE LOUD NOISE
6 ~ (sth) (together) to hit together and make a loud ringing noise; to make two metal objects do this: [V] The long blades clashed together. [VN] She clashed the cymbals.

clasp NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 to hold sth tightly in your hand: He leaned forward, his hands clasped tightly together. They clasped hands (= held each other's hands). I stood there, clasping the door handle. note at HOLD
2 to hold sb/sth tightly with your arms around them: She clasped the children in her arms. He clasped her to him. She clasped her arms tightly around him.
3 to fasten sth with a clasp: She clasped the bracelet around her wrist.
noun
1 [C] a device that fastens sth, such as a bag or the ends of a belt or a piece of jewellery: the clasp of a necklace/handbag
2 [sing.] a tight hold with your hand or in your arms: He took her hand in his firm warm clasp.

class NAmE noun, verb, adj.
noun
IN EDUCATION
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of students who are taught together: We were in the same class at school. She is the youngest in her class. He came top of the class. The whole class was/were told to stay behind after school.
2 [C, U] an occasion when a group of students meets to be taught LESSON: I was late for a class. See me after class. She works hard in class (= during the class). I have a history class at 9 o'clock.
3 [C] (also classes [pl.]) a series of classes on a particular subject COURSE: I've been taking classes in pottery. Are you still doing your French evening class?
4 [C+sing./pl. v.] (especially NAmE) a group of students who finish their studies at school, college or university in a particular year: the class of 2002
IN SOCIETY
5 [C+sing./pl. v.] one of the groups of people in a society that are thought of as being at the same social or economic level: the working/middle/upper class The party tries to appeal to all classes of society. the professional classes
6 [U] the way that people are divided into different social and economic groups: differences of class, race or gender the class system a society in which class is more important than ability
GROUP OF PEOPLE/ANIMALS
7 [C] a group of people, animals or things that have similar characteristics or qualities: It was good accommodation for a hotel of this class. different classes of drugs Dickens was in a different class from (= was much better than) most of his contemporaries. As a jazz singer she's in a class of her own (= better than most others).see also FIRST-CLASS, HIGH-CLASS, LOW-CLASS, SECOND-CLASS
SKILL/STYLE
8 [U] an elegant quality or a high level of skill that is impressive: She has class all rightshe looks like a model. There's a real touch of class about this team.
IN TRAIN/PLANE
9 [C] (especially in compounds) each of several different levels of comfort that are available to travellers in a plane, etc.: He always travels business class. The first-class compartment is situated at the front of the train.see also ECONOMY CLASS SYNDROME, SECOND-CLASS, THIRD-CLASS, TOURIST CLASS
OF UNIVERSITY DEGREE
10 [C] (especially in compounds) one of the levels of achievement in a British university degree exam: a first-/second-/third-class degree
BIOLOGY
11 [C] a group into which animals, plants, etc. that have similar characteristics are divided, below a PHYLUMcompare FAMILY, GENUS, SPECIES
see CHATTER v.
verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sb/sth (as sth)
PUT INTO GROUP to think or decide that sb/sth is a particular type of person or thing CLASSIFY: Immigrant workers were classed as aliens. I wouldn't have classed you as a Shakespeare fan. One in five people in the country are classed as poor.
adj. [only before noun] (informal)
WITH SKILL/STYLE very good: a class player/performer She's a real class act.

class action noun (NAmE) a type of LAWSUIT that is started by a group of people who have the same problem

class-conscious adj. very aware of belonging to a particular social class and of the differences between social classes
class-consciousness noun [U]

classic adj., noun
adj. [usually before noun]
1 accepted or deserving to be accepted as one of the best or most important of its kind: a classic novel/study/goal
2 (also classical) with all the features you would expect to find; very typical: a classic example of poor communication She displayed the classic symptoms of depression. I made the classic mistake of clapping in a pause in the music!
3 elegant, but simple and traditional in style or design; not affected by changes in fashion: a classic grey suit classic design classic cars (= cars which are no longer made, but which are still popular)
4 (informal) people say That's classic! when they find sth very amusing, when they think sb has been very stupid or when sth annoying, but not surprising, happens: She's not going to help? Oh, that's classic!
noun
1 [C] a book, film/movie or song which is well known and considered to be of very high quality, setting standards for other books, etc.: English classics such as 'Alice in Wonderland' The novel may become a modern classic.
2 [C] a thing that is an excellent example of its kind: That match was a classic.
3 Classics [U] the study of ancient Greek and Roman culture, especially their languages and literature: a degree in Classics

synonyms

classic / classical

These adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:

classic ~

classical ~

example

music

case

ballet

novel

architecture

work

scholar

car

period

Classic describes something that is accepted as being of very high quality and one of the best of its kind: a classic movie/work. It is also used to describe a typical example of something: a classic example/mistake, or something elegant but simple and traditional: classic design.

Classical describes a form of traditional Western music and other things that are traditional in style: a classical composera classical theory. It is also used to talk about things that are connected with the culture of Ancient Greece and Rome: a classical scholarclassical mythology.

classical adj. [usually before noun]
1 widely accepted and used for a long time; traditional in style or idea: the classical economics of Smith and Ricardo the classical theory of unemployment classical and modern ballet
2 connected with or influenced by the culture of ancient Greece and Rome: classical studies a classical scholar (= an expert in Latin and Greek) classical architecture
3 (of music) written in a Western musical tradition, usually using an established form (for example a SYMPHONY) and not played on electronic instruments. Classical music is generally considered to be serious and to have a lasting value: He plays classical music, as well as pop and jazz. a classical composer/violinist
4 = CLASSIC: These are classical examples of food allergy.
5 (of a language) ancient in its form and no longer used in a spoken form: classical Arabic
6 simple and attractive: the classical elegance of the design
classically adv.: Her face is classically beautiful. Classically, pregnant women start to 'nest' shortly before the baby is born. a classically trained singer

classicism noun [U]
1 a style of art and literature that is simple and elegant and is based on the styles of ancient Greece and Rome. Classicism was popular in Europe in the 18th century.
2 a style or form that has simple, natural qualities and pleasing combinations of parts

classicist noun
1 a person who studies ancient Greek or Latin
2 a person who follows classicism in art or literature

classifiable adj. that you can or should CLASSIFY: The information was not easily classifiable. top-secret or classifiable information

classification noun
1 [U] the act or process of putting people or things into a group or class (= of CLASSIFYING them): a style of music that defies classification (= is like no other)
2 [C] a group, class, division, etc. into which sb or sth is put
3 [U] (biology) the act of putting animals, plants, etc. into groups, classes or divisions according to their characteristics: The classification of bony fish is extremely complicated.
4 [C] (technical) a system of arranging books, tapes, magazines, etc. in a library into groups according to their subject

classified adj. [usually before noun]
1 (of information) officially secret and available only to particular people: classified information/documents/material UNCLASSIFIED
2 with information arranged in groups according to subjects: a classified catalogue
3 classifiedsnoun [pl.] = CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS

classified advertisements (also classified ads, classifieds) (BrE also small ads) (NAmE also want ads) noun [pl.] the section in a newspaper with small advertisements arranged in groups according to their subject, that are placed by people or small companies who want to buy or sell sth, find or offer a job, etc.

classifier noun (grammar) an AFFIX or word which shows that a word belongs to a group of words with similar meanings. For example the prefix 'un' is a classifier that shows the word is negative.

classify verb (classifies, classifying, classified, classified) [VN]
1 to arrange sth in groups according to features that they have in common: The books in the library are classified according to subject. Patients are classified into three categories. All rural settlements were classified according to their size. people classified by ethnic group These can be classified under five headings.
2 ~ sb/sth as sth to decide which type or group sb/sth belongs to: Only eleven of these accidents were classified as major. Would you classify it as a hard drug or a soft drug?

classless NAmE adj.
1 (approving) with no divisions into social classes: Will Britain ever become a classless society?
2 not clearly belonging to a particular social class: a classless accent
classlessness noun [U]

classmate NAmE noun a person who is or was in the same class as you at school or college

classroom NAmE noun a room where a class of children or students is taught: classroom activities the use of computers in the classroom

class struggle (also class war) noun [U, sing.] (politics) opposition between the different social classes in society, especially that described in Marxist theory

classy NAmE adj. (classier, classiest) (informal) of high quality; expensive and/or fashionable: a classy player a classy hotel/restaurant

clatter verb
1 [V] if hard objects clatter, they knock together and make a loud noise: He dropped the knife and it clattered on the stone floor. Her cup clattered in the saucer.
2 [V + adv. / prep.] to move making a loud noise like hard objects knocking together: The cart clattered over the cobbles. She heard him clattering around downstairs.
clatter (also clattering) noun [sing.]: the clatter of horses' hoofs

clause noun
1 (grammar) a group of words that includes a subject and a verb, and forms a sentence or part of a sentence: In the sentence 'They often go to Italy because they love the food', 'They often go to Italy' is the main clause and 'because they love the food' is a subordinate clause.
2 an item in a legal document that says that a particular thing must or must not be done: There is a clause in the contract forbidding tenants to sublet.

claustrophobia NAmE noun [U] an extreme fear of being in a small confined place; the unpleasant feeling that a person gets in a situation which restricts them: to suffer from claustrophobia She felt she had to escape from the claustrophobia of family life.compare AGORAPHOBIA

claustrophobic NAmE adj. giving you claustrophobia; suffering from claustrophobia: the claustrophobic atmosphere of the room to feel claustrophobic

clave noun
1 one of a pair of wooden sticks that are hit together to make a sound
2 a rhythm that forms the basis of Latin music

clavichord NAmE noun an early type of musical instrument, like a piano with a very soft tone

clavicle noun (anatomy) the COLLARBONE

claw noun, verb
noun
1 one of the sharp curved nails on the end of an animal's or a bird's foot: The cat lashed out with its claws.
2 a long, sharp curved part of the body of some types of SHELLFISH, used for catching and holding things: the claws of a crab
3 part of a tool or machine, like a claw, used for holding, pulling or lifting things: a claw hammer (= used for pulling out nails)
get your claws into sb
1 (disapproving) if a woman gets her claws into a man, she tries hard to make him marry her or to have a relationship with her: She's really got her claws into you!
2 to criticize sb severely: Wait until the media gets its claws into her.more at RED adj.
verb~ (at) sb/sth to scratch or tear sb/sth with claws or with your nails: [V] The cat was clawing at the leg of the chair. (figurative) Branches clawed at her hair. [VN] She had clawed Stephen across the face. (figurative) His hands clawed the air.
claw your way back, into sth, out of sth, to sth, etc. to gradually achieve sth or move somewhere by using a lot of determination and effort: She clawed her way to the top of her profession. Slowly, he clawed his way out from under the collapsed building.
claw sthback
1 to get sth back that you have lost, usually by using a lot of effort: The company is trying to claw back its share of the market. Newcastle managed to claw a goal back.
2 (of a government) to get back money that has been paid to people, usually by taxing them: The Chancellor is expected to claw back £2.8 billion in the budget.related noun CLAWBACK

clawback noun (BrE, business) the act of getting money back from people it has been paid to; the money that is paid back

claw hammer noun a hammer with one split, curved side that is used for pulling out nails

clay noun [U] a type of heavy, sticky earth that becomes hard when it is baked and is used to make things such as pots and bricks note at SOIL see FOOT n.

clay court noun a TENNIS COURT that has a surface made of clay

clayey adj. containing clay; like clay: clayey soil

claymore noun a large SWORD with a broad blade with two sharp edges that was used in Scotland in the past

clay pigeon shooting (BrE) (NAmE skeet shooting) noun a sport in which a disc of baked clay (called a clay pigeon) is thrown into the air for people to shoot at

clean adj., verb, adv., noun
adj. (cleaner, cleanest)
NOT DIRTY
1 not dirty: Are your hands clean? to wipe sth clean The hotel was spotlessly (= extremely) clean. (BrE) It is your responsibility to keep the room clean and tidy. (NAmE) Keep your room neat and clean. I can't find a clean shirt (= one I haven't worn since it was washed).
2 having a clean appearance and clean surroundings: Cats are very clean animals.
NOT HARMFUL
3 free from harmful or unpleasant substances: clean drinking water clean air We all want a cleaner environment but who is going to pay for it? cleaner cars (= not producing so many harmful substances) Electric buses are a clean, environmentally friendly way to travel.
PAPER
4 [usually before noun] with nothing written on it: a clean sheet of paper
NOT OFFENSIVE
5 not offensive or referring to sex; not doing anything that is considered immoral or bad: The entertainment was good clean fun for the whole family. Keep the jokes clean please! The sport has a very clean image.
NOT ILLEGAL
6 not showing or having any record of doing sth that is against the law: a clean driving licence/driver's license a clean police record
7 (informal) not owning or carrying anything illegal such as drugs or weapons: The police searched her but she was clean.
FAIR
8 played or done in a fair way and within the rules: It was a tough but clean game.
SMOOTH/SIMPLE
9 having a smooth edge, surface or shape; simple and regular: A sharp knife makes a clean cut. a modern design with clean lines and a bright appearance
ACCURATE
10 done in a skilful and accurate way: The plane made a clean take-off.
TASTE/SMELL
11 tasting, smelling or looking pleasant and fresh: The wine has a clean taste and a lovely golden colour.
compare UNCLEAN
as clean as a whistle (informal) very clean
a clean bill of health a report that says sb is healthy or that sth is in good condition: Doctors gave him a clean bill of health after a series of tests and examinations. The building was given a clean bill of health by the surveyor.
a clean break
1 a complete separation from a person, an organization, a way of life, etc.: She wanted to make a clean break with the past.
2 a break in a bone in one place
a clean sheet/slate a record of your work or behaviour that does not show any mistakes or bad things that you have done: No government operates with a completely clean sheet. They kept a clean sheet in the match (= no goals were scored against them).
make a clean breast of sth to tell the truth about sth so that you no longer feel guilty: He made a clean breast of everything and admitted taking the money.
make a clean sweep (of sth)
1 to remove all the people or things from an organization that are thought to be unnecessary or need changing: The new manager made a clean sweep of the department.
2 to win all the prizes or parts of a game or competition; to win an election completely: China made a clean sweep of the medals in the gymnastics events. The opinion poll suggests a clean sweep for the Democrats.more at NOSE n., WIPE v.
verb
1 to make sth free from dirt or dust by washing or rubbing it: [VN] to clean the windows/bath/floor to clean a wound Have you cleaned your teeth? The villa is cleaned twice a week. [V] I spent all day cooking and cleaning.see also DRY-CLEAN, SPRING-CLEAN
2 [V] to become clean: This oven cleans easily (= is easy to clean).
3 [VN] = DRY-CLEAN: This coat is filthy. I'll have it cleaned.
4 [VN] to remove the inside parts of a fish, chicken, etc. before you cook it: Clean the fish and remove the backbone.
clean house (NAmE)
1 to remove people or things that are not necessary or wanted: The new manager said he wanted to clean house.
2 to make your house clean
clean up your act (informal) to start behaving in a moral or responsible way: He cleaned up his act and came off drugs.
clean sthdown to clean sth thoroughly: All the equipment should be cleaned down regularly.
clean sth off/from sth| clean sthoff to remove sth from sth by brushing, rubbing, etc.: I cleaned the mud off my shoes.
clean sthout to clean the inside of sth thoroughly: I must clean the fish tank out.
clean sb out (informal) to use all of sb's money: Paying for all those drinks has cleaned me out.
clean sb/sth out (informal) to steal everything from a person or place: The burglars totally cleaned her out.
clean (yourself) up (informal) to make yourself clean, usually by washing: I need to change and clean up. Go and clean yourself up. You'd better get cleaned up.related noun CLEAN-UP
clean up| clean sthup
1 to remove dirt, etc. from somewhere: He always expected other people to clean up after him (= when he had made the place dirty or untidy). Who's going to clean up this mess? to clean up beaches after an oil spillage a commitment to clean up the environment It took me the rest of the day to clean (the place) up.related noun CLEAN-UP
2 (informal) to win or make a lot of money: This film should clean up at the box offices.
clean sthup to remove crime and immoral behaviour from a place or an activity: The new mayor is determined to clean up the city. Soccer needs to clean up its image.related noun CLEAN-UP
adv. (informal) used to emphasize that an action takes place completely: The thief got clean away. I clean forgot about calling him.
come clean (with sb) (about sth) to admit and explain sth that you have kept as a secret: Isn't it time the government came clean about their plans for education?
noun [sing.] the act or process of cleaning sth: The house needed a good clean.

SYNONYMS

clean

wash rinse cleanse dry-clean bathe

These words all mean to remove dirt from sth, especially by using water and/or soap.

clean to remove dirt or dust from sth, especially by using water or chemicals: The villa is cleaned twice a week. Have you cleaned your teeth? This coat is filthy. I'll have it cleaned (= dry-cleaned).

wash to remove dirt from sth using water and usually soap: He quickly washed his hands and face. These jeans need washing.

rinse to remove dirt, etc. from sth using clean water only, not soap; to remove the soap from sth with clean water after washing it: Rinse the cooked pasta with boiling water. Make sure you rinse all the soap out.

cleanse to clean your skin or a wound.

dry-clean to clean clothes using chemicals instead of water.

bathe to wash sth with water, especially a wound or a part of the body.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to clean/wash/rinse/cleanse/bathe sth in/with sth

to clean/wash/rinse sth from sth

to clean/wash/cleanse/bathe a wound

to clean/wash/rinse (down) the car

to clean/wash/rinse the floor

to wash/rinse your hair

to have sth cleaned/washed/dry-cleaned

to wash/rinse sth clean

clean and jerk noun an exercise in WEIGHTLIFTING in which a bar with weights is lifted to the shoulder, and then raised above the head

clean-cut adj. (especially of a young man) looking neat and clean and therefore socially acceptable: Simon's clean-cut good looks

cleaner noun
1 a person whose job is to clean other people's houses or offices, etc.: an office cleaner
2 a machine or substance that is used for cleaning: a vacuum cleaner a bottle of kitchen cleaner
3 cleaner's (pl. cleaners) (also dry-cleaner's) a shop/store where clothes, curtains, etc. are cleaned, especially with chemicals: Can you pick up my suit from the cleaner's?
take sb to the cleaners (informal)
1 to steal all of sb's money, etc., or to get it using a trick
2 to defeat sb completely: Our team got taken to the cleaners.

cleaning noun [U] the work of making the inside of a house, etc. clean: They pay someone to do the cleaning.

cleaning lady (also cleaning woman) noun a woman whose job is to clean the rooms and furniture in an office, a house, etc.

clean-limbed adj. (of a person) thin and with a good shape: a clean-limbed model

cleanliness noun [U] the state of being clean or the habit of keeping things clean: Some people are obsessive about cleanliness.

clean-living adj. (of a person) living a healthy life, by not drinking alcohol, not having sex with a lot of different people, etc.

cleanly adv.
1 easily and smoothly in one movement: The boat moved cleanly through the water.
2 in a clean way: fuel that burns cleanly

cleanse verb [VN]
1 to clean your skin or a wound: a cleansing cream note at CLEAN
2 ~ sb (of/from sth) (literary) to take away sb's guilty feelings or SIN: She felt cleansed of her sins after confession.see also ETHNIC CLEANSING

cleanser noun
1 a liquid or cream for cleaning your face, especially for removing make-up
2 a substance that contains chemicals and is used for cleaning things

clean-shaven adj. a man who is clean-shaven does not have a beard or MOUSTACHE (= hair that has been allowed to grow on the face)

clean-up noun [usually sing.] the process of removing dirt, pollution, or things that are considered bad or immoral from a place: the clean-up of the river a clean-up campaign

clear NAmE adj., verb, adv.
(WORD FAMILY: clear adj. | clarity noun | clarify verb )
adj. (clearer, clearest)
WITHOUT CONFUSION/DOUBT
1 easy to understand and not causing any confusion: She gave me clear and precise directions. Are these instructions clear enough? Your meaning needs to be clear. You'll do as you're told, is that clear? This behaviour must stopdo I make myself clear (= express myself clearly so there is no doubt about what I mean)? I hope I made it clear to him that he was no longer welcome here.
2 ~ (to sb) (that)| ~ what, how, whether, etc. obvious and leaving no doubt at all: This is a clear case of fraud. She won the election by a clear majority. His height gives him a clear advantage. It was quite clear to me that she was lying. It is not clear what they want us to do. It is clear from the graph that sales have dropped sharply. How he got there was not clear. a clear warning of the risks
3 ~ (about/on sth)| ~ what, how, whether, etc. having or feeling no doubt or confusion: Are you clear about the arrangements for tomorrow? My memory is not clear on that point. I'm still not clear what the job involves. We need a clear understanding of the problems involved.
MIND
4 thinking in a sensible and logical way, especially in a difficult situation: a clear thinker You'll need to keep a clear head for your interview.
EASY TO SEE/HEAR
5 easy to see or hear: The photo wasn't very clear. The voice on the phone was clear and strong. She was in Australia but I could hear her voice as clear as a bell.
TRANSPARENT
6 that you can see through: The water was so clear we could see the bottom of the lake. clear glass a clear colourless liquid a sheet of clear cellophane
SKY/WEATHER
7 without cloud or MIST: a clear blue sky On a clear day you can see France.
SKIN
8 without spots or marks: clear skin a clear complexion
EYES
9 bright and lively
NOT BLOCKED
10 ~ (of sth) free from things that are blocking the way or covering the surface of sth: The road was clear and I ran over. All exits must be kept clear of baggage. You won't get a clear view of the stage from here. I always leave a clear desk at the end of the day. Most roads are now clear of snow.
CONSCIENCE
11 if you have a clear CONSCIENCE or your CONSCIENCE is clear, you do not feel guilty
FREE FROM STH BAD
12 ~ of sth free from sth that is unpleasant: They were still not clear of all suspicion. We are finally clear of debt.
NOT TOUCHING/NEAR
13 [not before noun] ~ (of sb/sth) not touching sth; a distance away from sth: The plane climbed until it was clear of the clouds. Make sure you park your car clear of the entrance.
PERIOD OF TIME
14 [only before noun] whole or complete: Allow three clear days for the letter to arrive. You must give seven clear days' notice of the meeting.
SUM OF MONEY
15 [only before noun] remaining when taxes, costs, etc. have been taken away; NET: They had made a clear profit of £2 000.
PHONETICS
16 (of a speech sound) produced with the central part of the tongue close to the top of the mouth. In many accents of English, clear is used before a vowel, as in leave. DARK
be clear sailing (US) = BE PLAIN SAILING at PLAIN adj.
(as) clear as day easy to see or understand
(as) clear as mud (informal, humorous) not clear at all; not easy to understand: Oh well, that's all as clear as mud, then.
in the clear (informal) no longer in danger or thought to be guilty of sth: It seems that the original suspect is in the clear.more at FIELD n., HEAD n., LOUD adv.
verb
REMOVE STH/SB
1 [VN] ~ A (of B)| ~ B (from/off A) to remove sth that is not wanted or needed from a place: I cleared my desk of papers. Clear all those papers off the desk. I had cleared my desk before I left. It's your turn to clear the table (= to take away the dirty plates, etc. after a meal). She cleared a space on the sofa for him to sit down. The streets had been cleared of snow. The remains of the snow had been cleared from the streets. It was several hours before the road was cleared after the accident.see also CLEAR AWAY
2 [VN] to make people leave a place: After the bomb warning, police cleared the streets.
NOT BE BLOCKED
3 [V] to move freely again; to no longer be blocked: The traffic took a long time to clear after the accident. The boy's lungs cleared and he began to breathe more easily.
OF SKY/WEATHER
4 [V] when the sky or the weather clears, it becomes brighter and free of cloud or rain: The sky cleared after the storm. The rain is clearing slowly.
OF LIQUID
5 [V] when a liquid clears, it becomes transparent and you can see through it: The muddy water slowly cleared.
OF SMOKE, etc.
6 [V] ~ (away) when smoke, FOG, etc. clears, it disappears so that it is easier to see things: The mist will clear by mid-morning. As the dust cleared, we saw that the whole ceiling had come down.
YOUR HEAD/MIND
7 if your head or mind clears, or you clear it, you become free of thoughts that worry or confuse you or the effects of alcohol, a blow, etc. and you are able to think clearly: [V] As her mind cleared, she remembered what had happened. [VN] I went for a walk to clear my head.
OF FACE/EXPRESSION
8 [V] if your face or expression clears, you stop looking angry or worried
PROVE SB INNOCENT
9 [VN] ~ sb (of sth) to prove that sb is innocent: She was cleared of all charges against her. Throughout his years in prison, he fought to clear his name.
GIVE OFFICIAL PERMISSION
10 [VN] ~ sth (with sb/sth) to give or get official approval for sth to be done: His appointment had been cleared by the board. I'll have to clear it with the manager.
11 [VN] to give official permission for a person, a ship, a plane or goods to leave or enter a place: The plane had been cleared for take-off. to clear goods through customs
12 [VN] to decide officially, after finding out information about sb, that they can be given special work or allowed to see secret papers: She hasn't been cleared by security.
MONEY
13 if a cheque that you pay into your bank account clears, or a bank clears it, the money is available for you to use: [V] Cheques usually take three working days to clear. [also VN]
14 [VN] to gain or earn a sum of money as profit: She cleared £1 000 on the deal.
15 [VN] if you clear a debt or a loan, you pay all the money back
GET OVER/PAST
16 [VN] to jump over or get past sth without touching it: The horse cleared the fence easily. The car only just cleared (= avoided hitting) the gatepost.
IN SPORT
17 [V, VN] (in football (SOCCER) and some other sports) if you clear a ball, or a ball clears, it is kicked or hit away from the area near your own goal
clear the air to improve a difficult or TENSE situation by talking about worries, doubts, etc.
clear the decks (informal) to prepare for an activity, event, etc. by removing anything that is not essential to it
clear your throat to cough so that you can speak clearly
clear the way (for sth/for sth to happen) to remove things that are stopping the progress or movement of sth: The ruling could clear the way for extradition proceedings.more at COAST n., COBWEB
clear away| clear sthaway to remove sth because it is not wanted or needed, or in order to leave a clear space: He cleared away and made coffee. It's time your toys were cleared away.
clear off (informal) to go or run away: He cleared off when he heard the police siren. You've no right to be here. Clear off!
clear out (of ... ) (informal) to leave a place quickly: He cleared out with all the money and left her with the kids.
clear out| clear sthout to make sth empty and clean by removing things or throwing things away: to clear out a drawer/room We cleared out all our old clothes. I found the letters when I was clearing out after my father died.related noun CLEAR-OUT
clear up
1 (of the weather) to become fine or bright: I hope it clears up this afternoon.
2 (of an illness, infection, etc.) to disappear: Has your rash cleared up yet?
clear up| clear sthup to make sth clean and neat: It's time to clear up. I'm fed up with clearing up after you! Clear up your own mess!
clear sthup to solve or explain sth: to clear up a mystery/difficulty/misunderstanding
adv.
NOT NEAR/TOUCHING
1 ~ (of sth) away from sth; not near or touching sth: Stand clear of the train doors. He injured his arm as he jumped clear of the car. By lap two Walker was two metres clear of the rest of the runners.
ALL THE WAY
2 (especially NAmE) all the way to sth that is far away: She could see clear down the highway into the town.
keep/stay/steer clear (of sb/sth) to avoid a person or thing because it may cause problems: Steer clear of the centre of town at this time of the evening.more at WAY n.

SYNONYMS

clear

obvious apparent evident plain crystal clear

These words all describe sth that is easy to see or understand and leaves no doubts or confusion.

clear easy to see or understand and leaving no doubts: It was quite clear to me that she was lying.

obvious easy to see or understand: It's obvious from what he said that something is wrong.

apparent [not usually before noun] (rather formal) easy to see or understand: It was apparent from her face that she was really upset.

evident (rather formal) easy to see or understand: The orchestra played with evident enjoyment.

plain easy to see or understand: He made it very plain that he wanted us to leave.

WHICH WORD?

These words all have almost exactly the same meaning. There are slight differences in register and patterns of use. If you make sth clear/plain, you do so deliberately because you want people to understand sth; if you make sth obvious, you usually do it without meaning to: I hope I make myself obvious. Try not to make it so clear/plain. In the expressions clear majority, for obvious reasons, for no apparent reason and plain to see, none of the other words can be used instead. You can have a clear/obvious/plain case of sth but not an: evident case of sth. Apparent and evident are both rather formal. They can always be replaced by obvious. Obvious and evident can both be used before a noun for an emotion, meaning that the emotion is easy to see with your eyes: She read the letter out with obvious/evident reluctance.

crystal clear very easy to see or understand, leaving no doubt or confusion at all: I want to make my meaning crystal clear.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

clear/obvious/apparent/evident/plain/crystal clear to sb/sth

clear/obvious/apparent/evident/plain/crystal clear that/what/who/how/where/why

to be/look/seem/become/make sth clear/obvious/apparent/evident/plain/crystal clear

perfectly/quite/very clear/obvious/apparent/evident/plain

fairly/pretty clear/obvious/apparent/evident/plain

not at all clear/obvious/apparent/evident/plain

clearance NAmE noun
1 [C, U] the removal of things that are not wanted: forest clearances slum clearance (= the removal of houses that are in very bad condition in an area of a town) Landscape gardeners have begun a clearance of the overgrown ground to make way for a new park. a clearance sale (= in a shop/store, when goods are sold cheaply to get rid of them quickly)
2 [U, C] the amount of space or distance that is needed between two objects so that they do not touch each other: There is not much clearance for vehicles passing under this bridge. a clearance of one metre
3 [U, C] official permission that is given to sb before they can work somewhere, have particular information, or do sth they want to do: I'm waiting for clearance from headquarters. All employees at the submarine base require security clearance.
4 [U] official permission for a person or vehicle to enter or leave an airport or a country: The pilot was waiting for clearance for take-off. How long will customs clearance take?
5 [U, C] the process of a cheque being paid by a bank: Clearance will take seven days.
6 [C] a clearance in football (SOCCER) and some other sports is when a player kicks or hits the ball away from the goal of his or her own team

clear-cut adj. definite and easy to see or identify: There is no clear-cut answer to this question. a clear-cut distinction

clear-headed adj. able to think in a clear and sensible way, especially in a difficult situation: In business Jane was clear-headed and decisive.

clearing NAmE noun an open space in a forest where there are no trees GLADE: We made camp that night in a clearing in the woods.

clearing bank noun (in Britain) a bank that uses a clearing house when dealing with other banks

clearing house noun
1 a central office that banks use in order to pay each other money and exchange cheques, etc.
2 an organization that collects and exchanges information on behalf of people or other organizations

clearly NAmE adv.
1 in a way that is easy to see or hear: Please speak clearly after the tone. It's difficult to see anything clearly in this mirror.
2 in a way that is sensible and easy to understand: She explained everything very clearly.
3 used to emphasize that what you are saying is obvious and true OBVIOUSLY: Clearly, this will cost a lot more than we realized.

clearness NAmE noun [U] (much less frequent than clarity) the state of being clear

clear-out noun [usually sing.] (informal, especially BrE) a process of getting rid of things or people that you no longer want: have a clear-out A staff clear-out is being planned at party headquarters (= people are going to lose their jobs).

clear-sighted adj. understanding or thinking clearly; able to make good decisions and judgements

clear-up noun (BrE) the process of removing rubbish and tidying things: a massive clear-up operation

clearway NAmE noun (in Britain) a road on which vehicles must not stop

cleat noun
1 [C] a small wooden or metal bar fastened to sth, on which ropes may be fastened by winding
2 [C] a piece of rubber on the bottom of a shoe, etc. to stop it from slipping
3 cleats [pl.] (NAmE) shoes with cleats, often worn for playing sportscompare FOOTBALL BOOT, SPIKE (2), STUD (3)

cleavage noun
1 [C, U] the space between a woman's breasts that can be seen above a dress that does not completely cover them
2 [C] (formal) a difference or division between people or groups: a deep cleavage between rich and poor in society

cleave verb (cleaved, cleaved Less commonly, cleftand cloveare used for the past tense, and cleft and clovenfor the past participle.)
1 [VN] (old-fashioned or literary) to split or cut sth in two using sth sharp and heavy: She cleaved his skull (in two) with an axe. (figurative) His skin was cleft with deep lines.
2 ~ (through) sth (old-fashioned or literary) to move quickly through sth: [V] a ship cleaving through the water [VN] The huge boat cleaved the darkness. to cleave a path through the traffic
3 ~ to sb/sth [V] (literary) to stick close to sth/sb: Her tongue clove to the roof of her mouth.
4 (cleaved, cleaved) [V] (formal) to continue to believe in or be loyal to sth: to cleave to a belief/idea see CLEFT

cleaver noun a heavy knife with a broad blade, used for cutting large pieces of meat

clef noun (music) a symbol at the beginning of a line of printed music (called a STAVE or STAFF) that shows the PITCH of the notes on it: the treble/bass clef

cleft noun, adj.see also CLEAVE v.
noun a natural opening or crack, for example in the ground or in rock, or in a person's chin: a cleft in the rocks They walked up a cleft in the hills.
adj.
be (caught) in a cleft stick to be in a difficult situation when any action you take will have bad results

cleft lip noun a condition in which sb is born with their upper lip split

cleft palate noun a condition in which sb is born with the roof of their mouth split, making them unable to speak clearly

cleft sentence noun (grammar) a sentence that begins with 'it' or 'that' and has a following clause, for example, 'it is you that I love', or 'that is my mother you're insulting'

clematis noun [C, U] a climbing plant with large white, purple or pink flowers

clemency noun [U] (formal) kindness shown to sb when they are being punished; willingness not to punish sb so severely MERCY: a plea for clemency

clement adj. (formal)
1 (especially of weather) mild and pleasant INCLEMENT
2 showing kindness and MERCY to sb who is being punished

clementine noun a fruit like a small orange

clenbuterol NAmE noun [U] (medical) a drug that is used to treat ASTHMA but that has also been used illegally by people who compete in sports, in order to build muscle

clench verb
1 when you clench your hands, teeth, etc., or when they clench, you press or squeeze them together tightly, usually showing that you are angry, determined or upset: [VN] He clenched his fists in anger. Through clenched teeth she told him to leave. His jaw was clenched tight. [V] His fists clenched slowly until his knuckles were white.
2 [VN] ~ sth (in/between sth) to hold sth tightly and firmly: Her pen was clenched between her teeth. She had a gun clenched tightly in her hand.

clerestory NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (architecture) the upper part of a wall in a large church, with a row of windows in it, above the level of the lower roofs

clergy NAmE (often the clergy) noun [pl.] the priests or ministers of a religion, especially of the Christian Church: All the local clergy were asked to attend the ceremony. The new proposals affect both clergy and laity.compare LAITY

clergyman NAmE (also churchman) noun (pl. -men ) a male priest or minister in the Christian Churchcompare PRIEST

clergywoman NAmE noun (pl. -women ) a female priest or minister in the Christian Church

cleric noun
1 (old-fashioned or formal) a member of the clergy
2 a religious leader in any religion: Muslim clerics

clerical adj.
1 connected with office work: clerical workers/staff/assistants a clerical error (= one made in copying or calculating sth)
2 connected with the CLERGY (= priests): a clerical collar (= one that fastens at the back, worn by some priests)

clerihew noun a short amusing poem, usually consisting of two pairs of RHYMING lines, and referring to a famous person

clerk NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a person whose job is to keep the records or accounts in an office, shop/store etc.: an office clerksee also FILING CLERK
2 an official in charge of the records of a council, court, etc.: the Town Clerk the Clerk of the Courtsee also COUNTY CLERK, PARISH CLERK, CLERK OF WORKS
3 (also sales clerk) (both NAmE) = SHOP ASSISTANT: The clerk at the counter gave me too little change.
4 (also desk clerk) (both NAmE) a person whose job is dealing with people arriving at or leaving a hotel RECEPTIONIST
verb [V] (NAmE) to work as a clerk: a clerking job

clerk of works noun (BrE) a person whose job is to be in charge of repairs to buildings or of building works, for an organization or institution

clever adj. (cleverer, cleverest) You can also use more clever and most clever.
1 (especially BrE) quick at learning and understanding things INTELLIGENT: a clever child Clever girl! How clever of you to work it out! He's too clever by half, if you ask me (= it annoys me or makes me suspicious). note at INTELLIGENT
2 ~ (at sth) (especially BrE) skilful: She's clever at getting what she wants. He's clever with his hands.
3 showing intelligence or skill, for example in the design of an object, in an idea or sb's actions: a clever little gadget What a clever idea! That (= what you just did) wasn't very clever, was it? (= it wasn't sensible) Admitting her mistake may have been quite a clever move on her part.
4 (BrE, informal, disapproving) quick with words in a way that annoys people or does not show respect: Don't you get clever with me!
cleverly adv.: The bar's layout has been cleverly designed to give a feeling of space without losing a certain cosiness. cleverness noun [U]: Brain size and cleverness do not go together. see BOX v.

clever Dick (also clever clogs) noun (both BrE, informal, disapproving) a person who thinks they are always right or that they know everything: I don't claim to be an expert and I certainly don't want to be a clever Dick.

cliché (also cliche) NAmE noun (disapproving)
1 [C] a phrase or an idea that has been used so often that it no longer has much meaning and is not interesting: She trotted out the old cliché that 'a trouble shared is a trouble halved.' a cliché-ridden style It has become a cliché to say that Prague is the most beautiful city in Europe. tired clichés like 'the information revolution'
2 [U] the use of clichés in writing or speaking: The article collapses under the sheer weight of cliché.
clichéd adj.: a clichéd view of upper-class life

click verb, noun
verb
1 to make or cause sth to make a short sharp sound: [V] The cameras clicked away. The bolt clicked into place. [V-ADJ] The door clicked shut. [VN] He clicked his fingers at the waiter. Polly clicked her tongue in annoyance. The corporal clicked his heels. The police officer clicked a pair of handcuffs around his wrists.
2 ~ (on sth) to choose a particular function or item on a computer screen, etc., by pressing one of the buttons on a mouse: [VN] Click the OK button to start. [V] I clicked on the link to the next page of the website. To run a window, just double-click on the icon. Click here to add your opinion to the survey.see also DOUBLE-CLICK
3 [V] (informal) to suddenly become clear or understood: Suddenly it clickedwe'd been talking about different people. It all clicked into place. Pieces of the puzzle suddenly clicked together.
4 [V] (informal) to become friends with sb at once; to become popular with sb: We met at a party and clicked immediately. He's never really clicked with his students.
5 [V] (informal) to work well together: The team don't seem to have clicked yet. We have clicked well together recently.
click through (to sth) to visit a website by clicking on an electronic link or advertisement on another web page: You can only get that information by clicking through from the home page.
noun
1 a short sharp sound: The door closed with a click.
2 the act of pressing the button on a computer mouse
3 (phonetics) a speech sound made by pressing the tongue against the top of the mouth or the part of the mouth behind the upper front teeth, then releasing it quickly, causing air to be sucked in. Clicks are found especially in southern African languages: click languages

clickable adj. (computing) if text or an image is clickable, you can click on it with the mouse in order to make sth happen

clickstream noun a record of all the websites a person visits when spending time on the Internet: Marketing companies find it useful to analyse clickstream data.

client noun
1 a person who uses the services or advice of a professional person or organization: a lawyer with many famous clients to act on behalf of a client Social workers must always consider the best interests of their clients.
2 (computing) a computer that is linked to a SERVER

clientele NAmE noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] all the customers or clients of a shop/store, restaurant, organization, etc.: an international clientele an important media event which is bound to attract a new clientele

client-server adj. [only before noun] (computing) (of a computer system) in which a central SERVER provides data to a number of computers connected together in a network see also PEER-TO-PEER

client state noun a country which depends on a larger and more powerful country for support and protection

cliff noun a high area of rock with a very steep side, often at the edge of the sea or ocean: the cliff edge/top the chalk cliffs of southern England a castle perched high on the cliffs above the river We set off along the cliff path.

cliffhanger noun a situation in a story, film/movie, competition, etc. that is very exciting because you cannot guess what will happen next, or you do not find out immediately what happens next: The first part of the serial ended with a real cliffhanger. Tonight's vote on European policy threatens to be a cliffhanger.
cliffhanging adj.

clifftop NAmE noun the area of land at the top of a cliff

climactic adj. (formal) (of an event or a point in time) very exciting, most important: The play builds up to a final climactic scene between father and daughter.

climate noun
1 [C, U] the regular pattern of weather conditions of a particular place: a mild/temperate/warm/wet climate the threat of global climate change
2 [C] an area with particular weather conditions: They wanted to move to a warmer climate.
3 [C] a general attitude or feeling; an atmosphere or a situation which exists in a particular place: the present political climate the current climate of opinion (= what people generally are thinking about a particular issue) a climate of suspicion/violence We need to create a climate in which business can prosper.

climatic adj. [only before noun] connected with the weather of a particular area: climatic changes/conditions
climatically adv.

climatology NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of climate
climatological NAmE adj. climatologist NAmE noun

climax noun, verb
noun
1 the most exciting or important event or point in time: to come to/reach a climax the climax of his political career The team's 3-1 victory in the final provided a fitting climax to a great season.
2 the most exciting part of a play, piece of music, etc. that usually happens near the end: The book's powerful climax is the murder of Nancy by her lover Bill Sikes.
3 the highest point of sexual pleasure ORGASMcompare ANTICLIMAX
verb
1 ~ with/in sth to come to or form the best, most exciting, or most important point in sth: [V] The festival will climax on Sunday with a gala concert. [VN] (especially NAmE) The sensational verdict climaxed a six-month trial.
2 [V] to have an ORGASM

climb verb, noun
verb
GO UP
1 ~ (up) (sth) to go up sth towards the top: [VN] to climb a mountain/hill/tree/wall She climbed up the stairs. The car slowly climbed the hill. [V] As they climbed higher, the air became cooler.
GO THROUGH/DOWN/OVER
2 [V + adv. / prep.] to move somewhere, especially with difficulty or effort: I climbed through the window. Sue climbed into bed. Can you climb down? The boys climbed over the wall.
MOUNTAIN/ROCK, etc.
3 go climbing to go up mountains or climb rocks as a hobby or sport: He likes to go climbing most weekends.
AIRCRAFT/SUN, etc.
4 [V] to go higher in the sky: The plane climbed to 33 000 feet. The sun climbed higher in the sky.
SLOPE UP
5 [V] to slope upwards: From here the path climbs steeply to the summit.
OF PLANTS
6 [V] to grow up a wall or frame: a climbing rose
INCREASE
7 [V] (of temperature, a country's money, etc.) to increase in value or amount: The dollar has been climbing all week. The paper's circulation continues to climb. Membership is climbing steadily.
IMPROVE POSITION/STATUS
8 [V] to move to a higher position or social rank by your own effort: In a few years he had climbed to the top of his profession. The team has now climbed to fourth in the league.
see BANDWAGON
climb down (over sth) to admit that you have made a mistake or that you were wrong: The government was forced to climb down last night over its handling of pensions.related noun CLIMBDOWN
noun
MOUNTAIN/STEPS
1 an act of climbing up a mountain, rock or large number of steps; a period of time spent climbing: an exhausting climb It's an hour's climb to the summit.
2 a mountain or rock which people climb up for sport: Titan's Wall is the mountain's hardest rock climb.
INCREASE
3 [usually sing.] an increase in value or amount: the dollar's climb against the euro
TO A HIGHER POSITION OR STATUS
4 [usually sing.] progress to a higher status, standard or position: a rapid climb to stardom the long slow climb out of the recession

climbdown noun (BrE) an act of admitting that you were wrong, or of changing your position in an argument: The Chancellor was forced into a humiliating climbdown on his economic policies.

climber noun
1 a person who climbs (especially mountains) or an animal that climbs: climbers and hill walkers Monkeys are efficient climbers.
2 a climbing plantsee also SOCIAL CLIMBER

climbing noun [U] the sport or activity of climbing rocks or mountains: to go climbing a climbing accident

climbing frame (BrE) (NAmE jungle gym) noun a structure made of metal bars joined together for children to climb and play on

climbing wall noun a wall with parts to hold onto, usually inside a building, for people to practise climbing on

clime noun [usually pl.] (literary or humorous) a country with a particular kind of climate: I'm heading for sunnier climes next month.

clinch verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 to succeed in achieving or winning sth: to clinch an argument/a deal/a victory They clinched a place in the semi-finals.
2 to provide the answer to sth; to settle sth that was not certain: 'I'll pay your airfare.' 'Okay, that clinches itI'll come with you.' a clinching argument
noun
1 (informal) a position in which two lovers hold each other tightly EMBRACE
2 a position in a fight in which two opponents hold each other tightly

clincher noun [usually sing.] (informal) a fact, a remark or an event that settles an argument, a decision or a competition: There was a lot of circumstantial evidence but they still needed a clincher, something cast iron that would carry a conviction. Sixsmith scored the clincher (= the winning goal) after 81 minutes.

cline noun a series of similar items in which each is almost the same as the ones next to it, but the last is very different from the first CONTINUUM

cling verb (clung, clung ) [V]
1 ~ (on) to sb/sth| ~ on/together to hold on tightly to sb/sth: survivors clinging to a raft She clung on to her baby. Cling on tight! They clung together, shivering with cold. Leaves still clung to the branches. note at HOLD
2 ~ (to sth) to stick to sth: a dress that clings (= fits closely and shows the shape of your body) The wet shirt clung to his chest. The smell of smoke still clung to her clothes. Her hair clung to her hot damp skin.
3 ~ (to sb) (usually disapproving) to stay close to sb, especially because you need them emotionally: After her mother's death, Sara clung to her aunt more than ever.
cling to sth| cling on to sth to be unwilling to get rid of sth, or stop doing sth: Throughout the trial she had clung to the belief that he was innocent. He had one last hope to cling on to. She managed to cling on to life for another couple of years.

cling film (BrE) (NAmE plastic wrap, Saran WrapTM) noun [U] a thin transparent plastic material that sticks to a surface and to itself, used especially for wrapping food

clinging (also clingy ) adj.
1 (of clothes or material) sticking to the body and showing its shape
2 (usually disapproving) needing another person too much: a clinging child

clinic noun
1 a building or part of a hospital where people can go for special medical treatment or advice: the local family planning clinic
2 (especially BrE) a period of time during which doctors give special medical treatment or advice: The antenatal clinic is on Wednesdays. Doctors held a special clinic to talk to worried parents after a child at the school died of meningitis.
3 (especially BrE) a private hospital or one that treats health problems of a particular kind: He is being treated at the London clinic. a rehabilitation clinic for alcoholics
4 (NAmE) a building where visiting patients can get medical treatment; a building shared by a group of doctors who work together
5 an occasion in a hospital when medical students learn by watching a specialist examine and treat patients
6 an occasion at which a professional person, especially a SPORTSMAN or SPORTSWOMAN gives advice and training: a coaching clinic for young tennis players

clinical adj.
1 [only before noun] relating to the examination and treatment of patients and their illnesses: clinical research (= done on patients, not just considering theory) clinical training (= the part of a doctor's training done in a hospital) clinical trials of a drug
2 (disapproving) cold and calm and without feeling or sympathy: He watched her suffering with clinical detachment.
3 (disapproving) (of a room, building, etc.) very plain; without decoration: Everything in the nursery was white and clinical and there were no pictures on the walls.
clinically adv.: clinically dead (= judged to be dead from the condition of the body) clinically depressed

clinician noun a doctor, PSYCHOLOGIST, etc. who has direct contact with patients

clink verb, noun
verb to make or cause sth to make a sharp ringing sound, like that of glasses being hit against each other CHINK: [V] clinking coins [VN] They clinked glasses and drank to each other's health.
noun [sing.]
1 (also clinking) a sharp ringing sound like the sound made by glasses being hit against each other
2 (old-fashioned, slang) prison

clinker noun
1 [U, C] the hard rough substance left after coal has burnt at a high temperature; a piece of this substance
2 [sing.] (NAmE) a wrong musical note: The singer hit a clinker.

clinometer noun (technical) an instrument used for measuring the angle of a slope

clip noun, verb
noun
1 [C] (often in compounds) a small metal or plastic object used for holding things together or in place: a hair clip toe clips on a bicyclesee also BICYCLE CLIP, BULLDOG CLIP, PAPER CLIP
2 [C] a piece of jewellery that fastens to your clothes: a diamond clip
3 [sing.] the act of cutting sth to make it shorter: He gave the hedge a clip.
4 [C] a short part of a film/movie that is shown separately: Here is a clip from her latest movie.
5 [C] (BrE, informal) a quick hit with your hand: She gave him a clip round the ear for being cheeky.
6 [C] a set of bullets in a metal container that is placed in or attached to a gun for firing
at a fast, good, steady, etc. clip (especially NAmE) quickly: Land prices will rise at a healthy clip.
verb (-pp-)
1 [+adv./prep.] to fasten sth to sth else with a clip; to be fastened with a clip: [VN] He clipped the microphone (on) to his collar. Clip the pages together. [V] Do those earrings clip on?
2 [VN] ~ sth (off/from sth) to cut sth with scissors or SHEARS, in order to make it shorter or neater; to remove sth from somewhere by cutting it off: to clip a hedge He clipped off a length of wire.
3 [VN] to hit the edge or side of sth: The car clipped the kerb as it turned. She clipped the ball into the net.
4 [VN] ~ sth (out of/from sth) to cut sth out of sth else using scissors: to clip a coupon (out of the paper)
clip sb's wings to restrict a person's freedom or power: Having a new baby to take care of has clipped her wings.
clip sth off sth (informal) to reduce the time that it takes to do sth by a particular length of time: She clipped two seconds off her previous best time.

clip art noun [U] (computing) pictures and symbols that are stored in computer programs or on websites for computer users to copy and add to their own documents

clipboard NAmE noun
1 a small board with a clip at the top for holding papers, used by sb who wants to write while standing or moving around
2 (computing) a place where information from a computer file is stored for a time until it is added to another file

clip-clop NAmE noun a sound like the sound of a horse's HOOFS on a hard surface

clip joint noun (informal, disapproving) a NIGHTCLUB which charges prices that are too high

clip-on adj. [only before noun] fastened to sth with a CLIP: clip-on earrings a clip-on bow tie

clipped adj. (of a person's way of speaking) clear and fast but not very friendly: his clipped military tones

clipper noun
1 clippers [pl.] a tool for cutting small pieces off things: a pair of clipperssee also NAIL CLIPPERS
2 a fast sailing ship, used in the past

clipping noun
1 [usually pl.] a piece cut off sth: hedge/nail clippings
2 (especially NAmE) = CUTTING

clique noun [C+sing./pl. v.] (often disapproving) a small group of people who spend their time together and do not allow others to join them: The club is dominated by a small clique of intellectuals.

cliquey (also cliquish ) adj. (disapproving) tending to form a clique; controlled by cliques: He found the school very cliquey and elitist.

clitic noun (grammar) a word that is not stressed and usually only occurs in combination with another word, for example 'm' in 'I'm'compare ENCLITIC, PROCLITIC

clitoris noun the small sensitive organ just above the opening of a woman's VAGINA which becomes larger when she is sexually excited
clitoral adj. [only before noun]

Cllr abbr. (BrE) (used before names in writing) COUNCILLOR: Cllr Michael Booth

cloak NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a type of coat that has no sleeves, fastens at the neck and hangs loosely from the shoulders, worn especially in the past
2 [sing.] (literary) a thing that hides or covers sb/sth: They left under the cloak of darkness. The author prefers to hide behind a cloak of anonymity.
verb [VN] ~ sth (in sth) [often passive] (literary) to cover or hide sth: The hills were cloaked in thick mist. The meeting was cloaked in mystery.
cloaked adj.: a tall cloaked figure (= a person wearing a cloak)

cloak-and-dagger adj. [only before noun] cloak-and-dagger activities are secret and mysterious, sometimes in a way that people think is unnecessary or ridiculous: Why can't we be open about it? Do we really need all this cloak-and-dagger stuff?

cloakroom NAmE noun
1 (especially BrE) (NAmE usually checkroom, coat check, coatroom) a room in a public building where people can leave coats, bags, etc. for a time
2 (BrE) a room in a public building where there are toilets: the ladies' cloakroom

clobber NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN] (informal)
1 to hit sb very hard: If you do that again, I'll clobber you!
2 [often passive] to affect sb badly or to punish them, especially by making them lose money: The paper got clobbered with libel damages of half a million pounds.
3 [usually passive] to defeat sb completely: We got clobbered in the game on Saturday.
noun [U] (BrE, informal) a person's clothes or equipment STUFF: The real problem when travelling with a baby is the amount of clobber you have to take with you.

cloche NAmE noun
1 (also cloche hat) a woman's hat, shaped like a bell, and fitting close to the head, worn especially in the 1920s
2 a glass or plastic cover placed over young plants to protect them from cold weather

clock NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] an instrument for measuring and showing time, in a room or on the wall of a building (not worn or carried like a watch): It was ten past six by the kitchen clock. The clock struck twelve/midnight. The clock is fast/slow. The clock has stopped. the clock face (= the front part of a clock with the numbers on) The hands of the clock crept slowly around. Ellen heard the loud ticking of the clock in the hall.see also ALARM CLOCK, BIOLOGICAL CLOCK, BODY CLOCK, CARRIAGE CLOCK, CUCKOO CLOCK, GRANDFATHER CLOCK, O'CLOCK, TIME CLOCK
2 the clock [sing.] (informal) = MILOMETER: a used car with 20 000 miles on the clock
against the clock if you do sth against the clock, you do it fast in order to finish before a particular time: It was a race against the clock to get the building work finished in time.
around/round the clock all day and all night without stopping
put the clocks forward/back (BrE) (NAmE set/move the clocks ahead/back) to change the time shown by clocks, usually by one hour, when the time changes officially, for example at the beginning and end of summer: Remember to put your clocks back tonight.
put/turn the clock back
1 to return to a situation that existed in the past; to remember a past age: I wish we could turn the clock back two years and give the marriage another chance.
2 (disapproving) to return to old-fashioned methods or ideas: The new censorship law will turn the clock back 50 years.
run down/out the clock (US) if a sports team tries to run down/out the clock at the end of a game, it stops trying to score and just tries to keep hold of the ball to stop the other team from scoringcompare TIME-WASTING
the clocks go forward/back the time changes officially, for example at the beginning and end of summermore at BEAT v., RACE n., STOP v., WATCH v.
verb
1 [VN] to reach a particular time or speed: He clocked 10.09 seconds in the 100 metres final.
2 ~ sb/sth (at sth) to measure the speed at which sb/sth is travelling: [VN -ing] The police clocked her doing over 100 miles an hour. [VN] Wind gusts at 80 m.p.h. were clocked at Rapid City.
3 (BrE, informal) to notice or recognize sb: [VN] I clocked her in the driving mirror. [also V wh-, V that]
4 [VN] (BrE, informal) to illegally reduce the number of miles shown on a vehicle's MILOMETER (= instrument that measures the number of miles it has travelled) in order to make the vehicle appear to have travelled fewer miles than it really has
clock in/on (BrE) (NAmE punch in) to record the time at which you arrive at work, especially by putting a card into a machine: Staff should clock in on arrival. I clock on at 8 a.m.
clock out/off (BrE) (NAmE punch out) to record the time at which you leave work, especially by putting a card into a machine: She clocks off at 5.15. It't time to clock off and go home.
clock up sth to reach a particular amount or number: On the trip we clocked up over 1 800 miles. He has clocked up more than 25 years on the committee.

clocker NAmE noun (informal)
1 (BrE) a person who illegally changes a car's MILOMETER so that the car seems to have travelled fewer miles than it really has
2 (NAmE) a person who sells illegal drugs, especially COCAINE or CRACK

clock radio noun a clock combined with a radio that can be set to come on at a particular time in order to wake sb up

clock speed noun [U] (computing) the speed at which a computer operates: This machine has a clock speed of 1.6GHz.

clock tower noun a tall tower, usually part of another building, with a clock at the top

clock-watcher noun (disapproving) a worker who is always checking the time to make sure that they do not work longer than they need to

clockwise NAmE adv., adj. moving around in the same direction as the hands of a clock: Turn the key clockwise. a clockwise direction In our picture, clockwise from top left, are James Brown, Helen Taylor and Holly Jones. ANTICLOCKWISE, COUNTERCLOCKWISE

clockwork NAmE noun [U] machinery with wheels and SPRINGS like that inside a clock: clockwork toys (= toys that you wind up with a key) He is home by six every day regular as clockwork. working with clockwork (= complete) precision
go/run like clockwork to happen according to plan; to happen without difficulties or problems: The operation went like clockwork.

clod NAmE noun
1 [usually pl.] a lump of earth or CLAY: clods of earth
2 (informal) a stupid person

clodhopper NAmE noun (informal)
1 [usually pl.] a large heavy shoe
2 (disapproving) an awkward or CLUMSY person

clog NAmE verb, noun
verb (-gg-) ~ (up) (with sth)| ~ sth (up) (with sth) to block sth or to become blocked: [VN] [often passive]: The narrow streets were clogged with traffic. Tears clogged her throat. [V] Within a few years the pipes began to clog up.
noun a shoe that is completely made of wood or one that has a thick wooden SOLE and a leather top see POP v.

clog dance noun a dance that is performed by people wearing clogs

cloister noun
1 [C, usually pl.] a covered passage with ARCHES around a square garden, usually forming part of a CATHEDRAL, CONVENT or MONASTERY
2 [sing.] life in a CONVENT or MONASTERY: the calm of the cloister

cloistered NAmE adj. (formal) protected from the problems and dangers of normal life: a cloistered life the cloistered world of the university

clone NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 (biology) a plant or an animal that is produced naturally or artificially from the cells of another plant or animal and is therefore exactly the same as it
2 (sometimes disapproving) a person or thing that seems to be an exact copy of another: Caroline's brothers grinned alongside her, clones of their father.
3 (computing) a computer designed to work in exactly the same way as another, usually one made by a different company and more expensive
verb [VN]
1 to produce an exact copy of an animal or a plant from its cells: A team from the UK were the first to successfully clone an animal. Dolly, the cloned sheep
2 to illegally make an electronic copy of stored information from a person's credit card or mobile phone/cellphone so that you can make payments or phone calls but the owner of the card or phone receives the bill

clonk NAmE noun (BrE, informal) a short loud sound of heavy things hitting each other
clonk verb [V, VN]

close^1 NAmE verb, nounsee also CLOSE^2
verb
WINDOW/DOOR, etc.
1 to put sth into a position so that it covers an opening; to get into this position SHUT: [VN] Would anyone mind if I closed the window? She closed the gate behind her. It's dark nowlet's close the curtains. I closed my eyes against the bright light. [V] The doors open and close automatically. OPEN
BOOK/UMBRELLA, etc.
2 [VN] ~ sth (up) to move the parts of sth together so that it is no longer open SHUT: to close a book/an umbrella OPEN
SHOP/STORE/BUSINESS
3 ~ (sth) (to sb/sth) to make the work of a shop/store, etc. stop for a period of time; to not be open for people to use: [VN] [often passive]: The museum has been closed for renovation. The road was closed to traffic for two days. [V] What time does the bank close? We close for lunch between twelve and two. OPEN
4 (also close down, close sthdown) if a company, shop/store, etc. closes, or if you close it, it stops operating as a business: [VN] The club was closed by the police. [V] The hospital closed at the end of last year. The play closed after just three nights. OPEN
END
5 to end or make sth end: [VN] to close a meeting/debate to close a case/an investigation to close an account (= to stop keeping money in a bank account) The subject is now closed (= we will not discuss it again). [V] The meeting will close at 10.00 p.m. The offer closes at the end of the week. OPEN
FINANCE
6 [V] to be worth a particular amount at the end of the day's business: Shares in the company closed at 265p. closing prices [also V-ADJ]
DISTANCE/DIFFERENCE
7 to make the distance or difference between two people or things smaller; to become smaller or narrower: [VN] These measures are aimed at closing the gap between rich and poor. [V] The gap between the two top teams is closing all the time.
HOLD FIRMLY
8 ~ (sth) about/around/over sb/sth to hold sth/sb firmly: [VN] She closed her hand over his. [also V]
close the book on sth to stop doing sth because you no longer believe you will be successful or will find a solution: The police have closed the book on the case (= they have stopped trying to solve it).
close its doors (of a business, etc.) to stop trading: The factory closed its doors for the last time in 2002.
close your mind to sth to refuse to think about sth as a possibility
close ranks
1 if a group of people close ranks, they work closely together to defend themselves, especially when they are being criticized: It's not unusual for the police to close ranks when one of their officers is being investigated.
2 if soldiers close ranks, they move closer together in order to defend themselvesmore at DOOR, EAR, EYE n.
close down (BrE) when a radio or television station closes down, it stops broadcasting at the end of the dayrelated noun CLOSE-DOWN
close down| close sthdown = CLOSE (4): All the steelworks around here were closed down in the 1980s.related noun CLOSE-DOWN OPEN UP
close in
1 when the days close in, they become gradually shorter during the autumn/fall
2 if the weather closes in, it gets worse
3 when the night closes in, it gets darker: They huddled around the fire as the night closed in.
close in (on sb/sth) to move nearer to sb/sth, especially in order to attack them: The lions closed in on their prey.
close sthoff to separate sth from other parts so that people cannot use it: The entrance to the train station was closed off following the explosion.
close out sth (NAmE)
1 to sell goods very cheaply in order to get rid of them quicklyrelated noun CLOSEOUT
2 to finish or settle sth: A rock concert closed out the festivities.
close over sb/sth to surround and cover sb/sth: The water closed over his head.
close up
1 when a wound closes up, it heals
2 to hide your thoughts or emotions: She closed up when I asked about her family.
close up| close sthup
1 to shut and lock sth such as a shop/store or a building, especially for a short period of time: Why don't we close up and go out for lunch? Can the last one out close up the office? OPEN UP
2 to come closer together; to bring people or things closer together: Traffic was heavy and cars were closing up behind each other.
3 to become narrower and less open: Every time he tried to speak, his throat closed up with fear. OPEN UP
noun [sing.] (formal) the end of a period of time or an activity: at the close of the 17th century His life was drawing to a close. Can we bring this meeting to a close? By the close of London trading, Wall Street was up 9.78 points. The West Indies were 98 for 3 at the close of play (= at the end of the day's play in a CRICKET match).

WHICH WORD?

close / shut

You can close and shut doors, windows, your eyes, mouth, etc.

Shut can suggest more noise and is often found in phrases such as slammed shut, banged shut, snapped shut.

Shut is also usually used for containers such as boxes, suitcases, etc.

To talk about the time when shops, offices, etc. are not open, use close or shut: What time do the banks close/shut?A strike has shut the factory. You can also use closed or shut (NAmE usually closed): The store is closed/shut today. Especially in NAmE, shut can sound less polite.

Closed is used in front of a noun, but shut is not: a closed window.

We usually use closed about roads, airports, etc.: The road is closed because of the snow.

Close is also used in formal English to talk about ending a meeting or conversation.

close^2 NAmE adj., adv., nounsee also CLOSE^1
adj. (closer, closest)
NEAR
1 [not usually before noun] ~ (to sb/sth)| ~ (together) near in space or time: Our new house is close to the school. I had no idea the beach was so close. The two buildings are close together. This is the closest we can get to the beach by car. We all have to work in close proximity (= near each other). The President was shot at close range (= from a short distance away). The children are close to each other in age. Their birthdays are very close together. note at NEAR
ALMOST/LIKELY
2 [not before noun] ~ (to sth)| ~ (to doing sth) almost in a particular state; likely to do sth soon: He was close to tears. The new library is close to completion. She knew she was close to death. We are close to signing the agreement.
RELATIONSHIP
3 ~ (to sb) knowing sb very well and liking them very much: Jo is a very close friend. She is very close to her father. She and her father are very close. We're a very close family.
4 near in family relationship: close relatives, such as your mother and father, and brothers and sisters DISTANT: The groom and his close family took their places.
5 very involved in the work or activities of sb else, usually seeing and talking to them regularly: He is one of the prime minister's closest advisers. The college has close links with many other institutions. She has kept in close contact with the victims' families. We keep in close touch with the police.
CAREFUL
6 [only before noun] careful and thorough: Take a close look at this photograph. On closer examination the painting proved to be a fake. Pay close attention to what I am telling you.
SIMILAR
7 ~ (to sth) very similar to sth else or to an amount: There's a close resemblance (= they look very similar). His feeling for her was close to hatred. The total was close to 20% of the workforce. We tried to match the colours, but this is the closest we could get.
COMPETITION/ELECTION, etc.
8 won by only a small amount or distance: a close contest/match/election It was a very close finish. I think it's going to be close. Our team came a close second (= nearly won). The game was closer than the score suggests. The result is going to be too close to call (= either side may win).
ALMOST BAD RESULT
9 used to describe sth, usually a dangerous or unpleasant situation, that nearly happens: Phew! That was closethat car nearly hit us. We caught the bus in the end but it was close (= we nearly missed it).
WITHOUT SPACE
10 with little or no space in between: over 1 000 pages of close print The soldiers advanced in close formation.
CUT SHORT
11 cut very short, near to the skin: a close haircut/shave
GUARDED
12 [only before noun] carefully guarded: The donor's identity is a close secret. She was kept under close arrest.
WEATHER/ROOM
13 warm in an uncomfortable way because there does not seem to be enough fresh air STUFFY: It's very close todayI think there's going to be a storm.
PRIVATE
14 [not before noun] ~ (about sth) not willing to give personal information about yourself: He was close about his past.
MEAN
15 [not before noun] (BrE) not liking to spend money: She's always been very close with her money.
PHONETICS
16 (also high) (of a vowel) produced with the mouth in a relatively closed position compare OPEN

closely adv.: I sat and watched everyone very closely (= carefully). He walked into the room, closely followed by the rest of the family. a closely contested election She closely resembled her mother at the same age. The two events are closely connected. closeness noun [U]
at/from close quarters very near: fighting at close quarters
close, but no cigar (informal, especially NAmE) used to tell sb that their attempt or guess was almost but not quite successful
a close call/shave (informal) a situation in which you only just manage to avoid an accident, etc.
a close thing a situation in which success or failure is equally possible: We got him out in the end, but it was a close thing.
close to home if a remark or topic of discussion is close to home, it is accurate or connected with you in a way that makes you uncomfortable or embarrassed: Her remarks about me were embarrassingly close to home.
keep a close eye/watch on sb/sth to watch sb/sth carefully: Over the next few months we will keep a close eye on sales.more at HEART
adv. (closer, closest) near; not far away: They sat close together. Don't come too close! She held Tom close and pressed her cheek to his. I couldn't get close enough to see. A second police car followed close behind.
close at hand near; in a place where sb/sth can be reached easily: There are good cafes and a restaurant close at hand.
close by (sb/sth) at a short distance (from sb/sth): Our friends live close by. The route passes close by the town.
close on | close to almost; nearly: She is close on sixty. It is close on midnight. a profit close to £200 million
a close run thing a situation in which sb only just wins or loses, for example in a competition or an election: Mr Taylor's election defeat was a close run thing.
close to | close up in a position very near to sth: The picture looks very different when you see it close to.
close up to sb/sth very near in space to sb/sth: She snuggled close up to him.
come close (to sth/to doing sth) to almost reach or do sth: He'd come close to death. We didn't win but we came close. The welfare state never came close to eliminating poverty.
run sb/sth close (BrE) to be nearly as good, fast, successful, etc. as sb/sth else: Germany ran Argentina very close in the final.more at CARD n., MARK n., SAIL v.
noun
1 (BrE) (especially in street names) a street that is closed at one end: Brookside Close
2 the grounds and buildings that surround and belong to a CATHEDRAL

close-cropped NAmE adj. (of hair, grass, etc.) cut very short

closed NAmE adj.
1 [not before noun] shut: Keep the door closed.
2 [not before noun] shut, especially of a shop/store or public building that is not open for a period of time: The museum is closed on Mondays. This road is closed to traffic.
3 not willing to accept outside influences or new ideas: a closed society He has a closed mind.
4 [usually before noun] limited to a particular group of people; not open to everyone: a closed membership OPEN note at CLOSE^1
behind closed doors without the public being allowed to attend or know what is happening; in private: The meeting was held behind closed doors.
a closed book (to sb) a subject or person that you know nothing about: Nuclear physics is a closed book to most of us.

closed-captioned adj. (NAmE) (of a TV programme) having CAPTIONS that can only be read if you have a special machine (= a DECODER)

closed-circuit television noun [U] (abbr. CCTV) a television system that works within a limited area, for example a public building, to protect it from crime

close-down NAmE noun [U, sing.] the stopping of work, especially permanently, in an office, a factory, etc.

closed season noun [sing.] = CLOSE SEASON

closed shop noun a factory, business, etc. in which employees must all be members of a particular TRADE/LABOR UNION

closed syllable noun (phonetics) a syllable which ends with a consonant, for example sit

close-fitting NAmE adj. (of clothes) fitting tightly, showing the shape of the body

close harmony NAmE noun [U] (music) a style of singing in HARMONY in which the different notes are close together

close-knit NAmE (also less frequent closely-knit) adj. (of a group of people) having strong relationships with each other and taking a close, friendly interest in each other's activities and problems: the close-knit community of a small village

close-mouthed NAmE adj. [not usually before noun] not willing to say much about sth because you want to keep a secret

closeout NAmE noun (NAmE) an occasion when goods are sold cheaply in order to get rid of them quickly

close-range NAmE adj. [only before noun] at or from a short distance: The close-range shot was blocked by the goalkeeper.

close-run NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (of a race or competition) won by a very small amount or distance: The election was a close-run thing.

close season NAmE noun [sing.] (BrE)
1 (also closed season NAmE, BrE) the time of year when it is illegal to kill particular kinds of animal, bird and fish because they are breeding OPEN SEASON
2 (NAmE off season) (in sport) the time during the summer when teams do not play important games

close-set NAmE adj. very close together: close-set eyes

closet NAmE noun, adj., verb
noun (especially NAmE) a small room or a space in a wall with a door that reaches the floor, used for storing things: a walk-in closetcompare CUPBOARD, WARDROBEsee also WATER CLOSET
come out of the closet to admit sth openly that you kept secret before, especially because of shame or embarrassment: Homosexuals in public life are now coming out of the closet.more at SKELETON
adj. [only before noun] used to describe people who want to keep some fact about themselves secret: closet gays I suspect he's a closet fascist.
verb [VN] to put sb in a room away from other people, especially so that they can talk privately with sb, or so that they can be alone: He was closeted with the President for much of the day. She had closeted herself away in her room.

close-up NAmE noun [C, U] a photograph, or picture in a film/movie, taken very close to sb/sth so that it shows a lot of detail: a close-up of a human eye It was strange to see her own face in close-up on the screen. close-up pictures of the planet

closing NAmE adj., noun
adj. [only before noun] coming at the end of a speech, a period of time or an activity: his closing remarks the closing stages of the game OPENING
noun [U] the act of shutting sth such as a factory, hospital, school, etc. permanently: the closing of the local school OPENING

closing date noun the last date by which sth must be done, such as applying for a job or entering a competition: The closing date for applications is 25 May.

closing time noun [C, U] the time when a pub, shop/store, bar, etc. ends business for the day and people have to leave

closure NAmE noun
1 [C, U] the situation when a factory, school, hospital, etc. shuts permanently: factory closures The hospital has been threatened with closure. Spending cuts could mean the closure of the village school.
2 [C, U] the temporary closing of a road or bridge: There will be road closures and diversions in the area from 8 p.m.
3 [U] the feeling that a difficult or an unpleasant experience has come to an end or been dealt with in an acceptable way: The conviction of their son's murderer helped to give them a sense of closure.

clot NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 = BLOOD CLOT: They removed a clot from his brain.
2 (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a stupid person
verb (-tt-) when blood or cream clots or when sth clots it, it forms thick lumps or clots: [V] a drug that stops blood from clotting during operations [VN] the blood clotting agent, Factor 8

cloth NAmE noun (pl. cloths NAmE )
1 [U] material made by WEAVING or knitting cotton, wool, silk, etc.: woollen/cotton cloth bandages made from strips of cloth the cloth industry/trade a cloth bag note at MATERIAL
2 [C] (often in compounds) a piece of cloth, often used for a special purpose, especially cleaning things or covering a table: Wipe the surface with a damp cloth.see also DISHCLOTH, DROP CLOTH, FLOORCLOTH, TABLECLOTH
3 the cloth [sing.] (literary) used to refer to Christian priests as a group: a man of the cloth see COAT n.

cloth cap (also flat cap) (both BrE) noun a soft cap, normally made of wool, traditionally a symbol of working men: The party has shed its cloth cap image (= it is not just a working-class party any more).

clothe NAmE verb [VN]
1 ~ sb/yourself (in sth) (formal) to dress sb/yourself: They clothe their children in the latest fashions. (figurative) Climbing plants clothed the courtyard walls.
2 to provide clothes for sb to wear: the costs of feeding and clothing a family

cloth-eared adj. (BrE, informal, disapproving) (of a person) unable to or hear or understand things clearly

clothed NAmE adj. [not usually before noun] ~ (in sth) dressed in a particular way: a man clothed in black She jumped fully clothed into the water. (figurative) The valley was clothed in trees and shrubs.

clothes NAmE noun [pl.] the things that you wear, such as trousers/pants, dresses and jackets: I bought some new clothes for the trip. to put on/take off your clothes Bring a change of clothes with you. She has no clothes sense (= she does not know what clothes look attractive).

SYNONYMS

clothes

clothing garment dress wear gear

These are all words for the things that you wear, such as shirts, jackets, dresses and trousers.

clothes the things that you wear, such as shirts, jackets, dresses and trousers.

clothing (rather formal) clothes, especially a particular type of clothes: warm clothing

CLOTHES OR CLOTHING?

Clothing is more formal than clothes and is used especially to mean 'a particular type of clothes'. There is no singular form of clothes or clothing: a piece/an item/an article of clothing is used to talk about one thing that you wear such as a dress or shirt.

garment (formal) a piece of clothing: He was wearing a strange shapeless garment. Garment should only be used in formal or literary contexts; in everyday contexts use a piece of clothing.

dress clothes, especially when worn in a particular style or for a particular occasion: We were allowed to wear casual dress on Fridays.

wear (usually in compounds) clothes for a particular purpose or occasion, especially when it is being sold in shops/stores: the children's wear department

gear (informal) clothes: Her friends were all wearing the latest gear (= fashionable clothes).

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

casual clothes/clothing/dress/wear/gear

evening/formal clothes/dress/wear

designer/sports/school/work clothes/clothing/garments/wear/gear

children's/men's/women's clothes/clothing/garments/wear

second-hand clothes/clothing/garments

to have on/be in clothes/clothing/garments/dress/wear/gear

to wear clothes/clothing/garments/dress/gear

to change your clothes/clothing/garments/gear

to put on your clothes/clothing/garments/gear

to take off your clothes/clothing/gear

clothes/dress sense

clothes brush noun (BrE) a brush that you use to remove hairs and dust from your clothes

clothes hanger noun = HANGER

clothes horse noun
1 (BrE) a wooden or plastic folding frame that you put clothes on to dry after you have washed them
2 (disapproving) a person, especially a woman, who is too interested in fashionable clothes

clothes line (BrE) (also line NAmE, BrE) (BrE also washing line) noun a piece of thin rope or wire, attached to posts, that you hang clothes on to dry outside after you have washed them

clothes peg (BrE) (NAmE clothespin) noun = PEG (3)

clothier NAmE noun (formal) a person or company that makes or sells clothes or cloth

clothing NAmE noun [U] clothes, especially a particular type of clothes: protective clothing the high cost of food and clothing an item/article of clothing a clothing manufacturer note at CLOTHES see WOLF n.

clotted cream noun [U] a very thick type of cream made by slowly heating milk, made and eaten especially in Britain: scones and jam with clotted cream

clotting factor noun [C, U] (biology) any of the substances in the blood which help it to CLOT (= become thick and form lumps)

cloud noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] a grey or white mass made of very small drops of water, that floats in the sky: The sun went behind a cloud. It was scorching and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The plane was flying in cloud most of the way.see also STORM CLOUD, THUNDERCLOUD
2 [C] a large mass of sth in the air, for example dust or smoke, or a number of insects flying all together
3 [C] something that makes you feel sad or anxious: Her father's illness cast a cloud over her wedding day. The only dark cloud on the horizon was that they might have to move house. He still has a cloud of suspicion hanging over him.
every cloud has a silver lining (saying) every sad or difficult situation has a positive side
on cloud nine (old-fashioned, informal) extremely happy
under a cloud if sb is under a cloud, other people think that they have done sth wrong and are suspicious of them: She resigned under a cloud.more at HEAD n.
verb
1 [VN] if sth clouds your judgement, memory, etc., it makes it difficult for you to understand or remember sth clearly: Doubts were beginning to cloud my mind. His judgement was clouded by jealousy.
2 ~ (over) (formal) (of sb's face) to show sadness, fear, anger, etc.; to make sb look sad, afraid, angry, etc.: [V] Her face clouded over with anger. [VN] Suspicion clouded his face.
3 [VN] ~ the issue to make sth you are discussing or considering less clear, especially by introducing subjects that are not connected with it
4 [V] ~ (over) (of the sky) to fill with clouds: It was beginning to cloud over.
5 [VN] to make sth less pleasant or enjoyable: His last years were clouded by financial worries.
6 if glass, water, etc. clouds, or if sth clouds it, it becomes less transparent: [V] Her eyes clouded with tears. [VN] Steam had clouded the mirror.

cloudburst NAmE noun a sudden very heavy fall of rain

cloud cuckoo land (BrE) (NAmE cloudland, la-la land) noun [U] (informal, disapproving) if you say that sb is living in cloud-cuckoo-land, you mean that they do not understand what a situation is really like, but think it is much better than it is

cloudless adj. clear; with no clouds: a cloudless sky

cloudy adj.
1 (of the sky or the weather) covered with clouds; with a lot of clouds CLEAR: a grey, cloudy day
2 (of liquids) not clear or transparent: The water looked cloudy and not fit to drink.
cloudiness noun [U]

clout noun, verb
noun
1 [U] power and influence: political/financial clout I knew his opinion carried a lot of clout with them.
2 [C, usually sing.] (informal) a blow with the hand or a hard object: You're not too big for a clout round the ear!
verb [VN] (informal) to hit sb hard, especially with your hand

clove NAmE noun
1 [C, U] the dried flower of a tropical tree, used in cooking as a spice, especially to give flavour to sweet foods. Cloves look like small nails.
2 [C] a garlic ~ | a ~ of garlic one of the small separate sections of a BULB (= the round underground part) of GARLIC: Use one crushed clove of garlic.see also CLEAVE v.

cloven hoof noun the foot of an animal such as a cow, a sheep, or a GOAT, that is divided into two parts

clover NAmE noun [U] a small wild plant that usually has three leaves on each STEM and purple, pink or white flowers that are shaped like balls: a four-leaf clover (= one with four leaves instead of three, thought to bring good luck)
be/live in clover (informal) to have enough money to be able to live a very comfortable life

cloverleaf NAmE noun (NAmE) a place where a number of main roads meet at different levels, with curved sections that form the pattern of a four-leaf clover

clown noun, verb
noun
1 an entertainer who wears funny clothes and a large red nose and does silly things to make people laugh: (figurative) Robert was always the class clown (= he did silly things to make the other students laugh).
2 (disapproving) a person that you disapprove of because they act in a stupid way: What do those clowns in the government think they are doing?
verb [V] ~ (around) (often disapproving) to behave in a silly way, especially in order to make other people laugh

clownish adj. like a clown; silly

cloy verb (of sth pleasant or sweet) to start to become slightly disgusting or annoying, because there is too much of it: After a while, the rich sauce begins to cloy.
cloying adj.: the cloying sentimentality of her novels

cloying adj. (formal)
1 (of food, a smell, etc.) so sweet that it is unpleasant
2 using emotion in a very obvious way, so that the result is unpleasant: His acting was passionate, but never cloying or sentimental.
cloyingly adv.

cloze test NAmE noun a type of test in which you have to put suitable words in spaces in a text where words have been left out

club noun, verb
noun
FOR ACTIVITY/SPORT
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] (especially in compounds) a group of people who meet together regularly, for a particular activity, sport, etc.: a golf/tennis, etc. club a chess/film/movie, etc. club to join/belong to a club The club has/have voted to admit 50 new members.see also FAN CLUB, YOUTH CLUB
2 [C] the building or rooms that a particular club uses: We had lunch at the golf club. the club barsee also COUNTRY CLUB, HEALTH CLUB
3 [C+sing./pl. v.] (BrE) a professional sports organization that includes the players, managers, owners and members: Manchester United Football Club
MUSIC/DANCING
4 [C] a place where people, especially young people, go and listen to music, dance, etc.: a jazz club the club scene in Newcastlesee also CLUBBING, NIGHTCLUB, STRIP CLUB
SOCIAL
5 [C+sing./pl. v.] (especially in Britain) an organization and a place where people, usually men only, can meet together socially or stay: He's a member of several London clubs.
SELLING BOOKS/CDS
6 [C] an organization that sells books, CDs, etc. cheaply to its members: a music clubsee also BOOK CLUB
WEAPON
7 [C] a heavy stick with one end thicker than the other, that is used as a weaponsee also BILLY CLUB
IN GOLF
8 [C] = GOLF CLUB
IN CARD GAMES
9 clubs [pl., U] one of the four set of cards (called SUITS) in a PACK/DECK of cards. The clubs have a black design shaped like three black leaves on a short STEM: the five/queen/ace of clubs
10 [C] one card from the SUIT called clubs: I played a club.
be in the club (BrE, informal) to be pregnantmore at JOIN v.
verb (-bb-)
1 [VN] to hit a person or an animal with a heavy stick or similar object: The victim was clubbed to death with a baseball bat.
2 [V] go clubbing (BrE, informal) to spend time dancing and drinking in NIGHTCLUBS
club together (BrE) if two or more people club together, they each give an amount of money and the total is used to pay for sth: We clubbed together to buy them a new television.

clubbing noun [U] the activity of going to NIGHTCLUBS regularly: They go clubbing most weekends.
clubber noun: The venue was packed with 3 000 clubbers.

club car noun (NAmE) a coach/car on a train with comfortable chairs and tables, where you can buy sth to eat or drink

club class noun [U] (BrE) = BUSINESS CLASS

club foot noun [C, U] a foot that has been DEFORMED (= badly shaped) since birth
club-footed adj.

clubhouse noun the building used by a club, especially a sports club

clubland noun [U] (BrE) popular NIGHTCLUBS in general and the people who go to them; an area of a town where there are a lot of NIGHTCLUBS: modern clubland London's clubland

club sandwich noun a SANDWICH consisting of three slices of bread with two layers of food between them

cluck verb, noun
verb
1 [V] when a chicken clucks, it makes a series of short low sounds
2 to make a short low sound with your tongue to show that you feel sorry for sb or that you disapprove of sth: [V] The teacher clucked sympathetically at the child's story. [also VN, V speech]
noun the low, short sounds that a chicken makes: (figurative) a cluck of impatience/annoyance

clucky adj. (AustralE, NZE, informal)
1 (of a HEN) sitting or ready to sit on eggs BROODY
2 (of a woman) wanting to have a baby BROODY

clue noun, verb
noun
1 ~ (to sth) an object, a piece of evidence or some information that helps the police solve a crime: The police think the videotape may hold some vital clues to the identity of the killer.
2 ~ (to sth) a fact or a piece of evidence that helps you discover the answer to a problem: Diet may hold the clue to the causes of migraine.
3 some words or a piece of information that helps you find the answers to a CROSSWORD, a game or a question: 'You'll never guess who I saw today!' 'Give me a clue.'
not have a clue (informal)
1 to know nothing about sth or about how to do sth: I don't have a clue where she lives.
2 (disapproving) to be very stupid: Don't ask him to do ithe doesn't have a clue!
verb
clue sb in (on sth) (informal) to give sb the most recent information about sth: He's just clued me in on the latest developments.

clued-up (BrE) (NAmE clued-in) adj. ~ (on sth) (informal) knowing a lot about sth; having a lot of information about sth

clueless adj. (informal, disapproving) very stupid; not able to understand or to do sth: He's completely clueless about computers.

clump noun, verb
noun
1 a small group of things or people very close together, especially trees or plants; a bunch of sth such as grass or hair: a clump of trees/bushes
2 the sound made by sb putting their feet down very heavily: I heard the heavy clump of feet on the stairs.
verb
1 [V + adv. / prep.] (especially BrE) to put your feet down noisily and heavily as you walk: The children clumped down the stairs.
2 ~ (together)| ~ A and B (together) to come together or be brought together to form a tight group: [V] Galaxies tend to clump together in clusters. [also VN]

clumpy adj. (BrE) (of shoes and boots) big, thick and heavy

clumsy adj. (clumsier, clumsiest)
1 (of people and animals) moving or doing things in a very awkward way: I spilt your coffee. Sorrythat was clumsy of me. His clumsy fingers couldn't untie the knot.
2 (of actions and statements) done without skill or in a way that offends people: She made a clumsy attempt to apologize.
3 (of objects) difficult to move or use easily; not well designed
4 (of processes) awkward; too complicated to understand or use easily: The complaints procedure is clumsy and time-consuming.
clumsily adv. clumsiness noun [U]

clung pt, pp of CLING

clunk noun a dull sound made by two heavy objects hitting each other: the clunk of a car door being shut
clunk verb [V]

clunker noun (NAmE, informal)
1 an old car in bad condition
2 a serious mistake

clunky adj. (informal, especially NAmE) heavy and awkward: clunky leather shoes

cluster noun, verb
noun
1 a group of things of the same type that grow or appear close together: a cluster of stars The plant bears its flowers in clusters. a leukaemia cluster (= an area where there are more cases of the disease than you would expect)
2 a group of people, animals or things close together: a cluster of spectators a little cluster of houses
3 (phonetics) a group of consonants which come together in a word or phrase, for example at the beginning of string: a consonant cluster
verb [V + adv. / prep.] ~ (together) to come together in a small group or groups: The children clustered together in the corner of the room. The doctors clustered anxiously around his bed.

cluster bomb noun a type of bomb that throws out smaller bombs when it explodes

clutch verb, noun
verb
1 to hold sb/sth tightly GRIP: [VN] He clutched the child to him. She stood there, the flowers still clutched in her hand. [V + adv. / prep.] I clutched on to the chair for support note at HOLD
2 ~ (at) sb/sth to take hold of sth suddenly, because you are afraid or in pain: [VN] He gasped and clutched his stomach. (figurative) [V] Fear clutched at her heart. see STRAW note at HOLD
clutch/catch at sth/sb to try to quickly get hold of sth/sb GRAB AT
noun
1 [C] the PEDAL in a car or other vehicle that you press with your foot so that you can change gear: Put your foot on the clutch.
2 [C] a device in a machine that connects and DISCONNECTS working parts, especially the engine and the gears: The car needs a new clutch.
3 a ~ of sth [sing.] (BrE) a group of people, animals or things: He's won a whole clutch of awards.
4 clutches [pl.] (informal) power or control: He managed to escape from their clutches. Now that she had him in her clutches, she wasn't going to let go.
5 [C, usually sing.] a tight hold on sb/sth GRIP: (figurative) She felt the sudden clutch of fear.
6 [C] a group of eggs that a bird lays at one time; the young birds that come out of a group of eggs at the same time
7 [C] (NAmE) = CLUTCH BAG

clutch bag (NAmE also clutch) noun a small, flat bag that women carry in their hands, especially on formal occasions

clutter verb, noun
verb [VN] ~ sth (up) (with sth/sb) to fill a place with too many things, so that it is untidy: Don't clutter the page with too many diagrams. I don't want all these files cluttering up my desk. (figurative) Try not to clutter your head with trivia.
noun [U, sing.] (disapproving) a lot of things in an untidy state, especially things that are not necessary or are not being used; a state of confusion MESS: There's always so much clutter on your desk! There was a clutter of bottles and tubes on the shelf.

cluttered NAmE adj. ~ (up) (with sb/sth) covered with, or full of, a lot of things or people, in a way that is untidy: a cluttered room/desk (figurative) a cluttered mind UNCLUTTERED

CM abbr. COMMAND MODULE

cm abbr. (pl. cm or cms) CENTIMETRE

CND abbr. Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (a British organization whose aim is to persuade countries to get rid of their nuclear weapons)

CNN abbr. Cable News Network (an American broadcasting company that sends television news programmes all over the world)

CO NAmE abbr. Commanding Officer (an officer who commands a group of soldiers, sailors, etc.)

Co. NAmE abbr.
1 (business) company: Pitt, Briggs & Co.
2 (in writing) county
3 and co. (BrE, informal) and other members of a group of people: Were Jane and co. at the party?

co- NAmE prefix (used in adjectives, adverbs, nouns and verbs) together with: co-produced cooperatively co-author coexist

c/o NAmE abbr. (used on letters to a person staying at sb else's house) care of: Mr P Brown, c/o Ms M Jones

coach NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a person who trains a person or team in sport: a basketball/football/tennis, etc. coach Italy's national coach
2 [C] (BrE) a person who gives private lessons to sb, often to prepare them for an exam: a maths coach
3 [C] = LIFE COACH
4 [C] (BrE) a comfortable bus for carrying passengers over long distances: They went to Italy on a coach tour. Travel is by coach overnight to Berlin. a coach station (= where coaches start and end their journey) a coach party (= a group of people travelling together on a coach)
5 [C] (BrE) = CARRIAGE: a railway coach
6 [C] a large closed vehicle with four wheels, pulled by horses, used in the past for carrying passengerssee also STAGECOACH
7 [U] (NAmE) the cheapest seats in a plane: to fly coach coach fares/passengers/seats see DRIVE v.
verb~ sb (in/for sth)
1 to train sb to play a sport, to do a job better, or to improve a skill: [VN] Her father coached her for the Olympics. She has coached hundreds of young singers. He coaches basketball and soccer. [also VN to inf]
2 [VN] (especially BrE) to give a student extra teaching in a particular subject especially so that they will pass an exam
3 ~ sb (in/on sth) to give sb special instructions for what they should do or say in a particular situation: [VN] They believed the witnesses had been coached on what to say. [also VN to inf]

coach house noun a building where CARRIAGES pulled by horses are or were kept

coaching NAmE noun [U]
1 the process of training sb to play a sport, to do a job better or to improve a skill: a coaching session
2 (especially BrE) the process of giving a student extra teaching in a particular subject

coaching inn noun in the past, an INN along a route used by horses, at which horses could be changed

coachload NAmE noun (BrE) a group of people travelling together in a coach: Tourists were arriving by the coachload.

coachman NAmE noun (pl. -men ) (in the past) a man who drove a COACH pulled by horses

coachwork NAmE noun [U] (BrE) the metal outer part of a road or railway/railroad vehicle

coagulate NAmE verb if a liquid coagulates or sth coagulates it, it becomes thick and partly solid CONGEAL: [V] Blood began to coagulate around the edges of the wound. [also VN]
coagulation NAmE noun [U]: the coagulation of blood

coal NAmE noun
1 [U] a hard black mineral that is found below the ground and burnt to produce heat: I put more coal on the fire. a lump of coal a coal fire a coal mine the coal industry
2 [C] a piece of coal, especially one that is burning: A hot coal fell out of the fire and burnt the carpet.
carry, take, etc. coals to Newcastle (BrE) to take goods to a place where there are already plenty of them; to supply sth where it is not needed
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the north of England, was once an important coal-mining centre.more at HAUL v., RAKE v.

coal-black adj. very dark in colour: coal-black eyes

coalesce NAmE verb [V] ~ (into/with sth) (formal) to come together to form one larger group, substance, etc. AMALGAMATE: The puddles had coalesced into a small stream.
coalescence NAmE noun [U]: a remarkable coalescence of opinion

coalface NAmE (also face) noun the place deep inside a mine where the coal is cut out of the rock: The miners had to crawl to reach the coalface.
at the coalface (BrE) where the real work is done, not just where people talk about it: Many of the best ideas come from doctors at the coalface.

coalfield NAmE noun a large area where there is a lot of coal under the ground

coal-fired adj. using coal as fuel: a coal-fired power station

coal gas noun [U] a mixture of gases produced from coal, that can be used for electricity and heating

coalhouse NAmE noun a small building for storing coal, especially in sb's garden in the past

coalition NAmE noun
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] a government formed by two or more political parties working together: to form a coalition a two-party coalition a coalition government
2 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group formed by people from several different groups, especially political ones, agreeing to work together for a particular purpose: a coalition of environmental and consumer groups
3 [U] the act of two or more groups joining together: They didn't rule out coalition with the Social Democrats.

coalman NAmE noun (pl. -men ) a man whose job is to deliver coal to people's houses

coal mine (also pit) noun a place underground where coal is dug

coal miner noun a person whose job is digging coal in a coal mine

coal scuttle (also scuttle) noun a container with a handle, used for carrying coal and usually kept beside the FIREPLACE

coal tar noun [U] a thick black sticky substance produced when gas is made from coal: the powerful smell of coal tar soap

coaming NAmE noun a raised border around a ship's HATCH that keeps the water out

coarse NAmE adj. (coarser, coarsest)
1 (of skin or cloth) rough: coarse hands/linen SMOOTH, SOFT
2 consisting of relatively large pieces: coarse sand/salt/hair FINE
3 rude and offensive, especially about sex VULGAR: coarse manners/laughter
coarsely adv.: coarsely chopped onions (= cut into large pieces) He laughed coarsely at her. coarseness noun [U]

coarse fish noun (pl. coarse fish) (BrE) any fish, except SALMON and TROUT, that lives in rivers and lakes rather than in the sea

coarse fishing noun [U] (BrE) the sport of catching coarse fish: to go coarse fishing

coarsen NAmE verb
1 to become or make sth become thicker and/or rougher: [V] Her hair gradually coarsened as she grew older. [VN] His features had been coarsened by the weather.
2 to become or make sb become less polite and often offensive in the way they behave: [VN] The six long years in prison had coarsened him. [also V]

coast NAmE noun, verb
noun [C, U] the land beside or near to the sea or ocean: a town on the south coast of England islands off the west coast of Ireland a trip to the coast We walked along the coast for five miles. the Welsh coast a pretty stretch of coast the coast road
the coast is clear (informal) there is no danger of being seen or caught: As soon as the coast was clear he climbed in through the window.
verb [V]
1 [usually +adv./prep.] (of a car or a bicycle) to move, especially down a hill, without using any power: The car coasted along until it stopped. She took her feet off the pedals and coasted downhill.
2 [usually +adv./prep.] (of a vehicle) to move quickly and smoothly, without using much power: The plane coasted down the runway. We coasted along the country lanes.
3 ~ (through/to sth) to be successful at sth without having to try hard: He coasted through his final exams. Our horse coasted home (= won easily) by three lengths.
4 ~ (along) (disapproving) to put very little effort into sth: You're just coastingit's time to work hard now.
5 (of a ship) to stay close to land while sailing around the coast

SYNONYMS

coast

beach seaside coastline shoreline sand seashore

These are all words for the land beside or near to the sea, a river or a lake.

coast the land beside or near to the sea or ocean: a town on the south coast of England The coast road is closed due to bad weather. It is nearly always the coast, except when it is uncountable: That's a pretty stretch of coast.

beach an area of sand, or small stones, beside the sea or a lake: She took the kids to the beach for the day. sandy beaches

seaside (especially BrE) an area that is by the sea, especially one where people go for a day or a holiday: a trip to the seaside It is always the seaside, except when it is used before a noun: a seaside resort. The seaside is British English; in American English seaside is only used before a noun.

coastline the land along a coast, especially when you are thinking of its shape or appearance: California's rugged coastline

shoreline the edge of the sea, the ocean or a lake: We walked along the rocky shoreline.

COASTLINE OR SHORELINE?

A coastline is always the edge of the sea or ocean, not a lake; coastline is usually used to talk about an area that is longer than a shoreline: the Turkish coastline the Dublin shoreline.

sand a large area of sand on a beach: We went for a walk along the sand. a resort with miles of golden sands

the seashore the land along the edge of the sea or ocean, usually where there is sand and rocks: He liked to look for shells on the seashore.

BEACH OR SEASHORE?

Beach is usually used to talk about a sandy area next to the sea where people lie in the sun or play, for example when they are on holiday. Seashore is used more to talk about the area by the sea in terms of things such as waves, sea shells, rocks, etc., especially where people walk for pleasure.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

along the coast/beach/coastline/shoreline/seashore

on the coast/beach/coastline/shoreline/sands/seashore

at the coast/beach/seaside/seashore

by the coast/seaside/seashore

a(n) rocky/rugged/unspoiled coast/beach/coastline/shoreline

the north/northern/south/southern, etc. coast/coastline/shoreline

to go to the coast/beach/seaside/seashore

a coast/beach/seaside resort

a stretch of coast/beach/coastline/shoreline

coastal NAmE adj. [usually before noun] of or near a coast: coastal waters/resorts/scenery a coastal path (= one that follows the line of the coast)compare INLAND

coasteering NAmE noun [U] the sport of following a route around a coast by climbing, jumping off CLIFFS and swimming

coaster NAmE noun
1 a small flat object which you put under a glass to protect the top of a table
2 a ship that sails from port to port along a coastsee also ROLLER COASTER

coastguard NAmE noun
1 (usually the coastguard) [sing.] an official organization (in the US a branch of the armed forces) whose job is to watch the sea near a coast in order to help ships and people in trouble, and to stop people from breaking the law: The coastguard was alerted. They radioed Dover Coastguard. a coastguard station
2 [C] (especially BrE) (US usually coastguardman) a member of this organization

coastline NAmE noun the land along a coast, especially when you are thinking of its shape or appearance: a rugged/rocky/beautiful coastline to protect the coastline from oil spillage note at COAST

coat NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a piece of outdoor clothing that is worn over other clothes to keep warm or dry. Coats have sleeves and may be long or short: a fur/leather coat a long winter coat to put on/take off your coatsee also DUFFEL COAT, GREATCOAT, HOUSECOAT, OVERCOAT, PETTICOAT, RAINCOAT, TRENCH COAT
2 (NAmE) (old-fashioned in BrE) a jacket that is worn as part of a suitsee also FROCK COAT, MORNING COAT, TAILCOAT, WAISTCOAT
3 the fur, hair or wool that covers an animal's body: a dog with a smooth/shaggy coat animals in their winter coats (= grown long for extra warmth)
4 a layer of paint or some other substance that covers a surface: to give the walls a second coat of paintsee also TOPCOAT, UNDERCOAT
cut your coat according to your cloth (saying) to do only what you have enough money to do and no more: We wanted to buy a bigger house than this but it was a case of cutting our coat according to our cloth.
verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sth (with/in sth) to cover sth with a layer of a substance: cookies thickly coated with chocolate A film of dust coated the table. The mask was coated in gold leaf.see also SUGAR-COATED

coat check noun (NAmE) = CLOAKROOM

coat dress noun a woman's dress that fastens down the front and looks like a coat

coat hanger noun = HANGER

coati NAmE (also coatimundi NAmE ) noun a small animal with a long nose and a long tail with lines across it, which lives mainly in Central and S America

coating NAmE noun a thin layer of a substance covering a surface: a thin coating of chocolate magnetic coating on a floppy disk

coat of arms noun (pl. coats of arms) (also arms [pl.]) a design or a SHIELD that is a special symbol of a family, city or other organization: the royal coat of arms

coatroom NAmE noun (NAmE) = CLOAKROOM (1)

coat stand noun a stand with hooks for hanging coats and hats on

coat-tails noun [pl.]
on sb's coat-tails using the success and influence of another person to help yourself become successful: She got where she is today on her brother's coat-tails.

co-author noun a person who writes a book or an article with sb else
co-author verb [VN] co-authorship noun [U]

coax NAmE verb ~ sb (into doing sth)| ~ sb (into/out of sth) to persuade sb to do sth by talking to them in a kind and gentle way CAJOLE: [VN] She coaxed the horse into coming a little closer. He was coaxed out of retirement to help the failing company. She had to coax the car along. Police managed to coax the man down from the ledge. [V speech] 'Nearly there,' she coaxed. [also VN speech]
coax sth out of/from sb to gently persuade sb to do sth or give you sth: The director coaxed a brilliant performance out of the cast.

coaxing NAmE noun [U] gentle attempts to persuade sb to do sth or to get a machine to start: No amount of coaxing will make me change my mind. A little coaxing was all it took to get her to say his name. My car needs a lot of coaxing to start in the winter
coaxing adj. coaxingly adv.

cob NAmE noun
1 = CORNCOB: corn on the cob
2 a strong horse with short legs
3 (BrE) a round LOAF of bread: a crusty cob

cobalt NAmE noun [U]
1 (symb Co) a chemical element. Cobalt is a hard silver-white metal, often mixed with other metals and used to give a deep blue-green colour to glass.
2 (also cobalt blue) a deep blue-green colour

cobber NAmE noun (AustralE, NZE, informal) (used especially by a man addressing another man) a friend

cobble NAmE verb [VN] (old-fashioned) to make or repair shoes
cobble sthtogether to produce sth quickly and without great care or effort, so that it can be used but is not perfect: The essay was cobbled together from some old notes. The reforms have been very hastily cobbled together.

cobbled NAmE adj. (of streets and roads) having a surface that is made of COBBLES

cobbler NAmE noun
1 [C] (especially NAmE) a type of fruit PIE with thick PASTRY on top: peach cobbler
2 [C] (old-fashioned) a person who repairs shoescompare SHOEMAKER
3 [U] cobblers (BrE, informal) nonsense: He said it was all a load of cobblers.

cobbles NAmE (also cobblestones) noun [pl.] small round stones used to make the surfaces of roads, especially in the past: a cart clattering over the cobbles

cobblestones NAmE noun [pl.] = COBBLES
cobblestone adj.

COBOL NAmE noun [U] an early computer language used in business programs

cobra NAmE noun a poisonous snake that can spread the skin at the back of its neck to make itself look bigger. Cobras live in Asia and Africa.

cobweb NAmE noun a fine net of threads made by a spider to catch insects; a single thread of this net (usually used when it is old and covered with dirt): Thick cobwebs hung in the dusty corners. He brushed a cobweb out of his hair.see also WEB, SPIDER'S WEB
cobwebbed NAmE adj.: cobwebbed corners
blow/clear the cobwebs away to help sb start sth in a fresh, lively state of mind: A brisk walk should blow the cobwebs away.

coca NAmE noun [U] a tropical bush whose leaves are used to make the drug COCAINE

Coca-ColaTM NAmE (also informal CokeTM) noun
1 [U, C] a popular type of COLA drink
2 [C] a glass, bottle or can of Coca-Cola

cocaine NAmE (also informal coke) noun [U] a powerful drug that some people take illegally for pleasure and can become ADDICTED to. Doctors sometimes use it as an ANAESTHETIC.

coccyx NAmE noun (pl. coccyxes or coccyges NAmE ) (anatomy) the small bone at the bottom of the SPINE TAILBONE

cochineal NAmE noun [U] a bright red substance used to give colour to food

cochlea NAmE noun (pl. cochleae ) (anatomy) a small curved tube inside the ear, which contains a small part that sends nerve signals to the brain when sounds cause it to VIBRATE

cock NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 (BrE) (also rooster NAmE, BrE) [C] an adult male chicken: The cock crowed.compare HEN
2 [C] (especially in compounds) a male of any other bird: a cock pheasantsee also PEACOCK
3 [C] (taboo, slang) a PENIS
4 [C] = STOPCOCKsee also BALLCOCK
5 [sing.] (old-fashioned, BrE, slang) used as a friendly form of address between mensee also HALF-COCK
verb [VN]
1 to raise a part of your body so that it is vertical or at an angle: The dog cocked its leg by every tree on our route (= in order to URINATE). He cocked an inquisitive eyebrow at her. She cocked her head to one side and looked at me. The dog stood listening, its ears cocked.
2 ~ a gun/pistol/rifle to raise the HAMMER on a gun so that it is ready to fire
cock an ear/eye at sth/sb to look at or listen to sb/sth carefully and with a lot of attention
cock a snook at sb/sth (BrE) to say or do sth that clearly shows you do not respect sb/sth: to cock a snook at authority The firm cocked a snook at the recession by doubling its workforce.
cock sthup (BrE, slang) to ruin sth by doing it badly, or by making a careless or stupid mistake BUNGLE: I really cocked that exam up! She cocked up all the arrangements for the party.related noun COCK-UP

cockade NAmE noun a decorated BADGE or an arrangement of RIBBONS, feathers, etc. that is worn in a hat to show military rank, membership of a political party, etc.

cock-a-doodle-doo NAmE noun the word for the sound that a COCK/ ROOSTER makes

cock-a-hoop adj. [not usually before noun] ~ (about/at/over sth) (informal) very pleased and excited, especially about achieving sth: They're all cock-a-hoop about winning the first game of the season.

cock-a-leekie NAmE (also cock-a-leekie soup) noun [U] a type of Scottish soup, made with chicken and LEEKS (= long vegetables that taste like onions)

cockamamie (also cockamamy) NAmE adj. (NAmE, informal) (of an idea, a story, etc.) silly; not to be believed

cock and bull story noun a story that is unlikely to be true but is used as an explanation or excuse: His reply was some cock and bull story about having to give her a lift home.

cockatiel NAmE noun an Australian PARROT with a grey body and a yellow and orange face

cockatoo NAmE noun (pl. -oos) an Australian bird of the PARROT family, with a large row of feathers (called a CREST) standing up on its head

cockchafer NAmE (also May bug) noun a large brown insect that flies and makes a loud noise in early evening in summer

cockcrow NAmE noun [U] (literary) the time of the day when it is becoming light DAWN

cocked hat noun see KNOCK v.

cocker NAmE (also cocker spaniel) noun a small SPANIEL (= type of dog) with soft hair

cockerel NAmE noun a young male chicken

cockeyed NAmE adj. (informal)
1 not level or straight CROOKED: Doesn't that picture look cockeyed to you?
2 not practical; not likely to succeed: a cockeyed scheme to make people use less water

cockfight NAmE noun a fight between two adult male chickens, watched as a sport and illegal in many countries
cockfighting noun [U]

cockle NAmE noun a small SHELLFISH that can be eaten see WARM v.

cockleshell NAmE noun
1 the shell of a cockle
2 a small light boat

cockney NAmE noun
1 [C] a person from the East End of London
2 [U] the way of speaking that is typical of cockneys: a cockney accent

cockpit NAmE noun the area in a plane, boat or racing car where the pilot or driver sits

cockroach NAmE (also NAmE informal roach) noun a large brown insect with wings, that lives in houses, especially where there is dirt: The kitchens were discovered to be infested with cockroaches.

cocksucker NAmE noun (taboo, slang) an offensive word used to insult sb, usually a man

cocksure NAmE adj. (old-fashioned, informal) confident in a way that is annoying to other people and that they might find offensive

cocktail NAmE noun
1 [C] a drink usually made from a mixture of one or more SPIRITS (= strong alcoholic drinks) and fruit juice. It can also be made without alcohol: a cocktail bar/cabinet/lounge
2 [C, U] a dish of small pieces of food, usually served cold: a prawn/shrimp cocktail fruit cocktail
3 [C] a mixture of different substances, usually ones that do not mix together well: a lethal cocktail of drugssee also MOLOTOV COCKTAIL

cocktail dress noun a dress that is suitable for formal social occasions

cocktail party noun a formal social occasion, usually in the early evening, when people drink COCKTAILS or other alcoholic drinks

cocktail stick noun (BrE) a small, sharp piece of wood on which small pieces of food are placed, for guests to eat at parties

cock-teaser (also cock-tease, prick-teaser, prick-tease) noun (taboo, slang) an offensive word used to describe a woman who makes a man think she will have sex with him when she will not

cock-up noun (BrE, informal) a mistake that spoils people's arrangements; sth that has been spoilt because it was badly organized: There's been a bit of a cock-up over the travel arrangements.

cocky NAmE adj. (cockier, cockiest) (informal) too confident about yourself in a way that annoys other people: For a young man on his first day at work he's remarkably cocky.
cockiness noun [U]

cocoa NAmE noun
1 [U] dark brown powder made from the crushed seeds (called cocoa beans) of a tropical tree
2 [U] a hot drink made by mixing cocoa powder with milk and/or water and usually sugar: a mug of cocoa
3 [C] a cup of cocoacompare CHOCOLATE, DRINKING CHOCOLATE

cocoa butter noun [U] fat that is obtained from cocoa BEANS and used in making chocolate and COSMETICS

coconut NAmE noun
1 [C] the large nut of a tropical tree called a coconut palm. It grows inside a hard shell and contains a soft white substance that can be eaten and juice that can be drunk.
2 [U] the soft white substance inside a coconut, used in cooking: desiccated coconut coconut biscuits/cookies coconut oil

coconut butter noun [U] a solid substance inside COCONUTS that is used to make soap, CANDLES, etc.

coconut matting noun [U] (BrE) a material used to cover floors that is made from the hair inside the outer shell of coconuts

coconut shy noun (pl. coconut shies) (BrE) an outdoor entertainment in which people try to knock coconuts off stands by throwing balls at them

cocoon noun, verb
noun
1 a covering of silk threads that some insects make to protect themselves before they become adults
2 a soft covering that wraps all around a person or thing and forms a protection: (figurative) the cocoon of a caring family
verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (in sth) to protect sb/sth by surrounding them or it completely with sth: We were warm and safe, cocooned in our sleeping bags. I had a sheltered childhood, cocooned from the world by money and love.

cocoyam NAmE noun [C, U] (WAfrE) a plant whose roots can be cooked and eaten or made into flour: roasted cocoyamsee also FUFU

cod NAmE noun, adj.
noun [C, U] (pl. cod) a large sea fish with white flesh that is used for food: fishing for cod cod fillets cod and parsley sauce
adj. [only before noun] (BrE, informal) not genuine or real: a cod American accent cod psychology

COD NAmE abbr. cash on delivery or (in American English) collect on delivery (payment for goods will be made when the goods are delivered)

coda NAmE noun the final passage of a piece of music: (figurative) The final two months were a miserable coda to the President's first period in office.

coddle NAmE verb [VN]
1 (often disapproving) to treat sb with too much care and attention: She coddles him like a child.compare MOLLYCODDLE
2 to cook eggs in water slightly below boiling point

code NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] (often in compounds) a system of words, letters, numbers or symbols that represent a message or record information secretly or in a shorter form: to break/crack a code (= to understand and read the message) It's written in code. Tap your code number into the machine. In the event of the machine not operating correctly, an error code will appear.see also AREA CODE, BAR CODE, MORSE CODE, POSTCODE, ZIP CODE, SORT CODE
2 [C] = DIALLING CODE: There are two codes for London.
3 [U] (computing) a system of computer programming instructionssee also MACHINE CODE, SOURCE CODE
4 [C] a set of moral principles or rules of behaviour that are generally accepted by society or a social group: a strict code of conduct
5 [C] a system of laws or written rules that state how people in an institution or a country should behave: the penal codesee also DRESS CODE, HIGHWAY CODE
verb [VN]
1 to write or print words, letters, numbers, etc. on sth so that you know what it is, what group it belongs to, etc.: Each order is coded separately.
2 to put a message into code so that it can only be understood by a few people
3 (computing) to write a computer program by putting one system of numbers, words and symbols into another system ENCODE

coded NAmE adj.
1 [only before noun] a coded message or coded information is written or sent using a special system of words, letters, numbers, etc. that can only be understood by a few other people or by a computer: a coded warning of a bomb at the airport
2 expressed in an indirect way: There was coded criticism of the government from some party members.

codeine NAmE noun [U] a drug used to reduce pain

code name noun a name used for a person or thing in order to keep the real name secret
code-named adj. [not before noun]: a drug investigation, code-named Snoopy

code of practice noun (pl. codes of practice) a set of standards that members of a particular profession agree to follow in their work: a recommended code of practice issued to all local government employees

codependency NAmE noun [U] (psychology) a situation in which two people have a close relationship in which they rely too much on each other emotionally, especially when one person is caring for the other one
codependent adj., noun

CODESA NAmE abbr. Convention for a Democratic South Africa (= in the past, the group of politicians who discussed how South Africa would become a DEMOCRACY)

code-sharing noun [U] (technical) an agreement between two or more AIRLINES to carry each other's passengers and use their own set of letters and numbers for flights provided by another airline

code switching noun [U] (linguistics) the practice of changing between languages when you are speaking

codex NAmE noun (pl. codices NAmE or codexes)
1 an ancient text in the form of a book
2 an official list of medicines or chemicals

codger NAmE noun (informal) old codger an informal way of referring to an old man that shows that you do not respect him

codicil NAmE noun (law) an instruction that is added later to a WILL, usually to change a part of it: In the codicil she left the house and its contents to her nephew.

codify NAmE verb (codifies, codifying, codified, codified) [VN] (technical) to arrange laws, rules, etc. into a system
codification NAmE noun [U]

cod liver oil noun [U] a thick yellow oil from the LIVER of COD (= a type of fish), containing a lot of VITAMINS A and D and often given as a medicine

codpiece NAmE noun a piece of cloth, especially a decorative one, attached to a man's lower clothing and covering his GENITALS, worn in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries

codswallop NAmE noun [U] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) nonsense: I've never heard such a load of old codswallop in my life.

coed NAmE noun (old-fashioned, NAmE) a female student at a co-educational school or college

co-educational (also informal coed) adj. (of a school or an EDUCATIONAL system) where girls and boys are taught together
co-education noun [U]

coefficient NAmE noun
1 (mathematics) a number which is placed before another quantity and which multiplies it, for example 3 in the quantity 3x
2 (physics) a number that measures a particular property (= characteristic) of a substance: the coefficient of friction

coelacanth noun a large fish found mainly in the seas near Madagascar. It was thought to be EXTINCT until one was discovered in 1938.

coeliac disease (BrE) (NAmE celiac disease) noun [U] a disease in which sb cannot DIGEST food (= break it down in their body) because their body is very sensitive to GLUTEN (= a PROTEIN that is found in WHEAT)

coelurosaur noun a small thin DINOSAUR with long front legs, that is thought to be the ANCESTOR of birds

coerce NAmE verb ~ sb (into sth/into doing sth) (formal) to force sb to do sth by using threats: [VN] They were coerced into negotiating a settlement. [also VN to inf]

coercion NAmE noun [U] (formal) the action of making sb do sth that they do not want to do, using force or threatening to use force: He claimed he had only acted under coercion.

coercive NAmE adj. (formal) using force or the threat of force: coercive measures/powers

coeval NAmE adj. (formal) ~ (with sth) (of two or more things) having the same age or date of origin: The industry is coeval with the construction of the first railways.

coexist NAmE verb [V] ~ (with sb/sth) (formal) to exist together in the same place or at the same time, especially in a peaceful way: The illness frequently coexists with other chronic diseases. English speakers now coexist peacefully with their Spanish-speaking neighbours. Different traditions coexist successfully side by side.

coexistence NAmE noun [U] the state of being together in the same place at the same time: to live in uneasy/peaceful coexistence within one nation

C. of E. abbr. Church of Englandsee also CE

coffee NAmE noun
1 [U, C] the ROASTED seeds (called coffee beans) of a tropical bush; a powder made from them: decaffeinated/instant coffee ground/real coffee a jar of coffee a blend of Brazilian and Colombian coffees coffee ice cream
2 [U] a hot drink made from coffee powder and boiling water. It may be drunk with milk and/or sugar added: black/white coffee (= without/with milk) Tea or coffee? I'll just make the coffee. Let's talk over coffee (= while drinking coffee).
3 [C] a cup of coffee: Two strong black coffees, please.
4 [U] the colour of coffee mixed with milk; light brown see WAKE v.

coffee bar noun
1 (BrE) (also coffee shop NAmE, BrE) a place, sometimes in a store, train station, etc., where you can buy coffee, tea, other drinks without alcohol and sometimes simple meals
2 (NAmE) a small restaurant that sells special sorts of coffee and cakes

coffee break noun a short period of rest when you stop working and drink coffee: to have a coffee break

coffee cake noun (NAmE) a small cake with melted sugar on top that people eat with coffee

coffee essence noun [U] (BrE) a thick liquid made from coffee, which often contains CHICORY

coffee house noun
1 a restaurant serving coffee, etc., especially one of a type popular in Britain in the 18th century or one in a city in Central Europe: the coffee houses of Vienna
2 (NAmE) a restaurant serving coffee, etc. where people go to listen to music, poetry, etc.

coffee machine noun
1 = COFFEE MAKER
2 a machine that you put coins in to get a cup of coffee

coffee maker (also coffee machine) noun a small machine for making cups of coffee

coffee morning noun (BrE) a social event held in the morning, often at a person's house, where money is usually given to help a charity

coffee shop noun a small restaurant, often in a store, hotel, etc., where coffee, tea, other drinks without alcohol and simple food are served

coffee table noun a small low table for putting magazines, cups, etc. on, usually in front of a SOFA

coffee-table book noun a large expensive book containing many pictures or photographs, that is designed for people to look through rather than to read carefully

coffer NAmE noun
1 [C] a large strong box, used in the past for storing money or valuable objects
2 (also coffers) [pl.] a way of referring to the money that a government, an organization, etc. has available to spend: The nation's coffers are empty.

coffin NAmE (especially BrE) (NAmE usually casket) noun a box in which a dead body is buried or CREMATED: A procession of mourners slowly followed the coffin. see NAIL n.

cog NAmE noun
1 one of a series of teeth on the edge of a wheel that fit between the teeth on the next wheel and cause it to move , COGWHEEL
2 = COGWHEEL
a cog in the machine/wheel (informal) a person who is a small part of a large organization

cogent NAmE adj. (formal) strongly and clearly expressed in a way that influences what people believe CONVINCING: She put forward some cogent reasons for abandoning the plan.
cogency NAmE noun [U] cogently adv.

cogitate NAmE verb [V] ~ (about/on sth) (formal) to think carefully about sth
cogitation NAmE noun [U, C]

cognac NAmE noun
1 [U, C] a type of fine BRANDY made in western France
2 [C] a glass of cognac: Would you like a cognac with your coffee?

cognate NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 (linguistics) having the same origin as another word or language: 'Haus' in German is cognate with 'house' in English. German and Dutch are cognate languages.
2 (formal) related in some way and therefore similar: a cognate development
noun (linguistics) a word that has the same origin as another: 'Haus' and 'house' are cognates.

cognition NAmE noun [U] (psychology) the process by which knowledge and understanding is developed in the mind: child studies centring on theories of cognition

cognitive NAmE adj. [usually before noun] connected with mental processes of understanding: a child's cognitive development cognitive psychology

cognizance (BrE also -isance) NAmE noun [U] (formal) knowledge or understanding of sth
cognizant, -isantadj. [not before noun]: cognizant of the importance of the case
take cognizance of sth (law) to understand or consider sth; to take notice of sth: In the light of the new evidence that the court can now take cognizance of, the case is dropped.

cognoscenti NAmE noun [pl.] the cognoscenti (from Italian, formal) people with a lot of knowledge about a particular subject

cogwheel NAmE (also cog) noun a wheel with a series of teeth on the edge that fit between the teeth on the next wheel and cause it to move

cohabit NAmE verb [V] ~ (with sb) (formal) (usually of a man and a woman) to live together and have a sexual relationship without being married: cohabiting couples She refused to cohabit with him before the wedding.
cohabitation NAmE noun [U]: There have been great changes in the patterns of marriage, divorce and cohabitation. (figurative) a period of cohabitation between a conservative government and a socialist president

cohere NAmE verb [V] ~ (with sth) (formal)
1 (of different ideas, arguments, sentences, etc.) to have a clear logical connection so that together they make a whole: This view does not cohere with their other beliefs. The various sections of the report fail to cohere into a satisfactory whole.
2 (of people) to work closely together: It can be difficult to get a group of people to cohere.

coherence NAmE noun [U] the situation in which all the parts of sth fit together well: The points you make are fine, but the whole essay lacks coherence. INCOHERENCE

coherent NAmE adj.
1 (of ideas, thoughts, arguments, etc.) logical and well organized; easy to understand and clear: a coherent narrative/account/explanation a coherent policy for the transport system
2 (of a person) able to talk and express yourself clearly: She only became coherent again two hours after the attack. INCOHERENT
coherently adv.: to express yourself coherently

cohesion NAmE noun [U]
1 (formal) the act or state of keeping together UNITY: the cohesion of the nuclear family social/political/economic cohesion
2 (physics, chemistry) the force causing MOLECULES of the same substance to stick together

cohesive NAmE adj. (formal)
1 forming a united whole: a cohesive group
2 causing people or things to become united: the cohesive power of shared suffering well-structured sentences illustrating the use of cohesive markers such as 'nevertheless' and 'however'
cohesiveness noun [U]: a strong sense of cohesiveness within the family

cohort NAmE noun [C+sing./pl. v.]
1 (technical) a group of people who share a common feature or aspect of behaviour: the 1999 birth cohort (= all those born in 1999)
2 (disapproving) a member of a group of people who support another person: Robinson and his cohorts were soon ejected from the hall.

coiffure NAmE noun (from French, formal or humorous) the way in which a person's hair is arranged HAIRSTYLE

coil verb, noun
verb~ (sth) round, around, etc. sth| ~ (sth) up to wind into a series of circles; to make sth do this: [V + adv. / prep.] The snake coiled up, ready to strike. Mist coiled around the tops of the hills. [VN] to coil a rope into a loop : Her hair was coiled on top of her head. a coiled spring
noun
1 a series of circles formed by winding up a length of rope, wire, etc.: a coil of wire
2 one circle of rope, wire, etc. in a series: Shake the rope and let the coils unwind. a snake's coils
3 a length of wire, wound into circles, that can carry electricity
4 = IUD

coin noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a small flat piece of metal used as money: a euro coin
2 [U] money made of metal: notes and coin see SIDE n., TWO
verb [VN]
1 to invent a new word or phrase that other people then begin to use: The term 'cardboard city' was coined to describe communities of homeless people living in cardboard boxes.
2 to make coins out of metal
be coining it (in) | be coining money (BrE, informal) to earn a lot of money quickly or easily RAKE IN
to coin a phrase
1 used to show that you are aware that you are using an expression that is not new: Oh well, no news is good news, to coin a phrase.
2 used to introduce a well-known expression that you have changed slightly in order to be funny: Tasting is believing, to coin a phrase! (= the usual phrase is 'seeing is believing').

coinage noun
1 [U] the coins used in a particular place or at a particular time; coins of a particular type: Roman coinage gold/silver/bronze coinage
2 [U] the system of money used in a particular country: decimal coinage
3 [C, U] a word or phrase that has been invented recently; the process of inventing a word or phrase: new coinages

coin box noun (BrE, old-fashioned) a public telephone that you put coins in to operate

coincide NAmE verb [V] ~ (with sth/sb)
1 (of two or more events) to take place at the same time: It's a pity our trips to New York don't coincide. The strike was timed to coincide with the party conference.
2 (of ideas, opinions, etc.) to be the same or very similar: The interests of employers and employees do not always coincide. Her story coincided exactly with her brother's.
3 (formal) (of objects or places) to meet; to share the same space: At this point the two paths coincide briefly. The present position of the house coincides with that of an earlier dwelling.

coincidence NAmE noun
1 [C, U] the fact of two things happening at the same time by chance, in a surprising way: a strange/an extraordinary/a remarkable coincidence What a coincidence! I wasn't expecting to see you here. It's not a coincidence that none of the directors are women (= it did not happen by chance). By (sheer) coincidence, I met the person we'd been discussing the next day. note at LUCK
2 [sing.] (formal) the fact of things being present at the same time: the coincidence of inflation and unemployment
3 [sing.] (formal) the fact of two or more opinions, etc. being the same: a coincidence of interests between the two partners

coincident NAmE adj. ~ (with sth) (formal) happening in the same place or at the same time

coincidental NAmE adj. [not usually before noun] happening by chance; not planned: I suppose your presence here today is not entirely coincidental. It's purely coincidental that we both chose to call our daughters Emma.
coincidentally adv.: Coincidentally, they had both studied in Paris.

CointreauTM NAmE noun [U, C] (pl. Cointreaus NAmE Cointreaux NAmE ) a strong sweet alcoholic drink made with oranges

coir noun [U] rough material made from the shells of COCONUTS, used for making ropes, for covering floors, etc.

coitus NAmE noun [U] (medical or formal) = SEXUAL INTERCOURSE

coitus interruptus NAmE noun [U] an act of SEXUAL INTERCOURSE in which the man removes his PENIS from the woman's body before he EJACULATES, in order to prevent the woman from becoming pregnant

CokeTM NAmE noun [C, U] (informal) = COCA-COLA: Can I have a Diet Coke?

coke NAmE noun [U]
1 (informal) = COCAINE
2 a black substance that is produced from coal and burnt to provide heat

Col. abbr. (in writing) COLONEL: Col. Stewart

col NAmE noun (technical) a low point between two higher points in a mountain range PASS

col. abbr. (in writing) COLUMN

cola NAmE noun
1 [U, C] a sweet brown, FIZZY drink (= with bubbles) that does not contain alcohol. Its flavour comes from the seeds of a W African tree and other substances.
2 [C] a glass, can or bottle of colasee also COCA-COLA, COKE

colander NAmE noun a metal or plastic bowl with a lot of small holes in it, used for DRAINING water from vegetables, etc. after washing or cooking

cola nut (also kola nut) noun the seed of the cola tree, that can be chewed or made into a drink

colcannon NAmE noun [U] an Irish or Scottish dish made from potatoes and CABBAGE

cold NAmE adj., noun, adv.
adj. (colder, coldest)
LOW TEMPERATURE
1 having a lower than usual temperature; having a temperature lower than the human body: I'm cold. Turn the heating up. to feel/look cold cold hands and feet a cold room/house hot and cold water in every room Isn't it cold today? It's freezing cold. to get/turn colder bitterly cold weather the coldest May on record (BrE) The water has gone cold.
FOOD/DRINK
2 not heated; cooled after being cooked: a cold drink Hot and cold food is available in the cafeteria. cold chicken for lunch
UNFRIENDLY
3 (of a person) without emotion; unfriendly: to give sb a cold look/stare/welcome Her manner was cold and distant. He was staring at her with cold eyes.
LIGHT/COLOURS
4 seeming to lack warmth, in an unpleasant way: clear cold light cold grey skies
ROUTE
5 not easy to find: The police followed the robbers to the airport but then the trail went cold.
IN GAMES
6 used in children's games to say that the person playing is not close to finding a person or thing, or to guessing the correct answer
UNCONSCIOUS
7 out ~ [not before noun] (informal) unconscious: He was knocked out cold in the second round.
FACTS
8 the ~ facts/truth facts with nothing added to make them more interesting or pleasantsee also COLDLY, COLDNESS
a cold fish a person who seems unfriendly and without strong emotions
get/have cold feet (informal) to suddenly become nervous about doing sth that you had planned to do: He was going to ask her but he got cold feet and said nothing.
give sb the cold shoulder (informal) to treat sb in an unfriendly waysee also COLD-SHOULDER
in cold blood acting in a way that is deliberately cruel; with no pity: to kill sb in cold blood
in the cold light of day when you have had time to think calmly about sth; in the morning when things are clearer: These things always look different in the cold light of day.
leave sb cold to fail to affect or interest sb: Most modern art leaves me cold.
pour/throw cold water on sth to give reasons for not being in favour of sth; to criticize sth: She immediately poured cold water on his plans to expand the business.more at BLOOD, BLOW v., HOT adj.
noun
LOW TEMPERATURE
1 [U] a lack of heat or warmth; a low temperature, especially in the atmosphere: He shivered with cold. Don't stand outside in the cold. She doesn't seem to feel the cold. You'll catch your death of cold (= used to warn sb they could become very ill if they do not keep warm in cold weather).
ILLNESS
2 [C] (also less frequent the common cold [sing.]) a common illness that affects the nose and/or throat, making you cough, SNEEZE, etc.: I've got a cold. a bad/heavy/slight cold to catch a cold
come in from the cold to become accepted or included in a group, etc. after a period of being outside it
leave sb out in the cold to not include sb in a group or an activitymore at CATCH v.
adv.
1 (NAmE) suddenly and completely: His final request stopped her cold.
2 without preparing: I can't just walk in there cold and give a speech.

SYNONYMS

cold

cool freezing chilly lukewarm tepid

All these words describe sb/sth that has a low temperature.

cold having a temperature that is lower than usual or lower than the human body; (of food or drink) not heated; cooled after being cooked: I'm cold. Turn the heating up. Outside it was bitterly cold. a cold wind hot and cold water It's cold chicken for lunch.

cool (often approving) fairly cold, especially in a pleasant way: a long cool drink We found a cool place to sit.

freezing extremely cold; having a temperature below 0 Celsius: It's absolutely freezing outside. I'm freezing!

chilly (rather informal) too cold to be comfortable: Bring a coat. It might turn chilly later.

lukewarm (often disapproving) slightly warm, sometimes in an unpleasant way: Her coffee was now lukewarm.

tepid (often disapproving) slightly warm, sometimes in an unpleasant way: a jug of tepid water

LUKEWARM OR TEPID?

There is really no difference in meaning or use between these words.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to be/feel cold/cool/freezing/chilly/lukewarm/tepid

to become/get/grow cold/cool/freezing/chilly

to keep sth cold/cool

cold/cool/freezing/chilly air/weather

a cold/cool/freezing/chilly wind

cold/cool/freezing/lukewarm/tepid water

a cold/cool/lukewarm/tepid shower/bath

cold/lukewarm/tepid tea/coffee/food

a cold/cool drink

It's cold/chilly/freezing outside.

cold-blooded adj.
1 (of people and their actions) showing no feelings or pity for other people: a cold-blooded killer cold-blooded murder
2 (biology) (of animals, for example fish or snakes) having a body temperature that depends on the temperature of the surrounding air or watercompare WARM-BLOODED
cold-bloodedly adv.

cold-calling noun [U] the practice of telephoning sb that you do not know, in order to sell them sth
cold call noun

cold cash noun [U] (NAmE) = HARD CASH

cold comfort noun [U] the fact that sth that would normally be good does not make you happy because the whole situation is bad: A small drop in the inflation rate was cold comfort for the millions without a job.

cold cream noun [U] a thick white cream that people use for cleaning their face or making their skin soft

cold cuts noun [pl.] (especially NAmE) slices of cooked meat that are served cold

cold frame (also frame) noun a small wooden or metal frame covered with glass that you grow seeds or small plants in to protect them from cold weather

cold fusion noun [U] (physics) NUCLEAR FUSION that takes place at or near room temperature

cold-hearted adj. not showing any love or sympathy for other people; unkindcompare WARM-HEARTED

coldie NAmE noun (AustralE, informal) a cold can or bottle of beer

coldly NAmE adv. without any emotion or warm feelings; in an unfriendly way: to stare/smile/reply coldly

coldness NAmE noun [U]
1 the lack of warm feelings; unfriendly behaviour: She was hurt by the coldness in his voice.
2 the state of being cold: the icy coldness of the water WARMTH

cold-shoulder verb [VN] to treat sb in an unfriendly waysee also GIVE SB THE COLD SHOULDER at COLD adj.

cold snap noun (informal) a sudden short period of very cold weather

cold sore (NAmE also fever blister) noun a small painful spot on the lips or inside the mouth that is caused by a virus

cold spell noun a period when the weather is colder than usual

cold storage noun [U] a place where food, etc. can be kept fresh or frozen until it is needed; the storing of sth in such a place: (figurative) I've had to put my plans into cold storage (= I've decided not to carry them out immediately but to keep them for later).

cold store noun a room where food, etc. can be kept at a low temperature in order to keep it in good condition

cold sweat noun [usually sing.] a state when you have sweat on your face or body but still feel cold, usually because you are very frightened or anxious: to break out into a cold sweat I woke up in a cold sweat about the interview.

cold turkey noun [U] the unpleasant state that drug ADDICTS experience when they suddenly stop taking a drug; a way of treating drug ADDICTS that makes them experience this state
cold turkey adv.: I quit smoking cold turkey.

cold war noun [sing., U] (often Cold War) a very unfriendly relationship between two countries who are not actually fighting each other, usually used about the situation between the US and the Soviet Union after the Second World War

coleopterist NAmE noun a person who studies BEETLES

coleslaw NAmE noun [U] pieces of raw CABBAGE, carrot, onion, etc., mixed with MAYONNAISE and eaten with meat or salads

coley NAmE noun [C, U] (pl. coley or coleys) a N Atlantic fish that is used for food

colic NAmE noun [U] severe pain in the stomach and BOWELS, suffered especially by babies
colicky adj.

colitis noun [U] (medical) a disease that causes pain and swelling in the COLON (= part of the BOWELS)

collaborate verb [V]
1 ~ (with sb) (on sth)| ~ (with sb) (in sth/in doing sth) to work together with sb in order to produce or achieve sth: [V] We have collaborated on many projects over the years. She agreed to collaborate with him in writing her biography. Researchers around the world are collaborating to develop a new vaccine.
2 ~ (with sb) (disapproving) to help the enemy who has taken control of your country during a war: He was accused of collaborating with the enemy.

collaboration noun
1 [U, C] ~ (with sb) (on sth)| ~ (between A and B) the act of working with another person or group of people to create or produce sth: She wrote the book in collaboration with one of her students. The government worked in close collaboration with teachers on the new curriculum. collaboration between the teachers and the government It was a collaboration that produced extremely useful results. The new plane was a triumph of European industrial and technical collaboration.
2 [C] a piece of work produced by two or more people or groups of people working together
3 [U] (disapproving) the act of helping the enemy during a war when they have taken control of your country

collaborative NAmE adj. [only before noun] (formal) involving, or done by, several people or groups of people working together: collaborative projects/studies/research a collaborative effort/venture
collaboratively adv.

collaborator noun
1 a person who works with another person to create or produce sth such as a book
2 (disapproving) a person who helps the enemy in a war, when they have taken control of the person's country

collage NAmE noun
1 [U, C] the art of making a picture by sticking pieces of coloured paper, cloth, or photographs onto a surface; a picture that you make by doing this
2 [C] a collection of things, which may be similar or different: an interesting collage of 1960s songs

collagen NAmE noun [U] a PROTEIN found in skin and bone, sometimes INJECTED into the body, especially the face, to improve its appearance: collagen injections

collapsar noun (astronomy) an old star that has collapsed under its own GRAVITY

collapse verb, noun
verb
OF BUILDING
1 [V] to fall down or fall in suddenly, often after breaking apart GIVE WAY: The roof collapsed under the weight of snow.
OF SICK PERSON
2 [V] to fall down (and usually become unconscious), especially because you are very ill/sick: He collapsed in the street and died two hours later.
RELAX
3 [V] (informal) to sit or lie down and relax, especially after working hard: When I get home I like to collapse on the sofa and listen to music.
FAIL
4 [V] to fail suddenly or completely BREAK DOWN: Talks between management and unions have collapsed. All opposition to the plan has collapsed.
OF PRICES/CURRENCIES
5 [V] to decrease suddenly in amount or value: Share prices collapsed after news of poor trading figures.
FOLD
6 to fold sth into a shape that uses less space; to be able to be folded in this way FOLD UP: [V] The table collapses for easy storage. [also VN]
MEDICAL
7 [V, VN] if a lung or BLOOD VESSEL collapses or is collapsed, it falls in and becomes flat and empty

collapsed adj.: collapsed buildings a collapsed investment bank a collapsed lung
noun
FAILURE
1 [C, usually sing., U] a sudden failure of sth, such as an institution, a business or a course of action: the collapse of law and order in the area The peace talks were on the verge of collapse.
OF BUILDING
2 [U] the action of a building suddenly falling: The walls were strengthened to protect them from collapse.
ILLNESS
3 [U, C, usually sing.] a medical condition when a person suddenly becomes very ill/sick, or when sb falls because they are ill/sick or weak: a state of mental/nervous collapse She was taken to hospital after her collapse at work.
OF PRICES/CURRENCIES
4 [C, usually sing.] a sudden fall in value: the collapse of share prices/the dollar/the market

collapsible adj. that can be folded flat or made into a smaller shape that uses less space: a collapsible chair/boat/bicycle

collar NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 the part around the neck of a shirt, jacket or coat that usually folds down: a coat with a fur collar I turned up my collar against the wind (= to keep warm). He always wears a collar and tie for work.see also BLUE-COLLAR, DOG COLLAR, WHITE-COLLAR, WING COLLAR
2 a band of leather or plastic put around the neck of an animal, especially a dog: a collar and lead/leash
3 (technical) a band made of a strong material that is put round sth, such as a pipe or a piece of machinery, to make it stronger or to join two parts together see HOT adj.
verb [VN] (informal)
1 to capture sb and hold them tightly so that they cannot escape from you: Police collared the culprit as he was leaving the premises.
2 to stop sb in order to talk to them: I was collared in the street by a woman doing a survey.

collarbone NAmE noun either of the two bones that go from the base of the neck to the shoulders CLAVICLE

collard greens NAmE noun [pl.] (NAmE) = KALE

collarless NAmE adj. with no collar: a collarless shirt

collate verb [VN]
1 to collect information together from different sources in order to examine and compare it: to collate data/information/figures
2 to collect pieces of paper or the pages of a book, etc. and arrange them in the correct order
collation noun [U]: the collation of information

collateral noun, adj.
noun [U] (finance) property or sth valuable that you promise to give to sb if you cannot pay back money that you borrow: We had put our house up as collateral for our bank loan.
adj. (formal) connected with sth else, but in addition to it and less important: collateral benefits an independent contract collateral to the main contract The government denied that there had been any collateral damage (= injury to ordinary people or buildings) during the bombing raid.

colleague NAmE noun a person that you work with, especially in a profession or a business: a colleague of mine from the office We were friends and colleagues for more than 20 years. the Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues

collect verb, adj., adv.
verb
BRING TOGETHER
1 [VN] ~ sth (from sb/sth) to bring things together from different people or places GATHER: to collect data/evidence/information We're collecting signatures for a petition. Samples were collected from over 200 patients.
AS HOBBY
2 [VN] to buy or find things of a particular type and keep them as a hobby: to collect stamps/postcards, etc.see also STAMP COLLECTING
OF PEOPLE
3 [V] to come together in one place to form a larger group GATHER: A crowd began to collect in front of the embassy.
INCREASE IN AMOUNT
4 to gradually increase in amount in a place; to gradually obtain more and more of sth in a place ACCUMULATE: [V] Dirt had collected in the corners of the room. [VN] We seem to have collected an enormous number of boxes (= without intending to). That guitar's been sitting collecting dust (= not being used) for years now. It's amazing how she collects friends.
TAKE AWAY
5 [VN] ~ sb/sth (from ... ) to go somewhere in order to take sb/sth away: What day do they collect the rubbish/garbage? The package is waiting to be collected. (BrE) She's gone to collect her son from school.
MONEY
6 ~ (sth) (for sth) to ask people to give you money for a particular purpose: [V] We're collecting for local charities. [VN] We collected over £300 for the appeal.
7 [VN] to obtain the money, etc. that sb owes, for example by going to their house to get it: to collect rent/debts/tax
RECEIVE/WIN
8 to receive sth; to win sth: [VN] She collected £25 000 in compensation. to collect a prize/a medal She collected $50 000 on her husband's life insurance policies. [also V]
collect yourself/your thoughts
1 to try to control your emotions and become calm: I'm fineI just need a minute to collect myself.
2 to prepare yourself mentally for sth: She paused to collect her thoughts before entering the interview room.
collect sthup to bring together things that are no longer being used: Would somebody collect up all the dirty glasses?
adj. (NAmE) (of a telephone call) paid for by the person who receives the call: to make a collect callsee also REVERSE v. (7)
collect adv.: to call sb collect

SYNONYMS

collect

gather accumulate run sth up amass

These words all mean to get more of sth over a period of time, or to increase in quantity over a period of time.

collect to bring things or information together from different people or places; to gradually increase in amount in a place: We've been collecting data from various sources. Dirt had collected in the corners of the room. People sometimes collect things of a particular type as a hobby: to collect stamps.

gather to bring things together that have been spread around; to collect information from different sources: I waited while he gathered up his papers. Detectives have spent months gathering evidence.

COLLECT OR GATHER?

Both collect and gather can be used in the same way to talk about bringing together data, information or evidence. When talking about things, gather is used with words like things, belongings or papers when the things are spread around within a short distance. Collect is used for getting examples of sth from different people or places that are physically separated.

accumulate (rather formal) to gradually get more and more of sth over a period of time; to gradually increase in number or quantity over a period of time : I seem to have accumulated a lot of books. Debts began to accumulate.

run sth up (rather informal) to allow a bill, debt or loss to reach a large total: She had run up a huge phone bill. Run up is nearly always used with bill, debt or loss.

amass (rather formal) to collect sth in large quantities, especially money, debts or information: He amassed a fortune from silver mining.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to collect/gather/accumulate/amass data/evidence/information

to accumulate/run up/amass debts

to accumulate/run up losses

to accumulate/amass a fortune

Dirt/dust/debris collects/gathers/accumulates.

to gradually/slowly collect/gather/accumulate/amass sth

collectable (also collectible) adj. worth collecting because it is beautiful or may become valuable
collectable (also collectible) noun [usually pl.]

collected adj.
1 [not before noun] very calm and in control of yourself: She always stays cool, calm and collected in a crisis.
2 ~ works, papers, poems, etc. all the books, etc. written by one author, published in one book or in a set: the collected works of Edgar Allan Poe

collection noun
GROUP OF OBJECTS/PEOPLE
1 [C] a group of objects, often of the same sort, that have been collected: a stamp/coin, etc. collection The painting comes from his private collection.
2 [C] a group of objects or people: There was a collection of books and shoes on the floor. There is always a strange collection of runners in the London Marathon.
TAKING AWAY/BRINGING TOGETHER
3 [C, U] an act of taking sth away from a place; an act of bringing things together into one place: refuse/garbage collection The last collection from this postbox is at 5.15. Your suit will be ready for collection on Tuesday. The first stage in research is data collection.compare PICKUP
POEMS/STORIES/MUSIC
4 [C] a group of poems, stories or pieces of music published together as one book or disc: a collection of stories by women writers a collection of favourite Christmas music
MONEY
5 [C] an act of collecting money to help a charity or during a church service; the money collected: a house-to-house collection for Cancer Research The total collection last week amounted to £250.
NEW CLOTHES
6 [C] a range of new clothes or items for the home that are designed, made and offered for sale, often for a particular season: Armani's stunning new autumn collection

collective adj., noun
adj. [usually before noun]
1 done or shared by all members of a group of people; involving a whole group or society: collective leadership/decision-making/responsibility collective memory (= things that a group of people or a community know or remember, that are often passed from parents to children)
2 used to refer to all members of a group: The collective name for mast, boom and sails on a boat is the 'rig'.
collectively adv.: the collectively agreed rate We have had a successful year, both collectively and individually. rain, snow and hail, collectively known as 'precipitation' (= as a group)
noun a group of people who own a business or a farm and run it together; the business that they run: an independent collective making films for television

collective bargaining noun [U] discussions between a TRADE/LABOR UNION and an employer about the pay and working conditions of the union members

collective farm noun a large farm, or a group of farms, owned by the government and run by a group of people

collective noun noun (grammar) a singular noun, such as committee or team, that refers to a group of people, animals or things and, in British English, can be used with either a singular or a plural verb. In American English it must be used with a singular verb.

collective unconscious noun [sing.] (psychology) the part of the unconscious mind that is thought to be shared with other humans because it is passed from generation to generation

collectivism noun [U] the political system in which all farms, businesses and industries are owned by the government or by all the people
collectivist adj.: collectivist ideology

collectivize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] [often passive] to join several private farms, industries, etc. together so that they are controlled by the community or by the government
collectivization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

collector noun
1 (especially in compounds) a person who collects things, either as a hobby, or as a job: a stamp collector ticket/tax/debt collectors
2 the chief officer of a district in some S Asian countries

collectorate noun
1 (in some S Asian countries) the area under the authority of a COLLECTOR
2 the office in which a COLLECTOR is based

collector's item noun a thing that is valued because it is very old or rare, or because it has some special interest

colleen NAmE noun
1 (IrishE) a girl or young woman
2 a girl or young woman from Ireland

college NAmE noun
1 [C, U] (often in names) (in Britain) a place where students go to study or to receive training after they have left school: a college of further education (= providing education and training for people over 16) a secretarial college the Royal College of Art a college course/library/student She's at college.see also COMMUNITY COLLEGE (1), SIXTH-FORM COLLEGE
2 [C, U] (often in names) (in the US) a university where students can study for a degree after they have left school: Carleton College a college campus/student a private college He got interested in politics when he was in college. She's away at college in California. He's hoping to go to college next year.see also COMMUNITY COLLEGE (2)
3 [C, U] (CanE) a place where you can study for higher or more specialist qualifications after you finish high school
4 [C, U] one of the separate institutions that some British universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, are divided into: King's College, Cambridge a tour of Oxford colleges Most students live in college.
5 (in the US) one of the main divisions of some large universities: The history department is part of the College of Arts and Sciences.
6 [C+sing./pl. v.] the teachers and/or students of a college
7 [C] (especially in names, in Britain and some other countries) a SECONDARY SCHOOL, especially one where you must pay: Eton College
8 [C] (usually in names) an organized group of professional people with special interests, duties or powers: the Royal College of Physicians the American College of Cardiologysee also ELECTORAL COLLEGE

BRITISH/AMERICAN

college / university

In both BrE and NAmE a college is a place where you can go to study after you leave secondary school. In Britain you can go to a college to study or to receive training in a particular skill. In the USA you can study for your first degree at a college. A university offers more advanced degrees in addition to first degrees.

In NAmE college is often used to mean a university, especially when talking about people who are studying for their first degree. The is not used when you are talking about someone studying there: My son has gone away to college. 'Where did you go to college?' 'Ohio State University.'

In BrE you can say: My daughter is at collegeMy daughter is at university. In NAmE you cannot use university or college in this way. You use it with a or the to mean a particular university or college:My daughter is at college.I didn't want to go to a large university.

collegiate adj.
1 relating to a college or its students: collegiate life
2 (BrE) divided into a number of colleges: a collegiate university

collegiate institute noun (in some parts of Canada) a public high school

collide verb [V] ~ (with sth/sb)
1 if two people, vehicles, etc. collide, they crash into each other; if a person, vehicle, etc. collides with another, or with sth that is not moving, they crash into it: The car and the van collided head-on in thick fog. The car collided head-on with the van. As he fell, his head collided with the table. note at CRASH
2 ~ (with sb) (over sth) (formal) (of people, their opinions, etc.) to disagree strongly: They regularly collide over policy decisions.see also COLLISION

collider noun (physics) a machine for making two streams of PARTICLES move at high speed and crash into each other

collie NAmE noun a dog of which there are several types. Those with long pointed noses and long thick hair are popular as pets. Smaller collies with shorter hair are often trained to help control sheep on a farm.

collier NAmE noun
1 (old-fashioned, especially BrE) = COAL MINER
2 a ship that carries coal

colliery NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (BrE) a coal mine with its buildings and equipment

colligate NAmE verb [V, VN] ~(with sth)| ~sth (with sth)
1 (formal) if two ideas, facts, etc. colligate, or are colligated, they are linked together by a single explanation or theory
2 (linguistics) if two words colligate, or are colligated, they occur together and are linked by grammar

collision noun [C, U] ~ (with sb/sth)| ~ (between/of A and B)
1 an accident in which two vehicles or people crash into each other: a collision between two trains Stewart was injured in a collision with another player. a head-on collision (= between two vehicles that are moving towards each other) a mid-air collision (= between two aircraft while they are flying) His car was in collision with a motorbike. Wind and ice were blamed for the collision involving up to 12 vehicles.
2 (formal) a strong disagreement between two people or between opposing ideas, opinions, etc.; the meeting of two things that are very different: a collision between two opposing points of view In his work we see the collision of two different traditions.
be on a collision course (with sb/sth)
1 to be in a situation which is almost certain to cause a disagreement or argument: I was on a collision course with my boss over the sales figures.
2 to be moving in a direction in which it is likely that you will crash into sb/sth: A giant iceberg was on a collision course with the ship.

collocate NAmE verb [V] (linguistics) ~ (with sth) (of words) to be often used together in a language: 'Bitter' collocates with 'tears' but 'sour' does not. 'Bitter' and 'tears' collocate.
collocate NAmE noun: 'Bitter' and 'tears' are collocates.

collocation NAmE noun (linguistics)
1 [C] a combination of words in a language, that happens very often and more frequently than would happen by chance: 'Resounding success' and 'crying shame' are English collocations.
2 [U] the fact of two or more words often being used together, in a way that happens more frequently than would happen by chance: Advanced students need to be aware of the importance of collocation.

colloquial NAmE adj. (of words and language) used in conversation but not in formal speech or writing INFORMAL
colloquially adv.

colloquialism NAmE noun a word or phrase that is used in conversation but not in formal speech or writing

colloquium NAmE noun (pl. colloquia NAmE ) a formal academic SEMINAR or conference

colloquy NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (formal) a conversation: the soul's colloquy with God

collude verb [V] ~ (with sb) (in sth/in doing sth)| ~ (with sb) (to do sth) (formal, disapproving) to work together secretly or illegally in order to trick other people: Several people had colluded in the murder. They colluded with terrorists to overthrow the government.

collusion noun [U] (formal, disapproving) secret agreement especially in order to do sth dishonest or to trick people: The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. There was collusion between the two witnesses (= they gave the same false evidence).
collusive adj.: There is a secret collusive relationship between politics and the media which the outside world rarely glimpses.

collywobbles NAmE noun [pl.] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal)
1 a nervous feeling of fear and worry
2 a pain in the stomach

colobus NAmE (also colobus monkey) noun a small African MONKEY with a long tail, that eats leaves

cologne NAmE (also eau de cologne) noun [U] a type of light PERFUME

colon NAmE noun
1 the mark ( : ) used to introduce a list, a summary, an explanation, etc. or before reporting what sb has saidcompare SEMICOLON
2 (anatomy) the main part of the large INTESTINE (= part of the BOWELS)

colonel NAmE noun (abbr. Col.) an officer of high rank in the army, the MARINES, or the US AIR FORCE: Colonel Jim Edge

Colonel Blimp noun = BLIMP

colonel general noun an officer in charge of all the REGIMENTS of an army

colonel-in-chief noun (pl. colonels-in-chief) the HONORARY head of a REGIMENT in the British army

colonial NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 connected with or belonging to a country that controls another country: a colonial power Tunisia achieved independence from French colonial rule in 1956. Western colonial attitudessee also COLONY
2 (often Colonial) typical of or connected with the US at the time when it was still a British COLONY: life in colonial times the Colonial government of Vermont
noun a person who lives in a COLONY and who comes from the country that controls it: British colonials in India

colonialism NAmE noun [U] the practice by which a powerful country controls another country or other countries: European colonialism The history of tobacco growing is intimately associated with colonialism and slavery.
colonialist adj., noun: colonialist laws The colonialists imposed war on the country.

colonic NAmE adj. (anatomy) connected with the COLON (= part of the BOWELS): colonic irrigation (= the process of washing out the COLON with water)

colonist NAmE noun a person who settles in an area that has become a COLONY

colonize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN]
1 to take control of an area or a country that is not your own, especially using force, and send people from your own country to live there: The area was colonized by the Vikings.
2 (biology) (of animals or plants) to live or grow in large numbers in a particular area: The slopes are colonized by flowering plants. Bats had colonized the ruins.
colonization, -isation NAmE noun [U]: the colonization of the 'New World' plant colonization colonizer, -isernoun

colonnade NAmE noun a row of stone columns with equal spaces between them, usually supporting a roof: the oldest Greek temple whose colonnade still stands
colonnaded NAmE adj.

colony NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a country or an area that is governed by people from another, more powerful, country: former British colonies the Declaration of Independence of the 13 colonies and the creation of the United States
2 [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] a group of people who go to live permanently in a colony
3 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people from the same place or with the same work or interests who live in a particular city or country or who live together: the American colony in Paris an artists' colony
4 [C] (IndE) a small town set up by an employer or an organization for its workers
5 [C+sing./pl. v.] (biology) a group of plants or animals that live together or grow in the same place: a colony of ants a bird colony

colophon NAmE noun (technical) the name or symbol of a PUBLISHER which is printed on a book

color (NAmE) = COLOUR You will find most words formed with color at the spelling colour.

Colorado beetle noun a yellow and black insect that damages potato plants

colorant (NAmE) = COLOURANT

coloration (BrE also colouration) noun [U] (technical) the natural colours and patterns on a plant or an animal

coloratura NAmE noun [U] (music) complicated passages for a singer, for example in OPERA: a coloratura soprano (= one who often sings coloratura passages)

colored (NAmE) = COLOURED

colorfast (NAmE) = COLOUR FAST

colorful (NAmE) = COLOURFUL

color guard noun (US) a small group of people who carry official flags in a ceremony

coloring (NAmE) = COLOURING

colorist, coloristic (NAmE) = COLOURIST, COLOURISTIC

colorize (BrE also colourize) verb [VN] (technical) to add colour to a black and white film/movie, using a computer process

colorless (NAmE) = COLOURLESS

color line noun (NAmE) = COLOUR BAR

colossal NAmE adj. extremely large: a colossal statue The singer earns a colossal amount of money.

colossus NAmE noun
1 [sing.] (formal) a person or thing that is extremely important or large in size
2 [C] (pl. colossi NAmE ) an extremely large statue: the Colossi of Memnon

colostomy NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (medical) an operation in which part of a person's COLON (= the lower part of the BOWELS) is removed and an opening is made in the ABDOMEN through which the person can get rid of waste matter from the body

colostrum NAmE noun [U] the substance produced in the breasts of a new mother, which has a lot of ANTIBODIES which help her baby to resist disease

colour (BrE) (NAmE color) noun, verb
noun
RED, GREEN, etc.
1 [C, U] the appearance that things have that results from the way in which they reflect light. Red, orange and green are colours: What's your favourite colour? bright/dark/light colours available in 12 different colours the colour of the sky Her hair is a reddish-brown colour. to add/give/lend colour to sth (= make it brighter, more interesting, etc.) Foods which go through a factory process lose much of their colour, flavour and texture. The garden was a mass of colour.
2 [U] (usually before another noun) the use of all the colours, not only black and white: a colour TV colour photography/printing a full-colour brochure Do you dream in colour?
OF FACE
3 [U] a red or pink colour in sb's face, especially when it shows that they look healthy or that they are embarrassed: The fresh air brought colour to their cheeks. Colour flooded her face when she thought of what had happened. His face was drained of colour (= he looked pale and ill).
OF SKIN
4 [U, C] the colour of a person's skin, when it shows the race they belong to: discrimination on the grounds of race, colour or religion (especially NAmE) a person/man/woman of colour (= who is not white)
SUBSTANCE
5 [C, U] a substance that is used to give colour to sth: a semi-permanent hair colour that lasts six to eight washessee also WATERCOLOUR
INTERESTING DETAILS
6 [U] interesting and exciting details or qualities: The old town is full of colour and attractions. Her acting added warmth and colour to the production.see also LOCAL COLOUR
OF TEAM/COUNTRY, etc.
7 colours [pl.] the particular colours that are used on clothes, flags, etc. to represent a team, school, political party or country: Red and white are the team colours. Spain's national colours (figurative) There are people of different political colours on the committee.
8 colours [pl.] (especially BrE) a flag, BADGE, etc. that represents a team, country, ship, etc.: Most buildings had a flagpole with the national colours flying. sailing under the French colours
see the colour of sb's money (informal) to make sure that sb has enough money to pay for sth: You need to see the colour of his money before you sell him the car.more at FLYING adj., LEND n., NAIL v., TRUE adj.see also OFF COLOUR
verb
PUT COLOUR ON STH
1 to put colour on sth using paint, coloured pencils, etc.: [V] The children love to draw and colour. a colouring book (= with pictures that you can add colour to) [VN] How long have you been colouring (= DYEING) your hair? [VN-ADJ] He drew a monster and coloured it green.
OF FACE
2 [V] ~ (at sth) (of a person or their face) to become red with embarrassment BLUSH: She coloured at his remarks.
AFFECT
3 [VN] to affect sth, especially in a negative way: This incident coloured her whole life. Don't let your judgement be coloured by personal feelings.
colour sthin to put colour inside a particular area, shape, etc. using coloured pencils, CRAYONS, etc.: I'll draw a tree and you can colour it in.

SYNONYMS

colour

shade tone hue tint tinge

All these words describe the appearance of things, resulting from the way in which they reflect light.

colour/color the appearance that things have, resulting from the way in which they reflect light. Red, green and blue are colours: What's your favourite colour? bright/dark/light colours

shade a particular form of a colour, especially when describing how light or dark it is. Sky blue is a shade of blue

tone a particular shade of a colour: a carpet in warm tones of brown and orange

SHADE OR TONE?

Tone is often used in the plural to refer to small differences in the quality of a colour. You can say: shades of brown but not: brown shades, and: brown tones but not: tones of brown.

hue (literary or technical) a colour or a particular shade of a colour: His face took on an unhealthy, whitish hue.

COLOUR OR HUE?

Colour is more general and far more frequent in everyday language.

tint a shade or small amount of a particular colour; a faint colour covering a surface: leaves with red and gold autumn tints

tinge a small amount of a colour: There was a pink tinge to the sky.

TINT OR TINGE?

These two words are very similar when describing a small amount of a colour. You can say : a reddish tint/tinge or: a tinge of red but not: a tint of red. Tint is often used in the plural, but tinge is almost always singular.

colourant (BrE) (NAmE colorant) noun a substance that is used to put colour in sth, especially a person's hair: natural hair colourants Medicines also contain colourants, often in large amounts.

colouration (BrE) = COLORATION

colour bar (BrE) (NAmE color bar, color line) noun [usually sing.] a social system which does not allow black people the same rights as white people: South Africa's colour bar made marriages between different races illegal.

colour-blind (BrE) (NAmE color-blind) adj.
1 unable to see the difference between some colours, especially red and green
2 treating people with different coloured skin in exactly the same way
colour-blindness (BrE) (NAmE color-blindness) noun [U]

colour code (BrE) (NAmE color code) noun a system of marking things with different colours so that you can easily identify them: Follow the colour code carefully on all electrical wiring.
colour-coded (BrE) (NAmE color-coded) adj.: The files have labels that are colour-coded according to subject.

coloured (BrE) (NAmE colored) NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 (often in compounds) having a particular colour or different colours: brightly coloured balloons coloured lights She was wearing a cream-coloured suit.
2 (old-fashioned or offensive) (of a person) from a race that does not have white skin
3 Coloured (in South Africa) having parents who are of different races
noun
1 (old-fashioned or offensive) a person who does not have white skin
2 Coloured (in South Africa) a person whose parents are of different races

colour fast (BrE) (NAmE colorfast) adj. cloth that is colour fast will not lose colour when it is washed

colourful (BrE) (NAmE colorful) NAmE adj.
1 full of bright colours or having a lot of different colours: colourful shop windows The male birds are more colourful than the females.
2 interesting or exciting; full of variety, sometimes in a way that is slightly shocking: a colourful history/past/career one of the book's most colourful characters

colouring (BrE) (NAmE coloring) noun
1 [U, C] a substance that is used to give a particular colour to food: red food colouring Contains no artificial colouring or flavouring.
2 [U] the colour of a person's skin, eyes and hair: Blue suited her fair colouring. This face powder will enhance your natural colouring.
3 [U] the colours that exist in sth, especially a plant or an animal: insects with vivid yellow and black colouring She realized the coins were fake when the gold colouring began to rub off.

colourist (BrE) (NAmE colorist) noun a person who uses colour, especially an artist or a hairdresser

colouristic (also coloristic) adj. (technical) showing or relating to a special use of colour: colouristic effects

colourize (BrE) = COLORIZE

colourless (BrE) (NAmE colorless) NAmE adj.
1 without colour or very pale: a colourless liquid like water colourless lips
2 not interesting DULL: a colourless personality

colour scheme (BrE) (NAmE color scheme) noun the way in which colours are arranged, especially in the furniture and decoration of a room

colour separation (BrE) (NAmE color separation) noun (technical)
1 [C] one of four images of sth made using only the colours CYAN, MAGENTA, yellow, or black. The four images containing these colours are then used together to print an image in full colour.
2 [U] the process that is used to do this

colour sergeant (BrE) (NAmE color sergeant) noun an officer of middle rank in the Royal Marines

colour supplement noun (BrE) a magazine printed in colour and forming an extra part of a newspaper, particularly on Saturdays or Sundays

colour wash (BrE) (NAmE color wash) noun a mixture of paint and water, used to produce a pale, almost transparent colour: First I applied a blue colour wash to the canvas.

colourway NAmE noun (BrE) a colour or combination of colours which a piece of clothing, etc. is available in: The designs are available in two colourways: red/grey or blue/grey.

colt NAmE noun
1 a young male horse up to the age of four or fivecompare FILLY, STALLION
2 (BrE) a member of a sports team consisting of young players
3 ColtTM a type of small gun

coltish NAmE adj. (of a person) moving with a lot of energy but in an awkward way

columbine NAmE noun
1 [C, U] a garden plant with delicate leaves and pointed blue flowers that hang down
2 Columbine [sing.] a female character in traditional Italian theatre

Columbus Day noun [U, C] a national holiday in the US on the second Monday in October when people celebrate the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus

column NAmE noun
1 a tall, solid, vertical post, usually round and made of stone, which supports or decorates a building or stands alone as a MONUMENT: The temple is supported by marble columns. Nelson's Column in London
2 a thing shaped like a column: a column of smoke (= smoke rising straight up)see also SPINAL COLUMN, STEERING COLUMN
3 (abbr. col.) one of the vertical sections into which the printed page of a book, newspaper, etc. is divided: a column of text a dictionary with two columns per page Put a mark in the appropriate column. Their divorce filled a lot of column inches in the national papers (= got a lot of attention).
4 a part of a newspaper or magazine which appears regularly and deals with a particular subject or is written by a particular writer: the gossip/financial column I always read her column in the local paper.see also AGONY COLUMN, PERSONAL COLUMN
5 a series of numbers or words arranged one under the other down a page: to add up a column of figures
6 a long, moving line of people or vehicles: a long column of troops and tankssee also FIFTH COLUMN

columnist NAmE noun a journalist who writes regular articles for a newspaper or magazine: a gossip/newspaper/political columnist

coma NAmE noun a deep unconscious state, usually lasting a long time and caused by serious illness or injury: to go into/be in a coma

Comanche noun (pl. Comanche or Comanches) a member of a Native American people, many of whom live in the US state of Oklahoma

comatose NAmE adj.
1 (medical) deeply unconscious; in a coma
2 (humorous) extremely tired and lacking in energy; sleeping deeply

comb NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a flat piece of plastic or metal with a row of thin teeth along one side, used for making your hair neat; a smaller version of this worn by women in their hair to hold it in place or as a decoration: He just had time to wash his face and drag a comb through his hair before going out.
2 [C, usually sing.] the act of using a comb on your hair: Your hair needs a good comb.
3 [C, U] = HONEYCOMB
4 [C] the soft, red piece of flesh on the head of a male chicken see FINE-TOOTH COMB adj.
verb
1 [VN] to pull a comb through your hair in order to make it neat: Don't forget to comb your hair! Her hair was neatly combed back.
2 ~ (through) sth (for sb/sth) to search sth carefully in order to find sb/sth SCOUR: [VN] The police combed the area for clues. I combed the shops looking for something to wear. [V] They combed through the files for evidence of fraud.
3 [VN] (technical) to make wool, cotton, etc. clean and straight using a special comb so that it can be used to make cloth
comb sthout to pull a comb through hair in order to make it neat or to remove knots from it

combat NAmE noun, verb
noun [U, C] fighting or a fight, especially during a time of war: He was killed in combat. armed/unarmed combat (= with/without weapons) combat troops combat boots aerial combatsee also SINGLE COMBAT
verb (-t- or -tt-) [VN]
1 to stop sth unpleasant or harmful from happening or from getting worse: measures to combat crime/inflation/unemployment/disease
2 (formal) to fight against an enemy

combatant NAmE noun a person or group involved in fighting in a war or battlecompare NON-COMBATANT

combat fatigue (also battle fatigue) noun [U] mental problems caused by being in a war for a long period of time

combat fatigues (also battle fatigues) noun [pl.] clothes that soldiers wear for fighting that are covered in brown and green marks to make them difficult to see

combative NAmE adj. ready and willing to fight or argue: in a combative mood/spirit

combats NAmE (also combat trousers) noun [pl.] (BrE) = CARGO PANTS

combi = KOMBI

combination NAmE noun
1 [C] two or more things joined or mixed together to form a single unit: His treatment was a combination of surgery, radiation and drugs. What an unusual combination of flavours! Technology and good management. That's a winning combination (= one that will certainly be successful). Many course combinations are possible.
2 [U] the act of joining or mixing together two or more things to form a single unit: The firm is working on a new product in combination with several overseas partners. These paints can be used individually or in combination.
3 [C] a series of numbers or letters used to open a combination lock: I can't remember the combination.
4 combinations (BrE) [pl.] a piece of underwear covering the body and legs, worn in the past

combination lock noun a type of lock which can only be opened by using a particular series of numbers or letters

combine verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (sth) (with sth)| ~ A and B (together) to come together to form a single thing or group; to join two or more things or groups together to form a single one: [V] Hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water. Hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water. Several factors had combined to ruin our plans. [VN] Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Combine the eggs with a little flour. The German team scored a combined total of 652 points.
2 [VN] ~ A and/with B to have two or more different features or characteristics; to put two or more different things, features or qualities together: The hotel combines comfort with convenience. This model combines a telephone and fax machine. a kitchen and dining-room combined We are still looking for someone who combines all the necessary qualities. They have successfully combined the old with the new in this room.
3 [VN] ~ A and/with B to do two or more things at the same time: The trip will combine business with pleasure. She has successfully combined a career and bringing up a family.
4 to come together in order to work or act together; to put two things or groups together so that they work or act together: [V] They combined against a common enemy. [VN] the combined effects of the two drugs You should try to combine exercise with a healthy diet. It took the combined efforts of both the press and the public to bring about a change in the law. see FORCE n.
noun NAmE
1 (BrE also combine harvester) a large farm machine which cuts a crop and separates the grains from the rest of the plant
2 a group of people or organizations acting together in business

combining form noun (grammar) a form of a word that can combine with another word or another combining form to make a new word, for example techno- and -phobe in technophobe

combo NAmE noun (pl. -os)
1 a small band that plays JAZZ or dance music
2 (informal, especially NAmE) a number of different things combined together, especially different types of food: I'll have the steak and chicken combo platter.

combust verb [V, VN] to start to burn; to start to burn sth

combustible adj. able to begin burning easily FLAMMABLE: combustible material/gases

combustion noun [U]
1 the process of burning
2 (technical) a chemical process in which substances combine with the OXYGEN in the air to produce heat and light

combustion chamber noun a space in which combustion takes place, for example in an engine

come verb, exclamation, noun
verb (came come)
TO A PLACE
1 to move to or towards a person or place: [V, usually + adv. / prep.] He came into the room and shut the door. She comes to work by bus. My son is coming home soon. Come here! Come and see us soon! Here comes Jo (= Jo is coming)! There's a storm coming. [V to inf] They're coming to stay for a week. In spoken English come can be used with and plus another verb, instead of with to and the infinitive, to show purpose or to tell sb what to do: When did she last come and see you? Come and have your dinner. The and is sometimes left out, especially in NAmE: Come have your dinner.
2 [V] ~ (to ... ) to arrive at or reach a place: They continued until they came to a river. What time did you come (= to my house)? Spring came late this year. Your breakfast is coming soon. Have any letters come for me? Help came at last. The CD comes complete with all the words of the songs. The time has come (= now is the moment) to act.
3 ~ for/about sth| ~ to do sth to arrive somewhere in order to do sth or get sth: [V] I've come for my book. I've come about my book. I've come to get my book. [V -ing] He came looking for me.
4 ~ (to sth) (with sb) to move or travel, especially with sb else, to a particular place or in order to be present at an event: [V] I've only come for an hour. Are you coming to the club with us tonight? Thanks for coming (= to my house, party, etc.). [V -ing] Why don't you come skating tonight?
RUNNING/HURRYING etc.
5 [V -ing, usually +adv./prep.] to move in a particular way or while doing sth else: The children came running into the room.
TRAVEL
6 [VN] to travel a particular distance: We've come 50 miles this morning. (figurative) The company has come a long way (= made lot of progress) in the last 5 years.
HAPPEN
7 [V] to happen: The agreement came after several hours of negotiations. The rains came too late to do any good. Her death came as a terrible shock to us. His resignation came as no surprise. The high point of the concert came during the drum solo.
8 [V to inf] used in questions to talk about how or why sth happened: How did he come to break his leg? How do you come to be so late?see also HOW COME?
TO A POSITION/STATE
9 [V + adv. / prep.] (not used in the progressive tenses) to have a particular position: That comes a long way down my list of priorities. His family comes first (= is the most important thing in his life). She came second (= received the second highest score) in the exam.
10 [V] ~ to/into sth used in many expressions to show that sth has reached a particular state: At last winter came to an end. He came to power in 1959. When will they come to a decision? The trees are coming into leaf.
11 ~ (in sth) (not used in the progressive tenses) (of goods, products, etc.) to be available or to exist in a particular way: [V] This dress comes in black and red. [V-ADJ] (informal) New cars don't come cheap (= they are expensive).
12 to become: [V-ADJ] The buttons had come undone. The handle came loose. Everything will come right in the end. [V to inf] This design came to be known as the Oriental style.
13 [V to inf] to reach a point where you realize, understand or believe sth: In time she came to love him. She had come to see the problem in a new light. I've come to expect this kind of behaviour from him.
TIME
14 come [VN] (old-fashioned, informal) when the time mentioned comes: They would have been married forty years come this June. Come next week she'll have changed her mind.
SEX
15 [V] (slang) to have an ORGASM
Most idioms containing come are at the entries for the nouns or adjectives in the idioms, for example come a cropper is at cropper. be as clever, stupid, etc. as they come (informal) to be very clever, stupid, etc.
come again? (informal) used to ask sb to repeat sth: 'She's an entomologist.' 'Come again?' 'An entomologistshe studies insects.'
come and go
1 to arrive and leave; to move freely: They had a party next doorwe heard people coming and going all night.
2 to be present for a short time and then go away: The pain in my leg comes and goes.
come easily, naturally, etc. to sb (of an activity, a skill, etc.) to be easy, natural, etc. for sb to do: Acting comes naturally to her.
come over (all) faint, dizzy, giddy, etc. (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) to suddenly feel ill/sick or faint
come to nothing | not come to anything to be unsuccessful; to have no successful result: How sad that all his hard work should come to nothing. Her plans didn't come to anything.
come to that | if it comes to that (informal, especially BrE) used to introduce sth extra that is connected with what has just been said: I don't really trust himnor his wife, come to that.
come what may despite any problems or difficulties you may have: He promised to support her come what may.
how come ( ... )? used to say you do not understand how sth can happen and would like an explanation: If she spent five years in Paris, how come her French is so bad?
not come to much to not be important or successful
to come (used after a noun) in the future: They may well regret the decision in years to come. This will be a problem for some time to come (= for a period of time in the future).
when it comes to sth/to doing sth when it is a question of sth: When it comes to getting things done, he's useless.
where sb is coming from (informal) somebody's ideas, beliefs, personality, etc. that makes them say what they have said: I see where you're coming from (= I understand what you mean).more at EAR n.
come about (that ... ) to happen: Can you tell me how the accident came about?

come across (also come over)
1 to be understood: He spoke for a long time but his meaning didn't really come across.
2 to make a particular impression: She comes across well in interviews. He came over as a sympathetic person.
come across sb/sth [no passive] to meet or find sb/sth by chance: I came across children sleeping under bridges. She came across some old photographs in a drawer.
come across (with sth) [no passive] to provide or supply sth when you need it: I hoped she'd come across with some more information.

come after sb [no passive] to chase or follow sb

come along
1 to arrive; to appear: When the right opportunity comes along, she'll take it.
2 to go somewhere with sb: I'm glad you came along.
3 to improve or develop in the way that you want PROGRESS: Your French has come along a lot recently.
4 used in orders to tell sb to hurry, or to try harder: Come along! We're late. Come along! It's easy!

come apart to break into pieces: The book just came apart in my hands. (figurative) My whole life had come apart at the seams.

come around/round
1 (also come to) to become conscious again: Your mother hasn't yet come round from the anaesthetic.
2 (of a date or a regular event) to happen again: My birthday seems to come around quicker every year.
come around/round (to ... ) to come to a place, especially sb's house, to visit for a short time: Do come around and see us some time.
come around/round (to sth) to change your mood or your opinion: He'll never come round to our way of thinking.

come at sb [no passive] to move towards sb as though you are going to attack them: She came at me with a knife. (figurative) The noise came at us from all sides.
come at sth to think about a problem, question, etc. in a particular way APPROACH: We're getting nowherelet's come at it from another angle.

come away (from sth) to become separated from sth: The plaster had started to come away from the wall.
come away with sth [no passive] to leave a place with a particular feeling or impression: We came away with the impression that all was not well with their marriage.

come back
1 to return: You came back (= came home) very late last night. The colour was coming back to her cheeks. (figurative) United came back from being two goals down to win 3-2. note at RETURN
2 to become popular or successful again: Long hair for men seems to be coming back in.related noun COMEBACK (2)
come back (at sb) (with sth) to reply to sb angrily or with force: She came back at the speaker with some sharp questions.related noun COMEBACK (3)
come back (to sb) to return to sb's memory: It's all coming back to me now. Once you've been in France a few days, your French will soon come back.
come back to sth [no passive] to return to a subject, an idea, etc.: Let's come back to the point at issue. It all comes back to a question of money.

come before sb/sth [no passive] (formal) to be presented to sb/sth for discussion or a decision: The case comes before the court next week.

come between sb and sb [no passive] to damage a relationship between two people: I'd hate anything to come between us.

come by (NAmE) to make a short visit to a place, in order to see sb: She came by the house.
come by sth
1 to manage to get sth: Jobs are hard to come by these days.
2 to receive sth: How did you come by that scratch on your cheek?

come down
1 to break and fall to the ground: The ceiling came down with a terrific crash.
2 (of rain, snow, etc.) to fall: The rain came down in torrents.
3 (of an aircraft) to land or fall from the sky: We were forced to come down in a field.
4 if a price, a temperature, a rate, etc. comes down, it gets lower: The price of gas is coming down. Gas is coming down in price.
5 to decide and say publicly that you support or oppose sb: The committee came down in support of his application.
6 to reach as far down as a particular point: Her hair comes down to her waist.
come down (from ... ) (BrE, formal) to leave a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge, at the end of a term or after finishing your studies COME UP (TO ... )
come down (from ... ) (to ... ) to come from one place to another, usually from the north of a country to the south, or from a larger place to a smaller one
come down on sb [no passive] (informal) to criticize sb severely or punish sb: Don't come down too hard on her. The courts are coming down heavily on young offenders.
come down (to sb) to have come from a long time in the past: The name has come down from the last century.
come down to sth [no passive] to be able to be explained by a single important point: What it comes down to is, either I get more money or I leave.
come down with sth [no passive] to get an illness that is not very serious: I think I'm coming down with flu.

come forward to offer your help, services, etc.: Several people came forward with information. Police have asked witnesses of the accident to come forward.

come from ... (not used in the progressive tenses) to have as your place of birth or the place where you live: She comes from London. Where do you come from?
come from sth
1 to start in a particular place or be produced from a particular thing: Much of our butter comes from New Zealand. This wool comes from goats, not sheep. This poem comes from his new book. Where does her attitude come from? Where's that smell coming from? He comes from a family of actors. 'She doesn't try hard enough.' 'That's rich, coming from you (= you do not try hard either).'
2 = COME OF STH

come in
1 when the TIDE comes in, it moves towards the land GO OUT
2 to finish a race in a particular position: My horse came in last.
3 to become fashionable: Long hair for men came in in the sixties. GO OUT
4 to become available: We're still waiting for copies of the book to come in.
5 to have a part in sth: I understand the plan perfectly, but I can't see where I come in.
6 to arrive somewhere; to be received: The train is coming in now. News is coming in of a serious plane crash in France. She has over a thousand pounds a month coming in from her investments.
7 to take part in a discussion: Would you like to come in at this point, Susan?
8 (of a law or rule) to be introduced; to begin to be used
come in for sth [no passive] to receive sth, especially sth unpleasant: The government's economic policies have come in for a lot of criticism.
come in (on sth) to become involved in sth: If you want to come in on the deal, you need to decide now.

come into sth [no passive]
1 to be left money by sb who has died: She came into a fortune when her uncle died.
2 to be important in a particular situation: I've worked very hard to pass this examluck doesn't come into it.

come of/from sth to be the result of sth: I made a few enquiries, but nothing came of it in the end. [+ -ing]That comes of eating too much!

come off
1 to be able to be removed: Does this hood come off? That mark won't come off.
2 (informal) to take place; to happen: Did the trip to Rome ever come off?
3 (informal) (of a plan, etc.) to be successful; to have the intended effect or result: They had wanted it to be a surprise but the plan didn't come off.
4 ~ well, badly, etc. (informal) to be successful/not successful in a fight, contest, etc.: I thought they came off very well in the debate.
come off (sth)
1 to fall from sth: to come off your bicycle/horse
2 to become separated from sth: When I tried to lift the jug, the handle came off in my hand. A button had come off my coat.
come off it (informal) used to disagree with sb rudely: Come off it! We don't have a chance.
come off sth [no passive] to stop taking medicine, a drug, alcohol, etc.: I've tried to get him to come off the tranquillizers.

come on
1 (of an actor) to walk onto the stage
2 (of a player) to join a team during a game: Owen came on for Brown ten minutes before the end of the game.
3 to improve or develop in the way you want: The project is coming on fine.
4 used in orders to tell sb to hurry or to try harder: Come on! We don't have much time. Come on! Try once more.
5 used to show that you know what sb has said is not correct: Oh, come onyou know that isn't true!
6 (usually used in the progressive tenses) (of an illness or a mood) to begin: I can feel a cold coming on. I think there's rain coming on. [+ to inf] It came on to rain.
7 (of a TV programme, etc.) to start: What time does the news come on?
8 to begin to operate: Set the oven to come on at six. When does the heating come on?
come on/upon sb/sth [no passive] (formal) to meet or find sb/sth by chance
come on to sb (informal) to behave in a way that shows sb that you want to have a sexual relationship with themrelated noun COME-ON
come on to sth [no passive] to start talking about a subject: I'd like to come on to that question later.

come out
1 when the sun, moon or stars come out, they appear: The rain stopped and the sun came out.
2 (of flowers) to open: The daffodils came out early this year.
3 to be produced or published: When is her new novel coming out?
4 (of news, the truth, etc.) to become known: The full story came out at the trial. [+ that] It came out that he'd been telling lies.
5 if a photograph comes out, it is a clear picture when it is developed and printed: The photos from our trip didn't come out.
6 to be shown clearly: Her best qualities come out in a crisis.
7 when words come out, they are spoken: I tried to say 'I love you,' but the words wouldn't come out.
8 to say publicly whether you agree or disagree with sth: He came out against the plan. In her speech, the senator came out in favour of a change in the law.
9 (BrE) to stop work and go on strike
10 to no longer hide the fact that you are HOMOSEXUAL
11 (of a young UPPER-CLASS girl, especially in the past) to be formally introduced into society
come out (of sth)
1 (of an object) to be removed from a place where it is fixed: This nail won't come out.
2 (of dirt, a mark, etc.) to be removed from sth by washing or cleaning: These ink stains won't come out of my dress. Will the colour come out (= become faint or disappear) if I wash it?
come out at sth [no passive] to add up to a particular cost or sum: The total bill comes out at £500.
come out in sth [no passive] (of a person) to become covered in spots, etc. on the skin: Hot weather makes her come out in a rash.
come out of yourself to relax and become more confident and friendly with other people: It was when she started drama classes that she really came out of herself.
come out of sth [no passive] to develop from sth: The book came out of his experiences in India. Rock music came out of the blues.
come out with sth [no passive] to say sth, especially sth surprising or rude: He came out with a stream of abuse. She sometimes comes out with the most extraordinary remarks.

come over
1 (BrE, informal) to suddenly feel sth: [+ADJ] I suddenly came over all shy.
2 = COME ACROSS: He came over well in the interview.
come over (to ... ) to come to a place, especially sb's house, to visit for a short time
come over (to ... ) (from ... ) to travel from one place to another, usually over a long distance: Why don't you come over to England in the summer? Her grandparents came over from Ireland during the famine.
come over (to sth) to change from one side, opinion, etc. to another
come over sb [no passive] to affect sb: A fit of dizziness came over her. I can't think what came over me (= I do not know what caused me to behave in that way).

come round| come round (to sth) (BrE) = COME AROUND

come through (of news or a message) to arrive by telephone, radio, etc. or through an official organization: A message is just coming through.
come through (sth) to get better after a serious illness or to avoid serious injury SURVIVE: With such a weak heart she was lucky to come through the operation.
come through (with sth) to successfully do or complete sth that you have promised to do: We were worried she wouldn't be able to handle it, but she came through in the end. The bank finally came through with the money.

come to = COME AROUND (1)
come to yourself (old-fashioned) to return to your normal state
come to sb [no passive] (of an idea) to enter your mind: The idea came to me in the bath. [+ that] It suddenly came to her that she had been wrong all along.
come to sth [no passive]
1 to add up to sth: The bill came to $30. I never expected those few items to come to so much.
2 to reach a particular situation, especially a bad one: The doctors will operate if necessarybut it may not come to that. Who'd have thought things would come to this (= become so bad)?

come together if two or more different people or things come together, they form a united group: Three colleges have come together to create a new university. Bits and pieces of things he'd read and heard were coming together, and he began to understand.

come under sth [no passive]
1 to be included in a particular group: What heading does this come under?
2 to be a person that others are attacking or criticizing: The head teacher came under a lot of criticism from the parents.
3 to be controlled or influenced by sth: All her students came under her spell.

come up
1 (of plants) to appear above the soil: The daffodils are just beginning to come up.
2 (of the sun) to rise: We watched the sun come up.
3 to happen: I'm afraid something urgent has come up. We'll let you know if any vacancies come up.
4 to be mentioned or discussed: The subject came up in conversation. The question is bound to come up at the meeting.
5 (of an event or a time) to be going to happen very soon: Her birthday is coming up soon.
6 to be dealt with by a court: Her divorce case comes up next month.
7 if your number, name, ticket, etc. comes up in a betting game, it is chosen and you win sth
8 (informal) (usually used in the progressive tenses) to arrive; to be ready soon: 'Is lunch ready?' 'Coming up!'
come up (to ... ) (BrE, formal) to arrive at a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge, at the beginning of a term or in order to begin your studies COME DOWN (FROM ... )
come up (to ... ) (from ... ) to come from one place to another, especially from the south of a country to the north or from a smaller place to a larger one: Why don't you come up to Scotland for a few days?
come up (to sb) to move towards sb, in order to talk to them: He came up to me and asked for a light.
come up against sb/sth [no passive] to be faced with or opposed by sb/sth: We expect to come up against a lot of opposition to the plan.
come up for sth [no passive]
1 to be considered for a job, an important position, etc.: She comes up for re-election next year.
2 to be reaching the time when sth must be done: His contract is coming up for renewal.
come up to sth [no passive]
1 to reach as far as a particular point: The water came up to my neck.
2 to reach an acceptable level or standard: His performance didn't really come up to his usual high standard. Their trip to France didn't come up to expectations.
come up with sth [no passive] to find or produce an answer, a sum of money, etc.: She came up with a new idea for increasing sales. How soon can you come up with the money?

come upon sb/sth = COME ON SB/STH
exclamation (old-fashioned) used when encouraging sb to be sensible or reasonable, or when showing slight disapproval: Oh come now, things aren't as bad as all that. Come, come, Miss Jones, you know perfectly well what I mean.
noun [U] (slang) SEMEN

comeback noun
1 [usually sing.] if a person in public life makes a comeback, they start doing sth again which they had stopped doing, or they become popular again: an ageing pop star trying to stage a comeback
2 if a thing makes a comeback, it becomes popular and fashionable or successful again
3 (informal) a quick reply to a critical remark RETORT
4 a way of holding sb responsible for sth wrong which has been done to you: You agreed to the contract, so now you have no comeback.

comedian noun an entertainer who makes people laugh by telling jokes or funny stories: a stand-up comedian

comedienne noun (old-fashioned) a female entertainer who makes people laugh by telling jokes or funny stories

comedown noun [usually sing.] (informal) a situation in which a person is not as important as before, or does not get as much respect from other people

comedy NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C, U] a play or film/movie that is intended to be funny, usually with a happy ending; plays and films/movies of this type: a romantic comedycompare TRAGEDY: slapstick comedysee also BLACK adj. (9), SITUATION COMEDY
2 [U] an amusing aspect of sth HUMOUR: He didn't appreciate the comedy of the situation.

comedy of manners noun an amusing play, film/movie, or book that shows the silly behaviour of a particular group of people

come-hither adj. [only before noun] (of sb's expression) appearing to be trying to attract sb sexually: a come-hither look

comely adj. (literary) (especially of a woman) pleasant to look at ATTRACTIVE

come-on noun [usually sing.] (informal) an object or action which is intended to attract sb or to persuade them to do sth: She was definitely giving him the come-on (= trying to attract him sexually).

comer noun
1 all comers [pl.] anyone who is interested in, or comes forward for, sth, especially a competition: The event is open to all comers.
2 (with adjectives) a person who arrives somewheresee also LATECOMER, NEWCOMER
3 (NAmE, informal) a person who is likely to be successful

comestible adj., noun (formal)
adj. that can be eaten EDIBLE
noun [usually pl.] an item of food

comet NAmE noun a mass of ice and dust that moves around the sun and looks like a bright star with a tail

comeuppance noun [sing.] (informal) a punishment for sth bad that you have done, that other people feel you really deserve: I was glad to see that the bad guy got his comeuppance at the end of the movie.

comfit noun (old-fashioned) a sweet/candy consisting of a nut, seed or fruit covered with sugar

comfort NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U] the state of being physically relaxed and free from pain; the state of having a pleasant life, with everything that you need: These tennis shoes are designed for comfort and performance. With DVD, you can watch the latest movies in the comfort of your own home. The hotel offers a high standard of comfort and service. They had enough money to live in comfort in their old age.
2 [U] a feeling of not suffering or worrying so much; a feeling of being less unhappy CONSOLATION: to take/draw comfort from sb's words I tried to offer a few words of comfort. The sound of gunfire was too close for comfort. If it's any comfort to you, I'm in the same situation. His words were of little comfort in the circumstances. comfort food (= food that makes you feel better)
3 [sing.] a person or thing that helps you when you are suffering, worried or unhappy: The children have been a great comfort to me through all of this. It's a comfort to know that she is safe.see also COLD COMFORT
4 [C, usually pl.] a thing that makes your life easier or more comfortable: The hotel has all modern comforts/every modern comfort. material comforts (= money and possessions)see also CREATURE COMFORTS
verb to make sb who is worried or unhappy feel better by being kind and sympathetic towards them: [VN] The victim's widow was today being comforted by family and friends. She comforted herself with the thought that it would soon be spring. [VN to inf] It comforted her to feel his arms around her.

comfortable BrE NAmE adj.
CLOTHES/FURNITURE
1 (of clothes, furniture, etc.) making you feel physically relaxed; pleasant to wear, sit on, etc.: It's such a comfortable bed. These new shoes are not very comfortable. a warm comfortable house Let me slip into something more comfortable (= change into more comfortable clothing). UNCOMFORTABLE
PHYSICALLY RELAXED
2 feeling pleasantly physically relaxed; warm enough, without pain, etc.: Are you comfortable? She shifted into a more comfortable position on the chair. Please make yourself comfortable while I get some coffee. The patient is comfortable (= not in pain) after his operation. UNCOMFORTABLE
CONFIDENT
3 confident and not worried or afraid: He's more comfortable with computers than with people. I never feel very comfortable in her presence. UNCOMFORTABLE
HAVING MONEY
4 having enough money to buy what you want without worrying about the cost: They're not millionaires, but they're certainly very comfortable. He makes a comfortable living. They come from comfortable middle-class families. note at RICH
VICTORY
5 quite large; allowing you to win easily: The party won with a comfortable majority. a comfortable 2-0 win

comfortably NAmE adv.
1 in a comfortable way: All the rooms were comfortably furnished. If you're all sitting comfortably, then I'll begin. You should be able to live comfortably on your allowance.
2 with no problem EASILY: He can comfortably afford the extra expense. They are comfortably ahead in the opinion polls.
comfortably off having enough money to buy what you want without worrying too much about the cost

comforter NAmE noun
1 a person or thing that makes you feel calmer or less worried: She was hugging a pillow as a comforter.
2 (NAmE) a type of thick cover for a bedcompare QUILT

comforting NAmE adj. making you feel calmer and less worried or unhappy: her comforting words It's comforting to know that you'll be there. Hearing all the familiar sounds around the house was strangely comforting.
comfortingly adv.: She patted him comfortingly on the shoulder.

comfortless NAmE adj. (formal) without anything to make a place more comfortable: a grey and comfortless room

comfort station noun (NAmE) a room with a toilet in a public place, for example for people who are travelling

the comfort zone noun if a person is in the comfort zone, he or she does not work very hard and so does not produce the best possible results

comfrey noun [U, C] a plant with large leaves covered with small hairs and small bell-shaped flowers

comfy adj. (comfier, comfiest) (informal) comfortable: a comfy armchair/bed more comfy is also common as a comparative.You'll be nice and comfy in this room.

comic NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 amusing and making you laugh: a comic monologue/story The play is both comic and tragic. She can always be relied on to provide comic relief (= sth to make you laugh) at a boring party. He wore a red nose and novelty glasses for comic effect. note at FUNNY
2 [only before noun] connected with comedy (= entertainment that is funny and that makes people laugh): a comic opera a comic actor Woody Allen is a comic genius.
noun
1 an entertainer who makes people laugh by telling jokes or funny stories COMEDIAN
2 (NAmE also comic book) a magazine, especially for children, that tells stories through pictures
3 the comics [pl.] (NAmE) the section of a newspaper that contains COMIC STRIPS

comical NAmE adj. (old-fashioned) funny or amusing because of being strange or unusual
comically adv.

comic strip (also cartoon) (BrE also strip cartoon) (NAmE also strip) noun a series of drawings inside boxes that tell a story and are often printed in newspapers

coming noun, adj.
noun [sing.] the ~ of sth the time when sth new begins: With the coming of modern technology, many jobs were lost.
comings and goings (informal) the movement of people arriving at and leaving a particular place: It's hard to keep track of the children's comings and goings.
adj. [only before noun] happening soon; next: in the coming months This coming Sunday is her birthday.

coming of age noun [sing.] the time when a person reaches the age at which they have an adult's legal rights and responsibilities

comma NAmE noun the mark ( , ) used to separate the items in a list or to show where there is a slight pause in a sentencesee also INVERTED COMMAS

command NAmE noun, verb
noun
ORDER
1 [C] an order given to a person or an animal: Begin when I give the command. You must obey the captain's commands.
FOR COMPUTER
2 [C] an instruction given to a computer: What is the startup command for the program?
CONTROL
3 [U] control and authority over a situation or a group of people: He has 1 200 men under his command. He has command of 1 200 men. The police arrived and took command of the situation. For the first time in years, she felt in command of her life. He looked relaxed and totally in command of himself. Who is in command here? There were many disagreements over the command of the peacekeeping forces. the chain of commandsee also SECOND IN COMMAND
IN ARMY
4 Command [C] a part of an army, AIR FORCE, etc. that is organized and controlled separately; a group of officers who give orders: Bomber Command
KNOWLEDGE
5 [U, sing.] ~ (of sth) your knowledge of sth; your ability to do or use sth, especially a language: Applicants will be expected to have (a) good command of English.
at your command if you have a skill or an amount of sth at your command, you are able to use it well and completely: With all the words at my command, I could not express how I felt.
be at sb's command (formal) to be ready to obey sb: I'm at your commandwhat would you like me to do?more at WISH n.
verb
ORDER
1 (of sb in a position of authority) to tell sb to do sth ORDER: [VN to inf] He commanded his men to retreat. [VN] She commanded the release of the prisoners.: [V that] (formal) The commission intervened and commanded that work on the building cease. (BrE also) The commission commanded that work on the building should cease. [also V speech, VN speech, V]
IN ARMY
2 to be in charge of a group of people in the army, navy, etc.: [VN] The troops were commanded by General Haig. [also V]
DESERVE AND GET
3 [VN] [no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) to deserve and get sth because of the special qualities you have: to command sympathy/support She was able to command the respect of the class. The headlines commanded her attention. As a top lawyer, he can expect to command a six-figure salary.
VIEW
4 [VN] [no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to be in a position from where you can see or control sth: The hotel commands a fine view of the valley. They built a castle commanding the river crossing.
CONTROL
5 [VN] [no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to have control of sth; to have sth available for use: The party was no longer able to command a majority in Parliament. the power and finances commanded by the police

commandant NAmE noun the officer in charge of a particular military group or institution: the commandant of a prisoner of war camp Commandant Macdonald

command-driven adj. (of a computer program) operated by instructions, either from another program or from the user through the keyboard

command economy noun = PLANNED ECONOMY

commandeer NAmE verb [VN] to take control of a building, a vehicle, etc. for military purposes during a war, or by force for your own use REQUISITION

commander NAmE noun
1 a person who is in charge of sth, especially an officer in charge of a particular group of soldiers or a military operation: military/allied/field/flight commanders the commander of the expedition
2 (abbr. Cdr) an officer of fairly high rank in the British or American navy
3 (abbr. Cdr) (in Britain) a London police officer of high rank

commander-in-chief (abbr. C.-in-C.) noun (pl. commanders-in-chief) the officer who commands all the armed forces of a country or all its forces in a particular area: commander-in-chief of the armed forces

commanding NAmE adj.
1 [only before noun] in a position of authority that allows you to give formal orders: Who is your commanding officer?
2 [usually before noun] if you are in a commanding position or have a commanding lead, you are likely to win a race or competition
3 [usually before noun] powerful and making people admire and obey you: a commanding figure/presence/voice
4 [only before noun] if a building is in a commanding position or has a commanding view, you can see the area around very well from it: The castle occupies a commanding position on a hill.

command language noun [U] (computing) the letters, symbols, etc. that you use to give instructions to a computer program

commandment NAmE noun a law given by God, especially any of the Ten Commandments given to the Jews in the Bible

command module noun (abbr. CM) the part of a SPACECRAFT that remains after the rest has separated from it, where the controls and the people that operate them are located

commando NAmE noun (pl. -os) a soldier or a group of soldiers who are trained to make quick attacks in enemy areas: a commando raid on the north of the island
go commando (informal, humorous) to not wear underwear under your clothes

command performance noun [usually sing.] a special performance, for example at a theatre, that is given for a head of state

commedia dell'arte NAmE noun [U] (from Italian) traditional Italian theatre, in which the same characters appeared in different plays

commemorate verb [VN] to remind people of an important person or event from the past with a special action or object; to exist to remind people of a person or an event from the past: A series of movies will be shown to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his death. A plaque commemorates the battle.

commemoration noun [U, C] an action, or a ceremony, etc. that makes people remember and show respect for an important person or event in the past: a commemoration service a statue in commemoration of a national hero Protests and commemorations took place in several cities on the anniversary of the uprising.

commemorative NAmE adj. intended to help people remember and respect an important person or event in the past: commemorative stamps A commemorative plaque on the bridge records the name of the engineer.

commence verb ~ (with sth) (formal) to begin to happen; to begin sth: [V] The meeting is scheduled to commence at noon. The day commenced with a welcome from the principal. I will be on leave during the week commencing 15 February. [VN] She commenced her medical career in 1956. The company commenced operations in April. to commence bankruptcy proceedings against sb [V -ing] We commence building next week. note at START [also V to inf]

commencement noun [U, C, usually sing.]
1 (formal) beginning: the commencement of the financial year
2 (NAmE) a ceremony at which students receive their academic degrees or DIPLOMAS GRADUATION

commend verb [VN]
1 ~ sb (for sth/for doing sth)| ~ sb (on sth/on doing sth) to praise sb/sth, especially publicly: She was commended on her handling of the situation. His designs were highly commended by the judges (= they did not get a prize but they were especially praised).
2 ~ sb/sth (to sb) (formal) to recommend sb/sth to sb: She is an excellent worker and I commend her to you without reservation. The movie has little to commend it (= it has few good qualities).
3 (formal) if sth commends itself to sb, they approve of it: His outspoken behaviour did not commend itself to his colleagues.
4 ~ sb/sth to sb (formal) to give sb/sth to sb in order to be taken care of: We commend her soul to God.

commendable adj. (formal) deserving praise and approval: commendable honesty She showed commendable loyalty to the family firm.
commendably adv.

commendation NAmE noun
1 [U] (formal) praise; approval: The film deserves the highest commendation.
2 [C] ~ (for sth) an award or official statement giving public praise for sb/sth: a commendation for bravery There were 16 prize winners and 18 commendations.

commensal adj. (biology) living on another animal or plant and getting food from the situation, but doing no harm: commensal organisms
commensalism noun [U]

commensurate adj. ~ (with sth) (formal) matching sth in size, importance, quality, etc.: Salary will be commensurate with experience. INCOMMENSURATE
commensurately adv.

comment NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] ~ (about/on sth) something that you say or write which gives an opinion on or explains sb/sth: Have you any comment to make about the cause of the disaster? She made helpful comments on my work. The director was not available for comment. He handed me the document without comment. (especially BrE) What she said was fair comment (= a reasonable criticism). note at STATEMENT
2 [sing., U] criticism that shows the faults of sth: The results are a clear comment on government education policy. There was a lot of comment about his behaviour.
no comment (said in reply to a question, usually from a journalist) I have nothing to say about that: 'Will you resign, sir?' 'No comment!'
verb~ (on/upon sth) to express an opinion about sth: [V] I don't feel I can comment on their decision. He refused to comment until after the trial. We were just commenting on how well you look. [V that] A spokesperson commented that levels of carbon dioxide were very high. [V speech] 'Not his best performance,' she commented to the woman sitting next to her.

SYNONYMS

comment

note remark observe

These words all mean to say or write a fact or opinion.

comment to express an opinion or give facts about sth: He refused to comment until after the trial.

note (rather formal) to mention sth because it is important or interesting: He noted in passing that the company's record on safety issues was not good.

remark to say or write what you have noticed about a situation: Critics remarked that the play was not original.

observe (formal) to say or write what you have noticed about a situation: She observed that it was getting late.

COMMENT, REMARK OR OBSERVE?

If you comment on sth you say sth about it; if you remark on sth or observe sth, you say sth about it that you have noticed: there is often not much difference between the three. However, while you can refuse to comment (without on), you cannot 'refuse to remark' or 'refuse to observe' (without on): He refused to remark/observe until after the trial.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to comment/note/remark/observe that

to comment on/note/remark/observe how

'It's long,' he commented/noted/remarked/observed.

to comment/remark on sth

to comment/remark/observe to sb

commentary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) ~ (on sth)
1 [C, U] a spoken description of an event that is given while it is happening, especially on the radio or television: a sports commentary Our reporters will give a running commentary (= a continuous one) on the election results as they are announced. He kept up a running commentary on everyone who came in or went out.
2 [C] a written explanation or discussion of sth such as a book or a play: a critical commentary on the final speech of the play
3 [C, U] a criticism or discussion of sth: The petty quarrels were a sad commentary on the state of the government. The movie is a biting commentary on contemporary life in a big city. political commentary

commentate NAmE verb [V] ~ (on sth) to give a spoken description of an event as it happens, especially on television or radio: Who will be commentating on the game?

commentator NAmE noun ~ (on sth)
1 a person who is an expert on a particular subject and talks or writes about it on television or radio, or in a newspaper: a political commentator
2 a person who describes an event while it is happening, especially on television or radio: a television/sports commentator

commerce NAmE noun [U] trade, especially between countries; the buying and selling of goods and services: leaders of industry and commercesee also CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

commercial NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 [usually before noun] connected with the buying and selling of goods and services: the commercial heart of the city She is developing the commercial side of the organization. a commercial vehicle (= one that is used for carrying goods or passengers who pay) commercial baby foods the first commercial flights across the Atlantic note at ECONOMIC
2 [only before noun] making or intended to make a profit: The movie was not a commercial success (= did not make money). note at SUCCESSFUL
3 (disapproving) more concerned with profit and being popular than with quality: Their more recent music is far too commercial. The show was unashamedly commercial, with little artistic merit.
4 (of television or radio) paid for by the money charged for broadcasting advertisements: a commercial radio station/TV channel
commercially adv.: commercially produced/grown/developed The product is not yet commercially available. His invention was not commercially successful. Designers are becoming more and more commercially minded.
noun an advertisement on the radio or on television note at AD

commercialism NAmE noun [U] (disapproving) the fact of being more interested in making money than in the value or quality of things: commercialism in the theatre

commercialize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN] [often passive] to use sth to try to make a profit, especially in a way that other people do not approve of: Their music has become very commercialized in recent years. Christmas is far too commercialized now.
commercialization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

commercial traveller noun (old-fashioned, BrE) = SALES REPRESENTATIVE

commie NAmE noun (especially NAmE) an insulting way of referring to sb that you think has ideas similar to those of COMMUNISTS or SOCIALISTS, or who is a member of a COMMUNIST or SOCIALIST party

commis NAmE (pl. commis NAmE ) (also commis chef) noun a junior cook who works in a kitchencompare CHEF, SOUS-CHEF

commiserate verb ~ (with sb) (on/about/for/over sth) to show sb sympathy when they are upset or disappointed about sth: [V] She commiserated with the losers on their defeat. [also V speech]

commiseration noun [U, C] (formal) an expression of sympathy for sb who has had sth unpleasant happen to them, especially not winning a competition: I offered him my commiseration. Commiserations to the losing team!

commissar NAmE noun an officer of the Communist Party, especially in the past in the Soviet Union

commissariat NAmE noun
1 a department of the army that is responsible for food supplies
2 a government department in the Soviet Union before 1946

commissary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (NAmE)
1 a shop/store that sells food, etc. in a military base, a prison, etc.
2 a restaurant for people working in a large organization, especially a film studio

commission noun, verb
noun
OFFICIAL GROUP
1 (often Commission) [C] an official group of people who have been given responsibility to control sth, or to find out about sth, usually for the government: the European Commission (BrE) The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at the prison. a commission on human rights
MONEY
2 [U, C] an amount of money that is paid to sb for selling goods and which increases with the amount of goods that are sold: You get a 10% commission on everything you sell. He earned £2 000 in commission last month. In this job you work on commission (= are paid according to the amount you sell).
3 [U] an amount of money that is charged by a bank, etc. for providing a particular service: 1% commission is charged for cashing traveller's cheques.
FOR ART/MUSIC, etc.
4 [C] a formal request to sb to design or make a piece of work such as a building or a painting: a commission to design the new parliament building
IN ARMED FORCES
5 [C] an officer's position in the armed forces: He resigned his commission when he got married.
OF CRIME
6 [U] (formal) the act of doing sth wrong or illegal: the commission of a crime
in/out of commission available/not available to be used: Several of the airline's planes are temporarily out of commission and undergoing safety checks.
verb
PIECE OF ART/MUSIC, etc.
1 to officially ask sb to write, make or create sth or to do a task for you: [VN to inf] She has been commissioned to write a new national anthem. [VN] Publishers have commissioned a French translation of the book. The survey on consumer taste was commissioned by local stores.
IN ARMED FORCES
2 [usually passive] ~ sb (as) sth to choose sb as an officer in one of the armed forces: [VN] She was commissioned in 1992. [VN-N] He has just been commissioned (as a) pilot officer.

commissionaire NAmE noun (BrE, becoming old-fashioned) a person in uniform whose job is to stand at the entrance to a hotel, etc. and open the door for visitors, find them taxis, etc.see also DOORMAN

commissioned officer noun an officer in the armed forces who has a higher rank, such as a captain or a GENERALcompare NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER

commissioner noun
1 (usually Commissioner) a member of a COMMISSION (= an official group of people who are responsible for controlling sth or finding out about sth): the Church Commissioners (= the group of people responsible for controlling the financial affairs of the Church of England) European Commissioners
2 (also police commissioner especially in NAmE) the head of a particular police force in some countries
3 the head of a government department in some countries: the agriculture/health, etc. commissioner Commissioner Rhodes was unavailable for comment.see also HIGH COMMISSIONER
4 (in the US) an official chosen by a sports association to control it: the baseball commissioner

commissioner for oaths noun (BrE) a lawyer who has official authority to be present when sb makes a formal promise that a written statement that they will use as evidence in court is true

the Commission on Civil Rights noun [sing.] (in the US) a government organization that works for equal rights for all Americans

commit verb (-tt-)
CRIME
1 [VN] ~ a crime, etc. to do sth wrong or illegal: to commit murder/adultery, etc. Most crimes are committed by young men. appalling crimes committed against innocent children
SUICIDE
2 [VN] ~ suicide to kill yourself deliberately
PROMISE/SAY DEFINITELY
3 ~ sb/yourself (to sth/to doing sth) [often passive] to promise sincerely that you will definitely do sth, keep to an agreement or arrangement, etc.: [VN] The President is committed to reforming health care. Borrowers should think carefully before committing themselves to taking out a loan. [VN to inf] Both sides committed themselves to settle the dispute peacefully.
4 [VN] ~ yourself (to sth) to give an opinion or make a decision openly so that it is then difficult to change it: You don't have to commit yourself now, just think about it.see also NON-COMMITTAL
BE LOYAL
5 [V] ~ (to sb/sth) to be completely loyal to one person, organization, etc. or give all your time and effort to your work, an activity, etc.: Why are so many men scared to commit? (= say they will be loyal to one person)see also COMMITTED
MONEY/TIME
6 [VN] to spend money or time on sth/sb: The council has committed large amounts of money to housing projects.
TO HOSPITAL/PRISON
7 [VN] [often passive] ~ sb to sth to order sb to be sent to a hospital, prison, etc.: She was committed to a psychiatric hospital.
SB FOR TRIAL
8 [VN] to send sb for trial in court
STH TO MEMORY
9 [VN] ~ sth to memory to learn sth well enough to remember it exactly: She committed the instructions to memory.
STH TO PAPER/WRITING
10 [VN] ~ sth to paper/writing to write sth down

commitment noun
1 [C, U] ~ (to sb/sth)| ~ to do sth a promise to do sth or to behave in a particular way; a promise to support sb/sth; the fact of committing yourself: She doesn't want to make a big emotional commitment to Steve at the moment. The company's commitment to providing quality at a reasonable price has been vital to its success. the government's commitment to public services
2 [U] ~ (to sb/sth) the willingness to work hard and give your energy and time to a job or an activity: A career as an actor requires one hundred per cent commitment.
3 [C] a thing that you have promised or agreed to do, or that you have to do: He's busy for the next month with filming commitments. Women very often have to juggle work with their family commitments.
4 [U, C] ~ (of sth) (to sth) agreeing to use money, time or people in order to achieve sth: the commitment of resources to education Achieving success at this level requires a commitment of time and energy.

committal noun [U] (technical) the official process of sending sb to prison or to a mental hospital: He was released on bail pending committal proceedings.

committed adj. (approving) willing to work hard and give your time and energy to sth; believing strongly in sth: a committed member of the team They are committed socialists. UNCOMMITTED

committee noun [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who are chosen, usually by a larger group, to make decisions or to deal with a particular subject: She's on the management committee. The committee has/have decided to close the restaurant. a committee member/a member of the committee a committee meeting The player was fined by the disciplinary committee.

commode NAmE noun
1 a piece of furniture that looks like a chair but has a toilet under the seat
2 a piece of furniture, especially an old or ANTIQUE one, with drawers for storing things in

commodious NAmE adj. (formal) having a lot of space

commodity NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 (economics) a product or a raw material that can be bought and sold: rice, flour and other basic commodities a drop in commodity prices Crude oil is the world's most important commodity. note at PRODUCT
2 a thing that is useful or has a useful quality: Water is a precious commodity that is often taken for granted in the West.

commodore NAmE noun (abbr. Cdre) an officer of high rank in the navy: Commodore John Barry

common NAmE adj., noun
adj. (commoner, commonest) more common and most common are more frequent
1 happening often; existing in large numbers or in many places: Jackson is a common English name. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in this country. Some birds which were once a common sight are now becoming rare. a common spelling mistake Allergies to milk are quite common in childhood. UNCOMMON
2 [usually before noun] ~ (to sb/sth) shared by or belonging to two or more people or by the people in a group: They share a common interest in photography. basic features which are common to all human languages We are working together for a common purpose. common ownership of the land This decision was taken for the common good (= the advantage of everyone). It is, by common consent, Scotland's prettiest coast (= everyone agrees that it is).
3 [only before noun] ordinary; not unusual or special: the common garden frog Shakespeare's work was popular among the common people in his day. In most people's eyes she was nothing more than a common criminal. You'd think he'd have the common courtesy to apologize (= this would be the polite behaviour that people would expect). It's only common decency to let her know what's happening (= people would expect it).
4 (BrE, disapproving) typical of sb from a low social class and not having good manners: She thought he was very common and uneducated.
common or garden (BrE) (NAmE garden-variety) (informal) ordinary; with no special features
the common touch the ability of a powerful or famous person to talk to and understand ordinary people
make common cause with sb (formal) to be united with sb about sth that you both agree on, believe in or wish to achievemore at KNOWLEDGE
noun
1 [C] an area of open land in a town or village that anyone may use: We went for a walk on the common. Wimbledon Common
2 commons [sing.] (US) a large room where students can eat in a school, college, etc.: The commons is next to the gym.
have sth in common (with sb) (of people) to have the same interests, ideas, etc. as sb else: Tim and I have nothing in common./I have nothing in common with Tim.
have sth in common (with sth) (of things, places, etc.) to have the same features, characteristics, etc.: The two cultures have a lot in common.
in common (technical) by everyone in a group: They hold the property as tenants in common.
in common with sb/sth (formal) in the same way as sb/sth: Britain, in common with many other industrialized countries, has experienced major changes over the last 100 years.

the common cold noun [sing.] = COLD

common denominator noun
1 (mathematics) a number that can be divided exactly by all the numbers below the line in a set of FRACTIONScompare DENOMINATOR
2 an idea, attitude or experience that is shared by all the members of a group: They were united through the common denominator of suffering.see also LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR

commoner NAmE noun a person who does not come from a royal or NOBLE family: It was not acceptable for royalty to marry commoners in those days.compare ARISTOCRAT

Common Era noun [sing.] (abbr. CE) the period since the birth of Christ when the Christian CALENDAR starts counting years

common ground noun [U] opinions, interests and aims that you share with sb, although you may not agree with them about other things: Despite our disagreements, we have been able to find some common ground.

commonhold NAmE noun [U] (BrE, law) a system in which each person owns their flat/apartment in a building but the building and shared areas are owned by everyone together

common land noun [U] (BrE) land that belongs to or may be used by the local community

common law noun [U] (in England) a system of laws that have been developed from customs and from decisions made by judges, not created by Parliamentcompare CASE LAW, STATUTE LAW

common-law husband, common-law wife noun a person that a woman or man has lived with for a long time and who is recognized as a husband or wife, without a formal marriage ceremony: She lives with her common-law husband and their three children.

commonly NAmE adv. usually; very often; by most people: Christopher is commonly known as Kit. commonly held opinions This is one of the most commonly used methods.

common market noun
1 [C, usually sing.] a group of countries that have agreed on low taxes on goods traded between countries in the group, and higher fixed taxes on goods imported from countries outside the group
2 the common market [sing.] a former name of the European Union

common noun noun (grammar) a word such as table, cat, or sea, that refers to an object or a thing but is not the name of a particular person, place or thingcompare ABSTRACT NOUN, PROPER NOUN

commonplace NAmE adj., noun
adj. done very often, or existing in many places, and therefore not unusual: Computers are now commonplace in primary classrooms.
noun (formal)
1 [usually sing.] an event, etc. that happens very often and is not unusual
2 a remark, etc. that is not new or interesting: The speech was full of commonplaces.

commonplace book noun (especially in the past) a book into which you copy parts of other books, poems, etc. and add your own comments

common rat noun = BROWN RAT

common room noun (especially BrE) a room used by the teachers or students of a school, college, etc. when they are not teaching or studying

Commons NAmE noun the Commons [pl.] = THE HOUSE OF COMMONScompare THE LORDS

common sense noun [U] the ability to think about things in a practical way and make sensible decisions: For goodness' sake, just use your common sense! It's common sense to keep medicines away from children. a common-sense approach to a problem

commonwealth NAmE noun [sing.]
1 the Commonwealth an organization consisting of the United Kingdom and most of the countries that used to be part of the British Empire: a member of the Commonwealth Commonwealth countries
2 (usually the Commonwealth) used in the official names of, and to refer to, some states of the US (Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia): the Commonwealth of Virginia The city and the Commonwealth have lost a great leader.
3 (NAmE) an independent country that is strongly connected to the US: Puerto Rico remains a US commonwealth, not a state.
4 (usually Commonwealth) used in the names of some groups of countries or states that have chosen to be politically linked with each other: the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

commotion NAmE noun [C, usually sing., U] sudden noisy confusion or excitement: I heard a commotion and went to see what was happening. The crowd waiting outside was causing a commotion.

communal NAmE adj.
1 shared by, or for the use of, a number of people, especially people who live together SHARED: a communal kitchen/garden, etc. As a student he tried communal living for a few years.
2 involving different groups of people in a community: communal violence between religious groups
communally adv.: The property was owned communally.

communalism NAmE noun [U]
1 the fact of living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities
2 (IndE) a strong sense of belonging to a particular, especially religious, community, which can lead to extreme behaviour or violence towards others

commune noun, verb
noun NAmE [C+sing./pl. v.]
1 a group of people who live together and share responsibilities, possessions, etc.: a 1970s hippy commune
2 the smallest division of local government in France and some other countries
verb
commune with sb/sth (formal) to share your emotions and feelings with sb/sth without speaking: He spent much of this time communing with nature.

communicable adj. (formal) that sb can pass on to other people or communicate to sb else: communicable diseases The value of the product must be communicable to the potential consumers.

communicant noun a person who receives COMMUNION in a Christian church service

communicate verb
EXCHANGE INFORMATION
1 ~ (with sb) to exchange information, news, ideas, etc. with sb: [V] We only communicate by email. They communicated in sign language. Dolphins use sound to communicate with each other. [VN] to communicate information/a message to sb
SHARE IDEAS/FEELINGS
2 to make your ideas, feelings, thoughts, etc. known to other people so that they understand them: [VN] He was eager to communicate his ideas to the group. Her nervousness was communicating itself to the children. [V] Candidates must be able to communicate effectively. [also V wh-]
3 [V] ~ (with sb) to have a good relationship because you are able to understand and talk about your own and other people's thoughts, feelings, etc.: The novel is about a family who can't communicate with each other.
DISEASE
4 [VN] [usually passive] to pass a disease from one person, animal, etc. to another: The disease is communicated through dirty drinking water.
OF TWO ROOMS
5 [V] if two rooms communicate, they are next to each other and you can get from one to the other: a communicating door (= one that connects two rooms)

communication noun
1 [U] the activity or process of expressing ideas and feelings or of giving people information: Speech is the fastest method of communication between people. All channels of communication need to be kept open. Doctors do not always have good communication skills. non-verbal communication We are in regular communication by letter.
2 [U] (also communications [pl.]) methods of sending information, especially telephones, radio, computers, etc. or roads and railways: communication systems/links/technology The new airport will improve communications between the islands. Snow has prevented communication with the outside world for three days.
3 [C] (formal) a message, letter or telephone call: a communication from the leader of the party

communicative NAmE adj.
1 willing to talk and give information to other people: I don't find him very communicative. UNCOMMUNICATIVE
2 connected with the ability to communicate in a language, especially a foreign language: communicative skills

the communicative approach noun [sing.] (also communicative language teaching [U]) a method of teaching a foreign language which stresses the importance of learning to communicate information and ideas in the language

communicative competence noun [U] (linguistics) a person's ability to communicate information and ideas in a foreign language

communicator noun a person who communicates sth to others: an effective/skilled/successful communicator a poor communicator note at SPEAKER

communion noun
1 (also Communion, Holy Communion) [U] a ceremony in the Christian Church during which people eat bread and drink wine in memory of the last meal that Christ had with his DISCIPLES: to go to Communion (= attend church for this celebration) to take/receive communion (= receive the bread and wine)see also EUCHARIST, MASS
2 [U] ~ (with sb/sth) (formal) the state of sharing or exchanging thoughts and feelings; the feeling of being part of sth: poets living in communion with nature
3 [C] (technical) a group of people with the same religious beliefs: the Anglican communion

communiqué NAmE noun an official statement or report, especially to newspapers: The leaders attending the conference have issued a joint communiqué.

communism NAmE noun [U]
1 a political movement that believes in an economic system in which the state controls the means of producing everything on behalf of the people. It aims to create a society in which everyone is treated equally.
2 Communism the system of government by a ruling Communist Party, such as in the former Soviet Unioncompare CAPITALISM

communist NAmE noun
1 a person who believes in or supports communism
2 Communist a member of a Communist Party
communist (also Communist) adj.: communist ideology a Communist country/government/leader

the Communist Party noun a political party that supports COMMUNISM or rules in a COMMUNIST country

community noun (pl. -ies)
1 [sing.] all the people who live in a particular area, country, etc. when talked about as a group: The local community was shocked by the murders. health workers based in the community (= working with people in a local area) the international community (= the countries of the world as a group) good community relations with the police (NAmE) community parks/libraries (= paid for by the local town/city)
2 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who share the same religion, race, job, etc.: the Polish community in London ethnic communities the farming community
3 [U] the feeling of sharing things and belonging to a group in the place where you live: There is a strong sense of community in this town. community spirit
4 [C] (biology) a group of plants and animals growing or living in the same place or environment: a community fish tank

community care (also care in the community) noun [U] (BrE) medical and other care for people who need help over a long period, which allows them to live at home rather than in a hospital

community centre (BrE) (NAmE community center) noun a place where people from the same area can meet for social events or sports or to take classes

community college noun
1 (also community school) (in Britain) a SECONDARY SCHOOL that is open to adults from the local community as well as to its own students
2 (in the US) a college that is mainly for students from the local community and that offers programmes that are two years long, including programmes in practical skills.

community language learning noun [U] a method of learning a foreign language that uses small groups and other ways of reducing students' anxiety

community property noun [U] (NAmE, law) property that is considered to belong equally to a married couple

community service noun work helping people in the local community that sb does without being paid, either because they want to, or because they have been ordered to by a court as a punishment

commutable adj.
1 (of a place or a distance) close enough or short enough to make travelling to work every day a possibility
2 (law) a commutable punishment can be made less severe
3 (formal) able to be changed

commutation NAmE noun [C, U]
1 (law) the act of making a punishment less severe: a commutation of the death sentence to life imprisonment
2 (finance) the act of replacing one method of payment with another; a payment that is replaced with another

commutative adj. (mathematics) (of a calculation) giving the same result whatever the order in which the quantities are shown

commutator NAmE noun (physics)
1 a device that connects a motor to the electricity supply
2 a device for changing the direction in which electricity flows

commute verb, noun
verb
1 [V] to travel regularly by bus, train, car, etc. between your place of work and your home: She commutes from Oxford to London every day. He spent that year commuting between New York and Chicago. I live within commuting distance of Dublin. [VN] People are prepared to commute long distances if they are desperate for work.
2 [VN] ~ sth (to sth) (law) to replace one punishment with another that is less severe: The death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.
3 [VN] ~ sth (for/into sth) (finance) to exchange one form of payment, for sth else
noun the journey that a person makes when they commute to work: a two-hour commute into downtown Washington I have only a short commute to work. Today most commutes are not suburb to city to suburb but from one suburb to another.

commuter noun a person who travels into a city to work each day, usually from quite far away: The five o'clock train is always packed with commuters. (BrE) the commuter belt (= the area around a city where people live and from which they travel to work in the city)

comp NAmE noun (informal)
1 [C] (BrE) = COMPREHENSIVE n.: Her children go to the local comp.
2 [C] (BrE) = COMPETITION: To enter our comp answer this question.
3 [C] (NAmE) a COMPLIMENTARY ticket, meal, etc. (= one that you do not have to pay for)
4 [U] (NAmE) = COMPENSATION: comp time (= time off work given for working extra hours)

compact adj., noun, verb
adj. NAmE
1 smaller than is usual for things of the same kind: a compact camera The notebook computer is small and compact and weighs only 3.6lb.
2 using or filling only a small amount of space: The kitchen was compact but well equipped.
3 closely and firmly packed together: a compact mass of earth The grey clouds had become more compact and the sky suddenly grew dark.
4 (of a person or an animal) small and strong: He had a compact and muscular body.
compactly adv. compactness noun [U]: He had the natural compactness of a good ball player.
noun NAmE
1 (NAmE) a small carcompare SUBCOMPACT
2 a small flat box with a mirror, containing powder that women use on their faces
3 (formal) a formal agreement between two or more people or countries
verb [VN] [usually passive] to press sth together firmly: a layer of compacted snow

compact disc noun = CD

compadre NAmE noun (NAmE, informal, from Spanish) used as a friendly way of addressing sb

companion noun
1 a person or an animal that travels with you or spends a lot of time with you: travelling companions Geoff was my companion on the journey. (figurative) Fear was the hostages' constant companion.
2 a person who has similar tastes, interests, etc. to your own and whose company you enjoy: She was a charming dinner companion. His younger brother is not much of a companion for him. They're drinking companions (= they go out drinking together).
3 a person who shares in your work, pleasures, sadness, etc.: We became companions in misfortune.
4 a person, usually a woman, employed to live with and help sb, especially sb old or ill/sick
5 one of a pair of things that go together or can be used together: A companion volume is soon to be published.
6 used in book titles to describe a book giving useful facts and information on a particular subject: A Companion to French Literaturesee also BOON COMPANION

companionable adj. friendly: They walked to the studio together in a companionable silence.
companionably adv.

companionship noun [U] the pleasant feeling that you have when you have a friendly relationship with sb and are not alone: They meet at the club for companionship and advice. She had only her cat for companionship.

companionway noun (technical) a set of stairs on a ship

company noun (pl. -ies)
BUSINESS
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] (abbr. Co.) (often in names) a business organization that makes money by producing or selling goods or services: the largest computer company in the world the National Bus Company She joined the company in 2002. Mike gets a company car with his new job (= one that the company pays for). Company profits were 5% lower than last year. He runs his own TV production company. company policy
THEATRE/DANCE
2 (often in names) [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who work or perform together: a theatre/dance, etc. company the Royal Shakespeare Company
BEING WITH SB
3 [U] the fact of being with sb else and not alone: I enjoy Jo's company (= I enjoy being with her). She enjoys her own company (= being by herself) when she is travelling. The children are very good company (= pleasant to be with) at this age. a pleasant evening in the company of friends He's coming with me for company.
GUESTS
4 [U] (formal) guests in your house: I didn't realize you had company.
GROUP OF PEOPLE
5 [U] (formal) a group of people together: She told the assembled company what had happened. It is bad manners to whisper in company (= in a group of people).
SOLDIERS
6 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of soldiers that is part of a BATTALION
the company sb keeps the people that sb spends time with: Judging by the company he kept, Mark must have been a wealthy man.
get into/keep bad company to be friends with people that others disapprove of: They worried about their teenage son getting into bad company.
in company with sb/sth (formal) together with or at the same time as sb/sth: She arrived in company with the ship's captain. The US dollar went through a difficult time, in company with the oil market.
in good company if you say that sb is in good company, you mean that they should not worry about a mistake, etc. because sb else, especially sb more important, has done the same thing: If you worry about your relationship with your teenage son or daughter, you are in good company. Many parents share these worries.
keep sb company to stay with sb so that they are not alone: I'll keep you company while you're waiting.
two's company (, three's a crowd) (saying) used to suggest that it is better to be in a group of only two people than have a third person with you as wellmore at PART v., PRESENT adj.

company car noun a car which is provided by the company that you work for

company sergeant major noun an officer of middle rank in the army

comparable NAmE adj. ~ (to/with sb/sth) similar to sb/sth else and able to be compared: A comparable house in the south of the city would cost twice as much. The situation in the US is not directly comparable to that in the UK. Inflation is now at a rate comparable with that in other European countries.
comparability NAmE noun [U]: Each group will have the same set of questions, in order to ensure comparability.

comparative adj., noun
adj.
1 connected with studying things to find out how similar or different they are: a comparative study of the educational systems of two countries comparative linguistics
2 measured or judged by how similar or different it is to sth else RELATIVE: Then he was living in comparative comfort (= compared with others or with his own life at a previous time). The company is a comparative newcomer to the software market (= other companies have been in business much longer).
3 (grammar) relating to adjectives or adverbs that express more in amount, degree or quality, for example better, worse, slower and more difficultcompare SUPERLATIVE
noun (grammar) the form of an adjective or adverb that expresses more in amount, degree or quality: 'Better' is the comparative of 'good' and 'more difficult' is the comparative of 'difficult'.compare SUPERLATIVE

comparative linguistics noun [U] the study of how related languages are similar and different, especially in order to discover things about a language that both these languages came from, and that no longer exists

comparatively adv. as compared to sth/sb else RELATIVELY: The unit is comparatively easy to install and cheap to operate. He died comparatively young (= at a younger age than most people die). comparatively few/low/rare/recent

compare NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 (abbr. cf., cp.) [VN] ~ A and B| ~ A with/to B to examine people or things to see how they are similar and how they are different: It is interesting to compare their situation and ours. We compared the two reports carefully. We carefully compared the first report with the second. My own problems seem insignificant compared with other people's. Standards in health care have improved enormously compared to 40 years ago.
2 [V] ~ with/to sb/sth to be similar to sb/sth else, either better or worse: This school compares with the best in the country (= it is as good as them). This house doesn't compare with our previous one (= it is not as good). I've had some difficulties, but they were nothing compared to yours (= they were not nearly as bad as yours). Their prices compare favourably with those of their competitors.
3 [VN] ~ A to B to show or state that sb/sth is similar to sb/sth else: The critics compared his work to that of Martin Amis.
compare notes (with sb) if two or more people compare notes, they each say what they think about the same event, situation, etc.: We saw the play separately and compared notes afterwards.
noun
beyond/without compare (literary) better than anything else of the same kind: a diamond beyond compare Our professional service promises you a wedding without compare.

comparison noun
1 [U] ~ (with sb/sth) the process of comparing two or more people or things: Comparison with other oil-producing countries is extremely interesting. I enclose the two plans for comparison. The education system bears/stands no comparison with that in many Eastern European countries (= it is not as good). For Durkheim, comparison was the most important method of analysis in sociology.
2 [C] ~ (of A and/to/with B)| ~ (between A and B) an occasion when two or more people or things are compared: a comparison of the rail systems in Britain and France comparisons between Britain and the rest of Europe a comparison of men's salaries with those of women It is difficult to make a comparison with her previous bookthey are completely different. You can draw comparisons with the situation in Ireland (= say how the two situations are similar). a comparison of the brain to a computer (= showing what is similar)
by comparison used especially at the beginning of a sentence when the next thing that is mentioned is compared with sth in the previous sentence: By comparison, expenditure on education increased last year. His problems seemed trivial by comparison.
by/in comparison (with sb/sth) when compared with sb/sth: The second half of the game was dull by comparison with the first. The tallest buildings in London are small in comparison with New York's skyscrapers.
there's no comparison used to emphasize the difference between two people or things that are being compared: In terms of price there's no comparison (= one thing is much more expensive than the other).more at PALE v.

compartment NAmE noun
1 one of the separate sections which a coach/car on a train is divided into: He found an empty first-class compartment.
2 one of the separate sections that sth such as a piece of furniture or equipment has for keeping things in: The desk has a secret compartment. There is a handy storage compartment beneath the oven.see also GLOVE COMPARTMENT

compartmentalize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN] ~ sth (into sth) to divide sth into separate sections, especially so that one thing does not affect the other: Life today is rigidly compartmentalized into work and leisure.

compass noun
1 (also magnetic compass) [C] an instrument for finding direction, with a needle that always points to the north: a map and compass the points of the compass (= N, S, E, W, etc.)
2 [C] (also compasses [pl.]) an instrument with two long thin parts joined together at the top, used for drawing circles and measuring distances on a map: a pair of compasses
3 [sing.] (formal) a range or an extent, especially of what can be achieved in a particular situation: the compass of a singer's voice (= the range from the lowest to the highest note that he or she can sing)

compassion noun [U] ~ (for sb) a strong feeling of sympathy for people who are suffering and a desire to help them: to feel/show compassion She was known as a hard woman with no compassion, no emotion. In an overworked doctor, feelings of compassion are soon lost.

compassionate adj. feeling or showing sympathy for people who are suffering: Politicians are not usually regarded as warm or compassionate people. He was allowed to go home on compassionate grounds (= because he was suffering).
compassionately adv.

compassionate leave noun [U] (BrE) time that you are allowed to be away from work because sb in your family is ill/sick or has died: She was granted compassionate leave to attend her father's funeral.

compatibility noun [U] ~ (with sb/sth)| ~ (between A and B)
1 the ability of people or things to live or exist together without problems: The compatibility of brothers and sisters depends on their personalities.
2 the ability of machines, especially computers, and computer programs to be used together

compatible adj. ~ (with sb/sth)
1 (of machines, especially computers) able to be used together: compatible software The new system will be compatible with existing equipment.
2 (of ideas, methods or things) able to exist or be used together without causing problems: Are measures to protect the environment compatible with economic growth? compatible blood groups
3 if two people are compatible, they can have a good relationship because they have similar ideas, interests, etc. INCOMPATIBLE: She found a compatible partner through a computer dating agency.
compatibly adv.

compatriot NAmE noun a person who was born in, or is a citizen of, the same country as sb else COUNTRYMAN: He played against one of his compatriots in the semi-final.

compel verb (-ll-) (formal)
1 to force sb to do sth; to make sth necessary: [VN to inf] The law can compel fathers to make regular payments for their children. I feel compelled to write and tell you how much I enjoyed your book. [VN] Last year ill health compelled his retirement.
2 [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) to cause a particular reaction: He spoke with an authority that compelled the attention of the whole crowd.see also COMPULSION

compelling adj.
1 that makes you pay attention to it because it is so interesting and exciting: Her latest book makes compelling reading. note at INTERESTING
2 so strong that you must do sth about it: a compelling need/desire
3 that makes you think it is true: There is no compelling reason to believe him. compelling evidence
compellingly adv.: compellingly attractive

compendious adj. (formal) containing all the necessary facts about sth: a compendious description

compendium noun (pl. compendia or compendiums) a collection of facts, drawings and photographs on a particular subject, especially in a book

compensate NAmE verb
1 [V] ~ (for sth) to provide sth good to balance or reduce the bad effects of damage, loss, etc. MAKE UP FOR: Nothing can compensate for the loss of a loved one.
2 [VN] ~ sb (for sth) to pay sb money because they have suffered some damage, loss, injury, etc.: Her lawyers say she should be compensated for the suffering she had been caused.
compensatory NAmE adj.: He received a compensatory payment of $20 000.

compensation NAmE noun ~ (for sth)
1 [U, C] something, especially money, that sb gives you because they have hurt you, or damaged sth that you own; the act of giving this to sb: to claim/award/receive compensation to pay compensation for injuries at work to receive £10 000 in compensation. She received a cash sum by way of compensation.
2 [C, usually pl.] things that make a bad situation better: I wish I were young again, but getting older has its compensations.

compère NAmE noun, verb
noun (BrE) a person who introduces the people who perform in a television programme, show in a theatre, etc. EMCEE: to act as (a) compère
verb [VN, V] (BrE) to act as a compère for a show

compete verb
1 ~ (with/against sb) (for sth) to try to be more successful or better than sb else who is trying to do the same as you: [V] Several companies are competing for the contract. We can't compete with them on price. Young children will usually compete for their mother's attention. Small traders cannot compete in the face of cheap foreign imports. [also V to inf]
2 [V] ~ (in sth) (against sb) to take part in a contest or game: He's hoping to compete in the London marathon.

competence NAmE noun
1 (also less frequent competency) [U, C] ~ (in sth)| ~ (in doing sth) the ability to do sth well: to gain a high level of competence in English professional/technical competence INCOMPETENCE
2 [U] (law) the power that a court, an organization or a person has to deal with sth: The judge has to act within the competence of the court. outside sb's area of competence
3 [C] (also less frequent competency technical) a skill that you need in a particular job or for a particular task: The syllabus lists the knowledge and competences required at this level.

competency NAmE noun (pl. -ies) = COMPETENCE

competent NAmE adj. ~ (to do sth)
1 having enough skill or knowledge to do sth well or to the necessary standard: Make sure the firm is competent to carry out the work. He's very competent in his work. I don't feel competent to comment. INCOMPETENT
2 of a good standard but not very good
3 having the power to decide sth: the case was referred to a competent authority
competently adv.: to perform competently

competition NAmE noun
1 ~ (between/with sb)| ~ (for sth) [U] a situation in which people or organizations compete with each other for sth that not everyone can have: There is now intense competition between schools to attract students. We are in competition with four other companies for the contract. We won the contract in the face of stiff competition.
2 [C] an event in which people compete with each other to find out who is the best at sth: a music/photo, etc. competition to enter/win/lose a competition
3 the competition [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] the people who are competing against sb: We'll be able to assess the competition at the conference.

competitive adj.
1 used to describe a situation in which people or organizations compete against each other: competitive games/sports Graduates have to fight for jobs in a highly competitive market.
2 ~ (with sb/sth) as good as or better than others: a shop selling clothes at competitive prices (= as low as any other shop) We need to work harder to remain competitive with other companies. to gain a competitive advantage over rival companies note at CHEAP
3 (of a person) trying very hard to be better than others: You have to be highly competitive to do well in sport these days. UNCOMPETITIVE
competitively adv.: competitively priced goods competitiveness noun: the competitiveness of British industry

competitor noun
1 a person or an organization that competes against others, especially in business: our main/major competitor We produce cheaper goods than our competitors.
2 a person who takes part in a competition: Over 200 competitors entered the race.

compilation NAmE noun
1 [C] a collection of items, especially pieces of music or writing, taken from different places and put together: Her latest CD is a compilation of all her best singles. a compilation album
2 [U] the process of compiling sth: the compilation of a dictionary

compile verb [VN]
1 to produce a book, list, report, etc. by bringing together different items, articles, songs, etc.: We are trying to compile a list of suitable people for the job. The album was compiled from live recordings from last year's tour.
2 (computing) to translate instructions from one computer language into another so that a particular computer can understand them

compiler noun
1 a person who compiles sth
2 (computing) a program that translates instructions from one computer language into another for a computer to understand

complacency noun [U] (usually disapproving) a feeling of satisfaction with yourself or with a situation, so that you do not think any change is necessary; the state of being complacent: Despite signs of an improvement in the economy, there is no room for complacency.

complacent adj. ~ (about sb/sth) (usually disapproving) too satisfied with yourself or with a situation, so that you do not feel that any change is necessary; showing or feeling complacency: a dangerously complacent attitude to the increase in unemployment We must not become complacent about progress.
complacently adv.

complain verb ~ (to sb) (about/of sth) to say that you are annoyed, unhappy or not satisfied about sb/sth: [V] I'm going to complain to the manager about this. She never complains, but she's obviously exhausted. The defendant complained of intimidation during the investigation. (informal) 'How are you?' 'Oh, I can't complain (= I'm all right).' [V (that)] He complained bitterly that he had been unfairly treated. [V speech] 'It's not fair,' she complained.
complain of sth to say that you feel ill/sick or are suffering from a pain: She left early, complaining of a headache.

SYNONYMS

complain

protest object grumble moan whine whinge

These words all mean to say that you are annoyed, unhappy or not satisfied about sb/sth.

complain to say that you are annoyed, unhappy or not satisfied about sb/sth: I'm going to complain to the manager about this.

protest to say or do sth to show that you disagree with or disapprove of sth, especially publicly; to give sth as a reason for protesting: Students took to the streets to protest against the decision.

object to say that you disagree with or disapprove of sth; to give sth as a reason for objecting: If nobody objects, we'll postpone the meeting till next week. He objected that the police had arrested him without sufficient evidence.

grumble (rather informal disapproving) to complain about sb/sth in a bad-tempered way: They kept grumbling that they were cold.

moan (BrE rather informal disapproving) to complain about sb/sth in an annoying way: What are you moaning on about now?

whine (rather informal disapproving) to complain in an annoying, crying voice: Stop whining! 'I want to go home,' whined Toby. Whine is often used to talk about the way that young children complain.

whinge (BrE informal disapproving) to complain about sb/sth in an annoying way: She's always whingeing about how unfair everything is.

GRUMBLE, MOAN OR WHINGE ?

These are all fairly informal words for 'complain'. Grumble tells you how the person who is complaining feels (= they are in a bad mood); moan and whinge tell you more about how the people listening to the complaints feel (= the complaining is annoying them).

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to complain/protest/grumble/moan/whine/whinge about sth

to complain/protest/grumble/moan at sth

to complain/protest/object/grumble/moan/whine/whinge to sb

to complain/protest/object/grumble/moan/whine that

to complain/protest/object bitterly

complainant noun (BrE) = PLAINTIFF

complaint noun
1 [C] ~ (about/against sb/sth)| ~ (that ... ) a reason for not being satisfied; a statement that sb makes saying that they are not satisfied: The most common complaint is about poor service. We received a number of complaints from customers about the lack of parking facilities. I believe you have a complaint against one of our nurses. I'd like to make a complaint about the noise. a formal complaint a complaint that he had been unfairly treated (formal) to file/lodge (= make) a complaint
2 [U] the act of complaining: I can see no grounds for complaint. a letter of complaint
3 [C] an illness, especially one that is not serious, and often one that affects a particular part of the body: a skin complaint

complaisant adj. (old-fashioned) ready to accept other people's actions and opinions and to do what other people want: She was a complaisant wife and dutiful daughter.
complaisance noun [U]

complected adj. (NAmE, informal) (used with adjectives) with skin and a COMPLEXION of the type mentioned: fair/dark complected

complement verb, noun
verb NAmE [VN] to add to sth in a way that improves it or makes it more attractive: The excellent menu is complemented by a good wine list. The team needs players who complement each other. note at COMPLIMENT
noun NAmE
1 ~ (to sth) a thing that adds new qualities to sth in a way that improves it or makes it more attractive
2 the complete number or quantity needed or allowed: We've taken our full complement of trainees this year.
3 (grammar) a word or phrase, especially an adjective or a noun, that is used after linking verbs such as be and become, and describes the subject of the verb. In some descriptions of grammar it is used to refer to any word or phrase which is GOVERNED by a verb and usually comes after the verb in a sentence: In the sentences 'I'm angry' and 'He became a politician', 'angry' and 'politician' are complements.

complementary NAmE adj. ~ (to sth) two people or things that are complementary are different but together form a useful or attractive combination of skills, qualities or physical features: The school's approach must be complementary to that of the parents. note at COMPLIMENT

complementary angle noun (geometry) either of two angles which together make 90°compare SUPPLEMENTARY ANGLE

complementary colour (BrE) (NAmE complementary color) noun (technical)
1 a colour that, when mixed with another colour, gives black or white
2 a colour that gives the greatest contrast when combined with a particular colour: The designer has chosen the complementary colours blue and orange.

complementary medicine noun [U] (BrE) medical treatment that is not part of the usual scientific treatment used in Western countries, for example ACUPUNCTURE

complementation NAmE noun [U]
1 the fact of complementing sth
2 (grammar) the complements of a verb in a clause

complementizer (BrE also -iser) NAmE noun (grammar) a word or part of a word that shows a clause is being used as a complement

complete adj., verb
adj.
1 [usually before noun] used when you are emphasizing sth, to mean 'to the greatest degree possible' TOTAL: We were in complete agreement. a complete change in complete silence a complete stranger It came as a complete surprise. I felt a complete idiot.
2 including all the parts, etc. that are necessary; whole: I've collected the complete set. a complete guide to events in Oxford the complete works of Tolstoy You will receive payment for each complete day that you work. INCOMPLETE
3 ~ with sth [not before noun] including sth as an extra part or feature: The furniture comes complete with tools and instructions for assembly. The book, complete with CD, costs £35.
4 [not before noun] finished: Work on the office building will be complete at the end of the year. INCOMPLETE
completeness noun [U]: the accuracy and completeness of the information For the sake of completeness, all names are given in full.
verb [VN]
1 [often passive] to finish making or doing sth: She's just completed a master's degree in Law. The project should be completed within a year.
2 to write all the information you are asked for on a form FILL IN/OUT: 2 000 shoppers completed our questionnaire.
3 to make sth whole or perfect: I only need one more card to complete the set.

completely adv. (used to emphasize the following word or phrase) in every way possible TOTALLY: completely different completely and utterly broke I've completely forgotten her name. The explosion completely destroyed the building.

completion noun
1 [U] the act or process of finishing sth; the state of being finished and complete: the completion of the new hospital building Satisfactory completion of the course does not ensure you a job. The project is due for completion in the spring. The road is nearing completion (= it is nearly finished). the date of completion/the completion date
2 [U, C] (BrE) the formal act of completing the sale of property, for example the sale of a house: The keys will be handed over on completion.

complex adj., noun
adj. NAmE
1 made of many different things or parts that are connected; difficult to understand COMPLICATED: complex machinery the complex structure of the human brain a complex road system a complex argument/problem/subject
2 (grammar) (of a word or sentence) containing one main part (= the ROOT of a word or MAIN CLAUSE of a sentence) and one or more other parts (AFFIXES or SUBORDINATE CLAUSES): In the complex sentence, 'I'd like to go the beach, if it's warm enough', 'I'd like to go to the beach' is the main clause, and 'if it's warm enough' is the subordinate clause.compare COMPOUND adj.
noun NAmE
1 a group of buildings of a similar type together in one place: a sports complex an industrial complex (= a site with many factories) note at BUILDING
2 a group of things that are connected: This is just one of a whole complex of issues.
3 (especially in compounds) a mental state that is not normal: to suffer from a guilt complexsee also INFERIORITY COMPLEX, OEDIPUS COMPLEX, PERSECUTION COMPLEX
4 if sb has a complex about sth, they are worried about it in way that is not normal: Don't mention her weightshe has a complex about it.

complexion noun
1 the natural colour and condition of the skin on a person's face: a pale/bad complexion
2 [usually sing.] the general character of sth: a move which changed the political complexion of the country
put a new/different complexion on sth to change the way that a situation appears

complexity noun
1 [U] the state of being formed of many parts; the state of being difficult to understand: the increasing complexity of modern telecommunication systems I was astonished by the size and complexity of the problem.
2 complexities [pl.] the features of a problem or situation that are difficult to understand: the complexities of the system

complex number noun (mathematics) a number containing both a REAL NUMBER and an IMAGINARY NUMBER

compliance noun [U] ~ (with sth) the practice of obeying rules or requests made by people in authority: procedures that must be followed to ensure full compliance with the law Safety measures were carried out in compliance with paragraph 6 of the building regulations. NON-COMPLIANCEsee also COMPLY

compliant adj.
1 (usually disapproving) too willing to agree with other people or to obey rules: By then, Henry seemed less compliant with his wife's wishes than he had six months before. We should not be producing compliant students who do not dare to criticize.
2 in agreement with a set of rules: computer software that is year 2000 compliantsee also COMPLY

complicate NAmE verb [VN] to make sth more difficult to do, understand or deal with: I do not wish to complicate the task more than is necessary. To complicate matters further, there will be no transport available till 8 o'clock. The issue is complicated by the fact that a vital document is missing.

complicated NAmE adj. made of many different things or parts that are connected; difficult to understand COMPLEX: a complicated system The instructions look very complicated. The story is extremely complicated. It's all very complicatedbut I'll try and explain.

complication NAmE noun
1 [C, U] a thing that makes a situation more complicated or difficult: The bad weather added a further complication to our journey.
2 [C, usually pl.] (medical) a new problem or illness that makes treatment of a previous one more complicated or difficult: She developed complications after the surgery. Infertility is one of the complications of this type of radiotherapy.

complicit adj. ~ (in/with sb/sth) involved with other people in sth wrong or illegal: Several officers were complicit in the cover-up.

complicity noun [U] ~ (in sth) (formal) the act of taking part with another person in a crime COLLUSION: to be guilty of complicity in the murder evident complicity between the two brothers

compliment noun, verb
noun NAmE
1 [C] a remark that expresses praise or admiration of sb: to pay sb a compliment (= to praise them for sth) 'You understand the problem because you're so much older.' 'I'll take that as a compliment!' It's a great compliment to be asked to do the job. to return the compliment (= to treat sb in the same way as they have treated you)
2 compliments [pl.] (formal) polite words or good wishes, especially when used to express praise and admiration: My compliments to the chef! (BrE) Compliments of the season! (= for Christmas or the New Year) Please accept these flowers with the compliments of (= as a gift from) the manager. see BACKHANDED
verb NAmE [VN] ~ sb (on sth) to tell sb that you like or admire sth they have done, their appearance, etc.: She complimented him on his excellent German.

WHICH WORD?

compliment / complement

These words have similar spellings but completely different meanings. If you compliment someone, you say something very nice to them: She complimented me on my English. If one thing complements another, the two things work or look better because they are together: The different flavours complement each other perfectly.

The adjectives are also often confused. Complimentary: She made some very complimentary remarks about my English. It can also mean 'free': There was a complimentary basket of fruit in our room. Complementary: The team members have different but complementary skills.

complimentary NAmE adj.
1 given free: complimentary tickets for the show
2 ~ (about sth) expressing admiration, praise, etc.: a complimentary remark She was extremely complimentary about his work. UNCOMPLIMENTARY note at COMPLIMENT

compliments slip noun a small piece of paper printed with the name of a company, that is sent out together with information, goods, etc.

comply verb (complies, complying, complied, complied) [V] ~ (with sth) to obey a rule, an order, etc.: They refused to comply with the UN resolution.see also COMPLIANCE

compo NAmE noun [U] (AustralE, NZE, informal) money that is paid to a worker if he/she gets injured at work COMPENSATION

component NAmE noun one of several parts of which sth is made: the components of a machine the car component industry Key components of the government's plan are ... Trust is a vital component in any relationship.
component adj. [only before noun]: to break sth down into its component parts

componential analysis NAmE noun [U] (linguistics) the study of meaning by analysing the different parts of words

comport NAmE verb [VN + adv. / prep.] ~ yourself (formal) to behave in a particular way: She always comports herself with great dignity.

comportment NAmE noun [U] (formal) the way in which sb/sth behaves: She won admiration for her comportment during the trial.

compose NAmE verb
1 [VN] [no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to combine together to form a whole MAKE UP: Ten men compose the committee.see also COMPOSED note at CONSIST OF
2 to write music: [VN] Mozart composed his last opera shortly before he died. [also V]
3 [VN] ~ a letter/speech/poem to write a letter, etc. usually with a lot of care and thought: She composed a letter of protest.
4 [VN] [no passive] (formal) to manage to control your feelings or expression: Emma frowned, making an effort to compose herself. I was so confused that I could hardly compose my thoughts.see also COMPOSURE

composed NAmE adj.
1 be composed of sth to be made or formed from several parts, things or people: The committee is composed mainly of lawyers. note at CONSIST OF
2 [not usually before noun] calm and in control of your feelings: She seemed outwardly composed. He remained perfectly composed and calm.

composer NAmE noun a person who writes music, especially CLASSICAL music

composite NAmE adj., noun
adj. [only before noun] made of different parts or materials: a composite picture (= one made from several pictures)
noun
1 something made by putting together different parts or materials: The document was a composite of information from various sources.
2 (US) = IDENTIKIT

composition NAmE noun
1 [U] the different parts which sth is made of; the way in which the different parts are organized: the chemical composition of the soil the composition of the board of directors the size and composition of an average class note at STRUCTURE
2 [C] a piece of music or art, or a poem: one of Beethoven's finest compositions
3 [U] the act of COMPOSING sth: pieces performed in the order of their composition
4 [U] the art of writing music: to study composition
5 [C] a short text that is written as a school exercise; a short essay
6 [U] (art) the arrangement of people or objects in a painting or photograph

compositor NAmE noun a person who arranges text on a page before printing

compos mentis NAmE adj. [not before noun] (from Latin, formal or humorous) having full control of your mind: Are you sure she was fully compos mentis when she said it? NON COMPOS MENTIS

compost NAmE noun, verb
noun [U, C] a mixture of decayed plants, food, etc. that can be added to soil to help plants grow: potting compost (= a mixture of soil and compost that you can buy to grow new plants in) a compost heap (= a place in the garden where leaves, plants, etc. are piled, to make compost)
verb [VN]
1 to make sth into compost: Cover the area with composted bark or peat.
2 to put compost on or in sth

composure NAmE noun [U] the state of being calm and in control of your feelings or behaviour: to keep/lose/recover/regain your composure He maintained his composure despite a desperate desire to laugh.

compote NAmE noun [C, U] a cold DESSERT (= a sweet dish) made of fruit that has been cooked slowly with sugar

compound noun, adj., verb
noun NAmE
1 a thing consisting of two or more separate things combined together
2 (chemistry) a substance formed by a chemical reaction of two or more elements in fixed amounts relative to each other: Common salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine.compare ELEMENT, MIXTURE
3 (grammar) a noun, an adjective or a verb made of two or more words or parts of words, written as one or more words, or joined by a hyphen. Travel agent, dark-haired and bathroom are all compounds.
4 an area surrounded by a fence or wall in which a factory or other group of buildings stands: a prison compound
adj. NAmE [only before noun] (technical) formed of two or more parts: a compound adjective, such as fair-skinned A compound sentence contains two or more clauses. the compound eye of a wasp
verb [VN]
1 [often passive] to make sth bad become even worse by causing further damage or problems: The problems were compounded by severe food shortages.
2 be compounded of/from sth (formal) to be formed from sth: The DNA molecule is compounded from many smaller molecules.
3 [often passive] (formal or technical) to mix sth together: liquid soaps compounded with disinfectant
4 (finance) to pay or charge interest on an amount of money that includes any interest already earned or charged

compound eye noun (biology) an eye like that of most insects, made up of several parts that work separately

compound fracture noun an injury in which a bone in the body is broken and part of the bone comes through the skincompare SIMPLE FRACTURE

compound interest noun [U] interest that is paid both on the original amount of money saved and on the interest that has been added to itcompare SIMPLE INTEREST

comprehend NAmE verb (often used in negative sentences) (formal) to understand sth fully: [VN] The infinite distances of space are too great for the human mind to comprehend. [V wh-] She could not comprehend how someone would risk people's lives in that way. [V] He stood staring at the dead body, unable to comprehend. note at UNDERSTAND [also V that]

comprehensible NAmE adj. ~ (to sb) (formal) that can be understood by sb: easily/readily comprehensible to the average reader INCOMPREHENSIBLE
comprehensibility NAmE noun [U]

comprehension NAmE noun
1 [U] the ability to understand: speech and comprehension His behaviour was completely beyond comprehension (= impossible to understand). She had no comprehension of what was involved.
2 [U, C] an exercise that trains students to understand a language: listening comprehension a reading comprehension

comprehensive NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 including all, or almost all, the items, details, facts, information, etc., that may be concerned COMPLETE, FULL: a comprehensive list of addresses a comprehensive study comprehensive insurance (= covering all risks)
2 (BrE) (of education) designed for students of all abilities in the same school
comprehensiveness noun [U]
noun (also comprehensive school) (also informal comp) (in Britain) a SECONDARY SCHOOL for young people of all levels of ability

comprehensively NAmE adv. completely; thoroughly: They were comprehensively beaten in the final. The matter has been comprehensively discussed.

compress verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (sth) (into sth) to press or squeeze sth together or into a smaller space; to be pressed or squeezed in this way: [VN] compressed air/gas As more snow fell, the bottom layer was compressed into ice. She compressed her lips. [V] Her lips compressed into a thin line.
2 [VN] ~ sth (into sth) to reduce sth and fit it into a smaller space or amount of time CONDENSE: The main arguments were compressed into one chapter. Rehearsal time will have to be compressed into two evenings.
3 [VN] (computing) to make computer files, etc. smaller so that they use less space on a disk, etc. DECOMPRESS
compression noun [U]: the compression of air data compression
noun NAmE a cloth that is pressed onto a part of the body to stop the loss of blood, reduce pain, etc.: to apply a cold compress

compressor noun a machine that compresses air or other gases

comprise verb [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses)
1 (also be comprised of) to have sb/sth as parts or members CONSIST OF: The collection comprises 327 paintings. The committee is comprised of representatives from both the public and private sectors.
2 to be the parts or members that form sth MAKE STH UP: Older people comprise a large proportion of those living in poverty. note at CONSIST OF

compromise NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] an agreement made between two people or groups in which each side gives up some of the things they want so that both sides are happy at the end: After lengthy talks the two sides finally reached a compromise. In any relationship, you have to make compromises. a compromise solution/agreement/candidate
2 [C] ~ (between A and B) a solution to a problem in which two or more things cannot exist together as they are, in which each thing is reduced or changed slightly so that they can exist together: This model represents the best compromise between price and quality.
3 [U] the act of reaching a compromise: Compromise is an inevitable part of life. There is no prospect of compromise in sight.
verb
1 [V] ~ (with sb) (on sth) to give up some of your demands after a disagreement with sb, in order to reach an agreement: Neither side is prepared to compromise. After much argument, the judges finally compromised on (= agreed to give the prize to) the 18-year old pianist. They were unwilling to compromise with the Communists.
2 ~ (on sth) to do sth that is against your principles or does not reach standards that you have set: [VN] I refuse to compromise my principles. [V] We are not prepared to compromise on safety standards.
3 [VN] ~ sb/sth/yourself to bring sb/sth/yourself into danger or under suspicion, especially by acting in a way that is not very sensible: She had already compromised herself by accepting his invitation. Defeat at this stage would compromise their chances (= reduce their chances) of reaching the finals of the competition.

compromising NAmE adj. if sth is compromising, it shows or tells people sth that you want to keep secret, because it is wrong or embarrassing: compromising photos They were discovered together in a compromising situation.

comptroller NAmE noun = CONTROLLER (3)

compulsion noun ~ (to do sth)
1 [U, C] strong pressure that makes sb do sth that they do not want to do: You are under no compulsion to pay immediately. There are no compulsions on students to attend classes. The legal system is based on compulsion.
2 [C] a strong desire to do sth, especially sth that is wrong, silly or dangerous URGE: He felt a great compulsion to tell her everything. Obsessions and compulsions often develop in people who live stressful lives.see also COMPEL

compulsive adj.
1 (of behaviour) that is difficult to stop or control: compulsive eating/spending/gambling
2 (of people) not being able to control their behaviour: a compulsive drinker/gambler/liar
3 that makes you pay attention to it because it is so interesting and exciting: The programme made compulsive viewing.
compulsively adv.: She watched him compulsively. a compulsively readable book

compulsory adj. that must be done because of a law or a rule MANDATORY: It is compulsory for all motorcyclists to wear helmets. English is a compulsory subject at this level. compulsory education/schooling compulsory redundancies VOLUNTARY
compulsorily adv.: Over 600 workers were made compulsorily redundant.

compulsory purchase noun [U, C] (BrE) an occasion when sb is officially ordered to sell land or property to the government or other authority: a compulsory purchase order

compunction noun [U] (also [C] in NAmE) ~ (about doing sth) (formal) a guilty feeling about doing sth: She felt no compunction about leaving her job. He had lied to her without compunction. (US) She has no compunctions about rejecting the plan.

computation NAmE noun [C, U] (formal) an act or the process of calculating sth: All the statistical computations were performed by the new software system. an error in the computation

computational NAmE adj. [usually before noun] using or connected with computers: computational methods a computational approach

computational linguistics noun [U] the study of language and speech using computers

compute verb [VN] (formal) to calculate sth: The losses were computed at £5 million.

computer noun an electronic machine that can store, organize and find information, do calculations and control other machines: a personal computer Our sales information is processed by computer. a computer program computer software/hardware/graphics a computer error computer-aided designsee also DESKTOP COMPUTER, MICROCOMPUTER, PERSONAL COMPUTER, SUPERCOMPUTER

computerate noun = COMPUTER-LITERATE: Applicants need to be computerate.

computer game noun a game played on a computer

computerize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN]
1 to provide a computer or computers to do the work of sth: The factory has been fully computerized.
2 to store information on a computer: computerized databases The firm has computerized its records.
computerization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

computer-literate adj. able to use computers well: She is highly computer-literate, and good at explaining the use of the system to others.
computer literacy noun [U]

computer science noun [U] the study of computers and how they can be used: a degree in computer science
computer scientist noun

computing noun [U] the fact of using computers: to work in computing to study computing educational/network/scientific computing computing power/services/skills/systems

comrade NAmE noun
1 a person who is a member of the same COMMUNIST or SOCIALIST political party as the person speaking: We must fight for our rights, comrades!
2 (BrE also comrade-in-arms) (old-fashioned) a friend or other person that you work with, especially as soldiers during a war: They were old army comrades.
comradely NAmE adj. comradeship NAmE noun [U]: There was a sense of comradeship between them.

Con abbr. (in British politics) CONSERVATIVE

con NAmE noun, verb
noun (informal)
1 [sing.] (also BrE formal confidence trick) (also NAmE formal confidence game) a trick; an act of cheating sb: The so-called bargain was just a big con! (BrE) a con trick (NAmE) a con game He's a real con artist (= a person who regularly cheats others).see also CON MAN, MOD CONS
2 [C] = CONVICT see PRO n.
verb (-nn-) [VN] ~ sb (into doing sth/out of sth) (informal) to trick sb, especially in order to get money from them or persuade them to do sth for you: I was conned into buying a useless car. They had been conned out of £100 000. He conned his way into the job using false references. note at CHEAT

con amore NAmE adv. (music) (from Italian) (used as an instruction) in a delicate and loving way TENDERLY

conation noun [U] (philosophy, psychology) a mental process that makes you want to do sth or decide to do sth
conative NAmE adj.

con brio adv. (music) (from Italian) (used as an instruction) in a lively way, with energy

concatenation noun (formal) a series of things or events that are linked together: a strange concatenation of events

concave NAmE adj. (of an outline or a surface) curving in: a concave lens/mirror CONVEX

concavity NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (technical)
1 [U] the quality of being concave (= curving in): Rocks exposed to wind often show some degree of concavity.
2 [C] a shape or place that curves in: a deep concavity in the side of the hill

conceal verb [VN] ~ sb/sth (from sb/sth) (formal) to hide sb/sth: The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. For a long time his death was concealed from her. Tim could barely conceal his disappointment. She sat down to conceal the fact that she was trembling.see also ILL-CONCEALED note at HIDE

concealment noun [U] (formal) the act of hiding sth; the state of being hidden: the concealment of crime Many animals rely on concealment for protection.

concede verb
1 ~ sth (to sb)| ~ sb sth to admit that sth is true, logical, etc.: [V speech] 'Not bad,' she conceded grudgingly. [V (that)] He was forced to concede (that) there might be difficulties. [VN] I had to concede the logic of this. [VN, VNN] He reluctantly conceded the point to me. He reluctantly conceded me the point. [VN that] It must be conceded that different judges have different approaches to these cases. note at ADMIT
2 ~ sth (to sb)| ~ sb sth to give sth away, especially unwillingly; to allow sb to have sth: [VN] The President was obliged to concede power to the army. England conceded a goal immediately after half-time. [VNN] Women were only conceded full voting rights in the 1950s.
3 ~ (defeat) to admit that you have lost a game, an election, etc.: [V] After losing this decisive battle, the general was forced to concede. [VN] Injury forced Hicks to concede defeat.see also CONCESSION

conceit noun
1 [U] (disapproving) too much pride in yourself and what you do
2 [C] (formal) an artistic effect or device, especially one that is very clever or tries to be very clever but does not succeed: The ill-advised conceit of the guardian angel dooms the film from the start. The director's brilliant conceit was to film this tale in black and white.
3 (technical) a clever expression in writing or speech that involves a comparison between two things METAPHOR: The idea of the wind singing is a romantic conceit.

conceited adj. (disapproving) having too much pride in yourself and what you do: a very conceited person It's very conceited of you to assume that your work is always the best.
conceitedly adv.

conceivable adj. that you can imagine or believe POSSIBLE: It is conceivable that I'll see her tomorrow. a beautiful city with buildings of every conceivable age and style INCONCEIVABLE
conceivably adv.: The disease could conceivably be transferred to humans.

conceive
(WORD FAMILY: conceive verb | concept noun | conception noun | conceivable adj. inconceivable | conceptual adj. ) verb
1 ~ (of) sth (as sth) (formal) to form an idea, a plan, etc. in your mind; to imagine sth: [VN] He conceived the idea of transforming the old power station into an arts centre. God is often conceived of as male. [V (that)] I cannot conceive (= I do not believe) (that) he would wish to harm us. [V wh-] I cannot conceive what it must be like.
2 when a woman conceives or conceives a child, she becomes pregnant: [V] She is unable to conceive. [VN] Their first child was conceived on their wedding night.see also CONCEPTION

concentrate NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (sth) (on sth/on doing sth) to give all your attention to sth and not think about anything else: [V] I can't concentrate with all that noise going on. [VN] Nothing concentrates the mind better than the knowledge that you could die tomorrow (= it makes you think very clearly). I decided to concentrate all my efforts on finding somewhere to live.
2 [VN + adv. / prep.] to bring sth together in one place: Power is largely concentrated in the hands of a small elite. We need to concentrate resources on the most run-down areas. Fighting was concentrated around the towns to the north. Never concentrate the heat in one place for too long.
3 [VN] (technical) to increase the strength of a substance by reducing its volume, for example by boiling it REDUCE
concentrate on sth to spend more time doing one particular thing than others: In this lecture I shall concentrate on the early years of Charles's reign. She gave up German in order to concentrate on her French.
noun [C, U] a substance that is made stronger because water or other substances have been removed: mineral concentrates found at the bottom of rivers jams made with fruit juice concentrate

concentrated NAmE adj.
1 showing determination to do sth: He made a concentrated effort to finish the work on time.
2 (of a substance) made stronger because water or other substances have been removed: concentrated orange juice a concentrated solution of salt in water
3 if sth exists or happens in a concentrated way, there is a lot of it in one place or at one time: concentrated gunfire a widespread distrust of concentrated power and bureaucracies

concentration NAmE noun
1 [U] the ability to direct all your effort and attention on one thing, without thinking of other things: This book requires a great deal of concentration. Tiredness affects your powers of concentration.
2 [U] ~ (on sth) the process of people directing effort and attention on a particular thing: a need for greater concentration on environmental issues In his concentration on the job in hand, John allowed his normal vigilance to slip.
3 [C] ~ (of sth) a lot of sth in one place: a concentration of industry in the north of the country
4 [C, U] the amount of a substance in a liquid or in another substance: glucose concentrations in the blood

concentration camp noun a type of prison, often consisting of a number of buildings inside a fence, where political prisoners are kept in extremely bad conditions: a Nazi concentration camp

concentric adj. (geometry) (of circles) having the same centre: concentric rings The revolving circle is concentric with the fixed outer circle.

concept NAmE noun ~ (of sth)| ~ (that ... ) an idea or a principle that is connected with sth ABSTRACT: the concept of social class concepts such as 'civilization' and 'government' He can't grasp the basic concepts of mathematics. the concept that everyone should have equality of opportunity a new concept in teaching

concept album noun a collection of pieces of popular music, all having the same theme and recorded on one CD, etc.

conception noun
1 [U] the process of forming an idea or a plan: The plan was brilliant in its conception but failed because of lack of money.
2 [C, U] ~ (of sth)| ~ (that ... ) an understanding or a belief of what sth is or what sth should be: Marx's conception of social justice He has no conception of how difficult life is if you're unemployed.
3 [U, C] the process of an egg being FERTILIZED inside a woman's body so that she becomes pregnant: the moment of conception A child is born about 40 weeks after conception takes place.see also CONCEIVE

conceptual adj. (formal) related to or based on ideas: a conceptual framework within which children's needs are assessed a conceptual model
conceptually adv.: conceptually similar/distinct

conceptual art noun [U] art in which the idea which the work of art represents is considered to be the most important thing about it

conceptualism noun [U] (philosophy) the theory that general ideas such as 'beauty' and 'red' exist only as ideas in the mind
conceptualist noun

conceptualize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] ~ sth (as sth) (formal) to form an idea of sth in your mind: These people do not conceptualize hunting as a violent act.

concern NAmE verb, noun
verb
AFFECT/INVOLVE
1 [VN] [often passive] to affect sb; to involve sb: Don't interfere in what doesn't concern you. The loss was a tragedy for all concerned (= all those affected by it). Where our children's education is concerned, no compromise is acceptable. The individuals concerned have some explaining to do. To whom it may concern ... (= used for example, at the beginning of a public notice or of a job reference about sb's character and ability) Everyone who was directly concerned in (= had some responsibility for) the incident has now resigned. Please pay attention because this information concerns all of you.
BE ABOUT
2 [VN] (also be concerned with sth) to be about sth: The story concerns the prince's efforts to rescue Pamina. The book is primarily concerned with Soviet-American relations during the Cold War. This chapter concerns itself with the historical background. One major difference between these computers concerns the way in which they store information.
WORRY SB
3 to worry sb: [VN] What concerns me is our lack of preparation for the change. [VN that] It concerns me that you no longer seem to care.see also CONCERNED
TAKE AN INTEREST
4 [VN] ~ yourself with/about sth to take an interest in sth: He didn't concern himself with the details.
CONSIDER IMPORTANT
5 [VN to inf] be concerned to do sth (formal) to think it is important to do sth: She was concerned to write about situations that everybody could identify with.
see FAR adv.
noun
WORRY
1 [U, C] ~ (about/for/over sth/sb)| ~ (that ... ) a feeling of worry, especially one that is shared by many people: There is growing concern about violence on television. She hasn't been seen for four days and there is concern for her safety. The report expressed concern over continuing high unemployment. There is widespread concern that new houses will be built on protected land. Stress at work is a matter of concern to staff and management. The President's health was giving serious cause for concern. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any queries or concerns about this work. In the meeting, voters raised concerns about health care.compare UNCONCERN
DESIRE TO PROTECT
2 [U] a desire to protect and help sb/sth: parents' concern for their children I appreciate everyone's concern and help at this difficult time.
STH IMPORTANT
3 [C] something that is important to a person, an organization, etc.: What are your main concerns as a writer? The government's primary concern is to reduce crime.
RESPONSIBILITY
4 [C, usually sing.] (formal) something that is your responsibility or that you have a right to know about: This matter is their concern. How much money I make is none of your concern.
COMPANY
5 [C] a company or business FIRM: a major publishing concern
see GOING adj.

concerned NAmE adj.
1 ~ (about/for sth)| ~ (that ... ) worried and feeling concern about sth: Concerned parents held a meeting. The President is deeply concerned about this issue. He didn't seem in the least concerned for her safety. She was concerned that she might miss the turning and get lost. note at WORRIED
2 ~ (about/with sth) interested in sth: They were more concerned with how the other women had dressed than in what the speaker was saying. UNCONCERNED see FAR adv.

concerning /knsn; NAmE -srn/ prep. (formal) about sth; involving sb/sth: He asked several questions concerning the future of the company. All cases concerning children are dealt with in a special children's court.

concert NAmE noun a public performance of music: a concert of music by Bach a classical/rock/pop concert They're in concert at Wembley Arena. a concert hall/pianist
in concert with sb/sth (formal) working together with sb/sth

concertante NAmE adj. [only before noun] (music) (from Italian) related to a piece of music which contains an important part for a SOLO singer or player and which is similar to a CONCERTO in character

concert band noun a large group of people who play wind instruments together, and who perform in a concert hallcompare MILITARY BAND

concerted NAmE adj. [only before noun] done in a planned and determined way, especially by more than one person, government, country, etc.: a concerted approach/attack/campaign She has begun to make a concerted effort to find a job.

concert-goer noun a person who regularly goes to concerts, especially of CLASSICAL music

concert grand noun a piano of the largest size, used especially for concerts

concertina NAmE noun, verb
noun a musical instrument like a small ACCORDION, that you hold in both hands. You press the ends together and pull them apart to produce sounds.
verb (concertinaing, concertinaed, concertinaed) [V] (BrE) to fold up like a concertina: The truck crashed into the tree and concertinaed.

concertmaster NAmE noun (especially NAmE) = LEADER (3)

concerto NAmE noun (pl. -os) a piece of music for one or more SOLO instruments playing with an ORCHESTRA: a piano concerto a concerto for flute and harp

concert party noun a group of performers who do a concert or show together

concession noun
1 [C, U] something that you allow or do, or allow sb to have, in order to end an argument or to make a situation less difficult: The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. to win a concession from sb a major/an important concession She made no concession to his age; she expected him to work as hard as she did.see also CONCEDE
2 [U] the act of giving sth or allowing sth; the act of CONCEDING: the concession of university status to some colleges (especially NAmE) Kerry's concession speech (= when he admitted that he had lost the election)
3 [C, usually pl.] (BrE) a reduction in an amount of money that has to be paid; a ticket that is sold at a reduced price to a particular group of people: tax concessions Tickets are £3; there is a £1 concession for students. Adults £2.50, concessions £2, family £5
4 [C] a right or an advantage that is given to a group of people, an organization, etc., especially by a government or an employer: The Bolivian government has granted logging concessions covering 22 million hectares.
5 [C] the right to sell sth in a particular place; the place where you sell it, sometimes an area which is part of a larger building or store: the burger concessions at the stadium They went to the concession stand to get a hot dog.

concessionaire NAmE noun (especially BrE) a person or a business that has been given a concession to sell sth

concessionary NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (BrE) costing less money for people in particular situations; given as a CONCESSION (2): concessionary rates/fares/travel

concessive adj. (grammar) (of a preposition or conjunction) used at the beginning of a clause to say that the action of the main clause is in fact true or possible, despite the situation. 'Despite' and 'although' are concessive words.

conch NAmE noun the shell of a sea creature which is also called a conch

conchie (also conchy) NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (BrE, informal) a CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR

concierge NAmE noun (from French)
1 a person, especially in France, who takes care of a building containing flats/apartments and checks people entering and leaving the building
2 (especially NAmE) a person in a hotel whose job is to help guests by giving them information, arranging theatre tickets, etc.

conciliate verb [VN] (formal) to make sb less angry or more friendly, especially by being kind and pleasant or by giving them sth PACIFY
conciliation noun [U]: A conciliation service helps to settle disputes between employers and workers.

conciliator noun a person or an organization that tries to make angry people calm so that they can discuss or solve their problems successfully

conciliatory NAmE adj. having the intention or effect of making angry people calm: a conciliatory approach/attitude/gesture/move

concise adj.
1 giving only the information that is necessary and important, using few words: a concise summary clear concise instructions
2 [only before noun] (of a book) shorter than the original book, on which it was based: a concise dictionary
concisely adv.: He spoke clearly and concisely. conciseness (also less frequent concision ) noun [U]

conclave NAmE noun (formal) a meeting to discuss sth in private; the people at this meeting

conclude verb
1 (not used in the progressive tenses) ~ sth (from sth)| ~ (from sth) that ... to decide or believe sth as a result of what you have heard or seen: [VN] What do you conclude from that? [V (that)] The report concluded (that) the cheapest option was to close the laboratory. [V that] He concluded from their remarks that they were not in favour of the plan. [VN that] It was concluded that the level of change necessary would be low. [also V speech]
2 ~ (sth) (with sth) (formal) to come to an end; to bring sth to an end: [V] Let me make just a few concluding remarks. The programme concluded with Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring'. He concluded by wishing everyone a safe trip home. [VN] The commission concluded its investigation last month. She concluded her speech with a quotation from Shakespeare. [V speech] 'Anyway, she should be back soon,' he concluded.
3 [VN] ~ sth (with sb) to arrange and settle an agreement with sb formally and finally: They concluded a treaty with Turkey. A trade agreement was concluded between the two countries.

conclusion noun
1 [C] something that you decide when you have thought about all the information connected with the situation: I've come to the conclusion that he's not the right person for the job. It took the jury some time to reach the conclusion that she was guilty. New evidence might lead to the conclusion that we are wrong. We can safely draw some conclusions from our discussion.
2 [C, usually sing.] the end of sth such as a speech or a piece of writing: The conclusion of the book was disappointing. In conclusion, (= finally) I would like to thank ... If we took this argument to its logical conclusion ...
3 [U] the formal and final arrangement of sth official COMPLETION: the successful conclusion of a trade treaty
jump/leap to conclusions | jump/leap to the conclusion that ... to make a decision about sb/sth too quickly, before you know or have thought about all the facts: There I go againjumping to conclusions.more at FOREGONE

conclusive adj. proving sth, and allowing no doubt or confusion: conclusive evidence/proof/results The evidence is by no means conclusive. INCONCLUSIVE
conclusively adv.: to prove sth conclusively

concoct NAmE verb [VN]
1 to make sth, especially food or drink, by mixing different things: The soup was concocted from up to a dozen different kinds of fish.
2 to invent a story, an excuse, etc. COOK UP, MAKE UP: She concocted some elaborate story to explain her absence.

concoction NAmE noun a strange or unusual mixture of things, especially drinks or medicines: a concoction of cream and rum

concomitant NAmE adj., noun
adj. (formal) happening at the same time as sth else, especially because one thing is related to or causes the other: an increase in student numbers and the concomitant increase in class size
noun (formal) a thing that happens at the same time as sth else: Political union is an essential concomitant of successful economic union.

concord NAmE noun [U]
1 ~ (with sb) (formal) peace and agreement HARMONY: living in concord with neighbouring states DISCORD
2 [U] ~ (with sth) (grammar) (of words in a phrase) the fact of having the same NUMBER, GENDER or PERSON AGREEMENT: In the sentence 'They live in the country.', the plural verb 'live' is in concord with the plural subject 'They'.

concordance NAmE noun
1 [C] an alphabetical list of the words used in a book, etc. showing where and how often they are used: a Bible concordance
2 [C] a list produced by a computer that shows all the examples of an individual word in a book, etc.
3 [U] (technical) the state of being similar to sth or CONSISTENT with it: There is reasonable concordance between the two sets of results.

concordat NAmE BrE noun an agreement, especially between the Roman Catholic Church and the state

concourse NAmE noun a large, open part of a public building, especially an airport or a train station: the station concourse

concrete NAmE adj., noun, verb
adj.
1 made of concrete: a concrete floor
2 based on facts, not on ideas or guesses: concrete evidence/proposals/proof 'It's only a suspicion,' she said, 'nothing concrete.' It is easier to think in concrete terms rather than in the abstract.compare ABSTRACT (1)
3 a concrete object is one that you can see and feel
concretely adv.
noun [U] building material that is made by mixing together CEMENT, sand, small stones and water: a slab of concrete The pathway is formed from large pebbles set in concrete.
verb [VN] ~ sth (over) to cover sth with concrete: The garden had been concreted over.

concrete jungle noun [usually sing.] a way of describing a city or an area that is unpleasant because it has many large modern buildings and no trees or parks

concrete mixer noun = CEMENT MIXER

concrete poetry noun [U] poetry in which the meaning or effect is communicated partly by using patterns of words or letters that are visible on the page

concubine NAmE noun (especially in some societies in the past) a woman who lives with a man, often in addition to his wife or wives, but who is less important than they are: The sultan's wives and concubines lived in the harem.

concupiscence noun [U] (formal, often disapproving) strong sexual desire LUST

concur verb (-rr-) ~ (with sb) (in sth)| ~ (with sth) (formal) to agree: [V] Historians have concurred with each other in this view. The coroner concurred with this assessment. [also V that, V speech]

concurrence NAmE noun (formal)
1 [U, sing.] agreement: The doctor may seek the concurrence of a relative before carrying out the procedure.
2 [sing.] an example of two or more things happening at the same time: an unfortunate concurrence of events

concurrent NAmE adj. ~ (with sth) existing or happening at the same time: He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months.
concurrently adv.: The prison sentences will run concurrently.

concuss verb [VN] to hit sb on the head, making them become unconscious or confused for a short time
concussed adj.: She was concussed after the fall.

concussion noun [U] (This word is only [C] in NAmE.) a temporary loss of CONSCIOUSNESS caused by a blow to the head; the effects of a severe blow to the head such as confusion and temporary loss of physical and mental abilities: (BrE) He was taken to hospital with concussion. (NAmE) He was taken to the hospital with a concussion.

condemn verb
EXPRESS DISAPPROVAL
1 [VN] ~ sb/sth (for/as sth) to express very strong disapproval of sb/sth, usually for moral reasons: The government issued a statement condemning the killings. The editor of the newspaper was condemned as lacking integrity.
SB TO PUNISHMENT
2 [usually passive] ~ sb (to sth) to say what sb's punishment will be SENTENCE: [VN] He was condemned to death for murder and later hanged. [VN to inf] She was condemned to hang for killing her husband.
SB TO DIFFICULT SITUATION
3 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb to sth to force sb to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation DOOM: They were condemned to a life of hardship. He was condemned to spend the rest of the football season on the bench.
STH DANGEROUS
4 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (as sth) to say officially that sth is not safe enough to be used: a condemned building The meat was condemned as unfit to eat.
SHOW GUILT
5 [VN] to show or suggest that sb is guilty of sth: She is condemned out of her own mouth (= her own words show that she is guilty).

condemnation NAmE noun [U, C] ~ (of sb/sth) an expression of very strong disapproval: There was widespread condemnation of the invasion.

condemned cell noun (BrE) a prison cell where a person who is going to be punished by death is kept

condensation NAmE noun
1 [U] drops of water that form on a cold surface when warm water VAPOUR becomes cool: The window was steamed up with condensation.
2 [U] the process of a gas changing to a liquid
3 [C, usually sing., U] (formal) the process of making a book, etc. shorter by taking out anything that is not necessary: The essay should be a readable condensation of the recent scientific literature.

condense verb
1 ~ (sth) (into sth) to change from a gas into a liquid; to make a gas change into a liquid: Steam condenses into water when it cools. [VN] The steam was condensed rapidly by injecting cold water into the cylinder.
2 if a liquid condenses or you condense it, it becomes thicker and stronger because it has lost some of its water REDUCE: [VN] Condense the soup by boiling it for several minutes. [also V]
3 [VN] ~ sth (into sth) to put sth such as a piece of writing into fewer words; to put a lot of information into a small space: The article was condensed into just two pages. The author has condensed a great deal of material into just 100 pages.

condensed milk noun [U] a type of thick sweet milk that is sold in cans

condenser noun
1 a device that cools gas in order to change it into a liquid
2 a device that receives or stores electricity, especially in a car engine

condescend NAmE verb
1 [V to inf] (often disapproving) to do sth that you think it is below your social or professional position to do DEIGN: We had to wait almost an hour before he condescended to see us.
2 [V] ~ to sb to behave towards sb as though you are more important and more intelligent than they are: When giving a talk, be careful not to condescend to your audience.
condescension NAmE noun [U]: Her smile was a mixture of pity and condescension. She gave me some friendly advice without a trace of condescension.

condescending NAmE adj. behaving as though you are more important and more intelligent than other people: He has a condescending attitude towards women. Her tone of voice was always so condescending.
condescendingly adv.

condign adj. (formal) (of a punishment) appropriate to the crime

condiment NAmE noun [usually pl.]
1 (BrE) a substance such as salt or pepper that is used to give flavour to food
2 (especially NAmE) a sauce, etc. that is used to give flavour to food, or that is eaten with food: hot condiments made from a variety of chili peppers

condition noun, verb
noun
STATE OF STH
1 [U, sing.] the state that sth is in: to be in bad/good/excellent condition a used car in perfect condition The house is in a generally poor condition.
MEDICAL
2 [U, sing.] the state of sb's health or how fit they are: He is overweight and out of condition (= not physically fit). You are in no condition (= too ill, etc.) to go anywhere. The motorcyclist was in a critical condition in hospital last night. (informal) She shouldn't be driving in her condition (= because she is pregnant).
3 [C] an illness or a medical problem that you have for a long time because it is not possible to cure it: a medical condition He suffers from a serious heart condition. note at DISEASE
CIRCUMSTANCES
4 conditions [pl.] the circumstances or situation in which people live, work or do things: living/housing/working conditions changing economic conditions neglected children living under the most appalling conditions a strike to improve pay and conditions note at SITUATION
5 conditions [pl.] the physical situation that affects how sth happens: The plants grow best in cool, damp conditions. freezing/icy/humid, etc. conditions Conditions are ideal (= the weather is very good) for sailing today. treacherous driving conditions
RULE
6 [C] a rule or decision that you must agree to, sometimes forming part of a contract or an official agreement: the terms and conditions of employment The offer is subject to certain conditions. They agreed to lend us the car on condition that (= only if) we returned it before the weekend. They will give us the money on one conditionthat we pay it back within six months. (especially NAmE) They agreed under the condition that the matter be dealt with promptly. Congress can impose strict conditions on the bank. They have agreed to the ceasefire provided their conditions are met.
NECESSARY SITUATION
7 [C] a situation that must exist in order for sth else to happen: a necessary condition for economic growth A good training programme is one of the conditions for successful industry.
STATE OF GROUP
8 [sing.] (formal) the state of a particular group of people because of their situation in life, their problems, etc.: He spoke angrily about the condition of the urban poor. Work is basic to the human condition (= the fact of being alive).
on no condition (US also under no condition) (formal) not in any situation; never: You must on no condition tell them what happened.more at MINT n.
verb
1 [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (to sth/to do sth) to train sb/sth to behave in a particular way or to become used to a particular situation: [VN] the difference between inborn and conditioned reflexes (= reactions that are learned/not natural) Patients can become conditioned to particular forms of treatment. [VN to inf] The rats had been conditioned to ring a bell when they wanted food.
2 [VN] to have an important effect on sb/sth; to influence the way that sth happens: Gender roles are often conditioned by cultural factors.
3 [VN] to keep sth such as your hair or skin healthy: a shampoo that cleans and conditions hair a polish for conditioning leather

synonyms

condition / state

The following adjectives are frequently used with these nouns:

~ condition

~ state

good

present

excellent

current

physical

mental

poor

solid

human

no

perfect

emotional

no

physical

better

natural

State is a more general word than condition and is used for the condition that something is in at a particular time. It can be used without an adjective: the present state of medical knowledgeWe're worried about his mental state.What a state this room is in (= very bad).

Condition is used with an adjective and refers especially to the appearance, quality or working order of somebody or something: The car is in excellent condition.

conditional adj., noun
adj.
1 ~ (on/upon sth) depending on sth: conditional approval/acceptance Payment is conditional upon delivery of the goods (= if the goods are not delivered the money will not be paid) He was found guilty and given a conditional discharge (= allowed to go free on particular conditions). a conditional offer (= that depends on particular conditions being met) UNCONDITIONAL
2 [only before noun] (grammar) expressing sth that must happen or be true if another thing is to happen or be true: a conditional sentence/clause
conditionally adv.: The offer was made conditionally.
noun (grammar)
1 [C] a sentence or clause that begins with if or unless and expresses a condition
2 the conditional [sing.] the form of a verb that expresses a conditional action, for example should in If I should die ...: the present/past/perfect conditional the first/second/third conditional

conditioner noun [C, U]
1 a liquid that makes hair soft and shiny after washing: shampoo and conditioner
2 a liquid, used after washing clothes, that makes them softer: fabric conditioner

conditioning noun [U] the training or experience that an animal or a person has that makes them behave in a particular way in a particular situation: Is personality the result of conditioning from parents and society, or are we born with it?see also AIR CONDITIONING

condo NAmE noun (pl. -os) (NAmE, informal) = CONDOMINIUM

condolence NAmE noun [C, usually pl., U] sympathy that you feel for sb when a person in their family or that they know well has died; an expression of this sympathy: to give/offer/express your condolences Our condolences go to his wife and family. a letter of condolence

condom NAmE noun
1 (BrE also sheath) (also NAmE formal or technical prophylactic) a thin rubber covering that a man wears over his PENIS during sex to stop a woman from becoming pregnant or to protect against disease
2 female condom a thin rubber device that a woman wears inside her VAGINA during sex to prevent herself from becoming pregnant

condominium NAmE (also informal condo) noun (especially NAmE) an apartment building in which each flat/apartment is owned by the person living in it but the building and shared areas are owned by everyone together; a flat/apartment in such a building

condone NAmE verb to accept behaviour that is morally wrong or to treat it as if it were not serious: [VN] Terrorism can never be condoned. The college cannot condone any behaviour that involves illicit drugs. [also V -ing, VN -ing]

condor NAmE noun a large bird of the VULTURE family, that lives mainly in S America

conducive NAmE adj. ~ to sth making it easy, possible or likely for sth to happen: Chairs in rows are not as conducive to discussion as chairs arranged in a circle. The soft lights and music were conducive to a relaxed atmosphere.

conduct verb, noun
verb
1 [VN] to organize and/or do a particular activity: to conduct an experiment/an inquiry/a survey The negotiations have been conducted in a positive manner. They conducted a vigorous campaign for a shorter working week.
2 to direct a group of people who are singing or playing music: [VN] a concert by the Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Colin Davis [also V]
3 [VN + adv. / prep.] to lead or guide sb through or around a place: a conducted tour of Athens (= one with a guide, giving information about it) The guide conducted us around the ruins of the ancient city.
4 [VN + adv. / prep.] ~ yourself ... (formal) to behave in a particular way: He conducted himself far better than expected. The report challenges them to examine how they conduct themselves in the workplace.
5 [VN] (technical) (of a substance) to allow heat or electricity to pass along or through it: Copper conducts electricity well.
noun NAmE [U] (formal)
1 a person's behaviour in a particular place or in a particular situation: The sport has a strict code of conduct. improving standards of training and professional conduct
2 ~ of sth the way in which a business or an activity is organized and managed: There was growing criticism of the government's conduct of the war.see also SAFE CONDUCT

conductance noun [U] (physics) the degree to which an object allows electricity or heat to pass through it

conduction noun [U] (physics) the process by which heat or electricity passes through a material

conductive adj. (physics) able to CONDUCT electricity, heat, etc.
conductivity NAmE noun [U]

conductive education noun [U] a treatment for people with CEREBRAL PALSY that was developed in Hungary and that involves special physical exercises and learning methods

conductor noun
1 a person who stands in front of an ORCHESTRA, a group of singers etc., and directs their performance, especially sb who does this as a profession
2 (BrE also guard) a person who is in charge of a train and travels with it, but does not drive it
3 (BrE) a person whose job is to collect money from passengers on a bus or check their tickets: a bus conductor
4 (physics) a substance that allows electricity or heat to pass along it or through it: Wood is a poor conductor.see also LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR

conductress noun (BrE, old-fashioned) a woman who collects money from passengers on a bus or checks their tickets

conduit NAmE noun
1 (technical) a pipe, channel or tube which liquid, gas or electrical wire can pass through
2 (formal) a person, an organization or a country that is used to pass things or information to other people or places: The organization had acted as a conduit for money from the arms industry.

cone NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a solid or hollow object with a round flat base and sides that slope up to a point see also CONIC, CONICAL
2 a solid or hollow object that is shaped like a cone: a paper cone full of popcorn the cone of a volcanosee also NOSE CONE
3 (also traffic cone) a plastic object shaped like a cone and often red and white, or yellow, in colour, used on roads to show where vehicles are not allowed to go, for example while repairs are being done
4 (also old-fashioned cornet) a piece of thin crisp biscuit shaped like a cone, which you can put ice cream in to eat it
5 the hard dry fruit of a PINE or FIR tree: a pine cone see also FIR CONE
verb
cone sthoff to close a road or part of a road by putting a line of cones across it: Part of the road was coned off after the accident.

confab NAmE noun (informal)
1 an informal private discussion or conversation: We called a family confab.
2 (NAmE) a meeting or conference of the members of a profession or group: the annual movie confab in Cannes

confabulation noun [C, U] (formal)
1 a story that sb has invented in their mind; the act of inventing a story in your mind
2 a conversation; the activity of having a conversation

confection noun
1 (formal) a cake or other sweet food that looks very attractive
2 a thing such as a building or piece of clothing, that is made in a skilful or complicated way: Her hat was an elaborate confection of satin and net.

confectioner noun a person or a business that makes or sells cakes and sweets/candy

confectioner's custard noun [U] a soft thick substance that is used in cakes and DESSERTS (= sweet dishes)

confectioner's sugar noun [U] (US) = ICING SUGAR

confectionery NAmE noun [U] sweets/candy, chocolate, etc.: Confectionery is a multimillion-pound business.

confederacy noun
1 [C] a union of states, groups of people or political parties with the same aim
2 the Confederacy [sing.] = THE CONFEDERATE STATES

confederate noun, adj.
noun a person who helps sb, especially to do sth illegal or secret ACCOMPLICE: Rokovssky was his confederate in the assassination plot.
adj. belonging to a confederacy

the Confederate States noun [pl.] (also the Confederacy [sing.]) the eleven southern states of the US which left the United States in 1860-1, starting the American Civil War

confederation noun
1 an organization consisting of countries, businesses, etc. that have joined together in order to help each other: the Confederation of British Industry
2 Confederation (in Canada) the joining together of PROVINCES and TERRITORIES forming Canada, which began 1 July, 1867

confer verb (-rr-) (formal)
1 [V] ~ (with sb) (on/about sth) to discuss sth with sb, in order to exchange opinions or get advice: He wanted to confer with his colleagues before reaching a decision.
2 [VN] ~ sth (on/upon sb) to give sb an award, a university degree or a particular honour or right: An honorary degree was conferred on him by Oxford University in 2001.

conference NAmE noun
1 a large official meeting, usually lasting for a few days, at which people with the same work or interests come together to discuss their views: The hotel is used for exhibitions, conferences and social events. a conference room/centre/hall She is attending a three-day conference on AIDS education. The conference will be held in Glasgow. delegates to the Labour Party's annual conference
2 a meeting at which people have formal discussions: Ministers from all four countries involved will meet at the conference table this week. He was in conference with his lawyers all day.see also PRESS CONFERENCE
3 (especially NAmE) a group of sports teams that play against each other in a league: Southeast Conference football champions

conference call noun a telephone call in which three or more people take part

conferencing NAmE noun the activity of organizing or taking part in meetings, especially when people are in different places and use telephones, computers, or video to communicate: video conferencing

conferment NAmE noun [U, C] (formal) the action of giving sb an award, a university degree or a particular honour or right

confess verb
1 ~ (to sth/to doing sth) to admit, especially formally or to the police, that you have done sth wrong or illegal: [V] She confessed to the murder. After hours of questioning, the suspect confessed. [V (that)] He confessed that he had stolen the money. [VN] We persuaded her to confess her crime.
2 ~ (to sth/to doing sth) to admit sth that you feel ashamed or embarrassed about: [VN] She was reluctant to confess her ignorance. [V] I must confess to knowing nothing about computers. [VN-ADJ] (formal) I confess myself bewildered by their explanation. [also V (that), V speech] see also SELF-CONFESSED note at ADMIT
3 [V, VN] ~ (sth) (to sb) (especially in the Roman Catholic Church) to tell God or a priest about the bad things you have done so that you can say that you are sorry and be forgiven
4 [VN] (of a priest) to hear sb confess their SINS (= the bad things they have done)

confession noun
1 [C, U] a statement that a person makes, admitting that they are guilty of a crime; the act of making such a statement: After hours of questioning by police, she made a full confession. His confession was extracted under torture.
2 [C, U] a statement admitting sth that you are ashamed or embarrassed about; the act of making such a statement ADMISSION: I've a confession to makeI lied about my age.
3 [U, C] (especially in the Roman Catholic Church) a private statement to a priest about the bad things that you have done: to go to confession to hear sb's confession
4 [C] (formal) a statement of your religious beliefs, principles, etc.: a confession of faith

confessional noun a private place in a church where a priest listens to people making confessions

confessor noun a Roman Catholic priest who listens to CONFESSIONS

confetti noun [U] small pieces of coloured paper that people often throw at weddings over people who have just been married, or (in the US) at other special events

confidant (feminine also confidante) NAmE noun a person that you trust and who you talk to about private or secret things: a close/trusted confidant of the President There were times when a semi-stranger was a better confidante than a close friend.

confide verb ~ (sth) (to sb) to tell sb secrets and personal information that you do not want other people to know: [VN] She confided all her secrets to her best friend. [V that] He confided to me that he had applied for another job. [also V speech]
confide in sb to tell sb secrets and personal information because you feel you can trust them: It is important to have someone you can confide in. She used to confide in him whenever she had a problem.

confidence NAmE noun
BELIEF IN OTHERS
1 [U] ~ (in sb/sth) the feeling that you can trust, believe in and be sure about the abilities or good qualities of sb/sth: The players all have confidence in their manager. A fall in unemployment will help to restore consumer confidence. a lack of confidence in the government The new contracts have undermined the confidence of employees. She has every confidence in her students' abilities.see also VOTE OF CONFIDENCE, VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE
BELIEF IN YOURSELF
2 [U] a belief in your own ability to do things and be successful: He answered the questions with confidence. People often lose confidence when they are criticized. He gained confidence when he went to college. She suffers from a lack of confidence. While girls lack confidence, boys often overestimate their abilities. I didn't have any confidence in myself at school.
FEELING CERTAIN
3 [U] the feeling that you are certain about sth: They could not say with confidence that he would be able to walk again after the accident. No one can predict with complete/total confidence what will happen in the financial markets. He expressed his confidence that they would win.
TRUST
4 [U] a feeling of trust that sb will keep information private: Eva told me about their relationship in confidence. This is in the strictest confidence. It took a long time to gain her confidence (= make her feel she could trust me).
A SECRET
5 [C] (formal) a secret that you tell sb: The girls exchanged confidences. I could never forgive Mike for betraying a confidence.
be in sb's confidence to be trusted with sb's secrets: He is said to be very much in the President's confidence.
take sb into your confidence to tell sb secrets and personal information about yourself: She took me into her confidence and told me about the problems she was facing.

confidence trick (BrE) (NAmE confidence game) noun (formal) = CON

confidence trickster noun (BrE, formal) a person who tricks others into giving him or her money, etc.

confident NAmE adj.
1 feeling sure about your own ability to do things and be successful: She was in a relaxed, confident mood. Beneath his confident and charming exterior, lurked a mass of insecurities. The teacher wants the children to feel confident about asking questions when they don't understand.see also SELF-CONFIDENT
2 ~ of sth| ~ that ... feeling certain that sth will happen in the way that you want or expect: I'm confident that you will get the job. The team feels confident of winning. She was quietly confident that everything would go as planned. note at SURE
confidently adv.: Carla smiled confidently at the cameras.

confidential NAmE adj.
1 meant to be kept secret and not told to or shared with other people: confidential information/documents Your medical records are strictly confidential (= completely secret).
2 (of a way of speaking) showing that what you are saying is private or secret: He spoke in a confidential tone, his voice low.
3 [only before noun] trusted with private or secret information: a confidential secretary
confidentially adv.: She told me confidentially that she is going to retire early. He leaned forward confidentially over the desk towards me.

confidentiality NAmE noun [U] a situation in which you expect sb to keep information secret: They signed a confidentiality agreement. All letters will be treated with complete confidentiality. He was fired for a breach of confidentiality (= an occasion when secret information was told to sb else).

confiding adj. [usually before noun] showing trust; showing that you want to tell sb a secret: a confiding relationship
confidingly adv.

configuration NAmE noun
1 (formal or technical) an arrangement of the parts of sth or a group of things; the form or shape that this arrangement produces
2 (computing) the equipment and programs that form a computer system and the way that these are set up to run

configure NAmE verb [VN] [usually passive] (technical) to arrange sth in a particular way, especially computer equipment; to make equipment or software work in the way that the user prefers

confine verb [VN]
1 ~ sb/sth to sth [often passive] to keep sb/sth inside the limits of a particular activity, subject, area, etc. RESTRICT: The work will not be confined to the Glasgow area. I will confine myself to looking at the period from 1900 to 1916.
2 ~ sb/sth (in sth) [usually passive] to keep a person or an animal in a small or closed space: Keep the dog confined in a suitable travelling cage. Here the river is confined in a narrow channel. The soldiers concerned were confined to barracks (= had to stay in the BARRACKS, as a punishment)
3 be confined to bed, a wheelchair, etc. to have to stay in bed, in a WHEELCHAIR, etc.: She was confined to bed with the flu. He was confined to a wheelchair after the accident.

confined adj. [usually before noun] (of a space or an area) small and surrounded by walls or sides: It is cruel to keep animals in confined spaces.

confinement noun
1 [U] the state of being forced to stay in a closed space, prison, etc., the act of putting sb there: her confinement to a wheelchair years of confinement as a political prisonersee also SOLITARY CONFINEMENT
2 [U, C] (formal or old-fashioned) the time when a woman gives birth to a baby: the expected date of confinement a hospital/home confinement

confines NAmE noun [pl.] (formal) limits or borders: It is beyond the confines of human knowledge. the confines of family life

confirm NAmE verb
1 to state or show that sth is definitely true or correct, especially by providing evidence: [VN] Rumours of job losses were later confirmed His guilty expression confirmed my suspicions. Please write to confirm your reservation (= say that it is definite). [V (that)] Has everyone confirmed (that) they're coming? [V wh-] Can you confirm what happened? [VN that] It has been confirmed that the meeting will take place next week.
2 [VN] ~ sth| ~ sb (in sth) to make sb feel or believe sth even more strongly: The walk in the mountains confirmed his fear of heights.
3 [VN] to make a position, an agreement, etc. more definite or official; to establish sb/sth firmly: After a six-month probationary period, her position was confirmed. He was confirmed as captain for the rest of the season.
4 [VN] [usually passive] to make sb a full member of the Christian Church: She was baptized when she was a month old and confirmed when she was thirteen.

confirmation NAmE noun [U, C]
1 a statement, letter, etc. that shows that sth is true, correct or definite: I'm still waiting for confirmation of the test results.
2 a ceremony at which a person becomes a full member of the Christian Church: a confirmation service
3 a Jewish ceremony similar to a BAR MITZVAH or BAT MITZVAH but usually for young people over the age of 16

confirmed NAmE adj. [only before noun] having a particular habit or way of life and not likely to change: a confirmed bachelor (= a man who is not likely to get married, often used in newspapers to refer to a HOMOSEXUAL man) This chocolate dessert is the ultimate dish for confirmed chocaholics.

confiscate NAmE verb [VN] to officially take sth away from sb, especially as a punishment: Their land was confiscated after the war. The teacher threatened to confiscate their phones if they kept using them in class.
confiscation NAmE noun [U, C]: If found guilty of this crime they face heavy fines, confiscation of goods and even imprisonment.

confit NAmE noun [U] DUCK or other meat cooked slowly and preserved in its own fat: duck leg confit confit of goose

conflagration NAmE noun (formal) a very large fire that destroys a lot of land or buildings

conflate verb [VN] (formal) to put two or more things together to make one new thing: The issues of race and class are separate and should not be conflated.
conflation noun [U, C]

conflict noun, verb
noun NAmE [C, U] ~ (between A and B)| ~ (over sth)
1 a situation in which people, groups or countries are involved in a serious disagreement or argument: a conflict between two cultures The violence was the result of political and ethnic conflicts. She found herself in conflict with her parents over her future career. John often comes into conflict with his boss. The government has done nothing to resolve the conflict over nurses' pay.
2 a violent situation or period of fighting between two countries: armed/military conflict A conflict between the two countries could easily spread across the whole region.
3 a situation in which there are opposing ideas, opinions, feelings or wishes; a situation in which it is difficult to choose: The story tells of a classic conflict between love and duty. Her diary was a record of her inner conflict. Many of these ideas appear to be in conflict with each other.
conflict of interest(s) a situation in which there are two jobs, aims, roles, etc. and it is not possible for both of them to be treated equally and fairly at the same time: There was a conflict of interest between his business dealings and his political activities.
verb [V] ~ (with sth) if two ideas, beliefs, stories, etc. conflict, it is not possible for them to exist together or for them both to be true CLASH: conflicting emotions/interests/loyalties These results conflict with earlier findings. Reports conflicted on how much of the aid was reaching the famine victims.

conflicted adj. (especially NAmE) confused about what to do or choose because you have strong but opposing feelings

confluence NAmE noun [usually sing.]
1 (technical) the place where two rivers flow together and become one: the confluence of the Blue Nile and the White Nile
2 (formal) the fact of two or more things becoming one: a confluence of social factors

conform NAmE verb [V]
1 ~ (to sth) to behave and think in the same way as most other people in a group or society: There is considerable pressure on teenagers to conform. He refused to conform to the local customs.
2 ~ to/with sth to obey a rule, law, etc. COMPLY: The building does not conform with safety regulations.
3 ~ to sth to agree with or match sth: Wordsworth changed the ideas of his poem to conform with his later religious and political opinions. It did not conform to the usual stereotype of an industrial city.

conformation NAmE noun [U, C] (formal) the way in which sth is formed; the structure of sth, especially an animal

conformist NAmE noun (often disapproving) a person who behaves and thinks in the same way as most other people and who does not want to be different
conformist adj.: Boys tend to be less conformist than girls.see also NONCONFORMIST

conformity NAmE noun [U] ~ (to/with sth) (formal) behaviour or actions that follow the accepted rules of society
in conformity with sth following the rules of sth; conforming to sth: regulations that are in conformity with European law

confound verb [VN] (formal)
1 to confuse and surprise sb BAFFLE: The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists.
2 to prove sb/sth wrong: to confound expectations She confounded her critics and proved she could do the job.
3 (old-fashioned) to defeat an enemy
confound it/you! (old-fashioned) used to show that you are angry about sth/with sb

confounded adj. [only before noun] (old-fashioned) used when describing sth to show that you are annoyed

confraternity NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (formal) a group of people who join together especially for a religious purpose or to help other people

confront verb [VN]
1 (of problems or a difficult situation) to appear and need to be dealt with by sb: the economic problems confronting the country The government found itself confronted by massive opposition.
2 to deal with a problem or difficult situation FACE UP TO: She knew that she had to confront her fears.
3 to face sb so that they cannot avoid seeing and hearing you, especially in an unfriendly or dangerous situation: This was the first time he had confronted an armed robber. Confronted by an angry crowd, the police retreated.
4 ~ sb with sb/sth to make sb face or deal with an unpleasant or difficult person or situation: He confronted her with a choice between her career or their relationship.
5 be confronted with sth to have sth in front of you that you have to deal with or react to: Most people when confronted with a horse will pat it.

confrontation NAmE noun [U, C] ~ (with sb)| ~ (between A and B) a situation in which there is an angry disagreement between people or groups who have different opinions: She wanted to avoid another confrontation with her father. confrontation between employers and unions

confrontational NAmE adj. tending to deal with people in an aggressive way that is likely to cause arguments, rather than discussing things with them

Confucian adj. [usually before noun] based on or believing the teachings of the Chinese PHILOSOPHER Confucius
Confucian noun Confucianism noun [U]

confusable adj. if two things are confusable, it is easy to confuse them: 'Historic' and 'historical' are easily confusable. The various types of owl are easily confusable with one another.
confusable noun: confusables such as 'principle' and 'principal'

confuse verb [VN]
1 to make sb unable to think clearly or understand sth: They confused me with conflicting accounts of what happened.
2 ~ A and/with B to think wrongly that sb/sth is sb/sth else MIX UP: People often confuse me and my twin sister. Be careful not to confuse quantity with quality.
3 to make a subject more difficult to understand: His comments only served to confuse the issue further.

confused adj.
1 unable to think clearly or to understand what is happening or what sb is saying: People are confused about all the different labels on food these days. He was depressed and in a confused state of mind. I'm confusedsay all that again.
2 not clear or easy to understand: The children gave a confused account of what had happened. A confused situation followed the military coup.
confusedly adv.

confusing adj. difficult to understand; not clear: The instructions on the box are very confusing. a very confusing experience
confusingly adv.

confusion noun
1 [U, C] ~ (about/over sth)| ~ (as to sth) a state of not being certain about what is happening, what you should do, what sth means, etc.: There is some confusion about what the correct procedure should be. a confusion as to what to do next
2 [U, C] ~ (between A and B) the fact of making a mistake about who sb is or what sth is: To avoid confusion, please write the children's names clearly on all their school clothes. confusion between letters of the alphabet like 'o' or 'a'
3 [U] a feeling of embarrassment when you do not understand sth and are not sure what to do in a situation: He looked at me in confusion and did not answer the question. Sacha felt confusion sweeping over her as she read the letter.
4 [U] a confused situation in which people do not know what action to take: Fighting had broken out and all was chaos and confusion. Her unexpected arrival threw us into total confusion.

confute verb [VN] (formal) to prove a person or an argument to be wrong

conga NAmE noun
1 a fast dance in which the dancers follow a leader in a long winding line, with each person holding on to the person in front; a piece of music for this dance
2 (also conga drum) a tall narrow drum that you play with your hands

congeal verb [V] (of blood, fat, etc.) to become thick or solid: congealed blood The cold remains of supper had congealed on the plate. (figurative) The bitterness and tears had congealed into hatred.

congenial adj. (formal)
1 (of a person) pleasant to spend time with because their interests and character are similar to your own: a congenial colleague
2 ~ (to sb) (of a place, job, etc.) pleasant because it suits your character: a congenial working environment
3 ~ (to sth) (formal) suitable for sth: a situation that was congenial to the expression of nationalist opinions

congenital adj.
1 (of a disease or medical condition) existing since or before birth: congenital abnormalities Half of all fetuses with the syndrome have a congenital heart defect.
2 [only before noun] existing as part of a person's character and not likely to change: a congenital inability to tell the truth
3 [only before noun] (of a person) born with a particular illness: (figurative) a congenital liar (= one who will not change)
congenitally adv.: He is congenitally incapable of telling the truth.

conger NAmE (also conger eel) noun a large EEL (= a long thin fish) that lives in the sea

congested adj.
1 ~ (with sth) crowded; full of traffic: congested city streets Many of Europe's airports are heavily congested.
2 (medical) (of a part of the body) blocked with blood or MUCUS

congestion noun [U]
1 the state of being crowded and full of traffic: traffic congestion and pollution
2 (medical) the state of part of the body being blocked with blood or MUCUS: congestion of the lungs medicine to relieve nasal congestion

congestion charge noun (BrE) an amount of money that people have to pay for driving their cars into the centre of some cities as a way of stopping the city centre from becoming too full of traffic
congestion charging noun [U]

conglomerate NAmE noun
1 [C] (business) a large company formed by joining together different firms: a media conglomerate
2 [sing.] (formal) a number of things or parts that are put together to form a whole
3 [U] (geology) a type of rock made of small stones held together by dried CLAY

conglomeration NAmE noun
1 [C, usually sing.] a ~ (of sth) (formal) a mixture of different things that are found all together: a conglomeration of buildings of different sizes and styles
2 [U] the process of forming a conglomerate or the state of being a conglomerate

congrats noun [pl.] exclamation (informal) = CONGRATULATIONS

congratulate verb [VN]
1 ~ sb (on sth) to tell sb that you are pleased about their success or achievements: I congratulated them all on their results. The authors are to be congratulated on producing such a clear and authoritative work.
2 ~ yourself (on sth) to feel pleased and proud because you have achieved sth or been successful at sth: You can congratulate yourself on having done an excellent job.

congratulation noun
1 congratulations [pl.] a message congratulating sb (= saying that you are happy about their good luck or success): to offer/send your congratulations to sb
2 Congratulations! used when you want to congratulate sb: 'We're getting married!' 'Congratulations!' Congratulations on your exam results!
3 [U] the act of congratulating sb: a letter of congratulation

congratulatory NAmE adj. expressing congratulations: a congratulatory message

congregate NAmE verb [V] to come together in a group: Young people often congregate in the main square in the evenings.

congregation NAmE noun [C+sing./pl. v.]
1 a group of people who are gathered together in a church to worship God, not including the priest and CHOIR: The congregation stood to sing the hymn.
2 the group of people who belong to a particular church and go there regularly to worship
congregational adj.: congregational singing

Congregationalism NAmE adj. a type of Christianity in which the congregation of each church is responsible for its own affairs
Congregational adj. Congregationalist noun

congress NAmE noun [C+sing./pl. v.]
1 a large formal meeting or series of meetings where representatives from different groups discuss ideas, make decisions, etc.: an international congress of trades unions
2 Congress (in the US and some other countries) the name of the group of people who are elected to make laws, in the US consisting of the Senate and the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Congress will vote on the proposals tomorrow.
3 used in the names of political parties in some countries: the African National Congress

congressional adj. [only before noun] related to or belonging to a congress or the Congress in the US: a congressional committee/bill the midterm Congressional elections

Congressman NAmE , Congresswoman NAmE noun (pl. -men , -women ) (also Congressperson NAmE ) a member of Congress in the US, especially the House of Representatives

congruent NAmE adj.
1 (geometry) having the same size and shape: congruent triangles
2 ~ (with sth) (formal) suitable for sth; appropriate in a particular situation: The measures are congruent with the changes in management policy.
congruence NAmE noun [U]

conic NAmE adj., noun (geometry)
adj. of or related to a CONE
noun = CONIC SECTION

conical NAmE adj. shaped like a CONE

conic section (also conic) noun (geometry) a shape formed when a flat surface meets a CONE with a round base

conifer NAmE noun any tree that produces hard dry fruit called CONES. Most conifers are EVERGREEN (= have leaves that stay on the tree all year).
coniferous adj.: coniferous trees/forests

conjecture noun, verb
noun (formal)
1 [C] an opinion or idea that is not based on definite knowledge and is formed by guessing GUESS: The truth of his conjecture was confirmed by the newspaper report.
2 [U] the forming of an opinion or idea that is not based on definite knowledge GUESS: What was going through the killer's mind is a matter for conjecture.
conjectural adj.: Some of the stages of the Earth's development are purely conjectural.
verb (formal) to form an opinion about sth even though you do not have much information on it GUESS: [V] We can only conjecture about what was in the killer's mind. [V that] He conjectured that the population might double in ten years. [VN] She conjectured the existence of a completely new species. [also V wh-, VN to inf]

conjoin verb [V, VN] (formal) to join together; to join two or more things together

conjoined twin noun (technical) = SIAMESE TWIN

conjoint adj. [usually before noun] (formal) combining all or both the people or things involved
conjointly adv.

conjugal NAmE adj. [only before noun] (formal) connected with marriage and the sexual relationship between a husband and wife: conjugal love prisoners who are permitted conjugal visits

conjugal rights noun [pl.] the rights that a husband and wife each has in a marriage, especially the right to have sex with their partner

conjugate NAmE verb (grammar)
1 [VN] to give the different forms of a verb, as they vary according to NUMBER, PERSON, tense, etc.
2 [V] (of a verb) to have different forms, showing NUMBER, PERSON, tense, etc.: How does this verb conjugate?compare DECLINE

conjugation NAmE noun (grammar)
1 [C, U] the way in which a verb conjugates: a verb with an irregular conjugation
2 [C] a group of verbs that conjugate in the same way: Latin verbs of the second conjugation

conjunction noun
1 [C] (grammar) a word that joins words, phrases or sentences, for example 'and', 'but', 'or'
2 [C] (formal) a combination of events, etc., that causes a particular result: The conjunction of low inflation and low unemployment came as a very pleasant surprise.
3 [C, U] (astronomy) the fact of stars, planets, etc. passing close together as seen from the earth: The theory is that there was a rare conjunction of certain bright planets that created the image of the so-called 'Star of Bethlehem'.
in conjunction with (formal) together with: The police are working in conjunction with tax officers on the investigation. The system is designed to be used in conjunction with a word processing program.

conjunctivitis noun [U] an infectious eye disease that causes pain and swelling in part of the eye

conjure verb to do clever tricks such as making things seem to appear or disappear as if by magic: [V] Her grandfather taught her to conjure. [VN + adv. / prep.] He could conjure coins from behind people's ears.
conjure sthup
1 to make sth appear as a picture in your mind EVOKE: That smell always conjures up memories of holidays in France. He strained to conjure up her face and voice, but they had vanished.
2 to make sb/sth appear by using special magic words
conjure sth from/out of sth to create sth or make sth appear in a surprising or unexpected way: He conjured a delicious meal out of a few leftovers.

conjuring noun [U] entertainment in the form of magic tricks, especially ones which seem to make things appear or disappear: a conjuring trick

conjuror (also conjurer) noun a person who performs conjuring tricks

conk NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN] (informal, especially NAmE) to hit sb hard on their head
conk out (informal)
1 (of a machine, etc.) to stop working: The car conked out halfway up the hill.
2 (of a person) to go to sleep
noun (BrE, informal) a person's nose

conker NAmE noun (informal, especially BrE)
1 [C] the smooth shiny brown nut of the HORSE CHESTNUT treecompare CHESTNUT, HORSE CHESTNUT
2 conkers [U] (BrE) a children's game played with conkers on strings, in which two players take turns to try to hit and break each other's conker

con man noun (informal) a man who tricks others into giving him money, etc.

con moto NAmE adv. (music) (from Italian) (used as an instruction) with movement

connect verb
JOIN
1 ~ A to/with B| ~ A and B to join together two or more things; to be joined together: [VN] The towns are connected by train and bus services. The canal was built to connect Sheffield with the Humber estuary. a connecting door (= one that connects two rooms) [V] The rooms on this floor connect.
ELECTRICITY/GAS/WATER
2 [VN] ~ sth (to sth) to join sth to the main supply of electricity, gas, water, etc. or to another piece of equipment: First connect the printer to the computer. We're waiting for the telephone to be connected. DISCONNECT
INTERNET
3 ~ (sb) (to sth) to join a computer to the Internet or a computer network: [V] Click 'Continue' to connect to the Internet. [also VN] DISCONNECT
LINK
4 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (with sb/sth) to have a link with sb/sth: They are connected by marriage. The two subjects are closely connected. jobs connected with the environmentsee also UNCONNECTED, WELL CONNECTED
5 [VN] ~ sb/sth (with sb/sth) to notice or make a link between people, things, events, etc. ASSOCIATE: There was nothing to connect him with the crime. I was surprised to hear them mentioned together: I had never connected them before.
OF TRAIN/BUS/PLANE
6 [V] ~ (with sth) to arrive just before another one leaves so that passengers can change from one to the other: His flight to Amsterdam connects with an afternoon flight to New York. There's a connecting flight at noon.
TELEPHONE LINES
7 [VN] to join telephone lines so that people can speak to each other PUT THROUGH: Hold on please, I'm trying to connect you. DISCONNECT
FORM RELATIONSHIP
8 [V] ~ (with sb) (especially NAmE) to form a good relationship with sb so that you like and understand each other: They met a couple of times but they didn't really connect.
HIT
9 [V] (especially NAmE) ~ (with sb/sth) (informal) to hit sb/sth: The blow connected and she felt a surge of pain.
connect sthup (to sth)| connect up (to sth) to join sth to a supply of electricity, gas, etc. or to another piece of equipment; to be joined in this way: She connected up the two computers. DISCONNECT

connection (BrE also less frequent connexion) noun
LINK
1 [C] ~ (between A and B)| ~ (with sth) something that connects two facts, ideas, etc. LINK: Scientists have established a connection between cholesterol levels and heart disease. His resignation must have some connection with the recent scandal. a direct/close/strong connection with sth How did you make the connection (= realize that there was a connection between two facts that did not seem to be related)?
BEING CONNECTED
2 [U, C] ~ (to sth) the act of connecting or the state of being connected: Connection to the gas supply was delayed for three days. I'm having problems with my Internet connection.
IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 [C] a point, especially in an electrical system, where two parts connect: A faulty connection caused the machine to stop.
TRAIN/BUS/PLANE
4 [C] a train, bus or plane at a station or an airport that a passenger can take soon after getting off another in order to continue their journey: We arrived in good time for the connection to Paris. I missed the connection by five minutes.
5 [C, usually pl.] a means of travelling to another place: There are good bus and train connections between the resort and major cities.
PERSON/ORGANIZATION
6 [C, usually pl.] a person or an organization that you know and that can help or advise you in your social or professional life CONTACT: One of my business connections gave them my name.
DISTANT RELATIVES
7 connections [pl.] people who are your relatives, but not members of your close family: She is British but also has German connections. a network of family connections in Italy
in connection with sb/sth for reasons connected with sb/sth: A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of the teenager. I am writing to you in connection with your recent job application.
in this/that connection (formal) for reasons connected with sth recently mentioned

connective adj., noun
adj. (especially medical) that connects things: connective tissue
noun (grammar) a word that connects two parts of a sentence: Don't overuse a causal connective like 'because'.

connectivity NAmE noun [U] (technical) the state of being connected or the degree to which two things are connected: ISDN connectivity allows computers to communicate over a network.

connector noun a thing that links two or more things together: a cable connector

conning tower NAmE noun a raised structure on a SUBMARINE containing the PERISCOPE

connivance noun [U] (disapproving) help in doing sth wrong; the failure to stop sth wrong from happening: The crime was committed with the connivance of a police officer.

connive verb [V] (disapproving)
1 ~ at/in sth to seem to allow sth wrong to happen: She knew that if she said nothing she would be conniving in an injustice.
2 ~ (with sb) (to do sth) to work together with sb to do sth wrong or illegal CONSPIRE: The government was accused of having connived with the security forces to permit murder.

conniving adj. (disapproving) behaving in a way that secretly hurts others or deliberately fails to prevent others from being hurt

connoisseur NAmE noun an expert on matters involving the judgement of beauty, quality or skill in art, food or music: a connoisseur of Italian painting a wine connoisseur The exhibition will be a delight for the collector and connoisseur of silver ornaments.

connotation NAmE noun an idea suggested by a word in addition to its main meaning: The word 'professional' has connotations of skill and excellence. negative connotationscompare DENOTATION

connote NAmE verb [VN] (formal) (of a word) to suggest a feeling, an idea, etc. as well as the main meaningcompare DENOTE

connubial NAmE adj. (literary) related to marriage, or the relationship between husband and wife

conquer NAmE verb [VN]
1 to take control of a country or city and its people by force: The Normans conquered England in 1066. In 330 BC Persia was conquered by Alexander the Great. conquered peoples/races/territories
2 to defeat sb, especially in a competition, race, etc.: The world champion conquered yet another challenger last night. The team members were greeted like conquering heroes.
3 to succeed in dealing with or controlling sth: The only way to conquer a fear is to face it. Mount Everest was conquered (= successfully climbed) in 1953.
4 to become very popular or successful in a place: The band is now setting out to conquer the world.

conqueror NAmE noun a person who conquers: William the Conqueror (= King William I of England) After numerous defeats in the boxing ring the conquered finally became the conqueror.

conquest NAmE noun
1 [sing., U] the act of taking control of a country, city, etc. by force: the Norman Conquest (= of England in 1066)
2 [C] an area of land taken by force: the Spanish conquests in South America
3 [C] (usually humorous) a person that sb has persuaded to love them or to have sex with them: I'm just one of his many conquests. I think you've made a conquest.
4 [U] the act of gaining control over sth that is difficult or dangerous: the conquest of inflation

conquistador NAmE noun (pl. conquistadores NAmE or conquistadors) (from Spanish) one of the Spanish people who took control of Mexico and Peru by force in the 16th century

consanguinity NAmE noun [U] (formal) relationship by birth in the same family: different degrees of consanguinity

conscience NAmE noun
1 [C, U] the part of your mind that tells you whether your actions are right or wrong: to have a clear/guilty conscience (= to feel that you have done right/wrong) This is a matter of individual conscience (= everyone must make their own judgement about it). He won't let it trouble his conscience.see also SOCIAL CONSCIENCE
2 [U, C] a guilty feeling about sth you have done or failed to do: She was seized by a sudden pang of conscience. I have a terrible conscience about it.
3 [U] the fact of behaving in a way that you feel is right even though this may cause problems: freedom of conscience (= the freedom to do what you believe to be right) Emilia is the voice of conscience in the play.see also PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE
in (all/good) conscience (formal) believing your actions to be fair HONESTLY: We cannot in all conscience refuse to help.
on your conscience making you feel guilty for doing or failing to do sth: I'll write and apologize. I've had it on my conscience for weeks. It's still on my conscience that I didn't warn him in time.more at PRICK v.

conscience-stricken adj. feeling guilty about sth you have done or failed to do

conscientious NAmE adj. taking care to do things carefully and correctly: a conscientious student/teacher/worker He was thorough and conscientious, rather than brilliant.
conscientiously adv.: She performed all her duties conscientiously. conscientiousness noun [U]

conscientious objector noun a person who refuses to serve in the armed forces for moral reasonscompare DRAFT DODGER, PACIFIST

conscientize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN] (SAfrE) to make sb/yourself aware of important social or political issues: People need to be conscientized about their rights.

conscious NAmE adj.
1 [not before noun] ~ of (doing) sth| ~ that aware of sth; noticing sth: She's very conscious of the problems involved. He became acutely conscious of having failed his parents. I was vaguely conscious that I was being watched. UNCONSCIOUSsee also SELF-CONSCIOUS
2 able to use your senses and mental powers to understand what is happening: A patient who is not fully conscious should never be left alone. UNCONSCIOUS
3 (of actions, feelings, etc.) deliberate or controlled: to make a conscious decision I made a conscious effort to get there on time. a conscious act of cruelty UNCONSCIOUScompare SUBCONSCIOUS
4 being particularly interested in sth: environmentally-conscious They have become increasingly health-conscious.
consciously adv.: Consciously or unconsciously, you made a choice.

consciousness NAmE noun [U]
1 the state of being able to use your senses and mental powers to understand what is happening: I can't remember any moreI must have lost consciousness. She did not regain consciousness and died the next day.
2 the state of being aware of sth AWARENESS: his consciousness of the challenge facing him class-consciousness (= consciousness of different classes in society)
3 the ideas and opinions of a person or group: her newly-developed political consciousness issues affecting the popular consciousness of the timesee also STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS

consciousness-raising noun [U] the process of making people aware of important social and political issues: a consciousness-raising group

conscript verb, noun
verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (into sth) (especially BrE) (NAmE usually draft) to make sb join the armed forces CALL UP: He was conscripted into the army in 1939. to be conscripted for military service
noun NAmE (especially BrE) (US usually draftee) a person who has been conscripted to join the armed forces: young army conscripts conscript soldiers/armiescompare VOLUNTEER

conscription noun [U] (especially BrE) (US usually the draft [sing.]) the practice of ordering people by law to serve in the armed forces CALL-UP

consecrate NAmE verb
1 [VN] to state officially in a religious ceremony that sth is holy and can be used for religious purposes: The church was consecrated in 1853. consecrated ground
2 [VN] (in Christian belief) to make bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ
3 ~ sb (as) (sth) to state officially in a religious ceremony that sb is now a priest, etc.: [VN-N] He was consecrated (as) bishop last year. [also VN]
4 [VN] ~ sth/sb/yourself to sth (formal) to give sth/sb or yourself to a special purpose, especially a religious one: She consecrated her life to God.
consecration NAmE noun [C, U]: the consecration of a church/bishop

consecutive adj. [usually before noun] following one after another in a series, without interruption: She was absent for nine consecutive days. He is beginning his fourth consecutive term of office. After six consecutive defeats, the team was almost ready to give up.
consecutively adv.: The plays will be performed consecutively and will last eight hours.

consensual adj. (formal)
1 which people in general agree with: a consensual approach
2 (of an activity) which the people taking part have agreed to: consensual sex

consensus noun [sing., U] ~ (among sb)| ~ (about sth)| ~ (that ... ) an opinion that all members of a group agree with: There is a general consensus among teachers about the need for greater security in schools. There seems to be a consensus that the plan should be rejected. There is a growing consensus of opinion on this issue. an attempt to reach a consensus She is skilled at achieving consensus on sensitive issues. There now exists a broad political consensus in favour of economic reform. consensus politics (= which people in general agree with)

consent noun, verb
noun
1 [U] ~ (to sth) permission to do sth, especially given by sb in authority: Children under 16 cannot give consent to medical treatment. The written consent of a parent is required. to refuse/withhold your consent He is charged with taking a car without the owner's consent.see also AGE OF CONSENT
2 [U] agreement about sth: She was chosen as leader by common consent (= everyone agreed to the choice). By mutual consent they didn't go out (= they both agreed not to).
3 [C] an official document giving permission for sth
verb~ (to sth) (rather formal) to agree to sth or give your permission for sth: [V] When she told them what she intended they readily consented. He reluctantly consented to his daughter's marriage. [V to inf] She finally consented to answer our questions. note at AGREE

consenting adult noun a person who is considered old enough, by law, to decide whether they should agree to have sex; a person who has agreed to have sex: What consenting adults do in private is their own business.

consequence NAmE noun
1 [C] ~ (for sb/sth) a result of sth that has happened: This decision could have serious consequences for the industry. Two hundred people lost their jobs as a direct consequence of the merger. He drove too fast with tragic consequences. to suffer/face/take the consequences of your actions Have you considered the possible consequences? note at EFFECT
2 [U] (formal) importance: Don't worry. It's of no consequence. people of some consequence in the art world
in consequence (of sth) (formal) as a result of sth: The child was born deformed in consequence of an injury to its mother. It had been a humiliating day for Flora and she bore the director a grudge in consequence.

consequent adj. ~ (on/upon sth) (formal) happening as a result of sth RESULTANT: the lowering of taxes and the consequent increase in spending the responsibilities consequent upon the arrival of a new child

consequential NAmE adj. (formal)
1 happening as a result or an effect of sth RESULTANT: retirement and the consequential reduction in income
2 important; that will have important results: The report discusses a number of consequential matters that are yet to be decided. INCONSEQUENTIAL
consequentially adv.

consequently NAmE adv. as a result; therefore: This poses a threat to agriculture and the food chain, and consequently to human health. She failed her exams and was consequently unable to start her studies at college.

conservancy NAmE noun
1 Conservancy [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] a group of officials who control the use of a port, a river, an area of land, etc.: the Thames Conservancy Texas Nature Conservancy
2 [U] (formal) the protection of the natural environment CONSERVATION: nature conservancy

conservation NAmE noun [U]
1 the protection of the natural environment CONSERVANCY: to be interested in wildlife conservation Road development in the area has been severely affected by the conservation programmes of the council.
2 the official protection of buildings that have historical or artistic importance
3 the act of preventing sth from being lost, wasted, damaged or destroyed: to encourage the conservation of water/fuel energy conservationsee also CONSERVE

conservation area noun (BrE) an area where the natural environment or the buildings are protected by law from being damaged or changed

conservationist NAmE noun a person who takes an active part in the protection of the environment: a meeting of local conservationists

conservatism NAmE noun [U]
1 the tendency to resist great or sudden change: the innate conservatism of older people
2 (also Conservatism) the political belief that society should change as little as possible: an examination of the political theories of conservatism and liberalism
3 (usually Conservatism) the principles of the Conservative Party in British politics

conservative NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 opposed to great or sudden social change; showing that you prefer traditional styles and values: the conservative views of his parents music which is accessible to an audience with extremely conservative tastes Her style of dress was never conservative.
2 (usually Conservative) connected with the British Conservative Party: Conservative members/supporters
3 (of an estimate) lower than what is probably the real amount or number: At a conservative estimate, he'll be earning £50 000.
conservatively adv.
noun
1 (usually Conservative) (abbr. Con) a member or supporter of the British Conservative Party
2 a conservative person

the Conservative Party noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] one of the main British political parties, on the political right, which especially believes in FREE ENTERPRISE and that industry should be privately owned

conservatoire NAmE (BrE) (NAmE conservatory) noun a school or college at which people are trained in music and theatre

conservator NAmE noun a person who is responsible for repairing and preserving works of art, buildings and other things of cultural interest

conservatory NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 (BrE) a room with glass walls and a glass roof that is built on the side of a house. Conservatories are used for sitting in to enjoy the sun, and to protect plants from cold weather.
2 (NAmE) = CONSERVATOIRE

conserve verb, noun
verb NAmE [VN]
1 to use as little of sth as possible so that it lasts a long time: Help to conserve energy by insulating your home.
2 to protect sth and prevent it from being changed or destroyed: new laws to conserve wildlife in the areasee also CONSERVATION
noun NAmE [C, U] jam containing large or whole pieces of fruit

consider verb
1 to think about sth carefully, especially in order to make a decision: [VN] She considered her options. Let us consider the facts. He was considering an appeal. a carefully considered response The company is being actively considered as a potential partner (= it is thought possible that it could become one). [V -ing] We're considering buying a new car. You wouldn't consider marrying a man for his money, then? [V wh-] We need to consider how the law might be reformed. He was considering what to do next. [V] I'd like some time to consider.
2 ~ sb/sth (as) sth to think of sb/sth in a particular way: [VN-N] This award is considered (to be) a great honour. He considers himself an expert on the subject. These workers are considered (as) a high-risk group. [VN-ADJ] Who do you consider (to be) responsible for the accident? Consider yourself lucky you weren't fired. [V (that)] She considers that it is too early to form a definite conclusion. The Home Secretary will release prisoners only if he considers it is safe to do so. [VN to inf] He's generally considered to have the finest tenor voice in the country. note at REGARD [also VN that]
3 [VN] to think about sth, especially the feelings of other people, and be influenced by it when making a decision, etc.: You should consider other people before you act.
4 [VN] (formal) to look carefully at sb/sth: He stood there, considering the painting.
all things considered thinking carefully about all the facts, especially the problems or difficulties, of a situation: She's had a lot of problems since her husband died but she seems quite cheerful, all things considered.
your considered opinion your opinion that is the result of careful thought

considerable adj. (formal) great in amount, size, importance, etc. SIGNIFICANT: The project wasted a considerable amount of time and money. Damage to the building was considerable. Considerable progress has been made in finding a cure for the disease.

considerably adv. (formal) much; a lot SIGNIFICANTLY: The need for sleep varies considerably from person to person. Interest rates on bank loans have increased considerably in recent years.

considerate adj. always thinking of other people's wishes and feelings; careful not to hurt or upset others THOUGHTFUL: She is always polite and considerate towards her employees. It was very considerate of him to wait. INCONSIDERATE
considerately adv.: She drives carefully and considerately.

consideration noun
1 [U, C] (formal) the act of thinking carefully about sth: Careful consideration should be given to issues of health and safety. The proposals are currently under consideration (= being discussed). After a few moments' consideration, he began to speak. a consideration of the legal issues involved
2 [C] something that must be thought about when you are planning or deciding sth: economic/commercial/environmental/practical considerations Time is another important consideration.
3 [U] ~ (for sb/sth) the quality of being sensitive towards others and thinking about their wishes and feelings: They showed no consideration whatsoever for my feelings. Journalists stayed away from the funeral out of consideration for the bereaved family. Their kindness and consideration will not be forgotten.
4 [C] (formal) a reward or payment for a service
in consideration of sth (formal) as payment for sth: a small sum in consideration of your services
take sth into consideration to think about and include a particular thing or fact when you are forming an opinion or making a decision: The candidates' experience and qualifications will be taken into consideration when the decision is made. Taking everything into consideration, the event was a great success.more at MATURE adj.

considering /knsdr/ prep., conj. used to show that you are thinking about a particular fact, and are influenced by it, when you make a statement about sth: She's very active, considering her age. Considering he's only just started, he knows quite a lot about it. You've done very well, considering (= in the difficult circumstances).

consign verb [VN] (formal)
1 ~ sb/sth to sth to put sb/sth somewhere in order to get rid of them/it: I consigned her letter to the waste basket. What I didn't want was to see my mother consigned to an old people's home.
2 ~ sb/sth to sth to put sb/sth in an unpleasant situation: The decision to close the factory has consigned 6 000 people to the scrap heap. A car accident consigned him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
3 to give or send sth to sb

consignment noun
1 [C] a quantity of goods that are sent or delivered somewhere: a consignment of medicines a consignment note (= a document listing goods that have been sent)
2 [U] the act of sending or delivering sb/sth

consignment store noun (NAmE) a shop/store where people take their old clothes, etc. to be sold to sb else. The consignment store keeps part of the money after an item is sold and gives the other part to the person who brought it in.

consist verb (not used in the progressive tenses)
consist in sth (formal) to have sth as the main or only part or feature: The beauty of the city consists in its magnificent buildings. [+ -ing] True education does not consist in simply being taught facts.
consist of sth to be formed from the things or people mentioned: The committee consists of ten members. Their diet consisted largely of vegetables. [+ -ing] Most of the fieldwork consisted of making tape recordings.

SYNONYMS

consist of

comprise make up constitute be composed of be comprised of compose

All these words mean to be formed from the things or people mentioned, or to be the parts that form sth.

consist of sb/sth to be formed from the things, people or activities mentioned: Their diet consists largely of vegetables.

comprise (rather formal) to be formed from the things or people mentioned: The collection comprises 327 paintings. Comprise can also be used to refer to the parts or members of sth: Older people comprise a large proportion of those living in poverty. However, this is less frequent.

make up sth (rather informal) to be the parts or people that form sth: Women make up 56% of the student numbers.

constitute to be the parts or people that form sth: People under the age of 40 constitute the majority of the labour force.

be composed of sb/sth (rather formal) to be formed from the things or people mentioned: Around 15% of our diet is composed of protein.

be comprised of sb/sth to be formed from the things or people mentioned: The committee is comprised of representatives from both the public and private sectors. Some people consider this usage incorrect, and prefer to use the active verb comprise.

compose (formal) to be the parts of people that form sth: Christians compose around 2.5% of the country's population.

WHICH WORD?

Consist of sb/sth is the most general of these words and the only one that can be used for activities with the -ing form of a verb: My work at that time just consisted of typing letters. The other main difference is between those verbs that take the whole as the subject and the parts as the object: The group consists of/comprises/is made up of/is composed of/is comprised of ten people. and those that take the parts as the subject and the whole as the object: Ten people make up/constitute/comprise/compose the group. It is not correct to use 'comprises of' or 'is composed by/from'.

consistency noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] (approving) the quality of always behaving in the same way or of having the same opinions, standard, etc.; the quality of being consistent: She has played with great consistency all season. We need to ensure the consistency of service to our customers. INCONSISTENCY
2 [C, U] the consistency of a mixture or a liquid substance is how thick, smooth, etc. it is: Beat the ingredients together to a creamy consistency. The cement should have the consistency of wet sand.

consistent adj.
1 (approving) always behaving in the same way, or having the same opinions, standards, etc.: She's not very consistent in the way she treats her children. He has been Milan's most consistent player this season. We must be consistent in applying the rules. a consistent approach to the problem
2 happening in the same way and continuing for a period of time: the party's consistent failure to come up with any new policies a pattern of consistent growth in the economy
3 ~ with sth in agreement with sth; not CONTRADICTING sth: The results are entirely consistent with our earlier research. injuries consistent with a fall from an upper storey (= similar to those such a fall would have caused)
4 (of an argument or a set of ideas) having different parts that all agree with each other: a well-thought-out and consistent argument INCONSISTENT
consistently adv.: Her work has been of a consistently high standard. We have argued consistently for a change in the law.

consolation NAmE noun [U, C] a person or thing that makes you feel better when you are unhappy or disappointed COMFORT: a few words of consolation If it's any consolation, she didn't get the job, either. The children were a great consolation to him when his wife died. At least you weren't hurtthat's one consolation.

consolation prize noun a small prize given to sb who has not won a competition

consolatory NAmE adj. (formal) intended to make sb who is unhappy or disappointed feel better

console^1 NAmE verb ~ sb/yourself (with sth) to give comfort or sympathy to sb who is unhappy or disappointed COMFORT: [VN] Nothing could console him when his wife died. She put a consoling arm around his shoulders. Console yourself with the thought that you did your best. [VN that] I didn't like lying but I consoled myself that it was for a good cause. [VN speech] 'Never mind,' Anne consoled her.

console^2 NAmE noun a flat surface which contains all the controls and switches for a machine, a piece of electronic equipment, etc.

consolidate NAmE verb
1 to make a position of power or success stronger so that it is more likely to continue: [VN] With this new movie he has consolidated his position as the country's leading director. Italy consolidated their lead with a second goal. [also V]
2 (technical) to join things together into one; to be joined into one: [VN] All the debts have been consolidated. consolidated accounts [V] The two companies consolidated for greater efficiency.
consolidation NAmE noun [U]: the consolidation of power the consolidation of Japan's banking industry

consommé NAmE noun [U] a clear soup made with the juices from meat

consonance NAmE noun
1 [U] ~ (with sth) (formal) agreement: a policy that is popular because of its consonance with traditional party doctrine
2 [U, C] (music) a combination of musical notes that sound pleasing together DISSONANCE

consonant NAmE noun, adj.
noun
1 (phonetics) a speech sound made by completely or partly stopping the flow of air being breathed out through the mouth
2 a letter of the alphabet that represents a consonant sound, for example 'b', 'c', 'd', 'f', etc.compare VOWEL
adj.~ with sth (formal) agreeing with or being the same as sth else

consonantal NAmE adj. (phonetics) relating to or consisting of a consonant or consonantscompare VOCALIC

con sordino NAmE adv. (music) (from Italian) (used as an instruction) played using a MUTE

consort noun, verb
noun NAmE
1 the husband or wife of a ruler: the prince consort (= the queen's husband)
2 a group of old-fashioned musical instruments, or a group of musicians who play music from several centuries ago: a solo accompanied by a consort of four viols
verb NAmE [V] ~ with sb (formal) to spend time with sb that other people do not approve of: He is known to have consorted with prostitutes.

consortium NAmE noun (pl. consortiums or consortia ) a group of people, countries, companies, etc. who are working together on a particular project: the Anglo-French consortium that built the Channel Tunnel Our company forms part of a consortium of local businesses working for environmental change.

conspicuous adj. easy to see or notice; likely to attract attention: Mary's red hair always made her conspicuous at school. I felt very conspicuous in my new car. The advertisements were all posted in a conspicuous place. The event was a conspicuous success (= a very great one). Bay windows are a conspicuous feature of his architecture. INCONSPICUOUS
conspicuously adv.: Women were conspicuously absent from the planning committee. conspicuousness noun [U]
conspicuous by your absence not present in a situation or place, when it is obvious that you should be there: When it came to cleaning up afterwards, Anne was conspicuous by her absence.

conspicuous consumption noun [U] the buying of expensive goods in order to impress people and show them how rich you are

conspiracy noun [C, U] (pl. -ies) ~ (to do sth)| ~ (against sb/sth) a secret plan by a group of people to do sth harmful or illegal: a conspiracy to overthrow the government conspiracies against the president a conspiracy of silence (= an agreement not to talk publicly about sth which should be made public) They were charged with conspiracy to murder. a conspiracy theory (= the belief that a secret conspiracy is responsible for a particular event)

conspirator noun a person who is involved in a conspiracy: political conspirators

conspiratorial adj.
1 connected with, or like, a conspiracy
2 (of a person's behaviour) suggesting that a secret is being shared: 'I know you understand,' he said and gave a conspiratorial wink.

conspire verb
1 [V] ~ (with sb) (against sb)| ~ (together) to secretly plan with other people to do sth illegal or harmful: They were accused of conspiring against the king. They deny conspiring together to smuggle drugs. She admitted conspiring with her lover to murder her husband.
2 ~ against sb/sth| ~ to do sth (of events) to seem to work together to make sth bad happen: [V] Circumstances had conspired against them. [V to inf] Everything conspired to make her life a misery.

constable NAmE noun (used especially when talking to a police officer of the lowest rank) = POLICE CONSTABLE: Have you finished your report, Constable?see also CHIEF CONSTABLE

constabulary NAmE noun [C+sing./pl. v.] (pl. -ies) (in Britain) the police force of a particular area or town

constancy NAmE noun [U] (formal)
1 the quality of staying the same and not changing: the constancy of temperature inside the plane
2 (approving) the quality of being faithful FIDELITY: He admired her courage and constancy.

constant NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 [usually before noun] happening all the time or repeatedly: constant interruptions a constant stream of visitors all day Babies need constant attention. This entrance is in constant use.
2 that does not change FIXED: travelling at a constant speed of 50 m.p.h. Ross was his most constant and loyal friend.
noun (technical) a number or quantity that does not vary VARIABLE

constantly NAmE adv. all the time; repeatedly: Fashion is constantly changing. Heat the sauce, stirring constantly. We are constantly on the lookout for new ideas.

constative NAmE adj. (grammar) stating that sth is real or truesee also PERFORMATIVE

constellation NAmE noun
1 a group of stars that forms a shape in the sky and has a name: The Little Bear constellation is still used by navigators at sea.
2 (formal) a group of related ideas, things or people: a constellation of Hollywood talent

consternation NAmE noun [U] (formal) a worried, sad feeling after you have received an unpleasant surprise DISMAY: The announcement of her retirement caused consternation among tennis fans. Her mouth fell open in consternation.

constipated NAmE adj. unable to get rid of waste material from the BOWELS easily: You should eat more fibre and fruit if you are constipated.

constipation NAmE noun [U] the condition of being unable to get rid of waste material from the BOWELS easily (= being constipated)

constituency NAmE (pl. -ies) noun (especially BrE)
1 [C] a district that elects its own representative to parliament: Unemployment is high in her constituency. He owns a house in his Darlington constituency.
2 [C+sing./pl. v.] the people who live in and vote in a particular district: constituency opinion
3 [C+sing./pl. v.] a particular group of people in society who are likely to support a person, an idea or a product: There is a strong constituency of support for his proposal.

constituent NAmE noun, adj.
noun
1 a person who lives, and can vote in a constituency: She has the full support of her constituents.
2 one of the parts of sth that combine to form the whole: Silicon and oxygen are the fundamental constituents of rocks in the earth's crust.
adj. [only before noun] (formal) forming or helping to make a whole: to break something up into its constituent parts/elements the country's constituent republics

constituent assembly noun [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of elected representatives with the power to make or change a country's CONSTITUTION

constitute NAmE verb (formal)
1 linking verb [V-N] (not used in the progressive tenses) to be considered to be sth: Does such an activity constitute a criminal offence? The increase in racial tension constitutes a threat to our society. His action was interpreted as constituting a threat to the community.
2 linking verb [V-N] (not used in the progressive tenses) to be the parts that together form sth MAKE UP: Female workers constitute the majority of the labour force. note at COMPRISE, CONSIST OF
3 [VN] [usually passive] to form a group legally or officially ESTABLISH, SET UP: The committee was constituted in 1974 by an Act of Parliament.

constitution NAmE noun
1 [C] the system of laws and basic principles that a state, a country or an organization is governed by: your right to vote under the constitution According to the constitution ... to propose a new amendment to the Constitution (= of the US) the South African Constitution A two-thirds majority is needed to amend the club's constitution.
2 [C] the condition of a person's body and how healthy it is: to have a healthy/strong/weak constitution
3 [U, C] (formal) the way sth is formed or organized STRUCTURE: the genetic constitution of cells
4 [U] (formal) the act of forming sth ESTABLISHMENT, SETTING UP: He recommended the constitution of a review committee.

constitutional NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 [only before noun] connected with the constitution of a country or an organization: constitutional government/reform a constitutional amendment
2 allowed or limited by the constitution of a country or an organization: They can't pass this law. It's not constitutional. constitutional rights a constitutional monarchy (= a country with a king or queen, whose power is controlled by a set of laws and basic principles) UNCONSTITUTIONAL
3 [usually before noun] related to the body's ability to stay healthy, be strong and fight illness: constitutional remedies
constitutionally adv.: constitutionally guaranteed rights He was much weakened constitutionally by the disease.
noun (old-fashioned or humorous) a short walk that people take because it is good for their health

Constitutional Court noun [sing.] in South Africa, the highest court dealing with cases related to the constitution

constitutionalism NAmE noun [U] a belief in constitutional government

constitutionality NAmE noun [U] (technical) the fact that sth is acceptable according to a CONSTITUTION: They questioned the constitutionality of the law.

constitutive NAmE adj. (formal) ~ (of sth) forming a part, often an essential part, of sth: Memory is constitutive of identity. Poverty is a constitutive element of a particular form of economic growth.

constrain verb (formal)
1 [VN to inf] [usually passive] to force sb to do sth or behave in a particular way: The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. The company said that it was constrained to raise prices.
2 [VN] [often passive] ~ sb (from doing sth) to restrict or limit sb/sth: Research has been constrained by a lack of funds. She felt constrained from continuing by the threat of losing her job. Men and women are becoming less constrained by stereotyped roles.

constrained adj. (formal) not natural; forced or too controlled: constrained emotions He seemed to be behaving in a strange and constrained manner.

constraint noun
1 [C] ~ (on sth) a thing that limits or restricts sth, or your freedom to do sth RESTRICTION: constraints of time/money/space financial/economic/legal/political constraints This decision will impose serious constraints on all schools. note at LIMIT
2 [U] strict control over the way that you behave or are allowed to behave: At last we could relax and talk without constraint.

constrict verb
1 to become tighter or narrower; to make sth tighter or narrower: [V] Her throat constricted and she swallowed hard. [VN] a drug that constricts the blood vessels.
2 [VN] to limit or restrict what sb is able to do: Film-makers of the time were constricted by the censors. constricting rules and regulations
constricted adj.: Her throat felt dry and constricted. a constricted vision of the world constriction noun [U, C]: a feeling of constriction in the chest political constrictions

construct verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 [often passive] ~ sth (from/out of/of sth) to build or make sth such as a road, building or machine: When was the bridge constructed? They constructed a shelter out of fallen branches. note at BUILD
2 to form sth by putting different things together PUT TOGETHER: You must learn how to construct a logical argument. to construct a theory a well-constructed novel
3 (geometry) to draw a line or shape according to the rules of mathematics: to construct a triangle
noun NAmE (formal)
1 an idea or a belief that is based on various pieces of evidence which are not always true: a contrast between lived reality and the construct held in the mind
2 (linguistics) a group of words that form a phrase
3 a thing that is built or made

construction noun
OF ROADS/BUILDINGS
1 [U] the process or method of building or making sth, especially roads, buildings, bridges, etc.: the construction industry road construction Work has begun on the construction of the new airport. Our new offices are still under construction (= being built). the construction of a new database
2 [U] the way that sth has been built or made: strong in construction ships of steel construction note at STRUCTURE
BUILDING/STRUCTURE
3 [C] (formal) a thing that has been built or made: The summer house was a simple wooden construction.
GRAMMAR
4 [C] the way in which words are used together and arranged to form a sentence, phrase, etc.: grammatical constructions
OF THEORY, etc.
5 [U, C] the creating of sth from ideas, opinions and knowledge: the construction of a new theory
MEANING
6 [C] (formal) the way in which words, actions, statements, etc. are understood by sb INTERPRETATION: What construction do you put on this letter (= what do you think it means)?

constructional adj. connected with the making or building of things: constructional toys

construction paper noun [U] (NAmE) thick coloured paper that people cut out to make designs, models, etc.

construction site noun (especially NAmE) = BUILDING SITE

constructive adj. having a useful and helpful effect rather than being negative or with no purpose: constructive criticism/suggestions/advice His work involved helping hyperactive children to use their energy in a constructive way. The government is encouraging all parties to play a constructive role in the reform process.compare DESTRUCTIVE
constructively adv.: Use your time constructively.

constructive dismissal noun [U] (BrE, law) a situation in which you are forced to leave your job because it is changed in a way that makes it impossible for you to continue doing it

constructor noun a person or company that builds things, especially cars or aircraft

construe verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (as sth) (formal) to understand the meaning of a word, a sentence, or an action in a particular way INTERPRET: He considered how the remark was to be construed. Her words could hardly be construed as an apology.

consul NAmE noun a government official who is the representative of his or her country in a foreign city: the British consul in Miami
consular NAmE adj.: consular officials

consulate NAmE noun the building where a consul works: the American consulate in Marseillescompare EMBASSY

consult verb
1 ~ sb (about sth) to go to sb for information or advice: [VN] If the pain continues, consult your doctor. Have you consulted your lawyer about this? [V] a consulting engineer (= one who has expert knowledge and gives advice)
2 ~ (with) sb (about/on sth) to discuss sth with sb to get their permission for sth, or to help you make a decision: [VN] You shouldn't have done it without consulting me. I expect to be consulted about major issues. [V] I need to consult with my colleagues on the proposals.
3 [VN] to look in or at sth to get information REFER TO: He consulted the manual.

consultancy noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a company that gives expert advice on a particular subject to other companies or organizations: a management/design/computer, etc. consultancy
2 [U] expert advice that a company or person is paid to provide on a particular subject: consultancy fees

consultant noun
1 ~ (on sth) a person who knows a lot about a particular subject and is employed to give advice about it to other people: a firm of management consultants the President's consultant on economic affairs
2 (BrE) a hospital doctor of the highest rank who is a specialist in a particular area of medicine: a consultant in obstetrics a consultant surgeoncompare REGISTRAR

consultation NAmE noun
1 [U] the act of discussing sth with sb or with a group of people before making a decision about it: a consultation document/paper/period/process acting in consultation with all the departments involved The decision was taken after close consultation with local residents. note at DISCUSSION
2 [C] a formal meeting to discuss sth: extensive consultations between the two countries note at DISCUSSION
3 [C] a meeting with an expert, especially a doctor, to get advice or treatment: A 30-minute consultation will cost £50. note at INTERVIEW
4 [U] the act of looking for information in a book, etc.: There is a large collection of texts available for consultation on-screen.

consultative adj. giving advice or making suggestions ADVISORY: a consultative committee/body/document

consulting room noun a room where a doctor talks to and examines patients

consumable NAmE adj., noun (business)
adj. intended to be bought, used and then replaced: consumable electronic goods
nounconsumables [pl.] goods that are intended to be used fairly quickly and then replaced: computer consumables such as disks and printer cartridges

consume NAmE verb [VN] (formal)
1 to use sth, especially fuel, energy or time: The electricity industry consumes large amounts of fossil fuels. 25 per cent of the world's population consumes 80 per cent of the planet's resources.
2 to eat or drink sth: Before he died he had consumed a large quantity of alcohol. a half-consumed loaf of bread
3 ~ sb (with sth) [usually passive] to fill sb with a strong feeling: Carolyn was consumed with guilt. Rage consumed him.
4 (of fire) to completely destroy sth: The hotel was quickly consumed by fire.see also CONSUMING, CONSUMPTION, TIME-CONSUMING

consumer NAmE noun a person who buys goods or uses services: consumer demand/choice/rights Health-conscious consumers want more information about the food they buy. a consumer society (= one where buying and selling is considered to be very important) providers and consumers of public services Tax cuts will boost consumer confidence after the recession.compare PRODUCER

consumer durables (BrE) (NAmE durable goods) noun [pl.] (business) goods which are expected to last for a long time after they have been bought, such as cars, televisions, etc.

consumer goods noun [pl.] goods such as food, clothing, etc. bought by individual customerscompare CAPITAL GOODS

consumerism NAmE noun [U] (sometimes disapproving) the buying and using of goods and services; the belief that it is good for a society or an individual person to buy and use a large quantity of goods and services: green consumerism (= the buying of products that are not harmful to the environment)
consumerist adj.: consumerist values

consumer price(s) index (BrE) (NAmE consumer prices index) noun [sing.] (abbr. CPI) a list of the prices of some ordinary goods and services which shows how much these prices change each monthsee also RETAIL PRICE INDEX

consuming NAmE adj. [only before noun] (of a feeling, an interest, etc.) so strong or important that it takes up all your time and energy: Basketball is his consuming passion.see also TIME-CONSUMING

consummate^1 NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (formal) extremely skilled; perfect: She was a consummate performer. He played the shot with consummate skill. (disapproving) a consummate liar
consummately adv.

consummate^2 NAmE verb [VN] (formal)
1 to make a marriage or a relationship complete by having sex: The marriage lasted only a week and was never consummated.
2 to make sth complete or perfect

consummation NAmE noun [C, U]
1 the act of making a marriage or relationship complete by having sex
2 the fact of making sth complete or perfect: The paintings are the consummation of his life's work.

consumption noun [U]
1 the act of using energy, food or materials; the amount used: the production of fuel for domestic consumption (= to be used in the country where it is produced) Gas and oil consumption always increases in cold weather. The meat was declared unfit for human consumption. He was advised to reduce his alcohol consumption. Her speech to party members was not intended for public consumption (= to be heard by the public).see also CONSUME
2 the act of buying and using products: Consumption rather than saving has become the central feature of contemporary societies.see also CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION, CONSUME
3 (old-fashioned) a serious infectious disease of the lungs TUBERCULOSIS

consumptive noun (old-fashioned) a person who suffers from consumption (= a disease of the lungs)
consumptive adj.

cont. (also contd) abbr. continued: cont. on p74

contact NAmE noun, verb
noun
ACT OF COMMUNICATING
1 [U] ~ (with sb)| ~ (between A and B) the act of communicating with sb, especially regularly: I don't have much contact with my uncle. There is little contact between the two organizations. Have you kept in contact with any of your friends from college (= do you still see them or speak or write to them)? She's lost contact with (= no longer sees or writes to) her son. I finally made contact with (= succeeded in speaking to or meeting) her in Paris. The organization put me in contact with other people in a similar position (= gave me their addresses or telephone numbers). two people avoiding eye contact (= avoiding looking directly at each other) Here's my contact number (= temporary telephone number) while I'm away.
TOUCHING SB/STH
2 [U] the state of touching sth: His fingers were briefly in contact with the ball. This substance should not come into contact with food. a fear of physical contact She blushed at the sudden contact of his hand against her arm. This pesticide kills insects on contact (= as soon as it touches them). This chemical is liable to explode on contact with water.
MEETING SB/STH
3 [U] the state of meeting sb or having to deal with sth: In her job she often comes into contact with (= meets) lawyers. Children should be brought into contact with poetry at an early age.
RELATIONSHIP
4 [C, usually pl.] an occasion on which you meet or communicate with sb; a relationship with sb: We have good contacts with the local community. The company has maintained trade contacts with India.
PERSON
5 [C] a person that you know, especially sb who can be helpful to you in your work: social/personal contacts I've made some useful contacts in journalism. She has several contacts in New York.
ELECTRICAL
6 [C] an electrical connection: The switches close the contacts and complete the circuit.
FOR EYES
7 contacts [pl.] (informal) = CONTACT LENSES
MEDICAL
8 [C] a person who may be infectious because he or she has recently been near to sb with a CONTAGIOUS disease
see POINT n.
verb [VN] to communicate with sb, for example by telephone or letter: I've been trying to contact you all day. Witnesses to the accident are asked to contact the police.

contactee NAmE noun a person who claims to have been taken away by ALIENS (= creatures from other planets), or to have had contact with them

contact lens (also informal contact, lens) noun a small round piece of thin plastic that you put on your eye to help you see better

contact sport noun a sport in which players have physical contact with each other NON-CONTACT SPORT

contagion noun
1 [U] the spreading of a disease by people touching each other: There is no risk of contagion.
2 [C] (old use) a disease that can be spread by people touching each other.
3 [C] (formal) something bad that spreads quickly by being passed from person to person: the contagion of political extremismcompare INFECTION

contagious adj.
1 a contagious disease spreads by people touching each other: Scarlet fever is highly contagious. (figurative) His enthusiasm was contagious (= spread quickly to other people). a contagious laugh
2 [not usually before noun] if a person is contagious, they have a disease that can be spread to other people by touchcompare INFECTIOUS
contagiously adv.

contain verb [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses)
1 if sth contains sth else, it has that thing inside it or as part of it: This drink doesn't contain any alcohol. Her statement contained one or two inaccuracies. a brown envelope containing dollar bills The bottle contains (= can hold) two litres.
2 to keep your feelings under control RESTRAIN: She was unable to contain her excitement. I was so furious I just couldn't contain myself (= I had to express my feelings).
3 to prevent sth harmful from spreading or getting worse: to contain an epidemic Government forces have failed to contain the rebellion.

container noun
1 a box, bottle, etc. in which sth can be stored or transported: Food will last longer if kept in an airtight container.
2 a large metal or wooden box of a standard size in which goods are packed so that they can easily be lifted onto a ship, train, etc. to be transported: a container ship (= one designed to transport such containers)

containerized adj. packed and transported in CONTAINERS: containerized cargo
containerization noun [U]

containment noun [U] (formal)
1 the act of keeping sth under control so that it cannot spread in a harmful way: the containment of the epidemic
2 the act of keeping another country's power within limits so that it does not become too powerful: a policy of containment

contaminant noun (technical) a substance that makes sth IMPURE: Filters do not remove all contaminants from water.

contaminate verb [VN]
1 ~ sth (with sth) to make a substance or place dirty or no longer pure by adding a substance that is dangerous or carries disease ADULTERATE: The drinking water has become contaminated with lead. contaminated blood/food/soil a river contaminated by pollution
2 (formal) to influence people's ideas or attitudes in a bad way: They were accused of contaminating the minds of our young people.see also UNCONTAMINATED
contamination noun [U]: radioactive contaminationsee also CROSS-CONTAMINATION

contango NAmE noun [U] (BrE, finance) the normal situation on the Stock Exchange in which the cash price of sth is lower than its future price

contd abbr. = CONT.

contemplate NAmE verb
1 to think about whether you should do sth, or how you should do sth CONSIDER, THINK ABOUT/OF: [VN] You're too young to be contemplating retirement. [V -ing] I have never contemplated living abroad. [also V wh-, VN -ing]
2 to think carefully about and accept the possibility of sth happening: [VN] The thought of war is too awful to contemplate. [V wh-] I can't contemplate what it would be like to be alone. [also V that]
3 (formal) to think deeply about sth for a long time: [VN] to contemplate your future [V] She lay in bed, contemplating.
4 [VN] (formal) to look at sb/sth in a careful way for a long time STARE AT: She contemplated him in silence. He sat there, contemplating his fingernails.

contemplation NAmE noun [U] (formal)
1 the act of thinking deeply about sth: He sat there deep in contemplation. a few moments of quiet contemplation a life of prayer and contemplation
2 the act of looking at sth in a calm and careful way: She turned from her contemplation of the photograph.
in contemplation (formal) being considered: By 1613 even more desperate measures were in contemplation.

contemplative adj.
(formal)
1 thinking quietly and seriously about sth: She was in contemplative mood. He gave her a contemplative look.
2 spending time thinking deeply about religious matters: the contemplative life (= life in a religious community)

contemporaneous adj. ~ (with sb/sth) (formal) happening or existing at the same time CONTEMPORARY: How do we know that the signature is contemporaneous with the document? contemporaneous events/accounts
contemporaneously adv.

contemporary NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 ~ (with sb/sth) belonging to the same time: We have no contemporary account of the battle (= written near the time that it happened). He was contemporary with the dramatist Congreve.
2 belonging to the present time MODERN: life in contemporary Britain contemporary fiction/music/dance
noun (pl. -ies) a person who lives or lived at the same time as sb else, especially sb who is about the same age: She and I were contemporaries at college. He was a contemporary of Freud and may have known him. Give or take a few years, they are contemporaries.

contempt noun [U, sing.]
1 ~ (for sb/sth) the feeling that sb/sth is without value and deserves no respect at all: She looked at him with contempt. I shall treat that suggestion with the contempt it deserves. His treatment of his children is beneath contempt (= so unacceptable that it is not even worth feeling contempt for). Politicians seem to be generally held in contempt by ordinary people. They had shown a contempt for the values she thought important.
2 ~ for sth a lack of worry or fear about rules, danger, etc.: The firefighters showed a contempt for their own safety. His remarks betray a staggering contempt for the truth (= are completely false).
3 = CONTEMPT OF COURT: He could be jailed for two years for contempt. She was held in contempt for refusing to testify. see FAMILIARITY

contemptible adj. (formal) not deserving any respect at all DESPICABLE: contemptible behaviour

contempt of court (also contempt) noun [U] the crime of refusing to obey an order made by a court; not showing respect for a court or judge: Any person who disregards this order will be in contempt of court. to be guilty of contempt of court

contemptuous adj. ~ (of sb/sth) feeling or showing that you have no respect for sb/sth SCORNFUL: She gave him a contemptuous look. He was contemptuous of everything I did. The company has shown a contemptuous disregard for Henry's complaints.
contemptuously adv.: to laugh contemptuously

contend verb
1 (formal) to say that sth is true, especially in an argument MAINTAIN: [V that] I would contend that the minister's thinking is flawed on this point. [also VN that]
2 [V] ~ (for sth) to compete against sb in order to gain sth: Three armed groups were contending for power.
contend with sth to have to deal with a problem or difficult situation: Nurses often have to contend with violent or drunken patients.

contender noun a person who takes part in a competition or tries to win sth: a contender for a gold medal in the Olympics a leading/serious/strong contender for the party leadership

content^1 NAmE nounsee also CONTENT^2
1 contents [pl.] the things that are contained in sth: He tipped the contents of the bag onto the table. Fire has caused severe damage to the contents of the building. She hadn't read the letter and so was unaware of its contents.
2 contents [pl.] the different sections that are contained in a book: a table of contents (= the list at the front of a book) a contents page
3 [sing.] the subject matter of a book, speech, programme, etc.: Your tone of voice is as important as the content of what you have to say. The content of the course depends on what the students would like to study. Her poetry has a good deal of political content.
4 [sing.] (following a noun) the amount of a substance that is contained in sth else: food with a high fat content the alcohol content of a drink
5 [U] (computing) the information or other material contained on a website or CD-ROM: online content providers

content^2 adj., verb, nounsee also CONTENT^1
adj. [not before noun]
1 ~ (with sth) happy and satisfied with what you have: Not content with stealing my boyfriend (= not thinking that this was enough), she has turned all my friends against me. He seemed more content, less bitter. He had to be content with third place. note at HAPPY
2 ~ to do sth willing to do sth: I was content to wait.compare CONTENTED
verb [VN]
1 ~ yourself with sth to accept and be satisfied with sth and not try to have or do sth better: Martina contented herself with a bowl of soup. The crowd contented themselves with shouting insults.
2 (formal) to make sb feel happy or satisfied: My apology seemed to content him. Nothing would content her.
noun = CONTENTMENT see HEART

contented adj. [usually before noun] showing or feeling happiness or satisfaction, especially because your life is good: a contented smile He was a contented man.compare CONTENT^2 adj. DISCONTENTED note at HAPPY
contentedly adv.: She smiled contentedly.

contention noun (formal)
1 [U] angry disagreement between people DISPUTE: One area of contention is the availability of nursery care. a point of contention
2 [C] ~ (that ... ) a belief or an opinion that you express, especially in an argument: It is our client's contention that the fire was an accident. I would reject that contention. note at CLAIM
in contention (for sth) with a chance of winning sth: Only three teams are now in contention for the title.
out of contention (for sth) without a chance of winning sthmore at BONE n.

contentious adj. (formal)
1 likely to cause disagreement between people: a contentious issue/topic/subject Both views are highly contentious. Try to avoid any contentious wording. UNCONTENTIOUS
2 liking to argue; involving a lot of arguing: a contentious meeting

contentment (also less frequent content) noun [U] a feeling of happiness or satisfaction: He has found contentment at last. a sigh of contentmentcompare DISCONTENT note at SATISFACTION

content word noun (linguistics) a noun, verb, adjective or adverb whose main function is to express meaningcompare FUNCTION WORD

contest noun, verb
noun NAmE
1 a competition in which people try to win sth: a singing contest a talent contest to enter/win/lose a contestsee also BEAUTY CONTEST
2 ~ (for sth) a struggle to gain control or power: a contest for the leadership of the party
be no contest used to say that one side in a competition is so much stronger or better than the other that it is sure to win easily
verb [VN]
1 to take part in a competition, election, etc. and try to win it: Three candidates contested the leadership. The party has decided not to contest this election. a hotly/fiercely/keenly contested game (= one in which the players try very hard to win and the scores are close)
2 to formally oppose a decision or statement because you think it is wrong: to contest a will (= try to show that it was not correctly made in law) The divorce was not contested.

contestant noun a person who takes part in a contest: Please welcome our next contestant.

context NAmE noun [C, U]
1 the situation in which sth happens and that helps you to understand it: This speech needs to be set in the context of Britain in the 1960s. His decision can only be understood in context. Such databases are being used in a wide range of contexts.
2 the words that come just before and after a word, phrase or statement and help you to understand its meaning: You should be able to guess the meaning of the word from the context. This quotation has been taken out of context (= repeated without giving the circumstances in which it was said).

contextual adj. (formal) connected with a particular context: contextual information contextual clues to the meaning
contextually adv.

contextualize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] (formal) to consider sth in relation to the situation in which it happens or exists
contextualization, -isation noun [U]

contiguous adj. ~ (with/to sth) (formal or technical) touching or next to sth: The countries are contiguous. The bruising was not contiguous to the wound.
contiguity NAmE noun [U]

continence NAmE noun [U]
1 (formal) the control of your feelings, especially your desire to have sex
2 the ability to control the BLADDER and BOWELS INCONTINENCE
continent NAmE adj. INCONTINENT

continent NAmE noun
1 [C] one of the large land masses of the earth such as Europe, Asia or Africa: the continent of Africa the African continent
2 the Continent [sing.] (BrE) the main part of the continent of Europe, not including Britain or Ireland: We're going to spend a weekend on the Continent.

continental NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 (also Continental) [only before noun] (BrE) of or in the continent of Europe, not including Britain and Ireland: a popular continental holiday resort Britain's continental neighbours
2 (BrE) following the customs of countries in western and southern Europe: a continental lifestyle The shutters and the balconies make the street look almost continental.
3 [only before noun] connected with the main part of the N American continent: Prices are often higher in Hawaii than in the continental United States.
4 forming part of, or typical of, any of the seven main land masses of the earth: continental Antarctica/Asia/Europe to study continental geography
noun (BrE, old-fashioned, often disapproving) a person who lives in the continent of Europe: The continentals have never understood our preference for warm beer.

continental breakfast noun a light breakfast, usually consisting of coffee and bread rolls with butter and jamcompare ENGLISH BREAKFAST

continental climate noun a fairly dry pattern of weather with very hot summers and very cold winters, that is typical of the central regions of the US, Canada and Russia, for example

continental drift noun [U] (geology) the slow movement of the continents towards and away from each other during the history of the earthsee also PLATE TECTONICS

continental quilt noun (BrE) = DUVET

continental shelf noun [usually sing.] (geology) the area of land on the edge of a continent that slopes into the ocean

continental slope noun [sing.] (geology) the steep surface that goes down from the outer edge of the continental shelf to the ocean floor

contingency noun (pl. -ies) an event that may or may not happen POSSIBILITY: We must consider all possible contingencies. to make contingency plans (= plans for what to do if a particular event happens or does not happen) a contingency fund (= to pay for sth that might happen in the future)

contingency fee noun (in the US) an amount of money that is paid to a lawyer only if the person he or she is advising wins in court

contingent noun, adj.
noun [C+sing./pl. v.]
1 a group of people at a meeting or an event who have sth in common, especially the place they come from, that is not shared by other people at the event: The largest contingent was from the United States. A strong contingent of local residents were there to block the proposal.
2 a group of soldiers that are part of a larger force: the French contingent in the UN peacekeeping force
adj.~ (on/upon sth) (formal) depending on sth that may or may not happen: All payments are contingent upon satisfactory completion dates.
contingently adv.

continual adj. [only before noun]
1 repeated many times in a way that is annoying: continual complaints/interruptions
2 continuing without interruption CONTINUOUS: He was in a continual process of rewriting his material. We lived in continual fear of being discovered. Her daughter was a continual source of delight to her. She kept the letter as a continual reminder of his kindness. note at CONTINUOUS
continually adv.: They argue continually about money. the need to adapt to new and continually changing circumstances New products are continually being developed.

continuance noun
1 [U] (formal) the state of continuing to exist or function: We can no longer support the President's continuance in office.
2 [C] (NAmE, law) a decision that a court case should be heard later: The judge refused his motion for a continuance.

continuant noun (phonetics) a consonant that is pronounced with the breath passing through the throat, so that the sound can be continued. , and are examples of continuants.
continuant adj. [only before noun]: continuant consonants

continuation noun ~ (of/in sth)
1 [U, sing.] an act or the state of continuing: They are anxious to ensure the continuation of the economic reform programme. This year saw a continuation in the upward trend in sales.
2 [C] something that continues or follows sth else: Her new book is a continuation of her autobiography.
3 [C] something that is joined on to sth else and forms a part of it: There are plans to build a continuation of the by-pass next year.

continue verb
1 to keep existing or happening without stopping: [V] The exhibition continues until 25 July. The trial is expected to continue for three months. The rain will continue into the evening. [V to inf] The rain continued to fall all afternoon. The number of car accident deaths is continuing to decline. [V -ing] The rain continued falling all afternoon.
2 ~ (with sth) to keep doing sth without stopping: [V -ing] She wanted to continue working until she was 60. He vowed to continue fighting. [V to inf] He continued to ignore everything I was saying. [VN] The board of inquiry is continuing its investigations. [V] Are you going to continue with the project?
3 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to go or move further in the same direction: The path continued over rough, rocky ground. He continued on his way.
4 [V] ~ (as sth) to remain in a particular job or condition: I want you to continue as project manager. She will continue in her present job until a replacement can be found.
5 to start or start sth again after stopping for a time RESUME: [V] The story continues in our next issue. [VN] The story will be continued in our next issue.
6 to start speaking again after stopping: [V] Please continueI didn't mean to interrupt. [V speech] 'In fact,' he continued, 'I'd like to congratulate you.'

continued (also continuing ) adj. [only before noun] existing in the same state without change or interruption: We are grateful for your continued/continuing support. continued interest continuing involvement

continuing education noun [U] = ADULT EDUCATION

continuity NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] the fact of not stopping or not changing: to ensure/provide/maintain continuity of fuel supplies DISCONTINUITY
2 [U, C] a logical connection between the parts of sth, or between two things: The novel fails to achieve narrative continuity. There are obvious continuities between diet and health. DISCONTINUITY
3 [U] (technical) the organization of a film/movie or television programme, especially making sure that people's clothes, objects, etc. are the same from one scene to the next

continuo NAmE noun [U] (music) (from Italian) a musical part played to accompany another instrument, in which a line of low notes is shown with figures to represent the higher notes to be played above them: a trio for two violins and continuo

continuous adj.
1 happening or existing for a period of time without interruption: Recovery after the accident will be a continuous process that may take several months. Stop smoking and you will see a continuous improvement in your health. She was in continuous employment until the age of sixty-five. The rain has been continuous since this morning.
2 spreading in a line or over an area without any spaces: a continuous line of traffic Rain was falling outside in a continuous silver curtain.
3 (informal) repeated many times CONTINUAL: For four days the town suffered continuous attacks. Continual is much more frequent in this meaning.
4 (grammar) = PROGRESSIVE: the continuous tenses
continuously adv.: He has lived and worked in France almost continuously since 1990. the continuously changing situation Heat the mixture until thickened, stirring continuously.

synonyms

continuous / continual

These adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:

continuous ~

continual ~

process

change

employment

problems

flow

updating

line

questions

speech

pain

supply

fear

Continuous describes something that continues without stopping.

Continual usually describes an action that is repeated again and again.

The difference between these two words is now disappearing. In particular, continual can also mean the same as continuous and is used especially about undesirable things: Life was a continual struggle for them. However, continuous is much more frequent in this sense.

continuous assessment noun [U] (BrE) a system of giving a student a final mark/grade based on work done during a course of study rather than on one exam

continuous stationery noun [U] (BrE) paper that is printed in a single long strip, then folded and torn into individual sheets

continuum noun (pl. continua ) a series of similar items in which each is almost the same as the ones next to it but the last is very different from the first CLINE: It is impossible to say at what point along the continuum a dialect becomes a separate language.

contort NAmE verb to become twisted or make sth twisted out of its natural or normal shape: [V] His face contorted with anger. [VN] Her mouth was contorted in a snarl. A spasm of pain contorted his face.
contorted adj.: contorted limbs/bodies (figurative) It was a contorted version of the truth.

contortion NAmE noun
1 [U] the state of the face or body being twisted out of its natural shape: Their bodies had suffered contortion as a result of malnutrition.
2 [C] a movement which twists the body out of its natural shape: His facial contortions amused the audience of schoolchildren. (figurative) We had to go through all the usual contortions to get a ticket (= a difficult series of actions).

contortionist NAmE noun a performer who does contortions of their body to entertain others

contour NAmE noun
1 the outer edges of sth; the outline of its shape or form: The road follows the natural contours of the coastline. She traced the contours of his face with her finger.
2 (also contour line) a line on a map showing points that are the same height above sea level: a contour map (= a map that includes these lines)

contoured NAmE adj.
1 with a specially designed outline that makes sth attractive or comfortable: It is smoothly contoured to look like a racing car.
2 having or showing contours (2): contoured hills/maps

contra- NAmE combining form
1 (in nouns, verbs and adjectives) against; opposite: contraflow contradict
2 (in nouns) (music) having a PITCH an OCTAVE below: a contrabassoon

contraband NAmE noun [U] goods that are illegally taken into or out of a country: contraband goods to smuggle contraband

contrabass NAmE adj. (of a musical instrument) with a range of notes one OCTAVE below that of a BASS instrument: a contrabass clarinet

contrabassoon NAmE (also double bassoon) noun a BASSOON that is larger and longer than the normal type and produces lower notes

contraception NAmE noun [U] the practice of preventing a woman from becoming pregnant; the methods of doing this BIRTH CONTROL: to give advice about contraception

contraceptive NAmE noun a drug, device or practice used to prevent a woman becoming pregnant: oral contraceptives
contraceptive adj. [only before noun]: a contraceptive pill contraceptive advice/precautions/methods

contract noun, verb
noun NAmE
1 ~ (with sb)| ~ (between A and B)| ~ (for sth/to do sth) an official written agreement: to enter into/make/sign a contract with the supplier a contract for the supply of vehicles to win/be awarded a contract to build a new school These clauses form part of the contract between buyer and seller. a contract of employment a research contract a contract worker (= one employed on a contract for a fixed period of time) I was on a three-year contract that expired last week. Under the terms of the contract the job should have been finished yesterday. She is under contract to (= has a contract to work for) a major American computer firm. The offer has been accepted, subject to contract (= the agreement is not official until the contract is signed). They were sued for breach of contract (= not keeping to a contract).
2 ~ (on sb) (informal) an agreement to kill sb for money: to take out a contract on sb
verb
1 to become less or smaller; to make sth become less or smaller: [V] Glass contracts as it cools. The universe is expanding rather than contracting. a contracting market The heart muscles contract to expel the blood. [VN] 'I will' and 'I shall' are usually contracted to 'I'll' (= made shorter). The exercise consists of stretching and contracting the leg muscles. EXPAND
2 [VN] (medical) to get an illness: to contract AIDS/a virus/a disease
3 ~ sb (to sth) to make a legal agreement with sb for them to work for you or provide you with a service: [VN to inf] The player is contracted to play until August. [VN] Several computer engineers have been contracted to the finance department.
4 [V to inf] to make a legal agreement to work for sb or provide them with a service: She has contracted to work 20 hours a week.
5 [VN] ~ a marriage/an alliance (with sb) (formal) to formally agree to marry sb/form an ALLIANCE with sb
contract in (to sth) (BrE) to formally agree that you will take part in sth
contract out (of sth) (BrE) to formally agree that you will not take part in sth: Many employees contracted out of the pension plan.
contract sthout (to sb) to arrange for work to be done by another company rather than your own

contract bridge noun [U] the standard form of the card game BRIDGE, in which points are given only for sets of cards that are BID and won

contractile adj. (biology) (of living TISSUE, organs, etc.) able to contract or, of an opening or tube, become narrower

contraction noun
1 [U] the process of becoming smaller: the expansion and contraction of the metal The sudden contraction of the markets left them with a lot of unwanted stock. EXPANSION: Physical stress caused by expansion and contraction can damage components within the computer.
2 [C, U] a sudden and painful contracting of muscles, especially of the muscles around a woman's WOMB that happen when she is giving birth to a child: The contractions started coming every five minutes.
3 [C] (linguistics) a short form of a word: 'He's' may be a contraction of 'he is' or 'he has'.

contractor noun a person or company that has a contract to do work or provide goods or services for another company: a building/haulage, etc. contractor to employ an outside contractor

contractual adj. connected with the conditions of a legal written agreement; agreed in a contract: We have contractual obligations to control prices.

contradict NAmE verb
1 to say that sth that sb else has said is wrong, and that the opposite is true: [VN] All evening her husband contradicted everything she said. You've just contradicted yourself (= said the opposite of what you said before). [also V speech, VN speech]
2 [VN] (of statements or pieces of evidence) to be so different from each other that one of them must be wrong: The two stories contradict each other. This version of events was contradicted by eye-witness reports.

contradiction NAmE noun
1 [C, U] ~ (between A and B) a lack of agreement between facts, opinions, actions, etc.: There is a contradiction between the two sets of figures. His public speeches are in direct contradiction to his personal lifestyle. How can we resolve this apparent contradiction?
2 [U, C] the act of saying that sth that sb else has said is wrong or not true; an example of this: I think I can say, without fear of contradiction, that ... Now you say you both left at tenthat's a contradiction of your last statement.
a contradiction in terms a statement containing two words that contradict each other's meaning: A 'nomad settlement' is a contradiction in terms.

contradictory NAmE adj. containing or showing a contradiction CONFLICTING: We are faced with two apparently contradictory statements. The advice I received was often contradictory.

contradistinction NAmE noun
in contradistinction to sth/sb (formal) in contrast with sth/sb: Lionesses, in contradistinction to the females of other animals, are the hunters.

contrafactive NAmE adj. (grammar) (of verbs) talking about sth that is not true. 'Pretend' and 'wish' are contrafactive verbs.compare FACTIVE, NON-FACTIVE

contraflow NAmE noun (BrE) a system that is used when one half of a large road is closed for repairs, and the traffic going in both directions has to use the other half: A contraflow system is in operation on this section of the motorway.

contraindicate NAmE verb [VN] (medical) if a drug or treatment is contraindicated, there is a medical reason why it should not be used in a particular situation: This drug is contraindicated in patients with asthma.

contraindication NAmE noun (medical) a possible reason for not giving sb a particular drug or medical treatment: Age alone is not a contraindication to surgery.

contralto NAmE noun (pl. -os) = ALTO

contraption noun a machine or piece of equipment that looks strange: She showed us a strange contraption that looked like a satellite dish.

contrapuntal NAmE adj. (music) having two or more tunes played together to form a wholesee also COUNTERPOINT

contrariwise NAmE adv. (formal)
1 used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to introduce a contrast: You can only vote if you are a member. Contrariwise, not all members have the right to vote.
2 in the opposite way: It worked contrariwisefirst you dialled the number, then you put the money in.

contrary^1 NAmE adj., nounsee also CONTRARY^2
adj.
1 ~ to sth different from sth; against sth: Contrary to popular belief, many cats dislike milk. The government has decided that the publication of the report would be 'contrary to the public interest'. Contrary to expectations and the weather forecast, we had a fine day for the experiment.
2 [only before noun] completely different in nature or direction OPPOSITE: contrary advice/opinions/arguments The contrary view is that prison provides an excellent educationin crime.
nounthe contrary [sing.] the opposite fact, event or situation: In the end the contrary was proved true: he was innocent and she was guilty.
on the contrary used to introduce a statement that says the opposite of the last one: 'It must have been terrible.' 'On the contrary, I enjoyed every minute.'
quite the contrary used to emphasize that the opposite of what has been said is true: I don't find him funny at all. Quite the contrary.
to the contrary showing or proving the opposite: Show me some evidence to the contrary (= proving that sth is not true). I will expect to see you on Sunday unless I hear anything to the contrary (= that you are not coming).

contrary^2 NAmE adj. (formal, disapproving) (usually of children) behaving badly; choosing to do or say the opposite of what is expected: She was such a contrary childit was impossible to please her.see also CONTRARY^1
contrarily adv. contrariness noun [U]

contrast noun, verb
noun NAmE
1 [C, U] ~ (between A and B)| ~ (to/with sb/sth) a difference between two or more people or things that you can see clearly when they are compared or put close together; the fact of comparing two or more things in order to show the differences between them: There is an obvious contrast between the cultures of East and West. The company lost $7 million this quarter in contrast to a profit of $6.2 million a year earlier. When you look at their new system, ours seems very old-fashioned by contrast. The situation when we arrived was in marked contrast to the news reports. to show a sharp/stark/striking contrast with sth The poverty of her childhood stands in total contrast to her life in Hollywood. A wool jacket complements the silk trousers and provides an interesting contrast in texture. Careful contrast of the two plans shows some important differences.
2 [C] ~ (to sb/sth) a person or thing that is clearly different from sb/sth else: The work you did today is quite a contrast to (= very much better/worse than) what you did last week.
3 [U] differences in colour or in light and dark, used in photographs and paintings to create a special effect: The artist's use of contrast is masterly.
4 [U] the amount of difference between light and dark in a picture on a television screen: Use this button to adjust the contrast.
verb NAmE
1 [VN] ~ (A and/with B) to compare two things in order to show the differences between them: It is interesting to contrast the British legal system with the American one. The poem contrasts youth and age. Compare and contrast the two novels.
2 [V] ~ (with sth) to show a clear difference when close together or when compared: Her actions contrasted sharply with her promises. Her actions and her promises contrasted sharply.

contrasting NAmE adj. [usually before noun] very different in style, colour or attitude: bright, contrasting colours The book explores contrasting views of the poet's early work.

contrastive NAmE adj. (linguistics) showing the differences between languages: a contrastive analysis of British and Australian English

contravene NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to do sth that is not allowed by a law or rule INFRINGE: The company was found guilty of contravening safety regulations.
contravention NAmE noun [U, C] INFRINGEMENT: These actions are in contravention of European law.

contretemps NAmE noun (pl. contretemps) (from French, formal or humorous) an unfortunate event or embarrassing disagreement with another person: They have been ignoring me since our last contretemps.

contribute BrE verb
1 ~ (sth) (to/towards sth) to give sth, especially money or goods, to help sb/sth: [VN] We contributed £5 000 to the earthquake fund. [V] Would you like to contribute to our collection? Do you wish to contribute?
2 [V] ~ (to sth) to be one of the causes of sth: Medical negligence was said to have contributed to her death. Human error may have been a contributing factor.
3 ~ (sth) to sth to increase, improve or add to sth: [V] Immigrants have contributed to British culture in many ways. [VN] This book contributes little to our understanding of the subject.
4 ~ (sth) (to sth) to write things for a newspaper, magazine, or a radio or television programme; to speak during a meeting or conversation, especially to give your opinion: [VN] She contributed a number of articles to the magazine. [V] He contributes regularly to the magazine 'New Scientist'. We hope everyone will contribute to the discussion.

contribution NAmE noun ~ (to sth)| ~ (toward(s) sth/doing sth)
1 [C] a sum of money that is given to a person or an organization in order to help pay for sth DONATION: to make a contribution to charity a substantial contribution All contributions will be gratefully received. valuable contributions towards the upkeep of the cathedral
2 [C] a sum of money that you pay regularly to your employer or the government in order to pay for benefits such as health insurance, a pension, etc.: monthly contributions to the pension scheme National Insurance contributions
3 [C, usually sing.] an action or a service that helps to cause or increase sth: He made a very positive contribution to the success of the project. These measures would make a valuable contribution towards reducing industrial accidents. a significant contribution to scientific knowledge the car's contribution to the greenhouse effect
4 [C] an item that forms part of a book, magazine, broadcast, discussion, etc.: an important contribution to the debate All contributions for the May issue must be received by Friday.
5 [U] the act of giving sth, especially money, to help a person or an organization: We rely entirely on voluntary contribution.

contributor noun ~ (to sth)
1 a person who writes articles for a magazine or a book, or who talks on a radio or television programme or at a meeting: a regular contributor to this magazine
2 a person or thing that provides money to help pay for sth, or support sth: Older people are important contributors to the economy. the largest net contributor to EU funds
3 something that helps to cause sth: Sulphur dioxide is a pollutant and a major contributor to acid rain.

contributory NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 helping to cause sth: Alcohol is a contributory factor in 10% of all road accidents. Smoking is a contributory cause of many diseases. (BrE) He was found guilty of contributory negligence (= that helped to cause an accident).
2 involving payments from the people who will benefit: a contributory pension scheme/plan (= paid for by both employers and employees) contributory benefits (= ones that you make payments for) NON-CONTRIBUTORY

contrite NAmE adj. (formal) very sorry for sth bad that you have done: Her expression was contrite. He looked so contrite that for a moment she nearly believed he really was sorry about what he had said.
contritely adv. contrition noun [U]: a look of contrition

contrivance noun (formal)
1 [C, U] (usually disapproving) something that sb has done or written that does not seem natural; the fact of seeming artificial: The film is spoilt by unrealistic contrivances of plot. The story is told with a complete absence of contrivance. Examinations are a contrivance to see how a student tackles new problems.
2 [C] a clever or complicated device or tool made for a particular purpose: His workshop was full of mechanical contrivances.
3 [C, U] a clever plan or trick; the act of using a clever plan or trick: an ingenious contrivance to get her to sign the document without reading it

contrive verb (formal)
1 [V to inf] to manage to do sth despite difficulties: She contrived to spend a couple of hours with him every Sunday evening. Somehow they contrived to live on her tiny income.
2 [VN] to succeed in making sth happen despite difficulties: I decided to contrive a meeting between the two of them.
3 [VN] to think of or make sth, for example a plan or a machine, in a clever way: They contrived a plan to defraud the company.

contrived adj. (disapproving) planned in advance and not natural or genuine; written or arranged in a way that is not natural or realistic: a contrived situation The book's happy ending seemed contrived.

control NAmE noun, verb
noun
POWER
1 [U] ~ (of/over sb/sth) the power to make decisions about how a country, an area, an organization, etc. is run: The party is expecting to gain control of the council in the next election. The Democrats will probably lose control of Congress. A military junta took control of the country. The city is in the control of enemy forces. The city is under enemy control.
2 [U] ~ (of/over sb/sth) the ability to make sb/sth do what you want: The teacher had no control over the children. She struggled to keep control of her voice. She lost control of her car on the ice. He got so angry he lost control (= shouted and said or did things he would not normally do). Owing to circumstances beyond our control, the flight to Rome has been cancelled. The coach made the team work hard on ball control (= in a ball game).see also SELF-CONTROL
LIMITING/MANAGING
3 [U, C] ~ (of/on sth) (often in compounds) the act of restricting, limiting or managing sth; a method of doing this: traffic control talks on arms control government controls on trade and industry A new advance has been made in the control of malaria. Price controls on food were ended. a pest control officersee also BIRTH CONTROL, QUALITY CONTROL note at LIMIT
IN MACHINE
4 [C, usually pl.] the switches and buttons, etc. that you use to operate a machine or a vehicle: the controls of an aircraft the control panel the volume control of a CD player The co-pilot was at the controls when the plane landed. a car with dual control(s) (= one set of controls for the driver and one for the INSTRUCTOR).see also REMOTE CONTROL
IN EXPERIMENT
5 [C] (technical) a person, thing or group used as a standard of comparison for checking the results of a scientific experiment; an experiment whose result is known, used for checking working methods: The study showed that women with the disease have had fewer children than the controls. One group was treated with the new drug, and the control group was given a sugar pill.
PLACE
6 [sing.] a place where orders are given or where checks are made; the people who work in this place: air traffic control We went through passport control and into the departure lounge. This is Mission Control calling the space shuttle Discovery.
ON COMPUTER
7 [U] (also control key [sing.]) (on a computer keyboard) a key that you press when you want to perform a particular operation
be in control (of sth)
1 to direct or manage an organization, an area or a situation: He's reached retiring age, but he's still firmly in control. There has been some violence after the match, but the police are now in control of the situation.
2 to be able to organize your life well and keep calm: In spite of all her family problems, she's really in control.
be/get/run/etc. out of control to be or become impossible to manage or to control: The children are completely out of control since their father left. A truck ran out of control on the hill.
be under control to be being dealt with successfully: Don't worryeverything's under control!
bring/get/keep sth under control to succeed in dealing with sth so that it does not cause any damage or hurt anyone: It took two hours to bring the fire under control. Please keep your dog under control!
verb (-ll-)
HAVE POWER
1 [VN] to have power over a person, company, country, etc. so that you are able to decide what they must do or how it is run: By the age of 21 he controlled the company. The whole territory is now controlled by the army. Can't you control your children? a multi-national company based in Britain but controlled from South Africa
LIMIT/MANAGE
2 to limit sth or make it happen in a particular way: [VN] government attempts to control immigration Many biological processes are controlled by hormones. Try to control your breathing. [V wh-] Parents should control what their kids watch on television.
3 [VN] to stop sth from spreading or getting worse: Firefighters are still trying to control the blaze. She was given drugs to control the pain.
MACHINE
4 [VN] to make sth, such as a machine or system, work in the way that you want it to: This knob controls the volume. The traffic lights are controlled by a central computer.
STAY CALM
5 [VN] to manage to make yourself remain calm, even though you are upset or angry: I was so furious I couldn't control myself and I hit him. He was finding it difficult to control his feelings.

control freak noun (informal, disapproving) a person who always wants to be in control of their own and others' lives, and to organize how things are done

controllable NAmE adj. that can be controlled: Cooking with gas is fast, controllable and clean.

controlled NAmE adj.
1 done or arranged in a very careful way: a controlled explosion a controlled environment He played very controlled football.
2 limited, or managed by law or by rules: controlled airspace
3 -controlled (in compounds) managed by a particular group, or in a particular way: a British-controlled company computer-controlled systems
4 remaining calm and not getting angry or upset: She remained quiet and controlled.compare UNCONTROLLED

controlled economy noun (economics) a type of economic system in which a government controls its country's industries and decides what goods should be produced and in what amounts

controlled substance noun (technical) an illegal drug: to be arrested for possession of a controlled substance

controller NAmE noun
1 a person who manages or directs sth, especially a large organization or part of an organizationsee also AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
2 (technical) a device that controls or REGULATES a machine or part of a machine: a temperature controller
3 (also comptroller) a person who is in charge of the financial accounts of a business company

controlling interest noun [usually sing.] the fact of owning enough shares in a company to be able to make decisions about what the company should do

control tower noun a building at an airport from which the movements of aircraft are controlled

controversial NAmE adj. causing a lot of angry public discussion and disagreement: a highly controversial topic one of the most controversial of London's new office blocks a controversial plan to build a new road Winston Churchill and Richard Nixon were both controversial figures. NON-CONTROVERSIAL, UNCONTROVERSIAL
controversially adv.: Punishments for prisoners include loss of privileges and, more controversially, the stopping of visits.

controversy BrE NAmE noun [U, C] (pl. -ies) ~ (over/about/surrounding sb/sth) public discussion and argument about sth that many people strongly disagree about, disapprove of, or are shocked by: to arouse/cause controversy a bitter controversy over/about the site of the new airport the controversy surrounding his latest movie The President resigned amid considerable controversy.

controvert NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to say or prove that sth is not true REFUTEsee also INCONTROVERTIBLE

contumacious NAmE adj. (old use or law) lacking respect for authority

contusion NAmE noun [C, U] (medical) an injury to part of the body that does not break the skin BRUISE

conundrum noun
1 a confusing problem or question that is very difficult to solve
2 a question, usually involving a trick with words, that you ask for fun RIDDLE

conurbation NAmE noun a large area where towns have grown and joined together, often around a city

convalesce NAmE verb [V] to spend time getting your health and strength back after an illness RECUPERATE: She is convalescing at home after her operation.

convalescence NAmE noun [sing., U] a period of time when you get well again after an illness or a medical operation; the process of getting well: You need four to six weeks' convalescence.

convalescent NAmE adj. connected with convalescence; in the process of convalescence: a convalescent home (= a type of hospital where people go to get well after an illness) a convalescent child
convalescent noun: I treated him as a convalescent, not as a sick man.

convection noun (technical) the process in which heat moves through a gas or a liquid as the hotter part rises and the cooler, heavier part sinks: convection currents

convector (also convector heater) noun a device for heating the air in a room using convection

convene verb (formal)
1 [VN] to arrange for people to come together for a formal meeting: to convene a meeting A Board of Inquiry was convened immediately after the accident.
2 [V] to come together for a formal meeting: The committee will convene at 11.30 next Thursday.

convener (also convenor) noun
1 a person who arranges meetings of groups or committees
2 (BrE) a senior official of a TRADE/LABOR UNION at a factory or other place of work

convenience noun
1 [U] the quality of being useful, easy or suitable for sb: We have provided seats for the convenience of our customers. For (the sake of) convenience, the two groups have been treated as one in this report. The position of the house combines quietness and convenience. In this resort you can enjoy all the comfort and convenience of modern tourism.compare INCONVENIENCEsee also FLAG OF CONVENIENCE, MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE
2 [C] something that is useful and can make things easier or quicker to do, or more comfortable: It was a great convenience to have the school so near. The house had all the modern conveniences (= central heating, etc.) that were unusual at that time.see also PUBLIC CONVENIENCE
at sb's convenience (formal) at a time or a place which is suitable for sb: Can you telephone me at your convenience to arrange a meeting?more at EARLY adj.

convenience food noun [C, U] food that you buy frozen or in a box or can, that you can prepare and cook very quickly and easily

convenience store noun (especially NAmE) a shop/store that sells food, newspapers, etc. and often stays open 24 hours a day

convenient adj.
1 ~ (for sb/sth) useful, easy or quick to do; not causing problems: It is very convenient to pay by credit card. You'll find these meals quick and convenient to prepare. Fruit is a convenient source of vitamins and energy. A bicycle is often more convenient than a car in towns. I can't see him nowit isn't convenient. I'll call back at a more convenient time. (disapproving) He used his wife's birthday as a convenient excuse for not going to the meeting.
2 ~ (for sth) near to a particular place; easy to get to: The house is very convenient for several schools. INCONVENIENT
conveniently adv.: The report can be conveniently divided into three main sections. The hotel is conveniently situated close to the beach. She conveniently forgot to mention that her husband would be at the party, too (= because it suited her not to say).

convenor = CONVENER

convent NAmE noun
1 a building in which NUNS (= members of a female religious community) live together
2 (also convent school) a school run by NUNS

convention noun
1 [C, U] the way in which sth is done that most people in a society expect and consider to be polite or the right way to do it: social conventions By convention the deputy leader was always a woman. She is a young woman who enjoys flouting conventions. Convention demands that a club member should resign in such a situation.
2 [C] a large meeting of the members of a profession, a political party, etc. CONFERENCE: to hold a convention the Democratic Party Convention (= to elect a candidate for president)
3 [C] an official agreement between countries or leaders: the Geneva convention the United Nations convention on the rights of the child
4 [C, U] a traditional method or style in literature, art or the theatre: the conventions of Greek tragedy

conventional adj.
1 (often disapproving) tending to follow what is done or considered acceptable by society in general; normal and ordinary, and perhaps not very interesting: conventional behaviour/morality She's very conventional in her views. UNCONVENTIONAL
2 [usually before noun] following what is traditional or the way sth has been done for a long time: conventional methods/approaches It's not a hotel, in the conventional sense, but rather a whole village turned into a hotel. UNCONVENTIONAL
3 [usually before noun] (especially of weapons) not nuclear: conventional forces/weapons A conventional war would still cause unacceptable devastation. a conventional power station (= using oil or coal as fuel, rather than nuclear power)
conventionality noun [U] conventionally adv.: conventionally dressed conventionally grown food (= grown according to conventional methods) Though not conventionally pretty (= not pretty according to generally accepted ideas of what is pretty), she dressed with flair. Gross National Product (GNP) is conventionally used to indicate economic development. see WISDOM

conventioneer NAmE noun (NAmE) a person who is attending a convention

converge NAmE verb [V]
1 ~ (on ... ) (of people or vehicles) to move towards a place from different directions and meet: Thousands of supporters converged on London for the rally.
2 (of two or more lines, paths, etc.) to move towards each other and meet at a point: There was a signpost where the two paths converged.
3 if ideas, policies, aims, etc. converge, they become very similar or the same DIVERGE
convergent adj.: convergent lines/opinions convergence noun [U]

conversant NAmE adj. (formal) ~ with sth knowing about sth; familiar with sth: You need to become fully conversant with the company's procedures.

conversation NAmE noun [C, U] ~ (with sb) (about sth) an informal talk involving a small group of people or only two; the activity of talking in this way: a telephone conversation I had a long conversation with her the other day. The main topic of conversation was the likely outcome of the election. Don was deep in conversation with the girl on his right. (BrE) to get into conversation with sb (NAmE) to get into a conversation with sb The conversation turned to gardening. I tried to make conversation (= to speak in order to appear polite). Desperately he struggled to keep the conversation going. I see no point in continuing this conversation. She tried to steer the conversation away from the topic of marriage. He felt a sudden alarm at the turn the conversation was taking. note at DISCUSSION

conversational NAmE adj.
1 not formal; as used in conversation COLLOQUIAL: a casual and conversational tone I learnt conversational Spanish at evening classes.
2 [only before noun] connected with conversation: Men have a more direct conversational style.
conversationally adv.: 'Have you been here long?' he asked conversationally.

conversationalist NAmE noun a person who is good at talking to others, especially in an informal way: Reynolds was a notable conversationalist. note at SPEAKER

conversation piece noun
1 an object that is talked about a lot because it is unusual
2 (art) a type of painting in which a group of people are shown in the countryside or in a home

conversation stopper noun (informal) an unexpected or shocking remark, which people do not know how to reply to

converse^1 NAmE verb [V] ~ (with sb) (formal) to have a conversation with sb: She conversed with the Russians in French. The two men were conversing on music and opera.

converse^2 NAmE noun the converse [sing.] (formal) the opposite or reverse of a fact or statement: Building new roads increases traffic and the converse is equally true: reducing the number and size of roads means less traffic.
converse adj.: the converse effect

conversely NAmE adv. (formal) in a way that is the opposite or reverse of sth: You can add the fluid to the powder, or, conversely, the powder to the fluid. Women suffering from anorexia are still convinced that their thin, frail bodies are fat and unsightly. Conversely, some people who are a great deal heavier than they should be can persuade themselves that they are 'just right'.

conversion NAmE noun
1 [U, C] ~ (from sth) (into/to sth) the act or process of changing sth from one form, use or system to another: the conversion of farm buildings into family homes Conversion to gas central heating will save you a lot of money. No conversion from analogue to digital data is needed. a metric conversion table (= showing how to change METRIC amounts into or out of another system) a firm which specializes in house conversions (= turning large houses into several smaller flats/apartments)
2 [U, C] ~ (from sth) (to sth) the process or experience of changing your religion or beliefs: the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons by Christian missionaries his conversion from Judaism to Christianity Late in life she experienced a religious conversion. She began by supporting monetarist economics, but later underwent quite a conversion when she saw how it increased unemployment.
3 [C] (in RUGBY and AMERICAN FOOTBALL) a way of scoring extra points after scoring a TRY or a TOUCHDOWN
4 [C] barn/loft ~ a building or room that has been changed so that it can be used for a different purpose, especially for living in

conversion van (also van conversion) noun (US) a vehicle in which the back part behind the driver has been arranged as a living space

convert verb, noun
verb NAmE
1 ~ (sth) (from sth) (into/to sth) to change or make sth change from one form, purpose, system, etc. to another: [VN] The hotel is going to be converted into a nursing home. The pub is a converted warehouse. What rate will I get if I convert my dollars into euros? Hot water is converted to electricity by a turbine. [V] We've converted from oil to gas central heating.
2 [V] ~ into/to sth to be able to be changed from one form, purpose, or system to another: a sofa that converts into a bed
3 ~ (sb) (from sth) (to sth) to change or make sb change their religion or beliefs: [V] He converted from Christianity to Islam. [VN] She was soon converted to the socialist cause.
4 ~ (sb) (from sb) (to sth) to change an opinion, a habit, etc.: [V] I've converted to organic food. [VN] I didn't use to like opera but my husband has converted me.
5 [VN] (in RUGBY and AMERICAN FOOTBALL) to score extra points after a TRY, or a TOUCHDOWN see PREACH
noun NAmE ~ (from sth) (to sth) a person who has changed their religion, beliefs or opinions: a convert to Islam converts from other faiths a convert to the cause

converter (also convertor) NAmE noun
1 a person or thing that converts sth: a catalytic converter
2 (physics) a device for converting ALTERNATING CURRENT into DIRECT CURRENT or the other way around
3 (physics) a device for converting a radio signal from one FREQUENCY to another

convertible NAmE adj., noun
adj.~ (into/to sth) that can be changed to a different form or use: a convertible sofa (= one that can be used as a bed) convertible currencies (= ones that can be exchanged for those of other countries) The bonds are convertible into ordinary shares.
convertibility NAmE noun [U]
noun a car with a roof that can be folded down or taken off

convex NAmE adj. (of an outline or a surface) curving out: a convex lens/mirror CONCAVE
convexity NAmE noun [U]

convey verb
1 ~ sth (to sb) to make ideas, feelings, etc. known to sb COMMUNICATE: [VN] Colours like red convey a sense of energy and strength. (formal) Please convey my apologies to your wife. [V wh-] He tried desperately to convey how urgent the situation was. [V that] She did not wish to convey that they were all at fault.
2 [VN] ~ sb/sth (from ... ) (to ... ) (formal) to take, carry or transport sb/sth from one place to another: Pipes convey hot water from the boiler to the radiators. A carriage was waiting to convey her home.

conveyance noun
1 [U] (formal) the process of taking sb/sth from one place to another: the conveyance of goods by rail
2 [C] (formal) a vehicle: horse-drawn conveyances
3 [C] (law) a legal document that moves property from one owner to another: to draw up a conveyance

conveyancer noun a lawyer who is an expert in conveyancing

conveyancing noun [U] (law) the branch of law concerned with moving property from one owner to another

conveyor noun
1 = CONVEYOR BELT
2 (also conveyer) (formal) a person or thing that carries sth or makes sth known

conveyor belt (also conveyor) noun a continuous moving band used for transporting goods from one part of a building to another, for example products in a factory or suitcases in an airport

convict verb, noun
verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sb (of sth) to decide and state officially in court that sb is guilty of a crime: a convicted murderer He was convicted of fraud. There wasn't enough evidence to convict her. ACQUIT
noun NAmE (also informal con) a person who has been found guilty of a crime and sent to prison: an escaped convict

conviction noun
1 [C, U] ~ (for sth) the act of finding sb guilty of a crime in court; the fact of having been found guilty: She has six previous convictions for theft. He plans to appeal against his conviction. an offence which carries, on conviction, a sentence of not more than five years' imprisonment ACQUITTAL
2 [C, U] ~ (that ... ) a strong opinion or belief: strong political/moral convictions She was motivated by deep religious conviction. a conviction that all would be well in the end
3 [U] the feeling or appearance of believing sth strongly and of being sure about it: 'Not true!' she said with conviction. He said he agreed but his voice lacked conviction. The leader's speech in defence of the policy didn't carry much conviction. see COURAGE

convince verb
1 ~ sb/yourself (of sth) to make sb/yourself believe that sth is true: [VN] You'll need to convince them of your enthusiasm for the job. [VN (that)] I'd convinced myself (that) I was right. The experience convinced him that Europe was on the brink of a revolution.
2 [VN to inf] to persuade sb to do sth: I've been trying to convince him to see a doctor. note at PERSUADE

convinced adj.
1 [not before noun] ~ (of sth/that ... ) completely sure about sth: I am convinced of her innocence. I am convinced that she is innocent. Sam nodded but he didn't look convinced. UNCONVINCED note at SURE
2 [only before noun] believing strongly in a particular religion or set of political ideas: a convinced Christian

convincing adj. that makes sb believe that sth is true: a convincing argument/explanation/case She sounded very convincing to me (= I believed what she said). a convincing victory/win (= an easy one) UNCONVINCING
convincingly adv.: Her case was convincingly argued. They won convincingly.

convivial adj. cheerful and friendly in atmosphere or character: a convivial evening/atmosphere convivial company SOCIABLE
conviviality noun [U]

convocation NAmE noun (formal)
1 [C] a large formal meeting, especially of Church officials or members of a university
2 [U] the act of calling together a convocation
3 [C] (NAmE) a ceremony held in a university or college when students receive their degrees

convoke NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to gather together a group of people for a formal meeting CONVENE

convoluted NAmE adj.
1 extremely complicated and difficult to follow: a convoluted argument/explanation a book with a convoluted plot
2 (formal) having many twists or curves: a convoluted coastline

convolution NAmE noun [usually pl.] (formal)
1 a thing that is very complicated and difficult to follow: the bizarre convolutions of the story
2 a twist or curve, especially one of many: the convolutions of the brain

convolvulus NAmE noun [C, U] a wild plant with TRIANGULAR leaves and flowers that are shaped like TRUMPETS. It climbs up walls, fences, etc. and twists itself around other plants.

convoy NAmE noun a group of vehicles or ships travelling together, especially when soldiers or other vehicles travel with them for protection: a convoy of trucks/lorries/freighters A United Nations aid convoy loaded with food and medicine finally got through to the besieged town.
in convoy (of travelling vehicles) as a group; together: We drove in convoy because I didn't know the route.

convulse verb
1 ~ (sb) (with sth) to cause a sudden shaking movement in sb's body; to make this movement: [VN] A violent shiver convulsed him. [V] His whole body convulsed.
2 [VN] be convulsed with laughter, anger, etc. to be laughing so much, so angry, etc. that you cannot control your movements

convulsion noun [usually pl.]
1 a sudden shaking movement of the body that cannot be controlled: The child went into convulsions. FIT
2 a sudden important change that happens to a country or an organization UPHEAVAL: political convulsions threatening the stability of new democracies

convulsive adj. (of movements or actions) sudden and impossible to control: a convulsive movement/attack/fit Her breath came in convulsive gasps.
convulsively adv.: weeping convulsively

coo verb, exclamation
verb (cooing, cooed, cooed)
1 [V] when a DOVE or a PIGEON coos, it makes a soft low sound
2 [V, V speech] to say sth in a soft quiet voice, especially to sb you love see BILL v.
coo noun
exclamation (BrE, informal) used to show that you are surprised: Coo, look at him!

co-occur verb [V] to occur together or at the same time: The words 'heavy' and 'rain' co-occur frequently.
co-occurrence noun [U]

cooee exclamation (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) used as a way of attracting sb's attention
within cooee (of) (AustralE, NZE) not far (from): There's loads of cheap accommodation within cooee of the airport.

cook verb, noun
verb
1 to prepare food by heating it, for example by boiling, baking or frying it: [V] Where did you learn to cook? [VN] What's the best way to cook trout? Who's going to cook supper? Add the onion and cook for three minutes. [VNN, VN] He cooked me lunch. He cooked lunch for me.
2 [V] (of food) to be prepared by boiling, baking, frying, etc.: While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce.
3 [V] be cooking (informal) to be planned secretly: Everyone is being very secretivethere's something cooking.
be cooking with gas (NAmE, informal) to be doing sth very well and successfully
cook the books (informal) to change facts or figures dishonestly or illegally: His accountant had been cooking the books for years.
cook sb's goose (informal) to ruin sb's chances of success
cook sthup (informal) to invent sth, especially in order to trick sb CONCOCT: to cook up a story
noun a person who cooks food or whose job is cooking: John is a very good cook (= he cooks well). Who was the cook (= who cooked the food)? She was employed as a cook in a hotel.compare CHEF
too many cooks spoil the broth (saying) if too many people are involved in doing sth, it will not be done well

cookbook (BrE also cookery book) noun a book that gives instructions on cooking and how to cook individual dishes

cook-chill adj. [only before noun] (BrE) food prepared by the cook-chill method is cooked, kept at a low temperature and then heated again: cook-chill meals

cooker (BrE) (NAmE range) (also stove NAmE, BrE) noun a large piece of equipment for cooking food, containing an oven and gas or electric rings on top: a gas cooker an electric cookersee also PRESSURE COOKER

cookery noun [U] the art or activity of preparing and cooking food: a cookery course Italian cookery

cookery book noun (BrE) = COOKBOOK

cookhouse noun an outdoor kitchen, for example in a military camp

cookie noun (pl. -ies)
1 (especially NAmE) a small flat sweet cake for one person, usually baked until crisp: chocolate chip cookies a cookie jarcompare BISCUIT, CRACKERsee also FORTUNE COOKIE
2 smart/tough ~ (NAmE, informal) a smart/tough person
3 (computing) a computer file with information in it that is sent to the central SERVER each time a particular person uses a NETWORK or the Internet see WAY n.

cookie cutter noun, adj.
noun (NAmE) an object used for cutting biscuits in a particular shape
adj.cookie-cutter [only before noun] (NAmE, disapproving) having no special characteristics; not original in any way: Handmade goods appeal to those who are tired of cookie-cutter products.

cookie jar noun (NAmE) a container for biscuits
get caught/found with your hand in the cookie jar (informal) to be discovered when doing sth that is illegal or dishonest

cookie sheet noun (NAmE) = BAKING SHEET

cooking noun, adj.
noun [U]
1 the process of preparing food: My husband does all the cooking. a book on Indian cooking
2 food that has been prepared in a particular way: The restaurant offers traditional home cooking (= food similar to that cooked at home). They serve good French cooking.
adj. suitable for cooking rather than eating raw or drinking: cooking sherry

cooking apple noun (BrE) any type of apple that is suitable for cooking, rather than eating rawcompare EATING APPLE

cooking gas noun [U] (US) = CALOR GAS

cookout noun (NAmE, informal) a meal or party when food is cooked over an open fire outdoors, for example at a beachcompare BARBECUE

cookshop NAmE noun (BrE) a shop/store where equipment for cooking with is sold

cookware NAmE noun [U] pots and containers used in cooking

cool adj., verb, noun
adj. (cooler, coolest)
FAIRLY COLD
1 fairly cold; not hot or warm: a cool breeze/drink/climate Cooler weather is forecast for the weekend. Let's sit in the shade and keep cool. Store lemons in a cool dry place. note at COLD
COLOURS
2 making you feel pleasantly cool: a room painted in cool greens and blues
CALM
3 calm; not excited, angry or emotional: Keep cool! She tried to remain cool, calm and collected (= calm). He has a cool head (= he stays calm in an emergency).
NOT FRIENDLY/ENTHUSIASTIC
4 not friendly, interested or enthusiastic: She was decidedly cool about the proposal. He has been cool towards me ever since we had that argument. They gave the Prime Minister a cool reception. Her voice was cool and dismissive.
APPROVING
5 (informal) used to show that you admire or approve of something because it is fashionable, attractive and often different: You look pretty cool with that new haircut. It's a cool movie. note at GREAT
6 (informal) people say Cool! or That's cool to show that they approve of sth or agree to a suggestion: 'We're meeting Jake for lunch and we can go on the yacht in the afternoon.' 'Cool!' 'Can you come at 10.30 tomorrow?' 'That's cool'. I was surprised that she got the job, but I'm cool with it (= it's not a problem for me).
CONFIDENT
7 (informal) calm and confident in a way that lacks respect for other people, but makes people admire you as well as disapprove: She just took his keys and walked out with them, cool as you please. He was a cool customer. No one would think to look for him in a city where he'd been arrested for killing a cop.
MONEY
8 [only before noun] (informal) used about a sum of money to emphasize how large it is: The car cost a cool thirty thousand.
see also COOLLY, COOLNESS
(as) cool as a cucumber very calm and controlled, especially in a difficult situation
play it cool (informal) to deal with a situation in a calm way and not show what you are really feeling
verb
BECOME COLDER
1 to become or to make sb/sth become cool or cooler: [V] Glass contracts as it cools. Melt the chocolate and allow it to cool slightly. [VN] The cylinder is cooled by a jet of water. The evening breeze cooled her face.
BECOME CALMER
2 [V] to become calmer, less excited or less enthusiastic: I think we should wait until tempers have cooled. Relations between them have definitely cooled (= they are not as friendly with each other as they were).
cool it! (informal) used to tell sb to be calmer and less excited or angry: Hey! Cool it! Don't get so excited!
cool your heels (informal) to have to wait for sb/sth
cool down/off
1 to become cool or cooler: We cooled off with a swim in the lake.
2 to become calm, less excited or less enthusiastic: I think you should wait until she's cooled down a little.
cool sbdown/off
1 to make sb feel cooler: Drink plenty of cold water to cool yourself down.
2 to make sb calm, less excited or less enthusiastic: A few hours in a police cell should cool him off.
cool sthdown/off to make sth cool or cooler
nounthe cool [sing.] cool air or a cool place: the cool of the evening
keep your cool (informal) to remain calm in a difficult situation: He kept his cool on the convention floor when he was heckled by a young Republican.
lose your cool (informal) to become angry or excited: I lost my cool and shouted at them.

coolabah noun = COOLIBAH

coolant noun [C, U] a liquid that is used for cooling an engine, a nuclear REACTOR, etc.

cool bag, cool box noun (BrE) a bag or box which keeps food or drinks cold and which can be used for a PICNICsee also COOLER

cooldrink noun (SAfrE) = SOFT DRINK

cooler noun
1 [C] a container or machine which cools things, especially drinks, or keeps them cold: the office water cooler (especially NAmE) They took a cooler full of drinks to the beach.
2 [C] (NAmE) a drink with ice and usually wine in it: a wine cooler

cool-headed adj. calm; not showing excitement or nerves: a cool-headed assessment of the situation Even the most cool-headed individuals can be thrown into a mild panic at the prospect of organizing a wedding.

coolhunter noun (informal, especially NAmE) a person who is employed by a company to observe and talk to young people in order to find out what products and styles are becoming fashionable with them: Now corporations hire coolhunters to infiltrate teen cultures and find out what appeals to teenagers in order to market their products more successfully.

coolibah (also coolabah ) noun an Australian tree that produces a strong hard wood

coolie noun (old-fashioned, taboo) an offensive word for a worker in Eastern countries with no special skills or training

cooling-off period noun
1 a period of time during which two sides in a disagreement try to reach an agreement before taking further action, for example by going on strike
2 a period of time after sb has agreed to buy sth, such as an insurance plan, during which they can change their mind: Customers signing new life policies will have a longer cooling-off period of 14 days.

cooling tower noun a large high round building used in industry for cooling water before it is used again

coolly adv.
1 in a way that is not friendly or enthusiastic: 'We're just good friends,' she said coolly. He received my suggestion coolly.
2 in a calm way

coolness noun [U] the quality of being cool: the delicious coolness of the water I admire her coolness under pressure. I noticed a certain coolness (= lack of friendly feeling) between them.

coon noun (taboo, slang) a very offensive word for a black person

coop noun, verb
noun a CAGE for chickens, etc. see FLY v.
verb
coop sb/sth up [usually passive] to keep a person or an animal inside a building or in a small space: I've been cooped up in that office all day.

co-op noun (informal) a COOPERATIVE shop/store, society or business: a housing co-op

cooper noun a person who makes BARRELS

cooperate (BrE also co-operate) NAmE verb [V] ~ (with sb) (in/on sth)
1 to work together with sb else in order to achieve sth: The two groups agreed to cooperate with each other. They had cooperated closely in the planning of the project.
2 to be helpful by doing what sb asks you to do: Their captors told them they would be killed unless they cooperated.

cooperation (BrE also co-operation) NAmE noun [U]
1 ~ (with sb) (in doing sth)| ~ (between A and B) the fact of doing sth together or of working together towards a shared aim: a report produced by the government in cooperation with the chemical industry We would like to see closer cooperation between parents and schools.
2 willingness to be helpful and do as you are asked: We would be grateful for your cooperation in clearing the hall as quickly as possible.

cooperative (BrE also co-operative) NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 [usually before noun] involving doing sth together or working together with others towards a shared aim: Cooperative activity is essential to effective community work.
2 helpful by doing what you are asked to do: Employees will generally be more cooperative if their views are taken seriously. UNCOOPERATIVE
3 [usually before noun] (business) owned and run by the people involved, with the profits shared by them: a cooperative farm The cooperative movement started in Britain in the 19th century.
cooperatively (BrE also co-operatively) adv.
noun a cooperative business or other organization: agricultural cooperatives in India The factory is now a workers' cooperative.

co-opt verb [VN] ~ sb (onto/into sth)
1 to make sb a member of a group, committee, etc. by the agreement of all the other members: She was co-opted onto the board.
2 to include sb in sth, often when they do not want to be part of it

coordinate (BrE also co-ordinate) verb, noun
verb NAmE
1 [VN] to organize the different parts of an activity and the people involved in it so that it works well: They appointed a new manager to coordinate the work of the team. We need to develop a coordinated approach to the problem.
2 [VN] to make the different parts of your body work well togethersee also UNCOORDINATED
3 ~ (sth) (with sth) if you coordinate clothes, furniture, etc. or if they coordinate, they look nice together: [V] This shade coordinates with a wide range of other colours. [also VN]
coordinator (BrE also co-ordinator) noun: The campaign needs an effective coordinator.
noun NAmE
1 [C] either of two numbers or letters used to fix the position of a point on a map or GRAPH: the x, y coordinates of any point on a line
2 coordinates [pl.] (used in shops/stores etc.) pieces of clothing that can be worn together because, for example, the colours look good together

coordinate clause NAmE noun (grammar) each of two or more parts of a sentence, often joined by and, or, but, etc. that make separate statements that each have an equal importance: In the sentence 'It stopped raining and the sun came out', 'It stopped raining' and 'the sun came out' are both coordinate clauses, joined by the word 'and'.compare SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

coordinating conjunction noun (grammar) a word such as 'and', 'but', or 'or', that connects clauses or sentences of equal importancecompare SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION

coordination (BrE also co-ordination) NAmE noun [U]
1 the act of making parts of sth, groups of people, etc. work together in an efficient and organized way: a need for greater coordination between departments a lack of coordination in conservation policy a pamphlet produced by the government in coordination with (= working together with) the Sports Council advice on colour coordination (= choosing colours that look nice together, for example in clothes or furniture)
2 the ability to control your movements well: You need good hand-eye coordination to play ball games.

coot noun
1 a black bird with a white FOREHEAD and beak that lives on or near water
2 old ~ (NAmE, informal) a stupid person see BALD

cop NAmE noun, verb
noun (informal) a police officer: Somebody call the cops! children playing cops and robbers a TV cop show
not much cop (BrE, slang) not very good: He's not much cop as a singer.more at FAIR adj.
verb (-pp-) [VN] (informal)
1 to receive or suffer sth unpleasant: He copped all the hassle after the accident.
2 to notice sth: Cop a load of this (= Listen to this)!
cop hold of sth (BrE, informal) to take hold of sth
cop a plea (NAmE, informal) to admit in court to being guilty of a small crime in the hope of receiving less severe punishment for a more serious crimecompare PLEA-BARGAINING
cop it (BrE, slang)
1 to be punished
2 to be killed
cop off (with sb) (BrE, slang) to start a sexual or romantic experience with sb: Who did he cop off with at the party?
cop out (of sth) (informal) to avoid or stop doing sth that you should do because you are afraid, lazy, etc.: You're not going to cop out at the last minute, are you?related noun COP-OUT

cope NAmE verb, noun
verb [V] ~ (with sth) to deal successfully with sth difficult MANAGE: I got to the stage where I wasn't coping any more. He wasn't able to cope with the stresses and strains of the job. Desert plants are adapted to cope with extreme heat.
noun a long loose piece of clothing worn by priests on special occasions

Copernican system NAmE noun [sing.] the theory that the sun is the centre of the SOLAR SYSTEM, with the earth and other planets moving around itcompare PTOLEMAIC SYSTEM

copier NAmE noun (especially NAmE) = PHOTOCOPIER

co-pilot noun a second pilot who helps the main pilot in an aircraft

coping NAmE noun (architecture) the top row of bricks or stones, usually sloping, on a wall

coping saw noun a SAW with a very narrow blade and a frame shaped like a D, used for cutting curves in wood

copious NAmE adj. in large amounts ABUNDANT: copious (= large) amounts of water I took copious notes. She supports her theory with copious evidence.
copiously adv.: bleeding copiously

cop-out noun (informal, disapproving) a way of avoiding doing sth that you should do, or an excuse for not doing it: Not turning up was just a cop-out.

copper NAmE noun
1 [U] (symb Cu) a chemical element. Copper is a soft reddish-brown metal used for making electric wires, pipes and coins: a copper mine copper pipes copper-coloured hair
2 coppers [pl.] (BrE) brown coins that do not have much value: I only paid a few coppers for it.
3 [C] (BrE, informal) a police officer

copper beech noun a tall type of BEECH tree with smooth BARK and reddish-brown leaves

copper-bottomed adj. (BrE) that you can trust or rely on completely: a copper-bottomed guarantee

copperhead NAmE noun one of several types of poisonous snake that are a brownish colour

copperplate NAmE noun [U] a neat old-fashioned way of writing with sloping letters joined together

copper sulphate (BrE) (also copper sulfate NAmE) noun [U] (symb CuSO4.5H2O) a blue CRYSTAL which is used in ELECTROPLATING and to destroy FUNGUS

coppery NAmE adj. similar to or having the colour of COPPER: coppery hair

coppice NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN, V] (technical) to cut back young trees in order to make them grow faster
noun = COPSE

copra NAmE noun [U] the dried white flesh of COCONUTS

copse NAmE (also coppice) noun a small area of trees or bushes growing together

cop shop noun (informal) a police station

copter NAmE noun (informal) = HELICOPTER

copula NAmE noun (grammar) = LINKING VERB

copulate NAmE verb [V] ~ (with sb/sth) (technical) to have sex: Some animals perform elaborate mating rituals before they copulate.
copulation NAmE noun [U]

copy NAmE noun, verb
noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] ~ (of sth) a thing that is made to be the same as sth else, especially a document or a work of art: I will send you a copy of the report. The thieves replaced the original painting with a copy. You should make a copy of the disk as a backup.see also HARD COPY
2 [C] a single example of a book, newspaper, etc. of which many have been made: a copy of 'The Times' The book sold 20 000 copies within two weeks.see also BACK COPY
3 [U] written material that is to be printed in a newspaper, magazine, etc.; news or information that can be used in a newspaper article or advertisement: The subeditors prepare the reporters' copy for the paper and write the headlines. This will make great copy for the advertisement.
4 = PHOTOCOPY: Could I have ten copies of this page, please?
5 [C] (IndE) a book used by students for writing exercises, etc. in
verb (copies, copying, copied, copied)
1 [VN] to make sth that is exactly like sth else: They copied the designs from those on Greek vases. Everything in the computer's memory can be copied onto disks.
2 [VN] ~ sth (from sth) (into/onto sth)| ~ sth (down/out) to write sth exactly as it is written somewhere else: She copied the phone number into her address book. I copied out several poems.
3 [VN] to behave or do sth in the same way as sb else IMITATE: She copies everything her sister does. Their tactics have been copied by other terrorist organizations.
4 [V] ~ (from/off sb) to cheat in an exam, school work, etc. by writing what sb else has written and pretending it is your own work
5 [VN] (especially NAmE) = PHOTOCOPY
copy sb in (on sth) to send sb a copy of a letter, email message, etc. that you are sending to sb else: Can you copy me in on your report?

copybook NAmE noun, adj.
noun a book, used in the past by children in school, containing examples of writing which school students had to copy see BLOT v.
adj. [only before noun] (BrE) done exactly how it should be done: It was a copybook operation by the police.

copycat NAmE noun, adj.
noun (informal, disapproving) used especially by children about and to a person who copies what sb else does because they have no ideas of their own
adj. [only before noun] (of crimes) similar to and seen as copying an earlier well-known crime: copycat crimes The copycat phenomenon is a danger to which the media may be contributing.

copy editor noun a person whose job is to correct and prepare a text for printing
copy-edit verb [VN, V]

copyist NAmE noun a person who makes copies of written documents or works of art

copyright NAmE noun, adj., verb
noun [U, C] ~ (in/on sth) if a person or an organization holds the copyright on a piece of writing, music, etc., they are the only people who have the legal right to publish, broadcast, perform it etc., and other people must ask their permission to use it or any part of it: Who owns the copyright on this song? Copyright expires seventy years after the death of the author. They were sued for breach/infringement of copyright.
adj. (abbr. C) protected by copyright; not allowed to be copied without permission: copyright material
verb [VN] to get the copyright for sth

copyright library noun in the UK, a library that must receive a copy of every book that is published in the country

copy typist noun (BrE) a person whose job is to type things that they copy from written documents

copywriter NAmE noun a person whose job is to write the words for advertising material

coq au vin NAmE noun [U] (from French) a dish of chicken cooked in wine

coquetry NAmE noun [U] (literary) behaviour that is typical of a coquette

coquette NAmE noun (literary, often disapproving) a woman who behaves in a way that is intended to attract men FLIRT
coquettish NAmE adj.: a coquettish smile coquettishly adv.

cor (also cor blimey) exclamation (BrE, informal) used when you are surprised, pleased or impressed by sth: Cor! Look at that!

coracle NAmE noun a small round boat with a wooden frame, used in Wales and Ireland

coral NAmE noun, adj.
noun
1 [U] a hard substance that is red, pink or white in colour, and that forms on the bottom of the sea from the bones of very small creatures. Coral is often used in jewellery: coral reefs/islands a coral necklace
2 [C] a creature that produces coral
adj. pink or red in colour, like coral: coral lipstick

coral snake noun a brightly coloured poisonous snake, often with bands of red, yellow, white and black

cor anglais NAmE noun (pl. cors anglais NAmE ) (especially BrE) (also English horn especially in NAmE) a musical instrument of the WOODWIND group, like an OBOE but larger and playing lower notes

corbel NAmE noun (architecture) a piece of stone or wood that sticks out from a wall to support sth, for example an ARCH

cord NAmE noun
1 [U, C] strong thick string or thin rope; a piece of this: a piece/length of cord picture cord (= used for hanging pictures) a silk bag tied with a gold cord
2 [C, U] (especially NAmE) = FLEX: an electrical cord telephone cordsee also CORDLESS
3 [U] = CORDUROY: a cord jacket
4 cords (also old-fashioned corduroys) [pl.] trousers/pants made of CORDUROY: a pair of cordssee also SPINAL CORD, UMBILICAL CORD, VOCAL CORDS

corded NAmE adj.
1 (of cloth) having raised lines RIBBED
2 (of a muscle) TENSE and standing out so that it looks like a piece of cord
3 that has a cord attached: a corded phone CORDLESS

cordial NAmE adj., noun
adj. (formal) pleasant and friendly: a cordial atmosphere/meeting/relationship
cordiality NAmE noun [U]: I was greeted with a show of cordiality.
noun
1 (BrE) [U, C] a sweet drink that does not contain alcohol, made from fruit juice. It is drunk with water added: blackcurrant cordial
2 [U, C] (NAmE) = LIQUEUR
3 [C] a glass of cordial

cordially NAmE adv. (formal)
1 in a pleasant and friendly manner: You are cordially invited to a celebration for Mr Michael Brown on his retirement.
2 (used with verbs showing dislike) very much: They cordially detest each other.

cordite NAmE noun [U] an EXPLOSIVE used in bullets, bombs, etc.

cordless NAmE adj. (of a telephone or an electrical tool) not connected to its power supply by wires: a cordless phone/drill CORDED

cordon NAmE noun, verb
noun a line or ring of police officers, soldiers, etc. guarding sth or stopping people from entering or leaving a place: Demonstrators broke through the police cordon.
verb
cordon sthoff to stop people from getting into an area by surrounding it with police, soldiers, etc.: Police cordoned off the area until the bomb was made safe.

cordon bleu NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (from French) of the highest standard of skill in cooking: a cordon bleu chef cordon bleu cuisine

corduroy NAmE noun
1 (also cord) [U] a type of strong soft cotton cloth with a pattern of raised parallel lines on it, used for making clothes: a corduroy jacket
2 corduroys [pl.] (old-fashioned) = CORDS

core noun, adj., verb
noun
1 the hard central part of a fruit such as an apple, that contains the seeds
2 the central part of an object: the earth's core the core of a nuclear reactor The standards of housing and education are often lower in the older urban cores (= the centres of towns or cities).
3 the most important or central part of sth: the core of the argument Concern for the environment is at the core of our policies.
4 a small group of people who take part in a particular activity: He gathered a small core of advisers around him.see also HARD CORE
to the core so that the whole of a thing or a person is affected: She was shaken to the core by the news. He's a politician to the core (= in all his attitudes and actions).
adj.
1 most important; main or essential: core subjects (= subjects that all the students have to study) such as English and mathematics the core curriculum We need to concentrate on our core business. The use of new technology is core to our strategy.
2 ~ beliefs, values, principles, etc. the most important or central beliefs, etc. of a person or group: The party is losing touch with its core values.
3 used to describe the most important members of a group: The team is built around a core group of players.
verb [VN] to take out the core of a fruit: You need four cooking apples, cored and sliced.

coreferential NAmE adj. (linguistics) if two words or expressions are coreferential, they refer to the same thing. For example, in the sentence 'I had a camera but I lost it', 'a camera' and 'it' are coreferential.

co-respondent noun (law) a person who is said to have committed ADULTERY with the husband or wife of sb who is trying to get divorced

corgi NAmE noun a small dog with short legs and a pointed nose

coriander NAmE noun [U] a plant whose leaves are used in cooking as a HERB and whose seeds are used in cooking as a spicecompare CILANTRO

Corinthian adj. [usually before noun] (architecture) used to describe a style of ARCHITECTURE in ancient Greece that has thin columns with decorations of leaves at the top: Corinthian columns/capitals

cork NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U] a light, soft material that is the thick BARK of a type of Mediterranean OAK tree: a cork mat cork tiles
2 [C] a small round object made of cork or plastic, that is used for closing bottles, especially wine bottles: to draw the cork Champagne corks were popping (= people were celebrating). note at LID
verb [VN] to close a bottle with a cork UNCORK

corkage NAmE noun [U] the money that a restaurant charges if you want to drink wine there that you have bought somewhere else

corked NAmE adj. (of wine) with a bad taste because the cork has decayed

corker NAmE noun [usually sing.] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a person or thing that is extremely good, beautiful or amusing

corkscrew NAmE noun, verb
noun a tool for pulling CORKS from bottles. Most corkscrews have a handle and a long twisted piece of metal for pushing into the cork.
verb [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to move in a particular direction while turning in circles

corm NAmE noun the small round underground part of some plants, from which the new plant grows every year

cormorant NAmE noun a large black bird with a long neck that lives near the sea

corn NAmE noun
1 (BrE) [U] any plant that is grown for its grain, such as WHEAT; the grain of these plants: a field of corn ears/sheaves of corn corn-fed chicken
2 [U] (NAmE) = MAIZEsee also CORNCOB, CORN ON THE COB
3 [U] (NAmE) = SWEETCORN
4 [C] a small area of hard skin on the foot, especially the toe, that is sometimes painful

corn beef noun [U] = CORNED BEEF

the Corn Belt noun the US states of the Midwest where MAIZE/ CORN is an important crop

cornbread NAmE noun [U] a kind of flat bread made with MAIZE (CORN) flour

corn chip noun (NAmE) a thin, crisp piece of food made from crushed corn (MAIZE) that has been fried

corn circle noun = CROP CIRCLE

corncob NAmE (especially BrE) (also cob NAmE, BrE) noun the long hard part of the MAIZE (corn) plant that the rows of yellow grains grow on

corncrake NAmE noun a European bird with a loud sharp cry, that makes its nest on the ground

corn dolly noun an object made out of STRAW, used as a decoration or, in the past, as a symbol of the HARVEST

cornea NAmE noun (anatomy) the transparent layer which covers and protects the outer part of the eye
corneal NAmE adj. [only before noun]: a corneal transplant

corned beef NAmE (also corn beef) noun [U] beef that has been cooked and preserved using salt, often sold in cans

cornelian NAmE noun = CARNELIAN

corner NAmE noun, verb
noun
OF BUILDING/OBJECT/SHAPE
1 a part of sth where two or more sides, lines or edges join: the four corners of a square Write your address in the top right-hand corner of the letter. I hit my knee on the corner of the table. A smile lifted the corner of his mouth. a speck of dirt in the corner of her eye
-CORNERED
2 (in adjectives) with the number of corners mentioned; involving the number of groups mentioned: a three-cornered hat a three-cornered fight
OF ROOM/BOX
3 the place inside a room or a box where two sides join; the area around this place: There was a television in the far corner of the room. a corner table/seat/cupboard
OF ROADS
4 a place where two streets join: There was a group of youths standing on the street corner. Turn right at the corner of Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards. There's a hotel on/at the corner of my street. The wind hit him as he turned the corner.
5 a sharp bend in a road: The car was taking the corners too fast.
AREA/REGION
6 a region or an area of a place (sometimes used for one that is far away or difficult to reach): She lives in a quiet corner of rural Yorkshire. Students come here from the four corners of the world. He knew every corner of the old town.
DIFFICULT SITUATION
7 [usually sing.] a difficult situation: to back/drive/force sb into a corner They had got her in a corner, and there wasn't much she could do about it. He was used to talking his way out of tight corners.
IN SPORT
8 (in sports such as football (SOCCER) and HOCKEY) a free kick or hit that you take from the corner of your opponent's end of the field: to take a corner The referee awarded a corner.see also CORNER KICK
9 (in boxing and WRESTLING) any of the four corners of a RING; the supporters who help in the corner
(just) around/round the corner very near: Her house is just around the corner. (figurative) There were good times around the corner (= they would soon come).
cut corners (disapproving) to do sth in the easiest, cheapest or quickest way, often by ignoring rules or leaving sth out: To be competitive, they paid low wages and cut corners on health and safety.
cut the corner (also cut off the corner especially in BrE) to go across the corner of an area and not around the sides of it, because it is quicker: There's a worn patch on the grass because everyone cuts (off) the corner.
see sth out of the corner of your eye to see sth by accident or not very clearly because you see it from the side of your eye and are not looking straight at it: Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him coming closer.
turn the corner to pass a very important point in an illness or a difficult situation and begin to improvemore at FIGHT v., TIGHT
verb
TRAP SB
1 [VN] [often passive] to get a person or an animal into a place or situation from which they cannot escape: The man was finally cornered by police in a garage. If cornered, the snake will defend itself.
2 [VN] to go towards sb in a determined way, because you want to speak to them: I found myself cornered by her on the stairs.
THE MARKET
3 [VN] ~ the market (in sth) to get control of the trade in a particular type of goods: They've cornered the market in silver.
OF VEHICLE/DRIVER
4 [V] (BrE) to go around a corner: The car has excellent cornering (= it is easy to steer around corners).

cornerback NAmE noun (in AMERICAN FOOTBALL) a defending player whose position is outside and behind the LINEBACKERS

corner kick (also corner) noun (in football (SOCCER)) a free kick that you take from the corner of your opponent's end of the field

corner shop noun (BrE) a small shop that sells food, newspapers, cigarettes, etc., especially one near people's houses

cornerstone NAmE noun
1 (especially NAmE) a stone at the corner of the base of a building, often laid in a special ceremony
2 the most important part of sth that the rest depends on: This study is the cornerstone of the whole research programme.

cornet NAmE noun
1 a BRASS musical instrument like a small TRUMPET
2 (BrE, old-fashioned) = CONE: an ice-cream cornet

cornetto NAmE noun (pl. cornetti) (from Italian) an early musical instrument consisting of a curved tube with holes in that you cover with your fingers while blowing into the end

corn exchange noun (BrE) a building where grain used to be bought and sold

cornfield NAmE noun a field in which CORN is grown

cornflakes NAmE noun [pl.] small crisp yellow pieces of crushed MAIZE (CORN), usually eaten with milk and sugar for breakfast

cornflour NAmE (BrE) (NAmE cornstarch) noun [U] fine white flour made from MAIZE (CORN), used especially for making sauces thicker

cornflower NAmE noun a small wild plant with blue flowers: cornflower-blue eyes

cornice NAmE noun (architecture) a decorative border around the top of the walls in a room or on the outside walls of a building

Cornish NAmE noun, adj.
noun [U] the Celtic language that was spoken in Cornwall in England. Nobody now uses Cornish as a first language.
adj. connected with Cornwall, or its people, language or culture

Cornish Cream noun [U] CLOTTED CREAM (= a very thick type of cream) from Cornwall

Cornish pasty NAmE noun (BrE) a small PIE in the shape of a half circle, containing meat and vegetables

cornmeal NAmE noun [U] flour made from MAIZE (CORN)

corn oil noun [U] oil produced from MAIZE (CORN), used in cooking

corn on the cob noun [U] MAIZE (CORN) that is cooked with all the grains still attached to the inner part and eaten as a vegetable

corn pone (also pone) (both US) noun [U] a type of bread made from CORN (MAIZE) and water

cornrows NAmE noun [pl.] a HAIRSTYLE worn especially by black women, in which the hair is put into lines of PLAITS along the head

cornstarch NAmE noun [U] (NAmE) = CORNFLOUR

corn syrup noun [U] a thick sweet liquid made from CORN (MAIZE) and used in cooking

cornucopia NAmE noun
1 (also horn of plenty) a decorative object shaped like an animal's horn, shown in art as full of fruit and flowers
2 (formal) something that is or contains a large supply of good things: The book is a cornucopia of good ideas. Harvard has produced a cornucopia of leaders for the United States in many fields.

corny NAmE adj. (cornier, corniest) (informal) not original; used too often to be interesting or to sound sincere: a corny joke/song I know it sounds corny, but it really was love at first sight!

corolla NAmE noun (biology) the ring of PETALS around the central part of a flower

corollary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) ~ (of/to sth) (formal or technical) a situation, an argument or a fact that is the natural and direct result of another one: In rural areas, the corollary of increased car ownership has been a rapid decline in the provision of public transport.

corona NAmE noun (pl. coronae ) (astronomy) (also informal halo) a ring of light seen around the sun or moon, especially during an ECLIPSE

coronary NAmE adj. (medical) connected with the heart, particularly the ARTERIES that take blood to the heart: coronary (heart) disease a coronary patient (= sb suffering from coronary disease).

coronary artery noun (anatomy) either of the two ARTERIES that supply blood to the heart

coronary thrombosis (also informal coronary) noun (medical) a blocking of the flow of blood by a blood CLOT in an ARTERY supplying blood to the heartcompare HEART ATTACK

coronation NAmE noun a ceremony at which a crown is formally placed on the head of a new king or queen

coronation chicken noun [U] a cold dish consisting of chicken in a sauce made with APRICOTS, spices, and cream

coroner NAmE noun an official whose job is to discover the cause of any sudden, violent or suspicious death by holding an INQUEST

coronet NAmE noun
1 a small crown worn on formal occasions by princes, princesses, lords, etc.
2 a round decoration for the head, especially one made of flowers

Corp. abbr. CORPORATION

corpora pl. of CORPUS

corporal NAmE noun (abbr. Cpl) a member of one of the lower ranks in the army, the MARINES or the British AIR FORCE: Corporal Smith

corporal punishment noun [U] the physical punishment of people, especially by hitting them

corporate NAmE adj. [only before noun]
1 connected with a corporation: corporate finance/planning/strategy corporate identity (= the image of a company, that all its members share) corporate hospitality (= when companies entertain customers to help develop good business relationships)
2 (technical) forming a CORPORATION: The BBC is a corporate body. The law applies to both individuals and corporate bodies.
3 involving or shared by all the members of a group: corporate responsibility a corporate act of worship in the College chapel

corporate raider noun (business) a person or company that regularly buys large numbers of shares in other companies against their wishes, either to control them or to sell them again for a large profit

corporation NAmE noun
1 (abbr. Corp.) a large business company: multinational corporations the Chrysler corporation
2 an organization or a group of organizations that is recognized by law as a single unit: urban development corporations
3 (BrE) a group of people elected to govern a large town or city and provide public services: the Lord Mayor and Corporation of the City of London

corporation tax noun [U] (BrE) a tax that companies pay on their profits

corporatism NAmE noun [U] the control of a country, etc. by large groups, especially businesses

corporator NAmE noun (IndE) an elected member of the government of a town or city

corporeal NAmE adj. (formal)
1 that can be touched; physical rather than spiritual: his corporeal presence
2 of or for the body: corporeal needs

corps noun (pl. corps NAmE ) [C+sing./pl. v.]
1 a large unit of an army, consisting of two or more DIVISIONS: the commander of the third army corps
2 one of the groups of an army with a special responsibility: the Royal Army Medical Corps the Army Corps of Engineers
3 a group of people involved in a particular job or activity: a corps of trained and experienced doctorssee also DIPLOMATIC CORPS, PRESS CORPS

corps de ballet NAmE noun [C+sing./pl. v.] (from French) dancers in a BALLET company who dance together as a group

corpse NAmE noun, verb
noun a dead body, especially of a human: The corpse was barely recognizable.
verb [V, VN] (BrE, informal) (in the theatre) to suddenly be unable to act, because you have forgotten your words or are laughing; to cause sb to do this

corpulent NAmE adj. (formal) (of a person) fat. People say 'corpulent' to avoid saying 'fat': He is a short, somewhat corpulent, man.
corpulence noun [U]

corpus NAmE noun (pl. corpora NAmE or corpuses ) (technical) a collection of written or spoken texts: a corpus of 100 million words of spoken English the whole corpus of Renaissance poetrysee also HABEAS CORPUS

corpuscle NAmE noun (anatomy) any of the red or white cells found in blood: red/white corpuscles

corpus delicti NAmE noun [sing.] (law)
1 the circumstances in which a law is broken, and the facts relating to the case
2 evidence that can be seen, for example a dead body

corral NAmE noun, verb
noun (in N America) a fenced area for horses, cows etc. on a farm or RANCH: They drove the ponies into a corral.
verb [VN] (-ll-, NAmE also -l-)
1 to force horses or cows into a corral
2 to gather a group of people together and keep them in a particular place

correct adj., verb
adj.
1 accurate or true, without any mistakes RIGHT: Do you have the correct time? the correct answer Please check that these details are correct. 'Are you in charge here?' 'That's correct.' Am I correct in saying that you know a lot about wine? INCORRECT note at TRUE
2 right and suitable, so that sth is done as it should be done: Do you know the correct way to shut the machine down? I think you've made the correct decision. note at RIGHT
3 taking care to speak or behave in a way that follows the accepted standards or rules: a correct young lady He is always very correct in his speech. INCORRECTsee also POLITICALLY CORRECT
correctly adv.: Have you spelled it correctly? They reasoned, correctly, that she was away for the weekend. He was looking correctly grave. correctness noun [U]: The correctness of this decision may be doubted.see also POLITICAL CORRECTNESS see PRESENT adj.
verb
1 [VN] to make sth right or accurate, for example by changing it or removing mistakes: Read through your work and correct any mistakes that you find. Their eyesight can be corrected in just a few minutes by the use of a laser. They issued a statement correcting the one they had made earlier.
2 [VN] (of a teacher) to mark the mistakes in a piece of work (and sometimes give a mark/grade to the work): I spent all evening correcting essays.
3 to tell sb that they have made a mistake: [VN] Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this last year's brochure? Yes, you're rightI stand corrected (= I accept that I made a mistake). [VN speech] 'It's Yates, not Wates,' she corrected him. [also V speech]

correction noun, exclamation
noun
1 [C] a change that makes sth more accurate than it was before: I've made a few small corrections to your report. The paper had to publish a correction to the story.
2 [U] the act or process of correcting sth: There are some programming errors that need correction.
3 [U] (old-fashioned) punishment: the correction of young offenders
exclamation (informal) used when you want to correct sth that you have just said: I don't know. CorrectionI do know, but I'm not going to tell you.

correctional adj. [only before noun] (especially NAmE) concerned with improving the behaviour of criminals, usually by punishing them: a correctional center/institution/facility (= a prison)

correction fluid noun [U] a white liquid that you use to cover mistakes that you make when you are writing or typing, and that you can write on top ofsee also TIPPEX, WITEOUT

corrective adj., noun
adj. (formal) designed to make sth right that was wrong before: We need to take corrective action to halt this country's decline. corrective measures corrective surgery/glasses
noun~ (to sth) (formal) something that helps to give a more accurate or fairer view of sb/sth: I should like to add a corrective to what I have written previously.

correlate NAmE verb
1 [V] if two or more facts, figures, etc. correlate or if a fact, figure, etc. correlates with another, the facts are closely connected and affect or depend on each other: The figures do not seem to correlate. A high-fat diet correlates with a greater risk of heart disease.
2 [VN] to show that there is a close connection between two or more facts, figures, etc.: Researchers are trying to correlate the two sets of figures.
correlate NAmE noun

correlation NAmE noun [C, U] ~ (between A and B)| ~ (of A with B) a connection between two things in which one thing changes as the other does: There is a direct correlation between exposure to sun and skin cancer. the correlation of social power with wealth

correlative noun (formal) a fact or an idea that is closely related to or depends on another fact or idea: The child's right to education is a correlative of the parent's duty to send the child to school.
correlative adj.

correspond NAmE verb [V]
1 ~ (to/with sth) to be the same as or match sth AGREE, TALLY: Your account of events does not correspond with hers. Your account and hers do not correspond. The written record of the conversation doesn't correspond to (= is different from) what was actually said.
2 ~ (to sth) to be similar to or the same as sth else EQUIVALENT: The British job of Lecturer corresponds roughly to the US Associate Professor.
3 ~ (with sb) (formal) to write letters to sb and receive letters from them

correspondence NAmE noun
1 [U] ~ (with sb) the letters a person sends and receives: personal/private correspondence The editor welcomes correspondence from readers on any subject. the correspondence column/page (= in a newspaper)
2 [U, C] ~ (with sb) the activity of writing letters: I refused to enter into any correspondence (= to exchange letters) with him about it. We have been in correspondence for months. We kept up a correspondence for many years.
3 [C, U] ~ (between A and B) a connection between two things; the fact of two things being similar: There is a close correspondence between the two extracts.

correspondence course noun a course of study that you do at home, using books and exercises sent to you by post/mail or by email

correspondent NAmE noun
1 a person who reports news from a particular country or on a particular subject for a newspaper or a television or radio station: the BBC's political correspondent a foreign/war/sports, etc. correspondent our Delhi correspondent
2 (used with an adjective) a person who writes letters to another person: She's a poor correspondent (= she does not write regularly). He was a vivid and witty correspondent.

corresponding NAmE adj. ~ (to sth) matching or connected with sth that you have just mentioned EQUIVALENT: A change in the money supply brings a corresponding change in expenditure. Profits have risen by 15 per cent compared with the corresponding period last year. Give each picture a number corresponding to its position on the page. The Redskins lost to the Cowboys in the corresponding game last year.
correspondingly adv.: a period of high demand and correspondingly high prices

corresponding angles (also F angles) noun (geometry) equal angles formed on the same side of a line that crosses two parallel lines compare ALTERNATE ANGLES

corridor NAmE noun
1 (NAmE also hallway) a long narrow passage in a building, with doors that open into rooms on either side: His room is along the corridor.
2 a passage on a train
3 a long narrow strip of land belonging to one country that passes through the land of another country; a part of the sky over a country that planes, for example from another country, can fly throughsee also AIR CORRIDOR
4 a long narrow strip of land that follows the course of an important road or river: the electronics industry in the M4 corridor
the corridors of power (sometimes humorous) the higher levels of government, where important decisions are made

corrie NAmE (also cirque, cwm) noun (geology) a round hollow area in the side of a mountain

corrigendum NAmE noun (pl. corrigenda NAmE ) something to be corrected, especially a mistake in a printed book

corroborate NAmE verb [VN] [often passive] (formal) to provide evidence or information that supports a statement, theory, etc. CONFIRM: The evidence was corroborated by two independent witnesses. corroborating evidence
corroboration NAmE noun [U]: The prosecution provided corroboration for her allegation.

corroborative NAmE adj. (formal) [usually before noun] giving support to a statement or theory: Is there any corroborative evidence for this theory?

corrode NAmE verb to destroy sth slowly, especially by chemical action; to be destroyed in this way: [VN] Acid corrodes metal. (figurative) Corruption corrodes public confidence in a political system. [V] The copper pipework has corroded in places.
corrosion NAmE noun [U]: Look for signs of corrosion. Clean off any corrosion before applying the paint.

corrosive NAmE adj.
1 tending to destroy sth slowly by chemical action: the corrosive effects of salt water corrosive acid
2 (formal) tending to damage sth gradually: Unemployment is having a corrosive effect on our economy.

corrugated NAmE adj. shaped into a series of regular folds that look like waves: a corrugated iron roof corrugated cardboard

corrupt adj., verb
adj.
1 (of people) willing to use their power to do dishonest or illegal things in return for money or to get an advantage: a corrupt regime corrupt officials accepting bribes
2 (of behaviour) dishonest or immoral: corrupt practices The whole system is inefficient and corrupt.
3 (computing) containing changes or faults, and no longer in the original state: corrupt software The text on the disk seems to be corrupt.
corruptly adv.
verb
1 [VN] to have a bad effect on sb and make them behave in an immoral or dishonest way: He was corrupted by power and ambition. the corrupting effects of great wealth
2 [VN] [often passive] to change the original form of sth, so that it is damaged or spoiled in some way: a corrupted form of Buddhism
3 (computing) to cause mistakes to appear in a computer file, etc. with the result that the information in it is no longer correct: [VN] The program has somehow corrupted the system files. corrupted data [V] The disk will corrupt if it is overloaded.

corruptible adj. that can be corrupted INCORRUPTIBLE

corruption noun
1 [U] dishonest or illegal behaviour, especially of people in authority: allegations of bribery and corruption The new district attorney has promised to fight police corruption.
2 [U] the act or effect of making sb change from moral to immoral standards of behaviour: He claimed that sex and violence on TV led to the corruption of young people.
3 [C, usually sing.] the form of a word or phrase that has become changed from its original form in some way: The word 'holiday' is a corruption of 'holy day'.

corsage NAmE noun a small bunch of flowers that is worn on a woman's dress, for example at a wedding

corsair NAmE noun (old use)
1 a PIRATE
2 a privately owned MERCHANT SHIP which has the job of fighting in a war

corselette (also corselet) NAmE noun a piece of women's underwear that combines a CORSET and a BRA

corset NAmE noun a piece of women's underwear, fitting the body tightly, worn especially in the past to make the waist look smaller

cortège (also cortege especially in US) NAmE noun a line of cars or people moving along slowly at a funeral FUNERAL PROCESSION

cortex NAmE noun (pl. cortices NAmE ) (anatomy) the outer layer of an organ in the body, especially the brain: the cerebral/renal cortex (= around the brain/ KIDNEY)
cortical NAmE adj.

cortisone NAmE noun [U] (medical) a HORMONE used in the treatment of diseases such as ARTHRITIS, to reduce swelling

corundum noun [U] an extremely hard form of ALUMINA found in RUBIES and SAPPHIRES. Corundum is used as an ABRASIVE.

coruscate NAmE verb [V] (literary)
1 (of light) to flash
2 (of a person) to be full of life, enthusiasm or humour
coruscating NAmE adj.: coruscating wit coruscatingly adv.: coruscatingly brilliant

corvette NAmE noun a small fast ship used in war to protect other ships from attack

cos^1 (also 'cos) NAmE conj. (BrE, informal) because: I can't see her at all, cos it's too dark.

cos^2 abbr. (in writing) COSINE

COSATU NAmE abbr. the Congress of South African Trade Unions (= a political organization in South Africa that represents many unions)

cosh NAmE noun, verb
noun (especially BrE) a short thick heavy stick, for example a piece of metal or solid rubber, that is used as a weapon
under the cosh (BrE, informal) experiencing a lot of pressure: Our side was under the cosh for most of the second half.
verb [VN] (especially BrE) to hit sb hard with a cosh or sth similar

co-signatory noun one of two or more people who sign a formal document: co-signatories of/to the treaty

cosine NAmE noun (abbr. cos) (mathematics) the RATIO of the length of the side next to an ACUTE ANGLE in a RIGHT-ANGLED triangle to the length of the longest side (= the HYPOTENUSE)compare SINE, TANGENT

cos lettuce NAmE (BrE) (NAmE romaine) noun [C, U] a type of LETTUCE with long crisp leaves

cosmetic NAmE noun, adj.
noun [usually pl.] a substance that you put on your face or body to make it more attractive: the cosmetics industry She found a job selling cosmetics. a cosmetic company cosmetic products
adj.
1 improving only the outside appearance of sth and not its basic character: These reforms are not merely cosmetic. She dismissed the plan as a cosmetic exercise to win votes.
2 connected with medical treatment that is intended to improve a person's appearance: cosmetic surgery cosmetic dental work
cosmetically adv.

cosmic NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 connected with the whole universe: Do you believe in a cosmic plan?
2 very great and important: This was disaster on a cosmic scale.

cosmic dust noun [U] (astronomy) very small pieces of matter floating in space

cosmic rays noun [pl.] RAYS that reach the earth from outer space

cosmogony NAmE noun [U] the part of science that deals with how the universe and the SOLAR SYSTEM began

cosmography NAmE noun [U] the part of science that deals with the general features of the earth and the universe

cosmology NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of the universe and its origin and development
cosmological NAmE adj. cosmologist NAmE noun

cosmonaut NAmE noun an ASTRONAUT from the former Soviet Union

cosmopolitan NAmE adj., noun
adj. (approving)
1 containing people of different types or from different countries, and influenced by their culture: a cosmopolitan city/resort The club has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Jamaica is a very cosmopolitan island.
2 having or showing a wide experience of people and things from many different countries: people with a truly cosmopolitan outlook cosmopolitan young people
noun a person who has experience of many different parts of the world: She's a real cosmopolitan.

cosmos NAmE the cosmosnoun [sing.] the universe, especially when it is thought of as an ordered system: the structure of the cosmos our place in the cosmos

cosset NAmE verb [VN] (often disapproving) to treat sb with a lot of care and give them a lot of attention, sometimes too much PAMPER: As a child, she had been spoiled and cosseted.

cost NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] the amount of money that you need in order to buy, make or do sth: the high/low cost of housing A new computer system has been installed at a cost of £80 000. The plan had to be abandoned on grounds of cost. We did not even make enough money to cover the cost of the food. Consumers will have to bear the full cost of these pay increases. The total cost to you (= the amount you have to pay) is £3 000. note at PRICE
2 costs [pl.] the total amount of money that needs to be spent by a business: The use of cheap labour helped to keep costs down. to cut/reduce costs running/operating/labour costs We have had to raise our prices because of rising costs. Opinion was divided on the potential costs and benefits of the scheme.
3 [U, sing.] the effort, loss or damage that is involved in order to do or achieve sth: the terrible cost of the war in death and suffering the environmental cost of nuclear power She saved him from the fire but at the cost of her own life (= she died). He worked non-stop for three months, at considerable cost to his health. I felt a need to please people, whatever the cost in time and energy.
4 costs (NAmE also court costs) [pl.] the sum of money that sb is ordered to pay for lawyers, etc. in a legal case: He was ordered to pay £2 000 costs.
at all cost/costs whatever is needed to achieve sth: You must stop the press from finding out at all costs.
at any cost under any circumstances: He is determined to win at any cost.
at cost for only the amount of money that is needed to make or get sth, without any profit being added on: goods sold at cost
know/learn/find sth to your cost to know sth because of sth unpleasant that has happened to you: He's a ruthless businessman, as I know to my cost.more at COUNTv.
verb (cost, cost) In sense 4 costed is used for the past tense and past participle.
1 if sth costs a particular amount of money, you need to pay that amount in order to buy, make or do it: [VN] How much did it cost? I didn't get it because it cost too much. Tickets cost ten dollars each. Calls to the helpline cost 38p per minute. Don't use too much of itit cost a lot of money. All these reforms will cost money (= be expensive). Good food need not cost a fortune (= cost a lot of money). [VNN] The meal cost us about £40. This is costing the taxpayer £10 billion a year. [VN to inf] The hospital will cost an estimated £2 million to build. It costs a fortune to fly first class.
2 to cause the loss of sth: [VNN] That one mistake almost cost him his life. A late penalty cost United the game (= meant that they did not win the game). Such behaviour could cost you your place in the team. [VN] The closure of the factory is likely to cost 1 000 jobs.
3 [VNN] to involve you in making an effort or doing sth unpleasant: The accident cost me a visit to the doctor. Financial worries cost her many sleepless nights. She would never know how much it cost him to tell her.
4 (costed, costed) [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (out) to estimate how much money will be needed for sth or the price that should be charged for sth: The project needs to be costed in detail. Their accountants have costed the project at $8.1 million. Have you costed out these proposals yet? fully costed proposalssee also COSTING
cost sb dear to make sb suffer a lot: That one mistake has cost him dear over the years.
it will cost you (informal) used to say that sth will be expensive: There is a de luxe model available, but it'll cost you.more at ARM n.

SYNONYMS

costs

spending expenditure expenses outlay outgoings

These are all words for money spent by a government, an organization or a person.

costs the total amount of money that needs to be spent by a business: labour/production costs rising costs

spending the amount of money that is spent, especially by a government or an organization: public spending More spending on health was promised.

expenditure (rather formal) an amount of money spent by a government, an organization or a person: expenditure on education

expenses money that has to be spent by a person or an organization; money that you spend while you are working which your employer will pay back to you later: legal expenses travel expenses

outlay the money that you have to spend in order to start a new business or project, or in order to save yourself money or time later: The best equipment is costly but is well worth the outlay.

outgoings (BrE) the regular costs that a person or business has, such as rent and electricity

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

spending/expenditure/outlay on sth

high/low/total/overall costs/spending/expenditure/expenses/outlay/outgoings

capital costs/spending/expenditure/expenses/outlay

government/public/education/health costs/spending/expenditure

household costs/spending/expenditure/expenses/outgoings

to increase/reduce costs/spending/expenditure/expenses/the outlay/outgoings

SYNONYMS

cost

be sell retail set sb back sth

These are all words that can be used when sth costs a particular amount of money and you need to pay that amount in order to buy, make or do it.

cost if sth costs a particular amount of money, you need to pay that amount in order to buy, make or do it: How much did it cost? All these reforms will cost money(= be expensive). This is costing the taxpayer £10 billion a year.

be to cost: 'How much is that dress?' 'Eighty dollars.'

sell to be sold at a particular price: The painting sold for £10000 at auction.

retail (business) to be sold in a shop/store at a particular price: The book retails at £14.95.

SELL OR RETAIL?

Sell is a more general word than retail which is used mostly in Business English, and only for goods that are sold to the public through shops/stores.

set sb back sth (informal) to cost sb a particular amount of money: The repairs set him back over £200.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

How much does this cost/is this?

That costs/will set you back a lot of money.

The product sells/retails for/at £9.95.

cost accounting noun [U] (business) the process of recording and analysing the costs involved in running a business

costal NAmE adj. (anatomy) connected with the RIBS

co-star noun, verb
noun one of two or more famous actors who appear together in a film/movie or play
verb (-rr-)
1 [V] ~ (with sb) to appear as one of the main actors with sb in a play or film/movie: a new movie in which Johnny Depp co-stars with Winona Ryder
2 [VN] (of a film/movie or play) to have two or more famous actors acting in it: a new movie co-starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder

cost-benefit noun [U] (economics) the relationship between the cost of doing sth and the value of the benefit that results from it: cost-benefit analysis

cost-cutting noun [U] the reduction of the amount of money spent on sth, especially because of financial difficulty: Deliveries of mail could be delayed because of cost-cutting. a cost-cutting exercise/measure/programme

cost-effective adj. giving the best possible profit or benefits in comparison with the money that is spent: a cost-effective way to fight crime
cost-effectiveness noun [U]

costermonger NAmE noun (BrE) (in the past) a person who sold fruit and vegetables in the street

costing NAmE noun an estimate of how much money will be needed for sth: Here is a detailed costing of our proposals. You'd better do some costings.

costly NAmE adj. (costlier, costliest) You can also use more costly and most costly.
1 costing a lot of money, especially more than you want to pay EXPENSIVE: Buying new furniture may prove too costly. note at EXPENSIVE
2 causing problems or the loss of sth EXPENSIVE: a costly mistake/failure Mining can be costly in terms of lives (= too many people can die).
costliness noun [U]

the cost of living noun [sing.] the amount of money that people need to pay for food, clothing and somewhere to live: a steady rise in the cost of living the high cost of living in London

cost price noun [U] the cost of producing sth or the price at which it is sold without profit: Copies of the CD can be purchased at cost price.compare SELLING PRICE

costume NAmE noun
1 [C, U] the clothes worn by people from a particular place or during a particular historical periodsee also NATIONAL COSTUME
2 [C, U] the clothes worn by actors in a play or film/movie, or worn by sb to make them look like sth else: The actors were still in costume and make-up. She has four costume changes during the play. He went to the party in a giant chicken costume. a costume designer
3 [C] (BrE, informal) = SWIMMING COSTUME: If you'd like a swim, we can lend you a costume.

costumed NAmE adj. [usually before noun] wearing a costume

costume drama noun [C, U] a play or film/movie set in the past

costume jewellery noun [U] large heavy jewellery that can look expensive but is made with cheap materials

costume party noun (NAmE) a party where all the guests wear special clothes, in order to look like a different person, an animal, etc.

costumier NAmE (BrE) (NAmE costumer) noun a person or company that makes COSTUMES or has COSTUMES to hire, especially for the theatre: a firm of theatrical costumiers

cosy (BrE) (NAmE cozy) NAmE adj., verb
adj. (cosier, cosiest, cozier, coziest)
1 warm, comfortable and safe, especially because of being small or confined SNUG: a cosy little room a cosy feeling I felt warm and cosy sitting by the fire.
2 friendly and private: a cosy chat with a friend
3 (often disapproving) easy and convenient, but not always honest or right: The firm has a cosy relationship with the Ministry of Defence. The danger is that things get too cosy.
cosily (BrE) (NAmE cozily) adv.: sitting cosily by the fire cosiness (BrE) (NAmE coziness) noun [U]: the warmth and cosiness of the kitchen
verb (cosies, cosying, cosied, cosied)
cosy up to sb (BrE) (NAmE cozy up to sb) (informal) to act in a friendly way towards sb, especially sb who will be useful to you: The prime minister has recently been cosying up to the trade unions.

cot NAmE noun
1 (BrE) (NAmE crib) a small bed with high sides for a baby or young child: a travel cot (= one that can be moved around easily, used when travelling)see also CARRYCOT
2 (NAmE) = CAMP BED

cot death (BrE) (NAmE crib death) noun [U, C] the sudden death while sleeping of a baby that appears to be healthy

coterie NAmE noun [C+sing./pl. v.] (formal, often disapproving) a small group of people who have the same interests and do things together but do not like to include others: her little coterie of friends and advisers a literary coterie

coterminous NAmE adj. [not usually before noun] ~ (with sth) (formal)
1 (of countries or areas) sharing a border
2 (of things or ideas) having so much in common that they are almost the same as each other: He seems to regard the interests of the state as coterminous with the interests of the party in government.

cottage NAmE noun a small house, especially in the country: a charming country cottage with roses around the door (BrE) a holiday cottage

cottage cheese noun [U] soft white cheese with small lumps in it

cottage hospital noun (BrE) a small hospital in a country area

cottage industry noun a small business in which the work is done by people in their homes: Weaving and knitting are traditional cottage industries. Desktop publishing has become a modern cottage industry.

cottage loaf noun (BrE) a LOAF of bread consisting of a large round piece with a smaller round piece on top

cottage pie noun [C, U] = SHEPHERD'S PIE

cottager NAmE noun (BrE) (especially in the past) a person who lives in a small house or cottage in the country

cottaging NAmE noun [U] (BrE, slang) the practice of HOMOSEXUAL men looking for sexual partners in a public toilet/bathroom

cotter pin NAmE noun (technical) a metal pin that holds a part in place inside a machine

cotton NAmE noun, verb
noun [U]
1 a plant grown in warm countries for the soft white hairs around its seeds that are used to make cloth and thread: cotton fields/plants bales of cotton
2 the cloth made from the cotton plant: The sheets are 100% pure cotton. a cotton shirt/skirt printed cotton cloth the cotton industry a cotton mill
3 (especially BrE) thread that is used for sewing: sewing cotton a cotton reel
4 (NAmE) = COTTON WOOL: Use a cotton ball to apply the lotion.
verb
cotton on (to sth) (informal) to begin to understand or realize sth without being told: I suddenly cottoned on to what he was doing.
cotton (up) to sb/sth (NAmE, informal) to make an attempt to be friendly to sb

the Cotton Belt noun the states in the southern US where cotton was the main crop

cotton bud (BrE) (also Q-tipTM NAmE, BrE) noun a small stick with COTTON WOOL at each end, used for cleaning inside the ears, etc.

cotton candy noun [U] (NAmE) = CANDYFLOSS

cotton gin (also gin) noun a machine for separating the seeds of a cotton plant from the cotton

cottonmouth NAmE (also cottonmouth moccasin, water moccasin) noun a poisonous snake which lives near water in the US

cottonwood NAmE (also cottonwood tree) noun a type of N American POPLAR tree, with seeds that are covered in hairs that look like white cotton

cotton wool (BrE) (US (absorbent) cotton) noun [U] a soft mass of white material that is used for cleaning the skin or a wound: cotton wool balls

couch noun, verb
noun
1 a long comfortable seat for two or more people to sit on SETTEE, SOFA
2 a long piece of furniture like a bed, especially in a doctor's office: on the psychiatrist's couch
verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (in sth) (formal) to say or write words in a particular style or manner: The letter was deliberately couched in very vague terms.

couchette noun a narrow bed on a train, that folds down from the wall

couch potato noun (informal, disapproving) a person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching television

cougar noun (especially NAmE) = PUMA

cough NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 [V] to force out air suddenly and noisily through your throat, for example when you have a cold: I couldn't stop coughing. to cough nervously/politely/discreetly
2 [VN] ~ sth (up) to force sth out of your throat or lungs by coughing: Sometimes she coughed (up) blood.
3 [V] (of an engine) to make a sudden unpleasant noise: The old engine coughed and spluttered into life.
cough up| cough sthup (informal) to give sth, especially money, unwillingly: Steve finally coughed up the money he owed us. note at SPEND
noun
1 an act or a sound of coughing: She gave a little cough to attract my attention.
2 an illness or infection that makes you cough often: to have a dry/persistent/hacking cough My cold's better, but I can't seem to shake off this cough.see also WHOOPING COUGH

coughing NAmE noun [U] the action of coughing: Another fit of coughing seized him.

cough mixture (BrE) (also cough syrup, cough medicine BrE, NAmE) noun [U] liquid medicine that you take for a cough

could strong form modal verb (negative could not, short form couldn't )
1 used as the past tense of 'can': She said that she couldn't come. I couldn't hear what they were saying. Sorry, I couldn't get any more. note at CAN^1
2 used to ask if you can do sth: Could I use your phone, please? Could we stop by next week?
3 used to politely ask sb to do sth for you: Could you babysit for us on Friday?
4 used to show that sth is or might be possible: I could do it now, if you like. Don't worrythey could have just forgotten to call. You couldn't have left it on the bus, could you? 'Have some more cake.' 'Oh, I couldn't, thank you (= I'm too full).'
5 used to suggest sth: We could write a letter to the director. You could always try his home number.
6 used to show that you are annoyed that sb did not do sth: They could have let me know they were going to be late!
7 (informal) used to emphasize how strongly you want to express your feelings: I'm so fed up I could scream! note at MODAL
could do with sth (informal) used to say that you need or would like to have sth: I could do with a drink! Her hair could have done with a wash.

coulis NAmE noun (pl. coulis) (from French) a thin fruit sauce

coulomb NAmE noun (abbr. C) (physics) a unit for measuring electric charge

council noun [C+sing./pl. v.]
1 a group of people who are elected to govern an area such as a city or county: a city/county/borough/district council She's on the local council. a council member/meeting
2 (BrE) the organization that provides services in a city or county, for example education, houses, libraries, etc.: council workers/services
3 a group of people chosen to give advice, make rules, do research, provide money, etc.: the Medical Research Council In Britain, the Arts Council gives grants to theatres.
4 (formal) (especially in the past) a formal meeting to discuss what action to take in a particular situation: The King held a council at Nottingham from 14 to 19 October 1330.see also PRIVY COUNCIL

council chamber noun (BrE) a large room in which a council meets

council estate noun (BrE) a large group of houses built by a local council

council house, council flat noun (BrE) a house or flat rented from the local council

councillor (NAmE also councilor) noun (abbr. Cllr) a member of a council: Councillor Ann Jones Talk to your local councillor about the problem.see also COUNCILMAN, COUNCILWOMAN

councilman noun (pl. -men ) (US) = COUNCILLOR

council of war noun (pl. councils of war) (BrE) a meeting to discuss how to deal with an urgent and difficult situation: She called together senior managers for a council of war.

council tax noun (often the council tax) [sing., U] (in Britain) a tax charged by local councils, based on the value of a person's home

councilwoman noun (pl. -women ) (US) = COUNCILLOR

counsel noun, verb
noun [U, C]
1 (formal) advice, especially given by older people or experts; a piece of advice: Listen to the counsel of your elders. In the end, wiser counsels prevailed.
2 (law) a lawyer or group of lawyers representing sb in court: to be represented by counsel the counsel for the defence/prosecution defence/prosecuting counsel The court then heard counsel for the dead woman's father.see also KING'S/QUEEN'S COUNSEL note at LAWYER
a counsel of despair (formal) advice not to try to do sth because it is too difficult
a counsel of perfection (formal) advice that is good but that is difficult or impossible to follow
keep your own counsel (formal) to keep your opinions, plans, etc. secret: Emily doubted what he told her but kept her own counsel.
verb (-ll-, NAmE -l-)
1 [VN] to listen to and give support or professional advice to sb who needs help: Therapists were brought in to counsel the bereaved.
2 (formal) to advise sb to do sth: [VN] Most experts counsel caution in such cases. [VN to inf] He counselled them to give up the plan.

counselling (BrE) (NAmE counseling) noun [U] professional advice about a problem: marriage guidance counselling a student counselling service

counsellor (especially BrE) (NAmE usually counselor) noun
1 a person who has been trained to advise people with problems, especially personal problems: a marriage guidance counsellor
2 (NAmE, IrishE) a lawyer
3 (NAmE) a person who is in charge of young people at a summer camp

count verb, noun
verb
SAY NUMBERS
1 [V] ~ (from sth) (to/up to sth) to say numbers in the correct order: Billy can't count yet. She can count up to 10 in Italian. to count from 1 to 10
FIND TOTAL
2 ~ (sth) (up) to calculate the total number of people, things, etc. in a particular group: [VN] The diet is based on counting calories. Count the 'yes' votes and the 'no' votes separately. [V wh-] She began to count up how many guests they had to invite. [V] There are 12 weeks to go, counting from today.
INCLUDE
3 [VN] to include sb/sth when you calculate a total: We have invited 50 people, not counting the children.
MATTER
4 [V] ~ (for sth) (not used in the progressive tenses) to be important MATTER: Every point in this game counts. The fact that she had apologized counted for nothing with him. It's the thought that counts (= used about a small but kind action or gift).
ACCEPT OFFICIALLY
5 to be officially accepted; to accept sth officially: [V] Don't go over that line or your throw won't count. [VN] Applications received after 1 July will not be counted.
CONSIDER
6 ~ sb/sth (as) sb/sth| ~ as sb/sth to consider sb/sth in a particular way; to be considered in a particular way: [V, VN] For tax purposes that money counts/is counted as income. [VN] I count him among my closest friends. [VN-ADJ] I count myself lucky to have known him. [VN-N] She counts herself one of the lucky ones.
be able to count sb/sth on (the fingers of) one hand used to say that the total number of sb/sth is very small: She could count on the fingers of one hand the people she actually enjoyed being with.
... and counting used to say that a total is continuing to increase: The movie's ticket sales add up to $39 million, and counting.
count your blessings to be grateful for the good things in your life
don't count your chickens (before they are hatched) (saying) you should not be too confident that sth will be successful, because sth may still go wrong
count the cost (of sth) to feel the bad effects of a mistake, an accident, etc.: The town is now counting the cost of its failure to provide adequate flood protection.
count sheep to imagine that sheep are jumping over a fence and to count them, as a way of getting to sleep
stand up and be counted to say publicly that you support sb or you agree with sth
who's counting? (informal) used to say that you do not care how many times sth happens: The next Star Trek movie (number six, but who's counting?) will be the last.
count against sb| count sth against sb to be considered or to consider sth as a disadvantage in sb: For that job her lack of experience may count against her. He has a criminal record but we hope that prospective employers won't count it against him.
count down (to sth) to think about a future event with pleasure or excitement and count the minutes, days, etc. until it happens: She's already counting down to the big day.related noun COUNTDOWN
count sb in to include sb in an activity: I hear you're organizing a trip to the game next week? Count me in!
count on sb/sth to trust sb to do sth or to be sure that sth will happen BANK ON STH: 'I'm sure he'll help.' 'Don't count on it.' [+ to inf] I'm counting on you to help me. [+ -ing] Few people can count on having a job for life. We can't count on this warm weather lasting. note at TRUST
count sb/sthout to count things one after the other as you put them somewhere: She counted out $70 in $10 bills.
count sb out to not include sb in an activity: If you're going out tonight you'll have to count me out.
count towards/toward sth to be included as part of sth that you hope to achieve in the future: Students gain college credits which count towards their degree.
noun
TOTAL
1 [usually sing.] an act of counting to find the total number of sth; the total number that you find: The bus driver did a quick count of the empty seats. If the election result is close, there will be a second count. The body count (= the total number of people who have died) stands at 24.see also HEADCOUNT
SAYING NUMBERS
2 [usually sing.] an act of saying numbers in order beginning with 1: Raise your leg and hold for a count of ten. He was knocked to the ground and stayed down for a count of eight (= in boxing). On the count of three, take one step forward.
MEASUREMENT
3 [usually sing.] (technical) a measurement of the amount of sth contained in a particular substance or area: a raised white blood cell countsee also BLOOD COUNT, POLLEN COUNT
CRIME
4 (law) a crime that sb is accused of committing: They were found guilty on all counts. She appeared in court on three counts of fraud.
IN DISCUSSION/ARGUMENT
5 [usually pl.] a point made during a discussion or an argument: I disagree with you on both counts.
RANK/TITLE
6 (in some European countries) a NOBLEMAN of high rank, similar to an EARL in Britain: Count Tolstoysee also COUNTESS
at the last count according to the latest information about the numbers of sth: She'd applied for 30 jobs at the last count.
keep (a) count (of sth) to remember or keep a record of numbers or amounts of sth over a period of time: Keep a count of your calorie intake for one week.
lose count (of sth) to forget the total of sth before you have finished counting it: I lost count and had to start again. She had lost count of the number of times she'd told him to be careful (= she could not remember because there were so many).
out for the count (BrE) (NAmE down for the count)
1 (of a BOXER) unable to get up again within ten seconds after being knocked down
2 in a deep sleep

countable adj. (grammar) a noun that is countable can be used in the plural or with a or an, for example table, cat and idea UNCOUNTABLE

countdown noun ~ (to sth)
1 [sing., U] the action of counting seconds backwards to zero, for example before a SPACECRAFT is launched
2 [sing.] the period of time just before sth important happens: the countdown to the wedding

countenance noun, verb
noun (formal or literary) a person's face or their expression: her calmly smiling countenance a young man of handsome countenance
verb (formal) to support sth or agree to sth happening CONSENT TO [VN] The committee refused to countenance his proposals. [also V -ing, VN -ing]

counter noun, verb, adv.
noun
1 a long flat surface over which goods are sold or business is done in a shop/store, bank, etc.: I asked the woman behind the counter if they had any postcards.
2 (especially NAmE) = WORKTOP
3 a small disc used for playing or scoring in some board games see also BARGAINING COUNTER
4 (especially in compounds) an electronic device for counting sth: The needle on the rev counter soared. You need to reset the counter.see also GEIGER COUNTERcompare BEAN COUNTER
5 [usually sing.] ~ (to sb/sth) (formal) a response to sb/sth that opposes their ideas, position, etc.: The employers' association was seen as a counter to union power.
over the counter goods, especially medicines, for sale over the counter can be bought without a PRESCRIPTION (= written permission from a doctor to buy a medicine) or special licence: These tablets are available over the counter.see also OVER-THE-COUNTER
under the counter goods that are bought or sold under the counter are sold secretly and sometimes illegally: Pornography may be legally banned but it is still available under the counter.
verb
1 ~ (sb/sth) (with sth) to reply to sb by trying to prove that what they said is not true: [VN] Such arguments are not easily countered. [V that] I tried to argue but he countered that the plans were not yet finished. [also V speech, V]
2 [VN] to do sth to reduce or prevent the bad effects of sth COUNTERACT: Businesses would like to see new laws to counter late payments of debts.
adv.~ to sth in the opposite direction to sth; in opposition to sth: The government's plans run counter to agreed European policy on this issue.

counter- combining form (in nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs)
1 against; opposite: counterterrorism counter-argument
2 CORRESPONDING: counterpart

counteract verb [VN] to do sth to reduce or prevent the bad or harmful effects of sth COUNTER: These exercises aim to counteract the effects of stress and tension.

counter-attack noun, verb
noun an attack made in response to the attack of an enemy or opponent in war, sport or an argument: Loyal armed forces launched a counter-attack against the rebels. The Inter player was swift to respond with a counter-attack.
verb [V, VN] to make an attack in response to the attack of an enemy or opponent in war, sport or an argument RETALIATE

counterbalance verb, noun
verb NAmE [VN] (formal) to have an equal but opposite effect to sth else OFFSET: Parents' natural desire to protect their children should be counterbalanced by the child's need for independence.
noun NAmE (also counterweight) [usually sing.] ~ (to sth) a thing that has an equal but opposite effect to sth else and can be used to limit the bad effects of sth: The accused's right to silence was a vital counterbalance to the powers of the police.

counterblast NAmE noun ~ (to sth) a very strong spoken or written reply to sth that has been said or written: The article is a counterblast to the recent criticism of the government in the press.

counterclaim NAmE noun a claim made in reply to another claim and different from it: Amid all the claims and counterclaims it was hard to say who was telling the truth.

counterclockwise NAmE adv., adj. (NAmE) = ANTICLOCKWISE CLOCKWISE

counterculture NAmE noun [C, U] a way of life and set of ideas that are opposed to those accepted by most of society; a group of people who share such a way of life and such ideas: the anti-military counterculture of the 1960s

counter-espionage noun [U] secret action taken by a country to prevent an enemy country from finding out its secrets

counterfeit NAmE adj., verb
adj. (of money and goods for sale) made to look exactly like sth in order to trick people into thinking that they are getting the real thing FAKE: counterfeit watches Are you aware these notes are counterfeit? GENUINE
counterfeit noun: Despite the introduction of a security shield on the new £10 stamp, counterfeits are costing the postal service millions of pounds a year.compare FORGERY
verb [VN] to make an exact copy of sth in order to trick people into thinking that it is the real thingcompare FORGE
counterfeiting noun [U]

counterfeiter NAmE noun a person who counterfeits money or goodscompare FORGER

counterfoil NAmE noun (BrE) the part of a cheque, ticket, etc. that you keep when you give the other part to sb else STUB

counter-insurgency noun [U] action taken against a group of people who are trying to take control of a country by force: counter-insurgency operations

counter-intelligence noun [U] secret action taken by a country to prevent an enemy country from finding out its secrets, for example by giving them false information; the department of a government, etc. that is responsible for this

counter-intuitive adj. the opposite of what you would expect or what seems to be obvious: These results seem counter-intuitive.
counter-intuitively adv.

countermand NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to cancel an order that has been given, especially by giving a different order

countermeasure NAmE noun a course of action taken to protect against sth that is considered bad or dangerous: countermeasures to neutralize the threat of terrorism

counteroffensive noun an attack made in order to defend against enemy attacks

counterpane NAmE noun (old-fashioned, BrE) = BEDSPREAD

counterpart NAmE noun a person or thing that has the same position or function as sb/sth else in a different place or situation OPPOSITE NUMBER: The Foreign Minister held talks with his Chinese counterpart. The women's shoe, like its male counterpart, is specifically designed for the serious tennis player.

counterpoint NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U] (music) the combination of two or more tunes played together to form a single piece of music POLYPHONY: The two melodies are played in counterpoint.see also CONTRAPUNTAL
2 [C] ~ (to sth) (music) a tune played in combination with another one
3 [U, C] (formal) a pleasing or interesting contrast: This work is in austere counterpoint to that of Gaudi.
verb [VN] ~ sth (with/against sth) (formal) to contrast sth with sth else; to form a contrast with sth

counterproductive NAmE adj. [not usually before noun] having the opposite effect to the one which was intended: Increases in taxation would be counterproductive.compare PRODUCTIVE

counter-revolution noun [C, U] opposition to or violent action against a government that came to power as a result of a revolution, in order to destroy and replace it: to stage a counter-revolution the forces of counter-revolution

counter-revolutionary noun a person involved in a counter-revolution
counter-revolutionary adj.: the suppression of the counter-revolutionary rebellion

countersign NAmE verb [VN] (technical) to sign a document that has already been signed by another person, especially in order to show that it is valid: All orders must be countersigned by one of the directors.

countersubject NAmE noun (music) a second THEME (= tune) that is played with the main theme, especially in a FUGUE

countersunk NAmE (BrE) (NAmE flathead) adj. (technical) (of a screw) that fits in a hole with its top surface level with the surface of the material

counter-tenor noun a man who is trained to sing with a very high voice; a male ALTOcompare ALTO

counter-terrorism noun [U] action taken to prevent the activities of political groups who use violence to try to achieve their aims
counter-terrorist adj.

countertop NAmE noun (NAmE) = WORKTOP

countervailing NAmE adj. [only before noun] (formal) having an equal but opposite effect

counterweight NAmE noun [usually sing.] = COUNTERBALANCE: The senate is the opposition's counterweight to the new president.

countess noun
1 a woman who has the rank of a COUNT or an EARL
2 the wife of a COUNT or an EARL: the Earl and Countess of Rosebery

countless adj. [usually before noun] very many; too many to be counted or mentioned: I've warned her countless times. The new treatment could save Emma's life and the lives of countless others.compare UNCOUNTABLE

count noun noun (grammar) a countable noun

countrified adj. (often disapproving) like the countryside or the people who live there

country noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] an area of land that has or used to have its own government and laws: European countries leading industrial countries She didn't know what life in a foreign country would be like. It's good to meet people from different parts of the country.
2 [U] (often following an adjective) an area of land, especially with particular physical features, suitable for a particular purpose or connected with a particular person or people: open/wooded, etc. country superb walking country Explore Thomas Hardy country.see also BACKCOUNTRY
3 the country [sing.] the people of a country; the nation as a whole: They have the support of most of the country. The rich benefited from the reforms, not the country as a whole.see also MOTHER COUNTRY, THE OLD COUNTRY, UP-COUNTRY
4 the country [sing.] any area outside towns and cities, with fields, woods, farms, etc.: to live in the country We spent a pleasant day in the country. a country lane
5 [U] = COUNTRY AND WESTERN: pop, folk and country
across country directly across fields, etc.; not by a main road: riding across countrysee also CROSS-COUNTRY
go to the country (BrE) (of a government) to hold an election to choose a new parliamentmore at FREE adj.

SYNONYMS

country

landscape countryside terrain land scenery

These are all words for areas away from towns and cities, with fields, woods and farms.

country (often the country) an area that is away from towns and cities, especially one with particular natural features: She lives in the country. an area of wooded country

landscape everything that you can see when you look across a large area of land, especially in the country: This pattern of woods and fields is typical of the English landscape.

countryside land outside towns and cities, with fields, woods and farms. Countryside is usually used when you are talking about the beauty or peacefulness of a country area: a little village in the French countryside.

terrain (formal) land. Terrain is used when you are describing the natural features of an area, for example if it is rough, flat, etc: The truck bumped its way over the rough terrain.

land (usually the land) the countryside; the way people live in the country as opposed to in towns and cities: Many younger people are leaving the land to find work in the cities.

scenery the natural features of an area, such as mountains, valleys, rivers and forests, especially when these are attractive to look at: We stopped on the mountain pass to admire the scenery.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

hilly/mountainous/mountain/rough/wild/rugged country/landscape/countryside/terrain/land/scenery

beautiful/glorious/dramatic country/landscape/countryside/scenery

open/rolling country/landscape/countryside/terrain/land

rural/urban landscape/terrain/scenery

to conserve/preserve/protect/destroy the country/landscape/countryside/land

a stretch of country/countryside/land

WHICH WORD?

country / state

Country is the most usual, neutral word for a geographical area that has or used to have its own government.

State emphasizes the political organization of an area under an independent government. Especially in BrE, it can also mean the government: the member states of the EUThe state provides free education. In NAmE the state usually refers to one of the 50 states of the US, not to the government of the country as a whole.

country and western (abbr. C & W) (also country music, country, hillbilly) noun [U] a type of music in the style of the traditional music of the southern and western US: a country and western singer

country bumpkin (also bumpkin) noun (disapproving) a person from the countryside who seems stupid

country club noun a club in the country, or on the edge of a town, where people can play sports and go to social events

country cousin noun a person from the country who does not know much about life in the city, and who dresses or behaves in a way that shows this

country dance noun (BrE) a type of traditional dance, especially one in which couples dance in long lines or circles
country dancing noun [U]

country house noun (BrE) a large house in the country, especially one that belongs or used to belong to a rich important family

countrymade adj. (IndE) not made by a professional person: a countrymade pistol

countryman noun (pl. -men )
1 a person born in or living in the same country as sb else COMPATRIOT: The champion looks set to play his fellow countryman in the final.
2 a man living or born in the country, not in the town: Even after thirty years living in the country, I fear I am not a proper countryman. I don't farm for a living or go tramping across drenched fields, gun in hand.

country music noun [U] = COUNTRY AND WESTERN

country seat noun (BrE) = SEAT (7)

countryside noun [U] land outside towns and cities, with fields, woods, etc.: The surrounding countryside is windswept and rocky. magnificent views over open countryside Everyone should enjoy the right of access to the countryside. note at COUNTRY

countrywide adj. over the whole of a country NATIONWIDE: a countrywide mail-order service
countrywide adv.: The film will be released in London in March and countrywide in May.

countrywoman noun (pl. -women )
1 a woman living or born in the country, not the town
2 a woman born or living in the same country as sb else

county noun, adj.
noun (pl. -ies) (abbr. Co.) an area of Britain, Ireland or the US that has its own government: the southern counties county boundaries Orange Countysee also THE HOME COUNTIES
adj. (BrE, usually disapproving) typical of English upper-class people

county clerk noun (in the US) an elected county official who is responsible for elections and who keeps records of who owns buildings in the county, etc.

county council noun [C+sing./pl. v.] (in Britain) a group of people elected to the local government of a county: a member of Lancashire County Council
county councillor noun

county court noun a local court. In Britain county courts only deal with private disagreements but in the US they also deal with criminal cases.compare CROWN COURT

county town (BrE) (NAmE county seat) noun the main town of a county, where its government is

countywide adj. over the whole of a county
countywide adv.

coup noun (pl. coups )
1 (also coup d'état) a sudden, illegal and often violent, change of government: He seized power in a military coup in 1997. to stage/mount a coup an attempted coup a failed/an abortive coup She lost her position in a boardroom coup (= a sudden change of power among senior managers in a company).
2 the fact of achieving sth that was difficult to do: Getting this contract has been quite a coup for us. He pulled off a major diplomatic coup by winning agreement from all the warring factions on a permanent ceasefire.

coup de grâce noun [sing.] (from French, formal)
1 an action or event that finally ends sth that has been getting weaker or worse: My disastrous exam results dealt the coup de grâce to my university career.
2 a hit or shot that finally kills a person or an animal, especially to put an end to their suffering DEATH BLOW

coup d'état noun (pl. coups d'état ) = COUP

coup de théâtre noun (pl. coups de théâtre ) (from French)
1 something very dramatic and surprising that happens, especially in a play
2 a play, show, etc. which is very successful

coupé NAmE (NAmE also coupe ) noun a car with two doors and usually a sloping back

couple noun, verb
noun
1 [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] ~ (of sth) two people or things: I saw a couple of men get out. In BrE a plural verb is usually used in all 3 senses.
2 [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] ~ (of sth) a small number of people or things A FEW: a couple of minutes We went there a couple of years ago. I've seen her a couple of times before. I'll be with you in a minute. There are a couple of things I have to do first. There are a couple more files to read first. We can do it in the next couple of weeks. The last couple of years have been difficult.
3 [C+sing./pl. v.] two people who are seen together, especially if they are married or in a romantic or sexual relationship: married couples a young/an elderly couple Several couples were on the dance floor. The couple was/were married in 1976. see SHAKE n.
a couple pron.: Do you need any more glasses? I've got a couple I can lend you. couple det. (NAmE): It's only a couple blocks away.
verb
1 [VN] [usually passive] ~ A (to B)| ~ A and B together to join together two parts of sth, for example two vehicles or pieces of equipment: The two train cars had been coupled together. CDTV uses a CD-ROM system that is coupled to a powerful computer.
2 [V] (formal) (of two people or animals) to have sex
couple sb/sth with sb/sth [usually passive] to link one thing, situation, etc. to another COMBINE WITH: Overproduction, coupled with falling sales, has led to huge losses for the company.

couplet noun two lines of poetry of equal length one after the other: a poem written in rhyming coupletssee also HEROIC COUPLET

coupling noun
1 [usually sing.] an action of joining or combining two things: a coupling of Mozart's Prague Symphony and Schubert's Unfinished Symphony (= for example, on the same CD)
2 (formal) an act of having sex: illicit couplings
3 (technical) a thing that joins together two parts of sth, two vehicles or two pieces of equipment

coupon NAmE noun
1 a small piece of printed paper that you can exchange for sth or that gives you the right to buy sth at a cheaper price than normal: money-off coupons clothing coupons an international reply coupon
2 a printed form, often cut out from a newspaper, that is used to enter a competition, order goods, etc.: Fill in and return the attached coupon.

courage NAmE noun [U] the ability to do sth dangerous, or to face pain or opposition, without showing fear BRAVERY: He showed great courage and determination. I haven't yet plucked up the courage to ask her. moral/physical courage courage in the face of dangersee also DUTCH COURAGE
have/lack the courage of your convictions to be/not be brave enough to do what you feel to be right
take courage (from sth) to begin to feel happier and more confident because of sth
take your courage in both hands to make yourself do sth that you are afraid of: Taking her courage in both hands, she opened the door and walked in.more at SCREW v.

courageous adj. showing courage BRAVE: a very courageous decision I hope people will be courageous enough to speak out against this injustice. COWARDLY
courageously adv.: The crew acted courageously in staying with the ship until all the passengers had been taken to safety.

courgette NAmE (BrE) (NAmE zucchini) noun a long vegetable with dark green skin and white flesh

courier noun
1 a person or company whose job is to take packages or important papers somewhere: We sent the documents by courier.
2 (BrE) a person who is employed by a travel company to give advice and help to a group of tourists on holiday
courier verb: [VN] Courier that letterit needs to get there today (= send it by courier).

course NAmE noun, verb
noun
EDUCATION
1 [C] ~ (in/on sth) a series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject: a French/chemistry, etc. course to take/do a course in art and design to go on a management training course The college runs specialist language courses.see also CORRESPONDENCE COURSE, CRASH adj., FOUNDATION COURSE, INDUCTION COURSE, REFRESHER COURSE, SANDWICH COURSE
2 [C] (especially BrE) a period of study at a college or university that leads to an exam or a qualification: a degree course a two-year postgraduate course leading to a master's degreecompare PROGRAMME n. (5)
DIRECTION
3 [U, C, usually sing.] a direction or route followed by a ship or an aircraft: The plane was on/off course (= going/not going in the right direction). He radioed the pilot to change course. They set a course for the islands.
4 [C, usually sing.] the general direction in which sb's ideas or actions are moving: The president appears likely to change course on some key issues. Politicians are often obliged to steer a course between incompatible interests.
ACTION
5 (also course of action) [C] a way of acting in or dealing with a particular situation: There are various courses open to us. What course of action would you recommend? The wisest course would be to say nothing.
DEVELOPMENT
6 [sing.] ~ of sth the way sth develops or should develop: an event that changed the course of history The unexpected course of events aroused considerable alarm.
PART OF MEAL
7 [C] any of the separate parts of a meal: a four-course dinner The main course was roast duck.
FOR GOLF
8 [C] = GOLF COURSE: He set a new course record.
FOR RACES
9 [C] an area of land or water where races are held: She was overtaken on the last stretch of the course.see also ASSAULT COURSE, RACECOURSE
OF RIVER
10 [C, usually sing.] the direction a river moves in: The path follows the course of the river.
MEDICAL TREATMENT
11 [C] ~ (of sth) a series of medical treatments, pills, etc.: to prescribe a course of antibiotics When taking antibiotics it is important to finish the course.
IN WALL
12 [C] a continuous layer of bricks, stone, etc. in a wall: A new damp-proof course could cost £1 000 or more.
in course of sth (formal) going through a particular process: The new textbook is in course of preparation.
in/over the course of ... (used with expressions for periods of time) during: He's seen many changes in the course of his long life. The company faces major challenges over the course of the next few years.
in the course of time when enough time has passed EVENTUALLY: It is possible that in the course of time a cure for cancer will be found.
in the ordinary, normal, etc. course of events, things, etc. as things usually happen NORMALLY: In the normal course of things we would not treat her disappearance as suspicious.
of course
1 (also course) (informal) used to emphasize that what you are saying is true or correct: 'Don't you like my mother?' 'Of course I do!' 'Will you be there?' 'Course I will.'
2 (also course) (informal) used as a polite way of giving sb permission to do sth: 'Can I come, too?' 'Course you can.' 'Can I have one of those pens?' 'Of coursehelp yourself.'
3 (informal) used as a polite way of agreeing with what sb has just said: 'I did all I could to help.' 'Of course,' he murmured gently.
4 used to show that what you are saying is not surprising or is generally known or accepted: Ben, of course, was the last to arrive. Of course, there are other ways of doing this.
of course not (also course not) used to emphasize the fact that you are saying 'no': 'Are you going?' 'Of course not.' 'Do you mind?' 'No, of course not.'
on course for sth/to do sth likely to achieve or do sth because you have already started to do it: The American economy is on course for higher inflation than Britain by the end of the year. Victory in Saturday's match will put them on course to qualify for the European championships.
run/take its course to develop in the usual way and come to the usual end: When her tears had run their course, she felt calmer and more in control. With minor ailments the best thing is often to let nature take its course.more at COLLISION, DUE adj., HORSE n., MATTER n., MIDDLE adj., PAR, PERVERT v., STAY v.
verb [V + adv. / prep.] (literary) (of liquid) to move or flow quickly

BRITISH/AMERICAN

course / program

In BrE course is used for a series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject: a physics coursea course of ten lectures. In NAmE you would say: a physics course/programa program of ten lectures.

In NAmE a course is usually an individual unit that forms part of a longer period of study: I have to take a physics course/class. This is called a module in Britain, especially in a college or university.

In BrE course can also mean a period of study at a college or university: a two-year college course. In NAmE you would say: a two-year college program.

MORE ABOUT

of course

Of course is often used to show that what you are saying is not surprising or is generally known or accepted. For this reason, and because it can be difficult to get the right intonation, you may not sound polite if you use of course or of course not when you answer a request for information or permission. It can be safer to use a different word or phrase.

'Is this the right room for the English class?' 'Yes, it is.''Of course.' or 'Of course it is.'

'Can I borrow your dictionary?' 'Certainly.' (formal)'Sure.' (informal)

'Do you mind if I borrow your dictionary?' 'Not at all.''Go ahead.' (informal).

If you say of course/of course not it may sound as though you think the answer to the question is obvious and that the person should not ask. In the same way, of course should not be used as a reply to a statement of fact or when someone expresses an opinion: 'It's a lovely day.' 'It certainly is.'/'Yes it is.''Of course it is.''I think you'll enjoy that play.' 'I'm sure I will.'/'Yes, it sounds really good.'Of course.

coursebook NAmE noun (BrE) a book for studying from, used regularly in class

course of action noun (pl. courses of action) = COURSE (5)

courseware NAmE noun [U] (computing) computer programs that are designed to be used to teach a subject

coursework NAmE noun [U] work that students do during a course of study, not in exams, that is included in their final mark/grade: Coursework accounts for 40% of the final marks.

coursing NAmE noun [U] the sport of hunting animals with dogs, using sight rather than smell: hare coursing

court NAmE noun, verb
noun
LAW
1 [C, U] the place where legal trials take place and where crimes, etc. are judged: the civil/criminal courts Her lawyer made a statement outside the court. She will appear in court tomorrow. They took their landlord to court for breaking the contract. The case took five years to come to court (= to be heard by the court). There wasn't enough evidence to bring the case to court (= start a trial). During the court hearing, the prosecutor said she would seek maximum prison sentences. He won the court case and was awarded damages. She can't pay her tax and is facing court action. The case was settled out of court (= a decision was reached without a trial).see also COURTHOUSE, COURTROOM note at SCHOOL
2 the court [sing.] the people in a court, especially those who make the decisions, such as the judge and JURY: Please tell the court what happened. The court heard yesterday how the man collapsed and died after being stabbed.see also CONTEMPT OF COURT, COUNTY COURT, CROWN COURT, HIGH COURT, JUVENILE COURT, SUPREME COURT
FOR SPORT
3 [C] a place where games such as TENNIS are played: a tennis/squash/badminton court He won after only 52 minutes on court.see also CLAY COURT, GRASS COURT
KINGS/QUEENS
4 [C, U] the official place where kings and queens live: the court of Queen Victoria He was presented to the queen at court.
5 the court [sing.] the king or queen, their family, and the people who work for them and/or give advice to them
BUILDINGS
6 [C] = COURTYARD
7 (abbr. Ct) [C] used in the names of blocks of flats or apartment buildings, or of some short streets; (in Britain) used in the name of some large houses
8 [C] a large open section of a building, often with a glass roof: the food court at the shopping mall
hold court (with sb) to entertain people by telling them interesting or funny things: I met Giles holding court with some tourists in a cafe.
rule/throw sth out of court to say that sth is completely wrong or not worth considering, especially in a trial: The charges were thrown out of court. Well that's my theory ruled out of court.more at BALL n., LAUGH v., PAY v.
verb
TRY TO PLEASE
1 [VN] to try to please sb in order to get sth you want, especially the support of a person, an organization, etc. CULTIVATE: Both candidates have spent the last month courting the media.
TRY TO GET
2 [VN] (formal) to try to obtain sth: He has never courted popularity.
INVITE STH BAD
3 [VN] (formal) to do sth that might result in sth unpleasant happening: to court danger/death/disaster As a politician he has often courted controversy.
HAVE RELATIONSHIP
4 [VN] (old-fashioned) if a man courts a woman, he spends time with her and tries to make her love him, so that they can get married: He had been courting Jane for six months.
5 [V] be courting (old-fashioned) (of a man and a woman) to have a romantic relationship before getting married: At that time they had been courting for several years.see also COURTSHIP

WHICH WORD?

court / law court / court of law

All these words can be used to refer to a place where legal trials take place. Court and (formal) court of law usually refer to the actual room where cases are judged. Courtroom is also used for this. Law court (BrE) is more often used to refer to the building: The prison is opposite the law court. Courthouse is used for this in NAmE.

court card (BrE) (also face card NAmE, BrE) noun a PLAYING CARD with a picture of a king, queen or JACK on it

court costs noun [pl.] (NAmE) = COSTS at COST n.

courteous NAmE adj. polite, especially in a way that shows respect: a courteous young man The hotel staff are friendly and courteous. DISCOURTEOUS
courteously adv.: 'I don't think we have met,' said the chairman courteously.

courtesan NAmE noun (in the past) a PROSTITUTE, especially one with rich customers

courtesy NAmE noun, adj.
noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] polite behaviour that shows respect for other people POLITENESS: I was treated with the utmost courtesy by the staff. We asked them, as a matter of courtesy, if we could photograph their house. It's only common courtesy to tell the neighbours that we'll be having a party (= the sort of behaviour that people would expect).
2 [C, usually pl.] (formal) a polite thing that you say or do when you meet people in formal situations: an exchange of courtesies before the meeting
courtesy of sb/sth
1 (also by courtesy of sb/sth) with the official permission of sb/sth and as a favour: The pictures have been reproduced by courtesy of the British Museum.
2 given as a prize or provided free by a person or an organization: Win a weekend in Rome, courtesy of Fiat.
3 as the result of a particular thing or situation: Viewers can see the stadium from the air, courtesy of a camera fastened to the plane.
do sb the courtesy of doing sth to be polite by doing the thing that is mentioned: Please do me the courtesy of listening to what I'm saying.
have the courtesy to do sth to know when you should do sth in order to be polite: You think he'd at least have the courtesy to call to say he'd be late.
adj. [only before noun] (of a bus, car, etc.) provided free, at no cost to the person using it: A courtesy bus operates between the hotel and the town centre. The dealer will provide you with a courtesy car while your vehicle is being repaired.

courtesy call noun
1 (also courtesy visit) a formal or official visit, usually by one important person to another, just to be polite, not to discuss important business
2 a telephone call from a company to one of its customers, for example to see if they are satisfied with the company's service.

courtesy light noun a small light inside a car which is automatically switched on when sb opens the door

courtesy title noun a title that sb is allowed to use but which has no legal status

courthouse NAmE noun
1 (especially NAmE) a building containing courts of law note at COURT
2 (in the US) a building containing the offices of a county government

courtier NAmE noun (especially in the past) a person who is part of the COURT of a king or queen

courtly NAmE adj. (formal or literary) extremely polite and full of respect, especially in an old-fashioned way

courtly love noun [U] a tradition in literature, especially in Medieval times, involving the faithful love of a KNIGHT for his married LADY, with whom he can never have a relationship

court martial noun [C, U] (pl. courts martial) a military court that deals with members of the armed forces who break military law; a trial at such a court: He was convicted at a court martial. All the men now face court martial.

court-martial verb (-ll-, US -l-) [VN] [often passive] to hold a trial of sb in a military court: He was court-martialled for desertion.

court of appeal noun
1 (pl. courts of appeal) a court that people can go to in order to try and change decisions that have been made by a lower courtsee also APPELLATE COURT
2 Court of Appeal [sing.] (BrE) the highest court in Britain (apart from the House of Lords), that can change decisions made by a lower court
3 Court of Appeals [C] (US) one of the courts in the US that can change decisions made by a lower court

court of claims noun (US) a court in the US that hears claims made against the government

court of inquiry (also court of enquiry) noun (pl. courts of inquiry/enquiry) (BrE) a special official group of people that investigates a particular problem

court of law noun (pl. courts of law) (also law court) a room or building where legal cases are judged note at COURT

Court of Session noun in Scotland, the highest court that deals with CIVIL cases (= not criminal cases)

court order noun a decision that is made in court about what must happen in a particular situation: He failed to meet four court orders to pay debts of £4 000.

courtroom NAmE noun a room in which trials or other legal cases are held note at COURT

courtship NAmE noun
1 [C, U] (old-fashioned) the time when two people have a romantic relationship before they get married; the process of developing this relationship: They married after a short courtship. Mr Elton's courtship of Harriet
2 [U] the special way animals behave in order to attract a mate for producing young animals: courtship displays
3 ~ (of sb/sth) (formal) the process or act of attracting a business partner, etc.: the company's courtship by the government

court shoe (BrE) (NAmE pump) noun a woman's formal shoe that is plain and does not cover the top part of the foot

court tennis noun [U] (NAmE) = REAL TENNIS

courtyard NAmE (also court) noun an open space that is partly or completely surrounded by buildings and is usually part of a castle, a large house, etc.: the central/inner courtyard

couscous noun [U] a type of N African food made from crushed WHEAT; a dish of meat and/or vegetables with couscous

cousin noun
1 (also first cousin) a child of your aunt or uncle: She's my cousin. We're cousins.see also COUNTRY COUSIN, SECOND COUSIN
2 a person who is in your wider family but who is not closely related to you: He's a distant cousin of mine.
3 [usually pl.] a way of describing people from another country who are similar in some way to people in your own country: our American cousins

cousin brother noun (IndE, informal) a male cousin of your own generation

cousin sister noun (IndE, informal) a female cousin of your own generation

couture NAmE noun [U] (from French) the design and production of expensive and fashionable clothes; these clothes: a couture evening dress The House of Mattli is expanding from couture into ready-to-wear.see also HAUTE COUTURE

couturier NAmE noun (from French) a person who designs, makes and sells expensive, fashionable clothes, especially for women FASHION DESIGNER

covalent NAmE adj. (chemistry) (of a chemical BOND) sharing a pair of ELECTRONScompare IONIC

covariant NAmE adj. (statistics) showing a tendency to change with another VARIABLE

cove NAmE noun
1 a small bay (= an area of sea that is partly surrounded by land): a secluded cove
2 (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a man

coven noun a group or meeting of WITCHES

covenant noun a promise to sb, or a legal agreement, especially one to pay a regular amount of money to sb/sth: God's covenant with Abraham a covenant to a charity
covenant verb: [VN] All profits are covenanted to medical charities.

Coventry BrE NAmE noun
send sb to Coventry (BrE) to refuse to speak to sb, as a way of punishing them for sth that they have done

cover verb, noun
verb
HIDE/PROTECT
1 [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to place sth over or in front of sth in order to hide or protect it: Cover the chicken loosely with foil. She covered her face with her hands. (figurative) He laughed to cover (= hide) his nervousness. note at HIDE
SPREAD OVER SURFACE
2 [VN] to lie or spread over the surface of sth: Snow covered the ground. Much of the country is covered by forest.
3 [VN] ~ sb/sth in/with sth to put or spread a layer of liquid, dust, etc. on sb/sth: The players were soon covered in mud. The wind blew in from the desert and covered everything with sand.
INCLUDE
4 [VN] to include sth; to deal with sth: The survey covers all aspects of the business. The lectures covered a lot of ground (= a lot of material, subjects, etc.). the sales team covering the northern part of the country (= selling to people in that area) Do the rules cover (= do they apply to) a case like this?
MONEY
5 [VN] to be or provide enough money for sth: $100 should cover your expenses. Your parents will have to cover your tuition fees. The show barely covered its costs.
DISTANCE/AREA
6 [VN] to travel the distance mentioned: By sunset we had covered thirty miles. They walked for a long time and covered a good deal of ground.
7 [VN] to spread over the area mentioned: The reserve covers an area of some 1 140 square kilometres.
REPORT NEWS
8 [VN] to report on an event for television, a newspaper, etc.; to show an event on television: She's covering the party's annual conference. The BBC will cover all the major games of the tournament.
FOR SB
9 [V] ~ for sb to do sb's work or duties while they are away: I'm covering for Jane while she's on leave.
10 [V] ~ for sb to invent a lie or an excuse that will stop sb from getting into trouble: I have to go out for a minutewill you cover for me if anyone asks where I am?
WITH INSURANCE
11 ~ sb/sth (against/for sth) to protect sb against loss, injury, etc. by insurance: [VN] Are you fully covered for fire and theft? [VN to inf] Does this policy cover my husband to drive?
AGAINST BLAME
12 [VN] ~ yourself (against sth) to take action in order to protect yourself against being blamed for sth: One reason doctors take temperatures is to cover themselves against negligence claims.
WITH GUN
13 [VN] to protect sb by threatening to shoot at anyone who tries to attack them: Cover me while I move forward. The artillery gave us covering fire (= shot to protect us).
14 [VN] to aim a gun at a place or person so that nobody can escape or shoot: The police covered the exits to the building. Don't movewe've got you covered!
SONG
15 [VN] to record a new version of a song that was originally recorded by another band or singer: They've covered an old Rolling Stones number.
cover all the bases to consider and deal with all the things that could happen or could be needed when you are arranging sth: I am confident this contract covers all the bases.
cover your back (informal) (NAmE also cover your ass, taboo, slang) to realize that you may be blamed or criticized for sth later and take action to avoid this: Get everything in writing in order to cover your back.
cover your tracks to try and hide what you have done, because you do not want other people to find out about it: He had attempted to cover his tracks by making her death appear like suicide.more at MULTITUDE
cover sthin to put a covering or roof over an open space
cover sthover to cover sth completely so that it cannot be seen CONCEAL: The Roman remains are now covered over by office buildings.
cover up| cover yourself up to put on more clothes
cover sthup
1 to cover sth completely so that it cannot be seen: He covered up the body with a sheet.
2 (disapproving) to try to stop people from knowing the truth about a mistake, a crime, etc.related noun COVER-UP
noun
PROTECTION/SHELTER
1 [C] a thing that is put over or on another thing, usually to protect it or to decorate it: a cushion cover a plastic waterproof cover for the strollersee also DUST COVER, LOOSE COVER
2 [U] a place that provides shelter from bad weather or protection from an attack: Everyone ran for cover when it started to rain. The climbers took cover from the storm in a cave. After the explosion the street was full of people running for cover.
OF BOOK
3 [C] the outside of a book or a magazine: the front/back cover Her face was on the cover (= the front cover) of every magazine. He always reads the paper from cover to cover (= everything in it).
INSURANCE
4 (BrE) (NAmE coverage) [U] ~ (against sth) protection that an insurance company provides by promising to pay you money if a particular event happens: accident cover cover against accidental damage private health cover costs There is no cover provided by the policy for theft of property from cars or garages.
WITH WEAPONS
5 [U] support and protection that is provided when sb is attacking or in danger of being attacked: The ships needed air cover (= protection by military planes) once they reached enemy waters.
TREES/PLANTS
6 [U] trees and plants that grow on an area of land: The total forest cover of the earth is decreasing. Zebras and other animals were standing very still in broken cover.
CLOUD/SNOW
7 [U] the fact of the sky being covered with cloud or the ground with snow: Fog and low cloud cover are expected this afternoon. In this area there is snow cover for six months of the year.
ON BED
8 the covers [pl.] the sheets, BLANKETS, etc. on a bed: She threw back the covers and leapt out of bed. He climbed into the cold bed and snuggled beneath the covers.
SONG
9 [C] = COVER VERSION
HIDING STH
10 [C, usually sing.] ~ (for sth) activities or behaviour that seem honest or true but that hide sb's real identity or feelings, or that hide sth illegal: His work as a civil servant was a cover for his activities as a spy. Her over-confident attitude was a cover for her nervousness. It would only take one phone call to blow their cover (= make known their true identities and what they were really doing).
FOR SB'S WORK
11 [U] the fact of sb doing another person's job when they are away or when there are not enough staff: It's the manager's job to organize cover for staff who are absent. Ambulance drivers provided only emergency cover during the dispute.
break cover to leave a place that you have been hiding in, usually at a high speed: The vehicles broke cover and headed towards the enemy's headquarters.
under cover
1 pretending to be sb else in order to do sth secretly: a police officer working under cover
2 under a structure that gives protection from the weather: Start growing the plants indoors or under cover.
under (the) cover of sth hidden or protected by sth: Later, under cover of darkness, they crept into the house.
under separate cover (business) in a separate envelope: The information you requested is being forwarded to you under separate cover.more at JUDGE v.

coverage noun [U]
1 the reporting of news and sport in newspapers and on the radio and television: media/newspaper/press coverage tonight's live coverage of the hockey game There was blanket coverage (= reports everywhere) of the royal divorce.
2 the range or quality of information that is included in a book or course of study, on television, etc.: magazines with extensive coverage of diet and health topics The book gives good, general coverage of the subject.
3 the amount of sth that sth provides; the amount or way that sth covers an area: Immunization coverage against fatal diseases has increased to 99% in some countries.
4 (NAmE) = COVER (3): insurance coverage Medicaid health coverage for low-income families

coveralls noun [pl.] (NAmE) = OVERALLS

cover charge noun [usually sing.] an amount of money that you pay in some restaurants or clubs in addition to the cost of the food and drink

covered NAmE adj.
1 [not before noun] ~ in/with sth having a layer or amount of sth on it: His face was covered in blood. The walls were covered with pictures.
2 having a roof over it: a covered area of the stadium with seats

covered wagon noun a large wooden vehicle with a curved roof made of cloth, that is pulled by horses, used especially in the past in N America by people travelling across the land to the west

cover girl noun a young woman whose photograph is on the front of a magazine

covering noun
1 a layer of sth that covers sth else: a thick covering of snow on the ground
2 a layer of material such as carpet or WALLPAPER, used to cover, decorate and protect floors, walls, etc.: floor/wall coverings
3 a piece of material that covers sth: He pulled the plastic covering off the dead body.

covering letter (BrE) (NAmE cover letter) noun a letter containing extra information that you send with sth: Send a covering letter and a CV to the following address ...

coverlet NAmE noun (old-fashioned) a type of BEDSPREAD to cover a bed

cover story noun
1 the main story in a magazine, that goes with the picture shown on the front cover
2 a story that is invented in order to hide sth, especially a person's identity or their reasons for doing sth

covert adj., noun
adj. NAmE (formal) secret or hidden, making it difficult to notice: covert operations/surveillance He stole a covert glance at her across the table. Every measure, both overt and covert, is being taken against terrorists.compare OVERT
covertly adv.: She watched him covertly in the mirror.
noun NAmE an area of thick low bushes and trees where animals can hide

cover-up noun [usually sing.] action that is taken to hide a mistake or illegal activity from the public: Government sources denied there had been a deliberate cover-up.

cover version (also cover) noun a new recording of an old song by a different band or singer: a cover version of the 60s pop classic 'The Crying Game'

covet verb [VN] (formal) to want sth very much, especially sth that belongs to sb else: [VN] He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. They are this year's winners of the coveted trophy (= that everyone would like to win).

covetous adj. (formal) having a strong desire for the things that other people have
covetousness noun [U]

cow noun, verb
noun
1 a large animal kept on farms to produce milk or beef: cow's milk a herd of dairy cows (= cows kept for their milk)compare BULL, CALF, HEIFERsee also CATTLE
2 the female of the ELEPHANT, WHALE and some other large animalscompare BULL
3 (slang, disapproving) an offensive word for a woman: You stupid cow! That interfering old cow has never liked me.
4 (AustralE, NZE) an unpleasant person, thing, or situationsee also CASH COW, SACRED COW
have a cow (NAmE, informal) to become very angry or anxious about sth: Don't have a cowit's no big deal.
till the cows come home (informal) for a very long time; for ever: You can talk till the cows come homeyou'll never make me change my mind.
verb [VN] [usually passive] to frighten sb in order to make them obey you INTIMIDATE: She was easily cowed by people in authority.

coward NAmE noun (disapproving) a person who is not brave or who does not have the courage to do things that other people do not think are especially difficult: You coward! What are you afraid of? I'm a real coward when it comes to going to the dentist.
cowardly adj.: a cowardly attack on a defenceless man

cowardice NAmE noun [U] fear or lack of courage BRAVERY, COURAGE: The lieutenant had displayed cowardice in the face of the enemy.

cowbell noun a bell that is put around a cow's neck so that the cow can easily be found

cowboy noun
1 a man who rides a horse and whose job is to take care of CATTLE in the western parts of the US: cowboy boots
2 a man like this as a character in a film/movie about the American West: children playing a game of cowboys and Indians
3 (BrE, informal, disapproving) a dishonest person in business, especially sb who produces work of bad quality or charges too high a price

cowboy hat noun a hat with a wide BRIM, worn by American cowboys

cowcatcher noun (NAmE) a pointed metal structure at the front of a train that is used for pushing things off the track

cow chip noun (US) a very hard COWPAT

cowed adj. made to feel afraid and that you are not as good as sb elsesee also COW v.

cower verb [V] to bend low and/or move backwards because you are frightened: A gun went off and people cowered behind walls and under tables. The dog whimpered and cowered at his feet.

cowgirl NAmE noun a female COWBOY in the American West

cowhand noun a person whose job is taking care of cows

cowhide noun [U] strong leather made from the skin of a cow

cowl noun
1 a large loose covering for the head, worn especially by MONKS
2 a cover for a CHIMNEY, etc., usually made of metal. Cowls often turn with the wind and are designed to improve the flow of air or smoke.

cowlick noun a piece of hair that grows in a different direction from the rest of your hair and is difficult to make lie flat

cowling noun (technical) a metal cover for an engine, especially on an aircraft

cowl neck noun a COLLAR on a woman's sweater that hangs in several folds

co-worker noun a person that sb works with, doing the same kind of job COLLEAGUE

cow parsley noun [U] a European wild plant with a lot of very small white flowers that look like LACE

cowpat (BrE) noun a round flat piece of solid waste from a cow

cowpea noun a type of BEAN that is white with a black spot and is grown for food: Cowpeas are an important crop in many African countries.

cowpoke NAmE noun (NAmE, old-fashioned or humorous) = COWBOY

cowpox NAmE noun [U] a disease caused by a virus, which affects cows and can infect humans. The virus was used in making VACCINES against SMALLPOX.

cowrie noun a small shiny shell that was used as money in the past in parts of Africa and Asia

cowshed noun (BrE) a farm building in which cows are kept

cowslip noun a small wild plant with yellow flowers with a sweet smell

cox NAmE noun, verb
noun (also coxswain) the person who controls the direction of a ROWING BOAT while other people are ROWING
verb [VN, V] to control the direction of a ROWING BOAT while other people are ROWING; to act as a cox

coxswain NAmE noun
1 the person who is in charge of a LIFEBOAT and who controls its direction
2 = COX

coy adj.
1 shy or pretending to be shy and innocent, especially about love or sex, and sometimes in order to make people more interested in you: She gave me a coy smile.
2 ~ (about sth) not willing to give information about sth, or answer questions that tell people too much about you RETICENT: She was a little coy about how much her dress cost. The company is coy about revealing its profits.
coyly adv. coyness noun [U]

coyote BrE NAmE (also prairie wolf) noun a N American wild animal of the dog family

coypu noun a large S American animal, like a BEAVER, that lives near water

cozy (NAmE) = COSY

cp. abbr. (in writing) compare

CPE noun [U] a British test, set by the University of Cambridge, that measures a person's ability to speak and write English at a very advanced level (the abbreviation for 'Certificate of Proficiency in English')

CPI abbr. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

Cpl (BrE) (NAmE Cpl.) abbr. (in writing) CORPORAL

CPR noun [U] breathing air into the mouth of an unconscious person and pressing on their chest to keep them alive by sending air around their body (the abbreviation for 'cardiopulmonary resuscitation')

CPU abbr. (computing) the abbreviation for 'central processing unit' (the part of a computer that controls all the other parts of the system)

crab noun
1 [C] a sea creature with a hard shell, eight legs and two PINCERS (= curved and pointed arms for catching and holding things). Crabs move sideways on land.see also HERMIT CRAB
2 [U] meat from a crab, used for food: dressed crab
3 crabs (informal) the condition caused by having LICE (called crab lice) in the hair around the GENITALS

crab apple noun a tree that produces fruit like small hard sour apples, also called crab apples : crab-apple jelly

crabbed adj.
1 or literary) (of sb's writing) small and difficult to read
2 (old-fashioned) = CRABBY

crabby adj. (informal) (of people) bad-tempered and unpleasant

crabgrass NAmE noun [U] (especially NAmE) a type of grass that grows where it is not wanted, spreads quickly and is hard to get rid of

crab stick noun a small pink stick made from pressed pieces of fish that have been flavoured to taste like CRAB

crabwise adv. (of a movement) in a sideways direction, like a CRAB

crack verb, noun, adj.
verb
BREAK
1 to break without dividing into separate parts; to break sth in this way: [V] The ice cracked as I stepped onto it. [VN] He has cracked a bone in his arm. Her lips were dry and cracked.
2 to break open or into pieces; to break sth in this way: [V + adv. / prep.] A chunk of the cliff had cracked off in a storm. (figurative) His face cracked into a smile. [VN] to crack a nut She cracked an egg into the pan.
HIT
3 [VN] ~ sth/sb (on/against sth) to hit sth/sb with a short hard blow: I cracked my head on the low ceiling. He cracked me on the head with a ruler.
MAKE SOUND
4 to make a sharp sound; to make sth do this: [V] A shot cracked across the ridge. [VN] [no passive] He cracked his whip and galloped away.
OF VOICE
5 [V] if your voice cracks, it changes in depth, volume, etc. suddenly and in a way that you cannot control: In a voice cracking with emotion, he told us of his son's death.
UNDER PRESSURE
6 [V] to no longer be able to function normally because of pressure: Things are terrible at work and people are cracking under the strain. They questioned him for days before he cracked. The old institutions are cracking.
FIND SOLUTION
7 [VN] to find the solution to a problem, etc.; to find the way to do sth difficult: to crack the enemy's code (informal) After a year in this job I think I've got it cracked!
STOP SB/STH
8 [VN] to find a way of stopping or defeating a criminal or an enemy: Police have cracked a major drugs ring.
OPEN BOTTLE
9 [VN] ~ (open) a bottle (informal) to open a bottle, especially of wine, and drink it
A JOKE
10 [VN] ~ a joke (informal) to tell a joke
get cracking (informal) to begin immediately and work quickly GET GOING: There's a lot to be done, so let's get cracking.
not all, everything, etc. sb's cracked up to be (informal) not as good as people say: He's not nearly such a good writer as he's cracked up to be.
crack the whip to use your authority or power to make sb work very hard, usually by treating them in a strict waymore at SLEDGEHAMMER
crack down (on sb/sth) to try harder to prevent an illegal activity and deal more severely with those who are caught doing it: Police are cracking down on drug dealers.related noun CRACKDOWN
crack on (with sth) (BrE, informal) to work hard at sth so that you finish it quickly; to pass or continue quickly: If we crack on with the painting we should finish it today. Time was cracking on and we were nowhere near finished.
crack up (informal)
1 to become ill, either physically or mentally, because of pressure: You'll crack up if you carry on working like this.
2 to start laughing a lot: He walked in and everyone just cracked up.
crack sb up (informal) to make sb laugh a lot: Gill's so funny, she just cracks me up.
noun
BREAK
1 [C] ~ (in sth) a line on the surface of sth where it has broken but not split into separate parts: This cup has a crack in it. Cracks began to appear in the walls. (figurative) The cracks (= faults) in the government's economic policy are already beginning to show.
NARROW OPENING
2 [C] a narrow space or opening: She peeped through the crack in the curtains. The door opened a crack (= a small amount).
SOUND
3 [C] a sudden loud noise: a crack of thunder the sharp crack of a rifle shot
HIT
4 [C] ~ (on sth) a sharp blow that can be heard: She fell over and got a nasty crack on the head.
ATTEMPT
5 [C] ~ (at sth)| ~ (at doing sth) (informal) an occasion when you try to do sth ATTEMPT: She hopes to have another crack at the world record this year.
DRUG
6 (also crack cocaine) [U] a powerful, illegal drug that is a form of COCAINE: a crack addict
JOKE
7 [C] (informal) a joke, especially a critical one: He made a very unfair crack about her looks.
CONVERSATION
8 (also craic) [U, sing.] (IrishE, informal) a good time; friendly, enjoyable talk: Where's the crack tonight? He's a person who enjoys a drink and a bit of crack.
at the crack of dawn (informal) very early in the morning: I have to get up at the crack of dawn.more at FAIR adj.
adj. [only before noun] expert and highly trained; excellent at sth: crack troops He's a crack shot (= accurate and skilled at shooting).

crackbrained adj. (informal) crazy and unlikely to succeed: a crackbrained idea

crackdown noun ~ (on sb/sth) severe action taken to restrict the activities of criminals or of people opposed to the government or sb in authority: a military crackdown on student protesters a crackdown on crime

cracked adj.
1 damaged with lines in its surface but not completely broken: a cracked mirror/mug He suffered cracked ribs and bruising. She passed her tongue over her cracked lips and tried to speak.
2 (of sb's voice) sounding rough with sudden changes in how loud or high it is, because the person is upset: 'I'm just fine,' she said in a cracked voice.
3 [not before noun] (informal) crazy: I think he must be cracked, don't you?

cracked wheat noun [U] grains of WHEAT that have been broken into small pieces

cracker noun
1 a thin dry biscuit that is often salty and usually eaten with cheesesee also CREAM CRACKER, GRAHAM CRACKER
2 (also Christmas cracker) a tube of coloured paper that makes a loud EXPLOSIVE sound when it is pulled open by two people. Crackers usually contain a paper hat, a small present and a joke, and are used in Britain at Christmas parties and meals: Who wants to pull this cracker with me?see also FIRECRACKER
3 (BrE, informal) something that you think is very good, funny, etc.: It was a cracker of a goal. I've got a joke for you. It's a real cracker!
4 (NAmE, slang) an offensive word for a poor white person with little education from the southern US
5 (informal) a person who illegally finds a way of looking at or stealing information on sb else's computer system
6 (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) an attractive woman

crackerjack NAmE noun (NAmE, informal) an excellent person or thing
crackerjack adj.

crackers NAmE adj. [not before noun] (BrE, informal) crazy: That noise is driving me crackers. You must be absolutely crackers even to think of it.

crackhead noun (slang) a person who uses the illegal drug CRACK

crack house noun (in the US) a place where people sell CRACK (= a type of illegal drug)

cracking noun, adj.
noun [U]
1 lines on a surface where it is damaged or beginning to break: All planes are being inspected for possible cracking and corrosion.
2 the sound of sth cracking: the cracking of thunder/twigs
adj. [usually before noun] (BrE, informal) excellent: That was a cracking goal. She's in cracking form at the moment. We set off at a cracking pace (= very quickly).
cracking adv.: a cracking good (= extremely good) dinner

crackle verb, noun
verb [V] to make short sharp sounds like sth that is burning in a fire: A log fire crackled in the hearth. The radio crackled into life. (figurative) The atmosphere crackled with tension.
noun [U, C] a series of short sharp sounds: the distant crackle of machine-gun fire Erika picked up the phone and through a barrage of crackles heard a familiar voice.
crackly adj.: She picked up the phone and heard a crackly voice saying: 'Sue here.'

crackling noun
1 [U, sing.] a series of sharp sounds: He could hear the crackling of burning trees.
2 [U] (BrE) (US cracklings [pl.]) the hard skin of PORK (= meat from a pig) that has been cooked in the oven

cracknel noun
1 [C] a type of crisp biscuit that is not sweet
2 [U, C] a sweet made from a flat, crisp piece of sugar, often with nuts in

crackpot NAmE noun (informal) a person with strange or crazy ideas
crackpot adj. [only before noun]: crackpot ideas/theories

-cracy combining form (in nouns) the government or rule of: democracy bureaucracy

cradle noun, verb
noun
1 a small bed for a baby which can be pushed gently from side to side: She rocked the baby to sleep in its cradle.
2 [usually sing.] ~ of sth the place where sth important began: Greece, the cradle of Western civilization
3 (BrE) a small platform that can be moved up and down the outside of a high building, used by people cleaning windows, etc.
4 the part of a telephone on which the RECEIVER rests
from the cradle to the grave a way of referring to the whole of a person's life, from birth until deathmore at ROB
verb [VN] to hold sb/sth gently in your arms or hands: The old man cradled the tiny baby in his arms.

cradle cap noun [U] a skin condition that causes dry rough yellow areas on top of a baby's head

cradle-snatcher (BrE) (NAmE cradle-robber) noun (disapproving) a person who has a sexual relationship with a much younger person
cradle-snatch (BrE) (NAmE cradle-rob) verb [V]

craft NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] an activity involving a special skill at making things with your hands: traditional crafts like basket-weaving a craft fair/workshop Craft, Design and Technology (= a subject in some British schools)see also ARTS AND CRAFTS
2 [sing.] all the skills needed for a particular activity: chefs who learned their craft in top hotels the writer's craft
3 [U] (formal, disapproving) skill in making people believe what you want them to believe: He knew how to win by craft and diplomacy what he could not gain by force.
4 [C] (pl. craft) a boat or ship: Hundreds of small craft bobbed around the liner as it steamed into the harbour. a landing/pleasure craft
5 [C] (pl. craft) an aircraft or SPACECRAFT
verb [VN] [usually passive] to make sth using special skills, especially with your hands FASHION: All the furniture is crafted from natural materials. a carefully crafted speechsee also HANDCRAFTED

craft knife noun (BrE) a very sharp knife used for cutting paper or thin pieces of wood

craftsman NAmE (also craftsperson) noun (pl. -men ) a skilled person, especially one who makes beautiful things by hand: rugs handmade by local craftsmen It is clearly the work of a master craftsman.see also CRAFTSWOMAN

craftsmanship NAmE noun [U]
1 the level of skill shown by sb in making sth beautiful with their hands: The whole house is a monument to her craftsmanship.
2 the quality of design and work shown by sth that has been made by hand: the superb craftsmanship of the carvings

craftsperson NAmE noun (pl. -people ) = CRAFTSMAN

craftswoman NAmE noun (pl. -women ) a skilled woman, especially one who makes beautiful things by hand

craftwork NAmE noun [U] work done by a CRAFTSMAN

crafty NAmE adj. (craftier, craftiest) (usually disapproving) clever at getting what you want, especially by indirect or dishonest methods CUNNING, WILY: He's a crafty old devil. one of the party's craftiest political strategists There are times when the only way to win is by a crafty reinterpretation of the rules.
craftily adv. craftiness noun [U]

crag noun a high steep rough mass of rock: a castle set on a crag above the village

craggy adj.
1 having many crags: a craggy coastline
2 (usually approving) (of a man's face) having strong features and deep lines

craic noun = CRACK (8)

cram verb (-mm-)
1 ~ (sth) into/onto sth| ~ (sth) in to push or force sb/sth into a small space; to move into a small space with the result that it is full: [VN] He crammed eight people into his car. I could never cram in all that she does in a day. I managed to cram down a few mouthfuls of food. Supporters crammed the streets. [V] We all managed to cram into his car. [also VN-ADJ]
2 [V] ~ (for sth) (rather old-fashioned) to learn a lot of things in a short time, in preparation for an exam SWOT: He's been cramming for his exams all week.

crammed adj. ~ (with sb/sth)
1 full of things or people: All the shelves were crammed with books. The room was crammed full of people. PACKED: The article was crammed full of ideas.
2 [not before noun] if people are crammed into a place, there is not much room for them in it PACKED: We were crammed four to an office.

crammer noun (BrE) a school or book that prepares people quickly for exams

cramp noun, verb
noun
1 [U, C] (NAmE also charley horse [C]) a sudden pain that you get when the muscles in a particular part of your body contract, usually caused by cold or too much exercise: (BrE) to get cramp in your leg (NAmE) to get a cramp in your legsee also WRITER'S CRAMP
2 cramps [pl.] severe pain in the stomach
verb [VN] to prevent the development or progress of sb/sth RESTRICT: Tighter trade restrictions might cramp economic growth.
cramp sb's style (informal) to stop sb from behaving in the way they want to: She didn't want me to go with her to the party in case I cramped her style.

cramped adj.
1 a cramped room, etc. does not have enough space for the people in it: working in cramped conditions
2 (of people) not having room to move freely
3 (of sb's writing) with small letters close together and therefore difficult to read

crampon NAmE noun [usually pl.] a metal plate with pointed pieces of metal underneath, worn on sb's shoes when they are walking or climbing on ice and snow

cranberry NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a small sour red BERRY that grows on a small bush and is used in cooking: cranberry sauce

crane noun, verb
noun
1 a tall machine with a long arm, used to lift and move building materials and other heavy objects
2 a large bird with long legs and a long neck see also BLUE CRANE
verb [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to lean or stretch over sth in order to see sth better; to stretch your neck: [V] People were craning out of the windows and waving. [VN] She craned her neck to get a better view of the stage.

crane fly (also informal daddy-long-legs) noun a flying insect with very long legs

cranium noun (pl. craniums or crania ) (anatomy) the bone structure that forms the head and surrounds and protects the brain SKULL
cranial adj. [only before noun]: cranial nerves/injuries

crank noun, verb
noun
1 (disapproving) a person with ideas that other people find strange ECCENTRIC: Vegetarians are no longer dismissed as cranks. Everybody famous gets crank calls and letters.
2 (NAmE) a person who easily gets angry or annoyed: The old crank next door can't stand the sound of our lawnmower.
3 a bar and handle in the shape of an L that you pull or turn to produce movement in a machine, etc.
verb [VN] ~ sth (up) to make sth turn or move by using a crank: to crank an engine (figurative) He has a limited time to crank the reforms into action.
crank sthout (informal) to produce a lot of sth quickly, especially things of low quality TURN OUT
crank sthup (informal)
1 to make a machine, etc. work or work at a higher level
2 to make music, etc. louder TURN UP: Crank up the volume!

crankshaft NAmE noun (technical) a long straight piece of metal in a vehicle that connects the engine to the wheels and helps turn the engine's power into movement

cranky adj. (informal)
1 (BrE) strange ECCENTRIC: cranky ideas/schemes
2 (especially NAmE) bad-tempered: The kids were getting tired and a little cranky.

cranny noun (pl. -ies) a very small hole or opening, especially in a wall see NOOK

crap noun, adj., verb
noun (taboo, slang)
1 [U] nonsense: He's so full of crap. Let's cut the crap and get down to business. (BrE) You're talking a load of crap! (NAmE) What a bunch of crap!
2 [U] something of bad quality: This work is complete crap. (BrE) Her latest film is a load of crap. (NAmE) Her latest movie is a bunch of crap. I won't put up with any old crap. More acceptable words are rubbish, garbage, trash or junk.
3 [U] criticism or unfair treatment: I'm not going to take this crap any more.
4 [U] solid waste matter from the BOWELS EXCREMENT
5 [sing.] an act of emptying solid waste matter from the BOWELS: to have a crap
adj. (BrE, taboo, slang) bad; of very bad quality: a crap band The concert was crap.
crap adv.: The team played crap yesterday.
verb (-pp-) [V] (taboo, slang) to empty solid waste from the BOWELS DEFECATE A more polite way of expressing this is 'to go to the toilet/lavatory' (BrE), 'to go to the bathroom' (NAmE), or 'to go'. A more formal expression is 'to empty the bowels'.

crappy adj. (crappier, crappiest) [usually before noun] (slang) of very bad quality: a crappy novel

craps noun [U] (NAmE) a gambling game played with two DICE: to shoot craps (= play this game)
crap adj. [only before noun]: a crap game

crapshoot noun (NAmE)
1 a game of CRAPS
2 (informal) a situation whose success or result is based on luck rather than on effort or careful organization

crash noun, verb, adj.
noun
VEHICLE ACCIDENT
1 (NAmE also wreck) an accident in which a vehicle hits sth, for example another vehicle, usually causing damage and often injuring or killing the passengers: A girl was killed yesterday in a crash involving a stolen car. a car/plane crash
LOUD NOISE
2 [usually sing.] a sudden loud noise made, for example, by sth falling or breaking: She heard the crash of shattering glass as the vehicles collided. The tree fell with a great crash. The first distant crash of thunder shook the air.
IN FINANCE/BUSINESS
3 a sudden serious fall in the price or value of sth; the occasion when a business, etc. fails COLLAPSE: the 1987 stock market crash
COMPUTING
4 a sudden failure of a machine or system, especially of a computer or computer system: A systems crash in the morning and a bomb scare in the afternoon provided enough excitement for one day.
verb
OF VEHICLE
1 ~ (sth) (into sth) if a vehicle crashes or the driver crashes it, it hits an object or another vehicle, causing damage: [V] I was terrified that the plane would crash. We're going to crash, aren't we? A truck went out of control and crashed into the back of a bus. [VN] He crashed his car into a wall.
HIT HARD/LOUD NOISE
2 to hit sth hard while moving, causing noise and/or damage; to make sth hit sb/sth in this way: [V + adv. / prep.] A brick crashed through the window. With a sweep of his hand he sent the glasses crashing to the floor. [V-ADJ] The door crashed open. [VN-ADJ] She stormed out of the room and crashed the door shut behind her.
3 [V] to make a loud noise: Thunder crashed overhead.
IN FINANCE/BUSINESS
4 [V] (of prices, a business, shares, etc.) to lose value or fail suddenly and quickly: Share prices crashed to an all-time low yesterday. The company crashed with debts of £50 million.
COMPUTING
5 if a computer crashes or you crash a computer, it stops working suddenly: [V] Files can be lost if the system suddenly crashes. [also VN]
PARTY
6 [VN] (informal) = GATECRASH
IN SPORT
7 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] (especially BrE) to lose very badly in a sports game: The team crashed to their worst defeat this season.
SLEEP
8 [V] ~ (out) (informal) to fall asleep; to sleep somewhere you do not usually sleep: I was so tired I crashed out on the sofa. I've come to crash on your floor for a couple of nights.
MEDICAL
9 [V] if sb crashes, their heart stops beating
a crashing bore (old-fashioned, BrE) a very boring person
crash out (of sth) (sport) (BrE) to lose a game with the result that you have to stop playing in a competition: They crashed out of the World Cup after a 2-1 defeat to Brazil. Ireland crashed out of the competition on June 16,losing a nail-biting penalty shootout to Spain in Suwon. Spain had two goals disallowed on Saturday before crashing out 5-3 in a penalty shootout.
adj. [only before noun] involving hard work or a lot of effort over a short period of time in order to achieve quick results: a crash course in computer programming a crash diet

SYNONYMS

crash

slam collide smash wreck

These are all words that can be used when sth, especially a vehicle, hits sth else very hard and is damaged or destroyed.

crash (rather informal) to hit an object or another vehicle, causing damage; to make a vehicle do this: I was terrified that the plane would crash.

slam (sth) into/against sb/sth to crash into sth with a lot of force; to make sth do this: The car skidded and slammed into a tree.

collide (rather formal) (of two vehicles or people) to crash into each other; (of a vehicle or person) to crash into sb/sth else: The car and the van collided head-on in thick fog.

smash (rather informal) to crash into sth with a lot of force; to make sth do this; to crash a car: Ramraiders smashed a stolen car through the shop window.

CRASH, SLAM OR SMASH?

Crash is used particularly for vehicles and can be used without a preposition: We're going to crash, aren't we? In this meaning slam and smash always take a preposition: We're going to slam/smash, aren't we? They are used for a much wider range of things than just vehicles. Crash can also be used for other things, if used with a preposition: He crashed down the telephone receiver.

wreck to crash a vehicle and damage it so badly that it is not worth repairing

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

The two vehicles crashed/collided.

The two vehicles crashed/slammed/smashed into each other.

The car/plane crashed/slammed/smashed into a tree.

I've crashed/smashed/wrecked the car.

to crash/slam/collide/smash head-on (into/with sth)

crash barrier (BrE) (NAmE guard rail) noun a strong low fence or wall at the side of a road or between the two halves of a major road such as a MOTORWAY or INTERSTATE

crash-dive verb [V] (of an aircraft) to go steeply downwards and then crash

crash helmet noun a hat made of very strong material and worn when riding a motorcycle to protect the head

crash-land verb [V, VN] if a plane crash-lands or a pilot crash-lands it, the pilot lands it roughly in an emergency, usually because it is damaged and cannot land normally
crash landing noun: to make a crash landing

crash-test verb [VN] to deliberately crash a new vehicle under controlled conditions in order to test how it reacts or to improve its safety
crash test noun

crash-test dummy noun a model of a person used in crash tests to see what would happen to a driver or passenger in a real crash

crass adj. very stupid and showing no sympathy or understanding INSENSITIVE: the crass questions all disabled people get asked an act of crass (= great) stupidity
crassly adv. crassness noun [U]

-crat combining form (in nouns) a member or supporter of a particular type of government or system: democrat bureaucrat
-cratic (in adjectives): aristocratic

crate noun, verb
noun
1 a large wooden container for transporting goods: a crate of bananas
2 a container made of plastic or metal divided into small sections, for transporting or storing bottles: a beer crate
3 the amount of sth contained in a crate: They drank two crates of beer.
verb [VN] ~ sth (up) to pack sth in a crate

crater noun
1 a large hole in the top of a VOLCANO
2 a large hole in the ground caused by the explosion of a bomb or by sth large hitting it: a meteorite crater

cravat (NAmE also ascot) noun a short wide strip of silk, etc. worn by men around the neck, folded inside the COLLAR of a shirt

crave verb
1 to have a very strong desire for sth LONG FOR: [VN] She has always craved excitement. [also V, V to inf]
2 [VN] (BrE, old use) to ask for sth seriously: I must crave your pardon.

craven adj. (formal, disapproving) lacking courage COWARDLY BRAVE
cravenly adv.

craving noun ~ (for sth)| ~ (to do sth) a strong desire for sth: a craving for chocolate a desperate craving to be loved

craw noun the part of a bird's throat where food is kept see STICK v.

crawfish noun (especially NAmE) = CRAYFISH

crawl verb, noun
verb [V, usually + adv. / prep.]
1 to move forward on your hands and knees, with your body close to the ground: Our baby is just starting to crawl. A man was crawling away from the burning wreckage. She crawled under the fence.
2 when an insect crawls, it moves forward on its legs: There's a spider crawling up your leg.
3 to move forward very slowly: The traffic was crawling along. The weeks crawled by.
4 ~ (to sb) (informal, disapproving) to be too friendly or helpful to sb in authority, in a way that is not sincere, especially in order to get an advantage from them: She's always crawling to the boss. see SKIN n., WOODWORK
be crawling with sth (informal) to be full of or completely covered with people, insects or animals, in a way that is unpleasant: The place was crawling with journalists. Her hair was crawling with lice.
noun
1 [sing.] a very slow speed: The traffic slowed to a crawl.see also PUB CRAWL
2 (often the crawl) [sing., U] a fast swimming stroke that you do lying on your front moving one arm over your head, and then the other, while kicking with your feet: a swimmer doing the crawl He struck out across the pool in a powerful crawl.

crawler noun (informal)
1 (BrE, disapproving) a person who tries to get sb's favour by praising them, doing what will please them, etc.
2 a thing or person that crawls, such as a vehicle, an insect or a babysee also KERB-CRAWLER

crayfish (especially BrE) (also crawfish NAmE, BrE) noun [C, U] (pl. crayfish, crawfish) an animal like a small LOBSTER, that lives in rivers and lakes and can be eaten, or one like a large lobster, that lives in the sea and can be eaten

crayon noun a coloured pencil or stick of soft coloured CHALK or WAX, used for drawing
crayon verb [V, VN]

craze noun ~ (for sth) an enthusiastic interest in sth that is shared by many people but that usually does not last very long; a thing that people have a craze for FAD: the latest fitness craze to sweep the country

crazed adj. ~ (with sth) (formal) full of strong feelings and lacking control: crazed with fear/grief/jealousy a crazed killer roaming the streets a crazed look in his eyes drug-crazed youths

crazy adj., noun
adj. (crazier, craziest) (informal)
1 (especially NAmE) not sensible; stupid: Are you crazy? We could get killed doing that. She must be crazy to lend him money. He drove like an idiot, passing in the craziest places. What a crazy idea! I know it sounds crazy but it just might work.
2 very angry: That noise is driving me crazy. Marie says he went crazy, and smashed the room up.
3 ~ (about sth) (often in compounds) very enthusiastic or excited about sth: Rick is crazy about football. He's football-crazy. I'm not crazy about Chinese food (= I don't like it very much). The crowd went crazy when the band came on stage. You're so beautiful you're driving me crazy.
4 ~ about sb liking sb very much; in love with sb: I've been crazy about him since the first time I saw him.
5 (especially NAmE) mentally ill; INSANE: She's crazyshe ought to be locked up. note at MAD
crazily adv. craziness noun [U]
like crazy/mad (informal) very fast, hard, much, etc.: We worked like crazy to get it done on time.
noun (pl. -ies) (informal, especially NAmE) a crazy person

crazy golf noun [U] (BrE) = MINIGOLF

crazy paving noun [U] (BrE) pieces of stone of different shapes and sizes, fitted together on the ground to make a path or PATIO

CRE abbr. Commission for Racial Equality (a government organization in Britain that protects the rights of people of all races)

creak verb, noun
verb to make the sound that a door sometimes makes when you open it or that a wooden floor sometimes makes when you step on it: [V] She heard a floorboard creak upstairs. a creaking bed/gate/stair The table creaked and groaned under the weight. The timbers creaked as the boat set sail. [V-ADJ] The door creaked open.
creak under the strain if a system or service creaks under the strain, it cannot deal effectively with all the things it is expected to do or provide
noun [C] (also creaking [U, C]) a sound, for example that sometimes made by a door when it opens or shuts, or by a wooden floor when you step on it: the creak/creaking of the door Distant creaks and groans echoed eerily along the dark corridors.

creaky adj.
1 making creaks: a creaky old chair
2 old and not in good condition: the country's creaky legal machinery

cream noun, adj., verb
noun
1 [U] the thick pale yellowish-white FATTY liquid that rises to the top of milk, used in cooking or as a type of sauce to put on fruit, etc.: strawberries and cream Would you like milk or cream in your coffee? fresh/whipped cream (BrE) cream cakes (= containing cream) (BrE) double/single cream (= thick/thin cream)see also CLOTTED CREAM, ICE CREAM, SALAD CREAM, SOUR CREAM, WHIPPING CREAM
2 [C] (in compounds) a sweet/candy that has a soft substance like cream inside: a chocolate/peppermint cream
3 [U, C] a soft substance or thick liquid used on your skin to protect it or make it feel soft; a similar substance used for cleaning things: hand/moisturizing cream antiseptic cream a cream cleanersee also COLD CREAM, FACE CREAM, SHAVING CREAM
4 [U] a pale yellowish-white colour: Do you have this blouse in cream?
5 the ~ of sth the best people or things in a particular group: the cream of New York society the cream of the crop of this season's movies see CAT
adj. pale yellowish-white in colour: a cream linen suit
verb [VN]
1 to mix things together into a soft smooth mixture: Cream the butter and sugar together.
2 (NAmE, informal) to completely defeat sb: We got creamed in the first round.
cream sb/sthoff to take sth away, usually the best people or things or an amount of money, in order to get an advantage for yourself: The best students were creamed off by the grammar schools.

cream cheese noun [U, C] soft white cheese containing a lot of cream

cream cracker noun (BrE) a dry biscuit, often eaten with cheese

creamer noun
1 [U] a liquid or powder that you can put in coffee, etc. instead of cream or milk: non-dairy creamer
2 [C] (NAmE) a small container for holding and pouring cream

creamery noun (pl. -ies) a place where milk and cream are made into butter and cheese

cream puff noun (NAmE)
1 = PROFITEROLE
2 (slang, disapproving) a person who is not strong or brave WIMP

cream soda noun [U, C] (especially NAmE) a FIZZY drink (= one with bubbles) that tastes of VANILLA

cream tea noun (BrE) a special meal eaten in the afternoon, consisting of tea with SCONES, jam and thick cream

creamy adj. (creamier, creamiest)
1 thick and smooth like cream; containing a lot of cream: a creamy sauce/soup
2 pale yellowish-white in colour: creamy skin

crease noun, verb
noun
1 an untidy line that is made in cloth or paper when it is pressed or crushed: She smoothed the creases out of her skirt. a shirt made of crease-resistant material
2 a neat line that you make in sth, for example when you fold it: trousers with a sharp crease in the legs
3 a line in the skin, especially on the face: creases around the eyes
4 (in CRICKET) a white line on the ground near each WICKET that marks the position of the BOWLER and the BATSMAN: He spent six hours at the crease (= he was BATTING for six hours).
verb
1 to make lines on cloth or paper by folding or crushing it; to develop lines in this way: [VN] Pack your suit carefully so that you don't crease it. [also V]
2 to make lines in the skin; to develop lines in the skin: [VN] A frown creased her forehead. [V] Her face creased into a smile.
creased adj.: I can't wear this blouse. It's creased.
crease up| crease sb up (BrE, informal) to start laughing or make sb start laughing CRACK (SB) UP: Ed creased up laughing. Her jokes really creased me up.

create verb
1 [VN] to make sth happen or exist: Scientists disagree about how the universe was created. The main purpose of industry is to create wealth. The government plans to create more jobs for young people. Create a new directory and put all your files into it. Try this new dish, created by our head chef. note at MAKE
2 [VN] to produce a particular feeling or impression: The company is trying to create a young energetic image. The announcement only succeeded in creating confusion. The reorganization has created a lot of bad feeling. They've painted it red to create a feeling of warmth.
3 to give sb a particular rank or title: [VN] The government has created eight new peers. [VN-N] He was created a baronet in 1715.

creation noun
1 [U] the act or process of making sth that is new, or of causing sth to exist that did not exist before: the process of database creation wealth creation He had been with the company since its creation in 1989. The committee proposed the creation of a new Chair of Portuguese for the university.see also JOB CREATION
2 [C] (often humorous) a thing that sb has made, especially sth that shows ability or imagination: a literary creation The cake was a delicious creation of sponge, cream and fruit. The bright murals in the children's ward were the creations of the nurses. What an amazing creation (= a very unusual and new piece of clothing) you're wearing!
3 (usually the Creation) [sing.] the making of the world, especially by God as described in the Bible
4 (often Creation) [U] the world and all the living things in it

creationism noun [U] the belief that the universe was made by God exactly as described in the Bible
creationist adj., noun

creation science noun [U] science that tries to find proof that God created the world

creative adj., noun
adj.
1 [only before noun] involving the use of skill and the imagination to produce sth new or a work of art: a course on creative writing (= writing stories, plays and poems) the creative and performing arts creative thinking (= thinking about problems in a new way or thinking of new ideas) the company's creative team the creative process
2 having the skill and ability to produce sth new, especially a work of art; showing this ability: She's very creativeshe writes poetry and paints. Do you have any ideas? You're the creative one.
creatively adv. creativity noun [U]: Creativity and originality are more important than technical skill.
noun
1 [C] a person who is creative: The exhibition features the paintings of local creatives.
2 [U] creative ideas or material: We need to produce better creative if we want to attract big clients.

creative accounting noun [U] (disapproving) a way of doing or presenting the accounts of a business that might not show what the true situation really is

creator noun
1 [C] a person who has made or invented a particular thing: Walt Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse
2 the Creator [sing.] God

creature noun
1 a living thing, real or imaginary, that can move around, such as an animal: The dormouse is a shy, nocturnal creature. respect for all living creatures strange creatures from outer space
2 (especially following an adjective) a person, considered in a particular way: You pathetic creature! She was an exotic creature with long red hair and brilliant green eyes. He always goes to bed at tenhe's a creature of habit (= he likes to do the same things at the same time every day).
a/the creature of sb | sb's creature (formal, disapproving) a person or thing that depends completely on sb else and is controlled by them

creature comforts noun [pl.] all the things that make life, or a particular place, comfortable, such as good food, comfortable furniture or modern equipment

crèche (also creche) noun
1 (BrE) a place where babies and small children are taken care of while their parents are working, studying, shopping, etc.
2 (NAmE) = CRIB (3)compare DAY NURSERY

cred noun [U] = STREET CRED

credence noun [U] (formal)
1 a quality that an idea or a story has that makes you believe it is true: Historical evidence lends credence to his theory.
2 belief in sth as true: They could give no credence to the findings of the survey. Alternative medicine has been gaining credence (= becoming more widely accepted) recently.

credential verb [VN] (NAmE) to provide sb with credentials

credentials noun [pl.]
1 ~ (as/for sth) the qualities, training or experience that make you suitable to do sth: She has impeccable credentials as a researcher. He has all the credentials for the job. She will first have to establish her leadership credentials.
2 documents such as letters that prove that you are who you claim to be, and can therefore be trusted: to examine sb's credentials

credibility noun [U] the quality that sb/sth has that makes people believe or trust them: to gain/lack/lose credibility The prosecution did its best to undermine the credibility of the witness. After the recent scandal, the government has lost all credibility. Newspapers were talking of a credibility gap between what he said and what he did.see also STREET CRED

credible adj.
1 that can be believed or trusted CONVINCING: a credible explanation/witness It is just not credible that she would cheat.
2 that can be accepted, because it seems possible that it could be successful VIABLE: Community service is seen as the only credible alternative to imprisonment.
credibly adv.: We can credibly describe the band's latest album as their best yet.

credit noun, verb
noun
BUY NOW-PAY LATER
1 [U] an arrangement that you make, with a shop/store for example, to pay later for sth you buy: to get/refuse credit We bought the dishwasher on credit. to offer interest-free credit (= allow sb to pay later, without any extra charge) a credit agreement credit facilities/terms Your credit limit is now £2 000. He's a bad credit risk (= he is unlikely to pay the money later).compare HIRE PURCHASE
MONEY BORROWED
2 [U, C] money that you borrow from a bank; a loan: The bank refused further credit to the company.
3 [U] the status of being trusted to pay back money to sb who lends it to you: Her credit isn't good anywhere now.
MONEY IN BANK
4 [U] if you or your bank account are in credit, there is money in the account: You have a credit balance of £250.
5 [C, U] a sum of money paid into a bank account; a record of the payment: a credit of £50 You'll be paid by direct credit into your bank account. DEBIT
MONEY BACK
6 [C, U] (technical) a payment that sb has a right to for a particular reason: a tax credit
PRAISE
7 [U] ~ (for sth) praise or approval because you are responsible for sth good that has happened: He's a player who rarely seems to get the credit he deserves. I can't take all the credit for the show's successit was a team effort. We did all the work and she gets all the credit! Credit will be given in the exam for good spelling and grammar. At least give him credit for trying (= praise him because he tried, even if he did not succeed). His courage brought great credit to his regiment.compare BLAME, DISCREDIT
8 [sing.] ~ to sb/sth a person or thing whose qualities or achievements are praised and who therefore earns respect for sb/sth else: She is a credit to the school. Your children are a great credit to you.
ON MOVIE/TV PROGRAMME
9 [C, usually pl.] the act of mentioning sb who worked on a project such as a film/movie or a television programme: She was given a programme credit for her work on the costumes for the play. The credits (= the list of all the people involved) seemed to last almost as long as the film!
UNIT OF STUDY
10 [C] a unit of study at a college or university (in the US, also at a school); the fact of having successfully completed a unit of study: My math class is worth three credits.
do sb credit | do credit to sb/sth if sth does credit to a person or an organization, they deserve to be praised for it: Your honesty does you great credit.
have sth to your credit to have achieved sth: He's only 30, and he already has four novels to his credit.
on the credit side used to introduce the good points about sb/sth, especially after the bad points have been mentioned: On the credit side, she's always willing to work very late.
to sb's credit making sb deserve praise or respect: To his credit, Jack never told anyone exactly what had happened. It was to her credit that she managed to stay calm.
verb
PUT MONEY IN BANK
1 [VN] ~ A (with B)| ~ B (to A) to add an amount of money to sb's bank account: Your account has been credited with $50 000. $50 000 has been credited to your account. DEBIT
WITH ACHIEVEMENT
2 [VN] [usually passive] ~ A with B| ~ B to A to believe or say that sb is responsible for doing sth, especially sth good: The company is credited with inventing the industrial robot. The invention of the industrial robot is credited to the company. All the contributors are credited on the title page. She has been wrongly credited as the author.
WITH QUALITY
3 [VN] ~ A with B to believe that sb/sth has a particular good quality or feature: I credited you with a little more sense. Credit me with some intelligence.
4 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth as sth to believe that sb/sth is of a particular type or quality: The cheetah is generally credited as the world's fastest animal.
BELIEVE
5 (BrE) (used mainly in questions and negative sentences) to believe sth, especially sth surprising or unexpected: [VN] He's been promotedwould you credit it? [also V wh-, V that]

creditable adj. (formal)
1 of a quite good standard and deserving praise or approval PRAISEWORTHY: It was a very creditable result for the team. The Green Party won a creditable 16 per cent of the vote.
2 morally good ADMIRABLE: There was nothing very creditable in what he did.
creditably adv.

credit account noun (BrE) = ACCOUNT (3)

credit card noun a small plastic card that you can use to buy goods and services and pay for them later: All major credit cards are accepted at our hotels. The safest way to pay for mail order goods is by credit card. see also CHARGE CARD, CHEQUE CARD, DEBIT CARD, STORE CARD

credit note noun (BrE) a letter that a shop/store gives you when you have returned sth and that allows you to have goods of the same value in exchange

creditor noun a person, company, etc. that sb owes money to: The property will be sold to pay off their creditors.compare DEBTOR

credit rating noun a judgement made by a bank, etc. about how likely sb is to pay back money that they borrow, and how safe it is to lend money to them

credit transfer noun (BrE) the process of sending money from one person's bank account to another's

credit union noun an organization that lends money to its members at low rates of interest

creditworthy NAmE adj. able to be trusted to pay back money that is owed; safe to lend money to
creditworthiness noun [U]

credo NAmE noun (pl. credos) (formal) a set of beliefs CREED

credulity NAmE noun [U] (formal) the ability or willingness to believe that sth is real or true: The plot of the novel stretches credulity to the limit (= it is almost impossible to believe).

credulous NAmE adj. (formal) too ready to believe things and therefore easy to trick GULLIBILITYcompare INCREDULOUS

Cree noun (pl. Cree or Crees) a member of a Native American people, many of whom live in central Canada

creed noun
1 a set of principles or religious beliefs: people of all races, colours and creeds What is his political creed?
2 the Creed [sing.] a statement of Christian belief that is spoken as part of some church services

Creek noun (pl. Creek or Creeks) a member of a Native American people, many of whom now live in the US state of Oklahoma

creek noun
1 (BrE) a narrow area of water where the sea flows into the land INLET
2 (NAmE, AustralE, NZE) a small river or stream: Sandy Creek
up the creek (without a paddle) (informal) in a difficult or bad situation: I was really up the creek without my car.

creel noun a BASKET for holding fish that have just been caught

creep verb, noun
verb (crept, crept ) [V, usually + adv. / prep.]
1 (of people or animals) to move slowly, quietly and carefully, because you do not want to be seen or heard: I crept up the stairs, trying not to wake my parents. I heard someone creeping around the house.
2 (NAmE) to move with your body close to the ground; to move slowly on your hands and knees CRAWL
3 to move or develop very slowly: Her arms crept around his neck. A slight feeling of suspicion crept over me.
4 (of plants) to grow along the ground or up walls using long STEMS or rootssee also CREEPER
5 ~ (to sb) (BrE, informal, disapproving) to be too friendly or helpful to sb in authority in a way that is not sincere, especially in order to get an advantage from them see FLESH n.
creep in/into sth to begin to happen or affect sth: As she became more tired, errors began to creep into her work.
creep up to gradually increase in amount, price, etc.: House prices are creeping up again.
creep up on sb
1 to move slowly nearer to sb, usually from behind, without being seen or heard: Don't creep up on me like that!
2 to begin to affect sb, especially before they realize it: Tiredness can easily creep up on you while you're driving.
noun (informal)
1 a person that you dislike very much and find very unpleasant: He's a nasty little creep!
2 (BrE) a person who is not sincere but tries to win your approval by being nice to you: He's the sort of creep who would do that kind of thing!
give sb the creeps (informal) to make sb feel nervous and slightly frightened, especially because sb/sth is unpleasant or strange: This old house gives me the creeps.

creeper noun a plant that grows along the ground, up walls, etc., often winding itself around other plantssee also VIRGINIA CREEPER

creeping adj. [only before noun] (of sth bad) happening or moving gradually and not easily noticed: creeping inflation She felt a creeping guilt about her family.

creepy adj. (creepier, creepiest) (informal)
1 causing an unpleasant feeling of fear or slight horror SCARY: a creepy ghost story It's kind of creepy down in the cellar!
2 strange in a way that makes you feel nervous: What a creepy coincidence. SPOOKY

creepy-crawly noun (pl. -ies) (informal) an insect, a WORM, etc. when you think of it as unpleasant

cremains noun [pl.] (NAmE) the powder that is left after a dead person's body has been CREMATED (= burned) ASHES

cremate verb [VN] [often passive] to burn a dead body, especially as part of a funeral ceremony: When she dies she wants to be cremated, not buried.

cremation noun
1 [U] the act of cremating sb
2 [C] a funeral at which the dead person is cremated

crematorium noun (pl. crematoria or crematoriums) (NAmE also crematory pl. -ies) a building in which the bodies of dead people are burned

crème brûlée noun [C, U] (pl. crèmes brûlées ) (from French) a cold DESSERT (= a sweet dish) made from cream, with burnt sugar on top

crème caramel noun [C, U] (pl. crèmes caramels ) (BrE, from French) (NAmE flan) a cold DESSERT (= a sweet dish) made from milk, eggs and sugar

crème de cacao noun [U, C] (pl. crèmes de cacao ) (from French) a strong sweet alcoholic drink that tastes of chocolate

crème de cassis noun [U, C] (pl. crèmes de cassis ) = CASSIS

crème de la crème noun [sing.] (from French, formal or humorous) the best people or things of their kind: This school takes only the crème de la crème.

crème de menthe NAmE noun [U, C] (pl. crèmes de menthe NAmE ) (from French) a strong sweet alcoholic drink made with MINT

crème fraiche noun [U] (from French) thick cream with a slightly sour taste

crenellated (US also crenelated) adj. (technical) (of a tower, castle, etc.) having BATTLEMENTS

Creole NAmE (also creole) noun
1 [C] a person of mixed European and African race, especially one who lives in the West Indies
2 [C] a person whose ANCESTORS were among the first Europeans who settled in the West Indies or S America, or one of the French or Spanish people who settled in the southern states of the US: Creole cookery
3 [U] a language formed when a mixture of a European language with a local language (especially an African language spoken by SLAVES in the West Indies) is spoken as a first languagecompare PIDGIN

creolize (BrE also -ise) BrE verb [VN] (linguistics) to change a language by combining it with a language from another place: Creolized forms of Latin were spoken in various parts of Europe.
creolization, -isation BrE noun [U, C]

creosote NAmE noun, verb
noun [U] a thick brown liquid that is made from COAL TAR, used to preserve wood
verb [VN] to paint or preserve sth with creosote

crêpe (also crepe) noun
1 [U] a type of light thin cloth, made especially from cotton or silk, with a surface that is covered in lines and folds: a black crêpe dress a crêpe bandage
2 [U] a type of strong rubber with a rough surface, used for making the SOLES of shoes: crêpe-soled shoes
3 [C] a thin PANCAKE

crêpe paper noun [U] a type of thin brightly coloured paper that stretches and has a surface covered in lines and folds, used especially for making decorations

crêpe Suzette noun (pl. crêpes Suzette ) (from French) a PANCAKE (= thin flat round cake) which has alcohol poured over it and is served covered in flames

crepitation noun a series of short sharp sounds, for example like those made by sth burning in a fire

crept pt, pp of CREEP

crepuscular adj. (literary) related to the period of the evening when the sun has just gone down but there is still some light in the sky

crescendo NAmE noun (pl. -os) [C, U]
1 (music) a gradual increase in how loudly a piece of music is played or sung DIMINUENDO
2 a gradual increase in noise; the loudest point of a period of continuous noise SWELL: Voices rose in a crescendo and drowned him out. There was a tremendous crescendo of noise. The shrieks of laughter rose to a crescendo. (figurative) The advertising campaign reached a crescendo just before Christmas.

crescent BrE noun
1 [C] a curved shape that is wide in the middle and pointed at each end: a crescent moon
2 [C] (often used in street names) a curved street with a row of houses on it: I live at 7 Park Crescent. the city of Bath, with its elegant squares and crescents
3 the Crescent [sing.] the curved shape that is used as a symbol of Islamsee also THE RED CRESCENT

cress noun [U] a small plant with thin STEMS and very small leaves, often eaten in salads and SANDWICHESsee also WATERCRESS

crest noun, verb
noun
1 [usually sing.] ~ (of sth) the top part of a hill or wave: surfers riding the crest of the wave
2 a design used as the symbol of a particular family, organization, etc., especially one that has a long history: the university crest
3 a group of feathers that stand up on top of a bird's head: The male is recognizable by its yellow crest.
the crest of a/the wave a situation in which sb is very successful, happy, etc.: They've been on the crest of the wave ever since their election victory.more at RIDE v.
verb
1 [VN] (formal) to reach the top of a hill, mountain or wave: He slowed the pace as they crested the ridge. The ship crested a wave and then fell twenty feet or more.
2 [V] (NAmE) (of a flood, wave, etc.) to reach its highest level before it falls again: (figurative) The level of debt crested at a massive $290 billion in 1992.

crested adj.
1 marked with a crest: crested notepaper
2 used especially in names of birds or animals which have a crest: crested newts

crestfallen adj. sad and disappointed because you have failed and you did not expect to

cretin NAmE noun (informal, offensive) a very stupid person: Why did you do that, you cretin?
cretinous NAmE adj.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease NAmE noun [U] (abbr. CJD) a brain disease that causes gradual loss of control of the mind and body and, finally, death. It is believed to be caused by PRIONS and is linked to BSE in cows.

crevasse noun a deep open crack, especially in ice, for example in a GLACIER: The majority of crevasse deaths happen to those who travel across glaciers unroped.

crevice noun a narrow crack in a rock or wall: Most of the year the insects are hidden in rock crevices.

crew noun, verb
noun
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] all the people working on a ship, plane, etc.: None of the passengers and crew were injured. crew members a change of crew in Bombaysee also AIRCREW, CABIN CREW, FLIGHT CREW
2 [C+sing./pl. v.] all the people working on a ship, plane etc. except the officers who are in charge: the officers and crew
3 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people with special skills working together: a film/camera crew an ambulance crewsee also GROUND CREW
4 [sing.] (usually disapproving) a group of people: The people she invited were a pretty motley crew (= a strange mix of types of people).
5 [C+sing./pl. v.] a team of people who ROW boats in races: a member of the Cambridge crew
6 [U] (NAmE) the sport of ROWING with other people in a boat: I'm thinking of going out for crew this semester (= joining the ROWING team).
verb to be part of a crew, especially on a ship: [VN] Normally the boat is crewed by five people. [V] I crewed for him on his yacht last summer.

crew cut noun a HAIRSTYLE for men in which the hair is cut very short
crew-cut adj.: crew-cut teenagers

crewman noun (pl. -men ) a member of a CREW, usually a man

crew neck noun a round neck on a sweater, etc.

crib noun, verb
noun
1 (NAmE) = COT
2 a long open box that horses and cows can eat from MANGER
3 (BrE) (NAmE crèche) a model of the scene of Jesus Christ's birth, placed in churches and homes at Christmas
4 (informal) written information such as answers to questions, often used dishonestly by students in tests: a crib sheet
5 = CRIBBAGE
6 (NAmE, informal) the house, flat/apartment, etc. where sb lives
verb (-bb-) [V, VN] ~ (sth) (from sb) (old-fashioned) to dishonestly copy work from another student or from a book

cribbage (also crib) noun [U] a card game in which players score points by collecting different combinations of cards. The score is kept by putting small PEGS in holes in a board.

crib death noun (NAmE) = COT DEATH

crick (NAmE also kink) noun [usually sing.] a sudden painful stiff feeling in the muscles of your neck or back: He got a crick in the neck from sleeping in an awkward position.
crick verb: [VN] I suffered a cricked neck during a game of tennis.

cricket noun
1 [U] a game played on grass by two teams of 11 players. Players score points (called RUNS) by hitting the ball with a wooden BAT and running between two sets of vertical wooden sticks, called STUMPS: a cricket match/team/club/ball
2 [C] a small brown jumping insect that makes a loud high sound by rubbing its wings together: the chirping of crickets
not cricket (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) unfair; not HONOURABLE: You can't do it without telling him; it's just not cricket.

cricketer noun a cricket player

cricketing adj. [only before noun] playing cricket; connected with cricket: cricketing nations a cricketing jersey

cri de cœur noun (pl. cris de cœur ) (from French) an act of asking for sth, or protesting, in a way that shows you care deeply about sth

cried pt, pp of CRY

crier noun = TOWN CRIER

crikey exclamation (BrE, old-fashioned, informal) used to show that sb is surprised or annoyed: Crikey, is that the time?

Crimbo = CHRIMBO

crime noun
1 [U] activities that involve breaking the law: an increase in violent crime the fight against crime Stores spend more and more on crime prevention every year. petty/serious crime the connection between drugs and organized crime He turned to crime when he dropped out of school. The crime rate is rising. crime fiction/novels (= stories about crime) crime figures/statistics She's a crime writer (= she writes stories about crime).
2 [C] ~ (against sb) an illegal act or activity that can be punished by law: to commit a crime (= do sth illegal) The massacre was a crime against humanity. In his mind he was about to commit the perfect crime.see also WAR CRIME
3 a crime [sing.] an act that you think is immoral or is a big mistake: It's a crime to waste so much money.

crime wave noun [sing.] a situation in which there is a sudden increase in the number of crimes that are committed: a crime wave among young people

criminal adj., noun
adj.
1 [usually before noun] connected with or involving crime: criminal offences/behaviour criminal damage (= the crime of damaging sb's property deliberately) criminal negligence (= the illegal act of sb failing to do sth that they should do, with the result that sb else is harmed)
2 [only before noun] connected to the laws that deal with crime: criminal law the criminal justice system a criminal lawyer to bring criminal charges against sbcompare CIVIL
3 morally wrong: This is a criminal waste of resources.
noun a person who commits a crime: Society does not know how to deal with hardened criminals (= people who regularly commit crimes and are not sorry for what they do). (especially NAmE) a career criminal

criminality noun [U] the fact of people being involved in crime; criminal acts: There is little evidence that juvenile criminality is increasing at a very much greater rate than crime in general.

criminalize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN]
1 to make sth illegal by passing a new law: The use of opium was not criminalized until fairly recently.
2 to treat sb as a criminal: Many gay people felt that they were being criminalized for having relationships.
criminalization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

criminally adv. according to the laws that deal with crime: criminally insane Not a single officer has been found criminally liable.

criminal record noun = RECORD (5)

criminology NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of crime and criminals
criminological NAmE adj. criminologist noun

crimp verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 to make curls in sb's hair by pressing it with a heated tool
2 to press cloth or paper into small folds
3 (NAmE, informal) to restrict the growth or development of sth: Shrinking state revenues have crimped security budgets.
noun
put a crimp in/on sth (NAmE, informal) to have a bad or negative effect on sth: I'm sorry to put a crimp in your plans.

CrimpleneTM noun [U] an artificial material used for making clothes, that does not get lines on it when it is folded or crushed

crimson adj. dark red in colour: She went crimson (= her face became very red because she was embarrassed).
crimson noun [U]

cringe verb [V]
1 to move back and/or away from sb because you are afraid COWER: a child cringing in terror
2 to feel very embarrassed and uncomfortable about sth: I cringe when I think of the poems I wrote then. She felt herself cringe with embarrassment at the memory.

cringeworthy NAmE (also cringe-making both BrE) adj. (informal) making you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable: It was a cringeworthy performance from start to finish.

crinkle verb, noun
verb to become covered with or to form a lot of thin folds or lines, especially in skin, cloth or paper: [V] He smiled, his eyes crinkling. Her face crinkled up in a smile. The pages crinkled and curled and turned to ashes in the fire. [also VN]
noun a very thin fold or line made on paper, cloth or skin: There were crinkles at the corner of her eyes when she smiled.

crinkly adj.
1 having a lot of thin folds or lines: crinkly silver foil
2 (of hair) having a lot of small curls or waves

crinoline noun a frame that was worn under a skirt by some women in the past in order to give the skirt a very round full shape

cripes exclamation (BrE, old-fashioned, informal) used to show that sb is surprised or annoyed

cripple verb, noun
verb [VN] [usually passive]
1 to damage sb's body so that they are no longer able to walk or move normally DISABLE: He was crippled by polio as a child. to be crippled with arthritis
2 to seriously damage or harm sb/sth: The pilot tried to land his crippled plane.
crippling adj.: a crippling disease crippling debts
noun (old-fashioned or offensive) a person who is unable to walk or move normally because of a disease or injury: (figurative) He's an emotional cripple (= he cannot express his feelings). People now use disabled person instead of 'cripple'.

crisis noun [C, U] (pl. crises )
1 a time of great danger, difficulty or confusion when problems must be solved or important decisions must be made: a political/financial crisis the government's latest economic crisis The business is still in crisis but it has survived the worst of the recession. The Communist Party was facing an identity crisis. an expert in crisis management We provide help to families in crisis situations. In times of crisis I know which friends I can turn to. The party was suffering a crisis of confidence among its supporters (= they did not trust it any longer).see also MIDLIFE CRISIS
2 a time when a problem, a bad situation or an illness is at its worst point: Their marriage has reached crisis point. The fever has passed its crisis.see also CRITICAL

crisp adj., noun, verb
adj. (crisper, crispest) (usually approving)
1 (of food) (also crispy) pleasantly hard and dry: Bake until the pastry is golden and crisp.
2 (of fruit and vegetables) (also crispy) firm and fresh: a crisp apple/lettuce
3 (of paper or cloth) fresh and clean; new and slightly stiff without any folds in it: a crisp new $5 bill a crisp white shirt
4 (of the air or the weather) pleasantly dry and cold: a crisp winter morning The air was crisp and clear and the sky was blue.
5 (of snow, leaves, etc.) firm or dry and making a pleasant noise when crushed: deep, crisp snow
6 (of sounds, images, etc.) pleasantly clear and sharp: The recording sounds very crisp, considering its age.
7 (sometimes disapproving) (of a person's way of speaking) quick and confident in a way that suggests that the person is busy or is not being friendly: Her answer was crisp, and she gave no details.
crisply adv.: crisply fried potatoes 'Take a seat,' she said crisply. crispness noun [U]: The salad had lost its crispness.
noun (also potato crisp) (both BrE) (NAmE chip, potato chip) a thin round slice of potato that is fried until hard then dried and eaten cold. Crisps are sold in bags and have many different flavours. see BURN v.
verb [V, VN] to become or make sth crisp

crispbread noun [C, U] a thin crisp biscuit made of WHEAT or RYE, often eaten with cheese or instead of bread

crispy adj. (approving) = CRISP: crispy batter

criss-cross NAmE adj., verb
adj. [usually before noun] with many straight lines that cross each other: a criss-cross pattern
criss-cross noun [sing.]: a criss-cross of streets
verb to make a pattern on sth with many straight lines that cross each other: [VN] The city is criss-crossed with canals. Searchlights were criss-crossing the sky. [also V]

criterion NAmE noun (pl. criteria ) a standard or principle by which sth is judged, or with the help of which a decision is made: The main criterion is value for money. What criteria are used for assessing a student's ability?

critic noun
1 a person who expresses opinions about the good and bad qualities of books, music, etc.: a music/theatre/literary, etc. critic The critics loved the movie.
2 a person who expresses disapproval of sb/sth and talks about their bad qualities, especially publicly: She is one of the ruling party's most outspoken critics. a critic of private health care

critical adj.
EXPRESSING DISAPPROVAL
1 ~ (of sb/sth) expressing disapproval of sb/sth and saying what you think is bad about them: a critical comment/report The supervisor is always very critical. Tom's parents were highly critical of the school.
IMPORTANT
2 extremely important because a future situation will be affected by it CRUCIAL: a critical factor in the election campaign Reducing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is of critical importance. Your decision is critical to our future. note at ESSENTIAL
SERIOUS/DANGEROUS
3 serious, uncertain and possibly dangerous: The first 24 hours after the operation are the most critical. a critical moment in our country's history One of the victims of the fire remains in a critical condition.see also CRISIS
MAKING CAREFUL JUDGEMENTS
4 involving making fair, careful judgements about the good and bad qualities of sb/sth: Students are encouraged to develop critical thinking instead of accepting opinions without questioning them.
OF ART/MUSIC/BOOKS, etc.
5 [only before noun] according to the judgement of critics of art, music, literature, etc.: the film director's greatest critical success In her day she never received the critical acclaim (= praise from the critics) she deserved.

critically adv.: She spoke critically of her father. He is critically ill in intensive care. I looked at myself critically in the mirror.

critical mass noun (physics) the smallest amount of a substance that is needed for a nuclear CHAIN REACTION to take place

critical path noun [sing.] (technical) the order of work that should be followed to complete a project as fast and as cheaply as possible

critical theory noun [U] a way of thinking about and examining culture and literature by considering the social, historical, and IDEOLOGICAL forces that affect it and make it the way it is

criticism noun
1 [U, C] ~ (of sb/sth)| ~ (that ... ) the act of expressing disapproval of sb/sth and opinions about their faults or bad qualities; a statement showing disapproval: The plan has attracted criticism from consumer groups. There was widespread criticism of the government's handling of the disaster. People in public life must always be open to criticism (= willing to accept being criticized). Ben is very sensitive, he just can't take criticism. to offer sb constructive criticism (= that is meant to be helpful) I didn't mean it as a criticism. criticisms levelled at (= aimed at) journalists My only criticism of the house is that it is on a main road. PRAISE
2 [U] the work or activity of making fair, careful judgements about the good and bad qualities of sb/sth, especially books, music, etc.: literary criticism

criticize (BrE also -ise ) verb
1 ~ sb/sth (for sth) to say that you disapprove of sb/sth; to say what you do not like or think is wrong about sb/sth: [VN] The decision was criticized by environmental groups. The government has been criticized for not taking the problem seriously. [V] All you ever do is criticize! PRAISE
2 [VN] (BrE) to judge the good and bad qualities of sth: We were taught how to criticize poems.

critique noun, verb
noun a piece of written criticism of a set of ideas, a work of art, etc.: a feminist critique of Freud's theories
verb [VN] to write or give your opinion of, or reaction to, a set of ideas, a work of art, etc.: Her job involves critiquing designs by fashion students.

critter noun (NAmE, informal) a living creature: wild critters

croak NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 [V] to make a rough low sound, like the sound a FROG makes: A frog croaked by the water.
2 to speak or say sth with a rough low voice: [V] I had a sore throat and could only croak. [VN] He managed to croak a greeting. [also V speech]
3 [V] (slang) to die: She married a millionaire just about to croak.
noun a rough low sound made in the throat, like the sound made by a FROG

croaky NAmE adj. (informal) (of sb's voice) deep and rough, especially because of a sore throat

croc NAmE noun (informal) = CROCODILE

crochet NAmE noun, verb
noun [U] a way of making clothes, etc. from wool or cotton using a special thick needle with a hook at the end to make a pattern of connected threads
verb (crocheting, crocheted) to make sth using crochet: [VN] a crocheted shawl [also V]

crock NAmE noun
1 crocks [pl.] (old-fashioned) cups, plates, dishes, etc.
2 [C] (old use) a large pot made of baked CLAY
3 [C] (BrE, informal) an old person
4 [C] (BrE, informal) an old car in bad condition
a crock of shit (taboo slang, especially NAmE) something that is not truemore at GOLD n.

crocked NAmE adj. [not before noun] (NAmE, slang) drunk

crockery NAmE noun [U]
1 (especially BrE) plates, cups, dishes, etc.: They would like crockery and cutlery as wedding presents.
2 (NAmE) dishes, etc. that you use in the oven

crocodile NAmE (also informal croc) noun
1 [C] a large REPTILE with a long tail, hard skin and very big JAWS. Crocodiles live in rivers and lakes in hot countries.
2 [U] crocodile skin made into leather: crocodile shoes
3 [C] (BrE) a long line of people, especially children, walking in pairs: a school crocodile
crocodile tears if sb SHEDS (= cries) crocodile tears, they pretend to be sad about sth, but they are not really sad at all: Let's have no more politicians shedding crocodile tears for the unemployed.

crocodile clip (especially BrE) (also alligator clip especially NAmE) noun an object with sharp teeth used for holding things together, that is held closed by a spring and that you squeeze to open: Use the crocodile clips to attach the cables to the battery.

crocus NAmE noun a small yellow, purple or white flower that appears in early spring

croft NAmE noun (BrE) a small farm or the house on it, especially in Scotland

crofter NAmE noun (BrE) a person who rents or owns a small family farm, especially in Scotland

Crohn's disease NAmE noun [U] a disease affecting the lower INTESTINES, in which they develop many sore areas. The disease lasts for many years and is difficult to cure.

croissant NAmE noun (from French) a small sweet roll with a curved shape, eaten especially at breakfast

Cro-Magnon man NAmE noun [U] the earliest form of modern human in Europe. Cro-Magnon man first appeared about 35 000 years ago.

cromlech NAmE noun a PREHISTORIC TOMB in Wales, consisting of a large flat stone laid across the top of two vertical onescompare DOLMEN

crone NAmE noun (literary) an ugly old woman

crony NAmE noun [usually pl.] (pl. -ies) (often disapproving) a person that sb spends a lot of time with: He was playing cards with his cronies.

cronyism NAmE noun [U] (disapproving) the situation in which people in power give jobs to their friends

crook noun, verb, adj.
noun
1 (informal) a dishonest person CRIMINAL: That salesman is a real crook.
2 ~ of your arm/elbow the place where your arm bends at the elbow: He was carrying a gun in the crook of his arm.
3 a long stick with a hook at one end, used especially in the past by SHEPHERDS for catching sheep see HOOK n.
verb [VN] to bend your finger or arm: She winked and crooked a finger at him.
adj. [not usually before noun] (AustralE, NZE, informal) ill/sick: I'm feeling a bit crook.

crooked adj.
1 not in a straight line; bent or twisted: a crooked nose/smile a village of crooked streets Your glasses are on crooked. STRAIGHT
2 dishonest: a crooked businessman/deal All the officials are crooked.
3 ~ (on sb) (AustralE, informal) annoyed: It's not you I'm crooked on, it's him.
crookedly adv.

croon verb to sing sth quietly and gently: [VN] She gently crooned a lullaby. Bobby Darren was crooning 'Dream Lover'. [also V]

crooner noun (old-fashioned) a male singer who sings slow romantic songs

crop NAmE noun, verb
noun
PLANTS FOR FOOD
1 [C] a plant that is grown in large quantities, especially as food: Sugar is an important crop on the island. crop rotation/production/yield The crops are regularly sprayed with pesticides.see also CASH CROP, CATCH CROP
2 [C] the amount of grain, fruit, etc. that is grown in one season HARVEST: a fall in this year's coffee crop We are looking forward to a bumper crop (= a very large one).
GROUP OF PEOPLE
3 [sing.] a ~ of sth a group of people who do sth at the same time; a number of things that happen at the same time: the current crop of trainees She is really the cream of the crop (= the best in her group). a crop of disasters/injuries
WHIP
4 [C] a short WHIP used by horse riders: a riding crop
HAIR
5 [C] a very short HAIRSTYLE
6 [sing.] a ~ of dark, fair, etc. hair/curls hair that is short and thick: He had a thick crop of black curly hair.
OF BIRD
7 (technical) a part of a bird's throat shaped like a bag where food is stored before it passes into the stomach
verb (-pp-)
HAIR
1 to cut sb's hair very short: [VN] closely cropped hair [also VN-ADJ]
PHOTOGRAPH
2 [VN] (technical) to cut off part of a photograph or picture
OF ANIMALS
3 [VN] to bite off and eat the tops of plants, especially grass: The horses were quietly cropping the grass.
PLANTS
4 [V] (of plants) to produce a crop: The potatoes cropped well this year.
5 [VN] to use land to grow crops: The river valley is intensively cropped.
crop up to appear or happen, especially when it is not expected COME UP: His name just cropped up in conversation. I'll be latesomething's cropped up at home.

crop circle (also corn circle) noun a round area in a field of crops that has suddenly become flat. Some people say that crop circles were made by creatures from outer space.

crop dusting noun [U] the practice of spraying crops with chemicals such as PESTICIDES from a plane

cropper NAmE noun
come a cropper (BrE, informal)
1 (of a person) to fall over: He came a cropper on the ski slopes.
2 to have a failure or near disaster: We nearly came a cropper in the second half of the game.

crop top noun a woman's informal piece of clothing for the upper body, cut short so that the stomach can be seen

croquet NAmE noun [U] a game played on grass in which players use wooden hammers (called MALLETS) to knock wooden balls through a series of HOOPS (= curved wires)

croquette NAmE noun a small amount of MASHED potato, fish, etc., shaped into a ball or tube, covered with BREADCRUMBS and fried

crore noun (IndE) ten million; one hundred LAKHS

crosier (also crozier) NAmE noun a long stick, usually curved at one end, carried by a BISHOP (= a Christian priest of high rank) at religious ceremonies

cross NAmE noun, verb, adj.
noun
MARK ON PAPER
1 [C] a mark or an object formed by two lines crossing each other (X or +); the mark (X) is often used on paper to show sth: I've put a cross on the map to show where the hotel is. Put a tick if the answer is correct and a cross if it's wrong. Sign your name on the form where I've put a cross. Those who could not write signed with a cross. Put a cross beside the name of the candidate you wish to vote for.see also NOUGHTS AND CROSSEScompare TICK
FOR PUNISHMENT
2 [C] a long vertical piece of wood with a shorter piece across it near the top. In the past people were hung on crosses and left to die as a punishment.
CHRISTIAN SYMBOL
3 the Cross [sing.] the cross that Jesus Christ died on, used as a symbol of Christianity
4 [C] an object, a design, a piece of jewellery, etc. in the shape of a cross, used as a symbol of Christianity: She wore a small gold cross on a chain around her neck.
MEDAL
5 (usually Cross) [C] a small decoration in the shape of a cross that is given to sb as an honour for doing sth very brave
MIXTURE
6 [C, usually sing.] ~ (between A and B) a mixture of two different things, breeds of animal, etc.: The play was a cross between a farce and a tragedy. A mule is a cross between a horse and a donkey.see also HYBRID
IN SPORT
7 [C] (in football (SOCCER) or HOCKEY) a kick or hit of the ball across the field rather than up or down itsee also THE RED CROSS
have a (heavy) cross to bear to have a difficult problem that makes you worried or unhappy but that you have to deal with: We all have our crosses to bear.
verb
GO/PUT ACROSS
1 ~ (over) (from ... ) (to/into ... )| ~ (over) (sth) to go across; to pass or stretch from one side to the other: [V] I waved and she crossed over (= crossed the road towards me). We crossed from Dover to Calais. [VN] to cross a/the road to cross the sea/mountains He crossed over the road and joined me. to cross France by train The bridge crosses the River Dee. A look of annoyance crossed her face. They crossed the finishing line together (= in a race).
2 [V] to pass across each other: The roads cross just outside the town. The straps cross over at the back and are tied at the waist. Our letters must have crossed in the mail (= each was sent before the other was received). We seem to have a crossed line (= a telephone call that interrupts another call because of a wrong connection).
3 [VN] to put or place sth across or over sth else: to cross your arms/legs (= place one arm or leg over the other) She sat with her legs crossed. a flag with a design of two crossed keys
OPPOSE
4 [VN] to oppose sb or speak against them or their plans or wishes: She's really nice until you cross her. (literary) He had been crossed in love (= the person he loved was not faithful to him).
MIX ANIMALS/PLANTS
5 [VN] ~ A with B| ~ A and B to make two different types of animal breed together; to mix two types of plant to form a new one: A mule is the product of a horse crossed with a donkey. (figurative) He behaved like an army officer crossed with a professor.
IN SPORT
6 [V] (in football (SOCCER), etc.) to kick or pass a ball sideways across the field
DRAW LINE
7 [VN] to draw a line across sth: to cross your t's (= the letters in writing) (BrE) to cross a cheque (= to draw two lines across it so that it can only be paid through a bank account)
MAKE CHRISTIAN SYMBOL
8 [VN] ~ yourself to make the sign of the cross (= the Christian symbol) on your chest
cross that bridge when you come to it to worry about a problem when it actually happens and not before
cross your fingers to hope that your plans will be successful (sometimes putting one finger across another as a sign of hoping for good luck): I'm crossing my fingers that my proposal will be accepted. Keep your fingers crossed!
cross my heart (and hope to die) (informal) used to emphasize that you are telling the truth or will do what you promise: I saw him do itcross my heart.
cross your mind (of thoughts, etc.) to come into your mind OCCUR TO SB: It never crossed my mind that she might lose (= I was sure that she would win).
cross sb's palm with silver to give sb money so that they will do you a favour, especially tell your FORTUNE
cross sb's path | people's paths cross if sb crosses sb's path or their paths cross, they meet by chance: I hope I never cross her path again. Our paths were to cross again many years later.
cross swords (with sb) to fight or argue with sbmore at DOT v., WIRE n.
cross sb/sthoff| cross sb/sth off sth to draw a line through a person's name or an item on a list because they/it is no longer required or involved: We can cross his name off; he's not coming.
cross sthout/through to draw a line through a word, usually because it is wrong
cross over (to/into sth) to move or change from one type of culture, music, political party, etc. to another: a cult movie that has crossed over to mass appealrelated noun CROSSOVER
adj. (crosser, crossest) ~ (with sb) (especially BrE) annoyed or quite angry: I was cross with him for being late. Please don't get cross. Let me explain. note at ANGRY
crossly adv.: 'Well what did you expect?' she said crossly.

cross- NAmE combining form (in nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs) involving movement or action from one thing to another or between two things: cross-Channel ferries cross-fertilize crossfire

crossbar NAmE noun
1 the bar joining the two vertical posts of a goal
2 the bar between the seat and the HANDLEBARS of a man's bicycle

cross-bencher noun (BrE) a member of the British House of Lords who does not belong to a particular political party
cross benches noun [pl.]: members who sit on the cross benches

crossbones NAmE noun [pl.] SKULL AND CROSSBONES

cross-border adj. [only before noun] involving activity across a border between two countries: a cross-border raid by guerrillas cross-border trade

crossbow NAmE noun a weapon which consists of a BOW^2 (1) that is fixed onto a larger piece of wood, and that shoots short heavy arrows (called BOLTS)

cross-breed verb, noun
verb to make an animal or a plant breed with a different breed; to breed with an animal or a plant of a different breed: [VN] cross-bred sheep [also V]
cross-breeding noun [U]
noun an animal or a plant that is a result of cross-breedingcompare HYBRID

cross-check verb ~ sth (against sth) to make sure that information, figures etc. are correct by using a different method or system to check them: [VN] Cross-check your answers with a calculator. Baggage should be cross-checked against the names of individual passengers. [also V]
cross-check noun

cross-contamination noun [U] the process by which harmful bacteria spread from one substance to another: Always cover raw food to prevent cross-contamination.

cross-country adj., noun
adj. [usually before noun] adv.
1 across fields or open country rather than on roads or a track: cross-country running We rode cross-country.
2 from one part of a country to the other, especially not using main roads or routes: cross-country train journeys
noun
1 the cross-country [sing.] a cross-country running or SKIING race: Who won the cross-country?
2 [U] the sport of running or SKIING across countrycompare DOWNHILL n.

cross-country skiing (also langlauf) noun [U] the sport of SKIING across the countryside, rather than down mountains

cross-cultural adj. involving or containing ideas from two or more different countries or cultures

cross-current noun
1 a current of water in a river or in the sea that flows across the main current
2 [usually pl.] (formal) a set of beliefs or ideas that are different from others, especially from those that most people hold

cross-curricular adj. (BrE) affecting or connected with different parts of the school CURRICULUM

cross-dressing noun [U] the practice of wearing clothes usually worn by a person of the opposite sex, especially for sexual pleasure TRANSVESTISM
cross-dresser noun

crosse NAmE noun the stick used in the sport of LACROSSE

cross-examine verb [VN] to question sb carefully and in a lot of detail about answers that they have already given, especially in court: The witness was cross-examined for over two hours.
cross-examination noun [U, C]: He broke down under cross-examination (= while he was being cross-examined) and admitted his part in the assault.

cross-eyed adj. having one or both eyes looking towards the nose: I'm going cross-eyed, working on those handwritten texts all day.

cross-fertilize (BrE also -ise)verb [VN]
1 (biology) to FERTILIZE a plant using POLLEN from a different plant of the same SPECIES: Unlike other cereals, rye is cross-fertilized.
2 to help sth develop in a useful or positive way by mixing ideas from a different area: The study of psychology has recently been widely cross-fertilized by new discoveries in genetics.
cross-fertilization, -isationnoun [U, sing.]

crossfire NAmE noun [U] the firing of guns from two or more directions at the same time, so that the bullets cross: The doctor was killed in crossfire as he went to help the wounded. (figurative) When two industrial giants clash, small companies can get caught in the crossfire (= become involved and suffer as a result).

cross-hatch verb [VN] (technical) to mark or colour sth with two sets of parallel lines crossing each other
cross-hatching noun [U]

cross head noun a screw with a cross shape in the top

cross-infection noun [U] (medical) an occasion when sb passes an infection to sb who has a different infection: The hospital is taking measures to reduce the risk of cross-infection.

crossing NAmE noun
1 a place where you can safely cross a road, a river, etc., or from one country to another: The child was killed when a car failed to stop at the crossing. The next crossing point is a long way downstream. He was arrested by guards at the border crossing.see also LEVEL CROSSING, PEDESTRIAN CROSSING, PELICAN CROSSING, ZEBRA CROSSING
2 a place where two lines, two roads or two tracks cross INTERSECTION
3 a journey across a sea or a wide river: a three-hour ferry crossing a rough crossing from Dover to Calais the first Atlantic crossing
4 an act of going from one side to another: attempted crossings of the border

cross-legged NAmE adv. sitting on the floor with your legs pulled up in front of you and with one leg or foot over the other
cross-legged adj.: the cross-legged figure of the Hindu god

crossover NAmE noun the process or result of changing from one area of activity or style of doing sth to another: The album was an exciting jazz-pop crossover.

crosspiece NAmE noun (technical) a piece of a structure or a tool that lies or is fixed across another piece

cross-platform adj. (of a computer program or an electronic device) that can be used with different types of computers or programs

cross-pollinate verb [VN] (biology) to move POLLEN from a flower or plant onto another flower or plant so that it produces seeds
cross-pollination noun [U]

cross-promotion noun [C, U] (business) a set of advertisements or other activities that are designed to help a company sell two different products, or to help two companies sell their products or services together

cross purposes noun [pl.] if two people are at cross purposes, they do not understand each other because they are talking about or aiming at different things, without realizing it: I think we're talking at cross purposes; that's not what I meant at all.

cross-question verb [VN] to question sb thoroughly and often in a way that seems aggressive: Two police officers spent the next hour cross-questioning me.

cross-refer verb (-rr-) ~ (sth) to sth to refer to another text or part of a text, especially to give more information about sth: [VN] The entry for 'polygraph' is cross-referred to the entry for 'lie detector'. [also V]

cross reference noun ~ (to sth) a note that tells a reader to look in another part of a book or file for further information

crossroads NAmE noun (pl. crossroads) a place where two roads meet and cross each other: At the next crossroads, turn right. (figurative) He has reached a career crossroads (= he must decide which way to go next in his career).see also INTERSECTION, JUNCTION
at a/the crossroads at an important point in sb's life or development

cross section noun
1 [C, U] what you see when you cut through the middle of sth so that you can see the different layers it is made of; a drawing of this view: a diagram representing a cross section of the human eye the human eye in cross section
2 [C, usually sing.] a group of people or things that are typical of a larger group: a representative cross section of society a wide cross section of the population a broad cross section of opinion

cross-selling noun [U] (business) the activity of selling a different extra product to a customer who is already buying a product from a company

cross stitch noun [C, U] a STITCH in EMBROIDERY formed by two stitches crossing each other; sewing in which this stitch is used

cross street noun (NAmE) a street that crosses another street

crosstalk NAmE noun [U] (technical) a situation in which a communications system is picking up the wrong signals

crosstown NAmE adj. (NAmE) going from one side of a town or city to the other: a crosstown bus

cross-trainer noun
1 a piece of exercise equipment that you use standing up, with parts that you push up and down with your feet and parts that you hold onto and push with your arms
2 a type of sports shoe that can be worn for more than one kind of sport

cross-training noun [U] the activity of training in sports other than your main sport in order to make yourself fitter and able to do your main sport better

crosswalk NAmE noun (NAmE) = PEDESTRIAN CROSSING

crosswind NAmE noun a wind that is blowing across the direction that you are moving in: Strong crosswinds blew the plane off course.

crosswise NAmE adv.
1 across, especially from one corner to the opposite one: Cut the fabric crosswise.
2 in the form of a cross

crossword NAmE (also crossword puzzle) noun a game in which you have to fit words across and downwards into spaces with numbers in a square diagram. You find the words by solving CLUES: to do a/the crossword I've finished the crossword apart from 3 across and 10 down.

crotales NAmE noun [pl.] a musical instrument consisting of a pair or set of small CYMBALS (= round metal plates), each of which plays a different note

crotch NAmE (also crutch) noun
1 the part of the body where the legs join at the top, including the area around the GENITALS
2 the part of a pair of trousers/pants, etc. that covers the crotch: There's a hole in the crotch.

crotchet NAmE (BrE) (NAmE quarter note) noun (music) a note that lasts half as long as a MINIM/HALF NOTE

crotchety NAmE adj. (informal) bad-tempered; easily made angry: He was tired and crotchety.

crotchless NAmE adj. (of underwear) having a hole at the CROTCH

crouch verb, noun
verb [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to put your body close to the ground by bending your legs under you SQUAT: He crouched down beside her. Doyle crouched behind a hedge.
crouched adj.: She sat crouched in a corner.
crouch over sb/sth to bend over sb/sth so that you are very close to them or it: He crouched over the papers on his desk.
noun [sing.] a crouching position: She dropped to a crouch.

croup noun [U] a disease of children that makes them cough a lot and have difficulty breathing

croupier NAmE noun a person whose job is to be in charge of a gambling table and collect and pay out money, give out cards, etc.

crouton NAmE noun a small piece of cold crisp fried bread served in soup or as part of a salad

Crow NAmE noun (pl. Crow or Crows) a member of a Native American people, many of whom live in the US state of Montana

crow NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a large bird, completely or mostly black, with a rough unpleasant cry
2 a sound like that of a COCK She gave a little crow of triumph.
The villages are no more than a mile apart as the crow flies. v.
verb
ROOSTER) to make repeated loud high sounds, especially early in the morning: A cock began to crow.
2 ~ (about/over sth) (disapproving) to talk too proudly about sth you have achieved, especially when sb else has been unsuccessful BOAST, GLOAT: [V] He won't stop crowing about his victory. [V speech] 'I've won, I've won!' she crowed. [also V that]
3 [V] (BrE) (of a baby) to make happy sounds

crowbar NAmE noun a straight iron bar, usually with a curved end, used for forcing open boxes and moving heavy objects

crowd noun, verb
noun
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] a large number of people gathered together in a public place, for example in the streets or at a sports game: He pushed his way through the crowd. A small crowd had gathered outside the church. Police had to break up the crowd. Crowds of people poured into the street. I want to get there early to avoid the crowds. The match attracted a capacity crowd of 80 000. The crowd cheered the winning hit. crowd control crowd trouble A whole crowd of us are going to the ball (= a lot of us). He left the hotel surrounded by crowds of journalists.
2 [C+sing./pl. v.] (informal, often disapproving) a particular group of people: Bob introduced her to some of the usual crowd (= people who often meet each other). the bright young theatrical crowd
3 the crowd [sing.] (sometimes disapproving) ordinary people, not special or unusual in any way: We all like to think we stand out from the crowd (= are different from and better than other people). He prefers to be one of the crowd. She's quite happy to follow the crowd.
verb [VN]
1 to fill a place so there is little room to move: Thousands of people crowded the narrow streets.
2 to fill your mind so that you can think of nothing else: Memories crowded his mind.
3 (informal) to stand very close to sb so that they feel uncomfortable or nervous
crowd around/round (sb/sth) to gather in large numbers around sb/sth: We all crowded around the stove to keep warm. Photographers were crowding around outside.
crowd in (on sb)| crowd into sth (of thoughts, questions etc.) to fill your mind so that you can think of nothing else: Too many uncomfortable thoughts were crowding in on her. Memories came crowding into her mind.
crowd into/onto sth| crowd in to move in large numbers into a small space: We all crowded into her office to sing 'Happy Birthday'.
crowd sb/sth into/onto sth| crowd sb/sth in to put many people or things into a small space: Guests were crowded into the few remaining rooms. They crowd people onto the trains.
crowd sb/sth out to fill a place so that other people or things are kept out

crowded adj. ~ (with sth)
1 having a lot of people or too many people: crowded streets a crowded bar In the spring the place is crowded with skiers. London was very crowded.compare UNCROWDED
2 full of sth: a room crowded with books We have a very crowded schedule.

crowdie (also crowdy) noun [U] a type of soft Scottish cheese

crowd-pleaser noun (informal) a person or performance that always pleases an audience: Mickey Mouse made his screen debut on November 18, 1928 and has been a crowd-pleaser ever since.

crowd-puller noun (informal) a person or thing that always attracts a large audience

crown noun, verb
noun
OF KING/QUEEN
1 [C] an object in the shape of a circle, usually made of gold and PRECIOUS STONES, that a king or queen wears on his or her head on official occasions
2 the Crown [sing.] the government of a country, thought of as being represented by a king or queen: land owned by the Crown a Minister of the Crown Who's appearing for the Crown (= bringing a criminal charge against sb on behalf of the state) in this case?
3 the crown [sing.] the position or power of a king or queen: She refused the crown (= refused to become queen). his claim to the French crown
OF FLOWERS/LEAVES
4 [C] a circle of flowers, leaves, etc. that is worn on sb's head, sometimes as a sign of victory
IN SPORTS COMPETITION
5 [C, usually sing.] (informal) the position of winning a sports competition: She is determined to retain her Wimbledon crown.
OF HEAD/HAT
6 (usually the crown) [sing.] the top part of the head or a hat
HIGHEST PART
7 (usually the crown) [sing.] the highest part of sth: the crown of a hill from the crown of the final bend
ON TOOTH
8 [C] an artificial cover for a damaged tooth
SHAPE
9 [C] anything in the shape of a crown, especially as a decoration or a BADGE
MONEY
10 [C] a unit of money in several European countries: Czech crowns
11 [C] an old British coin worth five SHILLINGS (= now 25p)
see JEWEL
verb
KING/QUEEN
1 to put a crown on the head of a new king or queen as a sign of royal power: [VN] Queen Elizabeth was crowned in 1953. [VN-N] The prince was soon to be crowned King of England.
COVER TOP
2 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (with sth) to form or cover the top of sth: His head was crowned with a mop of brown curls.
MAKE COMPLETE
3 [VN] [often passive] ~ sth (with sth) to make sth complete or perfect, especially by adding an achievement, a success, etc.: The award of the Nobel Prize has crowned a glorious career in physics. Their efforts were finally crowned with success.
HIT ON HEAD
4 [VN] (old-fashioned, informal) to hit sb on the head
TOOTH
5 [VN] to put an artificial cover on a tooth CAP: I've had one of my teeth crowned.
to crown it all (BrE, informal) used to say that sth is the final and worst event in a series of unpleasant or annoying events: It was cold and raining, and, to crown it all, we had to walk home.

crown colony noun a COLONY ruled directly by the British government

Crown Court noun (in England and Wales) a court which deals with criminal cases, with a judge and JURYcompare COUNTY COURT

crowning adj. [only before noun] making sth perfect or complete: The cathedral is the crowning glory of the city. His 'Beethoven' sculpture is seen as the crowning achievement of his career.

crown jewels noun [pl.] the crown and other objects worn or carried by a king or queen on formal occasions

Crown prince noun (in some countries), a prince who will become king when the present king or queen dies

Crown princess noun
1 the wife of a Crown prince
2 (in some countries), a princess who will become queen when the present king or queen dies

Crown prosecutor noun in England and Wales, a lawyer who works for the state

crow's feet noun [pl.] lines in the skin around the outer corner of a person's eye

crow's nest noun a platform at the top of a ship's MAST (= the post that supports the sails) from which sb can see a long way and watch for land, danger, etc.

crozier = CROSIER

cru noun (pl. crus ) (technical) in France, a VINEYARD (= piece of land where GRAPES are grown) or group of vineyards that produce wine of high quality; the wine that is produced

crucial adj. ~ (to/for sth)| ~ (that ... ) extremely important, because it will affect other things CRITICAL, ESSENTIAL: a crucial factor/issue/decision topics of crucial importance Winning this contract is crucial to the success of the company. The next few weeks are going to be crucial. It is crucial that we get this right. Parents play a crucial role in preparing their child for school. He wasn't there at the crucial moment (= when he was needed most). note at ESSENTIAL
crucially adv.: crucially important

crucible noun
1 a pot in which substances are heated to high temperatures, metals are melted, etc.
2 (formal or literary) a place or situation in which people or ideas are tested severely, often creating sth new or exciting in the process: an alliance forged in the crucible of war The Lake District in 1800 was the crucible of the new Romantic movement in English poetry.

crucifix noun a model of a cross with a figure of Jesus Christ on it, as a symbol of the Christian religion

crucifixion noun (sometimes Crucifixion)
1 [C, U] the act of killing sb by fastening them to a cross: the Crucifixion (= of Jesus)
2 [C] a painting or other work of art representing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ

cruciform NAmE adj. (technical) (especially of buildings) in the shape of a cross

crucify verb (crucifies, crucifying, crucified, crucified) [VN]
1 to kill sb as a punishment by fastening them to a wooden cross
2 (informal) to criticize or punish sb very severely: The prime minister was crucified in the press for his handling of the affair.

crud noun [U] (informal) any dirty or unpleasant substance

cruddy adj. (cruddier, cruddiest) (informal, especially NAmE) bad, dirty, or of low quality: We got really cruddy service in that restaurant last time.

crude adj., noun
adj. (cruder, crudest)
1 simple and not very accurate but giving a general idea of sth: In crude terms, the causes of mental illness seem to be of three main kinds.
2 (of objects or works of art) simply made, not showing much skill or attention to detail: a crude drawing of a face
3 (of people or the way they behave) offensive or rude, especially about sex VULGAR: crude jokes/language
4 [usually before noun] (of oil and other natural substances) in its natural state, before it has been treated with chemicals: crude oil/metal
crudely adv.: a crudely drawn ship To put it crudely, the poor are going without food so that the rich can drive cars. crudeness noun [U]
noun (also crude oil) [U] oil in its natural state, before it has been treated with chemicals: 50 000 barrels of crude

crudités NAmE noun [pl.] (from French) pieces of raw vegetables that are eaten at the beginning of a meal

crudity noun [U, C] (pl. -ies) the fact of being CRUDE; an example of sth CRUDE: Despite the crudity of their methods and equipment, the experiment was a considerable success. the novel's structural crudities The crudity of her language shocked him.

cruel adj. (crueller, cruellest)
1 ~ (to sb/sth) having a desire to cause pain and suffering: a cruel dictator I can't stand people who are cruel to animals. Her eyes were cruel and hard. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind (= make sb suffer because it will be good for them later). KIND
2 causing pain or suffering: a cruel punishment/joke Her father's death was a cruel blow.
cruelly adv.: The dog had been cruelly treated. I was cruelly deceived.

cruelty noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] ~ (to sb/sth) behaviour that causes pain or suffering to others, especially deliberately: cruelty to animals The deliberate cruelty of his words cut her like a knife. KINDNESS
2 [C, usually pl.] a cruel action: Frightening cruelties were inflicted on child factory workers well into the 19th century.
3 [C, U] something that happens that seems unfair: the cruelties of life

cruet noun a small container, or set of containers, for salt, pepper, oil, etc. for use on the table at meals

cruise noun, verb
noun a journey by sea, visiting different places, especially as a holiday/vacation: I'd love to go on a round-the-world cruise. a luxury cruise ship
verb
1 to travel in a ship or boat visiting different places, especially as a holiday/vacation: [V, usually + adv. / prep.] They cruised down the Nile. [VN] We spent two weeks cruising the Bahamas.
2 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] (of a car, plane, etc.) to travel at a steady speed: a light aircraft cruising at 4 000 feet a cruising speed of 50 miles an hour
3 (of a car, etc. or its driver) to drive along slowly, especially when you are looking at or for sth: [V + adv. / prep.] She cruised around the block looking for a parking space. [VN] Taxis cruised the streets, looking for fares.
4 [V + adv. / prep.] to win or achieve sth easily: The home team cruised to victory.
5 [V, VN] (slang) to go around in public places looking for a sexual partner

cruise control noun [U] a device in a vehicle that allows it to stay at the speed that the driver has chosen

cruise missile noun a large weapon with a WARHEAD that flies close to the ground and is guided by its own computer to an exact place

cruiser noun
1 a large fast ship used in war
2 (also cabin cruiser) a boat with a motor and room for people to sleep, used for pleasure trips
3 (NAmE) a police car

crumb noun
1 a very small piece of food, especially of bread or cake, that has fallen off a larger piece: She stood up and brushed the crumbs from her sweater.
2 a small piece or amount: a few crumbs of useful information The government's only crumb of comfort is that their opponents are as confused as they are.

crumble verb, noun
verb
1 to break or break sth into very small pieces: [V] Rice flour makes the cake less likely to crumble. [VN] Crumble the cheese over the salad.
2 [V] if a building or piece of land is crumbling, parts of it are breaking off: buildings crumbling into dust crumbling stonework The cliff is gradually crumbling away. They live in a crumbling old mansion.
3 [V] ~ (into/to sth)| ~ (away) to begin to fail or get weaker or to come to an end: a crumbling business/relationship All his hopes began to crumble away. The empire finally crumbled into dust. see WAY n.
noun [U, C] (BrE) a DESSERT (= a sweet dish) made from fruit that is covered with a rough mixture of flour, butter and sugar, cooked in the oven and usually served hot: apple crumble and custard

crumbly adj. that easily breaks into very small pieces: crumbly soil/cheese The cake should have a light and crumbly texture.

crumbs exclamation (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) used to show that you are surprised: Oh crumbs! Is that the time?

crumhorn noun = KRUMMHORN

crummy adj. (informal) of very bad quality: Most of his songs are pretty crummy.

crumpet noun (BrE)
1 [C] a small flat round cake with small holes in the top, eaten hot with butter
2 [U] (slang) an offensive way of referring to people who are sexually attractive, usually women

crumple verb
1 ~ (sth) (up) (into sth) to crush sth into folds; to become crushed into folds: [VN] She crumpled the letter up into a ball and threw it on the fire. [V] This material crumples very easily.
2 [V] ~ (up) if your face crumples, you look sad and disappointed, as if you might cry: Her face crumpled up and she burst into tears.
3 [V] ~ (up) to fall down in an uncontrolled way because you are injured, unconscious, drunk, etc. COLLAPSE: He crumpled up in agony.
crumpled adj.: crumpled clothes/papers A crumpled figure lay motionless in the doorway.

crumple zone noun the part of a car that is designed to crumple easily if there is an accident, to protect the people in the car

crunch noun, verb, adj.
noun
1 [C, usually sing.] a noise like the sound of sth firm being crushed: the crunch of feet on snow The car drew up with a crunch of gravel.
2 the crunch [sing.] (informal) an important and often unpleasant situation or piece of information: The crunch came when she returned from America. He always says he'll help but when it comes to the crunch (= when it is time for action) he does nothing. The crunch is that we can't afford to go abroad this year.
3 [C, usually sing.] (especially NAmE) a situation in which there is suddenly not enough of sth, especially money: a budget/energy/housing crunch Higher grain prices are putting a crunch on cattle feeders.
4 [C] = SIT-UP
verb
1 ~ (on sth) to crush sth noisily between your teeth when you are eating: [VN] She crunched her apple noisily. [also V]
2 to make or cause sth to make a noise like sth hard being crushed SCRUNCH: [V] The snow crunched under our feet. [also VN]
3 [V + adv. / prep.] to move over a surface, making a loud crushing noise: I crunched across the gravel to the front door.
4 [VN] (computing) to deal with large amounts of data very quickly: We are waiting for the results officials who are still crunching numbers.see also NUMBER CRUNCHING
crunch sthup to crush sth completely: He crunched up the empty pack and threw it out of the window.
adj. [only before noun] (informal) a crunch meeting, sports game, etc. is very important and may be the last chance to succeed: Sunday's crunch game with Leeds The Agriculture Secretary goes into a crunch meeting with senior ministers in Brussels tomorrow.

crunchy adj. (approving) (especially of food) firm and crisp and making a sharp sound when you bite or crush it: a crunchy salad

crusade noun, verb
noun
1 ~ (for/against sth)| ~ (to do sth) a long and determined effort to achieve sth that you believe to be right or to stop sth that you believe to be wrong CAMPAIGN: to lead a crusade against crime a moral crusade a crusade to give terminally ill people the right to die
2 (sometimes Crusade) any of the wars fought in Palestine by European Christian countries against the Muslims in the Middle Ages
verb [V] to make a long and determined effort to achieve sth that you believe to be right or to stop sth you believe to be wrong CAMPAIGN

crusader noun a person who takes part in a crusade: moral crusaders

crush verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 to press or squeeze sth so hard that it is damaged or injured, or loses its shape: The car was completely crushed under the truck. They crush the olives with a heavy wooden press. Several people were crushed to death in the accident.
2 [+adv./prep.] to push or press sb/sth into a small space: Over twenty prisoners were crushed into a small dark cell.
3 to break sth into small pieces or into a powder by pressing hard: Add two cloves of crushed garlic.
4 to become or make sth full of folds or lines
5 to use violent methods to defeat people who are opposing you PUT DOWN, QUASH: The army was sent in to crush the rebellion.
6 to destroy sb's confidence or happiness: She felt completely crushed by the teacher's criticism.
noun
1 [C, usually sing.] a crowd of people pressed close together in a small space: a big crush in the theatre bar I couldn't find a way through the crush.
2 [C] ~ (on sb) a strong feeling of love, that usually does not last very long, that a young person has for sb older: a schoolgirl crush I had a huge crush on her.
3 [U] a drink made from fruit juice

crush bar noun (BrE) a place in a theatre where you can buy drinks

crush barrier noun (BrE) a temporary metal fence used for keeping back a crowd

crusher noun (often in compounds) a machine or tool for crushing sth

crushing adj. [usually before noun] used to emphasize how bad or severe sth is: a crushing defeat in the election The shipyard has been dealt another crushing blow with the failure to win this contract.
crushingly adv.

crust noun
1 [C, U] the hard outer surface of bread: sandwiches with the crusts cut off
2 [C, usually sing.] a layer of PASTRY, especially on top of a PIE: Bake until the crust is golden.
3 [C, U] a hard layer or surface, especially above or around sth soft or liquid: a thin crust of ice the earth's crustsee also THE UPPER CRUST see EARN

crustacean noun (technical) any creature with a soft body that is divided into sections, and a hard outer shell. Most crustaceans live in water. CRABS, LOBSTERS and SHRIMPS are all crustaceans.compare SHELLFISH

crusted adj. [not usually before noun] ~ (with sth) having a hard layer or covering of sth

crusty adj., noun
adj.
1 (of food) having a hard outer layer: fresh crusty bread
2 (informal) (especially of older people) bad-tempered; easily irritated: a crusty old man
noun (also crustie) (pl. -ies) (BrE, informal) a person who usually has no permanent home, has a dirty or untidy appearance, and rejects the way that most people live in Western society

crutch noun
1 one of two long sticks that you put under your arms to help you walk after you have injured your leg or foot: After the accident I spent six months on crutches.
2 (usually disapproving) a person or thing that gives you help or support but often makes you depend on them too much: High interest rates are merely a crutch for the country's ailing economy. He sees religion as an emotional crutch.
3 = CROTCH

crux noun [sing.] the ~ (of sth) the most important or difficult part of a problem or an issue NUB: Now we come to the crux of the matter.

cry verb, noun
verb (cries, crying, cried, cried)
1 ~ (for sb/sth)| ~ (about/over sth) to produce tears from your eyes because you are unhappy or hurt: [V] It's all right. Don't cry. The baby was crying for (= because it wanted) its mother. There's nothing to cry about. He felt like crying with rage. I just couldn't stop crying. [VN] I found him crying his eyes out (= crying very much). That night she cried herself to sleep. The little boy fell over and started to cry. [also V speech]
2 ~ (for sth) to shout loudly: [V] She ran to the window and cried for help. [V speech] 'You're safe!' Tom cried in delight.
3 [V] (of a bird or an animal) to make a loud unpleasant noise: Seagulls followed the boat, crying loudly.
cry foul (informal) to complain that sb else has done sth wrong or unfair
cry over spilt milk (BrE) (US cry over spilled milk) to waste time worrying about sth that has happened that you cannot do anything about: As the saying goesit's no use crying over spilt milk.
cry wolf to call for help when you do not need it, with the result that when you do need it people do not believe you
for crying out loud (informal) used to show you are angry or surprised: For crying out loud! Why did you have to do that?more at LAUGH v., SHOULDER n.
cry off (BrE, informal) to say that you cannot do sth that you promised to do: She said she was coming to the party, but cried off at the last moment.
cry out to make a loud sound without words because you are hurt, afraid, surprised, etc.: She tried to stop herself from crying out. to cry out in fear/alarm/pain
cry out/cry out sth to shout sth loudly: She cried out for help. She cried out his name. [+ speech] 'Help!' he cried out. note at CALL
cry out for sth (usually used in the progressive tenses) to need sth very much: The company is crying out for fresh new talent.
noun (pl. cries)
1 [C] a loud sound without words that expresses a strong feeling: to give a cry of anguish/despair/relief/surprise/terror, etc.
2 [C] a loud shout: With a cry of 'Stop thief!' he ran after the boy. Her answer was greeted with cries of outrage.
3 [C] the sound made by a bird or an animal: the cry of gulls circling overhead
4 [sing.] an action or a period of crying: I felt a lot better after a good long cry.
5 [C] ~ (for sth) an urgent demand or request for sth: Her suicide attempt was really a cry for help.
6 [C] (especially in compounds) a word or phrase that expresses a group's beliefs and calls people to action: a battle cry His speech attacking the government has proved a rallying cry for party dissidents.
in full cry talking or shouting loudly and in an enthusiastic way: The Leeds supporters were in full cry.more at FAR adj., HUE

VOCABULARY BUILDING

cry

To cry is the most general word for producing tears when you are unhappy or hurt, or when you are extremely happy.

To sob means to cry noisily, taking sudden, sharp breaths.

To wail means to cry in a loud high voice.

To whimper means to cry making low, weak noises.

To weep (literary or formal) means to cry quietly for a long time.

All these verbs can be used like 'say': 'I don't want you to go,' she cried/wailed/sobbed.

To be in tears means to be crying.

To burst into tears means to suddenly begin to cry.

To cry your eyes out means to cry a lot or for a long time, because you are very sad.

crybaby noun (pl. -ies) (informal, disapproving) a person, especially a child, who cries too often or without good reason: Don't be such a crybaby.

crying adj., noun
adj. [only before noun]
be a crying shame (informal) used to emphasize that you think sth is extremely bad or shocking: It's a crying shame to waste all that food.
a crying need (for sth) a great and urgent need for sth: There is a crying need for more funds.
noun [U] the sound or act of crying: the crying of terrified children

cryogen noun (physics) any liquid that is used to produce very low temperatures

cryogenic adj. (physics) involving the use of very low temperatures: a cryogenic storage system

cryogenics noun [U] (physics) the scientific study of the production and effects of very low temperaturescompare CRYONICS

cryonics NAmE noun [U] (medical) the process of freezing a body at the moment of its death with the hope that it will be brought back to life at some future timecompare CRYOGENICS

crypt noun a room under the floor of a church, used especially in the past as a place for burying people

cryptic adj. with a meaning that is hidden or not easily understood MYSTERIOUS: a cryptic message/remark/smile a cryptic crossword clue
cryptically adv.: 'Yes and no,' she replied cryptically.

crypto- NAmE combining form (in nouns) secret: a crypto-communist

cryptography NAmE noun [U] the art of writing or solving codes

cryptosporidium NAmE noun a PARASITE found in water that causes infections inside the body

crystal noun
1 [C] a small piece of a substance with many even sides, that is formed naturally when the substance becomes solid: ice/salt crystals
2 [U, C] a clear mineral, such as QUARTZ, used in making jewellery and decorative objects: a pair of crystal earrings
3 [U] glass of very high quality: a crystal chandelier/vase Every table had been set with fine china and crystal.
4 [C] (NAmE) a piece of glass or plastic that covers the face of a watchsee also LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY

crystal ball noun a clear glass ball used by people who claim they can predict what will happen in the future by looking into it: Without a crystal ball, it's impossible to say where we'll be next year.

crystal clear adj.
1 (of glass, water, etc.) completely clear and bright
2 very easy to understand; completely obvious: I want to make my meaning crystal clear. note at CLEAR

crystal-gazing noun [U]
1 the activity of looking at a crystal ball in order to predict the future
2 attempts to predict what will happen in the future, especially when these are considered to be not very scientific

crystalline adj.
1 (technical) made of or similar to CRYSTALS: crystalline structure/rocks
2 (formal) very clear TRANSPARENT: water of crystalline purity

crystallize (BrE also -ise) verb
1 (of thoughts, plans, beliefs, etc.) to become clear and fixed; to make thoughts, beliefs, etc. clear and fixed: [V] Our ideas began to crystallize into a definite plan. [VN] The final chapter crystallizes all the main issues.
2 (technical) to form or make sth form into CRYSTALS: [V] The salt crystallizes as the water evaporates. [also VN]
crystallization, -isation NAmE noun [U, sing.]: salt crystallization a crystallization of his life's work

crystallized (BrE also -ised) adj. (especially of fruit) preserved in and covered with sugar

crystallography NAmE noun [U] the branch of science that deals with CRYSTALS
crystallographer NAmE noun

crystal set (also crystal radio) noun a simple early radio which was listened to wearing HEADPHONES

the CSA abbr. the Child Support Agency (a government organization in Britain that decides how much money a parent who does not live with a child must contribute to support the child)

C-section noun (NAmE) = CAESAREAN

CS gas noun [U] a gas that stings the eyes, producing tears and making it difficult to breathe. CS gas is sometimes used to control crowds.see also TEAR GAS

CST abbr. CENTRAL STANDARD TIME

CSYS abbr. Certificate of Sixth Year Studies (an exam taken in the past by some Scottish school students at the age of around 18)

Ct (also Ct. especially in NAmE) abbr. (used in written addresses) COURT: 30 Willow Ct

ct (also ct. especially in NAmE) abbr.
1 (in writing) CARAT: an 18ct gold ring
2 (in writing) CENT(S): 50 cts

CTC noun (in the UK) a school in a town or city that teaches technology, science and mathematics to young people between the ages of 11 and 18 (the abbreviation for 'City Technology College')

CT scan noun = CAT SCAN

cu. abbr. (in writing) CUBIC: a volume of 2 cu. m (= 2 cubic metres)

cub noun
1 [C] a young BEAR, LION, FOX, etc.: a lioness guarding her cubs
2 the Cubs (BrE) (US the Cub Scouts) [pl.] a branch of the SCOUT ASSOCIATION for boys between the ages of eight and ten or eleven: to join the Cubs
3 Cub (also Cub Scout) [C] a member of the Cubscompare BROWNIE

Cuba libre noun (pl. Cuba libres ) (from Spanish) an alcoholic drink, made by mixing RUM with LIME juice and COLA

Cuban adj., noun
adj. from or connected with Cuba
noun a person from Cuba

Cuban heel noun a fairly high heel on a boot or shoe, with straight sides

cubbyhole NAmE noun
1 a small room or a small space: My office is a cubbyhole in the basement.
2 (SAfrE) a small space or shelf facing the front seats of a car where you can keep papers, maps, etc.compare GLOVE COMPARTMENT

cube noun, verb
noun
1 a solid or hollow figure with six equal square sides
2 a piece of sth, especially food, with six sides: Cut the meat into cubes.see also ICE CUBE, STOCK CUBE, SUGAR CUBE
3 (mathematics) the number that you get when you multiply a number by itself twice: The cube of 5 (5^3) is 125 (5×5×5).
verb [VN]
1 [usually passive] (mathematics) to multiply a number by itself twice: 10 cubed is 1 000
2 to cut food into cubes DICE

cube root noun (mathematics) a number which, when multiplied by itself twice, produces a particular number: The cube root of 64 (64) is 4.compare SQUARE ROOT

cubic adj.
1 (abbr. cu) [only before noun] used to show that a measurement is the volume of sth, that is the height multiplied by the length and the width: cubic centimetres/inches/metres How many cubic metres of water are needed to fill the tank?
2 measured or expressed in cubic units: the cubic capacity of a car's engine
3 having the shape of a cube: a cubic figure

cubicle noun a small room that is made by separating off part of a larger room: a shower cubicle (BrE) a changing cubicle (= for example at a public swimming pool) (especially NAmE) an office cubicle

cubism (also Cubism) noun [U] a style and movement in early 20th century art in which objects and people are represented as GEOMETRIC shapes, often shown from many different angles at the same time
cubist (also Cubist) noun: The exhibition includes works by the Cubists. cubist (also Cubist) adj. [usually before noun]: cubist paintings

cubit noun an ancient measurement of length, about 45 cm or the length from the elbow to the end of the fingers

cuboid noun, adj.
noun (geometry) a solid object which has six RECTANGULAR sides at RIGHT ANGLES to each other
adj. shaped approximately like a CUBE

cub reporter noun a young newspaper REPORTER without much experience

cuckold NAmE noun, verb
noun (old use, disapproving) a man whose wife has sex with another man
verb [VN] (old use)
1 (of a man) to make another man a cuckold by having sex with his wife
2 (of a woman) to make her husband a cuckold by having sex with another man

cuckoo noun, adj.
noun (pl. -oos) a bird with a call that sounds like its name. Cuckoos leave their eggs in the nests of other birds.see also CLOUD CUCKOO LAND
adj. [not before noun] (old-fashioned, informal) crazy

cuckoo clock noun a clock that has a small toy bird inside that comes out every hour and marks the hours with a sound like that of a cuckoo

cuckoo spit noun [U] a small mass of whitish bubbles, left on plants by young insects

cucumber noun [C, U] a long vegetable with dark green skin and light green flesh, that is usually eaten rawsee also SEA CUCUMBER see COOL adj.

cud noun [U] the food that cows and similar animals bring back from the stomach into the mouth to chew again: cows chewing the cud

cuddle verb, noun
verb to hold sb/sth close in your arms to show love or affection HUG: [V] A couple of teenagers were kissing and cuddling on the doorstep. [VN] The little boy cuddled the teddy bear close.
cuddle up (to/against sb/sth)| cuddle up (together) to sit or lie very close to sb/sth: She cuddled up against him. We cuddled up together under the blanket.
noun [usually sing.] the action of holding sb close in your arms to show love or affection HUG: to give sb a cuddle

cuddly adj. (informal)
1 (approving) if a person is cuddly, they make you want to cuddle them
2 [only before noun] (of a child's toy) soft and designed to be cuddled: a cuddly rabbit

cudgel noun, verb
noun a short thick stick that is used as a weapon
take up (the) cudgels on behalf of sb/sth (old-fashioned) to defend or support sb/sth strongly
verb (BrE) (-ll-, NAmE also -l-) [VN] to hit sb with a cudgel
cudgel your brains (old-fashioned, BrE) to think very hard: I had to cudgel my brains to remember her name.

cue noun, verb
noun
1 ~ (for sth)| ~ (to do sth) an action or event that is a signal for sb to do sth: Jon's arrival was a cue for more champagne. I think that's my cue to explain why I'm here.
2 a few words or an action in a play that is a signal for another actor to do sth: She stood in the wings and waited for her cue to go on.
3 a long wooden stick with a leather tip, used for hitting the ball in the games of BILLIARDS, POOL and SNOOKER
(right) on cue at exactly the moment you expect or that is appropriate: 'Where is that boy?' As if on cue, Simon appeared in the doorway.
take your cue from sb/sth to copy what sb else does as an example of how to behave or what to do: Investors are taking their cue from the big banks and selling dollars.
verb (cueing, cued, cued) [VN] to give sb a signal so they know when to start doing sth: Can you cue me when you want me to begin speaking?

cue ball noun the ball that is hit with the cue in games such as BILLIARDS and SNOOKER

cue card noun a large card held up behind a television camera so that it can be read by actors or television PRESENTERS but cannot be seen on television

cuff noun, verb
noun
1 [C] the end of a coat or shirt sleeve at the wrist: a collar and cuffs of white lace
2 cuffs [pl.] (informal) = HANDCUFFS
3 [C] (NAmE) = TURN-UP
4 [C] a light hit with an open hand: to give sb a friendly cuff
off the cuff (of speaking, remarks, etc.) without previous thought or preparation: I'm just speaking off the cuff hereI haven't seen the results yet. an off-the-cuff remark
verb [VN] to hit sb quickly and lightly with your hand, especially in a way that is not serious: She cuffed him lightly around his head.

cufflink noun [usually pl.] one of a pair of small decorative objects used for fastening shirt cuffs together: a pair of gold cufflinks

cui bono? NAmE exclamation (from Latin) used for asking who was likely to benefit from a crime, and who therefore is likely to be guilty

cuisine noun [U, C] (from French)
1 a style of cooking: Italian cuisine
2 the food served in a restaurant (usually an expensive one): The hotel restaurant is noted for its excellent cuisine.see also HAUTE CUISINE, NOUVELLE CUISINE

cul-de-sac noun (pl. cul-de-sacs or culs-de-sac) (from French) a street that is closed at one end: We live in a quiet cul-de-sac. (figurative) This particular brand of socialism had entered a cul-de-sac (= could make no further progress).

culinary NAmE adj. [only before noun] (formal) connected with cooking or food: culinary skills Savour the culinary delights of Mexico.

cull verb, noun
verb [VN] to kill a particular number of animals of a group in order to prevent the group from getting too large
cull sth from sth to choose or collect sth from a source or several different sources: an exhibition of paintings culled from regional art galleries
noun the act of killing some animals (usually the weakest ones) of a group in order to prevent the group from getting too large: the annual seal cull

culminate verb [V] ~ (in/with sth) (formal) to end with a particular result, or at a particular point: a gun battle which culminated in the death of two police officers Months of hard work culminated in success. Their summer tour will culminate at a spectacular concert in London.

culmination noun [sing.] (formal) the highest point or end of sth, usually happening after a long time: The reforms marked the successful culmination of a long campaign.

culottes NAmE noun [pl.] women's wide short trousers/pants that are made to look like a skirt: a pair of culottes

culpable adj. (formal) responsible and deserving blame for having done sth wrong: The accident was the result of a culpable failure to consider the risks involved.
culpability noun [U]: The punishment should be proportionate to the gravity of the offence and the degree of culpability of the offender. culpably adv.

culpable homicide noun [U] (law) in some countries, the crime of killing sb illegally but not deliberatelycompare JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE

culprit noun
1 a person who has done sth wrong or against the law: The police quickly identified the real culprits.
2 a person or thing responsible for causing a problem: The main culprit in the current crisis seems to be modern farming techniques.

cult noun, adj.
noun
1 [usually sing.] ~ (of sth) a way of life, an attitude, an idea, etc. that has become very popular: the cult of physical fitness An extraordinary personality cult had been created around the leader.
2 a small group of people who have extreme religious beliefs and who are not part of any established religion: Their son ran away from home and joined a cult.
3 (formal) a system of religious beliefs and practices: the Chinese cult of ancestor worship
adj. [only before noun] very popular with a particular group of people; treating sb/sth as a cult figure, etc.: a cult movie/book The singer has become a cult figure in America. The cartoon has achieved cult status. The TV series has a cult following among young people.

cultivable adj. (of land) that can be used to grow crops

cultivar noun (technical) a type of plant that has been deliberately developed to have particular features

cultivate verb [VN]
1 to prepare and use land for growing plants or crops GROW: The land around here has never been cultivated.
2 to grow plants or crops: The people cultivate mainly rice and beans.
3 (sometimes disapproving) to try to get sb's friendship or support: He purposely tried to cultivate good relations with the press. It helps if you go out of your way to cultivate the local people.
4 to develop an attitude, a way of talking or behaving, etc.: She cultivated an air of sophistication.

cultivated adj.
1 (of people) having a high level of education and showing good manners CULTURED: a cultivated young woman His voice was pleasant and cultivated.
2 (of land) used to grow crops: cultivated fields
3 (of plants that are also wild) grown on a farm, etc. in order to be sold: cultivated mushrooms WILD

cultivation noun [U]
1 the preparation and use of land for growing plants or crops: fertile land that is under cultivation (= being CULTIVATED) rice/wheat, etc. cultivationsee also SHIFTING CULTIVATION
2 the deliberate development of a particular relationship, quality or skill: the cultivation of a good relationship with local firms

cultivator noun
1 a person who CULTIVATES (= grows crops on) the land
2 a machine for breaking up soil and destroying WEEDS (= plants growing where they are not wanted)

cultural adj. [usually before noun]
1 connected with the culture of a particular society or group, its customs, beliefs, etc.: cultural differences between the two communities economic, social and cultural factors
2 connected with art, literature, music, etc.: a cultural event Europe's cultural heritage The orchestra is very important for the cultural life of the city.
culturally adv.

culture noun, verb
noun
WAY OF LIFE
1 [U] the customs and beliefs, art, way of life and social organization of a particular country or group: European/Islamic/African/American, etc. culture working-class culture
2 [C] a country, group, etc. with its own beliefs, etc.: The children are taught to respect different cultures. the effect of technology on traditional cultures
ART/MUSIC/LITERATURE
3 [U] art, music, literature, etc., thought of as a group: Venice is a beautiful city full of culture and history. popular culture (= that is enjoyed by a lot of people) the Minister for Culture
BELIEFS/ATTITUDES
4 [C, U] the beliefs and attitudes about sth that people in a particular group or organization share: The political cultures of the United States and Europe are very different. A culture of failure exists in some schools. company culture We are living in a consumer culture.
GROWING/BREEDING
5 [U] (technical) the growing of plants or breeding of particular animals in order to get a particular substance or crop from them: the culture of silkworms (= for silk)
CELLS/BACTERIA
6 [C] (biology, medical) a group of cells or bacteria, especially one taken from a person or an animal and grown for medical or scientific study, or to produce food; the process of obtaining and growing these cells: a culture of cells from the tumour Yogurt is made from active cultures. to do/take a throat culture
verb [VN] (biology, medical) to grow a group of cells or bacteria for medical or scientific study

cultured NAmE adj.
1 (of people) well educated and able to understand and enjoy art, literature, etc. CULTIVATED: Mrs Ramsay was a cultured woman who travelled a great deal.
2 (of cells or bacteria) grown for medical or scientific study: cultured cells
3 (of PEARLS) grown artificially

culture shock noun [C, U] a feeling of confusion and anxiety that sb may feel when they live in or visit another country: He had never left his village before so arriving in the capital, Manila, was a big culture shock.

culture vulture noun (humorous) a person who is very interested in serious art, music, literature, etc.

culvert NAmE noun a tunnel that carries a river or a pipe for water under a road

cum /km/ prep. (used for linking two nouns) and; as well as: a bedroom-cum-study He's a barman-cum-waiter.

cumbersome NAmE adj.
1 large and heavy; difficult to carry BULKY: cumbersome machinery
2 slow and complicated: cumbersome legal procedures
3 (of words or phrases) long or complicated: The organization changed its cumbersome title to something easier to remember.

cumin noun [U] the dried seeds of the cumin plant, used in cooking as a spice: cumin seeds

cum laude adv., adj. (from Latin) (in the US) at the third of the three highest levels of achievement that students can reach when they finish their studies at college: He graduated cum laude.compare MAGNA CUM LAUDE, SUMMA CUM LAUDE

cummerbund NAmE noun a wide band of silk, etc. worn around the waist, especially under a DINNER JACKET

cumulative NAmE adj.
1 having a result that increases in strength or importance each time more of sth is added: the cumulative effect of human activity on the world environment The evolution of human life was a gradual, cumulative process.
2 including all the amounts that have been added previously: the monthly sales figures and the cumulative total for the past six months
cumulatively adv.: Cumulatively, these archaeological discoveries give a very clear picture of Celtic life.

cumulonimbus NAmE noun [U] (technical) a high mass of thick cloud with a flat base, often seen during THUNDERSTORMS

cumulus noun [U] (technical) a type of thick white cloud

cuneiform NAmE noun [U] an ancient system of writing used in Persia and Assyria

cunnilingus noun [U] the act of touching a woman's sex organs with the mouth and tongue in order to give sexual pleasure

cunning adj., noun
adj.
1 (disapproving) able to get what you want in a clever way, especially by tricking or cheating sb CRAFTY, WILY: a cunning liar He was as cunning as a fox.
2 clever and skilful INGENIOUS: It was a cunning piece of detective work.
cunningly adv.: The microphone was cunningly concealed in the bookcase.
noun [U] the ability to achieve sth by tricking or cheating other people in a clever way CRAFTINESS: It took energy and cunning just to survive. She used low cunning (= dishonest behaviour) to get what she wanted.

cunt noun (taboo, slang)
1 a woman's VAGINA and outer sexual organs
2 a very offensive word used to insult sb and to show anger or dislike: You stupid cunt!

cup noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a small container shaped like a bowl, usually with a handle, used for drinking tea, coffee, etc.: a teacup a coffee cup a cup and saucer a paper cup
2 [C] the contents of a cup: She drank the whole cup. Would you like a cup of tea?
3 [C] a unit for measuring quantity used in cooking in the US; a metal or plastic container used to measure this quantity: two cups of flour and half a cup of butter
4 [C] a thing shaped like a cup: an egg cup
5 [C] a gold or silver cup on a STEM, often with two handles, that is given as a prize in a competition: She's won several cups for skating. He lifted the cup for the fifth time this year (= it was the fifth time he had won).
6 [sing.] (usually Cup) a sports competition in which a cup is given as a prize: the World Cup
7 [C] one of the two parts of a BRA that cover the breast: a C cup
8 [C, U] a drink made from wine mixed with, for example, fruit juice
9 [C] (NAmE) (in GOLF) a hollow in the ground that you must get the ball into
10 [C] (NAmE) a piece of plastic that a man wears over his sex organs to protect them while he is playing a sport
in your cups (old-fashioned) having drunk too much alcohol: He gets very maudlin when he's in his cups.
not sb's cup of tea (informal) not what sb likes or is interested in: An evening at the opera isn't everyone's cup of tea. He's nice enough but not really my cup of tea.more at SLIP n.
verb (-pp-) [VN]
1 ~ your hand(s) (around/over sth) to make your hands into the shape of a bowl: She held the bird gently in cupped hands.
2 ~ sth (in your hands) to hold sth, making your hands into a round shape: He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.

cupboard NAmE noun
1 a piece of furniture with doors and shelves used for storing dishes, food, clothes, etc.: kitchen cupboards
2 (BrE) (NAmE closet) a space in a wall with a door that reaches the ground, used for storing things: built-in cupboardssee also AIRING CUPBOARD, BROOM CUPBOARD
the cupboard is bare (BrE) used to say that there is no money for sth: They are seeking more funds but the cupboard is bare.
This expression refers to a children's nursery rhyme about Old Mother Hubbard, who had nothing in her cupboard to feed her dog.
cupboard love (BrE) affection that sb, especially a child, shows towards sb else in order to get sthmore at SKELETON

cupcake noun noun (especially NAmE) = FAIRY CAKE

cup final (also Cup Final) noun (BrE) (especially in football (SOCCER)) the last match in a series of matches in a competition that gives a cup as a prize to the winners: cup final tickets the FA Cup Final

cupful noun the amount that a cup will hold: 3 cupfuls of watersee also CUP

Cupid noun
1 the Roman god of love who is shown as a beautiful baby boy with wings, carrying a BOW and arrow: Cupid had at last managed to lodge an arrow in his stony heart.
2 cupid [C] a picture or statue of a baby boy who looks like Cupid: little cupids painted in the clouds on the ceiling
play Cupid to try to start a romantic relationship between two people: Sandy has played Cupid to dozens of couples since she set up a dating agency six years ago.

cupidity noun [U] (formal) a strong desire for more wealth, possessions, power, etc. than a person needs GREED

cupola noun a round part on top of a building (like a small DOME): A high cupola of glass and iron crowned the roof.

cuppa noun (BrE, informal) a cup of tea: Do you fancy a cuppa?

cup tie noun (BrE) (especially in football (SOCCER)) a match between two teams in a competition that gives a cup as a prize to the winner

cur noun (old-fashioned, disapproving) an aggressive dog, especially a MONGREL

curable NAmE adj. (of an illness) that can be cured: Most skin cancers are curable if treated early. INCURABLE

curaçao NAmE noun [U, C] a strong alcoholic drink made from the skin of bitter oranges

curacy NAmE noun (pl. -ies) the position of a curate; the time that sb is a curate: He was offered the curacy of St. Katherine's parish church.

curate NAmE noun (in the Anglican Church) an assistant to a VICAR (= a priest, who is in charge of the church or churches in a particular area)
the/a curate's egg (BrE) something that has some good parts and some bad ones

curative NAmE adj. (formal) able to cure illness HEALING: the curative properties of herbscompare PREVENTIVE

curator NAmE noun a person whose job is to be in charge of the objects or works of art in a museum or art gallery, etc.

curb NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN] to control or limit sth, especially sth bad CHECK: He needs to learn to curb his temper. A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation.
noun
1 ~ (on sth) something that controls and puts limits on sth: curbs on government spending
2 (NAmE) = KERB

curbside (NAmE) = KERBSIDE

curbstone (NAmE) = KERBSTONE

curd NAmE noun [U] (also curds [pl.]) a thick soft substance that is formed when milk turns sour

curd cheese noun [U, C] (BrE) a type of soft cheese

curdle NAmE verb [V, VN]
1 when a liquid, especially milk, curdles or sth curdles it, it separates into solid and liquid parts
2 if sth curdles your blood or makes your blood curdle, it makes you extremely frightened or shockedsee also BLOOD-CURDLING

cure NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 ~ sb (of sth) to make a person or an animal healthy again after an illness: Will you be able to cure him, Doctor?
2 to make an illness go away: TB is a serious illness, but it can be cured.
3 to deal with a problem successfully: I finally managed to cure the rattling noise in my car.
4 ~ sb of sth to stop sb from behaving in a particular way, especially a way that is bad or annoying
5 to treat food or TOBACCO with smoke, salt, etc. in order to preserve it see KILL v.
noun
1 ~ (for sth) a medicine or medical treatment that cures an illness: the search for a cure for cancer There is no known cure but the illness can be treated. The only real cure is rest.
2 the act of curing sb of an illness or the process of being cured: Doctors cannot effect a cure if the disease has spread too far. The cure took six weeks.
3 ~ (for sth) something that will solve a problem, improve a bad situation, etc.: a cure for poverty see PREVENTION

cure-all noun something that people believe can cure any problem or any disease PANACEA

curettage NAmE noun [U] (medical) a medical operation that involves removing material from the inside of the UTERUS or other body part using a small sharp tool DILATATION AND CURETTAGE

curette NAmE noun (medical) a small tool that is used to remove material from the body, especially from the UTERUS

curfew NAmE noun [C, U]
1 a law which says that people must not go outside after a particular time at night until the morning; the time after which nobody must go outside: The army imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew. You must get home before curfew.
2 (NAmE) a time when children must be home in the evening: I have a 10 o'clock curfew.

curie NAmE noun (abbr. Ci) (physics) a unit for measuring RADIOACTIVITY

curio NAmE noun (pl. -os) a small object that is rare or unusual, often sth that people collect

curiosity NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U, sing.] ~ (about sth)| ~ (to do sth) a strong desire to know about sth: Children show curiosity about everything. a certain curiosity to see what would happen next The letter wasn't addressed to me but I opened it out of curiosity. His answer did not satisfy my curiosity at all. Sophie's curiosity was aroused by the mysterious phone call. intellectual curiosity 'Why do you ask?' 'Oh, just idle curiosity' (= no particular reason).
2 [C] an unusual and interesting thing: The museum is full of historical curiosities.
curiosity killed the cat (saying) used to tell sb not to ask questions or try to find out about things that do not concern them

curious NAmE adj.
1 ~ (about sth)| ~ (to do sth) having a strong desire to know about sth INQUISITIVE: They were very curious about the people who lived upstairs. I was curious to find out what she had said. Everyone was curious as to why Mark was leaving. He is such a curious boy, always asking questions.
2 ~ (that ... ) strange and unusual: There was a curious mixture of people in the audience. It was a curious feeling, as though we were floating on air. It was curious that she didn't tell anyone.
curiously adv.: 'Are you really an artist?' Sara asked curiously. His clothes were curiously old-fashioned. Curiously enough, a year later exactly the same thing happened again.

curium NAmE noun [U] (symb Cm) a chemical element. Curium is a RADIOACTIVE metal produced artificially from PLUTONIUM.

curl NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 to form or make sth form into a curl or curls: [V] His hair curls naturally. [also VN]
2 [usually +adv./prep.] to form or make sth form into a curved shape: [V] The cat curled into a ball and went to sleep. [VN] She curled her legs up under her.
3 [usually +adv./prep.] to move while forming into a twisted or curved shape; to make sth do this: [V] The smoke curled steadily upwards. The honeysuckle curled around the trunk of the apple tree. [VN] He turned and curled the ball around the goalkeeper.
4 [V, VN] if you curl your lip or your lip curls, you move your lip upwards and sideways to show that you think sb/sth is stupid or that you are better than they are see TOE n.
curl up| be curled up to lie or sit with your back curved and your arms and legs bent close to your body: She curled up and closed her eyes.
curl up| curl sb up (BrE, informal) to become or make sb become very embarrassed
curl up| curl sthup to form or make sth form into a tightly curled shape: The paper started to shrivel and curl up in the heat.
noun
1 [C] a small bunch of hair that forms a curved or round shape: Her hair was a mass of curls. The baby had dark eyes and dark curls.
2 [C, U] the tendency of hair to form curls: His hair had a natural curl.
3 [C] a thing that forms a curved or round shape: a curl of smoke Decorate the cake with curls of chocolate. a contemptuous curl of the lip (= an expression showing disapproval)

curler NAmE noun [usually pl.] a small plastic or metal tube which you can wrap wet hair around in order to make it curl: She put her hair in curlers at night. ROLLER

curlew NAmE noun a bird with a long thin beak that curves downwards, that lives near water

curlicue NAmE noun (technical) a decorative curl or twist in writing or in a design

curling NAmE noun [U] a game played on ice, in which players slide heavy flat stones towards a mark

curling iron noun (NAmE) = TONGS

curling tongs noun [pl.] (BrE) = TONGS

curly NAmE adj. (curlier, curliest) having a lot of curls or a curved shape: short curly hair I wish my hair was curly. a curly-headed boy a dog with a curly tail curly cabbage leaves STRAIGHT

curly endive noun [C, U] = ENDIVE

curmudgeon NAmE noun (old-fashioned) a bad-tempered person, often an old one
curmudgeonly adj.

currant NAmE noun
1 a small dried GRAPE, used in cakes, etc.: a currant bun
2 (usually in compounds) a small black, red or white BERRY that grows in bunches on bushes: blackcurrants currant bushes

currency NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C, U] the system of money that a country uses: trading in foreign currencies a single European currency You'll need some cash in local currency but you can also use your credit card.see also HARD CURRENCY
2 [U] the fact that sth is used or accepted by a lot of people: The term 'post-industrial' now has wide currency. The qualification has gained currency all over the world.

current NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 [only before noun] happening now; of the present time: current prices a budget for the current year your current employer note at ACTUAL
2 being used by or accepted by most people: words that are no longer current
noun
1 the movement of water in the sea or a river; the movement of air in a particular direction: He swam to the shore against a strong current. Birds use warm air currents to help their flight.
2 the flow of electricity through a wire, etc.: a 15 amp electrical currentsee also AC, DC
3 the fact of particular ideas, opinions or feelings being present in a group of people: Ministers are worried by this current of anti-government feeling.

current account (BrE) (US checking account CanE chequing account) noun a type of bank account that you can take money out of at any time, and that provides you with a CHEQUEBOOK and CASH CARDcompare DEPOSIT ACCOUNT

current affairs noun [pl.] events of political or social importance that are happening now

currently NAmE adv. at the present time: The hourly charge is currently £35. Currently, over 500 students are enrolled on the course. All the options are currently available. This matter is currently being discussed.

curricular adj. connected with the curriculum of a school, etc.see also EXTRA-CURRICULAR

curriculum noun (pl. curricula or curriculums) the subjects that are included in a course of study or taught in a school, college, etc.: the school curriculum (BrE) Spanish is on the curriculum. (NAmE) Spanish is in the curriculum.compare SYLLABUS

curriculum vitae (abbr. CV) noun
1 (BrE) (NAmE résumé) a written record of your education and the jobs you have done, that you send when you are applying for a job: Applications with a full curriculum vitae and two references should reach the Principal by June 12th.
2 (also vita) (US) a record of a university/college teacher's education and where they have worked, also including a list of books and articles that they have published and courses that they have taught, used when they are applying for a job

curried NAmE adj. [only before noun] cooked with hot spices: curried chicken/beef/eggs, etc.

curry NAmE noun, verb
noun [C, U] a S Asian dish of meat, vegetables, etc. cooked with hot spices, often served with rice: a chicken curry Would you like some more curry?
verb (curries, currying, curried, curried) [VN] to make curry out of meat or vegetables
curry favour (with sb) (disapproving) to try to get sb to like or support you by praising or helping them a lot: He's always trying to curry favour with the boss.

curry powder noun [U] a powder made from a mixture of spices, used to give a hot flavour to food, especially curry

curse NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 (also cuss) [C] a rude or offensive word or phrase that some people use when they are very angry OATH, SWEAR WORD: He muttered a curse at the other driver.
2 [C] a word or phrase that has a magic power to make sth bad happen: The family thought that they were under a curse.compare HEX
3 [C] something that causes harm or evil: the curse of drug addiction Noise is a curse of modern city life.
4 the curse [sing.] (old-fashioned, informal) MENSTRUATION
verb
1 [V] to swear: He hit his head as he stood up and cursed loudly.
2 [VN] ~ (sb/sth) (for sth) to say rude things to sb or think rude things about sb/sth: She cursed her bad luck. He cursed himself for his stupidity.
3 [VN] to use a magic word or phrase against sb in order to harm them: Legend has it that the whole village had been cursed by a witch.compare HEX
be cursed with sth to continuously suffer from or be affected by sth bad: She seems cursed with bad luck.

cursed adj.
1 NAmE having a curse (2) on it; suffering from a curse (2): The necklace was cursed. The whole family seemed cursed.
2 NAmE [only before noun] (old-fashioned) unpleasant; annoying

cursive NAmE adj. (technical) (of HANDWRITING) with the letters joined together

cursor NAmE noun a small mark on a computer screen that can be moved and that shows the position on the screen where, for example, text will be added

cursory NAmE adj. (often disapproving) done quickly and without giving enough attention to details BRIEF, PERFUNCTORY: a cursory glance/examination/inspection
cursorily NAmE adv.

curt NAmE adj. (of a person's manner or behaviour) appearing rude because very few words are used, or because sth is done in a very quick way ABRUPT, BRUSQUE: a curt reply a curt nod A curt note of rejection arrived from the company director. His tone was curt and unfriendly.
curtly adv. curtness noun [U]

curtail NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to limit sth or make it last for a shorter time: Spending on books has been severely curtailed. The lecture was curtailed by the fire alarm going off.
curtailment noun [U]: the curtailment of civil liberties

curtain NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a piece of cloth that is hung to cover a window : to draw/pull/close the curtains (= to pull them across the window so they cover it) to draw/draw back/pull back the curtains (= to open them, so that the window is no longer covered) It was ten in the morning but the curtains were still drawn (= closed). a pair of curtainssee also DRAPE
2 (NAmE) = NET CURTAIN
3 [C] a piece of cloth that is hung up as a screen in a room or around a bed, for example: a shower curtainsee also THE IRON CURTAIN
4 [sing.] a piece of thick, heavy cloth that hangs in front of the stage in the theatre: The audience was waiting for the curtain to rise (= for the play to begin). There was tremendous applause when the curtain came down (= the play ended). We left just before the final curtain. (figurative) The curtain has fallen on her long and distinguished career (= her career has ended). (figurative) It's time to face the final curtain (= the end; death).
5 [C, usually sing.] a thing that covers, hides or protects sth: a curtain of rain/smoke She pushed back the curtain of brown hair from her eyes.
be curtains (for sb) (informal) to be a situation without hope or that you cannot escape from: When I saw he had a gun, I thought it was curtains for me.
bring down the curtain on sth | bring the curtain down on sth to finish or mark the end of sth: His sudden decision to retire brought down the curtain on a distinguished career.
verb [VN] to provide curtains for a window or a room
curtain sthoff to separate an area of a room with a curtain or curtains: The bed was in a corner, curtained off from the rest of the room.

curtain call noun the time in the theatre when the actors come to the front of the stage at the end of a play to receive the APPLAUSE of the audience: The audience clapped so much that the stars had to take fifteen curtain calls.

curtain-raiser noun ~ (to sth)
1 a small event that prepares for a more important one
2 a short performance before the main performance in a theatre, etc.

curtain-up noun [U]
1 the beginning of a play or show: Curtain-up's at 7.30.
2 the beginning of sth which is very exciting or dramatic

curtsy (also curtsey) NAmE noun (pl. -ies or -eys) a formal sign made by a woman in a dance or to say hello or goodbye to an important person, by bending her knees with one foot in front of the other
curtsy verb (curtsies, curtsying, curtsied, curtsied) (also curtsey): [V] She curtsied to the Queen.

curvaceous NAmE adj. (informal) used in newspapers, etc. to describe a woman whose body has attractive curves

curvature NAmE noun [U] (technical) the state of being curved; the amount that sth is curved: the curvature of the earth curvature of the spine

curve NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a line or surface that bends gradually; a smooth bend: the delicate curve of her ear a pattern of straight lines and curves (especially NAmE) a curve in the road (especially NAmE) The driver lost control on a curve and the vehicle hit a tree. to plot a curve on a graph (technical) the unemployment-income curve (= a line on a GRAPH showing the relationship between the number of unemployed people and national income)see also LEARNING CURVE
2 (also curve ball) (NAmE) (in BASEBALL) a ball that moves in a curve when it is thrown to the BATTER: (figurative) One of the journalists threw the senator a curve (= surprised him by asking a difficult question).
verb [usually +adv./prep.] to move or make sth move in the shape of a curve; to be in the shape of a curve: [V] The road curved around the bay. The ball curved through the air. His lips curved in a smile. [also VN]

curved NAmE adj. having a round shape: a curved path/roof/blade

curvilinear NAmE adj. (formal) consisting of a curved line or lines

curvy NAmE adj. (informal) having curves: a curvy body curvy lines

cushion noun, verb
noun
1 (NAmE also pillow) a cloth bag filled with soft material or feathers that is used, for example, to make a seat more comfortable: matching curtains and cushions a floor cushion (= a large cushion that you put on the floor to sit on) a pile of scatter cushions (= small cushions, often in bright colours, that you put on chairs, etc.) (figurative) a cushion of moss on a rock
2 a layer of sth between two surfaces that keeps them apart: A hovercraft rides on a cushion of air. Underlay forms a cushion between the carpet and the floor, to minimize wear.
3 [usually sing.] ~ (against sth) something that protects you against sth unpleasant that might happen: His savings were a comfortable cushion against financial problems. The team built up a safe cushion of two goals in the first half.
4 (in the game of BILLIARDS, etc.) the soft inside edge along each side of the table, that the balls BOUNCE off
verb [VN]
1 to make the effect of a fall or hit less severe: My fall was cushioned by the deep snow.
2 ~ sb/sth (against/from sth) to protect sb/sth from being hurt or damaged or from the unpleasant effects of sth: The south of the country has been cushioned from the worst effects of the recession. He broke the news of my brother's death to me, making no effort to cushion the blow (= make the news less shocking).
3 [usually passive] to make sth soft with a cushion

cushy adj. (cushier, cushiest) (informal, often disapproving) very easy and pleasant; needing little or no effort: a cushy job
a cushy number (BrE) an easy job; a pleasant situation that other people would like

cusp noun
1 (technical) a pointed end where two curves meet: the cusp of a leaf
2 the time when one sign of the ZODIAC ends and the next begins: I was born on the cusp between Virgo and Libra. (figurative) He was on the cusp between small acting roles and moderate fame.

cuss verb, noun
verb (old-fashioned, informal) to swear at sb: [V] My dad used to come home drunk, shouting and cussing. [also VN]
noun (old-fashioned, informal)
1 used with a negative adjective to describe a person: He's an awkward cuss.
2 = CURSE: cuss words see TINKER n.

cussed adj. (old-fashioned, informal) (of people) not willing to be helpful STUBBORN
cussedly adv. cussedness noun [U]

custard NAmE noun
1 [U] (especially BrE) (NAmE usually custard sauce) a sweet yellow sauce made from milk, sugar, eggs and flour, usually served hot with cooked fruit, PUDDINGS, etc.: apple pie and custard
2 [C, U] a mixture of eggs, milk and sugar baked until it is firm

custard apple noun
1 a S American tree that produces large tropical fruits that are yellowish-white inside
2 the fruit from this tree

custard pie noun a flat PIE filled with sth soft and wet that looks like custard, that performers throw at each other to make people laugh

custard powder noun [U] a powder which is added to milk to make CUSTARD

custodial NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (law)
1 involving sending sb to prison: The judge gave him a custodial sentence (= sent him to prison).
2 connected with the right or duty of taking care of sb; having CUSTODY: The mother is usually the custodial parent after a divorce. NON-CUSTODIAL

custodian NAmE noun
1 a person who takes responsibility for taking care of or protecting sth: the museum's custodians a self-appointed custodian of public morals
2 (NAmE) = CARETAKER

custody noun [U]
1 the legal right or duty to take care of or keep sb/sth; the act of taking care of sth/sb: Who will have custody of the children? The divorce court awarded custody to the child's mother. The parents were locked in a bitter battle for custody. The bank provides safe custody for valuables. The castle is now in the custody of the state.
2 the state of being in prison, especially while waiting for trial: After the riot, 32 people were taken into police custody. (BrE) He was remanded in custody, charged with the murder of a policeman.see also YOUTH CUSTODY

custom noun, adj.
nounsee also CUSTOMS
1 [C, U] ~ (of doing sth) an accepted way of behaving or of doing things in a society or a community: an old/ancient custom the custom of giving presents at Christmas It's a local custom. It is the custom in that country for women to marry young.
2 [sing.] (formal or literary) the way a person always behaves HABIT, PRACTICE: It was her custom to rise early. As was his custom, he knocked three times.
3 [U] (BrE, formal) (also business NAmE, BrE) the fact of a person or people buying goods or services at a shop/store or business: Thank you for your custom. Please call again. We've lost a lot of custom since prices went up.
adj. [only before noun] (especially NAmE) = CUSTOM-BUILT, CUSTOM-MADE: a custom motorcycle

customary NAmE adj.
1 if sth is customary, it is what people usually do in a particular place or situation USUAL: Is it customary to tip hairdressers in this country?
2 typical of a particular person HABITUAL: She arranged everything with her customary efficiency.
customarily NAmE adv.

custom-built (also custom especially in NAmE) adj. designed and built for a particular person

customer noun
1 a person or an organization that buys sth from a shop/store or business: one of the shop's best/biggest customers They know meI'm a regular customer. the customer service department The firm has excellent customer relations.
2 (old-fashioned, informal) used after an adjective to describe a particular type of person: an awkward customer a cool customer (= sb who is always calm, even when in trouble) an ugly customer (= sb who may become violent)

customer base noun [usually sing.] (business) all the people who buy or use a particular product or service: We need to appeal to a wider customer base. Her company has built up a customer base of 90,000.

customize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to make or change sth to suit the needs of the owner: You can customize the software in several ways.
customized adj.: a customized car

custom-made (also custom especially in NAmE) adj. designed and made for a particular personsee also BESPOKE

customs noun [pl.]
1 (usually Customs) (BrE also Customs and Excise) (US also US Customs Service) the government department that collects taxes on goods bought and sold and on goods brought into the country, and that checks what is brought in: The Customs have seized large quantities of smuggled heroin. a customs officer NAmE uses a singular verb with customs in this meaning.
2 the place at a port or an airport where your bags are checked as you come into a country: to go through customs and passport control
3 the taxes that must be paid to the government when goods are brought in from other countries: to pay customs on sth customs duty/duties note at TAXcompare EXCISE

customs union noun a group of states that agree to have the same taxes on imported goods

cut verb, noun
verb (cutting, cut, cut)
WOUND/HOLE
1 to make an opening or a wound in sth, especially with a sharp tool such as a knife or scissors: [VN] She cut her finger on a piece of glass. He cut himself (= his face) shaving. You need a powerful saw to cut through metal. (figurative) The canoe cut through the water. [VN-ADJ] She had fallen and cut her head open.
REMOVE WITH KNIFE
2 ~ sth (from sth)| ~ (sb) sth| ~ sth (for sb) to remove sth or a part of sth, using a knife, etc.: [VN] He cut four thick slices from the loaf. a bunch of cut flowers [VNN, VN] I cut them all a piece of birthday cake. I cut a piece of birthday cake for them all.
DIVIDE
3 ~ sth (in/into sth) to divide sth into two or more pieces with a knife, etc.: [VN] He cut the loaf into thick slices. The bus was cut in two by the train. Now cut the tomatoes in half. Don't cut the string, untie the knots.
SHAPE/FORM
4 [VN] ~ sth (in sth) to make or form sth by removing material with a knife, etc.: The climbers cut steps in the ice. Workmen cut a hole in the pipe.
HAIR/NAILS/GRASS, etc.
5 to make sth shorter by cutting: [VN] to cut your hair/nails to cut the grass/lawn/hedge [VN-ADJ] He's had his hair cut really short.
RELEASE
6 ~ sb (from sth) to allow sb to escape from somewhere by cutting the rope, object, etc. that is holding them: [VN] The injured driver had to be cut from the wreckage. [VN-ADJ] Two survivors were cut free after being trapped for twenty minutes.
CLOTHING
7 [VN-ADJ] [usually passive] to design and make a piece of clothing in a particular way: The swimsuit was cut high in the leg.
ABLE TO CUT/BE CUT
8 [V] to be capable of cutting: This knife won't cut.
9 [V] to be capable of being cut: Sandstone cuts easily.
REDUCE
10 [VN] ~ sth (by ... )| ~ sth (from ... ) (to ... ) to reduce sth by removing a part of it: to cut prices/taxes/spending/production Buyers will bargain hard to cut the cost of the house they want. His salary has been cut by ten per cent. Could you cut your essay from 5 000 to 3 000 words?
REMOVE
11 [VN] ~ sth (from sth) to remove sth from sth: This scene was cut from the final version of the movie.
COMPUTING
12 to DELETE (= remove) part of a text on a computer screen in order to place it somewhere else: [V] You can cut and paste between different programs. [also VN]
STOP
13 [VN] (informal) used to tell sb to stop doing sth: Cut the chatter and get on with your work!
END
14 [VN] to completely end a relationship or all communication with sb SEVER: She has cut all ties with her family. He has refused to cut links with these companies.
IN MOVIE/TV
15 [VN] to prepare a film/movie or tape by removing parts of it or putting them in a different order EDITsee also DIRECTOR'S CUT
16 [V] (usually used in orders) to stop filming or recording: The director shouted 'Cut!'
17 [V] ~ (from sth) to sth (in films/movies, radio or television) to move quickly from one scene to another: The scene cuts from the bedroom to the street.
MISS CLASS
18 [VN] (informal, especially NAmE) to stay away from a class that you should go to: He's always cutting class.
UPSET
19 [VN] to hurt sb emotionally: His cruel remarks cut her deeply.
IN CARD GAMES
20 to lift and turn up a PACK/DECK of PLAYING CARDS in order to decide who is to play first, etc.: [V] Let's cut for dealer. [also VN]
GEOMETRY
21 [VN] (of a line) to cross another line: The line cuts the circle at two points.
A TOOTH
22 [VN] ~ a tooth to have a new tooth beginning to appear through the GUM: When did she cut her first tooth?
A DISC, etc.
23 [VN] ~ a disc, etc. to make a recording of music on a record, CD, etc.: The Beatles cut their first disc in 1962.
DRUG
24 [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to mix an illegal drug such as HEROIN with another substance
Most idioms containing cut are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example cut your losses is at loss. cut and run (BrE, informal) to make a quick or sudden escape
(not) cut it (informal) to (not) be as good as is expected or needed: He won't cut it as a professional singer.
cut across sth
1 to affect or be true for different groups that usually remain separate: Opinion on this issue cuts across traditional political boundaries.
2 (also cut through sth) to go across sth in order to make your route shorter: I usually cut across the park on my way home.

cut sthaway (from sth) to remove sth from sth by cutting: They cut away all the dead branches from the tree.

cut sthback
1 (also cut back (on sth)) to reduce sth: If we don't sell more we'll have to cut back production. to cut back on spendingrelated noun CUTBACK note at CUT
2 to make a bush, etc. smaller by cutting branches off PRUNE: to cut back a rose bush

cut sbdown (formal) to kill sb: He was cut down by an assassin's bullet.
cut sthdown to make sth fall down by cutting it at the base: to cut down a tree
cut sthdown (to ... )| cut down (on sth) to reduce the size, amount or number of sth: We need to cut the article down to 1 000 words. The doctor told him to cut down on his drinking. I won't have a cigarette, thanksI'm trying to cut down (= smoke fewer).

cut in
1 if a motor or an engine cuts in, it starts working: Emergency generators cut in.
2 (NAmE) = PUSH IN
cut in (on sb/sth)
1 to interrupt sb when they are speaking BUTT IN: She kept cutting in on our conversation. [+ speech] 'Forget it!' she cut in.
2 (of a vehicle or its driver) to move suddenly in front of another vehicle, leaving little space between the two vehicles
cut sb in (on sth) (informal) to give sb a share of the profit in a business or an activity

cut sboff
1 [often passive] to interrupt sb who is speaking on the telephone by breaking the connection: We were cut off in the middle of our conversation.
2 to refuse to let sb receive any of your property after you die DISINHERIT: He cut his son off without a penny.
cut sb/sthoff
1 to interrupt sb and stop them from speaking: My explanation was cut off by loud protests.
2 [often passive] to stop the supply of sth to sb: Our water supply has been cut off. They were cut off for not paying their phone bill.
cut sthoff
1 (also cut sth off sth) to remove sth from sth larger by cutting: He had his finger cut off in an accident at work. (figurative) The winner cut ten seconds off (= ran the distance ten seconds faster than) the world record.see also CUT-OFF
2 to block or get in the way of sth: They cut off the enemy's retreat. The new factory cuts off our view of the hills.
cut sb/sth off (from sb/sth) [often passive] to prevent sb/sth from leaving or reaching a place or communicating with people outside a place: The army was cut off from its base. She feels very cut off living in the country. He cut himself off from all human contact.

cut out if a motor or an engine cuts out, it suddenly stops workingrelated noun CUT-OUT
cut sbout (of sth) to not allow sb to be involved in sth: Don't cut your parents out of your lives. Furious, his mother cut him out of her will (= refused to let him receive any of her property after she died).
cut sthout
1 to make sth by cutting: She cut the dress out of some old material. (figurative) He's cut out a niche for himself (= found a suitable job) in journalism.related noun CUT-OUT
2 (informal) used to tell sb to stop doing or saying sth annoying: I'm sick of you two arguingjust cut it out!
3 to leave sth out of a piece of writing, etc. OMIT: I would cut out the bit about working as a waitress.
4 to block sth, especially light: Tall trees cut out the sunlight.
cut sthout (of sth)
1 to remove sth from sth larger by cutting, usually with scissors: I cut this article out of the newspaper.
2 to stop doing, using or eating sth: I've been advised to cut sugar out of my diet.
be cut out for sth| be cut out to be sth (informal) to have the qualities and abilities needed for sth: He's not cut out for teaching. He's not cut out to be a teacher.

cut through sth
1 = CUT ACROSS STH
2 (also cut sth through sth) to make a path or passage through sth by cutting: They used a machete to cut through the bush. The prisoners cut their way through the barbed wire.

cut up (NAmE, informal) to behave in a noisy and silly way
cut sbup (informal)
1 to injure sb badly by cutting or hitting them: He was very badly cut up in the fight.
2 [usually passive] to upset sb emotionally: She was pretty cut up about them leaving.
cut sb/sthup (BrE) to suddenly drive in front of another vehicle in a dangerous way
cut sthup to divide sth into small pieces with a knife, etc.: He cut up the meat on his plate.
noun
WOUND
1 a wound caused by sth sharp: cuts and bruises on the face Blood poured from the deep cut on his arm.
HOLE
2 a hole or an opening in sth, made with sth sharp: Using sharp scissors, make a small cut in the material.
REDUCTION
3 ~ (in sth) a reduction in amount, size, supply, etc.: price/tax/job cuts They had to take a 20% cut in pay. They announced cuts in public spending.see also POWER CUT, SHORT CUT
OF HAIR
4 [usually sing.] an act of cutting sb's hair; the style in which it is cut: Your hair could do with a cut (= it is too long). a cut and blow-drysee also BUZZ CUT
OF CLOTHING
5 [usually sing.] the shape and style that a piece of clothing has because of the way the cloth is cut: the elegant cut of her dress trousers with a loose cut designed for comfortable wear
SHARE OF MONEY
6 a share in sth, especially money: They were rewarded with a cut of 5% from the profits.
OF MOVIE/PLAY, etc.
7 ~ (in sth) an act of removing part of a film/movie, play, piece of writing, etc.: The director objected to the cuts ordered by the censor. She made some cuts before handing over the finished novel.
MEAT
8 a piece of meat cut from an animal: a lean cut of pork cheap cuts of stewing lambsee also COLD CUTS
a cut above sb/sth better than sb/sth: His latest novel is a cut above the rest.
the cut and thrust (of sth) (BrE) the lively or aggressive way that sth is done: the cut and thrust of political debate his cut-and-thrust management style

SYNONYMS

cut

slash cut back scale back rationalize downsize

These words all mean to reduce the amount or size of sth, especially of an amount of money or a business.

cut to reduce sth, especially an amount of money that is demanded, spent, earned, etc. or the size of a business: The President has promised to cut taxes significantly. Buyers will bargain hard to cut the cost of the house they want. His salary has been cut by ten per cent. Could you cut your essay from 5000 to 3000 words?

slash [often passive] (rather informal) (often used in newspapers) to reduce sth by a large amount: The workforce has been slashed by half.

cut sth back/cut back on sth to reduce sth, especially an amount of money or business: We had to cut back production.

scale sth back (especially NAmE or business) to reduce sth, especially an amount of money or business: The IMF has scaled back its growth forecasts for the next decade.

rationalize (BrE business) to make changes to a business or system, in order to make it more efficient, especially by spending less money.

downsize (business) to make a company or organization smaller by reducing the number of jobs in it, in order to reduce costs. Downsize is often used by people who want to avoid saying more obvious words like 'dismiss' or 'make redundant' because they sound too negative.

scale sth down to reduce the number, size or extent of sth: We are scaling down our training programmes next year.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to cut sth/slash sth/cut sth back/downsize/scale sth down considerably/drastically

to cut/slash/cut back on/scale back/rationalize spending/production

to cut/slash/cut back on jobs

to cut/slash/downsize the workforce

to cut/slash/rationalize the cost of sth

to cut/slash prices/taxes/the budget

cut and dried adj. [not usually before noun] decided in a way that cannot be changed or argued about: The inquiry is by no means cut and dried.

cutaneous adj. (anatomy) connected with the skin

cutaway adj., noun
adj. [only before noun] (of a model or diagram) with some outside parts left out, in order to show what the inside looks like: a cutaway picture of the inside of a nuclear reactor
noun
1 (especially NAmE) ~ (to sb/sth) (on television, in a film/movie, etc.) a picture that shows sth different from the main thing that is being shown: There was a cutaway to Jackson's guest on the podium.
2 a model or diagram with some outside parts left out, in order to show what the inside looks like
3 (NAmE) = MORNING COAT

cutback noun [usually pl.] ~ (in sth) a reduction in sth: cutbacks in public spending staff cutbacks

cute adj. (cuter, cutest)
1 pretty and attractive: a cute little baby (BrE) an unbearably cute picture of two kittens (= it seems SENTIMENTAL)
2 (informal, especially NAmE) sexually attractive: Check out those cute guys over there!
3 (informal, especially NAmE) clever, sometimes in an annoying way because a person is trying to get an advantage for him or herself: She had a really cute idea. Don't get cute with me!
cutely adv.: to smile cutely cuteness noun [U]

cutesy adj. (informal) too pretty or attractive in a way that is annoying or not realistic: She is trying to get away from her cutesy girl-next-door image.

cut glass noun [U] glass with patterns cut in it: a cut-glass vase For dinner, she brought out her cut glass and best china.

cuticle noun an area of hard skin at the base of the nails on the fingers and toes

cutie noun (informal) a person who is attractive or kind: He's a real cutie.

cut-in noun a scene in a film/movie which has been put between two parts of another scene

cutlass noun a short SWORD with a curved blade that was used as a weapon by sailors and PIRATES in the past

cutlery noun [U]
1 (BrE) (NAmE flatware, silverware) knives, forks and spoons, used for eating and serving food: Put the cutlery in the drawer. a stainless steel cutlery set
2 (NAmE) knives, etc. that are sharp

cutlet noun
1 a thick slice of meat, especially LAMB or PORK (= meat from a pig), that is cooked and served with the bone still attached
2 (in compounds) finely chopped pieces of meat, fish, vegetables, etc. that are pressed together into a flat piece, covered with BREADCRUMBS and cooked: nut cutlets

cut-off noun, adj.
noun
1 a point or limit when you stop sth: The government announced a cut-off in overseas aid. Is there a cut-off point between childhood and adulthood? Set a cut-off date for work to be finished.
2 cut-offs [pl.] cut-off trousers/pants: wearing frayed cut-offs
adj. [only before noun] (of trousers/pants) made shorter by cutting off part of the legs: cut-off jeans

cut-out noun
1 a shape cut out of paper, wood, etc.: a cardboard cut-out
2 a piece of safety equipment that stops an electric current from flowing through sth: A cut-out stops the kettle boiling dry.

cut-price adj. [only before noun] (especially BrE) (NAmE usually cut-rate)
1 sold at a reduced price: cut-price goods/fares
2 selling goods at a reduced price: a cut-price store/supermarket

cutter noun
1 (usually in compounds) a person or thing that cuts: a pastry cutter
2 cutters [pl.] (usually in compounds) a tool for cutting: a pair of wire-cutters
3 a small fast ship
4 a ship's boat, used for travelling between the ship and land

cut-throat adj. [usually before noun] (of an activity) in which people compete with each other in aggressive and unfair ways: the cut-throat world of politics

cut-throat razor noun a RAZOR (= a tool used for shaving) with a long sharp bladecompare SAFETY RAZOR

cutting noun, adj.
noun
1 (also press cutting) (both BrE) (also clipping, press clipping NAmE, BrE) an article or a story that you cut from a newspaper or magazine and keep: newspaper/press cuttings
2 a piece cut off a plant that will be used to grow a new plant: Take geranium cuttings in late summer.
3 (BrE) a narrow open passage that is dug through high ground for a road, railway/railroad or CANAL
adj. [usually before noun]
1 unkind and likely to hurt sb's feelings BITING: a cutting remark
2 (of winds) cold in a sharp and unpleasant way BITING

cutting board noun (NAmE) = CHOPPING BOARD

cutting edge noun [sing.]
1 the ~ (of sth) the newest, most advanced stage in the development of sth: working at the cutting edge of computer technology
2 an aspect of sth that gives it an advantage: We're relying on him to give the team a cutting edge.

cutting grass noun = GRASSCUTTER

cutting room noun a room in which the different parts of a film/movie are cut and put into order: The scene with the elephant ended up on the cutting room floor (= was not included in the final version of the film/movie).

cuttlefish noun (pl. cuttlefish) a sea creature with ten arms and a wide flat shell inside its body, that produces a black substance like ink when it is attacked

cutup noun (NAmE, informal) a person who behaves in a silly way in order to attract attention and make people laugh

CV (BrE) (NAmE résumé) noun a written record of your education and the jobs you have done, that you send when you are applying for a job (abbreviation for 'curriculum vitae'): Send a full CV with your job application.

cwm noun = CORRIE

cwt. abbr. (pl. cwt.) (in writing) HUNDREDWEIGHT

cwtch verb [V, VN] (WelshE) to be held close in sb's arms in a loving way; to hold sb in this way: Cwtch up to your mam!
cwtch noun

-cy, -acy suffix (in nouns)
1 the state or quality of: infancy accuracy
2 the status or position of: chaplaincy

cyan noun [U] (technical) a greenish-blue colour, used in printing

cyanide noun [U] a highly poisonous chemical

cyber- combining form (in nouns and adjectives) connected with electronic communication networks, especially the Internet: cybernetics cybercafe

cybercafe NAmE noun a CAFE with computers on which customers can use the Internet, send emails, etc.

cybernaut NAmE noun (computing)
1 a person who wears special devices in order to experience VIRTUAL REALITY
2 a person who uses the Internet

cybernetics NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of communication and control, especially concerned with comparing human and animal brains with machines and electronic devices
cybernetic adj.

cyberpunk NAmE noun [U] stories set in an imaginary future world controlled by technology and computers

cybersex NAmE noun [U] communication between people using the Internet which makes them sexually excited

cyberspace NAmE noun [U] the imaginary place where electronic messages, etc. exist while they are being sent between computers: A new electronic link-up that will connect 500 hospitals around the world has checked into cyberspace.

cybersquatting NAmE noun [U] the illegal activity of buying and officially recording an address on the Internet that is the name of an existing company or a well-known person, with the intention of selling it to the owner in order to make money
cybersquatter noun: Many companies prefer to pay cybersquatters for the right to use their own name rather than risk a court case.

cyborg NAmE noun (in SCIENCE FICTION stories) a creature that is part human, part machine

cyclamen NAmE noun (pl. cyclamen or cyclamens) a plant with pink, purple or white flowers that grow on long STEMS pointing downwards, often grown indoors

cycle noun, verb
noun
1 a bicycle or motorcycle: We went for a cycle ride on Sunday. a cycle route/tracksee also BIKE
2 the fact of a series of events being repeated many times, always in the same order: the cycle of the seasons They could not break the cycle of harvest failure, food shortage, price increase and misery.see also LIFE CYCLE
3 a complete set or series, for example of movements in a machine: eight cycles per second the rinse cycle (= in a washing machine)
verb [V, usually + adv. / prep.] (especially BrE) to ride a bicycle; to travel by bicycle: I usually cycle home through the park.compare BICYCLE, BIKE

cycle lane (BrE) (NAmE bicycle lane, bike lane) noun a part of a road that only bicycles are allowed to use

cycle-rickshaw noun a vehicle like a bicycle with three wheels, with a covered seat for passengers behind the driver, used especially in some Asian countries

cyclic (also cyclical ) adj. [usually before noun] repeated many times and always happening in the same order: the cyclic processes of nature Economic activity often follows a cyclical pattern.
cyclically adv.: events that occur cyclically

cycling noun [U] the sport or activity of riding a bicycle: to go cycling Cycling is Europe's second most popular sport. cycling shorts

cyclist noun a person who rides a bicycle: They are both very keen cyclists.compare BICYCLIST

cyclo-cross NAmE noun [U] the sport of racing bicycles over rough ground, which in places is too difficult to ride on so you have to carry your bicycle and run

cyclone NAmE noun a violent tropical storm in which strong winds move in a circle: The cyclone struck the village late last night.compare HURRICANE, TYPHOON
cyclonic NAmE adj.

Cyclops NAmE noun (in ancient Greek stories) a giant with only one eye in the middle of his face

cyclotron NAmE noun (physics) a machine which makes atoms or ELECTRONS move more quickly, using electrical and MAGNETIC FIELDS

cygnet noun a young SWAN (= a large white bird with a long neck that lives on or near water)

cylinder noun
1 a solid or hollow figure with round ends and long straight sides
2 an object shaped like a cylinder, especially one used as a container: a gas/oxygen cylinder
3 the hollow tube in an engine, shaped like a cylinder, inside which the PISTON moves: a six-cylinder engine
working/firing on all cylinders (informal) using all your energy to do sth; working as well as possible

cylindrical adj. shaped like a cylinder: huge cylindrical gas tanks

cymbal noun a musical instrument in the form of a round metal plate. It is hit with a stick, or two cymbals are hit against each other: a clash/crash of cymbals

cymbalom noun = CIMBALOM

Cymru noun the name for 'Wales' in the Welsh languagesee also PLAID CYMRU

cynic noun
1 a person who believes that people only do things to help themselves, rather than for good or sincere reasons: Don't be such a cynic!
2 a person who does not believe that sth good will happen or that sth is important: Cynics will say that there is not the slightest chance of success.
cynicism noun [U]: In a world full of cynicism she was the one person I felt I could trust.

cynical adj.
1 believing that people only do things to help themselves rather than for good or honest reasons: Do you have to be so cynical about everything? a cynical view/smile
2 not believing that sth good will happen or that sth is important: I'm a bit cynical about the benefits of the plan. Her experiences with men have made her thoroughly cynical about love.
3 not caring that sth might hurt other people, if there is some advantage for you: a cynical disregard for the safety of others a deliberate and cynical foul
cynically adv.

cynosure NAmE noun [sing.] (formal) a person or thing that is the centre of attention: Ruth was the cynosure of all eyes.

cypher = CIPHER

cypress noun a tall straight EVERGREEN tree: a backdrop of olive and cypress trees

Cyrillic adj. the Cyrillic alphabet is used to write Russian, Bulgarian and some other Central European languages
Cyrillic noun [U]

cyst noun a GROWTH containing liquid that forms in or on a person's or an animal's body and may need to be removed

cystic fibrosis NAmE noun [U] a serious medical condition that some people are born with, in which GLANDS in the lungs and other organs do not work correctly. It often leads to infections and can result in early death.

cystitis noun [U] an infection of the BLADDER, especially in women, that causes frequent, painful URINATION

cytology NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of the structure and function of cells from living things

cytomegalovirus NAmE noun (medical) a virus that usually causes mild infections, but that can be serious for people with AIDS or for new babies

cytoplasm NAmE noun [U] (biology) all the living material in a cell, not including the NUCLEUS
cytoplasmic NAmE adj. compare PROTOPLASM

czar, czarina, czarism, czarist = TSAR, TSARINA, TSARISM, TSARIST

D noun, abbr., symbol
noun (also d) [C, U] (pl. Ds, D's, d's )
1 the fourth letter of the English alphabet: 'Dog' begins with (a) D/'D'.
2 D (music) the second note in the SCALE of C MAJOR
3 D the fourth highest mark/grade that a student can get for a piece of work, showing that it is not very good: He got (a) D/'D' in/for Geography.see also D-DAY
abbr. (also D. especially in NAmE) (in politics in the US) DEMOCRAT; DEMOCRATIC
symbol the number 500 in ROMAN NUMERALS

d. abbr.
1 (in writing) died: Emily Clifton, d. 1865
2 d (in the system of money used in the past in Britain) a PENNY

-d suffix -ED

DA (BrE) (US D.A.) abbr. DISTRICT ATTORNEY

dab verb, noun
verb (-bb-)
1 ~ (at) sth to touch sth lightly, usually several times: [VN] She dabbed her eyes and blew her nose. [V] He dabbed at the cut with his handkerchief.
2 [VN + adv. / prep.] to put sth on a surface with quick light movements: She dabbed a little perfume behind her ears.
noun
1 a small amount of a liquid, cream or powder that is put on a surface in a quick gentle movement: She put a dab of perfume behind her ears.
2 an act of gently touching or pressing sth without rubbing: He gave the cut a quick dab with a towel.
3 a small flat fish
4 (WelshE) a person or thing: He's in hospital again. Poor dab.

dabble verb
1 [V] ~ (in/with sth) to take part in a sport, an activity, etc. but not very seriously: She is a talented musician but is content to just dabble. He dabbles in local politics.
2 [VN] ~ sth (in sth) to move your hands, feet, etc. around in water: She dabbled her toes in the stream.

dab hand noun (BrE, informal) a person who is very good at doing sth or using sth: He's a dab hand at cooking spaghetti. She's a dab hand with a paintbrush.

da capo adv. (music) (from Italian) (used as an instruction) repeat from the beginning

dacha noun a Russian country house

dachshund NAmE (also BrE informal sausage dog) noun a small dog with a long body, long ears and very short legs

dacoit noun (IndE) a member of a group of armed thieves

dactyl noun (technical) a unit of sound in poetry consisting of one strong or long syllable followed by two weak or short syllables

dad noun (informal) (often used as a name) father: That's my dad over there. Do you live with your mum or your dad? Is it OK if I borrow the car, Dad?

Dada noun [U] an early 20th century movement in art, literature, music and film which made fun of social and artistic conventions
Dadaism noun [U] Dadaist noun

daddy noun (pl. -ies) used especially by and to young children, and often as a name, to mean 'father': What does your daddy look like? Daddy, where are you? Come to Daddy.

daddy-long-legs noun (pl. daddy-long-legs) (informal)
1 = CRANE FLY
2 (NAmE) a small creature like a spider with very long legs

dado NAmE noun (pl. -os, NAmE -oes) the lower part of the wall of a room when it is a different colour or material from the top part

dado rail noun a raised line around the wall of a room, that separates the dado from the upper part of the wall

daemon noun a creature in stories from ancient Greece that is half man and half god

daffodil noun a tall yellow spring flower shaped like a TRUMPET. It is a national symbol of Wales.

daffy adj. (daffier, daffiest) (informal) silly

daft NAmE adj. (dafter, daftest) (BrE, informal) silly, often in a way that is amusing: Don't be so daft! She's not as daft as she looks. What a daft thing to say!
daftness noun [U]
daft as a brush (BrE, informal) very silly

dag noun (informal)
1 (AustralE, NZE) a person who is strange or different in an amusing way
2 (AustralE) a person who is not fashionable
3 (AustralE, NZE) a dirty piece of wool that hangs down from a sheep's bottom

dagga noun [U] (SAfrE) = MARIJUANA: She was arrested for smoking dagga.

dagger noun a short pointed knife that is used as a weaponsee also CLOAK-AND-DAGGER
at daggers drawn (BrE) if two people are at daggers drawn, they are very angry with each other
look daggers at sb to look at sb in a very angry way

daggy adj. (AustralE, informal)
1 not fashionable: a daggy restaurant
2 untidy or dirty

dago NAmE noun (pl. -os or -oes) (taboo, slang) a very offensive word for a person from Italy, Spain or Portugal

daguerreotype (also daguerrotype) noun a photograph taken using an early process that used a silver plate and MERCURY gas

dahlia NAmE noun a large brightly coloured garden flower, often shaped like a ball

daikon NAmE noun [U, C] = MOOLI

the Dáil noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] one of the parts of the parliament of the Republic of Ireland, whose members are elected by the people

daily adj., adv., noun
adj. [only before noun]
1 happening, done or produced every day: a daily routine/visit/newspaper events affecting the daily lives of millions of people Invoices are signed on a daily basis.
2 connected with one day's work: They charge a daily rate.
your daily bread the basic things that you need to live, especially food
adv. every day: The machines are inspected twice daily.
noun (pl. -ies)
1 a newspaper published every day except Sunday: The story was in all the dailies.
2 (also daily help) (old-fashioned, BrE) a person employed to come to sb's house each day to clean it and do other jobs

dainty adj. (daintier, daintiest)
1 (of people and things) small and delicate in a way that people find attractive DELICATE: dainty feet a dainty porcelain cup
2 (of movements) careful, often in a way that suggests good manners DELICATE: She took a dainty little bite of the apple.
daintily adv.: She blew her nose as daintily as possible. daintiness noun [U]

daiquiri noun an alcoholic drink made from RUM mixed with fruit juice, sugar, etc.

dairy NAmE noun, adj.
noun (pl. -ies)
1 a place on a farm where milk is kept and where butter and cheese are made
2 a company that sells milk, eggs, cheese and other milk products
3 (NZE) a small local shop: I went to buy a paper at the corner dairy.
adj. [only before noun]
1 made from milk: dairy products/produce
2 connected with the production of milk rather than meat: the dairy industry dairy cattle/farmers a dairy cow/farm

dairymaid NAmE noun (old-fashioned) a woman who works in a dairy (1)

dairyman NAmE noun (pl. -men )
1 a man who works in a dairy (1)
2 a man who owns or manages a dairy (2) and sells the products

dais noun a stage, especially at one end of a room, on which people stand to make speeches to an audience

daisy noun (pl. -ies) a small wild flower with white PETALS around a yellow centre; a taller plant with similar but larger flowerssee also MICHAELMAS DAISY see PUSH v.

daisy chain noun a string of daisies tied together to wear around the neck, etc.

daisy cutter noun
1 (in CRICKET or BASEBALL) a ball hit or thrown to roll or BOUNCE low along the ground
2 a very powerful bomb dropped from an aircraft that explodes close to the ground and causes a lot of destruction over a large area

daisy wheel noun a small disc, used in some printers and TYPEWRITERS, with metal letters around the edge which print onto paper: a daisy wheel printer

daks noun [pl.] (AustralE, NZE, informal) trousers/pants

dal = DHAL

dala-dala noun (in Tanzania) a small bus used as a taxi

the Dalai Lama noun [sing.] the leader of Tibetan Buddhism and, in former times, the ruler of Tibet

dale noun (literary or dialect) a valley, especially in northern England: the Yorkshire Dales a typical dales house

Dalit noun (in the traditional Indian CASTE system) a member of the caste that is considered the lowest and that has the fewest advantages: the Dalits' struggle for social and economic rights

dalliance noun [U, C] (old-fashioned or humorous)
1 the behaviour of sb who is dallying with sb/sth: It turned out to be his last dalliance with the education system.
2 a sexual relationship that is not serious

dally verb (dallies, dallying, dallied, dallied) [V] (old-fashioned) to do sth too slowly; to take too much time making a decision
dally with sb/sth (old-fashioned) to treat sb/sth in a way that is not serious enoughsee also DILLY-DALLY

Dalmatian noun a large dog that has short white hair with black spots

dam noun, verb
noun
1 a barrier that is built across a river in order to stop the water from flowing, used especially to make a RESERVOIR (= a lake for storing water) or to produce electricity: the Narmada dam in India The dam burst.
2 (technical) the mother of some animals, especially horsescompare SIRE
3 = DENTAL DAM
verb (-mm-) [VN] ~ sth (up) to build a dam across a river, especially in order to make an artificial lake for use as a water supply, etc.: plans to dam Colorado's South Platte river

damage noun, verb
noun
1 [U] ~ (to sth) physical harm caused to sth which makes it less attractive, useful or valuable: serious/severe/extensive/permanent/minor damage brain/liver etc. damage fire/smoke/bomb/storm damage The earthquake caused damage to property estimated at $6 million. The storm didn't do much damage. Let's take a look at the damage. I insist on paying for the damage. Make sure you insure your camera against loss or damage.
2 [U] ~ (to sb/sth) harmful effects on sb/sth: emotional damage resulting from divorce damage to a person's reputation This could cause serious damage to the country's economy. I'm goingI've done enough damage here already.
3 damages [pl.] an amount of money that a court decides should be paid to sb by the person, company, etc. that has caused them harm or injury: He was ordered to pay damages totalling £30 000. They intend to sue for damages. Ann was awarded £6 000 (in) damages.
what's the damage? (informal) a way of asking how much sth costs
verb [VN] to harm or spoil sth/sb: The fire badly damaged the town hall. Several vehicles were damaged in the crash. Smoking seriously damages your health. The allegations are likely to damage his political career. emotionally damaged children

SYNONYMS

damage

hurt harm impair prejudice

These words all mean to to have a bad effect on sb/sth.

damage to cause physical harm to sth, making it less attractive, useful or valuable; to have a bad effect on sb/sth's life, health, happiness or chances of success: The fire badly damaged the town hall. emotionally damaged children

hurt (rather informal) to have a bad effect on sb/sth's life, health, happiness or chances of success: Hard work never hurt anyone.

harm to have a bad effect on sb/sth's life, health, happiness or chances of success: Pollution can harm marine life.

DAMAGE, HURT OR HARM?

All these words can be used to talk about how things can put people in a weaker position. An action or decision can damage/hurt/harm a person's or country's chances, prospects, interests, reputation or image. Hurt is slightly less formal, especially when it is used in negative statements: It won't hurt him to have to wait a bit. It won't damage/harm him to have to wait a bit. Harm is also often used to talk about ways in which things in the natural world such as wildlife and the environment are affected by human activity.

impair (rather formal) to damage sb's health, abilities or chances: Even one drink can impair driving performance.

prejudice (formal) to damage sb's health, happiness or chances: She did not disclose evidence that was likely to prejudice her client's case.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to damage/hurt/harm/impair/prejudice sb's health/chances

to damage/hurt/harm/prejudice sb's interests

to damage/hurt/harm sb's reputation

to seriously/severely/greatly/irreparably damage/hurt/harm/impair/prejudice sb/sth

to badly damage/hurt/harm/impair sb/sth

damage limitation (also damage control especially in NAmE) noun [U] the process of trying to limit the amount of damage that is caused by sth: The government was forced into an exercise in damage limitation/a damage limitation exercise.

damaging adj. ~ (to sb/sth) causing damage; having a bad effect on sb/sth: damaging consequences/effects Lead is potentially damaging to children's health.

Damascus noun
the road to Damascus an experience that results in a great change in a person's attitudes or beliefs: Spending a night in jail was his road to Damascus.
From the story in the Bible in which St Paul hears the voice of God on the road to Damascus and becomes a Christian.

damask noun [U] a type of thick cloth, usually made from silk or LINEN, with a pattern that is visible on both sides: a damask tablecloth

dame noun
1 Dame (in Britain) a title given to a woman as a special honour because of the work she has done: Dame Maggie Smith She was made a Dame in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
2 (old-fashioned, NAmE, informal) a woman
3 = PANTOMIME DAME

damn exclamation, adj., verb, adv., noun
exclamation (also old-fashioned dammit damn it) (informal) a swear word that people use to show that they are annoyed, disappointed, etc.: Oh damn! I forgot he was coming.
adj. (also damned) [only before noun] (informal)
1 a swear word that people use to show that they are annoyed with sb/sth: Where's that damn book! The damned thing won't start! It's none of your damn business! He's a damn nuisance!
2 a swear word that people use to emphasize what they are saying: What a damn shame! see THING
verb [VN]
1 used when swearing at sb/sth to show that you are angry: Damn you! I'm not going to let you bully me. Damn this machine! Why won't it work?
2 (of God) to decide that sb must suffer in hell
3 to criticize sb/sth very strongly: The film was damned by the critics for its mindless violence.
damn the consequences, expense, etc. (informal) used to say that you are going to do sth even though you know it may be expensive, have bad results, etc.: Let's celebrate and damn the expense!
damn sb/sth with faint praise to praise sb/sth only a little, in order to show that you do not really like them/it
I'll be damned! (old-fashioned, informal) used to show that you are very surprised about sth
I'm damned if ... (informal) used to show that you refuse to do sth or do not know sth: I'm damned if I'll apologize! I'm damned if I know who he is.more at NEAR adv.
adv. (also damned) (informal)
1 a swear word that people use to show that they are annoyed with sb/sth: Don't be so damn silly! What a damn stupid question! You know damn well (= you know very well) what I mean! I'll damn well leave tonight (= I am determined to).
2 a swear word that people use to emphasize what they are saying: damn good We got out pretty damned fast! I'm damn sure she had no idea.
damn all (BrE) nothing: I know damn all about computers.
noun
not care/give a damn (about sb/sth) (informal) to not care at all about sb/sthmore at TINKER n.

damnable adj. (old-fashioned) bad or annoying
damnably adv.

damnation noun [U] the state of being in hell; the act of sending sb to hell: eternal damnation

damned adj., adv., noun
adj., adv. = DAMN
nounthe damned [pl.] people who are forced to live in hell after they die: the torments of the damned

damnedest noun, adj. (informal)
the damnedest ... (especially NAmE) the most surprising ...: It's the damnedest thing I ever saw.
do/try your damnedest (to do sth) to try as hard as you can (to do sth): She did her damnedest to get it done on time.

damning adj. critical of sb/sth; suggesting that sb is guilty: damning criticism/evidence a damning conclusion/report Her report is expected to deliver a damning indictment of education standards.

Damocles noun see SWORD

damp adj., noun, verb
adj. (damper, dampest) slightly wet, often in a way that is unpleasant: The cottage was cold and damp. It feels damp in here. damp clothes Wipe the surface with a damp cloth. note at WET
damply adv.: The blouse clung damply to her skin.
a damp squib (BrE, informal) an event that is disappointing because it is not as exciting or impressive as expected: The celebrations were a bit of a damp squib.
noun [U] (BrE) the state of being damp; areas on a wall, etc. that are damp: The old house smells of damp. Those marks above the window look like damp to me.
verb [VN] = DAMPEN: She damped a towel and wrapped it round his leg.
damp down sth to make an emotion or a feeling less strong
damp sthdown to make a fire burn more slowly or stop burning

damp course (also damp-proof course) noun (both BrE) a layer of material near the bottom of a wall that is used to stop damp rising from the ground

dampen verb [VN]
1 (also less frequent damp) to make sth slightly wet: Perspiration dampened her face and neck. He dampened his hair to make it lie flat.
2 to make sth such as a feeling or a reaction less strong: None of the setbacks could dampen his enthusiasm for the project. She wasn't going to let anything dampen her spirits today.

damper noun
1 a piece of metal that can be moved to allow more or less air into a fire so that the fire burns more or less strongly
2 a device in a piano that is used to reduce the level of the sound produced
put a damper on sth (BrE also put a dampener on sth) (informal) to make sth less enjoyable, successful, etc.: Rain put a bit of a damper on the event. Recession in the early nineties put a damper on growth.

dampness noun [U] the fact or state of being damp: To avoid dampness, air the room regularly. There is some evidence of dampness or condensation in the basement.

damp-proof course noun = DAMP COURSE

damsel noun (old use) a young woman who is not married
a damsel in distress (humorous) a woman who needs help

damselfly noun (pl. -ies) an insect with a long thin body and two pairs of wings

damson noun a small purple fruit, like a PLUM: a damson tree

dan noun
1 one of the levels in KARATE or JUDO
2 a person who has reached a particular level in KARATE or JUDO

dance NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a series of movements and steps that are usually performed to music; a particular example of these movements and steps: a dance class/routine Find a partner and practise these new dance steps. Do you know any other Latin American dances? The next dance will be a waltz.see also RAIN DANCE
2 [U] the art of dancing, especially for entertainment: an evening of drama, music and dance modern/classical dance a dance company/troupe
3 [C] an act of dancing: Let's have a dance. He did a little dance of triumph.
4 [C] a social event at which people dance: We hold a dance every year to raise money for charity.
5 [C] a piece of music for dancing to: The band finished with a few slow dances. see LEAD^1 v., SONG
verb
1 [V] to move your body to the sound and rhythm of music: Do you want to dance? He asked me to dance. They stayed up all night singing and dancing. They danced to the music of a string quartet. Ruth danced all evening with Richard. Ruth and Richard danced together all evening.
2 [VN] to do a particular type of dance: to dance the tango to dance a waltz He was so excited about the good news that he danced a little jig.
3 [V] to move in a lively way: The children danced around her. The sun shone on the sea and the waves danced and sparkled. The words danced before her tired eyes.
dance attendance on sb (BrE, formal) to be with sb and do things to help and please them
dance the night away to dance for the whole evening or night
dance to sb's tune (BrE) to do whatever sb tells you to

dance band noun a group of musicians who play music at dances

dance floor noun an area where people can dance in a hotel, restaurant, etc.

dance hall noun a large public room where people pay to go and dance (more common in the past than now): the old days of the dance hallscompare BALLROOM

dancer NAmE noun a person who dances or whose job is dancing: She's a fantastic dancer. He's a dancer with the Royal Ballet.

dancing NAmE noun [U] moving your body to music: dancing classes There was music and dancing till two in the morning.see also COUNTRY DANCING, LAP DANCING, POLE DANCING, TABLE DANCING

D and C abbr. DILATATION AND CURETTAGE

dandelion noun a small wild plant with a bright yellow flower that becomes a soft white ball of seeds called a dandelion clock

dandelion coffee noun a hot drink made from the roots of DANDELIONS

dandified adj. (old-fashioned, disapproving) (of a man) caring a lot about his clothes and appearance

dandle verb [VN] (old-fashioned) to play with a baby or young child by moving them up and down on your knee

dandruff noun [U] very small pieces of dead skin, seen as a white dust in a person's hair: a dandruff shampoo

dandy noun, adj.
noun (pl. -ies) (old-fashioned) a man who cares a lot about his clothes and appearance
adj. (old-fashioned, especially NAmE) very good

dang adj., exclamation (NAmE, informal) a mild swear word, used instead of DAMN: It's just dang stupid!

danger noun
1 [U] ~ (of sth) the possibility of sth happening that will injure, harm or kill sb, or damage or destroy sth: Danger! Keep Out! Children's lives are in danger every time they cross this road. animals in danger of extinction Doctors said she is now out of danger (= not likely to die).
2 [C, U] ~ of sth| ~ that the possibility of sth bad or unpleasant happening: There is no danger of a bush fire now. The building is in danger of collapsing. How many factory workers are in danger of losing their jobs? There is a danger that the political disorder of the past will return. 'Nicky won't find out, will she?' 'Oh, no, there's no danger of that.'
3 [C] ~ (to sb/sth) a person or thing that may cause damage, or harm sb: Smoking is a serious danger to health. Police said the man was a danger to the public. the hidden dangers in your homesee also ENDANGER
be on/off the danger list (BrE) to be so ill/sick that you may die; to no longer be very ill/sick

danger money (BrE) (US hazard pay, danger pay) noun [U] extra pay for doing work that is dangerous

dangerous adj. ~ (for sb) (to do sth) likely to injure or harm sb, or to damage or destroy sth: a dangerous road/illness/sport The traffic here is very dangerous for children. dangerous levels of carbon monoxide The prisoners who escaped are violent and dangerous. (BrE) a conviction for dangerous driving The situation is highly dangerous. It would be dangerous for you to stay here.
dangerously adv.: She was standing dangerously close to the fire. His father is dangerously ill (= so ill that he might die). Mel enjoys living dangerously (= doing things that involve risk or danger).
dangerous ground a situation or subject that is likely to make sb angry, or that involves risk: We'd be on dangerous ground if we asked about race or religion.

dangle verb
1 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to hang or swing freely: Gold charms dangled from her bracelet. A single light bulb dangled from the ceiling. His legs dangled over the side of the boat. He sat on the edge with his legs dangling over the side.
2 [VN] to hold sth so that it hangs or swings freely: She dangled her car keys nervously as she spoke.
keep/leave sb dangling (informal) to keep sb in an uncertain state by not telling them sth that they want to know: She kept him dangling for a week before making her decision.
dangle sth before/in front of sb to offer sb sth good in order to persuade them to do sth: He had a company directorship dangled in front of him.

dangling participle noun (grammar) a participle that relates to a noun that is not mentioned 'Dangling participles' are not considered correct. In the sentence 'While walking home, my phone rang', 'walking' is a dangling participle. A correct form of the sentence would be 'While I was walking home, my phone rang'.

Danish adj., noun
adj. from or connected with Denmark
noun
1 [U] the language of Denmark
2 [C] = DANISH PASTRY

Danish blue noun [U] a type of soft cheese with blue parts in it and a strong flavour

Danish pastry (especially BrE) (also Danish NAmE, BrE) noun a sweet cake made of light PASTRY, often containing apple, nuts, etc. and/or covered with ICING

dank adj. (especially of a place) damp, cold and unpleasant: a dark dank cave
dankness noun [U]

dapper adj. (of a man) small with a neat appearance and nice clothes

dappled adj. marked with spots of colour, or shade: the cool dappled light under the trees The floor was dappled with pale moonlight.

dapple grey (BrE) (NAmE dapple gray) adj. (of a horse) grey or white with darker round marks: a dapple-grey stallion
dapple grey noun

Darby and Joan NAmE noun [pl.] (BrE) a way of referring to an old couple who are happily married

dare NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to be brave enough to do sth: She said it as loudly as she dared. He didn't dare (to) say what he thought. They daren't ask for any more money. (literary) She dared not breathe a word of it to anybody. Dare to be different! There was something, dare I say it, a little unusual about him.
2 to persuade sb to do sth dangerous, difficult or embarrassing so that they can show that they are not afraid: [VN] Go on! Take it! I dare you. [VN to inf] Some of the older boys had dared him to do it. note at MODAL
don't you dare! (informal) used to tell sb strongly not to do sth: 'I'll tell her about it.' 'Don't you dare!' Don't you dare say anything to anybody.
how dare you, etc. used to show that you are angry about sth that sb has done: How dare you talk to me like that? How dare she imply that I was lying?
I dare say (also I daresay especially in BrE) used when you are saying that sth is probable: I dare say you know about it already.
noun [usually sing.] something dangerous, difficult or embarrassing that you try to persuade sb to do, to see if they will do it: (BrE) He climbed onto the roof for a dare. (NAmE) She learned to fly on a dare.

GRAMMAR POINT

dare

Dare (sense 1) usually forms negatives and questions like an ordinary verb and is followed by an infinitive with to. It is most common in the negative: I didn't dare to ask.He won't dare to break his promise.You told him? How did you dare?I hardly dared to hope she'd remember me. In positive sentences a phrase like not be afraid is often used instead: She wasn't afraid (= she dared) to tell him the truth.

It can also be used like a modal verb especially in present tense negative forms in BrE, and is followed by an infinitive without to: I daren't tell her the truth.

In spoken English, the forms of the ordinary verb are often used with an infinitve without to: Don't you dare tell her what I said!I didn't dare look at him.

daredevil NAmE noun a person who enjoys doing dangerous things, in a way that other people may think is stupid: a reckless daredevil
daredevil adj. [only before noun]: Don't try any daredevil stunts.

daring NAmE adj., noun
adj. brave; willing to do dangerous or unusual things; involving danger or taking risks: a daring walk in space There are plenty of activities at the resort for the less daring. The gallery was known for putting on daring exhibitions. a daring strapless dress in black silk
daringly adv.: This house would have looked daringly modern when it was built.
noun [U] courage and the willingness to take risks: the skill and daring of the mountain climbers

dark NAmE adj., noun
adj. (darker, darkest)
WITH LITTLE LIGHT
1 with no or very little light, especially because it is night: a dark room/street/forest What time does it get dark in summer? It was dark outside and I couldn't see much. LIGHT
COLOURS
2 not light; closer in shade to black than to white: dark blue/green/red, etc. Darker colours are more practical and don't show stains. LIGHT, PALE
3 having a colour that is close to black: a dark suit dark-coloured wood The dark clouds in the sky meant that a storm was coming.
HAIR/SKIN/EYES
4 brown or black in colour: Sue has long dark hair. He was handsome with dark eyes. Even if you have dark skin, you still need protection from the sun.
5 (of a person) having dark hair, eyes, etc.: a dark handsome stranger FAIR
MYSTERIOUS
6 mysterious; hidden and not known about: There are no dark secrets in our family.
EVIL
7 evil or frightening: There was a darker side to his nature. the dark forces of the imagination
WITHOUT HOPE
8 unpleasant and without any hope that sth good will happen: the darkest days of Fascism The film is a dark vision of the future.
PHONETICS
9 (of a speech sound) produced with the back part of the tongue close to the back of the mouth. In many accents of English, dark is used after a vowel, as in ball. CLEAR
a dark horse
1 (BrE) a person who does not tell other people much about their life, and who surprises other people by having interesting qualities
2 a person taking part in a race, etc. who surprises everyone by winning
keep sth dark (BrE, informal) to keep sth secret and not tell people about it: He's got two children? Well he's kept that dark, hasn't he!
noun
NO LIGHT
1 the dark [sing.] the lack of light in a place, especially because it is night: All the lights went out and we were left in the dark. Are the children afraid of the dark? animals that can see in the dark
COLOUR
2 [U] an amount of sth that is dark in colour: patterns of light and dark
after/before dark after/before the sun goes down and it is night: Try to get home before dark. Don't go out alone after dark.
in the dark (about sth) knowing nothing about sth: Workers were kept in the dark about the plans to sell the company. She arrived at the meeting as much in the dark as everyone else.
a shot/stab in the dark a guess; sth you do without knowing what the result will be: The figure he came up with was really just a shot in the dark.more at LEAP n.

the dark ages noun [pl.]
1 the Dark Ages the period of European history between the end of the Roman Empire and the 10th century AD
2 (often humorous) a period of history or a time when sth was not developed or modern: Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. You're living in the dark ages, Mum!

dark chocolate (BrE also plain chocolate) noun [U] dark brown chocolate with a slightly bitter taste, made without milk being addedcompare MILK CHOCOLATE

darken NAmE verb
1 to become dark; to make sth dark: [V] The sky began to darken as the storm approached. [VN] We walked quickly through the darkened streets. a darkened room
2 to make sb unhappy or angry; to become unhappy or angry: [VN] It was a tragedy that darkened his later life. [V] Her mood darkened at the news. Luke's face darkened (= he looked angry).
never darken my door again (old-fashioned, humorous) used to tell sb never to come to your home again: Go! And never darken my door again!

dark glasses noun [pl.] glasses that have dark-coloured LENSESsee also SUNGLASSES

darkie NAmE noun (taboo, old-fashioned) a very offensive word for a black person

darkling NAmE adj. (literary) becoming dark or connected with the dark: the darkling sky

darkly NAmE adv.
1 in a threatening or unpleasant way: He hinted darkly that all was not well.
2 showing a dark colour: Her eyes burned darkly.

dark matter noun [U] (astronomy) according to some theories, material which exists in space that does not produce any light

darkness NAmE noun [U]
1 the state of being dark, without any light: After a few minutes our eyes got used to the darkness. The house was plunged into total darkness when the electricity was cut off. The sun went down and darkness fell (= it became night). There is an extra hour of darkness on winter mornings. Parking is not allowed during the hours of darkness. Her face was in darkness. They managed to escape under cover of darkness.
2 the quality or state of being dark in colour: It depends on the darkness of your skin.
3 (literary) evil: the forces of darkness

darkroom NAmE noun a room that can be made completely dark, where you can take film out of a camera and develop photographs

dark star noun (astronomy) an object in space similar to a star, that produces no light or very little light

darling NAmE noun, adj.
noun
1 (informal) a way of addressing sb that you love: What's the matter, darling?
2 a person who is very friendly and kind: You are a darling, Hugo.
3 the ~ of sb/sth a person who is especially liked and very popular: She is the darling of the newspapers and can do no wrong.
adj. [only before noun] (informal) much loved; very attractive, special, etc.: My darling daughter. 'Darling Henry,' the letter began.

darn NAmE verb, noun, adj., adv.
verb to repair a hole in a piece of clothing by sewing STITCHES across the hole: [VN] to darn socks [also V]
darn it! (informal, especially NAmE) used as a mild swear word to show that you are angry or annoyed about sth, to avoid saying 'damn': Darn it! I've lost my keys!
I'll be darned! (informal, especially NAmE) used to show that you are surprised about sth: Well, I'll be darned! They knew about it all the time!
noun a place on a piece of clothing that has been repaired by darning: a sweater with darns in the elbows
adj. (also darned) (informal) used as a mild swear word, to emphasize sth: Why don't you switch the darn thing off and listen to me!
adv. (also darned) (informal) used as a mild swear word, instead of saying DAMN, to mean 'extremely' or 'very': You had a darn good try. It's darn cold tonight.

darned NAmE adj., adv. = DARN: That's a darned good idea!
darnedest adj.

darning NAmE noun [U] repairing holes in clothes by sewing over them

dart NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a small pointed object, sometimes with feathers to help it fly, that is shot as a weapon or thrown in the game of darts: a poisoned dart
2 darts [U] a game in which darts are thrown at a round board marked with numbers for scoring. Darts is often played in British pubs: a darts match
3 [sing.] a sudden quick movement DASH: She made a dart for the door.
4 [sing.] (literary) a sudden feeling of a strong emotion: Nina felt a sudden dart of panic.
5 [C] a pointed fold that is sewn in a piece of clothing to make it fit better
verb
1 [V + adv. / prep.] to move suddenly and quickly in a particular direction: A dog darted across the road in front of me. Her eyes darted around the room, looking for Greg.
2 ~ a glance/look (at sb) to look at sb suddenly and quickly: [VN, VNN] He darted an impatient look at Vicky. He darted Vicky an impatient look.

dartboard NAmE noun a round board used in the game of darts

Darwinism NAmE noun [U] (biology) the theory that living things EVOLVE by NATURAL SELECTION, developed by Charles Darwin in the 19th century
Darwinian NAmE adj.: Darwinian ideas

dash noun, verb
noun
STH DONE QUICKLY
1 [sing.] a ~ (for sth) an act of going somewhere suddenly and/or quickly: When the doors opened, there was a mad dash for seats. a 60-mile dash to safety He jumped off the bus and made a dash for the nearest bar. We waited for the police to leave then made a dash for it (= left quickly in order to escape).
2 [sing.] an act of doing sth quickly because you do not have enough time: a last-minute dash to buy presents
SMALL AMOUNT
3 [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sth) a small amount of sth that is added to sth else: Add a dash of lemon juice. The rug adds a dash of colour to the room. The album is a mixture of rock and gospel, with a dash of jazz thrown in.compare SPLASH
SYMBOL
4 [C] the mark () used to separate parts of a sentence, often instead of a colon or in pairs instead of brackets/parenthesescompare HYPHEN
RACE
5 [C, usually sing.] (especially NAmE) a race in which the people taking part run very fast over a short distance SPRINT: the 100-meter dash
WAY OF BEHAVING
6 [U] (old-fashioned, approving) a way of behaving that combines style, enthusiasm and confidence: He brought youthful energy, dash and charisma to the department.
PART OF CAR
7 [C] (informal) = DASHBOARD
see also PEBBLE-DASH
cut a dash (BrE) to look attractive in a particular set of clothes, especially in a way that makes other people notice you: He cut quite a dash in his uniform.
verb
GO QUICKLY
1 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to go somewhere very quickly RUSH: I must dash (= leave quickly), I'm late. She dashed off to keep an appointment. He dashed along the platform and jumped on the train.
THROW/BEAT
2 [+adv./prep.] to throw sth or make sth fall violently onto a hard surface; to beat against a surface: [VN] The boat was dashed repeatedly against the rocks. [V] The waves were dashing against the harbour wall.
dash sb's hopes to destroy sb's hopes by making what they were hoping for impossible: Hopes of a peaceful settlement have been dashed.
dash (it)! | dash it all! (old-fashioned, BrE) used to show that you are annoyed about sth
dash sthoff to write or draw sth very quickly: I dashed off a note to my brother.

dashboard NAmE (also fascia) (also dash especially in NAmE) noun the part of a car in front of the driver that has instruments and controls in it

dashed adj. [only before noun] (BrE, old-fashioned, informal) used as a mild swear word by some people to emphasize sth or to show they are annoyed

dashiki noun a loose shirt or longer piece of clothing worn by men in W Africa, often made from cloth with brightly coloured patterns

dashing adj. (old-fashioned)
1 (usually of a man) attractive, confident and elegant: a dashing young officer his dashing good looks
2 (of a thing) attractive and fashionable: his dashing red waistcoat

dastardly NAmE adj. (old-fashioned) evil and cruel: a dastardly plot to assassinate the king My first part was Captain O'Hagarty, a dastardly villain in a children's play.

DAT abbr. digital audiotape

data BrE NAmE noun (used as a plural noun in technical English, when the singular is datum)
1 [U, pl.] facts or information, especially when examined and used to find out things or to make decisions: This data was collected from 69 countries. the analysis/interpretation of the data raw data (= that has not been analysed) demographical/historical/personal data (technical) These data show that most cancers are detected as a result of clinical follow-up.
2 [U] information that is stored by a computer: data retrieval (= ways of storing or finding information on a computer)

databank NAmE noun a large amount of data on a particular subject that is stored in a computer

database NAmE noun an organized set of data that is stored in a computer and can be looked at and used in various ways

database management system noun (abbr. DBMS) (computing) a system for organizing and managing a large amount of data

datable adj. that can be dated to a particular time: pottery that is datable to the second century

data capture noun [U] the action or process of collecting data, especially using computers

datacomms (also datacoms) NAmE noun [pl.] (computing) data communications (the transfer of data between computers)

data mining noun [U] (computing) looking at large amounts of information that has been collected on a computer and using it to provide new information

data processing noun [U] (computing) a series of actions that a computer performs on data to produce an output

data protection noun [U] legal restrictions that keep information stored on computers private and that control who can read it or use it

data set noun (computing) a collection of data which is treated as a single unit by a computer

data terminal noun a computer which allows you to get into a system in order to get or add information

data type noun (computing) a particular type of data

data warehouse noun a large amount of data which comes from different parts of a business and which is stored together

date noun, verb
noun
PARTICULAR DAY
1 [C] a particular day of the month, sometimes in a particular year, given in numbers and words: 'What's the date today?' 'The 10th.' Write today's date at the top of the page. We need to fix a date for the next meeting. They haven't set a date for the wedding yet. I can't come on that date. Please give your name, address and date of birth. (especially NAmE) name, address and birth date There's no date on this letter. Anyone who knows of the vehicle's whereabouts from that date until 7 March is asked to contact Bangor police station.see also BEST-BEFORE DATE, CLOSING DATE, SELL-BY DATE
PAST TIME/FUTURE
2 [sing., U] a time in the past or future that is not a particular day: The details can be added at a later date. The work will be carried out at a future date. a building of late Roman date
ARRANGEMENT TO MEET
3 [C] (BrE) an arrangement to meet sb at a particular time: Call me next week and we'll try and make a date.
ROMANTIC MEETING
4 [C] a meeting that you have arranged with a boyfriend or girlfriend or with sb who might become a boyfriend or girlfriend: I've got a date with Lucy tomorrow night. Paul's not coming. He's got a hot date (= an exciting one).see also BLIND DATE, DOUBLE DATE
5 [C] (especially NAmE) a boyfriend or girlfriend with whom you have arranged a date: My date is meeting me at seven.
FRUIT
6 [C] a sweet sticky brown fruit that grows on a tree called a date palm, common in N Africa and W Asia
to date until now: To date, we have received over 200 replies. The exhibition contains some of his best work to date.see also OUT OF DATE, UP TO DATE
verb
WRITE DATE
1 [VN] to write or print the date on sth: Thank you for your letter dated 24th March. The forms should be dated and signed and sent back immediately.
FIND AGE
2 [VN] to say when sth old existed or was made: The skeleton has been dated at about 2 000 BC.
OF CLOTHES/WORDS
3 [V] to become old-fashioned: She designs classic clothes which do not date.
PERSON
4 [VN] if sth dates you, it shows that you are fairly old or older than the people you are with: I was at the Woodstock festivalthat dates me, doesn't it?
HAVE RELATIONSHIP
5 (especially NAmE) to have a romantic relationship with sb: [VN] She's been dating Ron for several months. [also V]
date back (to ... )| date from ... to have existed since a particular time in the past or for the length of time mentioned: The college dates back to medieval times. The custom dates back hundreds of years. a law dating from the 17th century Our friendship dates back to the late 70s.

datebook noun (NAmE) = DIARY

dated adj. old-fashioned; belonging to a time in the past: Those TV comedies were OK in their day but seem incredibly dated now.compare UNDATED

Date Line noun = INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE

date rape noun [U] the crime of RAPING sb, committed by a person he or she has gone out with on a DATE

dating agency (also dating service) noun a business or an organization that arranges meetings between single people who want to begin a romantic relationship: He met his wife through a computer dating agency.

dative noun (grammar) (in some languages) the form of a noun, a pronoun or an adjective when it is the INDIRECT OBJECT of a verb or is connected with the INDIRECT OBJECT: In the sentence, 'I sent her a postcard', the word 'her' is in the dative.compare ABLATIVE, ACCUSATIVE, GENITIVE, LOCATIVE, NOMINATIVE, VOCATIVE
dative adj.

datum noun (pl. data) (technical) a fact or piece of informationsee also DATA

daub verb, noun
verb [VN + adv. / prep.] ~ A on, etc. B| ~ B with A to spread a substance such as paint, mud, etc. thickly and/or carelessly onto sth: The walls of the building were daubed with red paint.
noun
1 [U] a mixture of CLAY, etc. that was used in the past for making walls: walls made of wattle and daub
2 [C] a small amount of a substance such as paint that has been spread carelessly: a daub of lipstick
3 [C] a badly painted picture

daube NAmE noun [U] (from French) a dish consisting of meat cooked slowly in wine

daughter noun
1 a person's female child: We have two sons and a daughter. They have three grown-up daughters. She's the daughter of an Oxford professor.see also GOD-DAUGHTER, GRANDDAUGHTER, STEPDAUGHTER
2 (literary) a woman who belongs to a particular place or country, etc.: one of the town's most famous daughters

daughterboard NAmE noun (computing) a small CIRCUIT BOARD that attaches to a larger one

daughter-in-law noun (pl. daughters-in-law) the wife of your soncompare SON-IN-LAW

daunt verb [VN] [usually passive] to make sb feel nervous and less confident about doing sth INTIMIDATE: She was a brave woman but she felt daunted by the task ahead.
daunting adj. INTIMIDATING: She has the daunting task of cooking for 20 people every day. Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect. dauntingly adv.
nothing daunted (BrE, formal) confident about sth difficult you have to do: Nothing daunted, the people set about rebuilding their homes.

dauntless adj. (literary) not easily frightened or stopped from doing sth difficult RESOLUTE

dauphin NAmE noun (old use) the oldest son of the king of France

David and Goliath adj. used to describe a situation in which a small or weak person or organization tries to defeat another much larger or stronger opponent: The match looks like being a David and Goliath contest.
From the Bible story in which Goliath, a giant, is killed by the boy David with a stone.

Davy Jones's locker NAmE noun [sing.] (informal) the bottom of the sea, where people who DROWN at sea are said to go
From Davy Jones, a name used by sailors in the 18th century for the evil spirit of the sea.

Davy lamp noun a type of lamp, used in the past by MINERS, in which the flame was surrounded by a sheet of wire to prevent explosions

dawdle verb [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to take a long time to do sth or go somewhere: Stop dawdling! We're going to be late! They dawdled along by the river, laughing and talking.

dawn noun, verb
noun
1 [U, C] the time of day when light first appears DAYBREAK, SUNRISE: They start work at dawn. It's almost dawn. We arrived in Sydney as dawn broke (= as the first light could be seen). I woke up just before dawn. summer's early dawns He works from dawn till dusk (= from morning till night). The plane took off, leaving London behind in a blue-grey dawn.compare DUSK
2 [sing.] ~ (of sth) the beginning or first signs of sth: the dawn of civilization/time/history Peace marked a new dawn in the country's history. the dawn of a golden age in European art see BREAK n., CRACK n.
verb [V]
1 (of a day or a period of time) to begin: The following morning dawned bright and warm. A new technological age had dawned.
2 to become obvious or easy to understand: Slowly the awful truth dawned. see LIGHT n.
dawn on sb [no passive] if sth dawns on you, you begin to realize it for the first time: [+ that] Suddenly it dawned on me that they couldn't possibly have met before.

the dawn chorus noun [sing.] (BrE) the sound of birds singing very early in the morning: The dawn chorus woke Robyn at 5 o'clock.

day noun
1 [C] a period of 24 hours: I saw Tom three days ago. 'What day is it today?' 'Monday.' We're going away in a few days/in a few days' time. They left the day before yesterday (= two days ago). We're meeting the day after tomorrow (= in two days). New Year's Day Take the medicine three times a day. We can't go there today. You can go another day.see also FIELD DAY, OFF DAY, RED-LETTER DAY, SPORTS DAY
2 [U] the time between when it becomes light in the morning and when it becomes dark in the evening: The sun was shining all day. I could sit and watch the river all day long. He works at night and sleeps during the day. Nocturnal animals sleep by day and hunt by night.
3 [C, usually sing.] the hours of the day when you are awake, working, etc.: a seven-hour working day It's been a long day (= I've been very busy). Did you have a good day? She didn't do a full day's work. I took a half day off yesterday. (NAmE) Have a nice day!see also WORKDAY
4 [C, usually pl.] a particular period of time or history: in Queen Victoria's day the early days of computers Most women stayed at home in those days. (informal) in the old days (= in the past)see also GLORY DAYS, HEYDAY, NOWADAYS, THE PRESENT DAY There are many other compounds ending in day. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.
all in a day's work part of your normal working life and not unusual
any day (now) (informal) very soon: The letter should arrive any day now.
carry/win the day (formal) to be successful against sb/sth: Despite strong opposition, the ruling party carried the day.
day after day each day repeatedly (used especially when sth is boring or annoying): She hates doing the same work day after day.
day by day all the time; a little at a time and gradually: Day by day his condition improved.
day in, day out every day for a long period of time: Living on junk food day in day out is not good for you.
a day of reckoning the time when sb will have to deal with the result of sth that they have done wrong, or be punished for sth bad that they have done
sb's/sth's days are numbered a person or thing will not continue to live, exist or be successful for much longer: His days as leader of the party are numbered. Whatever the protests, the school's days are numbered and it will be closed down.
from day one (informal) from the beginning: It's never worked from day one. This game makes reading and spelling fun from day one.
from day to day
1 with no thoughts or plans for the future: They live from day to day, looking after their sick daughter.
2 if a situation changes from day to day, it changes often: A baby's need for food can vary from day to day.
from one day to the next if a situation changes from one day to the next, it is uncertain and not likely to stay the same each day: I never know what to expect from one day to the next.
have had your day to no longer be successful, powerful, etc.: She's had her day as a supermodel.
have seen/known better days (humorous) to be in poor condition: Our car has seen better days!
if he's, she's, etc. a day (informal) (used when talking about sb's age) at least: He must be 70 if he's a day!
in sb's day
1 during the part of sb's life when they were most successful, famous, etc.: She was a great dancer in her day.
2 when sb was young: In my day, there were plenty of jobs when you left school. In Grandfather's day, owning a television was very unusual.
in this day and age now, in the modern world
it's not sb's day (informal) used when several unfortunate or unpleasant things happen on the same day: My car broke down and then I locked myself outit's just not my day!
make sb's day to make sb feel very happy on a particular day: The phone call from Mike really made my day.
make a day of it (informal) to make a particular enjoyable activity last for a whole day instead of only part of it: We took a picnic lunch to the river and made a day of it.
not have all day to not have much time: Come on! We don't have all day!
of sb's day during a particular period of time when sb lived: the best player of his day Bessie Smith was the Madonna of her day.
of the day that is served on a particular day in a restaurant: soup of the day
one day at some time in the future, or on a particular day in the past: One day, I want to leave the city and move to the country. One day, he walked out of the house with a small bag and never came back.
one of these days before a long time has passed: One of these days you'll come back and ask me to forgive you.
one of those days (informal) a day when there are a lot of mistakes and a lot of things go wrong: It's been one of those days!
some day at an unknown time in the future: Some day I'll be famous.
take it/things one day at a time (informal) to not think about what will happen in the future: I don't know if he'll get better. We're just taking it one day at a time.
that'll be the day (informal, ironic) used when you are saying that sth is very unlikely to happen: Paul? Apologize? That'll be the day!
these days (informal) used to talk about the present, especially when you are comparing it with the past: These days kids grow up so quickly.
those were the days (informal) used to suggest that a time in the past was happier or better than now
to the day exactly: It's been three years to the day since we met.
to this day even now, when a lot of time has passed: To this day, I still don't understand why he did it.more at BACK adv., BACK adv., BORN, BREAK n., CALL v., CLEAR adj., COLD adj., DEED, DOG n., EARLY adj., END n., END v., FORTH, GIVE v., LATE adv., LIVE^1, LIVELONG, NICE, NIGHT, OLD, ORDER n., OTHER adj., PASS v., PLAIN adj., RAINY, ROME, SALAD, SAVE v., TIME n.

daybed noun a bed or SOFA for resting on during the day

day boy noun (BrE) a boy DAY PUPIL

daybreak noun [U] the time of day when light first appears DAWN: We left before daybreak.

day care noun [U] care for small children, or for old or sick people, away from home, during the day: Day care is provided by the company she works for. a day care centre

day centre noun (BrE) a place that provides care for old or sick people during the day

daydream noun pleasant thoughts that make you forget about the present: She stared out of the window, lost in a daydream.
daydream verb [V] ~ (about sb/sth): I would spend hours daydreaming about a house of my own.

day girl noun (BrE) a girl DAY PUPIL

Day-GloTM NAmE adj. having a very bright orange, yellow, green or pink colour: Day-Glo cycling shorts

day job noun [sing.] the paid work that sb normally does
don't give up the day job (informal, humorous) used to tell sb that they should continue doing what they are used to, rather than trying sth new which they are likely to fail at: So you want to be a writer? Well my advice is, don't give up the day job.

daylight noun [U] the light that comes from the sun during the day: They emerged from the church into the bright daylight. The street looks very different in daylight. They left before daylight (= before the sun had risen). The bridge would be a prime target for enemy aircraft during daylight hours.
daylight robbery (informal) the fact of sb charging too much money for sth: You wouldn't believe some of the prices they charge; it's daylight robbery.more at BROAD adj.

daylights noun [pl.]
beat/knock the (living) daylights out of sb (informal) to hit sb very hard several times and hurt them very much: Get out or I'll beat the living daylights out of you!
frighten/scare the (living) daylights out of sb (informal) to frighten sb very much

daylight saving time (also daylight time) noun (abbr. DST) [U] (NAmE) = SUMMER TIME

daylong NAmE adj. [only before noun] (especially NAmE) lasting for a whole day: a daylong meeting

day nursery (also nursery) (both BrE) (NAmE day care center) noun a place where small children are cared for while their parents are at workcompare CRÈCHE, NURSERY SCHOOL

day off noun (pl. days off) a day on which you do not have to work: Most weeks, Sunday is my only day off. Why not take a few days off?

the Day of Judgement noun [sing.] = JUDGEMENT DAY

day out noun (pl. days out) a trip or visit somewhere for a day: We had a day out in the country. note at TRIP

day pupil (BrE) (also day student NAmE, BrE) noun a school student who goes to a BOARDING SCHOOL but lives at home

day release noun (BrE) [U] a system of allowing employees days off work for education: time off for study on day release a day release course

day return noun (BrE) a ticket at a reduced price for a journey to a place and back again on the same day

day room noun a room in a hospital or other institution where people can sit, relax, watch television, etc. during the day

day school noun
1 (old-fashioned) a private school with students who live at home and only go to school during the daycompare BOARDING SCHOOL
2 (BrE) a course of education lasting one day, at which a particular topic is discussed: a day school at Leeds University on women in Victorian times

day student noun (especially NAmE) = DAY PUPIL

daytime noun [U] the period during the day between the time when it gets light and the time when it gets dark: You don't often see this bird in (the) daytime. The park is open during (the) daytime. Daytime temperatures never fell below 80°F. Please give your name and daytime phone number.

day-to-day adj. [only before noun]
1 planning for only one day at a time: I have organized the cleaning on a day-to-day basis, until our usual cleaner returns.
2 involving the usual events or tasks of each day: She has been looking after the day-to-day running of the school.

day trip noun a trip or visit completed in one day: a day trip to France
day tripper noun (BrE)

daywear NAmE noun [U] clothes for wearing every day, for example for working or shopping, not for special occasions

daze noun
in a daze in a confused state: I've been in a complete daze since hearing the news.

dazed adj. unable to think clearly, especially because of a shock or because you have been hit on the head: Survivors waited for the rescue boats, dazed and frightened. Jimmy was still dazed by the blow to his head.

dazzle verb, noun
verb [often passive]
1 if a strong light dazzles you, it is so bright that you cannot see for a short time BLIND: [VN] He was momentarily dazzled by the strong sunlight. [also V]
2 [VN] to impress sb a lot with your beauty, skill, etc.: He was dazzled by the warmth of her smile.
dazzling adj. BRILLIANT: a dazzling display of oriental dance dazzlingly adv.: She was dazzlingly beautiful.
noun [U, sing.]
1 the quality that bright light has that stops you from seeing clearly: the dazzle of the midday sun
2 a thing or quality that impresses you but may prevent you from understanding or thinking clearly

d.b.a. abbr. (US) doing business as: Philip Smith, d.b.a. Phil's Signs

DBMS abbr. DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

DBXTM noun [U] electronic equipment that makes it possible to play sound at a wider range of volumes, and makes the system less noisy

DC abbr.
1 direct current (an electric current that flows in one direction)compare AC
2 District of Columbia in the US: Washington, DC

D-Day noun [U] a date on which sth important is expected to happen
From the name given to 6 June 1944, the day on which the British, US and other armies landed on the beaches of northern France in the Second World War.

DDE noun [U] (computing) a way of allowing data to be shared between different programs (the abbreviation for 'dynamic data exchange')

DDT noun [U] a chemical used, especially in the past, for killing insects that harm crops

de- prefix (in verbs and related nouns, adjectives and adverbs)
1 the opposite of: decentralization
2 removing sth: to defrost the refrigerator (= remove layers of ice from it)

deacon noun
1 (in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox Churches) a religious leader just below the rank of a priest
2 (in some Nonconformist Churches) a person who is not a member of the CLERGY, but who helps a minister with church business affairs

deaconess NAmE noun (in some Christian Churches) a woman who has duties that are similar to those of a deacon

deactivate verb [VN] to make sth such as a device or chemical process stop working: Do you know how to deactivate the alarm?

dead adj., noun, adv.
adj.
NOT ALIVE
1 no longer alive: My mother's dead; she died in 1987. a dead person/animal dead leaves/wood/skin He was shot dead by a gunman outside his home. Catherine's dead body lay peacefully on the bed. He dropped dead (= died suddenly) last week. The poor child looks more dead than alive. (figurative) In ten years he'll be dead and buried as a politician.
IDEA/BELIEF/PLAN
2 [not before noun] no longer believed in or aimed for: Many believe the peace plan is dead. Unfortunately racism is not yet dead. Though the idea may be dead, it is far from being buried (= people still talk about it, even though there is nothing new to say).
NOT USED
3 belonging to the past; no longer practised or fashionable: Is the Western a dead art form? a dead language (= one that is no longer spoken, for example Latin)
FINISHED
4 (informal) finished; not able to be used any more: dead matches There were two dead bottles of wine on the table.
MACHINE
5 (of machines or equipment) not working because of a lack of power: a dead battery The hard disk is dead. Suddenly the phone went dead.
PLACE
6 (informal, disapproving) very quiet, without activity or interest: There were no theatres, no cinemas, no coffee bars. It was dead as anything.
BUSINESS
7 (informal, disapproving) without activity; with nobody buying or selling anything: 'The market is absolutely dead this morning,' said one foreign exchange trader. Winter is traditionally the dead season for the housing market.
TIRED
8 [not usually before noun] (informal) extremely tired; not well: half dead with cold and hunger She felt dead on her feet and didn't have the energy to question them further.
WITHOUT FEELING
9 [not before noun] (of a part of the body) unable to feel because of cold, etc. NUMB: My left arm had gone dead.
10 ~ to sth unable to feel or understand emotions INSENSITIVE: He was dead to all feelings of pity.
11 (especially of sb's voice, eyes or face) showing no emotion EXPRESSIONLESS: She said, 'I'm sorry, too,' in a quiet, dead voice. His usually dead grey eyes were sparkling.
COMPLETE/EXACT
12 [only before noun] complete or exact: a dead silence/calm the dead centre of the target The car gave a sudden jerk and came to a dead stop. (BrE) This horse is a dead cert for (= will certainly win) the race tomorrow. She crumpled to the floor in a dead faint (= completely unconscious).
NEVER ALIVE
13 never having been alive: dead matter (= for example rock) a dead planet (= one with no life on it)
IN SPORT
14 outside the playing area
be a dead ringer for sb (informal) to look very like sb: She's a dead ringer for a girl I used to know.
(as) dead as a/the dodo (BrE, informal) completely dead; no longer interesting or valid: In the second half both teams made substitutions to try and liven things up, but the game was as dead as a dodo.
(as) dead as a doornail (informal) completely dead
a dead duck (informal) a plan, an event, etc. that has failed or is certain to fail and that is therefore not worth discussing
be dead and gone (informal) to be dead: You'll be sorry you said that when I'm dead and gone.
the dead hand of sth an influence that controls or restricts sth: We need to free business from the dead hand of bureaucracy.
dead in the water a person or plan that is dead in the water has failed and has little hope of succeeding in the future: His leadership campaign is dead in the water.
dead meat (informal) in serious trouble: If anyone finds out, you're dead meat.
dead to the world fast asleep
over my dead body (informal) used to show you are strongly opposed to sth: She moves into our home over my dead body.
sb wouldn't be seen/caught dead ... (informal) used to say that you would not like to wear particular clothes, or to be in a particular situation: She wouldn't be seen dead in a hat. He wouldn't be caught dead going to a club with his mother.more at FLOG, KNOCK v.
nounthe dead
1 [pl.] people who have died: The dead and wounded in that one attack amounted to 6 000.
2 [sing.] the state of being dead: Christians believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. (figurative) In nine years he has brought his party back from the dead almost to the brink of power.
in the dead of night (BrE also at dead of night) in the quietest part of the night: I crept out of bed in the dead of night and sneaked downstairs.
in the dead of winter in the coldest part of winter
adv. (informal)
COMPLETELY
1 completely; exactly: You're dead right! (BrE) a dead straight road (BrE) The train was dead on time. He's dead against the idea. The sight made him stop dead in his tracks (= stop suddenly). She's dead set on getting (= determined to get) this new job.
VERY
2 (BrE, informal) very; extremely: The instructions are dead easy to follow. You were dead lucky to get that job. I was dead scared.
cut sb dead (BrE) to pretend not to have seen sb; to refuse to say hello to sb: She saw me, recognized me and cut me dead.more at RIGHT n.

dead beat (also beat) adj. [not before noun] (informal) very tired: You look dead beat.

deadbeat noun (informal)
1 (especially NAmE) a lazy person; a person with no job and no money, who is not part of normal society
2 (NAmE) a person or company that tries to avoid paying their debts
3 (also deadbeat dad) (NAmE) a father who does not live with his children and does not pay their mother any money to take care of them

deadbolt NAmE noun (especially NAmE) = DEADLOCK

dead cat bounce noun a temporary and small upward movement in share prices after a large fall, often before they start to fall again

deaden verb [VN] to make sth such as a sound, a feeling, etc. less strong DULL: He was given drugs to deaden the pain. The wood panelling in the rooms deadened any noise from outside.
deadening adj. [only before noun]: the deadening effect of alcohol on your reactions

dead end noun
1 a road, passage, etc. that is closed at one end: The first street we tried turned out to be a dead end.
2 a point at which you can make no further progress in what you are doing: We had come to a dead end in our research. This line of investigation could prove to be a complete dead end. He's in a dead-end job in the local factory (= one with low wages and no hope of promotion). These negotiations are a dead-end street (= they have reached a point where no further progress is possible).

deadhead verb [VN] (BrE) to remove dead flowers from a plant

dead heat noun
1 (especially BrE) a result in a race when two of those taking part finish at exactly the same time
2 (NAmE) a situation during a race or competition, etc. when two or more people are at the same level: The two candidates are in a dead heat in the polls.

dead letter noun
1 [usually sing.] a law or an agreement that still exists but that is ignored: The treaty had been a dead letter for many years.
2 (especially NAmE) a letter that cannot be delivered to an address or to the person who sent it

deadline noun ~ (for sth) a point in time by which sth must be done: I prefer to work to a deadline. The deadline for applications is 30 April. the January 15 deadline set by the United Nations

deadlock NAmE noun
1 [sing., U] a complete failure to reach agreement or settle an argument STALEMATE: European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. (BrE) The strike appeared to have reached deadlock. (NAmE, BrE) The strike has reached a deadlock.
2 [C] (BrE) (also deadbolt NAmE, BrE) a type of lock on a door that needs a key to open or close it
deadlocked adj. [not before noun]: Despite months of discussion the negotiations remained deadlocked.

dead loss noun [usually sing.] (BrE, informal) a person or thing that is not helpful or useful: He may be a very talented designer, but as a manager he's a dead loss.

deadly adj., adv.
adj. (deadlier, deadliest) More deadly and deadliest are the usual forms. You can also use most deadly.
1 causing or likely to cause death LETHAL: a deadly weapon/disease deadly poison The cobra is one of the world's deadliest snakes. The terrorists have chosen to play a deadly game with the civilian population.
2 [only before noun] extreme; complete: I'm in deadly earnest. We sat in deadly silence. They are deadly enemies (= are full of hatred for each other).
3 extremely effective, so that no defence is possible: His aim is deadly (= so accurate that he can kill easily). It was the deadly striker's 11th goal of the season.
4 (informal) very boring: The lecture was absolutely deadly.
adv.
1 (informal) extremely: deadly serious/dull
2 = DEATHLY: deadly pale/cold

deadly nightshade (also belladonna) noun [U] a very poisonous plant with purple flowers and black BERRIES

deadly sin noun one of the seven actions for which you can go to hell, in Christian tradition: Greed is one of the seven deadly sins.

deadpan adj. without any expression or emotion; often pretending to be serious when you are joking: deadpan humour She looked up, completely deadpan.

deadweight noun [usually sing.]
1 a thing that is very heavy and difficult to lift or move: The sleeping child was a deadweight in her arms.
2 a person or thing that makes it difficult for sth to succeed or change

dead white European male noun (informal, disapproving) a writer, scientist or other famous figure from the past that some people may consider more important than other writers, etc. just because he belongs to the group of people who have most power in society

dead wood noun [U] people or things that have become useless or unnecessary in an organization

dead zone noun
1 a place or a period of time in which nothing happens: The town is a cultural dead zone.
2 an area which separates two places, groups of people, etc.: The UN is trying to maintain a dead zone between the warring groups.
3 a place where a mobile phone/cellphone does not work because no signal can be received
4 (biology) an area of water in which animals cannot live because there is not enough OXYGEN

deaf adj. (deafer, deafest)
1 unable to hear anything or unable to hear very well: to become/go deaf She was born deaf. partially deafsee also STONE DEAF, TONE-DEAF
2 the deafnoun [pl.] people who cannot hear: television subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
3 [not before noun] ~ to sth not willing to listen or pay attention to sth: He was deaf to my requests for help.
deafness noun [U]
(as) deaf as a post (informal) very deaf
fall on deaf ears to be ignored or not noticed by other people: Her advice fell on deaf ears.
turn a deaf ear (to sb/sth) to ignore or refuse to listen to sb/sth: He turned a deaf ear to the rumours.

deafen verb [VN] [usually passive]
1 to make sb unable to hear the sounds around them because there is too much noise: The noise of the siren was deafening her.
2 to make sb deaf

deafening adj. very loud: deafening applause The noise of the machine was deafening. the deafening roar of the sea The government's response to the report has been a deafening silence (= it was very noticeable that nothing was said or done).
deafeningly adv.

deaf mute noun (sometimes offensive) a person who is unable to hear or speak

deal verb, noun
verb (dealt, dealt )
CARDS
1 ~ (sth) (out)| ~ (sth) (to sb) to give cards to each player in a game of cards: [V] Whose turn is it to deal? [VN] Start by dealing out ten cards to each player. [VNN] He dealt me two aces.
DRUGS
2 to buy and sell illegal drugs: [V] You can often see people dealing openly on the streets. [also VN]
deal sb/sth a blow | deal a blow to sb/sth (formal)
1 to be very shocking or harmful to sb/sth: Her sudden death dealt a blow to the whole country.
2 to hit sb/sthmore at WHEEL v.
deal in sth
1 to buy and sell a particular product TRADE IN: The company deals in computer software.
2 to accept sth as a basis for your decisions, attitudes, or actions: We don't deal in rumours or guesswork.
deal sb in (informal, especially NAmE) to include sb in an activity: That sounds great. Deal me in!
deal sthout
1 to share sth out among a group of people DISTRIBUTE: The profits were dealt out among the investors.
2 to say what punishment sb should have: Many judges deal out harsher sentences to men than to women.
deal with sb to take appropriate action in a particular situation or according to who you are talking to, managing, etc. HANDLE: She is used to dealing with all kinds of people in her job.
deal with sb/sth to do business with a person, a company or an organization
deal with sth
1 to solve a problem, perform a task, etc.: to deal with enquiries/issues/complaints Have you dealt with these letters yet? He's good at dealing with pressure.
2 to be about sth: Her poems often deal with the subject of death.
noun
A LOT
1 [sing.] a good/great ~ much; a lot: They spent a great deal of money. It took a great deal of time. I'm feeling a good deal better. We see them a great deal (= often).
BUSINESS AGREEMENT
2 [C] an agreement, especially in business, on particular conditions for buying or doing sth: to make/sign/conclude/close a deal (with sb) (informal) Did you cut a deal (= make one)? We did a deal with the management on overtime. They were hoping for a better pay deal. A deal was struck after lengthy negotiations. The deal fell through (= no agreement was reached). I got a good deal on the car (= bought it cheaply). It's a deal! (= I agree to your terms) Listen. This is the deal (= this is what we have agreed and are going to do). As athletes prepare for the Olympics, sporting organizations are looking for big sponsorship deals to pay for the trip to Sydney.see also PACKAGE
TREATMENT
3 [C, usually sing.] the way that sb/sth is treated: If elected, the party has promised a new deal (= better and fairer treatment) for teachers. They knew they'd been given a raw/rough deal (= been treated unfairly). We tried to ensure that everyone got a fair deal. It was a square deal for everyone.
IN CARD GAMES
4 [C, usually sing.] the action of giving out cards to the players: It's your deal.
WOOD
5 [U] (especially BrE) the soft pale wood of FIR or PINE trees, especially when it is cut into boards for making things: a deal table
what's the deal? (informal) what is happening in the present situation?: What's the deal? Do you want to go out or not?more at BIG adj., DONE adj., STRIKE v.

dealer noun
1 ~ (in sth) a person whose business is buying and selling a particular product: an art/antique dealer He's a dealer in second-hand cars.see also WHEELER-DEALER
2 a person who sells illegal drugs
3 the person who gives out the cards in a card game

dealership NAmE noun a business that buys and sells products, especially cars, for a particular company; the position of being a dealer who can buy and sell sth: a Ford dealership

dealing noun
1 dealings [pl.] business activities; the relations that you have with sb in business: Have you had any previous dealings with this company? I knew nothing of his business dealings. She has always been very polite in her dealings with me.
2 [U] a way of doing business with sb: a reputation for fair/honest dealing
3 [U, C] buying and selling: drug dealing dealings in shares

dealt pt, pp of DEAL

dean noun
1 (in the Anglican Church) a priest of high rank who is in charge of the other priests in a CATHEDRAL
2 (also rural dean) (BrE) a priest who is in charge of the priests of several churches in an area
3 a person in a university who is in charge of a department of studies: the dean of the Faculty of Medicine
4 (in a college or university, especially at Oxford or Cambridge) a person who is responsible for the discipline of students
5 (NAmE) = DOYEN

dean's list noun (in the US) a list that is published every year of the best students in a college or university

deanery noun (pl. -ies)
1 a group of PARISHES controlled by a dean (2)
2 the office or house of a dean (1,2)

dear NAmE adj., exclamation, noun, adv.
adj. (dearer, dearest)
1 ~ (to sb) loved by or important to sb: He's one of my dearest friends. Her daughter is very dear to her. They lost everything that was dear to them.
2 Dear used at the beginning of a letter before the name or title of the person that you are writing to: Dear Sir or Madam Dear Mrs Jones
3 [not usually before noun] (BrE) expensive; costing a lot of money: Everything's so dear now, isn't it? note at EXPENSIVE CHEAP
4 dear old/little ... (BrE) used to describe sb in a way that shows affection: Dear old Sue! I knew she'd help. Their baby's a dear little thing.
hold sb/sth dear (formal) to care very much for sb/sth; to value sb/sth highly: He had destroyed everything we held dear.more at HEART, LIFE, NEAR adj.
exclamation used in expressions that show that you are surprised, upset, annoyed or worried: Oh dear! I think I've lost my purse! Oh dear! What a shame. Dear me! What a mess! Dear oh dear! What are you going to do now?
noun
1 (BrE, informal) a kind person: Isn't he a dear? Be a dear and fetch me my coat.
2 used when speaking to sb you love: Would you like a drink, dear? Come here, my dear.
3 used when speaking to sb in a friendly way, for example by an older person to a young person or a child: What's your name, dear?compare DUCK
adv. (BrE) at a high price: to buy cheap and sell dear see COST v.

dearest NAmE adj., noun
adj. (old-fashioned)
1 used when writing to sb you love: 'Dearest Nina', the letter began.
2 [usually before noun] that you feel deeply: It was her dearest wish to have a family.
noun (old-fashioned) used when speaking to sb you love: Come (my) dearest, let's go home. see NEAR n.

dearie NAmE noun (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) used to address sb in a friendly way: Sit down, dearie.

dearly NAmE adv.
1 very much: She loves him dearly. I would dearly like/love to know what he was thinking. dearly beloved (= used by a minister at a Christian church service to address people)
2 in a way that causes a lot of suffering or damage, or that costs a lot of money: Success has cost him dearly. She paid dearly for her mistake.

dearth NAmE noun [sing.] ~ (of sth) a lack of sth; the fact of there not being enough of sth SCARCITY: There was a dearth of reliable information on the subject.

death noun
1 [C] the fact of sb dying or being killed: a sudden/violent/peaceful, etc. death the anniversary of his wife's death an increase in deaths from cancer He died a slow and painful death.
2 [U] the end of life; the state of being dead: Two children were burnt to death in the fire (= they died as a result of the fire). He's drinking himself to death (= so that it will kill him). Police are trying to establish the cause of death. Do you believe in life after death? a death camp (= a place where prisoners are killed, usually in a war) He was sentenced to death (= to be EXECUTED).
3 [U] ~ of sth the permanent end or destruction of sth: the death of all my plans the death of communism
4 (also Death) [U] (literary) the power that destroys life, imagined as human in form: Death is often shown in paintings as a human skeleton. Death marched in and took him away.see also SUDDEN DEATH
at death's door (often humorous) so ill/sick that you may die: I suppose you won't be coming to the party if you're at death's door!
be the death of sb (informal) to worry or upset sb very much: Those kids will be the death of me.
do sth to death to do or perform sth so often that people become tired of seeing or hearing it: That joke's been done to death.
frighten/scare sb to death to frighten sb very much: Spiders frighten him to death.
look/feel like death warmed up (BrE) (NAmE like death warmed over) (informal) to look or feel very ill/sick or tired
put sb to death to kill sb as a punishment EXECUTE: The prisoner will be put to death at dawn.
to death extremely; very much: to be bored to death I'm sick to death of your endless criticism.
to the death until sb is dead: a fight to the deathmore at CATCH v., CHEAT v., DICE v., DIE v., FATE, FIGHT v., FLOG, GRIM, KISS n., LIFE, MATTER n.

deathbed noun [usually sing.] the bed in which sb is dying or dies: a deathbed confession/conversion He told me the truth on his deathbed (= as he lay dying). She was on her deathbed (= going to die very soon). (humorous) You'd have to be practically on your deathbed before the doctor would come and see you!

death blow noun an event that destroys or puts an end to sth: They thought the arrival of television would deal a death blow to mass cinema audiences.

death certificate noun an official document, signed by a doctor, that states the cause and time of sb's death

death duty noun [usually pl.] (old-fashioned, BrE) = INHERITANCE TAX

death knell (also knell) noun [sing.] an event that means that the end or destruction of sth will come soon: If he loses this referendum, it will sound the death knell for his leadership.

deathless adj. never dying or forgotten IMMORTAL: (ironic) written in his usual deathless prose (= very bad)

deathly (also less frequent deadly) adv. like a dead person; suggesting death: Her face was deathly pale. The house was deathly still. deathly cold
deathly adj.: A deathly hush fell over the room as he walked in.

death mask noun a model of the face of a person who has just died, made by pressing a soft substance over their face and removing it when it becomes hard

the death penalty noun [sing.] the punishment of being killed that is used in some countries for very serious crimes: the abolition/return of the death penalty The two men are facing the death penalty. a crime which carries the death penalty

death rate noun
1 the number of deaths every year for every 1 000 people in the population of a place: a high/low death rate
2 the number of deaths every year from a particular disease or in a particular group: Death rates from heart disease have risen considerably in recent years.

death rattle noun [sing.] a sound sometimes heard in the throat of a dying person

death row noun [U] the cells in a prison for prisoners who are waiting to be killed as punishment for a serious crime: prisoners on death row

death sentence noun the legal punishment of being killed for a serious crime: the first death sentence passed on a woman to be given/to receive the death sentence for murder

death's head noun a human SKULL (= the bone structure of the head) used as a symbol of death

death squad noun a group of people who are ordered by a government to kill other people, especially the government's political opponents

death throes noun [pl.]
1 the final stages of sth just before it comes to an end: The regime is now in its death throes. witnessing the death throes of car manufacturing in Britain
2 violent pains and movements at the moment of death: The shock of seeing the bull in its death throes was worse than I anticipated.

death toll noun the number of people killed in an accident, a war, a disaster, etc.: The death toll has now risen to 200.

death trap noun (informal) a building, vehicle, etc. that is dangerous and could cause sb's death: The cars blocking the exits could turn this place into a death trap. Oil slicks, overhead cables and pollution are all death traps for birds.

death warrant noun an official document stating that sb should receive the punishment of being killed for a crime that they have committed: The President signed the death warrant. If you pay the ransom, you may be signing your son's death warrant. (figurative) By withdrawing the funding, the government signed the project's death warrant.

death-watch beetle noun a small insect that eats into old wood, making sounds like a watch TICKING

death wish noun [sing.] a desire to die, often that sb is not aware of: The number of accidents she gets into, you'd think she had a death wish.

deb noun (informal) = DEBUTANTE

debacle noun an event or a situation that is a complete failure and causes embarrassment

debar verb (-rr-) [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (from sth/from doing sth) (formal) to officially prevent sb from doing sth, joining sth, etc.: He was debarred from holding public office.

debase verb [VN] to make sb/sth less valuable or respected DEVALUE: Sport is being debased by commercial sponsorship.
debasement noun [U]

debatable adj. not certain because people can have different ideas and opinions about the thing being discussed ARGUABLE, QUESTIONABLE: a debatable point It is highly debatable whether conditions have improved for low-income families.

debate noun, verb
noun [C, U] ~ (on/about/over sth)
1 a formal discussion of an issue at a public meeting or in a parliament. In a debate two or more speakers express opposing views and then there is often a vote on the issue: a debate on abortion The minister opened the debate (= was the first to speak). The motion under debate (= being discussed) was put to a vote. After a long debate, Congress approved the proposal.
2 an argument or discussion expressing different opinions: a heated/wide-ranging/lively debate the current debate about tax There had been much debate on the issue of childcare. Whether he deserves what has happened to him is open to debate/a matter for debate (= cannot be certain or decided yet). The theatre's future is a subject of considerable debate.
verb
1 to discuss sth, especially formally, before making a decision or finding a solution DISCUSS: [VN] Politicians will be debating the bill later this week. The question of the origin of the universe is still hotly debated (= strongly argued about) by scientists. [V wh-] The committee will debate whether to lower the age of club membership to 16. [also V]
2 ~ (with yourself) to think carefully about sth before making a decision: She debated with herself for a while, and then picked up the phone. [V wh-] We're debating whether or not to go skiing this winter. [also V -ing]
debating noun [U]: a debating society at a school

debater noun a person who is involved in a debate: He was one of the most accomplished debaters in the government.

debauched adj. a debauched person is immoral in their sexual behaviour, drinks a lot of alcohol, takes drugs, etc. DEPRAVED, DISSOLUTE

debauchery noun [U] immoral behaviour involving sex, alcohol or drugs: a life of debauchery

debenture noun (BrE, finance) an official document that is given by a company, showing it has borrowed money from a person and stating the interest payments that it will make to them: Payment of interest is made to the debenture holder at a specified rate and at clearly defined intervals.

debilitate verb [VN] (formal)
1 to make sb's body or mind weaker: a debilitating disease The troops were severely debilitated by hunger and disease. She found the heat debilitating.
2 to make a country, an organization, etc. weaker: Prolonged strike action debilitated the industry. The economy is now strengthening after a long and debilitating recession.

debility noun [U, C] (pl. -ies) (formal) physical weakness, especially as a result of illness: chronic muscle debility

debit noun, verb
noun
1 a written note in a bank account or other financial record of a sum of money owed or spent: on the debit side of an account (figurative) On the debit side (= a negative result will be that) the new shopping centre will increase traffic problems.
2 a sum of money taken from a bank account: The total debits on the account were £2 000 last month. CREDIT n.see also DIRECT DEBIT
verb [VN] when a bank debits an account, it takes money from it: The money will be debited from your account each month. CREDIT: The bank will debit your account with any withdrawals made using your payment card.

debit card noun a plastic card that can be used to take money directly from your bank account when you pay for sthcompare CREDIT CARD

debonair NAmE adj. (old-fashioned) (usually of men) fashionable and confident

debrief verb [VN] ~ sb (on sth) to ask sb questions officially, in order to get information about the task that they have just completed: He was taken to a US airbase to be debriefed on the mission.compare BRIEF
debriefing noun [U, C]: a debriefing session

debris NAmE noun [U]
1 pieces of wood, metal, brick, etc. that are left after sth has been destroyed: Emergency teams are still clearing the debris from the plane crash. Several people were injured by flying debris in the explosion.
2 (formal) pieces of material that are not wanted and rubbish/garbage that are left somewhere: Clear away leaves and other garden debris from the pond. the debris of their lunch

debt noun
1 [C] a sum of money that sb owes: I need to pay off all my debts before I leave the country. an outstanding debt of £300 He had run up credit card debts of thousands of dollars.
2 [U] the situation of owing money, especially when you cannot pay: He died heavily in debt. The club is £4 million in debt. We were poor but we never got into debt. It's hard to stay out of debt when you are a student. a country's foreign debt burdensee also BAD DEBT
3 [C, usually sing.] the fact that you should feel grateful to sb because they have helped you or been kind to you: to owe a debt of gratitude to sb I would like to acknowledge my debt to my teachers.
be in sb's debt (formal) to feel grateful to sb for their help, kindness, etc.

debtor noun a person, a country or an organization that owes money CREDITOR

debug verb (-gg-) [VN] (computing) to look for and remove the faults in a computer program

debugger noun a computer program that helps to find and correct mistakes in other programs

debunk verb [VN] to show that an idea, a belief, etc. is false; to show that sth is not as good as people think it is: His theories have been debunked by recent research.

debut (also début) NAmE noun the first public appearance of a performer or sports player: He will make his debut for the first team this week. the band's debut album She's making her New York debut at Carnegie Hall.

debutante (also informal deb) noun a young, rich or UPPER-CLASS woman who is going to fashionable social events for the first time

deca- combining form (in nouns) ten; having ten: decathloncompare DECI-

decade noun a period of ten years, especially a period such as 1910-1919 or 1990-1999

decadence noun [U] (disapproving) behaviour, attitudes, etc. which show a fall in standards, especially moral ones, and an interest in pleasure and enjoyment rather than more serious things: the decadence of modern Western society

decadent adj. (disapproving) having or showing low standards, especially moral ones, and an interest only in pleasure and enjoyment rather than serious things: the decadent rich a decadent lifestyle/society There was something very decadent about filling ourselves with so much rich food.

DecafTM (NAmE, BrE) (BrE also decaff) noun [U, C] (informal) decaffeinated coffee: Regular coffee or decaf? I'll have a decaff, please.

decaffeinated adj. (of coffee or tea) with most or all of the CAFFEINE removed
decaffeinated noun [U, C]

decagon NAmE noun (geometry) a flat shape with ten straight sides and ten angles
decagonal adj.

decahedron BrE noun (geometry) a solid shape with ten straight sides and ten angles

decal noun (NAmE) = TRANSFER (5)

decalitre (BrE) (NAmE decaliter, dekaliter) noun a unit for measuring volume, equal to 10 litres

decametre (BrE) (NAmE decameter, dekameter) noun a unit for measuring length, equal to 10 metres

decamp verb [V] ~ (from ... ) (to ... ) to leave a place suddenly, often secretly

decant verb [VN] ~ sth (into sth) to pour liquid, especially wine, from one container into another: Decant the wine and allow it to stand at room temperature for a couple of hours.

decanter noun a glass bottle, often decorated, that wine and other alcoholic drinks are poured into from an ordinary bottle before serving

decapitate verb [VN] to cut off sb's head BEHEAD: His decapitated body was found floating in a canal.
decapitation noun [U, C]: The child narrowly escaped decapitation by the propellers.

decasyllable noun (technical) a line of poetry with ten syllables
decasyllabic adj.: a decasyllabic line

decathlete noun a person who competes in a decathlon

decathlon noun a sporting event in which people compete in ten different sportscompare BIATHLON, HEPTATHLON, PENTATHLON, TETRATHLON, TRIATHLON

decay noun, verb
noun [U]
1 the process or result of being destroyed by natural causes or by not being cared for (= of decaying): tooth decay The landlord had let the building fall into decay. The smell of death and decay hung over the town. The decay of the wood will spread if it is not removed.
2 the gradual destruction of a society, an institution, a system, etc.: economic/moral/urban decay the decay of the old industries
verb
1 to be destroyed gradually by natural processes; to destroy sth in this way ROT: [V] decaying leaves/teeth/food [also VN]
2 [V] if a building or an area decays, its condition slowly becomes worse: decaying inner city areas
3 [V] to become less powerful and lose influence over people, society, etc.: decaying standards of morality

decease noun [U] (law or formal) the death of a person

deceased adj. (law or formal)
1 dead: her deceased parents
2 the deceasednoun (pl. the deceased) a person who has died, especially recently

deceit noun [U, C] dishonest behaviour that is intended to make sb believe sth that is not true; an example of this behaviour DECEPTION: He was accused of lies and deceit. Everyone was involved in this web of deceit. Their marriage was an illusion and a deceit.

deceitful adj. behaving in a dishonest way by telling lies and making people believe things that are not true DISHONEST: The government were accused of being hypocritical and deceitful.
deceitfully adv. deceitfulness noun [U]

deceive
(WORD FAMILY: deceive verb | deceit noun | deceitful adj. | deception noun | deceptive adj. ) verb
1 [VN] ~ sb (into doing sth) to make sb believe sth that is not true: Her husband had been deceiving her for years. She deceived him into handing over all his savings. note at CHEAT
2 ~ yourself to refuse to admit to yourself that sth unpleasant is true: [VN] You're deceiving yourself if you think he'll change his mind. [also VN that]
3 to make sb have a wrong idea about sb/sth MISLEAD: [VN] Unless my eyes deceive me, that's his wife. [also V] see also DECEPTIVE
deceiver noun see FLATTER

decelerate verb (formal)
1 [V, VN] to reduce the speed at which a vehicle is travelling
2 to become or make sth become slower SLOW DOWN: [V] Economic growth decelerated sharply in June. [also VN] ACCELERATE
deceleration noun [U]

December noun [U, C] (abbr. Dec.) the 12th and last month of the year To see how December is used, look at the examples at April.

decency noun
1 [U] honest, polite behaviour that follows accepted moral standards and shows respect for others: Her behaviour showed a total lack of common decency. Have you no sense of decency? He might have had the decency to apologize. standards of taste and decency that we expect broadcasting companies to meet
2 the decencies [pl.] (formal) standards of behaviour in society that people think are acceptable: the basic decencies of civilized society

decent adj.
1 of a good enough standard or quality: (informal) a decent meal/job/place to live I need a decent night's sleep.
2 (of people or behaviour) honest and fair; treating people with respect: ordinary, decent, hard-working people Everyone said he was a decent sort of guy.
3 acceptable to people in a particular situation: a decent burial That dress isn't decent. She ought to have waited for a decent interval before getting married again.
4 (informal) wearing enough clothes to allow sb to see you: I can't go to the doorI'm not decent.compare INDECENT
decently adv.: I escaped from the party as soon as was decently possible. You need to be decently dressed to go for an interview.
to do the decent thing to do what people or society expect, especially in a difficult situation: He did the decent thing and resigned.

decentralize (BrE also -ise) verb to give some of the power of a central government, organization, etc. to smaller parts or organizations around the country: [VN] decentralized authority/administration [also V] CENTRALIZE
decentralization, -isation NAmE noun [U, sing.]: the decentralization of power

deception noun
1 [U] the act of deliberately making sb believe sth that is not true (= of DECEIVING them) DECEIT: a drama full of lies and deception He was accused of obtaining property by deception.
2 [C] a trick intended to make sb believe sth that is not true DECEIT: The whole episode had been a cruel deception.

deceptive adj. likely to make you believe sth that is not true MISLEADING: a deceptive advertisement Appearances can often be deceptive (= things are not always what they seem to be). the deceptive simplicity of her writing style (= it seems simple but is not really)
deceptively adv.: a deceptively simple idea

deci- combining form (in nouns; often used in units of measurement) one tenth: decilitrecompare DECA-

decibel noun a unit for measuring how loud a sound is: Noise from the disco reached 110 decibels. Gary's voice rose several decibels as he finally lost patience with them.

decide
(WORD FAMILY: decide verb | decision noun indecision | decisive adj. indecisive | undecided adj. ) verb
1 ~ (between A and B)| ~ (against sth) to think carefully about the different possibilities that are available and choose one of them: [V] It was difficult to decide between the two candidates. They decided against taking legal action. It's up to you to decide. I can't tell you what to doyou'll have to decide for yourself. [V wh-] I can't decide what to wear. She couldn't decide whether he was telling the truth or not. [V (that)] She decided (that) she wanted to live in France. [V to inf] We've decided not to go away after all. Why did you decide to look for a new job? [VN] We might be hiring more people but nothing has been decided yet. [VN (that)] It was decided (that) the school should purchase new software.
2 (law) ~ (for/against sb) to make an official or legal judgement: [VN] The case will be decided by a jury. [V] The Appeal Court decided in their favour. It is always possible that the judge may decide against you.
3 to affect the result of sth: [VN] A mixture of skill and good luck decided the outcome of the game. [V wh-] A number of factors decide whether a movie will be successful or not. [also V]
4 to be the reason why sb does sth: [VN] They offered me free accommodation for a year, and that decided me. [also VN to inf]
decide on/upon sth to choose sth from a number of possibilities: We're still trying to decide on a venue. I can't decide on who to invite.

decided adj. [only before noun] obvious and definite: His height was a decided advantage in the job. He walked with a decided limp.compare UNDECIDED

decidedly adv.
1 (used with an adjective or adverb) definitely and in an obvious way: Amy was looking decidedly worried. Their relationship is beginning to look decidedly shaky.
2 (BrE) in a way that shows that you are sure and determined about sth: 'I won't go,' she said decidedly.

decider noun [usually sing.] the game, race, etc. that will decide who the winner is in a competition: the international title decider against Holland

deciduous adj. (of a tree, bush etc.) that loses its leaves every yearcompare EVERGREEN

decile NAmE noun (statistics) one of ten equal groups into which a collection of things or people can be divided according to the DISTRIBUTION of a particular VARIABLE: families in the top decile of income (= the 10% of families with the highest income)

decilitre (BrE) (NAmE deciliter) noun a unit for measuring liquids. There are 10 decilitres in a litre.

decimal adj., noun
adj. based on or counted in tens or tenths: the decimal system
noun (also decimal fraction) a FRACTION (= a number less than one) that is shown as a dot or point followed by the number of tenths, HUNDREDTHS, etc.: The decimal 0.61 stands for 61 hundredths.compare VULGAR FRACTION

decimalize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN]
1 to change a system of coins or weights and measurements to a decimal system
2 to express an amount using the decimal system instead of the system it is already expressed in: The question asks you to decimalize the fraction 7/8.
decimalization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

decimal place noun the position of a number after a decimal point: The figure is accurate to two decimal places.

decimal point noun a dot or point used to separate the whole number from the tenths, HUNDREDTHS, etc. of a decimal, for example in 0.61

decimate verb [VN]
1 [usually passive] to kill large numbers of animals, plants or people in a particular area: The rabbit population was decimated by the disease.
2 (informal) to severely damage sth or make sth weaker: Cheap imports decimated the British cycle industry.
decimation noun [U]

decimetre (BrE) (NAmE decimeter) noun a unit for measuring length. There are 10 decimetres in a metre.

decipher verb [VN] to succeed in finding the meaning of sth that is difficult to read or understand: to decipher a code Can anyone decipher his handwriting?see also INDECIPHERABLE

decision noun
1 [C] ~ (on/about sth)| ~ (to do sth) a choice or judgement that you make after thinking and talking about what is the best thing to do: to take a decision (= to decide) (BrE) to make a decision (= to decide) We need a decision on this by next week. Who took the decision to go ahead with the project? He is really bad at making decisions. We finally reached a decision (= decided after some difficulty). We must come to a decision about what to do next by tomorrow. a big (= an important) decision The final decision is yours. It's a difficult decision for any doctor. The editor's decision is final. Mary is the decision-maker in the house. The decisions by the management committee will affect everyone in the company.
2 (also decisiveness) [U] the ability to decide sth clearly and quickly: This is not a job for someone who lacks decision. INDECISION
3 [U] the process of deciding sth: The moment of decision had arrived. The power of decision remained with the directors.

decision-making noun [U] the process of deciding about sth important, especially in a group of people or in an organization: responsibility for decision-making All the staff should be involved in the decision-making process.
decision-maker noun

decision theory noun [U] (mathematics) the study of making the best decision according to what you calculate you will lose or gain from each choice

decisive adj.
1 very important for the final result of a particular situation: a decisive factor/victory/battle Climate was a decisive factor in establishing where the tournament should be held. She has played a decisive role in the peace negotiations. a decisive step (= an important action that will change a situation) towards a cleaner environment note at ESSENTIAL
2 able to decide sth quickly and with confidence: decisive management The government must take decisive action on gun control. INDECISIVE
decisively adv.: She shook her head decisively.

decisiveness noun [U] = DECISION (2): All her decisiveness disappeared when she met Mark.

deck noun, verb
noun
1 the top outside floor of a ship or boat: I was the only person on deck at that time of night. As the storm began, everyone disappeared below deck(s).
2 one of the floors of a ship or a bus: the upper/lower/main deck of a ship We sat on the top deck of the bus. My cabin is on deck C.see also DOUBLE-DECKER, FLIGHT DECK, SINGLE-DECKER
3 (also deck of cards) (especially NAmE) = PACK
4 a wooden floor that is built outside the back of a house where you can sit and relax
5 a part of a SOUND SYSTEM that records and/or plays sounds on a disc or tape: a cassette/tape deck see CLEAR v., HAND n., HIT v.
verb [VN]
1 [often passive] ~ sb/sth (out) (in/with sth) to decorate sb/sth with sth: The room was decked out in flowers and balloons.
2 (informal) to hit sb very hard so that they fall to the ground

deckchair NAmE noun a folding chair with a seat made from a long strip of material on a wooden or metal frame, used for example on a beach

deckhand noun a worker on a ship who does work that is not skilled

deckhouse noun a small shelter on the DECK of a ship, used for NAVIGATION or accommodation

decking noun [U] wood used to build a floor (called a DECK) in the garden/yard next to or near a house

deck quoits noun [U] (BrE) a game in which players try to throw rings of rope over wooden sticks, especially on a CRUISE ship

deck shoe noun a flat shoe made of strong cloth or soft leather, with a soft SOLE which does not slip

deck tennis noun [U] a game in which players throw a ring of rope or rubber backwards and forwards over a net especially on a CRUISE ship

declaim verb (formal) to say sth loudly; to speak loudly and with force about sth you feel strongly about, especially in public: [VN] She declaimed the famous opening speech of the play. [V] He declaimed against the evils of alcohol. [also V speech, V that]

declamation noun (formal)
1 [U] the act of speaking or of expressing sth to an audience in a formal way
2 [C] a speech or piece of writing that strongly expresses feelings and opinions: The most successful newspaper stories are often declamations of patriotism.

declamatory NAmE adj. (formal) expressing feelings or opinions in a strong way in a speech or a piece of writing

declaration noun
1 [C, U] an official or formal statement, especially about the plans of a government or an organization; the act of making such a statement: to issue/sign a declaration the declaration of war the Declaration of Independence (= of the United States) The declaration asked governments to consider introducing new environmental taxes.
2 [C] a written or spoken statement, especially about what people feel or believe: a declaration of love/faith/guilt note at STATEMENT
3 [C] an official written statement giving information: a declaration of income customs declarations (= giving details of goods that have been brought into a country) The company will only provide insurance if the information on the proposal form and declaration is correct and complete.

the Declaration of Independence noun [sing.] the document which stated that the US was independent of Britain, signed on 4 July 1776 by representatives of the US states

declarative adj. (grammar) (of a sentence) in the form of a simple statement

declare NAmE verb
1 to say sth officially or publicly: [VN] The government has declared a state of emergency. Germany declared war on France on 1 August 1914. The government has declared war on (= officially stated its intention to stop) illiteracy. [V that] The court declared that strike action was illegal. [VN-N] The area has been declared a national park. [VN to inf] The painting was declared to be a forgery. [VN-ADJ] The contract was declared void. I declare this bridge open.
2 to state sth firmly and clearly: [V speech] 'I'll do it!' Tom declared. [V that] He declared that he was in love with her. [VN] Few people dared to declare their opposition to the regime. [VN-ADJ] She declared herself extremely hurt by his lack of support. [also VN-N]
3 [VN] to tell the tax authorities how much money you have earned: All income must be declared.
4 [VN] to tell customs officers (= at the border of a country) that you are carrying goods on which you should pay tax: Do you have anything to declare?
5 [V] (in CRICKET) to decide to end your INNINGS (= the period during which your team is BATTING) before all your players have BATTED: England declared at 224 for 4 (= 4 BATSMEN had scored 224 RUNS).
declare against sb/sth (BrE, formal) to say publicly that you do not support sb/sth
declare for sb/sth (BrE, formal) to say publicly that you support sb/sth

SYNONYMS

declare

state indicate announce

These words all mean to say sth, usually firmly and clearly and often in public.

declare (rather formal) to say sth officially or publicly; to state sth firmly and clearly: to declare war The painting was declared to be a forgery.

state (rather formal) to formally write or say sth, especially in a careful and clear way: He has already stated his intention to run for election.

indicate (rather formal) to state sth, sometimes in a way that is slightly indirect: During our meeting, he indicated his willingness to cooperate.

announce to tell people officially about a decision or plans; to give information about sth in a public place, especially through a loudspeaker; to say sth in a loud and/or serious way: They haven't formally announced their engagement yet. Has our flight been announced yet?

DECLARE OR ANNOUNCE?

Declare is used more often for giving judgements; announce is used more often for giving facts: The painting was announced to be a forgery. They haven't formally declared their engagement yet.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to declare/state/indicate/announce that

to declare/state sb/sth to be sth

to declare/state/indicate/announce your intention to do sth

to declare/state/announce sth formally/publicly/officially

to declare/state/announce sth firmly/clearly/plainly

declared NAmE adj. [only before noun] stated in an open way so that people know about it PROFESSED: the government's declared intention to reduce crime

declassify verb (declassifies, declassifying, declassified, declassified) [VN] to state officially that secret government information is no longer secret CLASSIFY: declassified information/documents CLASSIFY
declassification noun [U]

declension noun (grammar)
1 [C] a set of nouns, adjectives, or pronouns that change in the same way to show CASE, number, and GENDER
2 [U] the way in which some sets of nouns, adjectives, and pronouns change their form or endings to show CASE, number, or GENDER

decline noun, verb
noun [C, usually sing., U] ~ (in sth)| ~ (of sth) a continuous decrease in the number, value, quality, etc. of sth: a rapid/sharp/gradual decline urban/economic decline The company reported a small decline in its profits. An increase in cars has resulted in the decline of public transport. The town fell into (a) decline (= started to be less busy, important, etc.) after the mine closed. Industry in Britain has been in decline since the 1970s.
verb
1 [V] to become smaller, fewer, weaker, etc.: Support for the party continues to decline. The number of tourists to the resort declined by 10% last year. Her health was declining rapidly.
2 (formal) to refuse politely to accept or to do sth REFUSE: [V] I offered to give them a lift but they declined. [VN] to decline an offer/invitation She declined a second glass of wine and called for a taxi. [V to inf] Their spokesman declined to comment on the allegations.
3 [V, VN] (grammar) if a noun, an adjective or a pronoun declines, it has different forms according to whether it is the subject or the object of a verb, whether it is in the singular or plural, etc. When you decline a noun, etc., you list these forms.compare CONJUGATE
sb's declining years (literary) the last years of sb's life

decode NAmE verb [VN]
1 to find the meaning of sth, especially sth that has been written in code DECIPHER: I was involved in decoding enemy documents.
2 to receive an electronic signal and change it into pictures that can be shown on a television screen: decoding equipment
3 (linguistics) to understand the meaning of sth in a foreign languagecompare ENCODE

decoder NAmE noun a device that changes an electronic signal into a form that people can understand, such as sound and pictures: a satellite/video decoder A decoder is required for certain television programmes.

décolletage NAmE (also décolleté NAmE ) noun (from French) the top edge of a woman's dress, etc. that is designed to be very low in order to show her shoulders and the top part of her breasts
décolleté adj.

decolonization (BrE also -isation) NAmE noun [U] the process of a COLONY or COLONIES becoming independent

decommission verb [VN] to officially stop using weapons, a nuclear power station, etc.

decompose NAmE verb
1 to be destroyed gradually by natural chemical processes DECAY, ROT: [V] a decomposing corpse As the waste materials decompose, they produce methane gas. [VN] a decomposed body
2 [VN, V] ~ (sth) (into sth) (technical) to divide sth into smaller parts; to divide into smaller parts
decomposition NAmE noun [U]: the decomposition of organic waste

decompress verb
1 [V, VN] to have the air pressure in sth reduced to a normal level or to reduce it to its normal level
2 [VN] (computing) to return files, etc. to their original size after they have been COMPRESSED COMPRESS

decompression noun [U]
1 a reduction in air pressure; the act of reducing the pressure of the air: a decompression chamber (= a piece of equipment that DIVERS sit in so that they can return slowly to normal air pressure after being deep in the sea) decompression sickness (= severe pain and difficulty in breathing experienced by DIVERS who come back to the surface of deep water too quickly)see also BENDS
2 (technical) the act or process of allowing sth that has been compressed (= made smaller) to fill the space that it originally took up: The computers have built-in video decompression capabilities.

decompressor noun (BrE)
1 (technical) a device for reducing pressure in a vehicle's engine
2 (computing) a computer program which returns files, etc. to their original size after they have been COMPRESSED

decongestant noun a medicine that helps sb with a cold to breathe more easily: a nasal decongestant

deconsecrate NAmE verb [VN] (religion) to stop using sth, especially a building, for a religious purpose: a deconsecrated church
deconsecration noun [U]

deconstruct verb [VN] (technical) (in literature and philosophy) to analyse a text in order to show that there is no fixed meaning within the text but that the meaning is created each time in the act of reading

deconstruction noun [U] (technical) (in literature and philosophy) a theory that states that it is impossible for a text to have one fixed meaning, and emphasizes the role of the reader in the production of meaningcompare STRUCTURALISM
deconstructionist noun, adj.: a deconstructionist critic/approach

decontaminate verb [VN] to remove harmful substances from a place or thing: the process of decontaminating areas exposed to radioactivity
decontamination noun [U]: the decontamination of water supplies

decontrol NAmE verb (-ll-) [VN] (formal, especially NAmE) if a government decontrols sth, it removes legal controls from it DEREGULATE
decontrol noun [U]

decor NAmE noun [U, C, usually sing.] the style in which the inside of a building is decorated: interior decor the restaurant's elegant new decor Choosing the furniture and decor for their new home was an exciting project.

decorate verb
1 [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to make sth look more attractive by putting things on it: They decorated the room with flowers and balloons. The cake was decorated to look like a car.
2 (especially BrE) to put paint, WALLPAPER, etc. on the walls and ceilings of a room or house: [V] I hate decorating. He has his own painting and decorating business. [VN] We need to decorate the sitting room. The sitting room needs decorating.
3 [VN] to be placed on sth in order to make it look more attractive ADORN: Photographs of actors decorated the walls of the restaurant.
4 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (for sth) to give sb a MEDAL as a sign of respect for sth they have done: She was decorated for her efforts during the war.

decoration noun
1 [C, usually pl.] a thing that makes sth look more attractive on special occasions: Christmas decorations a table decoration
2 [U, C] a pattern, etc. that is added to sth and that stops it from being plain: the elaborate decoration on the carved wooden door
3 [U] the style in which sth is decorated: a Chinese theme in the interior decoration
4 [U] (BrE) the act or process of decorating sth such as the inside of a house by painting it, etc.
5 [C] a MEDAL that is given to sb as an honour: His jacket was heavy with military decorations.

decorative NAmE adj. (of an object or a building) decorated in a way that makes it attractive; intended to look attractive or pretty: The mirror is functional yet decorative. purely decorative arches The decorative touches have made this house a warm and welcoming home.

decorative arts noun [pl.] artistic activities which produce objects which are useful and beautiful at the same time

decorator noun a person whose job is painting and decorating houses

decorous adj. (formal) polite and appropriate in a particular social situation; not shocking PROPER: a decorous kiss
decorously adv.: They sipped their drinks decorously.

decorum noun [U] (formal) polite behaviour that is appropriate in a social situation PROPRIETY: a sense of decorum

découpage noun [U] (art) the art of decorating furniture or other objects by cutting out pictures or designs on paper and sticking them onto the surface

decouple verb [VN] ~ sth (from sth) (formal) to end the connection or relationship between two things: Gasoline prices have been decoupled from crude oil prices.

decoy noun [C]
1 an animal or a bird, or a model of one, that attracts other animals or birds, especially so that they can be shot by people who are hunting them
2 a thing or a person that is used to trick sb into doing what you want them to do; going where you want them to go, etc.
decoy verb [VN]

decrease verb, noun
verb ~ (from sth) (to sth) to become or make sth become smaller in size, number, etc.: [V] The number of new students decreased from 210 to 160 this year. The price of wheat has decreased by 15%. This species of bird is decreasing in numbers every year. a decreasing population Donations have decreased significantly over the past few years. [VN] People should decrease the amount of fat they eat. INCREASE
noun [C, U] ~ (in sth)| ~ (of sth) the process of reducing sth or the amount that sth is reduced by REDUCTION: There has been some decrease in military spending this year. a decrease of nearly 6% in the number of visitors to the museum INCREASE

decree noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] an official order from a ruler or a government that becomes the law: to issue/sign a decree a presidential/royal decree a leader who rules by decree (= not in a DEMOCRATIC way)
2 [C] a decision that is made in court
verb (decreeing, decreed, decreed) to decide, judge or order sth officially: [VN] The government decreed a state of emergency. [VN that] It was decreed that the following day would be a holiday. [also V, V wh-]

decree absolute noun [sing.] (BrE, law) an order from a court that finally ends a marriage, making the two people divorced: The period between the decree nisi and the decree absolute was six weeks.

decree nisi noun [sing.] (BrE, law) an order from a court that a marriage will end after a fixed amount of time unless there is a good reason why it should not

decrepit adj. (of a thing or person) very old and not in good condition or health: a decrepit building/vehicle a decrepit old man

decrepitude NAmE noun [U] (formal) the state of being old and in poor condition or health: the decline towards decrepitude and death

decriminalize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to change the law so that sth is no longer illegal: There are moves to decriminalize some soft drugs. CRIMINALIZE
decriminalization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

decry verb (decries, decrying, decried, decried) [VN] ~ sb/sth (as sth) (formal) to strongly criticize sb/sth, especially publicly CONDEMN: The measures were decried as useless. [also VN]

decrypt verb [VN] (especially computing) to change information that is in code into ordinary language so that it can be understood by anyone ENCRYPT
decryption noun [U] ENCRYPTION

dedicate verb [VN]
1 ~ yourself/sth to sth/to doing sth to give a lot of your time and effort to a particular activity or purpose because you think it is important DEVOTE: She dedicates herself to her work. He dedicated his life to helping the poor.
2 ~ sth to sb to say at the beginning of a book, a piece of music or a performance that you are doing it for sb, as a way of thanking them or showing respect: This book is dedicated to my parents.
3 ~ sth (to sb/sth) to hold an official ceremony to say that a building or an object has a special purpose or is special to the memory of a particular person: The chapel was dedicated in 1880. A memorial stone was dedicated to those who were killed in the war.

dedicated adj.
1 ~ (to sth) working hard at sth because it is very important to you COMMITTED: a dedicated teacher She is dedicated to her job.
2 [only before noun] designed to do only one particular type of work; used for one particular purpose only: Software is exported through a dedicated satellite link.

dedication noun
1 [U] ~ (to sth) (approving) the hard work and effort that sb puts into an activity or purpose because they think it is important COMMITMENT: hard work and dedication
2 [C] a ceremony that is held to show that a building or an object has a special purpose or is special to the memory of a particular person
3 [C] the words that are used at the beginning of a book, piece of music, a performance, etc. to offer it to sb as a sign of thanks or respect

deduce NAmE verb ~ (sth) (from sth) (formal) to form an opinion about sth based on the information or evidence that is available INFER: [V that] Can we deduce from your silence that you do not approve? [VN] We can deduce a lot from what people choose to buy. [also V wh-] see also DEDUCTION
deducible NAmE adj.: The answer is deducible from the evidence available.

deduct verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sth (from sth) to take away money, points, etc. from a total amount SUBTRACT: The cost of your uniform will be deducted from your wages. Ten points will be deducted for a wrong answer.

deductible adj., noun
adj. that can be taken away from an amount of money you earn, from tax, etc.: These costs are deductible from profits. tax-deductible expenses (= that you do not have to pay tax on)
noun (NAmE) = EXCESS (3): a policy with a very high deductible

deduction noun
1 [U, C] the process of using information you have in order to understand a particular situation or to find the answer to a problem: He arrived at the solution by a simple process of deduction. If my deductions are correct, I can tell you who the killer was. We can examine the bones of dinosaurs and make deductions about how they lived.see also DEDUCEcompare INDUCTION (3)
2 [U, C] the process of taking an amount of sth, especially money, away from a total; the amount that is taken away: deductions from your pay for tax, etc. tax deductions

deductive adj. [usually before noun] using knowledge about things that are generally true in order to think about and understand particular situations or problems: deductive logic/reasoningcompare INDUCTIVE

deed noun
1 (formal, literary) a thing that sb does that is usually very good or very bad ACT: a brave/charitable/evil/good deed a tale of heroic deeds note at ACTION
2 (often plural in British English) a legal document that you sign, especially one that proves that you own a house or a building: the deeds of the housesee also TITLE DEED
your good deed for the day a helpful, kind thing that you do: I took Sarah's children to school so I've done my good deed for the day.

deed of covenant noun (BrE) an agreement to pay a regular amount of money to sb/sth, especially a charity, that means that they also receive the tax that would have to be paid on this money: Signing a deed of covenant makes £1 worth £1.33.

deed poll noun [U, sing.] (BrE) a legal document signed by only one person, especially in order to change their name: Smith changed his name by deed poll to Jervis-Smith.

deejay noun, verb
noun (informal) = DISC JOCKEY
verb [V] to perform as a DISC JOCKEY, especially in a club

deem verb (formal) (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to have a particular opinion about sth CONSIDER: [VN-N] The evening was deemed a great success. I deem it an honour to be invited. [VN-ADJ] She deemed it prudent not to say anything. They would take any action deemed necessary. [also V (that), VN to inf]

deep adj., adv., noun
adj. (deeper, deepest)
TOP TO BOTTOM
1 having a large distance from the top or surface to the bottom: a deep hole/well/river deep water/snow SHALLOW
FRONT TO BACK
2 having a large distance from the front edge to the furthest point inside: a deep cut/wound a deep space SHALLOW
MEASUREMENT
3 used to describe or ask about the depth of sth: The water is only a few inches deep. How deep is the wound?
-DEEP
4 (in adjectives) as far up or down as the point mentioned: The water was only waist-deep so I walked ashore.
5 (in adjectives) in the number of rows mentioned, one behind the other: They were standing three-deep at the bar.
BREATH/SIGH
6 [usually before noun] taking in or giving out a lot of air: She took a deep breath. He gave a deep sigh.
SOUNDS
7 low: I heard his deep warm voice filling the room. a deep roar/groan
COLOURS
8 strong and dark: a rich deep red PALE
SLEEP
9 a person in a deep sleep is difficult to wake: to be in a deep sleep/trance/coma LIGHT
SERIOUS
10 extreme or serious: He's in deep trouble. a deep economic recession The affair had exposed deep divisions within the party. a place of great power and of deep significance
EMOTIONS
11 strongly felt SINCERE: deep respect a deep sense of loss
KNOWLEDGE
12 showing great knowledge or understanding: a deep understanding
DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND
13 difficult to understand PROFOUND: This discussion's getting too deep for me. He pondered, as if over some deep philosophical point.
INVOLVED
14 ~ in sth fully involved in an activity or a state: to be deep in thought/conversation He is often so deep in his books that he forgets to eat. The firm ended up deep in debt.
PERSON
15 if a person is deep, they hide their real feelings and opinions: She's always been a deep one, trusting no one.
IN SPORT
16 to or from a position far down or across the field: a deep ball from Beckham
see also DEPTH
go off the deep end (informal) to suddenly become very angry or emotional
in deep water(s) (informal) in trouble or difficulty
jump/be thrown in at the deep end (informal) to start or be made to start a new and difficult activity that you are not prepared for: Junior hospital doctors are thrown in at the deep end in their first jobs.more at DEVIL, SHIT n.
adv. (deeper, deepest) ~ (below, into, under, etc.) a long way below the surface of sth or a long way inside or into sth: Dig deeper! The miners were trapped deep underground. whales that feed deep beneath the waves He gazed deep into her eyes. They sat and talked deep into the night (= until very late). deep in the forest He stood with his hands deep in his pockets.
deep down
1 if you know sth deep down, you know your true feelings about sth, although you may not admit them to yourself: Deep down I still loved him.
2 if sth is true deep down, it is really like that, although it may not be obvious to people: He seems confident but deep down he's quite insecure.
go/run deep (of emotions, beliefs, etc.) to be felt in a strong way, especially for a long time: Feelings about the death of a parent are bound to go deep. Dignity and pride run deep in this community.more at DIG v., STILL
noun [sing.] the deep (literary) the sea: His body was committed to the deep (= he was buried at sea).

WHICH WORD?

deep / deeply

The adverbs deep and deeply can both mean 'a long way down or into something'. Deep can only mean this and is more common than deeply in this sense. It is usually followed by a word like into or below: We decided to go deeper into the jungle.

Deeply usually means 'very much': deeply in lovedeeply shocked. You can use deep down (but not deeply) to talk about a person's real nature: She can seem stern, but deep down she's a very kind person.She can seem stern, but deeply she's a very kind person.

deep-dyed adj. (NAmE) having a particular characteristic or opinion very strongly: a deep-dyed socialist

deepen verb
1 if an emotion or a feeling deepens, or if sth deepens it, it becomes stronger: [V] Their friendship soon deepened into love. [also VN]
2 to become worse; to make sth worse: [V] Warships were sent in as the crisis deepened. a deepening economic recession [also VN]
3 to become deeper; to make sth deeper: [V] The water deepened gradually. His frown deepened. [VN] There were plans to deepen a stretch of the river.
4 [VN] to improve your knowledge or understanding of sth: an opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of different cultures
5 [V, VN] if colour or light deepens or if sth deepens it, it becomes darker: deepening shadows
6 if a sound or voice deepens or if you deepen it, it becomes lower or you make it lower: [V] His voice deepened to a growl. [also VN]
7 [V] if your breathing deepens, you breathe more deeply than usual

deep freeze (BrE) (US DeepfreezeTM deep freezer) noun = FREEZER

deep-frozen adj. preserved at an extremely low temperature

deep-fry verb [VN] [usually passive] to cook food in oil that covers it completely: deep-fried chicken pieces

deeply adv.
1 very; very much: She is deeply religious. They were deeply disturbed by the accident. Opinion is deeply divided on this issue. deeply rooted customs/ideas deeply held beliefs/convictions/views (= that sb feels very strongly)
2 used with some verbs to show that sth is done in a very complete way: to breathe/sigh/exhale deeply (= using all of the air in your lungs) sleep deeply (= in a way that makes it difficult for you to wake up) to think deeply (= about all the aspects of sth)
3 to a depth that is quite a long way from the surface of sth: to drill deeply into the wood note at DEEP

deep-rooted, deep-seated adj. [usually before noun] (of feelings and beliefs) very fixed and strong; difficult to change or to destroy: a deep-rooted desire The country's political divisions are deep-seated.

deep-sea (also less frequent deep-water) adj. [only before noun] of or in the deeper parts of the sea: a deep-sea diver deep-sea fishing/diving

deep-set adj. (formal) eyes that are deep-set seem to be quite far back in a person's face

deep-six verb [VN] [usually passive] (NAmE, informal) to decide not to do or use sth that you had planned to do or use: Plans to build a new mall were deep-sixed after protests from local residents.

the Deep South noun [sing.] the southern states of the US, especially Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and South Carolina

deep structure (also D-structure) noun (grammar) the basic relationships between the different parts of a sentence, which show how we think when we are using languagecompare SURFACE STRUCTURE

deep vein thrombosis noun [U, C] (abbr. DVT) (medical) a serious condition caused by a blood CLOT (= a thick mass of blood) forming in a VEIN: Passengers on long-haul flights are being warned about the risks of deep vein thrombosis.

deer NAmE noun (pl. deer) an animal with long legs, that eats grass, leaves, etc. and can run fast. Most male deer have ANTLERS (= horns shaped like branches). There are many types of deer: a herd of deer a deer parksee also FALLOW DEER, RED DEER, REINDEER, ROE DEER, DOE, FAWN, STAG

deerhound NAmE noun a large dog with rough hair, similar to a GREYHOUND

deerstalker NAmE noun a cap with two PEAKS, one in front and one behind, and two pieces of cloth which are usually tied together on top but can be folded down to cover the ears

def adj. (slang) excellent: a def band

deface verb [VN] to damage the appearance of sth especially by drawing or writing on it: They were charged with defacing public property.
defacement noun [U]

de facto NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (from Latin, formal) existing as a fact although it may not be legally accepted as existing: The general took de facto control of the country.
de facto adv.: He continued to rule the country de facto.compare DE JURE

defaecate, defaecation (BrE) = DEFECATE, DEFECATION

defamation noun [U, C] (formal) the act of damaging sb's reputation by saying or writing bad or false things about them: The company sued for defamation. He brought a legal action against the magazine for defamation of character.

defamatory NAmE adj. (formal) (of speech or writing) intended to harm sb by saying or writing bad or false things about them: The article was highly defamatory.

defame verb [VN] (formal) to harm sb by saying or writing bad or false things about them: The newspaper denies any intention to defame the senator's reputation.

default noun, verb
noun
1 [U, C] failure to do sth that must be done by law, especially paying a debt: The company is in default on the loan. Mortgage defaults have risen in the last year.
2 [U, C, usually sing.] (especially computing) what happens or appears if you do not make any other choice or change: The default option is to save your work every five minutes. On this screen, 256 colours is the default.
by default
1 a game or competition can be won by default if there are no other people, teams, etc. taking part: He became world champion in 1990 by default.
2 if sth happens by default, it happens because you have not made any other decision or choices which would make things happen in a different way: I became a teacher by default rather than by design.
in default of sth (formal) because of a lack of sth: They accepted what he had said in default of any evidence to disprove it.
verb [V]
1 ~ (on sth) to fail to do sth that you legally have to do, especially by not paying a debt: to default on a loan/debt defaulting borrowers/tenants
2 ~ (to sth) (especially computing) to happen when you do not make any other choice or change
defaulter noun: mortgage defaulters

defeat verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 to win against sb in a war, competition, sports game, etc. BEAT: He defeated the champion in three sets. a defeated army The government was defeated by 200 votes to 83.
2 (formal) if sth defeats you, you cannot understand it: The instruction manual completely defeated me.
3 to stop sth from being successful: The motion was defeated by 19 votes. Staying late at the office to discuss shorter working hours rather defeats the object of the exercise!
noun
1 [U, C] failure to win or to be successful: The party faces defeat in the election. a narrow/heavy defeat The world champion has only had two defeats in 20 fights. They finally had to admit defeat (= stop trying to be successful).
2 [C, usually sing.] the act of winning a victory over sb/sth: the defeat of fascism

defeatist adj. expecting not to succeed, and showing it in a particular situation: a defeatist attitude/view
defeatist noun: He is a pessimist and a defeatist. defeatism noun [U]

defecate (BrE also defaecate) verb [V] (formal) to get rid of solid waste from your body through your BOWELS
defecation (BrE also defaecation) noun [U]

defect noun, verb
noun a fault in sth or in the way it has been made which means that it is not perfect: a speech defect a defect in the glass
verb [V] ~ (from sth) (to sth) to leave a political party, country, etc. to join another that is considered to be an enemy: A number of writers and musicians defected from the Soviet Union to the West in the 1960s. She defected from the party just days before the election.
defection noun [U, C] ~ (from sth) (to sth): There have been several defections from the ruling party. defector noun

defective adj. having a fault or faults; not perfect or complete FAULTY: defective goods Her hearing was found to be slightly defective.
defectively adv. defectiveness noun [U]

defence (BrE) (NAmE defense) noun
PROTECTION AGAINST ATTACK
1 [U] the act of protecting sb/sth from attack, criticism, etc.: soldiers who died in defence of their country When her brother was criticized she leapt to his defence. What points can be raised in defence of this argument? I have to say in her defence that she knew nothing about it beforehand.see also SELF-DEFENCE
2 [C, U] ~ (against sth) something that provides protection against attack from enemies, the weather, illness, etc.: The town walls were built as a defence against enemy attacks. The harbour's sea defences are in poor condition. The body has natural defence mechanisms to protect it from disease. Humour is a more effective defence than violence.
3 [U] the organization of the people and systems that are used by a government to protect a country from attack: (BrE) the Ministry of Defence (NAmE) the Department of Defense Further cuts in defence spending are being considered.
SUPPORT
4 [C] something that is said or written in order to support sth: a defence of Marxism
LAW
5 [C] what is said in court to prove that a person did not commit a crime; the act of presenting this argument in court: Her defence was that she was somewhere completely different at the time of the crime. He wanted to conduct his own defence.
6 the defence [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] the lawyer or lawyers whose job is to prove in court that a person did not commit a crimecompare PROSECUTION
IN SPORT
7 [sing., U] the players who must prevent the other team from scoring; the position of these players on the sports field: Welford cut through the defence to score the winning goal. (BrE) She plays in defence. (NAmE) He plays on defense.compare ATTACK, OFFENSE
8 [C] a contest, game, etc. in which the previous winner or winners compete in order to try to win again: Milan's defence of the European Cup

defenceless (BrE) (NAmE defenseless) adj. weak; not able to protect yourself; having no protection: defenceless children The village is defenceless against attack.
defencelessness (BrE) (NAmE defenselessness) noun [U]

defend verb
PROTECT AGAINST ATTACK
1 ~ (sb/yourself/sth) (from/against sb/sth) to protect sb/sth from attack: [VN] All our officers are trained to defend themselves against knife attacks. Troops have been sent to defend the borders. The male ape defends his females from other males. [V] It is impossible to defend against an all-out attack.
SUPPORT
2 [VN] ~ sb/yourself/sth (from/against sb/sth) to say or write sth in support of sb/sth that has been criticized: Politicians are skilled at defending themselves against their critics. How can you defend such behaviour? He defended his decision to punish the boy.
IN SPORT
3 [V, VN] (in sports) to protect your own goal to stop your opponents from scoring ATTACK
IN COMPETITIONS
4 [VN] to take part in a competition that you won the last time and try to win it again: He is defending champion. She will be defending her title at next month's championships. (politics) He intends to defend his seat in the next election.
LAW
5 to act as a lawyer for sb who has been charged with a crime: [VN] He has employed one of the UK's top lawyers to defend him. Smith has announced that she will defend herself in the case. [also V] compare PROSECUTE

defendant noun the person in a trial who is accused of committing a crime, or who is being sued by another personcompare ACCUSED, PLAINTIFF

defender noun
1 a player who must stop the other team from scoring in games such as football (SOCCER), HOCKEY, etc.
2 a person who defends and believes in protecting sth: a passionate defender of human rights

defense (NAmE) = DEFENCE

defensible adj.
1 able to be supported by reasons or arguments that show that it is right or should be allowed: Is abortion morally defensible? INDEFENSIBLE
2 (of a place) able to be defended from an attack

defensive adj., noun
adj.
1 protecting sb/sth against attack: a defensive measure Troops took up a defensive position around the town.compare OFFENSIVE
2 behaving in a way that shows that you feel that people are criticizing you: Don't ask him about his planshe just gets defensive.
3 (sport) connected with trying to prevent the other team or player from scoring points or goals: defensive playcompare OFFENSIVE
defensively adv. defensiveness noun [U]
noun
on/onto the defensive acting in a way that shows that you expect to be attacked or criticized; having to defend yourself: Their questions about the money put her on the defensive. Warnings of an enemy attack forced the troops onto the defensive.

defensive medicine noun [U] (especially NAmE) medical treatment that involves more tests, operations, etc. than a person really needs because a doctor is worried that a claim or complaint may be made against them in court if they make a mistake in the treatment they give

defer verb (-rr-) to delay sth until a later time PUT OFF: [VN] The department deferred the decision for six months. She had applied for deferred admission to college. [also V -ing]
deferment, deferral noun [U, C]
defer to sb/sth (formal) to agree to accept what sb has decided or what they think about sb/sth because you respect him or her: We will defer to whatever the committee decides.

deference noun [U] behaviour that shows that you respect sb/sth: The women wore veils in deference to the customs of the country. The flags were lowered out of deference to the bereaved family.
deferential adj. deferentially adv.

defiance noun [U] open refusal to obey sb/sth: a look/an act/a gesture of defiance Nuclear testing was resumed in defiance of an international ban.

defiance campaign noun (in South Africa in the past, especially in the period after 1952) a series of activities in which black people refused to obey laws that were not fair

defiant adj. openly refusing to obey sb/sth, sometimes in an aggressive way: a defiant teenager The terrorists sent a defiant message to the government.
defiantly adv.

defibrillation noun [U] (medical) the use of a controlled electric shock from a defibrillator to return the heart to its natural rhythm

defibrillator noun (medical) a piece of equipment used to control the movements of the heart muscles by giving the heart a controlled electric shock

deficiency noun (pl. -ies) ~ (in/of sth)
1 [U, C] the state of not having, or not having enough of, sth that is essential SHORTAGE: Vitamin deficiency in the diet can cause illness. a deficiency of Vitamin B
2 [C] a fault or a weakness in sth/sb that makes it or them less successful: deficiencies in the computer system

deficient adj.
1 ~ (in sth) not having enough of sth, especially sth that is essential: a diet that is deficient in vitamin A
2 (formal) not good enough: Deaf people are sometimes treated as being mentally deficient.

deficit noun
1 (economics) the amount by which money spent or owed is greater than money earned in a particular period of time: a budget/trade deficit The trade balance has been in deficit for the past five years.compare SURPLUS
2 the amount by which sth, especially an amount of money, is too small or smaller than sth else: There's a deficit of $3 million in the total needed to complete the project. The team has to come back from a 2-0 deficit in the first half.

defied pt, pp of DEFY

defile^1 verb [VN] (formal or literary) to make sth dirty or no longer pure, especially sth that people consider important or holy: Many victims of burglary feel their homes have been defiled. The altar had been defiled by vandals.
defilement noun

defile^2 noun (formal) a narrow way through mountains

define verb
1 [VN] ~ sth (as sth) to say or explain what the meaning of a word or phrase is: The term 'mental illness' is difficult to define. Life imprisonment is defined as 60 years under state law.
2 to describe or show sth accurately: [VN] We need to define the task ahead very clearly. The difficulty of a problem was defined in terms of how long it took to complete. [V wh-] It is difficult to define what makes him so popular.
3 [VN] to show clearly a line, shape or edge: The mountain was sharply defined against the sky.
definable adj.

defining vocabulary noun a set of carefully chosen words used to write the explanations in some dictionaries

definite adj., noun
adj.
1 ~ (that ... ) sure or certain; unlikely to change: Can you give me a definite answer by tomorrow? Is it definite that he's leaving? I've heard rumours, but nothing definite. a definite offer of a job I'm not sureI can find out for definite if you like. That's definite then, is it? They have very definite ideas on how to bring up children. note at CERTAIN
2 easily or clearly seen or understood; obvious CLEAR: The look on her face was a definite sign that sth was wrong. There was a definite feeling that things were getting worse.
3 [not before noun] ~ (about sth)| ~ (that ... ) (of a person) sure that sth is true or that sth is going to happen and stating it to other people: I'm definite about this.
noun [sing.] (informal) something that you are certain about or that you know will happen; sb who is sure to do sth: 'We're moving our office to Glasgow.' 'That's a definite, is it?' 'Is Sarah coming to the party?' 'Yes, she's a definite.'

definite article noun (grammar) the word the in English, or a similar word in another languagecompare INDEFINITE ARTICLE

definitely adv.
1 (informal) a way of emphasizing that sth is true and that there is no doubt about it: I definitely remember sending the letter. 'Was it what you expected?' 'Yes, definitely.' 'Do you plan to have children?' 'Definitely not!' Some old people want help; others most definitely do not.
2 in a way that is certain or that shows that you are certain: The date of the move has not been definitely decided yet (= it may change). Please say definitely whether you will be coming or not.

definition noun
1 [C, U] an explanation of the meaning of a word or phrase, especially in a dictionary; the act of stating the meanings of words and phrases: clear simple definitions Neighbours by definition live close by (= this is what being a neighbour means).
2 [C] what an idea, etc. means: What's your definition of happiness? There is no agreed definition of what a comprehensive school should be.
3 [U] the quality of being clear and easy to see: The definition of the digital TV pictures is excellent.

definitive adj.
1 final; not able to be changed: a definitive agreement/answer/statement The definitive version of the text is ready to be published.
2 [usually before noun] considered to be the best of its kind and almost impossible to improve: the definitive biography of Einstein the definitive guide to the golf courses of Europe
definitively adv.

deflate verb
1 [VN, V] to let air or gas out of a tyre, BALLOON, etc.; to become smaller because of air or gas coming out
2 [VN] [often passive] to make sb feel less confident; to make sb/sth feel or seem less important: All the criticism had left her feeling totally deflated.
3 [VN] (economics) to reduce the amount of money being used in a country so that prices fall or stay steadycompare INFLATE (3), REFLATE

deflation noun [U]
1 (economics) a reduction in the amount of money in a country's economy so that prices fall or remain the same
2 the action of air being removed from sth INFLATION
deflationary NAmE adj.: deflationary policies

deflect verb
1 to change direction or make sth change direction, especially after hitting sth: [V] The ball deflected off Reid's body into the goal. [VN] He raised his arm to try to deflect the blow.
2 [VN] to succeed in preventing sth from being directed towards you DIVERT: All attempts to deflect attention from his private life have failed. She sought to deflect criticism by blaming her family.
3 [VN] ~ sb (from sth) to prevent sb from doing sth that they are determined to do: The government will not be deflected from its commitments.

deflection noun [U, C, usually sing.] a sudden change in the direction that sth is moving in, usually after it has hit sth; the act of causing sth to change direction: the angle of deflection the deflection of the missile away from its target The goal was scored with a deflection off the goalkeeper.

deflower verb [VN] (old-fashioned, literary) to have sex with a woman who has not had sex before

defog NAmE verb (-gg-) [VN, V] (NAmE) = DEMIST

defoliant NAmE noun [C, U] a chemical that removes the leaves from plants, sometimes used as a weapon in war

defoliate NAmE verb [VN] (technical) to destroy the leaves of trees or plants, especially with chemicals
defoliation NAmE noun [U]

deforest NAmE (also disafforest) verb [VN] [usually passive] to cut down and destroy all the trees in a place: Two thirds of the region has been deforested in the past decade.

deforestation NAmE noun [U] the act of cutting down or burning the trees in an area: land erosion caused by widespread deforestationcompare AFFORESTATION, REFORESTATION

deform NAmE verb [VN] to change or spoil the usual or natural shape of sth: The disease had deformed his spine.

deformation NAmE noun
1 [U] the process or result of changing and spoiling the normal shape of sth: the deformation of the human body in much Cubist art
2 [C] a change in the normal shape of sth as a result of injury or illness: a deformation of the spine

deformed NAmE adj. (of a person or a part of the body) having a shape that is not normal because it has grown wrongly: She was born with deformed hands. Babies affected by the disease will be born small, deformed and brain damaged.

deformity NAmE noun (pl. -ies) [C, U] a condition in which a part of the body is not the normal shape because of injury, illness or because it has grown wrongly MALFORMATION: Drugs taken during pregnancy may cause physical deformity in babies. The injury resulted in a deformity of the hip joint.

DEFRA abbr. (in Britain) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

defraud verb ~ sb (of sth) to get money illegally from a person or an organization by tricking them: [VN] They were accused of defrauding the company of $14 000. [V] All three men were charged with conspiracy to defraud.

defray verb [VN] ~ costs/expenses (formal) to give sb back the money that they have spent on sth

defrock NAmE verb [VN] [usually passive] to officially remove a priest from his or her job, because he or she has done sth wrong: a defrocked priest

defrost NAmE verb
1 to become or make sth warmer, especially food, so that it is no longer frozen: [VN] Make sure you defrost the chicken completely before cooking. [V] It will take about four hours to defrost.
2 [VN, V] when you defrost a fridge/refrigerator or FREEZER, or when it defrosts, you remove the ice from itcompare DE-ICE, MELT, THAW, UNFREEZE
3 [VN] (NAmE) to remove ice from the surface of a car's windows
defroster noun

deft adj.
1 (of a person's movements) skilful and quick: deft hands/fingers/footwork He finished off the painting with a few deft strokes of the brush. In one, deft movement, he had her hand locked behind her back.
2 skilful: her deft command of the language
deftly adv.: I threw her a towel which she deftly caught. They deftly avoided answering my questions. deftness noun [U]

defunct adj. (formal) no longer existing, operating or being used: a largely defunct railway network

defuse verb [VN]
1 to stop a possibly dangerous or difficult situation from developing, especially by making people less angry or nervous: Local police are trying to defuse racial tension in the community.
2 to remove the FUSE from a bomb so that it cannot explode: Police closed the road while they defused the bomb.

defy
(WORD FAMILY: defy verb | defiance noun | defiant adj. ) verb (defies, defying, defied, defied) [VN]
1 to refuse to obey or show respect for sb in authority, a law, a rule, etc.: I wouldn't have dared to defy my teachers. Hundreds of people today defied the ban on political gatherings.
2 ~ belief, explanation, description, etc. to be impossible or almost impossible to believe, explain, describe, etc.: a political move that defies explanation The beauty of the scene defies description.
3 to successfully resist sb/sth to a very unusual degree: The baby boy defied all the odds and survived (= stayed alive when it seemed certain that he would die).
I defy you/anyone to do sth used to say that sb should try to do sth, as a way of emphasizing that you think it is impossible to do it: I defy anyone not to cry at the end of the film. I defy you to leave without buying something.

deg. abbr. DEGREE(S): 26 deg. C

degenerate verb, adj., noun
verb [V] ~ (into sth) to become worse, for example by becoming lower in quality or weaker DETERIORATE: The march degenerated into a riot. Her health degenerated quickly.
adj.
1 having moral standards that have fallen to a level that is very low and unacceptable to most people: a degenerate popular culture
2 (technical) having returned to a simple structure; lacking sth that is usually present
degeneracy noun [U]: The movie is full of scenes of crime and degeneracy.
noun a person whose behaviour shows moral standards that have fallen to a very low level

degeneration noun [U] the process of becoming worse or less acceptable in quality or condition: social/moral degeneration Intensive farming in the area has caused severe degeneration of the land. Speech degeneration often occurs in children who become deaf after acquiring language.

degenerative adj. (technical) (of an illness) getting or likely to get worse as time passes: degenerative diseases such as arthritis

deglaze verb [VN] (technical) to remove burned meat or vegetable juices from a pan by pouring in liquid and stirring: When the meat is brown, deglaze the pan with white wine.

degradable adj. (especially NAmE, technical) that can be changed to a simpler formsee also BIODEGRADABLE

degradation noun [U]
1 a situation in which sb has lost all SELF-RESPECT and the respect of other people: the degradation of being sent to prison
2 (technical) the process of sth being damaged or made worse: environmental degradation

degrade verb
1 [VN] to show or treat sb in a way that makes them seem not worth any respect or not worth taking seriously: This poster is offensive and degrades women.
2 [V, VN] (technical) to change or make sth change to a simpler chemical form
3 [VN] (technical) to make sth become worse, especially in quality

degrading adj. treating sb as if they have no value, so that they lose their SELF-RESPECT and the respect of other people: the inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners Many people agree that pornography is degrading to women.

degrease verb [VN] to remove GREASE or oil from sth

degree noun
1 [C] a unit for measuring angles: an angle of ninety degrees (90°)
2 [C] (abbr. deg.) a unit for measuring temperature: Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (32°F) or zero/nought degrees Celsius (0°C).
3 [C, U] the amount or level of sth: Her job demands a high degree of skill. I agree with you to a certain degree. To what degree can parents be held responsible for a child's behaviour? Most pop music is influenced, to a greater or lesser degree, by the blues.
4 [C] the qualification obtained by students who successfully complete a university or college course: My brother has a master's degree from Harvard. She has a degree in Biochemistry from London University. a four-year degree course
5 [C] (BrE) a university or college course, normally lasting three years or more: I'm hoping to do a chemistry degree.
6 [C] a level in a scale of how serious sth is: murder in the first degree (= of the most serious kind) first-degree murder third-degree (= very serious) burns
by degrees slowly and gradually: By degrees their friendship grew into love.more at NTH

dehumanize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to make sb lose their human qualities such as kindness, pity, etc.: the dehumanizing effects of poverty and squalor
dehumanization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

dehumidifier noun an electrical machine for removing water from the airsee also HUMIDIFIER

dehydrate verb
1 [VN] [usually passive] to remove the water from sth, especially food, in order to preserve it
2 to lose too much water from your body; to make a person's body lose too much water: [V] Runners can dehydrate very quickly in this heat. [VN] the dehydrating effects of alcohol
dehydration noun [U]: to suffer from dehydration dehydrated adj.: Drink lots of water to avoid becoming dehydrated.

de-ice verb [VN] to remove the ice from sthcompare DEFROST, MELT, THAW, UNFREEZE

de-icer noun [C, U] a substance that is put on a surface to remove ice or to stop it from forming

deictic adj. (linguistics) relating to a word or expression whose meaning depends on who says it, where they are, who they are talking to, etc., for example 'you', 'me', 'here', 'next week'.

deify verb (deifies, deifying, deified, deified) [VN] (formal) to treat or worship sb as a god
deification noun [U]: the deification of medieval kings

deign verb [V to inf] (disapproving) to do sth in a way that shows you think you are too important to do it CONDESCEND: She just grunted, not deigning to look up from the page.

deism noun [U] belief in God, especially a God that created the universe but does not take part in it
deist noun deistic adj.

deity noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a god or GODDESS: Greek/Roman/Hindu deities
2 the Deity [sing.] (formal) God

deixis noun [U] (linguistics) the function or use of DEICTIC words or expressions (= ones whose meaning depends on where, when or by whom they are used)

déjà vu noun [U] (from French) the feeling that you have previously experienced sth which is happening to you now: I had a strong sense of déjà vu as I entered the room.

dejected adj. unhappy and disappointed DESPONDENT: She looked so dejected when she lost the game.
dejectedly adv.: He stared dejectedly at his feet.

dejection noun [U] a feeling of unhappiness and disappointment: She sat in the corner in utter dejection.

de jure NAmE adj., adv. (from Latin, law) according to the law: He held power de jure and de facto (= both according to the law and in reality).compare DE FACTO

dekko NAmE noun
have a dekko (at sth) (old-fashioned, BrE, slang) to look (at sth): Let's have a dekko at your new car.
From the Hindi word for 'look!', used by the British army in India in the past.

delay noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a period of time when sb/sth has to wait because of a problem that makes sth slow or late: Commuters will face long delays on the roads today. We apologize for the delay in answering your letter. a delay of two hours/a two-hour delay Increased congestion and traffic delays are expected.
2 [C, U] a situation in which sth does not happen when it should; the act of delaying: There's no time for delay. Report it to the police without delay (= immediately).
verb
1 to not do sth until a later time or to make sth happen at a later time DEFER: [VN] The judge will delay his verdict until he receives medical reports on the offender. She's suffering a delayed reaction (= a reaction that did not happen immediately) to the shock. [V -ing] He delayed telling her the news, waiting for the right moment. [V] Don't delaycall us today! We can't delay much longer.
2 [VN] to make sb late or force them to do sth more slowly HOLD UP: Thousands of commuters were delayed for over an hour. The government is accused of using delaying tactics (= deliberately doing sth to delay a process, decision, etc.). What could have delayed him?

delectable adj.
1 (of food and drink) extremely pleasant to taste, smell or look at DELICIOUS: the delectable smell of freshly baked bread delectable chocolate truffles
2 (humorous) (of a person) very attractive: his delectable body Steve's latest girlfriend, the delectable Tara.

delectation noun [U] (formal or humorous) enjoyment or entertainment DELIGHT

delegate noun, verb
noun a person who is chosen or elected to represent the views of a group of people and vote and make decisions for them: The conference was attended by delegates from 56 countries.
verb
1 ~ (sth) (to sb) to give part of your work, power or authority to sb in a lower position than you: [V] Some managers find it difficult to delegate. [VN] The job had to be delegated to an assistant.
2 [VN to inf] [usually passive] to choose sb to do sth: I've been delegated to organize the Christmas party.

delegation noun
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who represent the views of an organization, a country, etc.: the Dutch delegation to the United Nations a delegation of teachers
2 [U] the process of giving sb work or responsibilities that would usually be yours: delegation of authority/decision-making

delete verb [VN] ~ sth (from sth) to remove sth that has been written or printed, or that has been stored on a computer: Your name has been deleted from the list. This command deletes files from the directory. (BrE) Mr/Mrs/Ms (delete as appropriate) Delete the word 'it' and insert 'them'.
deletion noun [U, C]: He made several deletions to the manuscript.

deleterious NAmE adj. (formal) harmful and damaging: the deleterious effect of stress on health

deli noun = DELICATESSEN

deliberate adj., verb
adj.
1 done on purpose rather than by accident INTENTIONAL, PLANNED: a deliberate act of vandalism The speech was a deliberate attempt to embarrass the government. UNINTENTIONAL
2 (of a movement or an action) done slowly and carefully: She spoke in a slow and deliberate way.
verb to think very carefully about sth, usually before making a decision: [V] The jury deliberated for five days before finding him guilty. They deliberated on whether to continue with the talks. [also V wh-]

deliberately adv.
1 done in a way that was planned, not by chance INTENTIONALLY, ON PURPOSE: She's been deliberately ignoring him all day.
2 slowly and carefully: He packed up his possessions slowly and deliberately.

deliberation noun
1 [U, C, usually pl.] the process of carefully considering or discussing sth: After ten hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of 'not guilty'. The deliberations of the committee are completely confidential.
2 [U] the quality of being slow and careful in what you say or do: She signed her name with great deliberation.

delicacy noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] the quality of being, or appearing to be, easy to damage or break: the delicacy of the fabric Her skin had the delicacy of a flower.
2 [U] the quality of being done carefully and gently: the delicacy of his touch
3 [U] very careful behaviour in a difficult situation so that nobody is offended TACT: She handled the situation with great sensitivity and delicacy.
4 [U] the fact that a situation is difficult and sb may be easily offended: I need to talk to you about a matter of some delicacy.
5 [C] a type of food considered to be very special in a particular place SPECIALITY: local delicacies Dr Jaffrey handed us a plate of dates: traditionally the delicacy with which to break the Ramadan fast.

delicate adj.
1 easily damaged or broken FRAGILE: delicate china teacups The eye is one of the most delicate organs of the body. the delicate ecological balance of the rainforest Babies have very delicate skin. a cool wash cycle for delicate fabrics
2 (of a person) not strong and easily becoming ill/sick: a delicate child/constitution His health had always been delicate.
3 small and having a beautiful shape or appearance: his delicate hands
4 made or formed in a very careful and detailed way: the delicate mechanisms of a clock
5 showing or needing skilful, careful or sensitive treatment: I admired your delicate handling of the situation. a delicate problem The delicate surgical operation took five hours.
6 (of colours, flavours and smells) light and pleasant; not strong SUBTLE: a delicate fragrance/flavour a river scene painted in delicate watercolours
delicately adv.: He stepped delicately over the broken glass. delicately balanced flavours

delicatessen (also deli) noun a shop/store or part of one that sells cooked meats and cheeses, and special or unusual foods that come from other countries

delicious adj.
1 having a very pleasant taste or smell: Who cooked this? It's delicious. a delicious alternative to cheese This dish is delicious with cream.
2 (literary) extremely pleasant or enjoyable: the delicious coolness of the breeze A delicious shiver of excitement ran through his body.
deliciously adv.: deliciously creamy soup The cream felt deliciously cool on my hot skin.

delight noun, verb
noun
1 [U] a feeling of great pleasure JOY: a feeling of sheer/pure delight The children squealed with delight when they saw the puppy. She won the game easily, to the delight of all her fans. He takes (great) delight in (= enjoys) proving others wrong. note at PLEASURE
2 [C] something that gives you great pleasure JOY: This guitar is a delight to play. the delights of living in the country the unrivalled culinary delights of the hotel
verb [VN] to give sb a lot of pleasure and enjoyment: This news will delight his fans all over the world.
delight in sth/doing sth [no passive] to enjoy doing sth very much, especially sth that makes other people feel embarrassed, uncomfortable, etc.

delighted adj. ~ (to do sth)| ~ (that ... )| ~ (by/at/with sth) very pleased: a delighted smile I'd be absolutely delighted to come. I was delighted that you could stay. She was delighted by/at the news of the wedding. I was delighted with my presents. 'Can you stay for dinner?' 'I'd be delighted (to)!' note at GLAD
delightedly adv.: She laughed delightedly.

delightful adj. very pleasant CHARMING: a delightful book/restaurant/town a delightful child note at WONDERFUL
delightfully adv.: The hotel is delightfully situated on the edge of the lake.

delimit verb [VN] (formal) to decide what the limits of sth are

delineate verb [VN] (formal) to describe, draw or explain sth in detail: Our objectives need to be precisely delineated. The ship's route is clearly delineated on the map.
delineation noun [U, C]

delinquency noun [U, C] (pl. -ies) bad or criminal behaviour, usually of young people: an increase in juvenile delinquency

delinquent adj.
1 (especially of young people or their behaviour) showing a tendency to commit crimes: delinquent teenagers
2 (NAmE, finance) having failed to pay money that is owed: a delinquent borrower
3 (NAmE, finance) (of a sum of money) not having been paid in time: a delinquent loan
delinquent nounsee also JUVENILE DELINQUENT

deliquesce verb [V] (formal)
1 to become liquid as a result of decaying
2 (chemistry) to become liquid as a result of absorbing water from the air
deliquescence noun [U]

delirious BrE adj.
1 in an excited state and not able to think or speak clearly, usually because of fever: He became delirious and couldn't recognize people. By the time she was rescued, she was delirious with cold and fear.
2 extremely excited and happy: The crowds were delirious with joy.
deliriously adv.

delirium BrE noun [U] a mental state where sb becomes delirious, usually because of illness: fits of delirium He mumbled in delirium all night.

delirium tremens BrE noun [U] (medical) = DTS

deliver verb
TAKE GOODS/LETTERS
1 ~ (sth) (to sb/sth) to take goods, letters, etc. to the person or people they have been sent to; to take sb somewhere: [VN] Leaflets have been delivered to every household. Do you have your milk delivered? [V] We promise to deliver within 48 hours.
GIVE SPEECH
2 [VN] to give a speech, talk, etc. or other official statement: She is due to deliver a lecture on genetic engineering. He delivered his lines confidently. The jury finally delivered its verdict.
KEEP PROMISE
3 ~ (on sth) to do what you promised to do or what you are expected to do; to produce or provide what people expect you to: [V] He has promised to finish the job by June and I am sure he will deliver. She always delivers on her promises. [VN] If you can't deliver improved sales figures, you're fired. The team delivered a stunning victory last night. Successive administrations have failed to deliver adequate funding for education. the failure of successive governments to deliver economic growth
GIVE TO SB'S CONTROL
4 [VN] ~ sb/sth (up/over) (to sb) (formal) to give sb/sth to sb else so that they are under this person's control: They delivered their prisoner over to the invading army.
BABY
5 [VN] ~ a baby to help a woman to give birth to a baby: The baby was delivered by Caesarean section.
6 [VN] be delivered of a baby (formal) to give birth to a baby: She was delivered of a healthy boy.
THROW
7 [VN] to throw or aim sth: He delivered the blow (= hit sb hard) with all his force.
RESCUE
8 [VN] ~ sb (from sth) (old use) to rescue sb from sth bad SAVE: Deliver us from evil.
see GOODS, SIGN v.

deliverable noun [usually pl.] a product that a company promises to have ready for a customer: computer software deliverables

deliverance noun [U] ~ (from sth) (formal) the state of being rescued from danger, evil or pain

delivery noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U, C] the act of taking goods, letters, etc. to the people they have been sent to: a delivery van Please pay for goods on delivery (= when you receive them). Allow 28 days for delivery. Is there a postal/mail delivery on Saturdays? (formal) When can you take delivery of (= be available to receive) the car? (figurative) the delivery of public services
2 [C, U] the process of giving birth to a baby: an easy/difficult delivery a delivery room/ward (= in a hospital, etc.)
3 [sing.] the way in which sb speaks, sings a song, etc. in public: The beautiful poetry was ruined by her poor delivery.
4 [C] a ball that is thrown, especially in CRICKET or BASEBALL: a fast delivery see CASH n.

dell noun (literary) a small valley with trees growing in or around it

delouse verb [VN] to remove LICE (= small insects) from sb's hair or from an animal's coat

Delphic adj.
1 relating to the ancient Greek ORACLE at Delphi (= the place where people went to ask the gods for advice or information about the future)
2 (often delphic) (formal) with a meaning that is deliberately hidden or difficult to understand: a delphic utterance

delphinium noun a tall garden plant with blue or white flowers growing up its STEM

DELTA noun [U] a British qualification from the University of Cambridge for experienced teachers of English as a foreign language (the abbreviation for 'Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults')

delta noun
1 the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet (, )
2 an area of land, shaped like a triangle, where a river has split into several smaller rivers before entering the sea: the Nile Delta

delta rays noun [pl.] (physics) RAYS of slow-moving PARTICLES which have been forced out of atoms by RADIATION

delta rhythm noun [C, U] (biology) the normal electrical activity of your brain when you are asleep

delta wing noun a single wing in the shape of a triangle on some aircraft, especially on military planes

deltoids (also informal delts ) noun [pl.] (anatomy) the thick triangle-shaped muscles that cover the shoulder joints

delude verb ~ sb/yourself (into doing sth) to make sb believe sth that is not true DECEIVE: [VN] Don't be deluded into thinking that we are out of danger yet. You poor deluded creature. He's deluding himself if he thinks it's going to be easy. [VN that] She had been deluding herself that he loved her.see also DELUSION

deluge noun, verb
noun [usually sing.]
1 a sudden very heavy fall of rain FLOOD: When the snow melts, the mountain stream becomes a deluge.
2 a large number of things that happen or arrive at the same time: a deluge of calls/complaints/letters
verb [VN]
1 ~ sb/sth (with sth) [usually passive] to send or give sb/sth a large number of things at the same time FLOOD, INUNDATE: We have been deluged with applications for the job. He was deluged with phone calls from friends and colleagues. Applicants deluged the office with calls.
2 [often passive] (formal) to flood a place with water: The campsite was deluged by a flash flood.

delusion noun
1 [C] a false belief or opinion about yourself or your situation: the delusions of the mentally ill Don't go getting delusions of grandeur (= a belief that you are more important than you actually are). He was suffering from paranoid delusions and hallucinations. Love can be nothing but a delusion.
2 [U] the act of believing or making yourself believe sth that is not true: He seems to have retreated into a world of fear and delusion.

delusive (also delusory ) adj. (formal) not real or true DECEPTIVE

de luxe adj. [usually before noun] of a higher quality and more expensive than usual LUXURY: a de luxe hotel The de luxe edition is bound in leather.

delve verb [V + adv. / prep.] to search for sth inside a bag, container, etc. DIG: She delved in her handbag for a pen.
delve into sth to try hard to find out more information about sth: She had started to delve into her father's distant past.

Dem. abbr. (in politics in the US) DEMOCRAT; DEMOCRATIC

demagogue NAmE noun (disapproving) a political leader who tries to win support by using arguments based on emotion rather than reason
demagogic NAmE adj. demagogy NAmE noun [U]

demand NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] ~ (for sth/that ... ) a very firm request for sth; sth that sb needs: a demand for higher pay demands that the law on gun ownership should be changed firms attempting to meet/satisfy their customers' demands (= to give them what they are asking for)
2 demands [pl.] ~ (of sth)| ~ (on sb) things that sb/sth makes you do, especially things that are difficult, make you tired, worried, etc.: the demands of children/work Flying makes enormous demands on pilots. She shouldn't always give in to his demands.
3 [U, C] ~ (for sth/sb) the desire or need of customers for goods or services which they want to buy or use: to meet the demand for a product There's an increased demand for organic produce these days. Demand is exceeding supply.
by popular demand because a lot of people have asked for sth: By popular demand, the play will run for another week.
in demand wanted by a lot of people: Good secretaries are always in demand.
on demand done or happening whenever sb asks: Feed the baby on demand. on-demand printing of bookssee also SUPPLY AND DEMAND
verb
1 to ask for sth very firmly: [VN] She demanded an immediate explanation. [V that] The UN has demanded that all troops be withdrawn. (BrE also) They are demanding that all troops should be withdrawn. [V to inf] I demand to see the manager. [V speech] 'Who the hell are you?' he demanded angrily. note at ASK
2 [VN] to need sth in order to be done successfully: This sport demands both speed and strength.

SYNONYMS

demand

require expect insist ask

These words all mean to say that sb should do or have sth.

demand to ask for sth very firmly; to say very firmly that sb should have or do sth: She demanded an immediate explanation.

require [often passive] (rather formal) to make sb do or have sth, especially because it is necessary according to a law or set of rules or standards: All candidates will be required to take a short test.

expect to demand that sb should do, have or be sth, especially because it is their duty or responsibility: I expect to be paid promptly for the work.

insist to demand that sth happens or that sb agrees to do sth: I didn't want to go but he insisted. We insist on the highest standards at all times.

ask to expect or demand sth: You're asking too much of him.

DEMAND, EXPECT OR ASK?

Ask is not as strong as demand or expect, both of which can be more like a command.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to demand/require/expect/ask sth of/from sb

to ask for sth

to demand/require/expect/insist/ask that

to require/expect/ask sb to do sth

to demand/require/expect/ask a lot/too much/a great deal

to be too much to expect/ask

demanding NAmE adj.
1 (of a piece of work) needing a lot of skill, patience, effort, etc.: The work is physically demanding. the most demanding challenge I have ever faced note at DIFFICULT
2 (of a person) expecting a lot of work or attention from others; not easily satisfied: a demanding boss/child My grandma became very demanding as she got older. UNDEMANDING

demarcate NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to mark or establish the limits of sth: Plots of land have been demarcated by barbed wire. The police demarcated the city into eighteen geographical divisions.

demarcation NAmE noun [U, C] a border or line that separates two things, such as types of work, groups of people or areas of land: It was hard to draw clear lines of demarcation between work and leisure. social demarcations

demean verb [VN]
1 ~ yourself to do sth that makes people have less respect for you: I wouldn't demean myself by asking for charity.
2 to make people have less respect for sb/sth DEGRADE: Such images demean women. Behaviour like this demeans politics.

demeaning adj. putting sb in a position that does not give them the respect that they should have HUMILIATING: He found it demeaning to work for his former employee.

demeanour (BrE) (NAmE demeanor) noun [U] (formal) the way that sb looks or behaves: He maintained a professional demeanour throughout.

demented adj.
1 (especially BrE) behaving in a crazy way because you are extremely upset or worried: I've been nearly demented with worry about you. The children have driven me demented today. He was crashing about the house like a demented animal.
2 (old-fashioned or medical) having a mental illness
dementedly adv.

dementia noun [U] (medical) a serious mental DISORDER caused by brain disease or injury, that affects the ability to think, remember and behave normallysee also SENILE DEMENTIA

demerara sugar NAmE noun [U] (BrE) a type of rough brown sugar

demerge NAmE verb [VN, V] (BrE, business) to separate a company into smaller companies, usually into the companies that had previously been joined together; to be split in this way

demerger NAmE noun [C, U] (BrE, business) the act of separating a company from a larger company, especially when they had previously been joined together

demerit noun (formal)
1 [usually pl.] a fault in sth or a disadvantage of sth: the merits and demerits of the scheme
2 (NAmE) a mark on sb's school record showing that they have done sth wrong: You'll get three demerits if you're caught smoking on school grounds.

demesne noun
1 (in the past) land attached to a MANOR (= large house) that was kept by the owners for their own use
2 (old use) a region or large area of land

demi- prefix (in nouns) half; partly: demigod

demigod NAmE noun
1 a minor god, or a BEING that is partly a god and partly human
2 a ruler or other person who is treated like a god

demijohn NAmE noun a very large bottle with a narrow opening at the top, for holding and transporting water, wine, etc.

demilitarize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] [usually passive] to remove military forces from an area: a demilitarized zone MILITARIZE
demilitarization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

demi-monde NAmE noun [sing.] (from French) people whose behaviour or beliefs prevent them from being fully accepted as part of the main group in society

demineralize verb [VN] to remove salts from water

demise noun [sing.]
1 the end or failure of an institution, an idea, a company, etc.
2 (formal or humorous) death: his imminent/sudden/sad demise

demi-sec adj. (from French) (of wine) fairly dry

demisemiquaver (BrE) (NAmE thirty-second note) noun (music) a note that lasts as long as half a SEMIQUAVER/SIXTEENTH NOTE

demist (BrE) (NAmE defog) verb [VN] to remove the CONDENSATION from a car's windows so that you can see clearly

demister noun a device, spray, etc. that removes CONDENSATION, especially from the windows of a car

demiurge NAmE noun (literary)
1 a BEING that is responsible for creating the world
2 a BEING that controls the part of the world which is not spiritual

demo NAmE noun (pl. -os) (informal)
1 (especially BrE) = DEMONSTRATION (1): They all went on the demo.
2 = DEMONSTRATION (2): I'll give you a demo.
3 a record or tape with an example of sb's music on it: a demo tape

demo- prefix (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) connected with people or population: democracy democratic

demob NAmE verb (-bb-) [VN] [usually passive] (BrE, informal) = DEMOBILIZE: He was demobbed in 1946.
demob noun [U] (BrE)

demobilize (BrE also -ise) NAmE (also BrE informal demob) verb [VN] to release sb from military service, especially at the end of a war: We were waiting to be demobilized. The army has demobilized 200 000 soldiers in the last two years.compare MOBILIZE
demobilization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

democracy NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] a system of government in which all the people of a country can vote to elect their representatives: parliamentary democracy the principles of democracy
2 [C] a country which has this system of government: Western democracies I thought we were supposed to be living in a democracy.
3 [U] fair and equal treatment of everyone in an organization, etc., and their right to take part in making decisions: the fight for justice and democracy

democrat noun
1 a person who believes in or supports democracy
2 Democrat (abbr. D, Dem.) a member or supporter of the Democratic party of the UScompare REPUBLICAN

democratic adj.
1 (of a country, state, system, etc.) controlled by representatives who are elected by the people of a country; connected with this system: a democratic country a democratic system democratic government They are aiming to make the institutions of the EU truly democratic. Exercise your democratic right to vote.
2 based on the principle that all members have an equal right to be involved in running an organization, etc.: democratic participation a democratic decision
3 based on the principle that all members of society are equal rather than divided by money or social class: a democratic society democratic reforms
4 Democratic (abbr. Dem., D) connected with the Democratic party in the US: the Democratic senator from Oregon
democratically adv.: a democratically elected government democratically controlled The decision was taken democratically.

the Democratic Party noun [sing.] one of the two main political parties in the US, usually considered to be in favour of social reformcompare THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

democratize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to make a country or an institution more democratic
democratization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

demographics noun [pl.] (statistics) data relating to the population and different groups within it: the demographics of radio listeners

demography NAmE noun [U] the changing number of births, deaths, diseases, etc. in a community over a period of time; the scientific study of these changes: the social demography of Africa
demographer NAmE noun demographic adj.: demographic changes/trends/factors

demolish NAmE verb [VN]
1 to pull or knock down a building: The factory is due to be demolished next year.
2 to destroy sth accidentally: The car had skidded across the road and demolished part of the wall.
3 to show that an idea or theory is completely wrong: A recent book has demolished this theory.
4 to defeat sb easily and completely: They demolished New Zealand 22-6 in the final.
5 (BrE, informal) to eat sth very quickly: The children demolished their burgers and chips.
demolition noun [U, C]: The whole row of houses is scheduled for demolition. His speech did a very effective demolition job on the government's proposals.

demolition derby noun (NAmE) = STOCK-CAR RACING

demon noun
1 an evil spirit: demons torturing the sinners in Hell
2 (informal) a person who does sth very well or with a lot of energy: He skis like a demon. He's a demon: he gets up early, he works out, he goes home early, he studies, he works out again ...
3 something that causes a person to worry and makes them unhappy: the demons of jealousy
the demon drink (BrE, humorous) alcoholic drink

demonic NAmE adj. connected with, or like, a demon (1): demonic forces a demonic appearance

demonize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to describe sb/sth in a way that is intended to make other people think of them or it as evil or dangerous: He was demonized by the right-wing press.
demonization, -isation noun [U]

demonstrable NAmE BrE adj. (formal) that can be shown or proved: a demonstrable need There is no demonstrable link between the two events.
demonstrably adv.: demonstrably unfair

demonstrate verb
1 ~ sth (to sb) to show sth clearly by giving proof or evidence: [V that] These results demonstrate convincingly that our campaign is working. [VN] Let me demonstrate to you some of the difficulties we are facing. [V wh-] His sudden departure had demonstrated how unreliable he was. [VN to inf] The theories were demonstrated to be false. [VN that] It has been demonstrated that this drug is effective.
2 [VN] to show by your actions that you have a particular quality, feeling or opinion DISPLAY: You need to demonstrate more self-control. We want to demonstrate our commitment to human rights.
3 ~ sth (to sb) to show and explain how sth works or how to do sth: [VN] Her job involves demonstrating new educational software. [also V wh-]
4 [V] ~ (against sth)| ~ (in favour/support of sth) to take part in a public meeting or march, usually as a protest or to show support for sth PROTEST: students demonstrating against the war They are demonstrating in favour of free higher education.

demonstration noun
1 (also informal demo especially in BrE) [C] ~ (against sb/sth) a public meeting or march at which people show that they are protesting against or supporting sb/sth: to take part in/go on a demonstration to hold/stage a demonstration mass demonstrations in support of the exiled leader anti-government demonstrations a peaceful/violent demonstrationcompare MARCH
2 (also informal demo) [C, U] an act of showing or explaining how sth works or is done: We were given a brief demonstration of the computer's functions. a practical demonstration a demonstration model (= a model used to show how sth works) We provide demonstration of videoconferencing over the Internet.
3 [C, U] an act of giving proof or evidence for sth: a demonstration of the connection between the two sets of figures a demonstration of how something that seems simple can turn out to be very complicated
4 [C] an act of showing a feeling or an opinion: a public demonstration of affection a demonstration of support for the reforms

demonstrative NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 showing feelings openly, especially feelings of affection: Some people are more demonstrative than others. a demonstrative greeting
2 (grammar) used to identify the person or thing that is being referred to: 'This' and 'that' are demonstrative pronouns.
noun (grammar) a demonstrative pronoun or determiner

demonstrator noun
1 a person who takes part in a public meeting or march in order to protest against sb/sth or to show support for sb/sth: Troops opened fire on the demonstrators. pro-democracy demonstrators
2 a person whose job is to show or explain how sth works or is done: He works as a demonstrator in anatomy at Wolfson College.

demoralize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN] [usually passive] to make sb lose confidence or hope DISHEARTEN: Constant criticism is enough to demoralize anybody.
demoralized, -isedadj.: The workers here seem very demoralized. demoralizing, -isingadj.: the demoralizing effects of unemployment demoralization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

demote NAmE verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sb (from sth) (to sth) to move sb to a lower position or rank, often as a punishment PROMOTE
demotion NAmE noun [C, U]

demotic NAmE adj. (formal) used by or typical of ordinary people: demotic language/speech

demotivate NAmE verb [VN] to make sb feel that it is not worth making an effort: Failure can demotivate students.
demotivating adj. demotivated adj. demotivation NAmE noun [U]

demur verb, noun
verb (-rr-) (formal) to say that you do not agree with sth or that you refuse to do sth: [V] At first she demurred, but then finally agreed. [also V speech]
noun
without demur (formal) without objecting or hesitating: They accepted without demur.

demure NAmE adj.
1 (of a woman or a girl) behaving in a way that does not attract attention to herself or her body; quiet and serious MODEST: a demure young lady
2 suggesting that a woman or girl is demure MODEST: a demure smile a demure navy blouse with a white collar
demurely adv.: 'I'll think about it,' she said demurely. The blouse had a demurely high neckline.

demystify verb (demystifies, demystifying, demystified, demystified) [VN] to make sth easier to understand and less complicated by explaining it in a clear and simple way
demystification noun [U]

den noun
1 the hidden home of some types of wild animal: a bear's/lion's den
2 (disapproving) a place where people meet in secret, especially for some illegal or immoral activity: a den of thieves a drinking/gambling den He thought of New York as a den of iniquity.
3 (NAmE) a room in a house where people go to relax, watch television, etc.
4 (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a room in a house where a person can work or study without being disturbed: He would often retire to his den.
5 a secret place, often made roughly with walls and a roof, where children play: They made themselves a den in the woods. see BEARD v., LION

denationalize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to sell a company or an industry so that it is no longer owned by the government PRIVATIZE NATIONALIZE
denationalization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

dendrite (also dendron NAmE ) noun (biology) a short branch at the end of a nerve cell, which receives signals from other cellscompare AXON
dendritic adj.: dendritic cells

dendrochronology NAmE noun [U] the study of the rings that appear each year in tree TRUNKS, used as a way of calculating the dates of particular events
dendrochronologist NAmE noun

dendrology NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of trees
dendrologist NAmE noun

dengue (also dengue fever, breakbone fever) noun [U] a disease caused by a virus carried by MOSQUITOES, that is found in tropical areas and causes fever and severe pain in the joints

denial noun
1 [C] ~ (of sth/that ... ) a statement that says sth is not true or does not exist: the prisoner's repeated denials of the charges against him The terrorists issued a denial of responsibility for the attack. an official denial that there would be an election before the end of the year
2 [C, U] (a) ~ of sth a refusal to allow sb to have sth they have a right to expect: the denial of basic human rights The advertising ban is a denial of freedom of speech.
3 [U] (psychology) a refusal to accept that sth unpleasant or painful is true: The patient is still in denial.

denier noun (especially BrE) a unit for measuring how fine threads of NYLON, silk, etc. are: 15 denier stockings

denigrate verb [VN] (formal) to criticize sb/sth unfairly; to say sb/sth does not have any value or is not important BELITTLE: I didn't intend to denigrate her achievements.
denigration noun [U]

denim noun
1 [U] a type of strong cotton cloth that is usually blue and is used for making clothes, especially jeans: a denim jacket
From the French serge de Nîmes, meaning serge (a type of cloth) from the town of Nîmes.
2 denims [pl.] (old-fashioned) trousers/pants made of denim JEANS

denitrify verb [VN] (denitrifying, denitrifies, denitrified) (chemistry) to remove NITRATES or NITRITES from sth, especially from soil, air or water
denitrification noun [U]

denizen noun (formal or humorous) a person, an animal or a plant that lives, grows or is often found in a particular place INHABITANT: polar bears, denizens of the frozen north the denizens of the local pub

denominate NAmE verb
1 [VN] to express an amount of money using a particular unit: The loan was denominated in US dollars.
2 (formal) [VNN] ~ sb (as) sth to give sth a particular name or description: These payments are denominated as 'fees' rather than 'salary'.

denomination NAmE noun (formal)
1 a branch of the Christian Church: Christians of all denominations attended the conference.
2 a unit of value, especially of money: coins and banknotes of various denominations

denominational NAmE adj. belonging to a particular branch of the Christian Church

denominator NAmE noun (mathematics) the number below the line in a FRACTION showing how many parts the whole is divided into, for example 4 in ¾compare NUMERATOR, COMMON DENOMINATOR

denotation NAmE noun (technical) the act of naming sth with a word; the actual object or idea to which the word referscompare CONNOTATION
denotational NAmE adj.

denote NAmE verb (formal)
1 to be a sign of sth INDICATE: [VN] A very high temperature often denotes a serious illness. [also V that]
2 to mean sth REPRESENT: [VN] In this example 'X' denotes the time taken and 'Y' denotes the distance covered. The red triangle denotes danger. Here 'family' denotes mother, father and children. [also V wh-] compare CONNOTE

denouement (also dénouement) NAmE noun (from French) the end of a play, book, etc., in which everything is explained or settled; the end result of a situation

denounce verb [VN]
1 ~ sb/sth (as sth) to strongly criticize sb/sth that you think is wrong, illegal, etc.: She publicly denounced the government's handling of the crisis. The project was denounced as a scandalous waste of public money.
2 ~ sb (as sth) to tell the police, the authorities, etc. about sb's illegal political activities: They were denounced as spies. Many people denounced their neighbours to the secret police.see also DENUNCIATION

dense adj. (denser, densest)
1 containing a lot of people, things, plants, etc. with little space between them: a dense crowd/forest areas of dense population
2 difficult to see through THICK: dense fog/smoke/fumes
3 (informal) stupid: How can you be so dense?
4 difficult to understand because it contains a lot of information: a dense piece of writing
5 (technical) heavy in relation to its size: Less dense substances move upwards to form a crust.
densely adv.: a densely populated area densely covered/packed

density noun (pl. -ities)
1 [U] the quality of being dense; the degree to which sth is dense: population density low density forest
2 [C, U] (physics) the thickness of a solid, liquid or gas measured by its mass per unit of volume: the density of a gas
3 [U] (computing) the amount of space available on a disk for recording data: a high/double density floppy

dent verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 to make a hollow place in a hard surface, usually by hitting it: The back of the car was badly dented in the collision.
2 to damage sb's confidence, reputation, etc.: It seemed that nothing could dent his confidence.
noun a hollow place in a hard surface, usually caused by sth hitting it: a large dent in the car door
make, etc. a dent in sth to reduce the amount of sth, especially money: The lawyer's fees will make a dent in our finances.

dental adj. [only before noun]
1 connected with teeth: dental disease/care/treatment/health a dental appointment dental records (BrE) a dental surgery (= where a dentist sees patients)
2 (phonetics) (of a consonant) produced with the tongue against the upper front teeth, for example and in thin and this

dental dam (also dam) noun
1 a small rubber sheet used by dentists to keep a tooth separate from the other teeth
2 a small rubber sheet used to protect the mouth during sex

dental floss (also floss) noun [U] a type of thread that is used for cleaning between the teeth

dental hygienist noun (especially NAmE) = HYGIENIST

dental surgeon noun (formal) = DENTIST

dentine (NAmE also dentin NAmE ) noun [U] (biology) the hard substance that forms the main part of a tooth under the ENAMEL

dentist noun
1 (also formal dental surgeon) a person whose job is to take care of people's teeth
2 dentist's a place where a dentist sees patients: an appointment at the dentist's

dentistry noun [U]
1 the medical study of the teeth and mouth
2 the work of a dentist: preventive dentistry

dentition noun [U, C] (technical) the arrangement or condition of a person's or animal's teeth

dentures NAmE noun [pl.] artificial teeth on a thin piece of plastic (= a PLATE), worn by sb who no longer has all their own teeth
denture adj.: denture adhesivecompare FALSE TEETH, PLATE n. (14)

denude NAmE verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (of sth) (formal) to remove the covering, features, etc. from sth, so that it is exposed: hillsides denuded of trees

denunciation noun [C, U] ~ (of sb/sth) an act of criticizing sb/sth strongly in public: an angry denunciation of the government's policies All parties joined in bitter denunciation of the terrorists.see also DENOUNCE

Denver boot NAmE noun (NAmE) = CLAMP (2)

deny
(WORD FAMILY: deny verb | denial noun | undeniable adj. ) verb (denies, denying, denied, denied)
1 to say that sth is not true: [VN] to deny a claim/a charge/an accusation The spokesman refused either to confirm or deny the reports. There's no denying (the fact) that quicker action could have saved them. [V -ing] He denies attempting to murder his wife. [V (that)] She denied (that) there had been any cover-up. [VN that] It can't be denied that we need to devote more resources to this problem.
2 [VN] to refuse to admit or accept sth: She denied all knowledge of the incident. The department denies responsibility for what occurred.
3 ~ sth (to sb)| ~ (sb) (sth) (formal) to refuse to allow sb to have sth that they want or ask for: [VNN, VN] They were denied access to the information. Access to the information was denied to them.
4 [VN] ~ yourself (sth) (formal) to refuse to let yourself have sth that you would like to have, especially for moral or religious reasons

deoch an doris (also doch an dorris) NAmE noun (ScotE, IrishE) a last alcoholic drink, usually WHISKY, before you leave

deodorant NAmE noun [C, U] a substance that people put on their bodies to prevent or hide unpleasant smells: (a) roll-on deodorantsee also ANTIPERSPIRANT

deontic NAmE adj. (linguistics) (of a word or sentence) expressing duty

dep. abbr. (in writing) DEPART(S); DEPARTUREcompare ARR.

depart NAmE verb (rather formal)
1 ~ (for ... ) (from ... ) to leave a place, especially to start a trip ARRIVE: [V] Flights for Rome depart from Terminal 3. She waited until the last of the guests had departed. [VN] (NAmE) The train departed Amritsar at 6.15 p.m.
2 (NAmE) to leave your job: [V] the departing president [VN] He departed his job December 16.see also DEPARTURE
depart this life to die. People say 'depart this life' to avoid saying 'die'.
depart from sth to behave in a way that is different from usual: Departing from her usual routine, she took the bus to work.

departed NAmE adj. [only before noun] (formal)
1 dead. People say 'departed' to avoid saying 'dead': your dear departed brother
2 the departednoun (pl. the departed) the person who has died

department NAmE noun (abbr. Dept) a section of a large organization such as a government, business, university, etc.: the Department of Trade and Industry the Treasury Department a government/university, etc. department the marketing/sales, etc. department the children's department (= in a large store) the English departmentsee also POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE STATE DEPARTMENT
be sb's department (informal) to be sth that sb is responsible for or knows a lot about: Don't ask me about itthat's her department.

departmental NAmE adj. [only before noun] connected with a department rather than with the whole organization: a departmental manager

department store noun a large shop/store that is divided into several parts, each part selling a different type of goods

departure NAmE noun
1 [C, U] ~ (from ... ) the act of leaving a place; an example of this: His sudden departure threw the office into chaos. Flights should be confirmed 48 hours before departure. They had received no news of him since his departure from the island. ARRIVAL
2 [C] a plane, train, etc. leaving a place at a particular time: arrivals and departures All departures are from Manchester. the departure lounge/time/gate the departures board ARRIVAL
3 [C] ~ (from sth) an action that is different from what is usual or expected: It was a radical departure from tradition. Their latest single represents a new departure for the band. see POINT n.

depend verb
depending on according to: Starting salary varies from £26 000 to £30 500, depending on experience. He either resigned or was sacked, depending on who you talk to.
that depends | it (all) depends used to say that you are not certain about sth because other things have to be considered: 'Is he coming?' 'That depends. He may not have the time.' I don't know if we can helpit all depends. I might not go. It depends how tired I am. 'Your job sounds fun.' 'It depends what you mean by 'fun'.' I shouldn't be too late. But it depends if the traffic's bad.
depend on/upon sb/sth
1 to rely on sb/sth and be able to trust them: He was the sort of person you could depend on. [+ to inf] He knew he could depend upon her to deal with the situation. note at TRUST
2 to be sure or expect that sth will happen COUNT ON: Depend upon it (= you can be sure) we won't give up. [+ -ing] Can we depend on you coming in on Sunday? (formal) You can depend on his coming in on Sunday. [+ to inf] (ironic) You can depend on her to be (= she always is) late.
depend on/upon sb/sth (for sth) (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to need money, help, etc. from sb/sth else for a particular purpose: The community depends on the shipping industry for its survival. I don't want to depend too much on my parents.
depend on/upon sth (not used in the progressive tenses) to be affected or decided by sth: Does the quality of teaching depend on class size? It would depend on the circumstances. [+ wh-] Whether we need more food depends on how many people turn up.

GRAMMAR POINT

depend on

In informal English, it is quite common to say depend rather than depend on before words like what, how or whether: It depends what you mean by 'hostile'. In formal written English, depend should always be followed by on or upon: It depends on how you define the term 'hostile'. Upon is more formal and less frequent than on.

dependable adj. that can be relied on to do what you want or need RELIABLE
dependability noun [U]

dependant (BrE) (also dependent NAmE, BrE) noun a person, especially a child, who depends on another person for a home, food, money, etc.: Married women receive only the basic pension as their husband's dependant.

dependence noun [U]
1 ~ (on/upon sb/sth) the state of needing the help and support of sb/sth in order to survive or be successful: his dependence on his parents Our relationship was based on mutual dependence. the dependence of Europe on imported foods financial/economic dependence INDEPENDENCE
2 (also dependency) the state of being ADDICTED to sth (= unable to stop taking or using it): drug/alcohol dependence
3 ~ of A and B (technical) the fact of one thing being affected by another: the close dependence of soil and landforms

dependency noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] ~ (on/upon sb/sth) the state of relying on sb/sth for sth, especially when this is not normal or necessary: financial dependency Their aim is to reduce people's dependency on the welfare state. the dependency culture (= a way of life on which people depend too much on money from the government)compare CODEPENDENCY
2 [C] a country, an area, etc. that is controlled by another country: The Orkney islands were formerly dependencies of Norway and Denmark.
3 = DEPENDENCE (2)

dependent adj., noun
adj.
1 ~ (on/upon sb/sth) (for sth) needing sb/sth in order to survive or be successful: a woman with several dependent children You can't be dependent on your parents all your life. The festival is heavily dependent on sponsorship for its success.
2 ~ on/upon sth ADDICTED to sth (= unable to stop taking or using it): to be dependent on drugs
3 ~ on/upon sth (formal) affected or decided by sth: A child's development is dependent on many factors. The price is dependent on how many extras you choose.
noun (especially NAmE) = DEPENDANT

dependent clause noun (grammar) = SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

dependent variable noun (mathematics) a VARIABLE whose value depends on another variable

depersonalize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN] [often passive] to make sth less personal so that it does not seem as if humans with feelings and personality are involved

depict verb ~ sb/sth (as sb/sth) (rather formal)
1 to show an image of sb/sth in a picture: [VN] a painting depicting the Virgin and Child [VN -ing] The artist had depicted her lying on a bed.
2 [VN] to describe sth in words, or give an impression of sth in words or with a picture: The novel depicts French society in the 1930s. The advertisements depict smoking as glamorous and attractive.
depiction noun [U, C]: They object to the movie's depiction of gay people.

depilator NAmE noun a device which removes hair from your body by pulling it out

depilatory NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a substance used for removing body hair
depilatory adj. [only before noun]: depilatory creams

deplane verb [V] (NAmE) to get off a plane DISEMBARK

deplete verb [VN] [usually passive] to reduce sth by a large amount so that there is not enough left: Food supplies were severely depleted.
depletion noun [U]: ozone depletion the depletion of fish stocks

deplorable adj. (formal) very bad and unacceptable, often in a way that shocks people APPALLING: a deplorable incident They were living in the most deplorable conditions. The acting was deplorable.
deplorably adv.: They behaved deplorably. deplorably high/low/bad

deplore verb [VN] (formal) to strongly disapprove of sth and criticize it, especially publicly: Like everyone else, I deplore and condemn this killing. He deplored the fact that these criminals were treated by many as heroes and martyrs.

deploy verb [VN]
1 (technical) to move soldiers or weapons into a position where they are ready for military action: 2000 troops were deployed in the area. At least 5 000 missiles were deployed along the border.
2 (formal) to use sth effectively: to deploy arguments/resources
deployment noun [U, C]: the deployment of peace keeping forces the deployment of resources/staff troop deployments

depopulate NAmE verb [VN] [usually passive] to reduce the number of people living in a place: Whole stretches of land were laid waste and depopulated.
depopulation NAmE noun [U]

deport NAmE verb [VN] to force sb to leave a country, usually because they have broken the law or because they have no legal right to be there: He was convicted of drug offences and deported.
deportation NAmE noun [C, U]: Several of the asylum seekers now face deportation. a deportation order

deportee NAmE noun a person who has been DEPORTED or is going to be deported

deportment NAmE noun [U] (formal)
1 (BrE) the way in which a person stands and moves: lessons for young ladies in deportment and etiquette He has good deportment. deportment classes
2 (old-fashioned, especially NAmE) the way in which a person behaves

depose NAmE verb [VN] to remove sb, especially a ruler, from power: The president was deposed in a military coup.

deposit NAmE noun, verb
noun
MONEY
1 [usually sing.] a ~ (on sth) a sum of money that is given as the first part of a larger payment: We've put down a 5% deposit on the house. They normally ask you to pay £100 (as a) deposit. All deposits are non-refundable. note at PAYMENT
2 [usually sing.] a sum of money that is paid by sb when they rent sth and that is returned to them if they do not lose or damage the thing they are renting: to pay a deposit They'll probably ask you to leave a deposit.
3 a sum of money that is paid into a bank account: Deposits can be made at any branch. WITHDRAWAL
4 (in the British political system) the amount of money that a candidate in an election to Parliament has to pay, and that is returned if he/she gets enough votes: All the other candidates lost their deposits.
SUBSTANCE
5 a layer of a substance that has formed naturally underground: mineral/gold/coal deposits
6 a layer of a substance that has been left somewhere, especially by a river, flood, etc., or is found at the bottom of a liquid: The rain left a deposit of mud on the windows. fatty deposits in the arteries of the heart glacial deposits
verb [VN]
PUT DOWN
1 [+adv./prep.] to put or lay sb/sth down in a particular place: She deposited a pile of books on my desk. (informal) I was whisked off in a taxi and deposited outside the hotel.
LEAVE SUBSTANCE
2 (especially of a river or a liquid) to leave a layer of sth on the surface of sth, especially gradually and over a period of time: Sand was deposited which hardened into sandstone.
MONEY
3 to put money into a bank account: Millions were deposited in Swiss bank accounts.
4 to pay a sum of money as the first part of a larger payment; to pay a sum of money that you will get back if you return in good condition sth that you have rented
PUT IN SAFE PLACE
5 ~ sth (in sth)| ~ sth (with sb/sth) to put sth valuable or important in a place where it will be safe: Guests may deposit their valuables in the hotel safe.

deposit account noun (BrE) a type of account at a bank or BUILDING SOCIETY that pays interest on money that is left in itcompare CURRENT ACCOUNT

deposition noun
1 [U, C] (technical) the natural process of leaving a layer of a substance on rocks or soil; a substance left in this way: marine/river deposition
2 [U, C] the act of removing sb, especially a ruler, from power: the deposition of the King
3 [C] (law) a formal statement, taken from sb and used in court

depositor NAmE noun a person who puts money in a bank account

depository NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a place where things can be stored

depot NAmE noun
1 a place where large amounts of food, goods or equipment are stored: an arms depot
2 (BrE) a place where vehicles, for example, buses are kept and repaired
3 (NAmE) a small station where trains or buses stop

deprave verb [VN] (formal) to make sb morally bad CORRUPT: In my view this book would deprave young children.

depraved adj. (formal) morally bad WICKED, EVIL: This is the work of a depraved mind.

depravity noun [U] (formal) the state of being morally bad WICKEDNESS: a life of depravity

deprecate verb [VN] (formal) to feel and express strong disapproval of sth
deprecating (also less frequent deprecatory NAmE ) adj.: a deprecating comment deprecatingly adv.

depreciate verb
1 [V] to become less valuable over a period of time: New cars start to depreciate as soon as they are on the road. Shares continued to depreciate on the stock markets today. APPRECIATE
2 [VN] (business) to reduce the value, as stated in the company's accounts, of a particular ASSET over a particular period of time: The bank depreciates PCs over a period of five years.
3 [VN] (formal) to make sth seem unimportant or of no value: I had no intention of depreciating your contribution.
depreciation noun [U]: currency depreciation the depreciation of fixed assets

depredation noun [usually pl.] (formal) acts that cause damage to people's property, lives, etc.

depress verb
1 to make sb sad and without enthusiasm or hope: [VN] Wet weather always depresses me. [VN to inf] It depresses me to see so many young girls smoking.
2 [VN] to make trade, business, etc. less active: The recession has depressed the housing market.
3 [VN] to make the value of prices or wages lower: to depress wages/prices
4 [VN] (formal) to press or push sth down, especially part of a machine: to depress the clutch pedal (= when driving).

depressant noun (medical) a drug which slows the rate of the body's functions

depressed adj.
1 very sad and without hope: She felt very depressed about the future.
2 suffering from the medical condition of DEPRESSION
3 (of a place or an industry) without enough economic activity or jobs for people: an attempt to bring jobs to depressed areas
4 having a lower amount or level than usual: depressed prices

depressing adj. making you feel very sad and without enthusiasm: a depressing sight/thought/experience Looking for a job these days can be very depressing.
depressingly adv.: a depressingly familiar experience

depression noun
1 [U] a medical condition in which a person feels very sad and anxious and often has physical SYMPTOMS such as being unable to sleep, etc.: clinical depression She suffered from severe depression after losing her job.see also POST-NATAL DEPRESSION, POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION
2 [U, C] the state of feeling very sad and without hope: There was a feeling of gloom and depression in the office when the news of the job cuts was announced.
3 [C, U] a period when there is little economic activity and many people are poor or without jobs: The country was in the grip of (an) economic depression. the great Depression of the 1930s
4 [C] (formal) a part of a surface that is lower than the parts around it HOLLOW: Rainwater collects in shallow depressions on the ground.
5 [C] (technical) a weather condition in which the pressure of the air becomes lower, often causing rain: an atmospheric depression moving east from the Atlanticcompare ANTICYCLONE

depressive adj., noun
adj. connected with the medical condition of depression: depressive illness
noun a person who is suffering from the medical condition of depressionsee also MANIC-DEPRESSIVE

depressor noun = TONGUE DEPRESSOR

depressurize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN, V] to release the pressure inside a container or vehicle; to be released in this way
depressurization, -isation noun [U]

deprivation noun [U] the fact of not having sth that you need, like enough food, money or a home; the process that causes this: neglected children suffering from social deprivation sleep deprivation the deprivation of war (= the suffering caused by not having enough of some things)

deprive verb
deprive sb/sth of sth to prevent sb from having or doing sth, especially sth important: They were imprisoned and deprived of their basic rights. Why should you deprive yourself of such simple pleasures?

deprived adj. without enough food, education, and all the things that are necessary for people to live a happy and comfortable life: a deprived childhood/background/area economically/emotionally/socially deprived note at POOR

Dept (also Dept. especially in NAmE) abbr. (in writing) department

depth noun
MEASUREMENT
1 [C, U] the distance from the top or surface to the bottom of sth: What's the depth of the water here? Water was found at a depth of 30 metres. They dug down to a depth of two metres. Many dolphins can dive to depths of 200 metres. The oil well extended several hundreds of feet in depth. the depth of a cut/wound/crack
2 [C, U] the distance from the front to the back of sth: The depth of the shelves is 30 centimetres.
OF FEELINGS
3 [U] the strength and power of feelings: the depth of her love
OF KNOWLEDGE
4 [U] (approving) the quality of knowing or understanding a lot of details about sth; the ability to provide and explain these details: a writer of great wisdom and depth a job that doesn't require any great depth of knowledge His ideas lack depth.
DEEPEST PART
5 [C, usually pl.] the deepest, most extreme or serious part of sth: the depths of the ocean to live in the depths of the country (= a long way from a town) in the depths of winter (= when it is coldest) She was in the depths of despair He gazed into the depths of her eyes. Her paintings reveal hidden depths (= unknown and interesting things about her character).
OF COLOUR
6 [U] the strength of a colour: Strong light will affect the depth of colour of your carpets and curtains.
PICTURE/PHOTOGRAPH
7 [U] (technical) the quality in a work of art or a photograph which makes it appear not to be flat
see also DEEP
in depth in a detailed and thorough way: I haven't looked at the report in depth yet. an in-depth study
be out of your depth
1 (BrE) to be in water that is too deep to stand in with your head above water: If you can't swim, don't go out of your depth.
2 to be unable to understand sth because it is too difficult; to be a situation that you cannot control: He felt totally out of his depth in his new job.more at PLUMB v.

depth charge noun a bomb that is set to explode underwater, used to destroy SUBMARINES

depth of field (also depth of focus) noun (technical) the distance between the nearest and the furthest objects that a camera can produce a clear image of at the same time

deputation noun [C+sing./pl. v.] a small group of people who are asked or allowed to act or speak for others

depute verb [VN to inf] [often passive] (formal) to give sb else the authority to represent you or do sth for you DELEGATE: He was deputed to put our views to the committee.

deputize (BrE also -ise) verb [V] ~ (for sb) to do sth that sb in a higher position than you would usually do: Ms Green has asked me to deputize for her at the meeting.

deputy noun (pl. -ies)
1 a person who is the next most important person below a business manager, a head of a school, a political leader, etc. and who does the person's job when he or she is away: I'm acting as deputy till the manager returns. the deputy head of a school
2 the name for a member of parliament in some countries
3 (in the US) a police officer who helps the SHERIFF of an area

deracinate verb [VN] (formal) to force sb to leave the place or situation in which they feel comfortable
deracinated adj.

derail verb (of a train) to leave the track; to make a train do this: [V] The train derailed and plunged into the river. [VN] (figurative) This latest incident could derail the peace process.
derailment noun [C, U]

derailleur noun (technical) a type of gear on a bicycle that works by lifting the chain from one gear wheel to another larger or smaller one

deranged adj. unable to behave and think normally, especially because of mental illness: mentally deranged a deranged attacker
derangement noun [U]: He seemed to be on the verge of total derangement.

derby NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 (NAmE) = BOWLER (2)
2 (BrE) a sports competition between teams from the same area or town: a local derby between the two North London sides a derby match
3 a race or sports competition: a motorcycle derbysee also DEMOLITION DERBY
4 Derby used in the name of several horse races which happen every year: the Epsom Derby the Kentucky Derby

dereference verb [VN] (computing) to use a piece of data to discover where another piece of data is held

deregulate verb [VN] [often passive] to free a trade, a business activity, etc. from rules and controls DECONTROL: deregulated financial markets
deregulation noun [U] deregulatory NAmE adj. [only before noun]: deregulatory reforms

derelict adj., noun
adj. (especially of land or buildings) not used or cared for and in bad condition: derelict land/buildings/sites The canal has been derelict for many years.
noun (formal) a person without a home, a job or property: derelicts living on the streets VAGRANT

dereliction noun (formal)
1 [U] the state of being derelict: industrial/urban dereliction a house in a state of dereliction
2 [U, sing.] ~ of duty (formal or law) the fact of deliberately not doing what you ought to do, especially when it is part of your job: The police officers were found guilty of serious dereliction of duty.

deride verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sb/sth (as sth) (formal) to treat sb/sth as ridiculous and not worth considering seriously MOCK: His views were derided as old-fashioned. The play was derided by the critics. [also V speech]

de rigueur adj. [not before noun] (from French) considered necessary if you wish to be accepted socially: Evening dress is de rigueur at the casino.

derision noun [U] a strong feeling that sb/sth is ridiculous and not worth considering seriously, shown by laughing in an unkind way or by making unkind remarks SCORN: Her speech was greeted with howls of derision. He became an object of universal derision.

derisive (also less frequent derisory) adj. unkind and showing that you think sb/sth is ridiculous: She gave a short, derisive laugh.
derisively adv.

derisory adj. (formal)
1 too small or of too little value to be considered seriously LAUGHABLE: They offered us a derisory £10 a week.
2 = DERISIVE

derivation noun [U, C] the origin or development of sth, especially a word: a word of Greek derivation

derivative noun, adj.
noun a word or thing that has been developed or produced from another word or thing: 'Happiness' is a derivative of 'happy'. Crack is a highly potent and addictive derivative of cocaine.
adj. (usually disapproving) copied from sth else; not having new or original ideas: a derivative design/style I found the novel thin and derivative. I had expected more.

derive verb
derive from sth| be derived from sth to come or develop from sth: The word 'politics' is derived from a Greek word meaning 'city'.
derive sth from sth
1 (formal) to get sth from sth: He derived great pleasure from painting.
2 (technical) to obtain a substance from sth: The new drug is derived from fish oil.

dermatitis NAmE noun [U] (medical) a skin condition in which the skin becomes red, swollen and sore

dermatologist NAmE noun a doctor who studies and treats skin diseases

dermatology NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of skin diseases
dermatological NAmE adj.

dermis NAmE noun [U] (biology) the skin

the dernier cri NAmE noun [sing.] (from French) the latest fashion

derogate verb [VN] (formal) to state that sth or sb is without worth
derogate from sth to ignore a responsibility or duty

derogation noun [U, C] (formal)
1 an occasion when a rule or law is allowed to be ignored
2 words or actions which show that sb or sth is considered to have no worth

derogatory NAmE adj. showing a critical attitude towards sb INSULTING: derogatory remarks/comments (formal) She indicated by her tone that this was only her private opinion and in no way derogatory of Colonel Ferguson.

derrick noun
1 a tall machine used for moving or lifting heavy weights, especially on a ship; a type of CRANE
2 a tall structure over an OIL WELL for holding the DRILL (= the machine that makes the hole in the ground for getting the oil out)

derring-do noun [U] (old-fashioned, humorous) brave actions, like those in adventure stories: tales of derring-do

dervish NAmE noun a member of a Muslim religious group whose members make a promise to stay poor and live without comforts or pleasures. They perform a fast lively dance as part of their worship: He threw himself around the stage like a whirling dervish.

desalination noun [U] the process of removing salt from sea water: a desalination plant

descale verb [VN] (BrE) to remove the SCALE (= the hard white material left on pipes, etc. by water when it is heated) from sth

descant noun (music) a tune that is sung or played at the same time as, and usually higher than, the main tune

descant recorder (BrE) (NAmE soprano recorder) noun (music) the most common size of RECORDER (= a musical instrument in the shape of a pipe that you blow into), with a high range of notes

descend verb
1 (formal) to come or go down from a higher to a lower level: [V] The plane began to descend. The results, ranked in descending order (= from the highest to the lowest) are as follows: [VN] She descended the stairs slowly. ASCEND
2 [V] (formal) (of a hill, etc.) to slope downwards: At this point the path descends steeply. ASCEND
3 [V] ~ (on/upon sb/sth) (literary) (of night, DARKNESS, a mood, etc.) to arrive and begin to affect sb/sth FALL: Night descends quickly in the tropics. Calm descended on the crowd.
be descended from sb to be related to sb who lived a long time ago: He claims to be descended from a Spanish prince.
descend into sth [no passive] (formal) to gradually get into a bad state: The country was descending into chaos.
descend on/upon sb/sth to visit sb/sth in large numbers, sometimes unexpectedly: Hundreds of football fans descended on the city.
descend to sth [no passive] to do sth that makes people stop respecting you: They descended to the level of personal insults.

descendant noun
1 a person's descendants are their children, their children's children, and all the people who live after them who are related to them: He was an O'Conor and a direct descendant of the last High King of Ireland. Many of them are descendants of the original settlers.
2 something that has developed from sth similar in the past

descent noun
1 [C, usually sing.] an action of coming or going down: The plane began its descent to Heathrow. (figurative) the country's swift descent into anarchy ASCENT
2 [C] a slope going downwards: There is a gradual descent to the sea. ASCENT
3 [U] ~ (from sb) a person's family origins ANCESTRY: to be of Scottish descent He traces his line of descent from the Stuart kings.

describe verb
1 ~ sb/sth (to/for sb)| ~ sb/sth (as sth) to say what sb/sth is like: [VN] Can you describe him to me? The man was described as tall and dark, and aged about 20. Jim was described by his colleagues as 'unusual'. The current political situation in Vietnam is described in chapter 8. [V wh-] Describe how you did it. [V -ing] Several people described seeing strange lights in the sky. [also VN -ing]
2 [VN] (formal or technical) to make a movement which has a particular shape; to form a particular shape: The shark described a circle around the shoal of fish. The road describes a long loop around the town.
describable adj.

description noun
1 [C, U] ~ (of sb/sth) a piece of writing or speech that says what sb/sth is like; the act of writing or saying in words what sb/sth is like: to give a detailed/full description of the procedure a brief/general description of the software Police have issued a description of the gunman. 'Scared stiff' is an apt description of how I felt at that moment. a personal pain that goes beyond description (= is too great to express in words) the novelist's powers of description note at REPORT
2 [C] of some, all, every, etc. ~ of some, etc. type: boats of every description/all descriptions Their money came from trade of some description. medals, coins and things of that description
answer/fit a description (of sb/sth) to be like a particular person or thing: A child answering the description of the missing boy was found safe and well in London yesterday.more at BEGGAR v.

descriptive adj.
1 saying what sb/sth is like; describing sth: the descriptive passages in the novel The term I used was meant to be purely descriptive (= not judging).
2 (linguistics) saying how language is actually used, without giving rules for how it should be used PRESCRIPTIVE

descriptor noun (linguistics) a word or expression used to describe or identify sth

descry verb (descries, descrying, descried, descried) [VN] (literary) to suddenly see sb or sth

desecrate verb [VN] to damage a holy thing or place or treat it without respect: desecrated graves
desecration noun [U]: the desecration of a cemetery (figurative) the desecration of the countryside by new roads

desegregate verb [VN] to end the policy of SEGREGATION in a place in which people of different races are kept separate in public places, etc.
desegregation noun [U]

deselect verb [VN]
1 if the local branch of a political party in Britain deselects the existing Member of Parliament, it does not choose him or her as a candidate at the next election
2 (computing) to remove sth from the list of possible choices on a computer menu
deselection noun [U]

desensitize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] [usually passive]
1 ~ sb/sth (to sth) to make sb/sth less aware of sth, especially a problem or sth bad, by making them become used to it: People are increasingly becoming desensitized to violence on television. Doctors and medical researchers have to become desensitised in order to do their jobs.
2 (technical) to treat sb/sth so that they will stop being sensitive to physical or chemical changes, or to a particular substance: There is no effective serum to desensitize people who are allergic to fleas.
desensitization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

desert noun, verb
noun NAmE see also DESERTS [C, U] a large area of land that has very little water and very few plants growing on it. Many deserts are covered by sand: the Sahara Desert Somalia is mostly desert. burning desert sands (figurative) a cultural desert (= a place without any culture)
verb NAmE
1 [VN] to leave sb without help or support ABANDON: She was deserted by her husband.
2 [VN] [often passive] to go away from a place and leave it empty ABANDON: The villages had been deserted. The owl seems to have deserted its nest.
3 to leave the armed forces without permission: [V] Large numbers of soldiers deserted as defeat became inevitable. [also VN]
4 [VN] to stop using, buying or supporting sth: Why did you desert teaching for politics?
5 [VN] if a particular quality deserts you, it is not there when you need it: Her courage seemed to desert her for a moment.
desertion NAmE noun [U, C]: She felt betrayed by her husband's desertion. The army was badly affected by desertions. see SINK v.

desert boot noun a SUEDE boot that just covers the ankle

deserted NAmE adj.
1 (of a place) with no people in it: deserted streets The office was completely deserted.
2 left by a person or people who do not intend to return ABANDONED: a deserted village deserted wives

deserter NAmE noun a person who leaves the army, navy, etc. without permission (= DESERTS)

desertification NAmE noun [U] (technical) the process of becoming or making sth a desert

desert island noun a tropical island where no people live

deserts NAmE noun [pl.]
sb's (just) deserts what sb deserves, especially when it is sth bad: The family of the victim said that the killer had got his just deserts when he was jailed for life.

deserve NAmE verb (not used in the progressive tenses) if sb/sth deserves sth, it is right that they should have it, because of the way they have behaved or because of what they are: [VN] You deserve a rest after all that hard work. The report deserves careful consideration. One player in particular deserves a mention. What have I done to deserve this? [V to inf] They didn't deserve to win. He deserves to be locked up for ever for what he did. [also V -ing]
sb deserves a medal (informal) used to say that you admire sb because they have done sth difficult or unpleasant: She deserves a medal for teaching those 5-year-olds all day!
get what you deserve | deserve all/everything you get (informal) used to say that you think sb has earned the bad things that happen to themmore at TURN n.

deservedly NAmE adv. in the way that is deserved; correctly: The restaurant is deservedly popular. He has just been chosen for the top job, and deservedly so.

deserving NAmE adj. ~ (of sth) (formal) that deserves help, praise, a reward, etc.: to give money to a deserving cause This family is one of the most deserving cases. an issue deserving of attention A distinction was made between the deserving and the undeserving poor. UNDESERVING

déshabillé (also dishabille ) noun [U] (formal or humorous) the state of wearing no clothes or very few clothes: in a state of déshabillé

desiccated adj.
1 (of food) dried in order to preserve it: desiccated coconut
2 (technical) completely dry: treeless and desiccated soil

desiccation noun [U] (technical) the process of becoming completely dry: The dramatic desiccation of North Africa is a perplexing phenomenon.

desideratum noun (pl. -ata ) (from Latin, formal) a thing that is wanted or needed

design noun, verb
noun
ARRANGEMENT
1 [U, C] the general arrangement of the different parts of sth that is made, such as a building, book, machine, etc.: The basic design of the car is very similar to that of earlier models. special new design features The machine's unique design prevents it from overheating. The magazine will appear in a new design from next month.
DRAWING/PLAN/MODEL
2 [U] the art or process of deciding how sth will look, work, etc. by drawing plans, making models, etc.: a course in art and design a design studio computer-aided design the design and development of new productssee also INTERIOR DESIGN
3 [C] ~ (for sth) a drawing or plan from which sth may be made: designs for aircraft new and original designs
PATTERN
4 [C] an arrangement of lines and shapes as a decoration PATTERN: floral/abstract/geometric designs The tiles come in a huge range of colours and designs.
INTENTION
5 [U, C] a plan or an intention: It happenedwhether by accident or designthat the two of them were left alone after all the others had gone. It is all part of his grand design.
have designs on sb (formal or humorous) to want to start a sexual relationship with sb: He was quite aware of her marital designs on him.
have designs on sth (formal) to be planning to get sth for yourself, often in a way that other people do not approve of: Rumours spread that the Duke had designs on the crown (= wanted to make himself king).
verb
DRAW PLANS
1 ~ sth (for sb/sth) to decide how sth will look, work, etc., especially by drawing plans or making models: [VN] to design a car/a dress/an office a badly designed kitchen He designed and built his own house. They asked me to design a poster for the campaign. [also VNN]
PLAN STH
2 [VN] to think of and plan a system, a way of doing sth, etc.: We need to design a new syllabus for the third year.
FOR SPECIAL PURPOSE
3 [usually passive] ~ sth (for sth)| ~ sth (as sth) to make, plan or intend sth for a particular purpose or use: [VN] The method is specifically designed for use in small groups. This course is primarily designed as an introduction to the subject. [VN to inf] The programme is designed to help people who have been out of work for a long time.

designate verb, adj.
verb [often passive]
1 ~ sth (as) sth| ~ sth (as being sth) to say officially that sth has a particular character or name; to describe sth in a particular way: [VN-N] This area has been designated (as) a National Park. This floor has been designated a no-smoking area. [VN] Several pupils were designated as having moderate or severe learning difficulties. a designated nature reserve designated seats for the elderly
2 ~ sb (as) sth to choose or name sb for a particular job or position: [VN] The director is allowed to designate his/her successor. [VN-N] Who has she designated (as) her deputy? [VN to inf] the man designated to succeed the president
3 [VN] to show sth using a particular mark or sign: The different types are designated by the letters A, B and C.
adj. [after noun] (formal) chosen to do a job but not yet having officially started it: an interview with the director designate

designated driver noun (informal) the person who agrees to drive and not drink alcohol when people go to a party, a bar, etc.

designated hitter noun (in BASEBALL) a player who is named at the start of the game as the person who will hit the ball in place of the PITCHER

designation noun (formal)
1 [U] ~ (as sth) the action of choosing a person or thing for a particular purpose, or of giving them or it a particular status: The district is under consideration for designation as a conservation area.
2 [C] a name, title or description: Her official designation is Financial Controller.

designer noun, adj.
noun a person whose job is to decide how things such as clothes, furniture, tools, etc. will look or work by making drawings, plans or patterns: a fashion/jeweller, etc. designer an industrial designer
adj. [only before noun] made by a famous designer; expensive and having a famous brand name: designer jeans designer labels designer water He had a trendy haircut, an earring and designer stubble (= a short beard, grown for two or three days and thought to look fashionable).

designer baby noun (used especially in newspapers) a baby that is born from an EMBRYO which was selected from a number of embryos produced using IVF, for example because the parents want a baby that can provide cells to treat a brother's or sister's medical condition

designer drug noun a drug produced artificially, usually one that is illegal: a tablet of the designer drug Ecstasy

desirable adj.
1 (formal) ~ (that) ...| ~ (for sb) (to do sth) that you would like to have or do; worth having or doing: (BrE) It is desirable that interest rates should be reduced. (NAmE) It is desirable that interest rates be reduced. highly desirable The house has many desirable features. It is no longer desirable for adult children to live with their parents. She chatted for a few minutes about the qualities she considered desirable in a secretary. Such measures are desirable, if not essential. UNDESIRABLE
2 (of a person) causing other people to feel sexual desire: She suddenly saw herself as a desirable young woman.
desirability noun [U] (formal): No one questions the desirability of cheaper fares.

desire noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] ~ (for sth)| ~ (to do sth) a strong wish to have or do sth: a strong desire for power enough money to satisfy all your desires She felt an overwhelming desire to return home. (formal) I have no desire (= I do not want) to discuss the matter further. (formal) He has expressed a desire to see you.
2 [U, C] ~ (for sb) a strong wish to have sex with sb: She felt a surge of love and desire for him.
3 [C, usually sing.] a person or thing that is wished for: When she agreed to marry him he felt he had achieved his heart's desire.
verb (not used in the progressive tenses)
1 (formal) to want sth; to wish for sth: [VN] We all desire health and happiness. The house had everything you could desire. The dessert can be topped with cream, if desired (= if you like). The medicine did not achieve the desired effect. [V to inf] Fewer people desire to live in the north of the country. [also VN to inf]
2 to be sexually attracted to sb: [VN] He still desired her.
leave a lot, much, something, etc. to be desired to be bad or unacceptable: The service in the restaurant left a lot to be desired.

desirous adj. [not before noun] ~ (of sth/of doing sth)| ~ (to do sth) (formal) having a wish for sth; wanting sth: At that point Franco was desirous of prolonging the war.

desist verb [V] ~ (from sth/from doing sth) (formal) to stop doing sth: They agreed to desist from the bombing campaign.

desk noun
1 a piece of furniture like a table, usually with drawers in it, that you sit at to read, write, work, etc.: He used to be a pilot but now he has a desk job.
2 a place where you can get information or be served at an airport, a hotel, etc.: the check-in desk the reception desksee also CASH DESK, FRONT DESK
3 an office at a newspaper, television company, etc. that deals with a particular subject: the sports desksee also CITY DESK, NEWS DESK

desk clerk noun (NAmE) = CLERK

deskill verb [VN] (technical) to reduce the amount of skill that is needed to do a particular job
deskilling noun [U]

desktop NAmE noun
1 the top of a desk
2 a screen on a computer which shows the ICONS of the programs that can be used
3 = DESKTOP COMPUTER

desktop computer (also desktop) noun a computer with a keyboard, screen and main processing unit, that fits on a deskcompare LAPTOP, NOTEBOOK

desktop publishing noun [U] (abbr. DTP) the use of a small computer and a printer to produce a small book, a magazine, or other printed material

desolate adj., verb
adj.
1 (of a place) empty and without people, making you feel sad or frightened: a bleak and desolate landscape
2 very lonely and unhappy FORLORN: The thought that her husband did not want the baby made her feel utterly desolate.
verb [VN] [usually passive] (literary) to make sb feel sad and without hope: She had been desolated by the death of her friend.

desolation noun [U] (formal)
1 the feeling of being very lonely and unhappy: Her death left him with a terrible sense of desolation.
2 the state of a place that is ruined or destroyed and offers no joy or hope to people: a scene of utter desolation

despair NAmE noun, verb
noun [U] the feeling of having lost all hope: She uttered a cry of despair. A deep sense of despair overwhelmed him. He gave up the struggle in despair. One harsh word would send her into the depths of despair. Eventually, driven to despair, he threw himself under a train.see also DESPERATE
be the despair of sb to make sb worried or unhappy, because they cannot help: My handwriting was the despair of my teachers.more at COUNSEL n.
verb [V] ~ (of sth/sb)| ~ (of doing sth) to stop having any hope that a situation will change or improve: Don't despair! We'll think of a way out of this. They'd almost despaired of ever having children. I despair of him; he can't keep a job for more than six months.

despairing NAmE adj. showing or feeling the loss of all hope: a despairing cry/look/sigh With every day that passed he became ever more despairing.
despairingly adv.: She looked despairingly at the mess.

despatch (BrE) = DISPATCH

desperado NAmE noun (pl. -oes or -os) (old-fashioned) a man who does dangerous and criminal things without caring about himself or other people

desperate adj.
1 feeling or showing that you have little hope and are ready to do anything without worrying about danger to yourself or others: The prisoners grew increasingly desperate. Stores are getting desperate after two years of poor sales. Somewhere out there was a desperate man, cold, hungry, hunted. I heard sounds of a desperate struggle in the next room.
2 [usually before noun] (of an action) giving little hope of success; tried when everything else has failed: a desperate bid for freedom She clung to the edge in a desperate attempt to save herself. His increasing financial difficulties forced him to take desperate measures. Doctors were fighting a desperate battle to save the little girl's life.
3 [not usually before noun] ~ (for sth)| ~ (to do sth) needing or wanting sth very much: He was so desperate for a job he would have done anything. I was absolutely desperate to see her. (informal) I'm desperate for a cigarette.
4 (of a situation) extremely serious or dangerous: The children are in desperate need of love and attention. They face a desperate shortage of clean water.
desperately adv.: desperately ill/unhappy/lonely He took a deep breath, desperately trying to keep calm. They desperately wanted a child. She looked desperately around for a weapon.

desperation noun [U] the state of being desperate: In desperation, she called Louise and asked for her help. There was a note of desperation in his voice. an act of sheer desperation

despicable rarely adj. (formal) very unpleasant or evil: a despicable act/crime I hate you! You're despicable.

despise verb [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) to dislike and have no respect for sb/sth: She despised gossip in any form. He despised himself for being so cowardly. note at HATE

despite /dspat/ prep.
1 used to show that sth happened or is true although sth else might have happened to prevent it IN SPITE OF: Her voice was shaking despite all her efforts to control it. Despite applying for hundreds of jobs, he is still out of work. She was good at physics despite the fact that she found it boring.
2 despite yourself used to show that sb did not intend to do the thing mentioned IN SPITE OF: He had to laugh despite himself.

despoil verb [VN] ~ sth (of sth) (literary) to steal sth valuable from a place; to make a place less attractive by damaging or destroying it PLUNDER

despond NAmE noun [U] SLOUGH OF DESPOND

despondent NAmE adj. ~ (about sth)| (especially NAmE) ~ (over sth) sad, without much hope DEJECTED: She was becoming increasingly despondent about the way things were going. There are times when it is hard not to feel despondent.
despondency NAmE noun [U]: a mood of despondency Life's not all gloom and despondency. despondently adv.

despot NAmE noun a ruler with great power, especially one who uses it in a cruel way: an enlightened despot (= one who tries to use his/her power in a good way)
despotic NAmE adj.: despotic power/rule

despotism noun [U] the rule of a despot

des res noun [usually sing.] (BrE, humorous) an attractive house, especially a large one (from the words 'desirable residence')

dessert NAmE noun [U, C] sweet food eaten at the end of a meal: What's for dessert? a rich chocolate dessert a dessert wine (BrE) the dessert trolley (= a table on wheels from which you choose your dessert in a restaurant)compare AFTERS, PUDDING, SWEET

dessertspoon NAmE noun
1 a spoon of medium size
2 (also dessertspoonful ) the amount a dessertspoon can hold

destabilize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to make a system, country, government, etc. become less firmly established or successful: Terrorist attacks were threatening to destabilize the government. The news had a destabilizing effect on the stock market.compare STABILIZE
destabilization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

destination noun, adj.
noun a place to which sb/sth is going or being sent: popular holiday destinations like the Bahamas to arrive at/reach your destination Our luggage was checked all the way through to our final destination.
adj. ~ hotel/store/restaurant, etc. a hotel, store, etc. that people will make a special trip to visit

destination wedding noun a wedding held in an exciting or unusual place in a foreign country where all the people who travel to the wedding can also have a holiday/vacation

destined adj. (formal)
1 ~ for sth| ~ to do sth having a future which has been decided or planned at an earlier time, especially by FATE: He was destined for a military career, like his father before him. We seem destined never to meet.
2 ~ for on the way to or intended for a place BOUND FOR: goods destined for Poland

destiny noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] what happens to sb or what will happen to them in the future, especially things that they cannot change or avoid: the destinies of nations He wants to be in control of his own destiny. The contemporary hero is one who stands out against the crowd to fulfil a personal destiny.
2 [U] the power believed to control events FATE: I believe there's some force guiding uscall it God, destiny or fate. note at LUCK

destitute NAmE adj.
1 without money, food and the other things necessary for life: When he died, his family was left completely destitute.
2 the destitutenoun [pl.] people who are destitute
3 ~ of sth (formal) lacking sth: They seem destitute of ordinary human feelings.
destitution NAmE noun [U]: homelessness and destitution

destock NAmE verb [V, VN] (BrE, business) to reduce the amount of goods in a shop/store, the amount of materials kept available for making sth in a factory, etc.

de-stress verb [V, VN] to relax after working hard or experiencing stress; to reduce the amount of stress that you experience: De-stress yourself with a relaxing bath.

destroy
(WORD FAMILY: destroy verb | destroyer noun | destruction noun | destructive adj. | indestructible adj. ) verb [VN]
1 to damage sth so badly that it no longer exists, works, etc.: The building was completely destroyed by fire. They've destroyed all the evidence. Heat gradually destroys vitamin C. You have destroyed my hopes of happiness. Failure was slowly destroying him (= making him less and less confident and happy).
2 to kill an animal deliberately, usually because it is sick or not wanted: The injured horse had to be destroyed.see also SOUL-DESTROYING

destroyer noun
1 a small fast ship used in war, for example to protect larger ships
2 a person or thing that destroys: Sugar is the destroyer of healthy teeth.

destruction noun [U] the act of destroying sth; the process of being destroyed: the destruction of the rainforests weapons of mass destruction a tidal wave bringing death and destruction in its wake The central argument is that capitalism sows the seeds of its own destruction (= creates the forces that destroy it).

destructive adj. causing destruction or damage: the destructive power of modern weapons the destructive effects of anxiety Opencast coal mining is among the most environmentally destructive activities carried out in Wales.compare CONSTRUCTIVE
destructively adv. destructiveness noun [U]

desultory NAmE adj. (formal) going from one thing to another, without a definite plan and without enthusiasm: I wandered about in a desultory fashion. a desultory conversation
desultorily adv.

Det abbr. (BrE) (in writing) DETECTIVE: Det Insp (= Inspector) Cox

detach verb
1 ~ (sth) (from sth) to remove sth from sth larger; to become separated from sth: [VN] Detach the coupon and return it as soon as possible One of the panels had become detached from the main structure. [V] The skis should detach from the boot if you fall.compare ATTACH
2 [VN] ~ yourself (from sb/sth) (formal) to leave or separate yourself from sb/sth: She detached herself from his embrace. (figurative) I tried to detach myself from the reality of these terrible events. A figure in white detached itself from the shadows.
3 [VN] (technical) to send a group of soldiers, etc. away from the main group, especially to do special duties: Five destroyers were detached to carry out a bombardment of the port.

detachable adj. that can be taken off REMOVABLE: a coat with a detachable hood

detached adj.
1 (of a house) not joined to another house on either sidecompare SEMI-DETACHED
2 showing a lack of feeling INDIFFERENT: She wanted him to stop being so cool, so detached, so cynical.
3 (approving) not influenced by other people or by your own feelings IMPARTIAL: a detached observer

detachment noun
1 [U] the state of not being involved in sth in an emotional or personal way: He answered with an air of detachment. She felt a sense of detachment from what was going on. INVOLVEMENT
2 [U] (approving) the state of not being influenced by other people or by your own feelings: In judging these issues a degree of critical detachment is required.
3 [C] a group of soldiers, ships, etc. sent away from a larger group, especially to do special duties: a detachment of artillery
4 [U] the act of detaching sth; the process of being detached from sth: to suffer detachment of the retina

detail US noun, verb
noun
FACTS/INFORMATION
1 [C] a small individual fact or item; a less important fact or item: an expedition planned down to the last detail He stood still, absorbing every detail of the street. Tell me the main points now; leave the details till later.
2 [U] the small facts or features of sth, when you consider them all together: This issue will be discussed in more detail in the next chapter. The research has been carried out with scrupulous attention to detail. He had an eye for detail (= noticed and remembered small details). The fine detail of the plan has yet to be worked out.
3 details [pl.] information about sth: Please supply the following details: name, age and sex. Further details and booking forms are available on request. They didn't give any details about the game. 'We had a terrible time' 'Oh, spare me the details (= don't tell me any more).'
SMALL PARTS
4 [C, U] a small part of a picture or painting; the smaller or less important parts of a picture, pattern, etc. when you consider them all together: This is a detail from the 1844 Turner painting. a huge picture with a lot of detail in it
SOLDIERS
5 [C] a group of soldiers given special duties
go into detail(s) to explain sth fully: I can't go into details now; it would take too long.
verb
GIVE FACTS/INFORMATION
1 [VN] to give a list of facts or all the available information about sth: The brochure details all the hotels in the area and their facilities.
ORDER SOLDIER
2 [often passive] to give an official order to sb, especially a soldier, to do a particular task: [VN to inf] Several of the men were detailed to form a search party. [also VN]
CLEAN CAR
3 [VN] (NAmE) to clean a car extremely thoroughly: He got work for a while detailing cars.

detailed NAmE adj. giving many details and a lot of information; paying great attention to details: a detailed description/analysis/study He gave me detailed instructions on how to get there.

detailing NAmE noun [U] small details put on a building, piece of clothing, etc., especially for decoration

detain verb [VN]
1 to keep sb in an official place, such as a police station, a prison or a hospital, and prevent them from leaving: One man has been detained for questioning.
2 (formal) to delay sb or prevent them from going somewhere: I'm sorryhe'll be late; he's been detained at a meeting.see also DETENTION

detainee noun a person who is kept in prison, usually because of his or her political opinions note at PRISONER

detect verb [VN] to discover or notice sth, especially sth that is not easy to see, hear, etc.: The tests are designed to detect the disease early. an instrument that can detect small amounts of radiation Do I detect a note of criticism? note at NOTICE
detectable adj.: The noise is barely detectable by the human ear. UNDETECTABLE

detection noun [U] the process of detecting sth; the fact of being detected: crime prevention and detection Last year the detection rate for car theft was just 13%. Many problems, however, escape detection. Early detection of cancers is vitally important.

detective noun (abbr. Det)
1 a person, especially a police officer, whose job is to examine crimes and catch criminals: Detective Inspector (Roger) Brown detectives from the anti-terrorist squad a detective story/novelsee also STORE DETECTIVE
2 a person employed by sb to find out information about sb/sthsee also PRIVATE DETECTIVE

detector noun a piece of equipment for discovering the presence of sth, such as metal, smoke, EXPLOSIVES or changes in pressure or temperature: a smoke detector

détente (also detente especially in NAmE) noun [U] (from French, formal) an improvement in the relationship between two or more countries which have been unfriendly towards each other in the past: a new international climate of détente

detention noun
1 [U] the state of being kept in a place, especially a prison, and prevented from leaving: a sentence of 12 months' detention in a young offender institution police powers of arrest and detention allegations of torture and detention without trial a detention camp
2 [U, C] the punishment of being kept at school for a time after other students have gone home: They can't give me (a) detention for this.see also DETAIN

detention centre (BrE) (NAmE detention center) noun
1 a place where young people who have committed offences are kept in detention
2 a place where people are kept in detention, especially people who have entered a country illegally

deter verb (-rr-) ~ sb (from sth/from doing sth) to make sb decide not to do sth or continue doing sth, especially by making them understand the difficulties and unpleasant results of their actions: [VN] I told him I wasn't interested, but he wasn't deterred. The high price of the service could deter people from seeking advice. [also V] see also DETERRENT

detergent NAmE noun [U, C] a liquid or powder that helps remove dirt, for example from clothes or dishes

deteriorate NAmE verb [V] ~ (into sth) to become worse: Her health deteriorated rapidly, and she died shortly afterwards. deteriorating weather conditions The discussion quickly deteriorated into an angry argument.
deterioration NAmE noun [U, C]: a serious deterioration in relations between the two countries

determinable NAmE adj. (formal) that can be found out or calculated: During the third month of pregnancy the sex of the child becomes determinable.

determinant NAmE noun (formal) a thing that decides whether or how sth happens

determinate NAmE adj. (formal) fixed and definite: a sentence with a determinate meaning INDETERMINATE

determination NAmE noun
1 [U] ~ (to do sth) the quality that makes you continue trying to do sth even when this is difficult: fierce/grim/dogged determination He fought the illness with courage and determination. I admire her determination to get it right. They had survived by sheer determination.
2 [U] (formal) the process of deciding sth officially: factors influencing the determination of future policy
3 [U, C] (technical) the act of finding out or calculating sth: Both methods rely on the accurate determination of the pressure of the gas.

determine NAmE verb (formal)
1 to discover the facts about sth; to calculate sth exactly ESTABLISH: [VN] An inquiry was set up to determine the cause of the accident. [V wh-] We set out to determine exactly what happened that night. [also VN that]
2 to make sth happen in a particular way or be of a particular type: [VN] Age and experience will be determining factors in our choice of candidate. Upbringing plays an important part in determining a person's character. [also V wh-]
3 to officially decide and/or arrange sth: [VN] A date for the meeting has yet to be determined. [V (that)] The court determined (that) the defendant should pay the legal costs.
4 ~ on sth/to do sth to decide definitely to do sth: [V to inf] They determined to start early. [also V, V (that)]

determined NAmE adj.
1 [not before noun] ~ (to do sth) if you are determined to do sth, you have made a firm decision to do it and you will not let anyone prevent you: I'm determined to succeed.
2 showing a person's determination to do sth: a determined effort to stop smoking The proposal had been dropped in the face of determined opposition. see BOUND adj.
determinedly adv.

determiner NAmE noun (grammar) (abbreviation det. in this dictionary) a word such as the, some, my, etc. that comes before a noun to show how the noun is being used

determinism NAmE noun [U] (philosophy) the belief that people are not free to choose what they are like or how they behave, because these things are decided by their surroundings and other things over which they have no control
deterministic NAmE adj.

deterrent NAmE noun ~ (to sb/sth) a thing that makes sb less likely to do sth (= that deters them): Hopefully his punishment will act as a deterrent to others. the country's nuclear deterrents (= nuclear weapons that are intended to stop an enemy from attacking)
deterrence NAmE noun [U] (formal): His view is that prison sentences must be long enough to satisfy the requirements both of retribution and deterrence. deterrent adj.: a deterrent effect

detest verb (not used in the progressive tenses) to hate sb/sth very much LOATHE: [VN] They detested each other on sight. [also V -ing] note at HATE
detestation noun [U]

detestable adj. that deserves to be hated: All terrorist crime is detestable, whoever the victims. 'You're detestable!' she said, shaking.

dethrone NAmE verb [VN] to remove a king or queen from power; to remove sb from a position of authority or power

detonate verb to explode, or to make a bomb or other device explode: [V] Two other bombs failed to detonate. [also VN]

detonation noun [C, U] an explosion; the action of making sth explode

detonator noun a device for making sth, especially a bomb, explode

detour NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a longer route that you take in order to avoid a problem or to visit a place: We had to make a detour around the flooded fields. It's well worth making a detour to see the village.
2 (NAmE) = DIVERSION
verb (NAmE) ~ (to ... ) to take a longer route in order to avoid a problem or to visit a place; to make sb/sth take a longer route: [V] The President detoured to Chicago for a special meeting. [also VN]

detox NAmE noun [U] (informal)
1 the process of removing harmful substances from your body by only eating and drinking particular things: a 28-day detox plan
2 = DETOXIFICATION: a detox clinic He's gone into detox.

detoxification NAmE (also informal detox NAmE ) noun [U] treatment given to people to help them stop drinking alcohol or taking drugs: a detoxification unit

detoxify NAmE verb (detoxifies, detoxifying, detoxified, detoxified) [VN]
1 to remove harmful substances or poisons from sth
2 to treat sb in order to help them stop drinking too much alcohol or taking drugs

detract verb
detract from sth| detract sth from sth (not used in the progressive tenses) to make sth seem less good or enjoyable TAKE AWAY FROM: He was determined not to let anything detract from his enjoyment of the trip.

detractor noun [usually pl.] (especially formal) a person who tries to make sb/sth seem less good or valuable by criticizing it: Detractors claim the building will be ugly and impractical.

detrain verb [V, VN] (formal) to leave a train or make sb leave a train

detriment noun [U, C, usually sing.] (formal) the act of causing harm or damage; sth that causes harm or damage: Wood accounts for 90% of energy production in some countries, with consequent environmental detriment.
to the detriment of sb/sth | to sb/sth's detriment resulting in harm or damage to sb/sth: He was engrossed in his job to the detriment of his health.
without detriment (to sb/sth) not resulting in harm or damage to sb/sth: This tax cannot be introduced without detriment to people's living standards.

detrimental adj. ~ (to sb/sth) harmful DAMAGING: the sun's detrimental effect on skin The policy will be detrimental to the peace process.
detrimentally adv.

detritus noun [U]
1 (technical) natural waste material that is left after sth has been used or broken up: organic detritus from fish and plants
2 (formal) any kind of rubbish/garbage that is left after an event or when sth has been used DEBRIS: the detritus of everyday life

de trop NAmE adj. [not before noun] (from French, formal) not wanted, especially in a social situation with other people: She deliberately tried to exclude David from the conversation and show him how de trop he was.

detumescence NAmE noun [U] (formal) a gradual reduction in swelling, especially in a PENIS that was in a state of sexual excitement
detumescent NAmE adj.

deuce NAmE noun
1 [U, C] (in TENNIS) the situation when both players have 40 as a score, after which one player must win two points one after the other in order to win the game
2 [C] (NAmE) a PLAYING CARD with two PIPS on it: the deuce of clubs
3 the deuce [sing.] (old-fashioned, informal) used in questions to show that you are annoyed: What the deuce is he doing?

deuced NAmE adj. [only before noun] (old use) used for emphasizing feelings, especially anger, disappointment, or surprise: The man's a deuced fool!
deuced adv.: It's deuced awkward.

deurmekaar NAmE adj. (SAfrE, informal) in a confused state

deus ex machina noun [sing.] (literary) an unexpected power or event that saves a situation that seems without hope, especially in a play or novel

deuterium NAmE NAmE noun [U] (symb D) (chemistry) an ISOTOPE (= a different form) of HYDROGEN with twice the mass of the usual isotope

Deutschmark NAmE (also mark) noun (abbr. DM) the former unit of money in Germany (replaced in 2002 by the euro)

devalue verb
1 [V, VN] ~ (sth) (against sth) (finance) to reduce the value of the money of one country when it is exchanged for the money of another country REVALUE
2 [VN] to give a lower value to sth, making it seem less important than it really is: Work in the home is often ignored and devalued.
devaluation noun [C, U]: There has been a further small devaluation against the dollar.

Devanagari noun [U] the alphabet used to write Sanskrit, Hindi and some other Indian languages

devastate verb [VN]
1 to completely destroy a place or an area: The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city.
2 [often passive] to make sb feel very shocked and sad

devastated adj. extremely upset and shocked: His family is absolutely devastated.

devastating adj.
1 causing a lot of damage and destruction DISASTROUS: a devastating explosion/fire/cyclone Oil spills are having a devastating effect on coral reefs in the ocean. He received devastating injuries in the accident. It will be a devastating blow to the local community if the factory closes.
2 extremely shocking to a person: the devastating news that her father was dead
3 impressive and powerful: his devastating performance in the 100 metres Her smile was devastating. a devastating attack on the President's economic record
devastatingly adv.: a devastatingly handsome man The play was devastatingly funny.

devastation noun [U] great destruction or damage, especially over a wide area: The bomb caused widespread devastation. The cost of the devastation could run to £6 million.

develop verb
GROW BIGGER/STRONGER
1 ~ (sth) (from sth) (into sth) to gradually grow or become bigger, more advanced, stronger, etc.; to make sth do this: [V] The child is developing normally. The place has rapidly developed from a small fishing community into a thriving tourist resort. [VN] She developed the company from nothing.
NEW IDEA/PRODUCT
2 [VN] to think of or produce a new idea, product, etc. and make it successful: The company develops and markets new software. A new type of painkilling drug has recently been developed. note at MAKE
DISEASE/PROBLEM
3 to begin to have sth such as a disease or a problem; to start to affect sb/sth: [VN] Her son developed asthma when he was two. The car developed engine trouble and we had to stop. [also V]
HAPPEN/CHANGE
4 [V] to start to happen or change, especially in a bad way: A crisis was rapidly developing in the Gulf. We need more time to see how things develop before we take action.
BECOME BETTER
5 to start to have a skill, ability, quality, etc. that becomes better and stronger; to become better and stronger: [VN] He's developed a real flair for management. [V] Their relationship has developed over a number of years.
BUILD HOUSES
6 [VN] to build new houses, factories, etc. on an area of land, especially land that was not being used effectively before: The site is being developed by a French company.
IDEA/STORY
7 [VN] to make an idea, a story, etc. clearer by explaining it further ELABORATE ON: She develops the theme more fully in her later books.
PHOTOGRAPHS
8 [VN] to treat film which has been used to take photographs with chemicals so that the pictures can be seen: I had the film developed yesterday.

developed adj.
1 (of a country, society, etc.) having many industries and a complicated economic system: financial aid to less developed countries The average citizen in the developed world uses over 155kg of paper per year.compare UNDERDEVELOPED
2 in an advanced state: children with highly developed problem-solving skillssee also WELL DEVELOPED

developer noun
1 [C] a person or company that buys land or buildings in order to build new houses, shops/stores, etc., or to improve the old ones, and makes a profit from doing this: property developers
2 [C] a person or a company that designs and creates new products: a software developer
3 [U] a chemical substance that is used for developing photographs from a film

developing adj. [only before noun] (of a country, society, etc.) poor, and trying to make its industry and economic system more advanced: developing countries/nations/economies People in many developing countries are free of forms of cancer that are common in the West.compare UNDERDEVELOPED

development noun
GROWTH
1 [U] the gradual growth of sth so that it becomes more advanced, stronger, etc.: a baby's development in the womb the development of basic skills such as literacy and numeracy career development
NEW PRODUCT
2 [U, C] the process of producing or creating sth new or more advanced; a new or advanced product: the development of vaccines against tropical diseases developments in aviation technology This piece of equipment is an exciting new development.see also RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
NEW EVENT
3 [C] a new event or stage that is likely to affect what happens in a continuing situation: the latest developments in the war Are there further developments in the investigation?
NEW BUILDINGS
4 [C] a piece of land with new buildings on it: a commercial/business/housing developmentsee also RIBBON DEVELOPMENT
5 [U] the process of using an area of land, especially to make a profit by building on it, etc.: He bought the land for development.

developmental adj.
1 in a state of developing or being developed: The product is still at a developmental stage.
2 connected with the development of sb/sth: developmental psychology

development area noun (BrE) an area where new industries are encouraged in order to create jobs

deviant adj. different from what most people consider to be normal and acceptable: deviant behaviour/sexuality
deviant noun: sexual deviants deviance , deviancy noun [U]: a study of social deviance and crime

deviate verb [V] ~ (from sth) to be different from sth; to do sth in a different way from what is usual or expected: The bus had to deviate from its usual route because of a road closure. He never deviated from his original plan.

deviation noun ~ (from sth)
1 [U, C] the act of moving away from what is normal or acceptable; a difference from what is expected or acceptable: deviation from the previously accepted norms sexual deviation a deviation from the plan Modern examples of this type of weaving showed little deviation from traditional patterns.
2 [C] (technical) the amount by which a single measurement is different from the average: a compass deviation of 5° (= from true north)see also STANDARD DEVIATION

device noun
1 an object or a piece of equipment that has been designed to do a particular job: a water-saving device This portable device enables deaf people to telephone the hospital by typing a message instead of speaking. electrical labour-saving devices around the home
2 a bomb or weapon that will explode: A powerful device exploded outside the station. the world's first atomic device
3 a method of doing sth that produces a particular result or effect: Sending advertising by email is very successful as a marketing device.
4 a plan or trick that is used to get sth that sb wants: The report was a device used to hide rather than reveal problems.
leave sb to their own devices to leave sb alone to do as they wish, and not tell them what to do

devil noun
1 the Devil (in the Christian, Jewish and Muslim religions) the most powerful evil BEING SATAN: He would sell his soul to the Devil.
2 an evil spirit: They believed she was possessed by devils.
3 (informal) a person who behaves badly, especially a child: a naughty little devil
4 (informal) used to talk about sb and to emphasize an opinion that you have of them: I miss the old devil, now that he's gone. She's off to Greece for a monthlucky devil! James was a handsome devil and rich, too.
be a devil (BrE) people say Be a devil! to encourage sb to do sth that they are not sure about doing: Go on, be a devil, buy both of them.
better the devil you know (than the devil you don't) (saying) used to say that it is easier and wiser to stay in a bad situation that you know and can deal with rather than change to a new situation which may be much worse
between the devil and the deep blue sea in a difficult situation where there are two equally unpleasant or unacceptable choices
the devil (old-fashioned) very difficult or unpleasant: These berries are the devil to pick because they're so small.
the devil looks after his own (saying) bad people often seem to have good luck
the devil makes work for idle hands (saying) people who do not have enough to do often start to do wrong: She blamed the crimes on the local jobless teenagers. 'The devil makes work for idle hands,' she would say.
a devil of a job/time (old-fashioned) a very difficult or unpleasant job or time: I've had a devil of a job finding you.
go to the devil! (old-fashioned, informal) used, in an unfriendly way, to tell sb to go away
like the devil (old-fashioned, informal) very hard, fast, etc.: We ran like the devil.
speak/talk of the devil (informal) people say speak/talk of the devil when sb they have been talking about appears unexpectedly: Well, speak of the devilhere's Alice now!
what, where, who, why, etc. the devil ... (old-fashioned) used in questions to show that you are annoyed or surprised: What the devil do you think you're doing?more at PAY v.

devilish adj.
1 cruel or evil: a devilish conspiracy
2 morally bad, but in a way that people find attractive: He was handsome, with a devilish charm.

devilishly adv. (old-fashioned) extremely; very: a devilishly hot day

devilled (BrE) (US deviled) adj. cooked in a thick liquid containing hot spices

devil-may-care adj. [usually before noun] cheerful and not worrying about the future: a devil-may-care attitude to life

devilment (also devilry ) noun (formal) wild behaviour that causes trouble MISCHIEF

devil's advocate noun a person who expresses an opinion that they do not really hold in order to encourage a discussion about a subject: Often the interviewer will need to play devil's advocate in order to get a discussion going.

devious adj.
1 behaving in a dishonest or indirect way, or tricking people, in order to get sth DECEITFUL, UNDERHAND: a devious politician He got rich by devious means.
2 ~ route/path a route or path that is not straight but has many changes in direction; not direct: a devious route from the airport
deviously adv. deviousness noun [U]

devise verb [VN] to invent sth new or a new way of doing sth THINK UP: A new system has been devised to control traffic in the city.

devoice verb [VN] (phonetics) to make a speech sound, usually a consonant, VOICELESS

devoid adj. ~ of sth completely lacking in sth: The letter was devoid of warmth and feeling.

devolution NAmE noun [U] the act of giving power from a central authority or government to an authority or a government in a local region

devolve NAmE verb
devolve on/upon sb/sth (formal)
1 if property, money, etc. devolves on/upon you, you receive it after sb else dies
2 if a duty, responsibility, etc. devolves on/upon you, it is given to you by sb at a higher level of authority
devolve sth to/on/upon sb to give a duty, responsibility, power, etc. to sb who has less authority than you: The central government devolved most tax-raising powers to the regional authorities.

devolved NAmE adj. if power or authority is devolved, it has been passed to sb who has less power: devolved responsibility a system of devolved government

devote NAmE verb
devote yourself to sb/sth to give most of your time, energy, attention, etc. to sb/sth: She devoted herself to her career.
devote sth to sth to give an amount of time, attention, etc. to sth: I could only devote two hours a day to the work.

devoted NAmE adj. ~ (to sb/sth) having great love for sb/sth and being loyal to them: They are devoted to their children. a devoted son/friend/fan note at LOVE
devotedly adv.

devotee noun ~ (of sb/sth)
1 a person who admires and is very enthusiastic about sb/sth: a devotee of science fiction He's been a golf devotee for 25 years.
2 a very religious person who belongs to a particular group: devotees of Krishna

devotion NAmE noun ~ (to sb/sth)
1 [U, sing.] great love, care and support for sb/sth: His devotion to his wife and family is touching.
2 [U, sing.] the action of spending a lot of time or energy on sth DEDICATION: her devotion to duty Her devotion to the job left her with very little free time.
3 devotions [pl.] prayers and other religious practices

devotional NAmE adj. (of music, etc.) connected with or used in religious services

devour verb [VN]
1 to eat all of sth quickly, especially because you are very hungry GOBBLE UP: He devoured half of his burger in one bite.
2 to read or look at sth with great interest and enthusiasm: She devoured everything she could lay her hands on: books, magazines and newspapers.
3 (formal) to destroy sb/sth ENGULF: Flames devoured the house.
be devoured by sth to be filled with a strong emotion that seems to control you: She was devoured by envy and hatred.

devout adj. (of a person) believing strongly in a particular religion and obeying its laws and practices: a devout Christian/Muslim
devoutly adv.: a devoutly Catholic region She devoutly (= very strongly) hoped he was telling the truth.

dew NAmE noun [U] the very small drops of water that form on the ground, etc. during the night: The grass was wet with early morning dew.

dewberry NAmE NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a small soft black or blue-black fruit like a BLACKBERRY, or the bush that it grows on

dewdrop NAmE noun a small drop of dew or other liquid

Dewey decimal classification NAmE (also Dewey system) noun [sing.] an international system for arranging books in a library

dew point noun [sing.] (technical) the temperature at which air can hold no more water. Below this temperature the water comes out of the air in the form of drops.

dewy NAmE adj. wet with DEW

dewy-eyed adj. (disapproving) showing emotion about sth, perhaps with a few tears in the eyes SENTIMENTAL: She gets slightly dewy-eyed as she talks about her early days in show business.

dexterity noun [U] skill in using your hands or your mind: You need manual dexterity to be good at video games. mental/verbal dexterity

dexterous (also dextrous) adj. (formal) skilful with your hands; skilfully done
dexterously (also dextrously) adv.

dextrose NAmE noun [U] (chemistry) a form of GLUCOSE (= a type of natural sugar)

DfES abbr. (in Britain) Department for Education and Skills

dhal (also dal) noun [U] a S Asian dish made from LENTILS or other PULSES (= seeds from certain plants)

dhania noun [U] (EAfrE, IndE, SAfrE) the leaves or seeds of the CORIANDER plant, used to flavour food

dhansak noun an Indian meat or vegetable dish cooked with LENTILS and CORIANDER

dharma NAmE noun [U] (in Indian religion) truth or law that affects the whole universe

dharna NAmE noun (IndE)
1 an act of lying flat on the floor with your face down as an act of worship in a TEMPLE
2 a form of protest in which a group of people refuse to leave a factory, public place, etc.

Dharuk noun [U] an Aboriginal language of the area around Sydney, Australia, which is no longer spoken

dhoti NAmE noun a long piece of cloth worn by Hindu men. It is sometimes tied round the waist, with the lower part passed between the legs and put into the cloth at the back, so that the knees are usually covered.

dhow noun an Arab ship with one large sail in the shape of a triangle

dhurrie (also durrie) noun a heavy cotton RUG (= small carpet) from S Asia

DI abbr. Detective Inspector (a British police officer of middle rank): DI Ross

di- combining form (chemistry) (in nouns that are names of chemical COMPOUNDS) containing two atoms or groups of the type mentioned: carbon dioxide

diabetes noun [U] a medical condition caused by a lack of INSULIN, which makes the patient produce a lot of URINE and feel very thirsty

diabetic adj., noun
adj.
1 having or connected with diabetes: She's diabetic. a diabetic patient diabetic complications
2 suitable for or used by sb who has diabetes: a diabetic diet
noun a person who suffers from DIABETES

diabolical NAmE adj.
1 (informal, especially BrE) extremely bad or annoying TERRIBLE: The traffic was diabolical.
2 (also less frequent diabolic NAmE ) morally bad and evil; like a DEVIL
diabolically adv.

diachronic NAmE adj. (technical) relating to the way sth, especially a language, has developed over timecompare SYNCHRONIC

diacritic noun (linguistics) a mark such as an accent, placed over, under or through a letter in some languages, to show that the letter should be pronounced in a different way from the same letter without a mark
diacritical adj.: diacritical marks

diadem noun a crown, worn especially as a sign of royal power

diaeresis (BrE) (US dieresis) (pl. diaereses, diereses ) noun (technical) the mark placed over a vowel to show that it is pronounced separately, as in naïve

diagnose NAmE verb ~ sb (as/with) (sth)| ~ sth (as sth) to say exactly what an illness or the cause of a problem is: [VN] The test is used to diagnose a variety of diseases. The illness was diagnosed as cancer. He has recently been diagnosed with angina. [VN-N] He was diagnosed (as) a diabetic when he was 64. [also V, VN-ADJ]

diagnosis NAmE noun [C, U] (pl. diagnoses ) ~ (of sth) the act of discovering or identifying the exact cause of an illness or a problem: diagnosis of lung cancer They are waiting for the doctor's diagnosis. An accurate diagnosis was made after a series of tests.

diagnostic NAmE adj., noun
adj. [usually before noun] (technical) connected with identifying sth, especially an illness: to carry out diagnostic assessments/tests specific conditions which are diagnostic of AIDS
noun (computing)
1 (also diagnostic program) [C] a program used for identifying a computer fault
2 [C] a message on a computer screen giving information about a fault
3 diagnostics [U] the practice or methods of DIAGNOSIS (= finding out what is wrong with a person who is ill/sick)

diagonal adj., noun
adj. (of a straight line) at an angle; joining two opposite sides of sth at an angle: diagonal stripes
diagonally adv.: Walk diagonally across the field to the far corner and then turn left.
noun a straight line that joins two opposite sides of sth at an angle; a straight line that is at an angle

diagram noun a simple drawing using lines to explain where sth is, how sth works, etc.: a diagram of the wiring system The results are shown in diagram 2.
diagrammatic adj. diagrammatically adv.

dial noun, verb
noun
1 the face of a clock or watch, or a similar control on a machine, piece of equipment or vehicle that shows a measurement of time, amount, speed, temperature, etc.: an alarm clock with a luminous dial Check the tyre pressure on the dial.see also SUNDIAL
2 the round control on a radio, cooker/stove, etc. that you turn in order to adjust sth, for example to choose a particular station or to choose a particular temperature
3 the round part on some older telephones, with holes for the fingers, that you move around to call a particular number
verb (-ll-, NAmE -l-) to use a telephone by pushing buttons or turning the dial to call a number: [VN] He dialled the number and waited. Dial 0033 for France. [also V]

dialect noun [C, U] the form of a language that is spoken in one area with grammar, words and pronunciation that may be different from other forms of the same language: the Yorkshire dialect dialect words/expressionscompare ACCENT, IDIOLECT
dialectal adj.: There are dialectal differences from one area of the country to another.

dialectic noun [sing.] (also less frequent dialectics [U])
1 (philosophy) a method of discovering the truth of ideas by discussion and logical argument and by considering ideas that are opposed to each other
2 (formal) the way in which two aspects of a situation affect each other
dialectical adj.

dialectical materialism noun [U] (philosophy) the Marxist theory that all change results from opposing social forces, which come into conflict because of material needs

dialectology NAmE noun [U] (linguistics) the study of dialects
dialectologist noun

dialler (BrE) (NAmE dialer) noun a computer program or piece of equipment which calls telephone numbers automatically

dialling code (also code) noun (BrE) the numbers that are used for a particular town, area or country, in front of an individual telephone number: international dialling codescompare AREA CODE

dialling tone (BrE) (NAmE dial tone) noun the sound that you hear when you pick up a telephone that means you can make a call

dialog box (BrE also dialogue box) noun a box that appears on a computer screen asking the user to choose what they want to do next: Select an option from the dialog box.

dialogue (NAmE also dialog) NAmE noun [C, U]
1 conversations in a book, play, or film/movie: The novel has long descriptions and not much dialogue. dialogues for language learners note at DISCUSSION
2 a formal discussion between two groups or countries, especially when they are trying to solve a problem, end a disagreement, etc.: The President told waiting reporters there had been a constructive dialogue.compare MONOLOGUE

dial-up adj. [only before noun] using a telephone line and a MODEM to connect your computer to the Internet

dialysis noun [U] (technical) a process for separating substances from a liquid, especially for taking waste substances out of the blood of people with damaged KIDNEYS: kidney/renal dialysis a dialysis machine

diamanté NAmE adj. decorated with glass that is cut to look like diamonds: diamanté earrings

diamantine adj. (technical)
1 made from, or looking like, diamonds
2 very hard or strong

diameter noun
1 a straight line going from one side of a circle or any other round object to the other side, passing through the centre: the diameter of a tree trunk The dome is 42.3 metres in diameter. compare RADIUS
2 (technical) a measurement of the power of an instrument to MAGNIFY sth: a lens magnifying 300 diameters (= making sth look 300 times larger than it really is).

diametrical adj. [usually before noun]
1 used to emphasize that people or things are completely different: He's the diametrical opposite of his brother.
2 relating to the DIAMETER of sth

diametrically adv. ~ opposed/opposite completely different: We hold diametrically opposed views.

diamond noun
1 [U, C] a clear PRECIOUS STONE of pure CARBON, the hardest substance known. Diamonds are used in jewellery and also in industry, especially for cutting glass: a ring with a diamond in it a diamond ring/necklace She was wearing her diamonds (= jewellery with diamonds in it). The lights shone like diamonds.see also ROUGH DIAMOND
2 [C] a shape with four straight sides of equal length and with angles that are not RIGHT ANGLES
3 diamonds [pl., U] one of the four SUITS (= sets) in a PACK/DECK of cards. The cards are marked with red diamond shapes: the ten of diamonds Diamonds are/is trumps.
4 [C] a card of this SUIT: You must play a diamond if you have one.
5 [C] (in BASEBALL) the space inside the lines that connect the four BASES; also used to mean the whole BASEBALL field

diamond in the rough noun (NAmE) = ROUGH DIAMOND

diamond jubilee noun [usually sing.] the 60th anniversary of an important event, especially of sb becoming king/queen; a celebration of this eventcompare GOLDEN JUBILEE, SILVER JUBILEE

diamond wedding (BrE) (NAmE diamond anniversary) (also diamond wedding anniversary NAmE, BrE) noun the 60th anniversary of a wedding: Grandma and Grandpa are celebrating their diamond wedding this year.compare GOLDEN WEDDING, RUBY WEDDING, SILVER WEDDING

diamorphine NAmE noun [U] a powerful drug that is made from OPIUM and used to reduce pain

diapason noun an organ STOP that produces a full loud sound

diaper NAmE noun (NAmE) = NAPPY: a diaper rash

diaphanous adj. (formal) (of cloth) so light and fine that you can almost see through it

diaphragm noun
1 (anatomy) the layer of muscle between the lungs and the stomach, used especially to control breathing
2 (BrE also cap) a rubber or plastic device that a woman places inside her VAGINA before having sex to prevent SPERM from entering the WOMB and making her pregnant
3 any thin piece of material used to separate the parts of a machine, etc.
4 (technical) a thin disc used to turn electronic signals into sound and sound into electronic signals in telephones, LOUDSPEAKERS, etc.

diarist noun a person who writes a diary, especially one that is later published: Samuel Pepys, the famous 17th century diarist

diarrhoea (BrE) (NAmE diarrhea) NAmE (also informal the runs) noun [U] an illness in which waste matter is emptied from the BOWELS much more frequently than normal, and in liquid form: Symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting.

diary noun (pl. -ies)
1 (BrE) (NAmE datebook) a book with spaces for each day of the year in which you can write down things you have to do in the future: a desk diary I'll make a note of our next meeting in my diary.
2 a book in which you can write down the experiences you have each day, your private thoughts, etc.: Do you keep a diary (= write one regularly)? The writer's letters and diaries are being published next year.see also JOURNAL, VIDEO DIARY note at AGENDA

diaspora noun [sing.] (formal)
1 the diaspora the movement of the Jewish people away from their own country to live and work in other countries
2 the movement of people from any nation or group away from their own country

diastole noun (medical) the stage of the heart's rhythm when its muscles relax and the heart fills with bloodcompare SYSTOLE
diastolic NAmE adj.

diatomic NAmE adj. (chemistry) consisting of two atoms

diatonic NAmE adj. (music) using only the notes of the appropriate MAJOR or MINOR SCALEcompare CHROMATIC

diatribe noun ~ (against sb/sth) (formal) a long and angry speech or piece of writing attacking and criticizing sb/sth: He launched a bitter diatribe against the younger generation.

diazepam noun [U] (medical) a drug that is used to make people feel less anxious and more relaxed

dibs
dibs on ... (NAmE) = BAGS (I) ... at BAG v.

dice noun, verb
noun (pl. dice)
1 (also die especially in NAmE) [C] a small CUBE of wood, plastic, etc., with a different number of spots on each of its sides, used in games of chance: a pair of dice to roll/throw/shake the dice (figurative) It was a last desperate throw of the dice to save his marriage.
2 [U] a game played with dice: We played dice all night.
no dice (informal, especially NAmE) used to show that you refuse to do sth, or that sth cannot be done: 'Did you get that job?' 'No dice.'more at LOAD v.
verb [VN] to cut meat, vegetables, etc. into small square pieces: diced carrots
dice with death (informal) to risk your life by doing sth that you know is dangerous

dicey adj. (informal) uncertain and dangerous RISKY: The fog made driving pretty dicey.

dichotomy NAmE noun [usually sing.] (pl. -ies) ~ (between A and B) (formal) the separation that exists between two groups or things that are completely opposite to and different from each other

dick noun (taboo, slang)
1 a man's PENIS
2 = DICKHEADsee also CLEVER DICK

dickens noun the dickens (old-fashioned, informal)
1 used in questions instead of 'devil' to show that you are annoyed or surprised: Where the dickens did he go?
2 (NAmE) used when you are saying how attractive, etc. sb is: cute as the dickens

Dickensian adj. connected with or typical of the novels of Charles Dickens, which often describe social problems and bad social conditions: a Dickensian slum

dicker verb [V] ~ (with sb) (over sth) (especially NAmE) to argue about or discuss sth with sb, especially in order to agree on a price BARGAIN

dickhead (also dick) noun (taboo, slang) a very rude way of referring to sb, especially a man, that you think is stupid IDIOT

dicky adj., noun
adj. (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) not healthy; not working correctly: a dicky heart
noun (also dickey) (pl. dickies or dickeys) (IndE) the BOOT/TRUNK of a car

dicky bird noun (BrE) (used by or when speaking to young children) a bird
not say, hear, etc. a dicky bird (BrE, informal) to say, hear, etc. nothing: He won't say a dicky bird, but we think he knows who did it.
This idiom is from rhyming slang, in which 'dicky bird' stands for 'word'.

dicotyledon NAmE (also dicot NAmE ) noun (biology) a plant whose seeds form EMBRYOS that produce two leavescompare MONOCOTYLEDON

DictaphoneTM NAmE noun a small machine used to record on tape people speaking, so that their words can be played back later and written down

dictate verb, noun
verb NAmE
1 ~ (sth) (to sb) to say words for sb else to write down: [VN] He dictated a letter to his secretary. [also V]
2 ~ (sth) (to sb) to tell sb what to do, especially in an annoying way: [VN] They are in no position to dictate terms (= tell other people what to do). [V wh-] What right do they have to dictate how we live our lives? [also V that]
3 to control or influence how sth happens DETERMINE: [VN] When we take our vacations is very much dictated by Greg's work schedule. [V wh-] It's generally your job that dictates where you live now. [also V, V that]
dictate to sb [often passive] to give orders to sb, often in a rude or aggressive way: She refused to be dictated to by anyone.
noun [usually pl.] (formal) an order or a rule that you must obey: to follow the dictates of fashion

dictation noun
1 [U] the act of speaking or reading so that sb can write down the words
2 [C, U] a test in which students write down what is being read to them, especially in language lessons

dictator NAmE noun (disapproving)
1 a ruler who has complete power over a country, especially one who has gained it using military force
2 a person who behaves as if they have complete power over other people, and tells them what to do: Her father was a dictator and the whole family was afraid of him.

dictatorial adj. (disapproving)
1 connected with or controlled by a dictator: a dictatorial ruler a dictatorial regime
2 using power in an unreasonable way by telling people what to do and not listening to their views or wishes: dictatorial behaviour
dictatorially adv.

dictatorship NAmE noun
1 [C, U] government by a dictator
2 [C] a country that is ruled by a dictator

diction noun [U]
1 the way that sb pronounces words: clear diction
2 (technical) the choice and use of words in literature: Wordsworth rejected poetic diction in favour of ordinary language.

dictionary NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 a book that gives a list of the words of a language in alphabetical order and explains what they mean, or gives a word for them in a foreign language: a Spanish-English dictionary
2 a book that explains the words that are used in a particular subject: a dictionary of mathematics
3 a list of words in electronic form, for example stored in a computer's SPELLCHECKER

dictum noun (pl. dicta or dictums) (formal) a statement that expresses sth that people believe is always true or should be followed: the dictum that 'In politics, there are no friendships.'

did DO

didactic adj. (formal)
1 designed to teach people sth, especially a moral lesson: didactic art
2 (usually disapproving) telling people things rather than letting them find out for themselves
didactically adv.

diddle verb [VN] ~ sb (out of sth) (BrE, informal) to get money or some advantage from sb by cheating them CHEAT

diddly (also diddly-squat) noun (NAmE, informal) (used in negative sentences) not anything; nothing: She doesn't know diddly about it.

diddums exclamation, noun (BrE, informal)
exclamation used for showing sympathy, especially in a way which is not sincere
noun used when addressing sb to show sympathy, especially when you are not being sincere: Is Diddums OK?

diddy adj. (BrE, informal) very small: a diddy little camera

didgeridoo noun (pl. -oos) an Australian musical instrument consisting of a long wooden tube which you blow through to produce a variety of deep sounds

didi noun (IndE)
1 an older sister: Didi taught me how to read.
2 used after the name of an older female cousin of the same generation
3 used when speaking to an older female who is not related to you, as a title showing respect: Didi, could you help me with this bag?

didn't short form did not

die verb, noun
verb (dies, dying, died, died)
1 ~ (of/from sth)| ~ (for sth) to stop living: [V] to die of/from cancer Her husband died suddenly last week. He died for his beliefs. That plant's died. I'll never forget it to my dying day (= until I die). (informal) I nearly died when I saw him there (= it was very embarrassing). [VN] to die a violent/painful/natural, etc. death [V-ADJ] She died young. At least they died happy. [V-N] He died a poor man.
2 [V] to stop existing; to disappear: The old customs are dying. His secret died with him (= he never told anyone). The words died on my lips (= I stopped speaking).
3 [V] (of a machine) to stop working: The engine spluttered and died. My car just died on me.
be dying for sth/to do sth (informal) to want sth or want to do sth very much: I'm dying for a glass of water. I'm dying to know what happened.
die a/the death (BrE, informal) to fail completely: The play got terrible reviews and quickly died a death.
die in your bed to die because you are old or ill/sick
die laughing to find sth extremely funny: I nearly died laughing when she said that.
old habits, traditions, etc. die hard used to say that things change very slowly
to die for (informal) if you think sth is to die for, you really want it, and would do anything to get it: She was wearing a dress to die for.more at CROSS v., FLY n., SAY v.
die away to become gradually weaker or fainter and finally disappear: The sound of their laughter died away.
die back if a plant dies back, it loses its leaves but remains alive
die down to become gradually less strong, loud, noticeable, etc.: The flames finally died down. When the applause had died down, she began her speech.
die off to die one after the other until there are none left: The reindeer herds are slowly dying off.
die out to stop existing: This species has nearly died out because its habitat is being destroyed.
noun
1 a block of metal with a special shape, or with a pattern cut into it, that is used for shaping other pieces of metal such as coins, or for making patterns on paper or leather
2 (especially NAmE) = DICE
the die is cast (saying) used to say that an event has happened or a decision has been made that cannot be changed

die-cast adj. (of a metal object) made by pouring liquid metal into a MOULD and allowing it to cool

diehard NAmE adj. strongly opposing change and new ideas: diehard supporters of the exiled king
diehard noun: A few diehards are trying to stop the reforms.

diesel noun
1 (also diesel fuel, diesel oil) [U] a type of heavy oil used as a fuel instead of petrol/gas: a diesel engine (= one that burns diesel) diesel cars/locomotives/trainscompare PETROL
2 [C] a vehicle that uses diesel fuel: Our new car is a diesel.

diet noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] the food that you eat and drink regularly: to have a healthy, balanced diet the Japanese diet of rice, vegetables and fish to receive advice on diet
2 [C] a limited variety or amount of food that you eat for medical reasons or because you want to lose weight; a time when you only eat this limited variety or amount: a low-fat, salt-free diet diet drinks (= with fewer CALORIES than normal) I decided to go on a diet (= to lose weight) before my holiday.
3 [sing.] a ~ of sth (disapproving) a large amount of a restricted range of activities: Children today are brought up on a diet of television cartoons and soap operas.
dietary NAmE adj. [usually before noun]: dietary advice/changes/habits dietary fibre
verb [V] to eat less food or only food of a particular type in order to lose weight BE ON A DIET: She's always dieting but she never seems to lose any weight.

dieter noun a person who is trying to lose weight on a diet

dietetics noun [U] the scientific study of diet and healthy eating
dietetic adj.: dietetic advice

dietitian (also dietician) noun a person whose job is to advise people on what kind of food they should eat to keep healthy

differ verb [V]
1 A and B ~ (from each other)| A ~s from B to be different from sb/sth: They hold differing views. French differs from English in this respect. French and English differ in this respect. Ideas on childcare may differ considerably between the parents.
2 ~ (with sb) (about/on/over sth) to disagree with sb: I have to differ with you on that. Medical opinion differs as to how to treat the disease. see AGREE, BEG

difference noun
1 [C, U] ~ (between A and B)| ~ (in sth) the way in which two people or things are not like each other; the way in which sb/sth has changed: There are no significant differences between the education systems of the two countries. He was studying the complex similarities and differences between humans and animals. There's no difference in the results. She noticed a marked difference in the children on her second visit. I can never tell the difference (= distinguish) between the twins There's a world of difference between liking someone and loving them. What a difference! You look great with your hair like that. SIMILARITY
2 [sing., U] ~ (in sth) (between A and B) the amount that sth is greater or smaller than sth else: There's not much difference in price between the two computers. There's an age difference of six years between the boys (= one is six years older than the other). I'll lend you £500 and you'll have to find the difference (= the rest of the money that you need). We measured the difference in temperature.
3 [C] a disagreement between people: We have our differences, but she's still my sister. Why don't you settle your differences and be friends again? There was a difference of opinion over who had won.
make a, no, some, etc. difference (to/in sb/sth) to have an effect/no effect on sb/sth: The rain didn't make much difference to the game. Your age shouldn't make any difference to whether you get the job or not. Changing schools made a big difference to my life. What difference will it make if he knows or not? I don't think it makes a lot of difference what colour it is (= it is not important). 'Shall we go on Friday or Saturday?' 'It makes no difference (to me).'
make all the difference (to sb/sth) to have an important effect on sb/sth; to make sb feel better: A few kind words at the right time make all the difference.
same difference (informal) used to say that you think the differences between two things are not important: 'That's not a xylophone, it's a glockenspiel.' 'Same difference.'
with a difference (informal) (after nouns) used to show that sth is interesting or unusual: The traditional backpack with a differenceit's waterproof.more at BURY, SINK v., SPLIT v., WORLD

different adj.
1 ~ (from/to/than sb/sth) not the same as sb/sth; not like sb/sth else: American English is significantly different from British English. (BrE) It's very different to what I'm used to. (NAmE) He saw he was no different than anybody else. It's different now than it was a year ago. People often give very different accounts of the same event. My son's terribly untidy; my daughter's no different. The room looks different without the furniture. Now he spoke in a different and kinder voice. SIMILAR
2 [only before noun] separate and individual: She offered us five different kinds of cake. The programme was about customs in different parts of the country. They are sold in many different colours. I looked it up in three different dictionaries.
3 [not usually before noun] (informal) unusual; not like other people or things: 'Did you enjoy the play?' 'Well, it was certainly different!'
differently adv.: Boys and girls may behave differently. The male bird has a differently shaped head.
a different kettle of fish (informal) a completely different situation or person from the one previously mentionedmore at COMPLEXION, KNOW v., MATTER n., PULL v., SING v., TELL

BRITISH/AMERICAN

different from / to / than

Different from is the most common structure in both BrE and NAmE. Different to is also used in BrE: Paul's very different from/to his brother.This visit is very different from/to last time.

In NAmE people also say different than: Your trains are different than ours.You look different than before.

Before a clause you can also use different from (and different than in NAmE): She looked different from what I'd expected.She looked different than (what) I'd expected.

differential noun, adj.
noun
1 ~ (between A and B) a difference in the amount, value or size of sth, especially the difference in rates of pay for people doing different work in the same industry or profession: wage/pay/income differentials
2 (also differential gear) a gear that makes it possible for a vehicle's back wheels to turn at different speeds when going around corners
adj. [only before noun] (formal) showing or depending on a difference; not equal: the differential treatment of prisoners based on sex and social class differential rates of pay

differential calculus noun [U] (mathematics) a type of mathematics that deals with quantities that change in time. It is used to calculate a quantity at a particular momentcompare INTEGRAL CALCULUS

differential equation noun (mathematics) an EQUATION that involves FUNCTIONS (= quantities that can vary) and their rates of change

differentiate verb
1 ~ (between) A and B| ~ A (from B) to recognize or show that two things are not the same DISTINGUISH: [V] It's difficult to differentiate between the two varieties. [VN] I can't differentiate one variety from another.
2 [VN] ~ sth (from sth) to be the particular thing that shows that things or people are not the same DISTINGUISH: The male's yellow beak differentiates it from the female.
3 [V] ~ between A and B to treat people or things in a different way, especially in an unfair way DISCRIMINATE
differentiation noun [U]

difficult adj.
1 ~ (for sb) (to do sth) not easy; needing effort or skill to do or to understand: a difficult problem/task/exam It's difficult for them to get here much before seven. It's really difficult to read your writing. Your writing is really difficult to read. She finds it very difficult to get up early.
2 full of problems; causing a lot of trouble: to be in a difficult position/situation My boss is making life very difficult for me. 13 is a difficult age.
3 (of people) not easy to please; not helpful AWKWARD: a difficult child/customer/boss Don't pay any attention to hershe's just being difficult. see JOB, LIFE

SYNONYMS

difficult

hard challenging demanding taxing testing

These words all describe sth that is not easy and requires a lot of effort or skill to do.

difficult not easy; needing effort or skill to do or understand: The exam questions were quite difficult. It is difficult for young people to find jobs around here.

hard not easy; needing effort or skill to do or understand: I always found languages quite hard at school. It was one of the hardest things I ever did.

DIFFICULT OR HARD?

Hard is slightly less formal than difficult. It is used particularly in the structure hard to believe/say/find/take, etc., although difficult can also be used in any of these examples.

challenging (approving) difficult in an interesting way that tests your ability.

demanding difficult to do or deal with and needing a lot of effort, skill or patience: It is a technically demanding piece of music to play.

taxing (often used in negative statements) difficult to do and needing a lot of mental or physical effort: This shouldn't be too taxing for you.

testing difficult to deal with and needing particular strength or abilities: It was a testing time for us all.

DEMANDING, TAXING OR TESTING?

Demanding is the strongest of these words and describes tasks and experiences. It is often used with more or most or an adverb that says in what way the activity is difficult. Taxing is used particularly in negative statements and to talk about problems or tasks that need (or do not need) mental effort. Testing describes experiences but not tasks and is used particularly with time, week or year.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

difficult/hard/challenging/demanding/taxing/testing for sb

difficult/hard to do sth

a difficult/hard/challenging/demanding/taxing/testing time/week/year

to be/become/get/find sth difficult/hard/challenging/demanding/taxing/testing

very/extremely/really/rather/quite difficult/hard/challenging/demanding/taxing/testing

physically difficult/hard/challenging/demanding/taxing

technically difficult/challenging/demanding

mentally/intellectually challenging/demanding/taxing

academically challenging/demanding

difficulty noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C, usually pl., U] a problem; a thing or situation that causes problems: the difficulties of English syntax children with severe learning difficulties We've run into difficulties/difficulty with the new project. He got into difficulties while swimming and had to be rescued. The bank is in difficulty/difficulties. It was a time fraught with difficulties and frustration.
2 [U] the state or quality of being hard to do or to understand; the effort that sth involves: I had considerable difficulty (in) persuading her to leave. I had no difficulty (in) making myself understood. The changes were made with surprisingly little difficulty. He spoke slowly and with great difficulty. We found the house without difficulty. They discussed the difficulty of studying abroad. You cannot say 'have difficulty to do sth': I had difficulty to persuade her to leave.
3 [U] how hard sth is: varying levels of difficulty questions of increasing difficulty

diffident adj. ~ (about sth) not having much confidence in yourself; not wanting to talk about yourself SHY: a diffident manner/smile He was modest and diffident about his own success.
diffidence noun [U]: She overcame her natural diffidence and spoke with great frankness. diffidently adv.

diffract verb [VN] (physics) to break up a stream of light into a series of dark and light bands or into the different colours of the SPECTRUM
diffraction noun [U]

diffuse adj., verb
adj.
1 spread over a wide area: diffuse light a diffuse community
2 not clear or easy to understand; using a lot of words: a diffuse style of writing
diffusely adv. diffuseness noun [U]
verb
1 (formal) to spread sth or become spread widely in all directions: [VN] The problem is how to diffuse power without creating anarchy. [V] Technologies diffuse rapidly.
2 [V, VN] (technical) if a gas or liquid diffuses or is diffused in a substance, it becomes slowly mixed with that substance
3 [VN] (formal) to make light shine less brightly by spreading it in many directions: The moon was fuller than the night before, but the light was diffused by cloud.
diffusion noun [U]: the diffusion of Marxist ideas the rate of diffusion of a gas

diffuser noun
1 a device used in photography to avoid dark shadows or areas which are too bright
2 a part that is attached to a HAIRDRYER to spread the hot air around the head and dry the hair more gently

dig verb, noun
verb (digging, dug, dug )
1 ~ (for sth) to make a hole in the ground or to move soil from one place to another using your hands, a tool or a machine: [V] to dig for coal/gold/Roman remains They dug deeper and deeper but still found nothing. I think I'll do some digging in the garden. [VN] to dig a ditch/grave/hole/tunnel (BrE) I've been digging the garden.
2 [VN] to remove sth from the ground with a tool: I'll dig some potatoes for lunch.
3 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to search in sth in order to find an object in sth: I dug around in my bag for a pen.
4 [VN] (old-fashioned, slang) to approve of or like sth very much
dig deep (into sth)
1 to search thoroughly for information: You'll need to dig deep into the records to find the figures you want.
2 to try hard to provide the money, equipment, etc. that is needed: We're asking you to dig deep for the earthquake victims.
dig your heels/toes in to refuse to do sth or to change your mind about sth: They dug in their heels and would not lower the price.
dig (deep) in/into your pocket(s), savings, etc. to spend a lot of your own money on sth
dig sb in the ribs to push your finger or your elbow into sb's side, especially to attract their attention
dig yourself into a hole to get yourself into a bad situation that will be very difficult to get out of
dig your own grave | dig a grave for yourself to do sth that will have very harmful results for you
dig in (informal)
1 used to tell sb to start to eat: Help yourselves, everybody! Dig in!
2 to wait, or deal with a difficult situation, with great patience: There is nothing we can do except dig in and wait.
dig sthin
1 to mix soil with another substance by digging the two substances together: The manure should be well dug in.
2 to push sth into sth else: He dug his fork into the steak.
dig yourself in (of soldiers) to protect yourself against an attack by making a safe place in the ground
dig into sth
1 (informal) to start to eat food with enthusiasm: She dug into her bowl of pasta.
2 to push or rub against your body in a painful or uncomfortable way: His fingers dug painfully into my arm.
3 to find out information by searching or asking questions: Will you dig a little into his past and see what you find?
dig sth into sth
1 to mix soil with another substance by digging the two substances together
2 to push or press sth into sth else: She dug her hands deeper into her pockets.
dig sb/sthout (of sth)
1 to remove sb/sth from somewhere by digging the ground around them or it: More than a dozen people were dug out of the avalanche alive.
2 to find sth that has been hidden or forgotten for a long time: I went to the attic and dug out Grandad's medals.
dig sthover to prepare ground by digging the soil to remove stones, etc.
dig sthup
1 to break the ground into small pieces before planting seeds, building sth, etc.: They are digging up the football field to lay a new surface.
2 to remove sth from the ground by digging: An old Roman vase was dug up here last month.
3 to discover information about sb/sth UNEARTH: Tabloid newspapers love to dig up scandal.
nounsee also DIGS
1 a small push with your finger or elbow: She gave him a dig in the ribs.
2 ~ (at sb/sth) a remark that is intended to annoy or upset sb: He kept making sly little digs at me. to have a dig at sb/sth
3 an occasion when an organized group of people dig in the ground to discover old buildings or objects, in order to find out more about their history EXCAVATION: to go on a dig an archaeological dig

the digerati noun [pl.] (humorous) people who are very good at using computers or who use computers a lot

digest verb, noun
verb
1 when you digest food, or it digests, it is changed into substances that your body can use: [VN] Humans cannot digest plants such as grass. [V] You should allow a little time after a meal for the food to digest.
2 [VN] to think about sth so that you fully understand it: He paused, waiting for her to digest the information.
noun a short report containing the most important facts of a longer report or piece of writing; a collection of short reports: a monthly news digest

digestible adj. easy to digest; pleasant to eat or easy to understand INDIGESTIBLE

digestif BrE noun (from French) a strong alcoholic drink that is drunk after a meal

digestion noun
1 [U] the process of digesting food: Vegetables are usually cooked to aid digestion.compare INDIGESTION
2 [C, usually sing.] the ability to digest food: to have a good/poor digestion

digestive adj. [only before noun] connected with the digestion of food: the digestive system/tract digestive problems

digestive biscuit (also digestive) noun (BrE) a round sweet biscuit made from WHOLEMEAL flour, sometimes covered with chocolate: a packet of chocolate digestives

digestive system noun the series of organs inside the body that digest food

digger noun
1 a large machine that is used for digging up the ground
2 a person or an animal that digssee also GOLD-DIGGER
3 (AustralE, NZE, old-fashioned, informal) a man

digit noun
1 any of the numbers from 0 to 9: The number 57306 contains five digits. a four-digit number
2 (anatomy) a finger, thumb or toe

digital adj., noun
adj.
1 using a system of receiving and sending information as a series of the numbers one and zero, showing that an electronic signal is there or is not there: a digital camera digital terrestrial and digital satellite broadcasting
2 (of clocks, watches, etc.) showing information by using figures, rather than with HANDS that point to numbers: a digital clock/watchcompare ANALOGUE
digitally adv.: digitally remastered tapes
noun [U] digital television: How long have you had digital? With digital you can choose the camera angle you want.

digital audiotape noun [U] (abbr. DAT) a type of tape for making high-quality sound recordings

digitalis NAmE noun [U] (medical) a drug made from the FOXGLOVE plant, that helps the heart muscle to work

digitalize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] = DIGITIZE

digital recording noun [C, U] a recording in which sounds or pictures are represented by a series of numbers showing that an electronic signal is there or is not there; the process of making a recording in this way

digital signature noun (computing) a way of secretly adding sb's name to an electronic message or document to prove the identity of the person who is sending it and show that the data has not been changed at all

digital television noun
1 [U] the system of broadcasting television using digital signals
2 [C] a television set that can receive digital signals

digitize (BrE also -ise) (also digitalize) verb [VN] to change data into a DIGITAL form that can be easily read and processed by a computer: a digitized map

diglossia NAmE noun [U] (linguistics) a situation in which two languages or two forms of a language are used under different conditions in a community
diglossic adj.

dignified adj. calm and serious and deserving respect: a dignified person/manner/voice Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. UNDIGNIFIED

dignify verb (dignifies, dignifying, dignified) [VN] (formal)
1 to make sb/sth seem impressive: The mayor was there to dignify the celebrations.
2 to make sth appear important when it is not really: I'm not going to dignify his comments by reacting to them.

dignitary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a person who has an important official position VIP

dignity noun [U]
1 a calm and serious manner that deserves respect: She accepted the criticism with quiet dignity.
2 the fact of being given honour and respect by people: the dignity of work The terminally ill should be allowed to die with dignity.
3 a sense of your own importance and value: It's difficult to preserve your dignity when you have no job and no home.
beneath your dignity below what you see as your own importance or worth
stand on your dignity (formal) to demand to be treated with the respect that you think that you deserve: Our teacher never stands on her dignity with us, but treats us all as friends and colleagues.

digraph NAmE noun a combination of two letters representing one sound, for example 'ph' and 'sh' in English

digress verb [V] (formal) to start to talk about sth that is not connected with the main point of what you are saying
digression noun [C, U]: After several digressions, he finally got to the point.

digs noun [pl.] (old-fashioned, informal) a room or rooms that you rent to live in LODGINGS

dike noun = DYKE

diktat NAmE noun [C, U] (disapproving) an order given by a government, for example, that people must obey: an EU diktat from Brussels government by diktat

dilapidated adj. (of furniture and buildings) old and in very bad condition RAMSHACKLE
dilapidation noun [U]: in a state of dilapidation

dilatation BrE noun [U] (medical) the process of becoming wider (= of becoming dilated), or the action of making sth become wider

dilatation and curettage (also D and C) noun (medical) an operation in which the CERVIX is opened and material is removed from the UTERUS, for example after a MISCARRIAGE

dilate verb to become or to make sth larger, wider or more open: [V] Her eyes dilated with fear. [VN] dilated pupils/nostrils Red wine can help to dilate blood vessels. CONTRACT
dilation noun [U, C]: The doctor checked his eyes but there was no abnormal pupil dilation.

dilatory NAmE adj. ~ (in doing sth) (formal) not acting quickly enough; causing delay: The government has been dilatory in dealing with the problem of unemployment.

dildo NAmE noun (pl. dildos or dildoes) an object shaped like a PENIS that is used for sexual pleasure

dilemma noun a situation which makes problems, often one in which you have to make a very difficult choice between things of equal importance PREDICAMENT: to face a dilemma to be in a dilemma see HORN

dilettante noun (pl. dilettanti or dilettantes) (disapproving) a person who does or studies sth but is not serious about it and does not have much knowledge
dilettante adj.: a dilettante artist

diligence noun [U] (formal) careful and thorough work or effort: She shows great diligence in her schoolwork.

diligent adj. (formal) showing care and effort in your work or duties: a diligent student/worker
diligently adv.: They worked diligently on the task they had been given.

dill noun [U] a plant with yellow flowers whose leaves and seeds have a strong taste and are used in cooking as a HERB. Dill is often added to vegetables kept in VINEGAR: dill pickles

dilly-dally verb (dilly-dallies, dilly-dallying, dilly-dallied, dilly-dallied) [V] (old-fashioned, informal) to take too long to do sth, go somewhere or make a decision DAWDLE: Don't dilly-dally on the way home from school.

dilute verb, adj. BrE
verb [VN]
1 ~ sth (with sth) to make a liquid weaker by adding water or another liquid to it WATER DOWN: The paint can be diluted with water to make a lighter shade.
2 to make sth weaker or less effective WATER DOWN: Large classes dilute the quality of education that children receive.
dilution BrE noun [U]: the dilution of sewage This is a serious dilution of their election promises.
adj. (also diluted) (of a liquid) made weaker by adding water or another substance: a dilute acid/solution

dim adj., verb
adj. (dimmer, dimmest)
LIGHT
1 not bright: the dim glow of the fire in the grate This light is too dim to read by.
PLACE
2 where you cannot see well because there is not much light: a dim room/street
SHAPE
3 that you cannot see well because there is not much light: the dim outline of a house in the moonlight I could see a dim shape in the doorway.
EYES
4 not able to see well: His eyesight is getting dim.
MEMORIES
5 that you cannot remember or imagine clearly VAGUE: dim memories She had a dim recollection of the visit. (humorous) in the dim and distant past
PERSON
6 (informal, especially BrE) not intelligent: He's very dim.
SITUATION
7 not giving any reason to have hope; not good: Her future career prospects look dim.

dimness noun [U]: It took a while for his eyes to adjust to the dimness.see also DIMLY
take a dim view of sb/sth to disapprove of sb/sth; to not have a good opinion of sb/sth: She took a dim view of my suggestion.
verb (-mm-)
LIGHT
1 if a light dims or if you dim it, it becomes or you make it less bright: [V] The lights in the theatre dimmed as the curtain rose. [also VN]
FEELING/QUALITY
2 if a feeling or quality dims, or if sth dims it, it becomes less strong: [V] Her passion for dancing never dimmed over the years. [also VN]

dime noun a coin of the US and Canada worth ten cents
a dime a dozen (NAmE) = TWO/TEN A PENNY

dime novel noun (NAmE, old-fashioned) a cheap popular novel, usually an exciting adventure or romantic story

dimension noun
1 a measurement in space, for example the height, width or length of sth: We measured the dimensions of the kitchen. computer design tools that work in three dimensionssee also THE FOURTH DIMENSION
2 [usually pl.] the size and extent of a situation: a problem of considerable dimensions
3 an aspect, or way of looking at or thinking about sth: Her job added a new dimension to her life. the social dimension of unemployment

-dimensional combining form (in adjectives) having the number of dimensions mentioned: a multi-dimensional modelsee also THREE-DIMENSIONAL, TWO-DIMENSIONAL

dime store noun (old-fashioned, NAmE) = FIVE-AND-DIME

diminish verb
1 to become or to make sth become smaller, weaker, etc. DECREASE: [V] The world's resources are rapidly diminishing. His influence has diminished with time. Our efforts were producing diminishing returns (= we achieved less although we spent more time or money). [also VN]
2 [VN] to make sb/sth seem less important than they really are BELITTLE: I don't wish to diminish the importance of their contribution.

diminished responsibility noun [U] (BrE, law) a state in which a person who is accused of a crime is not considered to be responsible for their actions, because they are mentally ill: He was found not guilty of murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

diminuendo NAmE noun (pl. -os) [C, U] (music) a gradual decrease in how loudly a piece of music is played or sung CRESCENDO

diminution NAmE noun ~ (of/in sth) (formal)
1 [U] the act of reducing sth or of being reduced: the diminution of political power
2 [C, usually sing.] a reduction; an amount reduced: a diminution in population growth

diminutive adj., noun
adj. (formal) very small: She was a diminutive figure beside her husband.
noun
1 a word or an ending of a word that shows that sb/sth is small, for example piglet (= a young pig), kitchenette (= a small kitchen)
2 a short informal form of a word, especially a name: 'Nick' is a common diminutive of 'Nicholas'.

dimly adv. not very brightly or clearly: a dimly lit room I was dimly aware (= only just aware) of the sound of a car in the distance. I did remember, but only dimly.

dimmer switch (also dimmer) noun
1 a switch that allows you to make an electric light brighter or less bright
2 (NAmE) = DIP SWITCH

dimple verb, noun
verb [V] to make a hollow place appear on each of your cheeks, especially by smiling
noun
1 a small hollow place in the skin, especially in the cheek or chin: She had a dimple which appeared when she smiled.
2 any small hollow place in a surface: a pane of glass with a dimple pattern
dimpled adj.: a dimpled chin

dim sum (also dim sim ) noun [U] (from Chinese) a Chinese dish or meal consisting of small pieces of food wrapped in sheets of DOUGH

dim-witted adj. (informal) stupid: a dim-witted child
dimwit noun

din noun [sing.] a loud, unpleasant noise that lasts for a long time RACKET: The children were making an awful din. We couldn't hear ourselves speak above the din.

dinar noun a unit of money in Serbia and various countries in the Middle East and N Africa

din-dins (BrE) (NAmE din-din ) noun [U] (humorous) (used when talking to a baby or a pet) food

dine verb [V] (formal) to eat dinner: We dined with my parents at a restaurant in town.
dine on sth to have a particular type of food for dinner: We dined on fresh local fish.
dine out to eat dinner in a restaurant or sb else's home
dine out on sth (informal) to tell other people about sth that has happened to you, in order to make them interested in you see WINE v.

diner noun
1 a person eating a meal, especially in a restaurant: a restaurant capable of seating 100 diners
2 (especially NAmE) a small, usually cheap, restaurant: a roadside diner

dinero NAmE noun [U] (informal, especially NAmE, from Spanish) money

dinette noun (especially NAmE) a small room or part of a room for eating meals

ding noun, verb
noun
1 (NAmE) a blow, especially one that causes slight damage to a car, etc.: I got a ding in my rear fender.
2 used to represent the sound made by a bell: The lift came to a halt with a loud 'ding'.
verb [VN]
1 to make a sound like a bell: The computer just dings when I press a key.
2 (NAmE) to cause slight damage to a car, etc.: I dinged my passenger door.
3 (NAmE) to hit sb: (figurative) My department got dinged by the budget cuts.

dingbat noun (NAmE, slang) a stupid person

ding-dong NAmE noun
1 [U] used to represent the sound made by a bell: I rang the doorbell. Ding-dong! No answer.
2 (BrE, informal) an argument or fight: They were having a real ding-dong on the doorstep.

dinghy noun (pl. -ies)
1 a small open boat that you sail or ROW: a sailing dinghycompare YACHT
2 = RUBBER DINGHY

dingo NAmE noun (pl. -oes) a wild Australian dog

dingy adj. (dingier, dingiest) dark and dirty: a dingy room/hotel dingy curtains/clothes
dinginess noun [U]

dining car (BrE also restaurant car) noun a coach/car on a train in which meals are served

dining room noun a room that is used mainly for eating meals in

dining table noun a table for having meals oncompare DINNER TABLE

dink noun (in TENNIS) a soft hit that makes the ball land on the ground without BOUNCING much
dink verb [VN]

dinkie (also dinky) noun (pl. -ies) (informal, humorous) one of a couple who have a lot of money because both partners work and they have no children
Formed from the first letters of 'double income, no kids'.

dinkum adj. (AustralE, NZE, informal) (of an article or a person) real or genuine: If you're dinkum, I'll help you.see also FAIR DINKUM

dinky adj. (informal)
1 (BrE, approving) small and neat in an attractive way: What a dinky little hat!
2 (NAmE, disapproving) too small: I grew up in a dinky little town that didn't even have a movie theater.

dinner noun
1 [U, C] the main meal of the day, eaten either in the middle of the day or in the evening: It's time for dinner. When do you have dinner? What time do you serve dinner? Let's invite them to dinner tomorrow. What shall we have for dinner tonight? It's your turn to cook dinner. She didn't eat much dinner. I never eat a big dinner. Christmas dinner a three-course dinner I'd like to take you out to dinner tonight. (BrE) school dinners (= meals provided at school in the middle of the day) note at MEAL
2 [C] a large formal social gathering at which dinner is eaten: The club's annual dinner will be held on 3 June.see also DINNER PARTY see DOG n.
done like a dinner (AustralE, NZE, informal) completely defeated

dinner dance noun a social event in the evening that includes a formal meal and dancing

dinner jacket (BrE) (also tuxedo NAmE, BrE) noun a black or white jacket worn with a BOW TIE at formal occasions in the eveningcompare TAILS n. (6)

dinner lady (BrE) (US lunch lady) noun a woman whose job is to serve meals to children in schools

dinner party noun a social event at which a small group of people eat dinner at sb's house

dinner service noun a set of matching plates, dishes, etc. for serving a meal: a 30-piece dinner service

dinner suit (BrE) (also tuxedo NAmE, BrE) noun a DINNER JACKET and trousers/pants, worn with a BOW TIE at formal occasions in the evening

dinner table noun (often the dinner table) [usually sing.] the table at which people are eating dinner; an occasion when people are eating together: conversation at the dinner table The dinner table was laden with crystal and silver.compare DINING TABLE

dinner theater noun (NAmE) a restaurant where you see a play after your meal

dinner time noun the time at which dinner is normally eaten

dinnerware NAmE noun [U] (NAmE) plates, dishes, etc. used for serving a meal

dinosaur noun
1 an animal that lived millions of years ago but is now EXTINCT (= it no longer exists). There were many types of dinosaur, some of which were very large.
2 (disapproving) a person or thing that is old-fashioned and cannot change in the changing conditions of modern life

dint noun
by dint of sth/of doing sth (formal) by means of sth: He succeeded by dint of hard work. She became an honorary member by dint of winning the championship.

diocese noun (pl. dioceses ) (in the Christian Church) a district for which a BISHOP is responsible
diocesan NAmE adj.

diode NAmE noun (technical) an electronic device in which the electric current passes in one direction only, for example a SILICON CHIP

Dionysiac (also Dionysian) adj. (formal)
1 relating to the ancient Greek god Dionysus
2 relating to the physical senses and the emotions, especially when they are expressed without controlcompare APOLLONIAN

dioptre (BrE) (NAmE diopter) NAmE noun (physics) a unit for measuring the power of a LENS to REFRACT light (=make it change direction)

dioptrics NAmE noun [U] (physics) the scientific study of REFRACTION (= the way light changes direction when it goes through glass, etc.)
dioptric NAmE adj.

diorama NAmE noun a model representing a scene with figures, especially in a museum

dioxide NAmE noun [U, C] (chemistry) a substance formed by combining two atoms of OXYGEN and one atom of another chemical elementsee also CARBON DIOXIDE

dioxin NAmE noun a chemical used in industry and farming. Most dioxins are poisonous.

DIP noun [U] (computing) a system in which documents are treated as images (the abbreviation for 'document image processing')

dip verb, noun
verb (-pp-)
1 [VN] ~ sth (into sth)| ~ sth (in) to put sth quickly into a liquid and take it out again: He dipped the brush into the paint. Dip your hand in to see how hot the water is. The fruit had been dipped in chocolate.
2 [usually +adv./prep.] to go downwards or to a lower level; to make sth do this FALL: [V] The sun dipped below the horizon. Sales for this quarter have dipped from 38.7 million to 33 million. The road dipped suddenly as we approached the town. [VN] The plane dipped its wings.
3 [VN] (BrE) if you dip your HEADLIGHTS when driving a car at night, you make the light from them point down so that other drivers do not have the light in their eyes
4 [VN] when farmers dip animals, especially sheep, they put them in a bath of a liquid containing chemicals in order to kill insects, etc.
dip into your pocket (informal) to spend some of your own money on sth: She was forced to dip into her own pocket to pay for the repairs.
dip a toe in/into sth | dip a toe in/into the water (informal) to start doing sth very carefully to see if it will be successful or not: We decided to dip a toe in the computer games market.
dip into sth
1 to put your hand into a container to take sth out: She dipped into her purse and took out some coins.
2 to read or watch only parts of sth: I have only had time to dip into the report.
3 to take an amount from money that you have saved: We took out a loan for the car because we didn't want to dip into our savings.
noun
1 [C] (informal) a quick swim: Let's go for a dip before breakfast.
2 [C] a decrease in the amount or success of sth, usually for only a short period FALL: a sharp dip in profits
3 [C] a place where a surface suddenly drops to a lower level and then rises again: a dip in the road The village lay in a dip among the hills. Puddles had formed in the dips.
4 [C, U] a thick mixture into which pieces of food are dipped before being eaten
5 [U, C] a liquid containing a chemical into which sheep and other animals can be dipped in order to kill insects on them
6 [sing.] ~ into sth a quick look at sth: A brief dip into history serves to confirm this view.
7 [C, usually sing.] a quick movement of sth down and up: He gave a dip of his head.see also LUCKY DIP

diphtheria NAmE noun [U] a serious infectious disease of the throat that causes difficulty in breathing

diphthong NAmE noun (phonetics) a combination of two vowel sounds or vowel letters, for example the sounds in pipe or the letters ou in doubtcompare MONOPHTHONG, TRIPHTHONG
diphthongal NAmE adj.

diphthongize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN] (phonetics) to change a vowel into a diphthong
diphthongization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

diplodocus NAmE noun a very large DINOSAUR with a long thin neck and tail

diploid adj. (biology) (of a cell) containing two complete sets of CHROMOSOMES, one from each parentcompare HAPLOID

diploma NAmE noun
1 (BrE) a course of study at a college or university: a two-year diploma course She is taking a diploma in management studies.
2 a document showing that you have completed a course of study or part of your education: a High School diploma

diplomacy NAmE noun [U]
1 the activity of managing relations between different countries; the skill in doing this: international diplomacy Diplomacy is better than war.
2 skill in dealing with people in difficult situations without upsetting or offending them TACT: She was praised for her tact and diplomacy.see also SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY

diplomat noun
1 (also old-fashioned diplomatist) a person whose job is to represent his or her country in a foreign country, for example, in an EMBASSY
2 a person who is skilled at dealing with other people: You'll need to be a real diplomat to persuade them to come to some agreement.

diplomatic adj.
1 connected with managing relations between countries (= DIPLOMACY): a diplomatic crisis Attempts are being made to settle the dispute by diplomatic means. to break off/establish/restore diplomatic relations with a country
2 having or showing skill in dealing with people in difficult situations TACTFUL: a diplomatic answer You could try being a little more diplomatic this time.
diplomatically adv.: The country remained diplomatically isolated. 'Why don't we take a break for coffee?' she suggested diplomatically.

diplomatic bag (BrE) (US diplomatic pouch) noun a container that is used for sending official letters and documents between a government and its representatives in another country and that cannot be opened by customs officers

diplomatic corps noun (usually the diplomatic corps) [C+sing./pl. v.] (pl. diplomatic corps) all the DIPLOMATS who work in a particular city or country

diplomatic immunity noun [U] special rights given to diplomats working in a foreign country which mean they cannot be arrested, taxed, etc. in that country: The advisers were granted diplomatic immunity.

the Diplomatic Service (especially BrE) (NAmE usually the Foreign Service) noun [sing.] the government department concerned with representing a country in foreign countries

diplomatist NAmE noun (old-fashioned) = DIPLOMAT

dipole NAmE noun (physics) a pair of separated POLES, one positive and one negative

dipper noun a bird that lives near riverssee also BIG DIPPER

dippy adj. (informal) stupid; crazy

dipsomaniac noun a person who has a strong desire for alcoholic drink that they cannot control ALCOHOLIC

dipstick noun
1 a long straight piece of metal used for measuring the amount of liquid in a container, especially the amount of oil in an engine
2 (informal) a stupid person

dip switch (BrE) (US dimmer switch) noun a switch that allows you to make the front lights on a car point downwards

diptych noun (technical) a painting, especially a religious one, with two wooden panels that can be closed like a book

dire adj. (direr, direst)
1 [usually before noun] (formal) very serious: living in dire poverty dire warnings/threats Such action may have dire consequences. We're in dire need of your help. The firm is in dire straits (= in a very difficult situation) and may go bankrupt.
2 (BrE, informal) very bad: The acting was dire.

direct adj., verb, adv.
adj.
NOBODY/NOTHING IN BETWEEN
1 [usually before noun] happening or done without involving other people, actions, etc. in between: They are in direct contact with the hijackers. His death was a direct result of your action. She has direct responsibility for all new trainees. We are looking for somebody with direct experience of this type of work. This information has a direct bearing on (= it is closely connected with) the case. They see a direct link between the money supply and prices. INDIRECT
JOURNEY/ROUTE
2 going in the straightest line between two places without stopping or changing direction: the most direct route/course a direct flight (= a flight that does not stop) There's a direct train to Leeds (= it may stop at other stations but you do not have to change trains). a direct hit (= a hit that is accurate and does not touch sth else first) INDIRECT
HEAT/LIGHT
3 [only before noun] with nothing between sth and the source of the heat or light: Protect your child from direct sunlight by using a sunscreen.
EXACT
4 [only before noun] exact: That's the direct opposite of what you told me yesterday. a direct quote (= one using a person's exact words)
SAYING WHAT YOU MEAN
5 saying exactly what you mean in a way that nobody can pretend not to understand: a direct answer/question You'll have to get used to his direct manner. She has a very direct way of speaking. I prefer a more direct approach. INDIRECT note at HONEST
RELATIONSHIP
6 [only before noun] related through parents and children rather than brothers, sisters, aunts, etc.: a direct descendant of the country's first president With his death, the direct male line of the House of Capet came to an end. INDIRECT
verb
AIM
1 [VN] ~ sth to/towards sth/sb| ~ sth at/against sth/sb to aim sth in a particular direction or at a particular person: The machine directs a powerful beam at the affected part of the body. There are three main issues that we need to direct our attention to. Most of his anger was directed against himself. Was that remark directed at me?
CONTROL
2 [VN] to control or be in charge of sb/sth: A new manager has been appointed to direct the project. He was asked to take command and direct operations.
MOVIE/PLAY/MUSIC
3 to be in charge of actors in a play, or a film/movie, or musicians in an ORCHESTRA, etc.: [V] She prefers to act rather than direct. [VN] The movie was directed by Steven Spielberg. She now directs a large choir.
SHOW THE WAY
4 [VN] ~ sb (to ... ) to tell or show sb how to get to somewhere or where to go: Could you direct me to the station? A police officer was directing the traffic. He was directed to a table beside the window. note at TAKE
GIVE ORDER
5 (formal) to give an official order ORDER: [VN to inf] The police officers had been directed to search the building. [V that] The judge directed that the mother be given custody of the children.: (BrE also) The judge directed that the mother should be given custody of the children. note at ORDER
LETTER/COMMENT
6 [VN] ~ sth to ... (formal) to send a letter, etc. to a particular place or to a particular person: Direct any complaints to the Customer Services department.
adv.
JOURNEY/ROUTE
1 without stopping or changing direction: We flew direct to Hong Kong. The 10.40 goes direct to Leeds.
NOBODY IN BETWEEN
2 without involving other people: I prefer to deal with him direct.

direct access noun [U] (computing) the ability to get data immediately from any part of a computer file

direct action noun [U, C] the use of strikes, protests, etc. instead of discussion in order to get what you want: Environmental groups are threatening direct action if plans for the new road go ahead.

direct current noun [C, U] (abbr. DC) an electric current that flows in one direction onlycompare ALTERNATING CURRENT

direct debit noun [U, C] (BrE) an instruction to your bank to allow sb else to take an amount of money from your account on a particular date, especially to pay bills: We pay all our bills by direct debit.compare STANDING ORDER

direct deposit noun [U] (NAmE) the system of paying sb's wages straight into their bank account

direct dialling (BrE) (NAmE direct dialing) noun [U] the ability to make telephone calls without needing to be connected by the OPERATOR: All our rooms have direct dialling telephones.

direction noun
WHERE TO
1 [C, U] the general position a person or thing moves or points towards: Tom went off in the direction of home. She glanced in his direction. The aircraft was flying in a northerly direction. The road was blocked in both directions. They hit a truck coming in the opposite direction. Has the wind changed direction? When the police arrived, the crowd scattered in all directions. I lost all sense of direction (= I didn't know which way to go).
DEVELOPMENT
2 [C, U] the general way in which a person or thing develops: The exhibition provides evidence of several new directions in her work. I am very unhappy with the direction the club is taking. It's only a small improvement, but at least it's a step in the right direction.
WHERE FROM
3 [C] the general position a person or thing comes or develops from: Support came from an unexpected direction. Let us approach the subject from a different direction.
PURPOSE
4 [U] a purpose; an aim: We are looking for somebody with a clear sense of direction. Once again her life felt lacking in direction.
INSTRUCTIONS
5 [C, usually pl.] instructions about how to do sth, where to go, etc.: Let's stop and ask for directions. Simple directions for assembling the model are printed on the box.
CONTROL
6 [U] the art of managing or guiding sb/sth: All work was produced by the students under the direction of John Williams. She was entrusted with the direction of the project.
FILM/MOVIE
7 [U] the instructions given by sb directing a film/movie: There is some clever direction and the film is very well shot.
see PULL v.

directional adj. (technical)
1 producing or receiving signals, sound, etc. better in one particular direction: a directional microphone/aerial
2 connected with the direction in which sth is moving: directional stability

directionless adj. (formal) without a direction or purpose

directive noun, adj.
noun an official instruction: The EU has issued a new set of directives on pollution.
adj. (formal) giving instructions: They are seeking a central, directive role in national energy policy.

directly adv., conj.
adv.
1 in a direct line or manner: He drove her directly to her hotel. She looked directly at us. He's directly responsible to the boss. We have not been directly affected by the cuts. The President was not directly involved. The issues raised in the report relate directly to the ongoing work of the charity. The two incidents are not directly linked. INDIRECTLY
2 exactly in a particular position: directly opposite/below/ahead They remain directly opposed to these new plans.
3 immediately: She left directly after the show.
4 (old-fashioned, BrE) soon SHORTLY: Tell them I'll be there directly.
conj. (BrE) as soon as: I went home directly I had finished work.

direct mail noun [U] advertisements that are sent to people through the post/mail: a direct mail campaign aimed at US small businesses

direct marketing noun [U] the business of selling products or services directly to customers who order by mail or by telephone instead of going to a shop/store

the direct method noun [sing.] a way of learning a foreign language using only that language and not treating the study of grammar as the most important thing

directness noun [U] the quality of being simple and clear, so that it is impossible not to understand: 'What's that?' she asked with her usual directness. He presents his case with refreshing clarity and directness.

direct object noun (grammar) a noun, noun phrase or pronoun that refers to a person or thing that is directly affected by the action of a verb: In 'I met him in town', the word 'him' is the direct object.compare INDIRECT OBJECT

director noun
1 one of a group of senior managers who run a company: the managing director an executive/non-executive director He's on the board of directors.
2 a person who is in charge of a particular activity or department in a company, a college, etc.: the musical director a regional director the director of education
3 a person in charge of a film/movie or play who tells the actors and staff what to docompare PRODUCER

directorate noun
1 a section of a government department in charge of one particular activity: the environmental directorate
2 the group of directors who run a company BOARD OF DIRECTORS

director general noun (especially BrE) the head of a large organization, especially a public organization: the director general of the BBC

directorial adj. [only before noun] connected with the position or work of a director, especially of a director of films/movies: The film marks her directorial debut.

Director of Public Prosecutions noun (abbr. DPP) (in England and Wales) a public official whose job is to decide whether people who are suspected of a crime should be brought to trial

director's chair noun a folding wooden chair with the seat and back made of cloth, sides on which you can rest your arms and crossed legs

director's cut noun a version of a film/movie, usually released some time after the original is first shown, that is exactly how the director wanted it to be: Blade Runner: the Director's Cut

directorship NAmE noun the position of a company director; the period during which this is held: under the directorship of Anne Croft His directorship has come under fierce attack.

directory noun (pl. -ies)
1 a book containing lists of information, usually in alphabetical order, for example people's telephone numbers or the names and addresses of businesses in a particular area: a telephone/trade directory a directory of European Trade Associations
2 a file containing a group of other files or programs in a computer

directory enquiries (BrE) (NAmE directory assistance or informal information) noun [U+sing./pl. v.] a telephone service that you can use to find out a person's telephone number

direct rule noun [U] government of a region by a central government, when that region has had its own government in the past

direct speech noun [U] (grammar) a speaker's actual words; the use of these in writing: Only direct speech should go inside inverted commas.compare INDIRECT SPEECH, REPORTED SPEECH

direct tax noun (technical) a tax which is collected directly from the person who pays it, for example income taxcompare INDIRECT TAX
direct taxation noun [U]

dirge NAmE noun
1 a song sung in the past at a funeral or for a dead person
2 (informal, disapproving) any song or piece of music that is too slow and sad

dirigible adj., noun
adj. (formal) able to be guided or steered: a dirigible balloon
noun an AIRSHIP

dirigisme noun [U] (formal) control of society and of the economy by the state
dirigiste adj.

dirk NAmE noun a long heavy pointed knife that was used as a weapon in Scotland in the past

dirndl NAmE noun (from German) a very full wide skirt, pulled in tightly at the waist; a dress with a skirt like this and a closely fitting top

dirt NAmE noun [U]
1 any substance that makes sth dirty, for example dust, soil or mud: His clothes were covered in dirt. First remove any grease or dirt from the surface. The problem with white is that it soon shows the dirt.
2 (especially NAmE) loose earth or soil: He picked up a handful of dirt and threw it at them. Pack the dirt firmly round the plants. They lived in a shack with a dirt floor. note at SOIL
3 (informal) unpleasant or harmful information about sb that could be used to damage their reputation, career, etc.: Do you have any dirt on the new guy?
4 (informal) = EXCREMENT: dog dirt see DISH v., TREAT v.

dirt bike noun a motorcycle designed for rough ground, especially for competitions

dirt cheap adj., adv. (informal) very cheap: It was dirt cheap. I got it dirt cheap.

dirt farmer noun (NAmE) a farmer who has poor land and does not make much money, and who does not pay anyone else to work on the farm

dirt poor adj. (NAmE, informal) extremely poor

dirt road (NAmE also dirt track) noun a rough road in the country that is made from hard earth

dirt track noun
1 (NAmE) = DIRT ROAD
2 a track made of CINDERS, soil, etc. used for motorcycle racing: a dirt-track race

dirty NAmE adj., verb, adv.
adj. (dirtier, dirtiest)
NOT CLEAN
1 not clean: dirty hands/clothes a dirty mark Try not to get too dirty! I always get given the dirty jobs (= jobs that make you become dirty).
OFFENSIVE
2 [usually before noun] connected with sex in an offensive way: a dirty joke/book He's got a dirty mind (= he often thinks about sex).
UNPLEASANT/DISHONEST
3 [usually before noun] unpleasant or dishonest: a dirty lie She's a dirty player. He's a great man for doing the dirty jobs (= jobs which are unpleasant because they involve being dishonest or mean to people).
COLOURS
4 [only before noun] dull: a dirty brown carpet
DRUGS
5 (NAmE, slang) using illegal drugs
be a dirty word to be a subject or an idea that people think is bad or immoral: Profit is not a dirty word around here.
(do sb's) dirty work (to do) the unpleasant or dishonest jobs that sb else does not want to do: Next time you can get somebody else to do your dirty work for you!
do the dirty on sb (BrE, informal) to cheat sb who trusts you; to treat sb badly or unfairly: I'd never do the dirty on my friends.
give sb a dirty look to look at sb in a way that shows you are annoyed with themmore at HAND n., WASH v.
verb (dirties, dirtying, dirtied, dirtied) [VN] to make sth dirty
adv.
dirty great/big (BrE, informal) used to emphasize how large sth is: When I turned round he was pointing a dirty great gun at me.
play dirty (informal) to behave or play a game in an unfair waymore at TALK v.

SYNONYMS

dirty

dusty filthy soiled grubby

These words all describe sb/sth that is not clean.

dirty not clean; covered with dust, soil, mud, oil, etc.: If your hands are dirty, go and wash them.

dusty full of dust; covered with dust: There were shelves full of dusty books.

filthy very dirty and unpleasant: It's absolutely filthy in here.

soiled (rather formal) dirty, especially with waste from the body: soiled nappies/diapers

grubby (rather informal) rather dirty, usually because it has not been washed: He hoped she wouldn't notice his grubby shirt cuffs.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

dirty/dusty/filthy/soiled/grubby clothes

dirty/dusty/filthy/grubby hands

a dirty/dusty/filthy room

dirty dishes

to be/look dirty/dusty/filthy/soiled/grubby

to get dirty/dusty/filthy/soiled/grubby

rather dirty/dusty/filthy/grubby

very/extremely dirty/dusty/grubby

dirty bomb noun a bomb which contains RADIOACTIVE material

dirty old man noun (informal) an older man whose interest in sex or in sexually attractive young people is considered to be offensive or not natural for sb of his age

dirty trick noun
1 [usually pl.] dishonest, secret and often illegal activity by a political group or other organization that is intended to harm the reputation or success of an opponent: a dirty tricks campaign
2 an unpleasant and dishonest act: What a dirty trick to play!

dirty weekend noun (BrE, humorous) a weekend spent away with a sexual partner, often in secret

dis (also diss) verb (-ss-) [VN] (informal, especially NAmE) to show a lack of respect for sb, especially by saying insulting things to them: If he disses me again, I'll hit him.

dis- prefix (in adjectives, adverbs, nouns and verbs) not; the opposite of: dishonest disagreeably disadvantage disappear

disability noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a physical or mental condition that means you cannot use a part of your body completely or easily, or that you cannot learn easily: a physical/mental disability people with severe learning disabilities
2 [U] the state of not being able to use a part of your body completely or easily; the state of not being able to learn easily: He qualifies for help on the grounds of disability. note at DISABLED

disable verb [VN]
1 to injure or affect sb permanently so that, for example, they cannot walk or cannot use a part of their body: He was disabled in a car accident. a disabling condition
2 to make sth unable to work so that it cannot be used: The burglars gained entry to the building after disabling the alarm.

disabled adj.
1 unable to use a part of your body completely or easily because of a physical condition, illness, injury, etc.; unable to learn easily: physically/mentally disabled severely disabled He was born disabled. facilities for disabled people Does the theatre have disabled access?
2 the disablednoun [pl.] people who are disabled: caring for the sick, elderly and disabled

WHICH WORD?

disabled / handicapped

Disabled is the most generally accepted term to refer to people with a permanent illness or injury that makes it difficult for them to use part of their body completely or easily. Handicapped is slightly old-fashioned and many people now think it is offensive. People also now prefer to use the word disability rather than handicap. The expression disabled people is often preferred to the disabled because it sounds more personal.

Disabled and disability can be used with other words to talk about a mental condition: mentally disabledlearning disabilities.

If somebody's ability to hear, speak or see has been damaged but not destroyed completely, they have impaired hearing/speech/sight (or vision). They can be described as visually/hearing impaired or partially sighted: The museum has special facilities for blind and partially sighted visitors.

disablement noun [U] (formal) the state of being disabled or the process of becoming disabled: The insurance policy covers sudden death or disablement.

disabuse verb [VN] ~ sb (of sth) (formal) to tell sb that what they think is true is, in fact, not true

disadvantage NAmE noun [C, U] ~ (of sth)| ~ (to sth) something that causes problems and tends to stop sb/sth from succeeding or making progress: a serious/severe/considerable disadvantage One major disadvantage of the area is the lack of public transport. There are disadvantages to the plan. What's the main disadvantage? I was at a disadvantage compared to the younger members of the team. The fact that he didn't speak a foreign language put him at a distinct disadvantage. I hope my lack of experience won't be to my disadvantage. The advantages of the scheme far outweighed the disadvantages. Many children in the class suffered severe social and economic disadvantage. ADVANTAGE
disadvantage verb: [VN] Some pension plans may disadvantage women.

disadvantaged NAmE
1 adj. not having the things, such as education, or enough money, that people need in order to succeed in life DEPRIVED: disadvantaged groups/children a severely disadvantaged area socially disadvantaged sections of the community ADVANTAGED note at POOR
2 the disadvantagednoun [pl.] people who are disadvantaged

disadvantageous adj. ~ (to/for sb) (formal) causing sb to be in a worse situation compared to other people: The deal will not be disadvantageous to your company. ADVANTAGEOUS

disaffected adj. no longer satisfied with your situation, organization, belief etc. and therefore not loyal to it: Some disaffected members left to form a new party.
disaffection noun [U]: There are signs of growing disaffection amongst voters. The government's response to popular disaffection has been simply to increase security.

disaffiliate verb [V, VN] ~ (sth) (from sth) to end the link between a group, a company, or an organization and a larger one: The local club has disaffiliated from the National Athletic Association.
disaffiliation noun [U]

disafforest NAmE verb [VN] = DEFOREST

disagree verb
1 [V] ~ (with sb) (about/on/over sth) if two people disagree or one person disagrees with another about sth, they have a different opinion about it: Even friends disagree sometimes. He disagreed with his parents on most things. Some people disagree with this argument. No, I disagree. I don't think it would be the right thing to do. [also V that]
2 [V] if statements or reports disagree, they give different information AGREE
disagree with sb if sth, especially food, disagrees with you, it has a bad effect on you and makes you feel ill/sick
disagree with sth/with doing sth to believe that sth is bad or wrong; to disapprove of sth: I disagree with violent protests.

disagreeable adj. (formal)
1 not nice or enjoyable UNPLEASANT: a disagreeable smell/experience/job
2 (of a person) rude and unfriendly UNPLEASANT: a disagreeable bad-tempered man Are you always as disagreeable as this when you don't get what you want? AGREEABLE
disagreeably adv.

disagreement noun
1 [U, C] ~ (about/on/over/as to sth)| ~ (among ... )| ~ between A and B a situation where people have different opinions about sth and often argue: Disagreement arose about exactly how to plan the show. disagreement on the method to be used There is considerable disagreement over the safety of the treatment. It was a source of disagreement between the two states. There is disagreement among archaeologists as to the age of the sculpture. They have had several disagreements with their neighbours. We are in total disagreement as to how to proceed. There's no room for disagreement on this point. AGREEMENT
2 [U, C] ~ between A and B a difference between two things that should be the same: The comparison shows considerable disagreement between theory and practice.

disallow verb [VN] [often passive] to officially refuse to accept sth because it is not valid: to disallow a claim/an appeal The second goal was disallowed.compare ALLOW (6)

disambiguate verb [VN] (technical) to show clearly the difference between two or more words, phrases, etc. which are similar in meaning

disappear NAmE verb [V]
1 [often +adv./prep.] to become impossible to see VANISH: The plane disappeared behind a cloud. Lisa watched until the train disappeared from view.
2 to stop existing VANISH: Her nervousness quickly disappeared once she was on stage. The problem won't just disappear. Our countryside is disappearing at an alarming rate.
3 to be lost or impossible to find VANISH: I can never find a pen in this house. They disappear as soon as I buy them. The child disappeared from his home some time after four.
disappearance NAmE noun [U, C]: the disappearance of many species of plants and animals from our planet Police are investigating the disappearance of a young woman. see ACT n., FACE n.

disappoint verb
1 to make sb feel sad because sth that they hope for or expect to happen does not happen or is not as good as they hoped: [VN] Her decision to cancel the concert is bound to disappoint her fans. I hate to disappoint you, but I'm just not interested. The movie had disappointed her (= it wasn't as good as she had expected). [V] His latest novel does not disappoint. [also VN that]
2 [VN] to prevent sth that sb hopes for from becoming a reality: The new government had soon disappointed the hopes of many of its supporters.

disappointed adj. ~ (at/by sth)| ~ (in/with sb/sth)| ~ (to see, hear, etc.)| ~ (that ... )| ~ (not) to be ... upset because sth you hoped for has not happened or been as good, successful, etc. as you expected: They were bitterly disappointed at the result of the game. I was disappointed by the quality of the wine. I'm disappointed in youI really thought I could trust you! I was very disappointed with myself. He was disappointed to see she wasn't at the party. I'm disappointed (that) it was sold out. She was disappointed not to be chosen.

disappointing adj. not as good, successful, etc. as you had hoped; making you feel disappointed: a disappointing result/performance The outcome of the court case was disappointing for the family involved. The team has had a disappointing start to the season.
disappointingly adv.: The room was disappointingly small.

disappointment noun
1 [U] sadness because sth has not happened or been as good, successful, etc. as you expected or hoped: Book early for the show to avoid disappointment. To our great disappointment, it rained every day of the trip. He found it difficult to hide his disappointment when she didn't arrive.
2 [C] ~ (to sb) a person or thing that is disappointing: a bitter/major disappointment That new restaurant was a big disappointment. I always felt I was a disappointment to my father. He's suffered a whole string of disappointments this week.

disapprobation noun [U] (formal) disapproval of sb/sth that you think is morally wrong

disapproval noun [U] ~ (of sb/sth) a feeling that you do not like an idea, an action or sb's behaviour because you think it is bad, not suitable or going to have a bad effect on sb else: disapproval of his methods to show/express disapproval He shook his head in disapproval. She looked at my clothes with disapproval. APPROVAL

disapprove verb [V] ~ (of sb/sth) to think that sb/sth is not good or suitable; to not approve of sb/sth: She wants to be an actress, but her parents disapprove. He strongly disapproved of the changes that had been made. APPROVE

disapproving adj. showing that you do not approve of sb/sth: a disapproving glance/tone/look She sounded disapproving as we discussed my plans. APPROVING
disapprovingly adv.: He looked disapprovingly at the row of empty wine bottles.

disarm NAmE verb
1 [VN] to take a weapon or weapons away from sb: Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed.
2 [V] (of a country or a group of people) to reduce the size of an army or to give up some or all weapons, especially nuclear weapons: The government was reluctant to disarm.
3 [VN] to make sb feel less angry or critical: He disarmed her immediately by apologizing profusely. The best way to disarm your critics is to make them laugh.compare ARM

disarmament NAmE noun [U] the fact of a country reducing the size of its armed forces or the number of weapons, especially nuclear weapons, that it has: nuclear disarmament disarmament talkscompare ARMAMENT

disarming NAmE adj. making people feel less angry or suspicious than they were before: a disarming smile Her disarming honesty immediately created a much less hostile atmosphere in the room.
disarmingly adv.: disarmingly frank

disarrange verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to make sth untidy

disarray noun [U] a state of confusion and lack of organization in a situation or a place: The peace talks broke up in disarray. Our plans were thrown into disarray by her arrival. We're decorating, so everything's in complete disarray at home.

disassemble verb
1 [VN] to take apart a machine or structure so that it is in separate pieces: We had to completely disassemble the engine to find the problem. ASSEMBLE
2 [VN] (computing) to translate sth from computer code into a language that can be read by humans
3 [V] (formal) (of a group of people) to move apart and go away in different directions: The concert ended and the crowd disassembled.

disassembler noun (computing) a program used to disassemble computer code

disassociate NAmE verb [VN] = DISSOCIATE

disaster NAmE noun
1 [C] an unexpected event, such as a very bad accident, a flood or a fire, that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage CATASTROPHE: an air disaster environmental disasters Thousands died in the disaster. a natural disaster (= one that is caused by nature)
2 [C, U] a very bad situation that causes problems: Losing your job doesn't have to be such a disaster. Disaster struck when the wheel came off. financial disaster The discovery of the disease among sheep spells financial disaster for farmers. Letting her organize the party is a recipe for disaster (= something that is likely to go badly wrong).
3 [C, U] (informal) a complete failure: As a teacher, he's a disaster. The play's first night was a total disaster. see WAIT v.

disaster area noun
1 a place where a disaster has happened and which needs special help
2 (informal) a place or situation that has a lot of problems, is a failure, or is badly organized: Housing is another disaster area for the government. His office was a disaster area with papers piled everywhere.

disastrous NAmE adj. very bad, harmful or unsuccessful CATASTROPHIC, DEVASTATING: a disastrous harvest/fire/result Lowering interest rates could have disastrous consequences for the economy. It was a disastrous start to the season for the team.
disastrously adv.: How could everything go so disastrously wrong?

disavow verb [VN] (formal) to state publicly that you have no knowledge of sth or that you are not responsible for sth/sb: They disavowed claims of a split in the party.
disavowal noun [C, U]

disband verb to stop sb/sth from operating as a group; to separate or no longer operate as a group: [VN] They set about disbanding the terrorist groups. [V] The committee formally disbanded in August.
disbandment noun [U]

disbar verb (-rr-) [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (from sth/from doing sth) to stop a lawyer from working in the legal profession, especially because he or she has done sth illegal

disbelief noun [U] the feeling of not being able to believe sth: He stared at me in disbelief. To enjoy the movie you have to suspend your disbelief (= pretend to believe sth, even if it seems very unlikely).compare BELIEF (3), UNBELIEF

disbelieve verb (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to not believe that sth is true or that sb is telling the truth: [VN] Why should I disbelieve her story? [also V]
disbelieving adj.: a disbelieving look/smile/laugh disbelievingly adv.
disbelieve in sth to not believe that sth exists

disburse NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to pay money to sb from a large amount that has been collected for a purpose: The funds were to be disbursed in two instalments.
disbursement noun [U, C]: the disbursement of funds aid disbursements

disc (also disk especially in NAmE) noun
1 a thin flat round object: He wears an identity disc around his neck.
2 = CD: This recording is available on disc or cassette.
3 (BrE) a disk for a computer
4 (old-fashioned) = RECORD (2)
5 a structure made of CARTILAGE between the bones of the back: He's been off work with a slipped disc (= one that has moved from its correct position, causing pain).

discard verb, noun
verb NAmE
1 [VN] ~ sb/sth (as sth) to get rid of sth that you no longer want or need: The room was littered with discarded newspapers. He had discarded his jacket because of the heat. 10% of the data was discarded as unreliable (figurative) She could now discard all thought of promotion.
2 [VN, V] (in card games) to get rid of a card that you do not want
noun NAmE a person or thing that is not wanted or thrown away, especially a card in a card game

disc brake noun [usually pl.] a BRAKE that works by two surfaces pressing onto a disc in the centre of a wheel

discern NAmE verb (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal)
1 to know, recognize or understand sth, especially sth that is not obvious DETECT: [VN] It is possible to discern a number of different techniques in her work. He discerned a certain coldness in their welcome. [V wh-] It is often difficult to discern how widespread public support is. [also V that]
2 [VN] to see or hear sth, but not very clearly MAKE OUT: We could just discern the house in the distance. note at IDENTIFY
discernible adj. PERCEPTIBLE: There is often no discernible difference between rival brands. His face was barely discernible in the gloom.

discerning NAmE adj. (approving) able to show good judgement about the quality of sb/sth: The discerning customer will recognize this as a high quality product.

discernment NAmE noun [U] (formal, approving) the ability to show good judgement about the quality of sb/sth DISCRIMINATION: He shows great discernment in his choice of friends. She is a woman of the highest taste and discernment.

discharge verb, noun
verb NAmE
FROM HOSPITAL/JOB
1 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (from sth) to give sb official permission to leave a place or job; to make sb leave a job: Patients were being discharged from the hospital too early. She had discharged herself against medical advice. He was discharged from the army following his injury. She was discharged from the police force for bad conduct.
FROM PRISON/COURT
2 [VN] [often passive] to allow sb to leave prison or court: He was conditionally discharged after admitting the theft.
GAS/LIQUID
3 ~ (sth) (into sth) when a gas or a liquid discharges or is discharged, or sb discharges it, it flows somewhere: [V] The river is diverted through the power station before discharging into the sea. [VN] The factory was fined for discharging chemicals into the river.
FORCE/POWER
4 (technical) to release force or power: [VN] Lightning is caused by clouds discharging electricity. [also V]
DUTY
5 [VN] (formal) to do everything that is necessary to perform and complete a particular duty: to discharge your duties/responsibilities/obligations to discharge a debt (= to pay it)
GUN
6 [VN] (formal) to fire a gun, etc.
noun NAmE
OF LIQUID/GAS
1 [U, C] the action of releasing a substance such as a liquid or gas; a substance that comes out from inside somewhere: a ban on the discharge of toxic waste thunder and lightning caused by electrical discharges nasal/vaginal discharge (= from the nose/ VAGINA)
FROM HOSPITAL/JOB
2 [U, C] ~ (from sth) the act of officially allowing sb, or of telling sb, to leave somewhere, especially sb in a hospital or the army
OF DUTY
3 [U] (formal) the act of performing a task or a duty or of paying money that is owed: the discharge of debts/obligations Arrangements have been made for the discharge of mortgage payments.

disciple noun
1 a person who believes in and follows the teachings of a religious or political leader FOLLOWER: a disciple of the economist John Maynard Keynes
2 (according to the Bible) one of the people who followed Jesus Christ and his teachings when he was living on earth, especially one of the twelve APOSTLES

disciplinarian NAmE noun a person who believes in using rules and punishments for controlling people: She's a very strict disciplinarian.

disciplinary NAmE adj. connected with the punishment of people who break rules: a disciplinary hearing (= to decide if sb has done sth wrong) The company will be taking disciplinary action against him. She will have to explain her actions before the disciplinary committee.

discipline noun, verb
noun
1 [U] the practice of training people to obey rules and orders and punishing them if they do not; the controlled behaviour or situation that results from this training: The school has a reputation for high standards of discipline. Strict discipline is imposed on army recruits. She keeps good discipline in class. Lack of discipline at home meant that many pupils found it difficult to settle in to the ordered environment of the school.
2 [C] a method of training your mind or body or of controlling your behaviour; an area of activity where this is necessary: Yoga is a good discipline for learning to relax.
3 [U] the ability to control your behaviour or the way you live, work, etc.: He'll never get anywhere working for himselfhe's got no discipline. Her determination and discipline were admirable.see also SELF-DISCIPLINE
4 [C] an area of knowledge; a subject that people study or are taught, especially in a university: The new recruits were drawn from a range of academic disciplines.
verb
1 [VN] ~ sb (for sth) to punish sb for sth they have done: The officers were disciplined for using racist language.
2 [VN] to train sb, especially a child, to obey particular rules and control the way they behave: a guide to the best ways of disciplining your child
3 ~ yourself to control the way you behave and make yourself do things that you believe you should do: [VN to inf] He disciplined himself to exercise at least three times a week. [VN] Dieting is a matter of disciplining yourself.
disciplined adj.: a disciplined army/team a disciplined approach to work

disc jockey noun (abbr. DJ) (also deejay) a person whose job is to introduce and play popular recorded music, on radio or television or at a club

disclaim verb [VN] (formal)
1 to state publicly that you have no knowledge of sth, or that you are not responsible for sth DENY: She disclaimed any knowledge of her husband's whereabouts. The rebels disclaimed all responsibility for the explosion.
2 to give up your right to sth, such as property or a title RENOUNCE

disclaimer noun
1 (formal) a statement in which sb says that they are not connected with or responsible for sth, or that they do not have any knowledge of it
2 (law) a statement in which a person says officially that they do not claim the right to do sth

disclose NAmE verb
1 ~ sth (to sb) to give sb information about sth, especially sth that was previously secret REVEAL: [VN] The spokesman refused to disclose details of the takeover to the press. [V that] The report discloses that human error was to blame for the accident. [VN that] It was disclosed that two women were being interviewed by the police. [also V wh-]
2 [VN] (formal) to allow sth that was hidden to be seen REVEAL: The door swung open, disclosing a long dark passage.

disclosure NAmE noun (formal)
1 [U] the act of making sth known or public that was previously secret or private REVELATION: the newspaper's disclosure of defence secrets The bank will need full disclosure of your financial situation and assets. The court ruled to prevent public disclosure of the contents of the documents.
2 [C] information or a fact that is made known or public that was previously secret or private REVELATION: startling disclosures about his private life

disco NAmE (pl. -os) noun
1 (also old-fashioned discotheque) a club, a party, etc. where people dance to recorded pop music: disco music/dancing the youth club disco
2 the lights and sound equipment for such an event

discography NAmE noun (pl. discographies)
1 [C] all of the music that has been performed, written or collected by a particular person; a list of this music
2 [U] the study of musical recordings or collections

discoloration (BrE also discolouration) noun
1 [U] the process of becoming discoloured: discoloration caused by the sun
2 [C] a place where sth has become discoloured: He began to notice a few small brown discolorations on his skin and made an appointment to see the doctor.

discolour (BrE) (NAmE discolor) verb to change colour, or to make the colour of sth change, in a way that makes it look less attractive: [V] Plastic tends to discolour with age. [VN] The pipes were beginning to rust, discolouring the water.

discomfit verb [VN] [often passive] (literary) to make sb feel confused or embarrassed: He was not noticeably discomfited by the request.
discomfiture noun [U]: He was clearly taking delight in her discomfiture.

discomfort NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U] a feeling of slight pain or of being physically uncomfortable: You will experience some minor discomfort during the treatment. abdominal discomfort
2 [U] a feeling of worry or embarrassment UNEASE: John's presence caused her considerable discomfort. I could sense their discomfort at what I was saying.
3 [C] (formal) something that makes you feel uncomfortable or causes you a slight feeling of pain: the dangers and discomforts of a life at sea
verb [VN] [often passive] (formal) to make sb feel anxious or embarrassed: Many patients complained of being discomforted by the doctor's manner.

discompose NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to disturb sb and make them feel anxious DISCONCERT, DISTURB
discomposure NAmE noun [U]

disconcert NAmE verb [VN] to make sb feel anxious, confused or embarrassed DISTURB: His answer rather disconcerted her.
disconcerted adj.: I was disconcerted to find that everyone else already knew it. disconcerting adj.: She had the disconcerting habit of saying exactly what she thought. disconcertingly adv.

disconnect verb
1 [VN] ~ sth (from sth) to remove a piece of equipment from a supply of gas, water or electricity: First, disconnect the boiler from the water mains. It was the family's decision to disconnect her from the life-support machine.
2 [VN] [usually passive] to officially stop the supply of telephone lines, water, electricity or gas to a building: You may be disconnected if you do not pay the bill.
3 [VN] ~ sth (from sth) to separate sth from sth: The ski had become disconnected from the boot.
4 [VN] [usually passive] to break the contact between two people who are talking on the telephone: We were suddenly disconnected.
5 ~ (sb) (from sth) [often passive] to end a connection to the Internet: [VN] I keep getting disconnected when I'm online. [V] My computer crashes every time I disconnect from the Internet. CONNECT
disconnection noun [U, C]: Customer disconnections have fallen by 30% over the past year.

disconnected adj.
1 not related to or connected with the things or people around: disconnected images/thoughts/ideas I felt disconnected from the world around me.
2 (of speech or writing) with the parts not connected in a logical order DISJOINTED, INCOHERENT

disconsolate NAmE adj. (formal) very unhappy and disappointed DEJECTED: The disconsolate players left for home without a trophy.
disconsolately adv.: He wandered disconsolately around the town in the pouring rain.

discontent (also discontentment ) noun [U, C] ~ (at/over/with sth) a feeling of being unhappy because you are not satisfied with a particular situation; sth that makes you have this feeling DISSATISFACTION: There is widespread discontent among the staff at the proposed changes to pay and conditions. (formal) There are a wide variety of popular discontents which need discussing.compare CONTENTMENT

discontented adj. ~ (with sth) unhappy because you are not satisfied with your situation DISSATISFIED: He felt discontented with the way his life had turned out. discontented party members CONTENTED
discontentedly adv.

discontinue verb
1 to stop doing, using or providing sth, especially sth that you have been doing, using or providing regularly: [VN] It was decided to discontinue the treatment after three months. The company has discontinued the practice of providing the staff with free lunches. [also V -ing]
2 [VN] [usually passive] to stop making a product: a sale of discontinued china

discontinuity NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (formal)
1 [U] the state of not being continuous: discontinuity in the children's education
2 [C] a break or change in a continuous process: Changes in government led to discontinuities in policy. CONTINUITY

discontinuous adj. (formal) not continuous; stopping and starting again INTERMITTENT: Women typically have discontinuous patterns of employment.

discord NAmE noun
1 [U] (formal) disagreement; arguing: marital/family discord A note of discord surfaced during the proceedings. CONCORDcompare HARMONY
2 [C, U] (music) a combination of musical notes that do not sound pleasant together

discordant NAmE adj.
1 [usually before noun] (formal) not in agreement; combining with other things in a way that is strange or unpleasant: discordant views The functional modernity of the computer struck a discordant note amid the elegant eighteenth-century furniture.
2 (of sounds) not sounding pleasant together HARMONIOUS

discotheque noun (old-fashioned) = DISCO

discount noun, verb
noun [C, U] ~ on/off sth an amount of money that is taken off the usual cost of sth REDUCTION: to get/give/offer a discount discount rates/prices They're offering a 10% discount on all sofas this month. They were selling everything at a discount (= at reduced prices). a discount shop (= one that regularly sells goods at reduced prices) Do you give any discount?
verb NAmE [VN]
1 ~ sth (as sth) (formal) to think or say that sth is not important or not true DISMISS: We cannot discount the possibility of further strikes. The news reports were being discounted as propaganda.
2 to take an amount of money off the usual cost of sth; to sell sth at a discount REDUCE: discounted prices/fares Most of our stock has been discounted by up to 40%.

discounter (also discount store) noun a shop/store that sells things very cheaply, often in large quantities or from a limited range of goods

discount rate noun (finance)
1 the minimum rate of interest that banks in the US and some other countries must pay when they borrow money from other banks
2 the amount that the price of a BILL OF EXCHANGE is reduced by when it is bought before it reaches its full value
3 the rate at which an investment increases in value each year

discourage NAmE verb
1 ~ sth| ~ sb from doing sth to try to prevent sth or to prevent sb from doing sth, especially by making it difficult to do or by showing that you do not approve of it: [VN] a campaign to discourage smoking among teenagers I leave a light on when I'm out to discourage burglars. His parents tried to discourage him from being an actor. [also V -ing]
2 [VN] ~ sb (from doing sth) to make sb feel less confident or enthusiastic about doing sth DISHEARTEN: Don't be discouraged by the first failuretry again! The weather discouraged people from attending. ENCOURAGE
discouraged adj. [not usually before noun] DISHEARTENED: Learners can feel very discouraged if an exercise is too difficult. discouraging adj.: a discouraging experience/response/result discouragingly adv.

discouragement NAmE noun
1 [U] a feeling that you no longer have the confidence or enthusiasm to do sth: an atmosphere of discouragement and despair
2 [U] the action of trying to stop sth: the government's discouragement of political protest
3 [C] a thing that discourages sb from doing sth: Despite all these discouragements, she refused to give up. The rise in fuel prices is intended to act as a discouragement to car users from using their cars.

discourse noun, verb
noun NAmE
1 [C, U] (formal) a long and serious treatment or discussion of a subject in speech or writing: a discourse on issues of gender and sexuality He was hoping for some lively political discourse at the meeting.
2 [U] (linguistics) the use of language in speech and writing in order to produce meaning; language that is studied, usually in order to see how the different parts of a text are connected: spoken/written discourse discourse analysis
verb NAmE
discourse on/upon sth (formal) to talk or give a long speech about sth that you know a lot about: He discoursed for hours on the problems of the education system.

discourse marker noun (grammar) a word or phrase that organizes spoken language into different parts, for example 'Well ...' or 'On the other hand ...'

discourteous NAmE adj. (formal) having bad manners and not showing respect for other people IMPOLITE: He didn't wish to appear discourteous. COURTEOUS note at RUDE

discourtesy NAmE noun [U, C] (pl. -ies) (formal) behaviour or an action that is not polite

discover verb
1 [VN] to be the first person to become aware that a particular place or thing exists: Cook is credited with discovering Hawaii. Scientists around the world are working to discover a cure for AIDS.
2 to find sb/sth that was hidden or that you did not expect to find: [VN] Police discovered a large stash of drugs while searching the house. We discovered this beach while we were sailing around the island. [VN -ing] He was discovered hiding in a shed. [VN-ADJ] She was discovered dead at her home in Leeds.
3 to find out about sth; to find some information about sth: [VN] I've just discovered hang-gliding! [V (that)] It was a shock to discover (that) he couldn't read. [V wh-] We never did discover why she gave up her job. [VN that] It was later discovered that the diaries were a fraud. [VN to inf] He was later discovered to be seriously ill. This pattern is usually used in the passive.
4 [VN] [often passive] to be the first person to realize that sb is very good at singing, acting, etc. and help them to become successful and famous: The singer was discovered while still at school.
discoverer noun: the discoverer of penicillin I was the lucky discoverer of a very valuable painting.

discovery noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C, U] ~ (of sth)| ~ (that ... ) an act or the process of finding sb/sth, or learning about sth that was not known about before: the discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century The discovery of a child's body in the river has shocked the community. Researchers in this field have made some important new discoveries. He saw life as a voyage of discovery. She was shocked by the discovery that he had been unfaithful. the discovery of new talent in the art world In 1974 Hawking made the discovery (= he discovered) that black holes give off radiation.
2 [C] a thing, fact or person that is found or learned about for the first time: The drug is not a new discoveryit's been known about for years.

discredit verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 to make people stop respecting sb/sth: The photos were deliberately taken to discredit the President. a discredited government/policy
2 to make people stop believing that sth is true; to make sth appear unlikely to be true: These theories are now largely discredited among linguists. This new evidence discredits earlier findings.
noun [U] (formal) damage to sb's reputation; loss of respect: Violent football fans bring discredit on the teams they support. Britain, to its discredit, did not speak out against these atrocities. My brother's behaviour did great discredit to the family.compare CREDIT n. (7)

discreditable adj. (formal) bad and unacceptable; causing people to lose respect

discreet
(WORD FAMILY: discreet adj. indiscreet | discretion noun indiscretion) adj. careful in what you say or do, in order to keep sth secret or to avoid causing embarrassment or difficulty for sb TACTFUL: He was always very discreet about his love affairs. You ought to make a few discreet enquiries before you sign anything. A discreet glance at the clock told me the interview had lasted an hour.
discreetly adv.: She coughed discreetly to announce her presence.

discrepancy noun (pl. -ies) [C, U] ~ (in sth)| ~ (between A and B) a difference between two or more things that should be the same: wide discrepancies in prices quoted for the work What are the reasons for the discrepancy between girls' and boys' performance in school?

discrete adj. (formal or technical) independent of other things of the same type SEPARATE: The organisms can be divided into discrete categories.
discretely adv. discreteness noun [U]

discretion noun [U]
1 the freedom or power to decide what should be done in a particular situation: I'll leave it up to you to use your discretion. How much to tell terminally ill patients is left to the discretion of the doctor.
2 care in what you say or do, in order to keep sth secret or to avoid causing embarrassment to or difficulty for sb; the quality of being DISCREET: This is confidential, but I know that I can rely on your discretion. Jane is the soul of discretion (= you can trust her). Use the utmost discretion when you talk to her.compare INDISCRETION note at CARE
at sb's discretion according to what sb decides or wishes to do: Bail is granted at the discretion of the court. There is no service charge and tipping is at your discretion.
discretion is the better part of valour (saying) you should avoid danger and not take unnecessary risks

discretionary NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (formal) decided according to the judgement of a person in authority about what is necessary in each particular situation; not decided by rules: You may be eligible for a discretionary grant for your university course.

discriminate verb
1 ~ (between A and B)| ~ A from B to recognize that there is a difference between people or things; to show a difference between people or things DIFFERENTIATE, DISTINGUISH: [V] The computer program was unable to discriminate between letters and numbers. [VN] When do babies learn to discriminate voices? A number of features discriminate this species from others.
2 [V] ~ (against sb)| ~ (in favour of sb) to treat one person or group worse/better than another in an unfair way: practices that discriminate against women and in favour of men It is illegal to discriminate on grounds of race, sex or religion.

discriminating adj. (approving) able to judge the good quality of sth DISCERNING: a discriminating audience/customer

discrimination noun
1 [U] ~ (against sb)| ~ (in favour of sb) the practice of treating sb or a particular group in society less fairly than others: age/racial/sex/sexual discrimination (= because of sb's age, race or sex) discrimination against the elderly discrimination in favour of the young discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, or sexual orientationsee also POSITIVE DISCRIMINATION
2 [U] (approving) the ability to judge what is good, true, etc. DISCERNMENT: He showed great discrimination in his choice of friends.
3 (formal) [U, C] the ability to recognize a difference between one thing and another; a difference that is recognized: to learn discrimination between right and wrong fine discriminations

discriminatory NAmE adj. unfair; treating sb or one group of people worse than others: discriminatory practices/rules/measures sexually/racially discriminatory laws

discursive NAmE adj. (of a style of writing or speaking) moving from one point to another without any strict structure: the discursive style of the novel

discus noun
1 [C] a heavy flat round object thrown in a sporting event
2 the discus [sing.] the event or sport of throwing a discus as far as possible

discuss verb
1 ~ sth (with sb) to talk about sth with sb, especially in order to decide sth: [VN] Have you discussed the problem with anyone? I'm not prepared to discuss this on the phone. They met to discuss the possibility of working together. [V wh-] We need to discuss when we should go. [V -ing] We briefly discussed buying a second car. [also VN -ing] You cannot say 'discuss about sth': I discussed about my problem with my parents. Look also at discussion.
2 to write or talk about sth in detail, showing the different ideas and opinions about it: [VN] This topic will be discussed at greater length in the next chapter. [also V wh-]

discussion noun [U, C]
1 ~ (with sb) (about/on sb/sth) the process of discussing sb/sth; a conversation about sb/sth: a topic/subject for discussion After considerable discussion, they decided to accept our offer. The plans have been under discussion (= being talked about) for a year now. Discussions are still taking place between the two leaders. We had a discussion with them about the differences between Britain and the US. A lively discussion followed about whether he should be allowed to join the club.
2 ~ (of sth) a speech or a piece of writing that discusses many different aspects of a subject: Her article is a discussion of the methods used in research.

SYNONYMS

discussion

conversation dialogue talk consultation chat gossip

These are all words for a conversation about sth.

discussion a detailed conversation about sth that is considered to be important: Discussions are still taking place between the two leaders.

conversation a talk, usually a private or informal one, involving two people or a small group; the activity of talking in this way: a telephone conversation

dialogue conversations in a book, play or film: The novel has long descriptions and not much dialogue. A dialogue is also a formal discussion between two groups, especially when they are trying to solve a problem or end a dispute: The President told waiting reporters there had been a constructive dialogue.

talk a conversation or discussion, often one about a problem or sth important for the people involved: I had a long talk with my boss about my career prospects.

consultation a formal discussion between groups of people before a decision is made about sth: There have been extensive consultations between the two countries.

chat a friendly informal conversation; informal talking. The countable use of chat is especially British English: I just called in for a chat about the kids.

gossip a conversation about other people and their private lives: We had a good gossip about the boss.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

a discussion/conversation/dialogue/consultation/chat/gossip about sth

a discussion/conversation/dialogue/consultation on sth

in (close) discussion/conversation/dialogue/consultation with sb

a brief/short/long discussion/conversation/talk/consultation/chat/gossip

to have a discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/consultation/chat/gossip with sb

to hold a discussion/conversation/dialogue/consultation

to bring a discussion/conversation around/round to

disdain noun, verb
noun [U, sing.] ~ (for sb/sth) the feeling that sb/sth is not good enough to deserve your respect or attention CONTEMPT: to treat sb with disdain a disdain for the law He turned his head away in disdain.
verb (formal)
1 [VN] to think that sb/sth is not good enough to deserve your respect: She disdained his offer of help. Immigrants accept the jobs disdained by the local workforce.
2 [V to inf] to refuse to do sth because you think that you are too important to do it: He disdained to turn to his son for advice.

disdainful adj. ~ (of sb/sth) showing disdain CONTEMPTUOUS, DISMISSIVE: She's always been disdainful of people who haven't been to college.
disdainfully adv.

disease noun [U, C]
1 an illness affecting humans, animals or plants, often caused by infection: heart/liver/kidney, etc. disease health measures to prevent the spread of disease an infectious/contagious disease (= one that can be passed to sb very easily) It is not known what causes the disease. protection against sexually transmitted diseases He suffers from a rare blood disease. A fatty diet increases the risk of heart disease. the problem of controlling pests and disease with organic gardening methods
2 [C] (formal) something that is very wrong with people's attitudes, way of life or with society: Greed is a disease of modern society.

SYNONYMS

disease

illness disorder infection condition ailment bug

These are all words for a medical problem.

disease a medical problem affecting humans, animals or plants, often caused by infection: He suffers from a rare blood disease.

illness a medical problem, or a period of suffering from one: She died after a long illness.

DISEASE OR ILLNESS?

Disease is used to talk about more severe physical medical problems, especially those that affect the organs. Illness is used to talk about both more severe and more minor medical problems, and those that affect mental health: heart/kidney/liver illness mental disease. Disease is not used about a period of illness: she died after a long disease

disorder (rather formal) an illness that causes a part of the body to stop functioning correctly: a rare disorder of the liver. A disorder is generally not infectious. Disorder occurs most frequently with words relating to mental problems, for example psychiatric, personality, mental and eating. When it is used to talk about physical problems, it most often occurs with blood, bowel and kidney, and these are commonly serious, severe or rare.

infection an illness that is caused by bacteria or a virus and that affects one part of the body: a throat infection

condition a medical problem that you have for a long time because it is not possible to cure it: a heart condition

ailment (rather formal) an illness that is not very serious: childhood ailments

bug (informal) an infectious illness that is usually fairly mild: a nasty flu bug

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

(a) bowel/heart/liver/respiratory disease/disorder/condition

a mental/psychiatric/psychological illness/disorder/condition

to have/suffer from a(n) disease/illness/disorder/infection/condition/ailment/bug

to catch/contract/get/pick up a(n) disease/illness/infection/bug

to carry/pass on/spread/transmit a(n) disease/illness/infection

diseased adj. suffering from a disease: diseased tissue the diseased social system

disembark NAmE verb [V] ~ (from sth) (formal) to leave a vehicle, especially a ship or an aircraft, at the end of a journey EMBARK
disembarkation NAmE noun [U]: Please assemble on the deck for disembarkation.

disembodied NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 (of sounds) coming from a person or place that cannot be seen or identified: a disembodied voice
2 separated from the body: disembodied spirits

disembowel verb (-ll-, NAmE -l-) [VN] to take the stomach, BOWELS and other organs out of a person or animal

disenchanted NAmE adj. ~ (with sb/sth) no longer feeling enthusiasm for sb/sth; not believing sth is good or worth doing DISILLUSIONED: He was becoming disenchanted with his job as a lawyer.
disenchantment noun [U]: a growing sense/feeling of disenchantment with his job

disenfranchise verb [VN] to take away sb's rights, especially their right to vote ENFRANCHISE

disengage verb
1 ~ (sth/sb) (from sth/sb)| ~ yourself (from sb/sth) to free sb/sth from the person or thing that is holding them or it; to become free: [VN] She gently disengaged herself from her sleeping son. to disengage the clutch (= when driving a car) (figurative) They wished to disengage themselves from these policies. [V] We saw the booster rockets disengage and fall into the sea.
2 [V, VN] (technical) if an army disengages or sb disengages it, it stops fighting and moves awaycompare ENGAGE
disengagement noun [U]

disentangle verb [VN]
1 ~ sth (from sth) to separate different arguments, ideas, etc. that have become confused: It's not easy to disentangle the truth from the official statistics. It is important to disentangle all the factors that may be causing your stress.
2 ~ sth/sb (from sth) to free sb/sth from sth that has become wrapped or twisted around it or them: He tried to disentangle his fingers from her hair. (figurative) She has just disentangled herself from a painful relationship.
3 to get rid of the twists and knots in sth: He was sitting on the deck disentangling a coil of rope.compare ENTANGLE

disequilibrium noun [U] (formal or technical) a loss or lack of balance in a situation

disestablish verb [VN] (formal) to end the official status of a national Church: a campaign to disestablish the Church of England
disestablishment noun [U]

disfavour (BrE) (NAmE disfavor) noun [U] (formal) the feeling that you do not like or approve of sb/sth: They looked upon the birth of a girl with disfavour. She seems to have fallen into disfavour with the director.

disfigure NAmE verb [VN] to spoil the appearance of a person, thing or place: Her face was disfigured by a long red scar. An ugly power station disfigures the landscape.
disfigurement noun [U, C]: He suffered permanent disfigurement in the fire.

disgorge NAmE verb [VN] (formal)
1 to pour sth out in large quantities: The pipe disgorges sewage into the sea.
2 if a vehicle or building disgorges people, they come out of it in large numbers: The bus disgorged a crowd of noisy children.

disgrace noun, verb
noun
1 [U] the loss of other people's respect and approval because of the bad way sb has behaved SHAME: Her behaviour has brought disgrace on her family. The swimmer was sent home from the Olympics in disgrace. There is no disgrace in being poor. Sam was in disgrace with his parents.
2 [sing.] a ~ (to sb/sth) a person or thing that is so bad that people connected with them or it feel or should feel ashamed: Your homework is an absolute disgrace. That sort of behaviour is a disgrace to the legal profession. The state of our roads is a national disgrace. It's a disgrace that (= it is very wrong that) they are paid so little.
verb [VN]
1 to behave badly in a way that makes you or other people feel ashamed: I disgraced myself by drinking far too much. He had disgraced the family name.
2 be disgraced to lose the respect of people, usually so that you lose a position of power: He was publicly disgraced and sent into exile. a disgraced politician/leader

disgraceful adj. very bad or unacceptable; that people should feel ashamed about: His behaviour was absolutely disgraceful! It's disgraceful that none of the family tried to help her. a disgraceful waste of money
disgracefully adv.

disgruntled adj. ~ (at sb/sth) annoyed or disappointed because sth has happened to upset you: I left feeling disgruntled at the way I'd been treated. disgruntled employees

disguise verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 ~ sb (as sb/sth) to change your appearance so that people cannot recognize you: The hijackers were heavily disguised. She disguised herself as a boy. They got in disguised as security guards.
2 to hide sth or change it, so that it cannot be recognized CONCEAL: She made no attempt to disguise her surprise. It was a thinly disguised attack on the President. She couldn't disguise the fact that she felt uncomfortable. He tried to disguise his accent. note at HIDE
noun
1 [C, U] a thing that you wear or use to change your appearance so that people do not recognize you: She wore glasses and a wig as a disguise. The star travelled in disguise (= wearing a disguise). (figurative) A vote for the Liberal Democrats is just a Labour vote in disguise.
2 [U] the art of changing your appearance so that people do not recognize you: He is a master of disguise. see BLESSING

disgust noun, verb
noun [U] ~ (at/with sth)| ~ (for sb) a strong feeling of dislike or disapproval for sb/sth that you feel is unacceptable, or for sth that looks, smells, etc. unpleasant: She expressed her disgust at the programme by writing a letter of complaint. The idea fills me with disgust. I can only feel disgust for these criminals. He walked away in disgust. Much to my disgust, they refused to help. She wrinkled her nose in disgust at the smell.
verb [VN] if sth disgusts you, it makes you feel shocked and almost ill/sick because it is so unpleasant: The level of violence in the film really disgusted me.

disgusted adj. ~ (at/by/with sb/sth/yourself) feeling or showing disgust: I was disgusted at/by the sight. He was disgusted to see such awful living conditions. I was disgusted with myself for eating so much.
disgustedly adv.: 'This champagne is warm!', he said disgustedly.

disgusting adj.
1 extremely unpleasant REVOLTING: The kitchen was in a disgusting state when she left. What a disgusting smell!
2 unacceptable and shocking DESPICABLE, OUTRAGEOUS: I think it's disgusting that they're closing the local hospital. His language is disgusting (= he uses a lot of offensive words).

SYNONYMS

disgusting

revolting foul repulsive offensive gross nauseating

These words all describe sth, especially a smell, taste or habit, that is extremely unpleasant and often makes you feel slightly ill.

disgusting extremely unpleasant and making you feel slightly ill: What a disgusting smell!

revolting extremely unpleasant and making you feel slightly ill: The stew looked revolting.

DISGUSTING OR REVOLTING?

Both of these words are used to describe things that smell and taste unpleasant, unpleasant personal habits and people who have them. There is no real difference in meaning, but disgusting is more frequent, especially in spoken English.

foul dirty, and tasting or smelling bad : She could smell his foul breath.

repulsive (rather formal) extremely unpleasant in a way that offends you or makes you feel slighly ill. Repulsive usually describes people, their behaviour or habits, which you may find offensive for physical or moral reasons.

offensive (formal) (especially of smells) extremely unpleasant.

gross (informal) (of a smell, taste or personal habit) extremely unpleasant.

nauseating making you feel that you want to vomit: the nauseating smell of burning flesh

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

disgusting/revolting/repulsive/offensive to sb

to find sb/sth disgusting/revolting/repulsive/offensive/nauseating

to smell/taste disgusting/revolting/foul/repulsive/gross

a(n) disgusting/revolting/foul/repulsive/offensive/gross/nauseating smell/taste/habit

disgusting/revolting/foul/repulsive/offensive/gross behaviour

a disgusting/revolting/repulsive man/woman/person

absolutely/pretty disgusting/revolting/foul/repulsive/gross/nauseating

disgustingly adv.
1 (sometimes humorous) extremely (in a way that other people feel jealous of): He looked disgustingly healthy when he got back from the Bahamas.
2 in a disgusting way: disgustingly dirty

dish noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a flat shallow container for cooking food in or serving it from: a glass dish an ovenproof dish a baking/serving dish They helped themselves from a large dish of pasta.
2 the dishes [pl.] the plates, bowls, cups, etc. that have been used for a meal and need to be washed: I'll do the dishes (= wash them).
3 [C] food prepared in a particular way as part of a meal: a vegetarian/fish dish This makes an excellent hot main dish. I can recommend the chef's dish of the day.see also SIDE DISH
4 [C] any object that is shaped like a dish or bowl: a soap dishsee also SATELLITE DISH
5 [C] (informal) a sexually attractive person: What a dish!
verb
dish the dirt (on sb) (informal) to tell people unkind or unpleasant things about sb, especially about their private life: She loves to dish the dirt on her sisters.
dish it out (disapproving) to criticize other people: He enjoys dishing it out, but he really can't take it (= cannot accept criticism from other people).
dish sthout
1 (informal) to give sth, often to a lot of people or in large amounts: Students dished out leaflets to passers-by. She's always dishing out advice, even when you don't want it.
2 to serve food onto plates for a meal: Can you dish out the potatoes, please?
dish up| dish sthup to serve food onto plates for a meal
dish up sth to offer sth to sb, especially sth that is not very good

dishabille adj. = DÉSHABILLÉ

disharmony NAmE noun [U] (formal) a lack of agreement about important things, which causes bad feelings between people or groups of people: marital/racial/social disharmony HARMONY

dishcloth NAmE (NAmE usually dishrag) noun a cloth for washing dishes

dishearten NAmE verb [VN] to make sb lose hope or confidence DISCOURAGE: Don't let this defeat dishearten you.
disheartened adj.: a disheartened team disheartening NAmE adj.: a disheartening experience

dishevelled (especially BrE) (NAmE usually disheveled) adj. (of hair, clothes or sb's general appearance) very untidy UNKEMPT: He looked tired and dishevelled.

dishonest NAmE adj. not honest; intending to trick people: Beware of dishonest traders in the tourist areas. I don't like him, and it would be dishonest of me to pretend otherwise. HONEST
dishonestly adv.: He was accused of dishonestly obtaining property. dishonesty noun [U]: Five civil servants were dismissed for dishonesty and misconduct.

dishonour (BrE) (NAmE dishonor) NAmE noun, verb
noun [U] (formal) a loss of honour or respect because you have done sth immoral or unacceptable: Her actions have brought shame and dishonour on the profession.
verb [VN] (formal)
1 to make sb/sth lose the respect of other people: You have dishonoured the name of the school.
2 to refuse to keep an agreement or promise: He had dishonoured nearly all of his election pledges. HONOUR

dishonourable (BrE) (NAmE dishonorable) NAmE adj. not deserving respect; immoral or unacceptable: It would have been dishonourable of her not to keep her promise. He was given a dishonourable discharge (= an order to leave the army for unacceptable behaviour). HONOURABLE
dishonourably adv.: She acted dishonourably in accepting money for information.

dishpan noun (NAmE) a bowl for washing plates, etc. in

dishrag noun (NAmE) = DISHCLOTH

dishtowel noun (NAmE) = TEA TOWEL

dishwasher NAmE noun
1 a machine for washing plates, cups, etc.: to load/stack the dishwasher Are these glasses dishwasher safe?
2 a person whose job is to wash plates, etc., for example in a restaurant

dishwater noun [U] water that sb has used to wash dirty plates, etc.: (humorous) The coffee looked and tasted like dishwater (= it was weak and unpleasant). see DULL adj.

dishy adj. (dishier, dishiest) (old-fashioned informal, especially BrE) (of a person) physically attractive

disillusion verb [VN] to destroy sb's belief in or good opinion of sb/sth: I hate to disillusion you, but not everyone is as honest as you.
disillusion noun [U] = DISILLUSIONMENT

disillusioned adj. ~ (by/with sb/sth) disappointed because the person you admired or the idea you believed to be good and true now seems without value DISENCHANTED: I soon became disillusioned with the job. I feel utterly disillusioned by his refusal to take any action. Her book is the testimony of a disillusioned woman.

disillusionment (also disillusion) noun [U, sing.] ~ (with sth) the state of being disillusioned DISENCHANTMENT: There is widespread disillusionment with the present government. Disillusionment among the young is worrying for schools.

disincentive noun [C] a thing that makes sb less willing to do sth: A low starting salary acts as a strong disincentive to getting back to work for the unemployed. INCENTIVE

disinclination noun [sing., U] (formal) a lack of willingness to do sth; a lack of enthusiasm for sth: There was a general disinclination to return to the office after lunch.

disinclined adj. [not before noun] ~ (to do sth) (formal) not willing RELUCTANT: He was strongly disinclined to believe anything that she said.

disinfect verb [VN]
1 to clean sth using a substance that kills bacteria: to disinfect a surface/room/wound
2 to run a computer program to get rid of a computer virus
disinfection noun [U]

disinfectant noun [U, C] a substance that disinfects: a strong smell of disinfectant

disinformation NAmE noun [U] false information that is given deliberately, especially by government organizations: It was a very plausible piece of disinformation.

disingenuous adj. [not usually before noun] (formal) not sincere, especially when you pretend to know less about sth than you really do: It would be disingenuous of me to claim I had never seen it.compare INGENUOUS
disingenuously adv.

disinherit verb [VN] to prevent sb, especially your son or daughter, from receiving your money or property after your deathcompare INHERIT (1)

disinhibit verb [VN] (formal) to help sb to stop feeling shy so that they can relax and show their feelings
disinhibition noun [U]

disintegrate verb [VN]
1 to break into small parts or pieces and be destroyed: The plane disintegrated as it fell into the sea. The wall just disintegrated in a shower of fragments and dust.
2 to become much less strong or united and be gradually destroyed FALL APART: The authority of the central government was rapidly disintegrating.
disintegration noun [U]: the gradual disintegration of traditional values

disinter verb (-rr-) [VN] (formal)
1 to dig up sth, especially a dead body, from the ground INTER
2 ~ sth (from sth) to find sth that has been hidden or lost for a long time

disinterest noun [U]
1 ~ (in sth) lack of interest: His total disinterest in money puzzled his family.
2 the fact of not being involved in sth

disinterested adj.
1 not influenced by personal feelings, or by the chance of getting some advantage for yourself IMPARTIAL, OBJECTIVE, UNBIASED: a disinterested onlooker/spectator Her advice appeared to be disinterested.
2 (informal) not interested note at INTERESTED
disinterestedly adv.

disinvest verb [V] ~ (from sth) (business) to stop investing money in a company, industry or country; to reduce the amount of money invested

disinvestment noun [U] (finance) the process of reducing the amount of money that you have invested in a particular company, industry, etc.

disjointed adj. not communicated or described in a clear or logical way; not connected DISCONNECTED, INCOHERENT: The novel suffers from a disjointed plot and pale, insignificant characters.

disjunction (also less frequent disjuncture ) noun ~ (between A and B) (formal) a difference between two things that you would expect to be in agreement with each other: the wide disjunction between the cultural norms of his home and community and those of the school

disk noun
1 (especially NAmE) = DISC: Red blood cells are roughly the shape of a disk.
2 (also magnetic disk) (computing) a device for storing information on a computer, with a MAGNETIC surface that records information received in electronic formsee also FLOPPY DISK, HARD DISK

disk drive noun a device that passes data between a disk and the memory of a computer or from one disk or computer to another

diskette noun = FLOPPY DISK

dislike verb, noun
verb (rather formal) to not like sb/sth: [VN] Why do you dislike him so much? He disliked it when she behaved badly in front of his mother. [V -ing] I dislike being away from my family. Much as she disliked going to funerals (= although she did not like it at all), she knew she had to be there. [VN -ing] He disliked her staying away from home. note at HATE LIKE
noun
1 [U, sing.] ~ (of/for sb/sth) a feeling of not liking sb/sth: He did not try to hide his dislike of his boss. She took an instant dislike to the house and the neighbourhood.
2 [C, usually pl.] a thing that you do not like: I've told you all my likes and dislikes.

dislocate NAmE verb [VN]
1 to put a bone out of its normal position in a joint: He dislocated his shoulder in the accident. a dislocated finger
2 to stop a system, plan etc. from working or continuing in the normal way DISRUPT
dislocation NAmE noun [C, U]: a dislocation of the shoulder These policies could cause severe economic and social dislocation.

dislodge NAmE verb [VN]
1 ~ sth (from sth) to force or knock sth out of its position: The wind dislodged one or two tiles from the roof.
2 ~ sb (from sth) to force sb to leave a place, position or job: The rebels have so far failed to dislodge the President.

disloyal adj. ~ (to sb/sth) not loyal or faithful to your friends, family, country, etc.: He was accused of being disloyal to the government. a disloyal remark It was very disloyal of you to repeat what I'd said to Peter.
disloyalty noun [U]: She felt guilty of disloyalty to her dead husband.

dismal adj.
1 causing or showing sadness GLOOMY, MISERABLE: dismal conditions/surroundings/weather Christmas will be dismal without the children.
2 (informal) not skilful or successful; of very low quality: The singer gave a dismal performance of some old songs. Their recent attempt to increase sales has been a dismal failure.
dismally adv.: I tried not to laugh but failed dismally (= was completely unsuccessful).

dismantle verb [VN]
1 to take apart a machine or structure so that it is in separate pieces: I had to dismantle the engine in order to repair it. The steel mill was dismantled piece by piece.
2 to end an organization or system gradually in an organized way: The government was in the process of dismantling the state-owned industries.
dismantling noun [U]

dismay noun, verb
noun [U] a worried, sad feeling after you have received an unpleasant surprise: She could not hide her dismay at the result. He looked at her in dismay. To her dismay, her name was not on the list. The news has been greeted with dismay by local business leaders.
verb [VN] to make sb feel shocked and disappointed: Their reaction dismayed him.
dismayed adj.~ (at/by sth)| ~ to find, hear, see, etc.: He was dismayed at the change in his old friend. The suggestion was greeted by a dismayed silence. They were dismayed to find that the ferry had already left.

dismember verb [VN]
1 to cut or tear the dead body of a person or an animal into pieces: Police say the body had been dismembered.
2 (formal) to divide a country, an organization, etc. into smaller parts: The British railway network has gradually been dismembered.
dismemberment noun [U]

dismiss verb [VN]
1 ~ sb/sth (as sth) to decide that sb/sth is not important and not worth thinking or talking about WAVE ASIDE: I think we can safely dismiss their objections. Vegetarians are no longer dismissed as cranks. He dismissed the opinion polls as worthless. The suggestion should not be dismissed out of hand (= without thinking about it).
2 ~ sth (from sth) to put thoughts or feelings out of your mind: Dismissing her fears, she climbed higher. He dismissed her from his mind.
3 ~ sb (from sth) to officially remove sb from their job FIRE, SACK: She claims she was unfairly dismissed from her post.
4 to send sb away or allow them to leave: At 12 o'clock the class was dismissed.
5 (law) to say that a trial or legal case should not continue, usually because there is not enough evidence: The case was dismissed.
6 (in CRICKET) to end the INNINGS of a player or team

dismissal noun
1 [U, C] the act of dismissing sb from their job; an example of this: He still hopes to win his claim against unfair dismissal. The dismissals followed the resignation of the chairman.
2 [U] the failure to consider sth as important: Her casual dismissal of the threats seemed irresponsible. Dismissal of the last piece of evidence as unreliable would severely affect our case.
3 [U, C] (law) the act of not allowing a trial or legal case to continue, usually because there is not enough evidence: the dismissal of the appeal
4 [U, C] the act of sending sb away or allowing them to leave
5 [U, C] (in CRICKET) the end of the INNINGS of a player or team

dismissive adj. ~ (of sb/sth) showing that you do not believe a person or thing to be important or worth considering DISDAINFUL: a dismissive gesture/tone She was always dismissive of other women in the office.
dismissively adv.: to shrug/wave dismissively

dismount verb [V] ~ (from sth) to get off a horse, bicycle or motorcycle: She bought her horse to a halt and dismounted. MOUNT

Disneyland noun [usually sing.] a place that is full of interesting or exciting things: Some Americans see Oxford as an intellectual Disneyland.
From DisneylandTM, the name of a US amusement park in California based on the characters in the films/movies of Walt Disney.

disobedience noun [U] failure or refusal to obeysee also CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE OBEDIENCE

disobedient adj. failing or refusing to obey: a disobedient child I was very disobedient to my father. OBEDIENT

disobey verb to refuse to do what a person, law, order, etc. tells you to do; to refuse to obey: [VN] He was punished for disobeying orders. How dare you disobey me! [also V] OBEY

disobliging adj. deliberately not helpful: a disobliging manner

disorder NAmE noun
1 [U] an untidy state; a lack of order or organization: His financial affairs were in complete disorder. The room was in a state of disorder. Everyone began shouting at once and the meeting broke up in disorder. ORDER
2 [U] violent behaviour of large groups of people: an outbreak of rioting and public disorder Twenty people were arrested after a night of civil disorder.compare ORDER (3)
3 [C, U] an illness that causes a part of the body to stop functioning correctly: a blood/bowel, etc. disorder eating disorders He was suffering from some form of psychiatric disorder. a rare disorder of the liver Most people with acute mental disorder can be treated at home. note at DISEASE

disordered NAmE adj.
1 showing a lack of order or control: disordered hair a disordered state ORDERED
2 (technical) suffering from a mental or physical disorder: emotionally disordered children

disorderly NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (formal)
1 (of people or behaviour) showing lack of control; publicly violent or noisy: disorderly conduct They were arrested for being drunk and disorderly.
2 untidy: newspapers in a disorderly pile by the door ORDERLY

disorderly house noun (law) (old use) a BROTHEL (= place where people pay to have sex)

disorganized (BrE also -ised) NAmE (also less frequent unorganized, -ised) adj. badly planned; not able to plan or organize well: It was a hectic disorganized weekend. She's so disorganized. Don't expect him to get there on timehe's completely disorganized.compare ORGANIZED
disorganization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

disorientate (BrE) (also disorient , NAmE, BrE) verb [VN]
1 to make sb unable to recognize where they are or where they should go: The darkness had disorientated him.
2 to make sb feel confused: Ex-soldiers can be disorientated by the transition to civilian life.compare ORIENT
disorientated (also disoriented) adj.: She felt shocked and totally disorientated. disorientation noun [U]

disown NAmE verb [VN] to decide that you no longer want to be connected with or responsible for sb/sth: Her family disowned her for marrying a foreigner.

disparage verb [VN] (formal) to suggest that sb/sth is not important or valuable BELITTLE: I don't mean to disparage your achievements.
disparagement noun [U] disparaging adj.: disparaging remarks disparagingly adv.: He spoke disparagingly of his colleagues.

disparate adj. (formal)
1 made up of parts or people that are very different from each other: a disparate group of individuals
2 (of two or more things) so different from each other that they cannot be compared or cannot work together: a critical study that aims to cover such disparate forms as Anglo-Saxon poetry and the modern novel.

disparity noun [U, C] (pl. -ies) (formal) a difference, especially one connected with unfair treatment: the wide disparity between rich and poor growing regional disparities in economic prosperity

dispassionate adj. (approving) not influenced by emotion IMPARTIAL: taking a calm, dispassionate view of the situation a dispassionate observer
dispassionately adv.: The case needs to be examined dispassionately at a public inquiry.

dispatch (BrE also despatch) verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 ~ sb/sth (to ... ) (formal) to send sb/sth somewhere, especially for a special purpose: Troops have been dispatched to the area. A courier was dispatched to collect the documents.
2 ~ sth (to sb/sth) (formal) to send a letter, package or message somewhere: Goods are dispatched within 24 hours of your order reaching us.
3 (formal) to deal or finish with sb/sth quickly and completely: He dispatched the younger player in straight sets.
4 (old-fashioned) to kill a person or an animal
noun
1 [U] (formal) the act of sending sb/sth somewhere: More food supplies are ready for immediate dispatch.
2 [C] a message or report sent quickly from one military officer to another or between government officials: The latest dispatch was held up for three hours at the border. He was mentioned in dispatches (= for brave acts in war).
3 [C] a report sent to a newspaper by a journalist who is working in a foreign country: dispatches from the war zone
with dispatch (formal) quickly and efficiently: He carries out his duties with efficiency and dispatch.

dispatch box (also despatch box) (both BrE) noun
1 [C] a container for carrying official documents
2 the Dispatch Box [sing.] a box on a table in the centre of the House of Commons in the British parliament, which ministers stand next to when they speak

dispatcher noun
1 (NAmE) a person whose job is to see that trains, buses, planes, etc. leave on time
2 a person whose job is to send emergency vehicles to where they are needed: an Emergency Medical Dispatcher

dispatch rider (also despatch rider) noun (both BrE) a person whose job is to carry messages or packages by motorcycle

dispel verb (-ll-) [VN] to make sth, especially a feeling or belief, go away or disappear: His speech dispelled any fears about his health.

dispensable adj. [not usually before noun] not necessary; that can be got rid of: They looked on music and art lessons as dispensable. ESSENTIAL, INDISPENSABLE

dispensary noun (pl. -ies)
1 a place in a hospital, shop/store, etc. where medicines are prepared for patients
2 (old-fashioned) a place where patients are treated, especially one run by a charity

dispensation noun
1 [C, U] special permission, especially from a religious leader, to do sth that is not usually allowed or legal: She needed a special dispensation to remarry. The sport's ruling body gave him dispensation to compete in national competitions.
2 [U] (formal) the act or process of providing sth, especially by sb in authority: the dispensation of justice
3 [C] (technical) a political or religious system that operates in a country at a particular time

dispense verb [VN]
1 ~ sth (to sb) to give out sth to people: The machine dispenses a range of drinks and snacks.
2 ~ sth (to sb) (formal) to provide sth, especially a service, for people: The organization dispenses free health care to the poor. to dispense justice/advice
3 to prepare medicine and give it to people, as a job: to dispense a prescription (BrE) to dispense medicine (BrE) a dispensing chemist
dispense with sb/sth to stop using sb/sth because you no longer need them or it DO AWAY WITH: Debit cards dispense with the need for cash altogether. I think we can dispense with the formalities (= speak openly and naturally to each other).

dispenser noun a machine or container holding money, drinks, paper towels, etc. that you can obtain quickly, for example by pulling a handle or pressing buttons: a soap dispensersee also CASH DISPENSER

dispensing chemist noun (BrE) = CHEMIST (1)

dispersal NAmE noun [U, C] (formal) the process of sending sb/sth in different directions; the process of spreading sth over a wide area: police trained in crowd dispersal the dispersal of seeds

disperse NAmE verb
1 to move apart and go away in different directions; to make sb/sth do this: [V] The fog began to disperse. The crowd dispersed quickly. [VN] Police dispersed the protesters with tear gas.
2 to spread or to make sth spread over a wide area SCATTER: [VN] The seeds are dispersed by the wind. [also V]

dispersion NAmE noun [U] (technical) the process by which people or things are spread over a wide area: population dispersion the dispersion of light

dispirited adj. having no hope or enthusiasm: She looked tired and dispirited.compare SPIRITED

dispiriting adj. making sb lose their hope or enthusiasm: a dispiriting experience/failure

displace verb [VN] [often passive]
1 to take the place of sb/sth REPLACE: Gradually factory workers have been displaced by machines. (technical) The ship displaces 58 000 tonnes (= as a way of measuring its size).
2 to force people to move away from their home to another place: Around 10 000 people have been displaced by the fighting.
3 to move sth from its usual position: Check for roof tiles that have been displaced by the wind.
4 (especially NAmE) to remove sb from a job or position: displaced workers

displaced person noun (pl. displaced persons) (technical) a REFUGEE

displacement noun [U]
1 (formal) the act of displacing sb/sth; the process of being displaced: the largest displacement of civilian population since World War Two
2 [C] (physics) the amount of a liquid moved out of place by sth floating or put in it, especially a ship floating in water: a ship with a displacement of 10 000 tonnes

displacement activity noun
1 [U] things that you do in order to avoid doing what you are supposed to be doing
2 (biology, psychology) [U, C] behaviour in animals or humans that seems to have no connection with the situation in which it is performed, resulting from two conflicting urges

displacement ton noun a unit of measure for the amount of water DISPLACED by a floating ship, equal to one ton

display verb, noun
verb~ sth (to sb)
1 [VN] to put sth in a place where people can see it easily; to show sth to people EXHIBIT: The exhibition gives local artists an opportunity to display their work. She displayed her bruises for all to see.
2 [VN] to show signs of sth, especially a quality or feeling: I have rarely seen her display any sign of emotion. These statistics display a definite trend.
3 [VN] (of a computer, etc.) to show information: The screen will display the username in the top right-hand corner. This column displays the title of the mail message.
4 [V] (technical) (of male birds and animals) to show a special pattern of behaviour that is intended to attract a female bird or animal
noun
1 an arrangement of things in a public place to inform or entertain people or advertise sth for sale: a beautiful floral display outside the Town Hall a window display a display cabinet
2 an act of performing a skill or of showing sth happening, in order to entertain: a firework display a breathtaking display of aerobatics
3 an occasion when you show a particular quality, feeling or ability by the way that you behave: a display of affection/strength/wealth
4 the words, pictures, etc. shown on a computer screen: a high resolution colour displaysee also LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY, VDU
on display put in a place where people can look at it ON SHOW: Designs for the new sports hall are on display in the library. to put sth on temporary/permanent display

display bin noun = DUMP BIN

displease verb [VN] (formal) to make sb feel upset, annoyed or not satisfied: The tone of the letter displeased her. PLEASE
displeased adj. ~ (with sb/sth): Are you displeased with my work? She was not displeased at the effect she was having on the young man. displeasing adj. ~ (to sb/sth): His remarks were clearly not displeasing to her.

displeasure noun [U] ~ (at/with sb/sth) (formal) the feeling of being upset and annoyed ANNOYANCE: She made no attempt to hide her displeasure at the prospect. The incident has heightened public displeasure with the authorities.compare PLEASURE

disport NAmE verb [VN] ~ yourself (old-fashioned or humorous) to enjoy yourself by doing sth active

disposable NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 made to be thrown away after use: disposable gloves/razors (BrE) disposable nappies (NAmE) disposable diapers
2 (finance) available for use: disposable assets/capital/resources a person's disposable income (= money they are free to spend after paying taxes, etc.)

disposables NAmE noun [pl.] items such as NAPPIES/DIAPERS and CONTACT LENSES that are designed to be thrown away after use

disposal NAmE noun
1 [U] the act of getting rid of sth: a bomb disposal squad sewage disposal systems the disposal of nuclear waste
2 [C] (business) the sale of part of a business, property, etc.: The next step is to think about disposal of your assets.
3 [C] (NAmE) = WASTE-DISPOSAL UNIT
at your/sb's disposal available for use as you prefer/sb prefers: He will have a car at his disposal for the whole month. Well, I'm at your disposal (= I am ready to help you in any way I can).

dispose NAmE verb (formal)
1 [VN + adv. / prep.] to arrange things or people in a particular way or position
2 ~ sb to/toward(s) sth to make sb behave in a particular way: [VN] a drug that disposes the patient towards sleep [also VN to inf]
dispose of sb/sth
1 to get rid of sb/sth that you do not want or cannot keep: the difficulties of disposing of nuclear waste to dispose of stolen property
2 to deal with a problem, question or threat successfully: That seems to have disposed of most of their arguments.
3 to defeat or kill sb: It took her a mere 20 minutes to dispose of her opponent.

disposed NAmE adj. [not before noun] (formal)
1 ~ (to do sth) willing or prepared to do sth: I'm not disposed to argue. You're most welcome to join us if you feel so disposed.
2 (following an adverb) ~ to/towards sb/sth having a good/bad opinion of a person or thing: She seems favourably disposed to the move.see also ILL-DISPOSED, WELL DISPOSED

disposition noun
1 [C, usually sing.] the natural qualities of a person's character TEMPERAMENT: to have a cheerful disposition people of a nervous disposition
2 [C, usually sing.] ~ to/towards sth| ~ to do sth (formal) a tendency to behave in a particular way: to have/show a disposition towards violence
3 [C, usually sing.] (formal) the way sth is placed or arranged ARRANGEMENT
4 [C, U] (law) a formal act of giving property or money to sb

dispossess verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (of sth) (formal) to take sb's property, land or house away from them
dispossession noun [U]

the dispossessed noun [pl.] people who have had property taken away from them

disproportion NAmE noun [U, C] ~ (between A and B) (formal) the state of two things not being at an equally high or low level; an example of this: the disproportion between the extra responsibilities and the small salary increase a profession with a high disproportion of male to female employees

disproportionate NAmE adj. ~ (to sth) too large or too small when compared with sth else: The area contains a disproportionate number of young middle-class families.compare PROPORTIONATE
disproportionately adv.: The lower-paid spend a disproportionately large amount of their earnings on food.

disprove verb [VN] to show that sth is wrong or false: The theory has now been disproved. PROVE

disputable adj. (formal) that can or should be questioned or argued aboutcompare INDISPUTABLE

disputation noun [C, U] (formal) a discussion about sth that people cannot agree on

dispute noun, verb
noun [C, U] ~ (between A and B)| ~ (over/about sth) an argument or a disagreement between two people, groups or countries; discussion about a subject where there is disagreement: a dispute between the two countries about the border the latest dispute over fishing rights industrial/pay disputes The union is in dispute with management over working hours. The cause of the accident was still in dispute (= being argued about). The matter was settled beyond dispute by the court judgment (= it could no longer be argued about). His theories are open to dispute (= can be disagreed with).
verb
1 to question whether sth is true and valid: [VN] These figures have been disputed. to dispute a decision/claim The family wanted to dispute the will. [V that] No one is disputing that there is a problem. [also V wh-]
2 to argue or disagree strongly with sb about sth, especially about who owns sth: [VN] disputed territory The issue remains hotly disputed. [also V]
3 [VN] to fight to get control of sth or to win sth: On the last lap three runners were disputing the lead.

disqualify NAmE verb (disqualifies, disqualifying, disqualified, disqualified) [VN] ~ sb (from sth/from doing sth)| ~ sb (for sth) to prevent sb from doing sth because they have broken a rule or are not suitable BAR: He was disqualified from the competition for using drugs. (BrE) You could be disqualified from driving for up to three years. A heart condition disqualified him for military service.
disqualification NAmE noun [C, U]: Any form of cheating means automatic disqualification.

disquiet noun [U] ~ (about/over sth) (formal) feelings of worry and unhappiness about sth UNEASE: There is considerable public disquiet about the safety of the new trains.

disquieting adj. (formal) causing worry and unhappiness

disquisition noun (formal) a long complicated speech or written report on a particular subject

disregard NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN] to not consider sth; to treat sth as unimportant IGNORE: The board completely disregarded my recommendations. Safety rules were disregarded.
noun [U] ~ (for/of sb/sth) the act of treating sb/sth as unimportant and not caring about them/it: She shows a total disregard for other people's feelings. The company showed a reckless disregard for the safety of the environment.

disrepair NAmE noun [U] a building, road, etc. that is in a state of disrepair has not been taken care of and is broken or in bad condition: The station quickly fell into disrepair after it was closed.

disreputable adj. that people consider to be dishonest and bad: She spent the evening with her disreputable brother Stefan. a disreputable area of the city RESPECTABLEcompare REPUTABLE

disrepute noun [U] the fact that sb/sth loses the respect of other people: The players' behaviour on the field is likely to bring the game into disrepute.

disrespect noun [U, C] ~ (for/to sb/sth) a lack of respect for sb/sth: disrespect for the law/the dead No disrespect intended sir. It was just a joke.
disrespectful adj. ~ (to sb/sth) disrespectfully adv.

disrobe NAmE verb (formal or humorous) to take off your or sb else's clothes; to take off clothes worn for an official ceremony: [V] She went behind the screen to disrobe. [also VN]

disrupt verb [VN] to make it difficult for sth to continue in the normal way: Demonstrators succeeded in disrupting the meeting. Bus services will be disrupted tomorrow because of the bridge closure.
disruption noun [U, C]: We aim to help you move house with minimum disruption to yourself. disruptions to rail services The strike caused serious disruptions.

disruptive adj. causing problems, noise, etc. so that sth cannot continue normally: She had a disruptive influence on the rest of the class.

diss = DIS

dissatisfaction noun [U] ~ (with/at sb/sth) a feeling that you are not pleased and satisfied: Many people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the arrangement. SATISFACTION

dissatisfied adj. ~ (with sb/sth) not happy or satisfied with sb/sth: dissatisfied customers If you are dissatisfied with our service, please write to the manager. SATISFIEDcompare UNSATISFIED

dissect verb [VN]
1 to cut up a dead person, animal or plant in order to study it: The biology students had to dissect a rat. dissecting instruments
2 to study sth closely and/or discuss it in great detail: Her latest novel was dissected by the critics.
3 to divide sth into smaller pieces, areas, etc.: The city is dissected by a network of old canals.
dissection noun [U, C]: anatomical dissection Your enjoyment of a novel can suffer from too much analysis and dissection.

dissemble verb (formal) to hide your real feelings or intentions, often by pretending to have different ones: [V] She was a very honest person who was incapable of dissembling. [also VN]

disseminate verb [VN] (formal) to spread information, knowledge, etc. so that it reaches many people: Their findings have been widely disseminated.
dissemination noun [U]

dissension noun [U] (formal) disagreement between people or within a group: dissension within the government

dissent noun, verb
noun
1 [U] the fact of having or expressing opinions that are different from those that are officially accepted: political/religious dissent Voices of dissent began to rise against the established authority in the 1950s and 1960s. Stability only exists in the country because dissent has been suppressed.
2 [C] (NAmE) a judge's statement giving reasons why he or she disagrees with a decision made by the other judges in a court case
verb [V] ~ (from sth) (formal) to have or express opinions that are different from those that are officially accepted: Only two ministers dissented from the official view.
dissenting adj.: dissenting groups/voices/views/opinion

dissenter noun a person who does not agree with opinions that are officially or generally accepted

dissertation NAmE noun ~ (on sth) a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one written for a university degree

disservice NAmE noun [sing.]
do sb a disservice to do sth that harms sb and the opinion that other people have of them: The minister's comments do teachers a great disservice.

dissident noun a person who strongly disagrees with and criticizes their government, especially in a country where this kind of action is dangerous: left-wing dissidents
dissidence noun [U] dissident adj.

dissimilar adj. ~ (from/to sb/sth) not the same: These wines are not dissimilar (= are similar). The two languages are completely dissimilar from each other. SIMILAR
dissimilarity noun [C, U]

dissimulate verb [VN, V] (formal) to hide your real feelings or intentions, often by pretending to have different ones DISSEMBLE
dissimulation noun [U]: He was capable of great dissimulation and hypocrisy.

dissipate verb (formal)
1 to gradually become or make sth become weaker until it disappears: [V] Eventually, his anger dissipated. [VN] Her laughter soon dissipated the tension in the air.
2 [VN] to waste sth, such as time or money, especially by not planning the best way of using it SQUANDER

dissipated adj. (disapproving) enjoying activities that are harmful such as drinking too much alcohol: He plays a dissipated American writer living in Europe.

dissipation noun [U] (formal)
1 the process of disappearing or of making sth disappear: the dissipation of energy in the form of heat
2 the act of wasting money or spending money until there is none left: concerns about the dissipation of the country's wealth
3 (disapproving) behaviour which is enjoyable but has a harmful effect on you

dissociate NAmE verb [VN]
1 (also disassociate) ~ yourself/sb from sb/sth to say or do sth to show that you are not connected with or do not support sb/sth; to make it clear that sth is not connected with a particular plan, action, etc.: He tried to dissociate himself from the party's more extreme views. They were determined to dissociate the UN from any agreement to impose sanctions.
2 ~ sb/sth (from sth) (formal) to think of two people or things as separate and not connected with each other: She tried to dissociate the two events in her mind. ASSOCIATE
dissociation NAmE noun [U]: the dissociation of political and moral ideas

dissolute adj. (formal, disapproving) enjoying immoral activities and not caring about behaving in a morally acceptable way

dissolution noun [U] ~ (of sth)
1 the act of officially ending a marriage, a business agreement, or a parliament
2 the process in which sth gradually disappears: the dissolution of barriers of class and race
3 the act of breaking up an organization, etc.

dissolve NAmE verb
1 [V] ~ (in sth) (of a solid) to mix with a liquid and become part of it: Salt dissolves in water. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves.
2 [VN] ~ sth (in sth) to make a solid become part of a liquid: Dissolve the tablet in water.
3 [VN] to officially end a marriage, business agreement or parliament: Their marriage was dissolved in 1999. The election was announced and parliament was dissolved.
4 to disappear; to make sth disappear: [V] When the ambulance had gone, the crowd dissolved. [VN] His calm response dissolved her anger.
5 [V] ~ into laughter, tears, etc. to suddenly start laughing, crying, etc.: When the teacher looked up, the children dissolved into giggles. Every time she heard his name, she dissolved into tears.
6 ~ (sth) (away) to remove or destroy sth, especially by a chemical process; to be destroyed in this way: [VN] a new detergent that dissolves stains [V] All the original calcium had dissolved away.

dissonance noun
1 [C, U] (music) a combination of musical notes that do not sound pleasant together CONSONANCE
2 [U] (formal) lack of agreement
dissonant adj.: dissonant voices/notes

dissuade verb [VN] ~ sb (from sth/from doing sth) to persuade sb not to do sth: I tried to dissuade him from giving up his job. They were going to set off in the fog, but were dissuaded.

distaff NAmE noun a stick that was used in the past for holding wool when it was spun by hand
on the distaff side (old-fashioned) on the woman's side of the family

distal adj. (anatomy) located away from the centre of the body or at the far end of sth: the distal end of the tibia

distance noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] the amount of space between two places or things: a short/long distance the distance of the earth from the sun a distance of 200 kilometres What's the distance between New York City and Boston/from New York City to Boston? In the US, distance is measured in miles. The beach is within walking distance of my house (= you can walk there easily). Paul has to drive very long distances as part of his job. Our parents live some distance away (= quite far away).see also LONG-DISTANCE, MIDDLE DISTANCE, OUTDISTANCE
2 [U] being far away in space or in time: Distance is no problem on the Internet.
3 [sing.] a point that is a particular amount of space away from sth else: You'll never get the ball in from that distance.
4 [C, usually sing., U] a difference or lack of a connection between two things: The distance between fashion and art remains as great as ever. The government is keen to put some distance between itself and these events (= show that there is no connection between them). (BrE) Eddie is, by some distance (= by a great amount), the funniest character in the show.
5 [U, C] a situation in which there is a lack of friendly feelings or of a close relationship between two people or groups of people: There was a growing distance between the two sides of the family. The coldness and distance in her voice took me by surprise.
at/from a distance from a place or time that is not near; from far away: She had loved him at a distance for years.
go the (full) distance to continue playing in a competition or sports contest until the end: Nobody thought he would last 15 rounds, but he went the full distance.
in/into the distance far away but still able to be seen or heard: We saw lights in the distance. Alice stood staring into the distance. Five miles of sand stretched away into the distance.
keep sb at a distance to refuse to be friendly with sb; to not let sb be friendly towards you: The manager prefers to keep employees at a distance.
keep your distance (from sb/sth)
1 to make sure you are not too near sb/sth
2 to avoid getting too friendly or involved with a person, group, etc.: She was warned to keep her distance from Charles if she didn't want to get hurt.more at SHOUTING, SPIT v., STRIKE v.
verb [VN] ~ yourself/sb/sth (from sb/sth) to become, or to make sb/sth become, less involved or connected with sb/sth: When he retired, he tried to distance himself from politics. It's not always easy for nurses to distance themselves emotionally.

distance learning noun [U] a system of education in which people study at home with the help of special Internet sites and television and radio programmes, and send or email work to their teachers: a distance learning programme/package

distant adj.
1 far away in space or time: the distant sound of music distant stars/planets The time we spent together is now a distant memory. (formal) The airport was about 20 kilometres distant. a star 30 000 light years distant from the Earth (figurative) Peace was just a distant hope (= not very likely).
2 ~ (from sth) not like sth else REMOTE: Their life seemed utterly distant from his own.
3 [only before noun] (of a person) related to you but not closely: a distant cousin/aunt/relative
4 not friendly; not wanting a close relationship with sb: Pat sounded very cold and distant on the phone. He became emotionally distant from his friends and family after the illness.
5 not paying attention to sth but thinking about sth completely different: There was a distant look in her eyes; her mind was obviously on something else.
distantly adv.: Somewhere, distantly, he could hear the sound of the sea. We're distantly related. Holly smiled distantly.
the (dim and) distant past a long time ago: stories from the distant past In the distant past this land was covered in forests.
in the not too distant future not a long time in the future but fairly soon: I hope we'll see each other again in the not too distant future.

distaste noun [U, sing.] ~ (for sb/sth) a feeling that sb/sth is unpleasant or offensive: He looked around the filthy room in distaste. a distaste for politics of any sort

distasteful adj. unpleasant or offensive: The bad language in the film was distasteful and unnecessary.

distemper noun [U]
1 an infectious disease of animals, especially cats and dogs, that causes fever and coughing
2 (BrE) a type of paint that is mixed with water and used on walls

distend verb (formal or medical) to swell or make sth swell because of pressure from inside: [VN] starving children with huge distended bellies [also V]
distension noun [U]: distension of the stomach

distil (NAmE also distill) verb (-ll-) [VN]
1 ~ sth (from sth) to make a liquid pure by heating it until it becomes a gas, then cooling it and collecting the drops of liquid that form: to distil fresh water from sea water distilled water
2 to make sth such as a strong alcoholic drink in this way: The factory distils and bottles whisky.
3 ~ sth (from/into sth) (formal) to get the essential meaning or ideas from thoughts, information, experiences, etc.: The notes I made on my travels were distilled into a book.
distillation noun [C, U]: the distillation process The movie is a perfect distillation of adolescence.

distillate noun [U, C] (technical) a substance which is formed by distilling a liquid

distiller noun a person or company that produces SPIRITS (= strong alcoholic drinks) such as WHISKY by distilling them

distillery noun (pl. -ies) a factory where strong alcoholic drink is made by the process of distilling

distinct adj.
1 easily or clearly heard, seen, felt, etc.: There was a distinct smell of gas. His voice was quiet but every word was distinct.
2 ~ (from sth) clearly different or of a different kind: The results of the survey fell into two distinct groups. Jamaican reggae music is quite distinct from North American jazz or blues. rural areas, as distinct from major cities
3 [only before noun] used to emphasize that you think an idea or situation definitely exists and is important DEFINITE: Being tall gave Tony a distinct advantage. I had the distinct impression I was being watched. A strike is now a distinct possibility.
distinctly adv.: I distinctly heard someone calling me. a distinctly Australian accent He could remember everything very distinctly. distinctness noun [U]

distinction noun
1 [C] ~ (between A and B) a clear difference or contrast especially between people or things that are similar or related: distinctions between traditional and modern societies Philosophers did not use to make a distinction between arts and science. We need to draw a distinction between the two events.
2 [U] the quality of being excellent or important: a writer of distinction
3 [sing.] the quality of being sth that is special: She had the distinction of being the first woman to fly the Atlantic.
4 [U] the separation of people or things into different groups: The new law makes no distinction between adults and children (= treats them equally). All groups are entitled to this money without distinction.
5 [C, U] a special mark/grade or award that is given to sb, especially a student, for excellent work: Naomi got a distinction in maths. He graduated with distinction.

distinctive adj. having a quality or characteristic that makes sth different and easily noticed CHARACTERISTIC: clothes with a distinctive style The male bird has distinctive white markings on its head.
distinctively adv.: a distinctively nutty flavour

distinguish verb
1 ~ (between) A and B| ~ A from B to recognize the difference between two people or things DIFFERENTIATE: [V] At what age are children able to distinguish between right and wrong? English law clearly distinguishes between murder and manslaughter. [VN] It was hard to distinguish one twin from the other. Sometimes reality and fantasy are hard to distinguish. We can distinguish five meanings of the word 'mad'.
2 [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) ~ A (from B) to be a characteristic that makes two people, animals or things different: What was it that distinguished her from her classmates? The male bird is distinguished from the female by its red beak. Does your cat have any distinguishing marks? The power of speech distinguishes human beings from animals.
3 [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) to be able to see or hear sth DIFFERENTIATE, MAKE OUT: I could not distinguish her words, but she sounded agitated. She could not distinguish the make and colour of the car in the fading light. note at IDENTIFY
4 [VN] ~ yourself (as sth) to do sth so well that people notice and admire you: She has already distinguished herself as an athlete.
distinguishable adj. ~ (from sb/sth): The male bird is easily distinguishable from the female. The coast was barely distinguishable in the mist.

distinguished adj.
1 very successful and admired by other people: a distinguished career in medicine
2 having an appearance that makes sb look important or that makes people admire or respect them: I think grey hair makes you look very distinguished.

distort NAmE verb [VN]
1 to change the shape, appearance or sound of sth so that it is strange or not clear: a fairground mirror that distorts your shape The loudspeaker seemed to distort his voice.
2 to twist or change facts, ideas, etc. so that they are no longer correct or true: Newspapers are often guilty of distorting the truth. The article gave a distorted picture of his childhood.
distortion NAmE noun [C, U]: modern alloys that are resistant to wear and distortion a distortion of the facts

distract verb [VN] ~ sb/sth (from sth) to take sb's attention away from what they are trying to do DIVERT: You're distracting me from my work. Don't talk to hershe's very easily distracted. It was another attempt to distract attention from the truth.
distracting adj.: distracting thoughts a distracting noise

distracted adj. ~ (by sb/sth) unable to pay attention to sb/sth because you are worried or thinking about sth else
distractedly adv.: I walked up and down distractedly, waiting for news.

distraction noun
1 [C, U] a thing that takes your attention away from what you are doing or thinking about: I find it hard to work at home because there are too many distractions. cinema audiences looking for distraction
2 [C] an activity that amuses or entertains you
to distraction so that you become upset, excited, or angry and not able to think clearly: The children are driving me to distraction today. She was alone in the house all day and bored to distraction.

distractor noun
1 a person or thing that takes your attention away from what you should be doing
2 one of the wrong answers in a MULTIPLE-CHOICE test

distraught adj. extremely upset and anxious so that you cannot think clearly: She's still too distraught to speak about the tragedy. The child's distraught parents pleaded for witnesses to contact the police.

distress noun, verb
noun [U]
1 a feeling of great worry or unhappiness; great suffering: The newspaper article caused the actor considerable distress. She was obviously in distress after the attack. deep emotional distress
2 suffering and problems caused by not having enough money, food, etc. HARDSHIP: economic/financial distress The charity aims to relieve poverty and distress caused by natural disasters.
3 a situation in which a ship, plane, etc. is in danger or difficulty and needs help: a distress signal (= a message asking for help) It is a rule of the sea to help another boat in distress. see DAMSEL
verb [VN] to make sb feel very worried or unhappy: It was clear that the letter had deeply distressed her. Don't distress yourself (= don't worry).

distressed adj.
1 upset and anxious: He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions.
2 suffering pain; in a poor physical condition: When the baby was born, it was blue and distressed.
3 (of a piece of clothing or furniture) made to look older and more worn than it really is: a distressed leather jacket

distressing adj. making you feel extremely upset, especially because of sb's suffering: It was a very distressing documentary. What could be more distressing than the death of their only child?
distressingly adv.

distribute verb [VN]
1 ~ sth (to/among sb/sth) to give things to a large number of people; to share sth between a number of people: The organization distributed food to the earthquake victims. The newspaper is distributed free. The money was distributed among schools in the area.
2 to send goods to shops/stores and businesses so that they can be sold: Who distributes our products in the UK?
3 [often passive] to spread sth, or different parts of sth, over an area: Make sure that your weight is evenly distributed. Cases of the disease are widely distributed through Europe.

distributed system noun a number of individual computers that are linked to form a network

distribution noun
1 [U, C] the way that sth is shared or exists over a particular area or among a particular group of people: the unfair distribution of wealth The map shows the distribution of this species across the world. They studied the geographical distribution of the disease.
2 [U] the act of giving or delivering sth to a number of people: the distribution of food and medicines to the flood victims He was arrested on drug distribution charges. Electronic media make the potential for information distribution possible on a scale never before achieved.
3 [U] (business) the system of transporting and delivering goods: distribution costs worldwide distribution systems marketing, sales and distribution
distributional adj.

distribution board noun (BrE, physics) a board that contains the connections for several electrical CIRCUITS

distributive adj. [usually before noun] (business) connected with distribution of goods

distributor noun
1 a person or company that supplies goods to shops/stores, etc.: Japan's largest software distributor
2 a device in an engine that sends electric current to the SPARK PLUGS

district noun
1 an area of a country or town, especially one that has particular features: the City of London's financial district
2 one of the areas which a country, town or state is divided into for purposes of organization, with official BOUNDARIES (= borders): a tax/postal district a school district congressional districts district councils

district attorney noun (abbr. DA) (in the US) a lawyer who is responsible for bringing criminal charges against sb in a particular area or state

district court noun (in the US) a court that deals with cases in a particular area

district nurse noun (in Britain) a nurse who visits patients in their homes

distrust noun, verb
noun [U, sing.] ~ (of sb/sth) a feeling of not being able to trust sb/sth: They looked at each other with distrust. He has a deep distrust of all modern technology.
distrustful adj.: distrustful of authority
verb [VN] to feel that you cannot trust or believe sb/sth: She distrusted his motives for wanting to see her again.compare MISTRUST

WHICH WORD?

distrust / mistrust

There is very little difference between these two words, but distrust is more common and perhaps slightly stronger. If you are sure that someone is acting dishonestly or cannot be relied on, you are more likely to say that you distrust them. If you are expressing doubts and suspicions, on the other hand, you would probably use mistrust.

disturb NAmE verb
1 [VN] to interrupt sb when they are trying to work, sleep, etc.: I'm sorry to disturb you, but can I talk to you for a moment? If you get up early, try not to disturb everyone else. Do not disturb (= a sign placed on the outside of the door of a hotel room, office, etc.) She awoke early after a disturbed night. Only the cry of seabirds disturbed the silence.
2 [VN] to move sth or change its position: Don't disturb the papers on my desk.
3 to make sb worry: [VN] The letter shocked and disturbed me. [VN to inf] It disturbed her to realize that she was alone.

disturbance NAmE noun
1 [U, C, usually sing.] actions that make you stop what you are doing, or that upset the normal state that sth is in; the act of disturbing sb/sth or the fact of being disturbed: The building work is creating constant noise, dust and disturbance. a disturbance in the usual pattern of events the disturbance of the local wildlife by tourists
2 [C] a situation in which people behave violently in a public place: serious disturbances in the streets He was charged with causing a disturbance after the game.
3 [U, C] a state in which sb's mind or a function of the body is upset and not working normally: emotional disturbance

disturbed NAmE adj.
1 mentally ill, especially because of very unhappy or shocking experiences: a special school for emotionally disturbed children His behaviour is deeply disturbed. note at MENTALLY ILL
2 unhappy and full of bad or shocking experiences: The killer had a disturbed family background.
3 very anxious and unhappy about sth: I was deeply disturbed and depressed by the news.compare UNDISTURBED

disturbing NAmE adj. making you feel anxious and upset or shocked: a disturbing piece of news
disturbingly adv.

disunite verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to make a group of people unable to agree with each other or work together: a disunited political party

disunity noun [U] (formal) a lack of agreement between people: disunity within the Conservative party UNITY

disuse noun [U] a situation in which sth is no longer being used: The factory fell into disuse twenty years ago.

disused adj. [usually before noun] no longer used: a disused stationcompare UNUSED

ditch noun, verb
noun a long channel dug at the side of a field or road, to hold or take away water: The car left the road and ended up in a ditch.
verb
1 [VN] (informal) to get rid of sth/sb because you no longer want or need it/them: The new road building programme has been ditched. He ditched his girlfriend.
2 [VN, V] if a pilot ditches an aircraft, or if it ditches, it lands in the sea in an emergency

ditchwater noun [U] see DULL adv.

dither verb, noun
verb [V] ~ (over sth) to hesitate about what to do because you are unable to decide: She was dithering over what to wear. Stop dithering and get on with it.
noun [sing.] (informal)
1 a state of not being able to decide what you should do: I'm in a dither about who to invite.
2 a state of excitement or worry: Don't get yourself in a dither over everything.

ditransitive adj. (grammar) (of verbs) used with two objects. In the sentence 'I gave her the book', for example, the verb 'give' is ditransitive and 'her' and 'the books' are both objects.

ditsy = DITZY

ditto NAmE noun, adv.
noun (abbr. do.) (symb ") used, especially in a list, underneath a particular word or phrase, to show that it is repeated and to avoid having to write it again
adv. (informal) used instead of a particular word or phrase, to avoid repeating it: The waiters were rude and unhelpful, the manager ditto.

ditty noun (pl. -ies) (often humorous) a short simple song

ditzy (also ditsy) adj. (informal, especially NAmE) (usually of a woman) silly; not able to be trusted to remember things or to think in an organized way

diuretic noun (medical) a substance that causes an increase in the flow of URINE
diuretic adj.: diuretic drugs/effects

diurnal NAmE adj.
1 (biology) (of animals) active during the day: Unlike most other bats, this species is diurnal. NOCTURNAL
2 (astronomy) taking one day: the diurnal rotation of the earth

Div. abbr. (in writing) DIVISION: League Div. 1 (= in football/ SOCCER)

diva noun a famous woman singer, especially an OPERA singer

Divali = DIWALI

divan NAmE noun
1 (also divan bed) (both BrE) a bed with a thick base and a MATTRESS
2 a long low soft seat without a back or arms

dive verb, noun
verb (dived, dived, NAmE also dove NAmE dived) [V]
JUMP INTO WATER
1 ~ (from/off sth) (into sth)| ~ (in) to jump into water with your head and arms going in first: We dived into the river to cool off. He dived off the bridge. Sam walked to the deep end of the pool and dived in.
UNDERWATER
2 (usually go diving) to swim underwater wearing breathing equipment, collecting or looking at things: to dive for pearls The main purpose of his holiday to Greece was to go diving.see also DIVING
3 to go to a deeper level underwater: The submarine dived to avoid being seen. The whale dived as the harpoon struck it.
OF BIRDS/AIRCRAFT
4 to go steeply down through the air: The seagulls soared then dived. The plane dived down to attack.see also NOSEDIVE
OF PRICES
5 to fall suddenly PLUNGE: The share price dived from 49p to an all-time low of 40p.
MOVE/JUMP/FALL
6 [+adv./prep.] ~ (for sth) (informal) to move or jump quickly in a particular direction, especially to avoid sth, to try to catch a ball, etc.: We heard an explosion and dived for cover (= got into a place where we would be protected). The goalie dived for the ball, but missed it. It started to rain so we dived into the nearest cafe.
7 (in football (SOCCER), HOCKEY, etc.) to fall deliberately when sb TACKLES you, so that the REFEREE awards a FOUL
dive into sth (informal) to put your hand quickly into sth such as a bag or pocket: She dived into her bag and took out a couple of coins.
noun
JUMP INTO WATER
1 a jump into deep water with your head first and your arms in front of you: a spectacular high dive (= from high above the water)
UNDERWATER
2 an act of going underwater and swimming there with special equipment: a dive to a depth of 18 metres
OF BIRDS/AIRCRAFT
3 an act of suddenly flying downwards
BAR/CLUB
4 (informal) a bar, music club, etc. that is cheap, and perhaps dark or dirty: The band played in every smoky dive in town.
FALL
5 (BrE) (in football (SOCCER), HOCKEY, etc.) a deliberate fall that a player makes when sb TACKLES them, so that the REFEREE awards a FOUL: Owen's dive won England a penalty.
make a dive (for sth) to suddenly move or jump forward to do sth or reach sb/sth: The goalkeeper made a dive for the ball. Paul made a dive for the fridge to get a drink.
take a dive (informal) to suddenly get worse: Profits really took a dive last year.

dive-bomb verb [VN] (of an aircraft, a bird, etc.) to dive steeply through the air and attack sb/sth: The unwary rock-climber is dive-bombed by birds protecting their young.

diver noun
1 a person who works underwater, usually with special equipment: a deep-sea divercompare FROGMAN
2 a person who jumps into the water with their head first and their arms in front of them

diverge NAmE verb [V] (formal)
1 ~ (from sth) to separate and go in different directions: The parallel lines appear to diverge. The coastal road diverges from the freeway just north of Santa Monica. Many species have diverged from a single ancestor. We went through school and college together, but then our paths diverged.
2 ~ (from sth) (formal) (of opinions, views, etc.) to be different: Opinions diverge greatly on this issue.
3 ~ from sth to be or become different from what is expected, planned, etc.: to diverge from the norm He diverged from established procedure. CONVERGE
divergence NAmE noun [C, U]: a wide divergence of opinion divergent adj.: divergent paths/opinions

divers NAmE adj. [only before noun] (old use) of many different kinds: a collection of essays on divers subjects

diverse NAmE adj. very different from each other and of various kinds: people from diverse cultures My interests are very diverse.

diversify NAmE verb (diversifies, diversifying, diversified, diversified)
1 ~ (sth) (into sth) (especially of a business or company) to develop a wider range of products, interests, skills, etc. in order to be more successful or reduce risk BRANCH OUT: [V] Farmers are being encouraged to diversify into new crops. [also VN]
2 to change or to make sth change so that there is greater variety: [V] Patterns of family life are diversifying. [VN] The culture has been diversified with the arrival of immigrants.
diversification NAmE noun [U]

diversion NAmE noun
1 [C, U] the act of changing the direction that sb/sth is following, or what sth is used for: a river diversion project We made a short diversion to go and look at the castle. the diversion of funds from the public to the private sector of industry
2 [C] something that takes your attention away from sb/sth while sth else is happening: For the government, the war was a welcome diversion from the country's economic problems. A smoke bomb created a diversion while the robbery took place.
3 [C] (BrE) (NAmE detour) a road or route that is used when the usual one is closed: Diversions will be signposted.
4 [C] (formal) an activity that is done for pleasure, especially because it takes your attention away from sth else DISTRACTION: The party will make a pleasant diversion. The city is full of diversions.

diversionary NAmE adj. intended to take sb's attention away from sth: a diversionary attack

diversity NAmE noun
1 [U, C, usually sing.] a range of many people or things that are very different from each other VARIETY: the biological diversity of the rainforests a great/wide/rich diversity of opinion
2 [U] the quality or fact of including a range of many people or things: There is a need for greater diversity and choice in education.

divert NAmE verb [VN] ~ sb/sth (from sth) (to sth)
1 to make sb/sth change direction: Northbound traffic will have to be diverted onto minor roads. The course of the stream has now been diverted.
2 to use money, materials, etc. for a different purpose from their original purpose
3 to take sb's thoughts or attention away from sth DISTRACT: The war diverted people's attention away from the economic situation.
4 (formal) to entertain people: Children are easily diverted.

diverticulitis NAmE noun [U] (medical) a painful swelling in part of the COLON, that affects the function of the BOWELS

divertimento NAmE noun (pl. -ti or -os) (music) (from Italian) a piece of music that is meant to be entertaining rather than serious, especially one written for a small ORCHESTRA

diverting NAmE adj. (formal) entertaining and amusing

divest verb [VN] (formal)
1 ~ sb/yourself of sth to remove clothes: He divested himself of his jacket.
2 ~ yourself of sth to get rid of sth: The company is divesting itself of some of its assets.
3 ~ sb/sth of sth to take sth away from sb/sth: After her illness she was divested of much of her responsibility.

divestment noun [U, C] (finance) the act of selling the shares you have bought in a company or of taking money away from where you have invested it

divide verb, noun
(WORD FAMILY: divide verb noun | division noun | divisive adj. )
verb
SEPARATE
1 ~ (sth) (up) (into sth) to separate or make sth separate into parts SPLIT UP: [V] The cells began to divide rapidly. [VN] A sentence can be divided up into meaningful segments.
2 [VN] ~ sth (up/out) (between/among sb) to separate sth into parts and give a share to each of a number of different people, etc. SHARE(OUT): Jack divided up the rest of the cash. We divided the work between us.
3 [VN] ~ sth (between A and B) to use different parts of your time, energy, etc. for different activities, etc.: He divides his energies between politics and business.
4 [VN] ~ A from B (formal) to separate two people or things: Can it ever be right to divide a mother from her child?
5 [VN] ~ sth (off)| ~ A from B to be the real or imaginary line or barrier that separates two people or things SEPARATE (OFF): A fence divides off the western side of the grounds. The English Channel divides England from France.
6 [V] (of a road) to separate into two parts that lead in different directions: Where the path divides, keep right.
CAUSE DISAGREEMENT
7 [VN] to make two or more people disagree SPLIT: The issue has divided the government.
MATHEMATICS
8 ~ (sth) by sth to find out how many times one number is contained in another: [VN] 30 divided by 6 is 5 (30 ÷ 6 = 5). [also V]
9 ~ (sth) into sth to be able to be multiplied to give another number: [V] 5 divides into 30 6 times. [also VN]
divide and rule to keep control over people by making them disagree with and fight each other, therefore not giving them the chance to unite and oppose you together: a policy of divide and rule
noun [usually sing.]
DIFFERENCE
1 ~ (between A and B) a difference between two groups of people that separates them from each other: the North/South divide the divide between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland
BETWEEN RIVERS
2 (especially NAmE) a line of high land that separates two systems of rivers WATERSHED see BRIDGE v.

divided adj. (of a group or an organization) split by disagreements or different opinions: The government is divided on this issue. a deeply divided society The regime is profoundly divided against itself.

divided highway noun (NAmE) = DUAL CARRIAGEWAY

dividend noun
1 an amount of the profits that a company pays to people who own shares in the company: dividend payments of 50 cents a share
2 (BrE) a money prize that is given to winners in the FOOTBALL POOLS see PAY v.

divider noun
1 [C] a thing that divides sth: a room divider (= a screen or door that divides a room into two parts)
2 dividers [pl.] an instrument made of two long thin metal parts joined together at the top, used for measuring lines and angles: a pair of dividers

dividing line noun [usually sing.]
1 something that marks the separation between two things or ideas: There is no clear dividing line between what is good and what is bad.
2 a place that separates two areas: The river was chosen as a dividing line between the two districts.

divination noun [U] the act of finding out and saying what will happen in the future

divine adj., verb
adj.
1 [usually before noun] coming from or connected with God or a god: divine law/love/will divine intervention (= help from God to change a situation)
2 (old-fashioned) wonderful; beautiful: That mango tasted divine!
divinely adv.
verb
1 (formal) to find out sth by guessing: [V wh-] She could divine what he was thinking just by looking at him. [also VN]
2 [VN, V] to search for underground water using a stick in the shape of a Y, called a divining rod

divine right noun [U, sing.]
1 (in the past) the belief that the right of a king or queen to rule comes directly from God rather than from the agreement of the people
2 a right that sb thinks they have to do sth, without needing to ask anyone else: No player has a divine right to be in this team.

diving noun [U]
1 the sport or activity of diving into water with your head and arms first: a diving competition
2 the activity of swimming underwater using special breathing equipment: I'd love to go diving in the Aegean. a diving suitsee also SKIN-DIVING

diving bell noun a container that has a supply of air and that is open at the bottom, in which a person can be carried down to the deep ocean

diving board noun a board at the side of or above a swimming pool from which people can jump or DIVE into the water

divinity noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] the quality of being a god or like God: the divinity of Christ
2 [C] a god or GODDESS: Roman/Greek/Egyptian divinities
3 [U] the study of the nature of God and religious belief THEOLOGY: a doctor of Divinity

divisible adj. [not before noun] ~ (by sth) that can be divided, usually with nothing remaining: 8 is divisible by 2 and 4, but not by 3. INDIVISIBLE

division noun
INTO SEPARATE PARTS
1 [U, sing.] ~ (of sth between A and B)| ~ (of sth) (into sth) the process or result of dividing into separate parts; the process or result of dividing sth or sharing it out: cell division the division of labour between the sexes a fair division of time and resources the division of the population into age groups a distinction which cuts right across the familiar division into arts and sciences
MATHEMATICS
2 [U] the process of dividing one number by another: the division sign (÷)compare MULTIPLICATIONsee also LONG DIVISION
DISAGREEMENT/DIFFERENCE
3 [C, U] ~ (in/within sth)| ~ (between A and B) a disagreement or difference in opinion, way of life, etc., especially between members of a society or an organization: There are deep divisions in the party over the war. the work of healing the divisions within society divisions between rich and poor social/class divisions
PART OF ORGANIZATION
4 [C+sing./pl. v.] (abbr. Div.) a large and important unit or section of an organization: the company's sales division
IN SPORT
5 [C+sing./pl. v.] (abbr. Div.) (in Britain) one of the group of teams that a sport competition is divided into, especially in football (SOCCER): the first division/division one a first-division team
PART OF ARMY
6 [C+sing./pl. v.] (abbr. Div.) a unit of an army, consisting of several BRIGADES or REGIMENTS: the Guards Armoured Division
BORDER
7 [C] a line that divides sth: A hedge forms the division between their land and ours.
IN PARLIAMENT
8 [C] (technical) the separation of members of the British parliament into groups to vote for or against sth: The Bill was read without a division.

divisional adj. [only before noun] belonging to or connected with a DIVISION (= a section of the army or department of an organization): the divisional commander/headquarters

division bell noun a bell which is rung in the British parliament when it is time for a DIVISION (8)

division lobby noun one of the two halls in the British parliament to which members go when there is a DIVISION (8)

divisive adj. (disapproving) causing people to be split into groups that disagree with or oppose each other: He believes that unemployment is socially divisive.see also DIVIDE
divisively adv. divisiveness noun [U]: The minister disliked the divisiveness of rich and poor children going to different schools.

divisor noun (mathematics) a number by which another number is divided

divorce NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U, C] the legal ending of a marriage: The marriage ended in divorce in 1996. an increase in the divorce rate (= the number of divorces in a year) They have agreed to get a divorce. Divorce proceedings (= the legal process of divorce) started today. Bella wants a divorce. He remarried after a divorce from his first wife, Kate. She told him she was filing for divorce.compare SEPARATION
2 [C, usually sing.] (formal) ~ (between A and B) a separation; the ending of a relationship between two things: the divorce between religion and science
verb
1 to end your marriage to sb legally: [VN] They're getting divorced. She's divorcing her husband. [V] I'd heard they're divorcing.
2 [VN] [often passive] (formal) ~ sb/sth from sth to separate, a person, an idea, a subject, etc. from sth; to keep two things separate: They believed that art should be divorced from politics. When he was depressed, he felt utterly divorced from reality.

divorcé NAmE noun (NAmE) a man whose marriage has been legally ended

divorced NAmE adj.
1 no longer married: Many divorced men remarry and have second families. My parents are divorced. Are they going to get divorced?
2 ~ from sth (formal) appearing not to be affected by sth; separate from sth: He seems completely divorced from reality.

divorcee NAmE noun (BrE) a person whose marriage has been legally ended, especially a woman

divorcée NAmE noun (NAmE) a woman whose marriage has been legally ended

divot noun a piece of grass and earth that is dug out by accident, for example by a CLUB when sb is playing GOLF

divulge verb ~ sth (to sb) (formal) to give sb information that is supposed to be secret REVEAL: [VN] Police refused to divulge the identity of the suspect. [also V wh-]

divvy verb (divvies, divvying, divvied, divvied)
divvy sthup (informal) to divide sth, especially money into two or more parts

Diwali (also Divali) noun [U] a Hindu festival that is held in the autumn/fall, celebrated by lighting CANDLES and CLAY lamps, and with FIREWORKS

Dixie noun [U] an informal name for the south-eastern states of the US

Dixie CupTMnoun (NAmE) a small paper cup

Dixieland noun [U] a type of traditional JAZZsee also TRAD

DIY noun [U] (BrE) the activity of making, repairing or decorating things in the home yourself, instead of paying sb to do it (abbreviation for 'do-it-yourself'): a DIY store My brother is a real DIY enthusiast.

dizygotic twin NAmE (also dizygous twin ) adj. (technical) = FRATERNAL TWINcompare MONOZYGOTIC TWIN

dizzy adj.
1 feeling as if everything is spinning around you and that you are not able to balance GIDDY: Climbing so high made me feel dizzy. I suffer from dizzy spells (= short periods when I am dizzy).
2 making you feel dizzy; making you feel that a situation is changing very fast GIDDY: the dizzy descent from the summit the dizzy pace of life in Hong Kong
3 (informal, especially NAmE) silly or stupid GIDDY: a dizzy blonde
dizzily adv. dizziness noun [U]: He complained of headaches and dizziness.
the dizzy heights (of sth) (informal) an important or impressive position: They reached the dizzy heights of Number 11 in the hit parade.

dizzying adj. making you feel dizzy: The car drove past at a dizzying speed.

DJ noun, verb
noun
1 the abbreviation for 'disc jockey'
2 (BrE) the abbreviation for 'dinner jacket'
verb (DJ's, DJ'ing, DJ'd, DJ'd) [V] to perform as a DISC JOCKEY, especially in a club

djibbah (also djibba) noun = JIBBA

djinn noun (in Arabian stories) a spirit with magic powers GENIE

D-lock noun a metal device for locking a bicycle or motorcycle, shaped like a U with a bar across it

DMA noun [U] a system that allows a device attached to a computer to take data from the computer's memory without using the CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (the abbreviation for 'direct memory access')

DMs noun = DR MARTENS

DNA noun [U] (chemistry) deoxyribonucleic acid (the chemical in the cells of animals and plants that carries GENETIC information and is a type of NUCLEIC ACID): a DNA test

DNA fingerprinting noun [U] = GENETIC FINGERPRINTING

D notice noun (BrE) a government notice sent to newspapers telling them that they must not publish particular information about sth, for reasons of national security

do^1 strong form verb, auxiliary verb, noun IRREGULAR VERBSsee also DO^2
verb
ACTION
1 [VN] used to refer to actions that you do not mention by name or do not know about: What are you doing this evening? We will do what we can to help. Are you doing anything tomorrow evening? The company ought to do something about the poor service. What have you done to your hair? There's nothing to do (= no means of passing the time in an enjoyable way) in this place. There's nothing we can do about it (= we can't change the situation). What can I do for you (= how can I help)?
BEHAVE
2 [V + adv. / prep.] ~ (as ... ) to act or behave in the way mentioned: Do as you're told! They are free to do as they please. You would do well to (= I advise you to) consider all the options before buying.
SUCCEED/PROGRESS
3 [V + adv. / prep.] used to ask or talk about the success or progress of sb/sth: How is the business doing? She did well out of (= made a big profit from) the deal. He's doing very well at school (= his work is good). Both mother and baby are doing well (= after the birth of the baby). (informal) How are you doing (= how are you)?
TASK/ACTIVITY
4 [VN] to work at or perform an activity or a task: I'm doing some research on the subject. I have a number of things to do today. I do aerobics once a week. Let's do (= meet for) lunch. (informal) Sorry. I don't do funny (= I can't be funny).
5 [VN] used with nouns to talk about tasks such as cleaning, washing, arranging, etc.: to do (= wash) the dishes to do (= arrange) the flowers I like the way you've done your hair.
6 [VN] ~ the ironing, cooking, shopping, etc. | ~ some, a little, etc. acting, writing, etc. to perform the activity or task mentioned: I like listening to the radio when I'm doing the ironing. She did a lot of acting when she was at college.
JOB
7 [VN] (usually used in questions) to work at sth as a job: What do you do (= what is your job)? What does she want to do when she leaves school? What did she do for a living? What's Tom doing these days?
STUDY
8 [VN] to learn or study sth: I'm doing physics, biology and chemistry. Have you done any (= studied anything by) Keats?
SOLVE
9 [VN] to find the answer to sth; to solve sth: I can't do this sum. Are you good at doing crosswords?
MAKE
10 ~ sth (for sb)| ~ (sb) sth to produce or make sth: [VN] to do a drawing/painting/sketch Does this pub do (= provide) lunches? Who's doing (= organizing and preparing) the food for the wedding reception? [VN, VNN] I'll do a copy for you. I'll do you a copy.
PERFORM
11 [VN] to perform or produce a play, an OPERA, etc.: The local dramatic society is doing 'Hamlet' next month.
COPY SB
12 [VN] to copy sb's behaviour or the way sb speaks, sings, etc., especially in order to make people laugh: He does a great Elvis Presley. Can you do a Welsh accent?
FINISH
13 have/be done | get sth done to finish sth: [V] Sit there and wait till I've done. [V -ing] I've done talkinglet's get started. [VN] Did you get your article done in time?
TRAVEL
14 [VN] to travel a particular distance: How many miles did you do during your tour? My car does 40 miles to the gallon (= uses one gallon of petrol/gas to travel 40 miles).
15 [VN] to complete a journey/trip: We did the round trip in two hours.
SPEED
16 [VN] to travel at or reach a particular speed: The car was doing 90 miles an hour.
VISIT
17 [VN] (informal) to visit a place as a tourist: We did Tokyo in three days.
SPEND TIME
18 [VN] to spend a period of time doing sth: She did a year at college, but then dropped out. He did six years (= in prison) for armed robbery.
DEAL WITH
19 [VN] to deal with or attend to sb/sth: The hairdresser said she could do me (= cut my hair) at three.
BE SUITABLE/ENOUGH
20 ~ (for sb/sth)| ~ (as sth) to be suitable or be enough for sb/sth: [V] These shoes won't do for the party. 'Can you lend me some money?' 'Surewill $20 do?' The box will do fine as a table. [VN] (especially BrE) This room will do me nicely, thank you (= it has everything I need).
COOK
21 [VN] to cook sth: How would you like your steak done?
CHEAT
22 [VN] [usually passive] (BrE, informal) to cheat sb: This isn't a genuine antiqueyou've been done.
PUNISH
23 [VN] (BrE) ~ sb (for sth) (informal) to punish sb: They did him for tax evasion. She got done for speeding.
STEAL
24 [VN] (informal) to steal from a place: The gang did a warehouse and a supermarket.
TAKE DRUGS
25 [VN] (informal) to take an illegal drug: He doesn't smoke, drink or do drugs.
HAVE SEX
26 [VN] ~ it (slang) to have sex
Most idioms containing do are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example do a bunk is at bunk. be/have to do with sb/sth to be about or connected with sb/sth: 'What do you want to see me about?' 'It's to do with that letter you sent me.'
have (got) something, nothing, a lot, etc. to do with sb/sth used to talk about how much sb/sth is connected with sb/sth: Her job has something to do with computers. 'How much do you earn?' 'What's it got to do with you?' Hard work has a lot to do with (= is an important reason for) her success. We don't have very much to do with our neighbours (= we do not speak to them very often). I'd have nothing to do with him, if I were you.
it won't do (especially BrE) used to say that a situation is not acceptable and should be changed or improved: This is the third time you've been late this week; it simply won't do.
not do anything/a lot/much for sb (informal) used to say that sth does not make sb look attractive: That hairstyle doesn't do anything for her.
nothing doing (informal) used to refuse a request: 'Can you lend me ten dollars?' 'Nothing doing!'
no you don't (informal) used to show that you intend to stop sb from doing sth that they were going to do: Sharon went to get into the taxi. 'Oh no you don't,' said Steve.
that does it (informal) used to show that you will not accept sth any longer: That does it, I'm off. I'm not having you swear at me like that.
that's done it (informal) used to say that an accident, a mistake, etc. has spoiled or ruined sth: That's done it. You've completely broken it this time.
that will do used to order sb to stop doing or saying sth: That'll do, childrenyou're getting far too noisy.
what do you do for sth? used to ask how sb manages to obtain the thing mentioned: What do you do for entertainment out here?
what is sb/sth doing ... ? used to ask why sb/sth is in the place mentioned: What are these shoes doing on my desk?
do away with sb/yourself (informal) to kill sb/yourself
do away with sth (informal) to stop doing or having sth; to make sth end ABOLISH: He thinks it's time we did away with the monarchy.
do sb/sth down (BrE, informal) to criticize sb/sth unfairly
do for sb/sth [usually passive] (informal) to ruin, destroy or kill sb/sth: Without that contract, we're done for. It was the cold that did for him in the end.
do sb/yourself in (informal)
1 to kill sb/yourself
2 [usually passive] to make sb very tired: Come and sit downyou look done in.
do sthin (informal) to injure a part of the body: He did his back in lifting heavy furniture.
do sb out of sth (informal) to unfairly prevent sb from having what they ought to have: She was done out of her promotion.
do sb over (informal, especially BrE) to attack and beat sb severely: He was done over by a gang of thugs.
do sthover
1 to clean or decorate sth again: The paintwork will need doing over soon.
2 (NAmE) to do sth again: She insisted that everything be done over.
3 (BrE, informal) to enter a building by force and steal things: He got home to find that his flat had been done over.
do up to be fastened: The skirt does up at the back.
do sthup
1 to fasten a coat, skirt, etc.: He never bothers to do his jacket up. UNDO
2 to make sth into a package WRAP: She was carrying a package done up in brown paper.
3 (BrE) to repair and decorate a house, etc.: He makes money by buying old houses and doing them up.
do yourself up (informal) to make yourself more attractive by putting on MAKE-UP, attractive clothes, etc.
do sth with sb/sth (used in negative sentences and questions with what): I don't know what to do with (= how to use) all the food that's left over. What have you done with (= where have you put) my umbrella? What have you been doing with yourselves (= how have you been passing the time)?see also CAN'T BE DOING WITH, COULD DO WITH
do without (sb/sth) to manage without sb/sth: She can't do without a secretary. If they can't get it to us in time, we'll just have to do without. [+ -ing] (ironic) I could have done without being (= I wish I had not been) woken up at three in the morning.
auxiliary verb (does did done )
1 used before a full verb to form negative sentences and questions: I don't like fish. They didn't go to Paris. Don't forget to write. Does she speak French?
2 used to make QUESTION TAGS (= short questions at the end of statements): You live in New York, don't you? She doesn't work here, does she?
3 used to avoid repeating a full verb: He plays better than he did a year ago. She works harder than he does. 'Who won?' 'I did.' 'I love peaches.' 'So do I. 'I don't want to go back.' 'Neither do I.'
4 used when no other auxiliary verb is present, to emphasize what you are saying: He does look tired. She did at least write to say thank you. (BrE) Do shut up!
5 used to change the order of the subject and verb when an adverb is moved to the front: Not only does she speak Spanish, she's also good with computers.
noun (pl. dos or do's ) (BrE, informal) a party; a social event: Are you having a big do for your birthday?
dos and don'ts (also do's and don'ts) (informal) rules that you should follow: Here are some dos and don'ts for exercise during pregnancy.more at FAIR adj.

VOCABULARY BUILDING

household jobs: do or make?

To talk about jobs in the home you can use such phrases as wash the dishes, clean the kitchen floor, set the table, etc. In conversation the verb do is often used instead: Let me do the dishes.Michael said he would do the kitchen floor.It's your turn to do the table. Do is often used with nouns ending -ing: to do the shopping/cleaning/ironing/vacuuming.

The verb make is used especially in the phrase make the beds and when you are talking about preparing or cooking food: He makes a great lasagne.I'll make breakfast while you're having a shower. You can also say get, get ready and, especially in NAmE, fix for preparing meals: Can you get dinner while I put the kids to bed?Sit down I'll fix supper for you.

do^2 NAmE noun = DOHsee also DO^1

do. abbr. DITTO

doable adj. (informal)
1 [not usually before noun] able to be done: It's not doable by Friday.compare FEASIBLE
2 (BrE) sexually attractive

D.O.B. abbr. date of birth

dob NAmE verb (-bb-) (BrE, informal)
dob sb in (to sb) for sth/for doing sth to tell sb about sth that another person has done wrong: Sue dobbed me in to the teacher.

Dobermann (pinscher) (also Doberman (pinscher) especially in NAmE) NAmE noun a large dog with short dark hair, often used for guarding buildings

doc NAmE noun (informal, especially NAmE) a way of addressing or talking about a doctor

docent NAmE noun (NAmE)
1 a teacher at some universities who is not a regular member of the department
2 a person whose job is to show tourists around a museum, etc. and talk to them about it

doch an doris = DEOCH AN DORIS

docile NAmE adj. quiet and easy to control: a docile child/horse
docilely NAmE adv. docility NAmE noun [U]

dock NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a part of a port where ships are repaired, or where goods are put onto or taken off them: dock workers The ship was in dock.see also DRY DOCK
2 docks [pl.] a group of docks in a port and the buildings around them that are used for repairing ships, storing goods, etc.
3 [C] (NAmE) = JETTY
4 [C] (NAmE) a raised platform for loading vehicles or trains
5 [C] the part of a court where the person who has been accused of a crime stands or sits during a trial: He's been in the dock (= on trial for a crime) several times already.
6 [U] a wild plant of northern Europe with large thick leaves that can be rubbed on skin that has been stung by NETTLES to make it less painful: dock leaves
verb
1 if a ship docks or you dock a ship, it sails into a HARBOUR and stays there: [V] The ferry is expected to dock at 6. [also VN]
2 if two SPACECRAFT dock, or are docked, they are joined together in space: [VN] Next year, a technology module will be docked on the space station. [also V]
3 [VN] ~ sth (from/off sth) to take away part of sb's wages, etc.: If you're late, your wages will be docked. They've docked 15% off my pay for this week.
4 [VN] (computing) to connect a computer to a DOCKING STATION: I docked my portable and started work. UNDOCK
5 [VN] to cut an animal's tail short: The horse's tail had been docked.

docker NAmE noun a person whose job is moving goods on and off ships

DockersTM NAmE noun [pl.] a US make of trousers/pants made of cotton

docket NAmE noun
1 (business) a document or label that shows what is in a package, which goods have been delivered, which jobs have been done, etc.
2 (NAmE) (also docket sheet) a list of cases to be dealt with in a particular court
3 (NAmE) a list of items to be discussed at a meeting

docking station noun (computing) a device to which a LAPTOP computer can be connected so that it can be used like a DESKTOP computer

dockland NAmE noun [U] (also docklands [pl.]) (BrE) the district near DOCKS (= the place where ships are loaded and unloaded in a port): plans to further redevelop Bristol's docklands

dockside NAmE noun [sing.] the area around the DOCKS (= the place where ships are loaded and unloaded) in a port

dockyard NAmE noun an area with DOCKS (= the place where ships are loaded and unloaded in a port) and equipment for building and repairing ships

Doc Martens noun = DR MARTENS

doctor NAmE noun, verb
noun (abbr. Dr)
1 a person who has been trained in medical science, whose job is to treat people who are ill/sick or injured: You'd better see a doctor about that cough. Doctor Staples (= as a title/form of address)
2 the doctor's a place where a doctor sees patients: an appointment at the doctor's
3 a person who has received the highest university degree: a Doctor of Philosophy/Law Doctor Franks (= as a title/form of address)
4 (especially NAmE) used as a title or form of address for a dentist
just what the doctor ordered (humorous) exactly what sb wants or needs
verb [VN]
1 to change sth in order to trick sb FALSIFY: He was accused of doctoring the figures.
2 to add sth harmful to food or drink: The wine had been doctored.
3 (informal) to remove part of the sex organs of an animal NEUTER

doctoral NAmE adj. [only before noun] connected with a doctorate: (BrE) a doctoral thesis (NAmE) a doctoral dissertation

doctorate NAmE noun the highest university degree: She's studying for her doctorate.

doctrinaire NAmE adj. (disapproving) strictly following a theory in all circumstances, even if there are practical problems or disagreement: a doctrinaire communist doctrinaire attitudes/beliefs/policies

doctrinal NAmE adj. (formal) relating to a doctrine or doctrines: the doctrinal position of the English church (disapproving) a rigidly doctrinal approach
doctrinally adv.

doctrine NAmE noun
1 [C, U] a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, a political party, etc.: the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty Christian doctrine He was deeply committed to political doctrines of social equality.
2 Doctrine [C] (US) a statement of government policy: the Monroe Doctrine

docudrama NAmE noun a film/movie, usually made for television, in which real events are shown in the form of a story

document noun, verb
noun NAmE
1 an official paper or book that gives information about sth, or that can be used as evidence or proof of sth: legal documents travel documents Copies of the relevant documents must be filed at court. One of the documents leaked to the press was a memorandum written by the head of the security police.
2 a computer file that contains text that has a name that identifies it: Save the document before closing.
verb NAmE [VN]
1 to record the details of sth: Causes of the disease have been well documented. The results are documented in Chapter 3.
2 to prove or support sth with documents: documented evidence

documentary NAmE noun, adj.
noun (pl. -ies) a film or a radio or television programme giving facts about sth: a television documentary about/on the future of nuclear power
adj. [only before noun]
1 consisting of documents: documentary evidence/sources/material
2 giving a record of or report on the facts about sth, especially by using pictures, recordings, etc. of people involved: a documentary film about the war The film was given a documentary style by the director.

documentation NAmE noun [U]
1 the documents that are required for sth, or that give evidence or proof of sth: I couldn't enter the country because I didn't have all the necessary documentation.
2 the act of recording sth in a document; the state of being recorded in a document: the documentation of an agreement

document case noun a soft flat case without a handle, usually made from leather, plastic, etc., and used for holding and carrying documents

docusoap NAmE noun (BrE) a television programme about the lives of real people, presented as entertainmentsee also SOAP OPERA

DOD NAmE abbr. Department of Defense (the government department in the US that is responsible for defence)

doddering NAmE (BrE also doddery NAmE ) adj. weak, slow and not able to walk in a steady way, especially because you are old: a doddering old fool

doddle NAmE noun [sing.] (BrE, informal) a task or an activity that is very easy CINCH: The first year of the course was an absolute doddle. The machine is a doddle to set up and use.

dodecagon NAmE noun (geometry) a flat shape with twelve straight sides and twelve angles

dodecahedron NAmE noun (geometry) a solid figure with twelve flat sides

dodecaphonic NAmE (also twelve-note, twelve-tone) adj. (music) used to describe a system of music which uses the twelve notes in the scale equally rather than using a particular KEY

dodge NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 to move quickly and suddenly to one side in order to avoid sb/sth: [VN] He ran across the road, dodging the traffic. [V, usually + adv. / prep.] The girl dodged behind a tree to hide from the other children.
2 to avoid doing sth, especially in a dishonest way: [VN] He dodged his military service. [V -ing] She tried to dodge paying her taxes.
noun a clever and dishonest trick, played in order to avoid sth: a tax dodge When it comes to getting off work, he knows all the dodges.

dodgeball NAmE noun [U] (NAmE) a game in which teams of players form circles and try to hit other teams with a large ball

dodgem NAmE noun (BrE)
1 the dodgems [pl.] a ride at a FUNFAIR in which people drive small electric cars around a track, trying to chase and hit the other cars: The kids wanted to go on the dodgems.
2 (also dodgem car) (also bumper car NAmE, BrE) one of the small electric cars that you drive in the dodgems

dodger NAmE noun (informal) a person who dishonestly avoids doing sth: tax dodgers a crackdown on fare dodgers on trainssee also DRAFT DODGER

dodgy NAmE adj. (BrE, informal)
1 seeming or likely to be dishonest SUSPICIOUS: He made a lot of money, using some very dodgy methods. I don't want to get involved in anything dodgy.
2 not working well; not in good condition: I can't playI've got a dodgy knee. The marriage had been distinctly dodgy for a long time.
3 involving risk, danger or difficulty: If you get into any dodgy situations, call me. We had a few dodgy moments at the start, but everything went well in the end.

dodo NAmE noun (pl. -os)
1 a large bird that could not fly and that is now EXTINCT (= no longer exists)
2 (NAmE) a stupid person see DEAD adj.

DOE NAmE abbr. Department of Energy (the US government department that plans and controls the development of the country's sources of energy)

doe NAmE noun a female DEER, RABBIT or HAREcompare BUCK, HIND, STAG

doer noun (approving) a person who does things rather than thinking or talking about them: We need fewer organizers and more doers.

does DO

doesn't short form does not

doff NAmE verb, adj.
verb [VN] (old-fashioned) to take off your hat, especially to show respect for sb/sth: He doffed his hat to her as she passed in her carriage.
adj. (SAfrE, informal) stupid

dog NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] an animal with four legs and a tail, often kept as a pet or trained for work, for example hunting or guarding buildings. There are many types of dog, some of which are wild: I took the dog for a walk. I could hear a dog barking. dog food guard dogs a dog and her puppiessee also GUIDE DOG, GUN DOG, HEARING DOG, LAPDOG, PRAIRIE DOG, SHEEPDOG, SNIFFER DOG, TRACKER DOG
2 [C] a male dog, FOX or WOLFcompare BITCH
3 the dogs [pl.] (BrE, informal) GREYHOUND racing
4 [C] (informal, especially NAmE) a thing of low quality; a failure: Her last movie was an absolute dog.
5 [C] (informal) an offensive way of describing a woman who is not considered attractive
6 [C] (informal, disapproving) used, especially after an adjective, to describe a man who has done sth bad: You dirty dog!see also HOT DOG, SHAGGY-DOG STORY, TOP DOG, WATCHDOG
(a case of) dog eat dog a situation in business, politics, etc. where there is a lot of competition and people are willing to harm each other in order to succeed: I'm afraid in this line of work it's a case of dog eat dog. We're operating in a dog-eat-dog world.
a dog in the manger a person who stops other people from enjoying what he or she cannot use or does not want
a dog's breakfast/dinner (BrE, informal) a thing that has been done badly MESS: He's made a real dog's breakfast of these accounts.
a dog's life an unhappy life, full of problems or unfair treatment: He led poor Amy a dog's life. She was desperately lonely, poor dear.
every dog has his/its day (saying) everyone has good luck or success at some point in their life
give a dog a bad name (saying) when a person already has a bad reputation, it is difficult to change it because others will continue to blame or suspect him/her
go to the dogs (NAmE also go to hell in a handbasket) (informal) to get into a very bad state: This firm's gone to the dogs since the new management took over.
not have a dog's chance to have no chance at all: He hasn't a dog's chance of passing the exam.
why keep a dog and bark yourself? (informal, saying) if sb can do a task for you, there is no point in doing it yourselfmore at HAIR, RAIN v., SICK adj., SLEEP v., TAIL n., TEACH
verb (-gg-) [VN]
1 (of a problem or bad luck) to cause you trouble for a long time: He had been dogged by bad health all his life. Her career was dogged by misfortune.
2 to follow sb closely: She had the impression that someone was dogging her steps.

dog biscuit noun a small hard biscuit fed to dogs

dogbox NAmE noun
be in the dogbox (SAfrE) = BE IN THE DOGHOUSE

dogcatcher NAmE noun (NAmE) = DOG WARDEN

dog collar noun
1 a COLLAR for a dog
2 (informal) a stiff white COLLAR fastened at the back and worn by some Christian priests

dog days noun [pl.] the hottest period of the year: the dog days of summer

doge NAmE noun the most important government official of Venice or Genoa in the past

dog-eared adj. (of a book) used so much that the corners of many of the pages are turned down

dog-end noun (BrE, informal) the end of a cigarette that has been smoked

dogfight NAmE noun
1 a fight between aircraft in which they fly around close to each other
2 a struggle between two people or groups in order to win sth
3 dog fight a fight between dogs, especially one that is arranged illegally, for entertainment
dogfighting noun [U]

dogfish NAmE noun (pl. dogfish) a small SHARK (= an aggressive sea fish with very sharp teeth)

dogged NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (approving) showing determination; not giving up easily TENACIOUS: dogged determination/persistence their dogged defence of the city
doggedly adv. TENACIOUSLY: Although the men fought doggedly on, a sense of hopeless despair engulfed them. doggedness noun [U] TENACITY

doggerel NAmE noun [U] poetry that is badly written or ridiculous, sometimes because the writer has not intended it to be serious

doggo NAmE adv. lie ~ (old-fashioned, informal) to lie still and quiet, so that other people will not notice you

doggone NAmE adj. [only before noun] adv., exclamation (NAmE, informal) used to show that you are annoyed or surprised: Where's the doggone key? Don't drive so doggone fast. Well, doggone it!

doggy NAmE noun, adj.
noun (also doggie) (pl. -ies) (informal) a child's word for a dog
adj. [only before noun] of or like a dog: a doggy smell

doggy bag (also doggie bag) noun (informal) a bag for taking home any food that is left after a meal in a restaurant

doggy-paddle noun = DOG-PADDLE

dog handler noun a police officer who works with a trained dog

doghouse NAmE noun (NAmE) = KENNEL
be in the doghouse (informal, NAmE, BrE) if you are in the doghouse, sb is annoyed with you because of sth that you have done

dogie NAmE noun (NAmE) a young cow that has lost its mother

dog-leg noun a sharp bend, especially in a road or on a GOLF COURSE

dogma NAmE noun [U, C] (often disapproving) a belief or set of beliefs held by a group or organization, which others are expected to accept without argument: political/religious/party dogma one of the central dogmas of the Church

dogmatic NAmE adj. (disapproving) being certain that your beliefs are right and that others should accept them, without paying attention to evidence or other opinions: a dogmatic approach There is a danger of becoming too dogmatic about teaching methods. He was strident and dogmatic in giving his opinions.
dogmatically adv.: Nowhere in the report does she provide evidence for these assertions: they are merely dogmatically stated as fact.

dogmatism NAmE noun [U] (disapproving) behaviour and attitudes that are dogmatic: Linguists are increasingly concerned to avoid dogmatism and prescription over what constitutes 'correct' English.

do-gooder noun (informal, disapproving) a person who tries to help other people but who does it in a way that is annoying: Members of the church are not just a bunch of do-gooders.

dog-paddle (also doggy-paddle) noun [U] a simple swimming stroke, with short quick movements like those of a dog in the water

dogsbody NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (BrE, informal) a person who does all the boring jobs that nobody else wants to do, and who is treated as being less important than other people: I got myself a job as a typist and general dogsbody on a small magazine.

dogsled NAmE noun (NAmE) a SLEDGE (= a vehicle that slides over snow) pulled by dogs, used especially in Canada and Alaska

dog tag noun (NAmE, slang) a small piece of metal that US soldiers wear round their necks with their name and number on it

dog-tired adj. [not usually before noun] (informal) very tired EXHAUSTED

dog warden (NAmE also dogcatcher) noun a person whose job is to catch dogs and cats that are walking freely in the streets and do not seem to have a home

dogwood NAmE noun [U, C] a bush or small tree with red or pink BERRIES and red STEMS, that grows in northern regions; the hard wood of this tree

DoH abbr. (in Britain) Department of Health

doh (also do) NAmE noun (music) the 1st and 8th note of a MAJOR SCALE

DOI NAmE abbr.
1 (computing) digital object identifier (a series of numbers and letters that identifies a particular text or document published in electronic form on the Internet)
2 Department of the Interior (the US government department responsible for protecting the country's environment)

doily noun (pl. -ies)
1 (BrE) a small circle of paper or cloth with a pattern of very small holes in it, that you put on a plate under a cake or SANDWICHES
2 (NAmE) a small decorative MAT that you put on top of a piece of furniture

doing noun [C, usually pl., U] a thing done or caused by sb: I've been hearing a lot about your doings recently. I promise you this was none of my doing (= I didn't do it).
take some doing | take a lot of doing to be hard work; to be difficult: Getting it finished by tomorrow will take some doing.

do-it-yourself noun [U] (especially BrE) = DIY: The materials you need are available from any good do-it-yourself store.

DolbyTM NAmE noun [U] a system for reducing background noise in sound recordings

dolce NAmE adv., adj. (music) (from Italian) (used as an instruction) in a sweet, soft way

doldrums NAmE noun [pl.] (usually the doldrums)
1 the state of feeling sad or depressed: He's been in the doldrums ever since she left him.
2 a lack of activity or improvement: The bond market normally revives after the summer doldrums. Despite these measures, the economy remains in the doldrums.
From the place in the ocean near the equator where there are sudden periods of calm. A sailing ship caught in this area can be stuck there because of a lack of wind.

dole NAmE noun, verb
noun [sing.] (usually the dole) (BrE, informal) money paid by the state to unemployed people: He's been on the dole (= without a job) for a year. The government is changing the rules for claiming dole. lengthening dole queues We could all be in the dole queue on Monday (= have lost our jobs).
verb
dole sthout (to sb) to give out an amount of food, money, etc. to a number of people in a group

doleful NAmE adj. very sad MOURNFUL: a doleful expression/face/song a doleful looking man
dolefully adv.

doll NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a child's toy in the shape of a person, especially a baby or a child: a rag doll (= one made out of cloth)
2 (old-fashioned informal, especially NAmE) a word used to describe a pretty or attractive woman, now often considered offensive: She's quite a doll.
verb
doll sb/yourself up (informal) to make sb/yourself look attractive for a party, etc., with fashionable clothes: Are you getting dolled up for the party?

dollar NAmE noun
1 [C] (symb $) the unit of money in the US, Canada, Australia and several other countries: You will be paid in American dollars.compare BUCKsee also TOP DOLLAR
2 [C] a BANKNOTE or coin worth one dollar: Do you have a dollar? a dollar bill
3 the dollar [sing.] (finance) the value of the US dollar compared with the value of the money of other countries: The dollar closed two cents down. see BET v., MILLION

dollarize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN, V] (of a country) to start using the US dollar as its own CURRENCY
dollarization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

dollhouse NAmE noun (NAmE) = DOLL'S HOUSE

dollop NAmE noun (informal)
1 a lump of soft food, often dropped from a spoon: a dollop of whipped cream
2 an amount of sth: A dollop of romance now and then is good for everybody.

doll's house (BrE) (NAmE dollhouse) noun a toy house with small furniture and sometimes DOLLS in it for children to play with

dolly NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 a child's word for a DOLL
2 (especially NAmE) a low platform on wheels for moving heavy objects

dolly bird noun (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a way of referring to a young woman who is considered attractive but not very intelligent

dolmen NAmE noun a pair or group of vertical stones with a large flat stone on top, built in ancient times to mark a place where sb was buried

dolorous NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (literary) feeling or showing great sadness

dolphin NAmE noun a sea animal (a MAMMAL) that looks like a large fish with a pointed mouth. Dolphins are very intelligent and often friendly towards humans. There are several types of dolphin: a school of dolphinscompare PORPOISE

dolphinarium NAmE noun (pl. dolphinariums or dolphinaria ) a building with a pool where people can go to see dolphins, especially ones who have been trained to do tricks

dolt NAmE noun (disapproving) a stupid person IDIOT
doltish adj.

-dom suffix (in nouns)
1 the condition or state of: freedom martyrdom
2 the rank of; an area ruled by: kingdom
3 the group of: officialdom

domain NAmE noun
1 an area of knowledge or activity; especially one that sb is responsible for: The care of older people is being placed firmly within the domain of the family. Physics used to be very much a male domain.see also PUBLIC DOMAIN
2 lands owned or ruled by a particular person, government, etc., especially in the past: The Spice Islands were within the Spanish domains.
3 (computing) a set of websites on the Internet which end with the same group of letters, for example '.com', '.org'
4 (mathematics) the range of possible values of a particular VARIABLE

domain name noun (computing) a name which identifies a website or group of websites on the Internet

dome NAmE noun
1 a round roof with a CIRCULAR base: the dome of St Paul's Cathedral
2 a thing or a building shaped like a dome: his bald dome of a head
3 (NAmE) (in names) a sports STADIUM whose roof is shaped like a dome: the Houston Astrodome

domed NAmE adj. [usually before noun] having or shaped like a dome: a domed forehead/ceiling

domestic adj., noun
adj.
1 [usually before noun] of or inside a particular country; not foreign or international: domestic affairs/politics domestic flights (= to and from places within a country) Output consists of both exports and sales on the domestic market. FOREIGN
2 [only before noun] used in the home; connected with the home or family: domestic appliances domestic chores the growing problem of domestic violence (= violence between members of the same family) domestic service (= the work of a servant in a large house) domestic help (= help with the work in a house; the person or people who do this work)
3 liking home life; enjoying or good at cooking, cleaning the house, etc.: I'm not a very domestic sort of person.
4 (of animals) kept on farms or as pets; not wild
domestically adv.: domestically produced goods
noun
1 (also domestic help, domestic worker) a servant who works in sb's house, doing the cleaning and other jobs
2 (BrE, informal) a fight between two members of the same family: The police were called to sort out a domestic.

domesticate verb [VN]
1 to make a wild animal used to living with or working for humans
2 to grow plants or crops for human use CULTIVATE
3 (often humorous) to make sb good at cooking, caring for a house, etc.; to make sb enjoy home life: Some men are very hard to domesticate.
domesticated adj.: domesticated animals They've become a lot more domesticated since they got married. domestication noun [U]: the domestication of cattle

domesticity NAmE noun [U] home or family life: an atmosphere of happy domesticity a life of domesticity and motherhood

domestic science noun (old-fashioned, BrE) = HOME ECONOMICS

dome tent noun a tent which forms the shape of a dome compare FRAME TENT, RIDGE TENT

domicile NAmE noun (formal or law) the place where sb lives, especially when it is stated for official or legal purposes

domiciled NAmE adj. [not before noun] (formal or law) living in a particular place: to be domiciled in the United Kingdom

domiciliary NAmE adj. [only before noun] (formal) in sb's home: a domiciliary visit (= for example, by a doctor) domiciliary care/services/treatment

dominant NAmE adj.
1 more important, powerful or noticeable than other things: The firm has achieved a dominant position in the world market. The dominant feature of the room was the large fireplace.
2 (biology) a dominant GENE causes a person to have a particular physical characteristic, for example brown eyes, even if only one of their parents has passed on this GENEcompare RECESSIVE
dominance NAmE noun [U]: to achieve/assert dominance over sb political/economic dominance

dominate NAmE verb
1 to control or have a lot of influence over sb/sth, especially in an unpleasant way: [VN] As a child he was dominated by his father. He tended to dominate the conversation. [V] She always says a lot in meetings, but she doesn't dominate.
2 [VN] to be the most important or noticeable feature of sth: The train crash dominated the news.
3 [VN] to be the largest, highest or most obvious thing in a place: The cathedral dominates the city.
4 [VN, V] (sport) to play much better than your opponent in a game: Arsenal dominated the first half of the match.
domination NAmE noun [U]: political domination companies fighting for domination of the software market

dominatrix NAmE noun (pl. dominatrices NAmE dominatrixes) a woman who controls a man during sex, often using violence to give sexual pleasure

domineering NAmE adj. (disapproving) trying to control other people without considering their opinions or feelings: a cold and domineering father a domineering manner

Dominican noun a member of a Christian group of MONKS or NUNS following the rules of St Dominic
Dominican adj.

dominion noun
1 [U] ~ (over sb/sth) (literary) authority to rule; control: Man has dominion over the natural world. Soon the whole country was under his sole dominion.
2 [C] (formal) an area controlled by one ruler: the vast dominions of the Chinese Empire
3 (often Dominion) [C] (in the past) any of the countries of the British Commonwealth that had their own governmentcompare COLONY, PROTECTORATE

domino NAmE noun (pl. -oes)
1 [C] a small flat block, often made of wood, marked on one side with two groups of dots representing numbers, used for playing games
2 dominoes [U] a game played with a set of dominoes, in which players take turns to put them onto a table

domino effect noun [usually sing.] a situation in which one event causes a series of similar events to happen one after the other: Employers fear a domino effect if the strike is successful (= that there will be many other strikes as a result).

dompas NAmE noun (SAfrE, informal, disapproving) (in South Africa in the past) the official document that black people had to carry with them to prove their identity and where they could live or work

don NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 (BrE) a teacher at a university, especially Oxford or Cambridgesee also DONNISH
2 (informal) the leader of a group of criminals involved with the Mafia
verb (-nn-) [VN] (formal) to put clothes, etc. on: He donned his jacket and went out.

donate NAmE verb [VN] ~ sth (to sb/sth)
1 to give money, food, clothes, etc. to sb/sth, especially a charity: He donated thousands of pounds to charity.
2 to allow doctors to remove blood or a body organ in order to help sb who needs it: All donated blood is tested for HIV and other infections.

donation NAmE noun [C, U] ~ (to sb/sth)| ~ (of ... ) something that is given to a person or an organization such as a charity, in order to help them; the act of giving sth in this way: to make a donation to charity a generous/large/small donation a donation of £200/a £200 donation The work of the charity is funded by voluntary donations. organ donation (= allowing doctors to use an organ from your body after your death in order to save a sick person's life)

done adj., exclamationsee also DO v.
adj. [not before noun]
1 ~ (with) finished; completed: When you're done, perhaps I can say something. I'll be glad when this job is over and done with.
2 (of food) cooked enough: The meat isn't quite done yet.
3 (BrE) socially acceptable, especially among people who have a strict set of social rules: At school, it simply wasn't done to show that you cared for anything except cricket.
be done for (informal) to be in a very bad situation; to be certain to fail: Unless we start making some sales, we're done for. When he pointed the gun at me, I thought I was done for (= about to die).
be/get done for sth/for doing sth (BrE, informal) to be caught and punished for doing sth illegal but not too serious: I got done for speeding on my way back.
be done in (informal) to be extremely tired BE EXHAUSTED
be the done thing (BrE) to be socially acceptable behaviour
be/have done with sth to have finished dealing with sb, or doing or using sth: If you've done with that magazine, can I have a look at it?
a done deal an agreement or a plan that has been finally completed or agreed: The merger is by no means a done deal yet.
done and dusted (BrE, informal) completely finished: That's my article for the magazine done and dusted.
have done with it (BrE) to do sth unpleasant as quickly as possible, so that it is finished: Why not tell her you're quitting and have done with it?more at EASY adv., HARD adv., SOON
exclamation used to show that you accept an offer: 'I'll give you £800 for it.' 'Done!'

doner kebab NAmE noun (BrE) thin slices of cooked meat, usually served with PITTA bread

donga NAmE noun (SAfrE) a deep channel in the ground that is formed by the action of water: The car slid into a donga at the side of the road.

dongle NAmE noun (computing)
1 a cable that is used to attach a computer to a telephone system or to another computer
2 a device or code that is needed in order to use protected software

Don Juan NAmE noun (informal) a man who has sex with a lot of women
From the name of a character from Spanish legend who was skilled at persuading women to have sex with him.

donkey NAmE noun an animal of the horse family, with short legs and long ears. People ride donkeys or use them to carry heavy loads.
donkey's years (BrE, informal) a very long time: We've known each other for donkey's years. I met him once, but that was donkey's years ago.more at TALK v.

donkey jacket noun (BrE) a thick short coat, usually dark blue, worn especially by people working outside

donkey work noun [U] (informal) the hard boring part of a job or task

donnish NAmE adj. (BrE) (usually of a man) serious and concerned with academic rather than practical matters: He has a somewhat donnish air about him.

donor NAmE noun
1 a person or an organization that makes a gift of money, clothes, food, etc. to a charity, etc.: international aid donors (= countries which give money, etc. to help other countries) She is one of the charity's main donors.
2 a person who gives blood or a part of his or her body to be used by doctors in medical treatment: a blood donor The heart transplant will take place as soon as a suitable donor can be found. donor organs a donor card (= a card that you carry giving permission for doctors to use parts of your body after your death)

don't short form do not

don't-know noun a person who does not have a strong opinion about a question which they are asked in an OPINION POLL: A quarter of all the people surveyed were don't-knows. Put me down as a don't-know.

donut noun (especially NAmE) = DOUGHNUT

doodah (BrE) (NAmE doodad ) noun (informal) a small object whose name you have forgotten or do not know

doodle verb [V] to draw lines, shapes, etc., especially when you are bored or thinking about sth else: I often doodle when I'm on the phone.
doodle noun

doofus noun (NAmE, informal) a stupid person

doohickey noun (NAmE, informal) a small object whose name you have forgotten or do not know, especially part of a machine

doolally adj. [not before noun] (BrE, informal) crazy: The poor chap's gone doolally.

doom noun, verb
noun [U] death or destruction; any terrible event that you cannot avoid: to meet your doom She had a sense of impending doom (= felt that sth very bad was going to happen).
doom and gloom | gloom and doom a general feeling of having lost all hope, and of PESSIMISM (= expecting things to go badly): Despite the obvious setbacks, it is not all doom and gloom for the England team.
prophet of doom | doom merchant a person who predicts that things will go very badly: The prophets of doom who said television would kill off the book were wrong.
verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (to sth) to make sb/sth certain to fail, suffer, die, etc.: The plan was doomed to failure. The marriage was doomed from the start. [also VN to inf]

doom-laden adj. [usually before noun] predicting or leading to death or destruction: doom-laden economic forecasts

doomsayer (especially NAmE) (BrE also doomster ) noun a person who says that sth very bad is going to happen: Economic doomsayers said the stock market crash would plunge the nation into a recession.

doomsday noun [sing.] the last day of the world when Christians believe that everyone will be judged by God
till doomsday (informal) a very long time; for ever: This job's going to take me till doomsday.

doomy adj. (doomier, doomiest) suggesting disaster and unhappiness: doomy predictions Their new album is their doomiest.

DoonaTM noun (AustralE) a large cloth bag that is filled with feathers or other soft material and that you have on top of you in bed to keep yourself warm EIDERDOWN, DUVET

door noun
1 a piece of wood, glass, etc. that is opened and closed so that people can get in and out of a room, building, car, etc.; a similar thing in a cupboard/closet: a knock on the door to open/shut/close/slam/lock/bolt the door to answer the door (= to go and open it because sb has knocked on it or rung the bell) the front/back door (= at the entrance at the front/back of a building) the bedroom door the door frame a four-door saloon car the fridge door Shut the door! Close the door behind you, please. The door closed behind him.see also BACK-DOOR, FIRE DOOR, FRENCH DOOR, OPEN-DOOR, REVOLVING DOOR, SLIDING DOOR, STABLE DOOR, STAGE DOOR, SWING DOOR, TRAPDOOR
2 the space when a door is open: Marc appeared through a door at the far end of the room. (informal) She's just arrivedshe's just come in the door. (informal) He walked out the door.
3 the area close to the entrance of a building: There's somebody at the door (= at the front door of a house). 'Can I help you?' asked the man at the door.see also DOORWAY
4 a house, room, etc. that is a particular number of houses, rooms, etc. away from another: the family that lives three doors up from us Our other branch is just a few doors down the road.see also NEXT DOOR
be on the door to work at the entrance to a theatre, club, etc., for example collecting tickets from people as they enter
close/shut the door on sth to make it unlikely that sth will happen: She was careful not to close the door on the possibility of further talks.
(from) door to door from building to building: The journey takes about an hour door to door. a door-to-door salesman
(open) the door to sth (to provide) the means of getting or reaching sth; (to create) the opportunity for sth: The agreement will open the door to increased international trade. Our courses are the door to success in English.
lay sth at sb's door (formal) to say that sb is responsible for sth that has gone wrong: The blame for the disaster has been laid firmly at the government's door.
leave the door open (for sth) to make sure that there is still the possibility of doing sth: We have left the door open for further talks.
out of doors not inside a building: You should spend more time out of doors in the fresh air. note at OUTSIDE
shut/slam the door in sb's face
1 to shut a door hard when sb is trying to come in
2 to refuse to talk to sb or meet them, in a rude way
to sb's door directly to sb's house: We promise to deliver to your door within 48 hours of you ordering.more at BACK adj., BARN, BEAT v., CLOSE^1 v., CLOSED, DARKEN, DEATH, FOOT n., OPEN v., SHOW v., STABLE DOOR n., WOLF n.

doorbell NAmE noun a bell with a button outside a house that you push to let the people inside know that you are there: to ring the doorbell

do-or-die adj. having or needing great determination: a do-or-die attitude

door furniture noun [U] (BrE, technical) the handles, KNOCKERS, etc. on a door

doorkeeper NAmE noun a person who guards the entrance to a large building, especially to check on people going in

doorknob NAmE noun a type of round handle for a door, that you turn in order to open the door

door knocker noun = KNOCKER

doorman NAmE noun (pl. -men ) a man, often in uniform, whose job is to stand at the entrance to a large building such as a hotel or a theatre, and open the door for visitors, find them taxis, etc.compare PORTER (3)

doormat NAmE noun
1 a small piece of strong material near a door that people can clean their shoes on
2 (informal) a person who allows other people to treat them badly but usually does not complain

doornail NAmE noun see DEAD adj.

doorstep NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a step outside a door of a building, or the area that is very close to the door: The police turned up on their doorstep at 3 o'clock this morning.
2 (BrE, informal) a thick piece of bread, usually one that is made into a SANDWICH
on the/your doorstep very close to where a person lives: The nightlife is great with bars and clubs right on the doorstep.
verb (-pp-) [VN, V] (BrE) when a journalist doorsteps sb, he or she goes to the person's house to try to speak to them, even if they do not want to say anything: The producer of the programme was doorstepped by tabloid journalists.

doorstop NAmE noun a thing that is used to stop a door from closing or to prevent it from hitting and damaging a wall when it is opened

doorway NAmE noun an opening into a building or a room, where the door is: She stood in the doorway for a moment before going in. homeless people sleeping in shop doorways

doozy (also doozie) noun (pl. -ies) (NAmE, informal) something that is very special or unusual

dop NAmE noun, verb (SAfrE, informal)
noun an alcoholic drink: Let's have a dop.
verb (-pp-)
1 to drink alcohol, especially in large amounts: [V] They lay around dopping all day. [also VN]
2 [VN] (slang) to not pass a test or an exam; to not be successful in completing a period of study at a school, university, etc.: I dopped my first year at varsity.

dopa NAmE noun [U] (medical) a chemical which is present in the body, used to treat PARKINSON'S DISEASE

dopamine NAmE noun [U] a chemical produced by nerve cells which has an effect on other cells

dope NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U] (informal) a drug that is taken illegally for pleasure, especially CANNABIS or, in the US, HEROIN: to peddle/smoke dope
2 [U] a drug that is taken by a person or given to an animal to affect their performance in a race or sport: The athlete failed a dope test (= a medical test showed that he had taken such drugs).
3 [C] (informal) a stupid person IDIOT
4 [U] the ~ (on sb/sth) (informal) information on sb/sth, especially details that are not generally known: Give me the dope on the new boss.
verb [VN]
1 to give a drug to a person or an animal in order to affect their performance in a race or sport
2 to give sb a drug, often in their food or drink, in order to make them unconscious; to put a drug in food, etc.: Thieves doped a guard dog and stole $10 000 worth of goods. The wine was doped.
3 ~ sb (up) [usually passive] (informal) if sb is doped or doped up, they cannot think clearly or act normally because they are under the influence of drugs

dopey NAmE adj. (informal)
1 rather stupid: a dopey grin
2 not fully awake or thinking clearly, sometimes because you have taken a drug: I felt dopey and drowsy after the operation.

dopiaza NAmE noun [U] (BrE) a S Asian dish consisting of meat cooked in an onion sauce

doppelgänger NAmE noun (from German) a person's doppelgänger is another person who looks exactly like them

the Doppler effect NAmE noun [sing.] (physics) the way that sound waves, light waves, etc. change according to the direction that the source is moving in with relation to the person who is observing

Doppler shift noun (physics) the change in sound, colour, etc. caused by the Doppler effect

Dorian Gray noun [usually sing.] a person who continues to look young and beautiful, even though they are growing older or behaving in an immoral way: He's a real Dorian Gray, apparently untouched by the ageing process.
From the story by Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, in which Dorian Gray is a beautiful young man who behaves in an immoral way. He secretly keeps a painting of himself, which gradually changes, making him look older and more evil in it. Dorian himself continues to look young and beautiful.

Doric NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (architecture) used to describe the oldest style of ARCHITECTURE in ancient Greece that has thick plain columns and no decoration at the top: a Doric column/temple

dork NAmE noun (informal) a stupid or boring person that other people laugh at
dorky adj.

dorm NAmE noun (informal) = DORMITORY

dormant NAmE adj. not active or growing now but able to become active or to grow in the future INACTIVE: a dormant volcano During the winter the seeds lie dormant in the soil. ACTIVE
dormancy NAmE noun [U]

dormer window (also dormer) noun a vertical window in a room that is built into a sloping roof

dormitory NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (also informal dorm)
1 a room for several people to sleep in, especially in a school or other institution
2 (NAmE) = HALL OF RESIDENCE

dormitory town (BrE) (NAmE bedroom community, bedroom suburb) noun a town that people live in and from where they travel to work in a bigger town or city: Recently people have moved from the city centres to suburbs or dormitory towns.

dormouse NAmE noun (pl. dormice ) a small animal like a mouse, with a tail covered in fur

dorp NAmE noun (SAfrE, informal) a small town or village in the country

dorsal NAmE adj. [only before noun] (technical) on or connected with the back of a fish or an animal: a shark's dorsal fin

dory noun (pl. -ies) a narrow fish that has a deep body and that can open its mouth very wide

DOS NAmE abbr. (computing) disk operating system

dosa NAmE noun a southern Indian PANCAKE made with rice flour

dosage NAmE noun [usually sing.] an amount of sth, usually a medicine or a drug, that is taken regularly over a particular period of time: a high/low dosage to increase/reduce the dosage Do not exceed the recommended dosage.

dos and don'ts DO^1 n.

dose NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 an amount of a medicine or a drug that is taken once, or regularly over a period of time: a high/low/lethal dose Repeat the dose after 12 hours if necessary. Take a single dose at bedtime to help you sleep. I always take my daily dose of vitamin C.
2 (informal) an amount of sth: A dose of flu kept me off work. Workers at the nuclear plant were exposed to high doses of radiation. I can cope with her in small doses (= for short amounts of time).
like a dose of salts (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) very fast and easily: He got through the housework like a dose of salts.more at MEDICINE
verb [VN] ~ sb/yourself (up) (with sth) to give sb/yourself a medicine or drug: She dosed herself up with vitamin pills. He was heavily dosed with painkillers.

dosh NAmE noun [U] (BrE, slang) money

doss NAmE verb, noun
verb [V] (BrE, slang)
1 ~ (down) to sleep somewhere, especially somewhere uncomfortable or without a real bed: You can doss down on my floor.
2 ~ (about/around) to spend your time not doing very much: We were just dossing about in lessons today.
noun (BrE) something that does not need much effort

dosser NAmE noun (BrE)
1 a person who has no permanent home and who lives and sleeps on the streets or in cheap HOSTELS
2 (informal) a person who is very lazy

dosshouse NAmE (BrE) (NAmE flophouse) noun (informal) a cheap place to stay for people who have no home

dossier NAmE noun ~ (on sb/sth) a collection of documents that contain information about a person, an event or a subject FILE: to assemble/compile a dossier We have a dossier on him.

dot NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a small round mark, especially one that is printed: There are dots above the letters i and j. Text and graphics are printed at 300 dots per inch. The helicopters appeared as two black dots on the horizon. The island is a small green dot on the map.
2 (computing) a symbol like a full stop/period used to separate parts of a DOMAIN NAME, a URL or an email address
on the dot (informal) exactly on time or at the exact time mentioned: The taxi showed up on the dot. Breakfast is served at 8 on the dot. Please tell him I'll call him on the dot of twelve.more at YEAR
verb (-tt-) [VN]
1 to put a dot above or next to a letter or word: Why do you never dot your i's?
2 [usually passive] to spread things or people over an area; to be spread over an area: The countryside was dotted with small villages. Small villages dot the countryside. There are lots of Italian restaurants dotted around London.
3 ~ A on/over B| ~ B with A to put very small amounts of sth in a number of places on a surface: Dot the cream all over your face. Dot your face with the cream.
dot your i's and cross your t's to pay attention to the small details when you are finishing a task

SYNONYMS

dot

mark spot

These are all words for a small part on a surface that is a different colour from the rest.

dot a small round mark on sth, especially one that is printed: The letters 'i' and 'j' have dots over them. The island is a small green dot on the map.

mark a noticeable area of colour on the body of a person or animal: The horse had a white mark on its head.

spot a small round area that is a different colour or feels different from the surface it is on: Which has spots, a leopard or a tiger?

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

a dot/mark/spot on sth

with dots/marks/spots

a blue/black/red, etc. dot/mark/spot

dotage NAmE noun
be in your dotage to be old and not always able to think clearly

dot-com (also dotcom) NAmE noun a company that sells goods and services on the Internet, especially one whose address ends '.com': The weaker dot-coms have collapsed. a dot-com millionaire

dote NAmE verb
dote on/upon sb to feel and show great love for sb, ignoring their faults: He dotes on his children. note at LOVE

doting NAmE adj. [only before noun] showing a lot of love for sb, often ignoring their faults: a doting mother/father Doting dad Seb is delighted with his beautiful new daughter.

dot matrix printer noun a machine that prints letters, numbers, etc. formed from very small dots

dotted NAmE adj.
1 covered in dots
2 [only before noun] (music) (of a musical note) followed by a dot to show that it is one and a half times the length of the same note without the dot: (BrE) a dotted minim (NAmE) a dotted half note

dotted line noun a line made of dots: Country boundaries are shown on this map as dotted lines. A page break is represented as a dotted line on screen. Fold along the dotted line. Write your name on the dotted line. see SIGN v.

dotty NAmE adj. (dottier, dottiest) (old-fashioned, BrE, informal)
1 slightly crazy or silly ECCENTRIC
2 ~ about sb/sth having romantic feelings for sb; being enthusiastic about sth: He's dotty about you.

double adj., det., adv., noun, verb
adj. [usually before noun]
TWICE AS MUCH/MANY
1 twice as much or as many as usual: a double helping two double whiskies
WITH TWO PARTS
2 having or made of two things or parts that are equal or similar: double doors a double-page advertisement 'Otter' is spelt with a double t. My extension is two four double 0 (2400).
FOR TWO PEOPLE
3 made for two people or things: a double bed/roomcompare SINGLE adj. (4)
COMBINING TWO THINGS
4 combining two things or qualities: a double meaning/purpose/aim It has the double advantage of being both easy and cheap.
det.
TWICE AS MUCH/MANY twice as much or as many as: His income is double hers. He earns double what she does. We need double the amount we already have.
adv.
IN TWO PARTS in twos or in two parts: I thought I was seeing double (= seeing two of sth). Fold the blanket double. I had to bend double to get under the table.
noun
TWICE AS MUCH/MANY
1 [U] twice the number or amount: He gets paid double for doing the same job I do.
ALCOHOLIC DRINK
2 [C] a glass of strong alcoholic drink containing twice the usual amount: Two Scotches, pleaseand make those doubles, will you?
PERSON/THING
3 [C] a person or thing that looks exactly like another: She's the double of her mother.
4 [C] an actor who replaces another actor in a film/movie to do dangerous or other special thingssee also BODY DOUBLE
BEDROOM
5 [C] = DOUBLE ROOM: Is that a single or a double you want?compare SINGLE n. (3)
IN SPORT
6 doubles [U+sing./pl. v.] a game, especially of TENNIS, in which one pair plays another: mixed doubles (= in which each pair consists of a man and a woman)compare SINGLES n. (5)
7 the double [sing.] the fact of winning two important competitions or beating the same player or team twice, in the same season or year: She's going for the double this yearthe Olympics and the World Championship.
at the double (BrE) (NAmE on the double) (informal) quickly; hurrying
double or quits (BrE) (NAmE double or nothing) (in gambling) a risk in which you could win twice the amount you pay, or you could lose all your money
verb
BECOME TWICE AS MUCH/MANY
1 to become, or make sth become, twice as much or as many: [V] Membership almost doubled in two years. [VN] Double all the quantities in the recipe to make enough for eight people.
FOLD
2 [VN] ~ sth (over) to bend or fold sth so that there are two layers: She doubled the blanket and put it under his head.
IN BASEBALL
3 [V] to hit the ball far enough for you to get to second BASE: He doubled to left field.
double as sth| double up as sth to have another use or function as well as the main one: The kitchen doubles as a dining room.
double back to turn back and go in the direction you have come from
double up (on sth/with sb) (informal) to form a pair in order to do sth or to share sth: We'll have to double up on books; there aren't enough to go around. They only have one room left: you'll have to double up with Peter.
double up/over| double sb up/over to bend or to make your body bend over quickly, for example because you are in pain: Jo doubled up with laughter. I was doubled over with pain.

synonyms

double / dual

These adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:

double ~

dual ~

bed

purpose

doors

function

figures

role

standards

approach

thickness

citizenship

Dual describes something that has two parts, uses or aspects.

Double can be used with a similar meaning, but when it is used to describe something that has two parts, the two parts are usually the same or very similar.

Double, but not dual, can describe something that is made for two people or things, or is twice as big as usual.

double act noun two people who work together, usually to entertain an audience: a comedy double act

double-action adj. [usually before noun]
1 working in two ways: double-action tablets
2 (of a gun) needing two separate actions for preparing to fire and firing

double agent noun a person who is a SPY for a particular country, and also for another country which is an enemy of the first one

double bar noun (music) a pair of vertical lines at the end of a piece of music

double-barrelled (BrE) (NAmE double-barreled) adj. [usually before noun]
1 (of a gun) having two BARRELS (= places where the bullets come out)
2 (BrE) (of a family name) having two parts, sometimes joined by a hyphen, for example 'Day-Lewis'
3 (of a plan, etc.) having two parts, and therefore likely to be effective

double bass (also bass) noun the largest musical instrument in the VIOLIN family, that plays very low notes

double bassoon noun = CONTRABASSOON

double bill (NAmE also double feature) noun two films/movies, television programmes, etc. that are shown one after the other: a cartoon double bill

double bind noun [usually sing.] a situation in which it is difficult to choose what to do because whatever you choose will have negative results

double bluff noun a way of trying to trick sb by telling them the truth while hoping that they think you are lying

double-book verb [VN] [often passive] to promise the same room, seat, table, etc. to two different people at the same timecompare OVERBOOK
double-booking noun [C, U]

double-breasted adj. a double-breasted jacket or coat has two front parts so that one part covers the other when the buttons are done up, and two rows of buttons can be seencompare SINGLE-BREASTED

double-check verb to check sth for a second time or with great care: [VN] I'll double-check the figures. [also V, V (that)]
double-check noun

double chin noun a fold of fat under a person's chin, that looks like another chin

double-click verb [V, VN] ~ (on sth) (computing) to choose a particular function or item on a computer screen, etc. by pressing one of the buttons on a mouse twice quickly: To run an application, just double-click on the icon.

double cream noun [U] (BrE) thick cream which contains a lot of fat and can be mixed so that it is no longer liquidcompare SINGLE CREAM

double-cross verb [VN] to cheat or trick sb who trusts you (usually in connection with sth illegal or dishonest): He double-crossed the rest of the gang and disappeared with all the money.
double-cross noun [usually sing.]

double date noun an occasion when two couples go out together on a DATE
double-date verb [V]

double-dealer noun (informal) a dishonest person who cheats other people
double-dealing noun [U]

double-decker noun
1 a bus with two floors, one on top of the othercompare SINGLE-DECKER
2 (NAmE) a SANDWICH made from three pieces of bread with two layers of food between them

double decomposition noun [U] (chemistry) a process in which atoms from one MOLECULE change places with atoms from another molecule, forming two new molecules

double-density adj. (computing) (of a computer disk) able to hold twice the amount of data as other older disks of the same size

double digits noun [pl.] (NAmE) = DOUBLE FIGURES
double-digit adj. (NAmE) = DOUBLE-FIGURE

double Dutch noun [U] (BrE, informal) speech or writing that is impossible to understand, and that seems to be nonsense: These instructions are written in double Dutch.

double-edged adj.
1 (of a knife, etc.) having two cutting edges: a double-edged blade/axe/dagger
2 (of a remark, comment, etc.) having two possible meanings AMBIGUOUS
3 having two different parts or uses, often parts that contrast with each other: the double-edged quality of life in a small townsecurity and boredom
be a double-edged sword/weapon to be sth that has both advantages and disadvantages

double entendre NAmE noun (from French) a word or phrase that can be understood in two different ways, one of which usually refers to sex

double-entry bookkeeping noun [U] (business) a system of keeping financial records in which each piece of business is recorded as a CREDIT in one account and a DEBIT in another

double fault noun (in TENNIS) the loss of a point caused by a player not SERVING correctly twice
double-fault verb [V]

double feature noun (NAmE) = DOUBLE BILL

double figures (especially BrE) (NAmE usually double digits) noun [pl.] used to describe a number that is not less than 10 and not more than 99: Inflation is in double figures.
double-figure (especially BrE) (NAmE usually double-digit) adj. [only before noun]: a double-figure pay rise

double glazing noun [U] (especially BrE) windows that have two layers of glass with a space between them, designed to make the room warmer and to reduce noise: We're having double-glazing fitted.
double-glaze verb [VN] double-glazed adj.: double-glazed windows

Double Gloucester NAmE noun [U] a type of hard English cheese that is orange in colour

double-header noun (NAmE) (in BASEBALL) two games that are played on the same day, traditionally on a Sunday, and usually by the same two teams

double helix noun (biology) the structure of DNA, consisting of two connected long thin pieces that form a SPIRAL shape

double jeopardy noun (NAmE, law) the fact of taking sb to court twice for the same crime, or punishing sb twice for the same reason

double-jointed adj. having joints in your fingers, arms, etc. that allow you to bend them both backwards and forwards

double life noun a life of a person who leads two different lives which are kept separate from each other, usually because one of them involves secret, often illegal or immoral, activities: to live/lead a double life

double negative noun (grammar) a negative statement containing two negative words. 'I didn't say nothing' is a double negative because it contains two negative words, 'n't' and 'nothing'. This use is not considered correct in standard English.

double-park verb [usually passive] to park a car or other vehicle beside one that is already parked in a street: [VN] A car stood double-parked almost in the middle of the road. I'll have to rushI'm double-parked. [also V]

double play noun (in BASEBALL) a situation in which two players are put out (= made to finish their attempt at scoring a RUN)

double precision noun [U] (computing) the use of twice the usual number of BITS to represent a number, making it more accurate

double quick adv. (BrE, informal) very quickly
double-quick adj. [only before noun]: The TV was repaired in double-quick time.

double rhyme noun [U] (in poetry) a pair of words which have two parts ending with the same sounds, for example 'reading' and 'speeding'

double room (also double) noun a bedroom for two people

doublespeak (also doubletalk) noun [U] language that is intended to make people believe sth which is not true, or that can be understood in two different ways

double standard noun a rule or moral principle that is unfair because it is used in one situation, but not in another, or because it treats one group of people in a way that is different from the treatment of another

double-stopping noun [U] (music) the action of playing two strings together on a VIOLIN or similar instrument

doublet noun a short, tightly fitting jacket worn by men from the 14th to the 17th century: dressed in doublet and hose

double take noun if you do a double take, you wait for a moment before you react to sth that has happened, because it is very surprising

doubletalk noun [U] = DOUBLESPEAK

doublethink noun [U] the act of holding two opposite opinions or beliefs at the same time; the ability to do this

double time noun [U] twice sb's normal pay, that they earn for working at times which are not normal working hours

double top noun (in the game of DARTS) a score of double twenty

double vision noun [U] if you have double vision, you can see two things where there is actually only one

doubloon noun (in the past) a Spanish gold coin

doubly adv. (used before adjectives)
1 more than usual: doubly difficult/hard/important I made doubly sure I locked all the doors when I went out.
2 in two ways; for two reasons: I was doubly attracted to the houseby its size and its location.

doubt noun, verb
noun [U, C] ~ (about sth)| ~ (that ... )| ~ (as to sth) a feeling of being uncertain about sth or not believing sth: a feeling of doubt and uncertainty There is some doubt about the best way to do it. There is no doubt at all that we did the right thing. New evidence has cast doubt on the guilt of the man jailed for the crime. The article raised doubts about how effective the new drug really was. If you are in any doubt as to whether you should be doing these exercises, consult your doctor. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was lying to her. Whether he will continue to be successful in future is open to doubt.
beyond (any) doubt in a way that shows that sth is completely certain: The research showed beyond doubt that smoking contributes to heart disease. (law) The prosecution was able to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the woman had been lying.
be in doubt to be uncertain: The success of the system is not in doubt.
have your doubts (about sth) to have reasons why you are not certain about whether sth is good or whether sth good will happen: I've had my doubts about his work since he joined the firm. It may be all right. Personally, I have my doubts.
if in doubt used to give advice to sb who cannot decide what to do: If in doubt, wear black.
no doubt
1 used when you are saying that sth is probable: No doubt she'll call us when she gets there.
2 used when you are saying that sth is certainly true: He's made some great movies. There's no doubt about it.
without/beyond doubt used when you are giving your opinion and emphasizing the point that you are making: This meeting has been, without doubt, one of the most useful we have had so far.more at BENEFIT n.
verb
1 to feel uncertain about sth; to feel that sth is not true, will probably not happen, etc.: There seems no reason to doubt her story. 'Do you think England will win?''I doubt it.' [V (that)] I never doubted (that) she would come. [V wh-] I doubt whether/if the new one will be any better.
2 [VN] to not trust sb/sth; to not believe sb: I had no reason to doubt him.
doubter noun

doubtful adj.
1 ~ (about sth)| ~ (about doing sth) (of a person) not sure; uncertain and feeling doubt DUBIOUS: Rose was doubtful about the whole idea. He was doubtful about accepting extra work.
2 ~ (if/that/whether ... ) unlikely; not probable: It's doubtful if this painting is a Picasso. With her injuries it's doubtful that she'll ever walk again. It's doubtful whether the car will last another year. He is injured and is doubtful for the game tomorrow (= unlikely to play).
3 [not usually before noun] (of a thing) uncertain and likely to get worse: At the beginning of the war things were looking very doubtful.
4 [only before noun] of low value; probably not genuine or of a quality that you can rely on DUBIOUS: This wine is of doubtful quality.
doubtfully adv.

doubting Thomas NAmE noun [sing.] (old-fashioned) a person who is unlikely to believe sth until they see proof of it
From St Thomas in the Bible, who did not believe that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead until he saw and touched his wounds.

doubtless adv. (also less frequent doubtlessly) almost certainly WITHOUT DOUBT: He would doubtless disapprove of what Kelly was doing. Doubtless Williams, as the star of the movie, is getting five times the salary of everyone else.

douche noun a method of washing inside a woman's VAGINA using a stream of water
douche verb [V, VN]

dough NAmE noun
1 [U, sing.] a mixture of flour, water, etc. that is made into bread and PASTRY: Knead the dough on a floured surface.
2 [U] (old-fashioned, slang) money

doughnut (also donut especially in NAmE) NAmE noun a small cake made of fried dough, usually in the shape of a ring, or round and filled with jam/jelly, fruit, cream, etc.

doughty adj. (old-fashioned) brave and strong: a doughty defender of women's rights

doula noun (NAmE) a woman whose role is to provide emotional support to a woman who is giving birthcompare MIDWIFE

dour BrE NAmE adj.
1 (of a person) giving the impression of being unfriendly and severe
2 (of a thing, a place, or a situation) not pleasant; with no features that make it lively or interesting: The city, drab and dour by day, is transformed at night. The game proved to be a dour struggle, with both men determined to win.
dourly adv.

douse (also dowse) verb [VN]
1 ~ sth (with sth) to stop a fire from burning by pouring water over it; to put out a light: He doused the flames with a fire extinguisher.
2 ~ sb/sth (in/with sth) to pour a lot of liquid over sb/sth; to SOAK sb/sth in liquid: The car was doused in petrol and set alight.

dove^1 noun
1 a bird of the PIGEON family. The white dove is often used as a symbol of peace: A dove cooed softly. He wore a dove-grey suit.see also TURTLE DOVE
2 a person, especially a politician, who prefers peace and discussion to war HAWK

dove^2 NAmE (NAmE) pt of DIVE

dovecote NAmE (also dovecot NAmE ) noun a small building for DOVES or PIGEONS to live in

dovetail verb, noun
verb (formal) ~ (sth) (with/into sth) if two things dovetail or if one thing dovetails with another, they fit together well: [V] My plans dovetailed nicely with hers. [also VN]
noun (also dovetail joint) a joint for fixing two pieces of wood together

dovish adj. preferring to use peaceful discussion rather than military action in order to solve a political problem HAWKISH

dowager noun
1 a woman of high social rank who has a title from her dead husband: the dowager Duchess of Norfolk
2 (informal) an impressive, usually rich, old woman

dowdy adj.
1 (of a woman) not attractive or fashionable: He had a rather dowdy wife and several children.
2 (of a thing) dull or boring and not attractive DRAB: a dowdy dress

dowel (also dowel rod) noun a small piece of wood, plastic, etc. in the shape of a CYLINDER, used to fix larger pieces of wood, plastic, etc. together

dowelling (BrE) (US doweling) noun [U] short pieces of wooden, metal or plastic ROD that are used for holding parts of sth together

the Dow Jones Index NAmE (also Dow Jones average, the Dow) noun [sing.] a list of the share prices of 30 US industrial companies that can be used to compare the prices to previous levels

down adv., prep., verb, adj., noun
adv. For the special uses of down in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example climb down is in the phrasal verb section at climb.
1 to or at a lower place or position: She jumped down off the chair. He looked down at her. We watched as the sun went down. She bent down to pick up her glove. Mary's not down yet (= she is still upstairs). The baby can't keep any food down (= in her body).
2 from a standing or vertical position to a sitting or horizontal one: Please sit down. He had to go and lie down for a while.
3 at a lower level or rate: Prices have gone down recently. We're already two goals down (= the other team has two goals more).
4 used to show that the amount or strength of sth is lower, or that there is less activity: Turn the music down! The class settled down and she began the lesson.
5 (in a CROSSWORD) reading from top to bottom, not from side to side: I can't do 3 down.
6 to or in the south of a country: They flew down to Texas. Houses are more expensive down south.
7 on paper; on a list: Did you get that down? I always write everything down. Have you got me down for the trip?
8 used to show the limits in a range or an order: Everyone will be there, from the Principal down.
9 having lost the amount of money mentioned: At the end of the day we were £20 down.
10 if you pay an amount of money down, you pay that to start with, and the rest later
11 (informal) used to say how far you have got in a list of things you have to do: Well, I've seen six apartments so far. That's six down and four to go!
12 (informal) to or at a local place such as a shop/store, pub, etc.: I'm just going down to the post office. I saw him down at the shops. In informal British English, to and at are often left out after down in this sense: He's gone down the shops.
be down to sb (informal) to be the responsibility of sb: It's down to you to check the door.
be down to sb/sth to be caused by a particular person or thing: She claimed her problems were down to the media.
be down to sth to have only a little money left: I'm down to my last dollar.
be/go down with sth to have or catch an illness
down through sth (formal) during a long period of time: Down through the years this town has seen many changes.
down under (informal) to or in Australia and/or New Zealand
down with sb/sth used to say that you are opposed to sth, or to a person: The crowds chanted 'Down with NATO!'more at MAN n.
prep.
1 from a high or higher point on sth to a lower one: The stone rolled down the hill. Tears ran down her face. Her hair hung down her back to her waist.
2 along; towards the direction in which you are facing: He lives just down the street. Go down the road till you reach the traffic lights. There's a bridge a mile down the river from here.
3 all through a period of time: an exhibition of costumes down the ages (= from all periods of history)
verb [VN] (informal)
1 to finish a drink or eat sth quickly: We downed our coffees and left.
2 to force sb/sth down to the ground: to down a plane Storms downed trees and power lines.
down tools (BrE) (of workers) to stop work; to go on strike
adj. [not before noun]
1 (informal) sad or depressed: I feel a bit down today.
2 (of a computer or computer system) not working: The system was down all morning.see also DOWNTIME see HIT v., KICK v., LUCK n., MOUTH n.
nounsee also DOWNS
1 [U] the very fine soft feathers of a bird: duck down
2 [U] fine soft hairsee also DOWNY
3 [C] (in AMERICAN FOOTBALL) one of a series of four chances to carry the ball forward ten yards that a team is allowed. These series continue until the team loses the ball or fails to go forward ten yards in four downs.
have a down on sb/sth (BrE, informal) to have a bad opinion of a person or thingmore at UP n.

down and out adj. (of a person)
1 without money, a home or a job, and living on the streets: a novel about being down and out in London
2 certain to be defeated

down-and-out noun a person without money, a home or a job, who lives on the streets

down at heel adj. looking less attractive and fashionable than before, usually because of a lack of money: The town has become very down at heel. a down-at-heel hotel

downbeat adj. (informal)
1 dull or depressing; not having much hope for the future: The overall mood of the meeting was downbeat. UPBEAT
2 not showing strong feelings or enthusiasm

downcast NAmE adj.
1 (of eyes) looking down: Eyes downcast, she continued eating.
2 (of a person or an expression) sad or depressed DEJECTED: A group of downcast men stood waiting for food.

downchange verb [V] to change to a lower gear in a vehicle CHANGE DOWN UPCHANGE

downdraught (also downdraft NAmE) NAmE noun (BrE) a downward movement of air, for example down a CHIMNEY

downer noun (informal)
1 [usually pl.] a drug, especially a BARBITURATE, that relaxes you or makes you want to sleepcompare UPPER
2 an experience that makes you feel sad or depressed: Not getting the promotion was a real downer. He's really on a downer (= very depressed).

downfall noun [sing.] the loss of a person's money, power, social position, etc.; the thing that causes this: The sex scandal finally led to his downfall. Greed was her downfall.

downgrade verb [VN]
1 ~ sb/sth (from sth) (to sth) to move sb/sth down to a lower rank or level: She's been downgraded from principal to vice-principal.
2 to make sth/sb seem less important or valuable than it/they really arecompare UPGRADE
downgrading noun [U, C]: a downgrading of diplomatic relations

downhearted NAmE adj. [not before noun] feeling depressed or sad: We're disappointed by these results but we're not downhearted.

downhill adv., adj., noun
adv. towards the bottom of a hill; in a direction that goes down: to run/walk/cycle downhill UPHILL
go downhill to get worse in quality, health, etc. DETERIORATE: Their marriage went downhill after the first child was born. He's been going slowly downhill since he came out of hospital.
adj. going or sloping towards the bottom of a hill: a downhill path UPHILL
be (all) downhill | be downhill all the way (informal)
1 to be easy compared to what came before: It's all downhill from here. We'll soon be finished.
2 to become worse or less successful: It's been all downhill for his career since then, with four defeats in five games. I started work as a journalist and it was downhill all the way for my health.
noun [U] the type of SKIING in which you go directly down a mountain; a race in which people ski down a mountaincompare CROSS-COUNTRY

down-home adj. (NAmE) used to describe a person or thing that reminds you of a simple way of life, typical of the country, not the town

Downing Street noun [sing.] (not used with the) a way of referring to the British prime minister and government, taken from the name of the street where the prime minister lives: Downing Street issued a statement late last night.

downlighter (also downlight ) noun a light on a wall which shines downwardscompare UPLIGHTER

downlink noun a communications link by which information is received from space or from an aircraft
downlink verb: [VN] Any organization can downlink the program without charge.

download verb, noun
verb NAmE [VN] (computing) to move data to a smaller computer system from a larger onecompare LOAD UPLOAD
noun NAmE (computing) data which is downloaded from another computer system
downloadable NAmE adj.

downlow NAmE noun, adj.
nounthe downlow [sing.] (informal) ~ on (sb/sth) the true facts about sb/sth, especially those considered most important to know: the website that gives you the downlow on the best movies LOW-DOWN
on the downlow secretly; not wanting other people to discover what you are doing
adj. [only before noun] (slang) used to refer to a man who appears to be HETEROSEXUAL, but secretly has sex with men

downmarket NAmE (BrE) (NAmE downscale) adj. (disapproving) cheap and of poor quality: The company wants to break away from its downmarket image. A town that has everything from luxury hotels to downmarket bars. UPMARKET
downmarket adv.: To get more viewers the TV station was forced to go downmarket.

downmost NAmE adj. (especially BrE) nearest to the ground or lower level
downmost adv.

down payment noun a sum of money that is given as the first part of a larger payment: We are saving for a down payment on a house.

downpipe (BrE) (US fall-pipe) noun a pipe for carrying water from a roof down to the ground or to a DRAIN

downplay verb [VN] to make people think that sth is less important than it really is PLAY DOWN: The coach is downplaying the team's poor performance.

downpour noun [usually sing.] a heavy fall of rain that often starts suddenly

downright adj. [only before noun] used as a way of emphasizing sth negative or unpleasant: There was suspicion and even downright hatred between them.
downright adv.: She couldn't think of anything to say that wasn't downright rude. It's not just stupidit's downright dangerous.

downriver adv. = DOWNSTREAM

downs noun the downs [pl.] an area of open land with low hills, especially in southern England: the South Downs

downscale adj., adv. (NAmE) = DOWNMARKET

downshift verb [V]
1 (NAmE) to change to a lower gear in a vehicle
2 to change to a job or style of life where you may earn less but which puts less pressure on you and involves less stress
downshift noun [C, U] downshifter noun

downside noun [sing.] the disadvantages or less positive aspects of sth UPSIDE

downsize verb [V, VN] (business) to reduce the number of people who work in a company, business, etc. in order to reduce costs note at CUT
downsizing noun [U]

downspout noun (NAmE) = DRAINPIPE

Down's syndrome (NAmE usually Down syndrome) noun [U] a medical condition in which a person is born with a wide flat face, sloping eyes and a mental ability that is below average

downstage adv. towards the front of the stage in a theatre
downstage adj. UPSTAGE

downstairs NAmE adv., noun
adv. down the stairs; on or to a floor or a house or building lower than the one you are on, especially the one at ground level: She rushed downstairs and burst into the kitchen. Wait downstairs in the hall. UPSTAIRS
downstairs adj. [only before noun]: a downstairs bathroom
noun [sing.] the lower floor of a house or building, especially the one at ground level: We're painting the downstairs. UPSTAIRS

downstream adv., adj.
(also less frequent downriver) adv.~ (of/from sth) in the direction in which a river flows: to drift/float downstream downstream of/from the bridge There's a village about a mile downstream. Hundreds of people were swept downstream in the floods. UPSTREAM
adj.
1 (also less frequent downriver) in a position along a river which is nearer the sea: downstream areas UPSTREAM
2 happening as a consequence of sth that has happened earlier: downstream effects

downswing noun [usually sing.]
1 ~ (in sth) a situation in which sth gets worse or decreases over a period of time: the current downswing in the airline industry He is on a career downswing. UPSWING
2 (in GOLF) the downward movement of a CLUB when a player is about to hit the ball: Don't allow your leg to straighten on the downswing.

Down syndrome noun [U] (NAmE) = DOWN'S SYNDROME

downtime noun [U]
1 the time during which a machine, especially a computer, is not workingcompare UPTIME
2 (especially NAmE) the time when sb stops working and is able to relax: Everyone needs a little downtime.

down to earth adj. (approving) sensible and practical, in a way that is helpful and friendly

downtown adv. (especially NAmE) in or towards the centre of a city, especially its main business area: to go/work downtowncompare MIDTOWN, TOWN CENTRE, UPTOWN
downtown adj.: a downtown store downtown noun [U]: a hotel in the heart of downtown

downtrend noun [sing.] a situation in which business activity or performance decreases or becomes worse over a period of time: There was a gradual downtrend in the price of grain. UPTREND

downtrodden NAmE adj. downtrodden people are treated so badly by the people with authority and power that they no longer have the energy or ability to fight back: a downtrodden minority It was a downtrodden nation during centuries of foreign occupation.

downturn NAmE noun [usually sing.] ~ (in sth) a fall in the amount of business that is done; a time when the economy becomes weaker: a downturn in sales/trade/business the economic downturn of the late 1990s UPTURN

downward NAmE adj. [usually before noun] moving or pointing towards a lower level: the downward slope of a hill the downward trend in inflation She was trapped in a downward spiral of personal unhappiness. The business was on a downward path, finally closing in 1998. Subsidence is the downward movement of a site on which a building stands. UPWARD

downwards NAmE (also downward especially in NAmE) adv. towards the ground or towards a lower level: She was lying face downwards on the grass. The garden sloped gently downwards to the river. It was a policy welcomed by world leaders from the US president downwards. Nine per cent of commuters used public transport in 1995 and the trend is downwards. Official projections of the spread of AIDS have mercifully been revised downwards (= it has been predicted that the disease will not spread as fast as had earlier been suggested). UPWARDS

downwind adv. ~ (of sth) in the direction in which the wind is blowing: sailing downwind Warnings were issued to people living downwind of the fire to stay indoors. UPWIND
downwind adj.

downy adj. covered in sth very soft, especially hair or featherssee also DOWN n.

dowry noun (pl. -ies)
1 money and/or property that, in some societies, a wife or her family must pay to her husband when they get married
2 money and/or property that, in some societies, a husband must pay to his wife's family when they get married

dowse verb
1 [V] to look for underground water or minerals by using a special stick or long piece of metal that moves when it comes near water, etc.
2 = DOUSE
dowser noun

dowsing rod noun a stick used when dowsing for water or minerals underground

doxology NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (religion) in Christian worship, a short text that can be sung which praises God

doxy NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (old use)
1 a woman who is sb's lover
2 a PROSTITUTE

doyen (NAmE usually dean) noun the most respected or most experienced member of a group or profession: Arthur C Clarke is the doyen of science-fiction writers.

doyenne noun the most respected or most experienced woman member of a group or profession: Martha Graham, the doyenne of American modern dance

doz. abbr. (in writing) DOZEN: 2 doz. eggs

doze NAmE verb, noun
verb [V] to sleep lightly for a short time: I dozed fitfully until dawn. note at SLEEP
doze off to go to sleep, especially during the day: She dozed off in front of the fire.
noun [sing.] a short period of sleep, usually during the day: I had a doze on the train.

dozen noun, det. (pl. dozen)
1 [C] (abbr. doz.) a group of twelve of the same thing: Give me a dozen, please. two dozen eggs three dozen red rosessee also BAKER'S DOZEN
2 [C] a group of approximately twelve people or things: several dozen/a few dozen people The company employs no more than a couple of dozen people. Only about half a dozen people turned up. There was only space for a half-dozen tables.
3 dozens [pl.] ~ (of sth) (informal) a lot of people or things: They arrived in dozens (= in large numbers). I've been there dozens of times. see DIME, NINETEEN, SIX

dozy NAmE adj. (informal)
1 not looking or feeling awake
2 (BrE) stupid; not intelligent

DPhil noun (BrE) the abbreviation for 'Doctor of Philosophy': to be/have/do a DPhil James Mendelssohn DPhil

dpi abbr. (computing) dots per inch (a measure of how clear the images produced by a printer, SCANNER etc. are)

DPP abbr. (in England and Wales) DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS

Dr (BrE) (also Dr. NAmE, BrE) abbr.
1 (in writing) Doctor: Dr (Jane) Walker
2 (in street names) DRIVE

drab adj. (drabber, drabbest) without interest or colour; dull and boring: a cold drab little office drab women, dressed in browns and greys
drabness noun [U]

drabs noun see DRIBS

drachma noun (pl. drachmas or drachmae ) the unit of money in Greece (replaced in 2002 by the euro)

draconian NAmE adj. (formal) (of a law, punishment, etc.) extremely cruel and severe: a call for draconian measures against drug-related crime
From Draco, a legislator in ancient Athens who gave severe punishments for crimes, especially the punishment of being killed.

Dracula noun a character in many horror films who is a VAMPIRE. Vampires appear at night and suck the blood of their victims.
From the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker.

draft NAmE noun, adj., verb
noun
1 [C] a rough written version of sth that is not yet in its final form: I've made a rough draft of the letter. This is only the first draft of my speech. the final draft (= the final version) The legislation is still in draft form. a draft constitution/treaty/agreement
2 [C] (finance) a written order to a bank to pay money to sb: Payment must be made by bank draft drawn on a UK bank.
3 the draft [sing.] (especially US) = CONSCRIPTION
4 [sing.] (NAmE) a system in which professional teams in some sports choose players each year from among college students: He was the fourth player chosen in the 1992 draft, but the first of his class to reach the major leagues.
5 [C] (NAmE) = DRAUGHT: Can you shut the door? There's a draft in here.
adj. (NAmE) = DRAUGHT
verb (also draught especially in BrE) [VN]
1 to write the first rough version of sth such as a letter, speech or book: to draft a constitution/contract/bill I'll draft a letter for you.
2 [+adv./prep.] to choose people and send them somewhere for a special task: Extra police are being drafted in to control the crowds.
3 [usually passive] (NAmE) = CONSCRIPT: They were drafted into the army.

draft dodger noun (NAmE, disapproving) a person who illegally tries to avoid doing military servicecompare CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR

draftee NAmE noun (US) = CONSCRIPT

drafter noun
1 a person who prepares a rough version of a plan, document, etc.
2 (NAmE) = DRAFTSMAN (2)

draftsman , draftswoman noun (pl. -men , -women )
1 (NAmE) = DRAUGHTSMAN, DRAUGHTSWOMAN
2 (NAmE also drafter) a person who writes official or legal documents: the draftsmen of the constitution

draftsmanship (NAmE) = DRAUGHTSMANSHIP

draftsperson NAmE noun (NAmE) = DRAUGHTSMAN (1)

drafty (NAmE) = DRAUGHTY

drag verb, noun
verb (-gg-)
PULL
1 [VN, usually + adv. / prep.] to pull sb/sth along with effort and difficulty: I dragged the chair over to the window. They dragged her from her bed. The sack is too heavy to liftyou'll have to drag it. He quickly dragged a comb through his hair. note at PULL
MOVE SLOWLY
2 [+adv./prep.] to move yourself slowly and with effort: [VN] I managed to drag myself out of bed. [V] She always drags behind when we walk anywhere.
PERSUADE SB TO GO
3 [VN + adv. / prep.] to persuade sb to come or go somewhere they do not really want to come or go to: I'm sorry to drag you all this way in the heat. The party was so good I couldn't drag myself away. He came in, dragging his three children behind him.
OF TIME
4 [V] (of time or an event) to pass very slowly: Time dragged terribly. The meeting really dragged.see also DRAG ON
TOUCH GROUND
5 to move, or make sth move, partly touching the ground: [V] This dress is too longit drags on the ground when I walk. [VN] He was dragging his coat in the mud.
SEARCH RIVER
6 [VN] ~ sth (for sb/sth) to search the bottom of a river, lake, etc. with nets or hooks: They dragged the canal for the missing children.
COMPUTING
7 [VN + adv. / prep.] to move some text, an ICON, etc. across the screen of a computer using the mouse: Click on the file and drag it across.
drag your feet/heels to be deliberately slow in doing sth or in making a decisionmore at BOOTSTRAP
drag by (of time) to pass very slowly: The last few weeks of the summer really dragged by.
drag sbdown to make sb feel weak or unhappy: Dwelling on the past only drags you down.
drag sb/sthdown (to sth) to bring sb/sth to a lower social or economic level, a lower standard of behaviour, etc.: If he fails, he'll drag us all down with him.
drag sth/sb into sth| drag sth/sbin
1 to start to talk about sth/sb that has nothing to do with what is being discussed: Do you have to drag politics into everything?
2 to try to get sb who is not connected with a situation involved in it: Don't drag the children into our argument.
drag on (disapproving) to go on for too long: The dispute has dragged on for months.
drag sthout to make sth last longer than necessary PROLONG: Let's not drag out this discussion; we need to reach a decision.
drag sth out of sb to make sb say sth they do not want to say: We dragged a confession out of him.
drag sthup to mention an unpleasant story, fact, etc. that people do not want to remember or talk about: Why do you have to keep dragging up my divorce?
noun
BORING PERSON/THING
1 [sing.] (informal) a boring person or thing; sth that is annoying: He's such a drag. Walking's a draglet's drive there. Having to work late every day is a drag.
SB/STH STOPPING PROGRESS
2 [sing.] a ~ on sb/sth (informal) a person or thing that makes progress difficult: He came to be seen as a drag on his own party's prospects.
ON CIGARETTE
3 [C] (informal) an act of breathing in smoke from a cigarette, etc. DRAW: She took a long drag on her cigarette.
WOMEN'S CLOTHES
4 [U] (informal) clothes that are usually worn by the opposite sex (usually women's clothes worn by men): He performed in drag. a drag queen (= a man who dresses in women's clothes, usually in order to entertain people)
PHYSICS
5 [U] the force of the air that acts against the movement of an aircraft or other vehiclesee also MAIN DRAGcompare LIFT

drag-and-drop adj. (computing) relating to the moving of ICONS, etc. on a screen using the mouse

dragée NAmE noun
1 a sweet with a hard covering
2 a very small silver or gold-coloured ball, used for decorating cakes

drag lift noun (BrE) a machine which pulls you up the mountain on your SKIS

dragnet noun
1 a net which is pulled through water to catch fish, or along the ground to catch animals
2 a thorough search, especially for a criminal

dragon noun
1 (in stories) a large aggressive animal with wings and a long tail, that can breathe out fire
2 (disapproving, especially BrE) a woman who behaves in an aggressive and frightening way

dragon boat noun a long narrow boat of traditional Chinese design that is used for racing and that is moved through the water by a lot of people using PADDLES. It is decorated to look like a dragon.

dragonfly noun (pl. -ies) an insect with a long thin body, often brightly coloured, and two pairs of large transparent wings. Dragonflies are often seen over water: Bright blue dragonflies hovered and darted in the reeds.

dragoon noun, verb
noun a soldier in the past who rode a horse and carried a gun
verb
dragoon sb into sth/into doing sth (formal) to force or persuade sb to do sth that they do not want to do COERCE

drag race noun a race between specially adapted cars over a short distance
drag racing noun [U]

dragster noun a car that is used in a drag race

drain verb, noun
verb
1 to make sth empty or dry by removing all the liquid from it; to become empty or dry in this way: [VN] Drain and rinse the pasta. The marshes have been drained. You will need to drain the central heating system before you replace the radiator. [V] The swimming pool drains very slowly. Leave the dishes to drain.
2 ~ (sth) (from/out of sth)| ~ (sth) (away/off) to make liquid flow away from sth; to flow away: [VN] We had to drain the oil out of the engine. Drain off the excess fat from the meat. [V] She pulled out the plug and the water drained away. The river drains into a lake. All the colour drained from his face when I told him the news His face drained of colour. (figurative) My anger slowly drained away.
3 [VN] to empty a cup or glass by drinking everything in it: (formal) In one gulp, he drained the glass. She quickly drained the last of her drink.
4 [VN] ~ sb/sth (of sth) to make sb/sth weaker, poorer, etc. by using up their/its strength, money, etc.: My mother's hospital expenses were slowly draining my income. I felt drained of energy. an exhausting and draining experience
noun
1 [C] a pipe that carries away dirty water or other liquid waste: We had to call in a plumber to unblock the drain. The drains (= the system of pipes) date from the beginning of the century.
2 [C] (BrE) (US grate, sewer grate) a frame of metal bars over the opening to a drain in the ground
3 [C] (US) = PLUGHOLE
4 [sing.] a ~ on sb/sth a thing that uses a lot of the time, money, etc. that could be used for sth else: Military spending is a huge drain on the country's resources.see also BRAIN DRAIN
(go) down the drain (BrE also (go) down the plughole) (informal) (to be) wasted; (to get) very much worse: It's just money down the drain, you know. Safety standards have gone down the drain.more at LAUGH v.

drainage noun [U]
1 the process by which water or liquid waste is drained from an area: a drainage system/channel/ditch The area has good natural drainage.
2 a system of drains

drained adj. [not usually before noun] very tired and without energy: She suddenly felt totally drained. The experience left her emotionally drained.

draining board (BrE) (NAmE drainboard) noun the area next to a kitchen SINK where cups, plates, etc. are put for the water to run off, after they have been washed

drainpipe noun
1 (NAmE also downspout) a pipe that carries RAINWATER from the roof of a building to a DRAIN
2 a pipe that carries dirty water or other liquid waste away from a building

drake noun a male DUCKsee also DUCKS AND DRAKES

dram noun (especially ScotE) a small amount of an alcoholic drink, especially WHISKY: How about a wee dram to celebrate?

drama noun
1 [C] a play for the theatre, television or radio: a costume/historical, etc. drama
2 [U] plays considered as a form of literature: classical/Elizabethan/modern, etc. drama a drama critic drama school a drama student I studied English and Drama at college.
3 [C] an exciting event: A powerful human drama was unfolding before our eyes.
4 [U] the fact of being exciting: You couldn't help being thrilled by the drama of the situation.
make a drama out of sth to make a small problem or event seem more important or serious than it really is

drama queen noun (informal, disapproving) a person who behaves as if a small problem or event is more important or serious than it really is: Oh, stop being such a drama queen!

dramatic adj.
1 (of a change, an event, etc.) sudden, very great and often surprising: a dramatic increase/fall/change/improvement dramatic results/developments/news The announcement had a dramatic effect on house prices.
2 exciting and impressive: a dramatic victory They watched dramatic pictures of the police raid on TV. set against the dramatic backcloth of Mont Blanc note at EXCITING
3 [usually before noun] connected with the theatre or plays: a local dramatic society Students will study various plays and dramatic texts. a dramatic monologue
4 exaggerated in order to create a special effect and attract people's attention: He flung out his arms in a dramatic gesture. Don't be so dramatic!
dramatically adv.: Prices have fallen dramatically. Events could have developed in a dramatically different way. 'At last!' she cried dramatically. The mountains rose dramatically behind them.

dramatic irony noun [U] a situation in a play when a character's words carry an extra meaning to the audience because they know more than the character, especially about what is going to happen

dramatics noun [pl.] behaviour that does not seem sincere because it is exaggerated or too emotionalsee also AMATEUR DRAMATICS

dramatis personae NAmE noun [pl.] (from Latin, formal) all the characters in a play in the theatre

dramatist noun a person who writes plays for the theatre, television or radio PLAYWRIGHT: a TV dramatist

dramatize (BrE also -ise) verb
1 [VN] to present a book, an event, etc. as a play or a film/movie: Jane Austen's 'Emma' was dramatized on television recently.
2 to make sth seem more exciting or important than it really is: [VN] Don't worry too much about what she saidshe tends to dramatize things. [also V]
dramatization, -isation noun [U, C]: a television dramatization of the trial She has a tendency to dramatization.

dramaturge (also dramaturg) NAmE noun (formal) a person who writes or EDITS plays for a theatre

dramaturgy NAmE noun [U] (formal) the study or activity of writing dramatic texts

DrambuieTM NAmE noun [U, C] a strong sweet alcoholic drink from Scotland made with WHISKY and HERBS

dramedy NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (NAmE) a television programme that is intended to be both humorous and serious

drank pt of DRINK

drape verb, noun
verb [VN + adv. / prep.]
1 ~ sth around/over/across, etc. sth to hang clothes, materials, etc. loosely on sb/sth: She had a shawl draped around her shoulders. He draped his coat over the back of the chair. She draped a cover over the old sofa.
2 ~ sb/sth in/with sth to cover or decorate sb/sth with material: walls draped in ivy
3 ~ sth around/round/over, etc. sth to allow part of your body to rest on sth in a relaxed way: His arm was draped casually around her shoulders.
noun (especially NAmE) (NAmE also drapery) [usually pl.] a long thick curtain: blue velvet drapes

draper noun (old-fashioned, BrE)
1 a person who owns or manages a shop that sells cloth, curtains, etc.
2 draper's (pl. drapers) a shop/store that sells cloth, curtains, etc.

drapery noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] (also draperies [pl.]) cloth or clothing hanging in loose folds: a cradle swathed in draperies and blue ribbon The style is noted for its flowing drapery.
2 [C, usually pl.] (NAmE) = DRAPE
3 [U] (old-fashioned) cloth and materials for sewing sold by a draper: a drapery shop/businesscompare DRY GOODS

drastic BrE adj. extreme in a way that has a sudden, serious or violent effect on sth: drastic measures/changes The government is threatening to take drastic action. a drastic shortage of food a drastic reduction in their standard of living Talk to me before you do anything drastic.
drastically adv.: Output has been drastically reduced. Things have started to go drastically wrong.

drat exclamation (old-fashioned, informal) used to show that you are annoyed: Drat! I forgot my key.
dratted adj. [only before noun] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal): This dratted pen won't work.

draught (BrE) (NAmE draft ) noun, adj., verb
noun
1 [C] a flow of cool air in a room or other confined space: There's a draught in here. A cold draught of air blew in from the open window. I was sitting in a draught. She shivered in the icy draught.
2 [C] (formal) one continuous action of swallowing liquid; the amount swallowed: He took a deep draught of his beer.
3 [C] (old use or literary) medicine in a liquid form: a sleeping draught (= one that makes you sleep)
4 draughts (BrE) (NAmE checkers) [U] a game for two players using 24 round pieces on a board marked with black and white squares
5 [C] (BrE) (NAmE checker) one of the round pieces used in a game of draughts
on draught (BrE) (of beer) taken from a large container (= a BARREL): This beer is not available on draught (= it is available only in bottles or cans).
adj.
1 [usually before noun] served from a large container (= a BARREL) rather than in a bottle: draught beer
2 [only before noun] used for pulling heavy loads: a draught horse
verb [VN] (especially BrE) = DRAFT

draughtboard NAmE (BrE) (NAmE checkerboard) noun a board with black and white squares, used for playing DRAUGHTS/CHECKERS

draught excluder (BrE) (NAmE weather strip) noun [C, U] a piece of material that helps to prevent cold air coming through a door, window, etc.

draughtsman (BrE) (NAmE draftsman ) noun (pl. -men )
1 a person whose job is to draw detailed plans of machinery, buildings, etc.
2 a person who draws: He's a poor draughtsman.see also DRAUGHTSWOMAN, DRAUGHTSPERSON

draughtsmanship (BrE) (NAmE draftsmanship) NAmE noun [U] the ability to draw well: You have to admire her superb draughtsmanship.

draughtsperson (BrE) (NAmE draftsperson ) noun a draughtsman or a draughtswoman

draughtswoman (BrE) (NAmE draftswoman ) noun (pl. -women )
1 a woman whose job is to draw detailed plans of machinery, buildings, etc.
2 a woman who drawssee also DRAUGHTSMAN

draughty (BrE) (NAmE drafty ) adj. (draughtier, draughtiest) (of a room, etc.) uncomfortable because cold air is blowing through: a draughty room/corridor

Dravidian adj. connected with a group of languages spoken in southern India and in Sri Lanka, or with the people who speak these languages

draw verb, noun
verb (drew drawn )
MAKE PICTURES
1 to make pictures, or a picture of sth, with a pencil, pen or CHALK (but not paint): [V] You draw beautifully. [VN] to draw a picture/diagram/graph She drew a house. He drew a circle in the sand with a stick. (figurative) The report drew a grim picture of inefficiency and corruption.
PULL
2 [VN + adv. / prep.] to move sth/sb by pulling it or them gently: He drew the cork out of the bottle. I drew my chair up closer to the fire. She drew me onto the balcony. I tried to draw him aside (= for example where I could talk to him privately). (figurative) My eyes were drawn to the man in the corner. note at PULL
3 [VN] (of horses, etc.) to pull a vehicle such as a CARRIAGE: The Queen's coach was drawn by six horses. a horse-drawn carriage
CURTAINS
4 [VN] to open or close curtains, etc.: The blinds were drawn. It was getting dark so I switched on the light and drew the curtains. She drew back the curtains and let the sunlight in.
MOVE
5 [V + adv. / prep.] to move in the direction mentioned: The train drew into the station. The train drew in. The figures in the distance seemed to be drawing closer. Their car drew alongside ours. (figurative) Her retirement is drawing near. (figurative) The meeting was drawing to a close.
WEAPON
6 ~ (sth) (on sb) to take out a weapon, such as a gun or a SWORD, in order to attack sb: [VN] She drew a revolver on me. He came towards them with his sword drawn. [also V]
ATTRACT
7 [VN] ~ sb (to sth) to attract or interest sb: The movie is drawing large audiences. Her screams drew passers-by to the scene. The course draws students from all over the country.
GET REACTION
8 [VN] ~ sth (from sb) to produce a reaction or response: The announcement drew loud applause from the audience. The plan has drawn a lot of criticism.
MAKE SB TALK
9 [VN] ~ sb (about/on sth) [often passive] to make sb say more about sth: Spielberg refused to be drawn on his next movie.
CONCLUSION
10 [VN] ~ sth (from sth) to have a particular idea after you have studied sth or thought about it: What conclusions did you draw from the report? We can draw some lessons for the future from this accident.
COMPARISON
11 [VN] to express a comparison or a contrast: to draw an analogy/a comparison/a parallel/a distinction between two events
CHOOSE
12 to decide sth by picking cards, tickets or numbers by chance: [V] We drew for partners. [VN] They had to draw lots to decide who would go. He drew the winning ticket. Names were drawn from a hat for the last few places. Italy has been drawn against Spain in the first round. [VN to inf] Italy has been drawn to play Spain.
GAME
13 ~ (with/against sb) to finish a game without either team winning: [V] England and France drew. England drew with/against France. England and France drew 3-3. [VN] England drew their game against France.
MONEY
14 [VN] ~ sth (from sth)| ~ sth out (of sth)| ~ sth on sth to take money or payments from a bank account or post office WITHDRAW: Can I draw $80 out of my account? I drew out £200. She went to the post office to draw her pension. The cheque was drawn on his personal account.
LIQUID/GAS
15 [VN] to take or pull liquid or gas from somewhere: to draw water from a well The device draws gas along the pipe.
SMOKE/AIR
16 ~ at/on sth| ~ sth in to breathe in smoke or air: [V] He drew thoughtfully on his pipe. [VN] She breathed deeply, drawing in the fresh mountain air.
draw a blank to get no response or result: So far, the police investigation has drawn a blank.
draw blood to make sb BLEED
draw breath (BrE) (US draw a breath)
1 to stop doing sth and rest: She talks all the time and hardly stops to draw breath.
2 (literary) to live; to be alive: He was as kind a man as ever drew breath.
draw sb's fire to make sb direct their anger, criticism, etc. at you, so that others do not have to face it
draw a line under sth (BrE) to say that sth is finished and not worth discussing any more
draw the line (at sth/at doing sth) to refuse to do sth; to set a limit: I don't mind helping, but I draw the line at doing everything myself. We would have liked to invite all our relatives, but you have to draw the line somewhere.
draw the line (between sth and sth) to distinguish between two closely related ideas: Where do you draw the line between genius and madness?
draw the short straw (BrE) (NAmE get the short end of the stick) to be the person in a group who is chosen or forced to perform an unpleasant duty or task: I drew the short straw and had to clean the toilets.
draw straws (for sth) to decide on sb to do or have sth, by choosing pieces of paper, etc.: We drew straws for who went first.more at BATTLE n., BEAD n., DAGGER, HEIGHT, HORN, LOT n., SIDE n.
draw back to move away from sb/sth: He came close but she drew back.
draw back (from sth/from doing sth) to choose not to take action, especially because you feel nervous: We drew back from taking our neighbours to court.
draw sth from sb/sth to take or obtain sth from a particular source: to draw support/comfort/strength from your family She drew her inspiration from her childhood experiences.
draw in to become dark earlier in the evening as winter gets nearer: The nights/days are drawing in.
draw sb into sth/into doing sth| draw sbin to involve sb or make sb take part in sth, although they may not want to take part at first: youngsters drawn into a life of crime The book starts slowly, but it gradually draws you in.
draw sthoff to remove some liquid from a larger supply: The doctor drew off some fluid to relieve the pressure.
draw on if a time or a season draws on, it passes: Night was drawing on.
draw on/upon sth to use a supply of sth that is available to you: I'll have to draw on my savings. The novelist draws heavily on her personal experiences.
draw out to become lighter in the evening as summer gets nearer: The days/evenings are drawing out.
draw sbout to encourage sb to talk or express themselves freely
draw sthout to make sth last longer than usual or necessary: She drew the interview out to over an hour.see also LONG-DRAWN-OUT
draw up if a vehicle draws up, it arrives and stops: The cab drew up outside the house.
draw sthup to make or write sth that needs careful thought or planning: to draw up a contract/list
noun
CHOOSING
1 (US also drawing) [usually sing.] ~ (for sth) the act of choosing sth, for example the winner of a prize or the teams who play each other in a competition, usually by taking pieces of paper, etc. out of a container without being able to see what is written on them: the draw for the second round of the European Cup The draw for the raffle takes place on Saturday. I'm now going to call on the President to make the draw.
SPORTS/GAMES
2 (especially BrE) a game in which both teams or players finish with the same number of points: The match ended in a two-all draw. He managed to hold Smith to a draw (= to stop him from winning when he seemed likely to do so).compare TIE n. (5)
3 (NAmE usually drawing) a competition in which the winners are chosen in a draw: a prize drawcompare LOTTERY
4 (BrE) a sports match for which the teams or players are chosen in a draw: Liverpool have an away draw against Manchester United.
5 [usually sing.] a set of matches for which the teams or players are chosen in a draw: There are only two seeded players left in the top half of the draw.
ATTRACTION
6 a person, a thing or an event that attracts a lot of people ATTRACTION: She is currently one of the biggest draws on the Irish music scene.
SMOKE
7 an act of breathing in the smoke from a cigarette DRAG: She took one last draw from the cigarette.
be quick/fast on the draw
1 (informal) to be quick to understand or react in a new situation: You can't fool himhe's always quick on the draw.
2 to be quick at pulling out a gun in order to shoot itmore at LUCK n.

drawback noun ~ (of/to sth)| ~ (of/to doing sth) a disadvantage or problem that makes sth a less attractive idea DISADVANTAGE, SNAG: The main drawback to it is the cost. This is the one major drawback of the new system.

drawbridge noun a bridge that can be pulled up, for example to stop people from entering a castle or to allow ships to pass under it: to raise/lower the drawbridge

drawer noun
1 a part of a piece of furniture such as a desk, used for keeping things in. It is shaped like a box and has a handle on the front for pulling it out: in the top/middle/bottom drawer of the desk the kitchen drawer (= the one in the kitchen)see also CHEST OF DRAWERS, TOP DRAWER
2 (formal) a person who writes a cheque: a cheque bearing the signature of the drawer

drawers NAmE noun [pl.] (old-fashioned) KNICKERS or UNDERPANTS, especially ones that cover the upper parts of the legs

drawing noun
1 [C] a picture made using a pencil or pen rather than paint: a pencil/charcoal drawing a drawing by Paul Klee a drawing of a yacht a collection of children's drawings He did/made a drawing of the old farmhouse. note at PICTURE
2 [U] the art or skill of making pictures, plans, etc. using a pen or pencil: I'm not very good at drawing. technical drawing
3 (NAmE) = DRAW (1, 3)

drawing board noun a large flat board used for holding a piece of paper while a drawing or plan is being made: an architect's drawing board
(go) back to the drawing board to start thinking about a new way of doing sth after a previous plan or idea has failed: They rejected our proposal, so it's back to the drawing board.
on the drawing board being prepared or considered: It's just one of several projects on the drawing board.

drawing pin (BrE) (NAmE thumbtack, tack) noun a short pin with a large round flat head, used especially for fastening paper to a board or wall

drawing power noun [U] (NAmE) = PULLING POWER

drawing room noun (formal or old-fashioned) a room in a large house in which people relax and guests are entertainedcompare LIVING ROOM

drawl verb to speak or say sth slowly with vowel sounds that are longer than usual: [V speech] 'Hi there!' she drawled lazily. [V] He had a smooth drawling voice. [also VN]
drawl noun [sing.]: She spoke in a slow southern drawl.

drawn adj. (of a person or their face) looking pale and thin because the person is ill/sick, tired or worried: She looked very pale and drawn.see also DRAW v.

drawn-out adj. = LONG-DRAWN-OUT

drawstring noun a piece of string sewn inside the material at the top of a bag, pair of trousers/pants, etc. that can be pulled tighter in order to make the opening smaller: They fasten with a drawstring.

dray noun a low flat vehicle pulled by horses and used in the past for carrying heavy loads, especially BARRELS of beer

dread verb, noun
verb to be very afraid of sth; to fear that sth bad is going to happen: [VN] This was the moment he had been dreading. [V -ing] I dread being sick. [VN -ing] She dreads her husband finding out. [V to inf] I dread to think what would happen if there really was a fire here. [also V that]
noun [U, C, usually sing.] a feeling of great fear about sth that might or will happen in the future; a thing that causes this feeling: The prospect of growing old fills me with dread. She has an irrational dread of hospitals. The committee members live in dread of (= are always worried about) anything that may cause a scandal. My greatest dread is that my parents will find out.

dreaded (also formal dread) adj. [only before noun] causing fear: The dreaded moment had finally arrived. (humorous) Did I hear the dreaded word 'homework'?

dreadful adj. (especially BrE)
1 very bad or unpleasant: What dreadful weather! What a dreadful thing to say! It's dreadful the way they treat their staff. How dreadful! Jane looked dreadful (= looked ill or tired). note at TERRIBLE
2 [only before noun] used to emphasize how bad sth is TERRIBLE: He's a dreadful snob. She's making a dreadful mess of things. I'm afraid there's been a dreadful mistake.
3 [usually before noun] causing fear or suffering TERRIBLE: a dreadful accident They suffered dreadful injuries.

dreadfully adv. (especially BrE)
1 extremely; very much: I'm dreadfully sorry. I miss you dreadfully.
2 very badly: They suffered dreadfully during the war.

dreadlocks NAmE (also informal dreads ) noun [pl.] hair that is twisted into long thick pieces that hang down from the head, worn especially by RASTAFARIANS

dreadnought noun a type of ship used in war in the early 20th century

dream noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a series of images, events and feelings that happen in your mind while you are asleep: I had a vivid dream about my old school. I thought someone came into the bedroom, but it was just a dream. 'Goodnight. Sweet dreams.' Don't think about it. You'll only give yourself bad dreams.compare NIGHTMAREsee also WET DREAM
2 [C] a wish to have or be sth, especially one that seems difficult to achieve: Her lifelong dream was to be a famous writer. He wanted to be rich but it was an impossible dream. If I win, it will be a dream come true. She tried to turn her dream of running her own business into reality. a dream car/house/job, etc. I've finally found the man of my dreams. a chance to fulfil a childhood dream It was the end of all my hopes and dreams.see also PIPE DREAM
3 [sing.] a state of mind or a situation in which things do not seem real or part of normal life: She walked around in a dream all day.see also DAYDREAM
4 [sing.] (informal) a beautiful or wonderful person or thing: That meal was an absolute dream.
go/work like a dream
1 to work very well: My new car goes like a dream.
2 to happen without problems, in the way that you had planned: The wedding celebrations went like a dream.
in your dreams (informal) used to tell sb that sth they are hoping for is not likely to happen: 'I'll be a manager before I'm 30.' 'In your dreams.'
like a bad dream (of a situation) so unpleasant that you cannot believe it is true: In broad daylight the events of the night before seemed like a bad dream.more at WILD adj.
verb (dreamt, dreamt ) or (dreamed, dreamed)
1 ~ (of/about sb/sth) to experience a series of images, events and feelings in your mind while you are asleep: [V] Did I talk in my sleep? I must have been dreaming. I dreamt about you last night. [VN] Did it really happen or did I just dream it? [V (that)] I dreamt (that) I got the job.
2 ~ (of/about sth)| ~ (of/about doing sth) to imagine and think about sth that you would like to happen: [V] She dreams of running her own business. It was the kind of trip most of us only dream about. (informal) I wouldn't dream of going without you (= I would never go without you). [VN] Who'd have dreamt it? They're getting married. [V (that)] I never dreamt (that) I'd actually get the job.
dream sth away to waste time just thinking about things you would like to do without actually doing anything
dream on (informal) you say dream on to tell sb that an idea is not practical or likely to happen
dream sthup (informal) to have an idea, especially a very unusual or silly one THINK UP: Trust you to dream up a crazy idea like this!

dreamboat NAmE noun (old-fashioned, informal) a man who is very attractive

dreamcatcher noun a ring containing a decorated net, originally made by Native Americans, and thought to give its owner good dreams

dreamer noun
1 (sometimes disapproving) a person who has ideas or plans that are not practical or realistic
2 (usually disapproving) a person who does not pay attention to what is happening around them, but thinks about other things instead
3 a person who dreams: Dreamers do not always remember their dreams.

dreamland noun [U] (especially BrE, disapproving) a pleasant but not very realistic situation that only exists in your mind: You must be living in dreamland if you think he'll change his mind.

dreamless adj. (of sleep) without dreams; deep and peaceful: I fell straight into a dreamless sleep.

dreamlike adj. as if existing or happening in a dream: The place has an almost dreamlike quality. The dancer's movements were slow and dreamlike.

dream team noun the best possible combination of people for a particular competition or activity

dream ticket noun [sing.] (used especially in newspapers about candidates for an election) a combination of people who, together, are considered to be the best

Dreamtime noun [U] = ALCHERINGA

dreamworld NAmE noun a world that is not like the real world; a person's idea of reality that is not realistic: If he thinks it's easy to get a job, he's living in a dream world.

dreamy adj. (dreamier, dreamiest)
1 looking as though you are thinking about other things and not paying attention to what is happening around you: She had a dreamy look in her eyes. a dreamy expression
2 (of a person or an idea) having a lot of imagination, but not very realistic: Paul was dreamy and not very practical.
3 as if you are in a dream or asleep: He moved in the dreamy way of a man in a state of shock.
4 (informal) pleasant and gentle; that makes you feel relaxed: a slow, dreamy melody
5 (informal) beautiful; wonderful: What's he like? I bet he's really dreamy.
dreamily adv.: 'I have lots of happy memories,' she said dreamily. He gazed dreamily out of the window. dreaminess noun [U]: She was feeling the same romantic dreaminess she had felt as a young girl.

dreary NAmE adj. (drearier, dreariest) that makes you feel sad; dull and not interesting DULL: a dreary winter's day a dreary film a long and dreary journey on the train
drearily NAmE adv.: 'I didn't get the job,' he said drearily. The dresses all looked drearily similarI didn't like any of them. dreariness noun [U]: She hated the dreariness of her everyday life.

dreck noun [U] (slang, especially NAmE) something that you think is of very bad quality: The movie is utter dreck.

dredge verb
1 ~ (sth) (for sth) to remove mud, stones, etc. from the bottom of a river, CANAL, etc. using a boat or special machine, to make it deeper or to search for sth: [VN] They're dredging the harbour so that larger ships can use it. They dredge the bay for gravel. [also V]
2 ~ sth (up) (from sth) to bring sth up from the bottom of a river, etc. using a boat or special machine: [VN] waste dredged (up) from the seabed
3 [VN] ~ (in/with) to cover food lightly with sugar, flour, etc.: Dredge the top of the cake with icing sugar.
dredge sthup
1 (usually disapproving) to mention sth that has been forgotten, especially sth unpleasant or embarrassing: The papers keep trying to dredge up details of his past love life.
2 to manage to remember sth, especially sth that happened a long time ago: Now she was dredging up memories from the depths of her mind.

dredger noun a boat or machine that is used to clear mud, etc. from the bottom of a river, or to make the river wider

dregs noun [pl.]
1 the last drops of a liquid, mixed with little pieces of solid material that are left in the bottom of a container: coffee dregs
2 the worst and most useless parts of sth: the dregs of society
3 (literary) the last parts of sth: the last dregs of daylight

dreich adj. (ScotE) dull and depressing: dreich weather on the Scottish coast a dreich church service

drench verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sb/sth (in/with sth) to make sb/sth completely wet SOAK: We were caught in the storm and got drenched to the skin. His face was drenched with sweat. (figurative) She drenched herself in perfume. note at WET

dress noun, verb
noun
CLOTHES
1 [C] a piece of women's clothing that is made in one piece and covers the body down to the legs, sometimes reaching to below the knees, or to the ankles: a long white dress a wedding dresssee also COCKTAIL DRESS, EVENING DRESS, SUNDRESS
2 [U] clothes for either men or women: to wear casual/formal dress He has no dress sense (= no idea of how to dress well).see also EVENING DRESS, FANCY DRESS, HEADDRESS, MORNING DRESS
verb
CLOTHES
1 ~ (sb) (in sth) to put clothes on yourself/sb: [V] I dressed quickly. [VN] She dressed the children in their best clothes. Get up and get dressed! The children spend hours dressing and undressing their dolls. UNDRESS
2 [V] ~ (sb) (for/in/as sth) to wear a particular type or style of clothes: to dress well/badly/fashionably/comfortably You should dress for cold weather today. She always dressed entirely in black. He was dressed as a woman (= he was wearing women's clothes). note at CLOTHES
3 [V] to put on formal clothes: Do they expect us to dress for dinner?
4 [VN] to provide clothes for sb: He dresses many of Hollywood's most famous young stars.
WOUND
5 [VN] to clean, treat and cover a wound: The nurse will dress that cut for you.
FOOD
6 [VN] to prepare food for cooking or eating: to dress a salad (= put oil or VINEGAR, etc. on it) to dress a chicken (= take out the parts you cannot eat)
DECORATE
7 [VN] (formal) to decorate or arrange sth: to dress a shop window (= arrange a display of clothes or goods in it)
STONE/WOOD/LEATHER
8 [VN] to prepare a material such as stone, wood, leather, etc. for use
see MUTTON, PART n.
dress down to wear clothes that are more informal than those you usually wear, for example in an office
dress sb down to criticize or be angry with sb because they have done sth wrong
dress up to wear clothes that are more formal than those you usually wear: There's no need to dress upcome as you are.
dress up| dress sb up to put on special clothes, especially to pretend to be sb/sth different: Kids love dressing up. The boys were all dressed up as pirates. (BrE) dressing-up clothes (NAmE) dress-up clothes
dress sth up to present sth in a way that makes it seem better or different: However much you try to dress it up, office work is not glamorous.

dressage noun [U] a set of controlled movements that a rider trains a horse to perform; a competition in which these movements are performed: to win prizes for dressage

dress circle (especially BrE) (NAmE usually first balcony) noun the first level of seats above the ground floor in a theatre

dress code noun rules about what clothes people should wear at work: The company has a strict dress codeall male employees are expected to wear suits.

dressed adj. [not before noun]
1 wearing clothes and not naked or wearing clothes for sleeping: Hurry up and get dressed. fully dressed I can't go to the doorI'm not dressed yet.
2 ~ (in ... ) wearing clothes of a particular type: smartly dressed The bride was dressed in white. He was casually dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.
dressed to kill (informal) wearing the kind of clothes that will make people notice and admire you
dressed (up) to the nines (informal) wearing very elegant or formal clothesmore at MUTTON

dresser noun
1 (also Welsh dresser) (BrE) a large piece of wooden furniture with shelves in the top part and cupboards below, used for displaying and storing cups, plates, etc.
2 (NAmE) = CHEST OF DRAWERS
3 (used with an adjective) a person who dresses in the way mentioned: a snappy dresser
4 (in a theatre) a person whose job is to take care of an actor's clothes for a play and help him/her to get dressed

dressing noun
1 (also salad dressing) [C, U] a thin sauce used to add flavour to salads, usually made from oil, VINEGAR, salt, pepper, etc.: a low-calorie dressingsee also FRENCH DRESSING
2 [U] (NAmE) = STUFFING (1)
3 [C] a piece of soft material placed over a wound in order to protect it
4 [U] the act of putting on clothes: Many of our patients need help with dressing.see also CROSS-DRESSING, POWER DRESSING, WINDOW DRESSING

dressing-down noun [sing.] (old-fashioned, informal) an occasion when sb speaks angrily to a person because they have done sth wrong

dressing gown (BrE) (NAmE bathrobe, robe) noun a long loose piece of clothing, usually with a belt, worn indoors over night clothes, for example when you first get out of bed

dressing room noun
1 a room for changing your clothes in, especially one for actors or, in British English, for sports players
2 a small room next to a bedroom in some large houses, in which clothes are kept and people get dressed
3 (NAmE) = FITTING ROOM

dressing table (NAmE also vanity, vanity table) noun a piece of bedroom furniture like a table with drawers and a mirror on top

dressmaker noun a person who makes women's clothes, especially as a job
dressmaking noun [U]

dress rehearsal noun the final practice of a play in the theatre, using the clothes and lights that will be used for the real performance: (figurative) The earlier protests had just been dress rehearsals for full-scale revolution.

dress shirt noun
1 a white shirt worn on formal occasions with a BOW TIE and suit
2 (NAmE) a smart shirt with long sleeves, which can be worn with a tie

dress uniform noun [U] a uniform that army, navy, etc. officers wear for formal occasions and ceremonies: wearing full dress uniform

dressy adj. (dressier, dressiest)
1 (of clothes) elegant and formal
2 (of people) liking to wear elegant or fashionable clothes

drew pt of DRAW

drey noun the home of a SQUIRREL

dribble verb, noun
verb
1 [V, VN] to let SALIVA or another liquid come out of your mouth and run down your chin DROOL
2 [V + adv. / prep.] to fall in small drops or in a thin stream: Melted wax dribbled down the side of the candle.
3 [VN + adv. / prep.] ~ sth (into/over/onto sth) to pour sth slowly, in drops or a thin stream DRIZZLE, TRICKLE: Dribble a little olive oil over the salad.
4 (in football (SOCCER) and some other sports) to move the ball along with several short kicks, hits or BOUNCES: [VN] She dribbled the ball the length of the field. [V] He dribbled past two defenders and scored a magnificent goal.
noun
1 [C] a very small amount of liquid, in a thin stream: a dribble of blood Add just a dribble of oil.
2 [U] (especially BrE) SALIVA (= liquid) from a person's mouth: There was dribble all down the baby's front.
3 [C] the act of dribbling the ball in a sport

dribs noun [pl.]
in dribs and drabs (informal) in small amounts or numbers over a period of time: She paid me in dribs and drabs, not all at once.

dried pt, pp of DRY

dried fruit noun [U, C] fruit (for example, CURRANTS or RAISINS) that has been dried to be used in cooking or eaten on its own

drier = DRYERsee also DRY adj.

driest DRY adj.

drift noun, verb
noun
SLOW MOVEMENT
1 [sing., U] a slow steady movement from one place to another; a gradual change or development from one situation to another, especially to sth bad: a population drift away from rural areas attempts to halt the drift towards war
OF SHIP
2 [U] the movement of a ship or plane away from its direction because of currents or wind: Remember to allow for drift.
OF SEA/AIR
3 [U, C] the movement of the sea or air CURRENT: the general direction of drift on the east coast He knew the hidden drifts in that part of the river.
OF SNOW
4 [C] a large pile of sth, especially snow, made by the wind: The road was blocked by deep drifts of snow.see also SNOWDRIFT
OF FLOWERS
5 [C] a large mass of sth, especially flowers: Plant daffodils in informal drifts.
MEANING
6 [sing.] the general meaning of what sb says or writes GIST: Do you catch my drift? My German isn't very good, but I got the drift of what she said.
see also CONTINENTAL DRIFT
verb
MOVE SLOWLY
1 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to move along smoothly and slowly in water or air: Clouds drifted across the sky. The empty boat drifted out to sea. A cool breeze drifted through the open window. Smoke drifted across the room.
2 [V + adv. / prep.] to move or go somewhere slowly: The crowd drifted away from the scene of the accident. Her gaze drifted around the room. People began to drift back to their houses.
WITHOUT PURPOSE
3 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to happen or change, or to do sth without a particular plan or purpose: I didn't intend to be a teacherI just drifted into it. He hasn't decided what to do yethe's just drifting. The conversation drifted onto politics.
INTO STATE/SITUATION
4 [V] ~ in/into sth to go from one situation or state to another without realizing it: Finally she drifted into sleep. The injured man tried to speak but soon drifted into unconsciousness.
OF SNOW/SAND
5 [V] to be blown into large piles by the wind: drifting sand Some roads are closed because of drifting.
FLOAT
6 [VN] to make sth float somewhere: The logs are drifted downstream to the mill.
drift apart to become less friendly or close to sb: As children we were very close, but as we grew up we just drifted apart.
drift off (to sleep) to fall asleep: I didn't hear the storm. I must have drifted off by then.

drifter noun (disapproving) a person who moves from one job or place to another with no real purpose

drift net noun a very large net used by fishing boats. The net has weights at the bottom and FLOATS at the top and is allowed to hang in the sea.

driftwood noun [U] wood that the sea carries up onto land, or that floats on the water

drill noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a tool or machine with a pointed end for making holes: an electric drill a pneumatic drill a hand drill a dentist's drill a drill bit (= the pointed part at the end of the drill)
2 [C, U] a way of learning sth by means of repeated exercises
3 [C, U] a practice of what to do in an emergency, for example if there is a fire: a fire drill
4 [U] military training in marching, the use of weapons, etc.: rifle drill
5 the drill [sing.] (old-fashioned, BrE) the correct or usual way to do sth PROCEDURE: What's the drill for claiming expenses?
6 [U] a type of strong cotton cloth
7 [C] a machine for planting seeds in rows
verb
1 to make a hole in sth, using a drill: [VN] Drill a series of holes in the frame. [V] They're drilling for oil off the Irish coast. He drilled through the wall by mistake.
2 ~ sb (in sth) to teach sb to do sth by making them repeat it a lot of times: [VN to inf] The children were drilled to leave the classroom quickly when the fire bell rang. [VN] a well-drilled team
3 [VN] to train soldiers to perform military actions: The soldiers were being drilled outside the barracks.
drill down (computing) to go to deeper levels of an organized set of data on a computer or a website in order to find more detail: Navigation is good and there's a display to show how far you've drilled down.
drill sth into sb to make sb remember or learn sth by repeating it often: It was drilled into us at an early age never to drop litter.

drily (also dryly) adv.see also DRY
1 if sb speaks drily, they are being humorous, but not in an obvious way: 'Well, at least it's not purple,' she commented drily.
2 in a way that shows no emotion: He smiled drily and leaned back in his chair.
3 in a way that shows that there is no liquid present: She coughed drily. He swallowed drily and nodded.

drink noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] a liquid for drinking; an amount of a liquid that you drink: Can I have a drink? soft drinks (= cold drinks without alcohol) a drink of water food and drink She took a drink from the glass and then put it down.
2 [C, U] alcohol or an alcoholic drink; sth that you drink on a social occasion: They went for a drink. The drinks are on me (= I'll pay for them). I need a stiff drink (= a very strong drink). (BrE) He's got a drink problem. (NAmE) He has a drinking problem. (humorous) The children are enough to drive me to drink. (BrE) They came home the worse for drink (= drunk). She took to drink (= drank too much alcohol) after her marriage broke up.
3 drinks [pl.] (BrE) a social occasion where you have alcoholic drinks: Would you like to come for drinks on Sunday? a drinks party see DEMON, MEAT
verb (drank , drunk )
1 to take liquid into your mouth and swallow it: [V] What would you like to drink? He was drinking straight from the bottle. [VN] In hot weather, drink plenty of water. I don't drink coffee.
2 to drink alcohol, especially when it is done regularly: [V] He doesn't drink. Don't drink and drive (= drive a car after drinking alcohol). She's been drinking heavily since she lost her job. [VN] I drank far too much last night. [VN-ADJ] He had drunk himself unconscious on vodka.see also DRUNK
drink sb's health (BrE) to wish sb good health as you lift your glass, and then drink from it
drink like a fish to drink a lot of alcohol regularly
drink sb under the table (informal) to drink more alcohol than sb else without becoming as drunk as they aremore at EAT, HORSE n.
drink sthin to look at or listen to sth with great interest and enjoyment: We just stood there drinking in the scenery.
drink to sb/sth to wish sb good luck, health or success as you lift your glass and then drink from it TOAST: All raise your glasses and drink to Katie and Tom!
drink up| drink (sth)up to drink all of sth: Drink up and let's go. Come on, drink up your juice.

drinkable adj.
1 clean and safe to drink
2 pleasant to drink: a very drinkable wine

drink-driver (BrE) (also drunk driver NAmE, BrE) noun a person who drives a vehicle after drinking too much alcohol

drink-driving (also drunken driving) (both BrE) (also drunk driving NAmE, BrE) noun [U] driving a vehicle after drinking too much alcohol

drinker noun
1 a person who drinks alcohol regularly, especially sb who drinks too much: a heavy/moderate drinker
2 (after a noun) a person who regularly drinks the particular drink mentioned: a coffee drinker

drinking noun [U] the act of drinking alcohol: Drinking is not advised during pregnancy. There are tough penalties for drinking and driving.

drinking box noun (CanE) a small cardboard box of juice, etc. that has a drinking straw with it that can be pushed through a small hole in the top

drinking chocolate noun [U] (BrE) a sweet chocolate powder or a hot drink made from this powder mixed with hot milk and/or watercompare COCOA

drinking fountain (especially BrE) (NAmE usually water fountain) noun a device that supplies water for drinking in public places

drinking straw noun = STRAW

drinking-up time noun [U] (BrE) in Britain, the time between when a pub stops serving drinks and when it closes, when people are allowed to finish drinks that they bought earlier

drinking water noun [U] water that is safe for drinking

drip verb, noun
verb (-pp-)
1 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] (of liquid) to fall in small drops: She was hot and sweat dripped into her eyes. Water was dripping down the walls.
2 to produce drops of liquid: [V] The tap was dripping. Her hair dripped down her back. [VN] Be careful, you're dripping paint everywhere!
3 ~ (with) sth to contain or hold a lot of sth: [V] The trees were dripping with fruit. [VN] His voice dripped sarcasm.
noun
1 [sing.] the sound or action of small drops of liquid falling continuously: The silence was broken only by the steady drip, drip of water from the roof.
2 [C] a small drop of liquid that falls from sth: We put a bucket under the hole in the roof to catch the drips.
3 (NAmE also IV) [C] (medical) a piece of equipment that passes liquid food, medicine or blood very slowly through a tube into a patient's VEIN: She's been put on a drip.
4 [C] (informal, becoming old-fashioned) a boring or stupid person with a weak personality WIMP: Don't be such a dripcome and join in the fun!

drip-dry adj. made of a type of cloth that will dry quickly without CREASES when you hang it up wet: a drip-dry shirt

drip-feed verb (drip-fed, drip-fed) [VN] to give sb sth in separate small amounts
drip feed noun [U, C]: the steady drip feed of leaked documents in the papers

dripping adj., noun
adj.~ (with sth) very wet: Her face was dripping with sweat. His clothes were still dripping wet. note at WET (figurative) His wife came in, dripping with diamonds.
noun [U] fat that comes out of meat when it is cooked, often kept for frying other food in

drippy adj. (drippier, drippiest) (informal)
1 boring, stupid and weak or SENTIMENTAL: her drippy boyfriend
2 in a liquid state, and likely to fall in drops: drippy paint a drippy nose (= with drops of liquid falling from it)
drippily adv. drippiness noun [U]

drive verb, noun
verb (drove NAmE , driven )
VEHICLE
1 to operate a vehicle so that it goes in a particular direction: [V] Can you drive? Don't drive so fast! I drove to work this morning. Shall we drive (= go there by car) or go by train? [VN] He drives a taxi (= that is his job).
2 [VN, usually + adv. / prep.] to take sb somewhere in a car, taxi, etc.: Could you drive me home? note at TAKE
3 [VN] to own or use a particular type of vehicle: What car do you drive?
MACHINE
4 [VN] [usually passive] to provide the power that makes a machine work: a steam-driven locomotive
MAKE SB DO STH
5 [VN] to force sb to act in a particular way: The urge to survive drove them on. You're driving yourself too hard.
6 to make sb very angry, crazy, etc. or to make them do sth extreme: [VN-ADJ] to drive sb crazy/mad/insane [VN to inf] Hunger drove her to steal. [VN] Those kids are driving me to despair. (humorous) It's enough to drive you to drink (= to make you start drinking too much alcohol).
MAKE SB/STH MOVE
7 [VN + adv. / prep.] to force sb/sth to move in a particular direction: to drive sheep into a field The enemy was driven back.
CAUSE STH TO MAKE PROGRESS
8 [VN] to influence sth or cause it to make progress: This is the main factor driving investment in the area.
HIT/PUSH
9 [VN + adv. / prep.] to force sth to go in a particular direction or into a particular position by pushing it, hitting it, etc.: to drive a nail into a piece of wood
MAKE A HOLE
10 [VN + adv. / prep.] to make an opening in or through sth by using force: They drove a tunnel through the solid rock.
IN SPORT
11 to hit a ball with force, sending it forward: [VN] to drive the ball into the rough (= in GOLF) [also V]
WIND/WATER
12 [VN, usually + adv. / prep.] to carry sth along: Huge waves drove the yacht onto the rocks.
13 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to fall or move rapidly and with great force: The waves drove against the shore.
drive a coach and horses through sth to spoil sth, for example a plan
drive sth home (to sb) to make sb understand or accept sth by saying it often, loudly, angrily, etc.: You will really need to drive your point home.
what sb is driving at the thing sb is trying to say: I wish I knew what they were driving at.more at GROUND n., HARD adj., SNOW n.
drive away| drive sb/sth away to leave in a vehicle; to take sb away in a vehicle: We heard him drive away. Someone drove the car away in the night.
drive sb away to make sb not want to stay or not want to go somewhere: Her constant nagging drove him away. Terrorist threats are driving away tourists.
drive off
1 (of a driver, car, etc.) to leave: The robbers drove off in a stolen vehicle.
2 (in GOLF) to hit the ball to begin a game
drive sb/sthoff to force sb/sth to go back or away: The defenders drove off each attack.
drive on to continue driving: Don't stopdrive on!
drive sb/sthout (of sth) to make sb/sth disappear or stop doing sth: New fashions drive out old ones. The supermarkets are driving small shopkeepers out of business.
drive sthup/down to make sth such as prices rise or fall quickly
noun
IN/OF VEHICLE
1 [C] a journey in a car or other vehicle: Let's go for a drive. a drive through the mountains It's a three-hour drive to London.
2 [C, U] the equipment in a vehicle that takes power from the engine to the wheels: the drive shaft a car with four-wheel drive a left-/right-hand drive car (= a car where the driver and the controls are on the left/right)
OUTSIDE HOUSE
3 (also driveway) [C] a wide hard path or a private road that leads from the street to a house: There were two cars parked in/on the drive.
EFFORT
4 [C] ~ (for sth)| ~ (to do sth) an organized effort by a group of people to achieve sth: a recruitment/export/economy drive a drive for greater efficiency the government's drive to reduce energy consumption note at DRIVE
DESIRE/ENERGY
5 [C, U] a strong desire or need in people: a strong sexual drive
6 [U] (approving) a strong desire to do things and achieve sth; great energy: He'll do very wellhe has tremendous drive.
IN SPORT
7 [C] a long hard hit or kick: She has a strong forehand drive (= in TENNIS). He scored with a brilliant 25-yard drive.
COMPUTING
8 [C] the part of a computer that reads and stores information on disks or tapes: a 40GB hard drive a CD drivesee also DISK DRIVE
GAMES
9 [C] (BrE) a social occasion when a lot of people compete in a game such as WHIST or BINGO
ANIMALS/ENEMY
10 [C] an act of chasing animals or the enemy and making them go into a smaller area, especially in order to kill or capture them
ROAD
11 Drive (abbr. Dr) used in the names of roads: 21 Island Heights Drive

drive bay noun (computing) a space inside a computer for a DISK DRIVE

drive-by adj. (NAmE) [only before noun] a drive-by shooting, etc. is done from a moving car: a drive-by killing
drive-by noun

drive-in noun a place where you can watch films/movies, eat, etc. without leaving your car: We stopped at a drive-in for a hamburger. drive-in movies

drivel noun, verb
noun [U] (informal, disapproving) silly nonsense: How can you watch that drivel on TV? a novel full of romantic drivel
verb (-ll-, US -l-) [V] ~ (on) (about sth) (usually used in the progressive tenses) to keep talking about silly or unimportant things

driven adj.
1 (of a person) determined to succeed, and working very hard to do so
2 -driven (in compounds) influenced or caused by a particular thing: a market-driven economy a character-driven moviesee also DRIVE, DROVE, DRIVEN v.

driver noun
1 a person who drives a vehicle: a bus/train/ambulance/taxi driver She climbed into the driver's seat. The accident was the other driver's fault. (BrE) a learner driver (= one who has not yet passed a driving test) (NAmE) a student driver The car comes equipped with a driver's airbag.see also BACK-SEAT DRIVER
2 (in GOLF) a CLUB with a wooden head
3 (computing) software that controls the sending of data between a computer and a piece of equipment that is attached to it, such as a printer
4 one of the main things that influence sth or cause it to make progress: Housing is a key driver of the economy. Young people are widely perceived as the big pop industry drivers. see SEAT n.

driver's license noun (NAmE) = DRIVING LICENCE

driver's test noun (NAmE) = DRIVING TEST

driveshaft NAmE noun a long thin part of a machine that turns round and round and sends power from the engine to another part of the machine

drive-through (also drive-thru) noun (NAmE) a restaurant, bank, etc. where you can be served without having to get out of your car

drive time noun [U] a time during the day when many people are driving their cars, for example to or from work
drive-time adj.: a drive-time radio show

driveway noun = DRIVE (3): There was a car parked in/on the driveway.

driving noun, adj.
noun [U] the way that sb drives a vehicle; the act of driving: dangerous driving driving lessons see SEAT n.
adj. [only before noun]
1 strong and powerful; having a strong influence in making sth happen: Who was the driving force (= the person with the strongest influence) in the band? She only got where she is today through hard work and a driving ambition.
2 (of rain, snow, etc.) falling very fast and at an angle: a day of strong winds and driving rain

driving licence (BrE) (NAmE driver's license) noun an official document that shows that you are qualified to drive

driving range noun a place where people can practise hitting GOLF balls

driving school noun a business that gives people lessons in how to drive a car, etc.

driving test (NAmE also driver's test, road test) noun a test that must be passed before you are qualified to drive a car, etc.

driving under the influence noun [U] (abbr. DUI) (US) (in some states in the US) the crime of driving a vehicle after drinking too much alcohol. It is a less serious crime than 'driving while intoxicated'.

driving while intoxicated noun [U] (abbr. DWI) (US) the crime of driving a vehicle after drinking too much alcohol

drizzle verb, noun
verb
1 [V] when it is drizzling, it is raining lightly
2 [VN] ~ sth (over sth) to pour a small amount of liquid over the surface of sth DRIBBLE: Drizzle the lemon juice over the fish.
noun [U, sing.] light fine rain: A light drizzle was falling. The forecast for tomorrow is mist and drizzle.
drizzly adj.: a dull, drizzly morning

Dr MartensTM NAmE (also informal Doc Martens, DMs) noun [pl.] a type of comfortable heavy boot or shoe with LACES

drogue NAmE noun a small PARACHUTE, used to pull a larger one from its bag

droid noun
1 = ANDROID
2 (computing) a program which automatically collects information from other computers that you can connect to

droit de seigneur noun [U] (from French) the right of a lord to have sex with a woman of lower social rank on her wedding night, said to exist in the Middle Ages

droll NAmE adj. (old-fashioned or ironic) amusing, but not in a way that you expect: So they've locked me out of the house? Very droll, I'm sure! There was a droll, cynical expression on his face.

dromedary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) an animal of the CAMEL family, with only one HUMP, that lives in desert countries

drone NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [usually sing.] a continuous low noise: the distant drone of traffic
2 [usually sing.] a continuous low sound made by some musical instruments, for example the BAGPIPES, over which other notes are played or sung; the part of the instrument that makes this noise
3 a male BEE that does not workcompare QUEEN BEE, WORKER
4 a person who is lazy and gives nothing to society while others work: The medieval lord of the manor was what some today would call a drone.
5 an aircraft without a pilot, controlled from the ground
verb [V] to make a continuous low noise: A plane was droning in the distance. a droning voice
drone on (about sth) to talk for a long time in a boring way

drongo NAmE noun (pl. -os or -oes)
1 a shiny black bird with a long tail
2 (AustralE, NZE, slang) a stupid person

drool verb
1 [V] to let SALIVA (= liquid) come out of your mouth DRIBBLE: The dog was drooling at the mouth.
2 ~ (over sb/sth) (disapproving) to show in a silly or exaggerated way that you want or admire sb/sth very much: teenagers drooling over photos of movie stars

droop verb [V]
1 to bend, hang or move downwards, especially because of being weak or tired: the drooping branches of the apple tree She was so tired, her eyelids were beginning to droop. The plants were drooping from lack of water.
2 to become sad or depressed: Our spirits drooped when we heard the news.
droop noun [sing.]: the slight droop of her mouth droopy adj.: a droopy moustache

drop NAmE verb, noun
verb (-pp-)
FALL
1 to fall or allow sth to fall by accident: [V] The climber slipped and dropped to his death. [VN] Be careful not to drop that plate.
2 to fall or make sth fall deliberately: [V + adv. / prep.] He staggered in and dropped into a chair. [VN] Medical supplies are being dropped into the stricken area. (BrE) He dropped his trousers (= undid them and let them fall). (NAmE) He dropped his pants.
3 [V] to fall down or be no longer able to stand because you are extremely tired: I feel ready to drop. She expects everyone to work till they drop.
BECOME WEAKER/LESS
4 to become or make sth weaker, lower or less FALL: [V] The temperature has dropped considerably. At last the wind dropped. His voice dropped to a whisper. The Dutch team have dropped to fifth place. The price of shares dropped by 14p. Shares dropped in price by 14p. [VN] She dropped her voice dramatically. You must drop your speed in built-up areas.
EYES
5 ~ your eyes/gaze | your eyes/gaze ~ (formal) to look down: [V] Her eyes dropped to her lap. [also VN]
SLOPE DOWNWARDS
6 [V] ~ (away) (from sth) to slope steeply downwards: In front of them the valley dropped sharply away from the road.
DELIVER/SEND
7 [VN] ~ sb/sth (off) to stop so that sb can get out of a car, etc.; to deliver sth on the way to somewhere else: Can you drop me near the bank? You left your jacket, but I can drop it off on my way to work tomorrow.
8 [VNN] ~ sb a line/note to send a short letter to sb: Drop me a line when you get there.
LEAVE OUT
9 [VN] ~ sb/sth (from sth) to leave sb/sth out by accident or deliberately: She's been dropped from the team because of injury. He spoke with a cockney accent and dropped his aitches (= did not pronounce the letter 'h' at the start of words).
FRIENDS
10 [VN] to stop seeing sb socially: She's dropped most of her old friends.
STOP
11 [VN] to stop doing or discussing sth; to not continue with sth: I dropped German (= stopped studying it) when I was 14. Drop everything and come at once! Look, can we just drop it (= stop talking about it)? I think we'd better drop the subject. Let's drop the formalitiesplease call me Mike. The police decided to drop the charges against her.
HINT
12 [VN] ~ a hint to say or do sth in order to show sb, in an indirect way, what you are thinking
IN KNITTING
13 [VN] ~ a stitch to let a STITCH go off the needle
drop the ball (NAmE, informal) to make a mistake and spoil sth that you are responsible for: Let's not drop the ball on this.
drop a brick/clanger (BrE, informal) to say sth that offends or embarrasses sb, although you did not intend to
drop dead
1 (informal) to die suddenly and unexpectedly
2 (informal) used to tell sb, rudely, to stop annoying you, INTERFERING, etc.see also DROP-DEAD
drop sb in it (BrE, informal) to put sb in an embarrassing situation, especially by telling a secret that you should not have told
drop names to mention famous people you know or have met in order to impress othersrelated noun NAME-DROPPING
drop your bundle (AustralE, NZE, informal) to suddenly not be able to think clearly; to act in a stupid way because you have lost control over yourself
let sb/sth drop
1 to do or say nothing more about sb/sth: I suggest we let the matter drop.
2 to mention sb/sth in a conversation, by accident or as if by accident: He let it drop that the Prime Minister was a close friend of his.more at BOTTOM n., FLY n., HEAR, JAW n., LAP n., PENNY
drop away to become weaker or less: She could feel the tension drop away.
drop back/behind| drop behind sb to move or fall into position behind sb else: We cannot afford to drop behind our competitors.
drop by/in/round| drop in on sb| drop into sth to pay an informal visit to a person or a place: Drop by sometime. I thought I'd drop in on you while I was passing. Sorry we're latewe dropped into the pub on the way.
drop off (BrE, informal)
1 to fall into a light sleep FALL ASLEEP: I dropped off and missed the end of the film.
2 to become fewer or less: Traffic in the town has dropped off since the bypass opened.
drop out (of sth)
1 to no longer take part in or be part of sth: He has dropped out of active politics. a word that has dropped out of the language
2 to leave school, college, etc. without finishing your studies: She started a degree but dropped out after only a year.related noun DROPOUT (1)
3 to reject the ideas and ways of behaving that are accepted by the rest of societyrelated noun DROPOUT (2)
noun
OF LIQUID
1 [C] a very small amount of liquid that forms a round shape: drops of rain a drop of blood Mix a few drops of milk into the cake mixture.see also RAINDROP, TEARDROP
2 [C, usually sing.] a small quantity of a liquid: Could I have a drop more milk in my coffee, please? Would you like a drop of brandy? I haven't touched a drop (= drunk any alcohol) all evening. He drained the last drop of beer from the glass.
FALL
3 [C, usually sing.] ~ (in sth) a fall or reduction in the amount, level or number of sth: a drop in prices/temperature, etc. a dramatic/sharp drop in profits If you want the job, you must be prepared to take a drop in salary. There was a substantial drop in the number of people out of work last month. a five per cent drop
DISTANCE
4 [sing.] a distance down from a high point to a lower point: There was a sheer drop of fifty metres to the rocks below. a twenty-foot drop
MEDICINE
5 drops [pl.] a liquid medicine that you put one drop at a time into your eyes, ears or nose: eye drops Use the drops three times a day.
DELIVERING
6 [C] the act of delivering sb/sth in a vehicle or by plane; the act of dropping sth: Aid agencies are organizing food drops to civilians in the war zone. a parachute drop
SWEET/CANDY
7 [C] a small round sweet/candy of the type mentioned: fruit drops cough drops (= sweets/candy to help a cough)
at the drop of a hat immediately; without hesitating: The company can't expect me to move my home and family at the drop of a hat.
a drop in the ocean (BrE) (NAmE a drop in the bucket) an amount of sth that is too small or unimportant to make any real difference to a situation: The amount of money raised was a drop in the ocean compared to what we needed.

drop cloth noun (NAmE) = DUST SHEET

drop curtain noun (in a theatre) a curtain or a painted cloth which can be let down so that it hangs across the stage

drop-dead adv. (informal) used before an adjective to emphasize that sb/sth is attractive in a very noticeable way: a drop-dead gorgeous Hollywood star

drop-down menu noun (computing) a menu that appears on a computer screen when you choose it, and that stays there until you choose one of the functions on it

drop goal noun (in RUGBY) a goal scored by dropping the ball onto the ground and kicking it over the CROSSBAR as it BOUNCES

drop handlebars noun [pl.] low curved handles on a bicycle

drop-in adj. [only before noun] able to be visited without arranging a fixed time first: a drop-in centre

drop kick noun (in RUGBY) a kick made by dropping the ball onto the ground and kicking it as it BOUNCES
drop-kick verb [VN]

droplet NAmE noun a small drop of a liquid: water droplets/droplets of water Infectious diseases are spread by airborne droplets.

dropout NAmE noun
1 a person who leaves school or college before they have finished their studies: college dropouts a university with a high dropout rate
2 a person who rejects the ideas and ways of behaving that are accepted by the rest of society: He's a dropout who will never have a steady job.

dropper NAmE noun a short glass tube with a hollow rubber end used for measuring medicine or other liquids in drops: an eye dropper

droppings NAmE noun the solid waste matter of birds and animals (usually small animals): pigeon/mouse droppings

drop scone (BrE also Scotch pancake) noun a flat cake which is cooked on a pan or other flat surface

drop shot noun = DINK

dropsy NAmE noun [U] (old-fashioned) = OEDEMA

drop waist noun a type of waist on a dress that is positioned lower than usual, at the hips

drop zone noun the area in which sb/sth should land after being dropped from an aircraft

drosophila NAmE (pl. drosophila) noun a small fly that feeds on fruit and is often used in scientific research

dross NAmE noun [U]
1 (especially BrE) something of very low quality; the least valuable part of sth: mass-produced dross The dross churned out by some record companies isn't worth listening to. He considered the working class to be the dross of society.
2 (technical) a waste substance, especially that separated from a metal when it is melted: The fire burns away the dross leaving the pure metal.

drought noun [U, C] a long period of time when there is little or no rain: two years of severe drought one of the worst droughts on record The country's entire grain harvest has been hit by drought.

drove NAmE noun [usually pl.] a large number of people or animals, often moving or doing sth as a group: droves of tourists People were leaving the countryside in droves to look for work in the cities.see also DRIVE v.

drover NAmE noun a person who moves groups of cows or sheep from one place to another, especially to market

drown verb
1 to die because you have been underwater too long and you cannot breathe; to kill sb in this way: [V] Two children drowned after falling into the river. He had attempted to rescue the drowning man. [VN] She tried to drown herself. He was drowned at sea. They had drowned the unwanted kittens.
2 [VN] ~ sth (in sth) to make sth very wet; to completely cover sth in water or another liquid DRENCH: The fruit was drowned in cream.
3 [VN] ~ sb/sth (out) (of a sound) to be louder than other sounds so that you cannot hear them: She turned up the radio to drown out the noise from next door.
drowning noun [U, C]: death by drowning Alcohol plays a part in an estimated 30% of drownings.
drown your fears/loneliness/sorrows, etc. (especially humorous) to get drunk in order to forget your problems

drowse verb [V] to be in a light sleep or almost asleep: My mother was sitting on the porch drowsing in the sun. note at SLEEP

drowsy adj. (drowsier, drowsiest)
1 tired and almost asleep SLEEPY: The tablets may make you feel drowsy.
2 making you feel relaxed and tired: a drowsy afternoon in the sunshine
drowsily adv.: She yawned drowsily. drowsiness noun [U]: The drugs tend to cause drowsiness.

drubbing noun (informal) (in a sport) a situation where one team easily beats another: We gave them a drubbing in the match on Saturday. (figurative) They'll get a drubbing in the local elections in May.

drudge noun a person who has to do long hard boring jobs: Working for that company, I was little more than a drudge.

drudgery noun [U] hard boring work: domestic drudgery

drug noun, verb
noun
1 an illegal substance that some people smoke, INJECT, etc. for the physical and mental effects it has: He does not smoke or take drugs. teenagers experimenting with drugs I found out Steve was on drugs (= regularly used drugs). drug and alcohol abuse a hard (= very harmful) drug such as heroin a soft drug (= one that is not considered very harmful) Drugs have been seized with a street value of two million dollars. She was a drug addict (= could not stop using drugs). She was found to be under the influence of drugs. He was charged with pushing drugs (= selling them). (informal) I don't do drugs (= use them). drug rehabilitation
2 a substance used as a medicine or used in a medicine: prescribed drugs The doctor put me on a course of pain-killing drugs. drug companies The drug has some bad side effects.see also DESIGNER DRUG
verb (-gg-) [VN]
1 to give a person or an animal a drug, especially to make them unconscious, or to affect their performance in a race or competition: He was drugged and bundled into the back of the car. It's illegal to drug horses before a race.
2 to add a drug to sb's food or drink to make them unconscious or SLEEPY: Her drink must have been drugged.
be drugged up to the eyeballs to have taken or been given a lot of drugs

drug dealer noun a person who sells illegal drugs

druggie (BrE also druggy) noun (pl. -ies) (informal) a person who takes illegal drugs regularly

druggist noun (NAmE) = CHEMIST (1), PHARMACIST (1)

druggy adj., noun
adj. (druggier, druggiest) (informal) using or involving illegal drugs
noun (BrE) = DRUGGIE

drug peddler noun = PEDDLER

drugstore noun (NAmE) a shop/store that sells medicines and also other types of goods, for example COSMETICSsee also CHEMIST (2)compare PHARMACY

Druid noun a priest of an ancient Celtic religion

drum noun, verb
noun
1 a musical instrument made of a hollow round frame with plastic or skin stretched tightly across one or both ends. You play it by hitting it with sticks or with your hands: a bass drum Tony Cox on drums to play the drums a regular drum beat There was a great crash and then a long roll of drums.
2 a large container for oil or chemicals, shaped like a CYLINDER: a 50 gallon drum an oil drum
3 a thing shaped like a drum, especially part of a machine: The mixture flows to a revolving drum where the water is filtered out.
beat/bang the drum (for sb/sth) (especially BrE) to speak with enthusiasm in support of sb/sth: She's really banging the drum for the new system.
verb (-mm-)
1 [V] to play a drum
2 ~ (sth) on sth to make a sound by hitting a surface again and again: [VN] Impatiently, he drummed his fingers on the table. [also V]
drum sth into sb's head = DRUM STH INTO SB
drum sth into sb to make sb remember sth by repeating it a lot of times: We had it drummed into us that we should never talk to strangers.
drum sb out (of sth) [usually passive] to force sb to leave an organization as a punishment for doing sth wrong: He was drummed out of the army.
drum sthup to try hard to get support or business: He had flown to the north of the country to drum up support for the campaign.

drum and bass (also drum 'n' bass) noun [U] a type of popular dance music developed in Britain in the early 1990s, which has a fast drum beat and a strong slower BASS beat

drumbeat noun the sound that a beat on a drum makes

drum brake noun a BRAKE that works by blocks pressing against the inner part of the wheel

drum kit noun a set of drums

drumlin noun (geology) a very small hill formed by the movement of a GLACIER (= a large moving mass of ice)

drum machine noun an electronic musical instrument that produces the sound of drums

drum major noun the leader of a marching band of musicians, especially in the army

drum majorette (especially BrE) (NAmE usually majorette) noun a girl in special brightly coloured clothes who walks in front of a marching band spinning, throwing and catching a long stick (called a BATON)

drummer noun a person who plays a drum or drums

drumming noun [U, sing.]
1 the act of playing a drum; the sound of a drum being played: Drumming is a good way of developing your sense of rhythm.
2 a continuous sound or feeling like the beats of a drum: the steady drumming of the rain on the tin roof

drum 'n' bass noun = DRUM AND BASS

drum pad noun an electronic musical instrument that makes the sounds of drums when you hit it with a special stick

drumstick noun
1 a stick used for playing a drum
2 the lower part of the leg of a chicken or other bird that is cooked and eaten as food: a chicken/turkey drumstick

drunk adj., nounsee also DRINK v.
adj.
1 [not usually before noun] having drunk so much alcohol that it is impossible to think or speak clearly: She was too drunk to remember anything about the party. His only way of dealing with his problems was to go out and get drunk. They got drunk on vodka. Police arrested him for being drunk and disorderly (= violent or noisy in a public place because of being drunk). SOBER
2 ~ with sth (formal) in a great state of excitement because of a particular emotion or situation: drunk with success
(as) drunk as a lord (BrE) (NAmE as drunk as a skunk) (informal) very drunkmore at BLIND adv., ROARING
noun a person who is drunk or who often gets drunk

drunkard NAmE noun (old-fashioned) a person who gets drunk very often ALCOHOLIC

drunk driver noun (especially NAmE) = DRINK-DRIVER

drunk driving noun [U] (especially NAmE) = DRINK-DRIVING

drunken adj. [only before noun]
1 drunk or often getting drunk: a drunken driver She was often beaten by her drunken husband.
2 showing the effects of too much alcohol; involving people who are drunk: He came home to find her in a drunken stupor. a drunken brawl drunken laughter/singing He finally fell into a drunken sleep.
drunkenly adv.: He staggered drunkenly to his feet. drunkenness noun [U]

drunken driving noun [U] = DRINK-DRIVING

dry adj., verb
adj. (drier, driest)
NOT WET
1 not wet, damp or sticky; without water or MOISTURE: Is my shirt dry yet? Store onions in a cool dry place. I'm afraid this cake has turned out very dry. Her mouth felt as dry as a bone (= completely dry). When the paint is completely dry, apply another coat. It was high summer and the rivers were dry (= had no water in them).see also BONE DRY WET
LITTLE RAIN
2 with very little rain: weeks of hot dry weather the dry season I hope it stays dry for our picnic. Rattlesnakes occur in the warmer, drier parts of North America. WET
SKIN/HAIR
3 without the natural oils that makes it soft and healthy: a shampoo for dry hair
COUGH
4 that does not produce any PHLEGM (= the thick liquid that forms in the nose and throat): a dry hacking cough
BREAD
5 eaten on its own without any butter, jam, etc.: Breakfast consisted of dry bread and a cup of tea.
WINE
6 not sweet: a crisp dry white wine a dry sherry This wine is too dry for me.
SWEET
HUMOUR
7 (approving) very clever and expressed in a quiet way that is not obvious; often using IRONY: He was a man of few words with a delightful dry sense of humour.
WITHOUT EMOTION
8 not showing emotion: a dry voice
BORING
9 not interesting: Government reports tend to make dry reading. note at BORING
WITHOUT ALCOHOL
10 without alcohol; where it is illegal to buy, sell or drink alcohol: We had a dry wedding (= no alcoholic drinks were served). a dry county/state
THIRSTY
11 (informal, especially BrE) thirsty; that makes you thirsty: I'm a bit dry. This is dry work.

dryly = DRILY dryness noun [U]
milk/suck sb/sth dry to get from sb/sth all the money, help, information, etc. they have, usually giving nothing in return: By earning millions from racing and giving pennies back, the bookmakers are sucking the sport dry.
not a dry eye in the house (humorous) used to say that everyone was very emotional about sth: There wasn't a dry eye in the house when they announced their engagement.
run dry to stop supplying water; to be all used so that none is left: The wells in most villages in the region have run dry. Vaccine supplies started to run dry as the flu outbreak reached epidemic proportions. Native resources of scientific talent and ingenuity have not run dry.more at BLEED, HIGH adj., HOME adv., POWDER n., SQUEEZE v.
verb (dries, drying, dried, dried) to become dry; to make sth dry: [V] He did the laundry and hung it out to dry. Be careful. The paint hasn't dried yet. You wash the dishes and I'll dry. [VN] Use this towel to dry your hands. dry your hair to dry your eyes/tears (= stop crying)
dry off| dry sb/sthoff to become dry or make sth dry: We went swimming then lay in the sun to dry off. We dried our boots off by the fire.
dry out| dry sbout (informal) to stop drinking alcohol after you have continuously been drinking too much; to cure sb of drinking too much alcohol: He went to an expensive clinic to dry out.
dry out| dry sthout to become or to allow sth to become dry, in a way that is not wanted: Water the plant regularly, never letting the soil dry out. Hot sun and cold winds can soon dry out your skin.
dry up
1 (of rivers, lakes, etc.) to become completely dry: During the drought the river dried up.
2 if a supply of sth dries up, there is gradually less of it until there is none left: As she got older, offers of modelling work began to dry up.
3 to suddenly stop talking because you do not know what to say next: The play was going very well until one of the actors suddenly dried up.
dry up| dry sthup (BrE) to dry dishes with a towel after you have washed them: I'll wash and you can dry up.

dryad noun (in stories) a female spirit who lives in a tree

dry cell noun the type of cell in a dry battery which contains chemicals only in solid form

dry-clean (also clean) verb [VN] to clean clothes using chemicals instead of water: This garment must be dry-cleaned only. note at CLEAN
dry-cleaning noun [U]

dry-cleaner's noun = CLEANER

dry-cure adj. (of meat or fish) preserved with dry salt, rather than with water that contains salt

dry dock noun [C, U] an area in a port from which the water can be removed, used for building or repairing ships: The ship is in dry dock.

dryer (also drier) noun (especially in compounds) a machine for drying sth: a hairdryer Don't put that sweater in the dryer.see also SPIN DRYER, TUMBLE DRYER

dry-eyed adj. [not before noun] not crying: She remained dry-eyed throughout the trial.

dry farming noun [U] = DRY-LAND FARMING

dry goods noun [pl.]
1 (BrE) types of food that are solid and dry, such as tea, coffee and flour
2 (old-fashioned, NAmE) cloth and things that are made out of cloth, such as clothes and sheets: a dry goods storecompare DRAPERY

dry ice noun [U] solid CARBON DIOXIDE used for keeping food, etc. cold and producing special effects in the theatre

dry land noun [U] land, rather than sea TERRA FIRMA: It was a great relief to be back on dry land after such a rough crossing.

dry-land farming (also dry farming) noun [U] (technical) a method of farming in areas where there is very little rain, that involves growing crops that do not need much water

dryly = DRILY

dry milk noun [U] (US) = MILK POWDER

dry-roasted adj. cooked in an oven without adding oil or fat: dry-roasted peanuts

dry rot noun [U]
1 wood that has decayed and turned to powder
2 any FUNGUS that causes this decay

dry run noun [usually sing.] a complete practice of a performance or way of doing sth, before the real one DUMMY RUN

dry slope (also dry-ski slope) noun a steep slope with a special surface for practising SKIING

drystone wall NAmE noun (BrE) (NAmE dry wall) a stone wall built without MORTAR (= a substance usually used to hold bricks or stones together in building) between the stones

drysuit BrE noun a piece of clothing that fits the whole body closely and keeps water out, worn by people swimming underwater or sailing

dry wall noun [U] (NAmE)
1 = PLASTERBOARD
2 = DRYSTONE WALL

DST abbr. daylight saving time

D-structure noun = DEEP STRUCTURE

DTI abbr. (in Britain) Department of Trade and Industry

DTP abbr. DESKTOP PUBLISHING

DTs (BrE) (US D.T.'s) noun [pl.] a physical condition in which people who drink too much alcohol feel their body shaking and imagine that they are seeing things that are not really there (abbreviation for 'delirium tremens')

dual NAmE adj. [only before noun] having two parts or aspects: his dual role as composer and conductor She has dual nationality (= is a citizen of two different countries). The piece of furniture serves a dual purpose as a cupboard and as a table.see also DUAL-PURPOSE note at DOUBLE

dual carriageway (BrE) (NAmE divided highway) noun a road with a strip of land in the middle that divides the lines of traffic moving in opposite directions

dual controls noun [pl.] two sets of instruments for controlling a vehicle or aircraft, so that a teacher, for example, can take control from the driver
dual control adj.: a dual-control vehicle

dualism NAmE noun [U]
1 (philosophy) the theory that there are two opposite principles in everything, for example good and evil
2 (formal) the state of having two parts
dualist, dualistic adj. dualist noun

duality NAmE noun [U, C] (pl. -ies) (formal) the state of having two parts or aspects

dual-purpose adj. that can be used for two different purposes: a dual-purpose vehicle (= for carrying passengers or goods) The church is a modern dual-purpose building, both a place of worship and a community centre.

dub verb, noun
verb (-bb-)
1 [VN-N] to give sb/sth a particular name, often in a humorous or critical way: The Belgian actor Jean Claude Van Damme has been dubbed 'Muscles from Brussels'.
2 [VN] ~ sth (into sth) to replace the original speech in a film/movie or television programme with words in another language: an American movie dubbed into Italiancompare SUBTITLE
3 [VN] (especially BrE) to make a piece of music by mixing sounds from different recordings
noun [U] a type of West Indian music or poetry with a strong beat

dubbin noun [U] (BrE) a substance rubbed into leather to make it softer and more WATERPROOF

dubiety NAmE noun [U] (formal) the fact of being uncertain

dubious NAmE adj.
1 [not usually before noun] ~ (about sth)/(about doing sth) (of a person) not certain and slightly suspicious about sth; not knowing whether sth is good or bad DOUBTFUL: I was rather dubious about the whole idea.
2 (disapproving) probably not honest SUSPICIOUS: They indulged in some highly dubious business practices to obtain their current position in the market.
3 that you cannot be sure about; that is probably not good: They consider the plan to be of dubious benefit to most families. (ironic) She had the dubious honour of being the last woman to be hanged in England (= it was not an honour at all).
dubiously adv.

Dublin Bay prawn noun = LANGOUSTINE

dubnium NAmE noun [U] (symb Db) a RADIOACTIVE chemical element, produced when atoms COLLIDE (=crash into each other)

DubonnetTM NAmE noun [U, C] a type of strong red wine which is often mixed with other drinks

ducal NAmE adj. [only before noun] of or belonging to a DUKE: the ducal palace in Rouen

ducat noun (in the past) a gold coin used in many European countries

duchess noun
1 the wife of a DUKE: the Duchess of York
2 a woman who has the rank of a DUKE

duchy noun (pl. -ies) (also dukedom) an area of land that is owned and controlled by a DUKE or DUCHESS: the Duchy of Cornwall

duck noun, verb
noun
1 (pl. ducks or duck) [C] a common bird that lives on or near water and has short legs, WEBBED feet (= feet with thin pieces of skin between the toes) and a wide beak. There are many types of duck, some of which are kept for their meat or eggs: wild ducks duck eggs Every afternoon they went to the park to feed the ducks. Ducks were quacking noisily on the lake.
2 [C] a female duckcompare DRAKE
3 [U] meat from a duck: roast duck with orange sauce
4 (also duckie, ducks, ducky) [C, usually sing.] (BrE, informal) a friendly way of addressing sb: Anything else, duck?compare DEAR, LOVE
5 a duck [sing.] (in CRICKET) a BATSMAN'S score of zero: He was out for a duck.see also LAME DUCK, SITTING DUCK
get/have (all) your ducks in a row (especially NAmE) to have made all the preparations needed to do sth; to be well organized: The company has its ducks in a row for a move into the Asian market. Get your ducks in a row before you retire.
(take to sth) like a duck to water (to become used to sth) very easily, without any problems or fears: She has taken to teaching like a duck to water.more at DEAD adj., WATER n.
verb
1 ~ (down)| ~ (behind/under sth) to move your head or body downwards to avoid being hit or seen: [V] He had to duck as he came through the door. We ducked down behind the wall so they wouldn't see us. He just managed to duck out of sight. He ducked under the overhanging branches. [VN] She ducked her head and got into the car.
2 [VN] to avoid sth by moving your head or body out of the way DODGE: He ducked the first few blows then started to fight back.
3 [V + adv. / prep.] to move somewhere quickly, especially in order to avoid being seen: She ducked into the adjoining room as we came in.
4 ~ (out of) sth to avoid a difficult or unpleasant duty or responsibility: [V] It's his turn to cook dinner, but I bet he'll try to duck out of it. [VN] The government is ducking the issue.
5 (NAmE also dunk) [VN] to push sb underwater and hold them there for a short time: The kids were ducking each other in the pool.

duck-billed platypus noun = PLATYPUS

duckboards NAmE noun [pl.] long narrow wooden boards used to make a path over wet ground

duckling noun [C, U] a young duck; the meat of a young ducksee also UGLY DUCKLING

ducks and drakes noun [U] (BrE) a game in which you make flat stones BOUNCE across the surface of water

duck soup noun [U] (NAmE, informal) a problem that is easy to deal with, or an opponent who is easy to defeat

duckweed noun [U] a very small plant that grows on the surface of still water

ducky
noun (BrE, informal) = DUCK (4)
adj. (duckier, duckiest) (NAmE, old-fashioned or humorous) very pleasant: Everything is just ducky.

duct noun
1 a pipe or tube carrying liquid, gas, electric or telephone wires, etc.: a heating/ventilation duct
2 a tube in the body or in plants through which liquid passes: the bile duct

ductile adj. (technical) (of a metal) that can be made into a thin wire

ducting noun [U]
1 a system of ducts
2 material in the form of a duct or ducts: a short piece of ducting

duct tape noun [U] (NAmE) very strong cloth tape that is sticky on one side, often used for repairing things or covering holes in pipes

dud noun, adj.
noun
1 [C] (informal) a thing that is useless, especially because it does not work correctly: Two of the fireworks in the box were duds.
2 duds [pl.] (slang) clothes
adj. [only before noun] useless; that does not work correctly: a dud battery a dud cheque (= written by sb who has not enough money in their bank account)

dude noun (slang, especially NAmE) a man: He's a real cool dude. Hey, dude, what's up?

dude ranch noun an American RANCH (= a large farm) where people can go on holiday/vacation and do the sort of activities that COWBOYS do
From an old meaning of the word dude, a man from the city who wears fashionable clothes.

dudgeon noun see HIGH adj.

due NAmE adj., noun, adv.
adj.
CAUSED BY
1 [not before noun] ~ to sth/sb caused by sb/sth; because of sb/sth: The team's success was largely due to her efforts. Most of the problems were due to human error. The project had to be abandoned due to a lack of government funding. Due to staff shortages, we are unable to offer a full buffet service on this train. Some people think that it is more correct to use owing to to mean 'because of' after a verb or at the beginning of a clause, as due is an adjective.
EXPECTED
2 [not before noun] ~ (to do sth)| ~ (for sth) arranged or expected: When's the baby due? Rose is due to start school in January. The band's first album is due for release later this month. The next train is due in five minutes. (especially NAmE) My essay's due next Friday (= it has to be given to the teacher by then).
OWED
3 [not usually before noun] when a sum of money is due, it must be paid immediately: Payment is due on 1 October.
4 [not before noun] ~ (to sb) owed to sb as a debt, because it is their right or because they have done sth to deserve it: Have they been paid the money that is due to them? Our thanks are due to the whole team.
5 [not before noun] ~ (for) sth owed sth; deserving sth: I'm still due 15 day's leave. She's due for promotion soon.
SUITABLE/RIGHT
6 [only before noun] (formal) that is suitable or right in the circumstances: After due consideration, we have decided to appoint Mr Davis to the job. to make due allowance for sth (BrE) He was charged with driving without due care and attention.compare UNDUE
in due course at the right time and not before: Your request will be dealt with in due course.more at RESPECT n.
noun
1 your/sb's ~ [U] a thing that should be given to sb by right: He received a large reward, which was no more than his due (= than what he deserved). She's a slow worker, but to give her her due (= to be fair to her), she does try very hard.
2 dues [pl.] charges, for example to be a member of a club: to pay your dues trade union dues note at RATE
adv. ~ north/south/east/west exactly; in a straight line: to sail due east The village lies five miles due north of York.

due date noun [usually sing.] the date on or by which sth, especially a sum of money, is owed or expected: If payment is not made by the due date, 10% will be added to the bill. a baby's due date (= when a baby is expected to be born)

duel NAmE noun
1 a formal fight with weapons between two people, used in the past to settle a disagreement, especially over a matter of honour: to fight/win a duel to challenge sb to a duel
2 a competition or struggle between two people or groups: a verbal duel
duel verb (-ll-, NAmE -l-): [V] The two men duelled to the death.

duelling (BrE) (NAmE dueling NAmE ) noun [U] the practice of fighting duels: duelling pistols

due process of law (also due process) noun [U] (law) (in the US) the right of a citizen to be treated fairly, especially the right to a fair trial

duet NAmE (also less frequent duo) noun a piece of music for two players or singers: a piano duetcompare SOLO, TRIO

duff adj., noun, verb
adj. (BrE, informal) useless; that does not work as it should: He sold me a duff radio.
noun (NAmE, informal) a person's bottom: Are you just going to sit around on your duff all day?
verb
duff sbup (BrE, informal) to hit or kick sb severely BEAT UP

duffel bag (also duffle bag) noun
1 (BrE) a bag made out of cloth, shaped like a tube and closed by a string around the top. It is usually carried over the shoulder.
2 (NAmE) = HOLDALL

duffel coat (also duffle coat) NAmE noun a heavy coat made of wool, that usually has a HOOD and is fastened with TOGGLES

duffer noun (BrE, informal) a person who is stupid or unable to do anything well: I was a bit of a duffer at school.

dug pt, pp of DIG

dugong NAmE noun a large sea animal with thick greyish skin, which lives mainly in the Indian Ocean and eats plants

dugout noun
1 a rough shelter made by digging a hole in the ground and covering it, used by soldiers
2 a shelter by the side of a football (SOCCER) or BASEBALL field where a team's manager, etc. can sit and watch the game
3 (also dugout canoe) a CANOE (= a type of light narrow boat) made by cutting out the inside of a tree TRUNK

DUI abbr. (NAmE) = DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

duke NAmE noun
1 a NOBLEMAN of the highest rank: the Duke of Edinburgh
2 (in some parts of Europe, especially in the past) a male ruler of a small independent statesee also ARCHDUKE, DUCHESS, DUCHY, GRAND DUKE

dukedom NAmE noun
1 the rank or position of a duke
2 = DUCHY

dulce noun [C, U] (US) a sweet food or drink, especially a sweet or jam

dulcet adj. [only before noun] (humorous or ironic) sounding sweet and pleasant: I thought I recognized your dulcet tones (= the sound of your voice).

dulcimer noun
1 a musical instrument that you play by hitting the metal strings with two HAMMERS
2 a musical instrument with strings, popular in American traditional music, that you lay on your knee and play with your fingers

dull adj., verb
adj. (duller, dullest)
BORING
1 not interesting or exciting DREARY: Life in a small town could be deadly dull. The countryside was flat, dull and uninteresting. The first half of the game was pretty dull. There's never a dull moment when John's around. note at BORING
LIGHT/COLOURS
2 not bright or shiny: a dull grey colour dull, lifeless hair Her eyes were dull.
SOUNDS
3 not clear or loud: The gates shut behind him with a dull thud.
WEATHER
4 not bright, with a lot of clouds OVERCAST: It was a dull, grey day.
PAIN
5 not very severe, but continuous: a dull ache/pain
PERSON
6 slow in understanding STUPID: a dull pupil
TRADE
7 (especially NAmE) not busy; slow: Don't sell into a dull market.

dullness noun [U]: the dullness of modern architecture dully adv.: 'I suppose so,' she said dully. His leg ached dully.
(as) dull as ditchwater (BrE) (US (as) dull as dishwater) extremely boring: I always found history as dull as ditchwater.more at WORK n.
verb
PAIN
1 (of pain or an emotion) to become or be made weaker or less severe: [VN] The tablets they gave him dulled the pain for a while. [also V]
PERSON
2 [VN] to make a person slower or less lively: He felt dulled and stupid with sleep.
COLOURS, SOUNDS
3 to become or to make sth less bright, clean or sharp: [V] His eyes dulled and he slumped to the ground. [VN] The endless rain seemed to dull all sound.

dullard NAmE noun (old-fashioned) a stupid person with no imagination

dullsville noun [U] (NAmE, informal) a place or situation which is extremely boring

dull-witted adj. (old-fashioned) not understanding quickly or easily STUPID

duly NAmE adv.
1 (formal) in the correct or expected manner: The document was duly signed by the inspector.
2 at the expected and correct time: They duly arrived at 9.30 in spite of torrential rain.compare UNDULY

dumb adj., verb
adj. (dumber, dumbest)
1 (old-fashioned, sometimes offensive) unable to speak: She was born deaf and dumb. Dumb used in this meaning is old-fashioned and can be offensive. It is better to use speech-impaired instead.
2 temporarily not speaking or refusing to speak: We were all struck dumb with amazement. We sat there in dumb silence.
3 (informal, especially NAmE) stupid: That was a pretty dumb thing to do. If the police question you, act dumb (= pretend you do not know anything). In her early movies she played a dumb blonde.
dumbly adv.: 'Are you all right?' Laura nodded dumbly. dumbness noun [U]
verb
dumb down| dumb sthdown (disapproving) to make sth less accurate or EDUCATIONAL, and of worse quality, by trying to make it easier for people to understand: The BBC denies that its broadcasting has been dumbed down.
dumbing down noun [U]

dumb animal noun [usually pl.] (BrE) an animal, especially when seen as deserving pity: standing up for the rights of dumb animals

dumb-ass adj. [only before noun] (NAmE, taboo, slang) stupid

dumb-bellnoun
1 a short bar with a weight at each end, used for making the arm and shoulder muscles stronger
2 (NAmE, informal) a stupid person

dumbfound verb [VN] to surprise or shock sb so much that they are unable to speak: His reply dumbfounded me.

dumbfounded (also less frequent dumbstruck ) adj. unable to speak because of surprise: The news left her dumbfounded.

dumbo NAmE noun (pl. -oes) (informal) a stupid person: Don't call me a dumbo!

dumbshow NAmE noun [U, C] = MIME

dumb waiter noun a small lift/elevator for carrying food and plates from one floor to another in a restaurant

dumdum (also dumdum bullet) noun a bullet that spreads out and breaks into many pieces when it hits sb
It is named after the factory at Dumdum near Calcutta in India, where such bullets were originally made. They are now illegal.

dummy noun, adj.
noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a model of a person, used especially when making clothes or for showing them in a shop window: a tailor's dummy a ventriloquist's dummy
2 [C] a thing that seems to be real but is only a copy of the real thing: The bottles of whisky on display are all dummies.
3 [C] (NAmE, informal) a stupid person: Don't just stand there, you dummy.
4 [C] (in some sports) an occasion when you pretend to pass the ball to another player and then do not do so
5 [C] (BrE) (NAmE pacifier) a specially shaped rubber or plastic object for a baby to suck
6 [U] (in card games, especially BRIDGE) the cards which are placed facing upwards on the table and which can be seen by all the players: She played a jack from dummy.
adj. [only before noun] made to look real, although it is actually a copy which does not work REPLICA: a dummy bomb

dummy run noun (BrE) a practice attack, performance, etc. before the real one DRY RUN

dump verb, noun
verb [VN]
GET RID OF
1 to get rid of sth you do not want, especially in a place which is not suitable: Too much toxic waste is being dumped at sea. The dead body was just dumped by the roadside.
2 ~ sb/sth (on sb) (informal) to get rid of sb/sth or leave them for sb else to deal with: He's got no right to keep dumping his problems on me.
3 (business) to get rid of goods by selling them at a very low price, often in another country
PUT DOWN
4 to put sth down in a careless or untidy way: Just dump your stuff over therewe'll sort it out later.
END RELATIONSHIP
5 (informal) to end a romantic relationship with sb: Did you hear he's dumped his girlfriend?
COMPUTING
6 to copy information and move it somewhere to store it
see LAP n.
dump on sb (informal, especially NAmE) to criticize sb severely or treat them badly
nounsee also DUMPS
FOR WASTE
1 a place where waste or rubbish/garbage is taken and left: (BrE) a rubbish dump (NAmE) a garbage dump the municipal dump a toxic/nuclear waste dump
2 (also mine dump) (SAfrE) a hill that is formed when waste sand from the production of gold is piled in one place over a period of time
DIRTY PLACE
3 (informal, disapproving) a dirty or unpleasant place: How can you live in this dump?
FOR WEAPONS
4 a temporary store for military supplies: an ammunition dump
COMPUTING
5 an act of copying data stored in a computer; a copy or list of the contents of this datasee also SCREEN DUMP
WASTE FROM BODY
6 [C] (slang) an act of passing waste matter from the body through the BOWELS: to have a dump

dump bin (BrE) (also display bin US, BrE) noun a box in a shop/store for displaying goods, especially goods whose prices have been reduced

dumper noun (especially NAmE) a person who throws away dangerous or harmful things, especially in the wrong place

dumper truck (BrE) (NAmE dump truck) noun a vehicle for carrying earth, stones, etc. in a container which can be lifted up for the load to fall out

dumping noun [U] the act or practice of dumping sth, especially dangerous substances: a ban on the dumping of radioactive waste at sea

dumping ground noun [usually sing.] a place where sth that is not wanted is dumped: The city's canals are used as a dumping ground for a range of toxic pollutants.

dumpling noun
1 a small ball of DOUGH (= a mixture of flour, fat and water) that is cooked and served with meat dishes: chicken with herb dumplings
2 a small ball of PASTRY, often with fruit in it, eaten as a DESSERT: apple dumplings

dumps noun [pl.]
down in the dumps (informal) feeling unhappy DEPRESSED: He'd been down in the dumps since his girlfriend left him.

DumpsterTM noun (NAmE) = SKIP

dump truck noun (NAmE) = DUMPER TRUCK

dumpy adj. (especially of a person) short and fat

dun adj. greyish-brown in colour
dun noun [U]

dunce noun (old-fashioned) a person, especially a child at school, who is stupid or slow to learn

dunce's cap (BrE) (NAmE dunce cap) noun a pointed hat that was sometimes given in the past to a child in a class at school who was slow to learn

Dundee cake noun [C, U] a fruit cake, usually decorated with ALMONDS (= a type of nut)

dunderhead NAmE noun (informal) a silly or stupid person

dune NAmE (also sand dune) noun a small hill of sand formed by the wind, near the sea or in a desert

dune buggy noun = BEACH BUGGY

dung noun [U] solid waste from animals, especially from large ones MANURE: cow dung

dungarees noun [pl.]
1 (BrE) (NAmE overalls, bib overalls) a piece of clothing that consists of trousers/pants with an extra piece of cloth covering the chest, held up by strips of cloth over the shoulders: a pair of dungarees His dungarees were covered in grease.
2 (NAmE) heavy cotton trousers/pants for working in

dungeon noun a dark underground room used as a prison, especially in a castle: Throw him into the dungeons!

dungheap (also dunghill ) noun a large pile of dung, especially on a farm

dunk verb
1 [VN] ~ sth (in/into sth) to put food quickly into liquid before eating it: She sat reading a magazine, dunking cookies in her coffee.
2 [VN] (especially NAmE) to push sb underwater for a short time, as a joke; to put sth into water: The camera survived being dunked in the river.
3 [V, VN] (in BASKETBALL) to jump very high and put the ball through the BASKET with great force from above

dunlin noun a small bird with a long beak, that lives near water

dunno NAmE (non-standard) a way of writing the informal spoken form of 'I don't know'

dunnock noun a small European bird with a musical call

dunny noun (pl. -ies) (AustralE, NZE, informal) a toilet

dunt verb (ScotE) [VN, usually + adv. / prep.] to hit or knock sb or sth
dunt noun

duo NAmE noun (pl. -os)
1 two people who perform together or are often seen or thought of together: the comedy duo Laurel and Hardycompare TRIO
2 = DUET

duodenum NAmE noun (pl. duodenums or duodena ) (anatomy) the first part of the small INTESTINE, next to the stomachcompare ILEUM, JEJUNUM
duodenal NAmE adj.: a duodenal ulcer

duopoly NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (business)
1 a right to trade in a particular product or service, held by only two companies or organizations
2 a group of two companies or organizations who hold a duopolycompare MONOPOLY

the DUP abbr. the Democratic Unionist Party (a political party in Northern Ireland that wants it to remain a part of the United Kingdom)

dupatta noun a long piece of material worn around the head and neck by women in S Asia, usually with a SALWAR or GHAGRA

dupe NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN] ~ sb (into doing sth) to trick or cheat sb: They soon realized they had been duped. He was duped into giving them his credit card.
noun (formal) a person who is tricked or cheated: These men were simply the dupes of their unscrupulous leaders.

duplex NAmE noun (especially NAmE)
1 a building divided into two separate homes
2 a flat/apartment with rooms on two floors

duplicate verb, adj., noun
verb NAmE [VN]
1 [often passive] to make an exact copy of sth: a duplicated form
2 to do sth again, especially when it is unnecessary: There's no point in duplicating work already done.
duplication NAmE noun [U, C]
adj. NAmE [only before noun] exactly like sth else; made as a copy of sth else: a duplicate invoice
noun NAmE one of two or more things that are the same in every detail COPY: Is this a duplicate or the original?
in duplicate (of documents, etc.) as two copies that are exactly the same in every detail: to prepare a contract in duplicate compare TRIPLICATE

duplicity NAmE noun [U] (formal) dishonest behaviour that is intended to make sb believe sth which is not true DECEIT
duplicitous NAmE adj.

durable NAmE adj. likely to last for a long time without breaking or getting weaker: durable plastics negotiations for a durable peace Painted steel is likely to be less durable than other kinds.
durability NAmE noun [U]: the durability of gold This rope is renowned for its high level of strength and durability.see also CONSUMER DURABLES

durable goods noun [pl.] (NAmE) = CONSUMER DURABLES

duration NAmE noun [U] (formal) the length of time that sth lasts or continues: The school was used as a hospital for the duration of the war. a contract of three years' duration
for the duration (informal) until the end of a particular situation

durative NAmE adj. (grammar) (of a verb tense, a word, etc.) describing an action that continues for some time

duress NAmE noun [U] (formal) threats or force that are used to make sb do sth: He signed the confession under duress. The promise was obtained by duress on the part of her husband.

DurexTM NAmE noun (pl. Durex) (BrE) a CONDOM

durian NAmE noun a large tropical fruit with a strong unpleasant smell but a sweet flavour

during /djr; NAmE dr/ prep.
1 all through a period of time: during the 1990s There are extra flights to Colorado during the winter. Please remain seated during the performance.
2 at some point in a period of time: He was taken to the hospital during the night. I only saw her once during my stay in Rome. During is used to say when something happens; for answers the question 'how long?': I stayed in London for a week. I stayed in London during a week.

durrie noun = DHURRIE

durum NAmE (also durum wheat) noun [U] a type of hard WHEAT, used to make PASTA

dusk noun [U] the time of day when the light has almost gone, but it is not yet dark TWILIGHT: The street lights go on at dusk. I've been on the go from dawn to dusk. She arrived home as dusk was falling.compare DAWN

dusky adj. (literary) not very bright; dark or soft in colour: the dusky light inside the cave dusky pink Her skin turned a dusky gold in the sun.

dust noun, verb
noun
1 [U] a fine powder that consists of very small pieces of sand, earth, etc.: A cloud of dust rose as the truck drove off. The workers wear masks to avoid inhaling the dust.see also COSMIC DUST
2 the fine powder of dirt that forms in buildings, on furniture, floors, etc.: The books were all covered with dust. There wasn't a speck of dust anywhere in the room. She is allergic to house dust. That guitar's been sitting gathering dust (= not being used) for years now.
3 a fine powder that consists of very small pieces of a particular substance: coal/gold dustsee also DUSTY
leave sb in the dust (NAmE) to leave sb far behind
let the dust settle | wait for the dust to settle to wait for a situation to become clear or certain: He waited for the dust to settle after the election before making any new decisions.more at BITE v.
verb
1 to clean furniture, a room, etc. by removing dust from surfaces with a cloth: [V] I broke the vase while I was dusting. [VN] Could you dust the sitting room?
2 [VN, usually + adv. / prep.] to remove dirt from sb/sth/yourself with your hands or a brush: She dusted some ash from her sleeve.
3 [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to cover sth with fine powder: Dust the cake with sugar. see DONE
dust sb/sthdown (especially BrE) to remove dust, dirt, etc. from sb/sth: Mel stood up and dusted herself down.
dust sb/sthoff to remove dust, dirt, etc. from sb/sth: She got out the best china and dusted it off. He put down the box and dusted off his hands. (figurative) For the concert, he dusted off some of his old hits.

dustball noun (NAmE) a mass of dust and small pieces of thread, hair, material, etc.compare DUST BUNNY

dustbin (BrE) (NAmE garbage can, trash can) noun a large container with a lid, used for putting rubbish/garbage in, usually kept outside the house note at RUBBISH

dust bowl noun an area of land that has been turned into desert by lack of rain or too much farming: the Oklahoma Dust Bowl of the 1930s

dust bunny noun (NAmE, informal) a DUSTBALL

dustcart NAmE (BrE) (NAmE garbage truck) noun a vehicle for collecting rubbish/garbage from outside houses, etc.

dust cover noun
1 = DUST JACKET
2 a hard or soft plastic cover on a piece of equipment, etc. that protects it when it is not being used

dust devil noun a small column of dust over land, caused by the wind

duster noun
1 a cloth for removing dust from furniture
2 (old-fashioned, NAmE) a piece of clothing that you wear over your other clothes when you are cleaning the house, etc.
3 (NAmE) a long coat that was worn by COWBOYS

dust jacket (also dust cover) noun a paper cover on a book that protects it but that can be removed

dustman noun (pl. -men ) (also informal binman, formal refuse collector) (all BrE) (NAmE garbage man) a person whose job is to remove waste from outside houses, etc. note at RUBBISH

dust mite (also house dust mite) noun a very small creature that lives in houses and can cause ALLERGIES

dustpan noun a small flat container with a handle into which dust is brushed from the floor: a dustpan and brush

dust sheet (BrE) (NAmE drop cloth) noun a large sheet that is used to protect floors, furniture, etc. from dust or paint

dust storm noun a storm that carries clouds of dust in the wind over a wide area

dust-up noun (BrE, informal) an argument or fight

dusty adj. (dustier, dustiest)
1 full of dust; covered with dust: a dusty road piles of dusty books note at DIRTY
2 (of a colour) not bright; dull: dusty pink

Dutch adj. of or connected with the Netherlands, its people or its language
go Dutch (with sb) to share the cost of sth with sb

Dutch auction noun a sale in which the price of an item is reduced until sb offers to buy it

Dutch barn noun (BrE) a farm building without walls that has a roof supported on poles, and is used for storing HAY (= dried grass), etc.

Dutch courage noun [U] (BrE, informal) the false courage or confidence that a person gets from drinking alcohol

Dutch door noun (NAmE) = STABLE DOOR

Dutch elm disease noun [U] a disease that kills ELM trees

dutiful NAmE adj. doing everything that you are expected to do; willing to obey and to show respect OBEDIENT: a dutiful daughter/son/wife
dutifully adv.: We laughed dutifully at all his jokes, even the ones that weren't funny.

duty NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C, U] something that you feel you have to do because it is your moral or legal responsibility: It is my duty to report it to the police. Local councillors have a duty to serve the community. I don't want you to visit me simply out of a sense of duty. your duties as a parent to do your duty for your country I'll have to go I'm afraidduty calls. The company owes a duty of care to its customers.
2 [U] the work that is your job: Report for duty at 8 a.m.see also NIGHT DUTY
3 duties [pl.] tasks that are part of your job: I spend a lot of my time on administrative duties. Your duties will include setting up a new computer system.see also HEAVY-DUTY note at TASK
4 [C, U] ~ (on sth) a tax that you pay on things that you buy, especially those that you bring into a country: customs/excise/import duties duty on wine and beersee also DEATH DUTY, STAMP DUTY note at TAX
on/off duty (of nurses, police officers, etc.) working/not working at a particular time: Who's on duty today? What time do you go off duty?see also OFF-DUTYmore at BOUNDEN, LINE n.

duty-bound adj. [not before noun] (formal) having to do sth because it is your duty: I felt duty-bound to help him.

duty-free adj. (of goods) that you can bring into a country without paying tax on them: duty-free cigarettes
duty-free adv.: You're allowed 1½ litres of spirits duty-free. duty-free noun (BrE, informal): We bought a load of duty-frees (= duty-free goods) at the airport.

duty-free shop (also duty-free) noun a shop/store in an airport or on a ship, etc. that sells goods such as cigarettes, alcohol, PERFUME, etc. without tax on them

duty officer noun the officer, for example in the police, army, etc., who is on duty at a particular time in a particular place

duvet NAmE (also continental quilt, quilt) noun (all BrE) a large cloth bag that is filled with feathers or other soft material and that you have on top of you in bed to keep yourself warm: a duvet cover (= a cover that you can wash, that you put over a duvet)

DVD noun a disk on which large amounts of information, especially photographs and video, can be stored, for use on a computer or DVD-player (an abbreviation for 'digital videodisc' or 'digital versatile disc'): a DVD-ROM drive Is it available on DVD yet?

DVT abbr. DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS

dwaal noun (SAfrE) a confused or very relaxed state of mind: I was in a complete dwaal.

dwarf NAmE noun, adj., verb
noun (pl. dwarfs or dwarves NAmE )
1 (in stories) a creature like a small man, who has magic powers and who is usually described as living and working under the ground, especially working with metal
2 (sometimes offensive) an extremely small person, who will never grow to a normal size because of a physical problem; a person suffering from DWARFISM There is no other word that is generally considered more acceptable.
adj. [only before noun] (of a plant or an animal) much smaller than the normal size: dwarf conifers
verb [VN] to make sth seem small or unimportant compared with sth else: The old houses were dwarfed by the huge new tower blocks.

dwarfism NAmE noun the medical condition of being a dwarf. People who suffer from this condition are very short and often have short arms and legs.

dweeb noun (slang, especially NAmE) a person, especially a boy or a man, who does not have good social skills and is not fashionable

dwell verb (dwelt, dwelt) or (dwelled, dwelled) [V + adv. / prep.] (formal or literary) to live somewhere: He dwelt in a ruined cottage on the hillside. For ten years she dwelled among the nomads of North America.
dwell on/upon sth
1 to think or talk a lot about sth, especially sth it would be better to forget: So you made a mistake, but there's no need to dwell on it.
2 to look at sth for a long time

dweller noun (especially in compounds) a person or an animal that lives in the particular place that is mentioned: apartment dwellers

dwelling noun (formal) a house, flat/apartment, etc. where a person lives: The development will consist of 66 dwellings and a number of offices.

dwelling house noun (BrE, law) a house that people live in, not one that is used as an office, etc.

dwelling place noun (old-fashioned) the place where sb lives

DWI abbr. (US) = DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED

dwindle verb [V] ~ (away) (to sth) to become gradually less or smaller: dwindling audiences a dwindling band of supporters Support for the party has dwindled away to nothing. Membership of the club has dwindled from 70 to 20.

DWP abbr. (in Britain) Department for Work and Pensions

dyad noun
1 (technical) something that consists of two parts: the mother-child dyad
2 (mathematics) an OPERATOR which is the combination of two VECTORS
dyadic adj.

dybbuk noun (pl. dybbuks or dybbukim ) (in Jewish stories) an evil spirit that enters the body of a living person

dye verb, noun
verb (dyes, dyeing, dyed, dyed) to change the colour of sth, especially by using a special liquid or substance: [VN] to dye fabric [VN-ADJ] She dyed her hair blonde.see also TIE-DYE
noun [C, U] a substance that is used to change the colour of things such as cloth or hair: black dye hair dye natural/chemical/vegetable dyes

dyed in the wool adj. [usually before noun] (usually disapproving) having strong beliefs or opinions that are never going to change: dyed-in-the-wool traditionalists
From the idea that wool which was dyed in its raw state gave a more even and lasting colour.

dying adj.
1 [only before noun] connected with or happening at the time of sb's death: I will remember it to my dying day. her dying wishes/words
2 the dyingnoun [pl.] people who are dying: doctors who care for the dying see BREATHsee also DIE v.

dyke (also dike) noun
1 a long thick wall that is built to stop water flooding onto a low area of land, especially from the sea
2 (especially BrE) a channel that carries water away from the land DITCH
3 (taboo, slang) a word for a LESBIAN, that is usually offensive

dynamic noun, adj.
noun
1 dynamics [pl.] the way in which people or things behave and react to each other in a particular situation: the dynamics of political change group dynamics (= the way in which members of a group react to each other) Market dynamics are working in the company's favour.
2 dynamics [U] the science of the forces involved in movement: fluid dynamicscompare STATICS
3 [sing.] (formal) a force that produces change, action or effects
4 dynamics [pl.] (music) changes in volume in music: They play all the notes in the right place and have a scrupulous regard for the tempos and dynamics.
adj.
1 (approving) (of a person) having a lot of energy and a strong personality: a dynamic personality
2 (of a process) always changing and making progress STATIC
3 (physics) (of a force or power) producing movement STATIC
4 (linguistics) (of verbs) describing an action rather than a state. Dynamic verbs (for example eat, grow, knock, die) can be used in the progressive tenses.compare STATIVE
dynamically adv.

dynamism noun [U] energy and enthusiasm to make new things happen or to make things succeed: The freshness and dynamism of her approach was welcomed by all her students.

dynamite noun, verb
noun [U]
1 a powerful EXPLOSIVE: a stick of dynamite
2 a thing that is likely to cause a violent reaction or a lot of trouble: The abortion issue is political dynamite.
3 (informal, approving) an extremely impressive or exciting person or thing: Their new album is dynamite.
verb [VN] to destroy or damage sth using dynamite

dynamo NAmE noun (pl. -os)
1 a device for turning MECHANICAL energy (= energy from movement) into electricity; a GENERATOR
2 (informal) a person with a lot of energy: the team's midfield dynamo She's a human dynamo.

dynasty NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 a series of rulers of a country who all belong to the same family: the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty
2 a period of years during which members of a particular family rule a country: a Ming dynasty vase
dynastic NAmE adj. [usually before noun]: dynastic history

dyne noun (physics) a unit of force

dysentery NAmE noun [U] an infection of the BOWELS that causes severe DIARRHOEA with loss of blood

dysfunctional adj. (technical) not working normally or properly: children from dysfunctional families

dyslexia noun [U] a slight DISORDER of the brain that causes difficulty in reading and spelling, for example, but does not affect intelligence
dyslexic adj.: He's dyslexic. dyslexic noun: Writing courses for dyslexics.

dysmorphia NAmE noun [U] (medical) a condition in which a part of the body grows larger than normal
dysmorphic NAmE adj.

dyspepsia NAmE noun [U] (medical) pain caused by difficulty in DIGESTING food INDIGESTION

dyspeptic adj.
1 (medical) connected with or suffering from dyspepsia
2 (formal) bad-tempered

dysphasia NAmE noun [U] (medical) a DISORDER of the brain that causes difficulty in speaking and understanding

dysphoria noun [U] (medical) a state of worry or general unhappinesscompare EUPHORIA
dysphoric NAmE adj.

dyspraxia noun [U] a condition of the brain which causes children to have difficulties, for example with physical movement, with writing neatly, and with organizing themselves

dysprosium NAmE noun [U] (symb Dy) a chemical element. Dysprosium is a soft silver-white metal used in nuclear research.

dystopia NAmE noun an imaginary place or state in which everything is extremely bad or unpleasantcompare UTOPIA
dystopian NAmE (also dystopic NAmE ) adj.

dystrophy MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

E noun, abbr.
noun (also e) [C, U] (pl. Es, E's, e's )
1 the fifth letter in the English alphabet: 'Egg' begins with (an) E/'E'.
2 E (music) the third note in the SCALE of C MAJOR
3 E the fifth highest mark/grade that a student can get for a piece of work, showing that it is very bad: He got an E in/for French.see also E-NUMBER
abbr.
1 East; Eastern: E Asia
2 (slang) the drug ECSTASY: She had taken an E.

e- combining form (in nouns and verbs) connected with the use of electronic communication, especially the Internet, for sending information, doing business, etc.: e-commerce e-businesssee also E-FIT, EMAIL

each det., pron. used to refer to every one of two or more people or things, when you are thinking about them separately: Each answer is worth 20 points. Each of the answers is worth 20 points. The answers are worth 20 points each. 'Red or blue?' 'I'll take one of each, please.' We each have our own car. There aren't enough books for everyone to have one each. They lost $40 each. Each day that passed he grew more and more desperate.

GRAMMAR POINT

each / every

Each is used in front of a singular noun and is followed by a singular verb: Each student has been given his or her own email address. The use of his or her sometimes sounds slightly formal and it is becoming more common to use the plural pronoun their: Each student has been given their own email address.

When each is used after a plural subject, it has a plural verb: They each have their own email address.

Every is always followed by a singular verb: Every student in the class is capable of passing the exam.

Each of, each one of and every one of are followed by a plural noun or pronoun, but the verb is usually singular: Each (one) of the houses was slightly different.I bought a dozen eggs and every one of them was bad. A plural verb is more informal.

each other pron. used as the object of a verb or preposition to show that each member of a group does sth to or for the other members: Don and Susie really loved each other (= he loved her and she loved him). They looked at each other and laughed. We can wear each other's clothes.

each way adv., adj. (BrE) if you bet money each way on a race, you win if your horse, etc. comes first, second or third in the race: She put £5 each way on the favourite. an each-way bet

eager adj. ~ (for sth/to do sth) very interested and excited by sth that is going to happen or about sth that you want to do KEEN: eager crowds outside the stadium She is eager for (= wants very much to get) her parents' approval. Everyone in the class seemed eager to learn. They're eager to please (= wanting to be helpful).
eagerly adv.: the band's eagerly awaited new CD They eagerly accepted my offer of hospitality. eagerness noun [U, sing.]: I couldn't hide my eagerness to get back home.

eager beaver noun (informal) an enthusiastic person who works very hard

eagle noun
1 a large BIRD OF PREY (= a bird that kills other creatures for food) with a sharp curved beak and very good sight: eagles soaring overheadsee also BALD EAGLE, GOLDEN EAGLE
2 (in GOLF) a score of two strokes less than the standard score for a hole (= two under PAR)compare BIRDIE, BOGEY

eagle eye noun [usually sing.] if sb has an eagle eye, they watch things carefully and are good at noticing things: Nothing escaped our teacher's eagle eye.
eagle-eyed adj. HAWK-EYED: An eagle-eyed tourist found the suspicious package.

eagle owl noun a very large European OWL with short feathers sticking up near its ears

eaglet noun a young eagle

Ealing comedy NAmE noun one of the funny films/movies made in the Ealing Studios in London in the 1940s and 1950s

EAP abbr. ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES

ear NAmE noun
1 [C] either of the organs on the sides of the head that you hear with: an ear infection the inner/outer ear She whispered something in his ear. He put his hands over his ears. She's had her ears pierced. The elephant flapped its ears. He was always there with a sympathetic ear (= a willingness to listen to people).see also CAULIFLOWER EAR, GLUE EAR, MIDDLE EAR
2 -eared (in adjectives) having the type of ears mentioned: a long-eared owl
3 [sing.] an ability to recognize and copy sounds well: She has always had an ear for languages. You need a good ear to master the piano.
4 [C] the top part of a grain plant, such as WHEAT, that contains the seeds: ears of corn
be all ears (informal) to be waiting with interest to hear what sb has to say: 'Do you know what he said?' 'Go onI'm all ears.'
be out on your ear (informal) to be forced to leave (a job, etc.)
be up to your ears in sth to have a lot of sth to deal with: We're up to our ears in work.
sth comes to/reaches sb's ears somebody hears about sth, especially when other people already know about it: News of his affair eventually reached her ears.
sb's ears are burning a person thinks that other people are talking about them, especially in an unkind way: 'I bumped into your ex-wife last night.' 'I thought I could feel my ears burning!'
sb's ears are flapping (BrE, informal) a person is trying to listen to sb else's conversation
go in one ear and out the other (informal) (of information, etc.) to be forgotten quickly: Everything I tell them just goes in one ear and out the other.
have sth coming out of your ears (informal) to have a lot of sth, especially more than you need: That man has money coming out of his ears.
have sb's ear | have the ear of sb to be able to give sb advice, influence them, etc. because they trust you: He had the ear of the monarch.
keep/have your ear to the ground to make sure that you always find out about the most recent developments in a particular situation: The agent had no suitable properties on his books but promised to keep an ear to the ground for us.
play (sth) by ear to play music by remembering how it sounds rather than by reading it
play it by ear (informal) to decide how to deal with a situation as it develops rather than by having a plan to follow: I'm not sure how many people are expectedwe'll just have to play it by ear. I don't know what they'll want when they arrivewe'll have to play it by ear.
shut/close your ears to sth to refuse to listen to sth: She decided to shut her ears to all the rumours.
smile/grin/beam from ear to ear to be smiling, etc. a lot because you are very pleased about sth
with half an ear without giving your full attention to what is being said, etc.more at BELIEVE, BEND v., BOX n., BOX v., COCK v., DEAF adj., EASY adj., FEEL v., FLEA, LEND, MUSIC, OPEN adj., PIG n., PRICK v., RING v., SILK, THICK adj., WALL n., WET adj., WORD n.

earache NAmE noun [U, C] pain inside the ear: to have (an) earache

earbashing NAmE noun [sing.] (BrE, informal) an occasion where sb criticizes a person in an angry way: He got an earbashing for forgetting his girlfriend's birthday.

ear drops noun [pl.] liquid medicine that can be put into the ears

eardrum NAmE noun the piece of thin tightly stretched skin inside the ear which is moved by sound waves, making you able to hear: a perforated eardrum

earful NAmE noun [sing.] (informal) if sb gives you an earful, they tell you for a long time how angry they are about sth

earhole NAmE noun (informal) the outer opening of the ear

earl NAmE noun a NOBLEMAN of high rank: the Earl of Essexsee also COUNTESS

Earl Grey noun [U] a type of tea flavoured with BERGAMOT

earliest NAmE noun [sing.] the earliest the time before which sth cannot happen: The earliest we can finish is next Friday. We can't finish before next Friday at the earliest.

ear lobe (also lobe) noun the soft part at the bottom of the ear

early NAmE adj., adv.
adj. (earlier, earliest)
1 near the beginning of a period of time, an event etc.: the early morning my earliest memories The project is still in the early stages. the early 1990s in the early days of space exploration (= when it was just beginning) The earliest possible date I can make it is the third. He's in his early twenties. Mozart's early works (= those written at the beginning of his career) Early booking is essential, as space is limited. The ruling overturned the court's earlier decision. The earliest description of this species dates from 1703.
2 arriving, or done before the usual, expected or planned time: You're early! I wasn't expecting you till seven. The bus was ten minutes early. an early breakfast Let's make an early start tomorrow. She's an early riser (= she gets up early in the morning). He learnt to play the piano at an early age. early potatoes (= that are ready to eat at the beginning of the season) LATE
earliness noun [U]: In spite of the earliness of the hour there were crowds all over town.
an early bird (humorous) a person who gets up, arrives, etc. very early: You're an early bird this morning!
at your earliest convenience (business) as soon as possible: Please telephone at your earliest convenience.
the early bird catches the worm (saying) the person who takes the opportunity to do sth before other people will have an advantage over them
it's early days (yet) (BrE) used to say that it is too soon to be sure how a situation will develop: It's early days yet. We don't know if the play will be a success.more at BRIGHT adj., HOUR, NIGHT
adv. (earlier, earliest)
1 near the beginning of a period of time, an event, a piece of work, etc.: early in the week/year/season/morning The best rooms go to those who book earliest. We arrived early the next day. We meet the hero quite early in the film. He started writing music as early as 1989. LATE
2 before the usual, expected or planned time: The bus came five minutes early. I woke up early this morning. The baby arrived earlier than expected. early flowering plants LATE
3 earlier before the present time or the time mentioned: As I mentioned earlier ... a week earlier She had seen him earlier in the day. LATER
early on at an early stage of a situation, relationship, period of time, etc.: I knew quite early on that I wanted to marry her.

early closing noun [U] (BrE) the practice of closing shops on a particular afternoon every week (now no longer very common): Wednesday is early closing day in many places.

early warning noun [U, sing.] a thing that tells you in advance that sth serious or dangerous is going to happen: an early warning of heart disease an early warning system (= of enemy attack)

earmark NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (for/as sb/sth) to decide that sth will be used for a particular purpose, or to state that sth will happen to sb/sth in the future: The money had been earmarked for spending on new school buildings. The factory has been earmarked for closure. She was earmarked early as a possible champion.
noun [usually pl.] (NAmE) a feature or quality that is typical of sb/sth: The incident has all the earmarks of a terrorist attack.

earmuffs NAmE noun [pl.] a pair of coverings for the ears connected by a band across the top of the head, and worn to protect the ears, especially from cold: a pair of earmuffs

earn NAmE verb
1 to get money for work that you do: [VN] He earns about $40 000 a year. She earned a living as a part-time secretary. She must earn a fortune (= earn a lot of money). [VNN] His victory in the tournament earned him $50 000. [V] All the children are earning now.
2 [VN] to get money as profit or interest on money you lend, have in a bank, etc.: Your money would earn more in a high-interest account.
3 to get sth that you deserve, usually because of sth good you have done or because of the good qualities you have: [VN] He earned a reputation as an expert on tax law. As a teacher, she had earned the respect of her students. I need a rest. I think I've earned it, don't you? She's having a well-earned rest this week. [VNN] His outstanding ability earned him a place on the team.
earn a/your crust (BrE, informal) to earn enough money to live on: I've been an actor for 20 years, earning a crust wherever I can.
earn your keep
1 to do useful or helpful things in return for being allowed to live or stay somewhere
2 to be worth the amount of time or money that is being spent: He felt he no longer deserved such a high salary. He just wasn't earning his keep.more at SPUR n.

earned run noun (in BASEBALL) a RUN scored without the help of errors by the opposing team

earner NAmE noun
1 a person who earns money for a job that they do: high/low earners The survey revealed that top earners in the country tended to be men.see also WAGE EARNER
2 an activity or a business that makes a profit: Tourism is the country's biggest foreign currency earner. (BrE, informal) Her new business has turned out a nice little earner.

earnest NAmE adj. very serious and sincere: an earnest young man Despite her earnest efforts, she could not find a job. When I looked over, he was in earnest conversation with his father.
earnestly adv.: He gazed earnestly into my eyes. earnestness noun [U]
in earnest
1 more seriously and with more force or effort than before: The work on the house will begin in earnest on Monday. That was when our troubles started in earnest.
2 very serious and sincere about what you are saying and about your intentions; in a way that shows that you are serious: You may laugh but I'm in deadly earnest. I could tell she spoke in earnest.

earnings NAmE noun [pl.]
1 the money that you earn for the work that you do: a rise in average earnings compensation for loss of earnings caused by the accident note at INCOME
2 the profit that a company makes: earnings per share export earnings

earnings-related adj. (BrE) (of payments, etc.) connected to and changing according to the amount of money that you earn: an earnings-related pension scheme

earphones NAmE noun [pl.] = HEADPHONES

earpiece NAmE noun the part of a telephone or piece of electrical equipment that you hold next to or put into your ear so that you can listen

ear-piercing adj., noun
adj. [only before noun] very high, loud and unpleasant: an ear-piercing scream
noun [U] the practice of making small holes in sb's ears so jewellery can be put in them

earplug NAmE noun [usually pl.] a piece of soft material that you put into your ear to keep out noise or water

earring NAmE noun a piece of jewellery that you fasten in or on your ear: a pair of earrings

earset NAmE noun a piece of equipment that fits into your ear and has a MICROPHONE attached to it. It is connected to a telephone and allows you to use the telephone without using your hands.

earshot NAmE noun
out of earshot (of sb/sth) too far away to hear sb/sth or to be heard: We waited until Ted was safely out of earshot before discussing it.
within earshot (of sb/sth) near enough to hear sb/sth or to be heard: As she came within earshot of the group, she heard her name mentioned.

ear-splitting adj. extremely loud: an ear-splitting bang

earth NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 (also Earth, the Earth) [U, sing.] the world; the planet that we live on: the planet Earth the history of life on earth the earth's ozone layer The earth revolves around the sun. I must be the happiest person on earth!
2 [U, sing.] land; the hard surface of the world that is not the sea or the sky; the ground: After a week at sea, it was good to feel the earth beneath our feet again. You could feel the earth shake as the truck came closer. note at FLOOR
3 [U] the substance that plants grow in: a clod/lump/mound of earth I cleaned off the earth clinging to my boots. note at SOIL
4 [C] the hole where an animal, especially a FOX, lives
5 (BrE) (NAmE ground) [C, usually sing.] a wire that connects an electric CIRCUIT with the ground and makes it safe
charge, cost, pay, etc. the earth (BrE, informal) to charge, etc. a lot of money: I'd love that dress, but it costs the earth. If you want a house in London, you'll have to pay the earth for it.
come back/down to earth (with a bang/bump) | bring sb (back) down to earth (with a bang/bump) (informal) to return, or to make sb return, to a normal way of thinking or behaving after a time when they have been very excited, not very practical, etc.see also DOWN TO EARTH
go to earth/ground (BrE) to hide, especially to escape from sb who is chasing you
how, why, where, who, etc. on earth (informal) used to emphasize the question you are asking when you are surprised or angry or cannot think of an obvious answer: What on earth are you doing? How on earth can she afford that?
be, feel, look, taste, etc. like nothing on earth (informal) to be, feel, look, taste, etc. very bad
on earth used after negative nouns or pronouns to emphasize what you are saying: Nothing on earth would persuade me to go with him.
run sb/sth to earth/ground (BrE) to find sb/sth after looking hard for a long timemore at END n., FACE n., MOVE v., PROMISE v., SALT n., WIPE v.
verb (BrE) (NAmE ground) [VN] [usually passive] to make electrical equipment safe by connecting it to the ground with a wire

earthbound NAmE adj.
1 unable to leave the surface of the earth: birds and their earthbound predators
2 (literary) not spiritual or having much imagination

earthen NAmE adj. [only before noun]
1 (of floors or walls) made of earth: a primitive hut with an earthen floor
2 (of objects) made of baked CLAY: earthen pots

earthenware NAmE adj. made of very hard baked CLAY: an earthenware bowl
earthenware noun [U]

earthling NAmE noun a word used in SCIENCE FICTION stories by creatures from other planets to refer to a person living on the earth

earthly NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 (literary) connected with life on earth and not with any spiritual life: earthly desires the sorrows of this earthly life
2 (often used in questions and negatives for emphasis) possible: There's no earthly reason why you shouldn't go. What earthly difference is my opinion going to make? He didn't have an earthly chance of getting the job.

earth mother noun
1 (also Earth Mother) a GODDESS who represents the earth as the source of life; a GODDESS of FERTILITY
2 (informal) a woman who seems very suited to being a mother

earth mover noun a vehicle or machine that digs up large quantities of soil

earthquake NAmE (also informal quake) noun a sudden, violent shaking of the earth's surface: damage caused by a powerful earthquake The earthquake measured 68 on the Richter scale.

earth science noun [C, U] a science concerned with studying the earth or part of it. Geography and GEOLOGY are both earth sciences.compare LIFE SCIENCES, NATURAL SCIENCE

earth-shattering adj. having a very great effect and of great importance: an earth-shattering discovery

earth station noun a place where signals are received from space or are sent into space

earthwork NAmE noun [usually pl.] a large bank of earth that was built long ago in the past and used as a defence: A castle and extensive earthworks are still to be found in the area.

earthworm NAmE noun a common long thin WORM that lives in soil

earthy NAmE adj. (earthier, earthiest)
1 concerned with the body, sex, etc. in an open and direct way that some people find rude or embarrassing: an earthy sense of humour
2 of or like earth or soil: earthy colours
earthiness noun [U]

ear trumpet noun a device shaped like a TRUMPET, used in the past by people who could not hear well

earwax NAmE noun [U] the yellow substance produced inside the ear to protect it

earwig NAmE noun a small brown insect with a long body and two curved pointed parts called PINCERS that stick out at the back end of its body

ease noun, verb
noun [U]
1 lack of difficulty: He passed the exam with ease. The ease with which she learns languages is astonishing. This computer is popular for its good design and ease of use. All important points are numbered for ease of reference (= so that you can find them easily).
2 the state of feeling relaxed or comfortable without worries, problems or pain: In his retirement, he lived a life of ease.
(stand) at ease used as a command to soldiers to tell them to stand with their feet apart and their hands behind their backscompare ATTENTION n. (5)
at (your) ease relaxed and confident and not nervous or embarrassed: I never feel completely at ease with him. She was at her ease straight away in the new job.
put sb at (their) ease to make sb feel relaxed and confident, not nervous or embarrassed: Try to put the candidate at ease by being friendly and informal.more at ILL adj., MIND n.
verb
1 to become or to make sth less unpleasant, painful, severe, etc. ALLEVIATE: [VN] This should help ease the pain. The plan should ease traffic congestion in the town. It would ease my mind (= make me less worried) to know that she was settled. [V] The pain immediately eased.
2 [+adv./prep.] to move, or to move sb/sth, slowly and carefully: [V] He eased slowly forwards. [VN] She eased herself into a chair. He eased off his shoes.
3 [VN] to make sth easier: Ramps have been built to ease access for the disabled.
4 to make sth or to become less tight and more relaxed RELAX: [VN] Ease your grip on the wheel a little. [also V]
5 to become or make sth lower in price or value REDUCE: [V] Share prices eased back from yesterday's levels. [also VN]
ease into sth| ease yourself/sb into sth to become or help sb to become familiar with sth new, especially a new job: It will take a little time for him to ease himself into his new role.
ease off| ease off sth to become or make sth become less strong, unpleasant, etc.: We waited until the traffic had eased off. Ease off the training a few days before the race.
ease sbout (of sth) to force sb to leave a job or position of authority, especially by making it difficult or unpleasant for them over a period of time
ease up
1 to reduce the speed at which you are travelling
2 to become less strong, unpleasant, etc.

easeful adj. (literary) that provides comfort or peace

easel noun a wooden frame to hold a picture while it is being painted or (in the past) a BLACKBOARD

easement noun [U]
1 (law) the right to cross or use sb's land for a particular purpose
2 (literary) a state or feeling of peace or happiness

easily adv.
1 without problems or difficulty: I can easily finish it tonight. The museum is easily accessible by car. Learning languages doesn't come easily to him.
2 very probably; very likely: Are you sure you locked the gate? You could easily have forgotten. The situation might all too easily have become a disaster.
3 ~ the best, nicest, etc. without doubt; definitely: It's easily the best play I've seen this year. She is easily the most experienced teacher in the school.
4 quickly; more quickly than is usual: I get bored easily. He's easily distracted.

east noun, adj., adv.
noun [U, sing.] (abbr. E)
1 (usually the east) the direction that you look towards to see the sun rise; one of the four main points of the COMPASS: Which way is east? A gale was blowing from the east. a town to the east of (= further east than) Chicago compare NORTH, SOUTH, WEST
2 (also East) the eastern part of a country, region or city: I was born in the East, but now live in San Francisco.
3 the East the countries of Asia, especially China, Japan and India
4 the East (in the past) the Communist countries of Eastern Europe: East-West relations
adj. [only before noun]
1 (also East) (abbr. E) in or towards the east: East Africa They live on the east coast.
2 an east wind blows from the eastcompare EASTERLY
adv. towards the east: The house faces east.

eastbound adj. travelling or leading towards the east: eastbound traffic the eastbound carriageway of the motorway

East Coast Fever noun [U] a disease that cows in Africa can get by being bitten by a TICK (= a small insect), and which can kill them

the East End noun an area of East London traditionally connected with working people
East Ender noun: He's a real East Ender.

Easter noun
1 [U, C] (also Easter Day, Easter Sunday) (in the Christian religion) a Sunday in March or April when Christians remember the death of Christ and his return to life: Easter services
2 (also Eastertime) the period that includes Easter Day and the days close to it: the Easter holidays/vacation

Easter egg noun
1 an egg made of chocolate that is given as a present and eaten at Easter
2 an egg with a shell that is painted and decorated at Easter

easterly NAmE adj., noun
adj. [only before noun]
1 in or towards the east: travelling in an easterly direction
2 [usually before noun] (of winds) blowing from the east: a cold easterly windcompare EAST
noun (pl. -ies) a wind that blows from the east

eastern NAmE adj.
1 (also Eastern) [only before noun] (abbr. E) located in the east or facing east: eastern Spain Eastern Europe the eastern slopes of the mountain
2 (usually Eastern) connected with the part of the world that is to the east of Europe: Eastern cookery

Eastern Daylight Time noun [U] (abbr. EDT) the time used in the summer in the eastern US and Canada, which is six hours earlier than GMT

easterner NAmE noun a person who comes from or lives in the eastern part of a country, especially the US

easternmost NAmE adj. furthest east: the easternmost city in Europe

the Eastern Orthodox Church noun = THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

Eastern Standard Time noun [U] (abbr. EST) (also Eastern time) the time used in the winter in the eastern US and Canada, which is five hours earlier than GMT

Eastern time noun [U] the standard time in the eastern US and parts of Canada

Eastertime NAmE noun [U, C] = EASTER

East Indian noun a person whose family originally came from the Indian SUBCONTINENT
East Indian adj.

east-north-east noun [sing.] (abbr. ENE) the direction at an equal distance between east and north-east
east-north-east adv.

east-south-east noun [sing.] (abbr. ESE) the direction at an equal distance between east and south-east
east-south-east adv.

eastwards NAmE (also eastward) adv. towards the east: to go/look/turn eastwards
eastward adj.: in an eastward direction

easy adj., adv.
adj. (easier, easiest)
1 not difficult; done or obtained without a lot of effort or problems: an easy exam/job He didn't make it easy for me to leave. Their house isn't the easiest place to get to. vegetables that are easy to grow Several schools are within easy reach (= not far away). It can't be easy for her, on her own with the children. It's easy for you to tell me to keep calm, but you're not in my position. It would be the easiest thing in the world to fall in love with him. HARD
2 comfortable, relaxed and not worried: I'll agree to anything for an easy life. I don't feel easy about letting the kids go out alone. UNEASY
3 [only before noun] open to attack; not able to defend yourself: She's an easy target for their criticisms. The baby fish are easy prey for birds.
4 [only before noun] pleasant and friendly EASY-GOING: He had a very easy manner. AWKWARD
5 [not usually before noun] (informal, disapproving) (of women) willing to have sex with many different peoplesee also EASILY
easiness noun [U]
as easy as anything/as pie/as ABC/as falling off a log (informal) very easy or very easily: Fooling him was as easy as falling off a log.
easy money money that you get without having to work very hard for it
easy on the ear/eye (informal) pleasant to listen to or look at: The room was painted in soft pastels that were easy on the eye.
have an easy time (of it) (BrE) to have no difficulties or problems: He's had an easy time of it since he married Lucy.
I'm easy (BrE, informal) used to say that you do not have a strong opinion when sb has offered you a choice: 'Do you want to watch this or the news?' 'Oh, I'm easy. It's up to you.'
of easy virtue (old-fashioned) (of a woman) willing to have sex with anyone
on easy street enjoying a comfortable way of life with plenty of money
take the easy way out to end a difficult situation by choosing the simplest solution even if it is not the best one: He took the easy way out and didn't go to the meeting.more at FREE adj., OPTION, REACH n., RIDE n., TOUCH n.
adv. (easier, easiest) used to tell sb to be careful when doing sth: Easy with that chairone of its legs is loose.
breathe/rest easy to relax and stop worrying: You can rest easyI'm not going to tell anyone.
be easier said than done (saying) to be much more difficult to do than to talk about: 'Why don't you get yourself a job?' 'That's easier said than done.'
easy come, easy go (saying) used to mean that sb does not care very much about money or possessions especially if they spend it or lose sth
easy does it (informal) used to tell sb to do sth, or move sth, slowly and carefully
go easy on sb (informal) used to tell sb to treat a person in a gentle way and not to be too angry or severe: Go easy on hershe's having a really hard time at the moment.
go easy on/with sth (informal) used to tell sb not to use too much of sth: Go easy on the sugar.
not come easy (to sb) to be difficult for sb to do: Talking about my problems doesn't come easy to me. Change has not come easy.
stand easy used as a command to soldiers who are already standing AT EASE to tell them that they can stand in an even more relaxed way
take it easy (informal) used to tell sb not to be worried or angry: Take it easy! Don't panic.
take it/things easy to relax and avoid working too hard or doing too much: The doctor told me to take it easy for a few weeks. I like to take things easy when I'm on holiday.

easy-care adj. (of clothes or cloth) not needing to be ironed after washing: a blouse made from 100% easy-care polyester

easy chair noun a large comfortable chair: to sit in an easy chair

easy-going adj. relaxed and happy to accept things without worrying or getting angry: I wish I had such easy-going parents!

easy listening noun [U] music that is pleasant and relaxing but that some people think is not very interesting

easy-peasy adj. (BrE, informal) (used especially by children) very easy

eat verb (ate especially NAmE , eaten )
1 to put food in your mouth, chew it and swallow it: [V] I was too nervous to eat. She doesn't eat sensibly (= doesn't eat food that is good for her). [VN] I don't eat meat. Would you like something to eat? I couldn't eat another thing (= I have had enough food).
2 [V] to have a meal: Where shall we eat tonight? We ate at a pizzeria in town.
eat sb alive (informal)
1 to criticize or punish sb severely because you are extremely angry with them: He'll eat you alive if he ever finds out.
2 to defeat sb completely in an argument, a competition, etc.: The defence lawyers are going to eat you alive tomorrow.
3 [usually passive] (of insects, etc.) to bite sb many times: I was being eaten alive by mosquitoes.
eat, drink and be merry (saying) said to encourage sb to enjoy life now, while they can, and not to think of the future
eat your heart out! (informal) used to compare two things and say that one of them is better: Look at him dance! Eat your heart out, Fred Astaire (= he dances even better than Fred Astaire).
eat your heart out (for sb/sth) (especially BrE) to feel very unhappy, especially because you want sb/sth you cannot have: I'm not going to mope at home, eating my heart out for some man.
eat humble pie (BrE) (NAmE eat crow) to say and show that you are sorry for a mistake that you made
From a pun on the old word umbles, meaning 'offal', which was considered to be food for poor people.
eat like a horse (informal) to eat a lot: She may be thin, but she eats like a horse.
eat out of your/sb's hand to trust sb and be willing to do what they say: She'll have them eating out of her hand in no time.
eat sb out of house and home (informal, often humorous) to eat a lot of sb else's food: How much longer is he staying? He's eating us out of house and home.
eat your words to admit that what you said was wrong
I could eat a horse (informal) used to say that you are very hungry
I'll eat my hat (informal) used to say that you think sth is very unlikely to happen: If she's here on time, I'll eat my hat!
what's eating him, etc.? (informal) used to ask what sb is annoyed or worried aboutmore at CAKE n., DOG n.
eat sthaway to reduce or destroy sth gradually ERODE: The coastline is being eaten away year by year.
eat away at sth/sb
1 to reduce or destroy sth gradually: Woodworm had eaten away at the door frame. His constant criticism ate away at her self-confidence.
2 to worry sb over a period of time: The thought of her child left helpless and alone ate away at her.
eat into sth
1 to use up a part of sth, especially sb's money or time: Those repair bills have really eaten into my savings.
2 to destroy or damage the surface of sth: Rust had eaten into the metal.
eat out to have a meal in a restaurant, etc. rather than at home: Do you feel like eating out tonight?
eat up| eat sthup to eat all of sth: Eat up! We've got to go out soon. Come on. Eat up your potatoes.
eat sb up [usually passive] to fill sb with a particular emotion so that they cannot think of anything else: She was eaten up by regrets.
eat sthup to use sth in large quantities: Legal costs had eaten up all the savings she had.

eatable adj. good enough to be eatensee also EDIBLE

eater noun (usually after an adjective or a noun) a person or an animal that eats a particular thing or in a particular way: We're not great meat eaters. He's a big eater (= he eats a lot).

eatery (pl. -ies) noun (informal, especially NAmE) a restaurant or other place that serves food

eat-in adj. [only before noun] (of a kitchen) big enough for eating in as well as cooking in

eating noun [U] the act of eating sth: healthy eating see PROOF

eating apple noun (BrE) any type of apple that can be eaten rawcompare COOKING APPLE

eating disorder noun an emotional DISORDER that causes eating habits that are not normal, for example ANOREXIA

eats noun [pl.] (informal) food, especially at a party: There were plenty of eats, but the bar soon ran out of drink.

eau de cologne NAmE noun [U] = COLOGNE

eau de toilette NAmE noun [C, U] PERFUME that contains a lot of water and does not smell very strong

eaves noun [pl.] the lower edges of a roof that stick out over the walls: birds nesting under the eaves overhanging eaves

eavesdrop NAmE verb (-pp-) [V] ~ (on sb/sth) to listen secretly to what other people are saying: We caught him eavesdropping outside the window.
eavesdropper noun

eavestrough NAmE noun (CanE) = GUTTER (1)

eBayTM noun [U] a website on the Internet where people can AUCTION goods (= sell them to the person who offers the most money for them): He buys rare baseball cards on eBay.
eBay verb [VN]

ebb noun, verb
nounthe ebb [usually sing.] the period of time when the sea flows away from the land: the ebb tide
the ebb and flow (of sth/sb) the repeated, often regular, movement from one state to another; the repeated change in level, numbers or amount: the ebb and flow of the seasons She sat in silence enjoying the ebb and flow of conversation. He had known her long enough to recognize the ebb and flow of her moods.more at LOW adj.
verb [V]
1 (formal) (of the TIDE in the sea) to move away from the land GO OUT FLOW
2 ~ (away) to become gradually weaker or less DECREASE: The pain was ebbing. As night fell, our enthusiasm began to ebb away.

Ebola fever NAmE noun [U] a very serious disease, caused by a virus, which causes internal parts of the body to lose blood and usually ends in death

Ebonics NAmE noun [U] a type of English spoken by many African Americans that has been considered by some people to be a separate language

ebony noun, adj.
noun [U] the hard black wood of various tropical trees: an ebony carving
adj. black in colour: ebony skin

ebullient adj. (formal) full of confidence, energy and good humour: The Prime Minister was in ebullient mood. He was accompanied by an ebullient, talkative blonde. The ebullient Mr Clarke was not to be discouraged.
ebullience noun [U]: I put her remarks down to youthful ebullience. ebulliently adv.

e-cash noun [U] a system for sending and receiving payments using the Internet

eccentric adj. considered by other people to be strange or unusual: eccentric behaviour/clothes an eccentric aunt
eccentric noun: Most people considered him a harmless eccentric. Aunt Matilda was something of an eccentric. eccentrically adv.

eccentricity (pl. -ies) noun
1 [U] behaviour that people think is strange or unusual; the quality of being unusual and different from other people: As a teacher, she had a reputation for eccentricity. Arthur was noted for the eccentricity of his clothes.
2 [C, usually pl.] an unusual act or habit: We all have our little eccentricities. I had long since grown used to the eccentricities of his driving technique.

Eccles cake noun a small flat cake made from PASTRY with RAISINS inside

ecclesiastic noun (formal) a priest or minister in the Christian Church

ecclesiastical adj. [usually before noun] connected with the Christian Church: ecclesiastical history

ECG (NAmE also EKG) noun the abbreviation for 'electrocardiogram' (a medical test that measures and records electrical activity of the heart)

echelon NAmE noun
1 [usually pl.] a rank or position of authority in an organization or a society: the lower/upper/top/higher echelons of the Civil Service
2 an arrangement of soldiers, planes, etc. in which each one is behind and to the side of the one in front

echidna (also spiny anteater) noun an Australasian animal with a long nose, sharp CLAWS on its feet, and sharp SPINES on its body, which eats insects

echinacea noun [U, C] a plant similar to a DAISY, that is thought to help the body heal itself and fight infection

echo NAmE noun, verb
noun (pl. -oes)
1 the reflecting of sound off a wall or inside a confined space so that a noise appears to be repeated; a sound that is reflected back in this way: There was an echo on the line and I couldn't hear clearly. The hills sent back a faint echo. the echo of footsteps running down the corridor 'So you love him, do you?' Magda's voice was a mocking echo of my own.
2 the fact of an idea, event, etc. being like another and reminding you of it; sth that reminds you of sth else: Yesterday's crash has grim echoes of previous disasters.
3 an opinion or attitude that agrees with or repeats one already expressed or thought: His words were an echo of what she had heard many times before. The speech found an echo in the hearts of many of the audience (= they agreed with it).
verb (echoes, echoing, echoed, echoed)
1 [V] if a sound echoes, it is reflected off a wall, the side of a mountain, etc. so that you can hear it again REVERBERATE: Her footsteps echoed in the empty room. The gunshot echoed through the forest.
2 ~ (to/with sth)| ~ sth (back) to send back and repeat a sound; to be full of a sound REVERBERATE: [V] The whole house echoed. The street echoed with the cries of children. [VN] The valley echoed back his voice.
3 [VN] to repeat an idea or opinion because you agree with it: 'More police, that's what we need,' he said, echoing his father's views on the subject. This is a view echoed by many on the right of the party.
4 to repeat what sb else has just said, especially because you find it surprising: [V speech] 'He's gone!' Viv echoed. [also VN]

echolalia NAmE noun [U] the act of repeating everything sb says, as a result of a mental DISORDER

echolocation NAmE noun [U] the use of reflected sound waves for finding things, especially by creatures such as DOLPHINS and BATS

echo sounder noun a device which measures the depth of the sea, or which finds objects underwater, by measuring how quickly sound waves are reflected

echt adj. (from German) genuine and typical
echt adv.: echt Viennese cream cakes

eclair NAmE noun a long thin cake for one person, made of light PASTRY, filled with cream and usually with chocolate on top: a chocolate eclair

eclampsia noun [U] a condition in which a pregnant woman has high blood pressure and CONVULSIONS, which can be dangerous to the woman and the babycompare PRE-ECLAMPSIA

eclectic adj. (formal) not following one style or set of ideas but choosing from or using a wide variety: She has very eclectic tastes in literature. His house is an eclectic mixture of the antique and the modern.
eclectically adv.: Her work draws eclectically on psychoanalysis and mythology. eclecticism noun [U]: Critics praised the originality and eclecticism of her work.

eclipse noun, verb
noun
1 [C] an occasion when the moon passes between the earth and the sun so that you cannot see all or part of the sun for a time; an occasion when the earth passes between the moon and the sun so that you cannot see all or part of the moon for a time: an eclipse of the sun/moon a total/partial eclipse
2 [sing., U] a loss of importance, power, etc. especially because sb/sth else has become more important, powerful, etc.: The election result marked the eclipse of the right wing. Her work was in eclipse for most of the 20th century.
verb [VN]
1 [often passive] (of the moon, the earth, etc.) to cause an eclipse
2 to make sb/sth seem dull or unimportant by comparison OUTSHINE, OVERSHADOW: Though a talented player, he was completely eclipsed by his brother.

eco- NAmE combining form (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) connected with the environment: eco-friendly eco-warriors (= people who protest about damage to the environment) eco-terrorism (= the use of force or violent action in order to protest about damage to the environment)

ecocide NAmE noun [U] the destruction of the natural environment, especially when this is deliberate

eco-friendly adj. not harmful to the environment: eco-friendly products

E. coli NAmE noun [U] a type of bacteria that lives inside humans and some animals, some forms of which can cause FOOD POISONING

ecological NAmE adj.
1 connected with the relation of plants and living creatures to each other and to their environment: We risk upsetting the ecological balance of the area. an ecological disaster (= one that alters the whole balance of ecology in an area)
2 interested in and concerned about the ecology of a place: the ecological movement
ecologically adv.: The system is both practical and ecologically sound.

ecologist NAmE noun
1 a scientist who studies ecology
2 a person who is interested in ecology and believes the environment should be protected

ecology NAmE noun [U] the relation of plants and living creatures to each other and to their environment; the study of this: plant/animal/human ecology the ecology movement Oil pollution could damage the fragile ecology of the coral reefs.

economic NAmE adj.
1 [only before noun] connected with the trade, industry and development of wealth of a country, an area or a society: social, economic and political issues economic growth/cooperation/development/reform the government's economic policy economic history the current economic climate
2 (of a process, a business or an activity) producing enough profit to continue PROFITABLE UNECONOMIC note at SUCCESSFUL

SYNONYMS

economic

financial commercial monetary budgetary

These words all describe activities or situations that are connected with the use of money, especially by a business or country.

economic connected with the trade, industry and development of wealth of a country, an area or a society: This book deals with the social, economic and political issues of the period.

financial connected with money and finance: She had got into financial difficulties. Tokyo is a major financial centre.

commercial connected with the buying and selling of goods and services.

monetary (formal or finance) connected with money, especially all the money in a country: closer European monetary union

budgetary (finance) connected with a budget (= the money available or a plan of how it will be spent).

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

economic/financial/commercial/monetary/budgetary affairs/decisions/planning

the economic/financial/commercial/budgetary climate

the economic/financial/commercial/monetary side of sth

an economic/financial/commercial centre

WHICH WORD?

economic / economical

Economic means 'connected with the economy of a country or an area, or with the money that a society or an individual has': the government's economic policythe economic aspects of having children.

see also ECONOMY 1

Economical means 'spending money or using something in a careful way that avoids waste': It is usually economical to buy washing powder in large quantities.

see also ECONOMY 3

economical NAmE adj.
1 providing good service or value in relation to the amount of time or money spent: an economical car to run (= one that does not use too much petrol/gas) It would be more economical to buy the bigger size. UNECONOMICAL
2 using no more of sth than is necessary: an economical use of space an economical prose style (= one that uses no unnecessary words) UNECONOMICAL
3 not spending more money than necessary: He was economical in all areas of his life. FRUGAL
economical with the truth a way of saying that sb has left out some important facts, when you do not want to say that they are lying

economically NAmE adv.
1 in a way connected with the trade, industry and development of wealth of a country, an area or a society: The factory is no longer economically viable. Economically, the centre of Spain has lost its dominant role. the economically active/inactive population (= those who are employed/unemployed) Changes have taken place both economically and politically.
2 in a way that provides good service or value in relation to the amount of time or money spent: I'll do the job as economically as possible.
3 in a way that uses no more of sth than is necessary: The design is intended to use space as economically as possible. She writes elegantly and economically. Learn to express yourself more economically.

economic migrant noun a person who moves from their own country to a new country in order to find work or have a better standard of living: They claimed they were political refugees and not economic migrants.

economics NAmE noun
1 [U] the study of how a society organizes its money, trade and industry: He studied politics and economics at Yale. Keynsian/Marxist economicssee also HOME ECONOMICS
2 [pl., U] the way in which money influences, or is organized within an area of business or society: The economics of the project are very encouraging.

economist NAmE noun a person who studies or writes about economics

economize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [V] ~ (on sth) to use less money, time, etc. than you normally use: Old people often try to economize on heating, thus endangering their health. note at SAVE

economy NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 (often the economy) [C] the relationship between production, trade and the supply of money in a particular country or region: The economy is in recession. the world economy a market economy (= one in which the price is fixed according to both cost and demand)
2 [C] a country, when you are thinking about its economic system: Ireland was one of the fastest-growing economies in Western Europe in the 1990s.
3 [C, U] the use of the time, money, etc. that is available in a way that avoids waste: We need to make substantial economies. It's a false economy to buy cheap clothes (= it seems cheaper but it is not really since they do not last very long). She writes with a great economy of words (= using only the necessary words). (BrE) We're on an economy drive at home. (= trying to avoid waste and spend as little money as possible) Buy the large economy pack! (= the one that gives you better value for money) to fly economy (class) (= by the cheapest class of air travel) an economy fare (= the cheapest)

economy class syndrome noun [U] (BrE) the fact of a person suffering from DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS after they have travelled on a plane. This condition is thought to be more common among people who travel in the cheapest seats because they do not have space to move their legs much.

ecosystem NAmE noun all the plants and living creatures in a particular area considered in relation to their physical environment

ecoterrorism NAmE noun [U]
1 violent activities which are done in order to draw attention to issues relating to the environment
2 deliberate damage to the environment, done in order to draw attention to a political issue
ecoterrorist noun

ecotourism NAmE noun [U] organized holidays/vacations that are designed so that the tourists damage the environment as little as possible, especially when some of the money they pay is used to protect the local environment and animals: Ecotourism is financing rainforest preservation.
ecotourist NAmE noun

ecotype NAmE noun (biology) the type or race of a plant or animal that has adapted to live in particular local conditions

ecru noun a light brown or cream colour

ecstasy noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U, C] a feeling or state of very great happiness BLISS
2 Ecstasy [U] (abbr. E) an illegal drug, taken especially by young people at parties, clubs, etc.

ecstatic adj. very happy, excited and enthusiastic; feeling or showing great enthusiasm DELIGHTED: Sally was ecstatic about her new job. ecstatic applause/praise/reviews He gave an ecstatic sigh of happiness. note at EXCITED
ecstatically adv.: For a time, we were ecstatically happy.

ectomorph NAmE noun (biology) a person whose natural body shape is thincompare ENDOMORPH, MESOMORPH

-ectomy combining form (in nouns) a medical operation in which part of the body is removed: appendectomy (= removal of the APPENDIX)

ectopic NAmE adj. (medical) in an ectopic PREGNANCY, the baby starts to develop outside the mother's WOMB

ectoplasm NAmE noun [U]
1 (biology) (old-fashioned) the outer layer of the jelly-like substance inside cellscompare ENDOPLASM
2 a substance which is said to come from the body of sb who is communicating with the spirit of a dead person, allowing the spirit to have a form

ecumenical adj. involving or uniting members of different branches of the Christian Church: an ecumenical committee

ecumenism noun [U] the principle or aim of uniting different branches of the Christian Church

eczema NAmE noun [U] a skin condition in which areas of skin become red, rough and sore

-ed, -d suffix
1 (in adjectives) having; having the characteristics of: talented bearded diseased
2 (makes the past tense and past participle of regular verbs): hated walked loved

ed. (also Ed.) abbr. EDITED (BY), EDITION, EDITOR: 'Eighteenth Century Women Poets', Ed. Lonsdale 7th ed.

Edam noun [U, C] a type of round yellow Dutch cheese that is covered with red WAX

eddy noun, verb
noun (pl. -ies) a movement of air, dust or water in a circle
verb (eddies, eddying, eddied, eddied) [V] (of air, dust, water, etc.) to move around in a circle SWIRL: The waves swirled and eddied around the rocks.

edelweiss noun a European mountain plant with small white flowers

edema (NAmE) = OEDEMA

Eden (also the Garden of Eden) noun [sing.] (in the Bible) the beautiful garden where Adam and Eve, the first humans, lived before they did sth God had told them not to and were sent away, often seen as a place of happiness and INNOCENCE

edge noun, verb
noun
1 [C] the outside limit of an object, a surface or an area; the part furthest from the centre: He stood on the edge of the cliff. a big house on/at the edge of town Don't put that glass so near the edge of the table. I sat down at the water's edge. Stand the coin on its edge. She tore the page out roughly, leaving a ragged edge in the book.see also LEADING EDGE
2 [C] the sharp part of a blade, knife or SWORD that is used for cutting: Be carefulit has a sharp edge.see also KNIFE-EDGE
3 (usually the edge) [sing.] the point at which sth, especially sth bad, may begin to happen BRINK, VERGE: They had brought the country to the edge of disaster.see also CUTTING EDGE
4 [sing.] ~ (on/over sb/sth) a slight advantage over sb/sth: The company needs to improve its competitive edge. They have the edge on us.
5 [sing.] a strong, often exciting, quality: Her show now has a hard political edge to it.
6 [sing.] a sharp tone of voice, often showing anger: He did his best to remain calm, but there was a distinct edge to his voice.
7 -edged (in adjectives) having the type of edge or edges mentioned: a lace-edged handkerchiefsee also GILT-EDGED
be on edge to be nervous, excited or bad-tempered note at NERVOUS
on the edge of your seat very excited and giving your full attention to sth: The game had the crowd on the edge of their seats. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened next.
take the edge off sth to make sth less strong, less bad, etc.: The sandwich took the edge off my appetite. I took an aspirin to take the edge off the pain. A squeeze of lemon takes the edge off the sweetness.more at FRAY v., RAZOR, ROUGH adj., TEETER, TOOTH
verb
1 [+adv./prep.] to move or to move sth slowly and carefully in a particular direction: [V] She edged a little closer to me. I edged nervously past the dog. [VN] Emily edged her chair forward.
2 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (with/in sth) to put sth around the edge of sth: The handkerchief is edged with lace.
3 [V + adv. / prep.] to increase or decrease slightly: Prices edged up 2% in the year to December.
edge sb/sthout (of sth) to move sb from their position or job gradually, especially when they are not fully aware of what is happening: She was edged out of the company by the new director.

edge city noun (NAmE) a large area of buildings on the edge of a city, usually near a main road

edgeways (BrE) (NAmE edgewise ) adv. with the edge upwards or forwards; on one side: You'll only get the desk through the door if you turn it edgeways. see WORD n.

edging noun [U, C] something that forms the border or edge of sth, added to make it more attractive, etc.

edgy adj. (informal)
1 nervous, especially about what might happen: She's been very edgy lately. After the recent unrest there is an edgy calm in the capital. I'm feeling a bit edgy about the exam tomorrow. note at NERVOUS
2 (of a film/movie, book, piece of music, etc.) having a sharp exciting quality: a clever, edgy film the Ska beat, faster than reggae and a bit edgier Her ideal man would be 'edgy'.
edgily adv.: 'I'm not sure I can make it tomorrow,' he said edgily. edginess noun [U, sing.]: I did not, at the time, know the reason for his edginess.

EDI noun [U] (computing) a system that is used in business for sending information between different companies' computer systems (the abbreviation for 'electronic data interchange')

edible adj. fit or suitable to be eaten; not poisonous: The food at the hotel was barely edible. edible fungi/snails/flowers

edict noun [U, C] (formal) an official order or statement given by sb in authority DECREE: The festival was banned by royal edict.

edification noun [U] (formal or humorous) the improvement of sb's mind or character: The books were intended for the edification of the masses.

edifice noun (formal) a large impressive building: an imposing edifice (figurative) Their new manifesto hardly threatens to bring the whole edifice of capitalism crashing down. (figurative) an edifice of lies note at BUILDING

edify verb (edifies, edifying, edified, edified) [V, VN] (formal) to improve people's minds or characters by teaching them about sth

edifying adj. (formal or humorous) likely to improve your mind or your character: edifying literature Watching soccer fans howling racist remarks was not an edifying sight.

edit verb
1 to prepare a piece of writing, a book, etc. to be published by correcting the mistakes, making improvements to it, etc.: [VN] I know that this draft text will need to be edited. This is the edited version of my speech (= some parts have been taken out). [also V]
2 [VN] to prepare a book to be published by collecting together and arranging pieces of writing by one or more authors: He's editing a book of essays by Isaiah Berlin.
3 (computing) to make changes to text or data on screen: [VN] You can download the file and edit it on your word processor. [also V]
4 [VN] when sb edits a film/movie, television programme, etc. they take what has been filmed or recorded and decide which parts to include and in which order: They're showing the edited highlights of last month's game.
5 to be responsible for planning and publishing a newspaper, magazine, etc. (= to be the EDITOR): She used to edit a women's magazine.
edit noun: I had time to do a quick edit of my essay before handing it in.
edit sthout (of sth) to remove words, phrases or scenes from a book, programme, etc. before it is published or shown CUT OUT: Anything offensive will be edited out at a later stage. They edited out references to her father in the interview.

editable adj. (computing) (of text or software) that can be EDITED by the user: an editable document

edition noun
1 the form in which a book is published: a paperback/hardback edition She collects first editions of Victorian novels. the electronic edition of 'The Guardian'
2 a particular newspaper or magazine, or radio or television programme, especially one in a regular series: Tonight's edition of 'Panorama' looks at unemployment. The story was in Tuesday's edition of 'The New York Times'.
3 (abbr. ed.) the total number of copies of a book, newspaper or magazine, etc. published at one time: The dictionary is now in its sixth edition. The article appeared in the evening edition of 'The Mercury'.see also LIMITED EDITIONcompare IMPRESSION (7)

editor noun
1 a person who is in charge of a newspaper, magazine, etc., or part of one, and who decides what should be included: the editor of the Washington Post the sports/financial/fashion, etc. editor
2 a person who prepares a book to be published, for example by checking and correcting the text, making improvements, etc.see also COPY EDITOR, SUBEDITOR
3 a person who prepares a film/movie, radio or television programme for being shown or broadcast by deciding what to include, and what order it should be in
4 a person who works as a journalist for radio or television reporting on a particular area of news: our economics editor
5 a person who chooses texts written by one or by several writers and prepares them to be published in a book: She's the editor of a new collection of ghost stories.
6 (computing) a program that allows you to change stored text or data
editorship noun [U]: the editorship of 'The Times'

editorial adj., noun
adj. [usually before noun] connected with the task of preparing sth such as a newspaper, a book or a television or radio programme, to be published or broadcast: the magazine's editorial staff Some debates in Parliament are shown live and are outside editorial control. The paper follows an editorial policy that puts great emphasis on foreign news. an editorial decision
noun (BrE also leader, leading article) an important article in a newspaper, that expresses the editor's opinion about an item of news or an issue; in the US also a comment on radio or television that expresses the opinion of the STATION or network

editorialize (BrE also -ise) verb [V]
1 to express your opinions rather than just reporting the news or giving the facts: He accused the BBC of editorializing in its handling of the story.
2 (NAmE) to express an opinion in an editorial: Yesterday the Washington Post editorialized on this subject.

edit suite noun a room containing electronic equipment for EDITING material recorded on video

EDT abbr. EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME

educate verb
1 [VN] [often passive] to teach sb over a period of time at a school, university, etc.: She was educated in the US. He was educated at his local comprehensive school and then at Oxford.
2 ~ sb (in/on sth) to teach sb about sth or how to do sth: [VN] Children need to be educated on the dangers of drug-taking. [VN to inf] The campaign is intended to educate the public to respect the environment.

educated adj.
1 -educated having had the kind of education mentioned; having been to the school, college or university mentioned: privately educated children a British-educated lawyer He's a Princeton-educated Texan.
2 having had a high standard of education; showing a high standard of education: an educated and articulate person the educated elite He spoke in an educated voice.
an educated guess a guess that is based on some degree of knowledge, and is therefore likely to be correct

education noun
1 [U, sing.] a process of teaching, training and learning, especially in schools or colleges, to improve knowledge and develop skills: primary/elementary education secondary education further/higher/post-secondary education students in full-time education adult education classes a college/university education the state education system a man of little education She completed her formal education in 1995.
2 [U, sing.] a particular kind of teaching or training: health education an alcohol education programme (= to warn of the dangers of alcohol) Patient education is important to minimize the risk of a second heart attack.
3 (also Education) [U] the institutions or people involved in teaching and training: the Education Department the Department of Health, Education and Welfare There should be closer links between education and industry.
4 (usually Education) [U] the subject of study that deals with how to teach: a College of Education a Bachelor of Education degree She's an education major.
5 [sing.] (often humorous) an interesting experience that teaches you sth: The rock concert was quite an education for my parents!

educational adj. connected with education; providing education: children with special educational needs an educational psychologist an educational visit educational games/toys (= that teach you sth as well as amusing you) Watching television can be very educational.
educationally adv.: Children living in inner-city areas may be educationally disadvantaged. (old-fashioned) educationally subnormal

educationalist (also educationist ) noun a specialist in theories and methods of teaching

educative adj. (formal) that teaches sth: the educative role of the community

educator noun (formal)
1 a person whose job is to teach or educate people: adult educators (= who teach adults)
2 (especially NAmE) a person who is an expert in the theories and methods of educationsee also EDUCATIONALIST

edutainment noun [U] products such as books, television programmes and especially computer software that both educate and entertain

Edwardian NAmE adj. from the time of the British king Edward VII (1901-1910): an Edwardian terraced house
Edwardian noun

-ee suffix (in nouns)
1 a person affected by an action: employeecompare -ER, -OR
2 a person described as or concerned with: absentee refugee

EEG noun the abbreviation for 'electroencephalogram' (a medical test that measures and records electrical activity in the brain)

eejit noun (informal, IrishE, ScotE, disapproving) a way of saying IDIOT which represents the way it is pronounced by some people

eek exclamation used to express fear or surprise: Eek! It moved!

eel noun [C, U] a long thin sea or FRESHWATER fish that looks like a snake. There are several types of eel, some of which are used for food: jellied eels

e'en adv. (literary) = EVEN

e'er NAmE adv. (literary) = EVER

-eer suffix
1 (in nouns) a person concerned with: auctioneer mountaineer
2 (in verbs) (often disapproving) to be concerned with: profiteer commandeer

eerie NAmE adj. strange, mysterious and frightening UNCANNY: an eerie yellow light I found the silence underwater really eerie.
eerily NAmE adv. eeriness noun [U]

eff verb
eff and blind (BrE, informal) to use swear words: There was a lot of effing and blinding going on.
eff off (taboo, BrE) a rude way of telling sb to go away, used instead of 'fuck off'see also EFFING

efface verb [VN] (formal) to make sth disappear; to remove sthsee also SELF-EFFACING

effect noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] ~ (on sb/sth) a change that sb/sth causes in sb/sth else; a result: the effect of heat on metal dramatic/long-term effects to learn to distinguish between cause and effect the beneficial effects of exercise Modern farming methods can have an adverse effect on the environment. Her criticisms had the effect of discouraging him completely. Despite her ordeal, she seems to have suffered no ill effects. I can certainly feel the effects of too many late nights. 'I'm feeling really depressed.' 'The winter here has that effect sometimes.' I tried to persuade him, but with little or no effect.see also GREENHOUSE EFFECT, KNOCK-ON, SIDE EFFECT note at AFFECT
2 [C, U] a particular look, sound or impression that sb, such as an artist or a writer, wants to create: The overall effect of the painting is overwhelming. The stage lighting gives the effect of a moonlit scene. Add a scarf for a casual effect. He only behaves like that for effect (= in order to impress people).see also SPECIAL EFFECTS, SOUND EFFECT
3 effects [pl.] (formal) your personal possessions BELONGINGS: The insurance policy covers all baggage and personal effects.
bring/put sth into effect to cause sth to come into use: The recommendations will soon be put into effect.
come into effect to come into use; to begin to apply: New controls come into effect next month.
in effect
1 used when you are stating what the facts of a situation are: In effect, the two systems are identical. His wife had, in effect, run the government for the past six months. By asking for these particular qualifications, you are, in effect, excluding most women from applying.
2 (of a law or rule) in use: These laws are in effect in twenty states.
take effect
1 to start to produce the results that are intended: The aspirins soon take effect.
2 to come into use; to begin to apply: The new law takes effect from tomorrow.
to the effect that ... | to this/that effect used to show that you are giving the general meaning of what sb has said or written rather than the exact words: He left a note to the effect that he would not be coming back. She told me to get outor words to that effect.
to good, great, dramatic, etc. effect producing a good, successful, dramatic, etc. result or impression
to no effect not producing the result you intend or hope for: We warned them, but to no effect.
with immediate effect | with effect from ... (formal) starting now; starting from ...: The government has cut interest rates with effect from the beginning of next month.
verb [VN] (formal) to make sth happen: to effect a cure/change/recovery note at AFFECT

SYNONYMS

effect

result consequence outcome repercussion

These are all words for a thing that is caused because of sth else.

effect a change in sb/sth that is caused by sb/sth else: Her criticisms had the effect of discouraging him completely.

result a thing that is caused or produced by sth else: She died as a result of her injuries. This book is the result of 25 years of research.

consequence (rather formal) a result of sth that has happened, especially a bad result: This decision could have serious consequences for the industry. Consequences is used most frequently to talk about possible negative results of an action. It is commonly used with such words as adverse, dire, disastrous, fatal, harmful, negative, serious, tragic and unfortunate. Even when there is no adjective, consequences often suggests negative results.

outcome the result of an action or process: We are waiting to hear the final outcome of the negotiations.

RESULT OR OUTCOME?

Result is often used to talk about things that are caused directly by sth else: Aggression is often the result of fear. Outcome is more often used to talk about what happens at the end of a process when the exact relation of cause and effect is less clear: Aggresssion is often the outcome of fear. Result is often used after an event to talk about what happened. Outcome is often used before an action or process to talk about what is likely to happen.

repercussion (rather formal) an indirect and usually bad result of an action or event that may happen some time afterwards.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to have consequences/repercussions for sb/sth

with the effect/result/consequence/outcome that

a(n)/the possible/likely/inevitable effect/result/consequences/outcome/repercussions

(a/an) dramatic/far-reaching/serious/negative effect/results/consequences/outcome/repercussions

(a) lasting effect/result/consequences/repercussions

the final result/outcome

the end result

to have an effect/a result/consequences/an outcome/repercussions

to achieve/get/obtain a(n) effect/result/outcome

effective adj.
1 producing the result that is wanted or intended; producing a successful result: Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. Aspirin is a simple but highly effective treatment. drugs that are effective against cancer Some people believe that violence is an effective way of protesting. I admire the effective use of colour in her paintings. INEFFECTIVEsee also COST-EFFECTIVE
2 [only before noun] in reality, although not officially intended: the effective, if not the actual, leader of the party In spite of what they are told, parents have no effective choice of schools. He has now taken effective control of the country.
3 (formal) (of laws and rules) coming into use: The new speed limit on this road becomes effective from 1 June.
effectiveness (also less frequent effectivity ) noun [U]: to check the effectiveness of the security system

effectively adv.
1 in a way that produces the intended result or a successful result: The company must reduce costs to compete effectively. You dealt with the situation very effectively. The truth of this statement has been effectively demonstrated in Chapter 1. INEFFECTIVELY
2 used when you are saying what the facts of a situation are: He was very polite but effectively he was telling me that I had no chance of getting the job. The government has now effectively ruled out tax cuts.

effector noun (biology) an organ or a cell in the body that is made to react by sth outside the body

effectual adj. (formal) (of things, not people) producing the result that was intended EFFECTIVE: an effectual remedycompare INEFFECTUAL
effectually adj.

effectuate verb [VN] (formal) to make sth happen CAUSE

effeminate adj. (disapproving) (of a man or a boy) looking, behaving or sounding like a woman or a girl
effeminacy noun [U]

effervescent NAmE adj.
1 (approving) (of people and their behaviour) excited, enthusiastic and full of energy BUBBLY: a warm effervescent personality
2 (of a liquid) having or producing small bubbles of gas FIZZY
effervescence NAmE noun [U]

effete adj. (disapproving)
1 weak; without the power that it once had: an effete monarchy
2 (of a man) without strength; looking or behaving like a woman

efficacious adj. (formal) (of things, not of people) producing the result that was wanted or intended EFFECTIVE: They hope the new drug will prove especially efficacious in the relief of pain.

efficacy noun [U] (formal) the ability of sth, especially a drug or a medical treatment, to produce the results that are wanted EFFECTIVENESS: to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the treatment

efficiency noun
1 [U] the quality of doing sth well with no waste of time or money: improvements in efficiency at the factory I was impressed by the efficiency with which she handled the crisis.
2 efficiencies [pl.] ways of wasting less time and money or of saving time or money: We are looking at our business to see where savings and efficiencies can be made.
3 [U] (technical) the relationship between the amount of energy that goes into a machine or an engine, and the amount that it produces
4 [C] = EFFICIENCY APARTMENT

efficiency apartment (also efficiency unit, efficiency) noun (NAmE) a small flat/apartment with one main room for living, cooking and sleeping in and a separate bathroom

efficient adj. doing sth well and thoroughly with no waste of time, money, or energy: an efficient secretary efficient heating equipment the efficient use of energy We offer a fast, friendly and efficient service. As we get older, our bodies become less efficient at burning up calories. fuel-efficient cars (= that do not use much fuel) INEFFICIENT
efficiently adv.: a very efficiently organized event

effigy noun (pl. -ies)
1 a statue of a famous person, a SAINT or a god: stone effigies in the church
2 a model of a person that makes them look ugly: The demonstrators burned a crude effigy of the president. The president was burnt in effigy.

effing adj. [only before noun] (BrE, taboo, slang) a swear word that many people find offensive that is used to emphasize a comment or an angry statement; used instead of saying 'fucking': I'll smash your effing face if you don't eff off.

efflorescence noun [U, C]
1 (formal) the most developed stage of sth
2 (chemistry) the powder which appears on the surface of bricks, rocks, etc. when water EVAPORATES

effluent noun [U, C] (formal) liquid waste, especially chemicals produced by factories, or SEWAGE

effort NAmE noun
1 [U, C] the physical or mental energy that you need to do sth; sth that takes a lot of energy: You should put more effort into your work. A lot of effort has gone into making this event a success. The company has invested a great deal of time and effort in setting up new training schemes. It's a long climb to the top, but well worth the effort. Getting up this morning was quite an effort (= it was difficult). (BrE) With (an) effort (= with difficulty) she managed to stop herself laughing.
2 [C] ~ (to do sth) an attempt to do sth especially when it is difficult to do: a determined/real/special effort to make an effort The company has laid off 150 workers in an effort to save money. I didn't really feel like going out, but I am glad I made the effort. The local clubs are making every effort to interest more young people. We need to make a concerted effort to finish on time. I spent hours cleaning the house, but there isn't much to show for all my efforts. With an effort of will he resisted the temptation. The project was a joint/group effort.
3 [C] (usually after a noun) a particular activity that a group of people organize in order to achieve sth: the Russian space effort the United Nations' peacekeeping effort
4 [C] the result of an attempt to do sth: I'm afraid this essay is a poor effort. see BEND v.

effortless NAmE adj. needing little or no effort, so that it seems easy: She dances with effortless grace. He made playing the guitar look effortless.
effortlessly adv.: Your presentation must move effortlessly from one point to the next. effortlessness noun [U]

effrontery noun [U] (formal) behaviour that is confident and very rude, without any feeling of shame NERVE: He had the effrontery to accuse me of lying!

effulgent adj. (literary) shining brightly
effulgence noun [U]

effusion noun [C, U]
1 (technical) something, especially a liquid, that flows out of sb/sth; the act of flowing out
2 (formal) the expression of feelings in an exaggerated way; feelings that are expressed in this way

effusive adj. showing much or too much emotion: an effusive welcome He was effusive in his praise.
effusively adv.

E-fitTM noun (BrE) a picture of a person who is wanted by the police, made using a computer program that puts together and makes changes to pictures of different features of faces, based on information that is given by sb who has seen the personcompare IDENTIKIT, PHOTOFIT

EFL abbr. (BrE) English as a foreign language (refers to the teaching of English to people for whom it is not the first language)

e-friend noun = E-PAL

EFTA abbr. European Free Trade Association (an economic association of some European countries)

e.g. abbr. for example (from the Latin 'exempli gratia'): popular pets, e.g. cats and dogs

egalitarian NAmE adj. based on, or holding, the belief that everyone is equal and should have the same rights and opportunities: an egalitarian society
egalitarian noun: He described himself as 'an egalitarian'. egalitarianism noun [U]

egg noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a small OVAL object with a thin hard shell produced by a female bird and containing a young bird; a similar object produced by a female fish, insect, etc.: The female sits on the eggs until they hatch. The fish lay thousands of eggs at one time. crocodile eggs
2 [C, U] a bird's egg, especially one from a chicken, that is eaten as food: a boiled egg bacon and eggs fried/poached/scrambled eggs Bind the mixture together with a little beaten egg. You've got some egg on your shirt. egg yolks/whites egg noodles ducks'/quails' eggs a chocolate egg (= made from chocolate in the shape of an egg)see also EASTER EGG, SCOTCH EGG
3 [C] (in women and female animals) a cell that combines with a SPERM to create a baby or young animal OVUM: The male sperm fertilizes the female egg. an egg donorsee also NEST EGG
a good egg (old-fashioned, informal) a person who you can rely on to behave well
have egg on/all over your face (informal) to be made to look stupid: They were left with egg on their faces when only ten people showed up.
put all your eggs in one basket to rely on one particular course of action for success rather than giving yourself several different possibilities: I've applied for several jobs. I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket.more at CHICKEN n., CURATE, KILL v., OMELETTE, SURE adv., TEACH
verb
egg sbon to encourage sb to do sth, especially sth that they should not do: He hit the other boy again and again as his friends egged him on.

egg-and-spoon race noun (BrE) a race, usually run by children, in which those taking part have to hold an egg balanced in a spoon

egg cream noun [U, C] (NAmE) a drink made by mixing milk with SODA WATER and SYRUP

egg cup noun a small cup for holding a boiled egg

egghead noun (informal, disapproving or humorous) a person who is very intelligent and is only interested in studying

eggnog NAmE (BrE also egg-flip) noun [U, C] an alcoholic drink made by mixing beer, wine, etc. with eggs and milk

eggplant NAmE noun [C, U] (NAmE) = AUBERGINE

egg roll noun (NAmE) a type of SPRING ROLL in which the PASTRY is made with eggs

eggs Benedict noun [pl.] a dish consisting of eggs and HAM served on MUFFINS (= round flat bread rolls)

eggshell noun
1 [C, U] the hard thin outside of an egg
2 [U] (BrE) a type of paint that is smooth but not shiny when it dries

egg timer noun a device that you use to measure the time needed to boil an egg

eglantine noun [U] a type of wild ROSE

ego NAmE noun (pl. -os)
1 your sense of your own value and importance: He has the biggest ego of anyone I've ever met. Winning the prize really boosted her ego.
2 (psychology) the part of the mind that is responsible for your sense of who you are (= your identity)see also ALTER EGOcompare SUPEREGO, ID

egocentric NAmE adj. thinking only about yourself and not about what other people need or want SELFISH: Young children are usually egocentric because they haven't learnt other forms of behaviour.

egoism NAmE (also egotism ) noun [U] (disapproving) the fact of thinking that you are better or more important than anyone else: His egoism prevented him from really loving anyone but himself.
egoistic NAmE (also egotistical egotistic ) adj. egotistically adv.: a belief that all human beings behave egotistically

egoist NAmE (also egotist ) noun (disapproving) a person who thinks that he or she is better than other people and who thinks and talks too much about himself or herself: You need to be an egotist to succeed in politics.

egomania NAmE noun [U] a mental condition in which sb is interested in themselves or concerned about themselves in a way that is not normal
egomaniac NAmE noun egomaniacal NAmE adj.

ego-surfing noun [U] (often humorous) the activity of searching the Internet to find places where your own name has been mentioned

ego trip noun (usually disapproving) an activity that sb does because it makes them feel good and important: To possess power is the ultimate ego trip for most people.

egregious adj. (formal) extremely bad: egregious behaviour an egregious error

egress noun [U] (formal) the act of leaving a place: doorways intended for egress onlycompare ACCESS, INGRESS

egret noun a bird of the HERON family, with long legs and long white tail feathers

Egyptology NAmE noun [U] the study of the language, history and culture of ancient Egypt
Egyptologist NAmE noun

eh exclamation (BrE) (NAmE usually huh)
1 the sound that people make when they want sb to repeat sth: 'I'm not hungry.' 'Eh?' 'I said I'm not hungry.'
2 the sound that people make when they want sb to agree or reply: So what do you think, eh?
3 the sound people make when they are surprised: Another new dress, eh!

Eid (also Id) noun one of the two main Muslim festivals, either Eid ul-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, or Eid ul-Adha which celebrates the end of the PILGRIMAGE to Mecca and Abraham's SACRIFICE of a sheep

eiderdown NAmE noun (BrE) a thick, warm cover for a bed, filled with feathers or other soft material, and usually placed on top of a sheet and BLANKETS

eider duck NAmE noun a large DUCK with soft feathers, that lives in northern countries

eight
1 number 8 There are examples of how to use numbers at the entry for five.
2 noun a team of eight people who ROW a long narrow boat in races; the boat they rowsee also FIGURE OF EIGHT

eighteen number18
eighteenth ordinal number, noun There are examples of how to use ordinal numbers at the entry for fifth.

eighth ordinal number, noun
ordinal number 8th There are examples of how to use ordinal numbers at the entry for fifth.
noun each of eight equal parts of sth

eighth note noun (NAmE, music) = QUAVER

eightsome (also eightsome reel) noun a lively Scottish dance for eight people

eighty number
1 80
2 noun the eighties [pl.] numbers, years or temperatures from 80 to 89
eightieth ordinal number, noun There are examples of how to use ordinal numbers at the entry for fifth.
in your eighties between the ages of 80 and 89

eina exclamation (SAfrE) used to express sudden pain: Eina! That was sore!

einsteinium noun [U] (symb Es) a chemical element. Einsteinium is a RADIOACTIVE element produced artificially from PLUTONIUM and other elements.

eisteddfod NAmE noun (from Welsh) a type of festival, held in Wales, in which there are singing, music and poetry competitions

either det., pron., adv.
det., pron.
1 one or the other of two; it does not matter which: You can park on either side of the street. You can keep one of the photos. Either of themwhichever you like. There are two types of qualificationeither is acceptable. note at NEITHER
2 each of two: The offices on either side were empty. There's a door at either end of the corridor.
adv.
1 used after negative phrases to state that a feeling or situation is similar to one already mentioned: Pete can't go and I can't either. (NAmE, informal) 'I don't like it.' 'Me either.' (= Neither do I).
2 used to add extra information to a statement: I know a good Italian restaurant. It's not far from here, either.
3 either ... or ... used to show a choice of two things: Well, I think she's either Russian or Polish. I'm going to buy either a camera or a DVD player with the money. Either he could not come or he did not want to.compare OR note at NEITHER

ejaculate verb
1 [V, VN] when a man or a male animal ejaculates, SEMEN comes out through the PENIS
2 [V speech] (old-fashioned) to say or shout sth suddenly EXCLAIM

ejaculation noun
1 [C, U] the act of ejaculating; the moment when SPERM comes out of a man's PENIS: premature ejaculation
2 [C] (formal) a sudden shout or sound that you make when you are angry or surprised EXCLAMATION: an ejaculation of surprise

eject verb
1 [VN] ~ sb (from sth) (formal) to force sb to leave a place THROW OUT: Police ejected a number of violent protesters from the hall.
2 [VN] ~ sth (from sth) to push sth out suddenly and with a lot of force: Used cartridges are ejected from the gun after firing.
3 [V] (of a pilot) to escape from an aircraft that is going to crash, sometimes using an EJECTOR SEAT: The pilot managed to eject moments before the plane crashed.
4 [VN, V] when you eject a tape, disk, etc., or when it ejects, it comes out of the machine after you have pressed a button
ejection noun [U, C]

ejector seat NAmE (US also ejection seat) noun a seat that allows a pilot to be thrown out of an aircraft in an emergency: The pilot was saved by the ejector seat.

eke verb
eke sthout
1 to make a small supply of sth such as food or money last longer by using only small amounts of it: She managed to eke out her student loan till the end of the year.
2 ~ a living, etc. to manage to live with very little money: For years he eked out a miserable existence in a dreary bedsit in Bristol.

EKG abbr. (NAmE) = ECG

elaborate adj., verb
adj. [usually before noun] very complicated and detailed; carefully prepared and organized: elaborate designs She had prepared a very elaborate meal. an elaborate computer system
elaborately adv.: an elaborately decorated room elaborateness noun [U]
verb
1 ~ (on/upon sth) to explain or describe sth in a more detailed way: [V] He said he was resigning but did not elaborate on his reasons. [VN] She went on to elaborate her argument. [also V speech]
2 [VN] to develop a plan, an idea, etc. and make it complicated or detailed: In his plays he takes simple traditional tales and elaborates them.
elaboration noun [U, C]: the elaboration of an idea The importance of the plan needs no further elaboration.

elan NAmE noun [U] (from French, literary) great enthusiasm and energy, style and confidence: She performed with skill and elan.

eland noun (pl. eland or elands) a large African ANTELOPE with curled horns

elapse verb [V] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) (formal) if a period of time elapses, it passes GO BY: Many years elapsed before they met again.

elapsed time noun [U] (technical) used to describe the time that passes between the start and end of a project or a computer operation, in contrast to the actual time needed to do a particular task which is part of the project

elastane noun [U] (BrE) an artificial material that stretches easily and is used for making underwear, STOCKINGS, etc.

elastic noun, adj.
noun [U] material made with rubber, that can stretch and then return to its original size: This skirt needs some new elastic in the waist.
adj.
1 made with elastic: an elastic headband
2 able to stretch and return to its original size and shape: elastic materials
3 that can change or be changed: The demand for the product is elastic. Our plans are fairly elastic.

elasticated (BrE) (NAmE elasticized ) adj. (of clothing, or part of a piece of clothing) made using elastic material that can stretch: a skirt with an elasticated waist

elastic band noun (BrE) = RUBBER BAND

elasticity noun [U] the quality that sth has of being able to stretch and return to its original size and shape (= of being elastic): As you get older, the skin loses its natural elasticity.

elastin noun [U] (biology) a natural substance that stretches easily, found in the skin, the heart and other body TISSUES

elastomer noun (chemistry) a natural or artificial chemical that behaves like rubber

elated adj. ~ (at/by sth) very happy and excited because of sth good that has happened, or will happen: They were elated at the result. I was elated by the prospect of the new job ahead. note at EXCITED

elation noun [U] a feeling of great happiness and excitement: She felt a great sense of elation as she started on the journey.

elbow NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 the joint between the upper and lower parts of the arm where it bends in the middle: She jabbed him with her elbow. He rested his elbows on his knees. She grazed her elbow in the fall. He's fractured his elbow.
2 the part of a piece of clothing that covers the elbow: The jacket was worn at the elbows.
3 a part of a pipe, CHIMNEY, etc. where it bends at a sharp angle
get the elbow (BrE, informal) to be told by sb that they no longer want to have a relationship with you; to be told to go away
give sb the elbow (BrE, informal) to tell sb that you no longer want to have a relationship with them; to tell sb to go awaymore at KNOW v., POWER n., RUB v.
verb [VN, usually + adv. / prep.] to push sb with your elbow, usually in order to get past them: She elbowed me out of the way to get to the front of the line. He elbowed his way through the crowd.

elbow grease noun [U] (informal) the effort used in physical work, especially in cleaning or polishing sth: Using the right tool can save a lot of elbow grease.

elbow room noun [U] (informal) enough space to move or walk in

elder adj., noun
adj.
1 [only before noun] (of people, especially two members of the same family) older: my elder brother his elder sister
2 the elder used without a noun immediately after it to show who is the older of two people: the elder of their two sons
3 the elder (formal) used before or after sb's name to show that they are the older of two people who have the same name: the elder Pitt Pitt the eldercompare THE YOUNGER at YOUNG adj. (6) note at OLD
noun
1 elders [pl.] people of greater age, experience and authority: Children have no respect for their elders nowadays. the village elders (= the old and respected people of the village) Traditions were passed on by the elders of the tribe.
2 my, etc. elder [sing.] (formal) a person older than me, etc.: He is her elder by several years.
3 [C] an official in some Christian churches
4 [C] a small tree with white flowers with a sweet smell (elderflowers) and bunches of small black BERRIES (elderberries)
your elders and betters people who are older and wiser than you and whom you should respect

elderberry NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a small black BERRY that grows in bunches on an elder tree: elderberry wine

elderflower NAmE noun the flower of the elder tree, used to make wines and other drinks: elderflower cordial

elderly NAmE adj.
1 (of people) used as a polite word for 'old': an elderly couple elderly relatives note at OLD
2 the elderlynoun [pl.] people who are old

elder statesman noun
1 an old and respected politician or former politician whose advice is still valued because of his or her long experience
2 any experienced and respected person whose advice or work is valued: an elder statesman of golf

eldest adj.
1 (of people, especially of three or more members of the same family) oldest: Tom is my eldest son.
2 the eldest used without a noun immediately after it to show who is the oldest of three or more people: the eldest of their three children note at OLD

eldritch adj. [usually before noun] (literary) strange and frightening: an eldritch screech

elect verb, adj.
verb
1 ~ sb (to sth)| ~ sb (as) sth to choose sb to do a particular job by voting for them: [VN] an elected assembly/leader/representative the newly elected government She became the first black woman to be elected to the Senate. [VN-N] He was elected (as) MP for Oxford East.
2 [V to inf] (formal) to choose to do sth: Increasing numbers of people elect to work from home nowadays.
adj.
1 used after nouns to show that sb has been chosen for a job, but is not yet doing that job: the president elect
2 the electnoun [pl.] (religion) people who have been chosen to be saved from punishment after death

election noun
1 [U, C] the process of choosing a person or a group of people for a position, especially a political position, by voting: election campaigns/results to win/lose an election to fight an election to vote in an election In America, presidential elections are held every four years. The prime minister is about to call (= announce) an election. (BrE) How many candidates are standing for election? (NAmE) to run for election
2 ~ (as sth)| ~ (to sth) [U] the fact of having been chosen by election: We welcome his election as president. a year after her election to the committeesee also BY-ELECTION, GENERAL ELECTION

SYNONYMS

election

vote poll referendum straw poll ballot show of hands

These are all words for an event in which people choose a representative or decide sth by voting.

election an occasion on which people officially choose a political representative or government by voting: Who did you vote for in the last election?

vote an occasion on which a group of people vote for sb/sth: They took a vote on who should go first.

poll (journalism) the process of voting in an election: They suffered a defeat at the polls.

referendum an occasion on which all the adults in a country can vote on a particular issue

straw poll an occasion on which a number of people are asked in an informal way to give their opinion about sth: I took a quick straw poll among my colleagues to see how many agreed.

ballot the system of voting by marking an election paper, especially in secret; an occasion on which a vote is held: The leader will be chosen by secret ballot. Ballot is usually used about a vote within an organization rather than an occasion on which the public vote.

show of hands an occasion on which a group of people vote on sth by raising their hands.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

a national/local/federal/democratic/free/fair election/vote/poll/referendum/ballot

a presidential/parliamentary/congressional/council election/poll

to conduct a(n) election/vote/poll/referendum/straw poll/ballot

to have a(n) election/vote/poll/referendum/straw poll/ballot/show of hands

to hold a(n) election/vote/poll/referendum/straw poll/ballot

take a vote/straw poll/show of hands

a(n) election/referendum campaign/result/victory/defeat

electioneering NAmE noun [U] the activity of making speeches and visiting people to try to persuade them to vote for a particular politician or political party in an election

elective adj., noun
adj. [usually before noun] (formal)
1 using or chosen by election: an elective democracy an elective assembly an elective member He had never held elective office (= a position which is filled by election).
2 having the power to elect: an elective body
3 (of medical treatment) that you choose to have; that is not urgent OPTIONAL: elective surgery an elective operation
4 (of a course or subject) that a student can choose OPTIONAL
noun (especially NAmE) a course or subject at a college or school which a student can choose to do: Students can choose from a range of electives offered by the science department.

elector noun a person who has the right to vote in an election

electoral adj. [only before noun] connected with elections: electoral systems/reforms
electorally adv.: an electorally effective campaign

electoral college noun
1 the Electoral College (in the US) a group of people who come together to elect the President and Vice-President, based on the votes of people in each state: Each of the fifty states casts electoral college votes equal to the number of its delegates in Congress.
2 (BrE) a group of people who are chosen to represent the members of a political party, etc. in the election of a leader

electoral register (also electoral roll) noun (in Britain) the official list of people who have the right to vote in a particular area

electorate noun [C+sing./pl. v.]
1 the people in a country or an area who have the right to vote, thought of as a group: Only 70% of the electorate voted in the last election.
2 (AustralE, NZE) = CONSTITUENCY (1)

Electra complex NAmE noun [sing.] (psychology) a young girl's unconscious sexual attraction to her fathercompare OEDIPUS COMPLEX

electric adj., noun
adj.
1 [usually before noun] connected with electricity; using, produced by or producing electricity: an electric motor an electric light/guitar, etc. an electric current/charge an electric generator an electric plug/socket/switch (= that carries electricity)see also ELECTRIC SHOCK, ELECTRICAL STORM
2 full of excitement; making people excited ELECTRIFYING: The atmosphere was electric. The news had an electric effect on the waiting crowd.
noun [U] (informal) used to refer to the supply of electricity to a building: The electric will be off tomorrow. I've paid the electric (= the bill for the supply of electricity).

synonyms

electric / electrical

These adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:

electric ~

electrical ~

light

equipment

guitar

wiring

drill

signal

chair

engineer

shock

shock

Electric is usually used to describe something that uses or produces electricity. You use electrical with more general nouns such as equipment and wiring and things that are concerned with electricity: an electrical fault. However, the distinction is not always so clear now: an electric/electrical companyan electric/electrical currentan electric/electrical shock.

electrical adj. connected with electricity; using or producing electricity: an electrical fault in the engine electrical equipment/appliances electrical power/energy
electrically adv.: a car with electrically operated windows electrically charged particles

electrical engineering noun [U] the design and building of machines and systems that use or produce electricity; the study of this subject
electrical engineer noun

electrical storm (BrE also electric storm) noun a violent storm in which electricity is produced in the atmosphere

electric blanket noun a BLANKET for a bed that is heated by electricity passing through the wires inside it (usually used under the bottom sheet of the bed)

electric blue noun [U] a bright or METALLIC blue colour

electric chair (usually the electric chair) (also informal the chair) noun [sing.] (especially in the US) a chair in which criminals are killed by passing a powerful electric current through their bodies; the method of EXECUTION which uses this chair: He was sent to the electric chair. They face death by the electric chair.

electric eel noun a large fish that lives in rivers in S America, which produces electricity to kill its food and to help it find its way

electric fence noun a wire fence through which an electric current can be passed

electrician noun a person whose job is to connect, repair, etc. electrical equipment

electricity noun
1 [U] a form of energy from charged ELEMENTARY PARTICLES, usually supplied as electric current through cables, wires, etc. for lighting, heating, driving machines, etc.: a waste of electricity The electricity is off (= there is no electric power supply).
2 [U, sing.] a feeling of great emotion, excitement, etc.

electric razor noun = SHAVER

electrics noun [pl.] (BrE, informal) the system of electrical wires in a house, car or machine: There's a problem with the electrics.

electric shock (also shock) noun a sudden painful feeling that you get when electricity passes through your body: I got an electric shock from that light switch.

electrification noun [U] the process of changing sth so that it works by electricity: the electrification of the railway line from Manchester to Preston

electrify verb (electrifies, electrifying, electrified, electrified) [VN]
1 [usually passive] to make sth work by using electricity; to pass an electrical current through sth: The railway line was electrified in the 1950s. He had all the fences around his home electrified.
2 to make sb feel very excited and enthusiastic about sth: Her performance electrified the audience.

electrifying adj. very exciting: The dancers gave an electrifying performance. The view of the mountains was electrifying.

electro- NAmE combining form (in nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs) connected with electricity: electromagnetism

electrocardiogram NAmE noun = ECG

electroconvulsive therapy NAmE (also electroshock therapy) noun [U] a medical treatment of mental illness that passes electricity through the patient's brain

electrocute verb [VN] [usually passive] to injure or kill sb by passing electricity through their body: The boy was electrocuted when he wandered onto a railway track. James Roach was electrocuted in South Carolina in 1986 (= punished by being killed in the electric chair).
electrocution noun [U]: Six people were drowned; five died from electrocution. He was sentenced to death by electrocution.

electrode NAmE noun either of two points (or TERMINALS) by which an electric current enters or leaves a battery or other electrical devicesee also ANODE, CATHODE

electrodynamics NAmE noun [U] (physics) the study of the way that electric currents and MAGNETIC FIELDS affect each other

electroencephalogram NAmE noun = EEG

electrolysis NAmE noun [U]
1 the destruction of the roots of hairs by means of an electric current, as a beauty treatment
2 (chemistry) the separation of a liquid (or electrolyte) into its chemical parts by passing an electric current through it

electrolyte noun (chemistry) a liquid that an electric current can pass through, especially in an electric cell or battery
electrolytic adj.

electromagnet NAmE noun (physics) a piece of metal which becomes MAGNETIC when electricity is passed through it

electromagnetic NAmE adj. (physics) having both electrical and MAGNETIC characteristics (or PROPERTIES): an electromagnetic wave/field

electromagnetism NAmE noun [U] (physics) the production of a MAGNETIC FIELD by means of an electric current, or of an electric current by means of a MAGNETIC FIELD

electrometer NAmE noun (physics) an instrument for measuring electrical POTENTIAL

electron NAmE noun (physics) a very small piece of matter (= a substance) with a negative electric charge, found in all atomssee also NEUTRON, PROTON

electron gun noun (technical) a device that produces a stream of electrons

electronic NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 (of a device) having or using many small parts, such as MICROCHIPS, that control and direct a small electric current: an electronic calculator electronic music This dictionary is available in electronic form.
2 concerned with electronic equipment: an electronic engineer

electronically adv. in an electronic way, or using a device that works in an electronic way: to process data electronically (= using a computer)

electronic mail noun [U] (formal) = EMAIL

electronic organizer noun a very small computer which can be carried around, used for storing information such as addresses and important dates

electronic publishing noun [U] the business of publishing books in a form that can be read on a computer, for example as CD-ROMs

electronics NAmE noun
1 [U] the branch of science and technology that studies electric currents in electronic equipment
2 [U] the use of electronic technology, especially in developing new equipment: the electronics industry
3 electronics [pl.] the electronic CIRCUITS and COMPONENTS (= parts) used in electronic equipment: a fault in the electronics

electronic tagging noun [U] the system of attaching an electronic device to a person so that the police, etc. know where the person is

electron microscope noun a very powerful MICROSCOPE that uses ELECTRONS instead of light

electroplate verb [VN] [usually passive] to cover sth with a thin layer of metal using ELECTROLYSIS

electroshock therapy NAmE noun = ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY

electrostatic NAmE adj. (physics) used to talk about electric charges that are not moving, rather than electric currents

elegant adj.
1 (of people or their behaviour) attractive and showing a good sense of style STYLISH: She was tall and elegant.
2 (of clothes, places and things) attractive and designed well STYLISH: an elegant dress an elegant room/restaurant
3 (of a plan or an idea) clever but simple: an elegant solution to the problem
elegance noun [U]: She dresses with casual elegance. His writing combines elegance and wit. elegantly adv.: elegantly dressed elegantly furnished He leaned elegantly against the door.

elegiac adj. (formal or literary) expressing sadness, especially about the past or people who have died: Her poetry has an elegiac quality.

elegiac couplet noun (technical) a pair of lines, one with six strong or long syllables and one with five, found especially in Latin and Greek poetry

elegy noun (pl. -ies) a poem or song that expresses sadness, especially for sb who has died

element noun
PART/AMOUNT
1 [C] ~ (in/of sth) a necessary or typical part of sth: Cost was a key element in our decision. The story has all the elements of a soap opera. Customer relations is an important element of the job.
2 [C, usually sing.] ~ of surprise, risk, truth, etc. a small amount of a quality or feeling: We need to preserve the element of surprise. There appears to be an element of truth in his story.
GROUP OF PEOPLE
3 [C, usually pl.] a group of people who form a part of a larger group or society: moderate/radical elements within the party unruly elements in the school
CHEMISTRY
4 [C] a simple chemical substance that consists of atoms of only one type and cannot be split by chemical means into a simpler substance. Gold, OXYGEN and CARBON are all elements.compare COMPOUND
EARTH/AIR/FIRE/WATER
5 [C] one of the four substances: earth, air, fire and water, which people used to believe everything else was made of
WEATHER
6 the elements [pl.] the weather, especially bad weather: Are we going to brave the elements and go for a walk? to be exposed to the elements
BASIC PRINCIPLES
7 elements [pl.] the basic principles of a subject that you have to learn first BASICS: He taught me the elements of map-reading.
ENVIRONMENT
8 [C, usually sing.] a natural or suitable environment, especially for an animal: Water is a fish's natural element.
ELECTRICAL PART
9 [C] the part of a piece of electrical equipment that gives out heat: The kettle needs a new element.
in your element doing what you are good at and enjoy: She's really in her element at parties.
out of your element in a situation that you are not used to and that makes you feel uncomfortable: I feel out of my element talking about politics.

elemental adj. [usually before noun] (formal)
1 wild and powerful; like the forces of nature: the elemental fury of the storm
2 basic and important: an elemental truth

elementary adj.
1 in or connected with the first stages of a course of study: an elementary English course a book for elementary students at an elementary levelcompare PRIMARY, SECONDARY
2 of the most basic kind: the elementary laws of economics an elementary mistake
3 very simple and easy: elementary questions

elementary particle noun (physics) any of the different types of very small pieces of matter (= a substance) smaller than an atom

elementary school (also informal grade school) noun (in the US) a school for children between the ages of about 6 and 12

elephant noun a very large animal with thick grey skin, large ears, two curved outer teeth called TUSKS and a long nose called a TRUNK. There are two types of elephant, the African and the Asian: herds of elephants/elephant herds a baby elephantsee also WHITE ELEPHANT

elephant grass noun [U] a type of tall African grass used to feed animals and to make paper

elephantiasis noun [U] (medical) a condition in which part of the body swells and becomes very large because the LYMPHATIC system is blocked

elephantine NAmE adj. (formal or humorous) very large and CLUMSY; like an elephant: elephantine movements

elephant seal noun a very large SEAL with a long nose

elevate verb [VN]
1 ~ sb/sth (to sth)| ~ sth (into sth) (formal) to give sb/sth a higher position or rank, often more important than they deserve RAISE, PROMOTE: He elevated many of his friends to powerful positions within the government. It was an attempt to elevate football to a subject worthy of serious study.
2 (technical or formal) to lift sth up or put sth in a higher position: It is important that the injured leg should be elevated.
3 (technical) to make the level of sth increase: Smoking often elevates blood pressure.
4 (formal) to improve a person's mood, so that they feel happy: The song never failed to elevate his spirits.

elevated adj. [usually before noun]
1 high in rank: an elevated status
2 (formal) having a high moral or INTELLECTUAL level: elevated language/sentiments/thoughts
3 higher than the area around; above the level of the ground: The house is in an elevated position, overlooking the town. an elevated highway/railway/road (= one that runs on a bridge above the ground or street)
4 (technical) higher than normal: elevated blood pressure

elevating adj. making people think about serious and interesting subjects: Reading this essay was an elevating experience.

elevation noun
1 [U] (formal) the process of sb getting a higher or more important rank: his elevation to the presidency
2 [C, usually sing.] (technical) the height of a place, especially its height above sea level: The city is at an elevation of 2 000 metres.
3 [C] (formal) a piece of ground that is higher than the area around
4 [C] (architecture) one side of a building, or a drawing of this by an ARCHITECT: the front/rear/side elevation of a housecompare PLAN n. (4)
5 [U, sing.] (technical) an increase in the level or amount of sth: elevation of blood sugar levels

elevator noun
1 (NAmE) = LIFT (1): It's on the fifth floor, so we'd better take the elevator.
2 a place for storing large quantities of grain
3 a part in the tail of an aircraft that is moved to make it go up or down

eleven
1 number 11
2 noun a team of eleven players for football (SOCCER), CRICKET or HOCKEY: She was chosen for the first eleven.
eleventh ordinal number, noun There are examples of how to use ordinal numbers at the entry for fifth.
at the eleventh hour at the last possible moment; just in time

eleven-plus noun (usually the eleven-plus) [sing.] an exam that all children used to take in Britain at the age of eleven to decide which type of SECONDARY SCHOOL they should go to. It is still taken in a few areas.

elevenses noun [U] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a very small meal, for example biscuits with tea or coffee, that people sometimes have at about eleven o'clock in the morning

ELF abbr. (linguistics) English as a lingua franca

elf noun (pl. elves ) (in stories) a creature like a small person with pointed ears, who has magic powers

elfin adj. (of a person or their features) small and delicate: an elfin face

elicit verb [VN] ~ sth (from sb) (formal) to get information or a reaction from sb, often with difficulty: I could elicit no response from him. Her tears elicited great sympathy from her audience.
elicitation noun [U]

elide verb [VN] (phonetics) to leave out the sound of part of a word when you are pronouncing it: The 't' in 'often' may be elided.see also ELISION

eligible adj.
1 ~ (for sth)| ~ (to do sth) a person who is eligible for sth or to do sth, is able to have or do it because they have the right qualifications, are the right age, etc.: Only those over 70 are eligible for the special payment. When are you eligible to vote in your country? INELIGIBLE
2 an eligible young man or woman is thought to be a good choice as a husband/wife, usually because they are rich or attractive
eligibility noun [U]: Marriage to a national gave automatic eligibility for citizenship.

eliminate verb
1 [VN] ~ sth/sb (from sth) to remove or get rid of sth/sb: Credit cards eliminate the need to carry a lot of cash. The police have eliminated two suspects from their investigation. This diet claims to eliminate toxins from the body.
2 [VN] ~ sb (from sth) [usually passive] to defeat a person or a team so that they no longer take part in a competition, etc. KNOCK OUT: All the English teams were eliminated in the early stages of the competition. She was eliminated from the tournament in the first round.
3 [VN] (formal) to kill sb, especially an enemy or opponent: Most of the regime's left-wing opponents were eliminated.
elimination noun [U, C]: the elimination of disease/poverty/crime There were three eliminations in the first round of the competition. the elimination of toxins from the body

elimination reaction noun (chemistry) a chemical reaction which involves the separation of a substance from other substances compare ADDITION REACTION

elision noun [U, C] (phonetics) the act of leaving out the sound of part of a word when you are pronouncing it, as in we'll, don't and let'ssee also ELIDE

elite noun [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people in a society, etc. who are powerful and have a lot of influence, because they are rich, intelligent, etc.: a member of the ruling/intellectual elite Public opinion is influenced by the small elite who control the media. In these countries, only the elite can afford an education for their children.
elite adj. [only before noun]: an elite group of senior officials an elite military academy

elitism noun [U] (often disapproving)
1 a way of organizing a system, society, etc. so that only a few people (= an elite) have power or influence: Many people believe that private education encourages elitism.
2 the feeling of being better than other people that being part of an elite encourages
elitist adj.: an elitist model of society Universities are becoming far less elitist. She accused him of being elitist. elitist noun

elixir BrE noun (literary) a magic liquid that is believed to cure illnesses or to make people live for ever: the elixir of life/youth

Elizabethan adj. connected with the time when Queen Elizabeth I was queen of England (1558-1603): Elizabethan drama/music The Elizabethan age was a time of exploration and discovery.
Elizabethan noun: Shakespeare was an Elizabethan.

elk noun (pl. elk or elks)
1 (BrE) a large DEER that lives in northern Europe and Asia. In N America it is called a MOOSE.
2 (NAmE) = WAPITI
3 Elk a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a US social organization that gives money to charity

elk hound noun a large dog used for hunting, with rough long grey hair

ell noun a unit used in the past for measuring cloth, equal to about 45 inches or 115 centimetres

ellipse noun (technical) a regular OVAL shape, like a circle that has been squeezed on two sides

ellipsis noun (pl. ellipses ) [C, U]
1 (grammar) the act of leaving out a word or words from a sentence deliberately, when the meaning can be understood without them
2 three dots ( ... ) used to show that a word or words have been left out

elliptical adj.
1 (especially grammar) with a word or words left out of a sentence deliberately: an elliptical remark (= one that suggests more than is actually said)
2 (also less frequent elliptic ) (geometry) connected with or in the form of an ELLIPSE
elliptically adv.: to speak/write elliptically

Ellis Island noun a small island near New York City that from 1892 to 1943 was the official place of entry for people coming to live in the US from other countries

elm noun
1 [C, U] (also elm tree) a tall tree with broad leaves: a line of stately elms The hedgerows were planted with elm.
2 [U] the hard wood of the elm tree

El Niño NAmE noun [U] a set of changes in the weather system near the coast of northern Peru and Ecuador that happens every few years, causing the surface of the Pacific Ocean there to become warmer and having severe effects on the weather in many parts of the worldcompare LA NIÑA

elocution noun [U] the ability to speak clearly and correctly, especially in public and pronouncing the words in a way that is considered to be socially acceptable: elocution lessons

elongate NAmE verb [V, VN] to become longer; to make sth longer LENGTHEN
elongation NAmE noun [U]: the elongation of vowel sounds

elongated NAmE adj. long and thin, often in a way that is not normal: Modigliani's women have strangely elongated faces.

elope NAmE verb [V] ~ (with sb) to run away with sb in order to marry them secretly
elopement NAmE noun [C, U]

eloquent adj.
1 able to use language and express your opinions well, especially when you are speaking in public: an eloquent speech/speaker
2 (of a look or movement) able to express a feeling: His eyes were eloquent.
eloquence noun [U]: a speech of passionate eloquence the eloquence of his smile eloquently adv.: She spoke eloquently on the subject. His face expressed his grief more eloquently than any words.

else adv. (used in questions or after nothing, nobody, something, anything, etc.)
1 in addition to sth already mentioned: What else did he say? I don't want anything else, thanks. I'm taking a few clothes and some books, not much else.
2 different: Ask somebody else to help you. Haven't you got anything else to wear? Why didn't you come? Everybody else was there. Yes I did give it to her. What else could I do?
or else
1 if not OTHERWISE: Hurry up or else you'll be late. They can't be coming or else they'd have called.
2 used to introduce the second of two possibilities: He either forgot or else decided not to come.
3 (informal) used to threaten or warn sb: Just shut up, or else!

elsewhere NAmE adv. in, at or to another place: The answer to the problem must be sought elsewhere. Our favourite restaurant was closed, so we had to go elsewhere. Details of Keats' biography are given elsewhere (= in another part of this book, article, etc.) Elsewhere, the weather today has been fairly sunny. Prices are higher here than elsewhere.

ELT abbr. (BrE) English Language Teaching (the teaching of English to people for whom it is not the first language)

elucidate verb (formal) to make sth clearer by explaining it more fully EXPLAIN: [VN] He elucidated a point of grammar. The aim of the report is to elucidate the main points of the new regulations. [V wh-] I will try to elucidate what I think the problems are. [V] Let me elucidate.
elucidation noun [U, C]: Their objectives and methods require further elucidation.

elude verb [VN]
1 to manage to avoid or escape from sb/sth, especially in a clever way: The two men managed to elude the police for six weeks.
2 if sth eludes you, you are not able to achieve it, or not able to remember or understand it: He was extremely tired but sleep eluded him. They're a popular band but chart success has eluded them so far. Finally he remembered the tiny detail that had eluded him the night before.

elusive adj. difficult to find, define, or achieve: Eric, as elusive as ever, was nowhere to be found. the elusive concept of 'literature' A solution to the problem of toxic waste is proving elusive.
elusively adv. elusiveness noun [U]

elver noun a young EEL

elves pl. of ELF

Elysian NAmE adj. (literary) relating to heaven or to a place of perfect happiness
the Elysian Fields (in ancient Greek stories) a wonderful place where some people were taken by the gods after death

em- EN-

'em pron. (informal) = THEM: Don't let 'em get away.

emaciated adj. thin and weak, usually because of illness or lack of food: He was thirty, but looked fifty, with pale skin, hopeless eyes and an emaciated body, covered in sores.
emaciation noun [U]: She was very thin, almost to the point of emaciation.

email (also e-mail) noun, verb
noun
1 (also formal electronic mail) [U] a way of sending messages and data to other people by means of computers connected together in a network: to send a message by email
2 [C, U] a message sent by email
verb~ sth (to sb) to send a message to sb by email: [VN] Patrick emailed me yesterday. [VN, VNN] I'll email the documents to her. I'll email her the documents. [also V]

emanate verb (formal) [VN] to produce or show sth: He emanates power and confidence.
emanation noun [C, U]
emanate from sth to come from sth or somewhere ISSUE FROM: The sound of loud music emanated from the building. The proposal originally emanated from the UN.

emancipate verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sb (from sth) to free sb, especially from legal, political or social restrictions. SET FREE: Slaves were not emancipated until 1863 in the United States.
emancipated adj.: Are women now fully emancipated (= with the same rights and opportunities as men)? an emancipated young woman (= one with modern ideas about women's place in society) emancipation noun [U]: the emancipation of slaves

emasculate verb [VN] [often passive] (formal)
1 to make sb/sth less powerful or less effective
2 to make a man feel that he has lost his male role or qualities: He felt emasculated by her dominance.
emasculation noun [U]

embalm verb [VN] to prevent a dead body from decaying by treating it with special substances to preserve it
embalmer noun

embankment noun
1 a wall of stone or earth made to keep water back or to carry a road or railway/railroad over low ground
2 a slope made of earth or stone that rises up from either side of a road or railway/railroad

embargo NAmE noun, verb
noun (pl. -oes) ~ (on sth) an official order that bans trade with another country BOYCOTT: an arms embargo an embargo on arms sales to certain countries a trade embargo against certain countries to impose/enforce/lift an embargo
verb (embargoes, embargoing, embargoed, embargoed) [VN] to place an embargo on sth BOYCOTT: There have been calls to embargo all arms shipments to the region.

embark NAmE verb to get onto a ship; to put sth onto a ship: [V] We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. [VN] They embarked the troops by night. DISEMBARK
embarkation noun [U, C]: Embarkation will be at 14:20 hours.
embark on/upon sth to start to do sth new or difficult: She is about to embark on a diplomatic career. Remember these basic rules before embarking upon major home improvements.

embarrass verb [VN]
1 to make sb feel shy, awkward or ashamed, especially in a social situation: [VN] Her questions about my private life embarrassed me. I didn't want to embarrass him by kissing him in front of his friends. [VN to inf] It embarrassed her to meet strange men in the corridor at night.
2 to cause problems or difficulties for sb: The speech was deliberately designed to embarrass the prime minister.

embarrassed adj.
1 ~ (about/at sth)| ~ (to do sth) (of a person or their behaviour) shy, awkward or ashamed, especially in a social situation: She's embarrassed about her height. He felt embarrassed at being the centre of attention. Some women are too embarrassed to consult their doctor about the problem. Her remark was followed by an embarrassed silence. I've never felt so embarrassed in my life! note at ASHAMED
2 financially ~ (informal) not having any money; in a difficult financial situation

embarrassing adj.
1 making you feel shy, awkward or ashamed: an embarrassing mistake/question/situation It can be embarrassing for children to tell complete strangers about such incidents. It was so embarrassing having to sing in public.
2 causing sb to look stupid, dishonest, etc.: The report is likely to prove highly embarrassing to the government. This EU ruling puts Britain in a very embarrassing position.
embarrassingly adv.: The play was embarrassingly bad.

embarrassment noun
1 [U] shy, awkward or guilty feelings; a feeling of being embarrassed: I nearly died of embarrassment when he said that. I'm glad you offeredit saved me the embarrassment of having to ask. Much to her embarrassment she realized that everybody had been listening to her singing.
2 [C] ~ (to/for sb) a situation which causes problems for sb: Her resignation will be a severe embarrassment to the party.
3 [C] ~ (to sb) a person who causes problems for another person or other people and makes them feel embarrassed: Poor Lucy! He's such an embarrassment to her.
an embarrassment of riches so many good things that it is difficult to choose just one: Stratford has an embarrassment of riches, really, what with three theatres and lovely countryside, too.

embassy noun (pl. -ies)
1 a group of officials led by an AMBASSADOR who represent their government in a foreign country: embassy officials to inform the embassy of the situation
2 the building in which an embassy works: a demonstration outside the Russian Embassycompare CONSULATE, HIGH COMMISSION

embattled adj.
1 surrounded by problems and difficulties: the embattled party leader Embattled homeowners wanting to sell their homes will face further problems this year.
2 (of an army, a city, etc.) involved in war; surrounded by the enemy

embed (also imbed) verb (-dd-) [VN] [usually passive]
1 ~ sth (in sth) to fix sth firmly into a substance or solid object: an operation to remove glass that was embedded in his leg The bullet embedded itself in the wall. (figurative) These attitudes are deeply embedded in our society (= felt very strongly and difficult to change).
2 to send a journalist, photographer, etc. to an area where there is fighting, so that he or she can travel with the army and report what is happening: embedded reporters in the war zone
3 (linguistics) to place a sentence inside another sentence. In the sentence 'I'm aware that she knows', she knows is an embedded sentence.

embellish verb [VN] (formal)
1 to make sth more beautiful by adding decorations to it DECORATE: The huge carved door was embellished with brass door knockers.
2 to make a story more interesting by adding details that are not always true EMBROIDER: His account of his travels was embellished with details of famous people he met.
embellishment noun [U, C]: Good pasta needs very little embellishment. a 16th century church with 18th century embellishments

ember noun [usually pl.] a piece of wood or coal that is not burning but is still red and hot after a fire has died: Only the embers of the bonfire remained.

embezzle verb to steal money that you are responsible for or that belongs to your employer: [VN] He was found guilty of embezzling $150 000 of public funds. [also V]
embezzlement noun [U]: She was found guilty of embezzlement. embezzler noun

embitter verb [VN] to make sb feel angry or disappointed about sth over a long period of time: Years of caring for her ageing parents had embittered her.
embittered adj.: a sick and embittered old man an embittered laugh

emblazon (also blazon) verb [VN + adv. / prep.] [usually passive] ~ A with B| ~ B on, across, etc. A to decorate sth with a design, a symbol or words so that people will notice it easily: baseball caps emblazoned with the team's logo The team's logo was emblazoned on the baseball caps.

emblem noun ~ (of sth)
1 a design or picture that represents a country or an organization: America's national emblem, the bald eagle the club emblem
2 something that represents a perfect example or a principle: The dove is an emblem of peace.

emblematic adj. (formal) ~ (of sth)
1 that represents or is a symbol of sth REPRESENTATIVE
2 that is considered typical of a situation, an area of work, etc. TYPICAL: The violence is emblematic of what is happening in our inner cities.

embodiment NAmE noun [usually sing.] (formal) ~ of sth a person or thing that represents or is a typical example of an idea or a quality EPITOME: He is the embodiment of the young successful businessman.

embody NAmE verb (embodies, embodying, embodied, embodied) [VN]
1 to express or represent an idea or a quality REPRESENT: a politician who embodied the hopes of black youth the principles embodied in the Declaration of Human Rights
2 (formal) to include or contain sth: This model embodies many new features.

embolden NAmE verb
1 [usually passive] (formal) to make sb feel braver or more confident: [VN] Emboldened by the wine, he went over to introduce himself to her. [VN to inf] With such a majority, the administration was emboldened to introduce radical new policies.
2 [VN] (technical) to make a piece of text appear in BOLD print

embolism noun (medical) a condition in which a BLOOD CLOT or air bubble blocks an ARTERY in the body

embolus noun (pl. emboli ) (medical) a BLOOD CLOT, air bubble, or small object that causes an embolism

emboss NAmE verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ A with B| ~ B on A to put a raised design or piece of writing on paper, leather, etc.: stationery embossed with the hotel's name The hotel's name was embossed on the stationery.
embossed adj.: embossed stationery

embouchure NAmE noun (music)
1 the shape of the mouth when playing a WIND INSTRUMENT
2 the MOUTHPIECE of a FLUTE

embrace verb
1 (formal) to put your arms around sb as a sign of love or friendship HUG: [V] They embraced and promised to keep in touch. [VN] She embraced her son warmly.
2 [VN] (formal) to accept an idea, a proposal, a set of beliefs, etc., especially when it is done with enthusiasm: to embrace democracy/feminism/Islam It is unlikely that such countries will embrace capitalist ideas.
3 [VN] (formal) to include sth: The talks embraced a wide range of issues. The word 'mankind' embraces men, women and children.
embrace noun [C, U]: He held her in a warm embrace. There were tears and embraces as they said goodbye. the country's eager embrace of modern technology

embrasure noun (architecture) an opening in a wall for a door or window, wider on the inside than on the outside

embrocation noun [U] a liquid for rubbing on sore muscles to make them less painful, for example after too much exercise

embroider verb
1 ~ A (on B)| ~ B (with A) to decorate cloth with a pattern of STITCHES usually using coloured thread: [VN] an embroidered blouse She embroidered flowers on the cushion covers. She embroidered the cushion cover with flowers. The sleeves were embroidered in gold. [also V]
2 [VN] to make a story more interesting by adding details that are not always true EMBELLISH: He is inclined to embroider the facts.

embroidery noun
1 [U, C] patterns that are sewn onto cloth using threads of various colours; cloth that is decorated in this way: a beautiful piece of embroidery Indian embroideries
2 [U] the skill or activity of decorating cloth in this way

embroil verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sb/yourself (in sth) (formal) to involve sb/yourself in an argument or a difficult situation: He became embroiled in a dispute with his neighbours. I was reluctant to embroil myself in his problems.

embryo NAmE noun (pl. -os) a young animal or plant in the very early stages of development before birth, or before coming out of its egg or seed, especially a human egg in the first eight weeks after FERTILIZATION: human embryos (figurative) the embryo of an idea an embryo politician (= one who is not yet very experienced)
in embryo existing but not yet fully developed: The idea already existed in embryo in his earlier novels.

embryology NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of the development of embryos
embryological NAmE adj. embryologist NAmE noun

embryonic NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 (formal) in an early stage of development: The plan, as yet, only exists in embryonic form.
2 (technical) of an embryo: embryonic cells

emcee noun (NAmE, informal)
1 a person who introduces guests or entertainers at a formal occasion MASTER OF CEREMONIES
2 an MC (3) at a club or party
emcee verb [V, VN]

emend verb [VN] (formal) to remove the mistakes in a piece of writing, especially before it is printed CORRECT: The date of the battle needs to be emended to 1643.

emendation noun [C, U] (formal) a letter or word that has been changed or corrected in a text; the act of making changes to a text

emerald noun
1 [C, U] a bright green PRECIOUS STONE: an emerald ring
2 (also emerald green) [U] a bright green colour
emerald (also emerald green) adj.

the Emerald Isle noun [sing.] (literary) a name for Ireland

emerge NAmE verb
1 [V] ~ (from sth) to come out of a dark, confined or hidden place: The swimmer emerged from the lake. She finally emerged from her room at noon. We emerged into bright sunlight. He emerged from the shadows.
2 (of facts, ideas, etc.) to become known TRANSPIRE: [V] No new evidence emerged during the investigation. [V that] It emerged that the company was going to be sold.
3 [V] ~ (as sth) to start to exist; to appear or become known: After the elections opposition groups began to emerge. He emerged as a key figure in the campaign the emerging markets of South Asia
4 [V] ~ (from sth) to survive a difficult situation or experience: She emerged from the scandal with her reputation intact.
emergence noun [U]: the island's emergence from the sea 3 000 years ago the emergence of new technologies

emergency NAmE noun (pl. -ies) [C, U] a sudden serious and dangerous event or situation which needs immediate action to deal with it: The government has declared a state of emergency following the earthquake. This door should only be used in an emergency. the emergency exit (= to be used in an emergency) The government had to take emergency action. The pilot made an emergency landing in a field. I always have some extra cash with me for emergencies. The government has been granted emergency powers (= to deal with an emergency).

emergency brake noun (NAmE)
1 = HANDBRAKE
2 a BRAKE on a train that can be pulled in an emergency

emergency room noun (abbr. ER) (NAmE) = ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY

emergency services noun [pl.] (BrE) the public organizations that deal with emergencies: the police, fire, ambulance and COASTGUARD services

emergent NAmE adj. [usually before noun] new and still developing: emergent nations/states

emeritus adj. (often Emeritus) used with a title to show that a person, usually a university teacher, keeps the title as an honour, although he or she has stopped working: the Emeritus Professor of Biology In NAmE the form Emeritais used for women: Professor Emerita Mary Judd

emery noun [U] a hard mineral used especially in powder form for polishing things and making them smooth

emery board noun a small strip of wood or cardboard covered in emery, used for shaping your nails

emetic noun (medical) a substance that makes you VOMIT (= bring up food from the stomach): The child was given an emetic after he had swallowed some poisonous berries.
emetic adj.

emigrant noun a person who leaves their country to live in another: emigrant workers emigrants to Canadacompare IMMIGRANT

emigrate verb [V] ~ (from ... ) (to ... ) to leave your own country to go and live permanently in another country: The family left Greece in 1974 and emigrated to America.compare IMMIGRATE
emigration noun [U, C]: the mass emigration of Jews from Eastern Europecompare IMMIGRATION

émigré noun (from French) a person who has left their own country, usually for political reasons EXILE: the son of Russian émigrés

eminence noun
1 [U] (formal) the quality of being famous and respected, especially in a profession: a man of political eminence Few could have predicted that she would reach eminence as a surgeon.
2 [C] His/Your Eminence a title used in speaking to or about a CARDINAL (= a priest of the highest rank in the Roman Catholic Church): Their Eminences will see you now.
3 [C] (old-fashioned or formal) an area of high ground: a castle on an eminence overlooking the river

eminent adj. [usually before noun]
1 (of people) famous and respected, especially in a particular profession: an eminent architect
2 (of good qualities) unusual; excellent: a man of eminent good sense

eminent domain noun [U] (NAmE, law) the right to force sb to sell land or a building if it is needed by the government

eminently adv. (formal) (used to emphasize a positive quality) very; extremely: She seems eminently suitable for the job. Tony comes from an eminently respectable family.

emir (also amir) NAmE noun the title given to some Muslim rulers: the Emir of Kuwait

emirate NAmE noun
1 the position of an emir
2 an area of land that is ruled over by an emir: the United Arab Emirates
3 the period of time that an emir rules

emissary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (formal) a person who is sent to deliver an official message, especially from one country to another, or to perform a special task ENVOY: the King's special emissary

emission noun
1 [U] (formal) the production or sending out of light, heat, gas, etc.: the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere emission controls
2 [C] gas, etc. that is sent out into the air: The government has pledged to clean up industrial emissions.

emit verb (-tt-) [VN] (formal) to send out sth such as light, heat, sound, gas, etc.: The metal container began to emit a clicking sound. Sulphur gases were emitted by the volcano.

Emmental (also Emmenthal) noun [U] a type of Swiss cheese, with holes in it

Emmy noun (pl. -ies) one of the awards given every year in the US for achievement in the making of television programmes

emollient NAmE adj., noun
adj. (formal)
1 making a person or situation calmer in the hope of keeping relations peaceful SOOTHING: an emollient reply
2 (technical) used for making your skin soft or less painful SOOTHING: an emollient cream
noun [C, U] (technical) a liquid or cream that is used to make the skin soft

emolument NAmE noun [usually pl.] (formal) money paid to sb for work they have done, especially to sb who earns a lot of money

emote NAmE verb [V] to show emotion in a very obvious way

emoticon NAmE noun (computing) a short set of keyboard symbols that represents the expression on sb's face, used in email, etc. to show the feelings of the person sending the message. For example:-) represents a smiling face (when you look at it sideways).

emotion NAmE noun [C, U] a strong feeling such as love, fear or anger; the part of a person's character that consists of feelings: He lost control of his emotions. They expressed mixed emotions at the news. Emotions are running high (= people are feeling very excited, angry, etc.). The decision was based on emotion rather than rational thought. She showed no emotion at the verdict. Mary was overcome with emotion.

emotional NAmE adj.
1 [usually before noun] connected with people's feelings (= with the emotions): emotional problems/needs emotional stress a child's emotional and intellectual development Mothers are often the ones who provide emotional support for the family.
2 causing people to feel strong emotions EMOTIVE: emotional language abortion and other emotional issues This is a very emotional time for me.
3 (sometimes disapproving) showing strong emotions, sometimes in a way that other people think is unnecessary: an emotional outburst/response/reaction They made an emotional appeal for help. He tends to get emotional on these occasions.
emotionally adv.: emotionally disturbed children I try not to become emotionally involved. They have suffered physically and emotionally. an emotionally charged atmosphere

emotionless NAmE adj. not showing any emotion: an emotionless voice

emotive NAmE adj. causing people to feel strong emotions EMOTIONAL: emotive language/words Capital punishment is a highly emotive issue.

empanel = IMPANEL

empathize (BrE also -ise) verb [V] ~ (with sb/sth) to understand another person's feelings and experiences, especially because you have been in a similar situation

empathy noun [U] ~ (with sb/sth)| ~ (for sb/sth)| ~ (between A and B) the ability to understand another person's feelings, experience, etc.: the writer's imaginative empathy with his subject empathy for other people's situations

emperor noun the ruler of an empire: the Roman emperors the Emperor Napoleonsee also EMPRESS

emperor penguin noun a large PENGUIN that has a yellow area on each side of its head

emphasis noun (pl. emphases ) [U, C]
1 ~ (on/upon sth) special importance that is given to sth STRESS: to put/lay/place emphasis on sth There has been a shift of emphasis from manufacturing to service industries. The emphasis is very much on learning the spoken language. Increased emphasis is now being placed on corporate image. The course has a vocational emphasis. We provide all types of information, with an emphasis on legal advice. The examples we will look at have quite different emphases.
2 the extra force given to a word or phrase when spoken, especially in order to show that it is important; a way of writing a word (for example drawing a line underneath it) to show that it is important STRESS: 'I can assure you,' she added with emphasis, 'the figures are correct.'

emphasize (BrE also -ise ) verb
1 to give special importance to sth STRESS: [VN] His speech emphasized the importance of attracting industry to the town. [V that] She emphasized that their plan would mean sacrifices and hard work. [V wh-] He emphasized how little was known about the disease. [VN that] It should be emphasized that this is only one possible explanation. [also V speech]
2 [VN] to make sth more noticeable: She swept her hair back from her face to emphasize her high cheekbones. The rising tone of his voice emphasized his panic.
3 [VN] to give extra force to a word or phrase when you are speaking, especially to show that it is important note at STRESS

emphatic adj.
1 an emphatic statement, answer, etc. is given with force to show that it is important: an emphatic denial/rejection
2 (of a person) making it very clear what you mean by speaking with force: He was emphatic that he could not work with her. She was equally emphatic about the importance of discipline.
3 an emphatic victory, win, or defeat is one in which one team or player wins by a large amount
emphatically adv.: 'Certainly not,' he replied emphatically. She is emphatically opposed to the proposals. He has always emphatically denied the allegations. The proposal was emphatically defeated. She was emphatically not sorry for anything she'd done.

emphysema noun [U] (medical) a condition that affects the lungs, making it difficult to breathe

empire noun
1 a group of countries or states that are controlled by one ruler or government: the Roman empire
2 a group of commercial organizations controlled by one person or company: a business empire

empire-building noun [U] (usually disapproving) the process of obtaining extra land, authority, etc. in order to increase your own power or position

Empire line noun a style of women's dress with the WAISTLINE positioned just below the breasts and a low-cut neck

empirical adj. [usually before noun] based on experiments or experience rather than ideas or theories: empirical evidence/knowledge/research an empirical study THEORETICAL
empirically adv.: Such claims need to be tested empirically.

empiricism noun [U] (philosophy) the use of experiments or experience as the basis for your ideas; the belief in these methods
empiricist adj.: an empiricist theory empiricist noun: the English empiricist, John Locke

emplacement noun (technical) a position that has been specially prepared so that a large gun can be fired from it

employ verb, noun
verb
1 ~ sb (as sth) to give sb a job to do for payment: [VN] How many people does the company employ? For the past three years he has been employed as a firefighter. [VN to inf] A number of people have been employed to deal with the backlog of work.see also SELF-EMPLOYED, UNEMPLOYED
2 [VN] (formal) to use sth such as a skill, method, etc. for a particular purpose: He criticized the repressive methods employed by the country's government. The police had to employ force to enter the building.
be employed in doing sth if a person or their time is employed in doing sth, the person spends time doing that thing: She was employed in making a list of all the jobs to be done.
noun [U]
in sb's employ | in the employ of sb (formal) working for sb; employed by sb: How long has she been in your employ?

employable adj. having the skills and qualifications that will make sb want to employ you: training schemes that aim to make young people more employable

employee noun a person who is paid to work for sb: The firm has over 500 employees. government employees employee rights/relations

employer noun a person or company that pays people to work for them: They're very good employers (= they treat the people that work for them well). one of the largest employers in the area

employment noun
1 [U, C] work, especially when it is done to earn money; the state of being employed: to be in paid employment full-time/part-time employment conditions/terms of employment Graduates are finding it more and more difficult to find employment. pensions from previous employments note at WORK
2 [U] the situation in which people have work: The government is aiming at full employment. Changes in farming methods have badly affected employment in the area. UNEMPLOYMENT
3 [U] the act of employing sb: The law prevented the employment of children under ten in the cotton mills. The expansion of the factory will mean the employment of sixty extra workers.
4 [U] ~ (of sth) (formal) the use of sth: the employment of artillery in the capture of the town

employment agency noun a business that helps people to find work and employers to find workers

emporium noun (pl. emporiums or emporia )
1 (old-fashioned) a large shop/store
2 a shop/store that sells a particular type of goods: an arts and crafts emporium

empower verb [often passive]
1 (formal) to give sb the power or authority to do sth AUTHORIZE: [VN to inf] The courts were empowered to impose the death sentence for certain crimes. [also VN]
2 to give sb more control over their own life or the situation they are in: [VN] The movement actively empowered women and gave them confidence in themselves. [also VN to inf]
empowerment noun [U]: the empowerment of the individual

empress noun
1 a woman who is the ruler of an empire: the Empress of Egypt
2 the wife of an EMPEROR

empties noun [pl.] empty bottles or glasses

emptiness noun [U, sing.]
1 a feeling of being sad because nothing seems to have any value: There was an aching emptiness in her heart.
2 the fact that there is nothing or nobody in a place: The silence and emptiness of the house did not scare her.
3 (formal) a place that is empty: He stared out at the vast emptiness that was the sea.

empty adj., verb
adj. (emptier, emptiest)
1 ~ (of sth) with no people or things inside: an empty box/glass empty hands (= not holding anything) an empty plate (= with no food on it) The theatre was half empty. an empty house/room/bus As it got later, the streets became empty. Is this an empty chair (= not one that another person will be using)? The house had been standing empty (= without people living in it) for some time. It's not good to drink alcohol on an empty stomach (= without having eaten something). (formal) The room was empty of furniture.
2 [usually before noun] (of sth that sb says or does) with no meaning; not meaning what is said HOLLOW: empty words an empty promise an empty gesture aimed at pleasing the crowds
3 (of a person, or a person's life) unhappy because life does not seem to have a purpose, usually after sth sad has happened: Three months after his death, she still felt empty. My life seems empty without you.
4 ~ of sth without a quality that you would expect to be there: words that were empty of meaning
emptily adv.: She stood staring emptily into space.
verb (empties, emptying, emptied, emptied)
1 [VN] ~ sth (out/out of sth)| ~ sth (of sth) to remove everything that is in a container, etc.: I emptied out my pockets but could not find my keys. She emptied the water out of the vase. He emptied his glass and asked for a refill. He emptied the ashtrays, washed the glasses and went to bed. The room had been emptied of all furniture. (figurative) She emptied her mind of all thoughts of home.
2 [V] ~ (out) to become empty: The tank empties out in five minutes. The streets soon emptied when the rain started.
3 [VN] ~ sth (out) to take out the contents of sth and put them somewhere else: She emptied the contents of her bag onto the table. Many factories emptied their waste into the river.
4 [VN] to make sure that everyone leaves a room, building, etc. EVACUATE: Police had instructions to empty the building because of a bomb threat.
5 [V] ~ (out) into/onto sth to flow or move out from one place to another: The Rhine empties into the North Sea. Fans emptied out onto the streets after the concert.

empty-handed adj. [not usually before noun] without getting what you wanted; without taking sth to sb: The robbers fled empty-handed. She visited every Sunday and never arrived empty-handed.

empty-headed adj. unable to think or behave in an intelligent way

the empty nest noun [sing.] the situation that parents are in when their children have grown up and left home

empty nester noun [usually pl.] a parent whose children have grown up and left home

EMS noun
1 [U] the abbreviation for enhanced message service (a system for sending pictures, music and long written messages from one mobile phone/cellphone to another)
2 [C] a message sent by EMS

EMU abbr. Economic and Monetary Union (of the European Union)

emu noun a large Australian bird that can run fast but cannot fly

emulate verb [VN]
1 (formal) to try to do sth as well as sb else because you admire them: She hopes to emulate her sister's sporting achievements.
2 (computing) (of a computer program, etc.) to work in the same way as another computer, etc. and perform the same tasks
emulation noun [U, C]

emulator noun (computing) a device or piece of software that makes it possible to use programs, etc. on one type of computer even though they have been designed for a different type

emulsifier noun (chemistry) a substance that is added to food to make the different substances in them combine to form a smooth mixture

emulsify verb (emulsifies, emulsifying, emulsified, emulsified) [V, VN] (technical) if two liquids of different thicknesses emulsify or are emulsified, they combine to form a smooth mixture

emulsion noun [C, U]
1 any mixture of liquids that do not normally mix together, such as oil and water
2 (also emulsion paint) (BrE) a type of paint used on walls and ceilings that dries without leaving a shiny surface: They gave the walls a coat of white emulsion.
3 (technical) a substance on the surface of PHOTOGRAPHIC film that makes it sensitive to light: photographic/film emulsion

en- (also em- before b, m or p) prefix (in verbs)
1 to put into the thing or condition mentioned: encase endanger empower
2 to cause to be: enlarge embolden

-en suffix
1 (in verbs) to make or become: blacken sadden
2 (in adjectives) made of; looking like: wooden golden

enable verb
1 [VN to inf] to make it possible for sb to do sth ALLOW: The software enables you to access the Internet in seconds. a new programme to enable older people to study at college
2 to make it possible for sth to happen or exist by creating the necessary conditions ALLOW: [VN to inf] Insulin enables the body to use and store sugar. [VN] a new train line to enable easier access to the stadium

-enabled adj. (in compound adjectives) (computing) that can be used with a particular system or technology, especially the Internet: web-enabled phones web-enabled PC terminals Your browser is not Java-enabled.

enabling act noun a law which allows a person or an organization to do sth, especially to make rules

enact verb
1 [often passive] (law) to pass a law: [VN] legislation enacted by parliament [also VN that]
2 [VN] [often passive] (formal) to perform a play or act a part in a play: scenes from history enacted by local residents
3 [VN] be enacted (formal) to take place BE PLAYED OUT: They seemed unaware of the drama being enacted a few feet away from them.

enactment noun [U, C] (law) the process of a law becoming official; a law which has been made official: the enactment of environmental legislation legal enactments covering food safety

enamel noun
1 [U, C] a substance that is melted onto metal, pots, etc. and forms a hard shiny surface to protect or decorate them; an object made from enamel: a chipped enamel bowl a handle inlaid with enamel an exhibition of enamels and jewellery
2 [U] the hard white outer layer of a tooth
3 (also enamel paint) [U, C] a type of paint that dries to leave a hard shiny surface

enamelled (BrE) (NAmE enameled) adj. [usually before noun] covered or decorated with enamel

enamoured (BrE) (NAmE enamored) NAmE adj.
1 ~ of/with sth (formal) (often in negative sentences) liking sth a lot: He was less than enamoured of the music. (humorous) I'm not exactly enamoured with the idea of spending a whole day with them.
2 ~ of/with sb (literary) in love with sb

en bloc NAmE adv. (from French) as a group rather than separately: There are reports of teachers resigning en bloc.

enc. = ENCL.

encamp verb (formal) [V, VN] if a group of people encamp or are encamped somewhere, they set up a camp or have set up a camp there

encampment noun a group of tents, HUTS, etc. where people live together, usually for only a short period of time: a military encampment

encapsulate verb [VN] ~ sth (in sth) (formal) to express the most important parts of sth in a few words, a small space or a single object SUM UP: The poem encapsulates many of the central themes of her writing.
encapsulation noun [U, C]

encase verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sth (in sth) (formal) to surround or cover sth completely, especially to protect it: The reactor is encased in concrete and steel. His upper body was completely encased in bandages.

encash verb [VN] (BrE, formal) to exchange a cheque, etc. for money CASH
encashment noun [U, C]: Penalties may be charged for early encashment of the policy.

-ence -ANCE

encephalitis noun [U] (medical) a condition in which the brain becomes swollen, caused by an infection or ALLERGIC reaction

encephalopathy NAmE noun [U] (medical) a disease in which the functioning of the brain is affected by infection, BLOOD POISONING, etc.see also BSE

enchant NAmE verb [VN]
1 (formal) to attract sb strongly and make them feel very interested, excited, etc. DELIGHT: The happy family scene had enchanted him.
2 to place sb/sth under a magic SPELL (= magic words that have special powers) BEWITCH

enchanted NAmE adj.
1 placed under a SPELL (= magic words that have special powers): an enchanted forest/kingdom
2 (formal) filled with great pleasure DELIGHTED: He was enchanted to see her again after so long. The children were enchanted with the present.

enchanter NAmE noun (in stories) a man who has magic powers that he uses to control people

enchanting NAmE adj. attractive and pleasing DELIGHTFUL: an enchanting view
enchantingly adv.

enchantment NAmE noun
1 [U] (formal) a feeling of great pleasure
2 [U] the state of being under a magic SPELL: It was a place of deep mystery and enchantment.
3 [C] (literary) = SPELL: They had been turned to stone by an enchantment.

enchantress NAmE noun
1 (in stories) a woman who has magic powers that she uses to control people
2 (literary) a woman that men find very attractive and interesting

enchilada noun (from Spanish) a Mexican dish consisting of a TORTILLA filled with meat and covered with a spicy sauce
the whole enchilada (informal) the whole thing; everythingmore at BIG adj.

encircle NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to surround sb/sth completely in a circle: Jack's arms encircled her waist. The island is encircled by a coral reef. Snow covered the encircling hills.
encirclement noun [U]

encl. (also enc.) abbr. (business) enclosed (used on business letters to show that another document is being sent in the same envelope)

enclave noun an area of a country or city where the people have a different religion, culture or NATIONALITY from those who live in the country or city that surrounds it

enclitic noun (linguistics) a word pronounced with very little emphasis, so that it becomes part of the word before, for example 'n't' in 'can't'compare PROCLITIC

enclose NAmE verb [VN]
1 [usually passive] ~ sth (in/with sth) to build a wall, fence, etc. around sth: The yard had been enclosed with iron railings. The land was enclosed in the seventeenth century (= in Britain, when public land was made private property). (figurative) All translated words should be enclosed in brackets.
2 (especially of a wall, fence, etc.) to surround sth: Low hedges enclosed the flower beds. She felt his arms enclose her.
3 ~ sth (with sth) to put sth in the same envelope, package, etc. as sth else: Please return the completed form, enclosing a recent photograph.

enclosed NAmE adj.
1 with walls, etc. all around: Do not use this substance in an enclosed space.
2 (abbr. encl.) sent with a letter, etc.: Please complete the enclosed application form. Please find enclosed a cheque for £100.
3 (of religious communities) having little contact with the outside world: an enclosed order of monks

enclosure NAmE noun
1 [C] a piece of land that is surrounded by a fence or wall and is used for a particular purpose: a wildlife enclosure the winners' enclosure (= for the winners of a horse race)
2 [U, C] the act of placing a fence or wall around a piece of land: the enclosure of common land in the seventeenth century The result of the enclosures was that many countrymen lost their only livelihood.
3 [C] something that is placed in an envelope with a letter: Always state the number of enclosures at the bottom of your letter.

encode NAmE verb [VN]
1 to change ordinary language into letters, symbols, etc. in order to send secret messages
2 (computing) to change information into a form that can be processed by a computer
3 (linguistics) to express the meaning of sth in a foreign languagecompare DECODE

encomium NAmE noun (pl. encomiums or encomia NAmE ) (formal) a speech or piece of writing that praises sb or sth highly

encompass verb [VN] (formal)
1 to include a large number or range of things: The job encompasses a wide range of responsibilities. The group encompasses all ages.
2 to surround or cover sth completely: The fog soon encompassed the whole valley.

encore NAmE noun, exclamation
noun an extra short performance given at the end of a concert or other performance; a request for this made by an audience calling out: She played a Chopin waltz as an encore. The group got three encores.
exclamation an audience calls out encore! at the end of a concert to ask the performer to play or sing another piece of music

encounter verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 to experience sth, especially sth unpleasant or difficult, while you are trying to do sth else MEET WITH, RUN INTO: We encountered a number of difficulties in the first week. I had never encountered such resistance before.
2 (formal) to meet sb, or discover or experience sth, especially sb/sth new, unusual or unexpected COME ACROSS: She was the most remarkable woman he had ever encountered.
noun
1 ~ (with sb/sth)| ~ (between A and B) a meeting, especially one that is sudden, unexpected or violent: Three of them were killed in the subsequent encounter with the police. The story describes the extraordinary encounter between a man and a dolphin. a chance encounter I've had a number of close encounters (= situations that could have been dangerous) with bad drivers. It was his first sexual encounter (= first experience of sex). Flaubert was her first encounter with French literature.
2 a sports match against a particular player or team: She has beaten her opponent in all of their previous encounters.

encounter group noun a group of people who meet regularly in order to help each other with emotional and PSYCHOLOGICAL problems

encourage NAmE verb
1 [VN] ~ sb (in sth) to give sb support, courage or hope: My parents have always encouraged me in my choice of career. We were greatly encouraged by the positive response of the public.
2 to persuade sb to do sth by making it easier for them and making them believe it is a good thing to do: [VN to inf] Banks actively encourage people to borrow money. [also V -ing]
3 ~ sth (in sb/sth) to make sth more likely to happen or develop: [VN] They claim that some computer games encourage violent behaviour in young children. [VN to inf] Music and lighting are used to encourage shoppers to buy more. [also V -ing] DISCOURAGE
encouraging adj. [not usually before noun]: This month's unemployment figures are not very encouraging. You could try being a little more encouraging! encouragingly adv.: to smile encouragingly The attendance was encouragingly high.

encouragement NAmE noun [U, C, usually sing.] ~ (to sb) (to do sth) the act of encouraging sb to do sth; something that encourages sb: a few words of encouragement He needs all the support and encouragement he can get. With a little encouragement from his parents he should do well. She was given every encouragement to try something new. Her words were a great encouragement to them. DISCOURAGEMENT

encroach NAmE verb [V] ~ (on/upon sth) (formal)
1 (disapproving) to begin to affect or use up too much of sb's time, rights, personal life, etc.: I won't encroach on your time any longer. He never allows work to encroach upon his family life.
2 to slowly begin to cover more and more of an area: The growing town soon encroached on the surrounding countryside. the encroaching tide (= that is coming in)
encroachment noun [U, C] ~ (on/upon sth): the regime's many encroachments on human rights

encrustation noun = INCRUSTATION

encrusted adj. ~ (with/in sth) covered with a thin hard layer of sth; forming a thin hard layer on sth: a crown encrusted with diamonds encrusted blood

encrypt verb [VN] (especially computing) to put information into a special code, especially in order to prevent people from looking at it without authority DECRYPT
encryption noun [U] DECRYPTION

encumber verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (with sth) (formal)
1 to make it difficult for sb to do sth or for sth to happen: The police operation was encumbered by crowds of reporters. The business is encumbered with debt.
2 to be large and/or heavy and make it difficult for sb to move: The frogmen were encumbered by their diving equipment.

encumbrance noun (formal) a person or thing that prevents sb from moving easily or from doing what they want BURDEN: I felt I was being an encumbrance to them.

-ency -ANCY

encyclical noun an official letter written by the Pope and sent to all Roman Catholic BISHOPS

encyclopedia (BrE also -paedia) noun a book or set of books giving information about all areas of knowledge or about different areas of one particular subject, usually arranged in alphabetical order; a similar collection of information on a CD-ROM: a children's encyclopedia an encyclopedia of music

encyclopedic (BrE also -paedic) adj.
1 connected with encyclopedias or the type of information found in them: encyclopedic information an encyclopedic dictionary
2 having a lot of information about a wide variety of subjects; containing complete information about a particular subject: She has an encyclopedic knowledge of natural history. Penny's contact book was encyclopedic.

end noun, verb
noun
FINAL PART
1 the final part of a period of time, an event, an activity or a story: at the end of the week We didn't leave until the very end. the end of the book We had to hear about the whole journey from beginning to end. It's the end of an era. Our end-of-season sale starts next week. There'll be a chance to ask questions at the end.
FURTHEST PART
2 the part of an object or a place that is the furthest away from its centre: Turn right at the end of the road. His office is the room at the other end of the corridor. I joined the end of the queue. Go to the end of the line! You've got something on the end of your nose. Tie the ends of the string together. That's his wife sitting at the far end of the table. These two products are from opposite ends of the price range. We've travelled from one end of Mexico to the other. They live in the end house.see also BIG END, DEAD END, EAST END, SPLIT ENDS, TAIL END
FINISH
3 a situation in which sth does not exist any more: the end of all his dreams The meeting came to an end (= finished). The war was finally at an end. The coup brought his corrupt regime to an end. There's no end in sight to the present crisis. They have called for an end to violence. This latest attack could spell the end of the peace process. Let's put an end to (= stop) these rumours once and for all. That was by no means the end of the matter.
AIM
4 an aim or a purpose: They are prepared to use violence in pursuit of their ends. She is exploiting the current situation for her own ends. He joined the society for political ends. With this end in view (= in order to achieve this) they employed 50 new staff. We are willing to make any concessions necessary to this end (= in order to achieve this). They are working towards common ends. note at TARGET
PART OF ACTIVITY
5 [usually sing.] a part of an activity with which sb is concerned, especially in business: We need somebody to handle the marketing end of the business. Are there any problems at your end? I have kept my end of the bargain.
OF TELEPHONE LINE/JOURNEY
6 [usually sing.] either of two places connected by a telephone call, journey, etc.: I answered the phone but there was no one at the other end. Jean is going to meet me at the other end.
OF SPORTS FIELD
7 one of the two halves of a sports field: The teams changed ends at half-time.
PIECE LEFT
8 (BrE) a small piece that is left after sth has been used: a cigarette endsee also FAG END, LOOSE END, ODDS AND ENDS
DEATH
9 [usually sing.] a person's death. People say 'end' to avoid saying 'death': She came to an untimely end (= died young). I was with him at the end (= when he died). (literary) He met his end (= died) at the Battle of Waterloo.
at the end of the day (BrE, informal) used to introduce the most important fact after everything has been considered: At the end of the day, he'll still have to make his own decision.
a bad/sticky end (BrE) something unpleasant that happens to sb, for example punishment or a violent death, usually because of their own actions: He'll come to a sticky end one of these days if he carries on like that.
be at the end of sth to have almost nothing left of sth: I'm at the end of my patience. They are at the end of their food supply.
be at the end of your tether (BrE) (NAmE be at the end of your rope) to feel that you cannot deal with a difficult situation any more because you are too tired, worried, etc.: You'd better let her know you're safe. She's at the end of her tether.
be the end (BrE, informal) when you say that people or situations are the end, you mean that you are annoyed with them
an end in itself a thing that is itself important and not just a part of sth more important
the end justifies the means (saying) bad or unfair methods of doing sth are acceptable if the result of that action is good or positive
(reach) the end of the line/road (to reach) the point at which sth can no longer continue in the same way: A defeat in the second round marked the end of the line for last year's champion.
end of story (informal) used when you are stating that there is nothing more that can be said or done about sth
end to end in a line, with the ends touching: They arranged the tables end to end.
get/have your end away (BrE, slang) to have sex
go to the ends of the earth to do everything possible, even if it is difficult, in order to get or achieve sth: I'd go to the ends of the earth to see her again.
in the end
1 after a long period of time or series of events: He tried various jobs and in the end became an accountant.
2 after everything has been considered: You can try your best to impress the interviewers but in the end it's often just a question of luck.
keep your end up (BrE, informal) to continue to be cheerful in a difficult situation
make (both) ends meet to earn just enough money to be able to buy the things you need: Many families struggle to make ends meet.
no end (informal) very much: It upset me no end to hear they'd split up.
no end of sth (informal) a lot of sth: We had no end of trouble getting them to agree.
not the end of the world (informal) not the worst thing that could happen to sb: Failing one exam is not the end of the world.
on end
1 in a vertical position: It'll fit if you stand it on end.
2 for the stated length of time, without stopping: He would disappear for weeks on end.
put an end to yourself | put an end to it all to kill yourselfmore at BEGINNING, BITTER adj., BURN v., DEEP adj., HAIR, HEAR, LIGHT n., LOOSE END, MEANS, RECEIVE, SHARP adj., SHORT n., THIN adj., WIT, WRONG adj.
verb~ (sth) (with sth) to finish; to make sth finish: [V] The road ends here. How does the story end? The speaker ended by suggesting some topics for discussion. Her note ended with the words: 'See you soon.' [VN] They decided to end their relationship. They ended the play with a song. [also V speech]
a/the sth to end all sths used to emphasize how large, important, exciting, etc. you think sth is: The movie has a car chase to end all car chases.
end your days/life (in sth) to spend the last part of your life in a particular state or place: He ended his days in poverty.
end in tears (BrE, informal) if you say that sth will end in tears, you are warning sb that what they are doing will have an unhappy or unpleasant result
end it all | end your life to kill yourself
end in sth [no passive]
1 to have sth as an ending: The word I'm thinking of ends in '-ous'.
2 to have sth as a result: Their long struggle ended in failure. The debate ended in uproar.
end up to find yourself in a place or situation that you did not intend or expect to be in: If you go on like this you'll end up in prison. [+ -ing] I ended up doing all the work myself. [+ADJ] If he carries on driving like that, he'll end up dead.

endanger verb [VN] to put sb/sth in a situation in which they could be harmed or damaged: The health of our children is being endangered by exhaust fumes. That one mistake seriously endangered the future of the company. The sea turtle is an endangered species (= it may soon no longer exist). He denied possessing a rifle with intent to endanger life.

endear NAmE verb [VN]
endear sb/yourself to sb to make sb/yourself popular: Their policies on taxation didn't endear them to voters. She was a talented teacher who endeared herself to all who worked with her.

endearing NAmE adj. causing people to feel affection LOVABLE: an endearing habit
endearingly adv.: an endearingly old-fashioned idea

endearment NAmE noun [C, U] a word or an expression that is used to show affection: They were whispering endearments to each other. 'Darling' is a term of endearment.

endeavour (BrE) (NAmE endeavor) noun, verb
noun [U, C] (formal) an attempt to do sth, especially sth new or difficult: Please make every endeavour to arrive on time. advances in the field of scientific endeavour The manager is expected to use his or her best endeavours to promote the artist's career. The public bombarded the company with complaints in an endeavour to have the price increases revoked.
verb [V to inf] (formal) to try very hard to do sth STRIVE: I will endeavour to do my best for my country.

endemic adj. ~ (in/to ... ) regularly found in a particular place or among a particular group of people and difficult to get rid of: Malaria is endemic in many hot countries. Corruption is endemic in the system. an attitude endemic among senior members of the profession species endemic to (= only found in) Madagascar the endemic problem of racismcompare PANDEMIC

endgame noun
1 the final stage of a game of CHESS
2 the final stage of a political process: Both sides in these negotiations realize that the endgame is now being played out.

ending noun
1 the last part of a story, film/movie, etc.: His stories usually have a happy ending. OPENING
2 the act of finishing sth; the last part of sth: the anniversary of the ending of the Pacific War It was the perfect ending to the perfect day.
3 the last part of a word, that is added to a main part: verb endings a masculine/feminine ending

endive noun [C, U]
1 (BrE) (NAmE chicory, curly endive, frisée [U]) a plant with green curly leaves that are eaten raw as a vegetable
2 (NAmE) = CHICORY (1)

endless adj.
1 very large in size or amount and seeming to have no end LIMITLESS: endless patience endless opportunities for making money The possibilities are endless. an endless list of things to do We don't have an endless supply of money, you know.
2 continuing for a long time and seeming to have no end: an endless round of parties and visits The journey seemed endless. I've had enough of their endless arguing.
3 (technical) (of a LOOP, etc.) having the ends joined together so it forms one piece: an endless loop of tape
endlessly adv.: She talks endlessly about her problems. an endlessly repeated pattern

endnote NAmE noun a note printed at the end of a book or section of a book

endocrine NAmE adj. (biology) connected with GLANDS that put HORMONES and other products directly into the blood: the endocrine systemcompare EXOCRINE

endocrinology NAmE noun [U] (medical) the part of medicine concerning the endocrine system and HORMONES
endocrinologist noun

endogamy NAmE noun [U] (technical) the custom of marrying only people from your local communitycompare EXOGAMY

endogenous NAmE adj. (medical) (of a disease or SYMPTOM) having no obvious causecompare EXOGENOUS

endoglossic NAmE adj. (linguistics) (of a language) used as a first language in a particular country or community and not as a foreign or second languagecompare EXOGLOSSIC

endomorph NAmE noun (biology) a person whose natural body shape is round, with a lot of fatcompare ECTOMORPH, MESOMORPH

endonormative NAmE adj. (linguistics) based on the way a country's second language is used by local speakers, rather than the way it is used in the country where it came from originallycompare EXONORMATIVE

endoplasm NAmE noun [U] (biology) (old-fashioned) the more liquid inner layer of the jelly-like substance inside cellscompare ECTOPLASM

endorphin NAmE noun (biology) a HORMONE produced in the brain that reduces the feeling of pain

endorse NAmE verb [VN]
1 to say publicly that you support a person, statement or course of action: I wholeheartedly endorse his remarks. Members of all parties endorsed a ban on land mines.
2 to say in an advertisement that you use and like a particular product so that other people will want to buy it: I wonder how many celebrities actually use the products they endorse.
3 to write your name on the back of a cheque so that it can be paid into a bank account
4 [usually passive] (BrE) to write details of a driving offence on sb's DRIVING LICENCE: You risk having your licence endorsed.

endorsement NAmE noun [C, U]
1 a public statement or action showing that you support sb/sth: The election victory is a clear endorsement of their policies. a letter of endorsement
2 a statement made in an advertisement, usually by sb famous or important, saying that they use and like a particular product
3 (BrE) details of a driving offence written on sb's DRIVING LICENCE: How many endorsements can you have before you lose your licence?

endoscope NAmE noun an instrument used in medical operations which consists of a very small camera on a long thin tube which can be put into a person's body so that the parts inside can be seen

endoscopy NAmE noun [C, U] (pl. -ies) (medical) a medical operation in which an endoscope is put into a person's body so that the parts inside can be seen

endoskeleton NAmE noun (anatomy) the bones inside the body of an animal that give it shape and supportcompare EXOSKELETON

endosperm NAmE noun [U] (biology) the part of the plant seed that provides food for the EMBRYO

endothermic NAmE adj. (chemistry) (of a chemical reaction) needing heat in order to take placecompare EXOTHERMIC

endow verb [VN] to give a large sum of money to a school, a college or another institution to provide it with an income: In her will, she endowed a scholarship in the physics department.
be endowed with sth to naturally have a particular feature, quality, etc.: She was endowed with intelligence and wit. The stones are believed to be endowed with magical powers.see also WELL ENDOWED
endow sb/sth with sth
1 to believe or imagine that sb/sth has a particular quality: She had endowed Marcus with the qualities she wanted him to possess. My imagination endowed Constantinople with all the magic of the East.
2 (formal) to give sth to sb/sth: to endow sb with a responsibility

endowment noun
1 [C, U] money that is given to a school, a college or another institution to provide it with an income; the act of giving this money
2 [C, usually pl.] (formal) a quality or an ability that you are born with: Few people are blessed with her mental endowments.

endowment mortgage noun (BrE) a type of MORTGAGE (= money borrowed to buy property) in which money is regularly paid into an endowment policy. At the end of a particular period of time this money is then used to pay back the money that was borrowedcompare REPAYMENT MORTGAGE

endowment policy noun (BrE) a type of life insurance in which a person regularly pays money to an insurance company, and receives a sum of money from them at the end of a particular period of time

endpaper noun (technical) a blank or decorated page stuck inside the front or back cover of a book

end product noun something that is produced by a particular activity or process: The two alternative processes arrive at the same end product.

end result noun [usually sing.] the final result of a particular activity or process: The end result of using this method is that learners leave the classroom discouraged.

end run noun (in AMERICAN FOOTBALL) an attempt by the person carrying the ball to run around the end of the line of defending players

endurance NAmE noun [U] the ability to continue doing sth painful or difficult for a long period of time without complaining: He showed remarkable endurance throughout his illness. They were humiliated beyond endurance. This event tests both physical and mental endurance. powers of endurance The party turned out to be more of an endurance test than a pleasure.

endure NAmE verb
1 to experience and deal with sth that is painful or unpleasant, especially without complaining BEAR: [VN] They had to endure a long wait before the case came to trial. She could not endure the thought of parting. The pain was almost too great to endure. (formal) a love that endures all things and never fails [V -ing, V to inf] He can't endure being defeated. He can't endure to be defeated.
2 [V] (formal) to continue to exist for a long time LAST: a success that will endure The torn flag has endured as a symbol of freedom.
endurable NAmE adj.: I felt that life was no longer endurable. UNENDURABLE

enduring NAmE adj. lasting for a long time: enduring memories What is the reason for the game's enduring appeal?
enduringly adv.: an enduringly popular style

enduro NAmE noun (pl. enduros) a long-distance race for bicycles or motor vehicles over rough ground, which is designed to test how long people can continue

end-user noun a person who actually uses a product rather than one who makes or sells it, especially a person who uses a product connected with computers: Programs are tailored to meet the needs of end-users and their own business environments. an end-user application

endways (also endwise ) adv.
1 (also endways/endwise on) (of an object) with one end facing up, forwards, or towards the person who is looking at it: We turned the table endways to get it through the doors. The first picture was taken from the side of the building, and the second one endways on.
2 with the end of one thing touching the end of another: The stones are laid down endways to make a path.

end zone noun the area at the end of an AMERICAN FOOTBALL field into which the ball must be carried or passed in order to score points

enema noun a liquid that is put into a person's RECTUM (= the opening through which solid waste leaves the body) in order to clean out the BOWELS, especially before a medical operation; the act of cleaning out the bowels in this way

enemy noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a person who hates sb or who acts or speaks against sb/sth: He has a lot of enemies in the company. After just one day, she had already made an enemy of her manager. They used to be friends but they are now sworn enemies (= are determined not to become friends again). It is rare to find a prominent politician with few political enemies. The state has a duty to protect its citizens against external enemies. Birds are the natural enemies of many insect pests (= they kill them).see also ENMITY
2 the enemy [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] a country that you are fighting a war against; the soldiers, etc. of this country: The enemy was/were forced to retreat. enemy forces/aircraft/territory behind enemy lines (= the area controlled by the enemy)
3 [C] ~ (of sth) (formal) anything that harms sth or prevents it from being successful: Poverty and ignorance are the enemies of progress. see WORST adj.

energetic NAmE adj. having or needing a lot of energy and enthusiasm: He knew I was energetic and dynamic and would get things done. an energetic supporter The heart responds well to exercise. For the more energetic (= people who prefer physical activities), we offer windsurfing and diving. I think I'd prefer something a little less energetic.
energetically adv.: He energetically denied the charge.

energize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN]
1 to make sb enthusiastic about sth
2 to give sb more energy, strength, etc.: a refreshing and energizing fruit drink
3 (technical) to supply power or energy to a machine, an atom, etc.: positively energized particles

energy NAmE noun
1 [U] the ability to put effort and enthusiasm into an activity, work, etc.: It's a waste of time and energy. She's always full of energy. nervous energy (= energy produced by feeling nervous)
2 energies [pl.] the physical and mental effort that you use to do sth: She put all her energies into her work. creative/destructive energies
3 [U] a source of power, such as fuel, used for driving machines, providing heat, etc.: solar/nuclear energy It is important to conserve energy. an energy crisis (= for example when fuel is not freely available) The £500 million programme is centred around energy efficiency and renewable power sources.
4 [U] (physics) the ability of matter or RADIATION to work because of its mass, movement, electric charge, etc.: kinetic/potential, etc. energy

enervate NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to make sb feel weak and tired: an enervating disease/climate
enervation NAmE noun [U]

enfant terrible NAmE noun (pl. enfants terribles NAmE ) (from French) a person who is young and successful and whose behaviour and ideas may be unusual and may shock or embarrass other people

enfeeble verb [VN] (formal) to make sb/sth weak
enfeebled adj.

enfold NAmE verb [VN] ~ sb/sth (in sth) (literary)
1 to hold sb in your arms in a way that shows affection EMBRACE: She lay quietly, enfolded in his arms.
2 to surround or cover sb/sth completely: Darkness spread and enfolded him. The summit was enfolded in a circle of white cloud.

enforce NAmE verb [VN]
1 ~ sth (on/against sb/sth) to make sure that people obey a particular law or rule: It's the job of the police to enforce the law. The legislation will be difficult to enforce. United Nations troops enforced a ceasefire in the area.
2 ~ sth (on sb) to make sth happen or force sb to do sth: You can't enforce cooperation between the players.
enforceable adj.: A gambling debt is not legally enforceable. enforcement noun [U]: strict enforcement of regulations law enforcement officers

enforced NAmE adj. that sb is forced to do or experience without being able to control it: a period of enforced absence

enforcer NAmE noun a person whose responsibility is to make sure that other people perform the actions they are supposed to, especially in a government: (BrE) He was appointed the Cabinet enforcer.

enfranchise verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to give sb the right to vote in an election DISENFRANCHISE
enfranchisement noun [U]: the enfranchisement of foreign residents in local elections

ENG abbr. electronic news gathering

eng. abbr. (BrE) (in writing) engineer; engineering

engage verb
1 [VN] (formal) to succeed in attracting and keeping sb's attention and interest: It is a movie that engages both the mind and the eye. Their pleas failed to engage any sympathy.
2 ~ sb (as sth) (formal) to employ sb to do a particular job: [VN] He is currently engaged as a consultant. We will have to engage the services of a translator. [also VN to inf]
3 [V] ~ (with sth/sb) to become involved with and try to understand sth/sb: She has the ability to engage with young minds.
4 (formal) to begin fighting with sb: [VN] to engage the enemy [also V]
5 ~ (with sth) when a part of a machine engages, or when you engage it, it fits together with another part of the machine and the machine begins to work: [V] One cogwheel engages with the next. The cogwheels are not engaging. [VN] Engage the clutch before selecting a gear. DISENGAGE
engage in sth| engage sb in sth to take part in sth; to make sb take part in sth: Even in prison, he continued to engage in criminal activities. She tried desperately to engage him in conversation.

engaged adj.
1 ~ (in/on sth) (formal) busy doing sth: They are engaged in talks with the Irish government. He is now engaged on his second novel. I can't come to dinner on TuesdayI'm otherwise engaged (= I have already arranged to do something else). They were engaged in conversation.
2 ~ (to sb) having agreed to marry sb: She's engaged to Peter. They are engaged to be married (= to each other). When did you get engaged? an engaged couple
3 (BrE) (NAmE busy) (of a telephone line) being used: I couldn't get throughthe line's engaged. I phoned earlier but you were engaged (= using your phone). the engaged tone/signal
4 (BrE) (of a public toilet/bathroom) being used VACANT

engagement noun
BEFORE MARRIAGE
1 [C] ~ (to sb) an agreement to marry sb; the period during which two people are engaged: Their engagement was announced in the local paper. She has broken off her engagement to Charles. an engagement party a long/short engagement
ARRANGEMENT TO DO STH
2 [C] an arrangement to do sth at a particular time, especially sth official or sth connected with your job: an engagement book/diary He has a number of social engagements next week. It was her first official engagement. I had to refuse because of a prior engagement.
FIGHTING
3 [C, U] (technical) fighting between two armies, etc.: The general tried to avoid an engagement with the enemy.
BEING INVOLVED
4 [U] ~ (with sb/sth) (formal) being involved with sb/sth in an attempt to understand them/it: Her views are based on years of engagement with the problems of the inner city.
EMPLOYMENT
5 [U, C] (BrE) an arrangement to employ sb; the process of employing sb: The terms of engagement are to be agreed in writing.

engagement ring noun a ring that a man gives to a woman when they agree to get married

engaging adj. interesting or pleasant in a way that attracts your attention: an engaging smile
engagingly adv.: She smiled engagingly.

engender verb [VN] (formal) to make a feeling or situation exist: The issue engendered controversy. problems engendered by the restructuring of the company

engine noun
1 the part of a vehicle that produces power to make the vehicle move: a diesel/petrol engine My car had to have a new engine. engine trouble I switched/turned the engine off.see also INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE, JET ENGINE, TRACTION ENGINE
2 (also locomotive) a vehicle that pulls a train
3 -engined (in adjectives) having the type or number of engines mentioned: a twin-engined speedboatsee also FIRE ENGINE, SEARCH ENGINE

engine driver (BrE, becoming old-fashioned) (NAmE engineer) noun a person whose job is driving a railway/railroad engine

engineer NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a person whose job involves designing and building engines, machines, roads, bridges, etc.see also CHEMICAL ENGINEER, CIVIL ENGINEER, ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, LIGHTING ENGINEER, MECHANICAL ENGINEER, SOFTWARE ENGINEER, SOUND ENGINEER
2 a person who is trained to repair machines and electrical equipment: They're sending an engineer to fix the phone.
3 a person whose job is to control and repair engines, especially on a ship or an aircraft: a flight engineer the chief engineer on a cruise liner
4 (NAmE) = ENGINE DRIVER
5 a soldier trained to design and build military structures
verb [VN]
1 (often disapproving) to arrange for sth to happen or take place, especially when this is done secretly in order to give yourself an advantage CONTRIVE: She engineered a further meeting with him.
2 [usually passive] to design and build sth: The car is beautifully engineered and a pleasure to drive.
3 to change the GENETIC structure of sth GENETICALLY MODIFY: genetically engineered crops

engineering NAmE noun [U]
1 the activity of applying scientific knowledge to the design, building and control of machines, roads, bridges, electrical equipment, etc.: The bridge is a triumph of modern engineering.compare REVERSE ENGINEERING
2 (also engineering science) the study of engineering as a subject: a degree in engineeringsee also CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, CIVIL ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, GENETIC ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, SOCIAL ENGINEERING

engine room noun
1 the part of a ship where the engines are
2 the part of an organization where most of the important activity takes place or important decisions are made: The Madrid office is the engine room of the company.

English noun, adj.
noun
1 [U, C] the language, originally of England, now spoken in many other countries and used as a language of international communication throughout the world: She speaks good English. I need to improve my English. world Englishes
2 [U] English language or literature as a subject of study: a degree in English English is my best subject.
3 the English [pl.] the people of England (sometimes wrongly used to mean the British, including the Scots, the Welsh and the Northern Irish) see PLAIN adj.
adj. connected with England, its people or its language: the English countryside an English man/woman typically English attitudes an English dictionary note at BRITISH

English breakfast noun [C, U] a large breakfast, usually consisting of CEREAL (= food made from grain), cooked BACON and eggs, TOAST and tea or coffeecompare CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

English for Academic Purposes (abbr. EAP) noun [U] the teaching of English for people who are using English for study, but whose first language is not English

English horn noun (especially NAmE) = COR ANGLAIS

Englishman noun (pl. -men ) a man from England
an Englishman's home is his castle (BrE) (US a man's home is his castle) (saying) a person's home is a place where they can be private and safe and do as they like

English muffin noun (NAmE) = MUFFIN (1)

English rose noun an attractive girl with fair skin and an appearance that is thought to be typical of English people

Englishwoman noun (pl. -women ) a woman from England

engorge NAmE verb [VN] (technical) to cause sth to become filled with blood or another liquid and to swell

engrave verb [VN] [often passive] ~ A (with B)| ~ B on A to cut words or designs on wood, stone, metal, etc.: The silver cup was engraved with his name. His name was engraved on the silver cup.
be engraved on/in your heart, memory, mind, etc. to be sth that you will never forget because it affected you so strongly: The date of the accident remains engraved on my mind.

engraver noun a person whose job is to cut words or designs on wood, stone, metal, etc.

engraving noun
1 [C] a picture made by cutting a design on a piece of metal and then printing the design on paper
2 [U] the art or process of cutting designs on wood, stone, metal, etc.

engross NAmE verb [VN] if sth engrosses you, it is so interesting that you give it all your attention and time: As the business grew, it totally engrossed him.
engrossing NAmE adj.: an engrossing problem

engrossed NAmE adj. ~ (in/with sth) so interested or involved in sth that you give it all your attention: She was engrossed in conversation.

engulf verb [VN] (formal)
1 to surround or to cover sb/sth completely: He was engulfed by a crowd of reporters. The vehicle was engulfed in flames.
2 to affect sb/sth very strongly: Fear engulfed her.

enhance NAmE verb [VN] to increase or further improve the good quality, value or status of sb/sth: This is an opportunity to enhance the reputation of the company. the skilled use of make-up to enhance your best features
enhanced adj.: enhanced efficiency enhancement noun [U, C]: equipment for the enhancement of sound quality software enhancements

enhancer NAmE noun (technical) a substance or device that is designed to improve sth: flavour enhancers

enigma noun a person, thing or situation that is mysterious and difficult to understand MYSTERY, PUZZLE: Even after years he still remains an enigma to me.

enigmatic adj. mysterious and difficult to understand: an enigmatic smile
enigmatically adv.: 'I might,' he said enigmatically. Her father smiled enigmatically.

enjambement (also enjambment) noun [U, C] (from French, technical) the fact of a sentence continuing beyond the end of a line of poetrycompare CAESURA

enjoin verb
1 [VN, VN to inf] [often passive] (formal) to order or strongly advise sb to do sth; to say that a particular action or quality is necessary
2 [VN] ~ sb from doing sth (law) to legally prevent sb from doing sth, for example with an INJUNCTION

enjoy verb
1 to get pleasure from sth: [VN] We thoroughly enjoyed our time in New York. Thanks for a great evening. I really enjoyed it. [V -ing] I enjoy playing tennis and squash.
2 [VN] ~ yourself to be happy and get pleasure from what you are doing: They all enjoyed themselves at the party.
3 [VN] (formal) to have sth good that is an advantage to you: People in this country enjoy a high standard of living. He's always enjoyed good health.
4 [V] enjoy! (informal) used to say that you hope sb gets pleasure from sth that you are giving them or recommending to them: Here's that book I promised you. Enjoy!

GRAMMAR POINT

enjoy

Note the following patterns:

I enjoyed myself at the party. I enjoyed at the party.

Thanks. I really enjoyed it. Thanks. I really enjoyed.

I enjoy playing basketball. I enjoy to play basketball.

I enjoy reading very much. I enjoy very much reading.

I hope you enjoy your trip. I hope you enjoy with your trip.

enjoyable adj. giving pleasure: an enjoyable weekend/experience highly/really/thoroughly/very enjoyable
enjoyably adv.: The evening passed enjoyably.

enjoyment noun
1 [U] the pleasure that you get from sth: He spoiled my enjoyment of the game by talking all through it. The rules are there to ensure everyone's safety and enjoyment. Children seem to have lost their enjoyment in reading. I get a lot of enjoyment from my grandchildren. Do you get any enjoyment out of this type of work? note at FUN
2 [C] something that gives you pleasure: Children like to share interests and enjoyments with their parents.
3 [U] ~ of sth (formal) the fact of having and using sth: the enjoyment of equal rights

enlarge NAmE verb
1 to make sth bigger; to become bigger: [VN] There are plans to enlarge the recreation area. Reading will enlarge your vocabulary. [also V]
2 [VN] [usually passive] to make a bigger copy of a photograph or document: We're going to have this picture enlarged.
enlarged adj.: an enlarged heart
enlarge on/upon sth (formal) to say or write more about sth that has been mentioned ELABORATE: Would you like to enlarge on your last comment?

enlargement NAmE noun
1 [U, sing.] ~ (of sth) the process or result of sth becoming or being made larger: the enlargement of the company's overseas business activities There was widespread support for EU enlargement (= the fact of more countries joining).
2 [C] something that has been made larger, especially a photograph: If you like the picture I can send you an enlargement of it. REDUCTION

enlarger NAmE noun a piece of equipment for making photographs larger or smaller

enlighten verb [VN] (formal) to give sb information so that they understand sth better: She didn't enlighten him about her background.
enlightening adj.: It was a very enlightening interview.

enlightened adj. [usually before noun] (approving) having or showing an understanding of people's needs, a situation, etc. that is not based on old-fashioned attitudes and PREJUDICE: enlightened opinions/attitudes/ideas an enlightened approach to teaching

enlightenment noun
1 [U] knowledge about and understanding of sth; the process of understanding sth or making sb understand it: The newspapers provided little enlightenment about the cause of the accident. spiritual enlightenment
2 the Enlightenment [sing.] the period in the 18th century when many writers and scientists began to argue that science and reason were more important than religion and tradition

enlist verb
1 ~ sth/sb (in sth)| ~ sb (as sth) to persuade sb to help you or to join you in doing sth: [VN] They hoped to enlist the help of the public in solving the crime. We were enlisted as helpers. [also VN to inf]
2 ~ (sb) (in/into/for sth)| ~ (sb) (as sth) to join or to make sb join the armed forces CALL UP, CONSCRIPT, DRAFT: [V] They both enlisted in 1915. to enlist as a soldier [VN] He was enlisted into the US Navy.
enlistment noun [U]: the enlistment of expert help his enlistment in the Royal Air Force

enlisted adj. (especially US) (of a member of the army, etc.) having a rank that is below that of an officer: enlisted men and women enlisted personnel

enliven verb [VN] (formal) to make sth more interesting or more fun

en masse NAmE adv. (from French) all together, and usually in large numbers: The young folk were emigrating en masse.

enmesh verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (in sth) (formal) to involve sb/sth in a bad situation that it is not easy to escape from

enmity noun [U, C] (pl. -ies) ~ (between A and B) feelings of hatred towards sb: the traditional problem of the enmity between Protestants and Catholics personal enmities and political conflicts Her action earned her the enmity of two or three colleagues.see also ENEMY

ennoble NAmE verb [VN] (formal)
1 [usually passive] to make sb a member of the NOBILITY
2 to give sb/sth a better moral character: In a strange way she seemed ennobled by her grief.
ennoblement noun [U]

ennui NAmE noun [U] (from French, literary) feelings of being bored and not satisfied because nothing interesting is happening

enology (US) = OENOLOGY

enophile (US) = OENOPHILE

enormity NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] the ~ of sth (of a problem, etc.) the very great size, effect, etc. of sth; the fact of sth being very serious: the enormity of the task People are still coming to terms with the enormity of the disaster. The full enormity of the crime has not yet been revealed.
2 [C, usually pl.] (formal) a very serious crime: the enormities of the Hitler regime

enormous NAmE adj. extremely large HUGE, IMMENSE: an enormous house/dog an enormous amount of time enormous interest The problems facing the President are enormous.

enormously NAmE adv. very; very much: enormously rich/powerful/grateful The price of wine varies enormously depending on where it comes from. She was looking forward to the meeting enormously.

enough det., pron., adv.
det. used before plural or uncountable nouns to mean 'as many or as much as sb needs or wants' SUFFICIENT: Have you made enough copies? Is there enough room for me? I didn't have enough clothes to last a week. Don't ask me to do it. I've got enough problems as it is. (old-fashioned) There was food enough for all. Although enough after a noun now sounds old-fashioned, time enough is still fairly common: There'll be time enough to relax when you've finished your work.
pron. as many or as much as sb needs or wants: Six bottles should be enough. Have you had enough (= to eat)? If enough of you are interested, we'll organize a trip to the theatre. There was nowhere near enough for everybody. We've nearly run out of paper. Do you think there's enough for today?
enough already (informal, especially NAmE) used to say that sth is annoying or boring and that you want it to stop
enough is enough (saying) used when you think that sth should not continue any longer
enough said used to say that you understand a situation and there is no need to say any more: 'He's a politician, remember.' 'Enough said.'
have had enough (of sth/sb) used when sth/sb is annoying you and you no longer want to do, have or see it or them: I've had enough of driving the kids around.
adv. (used after verbs, adjectives and adverbs)
1 to the necessary degree: I hadn't trained enough for the game. This house isn't big enough for us. She's old enough to decide for herself. We didn't leave early enough. Tell them it's just not good enough.
2 to an acceptable degree, but not to a very great degree: He seemed pleasant enough to me.
3 to a degree that you do not wish to get any greater: I hope my job's safe. Life is hard enough as it is.
curiously, funnily, oddly, strangely, etc. enough used to show that sth is surprising: Funnily enough, I said the same thing myself only yesterday.more at FAR adv., FAIR adj., LIKE adv., MAN n., NEAR adv., RIGHT adj., SURE adv.

en passant NAmE adv. (from French) while talking about sth else and without giving much information: He mentioned en passant that he was going away.

enquire (also inquire especially in NAmE) verb ~ (about sb/sth) (rather formal) to ask sb for some information: [V] I called the station to enquire about train times. She enquired as to your whereabouts. [V wh-] Might I enquire why you have not mentioned this until now? [VN] He enquired her name. [also V speech] note at ASK
enquire after sb (formal) to ask for information about sb, especially about their health or about what they are doing
enquire into sth to find out more information about sth INVESTIGATE: A committee was appointed to enquire into the allegations.
enquire sth of sb (formal) to ask sb sth: [+ speech] 'Will you be staying for lunch?' she enquired of Charles.

enquirer (also inquirer especially in NAmE) noun (formal) a person who asks for information

enquiring (also inquiring especially in NAmE) adj. [usually before noun]
1 showing an interest in learning new things: a child with an enquiring mind
2 asking for information: an enquiring look He raised an enquiring eyebrow in my direction.
enquiringly (also inquiringly especially in NAmE) adv.: She looked at him enquiringly.

enquiry (also inquiry especially in NAmE) NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] ~ (into sth) an official process to find out the cause of sth or to find out information about sth: to hold/order an enquiry into the affair a murder enquiry a public enquiry into the environmental effects of the proposed new road
2 [C] ~ (from sb) (about sb/sth) a request for information about sb/sth; a question about sb/sth: a telephone enquiry We received over 300 enquiries about the job. I'll have to make a few enquiries (= try to find out about it) and get back to you. enquiries from prospective students (BrE) Two men have been helping police with their enquiries (= are being questioned about a crime, but have not been charged with it). All enquiries should be addressed to the customer services department.
3 [U] the act of asking questions or collecting information about sb/sth: scientific enquiry The police are following several lines of enquiry. a committee of enquiry
4 enquiries [pl.] (BrE) a place where you can get information: Ask at enquiries to see if your bag has been handed in.see also DIRECTORY ENQUIRIES

enrage verb [VN] [usually passive] to make sb very angry INFURIATE: She was enraged at his stupidity. The newspaper article enraged him.

enrapture verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to give sb great pleasure or joy ENCHANT

enraptured NAmE adj. (formal) filled with great pleasure or joy ENCHANTED

enrich verb [VN]
1 ~ sth (with sth) to improve the quality of sth, often by adding sth to it: The study of science has enriched all our lives. Most breakfast cereals are enriched with vitamins.
2 to make sb/sth rich or richer: a nation enriched by oil revenues He used his position to enrich himself.
enrichment noun [U]

enrol NAmE verb (-ll-) (especially BrE) (NAmE usually enroll) to arrange for yourself or for sb else to officially join a course, school, etc.: [V] You need to enrol before the end of August. (BrE) to enrol on a course (NAmE) to enroll in a course [VN] The centre will soon be ready to enrol candidates for the new programme.

enrollee NAmE noun (NAmE) a person who has officially joined a course, an organization, etc.

enrolment (BrE) (NAmE enrollment) NAmE noun [U, C] the act of officially joining a course, school, etc.; the number of people who do this: Enrolment is the first week of September. Fees must be paid in full at the time of enrolment. School enrolments are currently falling.

en route NAmE adv. ~ (from ... ) (to ... )| (BrE) ~ (for ... ) (from French) on the way; while travelling from/to a particular place: We stopped for a picnic en route. The bus broke down en route from Boston to New York. a plane en route for Heathrow

ensconce NAmE verb [VN, usually + adv. / prep.] (formal) if you are ensconced or ensconce yourself somewhere, you are made or make yourself comfortable and safe in that place or position

ensemble NAmE noun
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] a small group of musicians, dancers or actors who perform together: a brass/wind/string, etc. ensemble The ensemble is/are based in Lyons.
2 [C, usually sing.] (formal) a number of things considered as a group
3 [C, usually sing.] a set of clothes that are worn together: A pair of pink shoes completed her striking ensemble.

enshrine verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (in sth) (formal) to make a law, right, etc. respected or official, especially by stating it in an important written document: These rights are enshrined in the country's constitution. November 9, 1989 is already enshrined as a key date in 20th century European history.

enshroud verb [VN] (literary) to cover or surround sth completely so that it cannot be seen or understood: The island was enshrouded in mist. Secrecy enshrouded the Party's central committee.

ensign noun
1 a flag flown on a ship to show which country it belongs to: the White Ensign (= the flag of the British Navy)
2 an officer of low rank in the US navy: Ensign Marshall

enslave verb [VN] [usually passive]
1 to make sb a SLAVE
2 ~ sb/sth (to sth) (formal) to make sb/sth completely depend on sth so that they cannot manage without it: Our civilization remains enslaved to materialism.
enslavement noun [U]: In the US the enslavement of Africans and their descendants continued well into the second half of the 19th century. the enslavement of man by technology

ensnare NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to make sb/sth unable to escape from a difficult situation or from a person who wants to control them TRAP: young homeless people who become ensnared in a life of crime She refused to let him ensnare her with his charm. He became ensnared in the complexities of the legal system.

ensue NAmE verb [V] (formal) to happen after or as a result of another event FOLLOW: An argument ensued.
ensuing adj.: He had become separated from his parents in the ensuing panic. They lost track of each other in the ensuing years.

en suite NAmE adj., adv. (BrE, from French) (of a bathroom) joined onto a bedroom and for use only by people in that bedroom: Each bedroom in the hotel has a bathroom en suite/an en suite bathroom. an en suite bedroom (= a bedroom with an en suite bathroom) en suite facilities

ensure (also insure especially in NAmE) NAmE verb to make sure that sth happens or is definite: [VN] The book ensured his success. [V (that)] Please ensure (that) all lights are switched off. [also VNN]

ENT abbr. ear, nose and throat (as a department in a hospital)

-ent -ANT

entail verb to involve sth that cannot be avoided INVOLVE: [VN] The job entails a lot of hard work. The girls learn exactly what is entailed in caring for a newborn baby. [V -ing] It will entail driving a long distance every day. [also VN -ing]

entangle verb [VN] [usually passive]
1 ~ sb/sth (in/with sth) to make sb/sth become caught or twisted in sth: The bird had become entangled in the wire netting.
2 ~ sb in sth/with sb to involve sb in a difficult or complicated situation: He became entangled in a series of conflicts with the management. She didn't want to get entangled (= emotionally involved) with him.

entanglement noun
1 [C] a difficult or complicated relationship with another person or country: emotional/political entanglements This affair did not prevent an entanglement with another of his co-stars.
2 [U] the act of becoming entangled in sth; the state of being entangled: Many dolphins die each year from entanglement in fishing nets. The auditors try to avoid entanglement with arguments over local policy.
3 entanglements [pl.] (technical) barriers made of BARBED WIRE, used to stop an enemy from getting close

entente NAmE noun [U, sing.] (from French) a friendly relationship between two countries: the Franco-Russian entente

entente cordiale NAmE noun [U, sing.] (from French) a friendly relationship between two countries, especially between Britain and France

enter verb
COME/GO IN
1 (not usually used in the passive) (formal) to come or go into sth: [V] Knock before you enter. Enter Hamlet (= for example as stage directions in the text of a play). [VN] Someone entered the room behind me. Where did the bullet enter the body? (figurative) A note of defiance entered her voice. (figurative) It never entered my head (= I never thought) that she would tell him about me.
JOIN INSTITUTION/START WORK
2 [VN] [no passive] to become a member of an institution; to start working in an organization or a profession: to enter a school/college/university to enter politics to enter Parliament (= become an MP) to enter the Church (= become a priest)
BEGIN ACTIVITY
3 [VN] to begin or become involved in an activity, a situation, etc.: to enter a relationship/conflict/war Several new firms have now entered the market. The investigation has entered a new phase. The strike is entering its fourth week.
EXAM/COMPETITION
4 ~ (for sth)| ~ sb (in/for sth) to put your name on the list for an exam, a race, a competition, etc.; to do this for sb: [VN] 1 000 children entered the competition. Irish trainers have entered several horses in the race. How many students have been entered for the exam? [V] Only four British players have entered for the championship.
WRITE INFORMATION
5 [VN] ~ sth (in/into/on sth) to put names, numbers, details, etc. in a list, book or computer: Enter your name and occupation in the boxes (= on a form). to enter data into a computer to enter figures on a spreadsheet
SAY OFFICIALLY
6 [VN] (formal) to say sth officially so that it can be recorded: to enter a plea of not guilty (= at the beginning of a court case) to enter an offer
see also ENTRANCE, ENTRY see FORCE n., NAME n.
enter into sth (formal)
1 to begin to discuss or deal with sth: Let's not enter into details at this stage.
2 to take an active part in sth: They entered into the spirit of the occasion (= began to enjoy and feel part of it).
3 [no passive] to form part of sth or have an influence on sth: This possibility never entered into our calculations. Your personal feelings shouldn't enter into this at all.
enter into sth (with sb) to begin sth or become involved in sth: to enter into an agreement to enter into negotiations
enter on/upon sth (formal) to start to do sth or become involved in it: to enter on a new career She entered upon a love affair which was to ruin her marriage.

enteric adj. (medical) connected with the INTESTINES

enteritis noun [U] (medical) a painful infection in the INTESTINES that usually causes DIARRHOEAsee also GASTRO-ENTERITIS

enterprise NAmE noun
1 [C] a company or business: an enterprise with a turnover of $26 billion state-owned/public enterprises small and medium-sized enterprises
2 [C] a large project, especially one that is difficult VENTURE: his latest business enterprise a joint enterprise The music festival is a new enterprise which we hope will become an annual event.
3 [U] the development of businesses by the people of a country rather than by the government: grants to encourage enterprise in the region an enterprise culture (= in which people are encouraged to develop small businesses)see also FREE ENTERPRISE, PRIVATE ENTERPRISE
4 [U] (approving) the ability to think of new projects and make them successful INITIATIVE: a job in which enterprise is rewarded a man of enterprise Many hotels are showing enterprise and imagination by staging special events.

enterprise zone noun an area where the government encourages people to invest in new businesses, for example by offering lower taxes

enterprising NAmE adj. (approving) having or showing the ability to think of new projects or new ways of doing things and make them successful: One enterprising farmer opened up his field as a car park and charged people £10 to park there. an enterprising young woman

entertain NAmE verb
1 to invite people to eat or drink with you as your guests, especially in your home: [V] The job involves a lot of entertaining. [VN] Barbecues are a favourite way of entertaining friends.
2 ~ (sb) (with sth) to interest and amuse sb in order to please them: [VN] He entertained us for hours with his stories and jokes. [V] The aim of the series is both to entertain and inform.
3 [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to consider or allow yourself to think about an idea, a hope, a feeling, etc.: He had entertained hopes of a reconciliation. to entertain a doubt/suspicion

entertainer NAmE noun a person whose job is amusing or interesting people, for example, by singing, telling jokes or dancing: a street entertainer

entertaining NAmE adj. interesting and amusing: an entertaining speech/evening I found the talk both informative and entertaining. She was always so funny and entertaining. note at FUNNY
entertainingly adv.

entertainment NAmE noun
1 [U, C] films/movies, music, etc. used to entertain people; an example of this: radio, television and other forms of entertainment There will be live entertainment at the party. It was typical family entertainment. The entertainment was provided by a folk band. Local entertainments are listed in the newspaper. The show was good entertainment value.
2 [U] the act of entertaining sb: a budget for the entertainment of clients

SYNONYMS

entertainment

fun recreation relaxation play pleasure amusement

These are all words for things or activities used to entertain people when they are not working.

entertainment films, television, music, etc. used to entertain people: There are three bars, with live entertainment seven nights a week.

fun (rather informal) behaviour or activities that are not serious but come from a sense of enjoyment: It wasn't seriousit was all done in fun. We didn't mean to hurt him. It was just a bit of fun. The lottery provides harmless fun for millions.

recreation (rather formal) things people do for enjoyment when they are not working: His only form of recreation is playing football.

relaxation (rather formal) things people do to rest and enjoy themselves when they are not working; the ability to relax: I go hill-walking for relaxation.

RECREATION OR RELAXATION?

Both these words can be used for a wide range of activities, physical and mental, but relaxation is sometimes used for gentler activities than recreation: I play the flute in a wind band for recreation. I listen to music for relaxation.

play things that people, especially children, do for enjoyment rather than as work: the happy sounds of children at play

pleasure the activity of enjoying yourself, especially in contrast to working: Are you in Paris on business or pleasure?

amusement the fact of being entertained by sth: What do you do for amusement round here?

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to do sth for entertainment/fun/recreation/relaxation/pleasure/amusement

to provide entertainment/fun/recreation/relaxation/amusement

pure entertainment/fun/recreation/relaxation/play/pleasure/amusement

a form of entertainment/recreation/relaxation/amusement

enthral (BrE) (NAmE enthrall) verb (-ll-) [usually passive] if sth enthrals you, it is so interesting, beautiful, etc. that you give it all your attention ENTRANCE: [VN] The child watched, enthralled by the bright moving images. This book will enthral readers of all ages. [also V]
enthralling adj.: an enthralling performance

enthrone NAmE verb [VN] [usually passive] when a king, queen or important member of a Church is enthroned, they sit on a THRONE (= a special chair) in a ceremony to mark the beginning of their rule: The painting depicts the enthroned Madonna and Child (= sitting on a THRONE).
enthronement noun [U, C]

enthuse NAmE verb
1 ~ (about/over sth/sb) to talk in an enthusiastic and excited way about sth: [V] The article enthused about the benefits that the new system would bring. [V speech] 'It's a wonderful idea', he enthused. [also V that]
2 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (with sth) to make sb feel very interested and excited: Everyone present was enthused by the idea.

enthusiasm NAmE noun
1 [U] ~ (for sth/for doing sth) a strong feeling of excitement and interest in sth and a desire to become involved in it: I can't say I share your enthusiasm for the idea. She never lost her enthusiasm for teaching. He had a real enthusiasm for the work. The news was greeted with a lack of enthusiasm by those at the meeting. 'I don't mind,' she said, without much enthusiasm. full of enthusiasm
2 [C] (formal) something that you are very interested in and spend a lot of time doing: Reading is one of her many enthusiasms.

enthusiast NAmE noun ~ (for/of sth)
1 a person who is very interested in sth and spends a lot of time doing it: a football enthusiast an enthusiast of jazz
2 a person who approves of sth and shows enthusiasm for it: enthusiasts for a united Europe

enthusiastic NAmE adj. ~ (about sb/sth)| ~ (about doing sth) feeling or showing a lot of excitement and interest about sb/sth: an enthusiastic supporter an enthusiastic welcome You don't sound very enthusiastic about the idea. She was even less enthusiastic about going to Spain.
enthusiastically adv.

entice verb [usually +adv./prep.] ~ sb (into doing sth) to persuade sb/sth to go somewhere or to do sth, usually by offering them sth PERSUADE: [VN] The bargain prices are expected to entice customers away from other stores. a plan to entice mothers back to work The animal refused to be enticed from its hole. [VN to inf] Try and entice the child to eat by offering small portions of their favourite food.
enticement noun [C, U]: The party is offering low taxation as its main enticement.

enticing adj. something that is enticing is so attractive and interesting that you want to have it or know more about it: The offer was too enticing to refuse. An enticing smell came from the kitchen. The idea of two weeks in the sun sounds very enticing.
enticingly adv.

entire adj. [only before noun] (used when you are emphasizing that the whole of sth is involved) including everything, everyone or every part WHOLE: The entire village was destroyed. I wasted an entire day on it. I have never in my entire life heard such nonsense! The disease threatens to wipe out the entire population.

entirely NAmE adv. in every way possible; completely: I entirely agree with you. I'm not entirely happy about the proposal. That's an entirely different matter. The audience was almost entirely female.

entirety noun [sing.] (formal) the ~ of sth the whole of sth
in its/their entirety as a whole, rather than in parts: The poem is too long to quote in its entirety.

entitle verb
1 [often passive] ~ sb to sth to give sb the right to have or to do sth: [VN] You will be entitled to your pension when you reach 65. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. [VN to inf] This ticket does not entitle you to travel first class.
2 [VN-N] [usually passive] to give a title to a book, play, etc.: He read a poem entitled 'Salt'.

entitlement noun (formal)
1 [U] ~ (to sth) the official right to have or do sth: This may affect your entitlement to compensation.
2 [C] something that you have an official right to; the amount that you have the right to receive: Your contributions will affect your pension entitlements.
3 [C] (NAmE) a government system that provides financial support to a particular group of people: a reform of entitlements Medicard, Medicare and other entitlement programs

entity noun (pl. -ies) (formal) something that exists separately from other things and has its own identity: The unit has become part of a larger department and no longer exists as a separate entity. These countries can no longer be viewed as a single entity.

entomb verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (in sth) (formal)
1 to bury or completely cover sb/sth so that they cannot get out, be seen, etc.: As many as 1 000 people were dead, entombed in collapsed buildings.
2 to put a dead body in a TOMB: pharaohs entombed in the pyramids of Egypt

entomology NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of insects
entomological NAmE adj. entomologist NAmE noun

entourage NAmE noun [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who travel with an important person: the President and members of his immediate entourage an entourage of adoring fans

entr'acte NAmE noun (from French)
1 (formal) the time between the different parts of a play, show, etc. INTERVAL
2 a short performance between the different parts of a play, show, etc.

entrails noun [pl.] the organs inside the body of a person or an animal, especially their INTESTINES INNARDS INSIDES

entrance^1 nounsee also ENTRANCE^2
DOOR/GATE
1 [C] ~ (to/of sth) a door, gate, passage, etc. used for entering a room, building or place: the entrance to the museum/the museum entrance the front/back/side entrance of the house A lighthouse marks the entrance to the harbour. an entrance hall/lobby I'll meet you at the main entrance.compare EXIT n. (1)
GOING IN
2 [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sb) the act of entering a room, building or place, especially in a way that attracts the attention of other people: His sudden entrance took everyone by surprise. A fanfare signalled the entrance of the king. She made her entrance after all the other guests had arrived. The hero makes his entrance (= walks onto the stage) in Scene 2.
3 [U] ~ (to sth) the right or opportunity to enter a building or place: They were refused entrance to the exhibition. (BrE) an entrance fee (= money paid to go into a museum, etc.) The police were unable to gain entrance to the house.
BECOMING INVOLVED
4 [C] ~ (into sth) the act of becoming involved in sth: The company made a dramatic entrance into the export market.
TO CLUB/INSTITUTION
5 [U] ~ (to sth) permission to become a member of a club, society, university, etc.: a university entrance exam entrance requirements Entrance to the golf club is by sponsorship only.
compare ENTRY

entrance^2 NAmE verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to make sb feel great pleasure and admiration so that they give sb/sth all their attention ENTHRAL: He listened to her, entranced.see also ENTRANCE^1
entrancing adj.: entrancing music

entrance hall noun (especially BrE) a large room inside the entrance of a large or public building

entrant noun ~ (to sth)
1 a person who has recently joined a profession, university, etc.: new women entrants to the police force university entrants There has been an increase in the number of mature entrants to higher education.
2 a person or an animal that enters a race or a competition; a person that enters an exam: A-level entrants a late entrant

entrap verb (-pp-) [VN] [often passive] (formal)
1 to put or catch sb/sth in a place or situation from which they cannot escape TRAP: She felt entrapped by her family's expectations.
2 ~ sb (into doing sth) to trick sb, and encourage them to do sth, especially to commit a crime, so that they can be arrested for it

entrapment noun [U] (law) the illegal act of tricking sb into committing a crime so that they can be arrested for it: There is no defence of entrapment in English law.

entreat verb (formal) to ask sb to do sth in a serious and often emotional way BEG, IMPLORE: [VN] Please help me, I entreat you. [VN to inf] She entreated him not to go. [also V speech, VN speech]

entreaty noun (pl. -ies) [C, U] (formal) a serious and often emotional request: Despite her entreaties, he left. She held up her arms in entreaty.

entrée NAmE noun (from French)
1 [C] (in a restaurant or at a formal meal) the main dish of the meal or a dish served before the main course
2 [U, C] ~ (into/to sth) (formal) the right or ability to enter a social group or institution: Her wealth and reputation gave her an entrée into upper-class circles.

entrench (also intrench) verb [VN] [usually passive] (sometimes disapproving) to establish sth very firmly so that it is very difficult to change: Sexism is deeply entrenched in our society. entrenched attitudes/interests/opposition This idea had firmly entrenched itself in his consciousness.

entrenchment noun
1 [U] ~ (of sth) the fact of sth being firmly established
2 [C, usually pl.] a system of TRENCHES (= long narrow holes dug in the ground by soldiers to provide defence)

entrepôt NAmE noun (from French) a port or other place where goods are brought for import and export

entrepreneur NAmE noun a person who makes money by starting or running businesses, especially when this involves taking financial risks
entrepreneurial adj.: entrepreneurial skills entrepreneurship noun [U]

entropy noun [U]
1 (technical) a way of measuring the lack of order that exists in a system
2 (physics) (symb S) a measurement of the energy that is present in a system or process but is not available to do work
3 a complete lack of order: In the business world, entropy rules.
entropic NAmE adj. entropically adv.

entrust verb [VN] ~ A (to B)| ~ B with A to make sb responsible for doing sth or taking care of sb: He entrusted the task to his nephew. He entrusted his nephew with the task. The rebuilding of London's churches was entrusted to the brilliant young architect, Christopher Wren.

entry noun (pl. -ies)
GOING IN
1 [C, U] ~ (into sth) an act of going into or getting into a place: She made her entry to the sound of thunderous applause. The children were surprised by the sudden entry of their teacher. How did the thieves gain entry into the building?
2 [U] ~ (to/into sth) the right or opportunity to enter a place: No Entry (= for example, on a sign) Entry to the museum is free. to be granted/refused entry into the country
JOINING GROUP
3 [U] ~ (into sth) the right or opportunity to take part in sth or become a member of a group: countries seeking entry into the European Union the entry of women into the workforce American entry into the war
IN COMPETITION
4 [C] something that you do, write or make to take part in a competition, for example answering a set of questions: There have been some impressive entries in the wildlife photography section (= impressive photographs). The closing date for entries is 31 March. The sender of the first correct entry drawn will win a weekend for two in Venice.
5 [U] the act of taking part in a competition, race, etc.: Entry is open to anyone over the age of 18. an entry form
6 [sing.] the total number of people who are taking part in a competition, race, etc.: There's a record entry for this year's marathon.
WRITTEN INFORMATION
7 [C] ~ (in sth) an item, for example a piece of information, that is written or printed in a dictionary, an account book, a diary, etc.: an encyclopedia entry There is no entry in his diary for that day.
8 [U] the act of recording information in a computer, book, etc.: More keyboarding staff are required for data entry.
DOOR/GATE
9 (also entryway ) (both NAmE) [C] a door, gate or passage where you enter a building; an entrance hall: You can leave your umbrella in the entry.

entry-level adj. [usually before noun]
1 (of a product) basic and suitable for new users who may later move on to a more advanced product: an entry-level computer
2 (of a job) at the lowest level in a company

EntryphoneTM NAmE noun (BrE) a type of telephone on the wall next to the entrance to a building enabling a person inside the building to speak to a person outside before opening the door

entwine verb [VN] [usually passive]
1 ~ sth (with/in/around sth) to twist or wind sth around sth else: They strolled through the park, with arms entwined. The balcony was entwined with roses.
2 be entwined (with sth) to be very closely involved or connected with sth: Her destiny was entwined with his. Their lives are entwined.

E-number noun (BrE) a number beginning with the letter E that is printed on packs and containers to show what artificial flavours and colours have been added to food and drink; an artificial flavour, colour, etc. added to food and drink: This sauce is full of E-numbers.

enumerate NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to name things on a list one by one: She enumerated the main points. Let me enumerate the benefits for you.
enumeration NAmE noun [U, C]

enunciate verb
1 to say or pronounce words clearly: [VN] She enunciated each word slowly and carefully. [also V, V speech]
2 [VN] (formal) to express an idea clearly and exactly: He enunciated his vision of the future.
enunciation noun [U]

enuresis NAmE noun [U] (medical) URINATION (= letting waste liquid flow from the body) that is not under sb's control, especially in the case of a child who is asleep

envelop verb [VN] ~ sb/sth (in sth) (formal) to wrap sb/sth up or cover them or it completely: She was enveloped in a huge white towel. Clouds enveloped the mountain tops. Darkness fell and enveloped the town. A feeling of despair enveloped him.
envelopment noun [U]

envelope NAmE noun
1 a flat paper container used for sending letters in: writing paper and envelopes an airmail/padded/prepaid envelopesee also PAY ENVELOPE, SAE, SASE
2 a flat container made of plastic for keeping papers in see PUSH v.

enviable adj. something that is enviable is the sort of thing that is good and that other people want to have too: He is in the enviable position of having two job offers to choose from. UNENVIABLE
enviably adv.: an enviably mild climate

envious adj. ~ (of sb/sth) wanting to be in the same situation as sb else; wanting sth that sb else has: Everyone is so envious of her. They were envious of his success. He saw the envious look in the other boy's eyes.
enviously adv.: They look enviously at the success of their European counterparts.see also ENVY

environment noun
1 [C, U] the conditions that affect the behaviour and development of sb/sth; the physical conditions that sb/sth exists in: a pleasant working/learning environment An unhappy home environment can affect a child's behaviour. They have created an environment in which productivity should flourish. the political environment tests carried out in a controlled environment
2 the environment [sing.] the natural world in which people, animals and plants live: the Department of the Environment measures to protect the environment pollution of the environment damage to the environment
3 [C] (computing) the complete structure within which a user, computer or program operates: a desktop development environment

SYNONYMS

environment

setting surroundings background backdrop situation

These are all words for the type of place in which sb/sth exists or is situated.

environment the conditions in a place that affect the behaviour and development of sb/sth: An unhappy home environment can affect children's behaviour. a pleasant working environment

setting a place or situation or a particular type, in which sth happens or exists: The island provided an idyllic setting for the concert.

surroundings everything that is around or near sb/sth: The huts blend in perfectly with their surroundings.

background the things or area that are/is behind or around the main objects or people that are in a place or picture: The mountains in the background were capped with snow.

backdrop (formal) the scenery surrounding an event; the things or area behind the main objects in a place: The events took place against the dramatic backdrop of the Atlas mountains.

situation (rather formal) the type of area or surroundings that a town or building has: The town is in a beautiful situation in a wide green valley.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

in (a/an) environment/setting/surroundings/situation

against a/the background/backdrop (of sth)

a (good, etc.) environment/setting/situation for sth

(a/an) new/unfamiliar environment/setting/surroundings

sb/sth's immediate environment/setting/surroundings

(a) dramatic setting/surroundings/background/backdrop

environmental adj. [usually before noun]
1 connected with the natural conditions in which people, animals and plants live; connected with the environment: the environmental impact of pollution environmental issues/problems an environmental group/movement (= that aims to improve or protect the natural environment) environmental damage
2 connected with the conditions that affect the behaviour and development of sb/sth: environmental influences an environmental health officer
environmentally adv.: an environmentally sensitive area (= one that is easily damaged or that contains rare animals, plants, etc.) environmentally damaging

environmentalist noun a person who is concerned about the natural environment and wants to improve and protect it
environmentalism noun [U]

environmentally friendly (also environment-friendly) adj. (of products) not harming the environment: environmentally friendly packaging

environs noun [pl.] (formal) the area surrounding a place: Berlin and its environs people living in the immediate environs of a nuclear plant

envisage (especially BrE) (NAmE usually envision) verb to imagine what will happen in the future: [VN] What level of profit do you envisage? [V -ing] I don't envisage working with him again. [VN -ing] I can't envisage her coping with this job. [VN that] It is envisaged that the talks will take place in the spring. [also V that, V wh-] note at IMAGINE

envision verb [VN]
1 to imagine what a situation will be like in the future, especially a situation you intend to work towards: They envision an equal society, free of poverty and disease. note at IMAGINE
2 (especially NAmE) = ENVISAGE: They didn't envision any problems with the new building.

envoi noun (technical) a line or a group of lines which forms the conclusion to a poem

envoy noun a person who represents a government or an organization and is sent as a representative to talk to other governments and organizations EMISSARY: The President has suggested sending a US peace envoy to Northern Ireland.

envy noun, verb
noun [U] ~ (of sb)| ~ (at/of sth) the feeling of wanting to be in the same situation as sb else; the feeling of wanting sth that sb else has: He couldn't conceal his envy of me. She felt a pang of envy at the thought of his success. They looked with envy at her latest purchase. Her colleagues were green with envy (= they had very strong feelings of envy).
be the envy of sb/sth to be a person or thing that other people admire and that causes feelings of envy: British television is the envy of the world.see also ENVIABLE, ENVIOUS
verb (envies, envying, envied, envied)
1 to wish you had the same qualities, possessions, opportunities, etc. as sb else: [VN] He envied hershe seemed to have everything she could possibly want. She has always envied my success. [VNN] I envied him his good looks. [VN -ing] I envy you having such a close family.
2 not ~ sb (sth) to be glad that you do not have to do what sb else has to do: [VN] It's a difficult situation you're in. I don't envy you. [VNN] I don't envy her that job.

enzyme noun (biology) a substance, produced by all living things, which helps a chemical change happen or happen more quickly, without being changed itself: Enzymes are essential to the body's functioning.

eolian (NAmE) = AEOLIAN

eon (NAmE) = AEON

e-pal (also e-friend) noun a person that you make friends with by sending emails, often sb you have never met: She now has e-pals all over the world.

epaulette (especially BrE) (NAmE usually epaulet) noun a decoration on the shoulder of a coat, jacket, etc., especially when part of a military uniform

épée noun
1 [C] a SWORD used in the sport of FENCING
2 [U] (NAmE) the sport of FENCING with an épée

ephemera noun [pl.] things that are important or used for only a short period of time: a collection of postcards, tickets and other ephemera

ephemeral adj. (formal) lasting or used for only a short period of time SHORT-LIVED: ephemeral pleasures leaflets, handouts and other ephemeral material

epic noun, adj.
noun
1 [C, U] a long poem about the actions of great men and women or about a nation's history; this style of poetry: one of the great Hindu epics the creative genius of Greek epiccompare LYRIC
2 [C] a long film/movie or book that contains a lot of action, usually about a historical subject
3 [C] (sometimes humorous) a long and difficult job or activity that you think people should admire: Their four-hour match on Centre Court was an epic.
adj. [usually before noun]
1 having the features of an epic: an epic poemcompare LYRIC
2 taking place over a long period of time and involving a lot of difficulties: an epic journey/struggle
3 very great and impressive: a tragedy of epic proportions

epicene adj.
1 (formal) having characteristics of both the male and female sex or of neither sex in particular: epicene beauty
2 (grammar) (of a word) having one form to represent male and female: You can write 's/he' as an epicene pronoun when you are not referring to men or women in particular.

epicentre (BrE) (NAmE epicenter) noun
1 the point on the earth's surface where the effects of an EARTHQUAKE are felt most strongly
2 (formal) the central point of sth

epicure NAmE noun (formal) a person who enjoys food and drink of high quality and knows a lot about it

epicurean NAmE adj. (formal) devoted to pleasure and enjoying yourself
epicureanism NAmE noun [U]

epidemic noun
1 a large number of cases of a particular disease happening at the same time in a particular community: the outbreak of a flu epidemic an epidemic of measles Effectively, tobacco companies will be exporting an epidemic of smoking-related diseases, the campaign suggests.
2 a sudden rapid increase in how often sth bad happens: an epidemic of crime in the inner cities
epidemic adj.: Car theft is now reaching epidemic proportions.compare PANDEMIC

epidemiology NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of the spread and control of diseases
epidemiological NAmE adj. epidemiologist NAmE noun

epidermis NAmE noun [sing., U] (anatomy) the outer layer of the skin

epidural NAmE noun (medical) an ANAESTHETIC that is put into the lower part of the back so that no pain is felt below the waist: Some mothers choose to have an epidural when giving birth.

epiglottis NAmE noun (anatomy) a thin piece of TISSUE behind the tongue that prevents food or drink from entering the lungs

epigram noun a short poem or phrase that expresses an idea in a clever or amusing way
epigrammatic adj.

epigraph NAmE noun a line of writing, short phrase, etc. on a building or statue, or as an introduction to part of a book: The epigraph to the chapter read: 'One man's freedom is another man's slavery'.

epilation noun [U] (technical) the removal of hair, including the roots

epilepsy noun [U] a DISORDER of the nervous system that causes a person to become unconscious suddenly, often with violent movements of the body
epileptic adj.: an epileptic fit epileptic noun: Is she an epileptic?

epilogue NAmE noun a speech, etc. at the end of a play, book, or film/movie that comments on or acts as a conclusion to what has happened: Fortinbras speaks the epilogue in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'.compare PROLOGUE

Epiphany noun a Christian festival, held on the 6 January, in memory of the time when the MAGI came to see the baby Jesus at Bethlehem

episcopacy noun [U] government of a church by BISHOPS

episcopal adj.
1 connected with a BISHOP or BISHOPS: episcopal power
2 (usually Episcopal) (also Episcopalian) (of a Christian Church) that is governed by BISHOPS: the Episcopal Church (= the Anglican Church in Scotland and the US)

Episcopalian noun a member of the Episcopal Church

episcopate noun [usually sing.] (religion)
1 the episcopate the BISHOPS of a particular church or area
2 the job of BISHOP or the period of time during which sb is bishop

episiotomy NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (medical) a cut that is sometimes made at the opening of a woman's VAGINA to make the birth of a baby easier or safer

episode NAmE noun
1 an event, a situation, or a period of time in sb's life, a novel, etc. that is important or interesting in some way INCIDENT: I'd like to try and forget the whole episode. One of the funniest episodes in the book occurs in Chapter 6. It was an episode in his life that he was not proud of.
2 one part of a story that is broadcast on television or radio in several parts: The soap opera is ending after 175 episodes.

episodic NAmE adj. (formal)
1 happening occasionally and not at regular intervals: her episodic acting career Volcanic activity is highly episodic in nature.
2 (of a story, etc.) containing or consisting of many separate and different events: My memories of childhood are hazy and episodic. The film is an episodic account of the effect of the war on a small community.

epistemic adj. (formal) relating to knowledge

epistemology NAmE noun [U] the part of philosophy that deals with knowledge

epistle noun
1 Epistle any of the letters in the New Testament of the Bible, written by the first people who followed Christ: the Epistles of St Paul
2 (formal or humorous) a long, serious letter on an important subject

epistolary NAmE adj. (formal) written or expressed in the form of letters: an epistolary novel

epitaph NAmE noun
1 words that are written or said about a dead person, especially words on a GRAVESTONE: His epitaph read: 'A just and noble countryman'.
2 ~ (to sb/sth) something which is left to remind people of a particular person, a period of time or an event: These slums are an epitaph to the housing policy of the 1960s.

epithet noun
1 an adjective or phrase that is used to describe sb/sth's character or most important quality, especially in order to give praise or criticism: The film is long and dramatic but does not quite earn the epithet 'epic'.
2 (especially NAmE) an offensive word or phrase that is used about a person or group of people: Racial epithets were scrawled on the walls.

epitome noun [sing.] the ~ of sth a perfect example of sth EMBODIMENT: He is the epitome of a modern young man. clothes that are the epitome of good taste

epitomize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to be a perfect example of sth: The fighting qualities of the team are epitomized by the captain. These movies seem to epitomize the 1950s.

epoch NAmE noun (formal or literary)
1 a period of time in history, especially one during which important events or changes happen ERA: The death of the emperor marked the end of an epoch in the country's history.
2 (geology) a length of time which is a division of a PERIOD: geological epochs

epoch-making adj. (formal) having a very important effect on people's lives and on history: the epoch-making events that ended the Cold War

eponym noun (technical) a person or thing, or the name of a person or thing, from which a place, an invention, a discovery, etc. gets its name

eponymous NAmE adj. [only before noun] the eponymous character of a book, play, film/movie, etc. is the one mentioned in the title: Don Quixote, eponymous hero of the great novel by Cervantes

epoxy NAmE noun [U, C] (pl. -ies) (also epoxy resin) a type of strong glue

epsilon NAmE noun the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet (E, )

Epsom salts noun [pl.] a white powder that can be mixed with water and used as a medicine or LAXATIVE

equable adj. (formal)
1 calm and not easily upset or annoyed: an equable temperament He was in a remarkably equable mood when he spoke to reporters last night.
2 (of weather) keeping a steady temperature with no sudden changes: an equable climate
equably adv.

equal adj., noun, verb
adj.
1 ~ (to sb/sth) the same in size, quantity, value, etc. as sth else: There is an equal number of boys and girls in the class. One unit of alcohol is equal to half a pint of beer. two pieces of wood equal in length/of equal length An area of forest equal to the size of Wales has been destroyed. You can use exactly, precisely, approximately, etc. with equal in this meaning.
2 having the same rights or being treated the same as other people, without differences such as race, religion or sex being considered: equal rights/pay The company has an equal opportunities policy (= gives the same chances of employment to everyone). the desire for a more equal society (= in which everyone has the same rights and chances) You can use more with equal in this meaning.
3 ~ to sth (formal) having the necessary strength, courage and ability to deal with sth successfully: I hope that he proves equal to the challenge.see also EQUALLY
on equal terms (with sb) having the same advantages and disadvantages as sb else: Can our industry compete on equal terms with its overseas rivals?more at THING
noun a person or thing of the same quality or with the same status, rights, etc. as another: She treats the people who work for her as her equals. Our cars are the equal of those produced anywhere in the world.
be without equal | have no equal (formal) to be better than anything else or anyone else of the same type: He is a player without equal. As a family holiday destination, the seaside has no equal.
some (people, members, etc.) are more equal than others (saying) although the members of a society, group, etc. appear to be equal, some, in fact, get better treatment than others
This phrase is used by one of the pigs in the book 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell: 'All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.'more at FIRST n.
verb (-ll-, US -l-)
1 linking verb [V-N] to be the same in size, quantity, value, etc. as sth else: 2x plus y equals 7 (2x+y=7) A metre equals 39.38 inches.
2 [VN] to be as good as sth else or do sth to the same standard as sb else: This achievement is unlikely ever to be equalled. Her hatred of religion is equalled only by her loathing for politicians. With his last jump he equalled the world record.
3 [VN] to lead to or result in sth: Cooperation equals success.

equality NAmE noun [U] the fact of being equal in rights, status, advantages, etc.: racial/social/sexual equality equality of opportunity the principle of equality before the law (= the law treats everyone the same) Don't you believe in equality between men and women? INEQUALITY

equalize (BrE also -ise) verb
1 [VN] to make things equal in size, quantity, value, etc. in the whole of a place or group: a policy to equalize the distribution of resources throughout the country We need to equalize the workload among the teaching staff.
2 [V] (BrE) (especially in (SOCCER)) to score a goal that makes the score of both teams equal: Owen equalized early in the second half.
equalization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

equalizer (BrE also -iser) noun [usually sing.] (BrE) (especially in (SOCCER)) a goal that makes the score of both teams equal: Owen scored the equalizer.

equally adv.
1 to the same degree; in the same or in a similar way: Diet and exercise are equally important. This job could be done equally well by a computer. We try to treat every member of staff equally. The findings of the survey apply equally to adults and children. The birds are equally at home in a woodland or riverside environment. She may have arrived late or it is equally possible that she never went there at all.
2 in equal parts, amounts, etc.: The money was divided equally among her four children. They share the housework equally.
3 used to introduce another phrase or idea that adds to and is as important as what you have just said: I'm trying to do what is best, but equally I've got to consider the cost.

equals sign (also equal sign) noun the symbol (=), used in mathematics: I would get everything over to one side of the equals sign.

equanimity noun [U] (formal) a calm state of mind which means that you do not become angry or upset, especially in difficult situations: She accepted the prospect of her operation with equanimity.

equate verb [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to think that sth is the same as sth else or is as important: Some parents equate education with exam success. I don't see how you can equate the two things.
equate to sth to be equal to sth else: A $5 000 raise equates to 25%.

equation noun
1 [C] (mathematics) a statement showing that two amounts or values are equal, for example 2x + y = 54
2 [U, sing.] the act of making sth equal or considering sth as equal (= of equating them): The equation of wealth with happiness can be dangerous.
3 [C, usually sing.] a problem or situation in which several things must be considered and dealt with: When children enter the equation, further tensions may arise within a marriage.

equator (usually the equator) noun [sing.] an imaginary line around the earth at an equal distance from the North and South Poles: The island is twenty degrees south of the equator.

equatorial adj. near the equator or typical of a country that is near the equator: equatorial rainforests an equatorial climate

equerry noun (pl. -ies) a male officer who acts as an assistant to a member of a royal family

equestrian adj. [usually before noun] connected with riding horses, especially as a sport: equestrian events at the Olympic Games an equestrian statue/portrait (= one of a person on a horse)

equestrianism noun [U]
1 the skill or sport of riding horses
2 an Olympic sport consisting of SHOWJUMPING, DRESSAGE and THREE-DAY EVENTING

equi- combining form (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) equal; equally: equidistant equilibrium

equidistant adj. [not before noun] ~ (from sth) (formal) equally far from two or more places: All points on a circle are equidistant from the centre.

equilateral triangle noun (geometry) a triangle whose three sides are all the same length

equilibrium noun [U, sing.]
1 a state of balance, especially between opposing forces or influences: The point at which the solid and the liquid are in equilibrium is called the freezing point. Any disturbance to the body's state of equilibrium can produce stress. We have achieved an equilibrium in the economy.
2 a calm state of mind and a balance of emotions: He sat down to try and recover his equilibrium.

equine NAmE adj. (formal) connected with horses; like a horse: equine disciplines such as dressage and showjumping

equinoctial NAmE adj. connected with an equinox

equinox NAmE noun one of the two times in the year (around 20 March and 22 September) when the sun is above the EQUATOR and day and night are of equal length: the spring/autumn equinox

equip verb (-pp-) ~ yourself/sb/sth (with sth) (for sth)
1 [VN] to provide yourself/sb/sth with the things that are needed for a particular purpose or activity KIT OUT: to be fully/poorly equipped She got a bank loan to rent and equip a small workshop. He equipped himself with a street plan. The centre is well equipped for canoeing and mountaineering.
2 to prepare sb for an activity or task, especially by teaching them what they need to know: [VN] The course is designed to equip students for a career in nursing. [also VN to inf]

equipment noun [U]
1 the things that are needed for a particular purpose or activity: a useful piece of equipment for the kitchen office equipment new equipment for the sports club
2 the process of providing a place or person with necessary things: The equipment of the photographic studio was expensive.

SYNONYMS

equipment

material gear kit apparatus

These are all words for the things that you need for a particular purpose or activity.

equipment the things that are needed for a particular purpose or activity: camping equipment a piece of equipment

material things that are needed for a particular activity: household cleaning materials teaching material

EQUIPMENT OR MATERIAL?

Equipment is usually solid things, especially large ones. Materials may be liquids, powders or books, CDs, etc. containing information, as well as small solid items.

gear the equipment or clothes needed for a particular activity: Skiing gear can be expensive.

kit a set of tools or equipment that you use for a particular purpose: a first-aid kit a tool kit

apparatus the tools or other pieces of equipment that are needed for a particular activity or task: breathing apparatus for firefighters laboratory apparatus

EQUIPMENT OR APPARATUS?

Apparatus is used especially for scientific, medical or technical purposes.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

sports/skiing/camping equipment/gear/kit

household equipment/materials

electrical/electronic equipment/gear/apparatus

medical/breathing equipment/apparatus

a piece of equipment/apparatus

equipoise noun [U] (formal) a state of balance

equitable adj. (formal) fair and reasonable; treating everyone in an equal way FAIR: an equitable distribution of resources INEQUITABLE
equitably adv.: We aim to ensure that employees are all treated equitably.

equitation noun [U] (formal) the skills and activities connected with riding, driving, or keeping horses

Equity noun [U] the TRADE/LABOR UNION for actors in the UK, the US and some other countries

equity noun
1 [U] (finance) the value of a company's shares; the value of a property after all charges and debts have been paid: He plans to raise the company's return on equity to 15%.see also NEGATIVE EQUITY
2 equities [pl.] (finance) shares in a company which do not pay a fixed amount of interest
3 [U] (formal) a situation in which everyone is treated equally FAIRNESS: a society where justice and equity prevail INEQUITY
4 [U] (law) (especially BrE) a system of natural justice allowing a fair judgement in a situation which is not covered by the existing laws: The rules of common law and equity are both, in essence, systems of private law.

equivalent adj., noun
adj.~ (to sth) equal in value, amount, meaning, importance, etc.: Eight kilometres is roughly equivalent to five miles. 250 grams or an equivalent amount in ounces The new regulation was seen as equivalent to censorship.
equivalence noun [U] (formal): There is no straightforward equivalence between economic progress and social well-being.
noun~ (of/to sth) a thing, amount, word, etc. that is equivalent to sth else: Send 20 or the equivalent in your own currency. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the human equivalent of BSE The German 'Gymnasium' is the closest equivalent to the grammar school in England. Is there a French word that is the exact equivalent of the English word 'home'? Breathing such polluted air is the equivalent of (= has the same effect as) smoking ten cigarettes a day.

equivocal adj. (formal)
1 (of words or statements) not having one clear or definite meaning or intention; able to be understood in more than one way AMBIGUOUS: She gave an equivocal answer, typical of a politician. Women were less equivocal than men on the subject of fidelity in marriage.
2 (of actions or behaviour) difficult to understand or explain clearly or easily: The experiments produced equivocal results.see also UNEQUIVOCAL

equivocate verb [V speech, V] (formal) to talk about sth in a way that is deliberately not clear in order to avoid or hide the truth

equivocation noun [C, U] (formal) a way of behaving or speaking that is not clear or definite and is intended to avoid or hide the truth: These actions must be condemned without equivocation.

ER abbr. EMERGENCY ROOM

er (also erm) exclamation (BrE) the sound that people make when they are deciding what to say next: 'Will you do it?' 'Er, yes, I suppose so.' I'm, er, I'm going now

-er suffix
1 (in nouns) a person or thing that: lover computercompare -EE, -OR
2 (in nouns) a person or thing that has the thing or quality mentioned: three-wheeler foreigner
3 (in nouns) a person concerned with: astronomer philosopher
4 (in nouns) a person belonging to: New Yorker
5 (makes comparative adjectives and adverbs): wider bigger happier soonercompare -EST

era NAmE noun
1 a period of time, usually in history, that is different from other periods because of particular characteristics or events: the Victorian/modern/post-war era When she left the firm, it was the end of an era (= things were different after that). a new era of peace
2 (geology) a length of time which is a division of an AEON

eradicate verb [VN] ~ sth (from sth) to destroy or get rid of sth completely, especially sth bad WIPE OUT: Polio has been virtually eradicated in Brazil. We are determined to eradicate racism from our sport.
eradication noun [U]

erase NAmE verb [VN]
1 ~ sth (from sth) to remove sth completely: She tried to erase the memory of that evening. All doubts were suddenly erased from his mind. You cannot erase injustice from the world.
2 to make a mark or sth you have written disappear, for example by rubbing it, especially in order to correct it: He had erased the wrong word. All the phone numbers had been erased. The tide had erased the footprints.
3 to remove a recording from a tape or information from a computer's memory: Parts of the recording have been erased. He had erased more than 5 000 files from the memory of his computer.

eraser NAmE noun (NAmE or formal) = RUBBER

erasure noun [U] (formal) the act of removing or destroying sth: the accidental erasure of important computer disks (= the removal of information from them)

erbium NAmE noun [U] (symb Er) a chemical element. Erbium is a soft silver-white metal.

ere NAmE conj., prep. (old use or literary) before: Ere long (= soon) they returned.

erect adj., verb
adj.
1 (formal) in a vertical position STRAIGHT: Stand with your arms by your side and your head erect.
2 (of the PENIS or NIPPLES) larger than usual, stiff and standing up because of sexual excitement
verb [VN] (formal)
1 to build sth: The church was erected in 1582. note at BUILD
2 to put sth in position and make it stand vertical PUT STH UP: Police had to erect barriers to keep crowds back. to erect a tent note at BUILD
3 to create or establish sth: to erect trade barriers

erectile NAmE adj. (biology) (of a part of the body) able to become stiff and stand up: erectile tissue

erection noun
1 [C] if a man has an erection, his PENIS is hard and stands up because he is sexually excited: to get/have an erection
2 [U] (formal) the act of building sth or putting it in a vertical position: the erection of scaffolding around the building
3 [C] (formal) a structure or building, especially a large one: The cafe was a bleak, concrete erection with plastic tables and chairs.

erg NAmE noun a unit of work or energy

ergative NAmE adj. (grammar) (of verbs) able to be used in both a TRANSITIVE and an INTRANSITIVE way with the same meaning, where the object of the transitive verb is the same as the subject of the intransitive verb: The verb 'grow' is ergative because you can say 'She grew flowers in her garden' or 'Flowers grew in her garden'.compare CAUSATIVE, INCHOATIVE
ergatively adv.

ergo NAmE adv. (from Latin, formal or humorous) therefore: Change from within will take too long. Ergo change must come from outside.

ergonomic NAmE adj. designed to improve people's working conditions and to help them work more efficiently: ergonomic design
ergonomically adv.: The layout is hard to fault ergonomically.

ergonomics NAmE noun [U] the study of working conditions, especially the design of equipment and furniture, in order to help people work more efficiently: There is a need for formal ergonomics in any design where the designer himself is not an experienced user.

ericaceous adj. (technical) relating to plants of the HEATHER family

ERM abbr. Exchange Rate Mechanism. The ERM was a way of linking the units of money of some European Union countries and controlling their exchange rates, before the introduction of the euro in 1999.

erm exclamation (BrE) = ER: 'Shall we go?' 'Erm, yes, let's.'

ermine NAmE noun [U] the white winter fur of the STOAT, used especially to decorate the formal clothes of judges, kings, etc.

erode NAmE verb [often passive] ~ (sth) (away)
1 to gradually destroy the surface of sth through the action of wind, rain, etc.; to be gradually destroyed in this way WEAR AWAY: [VN] The cliff face has been steadily eroded by the sea. [V] The rocks have eroded away over time.
2 to gradually destroy sth or make it weaker over a period of time; to be destroyed or made weaker in this way: [VN] Her confidence has been slowly eroded by repeated failures. Mortgage payments have been eroded (= decreased in value) by inflation. [also V]
erosion NAmE noun [U]: the erosion of the coastline by the sea soil erosion the erosion of her confidence

erogenous zone NAmE noun an area of the body that gives sexual pleasure when it is touched

Eros NAmE noun [U] (formal) sexual love or desire

erotic NAmE adj. showing or involving sexual desire and pleasure; intended to make sb feel sexual desire: erotic art an erotic fantasy
erotically adv.

erotica NAmE noun [U] books, pictures, etc. that are intended to make sb feel sexual desire

eroticism NAmE noun [U] the fact of expressing or describing sexual feelings and desire, especially in art, literature, etc.: the film's blatant eroticism

err NAmE verb [V] (old-fashioned, formal) to make a mistake: To err is human ...
err on the side of sth to show too much of a good quality: I thought it was better to err on the side of caution (= to be too careful rather than take a risk).

errand noun a job that you do for sb that involves going somewhere to take a message, to buy sth, deliver goods, etc.: He often runs errands for his grandmother. Her boss sent her on an errand into town.see also FOOL'S ERRAND

errant adj. [only before noun] (formal or humorous)
1 doing sth that is wrong; not behaving in an acceptable way: errant fathers who refuse to pay maintenance for their children (figurative) She brushed an errant curl from her forehead.
2 (of a husband or wife) not sexually faithful

erratic adj., noun
adj. (often disapproving) not happening at regular times; not following any plan or regular pattern; that you cannot rely on UNPREDICTABLE: The electricity supply here is quite erratic. She had learnt to live with his sudden changes of mood and erratic behaviour. Mary is a gifted but erratic player (= she does not always play well). Irrigation measures will be necessary in areas of erratic rainfall.
erratically adv.: He was obviously upset and was driving erratically. His heart beat erratically.
noun (also erratic block, erratic boulder) (geology) a large rock that is different from the rock around and was left behind when a large mass of ice melted

erratum noun [usually pl.] (pl. errata ) (technical) a mistake in a book (shown in a list at the back or front): A list of errata was printed at the back of the book.

erroneous NAmE adj. (formal) not correct; based on wrong information: erroneous conclusions/assumptions He seems to be under the erroneous impression that she is in love with him.
erroneously adv.: The bank erroneously transferred the money to her account.

error noun [C, U] ~ in sth/in doing sth a mistake, especially one that causes problems or affects the result of sth: No payments were made last week because of a computer error. There are too many errors in your work. I think you have made an error in calculating the total. A simple error of judgement meant that there was not enough food to go around. a grave error (= a very serious mistake) a glaring error (= a mistake that is very obvious) The delay was due to human error (= a mistake made by a person rather than by a machine). The computer system was switched off in error (= by mistake). There is no room for error in this job. Almost all accidents start with a simple error by the pilot.see also MARGIN OF ERROR note at MISTAKE
see, realize, etc. the error of your ways (formal or humorous) to realize or admit that you have done sth wrong and decide to change your behaviourmore at TRIAL n.

error correction noun [U] (computing) a process by which a computer automatically corrects mistakes in data

error message noun (computing) a message that appears on a computer screen which tells you that you have done sth wrong or that the program cannot do what you want it to do

ersatz NAmE adj. artificial and not as good as the real thing or product: ersatz coffee

Erse NAmE noun [U] (old-fashioned) the Scottish or Irish Gaelic languagecompare GAELIC, IRISH

erstwhile NAmE adj. [only before noun] (formal) former; that until recently was the type of person or thing described but is not any more: an erstwhile opponent His erstwhile friends turned against him.

erudite adj. (formal) having or showing great knowledge that is gained from academic study LEARNED: She could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion.

erudition noun [U] (formal) great academic knowledge: a scholar of undoubted erudition a work of great erudition and originality

erupt verb
1 when a VOLCANO erupts or burning rocks, smoke, etc. erupt or are erupted, the burning rocks, etc. are thrown out from the volcano: [V] The volcano could erupt at any time. Ash began to erupt from the crater. [VN] An immense volume of rocks and molten lava was erupted. note at EXPLODE
2 [V] ~ (into sth) to start happening, suddenly and violently BREAK OUT: Violence erupted outside the embassy gates. The unrest erupted into revolution.
3 ~ (in/into sth) to suddenly express your feelings very strongly, especially by shouting loudly: [V] My father just erupted into fury. When Davis scored for the third time the crowd erupted. [also V speech]
4 [V] (of spots, etc.) to suddenly appear on your skin: A rash had erupted all over his chest.
eruption noun [C, U]: a major volcanic eruption an eruption of violent protest skin rashes and eruptions

eruptive adj. relating to or produced by the ERUPTION of a VOLCANO

eruv noun (pl. eruvim ) an area in a city inside which Jews may do certain things on the Sabbath that they are not normally allowed to do

-ery, -ry suffix (in nouns)
1 the group or class of: greenery gadgetry
2 the state or character of: bravery rivalry
3 the art or practice of: cookery archery
4 a place where sth is made, grows, lives, etc.: bakery orangery

erythrocyte noun (biology) = RED BLOOD CELL

escalate verb ~ (sth) (into sth) to become or make sth greater, worse, more serious, etc.: [V] The fighting escalated into a full-scale war. the escalating costs of health care [VN] We do not want to escalate the war.
escalation noun [C, U]: an escalation in food prices further escalation of the conflict

escalator noun moving stairs that carry people between different floors of a large building

escalope NAmE noun a thin slice of meat with no bones in it, often covered with BREADCRUMBS and fried: escalopes of veal

escapade noun an exciting adventure (often one that people think is dangerous or stupid): Isabel's latest romantic escapade The people who planned the escapade did not realize what they were getting involved in.

escape verb, noun
verb
1 [V] ~ (from sb/sth) to get away from a place where you have been kept as a prisoner or not allowed to leave: Two prisoners have escaped. He escaped from prison this morning. They were caught trying to escape.
2 ~ (from sth) to get away from an unpleasant or dangerous situation: [V] She managed to escape from the burning car. (figurative) As a child he would often escape into a dreamworld of his own. [VN] They were glad to have escaped the clutches of winter for another year.
3 [no passive] to avoid sth unpleasant or dangerous: [VN] She was lucky to escape punishment. The pilot escaped death by seconds. There was no escaping the fact that he was overweight. [V -ing] He narrowly escaped being killed.
4 ~ (with sth) to suffer no harm or less harm than you would expect: [V] I was lucky to escape with minor injuries. [V-ADJ] Both drivers escaped unhurt.
5 [VN] [no passive] to be forgotten or not noticed: Her name escapes me (= I can't remember it). It might have escaped your notice, but I'm very busy at the moment.
6 [V] (of gases, liquids, etc.) to get out of a container, especially through a hole or crack: Put a lid on to prevent heat escaping. toxic waste escaping into the sea
7 (of a sound) to come out from your mouth without you intending it to: [VN] A groan escaped her lips. [also V]
noun
1 [C, U] ~ (from sth) the act or a method of escaping from a place or an unpleasant or dangerous situation: an escape from a prisoner of war camp I had a narrow escape (= I was lucky to have escaped). There was no hope of escape from her disastrous marriage. He took an elaborate escape route from South Africa to Britain. As soon as he turned his back, she would make her escape.see also FIRE ESCAPE
2 [sing., U] a way of forgetting sth unpleasant or difficult for a short time: For her travel was an escape from the boredom of her everyday life.
3 [C] the fact of a liquid, gas, etc. coming out of a pipe or container by accident; the amount that comes out: an escape of gas
4 [U] (also escape key [C]) (computing) a button on a computer keyboard that you press to stop a particular operation or leave a program: Press escape to get back to the menu.
make good your escape (formal) to manage to escape completely: He made good his escape from a crowd of journalists by jumping over a barrier.more at BARN

escape clause noun a part of a contract which states the conditions under which the contract may be broken

escaped adj. [only before noun] having escaped from a place: an escaped prisoner/lion

escapee noun (formal) a person or an animal that has escaped from somewhere, especially sb who has escaped from prison

escapement noun [usually sing.] a piece of machinery in a clock or watch that transfers movement from the spring or weight to a wheel or PENDULUM which is connected to the HANDS

escapism noun [U] an activity, a form of entertainment, etc. that helps you avoid or forget unpleasant or boring things: the pure escapism of adventure movies For John, books are a form of escapism.
escapist adj.: escapist entertainment/fantasies romantic novels and other escapist literature

escapologist NAmE noun a performer who escapes from ropes, chains, boxes, etc.

escarpment NAmE noun a steep slope that separates an area of high ground from an area of lower ground: The clay lowlands are flanked by steep chalk escarpments.

eschatology NAmE noun [U] (religion) the part of THEOLOGY concerned with death and judgement
eschatological NAmE adj.

eschew verb [VN] (formal) to deliberately avoid or keep away from sth: He had eschewed politics in favour of a life practising law.

escort noun, verb
noun NAmE
1 [C, U] a person or group of people or vehicles that travels with sb/sth in order to protect or guard them: Armed escorts are provided for visiting heads of state. Prisoners are taken to court under police escort. The convoy had an escort of ten destroyers. Bomber planes were sent out with fighter escorts.
2 [C] (formal or old-fashioned) a person, especially a man, who takes sb to a particular social event: In my day, young women were not allowed out without a suitable escort.
3 [C] a person, especially a woman, who is paid to go out socially with sb: an escort service/agency
verb NAmE [VN, usually + adv. / prep.] to go with sb to protect or guard them or to show them the way: The President arrived, escorted by twelve soldiers. Guards escorted me back to my cell. The referee was escorted from the pitch by police. Let me escort you home. note at TAKE

escudo NAmE noun (pl. -os) the unit of money in Portugal and Cape Verde (replaced in Portugal in 2002 by the euro)

escutcheon noun
1 a flat piece of metal around a KEYHOLE, door handle, or light switch
2 a SHIELD that has a COAT OF ARMS on it

-ese suffix
1 (in adjectives and nouns) of a country or city; a person who lives in a country or city; the language spoken there: Chinese Viennese
2 (in nouns) (often disapproving) the style or language of: journalese officialese

esker noun (geology) a long narrow area of small stones and earth that has been left by a large mass of ice that has melted

Eskimo NAmE noun (pl. Eskimo or Eskimos) (sometimes offensive) a member of a race of people from northern Canada, and parts of Alaska, Greenland and Siberia. Some of these people prefer to use the name Inuit.compare INUIT

Eskimo roll noun the action of deliberately making a KAYAK (= small narrow boat) roll over whilst sitting in it, so that you go underwater and then return to a vertical position

EskyTM noun (pl. -ies) (AustralE) a bag or box which keeps food or drinks cold and which can be used for a PICNIC

ESL abbr. English as a second language (refers to the teaching of English as a foreign language to people who are living in a country in which English is either the first or second language)

ESN abbr. electronic serial number (an identity number for a mobile phone/cellphone)

ESOL NAmE abbr. English for speakers of other languages

esophagus (NAmE) = OESOPHAGUS

esoteric adj. (formal) likely to be understood or enjoyed by only a few people with a special knowledge or interest: a programme of music for everyone, even those with the most esoteric taste Specialist dictionaries may be required to understand some of the more esoteric texts.

ESP abbr.
1 English for specific/special purposes (the teaching of English for scientific, technical, etc. purposes to people whose first language is not English)
2 extrasensory perception (the ability to know things without using the senses of sight, hearing, etc., for example to know what people are thinking or what will happen in the future)

esp. abbr. (in writing) especially

espadrille noun a light shoe made of strong cloth with a SOLE made of rope

espalier noun
1 a tree or SHRUB that is grown flat along a wooden or wire frame on a wall
2 the frame that such a tree grows along

especial adj. [only before noun] (BrE, formal) greater or better than usual; special in some way or for a particular group: a matter of especial importance The lecture will be of especial interest to history students.compare SPECIAL adj. (5)

especially adv. (abbr. esp.)
1 more with one person, thing, etc. than with others, or more in particular circumstances than in others PARTICULARLY: The car is quite small, especially if you have children. Teenagers are very fashion conscious, especially girls. I love Rome, especially in the spring.
2 for a particular purpose, person, etc.: I made it especially for you.
3 very much; to a particular degree: I wasn't feeling especially happy that day. 'Do you like his novels?' 'Not especially.'

WHICH WORD?

especially / specially

Especially usually means 'particularly': She loves all sports, especially swimming.. It is not placed first in a sentence: I especially like sweet things. Especially I like sweet things.

Specially usually means 'for a particular purpose' and is often followed by a past participle, such as designed, developed or made: a course specially designed to meet your needsShe has her clothes specially made in Paris.

In BrE, especially and specially are often used in the same way and it can be hard to hear the difference when people speak. Specially is less formal: I bought this especially/specially for you.It is especially/specially important to remember this.

The adjective for both especially and specially is usually special.

Esperanto NAmE noun [U] an artificial language invented in 1887 as a means of international communication, based on the main European languages but with easy grammar and pronunciation

espionage noun [U] the activity of secretly getting important political or military information about another country or of finding out another company's secrets by using SPIES SPYING: Some of the commercial activities were a cover for espionage. She may call it research; I call it industrial espionage.see also COUNTER-ESPIONAGE

esplanade noun a level area of open ground in a town for people to walk along, often by the sea or a river: People were lying on the beach and strolling along the esplanade.

espouse verb [VN] (formal) to give your support to a belief, policy etc.: They espoused the notion of equal opportunity for all in education.
espousal noun [U, sing.] ~ of sth: his recent espousal of populism

espressivo NAmE adv., adj. (from Italian, music) (used as an instruction) with expression; with feeling

espresso NAmE noun (pl. -os)
1 [U] strong black coffee made by forcing steam or boiling water through ground coffee
2 [C] a cup of espresso: Two espressos, please.

esprit de corps noun [U] (from French) feelings of pride, care and support for each other, etc. that are shared by the members of a group

espy verb (espies, espying, espied, espied) [VN] (literary) to see sb/sth suddenly CATCH SIGHT OF, SPY

Esq. abbr.
1 (becoming old-fashioned, especially BrE) Esquire (a polite title written after a man's name, especially on an official letter addressed to him. If Esq. is used, Mr is not then used): Edward Smith, Esq.
2 (NAmE) used as a title after the name of a male or female lawyer

-esque suffix (in adjectives) in the style of: statuesque Kafkaesque

-ess suffix (in nouns) female: lioness actress

essay noun, verb
noun
1 ~ (on sth) a short piece of writing by a student as part of a course of study: an essay on the causes of the First World War
2 ~ (on sth) a short piece of writing on a particular subject, written in order to be published: The book contains a number of interesting essays on women in society.
3 ~ (in sth) (formal) an attempt to do sth: His first essay in politics was a complete disaster.
verb [VN] (literary) to try to do sth

essayist noun a person who writes essays to be published

essence noun
1 [U] ~ (of sth) the most important quality or feature of sth, that makes it what it is: His paintings capture the essence of France. In essence (= when you consider the most important points), your situation isn't so different from mine.
2 [U, C] a liquid taken from a plant, etc. that contains its smell and taste in a very strong form: essence of rosewood (BrE) coffee/vanilla/almond essencesee also EXTRACT
of the essence necessary and very important: In this situation time is of the essence (= we must do things as quickly as possible).

essential adj., noun
adj.
1 ~ (to/for sth)| ~ (to do sth)| ~ (that ... ) completely necessary; extremely important in a particular situation or for a particular activity VITAL: an essential part/ingredient/component of sth Money is not essential to happiness. Experience is essential for this job. essential services such as gas, water and electricity The museum is closed while essential repairs are being carried out. It is essential to keep the two groups separate It is essential that you have some experience. The charity will be taking food and essential supplies to six refugee camps. This book is essential reading for all nature lovers. Even in small companies, computers are an essential tool.compare INESSENTIAL, NON-ESSENTIAL DISPENSABLE
2 [only before noun] connected with the most important aspect or basic nature of sb/sth FUNDAMENTAL: The essential difference between Sara and me is in our attitude to money. The essential character of the town has been destroyed by the new road.
noun [usually pl.]
1 something that is needed in a particular situation or in order to do a particular thing: I only had time to pack the bare essentials (= the most necessary things). The studio had all the essentials like heating and running water.
2 an important basic fact or piece of knowledge about a subject: the essentials of English grammar

SYNONYMS

essential

vital crucial critical decisive indispensable

These words all describe sb/sth that is extremely important and completely necessary because a particular situation or activity depends on them.

essential extremely important and completely necessary, because without it sth cannot exist, be made or be successful: Experience is essential for this job.

vital essential: The police play a vital role in our society.

ESSENTIAL OR VITAL?

There is no real difference in meaning between these words and they can be used with the same range of nouns and structures. However, there can be a slight difference in tone. Essential is used to state a fact or opinion with authority. Vital is often used when there is some anxiety felt about sth, or a need to persuade sb that a fact or opinion is true, right or important. Vital is less often used in negative statements: It was vital to show that he was not afraid. Money is not vital to happiness.

crucial extremely important because a particular situation or activity depends on it: It is crucial that we get this right.

critical extremely important because a particular situation or activity depends on it : Your decision is critical to our future.

CRUCIAL OR CRITICAL?

There is no real difference in meaning between these words and they can be used with the same range of nouns and structures. However, there is sometimes a slight difference in context. Critical is often used in technical matters of business or science; crucial is often used to talk about matters that may cause anxiety or other emotions.

decisive of the greatest importance in affecting the final result of a particular situation : She has played a decisive role in the peace negotiations.

indispensable essential; too important to be without: Cars have become an indispensable part of our lives.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable for sth

essential/vital/crucial/critical/indispensable to sth

essential/vital/crucial/critical that

essential/vital/crucial/critical to do sth

to be/become/seem essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable

a(n) essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable part/factor

of vital/crucial/critical/decisive importance

absolutely/really essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable

essentially adv. when you think about the true, important or basic nature of sb/sth BASICALLY, FUNDAMENTALLY: There are three essentially different ways of tackling the problem. The pattern is essentially the same in all cases. Essentially, what we are suggesting is that the firm needs to change. He was, essentially, a teacher, not a manager. The article was essentially concerned with her relationship with her parents (= it dealt with other things, but this was the most important).

essential oil noun an oil taken from a plant, used because of its strong smell for making PERFUME and in AROMATHERAPY

Essex girl noun (BrE, humorous, disapproving) a name used especially in jokes to refer to a type of young woman who is not intelligent, dresses badly, talks in a loud and ugly way, and is very willing to have sex

EST abbr. EASTERN STANDARD TIME

-est suffix (makes superlative adjectives and adverbs): widest biggest happiest soonestcompare -ER

establish verb
1 [VN] to start or create an organization, a system, etc. that is meant to last for a long time SET UP: The committee was established in 1912. The new treaty establishes a free trade zone. Let's establish some ground rules.
2 [VN] to start having a relationship, especially a formal one, with another person, group or country: The school has established a successful relationship with the local community.
3 [VN] ~ sb/sth/yourself (in sth) (as sth) to hold a position for long enough or succeed in sth well enough to make people accept and respect you: By then she was established as a star. He has just set up his own business but it will take him a while to get established.
4 [VN] to make people accept a belief, claim, custom etc.: It was this campaign that established the paper's reputation. Traditions get established over time.
5 to discover or prove the facts of a situation ASCERTAIN: [VN] Police are still trying to establish the cause of the accident. [V that] They have established that his injuries were caused by a fall. [V wh-] We need to establish where she was at the time of the shooting. [VN that] It has since been established that the horse was drugged.

established adj. [only before noun]
1 respected or given official status because it has existed or been used for a long time: They are an established company with a good reputation. This unit is now an established part of the course.see also WELL ESTABLISHED
2 (of a person) well known and respected in a job, etc. that they have been doing for a long time: an established actor
3 (of a Church or a religion) made official for a country

establishment noun
1 [C] (formal) an organization, a large institution or a hotel: an educational establishment a research establishment The hotel is a comfortable and well-run establishment.
2 (usually the Establishment) [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] (often disapproving) the people in a society or a profession who have influence and power and who usually do not support change: the medical/military/political, etc. establishment young people rebelling against the Establishment orthodox Establishment views
3 [U] the act of starting or creating sth that is meant to last for a long time: The speaker announced the establishment of a new college. the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries

estate noun
1 [C] a large area of land, usually in the country, that is owned by one person or family: a 3 000-acre estate She receives rent from all the people whose cottages are on estate land.
2 [C] (BrE) an area of land with a lot of houses or factories of the same type on it: She lives in a tower block on an estate in London.see also COUNCIL ESTATE, HOUSING ESTATE, INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, TRADING ESTATE
3 (law) [C, U] all the money and property that a person owns, especially everything that is left when they die: Her estate was left to her daughter. He left estate valued at a million dollars.
4 [C] (BrE) = ESTATE CAR

estate agent (BrE) (NAmE RealtorTM real estate agent) noun a person whose job is to sell houses and land for people

estate car (also estate) (both BrE) (NAmE station wagon) noun a car with a lot of space behind the back seats and a door at the back for loading large items

estate tax noun [U] (NAmE) = INHERITANCE TAX

esteem noun, verb
noun [U] (formal) great respect and admiration; a good opinion of sb: She is held in high esteem by her colleagues. Over the years, he has earned our affection and esteem. Please accept this small gift as a token of our esteem.see also SELF-ESTEEM
verb (formal) (not used in the progressive tenses)
1 [VN] [usually passive] to respect and admire sb/sth very much: a highly esteemed scientist Many of these qualities are esteemed by managers. He was esteemed as a dedicated and imaginative scholar. This rose is esteemed among connoisseurs for its colour and scent.
2 [VN-N] (old-fashioned, formal) to think of sb/sth in a particular way: She was esteemed the perfect novelist.

ester noun (chemistry) a sweet-smelling substance that is formed from an ORGANIC acid and an alcohol

esthete, esthetic (NAmE) = AESTHETE, AESTHETIC

estimable adj. (old-fashioned or formal) deserving respect and admiration: I would never doubt the worthy intentions of that estimable gentleman.

estimate noun, verb
noun
1 a judgement that you make without having the exact details or figures about the size, amount, cost, etc. of sth: I can give you a rough estimate of the amount of wood you will need. a ballpark estimate (= an approximate estimate) official government estimates of traffic growth over the next decade At least 5 000 people were killed, and that's a conservative estimate (= the real figure will be higher).
2 a statement of how much a piece of work will probably cost: We got estimates from three firms and accepted the lowest.
verb [often passive] ~ sth (at sth) to form an idea of the cost, size, value etc. of sth, but without calculating it exactly: [VN] The satellite will cost an estimated £400 million. Police estimate the crowd at 30 000. [VN to inf] The deal is estimated to be worth around $1.5 million. [V (that)] We estimated (that) it would cost about 5 000. [VN (that)] It is estimated (that) the project will last four years. [V wh-] It is hard to estimate how many children suffer from dyslexia.

estimation noun (formal)
1 [sing.] a judgement or opinion about the value or quality of sb/sth: Who is the best candidate in your estimation? Since he left his wife he's certainly gone down in my estimation (= I have less respect for him). She went up in my estimation (= I have more respect for her) when I discovered how much charity work she does.
2 [C] a judgement about the levels or quantity of sth: Estimations of our total world sales are around 50 million.

estranged adj. (formal)
1 [usually before noun] no longer living with your husband or wife: his estranged wife Emma She is attempting to contact her estranged husband to break the news.
2 ~ (from sb) no longer friendly, loyal or in contact with sb: He became estranged from his family after the argument. Formerly close friends, they had been estranged from each other for many years.
3 ~ (from sth) no longer involved in or connected with sth, especially sth that used to be important to you: She felt estranged from her former existence.

estrangement noun [U, C] ~ (from sb/sth)| ~ (between A and B) the state of being estranged; a period of being estranged: a period of estrangement from his wife The misunderstanding had caused a seven-year estrangement between them.

estrogen (NAmE) = OESTROGEN

estrus (NAmE) = OESTRUS

estuary NAmE (pl. -ies) noun the wide part of a river where it flows into the sea: the Thames estuary

Estuary English noun [U] a way of speaking which has features of standard English and of the type of English that is typical of London, used by many people in the south-east of England

ETA abbr. estimated time of arrival (the time at which an aircraft, a ship, etc. is expected to arrive)compare ETD

eta noun the 7th letter of the Greek alphabet (H, )

et al. abbr. (used especially after names) and other people or things (from Latin 'et alii/alia'): research by West et al., 1996

etc. abbr. used after a list to show that there are other things that you could have mentioned (the abbreviation for 'et cetera'): Remember to take some paper, a pen, etc. We talked about the contract, pay, etc.

et cetera = ETC.

etch verb ~ A (with B)| ~ B (in/into/on A)
1 to cut lines into a piece of glass, metal etc. in order to make words or a picture: [VN] a glass tankard with his initials etched on it a glass tankard etched with his initials A security number had been etched on the car window as a protection against theft. [also V]
2 [VN] [usually passive] (literary) if a feeling is etched on sb's face, or sb's face is etched with a feeling, that feeling can be seen very clearly: Tiredness was etched on his face. His face was etched with tiredness.
3 [VN] [usually passive] to make a strong clear mark or pattern on sth: a mountain etched (= having a clear outline) against the sky
be etched on your heart/memory/mind if sth is etched on your memory, you remember it because it has made a strong impression on you

etching noun [C, U] a picture that is printed from an etched piece of metal; the art of making these pictures: The exhibition features a selection of his early etchings and drawings. the delicate work of engraving and etching

ETD abbr. estimated time of departure (the time at which an aircraft, ship, etc. is expected to leave)compare ETA

eternal NAmE adj.
1 without an end; existing or continuing forever: the promise of eternal life in heaven She's an eternal optimist (= she always expects that the best will happen). eternal truths (= ideas that are always true and never change) Newspapers are simply responding to the eternal fascination of their readers with the private lives of the rich and famous.
2 [only before noun] (disapproving) happening often and seeming never to stop CONSTANT: I'm tired of your eternal arguments.
eternally NAmE adv.: I'll be eternally grateful to you for this. women trying to look eternally young see HOPE n.

eternal triangle noun a situation where two people are in love with or having a sexual relationship with the same person

eternal verity noun [usually pl.] (formal) an essential basic moral principle: A return to eternal verities is called for in this difficult situation.

eternity NAmE noun
1 [U] (formal) time without end, especially life continuing without end after death: There will be rich and poor for all eternity. They believed that their souls would be condemned to burn in hell for eternity.
2 an eternity [sing.] (informal) a period of time that seems to be very long or to never end: After what seemed like an eternity the nurse returned with the results of the test.

eternity ring noun a ring given as a symbol of love that will last for a long time

eth noun (phonetics) the letter ð that was used in Old English to represent the sounds and and later written as th. This letter is now used as a PHONETIC symbol for the sound , as in this.

ethane noun [U] (symb C2H6) (chemistry) a gas that has no colour or smell and that can burn. Ethane is found in natural gas and mineral oil.

ethanol NAmE (also ethyl alcohol) noun [U] (chemistry) the type of alcohol in alcoholic drinks, also used as a fuel or SOLVENT

ethene noun [U] = ETHYLENE

ether noun [U]
1 a clear liquid made from alcohol, used in industry as a SOLVENT and, in the past, in medicine to make people unconscious before an operation
2 the ether (old use or literary) the upper part of the sky: Her words disappeared into the ether.
3 the ether the air, when it is thought of as the place in which radio or electronic communication takes place

ethereal NAmE adj. (formal) extremely delicate and light; seeming to belong to another, more spiritual, world: ethereal music her ethereal beauty In a translucent sky, the domes and spires of the city looked almost ethereal.

Ethernet NAmE noun [U] (computing) a system for connecting a number of computer systems to form a network

ethic noun
1 ethics [pl.] moral principles that control or influence a person's behaviour: professional/business/medical ethics to draw up a code of ethics He began to question the ethics of his position.
2 [sing.] a system of moral principles or rules of behaviour: a strongly defined work ethic the Protestant ethic
3 ethics [U] the branch of philosophy that deals with moral principles

ethical adj.
1 connected with beliefs and principles about what is right and wrong: ethical issues/standards/questions the ethical problems of human embryo research
2 morally correct or acceptable: Is it ethical to promote cigarettes through advertising? ethical investment (= investing money in businesses that are considered morally acceptable)
ethically adv.: The committee judged that he had not behaved ethically. Doctors felt ethically obliged to continue the treatment.

ethnic adj., noun
adj.
1 connected with or belonging to a nation, race or people that shares a cultural tradition: ethnic groups/communities ethnic strife/tensions/violence (= between people from different races or peoples) ethnic Albanians living in Germany The country is divided along ethnic lines.
2 typical of a country or culture that is very different from modern Western culture and therefore interesting for people in Western countries: ethnic clothes/jewellery/cooking
ethnically adv.: an ethnically divided region
noun (especially NAmE) a person from an ETHNIC MINORITY: states where there are a large number of ethnics

ethnic cleansing noun [U] (used especially in news reports) the policy of forcing the people of a particular race or religion to leave an area or a country

ethnicity noun [U] (technical) the fact of belonging to a particular race: Many factors are important, for example class, gender, age and ethnicity.

ethnic minority noun a group of people from a particular culture or of a particular race living in a country where the main group is of a different culture or race: The main political parties have little to offer Britain's ethnic minorities.

ethnocentric NAmE adj. based on the ideas and beliefs of one particular culture and using these to judge other cultures: a white, ethnocentric school curriculum
ethnocentrism noun [U]

ethnographer NAmE noun a person who studies different races and cultures

ethnography NAmE noun [U] the scientific description of different races and cultures
ethnographic adj.: ethnographic research

ethnolinguistics NAmE noun [U] (linguistics) the study of the relationship between LINGUISTIC and cultural behaviour
ethnolinguist noun

ethnology NAmE noun [U] the scientific study and comparison of human races
ethnological NAmE adj. ethnologist NAmE noun

ethos NAmE noun [sing.] (formal) the moral ideas and attitudes that belong to a particular group or society: an ethos of public service the carefree Californian ethos

ethyl adj. [only before noun] (chemistry) containing the group of atoms C2H5, formed from ETHANE: ethyl acetate

ethyl alcohol noun [U] (chemistry) = ETHANOL

ethylene (also ethene ) noun [U] (symb C2H4) (chemistry) a gas which is present in coal, CRUDE OIL, and NATURAL GAS

ethyne NAmE noun [U] (symb C2H2) the chemical name for ACETYLENE

etiolated adj.
1 (biology) if a plant is etiolated it is pale because it does not receive enough light
2 (formal) lacking force and energy

etiology (NAmE) = AETIOLOGY

etiquette noun [U] the formal rules of correct or polite behaviour in society or among members of a particular profession: advice on etiquette medical/legal/professional etiquettesee also NETIQUETTE

Etonian NAmE noun a person who is or was a student at the English private school Eton College

Etruscan noun [U] the language of the ancient Etruscan people, whose culture had an important influence on that of the ancient Romans

-ette suffix (in nouns)
1 small: kitchenette
2 female: usherette

étude NAmE noun (music) (from French, especially NAmE) = STUDY n. (8)

etymology NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] the study of the origin and history of words and their meanings
2 [C] the origin and history of a particular word
etymological NAmE adj.: an etymological dictionary

etymon NAmE noun (pl. etymons or etyma ) (linguistics) a word or part of a word from which another word comes

EU abbr. EUROPEAN UNION

eucalyptus noun [C, U] (pl. eucalyptuses or eucalypti ) (also eucalyptus tree, gum tree) a tall straight tree with leaves that produce an oil with a strong smell, that is used in medicine. There are several types of eucalyptus and they grow especially in Australasia: Koalas eat very few things besides eucalyptus leaves.

Eucharist noun [sing.] a ceremony in the Christian Church during which people eat bread and drink wine in memory of the last meal that Christ had with his DISCIPLES; the bread and wine taken at this ceremonysee also COMMUNION, MASS

Euclidean geometry NAmE noun [U] the system of GEOMETRY based on the work of Euclid

eugenics noun [U] the study of methods to improve the mental and physical characteristics of the human race by choosing who may become parents
eugenic adj. eugenist (also eugenicist) noun

eulogize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] ~ sb/sth (as sth) (formal) to praise sb/sth very highly: He was eulogized as a hero.
eulogistic adj.

eulogy noun [C, U] (pl. -ies)
1 ~ (of/to sb/sth) a speech or piece of writing praising sb/sth very much: a eulogy to marriage
2 ~ (for/to sb) (especially NAmE) a speech given at a funeral praising the person who has died

eunuch noun
1 a man who has been CASTRATED, especially one who guarded women in some Asian countries in the past
2 (formal) a person without power or influence: a political eunuch

euphemism noun ~ (for sth) an indirect word or phrase that people often use to refer to sth embarrassing or unpleasant, sometimes to make it seem more acceptable than it really is: 'Pass away' is a euphemism for 'die'. 'User fees' is just a politician's euphemism for taxes.
euphemistic adj.: euphemistic language 'We're letting you go' is a euphemistic way of saying 'You're fired.' euphemistically adv.: The prison camps were euphemistically called 'retraining centres'.

euphonious NAmE adj. (formal) (of a sound, word, etc.) pleasant to listen to
euphony noun [U]

euphonium NAmE noun a large BRASS musical instrument like a TUBA

euphoria noun [U] an extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement that usually lasts only a short time: I was in a state of euphoria all day. Euphoria soon gave way to despair. The government's current euphoria over the exchange rate is unlikely to last.
euphoric NAmE adj.: My euphoric mood could not last. His parents were less than euphoric about the news of his engagement. note at EXCITED

Eurasian adj., noun
adj.
1 of or connected with both Europe and Asia: the Centre for Russian and Eurasian Studies the Eurasian badger
2 having one Asian parent and one parent who is white or from Europe
noun a person with one Asian parent and one parent who is white or from Europe: Singapore Eurasians

eureka exclamation used to show pleasure at having found sth, especially the answer to a problem

eurhythmics (BrE) (NAmE eurythmics) noun [U] a form of exercise which combines physical movement with music and speech

Euro NAmE adj. (informal) (used especially in newspapers) connected with Europe, especially the European Union: Euro rules His speech in the Euro debate was hardly stunning.

euro NAmE noun (symb ) (pl. euros or euro) the unit of money of some countries of the European Union: The price is given in dollars or euros. I paid five euros for it. 10 million euro a 30-million-euro deal the value of the euro against the dollar

Euro- NAmE combining form (in nouns and adjectives) connected with Europe or the European Union: a Euro-MP Euro-elections

Eurocrat NAmE noun (sometimes disapproving) an official of the European Union, especially a senior one

Euroland NAmE noun [U] = EUROZONE

Europe NAmE noun [U]
1 the continent next to Asia in the east, the Atlantic Ocean in the west, and the Mediterranean Sea in the south: western/eastern/central Europe
2 the European Union: countries wanting to join Europe He's very pro-Europe.
3 (BrE) all of Europe except for Britain: British holidaymakers in Europe

European NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 of or connected with Europe: European languages
2 of or connected with the European Union: European law our European partners
noun
1 a person from Europe, or whose ANCESTORS came from Europe
2 (BrE) a person who supports the principles and aims of the European Union: a good European

the European Commission noun [sing.] the group of people who are responsible for the work of the European Union and for suggesting new laws

Europeanize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN]
1 to make sb or sth feel or seem European: a Europeanized American
2 to put sth under the control of the European Union
Europeanization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

the European Parliament noun [sing.] the group of people who are elected in the countries of the European Union to make and change its laws

European plan noun [U] = FULL BOARD

the European Union noun [sing.] (abbr. EU) an economic and political organization that many European countries belong to

europium NAmE noun [U] (symb Eu) a chemical element. Europium is a silver-white metal used in colour television screens.

Euro-sceptic noun a person, especially a British politician, who is opposed to closer links with the European Union
Euro-sceptic adj.

Eurovision NAmE noun [sing.] an organization of European television companies that share news and programmes: the Eurovision Song Contest

the Eurozone NAmE noun [sing.] (also Euroland [U]) the countries in the European Union that use the euro as a unit of money

Eustachian tube noun (anatomy) a narrow tube that joins the throat to the middle ear

euthanasia NAmE noun [U] the practice (illegal in most countries) of killing without pain a person who is suffering from a disease that cannot be cured MERCY KILLING: They argued in favour of legalizing voluntary euthanasia (= people being able to ask for euthanasia themselves).

eutrophic NAmE adj. (technical) (of a lake, river, etc.) containing too many food substances that encourage plants to grow, which then kill animal life by using too much OXYGEN from the water

eutrophication noun [U] (technical) the process of too many plants growing on the surface of a river, lake, etc., often because chemicals that are used to help crops grow have been carried there by rain

evacuate verb
1 [VN] to move people from a place of danger to a safer place: Police evacuated nearby buildings. Children were evacuated from London to escape the bombing. Families were evacuated to safer parts of the city.
2 to move out of a place because of danger, and leave the place empty: [VN] Employees were urged to evacuate their offices immediately. [V] Locals were told to evacuate.
3 [VN] (formal) to empty your BOWELS
evacuation noun [U, C]: the emergency evacuation of thousands of people after the earthquake

evacuee noun a person who is sent away from a place because it is dangerous, especially during a war

evade verb
1 to escape from sb/sth or avoid meeting sb: [VN] For two weeks they evaded the press. He managed to evade capture. [also V -ing]
2 to find a way of not doing sth, especially sth that legally or morally you should do: [VN] to evade payment of taxes She is trying to evade all responsibility for her behaviour. He never sought to evade his responsibilities. [also V -ing]
3 to avoid dealing with or talking about sth: [VN] Come on, don't you think you're evading the issue? [V -ing] to evade answering a question
4 [VN] (formal) to not come or happen to sb ELUDE: The answer evaded him (= he could not think of it).see also EVASION, EVASIVE

evaluate verb to form an opinion of the amount, value or quality of sth after thinking about it carefully ASSESS: [VN] Our research attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of the different drugs. [V wh-] We need to evaluate how well the policy is working.
evaluation noun [C, U]: an evaluation of the health care system evaluative adj.

evanescent NAmE adj. (literary) disappearing quickly from sight or memory: Talk is evanescent, writing leaves footprints.
evanescence noun [U]

evangelical adj., noun
adj.
1 of or belonging to a Christian group that emphasizes the authority of the Bible and the importance of people being saved through faith: They're evangelical Christians.
2 wanting very much to persuade people to accept your views and opinions: He delivered his speech with evangelical fervour.
evangelicalism noun [U]
noun a member of the evangelical branch of the Christian Church

evangelist noun
1 a person who tries to persuade people to become Christians, especially by travelling around the country holding religious meetings or speaking on radio or televisionsee also TELEVANGELIST
2 Evangelist one of the four writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) of the books called the GOSPELS in the Bible
evangelism noun [U] evangelistic adj.: an evangelistic meeting evangelistic zeal

evangelize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to try to persuade people to become Christians

evaporate verb
1 if a liquid evaporates or if sth evaporates it, it changes into a gas, especially steam: [V] Heat until all the water has evaporated. [VN] The sun is constantly evaporating the earth's moisture.
2 [V] to disappear, especially by gradually becoming less and less: Her confidence had now completely evaporated. Their lead in the opinion polls evaporated overnight.
evaporation noun [U]

evaporated milk noun [U] thick sweet milk sold in cans, often served with fruit instead of cream

evaporating dish noun (technical) a dish in which scientists heat a liquid, so that it leaves a solid when it has disappeared

evasion noun [C, U]
1 the act of avoiding sb or of avoiding sth that you are supposed to do: His behaviour was an evasion of his responsibilities as a father. She's been charged with tax evasion.
2 a statement that sb makes that avoids dealing with sth or talking about sth honestly and directly: His speech was full of evasions and half-truths.see also EVADE

evasive adj. not willing to give clear answers to a question CAGEY: evasive answers/comments/replies Tessa was evasive about why she had not been at home that night. John, normally so honest, was now being evasive in the extreme.
evasively adv.: 'I'm not sure,' she replied evasively. evasiveness noun [U]: Politicians are often accused of evasiveness.
take evasive action to act in order to avoid danger or an unpleasant situation: The pilot had to take evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision.

eve noun
1 the day or evening before an event, especially a religious festival or holiday: Christmas Eve (= 24 December) a New Year's Eve party (= on 31 December) on the eve of the election
2 (old use or literary) evening: one midsummer's eve

even adv., adj., verb
adv.
1 used to emphasize sth unexpected or surprising: He never even opened the letter (= so he certainly didn't read it). It was cold there even in summer (= so it must have been very cold in winter). Even a child can understand it (= so adults certainly can). She didn't even call to say she wasn't coming.
2 used when you are comparing things, to make the comparison stronger: You know even less about it than I do. She's even more intelligent than her sister.
3 used to introduce a more exact description of sb/sth: It's an unattractive building, ugly even. note at ALTHOUGH
even as (formal) just at the same time as sb does sth or as sth else happens: Even as he shouted the warning the car skidded.
even if/though despite the fact or belief that; no matter whether: I'll get there, even if I have to walk. I like her, even though she can be annoying at times. note at ALTHOUGH
even now/then
1 despite what has/had happened: I've shown him the photographs but even now he won't believe me. Even then she would not admit her mistake.
2 (formal) at this or that exact moment: The troops are even now preparing to march into the city.
even so despite that: There are a lot of spelling mistakes; even so, it's quite a good essay.more at LESS adv.
adj.
SMOOTH/LEVEL
1 smooth, level and flat: You need an even surface to work on. UNEVEN
NOT CHANGING
2 not changing very much in amount, speed, etc.: an even temperature all year Children do not learn at an even pace. UNEVEN
EQUAL
3 (of an amount of sth) equal or the same for each person, team, place, etc.: Our scores are now even. the even distribution of food UNEVEN
4 (of two people or teams) equally balanced or of an equal standard: an even contest The two players were pretty even. UNEVEN
NUMBERS
5 that can be divided exactly by two: 4, 6, 8, 10 are all even numbers ODD
SAME SIZE
6 equally spaced and the same size: even features/teeth UNEVEN
CALM
7 calm; not changing or becoming upset: She has a very even temperament. He spoke in a steady, even voice. Nothing disturbed the even tenor of our life.

evenness noun [U]: What she liked in him was his evenness of temper.
be even (informal) to no longer owe sb money or a favour: If I pay for the meals then we're even.
be/get even (with sb) (informal) to cause sb the same amount of trouble or harm as they have caused you: I'll get even with you for this, just you wait.
break even to complete a piece of business, etc. without either losing money or making a profit: The company just about broke even last year.
have an even chance (of doing sth) to be equally likely to do or not do sth: She has more than an even chance of winning tomorrow. There's an even chance that the jury will find him guilty.
on an even keel living, working or happening in a calm way, with no sudden changes, especially after a difficult time: Business is now back on an even keel after the postal strike. Setting her life back on an even keel after their break-up had been incredibly difficult.more at HONOUR n.
verb
even the score to harm or punish sb who has harmed or cheated you in the past
even out to become level or steady, usually after varying a lot: House prices keep rising and falling but they should eventually even out.
even sthout to spread things equally over a period of time or among a number of people: He tried to even out the distribution of work among his employees.
even sthup to make a situation or a competition more equal

even-handed adj. completely fair, especially when dealing with different groups of people: He had an even-handed approach to the negotiations. Their role was to dispense even-handed justice.

evening noun
1 [C, U] the part of the day between the afternoon and the time you go to bed: I'll see you tomorrow evening. Come over on Thursday evening. What do you usually do in the evening? She's going to her sister's for the evening. the long winter evenings the evening performance Evening was falling by the time we reached the house.see also GOOD EVENING
2 [C] an event of a particular type happening in the evening: a musical evening at school (= when music is performed)
evenings adv. (especially NAmE): He works evenings. see OTHER adj.

evening class noun a course of study for adults in the evening: an evening class in car maintenance to go to/attend evening classes

evening dress noun
1 [U] elegant clothes worn for formal occasions in the evening: Everyone was in evening dress.
2 [C] a woman's long formal dress

evening paper noun a newspaper published in the afternoon or early evening: the local evening paper

evening primrose noun [C, U] a plant with yellow flowers that open in the evening, sometimes used as a medicine

the evening star noun [sing.] the planet Venus, when it is seen in the western sky after the sun has set

evenly adv.
1 in a smooth, regular or equal way: Make sure the paint covers the surface evenly. She was fast asleep, breathing evenly. evenly spaced at four cm apart evenly cooked meat Arrange the tomato slices evenly on the top.
2 with equal amounts for each person or in each place: evenly distributed/divided Incidence of the disease is fairly evenly spread across Europe. The two teams are very evenly matched (= are equally likely to win).
3 calmly; without showing any emotion: 'I warned you not to phone me,' he said evenly.

even money noun (BrE also evens [pl.]) (in betting) ODDS that give an equal chance of winning or losing and that mean a person has the chance of winning the same amount of money that he or she has bet

evensong NAmE noun [U] the service of evening prayer in the Anglican Churchcompare MATINS, VESPERS

event noun
1 a thing that happens, especially sth important: The election was the main event of 2004. In the light of later events the decision was proved right. The decisions we take now may influence the course of events (= the way things happen) in the future. He found that the report he had written had been overtaken by events (= it was no longer relevant). Everyone was frightened by the strange sequence of events. The police have reconstructed the chain of events leading to the murder. In the normal course of events (= if things had happened as expected) she would have gone with him. an unfortunate series of events
2 a planned public or social occasion: a fund-raising event the social event of the year
3 one of the races or competitions in a sports programme: The 800 metres is the fourth event of the afternoon.see also FIELD EVENT, TRACK EVENT
after the event (BrE) after sth has happened: Anyone can be wise after the event.
in any event | at all events used to emphasize or show that sth is true or will happen in spite of other circumstances IN ANY CASE: I think she'll agree to do it but in any event, all she can say is 'no'.
in the event when the situation actually happened: I got very nervous about the exam, but in the event, I needn't have worried; it was really easy.
in the event of sth | in the event that sth happens if sth happens: In the event of an accident, call this number. Sheila will inherit everything in the event of his death.
in that event if that happens: In that event, we will have to reconsider our offer.more at HAPPY, WISE adj.

even-tempered adj. not easily made angry or upset

eventful adj. full of things that happen, especially exciting, important or dangerous things: an eventful day/life/journey

eventide noun [U] (old use or literary) evening

eventing (also three-day eventing) noun [U] the sport of taking part in competitions riding horses. These are often held over three days and include riding across country, jumping and DRESSAGE.

eventual adj. [only before noun] happening at the end of a period of time or of a process: the eventual winner of the tournament It is impossible to predict what the eventual outcome will be. The village school may face eventual closure.

eventuality noun (pl. -ies) (formal) something that may possibly happen, especially sth unpleasant: We were prepared for every eventuality. The money had been saved for just such an eventuality. In the eventuality of your passport being stolen, contact the embassy at once. The instructions he left covered all eventualities.

eventually adv. at the end of a period of time or a series of events: Our flight eventually left five hours late. I'll get round to mending it eventually. She hopes to get a job on the local newspaper and eventually work for 'The Times'. Use finally for the last in a list of things.

eventuate verb [V] (formal) to happen as a result of sth

ever adv.
1 used in negative sentences and questions, or sentences with if to mean 'at any time': Nothing ever happens here. Don't you ever get tired? If you're ever in Miami, come and see us. 'Have you ever thought of changing your job?' 'No, never/No I haven't.' 'Have you ever been to Rome?' 'Yes, I have, actually. Not long ago.' She hardly ever (= almost never) goes out. We see them very seldom, if ever. (informal) I'll never ever do that again!
2 used for emphasis when you are comparing things: It was raining harder than ever. It's my best ever score.
3 (rather formal) all the time or every time; always: Paul, ever the optimist, agreed to try again. She married the prince and they lived happily ever after. He said he would love her for ever (and ever). Their debts grew ever larger (= kept increasing). the ever-growing problem an ever-present danger
4 used after when, why, etc. to show that you are surprised or shocked: Why ever did you agree?
all sb ever does is ... used to emphasize that sb does the same thing very often, usually in an annoying way: All he ever does is grumble about things.
did you ever ( ... )! (old-fashioned, informal) used to show that you are surprised or shocked: Did you ever hear anything like it?
ever since ( ... ) continuously since the time mentioned: He's had a car ever since he was 18. I was bitten by a dog once and I've been afraid of them ever since.
ever so/ever such a (informal, especially BrE) very; really: He looks ever so smart. She's ever such a nice woman. It's ever so easy.
if ever there was (one) (informal) used to emphasize that sth is certainly true: That was a disaster if ever there was one!
was/is/does, etc. sb ever! (informal, especially NAmE) used to emphasize sth you are talking about: 'You must have been upset by that.' 'Was I ever!'
yours ever/ever yours sometimes used at the end of an informal letter, before you write your name

evergreen NAmE noun a tree or bush that has green leaves all through the year: Few plants grow under the dense shade cast by the evergreens.compare CONIFER, DECIDUOUS
evergreen adj.: evergreen shrubs (figurative) a new production of Rossini's evergreen (= always popular) opera

everlasting NAmE adj.
1 continuing for ever; never changing ETERNAL: everlasting life/love an everlasting memory of her smile To his everlasting credit, he never told anyone what I'd done.
2 (disapproving) continuing too long; repeated too often CONSTANT, INTERMINABLE, NEVER-ENDING: I'm tired of your everlasting complaints.
everlastingly adv.

evermore NAmE (also for evermore) adv. (literary) always

every det.
1 used with singular nouns to refer to all the members of a group of things or people: She knows every student in the school. I could hear every word they said. We enjoyed every minute of our stay. Every day seemed the same to him. Every single time he calls, I'm out. I read every last article in the newspaper (= all of them). They were watching her every movement. Every one of their CDs has been a hit. note at EACH
2 all possible: We wish you every success. He had every reason to be angry.
3 used to say how often sth happens or is done: The buses go every 10 minutes. We had to stop every few miles. One in every three marriages ends in divorce. He has every third day off (= he works for two days then has one day off then works for two days and so on). We see each other every now and again. Every now and then he regretted his decision.
every other each ALTERNATE one (= the first, third, fifth, etc. one, but not the second, fourth, sixth, etc.): They visit us every other week.

everybody NAmE pron. = EVERYONE: Everybody knows Tom. Have you asked everybody? Didn't you like it? Everybody else did.

everyday adj. [only before noun] used or happening every day or regularly; ordinary: everyday objects The Internet has become part of everyday life. a small dictionary for everyday use

Everyman noun [sing.] an ordinary or typical person: a story of Everyman

everyone (also everybody) pron. every person; all people: Everyone cheered and clapped. Everyone has a chance to win. Everyone brought their partner to the party. (formal) Everyone brought his or her partner to the party. The police questioned everyone in the room. The teacher commented on everyone's work. Everyone else was there.

everyplace adv. (NAmE) = EVERYWHERE

everything pron. (with a singular verb)
1 all things: Everything had gone. When we confronted him, he denied everything. Take this bag, and leave everything else to me. She seemed to have everythinglooks, money, intelligence.
2 the situation now; life generally: Everything in the capital is now quiet. 'How's everything with you?' 'Fine, thanks.'
3 the most important thing: Money isn't everything. My family means everything to me.
and everything (informal) and so on; and other similar things: Have you got his name and address and everything? She told me about the baby and everything.

everywhere NAmE (NAmE also everyplace) adv., pron., conj. in, to or at every place; all places: I've looked everywhere. He follows me everywhere. We'll have to eat hereeverywhere else is full. Everywhere we went was full of tourists.

evict verb [VN] ~ sb (from sth) to force sb to leave a house or land, especially when you have the legal right to do so: A number of tenants have been evicted for not paying the rent. The council has tried to get them evicted.
eviction noun [U, C]: to face eviction from your home

evidence noun, verb
noun
1 [U, C] ~ (of/for sth)| ~ (that ... )| ~ (to suggest, show, etc.) the facts, signs or objects that make you believe that sth is true: There is convincing evidence of a link between exposure to sun and skin cancer. We found further scientific evidence for this theory. There is not a shred of evidence that the meeting actually took place. Have you any evidence to support this allegation? The room bore evidence of a struggle. On the evidence of their recent matches, it is unlikely the Spanish team will win the cup. (technical) The cave contained evidences of prehistoric settlement.
2 [U] the information that is used in court to try to prove sth: I was asked to give evidence (= to say what I knew, describe what I had seen, etc.) at the trial. He was released when the judge ruled there was no evidence against him.see also CIRCUMSTANTIAL
(be) in evidence present and clearly seen: The police were much in evidence at today's demonstration.
turn King's/Queen's evidence (BrE) (US turn state's evidence) to give information against other criminals in order to get a less severe punishmentcompare PLEA-BARGAININGmore at BALANCE n.
verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to prove or show sth; to be evidence of sth TESTIFY TO: The legal profession is still a largely male world, as evidenced by the small number of women judges.

evident adj. ~ (to sb) (that ... )| ~ (in/from sth) clear; easily seen OBVIOUS: It has now become evident to us that a mistake has been made. The growing interest in history is clearly evident in the number of people visiting museums and country houses. The orchestra played with evident enjoyment.see also SELF-EVIDENT note at CLEAR

evidently adv.
1 clearly; that can be seen or understood easily OBVIOUSLY: She walked slowly down the road, evidently in pain. 'I'm afraid I couldn't finish the work last night.' 'Evidently not.'
2 according to what people say APPARENTLY: Evidently, she had nothing to do with the whole affair.

evil adj., noun
adj.
1 (of people) enjoying harming others; morally bad and cruel: an evil man an evil grin
2 having a harmful effect on people; morally bad: evil deeds the evil effects of racism
3 connected with the DEVIL and with what is bad in the world: evil spirits
4 extremely unpleasant: an evil smell
the evil hour/day/moment (often humorous) the time when you have to do sth difficult or unpleasant: I'd better go and see the dentistI can't put off the evil hour any longer.more at BREW n., GENIUS n.
noun (formal)
1 [U] a force that causes bad things to happen; morally bad behaviour: the eternal struggle between good and evil the forces of evil You cannot pretend there's no evil in the world. GOOD
2 [C, usually pl.] a bad or harmful thing; the bad effect of sth: the evils of drugs/alcohol social evils see LESSER, NECESSARY

evil-doer noun (formal) a person who does very bad things

the evil eye noun [sing.] the magic power to harm sb by looking at them: symbols to ward off the evil eye to give somebody the evil eye (= to look at somebody and harm them by doing so)

evilly adv. in a morally bad or very unpleasant way: to grin evilly to look evilly at sb

evince verb [VN] (formal) to show clearly that you have a feeling or quality: He evinced a strong desire to be reconciled with his family. She evinced little enthusiasm for the outdoor life.

eviscerate verb [VN] (formal) to remove the inner organs of a body DISEMBOWEL

evocative NAmE adj. ~ (of sth) making you think of or remember a strong image or feeling, in a pleasant way: evocative smells/sounds/music Her new book is wonderfully evocative of village life.

evoke NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to bring a feeling, a memory or an image into your mind: The music evoked memories of her youth. His case is unlikely to evoke public sympathy.
evocation NAmE noun [C, U]: a brilliant evocation of childhood in the 1940s

evolution noun [U]
1 (biology) the gradual development of plants, animals, etc. over many years as they adapt to changes in their environment: the evolution of the human species Darwin's theory of evolution
2 the gradual development of sth: In politics Britain has preferred evolution to revolution (= gradual development to sudden violent change).

evolutionary NAmE adj. connected with evolution; connected with gradual development and change: evolutionary theory evolutionary change

evolutionist noun, adj.
noun a person who believes in the theories of EVOLUTION and NATURAL SELECTION
adj. relating to the theories of EVOLUTION and NATURAL SELECTION
evolutionism noun

evolve NAmE verb
1 ~ (sth) (from sth) (into sth) to develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complicated form; to develop sth in this way: [V] The idea evolved from a drawing I discovered in the attic. The company has evolved into a major chemical manufacturer. [VN] Each school must evolve its own way of working.
2 ~ (from sth) (biology) (of plants, animals, etc.) to develop over time, often many generations, into forms that are better adapted to survive changes in their environment: [V] The three species evolved from a single ancestor. [VN] The dolphin has evolved a highly developed jaw.

ewe noun a female sheep compare RAM

ewer noun a large JUG used in the past for carrying water

ex noun, prep.
noun (pl. exes) (informal) a person's former wife, husband or partner: The children are spending the weekend with my ex and his new wife.
prep. (BrE) not including sth: The price is £1 500 ex VAT.

ex- prefix (in nouns) former: ex-wife ex-president

exa- combining form (in units of measurement) 10^18: exajoule

exacerbate NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to make sth worse, especially a disease or problem AGGRAVATE: His aggressive reaction only exacerbated the situation. The symptoms may be exacerbated by certain drugs.
exacerbation noun [U, C]

exact adj., verb
adj.
1 correct in every detail PRECISE: She gave an exact description of the attacker. an exact copy/replica of the painting We need to know the exact time the incident occurred. What were his exact words? She's in her mid-thirtiesthirty-six to be exact. The colours were an exact match. He started to phone me at the exact moment I started to phone him (= at the same time). The two men were exact contemporaries at university. Her second husband was the exact opposite of her first (= completely different). note at TRUE
2 (of people) very accurate and careful about details METICULOUS, PRECISE
3 (of a science) using accurate measurements and following set rules PRECISE: Assessing insurance risk can never be an exact science.
exactness noun [U]
verb [VN] ~ sth (from sb) (formal)
1 to demand and get sth from sb: She was determined to exact a promise from him.
2 to make sth bad happen to sb: Stress can exact a high price from workers (= can affect them badly). He exacted (= took) a terrible revenge for their treatment of him.
exaction noun [C, U] (formal)

exacting adj. needing or demanding a lot of effort and care about details DEMANDING: exacting work products designed to meet the exacting standards of today's marketplace He was an exacting man to work for.

exactitude NAmE noun [U] (formal) the quality of being very accurate and exact: scientific exactitude

exactly adv.
1 used to emphasize that sth is correct in every way or in every detail PRECISELY: I know exactly how she felt. Do exactly as I tell you. It happened almost exactly a year ago. It's exactly nine o'clock. You haven't changed at allyou still look exactly the same. His words had exactly the opposite effect. Your answer is exactly right. It was a warm day, if not exactly hot.
2 (informal) used to ask for more information about sth: Where exactly did you stay in France? (disapproving) Exactly what are you trying to tell me?
3 used as a reply, agreeing with what sb has just said, or emphasizing that it is correct: 'You mean somebody in this room must be the murderer?' 'Exactly.'
not exactly (informal)
1 used when you are saying the opposite of what you really mean: He wasn't exactly pleased to see usin fact he refused to open the door. It's not exactly beautiful, is it? (= it's ugly)
2 used when you are correcting sth that sb has said: 'So he told you you'd got the job?' 'Not exactly, but he said they were impressed with me.'

exaggerate verb to make sth seem larger, better, worse or more important than it really is: [V] The hotel was really filthy and I'm not exaggerating. [VN] He tends to exaggerate the difficulties. I'm sure he exaggerates his Irish accent (= tries to sound more Irish than he really is). Demand for the product has been greatly exaggerated.

exaggerated adj.
1 made to seem larger, better, worse or more important than it really is or needs to be: to make greatly/grossly/wildly exaggerated claims She has an exaggerated sense of her own importance.
2 (of an action) done in a way that makes people notice it: an exaggerated laugh He looked at me with exaggerated surprise.
exaggeratedly adv.

exaggeration noun [C, usually sing., U] a statement or description that makes sth seem larger, better, worse or more important than it really is; the act of making a statement like this: a slight/gross/wild exaggeration It would be an exaggeration to say I knew her wellI only met her twice. It's no exaggeration to say that most students have never read a complete Shakespeare play. He told his story simply and without exaggeration.

exalt verb [VN] (formal)
1 to make sb rise to a higher rank or position, sometimes to one that they do not deserve: His son was exalted to a high position in the government through family connections.
2 to praise sb/sth very much: He was exalted as a pillar of the community.

exaltation noun [U] (formal)
1 a feeling of very great joy or happiness: a moment of extreme joy and exaltation
2 an act of raising sth/sb to a high position or rank: the exaltation of emotion above logical reasoning

exalted adj.
1 (formal or humorous) of high rank, position or great importance: She was the only woman to rise to such an exalted position. You're moving in very exalted circles!
2 (formal) full of great joy and happiness: I felt exalted and newly alive.

exam (also formal examination) noun
1 a formal written, spoken or practical test, especially at school or college, to see how much you know about a subject, or what you can do: to take an exam to pass/fail an exam an exam paper I got my exam results today. A lot of students suffer from exam nerves. (BrE) I hate doing exams. (BrE, formal) to sit an exam (BrE) to mark an exam (NAmE) to grade an exam (BrE) She did well in her exams. (NAmE) She did well on her exams.
2 (NAmE) a medical test of a particular part of the body: an eye exam

MORE ABOUT

exams

Exam is the usual word for a written, spoken or practical test at school or college, especially an important one that you need to do in order to get a qualification. Examination is a very formal word. A test is something that students might be given in addition to, or sometimes instead of, regular exams, to see how much they have learned. A very short informal test is called a quiz in NAmE. Quiz in both NAmE and BrE also means a contest in which people try to answer questions: a trivia quiza quiz show.

examination noun
1 [C] (formal) = EXAM: to sit an examination in mathematics successful candidates in GCSE examinations Applicants are selected for jobs on the results of a competitive examination. Use take/do/sit an examination not write an examination.
2 [U, C] the act of looking at or considering sth very carefully: Careful examination of the ruins revealed an even earlier temple. On closer examination it was found that the signature was not genuine. Your proposals are still under examination. The issue needs further examination. The chapter concludes with a brief examination of some of the factors causing family break-up.
3 [C] a close look at sth/sb, especially to see if there is anything wrong or to find the cause of a problem: a medical examination a post-mortem examinationsee also CROSS-EXAMINATION

examine verb
1 to consider or study an idea, a subject, etc. very carefully: [VN] These ideas will be examined in more detail in Chapter 10. [V wh-] It is necessary to examine how the proposals can be carried out.
2 [VN] ~ sth/sb (for sth) to look at sth/sb closely, to see if there is anything wrong or to find the cause of a problem: The goods were examined for damage on arrival. The doctor examined her but could find nothing wrong. note at CHECK
3 [VN] ~ sb (in/on sth) (formal) to give sb a test to see how much they know about a subject or what they can do: The students will be examined in all subjects at the end of term. You are only being examined on this semester's work.
4 [VN] (law) to ask sb questions formally, especially in courtsee also CROSS-EXAMINE see NEED v.

SYNONYMS

examine

review study take stock survey

These words all mean to think about, study or describe sb/sth carefully, especially in order to understand them, form an opinion of them or make a decision about them.

examine to think about, study or describe an idea, subject or piece of work very carefully: These ideas will be examined in more detail in Chapter 10.

review to examine sth again, especially so that you can decide if it is necessary to make changes: The government will review the situation later in the year.

study to examine sb/sth in order to understand them or it: We will study the report carefully before making a decision.

EXAMINE OR STUDY?

You examine sth in order to understand it or to help other people understand it, for example by describing it in a book; you study sth in order to understand it yourself.

take stock (of sth) to think carefully about the way in which a particular situation is developing in order to decide what to do next: It was time to stand back and take stock of his career.

survey to examine and give a general description of sth: This chapter briefly surveys the current state of European politics.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to examine/review/study/take stock of/survey what/how/whether

to examine/review/study/take stock of/survey the situation

to examine/review/study/survey the evidence

to examine/review/study/take stock of/survey sth briefly/regularly

to examine/review/study sth carefully/systematically/thoroughly/fully/further

to examine/review/study sth closely/in depth/in detail

examinee noun a person who is being tested to see how much they know about a subject or what they can do; a person who is taking an exam

examiner noun
1 a person who writes the questions for, or marks/grades, a test of knowledge or ability: The papers are sent to external examiners (= ones not connected with the students' school or college).
2 (especially NAmE) a person who has the official duty to check that things are being done correctly and according to the rules of an organization; a person who officially examines sthsee also MEDICAL EXAMINER

example NAmE noun
1 ~ (of sth) something such as an object, a fact or a situation that shows, explains or supports what you say: Can you give me an example of what you mean? It is important to cite examples to support your argument. I shall take four different examples from contemporary literature to illustrate my point. This dictionary has many examples of how words are used. Just to give you an example of his generosityhe gave me his old car and wouldn't take any money for it.
2 ~ (of sth) a thing that is typical of or represents a particular group or set: This is a good example of the artist's early work. It is a perfect example of a medieval castle. Japan is often quoted as the prime example of a modern industrial nation. It is a classic example of how not to design a new city centre.
3 ~ (to sb) a person or their behaviour that is thought to be a good model for others to copy: Her courage is an example to us all. He sets an example to the other students. She is a shining example of what people with disabilities can achieve. He is a captain who leads by example.
4 a person's behaviour, either good or bad, that other people copy: It would be a mistake to follow his example.
for example (abbr. e.g.) used to emphasize sth that explains or supports what you are saying; used to give an example of what you are saying: There is a similar word in many languages, for example in French and Italian. The report is incomplete; it does not include sales in France, for example. It is possible to combine Computer Science with other subjects, for example Physics.
make an example of sb to punish sb as a warning to others not to do the same thing

SYNONYMS

example

case instance specimen illustration

These are all words for a thing or situation that is typical of a particular group or set, and is sometimes used to support an argument.

example something such as an object, a fact or a situation that shows, explains or supports what you say; a thing that is typical of or represents a particular group or set: Can you give me an example of what you mean?

case a particular situation or a situation of a particular type; a situation that relates to a particular person or thing: In some cases people have had to wait several weeks for an appointment.

instance (rather formal) a particular situation or a situation of a particular type: The report highlights a number of instances of injustice.

specimen an example of sth, especially an animal or plant: The aquarium has some interesting specimens of unusual tropical fish.

illustration (rather formal) a story, an event or an example that clearly shows the truth about sth: The statistics are a clear illustration of the point I am trying to make.

EXAMPLE OR ILLUSTRATION?

An illustration is often used to show that sth is true. An example is used to help to explain sth.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

a(n) example/case/instance/specimen/illustration of sth

in a particular case/instance

for example/instance

exasperate BrE verb [VN] to annoy or irritate sb very much INFURIATE: Her moods exasperated him.
exasperation BrE noun [U]: He shook his head in exasperation. a groan/look/sigh of exasperation

exasperated BrE adj. extremely annoyed, especially if you cannot do anything to improve the situation INFURIATED: 'Why won't you answer me?' he asked in an exasperated voice. She was becoming exasperated with all the questions they were asking.

exasperating BrE adj. extremely annoying INFURIATING: He's the most difficult and exasperating man I know.

ex cathedra adv., adj. (formal, usually religion) speaking with the authority of your position: The Pope was speaking ex cathedra.

excavate verb [VN]
1 to dig in the ground to look for old buildings or objects that have been buried for a long time; to find sth by digging in this way: The site has been excavated by archaeologists. pottery and weapons excavated from the burial site
2 (formal) to make a hole, etc. in the ground by digging: The body was discovered when builders excavated the area.

excavation noun
1 [C, U] the activity of digging in the ground to look for old buildings or objects that have been buried for a long time
2 [C, usually pl.] a place where people are digging to look for old buildings or objects: The excavations are open to the public.
3 [U] the act of digging, especially with a machine

excavator noun
1 a large machine that is used for digging and moving earth
2 a person who digs in the ground to look for old buildings and objects

exceed verb [VN] (formal)
1 to be greater than a particular number or amount: The price will not exceed £100. His achievements have exceeded expectations.
2 to do more than the law or an order, etc. allows you to do: She was exceeding the speed limit (= driving faster than is allowed). The officers had exceeded their authority.see also EXCESS

exceedingly adv. (formal, becoming old-fashioned) extremely; very; very much EXCEPTIONALLY

excel verb (-ll-)
1 [V] ~ (in/at sth/at doing sth) to be very good at doing sth: She has always excelled in foreign languages. The team excels at turning defence into attack. As a child he excelled at music and art.
2 [VN] ~ yourself (BrE) to do extremely well and even better than you usually do: Rick's cooking was always good but this time he really excelled himself.

excellence noun [U] ~ (in sth) the quality of being extremely good: a reputation for academic excellence The hospital is recognized as a centre of excellence in research and teaching.see also PAR EXCELLENCE

Excellency noun His/Her/Your Excellency (pl. -ies) a title used when talking to or about sb who has a very important official position, especially an AMBASSADOR: Good evening, your Excellency. their Excellencies the French and Spanish Ambassadors

excellent adj.
1 extremely good: an excellent meal excellent service At $300 the bike is excellent value. She speaks excellent French. (informal) It was absolutely excellent.
2 used to show that you are very pleased about sth or that you approve of sth: You can all come? Excellent!
excellently adv.

except prep., conj., verb
prep. (also except for) used before you mention the only thing or person about which a statement is not true APART FROM: We work every day except Sunday. They all came except Matt. I had nothing on except for my socks. note at BESIDES
conj.~ (that ... ) used before you mention sth that makes a statement not completely true APART FROM THE FACT THAT: I didn't tell him anything except that I needed the money. Our dresses were the same except mine was red.
verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (from sth) (formal) to not include sb/sth: Children under five are excepted from the survey. The sanctions ban the sale of any products excepting medical supplies and food. Tours are arranged all year round (January excepted). see PRESENT adj.

exception noun
1 a person or thing that is not included in a general statement: Most of the buildings in the town are modern, but the church is an exception. With very few exceptions, private schools get the best exam results. Nobody had much money at the time and I was no exception.
2 a thing that does not follow a rule: Good writing is unfortunately the exception rather than the rule (= it is unusual). There are always a lot of exceptions to grammar rules.
the exception that proves the rule (saying) people say that sth is the exception that proves the rule when they are stating sth that seems to be different from the normal situation, but they mean that the normal situation remains true in general: Most electronics companies have not done well this year, but ours is the exception that proves the rule.
make an exception to allow sb not to follow the usual rule on one occasion: Children are not usually allowed in, but I'm prepared to make an exception in this case.
take exception to sth to object strongly to sth; to be angry about sth: I take great exception to the fact that you told my wife before you told me. No one could possibly take exception to his comments.
with the exception of except; not including: All his novels are set in Italy with the exception of his last.
without exception used to emphasize that the statement you are making is always true and everyone or everything is included: All students without exception must take the English examination.

exceptional adj.
1 unusually good OUTSTANDING: At the age of five he showed exceptional talent as a musician. The quality of the recording is quite exceptional. note at EXCELLENT
2 very unusual: This deadline will be extended only in exceptional circumstances. UNEXCEPTIONAL

exceptionally adv.
1 used before an adjective or adverb to emphasize how strong or unusual the quality is: The weather, even for January, was exceptionally cold. I thought Bill played exceptionally well.
2 only in unusual circumstances: Exceptionally, students may be accepted without formal qualifications.

excerpt NAmE noun ~ (from sth) a short piece of writing, music, film, etc. taken from a longer whole: Read the following excerpt from one of Milton's poems. They only played a short excerpt.
excerpt verb [VN] ~ sth (from sth): The document was excerpted from an unidentified FBI file.

excess noun, adj.
noun
1 [sing., U] ~ (of sth) more than is necessary, reasonable or acceptable: Are you suffering from an excess of stress in your life? In an excess of enthusiasm I agreed to work late. You can throw away any excess. He started drinking to excess after losing his job. The increase will not be in excess of (= more than) two per cent.
2 [C, U] an amount by which sth is larger than sth else: We cover costs up to £600 and then you pay the excess.
3 [C, usually sing.] (BrE) (NAmE deductible) the part of an insurance claim that a person has to pay while the insurance company pays the rest: There is an excess of £100 on each claim under this policy. Increasing the excess on home insurance from the standard £50 to £100 is likely to save 15%.
4 excesses [pl.] extreme behaviour that is unacceptable, illegal or immoral: We need a free press to curb government excesses. legislation to control the worst excesses of the press and the courts in relation to rape cases
adj. [only before noun] in addition to an amount that is necessary, usual or legal: Excess food is stored as fat. Driving with excess alcohol in the blood is a serious offence. The book is hard to obtain, because of excess demand following the author's appearance on TV.

excess baggage noun [U] bags, cases, etc. taken on to a plane that weigh more than the amount each passenger is allowed to carry without paying extra: (figurative) Trying to lose weight? Here are some suggestions to help you get rid of that excess baggage.

excessive adj. greater than what seems reasonable or appropriate: They complained about the excessive noise coming from the upstairs flat. The amounts she borrowed were not excessive. Excessive drinking can lead to stomach disorders. He claimed that the police had used excessive force.
excessively adv.: excessively high prices

exchange noun, verb
noun
GIVING AND RECEIVING
1 [C, U] an act of giving sth to sb or doing sth for sb and receiving sth in return: The exchange of prisoners took place this morning. We need to promote an open exchange of ideas and information. an exchange of glances/insults an exchange of fire (= between enemy soldiers) I buy you lunch and you fix my computer. Is that a fair exchange? Would you like my old TV in exchange for this camera? I'll type your report if you'll babysit in exchange.see also PART EXCHANGE
CONVERSATION/ARGUMENT
2 [C] a conversation or an argument: There was only time for a brief exchange. The Prime Minister was involved in a heated exchange with opposition MPs.
OF MONEY
3 [U] the process of changing an amount of one CURRENCY (= the money used in one country) for an equal value of another: currency exchange facilities Where can I find the best exchange rate/rate of exchange?see also FOREIGN EXCHANGE
BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES
4 [C] an arrangement when two people or groups from different countries visit each other's homes or do each other's jobs for a short time: Our school does an exchange with a school in France. Nick went on the French exchange. trade and cultural exchanges with China
BUILDING
5 (often Exchange) [C] (in compounds) a building where business people met in the past to buy and sell a particular type of goods: the old Corn Exchangesee also STOCK EXCHANGE
TELEPHONE
6 [C] = TELEPHONE EXCHANGE
verb [VN]
GIVE AND RECEIVE
1 ~ sth (with sb) to give sth to sb and at the same time receive the same type of thing from them: to exchange ideas/news/information Juliet and David exchanged glances (= they looked at each other). I shook hands and exchanged a few words with the manager. The two men exchanged blows (= hit each other). Everyone in the group exchanged email addresses. I heard them exchange words (= argue).
MONEY/GOODS
2 ~ A for B to give or return sth that you have and get sth different or better instead CHANGE: You can exchange your currency for dollars in the hotel. If it doesn't fit, take it back and the store will exchange it.
CONTRACTS
3 ~ contracts (especially BrE) to sign a contract with the person that you are buying sth from, especially a house or land: The firm has just exchanged contracts on a nine-acre site.
see WORD n.

exchangeable adj. that can be exchanged: These tokens are exchangeable for DVDs only.

exchequer noun [sing.]
1 (often the Exchequer) (in Britain) the government department that controls public money TREASURYsee also CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
2 the public or national supply of money: This resulted in a considerable loss to the exchequer.

excise^1 noun [U] a government tax on some goods made, sold or used within a country: new excise duties on low-alcohol drinks a sharp increase in vehicle excise an excise officer (= an official whose job is to collect excise)compare CUSTOMS note at TAX

excise^2 verb [VN] ~ sth (from sth) (formal) to remove sth completely: Certain passages were excised from the book.

excision noun [U, C] (formal or technical) the act of removing sth completely from sth; the thing removed: to demonstrate three types of surgical excision The numerous excisions have destroyed the literary value of the text.

excitable adj. (of people or animals) likely to become easily excited: a class of excitable ten-year-olds
excitability noun [U]

excite verb [VN]
1 to make sb feel very pleased, interested or enthusiastic, especially about sth that is going to happen: The prospect of a year in India greatly excited her.
2 to make sb nervous or upset and unable to relax: Don't excite yourself (= keep calm). Try not to excite your baby too much before bedtime.
3 ~ sth (in sb) to make sb feel a particular emotion or react in a particular way AROUSE: The European Parliament is not an institution which excites interest in voters. to excite attention/criticism/curiosity The news has certainly excited comment (= made people talk about it).
4 to make sb feel sexual desire AROUSE
5 (formal) to make a part of the body or part of a physical system more active STIMULATE

excited adj.
1 ~ (about/at/by sth)| ~ (to do sth) feeling or showing happiness and enthusiasm: The children were excited about opening their presents. I'm really excited at the prospect of working abroad. Don't get too excited by the sight of your name in print. He was very excited to be asked to play for Wales. The new restaurant is nothing to get excited about (= not particularly good). An excited crowd of people gathered around her.
2 nervous or upset and unable to relax: Some horses become excited when they're in traffic.
3 feeling sexual desire AROUSED
excitedly adv.: She waved excitedly as the car approached.

SYNONYMS

excited

ecstatic elated rapturous euphoric exhilarated on top of the world

These words all describe feeling or showing happiness and enthusiasm.

excited feeling or showing happiness and enthusiasm: The kids were excited about the holiday.

ecstatic very happy, excited and enthusiastic; showing this enthusiasm: Sally was ecstatic about her new job.

elated happy and excited because of sth good that has happened or will happen: I was elated with the thrill of success.

euphoric very happy and excited, but usually only for a short time: My euphoric mood could not last.

rapturous expressing extreme pleasure or enthusiasm: He was greeted with rapturous applause.

exhilarated happy and excited, especially after physical activity: She felt exhilarated with the speed.

on top of the world (informal) very excited or proud, especially about sth that you have achieved: I'm on top of the world. I never expected to do so well.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to be/feel excited/ecstatic/elated/euphoric/exhilarated/on top of the world

to look/seem/sound excited/ecstatic/elated

to be excited/ecstatic/elated/euphoric about/at sth

to be excited/elated/exhilarated by sth

to be ecstatic/elated/exhilarated with sth

a(n) excited/ecstatic/elated/euphoric mood

ecstatic/rapturous applause/praise

a(n) ecstatic/rapturous welcome/reception

excitement noun
1 [U] the state of feeling excited: The news caused great excitement among her friends. to feel a surge/thrill/shiver of excitement He was flushed with excitement at the thought. There was a note of excitement in his voice. The dog leapt and wagged its tail in excitement. In her excitement she dropped her glass.
2 [C] (formal) something that you find exciting: The new job was not without its excitements.

exciting adj. causing great interest or excitement: one of the most exciting developments in biology in recent years They waited and waited for something exciting to happen. an exciting prospect/possibility an exciting story/discovery I still find the job exciting.
excitingly adv.

SYNONYMS

exciting

dramatic heady thrilling exhilarating

These words all describe an event, experience or feeling that causes excitement.

exciting causing great interest or excitement: This is one of the most exciting developments in biology in recent years.

dramatic (of events or scenes) exciting and impressive: They watched dramatic pictures of the police raid on TV.

heady having a strong effect on your senses; making you feel excited and hopeful: the heady days of youth

thrilling exciting and enjoyable: Don't miss next week's thrilling episode!

exhilarating very exciting and enjoyable: My first parachute jump was an exhilarating experience.

EXCITING, THRILLING OR EXHILARATING?

Exhilarating is the strongest of these words and exciting the least strong. Exciting is the most general and can be used to talk about any activity, experience, feeling or event that excites you. Thrilling is used particularly for contests and stories where the ending is uncertain. Exhilarating is used particularly for physical activities that involve speed and/or danger.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

very/really exciting/dramatic/heady/thrilling/exhilarating

absolutely/totally thrilling/exhilarating

a(n) exciting/dramatic/thrilling story

a(n) exciting/dramatic/heady/thrilling/exhilarating experience/moment

a(n) exciting/dramatic/heady/thrilling atmosphere

a(n) exciting/dramatic/thrilling ending/finish/finale/victory/win

exclaim verb to say sth suddenly and loudly, especially because of strong emotion or pain: [V speech] 'It isn't fair!', he exclaimed angrily. [V] She opened her eyes and exclaimed in delight at the scene. [also V that] note at CALL

exclamation noun a short sound, word or phrase spoken suddenly to express an emotion. Oh!, Look out! and Ow! are exclamations: He gave an exclamation of surprise.

exclamation mark (especially BrE) (NAmE usually exclamation point) noun the mark ( ! ) that is written after an exclamation

exclamatory NAmE adj. (formal) (of language) expressing surprise or strong feelings

exclude verb [VN]
1 ~ sth (from sth) to deliberately not include sth in what you are doing or considering: The cost of borrowing has been excluded from the inflation figures. Try excluding fat from your diet. Buses run every hour, Sundays excluded. INCLUDE
2 ~ sb/sth (from sth) to prevent sb/sth from entering a place or taking part in sth: Women are still excluded from some London clubs. (BrE) Concern is growing over the number of children excluded from school (= not allowed to attend because of bad behaviour). She felt excluded by the other girls (= they did not let her join in what they were doing).
3 to decide that sth is not possible: We should not exclude the possibility of negotiation. The police have excluded theft as a motive for the murder. INCLUDE

excluding /ksklud/ prep. not including: Lunch costs £10 per person, excluding drinks.

exclusion noun
1 [U] ~ (of sb/sth) (from sth) the act of preventing sb/sth from entering a place or taking part in sth: He was disappointed with his exclusion from the England squad. Exclusion of air creates a vacuum in the bottle. Memories of the past filled her mind to the exclusion of all else.
2 [C] a person or thing that is not included in sth: Check the list of exclusions in the insurance policy.
3 [U] ~ (of sth) the act of deciding that sth is not possible: the exclusion of robbery as a motive
4 [U, C] (BrE) a situation in which a child is banned from attending school because of bad behaviour: the exclusion of disruptive students from school Two exclusions from one school in the same week is unusual. INCLUSION

exclusionary adj. (formal) designed to prevent a particular person or group of people from taking part in sth or doing sth

exclusion order noun (BrE) an official order not to go to a particular place: The judge placed an exclusion order on him, banning him from city centre shops.

exclusion zone noun an area where people are not allowed to enter because it is dangerous or is used for secret activities: Armed forces have set up an exclusion zone around the island.

exclusive adj., noun
adj.
1 only to be used by one particular person or group; only given to one particular person or group: The hotel has exclusive access to the beach. exclusive rights to televise the World Cup His mother has told 'The Times' about his death in an exclusive interview (= not given to any other newspaper).
2 (of a group, society, etc.) not very willing to allow new people to become members, especially if they are from a lower social class: He belongs to an exclusive club.
3 of a high quality and expensive and therefore not often bought or used by most people: an exclusive hotel exclusive designer clothes
4 not able to exist or be a true statement at the same time as sth else: The two options are not mutually exclusive (= you can have them both).
5 ~ of sb/sth not including sb/sth: The price is for accommodation only, exclusive of meals. INCLUSIVE
exclusively adv.: a charity that relies almost exclusively on voluntary contributions exclusiveness noun [U]
noun an item of news or a story about famous people that is published in only one newspaper or magazine: We feature an exclusive on the mothers whose babies were swapped at birth.

exclusivity (also exclusiveness ) noun [U] the quality of being exclusive: The resort still preserves a feeling of exclusivity. a designer whose clothes have not lost their exclusiveness

excommunicate verb [VN] ~ sb (for sth) to punish sb by officially stating that they can no longer be a member of a Christian Church, especially the Roman Catholic Church
excommunication noun [U, C]: They were threatened with excommunication.

excoriate verb [VN]
1 (medical) to irritate a person's skin so that it starts to come off
2 (formal) to criticize sb/sth severely
excoriation noun [U, C]

excrement noun [U] (formal) solid waste matter that is passed from the body through the BOWELS FAECES: the pollution of drinking water by untreated human excrement
excremental adj.

excrescence noun (formal) an ugly lump that has grown on a part of an animal's body or on a plant: A hard, bony excrescence was visible above one of the animal's hooves. (figurative) The new office block is an excrescence (= it is very ugly).

excreta noun [U] (formal) solid and liquid waste matter passed from the body: human excreta

excrete verb [V] (technical) to pass solid or liquid waste matter from the body
excretion noun [U, C]: the excretion of toxic substances through the skin

excretory NAmE adj. (biology) connected with getting rid of waste matter from the body: the excretory organs

excruciating adj. extremely painful or bad: The pain in my back was excruciating. She groaned at the memory, suffering all over again the excruciating embarrassment of those moments. note at PAINFUL
excruciatingly adv.: excruciatingly uncomfortable excruciatingly painful/boring/embarrassing

exculpate verb [VN] (formal) to prove or state officially that sb is not guilty of sth: The defendant was able to exculpate himself from liability.
exculpation noun [U]

excursion NAmE noun
1 a short journey made for pleasure, especially one that has been organized for a group of people: They've gone on an excursion to York. There are regular weekend excursions throughout the summer. note at TRIP
2 ~ into sth (formal) a short period of trying a new or different activity: After a brief excursion into drama, he concentrated on his main interest, which was poetry.

excusable adj. [not usually before noun] that can be excused FORGIVABLE: Doing it once was just about excusabledoing it twice was certainly not. INEXCUSABLE

excuse noun, verb
noun
1 ~ (for sth/for doing sth) a reason, either true or invented, that you give to explain or defend your behaviour: Late again! What's your excuse this time? There's no excuse for such behaviour. His excuse for forgetting her birthday was that he had lost his diary. You don't have to make excuses for her (= try to think of reasons for her behaviour). It's late. I'm afraid I'll have to make my excuses (= say I'm sorry, give my reasons and leave). note at REASON
2 ~ (for sth/for doing sth)| ~ (to do sth) a good reason that you give for doing sth that you want to do for other reasons: It's just an excuse for a party. It gave me an excuse to take the car.
3 a very bad example of sth: Why get involved with that pathetic excuse for a human being?
4 (NAmE) a note written by a parent or doctor to explain why a student cannot go to school or sb cannot go to work
verb
1 ~ sth| ~ sb (for sth/for doing sth) to forgive sb for sth that they have done, for example not being polite or making a small mistake: [VN] Please excuse the mess. I hope you'll excuse me for being so late. You must excuse my fatherhe's not always that rude. (BrE) You might be excused for thinking that Ben is in charge (= he is not, but it is an easy mistake to make). [VN -ing] (formal) Excuse my interrupting you.
2 [VN] ~ sth| ~ sb/yourself (for sth/for doing sth) to make your or sb else's behaviour seem less offensive by finding reasons for it JUSTIFY: Nothing can excuse such rudeness.
3 [VN] ~ sb/yourself (from sth) to allow sb to leave; to say in a polite way that you are leaving: Now if you'll excuse me, I'm a very busy man. She excused herself and left the meeting early.
4 ~ sb (from sth/from doing sth) [usually passive] to allow sb to not do sth that they should normally do: [VN] She was excused from giving evidence because of her age. [also VNN]
excuse me
1 used to politely get sb's attention, especially sb you do not know: Excuse me, is this the way to the station?
2 used to politely ask sb to move so that you can get past them: Excuse me, could you let me through?
3 used to say that you are sorry for interrupting sb or behaving in a slightly rude way: Guy sneezed loudly. 'Excuse me,' he said.
4 used to disagree politely with sb: Excuse me, but I don't think that's true.
5 used to politely tell sb that you are going to leave or talk to sb else: 'Excuse me for a moment,' she said and left the room.
6 (especially NAmE) used to say sorry for pushing sb or doing sth wrong: Oh, excuse me. I didn't see you there.
7 excuse me? (NAmE) used when you did not hear what sb said and you want them to repeat itmore at FRENCH n.

ex-directory adj. (BrE) (of a person or telephone number) not listed in the public telephone book, at the request of the owner of the telephone. The telephone company will not give ex-directory numbers to people who ask for them: an ex-directory number She's ex-directory.see also UNLISTED

exeat noun (BrE) permission from an institution such as a BOARDING SCHOOL to be away from it for a period of time

exec noun (informal) an executive in a business: The role of the chief exec is to empower the team.

execrable adj. (formal) very bad TERRIBLE: execrable poetry

executable adj. (computing) (of a file or program) that can be run by a computer

execute verb [VN]
1 [usually passive] ~ sb (for sth) to kill sb, especially as a legal punishment: He was executed for treason. The prisoners were executed by firing squad.
2 (formal) to do a piece of work, perform a duty, put a plan into action, etc.: They drew up and executed a plan to reduce fuel consumption. The crime was very cleverly executed. Check that the computer has executed your commands.
3 (formal) to successfully perform a skilful action or movement: The pilot executed a perfect landing.
4 (formal) to make or produce a work of art: Picasso also executed several landscapes at Horta de San Juan.
5 (law) to follow the instructions in a legal document; to make a document legally valid: His will was executed by his lawyers in 1978.

execution noun
1 [U, C] the act of killing sb, especially as a legal punishment: He faced execution by hanging for murder. Over 200 executions were carried out last year.
2 [U] (formal) the act of doing a piece of work, performing a duty, or putting a plan into action: He had failed in the execution of his duty. The idea was good, but the execution was poor. The company is liable for any damage caused by faulty execution of the building work.
3 [U] (formal) skill in performing or making sth, such as a piece of music or work of art: Her execution of the piano piece was perfect.
4 [U] (law) the act of following the instructions in a legal document, especially those in sb's WILL: The solicitors are proceeding with the execution of her mother's will. see STAY n.

executioner noun a public official whose job is to execute criminals

executive noun, adj.
noun
1 [C] a person who has an important job as a manager of a company or an organization: advertising/business/sales, etc. executives a chief/senior/top executive in a computer firm
2 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who run a company or an organization: The union's executive has/have yet to reach a decision.
3 the executive [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] the part of a government responsible for putting laws into effectcompare JUDICIARY, LEGISLATURE
adj. [only before noun]
1 connected with managing a business or an organization, and with making plans and decisions: She has an executive position in a finance company. executive decisions/duties/jobs/positions the executive dining room
2 having the power to put important laws and decisions into effect: executive authority an executive board/body/committee/officer Executive power is held by the president.
3 expensive; for the use of sb who is considered important: an executive car/home an executive suite (= in a hotel) an executive lounge (= at an airport)

the executive branch noun [sing.] (in the US) the part of the government that is controlled by the President

executive privilege noun [U] (in the US) the right of the President and the executive part of the government to keep official documents secret

executor noun (technical) a person, bank, etc. that is chosen by sb who is making their WILL to follow the instructions in it: She appointed him executor of her will.

exegesis noun [U, C] (pl. exegeses ) (formal) the detailed explanation of a piece of writing, especially religious writing: to provide an exegesis of a text biblical exegesis

exemplar noun (formal) a person or thing that is a good or typical example of sth MODEL: Her career was an exemplar of individual success at a time of great economic hardship.

exemplary adj.
1 providing a good example for people to copy: Her behaviour was exemplary. a man of exemplary character
2 [usually before noun] (law or formal) (of punishment) severe; used especially as a warning to others

exemplify verb (exemplifies, exemplifying, exemplified, exemplified) [VN] [often passive] (formal)
1 to be a typical example of sth: Her early work is exemplified in her book, 'A Study of Children's Minds'. His food exemplifies Italian cooking at its best.
2 to give an example in order to make sth clearer ILLUSTRATE: She exemplified each of the points she was making with an amusing anecdote.
exemplification noun [U, C]

exempt adj., verb
adj. [not before noun] ~ (from sth) if sb/sth is exempt from sth, they are not affected by it, do not have to do it, pay it, etc.: The interest on the money is exempt from tax. Some students are exempt from certain exams. Infant mortality was extremely high and the upper classes were not exempt.
-exempt (in compounds, forming adjectives): tax-exempt donations to charity
verb [VN] ~ sb/sth (from sth) (formal) to give or get sb's official permission not to do sth or not to pay sth they would normally have to do or pay: His bad eyesight exempted him from military service. In 1983, charities were exempted from paying the tax.

exemption noun
1 [U, C] ~ (from sth) official permission not to do sth or pay sth that you would normally have to do or pay: She was given exemption from the final examination.
2 [C] a part of your income that you do not have to pay tax on: a tax exemption on money donated to charity

exercise NAmE noun, verb
noun
ACTIVITY/MOVEMENTS
1 [U] physical or mental activity that you do to stay healthy or become stronger: Swimming is good exercise. I don't get much exercise sitting in the office all day. The mind needs exercise as well as the body. vigorous/gentle exercise (BrE) to take exercise
2 [C] a set of movements or activities that you do to stay healthy or develop a skill: breathing/relaxation/stretching exercises exercises for the piano Repeat the exercise ten times on each leg.
QUESTIONS
3 [C] a set of questions in a book that tests your knowledge or practises a skill: grammar exercises Do exercise one for homework.
USE OF POWER/RIGHT/QUALITY
4 [U] ~ of sth the use of power, a skill, a quality or a right to make sth happen: the exercise of power by the government the exercise of discretion
FOR PARTICULAR RESULT
5 [C] ~ (in sth) an activity that is designed to achieve a particular result: an exercise in public relations Staying calm was an exercise in self-control. a communications exercise In the end it proved a pointless exercise.
FOR SOLDIERS
6 [C, usually pl.] a set of activities for training soldiers: military exercises
CEREMONIES
7 exercises [pl.] (NAmE) ceremonies: college graduation exercises
verb
USE POWER/RIGHT/QUALITY
1 [VN] (formal) to use your power, rights or personal qualities in order to achieve sth: When she appeared in court she exercised her right to remain silent. He was a man who exercised considerable influence over people.
DO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
2 to do sports or other physical activities in order to stay healthy or become stronger; to make an animal do this: [V] an hour's class of exercising to music How often do you exercise? [VN] Horses need to be exercised regularly.
3 [VN] to give a part of the body the movement and activity it needs to keep strong and healthy: These movements will exercise your arms and shoulders.
BE ANXIOUS
4 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (about sth) (formal) if sb is exercised about sth, they are very anxious about it: The public are less exercised about this matter than the media. This very problem has exercised the minds of some of our most eminent scientists.

exercise bike noun a bicycle that does not move forward but is used for getting exercise indoors

exercise book noun
1 (BrE) (NAmE notebook) a small book for students to write their work in
2 (NAmE) = WORKBOOK

exert NAmE verb [VN]
1 to use power or influence to affect sb/sth: He exerted all his authority to make them accept the plan. The moon exerts a force on the earth that causes the tides.
2 ~ yourself to make a big physical or mental effort: In order to be successful he would have to exert himself.

exertion NAmE noun
1 [U] (also exertions [pl.]) physical or mental effort; the act of making an effort: She was hot and breathless from the exertion of cycling uphill. He needed to relax after the exertions of a busy day at work.
2 [sing.] the use of power to make sth happen: the exertion of force/strength/authority It requires no great exertion of the imagination to recognize the truth of this.

exeunt verb [V] (from Latin) used in a play as a written instruction that tells two or more actors to leave the stage: Exeunt Antony and Cleopatra.compare EXIT

exfoliate NAmE verb [V, VN] to remove dead cells from the surface of skin in order to make it smoother
exfoliation noun [U]: Regular deep-cleansing and exfoliation should be part of your beauty routine.

ex gratia adj. (from Latin) given or done as a gift or favour, not because there is a legal duty to do it: ex gratia payments
ex gratia adv.: The sum was paid ex gratia.

exhale verb to breathe out the air or smoke, etc. in your lungs: [V] He sat back and exhaled deeply. [VN] She exhaled the smoke through her nose. INHALE
exhalation noun [U, C]

exhaust noun, verb
noun
1 [U] waste gases that come out of a vehicle, an engine or a machine: car exhaust fumes/emissions
2 (also exhaust pipe) (also tailpipe especially in NAmE) [C] a pipe through which exhaust gases come out: My car needs a new exhaust.
verb [VN]
1 to make sb feel very tired WEAR OUT: Even a short walk exhausted her. There's no need to exhaust yourself clearing upwe'll do it.
2 to use all of sth so that there is none left: Within three days they had exhausted their supply of food. Don't give up until you have exhausted all the possibilities.
3 to talk about or study a subject until there is nothing else to say about it: I think we've exhausted that particular topic.

exhausted adj.
1 very tired: I'm exhausted! to feel completely/utterly exhausted The exhausted climbers were rescued by helicopter.
2 completely used or finished: You cannot grow crops on exhausted land.

exhausting adj. making you feel very tired: an exhausting day at work I find her exhaustingshe never stops talking.

exhaustion noun [U]
1 the state of being very tired: suffering from physical/mental/nervous exhaustion Her face was grey with exhaustion.
2 (formal) the act of using sth until it is completely finished: the exhaustion of natural resources

exhaustive adj. including everything possible; very thorough or complete: exhaustive research/tests This list is not intended to be exhaustive.
exhaustively adv.: Every product is exhaustively tested before being sold.

exhaust pipe noun = EXHAUST

exhibit verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (sth) (at/in ... ) to show sth in a public place for people to enjoy or to give them information: [VN] They will be exhibiting their new designs at the trade fairs. Only one painting was exhibited in the artist's lifetime. [V] He exhibits regularly in local art galleries.
2 [VN] (formal) to show clearly that you have or feel a particular feeling, quality or ability DISPLAY: The patient exhibited signs of fatigue and memory loss.
noun
1 an object or a work of art put in a public place, for example a museum, so that people can see it: The museum contains some interesting exhibits on Spanish rural life.
2 a thing that is used in court to prove that sb is guilty or not guilty: The first exhibit was a knife which the prosecution claimed was the murder weapon.
3 (NAmE) = EXHIBITION (1): The new exhibit will tour a dozen US cities next year.

exhibition noun
1 (especially BrE) (NAmE usually exhibit) [C] a collection of things, for example works of art, that are shown to the public: Have you seen the Picasso exhibition? an exhibition of old photographs
2 [U] ~ of sth the act of showing sth, for example works of art, to the public: She refused to allow the exhibition of her husband's work.
3 [sing.] an ~ of sth the act of showing a skill, a feeling, or a kind of behaviour: We were treated to an exhibition of the footballer's speed and skill. an appalling exhibition of bad manners
4 [C] (BrE) an amount of money that is given as a prize to a student
make an exhibition of yourself (disapproving) to behave in a bad or stupid way in public: I'm afraid Frank got drunk and made an exhibition of himself.

exhibitionism noun [U]
1 (disapproving) behaviour that is intended to make people notice or admire you
2 (psychology) the mental condition that makes sb want to show their sexual organs in public

exhibitionist noun (usually disapproving) a person who likes to make other people notice him or her: Children are natural exhibitionists.

exhibitor noun a person or a company that shows their work or products to the public: The work of over 500 exhibitors will be on display at the arts and crafts show.

exhilarate verb [VN] to make sb feel very happy and excited: Speed had always exhilarated him.
exhilarated adj.: I felt exhilarated after a morning of skiing. note at EXCITED exhilaration noun [U]: the exhilaration of performing on stage

exhilarating adj. very exciting and enjoyable: My first parachute jump was an exhilarating experience. note at EXCITING

exhort NAmE verb ~ sb (to sth/to do sth) (formal) to try hard to persuade sb to do sth URGE: [VN to inf] The party leader exhorted his members to start preparing for government. [VN] They had been exhorted to action. [also V speech, VN speech]
exhortation NAmE noun [C, U]

exhume NAmE verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to remove a dead body from the ground especially in order to examine how the person died DIG UP: The body was exhumed on the order of the judge.
exhumation noun [U]: A committee was appointed to supervise the exhumation and identification of the bodies.

exigency noun [C, usually pl., U] (pl. -ies) (formal) an urgent need or demand that you must deal with DEMAND: the exigencies of war financial exigencies

exiguous adj. (formal) very small in size or amount; hardly enough: an exiguous salary

exile noun, verb
noun
1 [U, sing.] the state of being sent to live in another country that is not your own, especially for political reasons or as a punishment: to be/live in exile to be forced/sent into exile to go into exile a place of exile He returned after 40 years of exile.
2 [C] a person who chooses, or is forced to live away from his or her own country: political exiles a tax exile (= a rich person who moves to another country where taxes are lower)
verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (from ... ) to force sb to leave their country, especially for political reasons or as a punishment; to send sb into exile: the party's exiled leaders

exist verb [V]
1 (not used in the progressive tenses) to be real; to be present in a place or situation: Does life exist on other planets? The problem only exists in your head, Jane. Few of these monkeys still exist in the wild. On his retirement the post will cease to exist. The charity exists to support victims of crime.
2 ~ (on sth) to live, especially in a difficult situation or with very little money: We existed on a diet of rice. They can't exist on the money he's earning.

existence noun
1 [U] the state or fact of being real or living or of being present: I was unaware of his existence until today. This is the oldest Hebrew manuscript in existence. Pakistan came into existence as an independent country after the war. a crisis that threatens the industry's continued existence
2 [C] a way of living especially when this is difficult or boring: The family endured a miserable existence in a cramped apartment. We led a poor but happy enough existence as children. They eke out a precarious existence (= they have hardly enough money to live on). The peasants depend on a good harvest for their very existence (= in order to continue to live).

existent adj., noun
adj. (formal) existing; real: creatures existent in nature NON-EXISTENT
noun (philosophy) a thing that is real and exists: The self is the only knowable existent.

existential adj. [only before noun]
1 (formal) connected with human existence
2 (philosophy) connected with the theory of existentialism

existentialism noun [U] (philosophy) the theory that humans are free and responsible for their own actions in a world without meaning
existentialist noun: Sartre was an existentialist. existentialist adj.: existentialist theory

existing adj. [only before noun] found or used now: New laws will soon replace existing legislation.

exit noun, verb
noun
1 a way out of a public building or vehicle: Where's the exit? There is a fire exit on each floor of the building. The emergency exit is at the back of the bus.compare ENTRANCE
2 an act of leaving, especially of an actor from the stage: The heroine made her exit to great applause. He made a quick exit to avoid meeting her. an exit visa (= a stamp in a passport giving sb permission to leave a particular country) an exit wound (= where a bullet that has entered sb's body comes out again)
3 a place where vehicles can leave a road to join another road: Leave the roundabout at the second exit. Take the exit for Trento.
verb
1 (formal) to go out; to leave a building, stage, vehicle, etc.: [V] The bullet entered her back and exited through her chest. We exited via a fire door. [VN] As the actors exited the stage the lights went on.
2 to finish using a computer program: [V] To exit from this page, press the return key. [VN] I exited the database and switched off the computer.
3 [V] exit ... used in the instructions printed in a play to say that an actor must leave the stage: Exit Macbethcompare EXEUNT

exit poll noun in an exit poll immediately after an election, people are asked how they voted, in order to predict the result of the election

ex libris adv. written in the front of a book before the name of the person the book belongs to: ex libris David Harries

exocrine NAmE adj. (biology) connected with GLANDS that do not put substances directly into the blood but export their product through tubes for use outside the body: exocrine glandscompare ENDOCRINE

exodus noun [sing.] ~ (from ... ) (to ... ) (formal or humorous) a situation in which many people leave a place at the same time: the mass exodus from Paris to the country in the summer The play was so awful that there was a general exodus from the theatre at the interval.

ex officio NAmE adj. (from Latin, formal) included or allowed because of your job, position or rank: an ex officio member of the committee
ex officio adv.: He was present at the meeting ex officio.

exogamy NAmE noun [U] (technical) marriage outside your family or CASTE (= division of society)compare ENDOGAMY
exogamous NAmE adj.

exogenous NAmE adj. (medical) (of a disease or SYMPTOM) having a cause that is outside the bodycompare ENDOGENOUS

exoglossic NAmE adj. (linguistics) (of a language) used as a foreign or second language in a particular country or community and not as a first languagecompare ENDOGLOSSIC

exonerate NAmE verb [VN] ~ sb (from sth) (formal) to officially state that sb is not responsible for sth that they have been blamed for: The police report exonerated Lewis from all charges of corruption.
exoneration NAmE noun [U]

exonormative NAmE adj. (linguistics) based on the way a country's second language is used in the country it came from originally, rather than the way it is used by local speakerscompare ENDONORMATIVE

exorbitant NAmE adj. (formal) (of a price) much too high: exorbitant costs/fares/fees/prices/rents It's a good hotel but the prices are exorbitant.
exorbitantly adv.: Prices are exorbitantly high in this shop.

exorcism NAmE noun [U, C]
1 the act of getting rid of an evil spirit from a place or a person's body by prayers or magic; a ceremony where this is done: A priest performed an exorcism and afterwards the ghost disappeared.
2 (formal) the act of making yourself forget a bad experience or memory

exorcist NAmE noun a person who makes evil spirits leave a place or a person's body by prayers or magic: An exorcist was called in to get rid of the ghost.

exorcize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN]
1 ~ sth (from sb/sth) to make an evil spirit leave a place or sb's body by special prayers or magic: The ghost was exorcized from the house.
2 (formal) to remove sth that is bad or painful from your mind: She had managed to exorcize these unhappy memories from her mind.

exoskeleton NAmE noun (biology) a hard outer covering that protects the bodies of certain animals, such as insectscompare ENDOSKELETON

exosphere NAmE noun the exosphere [sing.] the region near the edge of a planet's atmosphere

exothermic NAmE adj. (chemistry) (of a chemical reaction) producing heatcompare ENDOTHERMIC

exotic NAmE adj. from or in another country, especially a tropical one; seeming exciting and unusual because it is connected with foreign countries: brightly-coloured exotic flowers/plants/birds She travels to all kinds of exotic locations all over the world.

exotica NAmE noun [U] unusual and exciting things, especially from other countries: a sale of antiques and exotica

exotic dancer noun an entertainer who dances with very few clothes on, or who removes clothes while dancing

exoticism NAmE noun [U] (formal) the quality of being exciting and unusual that sth has because it is connected with foreign countries

expand verb
1 to become greater in size, number or importance; to make sth greater in size, number or importance: [V] Metals expand when they are heated. Student numbers are expanding rapidly. A child's vocabulary expands through reading. The waist expands to fit all sizes. [VN] In breathing the chest muscles expand the rib cage and allow air to be sucked into the lungs. The new system expanded the role of family doctors. There are no plans to expand the local airport. CONTRACT
2 if a business expands or is expanded, new branches are opened, it makes more money, etc.: [VN] We've expanded the business by opening two more stores. [V] an expanding economy (= with more businesses starting and growing)
3 [V] to talk more; to add details to what you are saying: I repeated the question and waited for her to expand.
expand on/upon sth to say more about sth and add some details: Could you expand on that point, please?

expandable adj. ~ (to sth) (especially technical) that can be expanded: an expandable briefcase The system has 256 MB RAM, expandable to 2GB.

expanded polystyrene (also StyrofoamTM especially in NAmE) noun [U] a form of POLYSTYRENE used for protecting objects in packages and for stopping heat, noise, etc. from escaping

expanse noun ~ (of sth) a wide and open area of sth, especially land or water: a wide/vast expanse of blue sky flat expanses of open farmland

expansion noun [U, C] an act of increasing or making sth increase in size, amount or importance: a period of rapid economic expansion Despite the recession the company is confident of further expansion. The expansion of higher education will continue. The book is an expansion of a series of lectures given last year.

expansionary adj. (formal) encouraging economic expansion: This budget will have a net expansionary effect on the economy.

expansion card (also add-in) noun (computing) a CIRCUIT BOARD that can be put into a computer to give it more memory or make it able to do more things

expansionism noun [U] (sometimes disapproving) the belief in and process of increasing the size and importance of sth, especially in a country or a business: the economic expansionism of America military/territorial expansionism
expansionist adj.: expansionist policies expansionist noun: He was a ruthless expansionist.

expansive adj.
1 covering a large amount of space: She opened her arms wide in an expansive gesture of welcome. landscape with expansive skies He waved an expansive arm (= in an expansive movement).
2 covering a large subject area, rather than trying to be exact and use few words: We need to look at a more expansive definition of the term. The piece is written in his usual expansive style.
3 friendly and willing to talk a lot: She was clearly relaxed and in an expansive mood.
4 (especially of a period of time) encouraging economic EXPANSION: In the expansive 1990s bright graduates could advance rapidly.
expansively adv.: He waved his arms expansively. expansiveness noun [U]

expansivity noun [U, C] (physics) the amount by which a material gets larger or smaller if the temperature changes by one degree

expatiate verb
expatiate on/upon sth (formal) to write or speak in detail about a subject

expatriate NAmE (also informal expat) noun a person living in a country that is not their own: American expatriates in Paris
expatriate adj. [only before noun]: expatriate Britons in Spain expatriate workers

expect verb
1 to think or believe that sth will happen or that sb will do sth: [VN] We are expecting a rise in food prices this month. Don't expect sympathy from me! That's not the sort of behaviour I expect of you! [V to inf] You can't expect to learn a foreign language in a few months. I looked back, half expecting to see someone following me. [VN to inf] House prices are expected to rise sharply. I didn't expect him to become a successful writer. Do you really expect me to believe you? [V (that)] Many people were expecting (that) the peace talks would break down. [VN that] It is expected that the report will suggest some major reforms.
2 (often used in the progressive tenses) to be waiting for sb/sth to arrive, as this has been arranged: [VN] to expect a visit/call/letter from sb Are you expecting visitors? [VN, VN to inf] We were expecting him yesterday. We were expecting him to arrive yesterday.
3 ~ sth (of/from sb) to demand that sb will do sth because it is their duty or responsibility: [VN] Her parents expected high standards from her. Are you clear what is expected of you? He's still getting over his illness, so don't expect too much from him. [VN to inf] They expected all their children to be high achievers. We are expected to work on Saturdays. [V to inf] I expect to be paid promptly for the work. [also V that] note at DEMAND
4 (informal, especially BrE) (not used in the progressive tenses) used when you think sth is probably true: [V] 'Will you be late?' 'I expect so.' 'Are you going out tonight?' 'I don't expect so.' [V, V that] 'Who's eaten all the cake?' 'Tom, I expect/I expect it was Tom.' 'That' is nearly always left out.compare UNEXPECTED
be expecting a baby/child (informal) to be pregnant: Ann's expecting a baby in June.
be (only) to be expected to be likely to happen; to be quite normal: A little tiredness after taking these drugs is to be expected.
what (else) do you expect? (informal) used to tell sb not to be surprised by sth: She swore at you? What do you expect when you treat her like that?

expectancy noun [U] the state of expecting or hoping that sth, especially sth good or exciting, will happen: There was an air of expectancy among the waiting crowd.see also LIFE EXPECTANCY

expectant adj.
1 hoping for sth, especially sth good and exciting: children with expectant faces waiting for the fireworks to begin A sudden roar came from the expectant crowd.
2 ~ mother/father/parent used to describe sb who is going to have a baby soon or become a father: Smoking by expectant mothers may increase the chances of brain damage in their babies.
expectantly adv.: She looked at him expectantly. waiting expectantly

expectation noun
1 [U, C] ~ (of sth)| ~ (that ... ) a belief that sth will happen because it is likely: We are confident in our expectation of a full recovery. There was a general expectation that he would win. I applied for the post more in hope than expectation. The expectation is that property prices will rise. Contrary to expectations, interest rates did not rise. Against all expectations, she was enjoying herself.
2 [C, usually pl., U] a hope that sth good will happen: She went to college with great expectations. There was an air of expectation and great curiosity. The results exceeded our expectations. The numbers attending fell short of expectations. The event did not live up to expectations.
3 [C, usually pl.] a strong belief about the way sth should happen or how sb should behave: Some parents have unrealistic expectations of their children. Unfortunately the new software has failed to meet expectations.

expectation of life noun [U] = LIFE EXPECTANCY

expected adj. that you think will happen: Double the expected number of people came to the meeting. this year's expected earningscompare UNEXPECTED

expectorant noun (medical) a cough medicine that helps you to get rid of thick liquid (= PHLEGM) from the lungs

expectorate verb [V] (formal) to cough and make PHLEGM come up from your lungs into your mouth so you can SPIT it out
expectoration noun [U]

expedient noun, adj.
noun an action that is useful or necessary for a particular purpose, but not always fair or right: The disease was controlled by the simple expedient of not allowing anyone to leave the city.
adj. [not usually before noun] (of an action) useful or necessary for a particular purpose, but not always fair or right: The government has clearly decided that a cut in interest rates would be politically expedient. INEXPEDIENT
expediency noun [U]: He acted out of expediency, not principle. expediently adv.

expedite verb [VN] (formal) to make a process happen more quickly SPEED UP: We have developed rapid order processing to expedite deliveries to customers.

expedition noun
1 an organized journey with a particular purpose, especially to find out about a place that is not well known: to plan/lead/go on an expedition to the North Pole
2 the people who go on an expedition: Three members of the Everest expedition were killed.
3 (sometimes humorous) a short trip that you make when you want or need sth: a shopping expedition note at TRIP

expeditionary force NAmE noun a group of soldiers who are sent to another country to fight in a war

expeditious adj. (formal) that works well without wasting time, money, etc. EFFICIENT: the most expeditious method of dealing with the situation
expeditiously adv.: The work was carried out as expeditiously as possible.

expel verb (-ll-) [VN] ~ sb/sth (from sth)
1 to officially make sb leave a school or an organization: She was expelled from school at 15. Olympic athletes expelled for drug-taking
2 to force sb to leave a country: Foreign journalists are being expelled. Thousands of Jews had been expelled from the city.
3 (technical) to force air or water out of a part of the body or from a container: to expel air from the lungssee also EXPULSION

expend verb [VN] ~ sth (in/on sb)| ~ sth (in/on/doing sth) (formal) to use or spend a lot of time, money, energy, etc.: She expended all her efforts on the care of home and children. Smith had expended large sums in pursuing his claim through the court. Most animals expend a lot of energy searching for food.

expendable adj. (formal) if you consider people or things to be expendable, you think that you can get rid of them when they are no longer needed, or think it is acceptable if they are killed or destroyed DISPENSABLE

expenditure noun [U, C]
1 the act of spending or using money; an amount of money spent: a reduction in public/government/military expenditure plans to increase expenditure on health The budget provided for a total expenditure of £27 billion. Savings have been disposed of in order to meet the growing gap between income and expenditure. note at COSTS
2 the use of energy, time, materials, etc.: the expenditure of emotion This study represents a major expenditure of time and effort.compare INCOME

expense noun
1 [U] the money that you spend on sth: The garden was transformed at great expense. No expense was spared (= they spent as much money as was needed) to make the party a success. He's arranged everything, no expense spared. She always travels first-class regardless of expense. The results are well worth the expense. note at PRICE
2 [C, usually sing.] something that makes you spend money: Running a car is a big expense.
3 expenses [pl.] money spent in doing a particular job, or for a particular purpose: living/household/medical/legal, etc. expenses Can I give you something towards expenses? financial help to meet the expenses of an emergency The payments he gets barely cover his expenses. note at COSTS
4 expenses [pl.] money that you spend while you are working that your employer will pay back to you later: You can claim back your travelling/travel expenses. (BrE) to take a client out for a meal on expenses an all-expenses-paid trip note at COSTS
at sb's expense
1 paid for by sb: We were taken out for a meal at the company's expense.
2 if you make a joke at sb's expense, you laugh at them and make them feel silly
at the expense of sb/sth with loss or damage to sb/sth: He built up the business at the expense of his health. an education system that benefits bright children at the expense of those who are slower to learn
go to the expense of sth/of doing sth | go to a lot of, etc. expense to spend money on sth: They went to all the expense of redecorating the house and then they moved.
put sb to the expense of sth/of doing sth | put sb to a lot of, etc. expense to make sb spend money on sth: Their visit put us to a lot of expense.more at OBJECT n.

expense account noun an arrangement by which money spent by sb while they are at work is later paid back to them by their employer; a record of money spent in this way: Put the cost of the train fare on your expense account.

expensive adj. costing a lot of money: an expensive car/restaurant/holiday Art books are expensive to produce. I can't afford it, it's too expensive. Making the wrong decision could prove expensive. That dress was an expensive mistake. INEXPENSIVE
expensively adv.: expensively dressed/furnished There are other restaurants where you can eat less expensively.

SYNONYMS

expensive

costly overpriced pricey dear

These word all describe sth that costs a lot of money.

expensive costing a lot of money; charging high prices: I can't afford itit's just too expensive for me. an expensive restaurant

costly (rather formal) costing a lot of money, especially more than you want to pay: You want to avoid costly legal proceedings if you can.

overpriced too expensive; costing more than it is worth: ridiculously overpriced designer clothes

pricey (informal) expensive: Houses in the village are now too pricey for local people to afford.

dear [not usually before noun] (BrE) expensive: Everything's so dear now, isn't it? This word is starting to become rather old-fashioned.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to be/look/seem expensive/costly/overpriced/pricey/dear

to sound expensive/costly/pricey

to prove expensive/costly

expensive/costly/overpriced/pricey/dear for sb/sth

a(n) expensive/costly mistake

extremely/incredibly/ridiculously/terribly/very expensive/costly/overpriced/pricey/dear

too expensive/costly/overpriced/pricey/dear

experience NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U] the knowledge and skill that you have gained through doing sth for a period of time; the process of gaining this: to have over ten years' teaching experience Do you have any previous experience of this type of work? a doctor with experience in dealing with patients suffering from stress My lack of practical experience was a disadvantage. She didn't get paid much but it was all good experience. He gained valuable experience whilst working on the project. We all learn by experience.see also WORK EXPERIENCE
2 [U] the things that have happened to you that influence the way you think and behave: Experience has taught me that life can be very unfair. It is important to try and learn from experience. In my experience, very few people really understand the problem. She knew from past experience that Ann would not give up easily. The book is based on personal experience. direct/first-hand experience of poverty
3 [C] ~ (of sth) an event or activity that affects you in some way: an enjoyable/exciting/unusual/unforgettable, etc. experience It was her first experience of living alone. Living in Africa was very different from home and quite an experience (= unusual for us). I had a bad experience with fireworks once. He seems to have had some sort of religious experience.
4 the ... experience [sing.] events or knowledge shared by all the members of a particular group in society, that influences the way they think and behave: musical forms like jazz that emerged out of the Black American experience
put sth down to experience (also chalk sth up to experience) used to say that sb should think of a failure as being sth that they can learn from: We lost a lot of money, but we just put it down to experience.
verb [VN]
1 to have a particular situation affect you or happen to you: The country experienced a foreign currency shortage for several months. Everyone experiences these problems at some time in their lives.
2 to have and be aware of a particular emotion or physical feeling: to experience pain/pleasure/unhappiness I experienced a moment of panic as I boarded the plane.

experienced NAmE adj.
1 ~ (in sth) having knowledge or skill in a particular job or activity: an experienced teacher He's very experienced in looking after animals.
2 having knowledge as a result of doing sth for a long time, or having had a lot of different experiences: She's very young and not very experienced. an experienced traveller (= sb who has travelled a lot) INEXPERIENCED

experiential NAmE adj. (formal or technical) based on or involving experience: experiential knowledge experiential learning methods

experiment noun, verb
noun [C, U]
1 a scientific test that is done in order to study what happens and to gain new knowledge: to do/perform/conduct an experiment proved by experiment laboratory experiments Many people do not like the idea of experiments on animals. The results of the experiment were inconclusive. Facts can be established by observation and experiment.
2 ~ (in sth) a new activity, idea or method that you try out to see what happens or what effect it has: the country's brief experiment in democracy I've never cooked this before so it's an experiment. The system was installed four years ago as an experiment.
verb [V] ~ (on sb/sth)| ~ (with sth)
1 to do a scientific experiment or experiments: Some people feel that experimenting on animals is wrong.
2 to try or test new ideas, methods, etc. to find out what effect they have: He wanted to experiment more with different textures in his paintings. I experimented until I got the recipe just right.
experimenter noun

experimental adj.
1 based on new ideas, forms or methods that are used to find out what effect they have: experimental teaching methods experimental theatre/art/music The equipment is still at the experimental stage. Doctors stress that this kind of treatment is still experimental.
2 connected with scientific experiments: experimental conditions/data/evidence
experimentally adv.: This theory can be confirmed experimentally. The new drug is being used experimentally on some patients. He moved his shoulder experimentally to see if it still hurt.

experimentation noun [U] (formal) the activity or process of experimenting: experimentation with new teaching methods Many people object to experimentation on embryos.

expert NAmE noun, adj.
noun~ (at/in/on sth)| ~ (at/in/on doing sth) a person with special knowledge, skill or training in sth: a computer/medical expert an expert in child psychology an expert on modern literature He's an expert at getting his own way. Don't ask meI'm no expert!
adj.~ (at/in sth)| ~ (at/in doing sth) done with, having or involving great knowledge or skill: to seek expert advice/an expert opinion an expert driver We need some expert help. She's expert at making cheap but stylish clothes. They are all expert in this field.compare INEXPERT
expertly adv.: The roads were icy but she stopped the car expertly. The music was expertly performed.

expertise NAmE noun [U] ~ (in sth/in doing sth) expert knowledge or skill in a particular subject, activity or job: professional/scientific/technical, etc. expertise They have considerable expertise in dealing with oil spills. It is difficult to find staff with the level of expertise required for this job. We have the expertise to help you run your business.

expert system noun (computing) a computer system that can provide information and expert advice on a particular subject. The program asks users a series of questions about their problem and gives them advice based on its store of knowledge: expert systems to aid medical diagnosis

expiate verb [VN] (formal) to accept punishment for sth that you have done wrong in order to show that you are sorry: He had a chance to confess and expiate his guilt.
expiation noun [U, sing.]

expiration noun [U] (NAmE, formal) = EXPIRY

expiration date noun (NAmE)
1 = EXPIRY DATE: Check the expiration date on your passport.
2 the date by which an item of food should be eaten: The expiration date on this yogurt was November 20.

expire verb [V]
1 (of a document, an agreement, etc.) to be no longer valid because the period of time for which it could be used has ended RUN OUT: When does your driving licence expire? Our lease on the house expires next month.
2 (of a period of time, especially one during which sb holds a position of authority) to end: His term of office expires at the end of June.
3 (literary) to diesee also UNEXPIRED
expired adj.: an expired passport

expiry (especially BrE) (NAmE usually expiration) noun [U] an ending of the period of time when an official document can be used, or when an agreement is valid: the expiry of a fixed-term contract The licence can be renewed on expiry.

expiry date (BrE) (NAmE expiration date) noun the date after which an official document, agreement, etc. is no longer valid, or after which sth should not be used: Check the expiry date of your credit cards.

explain
(WORD FAMILY: explain verb | explanation noun | explanatory adj. | explicable adj. inexplicable) verb
1 ~ sth (to sb) to tell sb about sth in a way that makes it easy to understand: [VN] First, I'll explain the rules of the game. It was difficult to explain the problem to beginners. [V] 'Let me explain!' he added helpfully. [V that] I explained that an ambulance would be coming soon. [V wh-] He explained who each person in the photo was. Can you explain how the email system works? She explained to them what to do in an emergency. [V speech] 'It works like this,' she explained. [also VN that]
2 ~ sth (to sb) to give a reason, or be a reason, for sth: [V] She tried to explain but he wouldn't listen. [V that] Alex explained that his car had broken down. [V wh-] Well, that doesn't explain why you didn't phone. [VN] Scientific findings that help explain the origins of the universe. The government now has to explain its decision to the public. (informal) Oh well then, that explains it (= I understand now why sth happened). You cannot say 'explain me, him, her, etc.': Can you explain the situation to me? Can you explain me the situation? I'll explain to you why I like it. I'll explain you why I like it.
explain yourself
1 to give sb reasons for your behaviour, especially when they are angry or upset because of it: I really don't see why I should have to explain myself to you.
2 to say what you mean in a clear way: Could you explain yourself a little moreI didn't understand.
explain sthaway to give reasons why sth is not your fault or why sth is not important

explanation noun
1 [C, U] ~ (for sth/for doing sth) a statement, fact, or situation that tells you why sth happened; a reason given for sth: The most likely explanation is that his plane was delayed. to offer/provide an explanation I can't think of any possible explanation for his absence. She left the room abruptly without explanation. 'I had to see you,' he said, by way of explanation. She didn't give an adequate explanation for being late. The book opens with an explanation of why some drugs are banned. an explanation as to why he had left early
2 [C] a statement or piece of writing that tells you how sth works or makes sth easier to understand: For a full explanation of how the machine works, turn to page 5. The teacher gave the children a detailed explanation of the story.

explanatory NAmE adj. [usually before noun] giving the reasons for sth; intended to describe how sth works or to make sth easier to understand: There are explanatory notes at the back of the book.see also SELF-EXPLANATORY

expletive NAmE noun (formal) a word, especially a rude word, that you use when you are angry, or in pain SWEAR WORD: He dropped the book on his foot and muttered several expletives under his breath.

explicable adj. [not usually before noun] (formal) that can be explained or understood: His behaviour is only explicable in terms of (= because of) his recent illness. INEXPLICABLE

explicate verb [VN] (formal) to explain an idea or a work of literature in a lot of detail: How can we best explicate 'King Lear' and understand it?
explication noun [C, U]

explicit adj.
1 (of a statement or piece of writing) clear and easy to understand: He gave me very explicit directions on how to get there.
2 (of a person) saying sth clearly, exactly and openly FRANK: She was quite explicit about why she had left.
3 said, done or shown in an open or direct way, so that you have no doubt about what is happening: The reasons for the decision should be made explicit. She made some very explicit references to my personal life. a sexually explicit filmcompare IMPLICIT
explicitly adv.: The report states explicitly that the system was to blame.compare IMPLICITLY explicitness noun [U]: He didn't like the degree of sexual explicitness in the film.

explode
(WORD FAMILY: explode verb | explosion noun | explosive adj. noun | unexploded adj. ) NAmE verb
BURST VIOLENTLY
1 to burst or make sth burst loudly and violently, causing damage BLOW UP: [V] Bombs were exploding all around the city. The firework exploded in his hand. [VN] There was a huge bang as if someone had exploded a rocket outside. Bomb disposal experts exploded the device under controlled conditions.compare IMPLODE
GET ANGRY/DANGEROUS
2 ~ (into/with sth) (of a person or situation) to suddenly become very angry or dangerous: [V] Suddenly Charles exploded with rage. The protest exploded into a riot. Tension between the two sides could explode at any time. [V speech] 'Of course there's something wrong!' Jem exploded.
EXPRESS EMOTION
3 [V] ~ (into/with sth) to suddenly express an emotion: We all exploded into wild laughter.
MOVE SUDDENLY
4 [V] ~ (into sth) to suddenly and quickly do sth; to move suddenly with a lot of force: After ten minutes the game exploded into life.
MAKE LOUD NOISE
5 [V] to make a sudden very loud noise: Thunder exploded overhead.
INCREASE QUICKLY
6 [V] to increase suddenly and very quickly in number: the exploding world population
SHOW STH IS NOT TRUE
7 [VN] to show that sth is not true, especially sth that people believe: At last, a women's magazine to explode the myth that thin equals beautiful.

SYNONYMS

explode

blow up go off burst erupt rupture implode

These are all words that can be used when sth bursts apart violently, causing damage or injury.

explode to burst loudly and violently, causing damage; to make sth burst in this way: The jet smashed into a hillside and exploded. The bomb was exploded under controlled conditions.

blow (sth) up to be destroyed by an explosion; to destroy sth by an explosion: A police officer was killed when his car blew up.

go off (of a bomb) to explode; (of a gun) to be fired: The bomb went off in a crowded street. When used about guns, the choice of go off (not 'be fired') can suggest that the gun was fired by accident.

burst to break open or apart, expecially because of pressure from inside; to make sth break in this way: That balloon's going to burst.

erupt (of a volcano) to throw out burning rocks and smoke; (of burning rocks and smoke) to be thrown out of a volcano.

rupture (formal or medical) to burst or break apart a pipe, container or organ inside the body; to be burst or broken apart: A pipe ruptured, leaking water all over the house.

implode to burst or explode inwards: The windows on both sides of the room had imploded.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

A bomb exploded/blew up/went off/burst.

The car/plane/vehicle exploded/blew up.

A firework/rocket exploded/went off.

A volcano erupted.

A pipe/tank burst/ruptured.

a burst/ruptured appendix/artery

exploded NAmE adj. (technical) (of a drawing or diagram) showing the parts of sth separately but also showing how they are connected to each other: an exploded diagram of a planecompare UNEXPLODED

exploit verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 (disapproving) to treat a person or situation as an opportunity to gain an advantage for yourself: He exploited his father's name to get himself a job. She realized that her youth and inexperience were being exploited. The opposition parties will always exploit government problems to their own advantage.
2 (disapproving) to treat sb unfairly by making them work and not giving them much in return: What is being done to stop employers from exploiting young people?
3 to use sth well in order to gain as much from it as possible: She fully exploits the humour of her role in the play. Teachers should be exploiting computers in education.
4 ~ sth (for sth) to develop or use sth for business or industry: countries exploiting the rainforests for hardwood No minerals have yet been exploited in Antarctica.
exploiter noun [C]
noun [usually pl.] a brave, exciting or interesting act: the daring exploits of Roman heroes The papers were full of her latest amorous exploits.

exploitation noun [U]
1 (disapproving) a situation in which sb treats sb else in an unfair way, especially in order to make money from their work: the exploitation of children Starvation and poverty are the result of global economic exploitation, not lack of resources.
2 the use of land, oil, minerals, etc.: commercial exploitation of the mineral resources in Antarctica
3 (disapproving) the fact of using a situation in order to get an advantage for yourself: exploitation of the situation for his own purposes

exploitative (NAmE also exploitive ) adj. treating sb unfairly in order to gain an advantage or to make money: an exploitative economic system

exploration noun [C, U]
1 the act of travelling through a place in order to find out about it or look for sth in it: the exploration of space oil exploration (= searching for oil in the ground)
2 an examination of sth in order to find out about it: the book's explorations of the human mind

exploratory NAmE adj. done with the intention of examining sth in order to find out more about it: exploratory surgery exploratory drilling for oil an exploratory expedition up the Amazon Exploratory discussions between management and the unions have ended in stalemate.

explore verb
1 ~ (sth) (for sth) to travel to or around an area or a country in order to learn about it: [VN] The city is best explored on foot. They explored the land to the south of the Murray river. [V] As soon as we arrived on the island we were eager to explore. companies exploring for (= searching for) oil
2 [VN] to examine sth completely or carefully in order to find out more about it ANALYSE: These ideas will be explored in more detail in chapter 7.
3 [VN] to feel sth with your hands or another part of the body: She explored the sand with her toes.see also UNEXPLORED

explorer noun a person who travels to unknown places in order to find out more about them: Early explorers traded directly with Native Americans for furs.

Explorer Scout noun (US) = VENTURE SCOUT

explosion NAmE noun
1 [C, U] the sudden violent bursting and loud noise of sth such as a bomb exploding; the act of deliberately causing sth to explode: a bomb/nuclear/gas explosion There were two loud explosions and then the building burst into flames. Bomb Squad officers carried out a controlled explosion of the device. 300 people were injured in the explosion.
2 [C] a large, sudden or rapid increase in the amount or number of sth: a population explosion an explosion of interest in learning Japanese an explosion in oil prices
3 [C] (formal) a sudden, violent expression of emotion, especially anger OUTBURST: Do you know what brought on that explosion? Demonstrators clashed with riot police in an explosion of anger at live animal exports.

explosive NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 easily able or likely to explode: an explosive device (= a bomb) an explosive mixture of chemicals Hydrogen is highly explosive.
2 likely to cause violence or strong feelings of anger or hatred: a potentially explosive situation one of the most explosive issues of our time
3 often having sudden violent or angry feelings: an explosive temper
4 increasing suddenly and rapidly: the explosive growth of the export market
5 (of a sound) sudden and loud: There was an explosive crash and then everything fell silent.
explosively adv.: The company has grown explosively over the last two years.
noun [C, U] a substance that is able or likely to cause an explosion: plastic explosives The bomb was packed with several pounds of high explosive.

exponent NAmE noun
1 a person who supports an idea, theory, etc. and persuades others that it is good PROPONENT: She was a leading exponent of free trade during her political career Huxley was an exponent of Darwin's theory of evolution.
2 a person who is able to perform a particular activity with skill: the most famous exponent of the art of mime
3 (mathematics) a raised figure or symbol that shows how many times a quantity must be multiplied by itself, for example the figure 4 in a^4

exponential adj.
1 (mathematics) of or shown by an exponent: 2 4 is an exponential expression. an exponential curve/function
2 (formal) (of a rate of increase) becoming faster and faster: exponential growth/increase
exponentially adv.: to increase exponentially

export verb, noun
verb NAmE
1 ~ (sth) (to sb) to sell and send goods to another country: [VN] The islands export sugar and fruit. 90% of the engines are exported to Europe. [also V]
2 [VN] to introduce an idea or activity to another country or area: American pop music has been exported around the world.
3 [VN] (computing) to send data to another program, changing its form so that the other program can read it IMPORT
noun NAmE
1 [U] the selling and transporting of goods to another country: a ban on the export of live cattle Then the fruit is packaged for export. export earnings an export licence
2 [C, usually pl.] a product that is sold to another country: the country's major exports a fall in the value of exports IMPORT

exportation NAmE noun [U] the process of sending goods to another country for sale IMPORTATION: He was charged with attempted exportation of illegal drugs.

exporter NAmE noun a person, company or country that sells goods to another country: the world's largest/major/leading exporter of cars The country is now a net exporter of fuel (= it exports more than it imports). IMPORTER

expose NAmE verb [VN]
SHOW STH HIDDEN
1 to show sth that is usually hidden REVEAL: He smiled suddenly, exposing a set of amazingly white teeth. Miles of sand are exposed at low tide. My job as a journalist is to expose the truth. He did not want to expose his fears and insecurity to anyone.
SHOW TRUTH
2 to tell the true facts about a person or a situation, and show them/it to be immoral, illegal, etc.: She was exposed as a liar and a fraud. He threatened to expose the racism that existed within the police force.
TO STH HARMFUL
3 ~ sb/sth/yourself (to sth) to put sb/sth in a place or situation where they are not protected from sth harmful or unpleasant: to expose yourself to ridicule Do not expose babies to strong sunlight. The roof collapsed, exposing the timbers to the elements. You could be exposing yourself to unnecessary risks when driving alone.
GIVE EXPERIENCE
4 ~ sb to sth to let sb find out about sth by giving them experience of it or showing them what it is like: We want to expose the kids to as much art and culture as possible. mountain communities that had not been exposed to tourism before
FILM IN CAMERA
5 to allow light onto the film inside a camera when taking a photograph
YOURSELF
6 ~ yourself a man who exposes himself, shows his sexual organs in public in a way that is offensive to other people
see also EXPOSURE

exposé NAmE noun an account of the facts of a situation, especially when these are shocking or have deliberately been kept secret: a damning exposé of police corruption

exposed NAmE adj.
1 (of a place) not protected from the weather by trees, buildings or high ground: The cottage is in a very exposed position on the top of a hill.
2 (of a person) not protected from attack or criticism: She was left feeling exposed and vulnerable.
3 (finance) likely to experience financial losses

exposition noun (formal)
1 [C, U] a full explanation of a theory, plan, etc.: a clear and detailed exposition of their legal position
2 [C] an event at which people, businesses, etc. show and sell their goods; a TRADE FAIR

expostulate NAmE verb [V, V speech] (formal) to argue, disagree or protest about sth
expostulation NAmE noun [U, C]

exposure NAmE noun
TO STH HARMFUL
1 [U] ~ (to sth) the state of being in a place or situation where there is no protection from sth harmful or unpleasant: prolonged exposure to harmful radiation (finance) the company's exposure on the foreign exchange markets (= to the risk of making financial losses)
SHOWING TRUTH
2 [U] the state of having the true facts about sb/sth told after they have been hidden because they are bad, immoral or illegal: exposure as a liar and a fraud the exposure of illegal currency deals
ON TV/IN NEWSPAPERS, etc.
3 [U] the fact of being discussed or mentioned on television, in newspapers, etc. PUBLICITY: Her new movie has had a lot of exposure in the media.
MEDICAL CONDITION
4 [U] a medical condition caused by being out in very cold weather for too long without protection: Two climbers were brought in suffering from exposure.
FILM IN CAMERA
5 [C] a length of film in a camera that is used to take a photograph: There are three exposures left on this roll of film.
6 [C] the length of time for which light is allowed to reach the film when taking a photograph: I used a long exposure for this one.
SHOWING STH HIDDEN
7 [U] the act of showing sth that is usually hiddensee also INDECENT EXPOSURE

exposure meter noun a device for measuring the strength of light in a place, so that you can calculate the EXPOSURE time when taking a photograph

expound verb ~ sth (to sb)| ~ on sth (formal) to explain sth by talking about it in detail: [VN] He expounded his views on the subject to me at great length. the theory of language expounded by Chomsky [V] We listened as she expounded on the government's new policies.

express verb, adj., adv., noun
verb
1 to show or make known a feeling, an opinion, etc. by words, looks or actions: [VN] Teachers have expressed concern about the changes. His views have been expressed in numerous speeches. to express fears/doubts/reservations to express interest/regret/surprise [V wh-] Words cannot express how pleased I am.see also UNEXPRESSED
2 ~ yourself to speak, write or communicate in some other way what you think or feel: [VN] Teenagers often have difficulty expressing themselves. Perhaps I have not expressed myself very well. She expresses herself most fully in her paintings. (formal) [VN-ADJ] They expressed themselves delighted.
3 [VN] ~ itself (formal) (of a feeling) to become obvious in a particular way: Their pleasure expressed itself in a burst of applause.
4 [VN] ~ sth as/in sth (especially mathematics) to represent sth in a particular way, for example by symbols: The figures are expressed as percentages. Educational expenditure is often expressed in terms of the amount spent per student.
5 [VN] to remove air or liquid from sth by pressing it: Coconut milk is expressed from grated coconuts.
6 [VN] ~ sth (to sb/sth) (NAmE) to send sth by express post: As soon as I receive payment I will express the book to you.
adj. [only before noun]
1 travelling very fast; operating very quickly: an express bus/coach/train express delivery services
2 (of a letter, package, etc.) sent by express service: express mail
3 (NAmE) (of a company that delivers packages) providing an express service: an air express company
4 (formal) (of a wish or an aim) clearly and openly stated DEFINITE: It was his express wish that you should have his gold watch after he died. I came here with the express purpose of speaking with the manager.
adv. using a special fast service: I'd like to send this express, please.
noun
1 (also express train) [C] a fast train that does not stop at many places: the 8.27 express to Edinburgh the Trans-Siberian Express
2 (also special delivery) [U] (BrE) a service for sending or transporting things quickly

expression noun
SHOWING FEELINGS/IDEAS
1 [U, C] things that people say, write or do in order to show their feelings, opinions and ideas: an expression of support Expressions of sympathy flooded in from all over the country. Freedom of expression (= freedom to say what you think) is a basic human right. (formal) The poet's anger finds expression in (= is shown in) the last verse of the poem. The riots are the most serious expression of anti-government feeling yet. Only in his dreams does he give expression to his fears. Their frustration needs some form of expression.
ON FACE
2 [C] a look on a person's face that shows their thoughts or feelings LOOK: There was a worried expression on her face. an expression of amazement/disbelief/horror His expression changed from surprise to one of amusement. The expression in her eyes told me something was wrong. facial expressions
WORDS
3 [C] a word or phrase: an old-fashioned expression (informal) He's a pain in the butt, if you'll pardon the expression. Her writing is full of colourful expressions. note at WORD
IN MUSIC/ACTING
4 [U] a strong show of feeling when you are playing music, speaking, acting, etc.: Try to put a little more expression into it! She plays the violin with great expression.
MATHEMATICS
5 [C] a group of signs that represent an idea or a quantity

expressionism (also Expressionism) noun [U] a style and movement in early 20th century art, theatre, cinema and music that tries to express people's feelings and emotions rather than showing events or objects in a realistic way
expressionist (also Expressionist) noun, adj.

expressionless adj. not showing feelings, thoughts, etc.: an expressionless face/tone/voicecompare EXPRESSIVE

expression mark noun (music) a word or phrase written on a piece of music to show what kind of expression or feeling the performer should give to it

expressive adj.
1 showing or able to show your thoughts and feelings: She has wonderfully expressive eyes. the expressive power of his musiccompare EXPRESSIONLESS
2 [not before noun] ~ of sth (formal) showing sth; existing as an expression of sth: Every word and gesture is expressive of the artist's sincerity.
expressively adv.: He raised his eyebrows expressively. expressiveness noun [U]: the poetic expressiveness of the sonata

express lane noun (NAmE)
1 part of a road on which certain vehicles can go to travel faster because there is less traffic
2 a place in a shop/store where certain customers can go to avoid waiting for a long time: Customers with ten items or less can use the express lane.

expressly adv. (formal)
1 clearly; definitely: She was expressly forbidden to touch my papers.
2 for a special and deliberate purpose ESPECIALLY: The rule was introduced expressly for this purpose.

expressway noun (in the US) a wide road that allows traffic to travel fast through a city or other area where many people live: a major accident on the expressway

expropriate NAmE verb [VN]
1 (formal or law) (of a government or an authority) to officially take away private property from its owner for public use
2 (formal) to take sb's property and use it without permission
expropriation NAmE noun [U]

expulsion noun ~ (from ... )
1 [U, C] the act of forcing sb to leave a place; the act of EXPELLING sb: These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. Troops are engaged in the expulsion of enemy forces from the area.
2 [U, C] the act of sending sb away from a school or an organization, so that they can no longer belong to it; the act of EXPELLING sb: The headteacher threatened the three girls with expulsion. The club faces expulsion from the football league.
3 [U] (formal) the act of sending or driving a substance out of your body or a container: the expulsion of air from the lungs

expunge verb [VN] ~ sth (from sth) (formal) to remove or get rid of sth, such as a name, piece of information or a memory, from a book or list, or from your mind ERASE: Details of his criminal activities were expunged from the file. What happened just before the accident was expunged from his memory.

expurgate NAmE verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to remove or leave out parts of a piece of writing or a conversation when printing or reporting it, because you think those parts could offend people: She gave an expurgated account of what had happened.

exquisite adj.
1 extremely beautiful or carefully made: exquisite craftsmanship Her wedding dress was absolutely exquisite.
2 (formal) (of a feeling) strongly felt ACUTE: exquisite pain/pleasure
3 (formal) delicate and sensitive: The room was decorated in exquisite taste. an exquisite sense of timing
exquisitely adv.

ex-service adj. (BrE) having previously been a member of the army, navy, etc.: ex-service personnel

ex-serviceman, ex-servicewoman noun (pl. -men , -women ) (BrE) a person who used to be in the army, navy, etc.: an organization for ex-servicemen and women

ext. abbr. (used as part of a telephone number) extension: Ext. 4299

extant adj. (formal) (of sth very old) still in existence: extant remains of the ancient wall A limited number of documents from the period are still extant.

extempore adj. (formal) spoken or done without any previous thought or preparation IMPROMPTU: an extempore speech
extempore adv.

extemporize (BrE also -ise) verb [V] (formal) to speak or perform without preparing or practising IMPROVISE
extemporization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

extend verb
MAKE LONGER/LARGER/WIDER
1 [VN] to make sth longer or larger: to extend a fence/road/house There are plans to extend the no-smoking area.
2 [VN] to make sth last longer: to extend a deadline/visa The show has been extended for another six weeks. Careful maintenance can extend the life of your car.
3 [VN] to make a business, an idea, an influence, etc. cover more areas or operate in more places: The company plans to extend its operations into Europe. The school is extending the range of subjects taught.
INCLUDE
4 [V + adv. / prep.] to relate to or include sb/sth: The offer does not extend to employees' partners. His willingness to help did not extend beyond making a few phone calls.
COVER AREA/TIME/DISTANCE
5 [V + adv. / prep.] to cover a particular area, distance or length of time: Our land extends as far as the river. His writing career extended over a period of 40 years.
6 [VN + adv. / prep.] to make sth reach sth or stretch: to extend a rope between two posts
PART OF BODY
7 [VN] to stretch part of your body, especially an arm or a leg, away from yourself: He extended his hand to (= offered to shake hands with) the new employee. (figurative) to extend the hand of friendship to (= try to have good relations with) another country
OFFER/GIVE
8 [VN] ~ sth to sb (formal) to offer or give sth to sb: I'm sure you will join me in extending a very warm welcome to our visitors. to extend hospitality to overseas students to extend an invitation The bank refused to extend credit to them (= to lend them money). [also VNN]
USE EFFORT/ABILITY
9 [VN] [often passive] to make sb/sth use all their effort, abilities, supplies, etc.: Jim didn't really have to extend himself in the exam. Hospitals were already fully extended because of the epidemic.
see also EXTENSION, EXTENSIVE

extendable (also extendible) adj. that can be made longer, or made valid for a longer time: an extendable ladder The visa is for 14 days, extendable to one month.

extended adj. [only before noun] long or longer than usual or expected: an extended lunch hour

extended family noun a family group with a close relationship among the members that includes not only parents and children but also uncles, aunts, grandparents, etc.: She grew up surrounded by a large extended family.compare NUCLEAR FAMILY

extension noun
INCREASING INFLUENCE
1 [U, C] ~ (of sth) the act of increasing the area of activity, group of people, etc. that is affected by sth: the extension of new technology into developing countries a gradual extension of the powers of central government The bank plans various extensions to its credit facilities. My home life was becoming no more than an extension of my job.
OF BUILDING
2 [C] ~ (to sth) (BrE) (NAmE addition) a new room or rooms that are added to a house
3 [C] a new part that is added to a building: a planned two-storey extension to the hospital
EXTRA TIME
4 [C] ~ (of sth) an extra period of time allowed for sth: He's been granted an extension of the contract for another year. a visa extension (BrE) The pub had an extension (= was allowed to stay open longer) on Christmas Eve. She was given an extension to finish writing her thesis.
TELEPHONE
5 [C] (abbr. ext.) an extra telephone line connected to a central telephone in a house or to a SWITCHBOARD in a large building. In a large building, each extension usually has its own number: We have an extension in the bedroom. What's your extension number? Can I have extension 4332 please?
MAKING STH LONGER/LARGER
6 [U, C] the act of making sth longer or larger; the thing that is made longer and larger: The extension of the subway will take several months. extensions to the original railway track hair extensions (= pieces of artificial hair that are added to your hair to make it longer)
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY
7 [C] a part of a college or university that offers courses to students who are not studying FULL-TIME; a programme of study for these students: La Salle Extension University extension courses
COMPUTING
8 the set of three letters that are placed after a dot at the end of the name of a file and that show what type of file it is: The extension.doc indicates a word-processing file.
ELECTRICAL
9 [C] (BrE) = EXTENSION LEAD
by extension (formal) taking the argument or situation one stage further: The blame lies with the teachers and, by extension, with the Education Service.

extension agent noun (in the US) a person who works for a state university in a country area, and whose job is to give advice to farmers, do research into farming, etc.

extension lead (also extension) (both BrE) (NAmE extension cord) noun an extra length of electric wire, used when the wire on an electrical device is not long enough

extensive adj.
1 covering a large area; great in amount: The house has extensive grounds. The fire caused extensive damage. She suffered extensive injuries in the accident. Extensive repair work is being carried out. an extensive range of wines
2 including or dealing with a wide range of information FAR-REACHING: Extensive research has been done into this disease. His knowledge of music is extensive. She has extensive experience in computers.
extensively adv.: a spice used extensively in Eastern cooking She has travelled extensively.

extensor BrE NAmE (also extensor muscle) noun (anatomy) a muscle that allows you to make part of your body straight or stretched outcompare FLEXOR

extent noun [sing., U]
1 how large, important, serious, etc. sth is: It is difficult to assess the full extent of the damage. She was exaggerating the true extent of the problem. I was amazed at the extent of his knowledge.
2 the physical size of an area: You can't see the full extent of the beach from here.
to ... extent used to show how far sth is true or how great an effect it has: To a certain extent, we are all responsible for this tragic situation. He had changed to such an extent (= so much) that I no longer recognized him. To some extent what she argues is true. The pollution of the forest has seriously affected plant life and, to a lesser extent, wildlife. To what extent is this true of all schools? The book discusses the extent to which (= how much) family life has changed over the past 50 years.

extenuating adj. [only before noun] (formal) showing reasons why a wrong or illegal act, or a bad situation, should be judged less seriously or excused: There were extenuating circumstances and the defendant did not receive a prison sentence. Cases of illness and other extenuating circumstances that may have affected a student's performance will be dealt with by a personal tutor.

exterior NAmE noun, adj.
noun
1 [C] the outside of sth, especially a building: The exterior of the house needs painting. INTERIOR
2 [sing.] the way that sb appears or behaves, especially when this is very different from their real feelings or character: Beneath his confident exterior, he was desperately nervous.
adj. [usually before noun] on the outside of sth; done or happening outdoors: exterior walls/surfaces The filming of the exterior scenes was done on the moors. The exterior lights of the house came on as I approached the door. INTERIOR

exterior angle noun (geometry) an angle formed between the side of a shape and the side next to it, when this side is made longer

exterminate NAmE verb [VN] to kill all the members of a group of people or animals WIPE OUT: Fur seals were nearly exterminated a few years ago.
extermination NAmE noun [U]: the extermination of rats and other vermin

extern NAmE noun (US) a person who works in an institution but does not live there, especially a doctor or other worker in a hospital

external NAmE adj.
1 connected with or located on the outside of sth/sb: the external walls of the building The lotion is for external use only (= only for the skin and must not be swallowed).
2 happening or coming from outside a place, an organization, your particular situation, etc.: A combination of internal and external factors caused the company to close down. external pressures on the economy Many external influences can affect your state of mind. The information has come from reliable sources external to the government.
3 coming from or arranged by sb from outside a school, a university or an organization: (BrE) external examiners/assessors An external auditor will verify the accounts.
4 connected with foreign countries: The government is committed to reducing the country's external debt. the Minister of State for External Affairs INTERNAL
externally NAmE adv.: The building has been restored externally and internally. The university has many externally funded research projects.

external ear noun (anatomy) the parts of the ear outside the EARDRUM

externalize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to show what you are thinking and feeling by what you say or do: His worries about losing his job were externalized in angry outbursts at home.compare INTERNALIZE

externals NAmE noun [pl.] (formal) the outer appearance of sth: It would be easy to judge this situation by externals alone.

extinct adj.
1 (of a type of plant, animal, etc.) no longer in existence: an extinct species to become extinct The red squirrel is in danger of becoming extinct in England. the fossilised remains of extinct animals
2 (of a type of person, job or way of life) no longer in existence in society: Servants are now almost extinct in modern society.
3 (of a VOLCANO) no longer active ACTIVE

extinction noun [U] a situation in which a plant, an animal, a way of life, etc. stops existing: a tribe threatened with extinction/in danger of extinction The mountain gorilla is on the verge of extinction. a campaign to save wild koalas from extinction Will technology in music drive creativity to extinction? The dormouse in Britain may face extinction if ancient woodland continues to disappear. A comet colliding with the earth may have caused the mass extinction of the dinosaurs.

extinguish verb [VN]
1 to make a fire stop burning or a light stop shining PUT OUT: Firefighters tried to extinguish the flames. (formal) All lights had been extinguished.
2 to destroy sth: News of the bombing extinguished all hope of peace.

extinguisher noun = FIRE EXTINGUISHER

extirpate NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to destroy or get rid of sth that is bad or not wanted
extirpation NAmE noun [U]

extol NAmE verb (-ll-) [VN] ~ sb/sth (as sth) (formal) to praise sb/sth very much: Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. She was extolled as a genius.

extort NAmE verb [VN] ~ sth (from sb) to make sb give you sth by threatening them: The gang extorted money from over 30 local businesses.
extortion NAmE noun [U, C]: He was arrested and charged with extortion.

extortionate NAmE adj. (disapproving) (of prices, etc.) much too high EXCESSIVE, OUTRAGEOUS: They are offering loans at extortionate rates of interest. The prices they charge are extortionate.

extra adj., noun, adv.
adj. more than is usual, expected, or than exists already ADDITIONAL: Breakfast is provided at no extra charge. The conference is going to be a lot of extra work. an extra pint of milk The government has promised an extra £1 billion for health care. Take extra care on the roads this evening. The play is to run for an extra week! extra help for single parentssee also EXTRA TIME
noun
1 a thing that is added to sth that is not usual, standard or necessary and that costs more: The monthly fee is fixed and there are no hidden extras (= unexpected costs). While I was saving I had no money for little extras or luxuries. (BrE) Metallic paint is an optional extra (= a thing you can choose to have or not, but must pay more for if you have it).
2 a person who is employed to play a very small part in a film/movie, usually as a member of a crowd: We need hundreds of extras for the battle scenes.
adv.
1 in addition; more than is usual, expected or exists already: to charge/pay/cost extra We don't charge extra for the activitieseverything is included in the admission fee. I need to earn a bit extra this month. The rate for a room is £30, but breakfast is extra. Now even bigger! Ten per cent extra!
2 (with an adjective or adverb) more than usually: You need to be extra careful not to make any mistakes. an extra large T-shirt She tried extra hard. Do you have this sweatshirt in an extra large size? He wanted to cook something extra special for dinner that night.

extra- prefix (in adjectives)
1 outside; beyond: extramarital sex extraterrestrial beings
2 (informal) very; more than usual: extra-thin extra-special

extracorporeal NAmE adj. (medical) located or happening outside the body

extract noun, verb
noun
1 [C] ~ (from sth) a short passage from a book, piece of music, etc. that gives you an idea of what the whole thing is like: The following extract is taken from her new novel.
2 [U, C] a substance that has been obtained from sth else using a particular process: yeast extract face cream containing natural plant extracts (NAmE) vanilla extractsee also ESSENCE
verb [VN] ~ sth (from sb/sth)
1 to remove or obtain a substance from sth, for example by using an industrial or a chemical process: a machine that extracts excess moisture from the air to extract essential oils from plants
2 to obtain information, money, etc., often by taking it from sb who is unwilling to give it: Journalists managed to extract all kinds of information about her private life.
3 to choose information, etc. from a book, a computer, etc. to be used for a particular purpose: This article is extracted from his new book.
4 (formal or technical) to take or pull sth out, especially when this needs force or effort: The dentist may decide that the wisdom teeth need to be extracted. He rifled through his briefcase and extracted a file.
5 (formal) to get a particular feeling or quality from a situation DERIVE: They are unlikely to extract much benefit from the trip.

extraction noun
1 [U, C] the act or process of removing or obtaining sth from sth else: oil/mineral/coal, etc. extraction the extraction of salt from the sea Commercial peat extraction is destroying many threatened habitats. Methods of extraction vary from mine to mine.
2 [U] of ... extraction (formal) having a particular family origin: an American of Hungarian extraction
3 [C] (technical) the removal of a tooth: I didn't like having my teeth drilled but extractions were infinitely worse.

extractive adj. (technical) relating to the process of removing or obtaining sth, especially minerals: extractive industries

extractor noun
1 (also extractor fan) a device that removes hot air, unpleasant smells, etc. from a room: From her bedroom she could hear the factory's extractor fan. a dust extractor
2 a device or machine that removes sth from sth else: a juice extractor

extra-curricular adj. [usually before noun] not part of the usual course of work or studies at a school or college: She's involved in many extra-curricular activities.

extradite verb [VN] ~ sb (to ... ) (from ... ) to officially send back sb who has been accused or found guilty of a crime to the country where the crime was committed: The British government attempted to extradite the suspects from Belgium.
extradition noun [U, C]: the extradition of terrorist suspects an extradition treaty to start extradition proceedings

extrajudicial adj. happening outside the normal power of the law: The killing was feared to be an extrajudicial execution carried out by the security forces.

extramarital adj. happening outside marriage: an extramarital affair

extramural NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 (BrE) arranged by a university, college, etc. for people who only study PART-TIME: extramural education/studies/departmentssee also EXTENSION (7)
2 (formal) happening or existing outside or separate from a place, an organization, etc.: The hospital provides extramural care to patients who do not need to be admitted.

extraneous adj. ~ (to sth) (formal) not directly connected with the particular situation you are in or the subject you are dealing with IRRELEVANT: We do not want any extraneous information on the page. We shall ignore factors extraneous to the problem. Coughs and extraneous noises can be edited out.

extraordinaire NAmE adj. (from French, approving, often humorous) used after nouns to say that sb is a good example of a particular kind of person: Houdini, escape artist extraordinaire

extraordinary NAmE adj.
1 unexpected, surprising or strange INCREDIBLE: It's extraordinary that he managed to sleep through the party. What an extraordinary thing to say! The president took the extraordinary step of apologizing publicly for his behaviour!
2 not normal or ordinary; greater or better than usual: an extraordinary achievement She was a truly extraordinary woman. They went to extraordinary lengths to explain their behaviour.compare ORDINARY
3 [only before noun] (formal) (of a meeting, etc.) arranged for a special purpose and happening in addition to what normally or regularly happens: An extraordinary meeting was held to discuss the problem.
4 (following nouns) (technical) (of an official) employed for a special purpose in addition to the usual staff: an envoy extraordinary
extraordinarily NAmE adv.: He behaves extraordinarily for someone in his position. extraordinarily difficult She did extraordinarily well.

extrapolate verb ~ (sth) (from/to sth) (formal) to estimate sth or form an opinion about sth, using the facts that you have now and that are valid for one situation and supposing that they will be valid for the new one: [V] The figures were obtained by extrapolating from past trends. [VN] We have extrapolated these results from research done in other countries. The results cannot be extrapolated to other patient groups.
extrapolation noun [U, C]: Their age can be determined by extrapolation from their growth rate.

extrasensory perception NAmE noun [U] = ESP

extraterrestrial noun, adj.
noun (in stories) a creature that comes from another planet; a creature that may exist on another planet
adj. connected with life existing outside the planet Earth: extraterrestrial beings/life

extraterritorial adj. (of a law) valid outside the country where the law was made

extra time (BrE) (NAmE overtime) noun [U] (sport) a set period of time that is added to the end of a sports game, etc., if there is no winner at the end of the normal period: They won by a single goal after extra time. They scored in extra time.

extravagance noun
1 [U] the act or habit of spending more money than you can afford or than is necessary: Such extravagance is shameful when there are people starving in the world.
2 [C] something that you buy although it costs a lot of money, perhaps more than you can afford or than is necessary: Going to the theatre is our only extravagance.
3 [C, U] something that is impressive or noticeable because it is unusual or extreme: the extravagance of Strauss's music

extravagant adj.
1 spending a lot more money or using a lot more of sth than you can afford or than is necessary: I felt very extravagant spending £100 on a dress. She's got very extravagant tastes. Residents were warned not to be extravagant with water, in view of the low rainfall this year.
2 costing a lot more money than you can afford or is necessary: an extravagant present
3 (of ideas, speech or behaviour) very extreme or impressive but not reasonable or practical EXAGGERATED: the extravagant claims/promises of politicians I was embarrassed by all the extravagant praise I was getting. He had the extravagant gestures and loud voice of an actor.
extravagantly adv.: extravagantly expensive extravagantly high hopes

extravaganza noun a large, expensive and impressive entertainment: a musical extravaganza a five-day extravaganza of art, music and dance

extravert = EXTROVERT

extra virgin adj. used to describe good quality oil obtained the first time that OLIVES are pressed: extra virgin olive oil

extreme adj., noun
adj.
1 [usually before noun] very great in degree: We are working under extreme pressure at the moment. people living in extreme poverty I'm having extreme difficulty in not losing my temper with her. The heat in the desert was extreme.
2 not ordinary or usual; serious or severe: Children will be removed from their parents only in extreme circumstances. Don't go doing anything extreme like leaving the country. It was the most extreme example of cruelty to animals I had ever seen. extreme weather conditions
3 (of people, political organizations, opinions, etc.) far from what most people consider to be normal, reasonable or acceptable MODERATE: extreme left-wing/right-wing views an extreme nationalist organization Their ideas are too extreme for me.
4 [only before noun] as far as possible from the centre, the beginning or in the direction mentioned: Kerry is in the extreme west of Ireland. She sat on the extreme edge of her seat. politicians on the extreme left of the party
noun
1 a feeling, situation, way of behaving, etc. that is as different as possible from another or is opposite to it: extremes of love and hate He used to be very shy, but now he's gone to the opposite extreme (= changed from one extreme kind of behaviour to another).
2 the greatest or highest degree of sth: extremes of cold, wind or rain the climatic extremes of the mountains
go, etc. to extremes | take sth to extremes to act or be forced to act in a way that is far from normal or reasonable: It's embarrassing the extremes he'll go to in order to impress his boss. Taken to extremes, this kind of behaviour can be dangerous. In the jungle they were driven to extremes in order to survive.
in the extreme (formal) to a great degree: The journey would be dangerous in the extreme.

extreme fighting noun [U] = ULTIMATE FIGHTING

extremely adv. (usually with adjectives and adverbs) to a very high degree: extremely important/useful/complicated She found it extremely difficult to get a job. Their new CD is selling extremely well. I would be extremely grateful if you could have a word with her. The risks involved are extremely high. Mark knew he had behaved extremely badly.

extreme sports noun [pl.] sports that are extremely exciting to do and often dangerous, for example SKYDIVING and BUNGEE JUMPING

extreme unction noun [U] (religion) (old use) in the Catholic Church, the ceremony of BLESSING sick or dying people: He was given extreme unction.

extremis IN EXTREMIS

extremism noun [U] political, religious, etc. ideas or actions that are extreme and not normal, reasonable or acceptable to most people: political extremism

extremist noun (usually disapproving) a person whose opinions, especially about religion or politics, are extreme, and who may do things that are violent, illegal, etc. for what they believe: left-wing/right-wing/political/religious extremists He was assassinated by extremists.
extremist adj. [usually before noun]: extremist attacks/groups/policies

extremity noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] the furthest point, end or limit of sth: The lake is situated at the eastern extremity of the mountain range. We travelled the whole distance between the two extremities of the island.
2 [C, U] the degree to which a situation, a feeling, an action, etc. is extreme, difficult or unusual: the extremities/extremity of pain
3 extremities [pl.] (formal) the parts of your body that are furthest from the centre, especially your hands and feet: Cold extremities and a hot head are the first signs of the fever.

extricate verb [VN] ~ sb/sth/yourself (from sth) (formal)
1 to escape or enable sb to escape from a difficult situation: He had managed to extricate himself from most of his official duties.
2 to free sb/sth or yourself from a place where they/it or you are trapped: They managed to extricate the pilot from the tangled control panel.

extrinsic adj. (formal) not belonging naturally to sb/sth; coming from or existing outside sb/sth rather than within them: extrinsic factors She was motivated by the idea of extrinsic rewards such as salary rather than intrinsic ones such as pride and self-respect.compare INTRINSIC

extrovert (also less frequent extravert) NAmE noun a lively and confident person who enjoys being with other people INTROVERT
extroverted (BrE also extrovert) adj.

extrude verb
1 (formal) to force or push sth out of sth; to be forced or pushed in this way: [VN] Lava is extruded from the volcano. [also V]
2 [VN] (technical) to shape metal or plastic by forcing it through a hole
extrusion noun [U]

extrusive adj. (geology) (of rock) that has been pushed out of the earth by a VOLCANO

exuberant NAmE adj.
1 full of energy, excitement and happiness: She gave an exuberant performance. an exuberant personality/imagination a picture painted in exuberant reds and yellows
2 (of plants, etc.) strong and healthy; growing quickly and well: the exuberant growth of high summer
exuberance noun [U]: We can excuse his behaviour as youthful exuberance. Nothing will curb her natural exuberance. exuberantly adv.

exude NAmE verb
1 if you exude a particular feeling or quality, or it exudes from you, people can easily see that you have it: [VN] She exuded confidence. [also V]
2 if sth exudes a liquid or smell, or a liquid or smell exudes from somewhere, the liquid, etc. comes out slowly: [VN] The plant exudes a sticky fluid. [V] An awful smell exuded from the creature's body.

exult verb ~ (at/in sth) (formal) to feel and show that you are very excited and happy because of sth that has happened: [V] He leaned back, exulting at the success of his plan. [V speech] 'We won!' she exulted. [also V that]

exultant adj. ~ (at sth) (formal) feeling or showing great pride or happiness especially because of sth exciting that has happened TRIUMPHANT: The fans were exultant at their team's victory.
exultantly adv.

exultation noun [U] (formal) great pride or happiness, especially because of sth exciting that has happened

-ey -Y

eye noun, verb
noun
PART OF BODY
1 [C] either of the two organs on the face that you see with: The suspect has dark hair and green eyes. to close/open your eyes to drop/lower your eyes (= to look down) There were tears in his eyes. I have something in my eye. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. Her eyes widened in horror. to make/avoid eye contact with sb (= to look/avoid looking at them at the same time as they look at you) All eyes were on him (= everyone was looking at him) as he walked on to the stage.see also BLACK EYE, COMPOUND EYE, LAZY EYE, SHUT-EYE
2 -eyed (in adjectives) having the type or number of eyes mentioned: a blue-eyed blonde a one-eyed monster
ABILITY TO SEE
3 [sing.] the ability to see: A surgeon needs a good eye and a steady hand.see also EAGLE EYE
WAY OF SEEING
4 [C, usually sing.] a particular way of seeing sth: He looked at the design with the eye of an engineer. She viewed the findings with a critical eye. To my eye, the windows seem out of proportion.
OF NEEDLE
5 [C] the hole in the end of a needle that you put the thread through
ON CLOTHES
6 [C] a small thin piece of metal curved round, that a small hook fits into, used for fastening clothes: It fastens with a hook and eye.
OF STORM
7 [sing.] a/the ~ of a/the storm, tornado, hurricane, etc. a calm area at the centre of a storm, etc.
ON POTATO
8 [C] a dark mark on a potato from which another plant will grow
see also CATSEYE, BULLSEYE, THE EVIL EYE, FISHEYE LENS, RED-EYE
be all eyes to be watching sb/sth carefully and with a lot of interest: The kids were all eyes as he slowly unwrapped the package.
before/in front of sb's (very) eyes in sb's presence; in front of sb: He had seen his life's work destroyed before his very eyes.
be up to your eyes in sth to have a lot of sth to deal with: We're up to our eyes in work.
cast/run an eye/your eyes over sth to look at or examine sth quickly: Could you just run your eyes over this report?
clap/lay/set eyes on sb/sth (informal) (usually used in negative sentences) to see sb/sth: I haven't clapped eyes on them for weeks. I hope I never set eyes on this place again!
an eye for an eye (and a tooth for a tooth) (saying) used to say that you should punish sb by doing to them what they have done to you or to sb else: They advocate a justice system that works on the principle of an eye for an eye.
sb's eyes are bigger than their stomach used to say that sb has been GREEDY by taking more food than they can eat
for sb's eyes only to be seen only by a particular person: I'll lend you the letters but they're for your eyes only.
get your eye in (BrE) (in ball games) to practise so that you are able to judge more clearly how fast and where the ball is going
have an eye for sth to be able to judge if things look attractive, valuable, etc.: I've never had much of an eye for fashion. She has an eye for a bargain.
have eyes in the back of your head to be aware of everything that is happening around you, even things that seem difficult or impossible to see: You can't get away with anything in her class.She has eyes in the back of her head.
have (got) eyes like a hawk to be able to notice or see everything: She's bound to notice that chipped glass. The woman has eyes like a hawk!
have one eye/half an eye on sth to look at or watch sth while doing sth else, especially in a secret way so that other people do not notice: During his talk, most of the delegates had one eye on the clock.
have your eye on sb
1 to be watching sb carefully, especially to check that they do not do anything wrong: And remember, I'll have my eye on you so you'd better behave.
2 to be thinking about asking sb out, offering sb a job, etc. because you think they are attractive, good at their job, etc.: He's got his eye on the new girl in your class.
have your eye on sth to be thinking about buying sth
in the eyes of the law, world, etc. according to the law, most people in the world, etc.: In the eyes of the law she is guilty though few ordinary people would think so.
in sb's eyes (BrE also to sb's eyes) in sb's opinion or according to the way that they see the situation: She can do no wrong in her father's eyes. To Western eyes, it may seem that the city is overcrowded.
keep an eye on sb/sth to take care of sb/sth and make sure that they are not harmed, damaged, etc.: We've asked the neighbours to keep an eye on the house for us while we are away.
keep an eye open/out (for sb/sth) to look for sb/sth while you are doing other things: Police have asked residents to keep an eye out for anything suspicious.
keep your eye on the ball to continue to give your attention to what is most important
keep your eyes peeled/skinned (for sb/sth) to look carefully for sb/sth: We kept our eyes peeled for any signs of life.
look sb in the eye(s)/face (usually used in negative sentences and questions) to look straight at sb without feeling embarrassed or ashamed: Can you look me in the eye and tell me you're not lying? I'll never be able to look her in the face again!
make eyes at sb | give sb the eye to look at sb in a way that shows that you find them sexually attractive: He's definitely giving you the eye!
my eye! (BrE, old-fashioned, informal) used to show that you do not believe sb/sth: 'It's an antique.' 'An antique, my eye!'
not see eye to eye with sb (on sth) to not share the same views as sb about sth: The two of them have never seen eye to eye on politics.
not (be able to) take your eyes off sb/sth to find sb/sth so interesting, attractive, etc. that you watch them all the time
one in the eye (for sb/sth) (informal) a result, action, etc. that represents a defeat or disappointment for sb/sth: The appointment of a woman was one in the eye for male domination.
only have eyes for/have eyes only for sb to be in love with only one particular person: He's only ever had eyes for his wife.
see, look at, etc. sth through sb's eyes to think about or see sth the way that another person sees it: Try looking at it through her eyes for a change. Events are seen through the eyes of a Polish refugee.
shut/close your eyes to sth to pretend that you have not noticed sth so that you do not have to deal with it: You can't just close your eyes to his violence. They seem intent on shutting their eyes to the problems of pollution.
take your eye off the ball to stop giving your attention to what is most important
under the (watchful) eye of sb being watched carefully by sb: The children played under the watchful eye of their father.
what the eye doesn't see (the heart doesn't grieve over) (saying) if a person does not know about sth that they would normally disapprove of, then it cannot hurt them: What does it matter if I use his flat while he's away? What the eye doesn't see ... !
with an eye for/on/to the main chance (BrE, usually disapproving) with the hope of using a particular situation in order to gain some advantage for yourself
with an eye to sth/to doing sth with the intention of doing sth: He bought the warehouse with an eye to converting it into a hotel.
with your eyes open fully aware of the possible problems or results of a particular course of action: I went into this with my eyes open so I guess I only have myself to blame.
with your eyes shut/closed having enough experience to be able to do sth easily: I've made this trip so often, I could do it with my eyes shut.more at APPLE, BAT v., BEAUTY, BELIEVE, BIRD, BLIND adj., BLINK n., BLUE adj., CATCH v., CLOSE^2 adj., COCK v., CORNER n., DRY n., EASY adj., FAR adv., FEAST v., HIT v., MEET v., MIND n., NAKED, OPEN adj., OPEN v., PLEASE v., PUBLIC adj., PULL v., ROVING, SIGHT n., TWINKLING, WEATHER n.
verb (eyeing or eying, eyed, eyed) [VN] to look at sb/sth carefully, especially because you want sth or you are suspicious of sth: to eye sb suspiciously He couldn't help eyeing the cakes hungrily. They eyed us with alarm.
eye sbup (informal) to look at sb in a way that shows you have a special interest in them, especially a sexual interest

eyeball noun, verb
noun the whole of the eye, including the part inside the head that cannot be seen
eyeball to eyeball (with sb) very close to sb and looking at them, especially during an angry conversation, meeting, etc.: The protesters and police stood eyeball to eyeball. an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation
be up to your eyeballs in sth to have a lot of sth to deal with: They're up to their eyeballs in work.more at DRUG v.
verb [VN] (informal) to look at sb/sth in a way that is very direct and not always polite or friendly: They eyeballed each other across the room.

eyebath NAmE noun a small container that you put a liquid in to wash your eye with

eyebrow (also brow) noun [usually pl.] the line of hair above the eye
be up to your eyebrows in sth to have a lot of sth to deal with: He's in it (= trouble) up to his eyebrows.more at RAISE v.

eyebrow pencil noun a type of make-up in the form of a pencil, used for emphasizing or improving the shape of the EYEBROWS

eye candy noun [U] (informal) a person or thing that is attractive but not intelligent or useful: Her first step to fame was as eye candy, delivering the weather on breakfast TV.

eye-catching adj. (of a thing) immediately noticeable because it is particularly interesting, bright or attractive: an eye-catching advertisement beautiful clothes in eye-catching colours

eyeful noun
1 an amount of sth such as liquid or dust that has been thrown, or blown into your eye: an eyeful of sand
2 (informal) a person or thing that is beautiful or interesting to look at: I've been told that she was quite an eyeful in her youth.
have/get an eyeful (of sth) (BrE, informal) to look carefully at sth that is interesting or unusual

eyeglass NAmE noun
1 a LENS for one eye used to help you see more clearly with that eye: a jeweller's eyeglass
2 eyeglasses (NAmE) = GLASSES

eyelash (also lash) noun [usually pl.] one of the hairs growing on the edge of the EYELIDS: false eyelashes She just flutters her eyelashes and the men come running!

eyelet noun a hole with a metal ring around it in a piece of cloth or leather, normally used for passing a rope or string through: Insert the tent poles through the eyelets on the groundsheet. The jacket has underarm eyelets for ventilation.

eye level noun [U] the height of a person's eyes: Computer screens should be at eye level. an eye-level grill

eyelid (also lid) noun either of the pieces of skin above and below the eye that cover it when you BLINK or close the eye see BAT v.

eyeline noun the direction that sb is looking in

eyeliner (also liner) noun [U] a type of make-up, usually black, that is put around the edge of the eyes to make them more noticeable and attractive

eye-opener noun [usually sing.] an event, experience, etc. that is surprising and shows you sth that you did not already know: Travelling around India was a real eye-opener for me.

eyepatch noun a piece of material worn over one eye, usually because the eye is damaged

eyepiece noun the piece of glass (= a LENS) at the end of a TELESCOPE or MICROSCOPE that you look through

eyeshadow NAmE noun [C, U] a type of coloured make-up that is put on the skin above the eyes (= the EYELIDS) to make them look more attractive

eyesight noun [U] the ability to see: to have good/bad/poor eyesight an eyesight test

eyesore noun a building, an object, etc. that is unpleasant to look at: That old factory is a real eyesore!

eye strain noun [U] a condition of the eyes caused, for example, by a long period of reading or looking at a computer screen

eye teeth noun [pl.]
give your eye teeth for sth/to do sth (informal) used when you are saying that you want sth very much: I'd give my eye teeth to own a car like that.

eyewall noun (technical) a thick ring of cloud around the EYE (= calm area at the centre) of a HURRICANE

eyewash NAmE noun [U] (old-fashioned, informal) words, promises, etc. that are not true or sincere: That's complete eyewash and you know it!

eyewear NAmE noun [U] (formal) things worn on the eyes such as glasses or CONTACT LENSES

eyewitness noun a person who has seen a crime, accident, etc. and can describe it afterwards: an eyewitness account of the suffering of the refugees note at WITNESSsee also WITNESS

eyrie (especially BrE) (NAmE usually aerie) NAmE noun
1 a nest that is built high up among rocks by a BIRD OF PREY (= a bird that kills other creatures for food) such as an EAGLE
2 a room or building in a high place that is often difficult to reach and from which sb can see what is happening below

e-zine noun a magazine published in electronic form on the Internet

F noun, abbr.
noun (also f) [C, U] (pl. Fs, F's, f's )
1 the 6th letter of the English alphabet: 'Fox' begins with (an) F/'F'.
2 F (music) the fourth note in the SCALE of C MAJOR
3 the 6th highest mark/grade that a student can get for a piece of work, showing that it is very bad and the student has failed: He got (an) F/'F' in/for Chemistry.see also F-WORD
abbr.
1 FAHRENHEIT: Water freezes at 32°F.
2 (BrE) (in academic titles) FELLOW of: FRCM (= Fellow of the Royal College of Music)
3 FARAD

f (BrE) (also f. NAmE, BrE) abbr.
1 female
2 (grammar) feminine
3 (music) loudly (from Italian 'forte')

F-1 visa noun a document that allows sb from another country to enter the US as a student

FA noun [sing.] the FA the organization that controls the sport of football (SOCCER) in England and Wales (the abbreviation for 'Football Association')

fa = FAH

fab adj. (BrE, informal) extremely good: a fab idea You look fab!

fable noun
1 [C, U] a traditional short story that teaches a moral lesson, especially one with animals as characters; these stories considered as a group: Aesop's Fables a land rich in fable
2 [U, C] a statement, or an account of sth, that is not true

fabled adj. (literary or humorous) famous and often talked about, but rarely seen LEGENDARY: a fabled monster For the first week he never actually saw the fabled Jack.

fabric noun
1 [U, C] material made by WEAVING wool, cotton, silk, etc., used for making clothes, curtains, etc. and for covering furniture: cotton fabric furnishing fabrics note at MATERIAL
2 [sing.] the ~ (of sth) (formal) the basic structure of a society, an organization, etc. that enables it to function successfully: a trend which threatens the very fabric of society note at STRUCTURE
3 [sing.] the ~ (of sth) the basic structure of a building, such as the walls, floor and roof

fabricate verb [VN] [often passive]
1 to invent false information in order to trick people MAKE UP: The evidence was totally fabricated. The prisoner claimed the police had fabricated his confession.
2 (technical) to make or produce goods, equipment, etc. from various different materials MANUFACTURE
fabrication noun [C, U]: Her story was a complete fabrication from start to finish.

fabulist noun (formal) a person who invents or tells stories

fabulous adj.
1 (informal) extremely good: a fabulous performance Jane is a fabulous cook. The food looks fabulous. note at GREAT
2 (formal) very great: fabulous wealth/riches/beauty
3 [only before noun] (literary) appearing in FABLES: fabulous beasts

fabulously adv. (formal) extremely: fabulously wealthy/rich

facade noun
1 the front of a building: a classical facade
2 [usually sing.] the way that sb/sth appears to be, which is different from the way sb/sth really is: She managed to maintain a facade of indifference. They seem happy together, but it's all a facade. Squalor and poverty lay behind the city's glittering facade.

face noun, verb
noun
FRONT OF HEAD
1 the front part of the head between the FOREHEAD and the chin: a pretty/round/freckled face He buried his face in his hands. You should have seen the look on her face when I told her! The expression on his face never changed. At that time, her face was on the covers of all the magazines.
EXPRESSION
2 an expression that is shown on sb's face: a sad/happy/smiling face Her face lit up (= showed happiness) when she spoke of the past. His face fell (= showed disappointment, sadness, etc.) when he read the headlines. Sue's face was a picture (= she looked very surprised, angry, etc.) as she listened to her husband's speech.
-FACED
3 (in adjectives) having the type of face or expression mentioned: pale-faced grim-faced
PERSON
4 (in compounds) used to refer to a person of the type mentioned: She looked around for a familiar face. a well-known face on our television screens It's nice to see some new faces here this evening. I'm fed up of seeing the same old faces every time we go out!
SIDE/SURFACE
5 a side or surface of sth: the north face of the mountain The birds build their nests in the rock face. Ivy covered the front face of the house. How many faces does a cube have?see also COALFACE
FRONT OF CLOCK
6 the front part of a clock or watch
CHARACTER/ASPECT
7 ~ of sth the particular character of sth: the changing face of Britain
8 ~ of sth a particular aspect of sth: the unacceptable face of capitalism
see also IN-YOUR-FACE, TYPEFACE, VOLTE-FACE
disappear/vanish off the face of the earth to disappear completely: Keep lookingthey can't just have vanished off the face of the earth.
sb's face doesn't fit used to say that sb will not get a particular job or position because they do not have the appearance, personality, etc. that the employer wants, even when this should not be important: It doesn't matter how well qualified you are, if your face doesn't fit, you don't stand a chance.
sb's face is like thunder | sb has a face like thunder somebody looks very angry
face to face (with sb) close to and looking at sb: The two have never met face to face before. The room fell silent as she came face to face with the man who had tried to kill her.
face to face with sth in a situation where you have to accept that sth is true and deal with it: She was at an early age brought face to face with the horrors of war.
face up/down
1 (of a person) with your face and stomach facing upwards/downwards: She lay face down on the bed.
2 with the front part or surface facing upwards/downwards: Place the card face up on the pile.
have the face to do sth (BrE, informal) to do sth that other people think is rude or shows a lack of respect without feeling embarrassed or ashamed: I don't know how you have the face to complain after everything they've done for you!
in sb's face (NAmE, informal) annoying sb by criticizing them or telling them what to do all the time
in the face of sth
1 despite problems, difficulties, etc.: She showed great courage in the face of danger. The campaign continued in the face of great opposition.
2 as a result of sth: He was unable to deny the charges in the face of new evidence.
lose face to be less respected or look stupid because of sth you have done BE HUMILIATED
on the face of it (informal) used to say that sth seems to be good, true, etc. but that this opinion may need to be changed when you know more about it: On the face of it, it seems like a great deal. What may, on the face of it, seem obvious often turns out to be far more complicated.
pull/make faces/a face (at sb) to produce an expression on your face to show that you do not like sb/sth or in order to make sb laugh: What are you pulling a face at now? Do you think it's funny to make faces behind my back?
put your face on (informal) to put on MAKE-UP
set your face against sb/sth (especially BrE) to be determined to oppose sb/sth: Her father had set his face against the marriage.
to sb's face if you say sth to sb's face, you say it to them directly rather than to other people: He's a liar, and I've told him so to his face many times.compare BEHIND SB'S BACK
what's his/her face (informal) used to refer to a person whose name you cannot remember: Are you still working for what's her face?more at BLOW v., BLUE adj., BRAVE adj., DOOR n., FEED v., EGG n., EYE n., FLAT adv., FLY v., LAUGH v., LONG adj., NOSE n., PLAIN adj., PRETTY adj., SAVE v., SHOW v., SHUT v., SLAP n., STARE v., STRAIGHT n., WIPE v., WRITE
verb
BE OPPOSITE
1 to be opposite sb/sth; to have your face or front pointing towards sb/sth or in a particular direction: [VN] She turned and faced him. Most of the rooms face the sea. [V + adv. / prep.] The terrace faces south. a north-facing wall Stand with your feet apart and your hands facing upwards. Which direction are you facing?
SB/STH DIFFICULT
2 [VN] if you face a particular situation, or it faces you, you have to deal with it: the problems faced by one-parent families The company is facing a financial crisis. She's faced with a difficult decision.
3 [VN] to accept that a difficult situation exists, although you would prefer not to: It's not always easy to face the truth. She had to face the fact that her life had changed forever. Face factsshe isn't coming back. Let's face it, we're not going to win.
4 if you can't face sth unpleasant, you feel unable or unwilling to deal with it: [VN] I just can't face work today. [V -ing] I can't face seeing them.
5 [VN] to talk to or deal with sb, even though this is difficult or unpleasant: How can I face Tom? He'll be so disappointed.
COVER SURFACE
6 [VN] [usually passive] to cover a surface with another material: a brick building faced with stone
face the music (informal) to accept and deal with criticism or punishment for sth you have done: The others all ran off, leaving me to face the music.
face sbdown to oppose or beat sb by dealing with them directly and confidently
face off (especially NAmE)
1 to start a game such as ICE HOCKEY: Both teams are ready to face off.
2 to get ready to argue, fight or compete with sb: The candidates are preparing to face off on TV tonight.related noun FACE-OFF
face up to sth to accept and deal with sth that is difficult or unpleasant: She had to face up to the fact that she would never walk again. You have to face up to your responsibilities.

VOCABULARY BUILDING

expressions on your face

To beam is to have a big happy smile on your face.

To frown is to make a serious, angry or worried expression by bringing your eyebrows closer together so that lines appear on your forehead.

To glare or glower is to look in an angry, aggressive way.

To grimace is to make an ugly expression with your face to show pain, disgust, etc.

To scowl is to look at someone in an angry or annoyed way.

To smirk is to smile in a silly or unpleasant way that shows that you are pleased with yourself, know something that other people do not know, etc.

To sneer is to show that you have no respect for someone by turning your upper lip upwards.

These words can also be used as nouns: She looked up with a puzzled frown.He gave me an icy glare.a grimace of pain.

face card noun (especially NAmE) = COURT CARD

facecloth NAmE noun (BrE) = FLANNEL

face cream noun [U, C] a thick cream that you put on your face to clean the skin or keep it soft

faceless adj. [usually before noun] (disapproving) having no noticeable characteristics or identity: faceless bureaucrats faceless high-rise apartment blocks

facelift noun [usually sing.]
1 a medical operation in which the skin on a person's face is made tighter in order to make them look younger: to have a facelift
2 changes made to a building or place to make it look more attractive: The town has recently been given a facelift.

face-off noun
1 (informal, especially NAmE) an argument or a fight: a face-off between the presidential candidates There were minor face-offs between demonstrators and police.
2 the way of starting play in a game of ICE HOCKEY

face pack noun (BrE) a substance that you put on your face and take off after a short period of time, used to clean your skin

face powder noun powder that you put on your face to make it look less shiny

face-saving adj. [only before noun] intended to protect sb's reputation and to avoid embarrassment: a face-saving compromise

facet noun
1 ~ (of sth) a particular part or aspect of sth: Now let's look at another facet of the problem. The report examines every facet of the prison system. the many facets of rural life
2 one of the flat sides of a JEWEL

face time noun [U] (NAmE, informal) time that you spend talking in person to people you work with, rather than speaking on the phone or sending emails

facetious adj. trying to appear amusing and intelligent at a time when other people do not think it is appropriate, and when it would be better to be serious FLIPPANT: a facetious comment/remark Stop being facetious; this is serious.
facetiously adv. facetiousness noun [U]

face-to-face adj. involving people who are close together and looking at each other: a face-to-face conversation I deal with customers on the phone and rarely meet them face-to-face.
face-to-face adv.: He opened the door and came face-to-face with a burglar. (figurative) She was brought face-to-face with the horrors of war.

face value noun [U, sing.] the value of a stamp, coin, ticket, etc. that is shown on the front of it: Tickets were changing hands at three times their face value.
take sth at face value to believe that sth is what it appears to be, without questioning it: Taken at face value, the figures look very encouraging. You shouldn't take anything she says at face value.

facia = FASCIA

facial adj., noun
adj. [usually before noun] connected with a person's face; on a person's face: a facial expression facial hair
facially adv.: Facially the two men were very different.
noun a beauty treatment in which a person's face is cleaned using creams, steam, etc. in order to improve the quality of the skin

facile NAmE adj. (disapproving)
1 produced without effort or careful thought GLIB: a facile remark/generalization It seems too facile to blame everything on his mishandling of the crisis.
2 [only before noun] (formal) obtained too easily and having little value: a facile victory

facilitate verb [VN] (formal) to make an action or a process possible or easier: The new trade agreement should facilitate more rapid economic growth. Structured teaching facilitates learning.
facilitation noun [U, sing.]: the facilitation of international communication

facilitator noun
1 a person who helps sb do sth more easily by discussing problems, giving advice, etc. rather than telling them what to do: The teacher acts as a facilitator of learning.
2 (formal) a thing that helps a process take place

facility noun
1 facilities [pl.] buildings, services, equipment, etc. that are provided for a particular purpose: sports/leisure facilities conference facilities shopping/banking/cooking facilities The hotel has special facilities for welcoming disabled people. All rooms have private facilities (= a private bathroom).
2 [C] a special feature of a machine, service, etc. that makes it possible to do sth extra: a bank account with an overdraft facility a facility for checking spelling This facility allows the user to input text in various forms onto the screen and thus create a true newspaper page.
3 [C] a place, usually including buildings, used for a particular purpose or activity: the world's largest nuclear waste facility a new health care facility
4 [sing., U] ~ (for sth) a natural ability to learn or do sth easily: She has a facility for languages. He plays the piano with surprising facility.

facing noun
1 [C, U] a layer of brick, stone, etc. that covers the surface of a wall to make it look more attractive: marble/stone/brick facings
2 [C, U] a layer of stiff material sewn around the inside of the neck, ARMHOLES, etc. of a piece of clothing to make them stronger: Cut the facings out of thinner material.
3 facings [pl.] the COLLAR, CUFFS, etc. of a piece of clothing that are made in a different colour or material: a smoking jacket with green velvet facings

facsimile noun
1 [C] an exact copy of sth: a facsimile edition a manuscript reproduced in facsimile
2 [C, U] (formal) = FAX: a facsimile machine

fact noun
1 [sing.] ~ (that ... ) used to refer to a particular situation that exists: I could no longer ignore the fact that he was deeply unhappy. Despite the fact that she was wearing a seat belt, she was thrown sharply forward. Due to the fact that they did not read English, the prisoners were unaware of what they were signing. She was happy apart from the fact that she could not return home. Voluntary work was particularly important in view of the fact that women were often forced to give up paid work on marriage. How do you account for the fact that unemployment is still rising? The fact remains that we are still two teachers short. The mere fact of being poor makes such children criminals in the eyes of the police.
2 [C] a thing that is known to be true, especially when it can be proved: Isn't it a fact that the firm is losing money? (informal) I haven't spoken to anyone in English for days and that's a fact. I know for a fact (= I am certain) that she's involved in something illegal. The judge instructed both lawyers to stick to the facts of the case. First, some basic facts about healthy eating! The report is based on hard facts (= information that can be proved to be true). If you're going to make accusations, you'd better get your facts right (= make sure your information is correct). It's about time you learnt to face (the) facts (= accepted the truth about the situation).
3 [U] things that are true rather than things that have been invented: The story is based on fact. It's important to distinguish fact from fiction.
after the fact after sth has happened or been done when it is too late to prevent it or change it: On some vital decisions employees were only informed after the fact.
the fact (of the matter) is (that) ... used to emphasize a statement, especially one that is the opposite of what has just been mentioned: A new car would be wonderful but the fact of the matter is that we can't afford one.
a fact of life a situation that cannot be changed, especially one that is unpleasant: It's a fact of life that some people will always be racist.
facts and figures accurate and detailed information: I've asked to see all the facts and figures before I make a decision.
the facts of life the details about sex and about how babies are born, especially as told to children
the facts speak for themselves it is not necessary to give any further explanation about sth because the information that is available already proves that it is true
in (actual) fact
1 used to give extra details about sth that has just been mentioned: I used to live in France; in fact, not far from where you're going.
2 used to emphasize a statement, especially one that is the opposite of what has just been mentioned: I thought the work would be difficult. In actual fact, it's very easy.
Is that a fact? (informal) used to reply to a statement that you find interesting or surprising, or that you do not believe: 'She says I'm one of the best students she's ever taught.' 'Is that a fact?'more at MATTER n., POINT n.

fact-finding adj. [only before noun] done in order to find out information about a country, an organization, a situation, etc.: a fact-finding mission/visit

faction noun
1 [C] a small group of people within a larger one whose members have some different aims and beliefs to those of the larger group: rival factions within the administration
2 [U] opposition, disagreement, etc. that exists between small groups of people within an organization or political party: a party divided by faction and intrigue
3 [U] films/movies, books, etc. that combine fact with FICTION (= imaginary events)

factional adj. [only before noun] connected with the factions of an organization or political party: factional conflict factional rivalries
factionalism noun [U]

factitious adj. (formal) not genuine but created deliberately and made to appear to be true

factitive adj. (grammar) (of verbs) followed by a DIRECT OBJECT and a COMPLEMENT. Factitive verbs describe a situation where there is a result to the action. In 'I painted it red' and 'they made her captain', 'painted' and 'made' are factitive.

factive adj. (grammar) (of verbs) talking about sth as a true fact. 'Know' and 'realize' are factive verbs.compare CONTRAFACTIVE, NON-FACTIVE

factoid noun
1 something that is widely accepted as a fact, although it is probably not true
2 a small piece of interesting information, especially about sth that is not very important: Here's a pop factoid for you.

factor noun, verb
noun
1 [C] one of several things that cause or influence sth: economic factors The closure of the mine was the single most important factor in the town's decline. the key/crucial/deciding factor The result will depend on a number of different factors
2 [C] (mathematics) a number that divides into another number exactly: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 are the factors of 12.
3 [C] the amount by which sth increases or decreases: The real wage of the average worker has increased by a factor of over ten in the last 70 years.
4 [C] a particular level on a scale of measurement: a suntan lotion with a protection factor of 10 The wind-chill factor will make it seem colder.
5 [U] (medical) a substance in the blood that helps the CLOTTING process. There are several types of this substance: Haemophiliacs have no factor 8 in their blood see FEEL-GOOD
verb
factor sthin| factor sthinto sth (technical) to include a particular fact or situation when you are thinking about or planning sth: Remember to factor in staffing costs when you are planning the project.

factor VIII (also factor 8, factor eight) noun [U] (biology) a substance in the blood that helps it to CLOT (= become thick)

factorial noun (mathematics) the result when you multiply a whole number by all the numbers below it: factorial 5 (represented as 5!) = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1

factorize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] (mathematics) to express a number in terms of its FACTORS n. (2)

factory noun (pl. -ies) a building or group of buildings where goods are made: a car factory factory workers

SYNONYMS

factory

plant mill works yard workshop foundry

These are all words for buildings or places where things are made or where industrial processes take place.

factory a building or group of buildings where goods are made: a chocolate/cigarette/clothing factory

plant a factory or place where power is produced or an industrial process takes place: a nuclear power plant a manufacturing plant

mill a factory that produces a particular type of material: a cotton/paper/textile/woollen mill

works (often in compounds) a place where things are made or an industrial process takes place: a brickworks a steelworks Raw materials were carried to the works by barge.

yard (usually in compounds) an area of land used for building sth: a shipyard

workshop a room or building in which things are made or repaired using tools or machinery: a car repair workshop

foundry a factory where metal or glass is melted and made into different shapes or objects: an iron foundry

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

a car/chemical/munitions factory/plant

an engineering plant/works

factory/mill/foundry owners/managers/workers

to manage/run a factory/plant/mill/works/yard/workshop/foundry

to work in/at a factory/plant/mill/yard/workshop/foundry

factory farm noun (BrE) a type of farm in which animals are kept inside in small spaces and are fed special food so that a large amount of meat, milk, etc. is produced as quickly and cheaply as possiblecompare BATTERY FARM
factory farming noun [U]

factory floor noun (often the factory floor) [sing.] the part of a factory where the goods are actually produced: Jobs are at risk, not just on the factory floor (= among the workers, rather than the managers) but throughout the business.

factory ship noun a large ship used for catching fish, that has equipment for cleaning and freezing the fish on board

factory shop (BrE) (also factory store, factory outlet NAmE, BrE) noun a shop/store in which goods are sold directly by the company that produces them at a cheaper price than normal

factotum NAmE noun (formal or humorous) a person employed to do a wide variety of jobs for sb: I became her assistant and general factotum.

fact sheet noun a piece of paper giving information about a subject, especially (in Britain) one discussed on a radio or television programme: For further details, write in for our free fact sheet.

factual adj. based on or containing facts: a factual account of events factual information The essay contains a number of factual errors.
factually adv.: factually correct

faculty noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C, usually pl.] any of the physical or mental abilities that a person is born with: the faculty of sight She retained her mental faculties (= the ability to think and understand) until the day she died. to be in full possession of your faculties (= be able to speak, hear, see, understand, etc.) intellectual/critical/artistic faculties
2 [sing.] ~ of/for (doing) sth (formal) a particular ability for doing sth: the faculty of understanding complex issues He had a faculty for seeing his own mistakes.
3 [C] a department or group of related departments in a college or university: the Faculty of Law the Arts Faculty
4 [C+sing./pl. v.] all the teachers in a faculty of a college or university: the Law School faculty a faculty meeting faculty members
5 [C, U] (often the faculty) (NAmE) all the teachers of a particular university or college: faculty members

fad noun something that people are interested in for only a short period of time CRAZE: the latest/current fad a fad for physical fitness Rap music proved to be more than just a passing fad.

faddy adj. (BrE, informal, disapproving) liking some things and not others, especially food, in a way that other people think is unreasonable: a faddy eater He's always been faddy about his food.
faddiness noun [U]

fade verb
1 to become or to make sth become paler or less bright: [V] All colour had faded from the sky. The curtains had faded in the sun. [VN] The sun had faded the curtains. He was wearing faded blue jeans.
2 [V] ~ (away) to disappear gradually: Her smile faded. Hopes of reaching an agreement seem to be fading away. His voice faded to a whisper (= gradually became quieter). The laughter faded away. All other issues fade into insignificance compared with the struggle for survival. Summer was fading into autumn.
3 if a sports player, team, actor, etc. fades, they stop playing or performing as well as they did before: Black faded on the final bend. see WOODWORK
fade away (of a person) to become very weak or ill/sick and die: In the last weeks of her life she simply faded away.
fade in/out to become clearer or louder / less clear or quieter: George saw the monitor black out and then a few words faded in.
fade sth in/out to make a picture or a sound clearer or louder / less clear or quieter: Fade out the music at the end of the scene.

fade-in noun [U, C] (in cinema, broadcasting, etc.) the process of making a sound or an image gradually appear; an occasion when this happens

fade-out noun [U, C] (in cinema, broadcasting, etc.) the process of making a sound or an image gradually disappear; an occasion when this happens

fader noun (technical) a piece of equipment used to make sounds or images gradually appear or disappear

fade-up noun [U, C] (in cinema, broadcasting, etc.) the process of making a sound or an image gradually clearer; an occasion when this happens

faeces (BrE) (NAmE feces) noun [pl.] (formal) solid waste material that leaves the body through the ANUS EXCREMENT
faecal (BrE) (NAmE fecal) adj. [only before noun]

faff verb, noun (BrE, informal)
verb
faff about/around to spend time doing things in a way that is not well organized and that does not achieve much: Stop faffing about and get on with it!
noun [U, sing.] a lot of activity that is not well organized and that may cause problems or be annoying: There was the usual faff of finding somewhere to park the car.

fag noun
1 [C] (BrE, informal) = CIGARETTE
2 (also faggot) [C] (NAmE, taboo, slang) an offensive word for a male HOMOSEXUAL
3 [sing.] (BrE, informal) something that is boring and tiring to do: It's too much of a fag to go out. Travelling all that way to work every day is a real fag.
4 [C] (BrE) (especially in the past) a boy at a PUBLIC SCHOOL who has to do jobs for an older boy

fag end noun (BrE, informal)
1 [C] the last part of a cigarette that is left after it has been smoked: The floor was littered with fag ends.
2 [sing.] the ~ of sth the last part of sth, especially when it is less important or interesting: I only caught the fag end of their conversation. the fag end of England's industrial heyday

fagged (also fagged out) adj. [not before noun] (BrE, informal) very tired EXHAUSTED
I can't be fagged (to do sth) used to say that you are too tired or bored to do sth

faggot noun
1 (BrE) a ball of finely chopped meat mixed with bread, baked or fried and eaten hot
2 (NAmE) = FAG (2)
3 a bunch of sticks tied together, used for burning on a fire

fag hag noun (slang, offensive) a woman who likes to spend time with HOMOSEXUAL men

fah (also fa) noun (music) the fourth note of a MAJOR SCALE

fah-fee noun [U] (SAfrE) an illegal game in which you risk money on a particular number being chosen

Fahrenheit adj. (abbr. F) of or using a scale of temperature in which water freezes at 32° and boils at 212°: fifty degrees Fahrenheit Temperatures tomorrow will rise to around seventy degrees Fahrenheit.
Fahrenheit noun [U]: to give the temperature in Fahrenheit

fail verb, noun
verb
NOT SUCCEED
1 ~ (in sth) to not be successful in achieving sth: [V] I failed in my attempt to persuade her. Many diets fail because they are boring. a failing school [V to inf] She failed to get into art college. The song can't fail to be a hit (= definitely will be a hit).
NOT DO STH
2 to not do sth: [V to inf] He failed to keep the appointment. She never fails to email every week. I fail to see (= I don't understand) why you won't even give it a try. [V] He felt he would be failing in his duty if he did not report it.
TEST/EXAM
3 to not pass a test or an exam; to decide that sb/sth has not passed a test or an exam: [VN] He failed his driving test. The examiners failed over half the candidates. She was disqualified after failing a drugs test. [V] What will you do if you fail? PASS
OF MACHINES/PARTS OF BODY
4 [V] to stop working: The brakes on my bike failed half way down the hill.
OF HEALTH/SIGHT
5 [V] (especially in the progressive tenses) to become weak: Her eyesight is failing. His last months in office were marred by failing health.
DISAPPOINT SB
6 [VN] to disappoint sb; to be unable to help when needed: When he lost his job, he felt he had failed his family. She tried to be brave, but her courage failed her. (figurative) Words fail me (= I cannot express how I feel).
NOT BE ENOUGH
7 [V] to not be enough when needed or expected: The crops failed again last summer. The rains had failed and the rivers were dry.
OF COMPANY/BUSINESS
8 [V] to be unable to continue: Several banks failed during the recession.
if all else fails used to suggest sth that sb can do if nothing else they have tried is successful: If all else fails, you can always sell your motorbike.
noun the result of an exam in which a person is not successful: I got three passes and one fail. PASS
without fail
1 when you tell sb to do sth without fail, you are telling them that they must do it: I want you here by two o'clock without fail.
2 always: He emails every week without fail.

failed adj. [only before noun] not successful: a failed writer a failed coup

failing noun, prep.
noun [usually pl.] a weakness or fault in sb/sth: She is aware of her own failings. The inquiry acknowledges failings in the judicial system. Jealousy is a very human failing.
prep. used to introduce a suggestion that could be considered if the one just mentioned is not possible: Ask a friend to recommend a doctor or, failing that, ask for a list in your local library.

fail-safe adj. [usually before noun] (of machinery or equipment) designed to stop working if anything goes wrong: a fail-safe device/mechanism/system

failure noun
NOT SUCCESSFUL
1 [U] lack of success in doing or achieving sth: The success or failure of the plan depends on you. The attempt was doomed to failure. All my efforts ended in failure. the problems of economic failure and increasing unemployment She is still coming to terms with the failure of her marriage. SUCCESS
2 [C] a person or thing that is not successful: The whole thing was a complete failure. He was a failure as a teacher. A team learns from experience, both successes and failures. SUCCESS
NOT DOING STH
3 [U, C] ~ to do sth an act of not doing sth, especially sth that you are expected to do: the failure of the United Nations to maintain food supplies Failure to comply with the regulations will result in prosecution. His confession followed repeated failures to appear in court.
OF MACHINE/PART OF BODY
4 [U, C] the state of not working correctly or as expected; an occasion when this happens: patients suffering from heart/kidney, etc. failure Production has been hampered by mechanical failure. A power failure plunged everything into darkness. The cause of the crash was given as engine failure.
OF BUSINESS
5 [C, U] business ~ a situation in which a business has to close because it is not successful: an alarming increase in business failures
OF CROP/HARVEST
6 [U, C] crop/harvest ~ a situation in which crops do not grow correctly and do not produce food: Bad weather has resulted in crop failure.

fain adv. (old use) willingly or with pleasure: I would fain do as you ask.

faint adj., verb, noun
adj. (fainter, faintest)
1 that cannot be clearly seen, heard or smelt: a faint glow/glimmer/light a faint smell of perfume We saw the faint outline of the mountain through the mist. We could hear their voices growing fainter as they walked down the road. His breathing became faint.
2 very small; possible but unlikely SLIGHT: There is still a faint hope that she may be cured. They don't have the faintest chance of winning.
3 not enthusiastic: a faint show of resistance a faint smile
4 [not before noun] feeling weak and tired and likely to become unconscious: She suddenly felt faint. The walkers were faint from hunger.
faintly adv.: She smiled faintly. He looked faintly embarrassed.
not have the faintest (idea) (informal) to not know anything at all about sth: I didn't have the faintest idea what you meant. He didn't have the faintest idea how the others would react.more at DAMN v.
verb [V] to become unconscious when not enough blood is going to your brain, usually because of the heat, a shock, etc. PASS OUT: to faint from hunger Suddenly the woman in front of me fainted. I'm nearly fainting with the heat in here. (informal) I almost fainted (= I was very surprised) when she told me.
noun [sing.] the state of becoming unconscious: He fell to the ground in a dead faint.

faint-hearted adj. lacking confidence and not brave; afraid of failing COWARDLY: He tried not to appear faint-hearted.
the faint-hearted noun [pl.]: The climb is not for the faint-hearted (= people who are not brave).

faintness noun [U] the state of feeling weak and tired and likely to become unconscious: The side effects include nausea and faintness.

fair NAmE adj., adv., noun
adj. (fairer, fairest)
ACCEPTABLE/APPROPRIATE
1 ~ (to/on sb) acceptable and appropriate in a particular situation: a fair deal/wage/price/question The punishment was very fair. Was it really fair to him to ask him to do all the work? It's not fair on the students to keep changing the timetable. It's only fair to add that they were not told about the problem until the last minute. It seems only fair that they should give us something in return. I think it is fair to say that they are pleased with this latest offer. To be fair, she behaved better than we expected. (especially BrE) 'You should really have asked me first.' 'Right, okay, fair comment.' In the end, a draw was a fair result. I give you fair warning, I'm not always this generous. UNFAIR
TREATING PEOPLE EQUALLY
2 ~ (to sb) treating everyone equally and according to the rules or law: She has always been scrupulously fair. demands for a fairer distribution of wealth We have to be fair to both players. to receive a fair trial free and fair elections It's not fair! He always gets more than me. The new tax is fairer than the old system. They are fair and decent employers. his vision of a fairer, kinder society UNFAIR
QUITE LARGE
3 [only before noun] quite large in number, size or amount: A fair number of people came along. a fair-sized town We've still got a fair bit (= quite a lot) to do. My birthday's still a fair way off (= it's still a long time until my birthday).
QUITE GOOD
4 (especially BrE) quite good: There's a fair chance that we might win this time. It's a fair bet that they won't turn up. I have a fair idea of what happened. His knowledge of French is only fair.
HAIR/SKIN
5 pale in colour: a fair complexion She has long fair hair. All her children are fair (= they all have fair hair).
DARK
WEATHER
6 bright and not raining FINE: a fair and breezy day The day was set fair with the spring sun shining down.
7 (literary) (of winds) not too strong and blowing in the right direction: They set sail with the first fair wind.
BEAUTIFUL
8 (literary or old use) beautiful: a fair maiden
all's fair in love and war (saying) in some situations any type of behaviour is acceptable to get what you want
be fair! (informal) used to tell sb to be reasonable in their judgement of sb/sth: Be fair! She didn't know you were coming.
by fair means or foul using dishonest methods if honest ones do not work: She's determined to win, by fair means or foul.
a fair crack of the whip (BrE, informal) a reasonable opportunity to show that you can do sth: I felt we weren't given a fair crack of the whip.
fair enough (informal, especially BrE) used to say that an idea or suggestion seems reasonable: 'We'll meet at 8.' 'Fair enough.' If you don't want to come, fair enough, but let Bill know.
fair's fair (informal) (BrE also fair dos/do's) used, especially as an exclamation, to say that you think that an action, decision, etc. is acceptable and appropriate because it means that everyone will be treated fairly: Fair's fairyou can't expect them to cancel everything just because you can't make it. Come one, fair dosyou've had your chance, now let me try.
(give sb) a fair hearing (to allow sb) the opportunity to give their opinion of sth before deciding if they have done sth wrong, often in court: I'll see that you get a fair hearing.
(give sb/get) a fair shake (NAmE, informal) (to give sb/get) fair treatment that gives you the same chance as sb else: Are minority students getting a fair shake at college?
(more than) your fair share of sth (more than) an amount of sth that is considered to be reasonable or acceptable: He has more than his fair share of problems. I've had my fair share of success in the past.
fair to middling (old-fashioned) not particularly good or bad: 'How are you feeling today?' 'Oh, fair to middling.'
it's a fair cop (BrE, informal, humorous) used by sb who is caught doing sth wrong, to say that they admit that they are wrong
adv. according to the rules; in a way that is considered to be acceptable and appropriate: Come on, you two, fight fair! They'll respect you as long as you play fair (= behave honestly).
fair and square | fairly and squarely
1 honestly and according to the rules: We won the election fair and square.
2 (BrE) in a direct way that is easy to understand: I told him fair and square to pack his bags.
3 (BrE) exactly in the place you were aiming for: I hit the target fair and square.
set fair (to do sth/for sth) (BrE) having the necessary qualities or conditions to succeed: She seems set fair to win the championship. Conditions were set fair for stable economic development.more at SAY v.
noun
ENTERTAINMENT
1 (BrE also funfair) (NAmE also carnival) a type of entertainment in a field or park at which people can ride on large machines and play games to win prizes: Let's take the kids to the fair. all the fun of the fair
2 (NAmE) a type of entertainment in a field or park at which farm animals and products are shown and take part in competitions: the county/state fair
3 (BrE) = FÊTE
BUSINESS
4 an event at which people, businesses, etc. show and sell their goods: a world trade fair a craft/a book/an antique fair
ANIMAL MARKET
5 (BrE) (in the past) a market at which animals were sold: a horse fair
JOBS
6 job/careers ~ an event at which people who are looking for jobs can get information about companies who might employ them

fair copy noun (BrE) a neat version of a piece of writing

fair dinkum adj., adv. (AustralE, NZE, informal)
1 used to emphasize that sth is genuine or true, or to ask whether it is: It's a fair dinkum Aussie wedding. 'Burt's just told me he's packing up in a month.' 'Fair dinkum?'
2 used to emphasize that behaviour is acceptable: They were asking a lot for the car, but fair dinkum considering how new it is.

the fairer sex noun = THE FAIR SEX

fair game noun [U] if a person or thing is said to be fair game, it is considered acceptable to play jokes on them, criticize them, etc.: The younger teachers were considered fair game by most of the kids.

fairground NAmE noun
1 an outdoor area where a FAIR with entertainments is held
2 [usually pl.] (NAmE) a place where a FAIR showing farm animals, farm products, etc. is held: the Ohio State Fairgrounds
3 [usually pl.] (NAmE) a place where companies and businesses hold a FAIR to show their products: the Milan trade fairgrounds

fair-haired adj. with light or blonde hair

fairly NAmE adv.
1 (before adjectives and adverbs) to some extent but not very: a fairly easy book a fairly typical reaction I know him fairly well, but I wouldn't say we were really close friends. I go jogging fairly regularly. We'll have to leave fairly soon (= before very long). I'm fairly certain I can do the job. The report was fairly incomprehensible. I think you'll find it fairly difficult (= you do not want to say that it is very difficult). note at QUITE
2 in a fair and reasonable way; honestly: He has always treated me very fairly. Her attitude could fairly be described as hostile.
3 (old-fashioned) used to emphasize sth that you are saying: The time fairly raced by.
fairly and squarely = FAIR AND SQUARE

fair-minded adj. (of people) looking at and judging things in a fair and open way

fairness NAmE noun [U]
1 the quality of treating people equally or in a way that is reasonable: the fairness of the judicial system She has a strong sense of justice and fairness.
2 (of skin or hair) a pale colour: A tan emphasized the fairness of her hair.
in (all) fairness (to sb) used to introduce a statement that defends sb who has just been criticized, or that explains another statement that may seem unreasonable: In all fairness to him, he did try to stop her leaving. I have in fairness to say that, as yet, there is no hard evidence to support these charges.

fair play noun [U] the fact of playing a game or acting honestly, fairly and according to the rules: a player admired for his sense of fair play The task of the organization is to ensure fair play when food is distributed to the refugees.
fair play to sb (BrE, informal) used to express approval when sb has done sth that you think is right or reasonable

the fair sex (also the fairer sex) noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] (old-fashioned) women

fair-trade adj. involving trade which supports producers in developing countries by paying fair prices and making sure that workers have good working conditions and fair pay: We buy 10% of our bananas from fair-trade sources. a range of fair-trade foods

fairway NAmE noun (in GOLF) the long strip of short grass that you must hit the ball along before you get to the GREEN and the holecompare THE ROUGH

fair-weather adj. [only before noun] (disapproving) (of people) behaving in a particular way or doing a particular activity only when it is pleasant for them: a fair-weather friend (= sb who stops being a friend when you are in trouble)

fairy NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 (in stories) a creature like a small person, who has magic powers: a good/wicked fairysee also TOOTH FAIRY
2 (disapproving, slang) an offensive word for a HOMOSEXUAL man

fairy cake (BrE) (also cupcake NAmE, BrE) noun a small cake, baked in a paper container shaped like a cup and often with ICING on top

fairy godmother noun a person who rescues you when you most need help

fairyland NAmE noun
1 [U] the home of FAIRIES
2 [sing.] a beautiful, special or unusual place: The toyshop is a fairyland for young children.

fairy lights noun [pl.] (BrE) small coloured electric lights used for decoration, especially on a tree at Christmas

fairy tale (also fairy story) noun
1 a story about magic or FAIRIES, usually for children: the prince in a fairy tale
2 a story that sb tells that is not true; a lie: Now tell me the truth: I don't want any more of your fairy stories.

fairy-tale adj. typical of sth in a fairy tale: a fairy-tale castle on an island a fairy-tale wedding in the cathedral

fait accompli NAmE noun [usually sing.] (pl. faits accomplis NAmE ) (from French) something that has already happened or been done and that you cannot change: We got married secretly and then presented our parents with a fait accompli.

faith noun
1 [U] ~ (in sb/sth) trust in sb's ability or knowledge; trust that sb/sth will do what has been promised: I have great faith in youI know you'll do well. We've lost faith in the government's promises. Her friend's kindness has restored her faith in human nature. He has blind faith (= unreasonable trust) in doctors' ability to find a cure.
2 [U, sing.] strong religious belief: to lose your faith Faith is stronger than reason.
3 [C] a particular religion: the Christian faith The children are learning to understand people of different faiths.
4 [U] good ~ the intention to do sth right: They handed over the weapons as a gesture of good faith.
break/keep faith with sb to break/keep a promise that you have made to sb; to stop/continue being loyal to sb
in bad faith knowing that what you are doing is wrong
in good faith believing that what you are doing is right; believing that sth is correct: We printed the report in good faith but have now learnt that it was incorrect. He bought the painting in good faith (= he did not know that it had been stolen).more at PIN v.

faithful adj.
1 ~ (to sb/sth) staying with or supporting a particular person, organization or belief LOYAL: a faithful servant/friend/dog He remained faithful to the ideals of the party. She was rewarded for her 40 years' faithful service with the company. I have been a faithful reader of your newspaper for many years.
2 the faithfulnoun [pl.] people who believe in a religion; the loyal supporters of a political party: The president will keep the support of the party faithful.
3 (of a wife, husband or partner) ~ (to sb) not having a sexual relationship with anyone else UNFAITHFUL
4 ~ (to sth) true and accurate; not changing anything: a faithful copy/account/description His translation manages to be faithful to the spirit of the original.
5 [only before noun] able to be trusted; that you can rely on: my faithful old car
faithfulness noun [U]: faithfulness to tradition She had doubts about his faithfulness.

faithfully adv.
1 accurately; carefully: to follow instructions faithfully The events were faithfully recorded in her diary.
2 in a loyal way; in a way that you can rely on: He had supported the local team faithfully for 30 years. She promised faithfully not to tell anyone my secret.
Yours faithfully (BrE) used at the end of a formal letter before you sign your name, when you have addressed sb as 'Dear Sir/Dear Madam, etc.' and not by their name

faith healing noun [U] a method of treating a sick person through the power of belief and prayer
faith healer noun

faithless adj. (formal) not loyal; that you cannot rely on or trust: a faithless friend

fajitas noun [pl.] (from Spanish) a Mexican dish of strips of meat and/or vegetables wrapped in a soft TORTILLA and often served with sour cream

fake adj., noun, verb
adj.
1 (disapproving) not genuine; appearing to be sth it is not COUNTERFEIT: fake designer clothing a fake American accent
2 made to look like sth else IMITATION: a jacket in fake fur Don't go out in the sunget a fake tan from a bottle. note at ARTIFICIAL
noun
1 an object such as a work of art, a coin or a piece of jewellery that is not genuine but has been made to look as if it is: All the paintings proved to be fakes.
2 a person who pretends to be what they are not in order to cheat people
verb
1 [VN] to make sth false appear to be genuine, especially in order to cheat sb: She faked her mother's signature on the document. He arranged the accident in order to fake his own death.
2 to pretend to have a particular feeling, illness, etc.: [VN] She's not really sickshe's just faking it. He faked a yawn. [also V]
faker noun

fakie noun (informal) a movement backwards on a SKATEBOARD or SNOWBOARD

fakir (also faquir) NAmE noun a Muslim holy man without possessions who lives by other people giving him food and money

falafel (also felafel) noun [U, C] (pl. falafel or falafels) a Middle Eastern dish consisting of small balls formed from crushed CHICKPEAS, usually eaten with flat bread; one of these balls

falcon NAmE noun a BIRD OF PREY (= a bird that kills other creatures for food) with long pointed wings

falconer NAmE noun a person who keeps and trains falcons, often for hunting

falconry NAmE noun [U] the art or sport of breeding falcons and training them to hunt other birds or animals

fall verb, noun
verb (fell fallen )
DROP DOWN
1 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to drop down from a higher level to a lower level: Several of the books had fallen onto the floor. One of the kids fell into the river. The handle had fallen off the drawer. September had come and the leaves were starting to fall. He fell 20 metres onto the rocks below. The rain was falling steadily. They were injured by falling rocks.
STOP STANDING
2 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to suddenly stop standing: She slipped on the ice and fell. I fell over and cut my knee. The house looked as if it was about to fall down.see also FALLEN
OF HAIR/MATERIAL
3 [V + adv. / prep.] to hang down: Her hair fell over her shoulders in a mass of curls.
SLOPE DOWNWARDS
4 [V] ~ (away/off) to slope downwards: The land falls away sharply towards the river.
DECREASE
5 to decrease in amount, number or strength: [V] Their profits have fallen by 30 per cent. Prices continued to fall on the stock market today. The temperature fell sharply in the night. falling birth rates Her voice fell to a whisper. [VN] Share prices fell 30p.
RISE
BE DEFEATED
6 [V] to be defeated or captured: The coup failed but the government fell shortly afterwards. Troy finally fell to the Greeks.
DIE IN BATTLE
7 [V] (literary) to die in battle; to be shot: a memorial to those who fell in the two world wars
BECOME
8 to pass into a particular state; to begin to be sth: [V-ADJ] He had fallen asleep on the sofa. The book fell open at a page of illustrations. The room had fallen silent. She fell ill soon after and did not recover. [V + adv. / prep.] I had fallen into conversation with a man on the train. The house had fallen into disrepair. [V-N] She knew she must not fall prey to his charm.
HAPPEN/OCCUR
9 [V] ~ (on sb/sth) (literary) to come quickly and suddenly DESCEND: A sudden silence fell. Darkness falls quickly in the tropics. An expectant hush fell on the guests.
10 [V + adv. / prep.] to happen or take place: My birthday falls on a Monday this year.
11 [V + adv. / prep.] to move in a particular direction or come in a particular position: My eye fell on (= I suddenly saw) a curious object. Which syllable does the stress fall on? A shadow fell across her face.
BELONG TO GROUP
12 [V + adv. / prep.] to belong to a particular class, group or area of responsibility: Out of over 400 staff there are just 7 that fall into this category. This case falls outside my jurisdiction. This falls under the heading of scientific research.
Idioms containing fall are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example fall by the wayside is at wayside.
fall about (BrE, informal) to laugh a lot: [+ -ing] We all fell about laughing.

fall apart
1 to be in very bad condition so that parts are breaking off: My car is falling apart.
2 to have so many problems that it is no longer possible to exist or function: Their marriage finally fell apart. The deal fell apart when we failed to agree on a price.

fall away to become gradually fewer or smaller; to disappear: His supporters fell away as his popularity declined. The market for their products fell away to almost nothing. All our doubts fell away. The houses fell away as we left the city.

fall back
1 to move or turn back RETREAT: The enemy fell back as our troops advanced.
2 to decrease in value or amount: Share prices fell back after brisk early trading.
fall back on sb/sth [no passive] to go to sb for support; to have sth to use when you are in difficulty: I have a little money in the bank to fall back on. She fell back on her usual excuse of having no time.related noun FALLBACK

fall behind (sb/sth) to fail to keep level with sb/sth: She soon fell behind the leaders.
fall behind with sth to not pay or do sth at the right time: They had fallen behind with their mortgage repayments. He's fallen behind with his school work again.

fall down to be shown to be not true or not good enough: And that's where the theory falls down.see also FALL v. (2)

fall for sb [no passive] (informal) to be strongly attracted to sb; to fall in love with sb: They fell for each other instantly.
fall for sth [no passive] (informal) to be tricked into believing sth that is not true: I'm surprised you fell for that trick.

fall in if soldiers fall in, they form lines: The sergeant ordered his men to fall in.
fall in with sb/sth [no passive] (BrE) to agree to sth: She fell in with my idea at once.

fall into sth to be able to be divided into sth: My talk falls naturally into three parts.

fall off to decrease in quantity or quality: Attendance at my lectures has fallen off considerably. RISE

fall on/upon sb/sth [no passive] (especially BrE)
1 to attack or take hold of sb/sth with a lot of energy and enthusiasm: They fell on him with sticks. The children fell on the food and ate it greedily.
2 to be the responsibility of sb: The full cost of the wedding fell on us.

fall out
1 to become loose and drop: His hair is falling out. My tooth fell out.
2 if soldiers fall out, they leave their lines and move away
fall out (with sb) (BrE) to have an argument with sb so that you are no longer friendly with them

fall over (informal) (of a computer or program) to stop working suddenly: My spreadsheet keeps falling over.
fall over sb/sth [no passive] to hit your foot against sth when you are walking and fall, or almost fall TRIP OVER: I rushed for the door and fell over the cat in the hallway.see also FALL v. (2)
fall over yourself to do sth (informal) to try very hard or want very much to do sth: He was falling over himself to be nice to me.

fall through to not be completed, or not happen: Our plans fell through because of lack of money.

fall to sb to become the duty or responsibility of sb: With his partner away, all the work now fell to him. [+ to inf] It fell to me to inform her of her son's death.
fall to sth (literary) to begin to do sth: [+ -ing] She fell to brooding about what had happened to her.
noun
ACT OF FALLING
1 [C] an act of falling: I had a bad fall and broke my arm. She was killed in a fall from a horse.
OF SNOW/ROCKS
2 [C] ~ (of sth) an amount of snow, rocks, etc. that falls or has fallen: a heavy fall of snow a rock fall
WAY STH FALLS/HAPPENS
3 [sing.] ~ of sth the way in which sth falls or happens: the fall of the dice the dark fall of her hair (= the way her hair hangs down)
OF WATER
4 falls [pl.] (especially in names) a large amount of water falling down from a height WATERFALL: The falls upstream are full of salmon. Niagara Falls
AUTUMN
5 [C] (NAmE) = AUTUMN: in the fall of 2005 last fall fall weather
DECREASE
6 [C] ~ (in sth) a decrease in size, number, rate or level: a steep fall in profits a big fall in unemployment
RISE
DEFEAT
7 [sing.] ~ (of sth) a loss of political, economic, etc. power or success; the loss or defeat of a city, country, etc. in war: the fall of the Roman Empire the rise and fall of British industry the fall of Berlin
LOSS OF RESPECT
8 [sing.] a situation in which a person, an organization, etc. loses the respect of other people because they have done sth wrong: the TV preacher's spectacular fall from grace
IN BIBLE
9 the Fall [sing.] the occasion when Adam and Eve did not obey God and had to leave the Garden of Eden
break sb's fall to stop sb from falling onto sth hard: Luckily, a bush broke his fall.more at PRIDE n., RIDE v.

fallacious adj. (formal) wrong; based on a false idea: a fallacious argument

fallacy noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a false idea that many people believe is true: It is a fallacy to say that the camera never lies.
2 [U, C] a false way of thinking about sth: He detected the fallacy of her argument.see also PATHETIC FALLACY

fallback noun a plan or course of action that is ready to be used in an emergency if other things fail: What's our fallback if they don't come up with the money? We need a fallback position if they won't do the job.

fallen adj. [only before noun]
1 lying on the ground, after falling: a fallen tree
2 (formal) (of a soldier) killed in a warsee also FALL v.

fallen woman noun (old-fashioned) a way of describing a woman in the past who had a sexual relationship with sb who was not her husband

fall guy noun (especially NAmE) a person who is blamed or punished for sth wrong that another person has done SCAPEGOAT

fallible adj. able to make mistakes or be wrong: Memory is selective and fallible. All human beings are fallible. INFALLIBLE
fallibility noun [U]: human fallibility

falling-off noun [sing.] (BrE) = FALL-OFF

falling-out noun (informal) [sing.] a situation where people are no longer friends, caused by a disagreement or an argument: Dave and I had a falling-out.

falling star noun = SHOOTING STAR

fall-off (BrE also less frequent falling-off) noun [sing.] ~ (in sth) a reduction in the number, amount or quality of sth: a recent fall-off in sales

Fallopian tube (also fallopian tube) NAmE noun (anatomy) one of the two tubes in the body of a woman or female animal along which eggs pass from the OVARIES to the UTERUS

fallout noun [U]
1 dangerous RADIOACTIVE dust that is in the air after a nuclear explosion
2 the bad results of a situation or an action: the political fallout of the current crisis

fallow NAmE adj.
1 (of farm land) not used for growing crops, especially so that the quality of the land will improve: Farmers are now paid to let their land lie fallow.
2 (of a period of time) when nothing is created or produced; not successful: Contemporary dance is coming onto the arts scene again after a long fallow period.

fallow deer noun a small European DEER with white spots on its back

fall-pipe noun (US) = DOWNPIPE

false adj.
NOT TRUE
1 wrong; not correct or true: A whale is a fish. True or false? Predictions of an early improvement in the housing market proved false. She gave false information to the insurance company. He used a false name to get the job.
NOT NATURAL
2 not natural ARTIFICIAL: false teeth/eyelashes a false beard note at ARTIFICIAL
NOT GENUINE
3 not genuine, but made to look real to cheat people: a false passport
NOT SINCERE
4 (of people's behaviour) not real or sincere: false modesty She flashed him a false smile of congratulation.
WRONG/MISTAKEN
5 [usually before noun] wrong or mistaken, because it is based on sth that is not true or correct: a false argument/assumption/belief to give a false impression of wealth to lull sb into a false sense of security (= make sb feel safe when they are really in danger) They didn't want to raise any false hopes, but they believed her husband had escaped capture. Buying a cheap computer is a false economy (= will not actually save you money).
NOT FAITHFUL
6 (literary) (of people) not faithful: a false lover

falsely adv.: to be falsely accused of sth She smiled falsely at his joke.
by/under/on false pretences by pretending to be sth that you are not, in order to gain some advantage for yourself: She was accused of obtaining money under false pretences.more at RING^2 v.

false alarm noun a warning about a danger that does not happen; a belief that sth bad is going to happen, when it is not: The fire service was called out but it was a false alarm.

false beginner noun a person who has a basic knowledge of a language, but has started to study it again from the beginning

false dawn noun [usually sing.] (formal) a situation in which you think that sth good is going to happen but it does not: a false dawn for the economy

false friend noun
1 a person who seems to be your friend, but who is not loyal and cannot be trusted
2 a word in a foreign language that looks similar to a word in your own language, but has a different meaning: The English word 'sensible' and the French word 'sensible' are false friends.

falsehood noun (formal)
1 [U] the state of not being true; the act of telling a lie: to test the truth or falsehood of her claims
2 [C] a statement that is not true LIE

false imprisonment noun [U] (law) the crime of illegally keeping sb as a prisoner somewhere

false memory noun (psychology) a memory of sth that did not actually happen

false move noun [usually sing.] an action that is not allowed or not recommended and that may cause a bad result: One false move and the bomb might blow up.

false rib noun = FLOATING RIB

false start noun
1 an attempt to begin sth that is not successful: After a number of false starts, she finally found a job she liked.
2 (sport) a situation when sb taking part in a race starts before the official signal has been given

false teeth noun [pl.] a set of artificial teeth used by sb who has lost their natural teethcompare DENTURES

falsettist noun (music) a male singer who sings falsetto

falsetto NAmE noun (pl. -os) an unusually high voice, especially the voice that men use to sing very high notes

falsies noun [pl.] (informal) pieces of material used inside a BRA to make a woman's breasts seem larger

falsify verb (falsifies, falsifying, falsified, falsified) [VN] to change a written record or information so that it is no longer true: to falsify data/records/accounts
falsification noun [U, C]: the deliberate falsification of the company's records

falsity noun [U] the state of not being true or genuine TRUTH

Falstaffian NAmE adj. (literary) fat, cheerful and eating and drinking a lot: My uncle was a Falstaffian figure. a Falstaffian approach to life
From Sir John Falstaff, a character in several plays by William Shakespeare.

falter verb
1 [V] to become weaker or less effective WAVER: The economy shows no signs of faltering. Her courage never faltered.
2 to speak in a way that shows that you are not confident: [V] His voice faltered as he began his speech. [also V speech]
3 [V] to walk or behave in a way that shows that you are not confident: She walked up to the platform without faltering. He never faltered in his commitment to the party.
faltering adj.: the faltering peace talks the baby's first faltering steps

fame noun [U] the state of being known and talked about by many people: to achieve/win instant fame to rise/shoot to fame overnight Andrew Lloyd Webber of 'Evita' fame (= famous for 'Evita') The town's only claim to fame is that there was once a riot there. She went to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune.see also FAMOUS

famed adj. ~ (for sth) very well known RENOWNED: Las Vegas, famed for its casinos a famed poet and musiciansee also FAMOUS

familial adj. [only before noun] (formal)
1 related to or typical of a family
2 (medical) (of diseases, conditions, etc.) affecting several members of a family: familial left-handedness

familiar adj.
1 ~ (to sb) well known to you; often seen or heard and therefore easy to recognize: to look/sound/taste familiar He's a familiar figure in the neighbourhood. The smell is very familiar to everyone who lives near a bakery. Something about her voice was vaguely familiar. Violent attacks are becoming all too familiar (= sadly familiar). I couldn't see any familiar faces in the room. UNFAMILIAR
2 ~ with sth knowing sth very well: an area with which I had been familiar since childhood By now you will be familiar with the one-way system in the centre of town. Are you familiar with the computer software they use? UNFAMILIAR
3 ~ (with sb) (of a person's behaviour) very informal, sometimes in a way that is unpleasant: You seem to be on very familiar terms with your tutor. After a few drinks her boss started getting too familiar for her liking.

familiarity noun [U]
1 ~ (with sth)| ~ (to sb) the state of knowing sb/sth well; the state of recognizing sb/sth: His familiarity with the language helped him enjoy his stay. When she saw the house, she had a feeling of familiarity.
2 a friendly informal manner: She addressed me with an easy familiarity that made me feel at home.
familiarity breeds contempt (saying) knowing sb/sth very well may cause you to lose admiration and respect for them/it

familiarize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] ~ yourself/sb (with sth) to learn about sth or teach sb about sth, so that you/they start to understand it ACQUAINT: You'll need time to familiarize yourself with our procedures. The aim of the course was to familiarize students with the uses of the Internet.
familiarization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

familiarly NAmE adv.
1 in a friendly and informal manner, sometimes in a way that is too informal to be pleasant: John Hunt, familiarly known to his friends as Jack He touched her cheek familiarly.
2 in the way that is well known to people: The elephant's nose or, more familiarly, trunk, is the most versatile organ in the animal kingdom.

family noun, adj.
noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group consisting of one or two parents and their children: the other members of my family Almost every family in the country owns a television. All my family enjoy skiing. one-parent/single-parent families a family of four families with young children He's a friend of the family (= he is known and liked by the parents and the children).see also BLENDED FAMILY, NUCLEAR FAMILY
2 [C+sing./pl. v., U] a group consisting of one or two parents, their children and close relations: All our family came to Grandad's eightieth birthday party. The support of family and friends is vital. We've only told the immediate family (= the closest relations). the Royal Family (= the children and close relations of the king or queen) I always think of you as one of the family. (informal) She's family (= she is a relation).see also EXTENDED FAMILY
3 [C+sing./pl. v.] all the people who are related to each other, including those who are now dead: Some families have farmed in this area for hundreds of years. This painting has been in our family for generations.
4 [C+sing./pl. v., U] a couple's or a person's children, especially young children: They have a large family. I addressed it to Mr and Mrs Jones and family. Do they plan to start a family (= have children)? to bring up/raise a family
5 [C] a group of related animals and plants; a group of related things, especially languages: Lions belong to the cat family. the Germanic family of languages
(be/get) in the family way (old-fashioned, informal) (to be/become) pregnant
run in the family to be a common feature in a particular family: Heart disease runs in the family.
adj. [only before noun]
1 connected with the family or a particular family: family life your family background family ties/connections It's a family tradition.
2 owned by a family: a family business the family car
3 suitable for all members of a family, both adults and children: a family show family entertainment

the Family Division noun [sing.] in the UK, the part of the High Court which deals with cases that affect families, for example when people get divorced or adopt a child

family doctor noun (informal, especially BrE) = GENERAL PRACTITIONER

family man noun a man who has a wife or partner and children; a man who enjoys being at home with his wife or partner and children: I see he's become a family man. a devoted family man

family name noun the part of your name that shows which family you belong tocompare SURNAME

family planning noun [U] the process of controlling the number of children you have by using CONTRACEPTION: to make an appointment at the family planning clinic

family practitioner noun (especially BrE) = GENERAL PRACTITIONER

family room noun
1 (NAmE) a room in a house where the family can relax, watch television, etc.
2 a room in a hotel for three or four people to sleep in, especially parents and children
3 (in Britain) a room in a pub where children are allowed to sit

family tree noun a diagram that shows the relationship between members of a family over a long period of time: How far back can you trace your family tree?

famine noun [C, U] a lack of food during a long period of time in a region: a severe famine disasters such as floods and famine the threat of widespread famine in the area to raise money for famine relief

famished adj. [not usually before noun] (informal, becoming old-fashioned) very hungry STARVING: When's lunch? I'm famished! famished refugees

famous adj. ~ (for sth)| ~ (as sth) known about by many people: a famous artist/hotel the most famous lake in Italy He became internationally famous for his novels. One day, I'll be rich and famous. She was more famous as a writer than as a singer. So this is the famous dress! (= the one we have heard a lot about but have not seen).see also FAME, INFAMOUS, NOTORIOUS, WORLD-FAMOUS
famous last words (saying) people sometimes say Famous last words! when they think sb is being too confident about sth that is going to happen: 'Everything's under control.' 'Famous last words!'
This phrase refers to a collection of quotations of the dying words of famous people.

famously adv. in a way that is famous: Some newspapers, most famously the New York Times, refuse to print the word Ms. the words he famously uttered on his deathbed
get on/along famously (informal, becoming old-fashioned) to have a very good relationship: My mother and my mother-in-law are getting on famously.

fan noun, verb
noun
1 a person who admires sb/sth or enjoys watching or listening to sb/sth very much: movie fans crowds of football fans a big fan of Pavarotti fan mail (= letters from fans to the person they admire)
2 a machine with blades that go round to create a current of air: to switch on the electric fan a fan heatersee also EXTRACTOR
3 a thing that you hold in your hand and wave to create a current of cool air see SHIT n.
verb (-nn-) [VN]
1 to make air blow onto sb/sth by waving a fan, your hand, etc.: He fanned himself with a newspaper to cool down. A warm breeze fanned her cheeks.
2 to make a fire burn more strongly by blowing on it: Fanned by a westerly wind, the fire spread rapidly through the city.
3 (literary) to make a feeling, an attitude, etc. stronger FUEL: His reluctance to answer her questions simply fanned her curiosity.
fan the flames (of sth) to make a feeling such as anger, hatred, etc. worse: His writings fanned the flames of racism.
fan out| fan sthout to spread out or spread sth out over an area: The police fanned out to surround the house. The bird fanned out its tail feathers.

fanatic noun
1 (informal) a person who is extremely enthusiastic about sth ENTHUSIAST: a fitness/crossword, etc. fanatic
2 (disapproving) a person who holds extreme or dangerous opinions EXTREMIST: religious fanatics
fanatical adj.: a fanatical supporter fanatical anti-royalists a fanatical interest in football She's fanatical about healthy eating. fanatically adv.: fanatically fit

fanaticism noun [U] (disapproving) extreme beliefs or behaviour, especially in connection with religion or politics EXTREMISM: driven by religious fanaticism the fanaticism of football supporters

fan belt noun a belt that operates the machinery that cools a car engine

fanciable adj. (BrE, informal) sexually attractive

fancier noun (usually in compounds) (especially BrE) a person who has a special interest in sth, especially sb who keeps or breeds birds, animals or plants: a pigeon fancier

fanciful adj.
1 (disapproving) based on imagination and not facts or reason
2 (of things) decorated in an unusual style that shows imagination: a fanciful gold border
fancifully adv.

fan club noun an organization that a person's fans belong to and that sends them information, etc. about that person: a member of the official Spice girls fan club

fancy verb, noun, adj.
verb (fancies, fancying, fancied, fancied)
1 (BrE, informal) to want sth or want to do sth FEEL LIKE: [VN] Fancy a drink? I fancied a change of scene. She didn't fancy (= did not like) the idea of going home in the dark. [V -ing] Do you fancy going out this evening?
2 [VN] (BrE, informal) to be sexually attracted to sb: I think she fancies me.
3 [VN] ~ yourself (BrE, informal, disapproving) to think that you are very popular, attractive or intelligent: He started to chat to me and I could tell that he really fancied himself.
4 [VN-N] ~ yourself (as) sth (BrE) to like the idea of being sth or to believe, often wrongly, that you are sth: She fancies herself (as) a serious actress. He fancied himself in love with me, the silly boy.
5 Fancy! (BrE, informal, becoming old-fashioned) used to show that you are surprised or shocked by sth: [V] Fancy! She's never been in a plane before. [V -ing] Fancy meeting you here! [VN] 'She remembered my name after all those years.' 'Fancy that!'
6 (BrE) [VN] to think that sb will win or be successful at sth, especially in a race: Which horse do you fancy in the next race? He's hoping to get the job but I don't fancy his chances.
7 [V (that)] (literary) to believe or imagine sth: She fancied (that) she could hear footsteps.
noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C, U] something that you imagine; your imagination FANTASY: night-time fancies that disappear in the morning a child's wild flights of fancy
2 [sing.] a feeling that you would like to have or to do sth WHIM: She said she wanted a dog but it was only a passing fancy.
3 [C, usually pl.] (BrE) a small decorated cake
as/whenever, etc. the fancy takes you as/whenever, etc. you feel like doing sth: We bought a camper van so we could go away whenever the fancy took us.
catch/take sb's fancy to attract or please sb: She looked through the hotel advertisements until one of them caught her fancy.
take a fancy to sb/sth (especially BrE) to start liking sb/sth, often without an obvious reason: He's taken quite a fancy to his next-door neighbour.more at TICKLE v.
adj. (fancier, fanciest)
1 unusually complicated, often in an unnecessary way; intended to impress other people: a kitchen full of fancy gadgets They added a lot of fancy footwork to the dance. He's always using fancy legal words. SIMPLE
2 [only before noun] (especially of small things) with a lot of decorations or bright colours: fancy goods (= things sold as gifts or for decoration) He was the fanciest dresser in the room.compare PLAIN
3 (sometimes disapproving) expensive or connected with an expensive way of life: fancy restaurants with fancy prices Don't come back with any fancy ideas.
4 (NAmE) (of food) of high quality

fancy dress noun [U] (BrE) clothes that you wear, especially at parties, to make you appear to be a different character: guests in fancy dress a fancy-dress partysee also COSTUME, MASQUERADE

fancy-free adj. free to do what you like because you are not emotionally involved with anyone: I was still footloose and fancy-free (= free to enjoy myself) in those days.

fancy man, fancy woman noun (old-fashioned, informal, disapproving) the man/woman with whom a person is having a romantic relationship, especially when one or both of them is married to sb else

fandango NAmE noun (pl. fandangoes, fandangos) [C] a lively Spanish dance; a piece of music for this dance

fanfare NAmE noun
1 [C] a short loud piece of music that is played to celebrate sb/sth important arriving: A fanfare of trumpets will sound for the Queen.
2 [U, C] a large amount of activity and discussion on television, in newspapers, etc. to celebrate sb/sth: The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide. Despite the fanfare of publicity that accompanied its launch, his latest novel sold only a few hundred copies.

fang noun [usually pl.] either of two long sharp teeth at the front of the mouths of some animals, such as a snake or dog

F angles noun [pl.] = CORRESPONDING ANGLES

fanlight (NAmE also transom) noun a small window above a door or another window

Fanny noun see SWEET adj.

fanny noun (pl. -ies)
1 (BrE, taboo, slang) the female sex organs
2 (slang, especially NAmE) a person's bottom

fanny pack noun (NAmE) = BUMBAG

fantasia noun a piece of music in a free form, often based on well-known tunes

fantasize (BrE also -ise) verb ~ (about sth) to imagine that you are doing sth that you would like to do, or that sth that you would like to happen is happening, even though this is very unlikely: [V] He sometimes fantasized about winning the gold medal. [also V that]
fantasist noun

fantastic adj.
1 (informal) extremely good; excellent GREAT, BRILLIANT: a fantastic beach in Australia a fantastic achievement The weather was absolutely fantastic. You've got the job? Fantastic! note at GREAT
2 (informal) very large; larger than you expected ENORMOUS, AMAZING: The response to our appeal was fantastic. The car costs a fantastic amount of money.
3 (also less frequent fantastical) [usually before noun] strange and showing a lot of imagination WEIRD: fantastic dreams of forests and jungles
4 impossible to put into practice: a fantastic scheme/project
fantastically adv.: fantastically successful a fantastically shaped piece of stone

fantasy noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a pleasant situation that you imagine but that is unlikely to happen: his childhood fantasies about becoming a famous football player
2 [C] a product of your imagination: Her books are usually escapist fantasies.
3 [U] the act of imagining things; a person's imagination: a work of fantasy Stop living in a fantasy world.

fantasy football noun [U] a competition in which you choose players to make your own imaginary team, and score points according to the performance of the real players

fanzine noun a magazine that is written and read by fans of a musician, sports team, etc.

fao abbr. (BrE) used in writing to mean 'for the attention of'; written on a document or letter to say who should deal with itsee also ATTN

FAQ abbr. used in writing to mean 'frequently asked questions'

faquir = FAKIR

far adv., adj.
adv. (farther, farthest or further, furthest)
DISTANCE
1 ~ (from, away, below, etc.) a long distance away: We didn't go far. Have you come far? It's not far to the beach. There's not far to go now. The restaurant is not far from here. countries as far apart as Japan and Brazil He looked down at the traffic far below. Far away in the distance, a train whistled. The farther north they went, the colder it became. a concert of music from near and far In positive sentences it is more usual to use a long way: We went a long way. We went far. The restaurant is a long way from here.
2 used when you are asking or talking about the distance between two places or the distance that has been travelled or is to be travelled: How far is it to your house from here? How far is Boston from New York? How much further is it? We'll go by train as far as London, and then take a bus. We didn't go as far as the others. I'm not sure I can walk so far.
TIME
3 ~ (back/ahead)| ~ (into sth) a long time from the present; for a large part of a particular period of time: The band made their first record as far back as 1990. Let's try to plan further ahead. We worked far into the night. To answer that question we need to go further back in time.
DEGREE
4 very much; to a great degree: That's a far better idea. There are far more opportunities for young people than there used to be. It had been a success far beyond their expectations. He's fallen far behind in his work. She always gives us far too much homework.
5 used when you are asking or talking about the degree to which sth is true or possible: How far can we trust him? His parents supported him as far as they could. Plan your route in advance, using main roads as far as possible.
PROGRESS
6 used to talk about how much progress has been made in doing or achieving sth: How far have you got with that report? Half an hour later Duncan was no farther in his quest. I read as far as the third chapter. We've got as far as collecting our data but we haven't analysed it yet. note at FARTHER
as far as the eye can/could see to the HORIZON (= where the sky meets the land or sea): The bleak moorland stretched on all sides as far as the eye could see.
as far as I know | as far as I can remember, see, tell, etc. used to say that you think you know, remember, understand, etc. sth but you cannot be completely sure, especially because you do not know all the facts: As far as we knew, there was no cause for concern. As far as I can see, you've done nothing wrong. She lived in Chicago, as far as I can remember.
as/so far as I am concerned used to give your personal opinion on sth: As far as I am concerned, you can do what you like.
as/so far as sb/sth is concerned | as/so far as sb/sth goes used to give facts or an opinion about a particular aspect of sth: She's doing fine as far as French is concerned, it's her German I'm worried about.
as/so far as it goes to a limited degree, usually less than is sufficient: It's a good plan as far as it goes, but there are a lot of things they haven't thought of.
by far (used with comparative or superlative adjectives or adverbs) by a great amount: The last of these reasons is by far the most important. Amy is the smartest by far.
carry/take sth too far to continue doing sth beyond reasonable limits
far and away (followed by comparative or superlative adjectives) by a very great amount: She's far and away the best player.
far and wide over a large area: They searched far and wide for the missing child.
far be it from me to do sth (but ... ) (informal) used when you are just about to disagree with sb or to criticize them and you would like them to think that you do not really want to do this: Far be it from me to interfere in your affairs but I would like to give you just one piece of advice.
far from sth/from doing sth almost the opposite of sth or of what is expected: It is far from clear (= it is not clear) what he intends to do. Computers, far from destroying jobs, can create employment.
far from it (informal) used to say that the opposite of what sb says is true: 'You're not angry then?' 'Far from it. I've never laughed so much in my life.'
go far (of people) to be very successful in the future: She is very talented and should go far.
go far enough (used in questions and negative sentences) to achieve all that is wanted: The new legislation is welcome but does not go far enough. Do these measures go far enough? (disapproving) Stop it now. The joke has gone far enough (= it has continued too long).
go so/as far as to ... to be willing to go to extreme or surprising limits in dealing with sth: I wouldn't go as far as to say that he's a liar (= but I think he may be slightly dishonest). In June 1998 he went so far as to offer his resignation.
go too far | go this/that far to behave in an extreme way that is not acceptable: He's always been quite crude, but this time he's gone too far. I never thought she'd go this far.
in so/as far as to the degree that: That's the truth, in so far as I know it.
not far off/out/wrong (informal) almost correct: Your guess wasn't far out at all.
not go far
1 (of money) to not be enough to buy a lot of things: Five pounds doesn't go very far these days.
2 (of a supply of sth) to not be enough for what is needed: Four bottles of wine won't go far among twenty people.
so far | thus far until now; up to this point: What do you think of the show so far? Detectives are so far at a loss to explain the reason for his death.
so far (informal) only to a limited degree: I trust him only so far.
so far, so good (saying) used to say that things have been successful until now and you hope they will continue to do so, but you know the task, etc. is not finished yetmore at AFIELD, FEW adj., NEAR adv.
adj. (farther, farthest or further, furthest) [only before noun]
DISTANT
1 at a greater distance away from you: I saw her on the far side of the road. at the far end of the room They made for an empty table in the far corner.
2 at the furthest point in a particular direction: the far north of Scotland Who is that on the far left of the photograph? She is on the far right of the party (= holds extreme RIGHT-WING political views).
3 (old-fashioned or literary) a long distance away: a far country Somewhere in the far regions of her mind a voice was screaming warnings.
a far cry from sth a very different experience from sth REMOTE: All this luxury was a far cry from the poverty of his childhood.

Farad noun (abbr. F) (physics) a unit for measuring CAPACITANCE

Faraday cage noun (physics) a metal screen that is put around a piece of equipment in order to stop electricity from gathering on it

faraway adj. [only before noun]
1 a long distance away DISTANT: a war in a faraway country
2 a ~ look/expression an expression on your face that shows that your thoughts are far away from your present surroundings DISTANT: There was a faraway look in her eyes. His face wore a glazed, faraway expression.

farce NAmE noun
1 [C, U] a funny play for the theatre based on ridiculous and unlikely situations and events; this type of writing or performance: a bedroom farce (= a funny play about sex)
2 [C] a situation or an event that is so unfair or badly organized that it becomes ridiculous: The trial was a complete farce.

farcical NAmE adj. ridiculous and not worth taking seriously: It was a farcical trial. a situation verging on the farcical

fare NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] the money that you pay to travel by bus, plane, taxi, etc.: bus/taxi fares train/rail fares Children travel (at) half fare. When do they start paying full fare?see also AIRFARE, RETURN FARE
2 [C] a passenger in a taxi: The taxi driver picked up a fare at the station.
3 [U] (old-fashioned or formal) food that is offered as a meal: The restaurant provides good traditional fare. (figurative) His student drawings were not standard art school fare.
verb [V] ~ well, badly, better, etc. to be successful/unsuccessful in a particular situation GET ON: The party fared very badly in the last election. The North, by and large, has fared better than most regions in avoiding high unemployment figures.

the Far East noun China, Japan and other countries of E and SE Asiacompare THE MIDDLE EAST
Far Eastern adj.

farewell NAmE noun, exclamation
noun [C, U] the act of saying goodbye to sb: She said her farewells and left. Maria raised her hand in farewell. a farewell party/drink, etc.
exclamation (old use or formal) goodbye

farfalle NAmE noun [U, pl.] PASTA in the shape of BUTTERFLIES

far-fetched adj. very difficult to believe: The whole story sounds very far-fetched.

far-flung adj. [usually before noun] (literary)
1 a long distance away: expeditions to the far-flung corners of the world
2 spread over a wide area: a newsletter that helps to keep all our far-flung graduates in touch

far gone adj. [not before noun] (informal) very ill/sick, crazy or drunk: She was too far gone to understand anything we said to her.

farm NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 an area of land, and the buildings on it, used for growing crops and/or keeping animals: a 200-hectare farm a farm worker/labourer farm buildings/machinery to live/work on a farm
2 the main house on a farm, where the farmer lives
3 (especially in compounds) a place where particular fish or animals are bred: a trout/mink/pig farmsee also BATTERY FARM, COLLECTIVE FARM, DAIRY FARM, FACTORY FARM, FUNNY FARM, HEALTH FARM, TRUCK FARM, WIND FARM
verb to use land for growing crops and/or keeping animals: [V] The family has farmed in Kent for over two hundred years. [VN] They farm dairy cattle. He farmed 200 acres of prime arable land. organically farmed produce see BUY v.
farm sbout (to sb) (BrE, disapproving) to arrange for sb to be cared for by other people: Her children were farmed out at an early age to childminders.
farm sb/sthout to sb to send out work for other people to do: The company farms out a lot of work to freelancers.

farm belt noun (US) an area where there are a lot of farms

farmer NAmE noun a person who owns or manages a farm

farmers' market noun a place where farmers sell food directly to the public

farmhand NAmE (NAmE also field hand) noun a person who works for a farmer

farmhouse NAmE noun the main house on a farm, where the farmer lives

farming NAmE noun [U] the business of managing or working on a farm: to take up farming sheep/fish, etc. farming organic farming modern farming methods a farming community

farmland NAmE noun [U, pl.] land that is used for farming: 250 acres of farmland the prosperous farmlands of Picardy

farmstead NAmE noun (NAmE or formal) a FARMHOUSE and the buildings near it: a few scattered farmsteads

farmyard NAmE noun an area that is surrounded by farm buildings

far-off adj. [only before noun]
1 a long distance away DISTANT, FARAWAY, REMOTE: a far-off land
2 a long time ago DISTANT: memories of those far-off days

farrago NAmE noun [usually sing.] (pl. -oes or -os) (formal, disapproving) a confused mixture of different things HOTCHPOTCH: The film is a farrago of trite emotions, one-note acting and embarrassing lines.

far-reaching adj. likely to have a lot of influence or many effects: far-reaching consequences/implications far-reaching changes/reforms

farrier noun a person whose job is making and fitting HORSESHOES for horses' feet

farrow NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a group of baby pigs that are born together to the same mother LITTER
2 an act of giving birth to pigs
verb [V] (of a female pig) to give birth

Farsi NAmE noun [U] = PERSIAN

far-sighted adj.
1 having or showing an understanding of the effects in the future of actions that you take now, and being able to plan for them: the most far-sighted of politicians a far-sighted decision
2 (especially NAmE) = LONG-SIGHTED
far-sightedness noun [U]

fart NAmE verb, noun
verb (taboo, slang) [V] to let air from the BOWELS come out through the ANUS, especially when it happens loudly A more polite way of expressing this is 'to break wind'.
fart around (BrE also fart about) (taboo, slang) to waste time by behaving in a silly way: Stop farting around and give me a hand with this!
noun (taboo, slang)
1 an act of letting air from the BOWELS come out through the ANUS, especially when it happens loudly
2 an unpleasant, boring or stupid person: He's just a boring old fart.

farther NAmE adv., adj.
adv. (comparative of far) at or to a greater distance in space or time: farther north/south farther along the road I can't go any farther. As a family we grew farther and farther apart. We watched their ship moving gradually farther away. How much farther is it? They hadn't got any farther with the work (= they had made no progress) see AFIELD
adj. (comparative of far) at a greater distance in space, direction or time: the farther shore of the lake

WHICH WORD?

farther / further / farthest / furthest

These are the comparative and superlative forms of far.

To talk about distance, use either farther, farthest or further, furthest. In BrE, further, furthest are the most common forms and in NAmE, further and farthest: I have to travel further/farther to work now.

To talk about the degree or extent of something, further/furthest are usually preferred: Let's consider this point further.

Further, but not farther, can also mean 'more' or 'additional': Are there any further questions? This sounds very formal in NAmE.

farthest NAmE (also furthest) adv., adj.
adv. (superlative of far) at or to the greatest distance in space or time: the house farthest away from the road a competition to see who could throw (the) farthest
adj. (superlative of far) at the greatest distance in space, direction or time: the farthest point of the journey the part of the garden farthest from the house

farthing NAmE noun an old British coin worth one quarter of an old penny

farthingale NAmE noun in the past, a thick piece of material or set of large rings worn under a woman's skirt to give it a wide round shape

fartlek NAmE noun [U] training for runners in which the speed and type of ground are varied

fascia noun (BrE)
1 (also facia) = DASHBOARD
2 (also fascia board) a board on the roof of a house, at the end of the RAFTERS
3 (also facia) a board above the entrance of a shop/store, with the name of the shop on it
4 (also facia) the hard cover on a mobile phone/cellphone

fasciitis BrE noun [U] (medical) a condition in which the covering of a muscle or an organ becomes red and sore

fascinate verb to attract or interest sb very much: [VN] China has always fascinated me. It was a question that had fascinated him since he was a boy. [V] The private lives of movie stars never fail to fascinate.

fascinated adj. ~ (by sth)| ~ to see, learn, etc. very interested: The children watched, fascinated, as the picture began to appear. I've always been fascinated by his ideas. They were fascinated to see that it was similar to one they had at home.

fascinating adj. extremely interesting and attractive: a fascinating story/subject The results of the survey made fascinating reading. It's fascinating to see how different people approach the problem. I fail to see what women find so fascinating about him. Your trip to Alaska sounds absolutely fascinating. The book provides a fascinating glimpse into Moroccan life. note at INTERESTING
fascinatingly adv.

fascination noun
1 [C, usually sing.] a very strong attraction, that makes sth very interesting: Water holds a fascination for most children. London has a fascination all of its own. The fascination of the game lies in trying to guess what your opponent is thinking.
2 [U, sing.] ~ (for/with sb/sth) the state of being very attracted to and interested in sb/sth: the public's enduring fascination with the Royal Family The girls listened in fascination as the story unfolded. They stared in horrified fascination as the snake approached.

fascism (also Fascism) noun [U] an extreme RIGHT-WING political system or attitude which is in favour of strong central government and which does not allow any opposition

fascist (also Fascist) noun
1 a person who supports fascism
2 a way of referring to sb that you disapprove of because they have RIGHT-WING attitudes
fascist adj.: a fascist state fascist sympathies

fashion noun, verb
noun
1 [U, C] a popular style of clothes, hair, etc. at a particular time or place; the state of being popular: dressed in the latest fashion the new season's fashions Long skirts have come into fashion again. Jeans are still in fashion. Some styles never go out of fashion.
2 [C] a popular way of behaving, doing an activity, etc.: The fashion at the time was for teaching mainly the written language. Fashions in art and literature come and go.
3 [U] the business of making or selling clothes in new and different styles: a fashion designer/magazine/show the world of fashion the fashion industry
after a fashion to some extent, but not very well: I can play the piano, after a fashion. 'Do you speak French?' 'After a fashion.'
after the fashion of sb/sth (formal) in the style of sb/sth: The new library is very much after the fashion of Nash.
in (a) ... fashion (formal) in a particular way: How could they behave in such a fashion? She was proved right, in dramatic fashion, when the whole department resigned.
like it's going out of fashion (informal) used to emphasize that sb is doing sth or using sth a lot: She's been spending money like it's going out of fashion.see also PARROT-FASHION
verb [VN] ~ A (from/out of B)| ~ B (into A) to make or shape sth, especially with your hands: She fashioned a pot from the clay. She fashioned the clay into a pot.

fashionable adj.
1 following a style that is popular at a particular time: fashionable clothes/furniture/ideas It's becoming fashionable to have long hair again. Such thinking is fashionable among right-wing politicians.
2 used or visited by people following a current fashion, especially by rich people: a fashionable address/resort/restaurant She lives in a very fashionable part of London. UNFASHIONABLEcompare OLD-FASHIONED
fashionably adv.: fashionably dressed His wife was blonde and fashionably thin. They chose a fashionably rustic look for the kitchen.

fashion-conscious adj. aware of the latest fashions and wanting to follow them: fashion-conscious teenagers

fashion designer noun a person who designs fashionable clothes

fashion-forward adj. more modern than the current fashion: He has a talent for designing fashion-forward furniture. We tend to be traditional rather than fashion-forward in our designs.

fashionista noun (used especially in newspapers) a fashion DESIGNER, or a person who is always dressed in a fashionable way

fashion show noun an occasion where people can see new designs of clothes being worn by fashion models

fashion statement noun something that you wear or own that is new or unusual and is meant to draw attention to you: This shirt is great for anyone who wants to make a fashion statement.

fashion victim noun a person who always wears the newest fashions even if they do not suit him or her

fast NAmE adj., adv., verb, noun
adj. (faster, fastest)
QUICK
1 moving or able to move quickly: a fast car/horse the world's fastest runner
2 happening in a short time or without delay: the fastest rate of increase for years a fast response time
3 able to do sth quickly: a fast learner
SURFACE
4 producing or allowing quick movement: a fast road/pitchsee also FAST LANE
WATCH/CLOCK
5 [not before noun] showing a time later than the true time: I'm earlymy watch must be fast. That clock's ten minutes fast.
PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM
6 (technical) very sensitive to light, and therefore useful when taking photographs in poor light or of sth that is moving very quickly
FIRMLY FIXED
7 (of a boat, etc.) firmly fixed and safe: He made the boat fast.
COLOURS IN CLOTHES
8 not likely to change or to come out when washed
There is no noun related to fast. Use speed in connection with vehicles, actions, etc.; quickness is used about thinking.
fast and furious (of films/movies, shows, etc.) full of rapid action and sudden changes: In his latest movie, the action is fast and furious.
a fast talker a person who can talk very quickly and easily, but who cannot always be trusted: As a politician, she had the reputation for being a real fast talker.
a fast worker (informal) a person who knows how to get what they want quickly, especially when beginning a sexual relationship with sbmore at BUCK n., HARD adj., PULL v.
adv. (faster, fastest)
QUICKLY
1 quickly: Don't drive so fast! How fast were you going? I can't go any faster. The water was rising fast. Her heart beat faster. (formal) Night was fast approaching. a fast-flowing stream note at QUICK
2 in a short time; without delay: Children grow up so fast these days. Britain is fast becoming a nation of fatties. The police said that they had reacted as fast as they could.
FIRMLY
3 firmly; completely: Within a few minutes she was fast asleep (= sleeping deeply). The boat was stuck fast (= unable to move) in the mud.
There is no noun related to fast. Use speed in connection with vehicles, actions, etc.; quickness is used about thinking.
as fast as your legs can carry you as quickly as you can
hold fast to sth (formal) to continue to believe in an idea, etc. despite difficulties
play fast and loose (with sb/sth) (old-fashioned) to treat sb/sth in a way that shows that you feel no responsibility or respect for them
stand fast/firm to refuse to move back; to refuse to change your opinionsmore at THICK adv.
verb [V] to eat little or no food for a period of time, especially for religious or health reasons: Muslims fast during Ramadan.
noun a period during which you do not eat food, especially for religious or health reasons: to go on a fast to break (= end) your fast

synonyms

fast / quick / rapid

These adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:

fast ~

quick ~

rapid ~

car

glance

change

train

look

growth

bowler

reply

increase

pace

decision

decline

lane

way

progress

Fast is used especially to describe a person or thing that moves or is able to move at great speed.

Quick is more often used to describe something that is done in a short time or without delay.

Rapid, swift and speedy are more formal words.

Rapid is most commonly used to describe the speed at which something changes. It is not used to describe the speed at which something moves or is done: a rapid train We had a rapid coffee.

Swift usually describes something that happens or is done quickly and immediately: a swift decisionThe government took swift action.

Speedy has a similar meaning: a speedy recovery. It is used less often to talk about the speed at which something moves: a speedy car.

For the use of fast and quick as adverbs, see the usage note at QUICK.

fastball NAmE noun
1 (in BASEBALL) a ball that is thrown at the PITCHER'S fastest speed
2 = FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL

fast bowler (also pace bowler, paceman) noun (in CRICKET) a person who BOWLS very fast

fast breeder (also fast breeder reactor) noun a REACTOR in a nuclear power station in which the reaction that produces energy is not made slower

fasten NAmE verb
1 ~ (sth) (up) to close or join together the two parts of sth; to become closed or joined together DO UP: [VN] Fasten your seatbelts, please. He fastened up his coat and hurried out. [V] The dress fastens at the back. UNFASTEN
2 to close sth firmly so that it will not open; to be closed in this way: [VN] Fasten the gates securely so that they do not blow open. [V] The window wouldn't fasten. UNFASTEN
3 [VN + adv. / prep.] to fix or place sth in a particular position, so that it will not move: He fastened back the shutters.
4 [VN] ~ A to B| ~ A and B (together) to attach or tie one thing to another thing: He fastened the papers together with a paper clip.
5 if you fasten your arms around sb, your teeth into sth, etc., or if your arms, teeth, etc. fasten around, into, etc. sb/sth, you hold the person/thing firmly with your arms, etc.: [VN] The dog fastened its teeth in his leg. [V] His hand fastened on her arm.
6 if you fasten your eyes on sb/sth or your eyes fasten on sb/sth, you look at them for a long time: [VN] He fastened his gaze on her face. [also V]
fasten on(to) sb/sth to choose or follow sb/sth in a determined way LATCH ON TO SB/STH

fastener NAmE (also fastening) noun a device, such as a button or a zip/zipper, used to close a piece of clothing; a device used to close a window, suitcase, etc. tightly

fastening NAmE noun
1 = FASTENER
2 the place where sth, especially a piece of clothing, fastens; the way sth fastens: The trousers have a fly fastening.

fast food noun [U] hot food that is served very quickly in special restaurants, and often taken away to be eaten in the street

fast-forward verb [VN, V] to wind a tape or video forward without playing it
fast forward noun [U]: Press fast forward to advance the tape. the fast-forward button

fastidious adj.
1 being careful that every detail of sth is correct METICULOUS: Everything was planned in fastidious detail. He was fastidious in his preparation for the big day.
2 (sometimes disapproving) not liking things to be dirty or untidy: She wasn't very fastidious about personal hygiene.
fastidiously adj. fastidiousness noun [U]

fast lane noun [sing.] the part of a major road such as a MOTORWAY or INTERSTATE where vehicles drive fastest
in the fast lane where things are most exciting and where a lot is happening: He had a good job, plenty of money and he was enjoying life in the fast lane.

fastness NAmE noun (literary) a place that is thought to be safe because it is difficult to get to or easy to defend STRONGHOLD: a mountain fastness

fast track noun [sing.] a quick way to achieve sth, for example a high position in a job
fast-track adj.: the fast-track route to promotion fast-track graduates

fast-track verb [VN] a make sb's progress in achieving sth, for example a high position in a job, quicker than usual

fat adj., noun
(WORD FAMILY: fat adj. | fatty adj. | fatten verb | fattening adj. )
adj. (fatter, fattest)
1 (of a person's or an animal's body) having too much flesh on it and weighing too much: a big fat man/woman You'll get fat if you eat so much chocolate. He grew fatter and fatter. fat flabby legs THIN
2 thick or wide: a fat volume on American history
3 [only before noun] (informal) large in quantity; worth a lot of money: a fat sum/profit He gave me a nice fat cheque.
fatness noun [U]: Fatness tends to run in families.
(a) fat chance (of sth/doing sth) (informal) used for saying that you do not believe sth is likely to happen: 'They might let us in without tickets.' 'Fat chance of that!'
a fat lot of good, use, etc. (informal) not at all good or useful: Paul can't drive so he was a fat lot of use when I broke my arm.
it's not over until the fat lady sings (saying) used for saying that a situation may still change, for example that a contest, election, etc. is not finished yet, and sb still has a chance to win it
noun
1 [U] a white or yellow substance in the bodies of animals and humans, stored under the skin: excess body fat This ham has too much fat on it.
2 [C, U] a solid or liquid substance from animals or plants, treated so that it becomes pure for use in cooking: Cook the meat in shallow fat.
3 [C, U] animal and vegetable fats, when you are thinking of them as part of what a person eats: You should cut down on fats and carbohydrates. foods which are low in fat reduced-fat margarines see CHEW v., LIVE^1

VOCABULARY BUILDING

saying that someone is fat

Fat is the most common and direct word, but it is not polite to say to someone that they are fat: Does this dress make me look fat?You're looking fat now.

Overweight is a more neutral word: I'm a bit overweight. It can also mean too fat, especially so that you are not fit.

Large or heavy is less offensive than fat: She's a rather large woman. Big describes someone who is tall as well as fat: Her sister is a big girl, isn't she?

Plump means slightly fat in an attractive way, often used to describe women.

Chubby is used mainly to describe babies and children who are fat in a pleasant, healthy-looking way: the baby's chubby cheeks.

Tubby (informal) is used in a friendly way to describe people who are short and round, especially around the stomach.

Stocky is a neutral word and means fairly short, broad and strong.

Stout is often used to describe older people who have a round and heavy appearance: a short stout man with a bald head.

Flabby describes flesh that is fat and loose and it can sound offensive: exercises to firm up flabby thighs.

Obese is used by doctors to describe people who are so fat that they are unhealthy. It is also used in a general way to mean 'really fat'.

Note that although people talk a lot about their own size or weight, it is generally not considered polite to refer to a person's large size or their weight when you talk to them.

note at THIN

fatal adj.
1 causing or ending in death: a fatal accident/blow/illness a potentially fatal form of cancer If she gets ill again it could prove fatal.compare MORTAL
2 causing disaster or failure: a fatal error/mistake Any delay would be fatal. There was a fatal flaw in the plan. It'd be fatal to try and stop them now.
fatally adv.: fatally injured/wounded The plan was fatally flawed from the start.

fatalism noun [U] the belief that events are decided by FATE and that you cannot control them; the fact of accepting that you cannot prevent sth from happening: There is a mood of profound fatalism amongst party members.
fatalist noun: I'm a fatalist.

fatalistic adj. showing a belief in FATE and feeling that you cannot control events or stop them from happening: a fatalistic attitude/outlook
fatalistically adv.

fatality noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] a death that is caused in an accident or a war, or by violence or disease: Several people were injured, but there were no fatalities. a campaign to reduce the number of fatalities on the roads
2 [U] the fact that a particular disease will result in death: to reduce the fatality of certain types of cancer Different forms of cancer have different fatality rates.
3 [U] the belief or feeling that we have no control over what happens to us: A sense of fatality gripped her.

fat camp noun [U, C] an organized holiday/vacation for fat children during which they are helped to lose weight

fat cat noun (informal, disapproving) a person who earns, or who has, a lot of money (especially when compared to people who do not earn so much): Why should those fat cats get rich at our expense?

fate noun
1 [C] the things, especially bad things, that will happen or have happened to sb/sth: The fate of the three men is unknown. She sat outside, waiting to find out her fate. The court will decide our fate/fates. Each of the managers suffered the same fate. The government had abandoned the refugees to their fate. From that moment our fate was sealed (= our future was decided).
2 [U] the power that is believed to control everything that happens and that cannot be stopped or changed: Fate was kind to me that day. By a strange twist of fate, Andy and I were on the same plane. note at LUCK
a fate worse than death (often humorous) a terrible thing that could happen: At the last minute the hero saves her from a fate worse than death.more at TEMPT

fated adj.
1 ~ (to do sth) unable to escape a particular fate; certain to happen because everything is controlled by fate DESTINED: We were fated never to meet again. He believes that everything in life is fated.
2 = ILL-FATED

fateful adj. [usually before noun] having an important, often very bad, effect on future events: She looked back now to that fateful day in December. his final fateful journey to Moscow

fat-free adj. not containing any fat: fat-free yogurt

father noun, verb
noun
1 a male parent of a child or an animal; a person who is acting as the father to a child: Ben's a wonderful father. You've been like a father to me. Our new boss is a father of three (= he has three children). He was a wonderful father to both his natural and adopted children. (old-fashioned) Father, I cannot lie to you.see also GODFATHER, GRANDFATHER, STEPFATHER
2 fathers [pl.] (literary) a person's ANCESTORS (= people who are related to you who lived in the past): the land of our fatherssee also FOREFATHERS
3 ~ (of sth) the first man to introduce a new way of thinking about sth or of doing sth: Henry Moore is considered to be the father of modern British sculpture.see also FOUNDING FATHER
4 Father used by Christians to refer to God: Father, forgive us. God the Father
5 Father (abbr. Fr) the title of a priest, especially in the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church: Father Dominicsee also HOLY FATHER
from father to son from one generation of a family to the next
like father, like son (saying) used to say that a son's character or behaviour is similar to that of his fathermore at OLD, WISH n.
verb [VN]
1 to become the father of a child by making a woman pregnant: He claims to have fathered over 20 children.
2 to create new ideas or a new way of doing sth

Father Christmas (BrE) (also Santa Claus NAmE, BrE) noun an imaginary old man with red clothes and a long white beard. Parents tell small children that he brings them presents at Christmas.

father figure noun an older man that sb respects because he will advise and help them like a father: Adam looked up to Bill as a father figure.

fatherhood NAmE noun [U] the state of being a father

father-in-law noun (pl. fathers-in-law) the father of your husband or wifecompare MOTHER-IN-LAW

fatherland NAmE noun [usually sing.] (old-fashioned) (used especially about Germany) the country where a person, or their family, was born, especially when they feel very loyal towards it

fatherless NAmE adj. [usually before noun] without a father, either because he has died or because he does not live with his children: fatherless children/families His long periods abroad left the family virtually fatherless.

fatherly NAmE adj. typical of a good father: fatherly advice He keeps a fatherly eye on his players.

Father's Day noun a day when fathers receive cards and gifts from their children, usually the third Sunday in June

Father Time noun an imaginary figure who represents time and looks like an old man carrying a SCYTHE and an HOURGLASS

fathom verb, noun
verb~ sb/sth (out) to understand or find an explanation for sth: [VN] It is hard to fathom the pain felt at the death of a child. [V wh-] He couldn't fathom out what the man could possibly mean.
noun a unit for measuring the depth of water, equal to 6 feet or 1.8 metres: The ship sank in 20 fathoms. (figurative) She kept her feelings hidden fathoms deep.

fatigue noun
1 [U] a feeling of being extremely tired, usually because of hard work or exercise EXHAUSTION, TIREDNESS: physical and mental fatigue Driver fatigue was to blame for the accident. I was dropping with fatigue and could not keep my eyes open.
2 [U] (usually after another noun) a feeling of not wanting to do a particular activity any longer because you have done too much of it: battle fatigue compassion fatigue (= the inability to feel pity for other people's suffering any more) brought on by too many charity appeals
3 [U] weakness in metal or wood caused by repeated bending or stretching: The wing of the plane showed signs of metal fatigue.
4 fatigues [pl.] loose clothes worn by soldiers
5 fatigues [pl.] (especially NAmE) duties, such as cleaning and cooking, that soldiers have to do, especially as a punishment: We were all put on cookhouse fatigues for a week.

fatigued adj. [not usually before noun] (formal) very tired, both physically and mentally EXHAUSTED

fatiguing adj. (formal) very tiring, both physically and mentally EXHAUSTING

fatso NAmE noun (pl. -oes) = FATTY

fatten verb ~ (sb/sth) up to make sb/sth fatter, especially an animal before killing it for food; to become fatter: [VN] The piglets are taken from the sow to be fattened for market. She's very thin after her illnessbut we'll soon fatten her up. [also V]

fattening adj. (of food) likely to make you fat: fattening cakes Pasta is not as fattening as people think it is.

fattism noun [U] unfair treatment of people because of their large body size
fattist adj.

fatty adj., noun
adj. (fattier, fattiest) containing a lot of fat; consisting of fat: fatty foods fatty tissue
noun (pl. -ies) (also fatso) (informal, disapproving) a fat person: Britain is fast becoming a nation of fatties. 'Hey, Fatty, bring us another beer.'

fatty acid noun (chemistry) an acid that is found in fats and oils

fatuous adj. (formal) stupid: a fatuous comment/grin
fatuously adv.

fatwa noun a decision or order made under Islamic law

faucet (NAmE) (BrE tap) noun a device that controls the flow of water from a pipe: the hot/cold faucet to turn a faucet on/off

fault noun, verb
noun
RESPONSIBILITY
1 [U] ~ (that ... )| ~ (for doing sth) the responsibility for sth wrong that has happened or been done: It was his fault that we were late. Why should I say sorry when it's not my fault? It's nobody's fault. It's your own fault for being careless. Many people live in poverty through no fault of their own. I think the owners are at fault (= responsible) for not warning us. He believes that the product's poor image is partly the fault of the press.
IN SB'S CHARACTER
2 [C] a bad or weak aspect of sb's character SHORTCOMING: He's proud of his children and blind to their faults. I love her for all her faults (= in spite of them). I think my worst fault is impatience.
STH WRONG
3 [C] something that is wrong or not perfect with sth; something that is wrong with a machine or system that stops it from working correctly DEFECT: The book's virtues far outweigh its faults. The system, for all its faults, is the best available at the moment. a major fault in the design a structural fault an electrical fault
IN TENNIS
4 [C] a mistake made when SERVING: He has served a number of double faults in this set.
GEOLOGY
5 [C] a place where there is a break that is longer than usual in the layers of rock in the earth's CRUST: the San Andreas fault a fault line
to a fault used to say that sb has a lot, or even too much, of a particular good quality: She is generous to a fault.more at FIND v.
verb [VN] (often used in negative sentences with can and could) to find a mistake or a weakness in sb/sth CRITICIZE: Her colleagues could not fault her dedication to the job. He had always been politeshe couldn't fault him on that.

fault-finding noun [U] the act of looking for faults in sb/sth

faultless adj. having no mistakes PERFECT: faultless English Her piano-playing was faultless.
faultlessly adv.: The engine performed faultlessly.

faulty adj.
1 not perfect; not working or made correctly DEFECTIVE: Ask for a refund if the goods are faulty. faulty workmanship an accident caused by a faulty signal
2 (of a way of thinking) wrong or containing mistakes, often resulting in bad decisions: faulty reasoning

faun noun (in ancient Roman stories) a god of the woods, with a man's face and body and a GOAT'S legs and horns

fauna noun [U, C] all the animals living in an area or in a particular period of history: the local flora and fauna (= plants and animals) (technical) land and marine faunas

Faustian adj. (formal) ~ bargain/pact/agreement an agreement in which sb agrees to do sth bad or dishonest, in return for money, success or power
From Faust, who, according to the German legend, sold his soul to the Devil in return for many years of power and pleasure.

faute de mieux NAmE adv. (from French) because there is nothing else that is better: We were obliged, faute de mieux, to drink the local beverage.

Fauve NAmE noun a member of a group of French painters who were important in Fauvism

Fauvism NAmE noun [U] (art) a style of painting that uses bright colours and in which objects and people are represented in a non-realistic way. It was popular in Paris for a short period from 1905.

faux NAmE adj. artificial, but intended to look or seem real: The chairs were covered in faux animal skin. His accent was so faux.

faux pas NAmE noun (pl. faux pas NAmE ) (from French) an action or a remark that causes embarrassment because it is not socially correct

fava bean noun (NAmE) = BROAD BEAN

fave noun (informal) a favourite person or thing: That song is one of my faves.
fave adj.: her fave TV show

favela noun (from Portuguese) a poor area in or near a Brazilian city, with many small houses that are close together and in bad conditioncompare SHANTY TOWN

favour (BrE) (NAmE favor) noun, verb
noun
HELP
1 [C] a thing that you do to help sb: Could you do me a favour and pick up Sam from school today? Can I ask a favour? I would never ask for any favours from her. I'm going as a favour to Ann, not because I want to. I'll ask Steve to take it. He owes me a favour. Thanks for helping me out. I'll return the favour (= help you because you have helped me) some time. Do yourself a favour (= help yourself) and wear a helmet on the bike.
APPROVAL
2 [U] approval or support for sb/sth: The suggestion to close the road has found favour with (= been supported by) local people. The programme has lost favour with viewers recently. an athlete who fell from favour after a drugs scandal (formal) The government looks with favour upon (= approves of) the report's recommendations. She's not in favour with (= supported or liked by) the media just now. It seems Tim is back in favour with the boss (= the boss likes him again).
BETTER TREATMENT
3 [U] treatment that is generous to one person or group in a way that seems unfair to others BIAS: As an examiner, she showed no favour to any candidate.
PARTY GIFT
4 favors [pl.] (NAmE) = PARTY FAVORS
SEX
5 favours [pl.] (old-fashioned) agreement to have sex with sb: demands for sexual favours
do sb no favours to do sth that is not helpful to sb or that gives a bad impression of them: You're not doing yourself any favours, working for nothing. The orchestra did Beethoven no favours.
do me a favour! (informal) used in reply to a question that you think is silly: 'Do you think they'll win?' 'Do me a favour! They haven't got a single decent player.'
in favour (of sb/sth)
1 if you are in favour of sb/sth, you support and agree with them/it: He argued in favour of a strike. There were 247 votes in favour (of the motion) and 152 against. I'm all in favour of (= completely support) equal pay for equal work. Most of the 'don't knows' in the opinion polls came down in favour of (= eventually chose to support) the Democrats.
2 in exchange for another thing (because the other thing is better or you want it more): He abandoned teaching in favour of a career as a musician.
in sb's favour
1 if sth is in sb's favour, it gives them an advantage or helps them: The exchange rate is in our favour at the moment. She was willing to bend the rules in Mary's favour.
2 a decision or judgement that is in sb's favour benefits that person or says that they were right: The court decided in Ms Smith's favour and she received compensation for unfair dismissal.more at CURRY v., FEAR n., STACKED
verb
PREFER
1 to prefer one system, plan, way of doing sth, etc. to another: [VN] Many countries favour a presidential system of government. It's a resort favoured by families with young children. [also V -ing, VN -ing]
TREAT BETTER
2 [VN] to treat sb better than you treat other people, especially in an unfair way: The treaty seems to favour the US. My parents always favoured my older brother.
HELP
3 [VN] to provide suitable conditions for a particular person, group, etc.: The warm climate favours many types of tropical plants.
LOOK LIKE PARENT
4 [VN] (old-fashioned or NAmE) to look like one of your parents or older relations: She definitely favours her father.

favourable (BrE) (NAmE favorable) adj.
1 making people have a good opinion of sb/sth: She made a favourable impression on his parents. The biography shows him in a favourable light.
2 positive and showing your good opinion of sb/sth: favourable comments Reviews of the book have been favourable.
3 ~ (to/for sb/sth) good for sth and making it likely to be successful or have an advantage ADVANTAGEOUS: The terms of the agreement are favourable to both sides. The weather was favourable for a barbecue outside. favourable economic conditions
4 fairly good and not too expensive: They offered me a loan on very favourable terms. UNFAVOURABLE
favourably (BrE) (NAmE favorably) adv.: He speaks very favourably of your work. These figures compare favourably with last year's. I was very favourably impressed with her work.

favoured (BrE) (NAmE favored) NAmE adj.
1 treated in a special way or receiving special help or advantages in a way that may seem unfair: a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers
2 preferred by most people: the favoured candidate
3 (formal) particularly pleasant and worth having: Their house is in a very favoured position near the park.

favourite (BrE) (NAmE favorite) adj., noun
adj. liked more than others of the same kind: It's one of my favourite movies. Who is your favourite writer? January is my least favourite month. note at CHOICE
sb's favourite son
1 a performer, politician, sports player, etc., who is popular where they were born
2 (in the US) a candidate for president who is supported by his or her own state in the first part of a campaign
noun
1 a person or thing that you like more than the others of the same type: These biscuits are great favourites with the children. This song is a particular favourite of mine. The band played all my old favourites. Which one's your favourite? The programme has become a firm favourite with young people.
2 a person who is liked better by sb and receives better treatment than others: She loved all her grandchildren but Ann was her favourite.
3 ~ (for sth)| ~ (to do sth) the horse, runner, team, etc. that is expected to win: The favourite came third. Her horse is the hot favourite for the race. AC Milan, the hot favourites to win the European Cup
4 ~ (for sth)| ~ (to do sth) the person who is expected by most people to get a particular job or position: She's the favourite for the job. She's the favourite to succeed him as leader.

favouritism (BrE) (NAmE favoritism) noun [U] (disapproving) the act of unfairly treating one person better than others because you like them better: The students accused the teacher of favouritism. She had four children but never showed any favouritism.

fawn adj., noun, verb
adj. light yellowish-brown in colour: a fawn coat
noun
1 [C] a DEER less than one year old
2 [U] a light yellowish-brown colour
verb [V] ~ (on/over sb) (disapproving) to try to please sb by praising them or paying them too much attention: He seemed unaware of the girl's fawning admiration.

fax noun, verb
noun (also formal facsimile)
1 (also fax machine) [C] a machine that sends and receives documents in an electronic form along telephone wires and then prints them: Do you have a fax?
2 [U] a system for sending documents using a fax machine: Can you send it to me by fax? What is your fax number?
3 [C] a letter or message sent by fax: Did you get my fax? You can send faxes by email from your computer.
verb~ sth (to sb)| ~ sb (sth) to send sb a document, message, etc. by fax: [VNN, VN] Could you fax me the latest version? Could you fax it to me? [VN] I faxed the list of hotels through to them.

faze verb [VN] [often passive] (informal) to make you feel confused or shocked, so that you do not know what to do DISCONCERT: She wasn't fazed by his comments. He looked as if nothing could faze him.

FBI abbr. Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI is the police department in the US that is controlled by the national government and that is responsible for dealing with crimes that affect more than one state.

FC abbr. (BrE) football club: Tottenham FC

FCE noun [U] a British test that measures a person's ability to speak and write English as a foreign language at an UPPER-INTERMEDIATE level (the abbreviation for 'First Certificate in English'): When are you taking FCE?

FCO NAmE abbr. FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration (the US government department that is responsible for making sure that food and drugs are safe to be sold)

FE abbr. (in Britain) FURTHER EDUCATION

fealty noun [U] (old use) a promise to be loyal to sb, especially a king or queen

fear NAmE noun, verb
noun [C, U] ~ (of sb/sth)| ~ (for sb/sth)| ~ (that ... ) the bad feeling that you have when you are in danger, when sth bad might happen, or when a particular thing frightens you: (a) fear of the dark/spiders/flying, etc. Her eyes showed no fear. The child was shaking with fear. We lived in constant fear of losing our jobs. her fears for her son's safety the fear that he had cancer The doctor's report confirmed our worst fears. Alan spoke of his fears for the future.
for fear of sth/of doing sth | for fear (that) ... to avoid the danger of sth happening: We spoke quietly for fear of waking the guards. I had to run away for fear (that) he might one day kill me.
in fear of your life feeling frightened that you might be killed
no fear (BrE, informal) used to say that you definitely do not want to do sth: 'Are you coming climbing?' 'No fear!'
put the fear of God into sb to make sb very frightened, especially in order to make them do sth
without fear or favour (formal) in a fair way: They undertook to make their judgement without fear or favour.more at STRIKE v.
verb
1 to be frightened of sb/sth or frightened of doing sth: [VN] All his employees fear him. to fear death/persecution/the unknown Everyone feared the coming war. Don't worry, you have nothing to fear from us. [V to inf] (formal) She feared to tell him the truth. [also V -ing]
2 to feel that sth bad might have happened or might happen in the future: [VN] She has been missing for three days now and police are beginning to fear the worst (= think that she is dead). [VN-ADJ] Hundreds of people are feared dead. [VN to inf] Women and children are feared to be among the victims. This pattern is only used in the passive. [VN (that)] It is feared (that) he may have been kidnapped. [V] Never fear/Fear not (= Don't worry), I shall return. [also V (that)]
3 I fear [V] (formal) used to tell sb that you think that sth bad has happened or is true: They are unlikely to get here on time, I fear. 'He must be dead then?' 'I fear so.' 'She's not coming back?' 'I fear not.'
fear for sb/sth to be worried about sb/sth: We fear for his safety. He feared for his mother, left alone on the farm.

SYNONYMS

fear

alarm apprehension fright foreboding

These are all words for the bad feeling you have when you are afraid.

fear the bad feeling that you have when you are in danger, when sth bad might happen, or when a particular thing frightens you: (a) fear of flying She showed no fear.

alarm fear or worry that sb feels when sth dangerous or unpleasant might happen: The doctor said there was no cause for alarm.

apprehension worry or fear that sth unpleasant may happen: She felt some apprehension at seeing him again.

fright a feeling of fear, usually sudden: She cried out in fright.

FEAR OR FRIGHT?

Fear is a more general feeling than fright. You can use fear, but not fright, for things that always frighten you and for things that may happen in the future : I have a fright of spiders. his fright of what might happen. Fright is a reaction to sth that has just happened or is happening now.

foreboding a strong feeling that sth unpleasant or dangerous is going to happen: The letter filled him with foreboding.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

a feeling of fear/alarm/apprehension/foreboding

a growing sense of fear/alarm/foreboding

fear/apprehension of/about what might happen

She was shaking/trembling with fear/fright.

His eyes widened in fear/alarm/fright.

fearful NAmE adj.
1 ~ (for sb)| ~ (of sth/of doing sth)| ~ (that) ... (formal) nervous and afraid: Parents are ever fearful for their children. fearful of an attack She was fearful that she would fail. Fearful of continued unrest, the government imposed a state of emergency.
2 [only before noun] (formal) terrible and frightening
3 (old-fashioned, informal) extremely bad: We made a fearful mess of the room.
fearfully adv.: We watched fearfully. fearfully (= extremely) expensive fearfulness noun [U]

fearless NAmE adj. (approving) not afraid, in a way that people admire: a fearless mountaineer She was fearless and full of energy.
fearlessly adv. fearlessness noun [U]: He showed complete fearlessness in the face of danger.

fearsome NAmE adj. (formal) making people feel very frightened: a fearsome dinosaur He has a fearsome reputation as a fighter.

feasible adj. that is possible and likely to be achieved PRACTICABLE: a feasible plan/suggestion/idea It's just not feasible to manage the business on a part-time basis. UNFEASIBLE
feasibility noun [U]: a feasibility study on the proposed new airport I doubt the feasibility of the plan.

feast noun, verb
noun (formal)
1 a large or special meal, especially for a lot of people and to celebrate sth: a wedding feast
2 a day or period of time when there is a religious festival: the feast of Christmas a feast day
3 [usually sing.] a thing or an event that brings great pleasure: a feast of colours The evening was a real feast for music lovers.
verb [V] ~ (on sth) to eat a large amount of food, with great enjoyment: We sat in the yard feasting on barbecued chicken and beer.
feast your eyes (on sb/sth) to look at sb/sth and get great pleasure

feast day noun (religion) a day on which a Christian festival is held each year

Feast of Tabernacles noun [U] = SUCCOTH

Feast of Weeks noun [U] = SHAVUOTH

feat noun (approving) an action or a piece of work that needs skill, strength or courage: The tunnel is a brilliant feat of engineering. to perform/attempt/achieve astonishing feats That was no mean feat (= it was difficult to do). note at ACTION

feather noun, verb
noun one of the many soft light parts covering a bird's body: a peacock feather a feather pillow (= one containing feathers)
a feather in your cap an action that you can be proud of
This idiom comes from the Native American custom of giving a feather to sb who had been very brave in battle.more at BIRD, KNOCK v., RUFFLE v., SMOOTH v.
verb
feather your (own) nest to make yourself richer, especially by spending money on yourself that should be spent on sth elsemore at TAR v.

feather-bed verb (-dd-) [VN] (BrE) to make things easy for sb, especially by giving them money or good conditions of work

feather boa (also boa) noun a long thin piece of clothing like a SCARF, made of feathers and worn over the shoulders by women, especially in the past

feather-brained adj. (informal, disapproving) very silly

feather duster noun a stick with feathers on the end of it that is used for cleaning

feathered NAmE adj. covered with feathers or having feathers

featherweight NAmE noun a BOXER weighing between 53.5 and 57 kilograms, heavier than a BANTAMWEIGHT: a featherweight champion

feathery adj. light and soft; like feathers: feathery leaves/snowflakes

feature noun, verb
noun [C]
1 something important, interesting or typical of a place or thing: An interesting feature of the city is the old market. Teamwork is a key feature of the training programme. Which features do you look for when choosing a car? The software has no particular distinguishing features. geographical featuressee also WATER FEATURE
2 [usually pl.] a part of sb's face such as their nose, mouth and eyes: his strong handsome features Her eyes are her most striking feature.
3 ~ (on sb/sth) (in newspapers, on television, etc.) a special article or programme about sb/sth: a special feature on education
4 (old-fashioned) the main film/movie in a cinema programme
verb
1 [VN] ~ sb/sth (as sb/sth) to include a particular person or thing as a special feature: The film features Cary Grant as a professor. The latest model features alloy wheels and an electronic alarm. Many of the hotels featured in the brochure offer special deals for weekend breaks.
2 [V] ~ (in sth) to have an important part in sth: Olive oil and garlic feature prominently in his recipes.

feature film noun a main film/movie with a story, rather than a DOCUMENTARY, etc.

feature-length adj. [usually before noun] of the same length as a typical film/movie

featureless NAmE adj. without any qualities or noticeable characteristics: The countryside is flat and featureless.

febrile NAmE adj.
1 (formal) nervous, excited and very active: a product of her febrile imagination
2 (medical) (of an illness) caused by fever

February NAmE noun [U, C] (abbr. Feb.) the 2nd month of the year, between January and March To see how February is used, look at the examples at April.

fecal, feces (NAmE) = FAECAL, FAECES

feckless adj. having a weak character; not behaving in a responsible way: Her husband was a charming, but lazy and feckless man.
fecklessness noun [U]: She had lost the fecklessness of youth and settled down.

fecund adj. (formal)
1 able to produce a lot of children, crops, etc. FERTILE
2 producing new and useful things, especially ideas: a fecund imagination
fecundity noun [U]: Fecundity declines rapidly after the age of 40. The fecundity of her imagination remained undiminished even at 80.

Fed noun (US, informal)
1 [C] an officer of the FBI or another federal organization
2 the Fed [sing.] = THE FEDERAL RESERVE

fed pt, pp of FEED

federal adj.
1 having a system of government in which the individual states of a country have control over their own affairs, but are controlled by a central government for national decisions, etc.: a federal republic
2 (within a federal system, for example the US and Canada) connected with national government rather than the local government of an individual state: a federal law state and federal income taxes
federally adv.: federally funded health care

the Federal Bureau of Investigation noun [sing.] = FBI

federalist noun a supporter of a federal system of government
federalism noun [U]: European federalism federalist adj.: a federalist future in Europe

the Federal Reserve System (also the Federal Reserve) noun (abbr. the FRS) (also informal the Fed) [sing.] the organization that controls the supply of money in the US

federate verb [V] (technical) (of states, organizations, etc.) to unite under a central government or organization while keeping some local control

federation noun
1 [C] a country consisting of a group of individual states that have control over their own affairs but are controlled by a central government for national decisions, etc.: the Russian Federation
2 [C] a group of clubs, TRADE/LABOR UNIONS, etc. that have joined together to form an organization: the International Tennis Federation
3 [U] the act of forming a federation: Many MPs are against federation in Europe.

fedora noun a low soft hat with a curled BRIM

fed up adj. [not before noun] ~ (with sb/sth) (informal) bored or unhappy, especially with a situation that has continued for too long: You look fed up. What's the matter? I'm fed up with waiting for her. People are fed up with all these traffic jams. In the end, I just got fed up with his constant complaining. I wish he'd get a job. I'm fed up with it (= with the situation). I'm fed up to the back teeth (= very fed up) with hearing about your problems. Some people say 'fed up of sth' in informal British English, but this is not considered correct in standard English.

fee noun
1 an amount of money that you pay for professional advice or services: legal fees Does the bank charge a fee for setting up the account? fee-paying schools (= that you have to pay to go to) note at RATE
2 an amount of money that you pay to join an organization, or to do sth: membership fees There is no entrance fee to the gallery.

feeble adj. (feebler , feeblest )
1 very weak: a feeble old man The heartbeat was feeble and irregular.
2 not effective; not showing determination or energy: a feeble argument/excuse/joke a feeble attempt to explain Don't be so feeble! Tell her you don't want to go.
feebleness noun [U] feebly adv.: He shook his head feebly.

feeble-minded adj.
1 (old use, offensive) having less than usual intelligence
2 weak and unable to make decisions

feed verb, noun
verb (fed, fed )
GIVE/EAT FOOD
1 ~ sb/sth (on) sth| ~ sth to sb/sth to give food to a person or an animal: [VN] Have you fed the cat yet? The baby can't feed itself yet (= can't put food into its own mouth). The cattle are fed on barley. [VNN, VN] The cattle are fed barley. The barley is fed to the cattle.
2 [V] (of a baby or an animal) to eat food: Slugs and snails feed at night.see also FEED ON/OFF STH
3 [VN] to provide food for a family or group of people: They have a large family to feed. There's enough here to feed an army.
PLANT
4 [VN] to give a plant a special substance to make it grow: Feed the plants once a week.
GIVE ADVICE/INFORMATION
5 ~ sb sth| ~ sth to sb to give advice, information, etc. to sb/sth: [VNN, VN] We are constantly fed gossip and speculation by the media. Gossip and speculation are constantly fed to us by the media.
SUPPLY
6 [VN] ~ A (with B)| ~ B into A to supply sth to sb/sth: The electricity line is fed with power through an underground cable. Power is fed into the electricity line through an underground cable. The lake is fed by a river.
PUT INTO MACHINE
7 [VN] ~ A (with B)| ~ B into A| ~ sth (into/through sth) to put or push sth into or through a machine: He fed coins into the meter. He fed the meter with coins. The information was fed into the data store. The fabric is fed through the machine.
SATISFY NEED
8 [VN] to satisfy a need, desire, etc. and keep it strong: For drug addicts, the need to feed the addiction takes priority over everything else.
feed your face (informal, usually disapproving) to eat a lot of food or too much foodmore at BITE v.
feed back (into/to sth) to have an influence on the development of sth by reacting to it in some way: What the audience tells me feeds back into my work.
feed (sth)back (to sb) to give information or opinions about sth, especially so that it can be improved: Test results will be fed back to the schools.
feed into sth to have an influence on the development of sth: The report's findings will feed into company policy.
feed on/off sth
1 (of an animal) to eat sth: Butterflies feed on the flowers of garden plants.
2 (often disapproving) to become stronger because of sth else: Racism feeds on fear. He feeds off the work and reputation of others.
feed through (to sb/sth) to reach sb/sth after going through a process or system: It will take time for the higher rates to feed through to investors.
feed sbup (BrE) to give a lot of food to sb to make them fatter or stronger
noun
MEAL FOR BABY/ANIMAL
1 [C] a meal of milk for a young baby; a meal for an animal: her morning feed
FOR ANIMALS/PLANTS
2 [U, C] food for animals or plants: winter feed for the horses liquid tomato feed a sack of feed
FOR MACHINE
3 [U] material supplied to a machine
4 [C] a pipe, device, etc. which supplies a machine with sth: the cold feed to the water cylinder The printer has an automatic paper feed.
LARGE MEAL
5 [C] (informal) a large meal: They needed a bath and a good feed.
TELEVISION PROGRAMMES
6 [U] (NAmE) television programmes that are sent from a central station to other stations in a network; the system of sending out these programmes: network feed

feedback noun [U]
1 advice, criticism or information about how good or useful sth or sb's work is: I'd appreciate some feedback on my work. The teacher will give you feedback on the test. We need both positive and negative feedback from our customers.
2 the unpleasant noise produced by electrical equipment such as an AMPLIFIER when some of the power returns to the system

feedbag noun (NAmE) = NOSEBAG

feeder noun, adj.
noun
1 (used with an adjective or a noun) an animal or plant that eats a particular thing or eats in a particular way: plankton feeders opportunistic feeders, like gulls and gannets
2 a part of a machine that supplies sth to another part of the machine: An optional 1 500 sheet feeder can be attached to the photocopier.
3 a container filled with food for birds or animals
adj. [only before noun]
1 (of roads, rivers, etc.) leading to a bigger road, etc.: a feeder road to the motorway/freeway
2 supplying goods, services, etc. to a large organization
3 (NAmE) (of animals on a farm) kept to be killed and used for meat

feeder school noun (BrE) a school from which most of the children go to a particular SECONDARY SCHOOL or college in the same area: the Sixth Form College and its four feeder schools

feeding noun [U] the act of giving food to a person, an animal or a plant: breast/bottle feeding

feeding bottle noun (BrE) a plastic bottle with a rubber top which a baby or young animal can suck milk through

feeding frenzy noun
1 an occasion when a group of SHARKS or other fish attack sth
2 a situation in which a lot of people compete with each other in an excited way because they want to get sth: News of his resignation created a media feeding frenzy.

the Feeding of the Five Thousand noun [sing.] a situation in which a lot of people need to be given food: I made breakfast for all my son's friendsit was like the Feeding of the Five Thousand.
From the Bible story in which Jesus is said to have fed 5 000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish.

feedstuff noun [U] (also feedstuffs [pl.]) food for farm animals, especially food that has been processed FEEDcompare FOODSTUFF

feel verb, noun
verb (felt, felt )
WELL/SICK/HAPPY/SAD, etc.
1 linking verb to experience a particular feeling or emotion: [V-ADJ] The heat made him feel faint. She sounded more confident than she felt. I was feeling guilty. You'll feel better after a good night's sleep. She felt betrayed. I feel sorry for him. [V + adv. / prep.] How are you feeling today? I know exactly how you feel (= I feel sympathy for you). Luckily I was feeling in a good mood. [VN] He seemed to feel no remorse at all. [V-N] Standing there on stage I felt a complete idiot. [V] I felt like a complete idiot.
BE/BECOME AWARE
2 (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to notice or be aware of sth because it is touching you or having a physical effect on you SENSE: [VN] I could feel the warm sun on my back. She could not feel her legs. I can't feel his pulse. He felt a hand on his shoulder. [VN -ing] He felt a hand touching his shoulder. She could feel herself blushing. He felt the sweat running down his face. [VN inf] I felt something crawl up my arm. We felt the ground give way under our feet.
3 [VN] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to become aware of sth even though you cannot see it, hear it, etc. SENSE: Can you feel the tension in this room?
GIVE IMPRESSION
4 linking verb (not used in the progressive tenses) to give you a particular feeling or impression: [V-ADJ] It felt strange to be back in my old school. My mouth felt completely dry. [V] The interview only took ten minutes, but it felt like hours. It feels like rain (= seems likely to rain). Her head felt as if it would burst. It felt as though he had run a marathon. How does it feel to be alone all day? In spoken English people often use like instead of as if or as though in this meaning, especially in NAmE: He felt like he'd run a marathon. This is not considered correct in written BrE.
TOUCH
5 linking verb (not used in the progressive tenses) to have a particular physical quality which you become aware of by touching: [V-ADJ] The water feels warm. Its skin feels really smooth. [V] This wallet feels like leather.
6 to deliberately move your fingers over sth in order to find out what it is like: [VN] Can you feel the bump on my head? Try to tell what this is just by feeling it. [V wh-] Feel how rough this is.
THINK/BELIEVE
7 (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to think or believe that sth is the case; to have a particular opinion or attitude: [V (that)] We all felt (that) we were unlucky to lose. I felt (that) I had to apologize. I feel I could continue playing until I am 35. [VN to inf] She felt it to be her duty to tell the police. [VN-N] She felt it her duty to tell the police. [VN-ADJ] I felt it advisable to do nothing. [V] This decision is, I feel, a huge mistake. This is something I feel strongly about. note at THINK
BE STRONGLY AFFECTED
8 [VN] to experience the effects or results of sth, often strongly: He feels the cold a lot. Cathy was really feeling the heat. She felt her mother's death very deeply. The effects of the recession are being felt everywhere. We all felt the force of her arguments.
SEARCH WITH HANDS
9 [V] ~ (about/around) (for sth) to search for sth with your hands, feet, etc.: He felt in his pockets for some money. I had to feel about in the dark for the light switch.
feel your age to realize that you are getting old, especially compared with people you are with who are younger than you
feel your ears burning to think or imagine that other people are talking about you
feel free (to do sth) (informal) used to tell sb that they are allowed to do sth: Feel free to ask questions if you don't understand. 'Can I use your phone?' 'Feel free.'
feel good to feel happy, confident, etc.: It makes me feel good to know my work is appreciated.
feel (it) in your bones (that ... ) to be certain about sth even though you do not have any direct proof and cannot explain why you are certain: I know I'm going to fail this examI can feel it in my bones.
feel like sth/like doing sth to want to have or do sth: I feel like a drink. We all felt like celebrating. He felt like bursting into tears. We'll go for a walk if you feel like it.
feel the pinch (informal) to not have enough money: Lots of people who have lost their jobs are starting to feel the pinch.
feel sick (especially BrE) to feel as though you will VOMIT soon: Mum! I feel sick.
feel sick to your stomach (NAmE) to feel as though you will VOMIT soon
feel your way
1 to move along carefully, for example when it is dark, by touching walls, objects, etc.
2 to be careful about how you do things, usually because you are in a situation that you are not familiar with: She was new in the job, still feeling her way.
not feel yourself to not feel healthy and well: I'm not quite feeling myself today.more at DEATH, FLATTER, HARD adv., HONOUR n., HONOUR v., JELLY, MARK n., MILLION, PRESENCE, SMALL adj.
feel for sb to have sympathy for sb: I really felt for her when her husband died. I do feel for you, honestly.
feel sbup (informal) to touch sb sexually, especially when they do not want you to GROPE
feel up to sth to have the strength and energy to do or deal with sth: Do we have to go to the party? I really don't feel up to it. [+ -ing] After the accident she didn't feel up to driving.
noun [sing.]
TOUCH
1 the feel the feeling you get when you touch sth or are touched: You can tell it's silk by the feel. She loved the feel of the sun on her skin.
2 an act of feeling or touching: I had a feel of the material.
IMPRESSION
3 the impression that is created by a place, situation, etc.; atmosphere: It's a big city but it has the feel of a small town. The room has a comfortable feel to it. There is an international feel to the restaurant.
get the feel of sth/of doing sth to become familiar with sth or with doing sth: I haven't got the feel of the brakes in this car yet.
have a feel for sth to have an understanding of sth or be naturally good at doing it: She has a real feel for languages.

feeler noun [usually pl.] either of the two long thin parts on the heads of some insects and of some animals that live in shells that they use to feel and touch things with ANTENNA
put out feelers (informal) to try to find out what people think about a particular course of action before you do it: The government has put out some feelers to gauge people's reactions to the plan.

feel-good adj. making you feel happy and pleased about life: a feel-good movie
the feel-good factor (BrE) (used especially in newspapers, etc.) the feeling of confidence in the future that is shared by many people: After the recession, people were waiting for the return of the feel-good factor before starting to spend money again.

feeling noun
STH THAT YOU FEEL
1 [C] ~ (of sth) something that you feel through the mind or through the senses: a feeling of hunger/excitement/sadness, etc. guilty feelings I've got a tight feeling in my stomach. (informal) 'I really resent the way he treated me.' 'I know the feeling.' (= I know how you feel) 'I'm going to miss you.' 'The feeling's mutual (= I feel exactly the same).'
IDEA/BELIEF
2 [sing.] ~ (of sth)| ~ (that ... ) the idea or belief that a particular thing is true or a particular situation is likely to happen IMPRESSION: He suddenly had the feeling of being followed. I got the feeling that he didn't like me much. I had a nasty feeling that we were lost.
ATTITUDE/OPINION
3 [U, C] ~ (about/on sth) an attitude or opinion about sth: The general feeling of the meeting was against the decision. I don't have any strong feelings about it one way or the other. My own feeling is that we should buy the cheaper one. She had mixed feelings about giving up her job. Public feeling is being ignored by the government.
EMOTIONS
4 feelings [pl.] a person's emotions rather than their thoughts or ideas: He hates talking about his feelings. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings (= offend you). I kept off the subject of divorce so as to spare her feelings.
5 [U, C] strong emotion: She spoke with feeling about the plight of the homeless. Feelings are running high (= people are very angry or excited).
UNDERSTANDING
6 [U] ~ (for sb/sth) the ability to understand sb/sth or to do sth in a sensitive way: She has a wonderful feeling for colour. He played the piano with great feeling.
SYMPATHY/LOVE
7 [U, pl.] ~ (for sb/sth) sympathy or love for sb/sth: You have no feeling for the sufferings of others. I still have feelings for her (= feel attracted to her in a romantic way).
PHYSICAL
8 [U] the ability to feel physically: I've lost all feeling in my legs. Feeling gradually began to return to my frozen feet.
ATMOSPHERE
9 [sing.] the atmosphere of a place, situation, etc.: They have managed to recreate the feeling of the original theatre. The house had a feeling of neglect about it.
bad/ill feeling (also bad/ill feelings especially in NAmE) anger between people, especially after an argument or disagreement: There was a lot of bad feeling between the two groups of students.more at HARD adj., SINK v., SPARE

feelingly adv. with strong emotion EMOTIONALLY: He spoke feelingly about his dead father.

feet pl. of FOOT

feign verb (formal) to pretend that you have a particular feeling or that you are ill/sick, tired, etc.: [VN] He survived the massacre by feigning death. 'Who cares?' said Alex, feigning indifference. 'A present for me?' she asked with feigned surprise. [also V to inf]

feint noun, verb
noun (especially in sport) a movement that is intended to make your opponent think you are going to do one thing when you are really going to do sth else
verb [V] (especially in sport) to confuse your opponent by making them think you are going to do one thing when you are really going to do sth else

feisty adj. (feistier, feistiest) (informal, approving) (of people) strong, determined and not afraid of arguing with people

felafel = FALAFEL

feldspar noun [U, C] a type of white or red rock

felicitous adj. (formal or literary) (especially of words) chosen well; very suitable; giving a good result APT, HAPPY: a felicitous turn of phrase
felicitously adv.

felicity noun (pl. -ies) (formal or literary)
1 [U] great happiness
2 [U] the quality of being well chosen or suitable: The story is told with great felicity of style.
3 felicities [pl.] well-chosen or successful features, especially in a speech or piece of writing: Her book displays many subtle linguistic felicities. The pianist's performance contained no shortage of felicities.

feline adj., noun
adj. like a cat; connected with an animal of the cat family: She walks with feline grace.
noun (formal) a cat; an animal of the cat family

fell noun, verb, adj.see also FALL
noun a hill or an area of hills in northern England
verb [VN]
1 to cut down a tree: Trees were felled and floated downstream.
2 (literary) to make sb fall to the ground: He felled his opponent with a single blow.
adj. (literary) very evil or violent
at/in one fell swoop all at the same time; in a single action, especially a sudden or violent one: If the new law is passed, it will remove press freedom in one fell swoop.

fella (also feller) noun (informal)
1 an informal way of referring to a man
2 an informal way of referring to sb's boyfriend: Have you met her new fella?

fellate NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to perform FELLATIO on a man

fellatio NAmE noun [U] (formal) the practice of touching a man's PENIS with the tongue and lips to give sexual pleasure

fellow NAmE noun, adj.
noun
1 (informal, becoming old-fashioned) a way of referring to a man or boy: He's a nice old fellow.see also FELLA
2 [usually pl.] a person that you work with or that is like you; a thing that is similar to the one mentioned: She has a very good reputation among her fellows. Many caged birds live longer than their fellows in the wild.
3 (BrE) a senior member of some colleges or universities: a fellow of New College, Oxford
4 a member of an academic or professional organization: a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons
5 (especially NAmE) a GRADUATE student who holds a FELLOWSHIP: a graduate fellow a teaching fellow
adj. [only before noun] used to describe sb who is the same as you in some way, or in the same situation: fellow members/citizens/workers my fellow passengers on the train I recognized a fellow sufferer, waiting nervously outside the exam room.

fellow feeling noun [U, C] a feeling of sympathy for sb because you have shared similar experiences

fellowship NAmE noun
1 [U] a feeling of friendship between people who do things together or share an interest: They offer students counselling and fellowship.
2 [C] an organized group of people who share an interest, aim or belief
3 [C] (especially BrE) the position of being a senior member of a college or university
4 [C] an award of money to a GRADUATE student to allow them to continue their studies or to do research
5 [C, U] the state of being a member of an academic or professional organization: to be elected to fellowship of the British Academy

fellow-traveller noun
1 a person who is travelling to the same place as another person
2 a person who agrees with the aims of a political party, especially the Communist party, but is not a member of it

felon noun (especially NAmE, law) a person who has committed a felony

felony noun [C, U] (pl. -ies) (NAmE or old-fashioned, law) the act of committing a serious crime such as murder or RAPE; a crime of this type: a charge of felonycompare MISDEMEANOUR

felt noun [U] a type of soft thick cloth made from wool or hair that has been pressed tightly together: a felt hatsee also FEEL, FELT, FELT v.

felt-tip pen (also felt tip, felt-tipped pen) noun a pen that has a point made of felt

female adj., noun
adj.
1 being a woman or a girl: a female student/employee/artist Two of the candidates must be female.
2 of the sex that can lay eggs or give birth to babies: a female cat female reproductive organs
3 of women; typical of women; affecting women: female characteristics the female role a female preserve (= sth that only women do)compare FEMININE
4 (biology) (of plants and flowers) that can produce fruit
5 (technical) (of electrical equipment) having a hole that another part fits into: a female plug MALE
noun
1 an animal that can lay eggs or give birth to babies; a plant that can produce fruit
2 a woman or a girl: More females than males are employed in the factory. MALE

feminine adj., noun
adj.
1 having the qualities or appearance considered to be typical of women; connected with women: That dress makes you look very feminine. He had delicate, almost feminine, features. the traditional feminine rolecompare FEMALE, MASCULINE
2 (grammar) belonging to a class of words that refer to female people or animals and often have a special form: Some people prefer not to use the feminine form 'actress' and use the word 'actor' for both sexes.
3 (grammar) (in some languages) belonging to a class of nouns, pronouns or adjectives that have feminine GENDER not MASCULINE or NEUTER: The French word for 'table' is feminine.
noun (grammar)
1 the feminine [sing.] the feminine GENDER (= form of nouns, adjectives and pronouns)
2 [C] a feminine word or word formcompare MASCULINE, NEUTER

feminine rhyme noun [U, C] (technical) a RHYME between words that have the emphasis before the last syllable, for example 'bitten' and 'written'compare MASCULINE RHYME

femininity noun [U] the fact of being a woman; the qualities that are considered to be typical of women

feminism noun [U] the belief and aim that women should have the same rights and opportunities as men; the struggle to achieve this aim

feminist noun a person who supports the belief that women should have the same rights and opportunities as men: Nineteenth-century feminists demanded equal education and employment opportunities for single women.
feminist adj. [usually before noun]: feminist demands/ideas/theories the feminist movement

feminize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN]
1 to make sb more like a woman
2 to make sth involve more women: Offices became increasingly feminized during the 1960s.

femme fatale NAmE noun (pl. femmes fatales NAmE ) (from French) a very beautiful woman that men find sexually attractive but who brings them trouble or unhappiness: She was his femme fatale.

femto- NAmE combining form (technical) (in units of measurement) 10minus15: a femtosecond

femur noun (pl. femurs or femora ) (anatomy) the THIGH BONE
femoral adj. [only before noun]: the femoral artery

fen noun an area of low flat wet land, especially in the east of England

fence noun, verb
noun
1 a structure made of wood or wire supported with posts that is put between two areas of land as a BOUNDARY, or around a garden/yard, field, etc. to keep animals in, or to keep people and animals out
2 a structure that horses must jump over in a race or a competition
3 (informal) a criminal who buys and sells stolen goods see GRASS n., MEND v., SIDE n., SIT
verb
1 [VN] to surround or divide an area with a fence: His property is fenced with barbed wire.see also UNFENCED
2 [V] to take part in the sport of FENCING
3 [V] ~ (with sb) to speak to sb in a clever way in order to gain an advantage in the conversation
fence sb/sthin [often passive]
1 to surround sb/sth with a fence: The small grass patch was fenced in.
2 to restrict sb's freedom HEM SB IN: She felt fenced in by domestic routine.
fence sthoff [often passive] to divide one area from another with a fence: One end of the yard had been fenced off for the chickens.

fence-mending noun [U] an attempt to improve relations between two people or groups and to try to find a solution to a disagreement between them

fencer noun a person who takes part in the sport of FENCING

fencing noun [U]
1 the sport of fighting with long thin SWORDS
2 fences; wood, wire, or other material used for making fences: The factory is surrounded by electric fencing.

fend verb
fend for yourself to take care of yourself without help from anyone else: His parents agreed to pay the rent for his apartment but otherwise left him to fend for himself. The fox was released into the wild when it was old enough to fend for itself.
fend sth/sboff
1 to defend or protect yourself from sth/sb that is attacking you FIGHT OFF, WARD OFF: The police officer fended off the blows with his riot shield.
2 to protect yourself from difficult questions, criticisms, etc., especially by avoiding them WARD OFF: She managed to fend off questions about new tax increases. The Prime Minister fended off three challenges to her leadership.

fender noun
1 (NAmE) = WING (4)
2 (NAmE) = MUDGUARD
3 a frame around a FIREPLACE to prevent burning coal or wood from falling out
4 a soft solid object such as an old tyre or a piece of rope that is hung over the side of a boat so the boat is not damaged if it touches another boat, a wall, etc.

fender bender noun (NAmE, informal) a car accident in which there is not a lot of damage

feng shui noun [U] (from Chinese) a Chinese system for deciding the right position for a building and for placing objects inside a building in order to make people feel comfortable and happy

Fenian noun
1 a member of an organization formed in the 1850s in the US and Ireland in order to end British rule in Ireland
2 (informal, taboo) (especially in Northern Ireland) an offensive word for a Catholic

fenland noun [U, C] an area of low flat wet land in the east of England

fennel noun [U] a vegetable that has a thick round STEM with a strong taste. The seeds and leaves are also used in cooking.

fenugreek noun [U] a plant with hard yellow-brown seeds that are used in S Asian cooking as a spice

feral adj. (of animals) living wild, especially after escaping from life as a pet or on a farm: feral cats (figurative) He looked at me with a feral grin (= like a wild animal).

feringhee noun a word used in some Asian countries for any person with a white skin, especially a European or an American

fermata NAmE noun (music) (especially NAmE) = PAUSE

ferment verb, noun
verb NAmE to experience a chemical change because of the action of YEAST or bacteria, often changing sugar to alcohol; to make sth change in this way: [V] Fruit juices ferment if they are kept for too long. (figurative) A blend of emotions fermented inside her. [VN] Red wine is fermented at a higher temperature than white.
fermentation NAmE noun [U]: Sugar is converted into alcohol by a process of fermentation.
noun NAmE [U, sing.] (formal) a state of political or social excitement and confusion: a period of intense political ferment The country is in ferment.

fermium NAmE noun [U] (symb Fm) a chemical element. Fermium is a very rare RADIOACTIVE metal.

fern NAmE noun [C, U] a plant with large delicate leaves and no flowers that grows in wet areas or is grown in a pot. There are many types of fern.
ferny adj.

ferocious NAmE adj. very aggressive or violent; very strong SAVAGE: a ferocious beast/attack/storm a man driven by ferocious determination ferocious opposition to the plan
ferociously adv.: growling ferociously

ferocity NAmE noun [U] violence; aggressive behaviour: The police were shocked by the ferocity of the attack.

ferret noun, verb
noun a small aggressive animal with a long thin body, kept for chasing RABBITS from their holes, killing RATS, etc.
verb
1 [V + adv. / prep.] ~ (about/around) (for sth) (informal) to search for sth that is lost or hidden among a lot of things: She opened the drawer and ferreted around for her keys.
2 [V] to hunt RABBITS, RATS, etc. using ferrets
ferret sb/sthout (informal) to discover information or to find sb/sth by searching thoroughly, asking a lot of questions, etc.: He is determined to ferret out the truth about what happened.

Ferris wheel noun (especially NAmE) = BIG WHEEL

ferrite noun [U]
1 a chemical containing iron, used in electrical devices such as AERIALS/ANTENNAS
2 a form of pure iron that is found in steel which contains low amounts of CARBON

ferromagnetic NAmE adj. (physics) having the kind of MAGNETISM which iron has

ferrous adj. [only before noun] (technical) containing iron; connected with iron: ferrous and non-ferrous metals

ferrule NAmE noun a piece of metal or rubber that covers the end of an umbrella or a stick to protect it

ferry noun, verb
noun (pl. -ies) a boat that carries people, vehicles and goods across a river or across a narrow part of the sea: the cross-channel ferry service We caught the ferry at Ostend. the Dover-Calais ferry crossing the Staten Island ferry
verb (ferries, ferrying, ferried, ferried) [usually +adv./prep.] to carry people or goods in a boat or other vehicle from one place to another, often for a short distance and as a regular service: [VN] He offered to ferry us across the river in his boat. The children need to be ferried to and from school. [also V]

ferry boat noun a boat that is used as a ferry

ferryman noun (pl. -men ) a person in charge of a ferry across a river

fertile NAmE adj.
1 (of land or soil) that plants grow well in: a fertile region INFERTILE
2 (of people, animals or plants) that can produce babies, young animals, fruit or new plants: The treatment has been tested on healthy fertile women under the age of 35. INFERTILE
3 [usually before noun] that produces good results; that encourages activity: a fertile partnership The region at the time was fertile ground for revolutionary movements (= there were the necessary conditions for them to develop easily).
4 [usually before noun] (of a person's mind or imagination) that produces a lot of new ideas: the product of a fertile imaginationcompare STERILE

fertility NAmE noun [U] the state of being fertile: the fertility of the soil/land a god of fertility fertility treatment (= medical help given to a person to help them have a baby) INFERTILITY: male/female fertility

fertilize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN]
1 to put POLLEN into a plant so that a seed develops; to join SPERM with an egg so that a baby or young animal develops: Flowers are often fertilized by bees as they gather nectar. a fertilized egg
2 to add a substance to soil to make plants grow more successfully
fertilization, -isation NAmE noun [U]: Immediately after fertilization, the cells of the egg divide. the fertilization of soil with artificial chemicals

fertilizer (BrE also -iser) NAmE noun [C, U] a substance added to soil to make plants grow more successfully: artificial/chemical fertilizers liquid fertilizer a bag of fertilizer

fervent NAmE adj. [usually before noun] having or showing very strong and sincere feelings about sth ARDENT: a fervent admirer/believer/supporter a fervent belief/hope/desire
fervently adv.: She prayed fervently for his complete recovery. We fervently hope they will succeed.

fervid NAmE adj. (formal) feeling sth too strongly; showing feelings that are too strong
fervidly adv.

fervour (BrE) (NAmE fervor) NAmE noun [U] very strong feelings about sth ENTHUSIASM: She kissed him with unusual fervour. religious/patriotic fervour

fess verb
fess up (NAmE, informal) to admit that you have done sth wrong OWN UP: It's time for the President to fess up.

-fest combining form (in nouns) a festival or large meeting involving a particular activity or with a particular atmosphere: a jazzfest a talkfest a lovefest

fester verb [V]
1 (of a wound or cut) to become badly infected: festering sores/wounds If you don't take the splinter out, it will fester.
2 (of bad feelings or thoughts) to become much worse because you do not deal with them successfully: Instead of talking the matter over with him, she allowed her resentment to fester in her mind.

festival noun
1 a series of performances of music, plays, films/movies, etc., usually organized in the same place once a year; a series of public events connected with a particular activity or idea: the Edinburgh festival the Cannes film festival a beer festival a rock festival (= where bands perform, often outdoors and over a period of several days)
2 a day or period of the year when people stop working to celebrate a special event, often a religious onesee also HARVEST FESTIVAL

Festival of the Dead noun [U] = BON

festive adj.
1 typical of a special event or celebration: a festive occasion The whole town is in festive mood.
2 (BrE) connected with the period when people celebrate Christmas: the festive season/period festive decorations

festivity noun
1 festivities [pl.] the activities that are organized to celebrate a special event: A number of celebrities will be flying in to take part in the festivities. Christmas/New Year festivities wedding festivities
2 [U] the happiness and enjoyment that exist when people celebrate sth: The wedding was an occasion of great festivity. an air of festivity

festoon verb, noun
verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (with sth) to decorate sb/sth with flowers, coloured paper, etc., often as part of a celebration: The streets were festooned with banners and lights.
noun a chain of lights, coloured paper, flowers, etc., used to decorate sth

festoon blind noun (BrE) a BLIND for a window made of material which hangs in folds and has round edges at the bottom

Festschrift noun (from German) a collection of articles published in honour of a SCHOLAR

feta cheese (also feta) noun [U] a type of Greek cheese made from sheep's milk

fetal (especially NAmE) = FOETAL

fetal alcohol syndrome noun [U] (medical) a condition in which a child's mental and physical development are damaged because the mother drank too much alcohol while she was pregnant

fetch verb
1 (especially BrE) to go to where sb/sth is and bring them/it back: [VN] to fetch help/a doctor The inhabitants have to walk a mile to fetch water. She's gone to fetch the kids from school. [VNN] Could you fetch me my bag?
2 [VN] to be sold for a particular price SELL FOR: The painting is expected to fetch $10 000 at auction.
fetch and carry (for sb) to do a lot of little jobs for sb as if you were their servant: Most of her day was spent fetching and carrying for her family.
fetch up (informal, especially BrE) to arrive somewhere without planning to: And then, a few years later, he somehow fetched up in Rome.

fetching adj. (informal) (especially of a person or their clothes) attractive: She looked very fetching in a little red hat. a fetching blue sweater a fetching smile
fetchingly adv.: Strands of hair hung fetchingly around her face.

fête (also fete) noun, verb
noun
1 (also fair) (both BrE) (NAmE carnival) an outdoor entertainment at which people can play games to win prizes, buy food and drink, etc., usually arranged to make money for a special purpose: the school/village/church fête
2 (NAmE) a special occasion held to celebrate sth: a charity fête
verb [VN] [usually passive] (formal) to welcome, praise or entertain sb publicly

fetid (BrE less frequent foetid ) adj. [usually before noun] (formal) smelling very unpleasant STINKING: fetid air

fetish noun
1 (usually disapproving) the fact that a person spends too much time doing or thinking about a particular thing: She has a fetish about cleanliness. He makes a fetish of his work.
2 the fact of getting sexual pleasure from a particular object: to have a leather fetish
3 an object that some people worship because they believe that it has magic powers
fetishism noun [U]: a magazine specializing in rubber fetishism the importance of animal fetishism in the history of Egypt fetishist noun: a leather fetishist fetishistic adj.

fetishize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN]
1 to spend too much time thinking about or doing sth
2 to get sexual pleasure from thinking about or looking at a particular thing

fetlock NAmE noun the part at the back of a horse's leg, just above its HOOF, where long hair grows

fetter verb, noun
verb [VN] [usually passive]
1 (literary) to restrict sb's freedom to do what they want: He felt fettered by petty rules and regulations.
2 to put chains around a prisoner's feet SHACKLE: A man lay fettered on the floor of the prison cell.
noun
1 [usually pl.] (literary) something that stops sb from doing what they want: They were at last freed from the fetters of ignorance.
2 fetters [pl.] chains that are put around a prisoner's feet CHAINS, SHACKLES: bound with fetters of iron

fettle noun
in fine/good fettle (old-fashioned, informal) healthy; in good condition: The team is in fine fettle. Park Foods is in fine fettle after selling off all non-core businesses.

fettuccine (also fettuccini ) noun [U] PASTA in the shape of long narrow strips

fetus (especially NAmE) = FOETUS

feud noun, verb
noun~ (between A and B)| ~ (with sb)| ~ (over sb/sth) an angry and bitter argument between two people or groups of people that continues over a long period of time: a long-running feud between the two artists a feud with the neighbours a family feud (= within a family or between two families) a feud over money
verb [V] ~ (with sb) to have an angry and bitter argument with sb over a long period of time: He has been feuding with his brother for years. feuding families/gangs
feuding noun [U]: stories of bitter feuding between rival drug dealers

feudal adj. [usually before noun] connected with or similar to feudalism: the feudal system

feudalism noun [U] the social system that existed during the Middle Ages in Europe in which people were given land and protection by a NOBLEMAN, and had to work and fight for him in return
feudalistic adj.

fever noun
1 [C, U] a medical condition in which a person has a temperature that is higher than normal: He has a high fever. Aspirin should help reduce the fever.compare TEMPERATURE
2 [C, U] (old-fashioned) (used mainly in compounds) a particular type of disease in which sb has a high temperature: She caught a fever on her travels in Africa, and died.see also GLANDULAR FEVER, HAY FEVER, RHEUMATIC FEVER, SCARLET FEVER, YELLOW FEVER
3 [sing.] ~ (of sth) a state of nervous excitement: He waited for her arrival in a fever of impatience.
4 [U] (especially in compounds) great interest or excitement about sth: election fever World Cup fever has gripped the country.

fever blister noun (NAmE) = COLD SORE

fevered NAmE adj. [only before noun]
1 showing great excitement or worry: fevered excitement/speculation a fevered imagination/mind (= that imagines strange things)
2 suffering from a fever: She mopped his fevered brow.

feverfew NAmE noun [U] a plant of the DAISY family, sometimes used as a medicine

feverish adj.
1 [usually before noun] showing strong feelings of excitement or worry, often with a lot of activity or quick movements: The whole place was a scene of feverish activity. a state of feverish excitement He worked with feverish haste. feverish with longing
2 suffering from a fever; caused by a fever: She was aching and feverish. a feverish cold/dream
feverishly adv.: The team worked feverishly to the November deadline. Her mind raced feverishly.

fever pitch noun [U, C] a very high level of excitement or activity: Speculation about his future had reached fever pitch. Excitement has been at fever pitch for days. The crowd had been roused to fever pitch by the drama of the game.

few det., adj., pron.
det., adj. (fewer, fewest)
1 used with plural nouns and a plural verb to mean 'not many': Few people understand the difference. There seem to be fewer tourists around this year. Very few students learn Latin now.
2 (usually a few) used with plural nouns and a plural verb to mean 'a small number', 'some': We've had a few replies. I need a few things from the store. Quite a few people are going to arrive early. I try to visit my parents every few weeks.
few and far between not frequent; not happening often
pron.
1 not many people, things or places: Very few of his books are worth reading. You can pass with as few as 25 points. (formal) Few will argue with this conclusion.
2 a few a small number of people, things or places; some: I recognized a few of the other people. I've seen most of his movies. Only a few are as good as his first one. Could you give me a few more details?
3 fewer not as many as: Fewer than 20 students passed all the exams. There are no fewer than 100 different species in the area. Look at the note at less.
4 the few used with a plural verb to mean 'a small group of people': Real power belongs to the few. She was one of the chosen few (= the small group with special rights).
quite a few (BrE also a good few) a fairly large number: I've been there quite a few times.
have had a few (informal) to have had enough alcohol to make you drunk

fey adj. (literary, sometimes disapproving) (usually of a person) sensitive and rather mysterious or strange; not acting in a very practical way: One of the guests was a slightly fey romantic novelist.

fez noun (pl. fezzes) a round red hat with a flat top and a TASSEL but no BRIM, worn by men in some Muslim countries

ff abbr. (music) very loudly (from Italian 'fortissimo')

ff. abbr. written after the number of a page or line to mean 'and the following pages or lines': See pp. 96 ff.

f-hole noun one of two holes with a shape similar to the letter 'f' cut in the front of VIOLINS and some other instruments

fiancé NAmE noun the man that a woman is engaged to: Linda and her fiancé were there.

fiancée NAmE noun the woman that a man is engaged to: Paul and his fiancée were there.

Fianna Fáil noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] one of the two main political parties in the Republic of Ireland, on the political left

fiasco NAmE noun (pl. -os, NAmE also -oes) something that does not succeed, often in a way that causes embarrassment DISASTER: The party was a complete fiasco. What a fiasco!

fiat noun [C, U] (formal) an official order given by sb in authority DECREE: Prices have been fixed by government fiat.

fib noun, verb
noun (informal) a statement that is not true; a lie about sth that is not important: Stop telling fibs.
verb (-bb-) [V] (informal) to tell a lie, usually about sth that is not important: Come on, don't fib! Where were you really last night?
fibber noun: You fibber!

Fibonacci series NAmE noun (mathematics) a series of numbers in which each number is equal to the two numbers before it added together. Starting from 1, the series is 1,1,2,3,5,8,13, etc.

fibre (BrE) (NAmE fiber) noun
1 [U] the part of food that helps to keep a person healthy by keeping the BOWELS working and moving other food quickly through the body ROUGHAGE: dietary fibre Dried fruits are especially high in fibre. a high-/low-fibre diet He has been advised to increase his fibre intake. bran fibre
2 [C, U] a material such as cloth or rope that is made from a mass of natural or artificial threads: nylon and other man-made fibres
3 [C] one of the many thin threads that form body TISSUE, such as muscle, and natural materials, such as wood and cotton: cotton/wood/nerve/muscle fibres (literary) She loved him with every fibre of her being.see also MORAL FIBRE, OPTICAL FIBRE

fibreboard (BrE) (NAmE fiberboard) NAmE noun [U] a building material made of wood or other plant fibres pressed together to form boards

fibreglass (BrE) (NAmE fiber-) NAmE (BrE also glass fibre) (NAmE also glass fiber) noun [U] a strong light material made from glass fibres and plastic, used for making boats, etc.: a fibreglass racing yacht

fibre optics (BrE) (NAmE fiber optics) noun [U] the use of thin fibres of glass, etc. for sending information in the form of light signals: The use of fibre optics has served to increase the volume and speed of data transmission.
fibre-optic adj.: fibre-optic cables

fibrin noun [U] (biology) a PROTEIN that stops blood from flowing or being lost from a wound

fibrinogen noun [U] (biology) a PROTEIN in the blood from which fibrin is produced

fibro NAmE noun (pl. -os) (AustralE)
1 [U] a mixture of sand, CEMENT, and plant FIBRES, used as a building material
2 [C] a house that is built mainly of such material

fibroid noun (medical) a mass of cells that form a lump, usually found in the wall of a woman's UTERUS

fibroma NAmE noun (medical) a harmless lump that grows inside the body

fibrous adj. [usually before noun] (technical) made of many fibres; looking like fibres: fibrous tissue fibrous roots

fibula noun (pl. fibulae or fibulas) (anatomy) the outer bone of the two bones in the lower part of the leg between the knee and the anklesee also TIBIA

fickle adj. (disapproving)
1 changing often and suddenly: The weather here is notoriously fickle. the fickle world of fashion The latest downturn in sales shows just what a fickle business this is. the fickle finger of fate
2 (of a person) often changing their mind in an unreasonable way so that you cannot rely on them: a fickle friend another example of his fickle behaviour
fickleness noun [U]: the fickleness of the English climate

fiction noun
1 [U] a type of literature that describes imaginary people and events, not real ones: a work of popular fiction historical/romantic fiction NON-FICTIONsee also SCIENCE FICTION
2 [C, U] a thing that is invented or imagined and is not true: For years he managed to keep up the fiction that he was not married. see TRUTH

fictional adj. not real or true; existing only in stories; connected with fiction: fictional characters a fictional account of life on a desert island fictional techniques the fictional world of Lawrence Durrell REAL-LIFE

fictionalize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] [usually passive] to write a book or make a film/movie about a true story, but changing some of the details, characters, etc.: a fictionalized account of his childhood

fictitious adj. invented by sb rather than true: All the places and characters in my novel are fictitious (= they do not exist in real life). The account he gives of his childhood is fictitious.

fiddle verb, noun
verb
1 [V] ~ (with sth) to keep touching or moving sth with your hands, especially because you are bored or nervous: He was fiddling with his keys while he talked to me.
2 [VN] (informal) to change the details or figures of sth in order to try to get money dishonestly, or gain an advantage: to fiddle the accounts She fiddled the books (= changed a company's financial records) while working as an accountant.
3 [V] (informal) to play music on the VIOLIN
fiddle about/around to spend your time doing things that are not important
fiddle about/around with sth| fiddle with sth
1 to keep touching sth or making small changes to sth because you are not satisfied with it: I've been fiddling about with this design for ages.
2 to touch or move the parts of sth in order to try to change it or repair it: Who's been fiddling with the TV again?
noun (informal)
1 [C] = VIOLIN
2 [C] (BrE) something that is done dishonestly to get money FRAUD: an insurance/tax, etc. fiddle
3 [sing.] (BrE) an act of moving sth or adjusting sth in order to make it work
4 [sing.] (BrE) something that is difficult to do
be on the fiddle (BrE) to be doing sth dishonest to get money: Their accountant has been on the fiddle for years.
play second fiddle (to sb/sth) to be treated as less important than sb/sth; to have a less important position than sb/sth else: I'm not going to play second fiddle to anyone. The narrative in this book plays second fiddle to the excellent photographs.more at FIT adj.

fiddler noun a person who plays the VIOLIN, especially to play FOLK MUSIC

fiddlesticks exclamation (old-fashioned, informal) used to say that you disagree with sb

fiddling adj. [usually before noun] (informal) small, unimportant and often annoying

fiddly adj. (BrE, informal) difficult to do or use because small objects are involved: Changing a fuse is one of those fiddly jobs I hate. Zips are less fiddly than buttons. It was very fiddly to do with gloves on.

fidelity noun [U]
1 ~ (to sth) (formal) the quality of being loyal to sb/sth: fidelity to your principles
2 ~ (to sb) the quality of being faithful to your husband, wife or partner by not having a sexual relationship with anyone else: marital/sexual fidelity INFIDELITY
3 ~ (of sth) (to sth) (formal) the quality of being accurate: the fidelity of the translation to the original textsee also HIGH FIDELITY

fidget verb, noun
verb [V] ~ (with sth) to keep moving your body, your hands or your feet because you are nervous, bored, excited, etc.: Sit still and stop fidgeting!
noun a person who is always fidgeting: You're such a fidget!

fidgety adj. (informal) (of a person) unable to remain still or quiet, usually because of being bored or nervous RESTLESS: The children get fidgety if they have nothing to do. As the questioning continued, he became fidgety and uneasy.

fiduciary NAmE adj., noun (law)
adj. involving trust, especially in a situation where a person or company controls money or property belonging to others: the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders
noun (pl. -ies) a person or company that is in a position of trust, especially when it involves controlling money or property belonging to others

fief (also fiefdom ) noun
1 (law) (old use) an area of land, especially a rented area for which the payment is work, not money
2 an area or a situation in which sb has control or influence: She considers the office as her own private fiefdom.

field noun, verb
noun
AREA OF LAND
1 [C] an area of land in the country used for growing crops or keeping animals in, usually surrounded by a fence, etc.: People were working in the fields. a ploughed field a field of wheat We camped in a field near the village.
2 [C] (usually in compounds) an area of land used for the purpose mentioned: a landing field a medal for bravery in the field (of battle)see also AIRFIELD, BATTLEFIELD, MINEFIELD
3 [C] (usually in compounds) a large area of land covered with the thing mentioned; an area from which the thing mentioned is obtained: ice fields gas fieldssee also COALFIELD, GOLDFIELD, OILFIELD, SNOWFIELD
SUBJECT/ACTIVITY
4 [C] a particular subject or activity that sb works in or is interested in AREA: famous in the field of music I enjoy meeting people in other fields of business. All of them are experts in their chosen field. This discovery has opened up a whole new field of research. 'How big was the bomb, if it did all that damage?' 'I don't know. Not my field' (= that is not one of the subjects I know about).
PRACTICAL WORK
5 [C] (usually used as an adjective) the fact of people doing practical work or study, rather than working in a library or laboratory: a field study/investigation field research/methods We then tested the questionnaire in field conditions. essential reading for those working in the fieldsee also FIELD TRIP, FIELDWORK
IN SPORT
6 (BrE also pitch) [C] (usually in compounds) an area of land used for playing a sport on: a baseball/rugby/football, etc. field a sports field Today they take the field (= go on to the field to play a game) against county champions Essex. Players are only reselected if they retain their form on the field (= when they are playing a match). For Liverpool fans, it was a night to remember both on and off the field (= the match was good and so were the celebrations afterwards).see also PLAYING FIELD
7 (in CRICKET and BASEBALL) [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] the team that is trying to catch the ball rather than hit it
8 [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] all the people or animals competing in a particular sports event: The field includes three world-record holders.
IN BUSINESS
9 [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] all the people or products competing in a particular area of business: They lead the field in home entertainment systems.
PHYSICS
10 [C] (usually in compounds) an area within which the force mentioned has an effect: the earth's gravitational field an electro-magnetic field
COMPUTING
11 [C] part of a record that is a separate item of data: You will need to create separate fields for first name, surname and address.
leave the field clear for sb | leave sb in possession of the field to enable sb to be successful in a particular area of activity because other people or groups have given up competing with them: The complete disarray of the opposition parties leaves the field clear for the government to implement urgent reforms.
play the field (informal) to have sexual relationships with a lot of different people
verb
CANDIDATE/TEAM
1 [VN] to provide a candidate, speaker, team, etc. to represent you in an election, a competition, etc.: Each of the main parties fielded more than 300 candidates. England fielded a young side in the World Cup.
IN CRICKET/BASEBALL
2 [V] to be the person or the team that catches the ball and throws it back after sb has hit it: He won the toss and chose to field first.
3 [VN] to catch the ball and throw it back: He fielded the ball expertly.
QUESTIONS
4 [VN] to receive and deal with questions or comments: The BBC had to field more than 300 phone calls after last night's programme.

fieldcraft NAmE noun [U] the activity of living or doing things outdoors, especially when this involves special skills or experience

field day noun (NAmE) = SPORTS DAY
have a field day (NAmE, BrE) to be given the opportunity to do sth that you enjoy, especially sth that other people do not approve of: The tabloid press had a field day with the latest government scandal. Shoplifters appear to have had a field day at the January sales.

fielder noun (BrE also fieldsman) (in CRICKET and BASEBALL) a member of the team that is trying to catch the ball rather than hit it

field event noun [usually pl.] a sport done by ATHLETES that is not a race, for example jumping or throwing the JAVELINcompare TRACK EVENT

field glasses noun [pl.] = BINOCULARS

field goal noun
1 (in AMERICAN FOOTBALL or RUGBY) a goal scored by kicking the ball over the bar of the goal
2 (in BASKETBALL) a goal scored by throwing the ball through the net during normal play

field hand noun (NAmE) = FARMHAND

field hockey noun [U] (NAmE) = HOCKEY

field hospital noun a temporary hospital near a BATTLEFIELD

field house noun (NAmE)
1 a building at a sports field where people can change their clothes, have a shower, etc.
2 a building where sports events are held, with seats for people to watch

fielding noun [U] (in CRICKET and BASEBALL) the activity of catching and returning the ball: There was some excellent fielding which had the batsmen constantly under pressure.

field marshal noun (abbr. FM) an officer of the highest rank in the British army: Field Marshal Montgomery

field officer noun
1 a person in a company or other organization whose job involves practical work in a particular area or region
2 an officer of high rank in the army (= a MAJOR, LIEUTENANT COLONEL or COLONEL)

field of fire noun (pl. fields of fire) the area that you can hit when shooting from a particular position

field of vision (also field of view or technical visual field) noun (pl. fields of vision/view, visual fields) the total amount of space that you can see from a particular point without moving your head: He saw Ann look away from him and leave his field of vision. With increased power, the field of vision of the binoculars becomes smaller.

fieldsman noun (pl. -men ) (BrE) = FIELDER

field sports noun [pl.] (BrE) outdoor sports such as hunting, fishing and shooting

field-test verb [VN] to test sth, such as a piece of equipment, in the place where it will be used
field test noun: Laboratory and field tests have been conducted.

field trip noun a journey made by a group of people, often students, to study sth in its natural environment: We went on a geology field trip. Delegates at the conference were taken on field trips to see the devastation.

fieldwork NAmE noun [U] research or study that is done in the real world rather than in a library or laboratory: Most of the fieldwork was carried out in Italy.
fieldworker noun

fiend noun
1 a very cruel or unpleasant person
2 (informal) (used after another noun) a person who is very interested in the thing mentioned FANATIC: a crossword fiend
3 an evil spirit

fiendish adj. [usually before noun]
1 cruel and unpleasant: a fiendish act shrieks of fiendish laughter
2 (informal) extremely clever and complicated, often in an unpleasant way: a puzzle of fiendish complexity a fiendish plan
3 (informal) extremely difficult: a fiendish problem

fiendishly adv. (informal) very; extremely: fiendishly clever/complicated

fierce NAmE adj. (fiercer, fiercest)
1 (especially of people or animals) angry and aggressive in a way that is frightening: a fierce dog Two fierce eyes glared at them. He suddenly looked fierce. She spoke in a fierce whisper. The more she struggled, the fiercer he became.
2 (especially of actions or emotions) showing strong feelings or a lot of activity, often in a way that is violent: fierce loyalty the scene of fierce fighting He launched a fierce attack on the Democrats. Competition from abroad became fiercer in the 1990s. His wife is his fiercest critic. The bill was passed despite fierce opposition.
3 (of weather conditions or temperatures) very strong in a way that could cause damage: fierce wind the fierce heat of the flames
fiercely adv.: 'Let go of me,' she said fiercely. fiercely competitive They remain fiercely opposed to outside intervention. The aircraft was burning fiercely. fierceness noun [U]
something fierce (NAmE, informal) very much; more than usual: I sure do miss you something fierce!

fiery adj. [usually before noun]
1 looking like fire; consisting of fire: fiery red hair The sun was now sinking, a fiery ball of light in the west.
2 quickly or easily becoming angry: She has a fiery temper. a fiery young man
3 showing strong emotions, especially anger PASSIONATE: a fiery look a fiery and heated meeting He delivered the sermon with fiery passion.
4 (of food or drink) causing a part of your body to feel as if it is burning: a fiery Mexican dish The fiery liquor burnt its way down her throat.

fiesta noun (from Spanish) a public event when people celebrate and are entertained with music and dancing, usually connected with a religious festival in countries where the people speak Spanish

FIFA abbr. (from French) Fédération Internationale de Football Association (the international organization that controls the sport of football (SOCCER))

fife noun a musical instrument like a small FLUTE that plays high notes and is used with drums in military music

fifteen
1 number 15
2 noun a team of RUGBY UNION players: He's in the first fifteen.
fifteenth ordinal number, noun There are examples of how to use ordinal numbers at the entry for fifth.

fifth ordinal number, noun
ordinal number 5th: Today is the fifth (of May). the fifth century BC It's her fifth birthday. My office is on the fifth floor. It's the fifth time that I've been to America. Her mother had just given birth to another child, her fifth. the world's fifth-largest oil exporter He finished fifth in the race. Edward V (= Edward the fifth)
noun each of five equal parts of sth: She cut the cake into fifths. He gave her a fifth of the total amount.
take/plead the fifth (US) to make use of the right to refuse to answer questions in court about a crime, because you may give information which will make it seem that you are guilty
From the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees this right.

fifth column noun a group of people working secretly to help the enemy of the country or organization they are in
fifth columnist noun

fifth generation adj. (computing) relating to a type of computer that is starting to be developed which uses ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

fifthly adv. used to introduce the fifth of a list of points you want to make in a speech or piece of writing: Fifthly, we need to consider the effect on the local population.

fifty
1 number 50
2 noun the fifties [pl.] numbers, years or temperatures from 50 to 59: She was born in the fifties.
fiftieth ordinal number, noun There are examples of how to use ordinal numbers at the entry for fifth.
in your fifties between the ages of 50 and 59: He retired in his fifties.

fifty-fifty adj., adv. (informal) divided equally between two people, groups or possibilities: Costs are to be shared on a fifty-fifty basis between the government and local businesses. She has a fifty-fifty chance of winning (= an equal chance of winning or losing). Let's split this fifty-fifty.

fifty pence (also fifty pence piece, 50p ) noun a British coin worth 50 pence: Put a fifty pence in the machine. Have you got a 50p?

fig noun a soft sweet fruit that is full of small seeds and often eaten dried: a fig tree
not care/give a fig (for sb/sth) (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) not to care at all about sth; to think that sth is not important

fig. abbr.
1 (in writing) FIGURE: See fig. 3.
2 (in writing) FIGURATIVE(LY)

fight verb, noun
verb (fought, fought )
IN WAR/BATTLE
1 ~ (against sb) to take part in a war or battle against an enemy: [V] soldiers trained to fight He fought in Vietnam. My grandfather fought against the Fascists in Spain. [VN] to fight a war/battle They gathered soldiers to fight the invading army.
STRUGGLE/HIT
2 to struggle physically with sb: [V] My little brothers are always fighting. She'll fight like a tiger to protect her children. [also VN]
IN CONTEST
3 ~ sb/sth (for sth) to take part in a contest against sb: [VN] to fight an election/a campaign [V] She's fighting for a place in the national team.
OPPOSE
4 to try hard to stop, deal with or oppose sth bad: [VN] to fight racism/corruption/poverty, etc. Workers are fighting the decision to close the factory. The fire crews had problems fighting the blaze. [V] We will fight for as long as it takes.
TRY TO GET/DO STH
5 ~ (for sth) to try very hard to get sth or to achieve sth: [V] He's still fighting for compensation after the accident. [VN] She gradually fought her way to the top of the company. [V to inf] Doctors fought for more than six hours to save his life. note at CAMPAIGN
ARGUE
6 [V] ~ (with sb) (about/over sth) to have an argument with sb about sth: It's a trivial matter and not worth fighting about. I remember lying in bed listening to my parents fighting.
IN BOXING
7 to take part in a BOXING match: [V] Doctors fear he may never fight again. [also VN]
LAW
8 [VN] ~ sb (for sth) to try to get what you want in court: He fought his wife for custody of the children. I'm determined to fight the case.

fighting noun [U]: Fighting broke out in three districts of the city last night. outbreaks of street fighting prize fighting (= fighting in BOXING matches for money)
fight your/sb'scorner (BrE) to defend your/sb's position against other people
fight fire with fire to use similar methods in a fight or an argument to those your opponent is using
fight for (your) life to make a great effort to stay alive, especially when you are badly injured or seriously ill: A young cyclist is fighting for his life after the accident.
a fighting chance a small chance of being successful if a great effort is made: We still have a fighting chance of beating them and winning the Cup. If you win this round then you still have a fighting chance.
fighting fit extremely fit or healthy
fighting spirit a feeling that you are ready to fight very hard for sth or to try sth difficult
fighting talk comments or remarks that show that you are ready to fight very hard for sth: What we want from the management is fighting talk.
fight a losing battle to try to do sth that you will probably never succeed in doing: I'm fighting a losing battle against the mess in this house!
fight shy of sth/of doing sth to be unwilling to accept sth or do sth, and to try to avoid it: Successive governments have fought shy of such measures.
fight to the death/finish to fight until one of the two people or groups is dead, or until one person or group defeats the other
fight tooth and nail to fight in a very determined way for what you want: The residents are fighting tooth and nail to stop the new development.
fight your own battles to be able to win an argument or get what you want without anyone's help: I wouldn't get involvedhe's old enough to fight his own battles.more at LIVE^1
fight back (against sb/sth) to resist strongly or attack sb who has attacked you: Don't let them bully you. Fight back! It is time to fight back against street crime.
fight sthback/down to try hard not to do or show sth, especially not to show your feelings: I was fighting back the tears. He fought down his disgust.
fight sb/sthoff to resist sb/sth by fighting against them/it: The jeweller was stabbed as he tried to fight the robbers off.
fight out sth| fight it out to fight or argue until an argument has been settled: The conflict is still being fought out. They hadn't reached any agreement so we left them to fight it out.
noun
STRUGGLE
1 [C] ~ (with sb/sth)| ~ (between A and B) a struggle against sb/sth using physical force: He got into a fight with a man in the bar. I had a fight with the ticket machine, which was being temperamental. a street/gang fight A fight broke out between rival groups of fans. a world title fight (= fighting as a sport)
TRYING TO GET/DO STH
2 [sing.] ~ (against/for sth)| ~ (to do sth) the work of trying to destroy, prevent or achieve sth: the fight against crime a fight for survival Workers won their fight to stop compulsory redundancies.
COMPETITION
3 [sing.] a competition or an act of competing, especially in a sport: The team put up a good fight (= they played well) but were finally beaten. She now has a fight on her hands (= will have to play very well) to make it through to the next round. note at CAMPAIGN
ARGUMENT
4 [C] ~ (with sb)| ~ (over/about sth) (especially NAmE) an argument about sth: Did you have a fight with him? We had a fight over money.
BATTLE/WAR
5 [C] a battle, especially for a particular place or position: In the fight for Lemburg, the Austrians were defeated.
DESIRE TO FIGHT
6 [U] the desire or ability to keep fighting for sth: In spite of many defeats, they still had plenty of fight left in them. Losing their leader took all the fight out of them.
a fight to the finish a sports competition, election, etc. between sides that are so equal in ability that they continue fighting very hard until the end: Six teams are bitter rivals in what will be a fight to the finish.more at PICK v., SPOIL v.

SYNONYMS

fight

clash brawl struggle scuffle tussle

These are all words for a situation in which people try to defeat each other using physical force.

fight a situation in which two or more people try to defeat each other using physical force: He got into a fight with a man in the bar.

clash (journalism) a short fight between two groups of people: Clashes broke out between police and demonstrators.

brawl a noisy and violent fight involving a group of people, usually in a public place: a drunken brawl in a bar

struggle a fight between two people or groups of people, especially when one of them is trying to escape, or to get sth from the other: There were no signs of a struggle at the murder scene.

scuffle a short and not very violent fight or struggle: He was involved in a scuffle with a photographer.

tussle a short struggle, fight or argument, especially in order to get sth: He was injured during a tussle for the ball.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

in a fight/brawl/struggle/scuffle/tussle

a fight/clash/brawl/struggle/scuffle/tussle over sth

to be in/get into/be involved in a fight/clash/brawl/struggle/scuffle/tussle

to start a fight/brawl/scuffle

a fight/clash/brawl/struggle/scuffle/tussle breaks out

a fight/clash/brawl/struggle/scuffle takes place/starts

a violent fight/clash/brawl/struggle/scuffle/tussle

a street fight/brawl

fightback noun [usually sing.] (BrE) an effort by a person, group or team to get back to a strong position that they have lost: England mounted a spirited fightback in the second half.

fighter noun
1 (also fighter plane) a fast military plane designed to attack other aircraft: a jet fighter a fighter pilot fighter bases
2 a person who fightssee also FIREFIGHTER, FREEDOM FIGHTER, PRIZEFIGHTER
3 (approving) a person who does not give up hope or admit that they are defeated

fighter-bomber noun a military plane that can fight other planes in the air and also drop bombs

fig leaf noun
1 a leaf of a FIG tree, traditionally used for covering the sex organs of naked bodies in paintings and on statues
2 a thing that is used to hide an embarrassing fact or situation

figment noun
a figment of sb's imagination something that sb has imagined and that does not really exist: Are you telling me that these symptoms are just a figment of my imagination?

figurative NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 (of language, words, phrases, etc.) used in a way that is different from the usual meaning, in order to create a particular mental picture. For example, 'He exploded with rage' shows a figurative use of the verb 'explode'.compare LITERAL, METAPHORICAL
2 (of paintings, art, etc.) showing people, animals and objects as they really look: a figurative artistcompare ABSTRACT
figuratively adv.: She is, figuratively speaking, holding a gun to his head.

figure NAmE noun, verb
noun
NUMBERS
1 [C, often pl.] a number representing a particular amount, especially one given in official information: the latest trade/sales/unemployment, etc. figures Viewing figures for the series have dropped dramatically. Figures for April show a slight improvement on previous months By 2004, this figure had risen to 14 million. The final figure looks like being much higher than predicted. Experts put the real figure at closer to 75%.
2 [C] a symbol rather than a word representing one of the numbers between 0 and 9: Write the figure '7' on the board. a six-figure salary (= over 100 000 pounds or dollars) His salary is now in six figures.see also DOUBLE FIGURES, SINGLE FIGURES
3 figures [pl.] (informal) the area of mathematics that deals with adding, multiplying, etc. numbers ARITHMETIC: Are you any good at figures? I'm afraid I don't have a head for figures (= I am not good at adding, etc.).
PERSON
4 [C] a person of the type mentioned: a leading figure in the music industry a political figure a figure of authority When she last saw him, he was a sad figureold and tired. a relatively unknown figure the world of fashion one of the most popular figures in athleticssee also FATHER FIGURE, MOTHER FIGURE
5 [C] the shape of a person seen from a distance or not clearly: a tall figure in black I saw a shadowy figure approaching.
SHAPE OF BODY
6 [C] the shape of the human body, especially a woman's body that is attractive: She's always had a good figure. I'm watching my figure (= trying not to get fat).
IN PAINTING/STORY
7 [C] a person or an animal in a drawing, painting, etc., or in a story: The central figure in the painting is the artist's daughter.
STATUE
8 [C] a statue of a person or an animal: a bronze figure of a horse
PICTURE/DIAGRAM
9 [C] (abbr. fig.) a picture, diagram, etc. in a book, that is referred to by a number: The results are illustrated in figure 3 opposite.
GEOMETRY
10 [C] a particular shape formed by lines or surfaces: a five-sided figure a solid figure
MOVEMENT ON ICE
11 [C] a pattern or series of movements performed on ice: The skater executed a perfect set of figures.
be/become a figure of fun to be/become sb that other people laugh at
cut a ... figure (of a person) to have a particular appearance: He cut a striking figure in his white dinner jacket.
put a figure on sth to say the exact price or number of sth: It's impossible to put a figure on the number of homeless people in London.more at FACT
verb
BE IMPORTANT
1 [V] ~ (as sth) (in/among sth) to be part of a process, situation, etc. especially an important part FEATURE: The question of the peace settlement is likely to figure prominently in the talks. My feelings about the matter didn't seem to figure at all. It did not figure high on her list of priorities. Do I still figure in your plans?
THINK/DECIDE
2 (informal) to think or decide that sth will happen or is true: [V (that)] I figured (that) if I took the night train, I could be in Scotland by morning. We figured the sensible thing to do was to wait. [VN] That's what I figured. [also V wh-]
CALCULATE
3 [VN] (NAmE) to calculate an amount or the cost of sth: We figured the attendance at 150 000.
go figure (NAmE, informal) used to say that you do not understand the reason for sth, or that you do not want to give an explanation for sth because you think it is obvious: People are more aware of the risks of smoking nowadays, but more young women are smoking than ever. Go figure!
it/that figures used to say that sth was expected or seems logical: 'John called in sick.' 'That figures, he wasn't feeling well yesterday.' (disapproving) 'She was late again.' 'Yes, that figures.'
figure on sth| figure on (sb/sth) doing sth to plan sth or to do sth; to expect sth (to happen) PLAN ON: I hadn't figured on getting home so late.
figure sb/sthout
1 to think about sb/sth until you understand them/it WORK OUT: We couldn't figure her out. [+ wh-] I can't figure out how to do this.
2 to calculate an amount or the cost of sth WORK OUT: [+ wh-] Have you figured out how much the trip will cost?

figured NAmE adj. [only before noun] (technical) decorated with a small pattern: figured pottery

figured bass noun (music) a system used in old music which uses numbers to show a keyboard player which HARMONIES to play

figurehead NAmE noun
1 a person who is in a high position in a country or an organization but who has no real power or authority: The president of the club is not just a figurehead.
2 a large wooden statue, usually representing a woman, that used to be fixed to the front end of a ship

figure of eight (BrE) (NAmE figure eight) noun (pl. figures of eight, figure eights) a pattern or movement that looks like the shape of the number 8: The kite swept back and forth in a figure of eight.

figure of speech noun (pl. figures of speech) a word or phrase used in a different way from its usual meaning in order to create a particular mental picture or effect

figure-skating noun [U] a type of ICE SKATING in which you cut patterns in the ice and do jumps and spinscompare SPEED SKATING

figurine NAmE noun a small statue of a person or an animal used as a decorative object

filament noun
1 a thin wire in a LIGHT BULB that produces light when electricity is passed through it
2 (especially technical) a long thin piece of sth that looks like a thread: glass/metal filaments The male fish develops extended filaments on the dorsal fin.

filbert NAmE noun (especially NAmE) = HAZELNUT

filch verb [VN] (informal) to steal sth, especially sth small or not very valuable PINCH

file noun, verb
noun
1 a box or folded piece of card for keeping loose papers together and in order: a box file A stack of files awaited me on my desk.
2 a collection of information stored together in a computer, under a particular name: to access/copy/create/delete/download/save a file Every file on the same disk must have a different name.see also PDF
3 ~ (on sb) a file and the information it contains, for example about a particular person or subject: secret police files to have/open/keep a confidential file on sb Your application will be kept on file (= in a file, to be used later). Police have reopened the file (= have started collecting information again) on the missing girl.
4 a metal tool with a rough surface for cutting or shaping hard substances or for making them smoothsee also NAIL FILE
5 a line of people or things, one behind the other: They set off in file behind the teacher.
(in) single file (also old-fashioned (in) Indian file) (in) one line, one behind the other: They made their way in single file along the cliff path.
verb
1 [VN] ~ sth (away) to put and keep documents, etc. in a particular place and in a particular order so that you can find them easily; to put a document into a file: The forms should be filed alphabetically. I filed the letters away in a drawer. Please file it in my 'Research' file.
2 ~ (for sth) (law) to present sth so that it can be officially recorded and dealt with: [V] to file for divorce [VN] to file a claim/complaint/petition/lawsuit [also V to inf]
3 [VN] (of a journalist) to send a report or a story to your employer
4 [V + adv. / prep.] to walk in a line of people, one after the other, in a particular direction: The doors of the museum opened and the visitors began to file in.
5 [VN] ~ sth (away/down, etc.) to cut or shape sth or make sth smooth using a file: to file your nails

file cabinet noun (NAmE) = FILING CABINET

file clerk noun (NAmE) = FILING CLERK

filename noun (computing) a name given to a computer file in order to identify it

filet noun (NAmE) = FILLET

filial adj. [usually before noun] (formal) connected with the way children behave towards their parents: filial affection/duty

filibuster noun (especially NAmE) a long speech made in a parliament in order to delay a vote
filibuster verb [V]

filigree noun [U] delicate decoration made from gold or silver wire: a gold filigree earring filigree work

filing noun
1 [U] the act of putting documents, letters, etc. into a file
2 [C] (especially NAmE) something that is placed in an official record: a bankruptcy filing
3 filings [pl.] very small pieces of metal, made when a larger piece of metal is filed: iron filings

filing cabinet (BrE) (NAmE file cabinet) noun a piece of office furniture with deep drawers for storing files

filing clerk (BrE) (NAmE file clerk) noun a person whose job is to FILE letters, etc. and do general office tasks

Filipino NAmE noun, adj.
noun (pl. -os)
1 [C] a person from the Philippines
2 [U] the language of the Philippines
adj. connected with the Philippines, its people or their language

fill verb, noun
verb
MAKE FULL
1 ~ (sth) (with sth) to make sth full of sth; to become full of sth: [VN] to fill a hole with earth/a bucket with water to fill a vacuum/void Please fill this glass for me. The school is filled to capacity. Smoke filled the room. The wind filled the sails. A Disney film can always fill cinemas (= attract a lot of people to see it). [VN-ADJ] Fill a pan half full of water. [V] The room was filling quickly. Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. The sails filled with wind.
BLOCK HOLE
2 [VN] to block a hole with a substance: The crack in the wall had been filled with plaster. I need to have two teeth filled (= to have FILLINGS put in them). (figurative) The product has filled a gap in the market.
WITH FEELING
3 [VN] ~ sb (with sth) to make sb have a strong feeling: We were all filled with admiration for his achievements.
WITH SMELL/SOUND/LIGHT
4 [VN] ~ sth (with sth) if a smell, sound or light fills a place, it is very strong, loud or bright and easy to notice
-FILLED
5 (in adjectives) full of the thing mentioned: a smoke-filled room a fun-filled day
A NEED
6 [VN] to stop people from continuing to want or need sth: More nurseries will be built to fill the need for high-quality child care.
JOB
7 [VN] to do a job, have a role or position, etc.: He fills the post satisfactorily (= performs his duties well). The team needs someone to fill the role of manager very soon.
8 [VN] to appoint sb to a job: The vacancy has already been filled.
TIME
9 [VN] ~ sth (up) to use up a particular period of time doing sth: How do you fill your day now that you've retired?
WITH FOOD
10 [VN] ~ sb/yourself (up) (with sth) (informal) to make sb/yourself feel unable to eat any more: The kids filled themselves with snacks.
AN ORDER
11 [VN] if sb fills an order or a PRESCRIPTION, they give the customer what they have asked for
see also UNFILLED
fill sb's shoes/boots to do sb's job in an acceptable way when they are not theremore at BILL n.
fill in (for sb) to do sb's job for a short time while they are not there
fill sthin
1 (BrE) to complete a form, etc. by writing information on it: to fill in an application form To order, fill in the coupon on p 54.
2 to fill sth completely: The hole has been filled in.
3 to spend time doing sth while waiting for sth more important: He filled in the rest of the day watching television.
4 to complete a drawing, etc. by covering the space inside the outline with colour
fill sb in (on sth) to tell sb about sth that has happened
fill out to become larger, rounder or fatter
fill sthout = FILL STH IN (1)
fill up (with sth)| fill sthup (with sth) to become completely full; to make sth completely full: The ditches had filled up with mud. to fill up the tank with oil
noun [sing.]
1 your ~ (of sth/sb) as much of sth/sb as you are willing to accept: I've had my fill of entertaining for one week.
2 your ~ (of food/drink) as much as you can eat/drink: All we had was what was left after the guests had eaten their fill. The pigs had had their fill of the leftovers.

filler noun
1 [U, C] a substance used to fill holes or cracks, especially in walls before painting them
2 [C] (informal) something that is not important but is used to complete sth else because nothing better is available: The song was originally a filler on their first album.see also STOCKING FILLER

filler cap noun a lid for covering the end of the pipe through which petrol/gas is put into a vehicle

fillet NAmE noun, verb
noun (NAmE also filet) [C, U] a piece of meat or fish that has no bones in it: plaice fillets a fillet of cod fillet steak
verb [VN] to remove the bones from a piece of fish or meat; to cut fish or meat into fillets

filling noun, adj.
noun
1 [C] a small amount of metal or other material used to fill a hole in a tooth: I had to have two fillings at the dentist's today. One of my fillings came out this morning.
2 [C, U] food put inside a SANDWICH, cake, PIE, etc.: a sponge cake with cream and jam filling a wide range of sandwich fillings
3 [C, U] soft material used to fill CUSHIONS, PILLOWS, etc.
adj. (of food) making your stomach feel full: This cake is very filling. The best way to start the day is with a big filling breakfast.

filling station noun = PETROL STATION

fillip noun [sing.] a ~ (to/for sth) (formal) a thing or person that causes sth to improve suddenly BOOST: A drop in interest rates gave a welcome fillip to the housing market.

fill light noun (technical) (in photography) extra light, which makes the shadows less dark

fill-up noun an occasion when a car is completely filled up with petrol/gas

filly noun (pl. -ies) a young female horsecompare COLT, MARE

film noun, verb
noun
MOVING PICTURES
1 [C] (especially BrE) (NAmE usually movie) a series of moving pictures recorded with sound that tells a story, shown on television or at the cinema/movie theater: Let's go to the cinemathere's a good film on this week. Let's stay in and watch a film. a horror/documentary/feature film a silent film (= one recorded without sound) an international film festival The film was shot on location in France. a film crew/critic/director/producer the film version of the novel to make/shoot a film
2 [U] (especially BrE) (NAmE usually the movies [pl.]) (BrE also the cinema) the art or business of making films/movies: to study film and photography the minister responsible for film and the theatre the film industrycompare CINEMA
3 [U] moving pictures of real events, shown for example on television FOOTAGE: television news film of the riots The accident was captured/caught on film.
IN CAMERAS
4 [U, C] thin plastic that is sensitive to light, used for taking photographs and making films/movies; a roll of this plastic, used in cameras: a roll of film a 35mm film She put a new film in her camera. to have a film developed
THIN LAYER
5 [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sth) a thin layer of sth, usually on the surface of sth else COAT, COATING, LAYER: Everything was covered in a film of dust.
see also CLING FILM
verb to make a film/movie of a story or a real event: [V] They are filming in Moscow right now. [VN] It took them six weeks to film the documentary. The show was filmed on location in New York. [VN -ing] Two young boys were filmed stealing CDs on the security video.
filming noun [U]: Filming was delayed because of bad weather.

film-goer (especially BrE) (NAmE usually moviegoer) (BrE also cinema-goer) noun a person who goes to the cinema/movies, especially when they do it regularly

filmic adj. [only before noun] (formal) connected with films/movies

film-maker noun a person who makes films/movies
film-making noun [U]

film noir noun (from French)
1 [U] a style of making films/movies in which there are strong feelings of fear or evil; films/movies made in this style
2 [C] (pl. films noirs ) a film made in this style

filmography NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a list of films/movies made by a particular actor or director, or a list of films/movies that deal with a particular subject

film star (especially BrE) (NAmE usually movie star) noun a male or female actor who is famous for being in films/movies

filmstrip noun a series of images on a film, through which light is shone to show them on a screen

filmy adj. [usually before noun] thin and almost transparent SHEER: a filmy cotton blouse

FilofaxTM NAmE noun a small book with pages that can be added or removed easily, used for writing notes, addresses, etc. insee also PERSONAL ORGANIZER

filo pastry NAmE (also filo) noun [U] a type of thin PASTRY, used in layers

filter noun, verb
noun
1 a device containing paper, sand, chemicals, etc. that a liquid or gas is passed through in order to remove any materials that are not wanted: an air/oil filter a coffee/water filter filter paper for the coffee machine He smokes cigarettes without filters.
2 a device that allows only particular types of light or sound to pass through it: The camera has an anti-glare filter.
3 (computing) a program that stops certain types of electronic information, email, etc. being sent to a computer
4 (BrE) a light on a set of TRAFFIC LIGHTS showing that traffic can turn left or right while traffic that wants to go straight ahead must wait: a filter lane
verb
1 [VN] to pass liquid, light, etc. through a special device, especially to remove sth that is not wanted: All drinking water must be filtered. Use a sun block that filters UVA effectively. (figurative) My secretary is very good at filtering my calls (= making sure that calls that I do not want do not get through).see also FILTRATION
2 [VN] to use a special program to check the content of emails or websites before they are sent to your computer
3 [V + adv. / prep.] (of people) to move slowly in a particular direction: The doors opened and people started filtering through.
4 [V + adv. / prep.] (of information, news, etc.) to slowly become known: More details about the crash are filtering through.
5 [V + adv. / prep.] (of light or sound) to come into a place slowly or in small amounts: Sunlight filtered in through the curtains.
6 [V] (BrE) (of traffic at traffic lights) to turn left at traffic lights while other vehicles wanting to go straight ahead or turn right must wait
filter sthout
1 to remove sth that you do not want from a liquid, light, etc. by using a special device or substance: to filter out dust particles/light/impurities
2 to remove sb/sth that you do not want from a large number of people or things using a special system, device, etc.: The test is used to filter out candidates who may be unsuitable. The software filters out Internet sites whose content is not suitable for children.

filter tip noun a filter at the end of a cigarette that removes some of the harmful substances from the smoke; a cigarette that has this filter

filth noun [U]
1 any very dirty and unpleasant substance: The floor was covered in grease and filth.
2 words, magazines, etc. that are connected with sex and that are considered very rude and offensive: How can you read such filth?
3 the filth [U] (BrE, slang) an offensive word for the police

filthy adj., adv.
adj. (filthier, filthiest)
1 very dirty and unpleasant: filthy rags/streets It's filthy in here! note at DIRTY
2 very rude and offensive and usually connected with sex: filthy language/words He's got a filthy mind (= is always thinking about sex).
3 (informal) showing anger: He was in a filthy mood. She has a filthy temper. Ann gave him a filthy look.
4 (BrE, informal) (of the weather) cold and wet: Isn't it a filthy day?
filthily adv. filthiness noun [U]
adv. (informal)
1 ~ dirty extremely dirty
2 ~ rich so rich that you think the person is too rich and you find it offensive

filtrate noun (chemistry) a liquid that has passed through a FILTER

filtration noun [U] (chemistry) the process of FILTERING a liquid or gas: a filtration system

fin noun
1 a thin flat part that sticks out from the body of a fish, used for swimming and keeping balance
2 a thin flat part that sticks out from the body of a vehicle, an aircraft, etc., used for improving its balance and movement: tail fins

finagle verb (informal, especially NAmE) to behave dishonestly or to obtain sth dishonestly: [VN] He finagled some tickets for tonight's big game. [also V]

final adj., noun
adj.
1 [only before noun] being or happening at the end of a series of events, actions, statements, etc.: his final act as party leader The referee blew the final whistle. The project is in its final stages. They find each other in the final chapter of the book. I'd like to return to the final point you made.
2 [only before noun] being the result of a particular process: the final product No one could have predicted the final outcome.
3 that cannot be argued with or changed: The judge's decision is final. Who has the final say around here? I'll give you $500 for it, and that's my final offer! I'm not coming, and that's final! (= I will not change my mind) see ANALYSIS, STRAW, WORD n.
noun
1 [C] the last of a series of games or competitions in which the winner is decided: She reached the final of the 100m hurdles. The players met in last year's final. the 2006 World Cup Finals (= the last few games in the competition) They will now go through to the final. The winner of each contest goes through to the grand final.see also QUARTER-FINAL, SEMI-FINAL
2 finals [pl.] (BrE) the last exams taken by university students at the end of their final year: to sit/take your finals
3 [C] (NAmE) an exam taken by school, university or college students at the end of a SEMESTER or QUARTER, usually in a topic that they will not study again

final clause noun (grammar) a clause that expresses purpose or intention, for example one that follows 'in order that' or 'so that'

finale NAmE noun
1 the last part of a show or a piece of music: the rousing finale of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony The festival ended with a grand finale in Hyde Park.
2 ~ (to sth) (after an adjective) an ending to sth of the type mentioned: a fitting finale to the day's events

finalist noun a person who takes part in the final of a game or competition: an Olympic finalist last year's beaten finalist

finality noun [U] the quality of being final and impossible to change: the finality of death There was a note of finality in his voice. 'No', she said with finality.

finalize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] to complete the last part of a plan, trip, project, etc.: to finalize your plans/arrangements They met to finalize the terms of the treaty.
finalization, -isationnoun [U]

finally adv.
1 after a long time, especially when there has been some difficulty or delay EVENTUALLY: The performance finally started half an hour late. The law was finally passed in May 1999. I finally managed to get her attention. Are you finally going to tell me why I'm here? When they finally arrived it was well past midnight.
2 used to introduce the last in a list of things LASTLY: And finally, I would like to thank you all for coming here today. Finally, stir in the fruit and walnuts.
3 in a way that ends all discussion about sth: The matter was not finally settled until later.

finance noun, verb
noun
1 [U] ~ (for sth) money used to run a business, an activity or a project: Finance for education comes from taxpayers. The project will only go ahead if they can raise the necessary finance.
2 [U] the activity of managing money, especially by a government or commercial organization: the Minister of Finance the finance director/department a diploma in banking and finance the world of high finance (= finance involving large companies or countries)
3 finances [pl.] the money available to a person, an organization or a country; the way this money is managed: government/public/personal finances It's about time you sorted out your finances. Moving house put a severe strain on our finances. The firm's finances are basically sound.
verb [VN] to provide money for a project FUND: The building project will be financed by the government. He took a job to finance his stay in Germany.

finance company (BrE also finance house) noun a company that lends money to people or businesses

financial adj. [usually before noun]
1 connected with money and finance: financial services to give financial advice to be in financial difficulties an independent financial adviser Tokyo and New York are major financial centres. note at ECONOMIC
2 (AustralE, NZE, informal) having money
financially adv.: She is still financially dependent on her parents. Financially, I'm much better off than before. Such projects are not financially viable without government funding.

financial aid noun [U] (NAmE) money that is given or lent to students at a university or college who cannot pay the full cost of their education: to apply for financial aid

the Financial Times index noun = FTSE INDEX

financial year (BrE) (BrE also tax year) (NAmE fiscal year) noun [usually sing.] a period of twelve months over which the accounts and taxes of a company or a person are calculated: the current financial year

financier NAmE noun a person who lends large amounts of money to businesses

finch noun (often in compounds) a small bird with a short beak. There are several types of finch.see also BULLFINCH, CHAFFINCH, GOLDFINCH

find verb, noun
verb (found, found )
BY CHANCE
1 to discover sb/sth unexpectedly or by chance: [VN] Look what I've found! We've found a great new restaurant near the office. [VN-ADJ] A whale was found washed up on the shore.
BY SEARCHING
2 ~ sth (for sb)| ~ (sb) sth to get back sth/sb that was lost after searching for it/them: [VN, VNN] Can you find my bag for me? Can you find me my bag? [VN] I wanted to talk to him but he was nowhere to be found. [VN-ADJ] The child was found safe and well.
BY STUDYING/THINKING
3 to discover sth/sb by searching, studying or thinking carefully: [VN] scientists trying to find a cure for cancer I managed to find a solution to the problem. I'm having trouble finding anything new to say on this subject. Have they found anyone to replace her yet? [VN, VNN] Can you find a hotel for me? Can you find me a hotel?
BY EXPERIENCE/TESTING
4 to discover that sth is true after you have tried it, tested it or experienced it: [V (that)] I find (that) it pays to be honest. The report found that 30% of the firms studied had failed within a year. [VN-ADJ] We found the beds very comfortable. [VN to inf, VN that] Her blood was found to contain poison. It was found that her blood contained poison. [VN to inf] They found him to be charming. [also VN-N]
HAVE OPINION/FEELING
5 to have a particular feeling or opinion about sth: [VN-ADJ] You may find your illness hard to accept. You may find it hard to accept your illness. I find it amazing that they're still together. [VN-N] She finds it a strain to meet new people.
HAVE/MAKE AVAILABLE
6 [VN] to have sth available so that you can use it: I keep meaning to write, but never seem to find (the) time. How are we going to find £5 000 for a car?
IN UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS
7 to discover sb/sth/yourself doing sth or in a particular situation, especially when this is unexpected: [VN] She woke up and found herself in a hospital bed. [VN-ADJ] We came home and found him asleep on the sofa. [VN -ing] I suddenly found myself running down the street. [V (that)] I was disappointed to find that they had left already.
REACH
8 [VN] (of things) to arrive at sth naturally; to reach sth: Water will always find its own level. Most of the money finds its way to the people who need it. The criticism found its mark (= had the effect intended).
EXIST/GROW
9 [VN] used to say that sth exists, grows, etc. somewhere: These flowers are found only in Africa. You'll find this style of architecture all over the town.
IN COURT
10 (formal) to make a particular decision in a court case: [VN] How do you find the accused? [VN-ADJ] The jury found him guilty. [V] The court found in her favour.
all found (old-fashioned, BrE) with free food and accommodation in addition to your wages
find fault (with sb/sth) to look for and discover mistakes in sb/sth; to complain about sb/sth
find your feet to become able to act independently and with confidence: I only recently joined the firm so I'm still finding my feet.
find it in your heart/yourself to do sth (literary) to be able or willing to do sth: Can you find it in your heart to forgive her? He couldn't find it in himself to trust anyone again.
find your voice/tongue to be able to speak or express your opinion
find your way (to ... ) to discover the right route (to a place): I hope you can find your way home.
find your/its way (to/into ... ) to come to a place or a situation by chance or without intending to: He eventually found his way into acting.
take sb as you find them to accept sb as they are without expecting them to behave in a special way or have special qualitiesmore at BEARING, MATCH n., NOWHERE
find for/against sb [no passive] (law) to make a decision in favour of/against sb in a court case: The jury found for the defendant.
find out (about sth/sb)| find out sth (about sth/sb) to get some information about sth/sb by asking, reading, etc.: She'd been seeing the boy for a while, but didn't want her parents to find out. I haven't found anything out about him yet. [+ wh-] Can you find out what time the meeting starts? [+ that] We found out later that we had been at the same school.
find sb out to discover that sb has done sth wrong: He had been cheating the taxman but it was years before he was found out.
noun a thing or person that has been found, especially one that is interesting, valuable or useful: an important archaeological find Our new babysitter is a real find.

finder noun a person who finds sth: If the money remains unclaimed for a certain time it is returned to the finder.see also VIEWFINDER
finders keepers (saying) (often used by children) anyone who finds sth has a right to keep it

fin de siècle adj. (from French) typical of the end of the 19th century, especially of its art, literature and attitudes

finding noun
1 [usually pl.] information that is discovered as the result of research into sth: The findings of the commission will be published today. These findings suggest that there is no direct link between unemployment and crime.
2 (law) a decision made by the judge or JURY in a court case

fine adj., adv., noun, verb
adj. (finer, finest)
VERY GOOD
1 [usually before noun] of high quality; good: a very fine performance fine clothes/wines/workmanship a particularly fine example of Saxon architecture the finest collection of paintings in Europe She's a fine actor and an even finer dancer. Jim has made a fine job of the garden. people who enjoy the finer things in life (= for example art, good food, etc.) He tried to appeal to their finer feelings (= feelings of duty, love, etc.). It was his finest hour (= most successful period) as manager of the England team.
VERY WELL
2 (of a person) in good health: 'How are you?' 'Fine, thanks.' I was feeling fine when I got up this morning. 'How's your throat?' 'It's fine as long as I don't cough.' note at WELL
ACCEPTABLE/GOOD ENOUGH
3 (also used as an exclamation) used to tell sb that an action, a suggestion or a decision is acceptable: 'I'll leave this here, OK?' 'Fine.' 'Bob wants to know if he can come too.' 'That's fine by me.'
4 used to say you are satisfied with sth: Don't worry. Your speech was fine. You go on without me. I'll be fine. 'Can I get you another drink?' 'No, thanks. I'm fine.' (ironic) This is a fine (= terrible) mess we're in! (ironic) You're a fine one to talk! (= you are not in a position to criticize, give advice, etc.)
ATTRACTIVE
5 [usually before noun] pleasing to look at: a fine view a fine-looking woman a fine figure of a man
DELICATE
6 [usually before noun] attractive and delicate: fine bone china She has inherited her mother's fine features (= a small nose, mouth, etc.).
WEATHER
7 (especially BrE) bright and not raining: a fine day/evening I hope it stays fine for the picnic.
VERY THIN
8 very thin or narrow: fine blond hair a fine thread a brush with a fine tip
DETAIL/DISTINCTIONS
9 [usually before noun] difficult to see or describe SUBTLE: You really need a magnifying glass to appreciate all the fine detail. There's no need to make such fine distinctions. There's a fine line between love and hate (= it is easy for one to become the other). We still have to iron out the finer details.
WITH SMALL GRAINS
10 made of very small grains: fine sand Use a finer piece of sandpaper to finish.
COARSE
PERSON
11 [only before noun] that you have a lot of respect for: He was a fine man.
WORDS/SPEECHES
12 sounding important and impressive but unlikely to have any effect: His speech was full of fine words which meant nothing.
METALS
13 (technical) containing only a particular metal and no other substances that reduce the quality: fine gold
get sth down to a fine art (informal) to learn to do sth well and efficiently: I spend so much time travelling that I've got packing down to a fine art.
not to put too fine a point on it used to emphasize sth that is expressed clearly and directly, especially a criticism: Not to put too fine a point on it, I think you are lying.more at CHANCE n., FETTLE, LINE n.
adv. (informal) in a way that is acceptable or good enough: Keep going like thatyou're doing fine. Things were going fine until you showed up. That arrangement suits me fine. (BrE) An omelette will do me fine (= will be enough for me).
cut it/things fine (informal) to leave yourself just enough time to do sth: If we don't leave till after lunch we'll be cutting it very fine.
noun a sum of money that must be paid as punishment for breaking a law or rule: a parking fine Offenders will be liable to a heavy fine (= one that costs a lot of money). Under the new law, motorists face fines of up to £1 000. She has already paid over $2 000 in fines.
verb [often passive] ~ sb (sth) (for sth/for doing sth) to make sb pay money as an official punishment: [VN] She was fined for speeding. [VNN] The company was fined £20 000 for breaching safety regulations.

fine art noun [U] (also fine arts) [pl.] forms of art, especially painting, drawing and SCULPTURE, that are created to be beautiful rather than useful

Fine Gael noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] the more conservative of the two main political parties in the Republic of Ireland

finely adv.
1 into very small grains or pieces: finely chopped herbs
2 in a beautiful or impressive way: a finely furnished room
3 in a very delicate or exact way: a finely tuned engine The match was finely balanced throughout.

fineness noun [U]
1 the quality of being made of thin threads or lines very close together: fineness of detail Chinese rugs are graded according to the fineness of their knotting.
2 (technical) the quality of sth: the fineness of the gold

the fine print noun [U] (NAmE) = THE SMALL PRINT

finery noun [U] (formal) brightly coloured and elegant clothes and jewellery, especially those that are worn for a special occasion: The mayor was dressed in all his finery.

fines herbes NAmE noun [pl.] (from French) a mixture of HERBS used in cooking

finesse noun, verb
noun [U] great skill in dealing with people or situations, especially in a delicate way
verb [VN] (especially NAmE)
1 to deal with sth in a way that is clever but slightly dishonest: to finesse a deal
2 to do sth with a lot of skill or style

fine-tooth comb (also fine-toothed comb) noun a COMB in which the pointed parts are thin and very close together
go over/through sth with a fine-tooth/fine-toothed comb to examine or search sth very carefully: The police have gone over the house with a fine-tooth comb.

fine-tune verb [VN] to make very small changes to sth so that it is as good as it can possibly be
fine-tuning noun [U]: The system is set up but it needs some fine-tuning.

finger noun, verb
noun
1 one of the four long thin parts that stick out from the hand (or five, if the thumb is included): She ran her fingers through her hair. Hold the material between finger and thumb. He was about to speak but she raised a finger to her lips. The old man wagged his finger at the youths.see also BUTTERFINGERS, FOREFINGER, GREEN FINGERS, INDEX FINGER, LITTLE FINGER, MIDDLE FINGER, RING FINGER
2 -fingered (in adjectives) having the type of fingers mentioned; having or using the number of fingers mentioned: long-fingered nimble-fingered a four-fingered chordsee also LIGHT-FINGERED
3 the part of a glove that covers the finger
4 ~ (of sth) a long narrow piece of bread, cake, land, etc.: a finger of toast chocolate fingers a narrow finger of land pointing out into the seasee also FISH FINGER
the finger of suspicion if the finger of suspicion points or is pointed at sb, they are suspected of having committed a crime, being responsible for sth, etc.
get, pull, etc. your finger out (BrE, informal) used to tell sb to start doing some work or making an effort: You're going to have to pull your finger out if you want to pass this exam.
give sb the finger (NAmE, informal) to raise your middle finger in the air with the back part of your hand facing sb, done to be rude to sb or to show them that you are angry
have a finger in every pie (informal) to be involved in a lot of different activities and have influence over them, especially when other people think that this is annoying
have, etc. your fingers in the till (BrE, informal) to be stealing money from the place where you work
have/keep your finger on the pulse (of sth) to always be aware of the most recent developments in a particular situation
lay a finger on sb (usually used in negative sentences) to touch sb with the intention of hurting them physically: I never laid a finger on her. If you lay a finger on me, I'll call the police.
not put your finger on sth to not be able to identify what is wrong or different about a particular situation: There was something odd about him but I couldn't put my finger on it.
put/stick two fingers up at sb (BrE, informal) to form the shape of a V with the two fingers nearest your thumb and raise your hand in the air with the back part of it facing sb, done to be rude to them or to show them that you are angrysee also V-SIGN: She enjoys sticking two fingers up to convention.
work your fingers to the bone to work very hardmore at BURN v., COUNT v., CROSS v., LIFT v., POINT v., SLIP v., SNAP v., STICKY, THUMB n.
verb [VN]
1 to touch or feel sth with your fingers: Gary sat fingering his beard, saying nothing.
2 ~ sb (for sth)| ~ sb (as sth) (informal, especially NAmE) to accuse sb of doing sth illegal and tell the police about it: Who fingered him for the burglaries?

fingerboard NAmE noun a flat strip on the neck of a musical instrument such as a GUITAR or VIOLIN, against which the strings are pressed to play different notes

finger bowl noun a small bowl of water for washing your fingers during a meal

finger food noun [U, C] pieces of food that you can easily eat with your fingers

fingering noun [U, C] the positions in which you put your fingers when playing a musical instrument: a guitar piece with tricky fingering

fingermark NAmE noun [usually pl.] (especially BrE) a mark made by a finger, for example on a clean surface: There were red fingermarks on her cheek where he had hit her.

fingernail NAmE noun the thin hard layer that covers the outer tip of each finger

finger-painting noun [U, C] a style of painting in which you use your fingers instead of brushes; a painting made using this technique

fingerprint NAmE noun a mark made by the pattern of lines on the tip of a person's finger, often used by the police to identify criminals: His fingerprints were all over the gun. to take a suspect's fingerprints The car was examined for fingerprints.see also GENETIC FINGERPRINT
fingerprint verb: [VN] I was booked, fingerprinted and locked up for the night.

fingerprinting NAmE noun [U] the practice of recording sb's fingerprints, often used by the police to identify criminalssee also DNA FINGERPRINTING, GENETIC FINGERPRINTING

fingertip NAmE noun [usually pl.] the end of the finger that is furthest from the hand: Apply the cream gently using your fingertips.
have sth at your fingertips to have the information, knowledge, etc. that is needed in a particular situation and be able to find it easily and use it quickly: I made sure I had all the facts at my fingertips before attending the meeting.
to your fingertips (BrE) in every way: She's a perfectionist to her fingertips.

finial noun
1 (architecture) a decorative part at the top of a roof, wall, etc.
2 a decorative part that fits on the end of a curtain pole

finicky adj.
1 (disapproving) too worried about what you eat, wear, etc.; disliking many things FUSSY: a finicky eater
2 needing great care and attention to detail FIDDLY: It's a very finicky job.

finings noun [pl.] (technical) a substance used for making beer or wine clear

finish verb, noun
verb
1 to stop doing sth or making sth because it is complete: [VN] Haven't you finished your homework yet? She finished law school last year. I'll just finish the chapter then I'll come. a beautifully finished piece of furniture He put the finishing touches to his painting (= did the things that made it complete). [V -ing] Be quiet! He hasn't finished speaking. [V] I thought you'd never finish! [also V speech]
2 to come to an end; to bring sth to an end: [V] The play finished at 10.30. The symphony finishes with a flourish. [VN] A cup of coffee finished the meal perfectly.
3 [VN] ~ sth (off/up) to eat, drink or use what remains of sth: He finished off his drink with one large gulp. We might as well finish up the cake.
4 to be in a particular state or position at the end of a race or a competition: [V-ADJ] She was delighted to finish second. The dollar finished the day slightly down. [V] He finished 12 seconds outside the world record.
5 [VN] ~ sb (off) (informal) to make sb so tired or impatient that they cannot do any more: Climbing that hill really finished me off. A lecture from my parents now would just finish me.
finish sb/sthoff (informal) to destroy sb/sth, especially sb/sth that is badly injured or damaged: The hunter moved in to finish the animal off.
finish sthoff to do the last part of sth; to make sth end by doing one last thing: I need about an hour to finish off this report. They finished off the show with one of their most famous songs.
finish up ... (BrE) to be in a particular state or at a particular place after a series of events: [+ADJ] If you're not careful, you could finish up seriously ill.
finish with sb
1 (BrE) to end a relationship with sb: She finished with her boyfriend last week.
2 to stop dealing with a person: He'll regret he ever said it once I've finished with him.
finish with sth
1 to no longer need to use sth: When you've finished with the book, can I see it?
2 (BrE, informal) to stop doing sth: I've finished with gambling.
finish (up) with sth to have sth at the end: We had a five-course lunch and finished up with coffee and mints. To finish with, we'll listen to a few songs.
noun
1 [C, usually sing.] the last part or the end of sth: a dramatic finish to the race It was a close finish, as they had predicted. They won in the end but it was a tight finish. The story was a lie from start to finish. I want to see the job through to the finish.see also PHOTO FINISH
2 [C, U] the last covering of paint, polish, etc. that is put onto the surface of sth; the condition of the surface: to apply extra coats of finish a gloss/matt finish furniture available in a range of finishes
3 [C, U] the final details that are added to sth to make it complete: The bows will give a feminine finish to the curtains. see FIGHT v.

finished adj.
1 [not before noun] ~ (with sb/sth) no longer doing sth or dealing with sb/sth: I won't be finished for another hour. I'm not finished with you yet.
2 [not before noun] no longer powerful, effective or able to continue: If the newspapers find out, he's finished in politics. Their marriage was finished.
3 [usually before noun] fully completed, especially in a particular way: the finished product/article a beautifully finished suit

finisher noun a person or an animal that finishes a race, etc.: The first six finishers go into the final.

finishing line (BrE) (NAmE finish line) noun the line across a sports track, etc. that marks the end of a race: The two horses crossed the finishing line together.

finishing school noun a private school where young women from rich families are taught how to behave in fashionable society

finite adj.
1 having a definite limit or fixed size: a finite number of possibilities The world's resources are finite. INFINITE
2 (grammar) a finite verb form or clause shows a particular tense, PERSON and NUMBER: 'Am', 'is', 'are', 'was' and 'were' are the finite forms of 'be'; 'being', and 'been' are the non-finite forms. NON-FINITE

fink noun (informal, especially NAmE) an unpleasant person

finnan (also finnan haddock) noun [U, C] a type of smoked HADDOCK (= a type of fish)

fiord = FJORD

fioritura NAmE noun (pl. fioriture ) (music) (from Italian) extra decorative notes added to a MELODY by an OPERA singer

fir (also fir tree) noun an EVERGREEN forest tree with leaves like needles, that grows in cool northern countries

fir cone (BrE) (also cone NAmE, BrE) noun the hard fruit of the fir tree

fire noun, verb
noun
STH BURNING
1 [U] the flames, light and heat, and often smoke, that are produced when sth burns: Most animals are afraid of fire.
2 [U, C] flames that are out of control and destroy buildings, trees, etc.: The car was now on fire. The warehouse has been badly damaged by fire. Several youths had set fire to the police car (= had made it start burning). A candle had set the curtains on fire. These thatched roofs frequently catch fire (= start to burn). forest fires Five people died in a house fire last night. A small fire had started in the kitchen. Fires were breaking out everywhere. It took two hours to put out the fire (= stop it burning).
FOR HEATING/COOKING
3 [C] a pile of burning fuel, such as wood or coal, used for cooking food or heating a room: to make/build a fire a log/coal fire Sam had lit a fire to welcome us home. Come and get warm by the fire. We sat in front of a roaring fire.see also BONFIRE, CAMPFIRE
4 [C] (especially BrE) a piece of equipment for heating a room: a gas/electric fire Shall I put the fire on?see also HEATER
FROM GUNS
5 [U] shots from guns: a burst of machine-gun fire to return fire (= to fire back at sb who is shooting at you) The gunmen opened fire on (= started shooting at) the police. Their vehicle came under fire (= was being shot at). He ordered his men to hold their fire (= not to shoot). A young girl was in the line of fire (= between the person shooting and what he/she was shooting at). I'll give you covering fire while you try to escape.
ANGER/ENTHUSIASM
6 [U] very strong emotion, especially anger or enthusiasm: Her eyes were full of fire. The fire seemed to die in him when his wife left.
be/come under fire to be criticized severely for sth you have done: The health minister has come under fire from all sides.
hang/hold fire to delay or be delayed in taking action: The project had hung fire for several years for lack of funds.
on fire giving you a painful burning feeling: He couldn't breathe. His chest was on fire.
play with fire to act in a way that is not sensible and take dangerous risksmore at BALL n., BAPTISM, DRAW v., FIGHT v., FRYING PAN, HOUSE n., IRON n., SMOKE n., WORLD
verb
SHOOT
1 ~ (sth) (at sb/sth)| ~ (sth) (into sth)| ~ (on sb/sth) to shoot bullets from a gun: [V] The officer ordered his men to fire. Soldiers fired on the crowd. [VN] He fired the gun into the air. They ran away as soon as the first shot was fired. Missiles were fired at the enemy.
2 (of a gun) to shoot bullets out: [V] We heard the sound of guns firing. [VN] A starter's pistol fires only blanks.
3 [VN] to shoot an arrow: She fired an arrow at the target.
FROM JOB
4 [VN] to force sb to leave their job SACK: We had to fire him for dishonesty. She got fired from her first job. He was responsible for hiring and firing staff.
MAKE SB ENTHUSIASTIC
5 [VN] ~ sb (with sth) to make sb feel very excited about sth or interested in sth: The talk had fired her with enthusiasm for the project. His imagination had been fired by the film.
OF ENGINE
6 [V] when an engine fires, an electrical SPARK is produced that makes the fuel burn and the engine start to work
-FIRED
7 (in adjectives) using the fuel mentioned in order to operate: gas-fired central heating
CLAY OBJECTS
8 [VN] to heat a CLAY object to make it hard and strong: to fire pottery to fire bricks in a kiln
fire questions, insults, etc. at sb to ask sb a lot of questions one after another or make a lot of comments very quickly: The room was full of journalists, all firing questions at them.more at CYLINDER
fire away (informal) used to tell sb to begin to speak or ask a question: 'I've got a few questions.' 'OK then, fire away.'
fire sthoff
1 to shoot a bullet from a gun: They fired off a volley of shots.
2 to write or say sth to sb very quickly, often when you are angry: He fired off a letter of complaint. She spent an hour firing off emails to all concerned.
fire sbup to make sb excited or interested in sth: She's all fired up about her new job.
fire sthup (informal) to start a machine, piece of equipment, computer program, etc.: We need to fire up one of the generators. Let me fire up another window (= on the computer screen).

fire alarm noun a bell or other device that gives people warning of a fire in a building: Who set off the fire alarm?

firearm NAmE noun (formal) a gun that can be carried: The police were issued with firearms.

fireball NAmE noun a bright ball of fire, especially one at the centre of an explosion

fireballer NAmE noun (in BASEBALL) a PITCHER who throws the ball very fast

firebomb NAmE noun a bomb that makes a fire start burning after it explodes
firebomb verb [VN]

firebrand NAmE noun a person who is always encouraging other people to take strong political action, often causing trouble

firebreak NAmE noun a thing that stops a fire from spreading, for example a special door or a strip of land in a forest that has been cleared of treessee also FIRE LINE

firebrick NAmE noun [U, C] (technical) brick which is not destroyed by very strong heat; an individual block of this

fire brigade (also fire service) (both BrE) (NAmE fire department) noun [C+sing./pl. v.] an organization of people who are trained and employed to put out fires and to rescue people from fires; the people who belong to this organization: to call out the fire brigade The fire brigade were there in minutes.

firebug NAmE noun (informal) a person who deliberately starts fires

firecracker NAmE noun a small FIREWORK that explodes with a loud noise: to let/set off firecrackers

fire department noun [usually sing.] (NAmE) = FIRE BRIGADE

fire door noun a heavy door that is used to prevent a fire from spreading in a building

fire drill (BrE also fire practice) noun [C, U] a practice of what people must do in order to escape safely from a fire in a building

fire-eater noun an entertainer who pretends to eat fire

fire engine (NAmE also fire truck) noun a special vehicle that carries equipment for fighting large fires

fire escape noun metal stairs or a LADDER on the outside of a building, which people can use to escape from a fire

fire extinguisher (also extinguisher) noun a metal container with water or chemicals inside for putting out small fires

firefight NAmE noun (technical) a battle where guns are used, involving soldiers or the police

firefighter NAmE noun a person whose job is to put out firessee also FIREMAN
firefighting noun [U]: firefighting equipment/vehicles

firefly NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (NAmE also lightning bug) a flying insect with a tail that shines in the dark

fireguard NAmE (NAmE also fire screen) noun a metal frame that is put in front of a fire in a room to prevent people from burning themselves

fire hose noun a long tube that is used for directing water onto fires

firehouse NAmE noun (US) a FIRE STATION in a small town

fire hydrant (also hydrant) noun a pipe in the street through which water can be sent using a PUMP in order to put out fires or to clean the streets

firelight NAmE noun [U] the light that comes from a fire in a room

firelighter NAmE (BrE) (NAmE firestarter) noun [C, U] a block of material that burns easily and is used to help start a coal or wood fire

fire line noun (NAmE) a strip of land that has been cleared in order to stop a fire from spreadingsee also FIREBREAK

fireman NAmE noun (pl. -men ) a person, usually a man, whose job is to put out firessee also FIREFIGHTER note at GENDER

fireplace NAmE noun an open space for a fire in the wall of a room

firepower NAmE noun [U] the number and size of guns that an army, a ship, etc. has available: (figurative) The company has enormous financial firepower.

fire practice noun [C, U] (BrE) = FIRE DRILL

fireproof NAmE adj. able to resist great heat without burning or being badly damaged: a fireproof door a fireproof dish (= that can be heated in an oven)

fire-raiser noun (BrE) a person who starts a fire deliberately ARSONIST
fire-raising noun [U]

fire-retardant NAmE (also flame-retardant) adj. [usually before noun] that makes a fire burn more slowly: The chair had fire-retardant covers.

fire sale noun a sale of goods at low prices because they have been damaged by a fire or because they cannot be stored after a fire: (figurative) The company was forced to have a fire sale of its assets.

fire screen noun
1 (NAmE) = FIREGUARD
2 a screen, often decorative, that is put in front of an open fire in a room to protect people from the heat or from SPARKS, or to hide it when it is not lit

fire service noun [usually sing.] (BrE) = FIRE BRIGADE

fireside NAmE noun [usually sing.] the part of a room beside the fire: sitting by the fireside a fireside chat (= an informal talk)

fire starter noun (NAmE) = FIRELIGHTER

firestarter NAmE noun (NAmE)
1 a device that allows you to start a fire, usually by hitting a piece of FLINT (= a hard grey stone) against a piece of steel
2 = FIRELIGHTER
3 a person who commits the crime of deliberately setting fire to sth ARSONIST

fire station noun a building for a FIRE BRIGADE or FIRE DEPARTMENT and its equipment

firestorm NAmE noun a very large fire, usually started by bombs, that is not under control and is made worse by the winds that it causes: (figurative) a firestorm of criticism

fire trap noun a building that would be very dangerous if a fire started there, especially because it would be difficult for people to escape

fire truck noun (NAmE) = FIRE ENGINE

firewall NAmE noun (computing) a part of a computer system that is designed to prevent people from getting at information without authority but still allows them to receive information that is sent to them

firewater NAmE noun [U] (informal) strong alcoholic drink

firewood NAmE noun [U] wood that has been cut into pieces to be used for burning in fires: to collect/chop firewood

firework NAmE noun
1 [C] a small device containing powder that burns or explodes and produces bright coloured lights and loud noises, used especially at celebrations: (BrE) to let off a few fireworks (NAmE) to set off a few fireworks a firework(s) display The firework spluttered and went out.
2 fireworks [pl.] a display of fireworks: When do the fireworks start?
3 fireworks [pl.] (informal) strong or angry words; exciting actions: There'll be fireworks when he finds out!

firing noun
1 [U] the action of firing guns: There was continuous firing throughout the night.
2 [U, C] (especially NAmE) the action of forcing sb to leave their job: teachers protesting against the firing of a colleague She's responsible for the hirings and firings.

firing line noun
be in the firing line (BrE) (NAmE be on the firing line)
1 to be in a position where you can be shot at: attempts to prevent civilians from being in the firing line
2 to be in a position where people can criticize or blame you: The employment secretary found himself in the firing line over recent job cuts.

firing squad noun [C+sing./pl. v., U] a group of soldiers who are ordered to shoot and kill sb who is found guilty of a crime: He was executed by (a) firing squad.

firkin NAmE noun (old use)
1 a small BARREL (= a round container with flat ends), used mainly for liquids, butter or fish
2 a unit for measuring volume, equal to about 41 litres

firm NAmE noun, adj., adv., verb
noun a business or company: an engineering firm a firm of accountants
adj. (firmer, firmest)
1 fairly hard; not easy to press into a different shape: a firm bed/mattress These peaches are still firm. It was good to feel the firm ground underfoot after hours of trudging through flooded fields. Bake the cakes until they are firm to the touch.
2 not likely to change: a firm believer in socialism a firm agreement/date/decision/offer/promise firm beliefs/conclusions/convictions/principles She is a firm favourite with the children. We have no firm evidence to support the case. They remained firm friends.
3 strongly fixed in place SECURE: Stand the fish tank on a firm base. No building can stand without firm foundations, and neither can a marriage.
4 (of sb's voice or hand movements) strong and steady: 'No,' she repeated, her voice firmer this time. With a firm grip on my hand, he pulled me away. She took a firm hold of my arm. Her handshake was cool and firm.
5 (of sb's behaviour, position or understanding of sth) strong and in control: to exercise firm control/discipline/leadership Parents must be firm with their children. The company now has a firm footing in the marketplace. This book will give your students a firm grasp of English grammar. We need to keep a firm grip on the situation.
6 [usually before noun] ~ (against sth) (of a country's money, etc.) not lower than another: The euro remained firm against the dollar, but fell against the yen.see also FIRMLY
firmness noun [U]
be on firm ground to be in a strong position in an argument, etc. because you know the facts: Everyone agreed with me, so I knew I was on firm ground.
a firm hand strong control or discipline: Those children need a firm hand to make them behave.
take a firm line/stand (on/against sth) to make your beliefs known and to try to make others follow them: We need to take a firm line on tobacco advertising. They took a firm stand against drugs in the school.
adv.
hold firm (to sth) (formal) to believe sth strongly and not change your mind: She held firm to her principles.
stand fast/firm to refuse to move back; to refuse to change your opinions
verb
1 [VN] to make sth become stronger or harder: Firm the soil around the plant. This product claims to firm your body in six weeks.
2 [V] ~ (to/at ... ) (finance) (of shares, prices, etc.) to become steady or rise steadily: Rank's shares firmed 3p to 696p.
firm up to become harder or more solid: Put the mixture somewhere cool to firm up.
firm up sth
1 to make arrangements more final and fixed: The company has not yet firmed up its plans for expansion. The precise details still have to be firmed up.
2 to make sth harder or more solid: A few weeks of aerobics will firm up that flabby stomach.

firmament NAmE noun the firmament [sing.] (old use or literary) the sky: (figurative) a rising star in the literary firmament

firmly NAmE adv. in a strong or definite way: 'I can manage,' she said firmly. It is now firmly established as one of the leading brands in the country. Keep your eyes firmly fixed on the road ahead.

firmware NAmE noun [U] (computing) a type of computer software that is stored in such a way that it cannot be changed or lost

first NAmE det., ordinal number, adv., noun
det., ordinal number
1 happening or coming before all other similar things or people; 1st: his first wife It was the first time they had ever met. I didn't take the first bus. students in their first year at college your first impressions She resolved to do it at the first (= earliest) opportunity. King Edward I (= said as 'King Edward the First') the first of May/May 1st His second book is better than his first.
2 the most important or best: Your first duty is to your family. She won first prize in the competition. an issue of the first importance
there's a first time for everything (saying, humorous) the fact that sth has not happened before does not mean that it will never happenmore at ORDER n.
adv.
1 before anyone or anything else; at the beginning: 'Do you want a drink?' 'I'll finish my work first.' First I had to decide what to wear. Who came first in the race (= who won)? It plunged nose first into the river.
2 for the first time: When did you first meet him?
3 used to introduce the first of a list of points you want to make in a speech or piece of writing FIRSTLY: This method has two advantages: first it is cheaper and second it is quicker.
4 used to emphasize that you are determined not to do sth: She swore that she wouldn't apologizeshe'd die first!
at first at or in the beginning: I didn't like the job much at first. At first I thought he was shy, but then I discovered he was just not interested in other people. (saying) If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. note at FIRSTLY
come first to be considered more important than anything else: In any decision she makes, her family always comes first.
first and foremost more than anything else: He does a little teaching, but first and foremost he's a writer.
first and last in every way that is important; completely: She regarded herself, first and last, as a musician.
first come, first served (saying) people will be dealt with, seen, etc. strictly in the order in which they arrive: Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.
first of all
1 before doing anything else; at the beginning: First of all, let me ask you something.
2 as the most important thing: The content of any article needs, first of all, to be relevant to the reader. note at FIRSTLY
first off (informal, especially BrE) before anything else: First off, let's see how much it'll cost.
first up (BrE, informal) to start with; before anything else
put sb/sth first to consider sb/sth to be more important than anyone/anything else: She always puts her children first.more at FOOT n., HEAD n., SAFETY
noun
1 the first [C] (pl. the first) the first person or thing mentioned; the first person or thing to do a particular thing: I was the first in my family to go to college. Sheila and Jim were the first to arrive. I'd be the first to admit (= I will most willingly admit) I might be wrong. The first I heard about the wedding (= the first time I became aware of it) was when I saw it in the local paper.
2 [C, usually sing.] an achievement, event, etc., never done or experienced before: We went on a cruise, a first for both of us.
3 (also first gear) [U] the lowest gear on a car, bicycle, etc. that you use when you are moving slowly: He stuck the car in first and revved.
4 [C] ~ (in sth) the highest level of university degree at British universities: She got a first in maths at Exeter.compare SECOND, THIRD
first among equals the person or thing with the highest status in a group
from the (very) first from the beginning: They were attracted to each other from the first.
from first to last from beginning to end; during the whole time: It's a fine performance that commands attention from first to last.

first aid noun [U] simple medical treatment that is given to sb before a doctor comes or before the person can be taken to a hospital: to give first aid a first-aid course

first aider noun (BrE) a person who is trained to give first aid

the First Amendment noun the statement in the US Constitution that protects freedom of speech and religion and the right to meet in peaceful groups

first balcony noun (NAmE) = DRESS CIRCLE

first base noun (in BASEBALL) the first of the BASES that players must touch: He didn't make it past first base.
not get to first base (with sth/sb) (informal, especially NAmE) to fail to make a successful start in a project, relationship, etc.; to fail to get through the first stage

firstborn NAmE noun (old-fashioned) a person's first child
firstborn adj. [only before noun]: their firstborn son

first class noun, adv.
noun [U]
1 the best and most expensive seats or accommodation on a train, plane or ship: There is more room in first class.
2 (in Britain) the class of mail that is delivered most quickly: First class costs more.
3 (in the US) the class of mail that is used for letters
4 the highest standard of degree given by a British university
adv.
1 using the best and most expensive seats or accommodation in a train, plane or ship: to travel first class
2 (in Britain) by the quickest form of mail: I sent the package first class on Monday.
3 (in the US) by the class of mail that is used for letters

first-class adj.
1 [usually before noun] in the best group; of the highest standard EXCELLENT: a first-class novel a first-class writer The car was in first-class condition. I know a place where the food is first-class.
2 [only before noun] connected with the best and most expensive way of travelling on a train, plane or ship: first-class rail travel a first-class cabin/seat/ticket
3 [only before noun] (in Britain) connected with letters, packages, etc. that are delivered most quickly, or that cost more to send: first-class mail/post/postage/stamps
4 [only before noun] used to describe a university degree of the highest class from a British university: She was awarded a first-class degree in English.

first cost noun [C, U] (economics) = PRIME COST (1)

first cousin noun = COUSIN (1)

first-day cover noun a specially printed envelope with a stamp that has a POSTMARK with the date that stamps of that design were first sold

first degree noun (especially BrE) an academic qualification given by a university or college, for example a BA or BSc, that is given to sb who does not already have a degree in that subject: What was your first degree in? Applicants should have a first degree and a teaching qualification. to study geography at first-degree level

first-degree adj. [only before noun]
1 (especially NAmE) ~ murder, assault, robbery, etc. murder, etc. of the most serious kind
2 ~ burns burns of the least serious of three kinds, affecting only the surface of the skincompare SECOND-DEGREE, THIRD-DEGREE

first down noun (in AMERICAN FOOTBALL)
1 the first of a series of four DOWNS (= chances to move the ball forward ten yards)
2 the chance to start a new series of four DOWNS because your team has succeeded in going forward ten yards

first edition noun one of the copies of a book that was produced the first time the book was printed

first-ever adj. [only before noun] never having happened or been experienced before: his first-ever visit to London the first-ever woman vice-president

the first family noun [sing.] the family of the President of the United States

first finger noun = INDEX FINGER

first floor (usually the first floor) noun [sing.]
1 (BrE) the level of a building above the ground level: Menswear is on the first floor.
2 (NAmE) = GROUND FLOOR
first-floor adj. [only before noun]: a first-floor flat/apartment note at FLOOR

first-foot verb [VN] to be the first person to enter sb's house in the New Year. First-footing is a Scottish custom.
first-footer noun

first fruit noun [usually pl.] the first result of sb's work or effort

first generation noun [sing.]
1 people who have left their country to go and live in a new country; the children of these people
2 the first type of a machine to be developed: the first generation of personal computers
first-generation adj.: first-generation Caribbeans in the UK

first-hand adj. [only before noun] obtained or experienced yourself: to have first-hand experience of povertycompare SECOND-HAND
first-hand adv.: to experience poverty first-hand

first lady noun [usually sing.]
1 the First Lady (in the US) the wife of the President
2 (NAmE) the wife of the leader of a state
3 the woman who is thought to be the best in a particular profession, sport, etc.: the first lady of country music

first language noun the language that you learn to speak first as a child; the language that you speak best: His first language is Welsh.compare SECOND LANGUAGE

first lieutenant noun
1 an officer in the navy with responsibility for managing a ship, etc.
2 an officer in the US army and AIR FORCE just below the rank of a captain
3 (informal) a person who is the next most important to sb

first light noun [U] the time when light first appears in the morning DAWN, DAYBREAK: We left at first light.

firstly NAmE adv. used to introduce the first of a list of points you want to make in a speech or piece of writing: There are two reasons for this decision: firstly ...

WHICH WORD?

firstly / first of all / at first

Firstly and first (of all) are used to introduce a series of facts, reasons, opinions, etc.: The brochure is divided into two sections, dealing firstly with basic courses and secondly with advanced ones. Firstly is more common in BrE than in NAmE.

At first is used to talk about the situation at the beginning of a period of time, especially when you are comparing it with a different situation at a later period: Maggie had seen him nearly every day at first. Now she saw him much less.

first mate (also first officer) noun the officer on a commercial ship just below the rank of captain or MASTER

first minister (also First Minister) noun the leader of the ruling political party in some regions or countries, for example in Scotland

first name (also given name especially in NAmE) noun a name that was given to you when you were born, that comes before your family name: His first name is Tom and his surname is Green. Please give all your first names. (BrE) to be on first-name terms with sb (= to call them by their first name as a sign of a friendly informal relationship) (NAmE) to be on a first-name basis

First Nations noun [pl.] (CanE) the Aboriginal peoples of Canada, not including the Inuit or Metis

first night noun
1 the first public performance of a play, film/movie, etc.: I got tickets for the first night of 'Romeo and Juliet'.
2 (NAmE) a public celebration of NEW YEAR'S EVE

first offender noun a person who has been found guilty of a crime for the first time

first officer noun = FIRST MATE

first-past-the-post adj. [only before noun] (of a system of elections) in which only the person who gets the most votes is electedcompare PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

the first person noun [sing.]
1 (grammar) a set of pronouns and verb forms used by a speaker to refer to himself or herself, or to a group including himself or herself: 'I am' is the first person singular of the present tense of the verb 'to be'. 'I', 'me', 'we' and 'us' are first-person pronouns.
2 a way of writing a novel, etc. as if one of the characters is telling the story using the word I: a novel written in the first personcompare THE SECOND PERSON, THE THIRD PERSON

first principles noun [pl.] the basic ideas on which a theory, system or method is based: I think we should go back to first principles.

first-rate adj. of the highest quality EXCELLENT: a first-rate swimmer The food here is absolutely first-rate.

first refusal noun [U] (BrE) the right to decide whether to accept or refuse sth before it is offered to others: Will you give me first refusal on the car, if you decide to sell it?

first school noun (in Britain) a school for children between the ages of 5 and 8 or 9

first sergeant noun an officer of middle rank in the US army

first strike noun an attack on an enemy made before they attack you: the threat of a strategic first strike

first-time adj. [only before noun] doing or experiencing sth for the first time: houses for first-time buyers a computer program designed for first-time users

first-timer noun a person who does sth for the first time: conference first-timers

First World noun [sing.] the rich industrial countries of the worldcompare THE THIRD WORLD

the First World War (also World War I) noun [sing.] the war that was fought mainly in Europe between 1914 and 1918

firth NAmE noun (especially in Scottish place names) a narrow strip of the sea that runs a long way into the land, or a part of a river where it flows into the sea: the Moray Firth the Firth of Clyde

fiscal adj. connected with government or public money, especially taxes: fiscal policies/reforms the country's fiscal system
fiscally adv. see also PROCURATOR FISCAL

fiscal year noun (NAmE) = FINANCIAL YEAR

fish noun, verb
noun (pl. fish or fishes) Fish is the usual plural form. The older form, fishes, can be used to refer to different kinds of fish.
1 [C] a creature that lives in water, breathes through GILLS, and uses FINS and a tail for swimming: They caught several fish. tropical/marine/freshwater fish shoals (= groups) of fish a fish tank/pond There are about 30 000 species of fish in the world. The list of endangered species includes nearly 600 fishes. Fish stocks in the Baltic are in decline. In the pool she could see little silvery fish darting around.see also COARSE FISH, FLATFISH, SEA FISH, SHELLFISH, WET FISH
2 [U] the flesh of fish eaten as food: frozen/smoked/fresh fish fish pie The chef's fish dishes are his speciality. Fish forms the main part of their diet.
a fish out of water a person who feels uncomfortable or awkward because he or she is in surroundings that are not familiar
have bigger/other fish to fry to have more important or more interesting things to do
neither fish nor fowl neither one thing nor another: The hovercraft has always suffered from the fact that it is neither fish nor fowl.
an odd/a queer fish (old-fashioned, BrE) a person who is slightly strange or crazy
there are plenty more fish in the sea there are many other people or things that are as good as the one sb has failed to getmore at BIG adj., COLD adj., DIFFERENT, DRINK v., SHOOT v.
verb
1 [V] ~ (for sth) to try to catch fish with a hook, nets, etc.: You can fish for trout in this stream. The trawler was fishing off the coast of Iceland.
2 [V] go fishing to spend time fishing for pleasure: Let's go fishing this weekend.
3 [VN] to try to catch fish in the area of water mentioned: They fished the loch for salmon.
4 [V + adv. / prep.] to search for sth, using your hands: She fished around in her bag for her keys.
fish for sth to try to get sth, or to find out sth, although you are pretending not to: to fish for compliments/information
fish sth/sbout (of sth) to take or pull sth/sb out of a place: She fished a piece of paper out of the pile on her desk. They fished a dead body out of the river.

fish and chips noun [U] a dish of fish that has been fried in BATTER served with CHIPS/FRIES, and usually bought in the place where it has been cooked and eaten at home, etc., especially in Britain: Three portions of fish and chips, please. a fish and chip shop

fishbowl NAmE noun = GOLDFISH BOWL

fishcake noun (especially BrE) pieces of fish mixed with MASHED potato made into a flat round shape, covered with BREADCRUMBS and fried

fisherman NAmE noun (pl. -men ) a person who catches fish, either as a job or as a sportcompare ANGLER

fisherwoman NAmE noun (pl. -women ) a woman who catches fish, either as a job or as a sportcompare ANGLER

fishery noun (pl. -ies)
1 a part of the sea or a river where fish are caught in large quantities: a herring fishery coastal/freshwater fisheries
2 = FISH FARM: a trout fishery

fisheye lens noun a camera LENS with a wide angle that gives the view a curved shape

fish farm (also fishery) noun a place where fish are bred as a business

fish finger (BrE) (NAmE fish stick) noun a long narrow piece of fish covered with BREADCRUMBS or BATTER, usually frozen and sold in packs

fish hook noun a sharp metal hook for catching fish, that has a point which curves backwards to make it difficult to pull out

fishing noun [U] the sport or business of catching fish: They often go fishing. deep-sea fishing a fishing boat fishing grounds We enjoyed a day's fishing by the river.

fishing line noun [C, U] a long thread with a sharp hook attached, that is used for catching fish

fishing rod (also rod) (NAmE also fishing pole) noun a long wooden or plastic stick with a fishing line and hook attached, that is used for catching fish

fishing tackle noun [U] equipment used for catching fish

fish knife noun a knife with a broad blade and without a sharp edge, used for eating fish

fishmeal noun [U] dried fish made into powder and used as animal food or FERTILIZER (= a substance that helps crops grow)

fishmonger noun (especially BrE)
1 a person whose job is to sell fish in a shop
2 fishmonger's (pl. fishmongers) a shop that sells fish

fishnet noun [U] a type of cloth made of threads that produce a pattern of small holes like a net: fishnet stockings

fish slice (BrE) (NAmE spatula) noun a kitchen UTENSIL that has a broad flat blade with narrow holes in it, attached to a long handle, used for turning and lifting food when cooking

fish stick noun (NAmE) = FISH FINGER

fishtail verb [V] if a vehicle fishtails, the back end slides from side to side

fishwife noun (pl. -wives ) (disapproving) a woman with a loud voice and bad manners: She cursed like a fishwife.

fishy adj. (fishier, fishiest)
1 (informal) that makes you suspicious because it seems dishonest SUSPICIOUS: There's something fishy going on here.
2 smelling or tasting like a fish: What's that fishy smell?

fissile NAmE adj. (physics) capable of nuclear FISSION: fissile material

fission noun [U]
1 (also nuclear fission) (physics) the act or process of splitting the NUCLEUS (= central part) of an atom, when a large amount of energy is releasedcompare FUSION
2 (biology) the division of cells into new cells as a method of reproducing cells
3 (chemistry) the breaking of a chemical BOND between two atoms

fissure noun (technical) a long deep crack in sth, especially in rock or in the earth: parched grassland dissected by open dry fissures
fissured adj.: fissured rock/terrain

fist noun a hand when it is tightly closed with the fingers bent into the PALM: He punched me with his fist. She clenched her fists to stop herself trembling. He got into a fist fight in the bar. He banged a heavy fist on the table.see also HAM-FISTED, TIGHT-FISTED
make a better, good, poor, etc. fist of sth (BrE, old-fashioned, informal) to make a good, bad, etc. attempt to do sthmore at IRON adj., MONEY

fistful noun a number or an amount of sth that can be held in a fist: a fistful of coins

fisticuffs noun [pl.] (old-fashioned or humorous) a fight in which people hit each other with their FISTS

fistula NAmE noun (medical) an opening between two organs of the body, or between an organ and the skin, that would not normally exist, caused by injury, disease, etc.

fit verb, adj., noun
verb (fitting, fitted, fitted) (NAmE usually fitting, fit, fit except in the passive)
RIGHT SIZE/TYPE
1 (not used in the progressive tenses) to be the right shape and size for sb/sth: [V] I tried the dress on but it didn't fit. That jacket fits well. a close-fitting dress [VN] I can't find clothes to fit me. The key doesn't fit the lock.
2 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to be of the right size, type or number to go somewhere: I'd like to have a desk in the room but it won't fit. All the kids will fit in the back of the car.
3 [VN] [often passive] ~ sb (for sth) to put clothes on sb and make them the right size and shape: I'm going to be fitted for my wedding dress today.
PUT STH SOMEWHERE
4 [VN] to put or fix sth somewhere: They fitted a smoke alarm to the ceiling. The rooms were all fitted with smoke alarms.
5 [+adv./prep.] to put or join sth in the right place: [V] The glass fits on top of the jug to form a lid. How do these two parts fit together? [VN] We fitted together the pieces of the puzzle.
AGREE/MATCH
6 (not used in the progressive tenses) to agree with, match or be suitable for sth; to make sth do this: [V] Something doesn't quite fit here. His pictures don't fit into any category. [VN] The facts certainly fit your theory. The punishment ought to fit the crime. We should fit the punishment to the crime.
MAKE SUITABLE
7 ~ sb/sth (for sth) (especially BrE) to make sb/sth suitable for a particular job: [VN, VN to inf] His experience fitted him perfectly for the job. His experience fitted him to do the job.
see also FITTED
fit (sb) like a glove to be the perfect size or shape for sb: The dress fits me like a glove.more at BILL n., CAP n., DESCRIPTION, FACE n.
fit sb/sthin| fit sb/sth in/into sth
1 to find time to see sb or to do sth: I'll try and fit you in after lunch. I had to fit ten appointments into one morning.
2 to find or have enough space for sb/sth in a place: We can't fit in any more chairs.
fit in (with sb/sth) to live, work, etc. in an easy and natural way with sb/sth: He's never done this type of work before; I'm not sure how he'll fit in with the other people. Where do I fit in? Do these plans fit in with your arrangements?
fit sb/sthout/up (with sth) to supply sb/sth with all the equipment, clothes, food, etc. they need EQUIP: to fit out a ship before a long voyage The room has been fitted out with a stove and a sink.
fit sbup (for sth) (BrE, informal) to make it look as if sb is guilty of a crime they have not committed FRAME: I didn't do itI've been fitted up!
adj. (fitter, fittest)
HEALTHY
1 ~ (for sth)| ~ (to do sth) healthy and strong, especially because you do regular physical exercise: Top athletes have to be very fit. (BrE) He won't be fit to play in the match on Saturday. She tries to keep fit by jogging every day. (BrE) He's had a bad cold and isn't fit enough for work yet. I feel really fighting fit (= very healthy and full of energy). The government aims to make British industry leaner and fitter (= employing fewer people and with lower costs).see also KEEP-FIT UNFIT note at WELL
SUITABLE
2 ~ for sb/sth| ~ to do sth suitable; of the right quality; with the right qualities or skills: The food was not fit for human consumption. It was a meal fit for a king (= of very good quality). Your car isn't fit to be on the road! The children seem to think I'm only fit for cooking and washing! He's so angry he's in no fit state to see anyone. (formal) This is not a fit place for you to live. UNFIT
READY
3 ~ to do sth (BrE, informal) ready or likely to do sth extreme: They worked until they were fit to drop (= so tired that they were likely to fall down). I've eaten so much I'm fit to burst. She was laughing fit to burst (= very much).
ATTRACTIVE
4 (BrE, informal) sexually attractive
(as) fit as a fiddle (informal) in very good physical condition
see/think fit (to do sth) (formal) to consider it right or acceptable to do sth; to decide or choose to do sth: You must do as you think fit (= but I don't agree with your decision). The newspaper did not see fit to publish my letter (= and I criticize it for that).more at SURVIVAL
noun
ILLNESS
1 [C] a sudden attack of an illness, such as EPILEPSY, in which sb becomes unconscious and their body may make violent movements CONVULSION: to have an epileptic fit Her fits are now controlled by drugs.
OF COUGHING/LAUGHTER
2 [C] a sudden short period of coughing or of laughing, that you cannot control BOUT: a fit of coughing He had us all in fits (of laughter) with his jokes.
OF STRONG FEELING
3 [C] a short period of very strong feeling: to act in a fit of anger/rage/temper/piquesee also HISSY FIT
OF CLOTHING
4 [C, U] (often with an adjective) the way that sth, especially a piece of clothing, fits: a good/bad/close/perfect fit
MATCH
5 [C] ~ (between A and B) the way that two things match each other or are suitable for each other: We need to work out the best fit between the staff required and the staff available.
by/in fits and starts frequently starting and stopping again; not continuously: Because of other commitments I can only write my book in fits and starts.
have/throw a fit (informal) to be very shocked, upset or angry: Your mother would have a fit if she knew you'd been drinking!

fitful adj. happening only for short periods; not continuous or regular: a fitful night's sleep a fitful burst of energy
fitfully adv.: to sleep fitfully

fitment noun [usually pl.] (BrE, technical) a piece of furniture or equipment, especially one that is made for and fixed in a particular place: kitchen fitments a shower fitment

fitness noun [U]
1 the state of being physically healthy and strong: a magazine on health and fitness a fitness instructor/class/test a high level of physical fitness
2 ~ for sth/to do sth the state of being suitable or good enough for sth: He convinced us of his fitness for the task. There were doubts about her fitness to hold office.

fitness centre (BrE) (NAmE fitness center) noun a place where people go to do physical exercise in order to stay or become healthy and fit: The hotel has a fitness centre with a sauna.

fitted adj.
1 [only before noun] (especially BrE) (of furniture) built to be fixed into a particular space BUILT-IN: fitted wardrobes/cupboards
2 [only before noun] (especially BrE) (of a room) with matching cupboards and other furniture built for the space and fixed in place: a fitted kitchen/bedroom
3 [only before noun] (of clothes) made to follow the shape of the body: a fitted jacket LOOSE
4 ~ for/to sth| ~ to do sth (especially BrE) suitable; with the right qualities and skills: She was well fitted to the role of tragic heroine.
5 ~ with sth having sth as equipment: Insurance costs will be reduced for houses fitted with window locks.

fitted carpet noun (BrE) a carpet that is cut and fixed to cover the floor of a room completelysee also WALL-TO-WALL CARPET

fitter noun
1 a person whose job is to put together or repair equipment: a gas fitter
2 a person whose job is to cut and fit clothes or carpets, etc.

fitting adj., noun
adj.
1 (formal) suitable or right for the occasion APPROPRIATE: The award was a fitting tribute to her years of devoted work. A fitting end to the meal would be a glass of port. It is fitting that the new centre for European studies should be in a university that teaches every European language.
2 -fitting (in adjectives) having a particular FIT: a tight-fitting dress
noun
1 [usually pl.] a small part on a piece of equipment or furniture: light fittings a pine cupboard with brass fittings
2 [usually pl.] (BrE) items in a house such as a cooker, lights or shelves that are usually fixed but that you can take with you when you move to a new housecompare FIXTURE
3 an occasion when you try on a piece of clothing that is being made for you to see if it fits: to have a fitting for a wedding dress

fitting room (NAmE also dressing room) noun a room or CUBICLE in a shop/store where you can put on clothes to see how they look

five number5: There are only five cookies left. five of Sweden's top financial experts Ten people were invited but only five turned up. Do you have change for five dollars? a five-month contract Look at page five. Five and four is nine. Three fives are fifteen. I can't read your writingis this meant to be a five? The bulbs are planted in threes or fives (= groups of three or five). We moved to America when I was five (= five years old). Shall we meet at five (= at five o'clock), then?see also HIGH FIVE
give sb five (informal) to hit the inside of sb's hand with your hand as a way of saying hello or to celebrate a victory: Give me five!more at NINE

five-and-dime (also dime store) noun (old-fashioned, NAmE) a shop/store that sells a range of cheap goods

five-a-side noun [U] (BrE) a game of football (SOCCER) played indoors with five players on each team: a five-a-side tournament

fivefold NAmE adj., adv. -FOLD

five o'clock shadow noun [sing.] (informal) the dark colour that appears on a man's chin and face when the hair has grown a little during the day

five pence (also five pence piece, 5p) noun a British coin worth five pence: Have you got a five pence?

fiver noun (informal)
1 (BrE) £5 or a five-pound note: Can you lend me a fiver?
2 (NAmE, old-fashioned) $5 or a five-dollar bill

fives noun [U] a game played especially in British PUBLIC SCHOOLS in which players hit a ball with their hand or a BAT against the walls of a COURT

five-spice noun [U] a powder which is a mixture of five spices, used in Chinese cooking

five-star adj. [usually before noun]
1 having five stars in a system that measures quality. Five stars usually represents the highest quality: a five-star hotel
2 (NAmE) having the highest military rank, and wearing a uniform which has five stars on it: a five-star general

fix verb, noun
verb
ATTACH
1 [VN] (especially BrE) to put sth firmly in a place so that it will not move: to fix a shelf to the wall to fix a post in the ground (figurative) He noted every detail so as to fix the scene in his mind.
ARRANGE
2 [VN] to decide on a date, a time, an amount, etc. for sth SET: Has the date of the next meeting been fixed? They fixed the rent at £100 a week. Their prices are fixed until the end of the year (= will not change before then).
3 ~ sth (up) (for sb) to arrange or organize sth: [VN] I'll fix a meeting. You have to fix visits up in advance with the museum. (informal) Don't worry, I'll fix it with Sarah. [V to inf] I've fixed up (for us) to go to the theatre next week.
POSITION/TIME
4 [VN] to discover or say the exact position, time, etc. of sth: We can fix the ship's exact position at the time the fire broke out.
FOOD/DRINK
5 ~ sth (for sb)| ~ sb sth (especially NAmE) to provide or prepare sth, especially food: [VNN, VN] Can I fix you a drink? Can I fix a drink for you? [VN] I'll fix supper.
REPAIR
6 [VN] to repair or correct sth: The car won't startcan you fix it? I've fixed the problem.
HAIR/FACE
7 [VN] (especially NAmE) to make sth such as your hair or face neat and attractive: I'll fix my hair and then I'll be ready.
RESULT
8 [VN] [often passive] (informal) to arrange the result of sth in a way that is not honest or fair: I'm sure the race was fixed.
PUNISH
9 [VN] (informal) to punish sb who has harmed you and stop them doing you any more harm: Don't worryI'll fix him.
IN PHOTOGRAPHY
10 [VN] (technical) to treat film for cameras, etc. with a chemical so that the colours do not change or become less bright
ANIMAL
11 [VN] (NAmE, informal) to make an animal unable to have young by means of an operationsee also NEUTER
fix sb with a look, stare, gaze, etc. to look directly at sb for a long time: He fixed her with an angry stare.more at AIN'T
fix on sb/sth to choose sb/sth: They've fixed on Paris for their honeymoon. Have you fixed on a date for the meeting?
fix sth on sb/sth [often passive] if your eyes or your mind are fixed on sth, you are looking at or thinking about sth with great attention
fix sthup to repair, decorate or make sth ready: They fixed up the house before they moved in.
fix sb up (with sb) (informal) to arrange for sb to have a meeting with sb who might become a boyfriend or girlfriend
fix sb up (with sth) (informal) to arrange for sb to have sth; to provide sb with sth: I'll fix you up with a place to stay.
noun
SOLUTION
1 [C] (informal) a solution to a problem, especially an easy or temporary one: There is no quick fix for the steel industry.
DRUG
2 [sing.] (informal) an amount of sth that you need and want frequently, especially an illegal drug such as HEROIN: to get yourself a fix I need a fix of coffee before I can face the day.
DIFFICULT SITUATION
3 [sing.] a difficult situation MESS: We've got ourselves in a fix about this.
ON POSITION
4 [sing.] the act of finding the position of a ship or an aircraft: They managed to get a fix on the yacht's position.
UNDERSTANDING
5 [sing.] (informal) an act of understanding sth: He tried to get a fix on the young man's motives, but he just couldn't understand him.
DISHONEST RESULT
6 [sing.] (informal) a thing that is dishonestly arranged; a trick: Her promotion was a fix, I'm sure!

fixated adj. [not before noun] ~ (on sb/sth) always thinking and talking about sb/sth in a way that is not normal: He is fixated on things that remind him of his childhood.

fixation noun
1 [C] ~ (with/on sb/sth) a very strong interest in sb/sth, that is not normal or natural: a mother fixation He's got this fixation with cleanliness.
2 [U] (technical) the process of a gas becoming solid: nitrogen fixation

fixative noun [C, U]
1 a substance that is used to prevent colours or smells from changing or becoming weaker, for example in photography, art or the making of PERFUME
2 a substance that is used to stick things together or keep things in position

fixed adj.
1 staying the same; not changing or able to be changed: fixed prices a fixed rate of interest people living on fixed incomes The money has been invested for a fixed period.see also ABODE
2 (often disapproving) (of ideas and wishes) held very firmly; not easily changed: My parents had fixed ideas about what I should become.
3 [only before noun] (of expressions on sb's face) not changing and not sincere: He greeted all his guests with a fixed smile on his face.
how are you, etc. fixed (for sth)? (informal) used to ask how much of sth a person has, or to ask about arrangements: How are you fixed for cash? How are we fixed for Saturday (= have we arranged to do anything)?

fixed assets noun [pl.] (business) land, buildings and equipment that are owned and used by a company

fixed costs noun [pl.] (business) the costs that a business must pay that do not change even if the amount of work produced changes

fixedly adv. continuously, without looking away, but often with no real interest: to stare/gaze fixedly at sb/sth

fixed-term adj. [only before noun] a fixed-term contract, etc. is one that only lasts for the agreed period of time

fixed-wing adj. [only before noun] used to describe aircraft with wings that remain in the same position, rather than HELICOPTERS, etc.

fixer noun
1 (informal) a person who arranges things for other people, sometimes dishonestly: a great political fixer an unscrupulous loan fixer
2 a chemical substance used in photography to prevent a photograph from changing and becoming too dark

fixings noun [pl.] (NAmE) = TRIMMINGS: a hamburger with all the fixings

fixity noun [U] (formal) the quality of being firm and not changing: He has great fixity of purpose. the fixity of exchange rates

fixture noun
1 (BrE) a sports event that has been arranged to take place on a particular date and at a particular place: an annual fixture Saturday's fixture against Liverpool the season's fixture list
2 (especially BrE) a thing such as a bath/ BATHTUB or a toilet that is fixed in a house and that you do not take with you when you move house: The price of the house includes fixtures and fittings. (figurative) He has stayed with us so long he seems to have become a permanent fixture.compare FITTING

fizz verb, noun
verb [V] when a liquid fizzes, it produces a lot of bubbles and makes a long sound like an 's': Champagne was fizzing in the glass. (figurative) He started to fizz with enthusiasm. (figurative) Share prices are fizzing.
noun
1 [U, sing.] the small bubbles of gas in a liquid: (figurative) There is plenty of fizz and sparkle in the show. (figurative) The fizz has gone out of the market.
2 [U, sing.] the sound that is made by bubbles of gas in a liquid, or a sound similar to this: the fizz of a firework
3 [U] (BrE, informal) a drink that has a lot of bubbles of gas, especially CHAMPAGNE

fizzer noun (AustralE, NZE, informal) a failure: The party was a fizzer.

fizzle verb [V] when sth, especially sth that is burning, fizzles, it makes a sound like a long 's' HISS: Fireworks fizzled and exploded in the night sky.
fizzle out (informal) to gradually become less successful and end in a disappointing way: The threatened revolt just fizzled out. Her parents are hoping that the relationship will fizzle out.

fizzy adj. (BrE) (of a drink) having bubbles of gas in it SPARKLING: fizzy drinks The wine was pink and slightly fizzy. STILL

fjord (also fiord) NAmE noun a long narrow strip of sea between high CLIFFS, especially in Norway

flab noun [U] (informal, disapproving) soft, loose flesh on a person's body: Fight the flab with exercise!

flabbergasted NAmE adj. [not usually before noun] (informal) extremely surprised and/or shocked ASTONISHED: Friends were flabbergasted by the news that they'd split up. She was too flabbergasted to speak.

flabby adj. (informal, disapproving)
1 having soft, loose flesh; fat: flabby thighs He's got soft and flabby since he gave up running.
2 weak; with no strength or force: a flabby grip a flabby argument

flaccid adj. (formal) soft and weak; not firm and hard: flaccid breasts

flack noun
1 [U] = FLAK
2 [C] (NAmE, informal) = PRESS AGENT

flag noun, verb
noun
1 a piece of cloth with a special coloured design on it that may be the symbol of a particular country or organization, or may have a particular meaning. A flag can be attached to a pole or held in the hand: the Italian flag the flag of Italy The hotel flies the European Union flag. The American flag was flying. All the flags were at half mast (= in honour of a famous person who has died). The black and white flag went down, and the race began.see also BLUE FLAG
2 used to refer to a particular country or organization and its beliefs and values: to swear allegiance to the flag He was working under the flag of the United Nations.
3 a piece of cloth that is attached to a pole and used as a signal or MARKER in various sports
4 a flower that is a type of IRIS and that grows near water: yellow flags
5 = FLAGSTONE
fly/show/wave the flag to show your support for your country, an organization or an idea to encourage or persuade others to do the same
keep the flag flying to represent your country or organization: Our exporters keep the flag flying at international trade exhibitions.more at RED adj.
verb (-gg-)
1 [VN] to put a special mark next to information that you think is important: I've flagged the paragraphs that we need to look at in more detail.
2 [V] to become tired, weaker or less enthusiastic: It had been a long day and the children were beginning to flag. Her confidence had never flagged. flagging support/enthusiasm
flag sb/sthdown to signal to the driver of a vehicle to stop by waving at them: She flagged down a passing motorist.
flag sthup (BrE) to draw attention to sth: The report flagged up the dangers of under-age drinking.

flag day noun
1 (BrE) a day when money is collected in public places for a charity, and people who give money receive a small paper STICKER
2 Flag Day 14 June, the anniversary of the day in 1777 when the Stars and Stripes became the national flag of the United States

flagellate verb [VN] (formal) to WHIP yourself or sb else, especially as a religious punishment or as a way of experiencing sexual pleasure
flagellation noun [U]

flageolet (also flageolet bean) noun a type of small curved BEAN

flag football noun [U] (NAmE) a type of AMERICAN FOOTBALL played without the usual form of TACKLING. A tackle is made, instead, by pulling a piece of cloth from an opponent's WAISTBAND.compare TOUCH FOOTBALL

flagged adj. covered with large flat stones (called FLAGSTONES): a flagged floor

flag of convenience noun a flag of a foreign country that is used by a ship from another country for legal or financial reasons

flagon noun a large bottle or similar container, often with a handle, in which wine, etc. is sold or served

flagpole NAmE (also flagstaff) noun a tall pole on which a flag is hung

flagrant adj. (of an action) shocking because it is done in a very obvious way and shows no respect for people, laws, etc. BLATANT: a flagrant abuse of human rights a flagrant breach of copyright He showed a flagrant disregard for anyone else's feelings.
flagrantly adv.: The plane flagrantly violated a UN no-fly zone.

flagrante IN FLAGRANTE

flagship noun
1 the main ship in a FLEET of ships in the navy
2 [usually sing.] the most important product, service, building, etc. that an organization owns or produces: The company is opening a new flagship store in London.

flagstaff NAmE noun = FLAGPOLE

flagstone NAmE (also flag) noun a large flat square piece of stone that is used for floors, paths, etc.

flag-waving noun [U] the expression of strong national feelings, especially in a way that people disapprove of

flail verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (sth) (about/around) to move around without control; to move your arms and legs around without control: [V] The boys flailed around on the floor. He was running along, his arms flailing wildly. [also VN]
2 [VN] to hit sb/sth very hard, especially with a stick
noun a tool that has a long handle with a stick swinging from it, used especially in the past to separate grains of WHEAT from their dry outer covering, by beating the WHEAT

flair NAmE noun
1 [sing., U] ~ for sth a natural ability to do sth well TALENT: He has a flair for languages.
2 [U] a quality showing the ability to do things in an interesting way that shows imagination: artistic flair She dresses with real flair.

flak (also flack) noun [U]
1 guns on the ground that are shooting at enemy aircraft; bullets from these guns
2 (informal) severe criticism: He's taken a lot of flak for his left-wing views. She came in for a lot of flak from the press.

flake noun, verb
noun
1 a small, very thin layer or piece of sth, especially one that has broken off from sth larger: flakes of snow/paint dried onion flakessee also CORNFLAKES, SNOWFLAKE, SOAP FLAKES
2 (NAmE, informal) a person who is strange or unusual or who forgets things easily
verb
1 [V] ~ (off) to fall off in small thin pieces: You could see bare wood where the paint had flaked off. His skin was dry and flaking.
2 to break sth, especially fish or other food into small thin pieces; to fall into small thin pieces: [VN] Flake the tuna and add to the sauce. flaked almonds [also V]
flake out
1 (informal) to lie down or fall asleep because you are extremely tired: When I got home he'd already flaked out on the bed.
2 (NAmE, informal) to begin to behave in a strange way

flak jacket noun a heavy jacket without sleeves that has metal inside it to make it stronger, and is worn by soldiers and police officers to protect them from bullets

flaky adj.
1 tending to break into small, thin pieces: flaky pastry dry flaky skin
2 (NAmE, informal) (of a person) behaving in a strange or unusual way; tending to forget things: He plays a flaky tourist visiting Europe.
flakiness noun [U]

flambé NAmE adj. [after noun] (from French) (of food) covered with alcohol, especially BRANDY and allowed to burn for a short time
flambé verb [VN]

flamboyant adj.
1 (of people or their behaviour) different, confident and exciting in a way that attracts attention: a flamboyant gesture/style/personality He was flamboyant and temperamental on and off the stage.
2 brightly coloured and noticeable: flamboyant clothes/designs
flamboyance noun [U]: He lacked the flamboyance of other members of the band. flamboyantly adv.

flame noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] a hot bright stream of burning gas that comes from sth that is on fire: the tiny yellow flame of a match The flames were growing higher and higher. The building was in flames (= was burning). The plane burst into flame(s) (= suddenly began burning strongly). Everything went up in flames (= was destroyed by fire). Heat the olive oil over a moderate flame (= on a gas cooker/stove). The curtains were enveloped in a sheet of flame.
2 [U] a bright red or orange colour: a flame-red car
3 [C] (literary) a very strong feeling: a flame of passionsee also OLD FLAME
4 [C] (informal) an angry or insulting message sent to sb by email or on the Internet see FAN v.
verb
1 (literary) to burn with a bright flame: [V] The logs flamed on the hearth. (figurative) Hope flamed in her. [also V-ADJ]
2 (literary) (of a person's face) to become red as a result of a strong emotion; to make sth become red: [V] Her cheeks flamed with rage. [also V-ADJ, VN]
3 [VN] (informal) to send sb an angry or insulting message by email or on the Internet

flamenco NAmE noun (pl. -os)
1 [U, C] a fast exciting Spanish dance that is usually danced to music played on a GUITAR: flamenco dancing to dance the flamenco
2 [U] the GUITAR music that is played for this dance: to play some flamenco

flameproof adj. made of or covered with a special material that will not burn easily

flame-retardant NAmE adj. = FIRE-RETARDANT

flame-thrower noun a weapon like a gun that shoots out burning liquid or flames and is often used for clearing plants from land

flaming adj. [only before noun]
1 full of anger: a flaming argument/temper
2 burning and covered in flames: Flaming fragments were still falling from the sky.
3 (BrE, informal) used to emphasize that you are annoyed: You flaming idiot! Who let that flaming cat in?
4 bright red or orange in colour: flaming (red) hair a flaming sunset

flamingo NAmE noun (pl. -oes or -os) a large pink bird with long thin legs and a long neck, that lives near water in warm countries

flammable (also inflammable especially in BrE) adj. that can burn easily: highly flammable liquids NON-FLAMMABLE

flan noun [C, U]
1 (especially BrE) an open PIE made of PASTRY or cake filled with eggs and cheese, fruit, etc.: a mushroom/strawberry flan Have some more flan.compare QUICHE, TART
2 (NAmE) = CRÈME CARAMEL

flange noun an edge that sticks out from an object and makes it stronger or (as in a wheel of a train) keeps it in the correct position

flank noun, verb
noun
1 the side of sth such as a building or mountain: The sun lit up the western flank of the hill.
2 the left or right side of an army during a battle, or a sports team during a game: Our orders were to attack their left flank. Their centre made a dash down the right flank.
3 the side of an animal between the RIBS and the hip: She patted the horse's flank.
verb [VN]
1 be flanked by sb/sth to have sb/sth on one or both sides: She left the courtroom flanked by armed guards.
2 to be placed on one or both sides of sth: They drove through the cotton fields that flanked Highway 17.

flanker noun an attacking player in RUGBY or AMERICAN FOOTBALL

flannel noun
1 [U] a type of soft light cloth, containing cotton or wool, used for making clothes: a flannel shirt a grey flannel suit
2 (also facecloth) (both BrE) (NAmE washcloth) [C] a small piece of cloth used for washing yourself: a face flannel
3 flannels [pl.] trousers/pants made of flannel: cricket flannels
4 [U] (BrE, informal) words that do not have much meaning and that avoid telling sb what they want to know: OK, cut the flannel and tell me what you really want!

flannelette noun [U] a type of soft cotton cloth, used especially for making sheets and NIGHTCLOTHES

flap noun, verb
noun
FLAT PIECE OF PAPER, etc.
1 [C] a flat piece of paper, cloth, metal, etc. that is attached to sth along one side and that hangs down or covers an opening: the flap of an envelope I zipped the tent flaps shut. The jacket was fastened with a complicated buttoned flap. He was wearing a deerstalker hat with flaps to cover the ears.see also CAT FLAP
MOVEMENT
2 [C, usually sing.] a quick often noisy movement of sth up and down or from side to side: With a flap of its wings, the bird was gone. the flap of the sails
WORRY/EXCITEMENT
3 [sing.] (informal, especially BrE) a state of worry, confusion and excitement: She gets in a flap over the slightest thing. Harry's in a bit of a flap over this interview tomorrow.
PUBLIC DISAGREEMENT
4 [sing.] (NAmE) public disagreement, anger or criticism caused by sth a public figure has said or done: the flap about the President's business affairs
PART OF AIRCRAFT
5 [C] a part of the wing of an aircraft that can be moved up or down to control upward or downward movement: The wing flaps were not extended at the time of the accident.
PHONETICS
6 [C] = TAP (6)
verb (-pp-)
MOVE QUICKLY
1 if a bird flaps its wings, or if its wings flap, they move quickly up and down BEAT: [VN] The bird flapped its wings and flew away. [V] The gulls flew off, wings flapping.
2 to move or to make sth move up and down or from side to side, often making a noise: [V] The sails flapped in the breeze. Two large birds flapped (= flew) slowly across the water. [VN] She walked up and down, flapping her arms to keep warm. A gust of wind flapped the tents.
BE WORRIED/EXCITED
3 [V] (BrE, informal) to behave in an anxious or excited way: There's no need to flapI've got everything under control.
PHONETICS
4 [VN] = TAP (7)
see EAR

flapjack noun
1 [U, C] (BrE) a thick soft biscuit made from OATS, butter, sugar and SYRUP
2 [C] (NAmE) a thick PANCAKE

flapper noun a young woman in the 1920s who wore fashionable clothes, had short hair and was interested in modern music and new ideas

flare NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 [V] to burn brightly, but usually for only a short time or not steadily: The match flared and went out. The fire flared into life. (figurative) Colour flared in her cheeks. His dark eyes flared angrily.
2 [V] ~ (up) (especially of anger and violence) to suddenly start or become much stronger ERUPT: Violence flared when the police moved in. Tempers flared towards the end of the meeting.related noun FLARE-UP (1)
3 to say sth in an angry and aggressive way: [V speech] 'You should have told me!' she flared at him. [also V]
4 [V] (of clothes) to become wider towards the bottom: The sleeves are tight to the elbow, then flare out.
5 if a person or an animal flares their NOSTRILS (= the openings at the end of the nose), or if their nostrils flare, they become wider, especially as a sign of anger: [V] The horse backed away, its nostrils flaring with fear. [also VN]
flare up
1 (of flames, a fire, etc.) to suddenly start burning more brightly: He put more logs on the fire and watched it flare up again.related noun FLARE-UP (3)
2 (of a person) to suddenly become angry: She flares up at the slightest provocation.related noun FLARE-UP (1)
3 (of an illness, injury, etc.) to suddenly start again or become worse: His eczema has flared up again.related noun FLARE-UP (2)
noun
1 [usually sing.] a bright but unsteady light or flame that does not last long: The flare of the match lit up his face.
2 a device that produces a bright flame, used especially as a signal; a flame produced in this way: The ship sent up distress flares to attract the attention of the coastguard. A flare lit up the sky.
3 a shape that becomes gradually wider: a skirt with a slight flare
4 flares (BrE also flared trousers) [pl.] (informal) trousers/pants that become very wide at the bottom of the legs: a pair of flares

flared NAmE adj. (of clothes) wider at the bottom edge than at the top: a flared skirt

flarepath NAmE noun an area that is brightly lit in order for a plane to take off and land

flare-up noun [usually sing.]
1 a sudden expression of angry or violent feeling OUTBURST: a flare-up of tension between the two sides
2 (of an illness) a sudden painful attack, especially after a period without any problems or pain
3 the fact of a fire suddenly starting to burn again more strongly than before: a flare-up of the bushfires

flash verb, noun, adj.
verb
SHINE BRIGHTLY
1 to shine very brightly for a short time; to make sth shine in this way: [V] Lightning flashed in the distance. A neon sign flashed on and off above the door. the flashing blue lights of a police car Start crossing when the green WALK sign starts to flash. [VN] The guide flashed a light into the cave.
GIVE SIGNAL
2 ~ (sth) (at sb)| ~ sb (sth) to use a light to give sb a signal: [VN, VNN] Red lights flashed a warning at them. Red lights flashed them a warning. [VN] Why is that driver flashing his lights at us?
SHOW QUICKLY
3 [VN] to show sth to sb quickly: He flashed his pass at the security officer.
MOVE QUICKLY
4 [V + adv. / prep.] to move or pass very quickly: The countryside flashed past the train windows. A look of terror flashed across his face.
OF THOUGHTS/MEMORIES
5 [V + adv. / prep.] to come into your mind suddenly: A terrible thought flashed through my mind.
ON SCREEN
6 [+adv./prep.] ~ (sth) (up) to appear on a television screen, computer screen, etc. for a short time; to make sth do this: [V] A message was flashing on his pager. [VN] His name was flashed up on the screen.
SEND NEWS
7 [VN + adv. / prep.] to send information quickly by radio, computer, etc.: News of their triumph was flashed around the world.
SHOW EMOTION
8 [V] (literary) to show a strong emotion suddenly and quickly: Her eyes flashed with anger. Fear flashed in his eyes.
OF A MAN
9 [V] (informal) if a man flashes, he shows his sexual organs in public
flash sb a smile, look, etc. to smile, look, etc. at sb suddenly and quickly
flash sth around (disapproving) to show sth to other people in order to impress them: He's always flashing his money around.
flash back (to sth)
1 if your mind flashes back to sth, you remember sth that happened in the past: Her thoughts flashed back to their wedding day.related noun FLASHBACK (2)
2 if a film/movie flashes back to sth, it shows things that happened at an earlier time, for example at an earlier part of sb's liferelated noun FLASHBACK (1)
3 to reply very quickly and/or angrily
flash by/past (of time) to go very quickly: The morning has just flashed by.
flash on sth (US, informal) to suddenly remember or think of sth: I flashed on an argument I had with my sister when we were kids. She flashed on the idea of writing a novel about her experiences.
flash on sb [no passive] if sth flashes on you, you suddenly realize it: [+ that] It flashed on me that he was the man I'd seen in the hotel.
noun
LIGHT
1 [C] a sudden bright light that shines for a moment and then disappears: a flash of lightning Flashes of light were followed by an explosion. There was a blinding flash and the whole building shuddered.
SIGNAL
2 [C] the act of shining a light on sth, especially as a signal
SUDDEN IDEA/EMOTION
3 [C] ~ of sth a particular feeling or idea that suddenly comes into your mind or shows in your face: a flash of anger/inspiration, etc. When she looked at me, I caught a flash of recognition in her eyes. 'Did you really win first prize?' he said with a flash of genuine admiration.
OF BRIGHT COLOUR
4 [C] ~ of sth the sudden appearance for a short time of sth bright: a flash of white teeth On the horizon, she saw a flash of silverthe sea!
IN PHOTOGRAPHY
5 [C, U] a piece of equipment that produces a bright light for a very short time, used for taking photographs indoors, when it is dark, etc.; the use of this when taking a photograph: a camera with a built-in flash I'll need flash for this shot. flash photography
NEWS
6 [C] = NEWSFLASH
ON UNIFORM
7 [C] (BrE) a band or small piece of cloth worn on a military uniform to show a person's rank
ON BOOK/PACK
8 [C] a band of colour or writing across a book, pack, etc.
COMPUTING
9 FlashTM [U] a program which creates moving images for websites
a flash in the pan a sudden success that lasts only a short time and is not likely to be repeated: He needed to prove that his success was not just a flash in the pan.
in/like a flash very quickly and suddenly: The weekend seemed to be over in a flash. The answer came to me like a flash.more at QUICK adv.
adj. (BrE, informal, disapproving) attracting attention by being large or expensive, or by having expensive clothes, etc.: a flash car He's very flash, isn't he? He always was a bit of a flash dresser.

flashback noun
1 [C, U] a part of a film/movie, play, etc. that shows a scene that happened earlier in time than the main story: The events that led up to the murder were shown in a series of flashbacks. The reader is told the story in flashback.
2 [C] a sudden, very clear, strong memory of sth that happened in the past that is so real you feel that you are living through the experience again: war veterans suffering from nightmares and flashbacks

flashbulb noun a small electric BULB that can be attached to a camera to take photographs indoors or when it is dark

flashcard NAmE noun a card with a word or picture on it, that teachers use during lessons

flasher noun
1 (informal) a man who shows his sexual organs in public, especially in order to shock or frighten women
2 a device that turns a light on and off quickly
3 (NAmE) a light on a vehicle that you can turn on and off quickly as a signal: four-way flashers (= four lights that flash together to warn other drivers of possible danger)

flash flood noun a sudden flood of water caused by heavy rain

flashgun noun a piece of equipment that holds and operates a bright light that is used to take photographs indoors or when it is dark

flashing noun [U] (also flashings [pl.]) a strip of metal put on a roof where it joins a wall to prevent water getting through

flashlight noun (especially NAmE) = TORCH: He shone a flashlight in the boy's face.

flash memory noun [U] (computing) computer memory that does not lose data when the power supply is lost

flashmob NAmE noun a large group of people who arrange (by mobile phone/cellphone or email) to gather together in a public place at exactly the same time, spend a short time doing sth there and then quickly all leave at the same time
flashmobber noun flashmobbing noun [U]

flashpoint noun [C, U] a situation or place in which violence or anger starts and cannot be controlled: Tension in the city is rapidly reaching flashpoint. potential flashpoints in the south of the country

flashy adj. (flashier, flashiest) (informal, usually disapproving)
1 (of things) attracting attention by being bright, expensive, large, etc.: a flashy hotel I just want a good reliable car, nothing flashy.
2 (of people) attracting attention by wearing expensive clothes, etc.
3 intended to impress by looking very skilful: He specializes in flashy technique, without much depth. She threw in a lot of flashy footwork to impress the judges.
flashily adv.: flashily dressed

flask NAmE noun
1 a bottle with a narrow top, used in scientific work for mixing or storing chemicals
2 (BrE) = VACUUM FLASK: a flask of tea/coffeecompare THERMOS
3 (especially NAmE) = HIP FLASK

flat adj., noun, adv., verb
adj. (flatter, flattest)
LEVEL
1 having a level surface, not curved or sloping: low buildings with flat roofs People used to think the earth was flat. Exercise is the only way to get a flat stomach after having a baby. The sails hung limply in the flat calm (= conditions at sea when there is no wind and the water is completely level).
2 (of land) without any slopes or hills: The road stretched ahead across the flat landscape. The desert was flat, mile after mile. He reached a flatter section of land near the river.
3 (of surfaces) smooth and even; without lumps or holes: I need a flat surface to write on. We found a large flat rock to sit on.
NOT HIGH
4 broad but not very high: Chapattis are a kind of flat Indian bread. flat shoes (= with no heels or very low ones)
DULL
5 dull; lacking interest or enthusiasm: He felt very flat after his friends had gone home. It was a curiously flat note on which to end the election campaign.
VOICE
6 not showing much emotion; not changing much in tone: Her voice was flat and expressionless. He spoke in a flat Midlands accent.
COLOURS/PICTURES
7 very smooth, with no contrast between light and dark, and giving no impression of depth: Acrylic paints can be used to create large, flat blocks of colour.
BUSINESS
8 not very successful because very little is being sold: The housing market has been flat for months.
REFUSAL/DENIAL
9 [only before noun] not allowing discussion or argument; definite: Her request was met with a flat refusal. He gave a flat 'No!' to one reporter's question. These results are in flat contradiction to the theory of relativity.
IN MUSIC
10 used after the name of a note to mean a note a SEMITONE/HALF TONE lower: That note should be B flat, not B. SHARPcompare NATURAL
11 below the correct PITCH (= how high or low a note sounds): The high notes were slightly flat. SHARP
DRINK
12 no longer having bubbles in it; not fresh: The soda was warm and had gone flat.
BATTERY
13 (BrE) unable to supply any more electricity
TYRE
14 not containing enough air, usually because of a hole
FEET
15 with no natural raised curves underneathsee also FLAT-FOOTED

flatness noun [U]
and that's flat! (BrE, informal) that is my final decision and I will not change my mind: You can't go and that's flat!
as flat as a pancake completely flat: The country around here is as flat as a pancake.more at BACK n., SPIN n.
noun
ROOMS
1 [C] (BrE) a set of rooms for living in, including a kitchen, usually on one floor of a building: Do you live in a flat or a house? They're renting a furnished flat on the third floor. a ground-floor flat a new block of flats Many large old houses have been converted into flats. Children from the flats (= the block of flats) across the street were playing outside.compare APARTMENT
LEVEL PART
2 [sing.] the ~ of sth the flat level part of sth: He beat on the door with the flat of his hand. the flat of a sword
LAND
3 [C, usually pl.] an area of low flat land, especially near water: salt flatssee also MUDFLAT
HORSE RACING
4 the flat, the Flat [sing.] (BrE) the season for racing horses on flat ground with no jumps
IN MUSIC
5 [C] a note played a SEMITONE/HALF TONE lower than the note that is named. The written symbol is (): There are no sharps or flats in the key of C major. SHARPcompare NATURAL
TYRE
6 [C] (especially NAmE) a tyre that has lost air, usually because of a hole: We got a flat on the way home. We had to stop to fix a flat.
IN THEATRE
7 [C] (technical) a vertical section of SCENERY used on a theatre stage
SHOES
8 flats [pl.] = FLATTIES
on the flat (BrE) on level ground, without hills or jumps (= for example in horse racing): Overtaking the next cyclist on an Alpine climb is a dozen times harder than on the flat.
adv. (comparative flatter, no superlative)
LEVEL
1 spread out in a level, straight position, especially against another surface: Lie flat and breathe deeply. They pressed themselves flat against the tunnel wall as the train approached.
REFUSING/DENYING
2 (BrE) (NAmE flat out) (informal) in a definite and direct way: She told me flat she would not speak to me again. I made them a reasonable offer but they turned it down flat.
IN MUSIC
3 lower than the correct PITCH (= how high or low a note sounds): He sings flat all the time. SHARP
fall flat if a joke, a story, or an event falls flat, it completely fails to amuse people or to have the effect that was intended: Without Jem, the whole evening would have fallen flat.
fall flat on your face
1 to fall so that you are lying on your front
2 to fail completely, usually causing embarrassment: His next television venture fell flat on its face.
flat broke (BrE also stony broke) (informal) completely broke
flat out (informal)
1 as fast or as hard as possible: Workers are working flat out to meet the rise in demand for new cars.
2 (especially NAmE) in a definite and direct way; completely: I told him flat out 'No'. It's a 30-year mortgage we just flat out can't handle.
in ... flat (informal) used with an expression of time to say that sth happened or was done very quickly, in no more than the time stated: They changed the wheel in three minutes flat (= in exactly three minutes).
verb (-tt-) [V] (AustralE, NZE) to live in or share a flat/apartment: My sister Zoe flats in Auckland.

flatbed noun
1 = FLATBED SCANNER
2 (also flatbed truck, flatbed trailer) (especially NAmE) an open truck or TRAILER without high sides, used for carrying large objects

flatbed scanner (also flatbed) noun (computing) a SCANNER (= device for copying pictures and documents so that they can be stored on a computer) on which the picture or document can be laid flat for copying

flat cap noun (BrE) = CLOTH CAP

flatcar noun (NAmE) a coach/car on a train without a roof or sides, used for carrying goods

flat-chested adj. (of a woman) having small breasts

flatfish noun (pl. flatfish) any sea fish with a flat body, for example a PLAICE

flat-footed adj.
1 without naturally raised curves (= ARCHES) under the feet
2 (especially NAmE) not prepared for what is going to happen: They were caught flat-footed by the attack.

flathead adj.
1 (of a SCREWDRIVER) with a straight end rather than a cross-shaped endcompare PHILLIPS
2 (NAmE) = COUNTERSUNK

flatlet noun (BrE) a very small flat/apartment

flatline verb [V] (informal)
1 to die
2 to be at a low level and fail to improve or increase

flatly adv.
1 in a way that is very definite and will not be changed ABSOLUTELY: to flatly deny/reject/oppose sth I flatly refused to spend any more time helping him.
2 in a dull way with very little interest or emotion: 'Oh, it's you,' she said flatly.

flatmate (BrE) (NAmE room-mate) noun a person who shares a flat/apartment with one or more others

flat-pack noun (BrE) a piece of furniture that is sold in pieces in a flat box and that you have to build yourself: You can buy the kitchen as a flat-pack for self-assembly.

flat racing noun [U] the sport of horse racing over flat ground with no jumpscompare STEEPLECHASE

flat rate noun a price that is the same for everyone and in all situations: Interest is charged at a flat rate of 11%.

flat spin noun (technical) a movement of an aircraft in which it goes gradually downwards while flying around in almost horizontal circles
in a flat spin very confused, worried or excited

flatten verb
1 to become or make sth become flat or flatter: [V] The cookies will flatten slightly while cooking. [VN] These exercises will help to flatten your stomach. He flattened his hair down with gel. The bird is recognizable by its flattened beak. Roll the dough into balls and flatten slightly.
2 [VN] to destroy or knock down a building, tree, etc.: Most of the factory was flattened by the explosion.
3 [VN] (informal) to defeat sb easily in a competition, an argument, etc. SMASH, THRASH: Our team was flattened this evening!
4 [VN] (informal) to hit sb very hard so that they fall down: He flattened the intruder with a single punch. I'll flatten you if you do that again!
flatten sth/yourself against/on sb/sth to press sth/your body against sb/sth: She flattened her nose against the window and looked in. Greg flattened himself against the wall to let me pass.
flatten out
1 to gradually become completely flat: The hills first rose steeply then flattened out towards the sea.
2 to stop growing or going up: Export growth has started to flatten out.
flatten sthout to make sth completely flat

flatter verb
1 [VN] to say nice things about sb, often in a way that is not sincere, because you want them to do sth for you or you want to please them: Are you trying to flatter me?
2 ~ yourself to choose to believe sth good about yourself and your abilities, especially when other people do not share this opinion: [VN] 'How will you manage without me?' 'Don't flatter yourself.' [also VN (that)]
3 [VN] to make sb seem more attractive or better than they really are: That colour doesn't flatter many people. The scoreline flattered England (= they did not deserve to get such a high score).
flatterer noun
be/feel flattered to be pleased because sb has made you feel important or special: He was flattered by her attention. I felt flattered at being asked to give a lecture. She was flattered to hear that he had been asking about her. I suppose we should be flattered that he agreed to come at all.
flatter to deceive (BrE) if sth flatters to deceive, it appears to be better, more successful, etc. than it really is: As with many new bands, their early success flattered to deceive.

flattering adj.
1 making sb look more attractive: a flattering dress The photo is not very flattering. A computer will help you select the most flattering shade of make-up.
2 saying nice things about sb/sth: flattering remarks
3 making sb feel pleased and special: I found it flattering that he still recognized me after all these years.

flattery noun [U] praise that is not sincere, especially in order to obtain sth from sb: You're too intelligent to fall for his flattery.
flattery will get you everywhere/nowhere (informal, humorous) praise that is not sincere will/will not get you what you want

flatties (also flats) noun [pl.] (informal) shoes with a very low heel: a pair of flatties

flat-top noun a HAIRSTYLE in which the hair is cut short and flat across the top

flatulence NAmE noun [U] an uncomfortable feeling caused by having too much gas in the stomach: Symptoms may also include flatulence and nausea.

flatulent NAmE adj.
1 (disapproving) sounding important and impressive in a way that exaggerates the truth or facts
2 suffering from too much gas in the stomach

flatus noun [U] (medical) gas in the stomach or INTESTINES

flatware NAmE noun [U] (NAmE)
1 = CUTLERY
2 flat dishes such as plates and SAUCERS

flatworm NAmE noun a very simple WORM with a flat body

flaunt verb [VN] (disapproving)
1 to show sth you are proud of to other people, in order to impress them: He did not believe in flaunting his wealth. She openly flaunted her affair with the senator.
2 ~ yourself to behave in a confident and sexual way to attract attention
if you've got it, flaunt it (humorous, saying) used to tell sb that they should not be afraid of allowing other people to see their qualities and abilities

flautist NAmE (BrE) (NAmE flutist) noun a person who plays the FLUTE

flavonoid noun (chemistry) a type of substance that is found in some plants such as tomatoes, which is thought to protect against some types of cancer and heart disease

flavour (BrE) (NAmE flavor) noun, verb
noun
1 [U] how food or drink tastes TASTE: The tomatoes give extra flavour to the sauce. It is stronger in flavour than other Dutch cheeses.
2 [C] a particular type of taste: This yogurt comes in ten different flavours. a wine with a delicate fruit flavour
3 [sing.] a particular quality or atmosphere AMBIENCE: the distinctive flavour of South Florida The film retains much of the book's exotic flavour. Foreign visitors help to give a truly international flavour to the occasion.
4 [sing.] a/the ~ of sth an idea of what sth is like: I have tried to convey something of the flavour of the argument. The following extract gives a flavour of the poet's later works.
5 (computing) a particular type of sth, especially computer software
flavour of the month (especially BrE) a person or thing that is very popular at a particular time: Environmental issues are no longer the flavour of the month. I'm not exactly flavour of the month around here at the moment.
verb [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to add sth to food or drink to give it more flavour or a particular flavour

flavoured (BrE) (NAmE flavored) NAmE adj.
1 -flavoured having the type of flavour mentioned: lemon-flavoured sweets/candy
2 having had flavour added to it: flavoured yogurt

flavour enhancer noun [U, C] a substance which is added to food to make the flavour stronger

flavouring (BrE) (NAmE flavoring) noun [U, C] a substance added to food or drink to give it a particular flavour: orange/vanilla flavouring This food contains no artificial flavourings.

flavourless (BrE) (NAmE flavorless) NAmE adj. having no flavour: The meat was tough and flavourless.

flavoursome NAmE (BrE) (NAmE flavorful NAmE ) adj. having a lot of flavour: a wine with a light, flavoursome aroma

flaw noun
1 ~ (in sth) a mistake in sth that means that it is not correct or does not work correctly DEFECT, FAULT: The argument is full of fundamental flaws. The report reveals fatal flaws in security at the airport. There is still a basic flaw in your selection procedure.
2 ~ (in sth) a crack or fault in sth that makes it less attractive or valuable: The vase is in excellent condition except for a few small flaws in its base.
3 ~ (in sb/sth) a weakness in sb's character: There is always a flaw in the character of a tragic hero.

flawed adj. having a flaw; damaged or spoiled: seriously/fundamentally/fatally flawed a flawed argument the book's flawed heroine

flawless adj. without FLAWS and therefore perfect PERFECT: a flawless complexion/performance Her English is almost flawless.
flawlessly adv.

flax noun [U]
1 a plant with blue flowers, grown for its STEM that is used to make thread and its seeds that are used to make LINSEED OIL
2 threads from the STEM of the flax plant, used to make LINEN

flaxen adj. (literary) (of hair) pale yellow BLONDE

flay verb [VN]
1 to remove the skin from an animal or person, usually when they are dead
2 to hit or WHIP sb very hard so that some of their skin comes off
3 (formal) to criticize sb/yourself severely: He flayed himself for his lack of tact. Her dark eyes flayed him.

flea noun a very small jumping insect without wings, that bites animals and humans and sucks their blood: The dog has fleas.
with a flea in your ear if sb sends a person away with a flea in their ear, they tell them angrily to go away

fleabag noun (informal)
1 a person who looks poor and does not take care of their appearance
2 an animal that is in poor condition
3 (especially NAmE) a hotel that is cheap and dirty: a fleabag motel

flea-bitten adj. (informal) in poor condition and with an unpleasant appearance

flea circus noun an entertainment in which fleas are said to be performing tricks

flea market noun an outdoor market that sells SECOND-HAND (= old or used) goods at low prices

fleapit noun (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) an old and dirty cinema or theatre

fleck noun, verb
noun [usually pl.] ~ (of sth)
1 a very small area of a particular colour: His hair was dark, with flecks of grey. The material has a red fleck in it.
2 a very small piece of sth: flecks of dust/foam/dandruff Her face was covered with flecks of paint.
verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (with sth) to cover or mark sth with small areas of a particular colour or with small pieces of sth: The fabric was red, flecked with gold. His hair was flecked with paint. Mud and rain flecked the car windows.

flection = FLEXION

fled pt, pp of FLEE

fledged adj. (of birds) able to flysee also FULLY-FLEDGED

fledgling (BrE also fledgeling) noun
1 a young bird that has just learnt to fly
2 (usually before another noun) a person, an organization or a system that is new and without experience: fledgling democracies

flee verb (fled, fled ) [no passive] ~ (from) sb/sth| ~ (to .../into ... ) to leave a person or place very quickly, especially because you are afraid of possible danger: [V] a camp for refugees fleeing from the war He fled to London after an argument with his family. She burst into tears and fled. [VN] He was caught trying to flee the country. The driver had already fled the scene of the accident.compare FLY v. (12)

fleece noun, verb
noun
1 [C] the wool coat of a sheep; this coat when it has been removed from a sheep (by SHEARING)
2 [U, C] a type of soft warm cloth that feels like sheep's wool; a jacket or SWEATSHIRT that is made from this cloth: a fleece lining a bright red fleece
verb [VN] (informal) to take a lot of money from sb by charging them too much: Some local shops have been fleecing tourists.

fleecy adj. [usually before noun] made of soft material, like the wool coat of a sheep; looking like this: a fleecy sweatshirt a blue sky with fleecy clouds

fleet noun, adj.
noun
1 [C] a group of military ships commanded by the same person: a fleet of destroyers Nelson destroyed the Franco-Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar.
2 [C] a group of ships fishing together: a fishing/whaling fleet
3 the fleet [sing.] all the military ships of a particular country: a reduction in the size of the British fleet
4 [C] ~ (of sth) a group of planes, buses, taxis, etc. travelling together or owned by the same organization: the company's new fleet of vans
adj. (literary) able to run fast: fleet of foot fleet-footed

Fleet Admiral noun (US) = ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET: Fleet Admiral William Hunter

fleeting adj. [usually before noun] lasting only a short time BRIEF: a fleeting glimpse/smile a fleeting moment of happiness We paid a fleeting visit to Paris.
fleetingly adv.: She smiled fleetingly. How could she, even fleetingly, entertain such a thought?

Fleet Street noun [U] a street in central London where many national newspapers used to have their offices (now used to mean British newspapers and journalists in general)

Flemish noun [U] the Dutch language as spoken in northern Belgium

flesh noun, verb
noun
1 [U] the soft substance between the skin and bones of animal or human bodies: The trap had cut deeply into the rabbit's flesh. Tigers are flesh-eating animals. the smell of rotting flesh
2 [U] the skin of the human body: His fingers closed around the soft flesh of her arm. flesh-coloured (= the colour of white people's skin)
3 [U] the soft part of fruit and vegetables, especially when it is eaten: the sweet flesh of a mango
4 the flesh [sing.] (literary) the human body when considering its physical and sexual needs, rather than the mind or soul: the pleasures/sins of the flesh
flesh and blood when you say that sb is flesh and blood, you mean that they are a normal human with needs, emotions and weaknesses: Listening to the cries was more than flesh and blood could stand.
your (own) flesh and blood a person that you are related to: You can't do that to your own flesh and blood!
in the flesh if you see sb in the flesh, you are in the same place as them and actually see them rather than just seeing a picture of them
make your flesh creep to make you feel afraid or full of disgust: Just the sight of him makes my flesh creep.
put flesh on (the bones of) sth to develop a basic idea, etc. by giving more details to make it more complete: The strength of the book is that it puts flesh on the bare bones of this argument.more at POUND n., PRESS v., SPIRIT n., THORN, WAY n.
verb
flesh sthout to add more information or details to a plan, an argument, etc.: These points were fleshed out in the later parts of the speech. None of his characters is fully fleshed out.

fleshly adj. [only before noun] (literary) connected with physical and sexual desires: fleshly temptations/pleasures

fleshpots NAmE noun [pl.] (humorous) places supplying food, drink and sexual entertainment: the fleshpots of the capital

flesh wound noun an injury in which the skin is cut but the bones and organs inside the body are not damaged: He only suffered a few superficial flesh wounds.

fleshy adj.
1 (of parts of the body or people) having a lot of flesh: fleshy arms/lips a large fleshy man The bullet hit the fleshy part of his upper arm.
2 (of plants or fruit) thick and soft: fleshy fruit/leaves

fleur-de-lis (also fleur-de-lys) NAmE noun (pl. fleurs-de-lis NAmE ) (from French) a design representing a flower with three PETALS joined together at the bottom, often used in COATS OF ARMS

flew pt of FLY

flex verb, noun
verb to bend, move or stretch an arm or a leg, or contract a muscle, especially in order to prepare for a physical activity: [VN] to flex your fingers/feet/legs He stood on the side of the pool flexing his muscles. [also V]
flex your muscles to show sb how powerful you are, especially as a warning or threat
noun (BrE) (also cord NAmE, BrE) [C, U] a piece of wire that is covered with plastic, used for carrying electricity to a piece of equipment: an electric flex a length of flex

flexible adj.
1 (approving) able to change to suit new conditions or situations: a more flexible approach flexible working hours Our plans need to be flexible enough to cater for the needs of everyone. You need to be more flexible and imaginative in your approach. Can you be flexible about when you take your leave?
2 able to bend easily without breaking: flexible plastic tubing INFLEXIBLE
flexibility noun [U]: Computers offer a much greater degree of flexibility in the way work is organized. An overdraft provides increased flexibility but at a higher cost. exercises to develop the flexibility of dancers' bodies flexibly adv.: Managers must respond flexibly to new developments in business practice.

flexion (also flection) noun [U] the action of bending sth

flexitime (especially BrE) (NAmE usually flextime ) noun [U] a system in which employees work a particular number of hours each week or month but can choose when they start and finish work each day: She works flexitime.

flexor NAmE (also flexor muscle) noun (anatomy) a muscle that allows you to bend part of your bodycompare EXTENSOR

flibbertigibbet NAmE noun (informal) a person who is not serious enough or talks a lot about silly things

flic noun (computing) a file containing drawings of people and animals that seem to move

flick verb, noun
verb
1 [VN + adv. / prep.] to hit sth with a sudden quick movement, especially using your finger and thumb together, or your hand: She flicked the dust off her collar. The horse was flicking flies away with its tail. James flicked a peanut at her. Please don't flick ash on the carpet! The striker flicked the ball into the back of the net.
2 to move or make sth move with sudden quick movements: [V + adv. / prep.] The snake's tongue flicked out. Her eyes flicked from face to face. [VN, usually + adv. / prep.] He lifted his head, flicking his hair off his face. The horse moved off, flicking its tail.
3 ~ a smile/look, etc. at sb | ~ sb a smile/look, etc. to smile or look at sb suddenly and quickly: [VN, VNN] She flicked a nervous glance at him. She flicked him a nervous glance.
4 [VN] ~ sth (on/off) to press a button or switch quickly in order to turn a machine, etc. on or off FLIP: He flicked a switch and all the lights went out. She flicked the TV on.
5 [VN] ~ A (with B)| ~ B (at A) to move sth up and down with a sudden movement so that the end of it hits sth: He flicked me with a wet towel. He flicked a wet towel at me. to flick a whip
flick through sth
1 to turn the pages of a book, etc. quickly and look at them without reading everything FLIP THROUGH: I've only had time to flick through your report but it seems to be fine.
2 to keep changing television channels quickly to see what programmes are on: Flicking through the channels, I came across an old war movie.
noun
1 [C, usually sing.] a small sudden, quick movement or hit, for example with a WHIP or part of the body: Bell's flick into the penalty area helped to create the goal. All this information is available at the flick of a switch (= by simply turning on a machine). He threw the ball back with a quick flick of the wrist.
2 [sing.] a ~ through sth a quick look through the pages of a book, magazine, etc. FLIP: I had a flick through the catalogue while I was waiting.
3 [C] (old-fashioned, informal) a film/movie
4 the flicks [pl.] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a cinema

flicker verb, noun
verb
1 [V] (of a light or a flame) to keep going on and off as it shines or burns: The lights flickered and went out. the flickering screen of the television
2 [V + adv. / prep.] (of an emotion, a thought, etc.) to be expressed or appear somewhere for a short time: Anger flickered in his eyes. A smile flickered across her face.
3 [V] to move with small quick movements: Her eyelids flickered as she slept.
noun [usually sing.] ~ (of sth)
1 a light that shines in an unsteady way: the flicker of a television/candle
2 a small, sudden movement with part of the body: the flicker of an eyelid By not the merest flicker of an eyelid did he betray his interest.
3 a feeling or an emotion that lasts for only a very short time: a flicker of hope/doubt/interest A flicker of a smile crossed her face.

flick knife (BrE) (also switchblade NAmE, BrE) noun a knife with a blade inside the handle that jumps out quickly when a button is pressed

flier noun = FLYER

flies noun [pl.]
1 pl. of FLY
2 (BrE) = FLY n. (3)
3 the flies the space above the stage in a theatre, used for lights and for storing SCENERY

flight noun, verb
noun
JOURNEY BY AIR
1 [C] a journey made by air, especially in a plane: a smooth/comfortable/bumpy flight a domestic/an international flight a hot-air balloon flight We met on a flight from London to Paris. All flights between New York and Washington have been cancelled due to fog.see also IN-FLIGHT
PLANE
2 [C] a plane making a particular journey: We're booked on the same flight. Flight BA 4793 is now boarding at Gate 17. If we leave now, I can catch the earlier flight. mercy/relief flights (= planes taking help to countries where there is a war)
FLYING
3 [U] the act of flying: the age of supersonic flight flight safety The bird is easily recognized in flight (= when it is flying) by the black band at the end of its tail.
MOVEMENT OF OBJECT
4 [U] the movement or direction of an object as it travels through the air: the flight of a ball
OF STEPS
5 [C] a series of steps between two floors or levels: She fell down a flight of stairs/steps and hurt her back.
RUNNING AWAY
6 [U, sing.] the act of running away from a dangerous or difficult situation: the flight of refugees from the advancing forces a flight from harsh reality The main character is a journalist in flight from a failed marriage.
OF FANCY/IMAGINATION
7 [C] ~ of fancy/imagination an idea or a statement that shows a lot of imagination but is not practical or sensible: This idea was one of my wilder flights of fancy.
GROUP OF BIRDS/AIRCRAFT
8 [C] a group of birds or aircraft flying together: a flight of geese They flew in two flights of three aircraft. an aircraft of the Queen's flight
in the first/top flight among the best of a particular group: This is the team's first season back in the top flight for more than 60 years.see also TOP-FLIGHT
put sb to flight (old-fashioned) to force sb to run away: The enemy was quickly put to flight.
take flight to run away: The gang took flight when they heard the police car.
verb [VN] [usually passive] (BrE, sport) to kick, hit or throw a ball through the air in a skilful way: He equalized with a beautifully flighted shot.

flight attendant noun a person whose job is to serve and take care of passengers on an aircraft

flight crew noun [C+sing./pl. v.] the people who work on a plane during a flight

flight deck noun
1 an area at the front of a large plane where the pilot sits to use the controls and fly the plane
2 a long flat surface on top of a ship that carries aircraft (= an AIRCRAFT CARRIER) where they take off and land

flight jacket noun (NAmE) = FLYING JACKET

flightless adj. [usually before noun] (of birds or insects) unable to fly

flight lieutenant noun (abbr. Flt. Lt.) an officer of fairly high rank in the British AIR FORCE: Flight Lieutenant Richard Clarkson

flight officer noun an officer of low rank in the US AIR FORCE

flight path noun the route taken by an aircraft through the air: The pilot was instructed to change his flight path. Residents are trying to have flight paths diverted away from their town.

flight recorder noun = BLACK BOX

flight sergeant noun a member of the British AIR FORCE, just below the rank of an officer: Flight Sergeant Bob Andrews

flight simulator noun a device that reproduces the conditions that exist when flying an aircraft, used for training pilots

flighty adj. (informal) a flighty woman is one who cannot be relied on because she is always changing activities, ideas and partners without treating them seriously

flimflam noun [U] (old-fashioned, informal) nonsense

flimsy adj. (flimsier, flimsiest)
1 badly made and not strong enough for the purpose for which it is used RICKETY: a flimsy table
2 (of material) thin and easily torn: a flimsy piece of paper/fabric/plastic
3 difficult to believe FEEBLE: a flimsy excuse/explanation The evidence against him is pretty flimsy. He keeps calling on the flimsiest of pretexts.
flimsily adv. flimsiness noun [U]

flinch verb [V] ~ (at sth)| ~ (away) to make a sudden movement with your face or body as a result of pain, fear, surprise, etc.: He flinched at the sight of the blood. She flinched away from the dog. He met my gaze without flinching. He didn't even flinch (= wasn't surprised) when I told him the price.see also UNFLINCHING
flinch from sth| flinch from doing sth (often used in negative sentences) to avoid thinking about or doing sth unpleasant: He never flinched from facing up to trouble.

fling verb, noun
verb (flung, flung )
1 [VN + adv. / prep.] to throw sb/sth somewhere with force, especially because you are angry HURL: Someone had flung a brick through the window. He flung her to the ground. The door was suddenly flung open. I was flung forward by the impact. He had his enemies flung into prison. note at THROW
2 [VN + adv. / prep.] to move yourself or part of your body suddenly and with a lot of force: She flung herself onto the bed. He flung out an arm to stop her from falling.
3 ~ sth (at sb) to say sth to sb in an aggressive way HURL: [VN] They were flinging insults at each other. [also V speech] see also FAR-FLUNG
fling yourself at sb (informal, disapproving) to make it too obvious to sb that you want to have a sexual relationship with them
fling yourself into sth to start to do sth with a lot of energy and enthusiasm: They flung themselves into the preparations for the party.
fling sthoff/on (informal) to take off or put on clothing in a quick and careless way: He flung off his coat and collapsed on the sofa.
fling sbout (BrE, informal) to make sb leave a place suddenly THROW OUT
fling sthout (BrE, informal) to get rid of sth that you do not want any longer THROW OUT
noun [usually sing.] (informal)
1 a short period of enjoyment when you do not allow yourself to worry or think seriously about anything: He was determined to have one last fling before retiring.
2 ~ (with sb) a short sexual relationship with sb: We had a brief fling, but it's over now.see also HIGHLAND FLING

flint noun
1 [U, C] a type of very hard grey stone that can produce a SPARK when it is hit against steel: prehistoric flint implements His eyes were as hard as flint.
2 [C] a piece of flint or hard metal that is used to produce a SPARK

flintlock NAmE noun a gun used in the past that produced a SPARK from a flint when the TRIGGER was pressed

flinty adj.
1 showing no emotion: a flinty look/gaze/stare
2 containing flint: flinty pebbles/soils

flip verb, noun, adj.
verb (-pp-)
1 to turn over into a different position with a sudden quick movement; to make sth do this: [V] The plane flipped and crashed. (figurative) She felt her heart flip (= with excitement, etc.). [VN] He flipped the lid open and looked inside the case.see also FLIP OVER
2 [VN] ~ sth (on/off) to press a button or switch in order to turn a machine, etc. on or off FLICK: to flip a switch She reached over and flipped off the light.
3 [VN + adv. / prep.] to throw sth somewhere using your thumb and/or fingers TOSS: They flipped a coin to decide who would get the ticket. He flipped the keys onto the desk.
4 [V] ~ (out) (informal) to become very angry, excited or unable to think clearly: She finally flipped under the pressure. He completely flipped when he saw the mess in the kitchen.
flip your lid (informal) to become very angry and lose control of what you are saying or doing GO MAD: She'll flip her lid when she finds out.
flip over to turn onto the other side or upside down: The car hit a tree and flipped over. He flipped over and sat up.
flip sthover to turn sth onto the other side or upside down: The wind flipped over several cars.
flip through sth to turn the pages of a book, etc. quickly and look at them without reading everything FLICK THROUGH: She flipped through the magazine looking for the letters page.
noun
1 [C] a small quick hit with a part of the body that causes sth to turn over: The whole thing was decided on the flip of a coin.
2 [C] a movement in which the body turns over in the air SOMERSAULT: The handstand was followed by a back flip. (figurative) Her heart did a flip.
3 [sing.] ~ through sth a quick look through the pages of a book, magazine, etc. FLICK: I had a quick flip through the report while I was waiting.
adj. (informal) = FLIPPANT: a flip answer/comment Don't be flip with me.

flip chart noun large sheets of paper fixed at the top to a stand so that they can be turned over, used for presenting information at a talk or meeting

flip-flop noun, verb
noun (NAmE also thong) a type of SANDAL (= open shoe) that has a piece of leather, etc. that goes between the big toe and the toe next to it: a pair of flip-flops
verb (-pp-) [V] ~ (on sth) (informal, especially NAmE) to change your opinion about sth, especially when you then hold the opposite opinion: The vice-president was accused of flip-flopping on several major issues.

flippant (also informal flip) adj. showing that you do not take sth as seriously as other people think you should: a flippant answer/attitude Sorry, I didn't mean to sound flippant. You can't afford to be flippant about such matters.
flippancy noun [U]: His flippancy conceals a deep insecurity. flippantly adv.: 'Oh dear,' he said flippantly.

flipper noun [usually pl.]
1 a flat part of the body of some sea animals such as SEALS and TURTLES, used for swimming
2 a long flat piece of rubber or plastic that you wear on your foot to help you swim more quickly, especially below the surface of the water

flip phone noun a small mobile phone/cellphone with a cover that opens upwards

flipping adj., adv. (BrE, informal) used as a mild swear word by some people to emphasize sth or to show that they are annoyed: I hate this flipping hotel! Flipping kids! It's flipping cold today!

flip side noun [usually sing.] ~ (of/to sth)
1 different and less welcome aspects of an idea, argument or action: It was only after they were married that she began to see the flip side of the fairy tale.
2 (old-fashioned) the side of a record that does not have the main song or piece of music on it

flirt NAmE verb, noun
verb [V] ~ (with sb) to behave towards sb as if you find them sexually attractive, without seriously wanting to have a relationship with them: He flirts outrageously with his female clients.
flirt with sth
1 to think about or be interested in sth for a short time but not very seriously: She flirted with the idea of becoming an actress when she was younger.
2 to take risks or not worry about a dangerous situation that may happen: to flirt with danger/death/disaster
noun [usually sing.] a person who flirts with a lot of people: She's a real flirt.

flirtation NAmE noun
1 [C, U] ~ with sth a short period of time during which sb is involved or interested in sth, often not seriously: a brief and unsuccessful flirtation with the property market
2 [U] behaviour that shows you find sb sexually attractive but are not serious about them: Frank's efforts at flirtation had become tiresome to her.
3 [C] ~ (with sb) a short sexual relationship with sb that is not taken seriously: She had a mild flirtation with him when they first met.

flirtatious NAmE (also informal flirty) adj. behaving in a way that shows a sexual attraction to sb that is not serious: a flirtatious young woman a flirtatious smile
flirtatiously adv. flirtatiousness noun [U]

flit verb, noun
verb (-tt-)
1 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] ~ (from A to B)| ~ (between A and B) to move lightly and quickly from one place or thing to another: Butterflies flitted from flower to flower. He flits from one job to another. A smile flitted across his face. A thought flitted through my mind.
2 [V] (ScotE) to change the place where you live: I had to change schools every time my parents flitted.
noun
do a moonlight/midnight flit (BrE, informal) to leave a place suddenly and secretly at night, usually in order to avoid paying money that you owe to sb

float NAmE verb, noun
verb
ON WATER/IN AIR
1 [V + adv. / prep.] to move slowly on water or in the air DRIFT: A group of swans floated by. The smell of new bread floated up from the kitchen. Beautiful music came floating out of the window. The boats were floating gently down the river. (figurative) An idea suddenly floated into my mind. (figurative) People seem to float in and out of my life.
2 [V] ~ (in/on sth) to stay on or near the surface of a liquid and not sink: Wood floats. A plastic bag was floating in the water. Can you float on your back?
3 [VN] to make sth move on or near the surface of a liquid: There wasn't enough water to float the ship. They float the logs down the river to the towns.
WALK LIGHTLY
4 [V + adv. / prep.] (literary) to walk or move in a smooth and easy way GLIDE: She floated down the steps to greet us.
SUGGEST IDEA
5 [VN] to suggest an idea or a plan for other people to consider: They floated the idea of increased taxes on alcohol.
BUSINESS/ECONOMICS
6 [VN] (business) to sell shares in a company or business to the public for the first time: The company was floated on the stock market in 2001. Shares were floated at 585p.
7 [VN, V] (economics) if a government floats its country's money or allows it to float, it allows its value to change freely according to the value of the money of other countries
float sb's boat (informal) to be what sb likes: You can listen to whatever kind of music floats your boat.more at AIR n.
float about/around (usually used in the progressive tenses) if an idea, etc. is floating around, it is talked about by a number of people or passed from one person to another: There's a rumour floating around that you're thinking of leaving.
noun
VEHICLE
1 a large vehicle on which people dressed in special COSTUMES are carried in a festival: a carnival float
IN FISHING
2 a small light object attached to a FISHING LINE that stays on the surface of the water and moves when a fish has been caught: float fishing
FOR SWIMMING
3 a light object that floats in the water and is held by a person who is learning to swim to stop them from sinking
DRINK
4 (NAmE) a drink with ice cream floating in it: a Coke float
MONEY
5 (especially BrE) a sum of money consisting of coins and notes of low value that is given to sb before they start selling things so that they can give customers change
BUSINESS
6 = FLOTATION

floater NAmE noun (medical) a very small object inside a person's eye which they see moving up and down

floating NAmE adj. [usually before noun] not fixed permanently in one particular position or place: floating exchange rates a floating population (= one in which people frequently move from one place to another) (medical) a floating kidney

floating rib (also false rib) noun (anatomy) any of the lower RIBS which are not attached to the BREASTBONE

floating voter (BrE) (NAmE swing voter) noun a person who does not always vote for the same political party and who has not decided which party to vote for in an election

floaty NAmE adj. (of cloth or clothing) very light and thin

flock NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] ~ (of sth) a group of sheep, GOATS or birds of the same typecompare HERD
2 [C+sing./pl. v.] ~ (of sb) a large group of people, especially of the same type: a flock of children/reporters They came in flocks to see the procession.
3 [C+sing./pl. v.] (literary) the group of people who regularly attend the church of a particular priest, etc.
4 [U] small pieces of soft material used for filling CUSHIONS, chairs, etc.: a flock mattress
5 [U] small pieces of soft material on the surface of paper or cloth that produce a raised pattern: flock wallpaper
verb to go or gather together somewhere in large numbers: [V + adv. / prep.] Thousands of people flocked to the beach this weekend. Huge numbers of birds had flocked together by the lake. [V to inf] People flocked to hear him speak. see BIRD

floe NAmE noun = ICE FLOE

flog NAmE verb (-gg-)
1 [VN] [often passive] to punish sb by hitting them many times with a WHIP or stick: He was publicly flogged for breaking the country's alcohol laws.
2 ~ sth (to sb)| ~ sth (off) (BrE, informal) to sell sth to sb: [VN] She flogged her guitar to another student. We buy them cheaply and then flog them off at a profit. [VNN] I had a letter from a company trying to flog me insurance.
flog a dead horse (BrE, informal) to waste your effort by trying to do sth that is no longer possible
flog sth to death (BrE, informal) to use an idea, a story, etc. so often that it is no longer interesting: The story has been flogged to death in the press.

flogging NAmE noun [C, U] a punishment in which sb is hit many times with a WHIP or stick: a public flogging calls to bring back flogging

flood noun, verb
noun
WATER
1 [C, U] a large amount of water covering an area that is usually dry: The heavy rain has caused floods in many parts of the country. flood damage Police have issued flood warnings for Nevada. an appeal to help flood victims the Thames flood barrier The river is in flood (= has more water in it than normal and has caused a flood).see also FLASH FLOOD
LARGE NUMBER
2 [C] ~ (of sth) a very large number of things or people that appear at the same time: a flood of complaints a flood of refugees The child was in floods of tears (= crying a lot).
IN BIBLE
3 the Flood [sing.] the great flood that covered the world in the Bible story: before the Flood (= a very long time ago)
verb
FILL WITH WATER
1 if a place floods or sth floods it, it becomes filled or covered with water: [V] The cellar floods whenever it rains heavily. [VN] If the pipe bursts it could flood the whole house.
OF RIVER
2 to become so full that it spreads out onto the land around it: [V] When the Ganges floods, it causes considerable damage. [VN] The river flooded the valley.
LARGE NUMBERS
3 [V] ~ in/into/out of sth to arrive or go somewhere in large numbers POUR: Refugees continue to flood into neighbouring countries. Telephone calls came flooding in from all over the country.
4 [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth with sth to send sth somewhere in large numbers: The office was flooded with applications for the job. We've been flooded with complaints.
5 [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to become or make sth become available in a place in large numbers: Cheap imported goods are flooding the market. A man who planned to flood Britain with cocaine was jailed for 15 years.
OF FEELING/THOUGHT
6 to affect sb suddenly and strongly: [V + adv. / prep.] A great sense of relief flooded over him. Memories of her childhood came flooding back. [VN] The words flooded him with self-pity.
OF LIGHT/COLOUR
7 to spread suddenly into sth; to cover sth: [V + adv. / prep.] She drew the curtains and the sunlight flooded in. [VN] She looked away as the colour flooded her cheeks. The room was flooded with evening light.
ENGINE
8 [V, VN] if an engine floods or if you flood it, it becomes so full of petrol/gas that it will not start

flooded adj.: flooded fields flooding noun [U]: There will be heavy rain with flooding in some areas.
flood sbout [usually passive] to force sb to leave their home because of a flood

floodgate noun [usually pl.] a gate that can be opened or closed to control the flow of water on a river: (figurative) If the case is successful, it may open the floodgates to more damages claims against the industry (= start sth that will be difficult to stop).

floodlight noun, verb
noun [usually pl.] a large powerful lamp, used for lighting sports grounds, theatre stages and the outside of buildings: a match played under floodlights
floodlighting noun [U]: The floodlighting had been turned off.
verb (floodlit, floodlit ) [VN] [usually passive] to light a place or a building using floodlights: The swimming pool is floodlit in the evenings. floodlit tennis courts They floodlight the aqueduct each night.

flood plain noun an area of flat land beside a river that regularly becomes flooded when there is too much water in the river

flood tide noun a very high rise in the level of the sea as it moves in towards the coastcompare HIGH TIDE

floodwater NAmE noun [U] (also floodwaters [pl.]) water that covers land after there has been a flood: The floodwaters have now receded.

floor noun, verb
noun
OF ROOM
1 [C, usually sing.] the surface of a room that you walk on: a wooden/concrete/marble, etc. floor ceramic floor tiles The body was lying on the kitchen floor. The furniture and floor coverings date from the 1920s. The alterations should give us extra floor space.
OF VEHICLE
2 (NAmE also floorboard) [C, usually sing.] the bottom surface of a vehicle: The floor of the car was covered in cigarette ends.
LEVEL OF BUILDING
3 [C] all the rooms that are on the same level of a building: Her office is on the second floor. the Irish guy who lives two floors above There is a lift to all floors. Their house is on three floors (= it has three floors).see also GROUND FLOOR note at STOREY
OF THE SEA/FORESTS
4 [C, usually sing.] the ground at the bottom of the sea, a forest, etc.: the ocean/valley/cave/forest floor
IN PARLIAMENT, etc.
5 the floor [sing.] the part of a building where discussions or debates are held, especially in a parliament; the people who attend a discussion or debate: Opposition politicians registered their protest on the floor of the House. We will now take any questions from the floor.
AREA FOR WORK
6 [C, usually sing.] an area in a building that is used for a particular activity: on the floor of the Stock Exchange (= where trading takes place)see also DANCE FLOOR, FACTORY FLOOR, SHOP FLOOR
FOR WAGES/PRICES
7 [C, usually sing.] the lowest level allowed for wages or prices: Prices have gone through the floor (= fallen to a very low level).compare CEILING (2)
get/be given/have the floor to get/be given/have the right to speak during a discussion or debate
hold the floor to speak during a discussion or debate, especially for a long time so that nobody else is able to say anything: She held the floor for over an hour.
take (to) the floor to start dancing on a DANCE FLOOR: Couples took the floor for the last dance of the evening.
wipe/mop the floor with sb (informal) to defeat sb completely in an argument or a competitionmore at GROUND FLOOR
verb [VN]
SURPRISE/CONFUSE
1 to surprise or confuse sb so that they are not sure what to say or do: His reply completely floored me.
HIT
2 [usually passive] to make sb fall down by hitting them, especially in a sport: He was floored by the first punch.
BUILDING/ROOM
3 [usually passive] to provide a building or room with a floor

SYNONYMS

floor

ground land earth soil

These are all words for the surface that you walk on.

floor the surface of a room that you walk on: She was sitting on the floor watching TV.

ground (often the ground) the solid surface of the earth that you walk on: I found her lying on the ground. The rocket crashed a few seconds after it left the ground.

land the surface of the earth that is not sea: It was good to be back on dry land again. They fought both at sea and on land.

earth (often the earth) the solid surface of the world that is made of rock, soil, sand, etc.: You could feel the earth shake as the truck came closer.

GROUND, LAND OR EARTH?

Ground is the normal word for the solid surface that you walk on when you are not in a building or vehicle. You can use earth if you want to draw attention to the rock, soil etc. that the ground is made of, but ground can also be used in any of these examples. Land is only used when you want to contrast it with the sea: the land beneath our feet feel the land shake sight ground/earth travel by ground/earth

soil (literary) a country; an area of land: It was the first time I had set foot on American soil. This meaning of soil is almost always used in the phrase on African/British/Indian, etc. soil, meaning 'in Africa/Britain/India, etc.'

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

under the floor/ground/earth

on the floor/ground/earth

bare floor/ground/earth

to drop to/fall to/hit the floor/the ground/(the) earth

to reach the floor/the ground/land

BRITISH/AMERICAN

floor

In BrE the floor of a building at street level is the ground floor, the one above it is the first floor and the one below it is the basement, or lower ground floor in a public building.

In NAmE the floor at street level is usually called the first floor, the one above it is the second floor and the one below it is the basement. In public buildings the floor at street level can also be called the ground floor.

note at STOREY

floorboard NAmE noun
1 a long flat piece of wood in a wooden floor: bare/polished floorboards The money was hidden under the floorboards.
2 [usually sing.] (NAmE) = FLOOR (2): a car floorboard He had his foot to the floorboard (= was going very fast).

floorcloth NAmE noun (BrE) a cloth for cleaning floors

flooring noun [U] material used to make the floor of a room: vinyl/wooden flooring kitchen/bathroom flooring

floor lamp noun = STANDARD LAMP

floor manager noun the person responsible for the lighting and other technical arrangements for a television production

floor plan noun (technical) a drawing of the shape of a room or building, as seen from above, showing the position of the furniture, etc.

floor show noun a series of performances by singers, dancers, etc. at a restaurant or club

floozy (also floozie) noun (pl. -ies) (old-fashioned, informal, disapproving) a woman who has sexual relationships with many different men

flop NAmE verb, noun
verb (-pp-) [V]
1 ~ into/on sth| ~ (down/back) to sit or lie down in a heavy and sudden way because you are very tired: Exhausted, he flopped down into a chair.
2 [+adv./prep.] to fall, move or hang in a heavy or awkward way, without control: Her hair flopped over her eyes. The young man flopped back, unconscious. The fish were flopping around in the bottom of the boat.
3 (informal) to be a complete failure: The play flopped on Broadway. England flopped in the European Championship.
noun a film/movie, play, party, etc. that is not successful HIT: a box-office flop The share sale has been a flop with investors.see also BELLYFLOP

flophouse NAmE noun (NAmE) = DOSSHOUSE

floppy NAmE adj. (floppier, floppiest) hanging or falling loosely; not hard and stiff: a floppy hat the puppy's floppy ears

floppy disk (also floppy pl. -ies) (also diskette) noun a flat disk inside a plastic cover, that is used to store data in the form that a computer can read, and that can be removed from the computercompare HARD DISK

flora noun [U] (technical) the plants of a particular area, type of environment or period of time: alpine flora rare species of flora and fauna (= plants and animals)

floral adj. [usually before noun]
1 consisting of pictures of flowers; decorated with pictures of flowers: wallpaper with a floral design/pattern a floral dress
2 made of flowers: a floral arrangement/display Floral tributes were sent to the church. a beautiful floral scent

florentine NAmE adj., noun
adj. (of food) served on SPINACH: eggs florentine
noun a biscuit/cookie containing nuts and fruit, half covered in chocolate

floret NAmE noun a flower part of some vegetables, for example BROCCOLI and CAULIFLOWER. Each vegetable has several florets coming from one main STEM.

floribunda NAmE noun (technical) a plant, especially a ROSE, with flowers that grow very close together in groups

florid NAmE adj.
1 (of a person's face) red: a florid complexion
2 (usually disapproving) having too much decoration or detail: florid language a florid style of painting
floridly adv.

florin NAmE noun an old British coin worth two SHILLINGS (= now 10p)

florist NAmE noun
1 a person who owns or works in a shop/store that sells flowers and plants
2 florist's (pl. florists) a shop/store that sells flowers and plants: I've ordered some flowers from the florist's.

floss NAmE noun, verb
noun [U]
1 = DENTAL FLOSS
2 thin silk threadsee also CANDYFLOSS
verb [V, VN] to clean between your teeth with DENTAL FLOSS

flotation NAmE noun
1 (also float) [C, U] (business) the process of selling shares in a company to the public for the first time in order to raise money: plans for (a) flotation on the stock exchange a stock-market flotation
2 [U] the act of floating on or in water

flotation tank noun a container filled with salt water in which people float in the dark as a way of relaxing

flotilla NAmE noun a group of boats or small ships sailing together

flotsam NAmE noun [U]
1 parts of boats, pieces of wood or rubbish/garbage, etc. that are found on land near the sea or floating on the sea; any kind of rubbish/garbage: The beaches are wide and filled with interesting flotsam and jetsam.compare JETSAM
2 people who have no home or job and who move from place to place, often rejected by society: the human flotsam of inner cities

flounce verb, noun
verb [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to move somewhere in a way that draws attention to yourself, for example because you are angry or upset: She flounced out of the room.
noun
1 a strip of cloth that is sewn around the edge of a skirt, dress, curtain, etc.: little girls dressed in frills and flounces
2 a quick and exaggerated movement that you make when you are angry or want people to notice you: She left the room with a flounce.
flounced adj.: a flounced skirt

flounder verb, noun
verb
1 to struggle to know what to say or do or how to continue with sth: [V] His abrupt change of subject left her floundering helplessly. [also V speech]
2 [V] to have a lot of problems and to be in danger of failing completely: At that time the industry was floundering. The new democracy there continues to flounder.
3 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to struggle to move or get somewhere in water, mud, etc.: She was floundering around in the deep end of the swimming pool. A man came floundering through the snow towards us.
noun (pl. flounder or flounders) a small flat sea fish that is used for food

flour noun, verb
noun [U] a fine white or brown powder made from grain, especially WHEAT, and used in cooking for making bread, cakes, etc.see also PLAIN FLOUR, SELF-RAISING FLOUR
verb [VN] [usually passive] to cover sth with a layer of flour: Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface.

flourish NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 [V] to develop quickly and be successful or common THRIVE: Few businesses are flourishing in the present economic climate. The arts began to flourish at that time. There was a flourishing black market.
2 [V] to grow well; to be healthy and happy THRIVE: These plants flourish in a damp climate. (especially BrE) I'm glad to hear you're all flourishing.
3 [VN] to wave sth around in a way that makes people look at it: He rushed into the room flourishing the newspaper.
noun
1 [usually sing.] an exaggerated movement that you make when you want sb to notice you: He opened the door for her with a flourish.
2 [usually sing.] an impressive act or way of doing sth: The season ended with a flourish for Owen, when he scored in the final minute of the match.
3 details and decoration that are used in speech or writing: a speech full of rhetorical flourishes His writing is plain and direct, with no stylistic flourishes.
4 a curved line, that is used as decoration, especially in writing: Her signature was a complicated affair of practised flourishes.
5 [usually sing.] a loud short piece of music, that is usually played to announce an important person or event: a flourish of trumpets

floury adj.
1 covered with flour: floury hands
2 like flour; tasting of flour: a floury texture
3 (of potatoes) soft and light when they are cooked

flout verb [VN] to show that you have no respect for a law, etc. by openly not obeying it DEFY: Motorists regularly flout the law. to flout authority/convention

flow NAmE noun, verb
noun [C, usually sing., U]
CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT
1 ~ (of sth/sb) the steady and continuous movement of sth/sb in one direction: She tried to stop the flow of blood from the wound. an endless flow of refugees into the country to improve traffic flow (= make it move faster) to control the direction of flow a steady flow of traffic through the city the flow of an electric current
PRODUCTION/SUPPLY
2 ~ (of sth) the continuous production or supply of sth: the flow of goods and services to remote areas to encourage the free flow of information data flowsee also CASH FLOW
OF SPEECH/WRITING
3 continuous talk by sb: You've interrupted my flowI can't remember what I was saying. As usual, Tom was in full flow.
4 ~ of sth the way that words and ideas are linked together in speech or writing: Too many examples can interrupt the smooth flow of the text. I found it hard to follow the flow of the argument.
OF THE SEA
5 the movement of the sea towards the land: the ebb and flow of the tide
go with the flow (informal) to be relaxed and not worry about what you should domore at EBB n.
verb [V]
MOVE CONTINUOUSLY
1 ~ (back/down, etc.)| ~ (into, through, etc. sth) (of liquid, gas or electricity) to move steadily and continuously in one direction: It's here that the river flows down into the ocean. Blood flowed from a cut on her head. This can prevent air from flowing freely to the lungs. the electric currents flowing through the cables She lost control and the tears began to flow.
2 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] (of people or things) to move or pass continuously from one place or person to another, especially in large numbers or amounts: constant streams of traffic flowed past. Election results flowed in throughout the night. They examined the way in which information flowed between the firm's 300 employees.
OF IDEAS/CONVERSATION
3 to develop or be produced in an easy and natural way: Conversation flowed freely throughout the meal. We hope that the debate on this issue will continue to flow.
BE AVAILABLE EASILY
4 to be available easily and in large amounts: It was obvious that money flowed freely in their family. The party got livelier as the drink began to flow.
OF FEELING
5 [+adv./prep.] to be felt strongly by sb: Fear and excitement suddenly flowed over me. He envied the affection that flowed between the boy and the old man.
OF CLOTHES/HAIR
6 ~ (down/over sth) to hang loosely and freely: Her hair flowed down over her shoulders. long flowing skirts
OF THE SEA
7 (of the TIDE in the sea/ocean) to come in towards the land EBB v.
flow from sth (formal) to come or result from sth: These changes flowed from the reorganization of the company.

flow chart (also flow diagram) noun a diagram that shows the connections between the different stages of a process or parts of a system: a flow chart showing what happens to the product between manufacture and final delivery

flower noun, verb
noun
1 the coloured part of a plant from which the seed or fruit develops. Flowers usually grow at the end of a STEM and last only a short time: The plant has a beautiful bright red flower. The roses are in flower early this year. The crocuses are late coming into flower.
2 a plant grown for the beauty of its flowers: a garden full of flowers a flower garden/show
3 a flower with its STEM that has been picked as a decoration: I picked some flowers. a bunch of flowers a flower arrangementsee also BOUQUET
the flower of sth (literary) the finest or best part of sth: They were cut down in the flower of their youth.
verb [V]
1 (of a plant or tree) to produce flowers BLOOM: This particular variety flowers in July. early-flowering spring bulbs
2 (literary) to develop and become successful BLOSSOM

flower arranging noun [U] the art of arranging cut flowers in an attractive way

flower bed noun a piece of ground in a garden/yard or park where flowers are grown: a garden with beautifully kept flower beds

flowered NAmE adj. [usually before noun] decorated with patterns of flowers

flowering noun
1 [U] the time when a plant has flowers: Plant bulbs in September for spring flowering.
2 [C, usually sing.] ~ of sth the time when sth, especially a period of new ideas in art, music, science, etc., reaches its most complete and successful stage of development: the flowering of Viennese intellectual life the flowering of democracy

flowerpot NAmE noun a container made of plastic or CLAY for growing plants in

flower power noun [U] the culture connected with young people of the 1960s and early 1970s who believed in love and peace and were against war

flowery adj. [usually before noun]
1 covered with flowers or decorated with pictures of flowers: flowery meadows flowery wallpaper
2 smelling or tasting of flowers: flowery perfume a flowery sparkling wine
3 (usually disapproving) (of speech or writing) too complicated; not expressed in a clear and simple way: flowery language/prose

flown pp of FLY

flow-on noun, adj. (AustralE, NZE)
noun an increase in pay or an improvement in working conditions that is made because one has already been given in a similar job
adj. flow-on effects, etc. are ones that happen as a result of sth else

fl oz abbr. (pl. fl oz) (in writing) FLUID OUNCE: Add 8 fl oz water.

flu (often the flu) (also formal influenza) noun [U] an infectious disease like a very bad cold, that causes fever, pains and weakness: The whole family has the flu. (BrE) She's got flu.

flub verb (-bb-) (NAmE, informal) to do sth badly or make a mistake FLUFF, BUNGLE: [VN] She flubbed the first line of the song. [also V]
flub noun

fluctuate verb [V] ~ (between A and B) to change frequently in size, amount, quality, etc., especially from one extreme to another VARY: fluctuating prices During the crisis, oil prices fluctuated between $20 and $40 a barrel. Temperatures can fluctuate by as much as 10 degrees. The documentary follows the fluctuating fortunes of one marketing company. My weight fluctuated wildly depending on how much I ate. My mood seems to fluctuate from day to day. The rate of inflation has been fluctuating around 4% for some time.
fluctuation noun [C, U] ~ (in/of sth): wild fluctuations in interest rates

flue noun a pipe or tube that takes smoke, gas or hot air away from a fire, a HEATER or an oven: a blocked chimney flue

fluency noun [U, sing.]
1 the quality of being able to speak or write a language, especially a foreign language, easily and well: Fluency in French is required for this job. to build up a fluency in written and spoken English
2 the quality of doing sth in a smooth and skilful way: The team lacked fluency during the first half.

fluent adj.
1 ~ (in sth) able to speak, read or write a language, especially a foreign language, easily and well: She's fluent in Polish. a fluent speaker/reader 'Can he speak German?' 'Yes, he's fluent.'
2 (of a language, especially a foreign language) expressed easily and well: He speaks fluent Italian.
3 (of an action) done in a smooth and skilful way: fluent handwriting fluent movements
fluently adv.: She speaks German fluently. a child just beginning to read fluently

fluff noun, verb
noun [U]
1 (BrE) (also lint NAmE, BrE) small pieces of wool, cotton, etc. that gather on clothes and other surfaces: This sweater is covered in fluff.
2 soft animal fur or bird feathers, that is found especially on young animals or birds: The baby birds were still covered in fluff.
3 (informal, especially NAmE) entertainment that is not serious and is not considered to have great value
verb [VN]
1 (informal) to do sth badly or to fail at sth BUNGLE: He completely fluffed an easy shot (= in sport). Most actors fluff their lines occasionally.
2 ~ sth (out/up) to shake or brush sth so that it looks larger and/or softer: The female sat on the eggs, fluffing out her feathers. Let me fluff up your pillows for you.

fluffy adj. (fluffier, fluffiest)
1 like fluff; covered in fluff: a little fluffy kitten
2 (of food) soft, light and containing air: Beat the butter and sugar until soft and fluffy.
3 looking as if it is soft and light: fluffy white clouds

flugelhorn NAmE noun a BRASS musical instrument like a small TRUMPET

fluid noun, adj.
noun [C, U] a liquid; a substance that can flow: body fluids (= for example, blood) The doctor told him to drink plenty of fluids. cleaning fluid
adj.
1 (formal) (of movements, designs, music, etc.) smooth and elegant FLOWING: a loose, fluid style of dancing fluid guitar playing the fluid lines of the drawing
2 (formal) (of a situation) likely to change; not fixed: a fluid political situation a fluid relationship between managers and staff the growth of a socially fluid urban society
3 (technical) that can flow freely, as gases and liquids do: a fluid consistency

fluidity noun [U]
1 (formal) the quality of being smooth and elegant: She danced with great fluidity of movement.
2 (formal) the quality of being likely to change: the fluidity of human behaviour social fluidity
3 (technical) the quality of being able to flow freely, as gases and liquids do

fluid ounce noun (abbr. fl oz) a unit for measuring liquids. There are 20 fluid ounces in a British pint and 16 in an American pint.

fluke noun [usually sing.] (informal) a lucky or unusual thing that happens by accident, not because of planning or skill: They are determined to show that their last win was no fluke. It was a sheer fluke that no one was hurt in the bomb blast. a fluke goal
fluky (also flukey) adj.

flume noun
1 a narrow channel made to carry water for use in industry
2 a water CHUTE (= a tube for sliding down) at an AMUSEMENT PARK or a swimming pool: Heated to 29° the pool has flume rides and a wave machine.

flummery noun [U] nonsense, especially praise that is silly or not sincere: She hated the flummery of public relations.

flummox verb [VN] [usually passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) (informal) to confuse sb so that they do not know what to say or do: I was flummoxed by her question.
flummoxed adj.

flung pt, pp of FLING

flunk verb (informal, especially NAmE)
1 to fail an exam, a test or a course: [VN] I flunked math in second grade. [also V]
2 [VN] to make sb fail an exam, a test, or a course by giving them a low mark/grade: She's flunked 13 of the 18 students.
flunk out (of sth) (NAmE, informal) to have to leave a school or college because your marks/grades are not good enough: He flunked out of college after four semesters.

flunkey (also flunky) noun (pl. -eys or -ies)
1 (disapproving) a person who tries to please sb who is important and powerful by doing small jobs for them: The minister arrived, surrounded by the usual subservient flunkeys.
2 (old-fashioned) a servant in uniform: a team of hired flunkeys

fluorescent NAmE adj.
1 (of substances) producing bright light by using some forms of RADIATION: a fluorescent lamp (= one that uses such a substance) fluorescent lighting note at BRIGHT
2 (of a colour, material, etc.) appearing very bright when light shines on it; that can be seen in the dark: fluorescent armbands worn by cyclistscompare PHOSPHORESCENT note at BRIGHT
fluorescence noun [U]

fluoridation BrE NAmE noun [U] the practice of adding fluoride to drinking water to prevent tooth decay

fluoride BrE NAmE noun a chemical containing fluorine that protects teeth from decay and is often added to TOOTHPASTE and sometimes to drinking water

fluorine BrE NAmE noun [U] (symb F) a chemical element. Fluorine is a poisonous pale yellow gas and is very REACTIVE.

flurried NAmE adj. nervous and confused; especially because there is too much to do FLUSTERED: She hoped he wouldn't notice her pink cheeks and flurried manner.

flurry NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [usually sing.] an occasion when there is a lot of activity, interest, excitement, etc. within a short period of time: a sudden flurry of activity Her arrival caused a flurry of excitement. A flurry of shots rang out in the darkness.
2 a small amount of snow, rain, etc. that falls for a short time and then stops: snow flurries flurries of snow
3 a sudden short movement of paper or cloth, especially clothes: The ladies departed in a flurry of silks and satins.

flush verb, noun, adj.
verb
1 (of a person or their face) to become red, especially because you are embarrassed, angry or hot: [V] She flushed with anger. [V-ADJ] Sam felt her cheeks flush red. [also VN]
2 [V, VN] when a toilet flushes or you flush it, water passes through it to clean it, after a handle, etc. has been pressed
3 [VN] ~ sth out (with sth)| ~ sth through sth to clean sth by causing water to pass through it: Flush the pipe out with clean water. Flush clean water through the pipe.
4 [VN + adv. / prep.] to get rid of sth with a sudden flow of water: They flushed the drugs down the toilet. Drinking lots of water will help to flush toxins out of the body. Gallons of toxic waste were flushed into the sea.
flush sb/sth out (of sth)| flush sb/sthout to force a person or an animal to leave the place where they are hiding
noun
1 [C, usually sing.] a red colour that appears on your face or body because you are embarrassed, excited or hot: A pink flush spread over his cheeks.see also HOT FLUSH
2 [C, usually sing.] a sudden strong feeling; the hot feeling on your face or body caused by this: a flush of anger/embarrassment/enthusiasm/guilt
3 [sing.] the act of cleaning a toilet with a sudden flow of water: Give the toilet a flush.
4 [C] (in card games) a set of cards that a player has that are all of the same SUIT: a royal flush (= the five highest cards of a SUIT)
(in) the first flush of sth (formal) (at) a time when sth is new, exciting and strong: in the first flush of youth/enthusiasm/romance
adj. [not before noun]
1 (informal) having a lot of money, usually for a short time: I'm flush this weekI'll pay. flush with cash
2 ~ with sth (of two surfaces) completely level with each other: Make sure the paving stones are flush with the lawn.

flushed adj. (of a person) red; with a red face: flushed cheeks You look flushedhave you been running? Her face was flushed with anger. (figurative) He was flushed with success (= very excited and pleased) after his first novel was published.

fluster verb, noun
verb [VN] [often passive] to make sb nervous and/or confused, especially by giving them a lot to do or by making them hurry: Don't fluster me or I'll never be ready. He was flustered by all the attention.
flustered adj. FLURRIED: She arrived late, looking hot and flustered.
noun [sing.] (BrE) a state of being nervous and confused: to be in a terrible fluster

flute noun
1 a musical instrument of the WOODWIND group, shaped like a thin pipe. The player holds it sideways and blows across a hole at one end.
2 champagne ~ a tall narrow glass used for drinking CHAMPAGNE

fluted adj. (especially of a round object) with a pattern of curves cut around the outside: fluted columns
fluting noun [U]

flutist noun (NAmE) = FLAUTIST

flutter verb, noun
verb
1 to move lightly and quickly; to make sth move in this way: [V] Flags fluttered in the breeze. Her eyelids fluttered but did not open. [VN] He fluttered his hands around wildly. She fluttered her eyelashes at him (= tried to attract him in order to persuade him to do sth).
2 [V, VN] when a bird or an insect flutters its wings, or its wings flutter, the wings move lightly and quickly up and down
3 [V + adv. / prep.] (of a bird or an insect) to fly somewhere moving the wings quickly and lightly: The butterfly fluttered from flower to flower.
4 [V] (of your heart, etc.) to beat very quickly and not regularly: I could feel a fluttering pulse. (figurative) The sound of his voice in the hall made her heart flutter. (figurative) He felt his stomach flutter (= he felt nervous) when they called his name.
noun
1 [C, usually sing.] a quick, light movement: the flutter of wings with a flutter of her long, dark eyelashes (figurative) to feel a flutter of panic in your stomach
2 [C, usually sing.] ~ (on sth) (BrE, informal) a small bet: to have a flutter on the horses
3 [sing.] a state of nervous or confused excitement: Her sudden arrival caused quite a flutter. to be in a flutter/to be all of a flutter
4 [C] a very fast HEARTBEAT, caused when sb is nervous or excited: Her heart gave a flutter when she saw him.
5 [U] (medical) a medical condition in which you have a fast, unsteady HEARTBEAT
6 [U] (technical) rapid changes in the PITCH or volume of recorded soundcompare WOW

fluvial adj. (technical) connected with rivers: fluvial erosion/deposits

flux noun
1 [U] continuous movement and change: Our society is in a state of flux.
2 [C, usually sing., U] (technical) a flow; an act of flowing: a flux of neutrons

fly verb, noun, adj.
verb (flies, flying, flew flown NAmE ) In sense 15 flied is used for the past tense and past participle.
OF BIRD/INSECT
1 [V] to move through the air, using wings: A stork flew slowly past. A wasp had flown in through the window.
AIRCRAFT/SPACECRAFT
2 [V] (of an aircraft or a SPACECRAFT) to move through air or space: They were on a plane flying from London to New York. to fly at the speed of sound Lufthansa fly to La Paz from Frankfurt.
3 [V] to travel in an aircraft or a SPACECRAFT: I'm flying to Hong Kong tomorrow. Is this the first time that you've flown? I always fly business class. We're flying KLM.
4 to control an aircraft, etc. in the air: [VN] a pilot trained to fly large passenger planes children flying kites [V] He's learning to fly.
5 [VN + adv. / prep.] to transport goods or passengers in a plane: The stranded tourists were finally flown home. He had flowers specially flown in for the ceremony.
6 [VN] to travel over an ocean or area of land in an aircraft: to fly the Atlantic
MOVE QUICKLY/SUDDENLY
7 [V, often + adv. / prep.] to go or move quickly: The train was flying along. She gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. It's lateI must fly.
8 [usually +adv./prep.] to move suddenly and with force: [V] A large stone came flying in through the window. Several people were hit by flying glass. [V-ADJ] David gave the door a kick and it flew open.
OF TIME
9 [V] ~ (by/past) to seem to pass very quickly: Doesn't time fly? Summer has just flown by.
FLAG
10 if a flag flies, or if you fly it, it is displayed, for example on a long pole: [VN] to fly the Stars and Stripes [V] Flags were flying at half mast on all public buildings.
MOVE FREELY
11 [V] to move around freely: hair flying in the wind
OF STORIES/RUMOURS
12 [V] to be talked about by many people
ESCAPE
13 (formal) to escape from sb/sth: [VN] Both suspects have flown the country. [also V] compare FLEE
OF PLAN
14 [V] (NAmE) to be successful: It remains to be seen whether his project will fly.
IN BASEBALL
15 (flies, flying, flied, flied) [V, VN] to hit a ball high into the air
fly the coop (informal, especially NAmE) to escape from a place
fly high to be successful: British cinema has been flying high recently, winning several coveted awards.
fly in the face of sth to oppose or be the opposite of sth that is usual or expected: Such a proposal is flying in the face of common sense.
fly into a rage, temper, etc. to become suddenly very angry
(go) fly a/your kite (NAmE, informal) used to tell sb to go away and stop annoying you or INTERFERING
fly the nest
1 (of a young bird) to become able to fly and leave its nest
2 (informal) (of sb's child) to leave home and live somewhere else
fly off the handle (informal) to suddenly become very angry: He seems to fly off the handle about the slightest thing these days.
go flying (BrE, informal) to fall, especially as a result of not seeing sth under your feet: Someone's going to go flying if you don't pick up these toys.
let fly (at sb/sth) (with sth) to attack sb by hitting them or speaking angrily to them: He let fly at me with his fist. She let fly with a stream of abuse.more at BIRD, CROW n., FLAG n., PIG n., SEAT n., TANGENT, TIME n., WINDOW
fly at sb (of a person or an animal) to attack sb suddenly: He flew at me without warning.
noun (pl. flies)
INSECT
1 [C] a small flying insect with two wings. There are many different types of fly: A fly was buzzing against the window. Flies rose in thick black swarms.
IN FISHING
2 [C] a fly or sth made to look like a fly, that is put on a hook and used as BAIT to catch fish: fly-fishing
ON TROUSERS/PANTS
3 [sing.] (BrE also flies [pl.]) an opening down the front of a pair of trousers/pants that fastens with a ZIP or buttons and is usually covered over by a strip of material: Your fly is undone! Your flies are undone!
ON TENT
4 [C] a piece of material that covers the entrance to a tent
see also FLIES
die/fall/drop like flies (informal) to die or fall down in very large numbers: People were dropping like flies in the intense heat.
a/the fly in the ointment a person or thing that spoils a situation or an occasion that is fine in all other ways
a fly on the wall a person who watches others without being noticed: I'd love to be a fly on the wall when he tells her the news. fly-on-the-wall documentaries (= in which people are filmed going about their normal lives as if the camera were not there)
(there are) no flies on sb (informal) the person mentioned is clever and not easily tricked
not harm/hurt a fly to be kind and gentle and unwilling to cause unhappiness
on the fly (informal) if you do sth on the fly, you do it quickly while sth else is happening, and without thinking about it very much
adj. (informal)
1 (BrE) clever and showing good judgement about people, especially so that you can get an advantage for yourself
2 (NAmE) fashionable and attractive

fly agaric (also fly agaric) noun [U] a poisonous MUSHROOM with a red top with white spots

flyaway adj. (especially of hair) soft and fine; difficult to keep tidy

fly ball noun (in BASEBALL) a ball that is hit high into the air

flyblown NAmE adj. (BrE) dirty and in bad condition; not fit to eat

fly boy noun (NAmE, informal) a pilot, especially one in the AIR FORCE

fly-by noun (pl. fly-bys)
1 the flight of a SPACECRAFT near a planet to record data
2 (NAmE) = FLY-PAST

fly-by-night adj. [only before noun] (of a person or business) dishonest and only interested in making money quickly
fly-by-night noun

flycatcher noun a small bird that catches insects while it is flying

fly-drive adj., noun (BrE)
adj. [only before noun] (of a holiday/vacation) organized by a travel company at a fixed price that includes your flight to a place, a car to drive while you are there and somewhere to stay: a fly-drive break a fly-drive package
noun a fly-drive holiday: a 14-night fly-drive to Florida

flyer (also flier) noun
1 (informal) a person who flies an aircraft (usually a small one, not a passenger plane)
2 a person who travels in a plane as a passenger: frequent flyers
3 a person who operates sth such as a model aircraft or a KITE from the ground
4 a thing, especially a bird or an insect, that flies in a particular way: Butterflies can be strong flyers.
5 a small sheet of paper that advertises a product or an event and is given to a large number of people: to hand out flyers for a new club
6 (informal) a person, an animal or a vehicle that moves very quickly: Ford's flashy new flyer
7 = FLYING STARTsee also HIGH-FLYER

fly-fishing noun [U] the sport of fishing in a river or lake using an artificial fly to attract and catch the fish

fly half noun = STAND-OFF HALF

flying adj., noun
adj. [only before noun] able to fly: flying insects
with flying colours very well; with a very high mark/grade: She passed the exam with flying colours.
In the past, a ship returned to port after a victory in battle decorated with flags (= colours).
noun [U]
1 travelling in an aircraft: I'm terrified of flying.
2 operating the controls of an aircraft: flying lessons

flying boat noun a large plane that can take off from and land on water

flying buttress noun (architecture) a half ARCH of brick or stone that supports the outside wall of a large building such as a church

flying doctor noun (especially in Australia) a doctor who travels in an aircraft to visit patients who live far from a town: A flying doctor service operates in remote regions.

flying fish noun a tropical sea fish that can rise and move forwards above the surface of the water, using its FINS (= flat parts that stick out from its body) as wings

flying fox noun a large BAT (= an animal like a mouse with wings) that lives in hot countries and eats fruit

flying jacket (BrE) (US flight jacket) noun a short leather jacket with a warm LINING and COLLAR, originally worn by pilots

flying leap noun a long high jump made while you are running quickly: to take a flying leap into the air

flying machine noun an aircraft, especially one that is unusual or was built a long time ago

flying officer noun an officer of lower rank in the British AIR FORCE: Flying Officer Ian Wall

flying picket noun (BrE) a worker on strike who can go quickly to other factories, etc. to help persuade the workers there to join the strike

flying saucer noun a round SPACECRAFT that some people claim to have seen and that some people believe comes from another planetcompare UFO

flying squad noun (usually the Flying Squad) a group of police officers in Britain who are ready to travel very quickly to the scene of a serious crime

flying squirrel noun a small animal like a SQUIRREL which travels through the air between trees, spreading out the skin between its front and back legs to stop itself from falling too quickly

flying start (also less frequent flyer) noun [sing.] a very fast start to a race, competition, etc.
get off to a flying start | get off to a flyer to make a very good start; to begin sth well: She's got off to a flying start in her new career.

flying suit noun a piece of clothing that covers the whole body, worn by the pilot and CREW of a military or light aircraft

flying visit noun (BrE) a very short visit: to pay a flying visit to Paris

flyleaf noun (pl. flyleaves) an empty page at the beginning or end of a book

flyover NAmE noun
1 (BrE) (NAmE overpass) a bridge that carries one road over another one
2 (NAmE) = FLY-PAST

flypaper noun [C, U] a strip of sticky paper that you hang in a room to catch flies

fly-past (BrE) (NAmE fly-by, flyover) noun a special flight by a group of aircraft, for people to watch at an important ceremony

fly-post verb [V, VN] (BrE) to put up pieces of paper that advertise sth in public places, without official permission
fly-posting noun [U] fly-poster noun

flysheet noun (BrE) an extra sheet of material on the outside of a tent that keeps the rain out

fly-tip verb [V] (-pp-) (BrE) to leave waste somewhere illegally
fly-tipping noun [U] fly-tipper noun

flyweight noun a BOXER, WRESTLER, etc. of the lightest class, usually weighing between 48 and 51 kilograms: a flyweight champion

flywheel noun a heavy wheel in a machine or an engine that helps to keep it working smoothly and at a steady speed

FM abbr.
1 frequency modulation (a method of broadcasting high-quality sound by radio): Radio 1 FM
2 (in writing) Field Marshall

f-number noun a number that shows the relationship between the FOCAL LENGTH of a camera LENS and its DIAMETER

foal NAmE noun, verb
noun a very young horse or DONKEY
in foal (of a female horse) pregnant
verb [V] to give birth to a foal

foam NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 (also foam rubber) [U] a soft light rubber material, full of small holes, that is used for seats, MATTRESSES, etc.: a foam mattress foam packaging
2 [U] a mass of very small air bubbles on the surface of a liquid FROTH: a glass of beer with a good head of foam The breaking waves left the beach covered with foam.
3 [U, C] a chemical substance that forms or produces a soft mass of very small bubbles, used for washing, shaving, or putting out fires, for example: shaving foam a bottle of bath foam The fire extinguisher directs foam onto the fire.
verb [V] (of a liquid) to have or produce a mass of small bubbles FROTH: She looked down at the foaming white water. The toothpaste foamed in his mouth. tankards of foaming beer
foam at the mouth
1 (especially of an animal) to have a mass of small bubbles in and around its mouth, especially because it is sick or angry
2 (informal) (of a person) to be very angry

foamy NAmE adj. consisting of or producing a mass of small bubbles; like foam: foamy beer/shampoo foamy clouds

fob NAmE verb, noun
verb (-bb-)
fob sboff (with sth)
1 to try to stop sb asking questions or complaining by telling them sth that is not true: Don't let him fob you off with any more excuses. She wouldn't be fobbed off this time.
2 to give sb sth that is not what they want or is of worse quality than they want: He was unaware that he was being fobbed off with out-of-date stock.
noun
1 a short chain that is attached to a watch that is carried in a pocket
2 (also fob watch) a watch that is attached to a fob
3 a small decorative object that is attached to a KEY RING, etc.

f.o.b. abbr. (in writing) free on board

focal NAmE adj. [only before noun] central; very important; connected with or providing a focus

focalize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to make sth focus or concentrate on a particular thing
focalization, -isation NAmE noun [U, C]

focal length noun (physics) the distance between the centre of a mirror or a LENS and its FOCUS

focal point noun
1 a thing or person that is the centre of interest or activity: In rural areas, the school is often the focal point for the local community. He quickly became the focal point for those who disagreed with government policy.
2 (technical) = FOCUS

fo'c's'le = FORECASTLE

focus NAmE verb, noun
verb (-s- or -ss-)
1 ~ (sth) (on/upon sb/sth) to give attention, effort, etc. to one particular subject, situation or person rather than another: [V] The discussion focused on three main problems. Each exercise focuses on a different grammar point. [VN] The visit helped to focus world attention on the plight of the refugees.
2 ~ (sth) (on sb/sth) (of your eyes, a camera, etc.) to adapt or be adjusted so that things can be seen clearly; to adjust sth so that you can see things clearly: [V] Let your eyes focus on objects that are further away from you. It took a few moments for her eyes to focus in the dark. In this scene, the camera focuses on the actor's face. [VN] He focused his blue eyes on her. I quickly focused the camera on the children.
3 [VN] ~ sth (on sth) (technical) to aim light onto a particular point using a LENS
noun (pl. focuses or foci NAmE )
1 [U, C, usually sing.] ~ (for/on sth) the thing or person that people are most interested in; the act of paying special attention to sth and making people interested in it: It was the main focus of attention at the meeting. His comments provided a focus for debate. In today's lecture the focus will be on tax structures within the European Union. The incident brought the problem of violence in schools into sharp focus. We shall maintain our focus on the needs of the customer. What we need now is a change of focus (= to look at things in a different way).
2 [U] a point or distance at which the outline of an object is clearly seen by the eye or through a LENS: The children's faces are badly out of focus (= not clearly shown) in the photograph. The binoculars were not in focus (= were not showing things clearly).
3 (also focal point) [C] (physics) a point at which waves of light, sound, etc. meet after REFLECTION or REFRACTION; the point from which waves of light, sound, etc. seem to come
4 [C] (geology) the point at which an EARTHQUAKE starts to happen

focused (also focussed) NAmE adj. with your attention directed to what you want to do; with very clear aims: focused ambitions a more focused approach She should do well in her studies this yearshe's very focused.

focus group noun a small group of people, specially chosen to represent different social classes, etc., who are asked to discuss and give their opinions about a particular subject. The information obtained is used by people doing MARKET RESEARCH, for example about new products or for a political party.

focus puller noun an assistant to a CAMERAMAN

fodder NAmE noun [U]
1 food for horses and farm animals
2 (disapproving) (often after a noun) people or things that are considered to have only one use: Without education, these children will end up as factory fodder (= only able to work in a factory). This story will be more fodder for the gossip columnists. He regarded lists of rules, regulations and procedures as dustbin fodder (= only fit to be thrown away).see also CANNON FODDER

foe NAmE noun (old-fashioned or formal) an enemy

foehn = FÖHN

foetal (BrE) (also fetal NAmE, BrE) adj. [only before noun] connected with a foetus; typical of a foetus: foetal abnormalities She lay curled up in a foetal position.

foetid = FETID

foetus (BrE) (also fetus NAmE, BrE) noun a young human or animal before it is born, especially a human more than eight weeks after FERTILIZATION

fog NAmE noun, verb
noun [U, C]
1 a thick cloud of very small drops of water in the air close to the land or sea, that is very difficult to see through: Dense/thick fog is affecting roads in the north and visibility is poor. freezing fog Patches of fog will clear by mid-morning. We get heavy fogs on this coast in winter. The town was covered in a thick blanket of fog. The fog finally lifted (= disappeared).compare MIST
2 a state of confusion, in which things are not clear: He went through the day with his mind in a fog.
verb (-gg-)
1 [V, VN] ~ (sth) (up) if a glass surface fogs or is fogged up, it becomes covered in steam or small drops of water so that you cannot see through
2 [VN] to make sb/sth confused or less clear: I tried to clear the confusion that was fogging my brain. The government was trying to fog the real issues before the election.

fogbound NAmE adj. unable to operate because of fog; unable to travel or to leave a place because of fog: a fogbound airport fogbound passengers She spent hours fogbound in Brussels.

fogey (also fogy) NAmE noun (pl. fogeys or fogies) a person with old-fashioned ideas that he or she is unwilling to change: He sounds like such an old fogey! She was showing old fogey potential at a frighteningly young age.

foggy NAmE adj. (foggier, foggiest) not clear because of FOG: foggy conditions a foggy road
not have the foggiest (idea) (informal) to not know anything at all about sth: 'Do you know where she is?' 'Sorry, I haven't the foggiest.'

foghorn NAmE noun an instrument that makes a loud noise to warn ships of danger in FOG: He's got a voice like a foghorn (= a loud unpleasant voice).

fog lamp (BrE) (also fog light NAmE, BrE) noun a very bright light on the front or back of a car to help the driver to see or be seen in FOG

fogy = FOGEY

föhn (also foehn) noun (usually the föhn) [sing.] a hot wind that blows in the Alps

foible noun a silly habit or a strange or weak aspect of a person's character, that is considered harmless by other people IDIOSYNCRASY: We have to tolerate each other's little foibles.

foie gras noun [U] PÂTÉ DE FOIE GRAS

foil noun, verb
noun
1 (BrE also silver foil) [U] metal made into very thin sheets that is used for covering or wrapping things, especially food: (BrE) aluminium foil (NAmE) aluminum foil Cover the fish loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes.see also TINFOIL
2 [U] paper that is covered in very thin sheets of metal: The chocolates are individually wrapped in gold foil.
3 [C] ~ (for sb/sth) a person or thing that contrasts with, and therefore emphasizes, the qualities of another person or thing: The pale walls provide a perfect foil for the furniture. His mellow guitar technique is the ideal foil for her soaring voice.
4 [C] a long thin light SWORD used in the sport of FENCING
verb [VN] [often passive] to stop sth from happening, especially sth illegal; to prevent sb from doing sth THWART: to foil a plan/crime/plot Customs officials foiled an attempt to smuggle the paintings out of the country. They were foiled in their attempt to smuggle the paintings.

foist verb
foist sb/sth on/upon sb to force sb to accept sb/sth that they do not want: The title for her novel was foisted on her by the publishers. When I was young my parents often foisted me upon a reluctant aunt for the weekend.

fold NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 [VN] ~ sth (up)| ~ sth (back, down, over, etc.) to bend sth, especially paper or cloth, so that one part lies on top of another part: He folded the map up and put it in his pocket. First, fold the paper in half/in two. The blankets had been folded down. a pile of neatly folded clothes The bird folded its wings. UNFOLDsee also FOLD-UP
2 ~ (sth)(away/down) to bend sth so that it becomes smaller or flatter and can be stored or carried more easily; to bend or be able to bend in this way: [VN] The bed can be folded away during the day. [V] The table folds up when not in use. (figurative) When she heard the news, her legs just folded under her (= she fell). [V-ADJ] The ironing board folds flat for easy storage.
3 [VN] ~ A in B| ~ B round/over A to wrap sth around sb/sth: She gently folded the baby in a blanket. She folded a blanket around the baby.
4 [V] (of a company, a play, etc.) to close because it is not successful: The new musical folded after only twenty performances.
fold sb in your arms (literary) to put your arms around sb and hold them against your body
fold your arms to put one of your arms over the other one and hold them against your body: He stood watching her with his arms folded across his chest.
fold your hands to bring or hold your hands together: She kept her hands folded in her lap.
fold sthin| fold sth into sth (in cooking) to add one substance to another and gently mix them together: Fold in the beaten egg whites.
noun
1 [C] a part of sth, especially cloth, that is folded or hangs as if it had been folded: the folds of her dress loose folds of skin
2 [C] a mark or line made by folding sth, or showing where sth should be folded: Why is the place I want to find always on the fold of the map?
3 [C] an area in a field surrounded by a fence or wall where sheep are kept for safety
4 the fold [sing.] a group of people with whom you feel you belong or who share the same ideas or beliefs: He called on former Republican voters to return to the fold. She was determined to draw Matthew back into the family fold.
5 [C] (geology) a curve or bend in the line of the layers of rock in the earth's CRUST
6 [C] (BrE) a hollow place among hills or mountains

-fold suffix (in adjectives and adverbs) multiplied by; having the number of parts mentioned: to increase tenfold

foldaway NAmE adj. = FOLDING

folder NAmE noun
1 a cardboard or plastic cover for holding loose papers, etc.
2 (in some computer systems) a way of organizing and storing computer files

folding NAmE (also less frequent foldaway) adj. [only before noun] (of a piece of furniture, a bicycle, etc.) that can be folded, so that it can be carried or stored in a small space: a folding chair a foldaway bed

fold-up adj. [only before noun] (of an object) that can be made smaller by closing or folding so that it takes up less space

foliage NAmE noun [U] the leaves of a tree or plant; leaves and branches together: dense green foliage

foliar NAmE adj. (technical) relating to leaves: foliar colour

foliar feed noun [U] food that is supplied to the leaves of a plant

folic acid NAmE noun [U] a VITAMIN found in green vegetables, LIVER and KIDNEY, needed by the body for the production of red blood cells

folio NAmE noun (pl. -os)
1 a book made with large sheets of paper, especially as used in early printing: a folio edition
2 (technical) a single sheet of paper from a book

folk NAmE noun, adj.
noun
1 (also folks especially in NAmE) [pl.] (informal) people in general: ordinary working-class folk I'd like a job working with old folk or kids. the folks back home (= from the place where you come from)
2 folks [pl.] (informal) a friendly way of addressing more than one person: Well, folks, what are we going to do today?
3 folks [pl.] (informal, especially NAmE) the members of your family, especially your parents: How are your folks?
4 [pl.] people from a particular country or region, or who have a particular way of life: country folk townsfolk farming folk
5 (also folk music) [U] music in the traditional style of a country or community: a folk festival/concert
adj. [only before noun]
1 (of art, culture, etc.) traditional and typical of the ordinary people of a country or community: folk art a folk museum
2 based on the beliefs of ordinary people: folk wisdom Garlic is widely used in Chinese folk medicine.

folk dance noun [C, U] a traditional dance of a particular area or country; a piece of music for such a dance

folk etymology (also popular etymology) noun [U, C] a process by which a word is changed, for example because of a mistaken belief that it is related to another word, or to make a foreign word sound more familiar: Folk etymology has created the cheeseburger and the beanburger, but the first hamburgers were in fact named after the city of Hamburg.

folk hero noun a person that people in a particular place admire because of sth special he or she has done

folklore NAmE noun [U] the traditions and stories of a country or community: Irish/Indian folklore The story rapidly became part of family folklore.

folklorist NAmE noun a person who studies folklore, especially as an academic subject

folk memory noun [C, U] a memory of sth in the past that the people of a country or community never forget

folk music noun [U] = FOLK

folk singer noun a person who sings folk songs

folk song noun
1 a song in the traditional style of a country or community
2 a type of song that became popular in the US in the 1960s, played on a GUITAR and often about political topics

folksy NAmE adj.
1 (especially NAmE) simple, friendly and informal: They wanted the store to have a folksy small-town image.
2 (sometimes disapproving) done or made in a traditional style that is typical of simple customs in the past: a folksy ballad

folk tale noun a very old traditional story from a particular place that was originally passed on to people in a spoken form

follicle NAmE noun one of the very small holes in the skin which hair grows from: a hair follicle

follow NAmE verb
GO AFTER
1 to come or go after or behind sb/sth: [VN] He followed her into the house. Follow me please. I'll show you the way. I think we're being followed. (figurative) She followed her mother into the medical profession. [V] Wherever she led, they followed. Sam walked in, with the rest of the boys following closely behind.
HAPPEN/DO AFTER
2 to come after sth/sb else in time or order; to happen as a result of sth else: [VN] The first two classes are followed by a break of ten minutes. I remember little of the days that followed the accident. A period of unrest followed the president's resignation. [V] A detailed news report will follow shortly. There followed a short silence. The opening hours are as follows ... A new proposal followed on from the discussions.
3 [VN] ~ sth (up) with sth to do sth after sth else: Follow your treatment with plenty of rest. They follow up their March show with four UK dates next month.
BE RESULT
4 ~ (from sth) (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to be the logical result of sth: [V] I don't see how that follows from what you've just said. [V that] If a = b and b = c it follows that a = c.
OF PART OF MEAL
5 to come or be eaten after another part: [VN] The main course was followed by fresh fruit. This pattern is usually used in the passive. [V] I'll have soup and fish to follow.
ROAD/PATH
6 [VN] to go along a road, path, etc.: Follow this road until you get to the school, then turn left.
7 [VN] (of a road, path, etc.) to go in the same direction as sth or parallel to sth: The lane follows the edge of a wood for about a mile.
ADVICE/INSTRUCTIONS
8 [VN] to accept advice, instructions, etc. and do what you have been told or shown to do: to follow a diet/recipe He has trouble following simple instructions. Why didn't you follow my advice?
ACCEPT/COPY
9 [VN] to accept sb/sth as a guide, a leader or an example; to copy sb/sth: They followed the teachings of Buddha. He always followed the latest fashions (= dressed in fashionable clothes). I don't want you to follow my example and rush into marriage. The movie follows the book faithfully.
UNDERSTAND
10 to understand an explanation or the meaning of sth: [V, VN] Sorry, I don't follow. Sorry, I don't follow you. [VN] The plot is almost impossible to follow. note at UNDERSTAND
WATCH/LISTEN
11 [VN] to watch or listen to sb/sth very carefully: The children were following every word of the story intently. Her eyes followed him everywhere (= she was looking at him all the time).
BE INTERESTED IN
12 [VN] to take an active interest in sth and be aware of what is happening: Have you been following the basketball championships? Millions of people followed the trial on TV.
OF BOOK/MOVIE
13 [VN] to be concerned with the life or development of sb/sth: The novel follows the fortunes of a village community in Scotland.
PATTERN/COURSE
14 [VN] to develop or happen in a particular way: The day followed the usual pattern.
follow in sb's footsteps to do the same job, have the same style of life, etc. as sb else, especially sb in your family: She works in television, following in her father's footsteps.
follow your nose
1 to be guided by your sense of smell
2 to go straight forward: The garage is a mile ahead up the hilljust follow your nose.
3 to act according to what seems right or reasonable, rather than following any particular rules
follow suit
1 (in card games) to play a card of the same SUIT that has just been played
2 to act or behave in the way that sb else has just donemore at ACT n.
follow sb around/about to keep going with sb wherever they go: Will you stop following me around!
follow on to go somewhere after sb else has gone there: You go to the beach with the kids and I'll follow on when I've finished work.
follow through (in TENNIS, GOLF, etc.) to complete a stroke by continuing to move the club, RACKET, etc. after hitting the ballrelated noun FOLLOW-THROUGH (1)
follow through (with sth)| follow sththrough to finish sth that you have startedrelated noun FOLLOW-THROUGH (2)
follow sthup
1 to add to sth that you have just done by doing sth else: You should follow up your phone call with an email or a letter.
2 to find out more about sth that sb has told you or suggested to you INVESTIGATE: The police are following up several leads after their TV appeal for information.related noun FOLLOW-UP

follower NAmE noun
1 a person who supports and admires a particular person or set of ideas: the followers of Mahatma Gandhi
2 a person who is very interested in a particular activity and follows all the recent news about it: keen followers of football a follower of fashion
3 a person who does things after sb else has done them first: She is a leader, not a follower.

following NAmE adj., noun, prep.
adj.the following ...
1 next in time: the following afternoon/month/year/week They arrived on Monday evening and we got there the following day.
2 that is/are going to be mentioned next: Answer the following questions.
a following wind a wind blowing in the same direction as a ship or other vehicle that helps it move faster: With a generous following wind, we sped across the lake.
noun
1 [usually sing.] a group of supporters: The band has a huge following in Italy.
2 the following (used with either a singular or a plural verb, depending on whether you are talking about one thing or person or several things or people) the thing or things that you will mention next; the person or people that you will mention next: The following is a summary of events. The following have been chosen to take part: Watts, Hodges and Lennox.
prep. after or as a result of a particular event: He took charge of the family business following his father's death.

follow-on noun [sing.] (in CRICKET) a second INNINGS (= a period during which a team is BATTING) that a team is made to play immediately after its first, if it fails to reach a particular score
follow-on verb [V]

follow-the-leader (also follow-my-leader) noun [U] a children's game in which people follow the person in front of them in a line, going wherever they go

follow-through noun
1 [U, sing.] (in TENNIS, GOLF, etc.) the final part of a stroke after the ball has been hit
2 [U] the actions that sb takes in order to complete a plan: The project could fail if there is inadequate follow-through.

follow-up noun [C, U] an action or a thing that continues sth that has already started or comes after sth similar that was done earlier: The book is a follow-up to her excellent television series. Despite the success of his last album, there are as yet no plans for any follow-ups.
follow-up adj. [only before noun]: a follow-up study follow-up treatment at the local hospital

folly NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U, C] ~ (to do sth) a lack of good judgement; the fact of doing sth stupid; an activity or idea that shows a lack of judgement STUPIDITY: an act of sheer folly Giving up a secure job seems to be the height of folly. It would be folly to turn the offer down. the follies of youth His idealism had been soured by the varied spectacle of human folly.
2 [C] a building that has no practical purpose but was built in the past for decoration, often in the garden of a large country house

foment NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to create trouble or violence or make it worse INCITE: They accused him of fomenting political unrest.

fond NAmE adj. (fonder, fondest)
1 ~ of sb feeling affection for sb, especially sb you have known for a long time: Over the years, I have grown quite fond of her. I've always been very fond of your mother. note at LOVE
2 ~ of (doing) sth finding sth pleasant or enjoyable, especially sth you have liked or enjoyed for a long time: fond of music/cooking We had grown fond of the house and didn't want to leave. note at LIKE
3 ~ of (doing) sth liking to do sth which other people find annoying or unpleasant, and doing it often: Sheila's very fond of telling other people what to do. He's rather too fond of the sound of his own voice (= he talks too much).
4 [only before noun] kind and loving AFFECTIONATE: a fond look/embrace/farewell I have very fond memories of my time in Spain (= I remember it with affection and pleasure).
5 [only before noun] ~ hope a hope about sth that is not likely to happen: I waited all day in the fond hope that she would change her mind.
fondness noun [U, sing.] ~ (for sb/sth): He will be remembered by the staff with great fondness. a fondness for animals It was her father's fondness for drink that brought about the break-up of her parents' marriage. see ABSENCE

fondant NAmE noun
1 [U] a thick sweet soft mixture made from sugar and water, used especially to cover cakes: fondant icing
2 [C] a soft sweet/candy that melts in the mouth, made of fondant

fondle NAmE verb [VN] to touch and move your hand gently over sb/sth, especially in a sexual way, or in order to show love CARESS

fondly NAmE adv.
1 in a way that shows great affection AFFECTIONATELY: He looked at her fondly. I fondly remember my first job as a reporter.
2 in a way that shows hope that is not reasonable or realistic: I fondly imagined that you cared for me.

fondue NAmE noun [C, U]
1 a Swiss dish of melted cheese and wine into which pieces of bread are DIPPED
2 a dish of hot oil into which small pieces of meat, vegetables, etc. are DIPPED

font NAmE noun
1 a large stone bowl in a church that holds water for the ceremony of BAPTISM: the baptismal font
2 (technical) the particular size and style of a set of letters that are used in printing, etc.

fontanelle (US usually fontanel) NAmE noun (anatomy) a space between the bones of a baby's SKULL, which makes a soft area on the top of the baby's head

food noun
1 [U] things that people or animals eat: a shortage of food/food shortages food and drink the food industry
2 [C, U] a particular type of food: Do you like Italian food? frozen foods a can of dog food (= for a dog to eat) He's off his food (= he does not want to eat anything).see also CONVENIENCE FOOD, FAST FOOD, FUNCTIONAL FOOD, HEALTH FOOD, JUNK FOOD, SEAFOOD, SOUL FOOD, WHOLEFOOD
food for thought an idea that makes you think seriously and carefully: The programme certainly provides plenty of food for thought.

food bank noun (in the US) a place where poor people can go to get free food

food chain noun (usually the food chain) a series of living creatures in which each type of creature feeds on the one below it in the series: Insects are fairly low down (on) the food chain. Pesticides work their way up the food chain from plants, through insects and birds to humans.

foodie noun (informal) a person who is very interested in cooking and eating different kinds of food

food poisoning noun [U] an illness of the stomach caused by eating food that contains harmful bacteria

food processor noun a piece of equipment that is used to mix or cut up food

food science noun [U] the scientific study of food, for example what it is made of, the effects it has on our body, and how to prepare it and store it safely

food stamp noun (US) a piece of paper that is given by the government to poor people, for them to buy food with

foodstuff noun [usually pl.] (especially technical) any substance that is used as food: basic foodstuffs

food web noun (technical) a system of FOOD CHAINS that are related to and depend on each other

fool noun, verb, adj.
noun
1 [C] a person who you think behaves or speaks in a way that lacks intelligence or good judgement IDIOT: Don't be such a fool! I felt a fool when I realized my mistake. He told me he was an actor and I was fool enough to believe him.
2 [C] (in the past) a man employed by a king or queen to entertain people by telling jokes, singing songs, etc. JESTER
3 [U, C] (BrE) (usually in compounds) a cold light DESSERT (= a sweet dish) made from fruit that is cooked and crushed and mixed with cream or CUSTARD: rhubarb fool
act/play the fool to behave in a stupid way in order to make people laugh, especially in a way that may also annoy them: Quit playing the fool and get some work done!
any fool can/could ... (informal) used to say that sth is very easy to do: Any fool could tell she was lying.
be no/nobody's fool to be too intelligent or know too much about sth to be tricked by other people: She's nobody's fool when it comes to dealing with difficult patients.
a fool and his money are soon parted (saying) a person who is not sensible usually spends money too quickly or carelessly, or is cheated by others
fools rush in (where angels fear to tread) (saying) people with little experience try to do the difficult or dangerous things which more experienced people would not consider doing
make a fool of sb to say or do sth deliberately so that people will think that sb is stupid: Can't you see she's making a fool of you? I will not be made a fool of like this. note at CHEAT
make a fool of yourself to do sth stupid which makes other people think that you are a fool: I made a complete fool of myself in front of everyone!
more fool sb (for doing sth) (informal) used to say that you think that sb was stupid to do sth, especially when it causes them problems: 'He's not an easy person to live with.' 'More fool her for marrying him!' 'I know I shouldn't have given him the money, but I did.' 'More fool you!'
(there's) no fool like an old fool (saying) an older person who behaves in a stupid way is worse than a younger person who does the same thing, because experience should have taught him or her not to do itmore at SUFFER
verb
1 [VN] ~ sb (into doing sth) to trick sb into believing sth that is not true: She certainly had me fooledI really believed her! You don't fool me! You're fooling yourself if you think none of this will affect you. Don't be fooled into thinking they're going to change anything.
2 [V] ~ (about/around) (with sth) to say or do stupid or silly things, often in order to make people laugh: Stop fooling around and sit down! If you fool about with matches, you'll end up getting burned.
you could have fooled me (informal) used to say that you do not believe sth that sb has just told you: 'I'm trying as hard as I can!' 'You could have fooled me!'
fool around
1 (BrE also fool about) to waste time instead of doing sth that you should be doing MESS AROUND
2 ~ (with sb) to have a sexual relationship with another person's partner; to have a sexual relationship with sb who is not your partner MESS AROUND: She's been fooling around with a married man.
adj. [only before noun] (informal) showing a lack of intelligence or good judgement SILLY, STUPID, FOOLISH: That was a damn fool thing to do! That fool husband of mine locked us out of the house.

foolhardy NAmE adj. (disapproving) taking unnecessary risks RECKLESS: It would be foolhardy to sail in weather like this.
foolhardiness noun [U]: There's no excuse for such foolhardinessyou could have been killed. He showed his usual disregard for dangeran attitude his friends called bravery and his enemies foolhardiness.

foolish adj.
1 (of actions or behaviour) not showing good sense or judgement SILLY, STUPID: She's just a vain, foolish woman. I was foolish enough to believe what Jeff told me. The accident was my faultit would be foolish to pretend otherwise. How could she have been so foolish as to fall in love with him? a foolish idea/dream/mistake It was a very foolish thing to do.
2 [not usually before noun] made to feel or look silly and embarrassed SILLY, STUPID: I felt foolish and a failure. He's afraid of looking foolish in front of his friends.
foolishly adv.: We foolishly thought that everyone would speak English. Foolishly, I allowed myself to be persuaded to enter the contest. foolishness noun [U]: Jenny had to laugh at her own foolishness.

foolproof adj. (of a plan, machine, method, etc.) very well designed and easy to use so that it cannot fail and you cannot use it wrongly INFALLIBLE: This recipe is foolproofit works every time. No system can ever be completely foolproof.

foolscap noun [U] (BrE) a large size of paper for writing on

fool's errand noun [sing.] a task that has no hope of being done successfully: He sent me on a fool's errand.

fool's gold noun [U]
1 a yellow mineral found in rock, which looks like gold but is not valuable, also called IRON PYRITES
2 something that you think is valuable or will earn you a lot of money, but which has no chance of succeeding

fool's paradise noun [usually sing.] a state of happiness that is based on sth that is false or cannot last although the happy person does not realize it: Anyone who thinks there's an easy solution to the problem is living in a fool's paradise.

foot noun, verb
noun (pl. feet )
PART OF BODY
1 [C] the lowest part of the leg, below the ankle, on which a person or an animal stands: My feet are aching. to get/rise to your feet (= stand up) I've been on my feet (= standing or walking around) all day. We came on foot (= we walked). Come on ladson your feet and do some work! walking around the house in bare feet (= not wearing shoes or socks) Please wipe your feet (= your shoes) on the mat. Daniel was shifting anxiously from foot to foot. a foot pump (= operated using your foot, not your hand) a foot passenger (= one who travels on a FERRY without a car)see also ATHLETE'S FOOT, BAREFOOT, CLUB FOOT, UNDERFOOT note at STAND
-FOOTED
2 (in adjectives and adverbs) having or using the type or number of foot/feet mentioned: bare-footed four-footed a left-footed shot into the cornersee also FLAT-FOOTED, SURE-FOOTED
PART OF SOCK
3 [C, usually sing.] the part of a sock, STOCKING, etc. that covers the foot
BASE/BOTTOM
4 [sing.] the ~ of sth the lowest part of sth; the base or bottom of sth: the foot of the stairs/page/mountain The nurse hung a chart at the foot of the bed (= the part of the bed where your feet normally are when you are lying in it). note at BOTTOM
MEASUREMENT
5 (pl. feet or foot) (abbr. ft) a unit for measuring length equal to 12 inches or 30.48 centimetres: a 6-foot high wall We're flying at 35 000 feet. 'How tall are you?' 'Five foot nine' (= five feet and nine inches).
-FOOTER
6 (in compound nouns) a person or thing that is a particular number of feet tall or long: His boat is an eighteen-footer. Both my brothers are six-footers.
IN POETRY
7 [sing.] (technical) a unit of rhythm in a line of poetry containing one stressed syllable and one or more syllables without stress. Each of the four divisions in the following line is a foot: For men/may come/and men/may go.
be rushed/run off your feet to be extremely busy; to have too many things to do: Weekdays are slow in the restaurant, but at weekends the staff are rushed off their feet.
fall/land on your feet to be lucky in finding yourself in a good situation, or in getting out of a difficult situation: You landed on your feet, getting such a well-paid job with so little experience. Jim's always getting himself in trouble, but he usually seems to fall on his feet.
feet first
1 with your feet touching the ground before any other part of your body: He landed feet first.
2 (humorous) if you leave a place feet first, you are carried out after you are dead: You'll have to carry me out feet first!
get/have a/your foot in the door to manage to enter an organization, a field of business, etc. that could bring you success: I always wanted to work in TV but it took me two years to get a foot in the door.
get/start off on the right/wrong foot (with sb) (informal) to start a relationship well/badly: I seem to have got off on the wrong foot with the new boss.
get your feet wet (especially NAmE, informal) to start doing sth that is new for you: At that time he was a young actor, just getting his feet wet.
have feet of clay to have a fault or weakness in your character: When the actor was imprisoned for drug offences, his fans were upset to find that their hero had feet of clay.
have/keep your feet on the ground to have a sensible and realistic attitude to life: In spite of his overnight stardom he still manages to keep his feet on the ground.
have/keep a foot in both camps to be involved in or connected with two different or opposing groups
have one foot in the grave (informal) to be so old or ill/sick that you are not likely to live much longer
... my foot! (informal, humorous) a strong way of saying that you disagree completely with what has just been said: 'Ian can't come because he's tired.' 'Tired my foot! Lazy more like!'
on your feet completely well or in a normal state again after an illness or a time of trouble: Sue's back on her feet again after her operation. The new chairman hopes to get the company back on its feet within six months. note at STAND
put your best foot forward to make a great effort to do sth, especially if it is difficult or you are feeling tired
put your feet up to sit down and relax, especially with your feet raised and supported: After a hard day's work, it's nice to get home and put your feet up.
put your foot down
1 to be very strict in opposing what sb wishes to do: You've got to put your foot down and make him stop seeing her.
2 (BrE) to drive faster: She put her foot down and roared past them.
put your foot in it (BrE) (also put your foot in your mouth NAmE, BrE) to say or do sth that upsets, offends or embarrasses sb: I really put my foot in it with EllaI didn't know she'd split up with Tom.
put a foot wrong (usually used in negative sentences) to make a mistake: In the last two games he has hardly put a foot wrong.
set foot in/on sth to enter or visit a place: the first man to set foot on the moon I vowed never to set foot in the place again.
set sb/sth on their/its feet to make sb/sth independent or successful: His business sense helped set the club on its feet again.
stand on your own (two) feet to be independent and able to take care of yourself: When his parents died he had to learn to stand on his own two feet.
under your feet in the way; stopping you from working, etc.: I don't want you kids under my feet while I'm cooking.more at BOOT n., COLD adj., DRAG v., FIND v., GRASS n., GROUND n., HAND n., HEAD n., ITCHY, LEFT adj., PATTER n., PULL v., SHOE n., SHOOT v., SIT, STOCKING, SWEEP v., THINK v., VOTE v., WAIT v., WALK v., WEIGHT n., WORLD
verb
foot the bill (informal) to be responsible for paying the cost of sth: Once again it will be the taxpayer who has to foot the bill. Who will be footing the bill for the party?

footage noun [U] part of a film showing a particular event: old film footage of the moon landing People see live footage of the war at home on their televisions.

foot-and-mouth disease (NAmE also hoof-and-mouth disease) noun [U] a disease of cows, sheep, etc., which causes sore places on the mouth and feet

football noun
1 [U] (also formal Association Football) (both BrE) (also soccer NAmE, BrE) (also BrE informal footy, footie) a game played by two teams of 11 players, using a round ball which players kick up and down the playing field (= the PITCH). Teams try to kick the ball into the other team's goal: to play football a football match/team/stadiumsee also GAELIC FOOTBALL
2 [U] (NAmE) = AMERICAN FOOTBALL, CANADIAN FOOTBALL
3 [C] a large round or OVAL ball made of leather or plastic and filled with air
4 [C] (always used with an adjective) an issue or a problem that frequently causes argument and disagreement: Health care should not become a political football.

football boot noun (BrE) a leather shoe with pieces of rubber on the bottom to stop it slipping, worn for playing football (SOCCER)compare CLEATS

footballer noun (BrE) a person who plays football (SOCCER), especially as a profession

footballing adj. [only before noun] (BrE) connected with the game of football (SOCCER): footballing skills

football pools (also the pools) noun [pl.] a form of gambling in Britain in which people try to win money by saying what the results of football (SOCCER) matches will be: They've had a big win on the football pools.

footbrake noun a BRAKE in a vehicle which is operated using your foot

footbridge noun a narrow bridge used only by people who are walking

footer noun a line or block of text that is automatically added to the bottom of every page that is printed from a computer: The footer gives the page number of the document.compare HEADER

footfall noun
1 [C] (literary) the sound of the steps made by sb walking: He heard her familiar, light footfall in the hall.
2 [U] (BrE, business) the number of people that visit a particular shop/store, shopping centre, etc. over a period of time: a campaign to increase footfall

foot fault noun (in TENNIS) a mistake that is made by not keeping behind the line when SERVING

foothill noun [usually pl.] a hill or low mountain at the base of a higher mountain or range of mountains: the foothills of the Himalayas

foothold NAmE noun
1 a crack, hole or branch where your foot can be safely supported when climbing: She edged forward feeling for a foothold.
2 [usually sing.] a strong position in a business, profession, etc. from which sb can make progress and achieve success: The company is eager to gain a foothold in Europe. With this upcoming deal we hope to establish a permanent foothold in the US market.

footie noun [U] (BrE, informal) = FOOTBALL (1): a game of footie

footing noun [sing.]
1 the position of your feet when they are safely on the ground or some other surface: She lost her footing (= she slipped or lost her balance) and fell backwards into the water. I slipped and struggled to regain my footing.
2 the basis on which sth is established or organized: The company is now on a sound financial footing. The country has been on a war footing (= prepared for war) since March.
3 the position or status of sb/sth in relation to others; the relationship between two or more people or groups: The two groups must meet on an equal footing. They were demanding to be treated on the same footing as the rest of the teachers.

footlights noun [pl.] a row of lights along the front of the stage in a theatre

footling adj. (old-fashioned, informal) not important and likely to make you annoyed: footling questions/matters Time after time they came with the same footling complaints.

footloose adj. free to go where you like or do what you want because you have no responsibilities: Bert was a footloose, unemployed actor. Ah, I was still footloose and fancy-free (= free to enjoy myself) in those days.

footman noun (pl. -men ) a male servant in a house in the past, who opened the door to visitors, served food at table, etc.

footnote NAmE noun
1 an extra piece of information that is printed at the bottom of a page in a book
2 (of an event or a person) that may be remembered but only as sth/sb that is not important: The incident seems destined to become a mere footnote in history.

footpath NAmE noun
1 a path that is made for people to walk along, especially in the country: a public footpath
2 (AustralE, NZE) = PAVEMENT

footplate noun (BrE) the part of a steam train's engine where the driver stands

footprint noun
1 [usually pl.] a mark left on a surface by a person's foot or shoe or by an animal's foot: footprints in the sand muddy footprints on the kitchen floor He could identify any animal from its footprints.
2 the amount of space that sth fills, for example the amount of space that a computer takes up on a desk
3 the area on the earth in which a signal from a communications SATELLITE can be received

footrest noun a support for your foot or feet, for example on a motorcycle or when you are sitting down

the Footsie noun = FTSE INDEX

footsie noun (informal)
play footsie with sb to touch sb's feet lightly with your own feet, especially under a table, as an expression of affection or sexual interest

foot soldier noun
1 a soldier who fights on foot, not on a horse or in a vehicle
2 a person in an organization who does work that is important but boring, and who has no power or responsibility

footsore adj. (formal) having sore or tired feet, especially after walking a long way: They limped in, weary and footsore. I arrived at dusk, hungry and footsore after walking all day.

footstep noun [usually pl.] the sound or mark made each time your foot touches the ground when you are walking or running: the sound of footsteps on the stairs footsteps in the snow see FOLLOW

footstool noun a low piece of furniture used for resting your feet on when you are sitting

footsure NAmE adj. = SURE-FOOTED

footwear NAmE noun [U] things that people wear on their feet, for example shoes and boots: Be sure to wear the correct footwear to prevent injuries to your feet.

footwork NAmE noun [U]
1 the way in which a person moves their feet when playing a sport or dancing
2 the ability to react quickly and skilfully to a difficult situation: It was going to take some deft political footwork to save the situation.

footy noun [U] (BrE, informal) = FOOTBALL (1)

foo yong NAmE noun [U] (from Chinese) a Chinese dish or sauce made with eggs

fop NAmE noun (old-fashioned) a man who is too interested in his clothes and the way he looks
foppish adj.

for strong form prep., conj.
prep. For the special uses of for in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example fall for sb is in the phrasal verb section at fall.
1 used to show who is intended to have or use sth or where sth is intended to be put: There's a letter for you. It's a book for children. We got a new table for the dining room. This is the place for me (= I like it very much).
2 in order to help sb/sth: What can I do for you (= how can I help you)? Can you translate this letter for me? I took her classes for her while she was sick. soldiers fighting for their country
3 concerning sb/sth: They are anxious for her safety. Fortunately for us, the weather changed.
4 as a representative of: I am speaking for everyone in this department.
5 employed by: She's working for IBM.
6 meaning: Shaking your head for 'No' is not universal.
7 in support of sb/sth: Are you for or against the proposal? They voted for independence in a referendum. There's a strong case for postponing the exam. I'm all for people having fun. 'What does Naomi think about the move?' 'She's all for it.'compare AGAINST (2)
8 used to show purpose or function: a machine for slicing bread Let's go for a walk. Are you learning English for pleasure or for your work? What did you do that for (= Why did you do that)?
9 used to show a reason or cause: The town is famous for its cathedral. She gave me a watch for my birthday. He got an award for bravery. I couldn't speak for laughing. He didn't answer for fear of hurting her.
10 in order to obtain sth: He came to me for advice. For more information, call this number. There were over fifty applicants for the job.
11 in exchange for sth: Copies are available for two dollars each. I'll swap these two bottles for that one.
12 considering what can be expected from sb/sth: The weather was warm for the time of year. She's tall for her age. He's not bad for a beginner. That's too much responsibility for a child.
13 better, happier, etc. ~ sth better, happier, etc. following sth: You'll feel better for a good night's sleep. This room would look more cheerful for a spot of paint.
14 used to show where sb/sth is going: Is this the bus for Chicago? She knew she was destined for a great future.
15 used to show a length of time: I'm going away for a few days. That's all the news there is for now.
16 used to show that sth is arranged or intended to happen at a particular time: an appointment for May 12 We're invited for 7.30.
17 used to show the occasion when sth happens: I'm warning you for the last timestop talking!
18 used to show a distance: The road went on for miles and miles.
19 used to say how difficult, necessary, pleasant, etc. sth is that sb might do or has done: It's useless for us to continue. There's no need for you to go. For her to have survived such an ordeal was remarkable. The box is too heavy for me to lift. Is it clear enough for you to read?
20 used to show who can or should do sth: It's not for me to say why he left. How to spend the money is for you to decide.
be in for it (BrE also be for it) (informal) to be going to get into trouble or be punished: We'd better hurry or we'll be in for it.
for all
1 despite: For all its clarity of style, the book is not easy reading.
2 used to say that sth is not important or of no interest or value to you/sb: For all I know she's still living in Boston. You can do what you like, for all I care. For all the good it's done we might as well not have bothered.
there's/that's ... for you (often ironic) used to say that sth is a typical example of its kind: She might at least have called to explain. There's gratitude for you.
conj. (old-fashioned or literary) used to introduce the reason for sth mentioned in the previous statement: We listened eagerly, for he brought news of our families. I believed herfor surely she would not lie to me.

forage NAmE verb, noun
verb [V] ~ (for sth)
1 (especially of an animal) to search for food: The female only leaves the young when she forages for food.
2 (of a person) to search for sth, especially using the hands RUMMAGE: Her assistant was foraging in a cupboard for some envelopes.
noun [U] food for horses and cows: forage crops/grass

foray NAmE noun
1 ~ (into sth) an attempt to become involved in a different activity or profession: the company's first foray into the computer market
2 ~ (into sth) a short sudden attack made by a group of soldiers: Those on the front line make regular forays into occupied territory.
3 ~ (to/into ... ) a short journey to find a particular thing or to visit a new place EXPEDITION: weekend shopping forays to France the perfect venue for a foray into the Dales or a trip across the North York Moors

forbade pt of FORBID

forbear verb, noun
verb NAmE (forbore NAmE , forborne NAmE ) ~ (from sth/from doing sth) (formal) to stop yourself from saying or doing sth that you could or would like to say or do: [V] He wanted to answer back, but he forbore from doing so. [V to inf] She forbore to ask any further questions.
noun = FOREBEAR

forbearance NAmE noun [U] (formal) the quality of being patient and sympathetic towards other people, especially when they have done sth wrong: The mortgage company had acted with forebearance, only taking them to court as a last resort.

forbearing NAmE adj. (formal) showing forbearance PATIENT: Thank you for being so forbearing. a gentle and forbearing nature

forbid NAmE verb (forbade NAmE forbidden NAmE )
1 ~ sb (from doing sth) to order sb not to do sth; to order that sth must not be done: [VN] He forbade them from mentioning the subject again. Her father forbade the marriage. [VN to inf] You are all forbidden to leave. [VNN] My doctor has forbidden me sugar. ALLOW, PERMIT [also VN -ing, V -ing]
2 (formal) to make it difficult or impossible to do sth PROHIBIT: [VN] Lack of space forbids further treatment of the topic here. [also VN to inf]
God/Heaven forbid (that ... ) (informal) used to say that you hope that sth will not happen: 'Maybe you'll end up as a lawyer, like me.' 'God forbid!' Some people find this use offensive.

forbidden NAmE adj. not allowed: Photography is strictly forbidden in the museum. The conversation was in danger of wandering into forbidden territory (= topics that they were not allowed to talk about).
forbidden fruit a thing that is not allowed and that therefore seems very attractive

forbidding NAmE adj. seeming unfriendly and frightening and likely to cause harm or danger: a forbidding appearance/look/manner The house looked dark and forbidding.
forbiddingly adv.: a forbiddingly elegant restaurant

forbore pt of FORBEAR

forborne pp of FORBEAR

force NAmE noun, verb
(WORD FAMILY: force noun verb | forceful adj. | forced adj. unforced | forcible adj. | enforce verb )
noun
VIOLENT ACTION
1 [U] violent physical action used to obtain or achieve sth: The release of the hostages could not be achieved without the use of force. The rioters were taken away by force. The ultimatum contained the threat of military force. We will achieve much more by persuasion than by brute force. plans to seize power by force of arms (= by military force)
PHYSICAL STRENGTH
2 [U] the physical strength of sth that is shown as it hits sth else: the force of the blow/explosion/collision The shopping centre took the full force of the blast. She hits the ball with amazing force for someone so small.
STRONG EFFECT
3 [U] the strong effect or influence of sth: They realized the force of her argument. He controlled himself by sheer force of will. She spoke with force and deliberation.
SB/STH WITH POWER
4 [C] a person or thing that has a lot of power or influence: economic/market forces the forces of good/evil Ron is the driving force (= the person who has the most influence) behind the project. She's a force to be reckoned with (= a person who has a lot of power and influence and should therefore be treated seriously). The expansion of higher education should be a powerful force for change. Television has become a major force in American political life. He was finally defeated by forces beyond his control.
AUTHORITY
5 [U] the authority of sth: These guidelines do not have the force of law. The court ruled that these standards have force in British law. The culprits must expect to face the full force of the law.
GROUP OF PEOPLE
6 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who have been organized for a particular purpose: a member of the sales force A large proportion of the labour force (= all the people who work in a particular company, area, etc.) is unskilled.see also WORKFORCE
MILITARY
7 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who have been trained to protect other people, usually by using weapons: a member of the security forces rebel/government forces a peace-keeping forcesee also AIR FORCE, POLICE FORCE, TASK FORCE
8 the forces [pl.] (BrE) the army, navy and AIR FORCE: allied forcessee also THE ARMED FORCES
9 forces [pl.] the weapons and soldiers that an army, etc. has, considered as things that may be used: strategic nuclear forces.
POLICE
10 the force [sing.] (BrE) the police force: He joined the force twenty years ago.
PHYSICS
11 [C, U] an effect that causes things to move in a particular way: The moon exerts a force on the earth. the force of gravity magnetic/centrifugal force
OF WIND
12 [C, usually sing.] a unit for measuring the strength of the wind: a force 9 gale a gale force wind
see also TOUR DE FORCE
bring sth into force to cause a law, rule, etc. to start being used: They are hoping to bring the new legislation into force before the end of the year.
come/enter into force (of a law, rule, etc.) to start being used: When do the new regulations come into force?
force of habit if you do sth from or out of force of habit, you do it automatically and in a particular way because you have always done it that way in the past: It's force of habit that gets me out of bed at 6.15 each morning.
the forces of nature the power of the wind, rain, etc., especially when it causes damage or harm: They were fighting a losing battle against the forces of nature.
in force
1 (of people) in large numbers: Protesters turned out in force.
2 (of a law, rule, etc.) being used: The new regulations are now in force.
join/combine forces (with sb) to work together in order to achieve a shared aim: The two firms joined forces to win the contract.more at SPENT
verb
MAKE SB DO STH
1 [often passive] ~ sb (into sth/into doing sth) to make sb do sth that they do not want to do COMPEL: [VN, VN to inf] The President was forced into resigning. The President was forced to resign. [VN to inf] I was forced to take a taxi because the last bus had left. She forced herself to be polite to them. [VN] He didn't force meI wanted to go. Ill health forced him into early retirement. (informal, humorous) 'I shouldn't really have any more.' 'Go onforce yourself!' Public pressure managed to force a change in the government's position.
USE PHYSICAL STRENGTH
2 to use physical strength to move sb/sth into a particular position: [VN] to force a lock/window/door (= to break it open using force) He tried to force a copy of his book into my hand. to force an entry (= to enter a building using force) She forced her way through the crowd of reporters. [VN-ADJ] The door had been forced open.
MAKE STH HAPPEN
3 [VN] to make sth happen, especially before other people are ready: He was in a position where he had to force a decision. Building a new road here will force house prices down.
A SMILE/LAUGH
4 [VN] to make yourself smile, laugh, etc. rather than doing it naturally: She managed to force a smile.
FRUIT/PLANTS
5 [VN] to make fruit, plants, etc. grow or develop faster than normal by keeping them in special conditions: forced rhubarb (figurative) It is unwise to force a child's talent.
force sb's hand to make sb do sth that they do not want to do or make them do it sooner than they had intended: They decided to strike to force the management's hand.
force the issue to do sth to make people take a decision quickly
force the pace (especially BrE)
1 to run very fast in a race in order to make the other people taking part run faster
2 to make sb do sth faster than they want to: The demonstrations have succeeded in forcing the pace of change.more at THROAT
force sthback to make yourself hide an emotion: She swallowed hard and forced back her tears.
force sthdown
1 to make yourself eat or drink sth that you do not really want: She felt sick but managed to force down a piece of toast.
2 to make a plane, etc. land, especially by threatening to attack it
force sb/sth on/upon sb to make sb accept sth that they do not want: to force your attentions/opinions/company on sb
force sth out of sb to make sb tell you sth, especially by threatening them: I managed to force the truth out of him.

forced NAmE adj.
1 happening or done against sb's will: forced relocation to a job in another city a forced sale of his property
2 not sincere; not the result of genuine emotions: She said she was enjoying herself but her smile was forced.see also UNFORCED

forced entry noun [U, C] an occasion when sb enters a building illegally, using force

forced labour (BrE) (NAmE forced labor) noun [U]
1 hard physical work that sb, often a prisoner or SLAVE, is forced to do
2 prisoners or SLAVES who are forced to work: The mines were manned by forced labour from conquered countries.

forced landing noun an act of having to land an aircraft unexpectedly in order to avoid a crash: to make a forced landing

forced march noun a long march, usually made by soldiers in difficult conditions

force-feed verb [VN] to use force to make sb, especially a prisoner, eat or drink, by putting food or drink down their throat

force feedback noun [U] (computing) the process of making objects on a computer screen seem to have physical qualities such as weight

force field noun (often used in stories about space travel) a barrier that you cannot see

forceful NAmE adj.
1 (of people) expressing opinions firmly and clearly in a way that persuades other people to believe them ASSERTIVE: a forceful woman/speaker a forceful personality
2 (of opinions, etc.) expressed firmly and clearly so that other people believe them: a forceful argument/speech
3 using force: the forceful suppression of minorities
forcefully adv.: He argued his case forcefully. forcefulness noun [U]

force majeure NAmE noun [U] (from French, law) unexpected circumstances, such as war, that can be used as an excuse when they prevent sb from doing sth that is written in a contract

forcemeat NAmE noun [U] a mixture of meat or vegetables cut into very small pieces, which is often placed inside a chicken, etc. before it is cooked to give it flavour

force-out noun (in BASEBALL) a situation in which a player running to a BASE is out because a FIELDER is holding the ball at the base

forceps NAmE noun [pl.] an instrument used by doctors, with two long thin parts for picking up and holding things: a pair of forceps a forceps delivery (= a birth in which the baby is delivered with the help of forceps)

forcible NAmE adj. [only before noun] involving the use of physical force: forcible repatriation The police checked all windows and doors for signs of forcible entry.

forcibly NAmE adv.
1 in a way that involves the use of physical force: Supporters were forcibly removed from the court.
2 in a way that makes sth very clear: It struck me forcibly how honest he'd been.

ford NAmE noun, verb
noun a shallow place in a river where it is possible to drive or walk across
verb [VN] to walk or drive across a river or stream

fore noun, adj., adv.
noun
be/come to the fore (BrE) (NAmE be at the fore) to be/become important and noticed by people; to play an important part: She has always been to the fore at moments of crisis. The problem has come to the fore again in recent months.
bring sth to the fore to make sth become noticed by people
adj. [only before noun] (technical) located at the front of a ship, an aircraft or an animalcompare AFT, HIND
adv.
1 at or towards the front of a ship or an aircraftcompare AFT
2 Fore! used in the game of GOLF to warn people that they are in the path of a ball that you are hitting

fore- combining form (in nouns and verbs)
1 before; in advance: foreword foretell
2 in the front of: the foreground of the picture

forearm^1 NAmE noun the part of the arm between the elbow and the wrist

forearm^2 NAmE verb see FOREWARN

forebear (also forbear) NAmE noun [usually pl.] (formal or literary) a person in your family who lived a long time ago ANCESTOR

foreboding NAmE noun [U, C] a strong feeling that sth unpleasant or dangerous is going to happen: She had a sense of foreboding that the news would be bad. The letter filled him with foreboding. He knew from her face that his forebodings had been justified. note at FEAR
foreboding adj.: a foreboding feeling that something was wrong

forebrain NAmE noun (anatomy) the front part of the brain

forecast NAmE noun, verb
noun a statement about what will happen in the future, based on information that is available now: sales forecasts It is difficult to make long-term forecasts for a fast-growing industry. The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. The shipping forecast gave warnings of gales.see also WEATHER FORECAST
verb (forecast, forecast) or (forecasted, forecasted) to say what you think will happen in the future based on information that you have now PREDICT: [VN] Experts are forecasting a recovery in the economy. Snow is forecast for tomorrow. Temperatures were forecast to reach 40°C. It is difficult to forecast the demand for the new train service. [V that] The report forecasts that prices will rise by 3% next month. [also V wh-]

forecaster NAmE noun a person who says what is expected to happen, especially sb whose job is to forecast the weather: a weather forecaster an economic forecaster

forecastle (also fo'c's'le) NAmE noun the front part of a ship below the DECK, where the sailors live

foreclose NAmE verb
1 [V, VN] ~ (on sb/sth) (finance) (especially of a bank) to take control of sb's property because they have not paid back money that they borrowed to buy it
2 [VN] (formal) to reject sth as a possibility EXCLUDE: The judge's words effectively foreclosed any possibility of an early release.

foreclosure NAmE noun [U, C] (finance) the act of foreclosing on money that has been borrowed; an example of this

forecourt NAmE noun (BrE) a large open space in front of a building, for example a PETROL/GAS STATION or hotel, often used for parking cars on

foredoomed NAmE adj. ~ (to sth) (formal) that will not be successful, as if FATE has decided this from the beginning: Any attempt to construct an ideal society is foredoomed to failure.

forefather NAmE noun [usually pl.] (formal or literary) a person (especially a man) in your family who lived a long time ago ANCESTOR

forefend = FORFEND (1)

forefinger NAmE noun the finger next to the thumb INDEX FINGER

forefoot NAmE noun (pl. -feet ) either of the two front feet of an animal that has four feet

forefront NAmE noun [sing.]
at/in/to the forefront (of sth) in or into an important or leading position in a particular group or activity: Women have always been at the forefront of the Green movement. The new product took the company to the forefront of the computer software field. This latest protest has brought prison conditions to the forefront of public attention. The court case was constantly in the forefront of my mind (= I thought about it all the time).

foregather (also forgather) NAmE verb [V] (formal) to meet together in a group

forego = FORGO

foregoing NAmE adj. [only before noun] (formal)
1 used to refer to sth that has just been mentioned: the foregoing discussion
2 the foregoingnoun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] what has just been mentioned: The foregoing is a description of the proposed plan. FOLLOWING

foregone NAmE adj.
a foregone conclusion if you say that sth is a foregone conclusion, you mean that it is a result that is certain to happen: The outcome of the vote is a foregone conclusion.

foreground NAmE noun, verb
nounthe foreground
1 [C, usually sing.] the part of a view, picture, etc. that is nearest to you when you look at it: The figure in the foreground is the artist's mother.
2 [sing.] an important position that is noticed by people: Inflation and interest rates will be very much in the foreground of their election campaign.compare BACKGROUND
in the foreground (computing) (of a computer program) being used at the present time and appearing in front of any other programs on the screencompare IN THE BACKGROUND
verb [VN] to give particular importance to sth: The play foregrounds the relationship between father and daughter.

forehand NAmE noun [usually sing.] (in TENNIS, etc.) a way of hitting a ball in which the inner part of the hand (the PALM) faces the ball as it is hit: She has a strong forehand. a forehand volley He served to his opponent's forehand.compare BACKHAND

forehead NAmE noun the part of the face above the eyes and below the hair BROW

foreign NAmE adj.
1 in or from a country that is not your own: a foreign accent/language/student a foreign-owned company foreign holidays You could tell she was foreign by the way she dressed.
2 [only before noun] dealing with or involving other countries: foreign affairs/news/policy/trade foreign aid a foreign correspondent (= one who reports on foreign countries in newspapers or on television) DOMESTIC, HOME
3 ~ to sb/sth (formal) not typical of sb/sth; not known to sb/sth and therefore seeming strange: Dishonesty is foreign to his nature.
4 ~ object/body (formal) an object that has entered sth by accident and should not be there: Tears help to protect the eye from potentially harmful foreign bodies.

the Foreign and Commonwealth Office noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] (abbr. FCO) the British government department that deals with relations with other countries. It used to be called the Foreign Office and it is still often referred to as this.

foreigner NAmE noun (sometimes offensive)
1 a person who comes from a different country: The fact that I was a foreigner was a big disadvantage.
2 a person who does not belong in a particular place: I have always been regarded as a foreigner by the local folk.

foreign exchange noun
1 [U, C] the system of exchanging the money of one country for that of another country; the place where money is exchanged: The euro fell on the foreign exchanges yesterday.
2 [U] money that is obtained using this system: our largest source of foreign exchange

the Foreign Office noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] = THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

foreign-returned adj. (IndE, informal) (of a person) educated or trained in a foreign country, and having returned to India

the Foreign Secretary noun the British government minister in charge of the FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Foreign Service noun (NAmE) = DIPLOMATIC SERVICE

foreknowledge NAmE noun [U] (formal) knowledge of sth before it happens

foreland NAmE noun [sing., U]
1 an area of land which lies in front of sth
2 an area of land which sticks out into the sea

foreleg NAmE (also forelimb NAmE ) noun either of the two front legs of an animal that has four legs

forelock NAmE noun
1 a piece of hair that grows at the front of the head and hangs down over the FOREHEAD
2 a part of a horse's MANE that grows forwards between its ears
touch/tug your forelock (to sb) (BrE, disapproving) to show too much respect for sb, especially because you are anxious about what they think of you
In the past people of the lower classes either took off their hats or pulled on their forelocks to show respect.

foreman NAmE , forewoman NAmE noun (pl. -men , -women )
1 a worker who is in charge of a group of other factory or building workers
2 a person who acts as the leader of a JURY in court

foremost NAmE adj., adv.
adj. the most important or famous; in a position at the front: the world's foremost authority on the subject The Prime Minister was foremost among those who condemned the violence. This question has been foremost in our minds recently.
adv. see FIRST adv.

forename NAmE noun (formal) a person's first name rather than the name that they share with the other members of their family (their SURNAME): Please check that your surname and forenames have been correctly entered.

forenoon NAmE noun (NAmE, ScotE) the morning

forensic adj. [only before noun]
1 connected with the scientific tests used by the police when trying to solve a crime: forensic evidence/medicine/science/tests the forensic laboratory a forensic pathologist
2 connected with or used in court: a forensic psychiatrist (= one who examines people who have been accused of a crime)

foreplay NAmE noun [U] sexual activity, such as touching the sexual organs and kissing, that takes place before people have sex

forerib noun [U, C] a piece of beef cut from the front part of the RIBS

forerunner noun ~ (of sb/sth) a person or thing that came before and influenced sb/sth else that is similar; a sign of what is going to happen: Country music was undoubtedly one of the forerunners of rock and roll. He is recognized as the forerunner of all modern-day British Prime Ministers. An early penalty goal proved the forerunner of a disastrous performance by Scotland.

foresail NAmE noun [usually sing.] the main sail on the MAST of a ship which is nearest the front (called the foremast)

foresee NAmE verb (foresaw NAmE , foreseen NAmE ) to think sth is going to happen in the future; to know about sth before it happens PREDICT: [VN] We do not foresee any problems. The extent of the damage could not have been foreseen. [V (that)] No one could have foreseen (that) things would turn out this way. [V wh-] It is impossible to foresee how life will work out. [also VN -ing] compare UNFORESEEN

foreseeable NAmE adj. that you can predict will happen; that can be foreseen: foreseeable risks/consequences UNFORESEEABLE
for/in the foreseeable future for/in the period of time when you can predict what is going to happen, based on the present circumstances: The statue will remain in the museum for the foreseeable future. It's unlikely that the hospital will be closed in the foreseeable future (= soon).

foreshadow NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to be a sign of sth that will happen in the future: His sudden death had been foreshadowed by earlier health scares.

foreshore NAmE noun [C, usually sing., U]
1 (on a beach or by a river) the part of the SHORE between the highest and lowest levels reached by the water
2 the part of the SHORE between the highest level reached by the water and the area of land that has buildings, plants, etc. on it

foreshorten NAmE verb [VN]
1 (technical) to draw, photograph, etc. objects or people so that they look smaller or closer together than they really are: Viewed from above, their bodies were foreshortened and partly hidden.
2 (formal) to end sth before it would normally finish CURTAIL: a foreshortened education

foresight NAmE noun [U] (approving) the ability to predict what is likely to happen and to use this to prepare for the future: She had had the foresight to prepare herself financially in case of an accident. The government's policies show a remarkable lack of foresight.compare HINDSIGHT

foreskin NAmE noun the loose piece of skin that covers the end of a man's PENIS

forest NAmE noun
1 [C, U] a large area of land that is thickly covered with trees: a tropical forest a forest fire Thousands of hectares of forest are destroyed each year.see also RAINFOREST
2 [C] ~ (of sth) a mass of tall narrow objects that are close together: a forest of television aerials
not see the forest for the trees (NAmE) = NOT SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES at WOOD

forestall NAmE verb [VN] to prevent sth from happening or sb from doing sth by doing sth first: Try to anticipate what your child will do and forestall problems. Any plans for a peaceful settlement were forestalled by the intervention of the army.

forested NAmE adj. covered in forest: thickly forested hills The province is heavily forested and sparsely populated.

forester NAmE noun a person who works in a forest, taking care of the trees, planting new ones, etc.

forestry NAmE noun [U] the science or practice of planting and taking care of trees and forests

foretaste NAmE noun [sing.] a ~ (of sth) a small amount of a particular experience or situation that shows you what it will be like when the same thing happens on a larger scale in the future: They were unaware that the street violence was just a foretaste of what was to come.

foretell NAmE verb (foretold, foretold NAmE ) (literary) to know or say what will happen in the future, especially by using magic powers PREDICT: [VN] to foretell the future [V that] The witch foretold that she would marry a prince. [V wh-] None of us can foretell what lies ahead.

forethought NAmE noun [U] careful thought to make sure that things are successful in the future: Some forethought and preparation is necessary before you embark on the project. He had had the forethought to book in advance. She was appalled at her own lack of forethought. see MALICE

foretold pt, pp of FORETELL

forever adv.
1 (BrE also for ever) used to say that a particular situation or state will always exist: I'll love you forever! After her death, their lives changed forever. Just keep telling yourself that it won't last forever.
2 (BrE also for ever) (informal) a very long time: It takes her forever to get dressed.
3 (informal) used with verbs in the progressive tenses to say that sb does sth very often and in a way that is annoying to other people: She's forever going on about how poor they are.

forewarn NAmE verb [often passive] ~ sb (of sth) (formal) to warn sb about sth bad or unpleasant before it happens: [VN] The commander had been forewarned of the attack. [also VN that]
forewarning noun [U, C]
forewarned is forearmed (saying) if you know about problems, dangers, etc. before they happen, you can be better prepared for them

forewoman noun FOREMAN

foreword NAmE noun a short introduction at the beginning of a bookcompare PREFACE

forfeit NAmE verb, noun, adj.
verb [VN] to lose sth or have sth taken away from you because you have done sth wrong: If you cancel your flight, you will forfeit your deposit. He has forfeited his right to be taken seriously.
noun something that a person has to pay, or sth that is taken from them, because they have done sth wrong
adj. [not before noun] (formal) taken away from sb as a punishment

forfeiture NAmE noun [U] (law) the act of forfeiting sth: the forfeiture of property Failure to meet repayments leads automatically to forfeiture of the lease.

forfend NAmE verb [VN]
1 (also forefend) (NAmE) to prevent sth
2 (old use) to prevent sth or keep sth away
Heaven/God forfend (that) ... (humorous or old use) (used to say that you are frightened of the idea of sth happening): Heaven forfend that students are encouraged to think!

forgather verb [V] = FOREGATHER

forgave pt of FORGIVE

forge NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 [VN] to put a lot of effort into making sth successful or strong so that it will last: a move to forge new links between management and workers Strategic alliances are being forged with major European companies. She forged a new career in the music business. They forged a lead in the first 30 minutes of the game.
2 [VN] to make an illegal copy of sth in order to cheat people: to forge a passport/banknote/cheque He's getting good at forging his mother's signature.compare COUNTERFEIT
3 [VN] to shape metal by heating it in a fire and hitting it with a hammer; to make an object in this way: swords forged from steel
4 [V + adv. / prep.] (formal) to move forward in a steady but powerful way: He forged through the crowds to the front of the stage. She forged into the lead (= in a competition, race, etc.).
forge ahead (with sth) to move forward quickly; to make a lot of progress quickly: The company is forging ahead with its plans for expansion. Quick learners should be allowed to forge ahead.
noun
1 a place where objects are made by heating and shaping pieces of metal, especially one where a BLACKSMITH works
2 a large piece of equipment used for heating metals in; a building or part of a factory where this is found

forger NAmE noun a person who makes illegal copies of money, documents, etc. in order to cheat peoplecompare COUNTERFEITER

forgery NAmE noun
1 [U] the crime of copying money, documents, etc. in order to cheat people FAKE
2 [C] something, for example a document, piece of paper money, etc., that has been copied in order to cheat people: Experts are dismissing claims that the painting is a forgery.compare COUNTERFEIT

forget NAmE verb (forgot NAmE forgotten NAmE )
EVENTS/FACTS
1 ~ (about) sth (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to be unable to remember sth that has happened in the past or information that you knew in the past: [V] I'd completely forgotten about the money he owed me. Before I forget, there was a call from Italy for you. [VN] I never forget a face. Who could forget his speech at last year's party? [V (that)] She keeps forgetting (that) I'm not a child any more. I was forgetting (= I had forgotten) (that) you've been here before. [V wh-] I've forgotten where they live exactly. I forget how much they paid for it. [V -ing] I'll never forget hearing this piece of music for the first time. [VN that] It should not be forgotten that people used to get much more exercise. [also VN -ing]
TO DO STH
2 ~ (about) sth to not remember to do sth that you ought to do, or to bring or buy sth that you ought to bring or buy: [V] 'Why weren't you at the meeting?' 'SorryI forgot.' [V to inf] Take care, and don't forget to write. I forgot to ask him for his address. [VN] I forgot my purse (= I did not remember to bring it). 'Hey, don't forget me (= don't leave without me)!' Aren't you forgetting something? (= I think you have forgotten to do sth) You cannot use forget if you want to mention the place where you have left something: I've left my book at home. I've forgotten my book at home.
STOP THINKING ABOUT STH
3 ~ (about) sb/sth to deliberately stop thinking about sb/sth: [V] Try to forget about what happened. Could you possibly forget about work for five minutes? [VN] Forget him! Let's forget our differences and be friends. [V (that)] Forget (that) I said anything!
4 ~ (about) sth to stop thinking that sth is a possibility: [V] If I lose this job, we can forget about buying a new car. [VN] 'I was hoping you might be able to lend me the money.' 'You can forget that!'
YOURSELF
5 [VN] ~ yourself to behave in a way that is not socially acceptable: I'm forgetting myself. I haven't offered you a drink yet!
and don't (you) forget it (informal) used to tell sb how they should behave, especially when they have been behaving in a way you do not like: You're a suspect, not a detective, and don't you forget it.
forget it (informal)
1 used to tell sb that sth is not important and that they should not worry about it: 'I still owe you for lunch yesterday.' 'Forget it.'
2 used to tell sb that you are not going to repeat what you said: 'Now, what were you saying about John?' 'Forget it, it doesn't matter.'
3 used to emphasize that you are saying 'no' to sth: 'Any chance of you helping out here?' 'Forget it, I've got too much to do.'
4 used to tell sb to stop talking about sth because they are annoying you: Just forget it, will you!
not forgetting ... (BrE) used to include sth in the list of things that you have just mentioned: I share the house with Jim, Ian and Sam, not forgetting Spike, the dog.more at FORGIVE

forgetful NAmE adj.
1 often forgetting things ABSENT-MINDED: She has become very forgetful in recent years.
2 ~ of sb/sth (formal) not thinking about sb/sth that you should be thinking about: He was soon forgetful of all dangers.
forgetfully adv. forgetfulness noun [U]

forget-me-not noun a small wild plant with light blue flowers

forgettable NAmE adj. not interesting or special and therefore easily forgotten: an instantly forgettable tune UNFORGETTABLE

forgivable NAmE adj. that you can understand and forgive EXCUSABLE: His rudeness was forgivable in the circumstances. UNFORGIVABLE

forgive NAmE verb (forgave NAmE , forgiven NAmE )
1 ~ sb/yourself (for sth/for doing sth)| ~ sb sth to stop feeling angry with sb who has done sth to harm, annoy or upset you; to stop feeling angry with yourself: [VN] I'll never forgive her for what she did. I can't forgive that type of behaviour. I'd never forgive myself if she heard the truth from someone else. [VNN] She'd forgive him anything. [also V]
2 ~ me (for doing sth)| ~ my ... used to say in a polite way that you are sorry if what you are doing or saying seems rude or silly: [VN] Forgive me, but I don't see that any of this concerns me. Forgive my ignorance, but what exactly does the company do? Forgive me for interrupting, but I really don't agree with that. [VN -ing] Forgive my interrupting but I really don't agree with that.
3 (formal) (of a bank, country, etc.) to say that sb does not need to pay back money that they have borrowed: [VN] The government has agreed to forgive a large part of the debt. [also VNN]
sb could/might be forgiven for doing sth used to say that it is easy to understand why sb does or thinks sth, although they are wrong: Looking at the crowds out shopping, you could be forgiven for thinking that everyone has plenty of money.
forgive and forget to stop feeling angry with sb for sth they have done to you and to behave as if it had not happened: I know what he did was wrong but don't you think it's time to forgive and forget?

forgiveness NAmE noun [U] the act of forgiving sb; willingness to forgive sb: to pray for God's forgiveness the forgiveness of sins He begged forgiveness for what he had done.

forgiving NAmE adj. ~ (of sth) willing to forgive: She had not inherited her mother's forgiving nature. The public was more forgiving of the president's difficulties than the press and fellow politicians.

forgo (also forego) NAmE verb (forwent NAmE , forgone NAmE ) [VN] (formal) to decide not to have or do sth that you would like to have or do: No one was prepared to forgo their lunch hour to attend the meeting.

forgot pt of FORGET

forgotten pp of FORGET

fork NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a tool with a handle and three or four sharp points (called PRONGS), used for picking up and eating food: to eat with a knife and fork
2 a garden tool with a long or short handle and three or four sharp metal points, used for diggingsee also PITCHFORK
3 a place where a road, river, etc. divides into two parts; either of these two parts: Shortly before dusk they reached a fork and took the left-hand track. Take the right fork.
4 a thing shaped like a fork, with two or more long parts: a jagged fork of lightningsee also TUNING FORK
5 either of two metal supporting pieces into which a wheel on a bicycle or motorcycle is fitted
verb
1 [V, often + adv. / prep.] (not used in the progressive tenses) (of a road, river, etc.) to divide into two parts that lead in different directions: The path forks at the bottom of the hill. The road forks right after the bridge.
2 [V + adv. / prep.] (not used in the progressive tenses) (of a person) to turn left or right where a road, etc. divides into two: Fork right after the bridge.
3 [VN, often + adv. / prep.] to move, carry or dig sth using a fork: Clear the soil of weeds and fork in plenty of compost. He forked a piece of meat into his mouth. Fork over the ground before planting.
fork out (for sth)| fork out sth (for/on sth) (informal) to spend a lot of money on sth, especially unwillingly: Why fork out for a taxi when there's a perfectly good bus service? We've forked out a small fortune on their education. note at SPEND

forkball NAmE noun (in BASEBALL) a fast PITCH thrown from between the middle finger and the INDEX FINGER

forked NAmE adj. with one end divided into two parts, like the shape of the letter 'Y': a bird with a forked tail the forked tongue of a snake

forked lightning noun [U] the type of LIGHTNING that is like a line that divides into smaller lines near the groundcompare SHEET LIGHTNING

forkful NAmE noun the amount that a fork holds: a forkful of beans He pushed forkfuls of food into his mouth.

forklift truck NAmE (also forklift) noun a vehicle with special equipment on the front for moving and lifting heavy objects

forlorn NAmE adj.
1 (of a person) appearing lonely and unhappy: She looked so forlorn, standing there in the rain.
2 (of a place) not cared for and with no people in it: Empty houses quickly take on a forlorn look.
3 unlikely to succeed, come true, etc.: She waited in the forlorn hope that he would one day come back to her. His father smiled weakly in a forlorn attempt to reassure him that everything was all right.
forlornly adv.

form NAmE noun, verb
noun
TYPE
1 [C] a type or variety of sth: forms of transport/government/energy one of the most common forms of cancer all the millions of different life forms on the planet todaysee also ART FORM
WAY STH IS/LOOKS
2 [C, U] the particular way sth is, seems, looks or is presented: The disease can take several different forms. Help in the form of money will be very welcome. Help arrived in the form of two police officers. The training programme takes the form of a series of workshops. Most political questions involve morality in some form or other. We need to come to some form of agreement. I'm opposed to censorship in any shape or form. This dictionary is also available in electronic form.
DOCUMENT
3 [C] an official document containing questions and spaces for answers: an application/entry/order form (especially BrE) to fill in a form (especially NAmE) to fill out a form I filled in/out a form on their website. to complete a form (BrE) a booking form (NAmE) a reservation form
SHAPE
4 [C] the shape of sb/sth; a person or thing of which only the shape can be seen: her slender form The human form has changed little over the last 30 000 years. They made out a shadowy form in front of them.
ARRANGEMENT OF PARTS
5 [U] the arrangement of parts in a whole, especially in a work of art or piece of writing: Shape and form are of greater importance to me than colour. In a novel form and content are equally important.
BEING FIT/HEALTHY
6 [U] (BrE) how fit and healthy sb is; the state of being fit and healthy: After six months' training the whole team is in superb form. I really need to get back in form. The horse was clearly out of form.
PERFORMANCE
7 [U] how well sb/sth is performing; the fact that sb/sth is performing well: Midfielder Elliott has shown disappointing form recently. On current/present form the party is heading for another election victory. She signalled her return to form with a convincing victory. He's right on form (= performing well) as a crazy science teacher in his latest movie. The whole team was on good form and deserved the win. She was in great form (= happy and cheerful and full of energy) at the wedding party.
WAY OF DOING THINGS
8 [U, C] (especially BrE) the usual way of doing sth: What's the form when you apply for a research grant? conventional social forms True to form (= as he usually does) he arrived an hour late. Partners of employees are invited as a matter of form.
9 [U] good/bad ~ (old-fashioned, BrE) the way of doing things that is socially acceptable/not socially acceptable: When I was a boy it was always considered bad form to talk about food or money. Good form dictated that she should dress more casually in the country.
OF WORD
10 [C] a way of writing or saying a word that shows, for example, if it is plural or in a particular tense: the infinitive form of the verb
IN SCHOOL
11 (BrE, old-fashioned) a class in a school: Who's your form teacher?see also SIXTH FORM
12 -former (in compounds) (BrE, old-fashioned) a student in the form mentioned at school: a third-formersee also SIXTH-FORMER
take form (formal) to gradually form into a particular shape; to gradually develop: In her body a new life was taking form.more at SHAPE n.
verb
START TO EXIST
1 (especially of natural things) to begin to exist and gradually develop into a particular shape; to make sth begin to exist in a particular shape: [V] Flowers appeared, but fruits failed to form. Storm clouds are forming on the horizon. [VN] These hills were formed by glaciation.
2 to start to exist and develop; to make sth start to exist and develop: [V] A plan formed in my head. [VN] I formed many close friendships at college. I didn't see enough of the play to form an opinion about it. note at MAKE
MAKE SHAPE/FORM
3 [VN] [often passive] ~ sth (into sth)| ~ sth (from/of sth) to produce sth in a particular way or make it have a particular shape: Form the dough into balls with your hands. Bend the wire so that it forms a 'V'. Rearrange the letters to form a new word. Games can help children learn to form letters. Do you know how to form the past tense? The chain is formed from 136 links. (formal) The table was formed of two large slabs of stone.
4 ~ (sb/sth) (up) (into sth) to move or arrange objects or people so that they are in a group with a particular shape; to become arranged in a group like this: [VN] to form a line/queue/circle First get students to form groups of four. [V] Queues were already forming outside the theatre. The teams formed up into lines.
HAVE FUNCTION/ROLE
5 [VN] to have a particular function or pattern: The trees form a natural protection from the sun's rays.
6 linking verb [V-N] to be sth: The castle forms the focal point of the city. The survey formed part of a larger programme of research. These drawings will form the basis of the exhibition.
ORGANIZATION
7 to start a group of people, such as an organization, a committee, etc.; to come together in a group of this kind: [VN] They hope to form the new government. He formed a band with some friends from school. a newly-formed political party [V] The band formed in 2003.
HAVE INFLUENCE ON
8 [VN] to have an influence on the way that sth develops MOULD: Positive and negative experiences form a child's character.

formal NAmE adj.
1 (of a style of dress, speech, writing, behaviour, etc.) very correct and suitable for official or important occasions: formal evening dress The dinner was a formal affair. He kept the tone of the letter formal and businesslike. She has a very formal manner, which can seem unfriendly. INFORMAL
2 official; following an agreed or official way of doing things: formal legal processes to make a formal apology/complaint/request Formal diplomatic relations between the two countries were re-established in December. It is time to put these arrangements on a slightly more formal basis.
3 (of education or training) received in a school, college or university, with lessons, exams, etc., rather than gained just through practical experience: He has no formal teaching qualifications. Young children are beginning their formal education sometimes as early as four years old.
4 concerned with the way sth is done rather than what is done: Getting approval for the plan is a purely formal matter; nobody will seriously oppose it. Critics have concentrated too much on the formal elements of her poetry, without really looking at what it is saying.
5 (of a garden, room or building) arranged in a regular manner, according to a clear, exact plan: delightful formal gardens, with terraced lawns and an avenue of trees INFORMAL
formally adv.: 'How do you do?' she said formally. The accounts were formally approved by the board. Although not formally trained as an art historian, he is widely respected for his knowledge of the period.

formaldehyde NAmE noun [U]
1 (symb CH2O) a gas with a strong smell
2 (also technical formalin NAmE ) a liquid made by mixing formaldehyde and water, used for preserving BIOLOGICAL SPECIMENS, making plastics and as a DISINFECTANT: His most famous artistic offering consists of a dead shark floating in a tank of formaldehyde.

formalism NAmE noun [U] a style or method in art, music, literature, science, etc. that pays more attention to the rules and the correct arrangement and appearance of things than to inner meaning and feelings: The defence of formalism is always that it serves to control an excess of feeling.
formalist NAmE noun formalist adj. [usually before noun]: formalist theory

formality NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C, usually pl.] a thing that you must do as a formal or official part of a legal process, a social situation, etc.: to go through all the formalities necessary in order to get a gun licence Let's skip the formalities and get down to business.
2 [C, usually sing.] a thing that you must do as part of an official process, but which has little meaning and will not affect what happens: He already knows he has the job so the interview is a mere formality.
3 [U] correct and formal behaviour: Different levels of formality are appropriate in different situations. She greeted him with stiff formality.

formalize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [VN]
1 to make an arrangement, a plan or a relationship official: They decided to formalize their relationship by getting married.
2 to give sth a fixed structure or form by introducing rules: The college has a highly formalized system of assessment.
formalization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

format NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 the general arrangement, plan, design, etc. of sth: The format of the new quiz show has proved popular.
2 the shape and size of a book, magazine, etc.: They've brought out the magazine in a new format.
3 (computing) the way in which data is stored or held to be worked on by a computer: The images are stored in a digital format within the database.
verb (-tt-) [VN]
1 to prepare a computer disk so that data can be recorded on it
2 (technical) to arrange text in a particular way on a page or a screen

formation NAmE noun
1 [U] the action of forming sth; the process of being formed: the formation of a new government evidence of recent star formation in the galaxy
2 [C] a thing that has been formed, especially in a particular place or in a particular way: rock formations
3 [U, C] a particular arrangement or pattern: aircraft flying in formation formation flying The team usually plays in a 4-4-2 formation.

formation dancing noun [U] the activity of performing a dance as part of a group that consists of several couples. Formation dancing is usually done in competitions.

formative NAmE adj. [only before noun] having an important and lasting influence on the development of sth or of sb's character: the formative years of childhood formative influences in the development of the labour movement

former NAmE adj. [only before noun]
1 that used to exist in earlier times: in former times the countries of the former Soviet Union This beautiful old building has been restored to its former glory.
2 that used to have a particular position or status in the past: the former world champion my former boss/colleague/wife
3 the former ... used to refer to the first of two things or people mentioned: The former option would be much more sensible.compare LATTER
4 the formerpron. the first of two things or people mentioned: He had to choose between giving up his job and giving up his principles. He chose the former.compare LATTER
be a shadow/ghost of your former self to not have the strength, influence, etc. that you used to have: When his career ended, he became a shadow of his former self.

formerly NAmE adv. in earlier times PREVIOUSLY: Namibia, formerly known as South West Africa I learnt that the house had formerly been an inn. John Marsh, formerly of London Road, Leicester, now living in France

FormicaTM NAmE noun [U] a hard plastic that can resist heat, used for covering work surfaces, etc.

formic acid NAmE noun [U] (chemistry) an acid made from CARBON MONOXIDE and steam. It is also present in a liquid produced by some ANTS.

formidable NAmE adj. if people, things or situations are formidable, you feel fear and/or respect for them, because they are impressive or powerful, or because they seem very difficult: In debate he was a formidable opponent. Somehow the small but formidable woman fought her way through the crowd to reach her son. She has a formidable list of qualifications. The two players together make a formidable combination. The task was a formidable one. They had to overcome formidable obstacles.
formidably adv.: He now has the chance to prove himself in a formidably difficult role. She's formidably intelligent.

formless NAmE adj. without a clear or definite shape or structure: formless dreams a formless landscape, thickly blanketed with smoke
formlessness noun [U]

formula NAmE noun (pl. formulas or, especially in scientific use, formulae )
1 [C] (mathematics) a series of letters, numbers or symbols that represent a rule or law: This formula is used to calculate the area of a circle.
2 [C] (chemistry) letters and symbols that show the parts of a chemical COMPOUND, etc.: CO is the formula for carbon monoxide.
3 [C] ~ (for sth/for doing sth) a particular method of doing or achieving sth: They're trying to work out a peace formula acceptable to both sides in the dispute. There's no magic formula for a perfect marriage. All the patients were interviewed according to a standard formula.
4 [C] a list of the things that sth is made from, giving the amount of each substance to use: the secret formula for the blending of the whisky
5 (also formula milk) [U, C] (especially NAmE) a type of liquid food for babies, given instead of breast milk
6 Formula One, Two, Three etc. [U] a class of racing car, based on engine size, etc.: Formula One racing
7 [C] a fixed form of words used in a particular situation: legal formulae The minister keeps coming out with the same tired formulas.

formulaic NAmE adj. (formal) made up of fixed patterns of words or ideas: Traditional stories make use of formulaic expressions like 'Once upon a time ... '.

formulate NAmE verb
1 to create or prepare sth carefully, giving particular attention to the details: [VN] to formulate a policy/theory/plan/proposal The compost is specially formulated for pot plants. [VN to inf] This new kitchen cleaner is formulated to cut through grease and dirt.
2 [VN] to express your ideas in carefully chosen words: She has lots of good ideas, but she has difficulty formulating them. He struggled to formulate an answer.
formulation NAmE noun [U, C]: the formulation of new policies new formulations of existing drugs

fornicate NAmE verb [V] (formal, disapproving) to have sex with sb that you are not married to
fornication NAmE noun [U] fornicator noun

forsake NAmE verb (forsook NAmE , forsaken NAmE ) [VN] ~ sb/sth (for sb/sth) (literary)
1 to leave sb/sth, especially when you have a responsibility to stay ABANDON: He had made it clear to his wife that he would never forsake her.
2 to stop doing sth, or leave sth, especially sth that you enjoy RENOUNCE: She forsook the glamour of the city and went to live in the wilds of Scotland.see also GODFORSAKEN

forsooth NAmE adv. (old use or humorous) used to emphasize a statement, especially in order to show surprise

forswear NAmE verb (forswore NAmE , forsworn NAmE ) [VN] (formal or literary) to stop doing or using sth; to make a promise that you will stop doing or using sth RENOUNCE: The group forswears all worldly possessions. The country has not forsworn the use of chemical weapons.

forsythia NAmE noun [U, C] a bush that has small bright yellow flowers in the early spring

fort NAmE noun
1 a building or buildings built in order to defend an area against attack: the remains of a Roman fort
2 (NAmE) a place where soldiers live and have their training: Fort Drum
hold the fort (BrE) (NAmE hold down the fort) (informal) to have the responsibility for sth or care of sb while other people are away or out: Why not have a day off? I'll hold the fort for you.

forte NAmE noun, adv.
noun [sing.] a thing that sb does particularly well: Languages were never my forte.
adv. (music) played or sung loudly PIANO
forte adj.

Fortean NAmE adj. involving or relating to things that cannot be explained by science PARANORMAL

fortepiano NAmE noun (pl. -os) a type of piano made in the 18th and early 19th centuries

forth NAmE adv. (literary except in particular idioms and phrasal verbs)
1 away from a place; out: They set forth at dawn. Huge chimneys belched forth smoke and grime.
2 towards a place; forwards: Water gushed forth from a hole in the rock.see also BRING FORTH
from that day/time forth (literary) beginning on that day; from that time: From that day forth she gave me endless friendship and encouragement.more at BACK adv., SO adv.

the Forth Bridge noun
like painting the Forth Bridge (BrE) used to describe a job that never seems to end because by the time you get to the end you have to start at the beginning again
From the name of a very large bridge over the river Forth in Scotland.

forthcoming NAmE adj.
1 [only before noun] going to happen, be published, etc. very soon: the forthcoming elections a list of forthcoming books the band's forthcoming UK tour
2 [not before noun] ready or made available when needed: Financial support was not forthcoming.
3 [not before noun] willing to give information about sth: She's never very forthcoming about her plans. UNFORTHCOMING

forthright NAmE adj. direct and honest in manner and speech FRANK: a woman of forthright views He spoke in a forthright manner but without anger.
forthrightly adv. forthrightness noun [U]

forthwith NAmE adv. (formal) immediately; at once: The agreement between us is terminated forthwith.

fortieth FORTY

fortification NAmE noun
1 [C, usually pl.] a tower, wall, gun position, etc. built to defend a place against attack: the ramparts and fortifications of the Old Town
2 [U] the act of fortifying or making sth stronger: plans for the fortification of the city

fortify NAmE verb (fortifies, fortifying, fortified, fortified) [VN]
1 ~ sth (against sb/sth) to make a place more able to resist attack, especially by building high walls: a fortified town They fortified the area against attack.
2 ~ sb/yourself (against sb/sth) to make sb/yourself feel stronger, braver, etc.: He fortified himself against the cold with a hot drink. Although fortified by its election success, the government remains cautious in its policies.
3 to make a feeling or an attitude stronger: The news merely fortified their determination.
4 ~ sth (with sth) to increase the strength or quality of food or drink by adding sth to it: Sherry is fortified wine (= wine with extra alcohol added). cereal fortified with extra vitamins

fortiori A FORTIORI

fortis NAmE adj. (phonetics) (of a consonant) pronounced with forcecompare LENIS

fortissimo NAmE adv. (abbr. ff) (music) played or sung very loudly PIANISSIMO

fortitude NAmE noun [U] (formal) courage shown by sb who is suffering great pain or facing great difficulties BRAVERY, COURAGE: She endured her illness with great fortitude.

Fort Knox NAmE noun
be like/as safe as Fort Knox (of a building) to be strongly built, often with many locks, strong doors, guards, etc., so that it is difficult for people to enter and the things kept there are safe: This home of yours is like Fort Knox.
From the name of the military base in Kentucky where most of the US's store of gold is kept.

fortnight NAmE noun [usually sing.] (BrE) two weeks: a fortnight's holiday a fortnight ago in a fortnight's time He's had three accidents in the past fortnight.

fortnightly NAmE adj. (BrE) happening once a fortnight: Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals.
fortnightly adv.: The committee meets fortnightly.

Fortran NAmE noun [U] (computing) a high-level computer language used especially for doing scientific calculations

fortress NAmE noun a building or place that has been made stronger and protected against attack: a fortress town enclosed by four miles of ramparts Fear of terrorist attack has turned the conference centre into a fortress.

fortuitous NAmE adj. (formal) happening by chance, especially a lucky chance that brings a good result: a fortuitous meeting His success depended on a fortuitous combination of circumstances.
fortuitously adv.

fortunate NAmE adj. ~ (to do sth)| ~ (in having ... )| ~ (for sb)(that ... ) having or bringing an advantage, an opportunity, a piece of good luck, etc. LUCKY: I have been fortunate enough to visit many parts of the world as a lecturer. I was fortunate in having a good teacher. Remember those less fortunate than yourselves. It was very fortunate for him that I arrived on time. UNFORTUNATE

fortunately NAmE adv. by good luck LUCKILY: I was late, but fortunately the meeting hadn't started. Fortunately for him, he was very soon offered another job. UNFORTUNATELY

fortune NAmE noun
1 [U] chance or luck, especially in the way it affects people's lives: I have had the good fortune to work with some brilliant directors. By a stroke of fortune he found work almost immediately. Fortune smiled on me (= I had good luck). note at LUCK
2 [C] a large amount of money: He made a fortune in real estate. She inherited a share of the family fortune. A car like that costs a small fortune. You don't have to spend a fortune to give your family tasty, healthy meals. She is hoping her US debut will be the first step on the road to fame and fortune. That ring must be worth a fortune.
3 [C, usually pl., U] the good and bad things that happen to a person, family, country, etc.: the changing fortunes of the film industry the fortunes of war a reversal of fortune(s)
4 [C] a person's FATE or future: She can tell your fortune by looking at the lines on your hand. see HOSTAGE, SEEKsee also SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

fortune cookie noun a thin hollow biscuit/cookie, served in Chinese restaurants, containing a short message that predicts what will happen to you in the future

fortune hunter noun a person who tries to become rich by marrying sb with a lot of money

fortune-teller noun a person who claims to have magic powers and who tells people what will happen to them in the future

forty NAmE
1 number 40
2 noun the forties [pl.] numbers, years or temperatures from 40 to 49
fortieth NAmE ordinal number, noun There are examples of how to use ordinal numbers at the entry for fifth.
in your forties between the ages of 40 and 49

the forty-ninth parallel noun the line on a map that is 49° north of the EQUATOR, thought of as forming the border between western Canada and the US: Most of these companies also operate above the forty-ninth parallel.

forty winks noun [pl.] (informal) a short sleep, especially during the day: I'll feel much better when I've had forty winks.

forum noun
1 ~ (for sth) a place where people can exchange opinions and ideas on a particular issue; a meeting organized for this purpose: Television is now an important forum for political debate. an Internet forum to hold an international forum on drug abuse
2 (in ancient Rome) a public place where meetings were held

forward NAmE adv., adj., verb, noun
adv.
1 (also forwards especially in BrE) towards a place or position that is in front: She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. He took two steps forward. They ran forward to welcome her. BACK, BACKWARD(S)
2 towards a good result: We consider this agreement to be an important step forward. Cutting our costs is the only way forward. We are not getting any further forward with the discussion. The project will go forward (= continue) as planned. BACKWARD(S)
3 towards the future; ahead in time: Looking forward, we hope to expand our operations in several of our overseas branches. The next scene takes the story forward five years. (old use) from this day forward
4 earlier; sooner: It was decided to bring the meeting forward two weeks.
5 (technical) in or towards the front part of a ship or plane: The main cabin is situated forward of (= in front of) the mast.see also LOOK FORWARD, PUT FORWARD see BACKWARD(S), CLOCK n., FOOT n.
adj.
1 [only before noun] directed or moving towards the front: The door opened, blocking his forward movement. a forward pass (= in a sports game)
2 [only before noun] (technical) located in front, especially on a ship, plane or other vehicle: the forward cabins A bolt may have fallen off the plane's forward door.
3 relating to the future: the forward movement of history A little forward planning at the outset can save you a lot of expense. The plans are still no further forward than they were last month.
4 behaving towards sb in a manner which is too confident or too informal: I hope you don't think I'm being too forward.compare BACKWARD
verb
1 ~ sth (to sb)| ~ (sb) sth (formal) to send or pass goods or information to sb: [VN, VNN] We will be forwarding our new catalogue to you next week. We will be forwarding you our new catalogue next week. [VN] to forward a request/complaint/proposal
2 [VN] ~ sth (to sb) to send a letter, etc. received at the address a person used to live at to their new address SEND ON: Could you forward any mail to us in New York? I put 'please forward' on the envelope.
3 [VN] (formal) to help to improve or develop sth FURTHER: He saw the assignment as a way to forward his career. She uses various devices to forward the plot. They have done a great deal to forward the cause of world peace.see also FAST-FORWARD
noun an attacking player whose position is near the front of a team in some sportscompare BACK

forwarding address noun a new address to which letters should be sent on from an old address that sb has moved away from

forward-looking adj. (approving) planning for the future; willing to consider modern ideas and methods: a forward-looking company We need someone dynamic and forward-looking.

forwardness NAmE noun [U] behaviour that is too confident or too informal

forward slash noun the symbol (/) used in computer commands and in Internet addresses to separate the different partscompare BACKSLASH

forwent pt of FORGO

fossick NAmE verb [V] (AustralE, NZE, informal)
1 ~ (through sth) to search through sth: He spent ages fossicking through the documents.
2 to search for gold in mines that are no longer used

fossil NAmE noun
1 the remains of an animal or a plant which have become hard and turned into rock: fossils over two million years old
2 (informal, disapproving) an old person, especially one who is unable to accept new ideas or adapt to changes

fossil fuel noun [C, U] fuel such as coal or oil, that was formed over millions of years from the remains of animals or plants: Carbon dioxide is produced in huge amounts when fossil fuels are burned.

fossilize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb
1 [usually passive] to become or make sth become a fossil: [VN] fossilized bones [also V]
2 [V, VN] (disapproving) to become, or make sb/sth become, fixed and unable to change or develop
fossilization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

foster NAmE verb, adj.
verb
1 [VN] to encourage sth to develop ENCOURAGE, PROMOTE: The club's aim is to foster better relations within the community.
2 (especially BrE) to take another person's child into your home for a period of time, without becoming his or her legal parents: [VN] They have fostered over 60 children during the past ten years. [V] We couldn't adopt a child, so we decided to foster.compare ADOPT
adj. [only before noun] used with some nouns in connection with the fostering of a child: a foster mother/father/family foster parents a foster child a foster home foster care

fought pt, pp of FIGHT

foul adj., verb, noun
adj. (fouler, foulest)
1 dirty and smelling bad: foul air/breath a foul-smelling prison Foul drinking water was blamed for the epidemic. note at DISGUSTING
2 (especially BrE) very unpleasant; very bad: She's in a foul mood. His boss has a foul temper. This tastes foul. note at TERRIBLE
3 (of language) including rude words and swearing OFFENSIVE: foul language I'm sick of her foul mouth (= habit of swearing). He called her the foulest names imaginable.
4 (of weather) very bad, with strong winds and rain: a foul night
5 (literary) very evil or cruel ABOMINABLE: a foul crime/murder
foully adv.: He swore foully. She had been foully murdered during the night. foulness noun [U]: The air was heavy with the stink of damp and foulness.
fall foul of sb/sth to get into trouble with a person or an organization because of doing sth wrong or illegal: to fall foul of the lawmore at FAIR adj., CRY v.
verb
1 [VN] (in sport) to do sth to another player that is against the rules of the game: He was fouled inside the penalty area.
2 [V, VN] (in BASEBALL) to hit the ball outside the playing area
3 [VN] to make sth dirty, usually with waste material: Do not permit your dog to foul the grass. More and more beaches are being fouled by oil leakages.
4 ~ (sth) (up) to become caught or twisted in sth and stop it working or moving: [VN] The rope fouled the propeller. The line became fouled in (= became twisted in) the propeller. [V] A rope fouled up (= became twisted) as we pulled the sail down.
foul up (informal) to make a lot of mistakes; to do sth badly: I've fouled up badly again, haven't I?related noun FOUL-UP
foul sthup (informal) to spoil sth, especially by doing sth wrong: Everything was going really well until Rob came along and fouled things up.related noun FOUL-UP
noun (in sport) an action that is against the rules of the game: It was a clear foul by Ford on the goalkeeper. (NAmE) to hit a foul (= in BASEBALL, a ball that is too far left or right, outside the lines that mark the side of the field)see also PROFESSIONAL FOUL

foul ball noun (in BASEBALL) a hit that goes outside the allowed area

foul line noun
1 (in BASEBALL) either of two lines that show the area inside which the ball must be hit
2 (in BASKETBALL) a line from which a player is allowed to try to throw the ball into the BASKET after a foul

foul-mouthed adj. using rude, offensive language: a foul-mouthed racist

foul play noun [U]
1 criminal or violent activity that causes sb's death: Police immediately began an investigation, but did not suspect foul play (= did not suspect that the person had been murdered).
2 (BrE) dishonest or unfair behaviour, especially during a sports game: He was sent off for foul play.

foul-up noun (informal) a problem caused by bad organization or a stupid mistake: There was a computer foul-up at the bank and customers were sent the wrong statements.

found verb [VN]
1 to start sth, such as an organization or an institution, especially by providing money ESTABLISH: to found a club/company Her family founded the college in 1895.
2 to be the first to start building and living in a town or country: The town was founded by English settlers in 1790.
3 [usually passive] ~ sth (on sth) to base sth on sth: Their marriage was founded on love and mutual respect.see also ILL-FOUNDED, UNFOUNDED, WELL FOUNDED
4 (technical) to melt metal and pour it into a MOULD; to make objects using this processsee also FIND v.

foundation noun
1 [C, usually pl.] a layer of bricks, concrete, etc. that forms the solid underground base of a building: The builders are now beginning to lay the foundations of the new school. The explosion shook the foundations of the houses nearby. note at BOTTOM
2 [C, U] a principle, an idea or a fact that sth is based on and that it grows from: Respect and friendship provide a solid foundation for marriage. The rumour is totally without foundation (= not based on any facts). These stories have no foundation (= are not based on any facts). note at BASIS
3 [C] an organization that is established to provide money for a particular purpose, for example for scientific research or charity: The money will go to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
4 [U] the act of starting a new institution or organization ESTABLISHMENT: The organization has grown enormously since its foundation in 1955. She used the money to go towards the foundation of a special research group.
5 [U] a skin-coloured cream that is put on the face underneath other make-up
shake/rock the foundations of sth | shake/rock sth to its foundations to cause people to question their basic beliefs about sth: This issue has shaken the foundations of French politics.

foundation course noun (BrE) a general course at a college that prepares students for longer or more difficult courses: an arts foundation course

foundation stone noun a large block of stone that is put at the base of an important new public building in a special ceremony: to lay the foundation stone of the new museum

founder noun, verb
noun a person who starts an organization, institution, etc. or causes sth to be built: the founder and president of the company
verb [V] ~ (on sth) (formal)
1 (of a plan, etc.) to fail because of a particular problem or difficulty: The project foundered after problems with funding. The peace talks foundered on a basic lack of trust.
2 (of a ship) to fill with water and sink: Our boat foundered on a reef.

founder member (BrE) (NAmE charter member) noun one of the first members of a society, an organization, etc., especially one who helped start it

founding father noun
1 (formal) a person who starts or develops a new movement, institution or idea: one of the founding fathers of modern psychology
2 Founding Father a member of the group of people who wrote the Constitution of the US in 1787

foundling noun (old-fashioned) a baby who has been left by its parents and who is found and taken care of by sb else

foundry noun (pl. -ies) a factory where metal or glass is melted and made into different shapes or objects: an iron foundry foundry workers note at FACTORY

fount noun ~ (of sth) (literary or humorous) the place where sth important comes from SOURCE: She treats him as if he were the fount of all knowledge.

fountain NAmE noun
1 a structure from which water is sent up into the air by a PUMP, used to decorate parks and gardens/yardssee also DRINKING FOUNTAIN
2 a strong flow of liquid or of another substance that is forced into the air: The amplifier exploded in a fountain of sparks. The shell exploded, sending a fountain of sand and grit into the air.
3 a rich source or supply of sth: Tourism is a fountain of wealth for the city.

fountainhead NAmE noun (literary) a source or origin

fountain pen noun a pen with a container that you fill with ink that flows to a NIB

four
1 number 4 There are examples of how to use numbers at the entry for five.
2 noun a group of four people or things: to make up a four at tennis a coach and four (= four horses)
3 noun (in CRICKET) a shot that scores four RUNS
4 noun a team of four people who ROW a long narrow boat in races; the boat that they row
on all fours (of a person) bent over with hands and knees on the ground: We were crawling around on all fours.
these four walls used when you are talking about keeping sth secret: Don't let this go further than these four walls (= Don't tell anyone else who is not in the room now).

four-by-four (also 4x4) noun a vehicle with FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (= a system in which power is given to all four wheels)

four-colour process noun (technical) a way of reproducing natural colours in photographs and printing using COLOUR SEPARATION

four-dimensional adj. having four DIMENSIONS, usually length, width, depth, and time

fourfold NAmE adj., adv. -FOLD

four-letter word noun a short word that is considered rude or offensive, especially because it refers to sex or other functions of the body SWEAR WORD: The play is full of four-letter words.

four-ply adj. (of cloth or wool) having four threads or layers

four-poster bed (also four-poster) noun a large bed with a tall post at each of the four corners, a cover over the top and curtains around the sides

foursome NAmE noun [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of four people taking part in a social activity or sport together: Can you make up a foursome for tennis tomorrow? We used to go around together as a foursome. The London-based foursome are due to tour Europe this summer.

four-square adj.
1 (of a building) square in shape, solid and strong: a four-square Georgian house
2 (of a person) firm, steady and determined: He was a four-square and formidable hero.
four-square adv.: I stand four-square with the President on this issue. The new hut stood four-square in the corner of the garden. The responsibility lies four-square with the government.

four-star adj. [usually before noun]
1 having four stars in a system that measures quality. The highest quality is shown by either four or five stars: a four-star hotel
2 (NAmE) having the second-highest military rank, and wearing a uniform that has four stars on it: a four-star general

four-stroke adj. (technical) (of an engine or vehicle) with a PISTON that makes four up and down movements in each power CYCLEcompare TWO-STROKE

fourteen NAmE number14
fourteenth NAmE ordinal number, noun There are examples of how to use ordinal numbers at the entry for fifth.

the Fourteenth Amendment noun [sing.] a change made to the US Constitution in 1866 that gave all Americans equal rights and allowed former SLAVES to become citizens

fourth NAmE ordinal number, noun
ordinal number 4th There are examples of how to use ordinal numbers at the entry for fifth.
noun (especially NAmE) = QUARTER

the fourth dimension noun [sing.]
1 (used by scientists and writers of SCIENCE FICTION) time
2 an experience that is outside normal human experience

the fourth estate noun [sing.] newspapers and journalists in general and the political influence that they have THE PRESS

fourthly NAmE adv. used to introduce the fourth of a list of points you want to make in a speech or piece of writing: Fourthly, I should like to mention ...

the Fourth of July noun [sing.] a national holiday in the US when people celebrate the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1776see also INDEPENDENCE DAY

four-way stop noun (SAfrE) a place where two roads cross each other at which there are signs indicating that vehicles must stop before continuing: The first vehicle to stop at a four-way stop has right of way.

four-wheel drive (especially NAmE all-wheel drive) noun [U, C] a system in which power is applied to all four wheels of a vehicle, making it easier to control; a vehicle with this system: a car with four-wheel drive We rented a four-wheel drive to get around the island.see also FOUR-BY-FOUR

four-wheeler noun (NAmE) = QUAD BIKE

fowl noun
1 [C, U] (pl. fowl or fowls) a bird that is kept for its meat and eggs, for example a chicken: a variety of domestic fowl fowl such as turkeys and ducks
2 [C] (old use) any birdsee also GUINEAFOWL, WATERFOWL, WILDFOWL see FISH n.

fowling noun [U] the activity of hunting wild birds

fox NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a wild animal of the dog family, with reddish-brown fur, a pointed face and a thick heavy tailsee also FLYING FOX, VIXEN
2 [U] the skin and fur of the fox, used to make coats, etc.
3 [C] (often disapproving) a person who is clever and able to get what they want by influencing or tricking other people: He's a wily old fox.
4 [C] (informal) an attractive young woman
verb [VN] (informal, especially BrE) to be too difficult for sb to understand or solve; to trick or confuse sb: The last question foxed even our panel of experts.

foxed NAmE adj.
1 unable to understand or solve sth: I must admit I'm completely foxed.
2 (of the paper of old books or prints) covered with brown spots

foxglove NAmE noun [C, U] a tall plant with purple or white flowers shaped like bells growing up its STEM

foxhole NAmE noun a hole in the ground that soldiers use as a shelter against the enemy or as a place to fire back fromcompare HOLE

foxhound NAmE noun a dog with a very good sense of smell, that is trained to hunt FOXES

fox-hunting (BrE also hunting) noun [U] a sport in which FOXES are hunted by specially trained dogs and by people on horses: to go fox-hunting
fox hunt noun: a ban on fox hunts

fox terrier noun a small dog with short hair

foxtrot NAmE noun a formal dance for two people together, with both small fast steps and longer slow ones; a piece of music for this dance

foxy NAmE adj.
1 like a FOX in appearance: A grin slid over his foxy face.
2 (informal, especially NAmE) (of a woman) sexually attractive SEXY
3 clever at tricking others CUNNING

foyer NAmE noun
1 a large open space inside the entrance of a theatre or hotel where people can meet or wait LOBBY: I'll meet you in the foyer at 7 o'clock.
2 (NAmE) an entrance hall in a private house or flat/apartment

Fr (also Fr. especially in NAmE) abbr. Father (used in front of the name of some Christian priests): Fr (Paul) O'Connor

fracas NAmE noun (pl. fracas , NAmE fracases) [usually sing.] a noisy argument or fight, usually involving several people: a fracas between the supporters of the two teams

fractal noun (mathematics, physics) a curve or pattern that includes a smaller curve or pattern which has exactly the same shape

fraction noun
1 a small part or amount of sth: Only a small fraction of a bank's total deposits will be withdrawn at any one time. She hesitated for the merest fraction of a second. He raised his voice a fraction If fraction is used with a plural noun, the verb is usually plural: Only a fraction of cars in the UK use leaded petrol. If it is used with a singular noun that represents a group of people, the verb can be singular or plural in BrE, but is usually singular in NAmE: A tiny fraction of the population never vote/votes.
2 a division of a number, for example 5/8 RATIONAL NUMBERsee also VULGAR FRACTIONcompare INTEGER

fractional adj.
1 (formal) very small; not important MINIMAL: a fractional decline in earnings There was a fractional hesitation before he said yes.
2 (mathematics) of or in fractions: a fractional equation

fractional distillation noun [U] (chemistry) the process of separating the parts of a liquid mixture by heating it. As the temperature goes up, each part in turn becomes a gas, which then cools as it moves up a tube and can be collected as a liquid.

fractionally adv. to a very small degree: He was just fractionally ahead at the finishing line.

fractious adj. (especially BrE)
1 bad-tempered or easily upset, especially by small things IRRITABLE: Children often get fractious and tearful when tired.
2 (formal) making trouble and complaining: The six fractious republics are demanding autonomy.

fracture noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a break in a bone or other hard material: a fracture of the leg/skull a compound/simple fracture (= one in which the broken bone comes/does not come through the skin) Cracks and fractures are appearing in the ancient wall.see also GREENSTICK FRACTURE
2 [U] the fact of sth breaking, especially a bone: Old people's bones are more prone to fracture. Research has shown that hormone replacement therapy can reduce the risk of fracture by 50 to 60 per cent.
verb
1 to break or crack; to make sth break or crack: [V] His leg fractured in two places. [VN] She fell and fractured her skull. a fractured pipeline
2 (formal) (of a society, an organization, etc.) to split into several parts so that it no longer functions or exists; to split a society or an organization, etc. in this way: [V] Many people predicted that the party would fracture and split. [VN] The company was fractured into several smaller groups.
fractured adj. [usually before noun]: He suffered a badly fractured arm. (figurative) They spoke a sort of fractured German.

fraenulum (BrE) = FRENULUM

fragile NAmE adj.
1 easily broken or damaged: fragile china/glass/bones Be careful not to drop it; it's very fragile.
2 weak and uncertain; easily destroyed or spoilt: a fragile alliance/ceasefire/relationship The economy remains extremely fragile. In her job she was used to dealing with actors' fragile egos.
3 delicate and often beautiful: fragile beauty The woman's fragile face broke into a smile.
4 not strong and likely to become ill/sick: Her father is now 86 and in fragile health. (BrE, informal) I'm feeling a bit fragile after last night (= not well, perhaps because of drinking too much alcohol).
fragility noun [U]: the fragility of the human body There was an air of fragility about him.

fragment noun, verb
noun a small part of sth that has broken off or comes from sth larger: Police found fragments of glass near the scene. The shattered vase lay in fragments on the floor. I overheard a fragment of their conversation. She could recall only fragments of his poetry.
verb [V, VN] to break or make sth break into small pieces or parts
fragmentation noun [U]: the fragmentation of the country into small independent states fragmented adj.: a fragmented society

fragmentary NAmE adj. made of small parts that are not connected or complete: There is only fragmentary evidence to support this theory. The historical records of the period are, at best fragmentary.

fragmentation grenade (also fragmentation bomb) noun a bomb that breaks into very small pieces when it explodes

fragrance noun
1 [C, U] a pleasant smell: The bath oil comes in various fragrances. The flowers are chosen for their delicate fragrance.
2 [C] a liquid that you put on your skin in order to make yourself smell nice PERFUME: an exciting new fragrance from Dior They are about to launch their first fragrance for men.

fragrant adj. having a pleasant smell: fragrant herbs/flowers/oils The air was fragrant with scents from the sea and the hills. Swallows swooped through the fragrant evening air.
fragrantly adv.

fraidy cat noun (US, informal, disapproving) = SCAREDY-CAT

frail adj. (frailer, frailest)
1 (especially of an old person) physically weak and thin: Mother was becoming too frail to live alone.
2 weak; easily damaged or broken: the frail stems of the flowers Human nature is frail.

frailty noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] weakness and poor health: Increasing frailty meant that she was more and more confined to bed.
2 [U, C] weakness in a person's character or moral standards: human frailty the frailties of human nature

frame noun, verb
noun
BORDER
1 [C] a strong border or structure of wood, metal, etc. that holds a picture, door, piece of glass, etc. in position: a picture frame aluminium window frames I'm going to paint the door frame white.
STRUCTURE
2 [C] the supporting structure of a piece of furniture, a building, a vehicle, etc. that gives it its shape: the frame of an aircraft/a car/a bicycle The bed frame is made of pine.see also CLIMBING FRAME
OF GLASSES
3 [C, usually pl.] a structure of plastic or metal that holds the LENSES in a pair of glasses: gold-rimmed frames
PERSON/ANIMAL'S BODY
4 [C, usually sing.] the form or structure of a person or animal's body: to have a small/slender/large frame The bed was shorter than his six-foot frame.
GENERAL IDEAS
5 [sing.] the general ideas or structure that form the background to sth: In this course we hope to look at literature in the frame of its social and historical context.see also TIME FRAME
OF FILM/MOVIE
6 [C] one of the single photographs that a film or video is made of
OF PICTURE STORY
7 [C] a single picture in a COMIC STRIP
COMPUTING
8 [C] one of the separate areas on an Internet page that you can SCROLL through (= read by using the mouse to move the text up or down)
IN GARDEN
9 [C] = COLD FRAME
IN SNOOKER/BOWLING
10 [C] a single section of play in the game of SNOOKER, etc., or in BOWLING: He won the first frame easily.
be in/out of the frame be taking part/not taking part in sth: We won our match, so we're still in the frame for the championship.
verb [VN]
MAKE BORDER
1 [usually passive] to put or make a frame or border around sth: The photograph had been framed. Her blonde hair framed her face. He stood there, head back, framed against the blue sky.
PRODUCE FALSE EVIDENCE
2 [usually passive] ~ sb (for sth) to produce false evidence against an innocent person so that people think he or she is guilty FIT UP: He says he was framed.
DEVELOP PLAN/SYSTEM
3 (formal) to create and develop sth such as a plan, a system or a set of rules
EXPRESS STH
4 to express sth in a particular way: You'll have to be careful how you frame the question.

framed adj. (often in compounds): a framed photograph a timber-framed house (= with a supporting structure of wood)

frame of mind noun [sing.] the way you feel or think about sth at a particular time: We'll discuss this when you're in a better frame of mind. By his own admission, Gordon was not in the right frame of mind to win yesterday.

frame of reference noun (pl. frames of reference) a particular set of beliefs, ideas or experiences that affects how a person understands or judges sth: It is easy to choose our own frame of reference and attack any ideas that do not fit it.

frame tent (BrE) (NAmE wall tent) noun a large tent with a roof and walls that do not slope muchcompare DOME TENT, RIDGE TENT

frame-up noun (informal) a situation in which false evidence is produced in order to make people think that an innocent person is guilty of a crime

framework NAmE noun
1 the parts of a building or an object that support its weight and give it shape: built on a wooden/metal framework note at STRUCTURE
2 ~ (of/for sth) a set of beliefs, ideas or rules that is used as the basis for making judgements, decisions, etc.: The report provides a framework for further research. We are currently exploring new approaches within existing frameworks of practice and thinking.
3 the structure of a particular system: We need to establish a legal framework for the protection of the environment. the basic framework of society

franc noun the unit of money in Switzerland and several other countries (replaced in 2002 in France, Belgium and Luxembourg by the euro)

franchise noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] formal permission given by a company to sb who wants to sell its goods or services in a particular area; formal permission given by a government to sb who wants to operate a public service as a business: a franchise agreement/company a catering/rail franchise In the reorganization, Southern Television lost their franchise. to operate a business under franchise
2 [C] a business or service run under franchise: They operate franchises in London and Paris. a burger franchise
3 [U] (formal) the right to vote in a country's elections: universal adult franchise The 1918 Reform Act extended the franchise to women over 30.see also ENFRANCHISE
verb [VN] [usually passive] to give or sell a franchise (1) to sb: Catering has been franchised (out) to a private company. franchised restaurants
franchising noun [U]

franchisee noun a person or company that has been given a franchise

franchiser (also franchisor) noun a company or an organization that gives sb a franchise

Franciscan noun, adj.
noun a member of a religious organization started in 1209 by St Francis of Assisi in Italy
adj. relating to St Francis or to this organization: a Franciscan monk

francium noun [U] (symb Fr) a chemical element. Francium is a RADIOACTIVE metal.

Franco- NAmE combining form (in nouns and adjectives) French; France: the Franco-Prussian War Francophile

francophone NAmE adj. [only before noun] speaking French as the main language: the francophone countries of West Africa a francophone TV channel
francophone noun: Canadian francophones

frangipani noun
1 [U, C] a tropical American tree or bush with groups of white, pink, or yellow flowers
2 [U] a PERFUME that is made from the frangipani plant

franglais NAmE noun [U] (informal) language which is a mixture of French and English, used in a humorous way

frank adj., verb
adj. (franker, frankest more frank is also common) honest and direct in what you say, sometimes in a way that other people might not like: a full and frank discussion a frank admission of guilt He was very frank about his relationship with the actress. To be frank with you, I think your son has little chance of passing the exam. note at HONEST
frankness noun [U]: They outlined their aims with disarming frankness.
verb [VN] [often passive] to stamp a mark on an envelope, etc. to show that the cost of posting it has been paid or does not need to be paid

Frankenfood (also Frankenstein food) noun [C, U] (informal, disapproving) food that has been GENETICALLY MODIFIED

Frankenstein noun (also Frankenstein's monster, Frankenstein monster) used to talk about sth that sb creates or invents that goes out of control and becomes dangerous, often destroying the person who created it: The organization has now become a Frankenstein monster beyond the control of the people who created it. If you were going to do a Frankenstein and put a swimmer together from scratch, you would build Ian Thorpe. Can genetic engineering shake off its Frankenstein image?
From the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley in which a scientist called Frankenstein makes a creature from pieces of dead bodies and brings it to life.

frankfurter NAmE (NAmE also wiener, informal weenie) noun a long thin smoked SAUSAGE with a reddish-brown skin, often eaten in a long bread roll as a HOT DOG

frankincense noun [U] a substance that is burnt to give a pleasant smell, especially during religious ceremonies

franking machine (especially BrE) (NAmE usually postage meter) noun a machine that prints an official mark on a letter to show that the cost of posting it has been paid, or does not need to be paid

frankly adv.
1 in an honest and direct way that people might not like: He spoke frankly about the ordeal. They frankly admitted their responsibility.
2 used to show that you are being honest about sth, even though people might not like what you are saying: Frankly, I couldn't care less what happens to him. Quite frankly, I'm not surprised you failed.

frantic adj.
1 done quickly and with a lot of activity, but in a way that is not very well organized HECTIC: a frantic dash/search/struggle They made frantic attempts to revive him. Things are frantic in the office right now. They worked with frantic haste.
2 unable to control your emotions because you are extremely frightened or worried about sth BESIDE YOURSELF: frantic with worry Let's go back. Your parents must be getting frantic by now. The children are driving me frantic (= making me very annoyed).
frantically adv.: They worked frantically to finish on time.

frappé NAmE adj., noun (from French)
adj. [after noun] (of drinks) served cold with a lot of ice: coffee frappé
noun a drink or sweet food served cold with very small pieces of ice

frat noun (NAmE, informal) = FRATERNITY (2): a frat boy (= a member of a fraternity)

fraternal NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 connected with the relationship that exists between people or groups that share the same ideas or interests: a fraternal organization/society
2 connected with the relationship that exists between brothers: fraternal rivalry
fraternally adv.

fraternal twin (also non-identical twin, dizygotic twin) noun either of two children or animals born from the same mother at the same time but not from the same eggcompare IDENTICAL TWIN, MONOZYGOTIC TWIN

fraternity NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people sharing the same profession, interests or beliefs: members of the medical/banking/racing, etc. fraternity
2 (also NAmE informal frat) [C] a club for a group of male students at an American college or universitycompare SORORITY
3 [U] (formal) a feeling of friendship and support that exists between the members of a group: the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity

fraternize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [V] ~ (with sb) to behave in a friendly manner, especially towards sb that you are not supposed to be friendly with: She was accused of fraternizing with the enemy.
fraternization, -isation NAmE noun [U]

fratricide noun [U, C]
1 (formal) the crime of killing your brother or sister; a person who is guilty of this crimecompare MATRICIDE, PARRICIDE, PATRICIDE
2 the crime of killing people of your own country or group; a person who is guilty of this crime
fratricidal adj.: to be engaged in a fratricidal struggle

fraud noun
1 [U, C] the crime of cheating sb in order to get money or goods illegally: She was charged with credit card fraud. property that has been obtained by fraud a $100 million fraud
2 [C] a person who pretends to have qualities, abilities, etc. that they do not really have in order to cheat other people: He's nothing but a liar and a fraud. She felt a fraud accepting their sympathy (= because she was not really sad).
3 [C] something that is not as good, useful, etc. as people claim it is

fraud squad noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] (BrE) part of a police force that investigates fraud

fraudster noun (BrE) a person who commits fraud

fraudulent NAmE adj. intended to cheat sb, usually in order to make money illegally: fraudulent advertising fraudulent insurance claims
fraudulence NAmE noun [U] fraudulently NAmE adv.: charged with fraudulently obtaining a bank loan

fraught adj.
1 ~ with sth filled with sth unpleasant: a situation fraught with danger/difficulty/problems
2 (especially BrE) causing or feeling worry and anxiety TENSE: She looked/sounded fraught. There was a fraught silence. The atmosphere remained fraught. Things are as fraught as ever in the office.

fray verb, noun
verb
1 if cloth frays or sth frays it, the threads in it start to come apart: [V] The cuffs of his shirt were fraying. This material frays easily. [VN] It was fashionable to fray the bottoms of your jeans.
2 if sb's nerves or TEMPER frays or sth frays them, the person starts to get irritated or annoyed: [V] As the debate went on, tempers began to fray. [also VN]
frayed adj.: frayed denim shorts Tempers were getting very frayed.
fray at/around the edges/seams to start to come apart or to fail: Support for the leader was fraying at the edges.
nounthe fray [sing.] a fight, a competition or an argument, especially one that is exciting or seen as a test of your ability: They were ready for the fray. to enter/join the fray At 71, he has now retired from the political fray.

frazzle noun
be burnt, worn, etc. to a frazzle (informal) to be completely burnt/extremely tired

frazzled adj. (informal) tired and easily annoyed: They finally arrived home, hot and frazzled.

freak noun, adj., verb
noun
1 (informal) a person with a very strong interest in a particular subject: a health/fitness/jazz, etc. freaksee also CONTROL FREAK
2 (disapproving) a person who is considered to be unusual because of the way they behave, look or think: She was treated like a freak because she didn't want children. He's going out with a real freak.
3 (also freak of nature) (sometimes offensive) a person, an animal, a plant or a thing that is not physically normal
4 a very unusual and unexpected event: By some freak of fate they all escaped without injury.
adj. [only before noun] (of an event or the weather) very unusual and unexpected: a freak accident/storm/occurrence freak weather conditions
verb~ (sb) (out) (informal) if sb freaks or if sth freaks them, they react very strongly to sth that makes them suddenly feel shocked, surprised, frightened, etc.: [V] My parents really freaked when they saw my hair. [VN] Snakes really freak me out.

freaking adv., adj. [only before noun] (NAmE, taboo, slang) a swear word that many people find offensive, used to emphasize a comment or an angry statement to avoid saying 'fucking'

freakish adj. very strange, unusual or unexpected: freakish weather/behaviour
freakishly adv.

freak show noun
1 a small show at a FAIR, where people pay to see people or animals with strange physical characteristics
2 (disapproving) an event that people watch because it is very strange

freaky adj. (informal) very strange or unusual: I bumped into that freaky friend of yours.

freckle noun [usually pl.] a small, pale brown spot on a person's skin, especially on their face, caused by the suncompare MOLE
freckled adj.: a freckled face/schoolgirl

free adj., verb, adv.
adj. (freer freest )
NOT CONTROLLED
1 ~ (to do sth) not under the control or in the power of sb else; able to do what you want: I have no ambitions other than to have a happy life and be free. Students have a free choice of courses in their final year. You are free to come and go as you please. (informal) 'Can I use the phone?' 'Please, feel free (= of course you can use it).'
2 not restricted or controlled by anyone else; able to do or say what you want: A true democracy complete with free speech and a free press was called for. the country's first free election They gave me free access to all the files.
NOT PRISONER
3 (of a person) not a prisoner or SLAVE: He walked out of jail a free man.
ANIMAL/BIRD
4 not tied up or in a CAGE: The researchers set the birds free.
NO PAYMENT
5 costing nothing: Admission is free. free samples/tickets/advice We're offering a fabulous free gift with each copy you buy. You can't expect people to work for free (= without payment).
NOT BLOCKED
6 clear; not blocked: Ensure there is a free flow of air around the machine.
WITHOUT STH
7 ~ from/of sth not containing or affected by sth harmful or unpleasant: free from difficulty/doubt/fear free from artificial colours and flavourings It was several weeks before he was completely free of pain.
8 -free (in adjectives) without the thing mentioned: virtually fat-free yogurt tax-free earnings a trouble-free life
NOT ATTACHED/TRAPPED
9 ~ (of sth) not attached to sth or trapped by sth: Pull gently on the free end of the rope. They had to be cut free from their car after the accident. She finally managed to pull herself free.
NOT BEING USED
10 not being used: He held out his free hand and I took it. Is this seat free?
NOT BUSY
11 ~ (for sth) (of a person or time) without particular plans or arrangements; not busy: If Sarah is free for lunch I'll take her out. Keep Friday night free for my party. What do you like to do in your free time (= when you are not working)?
READY TO GIVE
12 ~ with sth (often disapproving) ready to give sth, especially when it is not wanted: He's too free with his opinions.
TRANSLATION
13 a free translation is not exact but gives the general meaningcompare LITERAL
free and easy informal; relaxed: Life was never going to be so free and easy again.
get, have, etc. a free hand to get, have, etc. the opportunity to do what you want to do and to make your own decisions: I was given a free hand in designing the syllabus.
get, take, etc. a free ride to get or take sth without paying because sb else is paying for it
it's a free country (informal) used as a reply when sb suggests that you should not do sth: It's a free country; I'll say what I like!
there's no such thing as a free lunch (informal) used to say that it is not possible to get sth for nothingmore at HOME adv., REIN n.
verb
PRISONER
1 [VN] ~ sb (from sth) to allow sb to leave prison or somewhere they have been kept against their will RELEASE: By the end of May nearly 100 of an estimated 2 000 political prisoners had been freed. The hijackers agreed to free a further ten hostages. The starting point for emancipation was the freeing of children of slaves born after a certain date.
SB/STH TRAPPED
2 [VN] ~ sb/sth/yourself (from sth) to move sb/sth that is caught or fixed on sth RELEASE: Three people were freed from the wreckage. She struggled to free herself. A good kick finally freed the door. He managed to free his arms from their bonds.
REMOVE STH
3 [VN] ~ sb/sth of/from sb/sth to remove sth that is unpleasant or not wanted from sb/sth RID: These exercises help free the body of tension. The police are determined to free the town of violent crime. The centre aims to free young people from dependency on drugs.
MAKE AVAILABLE
4 [VN] ~ sb/sth (up) to make sb/sth available for a particular purpose: We freed time each week for a project meeting. The government has promised to free up more resources for education.
5 [VN to inf] to give sb the extra time to do sth that they want to do: Winning the prize freed him to paint full-time.
adv.
WITHOUT PAYMENT
1 (also free of charge) without payment: Children under five travel free.
NOT TRAPPED
2 away from or out of a position in which sb/sth is stuck or trapped: The wagon broke free from the train.see also SCOT-FREE
make free with sth (disapproving) to use sth a lot, even though it does not belong to you: Does she know that you're making free with her belongings?
run free (of an animal) to be allowed to go where it likes; not tied to anything or kept in a CAGEmore at WALK v.

free agent noun a person who can do whatever they want because they are not responsible to or for anyone else: You don't have to make excusesyou're a free agent.

freebase noun [U] (slang) a specially prepared form of the powerful illegal drug COCAINE

freebasing noun [U] (slang) the activity of smoking freebase

freebie noun (informal) something that is given to sb without payment, usually by a company: He took all the freebies that were on offer. a freebie holiday

freebooter noun a person who takes part in a war in order to steal goods and money
freebooting adj., noun [U]

freeborn NAmE adj. [only before noun] (formal) not born as a SLAVE

Free Church noun a Christian Church that does not belong to the established Church in a particular country

free climbing noun [U] the sport of climbing steep rock surfaces using very little equipment to help youcompare AID CLIMBING

freedom noun
1 [U, C] ~ (of sth) the right to do or say what you want without anyone stopping you: freedom of speech/thought/expression/worship a threat to press/academic, etc. freedom rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution
2 [U, sing.] ~ (of sth)| ~ (to do sth) the state of being able to do what you want, without anything stopping you: freedom of action/choice complete freedom to do as you wish Thanks to the automobile, Americans soon had a freedom of movement previously unknown. These proposals would give health authorities greater freedom in deciding how to spend their money. Enjoy the freedom of the outdoors (= where you can do what you want).
3 [U] the state of not being a prisoner or SLAVE: He finally won his freedom after twenty years in jail.
4 [U] ~ from sth the state of not being affected by the thing mentioned: freedom from fear/pain/hunger, etc.
5 [sing.] the ~ of sth permission to use sth without restriction: I was given the freedom of the whole house.
the freedom of the city (in Britain) an honour that is given to sb by a city as a reward for work they have donesee also FREEMAN see MANOEUVRE n.

freedom fighter noun a name used to describe a person who uses violence to try to remove a government from power, by people who support thiscompare GUERRILLA

freedom of assembly noun [U] the right to have public meetings which is guaranteed by law in the US

freedom of association noun [U] the right to meet people and to form organizations without needing permission from the government

freedom of information noun [U] the right to see any information that a government has about people and organizations

free enterprise noun [U] an economic system in which private businesses compete with each other without much government controlcompare PRIVATE ENTERPRISE

free fall noun [U]
1 the movement of an object or a person falling through the air without engine power or a PARACHUTE: a free fall display
2 a sudden drop in the value of sth that cannot be stopped: Share prices have gone into free fall.

free-floating adj. not attached to or controlled by anything: a free-floating exchange rate free-floating algae

FreefoneTMnoun [U] = FREEPHONE

free-for-all noun [sing.]
1 a situation in which there are no rules or controls and everyone acts for their own advantage: The lowering of trade barriers has led to a free-for-all among exporters. a price-cutting free-for-all
2 a noisy fight or argument in which a lot of people take part: Prompt action by prison staff prevented a violent free-for-all.

free form (also free morpheme) noun (linguistics) a unit of language that can be used by itself: The plural 's' is not a free form, as it must always be attached to a noun.

free-form adj. [only before noun] (of art or music) not created according to standard forms or structures: a free-form jazz improvisation

freehand adj. [only before noun] drawn without using a ruler or other instruments: a freehand drawing
freehand adv.: to draw freehand

freehold NAmE noun [C, U] (law) (especially BrE) the fact of owning a building or piece of land for a period of time that is not limited: Private tenants in flats now have the right to buy the freehold from their landlord.
freehold adj.: a freehold property freehold adv.: to buy a house freeholdcompare LEASEHOLD

freeholder NAmE noun (law) (especially BrE) a person who owns the freehold of a building or piece of landcompare LEASEHOLDER

free house noun (in Britain) a pub that can sell different types of beer because it is not owned and controlled by one particular BREWERY (= a company producing beer)compare TIED HOUSE

free kick noun (in football (SOCCER) and RUGBY) an opportunity to kick the ball without any opposition, that is given to one team when the other team does sth wrong: to take a free kick

freelance NAmE adj., verb
adj. earning money by selling your work or services to several different organizations rather than being employed by one particular organization: a freelance journalist freelance work
freelance adv.: I work freelance from home. She went (= started to work) freelance in 1996.
verb [V] to earn money by selling your work to several different organizations: She freelanced as a sports reporter. He freelanced for several companies.

freelancer NAmE (also freelance) noun a person who works freelance

freeloader NAmE noun (informal, disapproving) a person who is always accepting free food and accommodation from other people without giving them anything in exchange
freeload verb [V] freeloading adj., noun [U]

free love noun [U] (old-fashioned) the practice of having sex without being married or having several sexual relationships at the same time

freely adv.
1 without anyone trying to prevent or control sth: the country's first freely elected president EU citizens can now travel freely between member states. the right to worship freely Prices are higher than they would be if market forces were allowed to operate freely.
2 without anything stopping the movement or flow of sth: When the gate is raised, the water can flow freely. Traffic is now moving more freely following an earlier accident. The book is now freely available in the shops (= it is not difficult to get a copy). Once into the open street they could breathe more freely. (figurative) The wine flowed freely (= there was a lot of it to drink).
3 without trying to avoid the truth even though it might be unpleasant or embarrassing: I freely admit that I made a mistake. Both players freely acknowledge that money was a major incentive.
4 in an honest way without worrying about what people will say or do: For the first time he was able to speak freely without the fear of reprisals against his family.
5 in a willing and generous way: Millions of people gave freely in response to the appeal for the victims of the earthquake. She has always given freely of her time.
6 a piece of writing that is translated freely is not translated exactly but the general meaning is given

freeman noun (pl. freemen )
1 (BrE) a person who has been given the FREEDOM of a particular city as a reward for the work that they have done: He was made a freeman of the City of London in March 1995.
2 a person who is not a SLAVE

free market noun an economic system in which the price of goods and services is affected by supply and demand rather than controlled by a government: She was a supporter of the free market economy. to compete in a free market

free marketeer noun a person who believes that prices should be allowed to rise and fall according to supply and demand and not be controlled by the government

Freemason (also Mason) noun a man belonging to a secret society whose members help each other and communicate using secret signs

Freemasonry noun [U]
1 the system and practices of Freemasons
2 freemasonry the friendship that exists between people who have the same profession or interests: the freemasonry of actors

free morpheme noun = FREE FORM

free on board adj. (abbr. f.o.b.) (business) including putting goods onto a ship in the price

free pardon noun (BrE, law) = PARDON

free period noun (BrE) a period of time in a school day when a student or teacher does not have a class

Freephone (also FreefoneTM) NAmE noun [U] a system in which the cost of a telephone call is paid for by the organization being called, rather than by the person making the call: Call now on Freephone 0800 89216 for further details.compare TOLL-FREE

free port noun a port at which tax is not paid on goods that have been brought there temporarily before being sent to a different country

Freepost NAmE noun [U] (in Britain) a system in which the cost of sending a letter is paid for by the organization receiving it, rather than by the person sending it: Complete the form and send it to us at the Freepost address given below.

free radical noun (chemistry) an atom or group of atoms that has an ELECTRON that is not part of a pair, causing it to take part easily in chemical reactions. Free radicals in the body are thought to be one of the causes of diseases such as cancer.see also ANTIOXIDANT (1)

free-range adj. [usually before noun] connected with a system of farming in which animals are kept in natural conditions and can move around freely: free-range chickens free-range eggscompare BATTERY (4), BATTERY FARM

freeride (also freeride board) noun a type of SNOWBOARD used for riding on all types of snow

free safety noun (in AMERICAN FOOTBALL) a defending player who can try to stop any attacking player rather than one particular attacking player

freesia noun a plant with yellow, pink, white or purple flowers with a sweet smell, which are also called freesias

free spirit noun a person who is independent and does what they want instead of doing what other people do

free-standing adj.
1 not supported by or attached to anything: a free-standing sculpture
2 not a part of sth else: a free-standing adult education service

freestyle noun, verb
noun [U]
1 a swimming race in which people taking part can use any stroke they want (usually CRAWL): the men's 400 m freestyle
2 (often used as an adjective) a sports competition in which people taking part can use any style that they want: freestyle skiing
verb [V] to RAP, play music, dance, etc. by inventing it as you do it, rather than by planning it in advance or following fixed patterns IMPROVISE

freethinker noun a person who forms their own ideas and opinions rather than accepting those of other people, especially in religious teaching
freethinking adj. [only before noun]

free throw noun (in BASKETBALL) an attempt to throw a ball into the BASKET without any player trying to stop you, that you are allowed after a FOUL

free-to-air (BrE) adj. [usually before noun] (of television programmes) that you do not have to pay to watch: The company provides more than 20 free-to-air channels.

free trade noun [U] a system of international trade in which there are no restrictions or taxes on imports and exports: a free-trade agreement/area

free verse noun [U] (technical) poetry without a regular rhythm or RHYMEcompare BLANK VERSE

free vote noun (in Britain) a vote by members of parliament in which they can vote according to their own beliefs rather than following the policy of their political party

freeware NAmE noun [U] (computing) computer software that is offered free for anyone to usecompare SHAREWARE

freeway (also expressway) noun (in the US) a wide road, where traffic can travel fast for long distances. You can only enter and leave freeways at special RAMPS: a freeway exit an accident on the freeway

freewheel verb [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to ride a bicycle without using the PEDALS: I freewheeled down the hill to the village.

freewheeling adj. [only before noun] (informal) not concerned about rules or the possible results of what you do: a freewheeling lifestyle

free will noun [U] the power to make your own decisions without being controlled by God or FATE
of your own free will because you want to do sth rather than because sb has told or forced you to do it: She left of her own free will.

freeze verb, noun
verb (froze NAmE frozen NAmE )
BECOME ICE
1 to become hard, and often turn to ice, as a result of extreme cold; to make sth do this: [V] Water freezes at 0°C. It's so cold that even the river has frozen. [VN] The cold weather had frozen the ground. [V-ADJ] The clothes froze solid on the washing-line. THAW
OF PIPE/LOCK/MACHINE
2 ~ (sth) (up) if a pipe, lock or machine freezes, or sth freezes it, it becomes blocked with frozen liquid and therefore cannot be used: [V] The pipes have frozen, so we've got no water. [VN] Ten degrees of frost had frozen the lock on the car.
OF WEATHER
3 [V] when it freezes, the weather is at or below 0° Celsius: It may freeze tonight, so bring those plants inside.
BE VERY COLD
4 to be very cold; to be so cold that you die: [V] Every time she opens the window we all freeze. [V, VN] Two men froze to death on the mountain. Two men were frozen to death on the mountain.
FOOD
5 [VN] to keep food at a very low temperature in order to preserve it: Can you freeze this cake? These meals are ideal for home freezing.
6 [V] to be able to be kept at a very low temperature: Some fruits freeze better than others.
STOP MOVING
7 [V] to stop moving suddenly because of fear, etc.: I froze with terror as the door slowly opened. (figurative) The smile froze on her lips. The police officer shouted 'Freeze!' and the man dropped the gun.
COMPUTER
8 [V] when a computer screen freezes, you cannot move any of the images, etc. on it, because there is a problem with the system
FILM/MOVIE
9 [VN] to stop a film/movie or video in order to look at a particular picture: Freeze the action there!see also FREEZE-FRAME
WAGES/PRICES
10 [VN] to hold wages, prices, etc. at a fixed level for a period of time PEG: Salaries have been frozen for the current year.
MONEY/BANK ACCOUNT
11 [VN] to prevent money, a bank account, etc. from being used by getting a court order which bans it: The company's assets have been frozen.
freeze your blood | make your blood freeze to make you extremely frightened or shockedmore at TRACK n.
freeze sbout (of sth) (informal) to be deliberately unfriendly to sb, creating difficulties, etc. in order to stop or DISCOURAGE them from doing sth or taking part in sth
freeze over to become completely covered by ice: The lake freezes over in winter.
noun
OF WAGES/PRICES
1 the act of keeping wages, prices, etc. at a particular level for a period of time: a wage/price freeze
STOPPING STH
2 [usually sing.] ~ (on sth) the act of stopping sth: a freeze on imports
COLD WEATHER
3 [usually sing.] (BrE) an unusually cold period of weather during which temperatures stay below 0° Celsius: Farmers still talk about the big freeze of '99.
4 (NAmE) a short period of time, especially at night, when the temperature is below 0° Celsius: A freeze warning was posted for Thursday night.

freeze-dry verb [VN] [usually passive] to preserve food or drink by freezing and drying it very quickly

freeze-frame noun [U] the act of stopping a moving film at one particular FRAME (= picture)

freezer (BrE also deep freeze) (US also DeepfreezeTM deep freezer) noun a large piece of electrical equipment in which you can store food for a long time at a low temperature so that it stays frozensee also FRIDGE-FREEZER

freezing adj.
1 extremely cold: It's freezing in here! I'm freezing! My hands are freezing! note at COLD
2 [only before noun] having temperatures that are below 0° Celsius: freezing fog freezing temperatures note at COLD
freezing adv. (informal): It's freezing cold outside.

freezing point noun
1 (also freezing) [U] 0° Celsius, the temperature at which water freezes: Tonight temperatures will fall well below freezing (point).
2 [C, usually sing.] the temperature at which a particular liquid freezes: the freezing point of polar sea water

freight noun, verb
noun [U] goods that are transported by ships, planes, trains or lorries/trucks; the system of transporting goods in this way: to send goods by air freight a freight business passenger and freight transportation services
verb [VN]
1 to send or carry goods by air, sea or train
2 [usually passive] (literary) to fill sth with a particular mood or tone: Each word was freighted with anger.

freight car noun (NAmE) = WAGON

freighter noun a large ship or plane that carries goods

freight train (BrE also goods train) noun a train that carries only goods

French adj., noun
adj. of or connected with France, its people or its language
take French leave (BrE) to leave work without asking permission first
noun the language of France and some other countries
excuse/pardon my French (informal) used to say that you are sorry for swearing

French bean noun (BrE) = GREEN BEAN

French braid noun (NAmE) = FRENCH PLAIT

French bread noun [U] white bread in the shape of a long thick stick

French Canada noun [U] the part of Canada where most French-speaking Canadians live, especially Quebec

French Canadian noun a Canadian whose first language is French
French Canadian adj.

French cricket noun [U] an informal game in which players throw a soft ball at the legs of another player, who must stand still and try to hit the ball away with a BAT

French door noun (especially NAmE) a glass door, often one of a pair, that leads to a room, a garden/yard or a BALCONY

French dressing noun [U, C] a mixture of oil, VINEGAR, etc. used to add flavour to a salad VINAIGRETTE

French fry noun [usually pl.] (especially NAmE) = CHIP

French horn (also horn especially in BrE) noun a BRASS musical instrument that consists of a long tube curled around in a circle with a wide opening at the end

French kiss noun a kiss during which people's mouths are open and their tongues touch

French knickers noun [pl.] a piece of women's underwear for below the waist that fits very loosely and has wide parts for the legs

French letter noun (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) = CONDOM

French loaf noun = BAGUETTE

French plait (BrE) (NAmE French braid) noun a HAIRSTYLE for women in which all the hair is gathered into one large PLAIT/BRAID down the back of the head

French pleat (BrE) (NAmE French twist) noun a HAIRSTYLE for women in which all the hair is lifted up at the back of the head, twisted and held in place

French polish noun [U] (BrE) a type of VARNISH (= transparent liquid) that is painted onto wooden furniture to give it a hard shiny surface
French polish verb [VN]

French press noun (NAmE) = CAFETIERE

French stick noun = BAGUETTE

French toast noun [U] slices of bread that have been covered with a mixture of egg and milk and then fried

French twist noun (NAmE) = FRENCH PLEAT

French window noun [usually pl.] a glass door, usually one of a pair, that leads to a garden/yard or BALCONY

frenetic adj. involving a lot of energy and activity in a way that is not organized: a scene of frenetic activity to live at a frenetic pace
frenetically adv.

frenulum BrE (BrE also fraenulum) noun (anatomy) a small fold of skin that prevents an organ from moving too much, for example the fold of skin under the tongue

frenzied adj. [usually before noun] involving a lot of activity and strong emotions in a way that is often violent or frightening and not under control: a frenzied attack frenzied activity
frenziedly adv.

frenzy noun [C, usually sing., U] (pl. -ies) ~ (of sth) a state of great activity and strong emotion that is often violent or frightening and not under control: in a frenzy of activity/excitement/violence The speaker worked the crowd up into a frenzy. an outbreak of patriotic frenzy a killing frenzysee also FEEDING FRENZY

frequency noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U, C] the rate at which sth happens or is repeated: Fatal road accidents have decreased in frequency over recent years. a society with a high/low frequency (= happening often/not very often) of stable marriages The program can show us word frequency (= how often words occur in a language).
2 [U] the fact of sth happening often: the alarming frequency of computer errors Objects like this turn up at sales with surprising frequency.
3 [C, U] (technical) the rate at which a sound or ELECTROMAGNETIC wave VIBRATES (= moves up and down): a high/low frequency
4 [C, U] (technical) the number of radio waves for every second of a radio signal: a frequency band There are only a limited number of broadcasting frequencies.

frequent adj., verb
adj. happening or doing sth often: He is a frequent visitor to this country. Her calls became less frequent. There is a frequent bus service into the centre of town. How frequent is this word (= how often does it occur in the language)? INFREQUENT
verb [VN] (formal) to visit a particular place often: We met in a local bar much frequented by students. less frequented roads

frequentative adj. (linguistics) (of verbs) expressing an action that is done repeatedly or a lot: 'Chatter' is originally a frequentative form of 'chat'.

frequently adv. often: Buses run frequently between the city and the airport. some of the most frequently asked questions about the Internet INFREQUENTLY

fresco NAmE noun (pl. -oes or -os) [C, U] a picture that is painted on a wall while the PLASTER is still wet; the method of painting in this way: The church is famous for its frescoes. The ceiling is richly decorated in marble and fresco.see also ALFRESCO

fresh adj., adv.
adj. (fresher, freshest)
FOOD
1 (usually of food) recently produced or picked and not frozen, dried or preserved in tins or cans: Is this milk fresh? fresh bread/flowers Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. vegetables fresh from the garden Our chefs use only the freshest produce available.
NEW
2 made or experienced recently: fresh tracks in the snow Let me write it down while it's still fresh in my mind.
3 [usually before noun] new or different in a way that adds to or replaces sth: fresh evidence I think it's time we tried a fresh approach. a fresh coat of paint The government is said to be taking a fresh look at the matter. They will lose no time in holding fresh elections. Fresh towels are provided every day. Could we order some fresh coffee? This is the opportunity he needs to make a fresh start (= to try sth new after not being successful at sth else).
CLEAN/COOL
4 [usually before noun] pleasantly clean, pure or cool: a toothpaste that leaves a nice fresh taste in your mouth Let's go and get some fresh air (= go outside where the air is cooler). Her hair smelled fresh and newly washed.
WATER
5 [usually before noun] containing no salt: There is a shortage of fresh water on the island.see also FRESHWATER
WEATHER
6 (BrE) quite cold with some wind: It's fresh this morning, isn't it?
7 (of the wind) quite strong and cold BRISK: a fresh breeze The winds are likely to get fresher towards the end of the day.
CLEAR/BRIGHT
8 looking clear, bright and attractive: He looked fresh and neat in a clean white shirt. a collection of summer dresses in fresh colours Regular facials help to keep the skin looking clean and fresh. The yellow paint makes the kitchen look much fresher. a fresh complexion
FULL OF ENERGY
9 [not usually before noun] full of energy: Regular exercise will help you feel fresher and fitter. I managed to sleep on the plane and arrived feeling as fresh as a daisy.
JUST FINISHED
10 ~ from sth having just come from a particular place; having just had a particular experience: students fresh from college fresh from her success at the Olympic Games
RUDE/CONFIDENT
11 [not before noun] ~ (with sb) (informal) rude and too confident in a way that shows a lack of respect for sb or a sexual interest in sb: Don't get fresh with me!

freshness noun [U]: We guarantee the freshness of all our produce. This wine has a freshness and vitality that appeals to many drinkers. the cool freshness of the water I like the freshness of his approach to the problem. see BLOOD, BREATH, HEART
adv.
fresh out of sth (informal, especially NAmE) having recently finished a supply of sth: Sorry, we're fresh out of milk.

freshen verb
1 [VN] ~ sth (up) to make sth cleaner, cooler, newer or more pleasant: The walls need freshening up with white paint. The rain had freshened the air. Using a mouthwash freshens the breath.
2 [VN] ~ sth (up) (especially NAmE) to add more liquid to a drink, especially an alcoholic one: Can I freshen your drink, sir?see also TOP UP
3 [V] (of the wind) to become stronger and colder: The wind will freshen tonight. a freshening onshore breeze
freshen up| freshen yourself up to wash and make yourself look clean and tidy: I'll just go and freshen up before supper. Is there anywhere I can freshen myself up?

freshener noun [U, C] (often in compounds) a thing that makes sth cleaner, purer or more pleasant: air freshener a breath freshener

fresher noun (BrE, informal) a student who has just started his or her first term at a university: freshers' fair (= an event when new students can join university societies)

fresh-faced adj. having a young, healthy-looking face: fresh-faced kids

freshly adv. usually followed by a past participle showing that sth has been made, prepared, etc. recently: freshly brewed coffee freshly ironed shirts She had had her hair freshly washed and styled.

freshman noun (pl. -men )
1 (especially NAmE) a student who is in his or her first year at a university or college, or in the ninth grade at school: high school/college freshmen during my freshman yearcompare SOPHOMORE
2 (CanE) a first-year student at a university or college

freshwater adj. [only before noun]
1 living in water that is not the sea and is not salty: freshwater fish
2 having water that is not salty: freshwater lakescompare SALT WATER

fret verb, noun
verb (-tt-) (especially BrE) ~ (about/over sth) to be worried or unhappy and not able to relax: [V] Fretting about it won't help. Her baby starts to fret as soon as she goes out of the room. [also VN, V that]
noun
1 one of the bars on the long thin part of a GUITAR, etc. Frets show you where to press the strings with your fingers to produce particular sounds: a rock guitar with a 24 fret neck
2 (also sea fret) (NEngE) MIST or FOG that comes in from the sea

fretful adj. behaving in a way that shows you are unhappy or uncomfortable RESTLESS: Babies soon become fretful when they are tired or hungry.
fretfully adv.: 'How much longer do we have to wait?' she asked fretfully.

fretsaw noun a SAW with a thin blade that is used for cutting patterns in wood, metal, etc.

fretted adj. (technical) (especially of wood or stone) decorated with patterns

fretwork NAmE noun [U] patterns cut into wood, metal, etc. to decorate it; the process of making these patterns

Freudian adj.
1 connected with the ideas of Sigmund Freud about the way the human mind works, especially his theories of SUBCONSCIOUS sexual feelings: Freudian psychoanalysis the Freudian theory of child development
2 (of sb's speech or behaviour) showing your secret thoughts or feelings, especially those connected with sex

Freudian slip noun something you say by mistake but which is believed to show your true thoughts
This expression is named after Sigmund Freud and his theories of subconscious thought.

friable adj. (technical) easily broken up into small pieces: friable soil

friar noun a member of one of several Roman Catholic religious communities of men who in the past travelled around teaching people about Christianity and lived by asking other people for food (= by BEGGING)compare MONK

friary noun (pl. -ies) a building in which friars live

fricassée noun [C, U] a hot dish consisting of small pieces of meat and vegetables that are cooked and served in a thick white sauce

fricative (BrE) (NAmE spirant) noun (phonetics) a speech sound made by forcing breath out through a narrow space in the mouth with the lips, teeth or tongue in a particular position, for example and in fee and she
fricative adj. compare PLOSIVE

friction noun
1 [U] the action of one object or surface moving against another: Friction between moving parts had caused the engine to overheat.
2 [U] (physics) the RESISTANCE (= the force that stops sth moving) of one surface to another surface or substance moving over or through it: The force of friction slows the spacecraft down as it re-enters the earth's atmosphere.
3 [U, C] ~ (between A and B) disagreement or a lack of friendship among people who have different opinions about sth TENSION: conflicts and frictions that have still to be resolved

friction tape noun [U] (US) = INSULATING TAPE

Friday noun [C, U] (abbr. Fri.) the day of the week after Thursday and before Saturday To see how Friday is used, look at the examples at Monday.
Originally translated from the Latin for 'day of the planet Venus' Veneris dies and named after the Germanic goddess Frigga.

fridge (BrE) (NAmE or formal refrigerator) (US also old-fashioned icebox) noun a piece of electrical equipment in which food is kept cold so that it stays fresh: This dessert can be served straight from the fridge.

fridge-freezer noun (BrE) a piece of kitchen equipment that consists of a fridge/refrigerator and a FREEZER together

fried pt, pp of FRY

friend noun
PERSON YOU LIKE
1 a person you know well and like, and who is not usually a member of your family: This is my friend Tom. Is he a friend of yours? She's an old friend (= I have known her a long time). He's one of my best friends. a close/good friend a childhood/family/lifelong friend I heard about it through a friend of a friend. She has a wide circle of friends.see also BOYFRIEND, FAIR-WEATHER, FALSE FRIEND, GIRLFRIEND, PENFRIEND, SCHOOL FRIEND, BEFRIEND
SUPPORTER
2 a person who supports an organization, a charity, etc., especially by giving or raising money; a person who supports a particular idea, etc.: the Friends of St Martin's Hospital a friend of democracy Theatre tickets are 10% cheaper for Friends.
NOT ENEMY
3 a person who has the same interests and opinions as yourself, and will help and support you: You're among friends hereyou can speak freely. His eyes were moving from face to face: friend or foe?
SILLY/ANNOYING PERSON
4 (ironic) used to talk about sb you do not know who has done sth silly or annoying: I wish our friend at the next table would shut up.
IN PARLIAMENT/COURT
5 (in Britain) used by a member of parliament to refer to another member of parliament or by a lawyer to refer to another lawyer in a court of law: my honourable friend, the member for Henley (= in the House of Commons) my noble friend (= in the House of Lords) my learned friend (= in a court of law)
IN RELIGION
6 Friend a member of the Society of Friends QUAKER
be/make friends (with sb) to be/become a friend of sb: We've been friends for years. They had a quarrel, but they're friends again now. Simon finds it hard to make friends with other children.
be (just) good friends used to say that two friends are not having a romantic relationship with each other: They gradually got to know each other better but they remained just good friends.
a friend in need (is a friend indeed) (saying) a friend who gives you help when you need it (is a true friend)
have friends in high places to know important people who can help you: 'How did he get promoted so quickly?' 'Oh, he has friends in high places.'more at MAN n.

friendless adj. without any friends: He died alone and friendless.

friendly adj., noun
adj. (friendlier, friendliest)
1 ~ to/toward(s) sb behaving in a kind and pleasant way because you like sb or want to help them: a warm and friendly person Everyone was very friendly towards me. UNFRIENDLY
2 showing kindness; making you feel relaxed and as though you are among friends: a friendly smile/welcome a small hotel with a friendly atmosphere UNFRIENDLY
3 ~ (with sb) treating sb as a friend: We soon became friendly with the couple next door. She was on friendly terms with most of the hospital staff. We were not on the friendliest of terms (= we were not friendly at all).
4 (especially of the relationship between countries) not treating sb/sth as an enemy: to maintain friendly relations with all countries HOSTILE
5 (often in compound adjectives) that is helpful and easy to use; that helps sb/sth or does not harm it: This software is much friendlier than the previous version. environmentally-friendly farming methods ozone-friendly cleaning materialssee also USER-FRIENDLY
6 in which the people, teams, etc. taking part are not seriously competing against each other: a friendly argument friendly rivalry (BrE) It was only a friendly match.
friendliness noun [U]: We were greeted with warmth and friendliness.
noun (pl. -ies) (also friendly match) (both BrE) a game of football (SOCCER) etc. that is not part of an important competition: He played for England in a friendly against Spain.

friendly fire noun [U] in a war, if people are killed or injured by friendly fire, they are hit by a bomb or weapon that is fired by their own side

friendly society noun (in Britain) an organization that people pay regular amounts of money to, and which gives them money when they are ill/sick or old

friendship noun
1 [C] ~ (with sb)| ~ (between A and B) a relationship between friends: a close/lasting/lifelong friendship friendships formed while she was at college He seemed to have already struck up (= begun) a friendship with Jo. It's the story of an extraordinary friendship between a boy and a seal.
2 [U] the feeling or relationship that friends have; the state of being friends: Your friendship is very important to me. a conference to promote international friendship

frier = FRYER

Friesian (BrE) (NAmE Holstein) noun a type of black and white cow that produces a lot of milk: a herd of Friesians

frieze noun
1 a border that goes around the top of a room or building with pictures or CARVINGS on it
2 a long narrow picture, usually put up in a school, that children have made or that teaches them sth: The children made a frieze showing traders and their camels crossing the desert.

frigate noun a small fast ship in the navy that travels with other ships in order to protect them

frigate bird noun a tropical bird that lives near the sea, with dark feathers and a long beak with a hook

frigging adv., adj. [only before noun] (taboo, slang) a swear word that many people find offensive, used to emphasize a comment or an angry statement to avoid saying 'fucking': It's frigging cold outside. Mind your own frigging business!

fright noun
1 [U] a feeling of fear: to cry out in fright He was shaking with fright.see also STAGE FRIGHT note at FEAR
2 [C] an experience that makes you feel fear: You gave me a fright jumping out at me like that. I got the fright of my life.
look a fright (old-fashioned, BrE) to look ugly or ridiculous
take fright (at sth) (formal) to be frightened by sth: The birds took fright and flew off. Investors took fright at the falling market.

frighten verb to make sb suddenly feel afraid: [VN] Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. She's not easily frightened. [V] She doesn't frighten easily (= it is not easy to make her afraid). [also VN to inf] see DAYLIGHTS, DEATH, LIFE
frighten sb/sthaway/off| frighten sb/sth away from sth
1 to make a person or an animal go away by making them feel afraid: He threatened the intruders with a gun and frightened them off.
2 to make sb afraid or nervous so that they no longer want to do sth: The high prices have frightened off many customers.
frighten sb into sth/into doing sth to make sb do sth by making them afraid

SYNONYMS

frighten

scare alarm intimidate startle

All these words mean to make sb afraid.

frighten to make sb feel afraid, often suddenly: He brought out a gun and frightened them off.

scare to make sb feel afraid: They managed to scare the bears away.

FRIGHTEN OR SCARE?

Both are very common words, and are very similar, so you can use either one correctly. Scare is slightly more informal than frighten.

alarm to make sb anxious or afraid: It alarms me that nobody takes this problem seriously.

FRIGHTEN OR ALARM?

The subject of alarm is usually a thing, an event or a situation rather than a person : You're alarming me. It is used to describe a feeling that sth unpleasant or dangerous is going to happen in the future, and the feeling is often more one of worry than actual fear.

intimidate to frighten or threaten sb so that they feel nervous or so that they will do what you want: They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them.

startle to make sb feel suddenly frightened or surprised, usually because of sth sudden or unexpected: A sudden noise startled her.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

Stop it! You're frightening/scaring me!

Oh sorry. I didn't mean to frighten/scare/startle you.

to frighten/scare sb/sth away/off

I was frightened/scared/alarmed/intimidated/startled by what he said.

He frightened/scared/intimidated me into telling him what happened.

frightened adj. ~ (of sth/of doing sth)| ~ (to do sth)| ~ (that ... ) afraid; feeling fear: a frightened child Don't be frightened. What are you frightened of? I'm frightened of walking home alone in the dark. He sounded frightened. I'm too frightened to ask him now. She was frightened that the plane would crash. I'm frightened for him (= that he will be hurt, etc.). (informal) I'd never do that. I'd be frightened to death. see SHADOW n., WIT note at AFRAID

frighteners NAmE noun
put the frighteners on sb (BrE, slang) to threaten sb in order to make them do what you want

frightening adj. making you feel afraid: a frightening experience/prospect/thought It's frightening to think it could happen again. The noise was frightening.
frighteningly adv.: The battle scenes were frighteningly realistic.

frightful adj. (old-fashioned, especially BrE)
1 (informal) used to emphasize how bad sth is AWFUL, TERRIBLE: It was absolutely frightful! This room's in a frightful mess. They're making a frightful noise.
2 very serious or unpleasant AWFUL, TERRIBLE: a frightful accident

frightfully adv. (old-fashioned, especially BrE) very; extremely AWFULLY, FRIGHTFULLY: I'm frightfully sorry.

fright wig noun a WIG with the hair standing up or sticking out, especially worn by a CLOWN

frigid adj.
1 (of a woman) not able to enjoy sex
2 very cold: frigid air
3 not showing any feelings of friendship or kindness FROSTY: a frigid voice There was a frigid atmosphere in the room.
frigidly adv.: 'And who,' she asked frigidly, 'might you be?'

frigidity noun [U] (in a woman) the lack of the ability to enjoy sex

frigid zone noun [C, usually sing.] (technical) the area inside the Arctic Circle or Antarctic Circlecompare TEMPERATE ZONE, TORRID ZONE

frill noun
1 (BrE) [C] a narrow strip of cloth with a lot of folds that is attached to the edge of a dress, curtain, etc. to decorate it: a white blouse with frills at the cuffs a tablecloth with a lace frill around the edge RUFFLE
2 frills [pl.] things that are not necessary but are added to make sth more attractive or interesting: a simple meal with no frillssee also NO-FRILLS

frilled adj. (BrE) decorated with frills RUFFLED

frilly adj. having a lot of frills: a frilly blouse

fringe noun, verb
noun
1 [C, usually sing.] (BrE) (NAmE bangs [pl.]) the front part of sb's hair that is cut so that it hangs over their FOREHEAD
2 [C] a strip of hanging threads attached to the edge of sth to decorate it
3 [C] a narrow strip of trees, buildings, etc. along the edge of sth: a fringe of woodland Along the coast, an industrial fringe had already developed.
4 [C] (BrE) the outer edge of an area or a group: on the northern fringe of the city the urban/rural fringe the fringes of society Nina remained on the fringe of the crowd.
5 [sing.] (usually the fringe) groups of people, events and activities that are not part of the main group or activity: Street musicians have been gathering as part of the festival fringe. fringe meetings at the party conference see LUNATIC adj.
verb [VN] [usually passive] to form a border around sth: The beach was fringed by coconut palms.
fringed adj.: a carpet with a fringed edge

fringe benefit noun [usually pl.] extra things that an employer gives you as well as your wages: The fringe benefits include free health insurance. (figurative) One of the fringe benefits of having a garden is all the wildlife it attracts.

fringe medicine noun [U] any type of treatment which is not accepted by many people as being part of Western medicine, for example one using plants instead of artificial drugs

fringe theatre noun [U, C] (BrE) plays, often by new writers, that are unusual and question the way people think; a theatre where such plays are performedcompare OFF-BROADWAY

frippery noun [C, usually pl., U] (pl. -ies) (disapproving, especially BrE) objects, decorations and other items that are considered unnecessary and expensive: spending money on fripperies She never wore perfume, considering it to be mere frippery.

FrisbeeTM noun a light plastic object, shaped like a plate, that is thrown from one player to another in a game

frisée NAmE noun = ENDIVE

Frisian noun [U] the traditional language of the region of Frisia in NW Europe, closely related to German, Dutch and English

frisk verb
1 [VN] to pass your hands over sb's body to search them for hidden weapons, drugs, etc.
2 [V] ~ (around) (of animals) to run and jump in a lively and happy way GAMBOL, SKIP: Lambs frisked in the fields.

frisky adj.
1 (of people or animals) full of energy; wanting to play: a frisky puppy
2 (informal) wanting to enjoy yourself in a sexual way

frisson NAmE noun [usually sing.] (from French) a sudden strong feeling, especially of excitement or fear: A frisson of alarm ran down my spine.

fritillary NAmE noun (pl. fritillaries)
1 a plant with flowers shaped like bells
2 a BUTTERFLY with orange-brown and black wings

fritter verb, noun
verb
fritter sthaway (on sth) to waste time or money on things that are not important: He frittered away the millions his father had left him.
noun (usually in compounds) a piece of fruit, meat or vegetable that is covered with BATTER and fried

fritz noun
on the fritz (NAmE, informal) not working: The TV is on the fritz again.

frivolity NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (often disapproving) [U, C] behaviour that is silly or amusing, especially when this is not suitable: It was just a piece of harmless frivolity. A wave of frivolity has overtaken the election campaign. I can't waste time on such frivolities.

frivolous adj. (disapproving)
1 (of people or their behaviour) silly or amusing, especially when such behaviour is not suitable: frivolous comments/suggestions Sorry, I was being frivolous.
2 having no useful or serious purpose: frivolous pastimes/pleasures
frivolously adv.

frizz verb, noun
verb [V, VN] (informal) (of hair) to curl very tightly; to make hair do this
frizzy adj.: frizzy hair The rain made my hair go frizzy.
noun [U] (disapproving) hair that is very tightly curled

frizzle verb [VN] to heat sth until it forms curls or until it burns: frizzled hair frizzled bacon

fro NAmE adv. see TO adv.

frock NAmE noun (old-fashioned, especially BrE) a dress: a party frock

frock coat noun a long coat worn in the past by men, now worn only for special ceremonies

frog NAmE noun
1 a small animal with smooth skin, that lives both on land and in water (= is an AMPHIBIAN). Frogs have very long back legs for jumping, and no tail: the croaking of frogs
2 Frog (informal) an offensive word for a French person
have, etc. a frog in your throat to lose your voice or be unable to speak clearly for a short time

frogging NAmE noun [U] a decorative fastening on a coat consisting of a long wooden button and a LOOP

froglet NAmE noun
1 a type of small frog
2 a small frog that has recently changed from being a TADPOLE

frogman NAmE noun (pl. -men ) (BrE) a person who works underwater, wearing a rubber suit, FLIPPERS, and special equipment to help them breathe: Police frogmen searched the lake for the murder weapon.compare DIVER

frogmarch NAmE verb [VN + adv. / prep.] (BrE) to force sb to go somewhere by holding their arms tightly so they have to walk along with you: He was grabbed by two men and frogmarched out of the hall.

frogspawn NAmE noun [U] an almost transparent substance that looks like jelly and contains the eggs of a FROG

froing NAmE noun see TOING

frolic NAmE verb, noun
verb (-ck-) [V] to play and move around in a lively, happy way: children frolicking on the beach
noun [C, U] (old-fashioned) a lively and enjoyable activity during which people forget their problems and responsibilities: It was just a harmless frolic. The days of fun and frolic were gone for ever.

frolicsome NAmE adj. (especially literary) playing in a lively happy way: frolicsome lambs

from /frm; strong form frm; NAmE frm; frm/ prep. For the special uses of from in phrasal verbs, look at the entries for the verbs. For example keep sth from sb is in the phrasal verb section at keep.
1 used to show where sb/sth starts: She began to walk away from him. Has the train from Bristol arrived?
2 used to show when sth starts: We're open from 8 to 7 every day. He was blind from birth.
3 used to show who sent or gave sth/sb: a letter from my brother information from witnesses the man from (= representing) the insurance company
4 used to show what the origin of sb/sth is: I'm from Italy. documents from the sixteenth century quotations from Shakespeare heat from the sun
5 used to show the material that sth is made of: Steel is made from iron.
6 used to show how far apart two places are: 100 metres from the scene of the accident
7 used to show sb's position or point of view: You can see the island from here. From a financial point of view the project was a disaster.
8 ~ sth (to sth) used to show the range of sth: The temperature varies from 30 degrees to minus 20. The store sells everything from shoelaces to computers. Conditions vary from school to school.
9 ~ sth (to sth) used to show the state or form of sth/sb before a change: Things have gone from bad to worse. translating from English to Spanish You need a break from routine.
10 used to show that sb/sth is separated or removed: The party was ousted from power after eighteen years.
11 used to show that sth is prevented: She saved him from drowning.
12 used to show the reason for sth: She felt sick from tiredness.
13 used to show the reason for making a judgement: You can tell a lot about a person from their handwriting. From what I heard the company's in deep trouble.
14 used when distinguishing between two people or things: Is Portuguese very different from Spanish? I can't tell one twin from the other.
from ... on starting at the time mentioned and continuously after that: From now on you can work on your own. She never spoke to him again from that day on.

fromage frais NAmE noun [U] (from French) a type of very soft cheese, similar to YOGURT

frond NAmE noun
1 a long leaf of some plants or trees, especially PALMS or FERNS. Fronds are often divided into parts along the edge.
2 a long piece of SEAWEED that looks like one of these leaves

front noun, adj., verb
noun
FORWARD PART/POSITION
1 [C, usually sing.] (usually the front) the part or side of sth that faces forward; the side of sth that you look at first: The front of the building was covered with ivy. The book has a picture of Rome on the front. The front of the car was badly damaged.see also SHOPFRONT, Y-FRONTS
2 the front [sing.] the position that is in the direction that sb/sth is facing: Keep your eyes to the front and walk straight ahead. There's a garden at the front of the house.
3 the front [sing.] the part of sth that is furthest forward: I prefer to travel in the front of the car (= next to the driver). The teacher made me move my seat to the front of the classroom. Write your name in the front of the book (= the first few pages).
CHEST
4 sb's front [sing.] the part of sb's body that faces forwards; sb's chest: She was lying on her front. I spilled coffee down my front.
SIDE OF BUILDING
5 [C] the west, north, south, east, etc. ~ the side of a large building, especially a church, that faces west, north, etc.: the west front of the cathedral
EDGE OF SEA/LAKE
6 the front [sing.] (BrE) the road or area of land along the edge of the sea, a lake or a river: Couples walked hand in hand along the front.see also SEAFRONT
IN WAR
7 [C, usually sing.] an area where fighting takes place during a war: More British troops have been sent to the front. to serve at the front fighting a war on two fronts Reports from the battle fronts became briefer and vaguer.see also FRONT LINE, HOME FRONT
AREA OF ACTIVITY
8 [C] a particular area of activity: Things are looking unsettled on the economic front. Progress has been made on all fronts.
HIDING TRUE FEELINGS
9 [sing.] behaviour that is not genuine, done in order to hide your true feelings or opinions: Rudeness is just a front for her shyness. It's not always easy to put on a brave front for the family. The prime minister stressed the need to present a united front (= show people that all members of the group have the same opinion about things).
HIDING STH ILLEGAL
10 [C, usually sing.] ~ (for sth) a person or an organization that is used to hide an illegal or secret activity: The travel company is just a front for drug trafficking.
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
11 Front [sing.] used in the names of some political organizations: the Animal Liberation Frontsee also POPULAR FRONT
WEATHER
12 [C] the line where a mass of cold air meets a mass of warm air: a cold/warm front
front and center (NAmE) in or into the most important position: The issue has moved front and center in his presidential campaign.
in front adv.
1 in a position that is further forward than sb/sth but not very far away: Their house is the one with the big garden in front.
2 in first place in a race or competition: The blue team is currently in front with a lead of six points.
in front of prep.
1 in a position that is further forward than sb/sth but not very far away: The car in front of me stopped suddenly and I had to brake. The bus stops right in front of our house. He was standing in front of me in the line. She spends all day sitting in front of (= working at) her computer. She is now entitled to put 'Professor' in front of her name.
2 if you do sth in front of sb, you do it when they are there: Please don't talk about it in front of the children.
3 ~ sb (of time) still to come; not yet passed: Don't give up. You still have your whole life in front of you.
out front
1 in the part of a theatre, restaurant, etc. where the public sits: There's only a small audience out front tonight. He cooked while she sat out front and waited tables.
2 (also BrE informal out the front) in the area near to the entrance to a building: I'll wait for you out (the) front.
up front (informal)
1 as payment in advance: We'll pay you half up front and the other half when you've finished the job.
2 (in sports) in a forward position: to play up frontsee also UPFRONTmore at BACK n., CASH n., LEAD^1 v.
adj. [only before noun]
1 on or at the front of sth: front teeth the front wheels of the car We had seats in the front row. an animal's front legs Let's go through to the front room (= the main room in a house where people sit and entertain guests). a front-seat passengercompare BACK, HIND adj.
2 (phonetics) (of a vowel) produced with the front of the tongue in a higher position than the back, for example in English compare BACK, CENTRAL
on the front burner (informal, especially NAmE) (of an issue, a plan, etc.) being given a lot of attention because it is considered important: Anything that keeps education on the front burner is good.compare ON THE BACK BURNER at BACK adj.
verb
FACE STH
1 ~ (onto sth) to face sth or be in front of sth; to have the front pointing towards sth: [VN] The cathedral fronts the city's main square. [V] The line of houses fronted straight onto the road.
COVER FRONT
2 [VN] [usually passive] to have the front covered with sth: a glass-fronted bookcase
LEAD GROUP
3 [VN] to lead or represent an organization, a group, etc.: He fronts a multinational company. A former art student fronted the band (= was the main singer).
PRESENT TV PROGRAMME
4 [VN] (BrE) to present a television programme, a show, etc.: The former footballer will front a new television sports quiz.
GRAMMAR
5 [VN] (linguistics) to give more importance to a part of a sentence by placing it at or near the beginning of the sentence, as in 'That I would like to see.'
front for sb/sth to represent a group or an organization and try to hide its secret or illegal activities: He fronted for them in several illegal property deals.

WHICH WORD?

in front of / in the front of

In front of can mean the same as outside but not opposite: I'll meet you in front of/outside your hotel.There's a bus stop in front of the house (= on the same side of the road).There's a bus stop opposite the house (= on the other side of the road).

In/at the front (of sth) means 'in the most forward part of something': The driver sits at the front of the bus.Put the shortest flowers in the front (of the bunch).

frontage noun
1 [C, U] the front of a building, especially when this faces a road or river: the baroque frontage of Milan Cathedral The building's street frontages are mostly of glass.
2 [U] (especially NAmE) land that is next to a building, a street or an area of water: They bought two miles of river frontage along the Colorado.

frontage road noun (NAmE) = SERVICE ROAD

frontal adj. [only before noun]
1 connected with the front of sth: Airbags protect the driver in the event of a severe frontal impact.
2 (also full-frontal) a frontal attack or a criticism is very strong and direct: They launched a frontal attack on company directors.
3 connected with a weather FRONT: a cold frontal system
4 (medical) connected with the front part of the head: the frontal lobes of the brain
frontally adv.

frontal lobe noun (anatomy) either of the two parts at the front of the brain that are concerned with behaviour, learning and personality

the front bench noun [C+sing./pl. v.] the most important members of the government and the opposition in the British parliament, who sit in the front rows of seats: an Opposition front-bench spokesman on defence She was recalled to the front bench less than a year after she resigned.compare BACK BENCH

frontbencher noun an important member of the government or the opposition in the British parliament, who sits in the front rows of seatscompare BACKBENCHER

front desk noun the desk inside the entrance of a hotel, an office building, etc. where guests or visitors go when they first arrivecompare RECEPTION

front door noun the main entrance to a house, usually at the front: There's someone at the front door.

front-end adj. [only before noun] (computing) (of a device or program) directly used by a user, and allowing the user to use other devices or programscompare BACK-END

front-end loader noun (especially NAmE) a large vehicle with machinery for digging worked by a system of HYDRAULICS

frontier NAmE noun
1 (BrE) [C] ~ (between A and B)| ~ (with sth) a line that separates two countries, etc.; the land near this line: the frontier between the land of the Saxons and that of the Danes a customs post on the frontier with Italy a frontier town/zone/post note at BORDER
2 the frontier [sing.] the edge of land where people live and have built towns, beyond which the country is wild and unknown, especially in the western US in the 19th century: a remote frontier settlement
3 [C, usually pl.] ~ (of sth) the limit of sth, especially the limit of what is known about a particular subject or activity: to push back the frontiers of science (= to increase knowledge of science) to roll back the frontiers of government (= to limit the powers of the government)

frontiersman NAmE noun (pl. -men ) a man living on the frontier especially one who lived in the western US during the 19th century

frontispiece noun [usually sing.] a picture at the beginning of a book, on the page opposite the page with the title on it

the front line noun [sing.] an area where the enemies are facing each other during a war and where fighting takes place: Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. front-line troops
in the front line (of sth) doing work that will have an important effect on sth: a life spent in the front line of research

frontman noun (pl. -men )
1 a person who represents an organization and tries to make its activities seem acceptable to the public, although in fact they may be illegal: He acted as a frontman for a drugs cartel.
2 the leader of a group of musicians
3 (BrE) a person who presents a television programme

front office noun [sing.] (especially NAmE) the part of a business concerned with managing things or dealing with the public

front-of-house noun [U] (BrE)
1 the parts of a theatre that are used by the audience: There was an expectant atmosphere front-of-house.
2 (often used as an adjective) the business of dealing with an audience at a theatre, for example selling tickets and programmes: a front-of-house manager

front page noun the first page of a newspaper, where the most important news is printed: The story was on the front pages of all the tabloids.
front-page adj. [only before noun]: The divorce made front-page news.

front runner noun a person, an animal or an organization that seems most likely to win a race or competition: He is one of the front runners in the presidential election.

front-wheel drive noun [U] a system in which power from the engine is sent to the front wheels of a vehiclecompare REAR-WHEEL DRIVE

frost NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U, C] a weather condition in which the temperature drops below 0°C (= FREEZING POINT) so that a thin white layer of ice forms on the ground and other surfaces, especially at night: It will be a clear night with some ground frost. a sharp/hard/severe frost There were ten degrees of frost (= the temperature dropped to -10°C) last night. frost damage
2 [U] the thin white layer of ice that forms when the temperature drops below 0°C: The car windows were covered with frost.see also HOAR FROST
verb
1 ~ (sth) (over/up) to cover sth or to become covered with a thin white layer of ice: [VN] The mirror was frosted up. [V] The windows had frosted over.
2 [VN] (especially NAmE) to cover a cake with ICING/FROSTING

frostbite NAmE noun [U] a medical condition in which parts of the body, especially the fingers and toes, become damaged as a result of extremely cold temperatures: The climbers were all suffering from frostbite.
frostbitten NAmE adj.

frosted NAmE adj.
1 [only before noun] (of glass) that has been given a rough surface, so that it is difficult to see through
2 (especially NAmE) (of cakes, etc.) covered with ICING/FROSTING
3 covered with FROST: the frosted garden
4 containing very small shiny pieces: frosted eyeshadow

frosting NAmE noun [U] (NAmE) = ICING

frosty NAmE adj.
1 (of the weather) extremely cold; cold with FROST: a frosty morning He breathed in the frosty air. It's frosty outside.
2 covered with FROST: frosty fields
3 unfriendly, in a way that suggests that sb does not approve of sth: a frosty look/reply My questions were met with a frosty silence. The latest proposals were given a frosty reception.
frostily adv.: 'No, thank you,' she said frostily.

froth NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U] a mass of small bubbles, especially on the surface of a liquid FOAM: a glass of beer with thick froth on top The horse's bit was covered with white froth.
2 [U] ideas, activities, etc. that seem attractive and enjoyable but have no real value
3 [sing.] ~ of sth something that looks like a mass of small bubbles on liquid: a froth of black lace
verb
1 if a liquid froths, or if sb/sth froths it, a mass of small bubbles appears on the surface: [V] a cup of frothing coffee The water gushed and frothed. [also VN]
2 [V] to produce a lot of SALIVA (= liquid in your mouth): The dog was frothing at the mouth. (figurative) He frothed at the mouth (= was very angry) when I asked for more money.

frothy NAmE adj.
1 (of liquids) having a mass of small bubbles on the surface: frothy coffee a frothy mixture of eggs and milk Add the eggs and beat until frothy.
2 seeming attractive and enjoyable but having no real value: frothy romantic novels
3 (of clothes or cloth) light and delicate: a frothy pink dress

frown verb, noun
verb~ (at sb/sth) to make a serious, angry or worried expression by bringing your EYEBROWS closer together so that lines appear on your FOREHEAD: [V] What are you frowning at me for? She frowned with concentration. [also V speech]
frown on/upon sb/sth to disapprove of sb/sth: In her family, any expression of feeling was frowned upon.
noun [usually sing.] a serious, angry or worried expression on a person's face that causes lines on their FOREHEAD: A small frown creased her forehead. She looked up with a puzzled frown on her face. a slight frown of disapproval/concentration, etc.

frowsty adj. (BrE) smelling bad because there is no fresh air FUSTY, MUSTY: a small frowsty office

froze pt of FREEZE

frozen NAmE adj.
1 [usually before noun] (of food) kept at a very low temperature in order to preserve it: frozen peas
2 [not usually before noun] (of people or parts of the body) extremely cold: I'm absolutely frozen! You look frozen stiff.
3 (of rivers, lakes, etc.) with a layer of ice on the surface
4 (especially of ground) so cold that it has become very hard: The ground was frozen solid.
5 ~ with/in sth unable to move because of a strong emotion such as fear or horror: She stared at him, frozen with shock.see also FREEZE v.

FRS abbr.
1 (NAmE) FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
2 (BrE) Fellow of the Royal Society (a title given to important British scientists)

fructose NAmE noun [U] (chemistry) a type of sugar found in fruit juice and HONEY

frugal adj.
1 using only as much money or food as is necessary: a frugal existence/life He has always been hard-working and frugal. EXTRAVAGANT: a frugal Methodist background
2 (of meals) small, plain and not costing very much MEAGRE: a frugal lunch of bread and cheese
frugality noun [U] frugally adv.: to live/eat frugally

fruit noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] the part of a plant that consists of one or more seeds and flesh, can be eaten as food and usually tastes sweet: tropical fruits, such as bananas and pineapples Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. a piece of fruit (= an apple, an orange, etc.) fruit juice fruit treessee also DRIED FRUIT, FIRST FRUIT, SOFT FRUITcompare VEGETABLE
2 [C] (technical) a part of a plant or tree that is formed after the flowers have died and in which seeds develop
3 [C, usually pl.] (literary) all the natural things that the earth produces
4 [C] (offensive) an offensive word for a HOMOSEXUAL man
the fruit/fruits of sth the good results of an activity or a situation: to enjoy the fruits of your labours (= the rewards for your hard work) The book is the fruit of years of research.more at BEAR v., FORBIDDEN
verb [V] (technical) (of a tree or plant) to produce fruit

fruitarian NAmE noun a person who eats only fruitcompare VEGETARIAN

fruit bat noun a BAT (= an animal like a mouse with wings) that lives in hot countries and eats fruit

fruit cake noun
1 [C, U] a cake containing dried fruit
2 fruitcake [C] (informal) a person who behaves in a strange or crazy way: She's nutty as a fruitcake.

fruit cocktail noun [U] a mixture of pieces of fruit in liquid, sold in tins

fruit cup noun [U, C]
1 (BrE) a drink consisting of fruit juices and pieces of fruit
2 (NAmE) = FRUIT SALAD

fruiterer noun (old-fashioned, especially BrE) a person who owns or manages a shop/store selling fruitcompare GREENGROCER

fruit fly noun a small fly that eats plants that are decaying, especially fruit

fruitful adj.
1 producing many useful results PRODUCTIVE: a fruitful collaboration/discussion a fruitful source of information The research has proved extremely fruitful. FRUITLESS
2 (literary) (of land or trees) producing a lot of crops
fruitfully adv.: Computers are now widely and fruitfully used in classrooms throughout Europe. fruitfulness noun [U]: It takes time for the validity or fruitfulness of any academic development to become clear.

fruitiness noun [U] (especially of wine) the quality of tasting or smelling strongly of fruit

fruition noun [U] (formal) the successful result of a plan, a process or an activity: After months of hard work, our plans finally came to fruition. His extravagant ideas were never brought to fruition.

fruitless adj. producing no useful results UNPRODUCTIVE: a fruitless attempt/search Our efforts to persuade her proved fruitless. FRUITFUL
fruitlessly adv.

fruit machine (BrE) (also one-armed bandit, slot machine NAmE, BrE) noun a gambling machine that you put coins into and that gives money back if particular pictures appear together on the screen

fruit salad (NAmE also fruit cup) noun [U, C] a cold DESSERT (= a sweet dish) consisting of small pieces of different types of fruit

fruity adj. (fruitier, fruitiest)
1 smelling or tasting strongly of fruit: The wine from this region is rich and fruity. This cheese has a slightly fruity flavour.
2 (of a voice or laugh) deep and pleasant in quality
3 (NAmE, informal) (of people) slightly crazy

frump noun (disapproving) a woman who wears clothes that are not fashionable
frumpy (also less frequent frumpish) adj.: frumpy clothes a frumpy housewife

frustrate NAmE verb [VN]
1 to make sb feel annoyed or impatient because they cannot do or achieve what they want: What frustrates him is that there's too little money to spend on the project.
2 to prevent sb from doing sth; to prevent sth from happening or succeeding THWART: The rescue attempt was frustrated by bad weather. He tried to frustrate his political opponents by denying them access to the media.

frustrated NAmE adj.
1 ~ (at/with sth) feeling annoyed and impatient because you cannot do or achieve what you want: It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. They felt frustrated at the lack of progress. His apathy just made her even more frustrated.
2 (of an emotion) having no effect; not being satisfied: He stamped his foot in frustrated rage. frustrated desires
3 [only before noun] unable to be successful in a particular career: a frustrated artist
4 not satisfied sexually

frustrating NAmE adj. causing you to feel annoyed and impatient because you cannot do or achieve what you want: It's frustrating to have to wait so long. The frustrating thing is, they probably won't even be in when we get there.
frustratingly adv.: Progress was frustratingly slow.

frustration noun
1 [U] the feeling of being frustrated: Dave thumped the table in frustration. She couldn't stand the frustration of not being able to help. sexual frustration
2 [C, usually pl.] something that causes you to feel frustrated: Every job has its difficulties and frustrations. Inevitably she took out her frustrations on the children.
3 [U] ~ of sth (formal) the fact that sth is preventing sth/sb from succeeding: the frustration of all his ambitions

fry verb, noun
verb (fries, frying, fried, fried)
1 to cook sth in hot fat or oil; to be cooked in hot fat or oil: [VN] fried fish [V] the smell of bacon fryingrelated noun FRY-UP see also STIR-FRY
2 [V] (informal) to be burnt by the sun: You'll fry on the beach if you're not careful. see FISH n.
noun
1 [pl.] very small young fishsee also SMALL FRY
2 [C] (usually fries [pl.]) (especially NAmE) = CHIP: Would you like ketchup with your fries?

fryer (also frier) noun
1 a large deep pan used for frying food in: a deep-fat fryer
2 (NAmE) a young chicken that is suitable for frying

frying pan (NAmE also frypan, skillet) noun a large shallow pan with a long handle, used for frying food in
out of the frying pan into the fire (saying) from a bad situation to one that is worse

fry-up noun (BrE, informal) a meal of fried food, such as BACON and eggs: It's not good for your heart to eat too many fry-ups.

FT (also F/T) abbr. (in writing) FULL-TIME: The course is 1 year FT, 2 years PT.compare PT

Ft (also Ft. especially in NAmE) abbr. FORT: Ft William

ft (BrE) (also ft. NAmE, BrE) abbr. (in writing measurements) feet; foot: The room is 12ft × 9ft.

the FTC abbr. the Federal Trade Commission (the US government organization that is responsible for making sure that there is fair competition in business)

FTP abbr. the abbreviation for 'file transfer protocol' (a set of rules for sending files from one computer to another on the Internet)

the FTSE index (also the FT index the Financial Times index, the Footsie) noun [sing.] a figure that shows the relative price of shares on the London Stock Exchange

fuchsia noun [C, U] a small bush with flowers in two colours of red, purple or white, that hang down

fuck verb, noun
verb (taboo, slang)
1 [V, VN] to have sex with sb
2 a swear word that many people find offensive that is used to express anger, disgust or surprise: [V] Oh, fuck! I've lost my keys. [VN] Fuck it! We've missed the train. Fuck youI'm leaving.
fuck me used to express surprise: Fuck me! Have you seen how much this costs?
fuck around (BrE also fuck about) to waste time by behaving in a silly way: Stop fucking around and come and help. A more polite, informal way of saying this is mess about (BrE) or mess around (NAmE,BrE).
fuck sb around (BrE also fuck sb about) to treat sb in a way that is deliberately not helpful to them or wastes their time: This damn company keeps fucking me around. A more polite, informal way of saying this is mess sb about/around (BrE).
fuck off (usually used in orders) to go away: Why don't you just fuck off?
fuck up to do sth badly or make a bad mistake: You've really fucked up this time! A more polite way to express this is mess up.
fuck sbup to upset or confuse sb so much that they are not able to deal with problems in their life: My parents' divorce really fucked me up. A more polite way to express this is mess sb up.
fuck sthup to do sth badly or spoil sth: I completely fucked up my exams. A more polite, informal way of saying this is mess sth up.
fuck with sb to treat sb badly in a way that makes them annoyed: Don't fuck with him. A more polite way to express this is mess with sb.
noun (taboo, slang)
1 [C, usually sing.] an act of sex
2 the fuck [sing.] used for emphasis, or to show that you are angry, annoyed or surprised: What the fuck are you doing? Let's get the fuck out of here!
not give a fuck (about sb/sth) to not care at all about sb/sth: He doesn't give a fuck about anyone else.see also F-WORD

fuck all noun [U] (BrE, taboo, slang) a phrase that many people find offensive, used to mean 'none at all' or 'nothing at all': You've done fuck all today. These instructions make fuck all sense to me.

fucker noun (taboo, slang) a very offensive word used to insult sb

fucking adj., adv. (taboo, slang) a swear word that many people find offensive that is used to emphasize a comment or an angry statement: I'm fucking sick of this fucking rain! He's a fucking good player.
fucking well (especially BrE) used to emphasize an angry statement or an order: You're fucking well coming whether you want to or not.

fuddled adj. unable to think clearly, usually as a result of being old or drinking alcohol: She forced her weary fuddled brain to work.

fuddy-duddy noun (pl. fuddy-duddies) (informal) a person who has old-fashioned ideas or habits: You're such an old fuddy-duddy!
fuddy-duddy adj.: fuddy-duddy ideas

fudge noun, verb
noun
1 [U] a type of soft brown sweet/candy made from sugar, butter and milk
2 a fudge [sing.] (especially BrE) a way of dealing with a situation that does not really solve the problems but is intended to appear to do so: This solution is a fudge rushed in to win cheers at the party conference.
verb~ (on) sth to avoid giving clear and accurate information, or a clear answer: [VN] I asked how long he was staying, but he fudged the answer. Politicians are often very clever at fudging the issue. [also V]

fuel noun, verb
noun
1 [U, C] any material that produces heat or power, usually when it is burnt: solid fuel (= wood, coal, etc.) nuclear fuels a car with high fuel consumption Domestic fuel bills are set to rise again in the autumn.see also FOSSIL FUEL
2 [U] a thing that is said or done that makes sth, especially an argument, continue or get worse: The new information adds fuel to the debate over safety procedures. The revelations gave new fuel to angry opponents of the proposed law. His remarks simply added fuel to the fire/flames of her rage.
verb (-ll-, US -l-)
1 [VN] to supply sth with material that can be burnt to produce heat or power: Uranium is used to fuel nuclear plants. oil-fuelled power stations
2 ~ (sth) (up) to put petrol/gas into a vehicle: [VN] The helicopter was already fuelled (up) and ready to go. [also V]
3 [VN] to increase sth; to make sth stronger STOKE: to fuel speculation/rumours/fears Higher salaries helped to fuel inflation.

fuel injection noun [U] a system of putting fuel into the engine of a car under pressure as a way of improving its performance

fuel rod noun (technical) a long thin piece of fuel used in a nuclear power station

fufu noun [U] (WAfrE) a smooth white food often eaten with soups or STEWS and made by boiling and crushing the roots of plants such as COCOYAMS and CASSAVA

fug noun [sing.] (BrE, informal) air in a room that is hot and smells unpleasant because there are too many people in the room or because people are smoking: the fug of stale smoke and sweat

fugal adj. (music) similar to or related to a FUGUE

fugitive noun, adj.
noun~ (from sb/sth) a person who has escaped or is running away from somewhere and is trying to avoid being caught: a fugitive from justice
adj. [only before noun]
1 trying to avoid being caught: a fugitive criminal
2 (literary) lasting only for a very short time FLEETING: a fugitive idea/thought

fugue noun a piece of music in which one or more tunes are introduced and then repeated in a complicated pattern

-ful suffix
1 (in adjectives) full of; having the qualities of; tending to: sorrowful masterful forgetful
2 (in nouns) an amount that fills sth: handful spoonful

fulcrum noun (pl. fulcrums or fulcra )
1 (physics) the point on which a LEVER turns or is supported
2 [usually sing.] the most important part of an activity or a situation: the fulcrum of the whole debate There was a fulcrum point when the arguments tipped decidedly in one direction.

fulfil (BrE) (NAmE fulfill) verb (fulfilling, fulfilled, fulfilled) [VN]
1 to do or achieve what was hoped for or expected: to fulfil your dream/ambition/potential
2 to do or have what is required or necessary: to fulfil a duty/an obligation/a promise to fulfil the terms/conditions of an agreement No candidate fulfils all the criteria for this position.
3 to have a particular role or purpose: Nursery schools should fulfil the function of preparing children for school.
4 ~ sb/yourself to make sb feel happy and satisfied with what they are doing or have done: I need a job that really fulfils me. He was able to fulfil himself through his painting.
fulfilment (BrE) (NAmE fulfillment) noun [U]: the fulfilment of a dream to find personal fulfilment note at SATISFACTION

fulfilled adj. feeling happy and satisfied that you are doing sth useful with your life: He doesn't feel fulfilled in his present job. UNFULFILLED

fulfilling adj. causing sb to feel satisfied and useful: a fulfilling experience UNFULFILLING: I'm finding the work much more fulfilling now. note at SATISFYING

full adj., adv.
adj. (fuller, fullest)
WITH NO EMPTY SPACE
1 ~ (of sth) containing or holding as much or as many as possible; having no empty space: a full bottle of wine She could only nod, because her mouth was full. My suitcase was full of books. There were cardboard boxes stuffed full of clothes. (BrE) Sorry, the hotel is full up tonight.
HAVING A LOT
2 ~ of sth having or containing a large number or amount of sth: The sky was full of brightly coloured fireworks. Life is full of coincidences. Our new brochure is crammed full of inspirational ideas. animals pumped full of antibiotics She was full of admiration for the care she had received. He smiled, his eyes full of laughter.
TALKING A LOT
3 ~ of sth (of a person) thinking or talking a lot about a particular thing: He was full of his new job and everything he'd been doing.
WITH FOOD
4 (BrE also full up) having had enough to eat: No more for me, thanksI'm full up. The kids still weren't full, so I gave them an ice cream each. You can't run on a full stomach.
COMPLETE
5 [usually before noun] complete; with nothing missing: Full details are available on request. I still don't think we've heard the full story. a full English breakfast A full refund will be given if the item is faulty. Fill in your full name and address. The country applied for full membership of the European Union. It is too early to assess the full extent of the damage. They sell a full range of hair and beauty products.
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
6 [usually before noun] to the highest level or greatest amount possible MAXIMUM: Many people don't use their computers to their full potential. measures to achieve full employment Students should take full advantage of the university's facilities. She came round the corner at full speed.
FOR EMPHASIS
7 [only before noun] used to emphasize an amount or a quantity: She is a full four inches shorter than her sister.
BUSY
8 busy; involving a lot of activities: He'd had a very full life. Her life was too full to find time for hobbies.
MOON
9 appearing as a complete circle: The moon was full, the sky clear.see also FULL MOON
FAT
10 (of a person or part of the body) large and round. 'Full' is sometimes used to avoid saying 'fat': He kissed her full sensual lips. They specialize in clothes for women with a fuller figure.
CLOTHES
11 made with plenty of cloth; fitting loosely: a full skirt
TONE/VOICE/FLAVOUR
12 deep, strong and rich: He draws a unique full sound from the instrument. the full fruity flavour of the wine
Most idioms containing full are at the entries for the nouns and verbs in the idioms, for example full of the joys of spring is at joy. full of yourself (disapproving) very proud; thinking only of yourself
in full including the whole of sth: The address must be printed in full.
to the full (NAmE usually to the fullest) to the greatest possible degree: I've always believed in living life to the full.
adv.~ in/on sth directly: She looked him full in the face.

fullback noun
1 [C] one of the defending players in football (SOCCER), HOCKEY or RUGBY whose position is near the goal they are defending
2 [C] the attacking player in AMERICAN FOOTBALL whose position is behind the QUARTERBACK and beside the HALFBACKS
3 [U] the position a fullback plays at: Hunter is at fullback.

full beam noun [U] (BrE) the brightest light that a vehicle's HEADLIGHTS can give, usually used when there are no street lights and no other traffic: Even with the lights on full beam I couldn't see very far.

full-blooded adj. [only before noun]
1 involving very strong feelings or actions; done in an enthusiastic way: a full-blooded attack All of these initiatives stopped well short of full-blooded state intervention.
2 having parents, grandparents, etc. from only one race or country: a full-blooded Scotsman

full-blown adj. [only before noun] having all the characteristics of sb/sth; fully developed: full-blown AIDS The border dispute turned into a full-blown crisis.

full board (BrE) (NAmE American plan) noun [U] a type of accommodation in a hotel, etc. that includes all meals: Do you require full or half board?compare BED AND BREAKFAST, EUROPEAN PLAN, HALF BOARD

full-bodied adj. having a pleasantly strong taste or sound: a full-bodied red wine a full-bodied string section

full-colour (BrE) (NAmE full-color) adj. [only before noun] printed using colours rather than just black and white

full-court press noun [sing.] (NAmE)
1 (in BASKETBALL) a way of attacking in which the members of a team stay close to their opponents over the whole area of play
2 (informal) a strong effort to influence sb or a group of people by putting pressure on them: President Clinton has been making a full-court press for Catholic voters.

full-cream adj. (BrE) (of milk) with none of the fat taken away

fullerene noun [U] (chemistry) = BUCKMINSTERFULLERENE

fuller's earth NAmE noun [U] a type of CLAY used for cleaning cloth and making it thicker

full face adj., adv. showing the whole of sb's face; not in PROFILE: a full-face view/portrait

full-fat adj. [usually before noun] (especially BrE) (of milk, cheese, etc.) without any of the fat removed

full-fledged adj. (especially NAmE) = FULLY FLEDGED

full forward noun (in AUSTRALIAN RULES football) an attacking player who plays near the opposing team's goal

full-frontal adj., noun
adj. [only before noun]
1 showing the whole of the front of a person's body: full-frontal nudity
2 = FRONTAL (2)
noun a picture or a scene in a film/movie which shows the naked body of a person from the front

full-grown adj. (of people, animals or plants) having reached the greatest size to which they can grow and stopped growing

full house noun
1 an occasion in a theatre, cinema/movie theater, etc. when there are no empty seats: They played to a full house.
2 (in the card game of POKER) three cards of one kind and two of another kind

full-length adj., adv.
adj. [only before noun]
1 (of a mirror or picture) showing the whole of a person's body: a full-length portrait
2 (of a book, play, etc.) not made shorter; of the usual length: a full-length novel
3 (of curtains or a window) reaching the ground
4 (of clothing) reaching a person's ankles: a full-length skirt
adv. a person who is lying full-length is lying flat with their legs straight: He was sprawled full-length across the bed.

full marks noun [pl.] (BrE) the highest mark/grade in a test, etc. (when you get nothing wrong): She got full marks in the exam. (figurative) Full marks to Bill for an excellent idea! (= he deserves praise)

full moon noun [C, usually sing., U] the moon when it appears as a full circle; a time when this happenscompare HALF-MOON, HARVEST MOON, NEW MOON

fullness noun [U, sing.]
1 (of the body or part of the body) the quality of being large and round: the fullness of her lips
2 (of colours, sounds and flavours) the quality of being deep and rich: This recording has a fullness and warmth that brings out the orchestration.
3 the quality of being complete and satisfying: the fullness of life
in the fullness of time when the time is appropriate, usually after a long period: I have no doubt that she'll tell us in the fullness of time.

full-on adj. (informal) used to say that sth is done to the greatest possible degree: It was a full-on night out with the boys.

full-page adj. [only before noun] filling a complete page of a newspaper or magazine: a full-page ad

full point noun = FULL STOP

full professor noun (NAmE) = PROFESSOR (1)

full-scale adj. [only before noun]
1 that is as complete and thorough as possible: a full-scale attack The police made a full-scale search of the area.
2 that is the same size as sth that is being copied: a full-scale model

full-size (also full-sized) adj. [usually before noun] not made smaller; of the usual size: a full-size model a full-size snooker table

full stop noun, adv.
noun (also less frequent stop) (also full point) (all BrE) (NAmE period) the mark ( . ) used at the end of a sentence and in some abbreviations, for example e.g.
come to a full stop to stop completely: The car began to shudder and eventually came to a full stop in front of the church.
adv. (BrE) (also period NAmE, BrE) (informal) used at the end of a sentence to emphasize that there is nothing more to say about a subject: I've already told youwe can't afford it, full stop!

full-term adj. (technical)
1 (of a PREGNANCY) lasting the normal length of time
2 (of a baby) born after a PREGNANCY lasting the normal length of time

full time noun [U] (BrE) the end of a sports game: The referee blew his whistle for full time. The full-time score was 1-1.compare HALF-TIME

full-time adj., adv. (abbr. FT) for all the hours of a week during which people normally work or study, rather than just for a part of it: students in full-time education a full-time employee a full-time job Looking after a child is a full-time job (= hard work that takes a lot of time). She works full-time and still manages to run a home.compare PART-TIME

full-timer noun a person who works full-time

full toss noun (in CRICKET) a ball that reaches the BATSMAN without touching the ground and is easy to hit

fully adv.
1 completely: She had fully recovered from the accident. We are fully aware of the dangers. I fully understand your motives.
2 (formal) (used to emphasize an amount) the whole of; as much as: The disease affects fully 30 per cent of the population.

fully fledged (BrE) (also full-fledged NAmE, BrE) adj. [usually before noun] completely developed; with all the qualifications necessary for sth: the emergence of a fully fledged market economy She was now a fully fledged member of the teaching profession.

fulmar noun a grey and white bird that lives near the sea

fulminate verb [V] ~ against (sb/sth) (formal) to criticize sb/sth angrily: He was always fulminating against interference from the government.
fulmination noun [C, U]

fulsome adj. (disapproving) too generous in praising or thanking sb, or in saying sorry, so that you do not sound sincere: a fulsome apology He was fulsome in his praise of the Prime Minister.
fulsomely adv.

fumarole NAmE noun (geology) an opening in or near a VOLCANO through which hot gases escape

fumble verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (at/with/in sth) (for sth)| ~ (around) to use your hands in an awkward way when you are doing sth or looking for sth: [V] She fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief. He fumbled with the buttons on his shirt. She was fumbling around in the dark looking for the light switch. [VN] He fumbled the key into the ignition. [also V to inf]
2 to have difficulty speaking clearly or finding the right words to say: [V] During the interview, she fumbled helplessly for words. [VN] to fumble an announcement
3 [VN] (especially in sport) to drop a ball or to fail to stop or kick it
noun
1 [sing.] (also fumbling [C, usually pl.]) an awkward action using the hands
2 [C] (NAmE) the action of dropping the ball while it is in play in AMERICAN FOOTBALL: After a Pittsburgh fumble, Miami scored a touchdown.

fumbling adj. awkward, uncertain or hesitating: a fumbling schoolboy

fume verb
1 ~ (at/over/about sb/sth) to be very angry about sth: [V] She sat in the car, silently fuming at the traffic jam. He was fuming with indignation. [also V speech]
2 [V] to produce smoke or fumes

fumes noun [pl.] (also less frequent fume [U]) smoke, gas, or sth similar that smells strongly or is dangerous to breathe in: diesel/petrol/exhaust fumes to be overcome by smoke and fumes Clouds of toxic fumes escaped in a huge chemical factory blaze. The body of a man was found in a fume-filled car yesterday.

fumigate verb [VN] to use special chemicals, smoke or gas to destroy the harmful insects or bacteria in a place: to fumigate a room
fumigation noun [U, C]

fun noun, adj.
noun [U]
1 enjoyment; pleasure; a thing that gives enjoyment or pleasure and makes you feel happy: We had a lot of fun at Sarah's party. Sailing is good fun. Have fun (= Enjoy yourself)! I decided to learn Spanish, just for fun. I didn't do all that work just for the fun of it. It's not much fun going to a party on your own. 'What fun!' she said with a laugh. Walking three miles in the pouring rain is not my idea of fun. The whole family can join in the fun at Water World. 'What do you say to a weekend in New York?' 'Sounds like fun.'
2 behaviour or activities that are not serious but come from a sense of enjoyment: She's very lively and full of fun. We didn't mean to hurt him. It was just a bit of fun. It wasn't serious - it was all done in fun. note at ENTERTAINMENT
fun and games (informal) activities that are not serious and that other people may disapprove of
make fun of sb/sth to laugh at sb/sth or make other people laugh at them, usually in an unkind way: It's cruel to make fun of people who stammer.more at FIGURE n., POKE v.
adj. amusing or enjoyable: She's really fun to be with. This game looks fun! There are lots of fun things for young people to do here.

SYNONYMS

fun

pleasure (a) good time enjoyment (a) great time

These are all words for the feeling of enjoying yourself, or activities or time that you enjoy.

fun (rather informal) the feeling of enjoying yourself; activities that you enjoy: We had a lot of fun at Sarah's party. Sailing is good/great fun.

pleasure (rather formal) the feeling of enjoying yourself or being satisfied: Reading for pleasure and reading for study are not the same.

(a) good time (rather informal) a time that you spend enjoying yourself: We had a good time in Spain.

enjoyment (rather formal) the feeling of enjoying yourself: I get a lot of enjoyment from music.

PLEASURE OR ENJOYMENT?

Enjoyment usually comes from an activity that you do; pleasure can come from sth that you do or sth that happens: He beamed with pleasure at seeing her. He beamed with enjoyment at seeing her.

(a) great time (rather informal) a time that you spend enjoying yourself very much: We had a really great time together.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

great fun/pleasure/enjoyment

to have fun/a good time/a great time

to take pleasure/enjoyment in sth

to get pleasure/enjoyment from sth

to spoil the fun/sb's pleasure/sb's enjoyment

to do sth for fun/pleasure/enjoyment

funboard NAmE noun (BrE) a fast light board used in WINDSURFING

function noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] a special activity or purpose of a person or thing: to fulfil/perform a function bodily functions (= for example eating, sex, using the toilet) The function of the heart is to pump blood through the body. This design aims for harmony of form and function.
2 [C] a social event or official ceremony: The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions. There are numerous functions in aid of charity.
3 [C] (mathematics) a quantity whose value depends on the varying values of others. In the statement 2x=y, y is a function of x: (figurative) Salary is a function of age and experience.
4 [C] (computing) a part of a program, etc. that performs a basic operation
verb [often +adv./prep.] to work in the correct way OPERATE: Despite the power cuts, the hospital continued to function normally. We now have a functioning shower. Many children can't function effectively in large classes.
function as sb/sth to perform the action or the job of the thing or person mentioned: The sofa also functions as a bed. I need money to be able to function as an artist.

functional adj.
1 practical and useful; with little or no decoration UTILITARIAN: Bathrooms don't have to be purely functional. The office was large and functional rather than welcoming.
2 having a special purpose; making it possible for sb to do sth or for sth to happen: a functional disorder (= an illness caused when an organ of the body fails to perform its function) a functional approach to language learning These units played a key functional role in the military operation.
3 (especially of a machine, an organization or a system) working; able to work: The hospital will soon be fully functional.
functionally adv.

functional food noun [C, U] food that has had substances that are good for your health specially added to it

functional grammar noun [U] (linguistics) grammar that analyses how language is used to communicate

functionalism noun [U] the idea or belief that the most important thing about the style or design of a building or object is how it is going to be used, not how it will look
functionalist noun functionalist adj. [usually before noun]

functionality noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] the quality in sth of being very suitable for the purpose it was designed for PRACTICALITY
2 [U] the purpose that sth is designed for or expected to perform: Manufacturing processes may be affected by the functionality of the product.
3 [U, C] (computing) the range of functions that a computer or other electronic system can perform: new software with additional functionality

functionary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (disapproving) a person with official duties OFFICIAL: party/state/government functionaries

function key noun (computing) one of several keys on a computer keyboard, each marked with 'F' and a number, that can be used to do sth, such as save a file or get to the 'help' function in a program

function word (also functor) noun (grammar) a word that is important to the grammar of a sentence rather than its meaning, for example 'do' in 'we do not live here'compare CONTENT WORD

functor noun
1 (mathematics) a FUNCTION or a symbol such as + or ×
2 (grammar) = FUNCTION WORD

fund noun, verb
noun
1 [C] an amount of money that has been saved or has been made available for a particular purpose: a disaster relief fund the company's pension fund the International Monetary Fund
2 funds [pl.] money that is available to be spent: government funds The hospital is trying to raise funds for a new kidney machine. The project has been cancelled because of lack of funds I'm short of funds at the momentcan I pay you back next week?
3 [sing.] ~ of sth an amount or a supply of sth: a fund of knowledge
verb [VN] to provide money for sth, usually sth official: a dance festival funded by the Arts Council The museum is privately funded. a government-funded programme

fundamental adj., noun
adj.
1 serious and very important; affecting the most central and important parts of sth BASIC: There is a fundamental difference between the two points of view. A fundamental change in the organization of health services was required. a question of fundamental importance
2 ~ (to sth) central; forming the necessary basis of sth ESSENTIAL: Hard work is fundamental to success.
3 [only before noun] (physics) forming the source or base from which everything else is made; not able to be divided any further: a fundamental particle
noun [usually pl.] a basic rule or principle; an essential part: the fundamentals of modern physics He taught me the fundamentals of the job.

fundamental force noun (technical) a force that is a property (= characteristic) of everything in the universe. There are four fundamental forces including GRAVITY and ELECTROMAGNETISM.

fundamentalism noun [U]
1 the practice of following very strictly the basic rules and teachings of any religion
2 (in Christianity) the belief that everything that is written in the Bible is completely true
fundamentalist noun fundamentalist adj.

fundamentally adv.
1 in every way that is important; completely: The two approaches are fundamentally different. By the 1960s the situation had changed fundamentally. They remained fundamentally opposed to the plan.
2 used when you are introducing a topic and stating sth important about it BASICALLY: Fundamentally, there are two different approaches to the problem.
3 used when you are saying what is the most important thing about sb/sth BASICALLY: She is fundamentally a nice person, but she finds it difficult to communicate.

fundamental tone noun (music) the tone that represents the lowest FREQUENCY of sth such as a string or bell when it VIBRATES

funder noun a person or an organization that provides money for a particular purpose: The report is written primarily for potential funders of the project.

fundholding NAmE noun [U] a system in Britain in which the government gives GPs (= family doctors) an amount of money with which they can buy some hospital services
fundholder noun

fundi noun (SAfrE) a person who is very skilled at sth or who has gained a lot of knowledge about a particular subject: a computer fundi He's become quite a fundi on wine.

funding noun [U] money for a particular purpose; the act of providing money for such a purpose: There have been large cuts in government funding for scientific research.

fund-raiser noun
1 a person who collects money for a charity or an organization
2 a social event or an entertainment held in order to collect money for a charity or an organization
fund-raising noun [U]: The hospice is planning a major fund-raising event for June.

funeral noun a ceremony, usually a religious one, for burying or CREMATING (= burning) a dead person: Hundreds of people attended the funeral. a funeral procession a funeral march (= a sad piece of music suitable for funerals)
it's your funeral (informal) used to tell sb that they, and nobody else, will have to deal with the unpleasant results of their own actions

funeral director noun (formal) = UNDERTAKER

funeral parlour (BrE) (NAmE funeral parlor) (also funeral home NAmE, BrE) (NAmE also mortuary) noun a place where dead people are prepared for being buried or CREMATED (= burned) and where visitors can see the body

funerary NAmE adj. [only before noun] (formal) of or used at a funeral: funerary monuments/rites

funereal NAmE adj. (formal) suitable for a funeral; sad: a funereal atmosphere to walk at a funereal pace (= very slowly)

funfair NAmE noun (BrE) = FAIR

fun fur noun [U] (BrE) a type of artificial material like fur, often in bright colours

fungal adj. of or caused by FUNGUS: a fungal infection

fungicide noun [C, U] a substance that kills fungus

fungoid adj. (technical) like a FUNGUS: a fungoid growth

fungus noun (pl. fungi )
1 [C] any plant without leaves, flowers or green colouring, usually growing on other plants or on decaying matter. MUSHROOMS and MILDEW are both fungi.
2 [U, C] a covering of MOULD or a similar fungus, for example on a plant or wall: fungus infections

funicular (also funicular railway) noun a railway on a steep slope, used to transport passengers up and down in special cars by means of a moving cable

funk noun, verb
noun
1 [U] a type of modern dance music with a strong rhythm
2 (also blue funk) [sing.] (old-fashioned, informal) a state of fear or anxiety
3 [C, usually sing.] (NAmE) a strong unpleasant smell
verb [VN] (BrE, informal) to avoid doing sth because you are afraid to or find it difficult

funky adj. (funkier, funkiest) (informal)
1 (of pop music) with a strong rhythm that is easy to dance to: a funky disco beat
2 (approving) fashionable and unusual: She wears really funky clothes.
3 (NAmE) having a strong unpleasant smell

fun-loving adj. (of people) liking to enjoy themselves

funnel noun, verb
noun
1 a device that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for pouring liquids or powders into a small opening
2 (BrE) (also smokestack NAmE, BrE) a metal CHIMNEY, for example on a ship or an engine, through which smoke comes out
verb (-ll-, NAmE -l-) to move or make sth move through a narrow space, or as if through a funnel: [V] Wind was funnelling through the gorge. [VN] Huge pipes funnel the water down the mountainside. Barricades funnelled the crowds towards the square. (figurative) Some $10 million in aid was funnelled into the country through government agencies.

the funnies noun [pl.] (NAmE, informal) the part of a newspaper where there are several COMIC STRIPS (= series of drawings that tell a funny story)

funnily adv. in a strange way
funnily enough used to show that you expect people to find a particular fact surprising: Funnily enough, I met her only yesterday.

funny adj. (funnier, funniest)
AMUSING
1 making you laugh; amusing: a funny story That's the funniest thing I've ever heard. It's not funny! Someone could have been hurt. I was really embarrassed, but then I saw the funny side of it. (ironic) Oh very funny! You expect me to believe that? 'What's so funny?' she demanded. Note that funny does not mean 'enjoyable': The party was great fun. The party was very funny.
STRANGE
2 difficult to explain or understand STRANGE, PECULIAR: A funny thing happened to me today. It's funny how things never happen the way you expect them to. That's funnyhe was here a moment ago and now he's gone. The funny thing is it never happened again after that. The engine's making a very funny noise. I'm pleased I didn't get that job, in a funny sort of way.
SUSPICIOUS/ILLEGAL
3 (informal) suspicious and probably illegal or dishonest: I suspect there may be something funny going on. If there has been any funny business, we'll soon find out.
WITHOUT RESPECT
4 (BrE) humorous in a way that shows a lack of respect for sb CHEEKY: Don't you get funny with me!
ILL/SICK
5 (informal) slightly ill/sick: I feel a bit funny todayI don't think I'll go to work.
CRAZY
6 (BrE, informal) slightly crazy; not like other people STRANGE, PECULIAR: That Dave's a funny chap, isn't he? She went a bit funny after her husband died.
MACHINE
7 (informal) not working as it should: My computer keeps going funny.
funny ha-ha (informal) used to show that 'funny' is being used with the meaning of 'amusing'
funny peculiar (BrE) (US funny weird/strange) (informal) used to show that 'funny' is being used with the meaning of 'strange'

SYNONYMS

funny

amusing entertaining witty humorous comic hilarious

These words all describe sb/sth that makes you laugh or smile.

funny that makes you laugh: a funny story He was a very funny guy.

amusing funny and enjoyable: It's a very amusing game to play.

entertaining amusing and interesting: It was a very entertaining evening.

witty clever and amusing; able to say or write clever and amusing things: a witty remark a witty public speaker

humorous funny and entertaining; showing a sense of humour: a humorous look at the world of fashion

comic that makes you laugh: Many of the scenes in the book are richly comic.

hilarious extremely funny

FUNNY, AMUSING, HUMOROUS OR COMIC?

Amusing is the most general of these words because it includes the idea of being enjoyable as well as making people laugh and can be used to describe events, activities and occasions: an amusing party/game/evening a funny/humorous/comic party/game/evening. Humorous is not quite as strong as funny or comic and is more about showing that you see the humour in a situation, than actually making people laugh out loud. Comic is used to talk especially about writing and drama or things that are funny in a deliberate and theatrical way. It is not used to describe people (except for comic writers). Funny can describe people, jokes and stories, things that happen, or anything that makes people laugh.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to be funny/amusing/entertaining/witty/humorous/comic/hilarious

to find sth funny/amusing/entertaining/witty/humorous/comic/hilarious

very/quite funny/amusing/entertaining/witty/humorous/comic

really funny/amusing/entertaining/witty/humorous/comic/hilarious

extremely funny/amusing/entertaining/witty/humorous/comic

funny bone noun [usually sing.] (informal) the part of the elbow containing a very sensitive nerve that is painful if you hit it against sth

funny farm noun (informal, offensive) a hospital for people who are mentally ill

funny money noun [U] (informal, disapproving)
1 a CURRENCY (= the money used in one country) which is not worth much and whose value can change quickly
2 money that has been FORGED (= is not real) or stolen or that has come from illegal activities

fun run noun (especially BrE) an event in which people run a long distance, for fun, and to collect money for charity

fur noun
1 [U] the soft thick mass of hair that grows on the body of some animals: The cat carefully licked its fur.
2 [U] the skin of an animal with the fur still on it, used especially for making clothes: a fur coat the fur trade a fur farm (= where animals are bred and killed for their fur) The animal is hunted for its fur. fur-lined gloves
3 [U] an artificial material that looks and feels like fur
4 [C] a piece of clothing, especially a coat or jacket, made of real or artificial fur: elegant ladies in furs
5 (BrE) = SCALE n. (9)
6 [U] a greyish-white layer that forms on a person's tongue, especially when they are ill/sicksee also FURRED

furious NAmE adj.
1 ~ (with sb)| ~ (at sth/sb)| ~ (that ... ) very angry: She was absolutely furious at having been deceived. He was furious with himself for letting things get so out of control. I'm furious that I wasn't told about it.
2 with great energy, speed or anger: a furious debate She drove off at a furious pace. A furious row broke out last night after it was revealed that hundreds of prisoners had been released early from jail.see also FURY
furiously adv.: furiously angry 'Damn!' he said furiously. They worked furiously all weekend, trying to get it finished on time. see FAST adj.

furl NAmE verb [VN] to roll and fasten sth such as a sail, a flag or an umbrella

furlong NAmE noun (especially in horse racing) a unit for measuring distance, equal to 220 yards or 201 metres; one eighth of a mile

furlough NAmE noun [U, C]
1 permission to leave your duties for a period of time, especially for soldiers working in a foreign country: to go home on furlough a six-week furlough
2 (NAmE) permission for a prisoner to leave prison for a period of time
3 (NAmE) a period of time during which workers are told not to come to work, usually because there is not enough money to pay them
furlough verb [VN]

furnace NAmE noun
1 a space surrounded on all sides by walls and a roof for heating metal or glass to very high temperatures: It's like a furnace (= very hot) in here!see also BLAST FURNACE
2 (especially NAmE) = BOILER

furnish NAmE verb [VN]
1 to put furniture in a house, room, etc.: The room was furnished with antiques.
2 ~ sb/sth with sth| ~ sth (formal) to supply or provide sb/sth with sth; to supply sth to sb: She furnished him with the facts surrounding the case. Foreign investors furnished most of the capital for the project.

furnished NAmE adj. (of a house, room, etc.) containing furniture: furnished accommodation (= to rent complete with furniture) The house was simply furnished.

furnishings NAmE noun [pl.] the furniture, carpets, curtains, etc. in a room or house: soft furnishings The wallpaper should match the furnishings.

furniture NAmE noun [U] objects that can be moved, such as tables, chairs and beds, that are put into a house or an office to make it suitable for living or working in: a piece of furniture garden/office, etc. furniture We need to buy some new furniture.see also DOOR FURNITURE, STREET FURNITURE see PART n.

furniture beetle noun an insect that damages wooden furniture and buildings

furniture van noun (BrE) = REMOVAL VAN

furore NAmE (also furor NAmE especially in NAmE) noun [sing.] ~ (about/over sth) great anger or excitement shown by a number of people, usually caused by a public event: His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. the recent furore over the tax increases UPROAR

furphy NAmE noun (pl. -ies) (AustralE) a piece of information or a story, that people talk about but that may not be true RUMOUR

furred NAmE adj. covered with fur or with sth that looks like fur: a furred tongue

furrier noun a person who prepares or sells clothes made from fur

furrow NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a long narrow cut in the ground, especially one made by a PLOUGH for planting seeds in: dark ploughed earth, with white chalk in the furrows Truck wheels had dug furrows in the track.
2 a deep line in the skin of the face: Suddenly he looked tired and there were deep furrows in his brow. see PLOUGH v.
verb
1 [VN] to make a furrow in the earth: furrowed fields
2 [V, VN] (formal) if your BROWS or EYEBROWS furrow or are furrowed, you pull them together, usually because you are worried, and so produce lines on your face

furry adj.
1 covered with fur: small furry animals
2 like fur: The moss was soft and furry to the touch.

further NAmE adv., adj., verb
adv.
1 (comparative of far) (especially BrE) at or to a greater distance FARTHER: We had walked further than I had realized. Two miles further on we came to a small town. The hospital is further down the road. Can you stand a bit further away?
2 a longer way in the past or the future: Think further back into your childhood. How will the company be doing ten years further on?
3 to a greater degree or extent: The police decided to investigate further. My life is further complicated by having to work such long hours. Nothing could be further from the truth.
4 (formal) in addition to what has just been said FURTHERMORE: Further, it is important to consider the cost of repairs. note at FARTHER
go further
1 to say more about sth, or make a more extreme point about it: I would go even further and suggest that the entire government is corrupt.
2 to last longer; to serve more people: They watered down the soup to make it go further.
go no further | not go any further if you tell sb that a secret will go no further, you promise not to tell it to anyone else
take sth further to take more serious action about sth or speak to sb at a higher level about it: I am not satisfied with your explanation and intend to take the matter further.more at AFIELD
adj. (comparative of far) more; additional: Cook for a further 2 minutes. Have you any further questions? For further details call this number. We have decided to take no further action. The museum is closed until further notice (= until we say that it is open again).
verb [VN] to help sth to develop or be successful: They hoped the new venture would further the cause of cultural cooperation in Europe. She took the new job to further her career.

furtherance NAmE noun [U] (formal) the process of helping sth to develop or to be successful ADVANCEMENT: He took these actions purely in (the) furtherance of his own career.

further education noun [U] (abbr. FE) (BrE) education that is provided for people after leaving school, but not at a universitycompare HIGHER EDUCATION

furthermore NAmE adv. (formal) in addition to what has just been stated. Furthermore is used especially to add a point to an argument. MOREOVER: He said he had not discussed the matter with her. Furthermore, he had not even contacted her.

furthermost NAmE adj. (formal) located at the greatest distance from sth: at the furthermost end of the street

further to prep. (formal) used in letters, emails, etc. to refer to a previous letter, email, conversation, etc.: Further to our conversation of last Friday, I would like to book the conference centre for 26 June.

furthest NAmE adj., adv. = FARTHEST

furtive NAmE adj. (disapproving) behaving in a way that shows that you want to keep sth secret and do not want to be noticed STEALTHY: She cast a furtive glance over her shoulder. He looked sly and furtive.
furtively adv. furtiveness noun [U]

fury NAmE noun
1 [U] extreme anger that often includes violent behaviour RAGE: Her eyes blazed with fury. Fury over tax increases (= as a newspaper HEADLINE). (figurative) There was no shelter from the fury of the storm.
2 [sing.] a state of being extremely angry about sth RAGE: He flew into a fury when I refused.
3 the Furies [pl.] (in ancient Greek stories) three GODDESSES who punish people for their crimessee also FURIOUS
like fury (informal) with great effort, power, speed, etc.more at HELL

furze NAmE noun [U] (BrE) = GORSE

fuse noun, verb
noun
1 a small wire or device inside a piece of electrical equipment that breaks and stops the current if the flow of electricity is too strong: to change a fuse Check whether a fuse has blown.
2 a long piece of string or paper which is lit to make a bomb or a FIREWORK explode
3 (NAmE also fuze) a device that makes a bomb explode when it hits sth or at a particular time: He set the fuse to three minutes. The bombs inside were on a one-hour fuse. see BLOW v., SHORT n.
verb
1 when one thing fuses with another, or two things fuse or are fused, they are joined together to form a single thing: [V] As they heal, the bones will fuse together. Our different ideas fused into a plan. The sperm fuses with the egg to begin the process of fertilization. Their lips fused in a passionate kiss. [VN] The two companies have been fused into a single organization. Atoms of hydrogen are fused to make helium.
2 [V, VN] (technical) when a substance, especially metal, fuses, or you fuse it, it is heated until it melts
3 (BrE) to stop working or to make sth stop working because a fuse melts: [V] The lights have fused. [VN] I've fused the lights.
4 [VN] [usually passive] to put a fuse in a CIRCUIT or in a piece of equipment: Is this plug fused?

fuse box noun a small box or cupboard that contains the fuses of the electrical system of a building

fuselage NAmE noun the main part of an aircraft in which passengers and goods are carried

fuse wire noun [U] thin wire used in an electrical FUSE

fusilier noun (in the past) a soldier who carried a light gun

fusillade NAmE noun a rapid series of shots fired from one or more guns; a rapid series of objects that are thrown BARRAGE: a fusillade of bullets/stones (figurative) He faced a fusillade of questions from the waiting journalists.

fusilli NAmE noun [U] PASTA with a twisted shape

fusion noun
1 [U, sing.] the process or result of joining two or more things together to form one: the fusion of copper and zinc to produce brass The movie displayed a perfect fusion of image and sound.
2 (also nuclear fusion) [U] (physics) the act or process of combining the NUCLEI (= central parts) of atoms to form a heavier NUCLEUS, with energy being releasedcompare FISSION
3 [U] modern music that is a mixture of different styles, especially JAZZ and ROCK
4 [U] cooking that is a mixture of different styles: French-Thai fusion

fusion bomb noun a bomb that gets its energy from nuclear FUSION, especially a HYDROGEN BOMB

fuss noun, verb
noun
1 [U, sing.] unnecessary excitement, worry or activity: He does what he's told without any fuss. All that fuss over a few pounds! It's a very ordinary movieI don't know what all the fuss is about (= why other people think it is so good). It was all a fuss about nothing. We'd like a quiet wedding without any fuss.
2 [sing.] anger or complaints about sth, especially sth that is not important: I'm sorry for making such a fuss about the noise. Steve kicks up a fuss every time I even suggest seeing you.
make a fuss of/over sb to pay a lot of attention to sb, usually to show how much you like them: They made a great fuss of the baby. The dog loves being made a fuss of.
verb [V]
1 ~ (around)| ~ (with/over sth) to do things, or pay too much attention to things, that are not important or necessary: Stop fussing around and find something useful to do! While the others fussed and worried and dashed around, Mary sat quietly reading. Don't fuss with your hair!
2 ~ (about sth) to worry about things that are not very important: Don't fuss, Mum, everything is all right. Paula's always fussing about her figure.
not be fussed (about sb/sth) (BrE, informal) to not mind about sth; to not have feelings about sth NOT BE BOTHERED: It'd be good to be there, but I'm not that fussed.
fuss over sb to pay a lot of attention to sb: They love to fuss over their grandchildren.

fusspot NAmE (BrE) (NAmE fussbudget ) noun (informal) a person who is often worried about unimportant things and is difficult to please

fussy adj. (fussier, fussiest)
1 ~ (about sth) too concerned or worried about details or standards, especially unimportant ones: fussy parents Our teacher is very fussy about punctuation. She's such a fussy eater. 'Where do you want to go for lunch?' 'I'm not fussy (= I don't mind).'
2 doing sth with small, quick, nervous movements: a fussy manner the quick, fussy movements of her small hands
3 having too much detail or decoration: The costume designs are too fussy.
fussily adv. fussiness noun [U]

fustian NAmE noun [U]
1 a thick strong cotton cloth with a slightly rough surface, used in the past for making clothes
2 (literary) language that sounds impressive but does not mean much

fusty adj. (disapproving)
1 smelling old, damp or not fresh MUSTY: a dark fusty room
2 old-fashioned: fusty ideas a fusty old professor

futile NAmE adj. having no purpose because there is no chance of success POINTLESS: a futile attempt/exercise/gesture Their efforts to revive him were futile. It would be futile to protest. My appeal proved futile.
futility noun [U]: a sense of futility the futility of war

futon NAmE noun a Japanese MATTRESS, often on a wooden frame, that can be used for sitting on or rolled out to make a bed

future noun, adj.
noun
1 the future [sing.] the time that will come after the present or the events that will happen then: We need to plan for the future. What will the cities of the future look like? The movie is set in the future. The exchange rate is likely to fall in the near future (= soon). What does the future hold?
2 [C] what will happen to sb/sth at a later time: Her future is uncertain. This deal could safeguard the futures of the 2 000 employees. Recent events throw doubt on the president's political future.
3 [sing., U] the possibility of being successful or surviving at a later time: She has a great future ahead of her. I can't see any future in this relationship.
4 futures [pl.] (finance) goods or shares that are bought at agreed prices but that will be delivered and paid for at a later time: oil futures the futures market
5 the future [sing.] (grammar) (also the future tense) the form of a verb that expresses what will happen after the present
in future (BrE) (NAmE in the future) from now on: Please be more careful in future. In future, make sure the door is never left unlocked.more at DISTANT, FORESEEABLE
adj. [only before noun] taking place or existing at a time after the present: future generations at a future date future developments in computer software He met his future wife at law school.

the future perfect (also the future perfect tense) noun [sing.] (grammar) the form of a verb that expresses an action completed before a particular point in the future, formed in English with will have or shall have and the past participle

futurism noun [U] a movement in art and literature in the 1920s and 30s that did not try to show realistic figures and scenes but aimed to express confidence in the modern world, particularly in modern machines
futurist noun futurist adj.: futurist poets

futuristic adj.
1 extremely modern and unusual in appearance, as if belonging to a future time: futuristic design
2 imagining what the future will be like: a futuristic novel

futurity NAmE noun [U] (formal) the time that will come after the present and what will happen then: a vision of futurity

futurologist NAmE noun a person who is an expert in futurology

futurology NAmE noun [U] the study of how people will live in the future

fuze (NAmE) = FUSE n. (3)

fuzz noun
1 [U] short soft fine hair or fur that covers sth, especially a person's face or arms DOWN
2 [sing.] a mass of hair in tight curls: a fuzz of blonde hair
3 the fuzz [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] (old-fashioned, slang) the police
4 something that you cannot see clearly BLUR: I saw it as a dim fuzz through the binoculars.

fuzzbox NAmE noun a device that is used to change the sound of an electric GUITAR or other instrument by making the notes sound noisier and less clear

fuzzy adj.
1 covered with short soft fine hair or fur DOWNY
2 (of hair) in a mass of tight curls
3 not clear in shape or sound BLURRED: a fuzzy image The soundtrack is fuzzy in places. These photographs have come out fuzzy.
4 confused and not expressed clearly: fuzzy ideas/thinking a somewhat fuzzy definition of 'in the national interest'
fuzzily adv. fuzziness noun [U]

fuzzy logic noun [U] (computing) a type of logic that is used to try to make computers behave like the human brain

FWIW abbr. (informal) used in writing to mean 'for what it's worth'

F-word noun (informal) used to refer to the offensive swear word 'fuck', to avoid having to say it: He was shocked at how often she used the F-word.

FX abbr.
1 a short way of writing SPECIAL EFFECTS: Are modern movies simply FX and merchandise?
2 a short way of writing FOREIGN EXCHANGE: FX rates

-fy -IFY

FYI abbr. used in writing to mean 'for your information'

G noun, abbr.
noun (also g) [C, U] (pl. Gs, G's, g's )
1 the 7th letter of the English alphabet: 'Gold' begins with (a) G/'G'.
2 G (music) the fifth note in the SCALE of C MAJORsee also G AND T, G-STRING
abbr.
1 (NAmE) general audience (a label for a film/movie that is suitable for anyone, including children)
2 (NAmE, informal) $1 000

g abbr.
1 gram(s): 400g flour
2 (technical) GRAVITY or a measurement of the force with which sth moves faster through space because of GRAVITY: Spacecraft which are re-entering the earth's atmosphere are affected by g forces.

gab verb, noun
verb (-bb-) (informal) [V] to talk for a long time about things that are not important: They've been gabbing on the phone for nearly two hours.
noun see GIFT n.

gabardine (also gaberdine) NAmE noun
1 [U] a strong material used especially for making RAINCOATS
2 [C] a coat, especially a RAINCOAT, made of gabardine

gabble verb, noun
verb~ (on/away) (informal) to talk quickly so that people cannot hear you clearly or understand you: [V] They were gabbling on about the past. She was nervous and started to gabble. [VN] He was gabbling nonsense. [also V speech]
noun [sing.] fast speech that is difficult to understand, especially when a lot of people are talking at the same time

gabby adj. (informal, disapproving) talking a lot, especially about things that are not important

gabfest noun (NAmE, informal) an informal meeting to talk and exchange news; a long conversation: Three old friends stopped by and we had a real gabfest.

gabion noun a large square container made of wire in which rocks are packed. Gabions are used for building structures outdoors, for example to support pieces of ground or control a flow of water.

gable noun the upper part of the end wall of a building, between the two sloping sides of the roof, that is shaped like a triangle

gabled adj. having one or more gables: a gabled house/roof

gaboon (also gaboon mahogany) noun [U] the hard wood of a tropical African tree, used especially for making parts of musical instruments or small pieces of decoration

gad verb (-dd-)
gad about/around (informal, especially BrE) to visit different places and have fun, especially when you should be doing sth else: While he's gadding about around the world, she's at home looking after the children.

gadabout noun (informal often humorous) a person who is always going out socially or travelling for pleasure

gadfly noun (pl. -ies) (usually disapproving) a person who annoys or criticizes other people in order to make them do sth: He was a political gadfly, turning up at city council meetings and complaining about the waste of taxpayers' money.

gadget noun a small tool or device that does sth useful

gadgetry noun [U] (sometimes disapproving) a collection of modern tools and devices: His desk is covered with electronic gadgetry. Suburban schools gleam with modern gadgetry, while inner city schools lack basic textbooks.

gadolinium noun [U] (symb Gd) a chemical element. Gadolinium is a soft silver-white metal.

gadzooks exclamation (old use) used in the past to show that sb is surprised or annoyed

Gaelic noun [U]
1 the Celtic language of Scotlandcompare SCOTS
2 (also Irish Gaelic) the Celtic language of Irelandcompare ERSE, IRISH
Gaelic adj.

Gaelic football noun [U] a game played mainly in Ireland between two teams of 15 players. The players of one team try to kick or hit a round ball into or over the other team's goal.

the Gaeltacht noun the parts of Ireland and Scotland where Gaelic is spoken by a large part of the population

gaff noun
1 a pole with a hook on the end used to pull large fish out of the water
2 (BrE, slang) the house, flat/apartment, etc. where sb lives see BLOW v.

gaffe noun a mistake that a person makes in public or in a social situation, especially sth embarrassing FAUX PAS: a social gaffe He made some real gaffes early in his career.

gaffer noun
1 (BrE, informal) a person who is in charge of a group of people, for example, workers in a factory, a sports team, etc. BOSS: The gaffer told us we're a good team.
2 the person who is in charge of the electrical work and the lights when a film/movie or television programme is being made

gaffer tape noun [U] (BrE) strong sticky tape with cloth on the back

gag noun, verb
noun
1 a piece of cloth that is put over or in sb's mouth to stop them speaking
2 an order that prevents sth from being publicly reported or discussed: a press gag a gag rule/order (= one given by a court of law)
3 (informal) a joke or a funny story, especially one told by a professional COMEDIAN JOKE: to tell/crack a gag a running gag (= one that is regularly repeated during a performance)
4 (especially NAmE) a trick you play on sb: It was just a gagwe didn't mean to upset anyone.
verb (-gg-)
1 [VN] to put a piece of cloth in or over sb's mouth to prevent them from speaking or shouting: The hostages were bound and gagged.
2 [VN] to prevent sb from speaking freely or expressing their opinion: The new laws are seen as an attempt to gag the press. a gagging order (= one given by a court of law
3 [V] ~ (on sth) to have the unpleasant feeling in your mouth and stomach as if you are going to VOMIT RETCH: She gagged on the blood that filled her mouth. The stench of rotting meat made him gag.
be gagging for sth/to do sth (BrE, slang) to want sth or want to do sth very much: I'm gagging for another drink. Today's top stars are no longer gagging to play for their country.
be gagging for it (BrE, slang) to want to have sex: You could tell she was gagging for it.

gaga adj. [not usually before noun] (informal)
1 (offensive) confused and not able to think clearly, especially because you are old: He has gone completely gaga.
2 slightly crazy because you are very excited about sb/sth, or very much in love: The fans went totally gaga over the band.

gage (NAmE) = GAUGE

gaggle noun
1 a group of noisy people: a gaggle of tourists/schoolchildren
2 a group of GEESE

Gaia noun [sing.] the Earth, considered as a great natural system which organizes and controls itself

gaiety noun [U] (old-fashioned) the state of being cheerful and full of fun: The colourful flags added to the gaiety of the occasion.see also GAILY, GAYcompare GAYNESS

gaily adv.
1 in a bright and attractive way: a gaily decorated room
2 in a cheerful way: gaily laughing children She waved gaily to the little crowd.
3 without thinking or caring about the effect of your actions on other people: She gaily announced that she was leaving the next day.see also GAIETY, GAY

gain verb, noun
verb
OBTAIN/WIN
1 to obtain or win sth, especially sth that you need or want: [VN] to gain entrance/entry/access to sth The country gained its independence ten years ago. The party gained over 50% of the vote. I gained an insight into the work of a journalist. He has gained a reputation for unpredictable behaviour. [VNN] Her unusual talent gained her worldwide recognition.
2 ~ (sth) (by/from sth) to obtain an advantage or benefit from sth or from doing sth: [VN] There is nothing to be gained from delaying the decision. [V] Who stands to gain from this decision?
GET MORE
3 [VN] to gradually get more of sth: to gain confidence/strength/experience I've gained weight recently.
LOSE
OF WATCH/CLOCK
4 to go too fast: [VN] My watch gains two minutes every 24 hours. [also V] LOSE
OF CURRENCIES/SHARES
5 ~ (against sth) to increase in value: [VN] The shares gained 14p to 262p. [V] The euro gained against the dollar again today.
REACH PLACE
6 [VN] (formal) to reach a place, usually after a lot of effort: At last she gained the shelter of the forest.
gain ground to become more powerful or successful: Sterling continues to gain ground against the dollar.
gain time to delay sth so that you can have more time to make a decision, deal with a problem, etc.more at VENTURE v.
gain in sth to get more of a particular quality: to gain in confidence His books have gained in popularity in recent years.
gain on sb/sth to get closer to sb/sth that you are chasing: She looked back and saw that the car was still gaining on her.
noun
INCREASE
1 [C, U] an increase in the amount of sth, especially in wealth or weight: a £3 000 gain from our investment Regular exercise helps prevent weight gain. The party had a net gain of nine seats on the local council.
ADVANTAGE
2 [C] an advantage or improvement: efficiency gains These policies have resulted in great gains in public health. Our loss is their gain.
LOSS
PROFIT
3 [U] (often disapproving) financial profit: He only seems to be interested in personal gain. It's amazing what some people will do for gain. They sold the company purely for short-term gain.
see PAIN n.

gainful adj. (formal) used to describe useful work that you are paid for: gainful employment
gainfully adv.: gainfully employed

gainsay verb (gainsays , gainsaid, gainsaid ) [VN] (formal) (often used in negative sentences) to say that sth is not true; to disagree with or deny sth DENY: Nobody can gainsay his claims.

gait noun [sing.] a way of walking: He walked with a rolling gait.

gaiter noun [usually pl.] a cloth or leather covering for the leg between the knee and the ankle. Gaiters were worn by men in the past and are now mainly worn by people who go walking or climbing: a pair of gaiters

gal noun (old-fashioned informal, especially NAmE) a girl or woman

gal. abbr. (in writing) gallon(s)

gala NAmE noun
1 a special public celebration or entertainment: a charity gala a gala dinner/night a gala performance
2 (BrE) a sports competition, especially in swimming: a swimming gala

galactic adj. relating to a galaxy: A galactic year is the time the galaxy takes to rotate once completely.

galah noun (AustralE, informal) a stupid person

galantine noun [U, C] (from French) a dish consisting of cooked meat or fish in jelly

galaxy noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C] any of the large systems of stars, etc. in outer space
2 the Galaxy (also the Milky Way) [sing.] the system of stars that contains our sun and its planets, seen as a bright band in the night sky
3 [C] (informal) a group of famous people, or people with a particular skill: a galaxy of Hollywood stars

gale noun
1 an extremely strong wind: The gale blew down hundreds of trees. gale-force winds (BrE) It's blowing a gale outside (= a strong wind is blowing).
2 gale(s) of laughter the sound of people laughing very loudly: His speech was greeted with gales of laughter.

gall noun, verb
noun
1 rude behaviour showing a lack of respect that is surprising because the person doing it is not embarrassed IMPUDENCE: Then they had the gall to complain! I almost admired the utter gall of the man.
2 (formal) a bitter feeling full of hatred RESENTMENT: words full of venom and gall
3 a swelling on plants and trees caused by insects, disease, etc.
4 (old-fashioned) = BILE
verb to make sb feel upset and angry, especially because sth is unfair: [VN to inf] It galls me to have to apologize to her. [also VN, VN that] see also GALLING

gallant adj., noun
adj.
1 (old-fashioned or literary) brave, especially in a very difficult situation HEROIC: gallant soldiers She made a gallant attempt to hide her tears.
2 (of a man) giving polite attention to women: 'I left her standing in the rain.' 'That wasn't very gallant of you.'
gallantly adv.: She gallantly battled on alone. He bowed and gallantly kissed my hand.
noun (old-fashioned) a fashionable young man, especially one who gives polite attention to women

gallantry noun [U] (formal)
1 courage, especially in a battle: a medal for gallantry
2 polite attention given by men to women: 'I like to think that gallantry isn't dead,' he said, kissing her hand.

gall bladder noun an organ attached to the LIVER in which BILE is stored

galleon noun a large Spanish sailing ship, used between the 15th and the 17th centuries

galleried adj. (of a building) having a gallery (3)

gallery noun (pl. -ies)
1 a room or building for showing works of art, especially to the public: an art/a picture gallery the National Gallerysee also ART GALLERY
2 a small private shop/store where you can see and buy works of art
3 an upstairs area at the back or sides of a large hall where people can sit: Relatives of the victim watched from the public gallery as the murder charge was read out in court.see also PRESS GALLERY
4 the highest level in a theatre where the cheapest seats are
5 a long narrow room, especially one used for a particular purposesee also SHOOTING GALLERY
6 a level passage under the ground in a mine or CAVE
play to the gallery to behave in an exaggerated way to attract people's attention

galley noun
1 a long flat ship with sails, usually ROWED by SLAVES or criminals, especially one used by the ancient Greeks or Romans in war
2 the kitchen on a ship or plane

galliard NAmE noun (in the past) a lively and complicated dance; a piece of music for this dance

Gallic adj. connected with or considered typical of France or its people: Gallic charm He lifted his shoulders in a Gallic shrug.

Gallicism noun a French word or phrase that is used in another language

galling adj. [not usually before noun] (of a situation or fact) making you angry because it is unfair: It was galling to have to apologize to a man she hated.

gallium noun [U] (symb Ga) a chemical element. Gallium is a soft silver-white metal.

gallivant verb [V] (usually used in the progressive tenses) ~ (about/around) (old-fashioned, informal) to go from place to place enjoying yourself GAD: You're too old to go gallivanting around Europe.

gallon noun (abbr. gal.) a unit for measuring liquid. In the UK, Canada and other countries it is equal to about 4.5 litres; in the US it is equal to about 3.8 litres. There are four QUARTS in a gallon.

gallop verb, noun
verb [usually +adv./prep.]
1 [V] when a horse or similar animal gallops, it moves very fast and each STRIDE includes a stage when all four feet are off the ground together: The terrified horse galloped off. The ponies galloped along the sand.compare CANTER
2 to ride a horse very fast, usually at a gallop: [V] Jo galloped across the field towards him. [VN] He galloped his horse home.compare CANTER
3 [V] (informal) (of a person) to run very quickly CHARGE: She came galloping down the street.
noun
1 [sing.] the fastest speed at which a horse can run, with a stage in which all four feet are off the ground together: He rode off at a gallop. My horse suddenly broke into a gallop.
2 [C] a ride on a horse at its fastest speed: to go for a gallop
3 [sing.] an unusually fast speed: She always lives life at a gallop.

galloping adj. [only before noun] increasing or spreading rapidly: galloping inflation

gallows NAmE noun (pl. gallows) a structure on which people, for example criminals, are killed by hanging: to send a man to the gallows (= to send him to his death by hanging) The public were waiting to see the hated hangman swing from his own gallows.

gallows humour (BrE) (NAmE gallows humor) noun [U] jokes about unpleasant things like death

gallstone NAmE noun a hard painful mass that can form in the GALL BLADDER

Gallup pollTM NAmE noun a way of finding out public opinion by asking a typical group of people questions
From G H Gallup, who invented it.

galore adj. [after noun] (informal) in large quantities: There will be games and prizes galore.

galoshes NAmE noun [pl.] rubber shoes (no longer very common) that are worn over normal shoes in wet weather: a pair of galoshes

galumph verb [V + adv. / prep.] (informal) to move in an awkward, careless or noisy way: Who's that galumphing around upstairs?

galvanic adj.
1 (technical) producing an electric current by the action of a chemical on metal
2 (formal) making people react in a sudden and dramatic way

galvanize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN]
1 ~ sb (into sth/into doing sth) to make sb take action by shocking them or by making them excited: The urgency of his voice galvanized them into action.
2 (technical) to cover metal with ZINC in order to protect it from RUST: a galvanized bucket galvanized steel

gambit noun
1 a thing that sb does, or sth that sb says at the beginning of a situation or conversation, that is intended to give them some advantage: an opening gambit (= the first thing you say) The opposition have dismissed promises of tax cuts as a pre-election gambit. His idea of a brilliant conversational gambit is 'What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?'
2 a move or moves made at the beginning of a game of CHESS in order to gain an advantage later

gamble verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (sth) (on sth) to risk money on a card game, horse race, etc.: [V] to gamble at cards to gamble on the horses [VN] I gambled all my winnings on the last race.
2 ~ (sth) (on sth) to risk losing sth in the hope of being successful: [VN] He's gambling his reputation on this deal. [V] It was wrong to gamble with our children's future.
gambler noun: He was a compulsive gambler (= found it difficult to stop).
gamble sthaway to lose sth such as money, possessions, etc. by gambling: Every weekend he drinks and gambles away his earnings.
gamble on sth/on doing sth to take a risk with sth, hoping that you will be successful: He gambled on being able to buy a ticket at the last minute.
noun [sing.] an action that you take when you know there is a risk but when you hope that the result will be a success: She knew she was taking a gamble but decided it was worth it. They invested money in the company right at the start and the gamble paid off (= brought them success). It was the biggest gamble of his political career.

gambling noun [U] the activity of playing games of chance for money and of betting on horses, etc.: heavy gambling debts

gambol verb (-ll-, US also -l-) [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to jump or run about in a lively way: lambs gambolling in the meadow

game noun, adj.
noun
ACTIVITY/SPORT
1 [C] an activity or a sport with rules in which people or teams compete against each other: card games board games a game of chance/skill ball games, such as football or tennis (NAmE) We're going to the ball game (= BASEBALL game).see also WAR GAME
2 [C] an occasion of playing a game: to play a game of chess Saturday's League game against Swansea Let's have a game of table tennis. They're in training for the big game.
3 [sing.] sb's ~ the way in which sb plays a game: Hendry raised his game to collect the £40 000 first prize. Stretching exercises can help you avoid injury and improve your game.
SPORTS
4 games [pl.] (old-fashioned, BrE) sport as a lesson or an activity at school: I always hated games at school.
5 games [pl.] a large organized sports event: the Olympic Games
PART OF SPORTS MATCH
6 [C] a section of some games, such as TENNIS, which forms a unit in scoring: two games all (= both players have won two games)
CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY
7 [C] a children's activity when they play with toys, pretend to be sb else, etc.: a game of cops and robbers note at INTEREST
FUN
8 [C] an activity that you do to have fun: He was playing games with the dog. note at INTEREST
ACTIVITY, BUSINESS
9 [C] a type of activity or business: How long have you been in this game? the game of politics I'm new to this game myself. Getting dirty was all part of the game to the kids.see also WAITING GAME
SECRET PLAN
10 [C] (informal) a secret and clever plan; a trick: So that's his game (= now I know what he has been planning).
WILD ANIMALS/BIRDS
11 [U] wild animals or birds that people hunt for sport or foodsee also BIG GAME, FAIR GAME
be a game to not be considered to be serious: For her the whole project was just a game.
be on the game (BrE, slang) to be a PROSTITUTE
the game is up (BrE, informal) said to sb who has done sth wrong, when they are caught and the crime or trick has been discovered: Maggie knew that he had recognized her and the game was up.
game on (informal) used after sth has happened that makes it clear that a contest is not yet decided and anyone could still win: We were losing 2-0 with ten minutes to go, and then we scored. It was game on!
give the game away to tell a secret, especially by accident; to show sth that should be kept hidden
the only game in town (informal) the most important thing of a particular type, or the only thing that is available
play the game to behave in a fair and honest way: You can't do thatit's not playing the game!
play sb's game to do sth which helps sb else's plans, especially by accident, when you did not intend to help them
play (silly) games (with sb) not to treat a situation seriously, especially in order to cheat sb: Don't play silly games with me; I know you did it.
two can play at that game (saying) used to tell sb who has played a trick on you that you can do the same thing to them
what's sb's/your game? (BrE, informal) used to ask why sb is behaving as they aremore at BEAT v., CAT, FUN n., MUG n., NAME n., NUMBER n., RULE n., WORTH adj.
adj.~ (for sth/to do sth) ready and willing to do sth new, difficult or dangerous: She's game for anything. We need a volunteer for this exercise. Who's game to try?

game bird noun a bird that people hunt for sport or food

game fish noun [C, U] (pl. game fish) a fish which is caught for sport and is also eaten

gamekeeper noun a person whose job is to take care of and breed wild animals and birds that are kept on private land in order to be hunted see POACHER

gamelan noun a traditional group of Indonesian musicians, playing instruments such as XYLOPHONES and GONGS

gamely adv. in a way that seems brave, although a lot of effort is involved: She tried gamely to finish the race.

game misconduct noun (in ICE HOCKEY) a situation in which a player is not allowed to continue the game as a punishment, but can be replaced by another player

game plan noun a plan for success in the future, especially in sport, politics or business: She stuck to her game plan of staying back and hitting the ball hard from the baseline.

gameplay noun [U] the features of a computer game, such as its story or the way it is played, rather than the images or sounds it uses

game point noun (especially in TENNIS) a point that, if won by a player, will win them the GAME (6)

gamer noun (informal)
1 a person who likes playing computer games: We have games to appeal to both the PC novice and the dedicated gamer.
2 (NAmE) (in sports) a player who is enthusiastic and works hard

game reserve (also game park) (both BrE) (NAmE game preserve) noun a large area of land where wild animals can live in safety

game show noun a television programme in which people play games or answer questions to win prizes

gamesmanship noun [U] the ability to win games by making your opponent less confident and using rules to your advantage

gamete noun (biology) a male or female cell that joins with a cell of the opposite sex to form a ZYGOTE (= a single cell that develops into a person, animal or plant)

game theory noun [U] the part of mathematics that deals with situations in which people compete with each other, for example war or business

game warden noun a person whose job is to manage and take care of the wild animals in a GAME RESERVE

gamey (also gamy) adj. (of meat that has been hunted) having a strong flavour or smell as a result of being kept for some time before cooking

gamine adj. (formal) (of a young woman) thin and attractive; looking like a boy
gamine noun

gaming noun [U]
1 (old-fashioned or law) = GAMBLING: He spent all night at the gaming tables.
2 playing computer gamessee also WAR GAMING

gamma noun the third letter of the Greek alphabet (, )

gamma globulin NAmE noun (biology) [U] a type of PROTEIN in the blood that gives protection against some types of diseases

gamma radiation noun [U] (also gamma rays [pl.]) (physics) high-energy RAYS of very short WAVELENGTH sent out by some RADIOACTIVE substancescompare ALPHA RADIATION

gammon noun [U] (BrE) meat from the back leg or side of a pig that has been CURED (= preserved using salt or smoke), usually served in thick slices: gammon steakscompare BACON, HAM, PORK

gammy adj. [usually before noun] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) (of a leg or knee) injured

the gamut noun [sing.] the complete range of a particular kind of thing: The network will provide the gamut of computer services to your home. She felt she had run the (whole) gamut of human emotions from joy to despair.

gamy = GAMEY

Gan noun [U] a form of Chinese, spoken mainly in Jiangxi

gander noun a male GOOSE (= a bird like a large DUCK)
have/take a gander (at sth) (informal) to look at sthmore at SAUCE

G and T noun a drink consisting of GIN mixed with TONIC WATER

gang noun, verb
noun [C+sing./pl. v.]
1 an organized group of criminals: criminal gang members and drug dealers a gang of pickpockets A four-man gang carried out the robbery.
2 a group of young people who spend a lot of time together and often cause trouble or fight against other groups: a gang of youths a street gang All the local boys are members of gangs.
3 (informal) a group of friends who meet regularly: The whole gang will be there.
4 an organized group of workers or prisoners doing work togethersee also CHAIN GANG
verb
gang together (informal) to join together in a group in order to have more power or strength
gang up (on/against sb) (informal) to join together in a group to hurt, frighten or oppose sb: At school the older boys ganged up on him and called him names.

gang bang noun (slang)
1 an occasion when a number of people have sex with each other in a group
2 the RAPE of a person by a number of people one after the other
gang-bang verb [VN]

gangbusters NAmE noun
like gangbusters (NAmE, informal) with a lot of energy and enthusiasm: We went like gangbusters to get the project done on time.

gangland noun [sing.] the world of organized and violent crime: gangland killings the victim of a gangland shooting

gangling (also gangly ) adj. (of a person) tall, thin and awkward in their movements LANKY: a gangling youth/adolescent

ganglion noun (pl. ganglia ) (medical)
1 a mass of nerve cells
2 a swelling in a TENDON, often at the back of the hand

gangmaster NAmE noun (BrE) a person who illegally employs a large number of foreign workers, especially to do work on a farm, and pays them very low wages

gangplank noun a board for people to walk on between the side of a boat and land

gang rape noun the RAPE of a person by a number of people one after the other
gang-rape verb [VN]

gangrene noun [U] the decay that takes place in a part of the body when the blood supply to it has been stopped because of an illness or injury: Gangrene set in and he had to have his leg amputated.
gangrenous adj.: Her toes went gangrenous.

gang show noun a musical show performed by SCOUTS or GUIDES

gangsta noun
1 [C] (NAmE, slang) a member of a street GANG
2 (also gangsta rap) [U] a type of modern music in which the words of a song are spoken to a steady rhythm. The words are usually aggressive and may be critical of women.

gangster noun a member of a group of violent criminals: Chicago gangsters

gangway noun
1 (BrE) a passage between rows of seats in a theatre, an aircraft, etc.compare AISLE
2 a bridge placed between the side of a ship and land so people can get on and off

ganja noun [U] (slang) = MARIJUANA

gannet noun
1 a large bird that lives near the sea which catches fish by diving
2 (BrE, informal) a person who eats a lot

gantry noun (pl. -ies) a tall metal frame that is used to support a CRANE, road signs, a SPACECRAFT while it is still on the ground, etc.

gaol, gaoler (BrE) = JAIL, JAILER

gap noun ~ (in/between sth)
1 a space between two things or in the middle of sth, especially because there is a part missing: a gap in a hedge Leave a gap between your car and the next. There should be a six-inch gap at the bottom.
2 a period of time when sth stops, or between two events: a gap in the conversation They met again after a gap of twenty years. There's a big age gap between them (= a big difference in their ages).
3 a difference that separates people, or their opinions, situation, etc.: the gap between rich and poor the gap between theory and practicesee also CREDIBILITY, GENERATION GAP
4 a space where sth is missing: His death left an enormous gap in my life. There were several gaps in my education. We think we've identified a gap in the market (= a business opportunity to make or sell sth that is not yet available). see BRIDGE v.

gape verb [V]
1 ~ (at sb/sth) to stare at sb/sth with your mouth open because you are shocked or surprised: Isabel gaped at him, horrified. Frank gaped. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
2 ~ (open) to be or become wide open: a gaping hole/mouth/wound He stood yawning, his pyjama jacket gaping open. A huge chasm gaped before them.
gape noun

gap-toothed adj. [usually before noun] having wide spaces between your teeth: a gap-toothed smile/grin

gap year noun (BrE) a year that a young person spends working and/or travelling, often between leaving school and starting university: I'm planning to take a gap year and go backpacking in India.

garage NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a building for keeping one or more cars or other vehicles in: (BrE) a house with a built-in garage (NAmE) a house with an attached garage a double garage (= one for two cars) a bus garage an underground garage (= for example under an office building)
2 [C] a place where vehicles are repaired and where you can buy a car or buy petrol/gas and oil: a garage mechanicsee also PETROL STATION
3 [U] a type of HOUSE MUSIC
verb [VN] to put or keep a vehicle in a garage: They have space to garage two cars.

garage sale noun a sale of used clothes, furniture, etc., held in the garage of sb's house

garam masala NAmE noun [U] a mixture of spices with a strong flavour, used in S Asian cooking

garb NAmE noun [U] (formal or humorous) clothes, especially unusual clothes or those worn by a particular type of person: prison garb He was dressed in Chinese garb and sporting a pigtail.

garbage NAmE noun [U]
1 (especially NAmE) waste food, paper, etc. that you throw away: garbage collection Don't forget to take out the garbage.
2 (especially NAmE) a place or container where waste food, paper, etc. can be placed: Throw it in the garbage.
3 (informal) something stupid or not true RUBBISH: 'You mean you believe all that garbage?' he said. note at RUBBISH
garbage in, garbage out (abbr. GIGO) used to express the idea that if wrong or poor quality data is put into a computer, wrong or poor quality data will come out of it

garbage can noun (NAmE) = DUSTBIN

garbage disposal noun (NAmE) = WASTE-DISPOSAL UNIT

garbage man (also formal garbage collector) noun (both NAmE) = DUSTMAN

garbage truck noun (NAmE) = DUSTCART

garbanzo NAmE (also garbanzo bean) (both NAmE) noun (pl. -os) = CHICKPEA

garbed NAmE adj. [not before noun] (formal) ~ (in sth) dressed in a particular way: brightly garbed She was appropriately garbed in funereal black.

garbled NAmE adj. (of a message or story) told in a way that confuses the person listening, usually by sb who is shocked or in a hurry CONFUSED: He gave a garbled account of what had happened. There was a garbled message from her on my voicemail.

garbo NAmE noun (pl. -os) (AustralE, informal) a person whose job is to remove waste from outside houses, etc. DUSTMAN, GARBAGE COLLECTOR

Garda NAmE noun
1 the Garda [U] the police force of the Republic of Ireland
2 [C] (also garda) (pl. gardai NAmE ) a police officer of the Republic of Ireland

garden NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] (BrE) (NAmE yard) a piece of land next to or around your house where you can grow flowers, fruit, vegetables, etc., usually with an area of grass, (called a LAWN): a front/back garden children playing in the garden garden flowers/plants out in the garden a rose garden (= where only roses are grown)see also KITCHEN GARDEN, MARKET GARDEN, ROCK GARDEN, ROOF GARDEN
2 [C] (NAmE) an area in a yard where you grow flowers or plants
3 [C] (usually gardens) a public park: the botanical gardens in Edinburghsee also ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN
4 gardens [sing.] (abbr. Gdns) (BrE) used in the name of streets: 39 Belvoir Gardens
everything in the garden is rosy (BrE, saying) everything is finemore at COMMON adj., LEAD^1 v.
verb [V] to work in a garden
gardener NAmE noun: My wife's a keen gardener. We employ a gardener two days a week. gardening NAmE noun [U]: organic gardening gardening gloves a gardening programme on TV

garden centre noun (BrE) a place that sells plants, seeds, garden equipment, etc.

garden city, garden suburb nouns (BrE) a city or part of a city that has been specially designed to have a lot of open spaces, parks and trees

garden egg noun [C, U] (WAfrE) a type of AUBERGINE/EGGPLANT with purple, white or greenish-yellow skin

gardenia NAmE noun a bush with shiny leaves and large white or yellow flowers with a sweet smell, also called gardenias

gardening leave noun [U] (BrE) a period during which sb does not work but remains employed by a company in order to prevent them working for another company: She handed in her resignation and was put on three months' gardening leave.

the Garden of Eden noun [sing.] = EDEN

garden party noun a formal social event that takes place in the afternoon in a large garden: the annual Royal Garden Party

garden-variety adj. [only before noun] (NAmE) = COMMON OR GARDEN at COMMON adj.: He is not one of your garden-variety criminals.

gargantuan NAmE adj. [usually before noun] extremely large ENORMOUS: a gargantuan appetite/meal

gargle NAmE verb, noun
verb [V] ~ (with sth) to wash inside your mouth and throat by moving a liquid around at the back of your throat and then SPITTING it out: Gargle with salt water if your throat is sore.
noun
1 [C, U] a liquid used for gargling: an antiseptic gargle
2 [sing.] an act of gargling or a sound like that made when gargling: to have a gargle with salt water a bellowing gargle of pain

gargoyle NAmE noun an ugly figure of a person or an animal that is made of stone and through which water is carried away from the roof of a building, especially a church

garibaldi (also garibaldi biscuit) noun (BrE) a flat dry biscuit/cookie containing CURRANTS

garish NAmE adj. very brightly coloured in an unpleasant way GAUDY: garish clothes/colours It's a little too garish for my taste.
garishly adv.: garishly decorated/lit/painted

garland NAmE noun, verb
noun a circle of flowers and leaves that is worn on the head or around the neck or is hung in a room as decoration: The office was decked with garlands for the party.
verb [VN] [usually passive] (literary) to decorate sb/sth with a garland or garlands

garlic NAmE noun [U] a vegetable of the onion family with a very strong taste and smell, used in cooking to give flavour to food: a clove of garlic (= one section of it) Fry the chopped onion and crushed garlic for 3 minutes.
garlicky adj.: garlicky breath/food

garlic bread noun [U] bread, usually in the shape of a stick, containing melted butter and garlic

garment NAmE noun (formal) a piece of clothing: a strange shapeless garment that had once been a jacket woollen/winter/outer garmentssee also UNDERGARMENT note at CLOTHES

garner NAmE verb [VN] (formal) to obtain or collect sth such as information, support, etc. GATHER, ACQUIRE: All the information that we garnered has been kept on file.

garnet NAmE noun a clear dark red SEMI-PRECIOUS STONE that is fairly valuable

garnish NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to decorate a dish of food with a small amount of another food: Garnish the chicken with almonds. Soup garnished with croutons.
noun [C, U] a small amount of food that is used to decorate a larger dish of food: a garnish of tomato Keep some olives to one side for garnish.

garotte (BrE) = GARROTTE

garret noun a room, often a small dark unpleasant one, at the top of a house, especially in the roofcompare ATTICsee also LOFT

garrison noun, verb
noun [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of soldiers living in a town or FORT to defend it; the buildings these soldiers live in: a garrison of 5 000 troops garrison duty a garrison town Half the garrison is/are on duty.
verb [VN] to put soldiers in a place in order to defend it from attack: Two regiments were sent to garrison the town. 100 soldiers were garrisoned in the town.

garrotte (BrE also garotte) (US also garrote) NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN] to kill sb by putting a piece of wire, etc. around their neck and pulling it tight
noun a piece of wire, etc. used for garrotting sb

garrulous BrE adj. talking a lot, especially about unimportant things TALKATIVE: He became positively garrulous after a few glasses of wine.
garrulously adv.

garter NAmE noun
1 a band, usually made of ELASTIC, that is worn around the leg to keep up a sock or STOCKING
2 (NAmE) = SUSPENDER see GUT n.

garter belt noun (NAmE) = SUSPENDER BELT

garter snake noun a harmless American snake with coloured lines along its back

gas noun, verb
noun (pl. gases or less frequent gasses)
NOT SOLID/LIQUID
1 [C, U] any substance like air that is neither a solid nor a liquid, for example HYDROGEN and OXYGEN are both gases: Air is a mixture of gases. CFC gases a gas bottle/cylinder (= for storing gas)see also GREENHOUSE GAS
2 [U] a particular type of gas or mixture of gases used as fuel for heating and cooking: a gas cooker/fire/furnace/oven/ring/stove a gas explosion/leak gas central heating (BrE) Preheat the oven to gas mark 5 (= a particular temperature of a gas oven)see also CALOR GAS, COAL GAS, NATURAL GAS
3 [U] a particular type of gas used during a medical operation, to make the patient sleep or to make the pain less: an anaesthetic gas Did you have gas or an injection? During the birth she was given gas and air.see also LAUGHING GAS
4 [U] a particular type of gas used in war to kill or injure people, or used by the police to control people: a gas attacksee also CS GAS, MUSTARD GAS, NERVE GAS, TEAR GAS
IN VEHICLE
5 [U] (NAmE) = PETROL: a gas station a gas pump to fill up the gas tank
6 the gas [sing.] (especially NAmE) = GAS PEDAL: Step on the gas, we're late.
FUN
7 [sing.] (especially NAmE) a person or an event that is fun: The party was a real gas.
IN STOMACH
8 [U] (NAmE) = WIND^1 (2) see COOK v.
verb (-ss-)
KILL/HARM WITH GAS
1 [VN] to kill or harm sb by making them breathe poisonous gas: She gassed herself with fumes from the car's exhaust pipe. He was gassed in the war.
TALK
2 [V] (usually used in the progressive tenses) (old-fashioned, informal) to talk for a long time about things that are not important CHAT: I thought he'd never stop gassing!

gasbag noun (informal, humorous) a person who talks a lot

gas chamber noun a room that can be filled with poisonous gas for killing animals or people

gas-cooled adj. [only before noun] using gas to keep the temperature cool: gas-cooled nuclear reactors

gaseous adj. [usually before noun] like or containing gas: a gaseous mixture in gaseous form

gas-fired adj. [usually before noun] (BrE) using gas as a fuel: gas-fired central heating a gas-fired power station

gas giant noun (astronomy) a large planet made mostly of the gases HYDROGEN and HELIUM, for example Jupiter or Saturn

gas guzzler (also guzzler) noun (informal, especially NAmE) a car that needs a lot of petrol/gas
gas-guzzling adj. [only before noun]

gash noun, verb
noun~ (in/on sth) a long deep cut in the surface of sth, especially a person's skin: He needed an operation to close a nasty gash in his arm. The explosion left a wide gash in the rock.
verb [VN] to make a long deep cut in sth, especially a person's skin: He gashed his hand on a sharp piece of rock. She was gashed in the face with a broken bottle.

gasholder NAmE noun = GASOMETER

gasket noun a flat piece of rubber, etc. placed between two metal surfaces in a pipe or an engine to prevent steam, gas or oil from escaping: The engine had blown a gasket (= had allowed steam, etc. to escape). (figurative, informal) He blew a gasket at the news (= became very angry).

gas lamp (also gaslight) noun a lamp in the street or in a house, that produces light from burning gas

gaslight noun
1 [U] light produced from burning gas: In the gaslight she looked paler than ever. The play carries us back to a Victorian London of slums and gaslight.
2 [C] = GAS LAMP

gasman noun (pl. -men ) (informal) a man whose job is to visit people's houses to see how much gas they have used, or to fit and check gas equipment

gas mantle noun = MANTLE

gas mask noun a piece of equipment worn over the face as protection against poisonous gas

gasohol NAmE noun [U] (NAmE) a mixture of petrol/gas and alcohol which can be used in cars

gas oil noun [U] a type of oil obtained from PETROLEUM which is used as a fuel

gasoline (also gasolene) noun [U] (NAmE) = PETROL: I fill up the tank with gasoline about once a week. leaded/unleaded gasoline

gasometer NAmE (also gasholder) noun a very large round container or building in which gas is stored and from which it is sent through pipes to other buildings

gasp NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (at sth) to take a quick deep breath with your mouth open, especially because you are surprised or in pain: [V] She gasped at the wonderful view. They gasped in astonishment at the news. [V speech] 'What was that noise?' he gasped.
2 ~ (sth) (out) to have difficulty breathing or speaking: [V] He came to the surface of the water gasping for air. [VN] She managed to gasp out her name. [also V speech]
3 be gasping (for sth) [V] (BrE, informal) to want or need sth very badly, especially a drink or a cigarette
noun a quick deep breath, usually caused by a strong emotion: to give a gasp of horror/surprise/relief His breath came in short gasps. see LAST det.

gas pedal noun (especially NAmE) = ACCELERATOR

gas-permeable adj. allowing gases to pass through: gas-permeable contact lenses

gas ring noun (especially BrE) a round piece of metal with holes in it on the top of a gas cooker/stove, where the gas is lit to produce the flame for cooking

gas station noun (NAmE) = PETROL STATION

gassy adj.
1 (BrE) (of drinks) containing too much gas in the form of bubbles: gassy beer UK lagers are criticized for being weak and gassy.
2 (NAmE) (of people) having a lot of gas in your stomach, etc.

gastric adj. [only before noun] (medical) connected with the stomach: a gastric ulcer gastric juices (= the acids in your stomach that help you to DIGEST food)

gastric flu noun [U] an illness affecting the stomach, which does not last long and is thought to be caused by a virus

gastritis noun [U] (medical) an illness in which the inside of the stomach becomes swollen and painful

gastro-enteritis NAmE noun [U] (medical) an illness of the stomach and other food passages that causes DIARRHOEA and VOMITING

gastrointestinal BrE NAmE adj. (medical) of or related to the stomach and INTESTINES

gastronomic NAmE adj. [only before noun] connected with cooking and eating good food: the gastronomic capital of France
gastronomically adv.

gastronomy NAmE noun [U] (formal) the art and practice of cooking and eating good food

gastropod NAmE noun (biology) a MOLLUSC such as a SNAIL or SLUG, that moves on one large foot

gastropub NAmE noun (BrE) a pub which is well known for serving good food

gasworks NAmE noun (pl. gasworks) [C+sing./pl. v.] a factory where gas for lighting and heating is made from coal

gate noun
1 [C] a barrier like a door that is used to close an opening in a fence or a wall outside a building: an iron gate He pushed open the garden gate. A crowd gathered at the factory gates. the gates of the city see also LYCHGATE, STARTING GATE
2 [C] an opening that can be closed by a gate or gates: We drove through the palace gates.
3 [C] a barrier that is used to control the flow of water on a river or CANAL: a lock/sluice gate
4 [C] a way out of an airport through which passengers go to get on their plane: BA flight 726 to Paris is now boarding at gate 16.
5 [C] the number of people who attend a sports event: Tonight's game has attracted the largest gate of the season.
6 (also gate money) [U] the amount of money made by selling tickets for a sports event: Today's gate will be given to charity.
7 -gate (forming nouns from the names of people or places; used especially in newspapers) a political SCANDAL connected with the person or place mentioned
From Watergate, the scandal in the United States that brought about the resignation of President Nixon in 1974.
8 (computing) = LOGIC GATE

gate array noun an arrangement of LOGIC GATES in a computer

gateau NAmE noun [C, U] (pl. gateaux NAmE ) a large cake filled with cream and usually decorated with fruit, nuts, etc.: a strawberry gateau Is there any gateau left?

gatecrash (also informal crash) verb [VN, V] to go to a party or social event without being invited
gatecrasher noun

gated adj. [usually before noun] (of a road) having gates that need to be opened and closed by drivers

gated community noun a group of houses surrounded by a wall or fence, with an entrance that is guarded

gatefold NAmE noun a large page folded to fit a book or magazine that can be opened out for reading

gatehouse noun a house built at or over a gate, for example at the entrance to a park or castle

gatekeeper noun
1 a person whose job is to check and control who is allowed to go through a gate
2 a person, system, etc. that decides whether sb/sth will be allowed, or allowed to reach a particular place or person: His secretary acts as a gatekeeper, reading all mail before it reaches her boss. Literacy and maths are the gatekeeper skills that give kids access to academic success.

gateleg table noun a table with extra sections that can be folded out to make it larger, supported on legs that swing out from the centre

gate money noun [U] = GATE (6)

gatepost NAmE noun a post to which a gate is attached or against which it is closed
between you, me and the gatepost (BrE, informal) used to show that what you are going to say next is a secret

gateway noun
1 an opening in a wall or fence that can be closed by a gate: They turned through the gateway on the left. a fine 18th century brick gateway
2 [usually sing.] ~ to/into ... a place through which you can go to reach another larger place: Perth, the gateway to Western Australia
3 [usually sing.] ~ to sth a means of getting or achieving sth: A good education is the gateway to success. Increasingly our role is as a gateway to information.
4 (computing) a device that connects two computer networks that cannot be connected in any other way

gather verb
COME/BRING TOGETHER
1 to come together, or bring people together, in one place to form a group: [V] A crowd soon gathered. Can you all gather round? I've got something to tell you. The whole family gathered together at Ray's home. His supporters gathered in the main square. [VN] They were all gathered round the TV. A large crowd was gathered outside the studio. The kids were gathered together in one room.
2 [VN] ~ sth (together/up) to bring things together that have been spread around: People slowly gathered their belongings and left the hall. I waited while he gathered up his papers. note at COLLECT
COLLECT
3 [VN] to collect information from different sources: Detectives have spent months gathering evidence. note at COLLECT
4 [VN] to collect plants, fruit, etc. from a wide area: to gather wild flowers
CROPS/HARVEST
5 [VN] ~ sth (in) to pick or cut and collect crops to be stored: It was late August and the harvest had been safely gathered in.
BELIEVE/UNDERSTAND
6 (not used in the progressive tenses) to believe or understand that sth is true because of information or evidence you have: [V (that)] I gather (that) you wanted to see me. I gather from your letter that you're not enjoying your job. [VN] 'There's been a delay.' 'I gathered that.' [V] 'She won't be coming.' 'So I gather.' You're self-employed, I gather. As far as I can gather, he got involved in a fight. From what I can gather, there's been some kind of problem.
INCREASE
7 [VN] to increase in speed, force, etc.: The truck gathered speed. During the 1980s the green movement gathered momentum. Thousands of these machines are gathering dust (= not being used) in stockrooms.
OF CLOUDS/DARKNESS
8 [V] to gradually increase in number or amount: The storm clouds were gathering. the gathering gloom of a winter's afternoon
CLOTHING
9 [VN] ~ sth around you/sth| ~ sth up to pull a piece of clothing tighter to your body: He gathered his cloak around him. She gathered up her skirts and ran.
10 [VN] ~ sth (in) to pull parts of a piece of clothing together in folds and sew them in place: She wore a skirt gathered (in) at the waist.
HOLD SB
11 [VN + adv. / prep.] to pull sb towards you and put your arms around them: She gathered the child in her arms and held him close. He gathered her to him.
PREPARE YOURSELF
12 [VN] to prepare yourself to do sth that requires effort: I sat down for a moment to gather my strength. She was still trying to gather her thoughts together when the door opened. Fortunately the short delay gave him time to gather himself. He paused to gather his breath.
see ROLL v.

gatherer noun a person who collects sth: prehistoric hunters and gatherers

gathering noun
1 [C] a meeting of people for a particular purpose: a social/family gathering a gathering of religious leaders
2 [U] the process of collecting sth: methods of information gathering

gathers NAmE noun [pl.] small folds that are sewn into a piece of clothing

gator noun (NAmE, informal) = ALLIGATOR

GATT noun the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (in the past, an international organization that tried to encourage international trade and reduce taxes on imports; the agreement by which this organization was created. GATT was replaced by the WTO in 1994.)

gauche NAmE adj. awkward when dealing with people and often saying or doing the wrong thing: a gauche schoolgirl/manner
gaucheness (also gaucherie NAmE ) noun [U]: the gaucheness of youth

gaucho NAmE noun (pl. -os) a S American COWBOY

gaudy adj. (gaudier, gaudiest) (disapproving) too brightly coloured in a way that lacks taste GARISH: gaudy clothes/colours
gaudily adv.: gaudily dressed/painted gaudiness noun [U]

gauge (NAmE also gage) noun, verb
noun
1 (often in compounds) an instrument for measuring the amount or level of sth: a fuel/petrol/temperature, etc. gauge
2 a measurement of the width or thickness of sth: What gauge of wire do we need?
3 (also bore especially in BrE) a measurement of the width of the BARREL of a gun: a 12-gauge shotgun
4 the distance between the rails of a railway/railroad track or the wheels of a train: standard gauge (= 56½ inches in Britain) a narrow gauge (= narrower than standard) railway
5 [usually sing.] ~ (of sth) a fact or an event that can be used to estimate or judge sth: Tomorrow's game against Arsenal will be a good gauge of their promotion chances.
verb
1 to make a judgement about sth, especially people's feelings or attitudes: [VN] They interviewed employees to gauge their reaction to the changes. He tried to gauge her mood. [V wh-] It was difficult to gauge whether she was angry or not.
2 [VN] to measure sth accurately using a special instrument: precision instruments that can gauge the diameter to a fraction of a millimetre
3 to calculate sth approximately: [VN] We were able to gauge the strength of the wind from the movement of the trees. It is impossible to gauge the extent of the damage. [also V wh-]

Gaulish noun [U] the Celtic language of the ancient Gauls

gaunt adj.
1 (of a person) very thin, usually because of illness, not having enough food, or worry: a gaunt face She looked gaunt and exhausted.
2 (of a building) not attractive and without any decoration: the gaunt ruin of Pendragon Castle
gauntness noun [U]

gauntlet noun
1 a metal glove worn as part of a suit of ARMOUR by soldiers in the Middle Ages
2 a strong glove with a wide covering for the wrist, used for example when driving: motorcyclists with leather gauntlets
run the gauntlet to be criticized or attacked by a lot of people, especially a group of people that you have to walk through: Some of the witnesses had to run the gauntlet of television cameras and reporters.
This phrase refers to a an old army punishment where a man was forced to run between two lines of soldiers hitting him.
take up the gauntlet to accept sb's invitation to fight or compete: His Republican rival may be expected to take up the gauntlet.
In the Middle Ages a knight threw his gauntlet at the feet of another knight as a challenge to fight. If he accepted the challenge, the other knight would pick up the glove.
throw down the gauntlet to invite sb to fight or compete with you: She has thrown down the gauntlet to the newspaper by accusing it of libel.

gauze noun
1 [U] a type of light transparent cloth, usually made of cotton or silk
2 [U] a type of thin cotton cloth used for covering and protecting wounds: a gauze dressing
3 [U, C] material made of a network of wire; a piece of this: wire gauze
gauzy adj. [usually before noun]: a gauzy material

gave pt of GIVE

gavel noun a small hammer used by a person in charge of a meeting or an AUCTION, or by a judge in court, in order to get people's attention

gavial noun = GHARIAL

gavotte NAmE noun a French dance that was popular in the past; a piece of music for this dance

Gawd noun, exclamation (informal) used in written English to show that the word 'God' is being pronounced in a particular way to express surprise, anger or fear: For Gawd's sake hurry up!

gawk verb [V] ~ (at sb/sth) (informal) to stare at sb/sth in a rude or stupid way GAPE

gawky adj. (especially of a tall young person) awkward in the way they move or behave: a shy gawky teenager
gawkily adv. gawkiness noun [U]

gawp verb [V] ~ (at sb/sth) (BrE, informal) to stare at sb/sth in a rude or stupid way GAPE: Don't gawp at me like that! Crowds stood gawping as the victims were brought out of the bombed building.

gay adj., noun
adj.
1 (of people, especially men) sexually attracted to people of the same sex HOMOSEXUAL: gay men I didn't know he was gay. Is she gay? STRAIGHT
2 [only before noun] connected with people who are gay: a gay club/bar the lesbian and gay community
3 (gayer, gayest) (old-fashioned) happy and full of fun: gay laughter She felt lighthearted and gay.
4 (old-fashioned) brightly coloured: The garden was gay with red geraniums.see also GAIETY, GAILY
with gay abandon without thinking about the results or effects of a particular action
noun a person who is HOMOSEXUAL, especially a man

gaydar noun [U] (informal) the ability that a HOMOSEXUAL person is supposed to have to recognize other people who are homosexual

gayness noun [U] the state of being HOMOSEXUALcompare GAIETY

gay pride noun [U] the feeling that HOMOSEXUAL people should not be ashamed of telling people that they are homosexual and should feel proud of themselves: a gay pride parade a song inspired by a mixture of gay pride and personal anguish

gaze verb, noun
verb [V + adv. / prep.] to look steadily at sb/sth for a long time, either because you are very interested or surprised, or because you are thinking of sth else STARE: She gazed at him in amazement. He sat for hours just gazing into space. note at STARE
noun [usually sing.] a long steady look at sb/sth: He met her gaze (= looked at her while she looked at him). She dropped her gaze (= stopped looking). In his last years, he lived almost entirely secluded from the public gaze (= away from public attention). note at LOOK

gazebo NAmE noun (pl. -os) a small building with open sides in a garden/yard, especially one with a view

gazelle noun (pl. gazelle or gazelles) a small ANTELOPE

gazette noun
1 an official newspaper published by a particular organization containing important information about decisions that have been made and people who have been employed
2 Gazette used in the titles of some newspapers: the Evening Gazette

gazetteer NAmE noun a list of place names published as a book or at the end of a book

gazillion noun (NAmE, informal) a very large number: gazillion-dollar houses gazillions of copies

gazpacho NAmE noun [U] a cold Spanish soup made with tomatoes, peppers, CUCUMBERS, etc.

gazump verb [VN] [usually passive] (BrE) when sb who has made an offer to pay a particular price for a house and who has had this offer accepted is gazumped, their offer is no longer accepted by the person selling the house, because sb else has made a higher offer
gazumping noun [U] compare GAZUNDER

gazunder verb [VN] [often passive] (BrE) to offer a lower price for a house that you have already agreed to buy at a higher price, before the contract is signed: The vendors were gazundered at the last minute.
gazundering noun [U] compare GAZUMP

GB
1 abbr. Great Britain
2 (also Gb) GIGABYTE: a 40GB hard disk

GBH abbr. (BrE, law) GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM

GCE noun [C, U] a British exam taken by students in England and Wales and some other countries in any of a range of subjects. GCE O levels were replaced in 1988 by GCSE exams. (abbreviation for 'General Certificate of Education')compare O LEVEL, A LEVEL

GCSE noun [C, U] a British exam taken by students in England and Wales and some other countries, usually around the age of 16. GCSE can be taken in any of a range of subjects (abbreviation for 'General Certificate of Secondary Education'): She's got 10 GCSEs. He's doing German at GCSE.compare A LEVEL

g'day exclamation (AustralE, NZE) hello

Gdns abbr. (BrE) (used in written addresses) Gardens: 7 Windsor Gdns

GDP noun the abbreviation for 'gross domestic product' (the total value of all the goods and services produced by a country in one year)compare GNP

GDR abbr. German Democratic Republic

gear NAmE noun, verb
noun
IN VEHICLE
1 [C, usually pl.] machinery in a vehicle that turns engine power (or power on a bicycle) into movement forwards or backwards: Careless use of the clutch may damage the gears. The car pulled up with a screech of brakes and a grinding of gears.
2 [U, C] a particular position of the gears in a vehicle that gives a particular range of speed and power: first/second, etc. gear reverse gear low/high gear (BrE) bottom/top gear (BrE) to change gear (NAmE) to shift gear When parking on a hill, leave the car in gear. What gear are you in? He drove wildly, crashing through the gears like a maniac.
EQUIPMENT/CLOTHES
3 [U] the equipment or clothing needed for a particular activity: climbing/fishing/sports, etc. gearsee also HEADGEAR, RIOT GEAR note at EQUIPMENT
4 [U] (informal) clothes: wearing the latest gear note at CLOTHES
POSSESSIONS
5 [U] (informal) the things that a person owns: I've left all my gear at Dave's house.
MACHINERY
6 [U] (often in compounds) a piece of machinery used for a particular purpose: lifting/towing/winding, etc. gearsee also LANDING GEAR
SPEED/EFFORT
7 [U, C] used to talk about the speed or effort involved in doing sth: (BrE) The party organization is moving into top gear as the election approaches. (NAmE) to move into high gear Coming out of the final bend, the runner stepped up a gear to overtake the rest of the pack.
DRUGS
8 [U] (slang) illegal drugs
get into gear | get sth into gear to start working, or to start sth working, in an efficient way
(slip/be thrown) out of gear (of emotions or situations) (to become) out of control: She said nothing in case her temper slipped out of gear. see ASS
verb
gear sth to/towards sth [usually passive] to make, change or prepare sth so that it is suitable for a particular purpose: The course had been geared towards the specific needs of its members.
gear up (for/to sth)| gear sb/sthup (for/to sth) to prepare yourself/sb/sth to do sth: Cycle organizations are gearing up for National Bike Week.see also GEARED

gearbox NAmE noun the part containing the gears of a vehicle

geared NAmE adj. [not before noun]
1 ~ to/towards sth| ~ to do sth designed or organized to achieve a particular purpose, or to be suitable for a particular group of people: The programme is geared to preparing students for the world of work. The resort is geared towards children.
2 ~ up (for sth)| ~ up (to do sth) prepared and ready for sth: We have people on board geared up to help with any problems.

gearing NAmE noun [U]
1 (BrE) (NAmE leverage) (finance) the relationship between the amount of money that a company owes and the value of its shares
2 a particular set or arrangement of gears in a machine or vehicle

gear lever (also gearstick) (both BrE) (NAmE gear shift, stick shift) noun a handle used to change the gears of a vehicle

gearwheel NAmE noun a wheel in a set of gears, that has pointed parts called teeth around the edge

gecko NAmE noun (pl. -os or -oes) a small LIZARD (= a type of REPTILE) that lives in warm countries

GED noun (in the US and Canada) an official certificate that people who did not finish high school can get, after taking classes and passing an examination (the abbreviation for 'general equivalency diploma' or 'general educational development')

geddit? abbr. (informal) Do you get it? (= Do you understand the joke?)

gee exclamation, verb
exclamation (especially NAmE) a word that some people use to show that they are surprised, impressed or annoyed: Gee, what a great idea!
verb (BrE)
gee sbup| gee sbon to encourage sb to work harder, perform better, etc.: Wright, geed up by his early goal, went on to score another.
gee up used to tell a horse to start moving or to go faster: 'Gee up!' she shouted, but it was no good, the pony stood still.

gee-gee noun (BrE, informal) (used especially by and to young children) a horse

geek noun (informal) a person who is boring, wears clothes that are not fashionable, does not know how to behave in social situations, etc. NERD: a computer geek
geeky adj.

geese pl. of GOOSE

gee whiz exclamation (old-fashioned, especially NAmE) = GEE

geezer noun (informal)
1 (BrE) a man: Some geezer called Danny did it.
2 (NAmE) an old man, especially one who is rather strange

Geiger counter NAmE noun a device used for finding and measuring RADIOACTIVITY

geisha (also geisha girl) noun a Japanese woman who is trained to entertain men with conversation, dancing and singing

gel noun, verb
noun [U, C] a thick substance like jelly, especially one used in products for the hair or skin: hair/shower gel
verb (-ll-)
1 [V] (BrE) (also jell NAmE, BrE) (of two or more people) to work well together; to form a successful group: We just didn't gel as a group.
2 [V] (BrE) (also jell NAmE, BrE) (of an idea, a thought, a plan, etc.) to become clearer and more definite; to work well: Ideas were beginning to gel in my mind. That day, everything gelled.
3 [V] (also jell especially in NAmE) (technical) (of a liquid) to become thicker and more solid; to form a gel
4 [VN] [usually passive] to put gel on your hair

gelatin (also gelatine ) noun [U] a clear substance without any taste that is made from boiling animal bones and is used to make jelly, film for cameras, etc.

gelatinous adj. thick and sticky, like a jelly: a gelatinous substance

gelatin paper noun [U] paper covered with gelatin, used in photography

geld verb [VN] (technical) to remove the TESTICLES of a male animal, especially a horse CASTRATE

gelding noun a horse that has been CASTRATEDcompare STALLION

gelid adj. (literary)
1 covered with ice or very cold: a gelid pond
2 very unfriendly: a gelid reply

gelignite noun [U] a powerful EXPLOSIVE

gem noun
1 (also less frequent gemstone NAmE ) a PRECIOUS STONE that has been cut and polished and is used in jewellery JEWEL, PRECIOUS STONE: a crown studded with gems
2 a person, place or thing that is especially good: This picture is the gem (= the best) of the collection. a gem of a place She's a real gem!compare JEWEL

geminate adj. (phonetics) (of a speech sound) consisting of the same consonant pronounced twice, for example in the middle of the word backcomb

Gemini noun
1 [U] the third sign of the ZODIAC, the TWINS
2 [C] a person born under the influence of this sign, that is between 22 May and 21 June

Gen. abbr. (in writing) General: Gen. (Stanley) Armstrong

gen noun, verb
noun [U] ~ (on sth) (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) information
verb (-nn-)
gen up (on sth)| gen sb/yourself up (on sth) (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) to find out or give sb information about sth

gendarme NAmE noun (from French) a member of the French police force

gender noun
1 [C, U] the fact of being male or female: issues of class, race and gender gender differences/relations/roles
2 [C, U] (grammar) (in some languages) each of the classes (MASCULINE, FEMININE and sometimes NEUTER) into which nouns, pronouns and adjectives are divided; the division of nouns, pronouns and adjectives into these different genders. Different genders may have different endings, etc.: In French the adjective must agree with the noun in number and gender.

MORE ABOUT

gender

Ways of talking about men and women

When you are writing or speaking English it is important to use language that includes both men and women equally. Some people may be very offended if you do not.

The human race

Man and mankind have traditionally been used to mean 'all men and women'. Many people now prefer to use humanity, the human race, human beings or people.

Jobs

The suffix -ess in names of occupations such as actress, hostess and waitress shows that the person doing the job is a woman. Many people now avoid these. Instead you can use actor or host, (although actress and hostess are still very common) or a neutral word, such as server for waiter and waitress.

Neutral words like assistant, worker, person or officer are now often used instead of -man or -woman in the names of jobs. For example, you can use police officer instead of policeman or policewoman, and spokesperson instead of spokesman or spokeswoman. Neutral words are very common in newspapers, on television and radio and in official writing, in both BrE and NAmE.

When talking about jobs that are traditionally done by the other sex, some people say: a male secretary /nurse/model (NOT man) or a woman/female doctor/barrister/driver. However this is now not usually used unless you need to emphasize which sex the person is, or it is still unusual for the job to be done by a man/woman: My daughter prefers to see a woman doctor.They have a male nanny for their kids.a female racing driver.

Pronouns

He used to be considered to cover both men and women: Everyone needs to feel he is loved, but this is not now acceptable. Instead, after everybody, everyone, anybody, anyone, somebody, someone, etc. one of the plural pronouns they, them, and their is often used: Does everybody know what they want?Somebody's left their coat here.I hope nobody's forgotten to bring their passport with them.

Some people prefer to use he or she, his or her, or him or her in speech and writing: Everyone knows what's best for him or herself. He/she or (s)he can also be used in writing: If in doubt, ask your doctor. He/she can give you more information. (You may find that some writers just use 'she'.) These uses can seem awkward when they are used a lot. It is better to try to change the sentence, using a plural noun. Instead of saying: A baby cries when he or she is tired you can say Babies cry when they are tired.

gender bender noun (informal) a person who dresses and behaves like a member of the opposite sex

gender dysphoria noun [U] (medical) a condition in which sb feels that they were born with the wrong sex

gender reassignment noun [U] the act of changing a person's sex by a medical operation in which parts of their body are changed so that they become like a person of the opposite sex

gender-specific adj. connected with women only or with men only: The report was redrafted to remove gender-specific language.

gene noun (biology) a unit inside a cell which controls a particular quality in a living thing that has been passed on from its parents: a dominant/recessive gene genes that code for the colour of the eyessee also GENETIC
be in the genes to be a quality that your parents have passed on to you: I've always enjoyed musicit's in the genes.

genealogist noun a person who studies family history

genealogy noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] the study of family history, including the study of who the ANCESTORS of a particular person were
2 [C] a particular person's line of ANCESTORS; a diagram that shows this
genealogical NAmE adj. [only before noun]: a genealogical chart/table/tree (= a chart with branches that shows a person's ANCESTORS)

gene pool noun (biology) all of the GENES that are available within breeding populations of a particular SPECIES of animal or plant: The genetic variation of some plants from their parents results in expansion of the gene pool for a particular species.

genera pl. of GENUS

general adj., noun
adj.
AFFECTING ALL
1 affecting all or most people, places or things: The general opinion is that the conference was a success. the general belief/consensus books of general interest (= of interest to most people) The bad weather has been fairly general (= has affected most areas).
USUAL
2 [usually before noun] normal; usual: There is one exception to this general principle. As a general rule (= usually) he did what he could to be helpful. This opinion is common among the general population (= ordinary people).
NOT DETAILED
3 including the most important aspects of sth; not exact or detailed OVERALL: I check the bookings to get a general idea of what activities to plan. I know how it works in general terms. They gave a general description of the man.
DIRECTION/AREA
4 the ~ direction/area approximately, but not exactly, the direction/area mentioned: They fired in the general direction of the enemy.
NOT LIMITED
5 not limited to a particular subject, use or activity: a general hospital general education We shall at this stage keep the discussion fairly general.
6 not limited to one part or aspect of a person or thing: a general anaesthetic The building was in a general state of disrepair.
HIGHEST IN RANK
7 [only before noun] (also General [after noun]) highest in rank; chief: the general manager the Inspector General of Policesee also ATTORNEY GENERAL, DIRECTOR GENERAL, GOVERNOR GENERAL, SECRETARY GENERAL, SOLICITOR GENERAL, SURGEON GENERAL
in general
1 usually; mainly: In general, Japanese cars are very reliable and breakdowns are rare.
2 as a whole: This is a crucial year for your relationships in general and your love life in particular.
noun (abbr. Gen.) an officer of very high rank in the army and the US AIR FORCE; the officer with the highest rank in the MARINES: a four-star general General Tom Parkersee also BRIGADIER GENERAL, MAJOR GENERAL

General American noun [U] the way people speak English in most parts of the US, not including New England, New York, and the South

General Certificate of Education noun = GCE

General Certificate of Secondary Education noun = GCSE

general counsel noun (in the US) the main lawyer who gives legal advice to a company

general delivery noun [U] (NAmE) = POSTE RESTANTE

general election noun an election in which all the people of a country vote to choose a governmentcompare BY-ELECTION

general headquarters noun [U+sing./pl. v.] = GHQ

generalissimo NAmE noun (pl. -os) (from Italian) a person who commands all the ARMED FORCES of a country, especially one who has political as well as military power

generalist noun a person who has knowledge of several different subjects or activities SPECIALIST

generality noun (pl. -ies)
1 [C, usually pl.] a statement that discusses general principles or issues rather than details or particular examples: to speak in broad generalities As usual, he confined his comments to generalities.
2 the generality [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] (formal) most of a group of people or things: This view is held by the generality of leading scholars.
3 [U] (formal) the quality of being general rather than detailed or exact: An account of such generality is of little value.

generalization (BrE also -isation) NAmE noun [C, U] a general statement that is based on only a few facts or examples; the act of making such statements: a speech full of broad/sweeping generalizations to make generalizations about sth Try to avoid generalization.

generalize (BrE also -ise) verb
1 [V] ~ (from sth) to use a particular set of facts or ideas in order to form an opinion that is considered valid for a different situation: It would be foolish to generalize from a single example.
2 [V] ~ (about sth) to make a general statement about sth and not look at the details: It is dangerous to generalize about the poor.
3 [VN] [often passive] ~ sth (to sth) (formal) to apply a theory, idea, etc. to a wider group or situation than the original one: These conclusions cannot be generalized to the whole country. We are now in a position to generalize the lessons we have learnt.

generalized (BrE also -ised) adj. [usually before noun] not detailed; not limited to one particular area: a generalized discussion a generalized disease/rash (= affecting the whole body)

general knowledge noun [U] knowledge of facts about a lot of different subjects: a general knowledge quiz

generally adv.
1 by or to most people: The plan was generally welcomed. It is now generally accepted that ... The new drug will be generally available from January. He was a generally unpopular choice for captain.
2 in most cases AS A RULE: I generally get up at six. The male is generally larger with a shorter beak.
3 without discussing the details of sth: Let's talk just about investment generally.

general of the air force noun the highest rank of officer in the US AIR FORCE

general of the army noun the highest rank of officer in the US army

general practice noun [U, C]
1 (especially BrE) the work of a doctor who treats people in the community rather than at a hospital and who is not a specialist in one particular area of medicine; a place where a doctor like this works: to be in general practice She runs a general practice in Hull.
2 (especially NAmE) the work of a lawyer who deals with all kinds of legal cases and who is not a specialist in one particular area of law; the place where a lawyer like this works

general practitioner (also family practitioner) (abbr. GP) (also informal family doctor) (especially BrE) noun a doctor who is trained in general medicine and who treats patients in a local community rather than at a hospital

the general public noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] ordinary people who are not members of a particular group or organization: At that time, the general public was/were not aware of the health risks. The exhibition is not open to the general public.

general-purpose adj. [only before noun] having a wide range of different uses: a general-purpose farm vehicle

generalship noun [U] the skill or practice of leading an army during a battle

general staff (often the general staff) noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] officers who advise a military leader and help to plan a military operation

general store noun (BrE also general stores [pl.]) a shop/store that sells a wide variety of goods, especially one in a small town or village: She runs the post office and general store.

general strike noun a period of time when most or all of the workers in a country go on strike

generate verb [VN] to produce or create sth: to generate electricity/heat/power to generate income/profit We need someone to generate new ideas. The proposal has generated a lot of interest. note at MAKE

generation noun
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] all the people who were born at about the same time: the younger/older generation My generation have grown up without the experience of a world war. I often wonder what future generations will make of our efforts.
2 [C] the average time in which children grow up, become adults and have children of their own, (usually considered to be about 30 years): a generation ago My family have lived in this house for generations.
3 [C, U] a single stage in the history of a family: stories passed down from generation to generation a first-/second-generation American (= a person whose family has lived in America for one/two generations)
4 [C, usually sing.] a group of people of similar age involved in a particular activity: She has inspired a whole generation of fashion school graduates.
5 [C, usually sing.] a stage in the development of a product, usually a technical one: fifth-generation computing a new generation of vehicle
6 [U] the production of sth, especially electricity, heat, etc.: the generation of electricity methods of income generation

generational adj. [usually before noun] connected with a particular generation or with the relationship between different generations: generational conflict

the generation gap noun [sing.] the difference in attitude or behaviour between young and older people that causes a lack of understanding: a movie that is sure to bridge the generation gap

Generation X noun [U] the group of people who were born between the early 1960s and the middle of the 1970s, who seem to lack a sense of direction in life and to feel that they have no part to play in society

generative adj. (formal) that can produce sth: generative processes

generative grammar noun [C, U] (linguistics) a type of grammar which describes a language by giving a set of rules which can be used to produce all the possible sentences in that language

generator noun
1 a machine for producing electricity: The factory's emergency generators were used during the power cut. a wind generator (= a machine that uses the power of the wind to produce electricity)
2 a machine for producing a particular substance: The museum uses smells and smoke generators to create atmosphere. (figurative) The company is a major generator of jobs.
3 (BrE) a company that produces electricity to sell to the public: the UK's major electricity generator

generic adj.
1 shared by, including or typical of a whole group of things; not specific: 'Vine fruit' is the generic term for currants and raisins.
2 (of a product, especially a drug) not using the name of the company that made it: The doctor offered me a choice of a branded or a generic drug.
generically adv.

generosity NAmE noun [U, sing.] ~ (to/towards sb) the fact of being generous (= willing to give sb money, gifts, time or kindness freely): He treated them with generosity and thoughtfulness.

generous adj. (approving)
1 ~ (with sth) giving or willing to give freely; given freely: a generous benefactor to be generous with your time to be generous in giving help a generous gift/offer It was generous of him to offer to pay for us both. MEAN
2 more than is necessary; large LAVISH: a generous helping of meat The car has a generous amount of space.
3 kind in the way you treat people; willing to see what is good about sb/sth: a generous mind He wrote a very generous assessment of my work.
generously adv.: Please give generously. a dress that is generously cut (= uses plenty of material)

genesis noun [sing.] (formal) the beginning or origin of sth

genet noun a wild animal similar to a cat but with a longer tail and body and a pointed head. Genets are found in Africa, southern Europe and Asia and eat insects and small animals.

gene therapy noun [U] (medical) a treatment in which normal GENES are put into cells to replace ones that are missing or not normal

genetic adj. connected with GENES (= the units in the cells of a living thing that control its physical characteristics) or GENETICS (= the study of genes): genetic and environmental factors genetic abnormalities
genetically adv.: genetically engineered/determined/transmitted

genetically modified adj. (abbr. GM) (of a plant, etc.) having had its genetic structure changed artificially, so that it will produce more fruit or not be affected by disease: genetically modified foods (= made from plants that have been changed in this way)

genetic code noun the arrangement of GENES that controls how each living thing will develop

genetic engineering noun [U] the science of changing how a living creature or plant develops by changing the information in its GENES

genetic fingerprinting (also DNA fingerprinting) noun [U] the method of finding the particular pattern of GENES in an individual person, particularly to identify sb or find out if sb has committed a crime
genetic fingerprint noun

geneticist noun a scientist who studies genetics

genetics noun [U] the scientific study of the ways in which different characteristics are passed from each generation of living things to the next

Geneva Convention noun [sing.] an international agreement which states how PRISONERS OF WAR should be treated

Genghis Khan noun [usually sing.] a person who is very cruel or has very RIGHT-WING political opinions: He has a reputation as the Genghis Khan of the department. Her politics are somewhere to the right of Genghis Khan.
From the name of the first ruler of the Mongol empire, who was born in the 12th century.

genial adj. friendly and cheerful AFFABLE: a genial person a genial smile
geniality noun [U]: an atmosphere of warmth and geniality genially adv.: to smile genially

genie noun (pl. genies or genii ) (in Arabian stories) a spirit with magic powers, especially one that lives in a bottle or a lamp DJINN

genital adj. [only before noun] connected with the outer sexual organs of a person or an animal: the genital area genital infections

genitals (also genitalia ) noun [pl.] a person's sex organs that are outside their body

genitive noun (grammar) (in some languages) the special form of a noun, a pronoun or an adjective that is used to show possession or close connection between two thingscompare ABLATIVE, ACCUSATIVE, DATIVE, NOMINATIVE, POSSESSIVE, VOCATIVE
genitive adj.

genito-urinary NAmE adj. (medical) of or related to the GENITALS and URINARY organs: genito-urinary disease/medicine

genius noun (pl. geniuses)
1 [U] unusually great intelligence, skill or artistic ability: the genius of Shakespeare a statesman of genius Her idea was a stroke of genius.
2 [C] a person who is unusually intelligent or artistic, or who has a very high level of skill, especially in one area: a mathematical/comic, etc. genius He's a genius at organizing people. You don't have to be a genius to see that they are in love!
3 [sing.] ~ for sth/for doing sth a special skill or ability: He had a genius for making people feel at home.
sb's good/evil genius (especially BrE) a person or spirit who is thought to have a good/bad influence over you

genocide noun [U] the murder of a whole race or group of people
genocidal adj.

genome NAmE noun (biology) the complete set of GENES in a cell or living thing: the human genome

genotype noun (biology) the combination of GENES that a particular living thing carries, some of which may not be noticed from its appearancecompare PHENOTYPE

genre NAmE noun (formal) a particular type or style of literature, art, film or music that you can recognize because of its special features

genre painting noun [U, C] (art) a style of painting showing scenes from ordinary life that is associated with 17th century Dutch and Flemish artists; a painting done in this style

gent noun (BrE)
1 (old-fashioned or humorous) a man; a gentleman: a gent's hairdresser This way please, ladies and gents!
2 a/the gents, a/the Gents [sing.] (informal) a public toilet/bathroom for men: Is there a gents near here? Where's the gents?

genteel adj. (sometimes disapproving)
1 (of people and their way of life) quiet and polite, often in an exaggerated way; from, or pretending to be from, a high social class: a genteel manner Her genteel accent irritated me. He lived in genteel poverty (= trying to keep the style of a high social class, but with little money).
2 (of places) quiet and old-fashioned and perhaps slightly boring
genteelly adv.

gentian noun [C, U] a small plant with bright blue flowers that grows in mountain areas

gentile (also Gentile) noun a person who is not Jewish
gentile (also Gentile) adj. [only before noun]

gentility noun [U] (formal)
1 very good manners and behaviour; the fact of belonging to a high social class: He took her hand with discreet gentility. She thinks expensive clothes are a mark of gentility.
2 the fact of being quiet and old-fashioned: the faded gentility of the town

gentle adj. (gentler gentlest )
1 calm and kind; doing things in a quiet and careful way: a quiet and gentle man a gentle voice/laugh/touch She was the gentlest of nurses. He lived in a gentler age than ours. Be gentle with her! She agreed to come, after a little gentle persuasion. He looks scary but he's really a gentle giant.
2 (of weather, temperature, etc.) not strong or extreme: a gentle breeze the gentle swell of the sea Cook over a gentle heat.
3 having only a small effect; not strong or violent: We went for a gentle stroll. a little gentle exercise This soap is very gentle on the hands.
4 not steep or sharp: a gentle slope/curve/anglesee also GENTLY
gentleness noun [U]

gentlefolk NAmE noun [pl.] (old-fashioned) (in the past) people belonging to respected families of the higher social classes

gentleman noun (pl. -men )
1 [C] a man who is polite and well educated, who has excellent manners and always behaves well: Thank youyou're a real gentleman. He's no gentleman!compare LADY
2 [C, usually pl.] (formal) used to address or refer to a man, especially sb you do not know: Ladies and gentlemen! Can I have your attention, please? Gentlemen of the jury! Can I help you, gentlemen? There's a gentleman to see you. In more informal speech, you could say: Can I help you? There's someone to see you.
3 (NAmE) used to address or refer to a male member of a LEGISLATURE, for example the House of Representatives
4 (old-fashioned) a man from a high social class, especially one who does not need to work: a country gentleman a gentleman farmer (= one who owns a farm for pleasure, not as his main job) see LEISURE

gentlemanly adj. (approving) behaving very well and showing very good manners; like a gentleman: gentlemanly behaviour So far, the election campaign has been a very gentlemanly affair.

gentleman's agreement (also gentlemen's agreement) noun an agreement made between people who trust each other, which is not written down and which has no legal force

gentlewoman noun (pl. -women )
1 (old use) a woman who belongs to a high social class; a woman who is well educated and has excellent manners
2 (NAmE) used to address or refer to a female member of a LEGISLATURE, for example the House of Representatives

gently adv.
1 in a gentle way: She held the baby gently. 'You miss them, don't you?' he asked gently. Simmer the soup gently for 30 minutes. Massage the area gently but firmly. leaves moving gently in the breeze The path ran gently down to the sea.
2 Gently! (BrE, informal) used to tell sb to be careful: Gently! You'll hurt the poor thing! Don't go too fastgently does it!

gentrify verb (gentrifies, gentrifying, gentrified, gentrified) [VN] [usually passive] to change an area, a person, etc. so that they are suitable for, or can mix with, people of a higher social class than before: Old working-class areas of the city are being gentrified.
gentrification noun [U]

gentry noun [pl.] (usually the gentry) (old-fashioned) people belonging to a high social class: the local gentry the landed gentry (= those who own a lot of land)

genuflect verb [V] (formal)
1 to move your body into a lower position by bending one or both knees, as a sign of respect during worship in a church
2 ~ (to sth) (disapproving) to show too much respect to sb/sth
genuflection (BrE also genuflexion) noun [C, U]

genuine adj.
1 real; exactly what it appears to be; not artificial AUTHENTIC: Is the painting a genuine Picasso? Fake designer watches are sold at a fraction of the price of the genuine article. Only genuine refugees can apply for asylum.
2 sincere and honest; that can be trusted: He made a genuine attempt to improve conditions. genuine concern for others a very genuine person
genuinely adv.: genuinely sorry genuineness noun [U]

genus noun (pl. genera ) (biology) a group into which animals, plants, etc. that have similar characteristics are divided, smaller than a family and larger than a SPECIEScompare CLASS, KINGDOM, ORDER, PHYLUMsee also GENERIC

geo- combining form (in nouns, adjectives and adverbs) of the earth: geochemical geoscience

geocentric NAmE adj. (technical) with the earth as the centre

geode NAmE noun (geology) a small hole in rock that has CRYSTALS around the inside

geodesic NAmE adj. (technical) relating to the shortest possible line between two points on a curved surface

geodesic domenoun (architecture) a DOME which is built from panels whose edges form geodesic lines

geographer NAmE noun a person who studies geography; an expert in geography

geography NAmE noun
1 [U] the scientific study of the earth's surface, physical features, divisions, products, population, etc.: human/physical/economic/social geography a geography lesson/department/teacher/textbook a degree in geography
2 [sing.] the way in which the physical features of a place are arranged: the geography of New York City Kim knew the geography of the building and strode along the corridor.
3 [sing.] the way in which a particular aspect of life or society is influenced by geography or varies according to geography: The geography of poverty and the geography of voting are connected.
geographical (also geographic ) adj.: The survey covers a wide geographical area. the geographical distribution of wealth The importance of the town is due to its geographical location. geographically adv.: geographically remote areas

geologist NAmE noun a scientist who studies geology

geology NAmE noun
1 [U] the scientific study of the earth, including the origin and history of the rocks and soil of which the earth is made
2 [sing.] the origin and history of the rocks and soil of a particular area: the geology of the British Isles
geological NAmE adj.: a geological survey the vast span of geological time (= the whole of time since the earth began) geologically NAmE adv.

geomagnetism NAmE noun [U] (geology) the study of the MAGNETIC characteristics of the earth
geomagnetic NAmE adj.

geomancy NAmE noun [U]
1 the art of arranging buildings and areas in a good or lucky position
2 a method of saying what will happen in the future using patterns on the ground

geometric (also less frequent geometrical ) adj. of GEOMETRY; of or like the lines, shapes, etc. used in GEOMETRY, especially because of having regular shapes or lines: a geometric design
geometrically adv.

geometric mean noun = MEAN

geometric progression (also geometric series) noun a series of numbers in which each is multiplied or divided by a fixed number to produce the next, for example 1, 3, 9, 27, 81compare ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION

geometry NAmE noun
1 [U] the branch of mathematics that deals with the measurements and relationships of lines, angles, surfaces and solids
2 [sing.] the measurements and relationships of lines, angles, etc. in a particular object or shape: the geometry of a spider's web

geophysics NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of the earth's atmosphere, oceans and climate
geophysical adj.: geophysical data geophysicist noun

geopolitics NAmE noun [U+sing./pl. v.] the political relations between countries and groups of countries in the world; the study of these relations
geopolitical NAmE adj.

Geordie NAmE noun (BrE, informal)
1 [C] a person from Tyneside in NE England
2 [U] a way of speaking, typical of people from Tyneside in NE England
Geordie adj.: a Geordie accent

georgette NAmE noun [U] a type of thin silk or cotton cloth, used for making clothes

Georgian NAmE adj. (especially of ARCHITECTURE and furniture) from the time of the British kings George I-IV (1714-1830): a fine Georgian house

geostationary NAmE adj. (astronomy) (of a SATELLITE) moving around the earth at the EQUATOR at the same speed as the earth spins, so that it appears to be always in the same place in the sky

geothermal NAmE adj. (geology) connected with the natural heat of rock deep in the ground: geothermal energy

geranium noun a garden plant with a mass of red, pink or white flowers on the end of each STEM

gerbil NAmE noun a small desert animal like a mouse, that is often kept as a pet

geriatric noun
1 geriatrics [U] the branch of medicine concerned with the diseases and care of old people
2 [C] (informal, offensive) an old person, especially one with poor physical or mental health: I'm not a geriatric yet, you know!
geriatric adj.: the geriatric ward (= in a hospital) a geriatric vehicle (= old and in bad condition)

geriatrician noun a doctor who studies and treats the diseases of old people

germ NAmE noun
1 [C, usually pl.] a very small living thing that can cause infection and disease: Disinfectant kills germs. Dirty hands can be a breeding ground for germs.
2 [sing.] ~ of sth an early stage of the development of sth: Here was the germ of a brilliant idea. The germ of the town was a single house near the river.
3 [C] (biology) the part of a plant or an animal that can develop into a new onesee also WHEATGERM

German NAmE adj., noun
adj. from or connected with Germany
noun
1 [C] a person from Germany
2 [U] the language of Germany, Austria and parts of Switzerland

germane NAmE adj. [not usually before noun] ~ (to sth) (formal) (of ideas, remarks, etc.) connected with sth in an important or appropriate way RELEVANT: remarks that are germane to the discussion

Germanic NAmE adj.
1 connected with or considered typical of Germany or its people: She had an almost Germanic regard for order.
2 connected with the language family that includes German, English, Dutch and Swedish among others

germanium NAmE noun [U] (symb Ge) a chemical element. Germanium is a shiny grey element that is similar to a metal (= is a METALLOID).

German measles (also rubella) noun [U] a mild infectious disease that causes a sore throat and red spots all over the body. It can seriously affect babies born to women who catch it soon after they become pregnant.

German shepherd noun (especially NAmE) = ALSATIAN

germicide NAmE noun [C, U] a substance which destroys bacteria, etc.
germicidal NAmE adj.

germinate NAmE verb when the seed of a plant germinates or is germinated, it starts to grow: [V] (figurative) An idea for a novel began to germinate in her mind. [also VN]
germination NAmE noun [U]: Keep the seeds in warm, damp conditions to encourage germination.

germ warfare noun [U] = BIOLOGICAL WARFARE

gerontocracy NAmE noun (pl. -ies) [C, U] a state, society, or group governed by old people; government by old people
gerontocratic NAmE adj.

gerontologist NAmE noun (especially NAmE) a person who studies the process of people growing old

gerontology NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of OLD AGE and the process of growing old

gerrymander (also jerrymander) verb [VN] (disapproving) to change the size and borders of an area for voting in order to give an unfair advantage to one party in an election: The city had been gerrymandered so that the Protestant minority retained control.
gerrymandering (also jerrymandering) noun [U]: accusations of gerrymandering

gerund noun (grammar) a noun in the form of the present participle of a verb (that is, ending in -ing) for example travelling in the sentence I preferred travelling alone.

gestalt NAmE noun (psychology) (from German) a set of things, such as a person's thoughts or experiences, that is considered as a single system which is different from the individual thoughts, experiences, etc. within it

gestate NAmE verb [VN] (biology or medical) to carry a young human or animal inside the WOMB until it is born

gestation noun
1 [U, sing.] the time that the young of a person or an animal develops inside its mother's body until it is born; the process of developing inside the mother's body: a baby born at 38 weeks' gestation The gestation period of a horse is about eleven months.
2 [U] (formal) the process by which an idea or a plan develops DEVELOPMENT: His book was nearly twenty years in gestation.

gesticulate verb [V] to move your hands and arms about in order to attract attention or make sb understand what you are saying: He gesticulated wildly at the clock. She was shouting and gesticulating from the other side of the road.
gesticulation noun [C, U]: wild/frantic gesticulations

gesture noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] a movement that you make with your hands, your head or your face to show a particular meaning: He made a rude gesture at the driver of the other car. She finished what she had to say with a gesture of despair. They communicated entirely by gesture.
2 [C] something that you do or say to show a particular feeling or intention: They sent some flowers as a gesture of sympathy to the parents of the child. It was a nice gesture (= it was kind) to invite his wife too. We do not accept responsibility but we will refund the money as a gesture of goodwill. His speech was at least a gesture towards improving relations between the two countries. The government has made a gesture towards public opinion (= has tried to do sth that the public will like). note at ACTION
verb ~ (for/to sb) (to do sth) to move your hands, head, face, etc. as a way of expressing what you mean or want: [V, usually + adv. / prep.] 'I see you read a lot,' he said, gesturing at the wall of books. He gestured to the guards and they withdrew. She gestured for them to come in. [V that] He gestured (to me) that it was time to go. They gestured that I should follow. [also VN]

gesundheit exclamation (NAmE, from German) used when sb has SNEEZED to wish them good health

get verb (getting, got, got NAmE ) In spoken NAmE the past participle gottenis almost always used.
RECEIVE/OBTAIN
1 [VN] [no passive] to receive sth: I got a letter from Dave this morning. What (= What presents) did you get for your birthday? He gets (= earns) about $40 000 a year. This room gets very little sunshine. I got a shock when I saw the bill. I get the impression that he is bored with his job.
2 [no passive] ~ sth (for yourself/sb)| ~ (yourself/sb) sth to obtain sth: [VN] Where did you get (= buy) that skirt? Did you manage to get tickets for the concert? She opened the door wider to get a better look. Try to get some sleep. He has just got a new job. [VNN] Why don't you get yourself a car? [VN, VNN] Did you get a present for your mother? Did you get your mother a present? You can get the basic model for $100. $100 will get you the basic model.
3 [VN] [no passive] ~ sth (for sth) to obtain or receive an amount of money by selling sth: How much did you get for your car?
BRING
4 to go to a place and bring sb/sth back FETCH: [VN] Quickgo and get a cloth! Somebody get a doctor! I have to go and get my mother from the airport (= pick her up). [VN, VNN] Get a drink for John. Get John a drink.
PUNISHMENT
5 [VN] [no passive] to receive sth as a punishment: He got ten years (= was sent to prison for ten years) for armed robbery.
BROADCASTS
6 [VN] [no passive] to receive broadcasts from a particular television or radio station: We can't get Channel 5 in our area.
BUY
7 [VN] [no passive] to buy sth, for example a newspaper or magazine, regularly TAKE: Which newspaper do you get?
MARK/GRADE
8 [VN] [no passive] to achieve or be given a particular mark/grade in an exam: He got a 'C' in Chemistry and a 'B' in English.
ILLNESS
9 [VN] [no passive] to become infected with an illness; to suffer from a pain, etc.: I got this cold off (= from) you! She gets (= often suffers from) really bad headaches.
CONTACT
10 [VN] [no passive] to be connected with sb by telephone: I wanted to speak to the manager but I got his secretary instead.
STATE/CONDITION
11 linking verb to reach a particular state or condition; to make sb/sth/yourself reach a particular state or condition: [V-ADJ] to get angry/bored/hungry/fat You'll soon get used to the climate here. We ought to go; it's getting late. to get dressed/undressed (= to put your clothes on/take your clothes off) They plan to get married in the summer. She's upstairs getting ready. I wouldn't go there alone; you might get (= be) mugged. My car got (= was) stolen at the weekend. [VN-ADJ] Don't get your dress dirty! He got his fingers caught in the door. She soon got the children ready for school. note at BECOME
12 [V to inf] to reach the point at which you feel, know, are, etc. sth: After a time you get to realize that these things don't matter. You'll like her once you get to know her. His drinking is getting to be a problem. She's getting to be an old lady now.
MAKE/PERSUADE
13 to make, persuade, etc. sb/sth to do sth: [VN to inf] I couldn't get the car to start this morning. He got his sister to help him with his homework. You'll never get him to understand. [VN -ing] Can you really get that old car going again? It's not hard to get him talkingthe problem is stopping him!
GET STH DONE
14 [VN-ADJ] ~ sth done to cause sth to happen or be done: I must get my hair cut. I'll never get all this work finished.
START
15 [V -ing] to start doing sth: I got talking to her. We need to get going soon.
OPPORTUNITY
16 (informal) [V to inf] to have the opportunity to do sth: He got to try out all the new software. It's not fairI never get to go first.
ARRIVE
17 [V + adv. / prep.] to arrive at or reach a place or point: We got to San Diego at 7 o'clock. You got in very late last night. What time did you get here? I haven't got very far with the book I'm reading.
MOVE/TRAVEL
18 [+adv./prep.] to move to or from a particular place or in a particular direction, sometimes with difficulty; to make sb/sth do this: [V] The bridge was destroyed so we couldn't get across the river. She got into bed. He got down from the ladder. We didn't get (= go) to bed until 3 a.m. Where do we get on the bus? I'm getting off (= leaving the train) at the next station. Where have they got to (= where are they)? We must be getting home; it's past midnight. [VN] The general had to get his troops across the river. We couldn't get the piano through the door. We'd better call a taxi and get you home. I can't get the lid off.
19 [VN] [no passive] to use a bus, taxi, plane, etc.: We're going to be latelet's get a taxi. I usually get the bus to work.
MEAL
20 ~ sth (for yourself/sb)| ~ (yourself/sb) sth (especially BrE) to prepare a meal: [VN] Who's getting the lunch? [VN, VNN] I must go home and get tea for the kids. I must go home and get the kids their tea.
TELEPHONE/DOOR
21 [VN] (informal) to answer the telephone or a door when sb calls, knocks, etc.: Will you get the phone?
CATCH/HIT
22 [VN] to catch or take hold of sb, especially in order to harm or punish them: He was on the run for a week before the police got him. to get sb by the arm/wrist/throat She fell overboard and the sharks got her. He thinks everybody is out to get him (= trying to harm him). (informal) I'll get you for that!
23 [VN + adv. / prep.] to hit or wound sb: The bullet got him in the neck.
UNDERSTAND
24 [VN] [no passive] (informal) to understand sb/sth: I don't get you. She didn't get the joke. I don't get itwhy would she do a thing like that? I get the messageyou don't want me to come. note at UNDERSTAND
HAPPEN/EXIST
25 [VN] [no passive] (informal) used to say that sth happens or exists: You get (= There are) all these kids hanging around in the street. They still get cases of typhoid there.
CONFUSE/ANNOY
26 [VN] [no passive] (informal) to make sb feel confused because they do not understand sth PUZZLE: 'What's the capital of Bulgaria?' 'You've got me there!' (= I don't know).
27 [VN] [no passive] (informal) to annoy sb: What gets me is having to do the same thing all day long.
Get is one of the most common words in English, but some people try to avoid it in formal writing.
Most idioms containing get are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example get sb's goat is at goat. be getting on (informal)
1 (of a person) to be becoming old
2 (of time) to be becoming late: The time's getting onwe ought to be going.
be getting on for ... (especially BrE) to be nearly a particular time, age or number: It must be getting on for midnight. He's getting on for eighty.
can't get over sth (informal) used to say that you are shocked, surprised, amused, etc. by sth: I can't get over how rude she was.
get away from it all (informal) to have a short holiday/vacation in a place where you can relax
get it on (with sb) (slang, especially NAmE) to have sex with sb
get it (NAmE) = CATCH IT
get it up (slang) (of a man) to have an ERECTION
get sb going (BrE, informal) to make sb angry, worried or excited
get sb nowhere/not get sb anywhere to not help sb make progress or succeed: This line of investigation is getting us nowhere. Being rude to me won't get you anywhere.
get somewhere/anywhere/nowhere to make some progress/no progress: After six months' work on the project, at last I feel I'm getting somewhere. I don't seem to be getting anywhere with this letter.
get there to achieve your aim or complete a task: I'm sure you'll get there in the end. It's not perfect but we're getting there (= making progress).
how selfish, stupid, ungrateful, etc. can you get? (informal) used to express surprise or disapproval that sb has been so selfish, etc.
there's no getting away from sth | you can't get away from sth you have to admit that sth unpleasant is true
what are you, was he, etc. getting at? (informal) used to ask, especially in an angry way, what sb is/was suggesting: I'm partly to blame? What exactly are you getting at?
what has got into sb? (informal) used to say that sb has suddenly started to behave in a strange or different way: What's got into Alex? He never used to worry like that. I'm sorry for laughing like thatI don't know what got into me.
get about (BrE) = GET AROUND

get above yourself (especially BrE) to have too high an opinion of yourself

get across (to sb)| get sthacross (to sb) to be communicated or understood; to succeed in communicating sth: Your meaning didn't really get across. He's not very good at getting his ideas across.

get ahead (of sb) to make progress (further than others have done): She wants to get ahead in her career. He soon got ahead of the others in his class.

get along
1 (usually used in the progressive tenses) to leave a place: It's time we were getting along.
2 = GET ON

get around
1 (BrE also get about) to move from place to place or from person to person: She gets around with the help of a stick. News soon got around that he had resigned.
2 (especially NAmE) = GET ROUND

get at sb (usually used in the progressive tenses) to keep criticizing sb: He's always getting at me. She feels she's being got at.
get at sb/sth to reach sb/sth; to gain access to sb/sth: The files are locked up and I can't get at them.
get at sth to learn or find out sth: The truth is sometimes difficult to get at.

get away
1 to have a holiday/vacation: We're hoping to get away for a few days at Easter.related noun GETAWAY
2 (BrE, informal) used to show that you do not believe or are surprised by what sb has said: 'These tickets didn't cost me a thing.' 'Get away!'
get away (from ... ) to succeed in leaving a place: I won't be able to get away from the office before 7.
get away (from sb/... ) to escape from sb or a place
get away with sth
1 to steal sth and escape with it: Thieves got away with computer equipment worth $30 000.related noun GETAWAY
2 to receive a relatively light punishment: He was lucky to get away with only a fine.
3 to do sth wrong and not be punished for it: Don't be tempted to cheatyou'll never get away with it. [+ -ing] Nobody gets away with insulting me like that.
4 to manage with less of sth than you might expect to need: After the first month, you should be able to get away with one lesson a week.

get back to return, especially to your home: What time did you get back last night? We only got back from our trip yesterday. note at RETURN
get sthback to obtain sth again after having lost it: She's got her old job back. I never lend booksyou never get them back.
get back (in) (of a political party) to win an election after having lost the previous one
get back at sb (informal) to do sth bad to sb who has done sth bad to you; to get REVENGE on sb: I'll find a way of getting back at him!
get back to sb to speak or write to sb again later, especially in order to give a reply: I'll find out and get back to you.
get back to sth to return to sth: Could we get back to the question of funding?

get behind (with sth) to fail to make enough progress or to produce sth at the right time: I'm getting behind with my work. He got behind with the payments for his car.

get by (on/in/with sth) to manage to live or do a particular thing using the money, knowledge, equipment, etc. that you have: How does she get by on such a small salary? I can just about get by in German (= I can speak basic German).

get down (of children) (BrE) to leave the table after a meal
get sb down (informal) to make sb feel sad or depressed: Don't let it get you down too much.
get sthdown
1 to swallow sth, usually with difficulty
2 to make a note of sth WRITE DOWN: Did you get his number down?
get down to sth to begin to do sth; to give serious attention to sth: Let's get down to business. I like to get down to work by 9. [+ -ing] It's time I got down to thinking about that essay.

get in| get into sth
1 to arrive at a place: The train got in late. What time do you get into Heathrow?
2 to win an election: The Republican candidate stands a good chance of getting in. She first got into Parliament (= became an MP) in 2001.
3 to be admitted to a school, university, etc.: She's got into Durham to study law.
get sbin to call sb to your house to do a job
get sthin
1 to collect or gather sth: to get the crops/harvest in
2 to buy a supply of sth: Remember to get in some beers for this evening.
3 to manage to do or say sth: I got in an hour's work while the baby was asleep. She talks so much it's impossible to get a word in.
get in on sth to take part in an activity: He's hoping to get in on any discussions about the new project.
get in with sb (informal) to become friendly with sb, especially in order to gain an advantage

get into sth
1 to put on a piece of clothing, especially with difficulty: I can't get into these shoesthey're too small.
2 to start a career in a particular profession: What's the best way to get into journalism?
3 to become involved in sth; to start sth: I got into conversation with an Italian student. to get into a fight Are you sure you know what you're getting into?
4 to develop a particular habit: Don't let yourself get into bad habits. You should get into the routine of saving the document you are working on every ten minutes. How did she get into (= start taking) drugs?
5 (informal) to become interested in sth: I'm really getting into jazz these days.
6 to become familiar with sth; to learn sth: I haven't really got into my new job yet.
get into sth| get yourself/sb into sth to reach a particular state or condition; to make sb reach a particular state or condition: He got into trouble with the police while he was still at school. Three people were rescued from a yacht which got into difficulties. She got herself into a real state (= became very anxious) before the interview.

get off| get off sb used especially to tell sb to stop touching you or another person: Get off me, that hurts!
get off| get sb off
1 to leave a place or start a journey; to help sb do this: We got off straight after breakfast. He got the children off to school.
2 (BrE) to fall asleep; to make sb do this: I had great difficulty getting off to sleep. They couldn't get the baby off till midnight.
get off| get off sth to leave work with permission: Could you get off (work) early tomorrow?
get off sth| get sb off sth to stop discussing a particular subject; to make sb do this: Please can we get off the subject of dieting? I couldn't get him off politics once he had started.
get sth off to send sth by post/mail: I must get these letters off first thing tomorrow.
get off on sth (informal) to be excited by sth, especially in a sexual way
get off (with sth) to have no or almost no injuries in an accident: She was lucky to get off with just a few bruises.
get off (with sth)| get sb off (with sth) to receive no or almost no punishment; to help sb do this: He was lucky to get off with a small fine. A good lawyer might be able to get you off.
get off with sb (informal, especially BrE) to have a sexual or romantic experience with sb; to start a sexual relationship with sb: Steve got off with Tracey at the party.

get on
1 (also get along) used to talk or ask about how well sb is doing in a particular situation: He's getting on very well at school. How did you get on at the interview?
2 to be successful in your career, etc.: Parents are always anxious for their children to get on. I don't know how he's going to get on in life.
3 (also get along) to manage or survive: We can get on perfectly well without her. I just can't get along without a secretary.
get on to sb
1 to contact sb by telephone, letter or email: The heating isn't working; I'll get on to the landlord about it.
2 to become aware of sb's activities, especially when they have been doing sth bad or illegal: He had been stealing money from the company for years before they got on to him.
get on to sth to begin to talk about a new subject: It's time we got on to the question of costs.
get on with sb| get on (together) (both BrE) (also get along with sb, get along (together) NAmE, BrE) to have a friendly relationship with sb: She's never really got on with her sister. She and her sister have never really got on. We get along just fine together.
get on with sth
1 (also get along with sth) used to talk or ask about how well sb is doing a task: I'm not getting on very fast with this job.
2 to continue doing sth, especially after an interruption: Be quiet and get on with your work. (informal) Get on with it! We haven't got all day.

get out to become known: If this gets out there'll be trouble.
get sthout
1 to produce or publish sth: Will we get the book out by the end of the year?
2 to say sth with difficulty: She managed to get out a few words of thanks.
get out (of sth) to leave or go out of a place: You ought to get out of the house more. She screamed at me to get out.
get out of sth
1 to avoid a responsibility or duty: We promised we'd gowe can't get out of it now. [+ -ing] I wish I could get out of going to that meeting.
2 to stop having a particular habit: I can't get out of the habit of waking at six in the morning.
get sth out of sb to persuade sb to tell or give you sth, especially by force: The police finally got a confession out of her.
get sth out of sb/sth to gain or obtain sth good from sb/sth: She seems to get a lot out of life. He always gets the best out of people.

get over sth to deal with or gain control of sth OVERCOME: She can't get over her shyness. I think the problem can be got over without too much difficulty.
get over sth/sb to return to your usual state of health, happiness, etc. after an illness, a shock, the end of a relationship, etc.: He was disappointed at not getting the job, but he'll get over it.
get sthover (to sb) to make sth clear to sb: He didn't really get his meaning over to the audience.
get sth over (with) (informal) to complete sth unpleasant but necessary: I'll be glad to get the exam over and done with.

get round/around sb to persuade sb to agree or to do what you want, usually by doing nice things for them: She knows how to get round her dad.
get round/around sth to deal with a problem successfully OVERCOME: A clever lawyer might find a way of getting round that clause.
get round/around to sth to find the time to do sth: I meant to do the ironing but I didn't get round to it. [+ -ing] I hope to get around to answering your letter next week.

get through sth
1 to use up a large amount of sth: We got through a fortune while we were in New York!
2 to manage to do or complete sth: Let's startthere's a lot to get through.
get through (sth) (BrE) to be successful in an exam, etc.
get sb through sth to help sb to be successful in an exam: She got all her students through the exam.
get through (sth)| get sth through (sth) to be officially accepted; to make sth be officially accepted: They got the bill through Congress.
get through (to sb)
1 to reach sb: Thousands of refugees will die if these supplies don't get through to them.
2 to make contact with sb by telephone: I tried calling you several times but I couldn't get through.
get through (to sth) (of a player or team) to reach the next stage of a competition: Moya has got through to the final.
get through to sb to make sb understand or accept what you say, especially when you are trying to help them: I find it impossible to get through to her.
get through with sth to finish or complete a task

get to sb (informal) to annoy or affect sb: The pressure of work is beginning to get to him.

get sb/sth together to collect people or things in one place: I'm trying to get a team together for Saturday.
get together (with sb) to meet with sb socially or in order to discuss sth: We must get together for a drink sometime. Management should get together with the union.related noun GET-TOGETHER

get up
1 to stand up after sitting, lying, etc. RISE: The class got up when the teacher came in. note at STAND
2 if the sea or wind gets up, it increases in strength and becomes violent
get up| get sb up to get out of bed; to make sb get out of bed: He always gets up early. Could you get me up at 6.30 tomorrow?
get yourself/sb up as sth [often passive] (BrE) to dress yourself/sb as sb/sth else: She was got up as an Indian princess.related noun GET-UP
get sthup to arrange or organize sth: We're getting up a party for her birthday.
get up to sth
1 to reach a particular point: We got up to page 72 last lesson.
2 to be busy with sth, especially sth surprising or unpleasant: What on earth will he get up to next? She's been getting up to her old tricks again!

getaway noun [usually sing.]
1 an escape from a difficult situation, especially after committing a crime: to make a quick getaway a getaway car
2 a short holiday/vacation; a place that is suitable for a holiday/vacation: a romantic weekend getaway in New York the popular island getaway of Penang

get-out noun [usually sing.] (BrE, informal) a way of avoiding sth, especially a responsibility or duty: He said he'd come but he's looking for a get-out. a get-out clause in the contract

getting noun [sing.]
while the getting is good (NAmE) = WHILE THE GOING IS GOOD

get-together noun (informal) an informal meeting; a party: a family get-together at Christmas

get-up noun (old-fashioned, informal) a set of clothes, especially strange or unusual ones

get-up-and-go noun [U] (informal) energy and determination to get things done

gewgaw NAmE noun an object that attracts attention but has no value or use

geyser NAmE noun
1 a natural SPRING that sometimes sends hot water or steam up into the air
2 (BrE) a piece of equipment in a kitchen or bathroom that heats water, usually by gas
3 (SAfrE) a large container in which water is stored and heated, usually by electricity, in order to provide hot water in a building

ghagra noun a long skirt, worn by women in S Asia

gharara noun loose wide trousers, worn with a KAMEEZ and DUPATTA by women in S Asia

gharial NAmE (also gavial ) noun a S Asian CROCODILE

ghastly NAmE adj. (ghastlier, ghastliest)
1 (of an event) very frightening and unpleasant, because it involves pain, death, etc. HORRIBLE: a ghastly crime/murder She woke up in the middle of a ghastly nightmare.
2 (informal) (of an experience or a situation) very bad; unpleasant TERRIBLE: The weather was ghastly. It's all been a ghastly mistake. When she mentioned redundancies, for one ghastly moment, I thought she meant me.
3 (informal) (of a person or thing) that you find unpleasant and dislike very much HORRIBLE: her ghastly husband This lipstick is a ghastly colour. I look ghastly in red.
4 [not usually before noun] ill/sick or upset TERRIBLE: I felt ghastly the next day. Do I look as ghastly as I feel?
5 (literary) very pale in appearance, like a dead person: His face was ghastly white. She had a ghastly pallor.

ghat noun (IndE)
1 [C] steps leading down to a river or lake
2 [C] a road or way over or through mountains
3 Ghats [pl.] the mountains near the eastern and western coasts of India

ghee noun [U] a type of butter used in S Asian cooking

gherkin NAmE noun
1 (BrE) (NAmE pickle) a small CUCUMBER that has been preserved in VINEGAR before being eaten
2 (NAmE) a small CUCUMBER

ghetto NAmE noun (pl. -os or -oes)
1 an area of a city where many people of the same race or background live, separately from the rest of the population. Ghettos are often crowded, with bad living conditions: a poor kid growing up in the ghetto The south coast of Spain has become something of a tourist ghetto. He tended to stick to the relative safety of San Francisco's gay ghetto.
2 the area of a town where Jews were forced to live in the past: the Warsaw ghetto

ghetto blaster (also boom box especially in NAmE) noun (informal) a large radio and CD or CASSETTE player that can be carried around, especially to play loud music in public

ghillie noun = GILLIE

ghost NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] the spirit of a dead person that a living person believes they can see or hear: Do you believe in ghosts (= believe that they exist)? the ghost of her father that had come back to haunt her He looked as if he had seen a ghost (= looked very frightened).
2 [C] the memory of sth, especially sth bad: The ghost of anti-Semitism still haunts Europe.
3 [sing.] ~ of sth a very slight amount of sth that is left behind or that you are not sure really exists: There was a ghost of a smile on his face. You don't have a ghost of a chance (= you have no chance).
4 [sing.] a second image on a television screen that is not as clear as the first, caused by a fault
give up the ghost
1 to die
2 (humorous) (of a machine) to stop working: My car finally gave up the ghost.more at FORMER
verb
1 = GHOSTWRITE
2 [V + adv. / prep.] (literary) to move without making a sound: They ghosted up the smooth waters of the river.

ghosting NAmE noun [U] the appearance of a faint second image next to an image on a television screen, computer screen, etc.

ghostly NAmE adj. looking or sounding like a ghost; full of ghosts: a ghostly figure ghostly footsteps the ghostly churchyard The airfield was bathed in the ghostly glow of a searchlight.

ghost story noun a story about ghosts that is intended to frighten you

ghost town noun a town that used to be busy and have a lot of people living in it, but is now empty

ghost train noun (BrE) a small train at a FUNFAIR that goes through a dark tunnel full of frightening things

ghostwrite NAmE (also ghost) verb to write a book, an article, etc. for another person who publishes it as their own work: [VN] [often passive]: Her memoirs were ghostwritten. [also V]

ghostwriter NAmE noun a person who writes a book, etc. for another person, under whose name it is then published

ghoul noun
1 (in stories) an evil spirit that opens graves and eats the dead bodies in them
2 (disapproving) a person who is too interested in unpleasant things such as death and disaster
ghoulish adj.: ghoulish laughter

GHQ noun [U] the abbreviation for 'general headquarters' (the main centre of a military organization): He was posted to GHQ Cairo.

GHz abbr. (in writing) GIGAHERTZ: a laptop with a processor speed of 2GHz

GI noun (pl. GIs) a soldier in the US armed forces

giant noun, adj.
noun
1 (in stories) a very large strong person who is often cruel and stupidsee also GIANTESS
2 an unusually large person, animal or plant: He's a giant of a man.
3 a very large and powerful organization: the multinational oil giants
4 a person who is very good at sth: literary giants
adj. [only before noun] very large; much larger or more important than similar things usually are: a giant crab a giant-size box of tissues a giant step towards achieving independence

giantess noun (in stories) a female giant

giantism noun [U] = GIGANTISM

giant-killer noun (BrE) (especially in sports) a person or team that defeats another much stronger opponent

giant panda noun = PANDA (1)

giant slalom noun a SLALOM SKIING competition over a long distance, with wide fast turns

gibber verb to speak quickly in a way that is difficult to understand, often because of fear: [V] He cowered in the corner, gibbering with terror. By this time I was a gibbering wreck. [also V speech]

gibberish noun [U] (informal) words that have no meaning or are impossible to understand NONSENSE: You were talking gibberish in your sleep. After a while I stopped listening to his stream of gibberish.

gibbet noun (old-fashioned) a vertical wooden structure on which criminals used to be hanged GALLOWS

gibbon noun a small APE (= an animal like a large MONKEY without a tail) with long arms, that lives in SE Asia

gibbous adj. (technical) (of the moon) with the bright part bigger than a SEMICIRCLE and smaller than a circle

gibe = JIBE

giblets noun [pl.] the inside parts of a chicken or other bird, including the heart and LIVER, that are usually removed before it is cooked

giddy adj. (giddier, giddiest)
1 [not usually before noun] feeling that everything is moving and that you are going to fall DIZZY: When I looked down from the top floor, I felt giddy.
2 [not usually before noun] ~ (with sth) so happy and excited that you cannot behave normally: She was giddy with happiness.
3 [usually before noun] making you feel as if you were about to fall: The kids were pushing the roundabout at a giddy speed. (figurative) the giddy heights of success
4 (old-fashioned) (of people) not serious SILLY: Isabel's giddy young sister
giddily adv.: She swayed giddily across the dance floor. His senses were swimming giddily out of control. giddiness noun [U]: Symptoms include nausea and giddiness.

giddy-up exclamation used as a command to a horse to make it go faster

GIFTM noun (computing) a type of computer file that contains images and is used a lot on the Internet (abbreviation for 'Graphic Interchange Format'): Send it as a GIF.

gift noun, verb
noun
1 a thing that you give to sb, especially on a special occasion or to say thank you PRESENT: The watch was a gift from my mother. Thank you for your generous gift. a free gift for every reader the gift of life (formal) The family made a gift of his paintings to the gallery. gifts of toys for the children All such posts are in the gift of the managing director (= only given by the managing director).
2 ~ (for sth/for doing sth) a natural ability TALENT: She has a great gift for music. He has the gift of making friends easily. She can pick up a tune instantly on the piano. It's a gift.
3 [usually sing.] (informal) a thing that is very easy to do or cheap to buy: Their second goal was an absolute gift. At £500 it's a gift.
the gift of the gab (BrE) (US a gift for/of gab) (informal, sometimes disapproving) the ability to speak easily and to persuade other people with your words: Joe's got the gift of the gabhe can sell anything.
look a gift horse in the mouth (usually with negatives) (informal) to refuse or criticize sth that is given to you for nothing: I'm never one to look a gift horse in the mouth.more at GOD
verb (BrE) (used especially in JOURNALISM) to give sth to sb without their having to make any effort to get it: [VNN] They gifted their opponents a goal. [VN] They gifted a goal to their opponents.

gift certificate noun (NAmE) = GIFT TOKEN

gifted adj.
1 having a lot of natural ability or intelligence: a gifted musician/player, etc. gifted children
2 ~ with sth having sth pleasant: He was gifted with a charming smile.

gift shop noun a shop/store that sells goods that are suitable for giving as presents

gift token (also gift voucher) (both BrE) (NAmE gift certificate) noun a piece of paper that is worth a particular amount of money and that can be exchanged for goods in a shop/store

gift wrap noun [U] attractive coloured or patterned paper used for wrapping presents in

gift-wrap verb (-pp-) [VN] [often passive] to wrap sth as a present for sb, especially in a shop/store: Would you like the chocolates gift-wrapped? The store offers a gift-wrapping service.

gig noun
1 a performance by musicians playing pop music or JAZZ in front of an audience; a similar performance by a COMEDIAN: to do a gig a White Stripes gig
2 (NAmE, informal) a job, especially a temporary one: a gig as a basketball coach
3 (informal) = GIGABYTE
4 a small light CARRIAGE with two wheels, pulled by one horse

giga- combining form (in nouns; used in units of measurement) 10^9 or 2^30: gigahertz

gigabyte (also informal gig) noun (abbr. Gb) (computing) a unit of computer memory, equal to 2^30 (or about a billion) BYTES

gigaflop NAmE noun (computing) a unit for measuring a computer's speed, equal to approximately one billion operations per second

gigahertz NAmE noun (pl. gigahertz) (abbr. GHz) (computing, physics) a unit for measuring radio waves and the speed at which a computer operates; 1 000 000 000 HERTZ

gigantic adj. extremely large ENORMOUS, HUGE: a gigantic house The problem was beginning to take on gigantic proportions.

gigantism (also giantism ) noun [U] (medical) a condition in which sb grows to an unusually large size

giggle verb, noun
verb~ (at/about sb/sth) to laugh in a silly way because you are amused, embarrassed or nervous: [V] The girls giggled at the joke. They giggled nervously as they waited for their turn. She giggled with delight. [also V speech]
noun
1 [C] a slight silly repeated laugh: She gave a nervous giggle. Matt collapsed into giggles and hung up the phone.
2 [sing.] (BrE, informal) a thing that you think is amusing: We only did it for a giggle.
3 the giggles [pl.] (informal) continuous giggling that you cannot control or stop: I get the giggles when I'm nervous. She had a fit of the giggles and had to leave the room. It's just something about the way he said it that gave me the giggles.

giggly adj. laughing a lot in a silly, nervous way: We were all in a very giggly mood.

GIGO NAmE GARBAGE

gigolo NAmE noun (pl. -os) a man who is paid to be the lover of an older woman, usually one who is rich

gigot noun [C, U] a leg of meat from a sheep or a LAMB: a gigot of lamb

gigue noun (music) (in the past) a quick lively piece of music for dancing

gild verb [VN]
1 (literary) to make sth look bright, as if covered with gold: The golden light gilded the sea.
2 to cover sth with a thin layer of gold or gold paint
gild the lily to spoil sth that is already good or beautiful by trying to improve it: Some people add a little brandy to the recipe but I feel this is gilding the lily.

gilded adj. [only before noun]
1 covered with a thin layer of gold or gold paint: a gilded picture frame
2 (literary) rich and belonging to the upper classes: the gilded youth (= rich, upper-class young people) of the Edwardian era

gilding noun [U] a layer of gold or gold paint; the surface that this makes

gilet noun a light thick jacket without sleeves

gill^1 noun [usually pl.] one of the openings on the side of a fish's head that it breathes through
to the gills (informal) completely full: I was stuffed to the gills with chocolate cake.

gill^2 noun a unit for measuring liquids. There are four gills in a pint.

gillie (also ghillie) noun (ScotE) a man or boy who helps sb who is shooting or fishing for sport in Scotland

gilt noun
1 [U] a thin layer of gold, or sth like gold that is used on a surface for decoration: gilt lettering
2 gilts [pl.] (BrE, finance) gilt-edged investments
3 [C] (especially NAmE) a young female pig
take the gilt off the gingerbread (BrE) to do or be sth that makes a situation or achievement less attractive or impressive

gilt-edged adj. (finance) very safe: gilt-edged securities/shares/stocks (= investments that are considered safe because they have been sold by the government)

gimcrack adj. [only before noun] badly made and of little value SHODDY: The place had a certain gimcrack theatrical glamour.

gimlet noun a small tool for making holes in wood to put screws in: (figurative) eyes like gimlets (= looking very hard at things and noticing every detail)

gimme (informal)
a way of writing the way that the words 'give me' are sometimes spoken: Gimme back my bike!
noun [usually sing.] something that is very easy to do or achieve: The two-foot putt was hardly a gimme. He fluffed an absolute gimme of a penalty.

gimmick noun (often disapproving) an unusual trick or unnecessary device that is intended to attract attention or to persuade people to buy sth: a promotional/publicity/sales gimmick We don't use gimmicks to sell our products.
gimmicky adj.: a gimmicky idea

gimmickry noun [U] (disapproving) the use of gimmicks in selling, etc.

gin noun
1 [U] an alcoholic drink made from grain and flavoured with JUNIPER BERRIES. Gin is usually drunk mixed with TONIC WATER or fruit juice.see also PINK GIN
2 [C] a glass of gin: I'll have a gin and tonic, please.
3 = COTTON GIN

ginger noun, adj., verb
noun [U]
1 the root of the ginger plant used in cooking as a spice: a teaspoon of ground ginger (BrE) ginger biscuits
2 a light brownish-orange colour
adj. (BrE) light brownish-orange in colour: ginger hair a ginger cat
verb
ginger sth/sbup (BrE) to make sth/sb more active or exciting LIVEN UP

ginger ale noun
1 [U] a clear FIZZY drink (= with bubbles) that does not contain alcohol, flavoured with ginger, and often mixed with alcoholic drinks
2 [C] a bottle or glass of ginger ale

ginger beer noun
1 [U] a FIZZY drink (= with bubbles) with a very small amount of alcohol in, flavoured with ginger
2 [C] a bottle or glass of ginger beer

gingerbread NAmE noun [U] a sweet cake or soft biscuit/cookie flavoured with GINGER: a gingerbread man (= a gingerbread biscuit/cookie in the shape of a person) see GILT

ginger group noun (BrE) a group of people within a political party or an organization, who work to persuade other members to accept their policies or ideas

gingerly NAmE adv. in a careful way, because you are afraid of being hurt, of making a noise, etc.: He opened the box gingerly and looked inside.

ginger nut (BrE) (also ginger snap NAmE, BrE) noun a hard sweet biscuit/cookie flavoured with GINGER

ginger wine noun [U, C] a sweet alcoholic drink made with GINGER

gingery adj. like GINGER in colour or flavour: The cake has a delicious gingery taste.

gingham noun [U] a type of cotton cloth with a pattern of white and coloured squares: a blue and white gingham dress

gingivitis noun [U] (medical) a condition in which the GUMS around the teeth become painful, red and swollen

ginkgo NAmE (also gingko NAmE ) noun (pl. -os or -oes) a Chinese tree with yellow flowers MAIDENHAIR TREE

ginormous NAmE adj. (BrE, informal) extremely large: The monster was ginormous, Dad!

gin rummy noun [U] a card game in which players try to get HANDS (= sets of cards) that add up to ten

ginseng noun [U] a medicine obtained from a plant root that some people believe helps you stay young and healthy

gin sling noun an alcoholic drink made by mixing GIN with water and either lemon or LIME juice

gin trap noun a device for trapping small wild animals or birds

gippy tummy (also gyppy tummy) noun (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) DIARRHOEA (= an illness in which waste matter is emptied from the body in liquid form) that affects visitors to hot countries

Gipsy = GYPSY

giraffe NAmE noun (pl. giraffe or giraffes) a tall African animal with a very long neck, long legs, and dark marks on its coat

gird NAmE verb [VN] to surround sth with sth; to fasten sth around sb/sth
gird (up) your loins (literary or humorous) to get ready to do sth difficult: The company is girding its loins for a plunge into the overseas market.
gird (yourself/sb/sth) (up) for sth (literary) to prepare for sth difficult, especially a fight, contest, etc.

girder NAmE noun a long strong iron or steel bar used for building bridges and the FRAMEWORK of large buildings

girdle NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 a piece of women's underwear that fits closely around the body from the waist to the top of the legs, designed to make a woman look thinner
2 (literary) a thing that surrounds sth else: carefully tended lawns set in a girdle of trees
3 (old-fashioned) a belt or thick string fastened around the waist to keep clothes in position
verb [VN] (literary) to surround sth: A chain of volcanoes girdles the Pacific.

girl NAmE noun
1 [C] a female child: a baby girl a little girl of six Hello, girls and boys!see also POSTER CHILD
2 [C] a daughter: Our youngest girl is at college.
3 [C] (sometimes offensive) a young woman: Alex is not interested in girls yet. He married the girl next door.
4 [C] (usually in compounds) (old-fashioned, offensive) a female worker: an office girl
5 [C] (old-fashioned) a man's girlfriend: He's taking his girl home to meet his parents.
6 girls [pl.] (used especially as a form of address by women) a woman's female friends: I'm having a night out with the girls. Good morning, girls!
7 [sing.] old girl (often offensive) an old woman, especially sb's wife or mother: How is the old girl these days? see BIG adj.

girl band noun a group of young women who sing pop music and dance

girl Friday noun a girl or a woman who is employed in an office to do several different jobs, helping other people

girlfriend NAmE noun
1 a girl or a woman that sb is having a romantic relationship with
2 (especially NAmE) a woman's female friend: I had lunch with a girlfriend.

Girl Guide noun (old-fashioned, BrE) = GUIDE

Girl Guider noun (BrE) = GUIDER

girlhood NAmE noun [U] (old-fashioned) the time when sb is a girl; the fact of being a girl

girlie NAmE adj., noun (informal)
adj. [only before noun]
1 containing photographs of naked or nearly naked women, that are intended to make men sexually excited: girlie magazines
2 (disapproving) suitable for or like girls, not boys: girlie games
noun a way of referring to a girl or young woman, that many women find offensive

girlish NAmE adj. like a girl; of a girl: a girlish giggle a girlish figure

girl power noun [U] the idea that women should take control of their careers and lives

Girl Scout noun (US) = GUIDE

girn = GURN

giro NAmE noun (pl. -os) (BrE)
1 [U] (finance) a system in which money can be moved from one bank or post office account to another by a central computer: to pay by giro a giro credit/payment/transfer
2 (also giro cheque) [C] a cheque that the government pays through the giro system to people who are unemployed or sick, or who have a very small income: It is easy for families to run out of money before the weekly giro arrives.

girth NAmE noun
1 [U, C] the measurement around sth, especially a person's waist: a man of enormous girth a tree one metre in girth/with a girth of one metre He rested his hands on his broad girth (= his large stomach).
2 [C] a narrow piece of leather or cloth that is fastened around the middle of a horse to keep the seat, (called a SADDLE), or a load in place

gismo = GIZMO

gist noun (usually the gist) [sing.] ~ (of sth) the main or general meaning of a piece of writing, a speech or a conversation: to get (= understand) the gist of an argument I missed the beginning of the lecturecan you give me the gist of what he said? I'm afraid I don't quite follow your gist (= what you really mean). Students are taught the skills of reading and listening for gist.

git noun (BrE, slang) a stupid or unpleasant man

give verb, noun
verb (gave given )
HAND/PROVIDE
1 ~ sth to sb| ~ sb sth to hand sth to sb so that they can look at it, use it or keep it for a time: [VN, VNN] Give the letter to your mother when you've read it. Give your mother the letter. [VNN] They were all given a box to carry. [VN] She gave her ticket to the woman at the check-in desk.
2 ~ sth to sb| ~ sb sth to hand sth to sb as a present; to allow sb to have sth as a present: [VNN] What are you giving your father for his birthday? She was given a huge bunch of flowers. Did you give the waiter a tip? [VN] We don't usually give presents to people at work. [V] They say it's better to give than to receive.
3 ~ sth to sb| ~ sb sth to provide sb with sth: [VNN] They were all thirsty so I gave them a drink. Give me your name and address. We've been given a 2% pay increase. I was hoping you would give me a job. He was given a new heart in a five-hour operation. She wants a job that gives her more responsibility. Can I give you a ride to the station? They couldn't give me any more information. I'll give you (= allow you to have) ten minutes to prepare your answer. Don't give me any of that backchat (= don't be rude). [VN] He gives Italian lessons to his colleagues. The reforms should give a better chance to the less able children.
MONEY
4 ~ (sth) to sth to pay money to a charity, etc., to help people: [V] We need your helpplease give generously. They both gave regularly to charity. [VN] I gave a small donation.
5 ~ (sb) sth for sth to pay in order to have or do sth: [VNN] How much will you give me for the car? I'd give anything to see him again. [VN] I gave £50 for the lot.
TREAT AS IMPORTANT
6 ~ sth to sb/sth to use time, energy, etc. for sb/sth: [VNN, VN] I gave the matter a lot of thought. I gave a lot of thought to the matter. [VN] The government has given top priority to reforming the tax system.
PUNISHMENT
7 ~ sth to sb| ~ sb sth to make sb suffer a particular punishment: [VNN] The judge gave him a nine-month suspended sentence. [VN] We discussed what punishment should be given to the boys.
ILLNESS
8 ~ sth to sb| ~ sb sth to infect sb with an illness: [VNN] You've given me your cold. [VN] She'd given the bug to all her colleagues.
PARTY/EVENT
9 [VN] if you give a party, you organize it and invite people
10 [VN] to perform sth in public: She gave a reading from her latest volume of poetry. The President will be giving a press conference this afternoon.
DO/PRODUCE STH
11 used with a noun to describe a particular action, giving the same meaning as the related verb: [VN] She gave a shrug of her shoulders (= she shrugged). He turned to us and gave a big smile (= smiled broadly). She looked up from her work and gave a yawn (= yawned). He gave a loud cry (= cried out loudly) and fell to the floor. Her work has given pleasure to (= pleased) millions of readers. [VNN] He gave her a kiss (= kissed her). I have to admit that the news gave us a shock (= shocked us). We'll give you all the help we can (= help you in every way we can). For other similar expressions, look up the nouns in each. For example, you will find give your approval at approval.
12 [VNN] to produce a particular feeling in sb: All that driving has given me a headache. Go for a walk. It'll give you an appetite.
TELEPHONE CALL
13 [VNN] to make a telephone call to sb: Give me a call tomorrow. (BrE) I'll give you a ring.
MARK/GRADE
14 to judge sb/sth to be of a particular standard: [VNN] She had given the assignment an A. I give it ten out of ten for originality. [also VN]
PREDICT HOW LONG
15 [VNN] to predict that sth will last a particular length of time: That marriage won't last. I'll give them two years, at the outside.
IN SPORT
16 [VN-ADJ] to say that a player or the ball is in a particular position: The umpire gave the ball out.
BEND
17 [V] to bend or stretch under pressure: The branch began to give under his weight. (figurative) We can't go on like thissomething's got to give.
18 [V] to agree to change your mind or give up some of your demands: You're going to have to give a little.
Most idioms containing give are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example, give rise to sth is at risen. don't give me that (informal) used to tell sb that you do not accept what they say: 'I didn't have time to do it.' 'Oh, don't give me that!'
give and take to be willing, in a relationship, to accept what sb else wants and to give up some of what you want: You're going to have to learn to give and take.
give as good as you get to react with equal force when sb attacks or criticizes you: She can give as good as she gets.
give it up (for sb) (informal) to show your approval of sb by clapping your hands: Give it up for Eddie Izzard!
give me sth/sb (any day/time) (informal) used to say that you prefer a particular thing or person to the one that has just been mentioned: We don't go out much. Give me a quiet night in front of the TV any day!
give or take (sth) if sth is correct give or take a particular amount, it is approximately correct: It'll take about three weeks, give or take a day or so.
give sb to believe/understand (that) ... [often passive] (formal) to make sb believe/understand sth: I was given to understand that she had resigned.
I give you ... used to ask people to drink a TOAST to sb: Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Geoff Ogilby!
I/I'll give you that (informal) used when you are admitting that sth is true
what gives? (informal) what is happening?; what is the news?
give sb away (in a marriage ceremony) to lead the BRIDE to the BRIDEGROOM and formally allow her to marry him: The bride was given away by her father.
give sthaway
1 to give sth as a gift: He gave away most of his money to charity. (informal) Check out the prices of our pizzaswe're virtually giving them away!related noun GIVEAWAY
2 to present sth: The mayor gave away the prizes at the school sports day.
3 to carelessly allow sb to have an advantage: They've given away two goals already.
give sth/sbaway to make known sth that sb wants to keep secret BETRAY: She gave away state secrets to the enemy. It was supposed to be a surprise but the children gave the game away. His voice gave him away (= showed who he really was).related noun GIVEAWAY

give sb back sth| give sthback (to sb)
1 to return sth to its owner: Could you give me back my pen? Could you give me my pen back? I picked it up and gave it back to him. (informal) Give it me back!
2 to allow sb to have sth again: The operation gave him back the use of his legs.

give in (to sb/sth)
1 to admit that you have been defeated by sb/sth: The rebels were forced to give in.
2 to agree to do sth that you do not want to do: The authorities have shown no signs of giving in to the kidnappers' demands.
give sth in (to sb) (BrE) (also hand sthin (to sb) BrE, NAmE) to hand over sth to sb in authority: Please give your work in before Monday.

give off sth to produce sth such as a smell, heat, light, etc.: The flowers gave off a fragrant perfume. The fire doesn't seem to be giving off much heat.

give on to/onto sth [no passive] (BrE) to have a view of sth; to lead directly to sth: The bedroom windows give on to the street. This door gives onto the hall.

give out
1 to come to an end; to be completely used up: After a month their food supplies gave out. Her patience finally gave out.
2 to stop working: One of the plane's engines gave out in mid-Atlantic. Her legs gave out and she collapsed.
give sthout to give sth to a lot of people: The teacher gave out the exam papers.
give out sth
1 to produce sth such as heat, light, etc.: The radiator gives out a lot of heat.
2 [often passive] (especially BrE) to tell people about sth or broadcast sth

give over (BrE, informal) used to tell sb to stop doing sth: Give over, Chris! You're hurting me. [+ -ing] Give over complaining!
give yourself over to sth (also give yourself up to sth) to spend all your time doing sth or thinking about sth; to allow sth to completely control your life
give sthover to sth [usually passive] to use sth for one particular purpose: The gallery is given over to British art.

give up to stop trying to do sth: They gave up without a fight. She doesn't give up easily. I give uptell me the answer.
give sb up
1 (also give up on sb especially in NAmE) to believe that sb is never going to arrive, get better, be found, etc.: There you are at last! We'd given you up. We hadn't heard from him for so long, we'd given him up for dead.
2 to stop having a relationship with sb: Why don't you give him up?
give sthup
1 [no passive] to stop doing or having sth: She didn't give up work when she had the baby. We'd given up hope of ever having children. [+ -ing] You ought to give up smoking.
2 to spend time on a task that you would normally spend on sth else: I gave up my weekend to help him paint his apartment.
give sthup (to sb) to hand sth over to sb else: We had to give our passports up to the authorities. He gave up his seat to a pregnant woman (= stood up to allow her to sit down).
give yourself/sb up (to sb) to offer yourself/sb to be captured: After a week on the run he gave himself up to the police.
give yourself up to sth = GIVE YOURSELF OVER TO STH
give up on sb
1 to stop hoping or believing that sb will change, get better, etc.: His teachers seem to have given up on him.
2 (especially NAmE) = GIVE SB UP
noun [U] the ability of sth to bend or stretch under pressure: The shoes may seem tight at first, but the leather has plenty of give in it.
give and take
1 willingness in a relationship to accept what sb else wants and give up some of what you want: If the dispute is to be resolved there must be some give and take. Marriage is a give-and-take relationship.
2 an exchange of words or ideas: to encourage a lively give and take

giveaway noun, adj.
noun (informal)
1 something that a company gives free, usually with sth else that is for sale: There's a giveaway with our magazine next montha free CD!
2 something that makes you guess the real truth about sth/sb: She pretended she wasn't excited but the expression on her face was a dead (= obvious) giveaway.
adj. [only before noun] (informal) (of prices) very low

giveback noun (NAmE) a situation in which workers agree to accept lower wages or fewer benefits at a particular time, in return for more money or benefits later

given adj., prep., noun
adj. [usually before noun]
1 already arranged: They were to meet at a given time and place.
2 that you have stated and are discussing; particular: We can find out how much money is spent on food in any given period.
be given to sth/to doing sth (formal) to do sth often or regularly: She's much given to outbursts of temper. He's given to going for long walks on his own.
prep. when you consider sth: Given his age, (= considering how old he is) he's remarkably active. Given her interest in children, teaching seems the right job for her.
given that conj.: It was surprising the government was re-elected, given that they had raised taxes so much.
noun something that is accepted as true, for example when you are discussing sth, or planning sth

given name noun (especially NAmE) = FIRST NAME

giver noun (often in compounds) a person or an organization that gives: They are very generous givers to charity.

gizmo (also gismo) NAmE noun (informal) (pl. -os) a general word for a small piece of equipment, often one that does sth in a new and clever way

gizzard NAmE noun the part of a bird's stomach in which food is broken up into smaller pieces before being DIGESTED

glacé NAmE adj. [only before noun] (of fruit) preserved in sugar: glacé fruits glacé cherries

glacial adj.
1 [usually before noun] (geology) connected with the Ice Age: the glacial period (= the time when much of the northern half of the world was covered by ice)
2 (technical) caused or made by glaciers; connected with glaciers: a glacial landscape glacial deposits/erosion
3 (formal) very cold; like ice ICY: glacial winds/temperatures the glacial waters of the Arctic The dining room was glacial.
4 (formal) (used about people) cold and unfriendly; not showing feelings ICY: Her expression was glacial. Relations between the two countries had always been glacial.

glaciation noun [U] (geology) the process or result of land being covered by glaciers

glacier NAmE noun a large mass of ice, formed by snow on mountains, that moves very slowly down a valley

glad adj.
1 [not before noun] ~ (about sth)| ~ (to do sth)| ~ (to know, hear, see ... )| ~ (that ... ) pleased; happy: 'I passed the test!' 'I'm so glad (for you).' 'He doesn't need the pills any more.' 'I'm glad about that.' I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. I'm glad (that) you're feeling better. I'm glad to meet you. I've heard a lot about you. He was glad he'd come. I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life! I'm so glad (that) you're safe! She was glad when the meeting was over. He talked so much that they were really glad to see the back of him (= when he left).
2 ~ of sth| ~ if ... grateful for sth: She was very glad of her warm coat in the biting wind. I'd be glad of your help. I'd be glad if you could help me.
3 ~ to do sth very willing to do sth: I'd be glad to lend you the money. If you'd like me to help you, I'd be only too glad to.
4 [only before noun] (old-fashioned) bringing joy; full of joy: glad news/tidings They greeted each other with glad cries.
I'm glad to say (that ... ) (informal) used when you are commenting on a situation and saying that you are happy about it: Most teachers, I'm glad to say, take their jobs very seriously.

SYNONYMS

glad

happy pleased delighted thrilled overjoyed

These words all describe people feeling happy about sth that has happened or is going to happen.

glad [not usually before noun] happy about sth or grateful for it: He was glad he'd come. She was glad when the meeting was over.

happy pleased about sth nice that you have to do or sth that has happened to sb: We are happy to announce the engagement of our daughter.

pleased [not before noun] happy about sth that has happened or sth that you have to do: She was very pleased with her exam results. You're coming? I'm so pleased.

GLAD, HAPPY OR PLEASED?

Feeling pleased can suggest that you have judged sb/sth and approve of them. Feeling glad can be more about feeling grateful for sth. You cannot be 'glad with sb': The boss should be glad with you. Happy can mean glad or pleased or satisfied.

delighted very pleased about sth; very happy to do sth; showing your delight: I'm delighted at your news. Delighted is often used to accept an invitation: 'Can you stay for dinner?' 'I'd be delighted (to).'

thrilled [not before noun] (rather informal) extremely pleased and excited about sth: I was thrilled to be invited.

overjoyed [not before noun] extremely happy about sth: She was overjoyed at the birth of her daughter.

DELIGHTED, THRILLED OR OVERJOYED?

Overjoyed or thrilled may express a stronger feeling than delighted, but delighted can be made stronger with absolutely, more than or only too. Overjoyed and thrilled can be made negative and ironic with not exactly or less than: She was not exactly overjoyed at the prospect of looking after her niece.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

to be/feel glad/happy/pleased/delighted/thrilled/overjoyed

to look/seem/sound glad/happy/pleased/delighted/thrilled/overjoyed

to be glad/happy/pleased/delighted/thrilled/overjoyed that/to see/hear/find/know

to be glad/happy/pleased/delighted/thrilled/overjoyed for sb

to be glad/happy/pleased/delighted/thrilled/overjoyed about sth

to be pleased/delighted/thrilled/overjoyed at sth

very glad/happy/pleased

absolutely delighted/thrilled/overjoyed

gladden verb (old-fashioned) to make sb feel pleased or happy: [VN] The sight of the flowers gladdened her heart. [VN to inf] It gladdened him to see them all enjoying themselves.

glade noun (literary) a small open area of grass in a wood or a forest

glad-hand verb [V, VN] (especially of a politician) to say hello to sb in a friendly way, especially when this is not sincere
glad-handing noun [U]

gladiator noun (in ancient Rome) a man trained to fight other men or animals in order to entertain the public
gladiatorial adj.: gladiatorial combat

gladiolus NAmE noun (pl. gladioli ) a tall garden plant with long thin leaves and brightly coloured flowers growing up the STEM

gladly adv.
1 willingly: I would gladly pay extra for a good seat.
2 happily; with thanks: When I offered her my seat, she accepted it gladly. see SUFFER

gladness noun [U] (literary) joy; happiness

glad rags noun [pl.] (old-fashioned, informal) a person's best clothes, worn on a special occasion

glamorize (BrE also -ise) verb [VN] (usually disapproving) to make sth bad appear attractive or exciting: Television tends to glamorize violence.

glamorous (also informal glam) adj. especially attractive and exciting, and different from ordinary things or people: glamorous movie stars a glamorous job UNGLAMOROUS
glamorously adv.: glamorously dressed

glamour (BrE) (NAmE glamor) noun [U]
1 the attractive and exciting quality that makes a person, a job or a place seem special, often because of wealth or status: hopeful young actors and actresses dazzled by the glamour of Hollywood Now that she's a flight attendant, foreign travel has lost its glamour for her.
2 physical beauty that also suggests wealth or success: Add a cashmere scarf under your jacket for a touch of glamour.

glamour model (BrE) (NAmE glamor model) noun a person, especially a woman, who is photographed wearing very few or no clothes in order to sexually excite the person looking at the photographs

glam rock NAmE noun [U] a style of music popular in the 1970s, in which male singers wore unusual clothes and make-up

glance NAmE verb, noun
verb [V + adv. / prep.]
1 to look quickly at sth/sb: She glanced at her watch. He glanced around the room. I glanced up quickly to see who had come in.
2 ~ at/down/over/through sth to read sth quickly and not thoroughly SCAN: I only had time to glance at the newspapers. He glanced briefly down the list of names. She glanced through the report.
glance on/off sth (of light) to flash on a surface or be reflected off it
glance off (sth) to hit sth at an angle and move off it in a different direction: The ball glanced off the post into the net.
noun~ (at sb/sth) a quick look: to take/have a glance at the newspaper headlines a cursory/brief/casual/furtive glance The sisters exchanged glances (= looked at each other). She shot him a sideways glance. He walked away without a backward glance. She stole a glance (= looked secretly) at her watch. note at LOOK
at a (single) glance immediately; with only a quick look: He could tell at a glance what was wrong.
at first glance when you first look at or think about sth, often rather quickly: At first glance the problem seemed easy.

glancing NAmE adj. [only before noun] hitting sth/sb at an angle, not with full force: to strike somebody a glancing blow

gland noun an organ in a person's or an animal's body that produces a substance for the body to use. There are many different glands in the body: a snake's poison glands Her glands are swollen.see also PITUITARY
glandular NAmE adj. [usually before noun]: glandular tissue

glandular fever (BrE) (NAmE or medical mononucleosis) (also NAmE informal mono) noun [U] an infectious disease that causes swelling of the LYMPH GLANDS and makes the person feel very weak for a long time

glans (pl. glandes ) noun (anatomy) the round part at the end of a man's PENIS or a woman's CLITORIS

glare NAmE verb, noun
verb [V]
1 ~ (at sb/sth) to look at sb/sth in an angry way GLOWER: He didn't shout, he just glared at me silently. I looked at her and she glared furiously back.
2 to shine with a very bright unpleasant light
noun
1 [U, sing.] a very bright, unpleasant light: the glare of the sun The rabbit was caught in the glare of the car's headlights. These sunglasses are designed to reduce glare. (figurative) The divorce was conducted in the full glare of publicity (= with continuous attention from newspapers and television).
2 [C] a long, angry look: to give sb a hostile glare note at STARE, LOOK

glaring NAmE adj.
1 [usually before noun] (of sth bad) very easily seen BLATANT: a glaring error/omission/inconsistency/injustice the most glaring example of this problem
2 (of a light) very bright and unpleasant: a glaring white light
3 angry; aggressive: glaring eyes
glaringly adv.: glaringly obvious

glass NAmE noun, verb
noun
TRANSPARENT SUBSTANCE
1 [U] a hard, usually transparent, substance used, for example, for making windows and bottles: a sheet/pane of glass frosted/toughened glass a glass bottle/dish/roof I cut myself on a piece of broken glass. The vegetables are grown under glass (= in a GREENHOUSE).see also CUT GLASS, PLATE GLASS, STAINED GLASS, GLAZIER
FOR DRINKING
2 [C] (often in compounds) a container made of glass, used for drinking out of: a sherry glass a wine glass
3 [C] the contents of a glass: a glass of sherry/wine/water, etc. He drank three whole glasses.
GLASS OBJECTS
4 [U] objects made of glass: We keep all our glass and china in this cupboard. She has a fine collection of Bohemian glass.
ON WATCH/PICTURE
5 [sing.] a protecting cover made of glass on a watch, picture or photograph frame, FIRE ALARM, etc.: In case of emergency, break the glass and press the button.
FOR EYES
6 glasses (NAmE also eyeglasses) (also old-fashioned or formal spectacles, informal specs especially in BrE) [pl.] two LENSES in a frame that rests on the nose and ears. People wear glasses in order to be able to see better or to protect their eyes from bright light: a pair of glasses dark glasses I wear glasses for driving.see also FIELD GLASSES, MAGNIFYING GLASS, SUNGLASSES
MIRROR
7 [C, usually sing.] (old-fashioned) a mirrorsee also LOOKING GLASS
BAROMETER
8 the glass [sing.] a BAROMETER
see PEOPLE n., RAISE v.
verb [VN] (BrE, informal) to hit sb in the face with a glass
glass sth in/over [usually passive] to cover sth with a roof or wall made of glass: a glassed-in poolcompare GLAZE

glass-blowing noun [U] the art or activity of blowing hot glass into shapes using a special tube
glass-blower noun

glass ceiling noun [usually sing.] the imaginary barrier that stops women, or other groups, from getting the best jobs in a company, etc. although there are no official rules to prevent them from getting these jobs

glass fibre (BrE) (NAmE glass fiber) noun [U] = FIBREGLASS

glassful NAmE noun the amount that a drinking glass will hold

glasshouse NAmE noun (BrE)
1 a building with glass sides and a glass roof, for growing plants in; a type of large GREENHOUSE
2 (slang) a military prison

glasspaper NAmE noun [U] (BrE) thick paper with a covering of glass powder to make it rough, which is rubbed against things in order to make them smooth

glassware NAmE noun [U] objects made of glass

glassy NAmE adj.
1 like glass; smooth and shiny: a glassy lake a glassy material
2 showing no feeling or emotion: glassy eyes a glassy look/stare He looked flushed and glassy-eyed.

Glaswegian noun a person from Glasgow in Scotland
Glaswegian adj.

glaucoma NAmE noun [U] an eye disease that causes gradual loss of sight

glaze verb, noun
verb
1 [V] ~ (over) if a person's eyes glaze or glaze over, the person begins to look bored or tired: A lot of people's eyes glaze over if you say you are a feminist. 'I'm feeling rather tired,' he said, his eyes glazing.
2 [VN] to fit sheets of glass into sth: to glaze a window/house a glazed doorsee also DOUBLE GLAZINGcompare GLASS
3 [VN] ~ sth (with sth) to cover sth with a glaze to give it a shiny surface: Glaze the pie with beaten egg. glazed tiles (NAmE) a glazed doughnut
noun [C, U]
1 a thin clear liquid put on CLAY objects such as cups and plates before they are finished, to give them a hard shiny surface
2 a thin liquid, made of egg, milk or sugar, for example, that is put on cake, bread, etc. to make it look shiny: Brush the top of the cake with the apricot glaze.

glazed adj. (especially of the eyes) showing no feeling or emotion; dull: eyes glazed with boredom

glazier NAmE noun a person whose job is to fit glass into the frames of windows, etc.

gleam verb, noun
verb
1 [V] to shine with a pale clear light: The moonlight gleamed on the water. Her eyes gleamed in the dark. note at SHINE
2 ~ (with sth) to look very clean or bright: [V] The house was gleaming with fresh white paint. [V-ADJ] Her teeth gleamed white against the tanned skin of her face.
3 [V] ~ (with/in sth) if a person's eyes gleam with a particular emotion, or an emotion gleams in a person's eyes, the person shows that emotion: His eyes gleamed with amusement. Amusement gleamed in his eyes.
noun [usually sing.]
1 a pale clear light, often reflected from sth: the gleam of moonlight on the water a gleam of light from a lamp A few gleams of sunshine lit up the gloomy afternoon. I saw the gleam of the knife as it flashed through the air.
2 a small amount of sth: a faint gleam of hope a serious book with an occasional gleam of humour
3 an expression of a particular feeling or emotion that shows in sb's eyes GLINT: a gleam of triumph in her eyes a mischievous gleam in his eye The gleam in his eye made her uncomfortable (= as if he was planning sth secret or unpleasant).

gleaming adj. shining brightly: gleaming white teeth

glean verb [VN] ~ sth (from sb/sth) to obtain information, knowledge etc., sometimes with difficulty and often from various different places: These figures have been gleaned from a number of studies.

gleanings noun [pl.] information, knowledge etc., that you obtain from various different places, often with difficulty

glebe noun (old use)
1 [C] a piece of land that provided an income for a priest
2 [U] land; fields

glee noun [U] a feeling of happiness, usually because sth good has happened to you, or sth bad has happened to sb else DELIGHT: He rubbed his hands in glee as he thought of all the money he would make. She couldn't disguise her glee at their embarrassment. note at SATISFACTION

gleeful adj. happy because of sth good you have done or sth bad that has happened to sb else: a gleeful laugh
gleefully adv.

glen noun a deep narrow valley, especially in Scotland or Ireland

glengarry noun (pl. -ies) a boat-shaped hat without a BRIM with two RIBBONS hanging at the back, worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress

glib adj. (disapproving) (of speakers and speech) using words that are clever, but are not sincere, and do not show much thought: a glib salesman glib answers
glibly adv.

glide verb, noun
verb [V, usually + adv. / prep.]
1 to move smoothly and quietly, especially as though it takes no effort: Swans went gliding past. The skaters were gliding over the ice.
2 (of birds or aircraft) to fly using air currents, without the birds moving their wings or the aircraft using the engine: An eagle was gliding high overhead. The plane managed to glide down to the runway.
noun
1 [sing.] a continuous smooth movement: the graceful glide of a skater
2 [C] (phonetics) a speech sound made while moving the tongue from one position to anothercompare DIPHTHONG

glider noun a light aircraft that flies without an engine

gliding noun [U] the sport of flying in a glider

glimmer noun, verb
noun
1 a faint unsteady light: We could see a glimmer of light on the far shore.
2 (also glimmering) a small sign of sth: a glimmer of hope I caught the glimmer of a smile in his eyes. the glimmering of an idea
verb [V] to shine with a faint unsteady light: The candles glimmered in the corner. (figurative) Amusement glimmered in his eyes.

glimpse noun, verb
noun [usually sing.]
1 ~ (at sb/sth)| ~ (of sb/sth) a look at sb/sth for a very short time, when you do not see the person or thing completely: He caught a glimpse of her in the crowd. I came up on deck to get my first glimpse of the island. Fans crowded the street outside waiting for a glimpse of their hero. note at LOOK, SEE
2 ~ (into sth)| ~ (of sth) a short experience of sth that helps you to understand it: a fascinating glimpse into life in the ocean The programme gives us a rare glimpse of a great artist at work.
verb [VN]
1 to see sb/sth for a moment, but not very clearly CATCH SIGHT OF, SPOT: He'd glimpsed her through the window as he passed.
2 to start to understand sth: Suddenly she glimpsed the truth about her sister.

glint verb, noun
verb [V]
1 to produce small bright flashes of light: The sea glinted in the moonlight. The sun glinted on the windows. note at SHINE
2 if a person's eyes glint with a particular emotion, or an emotion glints in a person's eyes, the person shows that emotion, which is usually a strong one: Her eyes glinted angrily. Hostility glinted in his eyes.
noun
1 a sudden flash of light or colour shining from a bright surface: the glint of the sun on the water golden glints in her red hair She saw a glint of silver in the grass.
2 an expression in sb's eyes showing a particular emotion, often a negative one: He had a wicked glint in his eye. a glint of anger

glissando NAmE noun (pl. glissandos, glissandi ) (from Italian) a way of playing a series of notes so that each one slides into the next, making a smooth continuous sound

glisten verb (of sth wet) to shine: [V] Her eyes were glistening with tears. Sweat glistened on his forehead. [V-ADJ] The road glistened wet after the rain. note at SHINE see GOLD n.

glister NAmE verb [V] (literary) to shine brightly with little flashes of light, like a diamond GLITTER

glitch noun (informal) a small problem or fault that stops sth working successfully: A few technical glitches forced us to postpone the demonstration.

glitter verb, noun
verb [V]
1 to shine brightly with little flashes of light, like a diamond SPARKLE: The ceiling of the cathedral glittered with gold. The water glittered in the sunlight. note at SHINE
2 ~ (with sth) (of the eyes) to shine brightly with a particular emotion, usually a strong one: His eyes glittered with greed. see GOLD n.
noun
1 [U] bright light consisting of many little flashes: the glitter of diamonds
2 [sing.] a bright expression in sb's eyes showing a particular emotion GLINT: There was a triumphant glitter in his eyes.
3 [U] the attractive, exciting qualities that sb/sth, especially a rich and famous person or place, seems to have GLAMOUR: the superficial glitter of show business Behind all the glitter, life in the theatre can be very hard.
4 [U] very small shiny pieces of thin metal or paper that are stuck to things as a decoration: gold/silver glitter Jane wore pink eye glitter to the party.

glitterati noun [pl.] (used in newspapers) fashionable, rich and famous people: Up-and-coming actors mingled with the glitterati of the film world.

glittering adj. [usually before noun]
1 very impressive and successful: He has a glittering career ahead of him.
2 very impressive and involving rich and successful people: a glittering occasion/ceremony a glittering array of stars
3 shining brightly with many small flashes of light SPARKLING: glittering jewels

glittery adj. shining brightly with many little flashes of light: a glittery suit

glitz noun [U] (sometimes disapproving) the quality of appearing very attractive, exciting and impressive, in a way that is not always genuine: the glitz and glamour of the music scene
glitzy adj.: a glitzy, Hollywood-style occasion

the gloaming NAmE noun [sing.] (ScotE or literary) the faint light after the sun sets TWILIGHT, DUSK

gloat NAmE verb [V] ~ (about/at/over sth) to show that you are happy about your own success or sb else's failure, in an unpleasant way CROW: She was still gloating over her rival's disappointment. Having lost a large percentage of the vote, they were in no position to gloat. I hope you haven't just come here to gloat.
gloating adj.: a gloating look

glob NAmE noun (informal) a small amount of a liquid or substance in a round shape: thick globs of paint on the floor

global NAmE adj. [usually before noun]
1 covering or affecting the whole world: global issues The commission is calling for a global ban on whaling. the company's domestic and global markets
2 considering or including all parts of sth: We need to take a more global approach to the problem. global searches on the database They sent a global email to all staff.
globally adv.: We need to start thinking globally.

globalization (BrE also -isation) NAmE noun [U] the fact that different cultures and economic systems around the world are becoming connected and similar to each other because of the influence of large MULTINATIONAL companies and of improved communication

globalize (BrE also -ise) NAmE verb [V, VN] (economics) if sth, for example a business company, globalizes or is globalized, it operates all around the world

global village noun [sing.] the whole world, looked at as a single community that is connected by electronic communication systems: Television has helped to create a global village.

global warming noun [U] the increase in temperature of the earth's atmosphere, that is caused by the increase of particular gases, especially CARBON DIOXIDEsee also GREENHOUSE EFFECT

globe NAmE noun
1 [C] an object shaped like a ball with a map of the world on its surface, usually on a stand so that it can be turned
2 the globe [sing.] the world (used especially to emphasize its size): tourists from every corner of the globe
3 [C] a thing shaped like a ball

globe artichoke noun = ARTICHOKE (1)

globetrotting NAmE adj. (informal) travelling in many countries all over the world: a globetrotting journalist
globetrotter noun globetrotting noun [U]: She has done her fair share of globetrotting.

globular NAmE adj. shaped like a ball, GLOBE or globule; consisting of globules: The plant has distinctive globular flowers.

globule NAmE noun a very small drop or ball of a liquid or of a solid that has been melted: a globule of fat

glocalization (BrE also -isation) NAmE noun [U] the fact of adapting products or services that are available all over the world to make them suitable for local needs

glockenspiel NAmE noun a musical instrument made of a row of metal bars of different lengths, that you hit with two small HAMMERScompare XYLOPHONE

glom NAmE verb (-mm-) [VN] (NAmE, informal) to steal
glom onto sth
1 to develop a strong interest in sth: Kids soon glom onto the latest trend.
2 to become attached or stuck to sth

gloom noun
1 [U, sing.] a feeling of being sad and without hope DEPRESSION: The gloom deepened as the election results came in. He remained sunk in gloom for several days. An air of gloom and despondency settled over the household.
2 [U] (literary) almost total DARKNESS: We watched the boats come back in the gathering gloom. Caroline peered into the gloom of the hallway. see DOOM n., PILE v.

gloomy adj. (gloomier, gloomiest)
1 nearly dark, or badly lit in a way that makes you feel sad DEPRESSING: a gloomy room/atmosphere It was a wet and gloomy day.
2 sad and without hope GLUM: a gloomy expression We sat in gloomy silence.
3 without much hope of success or happiness in the future DEPRESSING: a gloomy picture of the country's economic future Suddenly, the future didn't look so gloomy after all.
gloomily adv.: He stared gloomily at the phone. Iris lay gloomily on her bed contemplating the future. gloominess noun [U]

gloop (BrE) (NAmE glop NAmE ) noun [U] (informal) a thick wet substance that looks, tastes or feels unpleasant
gloopy (BrE) (NAmE gloppy) adj.

glop NAmE noun [U] (informal, especially NAmE) a thick wet substance that looks, tastes or feels unpleasant

glorified adj. [only before noun] making sb/sth seem more important or better than they are: The restaurant was no more than a glorified fast-food cafe.

glorify verb (glorifies, glorifying, glorified, glorified) [VN]
1 (often disapproving) to make sth seem better or more important than it really is: He denies that the movie glorifies violence.
2 (formal) to praise and worship God
glorification noun [U]: the glorification of war

glorious adj.
1 (formal) deserving or bringing great fame and success: a glorious victory a glorious chapter in our country's history The film looks back at Spain's glorious past.compare INGLORIOUS
2 (formal) very beautiful and impressive SPLENDID: a glorious sunset Both her daughters have glorious red hair.
3 extremely enjoyable WONDERFUL: a glorious trip to Rome
4 (of weather) hot, with the sun shining: They had three weeks of glorious sunshine.
gloriously adv.: The show has been gloriously successful. a gloriously sunny day

glory noun, verb
noun
1 [U] fame, praise or honour that is given to sb because they have achieved sth important: Olympic glory in the 100 metres I do all the work and he gets all the glory. She wanted to enjoy her moment of glory. He came home a rich man, covered in glory.
2 [U] praise and worship of God: 'Glory to God in the highest'
3 [U] great beauty: The city was spread out beneath us in all its glory. The house has now been restored to its former glory.
4 [C] a special cause for pride, respect or pleasure: The temple is one of the glories of ancient Greece. Her long black hair is her crowning glory (= most impressive feature).see also REFLECTED GLORY
verb (glories, glorying, gloried, gloried)
glory in sth to get great pleasure or enjoyment from sth REVEL: She gloried in her new-found independence.

glory days noun [pl.] a time in the past which people look back on as being better than the present: The last time they won the Cup was back in the glory days of 1989.

gloss NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U, sing.] a shine on a smooth surface: paper with a high gloss on one side The gel gives your hair a gloss. You can have the photos with either a gloss or a matt finish. Use over your favourite lipstick to add extra gloss.
2 [U] (often in compounds) a substance designed to make sth shiny: lipgloss
3 (also gloss paint) [U] paint which, when dry, has a hard shiny surface: two coats of gloss
4 [U, sing.] an attractive appearance that is only on the surface and hides what is not so attractive: Beneath the gloss of success was a tragic private life. This scandal has taken the gloss off the occasion.
5 [C] ~ (on sth) a way of explaining sth to make it seem more attractive or acceptable: The director puts a Hollywood gloss on the civil war.
6 [C] ~ (on sth) a note or comment added to a piece of writing to explain a difficult word or phrase
verb [VN] ~ sth (as sth) to add a note or comment to a piece of writing to explain a difficult word or idea
gloss over sth to avoid talking about sth unpleasant or embarrassing by not dealing with it in detail: to gloss over a problem He glossed over any splits in the party.

glossary NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a list of technical or special words, especially those in a particular text, explaining their meanings: a glossary of financial terms

glossy NAmE adj., noun
adj. (glossier, glossiest)
1 smooth and shiny: glossy hair a glossy brochure/magazine (= printed on shiny paper)
2 giving an appearance of being important and expensive: the glossy world of fashion
noun (pl. -ies) (BrE, informal) an expensive magazine printed on glossy paper, with a lot of colour photographs, etc.: She works in one of the big fashion glossies.

glottal NAmE noun (phonetics) a speech sound produced by the glottis
glottal adj.

glottal stop noun (phonetics) a speech sound made by closing and opening the glottis, which in English sometimes takes the place of a , for example in butter

glottis NAmE noun (anatomy) the part of the throat that contains the VOCAL CORDS and the narrow opening between them

glove noun a covering for the hand, made of wool, leather, etc. with separate parts for each finger and the thumb: a pair of gloves rubber gloves gardening glovescompare MITTENsee also BOXING, OVEN GLOVE
the gloves are off used to say that sb is ready for a fight or an argumentmore at FIT v., HAND n., IRON adj., KID n.

glove compartment (also glove box) noun a small space or shelf facing the front seats of a car, used for keeping small things in

gloved adj. [usually before noun] (of a hand) wearing a glove

glove puppet (BrE) (NAmE hand puppet) noun a type of PUPPET that you put over your hand and move using your fingers

glow NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 (especially of sth hot or warm) to produce a dull, steady light: [V] The embers still glowed in the hearth. The lighted candles glowed in the darkness. The strap has a fluorescent coating that glows in the dark. [V-ADJ] A cigarette end glowed red in the darkness. note at SHINE
2 [V] ~ (with sth) (of a person's body or face) to look or feel warm or pink, especially after exercise or because of excitement, embarrassment, etc.: Her cheeks were glowing. His face glowed with embarrassment.
3 [V] ~ (with sth) to look very pleased or satisfied: She was positively glowing with pride. He gave her a warm glowing smile.
4 ~ (with sth) to appear a strong, warm colour: [V] The countryside glowed with autumn colours. [V-ADJ] The brick walls glowed red in the late afternoon sun.
noun [sing.]
1 a dull steady light, especially from a fire that has stopped producing flames: The city was just a red glow on the horizon. There was no light except for the occasional glow of a cigarette.
2 the pink colour in your face when you have been doing exercise or feel happy and excited: The fresh air had brought a healthy glow to her cheeks.
3 a gold or red colour: the glow of autumn leaves
4 a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction: When she looked at her children, she felt a glow of pride.

glower verb [V] ~ (at sb/sth) to look in an angry, aggressive way GLARE: She glowered across the table at me. Nicola stared at Tom, who glowered back. He stood behind her, eyes glowering.
glower noun

glowing NAmE adj. giving enthusiastic praise: a glowing account/report/review He spoke of her performance in the film in glowing terms (= praising her highly).
glowingly adv.: She spoke glowingly of her brother's life and work.

glow-worm noun a type of insect. The female has no wings and produces a green light at the end of the tail.

glucose NAmE noun [U] a type of sugar that is found in fruit and is easily changed into energy by the human body

glue noun, verb
noun [U, C] a sticky substance that is used for joining things together: a tube of glue synthetic glues He sticks to her like glue (= never leaves her).
verb [VN] ~ A (to/onto B)| ~ A and B (together) to join two things together using glue STICK: She glued the label onto the box. Glue the two pieces of cardboard together. Make sure the edges are glued down.
be glued to sth (informal) to give all your attention to sth; to stay very close to sth: He spends every evening glued to the TV. Her eyes were glued to the screen (= she did not stop watching it).
glued to the spot not able to move, for example because you are frightened or surprised

glue ear noun [U] (BrE) a medical condition in which the tubes going from the nose to the ear are blocked with MUCUS

glue-sniffing noun [U] the habit of breathing in the gases from some kinds of glue in order to produce a state of excitement; a type of SOLVENT ABUSE

gluey adj. sticky like glue; covered with glue

glug verb, noun (informal)
verb (-gg-)
1 [V + adv. / prep.] (of liquid) to pour out quickly and noisily, especially from a bottle
2 [VN] to drink sth quickly: She glugged down a glass of water
noun a small amount of a drink or liquid poured out

glum adj. sad, quiet and unhappy GLOOMY: The players sat there with glum looks on their faces.
glumly adv.: The three of us sat glumly looking out to sea.

glut noun, verb
noun [usually sing.] ~ (of sth) a situation in which there is more of sth than is needed or can be used SURFEIT: a glut of cheap videos on the market SHORTAGE
verb (-tt-) [VN] [usually passive] to supply or provide sth with too much of sth: The market has been glutted with foreign cars.

gluten noun [U] a sticky substance that is a mixture of two PROTEINS and is left when STARCH is removed from flour, especially WHEAT flour: We sell a range of gluten-free products (= not containing gluten).

glutes noun [pl.] (informal) the muscles in the BUTTOCKS that move the top of the leg

gluteus NAmE (also gluteus muscle) noun (anatomy) any of the three muscles in each BUTTOCK

glutinous adj. sticky: glutinous rice

glutton noun
1 (disapproving) a person who eats too much
2 ~ for punishment/work a person who enjoys doing difficult or unpleasant tasks
gluttonous adj. GREEDY

gluttony noun [U] the habit of eating and drinking too much GREED

glycerine NAmE (especially BrE) (US usually glycerin NAmE ) noun [U] a thick sweet clear liquid made from fats and oils and used in medicines, beauty products and EXPLOSIVES

glyph noun a symbol CARVED out of stone, especially one from an ancient writing system

GM abbr.
1 (BrE) GENETICALLY MODIFIED: GM foods or 'Frankenstein foods' as they are popularly called
2 grant-maintained (used in Britain to describe schools that receive money from central, not local government)

gm (BrE) (also gm. US, BrE) abbr. (pl. gm or gms) gram(s)

GMAT abbr. Graduate Management Admissions Test (a test taken by GRADUATE students in the US who want to study for a degree in Business)

GMT noun [U] the abbreviation for 'Greenwich Mean Time' (the time at Greenwich in England on the line of 0° LONGITUDE, used for calculating time everywhere in the world; also called Universal Time)

gnarled NAmE adj.
1 (of trees) twisted and rough; covered with hard lumps: a gnarled oak/branch/trunk
2 (of a person or part of the body) bent and twisted because of age or illness: gnarled hands

gnarly NAmE adj. (NAmE, slang)
1 very good; excellent: Wow, man! That's totally gnarly!
2 not very good

gnash verb
gnash your teeth to feel very angry and upset about sth, especially because you cannot get what you want: He'll be gnashing his teeth when he hears that we lost the contract. The news caused great wailing and gnashing of teeth.

gnashers NAmE noun [pl.] (BrE, informal) teeth

gnat noun a small fly with two wings, that bites

gnaw verb ~ (away) (at/on sth) to keep biting sth or chewing it hard, so that it gradually disappears: [VN] The dog was gnawing a bone. [V] Rats had gnawed through the cable She gnawed at her fingernails. (figurative) Self-doubt began to gnaw away at her confidence.
gnaw at sb to make sb feel anxious, frightened or uncomfortable over a long period of time: The problem had been gnawing at him for months. Fear gnawed at her soul.

gnawing adj. [only before noun] making you feel worried over a period of time: gnawing doubts

gneiss noun [U] (geology) a type of METAMORPHIC rock formed at high pressure and temperature deep in the ground

gnocchi NAmE noun [pl.] an Italian dish consisting of small balls of potato mixed with flour and boiled, usually eaten with a sauce

gnome NAmE noun
1 (in stories) a creature like a small man with a pointed hat, who lives under the ground and guards gold and TREASURE
2 a plastic or stone figure of a gnome, used to decorate a garden

gnomic NAmE adj. (formal) (of a person or a remark) clever and wise but sometimes difficult to understand

GNP noun the abbreviation for 'gross national product' (the total value of all the goods and services produced by a country in one year, including the total income from foreign countries)compare GDP

gnu noun (pl. gnu or gnus) = WILDEBEEST

GNVQ noun a qualification taken in British schools by students aged 15-18 to prepare them for university or work (the abbreviation for 'General National Vocational Qualification'): She's doing GNVQ Business Studies at college.compare A LEVEL

go NAmE verb, noun
verb (goes NAmE went gone NAmE ) Been is used as the past participle of go when sb has gone somewhere and come back.
MOVE/TRAVEL
1 to move or travel from one place to another: [V + adv. / prep.] She went into her room and shut the door behind her. He goes to work by bus. I have to go to Rome on business. She has gone to China (= is now in China or is on her way there). She has been to China (= she went to China and has now returned). I think you should go to the doctor's. Are you going home for Christmas? [V to inf] She has gone to see her sister this weekend. In spoken English go can be used with and plus another verb to show purpose or to tell sb what to do: I'll go and answer the door. Go and get me a drink! The and is sometimes left out, especially in NAmE: Go ask your mom!
2 [V] ~ (to sth) (with sb) to move or travel, especially with sb else, to a particular place or in order to be present at an event: Are you going to Dave's party? Who else is going? His dog goes everywhere with him.
3 [+adv./prep.] to move or travel in a particular way or over a particular distance: [V] He's going too fast. [VN] We had gone about fifty miles when the car broke down.
4 [V -ing, usually +adv./prep.] ~ flying, singing, etc. to move in a particular way or while doing sth else: The car went skidding off the road into a ditch. She went sobbing up the stairs. She crashed into a waiter and his tray of drinks went flying.
LEAVE
5 [V] to leave one place in order to reach another DEPART: I must be going now. They came at six and went at nine. Has she gone yet? He's been gone an hour (= he left an hour ago). When does the train go?
6 [V] ~ on sth to leave a place and do sth different: to go on a journey/a tour/a trip/a cruise Richard has gone on leave for two weeks.
VISIT/ATTEND
7 [V] ~ to sth to visit or attend a place for a particular purpose: (BrE) I have to go to hospital for an operation. (NAmE) I have to go to the hospital. to go to prison (= to be sent there as punishment for a crime) Do you go to church (= regularly attend church services)?
SWIMMING/FISHING/JOGGING, etc.
8 ~ for sth to leave a place or travel to a place in order to take part in an activity or a sport: to go for a walk/drive/swim/run Shall we go for a drink (= at a pub or bar) after work? I have to go shopping this afternoon. We're going sailing on Saturday.
BE SENT
9 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] to be sent or passed somewhere: I want this memo to go to all managers.
LEAD
10 [V + adv. / prep.] ~ (from ... ) to ... to lead or extend from one place to another: I want a rope that will go from the top window to the ground. Where does this road go?
PLACE/SPACE
11 [V + adv. / prep.] to have as a usual or correct position; to be placed: This dictionary goes on the top shelf. Where do you want the piano to go (= be put)?
12 [V] will/would not ~ (in/into sth) used to say that sth does/did not fit into a particular place or space: My clothes won't all go in that one suitcase. He tried to push his hand through the gap but it wouldn't go.
NUMBERS
13 ~ (into sth) if a number will go into another number, it is contained in that number an exact number of times: [V-N] 3 into 12 goes 4. [V] 7 into 15 won't go. (NAmE) 7 into 15 doesn't go. 7 won't go into 15.
PROGRESS
14 [V + adv. / prep.] used to talk about how well or badly sth makes progress or succeeds: 'How did your interview go?' 'It went very well, thank you.' Did everything go smoothly? How's it going (= is your life enjoyable, successful, etc. at the moment)? The way things are going the company will be bankrupt by the end of the year.
STATE/CONDITION
15 [V] ~ to/into sth| ~ out of sth used in many expressions to show that sb/sth has reached a particular state/is no longer in a particular state: She went to sleep. That colour has gone out of fashion.
16 linking verb [V-ADJ] to become different in a particular way, especially a bad way: to go bald/blind/mad/bankrupt, etc. Her hair is going grey. This milk has gone sour. The children went wild with excitement. note at BECOME
17 [V-ADJ] to live or move around in a particular state: to go naked/barefoot She cannot bear the thought of children going hungry.
18 [V-ADJ] ~ unnoticed, unreported, etc. to not be noticed, reported, etc.: Police are worried that many crimes go unreported.
SONG/STORY
19 used to talk about what tune or words a song or poem has or what happens in a story: [V + adv. / prep.] How does that song go? I forget how the next line goes. [V that] The story goes that she's been married five times.
SOUND/MOVEMENT
20 to make a particular sound or movement: [V-N] The gun went 'bang'. [V + adv. / prep.] She went like this with her hand.
21 [V] to be sounded as a signal or warning: The whistle went for the end of the game.
SAY
22 [V speech] (informal) (used when telling a story) to say: I asked 'How much?' and he goes, 'Fifty' and I go, 'Fifty? You must be joking!'
START
23 [V] to start an activity: I'll say 'One, two, three, go!' as a signal for you to start. As soon as he gets here we're ready to go.
MACHINE
24 [V] if a machine goes, it works: This clock doesn't go.
DISAPPEAR
25 [V] to stop existing; to be lost or stolen DISAPPEAR: Has your headache gone yet? I left my bike outside the library and when I came out again it had gone.
BE THROWN OUT
26 [V] sb/sth must/has to/can ~ used to talk about wanting to get rid of sb/sth: The old sofa will have to go. He's uselesshe'll have to go.
NOT WORK
27 [V] to get worse; to become damaged or stop working correctly: Her sight is beginning to go. His mind is going (= he is losing his mental powers). I was driving home when my brakes went.
DIE
28 [V] to die. People say 'go' to avoid saying 'die': You can't take your money with you when you go.
MONEY
29 [V] ~ (on sth) when money goes, it is spent or used for sth: I don't know where the money goes! Most of my salary goes on the rent. The money will go to finance a new community centre.
30 [V] ~ (to sb) (for sth) to be sold: We won't let the house go for less than $200 000. There was usually some bread going cheap (= being sold cheaply) at the end of the day.
31 [V + adv. / prep.] to be willing to pay a particular amount of money for sth: He's offered £3 000 for the car and I don't think he'll go any higher. I'll go to $1 000 but that's my limit.
HELP
32 [V to inf] to help; to play a part in doing sth: This all goes to prove my theory. It (= what has just happened) just goes to show you can't always tell how people are going to react.
BE AVAILABLE
33 be going [V] (informal) to be available: There just aren't any jobs going in this area.
TIME
34 [V + adv. / prep.] used to talk about how quickly or slowly time seems to pass: Hasn't the time gone quickly?
USE TOILET
35 [V] (informal) to use a toilet: Do you need to go, Billy?
Most idioms containing go are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example go it alone is at alone. anything goes (informal) anything that sb says or does is accepted or allowed, however shocking or unusual it may be: Almost anything goes these days.
as people, things, etc. go in comparison with the average pers, thing, etc.: As teachers go, he's not bad.
be going on (for) sth (BrE) to be nearly a particular age, time or number: It was going on (for) midnight.
be going to do sth
1 used to show what sb intends to do in the future: We're going to buy a house when we've saved enough money.
2 used to show that sth is likely to happen very soon or in the future: I think I'm going to faint. If the drought continues there's going to be a famine.
don't go doing sth (informal) used to tell or warn sb not to do sth: Don't go getting yourself into trouble.
enough/something to be going on with (BrE) something that is enough for a short time: £50 should be enough to be going on with.
go all out for sth | go all out to do sth to make a very great effort to get sth or do sth
go and do sth used to show that you are angry or annoyed that sb has done sth stupid: Trust him to go and mess things up! Why did you have to go and upset your mother like that? You've really gone and done it (= done sth very stupid) now!
go off on one (BrE, informal) to suddenly become very angry: Now and again she really goes off on one.
go on (with you) (old-fashioned) used to express the fact that you do not believe sth, or that you disapprove of sth: Go on with youyou're never forty. You don't look a day over thirty.
(have) a lot, nothing, etc. going for you (to have) many/not many advantages: You're young, intelligent, attractiveyou have a lot going for you!
no go (informal) not possible or allowed: If the bank won't lend us the money it's no go, I'm afraid.see also NO-GO AREA
not (even) go there (informal) used to say that you do not want to talk about sth in any more detail because you do not even want to think about it: Don't ask me to choose. I don't want to go there. 'There was a problem with his parents, wasn't there?' 'Don't even go there!'
to go
1 remaining; still left: I only have one exam to go.
2 (NAmE, informal) if you buy cooked food to go in a restaurant or shop/store, you buy it to take away and eat somewhere else: Two pizzas to go.
what goes around comes around (saying)
1 the way sb behaves towards other people will affect the way those people behave towards them in the future
2 something that is not fashionable now will become fashionable again in the future
where does sb go from here? used to ask what action sb should take, especially in order to improve the difficult situation that they are in
who goes there? used by a soldier who is guarding a place to order sb to say who they are: Halt, who goes there?
go about (BrE) = GO AROUND
go about sth to continue to do sth; to keep busy with sth: Despite the threat of war, people went about their business as usual.
go about sth to start working on sth TACKLE: You're not going about the job in the right way. [+ -ing] How should I go about finding a job?

go after sb to chase or follow sb: He went after the burglars. She left the room in tears so I went after her.
go after sb/sth to try to get sb/sth: We're both going after the same job.

go against sb to not be in sb's favour or not to their advantage: The jury's verdict went against him.
go against sb/sth to resist or oppose sb/sth: He would not go against his parents' wishes.
go against sth to be opposed to sth; to not fit or agree with sth: Paying for hospital treatment goes against her principles. His thinking goes against all logic.

go ahead
1 to travel in front of other people in your group and arrive before them: I'll go ahead and tell them you're on the way.
2 to happen; to be done PROCEED: The building of the new bridge will go ahead as planned.related noun GO-AHEAD
go ahead (with sth) to begin to do sth, especially when sb has given permission or has expressed doubts or opposition: 'May I start now?' 'Yes, go ahead.' The government intends to go ahead with its tax cutting plansrelated noun GO-AHEAD

go along
1 to continue with an activity: He made up the story as he went along.
2 to make progress; to develop: Things are going along nicely.
go along with sb/sth to agree with sb/sth: I don't go along with her views on private medicine.

go around/round
1 to spin or turn: to go round in a circle
2 to be enough for everyone to have one or some: There aren't enough chairs to go around.
3 (BrE also go about) to often be in a particular state or behave in a particular way: She often goes around barefoot. [+ -ing] It's unprofessional to go round criticizing your colleagues.
4 to spread from person to person: There's a rumour going around that they're having an affair.
go around/round (to ... ) to visit sb or a place that is near: I went round to the post office. I'm going around to my sister's (= her house) later.

go at sb to attack sb: They went at each other furiously.
go at sth to make great efforts to do sth; to work hard at sth: They went at the job as if their lives depended on it.

go away
1 to leave a person or place: Just go away! Go away and think about it, then let me know.
2 to leave home for a period of time, especially for a holiday/vacation: They've gone away for a few days. I'm going away on business.
3 to disappear: The smell still hasn't gone away.

go back if two people go back a period of time (usually a long time), they have known each other for that time: Dave and I go back twenty years.
go back (to ... ) to return to a place: She doesn't want to go back to her husband (= to live with him again). This toaster will have to go back (= be taken back to the shop/store where it was bought)it's faulty. Of course we want to go back some dayit's our country, our real home. note at RETURN
go back (to sth)
1 to consider sth that happened or was said at an earlier time: Can I go back to what you said at the beginning of the meeting? Once you have made this decision, there will be no going back (= you will not be able to change your mind).
2 to have existed since a particular time or for a particular period: Their family goes back to the time of the Pilgrim Fathers.
go back on sth to fail to keep a promise; to change your mind about sth: He never goes back on his word (= never fails to do what he has said he will do).
go back to sth to start doing sth again that you had stopped doing: The kids go back to school next week. [+ -ing] She's decided to go back to teaching.

go before to exist or happen in an earlier time: The present crisis is worse than any that have gone before.
go before sb/sth to be presented to sb/sth for discussion, decision or judgement: My application goes before the planning committee next week.

go beyond sth to be more than sth EXCEED: This year's sales figures go beyond all our expectations (= are much better than we thought they would be).

go by (of time) to pass: Things will get easier as time goes by. The weeks went slowly by.
go by sth to be guided by sth; to form an opinion from sth: That's a good rule to go by. If past experience is anything to go by, they'll be late.

go down
1 to fall to the ground: She tripped and went down with a bump.
2 if a ship, etc. goes down, it disappears below the water SINK
3 when the sun or moon goes down, it disappears below the HORIZON SET
4 if food or drink will/will not go down, it is difficult/easy to swallow: A glass of wine would go down very nicely (= I would very much like one).
5 if the price of sth, the temperature, etc. goes down, it becomes lower FALL: The price of oil is going down. Oil is going down in price. GO UP
6 (informal) to get worse in quality: The neighbourhood has gone down a lot recently.
7 (computing) to stop working temporarily: The system is going down in ten minutes.
8 (NAmE, informal) to happen: You really don't know what's going down?
go down (from ... ) (BrE, formal) to leave a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge, at the end of a term or after finishing your studies: She went down (from Cambridge) in 1989. GO UP (TO ... )
go down (in sth) to be written in sth; to be recorded or remembered in sth: It all goes down (= she writes it all) in her notebook. He will go down in history as a great statesman.
go down (on sb) (slang) to perform ORAL sex on sb (= to use the mouth to give sb sexual pleasure)
go down (to sb) to be defeated by sb, especially in a game or competition: Italy went down to Brazil by three goals to one.
go down (to ... ) (from ... ) to go from one place to another, especially further south or from a city or large town to a smaller place: They've gone down to Brighton for a couple of days. GO UP
go down (with sb) to be received in a particular way by sb: The suggestion didn't go down very well with her boss.
go down with sth (especially BrE) to become ill/sick with sth CATCH: Our youngest boy has gone down with chickenpox.

go for sb to attack sb: She went for him with a knife.
go for sb/sth
1 to apply to sb/sth: What I said about Peter goes for you, too. They have a high level of unemploymentbut the same goes for many other countries.
2 to go to a place and bring sb/sth back: She's gone for some milk.
3 to be attracted by sb/sth; to like or prefer sb/sth: She goes for tall slim men. I don't really go for modern art.
go for sth
1 to choose sth: I think I'll go for the fruit salad. note at CHOOSE
2 to put a lot of effort into sth, so that you get or achieve sth: Go for it, John! You know you can beat him. It sounds a great idea. Go for it!

go in
1 to enter a room, house, etc.: Let's go in, it's getting cold.
2 if the sun or moon goes in, it disappears behind a cloud
go in for sth
1 (BrE) to take an exam or enter a competition: She's going in for the Cambridge First Certificate.
2 to have sth as an interest or a hobby: She doesn't go in for team games.
go in with sb to join sb in starting a business: My brothers are opening a garage and they want me to go in with them.

go into sth
1 (of a vehicle) to hit sth violently: The car skidded and went into a tree.
2 (of a vehicle or driver) to start moving in a particular way: The plane went into a nosedive.
3 to join an organization, especially in order to have a career in it: to go into the Army/the Church/Parliament to go into teaching
4 to begin to do sth or behave in a particular way: He went into a long explanation of the affair.
5 to examine sth carefully: We need to go into the question of costs.
6 (of money, time, effort, etc.) to be spent on sth or used to do sth: More government money needs to go into the project. [+ -ing] Years of work went into researching the book.

go off
1 to leave a place, especially in order to do sth: She went off to get a drink.
2 to be fired; to explode: The gun went off by accident. The bomb went off in a crowded street. note at EXPLODE
3 if an alarm, etc. goes off, it makes a sudden loud noise
4 if a light, the electricity, etc. goes off, it stops working: Suddenly the lights went off. The heating goes off at night. GO ON
5 (BrE, informal) to fall asleep: Hasn't the baby gone off yet?
6 (BrE) if food or drink goes off, it becomes bad and not fit to eat or drink
7 (BrE) to get worse in quality: Her books have gone off in recent years.
8 to happen in a particular way: The meeting went off well.
go off (on sb) (NAmE, informal) to suddenly become angry with sb: He just went off on her and started yelling.
go off sb/sth (BrE, informal) to stop liking sb/sth or lose interest in them: Jane seems to be going off Paul. I've gone off beer.
go off with sb to leave your husband, wife, partner, etc. in order to have a relationship with sb else: He went off with his best friend's wife.
go off with sth to take away from a place sth that does not belong to you: He went off with $10 000 of the company's money.

go on
1 when a performer goes on, they begin their performance: She doesn't go on until Act 2.
2 (in sport) to join a team as a SUBSTITUTE during a game: Cole went on in place of Beckham just before half-time.
3 when a light, the electricity, etc. goes on, it starts to work: Suddenly all the lights went on. GO OFF
4 (of time) to pass: She became more and more talkative as the evening went on.
5 (usually be going on) to happen: What's going on here?
6 if a situation goes on, it continues without changing: This cannot be allowed to go on. How much longer will this hot weather go on for? We can't go on like thiswe seem to be always arguing.
7 to continue speaking, after a short pause: She hesitated for a moment and then went on. [+ speech] 'You know,' he went on, 'I think my brother could help you.'
8 used to encourage sb to do sth: Go on! Have another drink! Go onjump!
go on (ahead) to travel in front of sb else: You go on aheadI'll catch you up in a few minutes.
go on sth (used in negative sentences and questions) to base an opinion or a judgement on sth: The police don't have much to go on.
go on (about sb/sth) to talk about sb/sth for a long time, especially in a boring or complaining way: He went on and on about how poor he was. She does go on sometimes!
go on (at sb) (especially BrE) to complain to sb about their behaviour, work, etc. CRITICIZE: She goes on at him continually.
go on (with sth) to continue an activity, especially after a pause or break: That's enough for nowlet's go on with it tomorrow.
go on doing sth to continue an activity without stopping: He said nothing but just went on working.
go on to sth to pass from one item to the next: Let's go on to the next item on the agenda.
go on to do sth to do sth after completing sth else: The book goes on to describe his experiences in the army. After her early teaching career she went on to become a doctor.

go out
1 to leave your house to go to a social event: She goes out a lot. [+ -ing] He goes out drinking most evenings.
2 when the TIDE goes out, it moves away from the land EBB COME IN
3 to be sent: Have the invitations gone out yet?
4 (BrE) when a radio or television programme goes out, it is broadcast
5 when news or information goes out, it is announced or published: [+ that] Word went out that the director had resigned
6 if a fire or light goes out, it stops burning or shining
go out (of sth)
1 to fail to reach the next stage of a competition, etc.: She went out of the tournament in the first round.
2 to be no longer fashionable or generally used: Those skirts went out years ago.
go out of sb/sth (of a quality or a feeling) to be no longer present in sb/sth; to disappear from sb/sth: All the fight seemed to go out of him. The heat has gone out of the argument.
go out to sb if your thoughts, etc. go out to sb, you think about them in a kind way and hope that the difficult situation that they are in will get better:
go out with sb| go out (together) (especially of young people) to spend time with sb and have a romantic or sexual relationship with them: Tom has been going out with Lucy for six weeks. How long have Tom and Lucy been going out together?

go over sth
1 to examine or check sth carefully: Go over your work before you hand it in. note at CHECK
2 to study sth carefully, especially by repeating it: He went over the events of the day in his mind (= thought about them carefully).
go over (to ... ) to move from one place to another, especially when this means crossing sth such as a room, town or city: He went over and shook hands with his guests. Many Irish people went over to America during the famine.
go over to sb/sth (in broadcasting) to change to a different person or place for the next part of a broadcast: We are now going over to the news desk for an important announcement.
go over to sth to change from one side, opinion, habit, etc. to another: Two Conservative MPs have gone over to the Liberal Democrats.
go over (with sb) (NAmE) to be received in a particular way by sb: The news of her promotion went over well with her colleagues.

go round = GO AROUND
go round (to ... ) = GO AROUND (TO ... )

go through if a law, contract, etc. goes through, it is officially accepted or completed: The deal did not go through.
go through sth
1 to look at or examine sth carefully, especially in order to find sth: I always start the day by going through my email. She went through the company's accounts, looking for evidence of fraud.
2 to study or consider sth in detail, especially by repeating it: Let's go through the arguments again. Could we go through (= practise) Act 2 once more?
3 to perform a series of actions; to follow a method or procedure: Certain formalities have to be gone through before you can emigrate.
4 to experience or suffer sth: She's been going through a bad patch recently. He's amazingly cheerful considering all he's had to go through.
5 to use up or finish sth completely: The boys went through two whole loaves of bread.
go through with sth to do what is necessary to complete a course of action, especially one that is difficult or unpleasant: She decided not to go through with (= not to have) the operation.

go to sb/sth to be given to sb/sth: Proceeds from the concert will go to charity. All her property went to her eldest son (= when she died).

go together = GO WITH STH

go towards sth to be used as part of the payment for sth: The money will go towards a new car. [+ -ing] Part of my pay cheque went towards buying a CD player.

go under
1 (of sth that floats) to sink below the surface
2 (informal) to become BANKRUPT (= be unable to pay what you owe): The firm will go under unless business improves.

go up
1 to be built: New offices buildings are going up everywhere.
2 when the curtain across the stage in a theatre goes up, it is raised or opened
3 to be destroyed by fire or an explosion: The whole building went up in flames.
4 if the price of sth, the temperature, etc. goes up, it becomes higher RISE: The price of cigarettes is going up. Cigarettes are going up in price. GO DOWN
go up (to ... ) (BrE, formal) to arrive at a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge, at the beginning of a term or in order to begin your studies: She went up (to Oxford) in 1989. GO DOWN (FROM ... )
go up (to ... ) (from ... ) to go from one place to another, especially further north or to a city or large town from a smaller place: When are you next going up to Scotland? We went up to London last weekend. GO DOWN

go with sb
1 (old-fashioned, informal) to have a sexual or romantic relationship with sb
2 (informal) to have sex with sb
go with sth
1 to be included with or as part of sth: A car goes with the job.
2 to agree to accept sth, for example a plan or an offer: You're offering £500? I think we can go with that.
3 (also go (together)) to combine well with sth MATCH: Does this jacket go with this skirt? Those colours don't really go (together).
4 (also go together) to exist at the same time or in the same place as sth; to be found together: Disease often goes with poverty. Disease and poverty often go together.

go without (sth) to manage without sth that you usually have or need: There wasn't time for breakfast, so I had to go without. How long can a human being go (= survive) without sleep? [+ -ing] She went without eating for three days.
noun (pl. goes )
1 [C] (BrE) (also turn NAmE, BrE) a person's turn to move or play in a game or an activity: Whose go is it? It's your go. 'How much is it to play?' 'It's 50p a go.' Can I have a go on your new bike?
2 [C] (BrE) (also try NAmE, BrE) an attempt at doing sth: It took three goes to get it right. I doubt if he'll listen to advice from me, but I'll give it a go (= I'll try but I don't think I will succeed).
3 [U] (BrE) energy and enthusiasm: Mary's always got plenty of go.see also GET-UP-AND-GO
4 [U] a Japanese game played on a board
at one go (BrE) in one single attempt or try: She blew out the candles at one go.
be a go (NAmE, informal) to be planned and possible or allowed: I'm not sure if Friday's trip is a go.
be all go (BrE, informal) to be very busy or full of activity: It was all go in the office today.
be on the go (also be on the move) (informal) to be very active and busy: I've been on the go all day. Having four children keeps her on the go.
first, second, etc. go (BrE) at the first, second, etc. attempt: I passed my driving test first go.
have a go (informal, especially BrE) to attack sb physically: There were about seven of them standing round him, all waiting to have a go.
have a go (at sth/at doing sth) to make an attempt to do sth: 'I can't start the engine.' 'Let me have a go.' I'll have a go at fixing it tonight.
have a go at sb (informal, BrE) to criticize sb or complain about sb: The boss had a go at me for being late for work. The government are always having a go at teachers.
have sth on the go (BrE, informal) to be in the middle of an activity or a project: The award-winning novelist often has three or four books on the go at once.
in one go (informal) all together on one occasion: I'd rather do the journey in one go, and not stop on the way. They ate the packet of biscuits all in one go.
make a go of sth (informal) to be successful in sth: We've had a few problems in our marriage, but we're both determined to make a go of it.more at LEAVE v., LET v.

goad NAmE verb, noun
verb [VN] ~ sb/sth (into sth/into doing sth) to keep irritating or annoying sb/sth until they react: Goaded beyond endurance, she turned on him and hit out. He finally goaded her into answering his question.
goad sbon to drive or encourage sb to do sth: The boxers were goaded on by the shrieking crowd. She was goaded on by fierce ambition.
noun
1 a pointed stick used for making cows, etc. move forwards
2 something that makes sb do sth, usually by annoying them: The offer of economic help is intended to act as a goad to political reform.

go-ahead noun, adj.
nounthe go-ahead [sing.] permission for sb to start doing sth: The council has given the go-ahead to start building. Union leaders have now got the go-ahead for new talks with management.
adj. [usually before noun] willing to try new ideas, methods, etc. and therefore likely to succeed: a go-ahead company

goal NAmE noun
1 (in sports) a wooden frame with a net into which players must kick or hit the ball in order to score a point: He headed the ball into an open goal (= one that had nobody defending it). Who is in goal (= is the goalkeeper) for Arsenal?
2 the act of kicking or hitting the ball into the goal; a point that is scored for this: The winning goal was scored by Hill. Liverpool won by three goals to one. United conceded two goals in the first half. a penalty goalsee also DROP GOAL, GOLDEN GOAL, OWN GOAL
3 something that you hope to achieve AIM: to work towards a goal to achieve/attain a goal You need to set yourself some long-term goals. Our ultimate goal must be the preservation of the environment. Their goal was to eradicate malaria. note at TARGET

goal area noun (in football (SOCCER)) an area in front of the goal from which GOAL KICKS must be taken

goalball NAmE noun [U] a game in which teams of three players try to roll a ball containing bells over a line at the end of a COURT, played by people who have problems with their sight

goalkeeper NAmE (also informal goalie NAmE ) (NAmE also goaltender) (also BrE informal keeper) noun (in football (SOCCER), HOCKEY, etc.) a player whose job is to stop the ball from going into his or her own team's goal
goalkeeping noun [U]: goalkeeping techniques

goal kick noun (in football (SOCCER)) a kick taken by one team after the ball has been kicked over their GOAL LINE by the other team without a goal being scored

goalless NAmE adj. [usually before noun] without either team scoring a goal: (BrE) The match ended in a goalless draw.

goal line noun (in football, HOCKEY, etc.) the line at either end of a sports field on which the goal stands or which the ball must cross to score a goal or TOUCHDOWN

goalmouth NAmE noun the area directly in front of a goal

goal poacher noun = POACHER

goalpost NAmE (also post) noun one of the two vertical posts that form part of a goal
move, etc. the goalposts (BrE, informal, disapproving) to change the rules for sth, or conditions under which it is done, so that the situation becomes more difficult for sb: I manage to get on top of the job, and then they move the goalposts again.

goalscorer NAmE noun a player in a sports game who scores a goal

goaltender NAmE noun (NAmE) = GOALKEEPER

go-around (also go-round) noun
1 (technical) a path taken by a plane after an unsuccessful attempt at landing, in order to get into a suitable position to try to land again
2 (NAmE, informal) a disagreement or argument

goat NAmE noun
1 an animal with horns and a coat of hair, that lives wild in mountain areas or is kept on farms for its milk or meat: a mountain goat goat's milk/cheesesee also BILLY GOAT, KID, NANNY GOAT
2 old ~ (informal) an unpleasant old man who is annoying in a sexual way
get sb's goat (informal) to annoy sb very muchmore at SHEEP

goatee NAmE noun a small pointed beard (= hair growing on a man's face) that is grown only on the chin

goatherd NAmE noun a person whose job is to take care of a group of goats

goatskin NAmE noun [U] leather made from the skin of a goat

gob NAmE noun, verb
noun (slang)
1 (BrE) a rude way of referring to a person's mouth: Shut your gob! (= a rude way of telling sb to be quiet)
2 a small amount of a thick wet substance: Gobs of spittle ran down his chin.
3 [usually pl.] (NAmE) a large amount of sth: great gobs of cash
verb (-bb-) [V] (BrE, slang) to blow SALIVA out of your mouth SPIT

gobbet NAmE noun (old-fashioned) ~ (of sth) a small amount of sth: gobbets of food

gobble NAmE verb
1 ~ sth (up/down) to eat sth very fast, in a way that people consider rude or GREEDY WOLF: [VN] Don't gobble your food like that! They gobbled down all the sandwiches. [also V]
2 [V] when a TURKEY gobbles it makes a noise in its throat
gobble sthup (informal)
1 to use sth very quickly: Hotel costs gobbled up most of their holiday budget.
2 if a business company, etc. gobbles up a smaller one, it takes control of it

gobbledegook (also gobbledygook) NAmE noun [U] (informal) complicated language that is difficult to understand, especially when used in official documents: It's all gobbledegook to me.

go-between noun [C, U] a person who takes messages between one person or group and another: to act as (a) go-between

goblet NAmE noun a cup for wine, usually made of glass or metal, with a STEM and base but no handle

goblin NAmE noun (in stories) a small ugly creature that likes to trick people or cause trouble

gobshite NAmE noun (BrE, taboo, slang) a stupid person who talks nonsense

gobsmacked NAmE adj. (BrE, informal) so surprised that you do not know what to say: I was gobsmacked when she told me the news.

gobstopper NAmE (BrE) (NAmE jawbreaker) noun a very large hard round sweet/candy

goby NAmE noun (pl. goby or gobies) a small sea fish with a SUCKER underneath

go-cart noun (NAmE) = GO-KART

god NAmE noun
1 God [sing.] (not used with the) (in Christianity, Islam and Judaism) the BEING or spirit that is worshipped and is believed to have created the universe: Do you believe in God? Good luck and God bless you. the Son of God (= Christ) I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give ... (= in a court of law)
2 [C] (in some religions) a BEING or spirit who is believed to have power over a particular part of nature or who is believed to represent a particular quality: Mars was the Roman god of war. the rain god Greek godssee also GODDESS
3 [C] a person who is loved or admired very much by other people: To her fans she's a god.see also GODDESS
4 [C] something to which too much importance or attention is given: Money is his god.
5 the gods [pl.] (BrE, informal) the seats that are high up at the back of a theatre: We could only afford to sit in the gods.
by God! (old-fashioned, informal) used to emphasize a feeling of determination or surprise Some people find this use offensive.
God | God almighty | God in heaven | good God | my God | oh God (informal) used to emphasize what you are saying when you are surprised, shocked or annoyed: God, what a stupid thing to do! Some people find this use offensive.
God bless used when you are leaving sb, to say that you hope they will be safe, etc.: Goodnight, God bless.
God rest his/her soul | God rest him/her (old-fashioned, informal) used to show respect when you are talking about sb who is dead
God's gift (to sb/sth) (ironic) a person who thinks that they are particularly good at sth or who thinks that sb will find them particularly attractive: He seems to think he's God's gift to women.
God willing (informal) used to say that you hope that things will happen as you have planned and that there will be no problems: I'll be back next week, God willing.
play God to behave as if you control events or other people's lives: It is unfair to ask doctors to play God and end someone's life.
to God/goodness/Heaven used after a verb to emphasize a particular hope, wish, etc.: I wish to God you'd learn to pay attention! Some people find this use offensive.
ye gods! (old-fashioned, informal) used to show surprise, lack of belief, etc.more at ACT n., FEAR n., FORBID, GRACE n., HELP v., HONEST, KNOW v., LAP n., LOVE n., MAN n., NAME n., PLEASE v., THANK

God-awful adj. [usually before noun] (informal) extremely bad: He made a God-awful mess of it! Some people find this use offensive.

godchild NAmE noun (pl. godchildren NAmE ) a child that a GODPARENT at a Christian BAPTISM ceremony promises to be responsible for and to teach about the Christian religion

goddam (also goddamn) NAmE (also goddamned NAmE ) adj., adv. (taboo, slang) a swear word that many people find offensive, used to show that you are angry or annoyed: There's no need to be so goddam rude! Where's that goddamned pen?

god-daughter noun a female GODCHILD

goddess NAmE noun
1 a female god: Diana, the goddess of hunting
2 a woman who is loved or admired very much by other people: a screen goddess (= a female film/movie star)

godfather NAmE noun
1 a male GODPARENT
2 (often Godfather) a very powerful man in a criminal organization, especially the Mafia
3 ~ of sth a person who began or developed sth: He's the godfather of punk.

God-fearing adj. [usually before noun] (old-fashioned) living a moral life based on religious principles

godforsaken NAmE adj. [only before noun] (of places) boring, depressing and ugly: I can't stand living in this godforsaken hole.

God-given adj. [usually before noun] given or created by God: a God-given talent What gives you a God-given right to know all my business?

godhead NAmE noun the Godhead [sing.] (formal) used in the Christian religion to mean God, including the Father, Son and HOLY SPIRIT

godless NAmE adj. [usually before noun] not believing in or respecting God: a godless generation/world
godlessness noun [U]

godlike NAmE adj. like God or a god in some quality: his godlike beauty

godly NAmE adj. [usually before noun] (old-fashioned) living a moral life based on religious principles: a godly man
godliness noun [U]

godmother NAmE noun a female GODPARENTsee also FAIRY GODMOTHER

godown NAmE noun (IndE) a WAREHOUSE (= building where goods are stored)

godparent NAmE noun a person who promises at a Christian BAPTISM ceremony to be responsible for a child (= his or her GODCHILD) and to teach them about the Christian religion

God Save the King/Queen noun [U] the British national ANTHEM (= song)

God's country noun (NAmE) a beautiful and peaceful area that people love. Americans often use the expression to mean the US, especially the western states.

godsend NAmE noun [sing.] ~ (for sb/sth)| ~ (to sb/sth) something good that happens unexpectedly and helps sb/sth when they need help: This new benefit has come as a godsend for low-income families.

godson NAmE noun a male GODCHILD

the God squad noun [sing.] (informal, disapproving) Christians, especially ones who try to make people share their beliefs

goer NAmE noun
1 -goer (in compounds) a person who regularly goes to the place or event mentioned: a cinema-goer a moviegoer
2 (BrE, informal) a woman who enjoys having sex frequently, especially with different men

go-faster stripes noun [pl.] (informal)
1 coloured lines that can be stuck on the sides of cars
2 (disapproving) features that are added to a product to attract attention but which actually have no practical use: The expensive new version of the software is the same as the last one with go-faster stripes.

gofer (also gopher) NAmE noun (informal) a person whose job is to do small boring tasks for other people in a company DOGSBODY: They call me the gofergo for this, go for that ...

go-getter noun (informal) a person who is determined to succeed, especially in business

gogga NAmE noun (SAfrE, informal) an insect

goggle NAmE verb [V] ~ (at sb/sth) (old-fashioned, informal) to look at sb/sth with your eyes wide open, especially because you are surprised or shocked

goggle-box noun (BrE, informal) a television

goggle-eyed adj. with your eyes wide open, staring at sth, especially because you are surprised

goggles NAmE noun [pl.] a pair of glasses that fit closely to the face to protect the eyes from wind, dust, water, etc.: a pair of swimming/ski/safety goggles

go-go adj.
1 connected with a style of dancing to pop music in which women dance wearing very few clothes: a go-go dancer
2 (NAmE, informal) of a period of time when businesses are growing and people are making money fast: the go-go years of the 1990s

gogo noun (SAfrE)
1 a grandmother
2 the title for an older woman that is polite and shows affection

Goidelic adj. relating to the northern group of Celtic languages, including Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manxcompare BRYTHONIC

going NAmE noun, adj.
noun
1 [sing.] (formal) an act of leaving a place DEPARTURE: We were all sad at her going.
2 [U] (used with an adjective) the speed with which sb does sth; how difficult it is to do sth: Walking four miles in an hour is pretty good going for me. She had her own company by 25not bad going! It was hard going getting up at five every morning. Even with everyone working overtime, it's still pretty slow going.
3 [U] the condition of the ground, especially in horse racing: The going is good to firm. The path was rough going, even in daylight.see also OUTGOINGS
when the going gets tough (the tough get going) (saying) when conditions or progress become difficult (strong and determined people work even harder to succeed)
while the going is good (BrE) (NAmE while the getting is good) before a situation changes and it is no longer possible to do sth: Don't you think we should quit while the going is good?more at COMING, HEAVY
adj.-going (in compounds) going regularly to the place or event mentioned: the theatre-going publicsee also OCEAN-GOING, ONGOING, OUTGOING
a going concern a business or an activity that is making a profit and is expected to continue to do well: He sold the cafe as a going concern.
the going rate (for sth) the usual amount of money paid for goods or services at a particular time: They pay slightly more than the going rate.

going-over noun [sing.] (informal)
1 a thorough examination of sb/sth: The garage gave the car a thorough going-over.
2 a serious physical attack on sb: The gang gave him a real going-over.

goings-on noun [pl.] (informal) activities or events that are strange, surprising or dishonest: There were some strange goings-on next door last night.

goitre (BrE) (NAmE goiter) noun [U, C] a swelling of the throat caused by a disease of the THYROID GLAND

go-kart (BrE) (also go-cart NAmE, BrE) NAmE noun a vehicle like a small low car with no roof or doors, used for racing

gold NAmE noun, adj.
noun
1 [U] (symb Au) a chemical element. Gold is a yellow PRECIOUS METAL used for making coins, jewellery, decorative objects, etc.: a gold bracelet/ring/watch, etc. 18-carat gold the country's gold reserves made of solid/pure goldsee also FOOL'S GOLD
2 [U] money, jewellery, etc. that is made of gold: His wife was dripping with (= wearing a lot of) gold.
3 [U, C] the colour of gold: I love the reds and golds of autumn.
4 [U, C] = GOLD MEDAL: The team look set to win Olympic gold. He won three golds and a bronze.
all that glitters/glistens is not gold (saying) not everything that seems good, attractive, etc. is actually good, etc.
a crock/pot of gold a large prize or reward that sb hopes for but is unlikely to get
(as) good as gold (informal) behaving in a way that other people approve of: The kids have been as good as gold all day.more at HEART, STREET, STRIKE v., WORTH adj.
adj. [only before noun] bright yellow in colour, like gold: The company name was spelled out in gold letters.

gold brick noun (US, informal) a person who is lazy and tries to avoid work by pretending to be ill/sick

goldbrick NAmE verb [V] (US, informal) to be lazy and try to avoid work by pretending to be ill/sick: Some people are goldbricking on the job.

gold card noun a type of credit card that enables a person to buy more goods and services than a normal card does

goldcrest NAmE noun a very small bird with yellow feathers sticking up from the top of its head

gold-digger noun (informal, disapproving) a woman who uses the fact that she is attractive to get money from men

gold disc noun a gold record that is given to a singer or group that sells a particularly high number of records

gold dust noun [U] gold in the form of powder
like gold dust (BrE) difficult to find or obtain: Tickets for the final are like gold dust.

golden NAmE adj.
1 (especially literary) made of gold: a golden crown
2 bright yellow in colour like gold: golden hair miles of golden beaches Bake for ten minutes until the pastry is crisp and golden.
3 special; wonderful: golden memories Businesses have a golden opportunity to expand into new markets. Hollywood's golden boy see KILL v., MEAN n., SILENCE n.

golden age noun [usually sing.] ~ (of sth) a period during which sth is very successful, especially in the past: the golden age of cinema

golden ager noun (informal) an old person

golden anniversary noun (US) = GOLDEN JUBILEE, GOLDEN WEDDING

Golden Delicious noun (pl. Golden Delicious) a type of yellowish-green apple

golden eagle noun a large BIRD OF PREY (= a bird that kills other creatures for food) of the EAGLE family, with brownish feathers, that lives in northern parts of the world

golden goal noun (in some football (SOCCER) competitions) the first goal scored during EXTRA TIME, which ends the game and gives victory to the team that scores the goal: Italy lost on a golden goal to France in the semi-final.

golden goose noun something that provides sb with a lot of money, that they must be very careful with in order not to lose it: An increase in crime could kill the golden goose of tourism.

golden handcuffs noun [pl.] a large sum of money and other financial benefits that are given to sb to persuade them to continue working for a company rather than leaving to work for another company: He has just signed a £2m golden handcuffs deal with a rival TV network.

golden handshake noun a large sum of money that is given to sb when they leave their job, or to persuade them to leave their job

golden hello noun a large sum of money that is given to sb for accepting a job

golden jubilee (BrE) (US golden anniversary) noun the 50th anniversary of an important event: Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrations a party to mark the company's golden jubileecompare DIAMOND JUBILEE, SILVER JUBILEE

golden oldie noun (informal)
1 a song or film/movie that is quite old but still well known and popular
2 a person who is no longer young but still successful in their particular career, sport, etc.

golden parachute noun (informal) part of a work contract in which a business person is promised a large amount of money if they have to leave their job

golden raisin noun (NAmE) = SULTANA

golden retriever noun a large dog with thick yellow hair

golden rule noun [usually sing.] an important principle that should be followed when doing sth in order to be successful: The golden rule in tennis is to keep your eye on the ball.

golden section noun (technical) the proportion that is considered to be the most attractive to look at when a line is divided into two

golden syrup (also treacle) (both BrE) noun [U] a very sweet thick yellow liquid made from sugar

golden wedding (BrE) (US golden anniversary) (also golden wedding anniversary NAmE, BrE) noun the 50th anniversary of a wedding: The couple celebrated their golden wedding in January.compare DIAMOND WEDDING, RUBY WEDDING, SILVER WEDDING

goldfield NAmE noun an area where gold is found in the ground

goldfinch NAmE noun a small brightly coloured European bird of the FINCH family, with yellow feathers on its wings

goldfish NAmE noun (pl. goldfish) a small orange or red fish. Goldfish are kept as pets in bowls or PONDS.

goldfish bowl (also fishbowl) noun
1 a glass bowl for keeping fish in as pets
2 a situation in which people can see everything that happens and nothing is private: Living in this goldfish bowl of publicity would crack the strongest marriage.

gold leaf (also gold foil) noun [U] gold that has been made into a very thin sheet and is used for decoration

gold medal noun (also gold [U, C]) a MEDAL made of gold that is given to the winner of a race or competition: an Olympic gold medal winnercompare BRONZE MEDAL, SILVER MEDAL
gold medallist (BrE) (NAmE gold medalist) noun: an Olympic gold medallist

gold mine noun
1 a place where gold is dug out of the ground
2 a business or an activity that makes a large profit: This restaurant is a potential gold mine.

gold plate noun [U]
1 dishes, etc. made of gold
2 a thin layer of gold used to cover another metal; objects made in this way

gold-plated adj. covered with a thin layer of gold: gold-plated earrings

gold reserve noun [usually pl.] an amount of gold kept by a country's bank in order to support the supply of money

gold rush noun a situation in which a lot of people suddenly go to a place where gold has recently been discovered

goldsmith NAmE noun a person who makes, repairs or sells articles made of gold

gold standard noun (usually the gold standard) [sing.] an economic system in which the value of money is based on the value of gold: the ending of the gold standard in 1931

goldwasser NAmE noun [U, C] a strong alcoholic drink from Poland that contains very small pieces of gold

golem NAmE noun
1 (in Jewish stories) a figure made of CLAY that comes to life
2 a machine that behaves like a human

golf NAmE noun [U] a game played over a large area of ground using specially shaped sticks to hit a small hard ball (a golf ball) into a series of 9 or 18 holes, using as few strokes as possible: He enjoyed a round of golf on a Sunday morning.see also CRAZY GOLF, MINI-GOLF

golf club noun
1 (also club) a long metal stick with a piece of metal or wood at one end, used for hitting the ball in golf: a set of golf clubs
2 an organization whose members play golf; the place where these people meet and play golf: Pine Ridge Golf Club We're going for lunch at the golf club.

golf course (also course) noun a large area of land that is designed for playing golf on

golfer NAmE noun a person who plays golf

golfing NAmE adj. [only before noun] playing golf; connected with golf: a golfing holiday
golfing noun [U]: a week's golfing with friends

golf links (also links) noun (pl. golf links) a golf course, especially one by the sea

Goliath noun a person or thing that is very large or powerful: a Goliath of a man a Goliath of the computer industry
From Goliath, a giant in the Bible who is killed by the boy David with a stone.

golliwog NAmE (also informal golly NAmE pl. -ies) noun a DOLL (= a model of a person for a child to play with) made of cloth with a black face and short black hair, now often considered offensive to black people

golly NAmE exclamation (old-fashioned, informal) used to express surprise: Golly, you're early!

gonad NAmE noun (anatomy) a male sex organ that produces SPERM; a female sex organ that produces eggs

gondola NAmE noun
1 a long boat with a flat bottom and high parts at each end, used on CANALS in Venice
2 the part on a CABLE CAR or SKI LIFT where the passengers sit
3 (especially NAmE) the part of a hot air BALLOON or AIRSHIP where the passengers sit

gondolier NAmE noun a person whose job is to move and steer a gondola in Venice

Gondwana NAmE (also Gondwanaland NAmE ) noun [sing.] (geology) a very large area of land that existed in the southern HEMISPHERE millions of years ago. It was made up of the present Arabia, S America, Antarctica, Australia and India.

gone NAmE adj., prep.see also GO, GOES, WENT, GONE v.
adj. [not before noun]
1 (of a thing) used up: 'Where's the coffee?' 'It's all gone.'
2 (of a person) having left a place; away from a place: 'Is Tom here?' 'No, he was gone before I arrived'.
3 (formal) used to say that a particular situation no longer exists: The days are gone when you could leave your door unlocked at night.
4 (BrE, informal) having been pregnant for the length of time mentioned: She's seven months gone. How far gone are you?
going, going, gone (BrE) (also going once, going twice, sold NAmE, BrE) said by an AUCTIONEER to show that an item has been soldmore at DEAD adj.
prep. (BrE, informal) later than the time mentioned PAST: It's gone six o'clock already.

goner NAmE noun (informal) a person who is going to die soon or who cannot be saved from a dangerous situation: We were frantic. We thought you were a goner.

gong NAmE noun
1 a round piece of metal that hangs in a frame and makes a loud deep sound when it is hit with a stick. Gongs are used as musical instruments or to give signals, for example that a meal is ready: to bang/beat/sound a gong the breakfast/dinner gong
2 (BrE, informal) an award or MEDAL given to sb for the work they have done

gonna NAmE (informal, non-standard) a way of saying or writing 'going to' in informal speech, when it refers to the future: What's she gonna do now? You should not write this form unless you are copying somebody's speech.

gonorrhoea (BrE) (NAmE gonorrhea) NAmE noun [U] a disease of the sexual organs, caught by having sex with an infected personsee also VENEREAL DISEASE

gonzo journalism NAmE noun [U] (NAmE, informal) reporting in newspapers that tries to shock or excite readers rather than to give true information

goo noun [U] (informal) any unpleasant sticky wet substancesee also GOOEY

good adj., noun, adv.
adj. (better best )
HIGH QUALITY
1 of high quality or an acceptable standard: a good book good food The piano was in good condition. Your work is just not good enough. The results were pretty good. Sorry, my English is not very good. This is as good a place as any to spend the night. You'll never marry hershe's much too good for you.
PLEASANT
2 pleasant; that you enjoy or want: Did you have a good time in London? It's good to see you again. This is very good news. Let's hope we have good weather tomorrow. We are still friends, though, which is good. It's a good thing (= it's lucky) you came early.
SENSIBLE/STRONG
3 sensible, logical or strongly supporting what is being discussed: Thank you, good question. Yes, that's a good point. I have good reason to be suspicious. What a good idea! This is a good example of what I mean.
FAVOURABLE
4 showing or getting approval or respect: The play had good reviews. The hotel has a good reputation. He comes from a good family.
SKILFUL
5 ~ (at sth/at doing sth) able to do sth well: to be a good actor/cook to be good at languages/your job Nick has always been good at finding cheap flights.
6 ~ with sth/sb able to use sth or deal with people well: She's good with her hands (= able to make things, etc.). He's very good with children.
MORALLY RIGHT
7 morally right; behaving in a way that is morally right: She has tried to lead a good life. a good deed Giving her that money was a good thing to do. He is a very good man.
FOLLOWING RULES
8 following strictly a set of rules or principles: It is good practice to supply a written report to the buyer. She was a good Catholic girl.
KIND
9 ~ (to sb)| ~ (of sb) (to do sth) willing to help; showing kindness to other people: He was very good to me when I was ill. It was very good of you to come. I had to take a week off work but my colleagues were very good about it.
CHILD
10 behaving well or politely: You can stay up late if you're good. Get dressed now, there's a good girl.
HEALTHY
11 healthy or strong: Can you speak into my good ear? I don't feel too good today. 'How are you?' 'I'm good.' (= used as a general reply to a greeting)
USEFUL/HELPFUL
12 ~ (for sb/sth) having a useful or helpful effect on sb/sth: Too much sun isn't good for you. It's probably good for you to get some criticism now and then. (informal) Shut your mouth, if you know what's good for you (= used as a threat).
13 no ~ doing sth| no ~ to sb not having a useful or helpful effect: It's no good complainingthey never listen. This book is no good to me: I need the new edition.
SUITABLE
14 ~ (for sth/to do sth)| ~ (for sb) suitable or appropriate: Now is a good time to buy a house. She would be good for the job. Can we change our meetingMonday isn't good (= convenient) for me.
SHOWING APPROVAL
15 (informal) used to show that you approve of or are pleased about sth that has been said or done, or to show that you want to move on to a new topic of conversation: 'Dinner's ready.' 'GoodI'm starving.' 'I got the job.' 'Oh, good.' Good, I think we've come to a decision.
16 [only before noun] (informal) used as a form of praise: Good old Jack! 'I've ordered some drinks.' 'Good man!'
IN EXCLAMATIONS
17 (informal) used in exclamations: Good heavens! Good God!
LARGE
18 [only before noun] great in number, amount or degree: a good many people The kitchen is a good size. We spent a good while (= quite a long time) looking for the house. He devoted a good deal of (= a lot of) attention to the problem. There's a good chance (= it is likely) that I won't be here next year.
AT LEAST
19 not less than; rather more than: We waited for a good hour. It's a good three miles to the station.
THOROUGH
20 [only before noun] thorough; complete: We had a good laugh about it afterwards. You'll feel better after a good sleep.
AMUSING
21 [usually before noun] amusing: a good story/joke (informal) That's a good one!
FOR PARTICULAR TIME/DISTANCE
22 ~ for sth having enough energy, health, strength, etc. to last for a particular length of time or distance: You're good for (= you will live) a few years yet.
23 ~ for sth valid for sth: The ticket is good for three months.
LIKELY TO PROVIDE
24 ~ for sth likely to provide sth: He's always good for a laugh. Bobby should be good for a few drinks.
Most idioms containing good are at the entries for the nouns and verbs in the idioms, for example (as) good as gold is at gold. as good as very nearly: The matter is as good as settled. He as good as called me a coward (= suggested that I was a coward without actually using the word 'coward'). She's as good as won.
as good as it gets used when you are saying that a situation is not going to get any better
good and ... (informal) completely: I won't go until I'm good and ready.
a good few several: There are still a good few empty seats.
good for you, sb, them, etc. (especially AustralE good on you, etc.) (informal) used to praise sb for doing sth well: 'I passed first time.' 'Good for you!'
nounsee also GOODS
MORALLY RIGHT
1 [U] behaviour that is morally right or acceptable: the difference between good and evil Is religion always a force for good?
2 the good [pl.] people who live a moral life; people who are admired for the work they do to help other people: a gathering of the great and the good
STH HELPFUL
3 [U] something that helps sb/sth: Cuts have been made for the good of the company. I'm only telling you this for your own good. What's the good of (= how does it help you) earning all that money if you don't have time to enjoy it? What good is it redecorating if you're thinking of moving?see also DO-GOODER
all to the good used to say that if sth happens, it will be good, even if it is not exactly what you were expecting: If these measures also reduce unemployment, that is all to the good.
be no good | not be any/much good
1 to not be useful; to have no useful effect: This gadget isn't much good. It's no good trying to talk me out of leaving. Was his advice ever any good?
2 to not be interesting or enjoyable: His latest film isn't much good.
do good | do sb good to have a useful effect; to help sb: Do you think these latest changes will do any good? Don't you think talking to her would do some good? I'm sure a few days off would do you a power of good (= improve your health).
for good (BrE also for good and all) permanently: This time she's leaving for good (= she will never return). I'd like an excuse to get rid of him for good and all.
to the good used to say that sb now has a particular amount of money that they did not have before: We are £500 to the good.
up to no good (informal) doing sth wrong or dishonest: Those kids are always up to no good.more at ILL adj., POWER n., WORLD
adv. (especially NAmE, informal) well: 'How's it going?' 'Pretty good.' (non-standard) Now, you listen to me good!

WHICH WORD?

good / goodness

The noun good means actions and behaviour that are morally right. You can talk about a person doing good: The charity does a lot of good.the difference between good and evil.

Goodness is the quality of being good. You can talk about a person's goodness: Her goodness shone through.

VOCABULARY BUILDING

good and very good

Instead of saying that something is good or very good, try to use more precise and interesting adjectives to describe things:

delicious/tasty food

an exciting/entertaining/absorbing movie

an absorbing/a fascinating/an informative book

a pleasant/an enjoyable trip

a skilful/talented/fine player

impressive/high-quality acting

useful/helpful advice

In conversation you can use words like great, super, wonderful, lovely and excellent.

note at NICE

good afternoon exclamation used to say hello politely when people first see each other in the afternoon; in informal use people often just say Afternoon.

goodbye exclamation, noun used when you are leaving sb or when sb else is leaving: Goodbye! It was great to meet you. She didn't even say goodbye to her mother. Say goodbye to Mary for me. We waved them goodbye. We've already said our goodbyes. Kiss me goodbye! (figurative) Take out our service contract and say goodbye to costly repair bills.compare BYE see KISS v.

good day exclamation (old-fashioned, BrE) used to say hello or goodbye politely when people first see each other or leave each other during the day: Good day to you.

good evening exclamation used to say hello politely when people first see each other in the evening; in informal use people often just say Evening.

good faith noun [U] the intention to be honest and helpful: a gesture of good faith He acted in good faith.

good-for-nothing noun (informal) a person who is lazy and has no skills: an idle good-for-nothing
good-for-nothing adj. [usually before noun]: Where's that good-for-nothing son of yours?

Good Friday noun [U, C] the Friday before Easter, the day when Christians remember the Crucifixion of Christ

good-hearted adj. kind; willing to help other people: To be fair, she was a good-hearted woman who tried to do her best.

good humour (BrE) (NAmE good humor) noun [U, sing.] a cheerful mood: Everyone admired her patience and unfailing good humour. He was in a good humour this morning. ILL HUMOUR
good-humoured (BrE) (NAmE good-humored) adj.: a good-humoured atmosphere good-humouredly (BrE) (NAmE good-humoredly) adv.

goodie = GOODY

goodish adj. [only before noun] (BrE, informal)
1 quite good rather than very good: 'Is the salary good?' 'Goodish.'
2 quite large in size or amount: It'll be a goodish while yet before I've finished.

good-looking adj. (especially of people) physically attractive UGLY: a good-looking man/couple She's strikingly good-looking. note at BEAUTIFUL

good looks noun [pl.] the physical beauty of a person: an actor famous for his rugged good looks

goodly adj. [only before noun]
1 (old-fashioned, formal) quite large in size or amount: a goodly number
2 (old use) physically attractive; of good quality

good morning exclamation used to say hello politely when people first see each other in the morning; sometimes also used formally when people leave each other in the morning; in informal use people often just say Morning.

good name noun [sing.] the good opinion that people have of sb/sth REPUTATION: He told the police he didn't know her, to protect her good name. My election chances are not as important as the good name of the party.

good nature noun [U] the quality of being kind, friendly and patient when dealing with people: People are always taking advantage of her good nature.

good-natured adj. kind, friendly and patient when dealing with people: a good-natured person/discussion
good-naturedly adv.: to smile good-naturedly

good-neighbourliness noun [U] (BrE) good relations that exist between people who live in the same area or between countries that are near each other

goodness noun [U]
1 the quality of being good: the essential goodness of human nature evidence of God's goodness (formal) At least have the goodness (= good manners) to look at me when I'm talking to you. note at GOOD
2 the part of sth that has a useful effect on sb/sth, especially sb's health: These vegetables have had all the goodness boiled out of them. Branches pruned from the trees are shredded so the goodness goes back into the soil.
Goodness! | Goodness me! | My goodness! | Goodness gracious! (informal) used to express surprise: Goodness, what a big balloon! My goodness, you have been busy! Goodness me, no!
out of the goodness of your heart from feelings of kindness, without thinking about what advantage there will be for you: You're not telling me he offered to lend you the money out of the goodness of his heart?more at GOD, HONEST, KNOW v., THANK

goodnight exclamation used when you are saying goodbye to sb late in the evening, or when they or you are going to bed; in informal use people often just say Night.

goodo NAmE adj. (AustralE, NZE, informal) good

good old boy noun (NAmE, informal) a man who is considered typical of white men in the southern states of the US

goods noun [pl.]
1 things that are produced to be sold: cheap/expensive goods leather/cotton/paper goods electrical/sports goods perishable/durable goods increased tax on goods and servicessee also CONSUMER GOODS note at PRODUCT
2 possessions that can be moved: stolen goods The plastic bag contained all his worldly goods (= everything he owned). note at THINGS
3 (BrE) things (not people) that are transported by rail or road: a goods train a heavy goods vehiclecompare FREIGHT
be the goods (BrE, informal) to be very good or impressive
deliver the goods | come up with the goods (informal) to do what you have promised to do or what people expect or want you to do: We expected great things of the England team, but on the day they simply failed to deliver the goods.

goods and chattels noun [pl.] (BrE, especially law) personal possessions that are not land or buildings

good sense noun [U] ~ (to do sth) the ability to make the right decision about sth; good judgement: a man of honour and good sense Keeping to a low-fat diet makes very good sense (= is a sensible thing to do).

goods train noun (BrE) = FREIGHT TRAIN

good-tempered adj. cheerful and not easily made angry

good-time adj. [only before noun] only interested in pleasure, and not in anything serious or important: I was too much of a good-time girl to do any serious studying.

goodwill noun [U]
1 friendly or helpful feelings towards other people or countries: a spirit of goodwill in international relations a goodwill gesture/a gesture of goodwill The President is on a goodwill visit to Japan. Given goodwill on both sides, I am sure we can reach an agreement. Theatres increasingly have to rely on the goodwill of private sponsors to survive.
2 the good relationship between a business and its customers that is calculated as part of its value when it is sold

goody noun, exclamation
noun (also goodie) [usually pl.] (pl. -ies) (informal)
1 a thing that is very nice to eat: a basket of goodies for the children
2 anything that is attractive and that people want to have: We're giving away lots of free goodiesT-shirts, hats and videos!
3 a good person, especially in a book or a film/movie: It's sometimes difficult to tell who are the goodies and who are the baddies. BADDY
exclamation (becoming old-fashioned) a word children use when they are excited or pleased about sth

goody bag (also goodie bag) noun
1 a bag containing sweets/candy and small presents, given to children to take home at the end of a party
2 a bag containing examples of a company's products, given away in order to advertise them

goody-goody noun (pl. goody-goodies) (informal, disapproving) (used especially by and about children) a person who behaves very well to please people in authority such as parents or teachers

goody-two-shoes noun (pl. goody-two-shoes) (informal, disapproving) a person who always behaves well, and perhaps has a disapproving attitude to people who do not

gooey adj. (informal) soft and sticky: a gooey mess gooey cakes

goof verb, noun
verb [V] (informal, especially NAmE) to make a stupid mistake: Sorry, guys. I goofed.
goof around (informal, especially NAmE) to spend your time doing silly or stupid things MESS AROUND
goof off (NAmE, informal) to spend your time doing nothing, especially when you should be working
noun (informal, especially NAmE)
1 a stupid mistake
2 a silly or stupid person

goofball noun (NAmE, informal) a stupid person
goofball adj. [only before noun]: This is just another of his goofball ideas.

goof-off noun (NAmE, slang) a person who avoids work or responsibility

goofy adj. (informal, especially NAmE) silly; stupid: a goofy grin

goog noun (AustralE, NZE, informal) an egg

google verb to type words into a SEARCH ENGINE on the Internet, especially the Google TM search engine, in order to find information about sb/sth: [VN] You can google someone you've recently met to see what information is available about them on the Internet. [V] I tried googling but couldn't find anything relevant.

googly noun (pl. -ies) (in CRICKET) a ball that is BOWLED so that it looks as if it will turn in one direction, but that actually turns the opposite way: (figurative) He bowled the prime minister a googly (= asked him a difficult question).

googol NAmE noun (mathematics) the number 10^100, or 1 followed by 100 zeros

gook noun
1 [U] (informal) any unpleasant sticky wet substance: What's all that gook on your face?
2 [C] (NAmE, taboo, slang) an offensive word for a person from SE Asia

goolie (also gooly) noun [usually pl.] (pl. -ies) (BrE, slang) a rude word for a man's TESTICLE

goon noun (informal)
1 (especially NAmE) a criminal who is paid to frighten or injure people
2 (old-fashioned, especially BrE) a stupid or silly person

goose noun, verb
noun (pl. geese )
1 [C] a bird like a large DUCK with a long neck. Geese either live wild or are kept on farms.
2 [U] meat from a goose: roast goose
3 [C] a female goosecompare GANDER
4 [C] (old-fashioned, informal) a silly personsee also WILD GOOSE CHASE see COOK v., KILL v., SAUCE, SAY v.
verb [VN] (informal)
1 to touch or squeeze sb's bottom: Jack goosed her as she reached for a file.
2 ~ sth (along/up) (NAmE) to make sth move or work faster: The government has done everything possible to goose the economy along.

gooseberry NAmE noun (pl. -ies) a small green fruit that grows on a bush with THORNS. Gooseberries taste sour and are usually cooked to make jam, PIES, etc. Children are sometimes told that babies come from 'under the gooseberry bush': a gooseberry bush
play gooseberry (BrE) to be a third person with two people who have a romantic relationship and want to be alone together

goosebumps noun [pl.] (especially NAmE) = GOOSE PIMPLES

goose egg noun (NAmE, informal) a score of zero in a game

goose pimples noun [pl.] (also less frequent gooseflesh [U]) (both especially BrE) (also goosebumps) (especially in NAmE) a condition in which there are raised spots on your skin because you feel cold, frightened or excited: It gave me goose pimples just to think about it.

goose-step noun [sing.] (often disapproving) a way of marching, used by soldiers in some countries, in which the legs are raised high and straight
goose-step verb (-pp-) [V]

GOP NAmE abbr. Grand Old Party (the Republican political party in the US)

gopher NAmE noun
1 (also ground squirrel) a N American animal like a RAT, that lives in holes in the ground
2 = GOFER

gora noun (pl. goras or goray ) a word used by people from S Asia for a white person

Gordian knot NAmE noun a very difficult or impossible task or problem: to cut/untie the Gordian knot (= to solve a problem by taking action)
From the legend in which King Gordius tied a very complicated knot and said that whoever undid it would become the ruler of Asia. Alexander the Great cut through the knot with his sword.

Gordon Bennett NAmE exclamation (BrE) people sometimes say Gordon Bennett! when they are annoyed or surprised about sth
From James Gordon Bennett, an American newspaper owner and financial supporter of sports events.

gore verb, noun
verb [VN] (of an animal) to wound a person or another animal with a horn or TUSK: He was gored by a bull.
noun [U] thick blood that has flowed from a wound, especially in a violent situation: The movie is not just blood and gore (= scenes of violence); it has a thrilling story.see also GORY

GoretexTM NAmE noun [U] a light material that does not let water through but that allows air and water VAPOUR through, used for making outdoor and sports clothes

gorge NAmE noun, verb
noun [C] a deep narrow valley with steep sides: the Rhine Gorge
sb's gorge rises (formal) somebody feels so angry about sth that they feel physically sick
verb [VN, V] ~ (yourself) (on sth) (sometimes disapproving) to eat a lot of sth, until you are too full to eat any more STUFF YOURSELF

gorgeous NAmE adj.
1 (informal) very beautiful and attractive; giving pleasure and enjoyment LOVELY: a gorgeous girl/man a gorgeous view gorgeous weather (= warm and with a lot of sun) You look gorgeous! It was absolutely gorgeous. note at BEAUTIFUL
2 [usually before noun] (of colours, clothes, etc.) with very deep colours; impressive: exotic birds with feathers of gorgeous colours
gorgeously adv.

gorgon NAmE noun
1 (in ancient Greek stories) one of three sisters with snakes on their heads instead of hair, who can change anyone that looks at them into stone
2 an ugly woman who behaves in an aggressive and frightening way

Gorgonzola NAmE noun [U] a type of Italian cheese with blue marks and a strong flavour

gorilla noun
1 a very large powerful African APE (= an animal like a large MONKEY without a tail) covered with black or brown hair
2 (informal) a large aggressive man

gormless NAmE adj. (BrE, informal) stupid: a gormless boy Don't just stand there looking gormlessdo something!

go-round noun = GO-AROUND

gorp NAmE noun [U] (NAmE) a mixture of nuts, dried fruit, etc. eaten between meals to provide extra energy, especially by people on camping trips, etc.

gorse NAmE (BrE also furze) noun [U] a bush with thin leaves with sharp points and small yellow flowers. Gorse often grows on land that is not used or cared for.

gory adj.
1 (informal) involving a lot of blood or violence; showing or describing blood and violence: a gory accident the gory task of the pathologist a gory movie (humorous) He insisted on telling us all the gory details about their divorce (= the unpleasant facts).
2 (literary) covered with blood BLOODSTAINED: a gory figure

gosh NAmE exclamation (old-fashioned, informal) people say 'Gosh!' when they are surprised or shocked: Gosh, is that the time?

goshawk NAmE noun a large HAWK with short wings

gosling NAmE noun a young GOOSE (= a bird like a large DUCK)

go-slow (BrE) (NAmE slowdown) noun a protest that workers make by doing their work more slowly than usualcompare WORK-TO-RULE

gospel NAmE noun
1 [C] (also Gospel) one of the four books in the Bible about the life and teaching of Jesus: the Gospel according to St John St Mark's Gospel
2 [sing.] (also the Gospel) the life and teaching of Jesus as explained in the Bible: preaching/spreading the gospel
3 [C, usually sing.] a set of ideas that sb believes in and tries to persuade others to accept: He preached a gospel of military strength. the football gospel according to Kevin
4 (also gospel truth) [U] (informal) the complete truth: Is that gospel? Don't take his word as gospel.
5 (also gospel music) [U] a style of religious singing developed by African Americans: a gospel choir

gossamer NAmE noun [U]
1 the very fine thread made by spiders
2 (literary) any very light delicate material: a gown of gossamer silk the gossamer wings of a dragonfly

gossip NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U] (disapproving) informal talk or stories about other people's private lives, that may be unkind or not true: Don't believe all the gossip you hear. Tell me all the latest gossip! The gossip was that he had lost a fortune on the stock exchange. It was common gossip (= everyone said so) that they were having an affair. She's a great one for idle gossip (= she enjoys spreading stories about other people that are probably not true).
2 [C, usually sing.] a conversation about other people and their private lives: I love a good gossip. note at DISCUSSION
3 [C] (disapproving) a person who enjoys talking about other people's private lives
gossipy NAmE adj.: a gossipy letter/neighbour
verb [V] to talk about other people's private lives, often in an unkind way: I can't stand here gossiping all day. She's been gossiping about you.

gossip column noun a piece of writing in a newspaper about social events and the private and personal lives of famous people
gossip columnist noun: No photographers or gossip columnists were allowed in.

got pt, pp of GET

gotcha NAmE exclamation (non-standard) the written form of the way some people pronounce 'I've got you', which is not considered to be correct: 'Gotcha!' I yelled as I grabbed him by the arm. (= used when you have caught sb, or have beaten them at sth). 'Don't let go.' 'Yeah, gotcha.' (= Yes, I understand.) You should not write this form unless you are copying somebody's speech.

goth NAmE noun
1 [U] a style of rock music, popular in the 1980s, that developed from PUNK music. The words often expressed ideas about the end of the world, death or the DEVIL.
2 [C] a member of a group of people who listen to goth music and wear black clothes and black and white MAKE-UP
goth (also gothic) adj.

Gotham NAmE noun (informal) New York City

Gothic NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 connected with the Goths (= a Germanic people who fought against the Roman Empire)
2 (architecture) built in the style that was popular in western Europe from the 12th to the 16th centuries, and which has pointed ARCHES and windows and tall thin PILLARS: a Gothic church
3 (of a novel, etc.) written in the style popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, which described romantic adventures in mysterious or frightening surroundings
4 (of type and printing) having pointed letters with thick lines and sharp angles. German books used to be printed in this style.
5 connected with goths
noun [U]
1 the Gothic style of ARCHITECTURE
2 Gothic printing type or printed letters

go-to adj. [only before noun] (NAmE) used to refer to the person or place that sb goes to for help, advice or information: He's the president's go-to guy on Asian politics.

gotta NAmE (informal, non-standard) the written form of the word some people use to mean 'have got to' or 'have got a', which is not considered to be correct: He's gotta go. Gotta cigarette? You should not write this form unless you are copying somebody's speech.

gotten (NAmE) pp of GET

gouache noun
1 [U] a method of painting using colours that are mixed with water and made thick with a type of glue; the paints used in this method
2 [C] a picture painted using this method

Gouda NAmE noun [U] a type of Dutch cheese that is covered with yellow WAX

gouge verb, noun
verb [VN]
1 ~ sth (in sth) to make a hole or cut in sth with a sharp object in a rough or violent way: The lion's claws had gouged a wound in the horse's side. He had gouged her cheek with a screwdriver.
2 (NAmE) to force sb to pay an unfairly high price for sth; to raise prices unfairly: Housing shortages permit landlords to gouge their renters. Price gouging is widespread.
gouge sthout (of sth) to remove or form sth by digging into a surface: The man's eyes had been gouged out. Glaciers gouged out valleys from the hills.
noun
1 a sharp tool for making hollow areas in wood
2 a deep, narrow hole or cut in a surface: The massive wheels were digging great gouges in the road's surface.

goujons noun [pl.] (BrE, from French) small pieces of fish or chicken fried in oil

goulash noun [C, U] a hot spicy Hungarian dish of meat that is cooked slowly in liquid with PAPRIKA

gourd NAmE noun a type of large fruit, not normally eaten, with hard skin and soft flesh. Gourds are often dried and used as containers. CALABASH

gourmand NAmE noun (often disapproving) a person who enjoys eating and eats large amounts of food

gourmet NAmE noun a person who knows a lot about good food and wines and who enjoys choosing, eating and drinking them
gourmet adj. [only before noun]: gourmet food (= of high quality and often expensive)

gout noun [U] a disease that causes painful swelling in the joints, especially of the toes, knees and fingers

govern NAmE verb
1 to legally control a country or its people and be responsible for introducing new laws, organizing public services, etc.: [VN] The country is governed by elected representatives of the people. [V] He accused the opposition party of being unfit to govern.
2 [VN] [often passive] to control or influence sb/sth or how sth happens, functions, etc.: Prices are governed by market demand. All his decisions have been entirely governed by self-interest. We need changes in the law governing school attendance.
3 [VN] (grammar) if a word governs another word or phrase, it affects how that word or phrase is formed or used

governance NAmE noun [U] (technical) the activity of governing a country or controlling a company or an organization; the way in which a country is governed or a company or institution is controlled

governess NAmE noun (especially in the past), a woman employed to teach the children of a rich family in their home and to live with them

governing NAmE adj. [only before noun] having the right and the authority to control sth such as a country or an institution: The Conservatives were then the governing party. The school's governing body (= the group of people who control the organization of the school) took responsibility for the decision.

government NAmE noun
1 [C+sing./pl. v.] (often the Government) (abbr. govt) the group of people who are responsible for controlling a country or a state: to lead/form a government the last Conservative government the government of the day Foreign governments have been consulted about this decision. She has resigned from the Government. The Government has/have been considering further tax cuts. government policies/officials/ministers a government department/agency/grant government expenditure/intervention
2 [U] a particular system or method of controlling a country: coalition/communist/democratic/totalitarian, etc. government Democratic government has now replaced military rule. central/federal government
3 [U] the activity or the manner of controlling a country: strong government The Democrats are now in government in the US.see also BIG GOVERNMENT

governmental NAmE adj. connected with government; of a government: governmental agencies governmental actions

government and binding theory (also binding theory) noun [U] (linguistics) a theory of grammar based on the idea that a series of conditions relate the parts of a sentence together

government health warning noun
1 (in Britain) a notice that must by law appear on a product, especially a pack of cigarettes, that warns people that it is dangerous to their health
2 (also health warning) (BrE) a warning that sth should be treated carefully because it may cause problems: These figures should come with a government health warning.

governor NAmE noun
1 (also Governor) a person who is the official head of a country or region that is governed by another country: the former governor of the colony a provincial governor
2 (also Governor) a person who is chosen to be in charge of the government of a state in the US: the governor of Arizona the Arizona governor Governor Tom Kean
3 (especially BrE) a member of a group of people who are responsible for controlling an institution such as a school, a college or a hospital: a school governor the board of governors of the college
4 (BrE) a person who is in charge of an institution: a prison governor the governor of the Bank of England (informal) I can't decide. I'll have to ask the governor (= the man in charge, who employs sb).see also GUV'NOR

Governor General noun (pl. Governors General or Governor Generals) the official representative in a country of the country that has or had political control over it, especially the representative of the British King or Queen in a Commonwealth country

govt (also govt. especially in NAmE) abbr. (in writing) government

go well exclamation (SAfrE) used to say goodbye to sb: I hope you enjoy your holiday. Go well!

gown noun
1 a woman's dress, especially a long one for special occasions: an evening/wedding gown
2 a long loose piece of clothing that is worn over other clothes by judges and (in Britain) by other lawyers, and by members of universities (at special ceremonies): a graduation gown
3 a piece of clothing that is worn over other clothes to protect them, especially in a hospital: a surgeon's gownsee also DRESSING GOWN

gowned adj. wearing a gown

goy noun (pl. goyim or goys) (informal, often offensive) a word used by Jewish people for a person who is not Jewish

GP noun (BrE) a doctor who is trained in general medicine and who works in the local community, not in a hospital. (abbreviation for 'general practitioner'): Go and see your GP as soon as possible. There are four GPs in our local practice. Her GP referred her to a specialist.

GPA noun (NAmE) the abbreviation for GRADE POINT AVERAGE: He graduated with a GPA of 38.

Gp Capt abbr. GROUP CAPTAIN

GPS abbr. global positioning system (= a system by which signals are sent from SATELLITES to a special device, used to show the position of a person or thing on the surface of the earth very accurately)

grab verb, noun
verb (-bb-)
1 ~ sth (from sb/sth) to take or hold sb/sth with your hand suddenly, firmly or roughly SEIZE: [VN] She grabbed the child's hand and ran. He grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go. Jim grabbed a cake from the plate. He grabbed her around the throat and squeezed. Someone grabbed me from behind. [V] Don't grabthere's plenty for everyone.
2 [V] ~ at/for sth to try to take hold of sth: She grabbed at the branch, missed and fell. Kate grabbed for the robber's gun.
3 ~ (at sth) to take advantage of an opportunity to do or have sth SEIZE: [VN] This was my big chance and I grabbed it with both hands. [V] He'll grab at any excuse to avoid doing the dishes.
4 [VN] to have or take sth quickly, especially because you are in a hurry: Let's grab a sandwich before we go. I'll grab a bite to eat in town. Grab a cab and get over here. I managed to grab a couple of hours' sleep on the plane. Grab a seat, I won't keep you a moment.
5 [VN] to take sth for yourself, especially in a selfish or GREEDY way: By the time we arrived, someone had grabbed all the good seats. She's always trying to grab the limelight.
6 [VN] to get sb's attention: I'll see if I can grab the waitress and get the bill. Glasgow's drugs problem has grabbed the headlines tonight (= been published as an important story in the newspapers). The play grabs the audience's attention from the very start.
how does ... grab you? (informal) used to ask sb whether they are interested in sth or in doing sth: How does the idea of a trip to Rome grab you?
noun
1 [usually sing.] ~ (at/for sb/sth) a sudden attempt to take or hold sb/sth: He made a grab for her bag. As the car swung round the corner, she held on to the grab handle to steady herself.see also SMASH-AND-GRAB
2 (computing) a picture taken from a television or video film, stored as an image on a computer: a screen grab from Wednesday's programme
3 a piece of equipment which lifts and holds goods, for example the equipment that hangs from a CRANE
up for grabs (informal) available for anyone who is interested: There are £25 000 worth of prizes up for grabs in our competition!

grab bag noun (NAmE)
1 = LUCKY DIP
2 (informal) a mixed collection of things: He offered a grab bag of reasons for his decision.

grace noun, verb
noun
OF MOVEMENT
1 [U] an attractive quality of movement that is smooth, elegant and controlled: She moves with the natural grace of a ballerina.
BEHAVIOUR
2 [U] a quality of behaviour that is polite and pleasant and deserves respect: He conducted himself with grace and dignity throughout the trial.
3 graces [pl.] (especially BrE) ways of behaving that people think are polite and acceptable: He was not particularly well versed in the social graces.
EXTRA TIME
4 [U] extra time that is given to sb to enable them to pay a bill, finish a piece of work, etc.: They've given me a month's grace to get the money.
OF GOD
5 [U] the kindness that God shows towards the human race: the power of divine grace It was only by the grace of God that they survived.
PRAYER
6 [U, C] a short prayer that is usually said before a meal to thank God for the food: Let's say grace.
TITLE
7 His/Her/Your Grace [C] used as a title of respect when talking to or about an ARCHBISHOP, a DUKE or a DUCHESS: Good Morning, Your Grace. Their Graces the Duke and Duchess of Kent.
see also COUP DE GRÂCE, SAVING GRACE
be in sb's good graces (formal) to have sb's approval and be liked by them
fall from grace to lose the trust or respect that people have for you, especially by doing sth wrong or immoral
sb's fall from grace a situation in which sb loses the trust or respect that people have for them, especially because of sth wrong or immoral that they have done: The biography explains the circumstances surrounding her fall from grace.
have the (good) grace to do sth to be polite enough to do sth, especially when you have done sth wrong: He didn't even have the grace to look embarrassed.
there but for the grace of God (go I) (saying) used to say that you could easily have been in the same difficult or unpleasant situation that sb else is in
with (a) bad grace in an unwilling and/or rude way: He handed over the money with typical bad grace.
with (a) good grace in a willing and pleasant way: You must learn to accept defeat with good grace.more at AIR n., STATE n., YEAR
verb [VN] (formal)
1 to make sth more attractive; to decorate sth: The table had once graced a duke's drawing room. We sat at a small table graced with a vase of fresh flowers.
2 ~ sb/sth (with sth) (usually ironic) to bring honour to sb/sth; to be kind enough to attend or take part in sth: She is one of the finest players ever to have graced the game. Will you be gracing us with your presence tonight? The occasion was graced by the presence of Lord and Lady Thomson.

grace and favour adj. [only before noun] (BrE) used to describe a house or flat/apartment that a king, queen or government has allowed sb to use

graceful adj.
1 moving in a controlled, attractive way or having a smooth, attractive form: The dancers were all tall and graceful. He gave a graceful bow to the audience. the graceful curves of the hills Dolphins are incredibly graceful and efficient swimmers.
2 polite and kind in your behaviour, especially in a difficult situation: His father had always taught him to be graceful in defeat. At the age of 70, she withdrew into graceful retirement.
gracefully adv.: The cathedral's white towers climb gracefully into the sky. I think we should just give in gracefully. Deer ran gracefully between the trees. gracefulness noun [U]

graceless adj.
1 not knowing how to be polite and pleasant to other people: a graceless, angry young man
2 not pleasing or attractive to look at: the graceless architecture of the 1960s
3 moving in an awkward way: She swam with a graceless stroke. GRACEFUL
gracelessly adv.: Martha was slumped gracelessly in an armchair.

grace note noun (music) an extra note which is not a necessary part of a tune, but which is played before one of the notes of the tune as decoration

gracious adj.
1 (of people or behaviour) kind, polite and generous, especially to sb of a lower social position: a gracious lady a gracious smile Lady Caroline was gracious enough to accept our invitation. He has not yet learned how to be gracious in defeat.
2 [usually before noun] showing the comfort and easy way of life that wealth can bring: gracious living
3 [only before noun] (BrE, formal) used as a very polite word for royal people or their actions: her gracious Majesty the Queen The performance will take place in the gracious presence of HRH the Prince of Wales.
4 ~ (to sb) (of God) showing kindness and MERCY: a gracious act of God
5 (becoming old-fashioned) used for expressing surprise: Goodness gracious! 'I hope you didn't mind my phoning you.' 'Good gracious, no, of course not.'
graciously adv.: She graciously accepted our invitation. graciousness noun [U]: His mother was graciousness itself during our stay. The house retains its air of tranquillity and graciousness.

grad noun (informal, especially NAmE) = GRADUATE

gradable adj. (grammar) (of an adjective) that can be used in the comparative and superlative forms or be used with words like 'very' and 'less' NON-GRADABLE
gradability noun [U]

gradation noun
1 [C, U] (formal) any of the small changes or levels which sth is divided into; the process or result of sth changing gradually: gradations of colour gradation in size
2 (also graduation) [C] a mark showing a division on a scale: the gradations on a thermometer

grade noun, verb
noun
1 the quality of a particular product or material: All the materials used were of the highest grade.
2 a level of ability or rank that sb has in an organization: salary grades (= levels of pay) She's still only on a secretarial grade.
3 a mark given in an exam or for a piece of school work: (BrE) She got good grades in her exams. (NAmE) She got good grades on her exams. 70% of pupils got Grade C or above.
4 (in the US school system) one of the levels in a school with children of similar age: Sam is in (the) second grade.
5 (technical) how serious an illness is: low/high grade fever
6 (especially NAmE) = GRADIENT
7 (BrE) a level of exam in musical skill: grade 6 piano
make the grade (informal) to reach the necessary standard; to succeed: About 10% of trainees fail to make the grade.
verb
1 ~ sth/sb (by/according to sth)| ~ sth (as sth) [often passive] to arrange people or things in groups according to their ability, quality, size, etc.: [VN] The containers are graded according to size. Eggs are graded from small to extra large Responses were graded from 1 (very satisfied) to 5 (not at all satisfied). [VN-ADJ] Ten beaches were graded as acceptable.
2 (especially NAmE) to give a mark/grade to a student or to a piece of their written work: [VN] I spent all weekend grading papers. [VN-N] The best students are graded A.compare MARK

graded adj. arranged in order or in groups according to difficulty, size, etc.: graded tests for language students graded doses of a drug

grade point average noun [usually sing.] (abbr. GPA) the average of a student's marks/grades over a period of time in the US education system: The law school required a minimum grade point average of 2.6 (on a 4.0 scale).

grader noun (NAmE)
1 first, second, etc. ~ a student who is in the grade mentioned: The play is open to all seventh and eighth graders.
2 = MARKER (4)

grade school noun (informal) = ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

gradient noun
1 (also grade especially in NAmE) the degree to which the ground slopes, especially on a road or railway: a steep gradient a hill with a gradient of 1 in 4 (or 25%)
2 (technical) the rate at which temperature, pressure, etc. changes, or increases and decreases, between one region and another

grading noun [U] (NAmE) = MARKING (3)

gradiometer NAmE noun
1 (technical) an instrument for measuring the angle of a slope
2 (physics) an instrument for measuring the changes in an energy field

grad school noun (NAmE, informal) = GRADUATE SCHOOL

gradual adj.
1 happening slowly over a long period; not sudden: a gradual change in the climate Recovery from the disease is very gradual. SUDDEN
2 (of a slope) not steep

gradualism noun [U] a policy of gradual change in society rather than sudden change or revolution
gradualist noun

gradually adv. slowly, over a long period of time: The weather gradually improved. Gradually, the children began to understand. Women have gradually become more involved in the decision-making process.

graduate noun, verb
noun (also informal grad especially in NAmE)
1 ~ (in sth) a person who has a university degree: a graduate in history a science graduate a graduate of Yale/a Yale graduate a graduate student/course
2 (NAmE) a person who has completed their school studies: a high school graduate note at STUDENT
verb
1 [V] ~ (in sth)| ~ (from ... ) to get a degree, especially your first degree, from a university or college: Only thirty students graduated in Chinese last year. She graduated from Harvard this year. He graduated from York with a degree in Psychology.
2 [V] ~ (from ... ) (NAmE) to complete a course in education, especially at HIGH SCHOOL: Martha graduated from high school two years ago.
3 [VN] ~ sb (from sth) (NAmE) to give a degree, DIPLOMA, etc. to sb: The college graduated 50 students last year.
4 [V] ~ (from sth) to sth to start doing sth more difficult or important than what you were doing before: She recently graduated from being a dancer to having a small role in a movie.

graduated adj.
1 divided into groups or levels on a scale: graduated lessons/tests
2 (of a container or measure) marked with lines to show measurements CALIBRATED: a graduated jar

Graduate Management Admissions Test GMAT

graduate school (also informal grad school) (both NAmE) noun a part of a college or university where you can study for a second or further degree

graduation noun
1 [U] the act of successfully completing a university degree, or studies at an American HIGH SCHOOL: It was my first job after graduation.
2 [U, C] a ceremony at which degrees, etc. are officially given out: graduation day My whole family came to my graduation.
3 [C] = GRADATION: The graduations are marked on the side of the flask.

Graeco- (NAmE usually Greco-) NAmE combining form (in adjectives) Greek

Graeco-Roman wrestling (NAmE usually Greco-Roman wrestling) noun [U] a form of WRESTLING in which those taking part are not allowed to hold each other below the waist

graffiti noun [U, pl.] drawings or writing on a wall, etc. in a public place: The subway was covered in graffiti. Someone had scrawled graffiti all over the school walls.

graft NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a piece cut from a living plant and fixed in a cut made in another plant, so that it grows there; the process or result of doing this: A healthy shoot should form a strong graft.
2 [C] a piece of skin, bone, etc. removed from a living body and placed in another part of the body which has been damaged; the process or result of doing this: a skin graft
3 [U] (BrE, informal) hard work: Their success was the result of years of hard graft.
4 [U] (especially NAmE) the use of illegal or unfair methods, especially BRIBERY, to gain advantage in business, politics, etc.; money obtained in this way: He promised an end to graft and corruption in public life.
verb
1 [VN] ~ sth (onto/to/into sth)| ~ sth (on) (from sth) to take a piece of skin, bone, etc. from one part of the body and attach it to a damaged part: newly grafted tissue New skin had to be grafted on from his back.
2 [VN] ~ sth (onto sth) to cut a piece from a living plant and attach it to another plant
3 [VN] ~ sth (onto sth) to make one idea, system, etc. become part of another one: Old values are being grafted onto a new social class.
4 [V] (BrE, informal) to work hard: She's been grafting all day.

graham cracker noun (NAmE) a slightly sweet RECTANGULAR biscuit/cookie made with WHOLEMEAL flour

grail (also the Holy Grail) noun
1 [sing.] the cup or bowl believed to have been used by Jesus Christ before he died, that became a holy thing that people wanted to find
2 [C] a thing that you try very hard to find or achieve, but never will

grain noun
1 [U, C] the small hard seeds of food plants such as WHEAT, rice, etc.; a single seed of such a plant: America's grain exports a few grains of ricesee also WHOLEGRAIN
2 [C] a small hard piece of particular substances: a grain of salt/sand/sugar
3 [C] (used especially in negative sentences) a very small amount IOTA: There isn't a grain of truth in those rumours. If he had a grain of sensitivity he wouldn't have asked her about her divorce.
4 [C] a small unit of weight, equal to 0.00143 of a pound or 0.0648 of a gram, used for example for weighing medicines: The analysis showed a few grains of arsenic in the solution.
5 [U] the natural direction of lines in wood, cloth, etc. or of layers of rock; the pattern of lines that you can see: to cut a piece of wood along/across the grain
6 [U, C] how rough or smooth a surface feels: wood of coarse/fine grain
be/go against the grain to be or do sth different from what is normal or natural: It really goes against the grain to have to work on a Sunday.

grained adj. (of wood, stone, etc.)
1 having noticeable lines or a pattern on the surface: The painter uses a grained canvas that absorbs a lot of paint. grained oak panels
2 -grained having a TEXTURE of the type mentioned: fine-grained stone a coarse-grained farmer (= lacking manners, education, etc.)

grainy adj.
1 (especially of photographs) not having completely clear images because they look as if they are made of a lot of small dots and marks: The film is shot in grainy black and white.
2 having a rough surface or containing small bits, seeds, etc.: grainy texture

gram noun
1 (BrE also gramme) (abbr. g, gm) a unit for measuring weight. There are 1 000 grams in one kilogram.
2 -gram a thing that is written or drawn: telegram hologram

grammar noun
1 [U] the rules in a language for changing the form of words and joining them into sentences: the basic rules of grammar English grammarsee also GENERATIVE GRAMMAR
2 [U] a person's knowledge and use of a language: His grammar is appalling. bad grammar
3 [C] a book containing a description of the rules of a language: a French grammar

grammarian NAmE noun a person who is an expert in the study of grammar

grammar school noun
1 (in Britain, especially in the past) a school for young people between the ages of 11 and 18 who are good at academic subjects
2 (old-fashioned) = ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

grammar translation method noun [sing.] (linguistics) a traditional way of learning a foreign language, in which the study of grammar is very important and very little teaching is in the foreign language

grammatical adj.
1 connected with the rules of grammar: a grammatical error
2 correctly following the rules of grammar: That sentence is not grammatical.
grammatically adv.: a grammatically correct sentence

gramme (BrE) = GRAM

gramophone NAmE noun (old-fashioned) = RECORD PLAYER

gran noun (BrE, informal) grandmother: Do you want to go to your gran's? Gran, can I have some more? My gran lives with us.

GranaryTM adj. [only before noun] (BrE) (of bread) containing whole grains of WHEAT

granary noun (pl. -ies) a building where grain is stored

grand adj., noun
adj. (grander, grandest)
1 impressive and large or important: It's not a very grand house. The wedding was a very grand occasion.
2 Grand [only before noun] used in the names of impressive or very large buildings, etc.: the Grand Canyon We stayed at the Grand Hotel.
3 needing a lot of effort, money or time to succeed but intended to achieve impressive results: a grand design/plan/strategy New Yorkers built their city on a grand scale.
4 (of people) behaving in a proud way because they are rich or from a high social class: They're all Lord or Lady somebody or other, but they're not at all grand. She put on her grandest air and waltzed into the living room to join the others.
5 (dialect or informal) very good or enjoyable; excellent: I had a grand day out at the seaside. Thanks. That'll be grand! Fred did a grand job of painting the house.
6 Grand used in the titles of people of very high social rank: the Grand Duchess Elenasee also GRANDEUR
grandly adv.: He described himself grandly as a 'landscape architect'. 'It is not the money,' she replied grandly, 'it is the principle of the thing.' grandness noun [U]: the grandness of the surroundings
a/the grand old age a great age: She finally learned to drive at the grand old age of 70.
a/the grand old man (of sth) a man who is respected in a particular profession that he has been involved in for a long time: Arthur C. Clarke, the grand old man of science fiction
noun
1 (pl. grand) (informal) $1 000; £1 000: It'll cost you five grand!
2 = GRAND PIANOsee also CONCERT GRAND

grandad (also granddad especially in NAmE) noun (informal) grandfather

Grand Central Station noun (US) used to describe a place that is very busy or crowded: My hospital room was like Grand Central Station with everybody coming and going.
From the name of a very busy train station in New York City.compare PICCADILLY CIRCUS

grandchild noun (pl. grandchildren) a child of your son or daughter

granddaddy (also grandaddy) noun (NAmE, informal)
1 = GRANDFATHER
2 the granddaddy the first or greatest example of sth: James Brown, the granddaddy of soul music

granddaughter noun a daughter of your son or daughtercompare GRANDSON

grand duchess noun
1 the wife of a grand duke
2 (in some parts of Europe, especially in the past), a female ruler of a small independent state
3 (in Russia in the past) a daughter of the TSAR

grand duchy noun a state ruled by a grand duke or grand duchess

grand duke noun
1 (in some parts of Europe, especially in the past), a male ruler of a small independent state: The Grand Duke of Tuscany
2 (in Russia in the past), a son of the TSARcompare ARCHDUKE

grandee noun
1 (in the past) a Spanish or Portuguese NOBLEMAN of high rank
2 a person of high social rank and importance: Is corruption condoned by powerful grandees in government and business?

grandeur noun [U]
1 the quality of being great and impressive in appearance SPLENDOUR: the grandeur and simplicity of Roman architecture The hotel had an air of faded grandeur.
2 the importance or social status sb has or thinks they have: He has a sense of grandeur about him. She is clearly suffering from delusions of grandeur (= thinks she is more important than she really is).see also GRAND

grandfather noun the father of your father or mothersee also GRANDAD, GRANDDADDY, GRANDPAcompare GRANDMOTHER

grandfather clock noun an old-fashioned type of clock in a tall wooden case that stands on the floor

Grand Guignol NAmE noun [C, U] (from French, formal) a dramatic performance which is shocking or unpleasant

grandiloquent adj. (formal, disapproving) using long or complicated words in order to impress people POMPOUS
grandiloquence noun [U]

grandiose NAmE adj. (disapproving) seeming very impressive but too large, complicated, expensive, etc. to be practical or possible: The grandiose scheme for a journey across the desert came to nothing. a grandiose opera house He could no longer live the grandiose lifestyle to which he had become accustomed.

grand jury noun (law) (in the US) a JURY which has to decide whether there is enough evidence against an accused person for a trial in court

grandma noun (informal) grandmother

grand mal NAmE noun [U] (from French, medical) a serious form of EPILEPSY in which sb becomes unconscious for fairly long periods

Grand MarnierTM NAmE noun [U, C] a strong sweet alcoholic drink from France made with BRANDY and orange

grand master noun a CHESS player of the highest standard

grandmother noun the mother of your father or mothersee also GRAN, GRANDMA, GRANNYcompare GRANDFATHER see TEACH

grandmother clock noun a clock similar to a GRANDFATHER CLOCK but smaller

grandmother's footsteps noun [U] (BrE) a children's game in which one child stands with his or her back to the others while they try to walk towards the child without being heard or seen to move when he or she turns round

grand opera noun [U, C] OPERA in which everything is sung and there are no spoken parts

grandpa noun (informal) grandfather: grandma and grandpasee also GRANDAD

grandparent NAmE noun [usually pl.] the father or mother of your father or mother: The children are staying with their grandparents.

grand piano noun a large piano in which the strings are horizontalcompare UPRIGHT PIANO

Grand Prix noun (pl. Grands Prix ) one of a series of important international races for racing cars or motorcycles

grand slam noun
1 (also Grand Slam) a very important sports event, contest, etc.: a Grand Slam tournament/cup/title
2 the winning of every part of a sports contest or all the main contests in a year for a particular sport: Will France win the grand slam this year? (= in RUGBY)
3 (also grand slam home run) (in BASEBALL) a HOME RUN that is worth four points
4 (in card games, especially BRIDGE) the winning of all the TRICKS in a single game

grandson noun a son of your son or daughtercompare GRANDDAUGHTER

grandstand noun a large covered structure with rows of seats for people to watch sports events: The game was played to a packed grandstand. From her house, we had a grandstand view (= very good view) of the celebrations.

grandstand finish noun (BrE) (in sport) a close or exciting finish to a race or competition

grandstanding noun [U] (NAmE) (especially in business, politics, etc.) the fact of behaving or speaking in a way that is intended to make people impressed in order to gain some advantage for yourself: She accused her opponent of engaging in cheap political grandstanding in front of the TV cameras.

grand total noun the final total when a number of other totals have been added together: That makes a grand total of 220 dollars. A grand total of 28 women were elected.

grand tour noun
1 (often humorous) a visit around a building or house in order to show it to sb: Steve took us on a grand tour of the house and gardens.
2 (also Grand Tour) a visit to the main cities of Europe made by rich young British or American people as part of their education in the past

grand unified theory noun (physics) a single theory that tries to explain all the behaviour of SUBATOMIC PARTICLES

grange noun (BrE) (often as part of a name) a country house with farm buildings: Thrushcross Grange

granita noun [U, C] (from Italian) a drink or sweet dish made with crushed ice

granite noun [U] a type of hard grey stone, often used in building

granny (also less frequent grannie) noun (pl. -ies) (informal) grandmother: granny and grandpasee also GRANDMA
granny (also less frequent grannie) adj.: a pair of granny glasses

granny flat noun (BrE) (also in-law apartment, mother-in-law apartment both NAmE) (informal) a set of rooms for an old person, especially in a relative's house

granny knot noun an untidy double knot compare REEF KNOT

Granny Smith noun a type of green apple

granola NAmE noun, adj.
noun [U] (especially NAmE) a type of breakfast CEREAL made of grains, nuts, etc. that have been TOASTED
adj. [only before noun] (NAmE, informal) (of a person) eating healthy food, supporting the protection of the environment and having LIBERAL views: a granola hippie activist type

grant NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 [often passive] ~ sth (to sb/sth)| ~ (sb) sth to agree to give sb what they ask for, especially formal or legal permission to do sth: [VN, VNN] The bank finally granted a £500 loan to me. The bank finally granted me a £500 loan. [VN] My request was granted. These lands had been granted to the family in perpetuity. [VNN] I was granted permission to visit the palace. She was granted a divorce. He was granted a licence to mine in the area.
2 to admit that sth is true, although you may not like or agree with it: [VN] She's a smart woman, I grant you, but she's no genius. [VN (that)] I grant you (that) it looks good, but it's not exactly practical. [also V that] note at ADMIT
take it for granted (that ... ) to believe sth is true without first making sure that it is: I just took it for granted that he'd always be around. She seemed to take it for granted that I would go with her to New York.
take sb/sth for granted to be so used to sb/sth that you do not recognize their true value any more and do not show that you are grateful: Her husband was always there and she just took him for granted. We take having an endless supply of clean water for granted.
noun~ (to do sth) a sum of money that is given by the government or by another organization to be used for a particular purpose: student grants (= to pay for their education) He has been awarded a research grant.

grant aid noun [U] (BrE) money given by the government to organizations or local areas
grant-aided adj.: a grant-aided school

granted NAmE adv., conj.
adv. used to show that you accept that sth is true, often before you make another statement about it: 'You could have done more to help.' 'Granted.' Granted, it's not the most pleasant of jobs but it has to be done.
conj.~ (that ... ) because of the fact that: Granted that it is a simple test to perform, it should be easy to get results quickly.

grant-in-aid noun (pl. grants-in-aid) a sum of money given to a local government or an institution, or to a particular person to allow them to study sth: I was awarded a grant-in-aid to conduct my research.

grant-maintained adj. (abbr. GM) (of a school in Britain) receiving financial support from central government rather than local government

granular adj. consisting of small GRANULES; looking or feeling like a collection of GRANULES

granulated sugar noun [U] white sugar in the form of small grains

granule noun [usually pl.] a small, hard piece of sth; a small grain: instant coffee granules

grape noun a small green or purple fruit that grows in bunches on a climbing plant (called a VINE). Wine is made from grapes: a bunch of grapes black/white grapes (= grapes that are actually purple/green in colour) We picked grapes in the south of France last summer. see SOUR adj.

grapefruit noun (pl. grapefruit or grapefruits) [C, U] a large round yellow CITRUS fruit with a lot of slightly sour juice

grapeseed oil noun [U] oil produced from GRAPES, used in cooking

grapeshot NAmE noun [U] a number of small iron balls that are fired together from a CANNON

grapevine noun
on/through the grapevine by talking in an informal way to other people: I heard on the grapevine that you're leaving.

graph BrE noun a planned drawing, consisting of a line or lines, showing how two or more sets of numbers are related to each other: Plot a graph of height against age. The graph shows how house prices have risen since the 1980s.

grapheme noun (linguistics) the smallest unit that has meaning in a writing systemcompare PHONEME

graphic adj., noun
adj.
1 [only before noun] connected with drawings and design, especially in the production of books, magazines, etc.: graphic design a graphic designer
2 (of descriptions, etc.) very clear and full of details, especially about sth unpleasant VIVID: a graphic account/description of a battle He kept telling us about his operation, in the most graphic detail.
noun a diagram or picture, especially one that appears on a computer screen or in a newspaper or bookcompare GRAPHICS

graphical adj.
1 [only before noun] connected with art or computer graphics: The system uses an impressive graphical interface.
2 in the form of a diagram or graph: a graphical presentation of results

graphically adv.
1 in the form of drawings or diagrams: This data is shown graphically on the opposite page.
2 very clearly and in great detail VIVIDLY: The murders are graphically described in the article.

graphic arts noun [U] art based on the use of lines and shades of colour
graphic artist noun

graphic equalizer noun (technical) an electronic device or computer program that allows you to control the strength and quality of particular sound FREQUENCIES separately

graphic novel noun a novel in the form of a COMIC STRIP

graphics noun [pl.] designs, drawings or pictures, that are used especially in the production of books, magazines, etc.: computer graphics Text and graphics are prepared separately and then combined.

graphics adapter noun (computing) = VIDEO CARD

graphics card noun (computing) a CIRCUIT BOARD that allows a computer to show images on its screen

graphics tablet (also graphics pad) noun a flat device connected to a computer that you draw on with a special pen (called a stylus) to create an image on the screen

graphite noun [U] a soft black mineral that is a form of CARBON. Graphite is used to make pencils, to LUBRICATE machinery, and in nuclear REACTORS.

graphology NAmE noun [U] the study of HANDWRITING, for example as a way of learning more about sb's character

graph paper noun [U] paper with small squares of equal size printed on it, used for drawing GRAPHS and other diagrams

-graphy combining form (in nouns)
1 a type of art or science: choreography geography
2 a method of producing images: radiography
3 a form of writing or drawing: calligraphy biography

grappa noun [U, C] a strong alcoholic drink from Italy, made from GRAPES

grapple verb
1 ~ (with sb/sth) to take a firm hold of sb/sth and struggle with them: [V] Passers-by grappled with the man after the attack. [VN] They managed to grapple him to the ground.
2 ~ (with sth) to try hard to find a solution to a problem: [V] The new government has yet to grapple with the problem of air pollution. [V to inf] I was grappling to find an answer to his question.

grappling iron (also grappling hook) noun a tool with several hooks attached to a long rope, used for dragging sth along or holding a boat still

grasp NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 [VN] to take a firm hold of sb/sth GRIP: He grasped my hand and shook it warmly. Kay grasped him by the wrist. note at HOLD
2 to understand sth completely: [VN] They failed to grasp the importance of his words. [V wh-] She was unable to grasp how to do it. [V that] It took him some time to grasp that he was now a public figure. note at UNDERSTAND
3 [VN] ~ a chance/an opportunity to take an opportunity without hesitating and use it: I grasped the opportunity to work abroad.
grasp the nettle (BrE) to deal with a difficult situation firmly and without hesitating: The government now has the opportunity to grasp the nettle of prison reform.more at STRAW
grasp at sth
1 to try to take hold of sth in your hands: She grasped at his coat as he rushed past her.
2 to try to take an opportunity
noun [usually sing.]
1 a firm hold of sb/sth or control over sb/sth GRIP: I grabbed him, but he slipped from my grasp. She felt a firm grasp on her arm. Don't let the situation escape from your grasp. As soon as he relaxed his grasp on the rope, it was pulled out of his hands. As the drugs took hold, her grasp of reality began to slip slowly away.
2 a person's understanding of a subject or of difficult facts: He has a good grasp of German grammar. These complex formulae are beyond the grasp of the average pupil.
3 the ability to get or achieve sth: Success was within her grasp.

grasping NAmE adj. (disapproving) always trying to get money, possessions, power, etc. for yourself GREEDY: a grasping landlord

grass NAmE noun, verb
noun
1 [U] a common wild plant with narrow green leaves and STEMS that are eaten by cows, horses, sheep, etc.: a blade of grass The dry grass caught fire.
2 [C] any type of grass: ornamental grasses
3 [sing., U] (usually the grass) an area of ground covered with grass: to cut/mow the grass Don't walk on the grass. Keep off the grass. (= on a sign)
4 [U] (slang) MARIJUANA
5 [C] (BrE, informal, usually disapproving) a person, usually a criminal, who tells the police about sb's criminal activities and planscompare SUPERGRASS
the grass is (always) greener on the other side (of the fence) (saying) said about people who never seem happy with what they have and always think that other people have a better situation than they have
not let the grass grow under your feet to not delay in getting things done
put sb out to grass (informal) to force sb to stop doing their job, especially because they are oldmore at SNAKE n.
verb [V] ~ (on sb)(also grass sb up) (both BrE, informal) to tell the police about sb's criminal activities: Who grassed on us? You can count on Sam not to grass. You wouldn't grass up your mates, would you?
grass sthover to cover an area with grass

grass court noun a TENNIS COURT with a grass surface

grasscutter NAmE (also cutting grass) noun a name used in W Africa for a CANE RAT (= type of large RODENT that is used for food)

grassed NAmE adj. covered with grass: grassed areas

grasshopper NAmE noun an insect with long back legs, that can jump very high and that makes a sound with its legs see KNEE-HIGH

grassland NAmE noun [U] (also grasslands) [pl.] a large area of open land covered with wild grass: turning grassland into farm land

grass roots (BrE) noun [pl.] (often the grass roots) ordinary people in society or in an organization, rather than the leaders or people who make decisions: the grass roots of the party We need support at grass-roots level.

grass skirt noun a skirt made of long grass, worn by dancers in the Pacific islands

grass snake noun a small harmless snake

grass widow noun a woman whose husband is away from home for long periods of time

grassy NAmE adj. covered with grass: a grassy bank

grate noun, verb
noun
1 a metal frame for holding the wood or coal in a FIREPLACE: A huge log fire was burning in the grate.
2 (NAmE) = DRAIN
verb
1 [VN] to rub food against a GRATER in order to cut it into small pieces: grated apple/carrot/cheese, etc. Grate the cheese and sprinkle it over the tomatoes.
2 [V] ~ (on/with sb) to irritate or annoy sb: Her voice really grates on me. It grated with him when people implied he wasn't really British. He kept staring at her and it began to grate on her nerves.
3 when two hard surfaces grate as they rub together, they make a sharp unpleasant sound; sb can also make one thing grate against another: [V] The rusty hinges grated as the gate swung back. [VN] He grated his knife across the plate.

grateful
(WORD FAMILY: grateful adj. ungrateful | gratitude noun ingratitude) adj.
1 ~ (to sb) (for sth)| ~ (to do sth)| ~ (that ... ) feeling or showing thanks because sb has done sth kind for you or has done as you asked: I am extremely grateful to all the teachers for their help. We would be grateful for any information you can give us. She seems to think I should be grateful to have a job at all. He was grateful that she didn't tell his parents about the incident. Grateful thanks are due to the following people for their help ... Kate gave him a grateful smile.
2 used to make a request, especially in a letter or in a formal situation: I would be grateful if you could send the completed form back as soon as possible. I would be most grateful if you would keep this matter confidential.
gratefully adv.: He nodded gratefully. All donations will be gratefully received. I gratefully acknowledge the help of many people here today. see SMALL adj.

grater noun a kitchen UTENSIL (= a tool) with a rough surface, used for GRATING food into very small pieces: a cheese/nutmeg grater

gratification noun [U, C] (formal) the state of feeling pleasure when sth goes well for you or when your desires are satisfied; sth that gives you pleasure SATISFACTION: sexual gratification A feed will usually provide instant gratification to a crying baby. Much to my gratification, my work got a special mention in her speech.

gratify verb (gratifies, gratifying, gratified, gratified)
1 (formal) to please or satisfy sb: [VN to inf] It gratified him to think that it was all his work. [VN] I was gratified by their invitation.
2 [VN] (formal) to satisfy a wish, need, etc.: He only gave his consent in order to gratify her wishes.
gratified adj. [not usually before noun] ~ (at sth)| ~ (to find, hear, see, etc.): She was gratified to find that they had followed her advice.

gratifying adj. (formal) pleasing and giving satisfaction: It is gratifying to see such good results. He felt a gratifying sense of being respected and appreciated. note at SATISFYING
gratifyingly adv.: This year, gratifyingly, we have made a small profit.

gratin NAmE noun [U] (from French) a cooked dish which is covered with a crisp layer of cheese or BREADCRUMBSsee also AU GRATIN

grating noun, adj.
noun a flat frame with metal bars across it, used to cover a window, a hole in the ground, etc.: The entrance to the drain is covered by a heavy iron grating.see also GRATE (2)
adj. (of a sound or sb's voice) unpleasant to listen to: The sound of his grating voice complaining all day was driving me crazy.

gratis adv. done or given without having to be paid for FREE OF CHARGE: I knew his help wouldn't be given gratis.
gratis adj.: a gratis copy of a book

gratitude NAmE noun [U] ~ (to sb) (for sth) the feeling of being grateful and wanting to express your thanks: He smiled at them with gratitude. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone for their hard work. She was presented with the gift in gratitude for her long service. a deep sense of gratitude I owe you a great debt of gratitude (= feel extremely grateful). INGRATITUDE

gratuitous NAmE adj. (disapproving) done without any good reason or purpose and often having harmful effects UNNECESSARY: gratuitous violence on television
gratuitously adv.: The film was gratuitously offensive.

gratuity NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 (formal) money that you give to sb who has provided a service for you TIP: Our staff may not accept gratuities.
2 (BrE) money that is given to employees when they leave their job: a retirement gratuity

grave^1 noun, adj.see also GRAVE^2
noun
1 a place in the ground where a dead person is buried: We visited Grandma's grave. There were flowers on the grave.
2 [sing.] (often the grave) (usually literary) death; a person's death: Is there life beyond the grave (= life after death)? He followed her to the grave (= died soon after her). She smoked herself into an early grave (= died young as a result of smoking).
turn in his/her grave (BrE) (NAmE roll in his/her grave) (of a person who is dead) likely to be very shocked or angry: My father would turn in his grave if he knew.more at CRADLE n., DIG v., FOOT n.
adj. (graver, gravest) (formal)
1 (of situations, feelings, etc.) very serious and important; giving you a reason to feel worried: The police have expressed grave concern about the missing child's safety. The consequences will be very grave if nothing is done. We were in grave danger.
2 (of people) serious in manner, as if sth sad, important or worrying has just happened: He looked very grave as he entered the room.see also GRAVITY note at SERIOUS
gravely adv.: She is gravely ill. Local people are gravely concerned. He nodded gravely as I poured out my troubles.

grave^2 (also grave accent) noun a mark placed over a vowel in some languages to show how it should be pronounced, as over the e in the French word pèrecompare ACUTE ACCENT, CIRCUMFLEX, TILDE, UMLAUTsee also GRAVE^1

gravedigger noun a person whose job is to dig graves

gravel noun [U] small stones, often used to make the surface of paths and roads: a gravel path A gravel drive led up to the house. a gravel pit (= a place where gravel is taken from the ground) Put a layer of fine gravel into the bottom of the plant pot for drainage.

gravelled (BrE) (NAmE graveled) adj. (of a road, etc.) covered with gravel

gravelly adj.
1 full of or containing many small stones: a dry gravelly soil Silt and gravelly deposits had been left by the tide.
2 (of a voice) deep and with a rough sound: His gravelly voice is perfect for radio.

graven image noun (disapproving) a statue or image which people worship as a god or as if it were a god

gravestone NAmE noun a stone that is put on a grave in a vertical position, showing the name, etc. of the person buried there HEADSTONEcompare TOMBSTONE

graveyard NAmE noun
1 an area of land, often near a church, where people are buriedcompare CEMETERY, CHURCHYARD
2 a place where things or people that are not wanted are sent or left: a graveyard for cars The club has become a graveyard for mediocre provincial bands.

graveyard shift noun (especially NAmE) a period of time working at night or in the very early morning

gravid adj. (technical) pregnant

gravitas noun [U] (formal) the quality of being serious SERIOUSNESS: a book of extraordinary gravitas

gravitate verb (formal)
gravitate to/toward(s) sb/sth to move towards sb/sth that you are attracted to: Many young people gravitate to the cities in search of work.

gravitation noun [U] (physics) a force of attraction that causes objects to move towards each other

gravitational adj. connected with or caused by the force of gravity: a gravitational field the gravitational pull of the moon

gravity noun [U]
1 (abbr. g) the force that attracts objects in space towards each other, and that on the earth pulls them towards the centre of the planet, so that things fall to the ground when they are dropped: Newton's law of gravitysee also CENTRE OF GRAVITY
2 (formal) extreme importance and a cause for worry SERIOUSNESS: I don't think you realise the gravity of the situation. Punishment varies according to the gravity of the offence.
3 (formal) serious behaviour, speech or appearance: They were asked to behave with the gravity that was appropriate in a court of law.see also GRAVE^1

gravlax NAmE (also gravadlax NAmE ) noun [U] (from Swedish) raw SALMON (= a type of fish) which has been preserved using salt and HERBS

gravy noun [U]
1 a brown sauce made by adding flour to the juices that come out of meat while it is cooking
2 (NAmE, informal) something, especially money, that is obtained when you do not expect it: Anything on top of eight percent profit is just gravy for the industry.

gravy boat noun a long low JUG used for serving and pouring gravy at a meal

gravy train noun (informal) a situation where people seem to be making a lot of money without much effort

gray (especially NAmE) = GREY

graybeard (NAmE) = GREYBEARD

grayish adj. (especially NAmE) = GREYISH

grayscale (NAmE) = GREYSCALE

graze verb, noun
verb
1 (of cows, sheep, etc.) to eat grass that is growing in a field: [V] There were cows grazing beside the river. Parents have been warned against allowing children to graze on snacks (= to keep eating them, instead of real meals). [VN] The field had been grazed by sheep.
2 [VN] to put cows, sheep, etc. in a field so that they can eat the grass there: The land is used by local people to graze their animals.
3 [VN] to break the surface of your skin by rubbing it against sth rough: I fell and grazed my knee. He grazed his elbow on a sharp piece of rock.
4 [VN] to touch sth lightly while passing it: The bullet grazed his cheek.
noun a small injury where the surface of the skin has been slightly broken by rubbing against sth: Adam walked away from the crash with just cuts and grazes.

grazier noun a farmer who keeps animals that eat grass

grazing noun [U] land with grass that cows, sheep, etc. can eat: There is poor grazing in the hills.

GRE abbr. Graduate Record Examination (an examination taken by students who want to study for a further degree in the US)

grease noun, verb
noun [U]
1 any thick OILY substance, especially one that is used to make machines run smoothly: Grease marks can be removed with liquid detergent. Her hands were covered with oil and grease. the grease in his hairsee also ELBOW GREASE
2 animal fat that has been made softer by cooking or heating: plates covered with grease There was a film of grease on the kitchen window.
verb [VN] to rub grease or fat on sth: to grease a cake tin/pan
grease sb's palm (old-fashioned, informal) to give sb money in order to persuade them to do sth dishonest BRIBE
grease the wheels (NAmE) = OIL THE WHEELS

greaseball noun (NAmE, taboo, slang) a very offensive word for a person from southern Europe or Latin America

grease gun noun a tool for applying GREASE to moving parts of a machine, etc.

grease monkey noun (informal) an offensive or humorous word for a person whose job is repairing cars

greasepaint noun [U] a thick substance used by actors as make-up

greaseproof paper (BrE) (NAmE wax paper) noun [U] paper that does not let GREASE, oil, etc. pass through it, used in cooking and for wrapping food in

greasy adj. (greasier, greasiest)
1 covered in a lot of GREASE or oil: greasy fingers/marks/overalls The sink was piled high with greasy dishes.
2 (disapproving) (of food) cooked with too much oil: greasy chips
3 (disapproving) (of hair or skin) producing too much natural oil: long greasy hair
4 (informal, disapproving) (of people or their behaviour) friendly in a way that does not seem sincere SMARMY: a greasy smile He told me how well I'd done in that greasy way of his.
the greasy pole (informal) used to refer to the difficult way to the top of a profession

greasy spoon noun (informal, often disapproving) a small cheap restaurant, usually one that is not very clean or attractive

great adj., noun, adv.
adj. (greater, greatest)
LARGE
1 [usually before noun] very large; much bigger than average in size or quantity: A great crowd had gathered. People were arriving in great numbers. The great majority of (= most) people seem to agree with this view. He must have fallen from a great height. She lived to a great age.
2 [only before noun] (informal) used to emphasize an adjective of size or quality: There was a great big pile of books on the table. He cut himself a great thick slice of cake.
3 much more than average in degree or quantity: a matter of great importance The concert had been a great success. Her death was a great shock to us all. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you here today. Take great care of it. You've been a great help. We are all to a great extent the products of our culture. note at BIG
ADMIRED
4 extremely good in ability or quality and therefore admired by many people: He has been described as the world's greatest violinist. Sherlock Holmes, the great detective Great art has the power to change lives. This represents a great achievement.
GOOD
5 (informal) very good or pleasant: He's a great bloke. It's great to see you again. What a great goal! We had a great time in Madrid. 'I'll pick you up at seven.' 'That'll be great, thanks.' (ironic) Oh great, they left without us. You've been a great help, I must say (= no help at all).
IMPORTANT/IMPRESSIVE
6 [only before noun] important and impressive: The wedding was a great occasion. As the great day approached, she grew more and more nervous. The great thing is to get it done quickly. One great advantage of this metal is that it doesn't rust.
WITH INFLUENCE
7 having high status or a lot of influence: the great powers (= important and powerful countries) We can make this country great again. Alexander the Great
IN GOOD HEALTH
8 in a very good state of physical or mental health: She seemed in great spirits (= very cheerful). I feel great today. I don't feel too great. Everyone's in great form.
SKILLED
9 [not usually before noun] ~ at (doing) sth (informal) able to do sth well: She's great at chess.
USEFUL
10 ~ for (doing) sth (informal) very suitable or useful for sth: This gadget's great for opening jars. Try this creamit's great for spots.
FOR EMPHASIS
11 [only before noun] used when you are emphasizing a particular description of sb/sth: We are great friends. I've never been a great reader (= I do not read much). She's a great talker, isn't she? I am a great admirer of your work.
FAMILY
12 great- added to words for family members to show a further stage in relationship: my great-aunt (= my father's or mother's aunt) her great-grandson (= the grandson of her son or daughter) my great-great-grandfather (= the father of my grandfather)
LARGER ANIMALS/PLANTS
13 [only before noun] used in the names of animals or plants which are larger than similar kinds: the great tit
CITY NAME
14 Greater used with the name of a city to describe an area that includes the centre of the city and a large area all round it: Greater London

greatness see OAKnoun [U]
be going great guns (informal) to be doing sth quickly and successfully: Work is going great guns now.
be a great one for (doing) sth to do sth a lot; to enjoy sth: I've never been a great one for writing letters. You're a great one for quizzes, aren't you?
be no great shakes (informal) to be not very good, efficient, suitable, etc.
great and small of all sizes or types: all creatures great and small
great minds think alike (informal, humorous) used to say that you and another person must both be very clever because you have had the same idea or agree about sth
the great ... in the sky (humorous) used to refer to where a particular person or thing is imagined to go when they die or are no longer working, similar to the place they were connected with on earth: Their pet rabbit had gone to the great rabbit hutch in the sky.more at PAINS, SUM n.
noun [usually pl.] (informal) a very well-known and successful person or thing: He was one of boxing's all-time greats.
adv. (informal, non-standard) very well: Well done. You did great.

SYNONYMS

great

cool fantastic fabulous terrific brilliant awesome

These are all informal words that describe sb/sth that is very good, pleasant, enjoyable, etc.

great (informal) very good; giving a lot of pleasure: We had a great time in Madrid.

cool (informal) used to show that you admire or approve of sth, often because it is fashionable, attractive or different: I think their new song's really cool.

fantastic (informal) extremely good; giving a lot of pleasure: 'How was your holiday?' ' Fantastic!'

fabulous (informal) extremely good: Jane's a fabulous cook. (Fabulous is slightly more old-fashioned than the other words in this set.)

terrific (informal) extremely good; wonderful: She's doing a terrific job.

brilliant (BrE informal) extremely good; wonderful: 'How was the show?' 'Brilliant!'

awesome (informal, especially NAmE) very good, impressive, or enjoyable: The show was just awesome.

PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS

really/absolutely great/cool/fantastic/fabulous/terrific/brilliant/awesome

to look/sound great/cool/fantastic/fabulous/terrific/brilliant/awesome

to feel great/fantastic/fabulous/terrific/awesome

to have a(n) great/cool/fantastic/fabulous/terrific/brilliant/awesome time

great ape noun [usually pl.] one of the large animals which are most similar to humans (CHIMPANZEES, GORILLAS, and ORANG-UTANS)

great auk noun a large bird similar to a PENGUIN, that no longer exists

the Great Bear noun [sing.] (astronomy) = URSA MAJOR

Great Britain noun [U] England, Scotland and Wales, when considered as a unit Sometimes 'Great Britain' (or 'Britain') is wrongly used to refer to the political state, officially called the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland' or the 'UK'.

greatcoat NAmE noun a long heavy coat, especially one worn by soldiers

Great Dane noun a very large dog with short hair

greatly adv. (formal) (usually before a verb or participle) very much: People's reaction to the film has varied greatly. a greatly increased risk Your help would be greatly appreciated. The reports were greatly exaggerated.

the Great War noun [sing.] (old-fashioned) = THE FIRST WORLD WAR

great white shark noun a large aggressive SHARK with a brown or grey back, found in warm seas

the Great White Way noun (informal) a name for Broadway in New York City that refers to the many bright lights of its theatres

grebe noun a bird like a DUCK, that can also swim underwater: a great crested grebe

Grecian adj. from ancient Greece or like the styles of ancient Greece: Grecian architecture

Grecian nose noun a straight nose that continues the line of the FOREHEAD

Greco- combining form (NAmE) = GRAECO-

greed noun [U] ~ (for sth) (disapproving)
1 a strong desire for more wealth, possessions, power, etc. than a person needs: His actions were motivated by greed. Nothing would satisfy her greed for power.
2 a strong desire for more food or drink when you are no longer hungry or thirsty: I had another helping of ice cream out of pure greed.

greedy adj. (greedier, greediest) ~ (for sth) wanting more money, power, food, etc. than you really need: You greedy pig! You've already had two helpings! The shareholders are greedy for profit. He stared at the diamonds with greedy eyes.
greedily adv.: She ate noisily and greedily.
greedy guts (BrE, informal) used to refer to sb who eats too much: Make sure greedy guts doesn't eat all the cake.

Greek noun
1 [C] a person from modern or ancient Greece
2 [U] the language of modern or ancient Greece
3 [C] (NAmE) a member of a FRATERNITY or a SORORITY at a college or university
it's all Greek to me (informal, saying) I cannot understand it: She tried to explain how the system works, but it's all Greek to me.

Greek cross noun a cross with all arms of the same length

Greek salad noun [C, U] a salad that is made with tomatoes, OLIVES and FETA CHEESE

green adj., noun, verb
adj. (greener, greenest)
COLOUR
1 having the colour of grass or the leaves of most plants and trees: green beans Wait for the light to turn green (= on traffic lights).
COVERED WITH GRASS
2 covered with grass or other plants: green fields/hills After the rains, the land was green with new growth.
FRUIT
3 not yet ready to eat: green tomatoes
PERSON
4 (informal) (of a person) young and lacking experience: The new trainees are still very green.
5 (of a person or their skin) being a pale colour, as if the person is going to VOMIT: It was a rough crossing and most of the passengers looked distinctly green.
POLITICS
6 concerned with the protection of the environment; supporting the protection of the environment as a political principle: green politics Try to adopt a greener lifestyle. the Green Party

greenness noun [U]: the greenness of the countryside Supermarkets have started proclaiming the greenness of their products.
green with envy very jealousmore at GRASS n.
noun
COLOUR
1 [U, C] the colour of grass and the leaves of most plants and trees: the green of the countryside in spring The room was decorated in a combination of greens and blues. She was dressed all in green.
VEGETABLES
2 greens [pl.] (especially BrE) green vegetables: Eat up your greens.
AREA OF GRASS
3 [C] (BrE) an area of grass, especially in the middle of a town or village: Children were playing on the village green.
4 [C] (in GOLF) an area of grass cut short around a hole in a GOLF COURSE: the 18th green Did the ball land on the green?see also BOWLING GREEN, PUTTING GREEN
POLITICS
5 the Greens [pl.] the Green Party (= the party whose main aim is the protection of the environment)
verb [VN]
CREATE PARKS
1 to create parks and other areas with trees and plants in a city: projects for greening the cities
POLITICS
2 to make sb more aware of issues connected with the environment; to make sth appear friendly towards the environment: an attempt to green industry bosses

greening noun [U]: the greening of British politics

green audit noun an official examination of the effect of a company's business on the environment

greenback noun (NAmE, informal) an American dollar note

green bean (BrE also French bean) (NAmE also string bean) noun a type of BEAN which is a long thin green POD, cooked and eaten whole as a vegetable

green belt noun [U, C, usually sing.] (especially BrE) an area of open land around a city where building is strictly controlled: New roads are cutting into the green belt. Green belt development is carefully regulated.

Green Beret noun a member of the US army Special Forces

green card noun
1 a document that legally allows sb from another country to live and work in the US
2 (BrE) an insurance document that you need when you drive your car in another country

greenery noun [U] attractive green leaves and plants: The room was decorated with flowers and greenery.

the green-eyed monster noun (informal) used as a way of talking about JEALOUSY

greenfield adj. [only before noun] (BrE) used to describe an area of land that has not yet had buildings on it, but for which building development may be planned: a greenfield site

green fingers noun [pl.] (BrE) (NAmE green thumb [sing.]) if you have green fingers, you are good at making plants grow
green-fingered adj. (BrE)

greenfly noun [U, C] (pl. greenflies or greenfly) a small flying insect that is harmful to plants: The roses have got greenfly.

greengage noun a small soft green fruit that is a type of PLUM: a greengage tree

greengrocer NAmE noun (especially BrE)
1 a person who owns, manages or works in a shop/store selling fruit and vegetablescompare FRUITERER
2 greengrocer's (pl. greengrocers) a shop/store that sells fruit and vegetables

greenhorn NAmE noun (informal, especially NAmE) a person who has little experience and can be easily tricked TENDERFOOT

greenhouse noun a building with glass sides and a glass roof for growing plants in

the greenhouse effect noun [sing.] the problem of the gradual rise in temperature of the earth's atmosphere, caused by an increase of gases such as CARBON DIOXIDE in the air surrounding the earth, which trap the heat of the sun: The destruction of forests is contributing to the greenhouse effect. We are all beginning to experience global warming due to the enhanced greenhouse effect.see also GLOBAL WARMING

greenhouse gas noun any of the gases that are thought to cause the greenhouse effect, especially CARBON DIOXIDE: a government commitment to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases

greening noun [U] GREEN v.

greenish adj. fairly green in colour

greenkeeper (NAmE also greenskeeper) noun a person whose job is to take care of a GOLF COURSE

green light noun [sing.] permission for a project, etc. to start or continue GO-AHEAD: The government has decided to give the green light to the plan.

green manure noun [U, C] plants that are dug into the soil in order to improve its quality: Green manure crops such as alfalfa and mustard are widely used in organic gardening.

green onion noun (NAmE) = SPRING ONION

Green Paper noun (in Britain) a document containing government proposals on a particular subject, intended for general discussioncompare WHITE PAPER

green pepper noun a hollow green fruit that is eaten, raw or cooked, as a vegetable

green room noun a room in a theatre, television studio, etc. where the performers can relax when they are not performing

green salad noun [C, U] (BrE) a salad that is made with raw green vegetables, especially LETTUCE: Serve with a green salad.

greenskeeper noun (NAmE) = GREENKEEPER

greenstick fracture noun (medical) a bone FRACTURE, usually in a child, in which one side of the bone is broken and the other only bent

greensward NAmE noun [U] (literary) a piece of ground covered with grass

green tea noun [U] a pale tea made from leaves that have been dried but not FERMENTED

green thumb noun (NAmE) = GREEN FINGERS

green vegetable noun [C, usually pl.] (BrE also greens) [pl.] a vegetable with dark green leaves, for example CABBAGE or SPINACH: Many people do not eat enough green vegetables.

the green welly brigade noun [sing.+ sing./pl. v.] (BrE, humorous, disapproving) rich people who live in or like to visit the countryside
From the green wellington boots that they often wear.

Greenwich Mean Time GMT

green woodpecker noun a large green and yellow WOODPECKER that lives in Europe

greet verb [VN]
1 ~ sb (with sth) to say hello to sb or to welcome them: He greeted all the guests warmly as they arrived. She greeted us with a smile. The winning team was greeted by cheering crowds.see also MEET-AND-GREET
2 [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (with/as sth) to react to sb/sth in a particular way: The changes were greeted with suspicion. The team's win was greeted as a major triumph. Loud cheers greeted the news.
3 [usually passive] (of sights, sounds or smells) to be the first thing that you see, hear or smell at a particular time: When she opened the door she was greeted by a scene of utter confusion.

greeter noun (especially NAmE) a person whose job is to meet and welcome people in a public place such as a restaurant or shop/store

greeting noun
1 [C, U] something that you say or do to greet sb: She waved a friendly greeting. They exchanged greetings and sat down to lunch. He raised his hand in greeting.
2 greetings [pl.] a message of good wishes for sb's health, happiness, etc.: Christmas/birthday, etc. greetings My mother sends her greetings to you all. see SEASON n.

greetings card (BrE) (NAmE greeting card) noun a card with a picture on the front and a message inside that you send to sb on a particular occasion such as their birthday

gregarious NAmE adj.
1 liking to be with other people SOCIABLE: She's very outgoing and gregarious.
2 (biology) (of animals or birds) living in groups
gregariously adv. gregariousness noun [U]

Gregorian calendar noun [sing.] the system used since 1582 in Western countries of arranging the months in the year and the days in the months and of counting the years from the birth of Christcompare JULIAN CALENDAR

Gregorian chant noun [U, C] a type of church music for voices alone, used since the Middle Ages

gremlin noun an imaginary creature that people blame when a machine suddenly stops working

grenade noun a small bomb that can be thrown by hand or fired from a gun: rocket-propelled grenadessee also HAND GRENADE

grenadier NAmE noun a soldier in the part of the British army known as the Grenadiers or Grenadier Guards

grenadine noun [U] a sweet red liquid that is made from POMEGRANATES (= a tropical fruit with many seeds). It is drunk mixed with water or alcoholic drinks.

Gretna Green noun a village in Scotland near the border with England, famous in the past as a place where English couples used to go to get married when they were not allowed to get married in England

grew pt of GROW

grey (especially BrE) (NAmE usually gray) adj., noun, verb
adj.
1 having the colour of smoke or ASHES: grey eyes/hair wisps of grey smoke a grey suit
2 [not usually before noun] having grey hair: He's gone very grey.
3 (of a person's skin colour) pale and dull, because they are ill/sick, tired or sad: The next morning she looked very grey and hollow-eyed.
4 (of the sky or weather) dull; full of clouds: grey skies I hate these grey days.
5 without interest or variety; making you feel sad: Life seems grey and pointless without him.
6 (disapproving) not interesting or attractive: The company was full of faceless grey men who all looked the same.
7 [only before noun] connected with old people: the grey vote grey power
greyness (especially BrE) (NAmE usually grayness) noun [U, sing.]
noun
1 [U, C] the colour of smoke or ASHES: the dull grey of the sky dressed in grey
2 [C] a grey or white horse: She's riding the grey.
verb [V] (of hair) to become grey: His hair was greying at the sides. a tall woman with greying hair

grey area (especially BrE) (NAmE usually gray area) noun an area of a subject or situation that is not clear or does not fit into a particular group and is therefore difficult to define or deal with: Exactly what can be called an offensive weapon is still a grey area. The new rules for police procedure cleared up a lot of grey areas.

greybeard (BrE) (NAmE graybeard) NAmE noun (BrE, informal) an old man: the greybeards of the art world

grey-haired (especially BrE) (NAmE usually gray-haired) adj. with grey hair

greyhound noun a large thin dog with smooth hair and long thin legs, that can run very fast and is used in the sport of greyhound racing

greyish (especially BrE) (NAmE usually grayish) adj. fairly grey in colour: greyish hair

grey market (NAmE usually gray market) noun [usually sing.]
1 a system in which products are imported into a country and sold without the permission of the company that produced them
2 (BrE) old people, when they are thought of as customers for goods

grey matter (especially BrE) (NAmE usually gray matter) noun [U] (informal) a person's intelligence: This should exercise the old grey matter.

greyscale (BrE) (NAmE grayscale) adj. (technical)
1 (of an image) produced using only shades of grey, not colour: I've printed out the pictures in greyscale.
2 (of a printer or SCANNER) producing images using only shades of grey, not colour

grid noun
1 a pattern of straight lines, usually crossing each other to form squares: New York's grid of streets
2 a frame of metal or wooden bars that are parallel or cross each othersee also CATTLE GRID
3 a pattern of squares on a map that are marked with letters or numbers to help you find the exact position of a place: The grid reference is C8.
4 (especially BrE) a system of electric wires or pipes carrying gas, for sending power over a large area: the national grid (= the electricity supply in a country) the development of the country's electricity grid
5 (in motor racing) a pattern of lines marking the starting positions for the racing cars: He has been put in the front row of the starting grid.
6 (often the Grid) [sing.] (computing) a number of computers that are linked together using the Internet so that they can share power, data, etc. in order to work on difficult problems

griddle noun a flat round iron plate that is heated on a stove or over a fire and used for cooking

gridiron NAmE noun
1 a frame made of metal bars that is used for cooking meat or fish on, over an open fire: (figurative) streets laid out in a gridiron pattern
2 (NAmE) a field used for AMERICAN FOOTBALL marked with a pattern of parallel lines

gridlock NAmE noun [U]
1 a situation in which there are so many cars in the streets of a town that the traffic cannot move at all
2 (usually in politics) a situation in which people with different opinions are not able to agree with each other and so no action can be taken: Congress is in gridlock.
gridlocked adj.

grief noun
1 [U, C] ~ (over/at sth) a feeling of great sadness, especially when sb dies: She was overcome with grief when her husband died. They were able to share their common joys and griefs.
2 [C, usually sing.] something that causes great sadness: It was a grief to them that they had no children.
3 [U] (informal) problems and worry: He caused his parents a lot of grief.
come to grief (informal)
1 to end in total failure: All his schemes for making money seem to come to grief.
2 to be harmed in an accident: Several pedestrians came to grief on the icy pavement.
give sb grief (about/over sth) (informal) to be annoyed with sb and criticize their behaviour
good grief! (informal) used to express surprise or shock: Good grief! What a mess!

grief-stricken adj. feeling extremely sad because of sth that has happened, especially the death of sb: There was no way of consoling her grief-stricken family.

grievance noun ~ (against sb) something that you think is unfair and that you complain or protest about: Parents were invited to air their grievances (= express them) at the meeting. He had been nursing a grievance against his boss for months. Does the company have a formal grievance procedure (= a way of telling sb your complaints at work)? These interviews aim to deal with individual grievances.

grieve verb
1 ~ (for/over sb/sth) to feel very sad, especially because sb has died: [V] They are still grieving for their dead child. grieving relatives [VN] She grieved the death of her husband.
2 (formal) to make you feel very sad PAIN: [VN that] It grieved him that he could do nothing to help her. [VN] Their lack of interest grieved her. [VN to inf] It grieved her to leave. see EYE n.

grievous adj. (formal) very serious and often causing great pain or suffering: He had been the victim of a grievous injustice.
grievously adv.: grievously hurt/wounded

grievous bodily harm noun [U] (abbr. GBH) (BrE, law) the crime of causing sb serious physical injurycompare ACTUAL BODILY HARM

griffin (also griffon, gryphon ) noun (in stories) a creature with a LION'S body and an EAGLE'S wings and head

grifter noun (especially US) a person who tricks people into giving them money, etc.

grill noun, verb
noun
1 (BrE) the part of a cooker that directs heat downwards to cook food that is placed underneath it: Put it under a hot grill to brown for two minutes.compare BROILER
2 a flat metal frame that you put food on to cook over a firesee also BARBECUE
3 a dish of grilled food, especially meatsee also MIXED GRILL
4 (especially in names) a restaurant serving grilled food: Harry's Bar and Grill
5 = GRILLE
verb [VN]
1 (BrE) to cook food under or over a very strong heat: Grill the sausages for ten minutes. grilled baconcompare BROIL
2 (NAmE) to cook food over a fire, especially outdoors: grilled meat and shrimp
3 ~ sb (about sth) to ask sb a lot of questions about their ideas, actions, etc., often in an unpleasant way: They grilled her about where she had been all night. He was grilled by detectives for several hours.see also GRILLING

grille (also grill) noun a screen made of metal bars or wire that is placed in front of a window, door or piece of machinery in order to protect it: a radiator grille (= at the front of a car) a security grille Ensure that the grille is in place while the machinery is in operation.

grilling noun [usually sing.] a period of being questioned closely about your ideas, actions, etc.: The minister faced a tough grilling at today's press conference.

grilse noun a SALMON (= a type of fish) that has returned to a river or lake after spending one winter in the sea

grim adj. (grimmer, grimmest)
1 looking or sounding very serious: a grim face/look/smile She looked grim. with a look of grim determination on his face He set about the task with grim concentration. grim-faced policemen
2 unpleasant and depressing: grim news We face the grim prospect of still higher unemployment. Despite the grim forecast, the number of deaths was slightly down on last year. The outlook is pretty grim. This latest attack is a grim reminder of how vulnerable our airports are to terrorist attack. Booth paints a grim picture of life in the next century. a grim struggle for survival Things are looking grim for workers in the building industry.
3 (of a place or building) not attractive; depressing: The house looked grim and dreary in the rain. the grim walls of the prison
4 [not before noun] (BrE, informal) ill/sick: I feel grim this morning.
5 [not usually before noun] (BrE, informal) of very low quality: Their performance was fairly grim, I'm afraid!
grimly adv.: 'It won't be easy,' he said grimly. grimly determined grimness noun [U]: The novel depicts the grimness of life for the unemployed in Salford.
hang/hold on for/like grim death (BrE) (also hang/hold on for dear life NAmE, BrE) (informal) to hold sb/sth very tightly because you are afraid

grimace verb, noun
verb [V] ~ (at sb/sth) to make an ugly expression with your face to show pain, disgust, etc.: He grimaced at the bitter taste. She grimaced as the needle went in.
noun an ugly expression made by twisting your face, used to show pain, disgust, etc. or to make sb laugh: to make/give a grimace of pain 'What's that?' she asked with a grimace.

grime noun [U] dirt that forms a layer on the surface of sth DIRT: a face covered with grime and sweat Keep plants healthy by regularly removing any dust and grime from their leaves.

the Grim Reaper noun an imaginary figure who represents death. It looks like a SKELETON, wears a long CLOAK and carries a SCYTHE.

grimy adj. (grimier, grimiest) covered with dirt DIRTY: grimy hands/windows His clothes were grimy and bloodstained.

grin verb, noun
verb (-nn-) ~ (at sb) to smile widely: [V] She grinned amiably at us. They grinned with delight when they heard our news. Stop grinning and tell me what happened! He was grinning from ear to ear. [VN] He grinned a welcome.
grin and bear it (only used as an infinitive and in orders) to accept pain, disappointment or a difficult situation without complaining: There's nothing we can do about it. We'll just have to grin and bear it.
noun a wide smile: She gave a broad grin. a wry/sheepish grin 'No,' he said with a grin. Take that grin off your face!

grind verb, noun
verb (ground, ground )
FOOD/FLOUR/COFFEE
1 [VN] ~ sth (down/up)| ~ sth (to/into sth) to break or crush sth into very small pieces between two hard surfaces or using a special machine: to grind coffee/corn The animal has teeth that grind its food into a pulp.see also GROUND (4)
2 [VN] to produce sth such as flour by crushing: The flour is ground using traditional methods.
3 [VN] (NAmE) = MINCE
MAKE SHARP/SMOOTH
4 [VN] to make sth sharp or smooth by rubbing it against a hard surface: a special stone for grinding knives
PRESS INTO SURFACE
5 [VN] ~ sth into sth| ~ sth in to press or rub sth into a surface: He ground his cigarette into the ashtray. The dirt on her hands was ground in.
RUB TOGETHER
6 to rub together, or to make hard objects rub together, often producing an unpleasant noise: [V] Parts of the machine were grinding together noisily. [VN] She grinds her teeth when she is asleep. He ground the gears on the car.
MACHINE
7 [VN] to turn the handle of a machine that grinds sth: to grind a pepper mill
bring sth to a grinding halt to make sth gradually go slower until it stops completely: Roadworks brought traffic to a grinding halt.
grind to a halt | come to a grinding halt to go slower gradually and then stop completely: Production ground to a halt during the strike. Her career ground to a halt when the twins were born.more at AXE n.
grind sbdown to treat sb in a cruel unpleasant way over a long period of time, so that they become very unhappy: Don't let them grind you down. Years of oppression had ground the people down.
grind on to continue for a long time, when this is unpleasant: The argument ground on for almost two years.
grind sthout to produce sth in large quantities, often sth that is not good or interesting CHURN OUT: She grinds out romantic novels at the rate of five a year.
noun
BORING ACTIVITY
1 [sing.] (informal) an activity that is tiring or boring and takes a lot of time: the daily grind of family life It's a long grind to the top of that particular profession.
OF MACHINES
2 [sing.] the unpleasant noise made by machines
SWOT
3 [C] (US, informal) = SWOT

grinder noun
1 a machine or tool for grinding a solid substance into a powder: a coffee grinder
2 a person whose job is to make knives sharper; a machine which does thissee also ORGAN-GRINDER

grinding adj. [only before noun] (of a difficult situation) that never ends or improves: grinding poverty

grindstone NAmE noun a round stone that is turned like a wheel and is used to make knives and other tools sharp see NOSE n.

gringo NAmE noun (pl. -os) (informal, disapproving) used in Latin American countries to refer to a person from the US

griot NAmE noun (in W Africa, especially in the past) a person who sings or tells stories about the history and traditions of their people and community

grip noun, verb
noun
HOLDING TIGHTLY
1 [C, usually sing.] ~ (on sb/sth) an act of holding sb/sth tightly; a particular way of doing this GRASP: Keep a tight grip on the rope. to loosen/release/relax your grip She tried to get a grip on the icy rock. The climber slipped and lost her grip. She struggled from his grip. Try adjusting your grip on the racket.
CONTROL/POWER
2 [sing.] ~ (on sb/sth) control or power over sb/sth: The home team took a firm grip on the game. We need to tighten the grip we have on the market. The Prime Minister needs to keep a tight grip on his party.
UNDERSTANDING
3 [sing.] ~ (on sth) an understanding of sth GRASP: I couldn't get a grip on what was going on. You need to keep a good grip on reality in this job.
MOVING WITHOUT SLIPPING
4 [U] the ability of sth to move over a surface without slipping: These tyres give the bus better grip in slippery conditions. This type of sole gives good grip on snow and ice.
PART OF OBJECT
5 [C] a part of sth that has a special surface so that it can be held without the hands slipping: the grip on a golf club
FOR HAIR
6 [C] (BrE) = HAIRGRIP
JOB IN THE MOVIES
7 [C] a person who prepares and moves the cameras, and sometimes the lighting equipment, when a film/movie is being made
BAG
8 [C] (old-fashioned) a large soft bag, used when travelling
come/get to grips with sth to begin to understand and deal with sth difficult: I'm slowly getting to grips with the language. They have so far failed to come to grips with the ecological problems.
get/take a grip (on yourself) to improve your behaviour or control your emotions after being afraid, upset or angry: I have to take a grip on myself, he told himself firmly. (informal) Get a grip! (= make an effort to control your emotions)
in the grip of sth experiencing sth unpleasant that cannot be stopped: a country in the grip of recession
lose your grip (on sth) to become unable to understand or control a situation: Sometimes I feel I'm losing my grip.
verb (-pp-)
HOLD TIGHTLY
1 to hold sth tightly GRASP: [VN] 'Please don't go,' he said, gripping her arm. [V] She gripped on to the railing with both hands. note at HOLD
INTEREST/EXCITE
2 [VN] to interest or excite sb; to hold sb's attention: The book grips you from start to finish. I was totally gripped by the story.see also GRIPPING
HAVE POWERFUL EFFECT
3 [VN] (of an emotion or a situation) to have a powerful effect on sb/sth: I was gripped by a feeling of panic. A sudden fear gripped me. Terrorism has gripped the country for the past two years.
MOVE/HOLD WITHOUT SLIPPING
4 to hold onto or to move over a surface without slipping: [VN] tyres that grip the road [also V]

gripe noun, verb
noun (informal) a complaint about sth: My only gripe about the hotel was the food.
verb [V] ~ (about sb/sth) (informal) to complain about sb/sth in an annoying way: He's always griping about the people at work.

Gripe WaterTMnoun [U] (BrE) medicine that is given to babies when they have stomach pains

griping adj. [only before noun] a griping pain is a sudden strong pain in your stomach

gripping adj. exciting or interesting in a way that keeps your attention: a gripping story His books are always so gripping. note at INTERESTING

grisly adj. [usually before noun] extremely unpleasant and frightening and usually connected with death and violence: a grisly crime

grist noun
(all) grist to the/sb's mill (BrE) (NAmE (all) grist for the/sb's mill) something that is useful to sb for a particular purpose: Political sex scandals are all grist to the mill of the tabloid newspapers.

gristle noun [U] a hard substance in meat that is unpleasant to eat: a lump of gristle

grit noun, verb
noun [U]
1 very small pieces of stone or sand: I had a piece of grit in my eye. They were spreading grit and salt on the icy roads.
2 the courage and determination that makes it possible for sb to continue doing sth difficult or unpleasant
verb (-tt-) [VN] to spread grit, salt or sand on a road that is covered with ice
grit your teeth
1 to bite your teeth tightly together: She gritted her teeth against the pain. 'Stop it!' he said through gritted teeth.
2 to be determined to continue to do sth in a difficult or unpleasant situation: It started to rain harder, but we gritted our teeth and carried on.

grits noun [pl.] CORN (MAIZE) that is partly crushed before cooking, often eaten for breakfast or as part of a meal in the southern US

gritter (BrE) (US salt truck) noun a large vehicle used for putting salt, sand or GRIT on the roads in winter when there is ice on them

gritty adj.
1 containing or like GRIT: a layer of gritty dust
2 showing the courage and determination to continue doing sth difficult or unpleasant: gritty determination a gritty performance from the British player Tottenham's gritty fightback was rewarded by a goal in the closing minutes.
3 showing sth unpleasant as it really is: a gritty description of urban violence gritty realismsee also NITTY-GRITTY
grittily adv. grittiness noun [U]

grizzle verb [V] (BrE, informal) (especially of a baby or child) to cry or complain continuously in a way that is annoying

grizzled adj. (literary) having hair that is grey or partly grey: He looked old and grizzled. a grizzled beard

grizzly bear NAmE (also grizzly) noun a large aggressive brown BEAR that lives in N America and parts of Russia

groan NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (at/with sth) to make a long deep sound because you are annoyed, upset or in pain, or with pleasure MOAN: [V] to groan with pain/pleasure He lay on the floor groaning. We all groaned at his terrible jokes. They were all moaning and groaning (= complaining) about the amount of work they had. [V speech] 'It's a complete mess!' she groaned. 'Don't move me,' he groaned.
2 [V] to make a sound like a person groaning MOAN: The trees creaked and groaned in the wind.
groan under the weight of sth (formal) used to say that there is too much of sth
groan with sth (formal) to be full of sth: tables groaning with food
noun a long deep sound made when sb/sth groans MOAN: She let out a groan of dismay. He fell to the floor with a groan. The house was filled with the cello's dismal squeaks and groans.

groat NAmE noun a silver coin used in Europe in the past

grocer NAmE noun
1 a person who owns, manages or works in a shop/store selling food and other things used in the home
2 grocer's (pl. grocers) a shop/store that sells these things

grocery NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 (especially BrE) (NAmE usually grocery store) [C] a shop/store that sells food and other things used in the home. In American English 'grocery store' is often used to mean 'supermarket'.
2 groceries [pl.] food and other goods sold by a grocer or at a supermarket
grocery adj. [only before noun]: the grocery bill

groceteria NAmE noun (NAmE) a small shop/store that sells food and other goods for the home

grog NAmE noun [U]
1 a strong alcoholic drink, originally RUM, mixed with water
2 (informal, AustralE, NZE) any alcoholic drink, especially beer

groggy NAmE adj. [not usually before noun] (informal) weak and unable to think or move well because you are ill/sick or very tired: The sleeping pills left her feeling very groggy. He's still groggy from the anaesthetic.

groin noun
1 the part of the body where the legs join at the top including the area around the GENITALS (= sex organs): She kicked her attacker in the groin. He's been off all season with a groin injury.
2 (especially NAmE) = GROYNE

grok NAmE (-kk-) verb [VN] (US, slang) to understand sth completely using your feelings rather than considering the facts: Children grok this show immediately but their parents take longer to get it.

grommet NAmE noun
1 a small metal ring placed around a hole in cloth or leather, to make it stronger
2 (BrE) (NAmE tube) a small tube placed in a child's ear in order to DRAIN liquid from it

groom verb, noun
verb
1 [VN] to clean or brush an animal: to groom a horse/dog/cat The horses are all well fed and groomed.
2 [VN] (of an animal) to clean the fur or skin of another animal or itself: a female ape grooming her mate
3 ~ sb (for/as sth) to prepare or train sb for an important job or position: [VN] Our junior employees are being groomed for more senior roles. [VN to inf] The eldest son is being groomed to take over when his father dies.
4 [VN] (of a person who is sexually attracted to children) to prepare a child for a meeting, especially using an Internet CHAT ROOM, with the intention of performing an illegal sexual act
noun
1 a person whose job is to feed and take care of horses, especially by brushing and cleaning them
2 = BRIDEGROOM

groomed adj. (usually following an adverb) used to describe the way in which a person cares for their clothes and hair: She is always perfectly groomed.see also WELL GROOMED

grooming noun [U] the things that you do to keep your clothes and hair clean and neat, or to keep an animal's fur or hair clean: You should always pay attention to personal grooming. a range of hair grooming products Grooming is a vital part of caring for your dog.

groomsman noun (pl. -men ) (NAmE) a friend of the BRIDEGROOM at a wedding, who has special duties

groove noun
1 a long narrow cut in the surface of sth hard: Cut a groove 3 cm from the top of the piece of wood. If the stylus jumps, this may be due to dust collecting in the grooves of the record.
2 (informal) a particular type of musical rhythm: a jazz groove
be (stuck) in a groove (BrE) to be unable to change sth that you have been doing the same way for a long time and that has become boring

grooved adj. having a groove or grooves

groovy adj. (old-fashioned, informal) fashionable, attractive and interesting

grope NAmE verb, noun
verb
1 [V] ~ (around)(for sth) to try and find sth that you cannot see, by feeling with your hands: He groped around in the dark for his other sock. She groped for the railing to steady her as she fell. (figurative) 'It's so ... , so ... ' I was groping for the right word to describe it.
2 [+adv./prep.] to try and reach a place by feeling with your hands because you cannot see clearly: [VN] He groped his way up the staircase in the dark. [V] She groped through the darkness towards the doors.
3 [VN] (informal) to touch sb sexually, especially when they do not want you to
noun (informal) an act of groping sb (= touching them sexually)

gross NAmE adj., adv., verb, noun
adj. (grosser, grossest)
1 [only before noun] being the total amount of sth before anything is taken away: gross weight (= including the container or wrapping) gross income/wage (= before taxes, etc. are taken away) Investments showed a gross profit of 26%.compare NET
2 [only before noun] (formal or law) (of a crime, etc.) very obvious and unacceptable: gross indecency/negligence/misconduct a gross violation of human rights
3 (informal) very unpleasant DISGUSTING: 'He ate it with mustard.' 'Oh, gross!' note at DISGUSTING
4 very rude CRUDE: gross behaviour
5 very fat and ugly: She's not just fat, she's positively gross!
grossness noun [U]
adv. in total, before anything is taken away: She earns £25 000 a year gross.compare NET
verb [VN] to earn a particular amount of money before tax has been taken off it: It is one of the biggest grossing movies of all time. The concert grossed a massive £2 million at the box office.
gross sb out (NAmE, informal) to be very unpleasant and make sb feel disgusted DISGUST: His bad breath really grossed me out.
noun
1 (pl. gross) a group of 144 things: two gross of apples to sell sth by the gross
2 (pl. grosses) (especially US) a total amount of money earned by sth, especially a film/movie, before any costs are taken away

gross domestic product noun [sing., U] = GDP

grossly NAmE adv. (disapproving) (used to describe unpleasant qualities) extremely: grossly overweight/unfair/inadequate Press reports have been grossly exaggerated.

gross national product noun [sing., U] = GNP

gross-out noun (especially NAmE, informal) something disgusting: They eat flies? What a gross-out!
gross-out adj. [only before noun]: gross-out movie scenes

grot NAmE noun [U] (BrE, informal) something unpleasant, dirty or of poor quality

grotesque NAmE adj., noun
adj.
1 strange in a way that is unpleasant or offensive: a grotesque distortion of the truth The story was too grotesque to believe. It's grotesque to expect a person of her experience to work for so little money.
2 extremely ugly in a strange way that is often frightening or amusing: a grotesque figure tribal dancers wearing grotesque masks
grotesquely adv.: He was a grotesquely inappropriate choice of speaker.
noun
1 [C] a person who is extremely ugly in a strange way, especially in a book or painting
2 the grotesque [sing.] a style of art using grotesque figures and designs

grotto NAmE noun (pl. -oes or -os) a small CAVE, especially one that has been made artificially, for example in a garden

grotty NAmE adj. (BrE, informal) unpleasant or of poor quality: a grotty little hotel I'm feeling pretty grotty (= ill).

grouch noun (informal)
1 a person who complains a lot
2 a complaint about sth unimportant
grouch verb [V]

grouchy adj. (informal) bad-tempered and often complaining

ground noun, verb, adj.see also GRIND v.
noun
SURFACE OF EARTH
1 (often the ground) [U] the solid surface of the earth: I found her lying on the ground. He lost his balance and fell to the ground. 2 metres above/below ground Most of the monkeys' food is found at ground level. ground forces (= soldiers that fight on land, not in the air or at sea) Houses and a luxury tourist hotel were burned to the ground (= completely destroyed, so that there is nothing left). note at FLOOR
SOIL
2 [U] soil on the surface of the earth: fertile ground for planting crops note at SOIL
AREA OF LAND
3 [U] an area of open land: The kids were playing on waste ground behind the school.
4 [C] (often in compounds) (BrE) an area of land that is used for a particular purpose, activity or sport: a football/recreation/sports, etc. ground ancient burial groundssee also BREEDING GROUND, DUMPING GROUND, PARADE GROUND, STAMPING GROUND, TESTING GROUND note at LAND
5 grounds [pl.] a large area of land or sea that is used for a particular purpose: fishing grounds feeding grounds for birds
GARDENS
6 grounds [pl.] the land or gardens around a large building: the hospital grounds The house has extensive grounds.
AREA OF KNOWLEDGE/IDEAS
7 [U] an area of interest, knowledge or ideas: He managed to cover a lot of ground in a short talk. We had to go over the same ground (= talk about the same things again) in class the next day. You're on dangerous ground (= talking about ideas that are likely to offend sb or make people angry) if you criticize his family. I thought I was on safe ground (= talking about a suitable subject) discussing music with her. He was back on familiar ground, dealing with the customers. They are fighting the Conservatives on their own ground.see also COMMON GROUND, MIDDLE GROUND
GOOD REASON
8 [C, usually pl.] ~ for sth/for doing sth a good or true reason for saying, doing or believing sth: You have no grounds for complaint. What were his grounds for wanting a divorce? The case was dismissed on the grounds that there was not enough evidence. He retired from the job on health grounds. Employers cannot discriminate on grounds of age. note at REASON
IN LIQUID
9 grounds [pl.] the small pieces of solid matter in a liquid that have fallen to the bottom: coffee grounds
ELECTRICAL WIRE
10 [C, usually sing.] (NAmE) = EARTH (5)
BACKGROUND
11 [C] a background that a design is painted or printed on: pink roses on a white ground
cut the ground from under sb's feet to suddenly spoil sb's idea or plan by doing sth to stop them from continuing with it
gain/make up ground (on sb/sth) to gradually get closer to sb/sth that is moving or making progress in an activity: The police car was gaining ground on the suspects. They needed to make up ground on their competitors.
get (sth) off the ground to start happening successfully; to make sth start happening successfully: Without more money, the movie is unlikely to get off the ground. to get a new company off the ground
give/lose ground (to sb/sth) to allow sb to have an advantage; to lose an advantage for yourself: They are not prepared to give ground on tax cuts. The Conservatives lost a lot of ground to the Liberal Democrats at the election.
go to ground (BrE) to hide, especially to escape sb who is chasing you
hold/stand your ground
1 to continue with your opinions or intentions when sb is opposing you and wants you to change: Don't let him persuade youstand your ground.
2 to face a situation and refuse to run away: It is not easy to hold your ground in front of someone with a gun.
on the ground in the place where sth is happening and among the people who are in the situation, especially a war: On the ground, there are hopes that the fighting will soon stop. There's a lot of support for the policy on the ground.
run/drive/work yourself into the ground to work so hard that you become extremely tired
run sb/sth into the ground to use sth so much that it is broken; to make sb work so hard that they are no longer able to work
thick/thin on the ground (BrE) if people or things are thick/thin on the ground, there are a lot/not many of them in a place: Customers are thin on the ground at this time of year. Security officers were thick on the ground during the King's visit.more at EAR, FIRM adj., FOOT n., GAIN v., HIT v., MORAL adj., NEUTRAL adv., NEW, PREPARE, RIVET v., SHIFT v., STONY, SUIT v.
verb
BOAT
1 when a boat grounds or sth grounds it, it touches the bottom of the sea and is unable to move: [VN] The fishing boat had been grounded on rocks off the coast of Cornwall. [also V]
AIRCRAFT
2 [VN] [often passive] to prevent an aircraft from taking off: The balloon was grounded by strong winds. All planes out of Heathrow have been grounded by the strikes.
CHILD
3 [VN] [usually passive] to punish a child by not allowing them to go out with their friends for a period of time: You're grounded for a week!
ELECTRICITY
4 [VN] (NAmE) = EARTH
see also GROUNDED, GROUNDING
adj. [only before noun] (of food) cut or crushed into very small pieces or powder: ground coffee

ground ball noun = GROUNDER

ground beef noun [U] (NAmE) = MINCE

groundbreaking adj. [only before noun] making new discoveries; using new methods: a groundbreaking piece of research

ground cloth noun (US) = GROUNDSHEET

ground control noun [U] the people and equipment on the ground that make sure that planes or SPACECRAFT take off and land safely

ground cover noun [U] plants that cover the soil

ground crew (also ground staff) noun [C+sing./pl. v.] the people at an airport whose job is to take care of aircraft while they are on the ground

grounded adj. having a sensible and realistic attitude to life: Away from Hollywood, he relies on his family and friends to keep him grounded.
(be) grounded in/on sth (to be) based on sth: His views are grounded on the assumption that all people are equal. These explanations are not sufficiently grounded in fact.

grounder (also ground ball) noun (in BASEBALL) a ball that runs along the ground after it has been hit

ground floor (BrE) (NAmE first floor) noun the floor of a building that is at the same level as the ground outside: a ground-floor window I live on the ground floor. note at FLOOR
be/get in on the ground floor to become involved in a plan, project, etc. at the beginning

groundhog NAmE noun = WOODCHUCK

Groundhog Day noun
1 (in N America) February 2, when it is said that the groundhog comes out of its hole at the end of winter. If the sun shines and the groundhog sees its shadow, it is said that there will be another six weeks of winter.
2 an event that is repeated without changing: The Government lost the vote then and it can expect a Groundhog Day next time.
From the film/movie Groundhog Day about a man who lives the same day many times.

grounding noun
1 [sing.] ~ (in sth) the teaching of the basic parts of a subject: a good grounding in grammar
2 [U, C] the act of keeping a plane on the ground or a ship in a port, especially because it is not in a good enough condition to travel

groundless adj. not based on reason or evidence UNFOUNDED: groundless allegations Our fears proved groundless. Their suspicions were dismissed as groundless.
groundlessly adv.

groundnut noun (BrE) = PEANUT

groundout noun (in BASEBALL) a situation in which a player hits the ball along the ground but a FIELDER touches first BASE with it before the player reaches the base

ground plan noun
1 a plan of the ground floor of a buildingcompare PLAN n. (4)
2 a plan for future action: You need a flexible approach in devising your ground plan for bargaining.

ground rent noun [U, C] (in Britain) rent paid by the owner of a building to the owner of the land on which it is built

ground rule noun
1 ground rules [pl.] the basic rules on which sth is based: The new code of conduct lays down the ground rules for management-union relations.
2 [C] (NAmE, sport) a rule for the playing of a game on a particular field, etc.

groundsel noun [U] a wild plant with yellow flowers, sometimes used as food for animals and birds

groundsheet (BrE) (US ground cloth) noun a large piece of material that does not let water through that is placed on the ground inside a tent

groundsman noun (pl. -men ) (especially BrE) a man whose job is to take care of a sports ground or large garden

ground speed noun the speed of an aircraft relative to the groundcompare AIRSPEED

ground squirrel noun = GOPHER

ground staff noun [C+sing./pl. v.]
1 (BrE) the people at a sports ground whose job it is to take care of the grass, equipment, etc.
2 = GROUND CREW

groundstroke NAmE noun (in TENNIS) a hit that is made after the ball has BOUNCED

groundswell noun [sing.] ~ (of sth) (formal) the sudden increase of a particular feeling among a group of people: a groundswell of support There was a groundswell of opinion that he should resign.

groundwater noun [U] water that is found under the ground in soil, rocks, etc.

groundwork NAmE noun [U] ~ (for sth) work that is done as preparation for other work that will be done later: Officials are laying the groundwork for a summit conference of world leaders.

ground zero noun [U]
1 the point on the earth's surface where a nuclear bomb explodes
2 Ground Zero the site of the World Trade Center in New York, destroyed on 11 September 2001
3 the beginning; a starting point for an activity

group noun, verb
noun [C+sing./pl. v.]
1 a number of people or things that are together in the same place or that are connected in some way: a group of girls/trees/houses A group of us are going to the theatre this evening. Students stood around in groups waiting for their results. The residents formed a community action group. English is a member of the Germanic group of languages The proportion of single parent families varies between different income groups. a minority group ethnic groups a group activity (= done by a number of people working together) She asked her students to get into groups of four. to work in groupssee also SUBGROUP There are many other compounds ending in group. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.
2 (business) a number of companies that are owned by the same person or organization: a newspaper group the Burton group the group sales director
3 (rather old-fashioned) a number of musicians who perform together, especially to play pop music: She sings in a rock group.
verb
1 ~ (sb/sth) (round/around sb/sth)| ~ (sb/sth) (together) to gather into a group; to make sb/sth form a group: [VN] The children grouped themselves around their teacher. Most of the houses were grouped around the church. [V] We all grouped around the tree for a photograph. The colleges grouped together to offer a wider range of courses.
2 [VN] to divide people or things into groups of people or things that are similar in some way: The books are grouped together by subject. Contestants were grouped according to age and ability.

group captain noun (abbr. Gp Capt) an officer of high rank in the British AIR FORCE: Group Captain (Jonathan) Sutton

groupie noun a person, especially a young woman, who follows pop musicians around and tries to meet them

grouping noun
1 [C] a number of people or organizations that have the same interests, aims or characteristics and are often part of a larger group: These small nations constitute an important grouping within the EU.
2 [U] the act of forming sth into a group

group practice noun a group of several doctors or other medical workers who work together in the community and use the same building to see patients

group therapy noun [U] a type of PSYCHIATRIC treatment in which people with similar personal problems meet together to discuss them

groupware NAmE noun [U] (computing) software that is designed to help a group of people on different computers to work together

group work noun [U] (BrE) work done by a group of people working together, for example students in a classroom

grouse noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] (pl. grouse) a bird with a fat body and feathers on its legs, which people shoot for sport and food; the meat of this bird: grouse shooting grouse moors roast grouse
2 [C] (informal) a complaint
verb [V, V speech] ~ (about sb/sth) (informal) to complain about sb/sth in a way that other people find annoying GRUMBLE

grout (also grouting) noun [U] a substance that is used between the TILES on the walls of kitchens, bathrooms, etc.
grout verb [VN]

grove NAmE noun
1 (literary) a small group of trees: a grove of birch trees
2 a small area of land with fruit trees of particular types on it: an olive grove
3 used in the names of streets: Elm Grove

grovel NAmE verb (-ll-, NAmE -l-) [V]
1 ~ (to sb) (for sth) (disapproving) to behave in a very HUMBLE way towards sb who is more important than you or who can give you sth you want CRAWL: He went grovelling to her for forgiveness.
2 [+adv./prep.] to move along the ground on your hands and knees, especially because you are looking for sth: She was grovelling around on the floor, looking for her contact lens.
grovelling (BrE) (NAmE groveling) adj. [only before noun]: a grovelling letter of apology

grow NAmE verb (grew grown NAmE )
INCREASE
1 ~ (in sth) to increase in size, number, strength or quality: [V] The company profits grew by 5% last year. The family has grown in size recently. She is growing in confidence all the time. A growing number of people are going vegetarian. Fears are growing for the safety of a teenager who disappeared a week ago. There is growing opposition to the latest proposals. Shortage of water is a growing problem. The performance improved as their confidence grew. [V-ADJ] The company is growing bigger all the time.
OF PERSON/ANIMAL
2 to become bigger or taller and develop into an adult: [V] You've grown since the last time I saw you! Nick's grown almost an inch in the last month. The puppies grow quickly during the first six months. A growing child needs plenty of sleep. [V-ADJ] to grow bigger/taller
OF PLANT
3 to exist and develop in a particular place; to make plants grow: [V] The region is too dry for plants to grow. These roses grow to a height of 6 feet. Tomatoes grow best in direct sunlight. [VN] I didn't know they grew rice in France. I grew all these flowers from one packet of seeds.see also HOME-GROWN
OF HAIR/NAILS
4 to become longer; to allow sth to become longer by not cutting it: [V] I've decided to let my hair grow. [VN] I've decided to grow my hair. I didn't recognize himhe's grown a beard.
BECOME/BEGIN
5 linking verb [V-ADJ] to begin to have a particular quality or feeling over a period of time: to grow old/bored/calm As time went on he grew more and more impatient. The skies grew dark and it began to rain.
6 [V to inf] to gradually begin to do sth: I'm sure you'll grow to like her in time. He grew to understand her reasons for leaving.
DEVELOP SKILLS
7 [V] ~ (as sth) (of a person) to develop and improve particular qualities or skills: She continues to grow as an artist. A secure background will help a child to grow emotionally.
BUSINESS
8 [VN] to increase the size, quality or number of sth: We are trying to grow the business.
it/money doesn't grow on trees (saying) used to tell sb not to use sth or spend money carelessly because you do not have a lot of itmore at ABSENCE, GRASS n.
grow apart (from sb) to stop having a close relationship with sb over a period of time: As we got older we just grew apart. Since moving to London, he's grown apart from many of his friends.
grow away from sb [no passive] to become less close to sb; to depend on sb or care for sb less: When she left school she grew away from her mother.
grow back to begin growing again after being cut off or damaged: His eyebrows never grew back after the accident.
grow into sth [no passive]
1 to gradually develop into a particular type of person over a period of time: He's grown into a handsome young man.
2 (of a child) to grow big enough to fit into a piece of clothing that used to be too big: The dress is too long for her now but she'll grow into it.
3 to become more confident in a new job, etc. and learn to do it better: She's still growing into her new role as a mother.
grow on sb [no passive] if sb/sth grows on you, you start to like them or it more and more: The neighbourhood was beginning to grow on me. This song is really growing on me.
grow out (of a HAIRSTYLE, etc.) to disappear as your hair grows: I had a perm a year ago and it still hasn't grown out.
grow sthout to allow your hair to grow in order to change the style: I've decided to grow my layers out.
grow out of sth [no passive]
1 (of a child) to become too big to fit into a piece of clothing OUTGROW: He's already grown out of his school uniform.
2 to stop doing sth as you become older OUTGROW: Most children suck their thumbs but they grow out of it.
3 to develop from sth: The idea for the book grew out of a visit to India. The decision to introduce job sharing grew out of a general desire for flexible working hours.
grow up
1 (of a person) to develop into an adult: She grew up in Boston (= lived there as a child). Their children have all grown up and left home now. He grew up to become a famous pianist.related noun [+ to inf]GROWN-UP
2 used to tell sb to stop behaving in a silly way: Why don't you grow up? It's time you grew up.
3 to develop gradually: A closeness grew up between the two girls. see OAK

growbag (also Gro-bagTM) NAmE noun a large plastic bag full of soil, used for growing plants

grower NAmE noun
1 a person or company that grows plants, fruit or vegetables to sell: a tobacco grower All our vegetables are supplied by local growers.
2 a plant that grows in the way mentioned: a fast/slow grower

growing NAmE adj. [only before noun] increasing in size, amount or degree: A growing number of people are returning to full-time education. one of the country's fastest growing industries There is growing concern over the safety of the missing teenager.

growing pains noun [pl.]
1 pains that some children feel in their arms and legs when they are growing
2 emotional anxieties felt by young people as they grow up
3 problems that are experienced by a company when it begins operating but that are not likely to last: Every business experiences its share of growing pains.

growing season noun [usually sing.] the period of the year during which the weather conditions are right for plants to grow: a part of the world with a long growing season

growl verb, noun
verb
1 [V] ~ (at sb/sth) (of animals, especially dogs) to make a low sound in the throat, usually as a sign of anger: The dog growled at them.
2 ~ (at sb) to say sth in a low angry voice: [V speech] 'Who are you?' he growled at the stranger. [VN] She growled a sarcastic reply.
noun a deep angry sound made when sb/sth growls

grown NAmE adj. [only before noun] (of a person) mentally and physically an adult: It's pathetic that grown men have to resort to violence like this.see also FULL-GROWN, HOME-GROWN, GROW v.

grown-up adj.
1 (of a person) mentally and physically an adult ADULT: What do you want to be when you're grown-up? She has a grown-up son.
2 suitable for or typical of an adult: The child was clearly puzzled at being addressed in such a grown-up way.

grown-up noun (used especially by and to children) an adult person ADULT: If you're good you can eat with the grown-ups.

growth NAmE noun
1 [U] (of people, animals or plants) the process of growing physically, mentally or emotionally: Lack of water will stunt the plant's growth. Remove dead leaves to encourage new growth. a concern with personal (= mental and emotional) growth and development growth hormones (= designed to make sb/sth grow faster)
2 [U] ~ (in/of sth) an increase in the size, amount or degree of sth: population growth the rapid growth in violent crime His book describes the growth of nationalism in Germany before the Second World War.
3 [U] an increase in economic activity: a disappointing year of little growth in Britain and America policies aimed at sustaining economic growth an annual growth rate of 10% a growth area/industry
4 [C] a lump caused by a disease that forms on or inside a person, an animal or a plant: a malignant/cancerous growth
5 [U, C] something that has grown: The forest's dense growth provides nesting places for a wide variety of birds. several days' growth of beard Prune the shrub heavily now and fresh green growths should appear in March and April.

growth ring noun a layer of wood, shell or bone developed in one year, or in another regular period of growth, that an expert can look at to find out how old sth is

groyne (BrE) (also groin NAmE, BrE) noun a low wall built out into the sea to prevent it from washing away sand and stones from the beach

grub noun, verb
noun
1 [C] the young form of an insect, that looks like a small fat WORM
2 [U] (informal) food: Grub's up (= the meal is ready)! They serve good pub grub there.
verb (-bb-) [V] ~ (around/about) (for sth) to look for sth, especially by digging or by looking through or under other things: birds grubbing for WORMS
grub sthup/out to dig sth out of the ground: The trees were grubbed up to make way for a new road.

grubber noun (in CRICKET) a ball that is BOWLED along the ground

grubby adj. (grubbier, grubbiest)
1 rather dirty, usually because it has not been washed or cleaned: grubby hands/clothes note at DIRTY
2 unpleasant because it involves activities that are dishonest or immoral SORDID: a grubby scandal
grubbiness noun [U]

Grub Street noun used to refer to poor writers and journalists as a group, or the life they live
From the name of a street in London where many poor writers lived in the 17th century.

grudge noun, verb
noun~ (against sb) a feeling of anger or dislike towards sb because of sth bad they have done to you in the past: I bear him no grudge. He has a grudge against the world. She has harboured a grudge against me for years. I don't hold any grudges now. He's a man with a grudge. England beat New Zealand in a grudge match (= a match where there is strong dislike between the teams).
verb
1 to do or give sth unwillingly BEGRUDGE: [V -ing] I grudge having to pay so much tax. [VN] He grudges the time he spends travelling to work.
2 [VNN] to think that sb does not deserve to have sth BEGRUDGE: You surely don't grudge her her success?

grudging adj. [usually before noun] given or done unwillingly RELUCTANT: He could not help feeling a grudging admiration for the old lady.
grudgingly (also less frequent begrudgingly) adv.: She grudgingly admitted that I was right.

gruel noun [U] a simple dish made by boiling OATS in milk or water, eaten especially in the past by poor people

gruelling (especially BrE) (NAmE usually grueling) adj. very difficult and tiring, needing great effort for a long time PUNISHING: a gruelling journey/schedule I've had a gruelling day.

gruesome adj. very unpleasant and filling you with horror, usually because it is connected with death or injury: a gruesome murder gruesome pictures of dead bodies (humorous) We spent a week in a gruesome apartment in Miami.
gruesomely adv.

gruff adj.
1 (of a voice) deep and rough, and often sounding unfriendly
2 (of a person's behaviour) unfriendly and impatient: Beneath his gruff exterior, he's really very kind-hearted.
gruffly adv.

grumble verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (at/to sb) (about/at sb/sth) to complain about sb/sth in a bad-tempered way: [V] She's always grumbling to me about how badly she's treated at work. [V speech] 'I'll just have to do it myself,' he grumbled. [V that] They kept grumbling that they were cold. note at COMPLAIN
2 [V] to make a deep continuous sound RUMBLE: Thunder grumbled in the distance.
grumbler noun
noun
1 ~ (about sth)| ~ (that ... ) something that you complain about because you are not satisfied: My main grumble is about the lack of privacy.
2 a long low sound RUMBLE: a distant grumble of thunder

grumbling noun
1 [U] the act of complaining about sth: We didn't hear any grumbling about the food.
2 grumblings [pl.] protests about sth that come from a number of people but that are not expressed very clearly

grump noun (informal) a bad-tempered person

grumpy adj. (grumpier, grumpiest) (informal) bad-tempered
grumpily adv.

grunge noun [U]
1 (informal) dirt of any kind GRIME
2 (also grunge rock) a type of loud rock music, which was popular in the early 1990s
3 a style of fashion worn by people who like grunge music, usually involving clothes that look untidy

grungy adj. (informal) dirty in an unpleasant way

grunt verb, noun
verb
1 [V] (of animals, especially pigs) to make a short low sound in the throat
2 (of people) to make a short low sound in your throat, especially to show that you are in pain, annoyed or not interested; to say sth using this sound: [V] He pulled harder on the rope, grunting with the effort. When I told her what had happened she just grunted and turned back to her book. [VN] He grunted something about being late and rushed out. [also V speech]
noun
1 a short, low sound made by a person or an animal (especially a pig): to give a grunt of effort/pain
2 (NAmE, informal) a worker who does boring tasks for low pay
3 (NAmE, informal) a soldier of low rank

Gruyère NAmE noun [U] a type of Swiss cheese with a strong flavour

gryphon noun = GRIFFIN

GSM abbr. Global System/Standard for Mobile Communication(s) (an international system for DIGITAL communication by mobile phone/cellphone)

GSOH abbr. good sense of humour (used in personal advertisements)

G spot noun a sensitive area inside a woman's VAGINA that is thought to give great sexual pleasure when touched

GST noun [U] (CanE) goods and services tax (a tax that is added to the price of goods and services)

G-string noun a narrow piece of cloth that covers the sexual organs and is held up by a string around the waist

Gt (also Gt. especially in NAmE) abbr. (in names of places) Great: Gt Britain Gt Yarmouth

guacamole NAmE noun [U] (from Spanish) a Mexican dish of crushed AVOCADO mixed with onion, tomatoes, CHILLIES, etc.

guano NAmE noun [U] the waste substance passed from the bodies of birds that live near the sea, used to make plants and crops grow well

guarantee noun, verb
noun
1 a firm promise that you will do sth or that sth will happen ASSURANCE: to give a guarantee of good behaviour He gave me a guarantee that it would never happen again. They are demanding certain guarantees before they sign the treaty.
2 a written promise given by a company that sth you buy will be replaced or repaired without payment if it goes wrong within a particular period WARRANTY: We provide a 5-year guarantee against rust. The watch is still under guarantee. The television comes with a year's guarantee. a money-back guarantee
3 ~ (of sth)| ~ (that ... ) something that makes sth else certain to happen: Career success is no guarantee of happiness. There's no guarantee that she'll come (= she may not come).
4 money or sth valuable that you give or promise to a bank, for example, to make sure that you will do what you have promised: We had to offer our house as a guarantee when getting the loan.
verb
1 to promise to do sth; to promise sth will happen: [VN] Basic human rights, including freedom of speech, are now guaranteed. [V (that)] We cannot guarantee (that) our flights will never be delayed. [VNN] The ticket will guarantee you free entry. [V to inf] We guarantee to deliver your goods within a week.
2 [VN] ~ sth (against sth) to give a written promise to replace or repair a product free if it goes wrong: This iron is guaranteed for a year against faulty workmanship.
3 to make sth certain to happen: [VN] Tonight's victory guarantees the team's place in the final. [VNN] These days getting a degree doesn't guarantee you a job.
4 [V (that)] to be certain that sth will happen: You can guarantee (that) the children will start being naughty as soon as they have to go to bed.
5 to agree to be legally responsible for sth or for doing sth: [VN] to guarantee a bank loan [V to inf] to guarantee to pay sb's debts [V that] I guarantee that he will appear in court.
be guaranteed to do sth to be certain to have a particular result: If we try to keep it a secret, she's guaranteed to find out. That kind of behaviour is guaranteed to make him angry.

guarantor noun (formal or law) a person who agrees to be responsible for sb or for making sure that sth happens or is done: The United Nations will act as guarantor of the peace settlement.

guard NAmE noun, verb
noun
PEOPLE WHO PROTECT
1 [C] a person, such as a soldier, a police officer or a prison officer, who protects a place or people, or prevents prisoners from escaping: a security guard border guard s The prisoner slipped past the guards on the gate and escaped. A guard was posted outside the building.compare WARDERsee also BODYGUARD, COASTGUARD, LIFEGUARD
2 [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people, such as soldiers or police officers, who protect sb/sth: the captain of the guard the changing of the guard (= when one group replaces another) The guard is/are being inspected today. Fellow airmen provided a guard of honour at his wedding. The President always travels with an armed guard.see also NATIONAL GUARD, OLD GUARD, REARGUARD
3 [U] the act or duty of protecting property, places or people from attack or danger; the act or duty of preventing prisoners from escaping: a sentry on guard (= at his or her post, on duty) to do guard duty The escaped prisoner was brought back under armed guard. The terrorist was kept under police guard. One of the men kept guard, while the other broke into the house.
4 the Guards [pl.] (in Britain and some other countries) special REGIMENTS of soldiers whose original duty was to protect the king or queen: the Scots Guards a Guards officer
AGAINST INJURY
5 [C] (often in compounds) something that covers a part of a person's body or a dangerous part of a machine to prevent injury: Ensure the guard is in place before operating the machine.see also FIREGUARD, MOUTHGUARD, MUDGUARD, SAFEGUARD, SHIN GUARD
ON TRAIN
6 [C] (BrE, becoming old-fashioned) = CONDUCTOR (2)
IN BOXING/FENCING
7 [U] a position you take to defend yourself, especially in a sport such as BOXING or FENCING: to drop/keep up your guard (figurative) In spite of the awkward questions the minister never let his guard fall for a moment.
IN BASKETBALL
8 [C] one of the two players on a BASKETBALL team who are mainly responsible for staying close to opposing players to stop them from scoring
IN AMERICAN FOOTBALL
9 [C] one of the two players on an AMERICAN FOOTBALL team who play either side of the CENTRE FORWARD
be on your guard to be very careful and prepared for sth difficult or dangerous
mount/stand/keep guard (over sb/sth) to watch or protect sb/sth: Four soldiers stood guard over the coffin.
off (your) guard not careful or prepared for sth difficult or dangerous: The lawyer's apparently innocent question was designed to catch the witness off (his) guard.
verb [VN]
1 to protect property, places or people from attack or danger: The dog was guarding its owner's luggage. political leaders guarded by the police You can't get in; the whole place is guarded. (figurative) a closely guarded secret
2 to prevent prisoners from escaping: The prisoners were guarded by soldiers.
guard against sth to take care to prevent sth or to protect yourself from sth: to guard against accidents/disease

guard dog noun a dog that is kept to guard a building

guarded NAmE adj. (of a person or a remark they make) careful; not showing feelings or giving much information CAUTIOUS: a guarded reply You should be more guarded in what you say to reporters. They gave the news a guarded welcome (= did not show great enthusiasm about it). UNGUARDED
guardedly adv.

guardhouse NAmE noun a building for soldiers who are guarding the entrance to a military camp or for keeping military prisoners in

guardian NAmE noun
1 a person who protects sth CUSTODIAN: Farmers should be guardians of the countryside. The police are guardians of law and order.
2 a person who is legally responsible for the care of another person, especially a child whose parents have died

guardian angel noun a spirit that some people believe protects and guides them, especially when they are in danger: (figurative) A delightful guide was my guardian angel for the first week of the tour.

guardianship NAmE noun [U] (formal or law) the state or position of being responsible for sb/sth: to grant sb guardianship of the children The land is under the guardianship of the people who use it.

guard rail noun
1 a rail placed on the edge of a path, a CLIFF or a boat to protect people and prevent them falling over the edge
2 (NAmE) = CRASH BARRIER

guardroom NAmE noun a room for soldiers who are guarding the entrance to a building or for keeping military prisoners in

guardsman NAmE noun (pl. -men ) a soldier in the Guards or in the National Guard in the US

guard's van noun (BrE) the part of a train where the person who is in charge of the train rides

guava noun the fruit of a tropical American tree, with yellow skin and pink flesh

gubbins noun [U] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) various things that are not important: All the gubbins that came with the computer is still in the box.

gubernatorial NAmE adj. (formal) connected with the job of state governor in the US: a gubernatorial candidate gubernatorial duties

Guernsey NAmE noun
1 a type of cow kept for its rich milk
2 guernsey a thick sweater made with dark blue wool that has been specially treated so that it does not let water through, worn originally by FISHERMEN
3 guernsey (AustralE) a football sweater, especially one of the type without sleeves worn by Australian Rules players
get a guernsey (AustralE, informal) to be recognized as being good (originally meaning to be chosen for a football team)

guerrilla (also guerilla) noun a member of a small group of soldiers who are not part of an official army and who fight against official soldiers, usually to try to change the government: urban guerrillas (= those who fight in towns) guerrilla war/warfare (= fought by guerrillas on one or both sides) a guerrilla movementcompare FREEDOM FIGHTER

guess verb, noun
verb
1 ~ (at sth) to try and give an answer or make a judgement about sth without being sure of all the facts: [V] I don't really know. I'm just guessing. We can only guess at her reasons for leaving. He guessed right/wrong. [V (that)] I'd guess that she's about 30. [V wh-] Can you guess where I've been? [VN] Can you guess his age?
2 to find the right answer to a question or the truth without knowing all the facts: [VN] She guessed the answer straight away. [V wh-] You'll never guess what she told me. [V (that)] You would never guess (that) she had problems. She's always so cheerful.see also SECOND-GUESS
3 I guess (informal, especially NAmE) to suppose that sth is true or likely: [V (that)] I guess (that) you'll be looking for a new job now. 'He didn't see me, I guess.' 'Are you ready to go?' 'Yeah, I guess so.' 'They aren't coming, then?' 'I guess not.' I guess I'm just lucky.
4 guess ... ! used to show that you are going to say sth surprising or exciting: [VN] Guess what! He's asked me out! [V wh-] Guess who I've just seen!
keep sb guessing (informal) to not tell sb about your plans or what is going to happen next: It's the kind of book that keeps you guessing right to the end.
noun~ (about sth)| ~ (at sth)| ~ (that ... ) an attempt to give an answer or an opinion when you cannot be certain if you are right: (BrE) to have/make a guess (at sth) (NAmE) to take a guess Go on! Have a guess! The article is based on guesses about what might happen in the future. They might be here by 3but that's just a rough guess (= not exact). My guess is that we won't hear from him again. At a guess, there were forty people at the party. If I might hazard a guess, I'd say she was about thirty. Who do you think I saw yesterday? I'll give you three guesses.
anybody's/anyone's guess (informal) something that nobody can be certain about: What will happen next is anybody's guess.
your guess is as good as mine (informal) used to tell sb that you do not know any more about a subject than the person that you are talking to does: 'Who's going to win?' 'Your guess is as good as mine.'more at EDUCATED

guessing game noun
1 a game in which you have to guess the answers to questions
2 a situation in which you do not know what is going to happen or what sb is going to do

guesstimate (also guestimate) noun (informal) an attempt to calculate sth that is based more on guessing than on information

guesswork NAmE noun [U] the process of trying to find an answer by guessing when you do not have enough information to be sure: It was pure guesswork on our part.

guest noun, verb
noun
1 a person that you have invited to your house or to a particular event that you are paying for: We have guests staying this weekend. more than 100 wedding guests I went to the theatre club as Helen's guest. He was the guest of honour (= the most important person invited to an event). Liz was not on the guest list.
2 a person who is staying at a hotel, etc.: We have accommodation for 500 guests. a paying guest (= a person who is living in a private house, but paying as if they were in a hotel) Guests should vacate their rooms by 10.30 a.m.
3 a famous person or performer who takes part in a television show or concert: a guest artist/star/singer Our special guest tonight is ... He made a guest appearance on the show.
4 a person who is invited to a particular place or organization, or to speak at a meeting: The scientists are here as guests of our government. a guest speaker
be my guest (informal) used to give sb permission to do sth that they have asked to do: 'Do you mind if I use the phone?' 'Be my guest.'
verb [V] ~ (on sth) to take part in a television or radio show, a concert, a game, etc. as a visiting or temporary performer or player: She guested on several chat shows while visiting Britain. He guested for Leeds United on Saturday.

guest beer noun [U, C] (BrE) a beer that is not usually available in a particular pub, but which is served there for a limited period, often at a specially reduced price

guest house noun
1 (BrE) a small hotel
2 (NAmE) a small house built near a large house, for guests to stay in

guestimate = GUESSTIMATE

guest room noun a bedroom that is kept for guests to use

guest worker noun a person, usually from a poor country, who comes to another richer country in order to work there

guff noun [U] (informal) ideas or talk that you think are stupid NONSENSE: He gave me a load of guff about how his wife didn't understand him.

guffaw verb to laugh noisily: [V] They all guffawed at his jokes. [also V speech]
guffaw noun: She let out a loud guffaw. He tried to ask her between guffaws what had happened.

GUI abbr. (computing) graphical user interface (= a way of giving instructions to a computer using things that can be seen on the screen such as symbols and menus)

guidance noun [U]
1 ~ (on sth) help or advice that is given to sb, especially by sb older or with more experience: guidance for teachers on how to use video in the classroom Activities all take place under the guidance of an experienced tutor. (NAmE) a guidance counselor (= sb who advises students) The helpline was set up for young people in need of guidance and support.see also MARRIAGE GUIDANCE
2 the process of controlling the direction of a ROCKET, etc., using electronic equipment: a missile guidance system

guide noun, verb
noun
BOOK/MAGAZINE
1 ~ (to sth) a book, magazine, etc. that gives you information, help or instructions about sth: a Guide to Family Health Let's have a look at the TV guide and see what's on.
2 (also guidebook) ~ (to sth) a book that gives information about a place for travellers or tourists: a guide to Italy travel guides
PERSON
3 a person who shows other people the way to a place, especially sb employed to show tourists around interesting places: a tour guide We hired a local guide to get us across the mountains.
4 a person who advises you on how to live and behave: a spiritual guide His elder sister had been his guide, counsellor and friend.
STH THAT HELPS YOU DECIDE
5 something that gives you enough information to be able to make a decision about sth or form an opinion: As a rough guide, allow half a cup of rice per person. I let my feelings be my guide.
GIRL
6 Guide (also old-fashioned Girl Guide) (both BrE) (US Girl Scout) a member of an organization (called the Guides or the Girl Scouts) which is similar to the SCOUTS and which trains girls in practical skills and does a lot of activities with them, for example campingcompare BROWNIE
verb [VN]
SHOW THE WAY
1 ~ sb (to/through/around sth) to show sb the way to a place, often by going with them; to show sb a place that you know well: She guided us through the busy streets to the cathedral. We were guided around the museums. note at TAKE
INFLUENCE BEHAVIOUR
2 to direct or influence sb's behaviour: He was always guided by his religious beliefs.
EXPLAIN
3 ~ sb (through sth) to explain to sb how to do sth, especially sth complicated or difficult: The health and safety officer will guide you through the safety procedures.
HELP SB MOVE
4 to help sb to move in a particular direction; to move sth in a particular direction: She took her arm and guided her across the busy road. He guided her hand to his face.see also GUIDING

guidebook noun = GUIDE: a guidebook to Switzerland

guided adj. [usually before noun] that is led by sb who works as a guide: a guided tour/walk

guided missile noun a MISSILE that can be controlled while in the air by electronic equipment

guide dog (NAmE also Seeing Eye dogTM) noun a dog trained to guide a blind person

guideline noun
1 guidelines [pl.] rules or instructions that are given by an official organization telling you how to do sth, especially sth difficult: The government has drawn up guidelines on the treatment of the mentally ill.
2 [C] something that can be used to help you make a decision or form an opinion: The figures are a useful guideline when buying a house.

Guider (also Girl Guider) noun (BrE) an adult leader in the Guides

guideway noun a channel or track along which sth moves

guiding adj. [only before noun] giving advice and help; having a strong influence on people: She was inexperienced and needed a guiding hand. a guiding force Eddie was his hero, his guiding light.

Guignol NAmE noun [U]
1 the name for a French PUPPET show for children
2 the main character in this show

guild noun [C+sing./pl. v.]
1 an organization of people who do the same job or who have the same interests or aims: the Screen Actors' Guild
2 an association of skilled workers in the Middle Ages: the guild of clockmakers

guilder noun the former unit of money in the Netherlands (replaced in 2002 by the euro)

guildhall noun (BrE) a building in which the members of a GUILD used to meet, now often used for meetings and performances: The new council will be meeting in the guildhall from next month onwards.

guile noun [U] (formal) the use of clever but dishonest behaviour in order to trick people DECEIT: George was a man completely lacking in guile.

guileless adj. (formal) behaving in a very honest way; not knowing how to trick people: She had the guileless innocence of a child.
guilelessly adv.

guillemot NAmE noun a black and white bird with a long narrow beak that lives near the sea

guillotine noun, verb
noun
1 [sing.] a machine, originally from France, for cutting people's heads off. It has a heavy blade that slides down a wooden frame: He was sent to the guillotine in January 1793.
2 (BrE) (US paper cutter) [C] a device with a long blade for cutting paper
3 [sing.] (BrE, politics) the setting of a time limit on a debate in Parliament
verb [VN]
1 to kill sb by cutting off their head with a guillotine: Thousands of aristocrats were guillotined during the French Revolution.
2 (BrE) to cut paper using a guillotine
3 (BrE, politics) to limit the amount of time spent discussing a new law in Parliament: to guillotine a bill

guilt noun [U]
1 ~ (about sth) the unhappy feelings caused by knowing or thinking that you have done sth wrong: She had feelings of guilt about leaving her children and going to work. Many survivors were left with a sense of guilt. a guilt complex (= an exaggerated sense of guilt)
2 the fact that sb has done sth illegal: His guilt was proved beyond all doubt by the prosecution. an admission of guilt INNOCENCE
3 blame or responsibility for doing sth wrong or for sth bad that has happened: The investigation will try to find out where the guilt for the disaster really lies.
guiltless adj.
a guilt trip (informal) things you say to sb in order to make them feel guilty about sth: Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.

guilty adj. (guiltier, guiltiest) more guilty and most guilty are more common
1 ~ (about sth) feeling ashamed because you have done sth that you know is wrong or have not done sth that you should have done: I felt guilty about not visiting my parents more often. John had a guilty look on his face. I had a guilty conscience and could not sleep.
2 ~ (of sth) having done sth illegal; being responsible for sth bad that has happened: The jury found the defendant not guilty of the offence. He pleaded guilty to murder. the guilty party (= the person responsible for sth bad happening) We've all been guilty of selfishness at some time in our lives. INNOCENT
guiltily adv.
a guilty secret a secret that sb feels ashamed about

guinea noun an old British gold coin or unit of money worth 21 SHILLINGS (= now £1.05). Prices are sometimes still given in guineas, for example when buying or selling horses.

guineafowl noun [C, U] (pl. guineafowl) a bird of the PHEASANT family, that has dark grey feathers with white spots, and is often used for food; the meat of this bird: roast guineafowl

guinea pig noun
1 a small animal with short ears and no tail, often kept as a pet
2 a person used in medical or other experiments: Students in fifty schools are to act as guinea pigs for these new teaching methods.

GuinnessTM noun [U, C] a type of very dark brown beer, with a white HEAD (= top) on it

guiro NAmE noun (pl. -os) a musical instrument consisting of a tube of wood with a rough surface, played by passing a stick over it in a repeated rhythm

guise noun a way in which sb/sth appears, often in a way that is different from usual or that hides the truth about them/it: His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. The story appears in different guises in different cultures. She had been invited to the conference in her guise as a professional counsellor.

guitar noun a musical instrument that usually has six strings, that you play with your fingers or with a PLECTRUM: an acoustic/an electric/a classical, etc. guitar a guitar player Do you play the guitar? She plays guitar in a band. As he sang, he strummed his guitar.see also AIR GUITAR, BASS

guitarist noun a person who plays the guitar

Gujarati (also Gujerati) noun
1 [C] a person from the state of Gujarat in western India
2 [U] the language of Gujarat
Gujarati (also Gujerati) adj.

gulch noun (especially NAmE) a narrow valley with steep sides, that was formed by a fast stream flowing through it

gulf noun
1 [C] a large area of sea that is partly surrounded by land: the Gulf of Mexico
2 the Gulf [sing.] the Persian Gulf, the area of sea between the Arabian PENINSULA and Iran: the Gulf States (= the countries with coasts on the Gulf)
3 [C, usually sing.] ~ (between A and B) a large difference between two people or groups in the way that they think, live or feel: The gulf between rich and poor is enormous. It felt as if a gulf had opened up between his life and mine.
4 [C] a wide deep crack in the ground see BRIDGE v.

the Gulf Stream noun [sing.] a warm current of water flowing across the Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Mexico towards Europe

gull (also seagull) noun a bird with long wings and usually white and grey or black feathers that lives near the sea. There are several types of gull: a black-headed gull Hundreds of gulls were circling overhead.see also HERRING GULL

Gullah noun [U] a language spoken by black people living on the coast of South Carolina, that is a combination of English and various W African languages

gullet noun the tube through which food passes from the mouth to the stomach OESOPHAGUS

gullible adj. too willing to believe or accept what other people tell you and therefore easily tricked NAIVE: The advertisement is aimed at gullible young women worried about their weight.
gullibility noun [U]: The newspaper relies on the gullibility of its readers.

gully (also gulley) noun (pl. gullies, gulleys)
1 a small, narrow channel, usually formed by a stream or by rain
2 a deep DITCH

gulp verb, noun
verb
1 ~ sth (down) to swallow large amounts of food or drink quickly: [VN] He gulped down the rest of his tea and went out. [also V]
2 to swallow, but without eating or drinking anything, especially because of a strong emotion such as fear or surprise: She gulped nervously before trying to answer. [also V speech]
3 ~ (for sth)| ~ sth (in) to breathe quickly and deeply, because you need more air: [V] She came up gulping for air. [VN] He leant against the car, gulping in the cold air.
gulp sthback to stop yourself showing your emotions by swallowing hard: She gulped back her tears and forced a smile.
noun
1 ~ (of sth) an amount of sth that you swallow or drink quickly: He took a gulp of coffee.
2 an act of breathing in or of swallowing sth: 'Can you start on Monday?' Amy gave a gulp. 'Of course,' she said. He drank the glass of whisky in one gulp.

gum noun, verb
noun
1 [C, usually pl.] either of the firm areas of flesh in the mouth to which the teeth are attached: gum disease
2 [U] a sticky substance produced by some types of tree
3 [U] a type of glue used for sticking light things together, such as paper
4 [U] = CHEWING GUM
5 [C] a firm transparent fruit-flavoured sweet/candy that you chew: fruit gums
by gum! (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) used to show surprise
verb (-mm-) [VN, usually + adv. / prep.] ~ A to B| ~ sth (down) (rather old-fashioned) to spread glue on the surface of sth; to stick two things together with glue: A large address label was gummed to the package. gummed labels (= with glue on one side)
gum sthup [usually passive] (BrE, informal) to cover or fill sth with a sticky substance so that it stops moving or working as it should: Open and close the valves occasionally so they don't get gummed up.

gumball noun (NAmE) a small ball of CHEWING GUM that looks like a sweet/candy: a gumball machine

gumbo NAmE noun [U] a thick chicken or SEAFOOD soup, usually made with the vegetable OKRA

gumboil noun a small swelling on the GUM in a person's mouth, over an infected area on the root of a tooth

gumboot noun (old-fashioned, BrE) = WELLINGTON

gumdrop NAmE noun a sweet/candy that is like a small firm lump of jelly

gummed adj. [usually before noun] (of stamps, paper, etc.) covered with a type of glue that will become sticky when water is put on it: gummed labels

gummy adj. (informal)
1 sticky or covered in gum (2)
2 a gummy smile shows your teeth and gums

gumption noun [U] (old-fashioned, informal)
1 the intelligence needed to know what to do in a particular situation: He didn't have the gumption to keep his mouth shut.
2 courage and determination: She won't tell him because she hasn't got the gumption.

gumshield (BrE) (NAmE mouthguard) noun a cover that a sports player wears in his/her mouth to protect the teeth and GUMS

gumshoe noun (old-fashioned, NAmE, informal) = DETECTIVE (1)

gum tree noun a EUCALYPTUS tree
be up a gum tree (BrE, informal) to be in a very difficult situation

gun noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a weapon that is used for firing bullets or SHELLS: to fire a gun at sb a toy gun anti-aircraft guns Look out, he's got a gun! Should police officers carry guns? He pointed/aimed the gun at her head. The police officers drew their guns (= took them out so they were ready to use). She pulled a gun on me (= took out a gun and aimed it at me). The gun went off by accident. The attacker held a gun to the hostage's head. a gun battle between rival gangssee also AIR GUN, HANDGUN, MACHINE GUN, SHOTGUN, STUN GUN, SUB-MACHINE GUN, TOMMY GUN
2 [C] a tool that uses pressure to send out a substance or an object: a staple gunsee also SPRAY GUN
3 the gun [sing.] the signal to begin a race, that is made by firing a special gun, called a starting pistol, into the air
4 [C] (informal, especially NAmE) a person who is paid to shoot sb: a hired gunsee also FLASHGUN, SON OF A GUN
hold/put a gun to sb's head to force sb to do sth that they do not want to do, by making threats
under the gun (NAmE, informal) experiencing a lot of pressure: I'm really under the gun today.
(with) all/both guns blazing (informal) with a lot of energy and determination: The champions came out (with) all guns blazing.more at GREAT adj., JUMP v., SPIKE v., STICK v.
verb (-nn-)
1 [V] (NAmE) (of an engine) to run very quickly: a line of motorcycles with their engines gunning
2 [VN + adv. / prep.] (NAmE) to start driving a vehicle very fast: He gunned the cab through the red light.
be gunning for sb (informal) to be looking for an opportunity to blame or attack sb: I don't want your father gunning for me if we're back late.
be gunning for sth to be competing for or trying hard to get sth: She's gunning for the top job.
gun sbdown [usually passive] to shoot sb, especially killing or seriously injuring them: The policeman was gunned down while on duty.

gunboat NAmE noun a small ship that is fitted with large guns

gunboat diplomacy noun [U] a way of making another country accept your demands by using the threat of force

gun carriage noun a support on wheels for a large heavy gun

gun control noun [U] (especially NAmE) laws that restrict the sale and use of guns

gun dog noun a dog trained to help in the sport of shooting, for example by finding birds that have been shot

gunfight noun a fight between people using guns
gunfighter noun

gunfire noun [U] the repeated firing of guns; the sound of guns firing: an exchange of gunfire with the police I could hear gunfire.

gunge (BrE) (also gunk NAmE, BrE) noun [U] (informal) any unpleasant, sticky or dirty substance
gungy adj.

gung-ho NAmE adj. (informal, disapproving) too enthusiastic about sth, without thinking seriously about it, especially about fighting and war: Many people found her gung-ho attitude to the war deeply offensive.

gunk noun [U] (especially NAmE) = GUNGE

gunman noun (pl. -men ) a man who uses a gun to steal from or kill people: Two gunmen opened fire on the car.

gunmetal noun [U]
1 a metal that is a mixture of COPPER, tin and ZINC
2 a dull blue-grey colour

gunnel = GUNWALE

gunner noun
1 a member of the armed forces who is trained to use large guns
2 a soldier in the British ARTILLERY (= the part of the army that uses large guns)

gunnery noun [U] (technical) the operation of large military guns

gunnery sergeant noun an officer of middle rank in the US MARINES

gunny noun [U] a type of rough cloth used for making SACKS

gunnysack noun (NAmE) a large bag made from rough material and used to store flour, potatoes, etc.

gunpoint noun
at gunpoint while threatening sb or being threatened with a gun: The driver was robbed at gunpoint.

gunpowder (also powder) noun [U] EXPLOSIVE powder used especially in bombs or FIREWORKS

gunrunner noun a person who secretly and illegally brings guns into a country
gunrunning noun [U]

gunship noun an armed military HELICOPTER or other aircraft

gunshot NAmE noun
1 [U] the bullets that are fired from a gun: gunshot wounds
2 [C] the firing of a gun; the sound of it being fired: I heard the sound of gunshots out in the street. We heard a loud bang; it sounded like a gunshot.
3 [U] the distance that a bullet from a gun can travel: He was out of/within gunshot.

gunsight noun a part of a gun that you look through in order to aim it accurately

gunslinger noun (NAmE) a person who is paid to kill people, especially in films/movies about the American Wild West

gunsmith noun a person who makes and repairs guns

gunwale (also gunnel) noun the upper edge of the side of a boat or small ship

guppy noun (pl. -ies) a small FRESHWATER fish, commonly kept in AQUARIUMS

gurdwara NAmE noun a building in which Sikhs worship

gurgle NAmE verb, noun
verb [V]
1 to make a sound like water flowing quickly through a narrow space: Water gurgled through the pipes. The water made a gurgling noise as it ran down the drain. a gurgling stream
2 if a baby gurgles, it makes a noise in its throat when it is happy: The baby gurgled happily. She gurgled with laughter.
noun
1 a sound like water flowing quickly through a narrow space
2 the sound that babies make in the throat, especially when they are happy: The baby gave a little gurgle of laughter.

Gurkha NAmE noun one of a group of people from Nepal who are known as good soldiers. Some Gurkhas are members of a REGIMENT in the British army.

gurn (also girn) NAmE verb [V] (especially BrE) to make a ridiculous or unpleasant face
gurner NAmE noun

gurney NAmE noun (NAmE) a type of TROLLEY which is used for moving patients in a hospital

guru noun
1 a Hindu or Sikh religious teacher or leader
2 (informal) a person who is an expert on a particular subject or who is very good at doing sth: a management/health/fashion, etc. guru Jean-Paul Sartre was the guru of post-war French philosophy.

gush verb, noun
verb
1 [V, usually + adv. / prep.] ~ out of/from/into sth| ~ out/in to flow or pour suddenly and quickly out of a hole in large amounts: blood gushing from a wound Water gushed out of the pipe.
2 [VN] (of a container/vehicle etc.) to suddenly let out large amounts of a liquid: The tanker was gushing oil. (figurative) She absolutely gushed enthusiasm.
3 (disapproving) to express so much praise or emotion about sb/sth that it does not seem sincere: [V speech] 'You are clever,' she gushed. [also V]
noun [usually sing.]
1 ~ (of sth) a large amount of liquid suddenly and quickly flowing or pouring out of sth: a gush of blood
2 ~ (of sth) a sudden strong expression of feeling: a gush of emotion

gusher noun
1 (NAmE) an OIL WELL where the oil comes out quickly and in large quantities
2 a person who gushes (3)

gushing adj. (disapproving) expressing so much enthusiasm, praise or emotion that it does not seem sincere: She gave an embarrassingly gushing acceptance speech.
gushingly adv.: He spoke gushingly of all those who had helped make the film possible.

gusset noun an extra piece of cloth sewn into a piece of clothing to make it wider, stronger or more comfortable

gussy verb (gussies, gussying, gussied, gussied)
gussy up (NAmE, informal) to dress yourself in an attractive way DRESS UP: Even the stars get tired of gussying up for the awards.

gust noun, verb
noun
1 a sudden strong increase in the amount and speed of wind that is blowing: A gust of wind blew his hat off. The wind was blowing in gusts.
2 a sudden strong expression of emotion: a gust of laughter
verb [V] (of the wind) to suddenly blow very hard: winds gusting up to 60 mph The wind gusted through the branches.

gusto NAmE noun [U] enthusiasm and energy in doing sth: They sang with gusto.

gusty adj. [usually before noun] with the wind blowing in GUSTS: a gusty morning gusty winds

gut noun, verb, adj.
noun
1 [C] the tube in the body through which food passes when it leaves the stomach INTESTINE
2 guts [pl.] the organs in and around the stomach, especially in an animal: I'll only cook fish if the guts have been removed.
3 [C] (informal) a person's stomach, especially when it is large BELLY: Have you seen the gut on him! a beer gut (= caused by drinking beer)
4 guts [pl.] (informal) the courage and determination that it takes to do sth difficult or unpleasant: He doesn't have the guts to walk away from a well-paid job.
5 [C, usually pl.] the place where your natural feelings that make you react in a particular way are thought to be: I had a feeling in my guts that something was wrong.
6 guts [pl.] the most important part of sth: the guts of the problem
7 [U] = CATGUT
have sb's guts for garters (BrE, informal) to be very angry with sb and punish them severely for sth they have done: She'll have your guts for garters if she ever finds out.
slog/sweat/work your guts out (informal) to work very hard to achieve sth: I slogged my guts out for the exam.more at BUST v., GREEDY adj., HATE v., SPILL v.
verb (-tt-) [VN]
1 [usually passive] to destroy the inside or contents of a building or room: a factory gutted by fire The house was completely gutted.
2 to remove the organs from inside a fish or an animal to prepare it for cooking: The fish was already cleaned and gutted.
adj. [only before noun] based on feelings and emotions rather than thought and reason: a gut feeling/reaction

gutless adj. lacking courage or determination: her gutless brother a gutless performance

gutser noun (AustralE, NZE, informal) an occasion when sb/sth falls or knocks into sth
come a gutser to fail or be defeated

gutsy adj. (informal)
1 showing courage and determination: a gutsy fighter/win
2 having strong and unusual qualities: a gutsy red wine a gutsy song

gutta-percha NAmE noun [U] a natural substance which can be shaped when it is heated and is hard when cool, produced by certain Malaysian trees

gutted adj. [not before noun] (BrE, informal) extremely sad or disappointed: Disappointed? I was gutted!

gutter noun, verb
noun
1 [C] a long curved channel made of metal or plastic that is fixed under the edge of a roof to carry away the water when it rains: a blocked/leaking gutter
2 [C] a channel at the edge of a road where water collects and is carried away to DRAINS
3 the gutter [sing.] the bad social conditions or low moral standards sometimes connected with the lowest level of society: She rose from the gutter to become a great star. the language of the gutter (= used when swearing)
verb [V] (literary) (of a flame or CANDLE) to burn in an unsteady way: The candle guttered in the wind.

guttering noun [U] the system of gutters on a building; the material used to make gutters: a length of guttering

the gutter press noun [sing.] (disapproving) newspapers that print a lot of shocking stories about people's private lives rather than serious news

guttersnipe NAmE noun (informal, disapproving) a poor and dirty child

guttural adj. (of a sound) made or seeming to be made at the back of the throat: guttural consonants a low guttural growl

gut-wrenching adj. (informal) very unpleasant; making you feel very upset

guv exclamation (BrE, informal) used by a man to address another man who is a customer, etc., meaning 'sir'

guv'nor noun (BrE, informal) (often used as a way of addressing sb) a man who is in a position of authority, for example your employer: Do you want me to ask the guv'nor about it?see also GOVERNOR

guy noun
1 [C] (informal) a man: a big/nice/tough guy a Dutch guy At the end of the film the bad guy gets shot.see also FALL GUY, WISE GUY
2 guys [pl.] (informal, especially NAmE) a group of people of either sex: Come on, you guys, let's get going!
3 [C] (in Britain) a model of a man dressed in old clothes that is burned on a BONFIRE on 5 November during the celebrations for Bonfire Night
4 (also guy rope) [C] a rope used to keep a pole or tent in a vertical position see MR abbr.

Guy Fawkes night noun [U, C] Bonfire Night

guzzle verb (informal, usually disapproving) to drink sth quickly and in large amounts. In British English it also means to eat food quickly and in large amounts: [VN] The kids seem to be guzzling soft drinks all day. (figurative) My car guzzles fuel. [also V]

guzzler noun (informal, especially NAmE) = GAS GUZZLER

gweilo NAmE noun (pl. -os) (SEAsianE) used in SE Asia to refer to a person from a foreign country, especially sb from the West

gybe (especially BrE) (NAmE usually jibe) verb, noun
verb [V] to change direction when sailing with the wind behind you, by swinging the sail from one side of the boat to the other
noun an act of gybing

gym noun (informal)
1 (also formal gymnasium) [C] a room or hall with equipment for doing physical exercise, for example in a school: to play basketball in the gym The school has recently built a new gym.
2 [U] physical exercises done in a gym, especially at school: I don't enjoy gym. gym shoes
3 [C] = HEALTH CLUB: I just joined a gym. I work out at the gym most days.

gymkhana noun (BrE) an event in which people riding horses take part in various competitions

gymnasium noun (pl. gymnasiums or gymnasia ) (formal) = GYM

gymnast noun a person who performs gymnastics, especially in a competition

gymnastics noun [U] physical exercises that develop and show the body's strength and ability to move and bend easily, often done as a sport in competitions: a gymnastics competition (figurative) mental/verbal gymnastics (= quick or clever thinking or use of words)
gymnastic adj. [only before noun]

gym shoe noun (BrE) = PLIMSOLL

gymslip noun (BrE) a dress without sleeves worn over a shirt as a school uniform for girls, especially in the past

gynaecologist (BrE) (NAmE gynecologist) NAmE noun a doctor who studies and treats the medical conditions and diseases of women

gynaecology (BrE) (NAmE gynecology) NAmE noun [U] the scientific study and treatment of the medical conditions and diseases of women, especially those connected with sexual REPRODUCTION
gynaecological (BrE) (NAmE gyne-) NAmE adj.: a gynaecological examination

gyp noun, verb
noun [sing.] (NAmE, informal) an act of charging too much money for sth: That meal was a real gyp.
give sb gyp (BrE, informal) to cause sb a lot of pain: My back's been giving me gyp lately.
verb (-pp-) [VN] (especially NAmE) to cheat or trick sb, especially by taking their money

gypsum noun [U] a soft white mineral like CHALK that is found naturally and is used in making PLASTER OF PARIS

Gypsy (also Gipsy) noun (pl. -ies) (sometimes offensive) a member of a race of people, originally from Asia, who travel around and traditionally live in CARAVANS. Many people prefer to use the name Romany.see also ROMANYcompare TRAVELLER

gyrate NAmE verb to move around in circles; to make sth, especially a part of your body, move around: [V] They began gyrating to the music. The leaves gyrated slowly to the ground. [VN] As the lead singer gyrated his hips, the crowd screamed wildly.
gyration noun [C, usually pl., U]: The butterflies were performing aerial gyrations. the gyration of the earth on its axis

gyroscope NAmE (also informal gyro NAmE ) noun a device consisting of a wheel that spins rapidly inside a frame and does not change position when the frame is moved. Gyroscopes are often used to keep ships and aircraft steady.
gyroscopic NAmE adj.

H (also h) noun [C, U] (pl. Hs, H's, h's ) the 8th letter of the English alphabet: 'Hat' begins with (an) H/'H'.compare AITCHsee also H-BOMB

ha^1 exclamation
1 (also hah) the sound that people make when they are surprised or pleased or when they have discovered sth: Ha! It serves you right! Ha! I knew he was hiding something.
2 (also ha! ha!) the word for the sound that people make when they laugh
3 (also ha! ha!) (informal, ironic) used to show that you do not think that sth is funny: Ha! Ha! Very funny! Now give me back my shoes.

ha^2 abbr. (in writing) HECTARE

haar noun [C, U] a cold sea FOG on the east coast of England or Scotland

habeas corpus NAmE noun [U] (from Latin, law) a law that states that a person who has been arrested should not be kept in prison longer than a particular period of time unless a judge in court has decided that it is right: to apply for a writ of habeas corpus

haberdasher NAmE noun
1 (old-fashioned, BrE) a person who owns or works in a shop/store selling small articles for sewing, for example, needles, pins, cotton and buttons
2 haberdasher's (pl. haberdashers) a shop/store that sells these things
3 (NAmE) a person who owns, manages or works in a shop/store that makes and sells men's clothes

haberdashery NAmE noun (pl. -ies)
1 [U] (old-fashioned, BrE) small articles for sewing, for example needles, pins, cotton and buttons
2 [U] (old-fashioned, NAmE) men's clothes
3 [C] a shop/store or part of a shop/store where haberdashery is sold

habit noun
1 [C] a thing that you do often and almost without thinking, especially sth that is hard to stop doing: You need to change your eating habits. good/bad habits He has the irritating habit of biting his nails. It's all right to borrow money occasionally, but don't let it become a habit. I'd prefer you not to make a habit of it. I'm not in the habit of letting strangers into my apartment. I've got into the habit of turning on the TV as soon as I get home. I'm trying to break the habit of staying up too late. These things have a habit of coming back to haunt you.
2 [U] usual behaviour: I only do it out of habit. I'm a creature of habit (= I have a fixed and regular way of doing things).
3 [C] (informal) a strong need to keep using drugs, alcohol or cigarettes regularly: He began to finance his habit through burglary. She's tried to give up smoking but just can't kick the habit. a 50-a-day habit
4 [C] a long piece of clothing worn by a MONK or NUN see FORCE n.

habitable adj. suitable for people to live in: The house should be habitable by the new year. UNINHABITABLE

habitat noun [C, U] the place where a particular type of animal or plant is normally found: The panda's natural habitat is the bamboo forest. The marshes provide a rich habitat for water plants. the destruction of wildlife habitat

habitation noun
1 [U] the act of living in a place: They looked around for any signs of habitation. The houses were unfit for human habitation (= not clean or safe enough for people to live in).
2 [C] (formal) a place where people live: The road serves the scattered habitations along the coast.

habit-forming adj. a habit-forming activity or drug is one that makes you want to continue doing it or taking it

habitual adj.
1 [only before noun] usual or typical of sb/sth: They waited for his habitual response. (formal) a person's place of habitual residence She sat smoking her habitual cigarette.
2 (of an action) done, often in a way that is annoying or difficult to stop: habitual complaining the habitual use of heroin
3 [only before noun] (of a person) doing sth that has become a habit and is therefore difficult to stop: a habitual criminal/drinker/liar, etc. Some speakers do not pronounce the 'h' at the beginning of habitual and use 'an' instead of 'a' before it. This now sounds old-fashioned.
habitually adv.: the dark glasses he habitually wore

habituated adj. ~ (to sth) (formal) familiar with sth because you have done it or experienced it often ACCUSTOMED: We have all become habituated to thinking and reacting in certain ways.

habitué noun (from French, formal) a person who goes regularly to a particular place or event: a(n) habitué of upmarket clubs REGULAR

hacienda noun a large farm in a Spanish-speaking country

hack verb, noun
verb
1 [+adv./prep.] to cut sb/sth with rough, heavy blows: [VN] I hacked the dead branches off. They were hacked to death as they tried to escape. We had to hack our way through the jungle. [V] We hacked away at the bushes.
2 [VN + adv. / prep.] to kick sth roughly or without control: He hacked the ball away.
3 (computing) ~ (into) (sth) to secretly find a way of looking at and/or changing information on sb else's computer system without permission: [V] He hacked into the bank's computer. [VN] They had hacked secret data.
4 [VN] can/can't ~ it (informal) to be able/not able to manage in a particular situation: Lots of people leave this job because they can't hack it.
5 [V] (usually go hacking) (especially BrE) to ride a horse for pleasure
6 [V] (NAmE, informal) to drive a taxi
noun
1 (disapproving) a writer, especially of newspaper articles, who does a lot of low quality work and does not get paid much
2 (disapproving) a person who does the hard and often boring work for an organization, especially a politician: a party hack
3 a horse for ordinary riding or one that can be hired
4 (NAmE, informal) a taxi
5 an act of hitting sth, especially with a cutting tool: I was sure he was going to take a hack at us.

hacked off adj. [not before noun] (BrE, informal) extremely annoyed: I'm really hacked off. FED UP

hacker noun a person who secretly finds a way of looking at and/or changing information on sb else's computer system without permission

hacking cough noun [sing.] a dry painful cough that is repeated often

hacking jacket noun a short jacket worn for horse riding

hackles noun [pl.] the hairs on the back of the neck of a dog, cat, etc. that rise when the animal is afraid or angry
make sb's hackles rise | raise sb's hackles to make sb angry: Her controversial article is bound to raise hackles.
sb's hackles rise to become angry: Ben felt his hackles rise as the speaker continued.

hackney carriage (also hackney cab) noun (BrE) a word used in official language for a taxi. In the past hackney carriages were carriages pulled by horses that were used as taxis.

hackneyed adj. used too often and therefore boring CLICHÉD: a hackneyed phrase/subject

hacksaw noun a tool with a narrow blade in a frame, used for cutting metal

had strong form HAVE

haddock noun (pl. haddock) [C, U] a sea fish like a COD but smaller, with white flesh that is used for food: smoked haddock

Hades noun [U] (in ancient Greek stories) the land of the dead HELL

Hadith noun (pl. Hadith or Hadiths) (in Islam)
1 [sing.] a text containing things said by Muhammad and descriptions of his daily life, used by Muslims as a spiritual guide
2 [C] one of the things said by Muhammad, recorded in this text

hadn't short form had not

hadrosaur noun a large DINOSAUR with flat JAWS like a DUCK'S

haematite (BrE) (NAmE hematite) noun [U] (geology) a dark red rock from which iron is obtained

haematology (BrE) (NAmE hematology) NAmE noun [U] the scientific study of the blood and its diseases
haematological (BrE) (NAmE hem-) NAmE adj. haematologist (BrE) (NAmE hem-) NAmE noun

haematoma (BrE) (NAmE hematoma) NAmE noun (medical) a swollen area on the body consisting of blood that has become thick

haemo- (BrE) (NAmE hemo-) NAmE combining form (in nouns and adjectives) connected with blood: haemophilia

haemoglobin (BrE) (NAmE hemoglobin) NAmE noun [U] a red substance in the blood that carries OXYGEN and contains iron

haemophilia (BrE) (NAmE hemophilia) noun [U] a medical condition that causes severe loss of blood from even a slight injury because the blood fails to CLOT normally. It usually affects only men although it can be passed on by women.

haemophiliac (BrE) (NAmE hemophiliac) noun a person who suffers from haemophilia

haemorrhage (BrE) (NAmE hemorrhage) noun, verb
noun
1 [C, U] a medical condition in which there is severe loss of blood from inside a person's body: a massive brain/cerebral haemorrhage He was checked for any signs of haemorrhage.
2 [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sb/sth) a serious loss of people, money, etc. from a country, a group or an organization: Poor working conditions have led to a steady haemorrhage of qualified teachers from our schools.
verb
1 [V] to lose blood heavily, especially from the inside of the body; to have a haemorrhage: After the operation she started to haemorrhage.
2 [VN] to lose money or people in large amounts at a fast rate: The company has been haemorrhaging money for months.

haemorrhagic (BrE) (NAmE hemorrhagic) adj. (medical) happening with or caused by haemorrhage: a haemorrhagic fever

haemorrhoids (BrE) (NAmE hemorrhoids) noun [pl.] (medical) painful swollen VEINS at or near the ANUS PILES

hafnium noun [U] (symb Hf) a RADIOACTIVE chemical element. Hafnium is a hard silver-grey metal.

haft NAmE noun the handle of a knife or weapon

hag noun (offensive) an ugly and/or unpleasant old woman: I'm going to tell that old hag what I think of her!see also FAG HAG

haggard NAmE adj. looking very tired because of illness, worry or lack of sleep DRAWN: He looked pale and haggard. a haggard face

haggis noun [C, U] a Scottish dish that looks like a large round SAUSAGE made from the heart, lungs and LIVER of a sheep that are finely chopped, mixed with OATS, HERBS, etc. and boiled in a bag that is usually made from part of a sheep's stomach

haggle verb [V] ~ (with sb) (over sth) to argue with sb in order to reach an agreement, especially about the price of sth: I left him in the market haggling over the price of a shirt. We spent a long time haggling with the authorities over our visas.

hagiographer NAmE noun (formal)
1 a person who writes the life story of a SAINT
2 a person who writes about another person's life in a way that praises them too much, and does not criticize them

hagiography NAmE noun (pl. -ies) [C, U] (formal) a book about the life of a person that praises them too much; this style of writing

hah = HA

haiku noun (pl. haiku or haikus) (from Japanese) a poem with three lines and usually 17 syllables, written in a style that is traditional in Japan

hail verb, noun
verb
1 [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (as) sth to describe sb/sth as being very good or special, especially in newspapers, etc.: [VN] The conference was hailed as a great success. [VN-N] Teenager Matt Brown is being hailed a hero for saving a young child from drowning.
2 [VN] to signal to a taxi or a bus, in order to get the driver to stop: to hail a taxi/cab
3 [VN] (literary) to call to sb in order to say hello to them or attract their attention: A voice hailed us from the other side of the street. We soon came within hailing distance of (= fairly close to) the others.
4 [V] when it hails, small balls of ice fall like rain from the sky: It's hailing!
hail from ... (formal) to come from or have been born in a particular place: His father hailed from Italy.
noun
1 [U] small balls of ice that fall like rain: We drove through hail and snow.
2 [sing.] a ~ of sth a large number or amount of sth that is aimed at sb in order to harm them: a hail of arrows/bullets a hail of abuse

Hail Mary NAmE noun (pl. Hail Marys) a Roman Catholic prayer to Mary, the mother of Jesus

hailstone NAmE noun [usually pl.] a small ball of ice that falls like rain

hailstorm NAmE noun a storm during which hail falls from the sky

hair NAmE noun
1 [U, C] the substance that looks like a mass of fine threads growing especially on the head; one of these threads growing on the body of people and some animals: fair/dark hair straight/curly/wavy hair to comb/brush your hair She often wears her hair loose. (informal) I'll be down in a minute. I'm doing (= brushing, arranging, etc.) my hair. I'm having my hair cut this afternoon. He's losing his hair (= becoming BALD). body/facial/pubic hair There's a hair in my soup. The rug was covered with cat hairs.see also CAMEL HAIR, HORSEHAIR
2 -haired (in adjectives) having the type of hair mentioned: dark-haired long-haired
3 [C] a thing that looks like a fine thread growing on the leaves and STEMS of some plants
get in sb's hair (informal) to annoy sb by always being near them, asking them questions, etc.
the hair of the dog (that bit you) (informal) alcohol that you drink in order to make you feel better when you have drunk too much alcohol the night before
keep your hair on (BrE, informal) used to tell sb to stop shouting and become calm when they are angry
let your hair down (informal) to relax and enjoy yourself, especially in a lively way: It's about time you let your hair down and had some fun!
make sb's hair stand on end to shock or frighten sb: a chilling tale that will make your hair stand on end
not harm/touch a hair of sb's head to not hurt sb physically in any way
not have a hair out of place (of a person) to look extremely clean and neat
not turn a hair to show no emotion when sth surprising, shocking, etc. happens: She listened to his confession without turning a hair.more at HANG v., HIDE n., SPLIT v., TEAR^1 v.

hairband NAmE noun a strip of cloth or curved plastic worn by women in their hair, that fits closely over the top of the head and behind the ears

hairbrush NAmE noun a brush for making the hair tidy or smooth

haircut NAmE noun