# dict

Words: ’cause
Meaning:
’cause   also cause\n  ’Cause is an informal way of saying because.\n30 families are suffering ’cause they’re out of work.\n  CONJ


Words: ’cos
Meaning:
’cos   also cos\n  ’Cos is an informal way of saying because. (BRIT SPOKEN; in AM, use ’cause)\nIt was absolutely horrible going up the hills ’cos they were really, really steep.\n  CONJ


Words: ’n’
Meaning:
’n’\n  The word `and’ is sometimes written as ’n’ between certain pairs of words, as in `rock ’n’ roll’. (INFORMAL)\n...a country ’n’ western song.\n...a fish ’n’ chips restaurant.\n  CONJ\n  = and


Words: -’d
Meaning:
1. -’d is a spoken form of `had’, especially when `had’ is an auxiliary verb. It is added to the end of the pronoun which is the subject of the verb. For example, `you had’ can be shortened to `you’d’.\n\n2. -’d is a spoken form of `would’. It is added to the end of the pronoun which is the subject of the verb. For example, `I would’ can be shortened to `I’d’.


Words: -’ll
Meaning:
-’ll\n  -’ll is the usual spoken form of `will’. It is added to the end of the pronoun which is the subject of the verb. For example, `you will’ can be shortened to `you’ll’.


Words: -’re
Meaning:
-’re\n  -’re is the usual spoken form of `are’. It is added to the end of the pronoun or noun which is the subject of the verb. For example, `they are’ can be shortened to `they’re’.


Words: -’s
Meaning:
1. -’s is added to nouns to form possessives. However, with plural nouns ending in `-s’, and sometimes with names ending in `-s’, you form the possessive by adding -’.\n...the chairman’s son.\n...women’s rights.\n...a boys’ boarding-school.\n...Sir Charles’ car.\n\n2. -’s is the usual spoken form of `is’. It is added to the end of the pronoun or noun which is the subject of the verb. For example, `he is’ and `she is’ can be shortened to `he’s’ and `she’s’.\n\n3. -’s is the usual spoken form of `has’, especially where `has’ is an auxiliary verb. It is added to the end of the pronoun or noun which is the subject of the verb. For example, `It has gone’ can be shortened to `It’s gone’.\n\n4. -’s is sometimes added to numbers, letters, and abbreviations to form plurals, although many people think you should just add `-s’.\n...new strategies for the 1990’s.\n...p’s and q’s.


Words: -’ve
Meaning:
’ve is the usual spoken form of `have’, especially when `have’ is an auxiliary verb. It is added to the end of the pronoun which is the subject of the verb. For example, `you have’ can be shortened to `you’ve’.


Words: -ability
Meaning:
-ability  -abilities\n  -ability replaces `-able’ at the end of adjectives to form nouns. Nouns formed in this way refer to the state or quality described by the adjectives.\n...the desirability of global co-operation...\nNo one ever questioned her capability.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -able
Meaning:
-able\n  -able combines with verbs to form adjectives. Adjectives formed in this way describe someone or something that can have a particular thing done to them. For example, if something is avoidable, it can be avoided.\nThese injuries were avoidable...\nHe was an admirable chairman.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -an
Meaning:
-an  -ans\n1. -an is added to the names of some places in order to form adjectives or nouns that refer to people or things which come from that place.\nThe Australian foreign minister...\nMitch was a San Franciscan by birth.\n  SUFFIX\n\n2. -an is added to the names of famous people to form adjectives or nouns that refer to people or things which are connected with or typical of that person’s work or the time at which they lived.\n...a great Shakespearean actor.\n...an exhibition of fine Victorian furniture.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -appointed
Meaning:
-appointed\n  -appointed combines with adverbs to form adjectives such as well-appointed that describe a building or room that is equipped or furnished in the way that is mentioned. (WRITTEN)\nSloan looked round the well-appointed kitchen...\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also self-appointed


Words: -armed
Meaning:
-armed\n1. -armed is used with adjectives to indicate what kind of arms someone has.\n...plump-armed women in cotton dresses.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n2. -armed is used with adjectives such as `nuclear’ and nouns such as `missile’ to form adjectives that indicate what kind of weapons an army or person has.\n...nuclear-armed navy vessels.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n3.\n  see also armed


Words: -ation
Meaning:
-ation  -ations\n  -ation and -ion are added to some verbs in order to form nouns. Nouns formed in this way often refer to a state or process; for example, starvation is the process of starving, and victimization is the process of being victimized.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -baiting
Meaning:
-baiting\n1. You use -baiting after nouns to refer to the activity of attacking a particular group of people or laughing at their beliefs.\n  COMB in N-UNCOUNT\n\n2. Badger-baiting, bear-baiting, and bull-baiting involve making these animals fight dogs, while making sure that the animals are unable to defend themselves properly.\n  COMB in N-UNCOUNT


Words: -banded
Meaning:
-banded\n  -banded combines with colours to indicate that something has bands of a particular colour.\nTables are set with white china and gold-banded silver cutlery.\n  COMB in ADJ\n  = -striped


Words: -barrelled
Meaning:
-barrelled\nin AM, use -barreled\n  -barrelled combines with adjectives to form adjectives that describe a gun which has a barrel or barrels of the specified type.\n...a short-barreled rifle.\n...a double-barrelled shotgun.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also double-barrelled


Words: -based
Meaning:
-based\n1. -based combines with nouns referring to places to mean something positioned or existing mainly in the place mentioned, or operating or organized from that place.\n...a Washington-based organization.\n...land-based missiles...\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n2. -based combines with nouns to mean that the thing mentioned is a central part or feature.\n...computer-based jobs.\n...oil-based sauces.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n3. -based combines with adverbs to mean having a particular kind of basis.\nThere are growing signs of more broadly-based popular unrest.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -basher
Meaning:
-basher  -bashers\n  -basher combines with nouns to form nouns referring to someone who is physically violent towards a particular type of person, or who is unfairly critical of a particular type of person.\n...gay-bashers who go around looking for homosexuals to beat up...\n  COMB in N-COUNT  disapproval


Words: -bashing
Meaning:
-bashing\n1. -bashing combines with nouns to form nouns or adjectives that refer to strong, public, and often unfair criticism of the people or group mentioned. (JOURNALISM)\nTory-bashing or Labour-bashing will not be enough to shift bored, suspicious voters.\n  COMB in N-UNCOUNT, ADJ  disapproval\n\n2. -bashing combines with nouns to form nouns or adjectives that refer to the activity of violently attacking the people mentioned just because they belong to a particular group or community.\n...an outburst of violent gay-bashing in New York and other cities.\n  COMB in N-UNCOUNT, ADJ  disapproval\n\n3.\n  see also bash


Words: -bearing
Meaning:
-bearing\n  -bearing combines with nouns to form adjectives which describe things that hold the specified substance inside them.\n...oil-bearing rocks.\n...malaria-bearing mosquitos.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -bedded
Meaning:
-bedded\n  -bedded combines with numbers to form adjectives which indicate how many beds a room contains. -bedded combines with words such as `twin’ or `double’ to form adjectives which indicate what kind of beds a room contains.\n...a four-bedded room.\n...twin-bedded cabins.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -bedroomed
Meaning:
-bedroomed\n  -bedroomed combines with numbers to form adjectives which indicate how many bedrooms a particular house or flat has.\n...a two-bedroomed flat.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -behaved
Meaning:
-behaved\n  -behaved combines with adverbs such as `well’ or `badly’ to form adjectives that describe people’s or animals’ behaviour.\nThe children are well-behaved and keen to learn.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -bellied
Meaning:
-bellied\n  -bellied can be added to an adjective to describe someone or something that has a stomach of a particular kind.\nThe fat-bellied officer stood near the door.\n...the yellow-bellied sea-snake.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also pot-bellied


Words: -billed
Meaning:
-billed\n  -billed combines with adjectives to indicate that a bird has a beak of a particular kind or appearance.\n...yellow-billed ducks.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -boned
Meaning:
-boned\n  -boned combines with adjectives such as `big’ and `fine’ to form adjectives which describe a person as having a particular type of bone structure or build.\nHe was about seven years old, small and fine-boned like his mother.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -bore
Meaning:
-bore\n  -bore combines with numbers to form adjectives which indicate the size of the barrel of a gun.\nHe had a 12-bore shotgun.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n


Words: -born
Meaning:
-born\n  -born combines with adjectives that relate to countries or with the names of towns and areas to form adjectives that indicate where someone was born. (JOURNALISM)\nThe German-born photographer was admired by writers such as Oscar Wilde...\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -borne
Meaning:
-borne\n  -borne combines with nouns to form adjectives that describe the method or means by which something is carried or moved.\n...water-borne diseases.\n...a mosquito-borne infection.\n...rocket-borne weapons.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -bottomed
Meaning:
-bottomed\n  -bottomed can be added to adjectives or nouns to form adjectives that indicate what kind of bottom an object or person has.\n...a glass-bottomed boat.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -bound
Meaning:
-bound\n1. -bound combines with nouns to form adjectives which describe a person who finds it impossible or very difficult to leave the specified place.\nAndrew has been left wheelchair-bound after the accident...\nI’m pretty desk-bound, which is very frustrating.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n2. -bound combines with nouns to form adjectives which describe a place that is greatly affected by the specified type of weather.\nThree people were hurt in a 12-car pile up on a fog-bound motorway yesterday.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n3. -bound combines with nouns to form adjectives which describe something or someone that is prevented from working properly or is badly affected by the specified situation. (WRITTEN)\n...the somewhat tradition-bound officers of the navy.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n4.\n  see also duty-bound, muscle-bound


Words: -brained
Meaning:
-brained\n  You can combine -brained with nouns to form adjectives which describe the quality of someone’s mind when you consider that person to be rather stupid.\n...a scatter-brained professor.\n  COMB in ADJ  disapproval\n\n  see also hare-brained


Words: -budget
Meaning:
-budget\n  -budget combines with adjectives such as `low’ and `big’ to form adjectives which indicate how much money is spent on something, especially the making of a film.\nThey were small, low-budget films, shot on location.\n...a big-budget adventure movie starring Mel Gibson.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -buster
Meaning:
-buster  -busters\n1. -buster combines with nouns to form new nouns which refer to someone who breaks a particular law.\nThe Security Council will consider taking future actions against sanction-busters.\n...copyright-busters.\n  COMB in N-COUNT\n  = -breaker\n2. -buster combines with nouns to form new nouns which refer to someone or something that fights or overcomes the specified crime or undesirable activity.\nHoover was building his reputation as a crime-buster.\n...fraud-busters.\n  COMB in N-COUNT


Words: -calorie
Meaning:
-calorie\n  -calorie is used after adjectives such as low or high to indicate that food contains a small or a large number of calories.\n...low-calorie margarine.\n...reduced-calorie mayonnaise.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -centred
Meaning:
-centred\nin AM, use -centered\n  -centred can be added to adjectives and nouns to indicate what kind of a centre something has.\n...lemon-centered white chocolates.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also centre, self-centred


Words: -coated
Meaning:
-coated\n1. -coated combines with colour adjectives such as `white’ and `red’, or words for types of coat like `fur’, to form adjectives that describe someone as wearing a certain sort of coat.\nAt the top of the stairs stood the white-coated doctors.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n\n\n2. -coated combines with names of substances such as `sugar’ and `plastic’ to form adjectives that describe something as being covered with a thin layer of that substance.\n...chocolate-coated sweets.\n...plastic-coated wire.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -conscious
Meaning:
-conscious\n  -conscious combines with words such as `health’, `fashion’, `politically’, and `environmentally’ to form adjectives which describe someone who believes that the aspect of life indicated is important.\nWe’re all becoming increasingly health-conscious these days...\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -crazed
Meaning:
-crazed\n  -crazed combines with nouns to form adjectives that describe people whose behaviour is wild and uncontrolled because of the thing the noun refers to.\n...a drug-crazed killer.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -cum-
Meaning:
-cum-\n  -cum- is put between two nouns to form a noun referring to something or someone that is partly one thing and partly another.\n...a dining-room-cum-study...\n  COMB in N-COUNT


Words: -cy
Meaning:
-cy -cies\n1. -cy replaces `-te’, `-t’, and `-tic’ at the end of some adjectives to form nouns referring to the state or quality described by the adjective.\n...the emotional intimacy of a family...\nThey were sworn to secrecy.\n  SUFFIX\n\n2. -cy is added to some nouns referring to people with a particular rank or post in order to form nouns that refer to this rank or post.\nHe is likely to retain the England captaincy.\n...the university chaplaincy.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -day
Meaning:
-day\n  You use -day with a number to indicate how long something lasts.\nThe Sudanese leader has left for a two-day visit to Zambia.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -decker
Meaning:
-decker\n  -decker is used after adjectives like `double’ and `single’ to indicate how many levels or layers something has.\n...a red double-decker bus full of tourists.\n...a triple-decker peanut butter and jelly sandwich.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n


Words: -ed
Meaning:
1. -ed is added to verbs to form their past tense or their past participle. If the verb ends in e, one of the e’s is dropped. If the verb ends in y, the y is usually changed to i.\nI posted the letter...\nHe danced well...\n`I quite understand,’ he replied.\n  SUFFIX\n\n2. -ed is added to nouns to form adjectives that describe someone or something as having a particular feature or features.\n...a fat, bearded man.\n...coloured flags.\n  SUFFIX\n\n3. -ed is added to nouns or verbs combined with other words, to form compound adjectives.\n...a cone-shaped container...\nHe wore green-tinted glasses.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -edged
Meaning:
-edged\n  -edged combines with words such as `sharp’, `raw’, and `dark’ to form adjectives which indicate that something such as a play or a piece of writing is very powerful or critical. (JOURNALISM)\n...a sharp-edged satire that puts the Hollywood system under the microscope.\n...the raw-edged vitality and daring of these works.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also edge, edged, hard-edged


Words: -educated
Meaning:
-educated\n1. -educated combines with nouns and adjectives to form adjectives indicating where someone was educated.\n...the Oxford-educated son of a Liverpool merchant.\n...an American-educated lawyer.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n2. -educated combines with adverbs to form adjectives indicating how much education someone has had and how good it was.\nMany of the immigrants are well-educated.\n...impoverished, undernourished, and ill-educated workers.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -ence
Meaning:
-ence   or -ency\n  -ence and -ency are added to adjectives, usually in place of -ent, to form nouns referring to states, qualities, attitudes, or behaviour. For example, `affluence’ is the state of being affluent.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -engined
Meaning:
-engined\n  -engined combines with other words to show the number or type of engines that something has.\n...the world’s biggest twin-engined airliner.\n...a petrol-engined Ford Transit.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -er
Meaning:
-er\n1. You add -er to many short adjectives to form comparatives. For example, the comparative of `nice’ is `nicer’; the comparative of `happy’ is `happier’. You also add it to some adverbs that do not end in -ly. For example, the comparative of `soon’ is `sooner’.\n  SUFFIX\n\n2. You add -er to verbs to form nouns which refer to a person, animal, or thing that does the action described by the verb; for example a `reader’ is someone who reads and a `money-saver’ is something that saves money.\n  SUFFIX\n\n3. You add -er to words to form nouns which refer to a person who is associated or involved with the thing described by the word; for example a `pensioner’ is someone who is entitled to a pension.\n  SUFFIX\n\n4. You add -er to nouns to form nouns or adjectives which refer to things with a particular characteristic or feature; for example a `three-wheeler’ is a vehicle with three wheels.\n  SUFFIX\n\n5. You add -er to words to form nouns which refer to a person with a particular job. For example, someone who works in a mine is a `miner’.\n  SUFFIX\n\n6. You add -er to the names of some places to form nouns which refer to a person who comes from that place. For example, someone who comes from London is a `Londoner’.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -est
Meaning:
-est\n  You add -est to many short adjectives to form superlatives. For example, the superlative of `nice’ is `nicest’; the superlative of `happy’ is `happiest’. You also add it to some adverbs that do not end in -ly. For example, the superlative of `soon’ is `soonest’.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -eyed
Meaning:
-eyed\n  -eyed combines with adjectives to form adjectives which indicate the colour, shape, or size of a person’s eyes, or indicate the kind of expression that they have.\n...a blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl...\nShe watched open-eyed as the plane took off.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -faced
Meaning:
-faced\n  -faced combines with adjectives to form other adjectives that describe someone’s face or expression.\n...a slim, thin-faced man...\nThe committee walked out, grim-faced and shocked.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also ashen-faced, bare-faced, po-faced, poker-faced, red-faced, shamefaced, straight-faced, two-faced


Words: -figure
Meaning:
-figure\n  -figure combines with a number, usually `five’, `six’, or `seven’, to form adjectives which say how many figures are in a number. These adjectives usually describe a large amount of money. For example, a six-figure sum is between 100,000 and 999,999.\nColumbia Pictures paid him a six-figure sum for the film rights.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n


Words: -fired
Meaning:
-fired\n  -fired combines with nouns which refer to fuels to form adjectives which describe power stations, machines, or devices that operate by means of that fuel.\n...coal-fired power stations...\nMost of the food is cooked on a large wood-fired oven.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -first
Meaning:
-first\n  -first combines with nouns like `head’ and `feet’ to indicate that someone moves with the part that is mentioned pointing in the direction in which they are moving.\nHe overbalanced and fell head first.\n  COMB in ADV: ADV after v


Words: -fitting
Meaning:
-fitting\n  -fitting combines with adjectives or adverbs such as `close’, `loose’, or `tightly’ to show that something is the size indicated in relation to the thing it is on, in, or next to.\n...loose-fitting night clothes.\n...glass bottles with tight-fitting caps.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -flavoured
Meaning:
-flavoured\nin AM, use -flavored\n  -flavoured is used after nouns such as strawberry and chocolate to indicate that a food or drink is flavoured with strawberry or chocolate.\n...strawberry-flavoured sweets.\n...fruit-flavored sparkling water.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -fold
Meaning:
-fold\n  -fold combines with numbers to form adverbs which say how much an amount has increased by. For example, if an amount increases fourfold, it is four times greater than it was originally.\nBy the late eighties their number had grown fourfold...\nPretax profit surged almost twelvefold.\n  SUFFIX\n\n  -fold also combines with numbers to form adjectives.\nOne survey revealed a threefold increase in breast cancer.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: -footed
Meaning:
-footed\n  -footed combines with words such as `heavy’ or `light’ to form adjectives which indicate how someone moves or walks.\n...a slim, light-footed little man...\nHe was a nimble-footed boy of ten.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also foot, flat-footed, sure-footed


Words: -free
Meaning:
-free\n  -free combines with nouns to form adjectives that indicate that something does not have the thing mentioned, or has only a little of it. For example, sugar-free drinks do not contain any sugar, and lead-free petrol is made using only a small amount of lead.\n...a salt-free diet.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -friendly
Meaning:
-friendly\n1. -friendly combines with nouns to form adjectives which describe things that are not harmful to the specified part of the natural world.\nPalm oil is environment-friendly.\n...ozone-friendly fridges.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n2. -friendly combines with nouns to form adjectives which describe things which are intended for or suitable for the specified person, especially things that are easy for them to understand, appreciate, or use.\n...customer-friendly banking facilities.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also user-friendly


Words: -ful
Meaning:
-ful  -fuls\n  You use -ful to form nouns that refer to the quantity of a substance that an object contains or can contain. For example, a handful of sand is the amount of sand that you can hold in your hand.\n...a spoonful of brown sugar.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -goer
Meaning:
-goer  -goers\n  -goer is added to words such as `theatre’, `church’, and `film’ to form nouns which describe people who regularly go to that type of place or event.\nThey are regular church-goers.\n...excited party-goers.\n  COMB in N-COUNT


Words: -going
Meaning:
-going\n1. -going is added to nouns such as `theatre’, `church’, and `film’ to form nouns which describe the activity of going to that type of place or event.\n...his party-going days as a student.\n  COMB in N-UNCOUNT: oft N n\n\n2. -going is added to nouns such as `ocean’, `sea’, and `road’ to form adjectives which describe vehicles that are designed for that type of place.\n...one of the largest ocean-going liners in the world.\n  COMB: COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n3. -going is added to nouns that refer to directions to form adjectives which describe things that are moving in that direction.\nThe material can absorb outward-going radiation from the Earth.\n  COMB: COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n4.\n  see also easy-going, ongoing, outgoing, thoroughgoing


Words: -grader
Meaning:
-grader  -graders\n  -grader combines with words such as `first’ and `second’ to form nouns which refer to a child or young person who is in a particular grade in the American education system.\n...a sixth-grader at the Latta School.\n  COMB in N-COUNT


Words: -gram
Meaning:
-gram  -grams\n  -gram combines with nouns to form other nouns which refer to someone who dresses up in order to a bring a message to someone else, as a practical joke.\nNow he has only six or seven kissogram girls on his books.\n  COMB in N-COUNT


Words: -haired
Meaning:
-haired\n  -haired combines with adjectives to describe the length, colour, or type of hair that someone has.\nHe was a small, dark-haired man.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -hander
Meaning:
-hander  -handers\n  -hander combines with words like `two’ or `three’ to form nouns which indicate how many people are involved in a particular activity, especially a play or a film. (mainly BRIT)\n...a two-hander play...\nWilliams’s play is a tense contemporary three-hander about two murderers and a bank-robber.\n  COMB in N-COUNT: oft N n\n\n  see also left-hander, right-hander


Words: -hearted
Meaning:
-hearted\n  -hearted combines with adjectives such as `kind’ or `cold’ to form adjectives which indicate that someone has a particular character or personality or is in a particular mood.\nThey are now realising just how much they owe to kind-hearted strangers...\n  COMB in ADJ-GRADED


Words: -high
Meaning:
-high\n  -high combines with words such as `knee’ or `shoulder’ to indicate that someone or something reaches as high as the point that is mentioned.\nThe grass was knee-high.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -hugging
Meaning:
-hugging\n  -hugging combines with nouns to form adjectives which describe an item of clothing that fits very tightly and clearly reveals the shape of your body.\n...a figure-hugging dress.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -ibility
Meaning:
-ibility  -ibilities\n  -ibility replaces `-ible’ at the end of adjectives to form nouns referring to the state or quality described by the adjective.\n...its commitment to increase the accessibility of the arts...\nCheck your eligibility for State benefits...\n  SUFFIX


Words: -icity
Meaning:
-icity  -icities\n  -icity replaces `-ic’ at the end of adjectives to form nouns referring to the state, quality, or behaviour described by the adjective.\n...if someone disputes the authenticity of the document...\nHe soon exhibited signs of eccentricity.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -ify
Meaning:
-ify  -ifies  -ifying  -ified\n  -ify is used at the end of verbs that refer to making something or someone different in some way.\nMore needs to be done to simplify the process of registering to vote...\nWater can be purified by boiling for five minutes.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -impaired
Meaning:
-impaired\n  You use -impaired in adjectives where you are describing someone with a particular disability. For example, someone who is hearing-impaired has a disability affecting their hearing, and someone who is visually-impaired has a disability affecting their sight.\nMore than 1 in 20 of the population is hearing-impaired to some extent...\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  The hearing-impaired or the visually-impaired are people with disabilities affecting their hearing or sight.\n...giving a voice to the speech-impaired.\n  COMB in N-PLURAL: the N


Words: -induced
Meaning:
-induced\n  -induced combines with nouns to form adjectives which indicate that a state, condition, or illness is caused by a particular thing.\n...stress-induced disorders.\n...a drug-induced hallucination.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -inflected
Meaning:
-inflected\n1. -inflected is used to form adjectives describing someone’s voice or accent. (LITERARY)\n`Sergeant, I should like a word with you,’ said the newcomer, in a pleasantly-inflected baritone.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n2. -inflected is used to form adjectives describing the style of a piece of music or a performance. (JOURNALISM)\n...his attacking, gospel-inflected vocal style.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -ing
Meaning:
-ing\n1. -ing is added to verbs to form present participles. Present participles are used with auxiliary verbs to make continuous tenses. They are also used like adjectives, describing a person or thing as doing something.\nHe was walking along the street...\nChildren sit round small tables, talking to each other...\nIt was worth it to see all those smiling faces.\n  SUFFIX\n\n2. -ing is added to verbs to form uncount nouns referring to activities.\nGardening is very popular in Britain...\nThis campaign is one of the most successful in the history of advertising.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -intensive
Meaning:
-intensive\n  -intensive combines with nouns to form adjectives which indicate that an industry or activity involves the use of a lot of a particular thing.\n...the development of capital-intensive farming.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -ish
Meaning:
-ish\n1. -ish is added to adjectives to form adjectives which indicate that someone or something has a quality to a small extent. For example, something that is largish is fairly large.\nShe is tallish, brown-haired, and clear-skinned...\nWith her was a youngish man in a dinner jacket.\n  SUFFIX\n\n2. -ish is added to nouns and names to form adjectives which indicate that someone or something is like a particular kind of person or thing. For example, `childish’ means like a child, or typical of a child.\nShe had entirely lost her girlish chubbiness.\n...a man of monkish appearance.\n  SUFFIX\n\n3. -ish is added to words referring to times, dates, or ages to form words which indicate that the time or age mentioned is approximate.\nI’ll call you guys tomorrow. Noon-ish...\nThe nurse was fiftyish.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -ism
Meaning:
-ism  -isms\n1. -ism is used to form uncount nouns that refer to political or religious movements and beliefs.\nGere became interested in Buddhism in the 1970s.\n...a time of growing Slovak nationalism.\n  SUFFIX\n\n2. -ism is used to form uncount nouns that refer to attitudes and behaviour.\n...an act of heroism...\nHe didn’t hide his pacifism.\n  SUFFIX\n\n3. -ism is used to form uncount nouns that refer to unfair or hostile treatment of a particular group of people.\n...discrimination based on racism, sexism and disability...\n  SUFFIX


Words: -ist
Meaning:
-ist  -ists\n1. -ist is used in place of -ism to form count nouns and adjectives. The nouns refer to people who have particular beliefs. The adjectives describe something related to or based on particular beliefs.\nLater he was to become famous as a pacifist.\n...fascist organisations.\n  SUFFIX\n\n2. -ist is used to form count nouns referring to people who do a particular kind of work.\nSusi Arnott is a biologist.\n  SUFFIX\n\n3. -ist is added to nouns referring to musical instruments, in order to form nouns that refer to people who play these instruments.\n...Hungarian pianist Christina Kiss.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -ity
Meaning:
-ity  -ities\n  -ity is added to adjectives, sometimes in place of `-ious’, to form nouns referring to the state, quality, or behaviour described by the adjective.\nHe enjoyed the tranquillity of village life.\n...life with all its contradictions and complexities.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -ize
Meaning:
-ize  -izes  -izing  -ized\nin BRIT, also use -ise\n  Verbs that can end in either `-ize’ or `-ise’ are dealt with in this dictionary at the `-ize’ spelling. Many verbs ending in -ize describe processes by which things or people are brought into a new state.\nThe dispute could jeopardize the negotiations.\n...a way of trying to regularize and standardize practice.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -laden
Meaning:
-laden\n  -laden combines with nouns to form adjectives which indicate that something has a lot of a particular thing or quality.\n...a fat-laden meal.\n...smoke-laden air.\n...a technology-laden military.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -leaved
Meaning:
-leaved   also -leafed\n  -leaved or -leafed combines with adjectives to form other adjectives which describe the type of leaves a tree or plant has.\n...broad-leaved trees.\n...very dense and small-leafed maples.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -led
Meaning:
-led\n1. -led combines with nouns to form adjectives which indicate that something is organized, directed, or controlled by a particular person or group.\n...the student-led democracy movement.\n...a German-led European consortium.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n2. -led combines with nouns to form adjectives which indicate that something is mainly caused or influenced by a particular factor.\nTheir prosperity depends on export-led growth.\n...a market-led economy.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -length
Meaning:
-length\n  -length combines with nouns to form adjectives that describe something that is of a certain length, or long enough to reach the point indicated by the noun.\n...shoulder-length hair.\n...knee-length boots.\n...a feature-length film.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also full-length


Words: -less
Meaning:
-less\n  -less is added to nouns in order to form adjectives that indicate that someone or something does not have the thing that the noun refers to.\n...drink and talk and meaningless laughter...\nHe is not as friendless as he appeared to be.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -like
Meaning:
-like\n  -like combines with nouns to form adjectives which describe something as being similar to the thing referred to by the noun.\n...beautiful purple-red petunia-like flowers.\n...a tiny worm-like creature.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -limbed
Meaning:
-limbed\n  -limbed combines with adjectives to form other adjectives which indicate that a person or animal has limbs of a particular type or appearance.\nHe was long-limbed and dark-eyed.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -lipped
Meaning:
-lipped\n  -lipped combines with adjectives to form other adjectives which describe the sort of lips that someone has.\nA thin-lipped smile spread over the captain’s face.\n...his full-lipped mouth.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also tight-lipped


Words: -load
Meaning:
-load  -loads\n  -load combines with nouns referring to a vehicle or container to form nouns that refer to the total amount of something that the vehicle or container mentioned can hold or carry.\nThe first plane-loads of food, children’s clothing and medical supplies began arriving.\n...a lorry-load of sheep on their way across Europe.\n  COMB in N-COUNT


Words: -loved
Meaning:
-loved\n  -loved combines with adverbs to form adjectives that describe how much someone or something is loved.\nThe similarities between the much-loved father and his son are remarkable.\n...two of Mendelssohn’s best-loved works.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -ly
Meaning:
-ly  -lier  -liest\n1. -ly is added to adjectives to form adverbs that indicate the manner or nature of something.\nI saw Louise walking slowly to the bus stop...\nThey were badly injured...\nSarah has typically British fair skin.\n  SUFFIX\n\n2. -ly is added to nouns to form adjectives that describe someone or something as being like or typical of a particular kind of person or thing.\nThe staff are very friendly...\nThis was a cowardly thing to do.\n  SUFFIX\n\n3. -ly is added to nouns referring to periods of time to form adjectives or adverbs that say how often something happens or is done.\n...a weekly newspaper.\n...monthly payments.\n...the language that we use daily.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -made
Meaning:
-made\n  -made combines with words such as `factory’ to make adjectives that indicate that something has been made or produced in a particular place or in a particular way.\n...a British-made car.\n...specially-made footwear.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -man
Meaning:
-man\n  -man combines with numbers to make adjectives which indicate that something involves or is intended for that number of people.\nThe four-man crew on board the fishing trawler...\n...a two-man tent.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n\n  = -person


Words: -meister
Meaning:
-meister -meisters\n  -meister combines with nouns to form nouns which refer to someone who is extremely good at a particular activity.\nThe film.tautly directed by horror-meister Sam Raimi.is almost assured an Oscar nomination.\n  COMB in N-COUNT


Words: -ment
Meaning:
-ment\n  -ment is added to some verbs to form nouns that refer to actions, processes, or states.\n...shortly after the commencement of the service.\n...the enrichment of uranium.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -minded
Meaning:
-minded\n1. -minded combines with adjectives to form words that describe someone’s character, attitude, opinions, or intelligence.\nThese are evil-minded people...\nHe is famous for his tough-minded professionalism.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n2. -minded combines with adverbs to form adjectives that indicate that someone is interested in a particular subject or is able to think in a particular way.\nI am not an academically-minded person...\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n3. -minded combines with nouns to form adjectives that indicate that someone thinks a particular thing is important or cares a lot about it.\nHe is seen as more business-minded than his predecessor...\nWe weren’t career-minded like girls are today.\n  COMB in ADJ\n  = -oriented


Words: -most
Meaning:
-most\n  -most is added to adjectives in order to form other adjectives that describe something as being further in a particular direction than other things of the same kind.\n...the topmost branches of the trees...\nMany patients have told me their innermost thoughts.\n...the northernmost suburbs of Chicago.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -nd
Meaning:
-nd\n  -nd is added to written numbers ending in 2, except for numbers ending in 12, in order to form ordinal numbers.\n...22nd February.\n...2nd edition.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -ness
Meaning:
-ness\n  -ness is added to adjectives to form nouns which often refer to a state or quality. For example, `sadness’ is the state of being sad and `kindness’ is the quality of being kind.\n`This is not good,’ he said with great seriousness.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -nourished
Meaning:
-nourished\n  -nourished is used with adverbs such as `well’ or `under’ to indicate how much food someone eats or whether it is the right kind of food.\nTo make sure the children are well-nourished, vitamin drops are usually recommended.\n...under-nourished and poorly dressed orphans.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -ological
Meaning:
-ological\n  -ological is used to replace `-ology’ at the end of nouns in order to form adjectives that describe something as relating to a particular science or subject. For example, `biological’ means relating to biology.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -ologist
Meaning:
-ologist\n  -ologist is used to replace `-ology’ at the end of nouns in order to form other nouns that refer to people who are concerned with a particular science or subject. For example, a `biologist’ is concerned with biology.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -ology
Meaning:
-ology\n  -ology is used at the end of some nouns that refer to a particular science or subject, for example `geology’ or `sociology’.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -or
Meaning:
-or\n  -or is used at the end of nouns that refer to people or things which perform a particular action.\n...a major investor.\n...the translator.\n...an electric generator.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -organized
Meaning:
-organized\nin BRIT, also use -organised\n  -organized is added to nouns to form adjectives which indicate who organizes something.\n...student-organized seminars.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n


Words: -oriented
Meaning:
-oriented   or -orientated\n  -oriented is added to nouns and adverbs to form adjectives which describe what someone or something is mainly interested in or concerned with.\n...a market-oriented economy.\n...family oriented holidays.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -owned
Meaning:
-owned\n  -owned combines with nouns, adjectives, and adverbs to form adjectives that indicate who owns something.\nMore than 50 state-owned companies have been sold since the early 1980s.\n...the Japanese-owned Bel Air Hotel in Los Angeles...\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -person
Meaning:
-person  -people  or -persons\n1. -person is added to numbers to form adjectives which indicate how many people are involved in something or can use something. People is not used in this way.\n...two-person households.\n...the spa’s 32-person staff.\n...his 1971 one-person exhibition.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n\n\n2. -person is added to nouns to form nouns which refer to someone who does a particular job or is in a particular group. -person is used by people who do not want to use a term which indicates whether someone is a man or a woman. -people can also be used in this way.\n...Mrs. Sahana Pradhan, chairperson of the United Leftist Front...\nHe had a staff of six salespeople working for him.\n  COMB in N-COUNT


Words: -phile
Meaning:
-phile  -philes  or -ophiles   or -ophile\n  -phile or -ophile occurs in words which refer to someone who has a very strong liking for people or things of a particular kind.\n...the operaphile Hirotaro Higuchi, president of the tour’s chief sponsors.\n...essential reading for the culture-hungry Yankophile.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -phobe
Meaning:
-phobe  -phobes   or -ophobe\n  -phobe or -ophobe occurs in words which refer to someone who has a very strong, irrational fear or hatred of people or things of a particular kind.\nIts design makes it suitable for the computerphobe who just wants to type and see something come out looking right.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -phobia
Meaning:
-phobia\n  -phobia occurs in words which refer to a very strong, irrational fear or hatred of people or things of a particular kind.\nThe place seethed with Europhobia...\nTechnophobia increases with age.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -phobic
Meaning:
-phobic\n  -phobic occurs in words which describe something relating to a strong, irrational fear or hatred of people or things of a particular kind.\nI’m statistic-phobic, and hopelessly ignorant of medicine.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -piece
Meaning:
-piece\n  -piece combines with numbers to form adjectives indicating that something consists of a particular number of items.\n...his well-cut three-piece suit.\n...a hundred-piece dinner service.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n


Words: -placed
Meaning:
-placed\n1. -placed combines with adverbs to form adjectives which describe how well or badly someone is able to do a particular task.\nA member of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice, Miss Rafferty is well-placed to comment...\nFund managers are poorly placed to monitor firms.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n2. -placed combines with adverbs to form adjectives which indicate how good or bad the position of a building or area is considered to be.\nThe hotel is wonderfully placed only a minute’s walk from the city centre...\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -plated
Meaning:
-plated\n1. Something made of metal that is plated is covered with a thin layer of another type of metal such as gold and silver.\n...a gold-plated watch.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n2.\n  see also armour-plated, gold-plated, silver-plated


Words: -ply
Meaning:
-ply\n  You use -ply after a number to indicate how many pieces are twisted together to make a type of wool, thread, or rope.\nYou need 3 balls of any 4-ply knitting wool.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n


Words: -pounder
Meaning:
-pounder  -pounders\n1. -pounder can be added to numbers to form nouns that refer to animals or fish that weigh a particular number of pounds.\nMy fish average 2 lb 8 oz and I’ve had two eight-pounders.\n  COMB in N-COUNT\n\n2. -pounder can be added to numbers to form nouns that refer to guns that fire shells weighing a particular number of pounds.\nThe guns were twelve-pounders.\n  COMB in N-COUNT


Words: -pronged
Meaning:
-pronged\n  A two-pronged or three-pronged attack, plan, or approach has two or three parts.\n...a two-pronged attack on the recession...\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n


Words: -proof
Meaning:
-proof  -proofs  -proofing  -proofed\n1. -proof combines with nouns and verbs to form adjectives which indicate that something cannot be damaged or badly affected by the thing or action mentioned.\n...a bomb-proof aircraft...\nIn a large microwave-proof dish, melt butter for 20 seconds.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n2. -proof combines with nouns to form verbs which refer to protecting something against being damaged or badly affected by the thing mentioned.\n...home energy efficiency grants towards the cost of draught-proofing your home.\n...inflation-proofed pensions.\n  COMB in VERB: V n, V-ed\n\n3.\n  see also bullet-proof, childproof, damp-proof course, fireproof, ovenproof, soundproof, waterproof, weatherproof


Words: -proportioned
Meaning:
-proportioned\n  -proportioned is added to adverbs to form adjectives that indicate that the size and shape of the different parts of something or someone are pleasing or useful.\nThe flat has high ceilings and well-proportioned rooms.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -ranked
Meaning:
-ranked\n  -ranked is added to words, usually numbers like `first’, `second’, and `third’, to form adjectives which indicate what position someone or something has in a list or scale.\n...Cheryl Thibedeau, Canada’s second-ranked sprinter.\n...the world’s ten highest-ranked players.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n


Words: -ranking
Meaning:
-ranking\n  -ranking is used to form adjectives which indicate what rank someone has in an organization.\n...a colonel on trial with three lower-ranking officers...\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n


Words: -rd
Meaning:
-rd\n  -rd is added to numbers that end in 3, except those ending in 13, in order to form ordinal numbers such as 3rd or 33rd. 3rd is pronounced `third’.\n...September 3rd 1990.\n...the 33rd Boston Marathon.\n...Canada’s 123rd birthday.


Words: -related
Meaning:
-related\n  -related combines with nouns to form adjectives with the meaning `connected with the thing referred to by the noun’.\n...drug-related offences...\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -resistant
Meaning:
-resistant\n  -resistant is added to nouns to form adjectives that describe something as not being harmed or affected by the thing mentioned.\nChildren’s suncare products are normally water-resistant.\n  COMB in ADJ\n  = -proof


Words: -rich
Meaning:
-rich\n  -rich combines with the names of useful or valuable substances to form adjectives that describe something as containing a lot of a particular substance.\n...Angola’s northern oil-rich coastline...\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -ridden
Meaning:
-ridden\n  -ridden combines with nouns to form adjectives that describe something as having a lot of a particular undesirable thing or quality, or suffering very much because of it.\n...the debt-ridden economies of Latin America...\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -riddled
Meaning:
-riddled\n  -riddled combines with nouns to form adjectives that describe something as being full of a particular undesirable thing or quality.\nShe pushed the bullet-riddled door open...\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -rimmed
Meaning:
-rimmed\n1. -rimmed combines with nouns to form adjectives that describe something as having a border or frame made of a particular substance.\n...horn-rimmed spectacles.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n2.\n  see also rim, rimmed


Words: -robed
Meaning:
-robed\n  -robed combines with the names of colours to indicate that someone is wearing robes of a particular colour.\n...a brown-robed monk.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n


Words: -roofed
Meaning:
-roofed\n  -roofed combines with adjectives and nouns to form adjectives that describe what kind of roof a building has.\n...a huge flat-roofed concrete and glass building.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -roomed
Meaning:
-roomed\n  -roomed combines with numbers to form adjectives which tell you how many rooms a house or flat contains.\nThey found a little two-roomed flat to rent.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -running
Meaning:
-running\n  -running combines with nouns to form nouns which refer to the illegal importing of drugs or guns.\n...a serviceman suspected of drug-running.\n  COMB in N-UNCOUNT


Words: -s
Meaning:
1. -s or -es is added to a noun to form a plural.\n...her two beloved cats.\n...a few problems.\n...new houses and flats...\nMost bosses are traditional.\n  SUFFIX\n\n2. -s or -es is added to a verb to form the third person singular, present tense.\nHe never thinks about it...\nShe likes her job...\nNo-one wishes to see that.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -saver
Meaning:
-saver  -savers\n  -saver combines with words such as `time’ and `energy’ to indicate that something prevents the thing mentioned from being wasted.\nThese zip-top bags are great space-savers if storage is limited.\n  COMB in N-COUNT\n  !=-waster


Words: -scarred
Meaning:
-scarred\n1. -scarred is used after nouns such as `bullet’ and `fire’ to form adjectives which indicate that something has been damaged or marked by the thing mentioned.\n...a bullet-scarred bus.\n...a lightning-scarred tree.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n\n\n2. -scarred is used after nouns such as `battle’ or `drug’ to form adjectives which indicate that the thing mentioned has had a permanent effect on someone’s mind.\n...battle-scarred soldiers.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n3.\n  see also scar


Words: -seater
Meaning:
-seater  -seaters\n  -seater combines with numbers to form adjectives and nouns which indicate how many people something such as a car has seats for.\n...a three-seater sofa...\nThe plane is an eight-seater with twin propellers.\n  COMB in ADJ and N-COUNT\n\n  see also all-seater


Words: -sexed
Meaning:
-sexed\n  -sexed is used after adverbs such as `over’ and `under’ to form adjectives which indicate that someone wants to have sex too often or not often enough.\nMy husband has always been a bit over-sexed.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -shaded
Meaning:
-shaded\n  -shaded combines with nouns to form adjectives which indicate that sunlight is prevented from reaching a certain place by the thing mentioned.\n...a winding, tree-shaded driveway.\n  COMB: COMB in ADJ


Words: -shaped
Meaning:
-shaped\n  -shaped combines with nouns to form adjectives that describe the shape of an object.\n...large, heart-shaped leaves.\n...an L-shaped settee.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -shirted
Meaning:
-shirted\n  -shirted is used to form adjectives which indicate what colour or type of shirt someone is wearing.\n...white-shirted men.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -shy
Meaning:
-shy\n  -shy is added to nouns to form adjectives which indicate that someone does not like a particular thing, and tries to avoid it. For example, someone who is camera-shy does not like having their photograph taken.\n...camera-shy red deer...\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -sided
Meaning:
-sided\n  -sided combines with numbers or adjectives to describe how many sides something has, or what kind of sides something has.\n...a three-sided pyramid...\nWe drove up a steep-sided valley.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n  see also one-sided


Words: -size
Meaning:
-size   or -sized\n1. You can use -size or -sized in combination with nouns to form adjectives which indicate that something is the same size as something else.\n...golfball-sized lumps of coarse black rock.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n2. You can use -size or -sized in combination with adjectives to form adjectives which describe the size of something.\n...full-size gymnasiums.\n...a medium-sized college.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n3. You can use -size or -sized in combination with nouns to form adjectives which indicate that something is big enough or small enough to be suitable for a particular job or purpose.\n...a small passport-size photograph.\n...a child-sized knife.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -skinned
Meaning:
-skinned\n  -skinned is used after adjectives such as `dark’ and `clear’ to form adjectives that indicate what kind of skin someone has.\nDark-skinned people rarely develop skin cancer...\nShe was smooth-skinned and pretty.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -sleeved
Meaning:
-sleeved\n  -sleeved is added to adjectives such as `long’ and `short’ to form adjectives which indicate that an item of clothing has long or short sleeves.\n...a short-sleeved blue shirt.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -smelling
Meaning:
-smelling\n  -smelling combines with adjectives to form adjectives which indicate how something smells.\n...sweet-smelling dried flowers...\nThe city is covered by a foul-smelling cloud of smoke.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -soaked
Meaning:
-soaked\n  -soaked combines with nouns such as `rain’ and `blood’ to form adjectives which describe someone or something that is extremely wet or extremely damp because of the thing mentioned.\nHe trudged through the rain-soaked woods.\n...blood-soaked clothes.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -sodden
Meaning:
-sodden\n1. -sodden combines with `drink’ and with the names of alcoholic drinks to form adjectives which describe someone who has drunk too much alcohol and is in a bad state as a result.\nHe portrays a whisky-sodden Catholic priest.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n2. -sodden combines with words such as `rain’ to form adjectives which describe someone or something that has become extremely wet as a result of the thing that is mentioned.\nThe porter put our scruffy rain-sodden luggage on a trolley.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -soled
Meaning:
-soled\n  -soled combines with adjectives and nouns to form adjectives which describe shoes with a particular kind of sole.\nThe lad was wearing rubber-soled shoes.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -something
Meaning:
-something  -somethings\n  -something is combined with numbers such as twenty and thirty to form adjectives which indicate an approximate amount, especially someone’s age. For example, if you say that someone is thirty-something, you mean they are between thirty and forty years old.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -sounding
Meaning:
-sounding\n  -sounding combines with adjectives to indicate a quality that a word, phrase, or name seems to have.\nMany literary academics simply parrot a set of impressive-sounding phrases.\n...faraway places with strange-sounding names.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also high-sounding


Words: -spattered
Meaning:
-spattered\n  -spattered is added to nouns to form adjectives which indicate that a liquid has spattered onto something.\n...the blood-spattered body.\n  COMB in ADJ\n  = -splattered


Words: -speak
Meaning:
-speak\n  -speak is used to form nouns which refer to the kind of language used by a particular person or by people involved in a particular activity. You use -speak when you disapprove of this kind of language because it is difficult for other people to understand.\nUnfortunately, the simplicity of this message is almost lost within his constant management-speak.\n  COMB in N-UNCOUNT  disapproval


Words: -speaking
Meaning:
-speaking\n  -speaking combines with nouns referring to languages to form adjectives which indicate what language someone speaks, or what language is spoken in a particular region.\nLessons with English-speaking instructors can be booked and paid for in the resort.\n...in the mainly French-speaking province of Quebec.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n


Words: -speed
Meaning:
-speed\n  -speed is used after numbers to form adjectives that indicate that a bicycle or car has a particular number of gears.\n...a 10-speed bicycle.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -spirited
Meaning:
-spirited\n  -spirited combines with adjectives to describe a person’s character, attitude, or behaviour. For example, a mean-spirited person behaves in a way that is unkind to other people; a free-spirited person behaves freely and does as they please.\nThat’s a mean-spirited thing for a mother to say...\nMurray was an affable, free-spirited man...\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also high-spirited, public-spirited


Words: -spoken
Meaning:
-spoken\n  -spoken combines with adverbs and adjectives to form adjectives which indicate how someone speaks.\nThe woman was smartly dressed and well-spoken.\n...a soft-spoken man in his early thirties.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -spotting
Meaning:
-spotting\n  -spotting combines with nouns to form nouns which describe the activity of looking out for things such as birds or trains as a hobby.\n...train-spotting.\n...bird-spotting.\n  COMB in N-UNCOUNT


Words: -st
Meaning:
-st\n  You add -st to numbers written in figures and ending in 1.but not 11.in order to form ordinal numbers.\n...Sunday 1st August 1993.\n...the 101st Airborne Division.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -stemmed
Meaning:
-stemmed\n  -stemmed is added to adjectives to form adjectives which indicate what the stem of something is like.\n...an enormous bouquet of long-stemmed roses.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: -storey
Meaning:
-storey\nin AM, use -story\n  -storey is used after numbers to form adjectives that indicate that a building has a particular number of floors or levels.\n...a modern three-storey building.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also multi-storey


Words: -storeyed
Meaning:
-storeyed\nin AM, use -storied\n  -storeyed means the same as -storey.\nThe streets were lined with two-storeyed houses.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -style
Meaning:
-style\n1. -style combines with nouns and adjectives to form adjectives which describe the style or characteristics of something.\n...the development of a Western-style political system.\n...a hearty country-style dinner.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n2. -style combines with adjectives and nouns to form adverbs which describe how something is done.\nGuests have been asked to dress 1920s-style.\n  COMB in ADV: ADV after v


Words: -taker
Meaning:
-taker  -takers\n  -taker combines with nouns to form other nouns which refer to people who take things, for example decisions or notes.\nOf these, 40% told census-takers they were Muslims...\nThey’ve got some terrific penalty-takers.\n  COMB in N-COUNT


Words: -th
Meaning:
-th\n  You add -th to numbers written in figures and ending in 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13 in order to form ordinal numbers. These numbers are pronounced as if they were written as words. For example, 7th is pronounced the same as `seventh’, and 5th is pronounced the same as `fifth’.\n...Thursday, 10th May, 1990.\n...between Broadway and 6th Avenue.\n...the 25th amendment to the American constitution.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -tipped
Meaning:
-tipped\n  -tipped combines with nouns to form adjectives that describe something as having a tip made of a particular substance or covered with a particular material.\nIn his hand, he carried a gold-tipped crook.\n...poison-tipped arrows.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -toned
Meaning:
-toned\n  -toned combines with adjectives to indicate that something has a particular kind of tone.\n...soft, pastel-toned drawings.\n  COMB in ADJ


Words: -unfriendly
Meaning:
-unfriendly\n  -unfriendly combines with nouns, and sometimes adverbs, to form adjectives which describe something which is bad for a particular thing.\nIt’s couched in such very user-unfriendly terminology.\n...this harsh, and environmentally-unfriendly, action.\n  COMB in ADJ\n  !=-friendly


Words: -ware
Meaning:
-ware\n  -ware combines with nouns to refer to objects that are made of a particular material or that are used for a particular purpose in the home.\n...boxes of cheap glassware.\n  COMB in N-UNCOUNT


Words: -watcher
Meaning:
-watcher  -watchers\n  -watcher combines with nouns to form other nouns that refer to people who are interested in a group of animals or people, and who study them closely.\nThe bird-watchers crept about in the bushes...\nRoyal-watcher Mary Hayes said: `It looks like it is going to be an unhappy time for the Queen.’\n  COMB in N-COUNT


Words: -watching
Meaning:
-watching\n  -watching combines with nouns to form other nouns which refer to the activity of looking at a group of animals or people and studying them because they interest you.\nWhale-watching has become a growth leisure industry...\nHe is said to have invented the sport of celebrity-watching.\n  COMB in N-UNCOUNT


Words: -way
Meaning:
-way\n  -way combines with numbers to form adjectives that describe a means of communication that functions or takes place between the stated number of people.\n...a two-way radio.\n...a system of three-way communication.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also one-way, two-way


Words: -wide
Meaning:
-wide\n  -wide combines with nouns to form adjectives which indicate that something exists or happens throughout the place or area that the noun refers to.\n...a Europe-wide conference on security and cooperation...\nIs the problem one that’s industry-wide?\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  -wide also combines to form adverbs.\nEmployers want to be sure recruits understand business Europe-wide...\n  COMB in ADV: n ADV, ADV with cl, ADV after v


Words: -wise
Meaning:
-wise\n1. -wise is added to nouns to form adverbs indicating that something is the case when considering the particular thing mentioned.\nCareer-wise, this illness couldn’t have come at a worse time...\nIt was a much better day weather-wise...\n  COMB in ADV: ADV with cl\n\n2. -wise is added to nouns to form adverbs indicating that someone behaves in the same way as the person or thing that is mentioned.\nWe were housed student-wise in dormitory rooms...\n  COMB in ADV: ADV after v\n  = -like


Words: -woman
Meaning:
-woman\n  -woman combines with numbers to indicate that something involves the number of women mentioned.\n...a seven-woman team.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n


Words: -word
Meaning:
-word  -words\n  You can use -word after a letter of the alphabet to refer politely or humorously to a word beginning with that letter which people find offensive or are embarrassed to use.\nIt was the first show to use the F-word and show nudity on stage...\nPoliticians began to use the dreaded R-word: recession.\n  COMB in N-COUNT


Words: -worthy
Meaning:
-worthy\n  -worthy can be added to words to form adjectives which indicate that someone or something deserves a particular thing or action. For example, if a remark or person is quote-worthy, they are worth quoting.\n...a few newsworthy events...\nYou may see yourself as useless, incompetent and blameworthy...\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n  see also airworthy, creditworthy, newsworthy, noteworthy, praiseworthy, seaworthy, trustworthy


Words: -y
Meaning:
-y -ies   -ier  -iest\n1. -y is added to nouns in order to form adjectives that describe something or someone as having the characteristics of what the noun refers to.\n...a smoky pub.\n...juicy red berries...\nThe process results in a much fruitier wine.\n  SUFFIX\n\n2. -y is added to colours in order to form adjectives that describe something as being roughly that colour or having some of that colour in it.\n...a rich, reddy, brown wood...\nHer eyes were a bluey-green colour.\n  SUFFIX\n\n3. -y is added to a name or a noun in order to give it a more affectionate or familiar form.\n`How are you, Mikey?’...\nMove the little doggy.\n  SUFFIX


Words: -year-old
Meaning:
-year-old  -year-olds\n  -year-old combines with numbers to describe the age of people or things.\nShe has a six-year-old daughter.\n...their 200-year-old farmhouse in Ohio.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n\n\n  -year-old also combines to form nouns.\nSnow Puppies is a ski school for 3 to 6-year-olds.\n  COMB in N-COUNT


Words: 24-7
Meaning:
24-7. also twenty-four seven\n  If something happens 24-7, it happens all the time without ever stopping. 24-7 means twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. (mainly AM INFORMAL)\nI feel like sleeping 24-7.\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n  24-7 is also an adjective.\n...a 24-7 radio station.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: 911
Meaning:
911 is the number that you call in the United States in order to contact the emergency services.\nThe women made their first 911 call about a prowler at 12:46 a.m.\n  NUM


Words: 999
Meaning:
999 is the number that you call in Britain in order to contact the emergency services.\n...a fire engine answering a 999 call...\nShe dialled 999 on her mobile.\n  NUM


Words: a
Meaning:
a  WEAK   STRONG   or an  WEAK   STRONG\nA or an is the indefinite article. It is used at the beginning of noun groups which refer to only one person or thing. The form an is used in front of words that begin with vowel sounds.\n1. You use a or an when you are referring to someone or something for the first time or when people may not know which particular person or thing you are talking about.\nA waiter entered with a tray...\nHe started eating an apple...\nToday you’ve got a new teacher taking you...\nI manage a hotel.\n  DET: DET sing-n\n\n2. You use a or an when you are referring to any person or thing of a particular type and do not want to be specific.\nI suggest you leave it to an expert...\nBring a sleeping bag...\nI was waiting for a bus.\n  DET: DET sing-n\n\n3. You use a or an in front of an uncount noun when that noun follows an adjective, or when the noun is followed by words that describe it more fully.\nThere was a terrible sadness in her eyes...\n  DET: DET n-uncount with supp\n\n4. You use a or an in front of a mass noun when you want to refer to a single type or make of something.\nBollinger `RD’ is a rare, highly prized wine.\n  DET: DET n-mass\n\n5. You use a in quantifiers such as a lot, a little, and a bit.\nI spend a lot on expensive jewelry and clothing...\nI’ve come looking for a bit of advice.\n  DET: DET in quant\n\n6. You use a or an to refer to someone or something as a typical member of a group, class, or type.\nSome parents believe a boy must learn to stand up and fight like a man.\n  DET: DET sing-n\n\n7. You use a or an in front of the names of days, months, or festivals when you are referring to one particular instance of that day, month, or festival.\nThe interview took place on a Friday afternoon...\n  DET: DET sing-n\n\n8. You use a or an when you are saying what someone is or what job they have.\nI explained that I was an artist...\nHe was now a teacher and a respectable member of the community.\n  DET: DET sing-n\n\n9. You use a or an in front of the names of artists to refer to one individual painting or sculpture created by them.\nMost people have very little difficulty in seeing why a Van Gogh is a work of genius.\n  DET: DET n-proper\n\n10. You use a or an instead of the number `one’, especially with words of measurement such as `hundred’, `hour’, and `metre’, and with fractions such as `half’, `quarter’, and `third’.\n...more than a thousand acres of land.\n...a quarter of an hour...\n  DET: DET sing-n\n\n11. You use a or an in expressions such as eight hours a day to express a rate or ratio.\nPrices start at .13.95 a metre for printed cotton...\nThe helicopter can zip along at about 150 kilometres an hour.\n  DET: num DET sing-n


Words: A & E
Meaning:
A & E\n  In Britain, A & E is the part of a hospital that deals with accidents and emergencies. A & E is an abbreviation for `accident and emergency’. (BRIT; in AM, use ER)\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: a la
Meaning:
a la\n  If you do something a la a particular person, you do it in the same style or in the same way that they would do it.\n...a crisp, tailored dress a la Audrey Hepburn.\n  PREP-PHRASE: PREP n-proper


Words: a la carte
Meaning:
a la carte\n  An a la carte menu in a restaurant offers you a choice of individually priced dishes for each course.\nYou could choose as much or as little as you wanted from an a la carte menu.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n  a la carte is also an adverb.\nA set meal is .26, or you can eat a la carte.\n  ADV: ADV after v


Words: A level
Meaning:
A lev.el\n   A level  A levels\n  A levels are British educational qualifications which schoolchildren take when they are seventeen or eighteen years old. People usually need A levels if they want to go to university in Britain.\nHe left school with four A levels...\n  N-VAR


Words: a priori
Meaning:
a prio.ri\n   a priori\n  An a priori argument, reason, or probability is based on an assumed principle or fact, rather than on actual observed facts.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n  A priori is also an adverb.\nOne assumes, a priori, that a parent would be better at dealing with problems.\n  ADV: usu ADV with cl, also ADV after v


Words: A to Z
Meaning:
A to Z  A to Zs\n1. An A to Z is a book of maps showing all the streets and roads in a particular city and its surrounding towns. (TRADEMARK) (BRIT)\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. An A to Z of a particular subject is a book or programme which gives information on all aspects of it, arranging it in alphabetical order.\nAn A to Z of careers gives helpful information about courses.\n  N-SING: usu N of n


Words: A, a
Meaning:
A, a  A’s, a’s\n1. A is the first letter of the English alphabet.\n  N-VAR\n\n2. In music, A is the sixth note in the scale of C major.\n  N-VAR\n\n3. If you get an A as a mark for a piece of work or in an exam, your work is extremely good.\n  N-VAR\n\n4. A or a is used as an abbreviation for words beginning with a, such as `acceleration’, `ampere’, or `answer’.\n\n5. People talk about getting from A to B when they are referring generally to journeys they need to make, without saying where the journeys will take them.\nCars are for getting people from A to B in maximum safety.\n  PHRASE: PHR after v


Words: a-
Meaning:
a-\n  A- is added to the beginning of some adjectives in order to form adjectives that describe someone or something that does not have the feature or quality indicated by the original word.\nI’m a completely apolitical man...\n...asymmetrical shapes.\n  PREFIX


Words: A-road
Meaning:
A-road  A-roads\n  In some countries, an A-road is a major road. A-roads are narrower than motorways but are wider and straighter than B-roads.\n  N-COUNT


Words: A-side
Meaning:
A-side  A-sides\n  The A-side of a record that has been released as a single is the main song on it. You can also refer to the side of the record that contains this song as the A-side. Compare B-side.\n  N-COUNT


Words: a.m.
Meaning:
a.m.   also am\n  a.m. is used after a number to show that you are referring to a particular time between midnight and noon. Compare p.m.\nThe program starts at 9 a.m.


Words: aback
Meaning:
aback\n  If you are taken aback by something, you are surprised or shocked by it and you cannot respond at once.\nRoland was taken aback by our strength of feeling...\n  PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, oft PHR by n


Words: abacus
Meaning:
aba.cus\n   abacus  abacuses\n  An abacus is a frame used for counting. It has rods with sliding beads on them.\n  N-COUNT


Words: abalone
Meaning:
aba.lo.ne\n   abalone  abalones\n  Abalone is a shellfish that you can eat and that has a shiny substance called mother-of-pearl inside its shell.\n  N-VAR


Words: abandon
Meaning:
aban.don\n   abandon  abandons  abandoning  abandoned\n1. If you abandon a place, thing, or person, you leave the place, thing, or person permanently or for a long time, especially when you should not do so.\nHe claimed that his parents had abandoned him...\nThe road is strewn with abandoned vehicles.\n  VERB: V n, V-ed\n\n2. If you abandon an activity or piece of work, you stop doing it before it is finished.\nThe authorities have abandoned any attempt to distribute food...\n  VERB: V n\n  = give up  !=continue\n3. If you abandon an idea or way of thinking, you stop having that idea or thinking in that way.\nLogic had prevailed and he had abandoned the idea.\n  VERB: V n\n  = give up\n4. If you say that someone does something with abandon, you mean that they behave in a wild, uncontrolled way and do not think or care about how they should behave.\nHe has spent money with gay abandon...\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu with N  disapproval\n\n5.\n  see also abandoned\n6. If people abandon ship, they get off a ship because it is sinking.\n  PHRASE: v inflects


Words: abandoned
Meaning:
aban.doned\n   abandoned\n  An abandoned place or building is no longer used or occupied.\nAll that digging had left a network of abandoned mines and tunnels.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: abandonment
Meaning:
aban.don.ment\n   abandonment\n1. The abandonment of a place, thing, or person is the act of leaving it permanently or for a long time, especially when you should not do so.\n...memories of her father’s complete abandonment of her.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N of n\n\n2. The abandonment of a piece of work or activity is the act of stopping doing it before it is finished.\nConstant rain forced the abandonment of the next day’s competitions.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N of n\n\n3. The abandonment of an idea or way of thinking is the act of stopping having the idea or of stopping thinking in that way.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N of n


Words: abashed
Meaning:
abashed\n  If you are abashed, you feel embarrassed and ashamed. (WRITTEN)\nHe looked abashed, uncomfortable.\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ


Words: abate
Meaning:
abate  abates  abating  abated\n  If something bad or undesirable abates, it becomes much less strong or severe. (FORMAL)\nThe storms had abated by the time they rounded Cape Horn.\n  VERB: V


Words: abatement
Meaning:
abate.ment\n   abatement\n  Abatement means a reduction in the strength or power of something or the reduction of it. (FORMAL)\n...the abatement of carbon dioxide emissions.\n...noise abatement.\n  N-UNCOUNT: also a N


Words: abattoir
Meaning:
ab.at.toir\n   abattoir  abattoirs\n  An abattoir is a place where animals are killed in order to provide meat. (BRIT; in AM, use slaughterhouse)\n  N-COUNT\n  = slaughterhouse


Words: abbess
Meaning:
ab.bess\n   abbess  abbesses\n  An abbess is the nun who is in charge of the other nuns in a convent.\n  N-COUNT


Words: abbey
Meaning:
ab.bey\n   abbey  abbeys\n  An abbey is a church with buildings attached to it in which monks or nuns live or used to live.\n  N-COUNT


Words: abbot
Meaning:
ab.bot\n   abbot  abbots\n  An abbot is the monk who is in charge of the other monks in a monastery or abbey.\n  N-COUNT


Words: abbreviate
Meaning:
ab.bre.vi.ate\n   abbreviate  abbreviates  abbreviating  abbreviated\n  If you abbreviate something, especially a word or a piece of writing, you make it shorter.\nHe abbreviated his first name to Alec.\n  VERB: V n to n, also V n\n  = shorten


Words: abbreviation
Meaning:
ab.bre.via.tion\n   abbreviation  abbreviations\n  An abbreviation is a short form of a word or phrase, made by leaving out some of the letters or by using only the first letter of each word.\nThe postal abbreviation for Kansas is KS.\n  N-COUNT


Words: ABC
Meaning:
ABC  ABCs\n1. The ABC of a subject or activity is the parts of it that you have to learn first because they are the most important and basic.\n...the ABC of Marxism.\n  N-SING: N of n\n\n2. Children who have learned their ABC or their ABCs have learned to recognize, write, or say the alphabet. (INFORMAL)\n  N-COUNT: poss N


Words: abdicate
Meaning:
ab.di.cate\n   abdicate  abdicates  abdicating  abdicated\n1. If a king or queen abdicates, he or she gives up being king or queen.\nThe last French king was Louis Philippe, who abdicated in 1848.\n  VERB: V, also V n\n\n=>  ab.di.ca.tion\n...the most serious royal crisis since the abdication of Edward VIII.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu with poss\n\n2. If you say that someone has abdicated responsibility for something, you disapprove of them because they have refused to accept responsibility for it any longer. (FORMAL)\nMany parents simply abdicate all responsibility for their children.\n  VERB: V n  disapproval\n\n=>  ab.di.ca.tion\nThere had been a complete abdication of responsibility.\n  N-UNCOUNT: N of n


Words: abdomen
Meaning:
ab.do.men\n   abdomen  abdomens\n  Your abdomen is the part of your body below your chest where your stomach and intestines are. (FORMAL)\nHe was suffering from pains in his abdomen.\n  N-COUNT: oft poss N


Words: abdominal
Meaning:
ab.domi.nal\n   abdominal\n  Abdominal is used to describe something that is situated in the abdomen or forms part of it. (FORMAL)\n...vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: abdominals
Meaning:
ab.domi.nals\n   abdominals\n  You can refer to your abdominal muscles as your abdominals when you are talking about exercise.\n  N-PLURAL


Words: abduct
Meaning:
ab.duct\n   abduct  abducts  abducting  abducted\n  If someone is abducted by another person, he or she is taken away illegally, usually using force.\nHis car was held up and he was abducted by four gunmen...\nShe was charged with abducting a six-month-old child.\n  VERB: be V-ed, V n\n  = kidnap\n=>  ab.duc.tion      abductions\n...the abduction of four youths.\n  N-VAR\n\n=>  ab.duc.tor      abductors\nShe co-operated with her abductor.\n  N-COUNT


Words: aberrant
Meaning:
ab.er.rant\n   aberrant\n  Aberrant means unusual and not socially acceptable. (FORMAL)\nIan’s rages and aberrant behavior worsened.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: aberration
Meaning:
ab.er.ra.tion\n   aberration  aberrations\n  An aberration is an incident or way of behaving that is not typical. (FORMAL)\nIt became very clear that the incident was not just an aberration, it was not just a single incident.\n  N-VAR


Words: abet
Meaning:
abet  abets  abetting  abetted\n  If one person abets another, they help or encourage them to do something criminal or wrong. Abet is often used in the legal expression `aid and abet’. (LEGAL FORMAL)\nHis wife was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for aiding and abetting him...\n  VERB: V n


Words: abeyance
Meaning:
abey.ance\n   abeyance\n  If something is in abeyance, it is not operating or being used at the present time. (FORMAL)\nThe Russian threat is, at the least, in abeyance...\n  PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v


Words: abhor
Meaning:
ab.hor\n   abhor  abhors  abhorring  abhorred\n  If you abhor something, you hate it very much, especially for moral reasons. (FORMAL)\nHe was a man who abhorred violence and was deeply committed to reconciliation...\n  VERB: V n\n  = detest


Words: abhorrence
Meaning:
ab.hor.rence\n   abhorrence\n  Someone’s abhorrence of something is their strong hatred of it. (FORMAL)\nThey are anxious to show their abhorrence of racism.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp, oft poss N, N of n\n  = hatred


Words: abhorrent
Meaning:
ab.hor.rent\n   abhorrent\n  If something is abhorrent to you, you hate it very much or consider it completely unacceptable. (FORMAL)\nRacial discrimination is abhorrent to my council and our staff...\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ to n


Words: abide
Meaning:
abide  abides  abiding  abided\n  If you can’t abide someone or something, you dislike them very much.\nI can’t abide people who can’t make up their minds...\n  PHRASE: with brd-neg\n  = can’t stand\n  see also abiding, law-abiding


Words: abide by
Meaning:
abide by\n  If you abide by a law, agreement, or decision, you do what it says you should do.\nThey have got to abide by the rules.\n  PHRASAL VERB: V P n\n  = observe


Words: abiding
Meaning:
abid.ing\n   abiding\n  An abiding feeling, memory, or interest is one that you have for a very long time.\nHe has a genuine and abiding love of the craft...\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n  = lasting  !=short-lived


Words: ability
Meaning:
abil.ity\n   ability  abilities\n1. Your ability to do something is the fact that you can do it.\nThe public never had faith in his ability to handle the job...\nHe has the ability to bring out the best in others.\n  N-SING: N to-inf, oft with poss\n  = capability\n2. Your ability is the quality or skill that you have which makes it possible for you to do something.\nHer drama teacher spotted her ability...\nThey repeatedly questioned his leadership abilities...\nDoes the school cater for all abilities?\n  N-VAR: oft with poss\n\n3. If you do something to the best of your abilities or to the best of your ability, you do it as well as you can.\nI take care of them to the best of my abilities...\n  PHRASE


Words: abject
Meaning:
ab.ject\n   abject\n  You use abject to emphasize that a situation or quality is extremely bad.\nBoth of them died in abject poverty...\nThis scheme was an abject failure.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n  emphasis\n  = total\n=>  ab.ject.ly\nBoth have failed abjectly.\n  ADV


Words: abjure
Meaning:
ab.jure\n   abjure  abjures  abjuring  abjured\n  If you abjure something such as a belief or way of life, you state publicly that you will give it up or that you reject it. (FORMAL)\n...a formal statement abjuring military action.\n  VERB: V n


Words: ablaze
Meaning:
ablaze\n1. Something that is ablaze is burning very fiercely.\nShops, houses, and vehicles were set ablaze.\n  ADJ: v n ADJ, v-link ADJ\n\n2. If a place is ablaze with lights or colours, it is very bright because of them.\nThe chamber was ablaze with light...\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ with n


Words: able
Meaning:
able  abler  ablest\n1. If you are able to do something, you have skills or qualities which make it possible for you to do it.\nThe older child should be able to prepare a simple meal...\nThe company say they’re able to keep pricing competitive...\nThey seemed able to work together very efficiently.\n  PHRASE\n  = can\n2. If you are able to do something, you have enough freedom, power, time, or money to do it.\nYou’ll be able to read in peace...\nIt would be nice to be able to afford to retire earlier.\n  PHRASE\n  = can\n3. Someone who is able is very clever or very good at doing something.\n...one of the brightest and ablest members of the government...\n  ADJ\n  = capable


Words: able-bodied
Meaning:
able-bodied\n  An able-bodied person is physically strong and healthy, rather than weak or disabled.\nThe gym can be used by both able-bodied and disabled people.\n  ADJ\n  !=disabled\n  The able-bodied are people who are able-bodied.\n  N-PLURAL: the N


Words: ablutions
Meaning:
ab.lu.tions\n   ablutions\n  Someone’s ablutions are all the activities that are involved in washing himself or herself. (FORMAL or HUMOROUS)\n  N-PLURAL: oft poss N


Words: ably
Meaning:
ably\n  Ably means skilfully and successfully.\nHe was ably assisted by a number of other members.\n  ADV: ADV with v


Words: abnormal
Meaning:
ab.nor.mal\n   abnormal\n  Someone or something that is abnormal is unusual, especially in a way that is worrying. (FORMAL)\n...abnormal heart rhythms and high anxiety levels.\n...a child with an abnormal fear of strangers.\n  ADJ\n\n=>  ab.nor.mal.ly\n...abnormally high levels of glucose...\n  ADV: usu ADV adj/adv, also ADV with v


Words: abnormality
Meaning:
ab.nor.mal.ity\n   abnormality  abnormalities\n  An abnormality in something, especially in a person’s body or behaviour, is an unusual part or feature of it that may be worrying or dangerous. (FORMAL)\nFurther scans are required to confirm the diagnosis of an abnormality...\n  N-VAR


Words: aboard
Meaning:
aboard\n  If you are aboard a ship or plane, you are on it or in it.\nShe invited 750 people aboard the luxury yacht, the Savarona...\nThey said goodbye to him as he got aboard the train at Union Station.\n  PREP\n  = on board\n  Aboard is also an adverb.\nIt had taken two hours to load all the people aboard...\n  ADV: ADV after v\n  = on board


Words: abode
Meaning:
abode  abodes\n1. Your abode is the place where you live. (FORMAL)\nI went round the streets and found his new abode.\n  N-COUNT: usu poss N\n\n2. If someone has no fixed abode, they are homeless. (LEGAL)\n30 per cent of psychiatric hospital beds are occupied by people of no fixed abode.\n  PHRASE: oft of PHR


Words: abolish
Meaning:
abol.ish\n   abolish  abolishes  abolishing  abolished\n  If someone in authority abolishes a system or practice, they formally put an end to it.\nThe following year Parliament voted to abolish the death penalty for murder...\n  VERB: V n


Words: abolition
Meaning:
abo.li.tion\n   abolition\n  The abolition of something such as a system or practice is its formal ending.\n...the abolition of slavery in Brazil and the Caribbean.\n  N-UNCOUNT: also a N, usu with supp, oft N of n


Words: abolitionist
Meaning:
abo.li.tion.ist\n   abolitionist  abolitionists\n  An abolitionist is someone who campaigns for the abolition of a particular system or practice.\nAs long as most people are happy to have the monarchy, the abolitionist position is an arrogant fantasy.\n  N-COUNT: oft N n


Words: abominable
Meaning:
abomi.nable\n   abominable\n  Something that is abominable is very unpleasant or bad.\nThe President described the killings as an abominable crime...\n  ADJ\n\n=>  abomi.nably\nChloe has behaved abominably...\nWallis was often abominably rude.\n  ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed/adj


Words: abomination
Meaning:
abom.ina.tion\n   abomination  abominations\n  If you say that something is an abomination, you think that it is completely unacceptable. (FORMAL)\n  N-COUNT  disapproval\n  = outrage


Words: aboriginal
Meaning:
abo.rigi.nal\n   aboriginal  aboriginals\n1. An Aboriginal is an Australian Aborigine.\nHe remained fascinated by the Aboriginals’ tales.\n  N-COUNT\n  = Aborigine\n2. Aboriginal means belonging or relating to the Australian Aborigines.\n...Aboriginal art.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n3. The aboriginal people or animals of a place are ones that have been there from the earliest known times or that were there before people or animals from other countries arrived.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n  = native, indigenous


Words: Aborigine
Meaning:
Abo.rigi.ne\n   Aborigine  Aborigines\n  Aborigines are members of the tribes that were living in Australia when Europeans arrived there.\n  N-COUNT: usu pl


Words: abort
Meaning:
abort  aborts  aborting  aborted\n1. If an unborn baby is aborted, the pregnancy is ended deliberately and the baby is not born alive. (FORMAL)\nHer lover walked out on her after she had aborted their child.\n...tissue from aborted fetuses.\n  VERB: V n, V-ed\n\n2. If someone aborts a process, plan, or activity, they stop it before it has been completed.\nThe decision was made to abort the mission...\n  VERB: V n


Words: abortion
Meaning:
abor.tion\n   abortion  abortions\n  If a woman has an abortion, she ends her pregnancy deliberately so that the baby is not born alive.\nHis girlfriend had an abortion.\n  N-VAR


Words: abortionist
Meaning:
abor.tion.ist\n   abortionist  abortionists\n  An abortionist is someone who performs abortions, usually illegally.\n  N-COUNT\n\n  see also anti-abortionist


Words: abortive
Meaning:
abor.tive\n   abortive\n  An abortive attempt or action is unsuccessful. (FORMAL)\n...an abortive attempt to prevent the current President from taking office.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  = unsuccessful


Words: abound
Meaning:
abound  abounds  abounding  abounded\n  If things abound, or if a place abounds with things, there are very large numbers of them. (FORMAL)\nStories abound about when he was in charge...\nThe book abounds with close-up images from space.\n  VERB: V, V with/in n


Words: about
Meaning:
about\nIn addition to the uses shown below, about is used after some verbs, nouns, and adjectives to introduce extra information. About is also often used after verbs of movement, such as `walk’ and `drive’, and in phrasal verbs such as `mess about’ and `set about’, especially in British English.\n1. You use about to introduce who or what something relates to or concerns.\nShe came in for a coffee, and told me about her friend Shona...\nShe knew a lot about food...\nHe never complains about his wife.\n  PREP\n\n2. When you mention the things that an activity or institution is about, you are saying what it involves or what its aims are.\nLeadership is about the ability to implement change.\n  PREP\n\n3. You use about after some adjectives to indicate the person or thing that a feeling or state of mind relates to.\n`I’m sorry about Patrick,’ she said...\nI feel so guilty and angry about the whole issue.\n  PREP\n\n4. If you do something about a problem, you take action in order to solve it.\nRachel was going to do something about Jacob...\n  PREP\n\n5. When you say that there is a particular quality about someone or something, you mean that they have this quality.\nI think there’s something a little peculiar about the results of your test.\n  PREP\n\n6. About is used in front of a number to show that the number is not exact.\nIn my local health centre there’s about forty parking spaces...\nThe rate of inflation is running at about 2.7 percent.\n  ADV: ADV num\n  = approximately, around  !=precisely\n7. If someone or something moves about, they keep moving in different directions.\nEveryone was running about.\n  ADV: ADV after v\n  = around\n  About is also a preposition.\nFrom 1879 to 1888 he wandered about Germany, Switzerland, and Italy...\n  PREP: v PREP n\n  = around\n8. If you put something about a person or thing, you put it around them.\nHelen threw her arms about him...\n  PREP\n  = round, around\n9. If someone or something is about, they are present or available.\nThere’s lots of money about these days for schemes like this.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ\n\n10. If you are about to do something, you are going to do it very soon. If something is about to happen, it will happen very soon.\nI think he’s about to leave...\nThe film was about to start.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ to-inf\n\n11.\nhow about: see how\nwhat about: see what\njust about: see just\n12. If someone is out and about, they are going out and doing things, especially after they have been unable to for a while.\nDespite considerable pain she has been getting out and about almost as normal...\n  PHRASE: usu PHR after v, also v-link PHR\n\n13. If someone is out and about, they are going to a lot of different places, often as part of their job.\nThey often saw me out and about.\n  PHRASE: usu PHR after v, also v-link PHR


Words: about-face
Meaning:
about-face  about-faces\n  An about-face is a complete change of attitude or opinion.\nFew observers believe the president will do an about-face and start spending more.\n  N-COUNT\n  = U-turn, volte-face


Words: about-turn
Meaning:
about-turn  about-turns\n  An about-turn is the same as an about-face. (BRIT; in AM, use about-face)\n  N-COUNT


Words: above
Meaning:
above\n1. If one thing is above another one, it is directly over it or higher than it.\nHe lifted his hands above his head...\nApartment 46 was a quiet apartment, unlike the one above it...\nHe was staring into the mirror above him.\n  PREP\n  !=below\n  Above is also an adverb.\nA long scream sounded from somewhere above.\n...a picture of the new plane as seen from above...\n  ADV: ADV after v, from ADV\n  !=below\n2. In writing, you use above to refer to something that has already been mentioned or discussed.\nSeveral conclusions could be drawn from the results described above...\n  ADV: ADV after v, n ADV\n  !=below\n  Above is also a noun.\nFor additional information, contact any of the above.\n  N-SING-COLL: the N\n\n  Above is also an adjective.\nFor a copy of their brochure, write to the above address.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n3. If an amount or measurement is above a particular level, it is greater than that level.\nThe temperature crept up to just above 40 degrees...\nVictoria Falls has had above average levels of rainfall this year...\nGovernment spending is planned to rise 3 per cent above inflation.\n  PREP\n  !=below\n  Above is also an adverb.\nBanks have been charging 25 percent and above for unsecured loans.\n  ADV: amount and ADV\n\n4. If you hear one sound above another, it is louder or clearer than the second one.\nThen there was a woman’s voice, rising shrilly above the barking.\n  PREP\n  = over\n5. If someone is above you, they are in a higher social position than you or in a position of authority over you.\nI married above myself.rich county people...\n  PREP\n  !=below\n  Above is also an adverb.\nThe policemen admitted beating the student, but said they were acting on orders from above.\n  ADV: from ADV\n\n6. If you say that someone thinks they are above something, you mean that they act as if they are too good or important for it.\nI’m not above doing my own cleaning.\n  PREP  disapproval\n\n7. If someone is above criticism or suspicion, they cannot be criticized or suspected because of their good qualities or their position.\nHe was a respected academic and above suspicion.\n  PREP: v-link PREP n\n  = beyond\n8. If you value one person or thing above any other, you value them more or consider that they are more important.\n...his tendency to put the team above everything...\n  PREP\n\n9.\nover and above: see over\nabove the law: see law\nabove board: see board


Words: above-the-line promotion
Meaning:
above-the-line pro.mo.tion\n   above-the-line promotion above-the-line promotions\n  Above-the-line promotion is the use of promotional methods that cannot be directly controlled by the company selling the goods or service, such as television or press advertising. Compare below-the-line promotion. (BUSINESS)\nFor all maternity clothing retailers, most above-the-line promotion is conducted through focused sources such as mother and baby magazines.\n  N-VAR


Words: abracadabra
Meaning:
ab.ra.ca.dab.ra\n   abracadabra\n  Abracadabra is a word that someone says when they are performing a magic trick in order to make the magic happen.\n  EXCLAM


Words: abrade
Meaning:
abrade  abrades  abrading  abraded\n  To abrade something means to scrape or wear down its surface by rubbing it. (FORMAL)\nMy skin was abraded and very tender.\n  VERB: be V-ed


Words: abrasion
Meaning:
abra.sion\n   abrasion  abrasions\n  An abrasion is an area on a person’s body where the skin has been scraped. (FORMAL)\nHe had severe abrasions to his right cheek.\n  N-COUNT\n  = graze, cut


Words: abrasive
Meaning:
abra.sive\n   abrasive\n1. Someone who has an abrasive manner is unkind and rude.\nHis abrasive manner has won him an unenviable notoriety...\n  ADJ\n\n2. An abrasive substance is rough and can be used to clean hard surfaces.\n...a new all-purpose, non-abrasive cleaner.\n  ADJ


Words: abreast
Meaning:
abreast\n1. If people or things walk or move abreast, they are next to each other, side by side, and facing in the same direction.\nThe steep pavement was too narrow for them to walk abreast.\n  ADV: ADV after v, num ADV\n\n2. If you are abreast of someone or something, you are level with them or in line with them.\nAs he drew abreast of the man he pretended to stumble.\n  PREP-PHRASE\n\n3. If you keep abreast of a subject, you know all the most recent facts about it.\nHe will be keeping abreast of the news...\n  PREP-PHRASE


Words: abridged
Meaning:
abridged\n  An abridged book or play has been made shorter by removing some parts of it.\nThis is an abridged version of her new novel `The Queen and I’.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  = shortened


Words: abroad
Meaning:
abroad\n  If you go abroad, you go to a foreign country, usually one which is separated from the country where you live by an ocean or a sea.\nI would love to go abroad this year, perhaps to the South of France.\n...public opposition here and abroad...\nAbout 65 per cent of its sales come from abroad.\n  ADV: ADV after v, n ADV, be ADV, from ADV\n  = overseas


Words: abrogate
Meaning:
ab.ro.gate\n   abrogate  abrogates  abrogating  abrogated\n  If someone in a position of authority abrogates something such as a law, agreement, or practice, they put an end to it. (FORMAL)\nThe next prime minister could abrogate the treaty.\n  VERB: V n\n  = revoke


Words: abrupt
Meaning:
ab.rupt\n   abrupt\n1. An abrupt change or action is very sudden, often in a way which is unpleasant.\nRosie’s idyllic world came to an abrupt end when her parents’ marriage broke up...\n  ADJ\n\n=>  ab.rupt.ly\nHe stopped abruptly and looked my way.\n  ADV: ADV with v\n  = suddenly\n2. Someone who is abrupt speaks in a rather rude, unfriendly way.\nHe was abrupt to the point of rudeness...\nCross was a little taken aback by her abrupt manner.\n  ADJ\n  = brusque\n=>  ab.rupt.ly\n`Good night, then,’ she said abruptly.\n  ADV


Words: abs
Meaning:
Abs are the same as abdominals. (INFORMAL)\nThroughout the exercise, focus on keeping your abs tight.\n  N-PLURAL


Words: abscond
Meaning:
ab.scond\n   abscond  absconds  absconding  absconded\n1. If someone absconds from somewhere such as a prison, they escape from it or leave it without permission. (FORMAL)\nHe was ordered to appear the following day, but absconded...\nA dozen inmates have absconded from Forest Jail in the past year.\n  VERB: V, V from n\n  = run away\n2. If someone absconds with something, they leave and take it with them, although it does not belong to them. (FORMAL)\nUnfortunately, his partners were crooks and absconded with the funds.\n  VERB: V with n\n  = run off


Words: abseil
Meaning:
ab.seil\n   abseil  abseils  abseiling  abseiled\n  To abseil down a cliff or rock face means to slide down it in a controlled way using a rope, with your feet against the cliff or rock. (BRIT; in AM, use rappel)\n  VERB


Words: absence
Meaning:
ab.sence\n   absence  absences\n1. Someone’s absence from a place is the fact that they are not there.\n...a bundle of letters which had arrived for me in my absence...\nEleanor would later blame her mother-in-law for her husband’s frequent absences.\n  N-VAR: with supp\n  !=presence\n2. The absence of something from a place is the fact that it is not there or does not exist.\nThe presence or absence of clouds can have an important impact on heat transfer...\nIn the absence of a will the courts decide who the guardian is.\n  N-SING: with supp\n  = lack  !=presence\n3.\nconspicuous by one’s absence: see conspicuous\n  see also leave of absence


Words: absent
Meaning:
ab.sent\n   absent\n1. If someone or something is absent from a place or situation where they should be or where they usually are, they are not there.\nHe has been absent from his desk for two weeks...\nAny soldier failing to report would be considered absent without leave and punished accordingly.\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ from n\n\n2. If someone appears absent, they are not paying attention because they are thinking about something else.\n`Nothing,’ Rosie said in an absent way.\n  ADJ\n\n=>  ab.sent.ly\nHe nodded absently.\n  ADV\n\n3. An absent parent does not live with his or her children.\n...absent fathers who fail to pay towards the costs of looking after their children.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n4. If you say that absent one thing, another thing will happen, you mean that if the first thing does not happen, the second thing will happen. (AM FORMAL)\nAbsent a solution, people like Sue Godfrey will just keep on fighting.\n  PREP\n  = without


Words: absent-minded
Meaning:
absent-minded\n  Someone who is absent-minded forgets things or does not pay attention to what they are doing, often because they are thinking about something else.\nIn his later life he became even more absent-minded.\n  ADJ\n  = forgetful\n=>  absent-mindedly\nElizabeth absent-mindedly picked a thread from his lapel.\n  ADV: ADV with v


Words: absentee
Meaning:
ab.sen.tee\n   absentee  absentees\n1. An absentee is a person who is expected to be in a particular place but who is not there.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. Absentee is used to describe someone who is not there to do a particular job in person.\nAbsentee fathers will be forced to pay child maintenance.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n3. In elections in the United States, if you vote by absentee ballot or if you are an absentee voter, you vote in advance because you will be away. (AM)\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: absenteeism
Meaning:
ab.sen.tee.ism\n   absenteeism\n  Absenteeism is the fact or habit of frequently being away from work or school, usually without a good reason.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  !=attendance


Words: absentia
Meaning:
ab.sen.tia\n   absentia\n  If something is done to you in absentia, it is done to you when you are not present. (FORMAL)\nHe was tried in absentia and sentenced to seven years in prison.\n  PHRASE: PHR after v


Words: absinthe
Meaning:
ab.sinthe\n   absinthe\n  Absinthe is a very strong alcoholic drink that is green and tastes bitter.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: absolute
Meaning:
ab.so.lute\n   absolute  absolutes\n1. Absolute means total and complete.\nIt’s not really suited to absolute beginners...\nA sick person needs absolute confidence and trust in a doctor.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  = complete\n2. You use absolute to emphasize something that you are saying.\nAbout 12 inches wide is the absolute minimum you should consider...\nI think it’s absolute nonsense.\n  ADJ: ADJ n  emphasis\n  = complete\n3. An absolute ruler has complete power and authority over his or her country.\nHe ruled with absolute power.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n4. Absolute is used to say that something is definite and will not change even if circumstances change.\nThey had given an absolute assurance that it would be kept secret.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n5. An amount that is expressed in absolute terms is expressed as a fixed amount rather than referring to variable factors such as what you earn or the effects of inflation.\nIn absolute terms British wages remain low by European standards.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n  !=real\n6. Absolute rules and principles are believed to be true, right, or relevant in all situations.\nThere are no absolute rules.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  !=relative\n7. An absolute is a rule or principle that is believed to be true, right, or relevant in all situations.\n  N-COUNT\n\n8.\n  see also decree absolute


Words: absolute majority
Meaning:
ab.so.lute ma.jor.ity\n   absolute majority  absolute majorities\n  If a political party wins an absolute majority, they obtain more seats or votes than the total number of seats or votes gained by their opponents in an election.\n  N-COUNT: usu sing


Words: absolute zero
Meaning:
ab.so.lute zero\n   absolute zero\n  Absolute zero is a theoretical temperature that is thought to be the lowest possible temperature.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: absolutely
Meaning:
ab.so.lute.ly\n   absolutely\n1. Absolutely means totally and completely.\nJill is absolutely right...\nI absolutely refuse to get married...\nThere is absolutely no difference!\n  ADV: usu ADV adj/adv, also ADV with v  emphasis\n\n2. Some people say absolutely as an emphatic way of saying yes or of agreeing with someone. They say absolutely not as an emphatic way of saying no or of disagreeing with someone.\n`It’s worrying, isn’t it?’.`Absolutely.’...\n  ADV: ADV as reply  emphasis


Words: absolution
Meaning:
ab.so.lu.tion\n   absolution\n  If someone is given absolution, they are forgiven for something wrong that they have done. (FORMAL)\nShe felt as if his words had granted her absolution.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = forgiveness


Words: absolutism
Meaning:
ab.so.lut.ism\n   absolutism\n1. Absolutism is a political system in which one ruler or leader has complete power and authority over a country.\n...royal absolutism.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n2. You can refer to someone’s beliefs as absolutism if they think that their beliefs are true, right, or relevant in all situations, especially if you think they are wrong to behave in this way.\n  N-UNCOUNT  disapproval\n\n=>  ab.so.lut.ist\nThis absolutist belief is replaced by an appreciation that rules can vary.\n  ADJ


Words: absolve
Meaning:
ab.solve\n   absolve  absolves  absolving  absolved\n  If a report or investigation absolves someone from blame or responsibility, it formally states that he or she is not guilty or is not to blame.\nA police investigation yesterday absolved the police of all blame in the incident.\n...the inquiry which absolved the soldiers.\n  VERB: V n of/from n, V n\n  = excuse


Words: absorb
Meaning:
ab.sorb\n   absorb  absorbs  absorbing  absorbed\n1. If something absorbs a liquid, gas, or other substance, it soaks it up or takes it in.\nPlants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and moisture from the soil...\nRefined sugars are absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly.\n  VERB: V n, be V-ed into n\n  = soak up\n2. If something absorbs light, heat, or another form of energy, it takes it in.\nA household radiator absorbs energy in the form of electric current and releases it in the form of heat.\n  VERB: V n\n\n3. If a group is absorbed into a larger group, it becomes part of the larger group.\nThe Colonial Office was absorbed into the Foreign Office.\n...an economy capable of absorbing thousands of immigrants.\n  VERB: be V-ed into n, V n\n\n4. If something absorbs a force or shock, it reduces its effect.\n...footwear which does not absorb the impact of the foot striking the ground.\n  VERB: V n\n\n5. If a system or society absorbs changes, effects, or costs, it is able to deal with them.\nThe banks would be forced to absorb large losses...\n  VERB: V n\n\n6. If something absorbs something valuable such as money, space, or time, it uses up a great deal of it.\nIt absorbed vast amounts of capital that could have been used for investment...\n  VERB: V n\n  = consume\n7. If you absorb information, you learn and understand it.\nToo often he only absorbs half the information in the manual...\n  VERB: V n\n  = digest, assimilate\n8. If something absorbs you, it interests you a great deal and takes up all your attention and energy.\n...a second career which absorbed her more completely than her acting ever had.\n  VERB: V n\n\n  see also absorbed, absorbing


Words: absorbed
Meaning:
ab.sorbed\n   absorbed\n  If you are absorbed in something or someone, you are very interested in them and they take up all your attention and energy.\nThey were completely absorbed in each other...\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ in/by n\n  = engrossed


Words: absorbent
Meaning:
ab.sor.bent\n   absorbent\n  Absorbent material soaks up liquid easily.\nThe towels are highly absorbent.\n  ADJ


Words: absorbing
Meaning:
ab.sorb.ing\n   absorbing\n  An absorbing task or activity interests you a great deal and takes up all your attention and energy.\n`Two Sisters’ is an absorbing read...\n  ADJ


Words: absorption
Meaning:
ab.sorp.tion\n   absorption\n1. The absorption of a liquid, gas, or other substance is the process of it being soaked up or taken in.\nVitamin C increases the absorption of iron from food.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N of n\n\n2. The absorption of a group into a larger group is the process of it becoming part of the larger group.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu with poss, oft N into/by n


Words: abstain
Meaning:
ab.stain\n   abstain  abstains  abstaining  abstained\n1. If you abstain from something, usually something you want to do, you deliberately do not do it. (FORMAL)\nAbstain from sex or use condoms...\nDo you drink alcohol, smoke, or abstain?\n  VERB: V from n, V\n\n2. If you abstain during a vote, you do not use your vote.\nThree Conservative MPs abstained in the vote.\n  VERB: V


Words: abstemious
Meaning:
ab.ste.mi.ous\n   abstemious\n  Someone who is abstemious avoids doing too much of something enjoyable such as eating or drinking. (FORMAL)\n  ADJ


Words: abstention
Meaning:
ab.sten.tion\n   abstention  abstentions\n  Abstention is a formal act of not voting either for or against a proposal.\n...a vote of sixteen in favor, three against, and one abstention...\n  N-VAR


Words: abstinence
Meaning:
ab.sti.nence\n   abstinence\n  Abstinence is the practice of abstaining from something such as alcoholic drink or sex, often for health or religious reasons.\n...six months of abstinence.\n...total abstinence from alcohol.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = abstention


Words: abstract
Meaning:
ab.stract\n   abstract  abstracts\n1. An abstract idea or way of thinking is based on general ideas rather than on real things and events.\n...abstract principles such as justice...\nIt’s not a question of some abstract concept.\n  ADJ\n  = theoretical\n=>  ab.stract.ly\nIt is hard to think abstractly in these conditions.\n  ADV\n\n2. When you talk or think about something in the abstract, you talk or think about it in a general way, rather than considering particular things or events.\nMoney was a commodity she never thought about except in the abstract.\n  PHRASE: PHR with cl/group\n\n3. In grammar, an abstract noun refers to a quality or idea rather than to a physical object.\n...abstract words such as glory, honor, and courage.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n  !=concrete\n4. Abstract art makes use of shapes and patterns rather than showing people or things.\n...a modern abstract painting.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  !=figurative\n5. An abstract is an abstract work of art.\n  N-COUNT\n\n6. An abstract of an article, document, or speech is a short piece of writing that gives the main points of it.\n  N-COUNT: oft N of n\n  = summary


Words: abstracted
Meaning:
ab.stract.ed\n   abstracted\n  Someone who is abstracted is thinking so deeply that they are not fully aware of what is happening around them. (WRITTEN)\nThe same abstracted look was still on his face.\n  ADJ\n  = preoccupied\n=>  ab.stract.ed.ly\nShe nodded abstractedly.\n  ADV: ADV with v


Words: abstraction
Meaning:
ab.strac.tion\n   abstraction  abstractions\n  An abstraction is a general idea rather than one relating to a particular object, person, or situation. (FORMAL)\nIs it worth fighting a big war, in the name of an abstraction like sovereignty?\n  N-VAR


Words: abstruse
Meaning:
ab.struse\n   abstruse\n  You can describe something as abstruse if you find it difficult to understand, especially when you think it could be explained more simply. (FORMAL)\n...fruitless discussions about abstruse resolutions.\n  ADJ  disapproval


Words: absurd
Meaning:
ab.surd\n   absurd\n  If you say that something is absurd, you are criticizing it because you think that it is ridiculous or that it does not make sense.\nIt is absurd to be discussing compulsory redundancy policies for teachers...\nI’ve known clients of mine go to absurd lengths, just to avoid paying me a few pounds...\n  ADJ: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf/that  disapproval\n  = ridiculous\n  The absurd is something that is absurd. (FORMAL)\nParkinson had a sharp eye for the absurd.\n  N-SING: the N\n\n=>  ab.surd.ly\nPrices were still absurdly low, in his opinion...\n  ADV\n\n=>  ab.surd.ity      absurdities\nI find myself growing increasingly angry at the absurdity of the situation.\n  N-VAR


Words: absurdist
Meaning:
ab.surd.ist\n   absurdist\n  An absurdist play or other work shows how absurd some aspect of society or human behaviour is.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: abundance
Meaning:
abun.dance\n   abundance\n  An abundance of something is a large quantity of it.\nThe area has an abundance of wildlife...\nFood was in abundance.\n  N-SING-COLL: usu N of n, also in N\n  = wealth


Words: abundant
Meaning:
abun.dant\n   abundant\n  Something that is abundant is present in large quantities.\nThere is an abundant supply of cheap labour...\nBirds are abundant in the tall vegetation.\n  ADJ\n  = plentiful


Words: abundantly
Meaning:
abun.dant.ly\n   abundantly\n1. If something is abundantly clear, it is extremely obvious.\nHe made it abundantly clear that anybody who disagrees with his policies will not last long.\n  ADV: ADV adj\n\n2. Something that occurs abundantly is present in large quantities.\n...a plant that grows abundantly in the United States...\n  ADV: usu ADV with v, also ADV adj


Words: abuse
Meaning:
abuse abuses abusing  abused\nThe noun is pronounced   The verb is pronounced\n1. Abuse of someone is cruel and violent treatment of them.\n...investigation of alleged child abuse.\n...victims of sexual and physical abuse.\n...controversy over human rights abuses.\n  N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl, usu with supp\n\n2. Abuse is extremely rude and insulting things that people say when they are angry.\nI was left shouting abuse as the car sped off...\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n3. Abuse of something is the use of it in a wrong way or for a bad purpose.\nWhat went on here was an abuse of power.\n...drug and alcohol abuse.\n  N-VAR: with supp\n\n4. If someone is abused, they are treated cruelly and violently.\nJanet had been abused by her father since she was eleven.\n...parents who feel they cannot cope or might abuse their children.\n...those who work with abused children.\n  VERB: be V-ed, V n, V-ed\n\n=>  abus.er      abusers\n...a convicted child abuser.\n  N-COUNT\n\n5. You can say that someone is abused if extremely rude and insulting things are said to them.\nHe alleged that he was verbally abused by other soldiers.\n  VERB: be V-ed, also V n\n  = insult\n6. If you abuse something, you use it in a wrong way or for a bad purpose.\nHe showed how the rich and powerful can abuse their position.\n  VERB: V n\n\n=>  abus.er\n...the treatment of alcohol and drug abusers.\n  N-COUNT


Words: abusive
Meaning:
abu.sive\n   abusive\n1. Someone who is abusive behaves in a cruel and violent way towards other people.\nHe became violent and abusive toward Ben’s mother...\nOne in eight women lives in an abusive relationship.\n  ADJ\n\n2. Abusive language is extremely rude and insulting.\n  ADJ\n  = insulting


Words: abut
Meaning:
abut  abuts  abutting  abutted\n  When land or a building abuts something or abuts on something, it is next to it. (FORMAL)\n  VERB\n  = adjoin


Words: abuzz
Meaning:
abuzz\n  If someone says that a place is abuzz with rumours or plans, they mean that everyone there is excited about them. (JOURNALISM)\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ with n


Words: abysmal
Meaning:
abys.mal\n   abysmal\n  If you describe a situation or the condition of something as abysmal, you think that it is very bad or poor in quality.\n...our abysmal record at producing a scientifically trained workforce...\nThe general standard of racing was abysmal.\n  ADJ\n  = dismal\n=>  abys.mal.ly\nThe standard of education was abysmally low...\nAs the chart shows, it has failed abysmally.\n  ADV: ADV adj, ADV after v


Words: abyss
Meaning:
abyss  abysses\n1. An abyss is a very deep hole in the ground. (LITERARY)\n  N-COUNT: usu sing\n\n2. If someone is on the edge or brink of an abyss, they are about to enter into a very frightening or threatening situation. (LITERARY)\n  N-COUNT: usu sing


Words: AC
Meaning:
AC\n  AC is used to refer to an electric current that continually changes direction as it flows. AC is an abbreviation for `alternating current’.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N n


Words: acacia
Meaning:
aca.cia\n   acacia  acacias  or acacia\n  An acacia or an acacia tree is a tree which grows in warm countries and which usually has small yellow or white flowers.\n  N-COUNT


Words: academe
Meaning:
aca.deme\n   academe\n  The academic world of universities is sometimes referred to as academe. (FORMAL)\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: academia
Meaning:
aca.demia\n   academia\n  Academia refers to all the academics in a particular country or region, the institutions they work in, and their work.\n...the importance of strong links between industry and academia.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: academic
Meaning:
aca.dem.ic\n   academic  academics\n1. Academic is used to describe things that relate to the work done in schools, colleges, and universities, especially work which involves studying and reasoning rather than practical or technical skills.\nTheir academic standards are high...\nI was terrible at school and left with few academic qualifications...\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n=>  aca.dem.ical.ly\nHe is academically gifted...\n  ADV\n\n2. Academic is used to describe things that relate to schools, colleges, and universities.\n...the start of the last academic year...\nI’d had enough of academic life.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n3. Academic is used to describe work, or a school, college, or university, that places emphasis on studying and reasoning rather than on practical or technical skills.\nThe author has settled for a more academic approach...\n  ADJ\n\n4. Someone who is academic is good at studying.\nThe system is failing most disastrously among less academic children.\n  ADJ\n\n5. An academic is a member of a university or college who teaches or does research.\n  N-COUNT\n  = scholar\n6. You can say that a discussion or situation is academic if you think it is not important because it has no real effect or cannot happen.\nSuch is the size of the problem that these arguments are purely academic.\n  ADJ\n  = theoretical


Words: academician
Meaning:
acad.emi.cian\n   academician  academicians\n  An academician is a member of an academy, usually one which has been formed to improve or maintain standards in a particular field.\n  N-COUNT


Words: academy
Meaning:
acad.emy\n   academy  academies\n1. Academy is sometimes used in the names of schools and colleges, especially those specializing in particular subjects or skills, or private high schools in the United States.\n...the Royal Academy of Music.\n...her experience as a police academy instructor.\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft in names\n\n2. Academy appears in the names of some societies formed to improve or maintain standards in a particular field.\n...the American Academy of Psychotherapists...\n  N-IN-NAMES


Words: accede
Meaning:
ac.cede\n   accede  accedes  acceding  acceded\n1. If you accede to someone’s request, you do what they ask. (FORMAL)\nBritain would not accede to France’s request.\n  VERB: V to n\n\n2. When a member of a royal family accedes to the throne, they become king or queen. (FORMAL)\n  VERB


Words: accelerate
Meaning:
ac.cel.er.ate\n   accelerate  accelerates  accelerating  accelerated\n1. If the process or rate of something accelerates or if something accelerates it, it gets faster and faster.\nGrowth will accelerate to 2.9 per cent next year...\nThe government is to accelerate its privatisation programme.\n  VERB: V, V n\n\n2. When a moving vehicle accelerates, it goes faster and faster.\nSuddenly the car accelerated...\nShe accelerated away from the kerb.\n  VERB: V, V prep/adv


Words: acceleration
Meaning:
ac.cel.era.tion\n   acceleration\n1. The acceleration of a process or change is the fact that it is getting faster and faster.\nHe has also called for an acceleration of political reforms.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N of/in n\n\n2. Acceleration is the rate at which a car or other vehicle can increase its speed, often seen in terms of the time that it takes to reach a particular speed.\nAcceleration to 60 mph takes a mere 5.7 seconds.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n3. Acceleration is the rate at which the speed of an object increases. (TECHNICAL)\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: accelerator
Meaning:
ac.cel.era.tor\n   accelerator  accelerators\n  The accelerator in a car or other vehicle is the pedal which you press with your foot in order to make the vehicle go faster.\nHe eased his foot off the accelerator.\n  N-COUNT


Words: accent
Meaning:
ac.cent\n   accent  accents\n1. Someone who speaks with a particular accent pronounces the words of a language in a distinctive way that shows which country, region, or social class they come from.\nHe had developed a slight American accent.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. An accent is a short line or other mark which is written above certain letters in some languages and which indicates the way those letters are pronounced.\n  N-COUNT\n\n3. If you put the accent on a particular feature of something, you emphasize it or give it special importance.\nHe is putting the accent on military readiness...\n  N-SING: oft N on n\n  = emphasis


Words: accented
Meaning:
ac.cent.ed\n   accented\n  Language or speech that is accented is spoken with a particular accent.\nI spoke rather good, but heavily accented English...\n  ADJ\n\n  see also accent


Words: accentuate
Meaning:
ac.cen.tu.ate\n   accentuate  accentuates  accentuating  accentuated\n  To accentuate something means to emphasize it or make it more noticeable.\nHis shaven head accentuates his large round face...\n  VERB: V n


Words: accept
Meaning:
ac.cept\n   accept  accepts  accepting  accepted\n1. If you accept something that you have been offered, you say yes to it or agree to take it.\nEventually Sam persuaded her to accept an offer of marriage...\nAll those invited to next week’s peace conference have accepted.\n  VERB: V n, V\n\n2. If you accept an idea, statement, or fact, you believe that it is true or valid.\nI do not accept that there is any kind of crisis in British science...\nI don’t think they would accept that view...\nHe did not accept this reply as valid.\n...a workforce generally accepted to have the best conditions in Europe.\n  VERB: V that, V n, V n as adj, V-ed\n  = acknowledge\n3. If you accept a plan or an intended action, you agree to it and allow it to happen.\nThe Council will meet to decide if it should accept his resignation.\n  VERB: V n\n  !=reject\n4. If you accept an unpleasant fact or situation, you get used to it or recognize that it is necessary or cannot be changed.\nPeople will accept suffering that can be shown to lead to a greater good...\nUrban dwellers often accept noise as part of city life...\nI wasn’t willing to accept that her leaving was a possibility.\n  VERB: V n, V n as n/adj, V that\n\n5. If a person, company, or organization accepts something such as a document, they recognize that it is genuine, correct, or satisfactory and agree to consider it or handle it.\nWe advised newspapers not to accept the advertising...\nCheques can only be accepted up to the value guaranteed on the card...\n  VERB: V n, V n\n  !=reject\n6. If an organization or person accepts you, you are allowed to join the organization or use the services that are offered.\nAll-male groups will not be accepted.\n...incentives to private landlords to accept young people as tenants.\n  VERB: V n, V n as n\n  !=reject\n7. If a person or a group of people accepts you, they begin to be friendly towards you and are happy with who you are or what you do.\nMy grandparents have never had a problem accepting me...\nMany men still have difficulty accepting a woman as a business partner...\nStephen Smith was accepted into the family like an adopted brother.\n  VERB: V n, V n as n, V n into n\n  !=reject\n8. If you accept the responsibility or blame for something, you recognize that you are responsible for it.\nThe company cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage.\n  VERB: V n\n  !=deny\n9. If you accept someone’s advice or suggestion, you agree to do what they say.\nThe army refused to accept orders from the political leadership...\n  VERB: V n\n  !=reject\n10. If a machine accepts a particular kind of thing, it is designed to take it and deal with it or process it.\nThe telephone booths accept 10 and 20 pence coins.\n  VERB: V n\n\n11.\n  see also accepted


Words: acceptable
Meaning:
ac.cept.able\n   acceptable\n1. Acceptable activities and situations are those that most people approve of or consider to be normal.\nIt is becoming more acceptable for women to drink alcohol...\nThe air pollution exceeds most acceptable levels by 10 times or more.\n  ADJ\n  !=unacceptable\n=>  ac.cept.abil.ity\n...an increase in the social acceptability of divorce.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n\n\n=>  ac.cept.ably\nThe aim of discipline is to teach children to behave acceptably.\n  ADV\n\n2. If something is acceptable to someone, they agree to consider it, use it, or allow it to happen.\nThey have thrashed out a compromise formula acceptable to Moscow...\nThey recently failed to negotiate a mutually acceptable new contract.\n  ADJ: oft ADJ to n\n  !=unacceptable\n3. If you describe something as acceptable, you mean that it is good enough or fairly good.\nOn the far side of the street was a restaurant that looked acceptable...\n  ADJ\n\n=>  ac.cept.ably\n...a method that provides an acceptably accurate solution to a problem...\n  ADV: ADV adj, ADV with v


Words: acceptance
Meaning:
ac.cept.ance\n   acceptance  acceptances\n1. Acceptance of an offer or a proposal is the act of saying yes to it or agreeing to it.\nThe Party is being degraded by its acceptance of secret donations...\n...a letter of acceptance.\n...his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize.\n  N-VAR: usu with supp, oft poss N, N of n\n  !=rejection\n2. If there is acceptance of an idea, most people believe or agree that it is true.\n...a theory that is steadily gaining acceptance...\nThere was a general acceptance that the defence budget would shrink.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n3. Your acceptance of a situation, especially an unpleasant or difficult one, is an attitude or feeling that you cannot change it and that you must get used to it.\n...his calm acceptance of whatever comes his way.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n\n  !=rejection\n4. Acceptance of someone into a group means beginning to think of them as part of the group and to act in a friendly way towards them.\n...an effort to ensure that the disabled achieve real acceptance.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = recognition  !=rejection


Words: accepted
Meaning:
ac.cept.ed\n   accepted\n  Accepted ideas are agreed by most people to be correct or reasonable.\nThere is no generally accepted definition of life...\nIt is accepted wisdom that science has been partly responsible for the decline of religion.\n  ADJ: oft adv ADJ\n\n  see also accept


Words: access
Meaning:
ac.cess\n   access  accesses  accessing  accessed\n1. If you have access to a building or other place, you are able or allowed to go into it.\nThe facilities have been adapted to give access to wheelchair users...\nScientists have only recently been able to gain access to the area...\nThe Mortimer Hotel offers easy access to central London.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu N to n\n\n2. If you have access to something such as information or equipment, you have the opportunity or right to see it or use it.\n...a Code of Practice that would give patients right of access to their medical records.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu N to n\n\n3. If you have access to a person, you have the opportunity or right to see them or meet them.\nHe was not allowed access to a lawyer.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu N to n\n\n4. If you access something, especially information held on a computer, you succeed in finding or obtaining it.\nYou’ve illegally accessed and misused confidential security files.\n  VERB: V n


Words: access course
Meaning:
ac.cess course\n   access course  access courses\n  An access course is an educational course which prepares adults with few or no qualifications for study at a university or other place of higher education. (BRIT)\n  N-COUNT


Words: access road
Meaning:
ac.cess road\n   access road  access roads\n  An access road is a road which enables traffic to reach a particular place or area.\n...the access road to the airport.\n  N-COUNT


Words: access time
Meaning:
ac.cess time\n   access time access times\n  Access time is the time that is needed to get information that is stored in a computer. (COMPUTING)\nThis system helps speed up access times.\n  N-COUNT


Words: accessible
Meaning:
ac.ces.sible\n   accessible\n1. If a place or building is accessible to people, it is easy for them to reach it or get into it. If an object is accessible, it is easy to reach.\nThe Centre is easily accessible to the general public...\nThe premises are wheelchair accessible...\n  ADJ: oft ADJ to n\n\n=>  ac.ces.sibil.ity\n...the easy accessibility of the area.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n2. If something is accessible to people, they can easily use it or obtain it.\nThe legal aid system should be accessible to more people...\n  ADJ: oft ADJ to n\n\n=>  ac.ces.sibil.ity\n...the quality and accessibility of health care.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n3. If you describe a book, painting, or other work of art as accessible, you think it is good because it is simple enough for people to understand and appreciate easily.\n...literary books that are accessible to a general audience.\n  ADJ: oft ADJ to n  approval\n\n=>  ac.ces.sibil.ity\nSeminar topics are chosen for their accessibility to a general audience.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: accession
Meaning:
ac.ces.sion\n   accession\n  Accession is the act of taking up a position as the ruler of a country. (FORMAL)\n...the 50th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne.\n  N-UNCOUNT: with poss, oft N to n


Words: accessorize
Meaning:
ac.ces.so.rize\n   accessorize  accessorizes  accessorizing  accessorized\nin BRIT, also use accessorise\n  To accessorize something such as a set of furniture or clothing means to add other things to it in order to make it look more attractive.\nUse a belt to accessorise a plain dress.\n  VERB: V n, also V n with n


Words: accessory
Meaning:
ac.ces.so.ry\n   accessory  accessories\n1. Accessories are items of equipment that are not usually essential, but which can be used with or added to something else in order to make it more efficient, useful, or decorative.\n...an exclusive range of hand-made bedroom and bathroom accessories.\n  N-COUNT: usu pl\n\n2. Accessories are articles such as belts and scarves which you wear or carry but which are not part of your main clothing.\n  N-COUNT: usu pl\n\n3. If someone is guilty of being an accessory to a crime, they helped the person who committed it, or knew it was being committed but did not tell the police. (LEGAL)\nShe was charged with being an accessory to the embezzlement of funds.\n  N-COUNT: usu N to n\n  = accomplice


Words: accident
Meaning:
ac.ci.dent\n   accident  accidents\n1. An accident happens when a vehicle hits a person, an object, or another vehicle, causing injury or damage.\nShe was involved in a serious car accident last week...\nSix passengers were killed in the accident.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. If someone has an accident, something unpleasant happens to them that was not intended, sometimes causing injury or death.\n5,000 people die every year because of accidents in the home...\nThe police say the killing of the young man was an accident.\n  N-COUNT\n\n3. If something happens by accident, it happens completely by chance.\nShe discovered the problem by accident...\n  N-VAR: usu by N\n  = chance


Words: accident and emergency
Meaning:
ac.ci.dent and emer.gen.cy\n   accident and emergency\n  The accident and emergency is the room or department in a hospital where people who have severe injuries or sudden illness are taken for emergency treatment. The abbreviation A & E is also used. (BRIT; in AM, use emergency room)\n  N-COUNT\n  = A & E, casualty


Words: accident prone
Meaning:
ac.ci.dent prone\n   accident prone   also accident-prone\n  If you describe someone or something as accident prone, you mean that a lot of accidents or other unpleasant things happen to them.\n  ADJ


Words: accidental
Meaning:
ac.ci.den.tal\n   accidental\n  An accidental event happens by chance or as the result of an accident, and is not deliberately intended.\nThe jury returned a verdict of accidental death...\nHis hand brushed against hers; it could have been either accidental or deliberate.\n  ADJ\n  !=deliberate\n=>  ac.ci.den.tal.ly\nA policeman accidentally killed his two best friends with a single bullet...\nA special locking system means the door cannot be opened accidentally.\n  ADV: ADV with v\n  !=deliberately


Words: acclaim
Meaning:
ac.claim\n   acclaim  acclaims  acclaiming  acclaimed\n1. If someone or something is acclaimed, they are praised enthusiastically. (FORMAL)\nShe has been acclaimed for the TV drama `Prime Suspect’...\nHe was acclaimed as England’s greatest modern painter...\nThe group’s debut album was immediately acclaimed a hip hop classic.\n  VERB: usu passive, be V-ed for n/-ing, be V-ed as n, be V-ed n\n\n=>  ac.claimed\nShe has published six highly acclaimed novels.\n  ADJ\n\n2. Acclaim is public praise for someone or something. (FORMAL)\nAngela Bassett has won critical acclaim for her excellent performance...\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp, oft adj N\n  = praise


Words: acclamation
Meaning:
ac.cla.ma.tion\n   acclamation\n1. Acclamation is a noisy or enthusiastic expression of approval for someone or something. (FORMAL)\nThe news was greeted with considerable popular acclamation.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = praise\n2. If someone is chosen or elected by acclamation, they are elected without a written vote. (FORMAL)\nAt first it looked like I was going to win by acclamation.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: acclimatize
Meaning:
ac.cli.ma.tize\n   acclimatize  acclimatizes  acclimatizing  acclimatized\nin BRIT, also use acclimatise\n  When you acclimatize or are acclimatized to a new situation, place, or climate, you become used to it. (FORMAL)\nThe athletes are acclimatising to the heat by staying in Monte Carlo...\nThis year he has left for St Louis early to acclimatise himself...\nThey have been travelling for two days and will need some time to acclimatise.\n  VERB: V to n, V pron-refl, V\n\n=>  ac.cli.ma.ti.za.tion\nAcclimatization to higher altitudes may take several weeks.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n=>  ac.cli.ma.tized\nIt took her a while to get acclimatized to her new surroundings...\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ to n


Words: accolade
Meaning:
ac.co.lade\n   accolade  accolades\n  If someone is given an accolade, something is done or said about them which shows how much people admire them. (FORMAL)\nThe Nobel prize has become the ultimate accolade in the sciences...\n  N-COUNT\n  = tribute


Words: accommodate
Meaning:
ac.com.mo.date\n   accommodate  accommodates  accommodating  accommodated\n1. If a building or space can accommodate someone or something, it has enough room for them.\nThe school in Poldown was not big enough to accommodate all the children...\n  VERB: no cont, V n\n\n2. To accommodate someone means to provide them with a place to live or stay.\n...a hotel built to accommodate guests for the wedding of King Alfonso...\nStudents are accommodated in homes nearby.\n  VERB: V n, be V-ed prep/adv\n\n3. If something is planned or changed to accommodate a particular situation, it is planned or changed so that it takes this situation into account. (FORMAL)\nThe roads are built to accommodate gradual temperature changes...\n  VERB: V n\n\n4. If you do something to accommodate someone, you do it with the main purpose of pleasing or satisfying them.\nHe has never put an arm around his wife to accommodate photographers...\n  VERB: V n\n  = oblige


Words: accommodating
Meaning:
ac.com.mo.dat.ing\n   accommodating\n  If you describe someone as accommodating, you like the fact that they are willing to do things in order to please you or help you.\n  ADJ  approval\n  = obliging


Words: accommodation
Meaning:
ac.com.mo.da.tion\n   accommodation  accommodations\n1. Accommodation is used to refer to buildings or rooms where people live or stay. (BRIT; in AM, use accommodations)\nThe government will provide temporary accommodation for up to three thousand people...\nRates are higher for deluxe accommodations.\n  N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl\n\n2. Accommodation is space in buildings or vehicles that is available for certain things, people, or activities. (FORMAL)\nThe school occupies split-site accommodation on the main campus...\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: accompaniment
Meaning:
ac.com.pa.ni.ment\n   accompaniment  accompaniments\n1. The accompaniment to a song or tune is the music that is played at the same time as it and forms a background to it.\nHe sang `My Funny Valentine’ to a piano accompaniment.\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp\n\n2. An accompaniment is something which goes with another thing.\nThis recipe makes a good accompaniment to ice-cream.\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp\n\n  If one thing happens to the accompaniment of another, they happen at the same time.\nThe team came out to the accompaniment of fireworks.\n  PREP-PHRASE


Words: accompanist
Meaning:
ac.com.pa.nist\n   accompanist  accompanists\n  An accompanist is a musician, especially a pianist, who plays one part of a piece of music while someone else sings or plays the main tune.\n  N-COUNT


Words: accompany
Meaning:
ac.com.pa.ny\n   accompany  accompanies  accompanying  accompanied\n1. If you accompany someone, you go somewhere with them. (FORMAL)\nKen agreed to accompany me on a trip to Africa...\nThe Prime Minister, accompanied by the governor, led the President up to the house.\n  VERB: V n, V-ed\n\n2. If one thing accompanies another, it happens or exists at the same time, or as a result of it. (FORMAL)\nThis volume of essays was designed to accompany an exhibition in Cologne...\n  VERB: V n\n\n3. If you accompany a singer or a musician, you play one part of a piece of music while they sing or play the main tune.\nHe sang and Alice accompanied him on the piano...\n  VERB: V n


Words: accomplice
Meaning:
ac.com.plice\n   accomplice  accomplices\n  Someone’s accomplice is a person who helps them to commit a crime.\nThe gunman escaped on a motorcycle being ridden by an accomplice.\n  N-COUNT: oft poss N


Words: accomplish
Meaning:
ac.com.plish\n   accomplish  accomplishes  accomplishing  accomplished\n  If you accomplish something, you succeed in doing it.\nIf we’d all work together, I think we could accomplish our goal...\nThey are skeptical about how much will be accomplished by legislation.\n  VERB: V n, V n\n  = achieve


Words: accomplished
Meaning:
ac.com.plished\n   accomplished\n  If someone is accomplished at something, they are very good at it. (FORMAL)\nShe is an accomplished painter.\n  ADJ


Words: accomplishment
Meaning:
ac.com.plish.ment\n   accomplishment  accomplishments\n1. An accomplishment is something remarkable that has been done or achieved.\nFor a novelist, that’s quite an accomplishment...\n  N-COUNT\n  = achievement\n2. Your accomplishments are the things that you can do well or the important things that you have done. (FORMAL)\n  N-COUNT: usu pl, oft poss N


Words: accord
Meaning:
ac.cord\n   accord  accords  according  accorded\n1. An accord between countries or groups of people is a formal agreement, for example to end a war.\n...a fitting way to celebrate the peace accord.\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft n N\n\n2. If you are accorded a particular kind of treatment, people act towards you or treat you in that way. (FORMAL)\nHis predecessor was accorded an equally tumultuous welcome...\nThe government accorded him the rank of Colonel...\nThe treatment accorded to a United Nations official was little short of insulting.\n  VERB: be V-ed n, V n n, V-ed, also V n to n\n  = grant\n3. If one fact, idea, or condition accords with another, they are in agreement and there is no conflict between them. (FORMAL)\nSuch an approach accords with the principles of socialist ideology.\n  VERB: V with n\n  = correspond\n4.\n  see also according to\n5. If one person, action, or fact is in accord with another, they are in agreement and there is no conflict between them. You can also say that two people or things are in accord. (FORMAL)\n...this military action, taken in accord with United Nations resolutions...\n  PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v, oft PHR with n\n\n6. If something happens of its own accord, it seems to happen by itself, without anyone making it happen.\nIn many cases the disease will clear up of its own accord.\n  PHRASE: PHR after v\n\n7. If you do something of your own accord, you do it because you want to, without being asked or forced.\nHe did not quit as France’s prime minister of his own accord.\n  PHRASE: PHR after v\n  = voluntarily\n8. If a number of people do something with one accord, they do it together or at the same time, because they agree about what should be done. (LITERARY)\nWith one accord they turned and walked back over the grass.\n  PHRASE


Words: accordance
Meaning:
ac.cord.ance\n   accordance\n  If something is done in accordance with a particular rule or system, it is done in the way that the rule or system says that it should be done.\nEntries which are not in accordance with the rules will be disqualified.\n  PREP-PHRASE


Words: according to
Meaning:
ac.cord.ing to\n   according to\n1. If someone says that something is true according to a particular person, book, or other source of information, they are indicating where they got their information.\nPhilip stayed at the hotel, according to Mr Hemming...\nHe and his father, according to local gossip, haven’t been in touch for years.\n  PREP-PHRASE\n\n2. If something is done according to a particular set of principles, these principles are used as a basis for the way it is done.\nThey both played the game according to the rules...\n  PREP-PHRASE\n\n3. If something varies according to a changing factor, it varies in a way that is determined by this factor.\nPrices vary according to the quantity ordered...\n  PREP-PHRASE\n\n4. If something happens according to plan, it happens in exactly the way that it was intended to happen.\nIf all goes according to plan, the first concert will be Tuesday evening.\n  PHRASE: usu PHR after v


Words: accordingly
Meaning:
ac.cord.ing.ly\n   accordingly\n1. You use accordingly to introduce a fact or situation which is a result or consequence of something that you have just referred to.\nWe have a different background, a different history. Accordingly, we have the right to different futures...\n  ADV: usu ADV with cl, also ADV with v\n  = therefore, consequently\n2. If you consider a situation and then act accordingly, the way you act depends on the nature of the situation.\nIt is a difficult job and they should be paid accordingly...\n  ADV: ADV after v


Words: accordion
Meaning:
ac.cor.di.on\n   accordion  accordions\n  An accordion is a musical instrument in the shape of a fairly large box which you hold in your hands. You play the accordion by pressing keys or buttons on either side while moving the two sides together and apart. Accordions are used especially to play traditional popular music.\n  N-COUNT


Words: accost
Meaning:
ac.cost\n   accost  accosts  accosting  accosted\n  If someone accosts another person, especially a stranger, they stop them or go up to them and speak to them in a way that seems rude or threatening. (FORMAL)\nA man had accosted me in the street.\n  VERB: V n  disapproval


Words: account
Meaning:
ac.count\n   account  accounts  accounting  accounted\n1. If you have an account with a bank or a similar organization, you have an arrangement to leave your money there and take some out when you need it.\nSome banks make it difficult to open an account...\nI had two accounts with Natwest, a savings account and a current account.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. In business, a regular customer of a company can be referred to as an account, especially when the customer is another company. (BUSINESS)\nBiggart Donald, the Glasgow-based marketing agency, has won two Edinburgh accounts.\n  N-COUNT\n\n3. Accounts are detailed records of all the money that a person or business receives and spends. (BUSINESS)\nHe kept detailed accounts.\n...an account book.\n  N-COUNT: usu pl\n\n4. An account is a written or spoken report of something that has happened.\nHe gave a detailed account of what happened on the fateful night...\n  N-COUNT: with supp, usu N of n\n  = report\n5.\n  see also accounting, bank account, current account, deposit account, joint\n6. If you say that something is true by all accounts or from all accounts, you believe it is true because other people say so.\nHe is, by all accounts, a superb teacher.\n  PHRASE: PHR with cl\n\n7. If you say that someone gave a good account of themselves in a particular situation, you mean that they performed well, although they may not have been completely successful.\nThe team fought hard and gave a good account of themselves.\n  PHRASE: V inflects\n\n8. If you say that something is of no account or of little account, you mean that it is very unimportant and is not worth considering. (FORMAL)\nThese obscure groups were of little account in national politics.\n  PHRASE: v-link PHR\n\n9. If you buy or pay for something on account, you pay nothing or only part of the cost at first, and pay the rest later.\nHe bought two bottles of vodka on account.\n  PHRASE: PHR after v\n\n10. You use on account of to introduce the reason or explanation for something.\nThe President declined to deliver the speech himself, on account of a sore throat...\n  PREP-PHRASE\n\n11. Your feelings on someone’s account are the feelings you have about what they have experienced or might experience, especially when you imagine yourself to be in their situation.\nMollie told me what she’d done and I was really scared on her account.\n  PHRASE: usu adj PHR\n\n12. If you tell someone not to do something on your account, you mean that they should do it only if they want to, and not because they think it will please you. (SPOKEN)\nDon’t leave on my account.\n  PHRASE: PHR after v\n\n13. If you say that something should on no account be done, you are emphasizing that it should not be done under any circumstances.\nOn no account should the mixture boil.\n  PHRASE  emphasis\n\n14. If you do something on your own account, you do it because you want to and without being asked, and you take responsibility for your own action.\nI told him if he withdrew it was on his own account.\n  PHRASE: PHR after v\n\n15. If you take something into account, or take account of something, you consider it when you are thinking about a situation or deciding what to do.\nThe defendant asked for 21 similar offences to be taken into account...\nUrban planners in practice have to take account of many interest groups in society.\n  PHRASE: V inflects\n  = consider\n16. If someone is called, held, or brought to account for something they have done wrong, they are made to explain why they did it, and are often criticized or punished for it.\nMinisters should be called to account for their actions.\n  PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR for n


Words: account for
Meaning:
account for\n1. If a particular thing accounts for a part or proportion of something, that part or proportion consists of that thing, or is used or produced by it.\nComputers account for 5% of the country’s commercial electricity consumption.\n  PHRASAL VERB: V P n\n\n2. If something accounts for a particular fact or situation, it causes or explains it.\nNow, the gene they discovered today doesn’t account for all those cases.\n  PHRASAL VERB: V P n\n  = explain\n3. If you can account for something, you can explain it or give the necessary information about it.\nHow do you account for the company’s alarmingly high staff turnover?...\nHe said only 200 of the train’s 600 passengers had been accounted for.\n  PHRASAL VERB: V P n, V P n\n  = explain\n4. If someone has to account for an action or policy, they are responsible for it, and may be required to explain it to other people or be punished if it fails.\nThe President and the President alone must account for his government’s reforms.\n  PHRASAL VERB: V P n\n  = answer for\n5. If a sum of money is accounted for in a budget, it has been included in that budget for a particular purpose.\nThe really heavy redundancy costs have been accounted for.\n  PHRASAL VERB: be V-ed P\n  = budget for


Words: accountable
Meaning:
ac.count.able\n   accountable\n  If you are accountable to someone for something that you do, you are responsible for it and must be prepared to justify your actions to that person.\nPublic officials can finally be held accountable for their actions...\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ to/for n\n\n=>  ac.count.abil.ity\n...an impetus towards democracy and greater accountability.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: accountancy
Meaning:
ac.count.an.cy\n   accountancy\n  Accountancy is the theory or practice of keeping financial accounts.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: accountant
Meaning:
ac.count.ant\n   accountant  accountants\n  An accountant is a person whose job is to keep financial accounts.\n  N-COUNT


Words: accounting
Meaning:
ac.count.ing\n   accounting\n  Accounting is the activity of keeping detailed records of the amounts of money a business or person receives and spends.\n...the accounting firm of Leventhal & Horwath.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n  see also account


Words: accoutrement
Meaning:
ac.cou.tre.ment\n   accoutrement  accoutrements\nin AM, also use accouterment\n  Accoutrements are all the things you have with you when you travel or when you take part in a particular activity. (HUMOROUS or OLD-FASHIONED)\n  N-COUNT: usu pl, usu with supp, oft N of n\n  = paraphernalia


Words: accredit
Meaning:
ac.cred.it\n   accredit  accredits  accrediting  accredited\n  If an educational qualification or institution is accredited, it is officially declared to be of an approved standard. (FORMAL)\nThis degree programme is fully accredited by the Institution of Electrical Engineers.\n...an accredited college of Brunel University.\n  VERB: usu passive, be V-ed, V-ed\n  = endorse\n=>  ac.credi.ta.tion\n...the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: accretion
Meaning:
ac.cre.tion\n   accretion  accretions\n1. An accretion is an addition to something, usually one that has been added over a period of time. (FORMAL)\nThe script has been gathering editorial accretions for years.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. Accretion is the process of new layers or parts being added to something so that it increases in size. (FORMAL)\nA coral reef is built by the accretion of tiny, identical organisms.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: accrual
Meaning:
ac.cru.al\n   accrual  accruals\n  In finance, the accrual of something such as interest or investments is the adding together of interest or different investments over a period of time. (BUSINESS)\n  N-COUNT: usu sing, oft N n\n  = accumulation


Words: accrue
Meaning:
ac.crue\n   accrue  accrues  accruing  accrued\n1. If money or interest accrues or if you accrue it, it gradually increases in amount over a period of time. (BUSINESS)\nI owed .5,000.part of this was accrued interest...\nIf you do not pay within 28 days, interest will accrue...\nOfficials say the options will offer investors a longer time in which to accrue profits.\n  VERB: V-ed, V, V n\n  = accumulate\n2. If things such as profits or benefits accrue to someone, they are added to over a period of time. (FORMAL)\n...the expectation that profits will accrue.\n...a project from which considerable benefit will accrue to the community...\n  VERB: V, V to n


Words: accumulate
Meaning:
ac.cu.mu.late\n   accumulate  accumulates  accumulating  accumulated\n  When you accumulate things or when they accumulate, they collect or are gathered over a period of time.\nHouseholds accumulate wealth across a broad spectrum of assets...\nLead can accumulate in the body until toxic levels are reached.\n  VERB: V n, V\n  = build up


Words: accumulation
Meaning:
ac.cu.mu.la.tion\n   accumulation  accumulations\n1. An accumulation of something is a large number of things which have been collected together or acquired over a period of time.\n...an accumulation of experience and knowledge.\n  N-COUNT: oft N of n\n\n2. Accumulation is the collecting together of things over a period of time.\n...the accumulation of capital and the distribution of income...\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N of n


Words: accumulative
Meaning:
ac.cu.mu.la.tive\n   accumulative\n  If something is accumulative, it becomes greater in amount, number, or intensity over a period of time.\nThe consensus is that risk factors have an accumulative effect.\n  ADJ\n  = cumulative


Words: accuracy
Meaning:
ac.cu.ra.cy\n   accuracy\n1. The accuracy of information or measurements is their quality of being true or correct, even in small details.\nWe cannot guarantee the accuracy of these figures.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N of n\n  !=inaccuracy\n2. If someone or something performs a task, for example hitting a target, with accuracy, they do it in an exact way without making a mistake.\n...weapons that could fire with accuracy at targets 3,000 yards away...\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft with N\n  !=inaccuracy


Words: accurate
Meaning:
ac.cu.rate\n   accurate\n1. Accurate information, measurements, and statistics are correct to a very detailed level. An accurate instrument is able to give you information of this kind.\nPolice have stressed that this is the most accurate description of the killer to date...\nQuartz timepieces are very accurate, to a minute or two per year.\n  ADJ\n  = precise  !=inaccurate\n=>  ac.cu.rate.ly\nThe test can accurately predict what a bigger explosion would do.\n  ADV\n\n2. An accurate statement or account gives a true or fair judgment of something.\nJoseph Stalin gave an accurate assessment of the utility of nuclear weapons...\nThey were accurate in their prediction that he would change her life drastically.\n  ADJ\n  !=inaccurate\n=>  ac.cu.rate.ly\nWhat many people mean by the word `power’ could be more accurately described as `control’.\n  ADV: ADV with v\n\n3. You can use accurate to describe the results of someone’s actions when they do or copy something correctly or exactly.\nMarks were given for accurate spelling and punctuation.\n  ADJ\n  !=inaccurate\n4. An accurate weapon or throw reaches the exact point or target that it was intended to reach. You can also describe a person as accurate if they fire a weapon or throw something in this way.\nThe rifle was extremely accurate...\n  ADJ\n  !=inaccurate\n=>  ac.cu.rate.ly\n...the technology to aim bombs accurately from aircraft.\n  ADV: ADV with v\n  = precisely


Words: accursed
Meaning:
ac.curs.ed\n   accursed\n1. Some people use accursed to describe something which they are very annoyed about. (OLD-FASHIONED)\n  ADJ: ADJ n  feelings\n  = damned\n2. If a person is accursed, they have been cursed. (LITERARY)\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ


Words: accusation
Meaning:
ac.cu.sa.tion\n   accusation  accusations\n1. If you make an accusation against someone, you criticize them or express the belief that they have done something wrong.\nKim rejects accusations that Country music is over-sentimental...\n  N-VAR: oft N that, N of n/-ing\n  = charge\n2. An accusation is a statement or claim by a witness or someone in authority that a particular person has committed a crime, although this has not yet been proved.\n...people who have made public accusations of rape...\n  N-COUNT: oft N of n, N that


Words: accusative
Meaning:
ac.cu.sa.tive\n   accusative\n  In the grammar of some languages, the accusative, or the accusative case, is the case used for a noun when it is the direct object of a verb, or the object of some prepositions. In English, only the pronouns `me’, `him’, `her’, `us’, and `them’ are in the accusative. Compare nominative.\n  N-SING: the N


Words: accusatory
Meaning:
ac.cu.sa.tory\n   accusatory\n  An accusatory look, remark, or tone of voice suggests blame or criticism. (WRITTEN)\n...the accusatory tone of the questions.\n  ADJ\n  = accusing


Words: accuse
Meaning:
ac.cuse\n   accuse  accuses  accusing  accused\n1. If you accuse someone of doing something wrong or dishonest, you say or tell them that you believe that they did it.\nHe was accusing my mum of having an affair with another man...\nTalk things through in stages. Do not accuse or apportion blame.\n  VERB: V n of n/-ing, V\n\n2. If you are accused of a crime, a witness or someone in authority states or claims that you did it, and you may be formally charged with it and put on trial.\nHer assistant was accused of theft and fraud by the police...\nAll seven charges accused him of lying in his testimony...\nThe accused men have been given relatively light sentences.\n  VERB: be V-ed of n, V n of n, V-ed\n\n3.\n  see also accused, accusing\n4. If someone stands accused of something, they have been accused of it.\nThe candidate stands accused of breaking promises even before he’s in office...\n  PHRASE: V inflects, PHR of n/-ing


Words: accused
Meaning:
ac.cused\n   accused  accused\n  You can use the accused to refer to a person or a group of people charged with a crime or on trial for it. (LEGAL)\nThe accused is alleged to be a member of a right-wing gang...\n  N-COUNT: the N\n  = defendant


Words: accuser
Meaning:
ac.cus.er\n   accuser  accusers\n  An accuser is a person who says that another person has done something wrong, especially that he or she has committed a crime.\n...a criminal proceeding where defendants have the right to confront their accusers.\n  N-COUNT: usu poss N


Words: accusing
Meaning:
ac.cus.ing\n   accusing\n  If you look at someone with an accusing expression or speak to them in an accusing tone of voice, you are showing that you think they have done something wrong.\nThe accusing look in her eyes conveyed her sense of betrayal.\n  ADJ\n\n=>  ac.cus.ing.ly\n`Where have you been?’ he asked Blake accusingly.\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n  see also accuse


Words: accustom
Meaning:
ac.cus.tom\n   accustom  accustoms  accustoming  accustomed\n  If you accustom yourself or another person to something, you make yourself or them become used to it. (FORMAL)\nThe team has accustomed itself to the pace of first division rugby...\nShakespeare has accustomed us to a mixture of humor and tragedy in the same play.\n  VERB: V pron-refl to n, V n to n\n  = familiarize\n  see also accustomed


Words: accustomed
Meaning:
ac.cus.tomed\n   accustomed\n1. If you are accustomed to something, you know it so well or have experienced it so often that it seems natural, unsurprising, or easy to deal with.\nI was accustomed to being the only child at a table full of adults...\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ to n/-ing\n  = used\n2. When your eyes become accustomed to darkness or bright light, they adjust so that you start to be able to see things, after not being able to see properly at first.\nMy eyes were becoming accustomed to the gloom.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ to n\n\n3. You can use accustomed to describe an action that someone usually does, a quality that they usually show, or an object that they usually use.\nHe took up his accustomed position with his back to the fire...\nFreed acted with his accustomed shrewdness.\n...his accustomed glass of whisky.\n  ADJ: poss ADJ n\n  = usual, habitual


Words: ace
Meaning:
ace  aces\n1. An ace is a playing card with a single symbol on it. In most card games, the ace of a particular suit has either the highest or the lowest value of the cards in that suit.\n...the ace of hearts.\n  N-COUNT: oft N of n\n\n2. If you describe someone such as a sports player as an ace, you mean that they are very good at what they do. (JOURNALISM)\n...former motor-racing ace Stirling Moss.\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft n N\n\n  Ace is also an adjective.\n...ace horror-film producer Lawrence Woolsey.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n3. If you say that something is ace, you think that it is good and you like it a lot. (INFORMAL)\n...a really ace film.\n  ADJ  approval\n\n4. In tennis, an ace is a serve which is so fast that the other player cannot reach the ball.\n  N-COUNT\n\n5. If you say that someone holds all the aces, you mean that they have all the advantages in a contest or situation.\n  PHRASE: V inflects


Words: acerbic
Meaning:
acer.bic\n   acerbic\n  Acerbic humour is critical and direct. (FORMAL)\nHe was acclaimed for his acerbic wit and repartee...\n  ADJ\n  = acid


Words: acetate
Meaning:
ac.etate\n   acetate\n  Acetate is a shiny artificial material, sometimes used for making clothes or records.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: acetylene
Meaning:
acety.lene\n   acetylene\n  Acetylene is a colourless gas which burns with a very hot bright flame. It is often used in lamps and for cutting and welding metal.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N n


Words: ache
Meaning:
ache  aches  aching  ached\n1. If you ache or a part of your body aches, you feel a steady, fairly strong pain.\nHer head was throbbing and she ached all over...\nMy leg still aches when I sit down...\nThe weary walkers soothed their aching feet in the sea.\n  VERB: V adv/prep, V, V-ing\n\n2. An ache is a steady, fairly strong pain in a part of your body.\nPoor posture can cause neck ache, headaches and breathing problems.\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft N in n, n N\n\n  see also backache, headache, heartache, stomach ache\n3. If you ache for something or your heart aches, you want something very much, and feel very unhappy because you cannot have it. (WRITTEN)\nShe still ached for the lost intimacy and sexual contact of marriage...\nIt was quite an achievement to keep smiling when his heart must have been aching.\n  VERB: V for n, V\n  = long, yearn\n4. You can use aches and pains to refer in a general way to any minor pains that you feel in your body.\nIt seems to ease all the aches and pains of a hectic and tiring day.\n  PHRASE


Words: achievable
Meaning:
achiev.able\n   achievable\n  If you say that something you are trying to do is achievable, you mean that it is possible for you to succeed in doing it.\nA 50% market share is achievable...\nIt is often a good idea to start with smaller, easily achievable goals.\n  ADJ\n  = attainable


Words: achieve
Meaning:
achieve  achieves  achieving  achieved\n  If you achieve a particular aim or effect, you succeed in doing it or causing it to happen, usually after a lot of effort.\nThere are many who will work hard to achieve these goals...\nWe have achieved what we set out to do.\n  VERB: V n, V n\n  = accomplish


Words: achievement
Meaning:
achieve.ment\n   achievement  achievements\n1. An achievement is something which someone has succeeded in doing, especially after a lot of effort.\nReaching this agreement so quickly was a great achievement...\n  N-COUNT\n  = accomplishment\n2. Achievement is the process of achieving something.\nOnly the achievement of these goals will bring lasting peace.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N of n


Words: achiever
Meaning:
achiev.er\n   achiever  achievers\n  A high achiever is someone who is successful in their studies or their work, usually as a result of their efforts. A low achiever is someone who achieves less than those around them.\nHigh achievers will receive cash bonuses...\n  N-COUNT


Words: Achilles heel
Meaning:
Achilles heel\n  Someone’s Achilles heel is the weakest point in their character or nature, where it is easiest for other people to attack or criticize them.\nHorton’s Achilles heel was that he could not delegate.\n  N-SING: usu poss N


Words: Achilles tendon
Meaning:
Achilles ten.don\n   Achilles tendon  Achilles tendons\n  Your Achilles tendon or your Achilles is the tendon inside the back of your leg just above your heel.\n  N-COUNT


Words: achingly
Meaning:
ach.ing.ly\n   achingly\n  You can use achingly for emphasis when you are referring to things that create feelings of wanting something very much, but of not being able to have it. (WRITTEN)\n...three achingly beautiful ballads.\n  ADV: ADV adj/adv  emphasis


Words: achy
Meaning:
achy\n  If you feel achy, your body hurts. (INFORMAL, SPOKEN)\nI feel achy all over.\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ


Words: acid
Meaning:
acid  acids\n1. An acid is a chemical substance, usually a liquid, which contains hydrogen and can react with other substances to form salts. Some acids burn or dissolve other substances that they come into contact with.\n...citric acid...\n  N-MASS\n\n2. An acid substance contains acid.\nThese shrubs must have an acid, lime-free soil.\n  ADJ\n\n=>  acid.ity\n...the acidity of rainwater.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N of n\n\n3. The drug LSD is sometimes referred to as acid. (INFORMAL)\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n4.\n  see also amino acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, nucleic acid, sulphuric acid


Words: acid house
Meaning:
acid house\n  Acid house is a type of electronic dance music with a strong, repeated rhythm.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: acid rain
Meaning:
acid rain\n  Acid rain is rain polluted by acid that has been released into the atmosphere from factories and other industrial processes. Acid rain is harmful to the environment.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: acid test
Meaning:
acid test\n  The acid test of something is an important aspect or result that it might have, which allows you to decide whether it is true or successful.\nThe acid test of a school is `would you send your own children there?’\n  N-SING: the N


Words: acidic
Meaning:
acid.ic\n   acidic\n  Acidic substances contain acid.\nDissolved carbon dioxide makes the water more acidic.\n  ADJ


Words: acknowledge
Meaning:
ac.knowl.edge\n   acknowledge  acknowledges  acknowledging  acknowledged\n1. If you acknowledge a fact or a situation, you accept or admit that it is true or that it exists. (FORMAL)\nNaylor acknowledged, in a letter to the judge, that he was a drug addict...\nBelatedly, the government has acknowledged the problem...\nThere is an acknowledged risk of lung cancer from radon.\n  VERB: V that, V n, V-ed\n  = recognize\n2. If someone’s achievements, status, or qualities are acknowledged, they are known about and recognized by a lot of people, or by a particular group of people.\nHe is also acknowledged as an excellent goal-keeper...\nSome of the clergy refused to acknowledge the new king’s legitimacy.\n  VERB: be V-ed as n, V n, also V n to-inf\n  = recognize\n3. If you acknowledge a message or letter, you write to the person who sent it in order to say that you have received it.\nThe army sent me a postcard acknowledging my request.\n  VERB: V n\n\n4. If you acknowledge someone, for example by moving your head or smiling, you show that you have seen and recognized them.\nHe saw her but refused to even acknowledge her.\n  VERB: V n


Words: acknowledgement
Meaning:
ac.knowl.edge.ment\n   acknowledgement  acknowledgements   also acknowledgment\n1. An acknowledgement is a statement or action which recognizes that something exists or is true.\nThe President’s resignation appears to be an acknowledgment that he has lost all hope of keeping the country together...\n  N-SING: also no det, usu with supp, oft N that, N of n\n  = recognition\n2. The acknowledgements in a book are the section in which the author thanks all the people who have helped him or her.\n  N-PLURAL\n\n3. A gesture of acknowledgement, such as a smile, shows someone that you have seen and recognized them.\nFarling smiled in acknowledgement and gave a bow...\n  N-UNCOUNT: also a N\n\n4. An acknowledgement is a letter or message that you receive from someone, telling you that something you have sent to them has arrived.\nI have received neither an acknowledgment nor a reply.\n  N-COUNT


Words: acme
Meaning:
acme\n  The acme of something is its highest point of achievement or excellence. (FORMAL)\nHis work is considered the acme of cinematic art.\n  N-SING: usu the N of n\n  = pinnacle


Words: acne
Meaning:
acne\n  If someone has acne, they have a skin condition which causes a lot of spots on their face and neck.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: acolyte
Meaning:
aco.lyte\n   acolyte  acolytes\n  An acolyte is a follower or assistant of an important person. (FORMAL)\nTo his acolytes, he is known simply as `the Boss’.\n  N-COUNT


Words: acoustic
Meaning:
acous.tic\n   acoustic  acoustics\n1. An acoustic guitar or other instrument is one whose sound is produced without any electrical equipment.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n=>  acous.ti.cal.ly\n...acoustically based music.\n  ADV: oft ADV with cl\n\n2. If you refer to the acoustics or the acoustic of a space, you are referring to the structural features which determine how well you can hear music or speech in it.\n  N-COUNT\n\n=>  acous.ti.cal.ly\nThe church is acoustically perfect.\n  ADV: ADV adj\n\n3. Acoustics is the scientific study of sound.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n4. Acoustic means relating to sound or hearing. Compare aural.\n...acoustic signals.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: acquaint
Meaning:
ac.quaint\n   acquaint  acquaints  acquainting  acquainted\n  If you acquaint someone with something, you tell them about it so that they know it. If you acquaint yourself with something, you learn about it. (FORMAL)\n...efforts to acquaint the public with their rights under the new law...\nI want to acquaint myself with your strengths and weaknesses.\n  VERB: V n with n, V pron-refl with n\n  = familiarize\n  see also acquainted


Words: acquaintance
Meaning:
ac.quaint.ance\n   acquaintance  acquaintances\n1. An acquaintance is someone who you have met and know slightly, but not well.\nThe proprietor was an old acquaintance of his...\n  N-COUNT: oft with poss\n\n2. If you have an acquaintance with someone, you have met them and you know them.\n...a writer who becomes involved in a real murder mystery through his acquaintance with a police officer...\n  N-VAR: oft poss N, N with n, on N\n\n3. Your acquaintance with a subject is your knowledge or experience of it. (FORMAL)\nThey had little or no acquaintance with philosophy or history...\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp, oft N with n\n\n4. When you make someone’s acquaintance, you meet them for the first time and get to know them a little. (FORMAL)\nI first made his acquaintance in the early 1960s...\n  PHRASE: V inflects


Words: acquainted
Meaning:
ac.quaint.ed\n   acquainted\n1. If you are acquainted with something, you know about it because you have learned it or experienced it. (FORMAL)\nHe was well acquainted with the literature of France, Germany and Holland...\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ with n\n  = familiar\n2. If you are acquainted with someone, you have met them and you know them. You can also say that two people are acquainted. (FORMAL)\nNo-one personally acquainted with the couple was permitted to talk to the Press...\nIt’s true we were acquainted, but no more than that.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ with n\n\n3. If you get or become acquainted with someone that you do not know, you talk to each other or do something together so that you get to know each other. You can also say that two people get or become acquainted.\nThe meetings were a way to get acquainted with each other.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n\n\n4.\n  see also acquaint


Words: acquiesce
Meaning:
ac.qui.esce\n   acquiesce  acquiesces  acquiescing  acquiesced\n  If you acquiesce in something, you agree to do what someone wants or to accept what they do. (FORMAL)\nSteve seemed to acquiesce in the decision...\nWhen her mother suggested that she stay, Alice willingly acquiesced.\n  VERB: V in/to n, V\n  = submit


Words: acquiescence
Meaning:
ac.qui.es.cence\n   acquiescence\n  Acquiescence is agreement to do what someone wants, or acceptance of what they do even though you do not agree with it. (FORMAL)\nDeirdre smiled her acquiescence...\n  N-UNCOUNT: with supp, oft N in/to n


Words: acquiescent
Meaning:
ac.qui.es.cent\n   acquiescent\n  Someone who is acquiescent is ready to agree to do what someone wants, or to accept what they do. (FORMAL)\nPerhaps you are too acquiescent.\n  ADJ


Words: acquire
Meaning:
ac.quire\n   acquire  acquires  acquiring  acquired\n1. If you acquire something, you buy or obtain it for yourself, or someone gives it to you. (FORMAL)\nGeneral Motors acquired a 50% stake in Saab for about $400m...\nI recently acquired some wood from a holly tree...\n  VERB: V n, V n from n\n\n2. If you acquire something such as a skill or a habit, you learn it, or develop it through your daily life or experience.\nI’ve never acquired a taste for wine...\n  VERB: V n\n\n3. If someone or something acquires a certain reputation, they start to have that reputation.\nHe has acquired a reputation as this country’s premier solo violinist.\n  VERB: V n\n\n4. If you describe something as an acquired taste, you mean that a lot of people do not like it when they first experience it, but often start to like it more when they get to know it better.\nBroad beans are very much an acquired taste...\n  PHRASE: usu v-link PHR


Words: acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Meaning:
ac.quired im.mune de.fi.cien.cy syn.drome\n   acquired immune deficiency syndrome\n  Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is the same as AIDS.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: acquirer
Meaning:
ac.quir.er\n   acquirer  acquirers\n  In business, an acquirer is a company or person who buys another company. (BUSINESS)\n  N-COUNT


Words: acquisition
Meaning:
ac.qui.si.tion\n   acquisition  acquisitions\n1. If a company or business person makes an acquisition, they buy another company or part of a company. (BUSINESS)\n...the acquisition of a profitable paper recycling company.\n  N-VAR: oft N of n\n\n2. If you make an acquisition, you buy or obtain something, often to add to things that you already have.\n...the President’s recent acquisition of a helicopter.\n  N-COUNT: oft N of n\n  = purchase\n3. The acquisition of a skill or a particular type of knowledge is the process of learning it or developing it.\n...language acquisition.\n  N-UNCOUNT: n N, N of n


Words: acquisitive
Meaning:
ac.quisi.tive\n   acquisitive\n  If you describe a person or an organization as acquisitive, you do not approve of them because you think they are too concerned with getting new possessions.\nWe live in an acquisitive society...\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n  disapproval


Words: acquit
Meaning:
ac.quit\n   acquit  acquits  acquitting  acquitted\n1. If someone is acquitted of a crime in a court of law, they are formally declared not to have committed the crime.\nMr Ling was acquitted of disorderly behaviour by magistrates.\n  VERB: usu passive, be V-ed of n\n  = clear  !=convict\n2. If you acquit yourself well or admirably in a particular situation, other people feel that you have behaved well or admirably. (FORMAL)\nMost officers and men acquitted themselves well throughout the action.\n  VERB: V pron-refl adv


Words: acquittal
Meaning:
ac.quit.tal\n   acquittal  acquittals\n  Acquittal is a formal declaration in a court of law that someone who has been accused of a crime is innocent.\n...the acquittal of six police officers charged with beating a suspect...\nThe jury voted 8-to-4 in favor of acquittal...\n  N-VAR\n  !=conviction


Words: acre
Meaning:
acre  acres\n  An acre is an area of land measuring 4840 square yards or 4047 square metres.\nThe property is set in two acres of land.\n  N-COUNT


Words: acreage
Meaning:
acre.age\n   acreage  acreages\n  Acreage is a large area of farm land. (FORMAL)\nHe has sown coffee on part of his acreage...\nEnormous acreages of soya beans are grown in the United States.\n  N-VAR


Words: acrid
Meaning:
ac.rid\n   acrid\n  An acrid smell or taste is strong and sharp, and usually unpleasant.\nThe room filled with the acrid smell of tobacco...\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  = bitter


Words: acrimonious
Meaning:
ac.ri.mo.ni.ous\n   acrimonious\n  Acrimonious words or quarrels are bitter and angry. (FORMAL)\nThere followed an acrimonious debate.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  = bitter\n=>  ac.ri.mo.ni.ous.ly\nOur relationship ended acrimoniously.\n  ADV: ADV with v


Words: acrimony
Meaning:
ac.ri.mo.ny\n   acrimony\n  Acrimony is bitter and angry words or quarrels. (FORMAL)\nThe council’s first meeting ended in acrimony.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: acrobat
Meaning:
ac.ro.bat\n   acrobat  acrobats\n  An acrobat is an entertainer who performs difficult physical acts such as jumping and balancing, especially in a circus.\n  N-COUNT


Words: acrobatic
Meaning:
ac.ro.bat.ic\n   acrobatic\n  An acrobatic movement or display involves difficult physical acts such as jumping and balancing, especially in a circus.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: acronym
Meaning:
ac.ro.nym\n   acronym  acronyms\n  An acronym is a word composed of the first letters of the words in a phrase, especially when this is used as a name. An example of an acronym is NATO which is made up of the first letters of the `North Atlantic Treaty Organization’.\n  N-COUNT


Words: across
Meaning:
across\nIn addition to the uses shown below, across is used in phrasal verbs such as `come across’, `get across’, and `put across’.\n1. If someone or something goes across a place or a boundary, they go from one side of it to the other.\nShe walked across the floor and lay down on the bed...\nHe watched Karl run across the street to Tommy.\n...an expedition across Africa.\n  PREP\n\n  Across is also an adverb.\nRichard stood up and walked across to the window.\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n2. If something is situated or stretched across something else, it is situated or stretched from one side of it to the other.\n...the floating bridge across Lake Washington in Seattle...\nHe scrawled his name across the bill...\n  PREP\n\n  Across is also an adverb.\nTrim toenails straight across using nail clippers.\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n3. If something is lying across an object or place, it is resting on it and partly covering it.\nShe found her clothes lying across the chair...\nThe wind pushed his hair across his face.\n  PREP\n  = over\n4. Something that is across something such as a street, river, or area is on the other side of it.\nAnyone from the houses across the road could see him...\nWhen I saw you across the room I knew I’d met you before.\n  PREP\n\n  Across is also an adverb.\nThey parked across from the Castro Theatre...\n  ADV: ADV after v, usu ADV from n\n\n5. If you look across at a place, person, or thing, you look towards them.\nHe glanced across at his sleeping wife...\n...breathtaking views across to the hills.\n  ADV: ADV after v, oft ADV prep\n\n6. You use across to say that a particular expression is shown on someone’s face.\nAn enormous grin spread across his face...\n  PREP\n  = over\n7. If someone hits you across the face or head, they hit you on that part.\nGraham hit him across the face with the gun.\n  PREP\n\n8. When something happens across a place or organization, it happens equally everywhere within it.\nThe film `Hook’ opens across America on December 11...\n  PREP\n\n9. When something happens across a political, religious, or social barrier, it involves people in different groups.\n...parties competing across the political spectrum...\n  PREP\n\nacross the board: see board\n10. Across is used in measurements to show the width of something.\nThis hand-decorated plate measures 30cm across...\n  ADV: amount ADV


Words: acrylic
Meaning:
acryl.ic\n   acrylic\n  Acrylic material is artificial and is manufactured by a chemical process.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu N n


Words: act
Meaning:
act  acts  acting  acted\n1. When you act, you do something for a particular purpose.\nThe deaths occurred when police acted to stop widespread looting and vandalism...\nI do not doubt that the bank acted properly.\n  VERB: V, V adv/prep\n\n2. If you act on advice or information, you do what has been advised or suggested.\nA patient will usually listen to the doctor’s advice and act on it.\n  VERB: V on/upon n\n\n3. If someone acts in a particular way, they behave in that way.\n...a gang of youths who were acting suspiciously...\nHe acted as if he hadn’t heard any of it...\nOpen wounds act like a magnet to flies.\n  VERB: V adv, V as if, V like n\n  = behave\n4. If someone or something acts as a particular thing, they have that role or function.\nHe acted both as the ship’s surgeon and as chaplain for the men.\n  VERB: V as/like n\n\n5. If someone acts in a particular way, they pretend to be something that they are not.\nChris acted astonished as he examined the note...\nKenworthy had tried not to act the policeman.\n  VERB: V adj, V n\n\n6. When professionals such as lawyers act for you, or act on your behalf, they are employed by you to deal with a particular matter.\n...the law firm that acted for Diana during her marriage split...\nBecause we travelled so much, Sam and I asked a broker to act on our behalf.\n  VERB: V for n, V prep\n\n7. If a force or substance acts on someone or something, it has a certain effect on them.\nHe’s taking a dangerous drug: it acts very fast on the central nervous system...\n  VERB: V on/upon n\n\n8. If you act, or act a part in a play or film, you have a part in it.\nShe confessed to her parents her desire to act...\nShe acted in her first film when she was 13 years old.\n  VERB: V, V in n\n\n9. An act is a single thing that someone does. (FORMAL)\nLanguage interpretation is the whole point of the act of reading...\n  N-COUNT: oft N of n\n\n10. If you say that someone’s behaviour is an act, you mean that it does not express their real feelings.\nHis anger was real. It wasn’t an act.\n  N-SING\n  = pretence\n11. An Act is a law passed by the government.\n...an Act of Parliament.\n  N-COUNT\n\n12. An act in a play, opera, or ballet is one of the main parts into which it is divided.\nAct II contained one of the funniest scenes I have ever witnessed...\n  N-COUNT: oft N num\n\n13. An act in a show is a short performance which is one of several in the show.\nThis year numerous bands are playing, as well as comedy acts...\n  N-COUNT\n\n14. If you catch someone in the act, you discover them doing something wrong or committing a crime.\nThe men were caught in the act of digging up buried explosives.\n  PHRASE: V inflects\n\n15. If someone who has been behaving badly cleans up their act, they start to behave in a more acceptable or responsible way. (INFORMAL)\nThe nation’s advertisers need to clean up their act.\n  PHRASE: V inflects\n\n16. If you get in on the act, you take part in or take advantage of something that was started by someone else. (INFORMAL)\nIn the 1970s Kodak, anxious to get in on the act, launched its own instant camera.\n  PHRASE: V inflects\n\n17. You say that someone was in the act of doing something to indicate what they were doing when they were seen or interrupted.\nKen was in the act of paying his bill when Neil came up behind him.\n  PHRASE: v-link PHR -ing\n\n18. If you get your act together, you organize your life or your affairs so that you are able to achieve what you want or to deal with something effectively. (INFORMAL)\nThe Government should get its act together...\n  PHRASE: V inflects\n\n19.\nto act one’s age: see age\nto act the fool: see fool


Words: act of God
Meaning:
act of God  acts of God\n  An act of God is an event that is beyond human control, especially one in which something is damaged or someone is hurt.\n  N-COUNT


Words: act out
Meaning:
act out\n  If you act out an event which has happened, you copy the actions which took place and make them into a play.\nI used to come home and act out the movie for the kids.\n  PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), also V n P


Words: act up
Meaning:
act up\n1. If something is acting up, it is not working properly. (INFORMAL)\nShe was messing with the coffee pot, which was acting up again.\n  PHRASAL VERB: usu cont, V P\n  = play up\n2. If a child is acting up, they are behaving badly. (INFORMAL)\n  PHRASAL VERB: usu cont\n  = play up


Words: acting
Meaning:
act.ing\n   acting\n1. Acting is the activity or profession of performing in plays or films.\nShe pursued an acting career after four years of modelling.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n2. You use acting before the title of a job to indicate that someone is doing that job temporarily.\n...the new acting President.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: action
Meaning:
ac.tion\n   action  actions  actioning actioned\n1. Action is doing something for a particular purpose.\nThe government is taking emergency action to deal with a housing crisis...\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp\n\n2. An action is something that you do on a particular occasion.\nJack was the sort of man who did not like his actions questioned.\n  N-COUNT\n\n3. To bring a legal action against someone means to bring a case against them in a court of law. (LEGAL)\nTwo leading law firms are to prepare legal actions against tobacco companies.\n  N-COUNT\n  = suit, case\n4. The action is all the important and exciting things that are happening in a situation. (INFORMAL)\nHollywood is where the action is now.\n  N-SING: the N\n\n5. The fighting which takes place in a war can be referred to as action.\nLeaders in America have generally supported military action...\n13 soldiers were killed and 10 wounded in action.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft in N\n\n6. An action movie is a film in which a lot of dangerous and exciting things happen. An action hero is the main character in one of these films.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n7. If you action something that needs to be done, you deal with it. (BUSINESS)\nDocuments can be actioned, or filed immediately.\n  VERB: usu passive, be V-ed\n\n8. If someone or something is out of action, they are injured or damaged and cannot work or be used.\nHe’s been out of action for 16 months with a serious knee injury...\n  PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v\n\n9. If someone wants to have a piece of the action or a slice of the action, they want to take part in an exciting activity or situation, usually in order to make money or become more important.\n  PHRASE\n\n10. If you put an idea or policy into action, you begin to use it or cause it to operate.\nThey have learned the lessons of business management theory, and put them into action.\n  PHRASE: V inflects


Words: action replay
Meaning:
ac.tion re.play\n   action replay  action replays\n  An action replay is a repeated showing, usually in slow motion, of an event that has just been on television. (BRIT; in AM, use instant replay)\n  N-COUNT


Words: actionable
Meaning:
ac.tion.able\n   actionable\n  If something that you do or say to someone is actionable, it gives them a valid reason for bringing a legal case against you.\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ


Words: activate
Meaning:
ac.ti.vate\n   activate  activates  activating  activated\n  If a device or process is activated, something causes it to start working.\nVideo cameras with night vision can be activated by movement.\n...a voice-activated computer.\n  VERB: usu passive, be V-ed, V-ed\n\n=>  ac.ti.va.tion\nA computer controls the activation of an air bag.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: active
Meaning:
ac.tive\n   active\n1. Someone who is active moves around a lot or does a lot of things.\nHaving an active youngster about the house can be quite wearing.\n...a long and active life.\n  ADJ\n\n2. If you have an active mind or imagination, you are always thinking of new things.\n...the tragedy of an active mind trapped by failing physical health.\n  ADJ\n  = lively\n3. If someone is active in an organization, cause, or campaign, they do things for it rather than just giving it their support.\n...a chance for fathers to play a more active role in childcare...\n  ADJ: oft ADJ prep\n  !=passive\n=>  ac.tive.ly\nThey actively campaigned for the vote.\n  ADV\n\n4. Active is used to emphasize that someone is taking action in order to achieve something, rather than just hoping for it or achieving it in an indirect way.\nCompanies need to take active steps to increase exports.\n...active discouragement from teachers.\n  ADJ: ADJ n  emphasis\n  = positive\n=>  ac.tive.ly\nThey have never been actively encouraged to take such risks.\n  ADV: usu ADV with v\n\n5. If you say that a person or animal is active in a particular place or at a particular time, you mean that they are performing their usual activities or performing a particular activity.\nGuerrilla groups are active in the province.\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, usu ADJ prep\n\n6. An active volcano has erupted recently or is expected to erupt quite soon.\n...molten lava from an active volcano.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  !=extinct\n7. An active substance has a chemical or biological effect on things.\nThe active ingredient in some of the mouthwashes was simply detergent.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n8. In grammar, the active or the active voice means the forms of a verb which are used when the subject refers to a person or thing that does something. For example, in `I saw her yesterday’, the verb is in the active. Compare passive.\n  N-SING: the N


Words: active duty
Meaning:
ac.tive duty\n   active duty\n  Active duty means the same as active service. (mainly AM)\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft on N


Words: active service
Meaning:
ac.tive ser.vice\n   active service\n  Someone who is on active service is taking part in a war as a member of the armed forces. (mainly BRIT)\nIn April 1944 he was killed on active service...\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft on N


Words: activism
Meaning:
ac.tiv.ism\n   activism\n  Activism is the process of campaigning in public or working for an organization in order to bring about political or social change.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: activist
Meaning:
ac.tiv.ist\n   activist  activists\n  An activist is a person who works to bring about political or social changes by campaigning in public or working for an organization.\nThe police say they suspect the attack was carried out by animal rights activists.\n  N-COUNT


Words: activity
Meaning:
ac.tiv.ity\n   activity  activities\n1. Activity is a situation in which a lot of things are happening or being done.\n...an extraordinary level of activity in the government bonds market.\n...the electrical activity of the brain.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n2. An activity is something that you spend time doing.\nYou can take part in activities from canoeing to bird watching.\n  N-COUNT\n\n3. The activities of a group are the things that they do in order to achieve their aims.\n...a jail term for terrorist activities...\n  N-PLURAL: with supp


Words: actor
Meaning:
ac.tor\n   actor  actors\n  An actor is someone whose job is acting in plays or films. `Actor’ in the singular usually refers to a man, but some women who act prefer to be called `actors’ rather than `actresses’.\nHis father was an actor in the Cantonese Opera Company...\nYou have to be a very good actor to play that part.\n  N-COUNT


Words: actress
Meaning:
ac.tress\n   actress  actresses\n  An actress is a woman whose job is acting in plays or films.\nShe’s a very great dramatic actress.\n  N-COUNT


Words: actual
Meaning:
ac.tual\n   actual\n1. You use actual to emphasize that you are referring to something real or genuine.\nThe segments are filmed using either local actors or the actual people involved...\nOfficials admit the actual number of AIDS victims is much higher than statistics reflect.\n  ADJ: ADJ n  emphasis\n  = real\n2. You use actual to contrast the important aspect of something with a less important aspect.\nShe had compiled pages of notes, but she had not yet gotten down to doing the actual writing...\n  ADJ: ADJ n  emphasis\n\nin actual fact: see fact


Words: actual bodily harm
Meaning:
ac.tual bodi.ly harm\n   actual bodily harm\n  Actual bodily harm is a criminal offence in which someone gives another person a minor injury.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: actuality
Meaning:
ac.tu.al.ity\n   actuality  actualities\n1. You can use in actuality to emphasize that what you are saying is true, when it contradicts or contrasts with what you have previously said.\nIn actuality, Teddie did not have a disorder but merely a difficult temperament...\n  PHRASE: PHR with cl  emphasis\n  = in reality, actually\n2. Actuality is the state of really existing rather than being imagined.\nIt exists in dreams rather than actuality.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = reality


Words: actually
Meaning:
ac.tu.al.ly\n   actually\n1. You use actually to indicate that a situation exists or happened, or to emphasize that it is true.\nOne afternoon, I grew bored and actually fell asleep for a few minutes...\nInterest is only payable on the amount actually borrowed.\n  ADV: ADV before v, ADV group  emphasis\n\n2. You use actually when you are correcting or contradicting someone.\nNo, I’m not a student. I’m a doctor, actually...\n`So it’s not a family show then?’.`Well, actually, I think that’s exactly what it is.’\n  ADV: ADV with cl  emphasis\n\n3. You can use actually when you are politely expressing an opinion that other people might not have expected from you.\n`Do you think it’s a good idea to socialize with one’s patients?’.`Actually, I do, I think it’s a great idea.’...\n  ADV: ADV with cl  politeness\n\n4. You use actually to introduce a new topic into a conversation.\nWell actually, John, I rang you for some advice...\n  ADV: ADV with cl


Words: actuarial
Meaning:
ac.tu.ari.al\n   actuarial\n  Actuarial means relating to the work of an actuary.\nThe company’s actuarial report is available on demand.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: actuary
Meaning:
ac.tu.ary\n   actuary  actuaries\n  An actuary is a person who is employed by insurance companies to calculate how much they should charge their clients for insurance.\n  N-COUNT


Words: actuate
Meaning:
ac.tu.ate\n   actuate  actuates  actuating  actuated\n  If a person is actuated by an emotion, that emotion makes them act in a certain way. If something actuates a device, the device starts working.\nThey were actuated by desire...\nThe flow of current actuates the signal.\n  VERB: be V-ed, V n\n  = activate


Words: acuity
Meaning:
acu.ity\n   acuity\n  Acuity is sharpness of vision or hearing, or quickness of thought. (FORMAL)\nWe work on improving visual acuity.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: acumen
Meaning:
acu.men\n   acumen\n  Acumen is the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions.\nHis sharp business acumen meant he quickly rose to the top.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu supp N


Words: acupressure
Meaning:
acu.pres.sure\n   acupressure\n  Acupressure is the treatment of pain by a type of massage in which pressure is put on certain areas of a person’s body.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: acupuncture
Meaning:
acu.punc.ture\n   acupuncture\n  Acupuncture is the treatment of a person’s illness or pain by sticking small needles into their body at certain places.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: acupuncturist
Meaning:
acu.punc.tur.ist\n   acupuncturist  acupuncturists\n  An acupuncturist is a person who performs acupuncture.\n  N-COUNT


Words: acute
Meaning:
acute\n1. You can use acute to indicate that an undesirable situation or feeling is very severe or intense.\nThe report has caused acute embarrassment to the government...\nThe labour shortage is becoming acute.\n  ADJ\n  = severe\n2. An acute illness is one that becomes severe very quickly but does not last very long. Compare chronic. (MEDICAL)\n...a patient with acute rheumatoid arthritis.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n3. If a person’s or animal’s sight, hearing, or sense of smell is acute, it is sensitive and powerful.\nIn the dark my sense of hearing becomes so acute.\n  ADJ\n  = keen\n4. An acute angle is less than 90.. Compare obtuse angle.\n  ADJ\n\n5. An acute accent is a symbol that is placed over vowels in some languages in order to indicate how that vowel is pronounced or over one letter in a word to indicate where it is stressed. You refer to a letter with this accent as, for example, e acute. For example, there is an acute accent over the letter `e’ in the French word `cafe’.\n  ADJ: ADJ n, n ADJ


Words: acutely
Meaning:
acute.ly\n   acutely\n1. If you feel or notice something acutely, you feel or notice it very strongly.\nHe was acutely aware of the odour of cooking oil...\n  ADV: ADV adj, ADV with v\n  = keenly\n2. If a feeling or quality is acutely unpleasant, it is extremely unpleasant.\nIt was an acutely uncomfortable journey back to London.\n  ADV: ADV adj, ADV with v\n  = intensely


Words: AD
Meaning:
AD\n  You use AD in dates to indicate the number of years or centuries that have passed since the year in which Jesus Christ is believed to have been born. Compare BC.\nThe cathedral was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1136 AD...\nThe Roman Empire was divided in the fourth century AD.


Words: ad hoc
Meaning:
ad hoc\n  An ad hoc activity or organization is done or formed only because a situation has made it necessary and is not planned in advance.\nThe Council meets on an ad hoc basis to discuss problems.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: ad infinitum
Meaning:
ad in.fi.ni.tum\n   ad infinitum\n  If something happens ad infinitum, it is repeated again and again in the same way.\nThis cycle repeats itself ad infinitum.\n  ADV: ADV after v


Words: ad nauseam
Meaning:
ad nau.seam\n   ad nauseam\n  If someone does something ad nauseam, they do it repeatedly and over a long period of time so that it becomes annoying or boring.\nWe discussed it ad nauseam.\n  PHRASE: PHR after v\n  = endlessly


Words: ad-lib
Meaning:
ad-lib  ad-libs  ad-libbing  ad-libbed   also ad lib\n1. If you ad-lib something in a play or a speech, you say something which has not been planned or written beforehand.\nHe began comically ad-libbing a script...\nHe’s good at ad-libbing his way out of trouble...\nHe is rather disjointed when he ad-libs.\n...ad-libbed phrases.\n  VERB: V n, V way prep, V, V-ed\n  = improvise\n2. An ad-lib is something which is said without having been planned or written beforehand.\nEvery time I fluffed a line Lenny got me out of trouble with a brilliant ad-lib.\n  N-COUNT\n  = improvisation\n  Ad lib is also an adverb.\nI spoke from the pulpit ad lib.\n  ADV: ADV after v


Words: adage
Meaning:
ad.age\n   adage  adages\n  An adage is something which people often say and which expresses a general truth about some aspect of life. (OLD-FASHIONED)\n...the old adage, `Every baby brings its own love’.\n  N-COUNT\n  = maxim, saying


Words: adagio
Meaning:
ada.gio\n   adagio  adagios\n1. Adagio written above a piece of music means that it should be played slowly.\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n2. An adagio is a piece of music that is played slowly.\n...Samuel Barber’s Adagio For Strings.\n...the Adagio movement of his Sixth Symphony.\n  N-COUNT: usu sing


Words: Adam’s apple
Meaning:
Adam’s ap.ple\n   Adam’s apple  Adam’s apples\n  Your Adam’s apple is the lump that sticks out of the front of your neck below your throat.\n  N-COUNT


Words: adamant
Meaning:
ada.mant\n   adamant\n  If someone is adamant about something, they are determined not to change their mind about it.\nThe prime minister is adamant that he will not resign...\nSue was adamant about that job in Australia.\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ that, ADJ about n/-ing\n\n=>  ada.mant.ly\nShe was adamantly opposed to her husband travelling to Brussels.\n  ADV: usu ADV with v, also ADV adj


Words: adapt
Meaning:
a.dapt\n   adapt  adapts  adapting  adapted\n1. If you adapt to a new situation or adapt yourself to it, you change your ideas or behaviour in order to deal with it successfully.\nThe world will be different, and we will have to be prepared to adapt to the change...\nThey have had to adapt themselves to a war economy.\n  VERB: V to n, V pron-refl to n, also V\n  = adjust\n2. If you adapt something, you change it to make it suitable for a new purpose or situation.\nShelves were built to adapt the library for use as an office.\n  VERB: V n, also V n to n\n  = modify\n3. If you adapt a book or play, you change it so that it can be made into a film or a television programme.\nThe scriptwriter helped him to adapt his novel for the screen...\nThe film has been adapted from a play of the same title.\n  VERB: V n, V n\n\n4.\n  see also adapted


Words: adaptable
Meaning:
adapt.able\n   adaptable\n  If you describe a person or animal as adaptable, you mean that they are able to change their ideas or behaviour in order to deal with new situations.\n...a more adaptable and skilled workforce...\n  ADJ\n  = flexible\n=>  adapt.abil.ity\nThe adaptability of wool is one of its great attractions.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = flexibility


Words: adaptation
Meaning:
ad.ap.ta.tion\n   adaptation  adaptations\n1. An adaptation of a book or play is a film or a television programme that is based on it.\n...Branagh’s screen adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry the Fifth.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. Adaptation is the act of changing something or changing your behaviour to make it suitable for a new purpose or situation.\nMost living creatures are capable of adaptation when compelled to do so.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: adapted
Meaning:
a.dapt.ed\n   adapted\n  If something is adapted to a particular situation or purpose, it is especially suitable for it.\nThe camel’s feet, well adapted for dry sand, are useless on mud.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ to/for n\n  = suited


Words: adaptive
Meaning:
adap.tive\n   adaptive\n  Adaptive means having the ability or tendency to adapt to different situations. (FORMAL)\nSocieties need to develop highly adaptive behavioural rules for survival.\n  ADJ


Words: adaptor
Meaning:
adap.tor\n   adaptor  adaptors   also adapter\n1. An adaptor is a special device for connecting electrical equipment to a power supply, or for connecting different pieces of electrical or electronic equipment together.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. The adaptor of a book or play is the person who rewrites it for a film or a television programme.\n  N-COUNT


Words: add
Meaning:
add  adds  adding  added\n1. If you add one thing to another, you put it in or on the other thing, to increase, complete, or improve it.\nAdd the grated cheese to the sauce...\nSince 1908, chlorine has been added to drinking water...\nHe wants to add a huge sports complex to Binfield Manor.\n  VERB: V n to n, be V-ed to n, V n to n, also V n\n\n2. If you add numbers or amounts together, you calculate their total.\nBanks add all the interest and other charges together...\nTwo and three added together are five.\n  VERB: V pl-n with together\n  !=subtract\n  Add up means the same as add.\nMore than a quarter of seven year-olds cannot add up properly...\nWe just added all the numbers up and divided one by the other...\nHe said the numbers simply did not add up.\n  PHRASAL VERB: V P, V pl-n P, V P\n\n3. If one thing adds to another, it makes the other thing greater in degree or amount.\nThis latest incident will add to the pressure on the government...\n  VERB: V to n\n\n4. To add a particular quality to something means to cause it to have that quality.\nThe generous amount of garlic adds flavour...\nPictures add interest to plain painted walls.\n  VERB: V n, V n to n\n\n5. If you add something when you are speaking, you say something more.\n`You can tell that he is extremely embarrassed,’ Mr Brigden added...\nThe President agreed, adding that he hoped for a peaceful solution.\n  VERB: V with quote, V that\n\n6.\nto add insult to injury: see insult


Words: add in
Meaning:
add in\n  If you add in something, you include it as a part of something else.\nOnce the vegetables start to cook add in a couple of tablespoons of water.\n  PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron)


Words: add on
Meaning:
add on\n1. If one thing is added on to another, it is attached to the other thing, or is made a part of it.\nHolidaymakers can also add on a week in Majorca before or after the cruise...\nTo the rear is a large dining room.added on early this century.\n  PHRASAL VERB: usu passive, V P n, V-ed P\n\n2. If you add on an extra amount or item to a list or total, you include it.\nMany loan application forms automatically add on insurance.\n  PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), also V n P


Words: add up
Meaning:
add up\n1.\nsee add 2\n2. If facts or events do not add up, they make you confused about a situation because they do not seem to be consistent. If something that someone has said or done adds up, it is reasonable and sensible.\nPolice said they arrested Olivia because her statements did not add up...\n  PHRASAL VERB: usu with neg, V P\n\n3. If small amounts of something add up, they gradually increase.\nEven small savings can add up...\n  PHRASAL VERB: V P


Words: add up to
Meaning:
add up to\n  If amounts add up to a particular total, they result in that total when they are put together.\nFor a hit show, profits can add up to millions of dollars.\n  PHRASAL VERB: V P P n\n  = amount to


Words: add-on
Meaning:
add-on  add-ons\n  An add-on is an extra piece of equipment, especially computer equipment, that can be added to a larger one which you already own in order to improve its performance or its usefulness.\nSpeakers are sold as add-ons for personal stereos...\n  N-COUNT: oft N n


Words: added
Meaning:
add.ed\n   added\n  You use added to say that something has more of a particular thing or quality.\nFor added protection choose a lipstick with a sun screen.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n  = extra


Words: added value
Meaning:
add.ed value\n   added value\n  In marketing, added value is something which makes a product more appealing to customers. (BUSINESS)\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: addendum
Meaning:
ad.den.dum\n   addendum  addenda\n  An addendum is an additional section at the end of a book or document.\n  N-COUNT\n  = appendix


Words: adder
Meaning:
add.er\n   adder  adders\n  In Europe and Asia, an adder is a small poisonous snake that has a black pattern on its back. In North America, a number of different poisonous and non-poisonous snakes are called adders.\n  N-COUNT\n  = viper


Words: addict
Meaning:
ad.dict\n   addict  addicts\n1. An addict is someone who takes harmful drugs and cannot stop taking them.\nHe’s only 24 years old and a drug addict.\n  N-COUNT: oft supp N\n\n2. If you say that someone is an addict, you mean that they like a particular activity very much and spend as much time doing it as they can.\nShe is a TV addict and watches as much as she can.\n  N-COUNT: usu supp N


Words: addicted
Meaning:
ad.dict.ed\n   addicted\n1. Someone who is addicted to a harmful drug cannot stop taking it.\nMany of the women are addicted to heroin and cocaine...\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, usu ADJ to n\n  = hooked\n2. If you say that someone is addicted to something, you mean that they like it very much and want to spend as much time doing it as possible.\nShe had become addicted to golf.\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, usu ADJ to n


Words: addiction
Meaning:
ad.dic.tion\n   addiction  addictions\n1. Addiction is the condition of taking harmful drugs and being unable to stop taking them.\nShe helped him fight his drug addiction.\n...long-term addiction to nicotine.\n  N-VAR: oft n N, N to n\n\n2. An addiction to something is a very strong desire or need for it.\nHe needed money to feed his addiction to gambling...\n  N-VAR: oft N to n


Words: addictive
Meaning:
ad.dic.tive\n   addictive\n1. If a drug is addictive, people who take it cannot stop taking it.\nCigarettes are highly addictive...\nCrack is the most addictive drug on the market.\n  ADJ\n\n2. Something that is addictive is so enjoyable that it makes you want to do it or have it a lot.\nVideo movie-making can quickly become addictive.\n  ADJ


Words: addition
Meaning:
ad.di.tion\n   addition  additions\n1. You use in addition when you want to mention another item connected with the subject you are discussing.\nPart-time English classes are offered. In addition, students can take classes in word-processing and computing...\nThere’s a postage and packing fee in addition to the repair charge.\n  PHRASE: PHR with cl, oft PHR to n\n\n2. An addition to something is a thing which is added to it.\nThis is a fine book; a worthy addition to the Cambridge Encyclopedia series...\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft N to n\n\n3. The addition of something is the fact that it is added to something else.\nIt was completely refurbished in 1987, with the addition of a picnic site.\n  N-UNCOUNT: the N of n\n  !=removal\n4. Addition is the process of calculating the total of two or more numbers.\n...simple addition and subtraction problems.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: additional
Meaning:
ad.di.tion.al\n   additional\n  Additional things are extra things apart from the ones already present.\nThe US is sending additional troops to the region...\nThe insurer will also have to pay the additional costs of the trial.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  = supplementary, extra


Words: additionally
Meaning:
ad.di.tion.al.ly\n   additionally\n1. You use additionally to introduce something extra such as an extra fact or reason. (FORMAL)\nYou can pay bills over the Internet. Additionally, you can check your balance or order statements...\n  ADV: ADV with cl\n  = further\n2. Additionally is used to say that something happens to a greater extent than before.\nThe birds are additionally protected in the reserves at Birsay...\n  ADV: ADV with v


Words: additive
Meaning:
ad.di.tive\n   additive  additives\n  An additive is a substance which is added in small amounts to foods or other things in order to improve them or to make them last longer.\nStrict safety tests are carried out on food additives.\n  N-COUNT


Words: addle
Meaning:
ad.dle\n   addle  addles  addling  addled\n  If something addles someone’s mind or brain, they become confused and unable to think properly.\nI suppose the shock had addled his poor old brain.\n  VERB: V n\n  = befuddle


Words: addled
Meaning:
ad.dled\n   addled\n  If you describe someone as addled, you mean that they are confused or unable to think properly.\nYou’re talking like an addled romantic.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  = befuddled


Words: address
Meaning:
ad.dress\n   address  addresses  addressing  addressed\n1. Your address is the number of the house, flat, or apartment and the name of the street and the town where you live or work.\nThe address is 2025 M Street, Northwest, Washington, DC, 20036...\nWe require details of your name and address.\n  N-COUNT: usu poss N\n\n2. If a letter, envelope, or parcel is addressed to you, your name and address have been written on it.\nApplications should be addressed to: The business affairs editor.\n  VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to n\n\n3. The address of a website is its location on the Internet, for example http://www.cobuild.collins.co.uk. (COMPUTING)\n  N-COUNT\n\n4. If you address a group of people, you give a speech to them.\nHe is due to address a conference on human rights next week.\n  VERB: V n\n\n  Address is also a noun.\nThe President gave an address to the American people.\n  N-COUNT\n\n5. If you address someone or address a remark to them, you say something to them. (FORMAL)\nThe two foreign ministers did not address each other directly when they last met...\nHe addressed his remarks to Eleanor, ignoring Maria.\n  VERB: V n, V n to n\n\n6. If you address a problem or task or if you address yourself to it, you try to understand it or deal with it.\nMr King sought to address those fears when he spoke at the meeting...\nThroughout the book we have addressed ourselves to the problem of ethics.\n  VERB: V n, V pron-refl to n


Words: address book
Meaning:
ad.dress book\n   address book  address books\n1. An address book is a book in which you write people’s names and addresses.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. An address book is a computer file which contains a list of e-mail addresses. (COMPUTING)\n  N-COUNT


Words: addressee
Meaning:
ad.dressee\n   addressee  addressees\n  The addressee of a letter or parcel is the person or company that it is addressed to. (FORMAL)\n  N-COUNT: usu the N in sing


Words: adduce
Meaning:
ad.duce\n   adduce  adduces  adducing  adduced\n  If you adduce something such as a fact or reason, you mention it in order to support an argument. (FORMAL)\nWe can adduce evidence to support the claim.\n  VERB: V n\n  = cite


Words: adenoids
Meaning:
ad.enoids\n   adenoids\n  Adenoids are soft lumps of flesh at the back and top of a person’s throat that sometimes become swollen and have to be removed.\n  N-PLURAL


Words: adept
Meaning:
adept\n  Someone who is adept at something can do it skilfully.\nHe’s usually very adept at keeping his private life out of the media...\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, usu ADJ at -ing\n\n=>  adept.ly\nMrs Marcos’ lawyer adeptly exploited the prosecution’s weakness.\n  ADV: ADV with v


Words: adequacy
Meaning:
ad.equa.cy\n   adequacy\n  Adequacy is the quality of being good enough or great enough in amount to be acceptable.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n\n  !=inadequacy


Words: adequate
Meaning:
ad.equate\n   adequate\n  If something is adequate, there is enough of it or it is good enough to be used or accepted.\nOne in four people worldwide are without adequate homes...\nThe old methods weren’t adequate to meet current needs...\n  ADJ: oft ADJ to-inf, ADJ for n\n  !=inadequate\n=>  ad.equate.ly\nMany students are not adequately prepared for higher education...\nI speak the language adequately.\n  ADV: ADV with v


Words: adhere
Meaning:
ad.here\n   adhere  adheres  adhering  adhered\n1. If you adhere to a rule or agreement, you act in the way that it says you should.\nAll members of the association adhere to a strict code of practice...\n  VERB: V to n\n\n2. If you adhere to an opinion or belief, you support or hold it.\nHe urged them to adhere to the values of Islam which defend the dignity of man.\n  VERB: V to n\n\n3. If something adheres to something else, it sticks firmly to it.\nSmall particles adhere to the seed...\nThis sticky compound adheres well on this surface.\n  VERB: V to n, V adv/prep, also V


Words: adherence
Meaning:
ad.her.ence\n   adherence\n  Adherence is the fact of adhering to a particular rule, agreement, or belief.\n...strict adherence to the constitution.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu N to n


Words: adherent
Meaning:
ad.her.ent\n   adherent  adherents\n  An adherent is someone who holds a particular belief or supports a particular person or group.\nThis idea is gaining adherents.\n  N-COUNT\n  = follower, supporter


Words: adhesion
Meaning:
ad.he.sion\n   adhesion\n  Adhesion is the ability of one thing to stick firmly to another. (FORMAL)\nBetter driving equipment will improve track adhesion in slippery conditions.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: adhesive
Meaning:
ad.he.sive\n   adhesive  adhesives\n1. An adhesive is a substance such as glue, which is used to make things stick firmly together.\nGlue the mirror in with a strong adhesive.\n  N-MASS\n\n2. An adhesive substance is able to stick firmly to something else.\n...adhesive tape.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: adjacent
Meaning:
ad.ja.cent\n   adjacent\n  If one thing is adjacent to another, the two things are next to each other.\nHe sat in an adjacent room and waited...\n...offices adjacent to the museum.\n  ADJ: oft ADJ to n


Words: adjectival
Meaning:
ad.jec.ti.val\n   adjectival\n  Adjectival means relating to adjectives or like an adjective.\n...an adjectival phrase.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: adjective
Meaning:
ad.jec.tive\n   adjective  adjectives\n  An adjective is a word such as `big’, `dead’, or `financial’ that describes a person or thing, or gives extra information about them. Adjectives usually come before nouns or after link verbs.\n  N-COUNT


Words: adjective group
Meaning:
ad.jec.tive group\n   adjective group  adjective groups\n  An adjective group or adjectival group is a group of words based on an adjective, such as `very nice’ or `interested in football’. An adjective group can also consist simply of an adjective.\n  N-COUNT


Words: adjoin
Meaning:
ad.join\n   adjoin  adjoins  adjoining  adjoined\n  If one room, place, or object adjoins another, they are next to each other. (FORMAL)\n  VERB


Words: adjourn
Meaning:
ad.journ\n   adjourn  adjourns  adjourning  adjourned\n  If a meeting or trial is adjourned or if it adjourns, it is stopped for a short time.\nThe proceedings have now been adjourned until next week...\nI am afraid the court may not adjourn until three or even later.\n  VERB: be V-ed, V


Words: adjournment
Meaning:
ad.journ.ment\n   adjournment  adjournments\n  An adjournment is a temporary stopping of a trial, enquiry, or other meeting.\nThe court ordered a four month adjournment.\n  N-COUNT\n  = suspension


Words: adjudge
Meaning:
ad.judge\n   adjudge  adjudges  adjudging  adjudged\n  If someone is adjudged to be something, they are judged or considered to be that thing. (FORMAL)\nHe was adjudged to be guilty...\nHe was adjudged the winner by 54 votes to 3.\n  VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to-inf, be V-ed n


Words: adjudicate
Meaning:
ad.ju.di.cate\n   adjudicate  adjudicates  adjudicating  adjudicated\n  If you adjudicate on a dispute or problem, you make an official judgment or decision about it. (FORMAL)\n...a commissioner to adjudicate on legal rights...\nThe international court of justice might be a suitable place to adjudicate claims.\n  VERB: V prep, V n, also V\n  = decide\n=>  ad.ju.di.ca.tion      adjudications\n...unbiased adjudication of cases of unfair dismissal.\n  N-VAR\n\n=>  ad.ju.di.ca.tor      adjudicators\n...an independent adjudicator.\n  N-COUNT


Words: adjunct
Meaning:
ad.junct\n   adjunct  adjuncts\n1. Something that is an adjunct to something larger or more important is connected with it or helps to perform the same task.\nPhysical therapy is an important adjunct to drug treatments...\n  N-COUNT: oft N to/of n\n  = appendage\n2. In grammar, an adjunct is a word or group of words which indicates the circumstances of an action, event, or situation. An adjunct is usually a prepositional phrase or an adverb group.\n  N-COUNT


Words: adjust
Meaning:
ad.just\n   adjust  adjusts  adjusting  adjusted\n1. When you adjust to a new situation, you get used to it by changing your behaviour or your ideas.\nWe have been preparing our fighters to adjust themselves to civil society...\nI felt I had adjusted to the idea of being a mother very well...\nIt has been hard to adjust but now I’m getting satisfaction from my work.\n  VERB: V n to n, V to n, V\n\n  see also well-adjusted\n2. If you adjust something, you change it so that it is more effective or appropriate.\nTo attract investors, Panama has adjusted its tax and labour laws.\n  VERB: V n\n\n3. If you adjust something such as your clothing or a machine, you correct or alter its position or setting.\nLiz adjusted her mirror and then edged the car out of its parking bay.\n  VERB: V n\n\n4. If you adjust your vision or if your vision adjusts, the muscles of your eye or the pupils alter to cope with changes in light or distance.\nHe stopped to try to adjust his vision to the faint starlight...\nWe stood in the doorway until our eyes adjusted...\n  VERB: V n, V


Words: adjustable
Meaning:
ad.just.able\n   adjustable\n  If something is adjustable, it can be changed to different positions or sizes.\nThe bags have adjustable shoulder straps...\nThe seats are fully adjustable.\n  ADJ\n  !=fixed


Words: adjuster
Meaning:
ad.just.er\n   adjuster  adjusters   also adjustor\n  An adjuster is a device which allows you to alter a piece of equipment’s position or setting.\n...a seat belt adjuster.\n  N-COUNT\n\n  see also loss adjustor


Words: adjustment
Meaning:
ad.just.ment\n   adjustment  adjustments\n1. An adjustment is a small change that is made to something such as a machine or a way of doing something.\nCompensation could be made by adjustments to taxation...\nInvestment is up by 5.7% after adjustment for inflation.\n  N-COUNT: oft N to/for/in n\n\n2. An adjustment is a change in a person’s behaviour or thinking.\nHe will have to make major adjustments to his thinking if he is to survive in office.\n  N-COUNT: oft N to n


Words: adjutant
Meaning:
ad.ju.tant\n   adjutant  adjutants\n  An adjutant is an officer in the army who deals with administrative work.\n  N-COUNT


Words: admin
Meaning:
ad.min\n   admin\n  Admin is the activity or process of organizing an institution or organization. (INFORMAL)\nI have two assistants who help with the admin.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N n\n  = administration


Words: administer
Meaning:
ad.min.is.ter\n   administer  administers  administering  administered\n1. If someone administers something such as a country, the law, or a test, they take responsibility for organizing and supervising it.\nThe plan calls for the UN to administer the country until elections can be held...\n  VERB: V n\n\n2. If a doctor or a nurse administers a drug, they give it to a patient. (FORMAL)\nParamedics are trained to administer certain drugs.\n  VERB: V n, also V n to n


Words: administration
Meaning:
ad.min.is.tra.tion\n   administration  administrations\n1. Administration is the range of activities connected with organizing and supervising the way that an organization or institution functions.\nToo much time is spent on administration.\n...a master’s degree in business administration.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n2. The administration of something is the process of organizing and supervising it.\nStandards in the administration of justice have degenerated...\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n3. The administration of a company or institution is the group of people who organize and supervise it.\n... a member of the college administration.\n  N-SING: the N, usu n N\n\n4. You can refer to a country’s government as the administration; used especially in the United States.\n  N-COUNT: oft the n N


Words: administrative
Meaning:
ad.min.is.tra.tive\n   administrative\n  Administrative work involves organizing and supervising an organization or institution.\nOther industries have had to sack managers to reduce administrative costs...\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: administrator
Meaning:
ad.min.is.tra.tor\n   administrator  administrators\n  An administrator is a person whose job involves helping to organize and supervise the way that an organization or institution functions.\n  N-COUNT


Words: admirable
Meaning:
ad.mi.rable\n   admirable\n  An admirable quality or action is one that deserves to be praised and admired.\nBeyton is an admirable character...\n  ADJ\n\n=>  ad.mi.rably\nPeter had dealt admirably with the sudden questions about Keith...\n  ADV: ADV with v, ADV adj/adv


Words: admiral
Meaning:
ad.mi.ral\n   admiral  admirals\n  An admiral is a very senior officer who commands a navy.\n...Admiral Hodges.\n  N-COUNT; N-TITLE


Words: Admiralty
Meaning:
Ad.mi.ral.ty\n   Admiralty\n  In Britain, the Admiralty is the government department that is in charge of the navy.\n  N-PROPER: the N


Words: admiration
Meaning:
ad.mi.ra.tion\n   admiration\n  Admiration is a feeling of great liking and respect for a person or thing.\nI have always had the greatest admiration for him...\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N for/of n, in N


Words: admire
Meaning:
ad.mire\n   admire  admires  admiring  admired\n1. If you admire someone or something, you like and respect them very much.\nHe admired the way she had coped with life...\nAll those who knew him will admire him for his work.\n  VERB: V n, V n for n/-ing\n\n2. If you admire someone or something, you look at them with pleasure.\nWe took time to stop and admire the view.\n  VERB: V n\n\n3.\n  see also admiring


Words: admirer
Meaning:
ad.mir.er\n   admirer  admirers\n  If you are an admirer of someone, you like and respect them or their work very much.\nHe was an admirer of her grandfather’s paintings.\n  N-COUNT


Words: admiring
Meaning:
ad.mir.ing\n   admiring\n  An admiring expression shows that you like or respect someone or something.\nHe cast her an admiring glance...\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  = appreciative


Words: admissible
Meaning:
ad.mis.sible\n   admissible\n  If evidence is admissible, it is allowed in a court of law.\nConvictions will rise steeply now photographic evidence is admissible.\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ\n  !=inadmissible


Words: admission
Meaning:
ad.mis.sion\n   admission  admissions\n1. Admission is permission given to a person to enter a place, or permission given to a country to enter an organization. Admission is also the act of entering a place.\nStudents apply for admission to a particular college...\n...an increase in hospital admissions of children.\n  N-VAR: oft N to n\n\n2. Admissions to a place such as a school or university are the people who are allowed to enter or join it.\nEach school sets its own admissions policy.\n  N-PLURAL: oft N n\n\n3. Admission at a park, museum, or other place is the amount of money that you pay to enter it.\nGates open at 10.30am and admission is free.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n  Admission is also used before a noun.\nThe admission price is $8 for adults.\n  N-UNCOUNT: N n\n\n4. An admission is a statement that something bad, unpleasant, or embarrassing is true.\nBy his own admission, he is not playing well...\n  N-VAR: oft N of n, N that


Words: admit
Meaning:
ad.mit\n   admit  admits  admitting  admitted\n1. If you admit that something bad, unpleasant, or embarrassing is true, you agree, often unwillingly, that it is true.\nI am willing to admit that I do make mistakes...\nUp to two thirds of 14 to 16 year olds admit to buying drink illegally...\nI’d be ashamed to admit feeling jealous...\nNone of these people will admit responsibility for their actions...\n`Actually, most of my tennis is at club level,’ he admitted.\n  VERB: V that, V to -ing, V -ing, V n, V with quote\n  = confess  !=deny\n2. If someone is admitted to hospital, they are taken into hospital for treatment and kept there until they are well enough to go home.\nShe was admitted to hospital with a soaring temperature...\nHe was admitted yesterday for treatment of blood clots in his lungs.\n  VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to n, be V-ed\n\n3. If someone is admitted to an organization or group, they are allowed to join it.\nHe was admitted to the Academie Culinaire de France...\nThe Parachute Regiment could be forced to admit women.\n  VERB: be V-ed to n, V n\n\n4. To admit someone to a place means to allow them to enter it.\nEmbassy security personnel refused to admit him or his wife...\nJournalists are rarely admitted to the region.\n  VERB: V n, V n to n


Words: admittance
Meaning:
ad.mit.tance\n   admittance\n  Admittance is the act of entering a place or institution or the right to enter it.\nWe had not been able to gain admittance to the flat.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N into/to n\n  = admission


Words: admittedly
Meaning:
ad.mit.ted.ly\n   admittedly\n  You use admittedly when you are saying something which weakens the importance or force of your statement.\nIt’s only a theory, admittedly, but the pieces fit together...\n  ADV: ADV with cl/group


Words: admixture
Meaning:
ad.mix.ture\n   admixture\n  Admixture means the same as mixture. (FORMAL)\n...an admixture of fact and fantasy.\n  N-SING: usu N of n\n  = mixture


Words: admonish
Meaning:
ad.mon.ish\n   admonish  admonishes  admonishing  admonished\n  If you admonish someone, you tell them very seriously that they have done something wrong. (FORMAL)\nThey admonished me for taking risks with my health...\nShe admonished him gently, `You should rest, not talk so much.’\n  VERB: V n for n/-ing, V n with quote, also V n, V n to-inf\n  = rebuke\n=>  ad.mon.ish.ment      admonishments\nSometimes he gave them a severe admonishment.\n  N-VAR


Words: admonition
Meaning:
ad.moni.tion\n   admonition  admonitions\n  An admonition is a warning or criticism about someone’s behaviour. (FORMAL)\nShe ignored the admonitions of her mother.\n  N-VAR\n  = admonishment


Words: ado
Meaning:
ado\n  If you do something without further ado or without more ado, you do it at once and do not discuss or delay it any longer. (OLD-FASHIONED)\n`And now, without further ado, let me introduce our benefactor.’\n  PHRASE: PHR with v


Words: adobe
Meaning:
ado.be\n   adobe\n  Adobe is a mixture of mud and straw that is dried into bricks in the sun and used for building, especially in hot countries.\n...a few blocks of adobe houses.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu N n


Words: adolescence
Meaning:
ado.les.cence\n   adolescence\n  Adolescence is the period of your life in which you develop from being a child into being an adult.\nSome people become very self-conscious in adolescence.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: adolescent
Meaning:
ado.les.cent\n   adolescent  adolescents\n  Adolescent is used to describe young people who are no longer children but who have not yet become adults. It also refers to their behaviour.\nIt is important that an adolescent boy should have an adult in whom he can confide...\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  = teenage\n  An adolescent is an adolescent boy or girl.\nYoung adolescents are happiest with small groups of close friends.\n  N-COUNT\n  = teenager


Words: adopt
Meaning:
adopt  adopts  adopting  adopted\n1. If you adopt a new attitude, plan, or way of behaving, you begin to have it.\nParliament adopted a resolution calling for the complete withdrawal of troops...\n  VERB: V n\n\n=>  adop.tion\n...the adoption of Japanese management practices by British manufacturing.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n2. If you adopt someone else’s child, you take it into your own family and make it legally your son or daughter.\nThere are hundreds of people desperate to adopt a child...\nThe adopted child has the right to see his birth certificate.\n  VERB: V n, V-ed, also V\n\n=>  adopt.er      adopters\nA social worker is appointed to interview the prospective adopters.\n  N-COUNT\n\n=>  adop.tion      adoptions\nThey gave their babies up for adoption...\n  N-VAR


Words: adoptive
Meaning:
adop.tive\n   adoptive\n1. Someone’s adoptive family is the family that adopted them.\nHe was brought up by adoptive parents in London.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n2. Someone’s adoptive country or city is the one that they choose for their home, although they were not born there.\nThey threatened to expel him from his adoptive country...\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: adorable
Meaning:
ador.able\n   adorable\n  If you say that someone or something is adorable, you are emphasizing that they are very attractive and you feel great affection for them.\nWe have three adorable children.\n  ADJ  emphasis


Words: adoration
Meaning:
ado.ra.tion\n   adoration\n  Adoration is a feeling of great admiration and love for someone or something.\nHe had been used to female adoration all his life.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: adore
Meaning:
adore  adores  adoring  adored\n1. If you adore someone, you feel great love and admiration for them.\nShe adored her parents and would do anything to please them.\n  VERB: no cont, V n\n\n2. If you adore something, you like it very much. (INFORMAL)\nMy mother adores bananas and eats two a day...\n  VERB: no cont, V n


Words: adoring
Meaning:
ador.ing\n   adoring\n  An adoring person is someone who loves and admires another person very much.\nShe can still pull in adoring audiences.\n  ADJ\n\n=>  ador.ing.ly\n...gazing adoringly at him.\n  ADV


Words: adorn
Meaning:
adorn  adorns  adorning  adorned\n  If something adorns a place or an object, it makes it look more beautiful.\nHis watercolour designs adorn a wide range of books...\n  VERB: V n\n  = decorate


Words: adornment
Meaning:
adorn.ment\n   adornment  adornments\n1. An adornment is something that is used to make a person or thing more beautiful.\nIt was a building without any adornment or decoration.\n  N-VAR\n\n2. Adornment is the process of making something more beautiful by adding something to it.\nCosmetics are used for adornment.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: adrenalin
Meaning:
adrena.lin\n   adrenalin   also adrenaline\n  Adrenalin is a substance which your body produces when you are angry, scared, or excited. It makes your heart beat faster and gives you more energy.\nSeeing the crowd really got my adrenalin pumping.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: adrift
Meaning:
adrift\n1. If a boat is adrift, it is floating on the water and is not tied to anything or controlled by anyone.\nThey were spotted after three hours adrift in a dinghy.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, v n ADJ\n\n2. If someone is adrift, they feel alone with no clear idea of what they should do.\nAmy had the growing sense that she was adrift and isolated.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, v n ADJ\n\n3. If something comes adrift, it is no longer attached to an object that it should be part of. (BRIT)\nThree insulating panels had come adrift from the base of the vehicle.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, ADJ after v\n  = loose


Words: adroit
Meaning:
adroit\n  Someone who is adroit is quick and skilful in their thoughts, behaviour, or actions.\nShe is a remarkably adroit and determined politician.\n  ADJ\n  = adept


Words: ADSL
Meaning:
ADSL is a method of transmitting digital information at high speed over telephone lines. ADSL is an abbreviation for `asynchronous digital subscriber line’. (COMPUTING)\nADSL is always on, which makes your PC much more vulnerable to hacking.


Words: adulation
Meaning:
adu.la.tion\n   adulation\n  Adulation is uncritical admiration and praise of someone or something.\nThe book was received with adulation by critics.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = acclaim


Words: adulatory
Meaning:
adu.la.tory\n   adulatory\n  If someone makes an adulatory comment about someone, they praise them and show their admiration of them.\n...adulatory reviews.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  = laudatory


Words: adult
Meaning:
adult  adults\n1. An adult is a mature, fully developed person. An adult has reached the age when they are legally responsible for their actions.\nBecoming a father signified that he was now an adult...\nChildren under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.\n  N-COUNT\n  !=minor\n2. An adult is a fully developed animal.\n...a pair of adult birds.\n  N-COUNT: oft N n\n  !=juvenile\n3. Adult means relating to the time when you are an adult, or typical of adult people.\nI’ve lived most of my adult life in London.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n4. If you say that someone is adult about something, you think that they act in a mature, intelligent way, especially when faced with a difficult situation.\nWe were very adult about it. We discussed it rationally over a drink.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ  approval\n  = mature\n5. You can describe things such as films or books as adult when they deal with sex in a very clear and open way.\n...an adult movie.\n  ADJ


Words: adult education
Meaning:
adult edu.ca.tion\n   adult education\n  Adult education is education for adults in a variety of subjects, most of which are practical, not academic. Classes are often held in the evenings.\nMost adult education centres offer computing courses.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: adulterate
Meaning:
adul.ter.ate\n   adulterate  adulterates  adulterating  adulterated\n  If something such as food or drink is adulterated, someone has made its quality worse by adding water or cheaper products to it.\nThe food had been adulterated to increase its weight...\n  VERB: usu passive, be V-ed\n\n=>  adul.tera.tion\n...the adulteration of tobacco.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: adulteress
Meaning:
adul.ter.ess\n   adulteress  adulteresses\n  An adulteress is a woman who commits adultery. (OLD-FASHIONED)\n  N-COUNT


Words: adulterous
Meaning:
adul.ter.ous\n   adulterous\n  An adulterous relationship is a sexual relationship between a married person and someone they are not married to. An adulterous person is someone who commits adultery.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: adultery
Meaning:
adul.tery\n   adultery\n  If a married person commits adultery, they have sex with someone that they are not married to.\nShe is going to divorce him on the grounds of adultery.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: adulthood
Meaning:
adult.hood\n   adulthood\n  Adulthood is the state of being an adult.\nFew people nowadays are able to maintain friendships into adulthood.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: advance
Meaning:
ad.vance\n   advance  advances  advancing  advanced\n1. To advance means to move forward, often in order to attack someone.\nReports from Chad suggest that rebel forces are advancing on the capital...\nThe water is advancing at a rate of 5cm a day...\n...a picture of a man throwing himself before an advancing tank.\n  VERB: V prep/adv, V, V-ing\n\n2. To advance means to make progress, especially in your knowledge of something.\nMedical technology has advanced considerably...\n  VERB: V\n  = progress\n  see also advanced\n3. If you advance someone a sum of money, you lend it to them, or pay it to them earlier than arranged.\nI advanced him some money, which he would repay on our way home...\nThe bank advanced $1.2 billion to help the country with debt repayments.\n  VERB: V n n, V n\n  = lend\n4. An advance is money which is lent or paid to someone before they would normally receive it.\nShe was paid a .100,000 advance for her next two novels.\n  N-COUNT\n\n5. To advance an event, or the time or date of an event, means to bring it forward to an earlier time or date.\nToo much protein in the diet may advance the ageing process...\n  VERB: V n\n  = bring forward  !=put back\n6. If you advance a cause, interest, or claim, you support it and help to make it successful.\nWhen not producing art of his own, Oliver was busy advancing the work of others.\n  VERB: V n\n  = further\n7. When a theory or argument is advanced, it is put forward for discussion.\nMany theories have been advanced as to why some women suffer from depression...\n  VERB: usu passive, be V-ed\n  = put forward\n8. An advance is a forward movement of people or vehicles, usually as part of a military operation.\n...an advance on enemy positions...\n  N-VAR\n  !=retreat\n9. An advance in a particular subject or activity is progress in understanding it or in doing it well.\nAir safety has not improved since the dramatic advances of the 1970s...\n  N-VAR\n  = development\n10. If something is an advance on what was previously available or done, it is better in some way.\nThis could be an advance on the present situation.\n  N-SING: usu a N on n\n\n11. Advance booking, notice, or warning is done or given before an event happens.\nThey don’t normally give any advance notice about which building they’re going to inspect...\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n12. An advance party or group is a small group of people who go on ahead of the main group.\nThe 20-strong advance party will be followed by another 600 soldiers as part of UN relief efforts.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n  = expeditionary\n13. If one thing happens or is done in advance of another, it happens or is done before the other thing.\nI had asked everyone to submit questions in advance of the meeting.\n  PREP-PHRASE\n  = ahead\n14. If you do something in advance, you do it before a particular date or event.\nThe subject of the talk is announced a week in advance.\n  PHRASE: PHR after v


Words: advanced
Meaning:
ad.vanced\n   advanced\n1. An advanced system, method, or design is modern and has been developed from an earlier version of the same thing.\nWithout more training or advanced technical skills, they’ll lose their jobs.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  = up-to-date\n2. A country that is advanced has reached a high level of industrial or technological development.\n...a technologically advanced society.\n  ADJ\n\n3. An advanced student has already learned the basic facts of a subject and is doing more difficult work. An advanced course of study is designed for such students.\nThe course is suitable for beginners and advanced students...\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  !=elementary\n4. Something that is at an advanced stage or level is at a late stage of development.\n`Medicare’ is available to victims of advanced kidney disease...\n  ADJ


Words: advancement
Meaning:
ad.vance.ment\n   advancement  advancements\n1. Advancement is progress in your job or in your social position.\nHe cared little for social advancement.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft adj N\n\n2. The advancement of something is the process of helping it to progress or the result of its progress.\n..her work for the advancement of the status of women.\n  N-VAR: oft N of n


Words: advantage
Meaning:
ad.van.tage\n   advantage  advantages\n1. An advantage is something that puts you in a better position than other people.\nThey are deliberately flouting the law in order to obtain an advantage over their competitors...\nA good crowd will be a definite advantage to me and the rest of the team.\n  N-COUNT\n  !=disadvantage\n2. Advantage is the state of being in a better position than others who are competing against you.\nMen have created a social and economic position of advantage for themselves over women.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n3. An advantage is a way in which one thing is better than another.\nThis custom-built kitchen has many advantages over a standard one.\n  N-COUNT: oft N of n\n  !=disadvantage\n4. If you take advantage of something, you make good use of it while you can.\nI intend to take full advantage of this trip to buy the things we need.\n  PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n\n\n5. If someone takes advantage of you, they treat you unfairly for their own benefit, especially when you are trying to be kind or to help them.\nShe took advantage of him even after they were divorced.\n  PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n\n\n6. If you use or turn something to your advantage, you use it in order to benefit from it, especially when it might be expected to harm or damage you.\nThe government have not been able to turn today’s demonstration to their advantage.\n  PHRASE: PHR after v


Words: advantaged
Meaning:
ad.van.taged\n   advantaged\n  A person or place that is advantaged is in a better social or financial position than other people or places.\nSome cities are always going to be more advantaged.\n  ADJ\n  = privileged  !=disadvantaged


Words: advantageous
Meaning:
ad.van.ta.geous\n   advantageous\n  If something is advantageous to you, it is likely to benefit you.\nFree exchange of goods was advantageous to all.\n  ADJ: oft ADJ to n\n  = favourable  !=unfavourable


Words: Advent
Meaning:
Ad.vent\n   Advent\n  In the Christian church, Advent is the period between Advent Sunday, the Sunday closest to the 30th of November, and Christmas Day.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: advent
Meaning:
ad.vent\n   advent\n  The advent of an important event, invention, or situation is the fact of it starting or coming into existence. (FORMAL)\n...the leap forward in communication made possible by the advent of the mobile phone.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu the N of n


Words: adventure
Meaning:
ad.ven.ture\n   adventure  adventures\n1. If someone has an adventure, they become involved in an unusual, exciting, and rather dangerous journey or series of events.\nI set off for a new adventure in the United States on the first day of the new year.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. Adventure is excitement and willingness to do new, unusual, or rather dangerous things.\nTheir cultural backgrounds gave them a spirit of adventure.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: adventure playground
Meaning:
ad.ven.ture play.ground\n   adventure playground  adventure playgrounds\n  An adventure playground is an area of land for children to play in, usually in cities or in a park. It has wooden structures and equipment such as ropes, nets, and rubber tyres. (BRIT)\n  N-COUNT


Words: adventurer
Meaning:
ad.ven.tur.er\n   adventurer  adventurers\n  An adventurer is a person who enjoys going to new, unusual, and exciting places.\n  N-COUNT


Words: adventuresome
Meaning:
ad.ven.ture.some\n   adventuresome\n  Adventuresome means the same as adventurous. (AM)\nEvery day was exciting and adventuresome.\n  ADJ


Words: adventurism
Meaning:
ad.ven.tur.ism\n   adventurism\n  Adventurism is a willingness to take risks, especially in order to obtain an unfair advantage in politics or business.\nLenin dismissed guerrilla warfare as `adventurism.’\n  N-UNCOUNT  disapproval


Words: adventurist
Meaning:
ad.ven.tur.ist\n   adventurist  adventurists\n  If you describe someone or something as adventurist, you disapprove of them because they are willing to take risks in order to gain an unfair advantage in business or politics.\n...aggressive and adventurist foreign policy.\n  ADJ  disapproval\n\n  An adventurist is someone who behaves in an adventurist way.\n...political adventurists.\n  N-COUNT


Words: adventurous
Meaning:
ad.ven.tur.ous\n   adventurous\n1. Someone who is adventurous is willing to take risks and to try new methods. Something that is adventurous involves new things or ideas.\nWarren was an adventurous businessman...\nThe menu could have been more adventurous.\n  ADJ\n  = daring\n2. Someone who is adventurous is eager to visit new places and have new experiences.\nHe had always wanted an adventurous life in the tropics.\n  ADJ


Words: adverb
Meaning:
ad.verb\n   adverb  adverbs\n  An adverb is a word such as `slowly’, `now’, `very’, `politically’, or `fortunately’ which adds information about the action, event, or situation mentioned in a clause.\n  N-COUNT


Words: adverb group
Meaning:
ad.verb group\n   adverb group  adverb groups\n  An adverb group or adverbial group is a group of words based on an adverb, such as `very slowly’ or `fortunately for us’. An adverb group can also consist simply of an adverb.\n  N-COUNT


Words: adverbial
Meaning:
ad.ver.bial\n   adverbial\n  Adverbial means relating to adverbs or like an adverb.\n...an adverbial expression.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: adversarial
Meaning:
ad.ver.sar.ial\n   adversarial\n  If you describe something as adversarial, you mean that it involves two or more people or organizations who are opposing each other. (FORMAL)\nIn our country there is an adversarial relationship between government and business.\n  ADJ


Words: adversary
Meaning:
ad.ver.sary\n   adversary  adversaries\n  Your adversary is someone you are competing with, or arguing or fighting against.\nHis political adversaries were creating a certain amount of trouble for him.\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp\n  = opponent, enemy  !=ally


Words: adverse
Meaning:
ad.verse\n   adverse\n  Adverse decisions, conditions, or effects are unfavourable to you.\nDespite the adverse conditions, the road was finished in just eight months.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  !=favourable\n=>  ad.verse.ly\nPrice changes must not adversely affect the living standards of the people.\n  ADV: ADV with v


Words: adversity
Meaning:
ad.ver.sity\n   adversity  adversities\n  Adversity is a very difficult or unfavourable situation.\nHe showed courage in adversity.\n  N-VAR: oft in/of N\n  = misfortune


Words: advert
Meaning:
ad.vert\n   advert  adverts\n1. An advert is an announcement in a newspaper, on television, or on a poster about something such as a product, event, or job. (BRIT; in AM, use ad)\nI saw an advert for a job with a large engineering company...\n  N-COUNT: oft N for n\n  = ad, advertisement\n2. If you say that an example of something is an advert for that thing in general, you mean that it shows how good that thing is. (BRIT)\nThis courtroom battle has been a poor advert for English justice.\n  N-COUNT: usu a N for n\n  = advertisement\n3. You can use the adverts to refer to the interval in a commercial television programme, or between programmes, during which advertisements are shown. (BRIT INFORMAL; in AM, use commercial break)\nAfter the adverts, the presenter tried to pretend that everything was back to normal.\n  N-PLURAL: the N\n  = commercials


Words: advertise
Meaning:
ad.ver.tise\n   advertise  advertises  advertising  advertised\n1. If you advertise something such as a product, an event, or a job, you tell people about it in newspapers, on television, or on posters in order to encourage them to buy the product, go to the event, or apply for the job.\nThe players can advertise baked beans, but not rugby boots...\nReligious groups are currently not allowed to advertise on television.\n  VERB: V n, V\n\n2. If you advertise for someone to do something for you, for example to work for you or share your accommodation, you announce it in a newspaper, on television, or on a notice board.\nWe advertised for staff in a local newspaper...\n  VERB: V for n\n\n3. If you do not advertise the fact that something is the case, you try not to let other people know about it.\nThere is no need to advertise the fact that you are a single woman...\n  VERB: usu with brd-neg, V n\n\n  see also advertising


Words: advertisement
Meaning:
ad.ver.tise.ment\n   advertisement  advertisements\n1. An advertisement is an announcement in a newspaper, on television, or on a poster about something such as a product, event, or job. (WRITTEN)\nMiss Parrish recently placed an advertisement in the local newspaper.\n  N-COUNT: oft N for n\n  = advert, ad\n2. If you say that an example of something is an advertisement for that thing in general, you mean that it shows how good that thing is. (mainly BRIT)\nThe England team were a poor advertisement for European football tonight...\n  N-COUNT: usu a N for n


Words: advertiser
Meaning:
ad.ver.tis.er\n   advertiser  advertisers\n  An advertiser is a person or company that pays for a product, event, or job to be advertised in a newspaper, on television, or on a poster.\n  N-COUNT


Words: advertising
Meaning:
ad.ver.tis.ing\n   advertising\n  Advertising is the activity of creating advertisements and making sure people see them.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: advertising agency
Meaning:
ad.ver.tis.ing agen.cy\n   advertising agency advertising agencies\n  An advertising agency is a company whose business is to create advertisements for other companies or organizations.\nAdvertising agencies are losing their once-powerful grip on brand marketing.\n  N-COUNT


Words: advertising campaign
Meaning:
ad.ver.tis.ing cam.paign\n   advertising campaign advertising campaigns\n  An advertising campaign is a planned series of advertisements.\nThe Government has launched an advertising campaign to encourage people to vote.\n  N-COUNT


Words: advertorial
Meaning:
ad.ver.tori.al\n   advertorial  advertorials\n  An advertorial is an advertisement that uses the style of newspaper or magazine articles or television documentary programmes, so that it appears to be giving facts and not trying to sell a product.\n  N-VAR


Words: advice
Meaning:
ad.vice\n   advice\n1. If you give someone advice, you tell them what you think they should do in a particular situation.\nDon’t be afraid to ask for advice about ordering the meal...\nYour community officer can give you advice on how to prevent crime in your area...\nTake my advice and stay away from him!...\nMost foreign nationals have now left the country on the advice of their governments.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N on/about n/wh/-ing\n\n2. If you take advice or take legal advice, you ask a lawyer for his or her professional opinion on a situation. (FORMAL)\nWe are taking advice on legal steps to recover the money...\n  PHRASE: V inflects


Words: advice column
Meaning:
ad.vice col.umn\n   advice column  advice columns\n  In a newspaper or magazine, the advice column contains letters from readers about their personal problems, and advice on what to do about them. (AM; in BRIT, use agony column)\n  N-COUNT


Words: advice columnist
Meaning:
ad.vice col.umn.ist\n   advice columnist  advice columnists\n  An advice columnist is a person who writes a column in a newspaper or magazine in which they reply to readers who have written to them for advice on their personal problems. (AM; in BRIT, use agony aunt)\n  N-COUNT


Words: advice line
Meaning:
ad.vice line\n   advice line  advice lines\n  An advice line is a service that you can telephone in order to get advice about something.\nFor help on crime prevention, call our 24-hour advice line.\n  N-COUNT


Words: advisable
Meaning:
ad.vis.able\n   advisable\n  If you tell someone that it is advisable to do something, you are suggesting that they should do it, because it is sensible or is likely to achieve the result they want. (FORMAL)\nBecause of the popularity of the region, it is advisable to book hotels or camp sites in advance...\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft it v-link ADJ to-inf\n  = wise\n=>  ad.vis.abil.ity\nI have doubts about the advisability of surgery in this case.\n  N-UNCOUNT: the N of n\n  !=inadvisability


Words: advise
Meaning:
ad.vise\n   advise  advises  advising  advised\n1. If you advise someone to do something, you tell them what you think they should do.\nThe minister advised him to leave as soon as possible...\nHerbert would surely advise her how to approach the bank...\nI would strongly advise against it...\nDoctors advised that he should be transferred to a private room.\n  VERB: V n to-inf, V n wh, V against n, V that, also V with quote\n\n2. If an expert advises people on a particular subject, he or she gives them help and information on that subject.\n...an officer who advises undergraduates on money matters...\nA family doctor will be able to advise on suitable birth control.\n  VERB: V n on n, V on n\n\n3. If you advise someone of a fact or situation, you tell them the fact or explain what the situation is. (FORMAL)\nI think it best that I advise you of my decision to retire.\n  VERB: V n of n\n  = inform, apprise\n4.\n  see also ill-advised, well advised


Words: advisedly
Meaning:
ad.vis.ed.ly\n   advisedly\n  If you say that you are using a word or expression advisedly, you mean that you have deliberately chosen to use it, even though it may sound unusual, wrong, or offensive, because it draws attention to what you are saying.\nI say `boys’ advisedly because we are talking almost entirely about male behaviour...\nWhat a crazy scheme, and I use that term advisedly.\n  ADV: ADV after v


Words: advisement
Meaning:
ad.vise.ment\n   advisement\n  If someone in authority takes a matter under advisement, they decide that the matter needs to be considered more carefully, often by experts. (AM FORMAL)\nI will take the suggestion under advisement, and refer it to the board.\n  PHRASE: V inflects


Words: adviser
Meaning:
ad.vis.er\n   adviser  advisers   also advisor\n  An adviser is an expert whose job is to give advice to another person or to a group of people.\nIn Washington, the President and his advisers spent the day in meetings.\n...a careers adviser.\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft N to n


Words: advisory
Meaning:
ad.vi.so.ry\n   advisory  advisories\n1. An advisory group regularly gives suggestions and help to people or organizations, especially about a particular subject or area of activity. (FORMAL)\n...members of the advisory committee on the safety of nuclear installations...\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n2. An advisory is an official announcement or report that warns people about bad weather, diseases, or other dangers or problems. (AM)\n26 states have issued health advisories.\n  N-COUNT: usu supp N\n  = warning


Words: advocacy
Meaning:
ad.vo.ca.cy\n   advocacy\n1. Someone’s advocacy of a particular action or plan is their act of recommending it publicly. (FORMAL)\nI support your advocacy of free trade.\n  N-SING: usu poss N of n\n  = support\n2. An advocacy group or organization is one that tries to influence the decisions of a government or other authority. (AM)\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu N n\n  = lobby


Words: advocate
Meaning:
ad.vo.cate\n   advocate advocates advocating  advocated\nThe verb is pronounced   The noun is pronounced\n1. If you advocate a particular action or plan, you recommend it publicly. (FORMAL)\nMr Williams is a conservative who advocates fewer government controls on business.\n...the tax policy advocated by the Opposition.\n  VERB: V n, V-ed\n  = recommend\n2. An advocate of a particular action or plan is someone who recommends it publicly. (FORMAL)\nHe was a strong advocate of free market policies and a multi-party system.\n  N-COUNT: oft N of n\n  = proponent\n3. An advocate is a lawyer who speaks in favour of someone or defends them in a court of law. (LEGAL)\n  N-COUNT\n  = lawyer\n4. An advocate for a particular group is a person who works for the interests of that group. (AM)\n...advocates for the homeless...\n  N-COUNT: with supp\n\n  see also devil’s advocate


Words: aegis
Meaning:
aegis\n  Something that is done under the aegis of a person or organization is done with their official support and backing. (FORMAL)\nThe space programme will continue under the aegis of the armed forces...\n  PREP-PHRASE\n  = under the auspices of


Words: aeon
Meaning:
aeon  aeons\nin AM, use eon\n  An aeon is an extremely long period of time.\nAeons ago, there were deserts where there is now fertile land.\n  N-COUNT\n  = age


Words: aerate
Meaning:
aer.ate\n   aerate  aerates  aerating  aerated\n  To aerate a substance means to cause air or gas to pass through it.\nAerate the soil by spiking with a fork.\n  VERB: V n\n  = oxygenate


Words: aerial
Meaning:
aer.ial\n   aerial  aerials\n1. You talk about aerial attacks and aerial photographs to indicate that people or things on the ground are attacked or photographed by people in aeroplanes.\nWeeks of aerial bombardment had destroyed factories and highways...\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n2. You can use aerial to describe things that exist or happen above the ground or in the air.\nThe seagulls swirled in aerial combat over the barges.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n3. An aerial is a device or a piece of wire that receives television or radio signals and is usually attached to a radio, television, car, or building. (BRIT; in AM, use antenna)\n...the radio aerials of taxis and cars.\n  N-COUNT


Words: aero-
Meaning:
aero-\n1. aero- is used at the beginning of words, especially nouns, that refer to things or activities connected with air or movement through the air.\n  PREFIX\n\n2. aero- combines with nouns to form nouns relating to aeroplanes.\n...the British aero-engine maker, Rolls-Royce.\n  COMB in N-COUNT


Words: aerobatics
Meaning:
aero.bat.ics\n   aerobatics\n  Aerobatics are skilful displays of flying, usually to entertain people watching from the ground.\n  N-PLURAL\n  The form aerobatic is used as a modifier.


Words: aerobic
Meaning:
aero.bic\n   aerobic\n  Aerobic activity exercises and strengthens your heart and lungs.\nAerobic exercise gets the heart pumping and helps you to burn up the fat.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: aerobics
Meaning:
aero.bics\n   aerobics\n  Aerobics is a form of exercise which increases the amount of oxygen in your blood, and strengthens your heart and lungs. The verb that follows aerobics may be either singular or plural.\nI’d like to join an aerobics class to improve my fitness.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N n


Words: aerodrome
Meaning:
aero.drome\n   aerodrome  aerodromes\n  An aerodrome is a place or area where small aircraft can land and take off. (BRIT; in AM, use airdrome)\n  N-COUNT: oft in names\n  = airfield


Words: aerodynamic
Meaning:
aero.dy.nam.ic\n   aerodynamic\n  If something such as a car has an aerodynamic shape or design, it goes faster and uses less fuel than other cars because the air passes over it more easily.\nThe secret of the machine lies in the aerodynamic shape of the frame.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n=>  aero.dy.nami.cal.ly\nCars are becoming so aerodynamically efficient.\n  ADV: ADV adj, ADV with v


Words: aerodynamics
Meaning:
aero.dy.nam.ics\n   aerodynamics\n  Aerodynamics is the study of the way in which objects move through the air.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  The form aerodynamic is used as a modifier. In British English, aerodynamics is sometimes used as a plural noun, with a plural verb.


Words: aeronautical
Meaning:
aero.nau.ti.cal\n   aeronautical\n  Aeronautical means involving or relating to the design and construction of aeroplanes.\n...the biggest aeronautical research laboratory in Europe.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: aeronautics
Meaning:
aero.naut.ics\n   aeronautics\n  Aeronautics is the science of designing and building aeroplanes.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: aeroplane
Meaning:
aero.plane\n   aeroplane  aeroplanes\n  An aeroplane is a vehicle with wings and one or more engines that enable it to fly through the air. (BRIT; in AM, use airplane)\n  N-COUNT\n  = plane, aircraft


Words: aerosol
Meaning:
aero.sol\n   aerosol  aerosols\n  An aerosol is a small container in which a liquid such as paint or deodorant is kept under pressure. When you press a button, the liquid is forced out as a fine spray or foam.\n  N-COUNT: oft N n


Words: aerospace
Meaning:
aero.space\n   aerospace\n  Aerospace companies are involved in developing and making rockets, missiles, space vehicles, and related equipment.\n...the US aerospace industry.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu N n


Words: aesthete
Meaning:
aes.thete\n   aesthete  aesthetes\nin AM, also use esthete\n  An aesthete is someone who loves and appreciates works of art and beautiful things.\n  N-COUNT


Words: aesthetic
Meaning:
aes.thet.ic\n   aesthetic\nin AM, also use esthetic\n  Aesthetic is used to talk about beauty or art, and people’s appreciation of beautiful things.\n...products chosen for their aesthetic appeal as well as their durability and quality.\n  ADJ\n\n  The aesthetic of a work of art is its aesthetic quality.\nHe responded very strongly to the aesthetic of this particular work.\n  N-SING: the N\n\n=>  aes.theti.cal.ly\nThere is nothing aesthetically pleasing about this bridge.\n  ADV: oft ADV with cl


Words: aesthetics
Meaning:
aes.thet.ics\n   aesthetics\nin AM, also use esthetics\n  Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy concerned with the study of the idea of beauty.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: afar
Meaning:
afar\n  Afar means a long way away. (LITERARY)\nSeen from afar, its towering buildings beckon the visitor in.\n  ADV: usu from ADV, also ADV after v


Words: affable
Meaning:
af.fable\n   affable\n  Someone who is affable is pleasant and friendly.\nMr Brooke is an extremely affable and approachable man.\n  ADJ\n  = amicable


Words: affair
Meaning:
af.fair\n   affair  affairs\n1. If an event or a series of events has been mentioned and you want to talk about it again, you can refer to it as the affair.\nThe government has mishandled the whole affair...\nThe affair began when customs officials inspected a convoy of 60 tankers...\n  N-SING: the N\n  = business, matter\n2. You can refer to an important or interesting event or situation as `the ... affair’. (mainly JOURNALISM)\n...the damage caused to the CIA and FBI in the aftermath of the Watergate affair.\n  N-SING: usu the n-proper N\n\n3. You can describe the main quality of an event by saying that it is a particular kind of affair.\nMichael said that his planned 10-day visit would be a purely private affair...\n  N-SING: usu supp N\n\n4. You can describe an object as a particular kind of affair when you want to draw attention to a particular feature, or indicate that it is unusual.\nAll their beds were distinctive; Mac’s was an iron affair with brass knobs...\n  N-SING: supp N\n\n5. If two people who are not married to each other have an affair, they have a sexual relationship.\nShe was having an affair with someone at work.\n  N-COUNT\n\n  see also love affair\n6. You can use affairs to refer to all the important facts or activities that are connected with a particular subject.\nHe does not want to interfere in the internal affairs of another country...\n  N-PLURAL: usu supp N\n\n  see also current affairs, state of affairs\n7. Your affairs are all the matters connected with your life which you consider to be private and normally deal with yourself.\nThe unexpectedness of my father’s death meant that his affairs were not entirely in order.\n  N-PLURAL: usu poss N\n\n8. If you say that a decision or situation is someone’s affair, you mean that it is their responsibility, and other people should not interfere.\nIf you wish to make a fool of yourself, that is your affair...\n  N-SING: poss N\n  = business


Words: affect
Meaning:
af.fect\n   affect  affects  affecting  affected\n1. If something affects a person or thing, it influences them or causes them to change in some way.\nNicotine adversely affects the functioning of the heart and arteries...\n...the worst-affected areas of Somalia.\n  VERB: V n, V-ed\n\n2. If a disease affects someone, it causes them to become ill.\nArthritis is a crippling disease which affects people all over the world.\n  VERB: V n\n  = afflict\n3. If something or someone affects you, they make you feel a strong emotion, especially sadness or pity.\nThe divorce affected Jim deeply...\n  VERB: V n


Words: affectation
Meaning:
af.fec.ta.tion\n   affectation  affectations\n  If you say that someone’s attitude or behaviour is an affectation, you disapprove of the fact that it is not genuine or natural, but is intended to impress other people.\nI wore sunglasses all the time and people thought it was an affectation...\n  N-VAR  disapproval


Words: affected
Meaning:
af.fect.ed\n   affected\n  If you describe someone’s behaviour as affected, you disapprove of the fact that they behave in an unnatural way that is intended to impress other people.\nShe had an affected air and a disdainful look.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n  disapproval\n  = mannered  !=natural


Words: affecting
Meaning:
af.fect.ing\n   affecting\n  If you describe something such as a story or a piece of music as affecting, you think it is good because it makes you feel a strong emotion, especially sadness or pity. (LITERARY)\n...an affecting drama about a woman with a terminal illness.\n  ADJ  approval\n  = moving, touching


Words: affection
Meaning:
af.fec.tion\n   affection  affections\n1. If you regard someone or something with affection, you like them and are fond of them.\nShe thought of him with affection...\nShe had developed quite an affection for the place.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N for/of n\n\n2. Your affections are your feelings of love or fondness for someone.\nThe distant object of his affections is Caroline...\n  N-PLURAL: with poss


Words: affectionate
Meaning:
af.fec.tion.ate\n   affectionate\n  If you are affectionate, you show your love or fondness for another person in the way that you behave towards them.\nThey seemed devoted to each other and were openly affectionate...\n  ADJ\n\n=>  af.fec.tion.ate.ly\nHe looked affectionately at his niece.\n  ADV: ADV with v\n  = fondly


Words: affidavit
Meaning:
af.fi.da.vit\n   affidavit  affidavits\n  An affidavit is a written statement which you swear is true and which may be used as evidence in a court of law. (LEGAL)\n  N-COUNT


Words: affiliate
Meaning:
af.fili.ate\n   affiliate affiliates affiliating  affiliated\nThe noun is pronounced   The verb is pronounced\n1. An affiliate is an organization which is officially connected with another, larger organization or is a member of it. (FORMAL)\nThe World Chess Federation has affiliates in around 120 countries.\n  N-COUNT: oft with poss\n\n2. If an organization affiliates to or with another larger organization, it forms a close connection with the larger organization or becomes a member of it. (FORMAL)\nAll youth groups will have to affiliate to the National Youth Agency...\n  VERB: V to/with n


Words: affiliated
Meaning:
af.fili.at.ed\n   affiliated\n1. If an organization is affiliated with another larger organization, it is officially connected with the larger organization or is a member of it. (FORMAL)\nThere are 73 unions affiliated to the Trades Union Congress.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ to/with n, ADJ n\n\n2. If a professional person, such as a lawyer or doctor, is affiliated with an organization, they are officially connected with that organization or do some official work for it. (FORMAL)\nHe will remain affiliated with the firm as a special associate director.\n...our affiliated members.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ with/to n, ADJ n


Words: affiliation
Meaning:
af.filia.tion\n   affiliation  affiliations\n1. If one group has an affiliation with another group, it has a close or official connection with it. (FORMAL)\nThe group has no affiliation to any political party...\n  N-VAR: oft N with/to n\n\n2. If you have an affiliation with a group or another person, you have a close or official connection with them. (FORMAL)\n...Johnson’s affiliation with shoe company Nike...\nThey asked what her political affiliations were.\n  N-VAR: oft N with/to n


Words: affinity
Meaning:
af.fin.ity\n   affinity  affinities\n  If you have an affinity with someone or something, you feel that you are similar to them or that you know and understand them very well.\nHe has a close affinity with the landscape he knew when he was growing up...\n  N-SING: also no det, with supp


Words: affinity card
Meaning:
af.fin.ity card\n   affinity card  affinity cards\n  An affinity card is a type of credit card. The bank which issues the card gives a small amount of money to a charity or institution each time the customer spends a certain amount with their card.\n  N-COUNT


Words: affirm
Meaning:
af.firm\n   affirm  affirms  affirming  affirmed\n1. If you affirm that something is true or that something exists, you state firmly and publicly that it is true or exists. (FORMAL)\nThe House of Lords affirmed that the terms of a contract cannot be rewritten retrospectively.\n...a speech in which he affirmed a commitment to lower taxes...\n`This place is a dump,’ affirmed Miss T.\n  VERB: V that, V n, V with quote\n  = assert\n=>  af.fir.ma.tion      affirmations\nThe ministers issued an affirmation of their faith in the system.\n  N-VAR\n\n2. If an event affirms something, it shows that it is true or exists. (FORMAL)\nEverything I had accomplished seemed to affirm that opinion.\n  VERB: V n\n  = confirm\n=>  af.fir.ma.tion\nThe high turnout was an affirmation of the importance that the voters attached to the election.\n  N-UNCOUNT: also a N


Words: affirmative
Meaning:
af.firma.tive\n   affirmative\n1. An affirmative word or gesture indicates that you agree with what someone has said or that the answer to a question is `yes’. (FORMAL)\nHaig was desperately eager for an affirmative answer...\n  ADJ\n  !=negative\n=>  af.firma.tive.ly\n`Is that clear?’ Bob nodded his head affirmatively.\n  ADV: ADV with v\n\n2. If you reply to a question in the affirmative, you say `yes’ or make a gesture that means `yes’. (FORMAL)\nHe asked me if I was ready. I answered in the affirmative.\n  PHRASE: PHR after v\n\n3. In grammar, an affirmative clause is positive and does not contain a negative word.\n  ADJ\n  !=negative


Words: affirmative action
Meaning:
af.firma.tive ac.tion\n   affirmative action\n  Affirmative action is the policy of giving jobs and other opportunities to members of groups such as racial minorities or women who might not otherwise have them. (AM; in BRIT, use positive discrimination)\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: affix
Meaning:
af.fix\n   affix affixes affixing  affixed\nThe verb is pronounced   The noun is pronounced\n1. If you affix one thing to another, you stick it or attach it to the other thing. (FORMAL)\nComplete the form and affix four tokens to its back...\nI covered the scroll in sealing wax, and affixed a red ribbon.\n...special storage racks affixed to the sides of buses.\n  VERB: V n to n, V n, V-ed, also V n prep/adv\n\n2. An affix is a letter or group of letters, for example `un-’ or `-y’, which is added to either the beginning or the end of a word to form a different word with a different meaning. For example, `un-’ is added to `kind’ to form `unkind’. Compare prefix and suffix.\n  N-COUNT


Words: afflict
Meaning:
af.flict\n   afflict  afflicts  afflicting  afflicted\n  If you are afflicted by pain, illness, or disaster, it affects you badly and makes you suffer. (FORMAL)\nItaly has been afflicted by political corruption for decades...\nThere are two main problems which afflict people with hearing impairments...\n  VERB: be V-ed by/with n, V n\n  = affect


Words: affliction
Meaning:
af.flic.tion\n   affliction  afflictions\n  An affliction is something which causes physical or mental suffering. (FORMAL)\nHay fever is an affliction which arrives at an early age.\n  N-VAR


Words: affluence
Meaning:
af.flu.ence\n   affluence\n  Affluence is the state of having a lot of money or a high standard of living. (FORMAL)\nThe postwar era was one of new affluence for the working class.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = prosperity


Words: affluent
Meaning:
af.flu.ent\n   affluent\n  If you are affluent, you have a lot of money.\nCigarette smoking used to be commoner among affluent people.\n  ADJ\n  = prosperous, wealthy\n  The affluent are people who are affluent.\nThe diet of the affluent has not changed much over the decades.\n  N-PLURAL: the N


Words: afford
Meaning:
af.ford\n   afford  affords  affording  afforded\n1. If you cannot afford something, you do not have enough money to pay for it.\nMy parents can’t even afford a new refrigerator...\nWe couldn’t afford to buy a new rug.\n  VERB: V n, V to-inf\n\n2. If you say that you cannot afford to do something or allow it to happen, you mean that you must not do it or must prevent it from happening because it would be harmful or embarrassing to you.\nWe can’t afford to wait...\nThe country could not afford the luxury of an election.\n  VERB: V to-inf, V n\n\n3. If someone or something affords you an opportunity or protection, they give it to you. (FORMAL)\nThis affords us the opportunity to ask questions about how the systems might change...\nIt was a cold room, but it afforded a fine view of the Old City.\n  VERB: V n n, V n


Words: affordable
Meaning:
af.ford.able\n   affordable\n  If something is affordable, most people have enough money to buy it.\n...the availability of affordable housing...\n  ADJ\n\n=>  af.forda.bil.ity\n...research into homelessness and housing affordability.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: afforestation
Meaning:
af.for.esta.tion\n   afforestation\n  Afforestation is the process of planting large numbers of trees on land which has few or no trees on it.\nSince the Sixties, afforestation has changed the Welsh countryside.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: affray
Meaning:
af.fray\n   affray\n  An affray is a noisy and violent fight, especially in a public place. (FORMAL)\n  N-SING: also no det


Words: affront
Meaning:
af.front\n   affront  affronts  affronting  affronted\n1. If something affronts you, you feel insulted and hurt because of it. (FORMAL)\n...an incident which particularly affronted Kasparov.\n  VERB: V n\n\n=>  af.front.ed\nHe pretended to be affronted, but inwardly he was pleased...\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ\n\n2. If something is an affront to you, it is an obvious insult to you.\nIt’s an affront to human dignity to keep someone alive like this...\n  N-COUNT: usu sing, usu N to n\n  = insult


Words: Afghan
Meaning:
Af.ghan\n   Afghan  Afghans\n  Afghan means belonging or relating to Afghanistan, or to its people or language.\n...the Afghan capital, Kabul.\n  ADJ\n\n  An Afghan is a person who comes from Afghanistan.\n  N-COUNT


Words: aficionado
Meaning:
afi.cio.na.do\n   aficionado  aficionados\n  If someone is an aficionado of something, they like it and know a lot about it.\nI happen to be an aficionado of the opera, and I love art museums...\n...a jazz aficionado.\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft N of n


Words: afield
Meaning:
afield\n1. Further afield or farther afield means in places or areas other than the nearest or most obvious one.\nThey enjoy participating in a wide variety of activities, both locally and further afield...\n  PHRASE: oft from PHR\n\n2. If someone comes from far afield, they come from a long way away.\nMany of those arrested came from far afield.\n  PHRASE: oft from PHR


Words: afire
Meaning:
afire\n  If something is afire or is set afire, it is on fire or looks as if it is on fire.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, v n ADJ\n  = alight


Words: aflame
Meaning:
aflame\n  If something is on fire, you can say it is aflame. (LITERARY)\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, v n ADJ\n  = alight, ablaze


Words: afloat
Meaning:
afloat\n1. If someone or something is afloat, they remain partly above the surface of water and do not sink.\nThey talked modestly of their valiant efforts to keep the tanker afloat...\n  ADV: usu ADV after v, also v-link ADV, n ADV\n\n2. If a person, business, or country stays afloat or is kept afloat, they have just enough money to pay their debts and continue operating. (BUSINESS)\nThey are borrowing just to stay afloat, not for investment.\n  ADV: usu ADV after v, also v-link ADV, n ADV\n  = solvent


Words: afoot
Meaning:
afoot\n  If you say that a plan or scheme is afoot, it is already happening or being planned, but you do not know much about it.\nEverybody knew that something awful was afoot.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ


Words: aforementioned
Meaning:
afore.men.tioned\n   aforementioned\n  If you refer to the aforementioned person or subject, you mean the person or subject that has already been mentioned. (FORMAL)\nA declaration will be issued at the end of the aforementioned UN conference.\n  ADJ: det ADJ, usu the ADJ n\n  = aforesaid


Words: aforesaid
Meaning:
afore.said\n   aforesaid\n  Aforesaid means the same as aforementioned. (FORMAL)\n...the aforesaid organizations and institutions.\n  ADJ: det ADJ, usu the ADJ n\n  = aforementioned


Words: afoul
Meaning:
afoul\n  If you run afoul of someone or something, you do something which causes problems with them. (AM)\nAll of them had run afoul of the law at some time or other.\n  PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n\n  = fall foul of


Words: afraid
Meaning:
afraid\n1. If you are afraid of someone or afraid to do something, you are frightened because you think that something very unpleasant is going to happen to you.\nShe did not seem at all afraid...\nI was afraid of the other boys...\nI’m still afraid to sleep in my own bedroom.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ of n, ADJ to-inf\n  = frightened\n2. If you are afraid for someone else, you are worried that something horrible is going to happen to them.\nShe’s afraid for her family in Somalia.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ for n\n\n3. If you are afraid that something unpleasant will happen, you are worried that it may happen and you want to avoid it.\nI was afraid that nobody would believe me...\nThe Government is afraid of losing the election...\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, ADJ that, ADJ of -ing, ADJ to-inf\n\n4. If you want to apologize to someone or to disagree with them in a polite way, you can say I’m afraid. (SPOKEN)\nWe don’t have anything like that, I’m afraid...\nI’m afraid I can’t help you...\n  PHRASE: PHR with cl, PHR that  politeness


Words: afresh
Meaning:
afresh\n  If you do something afresh, you do it again in a different way.\nThey believe that the only hope for the French left is to start afresh...\n  ADV: ADV after v\n  = anew


Words: African
Meaning:
Af.ri.can\n   African  Africans\n1. African means belonging or relating to the continent of Africa, or to its countries or people.\n...the African continent.\n...African countries.\n  ADJ\n\n2. African means belonging or relating to black people who come from Africa.\n...traditional African culture.\n...dance music with African roots.\n  ADJ\n\n3. African is used to describe someone, usually a black person, who comes from Africa.\n...African women.\n  ADJ\n\n  An African is someone who is African.\nFish is a staple in the diet of many Africans.\n  N-COUNT


Words: African-American
Meaning:
African-American  African-Americans\n  African-Americans are black people living in the United States who are descended from families that originally came from Africa.\nToday African-Americans are 12 percent of the population.\n  N-COUNT\n\n  African-American is also an adjective.\n...a group of African-American community leaders.\n  ADJ


Words: African-Caribbean
Meaning:
African-Caribbean  African-Caribbeans\n  African-Caribbean refers to people from the Caribbean whose ancestors came from Africa.\n...modern African-Caribbean culture.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n  An African-Caribbean is someone who is African-Caribbean.\n  N-COUNT


Words: Afrikaans
Meaning:
Af.ri.kaans\n   Afrikaans\n  Afrikaans is one of the official languages of South Africa.\n...a radical Afrikaans newspaper.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N n


Words: Afrikaner
Meaning:
Af.ri.kan.er\n   Afrikaner  Afrikaners\n  Afrikaner means belonging or relating to the white people in South Africa whose ancestors were Dutch.\n  ADJ\n\n  An Afrikaner is someone who is Afrikaner.\n  N-COUNT


Words: Afro
Meaning:
Afro  Afros\n1. Afro hair is very tightly curled and sticks out all around your head.\n  ADJ\n\n2. An Afro is an Afro hairstyle.\n  N-COUNT


Words: Afro-
Meaning:
Afro-\n  Afro- is used to form adjectives and nouns that describe something that is connected with Africa.\n...very well known Afro-American family.\n...an Afro-centric fashion show.\n  COMB in ADJ and N-COUNT


Words: Afro-Caribbean
Meaning:
Afro-Caribbean  Afro-Caribbeans\n  Afro-Caribbean refers to people from the Caribbean whose ancestors came from Africa.\n...Britain’s Afro-Caribbean community.\n  ADJ\n\n  An Afro-Caribbean is someone who is Afro-Caribbean.\n  N-COUNT


Words: aft
Meaning:
aft\n  If you go aft in a boat or plane, you go to the back of it. If you are aft, you are in the back.\n  ADV: ADV after v, be ADV, oft ADV of n\n  !=fore


Words: after
Meaning:
af.ter\n   after\nIn addition to the uses shown below, after is used in phrasal verbs such as `ask after’, `look after’, and `take after’.\n1. If something happens after a particular date or event, it happens during the period of time that follows that date or event.\nAfter 19 May, strikes were occurring on a daily basis...\nAfter breakfast Amy ordered a taxi...\nIt wasn’t until after Christmas that I met Paul.\n  PREP\n  !=before\n  After is also a conjunction.\nAfter Don told me this, he spoke of his mother...\nMarina cared for him after he seriously injured his eye several years ago.\n  CONJ\n\n2. If you do one thing after doing another, you do it during the period of time that follows the other thing.\nAfter completing and signing it, please return the form to us in the envelope provided.\n...women who have changed their mind after deciding not to have children...\n  PREP: PREP -ing\n  !=before\n3. You use after when you are talking about time. For example, if something is going to happen during the day after or the weekend after a particular time, it is going to happen during the following day or during the following weekend.\nShe’s leaving the day after tomorrow.\n  PREP: n PREP n\n\n  After is also an adverb.\nTomorrow. Or the day after.\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n4. If you go after someone, you follow or chase them.\nHe walked out, and Louise went after him.\n...people who were after him for large amounts of money.\n  PREP\n\n5. If you are after something, you are trying to get it.\nThey were after the money...\nI did eventually find what I was after.\n  PREP\n\n6. If you call, shout, or stare after someone, you call, shout, or stare at them as they move away from you.\n`Come back!’ he called after me...\n  PREP\n\n7. If you tell someone that one place is a particular distance after another, you mean that it is situated beyond the other place and further away from you.\nA few kilometres after the village, turn right to Montelabate.\n  PREP\n  = past  !=before\n8. If one thing is written after another thing on a page, it is written following it or underneath it.\nI wrote my name after Penny’s.\n  PREP\n  = following\n9. You use after in order to give the most important aspect of something when comparing it with another aspect.\nAfter Germany, America is Britain’s second-biggest customer...\n  PREP\n\n10. To be named after someone means to be given the same name as them. (BRIT; in AM, use for)\nHe persuaded Virginia to name the baby after him.\n  PREP\n\n11. If you say `after you’ to someone, you are being polite and allowing them to go in front of you or through a doorway before you do.\n  CONVENTION  politeness\n\n12. After is used when telling the time. If it is, for example, ten after six, the time is ten minutes past six. (AM)\n  PREP\n  !=before\n13.\nafter all: see all\n14. If you do something to several things one after the other or one after another, you do it to one, then the next, and so on, with no break between your actions.\nSybil ate three biscuits, one after the other...\n  PHRASE\n\n15. If something happens day after day or year after year, it happens every day or every year, for a long time.\n...people who’d been coming here year after year.\n  PHRASE


Words: after-
Meaning:
after-\n  After- is added to nouns to form adjectives which indicate that something takes place or exists after an event or process.\n...an after-dinner speech...\nAfter-tax profit fell by 28 percent.\n  COMB in ADJ: ADJ n


Words: after-effect
Meaning:
after-effect  after-effects\nin AM, use aftereffect\n  The after-effects of an event, experience, or substance are the conditions which result from it.\n...people still suffering from the after-effects of the world’s worst nuclear accident...\n  N-COUNT: usu pl


Words: after-hours
Meaning:
after-hours\n  You use after-hours to describe activities which happen after the end of the usual time for them.\nThe school offers after-hours childcare...\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: after-sales service
Meaning:
after-sales ser.vice\n   after-sales service after-sales services\n  A company’s after-sales service is all the help and information that it provides to customers after they have bought a particular product. (BUSINESS)\n...a local retailer who offers a good after-sales service...\nThey are also attempting to keep the car buyer as a long-term customer by offering after-sales service.\n  N-VAR


Words: after-school
Meaning:
after-school\n  After-school activities are those that are organized for children in the afternoon or evening after they have finished school.\n...an after-school childcare scheme.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: aftercare
Meaning:
after.care\n\nin BRIT, also use after-care\n  Aftercare is the nursing and care of people who have been treated in hospital, and who are now recovering.\nAs part of the treatment, he attended 15 weeks of after-care...\nMr Lloyd specialised in aftercare services.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: afterglow
Meaning:
after.glow\n   afterglow\n1. The afterglow is the glow that remains after a light has gone, for example after the sun has gone down. (LITERARY)\n...the light of the sunset’s afterglow.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft with poss\n\n2. You can refer to the good feeling or effects that remain after an event as the afterglow.\n...basking in the afterglow of their Champions League victory.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N of n


Words: afterlife
Meaning:
after.life\n   afterlife  afterlives   also after-life\n  The afterlife is a life that some people believe begins when you die, for example a life in heaven or as another person or animal.\n  N-COUNT: usu sing


Words: aftermarket
Meaning:
after.market\n\n1. The aftermarket is all the related products that are sold after an item, especially a car, has been bought. (BUSINESS)\n  N-SING\n\n2. The aftermarket in shares and bonds is the buying and selling of them after they have been issued. (BUSINESS)\n  N-SING


Words: aftermath
Meaning:
after.math\n   aftermath\n  The aftermath of an important event, especially a harmful one, is the situation that results from it.\nIn the aftermath of the coup, the troops opened fire on the demonstrators...\n  N-SING: with supp, oft the N of n


Words: afternoon
Meaning:
after.noon\n   afternoon  afternoons\n  The afternoon is the part of each day which begins at lunchtime and ends at about six o’clock.\nHe’s arriving in the afternoon...\nHe had stayed in his room all afternoon.\n...an afternoon news conference.\n  N-VAR


Words: afternoon tea
Meaning:
after.noon tea\n   afternoon tea  afternoon teas\n  Afternoon tea is a small meal you can have in the afternoon. It includes a cup of tea and food such as sandwiches and cakes. (BRIT)\n  N-VAR


Words: aftershave
Meaning:
after.shave\n   aftershave  aftershaves   also after-shave\n  Aftershave is a liquid with a pleasant smell that men sometimes put on their faces after shaving.\n  N-MASS


Words: aftershock
Meaning:
after.shock\n   aftershock  aftershocks\n1. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes which occur after a large earthquake.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. People sometimes refer to the effects of an important event, especially a bad one, as the aftershock. (mainly JOURNALISM)\nThey were already under stress, thanks to the aftershock of last year’s drought.\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp


Words: aftertaste
Meaning:
after.taste\n   aftertaste   also after-taste\n  An aftertaste is a taste that remains in your mouth after you have finished eating or drinking something.\n  N-SING: usu with supp


Words: afterthought
Meaning:
after.thought\n   afterthought  afterthoughts\n  If you do or say something as an afterthought, you do or say it after something else as an addition, perhaps without careful thought.\nAlmost as an afterthought he added that he missed her.\n  N-COUNT: usu sing, usu a N


Words: afterwards
Meaning:
after.wards\n   afterwards\n  If you do something or if something happens afterwards, you do it or it happens after a particular event or time that has already been mentioned.\nShortly afterwards, police arrested four suspects...\nJames was taken to hospital but died soon afterwards...\n  ADV: ADV with cl\n  The form afterward is also used, mainly in American English.


Words: afterword
Meaning:
after.word\n   afterword\n  An afterword is a short essay at the end of a book, usually written by the author.\n  N-SING


Words: again
Meaning:
again\n1. You use again to indicate that something happens a second time, or after it has already happened before.\nHe kissed her again...\nAgain there was a short silence...\nI don’t ever want to go through anything like that again.\n  ADV: ADV with v, ADV with cl\n\n2. You use again to indicate that something is now in a particular state or place that it used to be in.\nHe opened his attache-case, removed a folder, then closed it again...\nI started to feel good about myself again.\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n3. You can use again when you want to point out that there is a similarity between the subject that you are talking about now and a previous subject.\nAgain the pregnancy was very similar to my previous two...\n  ADV: ADV cl\n\n4. You can use again in expressions such as but again, then again, and there again when you want to introduce a remark which contrasts with or weakens something that you have just said.\nIt’s easier to take a taxi. But then again you can’t always get one...\n  ADV: ADV with cl\n\n5. You can add again to the end of your question when you are asking someone to tell you something that you have forgotten or that they have already told you. (SPOKEN)\nSorry, what’s your name again?\n  ADV: cl ADV\n\n6. You use again in expressions such as half as much again when you are indicating how much greater one amount is than another amount that you have just mentioned or are about to mention.\nA similar wine from France would cost you half as much again.\n  ADV: amount ADV\n\n7. You can use again and again or time and again to emphasize that something happens many times.\nHe would go over his work again and again until he felt he had it right...\n  PHRASE: usu PHR after v  emphasis\n  = repeatedly\n8.\nnow and again: see now\nonce again: see once


Words: against
Meaning:
against\nIn addition to the uses shown below, against is used in phrasal verbs such as `come up against’, `guard against’, and `hold against’.\n1. If one thing is leaning or pressing against another, it is touching it.\nShe leaned against him...\nOn a table pushed against a wall there were bottles of beer and wine.\n...the rain beating against the window panes.\n  PREP\n\n2. If you are against something such as a plan, policy, or system, you think it is wrong, bad, or stupid.\nTaxes are unpopular.it is understandable that voters are against them...\nJoan was very much against commencing drug treatment.\n...a march to protest against job losses.\n  PREP\n\n  Against is also an adverb.\nThe vote for the suspension of the party was 283 in favour with 29 against.\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n3. If you compete against someone in a game, you try to beat them.\nThe tour will include games against the Australian Barbarians...\n  PREP\n\n4. If you take action against someone or something, you try to harm them.\nSecurity forces are still using violence against opponents of the government.\n  PREP\n\n5. If you take action against a possible future event, you try to prevent it.\n...the fight against crime...\nI must warn you against raising your hopes.\n  PREP\n\n6. If you do something against someone’s wishes, advice, or orders, you do not do what they want you to do or tell you to do.\nHe discharged himself from hospital against the advice of doctors.\n  PREP\n\n7. If you do something in order to protect yourself against something unpleasant or harmful, you do something which will make its effects on you less serious if it happens.\nA business needs insurance against risks such as fire and flood...\n  PREP\n\n8. If you have something against someone or something, you dislike them.\nHave you got something against women, Les?...\n  PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n\n\n9. If something is against the law or against the rules, there is a law or a rule which says that you must not do it.\nIt is against the law to detain you against your will for any length of time...\n  PREP\n\n10. If you are moving against a current, tide, or wind, you are moving in the opposite direction to it.\n...swimming upstream against the current...\n  PREP\n  !=with\n11. If something happens or is considered against a particular background of events, it is considered in relation to those events, because those events are relevant to it.\nThe profits rise was achieved against a backdrop of falling metal prices.\n  PREP\n\n12. If something is measured or valued against something else, it is measured or valued by comparing it with the other thing.\nOur policy has to be judged against a clear test: will it improve the standard of education?...\nThe US dollar is down against most foreign currencies today.\n  PREP\n\n13. If you discuss a particular set of facts or figures as against another set, you are comparing or contrasting the two sets of facts or figures.\nOver 50% of divorced men regretted their divorce, as against 25% of women.\n  PHRASE\n\n14. The odds against something happening are the chances or odds that it will not happen.\nThe odds against him surviving are incredible.\n  PREP: n PREP\n\n  Against is also an adverb.\nWhat were the odds against?\n  ADV: n ADV\n\n15.\nup against: see up\nagainst the clock: see clock


Words: agape
Meaning:
agape\n  If you describe someone as having their mouth agape, their mouth is open very wide, often because they are very surprised by something. (WRITTEN)\nShe stood looking at Carmen with her mouth agape.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ


Words: age
Meaning:
age  ages  ageing  aging  aged\n\n  The spelling aging is also used, mainly in American English.\n\n1. Your age is the number of years that you have lived.\nShe has a nephew who is just ten years of age...\nAt the age of sixteen he qualified for a place at the University of Hamburg...\nI admired him for being so confident at his age.\n  N-VAR\n\n2. The age of a thing is the number of years since it was made.\nEverything in the room looks in keeping with the age of the building.\n  N-VAR\n\n3. Age is the state of being old or the process of becoming older.\nPerhaps he has grown wiser with age...\nThe fabric was showing signs of age...\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n4. When someone ages, or when something ages them, they seem much older and less strong or less alert.\nHe had always looked so young, but he seemed to have aged in the last few months...\nHe was only in his mid-thirties, but already worry had aged him.\n  VERB: V, V n\n\n5. An age is a period in history.\n...the age of steam and steel.\n...items of Bronze Age pottery.\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp\n\n6. You can say an age or ages to mean a very long time. (INFORMAL)\nHe waited what seemed an age...\nThe bus took absolutely ages to arrive.\n  N-COUNT\n  = forever\n7.\n  see also aged, ageing, coming of age, dark age, golden age, Ice Age, Iron Age, middle age, Stone Age\n8. If someone tells you to act your age, they are telling you to behave in a way that is suitable for someone your age, because they think you are behaving in a childish way.\n  PHRASE: V inflects  disapproval\n\n9. If something comes of age, it reaches an important stage of development and is accepted by a large number of people.\nRecycling is an issue that has come of age in Britain in the last decade.\n  PHRASE: V inflects\n\n10. When someone comes of age, they become legally an adult.\nThe company was to be held in trust for Eddie until he came of age.\n  PHRASE: V inflects\n\n11. Someone who is under age is not legally old enough to do something, for example to buy an alcoholic drink.\nBecause she was under age, her parents were still responsible for her.\n...under age smoking.\n  PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, PHR n


Words: age group
Meaning:
age group  age groups\n  An age group is the people in a place or organization who were born during a particular period of time, for example all the people aged between 18 and 25.\n...a style that would appeal to all age groups.\n  N-COUNT


Words: age limit
Meaning:
age lim.it\n   age limit  age limits\n  An age limit is the oldest or youngest age at which you are allowed under particular regulations to do something.\nIn some cases there is a minimum age limit.\n  N-COUNT


Words: age of consent
Meaning:
age of con.sent\n   age of consent\n  The age of consent is the age at which a person can legally agree to having a sexual relationship.\nHe was under the age of consent.\n  N-SING: the N


Words: age-old
Meaning:
age-old\n  An age-old story, tradition, or problem has existed for many generations or centuries. (WRITTEN)\nThis age-old struggle for control had led to untold bloody wars.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  = ancient


Words: aged
Meaning:
Pronounced   for meaning 1, and   for meanings 2 and 3.\n1. You use aged followed by a number to say how old someone is.\nAlan has two children, aged eleven and nine.\n  ADJ: usu n ADJ num\n\n2. Aged means very old.\nShe has an aged parent who’s capable of being very difficult.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n3. You can refer to all people who are very old as the aged.\n...people who work with the aged.\n  N-PLURAL: the N\n\n4.\n  see also middle-aged


Words: ageing
Meaning:
age.ing\n   ageing   also aging\n1. Someone or something that is ageing is becoming older and less healthy or efficient.\nJohn lives with his ageing mother...\nAgeing aircraft need more frequent safety inspections.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n2. Ageing is the process of becoming old or becoming worn out.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: ageism
Meaning:
age.ism\n   ageism\n  Ageism is unacceptable behaviour that occurs as a result of the belief that older people are of less value than younger people.\n  N-UNCOUNT  disapproval


Words: ageist
Meaning:
age.ist\n   ageist\n  Ageist behaviour is unacceptable behaviour based on the belief that older people are of less value than younger people.\n...ageist bias from employers.\n  ADJ  disapproval


Words: ageless
Meaning:
age.less\n   ageless\n1. If you describe someone as ageless, you mean that they never seem to look any older. (LITERARY)\nShe was rich, beautiful and seemingly ageless.\n  ADJ\n\n2. If you describe something as ageless, you mean that it is impossible to tell how old it is, or that it seems to have existed for ever. (LITERARY)\n...the ageless oceans.\n  ADJ


Words: agency
Meaning:
agen.cy\n   agency  agencies\n1. An agency is a business which provides a service on behalf of other businesses. (BUSINESS)\nWe had to hire maids through an agency.\n  N-COUNT: oft supp N\n\n  see also advertising agency, employment agency, press agency, travel agency\n2. An agency is a government organization responsible for a certain area of administration.\n...the government agency which monitors health and safety at work in Britain...\n  N-COUNT: oft supp N


Words: agenda
Meaning:
agen.da\n   agenda  agendas\n1. You can refer to the political issues which are important at a particular time as an agenda.\nDoes television set the agenda on foreign policy?...\nThe Danish president will put environmental issues high on the agenda.\n  N-COUNT: with supp\n\n  see also hidden agenda\n2. An agenda is a list of the items that have to be discussed at a meeting.\nThis is sure to be an item on the agenda next week...\n  N-COUNT


Words: agent
Meaning:
agent  agents\n1. An agent is a person who looks after someone else’s business affairs or does business on their behalf. (BUSINESS)\nYou are buying direct, rather than through an agent.\n  N-COUNT\n  = representative, rep\n  see also estate agent, press agent, travel agent\n2. An agent in the arts world is a person who gets work for an actor or musician, or who sells the work of a writer to publishers.\n  N-COUNT\n\n3. An agent is a person who works for a country’s secret service.\nAll these years he’s been an agent for the East.\n  N-COUNT\n\n4. A chemical that has a particular effect or is used for a particular purpose can be referred to as a particular kind of agent.\n...the bleaching agent in white flour.\n  N-COUNT: supp N


Words: agent provocateur
Meaning:
agent pro.vo.ca.teur\n   agent provocateur  agents provocateurs\n  An agent provocateur is a person who is employed by the government or the police to encourage certain groups of people to break the law, so they can arrest them or make them lose public support.\nAgents provocateurs may seek to discredit the opposition.\n  N-COUNT


Words: agglomeration
Meaning:
ag.glom.era.tion\n   agglomeration  agglomerations\n  An agglomeration of things is a lot of different things gathered together, often in no particular order or arrangement. (FORMAL)\n  N-VAR: usu with supp\n  = accumulation


Words: aggrandize
Meaning:
ag.gran.dize\n   aggrandize  aggrandizes  aggrandizing  aggrandized\nin BRIT, also use aggrandise\n  To aggrandize someone means to make them seem richer, more powerful, and more important than they really are. To aggrandize a building means to make it more impressive.\nAt the dinner table, my father would go on and on, showing off, aggrandising himself...\n...plans to aggrandise the building.\n  VERB: V pron-refl, V n  disapproval


Words: aggrandizement
Meaning:
ag.gran.dize.ment\n   aggrandizement\nin BRIT, also use aggrandisement\n  If someone does something for aggrandizement, they do it in order to get power, wealth, and importance for themselves. (FORMAL)\nIt would be the first time in human history that economic necessity has prevailed over military aggrandizement.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp  disapproval\n\n  see also self-aggrandizement


Words: aggravate
Meaning:
ag.gra.vate\n   aggravate  aggravates  aggravating  aggravated\n1. If someone or something aggravates a situation, they make it worse.\nStress and lack of sleep can aggravate the situation...\n  VERB: V n\n  = exacerbate  !=alleviate\n2. If someone or something aggravates you, they make you annoyed. (INFORMAL)\nWhat aggravates you most about this country?\n  VERB: V n\n  = annoy\n=>  ag.gra.vat.ing\nYou don’t realise how aggravating you can be.\n  ADJ\n  = annoying\n=>  ag.gra.va.tion      aggravations\nI just couldn’t take the aggravation.\n  N-VAR\n  = annoyance


Words: aggravated
Meaning:
ag.gra.vat.ed\n   aggravated\n  Aggravated is used to describe a serious crime which involves violence. (LEGAL)\nHe was jailed for aggravated assault.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: aggregate
Meaning:
ag.gre.gate\n   aggregate\n1. An aggregate amount or score is made up of several smaller amounts or scores added together.\nEngland have beaten the Welsh three times in succession with an aggregate score of 83-12.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n  Aggregate is also a noun.\nThe highest aggregate came in the third round where Leeds and Middlesbrough drew 4-4.\n  N-COUNT: usu sing\n\n2. An aggregate is a number of people or things that are being considered as a single thing. (FORMAL)\n...society viewed as an aggregate of individuals.\n  N-COUNT


Words: aggression
Meaning:
ag.gres.sion\n   aggression  aggressions\n1. Aggression is a quality of anger and determination that makes you ready to attack other people.\nAggression is by no means a male-only trait.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = belligerence  !=gentleness\n2. Aggression is violent and attacking behaviour.\nThe raid was an unjustifiable act of aggression.\n  N-VAR


Words: aggressive
Meaning:
ag.gres.sive\n   aggressive\n1. An aggressive person or animal has a quality of anger and determination that makes them ready to attack other people.\nSome children are much more aggressive than others...\nAggressive behaviour is a sign of emotional distress.\n  ADJ\n  = belligerent\n=>  ag.gres.sive.ly\nThey’ll react aggressively.\n  ADV\n\n=>  ag.gres.sive.ness\nHer aggressiveness made it difficult for him to explain his own feelings.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = aggression\n2. People who are aggressive in their work or other activities behave in a forceful way because they are very eager to succeed.\nHe is respected as a very aggressive and competitive executive...\n  ADJ\n\n=>  ag.gres.sive.ly\n...countries noted for aggressively pursuing energy efficiency.\n  ADV: usu ADV with v


Words: aggressor
Meaning:
ag.gres.sor\n   aggressor  aggressors\n  The aggressor in a fight or battle is the person, group, or country that starts it.\nThey have been the aggressors in this conflict.\n  N-COUNT


Words: aggrieved
Meaning:
ag.grieved\n   aggrieved\n  If you feel aggrieved, you feel upset and angry because of the way in which you have been treated.\nI really feel aggrieved at this sort of thing.\n  ADJ\n  = resentful, bitter


Words: aggro
Meaning:
ag.gro\n   aggro\n1. Aggro is the difficulties and problems that are involved in something. (BRIT INFORMAL)\nSimply phone the ticket hot-line and all that aggro will be a thing of the past.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = hassle\n2. Aggro is aggressive or violent behaviour. (BRIT INFORMAL)\nThey could see there wasn’t going to be any aggro and they left us to it.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: aghast
Meaning:
aghast\n  If you are aghast, you are filled with horror and surprise. (FORMAL)\nShe watched aghast as his life flowed away...\n  ADJ: ADJ after v, v-link ADJ, oft ADJ at n, ADJ n


Words: agile
Meaning:
ag.ile\n   agile\n1. Someone who is agile can move quickly and easily.\nAt 20 years old he was not as agile as he is now.\n  ADJ\n  = nimble\n=>  agil.ity\nShe blinked in surprise at his agility.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n2. If you have an agile mind, you think quickly and intelligently.\nShe was quick-witted and had an extraordinarily agile mind.\n  ADJ\n\n=>  agil.ity\nHis intellect and mental agility have never been in doubt.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: agitate
Meaning:
agi.tate\n   agitate  agitates  agitating  agitated\n1. If people agitate for something, they protest or take part in political activity in order to get it.\nThe women who worked in these mills had begun to agitate for better conditions.\n  VERB: V for n\n\n2. If you agitate something, you shake it so that it moves about. (FORMAL)\nAll you need to do is gently agitate the water with a finger or paintbrush...\n  VERB: V n\n\n3. If something agitates you, it worries you and makes you unable to think clearly or calmly.\nThe thought of them getting her possessions when she dies agitates her.\n  VERB: V n\n\n4.\n  see also agitation


Words: agitated
Meaning:
agi.tat.ed\n   agitated\n  If someone is agitated, they are very worried or upset, and show this in their behaviour, movements, or voice.\nSusan seemed agitated about something...\n  ADJ\n  = upset, distressed


Words: agitation
Meaning:
agi.ta.tion\n   agitation\n  If someone is in a state of agitation, they are very worried or upset, and show this in their behaviour, movements, or voice.\nDanny returned to Father’s house in a state of intense agitation...\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = distress\n  see also agitate


Words: agitator
Meaning:
agi.ta.tor\n   agitator  agitators\n  If you describe someone involved in politics as an agitator, you disapprove of them because of the trouble they cause in organizing campaigns and protests.\n...a famous actress who was accused of being a political agitator.\n  N-COUNT: oft supp N  disapproval


Words: agitprop
Meaning:
agit.prop\n   agitprop   also agit-prop\n  Agitprop is the use of artistic forms such as drama or posters to further political aims.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: aglow
Meaning:
aglow\n1. If something is aglow, it is shining and bright with a soft, warm light. (LITERARY)\nThe night skies will be aglow with fireworks.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n\n\n2. If someone is aglow or if their face is aglow, they look excited. (LITERARY)\n`It was incredible,’ Kurt says, suddenly aglow.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n


Words: AGM
Meaning:
AGM  AGMs   also agm\n  The AGM of a company or organization is a meeting which it holds once a year in order to discuss the previous year’s activities and accounts. AGM is an abbreviation for `Annual General Meeting’. (BRIT BUSINESS)\n  N-COUNT


Words: agnostic
Meaning:
ag.nos.tic\n   agnostic  agnostics\n1. An agnostic believes that it is not possible to know whether God exists or not. Compare atheist.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. Agnostic means relating to agnostics or to their beliefs.\nYou grew up in an agnostic household and have never been able to bring yourself to believe in God.\n  ADJ


Words: agnosticism
Meaning:
ag.nos.ti.cism\n   agnosticism\n  Agnosticism is the belief that it is not possible to say definitely whether or not there is a God. Compare atheism.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: ago
Meaning:
ago\n  You use ago when you are referring to past time. For example, if something happened one year ago, it is one year since it happened. If it happened a long time ago, it is a long time since it happened.\nHe was killed a few days ago in a skiing accident...\nThe meeting is the first since the war began 14 years ago...\nHarry’s daughter is dead. She died long ago.\n  ADV: ADV with v, n ADV, long ADV


Words: agog
Meaning:
agog\n  If you are agog, you are excited about something, and eager to know more about it.\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ prep


Words: agonize
Meaning:
ago.nize\n   agonize  agonizes  agonizing  agonized\nin BRIT, also use agonise\n  If you agonize over something, you feel very anxious about it and spend a long time thinking about it.\nPerhaps he was agonizing over the moral issues involved...\n  VERB: V over/about n


Words: agonized
Meaning:
ago.nized\n   agonized\nin BRIT, also use agonised\n  Agonized describes something that you say or do when you are in great physical or mental pain.\n...the agonised look on his face.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: agonizing
Meaning:
ago.niz.ing\n   agonizing\nin BRIT, also use agonising\n1. Something that is agonizing causes you to feel great physical or mental pain.\nHe did not wish to die the agonizing death of his mother and brother...\n  ADJ\n\n=>  ago.niz.ing.ly\nProgress was agonizingly slow.\n  ADV\n\n2. Agonizing decisions and choices are very difficult to make.\nHe now faced an agonizing decision about his immediate future.\n  ADJ


Words: agony
Meaning:
ago.ny\n   agony\n  Agony is great physical or mental pain.\nShe called out in agony...\n  N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl\n  = torment


Words: agony aunt
Meaning:
ago.ny aunt\n   agony aunt  agony aunts\n  An agony aunt is a person who writes a column in a newspaper or magazine in which they reply to readers who have written to them for advice on their personal problems. (BRIT; in AM, use advice columnist)\n  N-COUNT\n  = advice columnist


Words: agony column
Meaning:
ago.ny col.umn\n   agony column  agony columns\n  In a British newspaper or magazine, the agony column contains letters from readers about their personal problems, and advice on what to do about them. (BRIT; in AM, use advice column)\n  N-COUNT\n  = advice column


Words: agoraphobic
Meaning:
ago.ra.pho.bic\n   agoraphobic  agoraphobics\n  Someone who is agoraphobic suffers from agoraphobia.\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ\n\n  An agoraphobic is someone who suffers from agoraphobia.\n  N-COUNT


Words: agrarian
Meaning:
agrar.ian\n   agrarian\n  Agrarian means relating to the ownership and use of land, especially farmland, or relating to the part of a society or economy that is concerned with agriculture.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: agree
Meaning:
agree  agrees  agreeing  agreed\n1. If people agree with each other about something, they have the same opinion about it or say that they have the same opinion.\nIf we agreed all the time it would be a bit boring, wouldn’t it?...\nBoth have agreed on the need for the money...\nSo we both agree there’s a problem?...\nI see your point but I’m not sure I agree with you...\nI agree with you that the open system is by far the best...\n`It’s appalling.’.`It is. I agree.’...\nI agree that the demise of London zoo would be terrible...\nI agree with every word you’ve just said...\n`Frankly I found it rather frightening.’ `A little startling,’ Mark agreed.\n  V-RECIP: pl-n V, pl-n V, pl-n V that, V with n, V with n that, NON-RECIP: V, V that, V with n, V with quote\n  = concur  !=disagree\n2. If you agree to do something, you say that you will do it. If you agree to a proposal, you accept it.\nHe agreed to pay me for the drawings...\nDonna agreed to both requests...\n  VERB: V to-inf, V to n\n  = consent\n3. If people agree on something, or in British English if they agree something, they all decide to accept or do something.\nThe warring sides have agreed on an unconditional ceasefire...\nWe never agreed a date...\nThe court had given the unions until September to agree terms with a buyer.\n  V-RECIP: pl-n V on/upon n, pl-n V n, V n with n, also pl-n V to-inf\n\n4. If two people who are arguing about something agree to disagree or agree to differ, they decide to stop arguing because neither of them is going to change their opinion.\nYou and I are going to have to agree to disagree then.\n  PHRASE: V inflects, pl-n PHR\n\n5. If you agree with an action or suggestion, you approve of it.\nI don’t agree with what they’re doing...\n  VERB: V with n\n  !=disagree\n6. If one account of an event or one set of figures agrees with another, the two accounts or sets of figures are the same or are consistent with each other.\nHis second statement agrees with facts as stated by the other witnesses.\n  V-RECIP: V with n, also V\n  = tally\n7. If some food that you eat does not agree with you, it makes you feel ill.\nI don’t think the food here agrees with me.\n  VERB: with neg, V with n\n\n8. In grammar, if a word agrees with a noun or pronoun, it has a form that is appropriate to the number or gender of the noun or pronoun. For example, in `He hates it’, the singular verb agrees with the singular pronoun `he’.\n  V-RECIP: V with n, pl-n V\n\n9.\n  see also agreed


Words: agreeable
Meaning:
agree.able\n   agreeable\n1. If something is agreeable, it is pleasant and you enjoy it.\n...workers in more agreeable and better paid occupations.\n  ADJ\n  = pleasant\n2. If someone is agreeable, they are pleasant and try to please people.\n...sharing a bottle of wine with an agreeable companion...\n  ADJ\n\n3. If you are agreeable to something or if it is agreeable to you, you are willing to do it or to allow it to happen. (FORMAL)\nIf you are agreeable, my husband’s office will make all the necessary arrangements.\n...a solution that would be agreeable to all.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ to n


Words: agreed
Meaning:
agreed\n1. If people are agreed on something, they have reached a joint decision on it or have the same opinion about it.\nOkay, so are we agreed on going north?...\nEveryone is agreed that something needs to be done about the situation.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ on n, ADJ that\n\n2. When you are discussing something, you can say `Agreed?’ to check whether the other people agree with what you have just said. You can say `Agreed’ if you agree with what someone has just said. (FORMAL, SPOKEN)\n`That means we move out today. Agreed?’.`Agreed.’\n  CONVENTION  formulae\n  = o.k.\n3.\n  see also agree


Words: agreement
Meaning:
agree.ment\n   agreement  agreements\n1. An agreement is a formal decision about future action which is made by two or more countries, groups, or people.\nIt looks as though a compromise agreement has now been reached...\nThe two countries signed an agreement to jointly launch satellites.\n  N-COUNT: oft N to-inf, N prep\n\n2. Agreement on something is a joint decision that a particular course of action should be taken.\nThe two men had not reached agreement on any issues...\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N on n\n  !=disagreement\n3. Agreement with someone means having the same opinion as they have.\nThe judge kept nodding in agreement...\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  !=disagreement\n  If you are in agreement with someone, you have the same opinion as they have.\n  PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, v PHR, oft PHR with n\n\n4. Agreement to a course of action means allowing it to happen or giving it your approval.\nThe clinic doctor will then write to your GP to get his agreement.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = consent\n  If you are in agreement with a plan or proposal, you approve of it.\nThe president was in full agreement with the proposal.\n  PHRASE: v-link PHR, usu PHR with n\n\n5. If there is agreement between two accounts of an event or two sets of figures, they are the same or are consistent with each other.\nMany other surveys have produced results essentially in agreement with these figures.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = concurrence\n6. In grammar, agreement refers to the way that a word has a form appropriate to the number or gender of the noun or pronoun it relates to.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = concord


Words: agribusiness
Meaning:
ag.ri.busi.ness\n   agribusiness  agribusinesses\n  Agribusiness is the various businesses that produce, sell, and distribute farm products, especially on a large scale. (BUSINESS)\n  N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl, oft N n


Words: agricultural
Meaning:
ag.ri.cul.tur.al\n   agricultural\n1. Agricultural means involving or relating to agriculture.\n...agricultural land.\n...corn and other agricultural products.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n2. An agricultural place or society is one in which agriculture is important or highly developed.\n...traditional agricultural societies.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: agriculturalist
Meaning:
ag.ri.cul.tur.al.ist\n   agriculturalist  agriculturalists\n  An agriculturalist is someone who is an expert on agriculture and who advises farmers.\n  N-COUNT


Words: agriculture
Meaning:
ag.ri.cul.ture\n   agriculture\n  Agriculture is farming and the methods that are used to raise and look after crops and animals.\nThe Ukraine is strong both in industry and agriculture.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: agro-
Meaning:
agro-\n  Agro- is used to form nouns and adjectives which refer to things relating to agriculture, or to agriculture combined with another activity.\n...agro-chemical residues.\n  PREFIX


Words: agronomist
Meaning:
agrono.mist\n   agronomist  agronomists\n  An agronomist is someone who studies the growing and harvesting of crops.\n  N-COUNT


Words: aground
Meaning:
aground\n  If a ship runs aground, it touches the ground in a shallow part of a river, lake, or the sea, and gets stuck.\n  ADV: ADV after v


Words: ah
Meaning:
ah\n  Ah is used in writing to represent a noise that people make in conversation, for example to acknowledge or draw attention to something, or to express surprise or disappointment.\nAh, so many questions, so little time.\n  EXCLAM  feelings


Words: aha
Meaning:
aha\n  Aha is used in writing to represent a noise that people make in conversation, for example to express satisfaction or surprise.\nAha! Here at last, the answer to my question.\n  EXCLAM  feelings


Words: ahead
Meaning:
ADVERB USES\n   ahead\nIn addition to the uses shown below, ahead is used in phrasal verbs such as `get ahead’, `go ahead’, and `press ahead’.\n1. Something that is ahead is in front of you. If you look ahead, you look directly in front of you.\nBrett looked straight ahead...\nI peered ahead through the front screen...\nThe road ahead was now blocked solid...\nAhead, he saw the side railings of First Bridge over Crooked Brook.\n  ADV: ADV after v, n ADV, ADV with cl\n  !=behind\n2. You use ahead with verbs such as `push’, `move’, and `forge’ to indicate that a plan, scheme, or organization is making fast progress.\nWe are moving ahead with plans to send financial aid...\n  ADV: ADV after v\n  = forward\n3. If you are ahead in your work or achievements, you have made more progress than you expected to and are performing well.\nFirst half profits have charged ahead from .127.6m to .134.2m...\nChildren in small classes are several months ahead in reading.\n  ADV: be ADV, ADV after v, oft amount ADV\n\n4. If a person or a team is ahead in a competition, they are winning.\nScotland were ahead in their European championship qualifier in Iceland...\nA goal would have put Dublin 6-1 ahead.\n  ADV: be ADV, ADV after v, oft amount ADV\n\n5. Ahead also means in the future.\nA much bigger battle is ahead for the president...\nNow I can remember without mourning, and begin to look ahead...\n  ADV: v-link ADV, ADV after v, n ADV\n\n6. If you prepare or plan something ahead, you do it some time before a future event so that everything is ready for that event to take place.\nThe government wants figures that help it to plan ahead...\nSummer weddings need to be arranged months ahead.\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n7. If you go ahead, or if you go on ahead, you go in front of someone who is going to the same place so that you arrive there some time before they do.\nI went ahead and waited with Sean...\n  ADV: ADV after v


Words: ahead of
Meaning:
PREPOSITION USES\n   ahead of\n\nPlease look at category 6 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.\n1. If someone is ahead of you, they are directly in front of you. If someone is moving ahead of you, they are in front of you and moving in the same direction.\nI saw a man in a blue jacket thirty metres ahead of me...\nShe walked ahead of Helene up the steps into the hotel.\n  PREP-PHRASE\n\n2. If an event or period of time lies ahead of you, it is going to happen or take place soon or in the future.\nI tried to think about all the problems that were ahead of me tomorrow...\nShe spent all night thinking about the future that lay ahead of her...\nWe have a very busy day ahead of us today.\n  PREP-PHRASE: PREP pron\n  = before\n3. In a competition, if a person or team does something ahead of someone else, they do it before the second person or team.\nMillar finished 1 minute and 35 seconds ahead of Thierry Claveyrolat.\n  PREP-PHRASE: oft n PREP n\n\n4. If something happens ahead of schedule or ahead of time, it happens earlier than was planned.\nThis dish may be prepared a day ahead of time and refrigerated.\n  PREP-PHRASE\n  !=behind\n5. If someone is ahead of someone else, they have made more progress and are more advanced in what they are doing.\nHenry generally stayed ahead of the others in the academic subjects.\n  PREP-PHRASE\n\n6.\none step ahead of someone or something: see step\nahead of your time: see time


Words: ahem
Meaning:
ahem\n  In writing, ahem is used to show that someone is being ironic. Ahem is also used to show that someone wants to get another person’s attention.\nIt is not unknown for valuable display items to go, ahem, missing.\n  CONVENTION


Words: ahold
Meaning:
ahold\n1. If you get ahold of someone or something, you manage to contact, find, or get them. (AM INFORMAL)\nI tried again to get ahold of my cousin Joan.\n  PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n\n  = get hold of\n2. If you get ahold of yourself, you force yourself to become calm and sensible after a shock or in a difficult situation. (AM INFORMAL)\nI’m going to have to get ahold of myself.\n  PHRASE: V inflects, PHR pron-refl


Words: ahoy
Meaning:
ahoy\n  Ahoy is something that people in boats shout in order to attract attention.\nAhoy there!...\nShip ahoy!\n  EXCLAM


Words: aid
Meaning:
aid  aids  aiding  aided\n1. Aid is money, equipment, or services that are provided for people, countries, or organizations who need them but cannot provide them for themselves.\n...regular flights carrying humanitarian aid to Cambodia...\nThey have already pledged billions of dollars in aid.\n...food aid convoys.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft supp N, N to n\n\n2. To aid a country, organization, or person means to provide them with money, equipment, or services that they need.\n...US efforts to aid Kurdish refugees.\n  VERB: V n\n\n=>  -aided\n...grant-aided factories.\n...state-aided schools.\n  COMB in ADJ\n\n3. To aid someone means to help or assist them. (WRITTEN)\n...a software system to aid managers in advanced decision-making...\nThe hunt for her killer will continue, with police aided by the army and air force.\n  VERB: V n, V-ed, also V n to-inf\n  = help, assist\n  Aid is also a noun.\nHe was forced to turn for aid to his former enemy.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = assistance\n4. If you perform a task with the aid of something, you need or use that thing to perform that task.\nHe succeeded with the aid of a completely new method he discovered...\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu with/without the N of n\n  = help\n5. An aid is an object, device, or technique that makes something easier to do.\nThe book is an invaluable aid to teachers of literature...\n  N-COUNT: oft N to n\n\n6. If something aids a process, it makes it easier or more likely to happen.\nThe export sector will aid the economic recovery...\nCalcium may aid in the prevention of colon cancer.\n  VERB: V n, V in n/-ing\n\n7.\n  see also Band-Aid, first aid, hearing aid, legal aid\n8. An activity or event in aid of a particular cause or charity is intended to raise money for that cause or charity. (mainly BRIT)\n...a charity performance in aid of Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.\n  PHRASE: PHR n\n\n9. If you come or go to someone’s aid, you try to help them when they are in danger or difficulty.\n  PHRASE: V inflects


Words: aide
Meaning:
aide  aides\n  An aide is an assistant to someone who has an important job, especially in government or in the armed forces.\n...a close aide to the Prime Minister.\n  N-COUNT


Words: aide-de-camp
Meaning:
aide-de-camp  aides-de-camp\n  An aide-de-camp is an officer in the armed forces who helps an officer of higher rank.\n...a colonel who had been aide-de-camp to the king.\n  N-COUNT


Words: aide-memoire
Meaning:
aide-memoire  aide-memoires   also aide-memoire\n  An aide-memoire is something such as a list that you use to remind you of something.\n  N-COUNT


Words: AIDS
Meaning:
AIDS\n  AIDS is a disease which destroys the natural system of protection that the body has against other diseases. AIDS is an abbreviation for `acquired immune deficiency syndrome’.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: ail
Meaning:
ail  ails  ailing  ailed\n  If something ails a group or area of activity, it is a problem or source of trouble for that group or for people involved in that activity.\nA full-scale debate is under way on what ails the industry.\n  VERB: V n


Words: aileron
Meaning:
ailer.on\n   aileron  ailerons\n  An aileron is a section on the back edge of the wing of an aircraft that can be raised or lowered in order to control the aircraft’s movement.\n  N-COUNT


Words: ailing
Meaning:
ail.ing\n   ailing\n1. An ailing organization or society is in difficulty and is becoming weaker.\nThe rise in overseas sales is good news for the ailing American economy.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n2. If someone is ailing, they are ill and are not getting better. (OLD-FASHIONED)\n  ADJ


Words: ailment
Meaning:
ail.ment\n   ailment  ailments\n  An ailment is an illness, especially one that is not very serious.\nThe pharmacist can assist you with the treatment of common ailments.\n  N-COUNT\n  = affliction


Words: aim
Meaning:
aim  aims  aiming  aimed\n1. If you aim for something or aim to do something, you plan or hope to achieve it.\nHe is aiming for the 100 metres world record...\n...an appeal which aims to raise funds for children with special needs.\n  VERB: V for/at n/-ing, V to-inf\n\n2. The aim of something that you do is the purpose for which you do it or the result that it is intended to achieve.\nThe aim of the festival is to increase awareness of Hindu culture and traditions.\n  N-COUNT: oft with poss\n  = objective\n3. If an action or plan is aimed at achieving something, it is intended or planned to achieve it.\nThe new measures are aimed at tightening existing sanctions.\n...talks aimed at ending the war.\n  V-PASSIVE: be V-ed at n/-ing, V-ed\n\n4. If you aim to do something, you decide or want to do it. (AM INFORMAL)\nAre you aiming to visit the gardens?...\n  VERB: V to-inf\n\n5. If your actions or remarks are aimed at a particular person or group, you intend that the person or group should notice them and be influenced by them.\nHis message was aimed at the undecided middle ground of Israeli politics...\nAdvertising aimed at children should be curbed.\n  VERB: usu passive, be V-ed at n, V-ed\n\n6. If you aim a weapon or object at something or someone, you point it towards them before firing or throwing it.\nHe was aiming the rifle at Wade.\n...a missile aimed at the arms factory...\nI didn’t know I was supposed to aim at the same spot all the time.\n  VERB: V n at n, V-ed, V at n, also V\n\n7. Your aim is your skill or action in pointing a weapon or other object at its target.\nHe stood with the gun in his right hand and his left hand steadying his aim.\n  N-SING: oft poss N\n\n8. If you aim a kick or punch at someone, you try to kick or punch them.\nThey aimed kicks at his shins.\n  VERB: V n prep/adv\n\n9. When you take aim, you point a weapon or object at someone or something, before firing or throwing it.\nShe had spotted a man with a shotgun taking aim.\n  PHRASE: V inflects\n\n10. If you take aim at someone or something, you criticize them strongly. (AM)\nRepublican strategists are taking particular aim at Democratic senators.\n  PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n


Words: aimless
Meaning:
aim.less\n   aimless\n  A person or activity that is aimless has no clear purpose or plan.\nAfter several hours of aimless searching they were getting low on fuel.\n  ADJ\n  !=purposeful\n=>  aim.less.ly\nI wandered around aimlessly.\n  ADV: ADV after v


Words: ain’t
Meaning:
ain’t\n  People sometimes use ain’t instead of `am not’, `aren’t’, `isn’t’, `haven’t’, and `hasn’t’. Some people consider this use to be incorrect. (DIALECT, SPOKEN)\nWell, it’s obvious, ain’t it?...


Words: air
Meaning:
air  airs  airing  aired\n1. Air is the mixture of gases which forms the earth’s atmosphere and which we breathe.\nDraughts help to circulate air...\nKeith opened the window and leaned out into the cold air.\n...water and air pollutants.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n2. The air is the space around things or above the ground.\nGovernment troops broke up the protest by firing their guns in the air...\n  N-SING: the N\n\n3. Air is used to refer to travel in aircraft.\nAir travel will continue to grow at about 6% per year...\nCasualties had to be brought to hospital by air.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu N n, by N\n\n4. If you say that someone or something has a particular air, you mean that they give this general impression.\nJennifer regarded him with an air of amusement...\n  N-SING: with supp, oft N of n\n\n5. If you say that someone is putting on airs or giving themselves airs, you are criticizing them for behaving as if they are better than other people. (INFORMAL)\nWe’re poor and we never put on airs.\n  N-PLURAL  disapproval\n\n6. If a broadcasting company airs a television or radio programme, they show it on television or broadcast it on the radio. (mainly AM)\nTonight PBS will air a documentary called `Democracy In Action’.\n  VERB: V n\n  = broadcast\n=>  air.ing\n...the airing of offensive material.\n  N-SING\n\n7. If you air your opinions, you make them known to people.\nThe whole issue was thoroughly aired at the meeting.\n  VERB: be V-ed\n  = express\n8. If you air a room or building, you let fresh air into it.\nOne day a week her mother systematically cleaned and aired each room.\n  VERB: V n\n\n9. If you air clothing or bedding, you put it somewhere warm to make sure that it is completely dry.\n  VERB\n\n10. If you do something to clear the air, you do it in order to resolve any problems or disagreements that there might be.\n...an inquiry just to clear the air and settle the facts of the case.\n  PHRASE: V inflects\n\n11. If something is in the air it is felt to be present, but it is not talked about.\nThere was great excitement in the air...\n  PHRASE\n\n12. If someone is on the air, they are broadcasting on radio or television. If a programme is on the air, it is being broadcast on radio or television. If it is off the air, it is not being broadcast.\nShe is going on the air as presenter of a new show...\nThis message did not reach me until after the programme went off the air.\n  PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v\n\n13. If someone or something disappears into thin air, they disappear completely. If someone or something appears out of thin air, they appear suddenly and mysteriously.\nHe had materialized out of thin air; I had not seen or heard him coming.\n  PHRASE: PHR after v\n\n14. If you say that a decision or a situation is up in the air, you mean that it has not yet been completely settled or planned.\nHe told reporters today that the president’s trip to Moscow is up in the air.\n  PHRASE: v-link PHR\n  = undecided  !=settled\n15. If you say that you are walking on air or floating on air, you mean that you feel extremely happy about something.\nAs soon as I know I’m in the team it’s like I’m walking on air.\n  PHRASE: V inflects


Words: air ambulance
Meaning:
air am.bu.lance\n   air ambulance  air ambulances\n  An air ambulance is a helicopter or plane that is used for taking people to hospital.\n  N-COUNT: also by N


Words: air base
Meaning:
air base  air bases   also airbase\n  An air base is a centre where military aircraft take off or land and are serviced, and where many of the centre’s staff live.\n  N-COUNT


Words: air brake
Meaning:
air brake  air brakes\n  Air brakes are brakes which are used on heavy vehicles such as buses and trains and which are operated by means of compressed air.\n  N-COUNT


Words: air conditioned
Meaning:
air con.di.tioned\n   air conditioned\n  If a room or vehicle is air conditioned, the air in it is kept cool and dry by means of a special machine.\n...our new air conditioned trains.\n  ADJ


Words: air conditioner
Meaning:
air con.di.tion.er\n   air conditioner  air conditioners\n  An air conditioner is a machine which keeps the air in a building cool and dry.\n  N-COUNT


Words: air conditioning
Meaning:
air con.di.tion.ing\n   air conditioning\n  Air conditioning is a method of providing buildings and vehicles with cool dry air.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N n


Words: air drop
Meaning:
air drop  air drops  air dropping  air dropped   also airdrop; air-drop\n1. An air drop is a delivery of supplies by aircraft to an area that is hard to get to. The supplies are dropped from the aircraft on parachutes.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. If a country or organization air drops supplies to a place, it drops supplies there from aircraft.\n  VERB


Words: air force
Meaning:
air force  air forces\n  An air force is the part of a country’s armed forces that is concerned with fighting in the air.\n...the United States Air Force...\n  N-COUNT


Words: air freshener
Meaning:
air fresh.en.er\n   air freshener  air fresheners\n  An air freshener is a product people can buy which is meant to make rooms smell pleasant.\n  N-VAR


Words: air hostess
Meaning:
air host.ess\n   air hostess  air hostesses\n  An air hostess is a woman whose job is to look after the passengers in an aircraft. (BRIT OLD-FASHIONED; in AM, use stewardess)\n  N-COUNT\n  = stewardess


Words: air miles
Meaning:
air miles\n  Air miles are points that you collect when you buy certain goods or services and which you can use to pay for air travel.\n  N-PLURAL


Words: air pistol
Meaning:
air pis.tol\n   air pistol  air pistols\n  An air pistol is a small gun which is fired by means of air pressure.\n  N-COUNT


Words: air power
Meaning:
air pow.er\n   air power   also airpower\n  A nation’s air power is the strength of its air force.\nWe will use air power to protect UN peacekeepers if necessary.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: air rage
Meaning:
Air rage is aggressive or violent behaviour by airline passengers.\nMost air rage incidents involve heavy drinking.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N n


Words: air raid
Meaning:
air raid  air raids\n  An air raid is an attack by military aircraft in which bombs are dropped. This expression is usually used by the country or group that is suffering the attack.\nThe war began with overnight air raids on Baghdad and Kuwait.\n  N-COUNT: oft N on n, N n


Words: air rifle
Meaning:
air ri.fle\n   air rifle  air rifles\n  An air rifle is a rifle which is fired by means of air pressure.\n  N-COUNT


Words: air strike
Meaning:
air strike  air strikes   also airstrike\n  An air strike is an attack by military aircraft in which bombs are dropped. This expression is usually used by the country or group that is carrying out the attack.\nA senior defence official said last night that they would continue the air strikes.\n  N-COUNT


Words: air terminal
Meaning:
air ter.mi.nal\n   air terminal  air terminals\n  An air terminal is a building in which passengers wait before they get on to an aeroplane. (mainly BRIT)\n  N-COUNT


Words: air time
Meaning:
air time   also airtime\n  The airtime that something gets is the amount of time taken up with broadcasts about it.\nEven the best women’s teams get little air time...\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: air traffic control
Meaning:
air traf.fic con.trol\n   air traffic control\n1. Air traffic control is the activity of organizing the routes that aircraft should follow, and telling pilots by radio which routes they should take.\n...the nation’s overburdened air-traffic-control system.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N n\n\n2. Air traffic control is the group of people who organize the routes aircraft take.\nThey have to wait for clearance from air traffic control.\n  N-UNCOUNT-COLL


Words: air traffic controller
Meaning:
air traf.fic con.trol.ler\n   air traffic controller  air traffic controllers\n  An air traffic controller is someone whose job is to organize the routes that aircraft should follow, and to tell pilots by radio which routes they should take.\n  N-COUNT


Words: air-con
Meaning:
Air-con is the same as air conditioning. (INFORMAL)\nThe bus is a 45-seater with air-con and videos.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: air-cooled
Meaning:
air-cooled\n  An air-cooled engine is prevented from getting too hot when it is running by cool air that passes over it, rather than being cooled by a liquid.\nThe car was powered by a four cylinder air-cooled engine.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: air-to-air
Meaning:
air-to-air\n  Air-to-air combat is a battle between military aeroplanes where rockets or bullets are fired at one aeroplane from another.\n...air-to-air missiles.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: airbag
Meaning:
air.bag\n   airbag  airbags\nin AM and sometimes in BRIT, use air bag\n  An airbag is a safety device in a car which automatically fills with air if the car crashes, and is designed to protect the people in the car when they are thrown forward in the crash.\n  N-COUNT


Words: airbed
Meaning:
air.bed\n   airbed  airbeds   also air bed\n  An airbed is a plastic or rubber mattress which can be folded or stored flat and which you fill with air before you use it.\n  N-COUNT


Words: airborne
Meaning:
air.borne\n   airborne\n1. If an aircraft is airborne, it is in the air and flying.\nThe pilot did manage to get airborne.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ\n\n2. Airborne troops use parachutes to get into enemy territory.\nThe allies landed thousands of airborne troops.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n3. Airborne means in the air or carried in the air.\nMany people are allergic to airborne pollutants such as pollen.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: airbrush
Meaning:
air.brush\n   airbrush  airbrushes  airbrushing  airbrushed\n1. An airbrush is an artist’s tool which sprays paint onto a surface.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. To airbrush a photograph or other image means to change it using an airbrush, especially to make it more beautiful or perfect.\n...bits of photographs cut, pasted and then airbrushed to create a convincing whole.\n  VERB: V-ed, also V n


Words: Airbus
Meaning:
Air.bus\n   Airbus  Airbuses\n  An Airbus is an aeroplane which is designed to carry a large number of passengers for fairly short distances. (TRADEMARK)\n  N-COUNT


Words: aircraft
Meaning:
air.craft\n   aircraft  aircraft\n  An aircraft is a vehicle which can fly, for example an aeroplane or a helicopter.\nThe return flight of the aircraft was delayed...\nAt least three military aircraft were destroyed.\n  N-COUNT


Words: aircraft carrier
Meaning:
air.craft car.ri.er\n   aircraft carrier  aircraft carriers\n  An aircraft carrier is a warship with a long, flat deck where aircraft can take off and land.\n  N-COUNT


Words: aircrew
Meaning:
air.crew\n   aircrew  aircrews   also air crew\n  The aircrew on a plane are the pilot and other people who are responsible for flying it and for looking after any passengers who are on it.\n  N-COUNT-COLL


Words: airdrome
Meaning:
air.drome\n   airdrome  airdromes\n  An airdrome is a place or area where small aircraft can land and take off. (AM; in BRIT, use aerodrome)\n  N-COUNT\n  = airfield


Words: airfare
Meaning:
air.fare\n   airfare  airfares\n  The airfare to a place is the amount it costs to fly there.\n  N-COUNT


Words: airfield
Meaning:
air.field\n   airfield  airfields\n  An airfield is an area of ground where aircraft take off and land. It is smaller than an airport.\n  N-COUNT


Words: airflow
Meaning:
air.flow\n   airflow  airflows\n  The airflow around an object or vehicle is the way that the air flows around it.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: airgun
Meaning:
air.gun\n   airgun  airguns\nin AM and sometimes in BRIT, use air gun\n  An airgun is a gun which is fired by means of air pressure.\n  N-COUNT


Words: airhead
Meaning:
air.head\n   airhead  airheads\n  If you describe someone, especially a young woman, as an airhead, you are critical of them because you think they are not at all clever and are interested only in unimportant things. (INFORMAL)\n  N-COUNT  disapproval


Words: airing cupboard
Meaning:
air.ing cup.board\n   airing cupboard  airing cupboards\n  In British houses, an airing cupboard is a warm cupboard where you put clothes and other things that have been washed and partly dried, to make sure they are completely dry.\n  N-COUNT


Words: airless
Meaning:
air.less\n   airless\n  If a place is airless, there is no fresh air in it.\n...a dark, airless room...\n  ADJ


Words: airlift
Meaning:
air.lift\n   airlift  airlifts  airlifting  airlifted\n1. An airlift is an operation to move people, troops, or goods by air, especially in a war or when land routes are closed.\nPresident Garcia has ordered an airlift of food, medicines and blankets.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. If people, troops, or goods are airlifted somewhere, they are carried by air, especially in a war or when land routes are closed.\nThe injured were airlifted to hospital in Prestwick...\n  VERB: be V-ed to n


Words: airline
Meaning:
air.line\n   airline  airlines\n  An airline is a company which provides regular services carrying people or goods in aeroplanes.\n...the Dutch national airline KLM.\n  N-COUNT: oft in names


Words: airliner
Meaning:
air.lin.er\n   airliner  airliners\n  An airliner is a large aeroplane that is used for carrying passengers.\n  N-COUNT


Words: airlock
Meaning:
air.lock\n   airlock  airlocks   also air lock\n1. An airlock is a small room that is used to move between areas which do not have the same air pressure, for example in a spacecraft or submarine.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. An airlock is a bubble of air in a pipe that prevents liquid from flowing through.\n  N-COUNT


Words: airmail
Meaning:
air.mail\n   airmail\n  Airmail is the system of sending letters, parcels, and goods by air.\n...an airmail letter...\nGoods are generally shipped by airmail.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N n, by N


Words: airman
Meaning:
air.man\n   airman  airmen\n  An airman is a man who flies aircraft, especially one who serves in his country’s air force.\n  N-COUNT: oft supp N


Words: airplane
Meaning:
air.plane\n   airplane  airplanes\n  An airplane is a vehicle with wings and one or more engines that enable it to fly through the air. (AM; in BRIT, use aeroplane)\n  N-COUNT


Words: airplay
Meaning:
air.play\n   airplay\n  The airplay which a piece of popular music receives is the number of times it is played on the radio.\nOur first single got a lot of airplay.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft supp N


Words: airport
Meaning:
air.port\n   airport  airports\n  An airport is a place where aircraft land and take off, which has buildings and facilities for passengers.\n...Heathrow Airport, the busiest international airport in the world.\n  N-COUNT: oft in names


Words: airport novel
Meaning:
air.port nov.el\n   airport novel airport novels\n  People sometimes refer to long novels such as thrillers and romances that are written in a popular style as airport novels.\n  N-COUNT


Words: airport tax
Meaning:
air.port tax\n   airport tax airport taxes\n  Airport tax is a tax that airline passengers have to pay in order to use an airport.\nOvernight return flights cost from .349 including airport taxes.\n  N-VAR


Words: airship
Meaning:
air.ship\n   airship  airships\n  An airship is an aircraft that consists of a large balloon which is filled with gas and is powered by an engine. It has a section underneath for passengers.\n  N-COUNT


Words: airshow
Meaning:
air.show\n   airshow  airshows   also air show\n  An airshow is an event at which aeroplane pilots entertain the public by performing very skilful and complicated movements with the aircraft in the sky.\n  N-COUNT


Words: airspace
Meaning:
air.space\n   airspace   also air space\n  A country’s airspace is the part of the sky that is over that country and is considered to belong to it.\nThe plane left British airspace.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp


Words: airspeed
Meaning:
air.speed\n   airspeed  airspeeds   also air speed\n  An aircraft’s airspeed is the speed at which it travels through the air.\n  N-COUNT


Words: airstrip
Meaning:
air.strip\n   airstrip  airstrips\n  An airstrip is a stretch of land which has been cleared so that aircraft can take off and land.\nWe landed on a grass airstrip, fifteen minutes after leaving Mahe.\n  N-COUNT


Words: airtight
Meaning:
air.tight\n   airtight   also air-tight\n1. If a container is airtight, its lid fits so tightly that no air can get in or out.\nStore the cookies in an airtight tin.\n  ADJ\n\n2. An airtight alibi, case, argument, or agreement is one that has been so carefully put together that nobody will be able to find a fault in it. (AM; in BRIT, use watertight)\nMick had an airtight alibi.\n  ADJ


Words: airwaves
Meaning:
air.waves\n   airwaves   also air waves\n1. The airwaves is used to refer to the activity of broadcasting on radio and television. For example, if someone says something over the airwaves, they say it on the radio or television. (JOURNALISM)\nThe election campaign has been fought not in street rallies but on the airwaves...\n  N-PLURAL: usu the N\n\n2. Airwaves are the radio waves which are used in radio and television broadcasting.\n  N-PLURAL


Words: airway
Meaning:
air.way\n   airway  airways\n1. A person’s airways are the passages from their nose and mouth down to their lungs, through which air enters and leaves their body.\n...an inflammation of the airways.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. The airways are all the routes that planes can travel along.\nHow does a private pilot get access to the airways?\n  N-PLURAL: usu the N\n\n3. Airways means the same as airwaves.\nThe interview went out over the airways.\n  N-PLURAL: usu the N


Words: airwoman
Meaning:
air.woman\n   airwoman  airwomen\n  An airwoman is a woman who flies aircraft, especially one who serves in her country’s air force.\n  N-COUNT


Words: airworthy
Meaning:
air.worthy\n   airworthy\n  If an aircraft is airworthy, it is safe to fly.\nThe mechanics work hard to keep the helicopters airworthy.\n  ADJ\n\n=>  air.worthiness\nAll our aircraft have certificates of airworthiness.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: airy
Meaning:
airy  airier  airiest\n1. If a building or room is airy, it has a lot of fresh air inside, usually because it is large.\nThe bathroom has a light and airy feel.\n  ADJ\n  !=stuffy\n2. You can use airy to describe someone’s behaviour when they are light-hearted and casual about things which some people take seriously.\nGiving them an airy wave of his hand, the Commander sailed past.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n  = casual


Words: airy-fairy
Meaning:
airy-fairy\n  If you describe someone’s ideas as airy-fairy, you are critical of them because you think the ideas are vague, impractical, and unrealistic. (BRIT)\n...their airy-fairy principles.\n  ADJ  disapproval


Words: aisle
Meaning:
aisle  aisles\n1. An aisle is a long narrow gap that people can walk along between rows of seats in a public building such as a church or between rows of shelves in a supermarket.\n...the frozen food aisle.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. The aisle is used in expressions such as walking down the aisle to refer to the activity of getting married.\nHe was in no hurry to walk down the aisle.\n  N-SING: the N


Words: ajar
Meaning:
ajar\n  If a door is ajar, it is slightly open.\nHe left the door ajar in case I needed him.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ


Words: aka
Meaning:
aka   also a.k.a.\n  aka is an abbreviation for `also known as’. aka is used especially when referring to someone’s nickname or stage name.\n...the writer Barbara Vine, aka Ruth Rendell.


Words: akimbo
Meaning:
akim.bo\n   akimbo\n  If you stand arms akimbo or with arms akimbo, you stand with your hands on your hips and your elbows pointing outwards. (OLD-FASHIONED)\n  PHRASE: usu PHR after v


Words: akin
Meaning:
akin\n  If one thing is akin to another, it is similar to it in some way. (FORMAL)\nListening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ to n


Words: al dente
Meaning:
al den.te\n   al dente\n  If you cook pasta or a vegetable until it is al dente, you cook it just long enough so that it is neither hard nor soft but is firm and slightly chewy.\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ


Words: alabaster
Meaning:
ala.bas.ter\n   alabaster\n  Alabaster is a white stone that is used for making statues, vases, and ornaments.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu N n


Words: alacrity
Meaning:
alac.rity\n   alacrity\n  If you do something with alacrity, you do it quickly and eagerly. (FORMAL)\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu with N


Words: alarm
Meaning:
alarm  alarms  alarming  alarmed\n1. Alarm is a feeling of fear or anxiety that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen.\nThe news was greeted with alarm by MPs...\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft with/in N, N over/about n\n\n2. If something alarms you, it makes you afraid or anxious that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen.\nWe could not see what had alarmed him.\n  VERB: V n\n  = frighten\n3. An alarm is an automatic device that warns you of danger, for example by ringing a bell.\nHe heard the alarm go off.\n  N-COUNT\n\n4. An alarm is the same as an alarm clock.\n  N-COUNT\n\n5.\n  see also alarming, alarmed, burglar alarm, car alarm, false alarm, fire alarm, smoke alarm\n6. If you say that something sets alarm bells ringing, you mean that it makes people feel worried or concerned about something.\n  PHRASE: N inflects\n\n7. If you raise the alarm or sound the alarm, you warn people of danger.\nHis family raised the alarm when he had not come home by 9pm.\n  PHRASE: V inflects


Words: alarm clock
Meaning:
alarm clock  alarm clocks\n  An alarm clock is a clock that you can set to make a noise so that it wakes you up at a particular time.\nI set my alarm clock for 4.30.\n  N-COUNT\n  = alarm


Words: alarmed
Meaning:
alarmed\n  If someone is alarmed, they feel afraid or anxious that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen.\nThey should not be too alarmed by the press reports...\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ by/at n


Words: alarming
Meaning:
alarm.ing\n   alarming\n  Something that is alarming makes you feel afraid or anxious that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen.\nThe disease has spread at an alarming rate.\n  ADJ\n  = worrying\n=>  alarm.ing.ly\n...the alarmingly high rate of heart disease.\n  ADV


Words: alarmist
Meaning:
alarm.ist\n   alarmist  alarmists\n  Someone or something that is alarmist causes unnecessary fear or anxiety that something unpleasant or dangerous is going to happen.\nContrary to the more alarmist reports, he is not going to die.\n  ADJ


Words: alas
Meaning:
alas\n  You use alas to say that you think that the facts you are talking about are sad or unfortunate. (FORMAL)\nSuch scandals have not, alas, been absent...\nAlas, it’s not that simple.\n  ADV: ADV with cl  feelings\n  = sadly


Words: Albanian
Meaning:
Al.ba.nian\n   Albanian  Albanians\n1. Albanian means belonging or relating to Albania, its people, language, or culture.\nHer parents were Albanian.\n...the Albanian coast.\n  ADJ\n\n2. An Albanian is an Albanian citizen or a person of Albanian origin.\n  N-COUNT\n\n3. Albanian is the language spoken by people who live in Albania.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: albatross
Meaning:
al.ba.tross\n   albatross  albatrosses\n1. An albatross is a very large white seabird.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. If you describe something or someone as an albatross around your neck, you mean that they cause you great problems from which you cannot escape, or they prevent you from doing what you want to do.\nPrivatization could become a political albatross for the ruling party.\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp  disapproval


Words: albeit
Meaning:
al.be.it\n   albeit\n  You use albeit to introduce a fact or comment which reduces the force or significance of what you have just said. (FORMAL)\nCharles’s letter was indeed published, albeit in a somewhat abbreviated form.\n  ADV: ADV with cl/group\n  = although


Words: albino
Meaning:
al.bi.no\n   albino  albinos\n  An albino is a person or animal with very white skin, white hair, and pink eyes.\n  N-COUNT\n\n  Albino is also an adjective.\n...an albino rabbit.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: album
Meaning:
al.bum\n   album  albums\n1. An album is a record with about 25 minutes of music on each side. You can also refer to a collection of songs that is available on a record, cassette, or CD as an album.\nChris likes music and has a large collection of albums and cassettes.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. An album is a book in which you keep things such as photographs or stamps that you have collected.\nTheresa showed me her photo album.\n  N-COUNT: oft n N


Words: albumin
Meaning:
al.bu.min\n   albumin\n  Albumin is a protein that is found in blood plasma, egg white, and some other substances.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: alchemical
Meaning:
al.chemi.cal\n   alchemical\n  Alchemical means relating to the science of alchemy.\n...alchemical experiments.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: alchemist
Meaning:
al.che.mist\n   alchemist  alchemists\n  An alchemist was a scientist in the Middle Ages who tried to discover how to change ordinary metals into gold.\n  N-COUNT


Words: alchemy
Meaning:
al.che.my\n   alchemy\n  Alchemy was a form of chemistry studied in the Middle Ages, which was concerned with trying to discover ways to change ordinary metals into gold.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: alcohol
Meaning:
al.co.hol\n   alcohol  alcohols\n1. Drinks that can make people drunk, such as beer, wine, and whisky, can be referred to as alcohol.\nDo either of you smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol?...\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n2. Alcohol is a colourless liquid that is found in drinks such as beer, wine, and whisky. It is also used in products such as perfumes and cleaning fluids.\n...low-alcohol beer...\n  N-MASS


Words: alcoholic
Meaning:
al.co.hol.ic\n   alcoholic  alcoholics\n1. An alcoholic is someone who cannot stop drinking large amounts of alcohol, even when this is making them ill.\nHe showed great courage by admitting that he is an alcoholic.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. Alcoholic drinks are drinks that contain alcohol.\n...the serving of alcoholic drinks.\n  ADJ


Words: alcoholism
Meaning:
al.co.hol.ism\n   alcoholism\n  People who suffer from alcoholism cannot stop drinking large quantities of alcohol.\n...the problems of alcoholism.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: alcove
Meaning:
al.cove\n   alcove  alcoves\n  An alcove is a small area of a room which is formed by one part of a wall being built further back than the rest of the wall.\nIn the alcoves on either side of the fire were bookshelves.\n  N-COUNT\n  = recess


Words: alder
Meaning:
al.der\n   alder  alders\n  An alder is a species of tree or shrub that grows especially in cool, damp places and loses its leaves in winter.\n  N-VAR


Words: alderman
Meaning:
al.der.man\n   alderman  aldermen\n1. In some parts of the United States and Canada, an alderman is a member of the governing body of a city.\n  N-COUNT; N-TITLE\n\n2. Until 1974 in England and Wales, an alderman was a senior member of a local council who was elected by other councillors.\n  N-COUNT; N-TITLE


Words: ale
Meaning:
ale  ales\n  Ale is a kind of strong beer.\n...our selection of ales and spirits.\n  N-MASS\n\n  see also ginger ale, real ale


Words: alert
Meaning:
alert  alerts  alerting  alerted\n1. If you are alert, you are paying full attention to things around you and are able to deal with anything that might happen.\nWe all have to stay alert...\nHe had been spotted by an alert neighbour.\n  ADJ\n  = attentive\n=>  alert.ness\nThe drug improved mental alertness.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n\n2. If you are alert to something, you are fully aware of it.\nThe bank is alert to the danger.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ to n\n\n3. An alert is a situation in which people prepare themselves for something dangerous that might happen soon.\nDue to a security alert, this train will not be stopping at Oxford Circus.\n  N-COUNT\n\n4. If you alert someone to a situation, especially a dangerous or unpleasant situation, you tell them about it.\nHe wanted to alert people to the activities of the group...\nI was hoping he’d alert the police.\n  VERB: V n to n, V n\n\n5.\n  see also red alert\n6. If soldiers or police are on alert, they are ready to deal with anything that may happen.\nSoldiers and police have been put on alert.\n  PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR\n\n7. If you are on the alert for something, you are ready to deal with it if it happens.\nThey want to be on the alert for similar buying opportunities.\n  PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR


Words: alfalfa
Meaning:
al.fal.fa\n   alfalfa\n  Alfalfa is a plant that is used for feeding farm animals. The shoots that develop from its seeds are sometimes eaten as a vegetable.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = lucerne


Words: alfresco
Meaning:
al.fres.co\n   alfresco   also al fresco\n  An alfresco activity, especially a meal, is one that takes place in the open air.\n... an al fresco breakfast of fresh fruit.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n  = outdoor\n  Alfresco is also an adverb.\nHe came across the man shaving alfresco.\n  ADV: ADV after v


Words: algae
Meaning:
al.gae\n   algae\n  Algae is a type of plant with no stems or leaves that grows in water or on damp surfaces.\n  N-UNCOUNT-COLL


Words: algal
Meaning:
al.gal\n   algal\n  Algal means relating to algae.\nSewage nutrients do increase algal growth in the harbour.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: algebra
Meaning:
al.ge.bra\n   algebra\n  Algebra is a type of mathematics in which letters are used to represent possible quantities.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: algebraic
Meaning:
al.ge.bra.ic\n   algebraic\n  Algebraic equations, expressions, and principles are based on or use algebra.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: Algerian
Meaning:
Al.ge.rian\n   Algerian  Algerians\n1. Algerian means belonging or relating to Algeria, or its people or culture.\n...the Algerian desert.\n...a young Algerian actor.\n  ADJ\n\n2. An Algerian is an Algerian citizen or a person of Algerian origin.\n  N-COUNT


Words: algorithm
Meaning:
al.go.rithm\n   algorithm  algorithms\n  An algorithm is a series of mathematical steps, especially in a computer programme, which will give you the answer to a particular kind of problem or question.\n  N-COUNT


Words: alias
Meaning:
ali.as\n   alias  aliases\n1. An alias is a false name, especially one used by a criminal.\nUsing an alias, he had rented a house in Fleet, Hampshire.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. You use alias when you are mentioning another name that someone, especially a criminal or an actor, is known by.\n...the defendant Pericles Pericleous, alias Peter Smith.\n  PREP: n-proper PREP n-proper


Words: alibi
Meaning:
ali.bi\n   alibi  alibis\n  If you have an alibi, you can prove that you were somewhere else when a crime was committed.\n  N-COUNT


Words: alien
Meaning:
al.ien\n   alien  aliens\n1. Alien means belonging to a different country, race, or group, usually one you do not like or are frightened of. (FORMAL)\nHe said they were opposed to the presence of alien forces in the region.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n  disapproval\n  = foreign\n2. You use alien to describe something that seems strange and perhaps frightening, because it is not part of your normal experience.\nHis work offers an insight into an alien culture.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n\n  = unfamiliar\n3. If something is alien to you or to your normal feelings or behaviour, it is not the way you would normally feel or behave. (FORMAL)\nSuch an attitude is alien to most businessmen.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ to n\n  = foreign, unfamiliar\n4. An alien is someone who is not a legal citizen of the country in which they live. (FORMAL or LEGAL)\n  N-COUNT\n  = foreigner\n5. In science fiction, an alien is a creature from outer space.\n  N-COUNT


Words: alienate
Meaning:
al.ien.ate\n   alienate  alienates  alienating  alienated\n1. If you alienate someone, you make them become unfriendly or unsympathetic towards you.\nThe government cannot afford to alienate either group.\n  VERB: V n\n\n2. To alienate a person from someone or something that they are normally linked with means to cause them to be emotionally or intellectually separated from them.\nHis second wife, Alice, was determined to alienate him from his two boys.\n  VERB: V n from n


Words: alight
Meaning:
alight  alights  alighting  alighted\n1. If something is alight, it is burning.\nSeveral buildings were set alight...\n  ADJ: v n ADJ, v-link ADJ\n  = ablaze\n2. If someone’s eyes are alight or if their face is alight, the expression in their eyes or on their face shows that they are feeling a strong emotion such as excitement or happiness. (LITERARY)\nShe paused and turned, her face alight with happiness.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n\n\n3. If a bird or insect alights somewhere, it lands there. (LITERARY)\nA thrush alighted on a branch of the pine tree.\n  VERB: V prep/adv\n\n4. When you alight from a train, bus, or other vehicle, you get out of it after a journey. (FORMAL)\n  VERB\n  = get off


Words: align
Meaning:
align  aligns  aligning  aligned\n1. If you align yourself with a particular group, you support them because you have the same political aim.\nThere are signs that the prime minister is aligning himself with the liberals...\nHe has attempted to align the Socialists with the environmental movement.\n  VERB: V pron-refl prep, V n prep, also V prep\n\n2. If you align something, you place it in a certain position in relation to something else, usually parallel to it.\nA tripod will be useful to align and steady the camera...\n  VERB: V n


Words: alignment
Meaning:
align.ment\n   alignment  alignments\n1. An alignment is support for a particular group, especially in politics, or for a side in a quarrel or struggle.\nThe church should have no political alignment...\n  N-VAR\n  = affiliation\n2. The alignment of something is its position in relation to something else or to its correct position.\n...the alignment of mirrors in the telescope.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = position


Words: alike
Meaning:
alike\n1. If two or more things are alike, they are similar in some way.\nWe looked very alike.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ\n  !=different\n2. Alike means in a similar way.\n...their assumption that all men and women think alike.\n  ADV: ADV after v\n  !=differently\n3. You use alike after mentioning two or more people, groups, or things in order to emphasize that you are referring to both or all of them.\nThe techniques are being applied almost everywhere by big and small firms alike.\n  ADV: n and n ADV  emphasis\n  = equally\n4.\n  see also lookalike


Words: alimentary canal
Meaning:
ali.men.ta.ry ca.nal\n   alimentary canal  alimentary canals\n  The alimentary canal in a person or animal is the passage in their body through which food passes from their mouth to their anus.\n  N-COUNT


Words: alimony
Meaning:
ali.mo.ny\n   alimony\n  Alimony is money that a court of law orders someone to pay regularly to their former wife or husband after they have got divorced. Compare palimony.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: alive
Meaning:
alive\n1. If people or animals are alive, they are not dead.\nShe does not know if he is alive or dead...\nThey kept her alive on a life support machine.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, keep n ADJ\n  !=dead\n2. If you say that someone seems alive, you mean that they seem to be very lively and to enjoy everything that they do.\nOur relationship made me feel more alive...\n  ADJ: usu v-link ADJ\n\n3. If an activity, organization, or situation is alive, it continues to exist or function.\nThe big factories are trying to stay alive by cutting costs...\nBoth communities have a tradition of keeping history alive.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, keep n ADJ\n  !=dead\n4. If a place is alive with something, there are a lot of people or things there and it seems busy or exciting.\nThe river was alive with birds...\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ with n\n\n5. If people, places, or events come alive, they start to be lively again after a quiet period. If someone or something brings them alive, they cause them to come alive.\nThe doctor’s voice had come alive and his small eyes shone.\n  PHRASE: V inflects\n\n6. If a story or description comes alive, it becomes interesting, lively, or realistic. If someone or something brings it alive, they make it seem more interesting, lively, or realistic.\nShe made history come alive with tales from her own memories...\n  PHRASE: V inflects\n\n7. If you say that someone or something is alive and kicking, you are emphasizing not only that they continue to survive, but also that they are very active.\n...worries that the secret police may still be alive and kicking.\n  PHRASE: v-link PHR  emphasis\n\n8. If you say that someone or something is alive and well, you are emphasizing that they continue to survive.\nA man who went missing yesterday during a blizzard has been found alive and well.\n  PHRASE: v-link PHR  emphasis


Words: alkali
Meaning:
al.ka.li\n   alkali  alkalis\n  An alkali is a substance with a pH value of more than 7. Alkalis form chemical salts when they are combined with acids.\n  N-MASS\n  !=acid


Words: alkaline
Meaning:
al.ka.line\n   alkaline\n  Something that is alkaline contains an alkali or has a pH value of more than 7.\nSome soils are actually too alkaline for certain plant life.\n  ADJ\n  !=acidic\n=>  al.ka.lin.ity\nA pH test measures the acidity or alkalinity of a substance.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  !=acidity


Words: all
Meaning:
all\n1. You use all to indicate that you are referring to the whole of a particular group or thing or to everyone or everything of a particular kind.\n...the restaurant that Hugh and all his friends go to...\nHe lost all his money at a blackjack table in Las Vegas.\n  PREDET: PREDET det pl-n-uncount\n\n  All is also a determiner.\nThere is built-in storage space in all bedrooms...\n85 percent of all American households owe money on mortgages...\nHe was passionate about all literature.\n  DET: DET pl-n-uncount\n\n  All is also a quantifier.\nHe was told to pack up all of his letters and personal belongings...\nHe was talking to all of us.\n  QUANT: QUANT of def-pl-n/def-n-uncount\n\n  All is also a pronoun.\nWe produce our own hair-care products, all based on herbal recipes...\nI’d spent all I had, every last penny.\n  PRON\n\n  All is also an emphasizing pronoun.\nMilk, oily fish and egg all contain vitamin D...\nWe all admire professionalism and dedication.\n  PRON: n PRON v\n\n2. You use all to refer to the whole of a particular period of time.\nGeorge had to cut grass all afternoon...\nShe’s been feeling bad all week.\n  DET: DET sing-n\n\n  All is also a predeterminer.\nShe’s worked all her life...\nHe was looking at me all the time.\n  PREDET: PREDET det sing-n\n\n  All is also a quantifier.\nHe spent all of that afternoon polishing the silver...\nTwo-thirds of the women interviewed think about food a lot or all of the time.\n  QUANT: QUANT of def-n\n\n3. You use all to refer to a situation or to life in general.\nAll is silent on the island now...\nAs you’ll have read in our news pages, all has not been well of late.\n  PRON\n\n4. You use all to emphasize that something is completely true, or happens everywhere or always, or on every occasion.\nHe loves animals and he knows all about them...\nParts for the aircraft will be made all round the world...\nI got scared and I ran and left her all alone...\nHe was doing it all by himself...\n  ADV: ADV prep/adv  emphasis\n\n5. You use all at the beginning of a clause when you are emphasizing that something is the only thing that is important.\nHe said all that remained was to agree to a time and venue...\nAll you ever want to do is go shopping!...\nAll I could say was, `I’m sorry’.\n  PRON  emphasis\n\n6. You use all in expressions such as in all sincerity and in all probability to emphasize that you are being sincere or that something is very likely.\nIn all fairness he had to admit that she was neither dishonest nor lazy...\n  DET: in DET n-uncount  emphasis\n\n7. You use all when you are talking about an equal score in a game. For example, if the score is three all, both players or teams have three points.\n  ADV: amount ADV\n\n8. All is used in structures such as all the more or all the better to mean even more or even better than before.\nThe living room is decorated in pale colours that make it all the more airy...\n  ADV: ADV the adv/adj-compar\n\n9. You use all in expressions such as seen it all and done it all to emphasize that someone has had a lot of experience of something.\n...women who have it all: career, husband and children...\nHere’s a man who has seen it all, tasted and heard it all.\n  PRON  emphasis\n\n10. You say above all to indicate that the thing you are mentioning is the most important point.\nAbove all, chairs should be comfortable...\n  PHRASE: PHR with cl/group  emphasis\n\n11. You use after all when introducing a statement which supports or helps explain something you have just said.\nI thought you might know somebody. After all, you’re the man with connections.\n  PHRASE: PHR with cl\n\n12. You use after all when you are saying that something that you thought might not be the case is in fact the case.\nI came out here on the chance of finding you at home after all...\n  PHRASE\n\n13. You use and all when you want to emphasize that what you are talking about includes the thing mentioned, especially when this is surprising or unusual.\n(next)


Words: all .1
Meaning:
He dropped his sausage on the pavement and someone’s dog ate it, mustard and all.\n  PHRASE: n PHR  emphasis\n\n14. You use all in all to introduce a summary or general statement.\nWe both thought that all in all it might not be a bad idea...\n  PHRASE: PHR with cl\n\n15. You use at all at the end of a clause to give emphasis in negative statements, conditional clauses, and questions.\nRobin never really liked him at all...\n  PHRASE  emphasis\n\n16. All but a particular person or thing means everyone or everything except that person or thing.\nThe general was an unattractive man to all but his most ardent admirers...\n  PHRASE: PHR n\n\n17. You use all but to say that something is almost the case.\nThe concrete wall that used to divide this city has now all but gone...\n  PHRASE: PHR -ed\n\n18. You use for all to indicate that the thing mentioned does not affect or contradict the truth of what you are saying.\nFor all its faults, the film instantly became a classic.\n  PHRASE: PHR n\n  = despite\n19. You use for all in phrases such as for all I know, and for all he cares, to emphasize that you do not know something or that someone does not care about something.\nFor all we know, he may even not be in this country...\nYou can go right now for all I care.\n  PHRASE: PHR with cl  emphasis\n\n20. If you give your all or put your all into something, you make the maximum effort possible.\nHe puts his all into every game.\n  PHRASE: V inflects\n\n21. In all means in total.\nThere was evidence that thirteen people in all had taken part in planning the murder.\n  PHRASE: PHR with cl, amount PHR\n\n22. If something such as an activity is a particular price all in, that price includes everything that is offered. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL)\nDinner is about .25 all in.\n  PHRASE: amount PHR, PHR with cl\n\n23. You use of all to emphasize the words `first’ or `last’, or a superlative adjective or adverb.\nFirst of all, answer these questions...\nNow she faces her toughest task of all.\n  PHRASE: PHR with superl  emphasis\n\n24. You use of all in expressions such as of all people or of all things when you want to emphasize someone or something surprising.\nThey met and fell in love in a supermarket, of all places.\n  PHRASE: PHR n  emphasis\n\n25. You use all in expressions like of all the cheek or of all the luck to emphasize how angry or surprised you are at what someone else has done or said.\nOf all the lazy, indifferent, unbusinesslike attitudes to have!\n  PHRASE  feelings\n\n26. You use all of before a number to emphasize how small or large an amount is.\nIt took him all of 41 minutes to score his first goal...\n  PHRASE: PHR amount  emphasis\n\n27. You use all that in statements with negative meaning when you want to weaken the force of what you are saying. (SPOKEN)\nHe wasn’t all that older than we were...\n  PHRASE: PHR with brd-neg, PHR adj/adv  vagueness\n\n28. You can say that’s all at the end of a sentence when you are explaining something and want to emphasize that nothing more happens or is the case.\n`Why do you want to know that?’ he demanded..`Just curious, that’s all.’...\n  PHRASE: cl PHR\n\n29. You use all very well to suggest that you do not really approve of something or you think that it is unreasonable.\nIt is all very well to urge people to give more to charity when they have less, but is it really fair?\n  PHRASE: v-link PHR  disapproval


Words: all clear
Meaning:
all clear\n1. The all clear is a signal that a dangerous situation, for example an air raid, has ended.\nThe all clear was sounded about 10 minutes after the alert was given.\n  N-SING: the N\n\n  All clear is also a convention.\n`All clear,’ Misha growled.\n  CONVENTION\n\n2. If someone in authority gives you the all clear, they give you permission to continue with a plan or activity, usually after a problem has been sorted out.\nI was given the all clear by the doctor to resume playing.\n  N-SING: the N\n  = go-ahead


Words: all right
Meaning:
all right\nin BRIT, also use alright\n1. If you say that someone or something is all right, you mean that you find them satisfactory or acceptable.\nIs it all right with you if we go now?...\n`How was school?’.`It was all right.’\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ\n  = okay\n  All right is also used before a noun. (INFORMAL)\nHe’s an all right kind of guy really.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n2. If you say that something happens or goes all right, you mean that it happens in a satisfactory or acceptable manner.\nThings have thankfully worked out all right...\n  ADV: ADV after v\n  = okay\n3. If someone or something is all right, they are well or safe.\nAll she’s worried about is whether he is all right...\nAre you feeling all right now?\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ\n  = okay\n4. You say `all right’ when you are agreeing to something.\n`I think you should go now.’.`All right.’...\n  CONVENTION  formulae\n  = okay\n5. You say `all right?’ after you have given an instruction or explanation to someone when you are checking that they have understood what you have just said, or checking that they agree with or accept what you have just said.\nPeter, you get half the fees. All right?...\n  CONVENTION\n  = okay\n6. If someone in a position of authority says `all right’, and suggests talking about or doing something else, they are indicating that they want you to end one activity and start another.\nAll right, Bob. You can go now...\n  CONVENTION\n\n7. You say `all right’ during a discussion to show that you understand something that someone has just said, and to introduce a statement that relates to it.\n`I’m a bit busy now.’.`All right, why don’t I come back later?’\n  CONVENTION\n  = okay\n8. You say all right before a statement or question to indicate that you are challenging or threatening someone.\nAll right, who are you and what are you doing in my office?...\n  CONVENTION\n  = okay


Words: all-
Meaning:
all-\n1. All- is added to nouns or adjectives in order to form adjectives which describe something as consisting only of the thing mentioned or as having only the quality indicated.\n...an all-star cast...\n...all-cotton sheeting.\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n2. All- is added to present participles or adjectives in order to form adjectives which describe something as including or affecting everything or everyone.\nNursing a demented person is an all-consuming task...\n  COMB IN ADJ: usu ADJ n\n\n3. All- is added to nouns in order to form adjectives which describe something as being suitable for or including all types of a particular thing.\nHe wanted to form an all-party government of national unity...\n  COMB in ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: all-American
Meaning:
all-American\n  If you describe someone as an all-American boy or girl, you mean that they seem to have all the typical qualities that are valued by ordinary Americans, such as good looks and love of their country.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: all-comers
Meaning:
all-comers   also all comers\n  You use all-comers to refer to everyone who wants to take part in an activity, especially a competition.\nThis is her second season offering residential courses for all-comers.\n  N-PLURAL


Words: all-embracing
Meaning:
all-embracing\n  Something that is all-embracing includes or affects everyone or everything.\nHis hospitality was instantaneous and all-embracing.\n  ADJ\n  = all-encompassing


Words: all-inclusive
Meaning:
all-inclusive\n  All-inclusive is used to indicate that a price, especially the price of a holiday, includes all the charges and all the services offered.\nAn all-inclusive two-week holiday costs around .2880 per person.\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: all-out
Meaning:
all-out   also all out\n  You use all-out to describe actions that are carried out in a very energetic and determined way, using all the resources available.\nHe launched an all-out attack on his critics.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n  All out is also an adverb.\nWe will be going all out to ensure it doesn’t happen again.\n  ADV: ADV after v


Words: all-powerful
Meaning:
all-powerful\n  An all-powerful person or organization has the power to do anything they want.\n...the all-powerful labour unions.\n  ADJ


Words: all-purpose
Meaning:
all-purpose\n  You use all-purpose to refer to things that have lots of different uses or can be used in lots of different situations.\nUse all-purpose flour if you cannot find pastry flour.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: all-round
Meaning:
all-round\nin AM, also use all-around\n1. An all-round person is good at a lot of different skills, academic subjects, or sports.\nHe is a great all-round player.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n2. All-round means doing or relating to all aspects of a job or activity.\nHe demonstrated the all-round skills of a quarterback.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: all-rounder
Meaning:
all-rounder  all-rounders\n  Someone who is an all-rounder is good at a lot of different skills, academic subjects, or sports. (BRIT)\nI class myself as an all-rounder.\n  N-COUNT


Words: all-seater
Meaning:
all-seater\n  An all-seater stadium has enough seats for all the audience, rather than having some areas without seats where people stand. (BRIT)\n  ADJ: usu ADJ n


Words: all-singing all-dancing
Meaning:
all-singing all-dancing\n  If you describe something new as all-singing, all-dancing, you mean that it is very modern and advanced, with a lot of additional features; used especially to show that you think a lot of these features are silly or unnecessary. (HUMOROUS)\n...the executive’s new all-singing, all-dancing website.\n  PHRASE: PHR n


Words: all-star
Meaning:
all-star\n  An all-star cast, performance, or game is one which contains only famous or extremely good performers or players.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: all-time
Meaning:
all-time\n  You use all-time when you are comparing all the things of a particular type that there have ever been. For example, if you say that something is the all-time best, you mean that it is the best thing of its type that there has ever been.\nThe president’s popularity nationally is at an all-time low...\nDuane Eddy is John Peel’s all-time favourite artist.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: allay
Meaning:
al.lay\n   allay  allays  allaying  allayed\n  If you allay someone’s fears or doubts, you stop them feeling afraid or doubtful. (FORMAL)\nHe did what he could to allay his wife’s fears.\n  VERB: V n\n  = calm


Words: allegation
Meaning:
al.le.ga.tion\n   allegation  allegations\n  An allegation is a statement saying that someone has done something wrong.\nThe company has denied the allegations...\nAllegations of brutality and theft have been levelled at the army.\n  N-COUNT\n  = claim


Words: allege
Meaning:
al.lege\n   allege  alleges  alleging  alleged\n  If you allege that something bad is true, you say it but do not prove it. (FORMAL)\nShe alleged that there was rampant drug use among the male members of the group...\nThe accused is alleged to have killed a man...\nIt was alleged that the restaurant discriminated against black customers.\n  VERB: V that, be V-ed to-inf, it be V-ed that\n  = claim


Words: alleged
Meaning:
al.leged\n   alleged\n  An alleged fact has been stated but has not been proved to be true. (FORMAL)\nThey have begun a hunger strike in protest at the alleged beating.\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n=>  al.leg.ed.ly\nHis van allegedly struck the two as they were crossing a street.\n  ADV


Words: allegiance
Meaning:
al.le.giance\n   allegiance  allegiances\n  Your allegiance is your support for and loyalty to a particular group, person, or belief.\nMy allegiance to Kendall and his company ran deep.\n  N-VAR: oft N to n


Words: allegorical
Meaning:
al.le.gori.cal\n   allegorical\n  An allegorical story, poem, or painting uses allegory.\nEvery Russian knows the allegorical novel The Master And Margarita.\n  ADJ


Words: allegory
Meaning:
al.le.go.ry\n   allegory  allegories\n1. An allegory is a story, poem, or painting in which the characters and events are symbols of something else. Allegories are often moral, religious, or political.\nThe book is a kind of allegory of Latin American history.\n  N-COUNT: oft N of n\n  = parable\n2. Allegory is the use of characters and events in a story, poem, or painting to represent other things.\nThe poem’s comic allegory was transparent.\n  N-UNCOUNT


Words: allegro
Meaning:
al.le.gro\n   allegro  allegros\n  An allegro is a piece of classical music that should be played quickly and in a lively way.\n  N-COUNT: oft in names


Words: allergen
Meaning:
al.ler.gen\n   allergen  allergens\n  An allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction in someone. (TECHNICAL)\n  N-COUNT


Words: allergic
Meaning:
al.ler.gic\n   allergic\n1. If you are allergic to something, you become ill or get a rash when you eat it, smell it, or touch it.\nI’m allergic to cats.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ to n\n\n2. If you have an allergic reaction to something, you become ill or get a rash when you eat it, smell it, or touch it.\nSoya milk can cause allergic reactions in some children.\n  ADJ: ADJ n


Words: allergist
Meaning:
al.ler.gist\n   allergist  allergists\n  An allergist is a doctor who specializes in treating people with allergies.\n  N-COUNT


Words: allergy
Meaning:
al.ler.gy\n   allergy  allergies\n  If you have a particular allergy, you become ill or get a rash when you eat, smell, or touch something that does not normally make people ill.\nFood allergies can result in an enormous variety of different symptoms...\n  N-VAR


Words: alleviate
Meaning:
al.le.vi.ate\n   alleviate  alleviates  alleviating  alleviated\n  If you alleviate pain, suffering, or an unpleasant condition, you make it less intense or severe. (FORMAL)\nNowadays, a great deal can be done to alleviate back pain.\n  VERB: V n\n  = ease  !=aggravate\n=>  al.le.via.tion\nTheir energies were focussed on the alleviation of the refugees’ misery.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n


Words: alley
Meaning:
al.ley\n   alley  alleys\n  An alley is a narrow passage or street with buildings or walls on both sides.\n  N-COUNT\n\n  see also blind alley, bowling alley


Words: alley cat
Meaning:
al.ley cat\n   alley cat  alley cats\n  An alley cat is a cat that lives in the streets of a town, is rather fierce, and is usually not owned by anyone.\n  N-COUNT


Words: alleyway
Meaning:
alley.way\n   alleyway  alleyways   also alley-way\n  An alleyway is the same as an alley.\n  N-COUNT\n  = alley


Words: alliance
Meaning:
al.li.ance\n   alliance  alliances\n1. An alliance is a group of countries or political parties that are formally united and working together because they have similar aims.\nThe two parties were still too much apart to form an alliance.\n  N-COUNT\n  = coalition\n2. An alliance is a relationship in which two countries, political parties, or organizations work together for some purpose.\nWhat will be the effect of the alliance between IBM and Apple?...\n  N-COUNT: oft N with/between n, also in N with n\n  = partnership


Words: allied
Meaning:
al.lied\n   allied\n1. Allied forces or troops are armies from different countries who are fighting on the same side in a war.\n...the approaching Allied forces...\n  ADJ: ADJ n\n\n2. Allied countries, troops, or political parties are united by a political or military agreement.\n...forces from three allied nations.\n  ADJ: ADJ n, v-link ADJ to n\n\n3. If one thing or group is allied to another, it is related to it because the two things have particular qualities or characteristics in common.\n...lectures on subjects allied to health, beauty and fitness...\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ to/with n, ADJ n\n  = associated\n4. Something that is allied to another thing occurs with the other thing. (FORMAL)\nHe possessed a raw energy allied to a feeling of something special.\n...a disastrous rise in interest rates allied with a stock market slump.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ to/with n\n  = coupled


Words: alligator
Meaning:
al.li.ga.tor\n   alligator  alligators\n  An alligator is a large reptile with short legs, a long tail and very powerful jaws.\n  N-COUNT


Words: alliteration
Meaning:
al.lit.era.tion\n   alliteration  alliterations\n  Alliteration is the use in speech or writing of several words close together which all begin with the same letter or sound. (TECHNICAL)\n  N-VAR


Words: alliterative
Meaning:
al.lit.era.tive\n   alliterative\n  Alliterative means relating to or connected with alliteration. (TECHNICAL)\nHer campaign slogan, `a president for the people’, was pleasantly alliterative but empty.\n  ADJ


Words: allocate
Meaning:
al.lo.cate\n   allocate  allocates  allocating  allocated\n  If one item or share of something is allocated to a particular person or for a particular purpose, it is given to that person or used for that purpose.\nTickets are limited and will be allocated to those who apply first...\nThe 1985 federal budget allocated $7.3 billion for development programmes...\nOur plan is to allocate one member of staff to handle appointments.\n  VERB: be V-ed to n, V n for/to n, V n to-inf\n  = assign, allot


Words: allocation
Meaning:
al.lo.ca.tion\n   allocation  allocations\n1. An allocation is an amount of something, especially money, that is given to a particular person or used for a particular purpose.\nThe aid allocation for Pakistan was still under review...\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. The allocation of something is the decision that it should be given to a particular person or used for a particular purpose.\nTown planning and land allocation had to be coordinated.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp


Words: allot
Meaning:
al.lot\n   allot  allots  allotting  allotted\n  If something is allotted to someone, it is given to them as their share.\nThe seats are allotted to the candidates who have won the most votes...\nWe were allotted half an hour to address the committee.\n  VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to n, be V-ed n\n  = assign, allocate


Words: allotment
Meaning:
al.lot.ment\n   allotment  allotments\n1. In Britain, an allotment is a small area of land in a town which a person rents to grow plants and vegetables on.\n  N-COUNT\n\n2. An allotment of something is a share or amount of it that is given to someone.\nHis meager allotment of gas had to be saved for emergencies.\n  N-COUNT: oft N of n\n  = allocation


Words: allow
Meaning:
al.low\n   allow  allows  allowing  allowed\n1. If someone is allowed to do something, it is all right for them to do it and they will not get into trouble.\nThe children are not allowed to watch violent TV programmes...\nThe Government will allow them to advertise on radio and television...\nThey will be allowed home...\nSmoking will not be allowed.\n  VERB: be V-ed to-inf, V n to-inf, be V-ed adv/prep, be V-ed, also V n/-ing\n  = permit, let  !=forbid\n2. If you are allowed something, you are given permission to have it or are given it.\nGifts like chocolates or flowers are allowed...\nHe should be allowed the occasional treat.\n  VERB: be V-ed, be V-ed n\n  = permit  !=forbid\n3. If you allow something to happen, you do not prevent it.\nHe won’t allow himself to fail...\nIf the soil is allowed to dry out the tree could die.\n  VERB: V n to-inf, V n to-inf\n  = permit, let  !=prevent\n4. If one thing allows another thing to happen, the first thing creates the opportunity for the second thing to happen.\nThe compromise will allow him to continue his free market reforms.\n...an attempt to allow the Moslem majority a greater share of power...\nShe said this would allow more effective planning.\n  VERB: V n to-inf, V n n, V n\n  = permit, let  !=prevent\n5. If you allow a particular length of time or a particular amount of something for a particular purpose, you include it in your planning.\nPlease allow 28 days for delivery...\nAllow about 75ml (3fl oz) per six servings.\n  VERB: V n for n, V n\n\n6. If you allow that something is true, you admit or agree that it is true. (FORMAL)\nWarren also allows that capitalist development may, in its early stages, result in increased social inequality.\n  VERB: V that\n  = acknowledge\n7. Some people use Allow me to... as a way of introducing something that they want to say or do. (FORMAL)\nAllow me to introduce Dr Amberg.\n  PHRASE\n  = permit me to


Words: allow for
Meaning:
allow for\n  If you allow for certain problems or expenses, you include some extra time or money in your planning so that you can deal with them if they occur.\nYou have to allow for a certain amount of error...\n  PHRASAL VERB: V P n


Words: allowable
Meaning:
al.low.able\n   allowable\n1. If people decide that something is allowable, they let it happen without trying to stop it.\nCapital punishment is allowable only under exceptional circumstances.\n  ADJ\n  = permissible\n2. Allowable costs or expenses are amounts of money that you do not have to pay tax on. (BUSINESS)\n  ADJ


Words: allowance
Meaning:
al.low.ance\n   allowance  allowances\n1. An allowance is money that is given to someone, usually on a regular basis, in order to help them pay for the things that they need.\nHe lives on a single parent’s allowance of .70 a week...\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft N of amount\n\n2. A child’s allowance is money that is given to him or her every week or every month by his or her parents. (mainly AM; in BRIT, use pocket money)\n  N-COUNT: usu poss N\n\n3. Your tax allowance is the amount of money that you are allowed to earn before you have to start paying income tax. (BRIT; in AM, use personal exemption)\n...those earning less than the basic tax allowance.\n  N-COUNT: usu with supp\n\n4. A particular type of allowance is an amount of something that you are allowed in particular circumstances.\nMost of our flights have a baggage allowance of 44lbs per passenger.\n  N-COUNT: with supp\n\n5. If you make allowances for something, you take it into account in your decisions, plans, or actions.\nWe’ll make allowances in the schedule for time off...\n  PHRASE: V and N inflect, oft PHR for n\n\n6. If you make allowances for someone, you accept behaviour which you would not normally accept or deal with them less severely than you would normally, because of a problem that they have.\nHe’s tired so I’ll make allowances for him.\n  PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR for n


Words: alloy
Meaning:
al.loy\n   alloy  alloys\n  An alloy is a metal that is made by mixing two or more types of metal together.\nBronze is an alloy of copper and tin...\n  N-MASS


Words: allspice
Meaning:
all.spice\n   allspice\n  Allspice is a powder used as a spice in cooking, which is made from the berries of a tropical American tree.\n  N-UNCOUNT\n  = pimento


Words: allude
Meaning:
al.lude\n   allude  alludes  alluding  alluded\n  If you allude to something, you mention it in an indirect way. (FORMAL)\nShe also alluded to her rival’s past marital troubles.\n  VERB: V to n\n  = refer


Words: allure
Meaning:
al.lure\n   allure\n  The allure of something or someone is the pleasing or exciting quality that they have.\nIt’s a game that has really lost its allure.\n  N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp\n  = attraction


Words: alluring
Meaning:
al.lur.ing\n   alluring\n  Someone or something that is alluring is very attractive.\n...the most alluring city in South-East Asia.\n  ADJ\n  = fascinating


Words: allusion
Meaning:
al.lu.sion\n   allusion  allusions\n  An allusion is an indirect reference to someone or something.\nThe title is perhaps an allusion to AIDS.\n  N-VAR: oft N to n


Words: allusive
Meaning:
al.lu.sive\n   allusive\n  Allusive speech, writing, or art is full of indirect references to people or things.\nHis new play, Arcadia, is as intricate, elaborate and allusive as anything he has yet written.\n  ADJ


Words: alluvial
Meaning:
al.lu.vial\n   alluvial\n  Alluvial soils are soils which consist of earth and sand left behind on land which has been flooded or where a river once flowed. (TECHNICAL)\n  ADJ


Words: ally
Meaning:
ally allies allying  allied\nThe noun is pronounced   The verb is pronounced\n1. A country’s ally is another country that has an agreement to support it, especially in war.\nWashington would not take such a step without its allies’ approval...\nThe United States is a close ally of South Korea.\n  N-COUNT: with supp\n  !=adversary\n2. The Allies were the armed forces that fought against Germany and Japan in the Second World War.\n  N-PLURAL: the N\n\n3. If you describe someone as your ally, you mean that they help and support you, especially when other people are opposing you.\nHe is a close ally of the Prime Minister...\n  N-COUNT: with supp\n  = supporter, friend  !=enemy\n4. If you ally yourself with someone or something, you give your support to them.\nHe will have no choice but to ally himself with the new movement.\n  VERB: V pron-refl with n\n\n5.\n  see also allied


Words: alma mater
Meaning:
alma ma.ter\n   alma mater   alma maters\n1. Your alma mater is the school or university which you went to. (FORMAL)\n  N-COUNT: usu sing, usu with poss\n\n2. A school or college’s alma mater is its official song. (AM)\n  N-SING


Words: almanac
Meaning:
al.ma.nac\n   almanac  almanacs   also almanack\n1. An almanac is a book published every year which contains information about the movements of the planets, the changes of the moon and the tides, and the dates of important anniversaries.\n  N-COUNT: oft in names\n\n2. An almanac is a book published every year which contains information about events connected with a particular subject or activity, and facts and statistics about that activity.\n  N-COUNT: oft in names


Words: almighty
Meaning:
al.mighty\n   almighty\n1. The Almighty is another name for God. You can also refer to Almighty God.\nAdam sought guidance from the Almighty...\n  N-PROPER\n\n2. People sometimes say God Almighty or Christ Almighty to express their surprise, anger, or horror. These expressions could cause offence.\n  EXCLAM  feelings\n\n3. Almighty means very serious or great in extent. (INFORMAL)\nI had the most almighty row with the waitress...\n  ADJ: ADJ n  emphasis


Words: almond
Meaning:
al.mond\n   almond  almonds\n1. Almonds are pale oval nuts. They are often used in cooking.\n...sponge cake flavoured with almonds.\n  N-VAR\n\n  see also sugared almond\n2. An almond or an almond tree, is a tree on which almonds grow.\nOn the left was a plantation of almond trees.\n  N-VAR


Words: almost
Meaning:
al.most\n   almost\n  You use almost to indicate that something is not completely the case but is nearly the case.\nThe couple had been dating for almost three years...\nStorms have been hitting almost all of Britain recently...\nThe effect is almost impossible to describe...\nThe arrested man will almost certainly be kept at this police station...\nHe contracted Spanish flu, which almost killed him.\n  ADV: ADV group, ADV before v\n  = nearly


Words: almshouse
Meaning:
alms.house\n   almshouse  almshouses   also alms-house\n  Almshouses are houses in Britain which were built and run by charities to provide accommodation for poor or old people who could not afford to pay rent.\n  N-COUNT


Words: aloe vera
Meaning:
aloe vera\n  Aloe vera is a substance that contains vitamins and minerals and is often used in cosmetics. Aloe vera is also the name of the plant from which this substance is extracted.\n  N-UNCOUNT: oft N n


Words: aloft
Meaning:
aloft\n  Something that is aloft is in the air or off the ground. (LITERARY)\nHe held the trophy proudly aloft.\n  ADV: ADV after v, be ADV


Words: alone
Meaning:
alone\n1. When you are alone, you are not with any other people.\nThere is nothing so fearful as to be alone in a combat situation...\nHe was all alone in the middle of the hall.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ\n\n  Alone is also an adverb.\nShe has lived alone in this house for almost five years now...\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n2. If one person is alone with another person, or if two or more people are alone, they are together, without anyone else present.\nI couldn’t imagine why he would want to be alone with me...\nMy brother and I were alone with Vincent.\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n\n\n3. If you say that you are alone or feel alone, you mean that nobody who is with you, or nobody at all, cares about you.\nNever in her life had she felt so alone, so abandoned...\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ\n\n4. You say that one person or thing alone does something when you are emphasizing that only one person or thing is involved.\nYou alone should determine what is right for you...\nThey were convicted on forensic evidence alone.\n  ADV: n ADV  emphasis\n\n5. If you say that one person or thing alone is responsible for part of an amount, you are emphasizing the size of that part and the size of the total amount.\nThe BBC alone is sending 300 technicians, directors and commentators...\n  ADV: n ADV  emphasis\n\n6. If someone is alone in doing something, they are the only person doing it, and so are different from other people.\nAm I alone in thinking that this scandal should finish his career?\n  ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ in -ing\n  = unique\n  Alone is also an adverb.\nI alone was sane, I thought, in a world of crazy people.\n  ADV: ADV prep, n ADV\n\n7. When someone does something alone, they do it without help from other people.\nBringing up a child alone should give you a sense of achievement...\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n8. If you go it alone, you do something without any help from other people. (INFORMAL)\nI missed the stimulation of working with others when I tried to go it alone.\n  PHRASE: V inflects\n\n9.\nto leave someone or something alone: see leave\nlet alone: see let


Words: along
Meaning:
along\nIn addition to the uses shown below, along is used in phrasal verbs such as `go along with’, `play along’, and `string along’.\n1. If you move or look along something such as a road, you move or look towards one end of it.\nNewman walked along the street alone...\nThe young man led Mark Ryle along a corridor...\nI looked along the length of the building.\n  PREP\n\n2. If something is situated along a road, river, or corridor, it is situated in it or beside it.\n...enormous traffic jams all along the roads.\n...houses built on piles along the river...\n  PREP\n\n3. When someone or something moves along, they keep moving in a particular direction.\nShe skipped and danced along...\nThe wide road was blocked solid with traffic that moved along sluggishly.\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n4. If you say that something is going along in a particular way, you mean that it is progressing in that way.\n...the negotiations which have been dragging along interminably...\nMy life is going along nicely.\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n5. If you take someone or something along when you go somewhere, you take them with you.\nThis is open to women of all ages, so bring along your friends and colleagues...\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n6. If someone or something is coming along or is sent along, they are coming or being sent to a particular place.\nShe invited everyone she knew to come along...\n  ADV: ADV after v\n\n7. You use along with to mention someone or something else that is also involved in an action or situation.\nThe baby’s mother escaped from the fire along with two other children...\n  PREP-PHRASE\n\n8. If something has been true or been present all along, it has been true or been present throughout a period of time.\nI’ve been fooling myself all along...\n  PHRASE: PHR with cl, PHR after v\n\n9.\nalong the way: see way


