abate verb

BrE /əˈbeɪt/ ; NAmE /əˈbeɪt/

[intransitive, transitive] (formal)

to become less strong; to make something less strong The storm showed no signs of abating.
They waited for the crowd’s fury to abate.
abate something Steps are to be taken to abate pollution.

abate·ment noun
BrE /əˈbeɪtmənt/ ; NAmE /əˈbeɪtmənt/
[uncountable] (formal)
the action of making something less strong; the fact of becoming less strong The city spends $9
million a year on air pollution abatement.
No cure was possible, despite the abatement of symptoms.

ab·rupt·ly adverb
BrE /əˈbrʌptli/ ; NAmE /əˈbrʌptli/
1 in a sudden, unexpected and often unpleasant way The interview ended abruptly.

2 in a way that seems unfriendly and rude, without taking time to say more than is necessary
SYNONYM brusquely, curtly
‘Come here!’ she said abruptly.

ab·stin·ence noun
BrE /ˈæbstɪnəns/ ; NAmE /ˈæbstɪnəns/
[uncountable] abstinence (from something) (formal) the practice of not allowing yourself
something, especially food, alcoholic drinks or sex, for moral, religious or health reasons total
abstinence from strong drink

SEE ALSO abstain

ab·stain verb
BrE /əbˈsteɪn/ ; NAmE /əbˈsteɪn/
[intransitive]

1 abstain (from something) to choose not to use a vote, either in favour of or against something
Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained.

2 abstain (from something) to decide not to do or have something, especially something you
like or enjoy, because it is bad for your health or considered morally wrong to abstain from
alcohol/sex/drugs
3 abstain (from something) (Indian English) to stay away from something The workers who
abstained from work yesterday have been suspended.

SEE ALSO abstention, abstinence

ac·com·plish·ment noun
BrE /əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/ ; NAmE /əˈkɑːmplɪʃmənt/
1 [countable] an impressive thing that is done or achieved after a lot of work
SYNONYM achievement
It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments.
The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.

2 [countable, uncountable] a skill or special ability Drawing and singing were among her many
accomplishments.
a poet of rare accomplishment

3 [uncountable] (formal) the successful completing of something Money will be crucial to the
accomplishment of our objectives.

ac·com·plish verb
BrE /əˈkʌmplɪʃ/ ; NAmE /əˈkɑːmplɪʃ/

accomplish something to succeed in doing or completing something

SYNONYM 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).

ac·know·ledge verb
BrE /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ/ ; NAmE /əkˈnɑːlɪdʒ/

admit
1 to accept that something is true acknowledge something She refuses to acknowledge the need
for reform.
Are you prepared to acknowledge your responsibility?
a generally acknowledged fact
acknowledge that… I did not acknowledge that he had done anything wrong.
acknowledge something to be, have, etc. something It is generally acknowledged to be true.
accept status
2 to accept that somebody/something has a particular authority or status
SYNONYM recognize
acknowledge somebody/something The country acknowledged his claim to the throne.
acknowledge somebody/something as something He is widely acknowledged as the best player
in the world.
acknowledge somebody/something to be, have, etc. something He is widely acknowledged to be
the best player in the world.

reply to letter
3 acknowledge something to tell somebody that you have received something that they sent to
you All applications will be acknowledged.
Please acknowledge receipt of this letter.

smile/wave
4 acknowledge somebody/something to show that you have noticed somebody/something 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 acknowledge something 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.

ac·know·ledge·ment (also ac·know·ledg·ment) noun

BrE /əkˈnɒlɪdʒmənt/ ; NAmE /əkˈnɑːlɪdʒmənt/
1 [singular, uncountable] an act of accepting that something exists or is true, or that something 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 [countable, uncountable] an act or a statement expressing thanks to somebody; something that

is given to somebody as thanks The flowers were a small acknowledgement of your kindness.
I was sent a free copy in acknowledgement of my contribution.

3 [countable] a letter or an email saying that something has been received I didn't receive an
acknowledgement of my application.

4 [countable, usually plural] 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

adorn·ment noun
BrE /əˈdɔːnmənt/ ; NAmE /əˈdɔːrnmənt/
1 [countable] something that you wear to make yourself look more attractive; something used to
decorate a place or an object A plain necklace was her only adornment.

2 [uncountable] the action of making something/somebody look more attractive by decorating it

or them with something Precious stones have been used for the purposes of adornment for over
7000 years.

ad·ver·sity noun
BrE /ədˈvɜːsəti/ ; NAmE /ədˈvɜːrsəti/
[uncountable, countable] (plural ad·ver·sities) (formal)
a difficult or unpleasant situation courage in the face of adversity
He overcame many personal adversities.
patience in adversity

ad·vo·cacy noun
BrE /ˈædvəkəsi/ ; NAmE /ˈædvəkəsi/
[uncountable]
1 advocacy (of something) (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 (specialist) the work of lawyers who speak about cases in court

ad·vo·cate verb

BrE /ˈædvəkeɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈædvəkeɪt/ (formal) to support something publicly advocate

something The group does not advocate the use of violence.
Heart specialists strongly advocate low-cholesterol diets.
These policies have been widely advocated.
advocate (somebody) doing something Many experts advocate rewarding your child for good
behaviour.
advocate that… The report advocated that all buildings be fitted with smoke detectors.
(British English also) The report advocated that all buildings should be fitted with smoke
detectors.

ad·vo·cate noun
BrE /ˈædvəkət/ ; NAmE /ˈædvəkət/
1 a person who supports or speaks in favour of somebody or of a public plan or action advocate
(for something/somebody) an advocate for hospital workers
advocate (of something/somebody) a staunch advocate of free speech

SEE ALSO devil’s advocate

2 a person who defends somebody in court
3 (in Scotland) a lawyer who has the right to argue cases in higher courts

affix verb

BrE /əˈfɪks/ ; NAmE /əˈfɪks/ [often passive] affix something (to something) (formal) to stick or
attach something to something else
The label should be firmly affixed to the package.

affix noun
BrE /ˈæfɪks/ ; NAmE /ˈæfɪks/ (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.

af·flict verb
BrE /əˈflɪkt/ ; NAmE /əˈflɪkt/
[often passive] (formal)

to affect somebody/something in an unpleasant or harmful way afflict somebody/something Aid

will be sent to the afflicted areas.
Severe drought has afflicted the region.
the many problems that afflict the unemployed
be afflicted with something About 40% of the country's population is afflicted with the disease.
He’s badly afflicted with a skin disorder.

af·flic·tion noun
BrE /əˈflɪkʃn/ ; NAmE /əˈflɪkʃn/
[uncountable, countable] (formal)
pain and suffering or something that causes it

af·flu·ent adjective
BrE /ˈæfluənt/ ; NAmE /ˈæfluənt/
(formal)
having a lot of money and a good standard of living
SYNONYM prosperous, wealthy
affluent Western countries
a very affluent neighbourhood

af·front noun
BrE /əˈfrʌnt/ ; NAmE /əˈfrʌnt/
[usually singular] affront (to somebody/something) a remark or an action that insults or offends
somebody/something His speech was an affront to many in the local community.
This remark caused affront to many people.

af·front verb
BrE /əˈfrʌnt/ ; NAmE /əˈfrʌnt/

[usually passive] affront somebody/something (formal) to insult or offend somebody He hoped

they would not feel affronted if they were not invited.
an affronted expression
His attitude really affronted her.

after·math noun
BrE /ˈɑːftəmæθ/ , /ˈɑːftəmɑːθ/ ; NAmE /ˈæftərmæθ/
[usually singular]
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
How does a country cope with the aftermath of war?
The president visited the region in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.

ail·ment noun
BrE /ˈeɪlmənt/ ; NAmE /ˈeɪlmənt/
an illness that is not very serious childhood/common/minor ailments
I got all the usual childhood ailments.
Below is a list of common childhood ailments.

aisle noun
BrE /aɪl/ ; NAmE /aɪl/
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 or train)
Coffee and tea are in the next aisle.
She looked radiant as she walked down the aisle on her father’s arm.

COMPARE gangway

Idioms
go/walk down the ˈaisle
(informal) to get married
ˌrolling in the ˈaisles
(informal) laughing a lot She soon had us rolling in the aisles.
akin adjective
BrE /əˈkɪn/ ; NAmE /əˈkɪn/
akin to something (formal) similar to What he felt was more akin to pity than love.
She was wearing something akin to a pineapple on her head.
This game is closely akin to hockey.

al·beit conjunction
BrE /ˌɔːlˈbiːɪt/ ; NAmE /ˌɔːlˈbiːɪt/
(formal)
although He finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to help us.

alien·ation noun
BrE /ˌeɪliəˈneɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌeɪliəˈneɪʃn/
[uncountable]
1 the act of making somebody less friendly or sympathetic towards you The new policy resulted
in the alienation of many voters.

2 the feeling that you do not belong in a particular group Many immigrants suffer from a sense of
alienation.

ali·quot noun
BrE /ˈælɪkwɒt/ ; NAmE /ˈælɪkwɑːt/
1 (specialist) a small amount of something 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

al·lege verb
BrE /əˈledʒ/ ; NAmE /əˈledʒ/
[often passive] (formal)

to state something as a fact but without giving proof allege (that)… The prosecution alleges
(that) she was driving carelessly.
it is alleged (that)… It is alleged that he mistreated the prisoners.
be alleged to be, have, etc. something He is alleged to have mistreated the prisoners.
allege something This procedure should be followed in cases where dishonesty has been
alleged.

al·leged adjective
BrE /əˈledʒd/ ; NAmE /əˈledʒd/
[only before noun] (formal)
stated as a fact but without any proof the alleged attacker/victim/killer (= that somebody says is
one)
the alleged attack/offence/incident (= that somebody says has happened)
The girl gave evidence in court against her alleged attacker.

al·li·ance noun
BrE /əˈlaɪəns/ ; NAmE /əˈlaɪəns/
1 an agreement between countries, political parties, etc. to work together in order to achieve
something that they all want to form/make an alliance
alliance with somebody/something The Social Democrats are now in alliance with the Greens.
alliance between A and B 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 something that
they all want The Green Alliance was formed to campaign against environmental damage.

al·tru·ism noun
BrE /ˈæltruɪzəm/ ; NAmE /ˈæltruɪzəm/
[uncountable] (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.

amal·gam·ate verb
BrE /əˈmælɡəmeɪt/ ; NAmE /əˈmælɡəmeɪt/
amalgamate (something) (with/into something)

1 [intransitive, transitive] if two organizations amalgamate or are amalgamated, they join

together to form one large organization
SYNONYM merge
A number of colleges have amalgamated to form the new university.
amalgamate with/into something The company has now amalgamated with another local firm.
amalgamate something They decided to amalgamate the two schools.
amalgamate something with/into something The two companies were amalgamated into one.

2 [transitive] amalgamate something (into/with something) to put two or more things together
so that they form one
SYNONYM merge
This information will be amalgamated with information obtained earlier.
ameli·or·ate verb
BrE /əˈmiːliəreɪt/ ; NAmE /əˈmiːliəreɪt/

ameliorate something (formal) to make something better Steps have been taken to ameliorate
the situation.
The new laws were designed to ameliorate the problem of chronic debt.
The side-effects of the treatment can be ameliorated to some extent.

ameli·or·ation noun
BrE /əˌmiːliəˈreɪʃn/ ; NAmE /əˌmiːliəˈreɪʃn/
[uncountable] (formal)
the process of making something better Progress brings with it the amelioration of the human
condition.

amen·able adjective
BrE /əˈmiːnəbl/ ; NAmE /əˈmiːnəbl/
1 (of people) easy to control; willing to be influenced by somebody/something They had three
very amenable children.
The manager was very amenable: nothing was too much trouble.
amenable to something He seemed most amenable to my idea.
You should find him amenable to reasonable arguments.

2 amenable to something (formal) that you can treat in a particular way ‘Hamlet’ is the least
amenable of all Shakespeare's plays to being summarized.

amend verb
BrE /əˈmend/ ; NAmE /əˈmend/

amend something 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:…
Parliament will vote to amend the constitution.

amend·ment noun
BrE /əˈmendmənt/ ; NAmE /əˈmendmənt/
1 [countable, uncountable] 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)
Parliament passed the bill without further amendment.
amendment to something She made several minor amendments to her essay.

2 Amendment [countable] a statement of a change to the Constitution of the US The 19th

Amendment gave women the right to vote.

an·ces·try noun
BrE /ˈænsestri/ ; NAmE /ˈænsestri/
[countable, usually singular, uncountable] (plural an·ces·tries)
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.

an·ec·dote noun
BrE /ˈænɪkdəʊt/ ; NAmE /ˈænɪkdoʊt/
[countable, uncountable]
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.

al·le·vi·ate verb
BrE /əˈliːvieɪt/ ; NAmE /əˈliːvieɪt/

alleviate something to make something less severe

SYNONYM ease
to alleviate suffering
A number of measures were taken to alleviate the problem.

al·le·vi·ation noun
BrE /əˌliːviˈeɪʃn/ ; NAmE /əˌliːviˈeɪʃn/
[uncountable]
the act of making something less severe the alleviation of poverty

an·ec·dotal adjective
BrE /ˌænɪkˈdəʊtl/ ; NAmE /ˌænɪkˈdoʊtl/
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.
wel·fare noun
BrE /ˈwelfeə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈwelfer/
[uncountable]
1 the general health, happiness and safety of a person, an animal or a group
SYNONYM well-being
We are concerned about the child's welfare.

2 practical or financial help that is provided, often by the government, for people or animals that
need it The state is still the main provider of welfare.
child welfare
a social welfare programme
welfare provision/services/work

3 (especially North American English) (British English also ˌsocial seˈcurity) money that the
government pays regularly to people who are poor, unemployed, sick, etc They would rather
work than live on welfare.

ani·mus noun
BrE /ˈænɪməs/ ; NAmE /ˈænɪməs/
[uncountable, singular] animus (against somebody/something) (formal) a strong feeling of
opposition, anger or hatred

ano·dize (British English also -ise) verb

BrE /ˈænədaɪz/ ; NAmE /ˈænədaɪz/

anodize something to cover a metal, especially aluminium / aluminum, with a layer of oxide in
order to protect it

ante·room noun
BrE /ˈæntiruːm/ ; NAmE /ˈæntiruːm/ ; BrE /ˈæntirʊm/ ; NAmE /ˈæntirʊm/
(formal ante·cham·ber)
a room where people can wait before entering a larger room, especially in an important public
building

an·tici·pa·tory adjective
BrE /ænˌtɪsɪˈpeɪtəri/ ; NAmE /ænˈtɪsəpətɔːri/
(formal)
done in order to prepare for something that you think might happen a fast anticipatory movement
by the goalkeeper
an·tici·pate verb
BrE /ænˈtɪsɪpeɪt/ ; NAmE /ænˈtɪsɪpeɪt/

1 to expect something anticipate something We don't anticipate any major problems.

Our anticipated arrival time is 8.30.
The eagerly anticipated movie will be released next month.
anticipate doing something They anticipate moving to bigger premises by the end of the year.
anticipate something doing something I don't anticipate it being a problem.
anticipate that… We anticipate that sales will rise next year.
it is anticipated 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 anticipate something
We need someone who can anticipate and respond to changes in the fashion industry.
anticipate what, how, that, etc… Try and anticipate what the interviewers will ask.

3 anticipate (doing) something anticipate (something doing) something to think with pleasure
and excitement about something that is going to happen We eagerly anticipated the day we
would leave school.
The more I anticipated arriving somewhere, the more disappointed I was.

4 anticipate somebody (doing something) (formal) to do something before it can be done by

somebody else
SYNONYM forestall
When Scott reached the South Pole he found that Amundsen had anticipated him.

an·tip·athy noun
BrE /ænˈtɪpəθi/ ; NAmE /ænˈtɪpəθi/
[uncountable, countable, usually singular] (plural an·tip·athies)
antipathy (between A and B) antipathy (to/toward(s) somebody/something) (formal) a
strong feeling of dislike
SYNONYM hostility
personal/mutual antipathy
a growing antipathy towards the idea
His professional judgement was coloured by his personal antipathies.

apo·plexy noun
BrE /ˈæpəpleksi/ ; NAmE /ˈæpəpleksi/
[uncountable] (old-fashioned)
the sudden loss of the ability to feel or move, normally caused by an injury in the brain
SYNONYM stroke (10)
ap·peal noun
BrE /əˈpiːl/ ; NAmE /əˈpiːl/
1 [countable, uncountable] a formal request to a court or to somebody in authority for a
judgement or a decision to be changed (British English) to lodge an appeal
(North American English) to file an appeal
(British English) an appeal court/judge
(North American English) an appeals court/judge
appeal against something an appeal against the 3-match ban

SEE ALSO court of appeal

2 [uncountable] a quality that makes somebody/something 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 [countable, uncountable] an urgent and deeply felt request for money, help or information,
especially one made by a charity or by the police a look of silent appeal
appeal (to somebody) (for something) to launch a TV appeal for donations to the charity
The child's mother made an emotional appeal on TV for his return.
appeal to somebody to do something The police made an appeal to the public to remain calm.

4 [countable] appeal to something 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.

ap·peal verb
BrE /əˈpiːl/ ; NAmE /əˈpiːl/

1 [intransitive] appeal (to somebody/something) (against something) to make a formal request

to a court or to somebody in authority for a judgment 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 (something) (to somebody/something) is usually
used, without a prepositionThe company has ten days to appeal the decision to the tribunal.
2 [intransitive] to attract or interest somebody The prospect of a long wait in the rain did not
appeal.
appeal to somebody The design has to appeal to all ages and social groups.

3 [intransitive] to make a serious and urgent request I am appealing (= asking for money) on
behalf of the famine victims.
appeal (to somebody) (for something) Community leaders appealed for calm (= urged people
to remain calm).
Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.
appeal to somebody to do something Organizers appealed to the crowd not to panic.

4 [intransitive] appeal (to something) to try to persuade somebody to do something by

suggesting that it is a fair, reasonable or honest thing to do They needed to appeal to his sense of
justice.

ap·praise verb
BrE /əˈpreɪz/ ; NAmE /əˈpreɪz/

1 appraise somebody/something (formal) to consider or examine somebody/something and

form an opinion about them or it an appraising glance/look
His eyes coolly appraised the young woman before him.
She stepped back to appraise her workmanship.
The architect gave the exterior an appraising glance.

2 appraise somebody 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.

ap·prais·al noun
BrE /əˈpreɪzl/ ; NAmE /əˈpreɪzl/
[countable, uncountable]
1 a judgement of the value, performance or nature of somebody/something 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 (British English) 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 company has an annual appraisal system.

apt adjective
BrE /æpt/ ; NAmE /æpt/
1 suitable or appropriate in the circumstances a particularly apt description/name/comment
The song would have been more apt for a bass voice.
It was a particularly apt name for someone with his skills.
That question seemed quite apt in the circumstances.

2 likely or having a natural tendency to do something apt to be… apt to be forgetful/careless

apt to do something Babies are apt to put objects into their mouths.

3 apt pupil a person who has a natural ability to learn and understand
as·sert verb
BrE /əˈsɜːt/ ; NAmE /əˈsɜːrt/

1 to state clearly and firmly that something is true assert that… She continued to assert that she
was innocent.
assert something She continued to assert her innocence.
The German Chancellor was anxious to assert his government’s commitment to further
European unity.
+ speech ‘That is wrong,’ he asserted.
it is asserted that… It is commonly asserted that older people prefer to receive care from family
members.

2 assert yourself to behave in a confident and determined way so that other people pay attention
to your opinions You’re too timid—you must try to assert yourself more.

3 assert something to make other people recognize your right or authority to do something, by
behaving firmly and confidently to assert your independence/rights
I was determined to assert my authority from the beginning.

4 assert itself to start to have an effect Good sense asserted itself.

as·ser·tion noun
BrE /əˈsɜːʃn/ ; NAmE /əˈsɜːrʃn/
1 [countable] a statement saying that you strongly believe something to be true
SYNONYM claim
He was correct in his assertion that the minister had been lying.
Do you have any evidence to support your assertions?

2 [uncountable, countable] the act of stating, using or claiming something strongly the assertion
of his authority
The demonstration was an assertion of the right to peaceful protest.

as·sert·ive adjective
BrE /əˈsɜːtɪv/ ; NAmE /əˈsɜːrtɪv/
expressing opinions or desires strongly and with confidence, so that people take notice You
should try and be more assertive.
assertive behaviour

OPPOSITE submissive
as·ses·sor noun
BrE /əˈsesə(r)/ ; NAmE /əˈsesər/
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 something or the amount of money to be paid an
insurance/tax assessor

3 a person who judges how well somebody has done in an exam, a competition, etc College
lecturers acted as external assessors of the exam results.

as·sign verb
BrE /əˈsaɪn/ ; NAmE /əˈsaɪn/

1 to give somebody something that they can use, or some work or responsibility assign
something (to somebody) The two large classrooms have been assigned to us.
The teacher assigned a different task to each of the children.
assign somebody something We have been assigned the two large classrooms.
The teacher assigned each of the children a different task.

2 to provide a person for a particular task or position assign somebody (to something/as
something) They've assigned their best man to the job.
assign somebody to do something British forces have been assigned to help with peacekeeping.

3 [usually passive] assign somebody to somebody/something to send a person to work under

the authority of somebody or in a particular group I was assigned to B platoon.

4 to say that something has a particular value or function, or happens at a particular time or place
assign something to something Assign a different colour to each different type of information.
assign something something The painting cannot be assigned an exact date.

5 assign something to somebody (law) to say that your property or rights now belong to
somebody else The agreement assigns copyright to the publisher.
She has assigned the lease to her daughter.

as·ton·ish verb
BrE /əˈstɒnɪʃ/ ; NAmE /əˈstɑːnɪʃ/
to surprise somebody very much
SYNONYM amaze

astonish somebody The news astonished everyone.

She astonished us by saying she was leaving.
You astonish me!
it astonishes somebody (that)… It astonishes me (that) he could be so thoughtless.

as·ton·ished adjective
BrE /əˈstɒnɪʃt/ ; NAmE /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/
very surprised
SYNONYM amazed
The helicopter landed before our astonished eyes.
astonished at/by something/somebody My parents looked astonished at my news.
She was quite astonished at his rudeness.
astonished (that)… She seemed astonished (that) I had never been to Paris.
astonished to find/hear/learn/see… He was astonished to learn he'd won the competition.

as·ton·ish·ing adjective
BrE /əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ/ ; NAmE /əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋ/
very surprising; difficult to believe
SYNONYM amazing
She ran 100m in an astonishing 10.6 seconds.
I find it absolutely astonishing that you didn't like it.

as·tound·ing adjective
BrE /əˈstaʊndɪŋ/ ; NAmE /əˈstaʊndɪŋ/
so surprising that it is difficult to believe
SYNONYM astonishing
There was an astounding 20% increase in sales.
The performance was an astounding success.
They can perform astounding mathematical feats in seconds.

asy·lum noun
BrE /əˈsaɪləm/ ; NAmE /əˈsaɪləm/
1 (formal poˌlitical aˈsylum) [uncountable] 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 [countable] (old use) a hospital where people who were mentally ill could be cared for, often
for a long time

atone·ment noun
BrE /əˈtəʊnmənt/ ; NAmE /əˈtoʊnmənt/
[uncountable] (formal)
the act of showing you are sorry for doing something wrong in the past to make atonement for
his sins
Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement

at·ten·tive adjective
BrE /əˈtentɪv/ ; NAmE /əˈtentɪv/
1 listening or watching carefully and with interest an attentive audience

2 helpful; making sure that people have what they need The hotel staff are friendly and attentive.
attentive to somebody/something Ministers should be more attentive to the needs of families.

at·tor·ney noun
BrE /əˈtɜːni/ ; NAmE /əˈtɜːrni/
1 (especially US English) a lawyer, especially one who can act for somebody in court

SEE ALSO district attorney

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

at·tri·bute verb
BrE /əˈtrɪbjuːt/ ; NAmE /əˈtrɪbjuːt/

1 attribute something to something to say or believe that something is the result of a particular
thing She attributes her success to hard work and a little luck.
2 to say or believe that somebody is responsible for doing something, especially for saying,
writing or painting something attribute something The committee refused to attribute blame
without further information.
attribute something to somebody This play is usually attributed to Shakespeare.

at·tri·bute noun
BrE /ˈætrɪbjuːt/ ; NAmE /ˈætrɪbjuːt/ a quality or feature of somebody/something Patience is one
of the most important attributes in a teacher.
The most basic attribute of all animals is consciousness.

at·tri·bu·tion noun
BrE /ˌætrɪˈbjuːʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌætrɪˈbjuːʃn/
[uncountable]
1 attribution (of something) (to something) the act of saying or believing that something is the
result of a particular thing incorrect attribution of the cause of death

2 attribution (of something) (to somebody) the act of saying or believing that somebody is
responsible for doing something, especially for saying, writing or painting something The
attribution of this painting to Rembrandt has never been questioned.
the attribution of legal responsiblity

aus·tere adjective
BrE /ɒˈstɪə(r)/ , /ɔːˈstɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /ɔːˈstɪr/
1 simple and plain; without any decorations her austere bedroom with its simple narrow bed
Their clothes were always austere.
the austere simplicity of the building
the lonely, austere beauty of his painting of a station in the snow

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

au·tono·mous adjective
BrE /ɔːˈtɒnəməs/ ; NAmE /ɔːˈtɑːnəməs/
1 (of a country, a region or an organization) able to govern itself or control its own affairs
SYNONYM 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.

avail noun
BrE /əˈveɪl/ ; NAmE /əˈveɪl/

Idioms
of little/no aˈvail
(formal) of little or no use Your ability to argue is of little avail if the facts are wrong.

to little/no aˈvail
(formal) with little or no success The doctors tried everything to keep him alive but to no avail.
They worked hard to win the project but all to no avail.

avail verb
BrE /əˈveɪl/ ; NAmE /əˈveɪl/

1 [transitive] avail somebody (something) avail something (formal or old-fashioned) to be

helpful or useful to somebody
2 [transitive, intransitive] (Indian English, non-standard) to make use of something, especially
an opportunity or offer avail something To avail all these benefits, just register online.
avail of something Why not avail of our special offers?

Phrasal Verbs
aˈvail yourself of something
(formal) to make use of something, especially an opportunity or offer Guests are encouraged to
avail themselves of the full range of hotel facilities.

av·enue noun
BrE /ˈævənjuː/ ; NAmE /ˈævənuː/
1 (abbreviation Ave., Av.) a street in a town or city a hotel on Fifth Avenue
120 Holland Park Avenue
2 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 something 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·sion noun
BrE /əˈvɜːʃn/ ; NAmE /əˈvɜːrʒn/
[countable, uncountable]
a strong feeling of not liking somebody/something a strong aversion
aversion to somebody/something He had an aversion to getting up early.

aˈversion therapy noun

BrE ; NAmE
[uncountable]
a way of helping somebody to lose a bad habit, by making the habit seem to be associated with
an effect that is not pleasant

avert verb
BrE /əˈvɜːt/ ; NAmE /əˈvɜːrt/

1 avert something to prevent something 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 avert your eyes/gaze/face (from something) to turn your eyes, etc. away from something that
you do not want to see She averted her eyes from the terrible scene in front of her.

await verb
BrE /əˈweɪt/ ; NAmE /əˈweɪt/
(formal)

1 await somebody/something to wait for somebody/something He is in custody awaiting trial.

Her latest novel is eagerly awaited.

2 await somebody to be going to happen to somebody A warm welcome awaits all our guests.
Who knows what dangers may await us?
back·lash noun
BrE /ˈbæklæʃ/ ; NAmE /ˈbæklæʃ/
[singular] backlash (against something) backlash (from somebody) a strong negative reaction
by a large number of people, for example to something that has recently changed in society The
government is facing an angry backlash from voters over the new tax.

ban verb
BrE /bæn/ ; NAmE /bæn/

1 ban something to decide or say officially that something is not allowed

SYNONYM prohibit
Chemical weapons are banned internationally.
a campaign to ban smoking in public places

2 [usually passive] to order somebody not to do something, go somewhere, etc., especially

officially ban somebody from something He was banned from the meeting.
ban somebody from doing something She's been banned from leaving Greece while the
allegations are investigated.
(British English) He was banned from driving for six months.

ban noun
BrE /bæn/ ; NAmE /bæn/
ban (on something) an official rule that says that something is not allowed There is to be a total
ban on smoking in the office.
to impose/lift a ban

bacon noun
BrE /ˈbeɪkən/ ; NAmE /ˈbeɪkən/
[uncountable]
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 bacon

COMPARE gammon, ham, pork

Idioms
bring home the ˈbacon
(informal) to be successful at something; to earn money for your family to live on His friends
had all gone to college or were bringing home the bacon.
save somebody’s ˈbacon/ˈneck
(informal) to rescue somebody from a very difficult situation

bar·bar·ic adjective
BrE /bɑːˈbærɪk/ ; NAmE /bɑːrˈbærɪk/
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.
It was described as a particularly barbaric act.

2 connected with barbarians

bar·bell noun
BrE /ˈbɑːbel/ ; NAmE /ˈbɑːrbel/
a long metal bar with weights at each end, used in the sport of weightlifting and for exercise

bare·ly adverb
BrE /ˈbeəli/ ; NAmE /ˈberli/
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.

bark verb
BrE /bɑːk/ ; NAmE /bɑːrk/
1 [intransitive] bark (at somebody/something) when a dog barks, it makes a short loud sound
The dog suddenly started barking at us.
The dog was barking furiously at a cat.

2 [transitive] to give orders, ask questions, etc. in a loud, unfriendly way bark out something She
barked out an order.
bark something (at somebody) He barked questions at her.
+ speech ‘Who are you?’ he barked.

3 [transitive] bark something (British English) to rub the skin off your knee, etc. by falling or
by knocking against something
SYNONYM graze
I barked my shins when I fell on the steps.

Idioms
be barking up the wrong ˈtree
(informal) to have the wrong idea about how to get or achieve something You're barking up the
wrong tree if you're expecting us to lend you any money.

why keep a ˌdog and bark yourˈself?

(informal, saying) if somebody can do a task for you, there is no point in doing it yourself

bar·rage noun
BrE /ˈbærɑːʒ/ ; NAmE /bəˈrɑːʒ/
1 [countable, usually singular] 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 [singular] barrage (of something) a large number of something, such as questions or

comments, that are directed at somebody 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 /ˈbɑːrɪdʒ/ [countable] a wall or barrier built across a river to store water, prevent a
flood, etc.

batch noun
BrE /bætʃ/ ; NAmE /bætʃ/
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

batch verb
BrE /bætʃ/ ; NAmE /bætʃ/

[transitive, intransitive] batch (something) to put things into groups in order to deal with them
The service will be improved by batching and sorting enquiries.

bear verb
BrE /beə(r)/ ; NAmE /ber/

accept/deal with
1 [transitive] (used with can/could in negative sentences and questions) to be able to accept and
deal with something unpleasant
SYNONYM stand
bear something The pain was almost more than he could bear.
She couldn't bear the thought of losing him.
bear doing something I can't bear having cats in the house.
He can't bear being laughed at.
bear to do something He can't bear to be laughed at.
How can you bear to eat that stuff?
bear somebody doing something I can't bear you doing that.

not be suitable
2 [transitive] not bear to not be suitable for something bear something 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).
bear doing something 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 something

3 [transitive] bear something (formal) to take responsibility for something 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 [transitive] to have a feeling, especially a negative feeling bear something (against/towards
somebody) He bears no resentment towards them.
He's borne a grudge against me ever since that day.
bear somebody something He's borne me a grudge ever since that day.
She bore him no ill will.

support weight
5 [transitive] bear something to support the weight of somebody/something The ice is too thin
to bear your weight.

show
6 [transitive] bear something (formal) to show something; to carry something 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 [transitive] bear something (formal) to have a particular name a family that bore an ancient
and honoured name

carry
8 [transitive] bear somebody/something (old-fashioned or formal) to carry
somebody/something, especially while moving three kings bearing gifts

yourself
9 [transitive] bear 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 [transitive] (formal) to give birth to a child bear something She was not able to bear children.
bear somebody something She had borne him six sons.

of trees/plants
11 [transitive] bear something (formal) to produce flowers or fruit
turn
12 [intransitive] bear (to the) left, north, etc. to go or turn in the direction mentioned When you
get to the fork in the road, bear right.

Idioms
bear ˈarms
(old use) to be a soldier; to fight
bear ˈfruit
to have a successful result
bear ˈhard, ˈheavily, seˈverely, etc. on somebody
(formal) to be a cause of difficulty or suffering to somebody Taxation bears heavily on us all.

bear/keep somebody/something in ˈmind, bear/keep in ˈmind that…

to remember somebody/something; to remember or consider that…
bear, take, etc. the ˈbrunt of something
to receive the main force of something unpleasant Schools will bear the brunt of cuts in
government spending.

bear/give ˈwitness (to something)

to provide evidence of the truth of something The crowd of mourners at his funeral bore witness
to the great affection in which he was held.

be borne ˈin on somebody

(formal, especially British English) to be realized by somebody, especially after a period of time
It was gradually borne in on us that defeat was inevitable.

bring something to bear (on somebody/something)

(formal) to use energy, pressure, influence, etc. to try to achieve something or make somebody
do something We must bring all our energies to bear upon the task.
Pressure was brought to bear on us to finish the work on time.

grin and ˈbear 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.

have a (heavy) ˈcross 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.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌbear ˈdown on somebody/something
1 (British English) to move quickly towards somebody/something in a determined or threatening
way
2 (especially North American English) to press on somebody/something Bear down on it with all
your strength so it doesn't move.

ˈbear on something
(formal) to relate to something
SYNONYM affect
These are matters that bear on the welfare of the community.

ˌbear somebody/somethingˈout
(especially British English) to show that somebody is right or that something is true The other
witnesses will bear me out.
The other witnesses will bear out what I say.
ˌbear ˈup (against/under something)
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.’

ˈbear with somebody/something

to be patient with somebody/something 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.

bear noun
BrE /beə(r)/ ; NAmE /ber/
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 bear

SEE 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
price
COMPARE bull
SEE ALSO bearish

Idioms
like a bear with a sore ˈhead
(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.

beg verb
BrE /beɡ/ ; NAmE /beɡ/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to ask somebody for something especially in an anxious way because
you want or need it very much beg (for something) He wants to see them beg for mercy.
beg somebody (for something) They begged him for help.
Forgive me, I beg you!
beg something (of/from somebody) She begged permission to leave.
I managed to beg a lift from a passing motorist.
Can I beg a favour of you?
beg (somebody) + speech ‘Give me one more chance,’ he begged (her).
beg somebody to do something She begged him not to go.
beg to do something He begged to be told the truth.
beg that… (formal) She begged that she be allowed to go.
(British English also) She begged that she should be allowed to go.
beg of somebody (formal) Don't leave me here, I beg of you!
2 [intransitive, transitive] to ask somebody for money, food, etc., especially in the street London
is full of homeless people begging in the streets.
a begging letter (= one that asks somebody for money)
a begging bowl (= used to beg for money with)
beg for something (from somebody) The children were begging for food.
beg something (from somebody) We managed to beg a meal from the cafe owner.

3 [intransitive] if a dog begs, it sits on its back legs with its front legs in the air, waiting to be
given something

Idioms
beg ˈleave to do something
(formal) to ask somebody for permission to do something I beg leave to add a few comments of
my own.

be going ˈbegging
(British English, informal) if something is going begging, it is available because nobody else
wants it I’ll have that last cake if it’s going begging.

beg somebody’s ˈpardon

(formal, especially British English) to ask somebody to forgive you for something you have said
or done He returned to beg her pardon for his sudden outburst.

beg the ˈquestion

1 to make somebody 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 something 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 your pardon

1 (formal) used to tell somebody that you are sorry for something you have said or done I beg
your pardon, I thought that was my coat.

2 used to ask somebody to repeat what they have just said because you did not hear ‘It's on Duke
Street.’ ‘I beg your pardon.’ ‘Duke Street.’

3 (British English) used to tell somebody 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!’

I beg to differ
used to say politely that you do not agree with something that has just been said ‘At least she is
good at her job.’ ‘Oh, I beg to differ.’

Phrasal Verbs
ˌbeg ˈoff
to say that you are unable to do something that you have agreed to do He's always begging off at
the last minute.

be·hest noun
BrE /bɪˈhest/ ; NAmE /bɪˈhest/
[singular]

Idioms
at somebody’s beˈhest
(old use or formal) because somebody has ordered or requested it at the King’s behest/at the
behest of the King

bi·en·nial adjective
BrE /baɪˈeniəl/ ; NAmE /baɪˈeniəl/
[usually before noun] happening once every two years
a biennial convention

blank·ly adverb
BrE /ˈblæŋkli/ ; NAmE /ˈblæŋkli/
in a way that shows no feeling, understanding or interest She stared blankly into space, not
knowing what to say next.

bleak adjective
BrE /bliːk/ ; NAmE /bliːk/
(bleak·er, bleak·est)
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

blem·ish noun
BrE /ˈblemɪʃ/ ; NAmE /ˈblemɪʃ/
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.

blem·ish verb
BrE /ˈblemɪʃ/ ; NAmE /ˈblemɪʃ/

[usually passive] blemish something (formal) to spoil something that is beautiful or perfect in
all other ways

blench verb
BrE /blentʃ/ ; NAmE /blentʃ/
[intransitive] (British English, formal)

to react to something in a way that shows you are frightened He blenched when he heard her
name announced.

blow verb
BrE /bləʊ/ ; NAmE /bloʊ/
In sense 14 blowed is used for the past participle.

from mouth
1 [intransitive, transitive] to send out air from the mouth + adverb/preposition You're not
blowing hard enough!
The policeman asked me to blow into the breathalyser.
blow something + adverb/preposition He drew on his cigarette and blew out a stream of smoke.

of wind
2 [intransitive, transitive] (+ adverb/preposition) when the wind or a current of air blows, it is
moving; when it blows, the wind is blowing A cold wind blew from the east.
It was blowing hard.
It was blowing a gale (= there was a strong wind).

move with wind/breath

3 [intransitive, transitive] to be moved by the wind, somebody’s breath, etc.; to move something
in this way + adverb/preposition My hat blew off.
+ adjective The door blew open.
blow somebody/something + adverb/preposition 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.
blow something + adjective The wind blew the door shut.

whistle/instrument
4 [transitive, intransitive] blow (something) if you blow a whistle, musical instrument, etc. or if
a whistle, etc. blows, you produce a sound by blowing into the whistle, etc The referee blew his
whistle.
the sound of trumpets blowing

your nose
5 [transitive] blow your nose to clear your nose by blowing strongly through it into a tissue or
handkerchief
a kiss
6 [transitive] blow (somebody) a kiss to kiss your hand and then pretend to blow the kiss
towards somebody
shape something
7 [transitive] blow something to make or shape something 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 [intransitive, transitive] blow (something) 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
tyre
9 [intransitive, transitive] to break open or apart, especially because of pressure from inside; to
make a tyre break in this way The car spun out of control when a tyre blew.
The truck blew a tyre and lurched off the road.

with explosives
10 [transitive] blow something to break something open with explosives The safe had been
blown by the thieves.

secret
11 [transitive] blow something (informal) to make known something 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
12 [transitive] blow something (on something) (informal) to spend or waste a lot of money on
something He inherited over a million dollars and blew it all on drink and gambling.

opportunity
13 [transitive] blow something (informal) to waste an opportunity She blew her chances by
arriving late for the interview.
You had your chance and you blew it.
exclamation
14 [transitive] blow somebody/something (British English, informal) used to show that you are
annoyed, surprised or do not care about something 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
15 [transitive, intransitive] blow (something) (North American English, slang) to leave a place
suddenly Let's blow this joint.

Idioms
blow your/somebody’s ˈbrains out
to kill yourself/somebody by shooting yourself/them in the head
blow ˈchunks
(North American English, slang) to vomit
blow/clear the ˈcobwebs away
to help somebody start something in a fresh, lively state of mind A brisk walk should blow the
cobwebs away.

blow a ˈfuse
(informal) to get very angry
blow the ˈgaff (on somebody/something)
(British English, informal) to tell something secret, especially by mistake
blow hot and ˈcold (about something)
(informal) to change your opinion about something often
blow your ˈmind
(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 somebody/something out of the ˈwater (informal)
1 to destroy somebody/something completely
2 to show that somebody/something is not good by being very much better than it/them I like my
old phone, but this new model blows it out of the water.

blow your own ˈtrumpet (especially British English)

(usually North American English blow/toot your own ˈhorn)
(informal) to praise your own abilities and achievements
SYNONYM boast
This phrase refers to the custom of announcing important guests by blowing a horn.
blow ˈsmoke (up somebody’s ass)
(taboo, North American English, slang) to try to trick somebody or lie to somebody, particularly
by saying something is better than it really is
blow/knock somebody’s ˈsocks off
(informal) to surprise or impress somebody very much
blow/sod that for a lark
(British English, slang) used by somebody who does not want to do something because it
involves too much effort Sod that for a lark! I'm not doing any more tonight.

blow somebody/something to kingdom ˈcome

(informal) to completely destroy somebody/something with an explosion The truck was blown to
kingdom come.

blow your ˈtop

(North American English also blow your ˈstack)
(informal) to get very angry
blow up in somebody’s ˈface
if a plan, etc. blows up in your face, it goes wrong in a way that causes you damage,
embarrassment, etc.
blow the ˈwhistle on somebody/something
(informal) to tell somebody in authority about something wrong or illegal that somebody is doing
it’s an ˌill ˈwind (that blows nobody any good)
(saying) no problem is so bad that it does not bring some advantage to somebody
lift the ˈlid on something, take/blow the ˈlid off something
to tell people unpleasant or shocking facts about something Her article lifts the lid on child
prostitution.

ˌpuff and ˈpant

(also ˌpuff and ˈblow informal)
to breathe quickly and loudly through your mouth after physical effort Eventually, puffing and
panting, he arrived at the gate.

see which way the ˈwind is blowing

to get an idea of what is likely to happen before doing something
Phrasal Verbs
ˌblow somethingaˈpart
1 to completely destroy something in an explosion
2 to show that an idea is completely false What we discovered blew apart all our preconceptions
about this fascinating species.

ˌblow somebodyaˈway (informal, especially North American English)

1 to kill somebody by shooting them
2 to impress somebody a lot or to make them very happy
3 to defeat somebody easily Mitchell blew away the other runners.

ˌblow ˈin | ˌblow ˈinto something

(informal) to arrive or enter a place suddenly Look who's just blown in!
Have you heard who's blown into town?
 ˌblow ˈoff
(British English, informal) a rude way of saying ‘ break windwind1 ’ (= release gas through your
bottom)
ˌblow somebodyˈoff
(North American English) to deliberately not meet somebody when you said you would; to end a
romantic relationship with somebody
ˌblow somethingˈoff
(North American English) to deliberately not do something that you said you would He looks for
any excuse he can to blow off work.

ˌblow ˈout
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 force
RELATED NOUN blowout
ˌblow itself ˈout
when a storm blows itself out, it finally loses its force
ˌblow somebodyˈout
(North American English, informal) to defeat somebody easily
ˌblow somethingˈout
to put out a flame, etc. by blowing
ˌblow ˈover
to go away without having a serious effect The storm blew over in the night.
The scandal will soon blow over.

ˌblow ˈup
1 to explode; to be destroyed by an explosion The bomb blew up.
A police officer was killed when his car blew up.

2 to start suddenly and with force A storm was blowing up.

A crisis has blown up over the President's latest speech.

ˌblow somethingˈup
1 to destroy something by an explosion The police station was blown up by terrorists.

2 to fill something with air or gas so that it becomes firm The tyres on my bike need blowing up.

3 to make a photograph bigger

SYNONYM enlarge
RELATED NOUN blow-up
4 to make something seem more important, better, worse, etc. than it really is The whole affair
was blown up out of all proportion.

ˌblow ˈup (at somebody)

(informal) to get angry with somebody
SYNONYM lose your temper
I'm sorry I blew up at you.

RELATED NOUN blow-up

blue·print noun
BrE /ˈbluːprɪnt/ ; NAmE /ˈbluːprɪnt/
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 blueprint (for something) a plan which shows what can be achieved and how it can be
achieved a blueprint for the privatization of health care

3 (specialist) 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.

bol·ster verb
BrE /ˈbəʊlstə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈboʊlstər/

to improve something or make it stronger bolster something to bolster somebody’s

confidence/courage/morale
I needed to stress the bus driver’s evidence in order to bolster my case.
bolster something up Falling interest rates may help to bolster up the economy.

bol·ster noun
BrE /ˈbəʊlstə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈboʊlstər/
a long thick pillow that is placed across the top of a bed under the other pillows

boom noun
BrE /buːm/ ; NAmE /buːm/
in business/economy
1 a sudden increase in trade and economic activity; a period of wealth and success Living
standards improved rapidly during the post-war boom.
boom in something a boom in car sales
a boom year (for trade, exports, etc.)
a property/housing boom
a chaotic period of boom and bust
COMPARE slump
SEE ALSO baby boom
popular period
2 [usually singular] a period when something 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 singular] a loud deep sound the distant boom of the guns

SEE 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

boom verb
BrE /buːm/ ; NAmE /buːm/

make loud sound

1 [intransitive] to make a loud deep sound Outside, thunder boomed and crashed.

2 [transitive, intransitive] to say something in a loud deep voice + speech ‘Get out of my sight!’
he boomed.
boom (out) A voice boomed out from the darkness.
He had a booming voice.

of business/economy
3 [intransitive] to have a period of rapid growth; to become bigger, more successful, etc By the
1980s, the computer industry was booming.
Business is booming!

boost verb
BrE /buːst/ ; NAmE /buːst/

1 boost something to make something increase, or become better or more successful to boost
exports/profits
The movie helped boost her screen career.
to boost somebody’s confidence/morale
Getting that job did a lot to boost his ego (= make him feel more confident).

2 boost something (North American English, informal, becoming old-fashioned) to steal

something

boost noun
BrE /buːst/ ; NAmE /buːst/
[usually singular]
1 something that helps or encourages somebody/something 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 something a boost in car sales

3 an increase in power in an engine or a piece of electrical equipment

4 (especially North American English) an act of pushing somebody up from behind He gave her
a boost over the fence.

bother verb
BrE /ˈbɒðə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈbɑːðər/

1 [intransitive, transitive] (often used in negative sentences and questions) to spend time and/or
energy doing something ‘Shall I wait?’ ‘No, don't bother’.
I don't know why I bother! Nobody ever listens!
If that’s all the thanks I get, I won’t bother in future!
bother with/about something It's not worth bothering with (= using) an umbrella—the car's just
outside.
I don't know why you bother with that crowd (= why you spend time with them).
He doesn’t bother much about his appearance.
bother to do something He didn't even bother to let me know he was coming.
bother doing something Why bother asking if you're not really interested?

2 [transitive] to annoy, worry or upset somebody; to cause somebody trouble or pain bother
somebody The thing that bothers me is…
That sprained ankle is still bothering her (= hurting).
‘I'm sorry he was so rude to you.’ ‘It doesn't bother me.’
bother somebody with something I don't want to bother her with my problems at the moment.
bother somebody that… Does it bother you that she earns more than you?
it bothers somebody to do something It bothers me to think of her alone in that big house.

3 [transitive] to interrupt somebody; to talk to somebody when they do not want to talk to you
bother somebody 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.
Idioms
be bothered (about somebody/something)
(informal, especially British English) to think that somebody/something 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 something)

used to say that you do not want to spend time and/or energy doing something 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.

(all) hot and ˈbothered

(informal) in a state of anxiety or confusion because you are under too much pressure, have a
problem, are trying to hurry, etc.
not bother yourself/your head with/about something
(especially British English) to not spend time/effort on something, because it is not important or
you are not interested in it

bother noun
BrE /ˈbɒðə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈbɑːðər/
1 [uncountable] 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 [singular] an annoying situation, thing or person

SYNONYM nuisance
I hope I haven't been a bother.

bout noun
BrE /baʊt/ ; NAmE /baʊt/
1 a short period of great activity; a short period during which there is a lot of a particular thing,
usually something unpleasant a drinking bout
bout of something/of doing something the latest bout of inflation
Regular exercise is better than occasional bouts of strenuous activity.

2 bout (of something) an attack or period of illness a severe bout of flu/coughing

He suffered occasional bouts of depression.
bout (with something) (North American English) a bout with the flu
3 a boxing or wrestling match

brandy noun
BrE /ˈbrændi/ ; NAmE /ˈbrændi/
(plural brandies)
1 [uncountable, countable] a strong alcoholic drink made from wine.
2 [countable] a glass of brandy

breach noun
BrE /briːtʃ/ ; NAmE /briːtʃ/
(formal)
1 [countable, uncountable] breach of something a failure to do something that must be done by
law a breach of contract/copyright/warranty
They are in breach of Article 119.
(British English) (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 [countable, uncountable] breach of something an action that breaks an agreement to behave in

a particular way a breach of confidence/trust
a breach of security (= when something that is normally protected is no longer secure)

3 [countable] a break in a relationship between people or countries a breach in Franco-German

relations

4 [countable] 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.

Idioms
step into the ˈbreach
to do somebody’s job or work when they are suddenly or unexpectedly unable to do it

breach verb
BrE /briːtʃ/ ; NAmE /briːtʃ/
(formal)
1 breach something to not keep to an agreement or not keep a promise
SYNONYM break
The government is accused of breaching the terms of the treaty.
A doctor was sacked for allegedly breaching patient confidentiality.
The proposed changes breached trade union rules.
2 breach something to make a hole in a wall, fence, etc. so that somebody/something can go
through it The dam had been breached.
Demonstrators breached police lines around the embassy.

break verb
BrE /breɪk/ ; NAmE /breɪk/

in pieces
1 [intransitive, transitive] to be damaged and separated into two or more parts , as a result of
force; to damage something in this way All the windows broke with the force of the blast.
The bag broke under the weight of the bottles inside it.
break in/into something She dropped the plate and it broke into pieces.
break something to break a cup/window
She fell off a ladder and broke her arm.
break something in/into something He broke the chocolate in two.

stop working
2 [intransitive, transitive] to stop working as a result of being damaged; to damage something
and stop it from working My watch has broken.
break something I think I've broken the washing machine.

skin
3 [transitive] break something to cut the surface of the skin and make it bleed The dog bit me
but didn't break the skin.

law/promise
4 [transitive] break something to do something 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 [intransitive, transitive] to stop doing something for a while, especially when it is time to eat
or have a drink break (for something) Let's break for lunch.
break something a broken night’s sleep (= a night during which you often wake up)
(especially British English) We broke our journey in Oxford (= stopped in Oxford on the way to
the place we were going to).

end something
6 [transitive] break something to interrupt something 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 [transitive] break something to make something end by using force or strong action an
attempt to break the year-long siege
Management has not succeeded in breaking the strike.

8 [transitive] break something to end a connection with something or a relationship with

somebody He broke all ties with his parents.

escape
9 [intransitive] break free (from somebody/something) (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 [transitive, intransitive] break (somebody/something) to destroy something or make
somebody/something weaker; to become weak or be destroyed to break somebody’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).
She broke under questioning (= was no longer able to bear it) and confessed to everything.

make somebody feel bad

11 [transitive] break somebody to make somebody feel so sad, lonely, etc. that they cannot live
a normal life The death of his wife broke him completely.

of weather
12 [intransitive] to change suddenly, usually after a period when it has been fine
show opening
13 [intransitive] to show an opening The clouds broke and the sun came out.

of day/dawn/storm
14 [intransitive] when the day or dawn or a storm breaks, it begins Dawn was breaking when
they finally left.

SEE ALSO daybreak

of news
15 [intransitive] 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 [transitive] break it/the news to somebody to be the first to tell somebody 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 [intransitive] if somebody’s voice breaks, it changes its tone because of emotion Her voice
broke as she told us the dreadful news.

18 [intransitive] when a boy’s voice breaks, it becomes permanently deeper at about the age of
13 or 14
a record
19 [transitive] break a record to do something 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 [intransitive] 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.

something secret
21 [transitive] break a code/cipher to find the meaning of something secret to break a code

money
22 [transitive] break something (especially North American English) to change a banknote for
coins Can you break a twenty-dollar bill?

Idioms
Idioms containing break are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for
example break somebody’s heart is at heart.
Phrasal Verbs
ˌbreak aˈway (from somebody/something)
1 to escape suddenly from somebody 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.

ˌbreak ˈdown
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

ˌbreak somethingˈdown
1 to make something fall down, open, etc. by hitting it hard Firefighters had to break the door
down to reach the people trapped inside.

2 to destroy something or make it disappear, especially a particular feeling or attitude that

somebody has to break down resistance/opposition
to break down somebody’s reserve/shyness
Attempts must be made to break down the barriers of fear and hostility which divide the two
communities.

3 to divide something 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

ˈbreak for something
to suddenly run towards something when you are trying to escape She had to hold him back as he
tried to break for the door.

ˌbreak ˈin
to enter a building by force Burglars had broken in while we were away.

RELATED NOUN break-in

ˌbreak somebody/something ˈin

1 to train somebody/something in something 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 something, especially new shoes, until they become comfortable

ˌbreak ˈin (on something)
to interrupt or disturb something She longed to break in on their conversation but didn't want to
appear rude.
+ speech ‘I didn't do it!’ she broke in.

ˌbreak ˈinto something

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 (British English) to use a banknote of high value to buy something that costs less I had to
break into a £20 note to pay the bus fare.

5 to open and use something 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 something The company is having difficulty
breaking into new markets.

ˌbreak ˈoff
1 to become separated from something as a result of force The back section of the plane had
broken off.

2 to stop speaking or stop doing something for a time He broke off in the middle of a sentence.

ˌbreak somethingˈoff
1 to separate something, using force She broke off a piece of chocolate and gave it to me.

2 to end something suddenly Britain threatened to break off diplomatic relations.

They've broken off their engagement.

ˌbreak ˈout
(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

ˌbreak ˈout (of something)
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

 ˌbreak ˈout in something
to suddenly become covered in something Her face broke out in a rash.
He broke out in a cold sweat (= for example, through fear).

ˌbreak ˈthrough
to make new and important discoveries Scientists think they are beginning to break through in
the fight against cancer.

RELATED NOUN breakthrough

ˌbreak ˈthrough | ˌbreak ˈthrough something
1 to make a way through something 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.

ˌbreak ˈthrough something

to succeed in dealing with an attitude that somebody has and the difficulties it creates
SYNONYM overcome
He had finally managed to break through her reserve.

ˌbreak ˈup
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 British English) to begin the holidays when school closes at the end of a term When
do you break up for Christmas?

5 (British English) to become very weak He was breaking up under the strain.

6 (North American English) to laugh very hard Woody Allen makes me just break up.

7 when a person who is talking on a mobile/cell phone breaks up, you can no longer hear them
clearly because the signal has been interrupted
ˌbreak somebodyˈup
(especially North American English) to make somebody feel upset The thought of hurting her
just breaks me up.

ˌbreak somethingˈup
1 to make something separate into smaller pieces; to divide something 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 something or stop doing something, especially by using force Police
were called in to break up the fight.

ˌbreak ˈup (with somebody)

to end a relationship with somebody She's just broken up with her boyfriend.

RELATED NOUN break-up

ˈbreak with something

to end a connection with something to break with tradition/old habits/the past
He broke with the party on the issue of Europe.

break·through noun
BrE /ˈbreɪkθruː/ ; NAmE /ˈbreɪkθruː/
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·through adjective
BrE /ˈbreɪkθruː/ ; NAmE /ˈbreɪkθruː/
[only before noun] in which a performer or type of product is successful for the first time, when
it is likely to be even more successful in the future It was a breakthrough album for the band.
breakthrough technology/products
an award for the best breakthrough band
The emphasis is on developing breakthrough technology that will lead to new business.

breed verb
BrE /briːd/ ; NAmE /briːd/

1 [intransitive] (of animals) to have sex and produce young Many animals breed only at certain
times of the year.

SEE ALSO interbreed

2 [transitive] breed something (for/as something) 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 captivity
SEE ALSO cross-breed, pure-bred, thoroughbred
3 [transitive] breed something to be the cause of something Nothing breeds success like success.

4 [transitive, usually passive] breed something into somebody to educate somebody in a

particular way as they are growing up Fear of failure was bred into him at an early age.

SEE ALSO well bred

Idioms
ˌborn and ˈbred
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.

familiarity breeds conˈtempt

(saying) knowing somebody/something very well may cause you to lose admiration and respect
for them/it

breed noun
BrE /briːd/ ; NAmE /briːd/
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
rare breeds

2 [usually singular] a type of person He represents a new breed of politician.

Players as skilful as this are a rare breed.

ˈbreeding ground noun

BrE ; NAmE
1 [usually plural] a place where wild animals go to produce their young Some birds fly south to
find good breeding grounds.

2 breeding ground (for something) [usually singular] a place where something, especially
something bad, is able to develop This area of the city has become a breeding ground for violent
crime.

bug·bear noun
BrE /ˈbʌɡbeə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈbʌɡber/
(especially British English)
a thing that annoys people and that they worry about Inflation is the government's main bugbear.

buggy noun
BrE /ˈbʌɡi/ ; NAmE /ˈbʌɡi/
(plural buggies)
1 (British English) (North American English cart) a small car, often without a roof or doors,
used for a particular purpose a garden/golf buggy

SEE ALSO beach buggy

2 (British English also ˈBaby Buggy™) (North American English strol·ler) a type of light
folding chair on wheels in which a baby or small child is pushed along parents pushing baby
buggies

COMPARE pushchair
3 a light carriage for one or two people, pulled by one horse

bully·ing noun
BrE /ˈbʊliɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈbʊliɪŋ/
[uncountable]
the use of strength or power to frighten or hurt weaker people Bullying is a problem in many
schools.
He refused to give in to bullying and threats.
bullying behaviour/tactics

bump verb
BrE /bʌmp/ ; NAmE /bʌmp/

1 [intransitive] to hit somebody/something by accident bump into somebody/something In the

dark I bumped into a chair.
bump against somebody/something The car bumped against the kerb.

2 [transitive] bump something (against/on something) to hit something, especially a part of

your body, against or on something Be careful not to bump your head on the beam when you
stand up.

3 [intransitive, transitive] to move across a rough surface + adverb/preposition The jeep bumped
along the dirt track.
bump something + adverb/preposition The car bumped its way slowly down the drive.
She entered the subway, bumping her bags down the steps.
4 [transitive] bump somebody + adverb/preposition to move somebody from one group or
position to another; to remove somebody 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.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌbump ˈinto somebody
(informal) to meet somebody by chance I bumped into Simon this morning.

ˌbump somebodyˈoff
(informal) to murder somebody
ˌbump somethingˈup
(informal) to increase or raise something They bump up their prices in the summer months.
We’ve bumped up the connection speed to make downloading much faster.

ˌbump ˈup against something

to experience a problem or factor that you did not expect We kept bumping up against inflexible
regulations.

bump noun
BrE /bʌmp/ ; NAmE /bʌmp/
1 [countable] the action or sound of something 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 [countable] a swelling on the body, often caused by a blow

SYNONYM lump
She was covered in bumps and bruises.
How did you get that bump on your forehead?

3 [countable] a part of a flat surface that is not even, but raised above the rest of it a bump in the
road

SEE ALSO bumpy

4 [countable] a slight accident in which your vehicle hits something I had a bump in the car
earlier, but it wasn’t serious.

5 the bumps [plural] (British English) (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.

Idioms
come back/down to ˈearth (with a ˈbang/ˈbump), bring somebody (back) down to ˈearth
(with a ˈbang/ˈbump)
(informal) to return, or to make somebody 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
ˌthings that go ˌbump in the ˈnight
(informal, humorous) used to refer to ghosts and other supernatural things that cannot be
explained There are mysterious lights in the sky and things that go bump in the night.

bunch noun
BrE /bʌntʃ/ ; NAmE /bʌntʃ/
1 [countable] bunch of something 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 [singular] a bunch (of something) (informal, especially North American English) a large
amount of something; a large number of things or people I have a whole bunch of stuff to do this
morning.

3 [singular] (informal) a group of people The people that I work with are a great bunch.

4 bunches [plural] (British English) long hair that is divided in two and tied at each side of the
head She wore her hair in bunches.

Idioms
the best of a bad ˈbunch
(British English also the best of a bad ˈlot)
(informal) a person or thing that is a little better than the rest of a group, although none are very
good
the best/pick of the ˈbunch
the best out of a group of people or things

bunch verb
BrE /bʌntʃ/ ; NAmE /bʌntʃ/

[intransitive, transitive] to become tight or to form tight folds; to make something do this His
muscles bunched under his shirt.
bunch (something) up Her skirt had bunched up round her waist.
bunch something His forehead was bunched in a frown.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌbunch ˈup/toˈgether | ˌbunch somebody/something ˈup/toˈgether
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.

buoy·ant adjective
BrE /ˈbɔɪənt/ ; NAmE /ˈbɔɪənt/ , also /ˈbuːjənt/
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
The relatively buoyant housing market has kept consumers confident enough to spend.

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.

buoy·ancy noun
BrE /ˈbɔɪənsi/ ; NAmE /ˈbɔɪənsi/ , also /ˈbuːjənsi/
[uncountable]
1 a tendency for prices, business activity, etc. to increase or stay at a high level, usually showing
financial success the buoyancy of the market

2 the feeling of being cheerful and feeling sure that things will be successful a mood of buoyancy

3 the fact of floating, being able to float or able to keep things floating a buoyancy aid (=
something to help you float)

bur·den noun
BrE /ˈbɜːdn/ ; NAmE /ˈbɜːrdn/
1 the burden (of something) a burden (on/to somebody) 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 carry

SEE ALSO beast of burden

bur·den verb
BrE /ˈbɜːdn/ ; NAmE /ˈbɜːrdn/
1 burden somebody/yourself (with something) to give somebody 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

OPPOSITE unburden
2 be burdened with something to be carrying something heavy She got off the bus, burdened
with two heavy suitcases.

bury verb
BrE /ˈberi/ ; NAmE /ˈberi/

dead person
1 bury somebody/something to place a dead body in a grave He was buried in Highgate
Cemetery.
(figurative) Their ambitions were finally dead and buried.

2 bury somebody (old-fashioned) to lose somebody by death She's 85 and has buried three
husbands.

hide in ground
3 bury something to hide something in the ground buried treasure
The dog had buried its bone in the garden.

cover
4 [often passive] to cover somebody/something with soil, rocks, leaves, etc bury
somebody/something The house was buried under ten feet of snow.
bury somebody/something + adjective The miners were buried alive when the tunnel collapsed.

5 bury something to cover something 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 bury something to ignore or hide a feeling, a mistake, etc She had learnt to bury her feelings.

put deeply into something

7 bury something (in something) to put something deeply into something else He walked
slowly, his hands buried in his pockets.
She always has her head buried in a book.

Idioms
ˌbury the ˈhatchet, ˌbury your ˈdifferences
to stop being unfriendly and become friends again After not speaking to each other for years, the
two brothers decided to bury the hatchet.

bury/hide your head in the ˈsand

to refuse to admit that a problem exists or refuse to deal with it
Phrasal Verbs
ˈbury yourself in something
1 to give all your attention to something 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.

burn·out noun
BrE /ˈbɜːnaʊt/ ; NAmE /ˈbɜːrnaʊt/
[countable, uncountable]
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

buzz verb
BrE /bʌz/ ; NAmE /bʌz/

1 [intransitive] (of a bee) to make a continuous low sound Bees buzzed lazily among the flowers.

2 [intransitive] to make a sound like a bee buzzing The doorbell buzzed loudly.
My ears were buzzing (= were filled with a continuous sound).

3 [intransitive] to be full of excitement, activity, etc New York buzzes from dawn to dusk.
My head was still buzzing after the day's events.
buzz with something The place was buzzing with journalists.

4 [intransitive, transitive] buzz (something) (for somebody/something) to call somebody to

come by pressing a buzzer The doctor buzzed for the next patient to come in.

5 [transitive] buzz somebody/something (informal) to fly very close to somebody/something,

especially as a warning or threat

Phrasal Verbs
ˌbuzz aˈbout/aˈround
to move around quickly, especially because you are very busy I've been buzzing around town all
day sorting out my trip.

ˌbuzz ˈoff
(informal) used to tell somebody rudely to go away Just buzz off and let me get on with my work.

buzz noun
BrE /bʌz/ ; NAmE /bʌz/
1 [countable, usually singular] (also buzz·ing [uncountable, singular]) a continuous sound like
the one that a bee, a buzzer or other electronic device makes the buzz of bees
The buzz of the Entryphone interrupted our conversation.
hums and buzzes from the amplifier

2 [singular] the sound of people talking, especially in an excited way The buzz of conversation
suddenly stopped when she came into the room.

3 [singular] (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 [singular] (informal) news that people tell each other that may or may not be true
SYNONYM rumour
The buzz is that Matt is in Scotland. Have you heard anything?

Idioms
give somebody a ˈbuzz
(informal) to telephone somebody I'll give you a buzz on Monday, OK?

ca·jole verb
BrE /kəˈdʒəʊl/ ; NAmE /kəˈdʒoʊl/
[transitive, intransitive]

to make somebody do something by talking to them and being very nice to them
SYNONYM coax
cajole somebody (into something/into doing something) He cajoled me into agreeing to do the
work.
cajole something out of somebody I managed to cajole his address out of them.
(+ speech) ‘Please say yes,’ she cajoled.
Her voice was soft and cajoling.

col·lab·ora·tive adjective
BrE /kəˈlæbərətɪv/ ; NAmE /kəˈlæbəreɪtɪv/
[only before noun] (formal)
 involving, or done by, several people or groups of people working together collaborative
projects/studies/research
a collaborative effort/venture

cam·paign noun
BrE /kæmˈpeɪn/ ; NAmE /kæmˈpeɪn/
1 campaign (against/for something) 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

cam·paign verb
BrE /kæmˈpeɪn/ ; NAmE /kæmˈpeɪn/

[intransitive, transitive] to take part in or lead a campaign, for example to achieve political
change or in order to win an election The party campaigned vigorously in the north of the
country.
campaign for/against somebody/something We have campaigned against whaling for the last
15 years.
campaign to do something They are campaigning to save the area from building development.

car·ni·vore noun
BrE /ˈkɑːnɪvɔː(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːrnɪvɔːr/
any animal that eats meat
COMPARE herbivore, insectivore, omnivore

carry verb
BrE /ˈkæri/ ; NAmE /ˈkæri/
take with you
1 [transitive] carry somebody/something to support the weight of somebody/something and
take them or it from place to place; to take somebody/something 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 [transitive] carry something to have something 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 [transitive] carry something to contain and direct the flow of water, electricity, etc a pipeline
carrying oil
The veins carry blood to the heart.

disease
4 [transitive] carry something 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 [transitive] carry something in your head/mind to be able to remember something
support weight
6 [transitive] carry something to support the weight of something A road bridge has to carry a
lot of traffic.

responsibility
7 [transitive] carry something to accept responsibility for something; to suffer the results of
something 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 [transitive] carry something to have something 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 [transitive] carry something to have something 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 [intransitive] + noun + adverb/preposition if something 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 [intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) if a sound carries, it can be heard a long distance away
take to place/position
12 [transitive] carry something/somebody to/into something to take something/somebody 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 [transitive, usually passive] carry something to approve of something by more people voting
for it than against it The resolution was carried by 340 votes to 210.

14 [transitive] to win the support or sympathy of somebody; to persuade people to accept your
argument carry somebody His moving speech was enough to carry the audience.
carry something She nodded in agreement, and he saw he had carried his point.

have label
15 [transitive] carry something to have a particular label or piece of information attached
Cigarettes carry a health warning.

news story
16 [transitive] carry something if a newspaper or broadcast carries a particular story, it
publishes or broadcasts it
item in store
17 [transitive] carry something if a shop/store carries a particular item, it has it for sale We
carry a range of educational software.

baby
18 [transitive] be carrying somebody to be pregnant with somebody She was carrying twins.

yourself
19 [transitive] carry yourself + adverb/preposition to hold or move your head or body in a
particular way to carry yourself well

adding numbers
20 [transitive] carry something 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

Idioms
as fast as your ˌlegs can ˈcarry you
as quickly as you can
be/get carried aˈway
to get very excited or lose control of your feelings I got carried away and started shouting at the
television.

carry all/everything beˈfore you

to be completely successful
carry the ˈball
(US English, informal) to take responsibility for getting something done My co-worker was sick,
so I had to carry the ball.

carry the ˈcan (for somebody/something)

(British English, informal) to accept the blame for something, especially when it is not your fault
carry/win the ˈday
(formal) to be successful against somebody/something Despite strong opposition, the ruling
party carried the day.

carry/take something too ˈfar

to continue doing something beyond reasonable limits
carry a torch for somebody
to be in love with somebody, especially somebody who does not love you in return
fetch and ˈcarry (for somebody)
to do a lot of little jobs for somebody as if you were their servant Most of her day was spent
fetching and carrying for her family.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌcarry somebody ˈback (to something)
to make somebody remember a time in the past The smell of the sea carried her back to her
childhood.

ˌcarry somethingˈforward
(also ˌcarry somethingˈover)
to move a total amount from one column or page to the next
ˌcarry somethingˈoff
1 to win something He carried off most of the prizes.

2 to succeed in doing something that most people would find difficult She's had her hair cut
really short, but she can carry it off.

ˌcarry ˈon
1 (especially British English) 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

ˌcarry ˈon (with something) | ˌcarry somethingˈon
to continue doing something 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!
carry on doing something He carried on peeling the potatoes.

ˌcarry ˈon (with somebody)

(old-fashioned) to have a sexual relationship with somebody when you should not His wife found
out he'd been carrying on with another woman.

ˌcarry somethingˈout
1 to do something 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.

ˌcarry ˈover
to continue to exist in a different situation Attitudes learned at home carry over into the
playground.

ˌcarry somethingˈover
1 to keep something from one situation and use it or deal with it in a different situation
2 to delay something until a later time The match had to be carried over until Sunday.

3
= carry somethingforward
ˌcarry somebody ˈthrough | ˌcarry somebody ˈthrough something
to help somebody to survive a difficult period His determination carried him through the ordeal.

ˌcarry something ˈthrough

to complete something successfully It's a difficult job but she's the person to carry it through.

ˌcarry ˈthrough (on/with something)

(North American English) to do what you have said you will do He has proved he can carry
through on his promises.

cast verb
BrE /kɑːst/ ; NAmE /kæst/

a look/glance/smile
1 [transitive] cast (somebody) something to look, smile, etc. in a particular direction She cast a
welcoming smile in his direction.
He groaned, casting his eyes to the ceiling.

light/a shadow
2 [transitive] cast something (over something) 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 [transitive] cast doubt/aspersions (on/upon something) to say, do or suggest something that
makes people doubt something or think that somebody is less honest, good, etc This latest
evidence casts serious doubt on his version of events.

fishing line
4 [intransitive, transitive] cast (something) to throw one end of a fishing line into a river, etc.
throw
5 [transitive] cast somebody/something (literary) to throw somebody/something somewhere,
especially using force The priceless treasures had been cast into the Nile.
They cast anchor at nightfall.

skin
6 [transitive] cast something when a snake casts its skin, the skin comes off as part of a natural
process
SYNONYM shed
shoe
7 [transitive] cast something if a horse casts a shoe, the shoe comes off by accident
actors
8 [transitive] to choose actors to play the different parts in a film/movie, play, etc.; to choose an
actor to play a particular role cast something The play is being cast in both the US and Britain.
cast somebody (as somebody) He has cast her as an ambitious lawyer in his latest movie.

describe
9 [transitive] to describe or present somebody/yourself in a particular way cast
somebody/yourself (as something) He cast himself as the innocent victim of a hate campaign.
cast somebody/yourself (in something) The press were quick to cast her in the role of the ‘other
woman’.

vote
10 [transitive] cast a/your vote/ballot (for somebody/something) to vote for
somebody/something
shape metal
11 [transitive] cast something (in something) 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) Miró

Idioms
cast/set somebody adrift
[usually passive] to leave somebody to be carried away on a boat that is not being controlled by
anyone (figurative) Without language human beings are cast adrift.
cast/run an eye/your eyes over something
to look at or examine something quickly Could you just run your eyes over this report?

cast/shed/throw ˈlight on something

to make a problem, etc. easier to understand Recent research has thrown new light on the causes
of the disease.

cast your mind back (to something)

to make yourself think about something 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
something It’s worth casting your net wide when applying for your first job.

cast a ˈspell (on somebody/something)

to use words that are thought to be magic and have the power to change or influence
somebody/something
the die is cast
(saying) used to say that an event has happened or a decision has been made that cannot be
changed
draw/cast ˈlots (for something/to do something)
to choose somebody/something by lot They drew lots for the right to go first.

throw/cast caution to the ˈwind(s)

to stop caring about how dangerous something might be; to start taking risks He threw caution to
the wind and dived into the water after the child.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌcast aˈbout/aˈround for something
to try hard to think of or find something, 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.

ˌcast somebody/somethingaˈside
(formal) to get rid of somebody/something because you no longer want or need them
SYNONYM discard
Casting modesty aside, she outlined the reason for her success.
He cast the newspaper aside impatiently.

be ˌcast aˈway
to be left somewhere after a shipwreck
RELATED NOUN castaway
be ˌcast ˈdown (by something)
(literary) to be sad or unhappy about something
SEE ALSO downcast
ˌcast ˈoff | ˌcast somethingˈoff
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
ˌcast somethingˈoff
(formal) to get rid of something because you no longer want or need it The town is still trying to
cast off its dull image.

ˌcast ˈon | ˌcast somethingˈon

(in knitting) to put the first row of stitches on a needle
ˌcast somebody/somethingˈout
(literary) to get rid of somebody/something, especially by using force He claimed to have the
power to cast out demons.

RELATED NOUN outcast

cast noun
BrE /kɑːst/ ; NAmE /kæst/
actors
1 [countable + singular or plural verb] 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 [countable] an object that is made by pouring hot liquid metal, etc. into a mould (= a specially
shaped container)
3 [countable] a shaped container used to make an object
SYNONYM mould
appearance
4 [singular] (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 [countable] an act of throwing something, especially a fishing line
on arm/leg
6 [countable]
= plaster cast
Her leg's in a cast.

SEE ALSO opencast

cha·ot·ic adjective
BrE /keɪˈɒtɪk/ ; NAmE /keɪˈɑːtɪk/
in a state of complete confusion and lack of order The traffic in the city is chaotic in the rush
hour.

chapped adjective
BrE /tʃæpt/ ; NAmE /tʃæpt/
(of the skin or lips) rough, dry and sore, especially because of wind or cold weather

chap·er·one (also chap·eron) noun

BrE /ˈʃæpərəʊn/ ; NAmE /ˈʃæpəroʊn/
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 (North American English) 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

chase verb
BrE /tʃeɪs/ ; NAmE /tʃeɪs/

run/drive after
1 [transitive, intransitive] to run, drive, etc. after somebody/something in order to catch them
chase somebody/something My dog likes chasing rabbits.
The kids chased each other around the kitchen table.
We were chased by a bull while crossing the field.
chase after somebody/something He chased after the burglar but couldn't catch him.

money/work/success
2 [transitive] chase something to try to obtain or achieve something, 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 [intransitive, transitive] (informal) to try to persuade somebody to have a sexual relationship
with you chase after somebody Kevin's been chasing after Joan for months.
chase somebody Girls are always chasing him.

remind somebody
4 [transitive] chase somebody (informal) to persuade somebody to do something that they
should have done already I need to chase him about organizing the meeting.

rush
5 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition (informal) to rush or hurry somewhere I've been chasing
around town all morning looking for a present for Sharon.

metal
6 [transitive] chase something (specialist) to cut patterns or designs on metal chased silver

Idioms
chase your (own) ˈtail
(informal) to be very busy but in fact achieve very little
Phrasal Verbs
ˌchase somebody/somethingaˈway, ˈoff, ˈout, etc.
to force somebody/something to run away Chase the cat out—we don't want her in the kitchen.
This particular fish chases off any other fish that enters its territory.

ˌchase somebodyˈup
to contact somebody in order to remind them to do something that they should have done already
We need to chase up all members who have not yet paid.

ˌchase somethingˈup (British English)

(North American English ˌchase somethingˈdown)
to find something that is needed; to deal with something that has been forgotten My job was to
chase up late replies.

chase noun
BrE /tʃeɪs/ ; NAmE /tʃeɪs/
running/driving after
1 [countable] (often used with the) an act of running or driving after somebody/something 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 somebody)
The chase is on!

for success/money/work
2 [singular] a process of trying hard to get something Three teams are involved in the chase for
the championship.
the title chase

in sport
3 the chase [singular] hunting animals as a sport She enjoyed the thrill of the chase.
4 [countable]
= steeplechase
SEE ALSO wild goose chase

Idioms
cut to the ˈchase
(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 ˈchase
to run after somebody/something in order to catch them We gave chase along the footpath.

check·out noun
BrE /ˈtʃekaʊt/ ; NAmE /ˈtʃekaʊt/
1 [countable] the place where you pay for the things that you are buying in a supermarket a
checkout assistant/operator
long queues at the checkouts
You can’t just go through the checkout without paying!

2 [uncountable] 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.

3 [uncountable] part of the process of online shopping in which the customer enters delivery
information and pays for the item You may choose to pay for your order online using our secure
checkout.
Proceed to checkout.

cheery adjective
BrE /ˈtʃɪəri/ ; NAmE /ˈtʃɪri/
(cheer·ier, cheeri·est) (informal)
(of a person or their behaviour) happy and cheerful a cheery remark/smile/wave
He left with a cheery ‘See you again soon’.
The telephonist at the other end was cheery and casual.

chore noun
BrE /tʃɔː(r)/ ; NAmE /tʃɔːr/
1 a task that you do regularly doing the household/domestic chores
2 an unpleasant or boring task Shopping's a real chore for me.

chop verb
BrE /tʃɒp/ ; NAmE /tʃɑːp/

1 to cut something into pieces with a sharp tool such as a knife chop something He was
chopping logs for firewood.
Add the finely chopped onions.
chop something (up) (into something) Chop the carrots up into small pieces.
(figurative) The country was chopped up into small administrative areas.

2 [usually passive] chop something (from something) (to something) (informal) to reduce
something by a large amount; to stop something
SYNONYM cut
The share price was chopped from 50 pence to 20 pence.

3 chop somebody/something to hit somebody/something with a short downward stroke or blow

Idioms
ˌchop and ˈchange
(British English, informal) to keep changing your mind or what you are doing
Phrasal Verbs
ˈchop (away) at something
to aim blows at something with a heavy sharp tool such as an axe
ˌchop somethingˈdown
to make something, such as a tree, fall by cutting it at the base with a sharp tool
ˌchop somethingˈoff (something)
to remove something by cutting it with a sharp tool He chopped a branch off the tree.
(informal) Anne Boleyn had her head chopped off.

chunk noun
BrE /tʃʌŋk/ ; NAmE /tʃʌŋk/
1 a thick solid piece that has been cut or broken off something a chunk of cheese/masonry

2 (informal) a fairly large amount of something 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 somebody who is
learning a language. Examples of chunks are ‘Can I have the bill, please?’ and ‘Pleased to meet
you’.

Idioms
blow ˈchunks
(North American English, slang) to vomit

cite verb
BrE /saɪt/ ; NAmE /saɪt/
(formal)

1 cite something (as something) to mention something 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.

2 cite something to speak or write the exact words from a book, an author, etc.
SYNONYM quote
She cited a passage from the President’s speech.

3 cite somebody (for something) (law) to order somebody to appear in court; to name
somebody officially in a legal case He was cited for contempt of court.
She was cited in the divorce proceedings.

4 cite somebody (for something) to mention somebody officially or publicly because they
deserve special praise He was cited for bravery.

claim verb
BrE /kleɪm/ ; NAmE /kleɪm/

say something is true

1 [transitive] to say that something is true although it has not been proved and other people may
not believe it claim (that)… He claims (that) he was not given a fair hearing.
claim (somebody/something) to be/do something I don't claim to be an expert.
claim something Scientists are claiming a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer.
it is claimed that… It was claimed that some doctors were working 80 hours a week.

demand legal right

2 [transitive] claim something to demand or ask for something 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 [transitive, intransitive] to ask for money from the government or a company because you
have a right to it claim something He's not entitled to claim unemployment benefit.
claim something from something 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.
claim (on something) (for something) You can claim on your insurance for that coat you left on
the train.
attention/thought
4 [transitive] claim something to get or take somebody’s attention A most unwelcome event
claimed his attention.

gain/win
5 [transitive] claim something to gain, win or achieve something She has finally claimed a place
on the team.

cause death
6 [transitive] claim something (of a disaster, an accident, etc.) to cause somebody’s death The
car crash claimed three lives.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌclaim somethingˈback
to ask or demand to have something returned because you have a right to it You can claim back
the tax on your purchases.

claim noun
BrE /kleɪm/ ; NAmE /kleɪm/
saying something is true
1 [countable] claim (that…) a statement that something 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 [countable, uncountable] claim (on/to something) a right that somebody believes they have to
something, 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 [countable] claim (for something) 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).

Idioms
ˌclaim to ˈfame
(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 somebody

to have the right to demand time, attention, etc. from somebody You have no claim on me any
more.

lay claim to something

to state that you have a right to own something He laid claim to the property.

make no claim
used when you are saying that you cannot do something I make no claim to understand modern
art.

stake (out) a/your ˈclaim (to/for/on something)

to say or show publicly that you think something should be yours Adams staked his claim for a
place in the Olympic team with his easy win yesterday.

clammy adjective
BrE /ˈklæmi/ ; NAmE /ˈklæmi/
(clam·mier, clam·mi·est)
damp in an unpleasant way His skin felt cold and clammy.
clammy hands

clasp verb
BrE /klɑːsp/ ; NAmE /klæsp/

1 clasp something to hold something 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.

2 clasp somebody/something to hold somebody/something 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 clasp something (+ adverb/preposition) to fasten something with a clasp She clasped the
bracelet around her wrist.

clasp noun
BrE /klɑːsp/ ; NAmE /klæsp/
1 [countable] a device that fastens something, such as a bag or the ends of a belt or a piece of
jewellery the clasp of a necklace/handbag
He tried to undo the clasp on the briefcase, but it was stuck.

2 [singular] a tight hold with your hand or in your arms He took her hand in his firm warm clasp.

clear verb
BrE /klɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /klɪr/

remove something/somebody
1 [transitive] to remove something that is not wanted or needed from a place clear something I
had cleared my desk before I left.
It was several hours before the road was cleared after the accident.
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.
clear A (of B) I cleared my desk of papers.
The streets had been cleared of snow.
clear B (from/off A) Clear all those papers off the desk.
The remains of the snow had been cleared from the streets.

SEE ALSO clear away

2 [transitive] clear something to make people leave a place After the bomb warning, police
cleared the streets.

not be blocked
3 [intransitive] 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 liquid
4 [intransitive] when a liquid clears, it becomes transparent and you can see through it The
muddy water slowly cleared.

of smoke, etc.
5 [intransitive] clear (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.

of sky/weather
6 [intransitive] 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.

your head/mind
7 [intransitive, transitive] 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 As her mind cleared, she remembered what had happened.
clear something I went for a walk to clear my head.

of face/expression
8 [intransitive] if your face or expression clears, you stop looking angry or worried
prove somebody innocent
9 [transitive] clear somebody (of something) to prove that somebody 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 [transitive] to give or get official approval for something to be done clear something His
appointment had been cleared by the board.
clear something with somebody/something I'll have to clear it with the manager.

11 [transitive] clear something 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 [transitive] clear somebody to decide officially, after finding out information about
somebody, that they can be given special work or allowed to see secret papers She hasn't been
cleared by security.

money
13 [intransitive, transitive] clear (something) if a payment that is made into your bank account
clears, or a bank clears it, the money is available for you to use Cheques usually take three
working days to clear.

14 [transitive] clear something to gain or earn a sum of money as profit She cleared £1 000 on
the deal.

15 [transitive] clear something if you clear a debt or a loan, you pay all the money back
get over/past
16 [transitive] clear something to jump over or get past something without touching it The horse
cleared the fence easily.
The car only just cleared (= avoided hitting) the gatepost.

in sport
17 [transitive, intransitive] clear (something) (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

Idioms
blow/clear the ˈcobwebs away
to help somebody start something in a fresh, lively state of mind A brisk walk should blow the
cobwebs away.

clear the ˈair

to improve a difficult or tense situation by talking about worries, doubts, etc.
clear the ˈdecks
(informal) to prepare for an activity, event, etc. by removing anything that is not essential to it
clear your ˈthroat
to cough so that you can speak clearly
clear the way (for something/for something to happen)
to remove things that are stopping the progress or movement of something The ruling could
clear the way for extradition proceedings.

the ˌcoast is ˈclear

(informal) there is no danger of being seen or caught As soon as the coast was clear he climbed
in through the window.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌclear aˈway | ˌclear somethingaˈway
to remove something 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.

ˌclear ˈoff
(informal) to go or run away He cleared off when he heard the police siren.
You've no right to be here. Clear off!

ˌclear ˈout (of…)

(informal) to leave a place quickly He cleared out with all the money and left her with the kids.

ˌclear ˈout | ˌclear somethingˈout

to make something 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

ˌclear ˈup
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?

ˌclear ˈup | ˌclear somethingˈup

to make something clean and neat It's time to clear up.
I'm fed up with clearing up after you!
Clear up your own mess!
 ˌclear somethingˈup
to solve or explain something to clear up a mystery/difficulty/misunderstanding

clem·ency noun
BrE /ˈklemənsi/ ; NAmE /ˈklemənsi/
[uncountable] (formal)
kindness shown to somebody when they are being punished; willingness not to punish somebody
so severely
SYNONYM mercy
a plea for clemency
He was executed by firing squad despite widespread pleas for clemency.
His lawyers appealed for clemency on the grounds of ill health.

clench verb
BrE /klentʃ/ ; NAmE /klentʃ/

1 [transitive, intransitive] clench (something) 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 He clenched his fists in anger.
Through clenched teeth she told him to leave.
His jaw was clenched tight.
His fists clenched slowly until his knuckles were white.

2 [transitive] clench something (in/between something) to hold something tightly and firmly
Her pen was clenched between her teeth.
She had a gun clenched tightly in her hand.

clue noun
BrE /kluː/ ; NAmE /kluː/
1 clue (to something) 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 clue (to something) 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.’
Idioms
not have a ˈclue (informal)
1 to know nothing about something or about how to do something I don't have a clue where she
lives.

2 (disapproving) to be very stupid Don't ask him to do it—he doesn't have a clue!

clue verb
BrE /kluː/ ; NAmE /kluː/

Phrasal Verbs
ˌclue somebody ˈin (on something)
(informal) to give somebody the most recent information about something He's just clued me in
on the latest developments.

clumsy adjective
BrE /ˈklʌmzi/ ; NAmE /ˈklʌmzi/
(clum·sier, clum·si·est)
1 (of people and animals) moving or doing things in a very awkward way I spilt your coffee.
Sorry—that 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.

coal noun
BrE /kəʊl/ ; NAmE /koʊl/
1 [uncountable] 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 [countable] a piece of coal, especially one that is burning A hot coal fell out of the fire and
burnt the carpet.

Idioms
carry, take, etc. coals to ˈNewcastle
(British English) to take goods to a place where there are already plenty of them; to supply
something where it is not needed
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the north of England, was once an important coal-mining centre.
haul somebody over the ˈcoals (British English)
(North American English rake somebody over the ˈcoals)
to criticize somebody severely because they have done something wrong I was hauled over the
coals by my boss for being late.

rake somebody over the ˈcoals (North American English)

(British English haul somebody over the ˈcoals)
to criticize somebody severely because they have done something wrong

cock·pit noun
BrE /ˈkɒkpɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːkpɪt/
the area in a plane, boat or racing car where the pilot or driver sits

a strict code of conduct

5 [countable] a system of laws or written rules that state how people in an institution or a country
should behave the penal code

SEE ALSO dress code, Highway Code

co·hort noun
BrE /ˈkəʊhɔːt/ ; NAmE /ˈkoʊhɔːrt/
[countable + singular or plural verb]
1 (specialist) 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.
The director made his entrance followed by his cohort of technicians and production assistants.

co·in·ci·dent adjective
BrE /kəʊˈɪnsɪdənt/ ; NAmE /koʊˈɪnsɪdənt/
coincident (with something) (formal) happening in the same place or at the same time

co·in·ci·dent·al adjective
BrE /kəʊˌɪnsɪˈdentl/ ; NAmE /koʊˌɪnsɪˈdentl/
[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.

col·os·sal adjective
BrE /kəˈlɒsl/ ; NAmE /kəˈlɑːsl/
extremely large a colossal statue
The singer earns a colossal amount of money.
The variety of wines available is colossal.
They have spent a colossal amount of money on construction.

com·bat verb
BrE /ˈkɒmbæt/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːmbæt/

1 combat something to stop something unpleasant or harmful from happening or from getting
worse measures to combat crime/inflation/unemployment/disease

2 combat somebody (formal) to fight against an enemy

com·mem·or·ation noun
BrE /kəˌmeməˈreɪʃn/ ; NAmE /kəˌmeməˈreɪʃn/
[uncountable, countable]
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.
a statue in commemoration of the founder of the nation/of the soldiers’ sacrifice

com·mem·or·ate verb
BrE /kəˈmeməreɪt/ ; NAmE /kəˈmeməreɪt/

commemorate something/somebody 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.
com·men·tate verb
BrE /ˈkɒmənteɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːmənteɪt/

[intransitive] commentate (on something) to give a spoken description of an event as it

happens, especially on television or radio Who will be commentating on the game?

com·men·ta·tor noun
BrE /ˈkɒmənteɪtə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːmənteɪtər/
commentator (on something)
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

com·mis·sion noun
BrE /kəˈmɪʃn/ ; NAmE /kəˈmɪʃn/
official group
1 (also Commission) [countable] an official group of people who have been given responsibility
to control something, or to find out about something, usually for the government the European
Commission
(British English) The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at
the prison.
a commission on human rights

money
2 [uncountable, countable] an amount of money that is paid to somebody 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 [uncountable] 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 [countable] a formal request to somebody 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 [countable] an officer’s position in the armed forces He resigned his commission when he got
married.

of crime
6 [uncountable] (formal) the act of doing something wrong or illegal the commission of a crime

Idioms
in/out of comˈmission
available/not available to be used Several of the airline's planes are temporarily out of
commission and undergoing safety checks.

com·mis·sion verb
BrE /kəˈmɪʃn/ ; NAmE /kəˈmɪʃn/

piece of art/music, etc.

1 to officially ask somebody to write, make or create something or to do a task for you
commission somebody to do something She has been commissioned to write a new national
anthem.
commission something 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] to choose somebody as an officer in one of the armed forces commission
somebody She was commissioned in 2014.
commission somebody (as) something He has just been commissioned (as a) pilot officer.

com·mit·ment noun
BrE /kəˈmɪtmənt/ ; NAmE /kəˈmɪtmənt/
1 [countable, uncountable] a promise to do something or to behave in a particular way; a
promise to support somebody/something; the fact of committing yourself commitment (to
somebody/something) She doesn't want to make a big emotional commitment to Steve at the
moment.
the government’s commitment to public services
commitment to do/doing something The company's commitment to providing quality at a
reasonable price has been vital to its success.
2 [uncountable] commitment (to somebody/something) 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 [countable] 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 [uncountable, countable] commitment (of something) (to something) agreeing to use money,
time or people in order to achieve something the commitment of resources to education
Achieving success at this level requires a commitment of time and energy.

com·mit verb
BrE /kəˈmɪt/ ; NAmE /kəˈmɪt/

crime
1 [transitive] commit a crime, etc. to do something wrong or illegal to commit murder/adultery
Most crimes are committed by young men.
appalling crimes committed against innocent children

suicide
2 [transitive] commit suicide to kill yourself deliberately
promise/say definitely
3 [transitive, often passive] to promise sincerely that you will definitely do something, keep to
an agreement or arrangement, etc commit somebody/yourself (to something/to doing something)
The President is committed to reforming health care.
Borrowers should think carefully before committing themselves to taking out a loan.
commit somebody/yourself to do something Both sides committed themselves to settle the
dispute peacefully.

4 [transitive] commit yourself (to something) 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 [intransitive] commit (to somebody/something) 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 [transitive] commit something to spend money or time on something/somebody The council
has committed large amounts of money to housing projects.

to hospital/prison
7 [transitive, often passive] commit somebody to something to order somebody to be sent to a
hospital, prison, etc She was committed to a psychiatric hospital.

somebody for trial

8 [transitive] commit somebody to send somebody for trial in court
something to memory
9 [transitive] commit something to memory to learn something well enough to remember it
exactly She committed the instructions to memory.

something to paper/writing
10 [transitive] commit something to paper/writing to write something down

com·mon·place adjective
BrE /ˈkɒmənpleɪs/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
done very often, or existing in many places, and therefore not unusual Computers are now
commonplace in primary classrooms.

com·mon·place noun
BrE /ˈkɒmənpleɪs/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
(formal)
1 [usually singular] 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.

com·pan·ion noun
BrE /kəmˈpæniən/ ; NAmE /kəmˈpæniən/
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 somebody, especially somebody
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 Literature

SEE ALSO boon companion

com·pas·sion noun
BrE /kəmˈpæʃn/ ; NAmE /kəmˈpæʃn/
[uncountable] compassion (for somebody) 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.

com·pel verb
BrE /kəmˈpel/ ; NAmE /kəmˈpel/
(formal)

1 to force somebody to do something; to make something necessary compel somebody to do

something 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.
The court has powers to compel witnesses to attend.
compel something Last year ill health compelled his retirement.

2 compel something (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

com·pel·ling adjective
BrE /kəmˈpelɪŋ/ ; NAmE /kəmˈpelɪŋ/
1 that makes you pay attention to it because it is so interesting and exciting Her latest book
makes compelling reading.

2 so strong that you must do something about it a compelling need/desire

3 that makes you think it is true There is no compelling reason to believe him.
compelling evidence

com·pla·cency noun
BrE /kəmˈpleɪsnsi/ ; NAmE /kəmˈpleɪsnsi/
[uncountable] (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.
His early success as a writer led to complacency and arrogance.

com·prise verb
BrE /kəmˈpraɪz/ ; NAmE /kəmˈpraɪz/
(not used in the progressive tenses) (formal)

1 (also be comprised of) comprise something to have somebody/something as parts or

members
SYNONYM consist of
The collection comprises 327 paintings.
The committee is comprised of representatives from both the public and private sectors.

2 comprise something to be the parts or members that form something

SYNONYM make up
Older people comprise a large proportion of those living in poverty.

com·prom·ise verb
BrE /ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪz/

1 [intransitive] to give up some of your demands after a disagreement with somebody, in order to
reach an agreement Neither side is prepared to compromise.
compromise (with somebody) (on something) 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 terrorists.

2 [transitive, intransitive] to do something that is against your principles or does not reach
standards that you have set compromise something I refuse to compromise my principles.
compromise (on something) We are not prepared to compromise on safety standards.
3 [transitive] compromise somebody/something/yourself to bring
somebody/something/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.

com·pul·sion noun
BrE /kəmˈpʌlʃn/ ; NAmE /kəmˈpʌlʃn/
1 [uncountable, countable] (formal) strong pressure that makes somebody do something that they
do not want to do compulsion (to do something) You are under no compulsion to pay
immediately.
compulsion (on somebody) to do something There are no compulsions on students to attend
classes.
The legal system is based on compulsion.

2 [countable] compulsion (to do something) a strong desire to do something, especially

something that is wrong, silly or dangerous
SYNONYM urge
He felt a great compulsion to tell her everything.
Obsessions and compulsions often develop in people who live stressful lives.

SEE ALSO compel

con·ceal verb
BrE /kənˈsiːl/ ; NAmE /kənˈsiːl/
(formal)

to hide somebody/something conceal somebody/something The paintings were concealed

beneath a thick layer of plaster.
Tim could barely conceal his disappointment.
She sat down to conceal the fact that she was trembling.
conceal somebody/something from somebody/something For a long time his death was
concealed from her.

SEE ALSO ill-concealed

con·ceal·ment noun
BrE /kənˈsiːlmənt/ ; NAmE /kənˈsiːlmənt/
[uncountable] (formal)
the act of hiding something; the state of being hidden the concealment of crime
Many animals rely on concealment for protection.
con·cede verb
BrE /kənˈsiːd/ ; NAmE /kənˈsiːd/

1 [transitive] to admit that something is true, logical, etc + speech ‘Not bad,’ she conceded
grudgingly.
concede (that)… He was forced to concede (that) there might be difficulties.
concede something I had to concede the logic of this.
concede something to somebody He reluctantly conceded the point to me.
concede somebody something He reluctantly conceded me the point.
it is conceded that… It must be conceded that different judges have different approaches to
these cases.

2 [transitive] to give something away, especially unwillingly; to allow somebody to have

something concede something (to somebody) The President was obliged to concede power to the
army.
England conceded a goal immediately after half-time.
concede somebody something Women were only conceded full voting rights in the 1950s.

3 [intransitive, transitive] concede (defeat) to admit that you have lost a game, an election, etc
After losing this decisive battle, the general was forced to concede.
Injury forced Hicks to concede defeat.

SEE ALSO concession

con·ces·sion noun
BrE /kənˈseʃn/ ; NAmE /kənˈseʃn/
1 [countable, uncountable] something that you allow or do, or allow somebody 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 somebody
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 [uncountable] the act of giving something or allowing something; the act of conceding the
concession of university status to some colleges
(especially North American English) McCain’s concession speech (= when he admitted that he
had lost the election)

3 [countable, usually plural] (British English) 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 [countable] 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 [countable] the right to sell something 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.

con·ceit·ed adjective
BrE /kənˈsiːtɪd/ ; NAmE /kənˈsiːtɪd/
(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.

con·ceit noun
BrE /kənˈsiːt/ ; NAmE /kənˈsiːt/
1 [uncountable] (disapproving) too much pride in yourself and what you do I can say without
conceit that I have talent.

2 [countable] (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 (specialist) a clever expression in writing or speech that involves a comparison between two
things
SYNONYM metaphor
The idea of the wind singing is a romantic conceit.

ar·ro·gant adjective
BrE /ˈærəɡənt/ ; NAmE /ˈærəɡənt/
behaving in a proud, unpleasant way, showing little thought for other people

con·ceive verb
BrE /kənˈsiːv/ ; NAmE /kənˈsiːv/

1 [transitive] (formal) to form an idea, a plan, etc. in your mind; to imagine something conceive
something He conceived the idea of transforming the old power station into an arts centre.
conceive of something (as something) God is often conceived of as male.
conceive (that)… I cannot conceive (= I do not believe) (that) he would wish to harm us.
conceive what/how, etc… I cannot conceive what it must be like.

2 [intransitive, transitive] when a woman conceives or conceives a child, she becomes pregnant
She is unable to conceive.
conceive somebody` Their first child was conceived on their wedding night.

SEE ALSO conception

con·cep·tual adjective
BrE /kənˈseptʃuəl/ ; NAmE /kənˈseptʃuəl/
(formal)
related to or based on ideas a conceptual framework within which children’s needs are assessed
a conceptual model

con·ces·sion noun
BrE /kənˈseʃn/ ; NAmE /kənˈseʃn/
1 [countable, uncountable] something that you allow or do, or allow somebody 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 somebody
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 [uncountable] the act of giving something or allowing something; the act of conceding the
concession of university status to some colleges
(especially North American English) McCain’s concession speech (= when he admitted that he
had lost the election)

3 [countable, usually plural] (British English) 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 [countable] 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 [countable] the right to sell something 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.

con·crete adjective
BrE /ˈkɒŋkriːt/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːŋkriːt/
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
3 a concrete object is one that you can see and feel

con·crete verb
BrE /ˈkɒŋkriːt/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːŋkriːt/

+ VERB FORMS

concrete something (over) to cover something with concrete The garden had been concreted
over.

con·demn verb
BrE /kənˈdem/ ; NAmE /kənˈdem/

express disapproval
1 condemn somebody/something (for/as something) to express very strong disapproval of
somebody/something, usually for moral reasons The government issued a statement condemning
the killings.
The editor of the newspaper was condemned as lacking integrity.

somebody to punishment
2 [usually passive] to say what somebody’s punishment will be
SYNONYM sentence
condemn somebody (to something) He was condemned to death for murder and later hanged.
condemn somebody to do something She was condemned to hang for killing her husband.
somebody to difficult situation
3 [usually passive] condemn somebody to something to force somebody to accept a difficult or
unpleasant situation
SYNONYM doom
He was condemned to a life of hardship.
They were condemned to spend every holiday on a rainy campsite.

something dangerous
4 [usually passive] condemn something (as something) to say officially that something is not
safe enough to be used a condemned building
The meat was condemned as unfit to eat.

show guilt
5 condemn somebody to show or suggest that somebody is guilty of something She is
condemned out of her own mouth (= her own words show that she is guilty).

con·duct verb
BrE /kənˈdʌkt/ ; NAmE /kənˈdʌkt/

+ VERB FORMS

1 [transitive] conduct something (formal) 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 [transitive, intransitive] conduct (something) to direct a group of people who are singing or
playing music a concert by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Marin Alsop

3 [transitive] conduct somebody/something + adverb/preposition (formal) to lead or guide

somebody 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 [transitive] conduct yourself + adverb/preposition (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 [transitive] conduct something (specialist) (of a substance) to allow heat or electricity to pass
along or through it Copper conducts electricity well.

con·duct noun
BrE /ˈkɒndʌkt/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːndʌkt/
 [uncountable] (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 conduct of something 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

con·fer verb
BrE /kənˈfɜː(r)/ ; NAmE /kənˈfɜːr/
(formal)

1 [intransitive] confer (with somebody) (on/about something) to discuss something with

somebody, in order to exchange opinions or get advice He wanted to confer with his colleagues
before reaching a decision.

2 [transitive] confer something (on/upon somebody) to give somebody an award, a university

degree or a particular honour or right An honorary degree was conferred on him by Oxford
University in 2009.

con·found verb
BrE /kənˈfaʊnd/ ; NAmE /kənˈfaʊnd/
(formal)

1 confound somebody to confuse and surprise somebody

SYNONYM baffle
The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists.

2 confound somebody/something to prove somebody/something wrong to confound

expectations
She confounded her critics and proved she could do the job.
The rise in share prices confounded expectations.

3 confound somebody (old-fashioned) to defeat an enemy

Idioms
conˈfound it/you!
(old-fashioned) used to show that you are angry about something/with somebody

con·front verb
BrE /kənˈfrʌnt/ ; NAmE /kənˈfrʌnt/

1 confront somebody/something (of problems or a difficult situation) to appear and need to be

dealt with by somebody the economic problems confronting the country
The government found itself confronted by massive opposition.

2 confront something to deal with a problem or difficult situation

SYNONYM face up to
She knew that she had to confront her fears.

3 confront somebody to face somebody 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 confront somebody with somebody/something to make somebody 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 something to have something in front of you that you have to deal with or
react to Most people when confronted with a horse will pat it.

con·fron·ta·tion·al adjective
BrE /ˌkɒnfrʌnˈteɪʃnl/ ; NAmE /ˌkɑːnfrənfrʌnˈteɪʃnl/
tending to deal with people in an aggressive way that is likely to cause arguments, rather than
discussing things with them

con·quer verb
BrE /ˈkɒŋkə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːŋkər/
1 conquer somebody/something 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 conquer somebody to defeat somebody, especially in a competition, race, etc The world
champion conquered yet another challenger last night.

3 conquer something to succeed in dealing with or controlling something The only way to
conquer a fear is to face it.
Mount Everest was conquered (= successfully climbed) in 1953.

4 conquer something to become very popular or successful in a place The band is now setting
out to conquer the world.

con·science noun
BrE /ˈkɒnʃəns/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːnʃəns/
1 [countable, uncountable] 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 [uncountable, countable] a guilty feeling about something you have done or failed to do She
was seized by a sudden pang of conscience.
I have a terrible conscience about it.

3 [uncountable] 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

Idioms
in (all/good) conscience
(formal) believing your actions to be fair
SYNONYM honestly
We cannot in all conscience refuse to help.

on your ˈconscience
making you feel guilty for doing or failing to do something 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.

prick your ˈconscience, your ˈconscience pricks you

to make you feel guilty about something; to feel guilty about something Her conscience pricked
her as she lied to her sister.

con·scien·tious adjective
BrE /ˌkɒnʃiˈenʃəs/ ; NAmE /ˌkɑːnʃiˈenʃəs/
taking care to do things carefully and correctly a conscientious student/teacher/worker
He was thorough and conscientious, rather than brilliant.
She was a popular and conscientious teacher.

con·scien·tious·ness noun
BrE /ˌkɒnʃiˈenʃəsnəs/ ; NAmE /ˌkɑːnʃiˈenʃəsnəs/
[uncountable]
the quality of doing things carefully and correctly They were impressed by the professionalism
and conscientiousness of the staff.

con·sen·sus noun
BrE /kənˈsensəs/ ; NAmE /kənˈsensəs/
[singular, uncountable]
an opinion that all members of a group agree with consensus (about/on something) She is
skilled at achieving consensus on sensitive issues.
There is a growing consensus of opinion on this issue.
an attempt to reach a consensus
There now exists a broad political consensus in favour of economic reform.
consensus politics (= which people in general agree with)
consensus (among somebody) (about/on something) There is a general consensus among
teachers about the need for greater security in schools.
consensus (that…) There seems to be a consensus that the plan should be rejected.

con·sid·er·ate adjective
BrE /kənˈsɪdərət/ ; NAmE /kənˈsɪdərət/
always thinking of other people’s wishes and feelings; careful not to hurt or upset others
SYNONYM thoughtful
She is always polite and considerate towards her employees.
It was very considerate of him to wait.
Louis was a kind, caring and considerate young man.
Try to be a bit more considerate.

OPPOSITE inconsiderate

con·sole1 verb
BrE /kənˈsəʊl/ ; NAmE /kənˈsoʊl/

to give comfort or sympathy to somebody who is unhappy or disappointed

SYNONYM comfort
console somebody/yourself Nothing could console him when his wife died.
She put a consoling arm around his shoulders.
console somebody/yourself with something Console yourself with the thought that you did your
best.
console somebody/yourself that… I didn't like lying but I consoled myself that it was for a good
cause.
console somebody + speech ‘Never mind,’ Anne consoled her.

con·sole2 noun
BrE /ˈkɒnsəʊl/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːnsoʊl/
1 a flat surface which contains all the controls and switches for a machine, a piece of electronic
equipment, etc.
2 (also ˈgames console) a small electronic device for playing video games

con·spicu·ous adjective
BrE /kənˈspɪkjuəs/ ; NAmE /kənˈspɪkjuəs/
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.

OPPOSITE inconspicuous

Idioms
conˌspicuous by your ˈabsence
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.
con·tem·por·ary adjective
BrE /kənˈtemprəri/ ; NAmE /kənˈtempəreri/
1 contemporary (with somebody/something) 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

SYNONYM modern
life in contemporary Britain
contemporary fiction/music/dance

con·tend verb
BrE /kənˈtend/ ; NAmE /kənˈtend/

1 [transitive] contend that… (formal) to say that something is true, especially in an argument
SYNONYM maintain
I would contend that the minister's thinking is flawed on this point.

2 [intransitive] contend (for something) to compete against somebody in order to gain

something Three armed groups were contending for power.

Phrasal Verbs
conˈtend with something/somebody
to have to deal with a problem or with a difficult situation or person Nurses often have to contend
with violent or drunken patients.

con·ten·tious adjective
BrE /kənˈtenʃəs/ ; NAmE /kənˈtenʃəs/
(formal)
1 likely to cause disagreement between people a contentious issue/topic/subject
Both views are highly contentious.
Try to avoid any contentious wording.
The government’s treatment of refugees remains a highly contentious issue.

OPPOSITE uncontentious
2 liking to argue; involving a lot of arguing a contentious meeting
con·ten·tion noun
BrE /kənˈtenʃn/ ; NAmE /kənˈtenʃn/
(formal)
1 [uncountable] angry disagreement between people
SYNONYM dispute
One area of contention is the availability of nursery care.
a point of contention

2 [countable] contention (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.

Idioms
a bone of conˈtention
a subject which causes disagreement and arguments between people
in conˈtention (for something)
with a chance of winning something Only three teams are now in contention for the title.

out of conˈtention (for something)

without a chance of winning something

con·test noun
BrE /ˈkɒntest/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːntest/
1 a competition in which people try to win something a singing contest
a talent contest
to enter/win/lose a contest

SEE ALSO beauty contest

2 contest (for something) a struggle to gain control or power a contest for the leadership of the
party

Idioms
be ˌno ˈcontest
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

con·tract verb
BrE /kənˈtrækt/ ; NAmE /kənˈtrækt/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to become less or smaller; to make something become less or smaller
Glass contracts as it cools.
 The universe is expanding rather than contracting.
a contracting market
The heart muscles contract to expel the blood.
contract something The exercise consists of stretching and contracting the leg muscles.
contract something to something ‘I will’ and ‘I shall’ are usually contracted to ‘I'll’ (= made
shorter).

OPPOSITE expand
2 [transitive] contract something (formal or medical) to get an illness to contract AIDS/a virus/a
disease

3 [transitive] to make a legal agreement with somebody for them to work for you or provide you
with a service contract somebody to do something The player is contracted to play until August.
contract somebody (to something) Several computer engineers have been contracted to the
finance department.

4 [intransitive] contract to do something to make a legal agreement to work for somebody or

provide them with a service She has contracted to work 20 hours a week.

5 [transitive] contract a marriage/an alliance (with somebody) (formal) to formally agree to

marry somebody/form an alliance with somebody

Phrasal Verbs
conˌtract ˈin (to something)
(British English) to formally agree that you will take part in something
conˌtract ˈout (of something)
(British English) to formally agree that you will not take part in something Many employees
contracted out of the pension plan.

conˌtract somethingˈout (to somebody)

to arrange for work to be done by another company rather than your own

con·tra·dict·ory adjective
BrE /ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktəri/ ; NAmE /ˌkɑːntrəˈdɪktəri/
containing or showing a contradiction
SYNONYM conflicting
We are faced with two apparently contradictory statements.
The advice I received was often contradictory.

con·ven·tion noun
BrE /kənˈvenʃn/ ; NAmE /kənˈvenʃn/
1 [countable, uncountable] the way in which something 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 [countable] a large meeting of the members of a profession, a political party, etc.

SYNONYM conference
to hold a convention
the Democratic Party Convention (= to elect a candidate for president)

3 [countable] an official agreement between countries or leaders the Geneva convention

the United Nations convention on the rights of the child

4 [countable, uncountable] a traditional method or style in literature, art or the theatre the
conventions of Greek tragedy

con·vey verb
BrE /kənˈveɪ/ ; NAmE /kənˈveɪ/

1 to make ideas, feelings, etc. known to somebody

SYNONYM communicate
convey something Colours like red convey a sense of energy and strength.
convey something to somebody (formal) Please convey my apologies to your wife.
convey how, what, etc… He tried desperately to convey how urgent the situation was.
convey that… She did not wish to convey that they were all at fault.

2 convey somebody/something (from…) (to…) (formal) to take, carry or transport

somebody/something from one place to another Pipes convey hot water from the boiler to the
radiators.
A carriage was waiting to convey her home.

con·vey·ance noun
BrE /kənˈveɪəns/ ; NAmE /kənˈveɪəns/
1 [uncountable] (formal) the process of taking somebody/something from one place to another
the conveyance of goods by rail

2 [countable] (formal) a vehicle horse-drawn conveyances

3 [countable] (law) a legal document that moves property from one owner to another to draw up
a conveyance

con·vict verb

BrE /kənˈvɪkt/ ; NAmE /kənˈvɪkt/ [often passive] convict somebody (of something) to decide
and state officially in court that somebody is guilty of a crime a convicted murderer
He was convicted of fraud.
There wasn’t enough evidence to convict her.

OPPOSITE acquit

con·vict noun
BrE /ˈkɒnvɪkt/ ; NAmE /ˈkɑːnvɪkt/ (informal con) a person who has been found guilty of a
crime and sent to prison an escaped convict
The novel begins with Pip’s meeting with an escaped convict from the prison ship.

con·vic·tion noun
BrE /kənˈvɪkʃn/ ; NAmE /kənˈvɪkʃn/
1 [countable, uncountable] conviction (for something) the act of finding somebody 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

OPPOSITE acquittal

2 [countable, uncountable] conviction (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 [uncountable] the feeling or appearance of believing something 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.

Idioms
have/lack the courage of your conˈvictions
to be/not be brave enough to do what you feel to be right

con·vivi·al·ity noun
BrE /kənˌvɪviˈæləti/ ; NAmE /kənˌvɪviˈæləti/
[uncountable]
the quality of being cheerful and friendly in atmosphere or character
SYNONYM sociability

con·viv·ial adjective
BrE /kənˈvɪviəl/ ; NAmE /kənˈvɪviəl/
cheerful and friendly in atmosphere or character
SYNONYM sociable
a convivial evening/atmosphere
convivial company
Alan was convivial, affable and engaging.
We passed a convivial evening at the McCabes’ house.

cope verb
BrE /kəʊp/ ; NAmE /koʊp/

[intransitive] to deal successfully with something difficult

SYNONYM manage
I got to the stage where I wasn't coping any more.
cope with something He wasn't able to cope with the stresses and strains of the job.
Desert plants are adapted to cope with extreme heat.

cor·dial adjective
BrE /ˈkɔːdiəl/ ; NAmE /ˈkɔːrdʒəl/
(formal) pleasant and friendly a cordial atmosphere/meeting/relationship
The government wisely maintained cordial relations with the Russians.
The talks took place in a cordial atmosphere.

cor·dial noun
BrE /ˈkɔːdiəl/ ; NAmE /ˈkɔːrdʒəl/
1 (British English) [uncountable, countable] a sweet drink that does not contain alcohol, made
from fruit juice. It is drunk with water added blackcurrant cordial

2 [uncountable, countable] (North American English)

= liqueur
3 [countable] a glass of cordial

cor·por·eal adjective
BrE /kɔːˈpɔːriəl/ ; NAmE /kɔːrˈpɔːriəl/
(formal)
1 that can be touched; physical rather than spiritual his corporeal presence

2 of or for the body corporeal needs

coun·ter noun
BrE /ˈkaʊntə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈkaʊntər/
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 (also counter·top) (both North American English) (British English work·top, ˈwork surface)
a flat surface in a kitchen for preparing food on
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 something The needle on the rev
counter soared.
You need to reset the counter.

SEE ALSO Geiger counter

COMPARE bean counter
5 [usually singular] counter (to somebody/something) (formal) a response to
somebody/something that opposes their ideas, position, etc The employers' association was seen
as a counter to union power.

Idioms
over the ˈcounter
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 ˈcounter
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.

coun·ter verb
BrE /ˈkaʊntə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈkaʊntər/

1 [transitive, intransitive] to reply to somebody by trying to prove that what they said is not true
counter somebody/something Such arguments are not easily countered.
counter that… I tried to argue but he countered that the plans were not yet finished.
counter (somebody) + speech ‘But I was standing right here!’ he countered.
counter (somebody/something) with something Butler has countered with a lawsuit against the
firm.

2 [transitive] counter something to do something to reduce or prevent the bad effects of

something
SYNONYM counteract
Businesses would like to see new laws to counter late payments of debts.

coun·ter adverb
BrE /ˈkaʊntə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈkaʊntər/
counter to something in the opposite direction to something; in opposition to something The
government's plans run counter to agreed European policy on this issue.

crack·pot adjective
BrE /ˈkrækpɒt/ ; NAmE /ˈkrækpɑːt/
[only before noun] (informal)
(of ideas, plans, etc.) strange or crazy crackpot ideas/theories

crack·pot noun
BrE /ˈkrækpɒt/ ; NAmE /ˈkrækpɑːt/
(informal)
a person with strange or crazy ideas

crave verb
BrE /kreɪv/ ; NAmE /kreɪv/
1 [transitive, intransitive] crave (for) something crave to do something to have a very strong
desire for something
SYNONYM long for
She has always craved excitement.
to crave alcohol/drugs/sweet food/carbohydrates/cigarettes/coffee

2 [transitive] crave something (British English, old use) to ask for something seriously I must
crave your pardon.

cred·ibil·ity noun
BrE /ˌkredəˈbɪləti/ ; NAmE /ˌkredəˈbɪləti/
[uncountable]
the quality that somebody/something 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

cred·ible adjective
BrE /ˈkredəbl/ ; NAmE /ˈkredəbl/
1 that can be believed or trusted
SYNONYM 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

SYNONYM viable
Community service is seen as the only credible alternative to imprisonment.

crip·ple verb
BrE /ˈkrɪpl/ ; NAmE /ˈkrɪpl/

1 [usually passive] cripple somebody to damage somebody’s body so that they are no longer
able to walk or move normally
SYNONYM disable
He was crippled by polio as a child.
to be crippled with arthritis
2 [usually passive] cripple somebody/something to seriously damage or harm
somebody/something The pilot tried to land his crippled plane.

croak verb
BrE /krəʊk/ ; NAmE /kroʊk/

1 [intransitive] to make a rough low sound, like the sound a frog makes A frog croaked by the
water.

2 [intransitive, transitive] to speak or say something with a rough low voice I had a sore throat
and could only croak.
croak something He managed to croak a greeting.
+ speech ‘I'm fine,’ she croaked.

3 [intransitive] (slang) to die She married a millionaire just about to croak.

croak noun
BrE /krəʊk/ ; NAmE /kroʊk/
a rough low sound made in the throat, like the sound made by a frog

croaky adjective
BrE /ˈkrəʊki/ ; NAmE /ˈkroʊki/
(informal)
(of somebody’s voice) deep and rough, especially because of a sore throat

crop verb
BrE /krɒp/ ; NAmE /krɑːp/

hair
1 [transitive] crop something (+ adjective) to cut somebody’s hair very short closely cropped
hair
His hair had been cropped short and he looked different.

photograph
2 [transitive] crop something (specialist) to cut off part of a photograph or picture
of animals
3 [transitive] crop something to bite off and eat the tops of plants, especially grass The horses
were quietly cropping the grass.

plants
4 [intransitive] (of plants) to produce a crop The potatoes cropped well this year.

5 [transitive] crop something to use land to grow crops The river valley is intensively cropped.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌcrop ˈup
to appear or happen, especially when it is not expected
SYNONYM come up (4)
His name just cropped up in conversation.
I'll be late—something's cropped up at home.

cru·cial adjective
BrE /ˈkruːʃl/ ; NAmE /ˈkruːʃl/
extremely important, because it will affect other things
SYNONYM critical, essential
a crucial factor/issue/decision
topics of crucial importance
The next few weeks are going to be crucial.
crucial to/for something Winning this contract is crucial to the success of the company.
crucial that… 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).

- SYNONYMS

essential
vital crucial critical decisive indispensable
These words all describe somebody/something 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 something 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?
These words have the same meaning but 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 something, or a need to persuade somebody 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?
These words have the same meaning but there can be 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
essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable for something
essential/vital/crucial/critical/indispensable to something
essential/vital/crucial/critical that…
essential/vital/crucial/critical to do something
a(n) essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable part/factor
of vital/crucial/critical/decisive importance
absolutely essential/vital/crucial/critical/decisive/indispensable

crux noun
BrE /krʌks/ ; NAmE /krʌks/
[singular] the crux (of something) the most important or difficult part of a problem or an issue
SYNONYM nub
Now we come to the crux of the matter.
Now we come to the crux of the matter.

cue noun
BrE /kjuː/ ; NAmE /kjuː/
1 an action or event that is a signal for somebody to do something cue (for something) Jon's
arrival was a cue for more champagne.
cue (to do something) 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 something 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

Idioms
(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 ˈcue from somebody/something

to copy what somebody 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.
cue verb
BrE /kjuː/ ; NAmE /kjuː/

cue somebody to give somebody a signal so they know when to start doing something Can you
cue me when you want me to begin speaking?

cul·min·ate verb
BrE /ˈkʌlmɪneɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈkʌlmɪneɪt/

[intransitive] culminate (in/with something) (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.

cul·min·ation noun
BrE /ˌkʌlmɪˈneɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌkʌlmɪˈneɪʃn/
[singular] (formal)
the highest point or end of something, usually happening after a long time The reforms marked
the successful culmination of a long campaign.

cul·prit noun
BrE /ˈkʌlprɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈkʌlprɪt/
1 a person who has done something wrong or against the law The police quickly identified the
real culprits.
Police hunting the culprits have condemned the attack.

2 a person or thing responsible for causing a problem The main culprit in the current crisis seems
to be modern farming techniques.
Keep the kitchen clear of all sources of bacteria, not forgetting the biggest culprit of all—the
dishcloth.
cul·ti·vate verb
BrE /ˈkʌltɪveɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈkʌltɪveɪt/
(formal)
+ VERB FORMS

1 cultivate something to prepare and use land for growing plants or crops The land around here
has never been cultivated.

2 cultivate something to grow plants or crops

SYNONYM grow
The people cultivate mainly rice and beans.

3 cultivate somebody/something (sometimes disapproving) to try to get somebody’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 cultivate something to develop an attitude, a way of talking or behaving, etc She cultivated an
air of sophistication.

cul·ti·va·tion noun
BrE /ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃn/
[uncountable]
1 the preparation and use of land for growing plants or crops fertile land that is under cultivation
(= being cultivated)
rice/wheat, etc. cultivation

SEE ALSO shifting cultivation

2 the deliberate development of a particular relationship, quality or skill the cultivation of a good
relationship with local firms

cul·ti·va·tor noun
BrE /ˈkʌltɪveɪtə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈkʌltɪveɪtər/
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)
curb verb
BrE /kɜːb/ ; NAmE /kɜːrb/

curb something to control or limit something, especially something bad

SYNONYM check
He needs to learn to curb his temper.
A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation.

curb noun
BrE /kɜːb/ ; NAmE /kɜːrb/
1 curb (on something) something that controls and puts limits on something curbs on
government spending
Many companies have imposed curbs on smoking in the workplace.
We are in favour of strict curbs on government spending.

2 (North American English) (British English kerb) the edge of the raised path at the side of a
road, usually made of long pieces of stone The bus mounted the curb (= went onto the sidewalk /
pavement) and hit a tree.

cur·tail verb
BrE /kɜːˈteɪl/ ; NAmE /kɜːrˈteɪl/

curtail something (formal) to limit something 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.

curi·ous adjective
BrE /ˈkjʊəriəs/ ; NAmE /ˈkjʊriəs/
1 curious (about something) curious (to do something) having a strong desire to know about
something
SYNONYM 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 curious (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.
ˈcut-off noun
BrE ; NAmE
1 a point or limit when you stop something Is there a cut-off point between childhood and
adulthood?
Set a cut-off date for work to be finished.

2 the act of stopping the supply of something The government announced a cut-off in overseas
aid.

3 cut-offs [plural] trousers/pants that have been made shorter by cutting off part of the legs
wearing frayed cut-offs

ˈcut-off adjective
BrE ; NAmE
[only before noun] (of trousers/pants) made shorter by cutting off part of the legs cut-off jeans

daunt·ing adjective
BrE /ˈdɔːntɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈdɔːntɪŋ/
making somebody feel nervous and less confident about doing something; likely to make
somebody feel this way
SYNONYM intimidating
She has the daunting task of cooking for 20 people every day.
Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.

dawn noun
BrE /dɔːn/ ; NAmE /dɔːn/
1 [uncountable, countable] the time of day when light first appears
SYNONYM 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 [singular] dawn (of something) the beginning or first signs of something 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
Idioms
at the crack of ˈdawn
(informal) very early in the morning I have to get up at the crack of dawn.

break of ˈday/ˈdawn
(literary) the moment in the early hours of the morning when it begins to get light

dawn verb
BrE /dɔːn/ ; NAmE /dɔːn/

1 [intransitive] (of a day or a period of time) to begin The following morning dawned bright and
warm.
A new technological age had dawned.

2 [intransitive] to become obvious or easy to understand Slowly the awful truth dawned.

Idioms
(the) light ˈdawned (on somebody)
somebody suddenly understood or began to understand something I puzzled over the problem for
ages before the light suddenly dawned.

Phrasal Verbs
ˈdawn on somebody
[no passive] if something dawns on you, you begin to realize it for the first time it dawns on
somebody that… Suddenly it dawned on me that they couldn't possibly have met before.

es·cal·ate verb
BrE /ˈeskəleɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈeskəleɪt/
[intransitive, transitive]

to become or make something greater, worse, more serious, etc escalate (into something) The
fighting escalated into a full-scale war.
the escalating costs of health care
escalate something (into something) We do not want to escalate the war.

dearth noun
BrE /dɜːθ/ ; NAmE /dɜːrθ/
[singular] dearth (of something) a lack of something; the fact of there not being enough of
something
SYNONYM scarcity
There was a dearth of reliable information on the subject.

de·bate noun
BrE /dɪˈbeɪt/ ; NAmE /dɪˈbeɪt/
[countable, uncountable] debate (on/about/over something)
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 a 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.

de·bate verb
BrE /dɪˈbeɪt/ ; NAmE /dɪˈbeɪt/

1 [transitive, intransitive] to discuss something, especially formally, before making a decision or

finding a solution
SYNONYM discuss
debate (something) 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.
debate whether, what, etc… The committee will debate whether to lower the age of club
membership to 16.

2 [intransitive, transitive] to think carefully about something before making a decision debate
(with yourself) She debated with herself for a while, and then picked up the phone.
debate whether, what, etc… We're debating whether or not to go skiing this winter.
debate doing something For a moment he debated going after her.

de·ceit noun
BrE /dɪˈsiːt/ ; NAmE /dɪˈsiːt/
 [uncountable, countable]
dishonest behaviour that is intended to make somebody believe something that is not true; an
example of this behaviour
SYNONYM deception
He was accused of lies and deceit.
Everyone was involved in this web of deceit.
Their marriage was an illusion and a deceit.

de·ceit·ful adjective
BrE /dɪˈsiːtfl/ ; NAmE /dɪˈsiːtfl/
(formal)
behaving in a dishonest way by telling lies and making people believe things that are not true
SYNONYM dishonest
The government were accused of being hypocritical and deceitful.

deci·mate verb
BrE /ˈdesɪmeɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈdesɪmeɪt/

1 [usually passive] decimate something to kill large numbers of animals, plants or people in a
particular area The rabbit population was decimated by the disease.

2 decimate something (informal) to severely damage something or make something weaker

Cheap imports decimated the British cycle industry.

deci·ma·tion noun
BrE /ˌdesɪˈmeɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌdesɪˈmeɪʃn/
[uncountable]
1 the act of killing large numbers of animals, plants or people in a particular area the decimation
of the indigenous population

2 (informal) the act of severely damaging something or making something much weaker We
need to halt the decimation of our manufacturing base.

de·cipher verb
BrE /dɪˈsaɪfə(r)/ ; NAmE /dɪˈsaɪfər/

decipher something to succeed in finding the meaning of something that is difficult to read or
understand to decipher a code
Can anyone decipher his handwriting?
I couldn’t decipher her handwiting.
She watched the girl’s expression closely, trying to decipher her meaning.
SEE ALSO indecipherable

de·code verb
BrE /ˌdiːˈkəʊd/ ; NAmE /ˌdiːˈkoʊd/

1 decode something to find the meaning of something, especially something that has been
written in code
SYNONYM decipher
I was involved in decoding enemy documents.

2 decode something to receive an electronic signal and change it into pictures that can be shown
on a television screen decoding equipment

3 decode something (linguistics) to understand the meaning of something in a foreign language

COMPARE encode

de·cline noun
BrE /dɪˈklaɪn/ ; NAmE /dɪˈklaɪn/
[countable, usually singular, uncountable] decline (in something) decline (of something) a
continuous decrease in the number, value, quality, etc. of something 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.

de·cline verb
BrE /dɪˈklaɪn/ ; NAmE /dɪˈklaɪn/

1 [intransitive] (rather formal) 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 [intransitive, transitive] (formal) to refuse politely to accept or to do something

SYNONYM refuse1
I offered to give them a lift but they declined.
decline something to decline an offer/invitation
She declined a second glass of wine and called for a taxi.
decline to do something Their spokesman declined to comment on the allegations.
3 [intransitive, transitive] decline (something) (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

Idioms
somebody’s declining ˈyears
(literary) the last years of somebody’s life

dedi·cated adjective
BrE /ˈdedɪkeɪtɪd/ ; NAmE /ˈdedɪkeɪtɪd/
1 working hard at something because it is very important to you
SYNONYM committed
a dedicated teacher
dedicated to something 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.

deem verb
BrE /diːm/ ; NAmE /diːm/

deem something + noun/adjective deem something to be something deem (that)… (formal)

(not usually used in the progressive tenses) to have a particular opinion about something
SYNONYM consider
The evening was deemed a great success.
I deem it an honour to be invited.
She deemed it prudent not to say anything.
They would take any action deemed necessary.

de·fence·less (especially US English de·fense·less) adjective

BrE /dɪˈfensləs/ ; NAmE /dɪˈfensləs/
weak; not able to protect yourself; having no protection defenceless children
The village is defenceless against attack.
de·fied
BrE /dɪˈfaɪd/ ; NAmE /dɪˈfaɪd/
past tense, past participle of defy

dele·gate noun
BrE /ˈdelɪɡət/ ; NAmE /ˈdelɪɡət/
1 a person who is chosen or elected to represent the views of a group of people and vote and
make decisions for them Congress delegates rejected the proposals.

2 a person who attends a conference The conference was attended by delegates from 56
countries.

dele·gate verb
BrE /ˈdelɪɡeɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈdelɪɡeɪt/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to give part of your work, power or authority to somebody in a lower
position than you Some managers find it difficult to delegate.
delegate (something) (to somebody) The job had to be delegated to an assistant.

2 [transitive] delegate somebody to do something [usually passive] to choose somebody to do

something I've been delegated to organize the Christmas party.

deli·cate adjective
BrE /ˈdelɪkət/ ; NAmE /ˈdelɪkət/
1 easily damaged or broken
SYNONYM 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
SYNONYM subtle
a delicate fragrance/flavour
a river scene painted in delicate watercolours

de·light verb
BrE /dɪˈlaɪt/ ; NAmE /dɪˈlaɪt/

delight somebody to give somebody a lot of pleasure and enjoyment This news will delight his
fans all over the world.
Her lack of reserve delighted him.
She had a limitless capacity to astonish and delight.

Phrasal Verbs
deˈlight in something/doing something
[no passive] to enjoy doing something very much, especially something that makes other people
feel embarrassed, uncomfortable, etc.

de·light noun
BrE /dɪˈlaɪt/ ; NAmE /dɪˈlaɪt/
1 [uncountable] a feeling of great pleasure
SYNONYM 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.

2 [countable] something that gives you great pleasure

SYNONYM joy
This guitar is a delight to play.
the delights of living in the country
the unrivalled culinary delights of the hotel

de·note verb
BrE /dɪˈnəʊt/ ; NAmE /dɪˈnoʊt/
(formal)

1 denote something denote that… to be a sign of something

SYNONYM indicate
A very high temperature often denotes a serious illness.
2 denote something denote what, when, etc… to mean something
SYNONYM represent
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.

COMPARE connote

de·pict verb
BrE /dɪˈpɪkt/ ; NAmE /dɪˈpɪkt/
(rather formal)

1 to show an image of somebody/something in a picture depict somebody/something (as

somebody/something) a painting depicting the Virgin and Child
depict somebody/something doing something The artist had depicted her lying on a bed.

2 to describe something in words, or give an impression of something in words or with a picture

depict somebody/something The novel depicts French society in the 1930s.
depict somebody/something as somebody/something The advertisements depict smoking as
glamorous and attractive.

de·pic·tion noun
BrE /dɪˈpɪkʃn/ ; NAmE /dɪˈpɪkʃn/
[uncountable, countable] (rather formal)
1 the act of describing something in words, or giving an impression of something in words or a
picture; the way in which this is done They object to the movie's depiction of gay people.

2 the act of showing an image of somebody/something in a picture or the way it is shown; a

picture showing somebody/something in a particular way Rembrandt's earlier depictions of
Saskia

de·prive verb
BrE /dɪˈpraɪv/ ; NAmE /dɪˈpraɪv/
Phrasal Verbs
deˈprive somebody/something of something
to prevent somebody from having or doing something, especially something important They
were imprisoned and deprived of their basic rights.
Why should you deprive yourself of such simple pleasures?

des·per·ate adjective
BrE /ˈdespərət/ ; NAmE /ˈdespərət/
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] needing or wanting something very much desperate (for something)
He was so desperate for a job he would have done anything.
(informal) I'm desperate for a cigarette.
desperate (to do something) I was absolutely desperate to see her.

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.

de·ten·tion noun
BrE /dɪˈtenʃn/ ; NAmE /dɪˈtenʃn/
1 [uncountable] 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 [uncountable, countable] 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

deter verb
BrE /dɪˈtɜː(r)/ ; NAmE /dɪˈtɜːr/

[transitive, intransitive] deter (somebody) (from something/from doing something) to make

somebody decide not to do something or continue doing something, especially by making them
understand the difficulties and unpleasant results of their actions I told him I wasn't interested,
but he wasn't deterred.
The high price of the service could deter people from seeking advice.

SEE ALSO deterrent

de·ter·rent noun
BrE /dɪˈterənt/ ; NAmE /dɪˈtɜːrənt/
deterrent (to somebody/something) a thing that makes somebody less likely to do something (=
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)

de·tract·or noun
BrE /dɪˈtræktə(r)/ ; NAmE /dɪˈtræktər/
[usually plural] (especially formal)
a person who tries to make somebody/something seem less good or valuable by criticizing it
Detractors claim the building will be ugly and impractical.

det·ri·ment·al adjective
BrE /ˌdetrɪˈmentl/ ; NAmE /ˌdetrɪˈmentl/
detrimental (to somebody/something) (formal) harmful
SYNONYM damaging
the sun’s detrimental effect on skin
The policy will be detrimental to the peace process.
This move could be seriously detrimental to the economy.
Emissions from the factory are widely suspected of having a detrimental effect on health.
det·ri·ment noun
BrE /ˈdetrɪmənt/ ; NAmE /ˈdetrɪmənt/
[uncountable, countable, usually singular] (formal)
the act of causing harm or damage; something that causes harm or damage Wood accounts for
90% of energy production in some countries, with consequent environmental detriment.
Too many tests are a detriment to good education.

Idioms
to the detriment of somebody/something, to somebody/something’s detriment
resulting in harm or damage to somebody/something He was engrossed in his job to the
detriment of his health.

without detriment (to somebody/something)

not resulting in harm or damage to somebody/something This tax cannot be introduced without
detriment to people’s living standards.

dev·as·tated adjective
BrE /ˈdevəsteɪtɪd/ ; NAmE /ˈdevəsteɪtɪd/
extremely upset and shocked His family is absolutely devastated.

dev·as·tate verb
BrE /ˈdevəsteɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈdevəsteɪt/

1 devastate something to completely destroy a place or an area The bomb devastated much of
the old part of the city.

2 [often passive] devastate somebody to make somebody feel very shocked and sad

dev·as·tat·ing adjective
BrE /ˈdevəsteɪtɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈdevəsteɪtɪŋ/
1 causing a lot of damage and destruction
SYNONYM 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

dex·ter·ity noun
BrE /dekˈsterəti/ ; NAmE /dekˈsterəti/
[uncountable]
skill in using your hands or your mind You need manual dexterity to be good at video games.
mental/verbal dexterity

dia·lect·ic·al adjective
BrE /ˌdaɪəˈlektɪkl/ ; NAmE /ˌdaɪəˈlektɪkl/
1 (philosophy) discovering the truth of ideas by discussion and logical argument and by
considering ideas that are opposed to each other dialectical materialism

2 (formal) having two aspects that affect each other a contradictory dialectical process

dip verb
BrE /dɪp/ ; NAmE /dɪp/

1 [transitive] to put something quickly into a liquid and take it out again dip something (into
something) He dipped the brush into the paint.
dip something (in) Dip your hand in to see how hot the water is.
The fruit had been dipped in chocolate.

2 [intransitive, transitive] to go downwards or to a lower level; to make something do this

SYNONYM fall
(+ adverb/preposition) 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.
dip something (+ adverb/preposition) The plane dipped its wings.

3 [transitive] dip something (British English) 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 [transitive] dip something when farmers dip animals, especially sheep, they put them in a bath
of a liquid containing chemicals in order to kill insects, etc.

Idioms
dip into your ˈpocket
(informal) to spend some of your own money on something She was forced to dip into her own
pocket to pay for the repairs.

dip a ˈtoe in/into something, dip a ˈtoe in/into the water

(informal) to start doing something very carefully to see if it will be successful or not We decided
to dip a toe in the computer games market.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌdip ˈinto something
1 to put your hand into a container to take something out She dipped into her purse and took out
some coins.

2 to read or watch only parts of something 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.

dip noun
BrE /dɪp/ ; NAmE /dɪp/
1 [countable] (informal) a quick swim Let's go for a dip before breakfast.

2 [countable] a decrease in the amount or success of something, usually for only a short period
SYNONYM fall
a sharp dip in profits

3 [countable] 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 [countable, uncountable] a thick mixture into which pieces of food are dipped before being
eaten
5 [uncountable, countable] a liquid containing a chemical into which sheep and other animals
can be dipped in order to kill insects on them
6 [singular] dip into something a quick look at something A brief dip into history serves to
confirm this view.

7 [countable, usually singular] a quick movement of something down and up He gave a dip of his
head.

SEE ALSO lucky dip

dire adjective
BrE /ˈdaɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈdaɪər/
(direr, dir·est)
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 (British English, informal) very bad The acting was dire.

dis·cern·ing adjective
BrE /dɪˈsɜːnɪŋ/ ; NAmE /dɪˈsɜːrnɪŋ/
(approving)
able to show good judgement about the quality of somebody/something The discerning customer
will recognize this as a high quality product.
To the discerning eye , the quality may seem quite poor.

dis·clo·sure noun
BrE /dɪsˈkləʊʒə(r)/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈkloʊʒər/
(formal)
1 [uncountable] the act of making something known or public that was previously secret or
private
SYNONYM 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 [countable] information or a fact that is made known or public that was previously secret or
private
SYNONYM revelation
startling disclosures about his private life

dis·cord·ant adjective
BrE /dɪsˈkɔːdənt/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈkɔːrdənt/
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

OPPOSITE harmonious

di·ver·gence noun
BrE /daɪˈvɜːdʒəns/ ; NAmE /daɪˈvɜːrdʒəns/
 [countable, uncountable] (formal)
1 the process or fact of separating or becoming different the divergence of these two species
divergence between A and B the divergence between humans and chimpanzees
There are divergences between the legal systems of the two countries.

2 a difference in opinions, views, etc a wide divergence of opinion

3 divergence from something the process of becoming different from what is expected,
planned, etc a divergence from traditionally held beliefs

OPPOSITE convergence (2)

dis·credit verb
BrE /dɪsˈkredɪt/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈkredɪt/

1 discredit somebody/something to make people stop respecting somebody/something The

photos were deliberately taken to discredit the President.
a discredited government/policy

2 discredit something to make people stop believing that something is true; to make something
appear unlikely to be true These theories are now largely discredited among linguists.
This new evidence discredits earlier findings.

dis·creet adjective
BrE /dɪˈskriːt/ ; NAmE /dɪˈskriːt/
careful in what you say or do, in order to keep something secret or to avoid causing
embarrassment or difficulty for somebody
SYNONYM 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.

dis·crete·ly adverb
BrE /dɪˈskriːtli/ ; NAmE /dɪˈskriːtli/
(formal or specialist)
in a way that is independent of other things of the same type
SYNONYM separately
Goldstein discusses these issues jointly rather than discretely.
dis·crim·in·ation noun
BrE /dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃn/ ; NAmE /dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃn/
1 [uncountable] the practice of treating somebody or a particular group in society less fairly than
others age/racial/sex/sexual discrimination (= because of somebody’s age, race or sex)
discrimination against somebody discrimination against the elderly
discrimination in favour of somebody discrimination in favour of the young
discrimination on the grounds of something discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, or
sexual orientation

SEE ALSO positive discrimination

2 [uncountable] (approving) the ability to judge what is good, true, etc.
SYNONYM discernment
He showed great discrimination in his choice of friends.

3 (formal) [uncountable, countable] 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

dis·crim·in·ate verb
BrE /dɪˈskrɪmɪneɪt/ ; NAmE /dɪˈskrɪmɪneɪt/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to recognize that there is a difference between people or things; to

show a difference between people or things
SYNONYM differentiate, distinguish
discriminate (between A and B) The computer program was unable to discriminate between
letters and numbers.
discriminate something When do babies learn to discriminate voices?
discriminate A from B A number of features discriminate this species from others.

2 [intransitive] to treat one person or group worse/better than another in an unfair way
discriminate (against somebody) discriminate (in favour of somebody) practices that
discriminate against women and in favour of men
discriminate (on the grounds of something) It is illegal to discriminate on grounds of race, sex
or religion.
dis·grace noun
BrE /dɪsˈɡreɪs/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈɡreɪs/
1 [uncountable] the loss of other people’s respect and approval because of the bad way
somebody has behaved
SYNONYM 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 [singular] a disgrace (to somebody/something) 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.

dis·grace verb
BrE /dɪsˈɡreɪs/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈɡreɪs/

1 to behave badly in a way that makes you or other people feel ashamed disgrace yourself I
disgraced myself by drinking far too much.
disgrace somebody/something 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

stigma noun
BrE /ˈstɪɡmə/ ; NAmE /ˈstɪɡmə/
1 [uncountable, countable, usually singular] feelings of disapproval that people have about
particular illnesses or ways of behaving the social stigma of alcoholism
There is no longer any stigma attached to being divorced.
2 [countable] (biology) the part in the middle of a flower where pollen is received

dis·guise verb
BrE /dɪsˈɡaɪz/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈɡaɪz/

1 to change your appearance so that people cannot recognize you disguise somebody The
hijackers were heavily disguised.
disguise somebody as somebody/something They got in disguised as security guards.
disguise yourself (as somebody/something) She disguised herself as a boy.

2 disguise something to hide something or change it, so that it cannot be recognized

SYNONYM 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.

dis·guise noun
BrE /dɪsˈɡaɪz/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
1 [countable, uncountable] 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).
A vote for the Greens is just a Labour vote in disguise.

2 [uncountable] the art of changing your appearance so that people do not recognize you He is a
master of disguise.

Idioms
a blessing in disˈguise
something that seems to be a problem at first, but that has good results in the end

dish·ev·elled adjective
BrE /dɪˈʃevld/ ; NAmE /dɪˈʃevld/
(especially British English) (usually North American English dish·ev·eled)
(of hair, clothes or somebody’s general appearance) very untidy
SYNONYM unkempt
He looked tired and dishevelled.
She returned at 1 a.m. in a dishevelled state.
dis·may noun
BrE /dɪsˈmeɪ/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈmeɪ/
[uncountable] 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.

dis·may verb
BrE /dɪsˈmeɪ/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈmeɪ/

dismay somebody to make somebody feel shocked and disappointed Their reaction dismayed
him.

dis·miss verb
BrE /dɪsˈmɪs/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈmɪs/

1 to decide that somebody/something is not important and not worth thinking or talking about
SYNONYM wave somethingaside/away
dismiss somebody/something I think we can safely dismiss their objections.
dismiss somebody/something as something 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 to put thoughts or feelings out of your mind dismiss something Dismissing her fears, she
climbed higher.
dismiss somebody/something from something He dismissed her from his mind.

3 dismiss somebody (from something) to officially remove somebody from their job
SYNONYM fire, sack
She claims she was unfairly dismissed from her post.

4 dismiss somebody to send somebody away or allow them to leave At 12 o'clock the class was
dismissed.

5 dismiss something (law) to say that a trial or legal case should not continue, usually because
there is not enough evidence The case was dismissed.
6 dismiss somebody (in cricket) to end the innings of a player or team

dis·missal noun
BrE /dɪsˈmɪsl/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈmɪsl/
1 [uncountable, countable] the act of dismissing somebody 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 [uncountable] the failure to consider something 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 [uncountable, countable] (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 [uncountable, countable] the act of sending somebody away or allowing them to leave
5 [uncountable, countable] (in cricket) the end of the innings of a player or team

dis·mis·sive adjective
BrE /dɪsˈmɪsɪv/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈmɪsɪv/
dismissive (of somebody/something) showing that you do not believe a person or thing to be
important or worth considering
SYNONYM disdainful
a dismissive gesture/tone
She was always dismissive of other women in the office.
Other critics were equally dismissive.
She was very dismissive of his achievements.

dis·mis·sive·ly adverb
BrE /dɪsˈmɪsɪvli/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈmɪsɪvli/
in a way that shows that you do not believe a person or thing to be important or worth
considering
SYNONYM disdainfully
to shrug/wave dismissively

dis·perse verb
BrE /dɪˈspɜːs/ ; NAmE /dɪˈspɜːrs/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to move apart and go away in different directions; to make

somebody/something do this The fog began to disperse.
The crowd dispersed quickly.
disperse somebody/something Police dispersed the protesters with tear gas.

2 [transitive, intransitive] disperse (something) to spread or to make something spread over a

wide area
SYNONYM scatter
The seeds are dispersed by the wind.

dis·per·sion noun
BrE /dɪˈspɜːʃn/ ; NAmE /dɪˈspɜːrʒn/
[uncountable] (specialist)
the process by which people or things are spread over a wide area population dispersion
the dispersion of light

dis·pers·al noun
BrE /dɪˈspɜːsl/ ; NAmE /dɪˈspɜːrsl/
[uncountable, countable] (formal)
the process of sending somebody/something in different directions; the process of spreading
something over a wide area police trained in crowd dispersal
the dispersal of seeds

dis·pos·ition noun
BrE /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃn/
1 [countable, usually singular] (formal) the natural qualities of a person’s character
SYNONYM temperament
to have a cheerful disposition
people of a nervous disposition

2 [countable, usually singular] disposition to/towards something disposition to do something

(formal) a tendency to behave in a particular way to have/show a disposition towards violence

3 [countable, usually singular] (formal) the way something is placed or arranged

SYNONYM arrangement
4 [countable, uncountable] (law) a formal act of giving property or money to somebody
dis·pute noun
BrE /dɪˈspjuːt/ ; NAmE /dɪˈspjuːt/ ; BrE /ˈdɪspjuːt/ ; NAmE /ˈdɪspjuːt/ [countable, uncountable]
an argument or a disagreement between two people, groups or countries; discussion about a
subject where there is disagreement dispute (between A and B) a dispute between the two
countries about the border
dispute (over/about something) 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).

dis·pute verb
BrE /dɪˈspjuːt/ ; NAmE /dɪˈspjuːt/

1 [transitive] to question whether something is true and valid dispute something These figures
have been disputed.
to dispute a decision/claim
The family wanted to dispute the will.
dispute that… No one is disputing that there is a problem.
dispute whether, how, etc… it is disputed whether, how, etc… It is disputed whether the law
applies in this case.

2 [transitive, intransitive] dispute (something) to argue or disagree strongly with somebody

about something, especially about who owns something disputed territory
The issue remains hotly disputed.

3 [transitive] dispute something to fight to get control of something or to win something On the
last lap three runners were disputing the lead.

dis·son·ance noun
BrE /ˈdɪsənəns/ ; NAmE /ˈdɪsənəns/
1 [countable, uncountable] (music) a combination of musical notes that do not sound pleasant
together
OPPOSITE consonance
2 [uncountable] (formal) lack of agreement
dis·har·mony noun
BrE /dɪsˈhɑːməni/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈhɑːrməni/
[uncountable] (formal)
a lack of agreement about important things, which causes bad feelings between people or groups
of people marital/racial/social disharmony

OPPOSITE harmony

dis·tract verb
BrE /dɪˈstrækt/ ; NAmE /dɪˈstrækt/

distract somebody/something (from something) to take somebody’s attention away from what
they are trying to do
SYNONYM divert
You're distracting me from my work.
Don't talk to her—she's very easily distracted.
It was another attempt to distract attention from the truth.
He’s easily distracted from his work
an attempt to distract attention away from the real problems in the country

dis·trac·tion noun
BrE /dɪˈstrækʃn/ ; NAmE /dɪˈstrækʃn/
1 [countable, uncountable] 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 [countable] an activity that amuses or entertains you

Idioms
to diˈstraction
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.
di·ver·sity noun
BrE /daɪˈvɜːsəti/ ; NAmE /daɪˈvɜːrsəti/
1 [uncountable, countable, usually singular] a range of many people or things that are very
different from each other
SYNONYM variety
the biological diversity of the rainforests
a great/wide/rich diversity of opinion

2 [uncountable] the quality or fact of including a range of many people or things There is a need
for greater diversity and choice in education.

divi·dend noun
BrE /ˈdɪvɪdend/ ; NAmE /ˈdɪvɪdend/
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 (British English) a money prize that is given to winners in the football pools
3 (mathematics) a number which is to be divided by another number
COMPARE divisor

Idioms
pay ˈdividends
to produce great advantages or profits Exercising regularly will pay dividends in the end.

du·bi·ous adjective
BrE /ˈdjuːbiəs/ ; NAmE /ˈduːbiəs/
1 [not usually before noun] dubious (about something)/(about doing something) (of a person)
not certain and slightly suspicious about something; not knowing whether something is good or
bad
SYNONYM doubtful
I was rather dubious about the whole idea.

2 (disapproving) probably not honest

SYNONYM 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).

dock noun
BrE /dɒk/ ; NAmE /dɑːk/
1 [countable] 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 [plural] a group of docks in a port and the buildings around them that are used for
repairing ships, storing goods, etc.
3 [countable] (North American English)
= jetty
4 [countable] (North American English) a raised platform for loading vehicles or trains
5 [countable] 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 [uncountable] 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

7
= docking station

dock verb
BrE /dɒk/ ; NAmE /dɑːk/

1 [intransitive, transitive] dock (something) if a ship docks or you dock a ship, it sails into a
harbour and stays there The ferry is expected to dock at 6.

2 [intransitive, transitive] dock (something) if two spacecraft dock, or are docked, they are
joined together in space Next year, a technology module will be docked on the space station.

3 [transitive] to take away part of somebody’s wages, etc dock something If you're late, your
wages will be docked.
dock something from/off something They've docked 15% off my pay for this week.

4 [transitive] dock something (computing) to connect a computer to a docking station I docked

my portable and started work.

OPPOSITE undock
5 [transitive] dock something to cut an animal’s tail short The horse’s tail had been docked.
dock·yard noun
BrE /ˈdɒkjɑːd/ ; NAmE /ˈdɑːkjɑːrd/
an area with docks (= the place where ships are loaded and unloaded in a port) and equipment
for building and repairing ships

dope noun
BrE /dəʊp/ ; NAmE /doʊp/
1 [uncountable] (informal) a drug that is taken illegally for pleasure, especially cannabis or, in
the US, heroin to peddle/smoke dope
He has admitted smoking dope as a teenager.

2 [uncountable] 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 [countable] (informal) a stupid person

SYNONYM idiot
4 [uncountable] the dope (on somebody/something) (informal) information on
somebody/something, especially details that are not generally known Give me the dope on the
new boss.

dope verb
BrE /dəʊp/ ; NAmE /doʊp/

1 dope somebody/something to give a drug to a person or an animal in order to affect their

performance in a race or sport
2 dope somebody/something to give somebody 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 [usually passive] dope somebody (up) (informal) if somebody is doped or doped up, they
cannot think clearly or act normally because they are under the influence of drugs
dorm noun
BrE /dɔːm/ ; NAmE /dɔːrm/
(informal)

= dormitory
dor·mi·tory noun
BrE /ˈdɔːmətri/ ; NAmE /ˈdɔːrmətɔːri/
(plural dor·mi·tories) (informal dorm)
1 a room for several people to sleep in, especially in a school or other institution
2 (North American English) (British English ˌhall of ˈresidence, hall) a building for university
or college students to live in

down·side noun
BrE /ˈdaʊnsaɪd/ ; NAmE /ˈdaʊnsaɪd/
[singular]
the disadvantages or less positive aspects of something
OPPOSITE upside

dras·tic adjective
BrE /ˈdræstɪk/ , also /ˈdrɑːstɪk/ ; NAmE /ˈdræstɪk/
extreme in a way that has a sudden, serious or violent effect on something 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.

drop·out noun
BrE /ˈdrɒpaʊt/ ; NAmE /ˈdrɑːpaʊt/
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.

dropsy noun
BrE /ˈdrɒpsi/ ; NAmE /ˈdrɑːpsi/
[uncountable] (old-fashioned)

= oedema
dump·ing noun
BrE /ˈdʌmpɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈdʌmpɪŋ/
[uncountable]
the act or practice of dumping something, especially dangerous substances a ban on the dumping
of radioactive waste at sea

dwarf noun
BrE /dwɔːf/ ; NAmE /dwɔːrf/
(plural dwarfs, dwarves BrE /dwɔːvz/ ; NAmE /dwɔːrvz/ )
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 () 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.

dys·lexia noun
BrE /dɪsˈleksiə/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈleksiə/
[uncountable]
a slight disorder of the brain that causes difficulty in reading and spelling, for example, but does
not affect intelligence

ear·muffs noun
BrE /ˈɪəmʌfs/ ; NAmE /ˈɪrmʌfs/
[plural]
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

echo noun
BrE /ˈekəʊ/ ; NAmE /ˈekoʊ/
(plural echoes)
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 phone 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; something that
reminds you of something 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).

echo verb
BrE /ˈekəʊ/ ; NAmE /ˈekoʊ/
1 [intransitive] if a sound echoes, it is reflected off a wall, the side of a mountain, etc. so that you
can hear it again
SYNONYM reverberate
Her footsteps echoed in the empty room.
The gunshot echoed through the forest.

2 [intransitive, transitive] to send back and repeat a sound; to be full of a sound

SYNONYM reverberate
The whole house echoed.
echo to/with something The street echoed with the cries of children.
echo something (back) The valley echoed back his voice.

3 [transitive] echo something 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 [transitive] + speech echo something to repeat what somebody else has just said, especially
because you find it surprising ‘He's gone!’ Viv echoed.

recur verb
BrE /rɪˈkɜː(r)/ ; NAmE /rɪˈkɜːr/
[intransitive]

to happen again or a number of times This theme recurs several times throughout the book.
a recurring illness/problem/nightmare, etc.

elfin adjective
BrE /ˈelfɪn/ ; NAmE /ˈelfɪn/
(of a person or their features) small and delicate an elfin face

elite adjective
BrE /eɪˈliːt/ ; NAmE /eɪˈliːt/ ; BrE /ɪˈliːt/ ; NAmE /ɪˈliːt/
[only before noun]
(of a group of people in a society) small in number but powerful and with a lot of influence,
because they are rich, intelligent, etc an elite group of senior officials
an elite military academy

elite noun
BrE /eɪˈliːt/ ; NAmE /eɪˈliːt/ ; BrE /ɪˈliːt/ ; NAmE /ɪˈliːt/
[countable + singular or plural verb]
a small 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.

em·an·ate verb
BrE /ˈeməneɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈeməneɪt/

+ VERB FORMS

emanate something (formal) to produce or show something He emanates power and confidence.

Phrasal Verbs
ˈemanate from something
to come from something or somewhere
SYNONYM issue from
The sound of loud music emanated from the building.
The proposal originally emanated from the UN.

em·an·ation noun
BrE /ˌeməˈneɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌeməˈneɪʃn/
[countable, uncountable] emanation (of something) (from something) (formal)
something that is produced or appears from a particular place The street outside was dark except
for a hazy emanation of moonlight from behind the clouds.

embed (also imbed) verb

BrE /ɪmˈbed/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈbed/
[usually passive]

1 embed something (in something) to fix something 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 embed somebody 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 embed something (linguistics) to place a sentence inside another sentence. In the sentence
‘I’m aware that she knows’, she knows is an embedded sentence.

em·bez·zle verb
BrE /ɪmˈbezl/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈbezl/

[transitive, intransitive] embezzle (something) to steal money that you are responsible for or
that belongs to your employer He was found guilty of embezzling $150 000 of public funds.

em·bezzle·ment noun
BrE /ɪmˈbezlmənt/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈbezlmənt/
[uncountable]
the act of stealing money that you are responsible for or that belongs to your employer She was
found guilty of embezzlement.

em·brace noun
BrE /ɪmˈbreɪs/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈbreɪs/
(formal)
1 [countable] an act of putting your arms around somebody as a sign of love or friendship He
held her in a warm embrace.
There were tears and embraces as they said goodbye.

2 [uncountable] the act of accepting an idea, a proposal, a set of beliefs, etc, especially when it is
done with enthusiasm the country’s eager embrace of modern technology

em·brace verb
BrE /ɪmˈbreɪs/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈbreɪs/
(formal)
+ VERB FORMS

1 [intransitive, transitive] to put your arms around somebody as a sign of love or friendship
SYNONYM hug
They embraced and promised to keep in touch.
embrace somebody She embraced her son warmly.

2 [transitive] embrace something 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 [transitive] embrace something to include something The talks embraced a wide range of
issues.
The word ‘mankind’ embraces men, women and children.

emerge verb
BrE /iˈmɜːdʒ/ ; NAmE /iˈmɜːrdʒ/

1 [intransitive] to come out of a dark, confined or hidden place emerge (from something) The
swimmer emerged from the lake.
She finally emerged from her room at noon.
He emerged from the shadows.
emerge (into something) We emerged into bright sunlight.

2 [intransitive, transitive] (of facts, ideas, etc.) to become known

SYNONYM transpire
No new evidence emerged during the investigation.
it emerges that… It emerged that the company was going to be sold.

3 [intransitive] to start to exist; to appear or become known After the elections opposition groups
began to emerge.
the emerging markets of South Asia
emerge as something He emerged as a key figure in the campaign

4 [intransitive] emerge (from something) to survive a difficult situation or experience She

emerged from the scandal with her reputation intact.

emis·sion noun
BrE /iˈmɪʃn/ ; NAmE /iˈmɪʃn/
1 [uncountable] (formal) the production or sending out of light, heat, gas, etc the emission of
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
emission controls

2 [countable] gas, etc. that is sent out into the air The government has pledged to clean up
industrial emissions.

em·power·ment noun
BrE /ɪmˈpaʊəmənt/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈpaʊərmənt/
[uncountable]
1 the act of giving somebody more control over their own life or the situation they are in
female/black/personal empowerment
the empowerment of the individual

2 (formal) the act of giving somebody the power or authority to do something

SYNONYM authorization

enact verb
BrE /ɪˈnækt/ ; NAmE /ɪˈnækt/

1 [often passive] enact something it is enacted that… (law) to pass a law legislation enacted by
parliament

2 [often passive] enact something (formal) to perform a play or act a part in a play scenes from
history enacted by local residents

3 be enacted (formal) to take place

SYNONYM play out
They seemed unaware of the drama being enacted a few feet away from them.

4 enact something to put something into practice This involves identifying problems and
enacting solutions.

en·com·pass verb
BrE /ɪnˈkʌmpəs/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈkʌmpəs/
(formal)

1 encompass something to include a large number or range of things The job encompasses a
wide range of responsibilities.
The group encompasses all ages.

2 encompass something to surround or cover something completely The fog soon encompassed
the whole valley.
en·croach verb
BrE /ɪnˈkrəʊtʃ/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈkroʊtʃ/
(formal)

1 [intransitive] encroach (on/upon something) (disapproving) to begin to affect or use up too

much of somebody’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.
Gradually the negative feelings encroached into her work.

2 [intransitive] encroach (on/upon something) 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)
en·croach·ment noun
BrE /ɪnˈkrəʊtʃmənt/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈkroʊtʃmənt/
(formal)
1 [uncountable, countable] the act of slowly affecting or using up too much of somebody's time,
rights, personal life, etc the deadening encroachment of political correctness
encroachment on/upon something the regime’s many encroachments on human rights

2 [uncountable] the act of slowly covering more and more of an area It is increasingly difficult to
shield farmland from urban encroachment.

en·deav·our (especially US English en·deavor) noun

BrE /ɪnˈdevə(r)/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈdevər/
[uncountable, countable] (formal) an attempt to do something, especially something 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.

en·deav·our (especially US English en·deavor) verb

BrE /ɪnˈdevə(r)/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈdevər/

endeavour to do something (formal) to try very hard to do something

SYNONYM strive
I will endeavour to do my best for my country.
He endeavoured in vain to escape the situation.
The buyer should always endeavour to negotiate terms.
end·note noun
BrE /ˈendnəʊt/ ; NAmE /ˈendnoʊt/
a note printed at the end of a book or section of a book

en·dorse verb
BrE /ɪnˈdɔːs/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈdɔːrs/

1 endorse something 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 endorse something 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 endorse something to write your name on the back of a cheque so that it can be paid into a
bank account
4 [usually passive] endorse something (British English) to record details of a driving offence on
somebody’s driving licence You risk having your licence endorsed.

en·dorse·ment noun
BrE /ɪnˈdɔːsmənt/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈdɔːrsmənt/
[countable, uncountable]
1 a public statement or action showing that you support somebody/something The election
victory is a clear endorsement of their policies.
a letter of endorsement

2 a statement made in an advertisement, usually by somebody famous or important, saying that

they use and like a particular product
3 (British English) details of a driving offence recorded on somebody’s driving licence How
many endorsements can you have before you lose your licence?

en·dure verb
BrE /ɪnˈdjʊə(r)/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈdʊr/
(formal)

1 [transitive] to experience and deal with something that is painful or unpleasant, especially
without complaining
SYNONYM bear
endure something 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
He had to endure the racist taunts of the crowd.
endure doing something He can't endure being defeated.
endure to do something He can't endure to be defeated.

2 [intransitive] to continue to exist for a long time

SYNONYM last1
a success that will endure
The torn flag has endured as a symbol of freedom.

en·dur·ing adjective
BrE /ɪnˈdjʊərɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈdʊrɪŋ/
lasting for a long time enduring memories
What is the reason for the game's enduring appeal?

en·gage verb
BrE /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/

1 [transitive] engage something (formal) to succeed in attracting and keeping somebody’s

attention and interest It is a movie that engages both the mind and the eye.
Their pleas failed to engage any sympathy.

2 [transitive] engage somebody (as something) engage something engage somebody to do

something (formal) to employ somebody to do a particular job He is currently engaged as a
consultant.
We will have to engage the services of a translator.

3 [intransitive] engage (with something/somebody) to become involved with and try to

understand something/somebody She has the ability to engage with young minds.

4 [transitive, intransitive] engage (somebody) (formal) to begin fighting with somebody to

engage the enemy

5 [intransitive, transitive] 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 The cogwheels are not
engaging.
engage with something One cogwheel engages with the next.
engage something Engage the clutch before selecting a gear.
OPPOSITE disengage

Phrasal Verbs
enˈgage in something | enˈgage somebody in something
(formal) to take part in something; to make somebody take part in something Even in prison, he
continued to engage in criminal activities.
She tried desperately to engage him in conversation.

en·gen·der verb
BrE /ɪnˈdʒendə(r)/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈdʒendər/

engender something (formal) to make a feeling or situation exist The issue engendered
controversy.
problems engendered by the restructuring of the company
The place engendered immediate feelings of friendship and belonging.

enor·mous adjective
BrE /ɪˈnɔːməs/ ; NAmE /ɪˈnɔːrməs/
extremely large
SYNONYM huge, immense
an enormous house/dog
an enormous amount of time
enormous interest
The problems facing the President are enormous.

en·quire (especially British English) (also inquire North American English, British English)
BrE /ɪnˈkwaɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈkwaɪər/

verb [intransitive, transitive] (rather formal) to ask somebody for some information enquire
(about somebody/something) I called the station to enquire about train times.
enquire (as to somebody/something) She enquired as to your whereabouts.
enquire why, where, etc… Might I enquire why you have not mentioned this until now?
enquire something He enquired her name.
+ speech ‘What is your name?’ he enquired.

In British English people sometimes distinguish between enquire and inquire, using enquire for
the general meaning of ‘ask for information’ and inquire for the more particular meaning of
‘officially investigate’I called to enquire about train times.A committee will inquire into the
allegations. However, you can use either spelling in either meaning. In American English
inquire is usually used in both meanings.
Phrasal Verbs
enˈquire after somebody
(formal) to ask for information about somebody, especially about their health or about what they
are doing
enˈquire into something
to find out more information about something
SYNONYM investigate
A committee was appointed to enquire into the allegations.

enˈquire something of somebody

(formal) to ask somebody something (+ speech) ‘Will you be staying for lunch?’ she enquired of
Charles.

en·tail verb
BrE /ɪnˈteɪl/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈteɪl/

to involve something that cannot be avoided

SYNONYM involve
entail something The job entails a lot of hard work.
What does the job actually entail?
be entailed in something The girls learn exactly what is entailed in caring for a newborn baby.
entail (somebody) doing something It will entail driving a long distance every day.

en·thuse verb
BrE /ɪnˈθjuːz/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈθuːz/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to talk in an enthusiastic and excited way about something enthuse
(about/over something/somebody) The article enthused about the benefits that the new system
would bring.
+ speech ‘It's a wonderful idea’, he enthused.
enthuse that… The organizers enthused that it was their most successful event yet.

2 [usually passive] enthuse somebody (with something) to make somebody feel very interested
and excited Everyone present was enthused by the idea.

en·thu·si·asm noun
BrE /ɪnˈθjuːziæzəm/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈθuːziæzəm/
1 [uncountable] a strong feeling of excitement and interest in something and a desire to become
involved in it enthusiasm (for something) I can't say I share your enthusiasm for the idea.
He had a real enthusiasm for the work.
enthusiasm (for doing something) She never lost her enthusiasm for teaching.
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 [countable] (formal) something that you are very interested in and spend a lot of time doing
Reading is one of her many enthusiasms.

en·thu·si·ast noun
BrE /ɪnˈθjuːziæst/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈθuːziæst/
1 enthusiast (for/of something) a person who is very interested in something and spends a lot of
time doing it a football enthusiast
an enthusiast of jazz

2 enthusiast (for/of something) a person who approves of something and shows enthusiasm for
it enthusiasts for a united Europe

en·thu·si·ast·ic adjective
BrE /ɪnˌθjuːziˈæstɪk/ ; NAmE /ɪnˌθuːziˈæstɪk/
feeling or showing a lot of excitement and interest about somebody/something an enthusiastic
supporter
an enthusiastic welcome
enthusiastic about somebody/something You don't sound very enthusiastic about the idea.
enthusiastic about doing something She was even less enthusiastic about going to Spain.

en·trap·ment noun
BrE /ɪnˈtræpmənt/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈtræpmənt/
[uncountable] (law)
the illegal act of tricking somebody into committing a crime so that they can be arrested for it
There is no defence of entrapment in English law.

entre·pre·neur noun
BrE /ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜː(r)/ ; NAmE /ˌɑːntrəprəˈnɜːr/
a person who makes money by starting or running businesses, especially when this involves
taking financial risks
en·tre·pre·neur·ial adjective
BrE /ˌɒntrəprəˈnɜːriəl/ ; NAmE /ˌɑːntrəprəˈnɜːriəl/
connected with making money by starting or running businesses, especially when this involves
taking financial risks entrepreneurial skills

enun·ci·ation noun
BrE /ɪˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ɪˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃn/
1 [uncountable] the act of saying or pronouncing words clearly With his precise enunciation you
don't miss a syllable.

2 [uncountable, countable] (formal) an act of expressing an idea clearly and exactly a clear
enunciation of the company's core values

en·vis·age verb
BrE /ɪnˈvɪzɪdʒ/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈvɪzɪdʒ/
(especially British English) (usually North American English en·vis·ion)

to imagine what will happen in the future envisage something What level of profit do you
envisage?
envisage (somebody) doing something I can't envisage her coping with this job.
I don’t envisage working with him again.
it is envisaged that… It is envisaged that the talks will take place in the spring.
envisage that… I envisage that the work will be completed next year.
envisage how, where, etc… It is difficult to envisage how people will react.

equate verb
BrE /iˈkweɪt/ ; NAmE /iˈkweɪt/

equate something (with something) to think that something is the same as something else or is
as important Some parents equate education with exam success.
I don't see how you can equate the two things.

Phrasal Verbs
eˈquate to something
to be equal to something else A $5 000 raise equates to 25%.

equit·able adjective
BrE /ˈekwɪtəbl/ ; NAmE /ˈekwɪtəbl/
(formal)
fair and reasonable; treating everyone in an equal way
SYNONYM fair
an equitable distribution of resources
We need to construct an equitable and efficient method of local taxation.

OPPOSITE inequitable

err verb
BrE /ɜː(r)/ ; NAmE /er/
[intransitive] (old-fashioned, formal)

to make a mistake To err is human…

Idioms
err on the side of something
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).

es·cort noun
BrE /ˈeskɔːt/ ; NAmE /ˈeskɔːrt/
1 [countable, uncountable] a person or group of people or vehicles that travels with
somebody/something 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 [countable] (formal or old-fashioned) a person, especially a man, who takes somebody to a

particular social event In my day, young women were not allowed out without a suitable escort.

3 [countable] a person, especially a woman, who is paid to go out socially with somebody an
escort service/agency
es·cort verb

BrE /ɪˈskɔːt/ ; NAmE /ɪˈskɔːrt/ escort somebody (+ adverb/preposition) to go with somebody

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.
eth·ni·city noun
BrE /eθˈnɪsəti/ ; NAmE /eθˈnɪsəti/
[uncountable] (specialist)
the fact of belonging to a particular race Many factors are important, for example class, gender,
age and ethnicity.

evolve verb
BrE /iˈvɒlv/ ; NAmE /iˈvɑːlv/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to develop gradually, especially from a simple to a more complicated

form; to develop something in this way evolve (from something) (into something) The idea
evolved from a drawing I discovered in the attic.
The company has evolved into a major chemical manufacturer.
evolve something (from something) Each school must evolve its own way of working.

2 [intransitive, transitive] (biology) (of plants, animals, etc.) to develop over time, often many
generations, into forms that are better adapted to survive changes in their environment evolve
(from something) The three species evolved from a single ancestor.
evolve something The dolphin has evolved a highly developed jaw.

ex·cre·ment noun
BrE /ˈekskrɪmənt/ ; NAmE /ˈekskrɪmənt/
[uncountable] (formal)
solid waste matter that is passed from the body through the bowels
SYNONYM faeces
the pollution of drinking water by untreated human excrement
There was excrement smeared up the wall.

ex·cru·ci·at·ing adjective
BrE /ɪkˈskruːʃieɪtɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ɪkˈskruːʃieɪtɪŋ/
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.
He rolled on the floor in excruciating agony.
The process is painful, but not excruciating.

ex·hibit verb
BrE /ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/ ; NAmE /ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/

1 [transitive, intransitive] to show something in a public place for people to enjoy or to give
them information exhibit something (at/in…) They will be exhibiting their new designs at the
trade fairs.
Only one painting was exhibited in the artist's lifetime.
exhibit (at/in…) He exhibits regularly in local art galleries.

2 [transitive] exhibit something (formal) to show clearly that you have or feel a particular
feeling, quality or ability
SYNONYM display
The patient exhibited signs of fatigue and memory loss.

ex·hibit noun
BrE /ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/ ; NAmE /ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/
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 somebody is guilty or not guilty The first exhibit was
a knife which the prosecution claimed was the murder weapon.

3 (North American English)

= exhibition (1)
The new exhibit will tour a dozen US cities next year.
ex·hib·ition noun
BrE /ˌeksɪˈbɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌeksɪˈbɪʃn/
1 (especially British English) (usually North American English ex·hibit) [countable] 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 [uncountable] exhibition of something the act of showing something, for example works of
art, to the public She refused to allow the exhibition of her husband's work.

3 [singular] an exhibition of something (formal) 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 [countable] (British English) an amount of money that is given as a prize to a student

Idioms
make an exhiˈbition 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.

ex·on·er·ate verb
BrE /ɪɡˈzɒnəreɪt/ ; NAmE /ɪɡˈzɑːnəreɪt/

exonerate somebody (from something) (formal) to officially state that somebody is not
responsible for something that they have been blamed for The police report exonerated Lewis
from all charges of corruption.
The president cannot be exonerated from responsibility for this problem.
The report exonerates the president of any knowledge of the arms deal.

ex·on·er·ation noun
BrE /ɪɡˌzɒnəˈreɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ɪɡˌzɑːnəˈreɪʃn/
[uncountable] (formal)
the act of officially stating that somebody is not responsible for something that they have been
blamed for A DNA test eventually led to his exoneration.
lib·er·ate verb
BrE /ˈlɪbəreɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈlɪbəreɪt/

1 liberate somebody/something (from somebody/something) to free a country or a person

from the control of somebody else The city was liberated by the advancing army.

2 liberate somebody (from something) to free somebody from something that restricts their
control over and enjoyment of their own life Writing poetry liberated her from the routine of
everyday life.

ex·pend·iture noun
BrE /ɪkˈspendɪtʃə(r)/ ; NAmE /ɪkˈspendɪtʃər/
[uncountable, countable]
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.

2 the use of energy, time, materials, etc the expenditure of emotion

This study represents a major expenditure of time and effort.

COMPARE income

ex·pli·cit adjective
BrE /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/ ; NAmE /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/
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 something clearly, exactly and openly

SYNONYM 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 film

COMPARE implicit

im·pli·cit adjective
BrE /ɪmˈplɪsɪt/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈplɪsɪt/
1 implicit (in something) suggested without being directly expressed Implicit in his speech was
the assumption that they were guilty.
implicit criticism
These assumptions are implicit in his writing.

2 implicit (in something) forming part of something (although perhaps not directly expressed)
The ability to listen is implicit in the teacher's role.

3 complete and not doubted

SYNONYM absolute
She had the implicit trust of her staff.

COMPARE explicit

ex·ploit verb
BrE /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ ; NAmE /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/

1 exploit something (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 exploit somebody (disapproving) to treat somebody unfairly by making them work and not
giving them much in return What is being done to stop employers from exploiting young people?

3 exploit something to use something 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 to develop or use something for business or industry exploit something No minerals have yet
been exploited in Antarctica.
exploit something for something countries exploiting the rainforests for hardwood

ex·ploit noun
BrE /ˈeksplɔɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈeksplɔɪt/ [usually plural] a brave, exciting or interesting act the daring
exploits of Roman heroes
The papers were full of her latest amorous exploits.
His courage and exploits were legendary.

ex·ploit·ation noun
BrE /ˌeksplɔɪˈteɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌeksplɔɪˈteɪʃn/
[uncountable]
1 (disapproving) a situation in which somebody treats somebody 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

ex·ploit·ative adjective
BrE /ɪkˈsplɔɪtətɪv/ ; NAmE /ɪkˈsplɔɪtətɪv/
(North American English also ex·ploit·ive BrE /ɪkˈsplɔɪtɪv/ ; NAmE /ɪkˈsplɔɪtɪv/ )
treating somebody unfairly in order to gain an advantage or to make money an exploitative
economic system

ex·pound verb
BrE /ɪkˈspaʊnd/ ; NAmE /ɪkˈspaʊnd/
[transitive, intransitive] (formal)

to explain something by talking about it in detail expound something (to somebody) He

expounded his views on the subject to me at great length.
the theory of language expounded by Chomsky
She expounded her theory further in the course of her talk.
These ideas were originally expounded by Plato.
expound on something We listened as she expounded on the government's new policies.

fad noun
BrE /fæd/ ; NAmE /fæd/
something that people are interested in for only a short period of time
SYNONYM craze
the latest/current fad
a fad for physical fitness
Rap music proved to be more than just a passing fad.

fairy noun
BrE /ˈfeəri/ ; NAmE /ˈferi/
 (plural fairies)
1 (in stories) a creature like a small person, who has magic powers a good/wicked fairy

SEE ALSO tooth fairy

2 (slang, disapproving) an offensive word for a homosexual man

fake adjective
BrE /feɪk/ ; NAmE /feɪk/
1 (disapproving) not genuine; appearing to be something it is not
SYNONYM counterfeit
fake designer clothing
a fake American accent

2 made to look like something else

SYNONYM imitation
a jacket in fake fur
Don't go out in the sun—get a fake tan from a bottle.

fake noun
BrE /feɪk/ ; NAmE /feɪk/
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.
She had long ago sold the diamonds and replaced them with fakes.

2 a person who pretends to be what they are not in order to cheat people

fake verb
BrE /feɪk/ ; NAmE /feɪk/

1 [transitive] fake something to make something false appear to be genuine, especially in order
to cheat somebody She faked her mother's signature on the document.
He arranged the accident in order to fake his own death.

2 [transitive, intransitive] fake (something) to pretend to have a particular feeling, illness, etc
She's not really sick—she's just faking it.
He faked a yawn.

fall verb
BrE /fɔːl/ ; NAmE /fɔːl/
drop down
1 [intransitive] to drop down from a higher level to a lower level September had come and the
leaves were starting to fall.
They were injured by falling rocks.
+ adverb/preposition Several of the books had fallen onto the floor.
One of the kids fell into the river.
The handle had fallen off the drawer.
He fell 20 metres onto the rocks below.
The rain was falling steadily.

stop standing
2 [intransitive] to suddenly stop standing She slipped on the ice and fell.
+ adverb/preposition 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 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to hang down Her hair fell over her shoulders in a mass
of curls.

slope downwards
4 [intransitive] fall (away/off) to slope downwards The land falls away sharply towards the
river.

decrease
5 [intransitive] to decrease in amount, number or strength 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.
+ noun Share prices fell 30p.

OPPOSITE rise
be defeated
6 [intransitive] to be defeated or captured The coup failed but the government fell shortly
afterwards.
fall to somebody Troy finally fell to the Greeks.

die in battle
7 [intransitive] (literary) to die in battle; to be shot a memorial to those who fell in the two world
wars

become
8 [intransitive] to pass into a particular state; to begin to be something + adjective 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.
fall into something I had fallen into conversation with a man on the train.
The house had fallen into disrepair.
+ noun She knew she must not fall prey to his charm.

happen/occur
9 [intransitive] (literary) to come quickly and suddenly
SYNONYM descend
A sudden silence fell.
Darkness falls quickly in the tropics.
fall on somebody/something An expectant hush fell on the guests.

10 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to happen or take place My birthday falls on a Monday

this year.

11 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition 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 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition 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
Idioms containing fall are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example
fall by the wayside is at wayside.
Phrasal Verbs
ˌfall aˈbout
(British English, informal) to laugh a lot fall about doing something We all fell about laughing.

ˌfall aˈpart
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.

ˌfall aˈway
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.

ˌfall ˈback
1 to move or turn back
SYNONYM retreat
The enemy fell back as our troops advanced.

2 to decrease in value or amount Share prices fell back after brisk early trading.

ˌfall ˈback on somebody/something

[no passive] to go to somebody for support; to have something 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

ˌfall beˈhind (somebody/something)
to fail to keep level with somebody/something She soon fell behind the leaders.

ˌfall beˈhind with something

(also ˌfall beˈhind on something especially in North American English)
to not pay or do something at the right time They had fallen behind on their mortgage
repayments.
He's fallen behind with his school work again.

ˌfall ˈdown
to be shown to be not true or not good enough And that's where the theory falls down.

SEE ALSO fall

ˈfall for somebody
[no passive] (informal) to be strongly attracted to somebody; to fall in love with somebody They
fell for each other instantly.

ˈfall for something

[no passive] (informal) to be tricked into believing something that is not true I'm surprised you
fell for that trick.

ˌfall ˈin
if soldiers fall in, they form lines The sergeant ordered his men to fall in.

ˌfall ˈin with somebody/something

[no passive] (British English) to agree to something She fell in with my idea at once.
ˈfall into something
to be able to be divided into something My talk falls naturally into three parts.

ˌfall ˈoff
to decrease in quantity or quality Attendance at my lectures has fallen off considerably.

OPPOSITE rise
ˈfall on/upon somebody/something [no passive] (especially British English)
1 to attack or take hold of somebody/something 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 somebody The full cost of the wedding fell on us.

ˌfall ˈout
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
ˌfall ˈout (with somebody)
to have an argument with somebody so that you are no longer friendly with them
ˌfall ˈover
(informal) (of a computer or program) to stop working suddenly My spreadsheet keeps falling
over.

ˌfall ˈover somebody/something

[no passive] to hit your foot against something when you are walking and fall, or almost fall
SYNONYM trip (1)
I rushed for the door and fell over the cat in the hallway.

SEE ALSO fall

ˌfall ˈover yourself to do something
(informal) to try very hard or want very much to do something He was falling over himself to be
nice to me.

ˌfall ˈthrough
to not be completed, or not happen Our plans fell through because of lack of money.

ˈfall to somebody
to become the duty or responsibility of somebody With his partner away, all the work now fell to
him.
it falls to somebody to do something It fell to me to inform her of her son's death.

ˈfall to something
(literary) to begin to do something fall to doing something She fell to brooding about what had
happened to her.
fall noun
BrE /fɔːl/ ; NAmE /fɔːl/
act of falling
1 [countable] 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 [countable] fall (of something) an amount of snow, rocks, etc. that falls or has fallen a heavy
fall of snow
a rock fall

way something falls/happens

3 [singular] fall of something the way in which something falls or happens the fall of the dice
the dark fall of her hair (= the way her hair hangs down)

of water
4 falls [plural] (especially in names) a large amount of water falling down from a height
SYNONYM waterfall
The falls upstream are full of salmon.
Niagara Falls

autumn
5 [countable] (North American English)
= autumn
in the fall of 2009
last fall
fall weather

decrease
6 [countable] fall (in something) a decrease in size, number, rate or level a steep fall in profits
a big fall in unemployment

OPPOSITE rise
defeat
7 [singular] fall (of something) 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 [singular] a situation in which a person, an organization, etc. loses the respect of other people
because they have done something wrong the TV preacher’s spectacular fall from grace
in Bible
9 the Fall [singular] the occasion when Adam and Eve did not obey God and had to leave the
Garden of Eden

Idioms
be riding for a ˈfall
to be doing something that involves risks and that may end in disaster
break somebody’s ˈfall
to stop somebody from falling onto something hard Luckily, a bush broke his fall.

pride comes/goes before a ˈfall

(saying) if you have too high an opinion of yourself or your abilities, something will happen to
make you look stupid
take the ˈfall (for somebody/something)
(informal, especially North American English) to accept responsibility or punishment for
something that you did not do, or did not do alone He took the fall for his boss and resigned.
Who will take the fall for the scandal?
Someone has to take the fall.

fam·ine noun
BrE /ˈfæmɪn/ ; NAmE /ˈfæmɪn/
[countable, uncountable]
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

femi·nine adjective
BrE /ˈfemənɪn/ ; NAmE /ˈfemənɪn/
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 role

COMPARE 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.
fan·at·ic noun
BrE /fəˈnætɪk/ ; NAmE /fəˈnætɪk/
1 (informal) a person who is extremely enthusiastic about something
SYNONYM enthusiast
a fitness/crossword, etc. fanatic
a self-confessed football fanatic

2 (disapproving) a person who holds extreme or dangerous opinions

SYNONYM extremist
religious fanatics

fang noun
BrE /fæŋ/ ; NAmE /fæŋ/
[usually plural]
either of two long sharp teeth at the front of the mouths of some animals, such as a snake or dog
The snake sank its fangs into its victim.
The wolf growled and bared its sharp fangs.

a far cry from something

a very different experience from something
SYNONYM remote
All this luxury was a far cry from the poverty of his childhood.

feast noun
BrE /fiːst/ ; NAmE /fiːst/
1 a large or special meal, especially for a lot of people and to celebrate something 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 singular] a thing or an event that brings great pleasure a feast of colours
The evening was a real feast for music lovers.

feast verb
BrE /fiːst/ ; NAmE /fiːst/
[intransitive] feast (on something) to eat a large amount of food, with great enjoyment We sat in
the yard feasting on barbecued chicken and beer.

Idioms
feast your ˈeyes (on somebody/something)
to look at somebody/something and get great pleasure

feat noun
BrE /fiːt/ ; NAmE /fiːt/
(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).

fic·tion noun
BrE /ˈfɪkʃn/ ; NAmE /ˈfɪkʃn/
1 [uncountable] a type of literature that describes imaginary people and events, not real ones a
work of popular fiction
historical/romantic fiction

OPPOSITE non-fiction

SEE ALSO science fiction

2 [countable, uncountable] 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

Idioms
ˌtruth is stranger than ˈfiction
(saying) used to say that things that actually happen are often more surprising than stories that
are invented

finch noun
BrE /fɪntʃ/ ; NAmE /fɪntʃ/
(often in compounds) a small bird with a short beak. There are several types of finch.
SEE ALSO bullfinch, chaffinch, goldfinch

flag noun
BrE /flæɡ/ ; NAmE /flæɡ/
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

Idioms
fly/show/wave the ˈflag
to show your support for your country, an organization or an idea to encourage or persuade
others to do the same
keep the ˈflag flying
to represent your country or organization Our exporters keep the flag flying at international
trade exhibitions.

like waving a red flag in front of a ˈbull (US English)

(British English a red rag to a ˈbull)
something that is likely to make somebody very angry

flag verb
BrE /flæɡ/ ; NAmE /flæɡ/

1 [transitive] flag something 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 [intransitive] 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

Phrasal Verbs
ˌflag somebody/somethingˈdown
to signal to the driver of a vehicle to stop by waving at them She flagged down a passing
motorist.

ˌflag somethingˈup
(British English) to draw attention to something The report flagged up the dangers of under-age
drinking.

flaw noun
BrE /flɔː/ ; NAmE /flɔː/
1 a mistake in something that means that it is not correct or does not work correctly
SYNONYM defect, fault
The argument is full of fundamental flaws.
flaw in something The report reveals fatal flaws in security at the airport.
There is still a basic flaw in your selection procedure.

2 flaw (in something) a crack or fault in something that makes it less attractive or valuable The
vase is in excellent condition except for a few small flaws in its base.

3 flaw (in somebody/something) a weakness in somebody’s character There is always a flaw in

the character of a tragic hero.

flawed adjective
BrE /flɔːd/ ; NAmE /flɔːd/
having a flaw; damaged or spoiled seriously/fundamentally/fatally flawed
a flawed argument
the book’s flawed heroine
The study was methodologically flawed.
a series of fatally flawed judgements

flaw·less adjective
BrE /ˈflɔːləs/ ; NAmE /ˈflɔːləs/
without flaws and therefore perfect
SYNONYM perfect
a flawless complexion/performance
Her English is almost flawless.
fleet noun
BrE /fliːt/ ; NAmE /fliːt/
1 [countable] 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 [countable] a group of ships fishing together a fishing/whaling fleet

3 the fleet [singular] all the military ships of a particular country a reduction in the size of the
British fleet

4 [countable] fleet (of something) a group of planes, buses, taxis, etc. travelling together or
owned by the same organization the company’s new fleet of vans

fleet adjective
BrE /fliːt/ ; NAmE /fliːt/
(literary) able to run fast fleet of foot
fleet-footed

fleet·ing adjective
BrE /ˈfliːtɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈfliːtɪŋ/
[usually before noun]
lasting only a short time
SYNONYM brief
a fleeting glimpse/smile
a fleeting moment of happiness
We paid a fleeting visit to Paris.

flicker verb
BrE /ˈflɪkə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈflɪkər/

1 [intransitive] (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 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition (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 [intransitive] to move with small quick movements Her eyelids flickered as she slept.

flicker noun
BrE /ˈflɪkə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈflɪkər/
[usually singular] flicker (of something)
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.

flour·ish verb
BrE /ˈflʌrɪʃ/ ; NAmE /ˈflɜːrɪʃ/

1 [intransitive] to develop quickly and be successful or common

SYNONYM 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 [intransitive] to grow well; to be healthy and happy

SYNONYM thrive
These plants flourish in a damp climate.
(especially British English) I'm glad to hear you're all flourishing.

3 [transitive] flourish something to wave something around in a way that makes people look at
it He rushed into the room flourishing the newspaper.
flour·ish noun
BrE /ˈflʌrɪʃ/ ; NAmE /ˈflɜːrɪʃ/
1 [usually singular] an exaggerated movement that you make when you want somebody to notice
you He opened the door for her with a flourish.
With a final flourish she laid down her pen.

2 [usually singular] an impressive act or way of doing something The season ended with a
flourish for Rooney, 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 singular] a loud short piece of music, that is usually played to announce an important
person or event a flourish of trumpets

fly off the ˈhandle

(informal) to suddenly become very angry He seems to fly off the handle about the slightest
thing these days.

fond adjective
BrE /fɒnd/ ; NAmE /fɑːnd/
(fond·er, fond·est)
1 fond of somebody feeling affection for somebody, especially somebody 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.

+ SYNONYMS

2 fond of (doing) something finding something pleasant or enjoyable, especially something 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.

+ SYNONYMS

3 fond of (doing) something liking to do something 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
SYNONYM 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] fond hope a hope about something that is not likely to happen I waited all
day in the fond hope that she would change her mind.

fore·bod·ing adjective
BrE /fɔːˈbəʊdɪŋ/ ; NAmE /fɔːrˈboʊdɪŋ/
[only before noun]
making you feel that something unpleasant or dangerous is going to happen a foreboding feeling
that something was wrong

fore·bod·ing noun
BrE /fɔːˈbəʊdɪŋ/ ; NAmE /fɔːrˈboʊdɪŋ/
[uncountable, countable]
a strong feeling that something 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.

fore·gone adjective
BrE /ˈfɔːɡɒn/ ; NAmE /ˈfɔːrɡɔːn/
Idioms
a ˌforegone conˈclusion
if you say that something 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.

fore·see·able adjective
BrE /fɔːˈsiːəbl/ ; NAmE /fɔːrˈsiːəbl/
that you can predict will happen; that can be foreseen foreseeable risks/consequences
There was no foreseeable possibility of such a plan being adopted.
We have to take into account all foreseeable circumstances.

OPPOSITE unforeseeable
Idioms
for/in the foreseeable ˈfuture
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).

fore·see verb
BrE /fɔːˈsiː/ ; NAmE /fɔːrˈsiː/

to think something is going to happen in the future; to know about something before it happens
SYNONYM predict
foresee something We do not foresee any problems.
The extent of the damage could not have been foreseen.
foresee (that)… No one could have foreseen (that) things would turn out this way.
foresee how, what, etc… It is impossible to foresee how life will work out.
foresee somebody/something doing something I just didn't foresee that happening.

COMPARE unforeseen

forth·com·ing adjective
BrE /ˌfɔːθˈkʌmɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˌfɔːrθˈkʌmɪŋ/
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 something She's never very forthcoming
about her plans.

OPPOSITE unforthcoming

forth·right adjective
BrE /ˈfɔːθraɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈfɔːrθraɪt/
direct and honest in manner and speech
SYNONYM frank
a woman of forthright views
He spoke in a forthright manner but without anger.
MacTavish was characteristically forthright in his reply.
She’s always been very forthright about her preferences.
fort·night noun
BrE /ˈfɔːtnaɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
[usually singular] (British English)
two weeks a fortnight’s holiday
a fortnight ago
in a fortnight’s time
He's had three accidents in the past fortnight.
We hope to leave in the next fortnight.
We’ve spent the last fortnight in Spain.

fos·ter verb
BrE /ˈfɒstə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈfɔːstər/ , /ˈfɑːstər/

1 [transitive] foster something to encourage something to develop

SYNONYM encourage, promote
The club's aim is to foster better relations within the community.

2 [transitive, intransitive] foster (somebody) (especially British English) to take another

person’s child into your home for a period of time, without becoming his or her legal parents
They have fostered over 60 children during the past ten years.
We couldn't adopt a child, so we decided to foster.

COMPARE adopt

adopt verb
BrE /əˈdɒpt/ ; NAmE /əˈdɑːpt/

child
1 [intransitive, transitive] to take somebody else’s child into your family and become its legal
parent(s) a campaign to encourage childless couples to adopt
adopt somebody to adopt a child
She was forced to have her baby adopted.

COMPARE foster

method
2 [transitive] adopt something to start to use a particular method or to show a particular attitude
towards somebody/something All three teams adopted different approaches to the problem.
suggestion
3 [transitive] adopt something 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 [transitive] adopt something 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 [transitive] adopt something (formal) to use a particular manner, way of speaking, expression,
etc He adopted an air of indifference.

candidate
6 [transitive] adopt somebody (as something) (British English, politics) to choose somebody as
a candidate in an election or as a representative She was adopted as parliamentary candidate for
Wood Green.

fra·ter·nal adjective
BrE /frəˈtɜːnl/ ; NAmE /frəˈtɜːrnl/
[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

fraˌternal ˈtwin noun

BrE ; NAmE
(also ˌnon-iˌdentical ˈtwin, specialist ˌdizyˌgotic ˈtwin)
either of two children or animals born from the same mother at the same time but not from the
same egg
COMPARE identical twin, monozygotic twin

fraud noun
BrE /frɔːd/ ; NAmE /frɔːd/
1 [uncountable, countable] the crime of cheating somebody 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
+ COLLOCATIONS

2 [countable] 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 [countable] something that is not as good, useful, etc. as people claim it is

freak noun
BrE /friːk/ ; NAmE /friːk/
1 (informal) a person with a very strong interest in a particular subject a health/fitness/jazz, etc.
freak

SEE 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 ˌfreak of ˈnature) () 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.

freak adjective
BrE /friːk/ ; NAmE /friːk/
[only before noun] (of an event or the weather) very unusual and unexpected a freak
accident/storm/occurrence
freak weather conditions

freak verb
BrE /friːk/ ; NAmE /friːk/

[intransitive, transitive] (informal) if somebody freaks or if something freaks them, they react
very strongly to something that makes them suddenly feel shocked, surprised, frightened, etc
freak (out) My parents really freaked when they saw my hair.
freak somebody (out) Snakes really freak me out.

freak·ish adjective
BrE /ˈfriːkɪʃ/ ; NAmE /ˈfriːkɪʃ/
very strange, unusual or unexpected freakish weather/behaviour

fresh·er noun
BrE /ˈfreʃə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈfreʃər/
(British English, 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)

fuel noun
BrE /ˈfjuːəl/ ; NAmE /ˈfjuːəl/
1 [uncountable, countable] 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 [uncountable] a thing that is said or done that makes something, 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.

fuel verb
BrE /ˈfjuːəl/ ; NAmE /ˈfjuːəl/

1 [transitive] fuel something to supply something with material that can be burnt to produce heat
or power Uranium is used to fuel nuclear plants.
oil-fuelled power stations

2 [transitive, intransitive] fuel (something) (up) to put petrol/gas into a vehicle The helicopter
was already fuelled (up) and ready to go.

3 [transitive] fuel something to increase something; to make something stronger

SYNONYM stoke
to fuel speculation/rumours/fears
Higher salaries helped to fuel inflation.

ˌfull-ˈblown adjective
BrE ; NAmE
[only before noun]
having all the characteristics of somebody/something; fully developed full-blown AIDS
The border dispute turned into a full-blown crisis.
fund noun
BrE /fʌnd/ ; NAmE /fʌnd/
1 [countable] 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 [plural] 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 moment—can I pay you back next week?

3 [singular] fund of something an amount or a supply of something a fund of knowledge

fund verb
BrE /fʌnd/ ; NAmE /fʌnd/

fund something to provide money for something, usually something official a dance festival
funded by the Arts Council
The museum is privately funded.
a government-funded programme

fur noun
BrE /fɜː(r)/ ; NAmE /fɜːr/
1 [uncountable] the soft thick mass of hair that grows on the body of some animals The cat
carefully licked its fur.

2 [uncountable] 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 [uncountable] an artificial material that looks and feels like fur

4 [countable] a piece of clothing, especially a coat or jacket, made of real or artificial fur elegant
ladies in furs

5 (British English)
= scale
6 [uncountable] a greyish-white layer that forms on a person’s tongue, especially when they are
ill/sick
SEE ALSO furred

fur·red adjective
BrE /fɜːd/ ; NAmE /fɜːrd/
covered with fur or with something that looks like fur a furred tongue

furi·ous adjective
BrE /ˈfjʊəriəs/ ; NAmE /ˈfjʊriəs/
1 very angry furious (at something/somebody) She was absolutely furious at having been
deceived.
furious (with somebody/yourself) He was furious with himself for letting things get so out of
control.
furious (that…) 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

fury noun
BrE /ˈfjʊəri/ ; NAmE /ˈfjʊri/
1 [uncountable] extreme anger that often includes violent behaviour
SYNONYM 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 [singular] a state of being extremely angry about something

SYNONYM rage
He flew into a fury when I refused.

3 the Furies [plural] (in ancient Greek stories) three goddesses who punish people for their
crimes
SEE ALSO furious

Idioms
hell hath no ˈfury (like a woman ˈscorned)
used to refer to somebody, usually a woman, who has reacted very angrily to something,
especially the fact that her husband or lover has been unfaithful
like fury
(informal) with great effort, power, speed, etc.

fur·nace noun
BrE /ˈfɜːnɪs/ ; NAmE /ˈfɜːrnɪs/
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 North American English)
= boiler

fur·ore noun
BrE /fjuˈrɔːri/ , /ˈfjʊərɔː(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈfjʊrrɔːr/
(also furor BrE /ˈfjʊərɔː(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈfjʊrɔːr/ especially in North American English) [singular]
great anger or excitement shown by a number of people, usually caused by a public event furore
(among somebody) His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians.
furore (about/over something) the recent furore over the tax increases

SYNONYM uproar

up·roar noun
BrE /ˈʌprɔː(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈʌprɔːr/
[uncountable, singular]
1 a situation in which people shout and make a lot of noise because they are angry or upset about
something The room was in (an) uproar.
Her comments provoked (an) uproar from the audience.
We could no longer hear him above the uproar.

2 a situation in which there is a lot of public criticism and angry argument about something that
somebody has said or done
SYNONYM outcry
The article caused (an) uproar.

fuss noun
BrE /fʌs/ ; NAmE /fʌs/
1 [uncountable, singular] 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 movie—I 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 [singular] anger or complaints about something, especially something 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.

Idioms
make a fuss of/over somebody
to pay a lot of attention to somebody, usually to show how much you like them They made a
great fuss of the baby.
The dog loves being made a fuss of.

fussi·ness noun
BrE /ˈfʌsinəs/ ; NAmE /ˈfʌsinəs/
[uncountable]
1 behaviour that is too concerned or worried about details or standards, especially unimportant
ones
2 a manner of doing things with small, quick, nervous movements
3 the fact of having too much detail or decoration

fuss·ily adverb
BrE ; NAmE
1 in a way that is too concerned or worried about details or standards, especially unimportant
ones
2 with small, quick, nervous movements
3 with too much detail or decoration

fu·tur·is·tic adjective
BrE /ˌfjuːtʃəˈrɪstɪk/ ; NAmE /ˌfjuːtʃəˈrɪstɪk/
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

The cover of the novel shows a futuristic city on the moon.

fuzzy adjective
BrE /ˈfʌzi/ ; NAmE /ˈfʌzi/
(fuzz·ier, fuzzi·est)
1 covered with short soft fine hair or fur
SYNONYM downy
2 (of hair) in a mass of tight curls
3 not clear in shape or sound
SYNONYM 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’

gauge (also US English gage) noun

BrE /ɡeɪdʒ/ ; NAmE /ɡeɪdʒ/
1 (often in compounds) an instrument for measuring the amount or level of something a
fuel/petrol/temperature, etc. gauge

2 a measurement of the width or thickness of something What gauge of wire do we need?

3 (also bore especially in British English) 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 singular] gauge (of something) a fact or an event that can be used to estimate or judge
something Tomorrow's game against Arsenal will be a good gauge of their promotion chances.

gauge (also US English gage) verb

BrE /ɡeɪdʒ/ ; NAmE /ɡeɪdʒ/

1 to make a judgement about something, especially people’s feelings or attitudes gauge

something They interviewed employees to gauge their reaction to the changes.
He tried to gauge her mood.
gauge whether, how, etc… It was difficult to gauge whether she was angry or not.

2 gauge something to measure something accurately using a special instrument precision

instruments that can gauge the diameter to a fraction of a millimetre

3 gauge something gauge how, what, etc… to calculate something approximately 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.
gear noun
BrE /ɡɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /ɡɪr/
in vehicle
1 [countable, usually plural] 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 [uncountable, countable] 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
(British English) bottom/top gear
(British English) to change gear
(North American English) 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.

+ COLLOCATIONS

equipment/clothes
3 [uncountable] the equipment or clothing needed for a particular activity
climbing/fishing/sports, etc. gear

SEE ALSO headgear, riot gear

+ SYNONYMS

4 [uncountable] (informal) clothes wearing the latest gear

+ SYNONYMS

possessions
5 [uncountable] (informal) the things that a person owns I've left all my gear at Dave's house.

machinery
6 [uncountable] (often in compounds) a piece of machinery used for a particular purpose
lifting/towing/winding, etc. gear

SEE ALSO landing gear

speed/effort
7 [uncountable, countable] used to talk about the speed or effort involved in doing something
(British English) The party organization is moving into top gear as the election approaches.
(North American English) 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 [uncountable] (slang) illegal drugs

Idioms
get your ˈass in gear, move your ˈass
(slang, especially North American English) a rude way of telling somebody to hurry If you get
your ass in gear, we can make it out of here tonight.

get into ˈgear, get something into ˈgear

to start working, or to start something working, in an efficient way
(slip/be thrown) out of ˈgear
(of emotions or situations) (to become) out of control She said nothing in case her temper
slipped out of gear.

gear verb
BrE /ɡɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /ɡɪr/

Phrasal Verbs
ˈgear something to/towards something
[usually passive] to make, change or prepare something so that it is suitable for a particular
purpose The course had been geared towards the specific needs of its members.
Our training programmes are geared specifically to the needs of older workers.
an economy exclusively geared towards tourism

ˌgear ˈup (for/to something) | ˌgear somebody/somethingˈup (for/to something)

to prepare yourself/somebody/something to do something Cycle organizations are gearing up for
National Bike Week.

SEE ALSO geared

geared adjective
BrE /ɡɪəd/ ; NAmE /ɡɪrd/
[not before noun]
1 geared to/towards something geared to do something 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 geared up (for something) geared up (to do something) prepared and ready for something
We have people on board geared up to help with any problems.

genu·ine adjective
BrE /ˈdʒenjuɪn/ ; NAmE /ˈdʒenjuɪn/
1 real; exactly what it appears to be; not artificial
SYNONYM 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

genu·ine·ly adverb
BrE /ˈdʒenjuɪnli/ ; NAmE /ˈdʒenjuɪnli/
1 truly; in a way that is exactly what it appears to be and is not artificial There are some
genuinely funny moments in the film.
The election result was genuinely democratic.
a genuinely new kind of politician

2 in a sincere and honest way that can be trusted She was genuinely sorry.

ges·ture noun
BrE /ˈdʒestʃə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈdʒestʃər/
1 [countable, uncountable] 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 [countable] 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 something that
the public will like).

ges·ture verb
BrE /ˈdʒestʃə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈdʒestʃər/

[intransitive, transitive] to move your hands, head, face, etc. as a way of expressing what you
mean or want (+ adverb/preposition) ‘I see you read a lot,’ he said, gesturing at the wall of
books.
gesture to somebody (to do something) He gestured to the guards and they withdrew.
gesture for somebody to do something She gestured for them to come in.
gesture (to somebody) (that)… He gestured (to me) that it was time to go.
They gestured that I should follow.

gist noun
BrE /dʒɪst/ ; NAmE /dʒɪst/
(also the gist) [singular] gist (of something) 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 lecture—can 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.

give verb
BrE /ɡɪv/ ; NAmE /ɡɪv/

hand/provide
1 [transitive] to hand something to somebody so that they can look at it, use it or keep it for a
time give something to somebody Give the letter to your mother when you've read it.
She gave her ticket to the woman at the check-in desk.
give somebody something Give your mother the letter.
They were all given a box to carry.

2 [transitive, intransitive] to hand something to somebody as a present; to allow somebody to

have something as a present give somebody something What are you giving your father for his
birthday?
She was given a huge bunch of flowers.
Did you give the waiter a tip?
give something to somebody We don't usually give presents to people at work.
give (something) They say it's better to give than to receive.
3 [transitive] to provide somebody with something give somebody something 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).
give something to somebody He gives Italian lessons to his colleagues.
The reforms should give a better chance to the less able children.

money
4 [intransitive, transitive] to pay money to a charity, etc., to help people We need your help—
please give generously.
give to something They both gave regularly to charity.
give something (to something) I gave a small donation.

5 [transitive] to pay in order to have or do something give somebody something (for something)
How much will you give me for the car?
give something I'd give anything to see him again.
give something for something I gave £50 for the lot.

treat as important
6 [transitive] to use time, energy, etc. for somebody/something give somebody/something
something I gave the matter a lot of thought.
give something to somebody/something I gave a lot of thought to the matter.
The government has given top priority to reforming the tax system.

punishment
7 [transitive] to make somebody suffer a particular punishment give somebody something The
judge gave him a nine-month suspended sentence.
give something to somebody We discussed what punishment should be given to the boys.

illness
8 [transitive] to infect somebody with an illness give somebody something You've given me your
cold.
give something to somebody She'd given the bug to all her colleagues.

party/event
9 [transitive] give something if you give a party, you organize it and invite people
10 [transitive] give something to perform something in public She gave a reading from her
latest volume of poetry.
The President will be giving a press conference this afternoon.
do/produce something
11 [transitive] used with a noun to describe a particular action, giving the same meaning as the
related verb give something She gave a shrug of her shoulders (= 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.
give somebody something 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 [transitive] give somebody something to produce a particular feeling in somebody All that
driving has given me a headache.
Go for a walk. It'll give you an appetite.

telephone call
13 [transitive] give somebody something to make a telephone call to somebody Give me a call
tomorrow.
I'll give you a ring.

mark/grade
14 [transitive] give somebody/something something give something (to
somebody/something) to judge somebody/something to be of a particular standard She had
given the assignment an A.
I give it ten out of ten for originality.

predict how long

15 [transitive] give somebody/something something to predict that something will last a
particular length of time That marriage won't last. I'll give them two years, at the outside.

in sport
16 [transitive] give somebody/something + adjective to say that a player or the ball is in a
particular position The umpire gave the ball out.

bend
17 [intransitive] to bend or stretch under pressure The branch began to give under his weight.
(figurative) We can't go on like this—something's got to give.

18 [intransitive] to agree to change your mind or give up some of your demands You're going to
have to give a little.

Idioms
Most idioms containing give are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for
example, give rise to something is at risen.
don’t give me ˈthat
(informal) used to tell somebody that you do not accept what they say ‘I didn't have time to do
it.’ ‘Oh, don't give me that!’

ˌgive and ˈtake

to be willing, in a relationship, to accept what somebody 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 ˈget

to react with equal force when somebody attacks or criticizes you She can give as good as she
gets.

give it up (for somebody)

(informal) to show your approval of somebody by clapping your hands Give it up for Eddie
Murphy!

ˈgive me something/somebody (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 ˈtake (something)

if something 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 somebody to believe/understand (that)…

[often passive] (formal) to make somebody believe/understand something I was given to
understand that she had resigned.

I give you…
used to ask people to drink a toast to somebody Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Geoff Ogilby!

I/I’ll give you ˈthat

(informal) used when you are admitting that something is true
what ˈgives?
(informal) what is happening?; what is the news?
Phrasal Verbs
ˌgive somebody aˈway
(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.

ˌgive somethingaˈway
1 to give something as a gift He gave away most of his money to charity.
(informal) Check out the prices of our pizzas—we're virtually giving them away!
RELATED NOUN giveaway
2 to present something The mayor gave away the prizes at the school sports day.

3 to carelessly allow somebody to have an advantage They've given away two goals already.

ˌgive something/somebodyaˈway
to make known something that somebody wants to keep secret
SYNONYM 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

ˌgive somebody somethingˈback | ˌgive somethingˈback (to somebody)
1 to return something 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 somebody to have something again The operation gave him back the use of his legs.

ˌgive ˈin (to somebody/something)

1 to admit that you have been defeated by somebody/something The rebels were forced to give
in.

2 to agree to do something that you do not want to do The authorities have shown no signs of
giving in to the kidnappers' demands.

ˌgive something ˈin (to somebody) (British English)

(also ˌhand somethingˈin (to somebody) British English, North American English)
to hand over something to somebody in authority Please give your work in before Monday.

ˌgive ˈoff something

to produce something 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.

ˈgive on to/onto something

[no passive] (British English) to have a view of something; to lead directly to something The
bedroom windows give on to the street.
This door gives onto the hall.

ˌgive ˈout
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-air.

Her legs gave out and she collapsed.

ˌgive somethingˈout
to give something to a lot of people The teacher gave out the exam papers.

ˌgive ˈout something

1 to produce something such as heat, light, etc The radiator gives out a lot of heat.

2 [often passive] (especially British English) to tell people about something or broadcast
something
ˌgive ˈover
(British English, informal) used to tell somebody to stop doing something Give over, Chris!
You're hurting me.
give over doing something Give over complaining!

ˌgive yourself ˈover to something

(also ˌgive yourself ˈup to something)
to spend all your time doing something or thinking about something; to allow something to
completely control your life
ˌgive somethingˈover to something
[usually passive] to use something for one particular purpose The gallery is given over to British
art.

ˌgive ˈup
to stop trying to do something They gave up without a fight.
She doesn't give up easily.
I give up—tell me the answer.

ˌgive somebody ˈup

1
(also ˌgive ˈup on somebody especially in North American English)
to believe that somebody 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 somebody Why don't you give him up?

ˌgive somethingˈup
1 [no passive] to stop doing or having something She didn't give up work when she had the
baby.
We'd given up hope of ever having children.
give up doing something You ought to give up smoking.

2 to spend time on a task that you would normally spend on something else I gave up my
weekend to help him paint his apartment.
 ˌgive somethingˈup (to somebody)
to hand something over to somebody 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).

ˌgive yourself/somebody ˈup (to somebody)

to offer yourself/somebody to be captured After a week on the run he gave himself up to the
police.

ˌgive yourself ˈup to something

= give yourself over to something
ˌgive ˈup on somebody
1 to stop hoping or believing that somebody will change, get better, etc His teachers seem to
have given up on him.

2 (especially North American English)

= give somebody up

glare verb
BrE /ɡleə(r)/ ; NAmE /ɡler/

1 [intransitive] glare (at somebody/something) to look at somebody/something in an angry way

SYNONYM glower
He didn't shout, he just glared at me silently.
I looked at her and she glared furiously back.

2 [intransitive] to shine with a very bright unpleasant light

glare noun
BrE /ɡleə(r)/ ; NAmE /ɡler/
1 [uncountable, singular] 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 [countable] a long, angry look to give somebody a hostile glare

- SYNONYMS

look
glance gaze stare glimpse glare
These are all words for an act of looking, when you turn your eyes in a particular direction.look
an act of looking at somebody/something:Here, have a look at this.
glance a quick look:She stole a glance at her watch.
gaze a long steady look at somebody/something:She felt embarrassed under his steady gaze.
stare a long look at somebody/something, especially in a way that is unfriendly or that shows
surprise:She gave the officer a blank stare and shrugged her shoulders.
glimpse a look at somebody/something for a very short time, when you do not see the person or
thing completely:He caught a glimpse of her in the crowd.
glare a long angry look at somebody/something:She fixed her questioner with a hostile glare.

Patterns
a look/glance at somebody/something
a penetrating/piercing look/glance/gaze/stare
a long look/glance/stare
a brief look/glance/glimpse
to have/get/take a look/glance/glimpse
to avoid somebody’s glance/gaze/stare

- SYNONYMS

stare
gaze peer glare
These words all mean to look at somebody/something for a long time.stare to look at
somebody/something for a long time, especially with surprise or fear, or because you are
thinking:I screamed and everyone stared.
gaze (rather formal) to look steadily at somebody/something for a long time, especially with
surprise or love, or because you are thinking:We all gazed at Marco in amazement.
peer to look closely or carefully at something, especially when you cannot see it clearly
glare to look angrily at somebody/something for a long time:I looked at her and she glared
stonily back.

Patterns
to stare/gaze/peer/glare at somebody/something
to stare/gaze/peer/glare suspiciously
to stare/gaze/peer anxiously/intently
to stare/gaze/glare wildly/fiercely

glean verb
BrE /ɡliːn/ ; NAmE /ɡliːn/

glean something (from somebody/something) to obtain information, knowledge, etc.,

sometimes with difficulty and often from various different places These figures have been
gleaned from a number of studies.
glean·ings noun
BrE /ˈɡliːnɪŋz/ ; NAmE /ˈɡliːnɪŋz/
[plural]
information, knowledge, etc., that you obtain from various different places, often with difficulty

glee noun
BrE /ɡliː/ ; NAmE /ɡliː/
[uncountable]
a feeling of happiness, usually because something good has happened to you, or something bad
has happened to somebody else
SYNONYM 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.

glee·ful adjective
BrE /ˈɡliːfl/ ; NAmE /ˈɡliːfl/
happy because of something good you have done or something bad that has happened to
somebody else a gleeful laugh

grant verb
BrE /ɡrɑːnt/ ; NAmE /ɡrænt/

1 [often passive] to agree to give somebody what they ask for, especially formal or legal
permission to do something grant something My request was granted.
grant somebody something I was granted permission to visit the palace.
She was granted a divorce.
He was granted a licence to mine in the area.
The bank finally granted me a £500 loan.
grant something to somebody/something The bank finally granted a £500 loan to me.
These lands had been granted to the family in perpetuity.

2 to admit that something is true, although you may not like or agree with it grant somebody
She's a smart woman, I grant you, but she's no genius.
grant (somebody) (that)… I grant you (that) it looks good, but it’s not exactly practical.

Idioms
take somebody/something for ˈgranted
to be so used to somebody/something 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.

take it for ˈgranted (that…)

to believe something 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.
grant noun
BrE /ɡrɑːnt/ ; NAmE /ɡrænt/
grant (to do something) 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·ed adverb
BrE /ˈɡrɑːntɪd/ ; NAmE /ˈɡræntɪd/
used to show that you accept that something 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.

grant·ed conjunction
BrE /ˈɡrɑːntɪd/ ; NAmE /ˈɡræntɪd/
granted (that…) because of the fact that Granted that it is a simple test to perform, it should be
easy to get results quickly.

grati·tude noun
BrE /ˈɡrætɪtjuːd/ ; NAmE /ˈɡrætɪtuːd/
[uncountable]
the feeling of being grateful and wanting to express your thanks He smiled at them with
gratitude.
gratitude (to somebody) (for something) 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).

OPPOSITE ingratitude

gra·tuit·ous adjective
BrE /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs/ ; NAmE /ɡrəˈtuːɪtəs/
(disapproving)
done without any good reason or purpose and often having harmful effects
SYNONYM unnecessary
gratuitous violence on television
It was a completely gratuitous insult which the singer’s agent was forced to apologize for.
greet verb
BrE /ɡriːt/ ; NAmE /ɡriːt/

1 to say hello to somebody or to welcome them greet somebody He greeted all the guests
warmly as they arrived.
The winning team was greeted by cheering crowds.
greet somebody with something She greeted us with a smile.

SEE ALSO meet-and-greet

2 [usually passive] to react to somebody/something in a particular way greet
somebody/something Loud cheers greeted the news.
greet somebody/something with something The changes were greeted with suspicion.
greet somebody/something as something The team's win was greeted as a major triumph.

3 [usually passive] greet somebody (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.

grief noun
BrE /ɡriːf/ ; NAmE /ɡriːf/
1 [uncountable, countable] grief (over/at something) a feeling of great sadness, especially when
somebody dies She was overcome with grief when her husband died.
They were able to share their common joys and griefs.

2 [countable, usually singular] something that causes great sadness It was a grief to them that
they had no children.

3 [uncountable] (informal) problems and worry He caused his parents a lot of grief.

Idioms
come to ˈgrief (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 somebody ˈgrief (about/over something)

(informal) to be annoyed with somebody and criticize their behaviour
good ˈgrief!
(informal) used to express surprise or shock Good grief! What a mess!

ˈgrief-stricken adjective
BrE ; NAmE
 feeling extremely sad because of something that has happened, especially the death of
somebody There was no way of consoling her grief-stricken family.

griev·ance noun
BrE /ˈɡriːvəns/ ; NAmE /ˈɡriːvəns/
grievance (against somebody) 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 somebody your
complaints at work)?
These interviews aim to deal with individual grievances.

grieve verb
BrE /ɡriːv/ ; NAmE /ɡriːv/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to feel very sad, especially because somebody has died grieve (for/over
somebody/something) They are still grieving for their dead child.
grieving relatives
grieve somebody/something She grieved the death of her husband.

2 [transitive] (formal) to make you feel very sad

SYNONYM pain
it grieves somebody that… It grieved him that he could do nothing to help her.
grieve somebody Their lack of interest grieved her.
it grieves somebody to do something It grieved her to leave.

Idioms
what the eye doesn’t ˈsee (the heart doesn’t ˈgrieve over)
(saying) if a person does not know about something 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…!

griev·ous adjective
BrE /ˈɡriːvəs/ ; NAmE /ˈɡriːvəs/
(formal)
very serious and often causing great pain or suffering He had been the victim of a grievous
injustice.

halt verb
BrE /hɔːlt/ , also /hɒlt/ ; NAmE /hɔːlt/
[intransitive, transitive] to stop; to make somebody/something stop She walked towards him and
then halted.
‘Halt!’ the Major ordered (= used as a command to soldiers).
halt somebody/something The police were halting traffic on the parade route.
The trial was halted after the first week.

Idioms
stop/halt somebody in their ˈtracks, stop/halt/freeze in your ˈtracks
to suddenly make somebody stop by frightening or surprising them; to suddenly stop because
something has frightened or surprised you The question stopped Alice in her tracks.

halt noun
BrE /hɔːlt/ , also /hɒlt/ ; NAmE /hɔːlt/
1 [singular] an act of stopping the movement or progress of somebody/something Work came to
a halt when the machine broke down.
The thought brought her to an abrupt halt.
The car skidded to a halt.
Strikes have led to a halt in production.
They decided it was time to call a halt to the project (= stop it officially).

2 [countable] (British English) a small train station in the country that has a platform but no
buildings

Idioms
bring something to a grinding ˈhalt
to make something gradually go slower until it stops completely Roadworks brought traffic to a
grinding halt.

grind to a ˈhalt, come to a grinding ˈhalt

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.

halt·ing adjective
BrE /ˈhɔːltɪŋ/ , also /ˈhɒltɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈhɔːltɪŋ/
[usually before noun]
(especially of speech or movement) stopping and starting often, especially because you are not
certain or are not very confident
SYNONYM hesitant
a halting conversation
a toddler’s first few halting steps
Europe’s halting progress towards greater unity
hand·rail noun
BrE /ˈhændreɪl/ ; NAmE /ˈhændreɪl/
a long narrow bar that you can hold onto for support, for example when you are going up or
down stairs

har·ass·ment noun
BrE ; NAmE
[uncountable]
1 the act of annoying or worrying somebody by putting pressure on them or saying or doing
unpleasant things to them racial/sexual harassment

2 the act of making repeated attacks on an enemy guerrilla harassment of the enemy

har·ass verb
BrE /ˈhærəs/ ; NAmE /ˈhærəs/ ; BrE /həˈræs/ ; NAmE /həˈræs/

1 [often passive] harass somebody to annoy or worry somebody by putting pressure on them or
saying or doing unpleasant things to them He has complained of being harassed by the police.
She claims she has been sexually harassed at work.

2 harass somebody/something to make repeated attacks on an enemy

SYNONYM harry
Our convoys are being continually harassed by enemy submarines.
Greenpeace has been harassing whaling operations at sea.

har·assed adjective
BrE /ˈhærəst/ ; NAmE /ˈhærəst/ ; BrE /həˈræst/ ; NAmE /həˈræst/
tired and anxious because you have too much to do a harassed-looking waiter
harassed mothers with their children
He was beginning to feel rather harassed.
Helen looked pale and harassed.

has·ten verb
BrE /ˈheɪsn/ ; NAmE /ˈheɪsn/

1 [intransitive] hasten to do something to say or do something without delay She saw his frown
and hastened to explain.
He has been described as a ‘charmless bore’—not by me, I hasten to add.
2 [transitive] hasten something (formal) to make something happen sooner or more quickly The
treatment she received may, in fact, have hastened her death.
News of the scandal certainly hastened his departure from office.

3 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition (literary) to go or move somewhere quickly

SYNONYM hurry
We hastened back to Rome.

haste noun
BrE /heɪst/ ; NAmE /heɪst/
[uncountable] (formal)
speed in doing something, especially because you do not have enough time
SYNONYM hurry
In her haste to complete the work on time, she made a number of mistakes.
The letter had clearly been written in haste.
After his first wife died, he married again with almost indecent haste.
Why all the haste?
(old-fashioned) She made haste to open the door.

Idioms
marry in ˈhaste (, repent at ˈleisure)
(saying) people who marry quickly, without really getting to know each other, may discover later
that they have made a mistake
ˌmore ˈhaste, ˌless ˈspeed
(British English, saying) you will finish doing something sooner if you do not try to do it too
quickly because you will make fewer mistakes

hasti·ly adverb
BrE /ˈheɪstɪli/ ; NAmE /ˈheɪstɪli/
1 very quickly, because you are in a hurry, especially when this has bad results
SYNONYM hurriedly
She hastily changed the subject.

2 too quickly, without giving enough thought Perhaps I spoke too hastily.

hat·red noun
BrE /ˈheɪtrɪd/ ; NAmE /ˈheɪtrɪd/
[uncountable, countable]
a very strong feeling of dislike for somebody/something He looked at me with intense hatred.
There was fear and hatred in his voice.
hatred (for/of somebody/something) She felt nothing but hatred for her attacker.
a profound hatred of war
hatred (towards somebody) feelings of hatred towards the bombers
racial hatred (= between people from different races)
The debate simply revived old hatreds.

head·way noun
BrE /ˈhedweɪ/ ; NAmE /ˈhedweɪ/
[uncountable]

Idioms
make ˈheadway
to make progress, especially when this is slow or difficult We are making little headway with the
negotiations.
The boat was unable to make much headway against the tide.
Some headway has been made towards restoring the balance of power.

hemp noun
BrE /hemp/ ; NAmE /hemp/
[uncountable]
a plant which is used for making rope and cloth, and also to make the drug cannabis

herd noun
BrE /hɜːd/ ; NAmE /hɜːrd/
1 a group of animals of the same type that live and feed together a herd of cows/deer/elephants
a beef/dairy herd

COMPARE flock
2 (usually disapproving) a large group of people of the same type She pushed her way through a
herd of lunchtime drinkers.
the common herd (= ordinary people)
Why follow the herd (= do and think the same as everyone else)?

Idioms
ride ˈherd on somebody/something
(North American English, informal) to keep watch or control over somebody/something police
riding herd on crowds of youths on the streets

herd verb
BrE /hɜːd/ ; NAmE /hɜːrd/
1 [intransitive, transitive] to move or make somebody/something move in a particular direction +
adverb/preposition We all herded on to the bus.
herd somebody/something + adverb/preposition They were herded together into trucks and
driven away.

2 [transitive] herd something to make animals move together as a group a shepherd herding his
flock

Idioms
like herding ˈcats (informal)
used to describe a very difficult task, especially one that involves organizing people Managing a
political party is a lot like herding cats.

herd·er noun
BrE ; NAmE
a person whose job is to take care of a group of animals such as sheep and cows in the
countryside

hero·ic adjective
BrE /həˈrəʊɪk/ ; NAmE /həˈroʊɪk/
1 showing extreme courage and admired by many people
SYNONYM courageous
a heroic figure
Rescuers made heroic efforts to save the crew.

2 showing great determination to succeed or to achieve something, especially something difficult

We watched our team's heroic struggle to win back the cup.

3 that is about or involves a hero a heroic story/poem

heroic deeds/myths

4 very large or great This was foolishness on a heroic scale.

hero·ic·al·ly adverb
BrE /həˈrəʊɪkli/ ; NAmE /həˈroʊɪkli/
1 in a way that shows extreme courage and that is admired by many people
SYNONYM courageously
She worked heroically to help others escape.

2 in a way that shows great determination to succeed or to achieve something, especially

something difficult He heroically struggled up the hill.

3 in a way that is very large or great heroically scaled portraits

heur·is·tic adjective
BrE /hjuˈrɪstɪk/ ; NAmE /hjuˈrɪstɪk/
(formal)
heuristic teaching or education encourages you to learn by discovering things for yourself

heur·is·tics noun
BrE /hjuˈrɪstɪks/ ; NAmE /hjuˈrɪstɪks/
[uncountable] (formal)
a method of solving problems by finding practical ways of dealing with them, learning from past
experience

hi·ber·na·tion noun
BrE /ˌhaɪbəˈneɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌhaɪbərˈneɪʃn/
[uncountable]
a state like deep sleep in which some animals spend the winter to go into/come out of hibernation

hier·archy noun
BrE /ˈhaɪərɑːki/ ; NAmE /ˈhaɪərɑːrki/
(plural hier·archies)
1 [countable, uncountable] a system, especially in a society or an organization, in which people
are organized into different levels of importance from highest to lowest the social/political
hierarchy
She's quite high up in the management hierarchy.

2 [countable + singular or plural verb] the group of people in control of a large organization or
institution
3 [countable] (formal) a system that ideas or beliefs can be arranged into a hierarchy of needs
hike noun
BrE /haɪk/ ; NAmE /haɪk/
1 a long walk in the country They went on a ten-mile hike through the forest.
We could go into town but it's a real hike (= a long way) from here.

2 (informal) a large or sudden increase in prices, costs, etc a tax/price hike

hike in something the latest hike in interest rates

Idioms
take a ˈhike
(North American English, informal) a rude way of telling somebody to go away

hike verb
BrE /haɪk/ ; NAmE /haɪk/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to go for a long walk in the country, especially for pleasure strong
boots for hiking over rough country
hike something (North American English) to hike the Rockies

2 [intransitive] go hiking to spend time hiking for pleasure If the weather's fine, we'll go hiking
this weekend.

3 [transitive] hike something (up) to increase prices, taxes, etc. suddenly by large amounts The
government hiked up the price of milk by over 40%.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌhike somethingˈup
(informal) to pull or lift something up, especially your clothing
SYNONYM hitch (2)
She hiked up her skirt and waded into the river.

hik·ing noun
BrE /ˈhaɪkɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈhaɪkɪŋ/
[uncountable]
the activity of going for long walks in the country for pleasure to go hiking
hiking boots
hive noun
BrE /haɪv/ ; NAmE /haɪv/
1 (also bee·hive) [countable] a structure made for bees to live in studying the life of bees in the
hive

2 [countable] the bees living in a hive

3 [countable, usually singular] a hive of activity/industry a place full of people who are busy
4 hives [uncountable]
= urticaria

hive verb
BrE /haɪv/ ; NAmE /haɪv/

Phrasal Verbs
ˌhive somethingˈoff (to/into something)
[often passive] (especially British English) to separate one part of a group from the rest; to sell
part of a business The IT department is being hived off into a new company.
The company decided to hive off some of its less profitable concerns.

hob·ble verb
BrE /ˈhɒbl/ ; NAmE /ˈhɑːbl/

1 [intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) to walk with difficulty, especially because your feet or

legs hurt
SYNONYM limp
The old man hobbled across the road.
She was hobbling around on crutches.

2 [transitive] hobble something to tie together two legs of a horse or other animal in order to
stop it from running away The horse’s hind legs had been hobbled.

3 [transitive] hobble something to make it more difficult for somebody to do something or for
something to happen Our work is hobbled by the amount of bureaucracy involved.

hom·eop·athy (British English also hom·oeo-) noun

BrE /ˌhəʊmiˈɒpəθi/ ; NAmE /ˌhoʊmiˈɑːpəθi/ ; BrE /ˌhɒmiˈɒpəθi/ ; NAmE /ˌhɑːmiˈɑːpəθi/
[uncountable]
a system of treating diseases or conditions using very small amounts of the substance that causes
the disease or condition

hook noun
BrE /hʊk/ ; NAmE /hʊk/
1 a curved piece of metal, plastic or wire for hanging things on, catching fish with, etc a
picture/curtain/coat hook
a fish hook
Hang your towel on the hook.
The key was hanging from a hook.
Your coat’s hanging on a hook behind the door.

SEE ALSO boathook

2 (in boxing) a short hard blow that is made with the elbow bent a left hook to the jaw

3 (in cricket and golf) a way of hitting the ball so that it curves sideways instead of going straight
ahead
4 a thing that is used to make people interested in something The images are used as a hook to
get children interested in science.
Well-chosen quotations can serve as a hook to catch the reader’s interest.

Idioms
by ˌhook or by ˈcrook
using any method you can, even a dishonest one
get (somebody) off the ˈhook, let somebody off the ˈhook
to free yourself or somebody else from a difficult situation or a punishment
hook, line and ˈsinker
completely What I said was not true, but he fell for it (= believed it) hook, line and sinker.

off the ˈhook

if you leave or take the telephone off the hook, you take the receiver (= the part that you pick
up) off the place where it usually rests, so that nobody can call you
ˌring off the ˈhook
(usually used in the progressive tenses) (of a telephone) to ring many times The phone has been
ringing off the hook with offers of help.

sling your ˈhook

(British English, informal) (used especially in orders) to go away

hook verb
BrE /hʊk/ ; NAmE /hʊk/

1 [transitive, intransitive] to fasten or hang something on something else using a hook; to be

fastened or hanging in this way hook something + adverb/preposition We hooked the trailer to
the back of the car.
+ adverb/preposition a dress that hooks at the back
2 [transitive, intransitive] to put something, especially your leg, arm or finger, around something
else so that you can hold onto it or move it; to go around something else in this way hook
something + adverb/preposition He hooked his foot under the stool and dragged it over.
She hooked her arm through her sister’s.
He managed to hook his fingers under the stone.
Her thumbs were hooked into the pockets of her jeans.
Hook the rope through your belt.
+ adverb/preposition Suddenly an arm hooked around my neck.

3 [transitive] hook something to catch a fish with a hook It was the biggest pike I ever hooked.
(figurative) She had managed to hook a wealthy husband.

4 [transitive] hook something (especially in golf, cricket or football (soccer )) to hit or kick a
ball so that it goes to one side instead of straight ahead He hooked his drive into the trees.
I hooked the first ball for a six.
He hooked his shot over the bar.
Try and hook the ball around the defenders.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌhook ˈup (to something) | ˌhook somebody/somethingˈup (to something)
to connect somebody/something to a piece of electronic equipment, to a power supply or to the
Internet She was then hooked up to an IV drip.
Check that the computer is hooked up to the printer.
A large proportion of the nation's households are hooked up to the Internet.

ˌhook ˈup with somebody (informal)

1 to meet somebody and spend time with them In India I hooked up with a couple of students for
a few weeks.

2 to start working with somebody They formed the band in 2008, hooking up with bass player
Rod Byrne.

ˌhook somebody ˈup with somebody/something

(informal) to put somebody in contact with somebody who can help them; to get something for
somebody that they want Can you hook me up with someone with a car?
I hope she can hook me up with some free tickets.

hooked adjective
BrE /hʊkt/ ; NAmE /hʊkt/
1 curved; shaped like a hook a hooked nose/beak/finger

2 [not before noun] hooked (on something) (informal) needing something that is bad for you,
especially a drug
3 [not before noun] hooked (on something) (informal) enjoying something very much, so that
you want to do it, see it, etc. as much as possible
4 having one or more hooks

hoop noun
BrE /huːp/ ; NAmE /huːp/
1 a large ring of plastic, wood or iron a barrel bound with iron hoops
hoop earrings (= in the shape of a hoop)

2 the ring that the players throw the ball through in the game of basketball in order to score
points Let's shoot some hoops.

3 a large ring that was used as a children’s toy in the past, or for animals or riders to jump
through at a circus
4
= hula hoop
5 a small arch made of metal or plastic, put into the ground croquet hoops
Grow lettuces under plastic stretched over wire hoops.

Idioms
jump through ˈhoops
to do something difficult or complicated in order to achieve something

hooped adjective
BrE /huːpt/ ; NAmE /huːpt/
shaped like a hoop hooped earrings

hos·pice noun
BrE /ˈhɒspɪs/ ; NAmE /ˈhɑːspɪs/
a hospital for people who are dying an AIDS hospice

hot·bed noun
BrE /ˈhɒtbed/ ; NAmE /ˈhɑːtbed/
[usually singular] hotbed of something a place where a lot of a particular activity, especially
something bad or violent, is happening The area was a hotbed of crime.

house·bound adjective
BrE /ˈhaʊsbaʊnd/ ; NAmE /ˈhaʊsbaʊnd/
1 unable to leave your house because you cannot walk very far as a result of being ill/sick or old
2 the housebound noun [plural] people who are housebound
hum·ble adjective
BrE /ˈhʌmbl/ ; NAmE /ˈhʌmbl/
(hum·bler BrE /ˈhʌmblə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈhʌmblər/ , hum·blest BrE /ˈhʌmblɪst/ ; NAmE
/ˈhʌmblɪst/ )
1 showing you do not think that you are as important as other people
SYNONYM modest
Be humble enough to learn from your mistakes.
my humble tribute to this great man

SEE ALSO humility

2 (ironic or humorous) used to suggest that you are not as important as other people, but in a way
that is not sincere or not very serious In my humble opinion, you were in the wrong.
My humble apologies. I did not understand.

3 having a low rank or social position a man of humble birth/origins

a humble occupation
the daughter of a humble shopkeeper

4 (of a thing) not large or special in any way

SYNONYM modest
a humble farmhouse
The company has worked its way up from humble beginnings to become the market leader.
Most of us have never considered the humble potato as a precious gift from nature.

hum·ble verb
BrE /ˈhʌmbl/ ; NAmE /ˈhʌmbl/

1 humble somebody to make somebody feel that they are not as good or important as they
thought they were He was humbled by her generosity.
a humbling experience

2 [usually passive] humble somebody to easily defeat an opponent, especially a strong or

powerful one The world champion was humbled last night in three rounds.

3 humble yourself to show that you are not too proud to ask for something, admit that you have
been wrong, etc.
SEE ALSO humility

hu·mili·ate verb
BrE /hjuːˈmɪlieɪt/ ; NAmE /hjuːˈmɪlieɪt/
+ VERB FORMS

humiliate somebody/yourself/something to make somebody feel ashamed or stupid and lose

the respect of other people I didn't want to humiliate her in front of her colleagues.
I've never felt so humiliated.
How could I humiliate myself like that?
The party was humiliated in the recent elections.

hu·mili·at·ing adjective
BrE /hjuːˈmɪlieɪtɪŋ/ ; NAmE /hjuːˈmɪlieɪtɪŋ/
making somebody feel ashamed or stupid and lose the respect of other people a humiliating
defeat
It was the most humiliating night of his life.

hu·mili·ation noun
BrE /hjuːˌmɪliˈeɪʃn/ ; NAmE /hjuːˌmɪliˈeɪʃn/
[uncountable, countable]
a feeling of being ashamed or stupid and having lost the respect of other people; the act of
making somebody feel like this She suffered the humiliation of being criticized in public.
The election result is a humiliation for our party.

hus·tle verb
BrE /ˈhʌsl/ ; NAmE /ˈhʌsl/

1 [transitive] hustle somebody + adverb/preposition to make somebody move quickly by

pushing them in a rough aggressive way He grabbed her arm and hustled her out of the room.
I was hustled into a waiting car.
She was hustled away by some police officers.

2 [transitive] hustle somebody (into something) to force somebody to make a decision before
they are ready or sure All the family felt that Stephen had been hustled into the engagement by
Claire.

3 [transitive, intransitive] hustle (something) (informal, especially North American English) to

sell or obtain something, often illegally to hustle dope
They survive by hustling on the streets.

4 [intransitive] (North American English, informal) to act in an aggressive way or with a lot of
energy
5 [intransitive] (North American English) to work as a prostitute
hus·tle noun
BrE /ˈhʌsl/ ; NAmE /ˈhʌsl/
[uncountable] busy noisy activity of a lot of people in one place We escaped from the hustle and
bustle of the city for the weekend.

hyper·bol·ic adjective
BrE /ˌhaɪpəˈbɒlɪk/ ; NAmE /ˌhaɪpərˈbɑːlɪk/
1 (mathematics) of or related to a hyperbola
2 (of language) deliberately exaggerated; using hyperbole

hyper·bola noun
BrE /haɪˈpɜːbələ/ ; NAmE /haɪˈpɜːrbələ/
(plural hyper·bolas, hyper·bolae BrE /haɪˈpɜːbəli/ ; NAmE /haɪˈpɜːrbəli/ )
a symmetrical open curve

hyper·bole noun
BrE /haɪˈpɜːbəli/ ; NAmE /haɪˈpɜːrbəli/
[uncountable, countable, usually singular]
a way of speaking or writing that makes something sound better, more exciting, more
dangerous, etc. than it really is
SYNONYM exaggeration
The film is being promoted with all the usual hyperbole.
He’s not usually given to hyperbole.

icon·ic adjective
BrE /aɪˈkɒnɪk/ ; NAmE /aɪˈkɑːnɪk/
acting as a sign or symbol of something

like preposition
BrE /laɪk/ ; NAmE /laɪk/
1 similar to somebody/something She's wearing a dress like mine.
He's very like his father.
She looks nothing like (= not at all like) her mother.
That sounds like (= I think I can hear) him coming now.

2 used to ask somebody’s opinion of somebody/something What's it like studying in Spain?

This new girlfriend of his—what's she like?

3 used to show what is usual or typical for somebody It's just like her to tell everyone about it.

4 in the same way as somebody/something Students were angry at being treated like children.
He ran like the wind (= very fast).
You do it like this.
I, like everyone else, had read these stories in the press.
Don't look at me like that.
(informal) The candles are arranged like so (= in this way).

5 for example anti-utopian novels like ‘Animal Farm’ and ‘1984’

Idioms
more like…
used to give a number or an amount that is more accurate than one previously mentioned He
believes the figure should be more like $10 million.

more ˈlike (it) (informal)

1 better; more acceptable This is more like it! Real food—not that canned muck.

2 used to give what you think is a better description of something Just talking? Arguing more
like it.

what is somebody ˈlike?

(British English, informal) used to say that somebody has done something annoying, silly, etc
Oh, what am I like? I just completely forgot it.

like verb
BrE /laɪk/ ; NAmE /laɪk/
(not usually used in the progressive tenses)

1 [transitive] to find somebody/something pleasant, attractive or of a good enough standard; to

enjoy something like somebody/something She's nice. I like her.
Do you like their new house?
Which tie do you like best?
How did you like Japan (= did you find it pleasant)?
I don't like the way he's looking at me.
You've got to go to school, whether you like it or not.
like doing something She's never liked swimming.
like somebody/something doing something I didn't like him taking all the credit.
(formal) I didn't like his taking all the credit.
like to do something I like to see them enjoying themselves.
like it when… I like it when you do that.

2 [transitive, no passive] to prefer to do something; to prefer something to be made or to happen

in a particular way like to do something At weekends I like to sleep late.
like something + adjective I like my coffee strong.

3 [transitive, no passive] what/whatever somebody like to want Do what you like—I don't
care.
You can dye your hair whatever colour you like.

4 [transitive] used in negative sentences to mean ‘to be unwilling to do something’ like to do

something I didn't like to disturb you.
like doing something He doesn't like asking his parents for help.

5 [transitive, intransitive] used with would or should as a polite way to say what you want or to
ask what somebody wants like something Would you like a drink?
like to do something I'd like to think it over.
Would you like to come with us?
(formal) We would like to apologize for the delay.
How can they afford it? That's what I'd like to know.
like somebody/something to do something We'd like you to come and visit us.
like for somebody to do something (North American English) I'd like for us to work together.

6 like something if you like something on a social networking service, news website, blog, etc.
you show that you agree with it or that you think it is good by clicking a special button By the
next morning, over twenty of my friends had liked my new profile picture.
Over seven hundred Facebook users have already liked the company’s website.

Idioms
how would ˈyou like it?
used to emphasize that something bad has happened to you and you want some sympathy How
would you like it if someone called you a liar?

if you ˈlike (informal)

1 used to politely agree to something or to suggest something ‘Shall we stop now?’ ‘If you like.’
If you like, we could go out this evening.

2 used when you express something in a new way or when you are not confident about
something It was, if you like, the dawn of a new era.
I like ˈthat!
(old-fashioned, informal) used to protest that something that has been said is not true or fair ‘She
called you a cheat.’ ‘Well, I like that!’

I/I’d like to think

used to say that you hope or believe that something is true I like to think I'm broad-minded.
I’d like to think that you were helping me because you wanted to, not because you felt you had
to.

ˌwhat’s ˌnot to ˈlike?

(informal, humorous) used to say that something is very good or enjoyable You get paid to eat
chocolate. So what's not to like?
I love a good bagel—what’s not to like?

like conjunction
BrE /laɪk/ ; NAmE /laɪk/
(informal)
1 in the same way as No one sings the blues like she did.
It didn't turn out like I intended.
Like I said (= as I said before), you're always welcome to stay.

2 as if She acts like she owns the place.

You will find more information about this use of like at the entries for the verbs act, behave,
feel, look and sound and in the note at as.

like noun
BrE /laɪk/ ; NAmE /laɪk/
1 likes [plural] the things that you like We all have different likes and dislikes.

2 [singular] a person or thing that is similar to another jazz, rock and the like (= similar types of
music)
a man whose like we shall not see again
You're not comparing like with like.

3 the likes of somebody/something (informal) used to refer to somebody/something that is

considered as a type, especially one that is considered as good as somebody/something else She
didn't want to associate with the likes of me.

4 if something on a social networking service, news website, blog, etc. receives a like, it means
that somebody has shown that they agree with it or think it is good by clicking a special button
The band now has thousands of likes.
like adjective
BrE /laɪk/ ; NAmE /laɪk/
[only before noun] (formal) having similar qualities to another person or thing a chance to meet
people of like mind (= with similar interests and opinions)
She responded in like manner.

like adverb
BrE /laɪk/ ; NAmE /laɪk/
1 used in very informal speech, for example when you are thinking what to say next, explaining
something, or giving an example of something It was, like, weird.
It was kind of scary, like.
It's really hard. Like I have no time for my own work.

2 used in very informal speech to show that what you are saying may not be exactly right but is
nearly so I'm leaving in like twenty minutes.
It's going to cost like a hundred dollars.

3 I’m, he’s, she’s, etc. like used in very informal speech, to mean ‘I say’, ‘he/she says’, etc And
then I'm like ‘No Way!’

4 used in informal speech instead of as to say that something happens in the same way There was
silence, but not like before.

Idioms
(as) like as ˈnot, like eˈnough, most/very ˈlike
(old-fashioned) quite probably She would be in bed by now, as like as not.

liken verb
BrE /ˈlaɪkən/ ; NAmE /ˈlaɪkən/

Phrasal Verbs
ˈliken something/somebody to something/somebody
(formal) to compare one thing or person to another and say they are similar Life is often likened
to a journey.

ig·nite verb
BrE /ɪɡˈnaɪt/ ; NAmE /ɪɡˈnaɪt/
[intransitive, transitive] (formal)
to start to burn; to make something start to burn Gas ignites very easily.
(figurative) Tempers ignited when the whole family spent Christmas together.
ignite something Flames melted a lead pipe and ignited leaking gas.
(figurative) His words ignited their anger.

ig·ni·tion noun
BrE /ɪɡˈnɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ɪɡˈnɪʃn/
1 [countable, usually singular] the electrical system of a vehicle that makes the fuel begin to burn
to start the engine; the place in a vehicle where you start this system to turn the ignition on/off
to put the key in the ignition

2 [uncountable] (specialist) the action of starting to burn or of making something burn The
flames spread to all parts of the house within minutes of ignition.

im·mense adjective
BrE /ɪˈmens/ ; NAmE /ɪˈmens/
extremely large or great
SYNONYM enormous
There is still an immense amount of work to be done.
The benefits are immense.
a project of immense importance
To my immense relief, he didn’t notice my mistake.

im·mi·gra·tion noun
BrE /ˌɪmɪˈɡreɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌɪmɪˈɡreɪʃn/
[uncountable]
1 the process of coming to live permanently in a country that is not your own; the number of
people who do this laws restricting immigration into the US
a rise/fall in immigration
immigration officers

COMPARE emigration
2 (also immiˈgration control) the place at a port, an airport, etc. where the passports and other
documents of people coming into a country are checked to go through immigration

emi·gra·tion noun
BrE /ˌemɪˈɡreɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌemɪˈɡreɪʃn/
[uncountable, countable] emigration (of somebody) (from…)
the act of leaving your own country to go and live permanently in another country the mass
emigration of Jews from Eastern Europe
COMPARE immigration

im·pact noun
BrE /ˈɪmpækt/ ; NAmE /ˈɪmpækt/
[countable, usually singular, uncountable]
1 impact (of something) (on somebody/something) the powerful effect that something has on
somebody/something the environmental impact of tourism
The report assesses the impact of AIDS on the gay community.
Her speech made a profound impact on everyone.
Businesses are beginning to feel the full impact of the recession.
social support to cushion the impact of unemployment

2 the act of one object hitting another; the force with which this happens craters made by
meteorite impacts
The impact of the blow knocked Jack off balance.
The bomb explodes on impact (= when it hits something).
The car is fitted with side impact bars (= to protect it from a blow from the side).

im·pact verb
BrE /ɪmˈpækt/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈpækt/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to have an effect on something

SYNONYM affect
impact on/upon something Her father's death impacted greatly on her childhood years.
impact something (business) The company's performance was impacted by the high value of the
pound.

2 [intransitive, transitive] impact (on/upon/with) something (formal) to hit something with

great force

im·pact·ed adjective
BrE /ɪmˈpæktɪd/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈpæktɪd/
(of a tooth) that cannot grow correctly because it is under another tooth an impacted wisdom
tooth

im·pale verb
BrE /ɪmˈpeɪl/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈpeɪl/

1 impale something (on something) to push a sharp pointed object through something
SYNONYM spear
She impaled a lump of meat on her fork.

2 impale somebody/yourself on something if you impale yourself on something, or are

impaled on it, you have a sharp pointed object pushed into you and you may be caught
somewhere by it He had fallen and been impaled on some iron railings.

spear verb
BrE /spɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /spɪr/

spear something/somebody to throw or push a spear or other pointed object through

something/somebody They were standing in the river spearing fish.
She speared an olive with her fork.

im·pede verb
BrE /ɪmˈpiːd/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈpiːd/

[often passive] impede something (formal) to delay or stop the progress of something
SYNONYM hinder, hamper
Work on the building was impeded by severe weather.
A number of practical difficulties impeded the process.
In what ways did economic factors impede progress?

im·pedi·ment noun
BrE /ɪmˈpedɪmənt/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈpedɪmənt/
1 impediment (to something) (formal) something that delays or stops the progress of something
SYNONYM obstacle
The level of inflation is a serious impediment to economic recovery.
Their boycott of the talks constitutes a serious impediment to peace negotiations.
There are no legal impediments to their appealing against the decision.

2 a physical problem that makes it difficult to speak normally a speech impediment

im·pend·ing adjective
BrE /ɪmˈpendɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈpendɪŋ/
[only before noun]
(usually of an unpleasant event) that is going to happen very soon
SYNONYM imminent
his impending retirement
warnings of impending danger/disaster
They were all filled with a sense of impending doom.

im·mi·nent adjective
BrE /ˈɪmɪnənt/ ; NAmE /ˈɪmɪnənt/
(especially of something unpleasant) likely to happen very soon the imminent threat of invasion
The system is in imminent danger of collapse.
An announcement about his resignation is imminent.
An attack seems imminent.

im·pera·tive adjective
BrE /ɪmˈperətɪv/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈperətɪv/
1 [not usually before noun] (formal) very important and needing immediate attention or action
SYNONYM vital
imperative (that…) It is absolutely imperative that we finish by next week.
imperative (to do something) It is imperative to continue the treatment for at least two months.

2 (formal) expressing authority an imperative tone

3 [only before noun] (grammar) expressing an order an imperative sentence

per·cep·tible adjective
BrE /pəˈseptəbl/ ; NAmE /pərˈseptəbl/
1 (formal) great enough for you to notice it
SYNONYM noticeable
a perceptible change/increase/decline/impact
The price increase has had no perceptible effect on sales.
Her foreign accent was barely perceptible.
The difference is scarcely perceptible to the average reader.
a clearly perceptible decline in public confidence

2 (specialist) that you can notice or feel with your senses the perceptible world

OPPOSITE imperceptible

pre·clude verb
BrE /prɪˈkluːd/ ; NAmE /prɪˈkluːd/
(formal)

to prevent something from happening or somebody from doing something; to make something
impossible preclude something Lack of time precludes any further discussion.
Your failure to become a member this year does not preclude the possibility of your applying
next year.
preclude somebody from doing something My lack of interest in the subject precluded me from
gaining much enjoyment out of it.
preclude (somebody) doing something His religious beliefs precluded him/his serving in the
army.
We cannot have a system that precludes people from seeking independent legal advice.

pre·co·cious adjective
BrE /prɪˈkəʊʃəs/ ; NAmE /prɪˈkoʊʃəs/
(sometimes disapproving)
(of a child) having developed particular abilities and ways of behaving at a much younger age
than usual a precocious child who started her acting career at the age of 5
sexually precocious
From an early age she displayed a precocious talent for music.

im·pinge verb
BrE /ɪmˈpɪndʒ/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈpɪndʒ/

[intransitive] impinge (on/upon something/somebody) (formal) to have a noticeable effect on

something/somebody, especially a bad one
SYNONYM encroach
He never allowed his work to impinge on his private life.
The preparations for war were beginning to impinge.

im·ple·ment verb

BrE /ˈɪmplɪment/ ; NAmE /ˈɪmplɪment/ implement something (formal) to make something that
has been officially decided start to happen or be used
SYNONYM carry somethingout
to implement changes/decisions/policies/reforms
A new work programme for young people will be implemented.

im·ple·ment noun
BrE /ˈɪmplɪmənt/ ; NAmE /ˈɪmplɪmənt/ (formal) a tool or an instrument, often one that is quite
simple and that is used outdoors agricultural implements
Make sure that all sharp implements, such as scythes, have covers.
im·ple·men·ta·tion noun
BrE /ˌɪmplɪmenˈteɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌɪmplɪmenˈteɪʃn/
[uncountable] (formal)
the act of making something that has been officially decided start to happen or be used the
implementation of the new system

im·pli·cate verb
BrE /ˈɪmplɪkeɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈɪmplɪkeɪt/

1 implicate somebody (in something) to show or suggest that somebody is involved in

something bad or criminal
SYNONYM incriminate
He tried to avoid saying anything that would implicate him further.

2 implicate something (in/as something) to show or suggest that something is the cause of
something bad The results implicate poor hygiene as one cause of the outbreak.

Idioms
be implicated in something
to be involved in a crime; to be responsible for something bad Senior officials were implicated in
the scandal.
These groups are very strongly implicated in the violence.

im·pli·ca·tion noun
BrE /ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃn/
1 [countable, usually plural] implication (of something) (for something) a possible effect or
result of an action or a decision They failed to consider the wider implications of their actions.
The development of the site will have implications for the surrounding countryside.

2 [countable, uncountable] something that is suggested or indirectly stated (= something that is

implied) The implication in his article is that being a housewife is greatly inferior to every other
occupation.
He criticized the Director and, by implication, the whole of the organization.

3 [uncountable] implication (of somebody) (in something) the fact of being involved, or of
involving somebody, in something, especially a crime
SYNONYM involvement
He resigned after his implication in a sex scandal.

im·pli·cit adjective
BrE /ɪmˈplɪsɪt/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈplɪsɪt/
1 implicit (in something) suggested without being directly expressed Implicit in his speech was
the assumption that they were guilty.
implicit criticism
These assumptions are implicit in his writing.

2 implicit (in something) forming part of something (although perhaps not directly expressed)
The ability to listen is implicit in the teacher's role.

3 complete and not doubted

SYNONYM absolute
She had the implicit trust of her staff.

COMPARE explicit

ex·pli·cit adjective
BrE /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/ ; NAmE /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/
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 something clearly, exactly and openly

SYNONYM 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 film

COMPARE implicit

im·pli·cit·ly adverb
BrE /ɪmˈplɪsɪtli/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈplɪsɪtli/
1 in a way that is suggested without being directly expressed It reinforces, implicitly or
explicitly, the idea that money is all-important.

2 completely and without any doubt

SYNONYM absolutely (1)
I trust John implicitly.

COMPARE explicitly
imply verb
BrE /ɪmˈplaɪ/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈplaɪ/

1 to suggest that something is true or that you feel or think something, without saying so directly
imply (that)… Are you implying (that) I am wrong?
imply something I disliked the implied criticism in his voice.
His silence seemed to imply agreement.
it is implied that… It was implied that we were at fault.

2 to make it seem likely that something is true or exists

SYNONYM suggest
imply (that)… The survey implies (that) more people are moving house than was thought.
it is implied that… It was implied in the survey that…
imply something The fact that she was here implies a degree of interest.

3 imply something (of an idea, action, etc.) to make something necessary in order to be
successful
SYNONYM mean
The project implies an enormous investment in training.
Sustainable development implies a long-term perspective.

SEE ALSO implication

im·pov·er·ish verb
BrE /ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃ/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈpɑːvərɪʃ/

1 impoverish somebody to make somebody poor These changes are likely to impoverish single-
parent families even further.

2 impoverish something to make something worse in quality Intensive cultivation has

impoverished the soil.

im·pov·er·ished adjective
BrE /ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃt/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈpɑːvərɪʃt/
1 very poor; without money impoverished peasants
the impoverished areas of the city

- SYNONYMS

poor
disadvantaged needy impoverished deprived penniless hard up
These words all describe somebody who has very little or no money and therefore cannot satisfy
their basic needs.poor having very little money; not having enough money for basic needs:They
were too poor to buy shoes for the kids.
disadvantaged having less money and fewer opportunities than most people in society:socially
disadvantaged sections of the community
needy poor:It’s a charity that provides help for needy children.
impoverished (journalism) poor:Thousands of impoverished peasants are desperate to move to
the cities.
deprived [usually before noun] without enough food, education, and all the things that are
necessary for people to live a happy and comfortable life

poor, needy, impoverished or deprived?

Poor is the most general of these words and can be used to describe yourself, another individual
person, people as a group, or a country or an area. Needy is mostly used to describe people
considered as a group: it is not used to talk about yourself or individual people:poor/needy
children/families They were too needy to buy shoes for the kids.Impoverished is used, especially
in journalism, to talk about poor countries and the people who live there. To talk about poor
areas in rich countries, use deprived.penniless (literary) having no money; very poor:He died
penniless in Paris.
hard up (informal) having very little money, especially for a short period of time:I was always
hard up as a student.

Patterns
poor/disadvantaged/needy/impoverished/deprived/penniless/hard-up people/families
poor/disadvantaged/needy/impoverished/deprived areas
poor/disadvantaged/impoverished countries
a(n) poor/disadvantaged/impoverished/deprived background

2 poor in quality, because something is missing

im·pov·er·ish·ment noun
BrE /ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃmənt/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈpɑːvərɪʃmənt/
[uncountable]
1 the act of making somebody poor; the state of being poor the rapid impoverishment of the
people

2 the act of making something worse in quality; the state of being poor in quality cultural
impoverishment

im·pre·cise adjective
BrE /ˌɪmprɪˈsaɪs/ ; NAmE /ˌɪmprɪˈsaɪs/
not giving exact details or making something clear
SYNONYM inaccurate
an imprecise definition
imprecise information
The witness's descriptions were too imprecise to be of any real value.

OPPOSITE precise

pre·cise adjective
BrE /prɪˈsaɪs/ ; NAmE /prɪˈsaɪs/
1 clear and accurate
SYNONYM exact
precise details/instructions/measurements
Can you give a more precise definition of the word?
I can be reasonably precise about the time of the incident.

2 [only before noun] used to emphasize that something happens at a particular time or in a
particular way We were just talking about her when, at that precise moment, she walked in.
Doctors found it hard to establish the precise nature of her illness.

3 taking care to be exact and accurate, especially about small details

SYNONYM meticulous
a skilled and precise worker
small, precise movements
(disapproving) She's rather prim and precise.

Idioms
to be (more) preˈcise
used to show that you are giving more detailed and accurate information about something you
have just mentioned The shelf is about a metre long—well, 98cm, to be precise.

me·ticu·lous adjective
BrE /məˈtɪkjələs/ ; NAmE /məˈtɪkjələs/
paying careful attention to every detail
SYNONYM fastidious, thorough
meticulous planning/records/research
Their room had been prepared with meticulous care.
She planned her trip in meticulous detail.
meticulous in something/doing something He's always meticulous in keeping the records up to
date.
meticulous about something My father was meticulous about his appearance.

fas·tidi·ous adjective
BrE /fæˈstɪdiəs/ ; NAmE /fæˈstɪdiəs/
1 being careful that every detail of something is correct
SYNONYM 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.

im·plaus·ible adjective
BrE /ɪmˈplɔːzəbl/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈplɔːzəbl/
not seeming reasonable or likely to be true an implausible claim/idea/theory
It was all highly implausible.
Her explanation is not implausible.

OPPOSITE plausible

plaus·ible adjective
BrE /ˈplɔːzəbl/ ; NAmE /ˈplɔːzəbl/
1 (of an excuse or explanation) reasonable and likely to be true Her story sounded perfectly
plausible.
The only plausible explanation is that he forgot.

OPPOSITE implausible
2 (disapproving) (of a person) good at sounding honest and sincere, especially when trying to
trick people She was a plausible liar.

in·cen·tive noun
BrE /ɪnˈsentɪv/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈsentɪv/
1 [countable, uncountable] incentive (for/to somebody/something) (to do something)
something that encourages you to do something There is no incentive for people to save fuel.
There is an added incentive for you to buy from our catalogue—a free gift with every purchase.

OPPOSITE disincentive

2 a payment or concession (= a reduction in the amount of money that has to be paid) that
encourages somebody to do something tax incentives to encourage savings

dis·in·cen·tive noun
BrE /ˌdɪsɪnˈsentɪv/ ; NAmE /ˌdɪsɪnˈsentɪv/
[countable]
a thing that makes somebody less willing to do something A low starting salary acts as a strong
disincentive to getting back to work for the unemployed.
OPPOSITE incentive

in·cep·tion noun
BrE /ɪnˈsepʃn/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈsepʃn/
[singular] (formal)
the start of an institution, an organization, etc The club has grown rapidly since its inception in
2007.

in·ces·sant adjective
BrE /ɪnˈsesnt/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈsesnt/
(usually disapproving)
never stopping
SYNONYM constant
incessant noise/rain/chatter
incessant meetings

in·cline verb
BrE /ɪnˈklaɪn/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈklaɪn/
(formal)

1 [intransitive, transitive] to tend to think or behave in a particular way; to make somebody do

this incline to/towards something I incline to the view that we should take no action at this
stage.
Young people incline towards individualistic behaviour.
incline to do something The government is more effective than we incline to think.
incline somebody to/towards something Lack of money inclines many young people towards
crime.
incline somebody to do something His obvious sincerity inclined me to trust him.

2 [transitive] incline your head to bend your head forward, especially as a sign of agreement,
welcome, etc He inclined his head in acknowledgement.

3 [intransitive, transitive] incline (something) (to/towards something) to lean or slope in a

particular direction; to make something lean or slope The land inclined gently towards the shore.

in·cline noun
BrE /ˈɪnklaɪn/ ; NAmE /ˈɪnklaɪn/ (formal) a slope a steep/slight incline
in·clined adjective
BrE /ɪnˈklaɪnd/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈklaɪnd/
1 [not before noun] inclined (to do something) wanting to do something She was inclined to
trust him.
He writes only when he feels inclined to.
There'll be time for a swim if you feel so inclined.

2 inclined to do something tending to do something; likely to do something He's inclined to be

lazy.
They'll be more inclined to listen if you don't shout.

3 inclined to agree, believe, think, etc. used when you are expressing an opinion but do not
want to express it very strongly I'm inclined to agree with you.

4 (used with particular adverbs) having a natural ability for something; preferring to do
something musically/academically inclined children

5 sloping; at an angle

in·cum·bent noun
BrE /ɪnˈkʌmbənt/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈkʌmbənt/
a person who has an official position the present incumbent of the White House

in·cum·bent adjective
BrE /ɪnˈkʌmbənt/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈkʌmbənt/
1 [only before noun] having an official position the incumbent president

2 [not before noun] incumbent upon/on somebody (formal) necessary as part of somebody’s
duties It was incumbent on them to attend.

incur verb
BrE /ɪnˈkɜː(r)/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈkɜːr/
(formal)

1 incur something if you incur something unpleasant, you are in a situation in which you have
to deal with it She had incurred the wrath of her father by marrying without his consent

2 incur something if you incur costs, you have to pay them You risk incurring bank charges if
you exceed your overdraft limit.
in·cur·able adjective
BrE /ɪnˈkjʊərəbl/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈkjʊrəbl/
1 that cannot be cured an incurable disease/illness

OPPOSITE curable
2 that cannot be changed
SYNONYM incorrigible
She's an incurable optimist.

in·deed adverb
BrE /ɪnˈdiːd/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈdiːd/
1 used to emphasize a positive statement or answer ‘Was he very angry?’ ‘Indeed he was.’
‘Do you agree?’ ‘Indeed I do/Yes, indeed.’
‘You said you'd help?’ ‘I did indeed—yes.’
It is indeed a remarkable achievement.

2 (especially British English) used after very and an adjective or adverb to emphasize a
statement, description, etc Thank you very much indeed!
I was very sad indeed to hear of your father's death.

3 (formal, especially British English) used to add information to a statement I don't mind at all.
Indeed, I would be delighted to help.

4 (informal, especially British English) used to show that you are surprised at something or that
you find something ridiculous A ghost indeed! I've never heard anything so silly.

5 (informal) used when you are repeating a question that somebody has just asked and showing
that you do not know the answer ‘Why did he do it?’ ‘Why indeed?’

Idioms
a ˌfriend in ˈneed (is a ˌfriend inˈdeed)
(saying) a friend who gives you help when you need it (is a true friend)

in·di·gent adjective
BrE /ˈɪndɪdʒənt/ ; NAmE /ˈɪndɪdʒənt/
[usually before noun] (formal)
very poor
in·ex·plic·able adjective
BrE /ˌɪnɪkˈsplɪkəbl/ ; NAmE /ˌɪnɪkˈsplɪkəbl/
that cannot be understood or explained
SYNONYM incomprehensible
inexplicable behaviour
For some inexplicable reason he gave up a fantastic job.

OPPOSITE explicable

in·ex·tric·able adjective
BrE /ˌɪnɪkˈstrɪkəbl/ ; NAmE /ˌɪnɪkˈstrɪkəbl/ ; BrE /ɪnˈekstrɪkəbl/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈekstrɪkəbl/
(formal)
too closely linked to be separated Knowledge and economic power have become inextricable.
an inextricable connection between the past and the present

in·ex·tric·ably adverb
BrE /ˌɪnɪkˈstrɪkəbli/ ; NAmE /ˌɪnɪkˈstrɪkəbli/ ; BrE /ɪnˈekstrɪkəbli/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈekstrɪkəbli/
if two things are inextricably linked, etc., it is impossible to separate them Europe's foreign
policy is inextricably linked with that of the US.
She had become inextricably involved in the campaign.

infer verb
BrE /ɪnˈfɜː(r)/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈfɜːr/

1 to reach an opinion or decide that something is true on the basis of information that is available
SYNONYM deduce
infer something (from something) Much of the meaning must be inferred from the context.
Readers are left to infer the killer’s motives.
infer that… It is reasonable to infer that the government knew about these deals.

2 infer (that)… infer something (non-standard) to suggest indirectly that something is true Are
you inferring (that) I’m not capable of doing the job?

infer / imply
Infer and imply have opposite meanings. The two words can describe the same event, but from
different points of view. If a speaker or writer implies something, they suggest it without saying
it directly:The article implied that the pilot was responsible for the accident. If you infer
something from what a speaker or writer says, you come to the conclusion that this is what he or
she means:I inferred from the article that the pilot was responsible for the accident.
 Infer is now often used with the same meaning as imply. However, many people consider that a
sentence such asAre you inferring that I’m a liar? is incorrect, although it is fairly common in
speech.

imply verb
BrE /ɪmˈplaɪ/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈplaɪ/

1 to suggest that something is true or that you feel or think something, without saying so directly
imply (that)… Are you implying (that) I am wrong?
imply something I disliked the implied criticism in his voice.
His silence seemed to imply agreement.
it is implied that… It was implied that we were at fault.

2 to make it seem likely that something is true or exists

SYNONYM suggest
imply (that)… The survey implies (that) more people are moving house than was thought.
it is implied that… It was implied in the survey that…
imply something The fact that she was here implies a degree of interest.

3 imply something (of an idea, action, etc.) to make something necessary in order to be
successful
SYNONYM mean
The project implies an enormous investment in training.
Sustainable development implies a long-term perspective.

SEE ALSO implication

im·pli·ca·tion noun
BrE /ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃn/
1 [countable, usually plural] implication (of something) (for something) a possible effect or
result of an action or a decision They failed to consider the wider implications of their actions.
The development of the site will have implications for the surrounding countryside.

2 [countable, uncountable] something that is suggested or indirectly stated (= something that is

implied) The implication in his article is that being a housewife is greatly inferior to every other
occupation.
He criticized the Director and, by implication, the whole of the organization.

3 [uncountable] implication (of somebody) (in something) the fact of being involved, or of
involving somebody, in something, especially a crime
SYNONYM involvement
He resigned after his implication in a sex scandal.
in·flu·en·tial adjective
BrE /ˌɪnfluˈenʃl/ ; NAmE /ˌɪnfluˈenʃl/
having a lot of influence on somebody/something a highly influential book
influential in something She is one of the most influential figures in local politics.
influential in doing something The committee was influential in formulating government policy
on employment.

in·furi·ate verb
BrE /ɪnˈfjʊərieɪt/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈfjʊrieɪt/

to make somebody extremely angry

SYNONYM enrage
infuriate somebody Her silence infuriated him even more.
Are you doing this on purpose just to infuriate me?
it infuriates somebody that…/to do something It infuriates me that she was not found guilty.

en·rage verb
BrE /ɪnˈreɪdʒ/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈreɪdʒ/

[usually passive] enrage somebody to make somebody very angry

SYNONYM infuriate
She was enraged at his stupidity.
The newspaper article enraged him.
in·her·ent adjective
BrE /ɪnˈhɪərənt/ , /ɪnˈherənt/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈhɪrənt/
inherent (in somebody/something) that is a basic or permanent part of somebody/something
and that cannot be removed
SYNONYM intrinsic
the difficulties inherent in a study of this type
Violence is inherent in our society.
an inherent weakness in the design of the machine

in·trin·sic adjective
BrE /ɪnˈtrɪnsɪk/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈtrɪnsɪk/ ; BrE /ɪnˈtrɪnzɪk/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈtrɪnzɪk/
belonging to or part of the real nature of something/somebody the intrinsic value of education
These tasks were repetitive, lengthy and lacking any intrinsic interest.
intrinsic to something Small local shops are intrinsic to the town's character.

COMPARE extrinsic

ini·tia·tive noun
BrE /ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ ; NAmE /ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/
1 [countable] a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular
purpose a United Nations peace initiative
a government initiative to combat unemployment

2 [uncountable] the ability to decide and act on your own without waiting for somebody to tell
you what to do You won't get much help. You'll have to use your initiative.
Too much bureaucracy represses creativity and initiative.
She did it on her own initiative (= without anyone telling her to do it).

3 the initiative [singular] the power or opportunity to act and gain an advantage before other
people do to seize/lose the initiative
It was up to the US to take the initiative in repairing relations.

4 [countable] (North American English, law) (in some states of the US) a process by which
ordinary people can suggest a new law by signing a petition

in·nov·ation noun
BrE /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/
1 [uncountable] innovation (in something) the introduction of new things, ideas or ways of
doing something an age of technological innovation
The company is very interested in product design and innovation.

2 [countable] innovation (in something) a new idea, way of doing something, etc. that has been
introduced or discovered recent innovations in steel-making technology

in·nov·ate verb
BrE /ˈɪnəveɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈɪnəveɪt/
[intransitive, transitive]

to introduce new things, ideas or ways of doing something We must constantly adapt and
innovate to ensure success in a growing market.
innovate something to innovate new products

in·nova·tive adjective
BrE /ˈɪnəveɪtɪv/ , also /ˈɪnəvətɪv/ ; NAmE /ˈɪnəveɪtɪv/
(less frequent in·nov·atory BrE /ˌɪnəˈveɪtəri/ ; NAmE /ˌɪnəˈveɪtəri/ , /ˈɪnəvətɔːri/ ) (approving)
introducing or using new ideas, ways of doing something, etc There will be a prize for the most
innovative design.
in·sane adjective
BrE /ɪnˈseɪn/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈseɪn/
1 seriously mentally ill and unable to live in normal society Doctors certified him as insane.
The prisoners were slowly going insane.

OPPOSITE sane

2 the insane noun [plural] people who are insane a hospital for the insane

3 (informal) very stupid, crazy or dangerous I must have been insane to agree to the idea.
This job is driving me insane (= making me feel very angry).

SEE ALSO insanity

in·sani·tary adjective
BrE /ɪnˈsænətri/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈsænəteri/
(also un·sani·tary especially in North American English)
dirty and likely to spread disease They were forced to live in overcrowded and insanitary
conditions.

OPPOSITE sanitary

in·tent adjective
BrE /ɪnˈtent/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈtent/
1 showing strong interest and attention an intent gaze/look
His eyes were suddenly intent.
His face filled with an intent curiosity.

2 (formal) determined to do something, especially something that will harm other people intent
on/upon something They were intent on murder.
intent on/upon doing something Are you intent upon destroying my reputation?

3 intent on/upon something giving all your attention to something I was so intent on my work
that I didn't notice the time.
The bright brown eyes were intent on Marie.

in·terim adjective
BrE /ˈɪntərɪm/ ; NAmE /ˈɪntərɪm/
[only before noun]
1 intended to last for only a short time until somebody/something more permanent is found an
interim government/measure/report
The vice-president took power in the interim period before the election.
He only holds the post on an interim basis.
2 (finance) calculated before the final results of something are known
SYNONYM provisional
interim figures/profits/results

in·terim noun
BrE /ˈɪntərɪm/ ; NAmE /ˈɪntərɪm/

Idioms
in the interim
during the period of time between two events; until a particular event happens Despite everything
that had happened in the interim, they had remained good friends.
Her new job does not start until May and she will continue in the old job in the interim.

in·tim·acy noun
BrE /ˈɪntɪməsi/ ; NAmE /ˈɪntɪməsi/
(plural in·tim·acies)
1 [uncountable] the state of having a close personal relationship with somebody The old intimacy
between them had gone for ever.

2 [countable, usually plural] a thing that a person says or does to somebody that they know very
well
3 [uncountable] (formal or law) sexual activity, especially an act of sexual intercourse

in·tim·ate adjective
BrE /ˈɪntɪmət/ ; NAmE /ˈɪntɪmət/
1 (of people) having a close and friendly relationship intimate friends
We're not on intimate terms with our neighbours.

2 private and personal, often in a sexual way The article revealed intimate details about his
family life.
the most intimate parts of her body

3 (of a place or situation) encouraging close, friendly relationships, sometimes of a sexual nature
an intimate restaurant
He knew an intimate little bar where they would not be disturbed.

4 (of knowledge) very detailed and thorough an intimate knowledge of the English countryside

5 (of a link between things) very close an intimate connection between class and educational
success

6 intimate (with somebody) (formal or law) having a sexual relationship with somebody
in·tim·ate verb

BrE /ˈɪntɪmeɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈɪntɪmeɪt/ (formal) to let somebody know what you think or mean in an
indirect way
SYNONYM let it be known/make it known that…
intimate something (to somebody) He has already intimated to us his intention to retire.
intimate (that)… He has already intimated (that) he intends to retire.

in·tim·ate noun
BrE /ˈɪntɪmət/ ; NAmE /ˈɪntɪmət/ (formal) a close personal friend He was a wartime minister
and intimate of Churchill.

intro·ver·sion noun
BrE /ˌɪntrəˈvɜːʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌɪntrəˈvɜːrʒn/
[uncountable]
the quality of being quiet and more interested in your own thoughts and feelings than in spending
time with other people Some people claim that an individual’s degree of extroversion or
introversion is inherited.

in·un·date verb
BrE /ˈɪnʌndeɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈɪnʌndeɪt/
[usually passive]

1 inundate somebody (with something) to give or send somebody so many things that they
cannot deal with them all
SYNONYM overwhelm, swamp
We have been inundated with offers of help.

2 inundate something (formal) to cover an area of land with a large amount of water
SYNONYM flood
Flood waters inundate the river plain each spring.

in·un·da·tion noun
BrE /ˌɪnʌnˈdeɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌɪnʌnˈdeɪʃn/
[uncountable, countable] (formal)
1 the fact of large amounts of water covering an area that is usually dry
SYNONYM flooding
the annual inundation of the Nile valley
2 a very large number of things or people an inundation of campaign posters

ire noun
BrE /ˈaɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈaɪər/
[uncountable] (formal or literary)
anger
SYNONYM wrath
to arouse/raise/provoke the ire of local residents
(US English) to draw the ire of local residents
The plans provoked the ire of the conservationists.

wrath noun
BrE /rɒθ/ ; NAmE /ræθ/
[uncountable] (old-fashioned or formal)
extreme anger the wrath of God

iron·ic·al·ly adverb
BrE /aɪˈrɒnɪkli/ ; NAmE /aɪˈrɑːnɪkli/
1 in a way that shows that you really mean the opposite of what you are saying; in a way that
expresses irony (2) He smiled ironically.

2 in a way that is strange or amusing because it is very different from what you expect Ironically,
the book she felt was her worst sold more copies than any of her others.

iron·ic adjective
BrE /aɪˈrɒnɪk/ ; NAmE /aɪˈrɑːnɪk/
(less frequent iron·ic·al BrE /aɪˈrɒnɪkl/ ; NAmE /aɪˈrɑːnɪkl/ )
1 showing that you really mean the opposite of what you are saying; expressingironyan ironic
comment

2 (of a situation) strange or amusing because it is very different from what you expect It's ironic
that she became a teacher—she used to hate school.

SEE ALSO irony

irony noun
BrE /ˈaɪrəni/ ; NAmE /ˈaɪrəni/
(plural ironies)
1 [uncountable, countable] the amusing or strange aspect of a situation that is very different from
what you expect; a situation like this The irony is that when he finally got the job, he discovered
he didn't like it.
It was one of life's little ironies.

2 [uncountable] the use of words that say the opposite of what you really mean, often as a joke
and with a tone of voice that shows this ‘England is famous for its food,’ she said with heavy
irony.
There was a note of irony in his voice.
She said it without a hint/trace of irony.

ir·rep·ar·ably adverb
BrE /ɪˈrepərəbli/ ; NAmE /ɪˈrepərəbli/
in a way that is too bad or too serious to repair or put right irreparably damaged

ir·rep·ar·able adjective
BrE /ɪˈrepərəbl/ ; NAmE /ɪˈrepərəbl/
(of a loss, injury, etc.) too bad or too serious to repair or put right to cause irreparable
damage/harm to your health
Her death is an irreparable loss.

OPPOSITE repairable

ivory noun
BrE /ˈaɪvəri/ ; NAmE /ˈaɪvəri/
(plural ivories)
1 [uncountable] a hard yellowish-white substance like bone that forms the tusks (= long teeth) of
elephants and some other animals a ban on the ivory trade
an ivory chess set

2 [countable] an object made of ivory a priceless collection of ivories

He had a good set of ivories (= teeth).
Of an evening she would entertain them by tinkling the ivories (= playing the piano).

3 [uncountable] a yellowish-white colour

jeop·ard·ize (British English also -ise) verb

BrE /ˈdʒepədaɪz/ ; NAmE /ˈdʒepərdaɪz/

jeopardize something/somebody (formal) to risk harming or destroying something/somebody

SYNONYM endanger
He would never do anything to jeopardize his career.
This scandal could seriously jeopardize his chances of being re-elected.

jeop·ardy noun
BrE /ˈdʒepədi/ ; NAmE /ˈdʒepərdi/

Idioms
in ˈjeopardy
in a dangerous position or situation and likely to be lost or harmed The civil war has put
thousands of lives in jeopardy.
The future of the school and 50 jobs are in jeopardy.
Thousands of jobs could be in jeopardy.

SEE ALSO double jeopardy

ˌdouble ˈjeopardy noun

BrE ; NAmE
[uncountable] (in US law) the fact of taking somebody to court twice for the same crime, or
punishing somebody twice for the same reason. This is not allowed under the Fifth Amendment
of the US Constitution.

join verb
BrE /dʒɔɪn/ ; NAmE /dʒɔɪn/

connect
1 [transitive, intransitive] to fix or connect two or more things together join A to B Join one
section of pipe to the next.
The island is joined to the mainland by a bridge.
join (A and B) (together/up) Join the two sections of pipe together.
Draw a line joining (up) all the crosses.
How do these two pieces join?

become one
2 [intransitive, transitive] if two things or groups join, or if one thing or group joins another,
they come together to form one thing or group the place where the two paths join
join something The path joins the road near the trees.

club/company
3 [transitive, intransitive] join (something) to become a member of an organization, a company,
a club, etc I've joined an aerobics class.
She joined the company three months ago.
(figurative) to join the ranks of the unemployed
It costs £20 to join.

do something with somebody else

4 [transitive] to take part in something that somebody else is doing or to go somewhere with
them join somebody (for something) Will you join us for lunch?
Do you mind if I join you?
join something Over 200 members of staff joined the strike.
Members of the public joined the search for the missing boy.
join somebody in doing something I'm sure you'll all join me in wishing Ted and Laura a very
happy marriage.

train/plane
5 [transitive] join something (British English) if you join a train, plane, etc. you get on it
road/path/line
6 [transitive] join something if you join a road or a line of people, you start to travel along it, or
move into it

Idioms
if you can’t beat them, ˈjoin them
(saying) if you cannot defeat somebody 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
join ˈbattle (with somebody)
(formal) to begin fighting somebody (figurative) Local residents have joined battle with the
council over the lack of parking facilities.

join the ˈclub

(informal) used when something bad that has happened to somebody else has also happened to
you So you didn't get a job either? Join the club!

join/combine ˈforces (with somebody)

to work together in order to achieve a shared aim The two firms joined forces to win the contract.

join ˈhands (with somebody)

1 if two people join hands, they hold each other’s hands
2 to work together in doing something Education has been reluctant to join hands with business.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌjoin ˈin (something/doing something) | ˌjoin ˈin (with somebody/something)
to take part in an activity with other people She listens but she never joins in.
I wish he would join in with the other children.

ˌjoin ˈup
to become a member of the armed forces
SYNONYM enlist
Her grandfather joined up in 1914.
 ˌjoin ˈup (with somebody)
to combine with somebody else to do something We'll join up with the other groups later.

jur·is·dic·tion noun
BrE /ˌdʒʊərɪsˈdɪkʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌdʒʊrɪsˈdɪkʃn/
(formal)
1 [uncountable, countable] jurisdiction (over somebody/something) jurisdiction (of
somebody/something) (to do something) the authority that an official organization has to make
legal decisions about somebody/something The Court of Appeal exercised its jurisdiction to
order a review of the case.
These matters do not fall within our jurisdiction.

2 [countable] an area or a country in which a particular system of laws has authority Practice
varies between different European jurisdictions.

ˌkeyhole ˈsurgery noun

BrE ; NAmE
[uncountable] (especially British English)
medical operations which involve only a very small cut being made in the patient’s body
Laparoscopy

kins·man noun
BrE /ˈkɪnzmən/ ; NAmE /ˈkɪnzmən/
, kins·woman
BrE /ˈkɪnzwʊmən/ ; NAmE /ˈkɪnzwʊmən/
(plural kins·men BrE /ˈkɪnzmən/ ; NAmE /ˈkɪnzmən/ , kins·women BrE /ˈkɪnzwɪmɪn/ ; NAmE
/ˈkɪnzwɪmɪn/ ) (old-fashioned or literary)

a relative

keep verb
BrE /kiːp/ ; NAmE /kiːp/

stay
1 [intransitive, transitive] to stay in a particular condition or position; to make
somebody/something do this + adjective We huddled together to keep warm.
+ adverb/preposition The notice said ‘Keep off (= Do not walk on) the grass’.
Keep left along the wall.
keep somebody/something + adjective She kept the children amused for hours.
keep somebody/something (+ adverb/preposition) He kept his coat on.
Don't keep us in suspense—what happened next?
She had trouble keeping her balance.
keep somebody/something doing something I'm very sorry to keep you waiting.

continue
2 [intransitive] to continue doing something; to do something repeatedly keep doing something
Keep smiling!
keep on doing something Don't keep on interrupting me!

delay
3 [transitive] keep somebody to delay somebody
SYNONYM hold somebody/somethingup
You're an hour late—what kept you?

not give back

4 [transitive] keep something to continue to have something and not give it back or throw it
away Here's a five dollar bill—please keep the change.
I keep all her letters.

save for somebody

5 [transitive] (especially British English) to save something for somebody keep something for
somebody Please keep a seat for me.
keep somebody something Please keep me a seat.

put/store
6 [transitive] keep something + adverb/preposition to put or store something in a particular
place Keep your passport in a safe place.

shop/restaurant
7 [transitive] keep something (especially British English) to own and manage a shop/store or
restaurant Her father kept a grocer's shop.

animals
8 [transitive] keep something to own and care for animals to keep bees/goats/hens

about health
9 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition (informal) used to ask or talk about somebody’s health
How is your mother keeping?
We're all keeping well.

of food
10 [intransitive] to remain in good condition Finish off the pie—it won't keep.
 (informal, figurative) ‘I'd love to hear about it, but I'm late already.’ ‘That's OK—it'll keep (= I
can tell you about it later).’

secret
11 [transitive] keep a secret keep something secret (from somebody) to know something and
not tell it to anyone Can you keep a secret?
She kept her past secret from us all.

promise/appointment
12 [transitive] keep your promise/word keep an appointment to do what you have promised
to do; to go where you have agreed to go She kept her promise to visit them.
He failed to keep his appointment at the clinic.

diary/record
13 [transitive] keep a diary, an account, a record, etc. to write down something as a record
She kept a diary for over twenty years.
Keep a note of where each item can be found.
I kept a weekly account of my workload and activities.

support somebody
14 [transitive] keep somebody/yourself to provide what is necessary for somebody to live; to
support somebody by paying for food, etc He scarcely earns enough to keep himself and his
family.

protect
15 [transitive] (formal) to protect somebody from something keep somebody May the Lord bless
you and keep you (= used in prayers in the Christian Church).
keep somebody from something His only thought was to keep the boy from harm.

in sport
16 [transitive] keep goal (British English, North American English) keep wicket (British
English) (in football (soccer ), hockey, cricket, etc.) to guard or protect the goal or wicket
SEE ALSO goalkeeper, wicketkeeper

Idioms
Most idioms containing keep are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for
example keep house is at house.
ˌkeep ˈgoing
1 to make an effort to live normally when you are in a difficult situation or when you have
experienced great suffering You just have to keep yourself busy and keep going.

2 (informal) used to encourage somebody to continue doing something Keep going, Sarah,
you're nearly there.

ˌkeep somebody ˈgoing

(informal) to be enough for somebody until they get what they are waiting for Have an apple to
keep you going till dinner time.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌkeep somebody ˈafter (North American English)
(British English ˌkeep somebodyˈback)
to make a student stay at school after normal hours as a punishment
ˌkeep ˈat something
to continue working at something Come on, keep at it, you've nearly finished!

ˌkeep somebody ˈat something

to make somebody continue working at something He kept us at it all day.

ˌkeep aˈway (from somebody/something)

to avoid going near somebody/something Keep away from the edge of the cliff.

ˌkeep somebody/something aˈway (from somebody/something)

to prevent somebody/something from going somewhere Her illness kept her away from work for
several weeks.

ˌkeep ˈback (from somebody/something)

to stay at a distance from somebody/something Keep well back from the road.

ˌkeep somebodyˈback
1 (British English)
(North American English ˌkeep somebody ˈafter)
to make a student stay at school after normal hours as a punishment
2 (North American English) to make a student repeat a year at school because of poor
marks/grades
ˌkeep somebodyˈback (from somebody/something)
to make somebody stay at a distance from somebody/something Barricades were erected to keep
back the crowds.

ˌkeep somethingˈback
1 to prevent a feeling, etc. from being expressed
SYNONYM restrain
She was unable to keep back her tears.

2 to continue to have a part of something He kept back half the money for himself.

ˌkeep somethingˈback (from somebody)

to refuse to tell somebody something I'm sure she's keeping something back from us.

ˌkeep ˈdown
to hide yourself by not standing up straight Keep down! You mustn't let anyone see you.
 ˌkeep somebodyˈdown
to prevent a person, group, etc. from expressing themselves freely
SYNONYM oppress
The people have been kept down for years by a brutal regime.
You can’t keep Laura down—she’s so full of life.

ˌkeep somethingˈdown
1 to make something stay at a low level; to avoid increasing something to keep down
wages/prices/the cost of living
Keep your voice down—I don't want anyone else to hear.
Keep the noise down (= be quiet).

2 to not bring something back through the mouth from the stomach; to not vomit She's had some
water but she can't keep any food down.

ˈkeep from something | ˈkeep yourself from something

to prevent yourself from doing something keep from doing something She could hardly keep
from laughing.
I just managed to keep myself from falling.

ˈkeep somebody from something

to prevent somebody from doing something I hope I'm not keeping you from your work.
keep somebody from doing something The church bells keep me from sleeping.

ˈkeep something from somebody

to avoid telling somebody something I think we ought to keep the truth from him until he's better.
They don’t keep anything from each other.

ˈkeep something from something

to make something stay out of something She could not keep the dismay from her voice.

ˌkeep ˈin with somebody

(British English, informal) to make sure that you stay friendly with somebody, because you will
get an advantage from doing so
ˌkeep somethingˈin
to avoid expressing an emotion
SYNONYM restrain
He could scarcely keep in his indignation.

ˌkeep somebody ˈin

to make somebody stay indoors or in a particular place
ˈkeep somebody/yourself in something
to provide somebody/yourself with a regular supply of something
ˌkeep ˈoff
if rain, snow, etc. keeps off, it does not fall
ˌkeep ˈoff something
1 to avoid eating, drinking or smoking something I'm trying to keep off fatty foods.

2 to avoid mentioning a particular subject It's best to keep off politics when my father's around.

ˌkeep somebody/somethingˈoff | ˌkeep somebody/something ˈoff somebody/something

to prevent somebody/something from coming near, touching, etc. somebody/something They lit a
fire to keep off wild animals.
Keep your hands off (= do not touch) me!

ˌkeep ˈon
to continue The rain kept on all night.
Keep on until you get to the church.

ˌkeep somebodyˈon
to continue to employ somebody
ˌkeep something ˈon
to continue to rent a house, flat/apartment, etc We’re planning to keep the house on over the
summer.

ˌkeep ˈon (at somebody) (about somebody/something)

(especially British English) to speak to somebody often and in an annoying way about
somebody/something
SYNONYM go on, nag
He does keep on so!
I'll do it—just don't keep on at me about it!

ˌkeep ˈout (of something)

to not enter a place; to stay outside The sign said ‘Private Property—Keep Out!’

ˌkeep somebody/somethingˈout (of something)

to prevent somebody/something from entering a place Keep that dog out of my study!

ˌkeep ˈout of something | ˌkeep somebody ˈout of something

to avoid something; to prevent somebody from being involved in something or affected by
something That child can't keep out of mischief.
Keep the baby out of the sun.

ˈkeep to something
1 to avoid leaving a path, road, etc.
SYNONYM stick to something
Keep to the track—the land is very boggy around here.

2 to talk or write only about the subject that you are supposed to talk or write about Nothing is
more irritating than people who do not keep to the point.

3 to do what you have promised or agreed to do to keep to an agreement/an undertaking/a plan

4 to stay in and not leave a particular place or position She's nearly 90 and mostly keeps to her
room.

ˌkeep (yourself) to yourˈself

to avoid meeting people socially or becoming involved in their affairs Nobody knows much about
him; he keeps himself very much to himself.

ˌkeep something to yourˈself

to not tell other people about something I'd be grateful if you kept this information to yourself.
Kindly keep your opinions to yourself in future!

ˌkeep somebody ˈunder

to control or oppress somebody The local people are kept under by the army.

ˌkeep ˈup
if particular weather keeps up, it continues without stopping The rain kept up all afternoon.

ˌkeep ˈup (with somebody/something)

to move, make progress or increase at the same rate as somebody/something Slow down—I can't
keep up!
I can't keep up with all the changes.
Wages are not keeping up with inflation.

ˌkeep ˈup with somebody

to continue to be in contact with somebody How many of your old school friends do you keep up
with?

ˌkeep ˈup with something

1 to learn about or be aware of the news, current events, etc She likes to keep up with the latest
fashions.

2 to continue to pay or do something regularly If you do not keep up with the payments you
could lose your home.

ˌkeep somebody ˈup

to prevent somebody from going to bed I hope we're not keeping you up.

ˌkeep somethingˈup
1 to make something stay at a high level The high cost of raw materials is keeping prices up.

2 to continue something at the same, usually high, level The enemy kept up the bombardment
day and night.
We're having difficulty keeping up our mortgage payments.
Well done!Keep up the good work/Keep it up!
3 to make something remain at a high level They sang songs to keep their spirits up.

4 to continue to use or practise something to keep up old traditions

Do you still keep up your Spanish?

5 to take care of a house, garden/yard, etc. so that it stays in good condition

SYNONYM maintain
RELATED NOUN upkeep

ˈlay-off noun
BrE ; NAmE
1 an act of making people unemployed because there is no more work left for them to do lay-offs
in the factory

2 a period of time when somebody is not working or not doing something that they normally do
regularly an eight-week lay-off with a broken leg

lead1 verb
BrE /liːd/ ; NAmE /liːd/

show the way

1 [intransitive, transitive] to go with or in front of a person or an animal to show the way or to
make them go in the right direction
SYNONYM guide
If you lead, I'll follow.
lead somebody/something + adverb/preposition He led us out into the grounds.
The receptionist led the way to the boardroom.
She led the horse back into the stable.
(figurative) I tried to lead the discussion back to the main issue.

connect two things

2 [intransitive] lead from/to something (to/from something) to connect one object or place to
another the pipe leading from the top of the water tank
The wire led to a speaker.

of road/path/door
3 [intransitive, transitive] to go in a particular direction or to a particular place +
adverb/preposition A path led up the hill.
Which door leads to the yard?
lead somebody + adverb/preposition The track led us through a wood.

cause
4 [intransitive] lead to something to have something as a result
SYNONYM result in
Eating too much sugar can lead to health problems.
A reward was offered for information leading to an arrest.

5 [transitive] to be the reason why somebody does or thinks something lead somebody (to
something) What led you to this conclusion?
He's too easily led (= easily persuaded to do or think something).
lead somebody to do something This has led scientists to speculate on the existence of other
galaxies.
The situation is far worse than we had been led to believe.

life
6 [transitive] lead something to have a particular type of life to lead a quiet life/a life of
luxury/a miserable existence

be best/first
7 [transitive, intransitive] to be the best at something; to be in first place lead
(somebody/something) (in something) The department led the world in cancer research.
We lead the way in space technology.
lead (somebody/something) by something The champion is leading (her nearest rival) by 18
seconds.

be in control
8 [transitive, intransitive] lead (something) to be in control of something; to be the leader of
something to lead an expedition
to lead a discussion
Who will lead the party in the next election?

in card games
9 [intransitive, transitive] to play first; to play something as your first card It's your turn to lead.
lead something to lead the ten of clubs

Idioms
the blind leading the ˈblind
a situation in which people with almost no experience or knowledge give advice to others who
also have no experience or knowledge
lead somebody by the ˈnose
to make somebody do everything you want; to control somebody completely
lead somebody a (merry) ˈdance
(British English) to cause somebody a lot of trouble or worry
lead from the ˈfront
to take an active part in what you are telling or persuading others to do
lead/live the life of ˈRiley
(old-fashioned, often disapproving) to live an enjoyable and comfortable life with no problems or
responsibilities The two crooks had been living the life of Riley.
He planned to retire early and then lead the life of Riley.

lead (somebody) nowhere

to have no successful result for somebody This discussion is leading us nowhere.

lead somebody up/down the garden ˈpath

to make somebody believe something which is not true
ˌone thing leads to aˈnother
used to suggest that the way one event or action leads to others is so obvious that it does not need
to be stated He offered me a ride home one night, and, well, one thing led to another and now
we're married!

you can ˌlead/ˌtake a horse to ˌwater, but you ˌcan’t make it ˈdrink
(saying) you can give somebody the opportunity to do something, but you cannot force them to
do it if they do not want to
Phrasal Verbs
ˌlead ˈoff (from) something
to start at a place and go away from it narrow streets leading off from the main square

ˌlead ˈoff | ˌlead somethingˈoff

to start something Who would like to lead off the debate?

ˌlead somebody ˈon

(informal) to make somebody believe something which is not true, especially that you love them
or find them attractive
ˌlead ˈup to something
to be an introduction to or the cause of something the weeks leading up to the exam
the events leading up to the strike

ˈlead with something

1 (of a newspaper) to have something as the main item of news
2 (in boxing) to use a particular hand to begin an attack to lead with your right/left

lead1 noun
BrE /liːd/ ; NAmE /liːd/
first place
1 the lead [singular] the position ahead of everyone else in a race or competition She took the
lead in the second lap.
He has gone into the lead.
The Democrats now appear to be in the lead.
to hold/lose the lead
The lead car is now three minutes ahead of the rest of the field.
2 [singular] lead (over somebody/something) the amount or distance that somebody/something
is in front of somebody/something else
SYNONYM advantage
He managed to hold a lead of two seconds over his closest rival.
The polls have given Labour a five-point lead.
a commanding/comfortable lead
to increase/widen your lead
Manchester lost their early two-goal lead.

example
3 [singular] an example or action for people to copy If one bank raises interest rates, all the
others will follow their lead.
If we take the lead in this (= start to act), others may follow.
You go first, I'll take my lead from you.

information
4 [countable] a piece of information that may help to find out the truth or facts about a situation,
especially a crime
SYNONYM clue
The police will follow up all possible leads.

actor/musician
5 [countable] the main part in a play, film/movie, etc.; the person who plays this part Who is
playing the lead?
the male/female lead
a lead role
the lead singer in a band

for dog
6 (British English) (also leash North American English, British English) [countable] a long piece
of leather, chain or rope used for holding and controlling a dog Dogs must be kept on a lead in
the park.

for electricity
7 [countable] (British English) a long piece of wire, usually covered in plastic, that is used to
connect a piece of electrical equipment to a source of electricity
SEE ALSO extension lead, jump lead

lead2 noun
BrE /led/ ; NAmE /led/
1 [uncountable] (symbol Pb) a chemical element. Lead is a heavy soft grey metal, used
especially in the past for water pipes or to cover roofs Lead exposure can be harmful to
everyone, especially young children and babies.
2 [countable, uncountable] the thin black part of a pencil that marks paper

Idioms
go ˌdown like a lead balˈloon
(informal) to be very unsuccessful; to not be accepted by people My suggestion went down like a
lead balloon.

ˌswing the ˈlead

(old-fashioned, British English, informal) (usually used in the progressive tenses) to pretend to
be ill/sick when in fact you are not, especially to avoid work I don't think there's anything wrong
with her—she's just swinging the lead.

The lead was a weight at the bottom of a line that sailors used to measure how deep water was
when the ship was near land. ‘Swinging the lead’ was thought to be an easy task, and came to
mean avoiding hard work.

ini·tia·tive noun
BrE /ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ ; NAmE /ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/
1 [countable] a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular
purpose a United Nations peace initiative
a government initiative to combat unemployment

2 [uncountable] the ability to decide and act on your own without waiting for somebody to tell
you what to do You won't get much help. You'll have to use your initiative.
Too much bureaucracy represses creativity and initiative.
She did it on her own initiative (= without anyone telling her to do it).

3 the initiative [singular] the power or opportunity to act and gain an advantage before other
people do to seize/lose the initiative
It was up to the US to take the initiative in repairing relations.

4 [countable] (North American English, law) (in some states of the US) a process by which
ordinary people can suggest a new law by signing a petition

le·gis·la·tion noun
BrE /ˌledʒɪsˈleɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌledʒɪsˈleɪʃn/
[uncountable]
1 a law or a set of laws passed by a parliament an important piece of legislation
New legislation on the sale of drugs will be introduced next year.
a call for legislation to ban smoking in public places
2 the process of making and passing laws Legislation will be difficult and will take time.
le·gis·la·tive adjective
BrE /ˈledʒɪslətɪv/ ; NAmE /ˈledʒɪsleɪtɪv/
[only before noun] (formal)
connected with the act of making and passing laws a legislative assembly/body/council
legislative powers

le·git·im·acy noun
BrE /lɪˈdʒɪtɪməsi/ ; NAmE /lɪˈdʒɪtɪməsi/
[uncountable]
1 the quality of being based on a fair or acceptable reason
SYNONYM validity (2)
the dubious legitimacy of her argument

2 the quality of being allowed and acceptable according to the law

SYNONYM legality (1)
I intend to challenge the legitimacy of his claim.

OPPOSITE illegitimacy (2)

3 the fact that a child's parents are legally married when it is born doubts over the child's
legitimacy

OPPOSITE illegitimacy (1)

le·git·im·ate adjective
BrE /lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət/ ; NAmE /lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət/
1 for which there is a fair and acceptable reason
SYNONYM valid, justifiable
a legitimate grievance
It seemed a perfectly legitimate question.
Politicians are legitimate targets for satire.

2 allowed and acceptable according to the law

SYNONYM legal
the legitimate government of the country
Is his business strictly legitimate?

OPPOSITE illegitimate
3 (of a child) born when its parents are legally married to each other
OPPOSITE illegitimate

le·git·im·ate·ly adverb
BrE /lɪˈdʒɪtɪmətli/ ; NAmE /lɪˈdʒɪtɪmətli/
1 for a fair or acceptable reason
SYNONYM justifiably
She can now legitimately claim to be the best in the world.

2 in a way that is allowed and acceptable according to the law

SYNONYM legally (2)
The company has legitimately marketed its product.

le·git·im·ize (British English also -ise) verb

BrE /lɪˈdʒɪtəmaɪz/ ; NAmE /lɪˈdʒɪtəmaɪz/
(formal)

1 legitimize something to make something that is wrong or unfair seem acceptable The movie
has been criticized for apparently legitimizing violence.

2 legitimize something to make something legal

SYNONYM legalize
3 legitimize somebody to give a child whose parents are not married to each other the same
rights as those whose parents are

leg·ume noun
BrE /ˈleɡjuːm/ ; NAmE /ˈleɡjuːm/ ; BrE /lɪˈɡjuːm/ ; NAmE /lɪˈɡjuːm/
(specialist)
any plant that has seeds in long pods. Peas and beans are legumes.

leis·ure noun
BrE /ˈleʒə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈliːʒər/
[uncountable]
time that is spent doing what you enjoy when you are not working or studying These days we
have more money and more leisure to enjoy it.
leisure activities/interests/pursuits
Make the most of your leisure time!
the leisure industry

Idioms
at ˈleisure
1 with no particular activities; free Spend the afternoon at leisure in the town centre.

2 without hurrying Let's have lunch so we can talk at leisure.

at your ˈleisure
(formal) when you have the time to do something without hurrying I suggest you take the forms
away and read them at your leisure.

a ˌgentleman/ˌlady of ˈleisure
(humorous) a man/woman who does not have to work

ˈleisure centre noun

BrE ; NAmE
(British English)
a public building where people can go to do sports and other activities in their free time

lend·er noun
BrE /ˈlendə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈlendər/
(finance)
a person or an organization that lends money The bank is the largest mortgage lender in the
country.
The bank was an important lender to the British government.

COMPARE borrower
SEE ALSO moneylender

lend verb
BrE /lend/ ; NAmE /lend/

1 [transitive] to give something to somebody or allow them to use something that belongs to
you, which they have to return to you later
SYNONYM loan
lend (out) something (to somebody) I've lent the car to a friend.
lend somebody something Can you lend me your car this evening?
Has he returned that book you lent him?

2 [transitive, intransitive] (of a bank or financial institution) to give money to somebody on

condition that they pay it back over a period of time and pay interest on it
SYNONYM loan
lend (something) (to somebody) The bank refused to lend the money to us.
lend somebody something They refused to lend us the money.

COMPARE borrow
3 [transitive] (formal) to give a particular quality to a person or a situation lend something (to
somebody/something) The setting sun lent an air of melancholy to the scene.
lend somebody/something something Her presence lent the occasion a certain dignity.

4 [transitive] to give or provide help, support, etc lend something (to somebody/something) I
was more than happy to lend my support to such a good cause.
lend somebody/something something He came along to lend me moral support.

Idioms
give/lend a ˌhelping ˈhand
to help somebody
lend ˈcolour to something
(British English) to make something seem true or probable Most of the available evidence lends
colour to this view.

lend an ˈear (to somebody/something)

to listen in a patient and sympathetic way to somebody
lend (somebody) a (helping) ˈhand (with something)
(informal) to help somebody with something I went over to see if I could lend a hand.

lend your name to something (formal)

1 to let it be known in public that you support or agree with something I am more than happy to
lend my name to this campaign.

2 to have a place named after you

lend supˈport, ˈweight, ˈcredence, etc. to something
to make something seem more likely to be true or genuine This latest evidence lends support to
her theory.

Phrasal Verbs
ˈlend itself to something
to be suitable for something Her voice doesn't really lend itself well to blues singing.

let verb
BrE /let/ ; NAmE /let/

allow
1 [no passive] to allow somebody to do something or something to happen without trying to stop
it let somebody/something do something Let them splash around in the pool for a while.
Don't let her upset you.
Let your body relax.
let somebody/something He'd eat chocolate all day long if I let him.
2 to give somebody permission to do something let somebody/something do something They
won't let him leave the country.
let somebody/something She wanted to lend me some money but I wouldn't let her.

3 let somebody/something + adverb/preposition to allow somebody/something to go

somewhere to let somebody into the house
I'll give you a key so that you can let yourself in.
Please let me past.
The cat wants to be let out.

making suggestions
4 let’s [no passive] let (do something) used for making suggestions Let's go to the beach.
Let's not tell her what we did.
(British English) Don't let's tell her what we did.
I don't think we'll make it, but let's try anyway.
‘Shall we check it again?’ ‘Yes, let's.’

offering help
5 [no passive] let somebody/something do something used for offering help to somebody
Here, let me do it.
Let us get those boxes down for you.

making requests
6 [no passive] let somebody/something do something used for making requests or giving
instructions Let me have your report by Friday.

challenging
7 [no passive] let somebody/something do something used to show that you are not afraid or
worried about somebody doing something If he thinks he can cheat me, just let him try!

wishing
8 [no passive] let somebody/something do something (literary) used to express a strong wish
for something to happen Let her come home safely!

introducing something
9 [no passive] let somebody/something do something used to introduce what you are going to
say or do Let me give you an example.
Let me just finish this and then I'll come.

in calculating
10 [no passive] let somebody/something do something (specialist) used to say that you are
supposing something to be true when you calculate something Let line AB be equal to line CD.

house/room
11 let something (out) (to somebody) (especially British English) to allow somebody to use a
house, room, etc. in return for regular payments I let the spare room.
They decided to let out the smaller offices at low rents.

Idioms
Most idioms containing let are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for
example let alone is at alone.
ˌlet ˈfall something
to mention something in a conversation, by accident or as if by accident
SYNONYM drop
She let fall a further heavy hint.

ˌlet somebody ˈgo

1 to allow somebody to be free
SYNONYM free
Will they let the hostages go?

2 to make somebody have to leave their job They're having to let 100 employees go because of
falling profits.

ˌlet somebody/something ˈgo, ˌlet ˈgo (of somebody/something)

1 to stop holding somebody/something Don't let the rope go.
Don't let go of the rope.
Let go! You're hurting me!

2 to give up an idea or an attitude, or control of something It's time to let the past go.
It's time to let go of the past.

ˌlet something ˈgo

to stop taking care of a house, garden, etc I'm afraid I've let the garden go this year.
Let the house go in order to spend time with the kids.

let somebody ˈhave it

(informal) to attack somebody physically or with words
let it ˈgo (at ˈthat)
to say or do no more about something I don't entirely agree, but I'll let it go at that.
I thought she was hinting at something, but I let it go.

ˌlet me ˈsee/ˈthink
used when you are thinking or trying to remember something Now let me see—where did he say
he lived?

let us ˈsay
used when making a suggestion or giving an example I can let you have it for, well let's say
£100.

ˌlet yourself ˈgo

1 to behave in a relaxed way without worrying about what people think of your behaviour Come
on, enjoy yourself, let yourself go!

2 to stop being careful about how you look and dress, etc He has let himself go since he lost his
job.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌlet somebodyˈdown
to fail to help or support somebody as they had hoped or expected I'm afraid she let us down
badly.
This machine won't let you down.
He trudged home feeling lonely and let down.

RELATED NOUN let-down

ˌlet somebody/somethingˈdown
to make somebody/something less successful than they/it should be She speaks French very
fluently, but her pronunciation lets her down.

ˌlet somethingˈdown
1 to let or make something go down We let the bucket down by a rope.

2 to make a dress, skirt, coat, etc. longer, by reducing the amount of material that is folded over
at the bottom This skirt needs letting down.

OPPOSITE take somethingup

3 (British English) to allow the air to escape from something deliberately Some kids had let my
tyres down.

ˌlet somebody/yourself ˈin for something

(informal) to involve somebody/yourself in something that is likely to be unpleasant or difficult I
volunteered to help, and then I thought ‘Oh no, what have I let myself in for!’

ˌlet somebody ˈin on something | ˌlet somebody ˈinto something

(informal) to allow somebody to share a secret Are you going to let them in on your plans?

ˌlet something ˈinto something

to put something into the surface of something so that it does not stick out from it a window let
into a wall

ˌlet somebody ˈoff (with something)

to not punish somebody for something they have done wrong, or to give them only a light
punishment They let us off lightly.
She was let off with a warning.

ˌlet somebody ˈoff something

(British English) to allow somebody not to do something or not to go somewhere He let us off
homework today.

ˌlet something ˈoff

to fire a gun or make a bomb, etc. explode The boys were letting off fireworks.

ˌlet ˈon (to somebody)

(informal) to tell a secret I'm getting married next week, but please don't let on to anyone.
let on (to somebody) that… She let on that she was leaving.

ˌlet ˈout
(North American English) (of school classes, films/movies, meetings, etc.) to come to an end, so
that it is time for people to leave The movie has just let out.

ˌlet somebody ˈout

to make somebody stop feeling that they are involved in something or have to do something They
think the attacker was very tall—so that lets you out.

RELATED NOUN let-out

ˌlet something ˈout
1 to give a cry, etc to let out a scream of terror
to let out a gasp of delight

OPPOSITE hold in
2 to make a shirt, coat, etc. looser or larger
OPPOSITE take in
ˌlet ˈup (informal)
1 to become less strong The pain finally let up.

2 to make less effort We mustn't let up now.

RELATED NOUN let-up

ˈlet-down noun
BrE ; NAmE
[countable, usually singular, uncountable] (informal)
something that is disappointing because it is not as good as you expected it to be
SYNONYM disappointment, anticlimax
Afterwards there was just a feeling of let-down.
The London exhibition was a bit of a let-down.

ˈlet-up noun
BrE ; NAmE
[uncountable, singular] let-up (in something) a period of time during which something stops or
becomes less strong, difficult, etc.; a reduction in the strength of something
SYNONYM lull
There is no sign of a let-up in the recession.

lull noun
BrE /lʌl/ ; NAmE /lʌl/
[usually singular] lull (in something) a quiet period between times of activity a lull in the
conversation/fighting
Just before an attack everything would go quiet but we knew it was just the lull before the storm
(= before a time of noise or trouble).

lilac adjective
BrE /ˈlaɪlək/ ; NAmE /ˈlaɪlək/
pale purple in colour a lilac dress

lin·eage noun
BrE /ˈlɪniɪdʒ/ ; NAmE /ˈlɪniɪdʒ/
[uncountable, countable] (formal)
the series of families that somebody comes from originally
SYNONYM ancestry
a French nobleman of ancient lineage

lin·ger verb
BrE /ˈlɪŋɡə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈlɪŋɡər/

+ VERB FORMS

1 [intransitive] to continue to exist for longer than expected The faint smell of her perfume
lingered in the room.
linger on The civil war lingered on well into the 1930s.

2 [intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) to stay somewhere for longer because you do not want to
leave; to spend a long time doing something She lingered for a few minutes to talk to Nick.
We lingered over breakfast on the terrace.

3 [intransitive] linger (on somebody/something) to continue to look at somebody/something or

think about something for longer than usual His eyes lingered on the diamond ring on her finger.

4 [intransitive] linger (on) to stay alive but become weaker He lingered on for several months
after the heart attack.
lin·ger·ing adjective
BrE /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/
slow to end or disappear a painful and lingering death
a last lingering look
lingering doubts
a lingering smell of machine oil

lin·ger·ing·ly adverb
BrE /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋli/ ; NAmE /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋli/
in a way that is slow to end He kissed her again, lingeringly.

lit·er·acy noun
BrE /ˈlɪtərəsi/ ; NAmE /ˈlɪtərəsi/
[uncountable]
the ability to read and write a campaign to promote adult literacy
basic literacy skills

OPPOSITE illiteracy

SEE ALSO computer literacy

liti·ga·tion noun
BrE /ˌlɪtɪˈɡeɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌlɪtɪˈɡeɪʃn/
[uncountable] (law)
the process of making or defending a claim in court The company has been in litigation with its
previous auditors for a full year.
to run the risk of litigation

lit·ter noun
BrE /ˈlɪtə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈlɪtər/
1 [uncountable] small pieces of rubbish/garbage such as paper, cans and bottles, that people have
left lying in a public place There will be fines for people who drop litter.

2 [singular] litter of something a number of things that are lying in an untidy way The floor was
covered with a litter of newspapers, clothes and empty cups.
3 [uncountable] a dry substance that is put in a shallow open box for pets, especially cats, to use
as a toilet when they are indoors cat litter
(British English) a litter tray
(North American English) a litter box

4 [countable] a number of baby animals that one mother gives birth to at the same time a litter of
puppies
the runt (= the smallest and weakest baby) of the litter

5 [uncountable] the substance, especially straw, that is used for farm animals to sleep on
6 [countable] a kind of chair or bed that was used in the past for carrying important people

lit·ter verb
BrE /ˈlɪtə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈlɪtər/

1 [transitive] litter something to be spread around a place, making it look untidy Piles of books
and newspapers littered the floor.
Broken glass littered the streets.

2 [transitive, usually passive, intransitive] litter (something) (with something) to leave things in
a place, making it look untidy The floor was littered with papers.
(North American English) He was arrested for littering.

3 [transitive] be littered with something to contain or involve a lot of a particular type of thing,
usually something bad Your essay is littered with spelling mistakes.

live·stock noun
BrE /ˈlaɪvstɒk/ ; NAmE /ˈlaɪvstɑːk/
[uncountable, plural]
the animals kept on a farm, for example cows or sheep

loan noun
BrE /ləʊn/ ; NAmE /loʊn/
1 [countable] money that an organization such as a bank lends and somebody borrows to take
out/repay a loan (= to borrow money/pay it back)
bank loans with low interest rates
It took three years to repay my student loan (= money lent to a student).
a car loan (= a loan to buy a car)

2 [singular] loan (of something) the act of lending something; the state of being lent I even gave
her the loan of my car.
an exhibition of paintings on loan (= borrowed) from private collections

loan verb
BrE /ləʊn/ ; NAmE /loʊn/

1 (especially North American English) to lend something to somebody, especially money loan
something (to somebody) The bank is happy to loan money to small businesses.
loan somebody something A friend loaned me $1 000.

2 (especially British English) to lend a valuable object to a museum, etc loan something (out) (to
somebody/something) This exhibit was kindly loaned by the artist's family.
loan somebody something He loaned the museum his entire collection.

lone adjective
BrE /ləʊn/ ; NAmE /loʊn/
[only before noun]
1 without any other people or things
SYNONYM solitary
a lone sailor crossing the Atlantic
The attack was carried out by a lone gunman in a crowded shopping centre.

2 (especially British English) without a husband, wife or partner to share the care of children
SYNONYM single
a lone mother/parent/father
Most lone parent families are headed by women.
Nine out of ten lone parents are women.

- 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 park
long, solitary walks
Lonely (North American English also lonesome) means that you are alone and sad:a lonely
child Sam 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
Idioms
a ˌlone ˈwolf
a person who prefers to be alone

lon·gev·ity noun
BrE /lɒnˈdʒevəti/ ; NAmE /lɔːnˈdʒevəti/ , /lɑːnˈdʒevəti/
[uncountable] (formal)
long life; the fact of lasting a long time We wish you both health and longevity.
He prides himself on the longevity of the company.

lump noun
BrE /lʌmp/ ; NAmE /lʌmp/
1 a piece of something hard or solid, usually without a particular shape a lump of
coal/cheese/wood
This sauce has lumps in it.

2 (British English)
= sugar lump
One lump or two?

3 a swelling under the skin, sometimes a sign of serious illness He was unhurt apart from a
lump on his head.
Check your breasts for lumps every month.

4 (informal, especially British English) a heavy, lazy or stupid person He’s a big fat lump.

Idioms
have, etc. a lump in your throat
to feel pressure in the throat because you are very angry or emotional
take your ˈlumps
(North American English, informal) to accept bad things that happen to you without complaining
We made mistakes but we took our lumps.

lump verb
BrE /lʌmp/ ; NAmE /lʌmp/

lump A and B together lump A (in) with B to put or consider different things together in the
same group You can't lump all Asian languages together.
Idioms
ˈlump it
(informal) to accept something unpleasant because there’s no other choice I'm sorry you're not
happy about it but you'll just have to lump it.
That's the situation—like it or lump it!
main·stream adjective
BrE /ˈmeɪnstriːm/ ; NAmE /ˈmeɪnstriːm/
[usually before noun]
1 considered normal because it reflects what is done or accepted by most people mainstream
culture/politics
mainstream economists/journalists
the mainstream press/media

2 mainstream education is for children who do not have any special needs or difficulties

main·stream noun
BrE /ˈmeɪnstriːm/ ; NAmE /ˈmeɪnstriːm/
the mainstream [singular] the ideas and opinions that are thought to be normal because they are
shared by most people; the people whose ideas and opinions are most accepted His radical views
place him outside the mainstream of American politics.
He was never part of the literary mainstream as a writer.

main·stream verb
BrE /ˈmeɪnstriːm/ ; NAmE /ˈmeɪnstriːm/

1 mainstream something to make a particular idea or opinion accepted by most people

Vegetarianism has been mainstreamed.

2 mainstream somebody (especially North American English) to include children with mental
or physical problems in ordinary school classes

ˌmainstream ˈmedia noun

BrE ; NAmE
(abbreviation MSM) [uncountable + singular or plural verb]
traditional media such as newspapers and broadcasting The mainstream media was/were not
covering the story.

ma·lin·ger verb
BrE /məˈlɪŋɡə(r)/ ; NAmE /məˈlɪŋɡər/
(also be malingering) [intransitive] (disapproving)
to pretend to be ill/sick, especially in order to avoid work

man·date noun
BrE /ˈmændeɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈmændeɪt/
1 the authority to do something, given to a government or other organization by the people who
vote for it in an election mandate (to do something) The election victory gave the party a clear
mandate to continue its programme of reform.
mandate (for something) a mandate for an end to the civil war

2 the period of time for which a government is given power The presidential mandate is limited
to two terms of four years each.

3 mandate (to do something) (formal) an official order given to somebody to perform a

particular task The bank had no mandate to honour the cheque.

4 the power given to a country to govern another country or region, especially in the past The
Cook Islands mandate was given to New Zealand.

man·date verb
BrE /ˈmændeɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈmændeɪt/ ; BrE /ˌmænˈdeɪt/ ; NAmE /ˌmænˈdeɪt/
[often passive] (formal)

1 mandate that… mandate somebody (to do something) (especially North American English)
to order somebody to behave, do something or vote in a particular way The law mandates that
imported goods be identified as such.

2 mandate somebody/something to do something to give somebody, especially a government

or a committee, the authority to do something The assembly was mandated to draft a
constitution.
We need to be sure that the directors are mandated to act.

man·dated adjective
BrE /ˈmændeɪtɪd/ ; NAmE /ˈmændeɪtɪd/
[only before noun] (formal)
1 (of a country or state) placed under the rule of another country mandated territories

2 required by law a mandated curriculum

3 having a mandate to do something a mandated government

mani·fest verb
BrE /ˈmænɪfest/ ; NAmE /ˈmænɪfest/

(formal)

1 manifest something (in something) to show something clearly, especially a feeling, an

attitude or a quality
SYNONYM demonstrate
Social tensions were manifested in the recent political crisis.

2 manifest itself (in something) to appear or become noticeable

SYNONYM appear
The symptoms of the disease manifested themselves ten days later.

mani·fest adjective
BrE /ˈmænɪfest/ ; NAmE /ˈmænɪfest/
manifest (to somebody) (in something) (formal) easy to see or understand
SYNONYM clear
His nervousness was manifest to all those present.
The anger he felt is manifest in his paintings.

mani·fest·ation noun
BrE /ˌmænɪfeˈsteɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌmænɪfeˈsteɪʃn/
(formal)
1 [countable, uncountable] manifestation (of something) an event, action or thing that is a sign
that something exists or is happening; the act of appearing as a sign that something exists or is
happening The riots are a clear manifestation of the people's discontent.
Some manifestation of your concern would have been appreciated.

2 [countable] an appearance of a ghost or spirit The church is the site of a number of

supernatural manifestations.

riot noun
BrE /ˈraɪət/ ; NAmE /ˈraɪət/
1 [countable] a situation in which a group of people behave in a violent way in a public place,
often as a protest One prison guard was killed when a riot broke out in the jail.
food/race riots

2 [singular] riot of something (formal) a collection of a lot of different types of the same thing
The garden was a riot of colour.
The market was a riot of unfamiliar sounds and smells.
A riot of emotions raged through her.
3 a riot [singular] (old-fashioned, informal) a person or an event that is very amusing and
enjoyable

Idioms
ˌread (somebody) the ˈRiot Act
(British English) to tell somebody with force that they must not do something
From an Act of Parliament passed in 1715 to prevent riots. It made it illegal for a group of twelve
or more people to refuse to split up if they were ordered to do so and part of the Act was read to
them.
run ˈriot
1 (of people) to behave in a way that is violent and/or not under control
SYNONYM rampage
They let their kids run riot.

2 if your imagination, a feeling, etc. runs riot, you allow it to develop and continue without
trying to control it An artist must learn to let his imagination run riot.
These prejudices have been allowed to run riot for too long.

3 (of plants) to grow and spread quickly

riot verb
BrE /ˈraɪət/ ; NAmE /ˈraɪət/

[intransitive] (of a crowd of people) to behave in a violent way in a public place, often as a
protest Students all over the country rioted against the government.
The fans rioted after their team lost.

man·slaugh·ter noun
BrE /ˈmænslɔːtə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈmænslɔːtər/
[uncountable] (law)
the crime of killing somebody illegally but not deliberately The charge has been reduced to
manslaughter.
The directors of the railway company could be charged with corporate manslaughter.

COMPARE culpable homicide, homicide, murder

ˌculpable ˈhomicide noun

BrE ; NAmE
[uncountable] (law)
in some countries, the crime of killing somebody illegally but not deliberately
COMPARE justifiable homicide

ˌjustifiable ˈhomicide noun

BrE ; NAmE
[uncountable] (law)
in some countries, a killing which is not a criminal act, for example because you were trying to
defend yourself
COMPARE culpable homicide

man·tra noun
BrE /ˈmæntrə/ ; NAmE /ˈmæntrə/
a word, phrase or sound that is repeated again and again, especially during prayer or meditation a
Buddhist mantra

man·tle verb
BrE /ˈmæntl/ ; NAmE /ˈmæntl/

mantle something (literary) to cover the surface of something Heavy mists mantled the forested
slopes behind the village.

man·tle noun
BrE /ˈmæntl/ ; NAmE /ˈmæntl/
1 [singular] the mantle of somebody/something (literary) the role and responsibilities of an
important person or job, especially when they are passed on from one person to another The vice-
president must now take on the mantle of supreme power.
She will soon inherit her father’s mantle.

2 [countable] (literary) a layer of something that covers a surface hills with a mantle of snow
a grey mantle of mist shrouding the slopes

3 [countable] a loose piece of clothing without sleeves, worn over other clothes, especially in the
past
SYNONYM cloak, covering
4 (also ˈgas mantle) [countable] a cover around the flame of a gas lamp that becomes very bright
when it is heated
5 [singular] (geology) the part of the earth below the crust and surrounding the core

com·ply verb
BrE /kəmˈplaɪ/ ; NAmE /kəmˈplaɪ/
[intransitive] comply (with something) to obey a rule, an order, etc They refused to comply with
the UN resolution.
When requested to leave, they refused to comply.
What sanctions can they take against us if we fail to comply?

SEE ALSO compliance

mar·gin·al·ize (British English also -ise) verb

BrE /ˈmɑːdʒɪnəlaɪz/ ; NAmE /ˈmɑːrdʒɪnəlaɪz/

marginalize somebody to make somebody feel as if they are not important and cannot
influence decisions or events; to put somebody in a position in which they have no power

mar·gin·al·ly adverb
BrE /ˈmɑːdʒɪnəli/ ; NAmE /ˈmɑːrdʒɪnəli/
very slightly; not very much They now cost marginally more than they did last year.
He’s in a new job but he’s only marginally better off.

mar·shal noun
BrE /ˈmɑːʃl/ ; NAmE /ˈmɑːrʃl/
1 (usually in compounds) an officer of the highest rank in the British army or air force Field
Marshal Lord Haig
Marshal of the Royal Air Force

SEE ALSO air chief marshal, air marshal, air vice-marshal, field marshal
2 a person responsible for making sure that public events, especially sports events, take place
without any problems, and for controlling crowds
SYNONYM steward
3 (in the US) an officer whose job is to put court orders into effect a federal marshal

4 (in some US cities) an officer of high rank in a police or fire department

mar·shal verb
BrE /ˈmɑːʃl/ ; NAmE /ˈmɑːrʃl/
(formal)
1 marshal something to gather together and organize the people, things, ideas, etc. that you
need for a particular purpose
SYNONYM muster
They have begun marshalling forces to send relief to the hurricane victims.
to marshal your arguments/thoughts/facts

2 marshal somebody to control or organize a large group of people Police were brought in to
marshal the crowd.

mus·ter verb
BrE /ˈmʌstə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈmʌstər/

1 [transitive] muster something (up) to find as much support, courage, etc. as you can
SYNONYM summon
We mustered what support we could for the plan.
She left the room with all the dignity she could muster.
He could muster only 154 votes at the election.

2 [intransitive, transitive] to come together or to bring people, especially soldiers, together, for
example for military action
SYNONYM gather
The troops mustered.
The force mustered 1 000 strong.
muster somebody/something to muster an army
The navy could muster 44 warships.

3 [transitive] muster something (Australian English, New Zealand English) to gather together
sheep or cows

mel·an·choly noun
BrE /ˈmelənkəli/ , /ˈmelənkɒli/ ; NAmE /ˈmelənkɑːli/
[uncountable] (formal) a deep feeling of sadness that lasts for a long time and often cannot be
explained A mood of melancholy descended on us.
There is a brooding melancholy in his black and white photography.

mel·an·choly adjective
BrE /ˈmelənkəli/ , /ˈmelənkɒli/ ; NAmE /ˈmelənkɑːli/
very sad or making you feel sadness
SYNONYM mournful, sombre
melancholy thoughts/memories
The melancholy song died away.
sombre (British English) (US English som·ber) adjective
BrE /ˈsɒmbə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈsɑːmbər/
1 dark in colour; dull
SYNONYM drab
dressed in sombre shades of grey and black

2 sad and serious

SYNONYM melancholy
Paul was in a sombre mood.
The year ended on a sombre note.

meme noun
BrE /miːm/ ; NAmE /miːm/
1 an idea that is passed from one member of society to another, not in the genes but often by
people copying it Other cultures have similar versions of this meme.
the political and cultural memes of the 21st-century

2 an image, a video, a piece of text, etc. that is passed very quickly from one Internet user to
another, often with slight changes that make it humorous an Internet meme/a blog meme

men·tor·ing noun
BrE ; NAmE
[uncountable]
the practice of helping and advising a less experienced person over a period of time a mentoring
programme
The point of the mentoring programme is to empower young fathers with parenting skills.

mer·chant noun
BrE /ˈmɜːtʃənt/ ; NAmE /ˈmɜːrtʃənt/
1 a person who buys and sells goods in large quantities, especially one who imports and exports
goods builders’ merchants (= who sell supplies to the building trade)
a coal/wine merchant
Venice was once a city of rich merchants.

SEE ALSO squeegee merchant

2 (British English, informal, disapproving) a person who likes a particular activity a speed
merchant (= somebody who likes to drive fast)
noise merchants (= for example, a band who make a lot of noise)

Idioms
ˌprophet of ˈdoom, ˈdoom 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.

mer·chant adjective
BrE /ˈmɜːtʃənt/ ; NAmE /ˈmɜːrtʃənt/
[only before noun] connected with the transport of goods by sea merchant seamen

mer·chant·able adjective
BrE /ˈmɜːtʃəntəbl/ ; NAmE /ˈmɜːrtʃəntəbl/
(law)
in a good enough condition to be sold of merchantable quality
Goods must be of merchantable quality.

mere·ly adverb
BrE /ˈmɪəli/ ; NAmE /ˈmɪrli/
used meaning ‘only’ or ‘simply’ to emphasize a fact or something that you are saying It is not
merely a job, but a way of life.
He said nothing, merely smiled and watched her.
They agreed to go merely because they were getting paid for it.
I'm merely stating what everybody knows anyway.

merit noun
BrE /ˈmerɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈmerɪt/
1 [uncountable] (formal) the quality of being good and of deserving praise, reward or admiration
SYNONYM worth
a work of outstanding artistic merit
The plan is entirely without merit.
I want to get the job on merit.
He was awarded a certificate of merit for his piano playing.

2 [countable, usually plural] a good feature that deserves praise, reward or admiration
SYNONYM strength
We will consider each case on its (own) merits (= without considering any other issues,
feelings, etc.).
They weighed up the relative merits of the four candidates.

3 [countable] (British English) a mark/grade in an exam or for a piece of work at school or

university which is excellent
4 [countable] (British English) a mark/grade given as a reward for good behaviour at school

merit verb
BrE /ˈmerɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈmerɪt/

(not used in the progressive tenses) merit (doing) something (formal) to do something to
deserve praise, attention, etc.
SYNONYM deserve
He claims that their success was not merited.
The case does not merit further investigation.

mere·tri·cious adjective
BrE /ˌmerəˈtrɪʃəs/ ; NAmE /ˌmerəˈtrɪʃəs/
(formal)
seeming attractive, but in fact having no real value

meta·phor noun
BrE /ˈmetəfə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈmetəfər/ ; BrE /ˈmetəfɔː(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈmetəfɔːr/
[countable, uncountable]
a word or phrase used to describe somebody/something else, in a way that is different from its
normal use, in order to show that the two things have the same qualities and to make the
description more powerful, for example She has a heart of stone; the use of such words and
phrases

a game of football used as a metaphor for the competitive struggle of life

the writer’s striking use of metaphor

COMPARE simile

met·ro·pol·itan adjective
BrE /ˌmetrəˈpɒlɪtən/ ; NAmE /ˌmetrəˈpɑːlɪtən/
[only before noun]
1 (also North American English, informal metro) connected with a large or capital city the New
York metropolitan area
metropolitan districts/regions

2 connected with a particular country rather than with the other regions of the world that the
country controls metropolitan France/Spain

mil·len·nium noun
BrE /mɪˈleniəm/ ; NAmE /mɪˈleniəm/
(plural mil·len·nia BrE /mɪˈleniə/ ; NAmE /mɪˈleniə/ , mil·len·niums)
1 a period of 1 000 years, especially as calculated before or after the birth of Christ the second
millennium AD
For millennia, it was accepted that the earth was at the centre of the universe.

2 the millennium the time when one period of 1 000 years ends and another begins How did you
celebrate the millennium?

mis·giv·ing noun
BrE /ˌmɪsˈɡɪvɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˌmɪsˈɡɪvɪŋ/
[countable, usually plural, uncountable] misgiving about something/about doing something
feelings of doubt or anxiety about what might happen, or about whether or not something is the
right thing to do I had grave misgivings about making the trip.
She decided to go despite her misgivings.
I read the letter with a sense of misgiving.

mis·rep·re·sent verb
BrE /ˌmɪsˌreprɪˈzent/ ; NAmE /ˌmɪsˌreprɪˈzent/
[often passive] (formal)

to give information about somebody/something that is not true or complete so that other people
have the wrong impression about them/it misrepresent somebody/something He felt that the
book misrepresented his opinions.
Think carefully about what you say: your views could be easily misrepresented by the press.
misrepresent somebody/something as something In the article she was misrepresented as an
uncaring mother.
misrepresent what, how, etc… The report misrepresented what the group believes.

mis·rep·re·sen·ta·tion noun
BrE /ˌmɪsˌreprɪzenˈteɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌmɪsˌreprɪzenˈteɪʃn/
[countable, uncountable] (formal)
the act of giving information about somebody/something that is not true or complete so that other
people have the wrong impression about them/it a deliberate misrepresentation of the facts

mis·tral noun
BrE /ˈmɪstrəl/ ; NAmE /ˈmɪstrəl/ ; BrE /mɪˈstrɑːl/ ; NAmE /mɪˈstrɑːl/
[singular]

a strong cold wind that blows through southern France, mainly in winter

miti·ga·tion noun
BrE /ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃn/
[uncountable] (formal)
a reduction in how unpleasant, serious, etc. something is

Idioms
in mitiˈgation
(law) with the aim of making a crime seem less serious or easier to forgive In mitigation, the
defence lawyer said his client was seriously depressed at the time of the assault.

moan verb
BrE /məʊn/ ; NAmE /moʊn/

1 [intransitive, transitive] (of a person) to make a long deep sound, usually expressing
unhappiness, suffering or sexual pleasure
SYNONYM groan
The injured man was lying on the ground, moaning.
moan in/with something to moan in/with pain
+ speech ‘I might never see you again,’ she moaned.

2 [intransitive, transitive] moan (at somebody) (informal) to complain about something in a way
that other people find annoying
SYNONYM grumble, whine
moan (on) (about something) (to somebody) What are you moaning on about now?
moan (at somebody) (about something) They're always moaning and groaning about how
much they have to do.
moan that… Bella moaned that her feet were cold.

3 [intransitive] (literary) (especially of the wind) to make a long deep sound The wind was
moaning through the trees.

complain
protest object grumble moan whine
These words all mean to say that you are annoyed, unhappy or not satisfied about
somebody/something.complain to say that you are annoyed, unhappy or not satisfied about
somebody/something:I’m going to complain to the manager about this.
protest to say or do something to show that you disagree with or disapprove of something,
especially publicly; to give something 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 something; to give something 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 somebody/something in a bad-
tempered way:They kept grumbling that they were cold.
moan (British English, rather informal, disapproving) to complain about somebody/something
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.

moan noun
BrE /məʊn/ ; NAmE /moʊn/
1 [countable] a long deep sound, usually expressing unhappiness, suffering or sexual pleasure
SYNONYM groan
a low moan of despair/anguish
He staggered about ten yards and fell down with a moan.
a moan of pleasure/pain

2 [countable] (informal) a complaint about something We had a good moan about work.
His letters are full of the usual moans and groans.

3 [singular] (literary) a long deep sound, especially the sound that is made by the wind She lay
listening to the moan of the wind in the trees behind the house.
mon·et·ary adjective
BrE /ˈmʌnɪtri/ ; NAmE /ˈmʌnɪteri/
[only before noun]
connected with money, especially all the money in a country monetary policy/growth
an item of little monetary value
closer European political, monetary and economic union

mop verb
BrE /mɒp/ ; NAmE /mɑːp/

1 mop something to clean something with a mop She wiped all the surfaces and mopped the
floor.

2 mop something (from something) to remove liquid from the surface of something using a
cloth He took out a handkerchief to mop his brow (= to remove the sweat).

Idioms
wipe/mop the ˈfloor with somebody
(informal) to defeat somebody completely in an argument or a competition
Phrasal Verbs
ˌmop something/somebodyˈup
to remove the liquid from something using something that absorbs it Do you want some bread to
mop up that sauce?
(figurative) A number of smaller companies were mopped up (= taken over) by the American
multinational.
(figurative) New equipment mopped up (= used up) what was left of this year's budget.

ˌmop somebody/somethingˈup
1 to complete or end something by dealing with the final parts There are a few things that need
mopping up before I can leave.

2 to get rid of the last few people who continue to oppose you, especially by capturing or killing
them Troops combed the area to mop up any remaining resistance.

mop noun
BrE /mɒp/ ; NAmE /mɑːp/
1 a tool for washing floors that has a long handle with a bunch of thick strings or soft material at
the end a mop and bucket
I used a mop to clean the floor.
2 a kitchen utensil (= a tool) for washing dishes, that has a short handle with soft material at one
end
3 a mass of thick, often untidy, hair a mop of curly red hair

mope verb
BrE /məʊp/ ; NAmE /moʊp/
[intransitive]

to spend your time doing nothing and feeling sorry for yourself
SYNONYM brood
Moping won't do any good!

Phrasal Verbs
ˌmope aˈbout/aˈround (…)
(disapproving) to spend time walking around a place with no particular purpose, especially
because you feel sorry for yourself Instead of moping around the house all day, you should be
out there looking for a job.

brood verb
BrE /bruːd/ ; NAmE /bruːd/

1 [intransitive] brood (over/on/about something) to think a lot about something that makes you
annoyed, anxious or upset You're not still brooding over what he said, are you?

2 [intransitive, transitive] brood (something) 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)

mor·ose adjective
BrE /məˈrəʊs/ ; NAmE /məˈroʊs/
unhappy, bad-tempered and not talking very much
SYNONYM gloomy
She just sat there looking morose.
She seems a bit morose today.

gloomy adjective
BrE /ˈɡluːmi/ ; NAmE /ˈɡluːmi/
(gloom·ier, gloomi·est)
1 nearly dark, or badly lit in a way that makes you feel sad
SYNONYM depressing
a gloomy room/atmosphere
It was a wet and gloomy day.

2 sad and without hope

SYNONYM glum
a gloomy expression
We sat in gloomy silence.

3 without much hope of success or happiness in the future

SYNONYM depressing
a gloomy picture of the country’s economic future
Suddenly, the future didn't look so gloomy after all.

mor·ose·ly adverb
BrE /məˈrəʊsli/ ; NAmE /məˈroʊsli/
in an unhappy, bad-tempered way and without talking very much
SYNONYM gloomily (1)
He was staring morosely out of the window.

morph verb
BrE /mɔːf/ ; NAmE /mɔːrf/

1 [intransitive, transitive] morph (something) (into something) to change smoothly from one
image to another using computer animation; to make an image change in this way
2 [intransitive, transitive] morph (somebody/something) (into somebody/something) to
change, or make somebody/something change, into something different

motto noun
BrE /ˈmɒtəʊ/ ; NAmE /ˈmɑːtoʊ/
(plural mottoes, mottos)
a short sentence or phrase that expresses the aims and beliefs of a person, a group, an institution,
etc. and is used as a rule of behaviour The school's motto is: ‘Duty, Honour, Country’.
‘Live and let live.’ That's my motto.
mur·mur verb
BrE /ˈmɜːmə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈmɜːrmər/

1 [transitive, intransitive] murmur (something) + speech murmur that… to say something in a

soft quiet voice that is difficult to hear or understand She murmured her agreement.
He murmured something in his sleep.
She was murmuring in his ear.

2 [intransitive] to make a quiet continuous sound The wind murmured in the trees.

3 [intransitive] murmur (against somebody/something) (literary) to complain about

somebody/something, but not openly The people murmured against the new regime.

mur·mur noun
BrE /ˈmɜːmə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈmɜːrmər/
1 [countable] a quietly spoken word or words She answered in a faint murmur.
Murmurs of ‘Praise God’ went around the circle.

2 [countable] (also mur·mur·ings [plural]) a quiet expression of feeling a murmur of

agreement/approval/complaint
He paid the extra cost without a murmur (= without complaining at all).
polite murmurings of gratitude

3 (also mur·mur·ing) [singular] a low continuous sound in the background the distant murmur
of traffic

4 [countable] (medical) a faint sound in the chest, usually a sign of damage or disease in the
heart a heart murmur

myth·ic·al adjective
BrE /ˈmɪθɪkl/ ; NAmE /ˈmɪθɪkl/
[usually before noun]
1 (less frequent myth·ic) existing only in ancient myths
SYNONYM legendary
mythical beasts/heroes

2 (less frequent myth·ic) that does not exist or is not true

SYNONYM fictitious
the mythical ‘rich uncle’ that he boasts about
a mythical golden age when children always did what they were told
3
= mythic (2)

nar·ra·tive noun
BrE /ˈnærətɪv/ ; NAmE /ˈnærətɪv/
(formal)
1 [countable] a description of events, especially in a novel
SYNONYM story
a gripping narrative of their journey up the Amazon

2 [uncountable] the act, process or skill of telling a story The novel contains too much dialogue
and not enough narrative.

nar·ra·tive adjective
BrE /ˈnærətɪv/ ; NAmE /ˈnærətɪv/
[only before noun] (formal)
describing events or telling a story narrative fiction
a narrative poem

navy noun
BrE /ˈneɪvi/ ; NAmE /ˈneɪvi/
(plural navies)
1 [countable + singular or plural verb] the part of a country’s armed forces that fights at sea, and
the ships that it uses the British and German navies
He’s joined the navy/the Navy.
an officer in the navy/the Navy
The navy is/are considering buying six new warships.
He joined the Navy in 1991.
He spent ten years in the US navy.

SEE ALSO naval

2 [uncountable]
= navy blue

ˌnavy ˈblue noun

BrE ; NAmE
(also navy) [uncountable]
a very dark blue colour She was dressed in navy blue.

naval adjective
BrE /ˈneɪvl/ ; NAmE /ˈneɪvl/
connected with the navy of a country a naval base/officer/battle
the country’s naval forces

night·mar·ish adjective
BrE /ˈnaɪtmeərɪʃ/ ; NAmE /ˈnaɪtmerɪʃ/
very frightening and unpleasant; very difficult to deal with nightmarish living conditions

nim·ble adjective
BrE /ˈnɪmbl/ ; NAmE /ˈnɪmbl/
(nim·bler BrE /ˈnɪmblə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈnɪmblər/ , nim·blest BrE /ˈnɪmblɪst/ ; NAmE /ˈnɪmblɪst/ )
1 able to move quickly and easily
SYNONYM agile
You need nimble fingers for that job.
She was extremely nimble on her feet.

2 (of the mind) able to think and understand quickly

nim·bly adverb
BrE /ˈnɪmbli/ ; NAmE /ˈnɪmbli/
1 with quick and easy movements She climbed nimbly up the ladder.

2 in a way that shows you are able to think and understand quickly He then took questions,
nimbly avoiding one about tax cuts.

notch noun
BrE /nɒtʃ/ ; NAmE /nɑːtʃ/
1 a level on a scale, often marking quality or achievement The quality of the food here has
dropped a notch recently.
My spirits lifted a few notches when I heard the news.

SEE ALSO top-notch

2 a V-shape or a circle cut in an edge or a surface, sometimes used to keep a record of something
For each day he spent on the island, he cut a new notch in his stick.
She tightened her belt an extra notch.
notch verb
BrE /nɒtʃ/ ; NAmE /nɑːtʃ/

1 notch something (up) (informal) to achieve something such as a win or a high score The team
has notched up 20 goals already this season.

2 notch something to make a small V-shaped cut in an edge or a surface

note·worthy adjective
BrE /ˈnəʊtwɜːði/ ; NAmE /ˈnoʊtwɜːrði/

deserving to be noticed or to receive attention because it is unusual, important or interesting

SYNONYM significant

a noteworthy feature
It is noteworthy that only 15% of senior managers are women.
The bridge is noteworthy for its sheer size.
the thing that makes this era so noteworthy

no·tion noun
BrE /ˈnəʊʃn/ ; NAmE /ˈnoʊʃn/

an idea, a belief or an understanding of something notion (of something) a political system

based on the notions of equality and liberty

She had only a vague notion of what might happen.

He has no notion of the difficulty of the problem.
notion (that…) I have to reject the notion that greed can be a good thing.

no·tion·al adjective
BrE /ˈnəʊʃənl/ ; NAmE /ˈnoʊʃənl/
(formal)
based on a guess, estimate or theory; not existing in reality My calculation is based on notional
figures, since the actual figures are not yet available.
no·tori·ous adjective
BrE /nəʊˈtɔːriəs/ ; NAmE /noʊˈtɔːriəs/

well known for being bad a notorious criminal

a location made notorious by battles between local gangs

notorious for something/for doing something The country is notorious for its appalling prison
conditions.

notorious as something The bar has become notorious as a meeting-place for drug dealers.

an area which is notorious as a centre for drug trafficking

no·tori·ety noun
BrE /ˌnəʊtəˈraɪəti/ ; NAmE /ˌnoʊtəˈraɪəti/
[uncountable, singular]

fame for being bad in some way notoriety (for something)

She achieved notoriety for her affair with the senator.

This make of car has a certain notoriety for rust problems.
notoriety (as something) He gained a certain notoriety as a gambler.

nu·ance noun
BrE /ˈnjuːɑːns/ ; NAmE /ˈnuːɑːns/
[countable, uncountable]

a very slight difference in meaning, sound, colour or somebody’s feelings that is not usually very
obvious

He watched her face intently to catch every nuance of expression.

Her singing has both warmth of sound and delicacy of nuance.
You need to be able to convey the subtle nuances of meaning of each word.

nub noun
BrE /nʌb/ ; NAmE /nʌb/
[singular] the nub (of something) the central or essential point of a situation, problem, etc
The nub of the matter is that business is declining.
She’s too selfish to help. That’s the nub.
nu·mer·acy noun
BrE /ˈnjuːmərəsi/ ; NAmE /ˈnuːmərəsi/
[uncountable]
a good basic knowledge of mathematics; the ability to understand and work with numbers
standards of literacy and numeracy

nur·ture verb
BrE /ˈnɜːtʃə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈnɜːrtʃər/
(formal)

1 nurture somebody/something to care for and protect somebody/something while they are
growing and developing These delicate plants need careful nurturing.
children nurtured by loving parents

2 nurture something to help somebody/something to develop and be successful

SYNONYM foster
It's important to nurture a good working relationship.
My father nurtured a love of art in me.
Her teacher recognized and nurtured her musical talent from an early age.

3 nurture something to have a feeling, an idea, a plan, etc. for a long time and encourage it to
develop She secretly nurtured a hope of becoming famous.
He had long nurtured a deep hatred of his brother.

oath noun
BrE /əʊθ/ ; NAmE /oʊθ/
(plural oaths BrE /əʊðz/ ; NAmE /oʊðz/ )
1 a formal promise to do something or a formal statement that something is true to take/swear an
oath of allegiance
Before giving evidence, witnesses in court have to take the oath (= promise to tell the truth).
All members had to swear a solemn oath never to reveal the secrets of the organization.
You are bound by oath to tell the truth.

2 (old-fashioned) an offensive word or phrase used to express anger, surprise, etc.; a swear word
She heard the sound of breaking glass, followed by a muttered oath.
Idioms
on/under ˈoath
(law) having made a formal promise to tell the truth in court Is she prepared to give evidence on
oath?
The judge reminded the witness that he was still under oath.
You have sworn under oath that you never met this man.

ob·lige verb
BrE /əˈblaɪdʒ/ ; NAmE /əˈblaɪdʒ/
(formal)

1 [transitive, usually passive] oblige somebody to do something to force somebody to do

something, by law, because it is a duty, etc Parents are obliged by law to send their children to
school.
I felt obliged to ask them to dinner.
He suffered a serious injury that obliged him to give up work.
Libel plaintiffs are virtually obliged to go into the witness box.

2 [intransitive, transitive] to help somebody by doing what they ask or what you know they want
Call me if you need any help—I'd be happy to oblige.
oblige somebody (with something) Would you oblige me with some information?
oblige somebody (by doing something) Oblige me by keeping your suspicions to yourself.

ob·li·gated adjective
BrE /ˈɒblɪɡeɪtɪd/ ; NAmE /ˈɑːblɪɡeɪtɪd/
obligated (to do something) (North American English or British English, formal)
having a moral or legal duty to do something
SYNONYM obliged
He felt obligated to help.

ob·so·les·cence noun
BrE /ˌɒbsəˈlesns/ ; NAmE /ˌɑːbsəˈlesns/
[uncountable] (formal)
the state of becoming old-fashioned and no longer useful products with built-in/planned
obsolescence (= designed not to last long so that people will have to buy new ones)
ob·so·les·cent adjective
BrE /ˌɒbsəˈlesnt/ ; NAmE /ˌɑːbsəˈlesnt/
(formal)
becoming old-fashioned and no longer useful

odd adjective
BrE /ɒd/ ; NAmE /ɑːd/
(odder, oddest)
strange
1 strange or unusual They're very odd people.
There's something odd about that man.
It's most odd that (= very odd that) she hasn't written.
The odd thing was that he didn't recognize me.
She had the oddest feeling that he was avoiding her.

COMPARE peculiar
odd-
2 (in compounds) strange or unusual in the way mentioned an odd-looking house
an odd-sounding name

not regular/often
3 the odd [only before noun] (no comparative or superlative) happening or appearing
occasionally; not very regular or frequent
SYNONYM occasional
He makes the odd mistake—nothing too serious.

various
4 [only before noun] (no comparative or superlative) of no particular type or size; various
decorations made of odd scraps of paper

not matching
5 [usually before noun] (no comparative or superlative) not with the pair or set that it belongs to;
not matching You're wearing odd socks!

numbers
6 (no comparative or superlative) (of numbers) that cannot be divided exactly by the number
two 1, 3, 5 and 7 are odd numbers.

OPPOSITE even
available
7 [only before noun] available; that somebody can use
SYNONYM spare
Could I see you when you've got an odd moment?
approximately
8 (no comparative or superlative; usually placed immediately after a number) approximately or a
little more than the number mentioned How old is she—seventy odd?
He's worked there for twenty-odd years.

Idioms
the odd man/one ˈout
a person or thing that is different from others or does not fit easily into a group or set
At school he was always the odd man out.
Dog, cat, horse, shoe—which is the odd one out?

an odd/a queer ˈfish

(old-fashioned, British English) a person who is slightly strange or crazy

odds noun
BrE /ɒdz/ ; NAmE /ɑːdz/
[plural]
1 (also the odds) the degree to which something is likely to happen The odds are very much in
our favour (= we are likely to succeed).
The odds are heavily against him (= he is not likely to succeed).
The odds are that (= it is likely that) she'll win.
What are the odds (= how likely is it) he won't turn up?

2 something that makes it seem impossible to do or achieve something They secured a victory in
the face of overwhelming odds.
Against all (the) odds, he made a full recovery.

3 (in betting) the connection between two numbers that shows how much money somebody will
receive if they win a bet odds of ten to one (= ten times the amount of money that has been bet by
somebody will be paid to them if they win)
They are offering long/short odds (= the prize money will be high/low because there is a
high/low risk of losing) on the defending champion.
(figurative) I'll lay odds on him getting the job (= I'm sure he will get it).

+ WORDFINDER

+ WORD ORIGIN

+ EXTRA EXAMPLES
Idioms
be at ˈodds (with something)
to be different from something, when the two things should be the same
SYNONYM conflict
These findings are at odds with what is going on in the rest of the country.

be at ˈodds (with somebody) (over/on something)

to disagree with somebody about something He's always at odds with his father over politics.

the cards/odds are stacked aˈgainst you

you are unlikely to succeed because the conditions are not good for you
the cards/odds are stacked in your ˈfavour
you are likely to succeed because the conditions are good and you have an advantage
it makes no ˈodds
(informal, especially British English) used to say that something is not important It makes no
odds to me whether you go or stay.

over the ˈodds

(British English, informal) more money than you would normally expect Many collectors are
willing to pay over the odds for early examples of his work.

ˌodds and ˈends noun

BrE ; NAmE
(British English also ˌodds and ˈsods) [plural] (informal)
small items that are not valuable or are not part of a larger set She spent the day sorting through
a box full of odds and ends.
I've got a few odds and ends (= small jobs) to do before leaving.

ˌodds-ˈon adjective
BrE ; NAmE
very likely to happen, win, etc the odds-on favourite (= the person, horse, etc. that is most likely
to succeed, to win a race, etc.)
It's odds-on that he'll be late.
Arazi is odds-on to win the Kentucky Derby.

om·buds·man noun
BrE /ˈɒmbʊdzmən/ ; NAmE /ˈɑːmbʊdzmən/ ; BrE /ˈɒmbʊdzmæn/ ; NAmE /ˈɑːmbʊdzmæn/
(plural om·buds·men BrE /ˈɒmbʊdzmən/ ; NAmE /ˈɑːmbʊdzmən/ ; BrE /ˈɒmbʊdzmen/ ;
NAmE /ˈɑːmbʊdzmen/ )
 an official whose job is to examine and report on complaints made by ordinary people about
companies, the government or public authorities
A pensions ombudsman has been appointed.
A landlord has called in the ombudsman to investigate claims that he is owed money by the
council.

omis·sion noun
BrE /əˈmɪʃn/ ; NAmE /əˈmɪʃn/
(formal)
1 [uncountable] omission (from something) the act of not including somebody/something or not
doing something; the fact of not being included/done Everyone was surprised at her omission
from the squad.
The play was shortened by the omission of two scenes.
sins of omission (= not doing things that should be done)

2 [countable] a thing that has not been included or done There were a number of errors and
omissions in the article.

om·in·ous adjective
BrE /ˈɒmɪnəs/ ; NAmE /ˈɑːmɪnəs/
suggesting that something bad is going to happen in the future
SYNONYM foreboding
There were ominous dark clouds gathering overhead.
She picked up the phone but there was an ominous silence at the other end.
Things looked ominous for Susan.

onus noun
BrE /ˈəʊnəs/ ; NAmE /ˈoʊnəs/
(also the onus) [singular] (formal)
the responsibility for something The onus is on employers to follow health and safety laws.
The onus of proof lies with the prosecution.
The report puts the onus of children’s early education firmly on the parents.

oo·dles noun
BrE /ˈuːdlz/ ; NAmE /ˈuːdlz/
[plural] oodles (of something) (old-fashioned, informal) a large amount of something
SYNONYM load (4)
Bob makes oodles of money, you know.
opt verb
BrE /ɒpt/ ; NAmE /ɑːpt/
[intransitive, transitive]

to choose to take or not to take a particular course of action opt for/against something After
graduating she opted for a career in music.
After a lot of thought, I opted against buying a motorbike.
opt to do something Many workers opted to leave their jobs rather than take a pay cut.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌopt ˈin (to something)
to choose to be part of a system or an agreement
ˌopt ˈout (of something)
1 to choose not to take part in something Employees may opt out of the company's pension plan.

2 (of a school or hospital in Britain) to choose not to be under the control of the local authority
RELATED NOUN opt-out

or·deal noun
BrE /ɔːˈdiːl/ , /ˈɔːdiːl/ ; NAmE /ɔːrˈdiːl/
[usually singular] ordeal (of something/of doing something) a difficult or unpleasant
experience
They are to be spared the ordeal of giving evidence in court.
The hostages spoke openly about the terrible ordeal they had been through.
The interview was less of an ordeal than she'd expected.

scourge noun
BrE /skɜːdʒ/ ; NAmE /skɜːrdʒ/
1 [usually singular] scourge (of somebody/something) (formal) a person or thing that causes
trouble or suffering the scourge of war/disease/poverty
Inflation was the scourge of the 1970s.

2 a whip used to punish people in the past

scourge verb
BrE /skɜːdʒ/ ; NAmE /skɜːrdʒ/
1 [usually passive] scourge somebody (literary) to cause trouble or suffering to somebody He
lay awake, scourged by his conscience.

2 scourge somebody (old use) to hit somebody with a scourge

SYNONYM whip

ore noun
BrE /ɔː(r)/ ; NAmE /ɔːr/
[uncountable, countable]
rock, earth, etc. from which metal can be obtained iron ore
ore smelted with charcoal
smelting the ore with charcoal

ortho·dox adjective
BrE /ˈɔːθədɒks/ ; NAmE /ˈɔːrθədɑːks/
1 (especially of beliefs or behaviour) generally accepted or approved of; following generally
accepted beliefs
SYNONYM traditional
orthodox medicine
He is very orthodox in his views.

OPPOSITE unorthodox
COMPARE heterodox
2 following closely the traditional beliefs and practices of a religion an orthodox Jew

3 Orthodox belonging to or connected with the Orthodox Church

ought to modal verb

BrE /ˈɔːt tə/ ; NAmE /ˈɔːt tə/ ; BrE before vowels and finally /ˈɔːt tu/ ; NAmE before vowels and
finally /ˈɔːt tu/
1 used to say what is the right thing to do They ought to apologize.
‘Ought I to write to say thank you?’ ‘Yes, I think you ought (to).’
They ought to have apologized (= but they didn't).
Such things ought not to be allowed.
He oughtn't to have been driving so fast.

- GRAMMAR POINT

should / ought / had better

Should and ought to are both used to say that something is the best thing or the right thing to
do, but should is much more common:You should take the baby to the doctor’s. I ought to give
up smoking. In questions, should is usually used instead of ought to:Should we call the doctor?
 Had better can also be used to say what is the best thing to do in a situation that is happening
now:We’d better hurry or we’ll miss the train.
You form the past by using should have or ought to have:She should have asked for some help.
You ought to have been more careful.
The forms should not or shouldn’t (and ought not to or oughtn’t to, which are rare in North
American English and formal in British English) are used to say that something is a bad idea or
the wrong thing to do:You shouldn’t drive so fast.
The forms should not have or shouldn’t have and, much less frequently, ought not to have or
oughtn’t to have are used to talk about the past:I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have lost my temper.

2 used to say what you expect or would like to happen Children ought to be able to read by the
age of 7.
Nurses ought to earn more.

3 used to say what you advise or recommend We ought to be leaving now.

This is delicious. You ought to try some.
You ought to have come to the meeting. It was interesting.

4 used to say what has probably happened or is probably true If he started out at nine, he ought
to be here by now.
That ought to be enough food for the four of us.
Oughtn't the water to have boiled by now?

- GRAMMAR POINT

modal verbs
The modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will and would.
Dare, need, have to and used to also share some of the features of modal verbs.
Modal verbs have only one form. They have no -ing or -ed forms and do not add -s to the 3rd
person singular form:He can speak three languages.

She will try and visit tomorrow.

Modal verbs are followed by the infinitive of another verb without to. The exceptions are ought
to, have to and used to:You must find a job.

You ought to stop smoking.

I used to smoke but I gave up two years ago.

Questions are formed without do/does in the present, or did in the past:Can I invite Mary?

Should I have invited Mary?

Negative sentences are formed with not or the short form -n’t and do not use do/does or did.
You will find more help with how to use modal verbs at the dictionary entries for each verb.

ounce noun
BrE /aʊns/ ; NAmE /aʊns/
1 [countable] (abbreviation oz) a unit for measuring weight, 116 of a pound, equal to 28.35
grams
SEE ALSO fluid ounce
2 [singular] ounce of something (informal) (used especially with negatives) a very small
quantity of something There's not an ounce of truth in her story.

Idioms
preˌvention is better than ˈcure (British English)
(US English an ounce of preˌvention is better than a pound of ˈcure)
(saying) it is better to stop something bad from happening rather than try to deal with the
problems after it has happened

out·law verb
BrE /ˈaʊtlɔː/ ; NAmE /ˈaʊtlɔː/

1 outlaw something to make something illegal

SYNONYM ban
plans to outlaw the carrying of knives
the outlawed nationalist party

2 outlaw somebody (in the past) to make somebody an outlaw

out·law noun
BrE /ˈaʊtlɔː/ ; NAmE /ˈaʊtlɔː/
(used especially about people in the past) a person who has done something illegal and is hiding
to avoid being caught; a person who is not protected by the law Robin Hood, the world’s most
famous outlaw

out·last verb
BrE /ˌaʊtˈlɑːst/ ; NAmE /ˌaʊtˈlæst/

outlast somebody/something to continue to exist or take part in an activity for a longer time
than somebody/something He can outlast anyone on the dance floor.
out·line verb
BrE /ˈaʊtlaɪn/ ; NAmE /ˈaʊtlaɪn/

1 outline something (to somebody) outline what, how, etc… to give a description of the main
facts or points involved in something
SYNONYM sketch
We outlined our proposals to the committee.

2 [usually passive] outline something (against something) to show or mark the outer edge of
something They saw the huge building outlined against the sky.

out·line noun
BrE /ˈaʊtlaɪn/ ; NAmE /ˈaʊtlaɪn/
[countable, uncountable]
1 a description of the main facts or points involved in something This is a brief outline of the
events.
You should draw up a plan or outline for the essay.
The book describes in outline the main findings of the research.
an outline agreement/proposal

2 the line that goes around the edge of something, showing its main shape but not the details At
last we could see the dim outline of an island.
an outline map/sketch
She drew the figures in outline.

out·live verb
BrE /ˌaʊtˈlɪv/ ; NAmE /ˌaʊtˈlɪv/

1 outlive somebody to live longer than somebody He outlived his wife by three years.

2 outlive something to continue to exist after something else has ended or disappeared The
machine had outlived its usefulness (= was no longer useful).

out·burst noun
BrE /ˈaʊtbɜːst/ ; NAmE /ˈaʊtbɜːrst/
1 a sudden strong expression of an emotion an outburst of anger
She was alarmed by his violent outburst.

2 a sudden increase in a particular activity or attitude an outburst of racism

out·cast adjective
BrE /ˈaʊtkɑːst/ ; NAmE /ˈaʊtkæst/
not accepted by other people and sometimes having to leave your home and friends He had been
made to feel socially outcast.
outcast from/by somebody/something These women found themselves outcast from society.

out·cast noun
BrE /ˈaʊtkɑːst/ ; NAmE /ˈaʊtkæst/
a person who is not accepted by other people and who sometimes has to leave their home and
friends People with the disease were often treated as social outcasts.
Her criminal past made her an outcast.
an outcast from society

outdo verb
BrE /ˌaʊtˈduː/ ; NAmE /ˌaʊtˈduː/

outdo somebody/something to do more or better than somebody else

SYNONYM beat
Sometimes small firms can outdo big business when it comes to customer care.
Not to be outdone (= not wanting to let somebody else do better), she tried again.
The brothers tried to outdo each other in everything.

out·grow verb
BrE /ˌaʊtˈɡrəʊ/ ; NAmE /ˌaʊtˈɡroʊ/

+ VERB FORMS

1 outgrow something to grow too big to be able to wear or fit into something
SYNONYM grow out of something
She's already outgrown her school uniform.
The company has outgrown its offices.

2 outgrow somebody to grow taller, larger or more quickly than another person He's already
outgrown his older brother.

3 outgrow something to stop doing something or lose interest in something as you become older
SYNONYM grow out of something
He's outgrown his passion for rock music.

out·growth noun
BrE /ˈaʊtɡrəʊθ/ ; NAmE /ˈaʊtɡroʊθ/
1 (specialist) a thing that grows out of something else The eye first appears as a cup-shaped
outgrowth from the brain.

2 (formal) a natural development or result of something The law was an outgrowth of the 2008
presidential election.

out·look noun
BrE /ˈaʊtlʊk/ ; NAmE /ˈaʊtlʊk/
[usually singular]
1 outlook (on something) the attitude to life and the world of a particular person, group or
culture He had a practical outlook on life.
Most Western societies are liberal in outlook.

2 outlook (for something) the probable future for somebody/something; what is likely to happen
SYNONYM prospect
The outlook for jobs is bleak.
the country’s economic outlook
The outlook (= the probable weather) for the weekend is dry and sunny.

3 (formal) a view from a particular place The house has a pleasant outlook over the valley.

out·right adjective
BrE /ˈaʊtraɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈaʊtraɪt/
[only before noun]
1 complete and total an outright ban/rejection/victory
She was the outright winner.
No one party is expected to gain an outright majority.

2 open and direct There was outright opposition to the plan.

out·right adverb
BrE /ˈaʊtraɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈaʊtraɪt/
1 in a direct way and without trying to hide anything Why don't you ask him outright if it's true?
She couldn't help herself and she laughed outright.
2 clearly and completely Neither candidate won outright.
The group rejects outright any negotiations with the government.

3 not gradually; immediately Most of the crash victims were killed outright.
We had saved enough money to buy the house outright.

out·source verb
BrE /ˈaʊtsɔːs/ ; NAmE /ˈaʊtsɔːrs/

[transitive, intransitive] outsource (something) (business) to arrange for somebody outside a

company to do work or provide goods for that company We outsource all our computing work.

out·sourc·ing noun
BrE /ˈaʊtsɔːsɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈaʊtsɔːrsɪŋ/
[uncountable] outsourcing (of something) (to somebody) (business)
the process of arranging for somebody outside a company to do work or provide goods for that
company the outsourcing of IT work to private contractors

out·spoken adjective
BrE /aʊtˈspəʊkən/ ; NAmE /aʊtˈspoʊkən/
saying exactly what you think, even if this shocks or offends people
SYNONYM blunt
an outspoken opponent of the leader
outspoken comments
outspoken in something She was outspoken in her criticism of the plan.

honest
frank direct open outspoken straight blunt
These words all describe people saying exactly what they mean without trying to hide feelings,
opinions or facts.honest not hiding the truth about something:Thank you for being so honest with
me.
frank honest in what you say, sometimes in a way that other people might not like:To be frank
with you, I think your son has little chance of passing the exam.
direct saying exactly what you mean in a way that nobody can pretend not to understand:You’ll
have to get used to his direct manner.
Being direct is sometimes considered positive but sometimes it is used as a ‘polite’ way of
saying that somebody is rude.
open (approving) (of a person) not keeping thoughts and feelings hidden:He was quite open
about his reasons for leaving.
outspoken saying exactly what you think, even if this shocks or offends people:She was
outspoken in her criticism of the plan.
straight honest and direct:I don’t think you’re being straight with me.
blunt saying exactly what you think without trying to be polite:She has a reputation for blunt
speaking.

which word?
Honest and frank refer to what you say as much as how you say it:a(n) honest/frank admission
of guilt. They are generally positive words, although it is possible to be too frank in a way that
other people might not like. Direct, outspoken and blunt all describe somebody’s manner of
saying what they think. Outspoken suggests that you are willing to shock people by saying what
you believe to be right. Blunt and direct often suggest that you think honesty is more important
than being polite. Open is positive and describes somebody’s character:I’m a very open person.
Patterns
honest/frank/direct/open/outspoken/straight about something
honest/frank/direct/open/straight/blunt with somebody
a(n) honest/direct/straight/blunt answer
a frank/direct/blunt manner

out·strip verb
BrE /ˌaʊtˈstrɪp/ ; NAmE /ˌaʊtˈstrɪp/

1 outstrip something to become larger, more important, etc. than somebody/something Demand
is outstripping supply.

2 outstrip something to be faster, better or more successful than somebody you are competing
against
SYNONYM surpass
Their latest computer outstrips all its rivals.

3 outstrip somebody to run faster than somebody in a race so that you pass them She soon
outstripped the slower runners.

out·wit verb
BrE /ˌaʊtˈwɪt/ ; NAmE /ˌaʊtˈwɪt/
outwit somebody/something to defeat somebody/something or gain an advantage over them by
doing something clever
SYNONYM outsmart
the amusing story of a bird outwitting a cat
Somehow he always manages to outwit his opponents.

over·bur·den verb
BrE /ˌəʊvəˈbɜːdn/ ; NAmE /ˌoʊvərˈbɜːrdn/

[usually passive] overburden somebody/something (with something) to give

somebody/something more work, worry, etc. than they can deal with He did not appear to be
overburdened with guilt.

over·look verb
BrE /ˌəʊvəˈlʊk/ ; NAmE /ˌoʊvərˈlʊk/

1 overlook something to fail to see or notice something

SYNONYM miss
He seems to have overlooked one important fact.
In my hurry to finish the exam I had overlooked part of one of the questions.

2 overlook something to see something wrong or bad but decide to ignore it

SYNONYM turn a blind eye
We could not afford to overlook such a serious offence.
He’s so friendly people are prepared to overlook his faults.

3 overlook something if a building, etc. overlooks a place, you can see that place from the
building a restaurant overlooking the lake
Our back yard is overlooked by several houses.

4 overlook somebody (for something) to not consider somebody for a job or position, even
though they might be suitable
SYNONYM pass over
She's been overlooked for promotion several times.

over·sight noun
BrE /ˈəʊvəsaɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈoʊvərsaɪt/
1 [countable, uncountable] the fact of making a mistake because you forget to do something or
you do not notice something I didn't mean to leave her name off the list; it was an oversight.
You can never entirely eliminate human error and oversight.
2 [uncountable] (formal) the state of being in charge of somebody/something The committee has
oversight of finance and general policy.

overt adjective
BrE /əʊˈvɜːt/ ; NAmE /oʊˈvɜːrt/ ; BrE /ˈəʊvɜːt/ ; NAmE /ˈoʊvɜːrt/
[usually before noun] (formal)
done in an open way and not secretly There was little overt support for the project.
an overt display of affection

COMPARE covert

cov·ert adjective
BrE /ˈkʌvət/ , /ˈkəʊvɜːt/ ; NAmE /ˈkoʊvɜːrt/ (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

over·turn verb
BrE /ˌəʊvəˈtɜːn/ ; NAmE /ˌoʊvərˈtɜːrn/

1 [intransitive, transitive] if something overturns, or if somebody overturns it, it turns upside

down or on its side The car skidded and overturned.
overturn something He stood up quickly, overturning his chair.

2 [transitive] overturn something to officially decide that a legal decision, etc. is not correct,
and to make it no longer valid to overturn a decision/conviction/verdict
His sentence was overturned by the appeal court.

over·whelm verb
BrE /ˌəʊvəˈwelm/ ; NAmE /ˌoʊvərˈwelm/
[often passive]

1 overwhelm somebody to have such a strong emotional effect on somebody that it is difficult
for them to resist or know how to react
SYNONYM overcome
She was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt.
The beauty of the landscape overwhelmed me.

2 overwhelm somebody to defeat somebody completely

SYNONYM overpower
The army was overwhelmed by the rebels.

3 overwhelm somebody to be so bad or so great that a person cannot deal with it; to give too
much of a thing to a person We were overwhelmed by requests for information.

4 overwhelm somebody/something (literary) (of water) to cover somebody/something

completely
SYNONYM flood
The wave broke through the wall and overwhelmed the town.

pana·cea noun
BrE /ˌpænəˈsiːə/ ; NAmE /ˌpænəˈsiːə/
panacea (for something) something that will solve all the problems of a particular situation
There is no single panacea for the problem of unemployment.

panel noun
BrE /ˈpænl/ ; NAmE /ˈpænl/
1 [countable] a square or rectangular piece of wood, glass or metal that forms part of a larger
surface such as a door or wall One of the glass panels in the front door was cracked.

SEE ALSO solar panel

2 [countable] a piece of metal that forms part of the outer frame of a vehicle
3 [countable] a piece of cloth that forms part of a piece of clothing The trousers have double
thickness knee panels for extra protection.

4 [countable + singular or plural verb] a group of specialists who give their advice or opinion
about something; a group of people who discuss topics of interest on television or radio an
advisory panel
a panel of experts
We have two politicians on tonight's panel.
a panel discussion

5 (also ˈjury panel) [countable] (both especially North American English)

= jury
6 [countable] a flat board in a vehicle or on a piece of machinery where the controls and
instruments are fixed an instrument panel
a control/display panel
panel verb
BrE /ˈpænl/ ; NAmE /ˈpænl/

[usually passive] panel something to cover or decorate a surface with flat strips of wood, glass,
etc The walls were panelled in oak.
a glass-/wood-panelled door

para·digm noun
BrE /ˈpærədaɪm/ ; NAmE /ˈpærədaɪm/
1 (specialist or formal) a typical example or pattern of something a paradigm for students to
copy
The war was a paradigm of the destructive side of human nature.

2 (grammar) a set of all the different forms of a word verb paradigms

para·dig·mat·ic adjective
BrE /ˌpærədɪɡˈmætɪk/ ; NAmE /ˌpærədɪɡˈmætɪk/
1 (specialist or formal) that is a typical example or pattern of something Silicon Valley is the
paradigmatic example of the new US economy, which relies on high-tech industries for growth.

2 (grammar) connected with a set of all the different forms of a word

pave verb
BrE /peɪv/ ; NAmE /peɪv/

[often passive] pave something (with something) to cover a surface with flat stones or bricks a
paved area near the back door

Idioms
ˌpave the ˈway (for somebody/something)
to create a situation in which somebody will be able to do something or something can happen
This decision paved the way for changes in employment rights for women.

the road to ˌhell is paved with good inˈtentions

(saying) it is not enough to intend to do good things; you must actually do them
the streets are ˌpaved with ˈgold
(saying) used to say that it seems easy to make money in a place

pay·day noun
BrE /ˈpeɪdeɪ/ ; NAmE /ˈpeɪdeɪ/
[uncountable, countable]
the day on which you get your wages or salary Friday is payday.

ˌpeer-to-ˈpeer adjective
BrE ; NAmE
[only before noun] (computing)
(of a computer system) in which each computer can act as a server for the others, allowing data
to be shared without the need for a central server
COMPARE client-server

peer·less adjective
BrE /ˈpɪələs/ ; NAmE /ˈpɪrləs/
better than all others of its kind
SYNONYM unsurpassed
a peerless performance

peer noun
BrE /pɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /pɪr/
1 [usually plural] a person who is the same age or who has the same social status as you She
enjoys the respect of her peers.
A peer review system is being introduced to help teachers who are experiencing difficulty.
Children are worried about failing in front of their peers.
Peer pressure is strong among young people (= they want to be like other people of the same
age).

2 (in Britain) a member of the nobility

SEE ALSO life peer, peeress

peer verb
BrE /pɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /pɪr/

[intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) to look closely or carefully at something, especially when

you cannot see it clearly We peered into the shadows.
He went to the window and peered out.
She kept peering over her shoulder.
He peered closely at the photograph.
per·ceive verb
BrE /pəˈsiːv/ ; NAmE /pərˈsːv/
(formal)

1 to notice or become aware of something perceive something I perceived a change in his

behaviour.
perceive that… She perceived that all was not well.
perceive somebody/something to be/have something The patient was perceived to have
difficulty in breathing.

This pattern is usually used in the passive.

2 to understand or think of somebody/something in a particular way
SYNONYM see
perceive somebody/something/yourself (as something) This discovery was perceived as a major
breakthrough.
She did not perceive herself as disabled.
A science degree and artistic interests are often perceived as incompatible.
perceive somebody/something to be/have something They were widely perceived to have been
unlucky.

This pattern is usually used in the passive.

peril noun
BrE /ˈperəl/ ; NAmE /ˈperəl/
(formal or literary)
1 [uncountable] serious danger The country's economy is now in grave peril.
She seemed blissfully unaware of the peril she was in.

2 [countable, usually plural] peril (of something) the fact of something being dangerous or
harmful a warning about the perils of drug abuse

Idioms
do something at your (own) ˈperil
used to warn somebody that if they do something, it may be dangerous or cause them problems
Teachers ignore the importance of these results at their peril.

per·il·ous adjective
BrE /ˈperələs/ ; NAmE /ˈperələs/
(formal or literary)
very dangerous
SYNONYM hazardous
a perilous adventure/journey
per·se·cute verb
BrE /ˈpɜːsɪkjuːt/ ; NAmE /ˈpɜːrsɪkjuːt/
[often passive]

1 persecute somebody (for something) to treat somebody in a cruel and unfair way, especially
because of their race, religion or political beliefs Throughout history, people have been
persecuted for their religious beliefs.
persecuted minorities

2 persecute somebody to deliberately annoy somebody all the time and make their life
unpleasant
SYNONYM harass
Why are the media persecuting him like this?

per·spec·tive noun
BrE /pəˈspektɪv/ ; NAmE /pərˈspektɪv/
1 [countable] a particular attitude towards something; a way of thinking about something
SYNONYM viewpoint
a global perspective
Recent events seem less serious when put into an international perspective.
Try to see the issue from a different perspective.
a report that looks at the education system from the perspective of deaf people
perspective on something His experience abroad provides a wider perspective on the problem.

2 [uncountable] the ability to think about problems and decisions in a reasonable way without
exaggerating their importance She was aware that she was losing all sense of perspective.
Try to keep these issues in perspective.
Talking to others can often help to put your own problems into perspective.
It is important not to let things get out of perspective.

3 [uncountable] the art of creating an effect of depth and distance in a picture by representing
people and things that are far away as being smaller than those that are nearer the front The artist
plays with perspective to confuse the eye.
We learnt how to draw buildings in perspective.
The tree on the left is out of perspective.

4 [countable] (formal) a view, especially one in which you can see far into the distance a
perspective of the whole valley

per·sua·sion noun
BrE /pəˈsweɪʒn/ ; NAmE /pərˈsweɪʒn/
1 [uncountable] the act of persuading somebody to do something or to believe something It
didn't take much persuasion to get her to tell us where he was.
After a little gentle persuasion, he agreed to come.
She has great powers of persuasion.
I wasn’t intending to sell, but I’m open to persuasion.

2 [countable, uncountable] a particular set of beliefs, especially about religion or politics

politicians of all persuasions
every shade of religious persuasion

Idioms
of the… persuasion
(formal or humorous) of the type mentioned peers of the Liberal persuasion

per·sua·sive adjective
BrE /pəˈsweɪsɪv/ ; NAmE /pərˈsweɪsɪv/
able to persuade somebody to do or believe something persuasive arguments
He can be very persuasive.
the persuasive power of advertising

per·tain verb
BrE /pəˈteɪn/ ; NAmE /pərˈteɪn/
[intransitive] (formal)

to exist or to apply in a particular situation or at a particular time Living conditions are vastly
different from those pertaining in their country of origin.
Those laws no longer pertain.

Phrasal Verbs
perˈtain to something/somebody
(formal) to be connected with something/somebody the laws pertaining to adoption

per·turb verb
BrE /pəˈtɜːb/ ; NAmE /pərˈtɜːrb/

perturb somebody (formal) to make somebody worried or anxious

SYNONYM alarm
Her sudden appearance did not seem to perturb him in the least.
I was perturbed by his lack of interest.
per·turb·ation noun
BrE /ˌpɜːtəˈbeɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌpɜːrtərˈbeɪʃn/
1 [uncountable] (formal) the state of feeling anxious about something that has happened
SYNONYM alarm
2 [countable, uncountable] (specialist) a small change in the quality, behaviour or movement of
something temperature perturbations

per·turbed adjective
BrE /pəˈtɜːbd/ ; NAmE /pərˈtɜːrbd/
(formal)
worried or anxious
SYNONYM alarmed
a perturbed young man
perturbed at/about something She didn't seem perturbed at the change of plan.

OPPOSITE unperturbed

per·vade verb
BrE /pəˈveɪd/ ; NAmE /pərˈveɪd/

pervade something (formal) to spread through and be noticeable in every part of something
SYNONYM permeate
a pervading mood of fear
the sadness that pervades most of her novels
The entire house was pervaded by a sour smell.

per·va·sive adjective
BrE /pəˈveɪsɪv/ ; NAmE /pərˈveɪsɪv/
existing in all parts of a place or thing; spreading gradually to affect all parts of a place or thing a
pervasive smell of damp
Her influence is all-pervasive (= it affects everyone and everything).
A sense of social change is pervasive in her novels.
the increasingly pervasive subculture in modern society
per·verse adjective
BrE /pəˈvɜːs/ ; NAmE /pərˈvɜːrs/
showing deliberate determination to behave in a way that most people think is wrong,
unacceptable or unreasonable a perverse decision (= one that most people do not expect and
think is wrong)
She finds a perverse pleasure in upsetting her parents.
Do you really mean that or are you just being deliberately perverse?
For some perverse reason he is refusing to see a doctor.
It would be perverse to quit now that we’re almost finished.

per·verse·ly adverb
BrE /pəˈvɜːsli/ ; NAmE /pərˈvɜːrsli/
in a way that shows deliberate determination to behave in a way that most people think is wrong,
unacceptable or unreasonable She seemed perversely proud of her criminal record.
He couldn’t bear to be near her, yet, perversely, he still found himself looking out for her.

per·ver·sion noun
BrE /pəˈvɜːʃn/ ; NAmE /pərˈvɜːrʒn/
[uncountable, countable]
1 behaviour that most people think is not normal or acceptable, especially when it is connected
with sex; an example of this type of behaviour sexual perversion
sadomasochistic perversions

2 the act of changing something that is good or right into something that is bad or wrong; the
result of this the perversion of justice
Her account was a perversion of the truth.

per·use verb
BrE /pəˈruːz/ ; NAmE /pəˈruːz/

peruse something (formal or humorous) to read something, especially in a careful way A copy of
the report is available for you to peruse at your leisure.

pes·sim·ism noun
BrE /ˈpesɪmɪzəm/ ; NAmE /ˈpesɪmɪzəm/
[uncountable] pessimism (about/over something) a feeling that bad things will happen and that
something will not be successful; the tendency to have this feeling There is a mood of pessimism
in the company about future job prospects.
This widespread pessimism does not seem justified.
OPPOSITE optimism

phase noun
BrE /feɪz/ ; NAmE /feɪz/
1 a stage in a process of change or development during the first/next/last phase
the initial/final phase of the project
a critical/decisive phase
the design phase
His anxiety about the work was just a passing phase.
She's going through a difficult phase.
The wedding marked the beginning of a new phase in Emma's life.

2 each of the shapes of the moon as we see it from the earth at different times of the month the
phases of the moon

Idioms
in phase/out of phase (with something)
(British English) working/not working together in the right way The traffic lights were out of
phase.

phase verb
BrE /feɪz/ ; NAmE /feɪz/

[usually passive] phase something to arrange to do something gradually in stages over a period
of time the phased withdrawal of troops from the area
Closure of the hospitals was phased over a three-year period.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌphase somethingˈin
to introduce or start using something gradually in stages over a period of time The new tax will
be phased in over two years.

ˌphase somethingˈout
to stop using something gradually in stages over a period of time Subsidies to farmers will be
phased out by next year.
pi·geon·hole verb
BrE /ˈpɪdʒɪnhəʊl/ ; NAmE /ˈpɪdʒɪnhoʊl/

1 pigeonhole somebody (as something) to decide that somebody belongs to a particular group
or type without thinking deeply enough about it and considering what other qualities they might
have
SYNONYM categorize, label
He has been pigeonholed as a children's writer.

2 pigeonhole something to decide to deal with something later or to forget it

SYNONYM shelve
Plans for a new school have been pigeonholed.

pi·geon·hole noun
BrE /ˈpɪdʒɪnhəʊl/ ; NAmE /ˈpɪdʒɪnhoʊl/
one of a set of small boxes that are fixed on a wall and open at the front, used for putting letters,
messages, etc. in; one of a similar set of boxes that are part of a desk, used for keeping papers,
documents, etc. in If you can't come, leave a note in my pigeonhole.

pile noun
BrE /paɪl/ ; NAmE /paɪl/
SEE ALSO piles
1 [countable] a number of things that have been placed on top of each other a pile of
books/clothes/bricks
He arranged the documents in neat piles.
She looked in horror at the mounting pile of letters on her desk.

2 [countable] a mass of something that is high in the middle and wider at the bottom than at the
top
SYNONYM heap
a pile of sand
piles of dirty washing

3 [countable, usually plural] pile of something (informal) a lot of something I have got piles of
work to do.
He walked out leaving a pile of debts behind him.

4 [uncountable, singular] the short threads, pieces of wool, etc. that form the soft surface of
carpets and some types of cloth such as velvet a deep-pile carpet
Corduroy is the poor man’s velvet; its pile is made of cotton rather than silk or satin.

5 [countable] a large wooden, metal or stone post that is fixed into the ground and used to
support a building, bridge, etc.
6 [countable] (formal or humorous) a large impressive building a Victorian pile built to house
the mentally ill
the ancestral pile

Idioms
(at the) bottom/top of the ˈpile
in the least/most important position in a group of people or things It’s been 20 years since a
British player was top of the pile.

make a/your ˈpile

(informal) to make a lot of money The family made its pile from oil.
I bet they made an absolute pile out of the deal.

pile verb
BrE /paɪl/ ; NAmE /paɪl/

1 [transitive] to put things one on top of another; to form a pile pile something She piled the
boxes one on top of the other.
The clothes were piled high on the chair.
pile something up Snow was piled up against the door.

2 [transitive] to put something on/into something; to load something with something pile A with
B The sofa was piled high with cushions.
He piled his plate with as much food as he could.
pile B on(to) A He piled as much food as he could onto his plate.
pile B in(to) A She piled everything into her suitcase.

SEE ALSO stockpile

3 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition (informal) (of a number of people) to go somewhere
quickly without order or control The coach finally arrived and we all piled on.
Children were piling out of the school bus.

Idioms
pile on the ˈagony/ˈgloom
(informal, especially British English) to make an unpleasant situation worse Bosses piled on the
agony with threats of more job losses.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌpile ˈon
(especially of a person’s weight) to increase quickly The weight just piled on while I was abroad.

ˌpile somethingˈon
1 to make something increase rapidly The team piled on the points in the first half of the game.
I've been piling on the pounds (= I have put on weight) recently.
2 to express a feeling in a much stronger way than is necessary Don't pile on the drama!
Things aren't really that bad—she does tend to pile it on.

3 to give somebody more or too much of something The German team piled on the pressure in
the last 15 minutes.

ˌpile something ˈon(to) somebody

to give somebody a lot of something to do, carry, etc He felt his boss was piling too much work
on him.

ˌpile ˈup
to become larger in quantity or amount
SYNONYM accumulate
Work always piles up at the end of the year.
Problems were beginning to pile up.

piles noun
BrE /paɪlz/ ; NAmE /paɪlz/
[plural]
painful swollen veins at or near the anus
SYNONYM haemorrhoids

plaus·ible adjective
BrE /ˈplɔːzəbl/ ; NAmE /ˈplɔːzəbl/
1 (of an excuse or explanation) reasonable and likely to be true Her story sounded perfectly
plausible.
The only plausible explanation is that he forgot.

OPPOSITE implausible
2 (disapproving) (of a person) good at sounding honest and sincere, especially when trying to
trick people She was a plausible liar.

plaus·ibly adverb
BrE /ˈplɔːzəbli/ ; NAmE /ˈplɔːzəbli/
1 in a way that seems reasonable and likely to be true He argued very plausibly that the claims
were true.

OPPOSITE implausibly
2 (disapproving) in a way that sounds honest and sincere when actually trying to trick people The
art of fiction is the art of lying plausibly.
play verb
BrE /pleɪ/ ; NAmE /pleɪ/

of children
1 [intransitive, transitive] to do things for pleasure, as children do; to enjoy yourself, rather than
work You'll have to play inside today.
There's a time to work and a time to play.
play with somebody/something A group of kids were playing with a ball in the street.
I haven't got anybody to play with!
play something Let's play a different game.

2 [transitive, no passive, intransitive] to pretend to be or do something for fun play something

Let's play pirates.
play at doing something They were playing at being cowboys.

trick
3 [transitive] play a trick/tricks (on somebody) to trick somebody for fun
sports/games
4 [transitive, intransitive] play (something) (with/against somebody) to be involved in a game;
to compete against somebody in a game play something to play football/chess/cards, etc.
play somebody France are playing Wales tomorrow.
play somebody at something Have you played her at squash yet?
play for somebody He plays for Cleveland.
play against somebody France are playing against Wales on Saturday.
+ adverb/preposition Evans played very well.

5 [intransitive] to take a particular position in a sports team + adverb/preposition Who's playing

on the wing?
+ noun I've never played right back before.

6 [transitive] play somebody (+ adverb/preposition) to include somebody in a sports team I

think we should play Matt on the wing.

7 [transitive] play something to make contact with the ball and hit or kick it in the way
mentioned She played the ball and ran forward.
He played a backhand volley.

8 [transitive] play something (in chess) to move a piece in chess, etc She played her bishop.

9 [transitive, intransitive] play (something) (in card games) to put a card face upwards on the
table, showing its value to play your ace/a trump
He played out of turn!
music
10 [transitive, intransitive] play (something) (on something) to perform on a musical
instrument; to perform music play (something) to play the piano/violin/flute, etc.
In the distance a band was playing.
play something (on something) He played a tune on his harmonica.
play something to somebody Play that new piece to us.
play somebody something Play us that new piece.

11 [transitive] to use an MP3 player, a CD player, etc. to make it possible to hear a song, an
album, a CD, etc play something (for somebody) Play their new CD for me, please.
They’re always playing that song on the radio.
play (somebody something) Play me their new album, please.

12 [intransitive] (of a song, an album, etc.) to be heard My favourite song was playing on the
radio.

DVD/video
13 [intransitive, transitive] (of a DVD or video) to start working; to make a DVD or video start
working These videos won't play on my computer.
play something Click below to play videos.
Nothing happens when I try to play a DVD.
A short video was played to the court showing the inside of the house.

act/perform
14 [transitive] play something to act in a play, film/movie, etc.; to act the role of somebody The
part of Elizabeth was played by Cate Blanchett.
He had always wanted to play Othello.

15 [intransitive] to pretend to be something that you are not + adjective I decided it was safer to
play dead.
+ noun She enjoys playing the wronged wife.

16 [intransitive] play (to somebody) to be performed A production of ‘Carmen’ was playing to

packed houses.

have effect
17 [transitive] play a part/role (in something) to have an effect on something The media played
an important part in the last election.

situation
18 [transitive] play something + adverb/preposition to deal with a situation in the way
mentioned He played the situation carefully for maximum advantage.

of light/a smile
19 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to move or appear quickly and lightly, often changing
direction or shape Sunlight played on the surface of the lake.
of fountain
20 [intransitive] when a fountain plays, it produces a steady stream of water Two huge fountains
were playing outside the entrance.

Idioms
Most idioms containing play are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for
example play the game is at game.
have money, time, etc. to ˈplay with
(informal) to have plenty of money, time, etc. for doing something
ˈplay with yourself
(informal) to masturbate
what is somebody ˈplaying at?
used to ask in an angry way about what somebody is doing What do you think you are playing
at?

Phrasal Verbs
ˌplay aˈbout/aˈround (with somebody/something)
1 to behave or treat something in a careless way Don't play around with my tools!

2 (informal) to have a sexual relationship with somebody, usually with somebody who is not
your usual partner Her husband is always playing around.

ˌplay aˈlong (with somebody/something)

to pretend to agree with somebody/something I decided to play along with her idea.

ˈplay at something/at doing something

(often disapproving) to do something without being serious about it or putting much effort into it
play aˈway (from home)
1 (of a sports team) to play a match at the opponent’s ground or stadium
2 (British English) (of a person who is married or who has a regular sexual partner) to have a
secret sexual relationship with somebody else
ˌplay somethingˈback (to somebody)
to play music, film, etc. that has been recorded on a tape, video, etc Play that last section back to
me again.

RELATED NOUN playback

ˌplay somethingˈdown
to try to make something seem less important than it is
SYNONYM downplay
OPPOSITE play somethingup
ˌplay A ˈoff against B (British English)
(North American English also ˈplay A off B)
to put two people or groups in competition with each other, especially in order to get an
advantage for yourself She played her two rivals off against each other and got the job herself.
RELATED NOUN play-off
ˌplay ˈon
(sport) to continue to play; to start playing again The home team claimed a penalty but the
referee told them to play on.

ˈplay on/upon something

to take advantage of somebody’s feelings, etc.
SYNONYM exploit
Advertisements often play on people's fears.

ˌplay somethingˈout
when an event is played out, it happens
SYNONYM enact
Their love affair was played out against the backdrop of war.

ˌplay yourself/itself ˈout

to become weak and no longer useful or important
ˌplay ˈup | ˌplay somebody ˈup
(informal, especially British English) to cause somebody problems or pain The kids have been
playing up all day.
My shoulder is playing me up today.

ˌplay somethingˈup
to try to make something seem more important than it is
SYNONYM overplay
OPPOSITE play somethingdown
ˈplay with somebody/something
to treat somebody who is emotionally attached to you in a way that is not serious and which can
hurt their feelings She tends to play with men's emotions.
She realized that Patrick was merely playing with her.

ˈplay with something

1 to keep touching or moving something She was playing with her hair.
Stop playing with your food!

2 to use things in different ways to produce an interesting or humorous effect, or to see what
effect they have In this poem Fitch plays with words which sound alike.
The composer plays with the exotic sounds of Japanese instruments.
Don’t be afraid to play with colour.

play noun
BrE /pleɪ/ ; NAmE /pleɪ/
children
1 [uncountable] things that people, especially children, do for pleasure rather than as work the
happy sounds of children at play
the importance of learning through play
a play area

in theatre
2 [countable] a piece of writing performed by actors in a theatre or on television or radio to put
on (= perform) a play
a play by Shakespeare
a radio play

SEE ALSO morality play, mystery play, Passion play

in sport
3 [uncountable] the playing of a game Rain stopped play.
There was some excellent play in yesterday's match.
The spectators were asked to be quiet during play.

SEE ALSO fair play, foul play

4 [countable] (North American English) an action or move in a game a defensive play

in rope
5 [uncountable] the possibility of free and easy movement We need more play in the rope.

activity/influence
6 [uncountable] the activity or operation of something; the influence of something on something
else the free play of market forces
The financial crisis has brought new factors into play.
Personal feelings should not come into play when you are making business decisions.

of light/a smile
7 [uncountable] (literary) a light, quick movement that keeps changing the play of sunlight on
water

Idioms
all ˌwork and no ˈplay (makes ˌJack a dull ˈboy)
(saying) it is not healthy to spend all your time working; you need to relax too
be ˈchild’s play
(informal) to be very easy to do, so not even a child would find it difficult
call something into ˈplay
(formal) to make use of something Chess is a game that calls into play all your powers of
concentration.
have a ˈplay (with something)
to spend time playing with a toy, game, etc I had a play with the new computer game.

in/out of ˈplay
(sport) (of a ball) inside/outside the area allowed by the rules of the game She just managed to
keep the ball in play.

make great/much ˈplay of something

to emphasize the importance of a particular fact He made great play of the fact that his uncle was
a duke.

make a ˈplay for somebody/something

to try to obtain something; to do things that are intended to produce a particular result She was
making a play for the sales manager's job.

a play on ˈwords
the humorous use of a word or phrase that can have two different meanings
SYNONYM pun
the state of ˈplay
1 the stage that has been reached in a process, etc. which has not yet been completed What is the
current state of play in the peace talks?

2 (especially British English) the score in a sports match, especially in cricket

plenty pronoun
BrE /ˈplenti/ ; NAmE /ˈplenti/
plenty (of something) a large amount; as much or as many as you need plenty of
eggs/money/time
‘Do we need more milk?’ ‘No, there's plenty in the fridge.’
They always gave us plenty to eat.
We had plenty to talk about.

plenty adverb
BrE /ˈplenti/ ; NAmE /ˈplenti/
1 plenty more (of) (something) a lot We have plenty more of them in the warehouse.
There's plenty more paper if you need it.

2 plenty big, long, etc. enough (to do something) (informal) more than big, long, etc. enough
The rope was plenty long enough to reach the ground.

3 (North American English) a lot; very We talked plenty about our kids.
You can be married and still be plenty lonely.
Idioms
there are plenty more fish in the ˈsea
there are many other people or things that are as good as the one somebody has failed to get

plenty noun
BrE /ˈplenti/ ; NAmE /ˈplenti/
[uncountable] (formal) a situation in which there is a large supply of food, money, etc Everyone
is happier in times of plenty.
We had food and drink in plenty.
They viewed the New World as a land of plenty.

plenty determiner
BrE /ˈplenti/ ; NAmE /ˈplenti/
(North American English or informal) a lot of There's plenty room for all of you!

plot noun
BrE /plɒt/ ; NAmE /plɑːt/
1 [countable, uncountable] the series of events that form the story of a novel, play, film/movie,
etc a conventional plot about love and marriage
The book is well organized in terms of plot.

2 [countable] plot (to do something) a secret plan made by a group of people to do something
wrong or illegal
SYNONYM conspiracy
a murder plot
The rebels hatched a plot to overthrow the government.
Police uncovered a plot against the president.

3 [countable] a small piece of land that is used or intended for a special purpose She bought a
small plot of land to build a house on.
a vegetable plot

Idioms
ˌlose the ˈplot
(British English, informal) to lose your ability to understand or deal with what is happening
the plot ˈthickens
used to say that a situation is becoming more complicated and difficult to understand
plot verb
BrE /plɒt/ ; NAmE /plɑːt/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to make a secret plan to harm somebody, especially a government or

its leader
SYNONYM conspire
plot (with somebody) (against somebody) They were accused of plotting against the state.
plot something Military officers were suspected of plotting a coup.
She spends every waking hour plotting her revenge.
plot to do something They were plotting to overthrow the government.

2 [transitive] plot something (on something) to mark something on a map, for example the
position or course of something The earthquake centres had been plotted on a world map.
He plotted a new route across the Atlantic.

3 [transitive] plot something (on something) to make a diagram or chart from some information
We carefully plotted each patient's response to the drug on a chart.

4 [transitive] plot something (on something) to mark points on a graph and draw a line or curve
connecting them First, plot the temperature curve on the graph.

5 [transitive] plot something to write the plot of a novel, play, etc a tightly-plotted thriller

plumb·ing noun
BrE /ˈplʌmɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈplʌmɪŋ/
[uncountable]
1 the system of pipes, etc. that supply water to a building The builders are putting in the
plumbing and electrics.
the household plumbing system
They’re going to have to put in new plumbing.

2 the work of a plumber the tools used in plumbing

plumb adverb
BrE /plʌm/ ; NAmE /plʌm/
1 (used before prepositions) exactly He was standing plumb in the middle of the road.

2 (old-fashioned, North American English, informal) completely He's plumb crazy.

plum·met verb
BrE /ˈplʌmɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈplʌmɪt/
[intransitive]

to fall suddenly and quickly from a high level or position

SYNONYM plunge
Share prices plummeted to an all-time low.
Her spirits plummeted at the thought of meeting him again.
The jet plummeted into a row of houses.

plunge verb
BrE /plʌndʒ/ ; NAmE /plʌndʒ/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to move or make somebody/something move suddenly forwards and/or

downwards + adverb/preposition She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death.
The train left the track and plunged down the embankment.
plunge somebody/something + adverb/preposition The earthquake plunged entire towns over
the edge of the cliffs.

2 [intransitive] (of prices, temperatures, etc.) to decrease suddenly and quickly

SYNONYM plummet
Stock markets plunged at the news of the coup.
This year profits plunged by 40%.

3 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition (of a road, surface, etc.) to slope down steeply The track
plunged down into the valley.

4 [intransitive] to move up and down suddenly and violently The horse plunged and reared.
(figurative) His heart plunged (= because of a strong emotion).

Phrasal Verbs
ˌplunge ˈin | ˌplunge ˈinto something
1 to jump into something, especially with force The pool was declared open and eager swimmers
plunged in.

2 to start doing something in an enthusiastic way, especially without thinking carefully about
what you are doing She was about to plunge into her story when the phone rang.
He's always plunging in at the deep end (= becoming involved in difficult situations without
being well enough prepared).

ˌplunge something ˈin | ˌplunge something ˈinto something

to push something quickly and with force into something else Bring the water to the boil and
plunge the vegetables in.
She plunged the knife deep into his chest.
ˌplunge ˈinto something
1
= plunge in
2 to experience something unpleasant The country plunged deeper into recession.

ˌplunge somebody/something ˈinto something

to make somebody/something experience something unpleasant The news plunged them into
deep depression.
There was a flash of lightning and the house was plunged into darkness.

chir·opo·dist noun
BrE /kɪˈrɒpədɪst/ ; NAmE /kɪˈrɑːpədɪst/
(especially British English) (usually North American English po·dia·trist)
a person whose job is the care and treatment of people’s feet

point noun
BrE /pɔɪnt/ ; NAmE /pɔɪnt/
opinion/fact
1 [countable] a thing that somebody says or writes giving their opinion or stating a fact She
made several interesting points in the article.
I take your point (= understand and accept what you are saying).
He's just saying that to prove a point (= to show his idea is right).
OK, you've made your point!

SEE ALSO talking point

main idea
2 [countable] (also the point) the main or most important idea in something that is said or done
The point is you shouldn't have to wait so long to see a doctor.
I wish he would get to the point (= say it quickly).
I'll come straight to the point: we need more money.
Do you see my point (= understand)?
I think I missed the point (= did not understand).
You have a point (= your idea is right)—it would be better to wait till this evening.
‘There won’t be anywhere to park.’ ‘Oh, that’s a (good) point.’ (= I had not thought of that)
It just isn't true. That's the whole point (= the only important fact).
‘He's been married before.’ ‘That's beside the point’ (= not important).
I know it won't cost very much but that's not the point (= not the important thing).

purpose
3 [uncountable, singular] the purpose or aim of something What's the point of all this violence?
There's no point in getting angry.
I don't see the point of doing it all again.
The point of the lesson is to compare the two countries.

+ SYNONYMS

detail
4 [countable] a particular detail or fact Here are the main points of the news.
Can you explain that point again?

quality
5 [countable] a particular quality or feature that somebody/something has Tact is not one of her
strong points.
Read the manual to learn the program's finer points (= small details).
Living in Scotland has its good points but the weather is not one of them.
One of the hotel's plus points (= good features) is that it is very central.

SEE ALSO selling point

time
6 [countable] a particular time or stage of development The climber was at/on the point of death
when they found him.
We were on the point of giving up.
Many people suffer from mental illness at some point in their lives.
We had reached the point when there was no money left.
At this point in time we just have to wait.
At this point I don't care what you decide to do.

SEE ALSO high point, low point, saturation point, starting point, sticking point, turning
point
place
7 [countable] a particular place or area I'll wait for you at the meeting point in the arrivals hall.
the point at which the river divides
Draw a line from point A to point B.
No parking beyond this point.

+ SYNONYMS

SEE ALSO focal point, jumping-off point, three-point turn, vanishing point, vantage point
direction
8 [countable] one of the marks of direction around a compass the points of the compass (= N, S,
E, W, etc.)

in competition
9 [countable] (abbreviation pt) an individual unit that adds to a score in a game or sports
competition to win/lose a point
Australia finished 20 points ahead.
 They won on points (= by scoring more points rather than by completely defeating their
opponents).

SEE ALSO brownie point, match point

measurement
10 [countable] a mark or unit on a scale of measurement The party's share of the vote fell by ten
percentage points.

SEE ALSO boiling point, freezing point, melting point

sharp end
11 [countable] the sharp thin end of something the point of a pencil/knife/pin

SEE ALSO ballpoint, gunpoint, knifepoint

land
12 [countable] (also Point) a narrow piece of land that stretches into the sea The ship sailed
around the point.
Pagoda Point

punctuation
13 [countable] a small dot used in writing, especially the dot that separates a whole number from
the part that comes after it two point six (2.6)
a decimal point
We broadcast on ninety-five point nine (95.9) FM.

SEE ALSO bullet point, full stop

of light/colour
14 [countable] a very small dot of light or colour The stars were points of light in the sky.

for electricity
15 [countable] (British English) a place in a wall, etc. where a piece of equipment can be
connected to electricity a power/shaver/telephone point

in ballet
16 points [plural]
= pointe
on railway track
17 points [plural] (British English) (North American English switch [countable]) a piece of track
at a place where a railway/railroad line divides that can be moved to allow a train to change
tracks
size of letters
18 [uncountable] a unit of measurement for the size of letters in printing or on a computer screen,
etc Change the text to 10 point.

+ WORD ORIGIN
+ EXTRA EXAMPLES

Idioms
belabour the ˈpoint
(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.

a case in ˈpoint
a clear example of the problem, situation, etc. that is being discussed
LANGUAGE BANK at e.g.
if/when it comes to the ˈpoint
used when you have to decide something or say what you really think When it comes to the
point, he always changes his mind.

in point of ˈfact
used to say what is true in a situation In point of fact, she is their adopted daughter.

labour the ˈpoint

to continue to repeat or explain something that has already been said and understood I
understand what you’re saying—there’s no need to labour the point.

make a ˈpoint of doing something

to be or make sure you do something because it is important or necessary I made a point of
closing all the windows before leaving the house.

a moot ˈpoint/ˈquestion
(British English, North American English) a matter about which there may be disagreement or
confusion Whether this should be enforced by law or not is a moot point.

ˌmore to the ˈpoint

used to say that something is more important than something else I couldn't do the job—I've
never been to Spain and, more to the point, I don't speak Spanish.

not to put too fine a ˈpoint on it

used to emphasize something that is expressed clearly and directly, especially a criticism Not to
put too fine a point on it, I think you are lying.

on point
(North American English) appropriate or relevant to the situation The quotation was directly on
point.
Let's stay on point.
None of the replies was on point.
ˌpoint of ˈcontact
a place where you go or a person that you speak to when you are dealing with an organization
The receptionist is the first point of contact most people have with the clinic.

a ˌpoint of deˈparture
1 a place where a journey starts
2 (formal) an idea, a theory or an event that is used to start a discussion, an activity, etc.
a ˌpoint of ˈhonour
a thing that somebody considers to be very important for their honour or reputation
the ˌpoint of ˌno reˈturn
the time when you must continue with what you have decided to do, because it is not possible to
get back to an earlier situation
ˌpoint ˈtaken
used to say that you accept that somebody else is right when they have disagreed with you or
criticized you Point taken. Let's drop the subject.

ˌscore a ˈpoint/ˈpoints (off/against/over somebody)

= score off somebody
a ˌsore ˈpoint
a subject that makes you feel angry or upset when it is mentioned It's a sore point with Sue's
parents that the children have not been baptized yet.

stretch a ˈpoint
to allow or do something that is not usually acceptable, especially because of a particular
situation I was hoping they would stretch a point and let me stay on for a while.

to the ˈpoint
expressed in a simple, clear way without any extra information or feelings
SYNONYM pertinent
The letter was short and to the point.

to the ˈpoint of (doing) something

to a degree that can be described as something He was rude to the point of being aggressive.

up to a (certain) ˈpoint
to some extent; to some degree but not completely I agree with you up to a point.

point verb
BrE /pɔɪnt/ ; NAmE /pɔɪnt/

show with finger

1 [intransitive, transitive, no passive] to stretch out your finger or something held in your hand
towards somebody/something in order to show somebody where a person or thing is point
(at/to/towards somebody/something) ‘What's your name?’ he asked, pointing at the child with
his pen.
‘That's my mother,’ she said, pointing at a photo on the wall.
He pointed to the spot where the house used to stand.
She pointed in my direction.
It's rude to point!
point something She pointed her finger in my direction.

aim
2 [transitive] point something (at somebody/something) to aim something at
somebody/something He pointed the gun at her head.
A hundred camera lenses were being pointed at her.

face direction
3 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to face in or be directed towards a particular direction The
telescope was pointing in the wrong direction.
The signpost pointed straight ahead.
A compass needle points north.

lead to
4 [intransitive, transitive] to lead to or suggest a particular development or logical argument +
adverb/preposition The evidence seems to point in that direction.
point the way + adverb/preposition The fans are looking to the new players to point the way to
victory.

show the way

5 [transitive] to show somebody which way to go point somebody + adverb/preposition I
wonder if you could point me in the right direction for the bus station.
point the way + adverb/preposition A series of yellow arrows pointed the way to reception.

wall
6 [transitive] point something to put mortar between the bricks of a wall The house needs
pointing before winter.

Idioms
point a/the ˈfinger (at somebody)
to accuse somebody of doing something The article points an accusing finger at the authorities.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌpoint somebody/somethingˈout (to somebody)
to stretch your finger out towards somebody/something in order to show somebody which person
or thing you are referring to I'll point him out to you next time he comes in.
The guide pointed out various historic monuments.

ˌpoint ˈout (to somebody) | ˌpoint somethingˈout (to somebody)

to mention something in order to give somebody information about it or make them notice it She
tried in vain to point out to him the unfairness of his actions.
He pointed out the dangers of driving alone.
point out (to somebody) that… I should point out that not one of these paintings is original.
+ speech ‘It's not very far,’ she pointed out.

ˈpoint to something
1 to mention something that you think is important and/or the reason why a particular situation
exists The board of directors pointed to falling productivity to justify their decision.
Pointing to the results of a recent survey, he claimed voters were most interested in education
and unemployment.

2 to suggest that something is true or likely All the signs point to a successful year ahead.
The evidence before us points clearly to his innocence.

ˌpoint somethingˈup
(formal) to emphasize something so that it becomes more noticeable
SYNONYM highlight
The conference merely pointed up divisions in the party.

poke verb
BrE /pəʊk/ ; NAmE /poʊk/

1 [transitive] to quickly push your fingers or another object into somebody/something

SYNONYM prod
poke somebody/something with something She poked him in the ribs with her elbow.
poke something into something She poked her elbow into his ribs.
poke somebody/something I'm sick of being poked and prodded by doctors.
She got up and poked the fire (= to make it burn more strongly).

2 [transitive] poke something + adverb/preposition to push something somewhere or move it

in a particular direction with a small quick movement He poked his head around the corner to
check that nobody was coming.
Someone had poked a message under the door.
Don't poke her eye out with that stick!

3 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition if an object is poking out of, through, etc. something,

you can see a part of it that is no longer covered by something else The end of the cable was left
poking out of the wall.
A bony elbow poked through a hole in his sweater.
Clumps of grass poked up through the snow.
4 [transitive] poke a hole in something (with something) to make a hole in something by
pushing your finger or another object into it The kids poked holes in the ice with sticks.

5 [transitive] poke somebody (taboo, slang) (of a man) to have sex with somebody

Idioms
poke ˈfun at somebody/something
to say unkind things about somebody/something in order to make other people laugh at them
SYNONYM ridicule
Her novels poke fun at the upper class.
She’s always poking fun at herself.

poke/stick your nose into ˈsomething

(informal) to try to become involved in something that does not concern you He’s always poking
his nose into other people’s business.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌpoke aˈbout/aˈround
(informal) to look for something, especially something that is hidden among other things that
you have to move The police spent the day poking around in his office but found nothing.
(figurative) We've had journalists poking around and asking a lot of questions.

ˈpoke at something
to push a pointed object, your finger, etc. at something repeatedly with small quick movements
He poked at the spaghetti with a fork.

poke noun
BrE /pəʊk/ ; NAmE /poʊk/
1 [countable, usually singular] the action of quickly pushing your fingers or another object into
somebody/something to give the fire a poke
He gave me a poke in the ribs to wake me up.
When I mentioned the money I got a poke in the back.
Carrie gave him a poke in the side.

2 [uncountable] (British English) power in a car I prefer something with a bit more poke.

Idioms
have a ˌpoke aˈround
(informal) to look carefully around a place to see what you can find; to try to find out
information about somebody/something His mother often goes into his room and has a good old
poke around.

(buy) a pig in a ˈpoke

if you buy a pig in a poke, you buy something without seeing it or knowing if it is good enough
Buying from a catalogue can mean buying a pig in a poke.

take a ˈpoke at somebody/something

(old-fashioned, North American English, informal) to make an unkind remark about
somebody/something; to laugh at somebody/something

pose verb
BrE /pəʊz/ ; NAmE /poʊz/

1 [transitive] pose something to create a threat, problem, etc. that has to be dealt with to pose a
threat/challenge/danger/risk
The task poses no special problems.

2 [transitive] pose a question (formal) to ask a question, especially one that needs serious
thought
3 [intransitive] pose (for somebody/something) to sit or stand in a particular position in order
to be painted, drawn or photographed The delegates posed for a group photograph.
They posed briefly for photographs before driving off.

4 [intransitive] pose as somebody to pretend to be somebody in order to trick other people The
gang entered the building posing as workmen.

5 [intransitive] (usually used in the progressive tenses) (disapproving) to dress or behave in a

way that is intended to impress other people I saw him out posing in his new sports car.

pose noun
BrE /pəʊz/ ; NAmE /poʊz/
1 a particular position in which somebody stands, sits, etc., especially in order to be painted,
drawn or photographed He adopted a relaxed pose for the camera.

2 (disapproving) a way of behaving that is not sincere and is only intended to impress other
people
SYNONYM affectation
This show of concern is just a pose.

Idioms
strike a ˈpose/an ˈattitude
to hold your body in a particular way to create a particular impression to strike a dramatic pose
pos·ses·sion noun
BrE /pəˈzeʃn/ ; NAmE /pəˈzeʃn/
having/owning
1 [uncountable] (formal) the state of having or owning something The manuscript is just one of
the treasures in their possession.
The gang was caught in possession of stolen goods.
The possession of a passport is essential for foreign travel.
On her father's death, she came into possession of (= received) a vast fortune.
You cannot legally take possession of the property (= start using it after buying it) until three
weeks after the contract is signed.

SEE ALSO vacant possession

2 [countable, usually plural] something that you own or have with you at a particular time
SYNONYM belongings
personal possessions
The ring is one of her most treasured possessions.
Please make sure you have all your possessions with you when leaving the plane.

in sport
3 [uncountable] the state of having control of the ball to win/get/lose possession of the ball
The home team had most of the possession in the first half.

law
4 [uncountable] the state of having illegal drugs or weapons with you at a particular time She
was charged with possession.

country
5 [countable] (formal) a country that is controlled or governed by another country The former
colonial possessions are now independent states.

by evil spirit
6 [uncountable] the situation when somebody’s mind is believed to be controlled by the Devil or
by an evil spirit

Idioms
leave the field ˈclear for somebody, leave somebody in possession of the ˈfield
to enable somebody 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.

possession is nine tenths of the ˈlaw

(saying) if you already have or control something, it is difficult for somebody else to take it away
from you, even if they have the legal right to it

pos·set verb
BrE /ˈpɒsɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈpɑːsɪt/

(British English) [intransitive] if a baby possets, milk comes back up from its stomach and out
through its mouth

post noun
BrE /pəʊst/ ; NAmE /poʊst/
letters
1 (British English) (also mail North American English, British English) [uncountable] the
official system used for sending and delivering letters, packages, etc I'll send the original to you
by post.
I'll put the information in the post to you tomorrow.
My application got lost in the post.

2 (British English) (also mail North American English, British English) [uncountable] letters,
packages, etc. that are sent and delivered There was a lot of post this morning.
Have you opened your post yet?

3 (British English) [uncountable, singular] an occasion during the day when letters, etc. are
collected or delivered to catch/miss the post
The parcel came in this morning's post.
Payment should be sent by return of post (= immediately).
Do you get a second post here?

job
4 [countable] a job, especially an important one in a large organization
SYNONYM position
an academic/government post
to take up a post
to resign (from) a post
We will be creating 15 new posts next year.
The company has been unable to fill the post.
He has held the post for three years.
She was offered a key post in the new government.

5 (especially North American English) (usually British English posting) an act of sending
somebody to a particular place to do their job, especially for a limited period of time an overseas
post
The island is rated by diplomats as a hardship post (= one that people do not like to be sent to
because it is not a very comfortable place to live).

for soldier/guard
6 [countable] the place where somebody, especially a soldier, does their job a
police/customs/military post
an observation post
The guards were ordered not to leave their posts.
Three soldiers were shot dead at a border post.

SEE ALSO last post, staging post, trading post

wood/metal
7 [countable] (often in compounds) a piece of wood or metal that is set in the ground in a vertical
position, especially to support something or to mark a point corner posts (= that mark the
corners of a sports field)
The team’s ‘net’ was a piece of string tied to two posts.

SEE ALSO bedpost, gatepost, lamp post, signpost

end of race
8 the post [singular] the place where a race finishes, especially in horse racing
SEE ALSO first-past-the-post, winning post
football
9 [countable, usually singular]
= goalpost
The ball hit the post and bounced in.

internet
10 (also post·ing) [countable] (computing) a message sent to a discussion group on the Internet;
a piece of writing that forms part of a blog The forum does not allow posts from non-members.
a blog post
I love reading her posts because I learn so much.
She wrote a great post about the experience on her blog.

Idioms
be driven, pushed, etc. from ˌpillar to ˈpost
to be forced to go from one person or situation to another without achieving anything Morale is
very low. People have just had enough of being thrown from pillar to post.

(as) ˌdeaf as a ˈpost

(informal) very deaf

post verb
BrE /pəʊst/ ; NAmE /poʊst/

letters
1 (British English) (North American English mail) [transitive] to send a letter, etc. to somebody
by post/mail post something (off) (to somebody) Have you posted off your order yet?
Is it OK if I post the cheque to you next week?
post somebody something Is it OK if I post you the cheque next week?

COMPARE mail
2 (British English) (North American English mail) [transitive] post something to put a letter,
etc. into a postbox Could you post this letter for me?

something through hole

3 [transitive] post something + adverb/preposition to put something through a hole into a
container Let yourself out and post the keys through the letter box.

somebody for job

4 [transitive, usually passive] post somebody + adverb/preposition to send somebody to a
place for a period of time as part of their job She's been posted to Washington for two years.
Most of our employees get posted abroad at some stage.

soldier/guard
5 [transitive] post somebody + adverb/preposition to put somebody, especially a soldier, in a
particular place so that they can guard a building or area Guards have been posted along the
border.
A police officer was posted outside the door to make sure the suspect didn’t leave the building.

public notice
6 [transitive, often passive] post something + adverb/preposition to put a notice, etc. in a
public place so that people can see it
SYNONYM display
A copy of the letter was posted on the noticeboard.

give information
7 [transitive] (especially North American English) to announce something publicly or officially,
especially financial information or a warning post something The company posted a $1.1 billion
loss.
A snow warning was posted for Ohio.
post somebody/something + adjective The aircraft and its crew were posted missing.

8 [transitive, intransitive] to put information or pictures on a website post something (on

something) The results will be posted on the Internet.
post (on something) The photos have been provided by fans who post on the message board.
I’ve been posting now and again at ‘British Moneymaker’.

pay money to court

9 [transitive] post bail/(a) bond (especially North American English) to pay money to a court so
that a person accused of a crime can go free until their trial She was released after posting $100
cash bond and her driver's license.

Idioms
keep somebody ˈposted (about/on something)
to regularly give somebody the most recent information about something and how it is
developing I’ll keep you posted on his progress.
pos·tu·late verb

BrE /ˈpɒstjuleɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈpɑːstʃəleɪt/ postulate something postulate that… (formal) to

suggest or accept that something is true so that it can be used as the basis for a theory, etc.
SYNONYM posit
They postulated a 500-year lifespan for a plastic container.

pos·tu·late noun
BrE /ˈpɒstjʊlət/ ; NAmE /ˈpɑːstʃələt/ (formal) a statement that is accepted as true, that forms the
basis of a theory, etc Work done in the laboratory showed that his postulates were probably
correct.

posit verb
BrE /ˈpɒzɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈpɑːzɪt/

posit something posit that… (formal) to suggest or accept that something is true so that it can
be used as the basis for an argument or discussion
SYNONYM postulate
Most religions posit the existence of life after death.
She posits that ideas of gender are socially constructed.
They were forced to modify the political premises on which the regime was posited.

pound noun
BrE /paʊnd/ ; NAmE /paʊnd/
money
1 [countable] (specialist ˌpound ˈsterling) (symbol £) the unit of money in the UK, worth 100
pence a ten-pound note
a pound coin
I've spent £25 on food today.
What would you do if you won a million pounds?
Total losses were estimated at over three million pounds.

SEE ALSO sterling

2 [countable] the unit of money of several other countries

3 the pound [singular] (finance) the value of the British pound compared with the value of the
money of other countries the strength/weakness of the pound (against other currencies)
The pound closed slightly down at $1.534.
The pound fell sharply to a record low against the yen.
a run on the pound

weight
4 [countable] (abbreviation lb) a unit for measuring weight, equal to 0.454 of a kilogram half a
pound of butter
They cost two dollars a pound.
I've lost six and a half pounds since I started my diet.

for cars
5 [countable] a place where vehicles that have been parked illegally are kept until their owners
pay to get them back
for dogs
6 [countable] a place where dogs that have been found in the street without their owners are kept
until their owners claim them

Idioms
ˌin for a ˈpenny, ˌin for a ˈpound
(saying) used to say that since you have started to do something, it is worth spending as much
time or money as you need to in order to complete it
(have, get, want, etc.) your pound of ˈflesh
the full amount that somebody owes you, even if this will cause them trouble or suffering You’re
determined to have your pound of flesh, aren’t you?

From Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, in which the moneylender Shylock demanded a pound
of flesh from Antonio’s body if he could not pay back the money he borrowed.
preˌvention is better than ˈcure (British English)
(US English an ounce of preˌvention is better than a pound of ˈcure)
(saying) it is better to stop something bad from happening rather than try to deal with the
problems after it has happened

pound verb
BrE /paʊnd/ ; NAmE /paʊnd/

hit
1 [intransitive, transitive] to hit something/somebody hard many times, especially in a way that
makes a lot of noise
SYNONYM hammer
pound at/against/on something Heavy rain pounded on the roof.
All she could hear was the sound of waves pounding against the cliffs.
Someone was pounding at the door.
pound away (at/against/on something) The factory's machinery pounded away day and night.
pound somebody/something (with something) She pounded him with her fists.

walk noisily
2 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to move with noisy steps She pounded along the corridor
after him.

of heart/blood
3 [intransitive] to beat quickly and loudly Her heart was pounding with excitement.
The blood was pounding (= making a beating noise) in his ears.
Her head began to pound.
a pounding headache

break into pieces

4 [transitive] pound something (to/into something) to hit something many times in order to
break it into smaller pieces The seeds were pounded to a fine powder.

attack with bombs

5 [transitive] pound something to attack an area with a large number of bombs over a period of
time The area is still being pounded by rebel guns.

of music
6 [intransitive] pound (out) to be played loudly Rock music was pounding out from the jukebox.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌpound somethingˈout
to play music loudly on a musical instrument to pound out a tune on the piano

power·less·ness noun
BrE /ˈpaʊələsnəs/ ; NAmE /ˈpaʊərləsnəs/
[uncountable]
the state of being unable to control or influence somebody/something a feeling/sense of
powerlessness

prag·mat·ic adjective
BrE /præɡˈmætɪk/ ; NAmE /præɡˈmætɪk/
solving problems in a practical and sensible way rather than by having fixed ideas or theories
SYNONYM realistic
a pragmatic approach to management problems

praise noun
BrE /preɪz/ ; NAmE /preɪz/
[uncountable]
1 (less frequent praises [plural]) words that show approval of or admiration for
somebody/something His teachers are full of praise for the progress he's making.
She wrote poems in praise of freedom.
His latest movie has won high praise from the critics.
We have nothing but praise for the way they handled the investigation.
The team coach singled out two players for special praise.
She left with their praises ringing in her ears.
They always sing his praises (= praise him very highly).

2 the expression of worship to God hymns/songs of praise

Praise be (to God)!(= expressing belief or joy)

Idioms
damn somebody/something with faint ˈpraise
to praise somebody/something only a little, in order to show that you do not really like them/it

praise verb
BrE /preɪz/ ; NAmE /preɪz/

1 to express your approval or admiration for somebody/something

SYNONYM compliment
praise somebody/something She praised his cooking.
praise somebody/something for something/for doing something He praised his team for their
performance.
They were praised by police for reporting the theft.
praise somebody/something as something Critics praised the work as highly original.

2 praise somebody to express your thanks to or your respect for God Praise the Lord.
Allah be praised.

Idioms
praise somebody/something to the ˈskies
to praise somebody/something a lot

pram noun
BrE /præm/ ; NAmE /præm/
(British English) (North American English ˈbaby carriage)
a small vehicle on four wheels for a baby to go out in, pushed by a person on foot She was
pushing her baby along in a pram.

pre·con·ceived adjective
BrE /ˌpriːkənˈsiːvd/ ; NAmE /ˌpriːkənˈsiːvd/
[only before noun]
(of ideas, opinions, etc.) formed before you have enough information or experience of something
Before I started the job, I had no preconceived notions of what it would be like.

pre·con·cep·tion noun
BrE /ˌpriːkənˈsepʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌpriːkənˈsepʃn/
[countable, usually plural, uncountable]
an idea or opinion that is formed before you have enough information or experience
SYNONYM assumption
a book that will challenge your preconceptions about rural life

COMPARE misconception

pre·ce·dent noun
BrE /ˈpresɪdənt/ ; NAmE /ˈpresɪdənt/
1 [countable, uncountable] an official action or decision that has happened in the past and that is
seen as an example or a rule to be followed in a similar situation later The ruling set a precedent
for future libel cases.

2 [countable, uncountable] a similar action or event that happened earlier historical precedents
There is no precedent for a disaster of this scale.
Such protests are without precedent in recent history.

3 [uncountable] the way that things have always been done

SYNONYM tradition
to break with precedent (= to do something in a different way)

SEE ALSO unprecedented

pre·cise adjective
BrE /prɪˈsaɪs/ ; NAmE /prɪˈsaɪs/
1 clear and accurate
SYNONYM exact
precise details/instructions/measurements
Can you give a more precise definition of the word?
I can be reasonably precise about the time of the incident.

2 [only before noun] used to emphasize that something happens at a particular time or in a
particular way We were just talking about her when, at that precise moment, she walked in.
Doctors found it hard to establish the precise nature of her illness.

3 taking care to be exact and accurate, especially about small details

SYNONYM meticulous
a skilled and precise worker
small, precise movements
(disapproving) She's rather prim and precise.

Idioms
to be (more) preˈcise
used to show that you are giving more detailed and accurate information about something you
have just mentioned The shelf is about a metre long—well, 98cm, to be precise.

pre·cise·ly adverb
BrE /prɪˈsaɪsli/ ; NAmE /prɪˈsaɪsli/
1 exactly They look precisely the same to me.
That's precisely what I meant.
It's not clear precisely how the accident happened.
The meeting starts at 2 o'clock precisely.

2 accurately; carefully to describe something precisely

She pronounced the word very slowly and precisely.

3 used to emphasize that something is very true or obvious It's precisely because I care about
you that I don't like you staying out late.
The children are precisely the ones who will suffer if they get divorced.

4 used to emphasize that you agree with a statement, especially because you think it is obvious or
is similar to what you have just said ‘It's not that easy, is it?’ ‘No, precisely.’

Idioms
more preˈcisely
used to show that you are giving more detailed and accurate information about something you
have just mentioned The problem is due to discipline, or, more precisely, the lack of discipline,
in schools.

pre·ci·sion noun
BrE /prɪˈsɪʒn/ ; NAmE /prɪˈsɪʒn/
[uncountable]
the quality of being exact, accurate and careful
SYNONYM accuracy
done with mathematical precision
Her writing is imaginative but lacks precision.
Historians can’t estimate the date with any (degree of) precision.
He chose his words with precision.
precision instruments/tools

pre·clude verb
BrE /prɪˈkluːd/ ; NAmE /prɪˈkluːd/
(formal)

to prevent something from happening or somebody from doing something; to make something
impossible preclude something Lack of time precludes any further discussion.
Your failure to become a member this year does not preclude the possibility of your applying
next year.
preclude somebody from doing something My lack of interest in the subject precluded me from
gaining much enjoyment out of it.
preclude (somebody) doing something His religious beliefs precluded him/his serving in the
army.
We cannot have a system that precludes people from seeking independent legal advice.

pre·co·cious adjective
BrE /prɪˈkəʊʃəs/ ; NAmE /prɪˈkoʊʃəs/
(sometimes disapproving)
(of a child) having developed particular abilities and ways of behaving at a much younger age
than usual a precocious child who started her acting career at the age of 5
sexually precocious
From an early age she displayed a precocious talent for music.

im·pede verb
BrE /ɪmˈpiːd/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈpiːd/

[often passive] impede something (formal) to delay or stop the progress of something
SYNONYM hinder, hamper
Work on the building was impeded by severe weather.
A number of practical difficulties impeded the process.
In what ways did economic factors impede progress?

im·pedi·ment noun
BrE /ɪmˈpedɪmənt/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈpedɪmənt/
1 impediment (to something) (formal) something that delays or stops the progress of something
SYNONYM obstacle
The level of inflation is a serious impediment to economic recovery.
Their boycott of the talks constitutes a serious impediment to peace negotiations.
There are no legal impediments to their appealing against the decision.

2 a physical problem that makes it difficult to speak normally a speech impediment

impel verb
BrE /ɪmˈpel/ ; NAmE /ɪmˈpel/
(formal)

if an idea or feeling impels you to do something, you feel as if you are forced to do it impel
somebody to do something He felt impelled to investigate further.
impel somebody (to something) There are various reasons that impel me to that conclusion.
She was impelled by the urgent need to see him again.

pre·dica·ment noun
BrE /prɪˈdɪkəmənt/ ; NAmE /prɪˈdɪkəmənt/
a difficult or an unpleasant situation, especially one where it is difficult to know what to do
SYNONYM quandary
the club’s financial predicament
I'm in a terrible predicament.

quan·dary noun
BrE /ˈkwɒndəri/ ; NAmE /ˈkwɑːndəri/
[usually singular] (plural quan·daries)
the state of not being able to decide what to do in a difficult situation
SYNONYM dilemma
George was in a quandary—should he go or shouldn't he?
This placed the government in something of a quandary.

pre·occu·pied adjective
BrE /priˈɒkjupaɪd/ ; NAmE /priˈɑːkjupaɪd/
preoccupied (with something) thinking and/or worrying continuously about something so that
you do not pay attention to other things He was too preoccupied with his own thoughts to notice
anything wrong.
She seemed preoccupied all the time I was talking to her.
He was too preoccupied with his own problems to worry about hers.
We live in a world preoccupied by sport.
press·ing adjective
BrE /ˈpresɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈpresɪŋ/
[usually before noun]
1 needing to be dealt with immediately
SYNONYM urgent
I'm afraid I have some pressing business to attend to.
There is a pressing need for more specialist nurses.
The government seems to think that international problems are more pressing than domestic
ones.

2 difficult to refuse or to ignore a pressing invitation

press·ing noun
BrE /ˈpresɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈpresɪŋ/
an object, especially a record, made by using pressure or weight to shape a piece of metal,
plastic, etc.; a number of such objects that are made at one time The initial pressing of the
group's album has already sold out.

pre·tend verb
BrE /prɪˈtend/ ; NAmE /prɪˈtend/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to behave in a particular way, in order to make other people believe
something that is not true I'm tired of having to pretend all the time.
Of course I was wrong; it would be hypocritical to pretend otherwise.
pretend (to somebody) (that…) He pretended to his family that everything was fine.
We pretended (that) nothing had happened.
She pretended (that) she was his niece.
pretend to do something I pretended to be asleep.
He pretended not to notice.
She didn't love him, though she pretended to.
pretend something (formal) She pretended an interest she did not feel.

2 [intransitive, transitive] (especially of children) to imagine that something is true as part of a

game They didn't have any real money so they had to pretend.
pretend (that)… Let’s pretend (that) we’re astronauts.

3 [intransitive, transitive] (usually used in negative sentences and questions) to claim to be, do or
have something, especially when this is not true pretend to something I can't pretend to any
great musical talent.
pretend (that)… I don’t pretend (that) I know much about the subject, but…
pretend to be/do/have something The book doesn't pretend to be a great
work of literature.
pre·tend adjective
BrE /prɪˈtend/ ; NAmE /prɪˈtend/
[usually before noun] (informal) (often used by children) not real, imaginary pretend cakes

pre·tence (British English) (North American English pre·tense) noun

BrE /prɪˈtens/ ; NAmE /ˈpriːtens/
1 [uncountable, singular] the act of behaving in a particular way, in order to make other people
believe something that is not true Their friendliness was only pretence.
pretence of doing something By the end of the evening she had abandoned all pretence of being
interested.
pretence of something He made no pretence of great musical knowledge.
pretence that… She was unable to keep up the pretence that she loved him.

2 [uncountable, countable, usually singular] (formal or literary) a claim that you have a
particular quality or skill pretence (to something) a woman with some pretence to beauty
pretence (to doing something) I make no pretence to being an expert on the subject.

Idioms
by/under/on false preˈtences
by pretending to be something that you are not, in order to gain some advantage for yourself She
was accused of obtaining money under false pretences.

prick verb
BrE /prɪk/ ; NAmE /prɪk/

1 [transitive] to make a very small hole in something with a sharp point prick something He
pricked the balloon and burst it.
prick something with something Prick holes in the paper with a pin.

2 [transitive] prick something (on something) to make a small hole in the skin so that it hurts or
blood comes out She pricked her finger on a needle.

3 [intransitive, transitive] to make somebody feel a slight pain as if they were being pricked He
felt a pricking sensation in his throat.
prick something Tears pricked her eyes.

Idioms
prick your ˈconscience, your ˈconscience pricks you
to make you feel guilty about something; to feel guilty about something Her conscience pricked
her as she lied to her sister.

prick (up) your ˈears

1 (of an animal, especially a horse or dog) to raise the ears
2
(also your ˈears prick up)
(of a person) to listen carefully, especially because you have just heard something interesting
Her ears pricked up at the sound of his name.
I walked along, ears pricked for the slightest noise.

prick noun
BrE /prɪk/ ; NAmE /prɪk/
1 (taboo, slang) a penis
2 (taboo, slang) an offensive word for a stupid or unpleasant man Don't be such a prick!

3 an act of making a very small hole in something with a sharp point I'm going to give your
finger a little prick with this needle.

4 a slight pain caused by a sharp point or something that feels like a sharp point You will feel a
tiny prick in your arm.
(figurative) He could feel the hot prick of tears in his eyes.
She felt the prick of conscience.

pro·claim verb
BrE /prəˈkleɪm/ ; NAmE /prəˈkleɪm/
(formal)

1 to publicly and officially tell people about something important

SYNONYM declare
proclaim something The president proclaimed a state of emergency.
The day was proclaimed a public holiday.
proclaim that… The charter proclaimed that all states would have their own government.
proclaim somebody/something/yourself + noun He proclaimed himself emperor.
proclaim somebody/something/yourself to be/have something Steve checked the battery and
proclaimed it to be dead.
proclaim how, what, etc… The senator proclaimed how shocked he was at the news.
+ speech ‘We will succeed,’ she proclaimed.

2 to show something clearly; to be a sign of something proclaim something This building, more
than any other, proclaims the character of the town.
proclaim somebody/something + noun His accent proclaimed him a Scot.
proclaim somebody/something to be/have something His accent proclaimed him to be a Scot.

prof·fer verb
BrE /ˈprɒfə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈprɑːfər/
(formal)

1 proffer something (to somebody) proffer somebody something to offer something to

somebody, by holding it out to them ‘Try this,’ she said, proffering a plate.
He bent forward to kiss her proffered cheek.

2 to offer something such as advice or an explanation proffer something (to somebody) What
advice would you proffer to someone starting up in business?
proffer somebody something What advice would you proffer her?
proffer itself A solution proffered itself.

pro·fi·ciency noun
BrE /prəˈfɪʃnsi/ ; NAmE /prəˈfɪʃnsi/
[uncountable]
the ability to do something well because of training and practice to develop proficiency
a certificate of language proficiency
proficiency in something/in doing something a high level of oral proficiency in English

prof·it·able adjective
BrE /ˈprɒfɪtəbl/ ; NAmE /ˈprɑːfɪtəbl/
1 that makes or is likely to make money a highly profitable business
a profitable investment
It is usually more profitable to sell direct to the public.

- SYNONYMS

successful
profitable commercial lucrative economic
These words all describe somebody/something that is making or is likely to make
money.successful making a lot of money, especially by being popular:The play was very
successful on Broadway. The company has had another successful year.
profitable making a profit:a highly profitable business
commercial [only before noun] making or intended to make a profit:The movie was not a
commercial success (= made no profit).
lucrative (of business or work) producing or paying a large amount of money; making a large
profit:They do a lot of business in lucrative overseas markets.
economic (often used in negative sentences) (of a process, business or activity) producing
enough profit to continue:Small local shops stop being economic when a supermarket opens up
nearby.

Patterns
a successful/profitable/lucrative business
a successful/profitable/lucrative year
a(n) commercial/economic success

2 that gives somebody an advantage or a useful result

SYNONYM rewarding
a profitable experience
She spent a profitable afternoon in the library.

pro·mis·cu·ous adjective
BrE /prəˈmɪskjuəs/ ; NAmE /prəˈmɪskjuəs/
(disapproving)
1 having many sexual partners promiscuous behaviour
a promiscuous lifestyle
to be sexually promiscuous
a sexually promiscuous society

2 (formal) taken from a wide range of sources, especially without careful thought promiscuous
reading
a stylistically promiscuous piece of music

prom·is·cu·ity noun
BrE /ˌprɒmɪsˈkjuːəti/ ; NAmE /ˌprɑːməsˈkjuːəti/
[uncountable] (disapproving)
behaviour that involves having many sexual partners sexual promiscuity

prompt adjective
BrE /prɒmpt/ ; NAmE /prɑːmpt/
1 done without delay
SYNONYM immediate
Prompt action was required as the fire spread.
Prompt payment of the invoice would be appreciated.

2 [not before noun] (of a person) acting without delay; arriving at the right time
SYNONYM punctual
Please be prompt when attending these meetings.

prompt verb
BrE /prɒmpt/ ; NAmE /prɑːmpt/
1 [transitive] to make somebody decide to do something; to cause something to happen
SYNONYM provoke
prompt something The discovery of the bomb prompted an increase in security.
His speech prompted an angry outburst from a man in the crowd.
prompt somebody to do something The thought of her daughter's wedding day prompted her to
lose some weight.

2 [transitive] to encourage somebody to speak by asking them questions or suggesting words that
they could say prompt somebody She was too nervous to speak and had to be prompted.
prompt somebody to do something (computing) The program will prompt you to enter data
where required.
prompt (somebody) + speech ‘And then what happened?’ he prompted.

3 [transitive, intransitive] prompt (somebody) to follow the text of a play and remind the actors
what the words are if they forget their lines

prompt noun
BrE /prɒmpt/ ; NAmE /prɑːmpt/
1 a word or words said to an actor, to remind them what to say next when they have forgotten
2 (computing) a sign on a computer screen that shows that the computer has finished doing
something and is ready for more instructions

prompt adverb
BrE /prɒmpt/ ; NAmE /prɑːmpt/
exactly at the time mentioned The meeting will begin at ten o'clock prompt.
prone adjective
BrE /prəʊn/ ; NAmE /proʊn/
1 likely to suffer from something or to do something bad
SYNONYM liable
prone to something prone to injury
Working without a break makes you more prone to error.
prone to do something Tired drivers were found to be particularly prone to ignore warning
signs.

2 -prone (in adjectives) likely to suffer or do the thing mentioned error-prone

injury-prone

SEE ALSO accident-prone

3 (formal) lying flat with the front of your body touching the ground
SYNONYM prostrate
The victim lay prone without moving.
He was found lying in a prone position.

COMPARE supine

pro·pel·lant noun
BrE /prəˈpelənt/ ; NAmE /prəˈpelənt/
[countable, uncountable]
1 a gas that forces out the contents of an aerosol
2 a thing or substance that propels something, for example the fuel that fires a rocket

pro·pel verb
BrE /prəˈpel/ ; NAmE /prəˈpel/
[often passive]

1 propel something (+ adverb/preposition) to move, drive or push something forward or in a

particular direction mechanically propelled vehicles
a boat propelled only by oars
He succeeded in propelling the ball across the line.

2 propel somebody + adverb/preposition to force somebody to move in a particular direction

or to get into a particular situation He was grabbed from behind and propelled through the door.
Fury propelled her into action.

SEE ALSO propulsion

pro·pul·sion noun
BrE /prəˈpʌlʃn/ ; NAmE /prəˈpʌlʃn/
[uncountable] (specialist)
the force that drives something forward wind/steam/jet propulsion
The fish uses its tail fins for propulsion through the water.

SEE ALSO propel

pro·pon·ent noun
BrE /prəˈpəʊnənt/ ; NAmE /prəˈpoʊnənt/
proponent (of something) (formal) a person who supports an idea or course of action
SYNONYM advocate

ad·vo·cate noun
BrE /ˈædvəkət/ ; NAmE /ˈædvəkət/
1 a person who supports or speaks in favour of somebody or of a public plan or action advocate
(for something/somebody) an advocate for hospital workers
advocate (of something/somebody) a staunch advocate of free speech

SEE ALSO devil’s advocate

2 a person who defends somebody in court
3 (in Scotland) a lawyer who has the right to argue cases in higher courts

op·pon·ent noun
BrE /əˈpəʊnənt/ ; NAmE /əˈpoʊnənt/
1 a person that you are playing or fighting against in a game, competition, argument, etc.
SYNONYM adversary
a political opponent
a dangerous/worthy/formidable opponent
The team's opponents are unbeaten so far this season.

2 opponent (of something) a person who is against something and tries to change or stop it
opponents of abortion
opponents of the regime

ad·ver·sary noun
BrE /ˈædvəsəri/ ; NAmE /ˈædvərseri/
(plural ad·ver·saries) (formal)
a person that somebody is opposed to and competing with in an argument or a battle
SYNONYM opponent
his old political adversary
The British considered him a worthy adversary.
The two of them were old adversaries.

pro·spect noun
BrE /ˈprɒspekt/ ; NAmE /ˈprɑːspekt/
1 [uncountable, singular] the possibility that something will happen prospect (of something/of
doing something) There is no immediate prospect of peace.
A place in the semi-finals is in prospect (= likely to happen).
prospect (that…) There's a reasonable prospect that his debts will be paid.

2 [singular] an idea of what might or will happen in the future an exciting prospect
Travelling alone around the world is a daunting prospect.
 prospect (of something/of doing something) The prospect of becoming a father filled him with
alarm.

3 prospects [plural] the chances of being successful good job/employment/career prospects

At 25 he was an unemployed musician with no prospects.
prospect for something Long-term prospects for the economy have improved.
prospect of something What are the prospects of promotion in this job?

4 [countable] prospect (for something) a person who is likely to be successful in a competition

She is one of Canada's best prospects for a gold medal.

5 [countable] (formal) a wide view of an area of land, etc a delightful prospect of the lake

pro·spect verb

BrE /prəˈspekt/ ; NAmE /ˈprɑːspekt/ [intransitive] prospect (for something) to search an area
for gold, minerals, oil, etc Thousands moved to the area to prospect for gold.
(figurative) to prospect for new clients

de·tract·or noun
BrE /dɪˈtræktə(r)/ ; NAmE /dɪˈtræktər/
[usually plural] (especially formal)
a person who tries to make somebody/something seem less good or valuable by criticizing it
Detractors claim the building will be ugly and impractical.

pro·posal noun
BrE /prəˈpəʊzl/ ; NAmE /prəˈpoʊzl/
1 [countable, uncountable] a formal suggestion or plan; the act of making a suggestion to
submit/consider/accept/reject a proposal
proposal to do something a proposal to build more office accommodation
proposal that… His proposal that the system should be changed was rejected.
proposal for something The proposal for a new high-speed railway met with strong opposition.

2 [countable] an act of formally asking somebody to marry you

pro·pose verb
BrE /prəˈpəʊz/ ; NAmE /prəˈpoʊz/

+ VERB FORMS
suggest plan
1 [transitive] (formal) to suggest a plan, an idea, etc. for people to think about and decide on
propose something The government proposed changes to the voting system.
What would you propose?
propose that… She proposed that the book be banned.
(British English also) She proposed that the book should be banned.
it is proposed that… It was proposed that the president be elected for a period of two years.
propose doing something He proposed changing the name of the company.
it is proposed to do something It was proposed to pay the money from public funds.

intend
2 [transitive] (formal) to intend to do something propose to do something What do you propose
to do now?
propose doing something How do you propose getting home?

marriage
3 [intransitive, transitive] to ask somebody to marry you He was afraid that if he proposed she
might refuse.
propose to somebody She proposed to me!
propose something (to somebody) to propose marriage

+ WORDFINDER

at formal meeting
4 [transitive] to suggest something at a formal meeting and ask people to vote on it propose
somebody (for/as something) I propose Tom Ellis for chairman.
propose something to propose a motion (= to be the main speaker in support of an idea at a
formal debate)

COMPARE oppose, second1

suggest explanation
5 [transitive] propose something (formal) to suggest an explanation of something for people to
consider
SYNONYM propound
She proposed a possible solution to the mystery.

Idioms
propose a ˈtoast (to somebody), propose somebody’s ˈhealth
to ask people to wish somebody health, happiness and success by raising their glasses and
drinking I'd like to propose a toast to the bride and groom.

pro·test·ation noun
BrE /ˌprɒtəˈsteɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌprɑːtəˈsteɪʃn/
[countable, uncountable] (formal)
a strong statement that something is true, especially when other people do not believe you She
repeated her protestation of innocence.
Despite his protestation to the contrary, he was extremely tired.

pro·tract·ed adjective
BrE /prəˈtræktɪd/ ; NAmE /prəˈtræktɪd/ , also /proʊˈtræktɪd/
(formal)
lasting longer than expected or longer than usual
SYNONYM prolonged
protracted delays/disputes/negotiations
A protracted strike carries a high risk of violence.
There followed a protracted series of legal wrangles.
pseudo·nym noun
BrE /ˈsuːdənɪm/ , also /ˈsjuːdənɪm/ ; NAmE /ˈsuːdənɪm/
a name used by somebody, especially a writer, instead of their real name She writes under a
pseudonym.
The rebel chief uses the pseudonym ‘Tigrillo’.

COMPARE pen name

ˈpen name noun

BrE ; NAmE
a name used by a writer instead of their real name
SYNONYM nom de plume
COMPARE pseudonym

pub·li·cize (British English also -ise) verb

BrE /ˈpʌblɪsaɪz/ ; NAmE /ˈpʌblɪsaɪz/

publicize something to make something known to the public; to advertise something They flew
to Europe to publicize the plight of the refugees.
a much/highly/widely publicized speech (= that has received a lot of attention on television, in
newspapers, etc.)
He was in London publicizing his new biography of Kennedy.
In a much publicized speech she condemned the government for its inactivity.

pull verb
BrE /pʊl/ ; NAmE /pʊl/

move/remove something
1 [intransitive, transitive] to hold something firmly and use force in order to move it or try to
move it towards yourself You push and I'll pull.
Don't pull so hard or the handle will come off.
pull at/on something I pulled on the rope to see if it was secure.
pull something Stop pulling her hair!
pull somebody/something + adverb/preposition She pulled him gently towards her.
pull something + adjective Pull the door shut.

2 [transitive] pull something (+ adverb/preposition) to remove something from a place by

pulling Pull the plug out.
She pulled off her boots.
He pulled a gun on me (= took out a gun and aimed it at me).

3 [transitive] pull somebody/something + adverb/preposition to move somebody/something

in a particular direction by pulling Pull your chair nearer the table.
He pulled on his sweater.
She took his arm and pulled him along.

4 [transitive] pull something to hold or be attached to something and move it along behind you
In this area oxen are used to pull carts.

body
5 [intransitive, transitive] to move your body or a part of your body in a particular direction,
especially using force + adverb/preposition He tried to kiss her but she pulled away.
pull something/yourself + adverb/preposition The dog snapped at her and she quickly pulled
back her hand.
pull something/yourself + adjective John pulled himself free and ran off.

curtains
6 [transitive] pull something to open or close curtains, etc.
SYNONYM draw
Pull the curtains—it's dark outside.

muscle
7 [transitive] pull something to damage a muscle, etc. by using too much force to pull a
muscle/ligament/tendon

switch
8 [transitive] pull something to move a switch, etc. towards yourself or down in order to
operate a machine or piece of equipment Pull the lever to start the motor.
Don't pull the trigger!

vehicle/engine
9 [intransitive, transitive] pull (something) to the right/the left/one side to move or make a
vehicle move sideways The wheel is pulling to the left.
She pulled the car to the right to avoid the dog.
10 [intransitive] (of an engine) to work hard and use a lot of power The old car pulled hard as we
drove slowly up the hill.

boat
11 [intransitive, transitive] pull (something) (+ adverb/preposition) to use oars to move a boat
along They pulled towards the shore.

crowd/support
12 [transitive] pull somebody/something (in) to attract the interest or support of
somebody/something They pulled in huge crowds on their latest tour.

attract sexually
13 [transitive, intransitive] pull (somebody) (British English, informal) to attract somebody
sexually He can still pull the girls.
She's hoping to pull tonight.

trick/crime
14 [transitive] pull something (informal) to succeed in playing a trick on somebody, committing
a crime, etc He's pulling some sort of trick on you.

cancel
15 [transitive] pull something (informal) to cancel an event; to stop showing an advertisement,
etc The gig was pulled at the last moment.

Idioms
draw/pull your ˈhorns in
to start being more careful in your behaviour, especially by spending less money than before
Small businesses have had to pull their horns in during the recession.

pick/pull/tear somebody/something to ˈpieces/ˈshreds

(informal) to criticize somebody, or their work or ideas, very severely
pick/pull/tear somebody/something to ˈpieces/ˈshreds
(informal) to criticize somebody, or their work or ideas, very severely
pull/make ˈfaces/a ˈface (at somebody)
to produce an expression on your face to show that you do not like somebody/something or in
order to make somebody laugh What are you pulling a face at now?
Do you think it’s funny to make faces behind my back?

pull a ˈfast one (on somebody)

(slang) to trick somebody
pull in different/opposite diˈrections
to have different aims that cannot be achieved together without causing problems
pull somebody’s ˈleg
(informal) to play a joke on somebody, usually by making them believe something that is not
true
pull the ˈother one (—it’s got ˈbells on)
(British English, informal) used to show that you do not believe what somebody has just said
pull out all the ˈstops
(informal) to make the greatest effort possible to achieve something
pull the ˈplug on somebody/something
(informal) to put an end to somebody’s project, a plan, etc The television company pulled the
plug on the series after only five episodes.

pull your ˈpunches

(informal) (usually used in negative sentences) to express something less strongly than you are
able to, for example to avoid upsetting or shocking somebody Her articles certainly don't pull
any punches.

pull something/a ˌrabbit out of the ˈhat

(informal) to suddenly produce something as a solution to a problem
pull ˈrank (on somebody)
to make use of your place or status in society or at work to make somebody do what you want
pull the rug (out) from under somebody’s ˈfeet
(informal) to take help or support away from somebody suddenly
pull your ˈsocks up
(British English, informal) to try to improve your performance, work, behaviour, etc You're
going to have to pull your socks up.

pull ˈstrings (for somebody)

(North American English also pull ˈwires)
(informal) to use your influence in order to get an advantage for somebody
pull the ˈstrings
to control events or the actions of other people
ˌpull up ˈstakes (North American English)
(British English ˌup ˈsticks)
to suddenly move from your house and go to live somewhere else
pull your ˈweight
to work as hard as everyone else in a job, an activity, etc.
pull the ˈwool over somebody’s eyes
(informal) to try to trick somebody; to hide your real actions or intentions from somebody
pull/drag yourself up by your (own) ˈbootstraps
(informal) to improve your situation yourself, without help from other people
Phrasal Verbs
ˌpull aˈhead (of somebody/something)
to move in front of somebody/something The cyclists were together until the bend, when Tyler
pulled ahead.

ˌpull somebody/something aˈpart

to separate people or animals that are fighting
ˌpull something aˈpart
to separate something into pieces by pulling different parts of it in different directions
ˈpull at something
= pull on/at something
ˌpull aˈway (from something)
(of a vehicle) to start moving They waved as the bus pulled away.

ˌpull ˈback
1 (of an army) to move back from a place
SYNONYM withdraw
2 to decide not to do something that you were intending to do, because of possible problems
SYNONYM withdraw
Their sponsors pulled back at the last minute.

ˌpull somebodyˈback
to make an army move back from a place
ˌpull ˈback | ˌpull somethingˈback
(sport) to improve a team’s position in a game Rangers pulled back to 4–3.
They pulled back a goal just before half-time.

ˌpull somebody ˈdown

(especially US English) to make somebody less happy, healthy or successful
ˌpull somethingˈdown
1 to destroy a building completely
SYNONYM demolish
2
= pull somethingin/down
ˌpull somebodyˈin
(informal) to bring somebody to a police station in order to ask them questions about a crime
ˌpull somethingˈin/ˈdown
(informal) to earn the large amount of money mentioned
SYNONYM make
I reckon she's pulling in over $100 000.

ˌpull ˈin (to something)

1 (of a train) to enter a station and stop
2 (British English) (of a vehicle or its driver) to move to the side of the road or to the place
mentioned and stop The police car signalled to us to pull in.

ˌpull ˈoff | ˌpull ˈoff something

(of a vehicle or its driver) to leave the road in order to stop for a short time
ˌpull somethingˈoff
(informal) to succeed in doing something difficult We pulled off the deal.
I never thought you'd pull it off.

ˈpull on/at something

to take long deep breaths from a cigarette, etc.
ˌpull ˈout
 (of a vehicle or its driver) to move away from the side of the road, etc A car suddenly pulled out
in front of me.

ˌpull ˈout (of something)

1 (of a train) to leave a station
2 to move away from something or stop being involved in it
SYNONYM withdraw
The project became so expensive that we had to pull out.

ˌpull somebody/something ˈout (of something)

to make somebody/something move away from something or stop being involved in it
SYNONYM withdraw
They are pulling their troops out of the war zone.

RELATED NOUN pull-out

ˌpull ˈover
(of a vehicle or its driver) to move to the side of the road in order to stop or let something pass
She saw the ambulance coming up behind her and pulled over.

ˌpull somebody/somethingˈover
(of the police) to make a driver or vehicle move to the side of the road
ˌpull ˈthrough | ˌpull ˈthrough something
1 to get better after a serious illness, operation, etc The doctors think she will pull through.

2 to succeed in doing something very difficult It's going to be tough but we'll pull through it
together.

ˌpull somebody ˈthrough | ˌpull somebody ˈthrough something

1 to help somebody get better after a serious illness, operation, etc.
2 to help somebody succeed in doing something very difficult I relied on my instincts to pull me
through.

ˌpull toˈgether
to act, work, etc. together with other people in an organized way and without fighting
ˌpull yourself toˈgether
to take control of your feelings and behave in a calm way Stop crying and pull yourself together!

ˌpull ˈup
(of a vehicle or its driver) to stop He pulled up at the traffic lights.

ˌpull somebody ˈup

(British English, informal) to criticize somebody for something that they have done wrong

pull noun
BrE /pʊl/ ; NAmE /pʊl/
trying to move something
1 [countable] an act of trying to make something move by holding it firmly and bringing it
towards you I gave the door a sharp pull and it opened.
One last pull on the rope should do it.

physical force
2 [singular] the pull (of something) a strong physical force that makes something move in a
particular direction the earth’s gravitational pull
The tides depend on the pull of the moon.

attraction
3 [countable, usually singular] the pull (of something) the fact of something attracting you or
having a strong effect on you The magnetic pull of the city was hard to resist.
He felt the pull of paternal love.

influence
4 [uncountable] (informal) power and influence over other people people who have a lot of pull
with the media

on cigarette/drink
5 [countable] pull (at/on something) an act of taking a deep breath of smoke from a cigarette,
etc. or a deep drink of something She took a long pull on her cigarette.

walk up hill
6 [countable, usually singular] (British English) a difficult walk up a steep hill It's a long pull up
to the summit.

muscle injury
7 [countable] an injury to a muscle caused by using too much force
handle/rope
8 [countable] (especially in compounds) something such as a handle or rope that you use to pull
something a bell/door pull
SEE ALSO ring pull

Idioms
on the ˈpull
(British English, slang) (of a person) trying to find a sexual partner
punch verb
BrE /pʌntʃ/ ; NAmE /pʌntʃ/

1 to hit somebody/something hard with your fist (= closed hand) punch somebody/something
He was kicked and punched as he lay on the ground.
He was punching the air in triumph.
punch somebody/something in/on something She punched him on the nose.
2 to make a hole in something with a punch (3) or some other sharp object punch something to
punch a time card
punch something in/through something The machine punches a row of holes in the metal
sheet.

3 punch something to press buttons or keys on a computer, telephone, etc. in order to operate it
I punched the button to summon the elevator.

Idioms
ˌpunch above your ˈweight
to be or try to be more successful than others in doing something that normally requires more
skill, experience, money, etc. than you have This player seems to be able to constantly punch
above his weight.
He punched above his weight as the party’s foreign affairs spokesman.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌpunch ˈin/ˈout
(North American English) to record the time you arrive at/leave work by putting a card into a
special machine
SEE ALSO clock in/on, clock out/off

ˌpunch somethingˈin | ˌpunch something ˈinto something

to put information into a computer by pressing the keys He punched in the security code.

ˌpunch somebody ˈout

(North American English, informal) to hit somebody so hard that they fall down
ˌpunch somethingˈout
1 to press a combination of buttons or keys on a computer, telephone, etc He picked up the
telephone and punched out his friend's number.

2 to make a hole in something or knock something out by hitting it very hard I felt as if all my
teeth had been punched out.

3 to cut something from paper, wood, metal, etc. with a special tool

Punch noun
BrE /pʌntʃ/ ; NAmE /pʌntʃ/
Idioms
(as) ˌpleased as ˈPunch
very pleased Now he’s passed his driving test, he’s as pleased as Punch.

punch noun
BrE /pʌntʃ/ ; NAmE /pʌntʃ/
1 [countable] a hard hit made with the fist (= closed hand) a punch in the face
Hill threw a punch at the police officer.
a knockout punch
He shot out his right arm and landed a punch on Lorrimer's nose.

2 [uncountable] the power to interest people It's a well-constructed crime story, told with speed
and punch.

3 [countable] a tool or machine for cutting holes in paper, leather or metal a hole punch

4 [uncountable] a hot or cold drink made by mixing water, fruit juice, spices, and usually wine or
another alcoholic drink

Idioms
beat somebody to the ˈpunch
(informal) to get or do something before somebody else can
pack a (powerful, real, etc.) ˈpunch (informal)
1 (of a boxer) to be capable of hitting somebody very hard
2 to have a powerful effect on somebody The advertising campaign packs quite a punch.

pull your ˈpunches

(informal) (usually used in negative sentences) to express something less strongly than you are
able to, for example to avoid upsetting or shocking somebody Her articles certainly don't pull
any punches.

roll with the ˈpunches

to adapt yourself to a difficult situation

pup noun
BrE /pʌp/ ; NAmE /pʌp/
1= puppy
2 a young animal of various species (= types) a seal pup

Idioms
sell somebody/buy a pup
(old-fashioned, British English, informal) to sell somebody or be sold something that has no
value or is worth much less than the price paid

pur·suit noun
BrE /pəˈsjuːt/ ; NAmE /pərˈsuːt/
1 [uncountable] pursuit of something the act of looking for or trying to find something the
pursuit of happiness/knowledge/profit
She travelled the world in pursuit of her dreams.
2 [uncountable] the act of following or chasing somebody We drove away with two police cars in
pursuit (= following).
I galloped off on my horse with Rosie in hot pursuit (= following quickly behind).

3 [countable, usually plural] something that you give your time and energy to, that you do as a
hobby
SYNONYM hobby, pastime
outdoor/leisure/artistic pursuits

purée noun
BrE /ˈpjʊəreɪ/ ; NAmE /pjʊˈreɪ/
[uncountable, countable] food in the form of a thick liquid made by crushing fruit or cooked
vegetables in a small amount of water apple purée

pur·port verb

BrE /pəˈpɔːt/ ; NAmE /pərˈpɔːrt/ purport to be/have something (formal) to claim to be

something or to have done something, when this may not be true
SYNONYM profess
The book does not purport to be a complete history of the period.

pur·port noun
BrE /ˈpɜːpɔːt/ ; NAmE /ˈpɜːrpɔːrt/ [singular] the purport of something (formal) the general
meaning of something The purport of his remarks was all too clear.

put verb
BrE /pʊt/ ; NAmE /pʊt/

in place/position
1 put something + adverb/preposition to move something into a particular place or position
Put the cases down there, please.
Did you put sugar in my coffee?
Put your hand up if you need more paper.

2 put something + adverb/preposition to move something into a particular place or position

using force He put his fist through a glass door.

3 put somebody/something + adverb/preposition to cause somebody/something to go to a

particular place Her family put her into a nursing home.
It was the year the Americans put a man on the moon.

attach
4 put something + adverb/preposition to attach or fix something to something else We had to
put new locks on all the doors.

write
5 put something (+ adverb/preposition) to write something or make a mark on something Put
your name here.
Friday at 11? I'll put it in my diary.
I couldn't read what she had put.

into state/condition
6 put somebody/something + adverb/preposition to bring somebody/something into the state
or condition mentioned I was put in charge of the office.
The incident put her in a bad mood.
Put yourself in my position. What would you have done?
I tried to put the matter into perspective.
Don't go putting yourself at risk.
It was time to put their suggestion into practice.
This new injury will put him out of action for several weeks.

affect somebody/something
7 put something on/onto/to something to make somebody/something feel something or be
affected by something Her new job has put a great strain on her.
They put pressure on her to resign.
It's time you put a stop to this childish behaviour.

give value/rank
8 put something on something to give or attach a particular level of importance, trust, value,
etc. to something Our company puts the emphasis on quality.
He put a limit on the amount we could spend.

9 put somebody/something + adverb/preposition to consider somebody/something to belong

to the class or level mentioned I'd put her in the top rank of modern novelists.

express
10 put something + adverb/preposition to express or state something in a particular way She
put it very tactfully.
Put simply, we accept their offer or go bankrupt.
I was, to put it mildly, annoyed (= I was extremely angry).
He was too trusting—or, to put it another way, he had no head for business.
The meat was—how shall I put it?—a little overdone.
As T.S. Eliot puts it…
She had never tried to put this feeling into words.
Can you help me put this letter into good English, please?
in sport
11 put something to throw the shot

Idioms
Most idioms containing put are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for
example put your foot in it is at foot.
I wouldn’t put it ˈpast somebody (to do something)
(informal) used to say that you think somebody is capable of doing something wrong, illegal, etc.
put it aˈbout
(British English, informal) to have many sexual partners
put it to somebody that…
to suggest something to somebody to see if they can argue against it I put it to you that you are
the only person who had a motive for the crime.

put one ˈover on somebody

(informal) to persuade somebody to believe something that is not true Don't try to put one over
on me!

put somebody ˈthrough it

(informal, especially British English) to force somebody to experience something difficult or
unpleasant They really put me through it (= asked me difficult questions) at the interview.

put toˈgether
used when comparing or contrasting somebody/something with a group of other people or things
to mean ‘combined’ or ‘in total’ Your department spent more last year than all the others put
together.

ˌput up or ˈshut up
(especially British English) used to tell somebody to stop just talking about something and
actually do it, show it, etc.
Phrasal Verbs
ˌput somethingaˈbout
(British English, informal) to tell a lot of people news, information, etc. that may be false put it
about that… Someone's been putting it about that you plan to resign.

ˈput something above something

= put something before/above something
ˌput yourself/somethingaˈcross/ˈover (to somebody)
to communicate your ideas, feelings, etc. successfully to somebody She's not very good at
putting her views across.

ˌput somethingaˈside
1 to ignore or forget something, usually a feeling or difference of opinion
SYNONYM disregard
They decided to put aside their differences.
2 to save something or keep it available to use We put some money aside every month for our
retirement.
I put aside half an hour every day to write my diary.

ˈput somebody/something at something

to calculate somebody/something to be a particular age, weight, amount, etc The damage to the
building is put at over $1 million.

ˌput somebodyaˈway
[often passive] (informal) to send somebody to prison, to a mental hospital, etc.
ˌput somethingaˈway
1 to put something in the place where it is kept because you have finished using it I'm just going
to put the car away (= in the garage).

2 to save money to spend later She has a few thousand dollars put away for her retirement.

3 (informal) to eat or drink large quantities of something He must have put away a bottle of
whisky last night.

ˌput somethingˈback
1 to return something to its usual place or to the place where it was before it was moved If you
use something, put it back!

2 to move something to a later time or date

SYNONYM postpone
The meeting has been put back to next week.

3 to cause something to be delayed Poor trading figures put back our plans for expansion.

4 to move the hands of a clock so that they show the correct earlier time Remember to put your
clocks back tonight (= because the time has officially changed).

ˈput something before/above something

to treat something as more important than something else
ˌput something beˈhind you
to try to forget about an unpleasant experience and think about the future
ˌput somethingˈby (especially British English)
(also ˌput somethingaˈside)
to save money for a particular purpose I'm putting by part of my wages every week to buy a bike.

ˌput ˈdown
(of an aircraft or its pilot) to land He put down in a field.

ˌput somebodyˈdown
(informal) to make somebody look or feel stupid, especially in front of other people
RELATED NOUN put-down
ˌput somethingˈdown
1 to stop holding something and place it on a table, shelf, etc Put that knife down before you hurt
somebody!
It's a great book. I couldn't put it down.
(British English) She put the phone down on me (= ended the call before I had finished
speaking).

SEE ALSO unputdownable

2 to write something; to make a note of something The meeting's on the 22nd. Put it down in
your diary.

3 to pay part of the cost of something We put a 5% deposit down on the house.

4 to stop something by force

SYNONYM crush
to put down a rebellion
The military government is determined to put down all opposition.

5 [often passive] to kill an animal, usually by giving it a drug, because it is old or sick We had to
have our cat put down.

6 to put a baby to bed Can you be quiet—I've just put the baby down.

7 to present something formally for discussion by a parliament or committee

SYNONYM table
to put down a motion/an amendment

ˌput somebody ˈdown as something

to consider or judge somebody to be a particular type of person I'd put them both down as retired
teachers.

ˌput somebody ˈdown for something

to put somebody’s name on a list, etc. for something Put me down for three tickets for Saturday.
They've put their son down for the local school.

ˈput something down to something

to consider that something is caused by something
SYNONYM attribute
What do you put her success down to?

ˌput somethingˈforth
(formal)
= put somethingout
ˌput yourself/somebodyˈforward
to suggest yourself/somebody as a candidate for a job or position Can I put you/your name
forward for club secretary?
He has put himself forward for a place on the national executive.

ˌput somethingˈforward
1 to move something to an earlier time or date We've put the wedding forward by one week.

2 to move the hands of a clock to the correct later time Remember to put your clocks forward
tonight (= because the time has officially changed).

3 to suggest something for discussion to put forward a suggestion

ˌput somebodyˈin
to elect a political party to govern a country Who will the voters put in this time?

ˌput somethingˈin
1 to fix equipment or furniture into position so that it can be used
SYNONYM install
We're having a new shower put in.

2 to include something in a letter, story, etc.

3 to interrupt another speaker in order to say something Could I put in a word?
+ speech ‘But what about us?’ he put in.

4 to officially make a claim, request, etc The company has put in a claim for damages.

5 put in a (…) performance to give a performance of something, especially one of a particular

kind All the actors put in great performances.

6
(also ˈput something into something)
to spend a lot of time or make a lot of effort doing something She often puts in twelve hours'
work a day.
put something into doing something He's putting a lot of work into improving his French.

RELATED NOUN input

7
(also ˈput something into something)
to use or give money put something into doing something He's put all his savings into buying
that house.

ˌput ˈin (at…) | ˈput into…

(of a boat or its sailors) to enter a port They put in at Lagos for repairs.

OPPOSITE put out (to…/from…)

 ˌput ˈin for something
(especially British English) to officially ask for something Are you going to put in for that job?

ˌput yourself/somebody/something ˈin for something

to enter yourself/somebody/something for a competition
ˌput something ˈinto something
1 to add a quality to something He put as much feeling into his voice as he could.

2
= put something in (6), put something in (7)
ˌput somebodyˈoff
1 to cancel a meeting or an arrangement that you have made with somebody It's too late to put
them off now.
She put him off with the excuse that she had too much work to do.

2 to make somebody dislike somebody/something or not trust them/it She's very clever but her
manner does tend to put people off.
Don't be put off by how it looks—it tastes delicious.

SEE ALSO off-putting

3
(also ˌput somebody ˈoff something)
to disturb somebody who is trying to give all their attention to something that they are doing
Don't put me off when I'm trying to concentrate.
The sudden noise put her off her game.

4 (British English) (of a vehicle or its driver) to stop in order to allow somebody to leave I asked
the bus driver to put me off at the station.

ˌput somebody ˈoff something/somebody

to make somebody lose interest in or enthusiasm for something/somebody He was put off science
by bad teaching.
put somebody off doing something The accident put her off driving for life.

ˌput somethingˈoff
to change something to a later time or date
SYNONYM postpone, delay
We've had to put off our wedding until September.
put off doing something He keeps putting off going to the dentist.

ˌput somebody ˈon

to give somebody the telephone so that they can talk to the person at the other end Hi, Dad—can
you put Nicky on?

ˌput somethingˈon
1 to dress yourself in something Hurry up! Put your coat on!
OPPOSITE take somethingoff
2 to apply something to your skin, face, etc She's just putting on her make-up.

3 to switch on a piece of equipment I'll put the kettle on for tea.

She put on the brakes suddenly.

4 to make a tape, CD, DVD, etc. begin to play Do you mind if I put some music on?
He put some jazz on the stereo.

5 to become heavier, especially by the amount mentioned

SYNONYM gain
She looks like she's put on weight.
He must have put on several kilos.

6 (British English) to provide something specially The city is putting on extra buses during the
summer.

7 to produce or present a play, a show, etc The local drama club is putting on ‘Macbeth’.

8 to pretend to have a particular feeling, quality, way of speaking, etc He put on an American
accent.
I don't think she was hurt. She was just putting it on.

ˌput something ˈon something

1 to add an amount of money or a tax to the cost of something The government has put ten pence
on the price of twenty cigarettes.

2 to bet money on something I've never put money on a horse.

I put £5 on him to win.

ˌput somebody ˈonto somebody/something

1 to tell the police, etc. about where a criminal is or about a crime What first put the police onto
the scam?

2 to tell somebody about somebody/something that they may like or find useful Who put you
onto this restaurant—it's great!

ˌput ˈout (for somebody)

(North American English, slang) to agree to have sex with somebody
ˌput yourself ˈout (for somebody)
(informal) to make a special effort to do something for somebody Please don't put yourself out
on my account.

ˌput somebody ˈout

1 to cause somebody trouble, extra work, etc.
SYNONYM inconvenience
I hope our arriving late didn't put them out.

2 be put out to be upset or offended He looked really put out.

3 to make somebody unconscious These pills should put him out for a few hours.

ˌput somethingˈout
1 to take something out of your house and leave it, for example for somebody to collect (British
English) to put the rubbish out
(North American English) to put the garbage/trash out

2 to place something where it will be noticed and used Have you put out clean towels for the
guests?

3 to stop something from burning or shining to put out a candle/cigarette/light

Firefighters soon put the fire out.

4 to produce something, especially for sale The factory puts out 500 new cars a week.

RELATED NOUN output

5 to publish or broadcast something Police have put out a description of the man they wish to
question.

6 to give a job or task to a worker who is not your employee or to a company that is not part of
your own group or organization A lot of the work is put out to freelancers.

7 to make a figure, result, etc. wrong The rise in interest rates put our estimates out by several
thousands.

8 to push a bone out of its normal position

SYNONYM dislocate
She fell off her horse and put her shoulder out.

9
(formal ˌput somethingˈforth)
to develop or produce new leaves, shoots, etc.
ˌput ˈout (to…/from…)
(of a boat or its sailors) to leave a port to put out to sea
We put out from Liverpool.

OPPOSITE put in (at…)

ˌput yourself/something ˈover (to somebody)
= put yourself/somethingacross/over (to somebody)
ˌput somethingˈthrough
to continue with and complete a plan, programme, etc We managed to put the deal through.
 ˌput somebody ˈthrough something
1 to make somebody experience something very difficult or unpleasant You have put your family
through a lot recently.

2 to arrange or pay for somebody to attend a school, college, etc He put all his children through
college.

ˌput somebody/something ˈthrough (to somebody/…)

to connect somebody by telephone Could you put me through to the manager, please?

ˈput somebody to something

to cause somebody trouble, difficulty, etc I hope we're not putting you to too much trouble.

ˈput something to somebody

1 to offer a suggestion to somebody so that they can accept or reject it Your proposal will be put
to the board of directors.

2 to ask somebody a question The audience is now invited to put questions to the speaker.

ˌput somethingtoˈgether
to make or prepare something by fitting or collecting parts together to put together a model
plane/an essay/a meal
I think we can put together a very strong case for the defence.

ˈput something towards something

to give money to pay part of the cost of something Here's $100 to put towards your ski trip.

ˌput ˈup something

1 to show a particular level of skill, determination, etc. in a fight or contest They surrendered
without putting up much of a fight.
The team put up a great performance (= played very well).

2 to suggest an idea, etc. for other people to discuss to put up an argument/a case/a proposal

ˌput somebodyˈup
1 to let somebody stay at your home We can put you up for the night.

2 to suggest or present somebody as a candidate for a job or position The Green Party hopes to
put up more candidates in the next election.
We want to put you up for club treasurer.

ˌput somethingˈup
1 to raise something or put it in a higher position to put up a flag
She's put her hair up.
2 to build something or place something somewhere to put up a building/fence/memorial/tent

3 to fix something in a place where it will be seen

SYNONYM display
to put up a notice

4 to raise or increase something They've put up the rent by £20 a month.

5 to provide or lend money A local businessman has put up the £500 000 needed to save the
club.

ˌput ˈup (at…)

(especially British English) to stay somewhere for the night We put up at a motel.

ˌput ˈup for something | ˌput yourself ˈup for something

to offer yourself as a candidate for a job or position She is putting up for election to the
committee.

ˌput somebody ˈup to something

(informal) to encourage or persuade somebody to do something wrong or stupid Some of the
older boys must have put him up to it.

ˌput ˈup with somebody/something

to accept somebody/something that is annoying, unpleasant, etc. without complaining
SYNONYM tolerate
I don't know how she puts up with him.
I'm not going to put up with their smoking any longer.

pre·sume verb
BrE /prɪˈzjuːm/ ; NAmE /prɪˈzuːm/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to suppose that something is true, although you do not have actual
proof
SYNONYM assume
They are very expensive, I presume?
‘Is he still abroad?’ ‘I presume so.’
presume (that)… I presumed (that) he understood the rules.
it is presumed that… Little is known of the youngest son; it is presumed that he died young.
presume somebody/something to be/have something I presumed him to be her husband.

2 [transitive] to accept that something is true until it is shown not to be true, especially in court
presume somebody/something + adjective Twelve passengers are missing, presumed dead.
In English law, a person is presumed innocent until proved guilty.
presume something We must presume innocence until we have proof of guilt.
 presume somebody/something to be/have something We must presume them to be innocent
until we have proof of guilt.

3 [transitive] presume something (formal) to accept something as true or existing and to act on
that basis The course seems to presume some previous knowledge of the subject.

4 [intransitive] presume to do something (formal) to behave in a way that shows a lack of

respect by doing something that you have no right to do I wouldn't presume to tell you how to
run your own business.

Phrasal Verbs
preˈsume on/upon somebody/something
(formal) to make use of somebody’s friendship by asking them for more than you should
presume on/upon somebody/something to do something I felt it would be presuming on our
personal relationship to keep asking her for help.

quad·ru·ple verb

BrE /kwɒˈdruːpl/ ; NAmE /kwɑːˈdruːpl/ [intransitive, transitive] quadruple (something) to

become four times bigger; to make something four times bigger Sales have quadrupled in the
last five years.

quad·ru·ple adjective [only before noun] determiner

BrE /ˈkwɒdrʊpl/ ; NAmE /kwɑːˈdruːpl/
1 consisting of four parts, people or groups a quadruple alliance

2 being four times as much or as many a quadruple whisky

This year we produced quadruple the amount produced in 2013.

quar·rel noun
BrE /ˈkwɒrəl/ ; NAmE /ˈkwɔːrəl/ , /ˈkwɑːrəl/
1 [countable] quarrel (with somebody/between A and B) (about/over something) an angry
argument or disagreement between people, often about a personal matter a family quarrel
He did not mention the quarrel with his wife.
They had a quarrel about money.
Were you at any time aware of a quarrel between the two of them?

2 [uncountable] quarrel (with somebody/something) (especially in negative sentences) a reason

for complaining about somebody/something or for disagreeing with somebody/something We
have no quarrel with his methods.

Idioms
pick a ˈfight/ˈquarrel (with somebody)
to deliberately start a fight or an argument with somebody He had drunk too much and was
ready to pick a fight with anyone who crossed his path.

quar·rel verb
BrE /ˈkwɒrəl/ ; NAmE /ˈkwɔːrəl/ , /ˈkwɑːrəl/

[intransitive] to have an angry argument or disagreement My sister and I used to quarrel all the
time.
quarrel (with somebody) (about/over something) She quarrelled with her brother over their
father's will.

Phrasal Verbs
ˈquarrel with somebody/something
to disagree with somebody/something Nobody could quarrel with your conclusions.

quash verb
BrE /kwɒʃ/ ; NAmE /kwɔːʃ/ , /kwɑːʃ/

1 quash something (law) to officially say that a decision made by a court is no longer valid or
correct
SYNONYM overturn
His conviction was later quashed by the Court of Appeal.

2 quash something to take action to stop something from continuing

SYNONYM suppress
The rumours were quickly quashed.
The government moved quickly to quash the revolt.
quell verb
BrE /kwel/ ; NAmE /kwel/
(formal)

1 quell something/somebody to stop something such as violent behaviour or protests Extra

police were called in to quell the disturbances.
(figurative) She started to giggle, but Bob quelled her with a look.

2 quell something to stop or reduce strong or unpleasant feelings

SYNONYM calm
to quell your fears

query verb
BrE /ˈkwɪəri/ ; NAmE /ˈkwɪri/
1 query something query what, whether, etc… to express doubt about whether something is
correct or not We queried the bill as it seemed far too high.
I'm not in a position to query their decision.

2 + speech to ask a question ‘Who will be leading the team?’ queried Simon.

query noun
BrE /ˈkwɪəri/ ; NAmE /ˈkwɪri/
(plural queries)
1 a question, especially one asking for information or expressing a doubt about something Our
assistants will be happy to answer your queries.
If you have a query about your insurance policy, contact our helpline.

2 a question mark to show that something has not been finished or decided Put a query against
Jack's name—I'm not sure if he's coming.

quint·es·sen·tial adjective
BrE /ˌkwɪntɪˈsenʃl/ ; NAmE /ˌkwɪntɪˈsenʃl/
(formal)
representing the perfect example of something He was the quintessential tough guy.

quint·es·sence noun
BrE /kwɪnˈtesns/ ; NAmE /kwɪnˈtesns/
[singular] the quintessence of something (formal)
1 the perfect example of something It was the quintessence of an English manor house.

2 the most important features of something

SYNONYM essence
a painting that captures the quintessence of Viennese elegance

ram·ifi·ca·tion noun
BrE /ˌræmɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌræmɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/
[usually plural]
one of the large number of complicated and unexpected results that follow an action or a decision
SYNONYM complication
These changes are bound to have widespread social ramifications.

ram·pant adjective
BrE /ˈræmpənt/ ; NAmE /ˈræmpənt/
1 (of something bad) existing or spreading everywhere in a way that cannot be controlled
SYNONYM unchecked
rampant inflation
Unemployment is now rampant in most of Europe.

2 (of plants) growing thickly and very fast in a way that cannot be controlled

ravel verb
BrE /ˈrævl/ ; NAmE /ˈrævl/

ravel something to make a situation or problem more complicated

Phrasal Verbs
ravel somethingout
to open something which has become twisted or which contains knots
SYNONYM unravel
(figurative) He was trying to ravel out the complicated series of events that had led to this
situation.

reap verb
BrE /riːp/ ; NAmE /riːp/

1 [transitive] reap something to obtain something, especially something good, as a direct result
of something that you have done They are now reaping the rewards of all their hard work.

2 [intransitive, transitive] reap (something) to cut and collect a crop, especially wheat, from a
field
SYNONYM harvest

Idioms
reap a/the ˈharvest
(British English) to benefit or suffer as a direct result of something that you have done
you ˌreap what you ˈsow
(saying) you have to deal with the bad effects or results of something that you originally started

rear noun
BrE /rɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /rɪr/
1 (also the rear) [singular] the back part of something A trailer was attached to the rear of the
truck.
There are toilets at both front and rear of the plane.
A high gate blocks the only entrance to the rear.

2 (also ˌrear ˈend) [countable, usually singular] (informal) the part of the body that you sit on
SYNONYM bottom
a kick in the rear
He spends all day sitting on his rear end in front of a computer.

Idioms
ˌbring up the ˈrear
to be at the back of a line of people, or last in a race David was the first to reach the summit,
followed by Pat, leaving Fergus to bring up the rear.

rear adjective
BrE /rɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /rɪr/
[only before noun] at or near the back of something front and rear windows
the rear entrance of the building

rear verb
BrE /rɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /rɪr/

1 [transitive] rear somebody/something [often passive] to care for young children or animals
until they are fully grown
SYNONYM bring up, raise
She reared a family of five on her own.
Lions usually manage to rear about half the number of cubs born to them.

2 [transitive] rear something to breed or keep animals or birds, for example on a farm to rear
cattle

3 [intransitive] rear (up) (of an animal, especially a horse) to raise itself on its back legs, with
the front legs in the air The horse reared, throwing its rider.

4 [intransitive] rear (up) (of something large) to seem to lean over you, especially in a
threatening way The great bulk of the building reared up against the night sky.

Idioms
something rears its (ugly) ˈhead
if something unpleasant rears its head or rears its ugly head, it appears or happens
Phrasal Verbs
ˈrear somebody/something on something
[usually passive] to give a person or an animal a particular type of food, entertainment, etc. while
they are young I was the son of sailors and reared on stories of the sea.

re·cede verb
BrE /rɪˈsiːd/ ; NAmE /rɪˈsiːd/

1 [intransitive] to move gradually away from somebody or away from a previous position The
sound of the truck receded into the distance.
She watched his receding figure.

2 [intransitive] (especially of a problem, feeling or quality) to become gradually weaker or

smaller The prospect of bankruptcy has now receded (= it is less likely).
The pain was receding slightly.

3 [intransitive] (of hair) to stop growing at the front of the head a middle-aged man with
receding hair/a receding hairline

4 [intransitive] a recede chin a chin that slopes backwards towards the neck

reck·less adjective
BrE /ˈrekləs/ ; NAmE /ˈrekləs/
showing a lack of care about danger and the possible results of your actions
SYNONYM rash
He showed a reckless disregard for his own safety.
She was a good rider, but reckless.
He had always been reckless with money.
to cause death by reckless driving

re·claim verb
BrE /rɪˈkleɪm/ ; NAmE /rɪˈkleɪm/

1 to get something back or to ask to have it back after it has been lost, taken away, etc reclaim
something You'll have to go to the police station to reclaim your wallet.
reclaim something from somebody/something The team reclaimed the title from their rivals.

SEE ALSO baggage reclaim

2 reclaim something (from something) to make land that is naturally too wet or too dry suitable
to be built on, farmed, etc The site for the airport will be reclaimed from the swamp.
reclaimed marshland
3 [usually passive] reclaim something if a piece of land is reclaimed by desert, forest, etc., it
turns back into desert, etc. after being used for farming or building
4 reclaim something (from something) to obtain materials from waste products so that they can
be used again 80% of aluminium could be reclaimed.

SEE ALSO recycle

5 reclaim somebody (from something) to rescue somebody from a bad or criminal way of life

re·count1 verb
BrE /rɪˈkaʊnt/ ; NAmE /rɪˈkaʊnt/
(formal)

to tell somebody about something, especially something that you have experienced recount
something (to somebody) She was asked to recount the details of the conversation to the court.
recount what, how, etc… They recounted what had happened during those years.
+ speech ‘It was before the war,’ he recounted.

re·count2 noun
BrE /ˈriːkaʊnt/ ; NAmE /ˈriːkaʊnt/
an act of counting again to find the total number of something, especially votes at an election
when the result is very close The defeated candidate demanded a recount.

re·count2 verb
BrE /ˌriːˈkaʊnt/ ; NAmE /ˌriːˈkaʊnt/

recount something to count something again, especially votes

re·demp·tion noun
BrE /rɪˈdempʃn/ ; NAmE /rɪˈdempʃn/
[uncountable]
1 (formal) the act of saving or state of being saved from the power of evil; the act of redeeming
the redemption of the world from sin

2 (finance) the act of exchanging shares for money (= of redeeming them)

Idioms
beyond/past reˈdemption
too bad to be saved or improved

re·demp·tive adjective
BrE /rɪˈdemptɪv/ ; NAmE /rɪˈdemptɪv/
(formal)
that saves you from the power of evil the redemptive power of love

re·fine verb
BrE /rɪˈfaɪn/ ; NAmE /rɪˈfaɪn/

1 refine something to make a substance pure by taking other substances out of it the process of
refining oil/sugar

2 refine something to improve something by making small changes to it She has refined her
playing technique over the years.
This theory still needs a little refining.

re·fined adjective
BrE /rɪˈfaɪnd/ ; NAmE /rɪˈfaɪnd/
1 [usually before noun] (of a substance) made pure by having other substances taken out of it
refined sugar

2 (of a person) polite, well educated and able to judge the quality of things; having the sort of
manners that are considered typical of a high social class
SYNONYM cultured, genteel
Beneath his refined manners and superficial elegance the man was a snake.

OPPOSITE unrefined

re·fine·ment noun
BrE /rɪˈfaɪnmənt/ ; NAmE /rɪˈfaɪnmənt/
1 [countable] a small change to something that improves it
SYNONYM enhancement
This particular model has a further refinement.
all the refinements of modern technology

2 [countable] refinement of something a thing that is an improvement on an earlier, similar

thing The new plan is a refinement of the one before.

3 [uncountable] the process of improving something or of making something pure the refinement
of industrial techniques
the refinement of uranium

4 [uncountable] the quality of being polite and well educated and able to judge the quality of
things; the state of having the sort of manners that are considered typical of a high social class
SYNONYM gentility
a person of considerable refinement
an atmosphere of refinement

re·frain verb
BrE /rɪˈfreɪn/ ; NAmE /rɪˈfreɪn/

[intransitive] (formal) to stop yourself from doing something, especially something that you want
to do
SYNONYM desist
refrain (from something) Please refrain from smoking.
They appealed to the protesters to refrain from violence.
refrain (from doing something) He has refrained from criticizing the government in public.

re·frain noun
BrE /rɪˈfreɪn/ ; NAmE /rɪˈfreɪn/
1 a comment or complaint that is often repeated Complaints about poor food in schools have
become a familiar refrain.
The protest began with a small group, but then the others took up the refrain.

2 the part of a song or a poem that is repeated after each verse

SYNONYM chorus

ref·er·ee noun
BrE /ˌrefəˈriː/ ; NAmE /ˌrefəˈriː/
1 (informal ref) the official who controls the game in some sports He was sent off for arguing
with the referee.

COMPARE umpire
2 (British English) a person who gives information about your character and ability, usually in a
letter, for example when you are applying for a job The principal often acts as a referee for his
students.

3 a person who is asked to settle a disagreement to act as a referee between the parties involved

4 a person who reads and checks the quality of a technical article before it is published

ref·er·ee verb
BrE /ˌrefəˈriː/ ; NAmE /ˌrefəˈriː/

1 (informal ref) [intransitive, transitive] to act as the referee in a game He began refereeing in
2008.
a refereeing decision
referee something Who refereed the final?

2 [transitive] referee something to read and check the quality of a technical article before it is
published

re·im·burse·ment noun
BrE /ˌriːɪmˈbɜːsmənt/ ; NAmE /ˌriːɪmˈbɜːrsmənt/
[uncountable] (formal)
the act of paying back money to somebody which they have spent or lost; the amount that is paid
back You will receive reimbursement for any additional costs incurred.

re·im·burse verb
BrE /ˌriːɪmˈbɜːs/ ; NAmE /ˌriːɪmˈbɜːrs/
(formal)

to pay back money to somebody which they have spent or lost reimburse something We will
reimburse any expenses incurred.
reimburse somebody (for something) You will be reimbursed for any loss or damage caused by
our company.

re·li·ance noun
BrE /rɪˈlaɪəns/ ; NAmE /rɪˈlaɪəns/
[uncountable, singular] reliance (on/upon somebody/something) the state of needing
somebody/something in order to survive, be successful, etc.; the fact of being able to rely on
somebody/something
SYNONYM dependence
Heavy reliance on one client is risky when you are building up a business.
Such learning methods encourage too great a reliance upon the teacher.
The study programme concentrates more on group work and places less reliance on (= depends
less on) lectures.
I wouldn't place too much reliance on (= trust) these figures.
an increasing reliance on overseas aid

re·li·ant adjective
BrE /rɪˈlaɪənt/ ; NAmE /rɪˈlaɪənt/
reliant on/upon somebody/something needing somebody/something in order to survive, be
successful, etc.
SYNONYM dependent
The hostel is heavily reliant upon charity.
Businesses have become increasingly reliant on complicated computing systems.
The service has become heavily reliant on government support.

SEE ALSO self-reliant

re·press verb
BrE /rɪˈpres/ ; NAmE /rɪˈpres/

1 repress something to try not to have or show an emotion, a feeling, etc.

SYNONYM control
to repress a smile
He burst in, making no effort to repress his fury.
For years he had successfully repressed the painful memories of childhood.

2 [often passive] repress somebody/something to use political and/or military force to control a
group of people and restrict their freedom
SYNONYM put down, suppress
The government was quick to repress any opposition.

re·pressed adjective
BrE /rɪˈprest/ ; NAmE /rɪˈprest/
1 (of a person) having emotions or desires that are not allowed to be expressed people who are
sexually repressed

2 (of emotions) not expressed openly repressed anger

re·sent verb
BrE /rɪˈzent/ ; NAmE /rɪˈzent/

to feel bitter or angry about something, especially because you feel it is unfair resent
something/somebody I deeply resented her criticism.
The children resented the new woman in their father’s life.
resent doing something He bitterly resents being treated like a child.
resent somebody doing something She resented him making all the decisions.
(formal) She resented his making all the decisions.
re·ser·va·tion noun
BrE /ˌrezəˈveɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌrezərˈveɪʃn/
1 [countable] an arrangement for a seat on a plane or train, a room in a hotel, etc. to be kept for
you I'll call the restaurant and make a reservation.
We have a reservation in the name of Grant.

COMPARE booking
2 [countable, uncountable] a feeling of doubt about a plan or an idea
SYNONYM misgiving
I have serious reservations about his ability to do the job.
They support the measures without reservation (= completely).

3 (also re·serve) [countable] an area of land in the US that is kept separate for Native Americans
to live in
4 [uncountable]
= reservation policy
SEE ALSO central reservation

re·sort noun
BrE /rɪˈzɔːt/ ; NAmE /rɪˈzɔːrt/
1 [countable] a place where a lot of people go on holiday/vacation seaside/ski/mountain, etc.
resorts
(British English) a popular holiday resort
the resort town of Byron Bay
destination resorts such as Atlantis in the Bahamas
They spent a month at a fashionable ski resort in Switzerland.

2 [uncountable] resort to something the act of using something, especially something bad or
unpleasant, because nothing else is possible
SYNONYM recourse
There are hopes that the conflict can be resolved without resort to violence.

3 the first/last/final resort the first or last course of action that you should or can take in a
particular situation Strike action should be regarded as a last resort, when all attempts to
negotiate have failed.
In the last resort (= in the end) everyone must decide for themselves.

re·sort verb
BrE /rɪˈzɔːt/ ; NAmE /rɪˈzɔːrt/

Phrasal Verbs
reˈsort to something
to make use of something, especially something bad, as a means of achieving something, often
because there is no other possible solution
SYNONYM recourse
They felt obliged to resort to violence.
They achieved their demands without having to resort to force.
We had to resort to another loan from the bank.
resort to doing something We may have to resort to using untrained staff.

re·course noun
BrE /rɪˈkɔːs/ ; NAmE /ˈriːkɔːrs/
[uncountable] (formal)
the fact of having to, or being able to, use something that can provide help in a difficult situation
Your only recourse is legal action.
She made a complete recovery without recourse to surgery.
The government, when necessary, has recourse to the armed forces.

re·strain verb
BrE /rɪˈstreɪn/ ; NAmE /rɪˈstreɪn/

1 to stop somebody/something from doing something, especially by using physical force restrain
somebody/something The prisoner had to be restrained by the police.
He placed a restraining hand on her arm.
restrain somebody/something from something/from doing something I had to restrain her
from hitting out at passers-by.
They have obtained an injunction restraining the company from selling the product.

2 to stop yourself from feeling an emotion or doing something that you would like to do restrain
something John managed to restrain his anger.
I restrained the urge to punch him.
restrain yourself (from something/from doing something) She had to restrain herself from
crying out in pain.
I was tempted to answer back, but I restrained myself.

3 restrain something to stop something that is growing or increasing from becoming too large
SYNONYM bring/get/keep something under control
The government is taking steps to restrain inflation.

re·straint noun
BrE /rɪˈstreɪnt/ ; NAmE /rɪˈstreɪnt/
1 [countable, usually plural] restraint (on somebody/something) a rule, a fact, an idea, etc. that
limits or controls what people can do The government has imposed export restraints on some
products.
social restraints on drinking alcohol

- SYNONYMS

limit
restriction control constraint restraint limitation
These are all words for something that limits what you can do or what can happen.limit the
greatest or smallest amount of something that is allowed:The EU has set strict limits on pollution
levels. the speed limit
restriction (rather formal) a rule or law that limits what you can do:There are no restrictions on
the amount of money you can withdraw.
control (often in compounds) the act of limiting or managing something; a method of doing
this:arms control
constraint (rather formal) a fact or decision that limits what you can do:We have to work within
severe constraints of time and money.
restraint (rather formal) a decision, a rule, an idea, etc. that limits what you can do; the act of
limiting something because it is necessary or sensible to do so:The government has imposed
export restraints on some products. The unions are unlikely to accept any sort of wage restraint.
limitation the act or process of limiting something; a rule, fact or condition that limits
something:They would resist any limitation of their powers.

restriction, constraint, restraint or limitation?

These are all things that limit what you can do. A restriction is rule or law that is made by
somebody in authority. A constraint is something that exists rather than something that is made,
although it may exist as a result of somebody’s decision. A restraint is also something that
exists: it can exist outside yourself, as the result of somebody else’s decision; but it can also exist
inside you, as a fear of what other people may think or as your own feeling about what is
acceptable:moral/social/cultural restraints. A limitation is more general and can be a rule that
somebody makes or a fact or condition that exists.
Patterns
limits/restrictions/controls/constraints/restraints/limitations on something
limits/limitations to something
severe limits/restrictions/controls/constraints/restraints/limitations
tight limits/restrictions/controls/constraints
to impose/remove limits/restrictions/controls/constraints/restraints/limitations
to lift restrictions/controls/constraints/restraints

2 [uncountable] the act of controlling or limiting something because it is necessary or sensible to

do so wage restraint
They said that they would fight without restraint (= completely freely) for what they wanted.

3 [uncountable] the quality of behaving calmly and with control

SYNONYM self-control
The police appealed to the crowd for restraint.
He exercised considerable restraint in ignoring the insults.
4 [uncountable] (formal) the use of physical force to control somebody who is behaving in a
violent way the physical restraint of prisoners

5 [countable] (formal) a type of seat belt or safety device Children must use an approved child
restraint or adult seat belt.

re·sur·gence noun
BrE /rɪˈsɜːdʒəns/ ; NAmE /rɪˈsɜːrdʒəns/
[singular, uncountable]
the return and growth of an activity that had stopped a resurgence of interest in the artist’s work

re·sur·gent adjective
BrE /rɪˈsɜːdʒənt/ ; NAmE /rɪˈsɜːrdʒənt/
[usually before noun] (formal)
becoming stronger or more popular again a resurgent economy
resurgent nationalism

re·tain verb
BrE /rɪˈteɪn/ ; NAmE /rɪˈteɪn/
(rather formal)

1 retain something to keep something; to continue to have something

SYNONYM preserve
to retain your independence
He struggled to retain control of the situation.
The house retains much of its original charm.
She retained her tennis title for the third year.

2 retain something to continue to hold or contain something a soil that retains moisture
This information is no longer retained within the computer's main memory.
(figurative) She has a good memory and finds it easy to retain facts.

3 retain somebody/something (law) if a member of the public retains somebody such as a

lawyer, he or she pays money regularly or in advance so the lawyer, etc. will do work for him or
her a retaining fee
to retain the services of a lawyer

SEE ALSO retention, retentive

re·tract verb
BrE /rɪˈtrækt/ ; NAmE /rɪˈtrækt/

1 [transitive] retract something (formal) to say that something you have said earlier is not true
or correct or that you did not mean it He made a false confession which he later retracted.
They tried to persuade me to retract my words.
to retract a claim/an allegation/a confession

2 [transitive] retract something (formal) to refuse to keep an agreement, a promise, etc to

retract an offer

3 [intransitive, transitive] (specialist) to move back into the main part of something; to pull
something back into the main part of something The animal retracted into its shell.
The undercarriage failed to retract.
retract something The undercarriage was fully retracted.

reve·la·tion noun
BrE /ˌrevəˈleɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌrevəˈleɪʃn/
1 [countable] revelation (about/concerning something) revelation (that…) a fact that people
are made aware of, especially one that has been secret and is surprising
SYNONYM disclosure
startling/sensational revelations about her private life
He was dismissed after revelations that confidential files were missing.

2 [uncountable] revelation (of something) the act of making people aware of something that has
been secret
SYNONYM disclosure
The company's financial problems followed the revelation of a major fraud scandal.

3 [countable, uncountable] something that is considered to be a sign or message from God These
events were seen as a divine revelation.
SEE ALSO reveal

Idioms
come as/be a revelation (to somebody)
to be a completely new or surprising experience; to be different from what was expected His
performance in the race today was a revelation to everyone.
My trip to Texas was a revelation.

dis·clo·sure noun
BrE /dɪsˈkləʊʒə(r)/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈkloʊʒər/
(formal)
1 [uncountable] the act of making something known or public that was previously secret or
private
SYNONYM 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 [countable] information or a fact that is made known or public that was previously secret or
private
SYNONYM revelation
startling disclosures about his private life

rev·enue noun
BrE /ˈrevənjuː/ ; NAmE /ˈrevənuː/
[uncountable] (also revenues [plural])
the money that a government receives from taxes or that an organization, etc. receives from its
business
SYNONYM receipt
a shortfall in tax revenue
Advertising revenue finances the commercial television channels.
a slump in oil revenues
The company's annual revenues rose by 30%.

SEE ALSO Inland Revenue

rid verb
BrE /rɪd/ ; NAmE /rɪd/

Idioms
be ˈrid of somebody/something
(formal) to be free of somebody/something that has been annoying you or that you do not want
She wanted to be rid of her parents and their authority.
I was glad to be rid of the car when I finally sold it.
(British English) He was a nuisance and we're all well rid of him (= we'll be much better
without him).

get ˈrid of somebody/something

to make yourself free of somebody/something that is annoying you or that you do not want; to
throw something away Try and get rid of your visitors before I get there.
The problem is getting rid of nuclear waste.
I can't get rid of this headache.
We got rid of all the old furniture.
want ˈrid of somebody/something
(British English, informal) to want to be free of somebody/something that has been annoying you
or that you do not want Are you trying to say you want rid of me?

Phrasal Verbs
ˈrid somebody/something of somebody/something
(formal) to remove something that is causing a problem from a place, group, etc Further
measures will be taken to rid our streets of crime.

ˈrid yourself of somebody/something

(formal) to make yourself free from somebody/something that is annoying you or causing you a
problem to rid yourself of guilt
He wanted to rid himself of the burden of the secret.

rig·or·ous adjective
BrE /ˈrɪɡərəs/ ; NAmE /ˈrɪɡərəs/
1 done carefully and with a lot of attention to detail
SYNONYM thorough
a rigorous analysis
Few people have gone into the topic in such rigorous detail.
The second team adopted a much more rigorous approach to the problem.

2 demanding that particular rules, processes, etc. are strictly followed

SYNONYM strict
The work failed to meet their rigorous standards.
They may benefit from the rigorous application of competition policy.

rig·our (especially US English rigor) noun

BrE /ˈrɪɡə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈrɪɡər/
1 [uncountable] the fact of being careful and paying great attention to detail
academic/intellectual/scientific, etc. rigour

2 [uncountable] (formal) the fact of being strict or severe

SYNONYM severity
This crime must be treated with the full rigour of the law.

3 the rigours of something [plural] the difficulties and unpleasant conditions of something The
plants were unable to withstand the rigours of a harsh winter.
She woke refreshed to face the rigours of a new day.
rit·ual noun
BrE /ˈrɪtʃuəl/ ; NAmE /ˈrɪtʃuəl/
[countable, uncountable]
1 a series of actions that are always performed in the same way, especially as part of a religious
ceremony religious rituals
She objects to the ritual of organized religion.

2 something that is done regularly and always in the same way Sunday lunch with the in-laws
has become something of a ritual.

rit·ual adjective
BrE /ˈrɪtʃuəl/ ; NAmE /ˈrɪtʃuəl/
[only before noun]
1 done as part of a ritual or ceremony ritual chanting

2 always done or said in the same way, especially when this is not sincere ritual expressions of
sympathy

ritu·al·ize (British English also -ise) verb

BrE /ˈrɪtʃuəlaɪz/ ; NAmE /ˈrɪtʃuəlaɪz/

[usually passive] ritualize something (formal) to do something in the same way or pattern every
time ritualized expressions of grief
Bull fights are highly ritualized by centuries of performance.

road·worthy adjective
BrE /ˈrəʊdwɜːði/ ; NAmE /ˈroʊdwɜːrði/
(of a vehicle) in a safe condition to drive

ro·bust adjective
BrE /rəʊˈbʌst/ ; NAmE /roʊˈbʌst/
1 strong and healthy She was almost 90, but still very robust.
He seems to be in robust (good) health.

2 strong; able to survive being used a lot and not likely to break
SYNONYM sturdy
a robust piece of equipment

3 (of a system or an organization) strong and not likely to fail or become weak robust economic
growth

4 strong and full of determination; showing that you are sure about what you are doing or saying
SYNONYM vigorous
It was a typically robust performance by the Foreign Secretary.
The company is taking a more robust approach to management.

ro·bust·ness noun
BrE /rəʊˈbʌstnəs/ ; NAmE /roʊˈbʌstnəs/
[uncountable]
1 the state of being strong and healthy
SYNONYM strength (1)
His mental robustness helped him to cope in the aftermath of the trial.

2 the quality of being strong and unlikely to break or fail

SYNONYM sturdiness (1)
Materials were chosen for their robustness and ease of maintenance.

3 the quality of being strong enough to be trusted or relied on They questioned the robustness of
the evidence.

4 the quality of being strong and full of determination because you are sure about what you are
doing or saying She confronted her critics with typical robustness.

ru·di·men·tary adjective
BrE /ˌruːdɪˈmentri/ ; NAmE /ˌruːdɪˈmentri/
1 (formal) dealing with only the most basic matters or ideas
SYNONYM basic
They were given only rudimentary training in the job.
His understanding of the language is very rudimentary.

2 (formal or specialist) not highly or fully developed

SYNONYM basic
Some dinosaurs had only rudimentary teeth.
the most rudimentary forms of life
a very rudimentary writing system

elim·in·ate verb
BrE /ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/ ; NAmE /ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt/
1 to remove or get rid of something/somebody eliminate something/somebody Credit cards
eliminate the need to carry a lot of cash.
eliminate something/somebody from something The police have eliminated two suspects from
their investigation.
This diet claims to eliminate toxins from the body.

2 eliminate somebody (from something) [usually passive] to defeat a person or a team so that
they no longer take part in a competition, etc.
SYNONYM 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 eliminate somebody (formal) to kill somebody, especially an enemy or opponent Most of the
regime's left-wing opponents were eliminated.

rug·ged adjective
BrE /ˈrʌɡɪd/ ; NAmE /ˈrʌɡɪd/
1 (of the landscape) not level or smooth and having rocks rather than plants or trees rugged cliffs
The countryside around here is very rugged.
They admired the rugged beauty of the coastline.

2 [usually before noun] (approving) (of a man’s face) having strong, attractive features She was
attracted by his rugged good looks.

3 [usually before noun] (of a person) determined to succeed in a difficult situation, even if this
means using force or upsetting other people a rugged individualist

4 (of equipment, clothing, etc.) strong and designed to be used in difficult conditions A less
rugged vehicle would never have made the trip.
rugged outdoor clothing

rug·ged·ly adverb
BrE /ˈrʌɡɪdli/ ; NAmE /ˈrʌɡɪdli/
1 (approving) in a strong, attractive way ruggedly handsome

2 in a way that is not level or smooth or has rocks rather than plants or trees a ruggedly beautiful
landscape

3 in a strong way that is designed to be used in difficult conditions a ruggedly built vehicle

ruin verb
BrE /ˈruːɪn/ ; NAmE /ˈruːɪn/

1 ruin something to damage something so badly that it loses all its value, pleasure, etc.; to spoil
something
SYNONYM wreck
The bad weather ruined our trip.
That one mistake ruined his chances of getting the job.
My new shoes got ruined in the mud.
The crops were ruined by the late frost.

2 ruin somebody/something to make somebody/something lose all their money, their position,
etc If she loses the court case it will ruin her.
The country was ruined by the war.

ruin noun
BrE /ˈruːɪn/ ; NAmE /ˈruːɪn/
1 [uncountable] the state or process of being destroyed or severely damaged A large number of
churches fell into ruin after the revolution.
The house had been left to go to ruin.
The terrorist attack had left the city in a state of ruin

2 [uncountable] the fact of having no money, of having lost your job, position, etc The divorce
ultimately led to his ruin.
The bank stepped in to save the company from financial ruin.
The war brought the country to the brink of ruin.

3 [singular] something that causes a person, company, etc. to lose all their money, job, position,
etc.
SYNONYM downfall
Gambling was his ruin.

4 [countable] (also ruins [plural]) the parts of a building that remain after it has been destroyed
or severely damaged The old mill is now little more than a ruin.
We visited the ruins of a Norman castle.
Two bodies were found among the charred ruins of the house.
(figurative) He was determined to build a new life out of the ruins of his career.

Idioms
go to ˌrack and ˈruin
to get into a bad condition They let the house go to rack and ruin.

in ˈruins
destroyed or severely damaged Years of fighting have left the area in ruins.
The scandal left his reputation in ruins.
Their plans for a comeback now lie in ruins.

run verb
BrE /rʌn/ ; NAmE /rʌn/

move fast on foot

1 [intransitive] to move using your legs, going faster than when you walk Can you run as fast as
Mike?
They turned and ran when they saw us coming.
She came running to meet us.
I had to run to catch the bus.
The dogs ran off as soon as we appeared.
He ran home in tears to his mother.

In spoken English run can be used with and plus another verb, instead of with to and the
infinitive, especially to tell somebody to hurry and do something:Run and get your swimsuits,
kids.I ran and knocked on the nearest door.
2 [transitive] run something to travel a particular distance by running Who was the first person
to run a mile in under four minutes?

SEE ALSO mile

3 [intransitive] (also go running) to run as a sport She used to run when she was at college.
I often go running before work.

race
4 [intransitive, transitive] to take part in a race run (in something) He will be running in the 100
metres tonight.
There are only five horses running in the first race.
run something to run the marathon
Holmes ran a fine race to take the gold medal.

SEE ALSO runner (1)

5 [transitive, often passive] run something to make a race take place The Derby will be run in
spite of the bad weather.

hurry
6 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to hurry from one place to another I've spent the whole day
running around after the kids.

SEE ALSO rat run

manage
7 [transitive] run something to be in charge of a business, etc to run a hotel/store/language
school
He has no idea how to run a business.
Stop trying to run my life (= organize it) for me.
The shareholders want more say in how the company is run.
a badly run company
state-run industries

SEE ALSO running (2)

provide
8 [transitive] run something to make a service, course of study, etc. available to people
SYNONYM organize
The college runs summer courses for foreign students.

vehicle/machine
9 [transitive] run something (British English) to own and use a vehicle or machine I can't afford
to run a car on my salary.

10 [intransitive, transitive] to operate or function; to make something do this Stan had the
chainsaw running.
(figurative) Her life had always run smoothly before.
run on something Our van runs on (= uses) diesel.
run something Could you run the engine for a moment?

buses/trains
11 [intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) to travel on a particular route Buses to Oxford run
every half hour.
Trains between London and Brighton run throughout the day.
All the trains are running late (= are leaving later than planned).

12 [transitive] run something (+ adverb/preposition) to make buses, trains, etc. travel on a

particular route They run extra trains during the rush hour.

drive somebody
13 [transitive] run somebody + adverb/preposition (informal) to drive somebody to a place in
a car Shall I run you home?

move somewhere
14 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to move, especially quickly, in a particular direction The
car ran off the road into a ditch.
A shiver ran down my spine.
The sledge ran smoothly over the frozen snow.
The old tramlines are still there but now no trams run on them.

15 [transitive] run something + adverb/preposition to move something in a particular

direction She ran her fingers nervously through her hair.
I ran my eyes over the page.

lead/stretch
16 [intransitive, transitive] to lead or stretch from one place to another; to make something do
this + adverb/preposition He had a scar running down his left cheek.
The road runs parallel to the river.
run something + adverb/preposition We ran a cable from the lights to the stage.

continue for time

17 [intransitive] run (for something) to continue for a particular period of time without stopping
Her last musical ran for six months on Broadway.
This debate will run and run!

18 [intransitive] run (for something) to operate or be valid for a particular period of time The
permit runs for three months.
The lease on my house only has a year left to run.

happen
19 [intransitive] (usually used in the progressive tenses) to happen at the time mentioned +
adverb/preposition Programmes are running a few minutes behind schedule this evening.
The murderer was given three life sentences, to run concurrently.

guns, drugs, etc.

20 [transitive] run something (+ adverb/preposition) to bring or take something into a country
illegally and secretly
SYNONYM smuggle
He used to run guns across the border.

SEE ALSO runner

of story/argument
21 [intransitive, transitive] to have particular words, contents, etc Their argument ran something
like this…
+ speech ‘Ten shot dead by gunmen,’ ran the newspaper headline.

liquid
22 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to flow The tears ran down her cheeks.
Water was running all over the bathroom floor.

23 [transitive] to make liquid flow run something (into something) She ran hot water into the
bucket.
to run the hot tap (= to turn it so that water flows from it)
run something for somebody I'll run a bath for you.
run somebody something I'll run you a bath.

24 [intransitive] to send out a liquid Who left the tap running?

Your nose is running (= mucus is flowing from it).
The smoke makes my eyes run.
25 [intransitive] (usually used in the progressive tenses) run with something to be covered with
a liquid His face was running with sweat.
The bathroom floor was running with water.

of colour
26 [intransitive] if the colour runs in a piece of clothing when it gets wet, it dissolves and may
come out of the clothing into other things The colour ran and made all my underwear pink.

melt
27 [intransitive] (of a solid substance) to melt The wax began to run.

SEE ALSO runny

be/become
28 [intransitive] + adjective to become different in a particular way, especially a bad way The
river ran dry (= stopped flowing) during the drought.
Supplies are running low.
We've run short of milk.
You've got your rivals running scared.

29 [intransitive] run at something to be at or near a particular level Inflation was running at

26%.

of newspaper/magazine
30 [transitive] run something to print and publish an item or a story On advice from their
lawyers they decided not to run the story.

a test/check
31 [transitive] run a test/check (on something) to do a test/check on something The doctors
decided to run some more tests on the blood samples.

in election
32 [intransitive] to be a candidate in an election for a political position, especially in the US
Bush ran a second time in 2004.
run for somebody/something to run for president
run in something to run in the election

COMPARE stand
of tights/stockings
33 [intransitive] (North American English) if tights or stockings run, a long thin hole appears in
them
SYNONYM ladder

Idioms
Most idioms containing run are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for
example run riot is at riot.
a close-run ˈthing
a situation in which somebody only just wins or loses, for example in a competition or an
election Mr Taylor’s election defeat was a close-run thing.
The invasion never happened but it was a close-run thing.

come ˈrunning
to be pleased to do what somebody wants She knew she had only to call and he would come
running.

ˌhit the ground ˈrunning

(informal) to start doing something and continue very quickly and successfully
ˈrun for it
(often used in orders) to run in order to escape from somebody/something
ˌup and ˈrunning
working fully and correctly It will be a lot easier when we have the database up and running.

Phrasal Verbs
ˈrun across somebody/something
to meet somebody or find something by chance
ˌrun ˈafter somebody
(informal) to try to have a romantic or sexual relationship with somebody
SYNONYM pursue
He's always running after younger women.

ˌrun ˈafter somebody/something

to run to try to catch somebody/something
SYNONYM pursue
ˌrun aˈlong
(old-fashioned, informal) used in orders to tell somebody, especially a child, to go away
ˌrun aˈround with somebody
(North American English also ˈrun with somebody)
(usually disapproving) to spend a lot of time with somebody She's always running around with
older men.

ˈrun at somebody
[no passive] to run towards somebody to attack or as if to attack them He ran at me with a knife.

ˌrun aˈway (from somebody/…)

to leave somebody/a place suddenly; to escape from somebody/a place He ran away from home
at the age of thirteen.
Looking at all the accusing faces, she felt a sudden urge to run away.

RELATED NOUN runaway

ˌrun aˈway from something
to try to avoid something because you are shy, lack confidence, etc You can't just run away from
the situation.
 ˌrun aˈway with you
if a feeling runs away with you, it gets out of your control Her imagination tends to run away
with her.

ˌrun aˈway/ˈoff with somebody | ˌrun aˈway/ˈoff (together)

to leave home, your husband, wife, etc. in order to have a relationship with another person She
ran away with her boss.
She and her boss ran away together.

ˌrun aˈway with something

1 to win something clearly or easily
2 to believe something that is not true I don't want you to run away with the impression that all I
do is have meetings all day.

ˌrun back ˈover something

to discuss or consider something again
SYNONYM review
I'll run back over the procedure once again.

ˌrun something ˈby/ˈpast somebody

(informal) to show somebody something or tell somebody about an idea in order to see their
reaction to it
ˌrun ˈdown
1 to lose power or stop working The battery has run down.

2 to gradually stop functioning or become smaller in size or number British manufacturing

industry has been running down for years.

RELATED NOUN rundown

ˌrun somethingˈdown
1 to make something lose power or stop working If you leave your headlights on you'll soon run
down the battery.

2 to make something gradually stop functioning or become smaller in size or number The
company is running down its sales force.

RELATED NOUN rundown

ˌrun somebody/somethingˈdown
1 (of a vehicle or its driver) to hit somebody/something and knock them/it to the ground
2 to criticize somebody/something in an unkind way He's always running her down in front of
other people.

3 to find somebody/something after a search

ˌrun somebodyˈin
(old-fashioned, informal) to arrest somebody and take them to a police station
ˌrun somethingˈin
(British English) (in the past) to prepare the engine of a new car for normal use by driving slowly
and carefully (figurative) Whatever system you choose, it must be run in properly.

ˌrun ˈinto somebody

(informal) to meet somebody by chance Guess who I ran into today!

ˈrun into something

1 to enter an area of bad weather while travelling We ran into thick fog on the way home.

2 to experience difficulties, etc Be careful not to run into debt.

to run into danger/trouble/difficulties

3 to reach a particular level or amount Her income runs into six figures (= is more than £100
000, $100 000, etc.).

ˈrun into somebody/something

to crash into somebody/something The bus went out of control and ran into a line of people.

ˈrun something into somebody/something

to make a vehicle crash into somebody/something He ran his car into a tree.

ˌrun ˈoff
(British English) (of a liquid) to flow out of a container
ˌrun somethingˈoff
1 to copy something on a machine Could you run off twenty copies of the agenda?

2 to cause a race to be run The heats of the 200 metres will be run off tomorrow.

3 to make a liquid flow out of a container

ˌrun ˈoff with somebody | ˌrun ˈoff (together)
= run away/off with somebody
ˌrun ˈoff with something
to steal something and take it away The treasurer had run off with the club's funds.

ˌrun ˈon
to continue without stopping; to continue longer than is necessary or expected The meeting will
finish promptly—I don't want it to run on.

ˈrun on something
[no passive] if your thoughts, a discussion, etc. run on a subject, you think or talk a lot about
that subject
ˌrun ˈout
1 if a supply of something runs out, it is used up or finished Time is running out for the trapped
miners.

2 if an agreement or a document runs out, it becomes no longer valid

SYNONYM expire
ˌrun ˈout (of something)
to use up or finish a supply of something We ran out of fuel.
Could I have a cigarette? I seem to have run out.

ˌrun ˈout on somebody

(informal) to leave somebody that you live with, especially when they need your help
ˌrun somebodyˈout
[often passive] (in cricket) to make a player stop batting by hitting the wicket with the ball
before the player has completed his or her run
ˌrun ˈover
if a container or its contents run over, the contents come over the edge of the container
SYNONYM overflow
ˌrun somebody/somethingˈover
(of a vehicle or its driver) to knock a person or an animal down and drive over their body or a
part of it Two children were run over and killed.

ˌrun ˈover something

to read through or practise something quickly She ran over her notes before giving the lecture.

ˌrun something ˈpast somebody

= run something by/past somebody
Run that past me again.

ˌrun somebodyˈthrough
(literary) to kill somebody by sticking a knife, sword, etc. through them
ˌrun ˈthrough something
1 to discuss, repeat or read something quickly He ran through the names on the list.
Could we run through your proposals once again?

2 [no passive] to pass quickly through something An angry murmur ran through the crowd.
Thoughts of revenge kept running through his mind.

3 [no passive] to be present in every part of something A deep melancholy runs through her
poetry.

4 to perform, act or practise something Can we run through Scene 3 again, please?

RELATED NOUN run-through

5 to use up or spend money carelessly She ran through the entire amount within two years.

ˈrun to something
1 to be of a particular size or amount The book runs to nearly 800 pages.

2 (especially British English) if you or your money will not run to something, you do not have
enough money for something Our funds won't run to a trip abroad this year.
 ˌrun somethingˈup
1 to allow a bill, debt, etc. to reach a large total
SYNONYM accumulate
How had he managed to run up so many debts?

2 to make a piece of clothing quickly, especially by sewing to run up a blouse

3 to raise something, especially a flag

ˌrun ˈup against something
to experience a difficulty The government is running up against considerable opposition to its
tax reforms.

ˈrun with somebody

= run around with somebody
ˈrun with something
to accept or start to use a particular idea or method OK, let's run with Jan's suggestion.

rust noun
BrE /rʌst/ ; NAmE /rʌst/
[uncountable]
1 a reddish-brown substance that is formed on some metals by the action of water and air pipes
covered with rust
rust spots
a rust-coloured dress
The lock was covered with rust.
The old padlock was red with rust.

SEE ALSO rusty

2 a plant disease that causes reddish-brown spots; the fungus that causes this disease
rust verb
BrE /rʌst/ ; NAmE /rʌst/

[intransitive, transitive] if metal rusts or something rusts it, it becomes covered with rust
SYNONYM corrode
old rusting farming implements
Brass doesn't rust.
The floor of the car had rusted through.
rust something Water had got in and rusted the engine.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌrust aˈway
to be gradually destroyed by rust There was an old bike rusting away outside.
The car had been rusting away in his garage for years.
sanc·tion noun
BrE /ˈsæŋkʃn/ ; NAmE /ˈsæŋkʃn/
1 [countable, usually plural] sanction (against somebody) an official order that limits trade,
contact, etc. with a particular country, in order to make it do something, such as obeying
international law Trade sanctions were imposed against any country that refused to sign the
agreement.
The economic sanctions have been lifted.

2 [uncountable] (formal) official permission or approval for an action or a change

SYNONYM authorization
These changes will require the sanction of the court.
Their ideas received official sanction at the meeting.

3 [countable] sanction (against something) a course of action that can be used, if necessary, to
make people obey a law or behave in a particular way
SYNONYM penalty
The ultimate sanction will be the closure of the restaurant.
We now have an effective sanction against the killing of whales.

sanc·tion verb
BrE /ˈsæŋkʃn/ ; NAmE /ˈsæŋkʃn/

1 sanction something (formal) to give permission for something to take place The government
refused to sanction a further cut in interest rates.

2 sanction somebody/something (specialist) to punish somebody/something; to impose a

sanction (1) on something

scab noun
BrE /skæb/ ; NAmE /skæb/
1 [countable] a hard dry covering that forms over a wound as it heals
2 [uncountable] a skin disease of animals
3 [uncountable] a disease of plants, especially apples and potatoes, that causes a rough surface
4 [countable] (informal, disapproving) a worker who refuses to join a strike or takes the place of
somebody on strike
SYNONYM blackleg

scaf·fold·ing noun
BrE /ˈskæfəldɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈskæfəldɪŋ/
[uncountable]
 poles and boards that are joined together to make a structure for workers to stand on when they
are working high up on the outside wall of a building The statue is currently surrounded by
scaffolding.
scaffolding poles

scaf·fold noun
BrE /ˈskæfəʊld/ ; NAmE /ˈskæfoʊld/
1 a platform used when executing criminals by cutting off their heads or hanging them from a
rope to die on the scaffold
to be sent to the scaffold
She was led to the scaffold in front of a crowd of several hundred

2 a structure made of scaffolding, for workers to stand on when they are working on a building

scan·dal noun
BrE /ˈskændl/ ; NAmE /ˈskændl/
1 [countable, uncountable] behaviour or an event that people think is morally or legally wrong
and causes public feelings of shock or anger a series of sex scandals
to cause/create a scandal
The scandal broke (= became known to the public) in May.
There has been no hint of scandal during his time in office.
a promising career wrecked by scandal

2 [uncountable] talk or reports about the shocking or immoral things that people have done or are
thought to have done to spread scandal
newspapers full of scandal

3 [singular] scandal (that…) an action, attitude, etc. that you think is shocking and not at all
acceptable
SYNONYM disgrace
It is a scandal that such a large town has no orchestra.

scarce adjective
BrE /skeəs/ ; NAmE /skers/
(scar·cer, scar·cest) if something is scarce, there is not enough of it and it is only available in
small quantities scarce resources
Details of the accident are scarce.
Food was becoming scarce.

Idioms
ˌmake yourself ˈscarce
(informal) to leave somewhere and stay away for a time in order to avoid an unpleasant situation
I could see he was annoyed so I made myself scarce.

scarce adverb
BrE /skeəs/ ; NAmE /skers/
(literary) only just; almost not I can scarce remember him.

scarce·ly adverb
BrE /ˈskeəsli/ ; NAmE /ˈskersli/
1 only just; almost not I can scarcely believe it.
We scarcely ever meet.
Scarcely a week goes by without some new scandal in the papers.
There was scarcely a tree left standing after the storm.

2 used to say that something happens immediately after something else happens He had scarcely
put the phone down when the doorbell rang.
Scarcely had the game started when it began to rain.

3 used to suggest that something is not at all reasonable or likely It was scarcely an occasion for
laughter.
She could scarcely complain, could she?
You can scarcely blame Annie.
It is scarcely surprising that the reforms have provoked such widespread discontent.

scep·tical (British English) (North American English skep·tical) adjective

BrE /ˈskeptɪkl/ ; NAmE /ˈskeptɪkl/
sceptical (about/of something) having doubts that a claim or statement is true or that something
will happen I am sceptical about his chances of winning.
The public remain sceptical of these claims.
She looked highly sceptical.

scep·ti·cism (British English) (North American English skep·ti·cism) noun

BrE /ˈskeptɪsɪzəm/ ; NAmE /ˈskeptɪsɪzəm/
[uncountable, singular]
an attitude of doubting that claims or statements are true or that something will happen Such
claims should be regarded with a certain amount of scepticism.
Other scientists have expressed scepticism about these results.

scrape verb
BrE /skreɪp/ ; NAmE /skreɪp/
remove
1 [transitive] to remove something from a surface by moving something sharp and hard like a
knife across it scrape something (+ adverb/preposition) She scraped the mud off her boots.
We scraped away the top layer of wallpaper.
scrape something + adjective The kids had scraped their plates clean.

damage
2 [transitive] to rub something by accident so that it gets damaged or hurt scrape something She
fell and scraped her knee.
scrape something + adverb/preposition I scraped the side of my car on the wall.
Sorry, I've scraped some paint off the car.
The wire had scraped the skin from her fingers.

make sound
3 [intransitive, transitive] to make an unpleasant noise by rubbing against a hard surface; to make
something do this (+ adverb/preposition) I could hear his pen scraping across the paper.
Bushes scraped against the car windows.
We could hear her scraping away at the violin.
scrape something (+ adverb/preposition) Don't scrape your chairs on the floor.

win with difficulty

4 [transitive, intransitive] scrape (something) to manage to win or to get something with
difficulty The team scraped a narrow victory last year.
(British English) I just scraped a pass in the exam.
They scraped a living by playing music on the streets.
The government scraped home (= just won) by three votes.

make hole in ground

5 [transitive] scrape something (out) to make a hole or hollow place in the ground He found a
suitable place, scraped a hole and buried the bag in it.

pull hair back

6 [transitive] scrape your hair back to pull your hair tightly back, away from your face Her hair
was scraped back from her face in a ponytail.

Idioms
ˌbow and ˈscrape
(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.

scrape (the bottom of) the ˈbarrel

(disapproving) to have to use whatever things or people you can get, because there is not much
choice available
Phrasal Verbs
ˌscrape ˈby (on something)
to manage to live on the money you have, but with difficulty I can just scrape by on what my
parents give me.

ˌscrape ˈin | ˌscrape ˈinto something

to manage to get a job, a position, a place at college, etc., but with difficulty He scraped in with
180 votes.
Our team just scraped into the semi-finals.

ˌscrape somethingˈout
to remove something from inside something else, using something sharp or hard like a knife
Scrape out the flesh of the melon with a spoon.

ˌscrape ˈthrough | ˌscrape ˈthrough something

to succeed in doing something with difficulty, especially in passing an exam I might scrape
through the exam if I'm lucky.

ˌscrape somethingtoˈgether/ˈup
to obtain or collect together something, but with difficulty We managed to scrape together eight
volunteers.

scrape noun
BrE /skreɪp/ ; NAmE /skreɪp/
action/sound
1 [singular] the action or unpleasant sound of one thing rubbing roughly against another the
scrape of iron on stone
She felt the scrape of wall against bare skin.
the scrape of chairs being moved

damage
2 [countable] an injury or a mark caused by rubbing against something rough She emerged from
the overturned car with only a few scrapes and bruises.

difficult situation
3 [countable] (old-fashioned) a difficult situation that you have caused yourself He was always
getting into scrapes as a boy.
a scrape with the law (= trouble with the police)

scream verb
BrE /skriːm/ ; NAmE /skriːm/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to give a loud, high cry, because you are hurt, frightened, excited, etc.
SYNONYM shriek
He covered her mouth to stop her from screaming.
scream in/with something The kids were screaming with excitement.
scream out (in/with something) People ran for the exits, screaming out in terror.
scream yourself + adjective The baby was screaming itself hoarse.

2 [transitive, intransitive] to shout something in a loud, high voice because of fear, anger, etc.
SYNONYM yell
+ speech ‘Help!’ she screamed.
scream (out) (for something/somebody) Someone was screaming for help.
scream at somebody (to do something) He screamed at me to stop.
scream something (out) (at somebody) She screamed abuse at him.
scream (out) that… His sister screamed out that he was crazy.

3 [intransitive] to make a loud, high noise; to move fast, making this noise
SYNONYM screech
Lights flashed and sirens screamed.
+ adverb/preposition The powerboat screamed out to sea.

Idioms
scream blue ˈmurder (British English)
(North American English scream bloody ˈmurder)
to scream loudly and for a long time, especially in order to protest about something
Phrasal Verbs
ˌscream ˈout (for something)
to be in need of attention in a very noticeable way
SYNONYM cry out
These books scream out to be included in a list of favourites.

scream noun
BrE /skriːm/ ; NAmE /skriːm/
1 [countable] a loud high cry made by somebody who is hurt, frightened, excited, etc.; a loud
high noise She let out a scream of pain.
They ignored the baby's screams.
He drove off with a scream of tyres.
I thought I heard a scream.
All I could hear were the screams of the wounded.
the screams of adoring fans

2 [singular] (old-fashioned, informal) a person or thing that causes you to laugh He's a scream.

scrip·ture noun
BrE /ˈskrɪptʃə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈskrɪptʃər/
1 Scripture [uncountable] (also the Scriptures [plural]) the Bible
2 scriptures [plural] the holy books of a particular religion Hindu scriptures
sculpt verb
BrE /skʌlpt/ ; NAmE /skʌlpt/
[usually passive]

1 to make figures or objects by carving or shaping wood, stone, clay, metal, etc sculpt something
(in something) a display of animals sculpted in ice
sculpt something (from/out of something) The figures were sculpted from single blocks of
marble.

2 sculpt something to give something a particular shape a coastline sculpted by the wind and
sea

ful·fil·ling adjective
BrE /fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ/ ; NAmE /fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ/
causing somebody to feel satisfied and useful a fulfilling experience

OPPOSITE unfulfilling
I’m finding the work much more fulfilling now.

- SYNONYMS

satisfying
rewarding pleasing gratifying fulfilling
These words all describe an experience, activity or fact that gives you pleasure because it
provides something you need or want.satisfying that gives you pleasure because it provides
something you need or want:It’s satisfying to play a game really well.
rewarding (of an experience or activity) that makes you happy because you think it is useful or
important; worth doing:Nursing can be a very rewarding career.
pleasing (rather formal) that gives you pleasure, especially to look at, hear or think about:It was
a simple but pleasing design.
gratifying (formal) that gives you pleasure, especially because it makes you feel that you have
done well:It is gratifying to see such good results.
fulfilling (of an experience or activity) that makes you happy, because it makes you feel your
skills and talents are being used:I’m finding the work much more fulfilling now.

satisfying, rewarding or fulfilling?

Almost any experience, important or very brief, can be satisfying. Rewarding and fulfilling are
used more for longer, more serious activities, such as jobs or careers. Satisfying and fulfilling
are more about your personal satisfaction or happiness; rewarding is more about your sense of
doing something important and being useful to others.
Patterns
a satisfying/rewarding/gratifying/fulfilling experience/feeling
(a) satisfying/rewarding/fulfilling job/career/work
to find something satisfying/rewarding/pleasing/gratifying

sen·sa·tion·al·ly adverb
BrE /senˈseɪʃənəli/ ; NAmE /senˈseɪʃənəli/
1 in a way that causes great surprise, excitement or interest
SYNONYM thrillingly
They won sensationally against the top team.

2 (disapproving) in a way that tries to get your interest by presenting facts or events as worse or
more shocking than they really are The incident was sensationally reported in the press.

3 (informal) in an extremely good or wonderful way

SYNONYM fantastically (2)
He's sensationally good-looking!

sens·ible adjective
BrE /ˈsensəbl/ ; NAmE /ˈsensəbl/
1 (of people and their behaviour) able to make good judgements based on reason and experience
rather than emotion; practical She's a sensible sort of person.
I think that's a very sensible idea.
Say something sensible.
I think the sensible thing would be to take a taxi home.

2 (of clothes, etc.) useful rather than fashionable sensible shoes

3 (formal or literary) aware of something I am sensible of the fact that mathematics is not a
popular subject.

OPPOSITE insensible
Use silly (sense 1) or impractical (senses 1 and 2) as the opposite for the other senses.

sensible / sensitive
Sensible and sensitive are connected with two different meanings of sense.
Sensible refers to your ability to make good judgements:She gave me some very sensible advice.
It wasn’t very sensible to go out on your own so late at night.
Sensitive refers to how easily you react to things and how much you are aware of things or other
people:a soap for sensitive skin This movie may upset a sensitive child.
set·back noun
BrE /ˈsetbæk/ ; NAmE /ˈsetbæk/
a difficulty or problem that delays or prevents something, or makes a situation worse The team
suffered a major setback when their best player was injured.
The breakdown in talks represents a temporary setback in the peace process.

set·tle verb
BrE /ˈsetl/ ; NAmE /ˈsetl/

end argument
1 [transitive, intransitive] settle (something) to put an end to an argument or a disagreement to
settle a dispute/an argument/a matter
It's time you settled your differences with your father.
I want this thing settled.
There is pressure on the unions to settle.
The company has agreed to settle out of court (= come to an agreement without going to court).

decide/arrange
2 [transitive, often passive] to decide or arrange something finally settle something It's all
settled—we're leaving on the nine o'clock plane.
Good, that's settled, then.
Bob will be there? That settles it. I'm not coming.
He had to settle his affairs (= arrange all his personal business) in Paris before he could return
home.
it is settled that… It's been settled that we leave on the nine o'clock plane.

choose permanent home

3 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to make a place your permanent home She settled in
Vienna after her father's death.

4 [transitive, usually passive, intransitive] settle something + adverb/preposition (of a group

of people) to make your permanent home in a country or an area as colonists This region was
settled by the Dutch in the nineteenth century.

into comfortable position/state

5 [intransitive, transitive] to make yourself or somebody else comfortable in a new position settle
(back) (+ adverb/preposition) Ellie settled back in her seat.
settle somebody/yourself (+ adverb/preposition) He settled himself comfortably in his usual
chair.
I settled her on the sofa and put a blanket over her.

6 [transitive] settle something + adverb/preposition to put something carefully in a position so

that it does not move She settled the blanket around her knees.
7 [intransitive, transitive] to become or make somebody/something become calm or relaxed The
baby wouldn't settle.
settle somebody/something I took a pill to help settle my nerves.
This should settle your stomach.

come to rest
8 [intransitive] settle (on/over something) to fall from above and come to rest on something; to
stay for some time on something Dust had settled on everything.
Two birds settled on the fence.
I don't think the snow will settle (= remain on the ground without melting).
His gaze settled on her face.

sink down
9 [intransitive, transitive] settle (something) to sink slowly down; to make something do this
The contents of the package may have settled in transit.

pay money
10 [transitive, intransitive] to pay the money that you owe settle something Please settle your
bill before leaving the hotel.
The insurance company is refusing to settle her claim.
settle (up) (with somebody) Let me settle with you for the meal.
I'll pay now—we can settle up later.

Idioms
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.

settle a ˈscore/an acˈcount (with somebody), settle an old ˈscore

to hurt or punish somebody who has harmed or cheated you in the past ‘Who would do such a
thing?’ ‘Maybe someone with an old score to settle.’

Phrasal Verbs
ˌsettle ˈdown
1 to get into a comfortable position, either sitting or lying She settled down in an armchair to
watch television.
I settled down with a book.

2 to start to have a quieter way of life, living in one place When are you going to get married
and settle down?
It's time I settled down.

ˌsettle ˈdown | ˌsettle somebodyˈdown

to become or make somebody become calm, less excited, etc It always takes the class a while to
settle down at the start of the lesson.
Now, come on, settle down!
I’m sure things will settle down soon.
The early goal settled the home side down.

settle (down) to something

to begin to give your attention to something They finally settled down to a discussion of the main
issues.
He found it hard to settle to his work.

ˈsettle for something

to accept something that is not exactly what you want but is the best that is available In the end
they had to settle for a draw.
I couldn't afford the house I really wanted, so I had to settle for second best.
He didn’t see why he should settle for less.

ˌsettle ˈin | ˌsettle ˈinto something

to move into a new home, job, etc. and start to feel comfortable there How are the kids settling
into their new school?
It’s not always easy for a new player to settle in.

ˈsettle on something
to choose or make a decision about something after thinking about it Have you settled on a name
for the baby yet?

ˈsettle something on somebody

(law) to formally arrange to give money or property to somebody, especially in a will He settled
part of his estate on his son.

set·tle noun
BrE /ˈsetl/ ; NAmE /ˈsetl/
an old-fashioned piece of furniture with a long wooden seat and a high back and arms, often also
with a box for storing things under the seat

set·tled adjective
BrE /ˈsetld/ ; NAmE /ˈsetld/
1 not likely to change or move settled weather
a settled way of life
He never had a settled home as a child (= he moved around a lot or lived with different people).

2 comfortable and happy with your home, job, way of life, etc You’ll feel more settled when
you’ve been here a few weeks.
She seems fairly settled in her new job already.

OPPOSITE unsettled

set·tler noun
BrE /ˈsetlə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈsetlər/
a person who goes to live in a new country or region white settlers in Africa

sham noun
BrE /ʃæm/ ; NAmE /ʃæm/
(disapproving)
1 [singular] a situation, feeling, system, etc. that is not as good or true as it seems to be The latest
crime figures are a complete sham.
She felt trapped in a sham of a marriage.

2 [countable, usually singular] a person who pretends to be something that they are not The
article exposes him for the sham that he really is.

3 [uncountable] behaviour, feelings, words, etc. that are intended to make somebody/something
seem to be better than they really are Their promises turned out to be full of sham and hypocrisy.
His intellectual pretensions are all sham.

sham adjective
BrE /ʃæm/ ; NAmE /ʃæm/
[only before noun] (usually disapproving) not genuine but intended to seem real
SYNONYM false
a sham marriage

sham verb
BrE /ʃæm/ ; NAmE /ʃæm/

[intransitive, transitive] sham (something) + adjective to pretend something Is he really sick or

is he just shamming?

share·hold·er noun
BrE /ˈʃeəhəʊldə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈʃerhoʊldər/
an owner of shares in a company or business
- EXTRA EXAMPLES

Company shareholders approved the merger.

He has attracted new and existing shareholders to invest in his company.
He was voicing the concerns of ordinary shareholders.
The government is still a majority shareholder in the industry.
the major shareholders in the company

share·hold·ing noun
BrE /ˈʃeəhəʊldɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈʃerhoʊldɪŋ/
the amount of a company or business that somebody owns in the form of shares They have a 51
per cent shareholding in the business.

shel·ter noun
BrE /ˈʃeltə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈʃeltər/
1 [uncountable] the fact of having a place to live or stay, considered as a basic human need
Human beings need food, clothing and shelter.

2 [uncountable] shelter (from something) protection from rain, danger or attack to take shelter
from the storm
The fox was running for the shelter of the trees.
People were desperately seeking shelter from the gunfire.

3 [countable] (often in compounds) a structure built to give protection, especially from the
weather or from attack They built a rough shelter from old pieces of wood.
an air-raid shelter

SEE ALSO bus shelter

4 [countable] a building, usually owned by a charity, that provides a place to stay for people
without a home, or protection for people or animals who have been badly treated a night shelter
for the homeless
an animal shelter

SEE ALSO hostel

shel·ter verb
BrE /ˈʃeltə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈʃeltər/

1 [transitive] to give somebody/something a place where they are protected from the weather or
from danger; to protect somebody/something shelter somebody/something from
somebody/something Trees shelter the house from the wind.
shelter somebody/something helping the poor and sheltering the homeless
 Perhaps I sheltered my daughter too much (= protected her too much from unpleasant or
difficult experiences).

2 [intransitive] shelter (from something) to stay in a place that protects you from the weather
or from danger We sheltered from the rain in a doorway.

shel·tered adjective
BrE /ˈʃeltəd/ ; NAmE /ˈʃeltərd/
1 (of a place) protected from bad weather a sheltered beach
Herbs need fertile soil and a sunny sheltered position.
We had lunch in a sheltered spot behind the dunes.

2 (sometimes disapproving) protected from the more unpleasant aspects or difficulties of life She
had a very sheltered childhood.
They both lead very sheltered lives.

3 [only before noun] (British English) (of houses, flats/apartments, etc.) designed for people,
especially old people, who can still live fairly independent lives, but with staff available to help
them if necessary sheltered accommodation/housing
a sheltered workshop for the blind

hos·tel noun
BrE /ˈhɒstl/ ; NAmE /ˈhɑːstl/
1 a building that provides cheap accommodation and meals to students, workers or travellers
SEE ALSO youth hostel
2 (British English) (also shel·ter North American English, British English) a building, usually
run by a charity, where people who have no home can stay for a short time a hostel for the
homeless

shop·per noun
BrE /ˈʃɒpə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈʃɑːpər/
a person who buys goods from shops/stores The streets were full of Christmas shoppers.
Competition between stores can result in big savings for the shopper.

SEE ALSO mystery shopper, personal shopper

stop·per verb
BrE /ˈstɒpə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈstɑːpər/
stopper something
to close something with a stopper to stopper a flask/bottle

stop·per noun
BrE /ˈstɒpə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈstɑːpər/
(North American English also plug)
an object that fits into the top of a bottle to close it He pulled out the stopper and took a long
drink of water.
a bottle with a glass stopper

short·com·ing noun
BrE /ˈʃɔːtkʌmɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈʃɔːrtkʌmɪŋ/
[usually plural]
a fault in somebody’s character, a plan, a system, etc.
SYNONYM defect
She made me aware of my own shortcomings.
Despite a number of shortcomings, the project will still go ahead.

shot noun
BrE /ʃɒt/ ; NAmE /ʃɑːt/
SEE ALSO shoot
with gun
1 [countable] shot (at somebody/something) the act of firing a gun; the sound this makes The
man fired several shots from his pistol.
Someone took a shot at the car.
We heard some shots in the distance.

SEE ALSO gunshot, potshot

2 [countable] a good, bad, etc. shot a person who shoots a gun in a particular way (well, badly,
etc.)
bullets
3 (also ˌlead ˈshot) [uncountable] a large number of small metal balls that you fire together from
a shotgun
SEE ALSO buckshot
4 [countable] (plural shot) a large stone or metal ball that was shot from a cannon or large gun in
the past
remark/action
5 [countable] a remark or an action that is usually one of a series, and is aimed against
somebody/something that you are arguing or competing with This statement was the opening
shot in the argument.
The supermarket fired the first shot in a price war today.

attempt
6 [countable, usually singular] shot (at something/at doing something) (informal) the act of
trying to do or achieve something The team are looking good for a shot at the title.
I've never produced a play before but I'll have a shot at it.
I'm willing to give it a shot.
Just give it your best shot (= try as hard as you can) and you'll be fine.

in sport
7 [countable] the action of hitting, kicking or throwing the ball in order to score a point or goal
in a game Taylor scored with a low shot into the corner of the net.
Good shot!

8 (also the shot) [singular] the heavy ball that is used in the sports competition called shot-put
photograph
9 [countable] a photograph I got some good shots of people at the party.

SEE ALSO mugshot, snapshot

scene in film/movie
10 [countable] a scene in a film/movie that is filmed continuously by one camera the opening
shot of a character walking across a desert

drug
11 [countable] (informal, especially North American English) a small amount of a drug that is
put into your body using a syringe
SYNONYM injection
a flu shot (= to protect you against flu)
a shot of morphine

drink
12 [countable] (informal) a small amount of a drink, especially a strong alcoholic one a shot of
whisky

of spacecraft
13 [countable] an occasion when a spacecraft is sent into space The space shot was shown live on
television.

horse/dog in race
14 [singular] (used with numbers) a horse, dog, etc. that has the particular chance of winning a
race that is mentioned The horse is a 10–1 shot.

You will find other compounds ending in shot at their place in the alphabet.

Idioms
a big noise/shot/name
an important person
call the ˈshots/ˈtune
(informal) to be the person who controls a situation
like a ˈshot
(informal) very quickly and without hesitating If I had the chance to go there, I'd go like a shot.

a ˈlong shot
an attempt or a guess that is not likely to be successful but is worth trying It's a long shot, but it
just might work.

not by a ˈlong chalk (British English)

(also not by a ˈlong shot North American English, British English)
not nearly; not at all It's not over yet—not by a long chalk.

ˌparting ˈshot
a final remark, especially an unkind one, that somebody makes as they leave As her parting shot
she warned Pete never to come near her again.

a shot across the/somebody’s ˈbows

something that you say or do as a warning to somebody about what might happen if they do not
change, etc.
a shot in the ˈarm
something that gives somebody/something the help or encouragement they need
a shot/stab in the ˈdark
a guess; something you do without knowing what the result will be The figure he came up with
was really just a shot in the dark.

shot adjective
BrE /ʃɒt/ ; NAmE /ʃɑːt/
SEE ALSO shoot
1 shot (with something) (of cloth, hair, etc.) having another colour showing through or mixed
with the main colour shot silk
black hair shot with grey
a cloudy sky shot with streaks of sunlight

2 [not before noun] (informal) in a very bad condition; destroyed The brakes on this car are shot.
I'm shot—I'm too old for this job.
After the accident his nerves were shot to pieces.

Idioms
be/get ˈshot of somebody/something
(British English, informal) to get rid of somebody/something so you no longer have the problems
they cause By the end of the week I just couldn’t wait to get shot of them.
shot through with something
containing a lot of a particular colour, quality or feature a voice shot through with emotion

show verb
BrE /ʃəʊ/ ; NAmE /ʃoʊ/
The form showed is rare as a past participle.

make clear
1 [transitive] to make something clear; to prove something show (that)… The figures clearly
show that her claims are false.
The government's popularity is declining rapidly, as the opinion polls show.
show somebody that… Market research has shown us that people want quality, not just low
prices.
show something a report showing the company’s current situation
show somebody/something to be/have something His new book shows him to be a first-rate
storyteller.
show (somebody) how, what, etc… This shows how people are influenced by TV
advertisements.

let somebody see something

2 [transitive] to let somebody see something show something You have to show your ticket as
you go in.
show something to somebody If there's a letter from France please show it to me.
Have you shown your work to anyone?
show somebody something Have you shown anyone your work?

teach
3 [transitive] to help somebody to do something by letting them watch you do it or by explaining
it show something to somebody She showed the technique to her students.
show somebody something She showed her students the technique.
Can you show me how to do it?

point
4 [transitive] show somebody something to point to something so that somebody can see where
or what it is He showed me our location on the map.
show somebody which, what, etc… Show me which picture you drew.

guide
5 [transitive] to lead or guide somebody to a place show somebody + adverb/preposition The
attendant showed us to our seats.
We were shown into the waiting room.
show somebody something I'll go first and show you the way.
quality/behaviour/feeling
6 [transitive] to make it clear that you have a particular quality show something to show great
courage
show yourself + adjective She had shown herself unable to deal with money.
show yourself to be/have something He has shown himself to be ready to make compromises.
show that… He has shown that he is ready to make compromises.

7 [transitive] to behave in a particular way towards somebody show something (for/to

somebody) They showed no respect for their parents.
show somebody something They showed their parents no respect.

8 [intransitive, transitive] if a feeling or quality shows, or if you show it, people can see it Fear
showed in his eyes.
She tried not to let her disappointment show.
She's nearly forty now. And it shows (= it's obvious).
show something Her expression showed her disappointment.
James began to show signs of impatience.
show how, what, etc… She tried not to show how disappointed she was.

be visible
9 [intransitive, transitive] if something shows, people can see it. If something shows a mark,
dirt, etc., the mark can be seen She had a warm woollen hat and scarf on that left only her eyes
and nose showing.
show something Their new white carpet showed every mark.

information
10 [transitive] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) show something to give particular
information, or a time or measurement The map shows the principal towns and rivers.
The clock showed midnight.
The end-of-year accounts show a loss.

of picture/photograph
11 [transitive] show something show somebody/something (as something) show
somebody/something doing something to be of somebody/something; to represent
somebody/something She had objected to a photo showing her in a bikini.

for public to see

12 [intransitive, transitive] to be or make something available for the public to see The movie is
now showing at all major movie theaters.
show something The movie is being shown now.
She plans to show her paintings early next year.

prove
13 [transitive, no passive] (informal) to prove that you can do something or are something show
somebody (something) They think I can't do it, but I'll show them!
show yourself to be/have something He has shown himself to be a caring father.
arrive
14 [intransitive] (informal, especially North American English) to arrive where you have
arranged to meet somebody or do something I waited an hour but he didn't show.

SEE ALSO show up

animal
15 [transitive] show something to enter an animal in a competition

Idioms
fly/show/wave the ˈflag
to show your support for your country, an organization or an idea to encourage or persuade
others to do the same
go through your ˈpaces, show your ˈpaces
to perform a particular activity in order to show other people what you are capable of doing We
watched the horses going through their paces.
The British team showed its paces during a training session in the hotel pool.

it goes to ˈshow
used to say that something proves something It just goes to show what you can do when you
really try.

show somebody the ˈdoor

to ask somebody to leave, because they are no longer welcome
show your ˈface
to appear among your friends or in public She stayed at home, afraid to show her face.

show your ˈhand/ˈcards

(North American English also tip your ˈhand)
to make your plans or intentions known
show somebody/know/learn the ˈropes
(informal) to show somebody/know/learn how a particular job should be done
show the ˈway
to do something first so that other people can follow
show somebody who’s ˈboss
to make it clear to somebody that you have more power and authority than they have
show ˈwilling
(British English) to show that you are ready to help, work hard, etc. if necessary
(have) something, nothing, etc. to ˈshow for something
(to have) something, nothing, etc. as a result of something All those years of hard work, and
nothing to show for it!

Phrasal Verbs
ˌshow somebody aˈround/ˈround (something)
to be a guide for somebody when they visit a place for the first time to show them what is
interesting We were shown around the school by one of the students.
Has anyone shown you round yet?

ˌshow ˈoff
(informal, disapproving) to try to impress others by talking about your abilities, possessions, etc
He's just showing off because that girl he likes is here.

RELATED NOUN show-off

ˌshow somebody/somethingˈoff
to show people somebody/something that you are proud of She wanted to show off her new
husband at the party.
show off how, what, etc… He likes to show off how well he speaks French.

ˌshow somethingˈoff
(of clothing) to make somebody look attractive, by showing their best features a dress that shows
off her figure

ˌshow ˈthrough | ˌshow ˈthrough something

to be able to be seen behind or under something else The writing on the other side of the page
shows through.
(figurative) When he spoke, his bitterness showed through.
Veins showed through her pale skin.

ˌshow ˈup
(informal) to arrive where you have arranged to meet somebody or do something It was getting
late when she finally showed up.

ˌshow ˈup | ˌshow somethingˈup

to become visible; to make something become visible a broken bone showed up on the X-ray
The harsh light showed up the lines on her face.

ˌshow somebodyˈup
1 (British English, informal) to make somebody feel embarrassed by behaving badly He showed
me up by snoring during the concert.

2 to make somebody feel embarrassed by doing something better than them Don’t worry about
being shown up by the kids—they’ve always used computers.

show noun
BrE /ʃəʊ/ ; NAmE /ʃoʊ/
entertainment
1 [countable] a theatre performance, especially one that includes singing and dancing to go to a
show
a one-woman/-man show
to put on/stage a show
She's the star of the show!

SEE ALSO floor show, roadshow

2 [countable] a programme on television or the radio to host a show
a TV/radio show
a quiz show

SEE ALSO chat show, game show, roadshow, talk show

3 [countable] (North American English, informal) a concert, especially of rock music My first
full-scale rock show was Fleetwood Mac, Madison Square Garden, back in 1977.

of collection of things
4 [countable, uncountable] an occasion when a collection of things are brought together for
people to look at an agricultural show
The latest computers will be on show at the exhibition.
A local artist is holding a show of her recent work.

SEE ALSO fashion show, peep show

of feeling
5 [countable] an action or a way of behaving that shows how you feel
SYNONYM display
a show of emotion
a show of support
a show of force/strength by the army

insincere act
6 [uncountable, singular] something that is done only to give a good impression, but is not
sincere He may seem charming, but it's all show!
She pretends to be interested in opera, but it's only for show.
He made a great show of affection, but I knew he didn't mean it.

colourful sight
7 [countable, uncountable] a brightly coloured or pleasing sight
SYNONYM display
a lovely show of spring flowers

event/situation
8 [singular] (informal) an event, a business or a situation where something is being done or
organized She runs the whole show.
I won't interfere—it's your show.

good/poor show
9 [countable, usually singular] (informal, especially British English) something that is done in a
particular way The team put on a good show in the competition.
It's a poor show if he forgets your birthday.
Idioms
a ˌdog and ˈpony show
(North American English, informal, disapproving) an event that is planned only in order to
impress people so that they will support or buy something the dog and pony show of his visits to
the war zone
a dog and pony show to sell the idea to investors

for ˈshow
intended to be seen but not used These items are just for show—they're not for sale.

get the ˌshow on the ˈroad

(informal) to start an activity or a journey Let's get this show on the road!

(jolly) good ˈshow!

(old-fashioned, British English, informal) used to show you like something or to say that
somebody has done something well
a show of ˈhands
a group of people each raising a hand to vote for or against something The vote was passed by a
show of hands.
Let’s have a show of hands. Who’s in favour of the proposal?

steal the ˈshow

[no passive] to attract more attention and praise than other people in a particular situation As
always, the children stole the show.
British bands stole the show at this year’s awards.

shrivel verb
BrE /ˈʃrɪvl/ ; NAmE /ˈʃrɪvl/
[intransitive, transitive]

to become or make something dry and wrinkled as a result of heat, cold or being old shrivel (up)
The leaves on the plant had shrivelled up from lack of water.
shrivel something (up) The hot weather had shrivelled the grapes in every vineyard.

shriv·elled adjective
BrE /ˈʃrɪvld/ ; NAmE /ˈʃrɪvld/
(US English shriveled)
dry and wrinkled as a result of heat, cold or being old a shrivelled old man
sift verb
BrE /sɪft/ ; NAmE /sɪft/

1 [transitive] sift something to put flour or some other fine substance through a sieve / sifter Sift
the flour into a bowl.

2 [transitive, intransitive] to examine something very carefully in order to decide what is

important or useful or to find something important sift something We will sift every scrap of
evidence.
Computers are being used to sift the information.
sift through something Crash investigators have been sifting through the wreckage of the
aircraft.

3 [transitive] sift something (out) from something to separate something from a group of things
He sifted the relevant data from the rest.
She looked quickly through the papers, sifting out from the pile anything that looked interesting.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌsift somethingˈout
1 to remove something that you do not want from a substance by putting it through a sieve Put
the flour through a sieve to sift out the lumps.

2 to separate something, usually something you do not want, from a group of things We need to
sift out the applications that have no chance of succeeding.

sin·is·ter adjective
BrE /ˈsɪnɪstə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈsɪnɪstər/
seeming evil or dangerous; making you think something bad will happen There was something
cold and sinister about him.
There is another, more sinister, possibility.
We needn’t assume that there was a sinister motive for what she did.

sin noun
BrE /sɪn/ ; NAmE /sɪn/
1 [countable] an offence against God or against a religious or moral law to commit a sin
Confess your sins to God and he will forgive you.
The Bible says that stealing is a sin.

SEE ALSO mortal sin, original sin

2 [uncountable] the act of breaking a religious or moral law a life of sin
3 [countable, usually singular] (informal) an action that people strongly disapprove of It's a sin to
waste taxpayers' money like that.

SEE ALSO sinful, sinner

Idioms
be/do something for your sins
(informal, humorous, especially British English) used to say that something that somebody does
is like a punishment She works with us in Accounts, for her sins!

cover/hide a multitude of sins

(often humorous) to hide the real situation or facts when these are not good or pleasant She was
dressed in loose comfortable clothes that hid a multitude of sins.

live in ˈsin
(old-fashioned or humorous) to live together and have a sexual relationship without being
married
(as) miserable/ugly as ˈsin
(informal) used to emphasize that somebody is very unhappy or ugly

sin verb
BrE /sɪn/ ; NAmE /sɪn/

[intransitive] to break a religious or moral law Forgive me, Lord, for I have sinned.
sin against somebody/something He was more sinned against than sinning (= although he did
wrong, other people treated him even worse).

hex noun
BrE /heks/ ; NAmE /heks/
a word or phrase that has a magic power to harm somebody to put a hex on somebody

COMPARE curse

skep·tical (North American English) (British English scep·tical) adjective

BrE /ˈskeptɪkl/ ; NAmE /ˈskeptɪkl/
skeptical (about/of something) having doubts that a claim or statement is true or that something
will happen I am skeptical about his chances of winning.
The public remain skeptical of these claims.
She looked highly skeptical.

skep·tic (North American English) (British English scep·tic) noun

BrE /ˈskeptɪk/ ; NAmE /ˈskeptɪk/
a person who usually doubts that claims or statements are true, especially those that other people
believe in I am a born skeptic.
He was unable to convince the skeptics in the audience.

skew verb
BrE /skjuː/ ; NAmE /skjuː/

1 [transitive] skew something to change or influence something with the result that it is not
accurate, fair, normal, etc to skew the statistics

2 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition (British English) to move or lie at an angle, especially in a

position that is not normal The ball skewed off at a right angle.

slime noun
BrE /slaɪm/ ; NAmE /slaɪm/
[uncountable]
any unpleasant thick liquid substance
The pond was full of mud and green slime.
Snails and slugs leave a trail of slime.

SEE ALSO slimy

slimy adjective
BrE /ˈslaɪmi/ ; NAmE /ˈslaɪmi/
(slimi·er, slimi·est)
1 like or covered with slime thick slimy mud
The walls were black, cold and slimy.

2 (informal, disapproving) (of a person or their manner) polite and extremely friendly in a way
that is not sincere or honest

slip verb
BrE /slɪp/ ; NAmE /slɪp/

slide/fall
1 [intransitive] slip (over) to slide a short distance by accident so that you fall or nearly fall She
slipped over on the ice and broke her leg.
As I ran up the stairs, my foot slipped and I fell.

out of position
2 [intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) to slide out of position or out of your hand His hat had
slipped over one eye.
The fish slipped out of my hand.
The child slipped from his grasp and ran off.
(figurative) She was careful not to let her control slip.

go/put quickly
3 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to go somewhere quickly and quietly, especially without
being noticed
SYNONYM creep
She slipped out of the house before the others were awake.
The ship slipped into the harbour at night.
(figurative) She knew that time was slipping away.

4 [transitive] to put something somewhere quickly, quietly or secretly slip something +

adverb/preposition Anna slipped her hand into his.
He slipped the letter back into its envelope.
She slipped her head around the door.
I managed to slip a few jokes into my speech.
I managed to slip in a few jokes.
slip something to somebody They'd slipped some money to the guards.
slip somebody something They'd slipped the guards some money.

become worse
5 [intransitive] to fall to a lower level; to become worse His popularity has slipped recently.
The director never lets the tension slip.
That's three times she's beaten me—I must be slipping!

into difficult situation

6 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to pass into a particular state or situation, especially a
difficult or unpleasant one He began to slip into debt.
The patient had slipped into a coma.
We seem to have slipped behind schedule.

clothes on/off
7 [intransitive, transitive] to put clothes on or to take them off quickly and easily +
adverb/preposition to slip into/out of a dress
slip something + adverb/preposition to slip your shoes on/off
He slipped a coat over his sweatshirt.

get free
8 [transitive] to get free; to make something/somebody/yourself free from something slip
something The ship had slipped its moorings in the night.
The dog slipped its collar.
slip (something) + adjective The animal had slipped free and escaped.
Idioms
let ˈslip something
to give somebody information that is supposed to be secret I happened to let it slip that he had
given me £1 000 for the car.
She tried not to let slip what she knew.

let something ˈslip (through your fingers)

to miss or fail to use an opportunity Don't let the chance to work abroad slip through your
fingers.

(slip/be thrown) out of ˈgear

(of emotions or situations) (to become) out of control She said nothing in case her temper
slipped out of gear.

roll/slip/trip off the ˈtongue

to be easy to say or pronounce It's not a name that exactly trips off the tongue, is it?

slip your ˈmind

if something slips your mind, you forget it or forget to do it I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. It
completely slipped my mind.

ˌslip one ˈover on somebody

(informal) to trick somebody
slip through the ˈnet
when somebody/something slips through the net, an organization or a system fails to find them
and deal with them We tried to contact all former students, but one or two slipped through the
net.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌslip aˈway
to stop existing; to disappear or die Their support gradually slipped away.

ˌslip ˈout
when something slips out, you say it without really intending to I'm sorry I said that. It just
slipped out.

ˌslip ˈup
(informal) to make a careless mistake We can't afford to slip up.
The government slipped up badly over the scandal.

RELATED NOUN slip-up

slip noun
BrE /slɪp/ ; NAmE /slɪp/
small mistake
1 a small mistake, usually made by being careless or not paying attention He recited the whole
poem without making a single slip.
There were a few slips in the translation.

SEE ALSO Freudian slip

piece of paper
2 a small piece of paper, especially one for writing on or with something printed on it I wrote it
down on a slip of paper.
a betting slip

SEE ALSO payslip

act of slipping
3 an act of slipping One slip and you could fall to your death.

clothing
4 a piece of women’s underwear like a thin dress or skirt, worn under a dress
in cricket
5 a player who stands behind and to one side of the batsman and tries to catch the ball; the
position on the field where this player stands fielding in the slips

Idioms
give somebody the ˈslip
(informal) to escape or get away from somebody who is following or chasing you I managed to
give him the slip by hiding behind a wall.

a ˈslip of a boy, girl, etc.

(old-fashioned) a small or thin, usually young, person She’s only a slip of a thing.

a slip of the ˈpen/ˈtongue

a small mistake in something that you write or say Did I call you Richard? Sorry, Robert, just a
slip of the tongue.

there’s ˌmany a ˈslip ’twixt ˌcup and ˈlip

(saying) nothing is completely certain until it really happens because things can easily go wrong

slot noun
BrE /slɒt/ ; NAmE /slɑːt/
1 a long narrow opening, into which you put or fit something to put some coins in the slot

2 a position, a time or an opportunity for somebody/something, for example in a list, a

programme of events or a series of broadcasts He has a regular slot on the late-night
programme.
Their album has occupied the Number One slot for the past six weeks.
the airport’s take-off and landing slots

slot verb
BrE /slɒt/ ; NAmE /slɑːt/

[transitive, intransitive] to put something into a space that is available or designed for it; to fit
into such a space slot something + adverb/preposition He slotted a disk into the drive.
The bed comes in sections which can be quickly slotted together.
+ adverb/preposition The dishwasher slots neatly between the cupboards.
These tubes slot together like this.

Idioms
fall/slot into ˈplace
if something complicated or difficult to understand falls or slots into place, it becomes
organized or clear in your mind Then I found his diary and it all began to fall into place.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌslot somebody/somethingˈin
to manage to find a position, a time or an opportunity for somebody/something I can slot you in
between 3 and 4.
We slotted in some extra lessons before the exam.

smelt verb
BrE /smelt/ ; NAmE /smelt/

smelt something to heat and melt ore (= rock that contains metal) in order to obtain the metal it
contains a method of smelting iron

SEE ALSO smell

snap·shot noun
BrE /ˈsnæpʃɒt/ ; NAmE /ˈsnæpʃɑːt/
1
= snap
snapshots of the children

snare noun
BrE /sneə(r)/ ; NAmE /sner/
1 a device used for catching small animals and birds, especially one that holds their leg so that
they cannot escape
SYNONYM trap
The rabbit’s foot was caught in a snare.

2 (formal) a situation which seems attractive but is unpleasant and difficult to escape from City
life can be full of snares for young people.

3 the metal strings that are stretched across the bottom of a snare drum

snare verb
BrE /sneə(r)/ ; NAmE /sner/

snare something/somebody to catch something, especially an animal, in a snare

SYNONYM trap
to snare a rabbit
(figurative) Her one thought was to snare a rich husband.
(figurative) He found himself snared in a web of intrigue.
There is to be a crackdown on the use of giant fishing nets that snare dolphins.

snug·gle verb
BrE /ˈsnʌɡl/ ; NAmE /ˈsnʌɡl/
[intransitive, transitive]

to get into, or to put somebody/something into, a warm comfortable position, especially close to
somebody + adverb/preposition The child snuggled up to her mother.
He snuggled down under the bedclothes.
She snuggled closer.
snuggle something + adverb/preposition He snuggled his head onto her shoulder.

soar verb
BrE /sɔː(r)/ ; NAmE /sɔːr/

1 [intransitive] if the value, amount or level of something soars, it rises very quickly
SYNONYM rocket
soaring costs/prices/temperatures
Air pollution will soon soar above safety levels.
Unemployment has soared to 18%.

2 [intransitive] soar (up) (into something) to rise quickly and smoothly up into the air The
rocket soared (up) into the air.
(figurative) Her spirits soared (= she became very happy and excited).

3 [intransitive] to fly very high in the air or remain high in the air an eagle soaring high above
the cliffs

4 [intransitive] to be very high or tall soaring mountains

The building soared above us.

5 [intransitive] when music soars, it becomes higher or louder soaring strings

soar·away adjective
BrE /ˈsɔːrəweɪ/ ; NAmE /ˈsɔːrəweɪ/
[only before noun] (British English)
(especially of success) very great; growing very quickly

sob verb
BrE /sɒb/ ; NAmE /sɑːb/

1 [intransitive] to cry noisily, taking sudden, sharp breaths I heard a child sobbing loudly.
He started to sob uncontrollably.

2 [transitive] to say something while you are crying + speech ‘I hate him,’ she sobbed.
sob something (out) He sobbed out his troubles.

Idioms
sob your ˈheart out
to cry noisily for a long time because you are very sad

sob noun
BrE /sɒb/ ; NAmE /sɑːb/
an act or the sound of sobbing He gave a deep sob.
Her body was racked (= shaken) with sobs.
She managed to stifle (= stop) a sob.

sober adjective
BrE /ˈsəʊbə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈsoʊbər/
1 [not usually before noun] not drunk (= not affected by alcohol) I promised him that I'd stay
sober tonight.
He was as sober as a judge (= completely sober).

2 (of people and their behaviour) serious and sensible a sober assessment of the situation
He is honest, sober and hard-working.
On sober reflection (= after some serious thought), I don't think I really need a car after all.

3 (of colours or clothes) plain and not bright a sober grey suit

sober verb
BrE /ˈsəʊbə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈsoʊbər/

[transitive, intransitive] sober (somebody) to make somebody behave or think in a more serious
and sensible way; to become more serious and sensible The bad news sobered us for a while.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌsober ˈup | ˌsober somebody ˈup
to become or to make somebody no longer drunk Stay here with us until you've sobered up.

son·ata noun
BrE /səˈnɑːtə/ ; NAmE /səˈnɑːtə/
a piece of music for one instrument or for one instrument and a piano, usually divided into three
or four parts Beethoven’s piano sonatas
a violin sonata

sore adjective
BrE /sɔː(r)/ ; NAmE /sɔːr/
1 if a part of your body is sore, it is painful, and often red, especially because of infection or
because a muscle has been used too much to have a sore throat
His feet were sore after the walk.
My stomach is still sore (= painful) after the operation.

2 [not before noun] sore (at somebody/about something) (informal, especially North American
English) upset and angry, especially because you have been treated unfairly
SYNONYM annoyed

Idioms
like a bear with a sore ˈhead
(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.

a ˌsight for sore ˈeyes

(informal) a person or thing that you are pleased to see; something that is very pleasant to look at
a ˌsore ˈpoint
a subject that makes you feel angry or upset when it is mentioned It's a sore point with Sue's
parents that the children have not been baptized yet.
stand/stick out like a sore ˈthumb
to be very noticeable in an unpleasant way The blue building stood out like a sore thumb among
the whitewashed villas.
If you wear a suit to the party, you’ll stand out like a sore thumb.

sore noun
BrE /sɔː(r)/ ; NAmE /sɔːr/
a painful, often red, place on your body where there is a wound or an infection
SYNONYM wound1
open sores

SEE ALSO bedsore, canker sore, cold sore

sort noun
BrE /sɔːt/ ; NAmE /sɔːrt/
1 [countable] a group or type of people or things that are similar in a particular way
SYNONYM kind
‘What sort of music do you like?’ ‘Oh, all sorts.’
This sort of problem is quite common./These sorts of problems are quite common.
He's the sort of person who only cares about money.
For dessert there's a fruit pie of some sort (= you are not sure what kind).
Most people went on training courses of one sort or another (= of various types) last year.
(informal) There were snacks—peanuts, olives, that sort of thing.
(informal) There are all sorts of activities (= many different ones) for kids at the campsite.
(informal) What sort of price did you want to pay?(= approximately how much)
(informal) What sort of time do you call this?(= I'm very angry that you have come so late.)

2 [countable, usually singular] (informal, especially British English) a particular type of person
My brother would never cheat on his wife; he's not that sort.

3 (computing) [singular] the process of putting data in a particular order to do a sort

Idioms
it takes all sorts (to make a world)
(saying) used to say that you think somebody’s behaviour is very strange or unusual but that
everyone is different and likes different things ‘They spent their honeymoon mountain climbing.’
‘Oh well, it takes all sorts!’

nothing of the ˈkind/ˈsort

used to emphasize that the situation is very different from what has been said ‘I was terrible!’
‘You were nothing of the kind.’
of ˈsorts
(informal) used when you are saying that something is not a good example of a particular type of
thing He offered us an apology of sorts.

out of ˈsorts
(especially British English) ill/sick or upset She was tired and out of sorts by the time she arrived
home.
Are you feeling all right? You look a bit out of sorts.

sort of
(also sorta)
(informal)
to some extent but in a way that you cannot easily describe She sort of pretends that she doesn't
really care.
‘Do you understand?’ ‘Sort of.’

a sort of something
(informal) used for describing something in a not very exact way I had a sort of feeling that he
wouldn't come.
They're a sort of greenish-blue colour.

sort verb
BrE /sɔːt/ ; NAmE /sɔːrt/

1 to arrange things in groups or in a particular order according to their type, etc.; to separate
things of one type from others sort something sorting the mail
sort something into something The computer sorts the words into alphabetical order.
Rubbish can easily be separated and sorted into plastics, glass and paper.
sort something from something Women and children sorted the ore from the rock.

SEE ALSO sort somethingout

2 [often passive] sort something (informal, especially British English) to deal with a problem
successfully or organize something/somebody properly I'm really busy—can you sort it?

COMPARE sorted

Idioms
separate/sort out the ˌmen from the ˈboys
to show or prove who is brave, skilful, etc. and who is not
sort out/separate the ˌsheep from the ˈgoats
to distinguish people who are good at something, intelligent, etc. from those who are not
sort out/separate the ˌwheat from the ˈchaff
to distinguish useful or valuable people or things from ones that are not useful or have no value
We sifted through the application forms to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Phrasal Verbs
ˌsort itself ˈout
(of a problem) to stop being a problem without anyone having to take action It will all sort itself
out in the end.

ˌsort somethingˈout
1 (informal) to organize the contents of something; to tidy something The cupboards need
sorting out.

2 to organize something successfully If you're going to the bus station, can you sort out the
tickets for tomorrow?

ˌsort somethingˈout (from something)

to separate something from a larger group Could you sort out the toys that can be thrown away?
It was difficult to sort out the lies from the truth.

RELATED NOUN sort-out

ˌsort something/somebody/yourself ˈout
(especially British English) to deal with somebody’s/your own problems successfully If you can
wait a moment, I'll sort it all out for you.
You load up the car and I'll sort the kids out.

ˌsort somebodyˈout
(British English, informal) to deal with somebody who is causing trouble, etc. especially by
punishing or attacking them Wait till I get my hands on him—I'll soon sort him out!

ˈsort through something (for something)

to look through a number of things, either in order to find something or to put them in order I
sorted through my paperwork.
She sorted through her suitcase for something to wear.

sound noun
BrE /saʊnd/ ; NAmE /saʊnd/
something you hear
1 [countable] something that you can hear
SYNONYM noise
a high/low sound
a clicking/buzzing/scratching, etc. sound
the different sounds and smells of the forest
She heard the sound of footsteps outside.
He crept into the house trying not to make a sound.
2 [uncountable] continuous rapid movements (called vibrations ) that travel through air or water
and can be heard when they reach a person’s or an animal’s ear Sound travels more slowly than
light.

from television/radio
3 [uncountable] what you can hear coming from a television, radio, etc., or as part of a
film/movie Could you turn the sound up/down?
The sound quality of the tapes was excellent.

of musicians
4 [countable, uncountable] the effect that is produced by the music of a particular singer or group
of musicians I like their sound.

impression
5 [singular] the sound of something the idea or impression that you get of somebody/something
from what somebody says or what you read They had a wonderful time by the sound of it.
From the sound of things you were lucky to find him.
They're consulting a lawyer? I don't like the sound of that.

water
6 [countable] (often in place names) a narrow passage of water that joins two larger areas of
water
SYNONYM strait
Plymouth Sound

Idioms
like, etc. the sound of your own ˈvoice
(disapproving) to like talking a lot or too much, usually without wanting to listen to other people
She’s much too fond of the sound of her own voice.

within (the) sound of something

(British English) near enough to be able to hear something a house within sound of the sea

sound verb
BrE /saʊnd/ ; NAmE /saʊnd/
(not usually used in the progressive tenses)

give impression
1 linking verb to give a particular impression when heard or read about + adjective His voice
sounded strange on the phone.
She didn't sound surprised when I told her the news.
His explanation sounds reasonable to me.
Leo made it sound so easy. But it wasn't.
He doesn’t sound French—and he doesn’t look it.
+ noun She sounds just the person we need for the job.
sound like somebody/something You sounded just like your father when you said that.
sound as if/as though… I hope I don’t sound as if/as though I’m criticizing you.

In spoken English people often use like instead of as if or as though, especially in North
American English, but this is not considered correct in written British English.
-sounding
2 (in adjectives) giving the impression of having a particular sound an Italian-sounding name
fine-sounding words

produce sound
3 [intransitive, transitive] to produce a sound; to make something such as a musical instrument
produce a sound The bell sounded for the end of the class.
(British English) sound something Passing motorists sounded their horns in support.

give warning/signal
4 [transitive] sound something to give a signal such as a warning by making a sound When I
saw the smoke, I tried to sound the alarm.
(figurative) Scientists have sounded a note of caution on the technique.
Leaving him out of the team may sound the death knell for our chances of winning (= signal the
end of our chances).

pronounce
5 [transitive] sound something (specialist) to pronounce something You don't sound the ‘b’ in
the word ‘comb’.

measure depth
6 [transitive, intransitive] sound (something) (specialist) to measure the depth of the sea or a
lake by using a line with a weight attached, or an electronic instrument

Idioms
look/sound suspiciously like something
(often humorous) to be very similar to something Their latest single sounds suspiciously like the
last one.

sound/strike a ˈnote (of ˈsomething)

to express feelings or opinions of a particular kind She sounded a note of warning in her speech.
The touch of cynicism struck a slightly sour note.

(it) ˌsounds like a plan to ˈme

(especially North American English) used to agree to a suggestion that you think is good
Phrasal Verbs
ˌsound ˈoff (about something)
(informal, disapproving) to express your opinions loudly or in an aggressive way He’s always
sounding off about falling standards in education.

ˌsound somebodyˈout (about/on something) | ˌsound somethingˈout

to try to find out from somebody what they think about something, often in an indirect way I
wanted to sound him out about a job.
They decided to sound out her interest in the project.

sound adjective
BrE /saʊnd/ ; NAmE /saʊnd/
(sound·er, sound·est)
reliable
1 sensible; that you can rely on and that will probably give good results a person of sound
judgement
He gave me some very sound advice.
This gives the design team a sound basis for their work.
The proposal makes sound commercial sense.
Their policies are environmentally sound.

OPPOSITE unsound
thorough
2 [only before noun] good and thorough a sound knowledge/understanding of something
He has a sound grasp of the issues.

not damaged/hurt
3 in good condition; not damaged, hurt, etc We arrived home safe and sound.
to be of sound mind (= not mentally ill)
The house needs attention but the roof is sound.

OPPOSITE unsound
sleep
4 [usually before noun] deep and peaceful to have a sound night’s sleep
to be a sound sleeper

good, but not excellent

5 good and accurate, but not excellent a sound piece of writing
a sound tennis player

physical punishment
6 severe to give somebody a sound beating

Idioms
(as) sound as a ˈbell
(informal) in perfect condition The doctor said I was as sound as a bell.
sound adverb
BrE /saʊnd/ ; NAmE /saʊnd/
sound asleep very deeply asleep

sound·ing noun
BrE /ˈsaʊndɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈsaʊndɪŋ/
1 soundings [plural] careful questions that are asked in order to find out people’s opinions about
something They will take soundings among party members.
What do your soundings show?

2 [countable] a measurement that is made to find out how deep water is They took soundings
along the canal.

span noun
BrE /spæn/ ; NAmE /spæn/
1 the length of time that something lasts or is able to continue I worked with him over a span of
six years.
The project must be completed within a specific time span.
Small children have a short attention span.
a study of the entire span of Arab history

SEE ALSO lifespan

2 span (of something) a range or variety of something Managers have a wide span of control.
These forests cover a broad span of latitudes.

3 the part of a bridge or an arch between one vertical support and another The bridge crosses the
river in a single span.

4 the width of something from one side to the other The kite has a span of 1.5 metres.

SEE ALSO wingspan

span verb
BrE /spæn/ ; NAmE /spæn/

1 span something to last all through a period of time or to cover the whole of it His acting
career spanned 55 years.
Family photos spanning five generations were stolen.

2 span something to include a large area or a lot of things The operation, which spanned nine
countries, resulted in 200 arrests.
His experience spanned not merely politics, but also business and journalism.
3 span something to stretch right across something, from one side to the other
SYNONYM cross
a series of bridges spanning the river
The roof was spanned by curved ribs of steel.

span adjective
BrE /spæn/ ; NAmE /spæn/

Idioms
ˌspick and ˈspan
(also ˌspic and ˈspan)
[not usually before noun] neat and clean Their house is always spick and span.

span·ner noun
BrE /ˈspænə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈspænər/
(British English) (also wrench North American English, British English)
a metal tool with a specially shaped end for holding and turning nuts and bolts (= small metal
rings and pins that hold things together) I’ll need a spanner to change the back wheel. ‫اچار‬

COMPARE adjustable spanner

Idioms
(throw) a ˈspanner in the works (British English)
(North American English (throw) a (ˈmonkey) ˈwrench in the works)
(to cause) a delay or problem with something that somebody is planning or doing

spare adjective
BrE /speə(r)/ ; NAmE /sper/
not used/needed
1 [usually before noun] that is not being used or is not needed at the present time We've got a
spare bedroom, if you'd like to stay.
I'm afraid I haven't got any spare cash.
Are there any tickets going spare (= are there any available, not being used by somebody else)?

extra
2 [only before noun] kept in case you need to replace the one you usually use; extra a spare
key/tyre
Take some spare clothes in case you get wet.
time
3 available to do what you want with rather than work He's studying music in his spare time.
I haven't had a spare moment this morning.

person
4 thin, and usually quite tall

Idioms
go ˈspare
(British English, informal) to become very angry or upset Your mum would go spare if she
knew!
I’ll go spare if I don’t get out of the house soon!

spare verb
BrE /speə(r)/ ; NAmE /sper/

time/money/room/thought, etc.
1 to make something such as time or money available to somebody or for something, especially
when it requires an effort for you to do this spare something/somebody I'd love to have a break,
but I can't spare the time just now.
Could you spare one of your staff to help us out?
spare something/somebody for somebody/something We can only spare one room for you.
You should spare a thought for (= think about) the person who cleans up after you.
He was late, but he spared a glance for the pretty girl at the desk.
spare somebody something Surely you can spare me a few minutes?

save somebody pain/trouble

2 to save somebody/yourself from having to go through an unpleasant experience spare
somebody/yourself something He wanted to spare his mother any anxiety.
Please spare me (= do not tell me) the gruesome details.
You could have spared yourself an unnecessary trip by phoning in advance.
spare somebody/yourself from something She was spared from the ordeal of appearing in
court.

not harm/damage
3 [usually passive] spare somebody/something (from something) (formal) to allow
somebody/something to escape harm, damage or death, especially when others do not escape it
spare somebody/something (from something) They killed the men but spared the children.
During the bombing only one house was spared (= was not hit by a bomb).
spare somebody/something something Hong Kong was spared a direct hit, but the storm still
brought heavy rains and powerful winds.

no effort/expense, etc.
4 spare no effort, expense, etc. to do everything possible to achieve something or to do
something well without trying to limit the time or money involved He spared no effort to make
her happy again.
No expense was spared in furnishing the new office.

work hard
5 not spare yourself to work as hard as possible

Idioms
spare somebody’s ˈblushes
(British English) to save somebody from an embarrassing situation A last minute goal spared
their blushes.

spare somebody’s ˈfeelings

to be careful not to do or say anything that might upset somebody
to ˈspare
if you have time, money, etc. to spare, you have more than you need I've got absolutely no
money to spare this month.
We arrived at the airport with five minutes to spare.

spare noun
BrE /speə(r)/ ; NAmE /sper/
1 an extra thing that you keep in case you need to replace the one you usually use (used
especially about a tyre of a car) to get the spare out of the boot/trunk
I've lost my key and I haven't got a spare.

2 spares [plural] (especially British English)

= spare part
It can be difficult to get spares for some older makes of car.

spa·tial (also spa·cial) adjective

BrE /ˈspeɪʃl/ ; NAmE /ˈspeɪʃl/
(formal or specialist)
relating to space and the position, size, shape, etc. of things in it changes taking place in the
spatial distribution of the population
the development of a child’s spatial awareness (= the ability to judge the positions and sizes of
objects)

spa·tial·ly adverb
BrE /ˈspeɪʃəli/ ; NAmE /ˈspeɪʃəli/
(formal or specialist)
in a way that relates to space and the position, size, shape, etc. of things in it Pictures are
spatially separated from the written text.

spat noun
BrE /spæt/ ; NAmE /spæt/
1 (informal) a short argument or disagreement about something unimportant
2 [usually plural] a cloth covering for the ankle that was worn in the past by men over the shoe
and fastened with buttons at the side
SEE ALSO spit

spear noun
BrE /spɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /spɪr/
1 a weapon with a long wooden handle and a sharp metal point used for fighting, hunting and
fishing in the past
2 the long pointed stem of some plants

spear verb
BrE /spɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /spɪr/

spear something/somebody to throw or push a spear or other pointed object through

something/somebody They were standing in the river spearing fish.
She speared an olive with her fork.

spectre (US English spec·ter) noun

BrE /ˈspektə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈspektər/
1 spectre (of something) something unpleasant that people are afraid might happen in the future
The country is haunted by the spectre of civil war.
These weeks of drought have once again raised the spectre of widespread famine.

2 (literary) a ghost Was he a spectre returning to haunt her?

spec·tra
BrE /ˈspektrə/ ; NAmE /ˈspektrə/
plural of spectrum

spec·tral adjective
BrE /ˈspektrəl/ ; NAmE /ˈspektrəl/
1 (literary) like a ghost; connected with a ghost a spectral figure

2 (specialist) connected with a spectrum spectral bands

the full spectral range

specu·late verb
BrE /ˈspekjuleɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈspekjuleɪt/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to form an opinion about something without knowing all the details or
facts speculate (about/on/as to something) We all speculated about the reasons for her
resignation.
They were all speculating as to the identity of the stranger.
speculate why, how, etc… It is useless to speculate why he did it.
speculate that… We can speculate that the stone circles were used in some sort of pagan
ceremony.

2 [intransitive] speculate (in/on something) to buy goods, property, shares, etc., hoping to make
a profit when you sell them, but with the risk of losing money He likes to speculate on the stock
market.

specu·la·tion noun
BrE /ˌspekjuˈleɪʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌspekjuˈleɪʃn/
[uncountable, countable]
1 the act of forming opinions about what has happened or what might happen without knowing
all the facts speculation (that…) There was widespread speculation that she was going to resign.
His private life is the subject of much speculation.
speculation (about/over something) Today's announcement ends months of speculation about
the company's future.
The president’s absence led to speculation over his health.
She dismissed the newspaper reports as pure speculation.
Our speculations proved right.

2 speculation (in something) the activity of buying and selling goods or shares in a company in
the hope of making a profit, but with the risk of losing money speculation in oil

specu·la·tive adjective
BrE /ˈspekjələtɪv/ ; NAmE /ˈspekjələtɪv/ , also /ˈspekjəleɪtɪv/
1 based on guessing or on opinions that have been formed without knowing all the facts The
report is highly speculative and should be ignored.

2 showing that you are trying to guess something She cast a speculative look at Kate.

3 (of business activity) done in the hope of making a profit but involving the risk of losing
money speculative investment
spuri·ous adjective
BrE /ˈspjʊəriəs/ ; NAmE /ˈspjʊriəs/
1 false, although seeming to be genuine He had managed to create the entirely spurious
impression that the company was thriving.

2 based on false ideas or ways of thinking a spurious argument

spuri·ous·ly adverb
BrE /ˈspjʊəriəsli/ ; NAmE /ˈspjʊriəsli/
1 in a way that is false, although it seems to be genuine spuriously medieval language

2 in a way that is based on false ideas or ways of thinking It is spuriously argued that customers
are demanding these changes, but this is not the case.

spur noun
BrE /spɜː(r)/ ; NAmE /spɜːr/
1 a sharp pointed object that riders sometimes wear on the heels of their boots and use to
encourage their horse to go faster He dug his spurs into the horse’s sides.

2 [usually singular] spur (to something) a fact or an event that makes you want to do something
better or more quickly
SYNONYM motivation
His speech was a powerful spur to action.
A few encouraging words might provide just the spur she needs.

3 an area of high ground that sticks out from a mountain or hill

4 a road or a railway/railroad track that leads from the main road or line

Idioms
on the ˌspur of the ˈmoment
suddenly, without planning in advance I phoned him up on the spur of the moment.
a spur-of-the-moment decision

win/earn your ˈspurs

(formal) to achieve fame or success

spur verb
BrE /spɜː(r)/ ; NAmE /spɜːr/

1 to encourage somebody to do something or to encourage them to try harder to achieve

something spur somebody/something (on) to something/to do something Her difficult childhood
spurred her on to succeed.
My trainer spurred me to keep up a pace of four miles an hour.
spur somebody/something into something I was spurred into action by the letter.
spur somebody/something (on) The band has been spurred on by the success of their last single.

2 spur something to make something happen faster or sooner The agreement is essential to
spurring economic growth around the world.
The fire, spurred by high temperatures and strong winds, had burnt more than 140 acres.

3 spur something to encourage a horse to go faster, especially by pushing the spurs on your
boots into its side As he shouted his order he spurred the horse forward suddenly.

squirm verb
BrE /skwɜːm/ ; NAmE /skwɜːrm/

1 [intransitive] to move around a lot making small twisting movements, because you are nervous,
uncomfortable, etc.
SYNONYM wriggle
(+ adverb/preposition) The children were squirming restlessly in their seats.
+ adjective Someone grabbed him but he managed to squirm free.

2 [intransitive] to feel great embarrassment or shame It made him squirm to think how badly he'd
messed up the interview.

wrig·gle verb
BrE /ˈrɪɡl/ ; NAmE /ˈrɪɡl/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to twist and turn your body or part of it with quick short movements
SYNONYM wiggle
wriggle (about/around) The baby was wriggling around on my lap.
wriggle something She wriggled her toes.

2 [intransitive, transitive] to move somewhere by twisting and turning your body or part of it
SYNONYM squirm
(+ adverb/preposition) The fish wriggled out of my fingers.
+ adjective She managed to wriggle free.
wriggle your way/yourself + adverb/preposition They wriggled their way through the tunnel.
He wriggled himself into a comfortable position.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌwriggle ˈout of something/out of doing something
(informal, disapproving) to avoid doing something that you should do, especially by thinking of
clever excuses He tried desperately to wriggle out of giving a clear answer.
stag·ger noun
BrE /ˈstæɡə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈstæɡər/
a weak unsteady way of walking, as if you are about to fall to walk with a stagger

stag·ger verb
BrE /ˈstæɡə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈstæɡər/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to walk with weak unsteady steps, as if you are about to fall
SYNONYM totter
(+ adverb/preposition) The injured woman staggered to her feet.
He staggered home, drunk.
We seem to stagger from one crisis to the next.
(figurative) The company is staggering under the weight of a £10m debt.
stagger something I managed to stagger the last few steps.

2 [transitive] to shock or surprise somebody very much

SYNONYM amaze
stagger somebody Her remarks staggered me.
it staggers somebody that… It staggers me that the government is doing nothing about it.

3 [transitive] stagger something to arrange for events that would normally happen at the same
time to start or happen at different times There were so many runners that they had to stagger the
start.

stag·gered adjective
BrE /ˈstæɡəd/ ; NAmE /ˈstæɡərd/
1 [not before noun] staggered (at/by something) staggered (to hear, learn, see, etc.) very
surprised and shocked at something you are told or at something that happens
SYNONYM amazed
I was staggered at the amount of money the ring cost.
I was staggered at her rudeness.

2 arranged in such a way that not everything happens at the same time staggered working hours
(= people start and finish at different times)
a staggered introduction of the new system

stag·ger·ing adjective
BrE /ˈstæɡərɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈstæɡərɪŋ/
(rather informal)
so great, shocking or surprising that it is difficult to believe
SYNONYM astounding
They paid a staggering £5 million for the house.

stam·ina noun
BrE /ˈstæmɪnə/ ; NAmE /ˈstæmɪnə/
[uncountable]
the physical or mental strength that enables you to do something difficult for long periods of
time It takes a lot of stamina to run a marathon.
exercises aimed at increasing stamina

stance noun
BrE /stæns/ , also /stɑːns/ ; NAmE /stæns/
1 stance (on something) the opinions that somebody has about something and expresses
publicly
SYNONYM position
What is the newspaper's stance on the war?
He is known for his anti-abortion stance.
Judges are increasingly taking a tougher stance on rape.

2 the way in which somebody stands, especially when playing a sport Widen your stance (=
move your feet wider apart) for greater stability when hitting the ball.

stand·point noun
BrE /ˈstændpɔɪnt/ ; NAmE /ˈstændpɔɪnt/
[usually singular]
an opinion or a way of thinking about ideas or situations
SYNONYM perspective
a political/theoretical, etc. standpoint
He is writing from the standpoint of someone who knows what life is like in prison.

star noun
BrE /stɑː(r)/ ; NAmE /stɑːr/
in sky
1 [countable] a large ball of burning gas in space that we see as a point of light in the sky at
night There was a big moon and hundreds of stars were shining overhead.
Sirius is the brightest star in the sky.
We camped out under the stars.

SEE ALSO falling star, lodestar, Pole Star, shooting star, starry
shape
2 [countable] an object, a decoration, a mark, etc., usually with five or six points, whose shape
represents a star a horse with a white star on its forehead
a sheriff’s star
I've put a star by the names of the girls in the class.
a four-star general

mark of quality
3 [countable, usually singular] a mark that represents a star and tells you how good something
is, especially a hotel or restaurant three-/four-/five-star hotels
What star rating does this restaurant have?

performer
4 [countable] a famous and excellent singer, performer, sports player, etc pop/rock/Hollywood,
etc. stars
a football/tennis, etc. star
He's so good—I'm sure he'll be a big star.
She acts well but she hasn't got star quality.
The best models receive star treatment.

SEE ALSO all-star, film star, megastar, movie star, superstar

5 [countable] a person who has the main part, or one of the main parts, in a film/movie, play, etc
She was the star of many popular television series.
The star of the show was a young Italian singer.
the star role/part

SEE ALSO star turn

best of group
6 [countable] (often used before another noun) a person or thing that is the best of a group a star
student
Paula is the star of the class.
He was the star performer at the championships.
The star prize is a weekend for two in Paris.
The monkey was the star attraction (= the best or most popular act) at the show.

helpful person
7 [countable, usually singular] (informal) used to show that you feel very grateful for something
that somebody has done or that you think they are wonderful Thanks! You're a star!

influence on somebody’s future

8 stars [plural] a description of what somebody thinks is going to happen to somebody in the
future, based on the position of the stars and planets when they were born
SYNONYM horoscope
Do you read your stars in the paper?

Idioms
reach for the ˈstars
to try to be successful at something that is difficult
see ˈstars
(informal) to see flashes of light in front of your eyes, usually because you have been hit on the
head
ˈstars in your eyes
if somebody has stars in their eyes, they have dreams of becoming famous, especially as an
entertainer
thank your lucky ˈstars
to feel very grateful and lucky about something Just thank your lucky stars you weren’t in the
house at the time.

star verb
BrE /stɑː(r)/ ; NAmE /stɑːr/

perform in movie/play
1 [intransitive] star (with/opposite somebody) (in something) to have one of the main parts in
a film/movie, play, etc She starred opposite Cary Grant in ‘Bringing up Baby’.
No one has yet been chosen for the starring role (= the main part).

2 [transitive, no passive] star somebody if a film/movie, play, etc. stars somebody, that person
has one of the main parts a movie starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan
The studio wants to star her in a sequel to last year's hit.

SEE ALSO co-star

mark with symbol
3 [transitive, usually passive] star something to put a symbol shaped like a star (= an asterisk)
next to a word, etc. in order to make people notice it Treat all the sections that have been starred
as priority.

stare verb
BrE /steə(r)/ ; NAmE /ster/

[intransitive] stare (at somebody/something) to look at somebody/something for a long time I

screamed and everyone stared.
I stared blankly at the paper in front of me.
They stared up at the hole in the ceiling.
He sat staring into space (= looking at nothing).
She looked at them with dark staring eyes.

Idioms
be staring somebody in the ˈface
1 to be obvious or easy to see The answer was staring us in the face.

2 to be certain to happen Defeat was staring them in the face.

be staring something in the ˈface

to be unable to avoid something They were staring defeat in the face.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌstare somebody ˈout (British English)
(also ˌstare somebody ˈdown North American English, British English)
to look into somebody’s eyes for a long time until they feel embarrassed and are forced to look a
way

stare noun
BrE /steə(r)/ ; NAmE /ster/
an act of looking at somebody/something for a long time, especially in a way that is unfriendly or
that shows surprise She gave him a blank stare.
He fixed the interviewer with a penetrating stare.

start·ling adjective
BrE /ˈstɑːtlɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
1 extremely unusual and surprising a startling discovery
startling revelations in the Sunday papers

2 (of a colour) extremely bright startling blue eyes

Her skin was a startling white.

star·tled adjective
BrE /ˈstɑːtld/ ; NAmE /ˈstɑːrtld/
slightly shocked or frightened because of a sudden surprise She looked at him with startled eyes.
He looked startled.
She jumped back like a startled rabbit.

star·tle verb
BrE /ˈstɑːtl/ ; NAmE /ˈstɑːrtl/

to surprise somebody suddenly in a way that slightly shocks or frightens them startle
somebody/something I didn't mean to startle you.
The explosion startled the horse.
I was startled by her question.
She was startled into a little cry of surprise.
it startles somebody to do something It startled me to find her sitting in my office.

stave noun
BrE /steɪv/ ; NAmE /steɪv/
1 a strong stick or pole fence staves

2 (also staff) (music) a set of five lines on which music is written

stave verb
BrE /steɪv/ ; NAmE /steɪv/

Phrasal Verbs
ˌstave somethingˈin
to break or damage something by pushing it or hitting it from the outside The side of the boat
was staved in when it hit the rocks.

ˌstave somethingˈoff
to prevent something bad from affecting you for a period of time; to delay something to stave off
hunger
The company managed to stave off bankruptcy for another few months.

stereo·type noun
BrE /ˈsteriətaɪp/ ; NAmE /ˈsteriətaɪp/
a fixed idea or image that many people have of a particular type of person or thing, but which is
often not true in reality cultural/gender/racial stereotypes
He doesn't conform to the usual stereotype of the businessman with a dark suit and briefcase.

stereo·type verb
BrE /ˈsteriətaɪp/ ; NAmE /ˈsteriətaɪp/

[often passive] to form a fixed idea about a person or thing which may not really be true
stereotype somebody Children from certain backgrounds tend to be stereotyped by their
teachers.
stereotype somebody as something Why are professors stereotyped as absent-minded?

stigma noun
BrE /ˈstɪɡmə/ ; NAmE /ˈstɪɡmə/
1 [uncountable, countable, usually singular] feelings of disapproval that people have about
particular illnesses or ways of behaving the social stigma of alcoholism
There is no longer any stigma attached to being divorced.

2 [countable] (biology) the part in the middle of a flower where pollen is received

dis·grace noun
BrE /dɪsˈɡreɪs/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈɡreɪs/
1 [uncountable] the loss of other people’s respect and approval because of the bad way
somebody has behaved
SYNONYM 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 [singular] a disgrace (to somebody/something) 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.

dis·grace verb
BrE /dɪsˈɡreɪs/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈɡreɪs/

1 to behave badly in a way that makes you or other people feel ashamed disgrace yourself I
disgraced myself by drinking far too much.
disgrace somebody/something 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

stitch noun
BrE /stɪtʃ/ ; NAmE /stɪtʃ/
1 [countable] one of the small lines of thread that you can see on a piece of cloth after it has been
sewn; the action that produces this Try to keep the stitches small and straight.

2 [countable] one of the small circles of wool that you make around the needle when you are
knitting to drop a stitch (= to lose one that you have made)
The knitting should be 120 stitches wide.
to cast stitches on/off (= to add or remove them)

3 [countable, uncountable] (especially in compounds) a particular style of sewing or knitting that

you use to make the pattern you want chain stitch
4 [countable] a short piece of thread, etc. that doctors use to sew the edges of a wound together
The cut needed eight stitches.
I had six stitches in my foot after the accident.
(especially British English) I’m having my stitches out today.
(North American English) I’m getting my stitches out today.

5 [countable, usually singular] a sudden pain in the side of your body, usually caused by running
or laughing Can we slow down? I've got a stitch.

Idioms
in ˈstitches
(informal) laughing a lot The play had us in stitches.

not have a stitch ˈon, not be wearing a ˈstitch

(informal) to be naked
a stitch in ˈtime (saves ˈnine)
(saying) it is better to deal with something immediately because if you wait it may become worse
or more difficult and cause extra work
stitch verb
BrE /stɪtʃ/ ; NAmE /stɪtʃ/

1 stitch something (+ adverb/preposition) to use a needle and thread to repair, join, or decorate
pieces of cloth
SYNONYM sew
Her wedding dress was stitched by hand.
A pocket was stitched to the front of the jacket.
(figurative) An agreement was hastily stitched together (= made very quickly).

2 stitch something (up) to sew the edges of a wound together The cut will need to be stitched.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌstitch somebodyˈup
(British English, informal) to cheat somebody or put them in a position where they seem guilty
of something they have not done
ˌstitch somethingˈup
1 to use a needle and thread to join things together
2 (informal) to arrange or complete something to stitch up a deal
They think they have the US market stitched up.

ˈstitch-up noun
BrE ; NAmE
(British English, informal)
a situation in which somebody deliberately cheats you or causes you to be wrongly blamed for
something
stoic (also sto·ic·al adjective BrE /ˈstəʊɪkl/ ; NAmE /ˈstoʊɪkl/ )
able to suffer pain or trouble without complaining or showing what you are feeling her stoic
endurance
his stoical acceptance of death

From the Stoics, a group of ancient Greek philosophers, who believed that wise people should
not allow themselves to be affected by painful or pleasant experiences.

stoic noun
BrE /ˈstəʊɪk/ ; NAmE /ˈstoʊɪk/
a person who is able to suffer pain or trouble without complaining or showing what they are
feeling

sto·ic·al·ly adverb
BrE /ˈstəʊɪkli/ ; NAmE /ˈstoʊɪkli/
without complaining about pain trouble or showing what you are feeling They reacted stoically
to the news.

From the Stoics, a group of ancient Greek philosophers, who believed that wise people should
not allow themselves to be affected by painful or pleasant experiences.

stricken adjective
BrE /ˈstrɪkən/ ; NAmE /ˈstrɪkən/
(formal)
1 seriously affected by an unpleasant feeling or disease or by a difficult situation She raised her
stricken face and begged for help.
We went to the aid of the stricken boat.
stricken with/by something Whole villages were stricken with the disease.
He was stricken by a heart attack on his fiftieth birthday.

2 (in compounds) seriously affected by the thing mentioned poverty-stricken families

SEE ALSO grief-stricken, horror-stricken, panic-stricken

stride verb
BrE /straɪd/ ; NAmE /straɪd/

[intransitive] (not used in the perfect tenses) + adverb/preposition to walk with long steps in a
particular direction We strode across the snowy fields.
She came striding along to meet me.
stride noun
BrE /straɪd/ ; NAmE /straɪd/
1 one long step; the distance covered by a step
SYNONYM pace1
He crossed the room in two strides.
I was gaining on the other runners with every stride.

2 your way of walking or running his familiar purposeful stride

She did not slow her stride until she was face to face with us.

3 an improvement in the way something is developing We're making great strides in the search
for a cure.

4 strides [plural] (Australian English, informal) trousers/pants

Idioms
get into your ˈstride (British English)
(North American English hit (your) ˈstride)
to begin to do something with confidence and at a good speed after a slow, uncertain start After a
nervous start, he finally got into his stride in the second set.

put somebody off their ˈstride

to make somebody take their attention off what they are doing and stop doing it so well The
shouting from the back of the hall completely put me off my stride.

(match somebody) ˌstride for ˈstride

to keep doing something as well as somebody else, even though they keep making it harder for
you We’ve managed to match our closest competitors stride for stride as regards prices.

take something in your ˈstride (British English)

(North American English take something in ˈstride)
to accept and deal with something difficult without letting it worry you too much It’s going to be
tough—but I’m sure you’ll take it all in your stride.

without breaking ˈstride

(especially North American English) without stopping what you are doing

strike verb
BrE /straɪk/ ; NAmE /straɪk/

hit somebody/something
1 [transitive] strike somebody/something (formal) to hit somebody/something hard or with
force The ship struck a rock.
The child ran into the road and was struck by a car.
The tree was struck by lightning.
He fell, striking his head on the edge of the table.
The stone struck her on the forehead.

2 [transitive] strike somebody/something (something) (formal) to hit somebody/something

with your hand or a weapon She struck him in the face.
He struck the table with his fist.
Who struck the first blow (= started the fight)?

kick/hit ball
3 [transitive] strike something (formal) to hit or kick a ball, etc He walked up to the penalty spot
and struck the ball firmly into the back of the net.

attack
4 [intransitive] to attack somebody/something, especially suddenly The lion crouched ready to
strike.
Police fear that the killer may strike again.

of disaster/disease
5 [intransitive, transitive] to happen suddenly and have a harmful or damaging effect on
somebody/something Two days later tragedy struck.
strike somebody/something The area was struck by an outbreak of cholera.

thought/idea/impression
6 [transitive] (not used in the progressive tenses) (of a thought or an idea) to come into
somebody’s mind suddenly strike somebody An awful thought has just struck me.
I was struck by her resemblance to my aunt.
it strikes somebody how, what, etc… It suddenly struck me how we could improve the situation.

7 [transitive] to give somebody a particular impression strike somebody (as something) His
reaction struck me as odd.
How does the idea strike you?
She strikes me as a very efficient person.
it strikes somebody that… It strikes me that nobody is really in favour of the changes.

of light
8 [transitive] strike something to fall on a surface The windows sparkled as the sun struck the
glass.

dumb/deaf/blind
9 [transitive] strike somebody + adjective [usually passive] to put somebody suddenly into a
particular state to be struck dumb/deaf/blind
of workers
10 [intransitive] strike (for something) to refuse to work, because of a disagreement over pay
or conditions The union has voted to strike for a pay increase of 6%.
Striking workers picketed the factory.

match
11 [transitive, intransitive] strike (something) to rub something such as a match against a
surface so that it produces a flame; to produce a flame when rubbed against a rough surface to
strike a match on a wall
The sword struck sparks off the stone floor.
The matches were damp and he couldn't make them strike.

of clock
12 [intransitive, transitive] to show the time by making a ringing noise, etc.
SYNONYM chime
Did you hear the clock strike?
Four o’clock had just struck.
strike something The clock has just struck three.

make sound
13 [transitive] strike something to produce a musical note, sound, etc. by pressing a key or
hitting something to strike a chord on the piano

gold/oil, etc.
14 [transitive] strike something to discover gold, oil, etc. by digging or drilling They had struck
oil!

go with purpose
15 [intransitive] strike (off/out) to go somewhere with great energy or purpose We left the road
and struck off across the fields.

Idioms
be ˈstruck by/on/with somebody/something
(informal) to be impressed or interested by somebody/something; to like somebody/something
very much I was struck by her youth and enthusiasm.
We're not very struck on that new restaurant.

drive/strike a hard ˈbargain

to argue in an aggressive way and force somebody to agree on the best possible price or
arrangement
hit/strike ˈhome
if a remark, etc. hits/strikes home, it has a strong effect on somebody, in a way that makes them
realize what the true facts of a situation are Her face went pale as his words hit home.

hit/strike ˈpay dirt

(informal) to suddenly be in a successful situation, especially one that makes you rich The band
really hit pay dirt with their last album.

hit/strike the right/wrong ˈnote

(especially British English) to do, say or write something that is suitable/not suitable for a
particular occasion It is a bizarre tale and the author hits just the right note of horror and
disbelief.

lightning never strikes (in the same place) twice

(saying) an unusual or unpleasant event is not likely to happen in the same place or to the same
people twice
sound/strike a ˈnote (of ˈsomething)
to express feelings or opinions of a particular kind She sounded a note of warning in her speech.
The touch of cynicism struck a slightly sour note.

strike a ˈbalance (between A and B)

to manage to find a way of being fair to two opposing things; to find an acceptable position
which is between two things
strike a ˈbargain/ˈdeal
to make an agreement with somebody in which both sides have an advantage
strike a blow for/against/at something
to do something in support of/against a belief, principle, etc He felt that they had struck a blow
for democracy.

strike/touch a ˈchord (with somebody)

to say or do something that makes people feel sympathy or enthusiasm The speaker had
obviously struck a chord with his audience.

strike fear, etc. into somebody/somebody’s heart

(formal) to make somebody be afraid, etc.
strike ˈgold
to find or do something that brings you a lot of success or money He has struck gold with his
latest novel.

strike it ˈrich
(informal) to get a lot of money, especially suddenly or unexpectedly
strike (it) ˈlucky
(informal) to have good luck We certainly struck it lucky with the weather.

strike a ˈpose/an ˈattitude

to hold your body in a particular way to create a particular impression to strike a dramatic pose

strike while the iron is ˈhot

(saying) to make use of an opportunity immediately
This expression refers to a blacksmith making a shoe for a horse. He has to strike/hammer the
iron while it is hot enough to bend into the shape of the shoe.
within ˈstriking distance (of something)
near enough to be reached or attacked easily; near enough to reach or attack something easily
The beach is within striking distance.
The cat was now within striking distance of the duck.

Phrasal Verbs
ˈstrike at somebody/something
1 to try to hit somebody/something, especially with a weapon He struck at me repeatedly with a
stick.

2 to cause damage or have a serious effect on somebody/something to strike at the root of the
problem
criticisms that strike at the heart of the party’s policies

ˌstrike ˈback (at/against somebody)

to try to harm somebody in return for an attack or injury you have received
ˌstrike somebody ˈdown [usually passive]
1 (of a disease, etc.) to make somebody unable to lead an active life; to make somebody
seriously ill; to kill somebody He was struck down by cancer at the age of thirty.

2 to hit somebody very hard, so that they fall to the ground

ˌstrike something ˈdown
(especially North American English) to decide that a law is illegal and should not apply The
Supreme Court struck down a Texas state law.
The law was struck down as unconstitutional.

ˌstrike somethingˈoff
to remove something with a sharp blow; to cut something off He struck off the rotten branches
with an axe.

ˌstrike somebody/something ˈoff (something)

(also ˌstrike somebody/something ˈfrom something)
to remove somebody/something’s name from something, such as the list of members of a
professional group Strike her name off the list.
The doctor was struck off (= not allowed to continue to work as a doctor) for incompetence.

ˌstrike ˈout
1 to start being independent I knew it was time I struck out on my own.

2 (North American English, informal) to fail or be unsuccessful The movie struck out and didn't
win a single Oscar.

ˌstrike ˈout (at somebody/something)

1 to aim a sudden violent blow at somebody/something He lost his temper and struck out wildly.
2 to criticize somebody/something, especially in a public speech or in a book or newspaper In a
recent article she strikes out at her critics.

ˌstrike ˈout | ˌstrike somebodyˈout

(in baseball) to fail to hit the ball three times and therefore not be allowed to continue hitting; to
make somebody do this
RELATED NOUN strikeout
ˌstrike somethingˈout/ˈthrough
to remove something by drawing a line through it
SYNONYM cross somethingout/through
The editor struck out the whole paragraph.

ˌstrike ˈout (for/towards something)

to move in a determined way (towards something) He struck out (= started swimming) towards
the shore.

ˌstrike ˈup (with something) | ˌstrike ˈup something

(of a band, an orchestra, etc.) to begin to play a piece of music The orchestra struck up and the
curtain rose.
The band struck up a waltz.

ˌstrike ˈup something (with somebody)

to begin a friendship, a relationship, a conversation, etc He would often strike up conversations
with complete strangers.

strike noun
BrE /straɪk/ ; NAmE /straɪk/
of workers
1 a period of time when an organized group of employees of a company stops working because
of a disagreement over pay or conditions the train drivers’ strike
a strike by teachers
an unofficial/a one-day strike
Air traffic controllers are threatening to come out on/go on strike.
Half the workforce are now (out) on strike.
The train drivers have voted to take strike action.
The student union has called for a rent strike (= a refusal to pay rent as a protest).

SEE ALSO general strike, hunger strike

attack
2 a military attack, especially by aircraft dropping bombs an air strike
They decided to launch a pre-emptive strike.

hitting/kicking
3 [usually singular] an act of hitting or kicking something/somebody His spectacular strike in the
second half made the score 2–0.

SEE ALSO bird strike, lightning

in baseball
4 an unsuccessful attempt to hit the ball
in bowling
5 a situation in tenpin bowling when a player knocks down all the pins with the first ball
discovery of oil
6 [usually singular] a sudden discovery of something valuable, especially oil
bad thing/action
7 (North American English) strike (against somebody/something) a bad thing or action that
damages somebody/something’s reputation The amount of fuel that this car uses is a big strike
against it.

Idioms
ˌthree strikes and you’re ˈout, the ˌthree ˈstrikes rule
used to describe a law which says that people who commit three crimes will automatically go to
prison
From baseball, in which a batter who misses the ball three times is out.

strin·gent adjective
BrE /ˈstrɪndʒənt/ ; NAmE /ˈstrɪndʒənt/
(formal)
1 (of a law, rule, regulation, etc.) very strict and that must be obeyed stringent air quality
regulations
Licences are only granted under the most stringent conditions.

2 (of financial conditions) difficult and very strictly controlled because there is not much money
the government’s stringent economic policies

strin·gent·ly adverb
BrE /ˈstrɪndʒəntli/ ; NAmE /ˈstrɪndʒəntli/
strictly The rules are stringently enforced.

strive verb
BrE /straɪv/ ; NAmE /straɪv/
[intransitive] (formal)
to try very hard to achieve something strive (for something) We encourage all members to strive
for the highest standards.
strive (against something) striving against corruption
strive to do something Newspaper editors all strive to be first with a story.
She strove to find a solution that was acceptable to all.

striv·ing noun
BrE /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/
[uncountable, singular] striving (for/towards something) (formal)
the act of trying very hard to achieve something our striving for perfection

strug·gle verb
BrE /ˈstrʌɡl/ ; NAmE /ˈstrʌɡl/

1 [intransitive] to try very hard to do something when it is difficult or when there are a lot of
problems struggle (for something) a country struggling for independence
Shona struggled for breath.
life as a struggling artist (= one who is very poor)
struggle to do something They struggled just to pay their bills.
She struggled for 10 years to achieve success as an actress.

2 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to move somewhere or do something with difficulty I

struggled up the hill with the heavy bags.
Paul struggled out of his wheelchair.
She had to struggle into the tight dress.

3 [intransitive] to fight against somebody/something in order to prevent a bad situation or result

struggle (against somebody/something) He struggled against cancer for two years.
struggle (with somebody/something) Lisa struggled with her conscience before talking to the
police.

4 [intransitive] to fight somebody or try to get away from them I struggled and screamed for
help.
struggle together Ben and Jack struggled together on the grass.
struggle with somebody James was hit in the mouth as he struggled with the raiders.
+ adjective How did she manage to struggle free?

5 [intransitive] struggle (with somebody) (for something) to compete or argue with somebody,
especially in order to get something rival leaders struggling for power

Phrasal Verbs
ˌstruggle aˈlong/ˈon
to continue despite problems The business struggled along for some time.
Life is hard but we all have to struggle on.
strug·gle noun
BrE /ˈstrʌɡl/ ; NAmE /ˈstrʌɡl/
1 [countable] a hard fight in which people try to obtain or achieve something, especially
something that somebody else does not want them to have a power/leadership struggle
struggle (with somebody) (for/against something) a struggle for independence
Three teams are locked in a struggle for this year's title.
struggle (with somebody) (to do something) He is engaged in a bitter struggle with his rival to
get control of the company.
struggle (between A and B) the struggle between good and evil
She will not give up her children without a struggle.

2 [countable] a physical fight between two people or groups of people, especially when one of
them is trying to escape, or to get something from the other There were no signs of a struggle at
the murder scene.
After a short struggle, I managed to get the knife away from him.

3 [singular] struggle (to do something) something that is difficult for you to do or achieve
SYNONYM effort
It was a real struggle to be ready on time.
They face an uphill struggle to get to the finals of the competition.

stub·born adjective
BrE /ˈstʌbən/ ; NAmE /ˈstʌbərn/
1 (often disapproving) determined not to change your opinion or attitude
SYNONYM obstinate
He was too stubborn to admit that he was wrong.
She can be as stubborn as a mule.
stubborn pride
a stubborn resistance to change
a stubborn refusal to listen
She has inherited her mother’s stubborn streak.

2 difficult to get rid of or deal with

SYNONYM persistent
a stubborn cough/stain
a stubborn problem

stub·born·ly adverb
BrE /ˈstʌbənli/ ; NAmE /ˈstʌbərnli/
1 (often disapproving) in a way that shows you are determined not to change your opinion or
attitude
SYNONYM obstinately
She stubbornly refused to pay.

2 in a way that is difficult to get rid of or deal with

SYNONYM persistently (2)
Unemployment remains stubbornly high.

stud verb
BrE /stʌd/ ; NAmE /stʌd/
stud something

to be in many different parts of a place or area Stars studded the sky.

stud noun
BrE /stʌd/ ; NAmE /stʌd/
1 [countable] a small piece of jewellery with a part that is pushed through a hole in your ear,
nose, etc diamond studs
He has a small stud.

2 [countable] a small round piece of metal that is attached to the surface of something, especially
for decoration a leather jacket with studs on the back

3 [countable, usually plural] (British English) one of several small metal or plastic objects that
are fixed to the bottom part of a football boot or running shoe
COMPARE cleat
4 [countable] a small metal object used in the past for fastening a collar onto a shirt
SEE ALSO press stud
5 [countable, uncountable] an animal, especially a horse, that is kept for breeding; a place where
animals, especially horses, are kept for breeding a stud farm
The horse was retired from racing and put out to stud (= kept for breeding).
horses at stud

6 [countable] (informal) a man who has many sexual partners and who is thought to be sexually
attractive

stuff noun
BrE /stʌf/ ; NAmE /stʌf/
[uncountable]
1 (informal, sometimes disapproving) used to refer to a substance, material, group of objects,
etc. when you do not know the name, when the name is not important or when it is obvious what
you are talking about What's all that sticky stuff on the carpet?
The chairs were covered in some sort of plastic stuff.
This wine is good stuff.
(disapproving) I don't know how you can eat that stuff!
They sell stationery and stuff (like that).
Where's all my stuff (= my possessions)?
(disapproving) Could you move all that stuff off the table?

SEE ALSO foodstuff

2 (informal) used to refer in a general way to things that people do, say, think, etc I've got loads
of stuff to do today.
I like reading and stuff.
The band did some great stuff on their first album.
This is all good stuff. Well done!
What's all this ‘Mrs Smith’ stuff? Call me Anna.
I don't believe in all that stuff about ghosts.

3 stuff (of something) (formal or literary) the most important feature of something; something
that something else is based on or is made from The trip was magical; the stuff of which dreams
are made.
Parades and marches were the very stuff of politics in the region.
Let’s see what stuff you’re made of (= what sort of person you are).

SEE ALSO hot stuff

Idioms
be made of sterner ˈstuff
to have a stronger character and to be more determined in dealing with problems than other
people Many would have given up, but Tim was made of sterner stuff.

don’t sweat the ˈsmall stuff

(North American English, informal) used to tell somebody not to worry about small details or
unimportant things
do your ˈstuff
(informal) to do what you are good at or what you have been trained to do Some members of the
team are just not doing their stuff (= doing as well as they should).
(figurative) The medicine has clearly done its stuff.

ˈkids’ stuff (British English)

(North American English ˈkid stuff)
something that is so easy to do or understand that it is thought to be not very serious or only
suitable for children
know your ˈstuff
(informal) to know a lot about a particular subject or job
not give a ˈstuff
(British English, slang) to not care at all about something
ˌstrut your ˈstuff
(informal) to proudly show your ability, especially at dancing or performing strutting your stuff
to the latest chart hits

ˌstuff and ˈnonsense exclamation

(old-fashioned, informal) used to describe something that is stupid or not true

stuff verb
BrE /stʌf/ ; NAmE /stʌf/

1 to fill a space or container tightly with something stuff A with B She had 500 envelopes to stuff
with leaflets.
stuff B in, into, under, etc. A She had 500 leaflets to stuff into envelopes.
stuff something The fridge is stuffed to bursting.
stuff something + adjective All the drawers were stuffed full of letters and papers.

2 stuff something + adverb/preposition to push something quickly and carelessly into a small
space
SYNONYM shove
She stuffed the money under a cushion.
His hands were stuffed in his pockets.
Robyn quickly stuffed clothes into an overnight bag.

3 stuff something to fill a vegetable, chicken, etc. with another type of food Are you going to
stuff the turkey?
stuffed peppers

4 (informal) to eat a lot of food or too much food; to give somebody a lot or too much to eat stuff
somebody/yourself He sat at the table stuffing himself.
stuff somebody/yourself with something Don't stuff the kids with chocolate before their dinner.
stuff your face We stuffed our faces at the party.

5 [usually passive] stuff something to fill the dead body of an animal with material and preserve
it, so that it keeps its original shape and appearance They had had their pet dog stuffed.

Idioms
get ˈstuffed
(British English, informal) used to tell somebody in a rude and angry way to go away, or that you
do not want something If they don’t offer you more money, tell them to get stuffed.

ˈstuff it
(informal) used to show that you have changed your mind about something or do not care about
something I didn't want a part in the play, then I thought—stuff it—why not?
Stuff it. At my age it doesn’t matter.

you, etc. can stuff something

(informal) used to tell somebody in a rude and angry way that you do not want something I told
them they could stuff their job.

stunned adjective
BrE /stʌnd/ ; NAmE /stʌnd/
very surprised or shocked; showing this She was too stunned to speak.
There was a stunned silence when I told them the news.

sturdy adjective
BrE /ˈstɜːdi/ ; NAmE /ˈstɜːrdi/
(stur·dier, stur·di·est)
1 (of an object) strong and not easily damaged
SYNONYM robust
a sturdy pair of boots
a sturdy table
The vehicle is sturdy enough to withstand rough terrain.

2 (of people and animals, or their bodies) physically strong and healthy a man of sturdy build
sturdy legs
a sturdy breed of cattle

3 not easily influenced or changed by other people

SYNONYM firm, determined
The village has always maintained a sturdy independence.
a sturdy defence of the government’s position

sub·or·din·ate adjective
BrE /səˈbɔːdɪnət/ ; NAmE /səˈbɔːrdɪnət/
1 subordinate (to somebody) having less power or authority than somebody else in a group or
an organization In many societies women are subordinate to men.
She was directly subordinate to the president.
The monarch is formally subordinate to Parliament.

2 subordinate (to something) less important than something else

SYNONYM secondary
All other issues are subordinate to this one.

sub·or·din·ate noun
BrE /səˈbɔːdɪnət/ ; NAmE /səˈbɔːrdɪnət/ a person who has a position with less authority and
power than somebody else in an organization
SYNONYM inferior
the relationship between subordinates and superiors
He always confers with his subordinates before making decisions.

sub·or·din·ate verb
+ VERB FORMS

BrE /səˈbɔːdɪneɪt/ ; NAmE /səˈbɔːrdɪneɪt/ subordinate somebody/something (to

somebody/something) (formal) to treat somebody/something as less important than
somebody/something else Safety considerations were subordinated to commercial interests.
The needs of the individual are completely subordinated to those of the state.

sub·stan·tial adjective
BrE /səbˈstænʃl/ ; NAmE /səbˈstænʃl/
1 large in amount, value or importance
SYNONYM considerable
substantial sums of money
a substantial change
Substantial numbers of people support the reforms.
He ate a substantial breakfast.
There are substantial differences between the two groups.
Their share of the software market is substantial.
We were able to see a substantial improvement.

2 [usually before noun] (formal) large and solid; strongly built a substantial house
a street of substantial Victorian villas

sub·stan·ti·ate verb
BrE /səbˈstænʃieɪt/ ; NAmE /səbˈstænʃieɪt/

substantiate something (formal) to provide information or evidence to prove that something is

true The results of the tests substantiated his claims.
They made accusations which could not be substantiated.

subtle·ty noun
BrE /ˈsʌtlti/ ; NAmE /ˈsʌtlti/
(plural subtle·ties)
1 [uncountable] the quality of being subtle It's a thrilling movie even though it lacks subtlety.

2 [countable, usually plural] the small but important details or aspects of something the subtleties
of language
the subtleties of the British constitution

sub·tle adjective
BrE /ˈsʌtl/ ; NAmE /ˈsʌtl/
(sub·tler, sub·tlest)
more subtle is also common
1 (often approving) not very noticeable or obvious subtle colours/flavours/smells, etc.
There are subtle differences between the two versions.
The fragrance is a subtle blend of jasmine and sandalwood.
She's been dropping subtle hints about what she'd like as a present.

2 (of a person or their behaviour) behaving in a clever way, and using indirect methods, in order
to achieve something I decided to try a more subtle approach.

3 organized in a clever way a subtle plan

a subtle use of lighting in the play

4 good at noticing and understanding things The job required a subtle mind.

sub·vert verb
BrE /səbˈvɜːt/ ; NAmE /səbˈvɜːrt/
(formal)

1 [transitive, intransitive] subvert (something) to try to destroy the authority of a political,

religious, etc. system by attacking it secretly or indirectly
SYNONYM undermine
2 [transitive] subvert something to challenge somebody’s ideas or expectations and make them
consider the opposite
SYNONYM undermine
The film subverts notions of male and female identity.

sue verb
BrE /suː/ , also /sjuː/ ; NAmE /suː/

1 [transitive, intransitive] sue (somebody) (for something) to make a claim against somebody in
court about something that they have said or done to harm you to sue somebody for breach of
contract
to sue somebody for $10 million (= in order to get money from somebody)
to sue somebody for damages
They threatened to sue if the work was not completed.
He threatened to sue the company for negligence.
The water authority was successfully sued over his illness.
2 [intransitive] sue for something (formal) to formally ask for something, especially in court to
sue for divorce
The rebels were forced to sue for peace.

sur·mise verb

BrE /səˈmaɪz/ ; NAmE /sərˈmaɪz/ [transitive, intransitive] surmise (something) surmise

(that)… surmise what, where, etc… + speech (formal) to guess or suppose something using
the evidence you have, without definitely knowing
SYNONYM conjecture
From the looks on their faces, I surmised that they had had an argument.

sur·mise noun
BrE /ˈsɜːmaɪz/ ; NAmE /ˈsɜːrmaɪz/ [uncountable, countable, usually singular] (formal) a guess
based on some facts that you know already This is pure surmise on my part.
He was glad to have his surmise confirmed.

swap (also swop) verb

BrE /swɒp/ ; NAmE /swɑːp/

1 [intransitive, transitive] to give something to somebody and receive something in exchange

swap (something) (with somebody) I've finished this magazine. Can I swap with you?
swap something for something I swapped my red scarf for her blue one.
swap something Can we swap places? I can't see the screen.
We spent the evening in the pub swapping stories (= telling each other stories) about our
travels.
swap somebody something for something I swapped him my CD for his posters.

2 [intransitive] swap (over) to start doing somebody else’s job, etc. while they do yours I'll drive
there and then we'll swap over on the way back.

3 [transitive] (especially British English) to replace one person or thing with another swap
somebody/something (for somebody/something) I think I'll swap this sweater for one in another
colour.
swap somebody/something (over) I'm going to swap you over. Mike will go first and Jon will go
second.

Idioms
change/swap ˈplaces (with somebody)
(usually used in negative sentences) to be in somebody else’s situation I'm perfectly happy—I
wouldn't change places with anyone.
swap (also swop) noun
BrE /swɒp/ ; NAmE /swɑːp/
1 [usually singular] an act of exchanging one thing or person for another Let's do a swap. You
work Friday night and I'll do Saturday.

2 a thing or person that has been exchanged for another Most of my football stickers are swaps.

swathe noun
BrE /sweɪð/ ; NAmE /sweɪð/
(also swath BrE /swɒθ/ ; NAmE /swɑːθ/ ) (formal)
1 a long strip of land, especially one on which the plants or crops have been cut The combine had
cut a swathe around the edge of the field.
Development has affected vast swathes of our countryside.

2 a large strip or area of something The mountains rose above a swathe of thick cloud.

Idioms
cut a ˈswathe through something
(of a person, fire, etc.) to pass through a particular area destroying a large part of it Building the
tunnel would involve cutting a great swathe through the forest.

swathe verb
BrE /sweɪð/ ; NAmE /sweɪð/

[usually passive] swathe somebody/something (in something) (formal) to wrap or cover

somebody/something in something He was lying on the hospital bed, swathed in bandages.
The village was swathed in early morning mist.

sweep verb
BrE /swiːp/ ; NAmE /swiːp/

with brush or hand

1 [transitive, intransitive] to clean a room, surface, etc. using a broom (= a type of brush on a
long handle) sweep (something) to sweep the floor
Chimneys should be swept regularly.
sweep something + adjective The showroom had been emptied and swept clean.

2 [transitive] sweep something + adverb/preposition to remove something from a surface

using a brush, your hand, etc She swept the crumbs into the wastebasket.
He swept the leaves up into a pile.
She swept the clothes onto the floor and invited him to sit down.
move quickly/with force
3 [transitive] sweep somebody/something + adverb/preposition to move or push
somebody/something suddenly and with a lot of force The little boat was swept out to sea.
Their tent was swept away in the storm.
She let herself be swept along by the crowd.

4 [intransitive, transitive] (of weather, fire, etc.) to move suddenly and/or with force over an area
or in a particular direction + adverb/preposition Rain swept in through the broken windows.
A fire swept through the store on Tuesday night.
sweep something Strong winds regularly sweep the islands.

of a person
5 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to move quickly and/or smoothly, especially in a way that
impresses or is intended to impress other people Without another word she swept out of the
room.
(figurative) He swept into the lead with an almost perfect performance.

6 [transitive] sweep something + adverb/preposition to move something, especially your hand

or arm, quickly and smoothly in a particular direction He rushed to greet her, sweeping his arms
wide.

of feelings
7 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to suddenly affect somebody strongly A wave of tiredness
swept over her.
Memories came sweeping back.

of ideas/fashions
8 [intransitive, transitive] to spread quickly + adverb/preposition Rumours of his resignation
swept through the company.
sweep something the latest craze sweeping America

look/move over area

9 [intransitive, transitive] to move over an area, especially in order to look for something +
adverb/preposition His eyes swept around the room.
The car headlights swept across the front of the building.
sweep something Searchlights swept the sky.
She swept the crowd with her binoculars.

touch surface
10 [transitive] sweep something to move, or move something, over a surface, touching it lightly
Her dress swept the ground as she walked.

hair
11 [transitive] sweep something + adverb/preposition to brush, comb, etc. your hair in a
particular direction Her hair was swept back from her face.
of landscape
12 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to form a long smooth curve The hotel gardens sweep
down to the beach.

in sport
13 [transitive] sweep something (North American English) to win all the games in a series of
games against another team or all the parts of a contest The Blue Jays have a chance to sweep the
series.
New Jersey swept Detroit last season.

Idioms
sweep the ˈboard
to win all the prizes, etc. in a competition
ˌsweep somebody off their ˈfeet
to make somebody fall suddenly and deeply in love with you She’s waiting for some hero to
come and sweep her off her feet.

sweep (somebody) to ˈpower

to win an election by a large number of votes; to make somebody win an election with a large
number of votes
sweep to ˈvictory
to win a contest easily Obama swept to victory in 2008.

sweep something under the ˈcarpet

(also US English sweep something under the ˈrug)
to try to stop people from finding out about something wrong, illegal, embarrassing, etc. that has
happened or that you have done An earlier report, implicating the government, had been
conveniently swept under the carpet.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌsweep somebody aˈlong/aˈway
[usually passive] to make somebody very interested or involved in something, especially in a
way that makes them forget everything else They were swept along by the force of their
emotions.

ˌsweep somethingaˈside
to ignore something completely All their advice was swept aside.

ˌsweep somethingaˈway
to get rid of something completely Any doubts had long since been swept away.

ˌsweep somethingˈout
to remove all the dust, dirt, etc. from a room or building using a brush
ˌsweep somebodyˈup
to lift somebody up with a sudden smooth movement He swept her up into his arms.

sweep noun
BrE /swiːp/ ; NAmE /swiːp/
with brush
1 [countable, usually singular] an act of cleaning a room, surface, etc. using a broom Give the
room a good sweep.

curving movement
2 [countable] a smooth curving movement He indicated the door with a sweep of his arm.

landscape
3 [countable, usually singular] a long, often curved, piece of road, river, coast, etc the broad
sweep of white cliffs around the bay

range
4 [uncountable] the range of an idea, a piece of writing, etc. that considers many different things
Her book covers the long sweep of the country's history.

movement/search over area

5 [countable] a movement over an area, for example in order to search for something or attack
something The rescue helicopter made another sweep over the bay.

chimney
6 [countable]
= chimney sweep
gambling
7 [countable] (North American English also sweeps) (informal)
= sweepstake
in sport
8 [countable] (North American English) a series of games that a team wins against another team;
the fact of winning all the parts of a contest a World Series sweep

television
9 the sweeps [plural] (North American English) a time when television companies examine their
programmes to find out which ones are the most popular, especially in order to calculate
advertising rates the May ratings sweeps

Idioms
make a clean sweep (of something)
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.

swift·ly adverb
BrE /ˈswɪftli/ ; NAmE /ˈswɪftli/
quickly; after a very short time She moved swiftly to the rescue.
Surprise was swiftly followed by outrage.

tackle verb
BrE /ˈtækl/ ; NAmE /ˈtækl/

1 [transitive] tackle something to make a determined effort to deal with a difficult problem or
situation The government is determined to tackle inflation.
I think I'll tackle the repairs next weekend.
Firefighters tackled a blaze in a garage last night.

2 [transitive] tackle somebody (about something) to speak to somebody about a problem or

difficult situation
SYNONYM confront
I tackled him about the money he owed me.

3 [transitive, intransitive] tackle (somebody) (in football (soccer ), hockey, etc.) to try and take
the ball from an opponent He was tackled just outside the penalty area.

4 [intransitive, transitive] tackle (somebody) (in rugby or American football) to make an

opponent fall to the ground in order to stop them running
5 [transitive] tackle somebody to deal with somebody who is violent or threatening you He
tackled a masked intruder at his home.

tackle noun
BrE /ˈtækl/ ; NAmE /ˈtækl/
1 [countable] an act of trying to take the ball from an opponent in football (soccer ), etc.; an act
of knocking an opponent to the ground in rugby or American football He was booked for a late
tackle on Torres.
He brought the burglar down with a flying tackle.

2 [countable] (North American English) (in American football) a player whose job is to stop
opponents by knocking them to the ground
3 [uncountable] the equipment used to do a particular sport or activity, especially fishing
SEE ALSO block and tackle
4 [uncountable] (British English, slang) a man’s sexual organs
tact noun
BrE /tækt/ ; NAmE /tækt/
[uncountable]
the ability to deal with difficult or embarrassing situations carefully and without doing or saying
anything that will annoy or upset other people
SYNONYM sensitivity
Settling the dispute required great tact and diplomacy.
She is not exactly known for her tact.

tact·ful adjective
BrE /ˈtæktfl/ ; NAmE /ˈtæktfl/
careful not to say or do anything that will annoy or upset other people
SYNONYM diplomatic
That wasn't a very tactful thing to say!
I tried to find a tactful way of telling her the truth.
It might be more tactful if you didn’t come to the wedding.

OPPOSITE tactless

tact·ful·ly adverb
BrE /ˈtæktfəli/ ; NAmE /ˈtæktfəli/
in a way that is careful not to say or do anything that will annoy or upset other people a tactfully
worded reply
I tactfully suggested he should see a doctor.

OPPOSITE tactlessly

tac·tic noun
BrE /ˈtæktɪk/ ; NAmE /ˈtæktɪk/
1 [countable, usually plural] the particular method you use to achieve something They tried all
kinds of tactics to get us to go.
This was just the latest in a series of delaying tactics.
The manager discussed tactics with his team.
Confrontation is not always the best tactic.
It's time to try a change of tactic.
They used strong-arm (= aggressive or violent) tactics.

2 tactics [plural] the art of moving soldiers and military equipment around during a battle or war
in order to use them in the most effective way
COMPARE strategy

Idioms
catch, get, grab, take, etc. (a) ˈhold of somebody/something
to have or take somebody/something in your hands He caught hold of her wrists so she couldn't
get away.
Lee got hold of the dog by its collar.
Quick, grab a hold of that rope.
Gently, she took hold of the door handle and turned it.

get ˈhold of somebody

to contact or find somebody Where have you been? I've been trying to get hold of you all day.
Eventually, we got hold of Dan in New York.
Do you know where I can get hold of a good plumber?

get ˈhold of something

1 to find something that you want or need I need to get hold of Tom's address.
It's almost impossible to get hold of tickets for the final.
The police do not know how the boy got hold of the knife.
How did the press get hold of the story?

2 to learn or understand something

get (hold of) the ˌwrong end of the ˈstick
(British English, informal) to understand something in the wrong way
ˌno ˌholds ˈbarred
with no rules or limits on what somebody is allowed to do There will be no holds barred in his
interview with the president this evening.

on ˈhold
1 delayed until a later time or date She put her career on hold to have a baby.
The project is on hold until more money is available.
The department has placed its plans on hold pending the results of the elections.

2 if a person on the telephone is put on hold, they have to wait until the person that they want to
talk to is free (British English) I’ll just pop you on hold.

take (a) ˈhold

to begin to have complete control over somebody/something; to become very strong Panic took
hold of him and he couldn't move.
They got out of the house just before the flames took hold.
It is best to treat the disease early before it takes a hold.

tam·per verb
BrE /ˈtæmpə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈtæmpər/

Phrasal Verbs
ˈtamper with something
to make changes to something without permission, especially in order to damage it
SYNONYM interfere with
Someone had obviously tampered with the brakes of my car.

taunt verb
BrE /tɔːnt/ ; NAmE /tɔːnt/

taunt somebody to try to make somebody angry or upset by saying unkind things about them,
laughing at their failures, etc The other kids continually taunted him about his size.

taunt noun
BrE /tɔːnt/ ; NAmE /tɔːnt/
an insulting or unkind remark that is intended to make somebody angry or upset Black players
often had to endure racist taunts.
She ignored his taunt.
Their taunts stung him into his best performance for the team yet.

teary adjective
BrE /ˈtɪəri/ ; NAmE /ˈtɪri/
full of or involving tears teary eyes
a teary smile/goodbye

tease verb
BrE /tiːz/ ; NAmE /tiːz/

1 [intransitive, transitive] tease (somebody) tease (somebody) + speech to laugh at somebody

and make jokes about them, either in a friendly way or in order to annoy or embarrass them
Don't get upset—I was only teasing.
I used to get teased about my name.

2 [transitive] tease something to annoy an animal, especially by touching it, pulling its tail, etc.
3 [intransitive, transitive] tease (somebody) (disapproving) to make somebody sexually excited,
especially when you do not intend to have sex with them
4 [transitive] tease somebody (with something) to make somebody want something or become
excited about something by showing or offering them just a small part of it; to make somebody
want more of something Spring is here and we have alrready been teased with a glimpse of
summer.
There are tempting menus to tease the taste buds.
tease something He teased an appearance on tonight's show with a Twitter message.
5 [transitive] tease something (+ adverb/preposition) to pull something gently apart into
separate pieces to tease wool into strands

6 (North American English) (British English back·comb) [transitive] tease something to comb
your hair in the opposite direction to the way it grows so that it looks thicker

Phrasal Verbs
ˌtease somethingˈout
1 to remove knots from hair, wool, etc. by gently pulling or brushing it
2 to spend time trying to find out information or the meaning of something, especially when this
is complicated or difficult The teacher helped them tease out the meaning of the poem.

tease noun
BrE /tiːz/ ; NAmE /tiːz/
[usually singular]
1 a person who likes to play tricks and jokes on other people, especially by telling them
something that is not true or by not telling them something that they want to know
2 an act that is intended as a trick or joke Ignore everything he said—it was all just a tease.

3 (disapproving) a person who pretends to be attracted to somebody, makes them sexually

excited and then refuses to have sex with them

temp·ta·tion noun
BrE /tempˈteɪʃn/ ; NAmE /tempˈteɪʃn/
1 [countable, uncountable] the desire to do or have something that you know is bad or wrong the
temptation of easy profits
to give way to/yield to temptation
I couldn't resist the temptation to open the letter.
Don't put temptation in her way by offering her a cigarette.

2 [countable] a thing that makes somebody want to do or have something that they know is bad
or wrong An expensive bicycle is a temptation to thieves.

ten·acious adjective
BrE /təˈneɪʃəs/ ; NAmE /təˈneɪʃəs/
(formal)
1 that does not stop holding something or give up something easily; determined a tenacious grip
She's a tenacious woman. She never gives up.
The party has kept its tenacious hold on power for more than twenty years.

2 continuing to exist, have influence, etc. for longer than you might expect
SYNONYM persistent
a tenacious illness

ten·acious·ly adverb
BrE /təˈneɪʃəsli/ ; NAmE /təˈneɪʃəsli/
(formal)
in a way that shows that you will not stop holding something or give up something easily; in a
determined way Though seriously ill, he still clings tenaciously to life.

ten·acity noun
BrE /təˈnæsəti/ ; NAmE /təˈnæsəti/
[uncountable] (formal)
the quality of not giving up something easily; the quality of being determined They competed
with skill and tenacity.

ten·sile adjective
BrE /ˈtensaɪl/ ; NAmE /ˈtensl/
(specialist)
1 [only before noun] used to describe the extent to which something can stretch without breaking
the tensile strength of rope
This experiment demonstrates the tensile strength of the wire.

2 that can be drawn out or stretched tensile cable

You’ll need high tensile cable for the job.

ten·ta·tive adjective
BrE /ˈtentətɪv/ ; NAmE /ˈtentətɪv/
1 (of an arrangement, agreement, etc.) not definite or certain because you may want to change it
later We made a tentative arrangement to meet on Friday.
tentative conclusions

2 not behaving or done with confidence

SYNONYM hesitant
a tentative greeting
Her English is correct but tentative.
I'm taking the first tentative steps towards fitness.

ter·rain noun
BrE /təˈreɪn/ ; NAmE /təˈreɪn/
[countable, uncountable]
used to refer to an area of land when you are mentioning its natural features, for example, if it is
rough, flat, etc difficult/rough/mountainous, etc. terrain
They walked for miles across steep and inhospitable terrain.

- 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
mountainous/mountain/wild/rugged country/landscape/countryside/terrain/scenery
beautiful/glorious/dramatic country/landscape/countryside/scenery
open country/landscape/countryside/terrain/land
rolling country/landscape/countryside
to protect the landscape/countryside/land

- EXTRA EXAMPLES

Tank warfare dominated campaigns in open terrain.

difficult terrain for cycling
local fighters who know the terrain
Make sure you have equipment that is suitable for the terrain.
The truck bumped its way over the rough terrain.
There were several miles of difficult terrain to be covered.
a description of the people and terrain of Scandinavia

ter·rify verb
BrE /ˈterɪfaɪ/ ; NAmE /ˈterɪfaɪ/

terrify somebody to make somebody feel extremely frightened Flying terrifies her.
He terrified employees at the bank into handing over cash.
Stop it! You’re terrifying the children!

ter·ri·fy·ing adjective
BrE /ˈterɪfaɪɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈterɪfaɪɪŋ/
making somebody feel extremely frightened It was a terrifying experience.

thorn noun
BrE /θɔːn/ ; NAmE /θɔːrn/
1 a small sharp pointed part on the stem of some plants, such as roses
2 a tree or bush that has thorns
SEE ALSO blackthorn, hawthorn
3 (phonetics) the letter that was used in Old English and Icelandic to represent the sounds /θ/ and
/ð/ and later written as th

Idioms
a thorn in somebody’s ˈflesh/ˈside
a person or thing that repeatedly annoys somebody or stops them from doing something

throb verb
BrE /θrɒb/ ; NAmE /θrɑːb/

1 [intransitive] throb (with something) (of a part of the body) to feel a series of regular painful
movements His head throbbed painfully.
My feet were throbbing after the long walk home.

2 [intransitive] to beat or sound with a strong, regular rhythm

SYNONYM pulsate
The ship's engines throbbed quietly.
a throbbing drumbeat
The blood was throbbing in my veins.
The club was throbbing to the beat of the music.
throb with something (figurative) His voice was throbbing with emotion.

throb noun
BrE /θrɒb/ ; NAmE /θrɑːb/
(also throb·bing) [singular] a strong regular beat; a feeling of pain that you experience as a
series of strong beats the throb of the machines
My headache faded to a dull throbbing.
the opening bass throbs of the song
the steady throb of the engine
SEE ALSO heart-throb

throw verb
BrE /θrəʊ/ ; NAmE /θroʊ/

with hand
1 [transitive, intransitive] to send something from your hand through the air by moving your
hand or arm quickly throw (something) Stop throwing stones at the window!
She threw the ball up and caught it again.
They had a competition to see who could throw the furthest.
throw something to somebody Don't throw it to him, give it to him!
throw somebody something Can you throw me that towel?

put carelessly
2 [transitive] throw something + adverb/preposition to put something in a particular place
quickly and carelessly Just throw your bag down over there.

move with force

3 [transitive] to move something suddenly and with force throw something +
adverb/preposition The boat was thrown onto the rocks.
The sea throws up all sorts of debris on the beach.
throw something + adjective I threw open the windows to let the smoke out.

part of body
4 [transitive] throw something/yourself + adverb/preposition to move your body or part of it
quickly or suddenly He threw back his head and roared with laughter.
I ran up and threw my arms around him.
Jenny threw herself onto the bed.

make somebody fall

5 [transitive] throw somebody to make somebody fall quickly or violently to the ground Two
riders were thrown (= off their horses) in the second race.

into particular state

6 [transitive, usually passive] throw somebody/something + adverb/preposition to make
somebody/something be in a particular state Hundreds were thrown out of work.
We were thrown into confusion by the news.
The problem was suddenly thrown into sharp focus.

direct something at somebody/something

7 [transitive] throw something on/at somebody/something to direct something at
somebody/something to throw doubt on the verdict
to throw the blame on someone
to throw accusations at someone
He threw the question back at me (= expected me to answer it myself).

upset
8 [transitive] throw somebody (informal) to make somebody feel upset, confused, or surprised
The news of her death really threw me.

dice
9 [transitive] throw something to roll a dice or let it fall after shaking it; to obtain a particular
number in this way Throw the dice!
He threw three sixes in a row.

clay pot
10 [transitive] throw something (specialist) to make a clay pot, dish, etc. on a potter’s wheel a
hand-thrown vase

light/shade
11 [transitive] throw something (+ adverb/preposition) to send light or shade onto something
The trees threw long shadows across the lawn.

your voice
12 [transitive] throw your voice to make your voice sound as if it is coming from another person
or place
SYNONYM project
a punch
13 [transitive] throw a punch to hit somebody with your fist
switch/handle
14 [transitive] throw something to move a switch, handle, etc. to operate something
bad-tempered behaviour
15 [transitive] throw something to have a sudden period of bad-tempered behaviour, violent
emotion, etc She'll throw a fit if she finds out.
Children often throw tantrums at this age.

a party
16 [transitive] throw a party (informal) to give a party
in sports/competitions
17 [transitive] throw something (informal) to deliberately lose a game or contest that you should
have won He was accused of having thrown the game.

Idioms
Idioms containing throw are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for
example throw your hat into the ring is at hat.
Phrasal Verbs
ˌthrow somethingaˈside
to reject something such as an attitude, a way of life, etc.
ˈthrow yourself at something/somebody
1 to rush violently at something/somebody
2 (informal, disapproving) (usually of a woman) to be too enthusiastic in trying to attract a
sexual partner
ˌthrow somethingaˈway
1
(also ˌthrow somethingˈout)
to get rid of something that you no longer want I don't need that—you can throw it away.
That old chair should be thrown away.

2 to fail to make use of something; to waste something to throw away an opportunity

You must take the exam—you can't throw away all that work!

SEE ALSO throwaway

ˌthrow something ˈback at somebody
to remind somebody of something they have said or done in the past, especially to upset or annoy
them His unwise remark was frequently thrown back at him by his colleagues.

ˌthrow somebody ˈback on something

[usually passive] to force somebody to rely on something because nothing else is available There
was no TV so we were thrown back on our own resources (= had to entertain ourselves).

ˌthrow somethingˈin
1 to include something with what you are selling or offering, without increasing the price You
can have the piano for $200, and I'll throw in the stool as well.

2 to add a remark to a conversation Jack threw in the odd encouraging comment.

ˌthrow yourself/something ˈinto something

to begin to do something with energy and enthusiasm
ˌthrow something/somebodyˈoff
1 to manage to get rid of something/somebody that is making you suffer, annoying you, etc to
throw off a cold/your worries/your pursuers

2 to take off a piece of clothing quickly and carelessly She entered the room and threw off her
wet coat.

ˌthrow somethingˈon
to put on a piece of clothing quickly and carelessly She just threw on the first skirt she found.

ˌthrow somethingˈopen (to somebody)

1 to allow people to enter or visit a place where they could not go before
2 to allow people to discuss something, take part in a competition, etc The debate will be thrown
open to the audience.
The organizers are throwing the contest open to under 21s for the first time.

ˌthrow somebodyˈout (of…)

to force somebody to leave a place You'll be thrown out if you don't pay the rent.

ˌthrow somethingˈout
1 to say something in a way that suggests you have not given it a lot of thought to throw out a
suggestion

2 to decide not to accept a proposal, an idea, etc.

3
= throw somethingaway
4 to produce smoke, light, heat, etc a small fire that threw out a lot of heat

5 to confuse something or make it wrong Our calculations of the cost of our trip were thrown out
by changes in the exchange rate.

ˌthrow somebody ˈover

(old-fashioned) to stop being friends with somebody or having a romantic relationship with them
ˌthrow somebodytoˈgether
[often passive] to bring people into contact with each other, often unexpectedly Fate had thrown
them together.

ˌthrow somethingtoˈgether
to make or produce something in a hurry I threw together a quick meal.

ˌthrow ˈup
to vomit
SYNONYM be sick
The smell made me want to throw up.

ˌthrow somethingˈup
1 to vomit food
SYNONYM sick somethingup
The baby's thrown up her dinner.

2 to make people notice something Her research has thrown up some interesting facts.

3 to build something suddenly or in a hurry They're throwing up new housing estates all over the
place.

4 to leave your job to throw up your career

throw noun
BrE /θrəʊ/ ; NAmE /θroʊ/
1 the act of throwing something, especially a ball or dice a well-aimed throw
It's your throw (= it's your turn to throw the dice).
He threw me to the ground with a judo throw.
a throw of the dice

2 the distance which something is thrown a javelin throw of 57 metres

3 a loose cloth cover that can be thrown over a sofa, etc.

Idioms
$100, £50, etc. a ˈthrow
(informal) used to say how much items cost each The tickets for the dinner were £50 a throw.

a ˈstone’s throw
a very short distance away We live just a stone's throw from here.
The hotel is within a stone's throw of the beach.

throw·away adjective
BrE /ˈθrəʊəweɪ/ ; NAmE /ˈθroʊəweɪ/
[only before noun]
1 throwaway line/remark/comment something you say quickly without careful thought,
sometimes in order to be funny She was very upset at what to him was just a throwaway remark.

2 (of goods, etc.) produced cheaply and intended to be thrown away after use
SYNONYM disposable
throwaway products
We live in a throwaway society (= a society in which things are not made to last a long time).

thwart verb
BrE /θwɔːt/ ; NAmE /θwɔːrt/
[often passive]

to prevent somebody from doing what they want to do

SYNONYM frustrate
thwart something to thwart somebody’s plans
thwart somebody (in something) She was thwarted in her attempt to take control of the party.

toll noun
BrE /təʊl/ ; NAmE /toʊl/
1 [countable] money that you pay to use a particular road or bridge motorway tolls
a toll road/bridge

2 [countable, usually singular] the amount of damage or the number of deaths and injuries that
are caused in a particular war, disaster, etc The official death toll has now reached 7 000.
the war’s growing casualty toll
Every hour, the news bulletin reported the mounting toll of casualties.

3 [singular] the sound of a bell ringing with slow regular strokes

4 [countable] (North American English) a charge for a telephone call that is calculated at a higher
rate than a local call

Idioms
take a heavy ˈtoll (on somebody/something), take its ˈtoll (on somebody/something)
to have a bad effect on somebody/something; to cause a lot of damage, deaths, suffering, etc
Illness had taken a heavy toll on her.
The recession is taking its toll on the housing markets.

toll verb
BrE /təʊl/ ; NAmE /toʊl/

[intransitive, transitive] when a bell tolls or somebody tolls it, it is rung slowly many times,
especially as a sign that somebody has died toll (for somebody) The Abbey bell tolled for those
killed in the war.
Ask not for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
toll something The bell tolled the hour.
(figurative) The revolution tolled the death knell (= signalled the end) for the Russian
monarchy.

tor·ture noun
BrE /ˈtɔːtʃə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈtɔːrtʃər/
[uncountable, countable]
1 the act of causing somebody severe pain in order to punish them or make them say or do
something Many of the refugees have suffered torture.
the use of torture
terrible instruments of torture
His confessions were made under torture.
I heard stories of gruesome tortures in prisons.

2 (informal) mental or physical suffering; something that causes this The interview was sheer
torture from start to finish.
tor·ture verb
BrE /ˈtɔːtʃə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈtɔːrtʃər/
[often passive]

1 to hurt somebody physically or mentally in order to punish them or make them tell you
something torture somebody Many of the rebels were captured and tortured by secret police.
The prisoners were routinely tortured.
torture somebody into doing something He was tortured into giving them the information.

2 torture somebody to make somebody feel extremely unhappy or anxious

SYNONYM torment
He spent his life tortured by the memories of his childhood.

tor·tured adjective
BrE /ˈtɔːtʃəd/ ; NAmE /ˈtɔːrtʃərd/
[only before noun]
suffering severely; involving a lot of suffering and difficulty a tortured mind
She fell into a tortured sleep.

traf·fick·ing noun
BrE /ˈtræfɪkɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈtræfɪkɪŋ/
[uncountable]
the activity of buying and selling something illegally drug trafficking

trail noun
BrE /treɪl/ ; NAmE /treɪl/
1 a long line or series of marks that is left by somebody/something a trail of blood
tourists who leave a trail of litter everywhere they go
The hurricane left a trail of destruction behind it.

2 a track, sign or smell that is left behind and that can be followed, especially in hunting The
hounds were following the fox's trail.
The police are still on the trail of the escaped prisoner.
Fortunately the trail was still warm (= clear and easy to follow).
The trail had gone cold.

3 a path through the countryside a trail through the forest

SEE ALSO nature trail

4 a route that is followed for a particular purpose a tourist trail (= of famous buildings)
politicians on the campaign trail (= travelling around to attract support)

Idioms
blaze a ˈtrail
to be the first to do or to discover something that others follow The department is blazing a trail
in the field of laser surgery.

COMPARE trailblazer
hit the ˈroad/ˈtrail
(informal) to start a journey/trip
hot on somebody’s/something’s ˈtracks/ˈtrail
(informal) close to catching or finding the person or thing that you have been chasing or
searching for

trail verb
BrE /treɪl/ ; NAmE /treɪl/

1 [transitive, intransitive] to pull something behind somebody/something, usually along the

ground; to be pulled along in this way trail something A jeep trailing a cloud of dust was
speeding in my direction.
I trailed my hand in the water as the boat moved along.
(+ adverb/preposition) The bride's dress trailed behind her.

2 [intransitive] + adverb/preposition to walk slowly because you are tired or bored, especially
behind somebody else The kids trailed around after us while we shopped for clothes.

3 [intransitive, transitive] (used especially in the progressive tenses) to be losing a game or other
contest United were trailing 2–0 at half-time.
trail by something We were trailing by five points.
trail in something This country is still trailing badly in scientific research.
trail somebody/something The Conservatives are trailing Labour in the opinion polls.

4 [transitive] trail somebody/something to follow somebody/something by looking for signs

that show you where they have been The police trailed Dale for days.
We could smell the scent of a fox as we trailed paw marks through the wood.

5 [intransitive] to grow or hang downwards over something or along the ground; to move
downwards over something trailing plants
He had tears trailing down his cheeks.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌtrail aˈway/ˈoff
(of somebody’s speech) to become gradually quieter and then stop His voice trailed away to
nothing.
+ speech ‘I only hope…’, she trailed off.

trait noun
BrE /treɪt/ ; NAmE /treɪt/
a particular quality in your personality personality traits

Awareness of class is a typically British trait.

tra·jec·tory noun
BrE /trəˈdʒektəri/ ; NAmE /trəˈdʒektəri/
(plural tra·jec·tories) (specialist)
the curved path of something that has been fired, hit or thrown into the air a missile’s trajectory
(figurative) My career seemed to be on a downward trajectory.

tre·men·dous adjective
BrE /trəˈmendəs/ ; NAmE /trəˈmendəs/
1 very great
SYNONYM huge
a tremendous explosion
A tremendous amount of work has gone into the project.

2 extremely good
SYNONYM remarkable
It was a tremendous experience.

triv·ial adjective
BrE /ˈtrɪviəl/ ; NAmE /ˈtrɪviəl/
not important or serious; not worth considering a trivial detail
I know it sounds trivial, but I'm worried about it.
I'll try to fix it—but it's not trivial (= it may be difficult to fix).

trivia noun
BrE /ˈtrɪviə/ ; NAmE /ˈtrɪviə/
[uncountable]
1 unimportant matters, details or information We spent the whole evening discussing domestic
trivia.

2 (usually in compounds) facts about many subjects that are used in a game to test people’s
knowledge a trivia quiz
trivi·al·ity noun
BrE /ˌtrɪviˈæləti/ ; NAmE /ˌtrɪviˈæləti/
(plural trivi·al·ities) (disapproving)
1 [countable] a matter that is not important I don't want to waste time on trivialities.

2 [uncountable] the state of being unimportant or dealing with unimportant things His speech
was one of great triviality.

turn verb
BrE /tɜːn/ ; NAmE /tɜːrn/

move round
1 [intransitive, transitive] to move or make something move around a central point The wheels
of the car began to turn.
I can't get the screw to turn.
turn something (+ adverb/preposition) He turned the key in the lock.
She turned the wheel sharply to the left.

change position/direction
2 [intransitive, transitive] to move your body or part of your body so as to face or start moving
in a different direction We turned and headed for home.
She turned to look at me.
+ adverb/preposition He turned back to his work.
I turned away and looked out of the window.
turn something (+ adverb/preposition) He turned his back to the wall.
She turned her head away.

SEE ALSO turn over

3 [transitive] turn something + adverb/preposition to move something so that it is in a
different position or facing a different direction She turned the chair on its side to repair it.
Turn the sweater inside out before you wash it.

SEE ALSO turn somethingover

4 [intransitive, transitive] to change the direction you are moving or travelling in; to make
something change the direction it is moving in turn (into something) He turned into a narrow
street.
turn something The man turned the corner and disappeared.
turn something into something I turned the car into the car park.

5 [intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) (of a road or river) to curve in a particular direction The

road turns to the left after the church.
The river turns north at this point.
aim/point
6 [transitive, intransitive] to aim or point something in a particular direction turn something
(on/to somebody/something/yourself) Police turned water cannon on the rioters.
He turned the gun on himself.
She looked at him then turned her attention back to me.
turn to somebody/something/yourself His thoughts turned to his dead wife.

of tide in sea
7 [intransitive] to start to come in or go out The tide is turning—we'd better get back.

let somebody/something go
8 [transitive] to make or let somebody/something go into a particular place or state turn
something + adverb/preposition They turned the horse into the field.
turn something + adjective to turn the dogs loose

fold
9 [transitive] turn something + adverb/preposition to fold something in a particular way She
turned down the blankets and climbed into bed.
He turned up the collar of his coat and hurried out into the rain.

cartwheel/somersault
10 [transitive, no passive] turn something to perform a movement by moving your body in a
circle to turn cartwheels/somersaults

page
11 [transitive, intransitive] if you turn a page of a book or magazine, you move it so that you
can read the next page turn something He sat turning the pages idly.
turn to something Turn to p.23.

game
12 [intransitive, transitive] turn (something) (around) if a game turns or somebody turns it, it
changes the way it is developing so that a different person or team starts to win
become
13 linking verb to change into a particular state or condition; to make something do this +
adjective The leaves were turning brown.
The weather has turned cold.
He turned nasty when we refused to give him the money.
He decided to turn professional.
turn something + adjective The heat turned the milk sour.
+ noun She turned a deathly shade of white when she heard the news.
He's a lawyer turned politician (= he used to be a lawyer but is now a politician).

age/time
14 linking verb (not used in the progressive tenses) + noun to reach or pass a particular age or
time She turns 21 in June.
It's turned midnight.

stomach
15 [intransitive, transitive] turn (your stomach) when your stomach turns or something turns
your stomach, you feel as though you will vomit
wood
16 [transitive] turn something to shape something on a lathe to turn a chair leg
turned boxes and bowls

Idioms
Most idioms containing turn are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for
example not turn a hair is at hair.
as it/things turned ˈout
as was shown or proved by later events I didn't need my umbrella, as it turned out (= because it
didn't rain).

be well, badly, etc. turned ˈout

to be well, badly, etc. dressed
turn round/around and do something
(informal) used to report what somebody says or does, when this is surprising or annoying How
could she turn round and say that, after all I've done for her?

Phrasal Verbs
ˌturn aˈgainst somebody | ˌturn somebody aˈgainst somebody
to stop or make somebody stop being friendly towards somebody She turned against her old
friend.
After the divorce he tried to turn the children against their mother.

ˌturn aˈround/ˈround | ˌturn somebody/something aˈround/ˈround

to change position or direction so as to face the other way; to make somebody/something do this
Turn around and let me look at your back.
I turned my chair round to face the fire.

ˌturn aˈround/ˈround | ˌturn somethingaˈround/ˈround

if a business, economy, etc. turns around or somebody turns it around, it starts being
successful after it has been unsuccessful for a time
RELATED NOUN turnaround
ˌturn somebodyaˈway (from something)
to refuse to allow somebody to enter a place Hundreds of people were turned away from the
stadium (= because it was full).
They had nowhere to stay so I couldn't turn them away.

ˌturn ˈback | ˌturn somebody/somethingˈback

to return the way you have come; to make somebody/something do this The weather became so
bad that they had to turn back.
(figurative) We said we would do it—there can be no turning back.
Our car was turned back at the border.

ˌturn somebody/somethingˈdown
to reject or refuse to consider an offer, a proposal, etc. or the person who makes it Why did she
turn down your invitation?
He has been turned down for ten jobs so far.
He asked her to marry him but she turned him down.

ˌturn somethingˈdown
to reduce the noise, heat, etc. produced by a piece of equipment by moving its controls Please
turn the volume down.
+ adjective He turned the lights down low.

ˌturn ˈin
1 to face or curve towards the centre Her feet turn in.

2 (old-fashioned) to go to bed It’s late—I think I’ll turn in.

ˌturn somebodyˈin
(informal) to take somebody to the police or somebody in authority because they have committed
a crime She threatened to turn him in to the police.
He decided to turn himself in.

ˌturn somethingˈin
1 to give back something that you no longer need You must turn in your pass when you leave the
building.

2 (especially North American English) to give something to somebody in authority They turned
in a petition with 80 000 signatures.
I haven't even turned in Monday's work yet.

3 to achieve a score, performance, profit, etc The champion turned in a superb performance to
retain her title.

ˌturn ˈin on yourself

to become too concerned with your own problems and stop communicating with others
ˌturn (from something) ˈinto something
to become something Our dream holiday turned into a nightmare.
In one year she turned from a problem child into a model student.

ˌturn somebody/something (from something) ˈinto something

to make somebody/something become something Ten years of prison had turned him into an old
man.
The prince was turned into a frog by the witch.

ˌturn ˈoff | ˌturn ˈoff something

[no passive] to leave a road in order to travel on another Is this where we turn off?
The jet began to turn off the main runway.

ˌturn ˈoff
(informal) to stop listening to or thinking about somebody/something I couldn't understand the
lecture so I just turned off.

ˌturn somebodyˈoff
1 to make somebody feel bored or not interested People had been turned off by both candidates
in the election.

2 to stop somebody feeling sexually attracted; to make somebody have a feeling of disgust
RELATED NOUN turn-off
ˌturn somethingˈoff
to stop the flow of electricity, gas, water, etc. by moving a switch, button, etc to turn off the light
They've turned off the water while they repair a burst pipe.
Please turn the television off before you go to bed.

ˈturn on somebody
to attack somebody suddenly and unexpectedly The dogs suddenly turned on each other.
Why are you all turning on me (= criticizing or blaming me)?

ˈturn on something [no passive]

1 to depend on something Much turns on the outcome of the current peace talks.

2 [no passive] to have something as it main topic The discussion turned on the need to raise
standards.

ˌturn somebodyˈon
(informal) to make somebody excited or interested, especially sexually Jazz has never really
turned me on.
She gets turned on by men in uniform.

RELATED NOUN turn-on

ˌturn somebody ˈon (to something)
(informal) to make somebody become interested in something or to use something for the first
time He turned her on to jazz.

ˌturn somethingˈon
to start the flow of electricity, gas, water, etc. by moving a switch, button, etc to turn on the
heating
I'll turn the television on.
(figurative) He really knows how to turn on the charm (= suddenly become pleasant and
attractive).

ˌturn ˈout
1 to be present at an event A vast crowd turned out to watch the procession.

RELATED NOUN turnout

2 (used with an adverb or adjective, or in questions with how) to happen in a particular way; to
develop or end in a particular way Despite our worries everything turned out well.
You never know how your children will turn out.
+ adjective If the day turns out wet, we may have to change our plans.

3 to point away from the centre Her toes turn out.

4 to be discovered to be; to prove to be turn out that… It turned out that she was a friend of my
sister.
turn out to be/have something The job turned out to be harder than we thought.
The house they had offered us turned out to be a tiny apartment.

ˌturn somebody/somethingˈout
to produce somebody/something The factory turns out 900 cars a week.
The school has turned out some first-rate students.

ˌturn somebody ˈout (of/from something)

to force somebody to leave a place
ˌturn somethingˈout
1 to switch a light or a source of heat off Remember to turn out the lights when you go to bed.

2 (British English) to clean something thoroughly by removing the contents and organizing them
again to turn out the attic

3 to empty something, especially your pockets

4 to make something point away from the centre She turned her toes out.

ˌturn ˈover
1 to change position so that the other side is facing towards the outside or the top If you turn
over you might find it easier to get to sleep.
The car skidded and turned over.
(figurative) The smell made my stomach turn over (= made me feel sick).

2 (of an engine) to start or to continue to run

3 to change to another channel when you are watching television
ˌturn ˈover something
to do business worth a particular amount of money in a particular period of time The company
turns over £3.5 million a year.

RELATED NOUN turnover

ˌturn somethingˈover
1 to make something change position so that the other side is facing towards the outside or the
top Brown the meat on one side, then turn it over and brown the other side.
2 to think about something carefully She kept turning over the events of the day in her mind.

3 (of a shop/store) to sell goods and replace them A supermarket will turn over its stock very
rapidly.

RELATED NOUN turnover

4 (informal) to steal from a place Burglars had turned the house over.

5 to make an engine start running

ˌturn somebodyˈover to somebody
to deliver somebody to the control or care of somebody else, especially somebody in authority
Customs officials turned the man over to the police.

ˌturn somethingˈover to somebody

to give the control of something to somebody He turned the business over to his daughter.

ˌturn somethingˈover to something

to change the use or function of something The factory was turned over to the manufacture of
aircraft parts.

ˈturn to somebody/something
to go to somebody/something for help, advice, etc She has nobody she can turn to.

ˌturn ˈup
1 to be found, especially by chance, after being lost Don't worry about the letter—I'm sure it'll
turn up.

2 (of a person) to arrive We arranged to meet at 7.30, but she never turned up.

3 (of an opportunity) to happen, especially by chance He's still hoping something (= for example,
a job or a piece of luck) will turn up.

RELATED NOUN turn-up

ˌturn somethingˈup
1 to increase the sound, heat, etc. of a piece of equipment Could you turn the TV up?
+ adjective The music was turned up loud.

2 (British English) to make a piece of clothing shorter by folding and sewing it up at the bottom
OPPOSITE let somethingdown
RELATED NOUN turn-up
3 to find something Our efforts to trace him turned up nothing.

turn noun
BrE /tɜːn/ ; NAmE /tɜːrn/
[countable]
movement
1 an act of turning somebody/something around Give the handle a few turns.

of road/vehicle
2 a change in direction in a vehicle Make a left/right turn into West Street.

SEE ALSO three-point turn, U-turn

3 (especially North American English) (British English also turn·ing) a place where a road leads
away from the one you are travelling on
4 a bend or corner in a road a lane full of twists and turns

time
5 the time when somebody in a group of people should or is allowed to do something When it's
your turn, take another card.
Please wait your turn.
Whose turn is it to cook?
Steve took a turn driving while I slept.

change
6 an unusual or unexpected change in what is happening a surprising turn of events
His health has taken a turn for the worse (= suddenly got worse).
Events took a dramatic turn in the weeks that followed.
The book is, by turns, funny and very sad.

SEE ALSO about-turn

performance
7 a short performance or piece of entertainment such as a song, etc Everyone got up on stage to
do a turn.

SEE ALSO star turn

walk
8 (old-fashioned) a short walk We took a turn around the park.

illness
9 (old-fashioned) a feeling of illness a funny turn (= a feeling that you may faint)
Grandma had one of her turns.
Idioms
at every ˈturn
everywhere or every time you try and do something At every turn I met with disappointment.
Her ideas were blocked at every turn.

done to a ˈturn
cooked for exactly the right amount of time
give somebody a ˈturn
(old-fashioned) to frighten or shock somebody You gave me quite a turn, creeping up on me like
that!

(do somebody) a good ˈturn

(to do) something that helps somebody Well, that's my good turn for the day.

in ˈturn
1 one after the other in a particular order The children called out their names in turn.

2 as a result of something in a series of events Increased production will, in turn, lead to

increased profits.

not do a hand’s ˈturn

(old-fashioned) to do no work She hasn't done a hand's turn all week.

ˌone good ˌturn deserves aˈnother

(saying) you should help somebody who has helped you
on the ˈturn
(especially British English) going to change soon His luck is on the turn.

serve your/its ˈturn

(British English) to be useful for a particular purpose or period of time
speak/talk ˌout of ˈturn
to say something that you should not because it is the wrong situation or because it offends
somebody
take ˈturns (in something/to do something)
(British English also take it in ˈturns)
if people take turns or take it in turns to do something, they do it one after the other to make
sure it is done fairly The male and female birds take turns in sitting on the eggs.
We take it in turns to do the housework.
The kids took turns on the swing.

the ˌturn of the ˈcentury/ˈyear

the time when a new century/year starts It was built at the turn of the century.

a ˌturn of ˈmind
a particular way of thinking about things
a ˌturn of ˈphrase
a particular way of describing something
a ˌturn of the ˈscrew
an extra amount of pressure, cruelty, etc. added to a situation that is already difficult to bear or
understand
a ˌturn of ˈspeed
a sudden increase in your speed or rate of progress; the ability to suddenly increase your speed
He put on an impressive turn of speed in the last lap.
The kangaroo has a fast turn of speed.
ubi·quity noun
BrE /juːˈbɪkwəti/ ; NAmE /juːˈbɪkwəti/
[uncountable] (formal or humorous)
the fact that something seems to be everywhere or in several places at the same time; the fact that
something is very common the ubiquity of the mass media

ubi·qui·tous adjective
BrE /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/ ; NAmE /juːˈbɪkwɪtəs/
[usually before noun] (formal or humorous)
seeming to be everywhere or in several places at the same time; very common the ubiquitous
bicycles of university towns
the ubiquitous movie star, Tom Hanks

seal verb
BrE /siːl/ ; NAmE /siːl/

close envelope
1 seal something (up/down) to close an envelope, etc. by sticking the edges of the opening
together Make sure you've signed the cheque before sealing the envelope.
a sealed bid (= one that is kept in a sealed envelope and therefore remains secret until all other
bids have been received)

close container
2 [often passive] seal something (up) (with something) to close a container tightly or fill a
crack, etc., especially so that air, liquid, etc. cannot get in or out The organs are kept in sealed
plastic bags.

cover surface
3 [often passive] seal something (with something) to cover the surface of something with a
substance in order to protect it The floors had been stripped and sealed with varnish.

make something definite

4 seal something to make something definite, so that it cannot be changed or argued about to
seal a contract
They drank a glass of wine to seal their new friendship.
The discovery of new evidence sealed his fate (= nothing could prevent what was going to
happen to him).
She sealed victory with a birdie at the final hole.

close borders/exits
5 seal something (of the police, army, etc.) to prevent people from passing through a place
Troops have sealed the borders between the countries.

Idioms
my lips are ˈsealed
used to say that you will not repeat somebody’s secret to other people
ˌsigned and ˈsealed, ˌsigned, ˌsealed and deˈlivered
definite, because all the legal documents have been signed

Phrasal Verbs
ˌseal somethingˈin
to prevent something that is contained in something else from escaping Fold the pastry over at
the ends to seal in the juices.

ˈseal something in something

to put something in an envelope, container, etc. and seal it The body was sealed in a lead coffin.

ˌseal somethingˈoff
(of the police, army) to prevent people from entering a particular area Troops sealed off the site
following a bomb alert.
The road will remain sealed off until the police have completed their investigations.

un·abated adjective
BrE /ˌʌnəˈbeɪtɪd/ ; NAmE /ˌʌnəˈbeɪtɪd/
[not usually before noun] (formal)
without becoming any less strong The rain continued unabated.
They danced all night with unabated energy.

un·am·bigu·ous adjective
BrE /ˌʌnæmˈbɪɡjuəs/ ; NAmE /ˌʌnæmˈbɪɡjuəs/
clear in meaning; that can only be understood in one way an unambiguous statement
The message was clear and unambiguous—‘Get out!’

OPPOSITE ambiguous

un·blem·ished adjective
BrE /ʌnˈblemɪʃt/ ; NAmE /ʌnˈblemɪʃt/
(formal)
not spoiled, damaged or marked in any way He had an unblemished reputation.
her pale unblemished skin

un·canny adjective
BrE /ʌnˈkæni/ ; NAmE /ʌnˈkæni/
strange and difficult to explain
SYNONYM weird
I had an uncanny feeling I was being watched.
It was uncanny really, almost as if she knew what I was thinking.
He has an uncanny knack of being able to see immediately where the problem lies.
She bore a quite uncanny resemblance to my Auntie Elsie.

un·ceas·ing adjective
BrE /ʌnˈsiːsɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ʌnˈsiːsɪŋ/
(formal)
continuing all the time
SYNONYM incessant
unceasing efforts
Planes passed overhead with unceasing regularity.

under·mine verb
BrE /ˌʌndəˈmaɪn/ ; NAmE /ˌʌndərˈmaɪn/

1 undermine something to make something, especially somebody’s confidence or authority,

gradually weaker or less effective Our confidence in the team has been seriously undermined by
their recent defeats.
This crisis has undermined his position.
Recent changes have undermined teachers’ morale.

2 undermine something to make something weaker at the base, for example by digging under it

un·duly adverb
BrE /ˌʌnˈdjuːli/ ; NAmE /ˌʌnˈduːli/
(formal)
more than you think is reasonable or necessary
SYNONYM excessively
He did not sound unduly worried at the prospect.
The levels of pollution in this area are unduly high.
The thought did not disturb her unduly.
The sentence was criticized as being unduly lenient.

COMPARE duly

duly adverb
BrE /ˈdjuːli/ ; NAmE /ˈduːli/
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

un·earth verb
BrE /ʌnˈɜːθ/ ; NAmE /ʌnˈɜːrθ/

1 unearth something to find something in the ground by digging

SYNONYM dig somethingup
to unearth buried treasures
Police have unearthed a human skeleton.
The remains were unearthed last year by archaeologists.

2 unearth something to find or discover something by chance or after searching for it

SYNONYM dig somethingup
I unearthed my old diaries when we moved house.
The newspaper has unearthed some disturbing facts.

un·feas·ible adjective
BrE /ʌnˈfiːzəbl/ ; NAmE /ʌnˈfiːzəbl/
not possible to do or achieve The teachers’ demands were economically unfeasible.

OPPOSITE feasible

feas·ible adjective
BrE /ˈfiːzəbl/ ; NAmE /ˈfiːzəbl/
that is possible and likely to be achieved
SYNONYM practicable
a feasible plan/suggestion/idea
It's just not feasible to manage the business on a part-time basis.

OPPOSITE unfeasible

un·fold verb
BrE /ʌnˈfəʊld/ ; NAmE /ʌnˈfoʊld/

1 [transitive, intransitive] unfold (something) to spread open or flat something that has
previously been folded; to become open and flat to unfold a map
She unfolded her arms.

OPPOSITE fold
2 [intransitive, transitive] to be gradually made known; to gradually make something known to
other people The audience watched as the story unfolded before their eyes.
Dramatic events were about to unfold.
unfold something (to somebody) She unfolded her tale to us.

un·fore·seen adjective
BrE /ˌʌnfɔːˈsiːn/ ; NAmE /ˌʌnfɔːrˈsiːn/
that you did not expect to happen
SYNONYM unexpected
unforeseen delays/problems
The project was running late owing to unforeseen circumstances.

COMPARE foresee

fore·see verb
BrE /fɔːˈsiː/ ; NAmE /fɔːrˈsiː/

to think something is going to happen in the future; to know about something before it happens
SYNONYM predict
foresee something We do not foresee any problems.
The extent of the damage could not have been foreseen.
foresee (that)… No one could have foreseen (that) things would turn out this way.
foresee how, what, etc… It is impossible to foresee how life will work out.
foresee somebody/something doing something I just didn't foresee that happening.

COMPARE unforeseen

uni·son noun
BrE /ˈjuːnɪsn/ ; NAmE /ˈjuːnɪsn/

Idioms
in ˈunison (with somebody/something)
1 if people do or say something in unison, they all do it at the same time
2 if people or organizations are working in unison, they are working together, because they
agree with each other
3 (music) if singers or musicians sing or play in unison, they sing or play notes at the same pitch
or at one or more octaves apart
unlit adjective
BrE /ˌʌnˈlɪt/ ; NAmE /ˌʌnˈlɪt/
1 dark because there are no lights or the lights are not switched on an unlit passage
Avoid walking through parks or down quiet, unlit roads.
The room was unlit and they could hardly see the man in the gloom.

2 not yet burning an unlit cigarette

OPPOSITE lighted

unmet adjective
BrE /ˌʌnˈmet/ ; NAmE /ˌʌnˈmet/
(formal)
(of needs, etc.) not satisfied a report on the unmet needs of elderly people
The demand for more information has remained largely unmet.

un·ravel verb
BrE /ʌnˈrævl/ ; NAmE /ʌnˈrævl/

1 [transitive, intransitive] unravel (something) if you unravel threads that are twisted, woven or
knitted, or if they unravel, they become separated I unravelled the string and wound it into a
ball.

2 [intransitive] (of a system, plan, relationship, etc.) to start to fail or no longer stay together as a
whole
3 [transitive, intransitive] unravel (something) to explain something that is difficult to
understand or is mysterious; to become clearer or easier to understand The discovery will help
scientists unravel the mystery of the Ice Age.

up·bring·ing noun
BrE /ˈʌpbrɪŋɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈʌpbrɪŋɪŋ/
[singular, uncountable]
the way in which a child is cared for and taught how to behave while it is growing up to have
had a sheltered upbringing
He was a Catholic by upbringing.

vague adjective
BrE /veɪɡ/ ; NAmE /veɪɡ/
(vaguer, vaguest)
1 not clear in a person’s mind to have a vague impression/memory/recollection of something
They had only a vague idea where the place was.
2 vague (about something) not having or giving enough information or details about something
She's a little vague about her plans for next year.
The politicians made vague promises about tax cuts.
He was accused of being deliberately vague.
We had only a vague description of the attacker.
He outlined the policy in vague terms.

3 (of a person’s behaviour) suggesting a lack of clear thought or attention

SYNONYM absent-minded
His vague manner concealed a brilliant mind.

4 not having a clear shape

SYNONYM indistinct
In the darkness they could see the vague outline of a church.

van·ish verb
BrE /ˈvænɪʃ/ ; NAmE /ˈvænɪʃ/

1 [intransitive] to disappear suddenly and/or in a way that you cannot explain He turned around
and vanished into the house.
The magician vanished in a puff of smoke.
My glasses seem to have vanished.
He vanished without trace.

2 [intransitive] to stop existing the vanishing woodlands of Europe

All hopes of a peaceful settlement had now vanished.
All thoughts of leaving vanished from his mind.

Idioms
disappear/vanish off the face of the ˈearth
to disappear completely Keep looking—they can't just have vanished off the face of the earth.

do, perform, stage a disapˈpearing/ˈvanishing act

(informal) to go away or be impossible to find when people need or want you

vaping noun
BrE /ˈveɪpɪŋ/; NAmE /ˈveɪpɪŋ/
[uncountable]
the activity of using electronic cigarettes Vaping has been banned on public transport.

vast adjective
BrE /vɑːst/ ; NAmE /væst/
extremely large in area, size, amount, etc.
SYNONYM huge
a vast area of forest
a vast crowd
a vast amount of information
At dusk bats appear in vast numbers.
His business empire was vast.
In the vast majority of cases, this should not be a problem.
Your help made a vast difference.
We’ve hired a marquee at vast expense.

vegan noun
BrE /ˈviːɡən/ ; NAmE /ˈviːɡən/
a person who does not eat any animal products such as meat, milk or eggs. Some vegans do not
use animal products such as silk or leather He’s a strict vegan.

ver·bose adjective
BrE /vɜːˈbəʊs/ ; NAmE /vɜːrˈboʊs/
(formal, disapproving)
using or containing more words than are needed
SYNONYM long-winded
a verbose speaker/style
The editors received streams of verbose articles from young hopeful journalists.
The man was smartly dressed, verbose, and seriously agitated.

ven·eer noun
BrE /vəˈnɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /vəˈnɪr/
1 [countable, uncountable] a thin layer of wood or plastic that is glued to the surface of cheaper
wood, especially on a piece of furniture pine, with a walnut veneer
The chest is solid oak, not veneer.

2 [singular] veneer (of something) (formal) an outer appearance of a particular quality that hides
the true nature of somebody/something Her veneer of politeness began to crack.

ven·eer verb
BrE /vəˈnɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /vəˈnɪr/

veneer something (with/in something) to cover the surface of something with a veneer of
wood, etc The bed was veneered with cherrywood.

ven·er·ate verb
BrE /ˈvenəreɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈvenəreɪt/

venerate somebody/something (as something) (formal) to have and show a lot of respect for
somebody/something, especially somebody/something that is considered to be holy or very
important
SYNONYM revere
The monk was subsequently venerated as a saint.
a leader venerated by generations of revolutionaries
re·vere verb
BrE /rɪˈvɪə(r)/ ; NAmE /rɪˈvɪr/

[usually passive] revere somebody (as something) (formal) to feel great respect or admiration
for somebody/something
SYNONYM idolize
Her name is revered in Spain.
He is now revered as a national hero.

verge noun
BrE /vɜːdʒ/ ; NAmE /vɜːrdʒ/
(British English) a piece of grass at the edge of a path, road, etc a grass verge

COMPARE soft shoulder

Idioms
on/to the verge of something/of doing something
very near to the moment when somebody does something or something happens He was on the
verge of tears.
They are on the verge of signing a new contract.
These measures brought the republic to the verge of economic collapse.

verge verb
BrE /vɜːdʒ/ ; NAmE /vɜːrdʒ/

Phrasal Verbs
ˈverge on something
to be very close to an extreme state or condition
SYNONYM border on something
Some of his suggestions verged on the outrageous.
a dislike verging on contempt
The fabric is very dark blue, verging on black.

ver·ify verb
BrE /ˈverɪfaɪ/ ; NAmE /ˈverɪfaɪ/
(formal)

1 to check that something is true or accurate verify something We have no way of verifying his
story.
verify that… Please verify that there is sufficient memory available before loading the program.
verify whether, what, etc… I'll leave you to verify whether these claims are true.

2 verify something verify that… to show or say that something is true or accurate
SYNONYM confirm
Her version of events was verified by neighbours.

vest noun
BrE /vest/ ; NAmE /vest/
1 (British English) (North American English under·shirt) a piece of underwear worn under a
shirt, etc. next to the skin a cotton vest

COMPARE singlet
2 a special piece of clothing that covers the upper part of the body a bullet-proof vest
a running vest

3 (North American English) (British English waist·coat) a short piece of clothing with buttons
down the front but no sleeves, usually worn over a shirt and under a jacket, often forming part of
a man’s suit

vest verb
BrE /vest/ ; NAmE /vest/

Phrasal Verbs
ˈvest in somebody/something
(law) (of power, property, etc.) to belong to somebody/something legally In the case of
bankruptcy, the property shall vest in the trustee.

ˈvest something in somebody | ˈvest somebody with something [often passive] (formal)
1 to give somebody the legal right or power to do something Overall authority is vested in the
Supreme Council.
The Supreme Council is vested with overall authority.

2 to make somebody the legal owner of land or property

vicin·ity noun
BrE /vəˈsɪnəti/ ; NAmE /vəˈsɪnəti/
the vicinity [singular]
the area around a particular place Crowds gathered in the vicinity of Trafalgar Square.
There is no hospital in the immediate vicinity.

vi·gnette noun
BrE /vɪnˈjet/ ; NAmE /vɪnˈjet/
(formal)
1 a short piece of writing or acting that clearly shows what a particular person, situation, etc. is
like a charming vignette of Edwardian life

2 a small picture or drawing, especially on the first page of a book Each vignette represents one
of the four seasons.

vivi·sec·tion noun
BrE /ˌvɪvɪˈsekʃn/ ; NAmE /ˌvɪvɪˈsekʃn/
[uncountable]
the practice of doing experiments on live animals for medical or scientific research

waive verb
BrE /weɪv/ ; NAmE /weɪv/

waive something to choose not to demand something in a particular case, even though you have
a legal or official right to do so
SYNONYM forgo
He waived his right to appeal against the verdict.
We have decided to waive the tuition fees in your case.
He has agreed to waive his rights to the money.

ˈwalk-in adjective
BrE ; NAmE
[only before noun]
1 large enough to walk into a walk-in closet

2 not arranged in advance; where you do not need to arrange a time in advance a walk-in
interview
a walk-in clinic

wan·der verb
BrE /ˈwɒndə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈwɑːndər/
1 [intransitive, transitive] to walk slowly around or to a place, often without any particular sense
of purpose or direction + adverb/preposition She wandered aimlessly around the streets.
We wandered back towards the car.
wander something The child was found wandering the streets alone.

2 [intransitive] to move away from the place where you ought to be or the people you are with
SYNONYM stray
wander away/off The child wandered off and got lost.
wander from/off something They had wandered from the path into the woods.

3 [intransitive] (of a person’s mind or thoughts) to stop being directed on something and to
move without much control to other ideas, subjects, etc.
SYNONYM drift
It's easy to be distracted and let your attention wander.
Try not to let your mind wander.
wander away, back, to, etc. something Her thoughts wandered back to her youth.
Don’t wander off the subject—keep to the point.

4 [intransitive] (of a person’s eyes) to move slowly from looking at one thing to looking at
another thing or in other directions She let her gaze wander.
+ adverb/preposition His eyes wandered towards the photographs on the wall.

5 [intransitive] (+ adverb/preposition) (of a road or river) to curve instead of following a

straight course The road wanders along through the hills.

wan·der noun
BrE /ˈwɒndə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈwɑːndər/
[singular] a short walk in or around a place, usually with no special purpose I went to the park
and had a wander around.

war·rant noun
BrE /ˈwɒrənt/ ; NAmE /ˈwɔːrənt/ , /ˈwɑːrənt/
1 [countable] a legal document that is signed by a judge and gives the police authority to do
something an arrest warrant
warrant for something They issued a warrant for her arrest.
warrant to do something They had a warrant to search the house.

SEE ALSO death warrant, search warrant

2 [countable] warrant (for something) a document that gives you the right to receive money,
services, etc the issue of warrants for equity shares

3 [uncountable] warrant (for something/for doing something) (formal) (usually in negative

sentences) an acceptable reason for doing something There is no warrant for such criticism.
war·rant verb
BrE /ˈwɒrənt/ ; NAmE /ˈwɔːrənt/ , /ˈwɑːrənt/

(formal) to make something necessary or appropriate in a particular situation

SYNONYM justify
warrant something Further investigation is clearly warranted.
The TV appearance was so brief that it hardly warranted comment.
They do not consider the case serious enough to warrant a government enquiry.
warrant (somebody/something) doing something The situation scarcely warrants their/them
being dismissed.

SEE ALSO unwarranted

Idioms
I/I’ll warrant (you)
(old-fashioned) used to tell somebody that you are sure of something and that they can be sure of
it too

wary adjective
BrE /ˈweəri/ ; NAmE /ˈweri/
(wari·er, wari·est)
careful when dealing with somebody/something because you think that there may be a danger or
problem
SYNONYM cautious
wary (of somebody/something) Be wary of strangers who offer you a ride.
wary (of doing something) She was wary of getting involved with him.
He gave her a wary look.
The police will need to keep a wary eye on this area of town (= watch it carefully, in case there
is trouble).

COMPARE unwary

un·wary adjective
BrE /ʌnˈweəri/ ; NAmE /ʌnˈweri/
1 [only before noun] not aware of the possible dangers or problems of a situation and therefore
likely to be harmed in some way Exams are not designed to set traps for unwary students.

COMPARE wary
2 the unwary noun [plural] people who are unwary The stock market is full of traps for the
unwary.
weep verb
BrE /wiːp/ ; NAmE /wiːp/

1 [intransitive, transitive] (formal or literary) to cry, usually because you are sad She started to
weep uncontrollably.
I could have wept thinking about what I'd missed.
weep for/with something He wept for joy.
weep at/over something I do not weep over his death.
weep something She wept bitter tears of disappointment.
weep to do something I wept to see him looking so sick.
+ speech ‘I'm so unhappy!’ she wept.

2 [intransitive] (usually used in the progressive tenses) (of a wound) to produce liquid His legs
were covered with weeping sores (= sores which had not healed).

weep noun
BrE /wiːp/ ; NAmE /wiːp/
[singular] an act of crying Sometimes you feel better for a good weep.

weep·ing adjective
BrE /ˈwiːpɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ˈwiːpɪŋ/
[only before noun]
(of some trees) with branches that hang downwards a weeping willow/fig/birch

weepy adjective
BrE /ˈwiːpi/ ; NAmE /ˈwiːpi/
(informal) sad and tending to cry easily She was feeling tired and weepy.
Weddings always made her feel weepy.

weird adjective
BrE /wɪəd/ ; NAmE /wɪrd/
(weird·er, weird·est)
1 very strange or unusual and difficult to explain
SYNONYM strange
a weird dream
She's a really weird girl.
He's got some weird ideas.
It's really weird seeing yourself on television.
the weird and wonderful creatures that live beneath the sea

2 strange in a mysterious and frightening way

SYNONYM eerie
She began to make weird inhuman sounds.

weird verb
BrE /wɪəd/ ; NAmE /wɪrd/

Phrasal Verbs
ˌweird somebody ˈout
(informal) to seem strange or worrying to somebody and make them feel uncomfortable The
whole concept really weirds me out.
I have nothing to do and it weirds me out.
Driving on the left still weirds me out.

wel·fare noun
BrE /ˈwelfeə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈwelfer/
[uncountable]
1 the general health, happiness and safety of a person, an animal or a group
SYNONYM well-being
We are concerned about the child's welfare.

2 practical or financial help that is provided, often by the government, for people or animals that
need it The state is still the main provider of welfare.
child welfare
a social welfare programme
welfare provision/services/work

3 (especially North American English) (British English also ˌsocial seˈcurity) money that the
government pays regularly to people who are poor, unemployed, sick, etc They would rather
work than live on welfare.

whim·per verb
BrE /ˈwɪmpə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈwɪmpər/

[intransitive, transitive] to make low, weak crying noises; to speak in this way The child was lost
and began to whimper.
+ speech ‘Don't leave me alone,’ he whimpered.

whim·per noun
BrE /ˈwɪmpə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈwɪmpər/
a low weak cry that a person or an animal makes when they are hurt, frightened or sad The puppy
gave a little whimper of fear.
She let out a whimper of pain.
The animal gave a pathetic little whimper.
(figurative) The whole affair ended less with a bang than with a whimper (= in a way that was
not impressive).

will·power noun
BrE /ˈwɪlpaʊə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈwɪlpaʊər/
[uncountable]
the ability to control your thoughts and actions in order to achieve what you want to do He’s
intelligent but he’s got no willpower.

wind2 verb
BrE /waɪnd/ ; NAmE /waɪnd/

1 [intransitive, transitive] (of a road, river, etc.) to have many bends and twists +
adverb/preposition The path wound down to the beach.
wind its way + adverb/preposition The river winds its way between two meadows.

SEE ALSO winding

2 [transitive] wind something + adverb/preposition to wrap or twist something around itself or
something else He wound the wool into a ball.
Wind the bandage around your finger.

3 [transitive, intransitive] to make a clock or other piece of machinery work by turning a knob,
handle, etc. several times; to be able to be made to work in this way wind something (up) He
had forgotten to wind his watch.
wind up It was one of those old-fashioned gramophones that winds up.

SEE ALSO wind-up

4 [transitive, intransitive] to operate a tape, film, etc. so that it moves nearer to its ending or
starting position wind something forward/back He wound the tape back to the beginning.
wind forward/back Wind forward to the bit where they discover the body.

5 [transitive] wind something to turn a handle several times You operate the trapdoor by
winding this handle.

Idioms
twist/wrap/wind somebody around your little ˈfinger
(informal) to persuade somebody to do anything that you want She has always been able to twist
her parents around her little finger.
Phrasal Verbs
ˌwind ˈdown
1 (of a person) to rest or relax after a period of activity or excitement
SYNONYM unwind
2 (of a piece of machinery) to go slowly and then stop
ˌwind somethingˈdown
1 to bring a business, an activity, etc. to an end gradually over a period of time The government
is winding down its nuclear programme.
The department is being wound down after the election.

2 to make something such as the window of a car move downwards by turning a handle, pressing
a button, etc Can I wind my window down?

ˌwind ˈup
(informal) (of a person) to find yourself in a particular place or situation I always said he would
wind up in prison.
wind up doing something We eventually wound up staying in a little hotel a few miles from
town.
+ adjective If you take risks like that you'll wind up dead.

ˌwind ˈup | ˌwind somethingˈup

to bring something such as a speech or meeting to an end The speaker was just winding up when
the door was flung open.
If we all agree, let's wind up the discussion.

ˌwind somebodyˈup
(British English, informal) to deliberately say or do something in order to annoy somebody Calm
down! Can't you see he's only winding you up?
That can't be true! You're winding me up.

RELATED NOUN wind-up

ˌwind somethingˈup
1 to stop running a company, business, etc. and close it completely
2 to make something such as the window of a car move upwards by turning a handle, pressing a
button, etc Are all the windows wound up?

wind-up adjective
BrE /ˈwaɪnd ʌp/ ; NAmE /ˈwaɪnd ʌp/
[only before noun]
1 that you operate by turning a key or handle an old-fashioned wind-up gramophone

2 intended to bring something to an end a wind-up speech

con·coc·tion noun
BrE /kənˈkɒkʃn/ ; NAmE /kənˈkɑːkʃn/
a strange or unusual mixture of things, especially drinks or medicines a concoction of cream and
rum
He gave me some of his herbal concoction when I had toothache.

wine verb
BrE /waɪn/ ; NAmE /waɪn/

Idioms
ˌwine and ˈdine (somebody)
to go to restaurants, etc. and enjoy good food and drink; to entertain somebody by buying them
good food and drink The town offers many opportunities for wining and dining.
The firm spent thousands wining and dining potential clients.

wipe verb
BrE /waɪp/ ; NAmE /waɪp/

1 to rub something against a surface, in order to remove dirt or liquid from it; to rub a surface
with a cloth, etc. in order to clean it wipe something (on something) Please wipe your feet on the
mat.
He wiped his hands on a clean towel.
wipe something with something She was sniffing and wiping her eyes with a tissue.
wipe something + adjective He wiped his plate clean with a piece of bread.

2 to remove dirt, liquid, etc. from something by using a cloth, your hand, etc wipe something
(from/off something) He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
(figurative) Wipe that stupid smile off your face.
wipe something away/off/up She wiped off her make-up.
Use that cloth to wipe up the mess.

3 to remove information, sound, images, etc. from a computer, video, etc.

SYNONYM erase
wipe something off (something) You must have wiped off that programme I recorded.
wipe something Somebody had wiped all the tapes.

4 to deliberately forget an experience because it was unpleasant or embarrassing

SYNONYM erase
wipe something from something I tried to wipe the whole episode from my mind.
wipe something out You can never wipe out the past.

Idioms
wipe/mop the ˈfloor with somebody
(informal) to defeat somebody completely in an argument or a competition
wipe somebody/something off the ˌface of the ˈearth, wipe something off the ˈmap
to destroy or remove somebody/something completely
wipe the slate ˈclean
to agree to forget about past mistakes or arguments and start again with a relationship
Phrasal Verbs
ˌwipe somethingˈdown
to clean a surface completely, using a wet cloth She took a cloth and wiped down the kitchen
table.

wipe something off something

to remove something from something Billions of pounds were wiped off share prices today.

ˌwipe ˈout
(informal) to fall over, especially when you are doing a sport such as skiing or surfing She wiped
out at the third gate in the slalom race.

ˌwipe somebodyˈout
(informal) to make somebody extremely tired All that travelling has wiped her out.

SEE ALSO wiped out

ˌwipe somebody/somethingˈout
[often passive] to destroy or remove somebody/something completely Whole villages were wiped
out by the earthquake.
Last year's profits were virtually wiped out.
a campaign to wipe out malaria

RELATED NOUN wipeout

wipe noun
BrE /waɪp/ ; NAmE /waɪp/
1 an act of cleaning something using a cloth Can you give the table a quick wipe?

2 a special piece of thin cloth or soft paper that has been treated with a liquid and that you use to
clean away dirt and bacteria Remember to take nappies and baby wipes.
antiseptic wipes

ˌwiped ˈout adjective

BrE ; NAmE
[not before noun] (informal)
extremely tired You look wiped out.

wipe·out noun
BrE /ˈwaɪpaʊt/ ; NAmE /ˈwaɪpaʊt/
 (informal)
1 [uncountable, countable] complete destruction, failure or defeat The party faces virtual wipeout
in the election.
a 5–0 wipeout

2 [countable] a fall from a surfboard

witch noun
BrE /wɪtʃ/ ; NAmE /wɪtʃ/
1 a woman who is believed to have magic powers, especially to do evil things. In stories, she
usually wears a black pointed hat and flies on a broomstick.

2 (disapproving) an ugly unpleasant old woman

Idioms
a witch’s/an evil ˈbrew
(British English, informal) an unpleasant drink that is a mixture of different things
wobble·board noun
BrE /ˈwɒblbɔːd/ ; NAmE /ˈwɑːblbɔːrd/
a musical instrument consisting of a piece of board which is shaken to produce low sounds,
originally played by Australian Aborigines

ˌworn ˈout adjective

BrE ; NAmE
1 (of a thing) badly damaged and/or no longer useful because it has been used a lot These shoes
are worn out.
the gradual replacement of worn-out equipment
a speech full of worn-out old clichés

2 [not usually before noun] (of a person) looking or feeling very tired, especially as a result of
hard work or physical exercise Can we sit down? I'm worn out.
She got absolutely worn out looking after the children.

COMPARE outworn

wrap verb
BrE /ræp/ ; NAmE /ræp/

1 [transitive] wrap something (up) (in something) to cover something completely in paper or
other material, for example when you are giving it as a present He spent the evening wrapping up
the Christmas presents.
individually wrapped chocolates

SEE ALSO gift-wrap

2 [transitive] to cover something/somebody in material, for example in order to protect it/them
wrap A (up) in B Wrap the meat in foil before you cook it.
He tossed her a towel. ‘Wrap yourself in that.’
I wrapped the baby (up) in a blanket.
wrap B round/around A I wrapped a blanket around the baby.

SEE ALSO shrink-wrapped

3 [transitive] wrap something around/round something/somebody to put something firmly
around something/somebody A scarf was wrapped around his neck.
His arms were wrapped around her waist.
The nurse wrapped a bandage tightly around my ankle.

4 [transitive, intransitive] (computing) to cause text to be carried over to a new line automatically
as you reach the end of the previous line; to be carried over in this way wrap something
(around/round) How can I wrap the text around?
wrap (around/round) The text wraps around if it is too long to fit the screen.

COMPARE unwrap

Idioms
be ˌwrapped ˈup in somebody/something
to be so involved with somebody/something that you do not pay enough attention to other people
or things
SYNONYM absorbed, engrossed
They are completely wrapped up in their children.
She was so wrapped up in her work that she didn’t realize how late it was.

twist/wrap/wind somebody around your little ˈfinger

(informal) to persuade somebody to do anything that you want She has always been able to twist
her parents around her little finger.

Phrasal Verbs
ˌwrap ˈup | ˌwrap it ˈup
(slang) usually used as an order to tell somebody to stop talking or causing trouble, etc.
ˌwrap ˈup | ˌwrap somebody/yourself ˈup
to put warm clothes on somebody/yourself She told them to wrap up warm/warmly.

ˌwrap somethingˈup
(informal) to complete something such as an agreement or a meeting in an acceptable way That
just about wraps it up for today.

wrench verb
BrE /rentʃ/ ; NAmE /rentʃ/
1 [transitive, intransitive] to pull or twist something/somebody/yourself suddenly and violently
SYNONYM jerk
wrench (something/somebody/yourself) + adverb/preposition The bag was wrenched from her
grasp.
He grabbed Ben, wrenching him away from his mother.
(figurative) Guy wrenched his mind back to the present.
wrench (something/somebody/yourself) + adjective They wrenched the door open.
She managed to wrench herself free.

2 [transitive] wrench something to twist and injure a part of your body, especially your ankle or
shoulder
SYNONYM twist
She wrenched her knee when she fell.

3 [transitive, intransitive] (formal) to make somebody feel great pain or unhappiness, especially
so that they make a sound or cry wrench (something) (from somebody) His words wrenched a
sob from her.
a wrenching experience
wrench at something Her words wrenched at my heart.

SEE ALSO gut-wrenching

wrench noun
BrE /rentʃ/ ; NAmE /rentʃ/
1 (especially North American English) (usually British English span·ner) [countable] a metal
tool with a specially shaped end for holding and turning things, including one which can be
adjusted to fit objects of different sizes, also called a monkey wrench or an
adjustable spanner
2 [singular] pain or unhappiness that you feel when you have to leave a person or place that you
love Leaving home was a terrible wrench for me.

3 [countable, usually singular] a sudden and violent twist or pull She stumbled and gave her
ankle a painful wrench.

Idioms
throw a ˈwrench in/into something
(North American English, informal)
= throw a monkey wrench in/into something