# dict

Words: somebody
Meaning:
pron   used to mean a person, when you do not know, or do not say who the person is//   someone//    anybody, everybody, nobody//  --There’s somebody waiting to see you.//  --Somebody’s car alarm kept me awake all night.//  sb new/different/good etc //  --We need somebody neutral to sort this out.//  --If you can’t make it Friday, we can invite somebody else  (=a different person) .//  --’Who can we get to babysit?’ ’I’ll call Suzie or somebody .’//\nsomebody 2 n   be sb//  to be or feel important//  --She was the first teacher who’d made Paul feel like he was somebody.//


Words: someday
Meaning:
adv  also some day   at an unknown time in the future, especially a long time in the future//  --I’d like to visit Japan someday.//  --He hopes, someday, to have his own business.//


Words: somehow
Meaning:
adv \n  1 in some way, or by some means, although you do not know how:  --Don’t worry, we’ll get the money back somehow.//  --Somehow, I managed to lose my keys.//  --Maybe we could glue it together somehow or other .//\n  2 for some reason that is not clear to you or that you do not understand:  --Somehow, I just don’t think it’ll work.//


Words: someone
Meaning:
pron   used to mean a person, when you do not know, or do not say, who the person is//   somebody//    anyone, everyone, no one//  --What would you do if someone tried to rob you in the street?//  --Will someone please explain what’s going on?//  someone new/different etc //  --’When are you planning to hire someone?’ ’As soon as we find someone suitable.’//  --Can you ask someone else  (=a different person) to help you? I’m really busy.//  --Have Brooks or someone fax this to New York right away.//\nsomeone 2 n   be someone//  to be or feel important//  --Gerber was determined to be someone.//


Words: someplace
Meaning:
adv [not usually in questions or negatives]  spoken  especially AmE   somewhere//  --I must have left my jacket someplace.//


Words: somersault
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: sombresaut, from  Latin super  ’over’ +  saltus  ’jump’]//\n  1  BrE a movement in which someone rolls or jumps forwards or backwards so that their feet go over their head before they stand up again:  do/turn a somersault //  --Lana turned a somersault in midair.//\n  2  AmE a forward roll:  -- somersault v  [I] //  --He crashed into the table, somersaulted over it and landed on the carpet.//


Words: Somerset
Meaning:
a  county in southwest England, famous for producing very good  cider. Its local government is based in Taunton.//


Words: Somerset House
Meaning:
a building in the  Strand in London where documents were kept containing information about British people, such as their names and their date and place of birth, etc. The office dealing with these documents is now at St Catherine’s House in Kingsway in London, but people still often call it Somerset House.//


Words: something
Meaning:
pron \n  1 used to mean a particular thing when you do not know its name or do not know exactly what it is:    anything, everything, nothing//  --There’s something in my eye.//  --Sarah said something about coming over later.//  sth new/old/good etc //  --It’s a good car but I’m looking for something newer.//  --The house was too small so they decided to look for something else  (=a different one) .//  --I think there’s something wrong  (=a problem) with the phone.//  --I don’t know what he does exactly, but I know it has something to do with computers (=is related to them in some way) .//\n  2  sth to eat/drink/read/do etc:  some food, a drink, a book, an activity etc//  --Would you like something to drink?//  --I should take something to read on the plane.//\n  3  do sth:  to do something in order to deal with a problem or difficult situation//  --Don’t just stand there - do something!//  do something about//  --Can you do something about that noise?//\n  4  sth about sb/sth:  used to say that a person, situation etc has a quality or feature that you recognize but you cannot say exactly what it is//  (there is) sth different/odd/unusual about sb/sth //  --There was something rather odd about him.//  -- There’s something about her voice that I find really sexy.//\n  5  ... or sth:   spoken used when you cannot remember, or do not think it is necessary to give, another example of something you are mentioning//  --Her name was Judith, or Julie, or something.//  --Here’s some money. Get yourself a sandwich or something.//\n  6  sth like 100/2000 etc:  close to but not exactly a large amount such as 100, 2000 etc//  --Something like 50,000 homes are without power.//\n  7  be thirty-sth/forty-sth etc:  used to say that someone is aged between 30 and 39, between 40 and 49 etc when you do not know exactly//\n  8  be (really/quite) sth:   spoken used to say that something is very good and impressive//  --Running your own company at 21 is really something.//  --That was really something, wasn’t it?//\n  9  be sth else:   spoken to be unusual or funny to other people//  --You really are something else!//\n  10  there’s sth in/to sth:  used to admit that someone’s words are true or their ideas are successful etc//  --They had to concede that there was something in his teaching methods.//  --Do you think there’s something to the rumours about Larry and Sue?//\n  11  have sth of sth:  to have a few of the same features or qualities that someone else has//  --It was clear that Jenkins had something of his father’s brilliance.//\n  12  be sth of a gardener/an expert etc:  to know a lot about something or to be very good at something//  --Charlie’s always been something of an expert on architecture.//\n  13  sth of a shock/surprise etc:   formal used to say that something is a shock, surprise etc, but not completely or not in a strong or severe way//  --The news came as something of a surprise//\n  14  a little sth:  used when you are telling someone that you have bought them a present//  --I got you a little something for your birthday.//\n  15  sixty sth/John sth etc:   spoken used when you cannot remember the rest of a number or name//  --’How much did you spend on groceries?’ ’A hundred and twenty something.’//\n  16  make sth of yourself:  to become successful//\n  17  that’s sth:  used to say that there is one thing that you should be glad about//  --At least we have some money left. That’s something, isn’t it?//


Words: sometime
Meaning:
adv  also some time   at a time in the future or in the past, although you do not know exactly when//  sometime around/in/during etc//  --We’ll take a vacation sometime in September.//  --Our house was built sometime around 1900.//\nsometime 2 adj [only before noun] \n  1  formal former:  --Sir Richard Marsh, the sometime chairman of British Rail//\n  2  AmE used to say that someone does or has a particular job part of the time:  --Grimm, a sometime delivery driver, lives with his elderly mother.//


Words: sometimes
Meaning:
adv   on some occasions but not always//    occasionally//  --I sometimes have to work late.//  --Sometimes, Grandma would tell us stories about her childhood in Italy.//  --’Do you ever wish you were back in Japan?’ ’Sometimes. Not very often.’//  --The journey takes an hour, sometimes even longer.//


Words: somewhat
Meaning:
adv   more than a little but not very//  somewhat larger/higher/newer etc //  --The price is somewhat higher than I expected.//  --Things have changed somewhat since then.//  somewhat of//  --To say that I was surprised is somewhat of an understatement.//


Words: somewhere
Meaning:
adv \n  1 in or to a place, but you do not say or know exactly where:  --My wallet must be around here somewhere.//  somewhere to do sth//  --There must be somewhere to eat cheaply in this town.//  somewhere safe/different etc //  --Is there somewhere safe where I can leave my bike?//  --Go and play somewhere else  (=in a different place) - I’m trying to work.//  --We could meet for dinner at Giorgio’s or somewhere  (=or a similar place) .//\n  2  somewhere around/between etc:  a little more or a little less than a particular number or amount, especially a large one//   approximately//  --We have somewhere in the region of 500 firefighters in this area.//\n  3  be getting somewhere:  to be making progress//  --At last I feel we’re getting somewhere.//


Words: Somme
Meaning:
the Somme//  a river in northeast France, or the area close to this river where several important battles were fought during World War I. The biggest of these began in July 1916, when 60,000 British soldiers were killed or injured on the first day of the battle. After five months of fighting, the British army had moved forward by just a few miles, and had lost hundreds of thousands of men. Because of this, the Somme is connected in people’s minds with the terrible waste of life in World War I.//


Words: somnambulist
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: somnambulus, from  Latin somnus (  SOMNOLENT) +  ambulare  ’to walk’]//  someone who walks while they are asleep//   sleepwalker//  -- somnambulism n  [U] //


Words: somnolent
Meaning:
adj  literary   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin somnolentus, from  somnus  ’sleep’]//\n  1 almost starting to sleep:  --He lay quiet, somnolent after the day’s exertions.//\n  2 making you want to sleep:  --a somnolent summer’s afternoon//  -- somnolence n  [U] //


Words: Somoza
Meaning:
Anastasio   (1896-1956) a Nicaraguan soldier and politician. Supported by the US, he took control of Nicaragua in the 1930s and ruled as a  dictator until he was killed by political opponents. His son Anastasio Somoza Debayle (1925-80) then took control, and remained in power until he was removed by the  Sandinistas in 1979.//


Words: son
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: sunu]//\n  1 [C] someone’s male child:    daughter//  --Her son Sean was born in 1983.//  --They have three sons and a daughter.//  --In those days, the property went to the oldest son.//  --their youngest son, George//  son of//  --the son of a poor farmer//    like father like son at father1 (7)//\n  2 [singular]  spoken used by an older person as a way to address a boy or young man:  --What’s your name, son?//\n  3  the Son:  Jesus Christ, the second member of the group from the Christian religion that also includes the Father and the Holy Spirit//\n  4 [C usually plural]  literary a man, especially a famous man, from a particular place or country:  --Frank Sinatra, New Jersey’s most famous son//\n  5  my son:  used by a priest to address a man or boy//    favourite son at favourite1 (2)//


Words: son et lumi[hA169]re
Meaning:
n [singular, U]    BrE a performance that tells the story of a historical place or event using lights and recorded sound//


Words: son of a bitch
Meaning:
n   plural  sons of bitches  spoken  not polite  especially AmE //\n  1 [C] an offensive expression for a man that you are very angry with:  --He’s a filthy lying son of a bitch.//\n  2  son of a bitch!:  used when you are annoyed or surprised//  --Son of a bitch! You did it!//\n  3  be a son of a bitch:  to be very difficult//  --Getting the new tire on was a real son of a bitch.//


Words: son of a gun
Meaning:
n [singular]  AmE  spoken \n  1 a man you like or admire - used humorously:  --Duke, you old son of a gun, how are you?//\n  2 a man that you are annoyed with:  --Somebody go tell that son of a gun we’re all waiting here.//\n  3 an object that is difficult to deal with - used humorously:\n  4  son of a gun!:  used to express surprise//


Words: sonar
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: sound navigation ranging]//  equipment on a ship or submarine that uses sound waves to find out the position of objects under the water//


Words: sonata
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Italian; Origin: sonare  ’to sound’, from  Latin]//  a piece of music with three or four parts that is written for a piano, or for a piano and another instrument//  --a piano sonata//


Words: Sondheim
Meaning:
Stephen   (1930- ) a US songwriter and  composer famous for the clever and amusing words he uses in his songs. He wrote the words for the musical show  West Side Story (1957), and the words and music for many other successful musical shows, including  A Little Light Music (1973).//


Words: song
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 music with words:\n   2 birds:\n   3 for a song:\n   4 a song and dance (about something):  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: sang]//\n  1 MUSIC WITH WORDS:  a)  [C] a short piece of music with words that you sing//  pop/folk/love etc song //  --pop songs on the radio//  --They sat round with guitars, singing folk songs .//  b)  [U] songs in general//  --The bravery of past warriors was celebrated in song.//  burst/break into song (=suddenly start singing) //  --Some of his more drunken friends burst into song.//\n  2 BIRDS:   [U and C] the musical sounds made by birds and some other animals such as whales//  --the song of the lark//\n  3  for a song:  very cheaply//  --He bought the house for a song five years ago.//\n  4  a song and dance (about sth):   informal //  a)  BrE if you make a song and dance about something, you behave as if it was worse, more important, more difficult etc than it really is//  --Suzy was there, making a song and dance about her aching feet.//  b)  AmE an explanation or excuse that is too long and complicated//  --She gave us a long song and dance about why she was late.//    swansong//


Words: Song of Solomon
Meaning:
the   a book of the Old Testament of the Bible, also known as  The Song of Songs or  The Canticles, which is thought to have been written by King  Solomon. It contains love poems which are considered to represent God’s love for his people.//


Words: sonic
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  technical   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Latin; Origin: sonus;   SOUND1]//  relating to sound, sound waves, or the speed of sound//


Words: sonic boom
Meaning:
n [C]   the loud sound like an explosion that an aircraft makes when it starts to travel faster than the speed of sound//


Words: Sonic the Hedgehog
Meaning:
a character who appears in a series of  computer games produced by  Sega. Sonic is a bright blue creature who is supposed to be a  hedgehog.//


Words: sonnet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: sonetto, from  Old Proven[hA168]al sonet  ’little song’, from  son  ’sound, song’, from  Latin sonus;   SOUND1]//  a poem with 14 lines which rhyme with each other in a fixed pattern//  --Shakespeare’s sonnets//


Words: sonny
Meaning:
n  old-fashioned  spoken   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: son]//  used when speaking to a boy or young man who is much younger than you//  --Now you listen to me, sonny.//


Words: Sonny Jim
Meaning:
n  BrE  old-fashioned  spoken   used when speaking to a man or boy, especially when you are telling him that he has done something wrong//


Words: sonogram
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  technical   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Latin; Origin: sonus (  SOUND1) +   English -gram]//  an image, for example of an unborn baby inside its mother’s body, that is produced by a special machine//  British Equivalent:  ultrasound//


Words: sonorous
Meaning:
adj  literary   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: sonorus]//  having a pleasantly deep loud sound//  --a sonorous voice//  -- sonorously adv //


Words: Sons and Lovers
Meaning:
(1913) a novel by D.H.  Lawrence about a character called Paul Morel, the son of an English  miner (=a person who works in a coal mine) , and his relationships with his mother and two other women. The story is partly based on Lawrence’s own life.//


Words: Sons of Liberty
Meaning:
the   secret groups formed in the US before the American Revolution which wanted the American  colonies to be independent of Britain//


Words: Sontag
Meaning:
Susan   (1933- ) a US writer and  critic whose books about modern society and  culture include  Against Interpretation and  Illness as Metaphor. She has also written novels and stories.//


Words: soon
Meaning:
adv   comparative  sooner superlative  soonest //  [Language: Old English; Origin: sona  ’immediately’]//\n  1 in a short time from now, or a short time after something else happens:  --It will be dark soon.//  --David arrived sooner than I expected.//  soon after//  --Paula became pregnant soon after they were married.//  --’Who?’ ’You’ll find out soon enough  (=fairly soon) .’//\n  2 quickly:  -- How soon can you finish the report?//  --Try and get the car fixed as soon as possible .//\n  3  as soon as:  immediately after something happens, without delay//  --As soon as she entered the room, she knew there was something wrong.//  --I’ll come over to your place as soon as I can.//\n  4  the sooner (...) the better:  used to say that it is important that something should happen very soon//  --The sooner we get this job finished the better.//  --Let’s get out of here! The sooner the better!//\n  5  the sooner ... the sooner:  used to say that you want something to happen soon, so that something else can then happen//  --The sooner I get this work done, the sooner I can go home.//\n  6  no sooner had/did ... than:  used to say that something happened almost immediately after something else//  --No sooner had he sat down than the phone rang.//\n  7  sooner or later:  used to say that something is certain to happen at some time in the future, though you cannot be sure exactly when//  --His wife’s bound to find out sooner or later.//\n  8  too soon:  too early//  too soon to do sth//  --It’s still too soon to say whether the operation was a success.//  --The holidays were over all too soon  (=much earlier than you would like) .//\n  9  no sooner said than done:  used to say that you will do something immediately//\n  10  not a moment too soon/none too soon:  almost too late//  --’The doctor’s here!’ ’And not a moment too soon!’//\n  11  sb would sooner do sth (than):  if you would sooner do something, you would much prefer to do it, especially instead of something that seems unpleasant//  --I’d sooner die than marry you!//\n  12  sb would (just) as soon:   formal used to say that someone would prefer to do something or would prefer something to happen//  --I’d just as soon you didn’t drive the car while I’m gone.//


Words: soot
Meaning:
n [U]   [Language: Old English; Origin: sot]//  black powder that is produced when something is burnt//  -- sooty adj //


Words: soothe
Meaning:
v [T]   [Language: Old English; Origin: sothian  ’to prove the truth’, from  soth  ’true’]//\n  1 to make someone feel calmer and less anxious, upset, or angry:  --Lucy soothed the baby by rocking it in her arms.//  --She made a cup of tea to soothe her nerves.//\n  2  also soothe sth → away :  to make a pain become less severe, or slowly disappear//  --I bought some lozenges to soothe my sore throat.//  --Massage can gently soothe away your aches and pains.//  -- soothing adj //  --gentle, soothing music//  -- soothingly adv //


Words: soothsayer
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: sooth  ’truth’ (11-21 centuries) (from  Old English soth, from  soth  ’true’) +  sayer]//   old use someone who is believed to be able to say what will happen in the future//


Words: sop
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: sop  ’bread dipped into liquid’ (11-21 centuries), from  Old English sopp]//  something not very important or valuable that a government or someone in authority offers to people to stop them from complaining or protesting - used to show disapproval//  sop to//  --The company agreed to inspect the river regularly, as a sop to the environmental lobby.//\nsop 2 v   past tense and past participle  sopped present participle  sopping //  sop up [sop sth → up] phr v//  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: sop  ’to dip into liquid’ (11-20 centuries), from  Old English soppian, from  sopp;   SOP1]//  to remove liquid from a surface by using a piece of cloth that takes the liquid into itself//


Words: sophisticated
Meaning:
W3   adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: , past participle of  sophisticare  ’to deceive with words, hide the true nature of something’, from  Latin sophisticus, from  Greek, from  sophistes;   SOPHISTRY]//\n  1 having a lot of experience of life, and good judgment about socially important things such as art, fashion etc:  --a sophisticated, witty American//  --Clarissa’s hair was swept up into a sophisticated style.//\n  2 a sophisticated machine, system, method etc is very well designed and very advanced, and often works in a complicated way:  --sophisticated software//  --a highly sophisticated weapons system//\n  3 having a lot of knowledge and experience of difficult or complicated subjects and therefore able to understand them well:  --British voters have become much more sophisticated.//  -- sophistication/s[hA353]f[hA366]st[hA369]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //  --a New York nightclub that was the height of sophistication  (=very fashionable and expensive) //


Words: sophistry
Meaning:
n   plural  sophistries  [U and C]  formal //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: sophistria, from  Latin sophista  ’one who uses sophistry’, from  Greek sophistes  ’wise man, teacher of knowledge, user of sophistry’, from  sophizesthai  ’to become wise, deceive’, from  sophos  ’clever, wise’]//  the clever use of reasons or explanations that seem correct but are really false, in order to deceive people//


Words: Sophocles
Meaning:
(?496-406 BC) an ancient Greek writer of plays, who developed Greek  tragedy as a style of theatre. His tragedies include Antigone,  Electra. and  Oedipus Rex.//


Words: sophomore
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably from  Greek sophos (  SOPHISTRY) +  moros  ’stupid’]//   AmE a student who is in their second year of study at a college or high school//    freshman, junior, senior//


Words: sophomoric
Meaning:
adj  AmE  formal   silly, and behaving in a way that is typical of someone much younger//  --sophomoric humor//


Words: soporific
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: soporifique, from  Latin sopor  ’deep sleep’]//  making you feel ready to sleep//  --His voice had an almost soporific effect.//


Words: soppy
Meaning:
adj   comparative  soppier superlative  soppiest  BrE  informal //  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: soppy  ’completely wet’ (19-20 centuries), from   SOP1]//\n  1 expressing love or emotions in a way that seems silly:  American Equivalent:  sappy//  --a soppy film//\n  2  be soppy about sb/sth:  to be very fond of someone or something, in a way that seems silly to other people//  --She’s soppy about dogs.//


Words: soprano
Meaning:
n   plural  sopranos //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: sopra  ’above’]//\n  1 [C] a very high singing voice belonging to a woman or a boy, or a singer with a voice like this:    mezzo-soprano//\n  2 [singular] the part of a musical work that is written for a soprano voice or instrument:  --She sings soprano .//   alto, baritone, bass, tenor//\nsoprano 2 adj [only before noun]   a soprano voice or instrument has the highest range of notes//


Words: sorbet
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: ’fruit drink’, from  Old Italian sorbetto, from  Turkish serbet;   SHERBET]//  a frozen sweet food made of fruit juice, sugar, and water//    ice cream//


Words: Sorbonne
Meaning:
the   the oldest part of the University of Paris, established in the 14th century on the  left bank of the River Seine//


Words: Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Meaning:
the   a piece of music by the French  composerPaul Dukas  (1865-1935), based on a poem by Goethe about a boy who works for a  sorcerer (=a man who does magic)  and lazily tries to do his work using magic, but everything goes wrong//


Words: sorcery
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: sorcerie, from  sorcier  ’sorcerer’, from  Vulgar Latin sortiarius, from  Latin sors;   SORT1]//  magic that uses the power of evil forces//


Words: sordid
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: sordidus, from  sordes  ’dirt’]//\n  1 involving immoral or dishonest behaviour:  sordid business/affair/story etc //  --The whole sordid affair came out in the press.//  --She discovered the truth about his sordid past.//  --I want to hear all the sordid details!//\n  2 very dirty and unpleasant:   squalid//  --a sordid little room//


Words: sore
Meaning:
S3   adj   [Language: Old English; Origin: sar]//\n  1 a part of your body that is sore is painful, because of infection or because you have used a muscle too much:  --I had a sore throat and aching limbs.//  sore from//  --My arms are sore from all the lifting.//\n  2  sore point/spot/subject (with sb):  something that is likely to make someone upset or angry when you talk about it//  --Just don’t mention it - it’s always been a sore point with him.//\n  3 [not before noun]  informal  especially AmE upset, angry, and annoyed, especially because you have not been treated fairly:  --Mac’s still sore because I didn’t invite him.//  sore at//  --Don’t be sore at me - I just forgot to tell you.//\n  4 [only before noun]  BrE used to emphasize how serious, difficult etc something is:  --Inner city schools are in sore need of extra funds.//\n  5  sore loser:  someone who gets angry or upset when they lose a game or competition//  --Nobody likes a sore loser.//\n  6  stick/stand out like a sore thumb:   informal if someone or something sticks out like a sore thumb, they are very noticeable because they are different from everyone or everything else//  --You stick out like a sore thumb in that uniform.//    be like a bear with a sore head at bear2 (3)//    a sight for sore eyes at sight1 (14)//\nsore 2 n [C]   a painful, often red, place on your body caused by a wound or infection//  --They were starving and covered with sores.//    cold sore,  bedsore,  running sore at running2 (5)//


Words: sorely
Meaning:
adv   very much or very seriously//  --Jim will be sorely missed .//  --Sabine was sorely tempted to throw her drink in his face.//  --Your help is sorely needed .//  --Courage is a quality that is sorely lacking in world leaders today.//


Words: sorghum
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Italian sorgo  ’sorghum plant’]//  a type of grain that is grown in tropical areas//


Words: sorority
Meaning:
n   plural  sororities  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: sororitas, from  Latin soror  ’sister’]//  a club for women students at some American colleges and universities//    fraternity//


Words: Soros
Meaning:
George   (1930-) a rich Hungarian-born businessman living in the US. He is an international financial businessman who is powerful enough to change the value of national currencies. He started the  Soros Foundation, which gives money to help people in need.//


Words: sorrel
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: surele, from  sur  ’sour’]//  a plant with leaves that taste bitter, sometimes used in cooking//


Words: Sorrento
Meaning:
a town on the southwest coast of Italy near Naples, where many people, especially British people, go on holiday//


Words: sorrow
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: sorg]//\n  1 [U] a feeling of great sadness, usually because someone has died or because something terrible has happened to you:    grief//  great/deep sorrow //  --a time of great sorrow//  sorrow at//  --He expressed his sorrow at my father’s death.//  sorrow for//  --Claudia felt a deep pang of sorrow for the woman.//\n  2 [C] an event or situation that makes you feel great sadness:  --the family’s joys and sorrows//\n  3  more in sorrow than in anger:  in a way that shows you are sad or disappointed rather than angry about a particular situation//  --He said that his decision to resign was made more in sorrow than in anger.//    drown your sorrows at drown(5)//\nsorrow 2 v [I]    literary to feel or express sorrow//  sorrow over//  --Her friend was sorrowing over the loss of a child.//  --sorrowing parents//


Words: sorrowful
Meaning:
adj  literary   very sad//  --a sorrowful expression//  -- sorrowfully adv //  --’A lot of damage has already been done,’ he said sorrowfully.//


Words: sorry
Meaning:
adj   comparative  sorrier superlative  sorriest //  ----------//\n   1 sorry/I’m sorry:\n   2 ashamed:\n   3 sorry?:\n   4 feeling pity:\n   5 sad/disappointed:\n   6 you’ll be sorry:\n   7 I’m sorry to say (that):\n   8 very bad:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: sarig, from  sar (  SORE1); influenced by  sorrow)]//\n  1  sorry/I’m sorry:   spoken //  a) used to tell someone that you wish you had not done something that has affected them badly, hurt them etc//  --I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.//  --’Matt, stop doing that!’ ’Sorry!’//  --I’m sorry, did I step on your foot?//  sorry (that) //  --I’m sorry I’m late - the traffic was terrible.//  sorry/I’m sorry about//  --Sorry about the mess - I’ll clean it up.//  sorry for (doing) sth//  --I’m sorry for making such a fuss.//  -- Sorry to bother you , but what was the address again? see usage note  excuse1 //  b) used as a polite way of introducing disappointing information or a piece of bad news//  --I’m sorry, but all the flights to Athens are fully booked.//  c) used when you have said something that is not correct, and want to say something that is correct//  --Turn right - sorry left - at the traffic lights.//  d) used when you refuse an offer or request//  --’Are you coming to lunch?’ ’Sorry, no. I’ve got to finish this work.’//  --’I’ll give you $50 for it.’ ’Sorry, no deal.’//  e) used when you disagree with someone, or tell someone that they have done something wrong//  --I’m sorry, but I find that very hard to believe, Miss Brannigan.//\n  2 ASHAMED:   [not before noun] feeling ashamed or unhappy about something bad you have done//  sorry for//  --She was genuinely sorry for what she had done.//  sorry (that)//  --Casey was sorry he’d gotten so angry.//  say (you are) sorry (=tell someone that you feel bad about hurting them, causing problems etc) //  --It was probably too late to say sorry, but she would try anyway. see usage note  regret1 //\n  3  sorry?:   spoken  especially BrE used to ask someone to repeat something that you have not heard properly//   pardon//  --Sorry? What was that again?//  --’Want a drink?’ ’Sorry?’ ’I said, would you like a drink?’//\n  4 FEELING PITY:   be/feel sorry for sb//  to feel pity or sympathy for someone because something bad has happened to them or because they are in a bad situation//  --I’ve got no sympathy for him, but I feel sorry for his wife.//  --Tina was sorry for her. She seemed so lonely.//  feel sorry for yourself (=feel unhappy and pity yourself) //  --It’s no good feeling sorry for yourself. It’s all your own fault.//\n  5 SAD/DISAPPOINTED:   [not before noun] feeling sad about a situation, and wishing it were different//  sorry (that)//  --Brigid was always sorry she hadn’t kept up her piano lessons.//  sorry to do sth//  --We were sorry to miss your concert.//  --I won’t be sorry to leave this place.//  sorry to hear/see/learn //  --I was sorry to hear about your accident.//  sorry about//  --I’m so sorry about your father (=I am sorry something bad has happened to him) .//\n  6  you’ll be sorry:   spoken used to tell someone that they will soon wish they had not done something, especially because someone will be angry or punish them//  --You’ll be sorry when your dad hears about this.//\n  7  I’m sorry to say (that):   spoken used to say that you are disappointed that something has happened//  --I wrote several times but they never replied, I’m sorry to say.//\n  8 VERY BAD:   [only before noun] very bad, especially in a way that makes you feel pity or disapproval//  --the sorry state of the environment//  --It’s a sorry state of affairs when an old lady has to wait 12 hours to see a doctor.//  --the sorry sight of so many dead animals//  --This whole sorry episode  (=bad thing that happened) shows just how incompetent the government has become.//    better (to be) safe than sorry at safe1 (9)//


Words: sort
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 type/kind:\n   2 sort of:\n   3 of sorts/of a sort:\n   4 sort of thing:\n   5 what sort of ...?:\n   6 nothing of the sort:\n   7 person:\n   8 it takes all sorts (to make a world):\n   9 computer:\n  10 ill/upset:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: sorte, from  Latin sors  ’chance, what you get by luck, share, condition’]//\n  1 TYPE/KIND:   [C] a group or class of people, things etc that have similar qualities or features//   type, kind//  sort of//  --What sort of shampoo do you use?//  all sorts (of sth) (=a lot of different types of things) //  --They play pop, rock, jazz, soul, all sorts in there.//  --I like all sorts of food - I’m not fussy.//  of this/that sort//  --On expeditions of this sort you have to be prepared for trouble.//  of some sort/some sort of sth (=used when you do not know exactly what type) //  --He wondered if Rosa was in some sort of trouble.//  --There was a game of some sort going on inside.//  --Most of the victims developed psychological problems of one sort or another  (=of various different types) .//  --They do burgers, pizzas, that sort of thing . see usage note  type1 //\n  2  sort of:   spoken //  a) used to say that something is partly true but does not describe the exact situation//  --I sort of like him, but I don’t know why.//  --’Do you know what I mean?’ ’Sort of.’//  b) used when you are trying to describe something but it is difficult to find the right word or to be exact//  --Then they started sort of chanting.//  --The walls are a sort of greeny-blue colour.//  sort of like (=used very informally when searching for the right words) //  --It was sort of like really strange and mysterious, walking round this empty building.//  c) used to make what you are saying sound less strong or direct//  --Well, I sort of thought we could go out together sometime.//  --It was sort of a shock when I found out.//  d)  sort of price/time/speed etc//   especially BrE a price etc that is not very exact, but could be slightly more or less//  --That’s the sort of price I was hoping to pay.//  --What sort of time were you thinking of starting?//\n  3  of sorts/of a sort:  used when something is not a good or typical example of its kind of thing//  --I had a conversation of sorts with a very drunk man at the bus stop.//\n  4  sort of thing:   spoken  especially BrE used when you are mentioning or describing something in a way that is not definite or exact//  --We could just stay here and pass the time, sort of thing.//  --She uses a wheelchair sort of thing.//\n  5  what sort of ...?:   spoken  especially BrE used when you are angry about what someone has said or done//  --What sort of time do you call this to come in?//\n  6  nothing of the sort:   spoken  especially BrE used to say angrily that something is not true or that someone should not do something//  --’I’m going to watch TV.’ ’You’ll do nothing of the sort!’//\n  7 PERSON:   [singular]  BrE someone who has a particular type of character, and is therefore likely to behave in a particular way//   type//  --Iain’s never even looked at another woman. He’s not the sort .//\n  8  it takes all sorts (to make a world):   BrE used to say that you think someone is behaving in a strange or crazy way//  --He goes climbing up cliffs without ropes or anything? Oh well, it takes all sorts.//\n  9 COMPUTER:   [singular] if a computer does a sort, it puts things in a particular order//\n  10 ILL/UPSET:   out of sorts//  feeling a little ill or upset//  --Louise went back to work feeling rather out of sorts.//\nsort 2 S1 v [T] \n  1 to put things in a particular order or arrange them in groups according to size, type etc:  --The eggs are sorted according to size.//  sort sth into sth//  --Let’s sort all the clothes into piles.//  --All the names on the list have been sorted into alphabetical order.//\n  2  BrE  spoken to deal with a situation so that all the problems are solved and everything is organized:    sorted//  --Right, I’ll leave this for Roger and Terry to sort, then.//  sort out [sort sth/sb → out] phr v//\n  1 to arrange or organize something that is mixed up or untidy, so that it is ready to be used:  --We need to sort out our camping gear before we go away.//\n  2 to separate one type of thing from another:  --I’ve sorted out the papers that can be thrown away.//  sort something/somebody → out from//  --First sort the white things out from the other clothes.//\n  3  especially BrE to successfully deal with a problem or difficult situation:  --She went to a psychiatrist to try to sort out her problems .//  --I’ll be glad to get this misunderstanding sorted out .//  sort yourself out/get yourself sorted out//   (=deal with all your problems) //  --I’m staying with a friend until I manage to sort myself out.//\n  4  especially BrE to succeed in making arrangements for something:  --Have you sorted out where you’re going to live yet?//  --She is trying to sort out childcare.//\n  5  sort itself out:   BrE if something sorts itself out, it stops being a problem without you having to do anything//  --Our financial problems should sort themselves out in a week or two.//\n  6  BrE  informal to stop someone from causing problems or annoying you, especially by attacking or punishing them:  --If he bothers you again, I’ll sort him out.//  sort through [sort through sth] phr v//  to look for something among a lot of similar things, especially when you are arranging these things into an order//  --Vicky sat down and sorted through the files.//


Words: sort-out
Meaning:
n [singular]    BrE  informal an occasion when you tidy a room, desk etc and get rid of the things you do not need//  --These cupboards need a good sort-out.//


Words: sorted
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]  BrE  spoken  informal \n  1 properly arranged or planned:  --Good, that’s the accommodation sorted.//  --Calm down. It’s all sorted .//  --I just want to get everything sorted before I go away.//\n  2 provided with the things that you want:  --’Can I get you anything?’ ’We’re sorted, thanks.’//  sorted for//  --Are we sorted for alcohol for tonight?//


Words: sortie
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: sortir  ’to go out’]//\n  1 a short flight made by a plane over enemy land, in order to bomb a city, military defences etc:  --The US and its allies carried out 44,000 sorties during this period.//\n  2 a short trip, especially to an unfamiliar place:  --We made a sortie from our hotel to the open-air market.//\n  3  BrE an attempt to do or take part in something new:  sortie into//  --Australia’s first sortie into the wine trade//\n  4  BrE an attack in which an army leaves its position for a short time to attack the enemy:\nsortie 2 v [I]   to make a short attack on an enemy position or a flight over enemy land//  --It was five months since the battleship had last sortied from home waters.//


Words: sorting office
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a place where letters and packages are put into groups according to where they have to be delivered//


Words: SOS
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: S and  O, letters chosen because they were easy to send by Morse code, but often understood as short for  "save our souls"]//\n  1 a signal or message that a ship or plane sends when it is in danger and needs help:    mayday//\n  2 an urgent message that someone is in trouble and needs help:  --This is an SOS for a Mr. Tucker, whose mother is seriously ill.//


Words: sot
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1000-1100; Language: Old French; Origin: ’stupid person’]//   old-fashioned someone who is drunk all the time//   drunkard//


Words: Sotheby’s
Meaning:
a famous  auction house with its main offices in New York and London, where valuable paintings, rare books etc are sold//    Christie’s//


Words: sotto voce
Meaning:
adv  formal   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: ’under the voice’]//  in a very quiet voice, so that other people cannot easily hear//  --’No, it was Daniel,’ she continued, sotto voce.//


Words: sou’wester
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: southwester]//  a hat made of shiny material that keeps the rain off, with a wide piece at the back that covers your neck//


Words: souffle
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: , past participle of  souffler  ’to blow, make larger with air’]//  a baked food made with eggs, flour, milk and often cheese or fruit all mixed together until it is light and full of air//


Words: sought-after
Meaning:
adj   wanted by a lot of people but rare or difficult to get//  much/highly sought-after //  --a much sought-after defense lawyer//  --By the mid-1920s, she had become one of Broadway’s most sought-after actresses.//


Words: soul
Meaning:
W3S3   n   ----------//\n   1 somebody’s spirit:\n   2 person:\n   3 music:\n   4 sense of beauty:\n   5 special quality:\n   6 be the soul of discretion:\n   7 be good for the soul:\n   8 God rest his/her soul:\n   9 people in a place:\n  10 bless my soul/upon my soul:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: sawol]//\n  1 SOMEBODY’S SPIRIT:   [C] the part of a person that is not physical, and that contains their character, thoughts, and feelings. Many people believe that a person’s soul continues to exist after they have died//    spirit//  --the immortality of the soul//  --It was as if those grey eyes could see into the very depths of her soul .//  in sb’s soul//  --the restlessness deep in his soul//  --the souls of the dead//\n  2 PERSON:   [C] used in particular phrases to mean ’a person’//  happy/sensitive/brave/simple etc soul //  --He is really quite a sensitive soul.//  not a (living) soul (=no one) //  --I promise I won’t tell a soul .//  not a soul in sight/not a soul to be seen //  --The night was dark and still, and there was not a soul in sight.//  poor (old) soul (=used to show pity for someone) //  --The poor old soul had fallen and broken her hip.//\n  3 MUSIC:   also  soul music//   [U] a type of popular music that often expresses deep emotions, usually performed by black singers and musicians//  --He listens to a lot of soul.//  --a soul band//\n  4 SENSE OF BEAUTY:   [U] //  a) the ability to be emotionally affected by art, music, literature etc//  --My brother thinks that anyone who doesn’t like poetry has no soul.//  b) the quality that affects people emotionally, that a painting, piece of music etc can have//  --Her performance was technically perfect, but it lacked soul.//\n  5 SPECIAL QUALITY:   [U] the special quality or part that gives something its true character//  soul of//  --Basho’s poems capture the true soul of old Japan.//\n  6  be the soul of discretion:  to always be extremely careful to keep secrets//  --Leon is the very soul of discretion.//\n  7  be good for the soul:  if something is good for the soul, it is good for you and you should do it, even though it may seem unpleasant - often used humorously//  --They say that hardship is good for the soul.//\n  8  God rest his/her soul:  used when you mention the name of someone who is dead//  --My father, God rest his soul, died here at Vernison Hall.//\n  9 PEOPLE IN A PLACE:   [plural]  literary the number of souls in a place is the number of people who live there//  --a village of two or three hundred souls//\n  10  bless my soul/upon my soul:   old-fashioned  spoken used to express surprise//    bare your soul at bare2 (2)//    be the life and soul of the party at life(16)//    keep body and soul together at body(13)//    heart and soul at heart(2)//    sell your soul (to the devil) at sell1 (9)//


Words: soul mate
Meaning:
n [C]   someone you have a very close relationship with because you share or understand the same emotions and interests//


Words: soul-destroying
Meaning:
adj   something that is soul-destroying is extremely boring or makes you feel very unhappy//  --a soul-destroying experience//


Words: soul-searching
Meaning:
n [U]   careful examination of your thoughts and feelings because you are very worried about whether or not it is right to do something//  --After much soul-searching, I decided to resign.//


Words: soulful
Meaning:
adj   expressing deep, usually sad, emotions//  --He looked up with those great soulful eyes .//  soulful voice/vocals/melody etc //  --his powerful, soulful voice//  -- soulfully adv //  -- soulfulness n  [U] //


Words: soulless
Meaning:
adj   lacking the attractive qualities that make people happy//  --a soulless city of grey concrete//  -- soullessly adv //  -- soullessness n  [U] //


Words: sound
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: son, from  Latin sonus]//\n  1 [U and C] something that you hear, or what can be heard:   noise//  --There were strange sounds coming from the next room.//  sound of//  --She could hear the sound of voices.//  --the distant sound of rushing water//  banging/barking/tearing etc sound //  --Did you just hear a rattling sound outside?//  --Light travels faster than sound.//  --a vowel sound//  not make a sound (=be completely quiet) //\n  2 [U] :  a) the sound produced by a television or radio programme, a film etc//  --We apologize for the loss of sound during that report.//  --a sound engineer//  b) the loudness of a television, radio, film etc//   volume//  turn the sound down/up //  --Turn the sound down a little, will you?//\n  3 [C usually singular, U] the particular quality that a singer’s or group’s music has:  --We’re trying to develop a harder, funkier sound.//\n  4  by/from the sound of it/things:  judging from what you have heard or read about something//  --By the sound of it, things are worse than we thought.//\n  5  not like the sound of sth:  to feel worried by something that you have heard or read//  --’There’s been a slight change in our plans.’ ’I don’t like the sound of that.’//\n  6  sounds [plural]  BrE  informal songs or music that are on a record, CD, or tape:  --I need to buy some new sounds.//\n  7 [C usually singular] a narrow area of water that connects two larger areas of water:\nsound 2 v   ----------//\n   1 seem:\n   2 noise:\n   3 voice:\n   4 warning:\n   5 make a noise:\n   6 pronounce:\n   7 measure depth:  Phrasal verbs//   sound off//   sound somebody/something → out//  ----------//  [Sense: 1-5; Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: soner, from  Latin sonare, from  sonus;   SOUND1]//  [Sense: 7; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: sonder, from  sonde  ’line for measuring the depth of water’]//\n  1 SEEM:   [linking verb] if something or someone sounds good, bad, strange etc, that is how they seem to you when you hear about them or read about them//  sound adj//  --Istanbul sounds really exciting.//  --The whole story sounded very odd.//  --$80 sounds about right for a decent hotel room.//  sound noun//   BrE //  --That sounds a good idea.//  sound like//  --Nick sounds like a nice guy.//  it sounds as if/as though//  --It sounds to me as if he needs professional help.//  it sounds like//   informal //  --It sounds like you had a good time on your trip.//  --I’ll come over to Richmond and take you out for dinner. How does that sound?  (=used to ask someone what they think of your suggestion) //  --faraway places with strange-sounding names//\n  2 NOISE:   [linking verb] if a noise sounds like a particular thing, that is how it seems to you when you hear it//  sound like//  --To Thomas, her laugh sounded horribly like a growl.//  --I heard what sounded like fireworks.//  sound adj//  --Her breathing sounded very loud.//  (it) sounds as if/as though//  --The banging sounded as if it was coming from next door.//  (it) sounds like//   informal //  --It sounds like the dog wants to be let out.//\n  3 VOICE:   [linking verb] if someone sounds tired, happy, sad etc, that is how they seem to you when you hear their voice//  sound adj//  --Are you okay? You sound tired.//  --Josie didn’t sound very keen when I spoke to her.//  --Her voice sounded very young.//  sound as if/as though//  --You sound as if you’ve got a cold.//  sound like//   informal //  --She sounded like she’d been crying.//  sound like//  --You sound just like my mother (=the things you say, opinions you express etc are just like the things my mother says) . see usage note  seem//\n  4 WARNING:   [T] to publicly give a warning or tell people to be careful//  --Several earlier studies had sounded similar warnings .//  sound a note of caution/warning //  --I would, however, sound a note of caution.//  --Now it is an American economist who is sounding the alarm .//\n  5 MAKE A NOISE:   [I and T] if something such as a horn or bell sounds, or if you sound it, it makes a noise//  --The bell sounded for dinner.//  --Sound your horn to warn other drivers.//  --She was unable to sound the alarm .//\n  6 PRONOUNCE:   [T usually passive]  technical to make the sound of a letter in a word//  --The ’s’ in ’island’ is not sounded.//\n  7 MEASURE DEPTH:   [T]  technical to measure the depth of the sea, a lake etc//    soundings//  sound off phr v//\n  1  informal to express strong opinions about something, especially when you complain angrily in a way that other people find rude or boring:  sound off about//  --She’s always sounding off about too much sex in the media.//  --He should check his facts before sounding off.//\n  2  AmE if soldiers sound off, they shout out numbers or their names to show that they are there:  sound out [sound sb/sth → out] phr v//  to talk to someone in order to find out what they think about a plan or idea//  --He sounded people out and found the responses favourable.//  --They want to sound out his opinion before they approach him formally.//  sound somebody/something → out about//  --I wanted to sound her out about a job.//\nsound 3 W3 adj   ----------//\n   1 well-judged:\n   2 person:\n   3 thorough:\n   4 in good condition:\n   5 healthy:\n   6 sleep:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: gesund]//\n  1 WELL-JUDGED:  sensible and likely to produce the right results//  → poor//  --The book is full of sound advice.//  --a man of great integrity and sound judgement//  ecologically/ideologically/theoretically etc sound //  --environmentally sound farming practices//  --a sound investment//\n  2 PERSON:   BrE //  a) someone who is sound can be depended on to make good decisions and give good advice//  sound on//  --He’s very sound on matters of law.//  b)  informal someone who is sound is a good person and can be trusted - used especially by young people//  --My mum’s sound. She’d never throw me out.//\n  3 THOROUGH:   [only before noun] complete and thorough//  --a sound understanding of money and banking systems//  --a sound knowledge of English//  --He has sound grasp of European history.//\n  4 IN GOOD CONDITION:  in good condition and not damaged in any way//  → unsound//  --The floor was completely sound.//  --Is the building structurally sound? //  sound as a bell  BrE  spoken  (=in perfect condition) //\n  5 HEALTHY:  physically or mentally healthy//  → unsound//  of sound mind  law  (=not mentally ill) //  sound as a bell  BrE  spoken  (=in perfect health) //\n  6 SLEEP:  sound sleep is deep and peaceful//  sound sleeper (=someone who always sleeps well) //  -- soundness n  [U] //\nsound 4 adv   sound asleep//  deeply asleep//  --The baby was sound asleep.//


Words: Sound and the Fury
Meaning:
The   a novel by US writer William Faulkner, which tells the story of the Compsons, a family who were once important in the American Deep South.//


Words: sound barrier
Meaning:
n   the sound barrier//  the sudden increase in air pressure against a vehicle, especially an aircraft, when it is travelling near the speed of sound//  break the sound barrier (=travel faster than the speed of sound) //


Words: sound bite
Meaning:
n [C]   a very short part of a speech or statement, especially one made by a politician, that is broadcast on a radio or television news programme//


Words: sound check
Meaning:
n [C]   the process of checking that all the equipment needed for broadcasting or recording is working properly//


Words: Sound of Music
Meaning:
The   (1965) a very popular US  musical (=a film that uses singing and dancing to tell a story)  in which Julie  Andrews appears as a  nun who goes to live in the mountains to take care of a large family of children whose mother has died. She teaches them to sing, has a romantic relationship with their father and marries him, and helps them to escape from the Nazis. Many of the songs in the film are very well known, including "Climb Every Mountain" and the song of the title, which begins "The hills are alive with the sound of music".//


Words: sound system
Meaning:
n [C]   equipment for playing music, especially to people in a large space, for example at a rock concert or a club//


Words: soundcard
Meaning:
sound card/sa[hA35E]ndk[hA35A][hA359]d $ -k[hA35A][hA359]rd/ n [C]   a circuit board that can be added to a computer so that it is able to produce sound//


Words: sounding board
Meaning:
n   [C usually singular] someone you discuss your ideas with in order to see if they think your ideas are good//  sounding board for//  --John always used her as a sounding board for new ideas.//


Words: soundings
Meaning:
n [plural] \n  1 careful or secret questions that you ask someone to find out what they think about something:  --We’re taking soundings to find out how people feel about the changes.//\n  2 measurements you make to find out how deep water is:


Words: soundless
Meaning:
adj  literary   without any sound//   silent//  -- soundlessly adv //  --Theo crept soundlessly into the room.//  -- soundlessness n  [U] //


Words: soundly
Meaning:
adv \n  1 if you sleep soundly, you sleep deeply and peacefully:  --The baby slept soundly all night.//\n  2  soundly defeated/beaten/thrashed:  completely defeated or severely punished//  --The Republicans were soundly defeated.//


Words: soundproof
Meaning:
adj   a soundproof wall, room etc is one that sound cannot pass through or into//\nsoundproof 2 v [T]   to make something soundproof//


Words: soundsmith
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  informal   someone who makes new music by electronically mixing the sounds from different musical instruments, songs etc//  --the ever-innovating soundsmiths known as Matmos//


Words: soup
Meaning:
S3   n [U and C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: soupe  ’piece of bread dipped in liquid, soup’]//\n  1 cooked liquid food, often containing small pieces of meat, fish, or vegetables:  --home-made tomato soup//\n  2  be in the soup:   informal to be in trouble//\nsoup 2 v   soup up [soup sth → up] phr v//  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Probably from  soup  ’drug given to a horse to make it run faster’ (1900-2000), from   SOUP1]//  to improve something, especially a car, by making it more powerful//


Words: soup[hA168]on
Meaning:
n [singular +of]  formal   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ’suspicion’]//  a very small amount of something - often used humorously//


Words: sour
Meaning:
adj   [Language: Old English; Origin: sur]//\n  1 having a sharp acid taste, like the taste of a lemon or a fruit that is not ready to be eaten:  → sweet//    bitter//  --Rachel sampled the wine. It was sour.//  --sour cherries//    sweet-and-sour//\n  2 milk or other food that is sour is not fresh and has a bad taste:  turn/go sour (=become sour) //\n  3 unfriendly or looking bad-tempered:  sour look/face/smile etc //  --Eliza was tall and thin, with a rather sour face.//  --a sour-faced old man//\n  4  informal if a relationship or plan turns or goes sour, it becomes less enjoyable, pleasant, or satisfactory:  --As time went by, their marriage turned sour .//  --The meeting ended on a sour note with neither side able to reach agreement.//\n  5  sour grapes:  used to say that someone is pretending that they dislike something because they want it but cannot have it - used to show disapproval//  -- sourly adv //  -- sourness n  [U] //\nsour 2 v [I and T] \n  1 if a relationship or someone’s attitude sours, or if something sours it, it becomes unfriendly or unfavourable:  --An unhappy childhood has soured her view of life.//\n  2 if milk sours, or if something sours it, it begins to have an unpleasant sharp taste:


Words: source
Meaning:
W1S2   n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: sourse, from  sourdre  ’to rise, spring out’, from  Latin surgere;   SURGE1]//\n  1 a thing, place, activity etc that you get something from:  --They get their money from various sources.//  source of//  --a useful source of information//  --Beans are a very good source of protein.//  --For me, music is a great source of enjoyment.//  major/primary/main source of sth //  --the country’s main source of income//  energy/food/light source //  --relatively clean energy sources//  at source//   BrE //  --Is your pension taxed at source (=before it is paid to you) ?//\n  2 the cause of something, especially a problem, or the place where it starts:  source of//  --We’ve found the source of the trouble.//  --The recent name change has been the source of some confusion.//\n  3 a person, book, or document that supplies you with information:  --List all your sources at the end of your essay.//  --I’ve heard from reliable sources that the company is in trouble.//\n  4 the place where a stream or river starts:\n  5  technical source code:\nsource 2 v [T]  technical \n  1 if goods are sourced from a particular place, they are obtained from that place:  source from//  --Fish for the restaurant is sourced daily from British ports.//  --locally sourced milk//\n  2 to find out where something can be obtained:  --We might be able to source the parts.//


Words: source code
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   the original form in which a computer program is written before it is changed into a form that a particular type of computer can read//    machine code//


Words: Sousa
Meaning:
John Philip   (1854-1932) a US  composer and band leader, who wrote many famous  marches (=music for soldiers to walk to) , including  The Stars and Stripes Forever//


Words: South
Meaning:
the South//  a) the southeastern states of the US, used especially when talking about politics or history. When people in the US talk about the South, they mean the states that were originally part of the Confederacy during the Civil War. The economy of these states was based on slavery, and after slavery was officially ended in 1863, most Southern states made laws that were unfair to black people or separated them from white people. Today, people think of the South as a place where people are more conservative (=not wanting changes)  than in other parts of the US.//    deep South//  b) the southern part of England. The South of England, especially the area around London is generally considered to be richer than the rest of the UK, and a more expensive place to live.//  c) the poorer countries of the southern parts of the world, including most of Africa, parts of Central and South America, and parts of southern Asia //\nsouth 1  South/sa[hA35E][hA35F]/ n  written abbreviation S  [singular, U] \n  1 the direction that is at the bottom of a map of the world, below the Equator. It is on the right if you are facing the rising sun:  --Which way is south?//  from/towards the south//  --By now the army was approaching from the south.//  to the south (of sth)//  --Gatwick airport is a few miles to the south of London.//\n  2  the south:  the southern part of a country or area//  in the south//  --They lived in a small town in the South.//  the south of//  --the South of India//\nsouth 2  South written abbreviation S  adj [only before noun]   [Language: Old English; Origin: suth]//\n  1 in the south or facing the south:  --a village on the south coast//  --I am currently teaching in south Texas.//\n  2 a south wind comes from the south:\nsouth 3 adv  written abbreviation S \n  1 towards the south:  --Most of the birds had already flown south.//  south of//  --a seaside town 99 km south of London//  --a south-facing garden//\n  2  down south:  a)  BrE  informal in or to the southern part of England//  --We moved down south about five years ago.//  b)  AmE  also  down South//  in or to the southern US states//  --His sister lives down south.//\n  3  go south:   AmE  informal if a situation, organization, or set of standards goes south, it becomes very bad although it was once very good//  --It seems like all our moral standards have just gone south.//


Words: South Africa
Meaning:
also the Republic of South Africa   a country in southern Africa south of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. Population: 43,586,000 (2001). Capitals: Pretoria and Cape Town. Largest city: Johannesburg. Until the 1990s, the country was ruled by an all-white government using the system of apartheid, which separated people of different races and gave no political rights to black people. In 1994 the African National Congress ( ANC), led by Nelson Mandela, won South Africa’s first fully  democratic election and became the government. South Africa’s best-known products are gold and  diamonds.//


Words: South America
Meaning:
the fourth-largest  continent in the world, between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, which goes from the southern coast of the Caribbean Sea (in the north) to Tierra del Fuego (in the south). It includes the Andes Mountains, the Amazon River, and large areas of tropical  rainforest, as well as many large cities. Its largest country is Brazil. The main language in Brazil is Portuguese, but in all the other countries of South America, the main language is Spanish. //  -- South American n  adj //    Latin America//


Words: South Bank
Meaning:
the South Bank//  an important cultural centre on the south bank of the River Thames in London. The  National Theatre, the  National Film Theatre, the  Royal Festival Hall, the  Museum of the Moving Image, and the  Hayward Gallery are all there.//


Words: South Carolina
Meaning:
SC a state in the southeast US, between North Carolina and Georgia and with a border on the Atlantic Ocean. It was one of the 13 original states, and its capital and largest city is Columbia. In 1860, South Carolina was the first of the southern states to formally announce that it was leaving the Union, and this led to the US Civil War. Its products include tobacco, wood, paper, and  textiles.//


Words: South Dakota
Meaning:
SD a state in the northern part of the central US, north of Nebraska and south of North Dakota. Its largest city is Sioux Falls. Its main industry is farming, and it produces a lot of meat and grain.//


Words: South Downs
Meaning:
the South Downs//  a range of hills in the south of England, mostly in Sussex, where there are many sheep farms//


Words: South East
Meaning:
the South East//  a) the southeastern part of England, including London, which has a high population and many industries and businesses//  b) the southeastern part of the US, including the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina//


Words: South Georgia
Meaning:
an island in the South Atlantic, East of Cape Horn, which is under British control. Nobody lives there except British soldiers and a few scientists. Both the UK and Argentina think the island should belong to them. //


Words: South Glamorgan
Meaning:
a former  county in South Wales, now divided into the new county of  Cardiff and the new county borough of  Vale of Glamorgan//


Words: South Island
Meaning:
one of the two main islands of New Zealand, whose main towns are Christchurch and Dunedin. It is important for sheep farming and the growing of  wheat.//


Words: South Kensington
Meaning:
an area of southwest central London, informally called South Ken, where there are several large and important museums, including the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. It is also a fashionable and expensive place to live.//


Words: South Korea
Meaning:
a country in East Asia, officially called the Republic of Korea. Population: 47,904,000 (2001). Capital: Seoul.//    Korea//    North Korea//


Words: South of France
Meaning:
the South of France//  the part of France along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, from Marseilles to the French border with Monaco. It is also called the ’Riviera’ and it includes the C[hA175]te d’Azur. This area is a popular place for people to go on holiday. In the past only very rich people went there, and many fashionable, rich, and famous people still go to places such as Cannes, Nice, and St Tropez.//


Words: South Pacific
Meaning:
a very popular US musical play, written in 1949 by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, which was later made into a film//


Words: South Pole
Meaning:
n   the South Pole//  the most southern point on the surface of the Earth//    magnetic pole, north pole//


Words: South Sea Bubble
Meaning:
the   a serious financial problem in the UK in 1720, which led to many people losing all their money. The South Sea company made large profits by trading with South America, and this encouraged many people to  invest their money in it (=lend the company money, in the hope of making more money) . But the company was very dishonestly run, and in the end it failed and the money people had invested became worthless. //


Words: South Seas
Meaning:
old use  or  literary   the South Seas//  the southern Pacific Ocean, especially when people think of it as a place of white sand beaches, palm trees, and beautiful girls who wear grass skirts//  -- South Sea adj  [only before noun] //  --a beautiful South Sea island//


Words: South Wales
Meaning:
the southern part of Wales, which formerly contained many coal mines, but now has a lot of modern industries. People from South Wales are sometimes called ’South Wallians’.//    New South Wales//


Words: Southall
Meaning:
an area of West London close to Heathrow Airport, which has a large population of people whose families originally came from India and Pakistan.//


Words: Southampton
Meaning:
a city on the English Channel coast in the south of England. It is an important port for both passengers and goods.//


Words: southbound
Meaning:
adj, adv   travelling or leading towards the south//  --southbound traffic//  --The southbound lanes are closed.//  --The car was last seen traveling southbound on I-35.//\nsoutheast 1  Southeast/sa[hA35E][hA35F]i[hA359]st[hA36B]/ n  written abbreviation SE  [U] \n  1 the direction that is exactly between south and east:\n  2  the southeast:  the southeastern part of a country//  -- southeast adv //  --We continued southeast to Kells.//\nsoutheast 2 adj  Southeast written abbreviation SE \n  1 a southeast wind comes from the southeast:\n  2 in the southeast of a place:  --the southeast quarter of the city//


Words: Southeast Asia
Meaning:
the countries of Asia between India and Bangladesh in the West, and China and the Pacific Ocean in the East. Southeast Asia includes the following countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.//


Words: southeasterly
Meaning:
adj \n  1 towards or in the southeast:  --Snow will spread to southeasterly regions tonight.//\n  2 a southeasterly wind comes from the southeast:


Words: southeastern
Meaning:
adj  written abbreviation SE   in or from the southeast part of a country or area//  --southeastern Europe//


Words: Southend on Sea
Meaning:
a town on the southeast coast of England, near London, which is a popular place for people from London, especially  working-class people, to go for the day or for their holidays//


Words: southerly
Meaning:
adj \n  1 towards or in the south:  --Tara walked in a southerly direction .//\n  2 a southerly wind comes from the south:


Words: southern
Meaning:
Southern/s[hA356][hA171][hA353]n $ -[hA353]rn/ adj  written abbreviation S   in or from the south of a country or area//  --a southern accent//  --Southern Italy//


Words: Southern Alps
Meaning:
the Southern Alps//  mountain ranges on the South Island of New Zealand. Their highest point is Mount Cook, which is the highest point in New Zealand.//


Words: Southern Baptist
Meaning:
a member of a  Baptist religious group that was established in the Southern US in 1845. Southern Baptists often have  fundamentalist Christian beliefs, and they believe that everything in the Bible is exactly true.//


Words: southern hemisphere
Meaning:
n  Southern Hemisphere  the southern hemisphere//  the half of the world that is south of the Equator//


Words: Southern Lights
Meaning:
n   the Southern Lights//  bands of coloured light that are seen in the night sky in the most southern parts of the world//   aurora australis//


Words: Southern States
Meaning:
the Southern States//  the states of the southeastern US, especially the states that fought against the North in the US Civil War//


Words: southerner
Meaning:
Southerner/s[hA356][hA171][hA353]n[hA353] $ -[hA353]rn[hA353]r/ n [C]   someone from the southern part of a country//


Words: Southey
Meaning:
Robert   (1774-1843) a British writer and poet who became  poet laureate in 1813. His best-known works are his book Life of Nelson and short poems such as The Battle of Blenheim.//


Words: southpaw
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   someone who uses their left hand more than their right hand, especially a pitcher in baseball or a boxer//


Words: southwards
Meaning:
towards the south//  --We followed the coast southwards.//  -- southward adj //  --the southward route to Charlestown//


Words: Southwark
Meaning:
a  borough of London, south of the River Thames, which has a very old  cathedral (=a large impressive church) . The Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare’s plays were first performed, is in Southwark.//\nsouthwest 1  Southwest/sa[hA35E][hA35F]west[hA36B]/ n  written abbreviation SW  [U] \n  1 the direction that is exactly between south and west:\n  2  the southwest:  the southwestern part of a country//  -- southwest adv //  --The plane flew southwest toward Egypt.//\nsouthwest 2 adj  Southwest written abbreviation SW \n  1 a southwest wind comes from the southwest:\n  2 in the southwest of a place:  --the southwest corner of France//


Words: southwesterly
Meaning:
adj \n  1 towards or in the southwest:  --The plane was flying in a southwesterly direction.//\n  2 a southwesterly wind comes from the southwest:


Words: southwestern
Meaning:
adj  written abbreviation SW   in or from the southwest part of a country or area//  --southwestern Colorado//


Words: souvenir
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: souvenir  ’to remember’]//  an object that you buy or keep to remind yourself of a special occasion or a place you have visited//   memento//  souvenir of//  --I bought a model of the Eiffel Tower as a souvenir of Paris.//  --a souvenir shop //  souvenir from//  --a souvenir programme from the Gala Concert//


Words: sovereign
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  formal a king or queen:\n  2 a British gold coin used in the past that was worth [hA124]1:\nsovereign 2 adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: soverain, from  Vulgar Latin superanus, from  Latin super  ’over, above’]//\n  1 having the highest power in a country:  sovereign power/control //\n  2 a sovereign country or state is independent and governs itself:


Words: sovereignty
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 complete freedom and power to govern:  --the sovereignty of Parliament//  sovereignty over//  --Spain’s claim of sovereignty over the territory//\n  2 the power that an independent country has to govern itself:  --the defence of our national sovereignty//


Words: Soviet
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Russian; Origin: sovet  ’council’]//  relating to the former USSR (Soviet Union) or its people//


Words: Soviet bloc
Meaning:
the   a name for the former  Soviet Union, together with the countries of Eastern Europe which it partly controlled, and other Communist countries that supported it, such as North Korea, Vietnam, and Cuba//


Words: Soviet Union
Meaning:
the   between 1917 and 1991, a country in Europe and Asia, whose full name was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (the USSR). The Soviet Union was the largest country in the world and was made up of 15 republics (=separate nations) , the most important of which was Russia. It was formed after the Russian Revolution in 1917 as a Communist state, led by Lenin. It was one of the most powerful countries in the world, and many people regarded it as the enemy of the US and western Europe during the  Cold War. In the 1990s the Soviet Union began to break up as many of the republics got rid of their Communist governments and made themselves independent. //


Words: sow
Meaning:
v   past tense  sowed past participle  sown /s[hA353][hA35E]n $ so[hA35E]n/ or  sowed //  [Language: Old English; Origin: sawan]//\n  1 [I and T] to plant or scatter seeds on a piece of ground:  --Sow the seeds in late March.//  sow sth with sth//  --These fields used to be sown with oats.//\n  2 [T] to do something that will cause a bad situation in the future:  --repressive laws that are sowing the seeds of future conflicts//  sow doubt/confusion/dissatisfaction etc //  --an attempt to sow doubt among the jury members//\n  3  sow your wild oats:  if a man sows his wild oats, he has sex with many different women, especially when he is young//  -- sower n  [C] //\nsow 2   n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: sugu]//  a fully grown female pig//    boar//


Words: Soweto
Meaning:
a large  township that was established near Johannesburg in South Africa for black people to live in, because they were not allowed to live in Johannesburg under the old system of  apartheid, although they were allowed to work there. In 1976 a student protest against the use of the Afrikaans language instead of English in schools became a  riot and almost 200 people, including many children, were killed by the South African police and army. As a result, Soweto became an important centre for opposition to the white government.//


Words: soy sauce
Meaning:
n  also soya sauce  BrE [U]   a dark brown liquid made from soya beans that is used especially in Japanese and Chinese cooking//


Words: soya
Meaning:
AmE [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Japanese; Origin: shoyu, from  Chinese shi-yau. soya  1600-1700  Dutch soja, from  Japanese shoyu]//  soya beans//


Words: soya bean
Meaning:
BrE soybean   n AmE [C]   the bean of an Asian plant from which oil and food containing a lot of protein is produced//


Words: Soyinka
Meaning:
Wole   (1934- ) a Nigerian writer of plays, poems, and novels who won the  Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986.//


Words: spa
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: Spa Belgian town with a spa]//\n  1 :  a) a place where the water has special minerals in it, and where people go to improve their health by drinking the water or swimming in it//  --a historic spa town//  b)  also  health spa//  a place where people go to improve their health and beauty, especially through swimming, exercise, beauty treatments etc//\n  2  also  spa bath:   AmE a bath or pool that sends currents of hot water around you//   Jacuzzi//


Words: space
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 empty area:\n   2 area for particular purpose:\n   3 between things:\n   4 outside the earth:\n   5 where things exist:\n   6 time:\n   7 empty land:\n   8 freedom:\n   9 in writing:\n  10 in a report/book:\n  11 look/stare/gaze into space:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: espace, from  Latin spatium  ’area, room, length of space or time’]//\n  1 EMPTY AREA:   [U] the amount of an area, room, container etc that is empty or available to be used//  space for//  --There’s space for a table and two chairs.//  -- How much space is there on each disk?//  more/less/enough space //  --Now that we’ve got three kids, it’d be nice to have a bit more space.//  space to do sth//  --He had plenty of space to study.//  --The hedge takes up too much space .//  sense/feeling of space (=the feeling that a place is large and empty, so you can move around easily) //  --In small homes a single colour scheme can create a sense of space.//\n  2 AREA FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE:   [U and C] an area, especially one used for a particular purpose//  --a supermarket with 700 free parking spaces //  storage/cupboard/shelf space //  --We really do need more storage space.//  --the factory’s floor space  (=the size of the available floor area) //\n  3 BETWEEN THINGS:   [C] an empty place between two things, or between two parts of something//   gap//  space between//  --the space between the house and the garage//  --Lucy cleared a space on her desk.//  --There was an empty space where the flowers had been.//\n  4 OUTSIDE THE EARTH:   [U] the area beyond the Earth where the stars and planets are//  in/into space//  --Who was the first American in space?//  --creatures from outer space  (=far away in space) //  space travel/research/programme/exploration //  --the history of space travel//\n  5 WHERE THINGS EXIST:   [U] all of the area in which everything exists, and in which everything has a position or direction//  --the exact point in space where two lines meet//  --how people of other cultures think about time and space //\n  6 TIME:  a)  in/within the space of sth//  within a particular period of time//  --Mandy had four children in the space of four years.//  b)  a short space of time//  a short period of time//  --They achieved a lot in a short space of time.//\n  7 EMPTY LAND:   [U and C] land, or an area of land that has not been built on//  --a pleasant town centre with plenty of open space //  --the wide open spaces of the prairies//  --the loss of green space in cities//\n  8 FREEDOM:   [U] the freedom to do what you want or do things on your own, especially in a relationship with someone else//  --We give each other space in our marriage.//  --She needed time and space to sort out her life.//\n  9 IN WRITING:   [C] //  a) an empty area between written or printed words, lines etc//  --Leave a space after each number.//  b) the width of a  typed letter of the alphabet//  --The word ’the’ takes up three spaces.//  c) a place provided for you to write your name or other information on a document, piece of paper etc//  --Please write any comments in the space provided.//\n  10 IN A REPORT/BOOK:   [U] the amount of space in a newspaper, magazine, or book that is used for a particular subject//  --The story got very little space in the national newspapers.//\n  11  look/stare/gaze into space:  to look straight in front of you without looking at anything in particular, usually because you are thinking//    breathing space,  personal space,  waste of space at waste1 (5),  watch this space at watch1 (11)//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: space //  vehicles used in space: spaceship,  spacecraft,  rocket,  (space) shuttle,  probe,  satellite,  space station //  someone who travels in space: astronaut,  cosmonaut (Russian) //  parts of a rocket’s journey: countdown,  launch,  blast-off/take-off/lift-off,  leaving the earth’s atmosphere,  going into orbit,  re-entering the earth’s atmosphere,  splashdown/touchdown //  places and things in space: planet,  moon,  star,  sun,  satellite,  solar system,  constellation,  galaxy,  universe,  the cosmos,  black hole,  quasar,  comet,  meteor,  asteroid //  the study of space: astronomy //  See also:  UFO, NASA, science fiction//  ----------//\nspace 2 v  also space out \n  1 [T always + adverb/preposition] to arrange objects or events so that they have equal spaces or periods of time between them:  --They used three microphones spaced several yards apart .//  --Try to space out your classes and study in between.//  be evenly spaced (=with equal spaces) //  --For security, use three evenly spaced bolts per post.//\n  2 [I]  informal to stop paying attention and just look in front of you without thinking, especially because you are bored or have taken drugs:  --I completely spaced out during the lecture.//    spaced out//


Words: space bar
Meaning:
n [C]   the wide key at the bottom of a computer keyboard or typewriter that you press to make a space//


Words: space capsule
Meaning:
n [C]   the part of a spacecraft that carries people into space to obtain information and then comes back to Earth//


Words: Space Needle
Meaning:
the Space Needle//  a tall tower (185 metres) which is the most famous building in Seattle, Washington State, US, and which is sometimes used in pictures to represent Seattle//


Words: space probe
Meaning:
n [C]   a spacecraft without people in it, that is sent into space to collect information about the conditions there and send the information back to Earth//


Words: space station
Meaning:
n [C]   a large spacecraft that stays above the Earth and is a base for people travelling in space or for scientific tests//


Words: spaced out
Meaning:
adj  informal   not fully conscious of what is happening around you, especially because you are extremely tired or have taken drugs//


Words: spaceman
Meaning:
n   plural  spacemen /-men/ [C] //\n  1  informal a man who travels into space:   astronaut//\n  2 someone in stories who visits the Earth from another world:


Words: spacesuit
Meaning:
n [C]   a special protective suit that people wear in space, that covers the whole body and provides a supply of air//


Words: spacewalk
Meaning:
n [C]   the act of moving around outside a spacecraft while in space, or the time spent outside it//


Words: spacey
Meaning:
adj  informal   behaving as though you are not fully conscious of what is happening around you//  --I felt tired and kind of spacey.//


Words: spacing
Meaning:
n [U]   the amount of space between the printed letters, words, or lines on a page//  single spacing (=lines with no empty lines between them) //  double spacing (=lines with one empty line after each one) //


Words: spacious
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: spacieux, from  Latin spatiosus, from  spatium;   SPACE1]//  a spacious house, room etc is large and has plenty of space to move around in//  → cramped//  --a spacious living area//  -- spaciously adv //  -- spaciousness n  [U] //


Words: spade
Meaning:
n   spade//  [Sense: 1,3; Origin: Old English spadu]//  [Sense: 2, 4-5; Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: spada or  Spanish espada  ’broad sword’ (used as a mark on cards), from  Latin spatha;   SPATULA]//\n  1 [C] a tool for digging that has a long handle and a broad metal blade that you push into the ground:    shovel//\n  2  also  spades:   [U] a playing card belonging to the set of cards that have one or more black shapes that look like pointed leaves printed on them//  --the queen of spades//\n  3  call a spade a spade:  to speak about things in a direct and honest way, even though it may be impolite to do this//\n  4  in spades:  to a great degree, or in large amounts//  --Beauty, intelligence, wealth - my mother had all of them in spades .//\n  5 [C]  taboo  old-fashioned a very offensive word for a black person. Do not use this word.:


Words: spadework
Meaning:
n [U]   hard work that has to be done in preparation before something can happen//   legwork//  --Most of the spadework had been done by 1981.//


Words: spaghetti
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Italian; Origin: spago  ’string’]//  a type of pasta in very long thin pieces, that is cooked in boiling water//  spaghetti bolognaise  BrE  (=cooked spaghetti served with a meat and tomato sauce) //   macaroni, tagliatelle//


Words: Spaghetti Junction
Meaning:
n \n  1  American English a place where a lot of roads cross over each other:\n  2 a place in Birmingham in central England where a lot of roads meet and cross over each other:


Words: spaghetti western
Meaning:
n [C]   a film about American cowboys in the Wild West, especially one made in Europe by an Italian director//


Words: Spain
Meaning:
a country in southwest Europe, between France and Portugal, which includes the Balearic and Canary Islands. It is a member of the  EU. Population: 40,038,000 (2001). Capital: Madrid. For many British people, Spain is a popular place to go for a holiday because of its hot, dry summers. People from Spain are called  Spaniards.//    Spanish//


Words: spam
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  spammed present participle  spamming  [I and T] //  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Probably from  Spam]//  to send the same message to many different people using email or the Internet, usually as a way of advertising something - used to show disapproval//  -- spamming n  [U] //\nspam 2 n [U]   email messages that a computer user has not asked for and does not want to read, for example from someone who is advertising something//  --You can filter out spam with special software.//


Words: span
Meaning:
a past tense of spin//\nspan 2 n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: spann]//\n  1 a period of time between two dates or events:  over/within/in a span of sth//  --Over a span of ten years, the company has made great progress.//  --It’ll be difficult to hire that many new staff in such a short time span. //\n  2 the length of time over which someone’s life, ability to pay attention to something etc continues:  attention/concentration span //  --Most 2-year-olds have a very short attention span .//  --Captivity vastly reduces the life span of whales.//\n  3 the part of a bridge, arch etc that goes across from one support to another:\n  4 the distance from one side of something to the other:  --a bird with a large wing span//\nspan 3   past tense and past participle  spanned present participle  spanning  v [T] //\n  1 to include all of a period of time:  --a career which spanned nearly 60 years//\n  2 to include all of a particular space or area:  --The Mongol Empire spanned much of Central Asia.//\n  3 if a bridge spans an area of water, especially a river, it goes from one side to the other:


Words: Spandex
Meaning:
n [U]  trademark   a material that stretches, used especially for making tight-fitting sports clothes//


Words: spangle
Meaning:
v [T]   to cover something with shiny points of light//  be spangled with sth//  --The city skyline was spangled with lights.//  -- spangled also spangly //   adj //  --acrobats in spangled tights//\nspangle 2 n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: spang  ’shiny decoration’ (15-17 centuries), probably from a  Scandinavian language]//  a small piece of shiny metal or plastic sewn on to clothes to give them a shining effect//


Words: Spanglish
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Spanish +  English]//  a mixture of Spanish and English, spoken especially in the US//


Words: Spaniard
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Espaignart, from  Espaigne  ’Spain’, from  Latin Hispania]//   old-fashioned someone from Spain//


Words: spaniel
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: espaignol  ’Spaniard, spaniel’, from  Vulgar Latin Hispaniolus, from  Latin Hispania  ’Spain’]//  a type of dog with long ears that hang down//


Words: Spanish
Meaning:
adj   relating to Spain, its people, or its language//\nSpanish 2 n \n  1 [U] the language used in Spain and parts of Latin America:\n  2  the Spanish [plural] people from Spain:


Words: Spanish Civil War
Meaning:
the   a war fought in Spain, from 1936 to 1939, between the  right-wing nationalists, led by General  Franco, and the  left-wing Republicans. Many people from other countries joined the International Brigade to help the Republicans, including well-known writers and poets such as George Orwell, and the US writer Ernest  Hemingway wrote about the war as a news reporter. The Nationalists won the war, and from 1939 to 1975 Spain was ruled by  Franco.//


Words: Spanish Main
Meaning:
the Spanish Main//  the area around the coast of northern South America, from which Spanish ships carried gold and  treasure back to Spain during the 16th and 17th centuries. Many of these ships were attacked by  pirates, and there are many stories and films about the exciting adventures of the people who sailed the Spanish Main.//


Words: Spanish Steps
Meaning:
some famous steps built in the 18th century, that climb to the main French church in  Rome, the Trinita dei Monti.//


Words: Spanish-American War
Meaning:
the   a war in 1898 between the US and Spain, which the US started because it wanted Cuba to be independent from Spain and because the US battleship  Maine was mysteriously destroyed by an explosion near Havana, Cuba. After Spain was defeated, Cuba became independent, and the US took control of the islands of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Theodore  Roosevelt, who later became president, first became famous through his military success in this war, when he led a group of men called the  Rough Riders.//


Words: spank
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  From the sound]//  to hit a child on their bottom with your open hand, as a punishment//   smack//  -- spank n  [C] //  --a spank on the bottom//


Words: spanking
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: spank]//  the act of hitting a child on their bottom with your open hand, as a punishment//  --If you don’t stop that noise, you’ll get a spanking !//\nspanking 2 adv  informal   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Perhaps from a  Scandinavian language]//\n  1  spanking new:  very new and impressive//  --a spanking new shopping centre//\n  2  spanking clean:  very clean//\nspanking 3 adj  BrE   at a spanking pace/rate//   old-fashioned very fast//  --They started walking at a spanking rate.//


Words: spanner
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: German]//\n  1 a metal tool that fits over a nut, used for turning the nut to make it tight or to undo it:  American Equivalent:  wrench//\n  2  put/throw a spanner in the works:   informal to unexpectedly do something that prevents a plan or process from succeeding//


Words: spar
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  sparred present participle  sparring  [I] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  spur]//\n  1 to practise boxing with someone:  spar with//  --He broke his nose while sparring with Vega.//\n  2 to argue with someone but not in an unpleasant way:  spar over//  --Senators are sparring over the health bill.//  spar with//  --He’s been sparring with the security guards.//    sparring partner//\nspar 2 n [C]   a thick pole, especially one used on a ship to support sails or ropes//    mast//


Words: spare
Meaning:
S2   adj   ----------//\n   1 extra:\n   2 not used/needed:\n   3 time:\n   4 money:\n   5 be going spare:\n   6 go spare:\n   7 plain:\n   8 thin:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: sp[zB024]r]//\n  1 EXTRA:   spare key/battery/clothes etc//  a key etc that you keep in addition to the one you usually use, so that it is available if the one you usually use breaks, gets lost etc//  --a spare key//  --Bring a towel and some spare clothes.//  --a supply of spare batteries//  --a spare tyre//\n  2 NOT USED/NEEDED:   [usually before noun] not being used or not needed at the present time//  --Have you got any spare boxes?//  --You could sleep in the spare bedroom.//  --Do you have any spare cash.//  --I’ll go and see if there are any spare seats.//  --A decline in beer sales had left the industry with spare capacity  (=the ability to produce more than can be sold) .//\n  3 TIME:   spare time/moment/hour etc//  time when you are not working//  --What do you do in your spare time?//  --Eric spent every spare moment he had in the library.//\n  4 MONEY:   spare change//  coins of little value that you do not need and can give to other people//  --There are beggars on every corner asking for spare change.//\n  5  be going spare:   BrE  spoken if something is going spare, it is available for you to have or use//  --I’ll have some of that cake if it’s going spare.//\n  6  go spare:   BrE  informal to become very angry or worried//  --Dad would go spare if he found out.//\n  7 PLAIN:  a spare style of writing, painting etc is plain or basic and uses nothing unnecessary//\n  8 THIN:   literary someone who is spare is tall and thin//\nspare 2 S3 v [T]   ----------//\n   1 give:\n   2 money/time etc to spare:\n   3 spare somebody the trouble/difficulty/pain etc (of doing something):\n   4 not damage or harm:\n   5 spare a thought for somebody:\n   6 spare no expense/effort:\n   7 spare somebody (the details):\n   8 spare somebody’s feelings:\n   9 spare a glance:\n  10 spare somebody’s blushes:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: sparian]//\n  1 GIVE:  to make something such as time, money, or workers available for someone, especially when this is difficult for you to do//  --Sorry, I can’t spare the time .//  --I’d like you to come over when you can spare a couple of hours.//  --Can you spare [hA124]5?//  spare sb/sth to do sth//  --We’re too busy to spare anyone to help you right now.//  spare sb ten minutes/an hour etc //  --Could you possibly spare me a few moments in private (=used to ask someone if they have time to quickly talk to you) ?//  --It’s very kind of you to spare me so much of your time.//\n  2  money/time etc to spare:  if you have time, money etc to spare, you have some left in addition to what you have used or need//  --Anyone who has time to spare and would like to help can contact Moira.//  with sth to spare//  --They got to the airport with seconds to spare.//  --They still have some money to spare.//\n  3  spare sb the trouble/difficulty/pain etc (of doing sth):  to prevent someone from having to experience something difficult or unpleasant//  --I wanted to spare them the trouble of buying me a present.//  --Thankfully she had been spared the ordeal of surgery.//\n  4 NOT DAMAGE OR HARM:  to not damage or harm someone or something, even though other people or things are being damaged, killed, or destroyed//  --I could not understand why I had been spared and they had not.//  --the soldier who had spared his life //  spare sb/sth from sth//  --Today we will hear whether the school is to be spared from closure.//\n  5  spare a thought for sb:  to think about another person who is in a worse situation than you are//  --Spare a thought for Nick, who’s doing his exams right now.//\n  6  spare no expense/effort:  to spend as much money or do everything necessary to make something really good or successful//  spare no expense/effort to do sth//  --No expense was spared in developing the necessary technology.//  --No effort will be spared to bring the people responsible to justice.//\n  7  spare sb (the details):  to not tell someone all the details about something, because it is unpleasant or boring//  --He spared us the details, saying only that he had been injured in the war.//  --’They own three houses. One in the country, one in...’ ’ Spare me .’//\n  8  spare sb’s feelings:  to avoid doing something that would upset someone//  --Just tell me the truth. Don’t worry about sparing my feelings.//\n  9  spare a glance:   BrE  written to look quickly at someone or something//  spare a glance at//  --Before leaving the old town, spare another glance at the tower.//  spare sb/sth a glance//  --a bored waitress who scarcely spared them a glance//\n  10  spare sb’s blushes:   BrE to avoid doing something that would embarrass someone//\nspare 3 n \n  1 [C] an additional thing, for example a key, that you keep so that it is available:  --If you forget the key, Mrs Jones over the road has a spare.//  --The batteries are dead. Have you got any spares?//\n  2 [C] a spare tyre:\n  3  spares [plural]  BrE  spare parts:  motor/car/aircraft etc spares //  --a shortage of aircraft spares//


Words: spare part
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   a new part for a vehicle or machine, that is used to replace a part that is damaged or broken//


Words: Spare Rib
Meaning:
trademark   a magazine produced in Britain by a group of women working together. It has articles on political subjects as well as stories by women and information on subjects of interest to women, especially  racism and feminism, and is read mainly by feminists.//


Words: spare tyre
Meaning:
BrE  spare tire AmE n [C] \n  1 an additional wheel with a tyre on it, that you keep in a car to use if another tyre gets damaged:\n  2 the fat around someone’s waist - used humorously:


Words: sparingly
Meaning:
adv   using or doing only a little of something//  -- Use the spices sparingly .//  -- sparing adj //  --We must be sparing with our resources.//


Words: spark
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 fire:\n   2 electricity:\n   3 spark of interest/excitement/anger etc:\n   4 cause:\n   5 intelligence/energy:\n   6 sparks:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: spearca]//\n  1 FIRE:   [C] a very small piece of burning material produced by a fire or by hitting or rubbing two hard objects together//  --sparks from the fire//  --The scrape of metal on metal sent up a shower of sparks .//\n  2 ELECTRICITY:   [C] a flash of light caused by electricity passing across a space//  --electric sparks from a broken wire//\n  3  spark of interest/excitement/anger etc:  a small amount of a feeling or quality//  --Rachel looked at her and felt a spark of hope.//\n  4 CAUSE:   [C] a small action or event that causes something to happen, especially trouble or violence//  --The judge’s verdict provided the spark for the riots.//  --Interest rate cuts were the spark the market needed.//\n  5 INTELLIGENCE/ENERGY:   [U] a quality of intelligence or energy that makes someone successful or fun to be with//  --She was tired, and lacked her usual spark.//  --McKellan’s performance gives the play its spark of life  (=quality of energy) .//\n  6  sparks [plural] anger or angry arguments:  --The sparks were really flying  (=people were arguing angrily) at the meeting!//    bright spark at bright(10)//\nspark 2 v \n  1 [T]  also spark sth → off :  to be the cause of something, especially trouble or violence//   provoke//  --The police response sparked outrage in the community.//  --A discarded cigarette sparked a small brush fire.//\n  2  spark sb’s interest/hope/curiosity etc:  to make someone feel interested, hopeful etc//  --topics that spark children’s imaginations//\n  3 [I] to produce sparks of fire or electricity:


Words: spark plug
Meaning:
also sparking plug  BrE n [C]   a part in a car engine that produces an electric spark to make the petrol mixture start burning//


Words: sparkle
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1100-1200; Origin: spark]//\n  1 to shine in small bright flashes:    sparkling//  --The sea sparkled in the sun.//  --The crystal chandelier sparkled.//\n  2 if someone’s eyes sparkle, they seem to shine brightly, especially because the person is happy or excited:   sparkling//  sparkling with//  --Ron’s eyes sparkled with excitement.//\nsparkle 2 n [U and C] \n  1 a bright shiny appearance, with small points of flashing light:  --the sparkle of the diamonds//\n  2 a quality that makes something or someone seem interesting and full of life:  --the sparkle and zest of a live performance//\n  3 if someone has a sparkle in their eyes, their eyes seem to shine, and you can see a feeling in them, especially happiness or excitement:  --There was a sparkle of fun in her brown eyes.//


Words: sparkler
Meaning:
n [C]   a type of firework that you can hold in your hand, consisting of a thin stick that gives off sparks of fire//


Words: sparkling
Meaning:
adj \n  1 shining brightly with points of flashing light:  --a sparkling blue lake//\n  2 very clean, and seeming to shine brightly:  --a sparkling white beach//  --a sparkling clean kitchen//\n  3 a sparkling drink has bubbles of gas in it:   fizzy//  --a glass of sparkling wine//\n  4 full of life and intelligence:  --Claire’s sparkling personality//


Words: sparring partner
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone you practise boxing with:\n  2 someone you regularly have friendly arguments with:


Words: sparrow
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: spearwa]//  a small brown bird, very common in many parts of the world//


Words: sparse
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: sparsus  ’spread out’, from the past participle of  spargere  ’to scatter’]//  existing only in small amounts//  --his sparse brown hair//  --rural areas with sparse population//  -- sparsely adv //  --a sparsely populated area//  -- sparseness n  [U] //


Words: Sparta
Meaning:
a city of ancient Greece which was famous for the bravery and skill of its soldiers, and for the simple way in which its people lived without any comforts//  -- Spartan n  adj //


Words: Spartacus
Meaning:
(died 71 BC) a Roman  gladiator (=a man who fought against other men or wild animals to entertain people) , who led a large army of  slaves in a  revolt against their Roman owners. Eventually they were defeated by Roman armies, and many of them were killed by being crucified.//


Words: spartan
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: Spartan  ’of Sparta’ (16-21 centuries), from  Sparta city in ancient Greece whose people lived simply]//  spartan conditions or ways of living are simple and without any comfort//  --spartan accommodation//  --a spartan existence//


Words: spasm
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: spasme, from  Latin, from  Greek spasmos, from  span  ’to pull’]//\n  1 [U and C] an occasion when your muscles suddenly become tight, causing you pain:  --Maggie felt a muscle spasm in her back.//  --Tom’s jaw muscles had gone into spasm .//  back/shoulder/throat etc spasm //\n  2  spasm of grief/laughter/coughing etc:  a sudden strong feeling or reaction that you have for a short period of time//  --I felt a spasm of fear.//


Words: spasmodic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: spasmodicus, from  Greek spasmos;   SPASM]//\n  1 happening for short irregular periods, not continuously:  --spasmodic machine gun fire//\n  2  formal  or  medical of or relating to a muscle spasm:  --a spasmodic cough//  -- spasmodically/-kli/ adv //


Words: spastic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: spasticus, from  Greek, from  span;   SPASM]//\n  1  old-fashioned having cerebral palsy, a disease that prevents control of the muscles:\n  2  informal  not polite an insulting way of describing someone who drops things, falls easily, and is stupid - used especially by children:  -- spastic n  [C] //


Words: spat
Meaning:
the past tense and past participle of spit//\nspat 2 n [C]   [Sense: 1; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from the sound of a blow.]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: spatterdash  ’spat’ (17-20 centuries), from  spatter +  dash]//\n  1  informal a short unimportant quarrel:  --a marital spat//\n  2  spats [plural] special pieces of cloth that fasten with buttons on top of a man’s shoes, worn in the past:


Words: spate
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Perhaps from  Old French espoit, from  Dutch spuiten  ’to flow out strongly’]//\n  1  spate of sth:  a large number of similar things that happen in a short period of time, especially bad things//  --a spate of burglaries//\n  2  in spate:   BrE a river, stream etc that is in spate is very full and flowing very fast//


Words: spatial
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: spatium;   SPACE1]//  relating to the position, size, shape etc of things//  -- spatially adv //


Words: spatter
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Perhaps from  Dutch spatten  ’to burst, flow out strongly’]//  if a liquid spatters, or if something spatters it, drops of it fall or are thrown all over a surface//   splatter//  spatter sb/sth with sth//  --The walls were spattered with blood.//  spatter sth on/over etc sth//  --a sweatshirt with paint spattered over it//  spatter on/across/over etc//  --The first drops of rain spattered on the stones.//  -- spatter n  [C] //


Words: spatula
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: ’spoon, spatula’, from  Latin spatha  ’spoon, sword’, from  Greek spathe  ’blade’]//\n  1 a kitchen tool with a wide flat blade, used for spreading, mixing, or lifting soft substances:\n  2  BrE a small instrument with a flat surface, used by doctors to hold your tongue down so that they can examine your throat:


Words: spawn
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: espaundre, from  Old French espandre  ’to spread out’, from  Latin expandere;   EXPAND]//\n  1 [T] to make a series of things happen or start to exist:  --New technology has spawned new business opportunities.//\n  2 [I and T] if a fish or frog spawns, it produces eggs in large quantities at the same time:\nspawn 2 n [U]   the eggs of a fish or frog laid together in a soft mass//


Words: spay
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: espeer  ’to cut with a sword’, from  espee  ’sword’, from  Latin spatha;   SPATULA]//  to remove part of the sex organs of a female animal so that it is not able to have babies//    neuter//


Words: SPCK
Meaning:
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge a British organization which produces and sells Christian books in order to teach people more about Christianity//


Words: speak
Meaning:
v   past tense  spoke /sp[hA353][hA35E]k $ spo[hA35E]k/past participle  spoken /sp[hA353][hA35E]k[hA353]n $ spo[hA35E]-///  ----------//\n   1 in conversation:\n   2 say words:\n   3 language:\n   4 formal speech:\n   5 express ideas/opinions:\n   6 so to speak:\n   7 speak your mind:\n   8 be not speaking/not be on speaking terms:\n   9 speak volumes (about/for something):\n  10 speak with one voice:\n  11 speak the same language:\n  12 speak out of turn:  Phrasal verbs//   speak for somebody/something//   speak of something//   speak out//   speak to somebody/something//   speak up//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: sprecan,  specan]//\n  1 IN CONVERSATION:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to talk to someone about something//  speak to//  --I spoke to her last Wednesday.//  --’Hello, may I speak to Jim Smith?’ ’Yes, speaking’ (=used on the telephone) .//  --I know her by sight, but not to speak to  (=not well enough to talk to her) .//  speak to sb about sth//  --I haven’t spoken to Steve about all this.//  speak with//   especially AmE //  --They did not want to speak with reporters.//  speak of//  --It was the first time she had ever spoken of marriage.//\n  2 SAY WORDS:   [I] to use your voice to produce words//  --I was so shocked I couldn’t speak.//  --He spoke very softly (=quietly) .//\n  3 LANGUAGE:   [T not in progressive] to be able to talk in a particular language//  --Do you speak English?//  --I don’t speak a word of French (=do not speak any French at all) .//  can/can’t speak sth //  --Several children in the class cannot speak English.//  French-speaking/Italian-speaking etc //  --a German-speaking secretary//\n  4 FORMAL SPEECH:   [I] to make a formal speech//  speak at//  --Jones spoke at the teachers’ annual convention.//  speak to//  --She asked me to speak to her students about my work in marketing.//  speak in favour of/against//  --Only one MP spoke against the bill.//    speaker(1)//\n  5 EXPRESS IDEAS/OPINIONS:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to say something that expresses your ideas or opinions//  speak as a parent/teacher/democrat etc //  --He emphasized that he was speaking as a private citizen, not in any official capacity.//  speak well/highly/ill of sb (=say good or bad things about someone) //  --Her co-workers spoke highly of her.//  --It’s wrong to speak ill of the dead.//  strictly/generally/roughly speaking (=used when expressing an idea that you think is exactly true, generally true etc) //  --Strictly speaking, it’s my money, not yours. I earned it.//\n  6  so to speak:  used when you are saying something in words that do not have their usual meaning//  --We have to pull down the barriers, so to speak, of poverty.//\n  7  speak your mind:  to tell people exactly what you think, even if it offends them//  --He was a tough politician who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind.//\n  8  be not speaking/not be on speaking terms:  if two people are not speaking, they do not talk to each other, usually because they have argued//  --He was not on speaking terms with his brother or sisters.//\n  9  speak volumes (about/for sth):  if something speaks volumes, it clearly shows the nature of something or the feelings of a person//  --What you wear speaks volumes about you.//\n  10  speak with one voice:  if a group of people speak with one voice, they all express the same opinion//  --On this issue, the 12 organizations spoke with one voice.//\n  11  speak the same language:  if two people or groups speak the same language, they have similar attitudes and opinions//\n  12  speak out of turn:  to say something when you do not have the right or authority to say it//    actions speak louder than words at action1 (13)//    the facts speak for themselves at fact(8)//    in a manner of speaking at manner(5)//  speak for / [speak for sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 to express the feelings, thoughts, or beliefs of a person or group of people:  --Dan, speaking for the students, started the meeting.//\n  2  speak for yourself:   spoken used to tell someone that you do not have the same opinion as they do, or that something that is true for them is not true for you//  --’We don’t want to go.’ ’Speak for yourself!’//\n  3  be spoken for:  if something or someone is spoken for, they have already been promised to someone else//  --They’re all either married or spoken for.//\n  4  speak for itself/themselves:  to show something very clearly//  --The results speak for themselves.//  speak of [speak of sth] phr v//\n  1  literary to show clearly that something happened or exists:  --Her skin spoke of warm summer days spent in the sun.//\n  2  no ... to speak of:   also none/nothing to speak of //  very little of something or a very small thing//  --There’s been no rain to speak of for several months.//  --The house had no garden to speak of.//  speak out phr v//  to publicly speak in protest about something, especially when protesting could be dangerous//  speak out about/against//  --Five students who had spoken out against the regime were arrested.//  speak to / [speak to sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 to talk to someone who has done something wrong and tell them not to do it again:  --Joe was late again today. You’ll have to speak to him.//\n  2 if something such as a poem, painting, or piece of music speaks to you, you like it because it expresses a particular meaning, quality, or feeling to you:  --Modern art just doesn’t speak to me.//  speak up phr v//\n  1 used to ask someone to speak louder:  --Could you speak up, please?//\n  2 to say something, especially to express your opinion:  --There was a brief silence, then Gerald spoke up.//\n  3  speak up for sb:  to speak in support of someone//  --He is willing to speak up for the rights of women.//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: speak, talk //  When one person is saying things, you can use  talk  or  speak , but  talk  is more usual and  speak slightly literary : She talked about her job. |  He spoke longingly of his home country. |  Don’t interrupt me when I’m talking/speaking. //  If people are having a conversation, always use  talk : We talked about our relationship. | They talked for hours. //   If you say that two people  are not speaking , you mean they are not willing to talk to each other :  They’ve had a row and they’re not speaking. //  Someone who can  talk has learned to use language : She could talk before she was two. //  If you can  speak , you are able to say something on a particular occasion : I was too scared to speak. //  !!  When you mention what language someone uses, always use  speak : She speaks(=knows how to use) French and Spanish.|  We spoke in German at first, then English. //  !!  When you ask for someone on the telephone, use  speak : Can I speak to Clare? //  !!  You can  speak words . Do not use  talk : I spoke the words as clearly as I could. //  !!  You can  talk sense or talk nonsense . Do not use  speak : I think she talks a lot of sense. //  ----------//


Words: speakeasy
Meaning:
n   plural  speakeasies  [C] //  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  From the need to speak quietly so as not to attract attention]//  a place in the US in the 1920’s and 1930’s where you could buy alcohol illegally//


Words: speaker
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who makes a formal speech to a group of people:  speaker at//  --the guest speaker at the conference//  --The keynote speaker  (=main or most important speaker) was Robert Venturi, the architect.//  after-dinner speaker (=someone who makes a speech after a formal meal) //\n  2 someone who speaks a particular language:  French-speaker/Spanish-speaker etc //  speaker of//  --Some English words are difficult for speakers of other languages.//  --a native speaker of Chinese//  keyboard, monitor, speaker//\n  3 the part of a radio, sound system etc where the sound comes out:\n  4  formal someone who says something:  --Pay attention to the body language of the speaker.//\n  5  the Speaker:  an official who controls discussions in a parliament//\n  6  the Speaker of the House:  the politician who controls discussions in the House of Representatives in the US Congress//


Words: Speaker’s Corner
Meaning:
an area in the northeast corner of  Hyde Park in London, where ordinary people can go, especially on Sunday mornings, to make a speech about any subject, and other people listen to them and sometimes argue with them. People often stand on a box to make their speeches.//


Words: speakerphone
Meaning:
n [C]  especially AmE   a telephone that contains a microphone and a loudspeaker, so that you can use it without holding it. Speakerphones are especially used in business meetings when groups of people in different places want to talk to each other.//


Words: spear
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1; Origin: Old English spere]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1400-1500; Origin: spire]//\n  1 a pole with a sharp pointed blade at one end, used as a weapon in the past:\n  2 a thin pointed stem of a plant:  --asparagus spears//\nspear 2 v [T] \n  1 to push or throw a spear into something, especially in order to kill it:\n  2 to push a pointed object, usually a fork, into something, so that you can pick it up:   stab//


Words: spearhead
Meaning:
v [T]   to lead an attack or organized action//  --the troops who spearheaded the rescue mission//\nspearhead 2 n [C usually singular]   a person or group of people who lead an attack or organized action//  spearhead of//  --The group became the spearhead of the labor union movement.//


Words: spec
Meaning:
n  informal   [Sense: 1; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: specification]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: speculation]//  [Sense: 3; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: spectacles]//\n  1 [C usually plural] a detailed instruction about how a building, car, piece of equipment etc should be made:   specification//  --the specs for the company’s new video games console//\n  2  on spec:  if you do something on spec, you do it without being sure that you will get what you are hoping for//  --I sent in an application on spec.//\n  3  specs [plural] glasses that help you see:


Words: special
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: especial, from  Latin specialis  ’particular’, from  species;   SPECIES]//\n  1 not ordinary or usual, but different in some way and often better or more important:  --a special place in the classroom for reading//  --No one receives special treatment.//  --Maria’s special recipe for apple pie//  --The good china was used only on special occasions .//  --Each village has its own special charm.//  anything/sth/nothing special //  --Are you doing anything special for Christmas?//\n  2 particularly important to someone and deserving attention, love etc:  --a party with a few special friends//  --a teacher who made every child feel special //  --Her second son had a special place in her heart .//\n  3 [only before noun] a special position or job has a particular purpose or aim, and continues only until that purpose or aim is achieved:  --Mitchell acted as a special envoy in the Northern Ireland peace talks.//\n  4 [only before noun] more than usual:  --Pay special attention to how you clean the wound.//\nspecial 2 n [C usually singular] \n  1 something that is not usual or ordinary, and is made or done for a special purpose:  --a TV special on the election//\n  2 a lower price than usual for a particular product for a short period of time:  --a lunch special for $4.99//  be on special//  --Breyer’s ice cream is on special this week.//


Words: Special Branch
Meaning:
n   a department of the British police force that deals with political crimes or crimes affecting the safety of the government, for example terrorism//


Words: special constable
Meaning:
n [C]   someone in Britain who sometimes works as a police officer without being paid, and who also has another main job//


Words: special effect
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   an unusual image or sound that has been produced artificially to be used in a film or television programme//


Words: special forces
Meaning:
n [plural]   soldiers who have been specially trained to fight against guerrilla or terrorist groups//


Words: special interest group
Meaning:
n [C]   a group of people who share the same political or business aims, and who try to influence the government to help them with those aims//


Words: special interests
Meaning:
n [plural]   special interest groups in general//  --Special interests donate millions of dollars to political campaigns.//


Words: special licence
Meaning:
n [U and C]  BrE   special permission given by the Church of England for a marriage to take place at a time or place not usually allowed//


Words: special needs
Meaning:
n [plural]   needs that someone has because they have mental or physical problems//  --children with special needs//


Words: special offer
Meaning:
n [C]   a low price charged for a product for a short time//  --The hotel has a special offer of five nights for the price of three.//  special offer on//  --special offers on dishwashers//  be on special offer//  --The wine is currently on special offer at [hA124]2.69.//  -- special offer adj  [only before noun] //  --Our special offer price is [hA124]25.95.//


Words: Special Olympics
Meaning:
the   an international programme of sports events and sports training for adults and children who have mental or physical problems//


Words: special pleading
Meaning:
n [U]   when someone tries to persuade you to do something by giving you only those facts that support their argument//


Words: specialism
Meaning:
n  BrE \n  1 [C] a particular activity or subject that you know a lot about:  American Equivalent:  specialization//  specialism in//  --graduates with a specialism in Tourism and Leisure//\n  2 [U] the practice of limiting your interests or activities to particular subjects:  American Equivalent:  specialization//


Words: specialist
Meaning:
W3S3   n [C] \n  1 someone who knows a lot about a particular subject, or is very skilled at it:   expert//  specialist in//  --an attorney who is a specialist in banking law//\n  2 a doctor who knows more about one particular type of illness or treatment than other doctors:  --a heart specialist//


Words: speciality
Meaning:
n   plural  specialities  [C]  BrE //\n  1 a type of food that a person, restaurant, or area is well known for:  American Equivalent:  specialty//  --The restaurant offers a wide variety of local specialities.//  --the region’s speciality cheese//\n  2 a subject or job that you know a lot about or have a lot of experience of:  American Equivalent:  specialty//  --Preston’s speciality was night photography.//


Words: specialization
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 an activity or subject that you know a lot about:\n  2 the practice of limiting your interests or activities to one particular subject:  --industrial specialization//


Words: specialize
Meaning:
S3  also  specialise BrE   v [I]   to limit all or most of your study, business etc to a particular subject or activity//  specialize in//  --Simmons specialized in contract law.//


Words: specialized
Meaning:
also  specialised BrE   adj   trained, designed, or developed for a particular purpose, type of work, place etc//  --specialized training for specific jobs//  --the highly specialized plants that live in desert areas//


Words: specially
Meaning:
adv \n  1 for one particular purpose, and only for that purpose:  --specially trained police dogs//  specially designed/built/made etc //  --The boats are specially built for the disabled.//\n  2  spoken much more than usual, or much more than other people or things:   especially//  --He specially liked the pie. see usage note  especially//


Words: specialty
Meaning:
n   plural  specialities  [C]  AmE //\n  1 a type of food that a person, restaurant, or area is well known for:  British Equivalent:  speciality//  --Our specialty is clam chowder.//\n  2 a subject or job that you know a lot about or have a lot of experience of:  British Equivalent:  speciality//  --Johnson’s specialty is medieval European history.//\n  3 a particular product or business that has one purpose or sells one type of thing:  --an area with clothes retailers and specialty shops//


Words: species
Meaning:
W3   n   plural  species  [C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: ’appearance, kind’, from  specere  ’to look (at)’]//  a group of animals or plants whose members are similar and can breed together to produce young animals or plants//  --Seven species of birds of prey have been observed.//  --pandas and other endangered species  (=ones that may soon no longer exist) //   genus//


Words: specific
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: specificus, from  Latin species;   SPECIES]//\n  1 [only before noun] a specific thing, person, or group is one particular thing, person, or group:  --games suitable for specific age-groups//  --a specific example of alcohol’s effect on the body//\n  2 detailed and exact:  --Mr Howarth gave us very specific instructions.//  specific about//  --Could you be more specific about what you’re looking for?//\n  3  specific to sth:   formal limited to, or affecting only one particular thing//  --a disease specific to horses//\nspecific 2 n \n  1  specifics [plural] particular details:  specifics of//  --the specifics of the lawsuit//  give/go into/provide etc specifics //  --Thurman was reluctant to go into specifics about the deal.//\n  2 [C]  medical a drug that has an effect only on one particular disease:


Words: specific gravity
Meaning:
n [U and C]  technical   the weight of a substance divided by the weight of the amount of water that would fill the same space//


Words: specifically
Meaning:
W3S2   adv \n  1 relating to or intended for one particular type of person or thing only:  --advertising that specifically targets children//\n  2 in a detailed or exact way:  --I specifically asked you not to do that!//\n  3 [sentence adverb] used when you are adding more exact information:  --Specifically, the department wanted answers to the following questions.//


Words: specification
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 [usually plural] a detailed instruction about how a car, building, piece of equipment etc should be made:  build/manufacture/produce sth to ... specifications //  --The airport building had been constructed to FAA specifications.//  --The bolts met all the engineering specifications .//\n  2  especially BrE a clear statement of what is needed or wanted:  --a specification of what role each member will play//  job specification (=a detailed description of what a job involves) //


Words: specify
Meaning:
W3   v   past tense and past participle  specified present participle  specifying third person singular  specifies  [T] //  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: specifier, from  Late Latin specificare, from  specificus;   SPECIFIC1]//  to state something in an exact and detailed way//  --Payments will be made for a specified number of months.//  specify who/what/how etc//  --Regulations specify how long maintenance crews can work.//  specify that//  --The rules clearly specify that competitors must not accept payment.//


Words: specimen
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: specere  ’to look (at)’]//\n  1 a small amount or piece that is taken from something, so that it can be tested or examined:  --a blood specimen//  specimen of//  --a specimen of rock//\n  2 a single example of something, often an animal or plant:  specimen of//  --a very fine specimen of 12th century glass//\n  3 a person you are describing in a particular way - used humorously:  --Her boyfriend is an impressive physical specimen.//


Words: specious
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: speciosus  ’beautiful, easily believed’, from  species;   SPECIES]//  seeming to be true or correct, but actually false//  --a specious argument//


Words: speck
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: specca]//  a very small mark, spot, or piece of something//  speck of//  --a speck of dust//


Words: spectacle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin spectaculum, from  spectare;   SPECTATOR]//\n  1 a very impressive show or scene:  --a multimedia dance and opera spectacle//\n  2 [usually singular] an unusual or interesting thing or situation that you see or notice - used especially in order to show disapproval:  --The trial was turned into a public spectacle .//  spectacle of//  --the spectacle of drunken young men on the streets//  3  spectacles [plural]  formal  or old-fashioned glasses that help you see//\n  4  make a spectacle of yourself:  to behave in an embarrassing way that is likely to make other people notice you and laugh at you//


Words: spectacular
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: spectaculum;   SPECTACLE]//\n  1 very impressive:  --a mountainous area with spectacular scenery//  --a spectacular success//\n  2 very sudden, unexpected, or extreme:  --The news caused a spectacular fall in the stock market.//  -- spectacularly adv //\nspectacular 2 n [C]   an event or performance that is very large and impressive//  --a television spectacular//


Words: Spectator
Meaning:
The   a magazine which contains articles about politics, important events, and the  arts. There are separate British and US magazines called  The Spectator. The magazine was started in the UK in 1711, by Joseph Addison and Sir Richard Steele.//


Words: spectator
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: spectare  ’to watch’, from  specere  ’to look (at)’]//  someone who is watching an event or game//    audience//  --The match attracted over 40,000 spectators.//


Words: spectator sport
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a sport that people go and watch:\n  2 something that you watch rather than take part in - usually used humorously:  --Life is not a spectator sport.//


Words: specter
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: spectre, from  Latin spectrum;   SPECTRUM]//  the American spelling of spectre//


Words: Spector
Meaning:
Phil   (1940- ) a US record  producer and songwriter, who had an important influence on  pop music in the 1960s. He developed a style called the "wall of sound", which was used as a background for groups such as The Crystals and The Ronettes.//


Words: spectral
Meaning:
adj \n  1  literary relating to or like a spectre:\n  2  technical relating to or made by a spectrum:


Words: spectre
Meaning:
BrE  specter AmE   n \n  1  the spectre of sth:  something that people are afraid of because it may affect them badly//  --The recession is again raising the spectre of unemployment.//\n  2 [C]  literary a ghost:


Words: spectroscope
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: spectrum (  SPECTRUM) +  English -scope (as in  microscope)]//  an instrument used for forming and looking at spectra//  -- spectroscopy/spektr[hA361]sk[hA353]pi $ -tr[hA35A][hA359]-/ n  [U] //  -- spectroscopic/spektr[hA353]sk[hA361]p[hA366]k[hA36B] $ -sk[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //


Words: spectrum
Meaning:
n   plural  spectra /-tr[hA353]/ [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: ’something that appears, image’, from  specere  ’to look (at)’]//\n  1 a complete range of opinions, people, situations etc, going from one extreme to its opposite:  spectrum of//  --the ethnic spectrum of America//  across the spectrum//  --The bill drew support from across the political spectrum.//  broad/wide/full etc spectrum //  --a broad spectrum of environmental groups//  --The two articles here represent opposite ends of the spectrum .//\n  2 the set of bands of coloured light into which a beam of light separates when it is passed through a prism:\n  3 a complete range of radio, sound etc waves:  --the electromagnetic spectrum//


Words: speculate
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  speculari  ’to watch (secretly)’, from  specere  ’to look (at)’]//\n  1 [I and T] to guess about the possible causes or effects of something, without knowing all the facts or details:  --She refused to speculate.//  speculate on/about (why/what etc)//  --Jones refused to speculate about what might happen.//  speculate that//  --Some analysts speculated that jobs will be lost.//\n  2 [I] to buy goods, property, shares in a company etc, hoping that you will make a large profit when you sell them:  speculate in/on//  --He speculated in stocks.//


Words: speculation
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 when you guess about the possible causes or effects of something without knowing all the facts, or the guesses that you make:  speculation that//  --There is speculation that the president is ill.//  speculation about/on//  --speculation about the future//  --the witness’s statement was pure speculation  (=not based on any facts) //  wild/idle speculation (=speculation that is unlikely to be true) //\n  2 when you try to make a large profit by buying goods, property, shares etc and then selling them:  --property speculation//


Words: speculative
Meaning:
adj \n  1 based on guessing, not on information or facts:  highly/purely/largely speculative //  --a purely speculative theory about life on other planets//\n  2 bought or done in the hope of making a profit later:  --speculative investments//\n  3 if you give someone a speculative look, you look at them while trying to guess something about them:  -- speculatively adv //  --Delaney eyed her speculatively.//


Words: speculator
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who buys goods, property, shares in a company etc, hoping that they will make a large profit when they sell them//  --a New York property speculator//


Words: speech
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: spr[zB024]c,  sp[zB024]c]//\n  1 [C] a talk, especially a formal one about a particular subject, given to a group of people:  --a campaign speech//  give/make/deliver a speech //  --Each child had to give a short speech to the rest of the class.//  speech on/about//  --a major speech on relations with China//  --a conference including meals and after-dinner speeches //  --Collins gave the keynote speech  (=most important speech) .//\n  2 [U] the ability to speak:  --Only humans are capable of speech.//\n  3 [U] spoken language rather than written language:  --In speech we use a smaller vocabulary than in writing.//\n  4 [U] the particular way in which someone speaks:  --Bob’s speech was slurred, and he sounded drunk.//\n  5 [C] a set of lines that an actor must say in a play:  --Hamlet’s longest speech//    direct speech,  figure of speech,  indirect speech,  part of speech,  reported speech//    speech bubble at bubble1 (4)//    freedom of speech at freedom(1)//


Words: speech day
Meaning:
n [C]   an occasion held once a year in some British schools, when prizes are given to children and people give speeches//


Words: speech marks
Meaning:
n [plural]  BrE   the marks (’ ’) or (" "), that show when someone starts speaking and when they stop//   quotation marks//


Words: speech therapy
Meaning:
n [U]   treatment that helps people who have difficulty in speaking properly//  -- speech therapist n  [C] //


Words: speechify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  speechified present participle  speechifying third person singular  speechifies  [I]  informal //  to make speeches in a way that makes you seem important - used in order to show disapproval//


Words: speechless
Meaning:
adj   unable to speak because you feel very angry, upset etc//  speechless with//  --His comments left me speechless with rage.//  -- speechlessly adv //  -- speechlessness n  [U] //


Words: speed
Meaning:
W1S2   n   ----------//\n   1 of movement:\n   2 of action:\n   3 fast:\n   4 photography:\n   5 drug:\n   6 five-speed/ten-speed etc:\n   7 up to speed:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: sped  ’success, quickness’]//\n  1 OF MOVEMENT:   [U and C] the rate at which something moves or travels//  --The truck was travelling at a speed of 50 mph.//  --Extreme care is always needed when flying at high speeds .//  --Beat the mixture for two minutes at low speed .//  --They drove to the hospital at top speed .//  --They chased each other through the streets at breakneck speed .//  --particles that travel at the speed of light //  --The speed limit in urban areas is usually 30 or 40 mph.//  --The average wind speed at Stornoway is 14.4 knots.//\n  2 OF ACTION:   [U and C] the rate at which something happens or is done//  speed of//  --the speed of change within the industry//  --a high-speed computer//  --At that time, cities were growing at breakneck speed  (=very fast) .//\n  3 FAST:   [U] the quality of being fast//  --The women’s basketball team has talent, speed, and power.//  with speed//  --She acted with speed and efficiency.//  at speed//   BrE //  --a van travelling at speed//  pick up/gather speed (=gradually start to travel faster) //  --The train began to pick up speed.//\n  4 PHOTOGRAPHY:   [C] //  a) the degree to which photographic film is sensitive to light//  b) the time it takes for a camera shutter to open and close//  --a shutter speed of 1/250 second//\n  5 DRUG:   [U]  informal an illegal drug that makes you very active//   amphetamine//\n  6  five-speed/ten-speed etc:  having five, ten etc gears//  --a ten-speed bike//\n  7  up to speed:  having the latest information or knowledge about something//  --Some school officials are only now getting up to speed regarding computers.//  --John will bring you up to speed  (=tell you the latest information) .//    full speed/steam ahead at full1 (18)//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  (at) a speed of 60 mph/80 kmph etc //  at high/low speed(s) //  at great speed //  at top/full speed (=as fast as possible) //  at lightning speed (=very fast) //  at breakneck speed (=dangerously fast) //  at the speed of light //  speed limit/restriction //  wind speed //  ----------//\nspeed 2 S3 v   past tense and past participle  sped /sped/ also  speeded //\n  1 [I always + adverb/preposition] to go quickly:  --The car sped along the dusty highway.//\n  2 [T always + adverb/preposition] to take someone or something somewhere very quickly:  --An ambulance sped her to the hospital.//\n  3  be speeding:  to be driving faster than the legal limit//  --I got caught speeding on the A40 yesterday.//\n  4  also speed sth → up :   [T] to make something happen faster//  → slow down//  --This news should speed his recovery.//  speed by phr v//  if time speeds by, it seems to pass very quickly//  --The weeks sped by and soon it was time to go back to school.//  speed up phr v//  to move or happen faster, or to make something move or happen faster//  → slow down//  --The truck speeded up going down the hill.//  speed sth→ up//  --The new system will speed up the registration process.//


Words: speed bump
Meaning:
also speed hump  BrE n [C]   a narrow raised area put across a road to force traffic to go slowly//   sleeping policeman//


Words: speed dial speed dialing
Meaning:
n [U]   a special feature on a telephone that lets you dial someone’s telephone number very quickly by pressing one button//  -- speed-dial v  [I and T] //


Words: speed limit
Meaning:
n [C]   the fastest speed allowed by law on a particular piece of road//  --a 30 mph speed limit//  exceed/break the speed limit //


Words: speeding
Meaning:
n [U]   the offence of driving faster than the legal limit//  --a speeding ticket//  --She got stopped for speeding.//


Words: speedup
Meaning:
speed-up/spi[hA359]d[hA356]p/ n [C usually singular]   an increase in the speed of something or in the rate at which a process happens//  speedup in//  --a speedup in population growth//


Words: speedway
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the sport of racing motorcycles or cars on a special track:\n  2 [C] a special track for the sport of speedway:


Words: speedy
Meaning:
adj   comparative  speedier superlative  speediest //\n  1 happening or done quickly or without delay:   quick//  --a speedy recovery from injury//\n  2 a speedy car, boat etc goes fast:   fast//  -- speedily adv //  --The matter was speedily resolved.//


Words: speleology
Meaning:
n [U]  technical \n  1  BrE the sport of walking and climbing in caves:  American Equivalent:  spelunking//\n  2 the scientific study of caves:  -- speleologist n  [C] //


Words: spell
Meaning:
S2   v   past tense and past participle  spelt /spelt/ BrE  also  spelled  especially AmE //  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: espeller]//\n  1 [I and T] to form a word by writing or naming the letters in order:  -- How do you spell ’juice’?//  --Pupils should know how to spell commonly used words.//  spell sth wrong/wrongly //  --You’ve spelled my name wrong.//\n  2 [T not in passive] if letters spell a word, they form it:  --B-O-O-K spells ’book’.//\n  3  spell trouble/disaster/danger etc:  if a situation or action spells trouble etc, it makes you expect trouble etc//  --The lack of rain could spell disaster for farmers.//\n  4 [T]  AmE to do someone else’s work for them for a short period so that they can rest:  --I can spell you if you get tired.//  spell out [spell sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to explain something clearly and in detail:  spell out how/what etc//  --The report spelled out in detail what the implications were for teacher training.//\n  2 to show how a word is spelled by writing or saying the letters separately in order:  --’W-E-I-R,’ she said, spelling it out.//\n  3 to write a word in its complete form instead of using an abbreviation:\nspell 2 n [C]   [Sense: 1,3-4; Origin: Old English’talk, story’]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1600-1700; Origin: spell  ’to take the place of another’ (11-21 centuries), from  Old English spelian]//\n  1 a piece of magic that someone does, or the special words or ceremonies used in doing it:  --a magic spell //  put a spell on sb/cast a spell over sb (=do a piece of magic to change someone) //  --The kiss of the prince broke the spell  (=stopped the magic from working) .//  be under a spell//  --The whole town seemed to be under a spell.//\n  2 a period of a particular kind of activity, weather, illness etc, usually a short period:  brief/short spell //  --After a brief spell in the army, I returned to teaching.//  spell of//  --a spell of bad luck//  cold/wet/dry spell //  --Water the young plants carefully during dry spells.//  --a day of sunny spells and scattered showers//  --He began to suffer from dizzy spells .//\n  3 a power that attracts, interests, and influences you very strongly:  fall/come/be under a spell //  --I fell under the spell of her charm.//  --an ancient city that still casts its spell over travellers//\n  4  break the spell:  to make someone stop paying all their attention to something, or to make a time stop feeling special//  --He lay still, not wanting to break the spell.//


Words: spell-checker
Meaning:
n [C]   a computer program that tells you when you have spelled a word wrongly//  -- spell-check v  [I and T] //


Words: spellbinding
Meaning:
adj   extremely interesting and holding your attention completely//   riveting//  --a spellbinding tale//


Words: spellbound
Meaning:
adj   extremely interested in something you are listening to//  --’King Lear’ still holds audiences spellbound .//


Words: speller
Meaning:
n   good/bad/poor etc speller//  someone who is good or bad at spelling words correctly//  --words that confuse even good spellers//


Words: spelling
Meaning:
S2   n \n  1 [U] the act of spelling words correctly, or the ability to do this:  --Her spelling has improved.//  --an essay full of spelling mistakes //\n  2 [C] the way in which a word is spelled:  --She quickly gave the correct spelling.//


Words: spelunking
Meaning:
AmE   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Latin; Origin: spelunca  ’cave’, from  Greek spelynx]//  the sport of walking and climbing in caves//  -- spelunker n  [C] //


Words: spend
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  spent /spent///  ----------//\n   1 money:\n   2 time:\n   3 :\n   4 force/effort:\n   5 spend a penny:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Origin:  Partly from  Latin expendere (  EXPEND) and partly, later, from  Old French despendre, from  Latin dispendere  ’to weigh out’]//\n  1 MONEY:   [I and T] to use your money to pay for goods or services//  --I can’t afford to spend any more money this week.//  spend [hA124]5/$10 etc //  --I only want to spend about $20.//  spend sth on sth//  --More money should be spent on education.//  spend sth on sb//  --Mum never spends any money on herself.//  --The repairs cost a lot, but it’s money well spent  (=a sensible way of spending money) .//\n  2 TIME:   [T] to use time doing a particular thing or pass time in a particular place//  spend time etc with sb //  --I want to spend more time with my family.//  spend time etc in/at sth //  --We’ll have to spend the night in a hotel.//  --His childhood was spent in Brazil.//  spend time etc doing sth //  --Stacey spends all her free time painting.//\n  3 :  a)  spend the night with sb//  to stay for the night and have sex with someone//  b)  spend the night (at sth)//  if someone spends the night at someone’s house, they sleep at that person’s house for a night//  --She spent the night at a friend’s house.//\n  4 FORCE/EFFORT:   [T] to use effort or energy to do something//  --I love to cook, but I don’t feel like spending the energy every evening.//\n  5  spend a penny:   BrE  spoken  old-fashioned to urinate - used when you want to avoid saying this directly//


Words: Spender
Meaning:
Sir Stephen   (1909-95) a British poet and  critic whose books of poetry include The Still Centre  and The Generous Days//


Words: spender
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who spends money//  --The new casino hopes to attract big spenders  (=people who spend a lot of money) .//


Words: spending
Meaning:
n [U]   the amount of money spent, especially by a government or organization//  government/public/defence etc spending //  --a plan to increase military spending//


Words: spendthrift
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: spend +  thrift  ’money saved’ (14-19 centuries)]//  someone who spends money carelessly, even when they do not have a lot of it//


Words: Spenser
Meaning:
Edmund   (?1552-99) an English poet famous especially for his  epic poem The Faerie Queene which he never finished//


Words: spent
Meaning:
the past tense and past participle of spend//\nspent 2 adj \n  1 already used, and now empty or useless:  --He tried to eject the spent cartridge and reload.//  --spent matches//\n  2  a spent force:  if a political idea or organization is a spent force, it no longer has any power or influence//  --Socialism had become a spent political force.//\n  3  literary extremely tired:


Words: sperm
Meaning:
n   plural  sperm  or  sperms //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: sperma, from  Greek,  ’seed’]//\n  1 [C]  also sperm cell :  a cell produced by the sex organs of a male person or animal, which is able to join with the female egg to produce a new life//\n  2 [U] the liquid from the male sex organs that these cells swim in:   semen//\n  3  sperm count:  a medical measurement of the number of sperm a man has, which shows if he is able to make a woman pregnant//


Words: sperm bank
Meaning:
n [C]   a place where semen is kept to be used in medical operations that help women become pregnant//


Words: spermatozoon
Meaning:
n   plural  spermatozoa /-z[hA353][hA35E][hA353] $ -zo[hA35E][hA353]/ [C]  technical //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek sperma (  SPERM) +  zoon  ’living thing’]//  a sperm//


Words: spermicide
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a cream or liquid that kills sperm, used while having sex to prevent the woman from becoming pregnant//  -- spermicidal/sp[hA362][hA359]m[hA369]sa[hA366]dl[hA36B] $ sp[hA362][hA359]r-/ adj  [only before noun] //  --spermicidal cream//


Words: Sperry
Meaning:
Elmer Ambrose   (1860-1930) a US engineer and inventor, who invented equipment that helps ships to sail in the right direction//


Words: spew
Meaning:
v   [Language: Old English; Origin: spiwan]//\n  1 [I always + adverb/ preposition,T]  also spew out/forth :  to flow out of something quickly in large quantities, or to make something flow out in this way//  --Factory chimneys spewed fumes out into the sky.//  spew from/into/over etc//  --Brown water spewed from the tap.//\n  2 [I always + adverb/ preposition,T]  also spew out/forth :  to say a lot of bad or negative things very quickly//  --Groups like these use the Internet to spew racial hatred.//\n  3 [I and T]  also spew up :   informal to vomit//


Words: SPF
Meaning:
n [singular, U]   Sun Protection Factor a number that shows you how much protection a special cream gives you from the sun//  --an SPF 25 cream//


Words: sphere
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: espere, from  Latin sphaera, from  Greek sphaira  ’ball, sphere’]//\n  1 a ball shape:\n  2 a particular area of activity, work, knowledge etc:  in ... sphere//  --television’s increasing role in the political sphere//  public/private sphere //  --Women have often been excluded from positions of power in the public sphere.//\n  3  sb’s/sth’s sphere of influence:  a person, country’s, organization’s etc sphere of influence is the area where they have power to change things//


Words: sphincter
Meaning:
n [C]  medical   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Greek, from  sphingein  ’to tie tightly’]//  a muscle that surrounds an opening in your body, and can become tight in order to close the opening//


Words: Sphinx
Meaning:
the Sphinx//  a)  also the Great Sphinx //  a large, very ancient sphinx which is close to the Pyramids of El Giza in Egypt and is visited by many tourists//  b) in Greek  mythology, a creature with the head of a woman and the body of a lion. She lay outside Thebes and killed people who could not answer her  riddle (=very difficult question) . Oedipus answered the riddle, and the Sphinx killed herself.//


Words: spic
Meaning:
spik/sp[hA366]k/ n [C]  AmE  taboo   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: spigotty  ’spic’ (1900-2000), probably from  no speaka de English, a form of  I do not speak English supposedly used by Spanish Americans]//  a very offensive word for a Spanish-speaking person. Do not use this word.//


Words: spice
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: espice, from  Late Latin species  ’spices’, from  Latin;   SPECIES]//\n  1 [U and C] a type of powder or seed, taken from plants, that you put into food you are cooking to give it a special taste:    spicy//  --herbs and spices//\n  2 [singular, U] interest or excitement that is added to something:  --Travel adds spice to your life.//    variety is the spice of life at variety(5)//\nspice 2  also spice up  v [T] \n  1 to add interest or excitement to something:  --Millions have bought the book to spice up their sex lives.//\n  2 to add spice to food:  spice with//  --baked apples spiced with cinnamon//


Words: spick and span
Meaning:
spic and span/sp[hA366]k [hA353]n sp[zB024]n/ adj [not before noun]  informal   a room, house etc that is spick and span is completely clean and tidy//


Words: spicy
Meaning:
adj \n  1 food that is spicy has a pleasantly strong taste, and gives you a pleasant burning feeling in your mouth:   hot//    spice//  --a spicy tomato sauce//\n  2 a story or picture that is spicy is slightly shocking or rude because it tells about or shows something relating to sex:


Words: spider
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: spithra, from  spinnan;   SPIN1]//\n  1 a small creature with eight legs, which catches insects using a fine network of sticky threads:\n  2  technical a computer program that searches the Internet for the best websites with the information you want, so that you can find it quickly:   crawler, bot//    crawl the net/web//


Words: Spiderman
Meaning:
trademark   an imaginary  hero of cartoon strips and films who is able to climb very high walls like a spider and catch criminals in a web which he throws over them//


Words: spiderweb
Meaning:
n  also web  [C]  AmE   a very fine network of sticky threads made by a spider to catch insects//    cobweb//


Words: spiel
Meaning:
n [U and C]  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: German; Origin: ’play, game’]//  a quick speech that the speaker has used many times before, especially one that is intended to persuade people to buy something//  --A salesman started giving us a spiel about life insurance.//


Words: Spielberg
Meaning:
Steven   (1946- ) one of the most successful film  directors in the history of the US cinema, famous for making films that are full of exciting events and  special effects. His many popular films include  Jaws (1975),  Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981),  E.T. (1982),  Jurassic Park (1993), and  Schindler’s List (1994).//


Words: spiffy
Meaning:
adj  old-fashioned  informal  especially AmE   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: spiff  ’smart, well dressed’ (1800-1900)]//  very neat, attractive, and fashionable//  --a spiffy blue suit//


Words: spigot
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from  Latin spica  ’part of a corn plant where the grain grows’]//\n  1 a tap in a large container that controls the flow of liquid from it:\n  2  especially AmE an outdoor tap:


Words: spike
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  Probably from  Middle Dutch]//\n  1 something long and thin with a sharp point, especially a pointed piece of metal:\n  2 [usually singular] a sudden large increase in the number or rate of something:  spike in//  --a spike in interest rates//\n  3  spikes [plural] shoes with metal points on the bottom, worn by people who run races, play golf etc:\n  4  spike heels [plural] a pair of women’s shoes with very high thin heels:\nspike 2 v \n  1 [T] to secretly add strong alcohol or a drug to someone’s drink or food:  spike sth with sth//  --The orange juice had been spiked with gin.//\n  2 [I] if the number or rate of something spikes, it increases quickly and by a large amount:  --New telephone orders have spiked in the last two years.//\n  3 [T] to push a sharp tool or object into something:\n  4 [T] to prevent someone from saying something or printing something in a newspaper:  --a clumsy attempt to spike rumours of a cabinet split//\n  5 :  a)  spike the ball//   AmE to powerfully throw an American football down on the ground to celebrate a touchdown//  b)  [I and T] to powerfully hit a volleyball down over the net//\n  6  spike sb’s guns:   BrE to spoil an opponent’s plans//


Words: spiky
Meaning:
adj \n  1 hair that is spiky is stiff and stands up on top of your head:  --short black spiky hair//\n  2 having long sharp points:  --a spiky cactus//\n  3  BrE  informal easily offended or annoyed:


Words: spill
Meaning:
S3   v   past tense and past participle  spilt /sp[hA366]lt/ especially BrE  or  spilled  especially AmE //  [Language: Old English; Origin: spillan  ’to kill, destroy, waste’]//\n  1 [I and T] if you spill a liquid, or if it spills, it accidentally flows over the edge of a container:    pour//  --Katie almost spilled her milk.//  spill sth down/on/over sth//  --Oh no! I’ve spilt coffee all down my shirt!//  spill on/over etc//  --He slipped and the wine spilled all over the carpet.//\n  2 [I always + adverb/preposition] if people or things spill out of somewhere, they move or fall out in large numbers:   pour//  spill out/into/onto etc//  --Crowds from the theatre were spilling onto the street.//\n  3  spill the beans:   informal to tell something that someone else wanted you to keep a secret//\n  4  spill your guts:   AmE  informal to tell someone all about your private life, or about a personal secret//\n  5  spill blood:   literary to kill or wound people//    cry over spilt milk at cry1 (3)//  spill into/onto [spill into/onto sth] phr v//  if light spills onto or into something, it shines through a window, door, hole etc onto something else//  --The morning light spilled into the room.//  spill over phr v//  if a problem or bad situation spills over, it spreads and begins to affect other places, people etc//  spill over into//  --The conflict might spill over into neighbouring towns.//\nspill 2 n   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  SPILL1]//\n  1 [U and C] when you spill something, or an amount of something that is spilled:  --the enormous oil spill off the southern tip of the Shetland Islands//\n  2 [C] a fall from a horse, bicycle etc:  --Tyson broke a rib when he took a spill on his motorcycle.//


Words: spillover
Meaning:
n [U and C]   the effect that one situation or problem has on another situation//  --Not all of the violence in Miami was spillover from the trial.//  spillover effect/benefit/cost //  --The weak European economy will have a spillover effect on the US dollar.//


Words: spin
Meaning:
S3   v   past tense and past participle  spun /sp[hA356]n/present participle  spinning //  ----------//\n   1 turn around:\n   2 somebody’s head is spinning:\n   3 situation/information:\n   4 spin a tale/story/yarn:\n   5 wool/cotton:\n   6 drive:\n   7 spin your wheels:\n   8 wet clothes:\n   9 insect:  Phrasal verbs//   spin off//   spin out//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: spinnan]//\n  1 TURN AROUND:   [I and T] to turn around and around very quickly, or to make something do this//  --The plane’s propellers were spinning.//  spin (sth/sb) around//  --She grabbed Norm’s arm and spun him around to face her.//\n  2  sb’s head is spinning:   also  the room is spinning//  if your head or the room is spinning, you feel as if you might faint (=become unconscious)  because you are shocked, excited, or drunk//  --I was pouring with sweat, and my head was spinning.//  --The room started to spin.//\n  3 SITUATION/INFORMATION:   [T] to describe a situation or information in a way that is intended to influence the way people think about it - used especially about what politicians or business people do//  --Supporters attempted to spin the bill’s defeat to their advantage.//\n  4  spin a tale/story/yarn:  to tell a story, especially using a lot of imagination//  --She spun a story about a trip to Athens to meet one of the authors.//\n  5 WOOL/COTTON:   [I and T] to make cotton, wool etc into thread by twisting it//\n  6 DRIVE:   [I always + adverb/preposition]  written to drive or travel quickly//   speed//  spin past/along etc//  --Barbara spun past in her new sportscar.//\n  7  spin your wheels:   AmE to continue trying to do something without having any success//  --I felt like I was just spinning my wheels trying to make him understand.//\n  8 WET CLOTHES:   [T]  BrE to get water out of clothes using a machine after you have washed them//\n  9 INSECT:   [T] if a spider or insect spins a web or cocoon, it produces thread to make it//  spin off phr v//  to make part of a company into a separate and partly independent company, or to become a separate company//  spin sth → off//  --At the time of the merger, Loral spun off its space divisions into a separate firm.//  spin off from//  --Lucent spun off from AT&T in 1995.//    spin-off(2)//  spin out phr v//\n  1  spin sth → out:   BrE to make something continue for longer than is necessary//   drag out//  --I’m paid by the hour, so I spin the work out as long as I can.//\n  2  spin sth → out:   BrE to use money, food etc as carefully and slowly as possible, because you do not have very much of it//  spin something → out over//  --I’ve only got [hA124]10 left, so we’ll have to spin it out over the whole week.//\n  3  AmE if a car spins out, the driver loses control of it and the car spins around:\nspin 2 n   ----------//\n   1 turning:\n   2 car:\n   3 ball:\n   4 information:\n   5 aircraft:\n   6 in/into a (flat) spin:\n   7 wet clothes:  ----------//\n  1 TURNING:   [C] an act of turning around quickly//  --the Earth’s spin//  --The Russian skater finished her routine with a series of spins.//\n  2 CAR:   [singular]  informal a short trip in a car for pleasure//   drive//  --Let’s go for a spin in the country.//  --Do you want to take my car for a spin ?//\n  3 BALL:   [U] if you put spin on a ball in a game such as tennis or cricket, you deliberately make the ball turn very quickly so that it is difficult for your opponent to hit//\n  4 INFORMATION:   [singular, U] the way someone, especially a politician or business person, talks about information or a situation, especially in order to influence the way people think about it//  --They tried to put a positive spin on the sales figures.//    spin doctor//\n  5 AIRCRAFT:   [singular] if an aircraft goes into a spin, it falls suddenly, turning around and around//\n  6  in/into a (flat) spin:  if you are in a spin, you are very confused and anxious//  --The sudden fall on the stock-market sent brokers into a spin.//\n  7 WET CLOTHES:   give sth a spin//   BrE to turn clothes around very fast in a machine to remove water from them//


Words: spin doctor
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   someone whose job is to give information to the public in a way that gives the best possible advantage to a politician or organization//  --White House spin doctors//


Words: spin-dryer
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a machine that removes most of the water from washed clothes by spinning them around and around very fast//  -- spin-dry v  [T] //


Words: spin-off
Meaning:
spinoff/sp[hA366]n[hA361]f $ -[hA361][hA359]f/ n [C] \n  1 a television programme involving characters that were previously in another programme or film:\n  2 a separate and partly independent company that is formed from parts of an existing company, or the action of forming a company in this way:\n  3 an unexpected but useful result of something, that happens in addition to the intended result:  --Laser research has had important spin-offs for eye surgery.//


Words: spina bifida
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: ’spine split in two’]//  a serious condition in which a person’s spine does not develop correctly before they are born, so that their spinal cord is not protected//


Words: spinach
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: espinache, from  Arabic isfanakh, from  Persian]//  a vegetable with large dark green leaves//


Words: spinal cord
Meaning:
n [C]   the thick string of nerves enclosed in your spine, by which messages are sent to and from your brain//


Words: spindle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: spinel]//\n  1 a part of a machine shaped like a stick, around which something turns:\n  2 a round pointed stick used for twisting the thread when you are spinning wool:


Words: spine
Meaning:
n   backbone, breastbone, collarbone, kneecap, pelvis, skull, spine, rib//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: spina]//\n  1 [C] the row of bones down the centre of your back that supports your body and protects your spinal cord:   backbone//    spinal//\n  2 [C] a stiff sharp point on an animal or plant:    spiny//  --cactus spines//\n  3 [C] the part of a book that the pages are fastened onto:\n  4 [U] courage or determination:


Words: spine-chilling
Meaning:
adj   a spine-chilling story or film is very frightening in a way that people enjoy//  -- spine-chiller n  [C] //


Words: spine-tingling
Meaning:
adj   making you feel very excited or frightened, in an enjoyable way//  --The festival opened with Nic Roeg’s latest spine-tingling film.//


Words: spineless
Meaning:
adj \n  1 lacking courage and determination - used to show disapproval:  --a bunch of spineless politicians//\n  2 without a spine:


Words: spinet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Italian; Origin: spinetta, perhaps from Giovanni  Spinetti 16th-century Italian musician who supposedly invented the instrument]//\n  1 a musical instrument of the 16th and 17th centuries, which is played like a piano:\n  2  AmE a small upright piano:


Words: spinnaker
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from  Sphinx name of the first boat on which such a sail was used]//  a sail with three points at the front of a boat, used when the wind is directly behind//


Words: spinner
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone whose job is to make thread by twisting cotton, wool etc:\n  2 a bowler in a game of cricket who throws the ball with a spinning action:  3 a thing used for catching fish that spins when pulled through the water//    money-spinner//


Words: spinney
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: espinei  ’thorny hedge’]//  a small area of trees and bushes//


Words: spinning wheel
Meaning:
n [C]   a simple machine consisting of a wheel on a frame that people used in their homes in the past for making cotton, wool etc into thread//


Words: spinster
Meaning:
n [C]  old-fashioned   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: spinster  ’woman who spins’ (14-20 centuries), from  spin]//  an unmarried woman, usually one who is no longer young and seems unlikely to marry//


Words: spiny
Meaning:
adj   a spiny animal or plant has lots of stiff sharp points//    spine//  --spiny sea urchins//  --spiny bushes//


Words: spiral
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: spiralis (adjective), from  Latin spira  ’coil’]//\n  1 a line in the form of a curve that winds around a central point, moving further away from the centre all the time:\n  2 a process, usually a harmful one, in which something gradually but continuously gets worse or better:  in/into a spiral//  --Unemployment rose and the city went into a spiral of decline.//  downward/upward spiral //  --The company is in a downward spiral.//\n  3  inflationary spiral:  a situation in which wages and prices rise continuously because the level of inflation is high//  -- spiral adj //\nspiral 2   past tense and past participle  spiralled present participle  spiralling  BrE //  past tense and past participle  spiraled present participle  spiraling  AmE  v [I] //\n  1 [always + adverb/preposition] to move in a continuous curve that gets nearer to or further from its central point as it goes round:  spiral to/around etc//  --The damaged plane spiralled to the ground.//\n  2 if a situation spirals, it gets worse, more violent etc in a way that cannot be controlled:  --Crime has spiraled out of control .//\n  3 if debt or the cost of something spirals, it increases quickly in a way that cannot be controlled:  -- spiralling BrE  spiraling AmE  adj //  --the spiralling cost of legal services//


Words: spiral notebook
Meaning:
n [C]   a book in which you write notes, made of pieces of paper that are attached to a wire spiral//


Words: spiral staircase
Meaning:
n [C]   a set of stairs arranged in a circular pattern so that they go around a central point as they get higher//


Words: spiral-bound
Meaning:
adj   a spiral-bound book or notebook has pages that are attached together by a long wire that is twisted around and put through small holes in the sides of the pages//


Words: spire
Meaning:
n [C]   spire, cross//  [Language: Old English; Origin: spir]//  a roof that rises steeply to a point on top of a tower, especially on a church//    steeple//


Words: spirit
Meaning:
W2S3   n   ----------//\n   1 character:\n   2 happy/sad:\n   3 soul:\n   4 no body:\n   5 determination:\n   6 attitude:\n   7 team/community/public etc spirit:\n   8 typical qualities:\n   9 in spirit:\n  10 get/enter into the spirit (of something):\n  11 intention:\n  12 the Spirit:\n  13 drink:\n  14 that’s the spirit:\n  15 when/as the spirit moves you:\n  16 the spirit is willing (but the flesh is weak):  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: Latin spiritus  ’breath, spirit’]//\n  1 CHARACTER:   [singular, U] the qualities that make someone live the way they do, and make them different from other people//  in spirit//  --I’m 85, but I still feel young in spirit.//  independent/proud/free etc spirit (=a person with a particular type of character) //  --She is a strong and independent spirit.//    kindred spirit at kindred2 (1)//\n  2 HAPPY/SAD:   spirits [plural] the way someone feels at a particular time, for example if they are happy or sad//    mood//  be in good/high spirits (=be excited and happy) //  --Seb was still in high spirits after winning the race.//  --His spirits were so low  (=he was so sad) that he refused to answer his phone.//  raise/lift sb’s spirits (=make someone happier) //  --The warm morning sun lifted our spirits.//  --She wrote poetry while she was in the hospital to keep her spirits up  (=keep happy) .//  sb’s spirits rise/lift/sink (=they become more or less happy) //  --My spirits sank when I saw the mess they’d left.//\n  3 SOUL:   [C] the part of someone that you cannot see, that consists of the qualities that make up their character, which many people believe continues to live after the person has died//    soul//  --Although Laurie is dead, I can feel his spirit with me.//\n  4 NO BODY:   [C] a creature without a physical body that some people believe exists, such as an angel or a dead person, who has returned to this world and has strange or magical powers//    ghost//  --an evil spirit //\n  5 DETERMINATION:   [U] courage, energy, and determination - use this to show approval//  --Sandra is small, but she makes up for it with great spirit.//  --a young team with strong fighting spirit //  --When they took away his freedom, they broke his spirit  (=made him lose his courage) .//\n  6 ATTITUDE:   [singular, U] the attitude that you have towards something or while you are doing something//  --You’ve got to approach this meeting in the right spirit.//  spirit of//  --the spirit of cooperation between the two sides//\n  7  team/community/public etc spirit:  a strong feeling of belonging to a particular group and wanting to help them//\n  8 TYPICAL QUALITIES:   [C usually singular] the set of ideas, beliefs, feelings etc that are typical of a particular period in history, a place, or a group of people//  spirit of//  --Tourism has not destroyed the spirit of Bali.//  the spirit of the age/times //  --His beliefs conflicted with the spirit of the age.//\n  9  in spirit:  if you say you will be somewhere in spirit or with someone in spirit, you will not be with them but will be thinking about them//  --I can’t come to your wedding, but I’ll be there in spirit.//\n  10  get/enter into the spirit (of sth):  to start to feel as happy, excited etc as the people around you//  --Judith couldn’t really enter into the spirit of the occasion.//\n  11 INTENTION:   [U] the meaning or qualities that someone intended something to have, especially the meaning that a law or rule was intended to have//  --Thoreau believed that his actions were in the spirit of American institutions.//  --Miller’s actions may not be actually illegal, but they have violated the spirit of the law .//    the letter of the law at letter1 (4)//\n  12  the Spirit:  the Holy Spirit//\n  13 DRINK:   [C usually plural] //  a)  especially BrE a strong alcoholic drink such as whisky or brandy//  b)  BrE liquid such as alcohol, used for cleaning//\n  14  that’s the spirit:   spoken used to express approval of someone’s behaviour or attitude//\n  15  when/as the spirit moves you:  when you feel that you want to do something//\n  16  the spirit is willing (but the flesh is weak):  used when saying that you want to do something, but you are too tired or do not feel strong enough - often used humorously//\nspirit 2 v  written   spirit away/off [spirit sb/sth away/off] phr v//  to take someone or something away quickly and secretly//  --After his speech, Jackson was spirited away through a back door.//


Words: Spirit of St. Louis
Meaning:
The   the aircraft in which Charles  Lindbergh made the first flight by one person across the Atlantic Ocean//


Words: spirited
Meaning:
adj \n  1 having energy and determination - used to show approval:  --a spirited and energetic girl//  spirited defence/debate/discussion etc //\n  2  sweet-spirited/tough-spirited/rebellious-spirited etc:  having a particular type of character//    high-spirited,  low-spirited,  mean-spirited,  public-spirited//


Words: spiritual
Meaning:
adj \n  1 relating to your spirit rather than to your body or mind:  --Painting helps fill a spiritual need for beauty.//  --spiritual values//\n  2 relating to religion:   religious//  --Islam was inspired by the teachings of the spiritual leader Mohammed.//\n  3  sb’s spiritual home:  a place where you feel you belong because you share the ideas and attitudes of that society//  -- spiritually adj //\nspiritual 2 n [C]   a religious song of the type sung originally by African-Americans//


Words: spiritualism
Meaning:
n [U]   the belief that dead people are able to send messages to living people//  -- spiritualist n  [C] //


Words: spit
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  spat /sp[zB024]t/ or  spit  AmE present participle  spitting //  ----------//\n   1 liquid from your mouth:\n   2 food/drink etc:\n   3 rain:\n   4 say something:\n   5 spit it out:\n   6 small pieces:\n   7 cat:\n   8 be within spitting distance (of something):  Phrasal verbs//   spit up//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: spittan]//\n  1 LIQUID FROM YOUR MOUTH:   [I] to force a small amount of saliva (=the liquid in your mouth)  out of your mouth//  --Nick rolled down his window and spat.//  spit at/on/into//  --A group of fans spat on the players as they left the field.//\n  2 FOOD/DRINK ETC:   [T] to force something out of your mouth//  --Billy stood up slowly, rubbed his jaw, and spat blood.//  spit sth out//  --Diana tasted her martini and quickly spat it out.//\n  3 RAIN:   be spitting//   BrE to be raining very lightly//   drizzle//  --You don’t need an umbrella - it’s only spitting.//\n  4 SAY SOMETHING:   also spit out //   [T] to say something quickly in a very angry way//  --’Shut up,’ spat Maria furiously.//\n  5  spit it out:   spoken used to ask someone to tell you something that they seem too frightened or embarrassed to say//  --Come on Jean, spit it out!//\n  6 SMALL PIECES:   [I and T] to send out small bits of something, for example fire or hot oil, into the air//  --A log fire was crackling and spitting in the hearth.//\n  7 CAT:   [I] if a cat spits, it makes short angry sounds//\n  8  be within spitting distance (of sth):   spoken to be very close to someone or something//  spit up phr v//  if someone, especially a baby, spits up, they bring a small amount of food or drink up from their stomach out through their mouth//  spit sth → up//  --I was a difficult child, always crying and spitting up my food.//  --On one occasion, our daughter spat up all over him.//\nspit 2 n   [Sense: 1,4-5; Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  SPIT1]//  [Sense: 2,3; Origin: Old English spitu]//\n  1 [U]  informal the watery liquid that is produced in your mouth:   saliva//\n  2 [C] a long thin stick that you put through meat so that you can turn it when cooking it over a fire:\n  3 [C] a long narrow piece of land that sticks out into the sea, into a river etc:\n  4  be the (dead) spit of sb:   BrE  spoken to look exactly like someone else//  --Sam is the dead spit of his dad.//\n  5  spit and polish:   informal when something is thoroughly cleaned and polished//  --It was Christmas, so Ellen gave the dining room a little extra spit and polish.//


Words: Spitalfields
Meaning:
a place in East London where there used to be a market selling fruit, vegetables, and flowers. There is now a new market which sells  organic vegetables.//


Words: spitball
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   a small piece of paper that children roll into a ball and then spit or throw at each other//


Words: spite
Meaning:
W3   n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: despite (noun)  (13-20 centuries);   DESPITE]//\n  1  in spite of sth:  without being affected or prevented by something//   despite//  --We went out in spite of the rain.//  --Kelly loved her husband in spite of the fact that he drank too much.//\n  2 a feeling of wanting to hurt or upset people, for example because you are jealous or think you have been unfairly treated:  out of spite//   (=because of spite) //  --She broke it just out of spite.//  pure/sheer spite (=spite and nothing else) //\n  3  in spite of yourself:  if you do something in spite of yourself, you do it although you did not expect or intend to do it//  --The picture made her laugh in spite of herself.//\nspite 2 v [T only in infinitive]   to deliberately annoy or upset someone//  --The neighbours throw things over the garden wall just to spite us.//    cut off your nose to spite your face at cut off(10)//


Words: spiteful
Meaning:
adj   deliberately nasty to someone in order to hurt or upset them//   vicious//  --She was spiteful and unkind, both to Isabel and to her son.//  --a spiteful remark//  -- spitefully adv //


Words: Spitfire
Meaning:
a type of small  fighter aircraft used by the British air force during World War II. It was especially important in the  Battle of Britain.//


Words: spittoon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: spit +  -oon (as in  balloon)]//  a container that people spit into//


Words: splash
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: plash  ’to splash’ (16-19 centuries), perhaps from  Dutch plassen]//\n  1 [I] if a liquid splashes, it hits or falls on something and makes a noise:  splash against/on/over//  --The ocean splashed against the pier.//\n  2 [T always + adverb/preposition] to make someone or something wet with a lot of small drops of water or other liquid:  splash sth on/over/with etc sth//  --He splashed cold water on his face.//\n  3 [I]  also splash about/around :  to make water fly up in the air with a loud noise by hitting it or by moving around in it//  --The children were splashing about in the pool.//  splash through//  --She ran up the drive, splashing through the puddles.//\n  4 [T]  informal if a newspaper or television programme splashes a story or picture on the page or screen, it makes it large and easy to notice:  splash across/over//  --The gunman’s picture was splashed across the front page.//  splash out () [splash out (sth)] phr v//  to spend a lot of money on something//  splash out  (something)  on//  --We splashed out on a new kitchen.//  --Last year Roberts splashed out more than [hA124]1 million to buy a new home.//\nsplash 2 n \n  1 [C] the sound of a liquid hitting something or being moved around quickly:  --Rachel fell into the river with a loud splash.//\n  2 [C] a mark made by a liquid splashing onto something else:  splash of//  --There were splashes of paint all over my clothes.//\n  3  splash of colour:  a small area of bright colour//\n  4  make a splash:   informal to do something that gets a lot of public attention//  --Russell’s new show made a big splash in New York.//\n  5 [singular] a small amount of liquid added to a drink:  splash of//  --a cup of coffee with a splash of brandy//


Words: splash guard
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a flat piece of rubber hanging behind the wheel of a vehicle to prevent mud being thrown up//


Words: splat
Meaning:
n [singular]  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  From the sound]//  a noise like something wet hitting a surface hard//\nsplat 2   past tense and past participle  splatted present participle  splatting  v [I and T] //  to make a noise like something wet hitting a surface, or to make something make this noise//  --Big raindrops splatted against the windscreen.//


Words: splatter
Meaning:
preposition, T]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Probably from  splash +  spatter]//  if liquid splatters somewhere, or if someone splatters it, it falls or is thrown onto a surface//   spatter//  splatter sth with sth//  --The room was splattered with blood.//  splatter over/across//  --Paint splattered all over the carpet.//


Words: splay
Meaning:
v  also splay out  [I and T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: display]//  to spread apart widely, or to make things do this, especially parts of the body//  --He sat with his legs splayed out in front of him.//


Words: spleen
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: esplen, from  Latin splen, from  Greek]//\n  1 [C] an organ near your stomach that controls the quality of your blood:\n  2 [U]  formal anger, especially unreasonable or unfair anger:  --Obviously you’re annoyed, but that doesn’t give you the right to vent your spleen on me (=get angry with me) .//


Words: splendid
Meaning:
adj  especially BrE   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: splendidus, from  splendere  ’to shine’]//\n  1  old-fashioned very good:   excellent//  --a splendid idea//  --a splendid opportunity//  --The staff are doing a splendid job.//\n  2 beautiful and impressive:   magnificent//  --All the rooms have splendid views.//  --a splendid cathedral//\n  3  BrE  spoken  old-fashioned used to show that you approve of or are pleased by something:   great//  --’I’ll see you tomorrow then.’ ’Splendid!’//\n  4  in splendid isolation:  used to emphasize that something is not with other things//  --The house sits in splendid isolation on top of a steep hill.//  -- splendidly adv //  --a splendidly equipped new sports centre//  --The team played splendidly.//


Words: splendour
Meaning:
BrE  splendor AmE   n   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: splendur, from  Latin splendor, from  splendere;   SPLENDID]//\n  1 [U] impressive beauty, especially of a large building or large place:  splendour of//  --We marvelled at the splendour of the scenery.//  --The palace has now been restored to its original splendour.//\n  2  splendours [plural] impressive beautiful features, especially of a large building or place:  splendours of//  --the splendours of the imperial court//


Words: splenetic
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: spleneticus, from  Latin splen;   SPLEEN]//  bad-tempered and often angry//


Words: splice
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: splissen]//\n  1 to join the ends of two pieces of rope, film etc so that they form one continuous piece:\n  2  get spliced:   BrE  informal to get married//\nsplice 2 n [C]   the act of joining the ends of two things together, or the place where this join has been made//


Words: splint
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Middle Low German; Origin: splinte,  splente]//  a flat piece of wood, metal etc used for keeping a broken bone in position while it mends//


Words: splinter
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Middle Dutch]//  a small sharp piece of wood, glass, or metal, that has broken off a larger piece//  --I’ve got a splinter in my finger.//  splinter of//  --splinters of glass//  -- splintery adj //\nsplinter 2 v [I and T] \n  1 if something such as wood splinters, or if you splinter it, it breaks into thin sharp pieces:\n  2 to separate into smaller groups or parts, or to make a group or organization do this, especially because of a disagreement:  splinter into//  --The once-powerful communist party has splintered into hundreds of pieces.//


Words: splinter group
Meaning:
n [C]   a group of people that have separated from a political or religious organization because they have different ideas//


Words: split
Meaning:
W3S2   v   past tense and past participle  split present participle  splitting //  ----------//\n   1 disagree:\n   2 separate into parts:\n   3 break or tear:\n   4 share:\n   5 injure:\n   6 end relationship:\n   7 leave:\n   8 split hairs:\n   9 split the difference:\n  10 split your sides:  Phrasal verbs//   split off//   split on somebody//   split up//  ----------//  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Dutch; Origin: splitten]//\n  1 DISAGREE:   [I and T] if a group of people splits, or if it is split, people in the group disagree strongly with each other and the group sometimes divides into separate smaller groups//  --It was feared that the issue would split the church.//  be split on/over sth//  --The party is split over the issue of immigration.//  --The government appears deeply split on this issue.//  split from//  --The Pan-Africanist Congress split from the ANC in 1959.//  split sth in two/down the middle //  --The war has split the nation in two.//\n  2 SEPARATE INTO PARTS:   also split up //   [I and T] to divide or separate something into different parts or groups, or to be divided into different parts or groups//  split into//  --Can you split into groups of three now?//  split sth into sth//  --The book is split into six sections.//\n  3 BREAK OR TEAR:   [I and T] if something splits, or if you split it, it tears or breaks along a straight line//  --The branch split under their weight.//  --One of the boxes had split open .//  split (sth) in two/half //  --The board had split in two.//  -- Split the pineapple down the middle .//\n  4 SHARE:   [T] to divide something into separate parts and share it between two or more people//  split sth between sb/sth//  --Profits will be split between three major charities.//  split sth with sb//  --He agreed to sell the car and split the proceeds with his brother.//  split sth three/four etc ways (=share something between three, four etc people or groups) //  --The money will have to be split three ways.//  --We agreed to split the cost .//\n  5 INJURE:   [T] to make someone’s head or lip have a cut in it, as a result of a fall or hit//  --She fell against a table and split her lip .//  --The force of the blow nearly split his head open .//\n  6 END RELATIONSHIP:   also split up //   [I]  informal if people split, they end a marriage or relationship with each other//  split with/from//  --He split from his wife last year.//  --The band split two years ago.//\n  7 LEAVE:   [I]  old-fashioned  informal to leave a place quickly//  --Come on - let’s split.//\n  8  split hairs:  to argue that there is a difference between two things, when the difference is really too small to be important//  --This is just splitting hairs.//\n  9  split the difference:  to agree on an amount that is exactly between two amounts that have been mentioned//  --OK, let’s split the difference, and I’ll give you [hA124]20.//\n  10  split your sides:   informal to laugh a great deal//  split off phr v//\n  1  also split away :  if one part of something splits off from the rest, it becomes completely separate from it//  split off from//  --A huge lump of rock had split off from the cliff face.//\n  2  also split away :  if a small group of people split off from a larger group, they become separate from it//  split off from//  --The group split away from the Green Party and formed the Environmental Alliance.//\n  3  split sth → off:  to separate one part of something and make it completely separate from the rest//  split something → off from//  --This part of the business has now been split off from the main company.//  split on [split on sb] phr v//  to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone else has done//  --Don’t you dare split on us!//  split up phr v//\n  1 if people split up, or if someone splits them up, they end a marriage or relationship with each other:  --Steve’s parents split up when he was four.//  split up with//  --I thought she’d split up with her boyfriend.//  split sb → up//  --Why would she try to split us up?//\n  2 to divide people into different groups, or to be divided into groups:  --Please don’t split up when we get to the museum.//  split sth/sb → up//  --The teacher split up the class into three groups.//\n  3  split sth → up:  to divide something into different parts//  split something → up into//  --The house has now been split up into individual flats.//\nsplit 2 n [C]   ----------//\n   1 tear:\n   2 disagreement:\n   3 dividing something:\n   4 separation:\n   5 do the splits:  ----------//\n  1 TEAR:  a tear or crack in something made of cloth, wood etc//  split in//  --a long split in the sleeve of his coat//\n  2 DISAGREEMENT:  a serious disagreement that divides an organization or group of people into smaller groups//   rift//  split in/within//  --The argument could lead to a damaging split in the party.//  --a deep split within the government//  split between//  --a split between the radicals and the moderates within the group//  split over//  --The union is desperate to avoid a split over this issue.//\n  3 DIVIDING SOMETHING:  the way in which something, especially money, is shared between several people//  --In a publishing deal, the average split used to be 50:50 between writer and publisher.//  three-way/four-way etc split (=when something is shared equally between three, four etc people) //  --a three-way split in the profits//\n  4 SEPARATION:   informal a clear separation or difference between two things//  split between//  --the traditional split between the state and church//\n  5  do the splits:  to spread your legs wide apart so that your legs touch the floor along their whole length//


Words: split infinitive
Meaning:
n [C]   a phrase in which you put an adverb or other word between ’to’ and a verb, as in ’to easily win’. Some people think this is incorrect English.//


Words: split screen
Meaning:
n [C]   a method of showing different scenes or pieces of information at the same time on a film, television, or computer screen//  --a split-screen movie//


Words: split second
Meaning:
n   an extremely short period of time//  for a split second//  --For a split second the two men hesitated.//  in a split second//  --In that split second Graham knew he had won.//  -- split-second adj //  --It was a technique which required split-second timing.//


Words: split ticket
Meaning:
n [C]   a vote in US elections in which the voter has voted for some candidates of one party and some of the other party//  -- split-ticket adj //  --split-ticket voting//


Words: splodge
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  informal   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Perhaps from  spot +  blot +  botch]//  a large mark of mud, paint etc with an irregular shape//   blotch//  splodge of//  --splodges of colour//  -- splodgy adj //


Words: splosh
Meaning:
preposition]    BrE  informal to make a noise by falling into or moving through water//   splash//  --a sploshing sound//  -- splosh n  [C] //


Words: splurge
Meaning:
v [I and T]  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from  splash +  surge]//  to spend more money than you can usually afford//   splash out//  splurge (sth) on sth//  --Within a couple of months I’d splurged about [hA124]2,500 on clothes.//  -- splurge n  [C] //


Words: splutter
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably from  sputter]//\n  1 [I and T] to talk quickly in short confused phrases, especially because you are angry or surprised:   //  --’But ... but ... I can’t believe... how could you?’ she spluttered.//  splutter with//  --Katie was spluttering with rage.//\n  2 [I] to make a series of short sharp noises:  --Bill started coughing and spluttering .//  --The engine spluttered into life.//  -- splutter n  [C] //


Words: Spock
Meaning:
Dr Benjamin   (1903-1998) a US doctor who wrote books giving advice on how parents should take care of their children, including  The Common Sense Book of Baby and Childcare (1946), which suggested that parents should allow their children more freedom than was fashionable at the time, and which had a great influence on parents in the US and UK//\n Mr   a character from the US television programme  Star Trek. Mr Spock is a man from an imaginary  planet called Vulcan, who has pointed ears and green blood, and is always completely  logical, so that his ideas and decisions are based only on facts, not on emotions.//


Words: spoil
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  spoiled  also  spoilt /sp[hA350][hA366]lt/ BrE //  ----------//\n   1 damage:\n   2 treat too kindly:\n   3 treat kindly:\n   4 decay:\n   5 voting:\n   6 be spoiling for a fight/argument:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: espoillier, from  Latin spoliare  ’to strip, rob’, from  spolium;   SPOILS]//\n  1 DAMAGE:   [T] to have a bad effect on something so that it is no longer attractive, enjoyable, useful etc//   ruin//  --The whole park is spoiled by litter.//  --We didn’t let the incident spoil our day.//  --I don’t want to spoil your fun.//  --Why do you always have to spoil everything ?//    spoil/ruin your appetite at appetite(1) see usage note  destroy//\n  2 TREAT TOO KINDLY:   [T] to give a child everything they want, or let them do whatever they want, often with the result that they behave badly//  --She’s an only child, but they didn’t really spoil her.//  --His mother and sisters spoil him rotten  (=spoil him very much) .//\n  3 TREAT KINDLY:   [T] to look after someone in a way that is very kind or too kind//  --You’ll have to let me spoil you on your birthday.//  spoil yourself//  --Go on, spoil yourself. Have another piece of cake.//\n  4 DECAY:   [I] to start to decay//  --Food will spoil if the temperature in your freezer rises above 8[hA13B]C.//\n  5 VOTING:   [T]  BrE to mark a ballot paper wrongly so that your vote is not included//\n  6  be spoiling for a fight/argument:  to be very eager to fight or argue with someone//\nspoil 2 n \n  1  spoils [plural]  formal :  a) the things that someone gets by being successful//  --They tried to take more than a fair share of the spoils.//  b) things taken by an army from a defeated enemy, or things taken by thieves//  the spoils of war/victory etc //\n  2 [U] waste material such as earth and stones from a mine or hole in the ground:  --spoil heaps//


Words: spoiled
Meaning:
adj  also spoilt  BrE \n  1 a spoiled person, especially a child, is rude and behaves badly because they have always been given what they want and allowed to do what they want:  --Ben was a spoilt brat  (=a spoiled and unpleasant child) .//  --Their children were spoiled rotten  (=very spoiled) .//\n  2  be spoilt/spoiled for choice:   BrE to have so many good things to choose from that you cannot decide which one to choose//


Words: spoiler
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 car:\n   2 plane:\n   3 prevent success:\n   4 team:\n   5 surprise:  ----------//\n  1 CAR:  a raised part on a racing car that prevents the car from lifting off the road at high speeds//\n  2 PLANE:  part of an aircraft wing that can be lifted up to slow the plane down//\n  3 PREVENT SUCCESS:  someone or something that prevents another person or thing from being successful//\n  4 TEAM:   AmE a person or team that spoils another’s winning record//\n  5 SURPRISE:  a message or report that is intended to ruin the surprising part of a popular film, book etc by telling people about the surprise before they see or read it//


Words: spoke
Meaning:
the past tense of speak//\nspoke 2 n [C]   tire, lock, spoke, reflector, tyre, pedal, handlebars//  [Language: Old English; Origin: spaca]//\n  1 one of the thin metal bars which connect the outer ring of a wheel to the centre, especially on a bicycle:\n  2  put a spoke in sb’s wheel:   BrE to prevent someone from doing something they have planned//


Words: spoken
Meaning:
the past participle of speak//\nspoken 2 adj \n  1  spoken English/language etc:  the form of language that you speak rather than write//    written//\n  2  the spoken word:  spoken language rather than written language or music//  --pupils’ understanding of the spoken word//  --a spoken-word CD//\n  3  quietly/softly-spoken:   BrE speaking in a quiet way//  --a softly spoken young man//\n  4  be spoken for:  a) if someone is spoken for, they are married or already have a serious relationship with someone//  b) if something is spoken for, you cannot buy it because it is being kept for someone else//    well-spoken//


Words: spokesman
Meaning:
W2   n   plural  spokesmen /-m[hA353]n/ [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  spoke (old past participle of  speak) + O=man]//  a man who has been chosen to speak officially for a group, organization, or government//    spokesperson//  --a White House spokesman//  spokesman for//  --a spokesman for the victims’ families//


Words: spokesperson
Meaning:
n   plural  spokespeople /-pi[hA359]p[hA368]l/ [C] //  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: spokes- (as in  spokesman) +  person]//  a spokesman or spokeswoman//


Words: spokeswoman
Meaning:
n   plural  spokeswomen /-w[hA366]m[hA366]n/ [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: spokes- (as in  spokesman) +  woman]//  a woman who has been chosen to speak officially for a group, organization, or government//


Words: sponge
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1000-1100; Language: Latin; Origin: spongia, from  Greek]//\n  1 [U and C] a piece of a soft natural or artificial substance full of small holes, which can suck up liquid and is used for washing:\n  2 [C] a simple sea creature from which natural sponge is produced:\n  3 [singular]  BrE an act of washing something with a sponge:\n  4 [U and C]  BrE a light cake made from flour, sugar, butter and eggs:  --a Victoria sponge//\n  5 [C] a sponger:\nsponge 2 v \n  1  also sponge down :   [T] to wash something with a wet cloth or sponge//  --Clean the rug by sponging it gently.//  --She stood on the bathmat and sponged herself down.//\n  2 [I]  informal to get money, free meals etc from other people, without doing anything for them - used to show disapproval:  sponge off/on//  --These people are just sponging off the taxpayers.//\n  3 [T always + adverb/preposition] to remove liquid or a mark with a wet cloth or sponge:  sponge sth off (sth)//  --I’ll go and sponge this juice off my dress.//\n  4 [T] to put paint on a surface using a sponge:  sponge sth on (sth)//  --Just sponge the paint on, like this.//


Words: sponger
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who gets money, free meals etc from other people and does nothing for them - used to show disapproval//


Words: spongy
Meaning:
adj   soft and full of holes that contain air or liquid like a sponge1(1)//  --The earth was soft and spongy underfoot.//  -- sponginess n  [U] //


Words: sponsor
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: spondere  ’to promise’]//\n  1 :  a) a person or company that pays for a show, broadcast, sports event etc especially in exchange for the right to advertise at that event//  sponsor of//  --Eastman Kodak is a major sponsor of the Olympics.//  --corporate sponsors//  b) a person or company that supports someone by paying for their training, education, living costs etc//\n  2 someone who agrees to give someone else money for a charity if they walk, run etc a particular distance:\n  3 someone who officially introduces or supports a proposal for a new law:\n  4 someone who officially agrees to help someone else, or to be responsible for what they do:  --You cannot get a work visa without an American sponsor.//\n  5 a godparent:\nsponsor 2 v [T] \n  1 :  a) to give money to a sports event, theatre, institution etc, especially in exchange for the right to advertise//  --The competition was sponsored by British Airways.//  --government-sponsored projects//  b) to support someone by paying for their training, education, living costs etc//  --The bank had offered to sponsor him at university.//\n  2 to officially support a proposal for a new law:\n  3 to agree to help someone or be responsible for what they do:\n  4 to agree to give someone money for charity if they walk, run etc a particular distance:\n  5  sponsored walk/swim etc:   BrE an event in which many people walk, swim etc a particular distance so that people will give them money for a charity//\n  6  UN-sponsored/US-sponsored/government-sponsored etc:  supported and encouraged by the UN, the US etc//  --US-sponsored peace talks//


Words: sponsorship
Meaning:
n \n  1 [plural, U] financial support for an activity or event:  sponsorship from//  --The expedition is looking for sponsorship from one of the major banks.//  --a $5 million sponsorship deal//  --commercial sponsorships//\n  2 [U] the act of sponsoring someone or something, or of being sponsored:  sponsorship of//  --private sector sponsorship of sport//


Words: spontaneous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: spontaneus, from  Latin sponte  ’of your own free will’]//\n  1 something that is spontaneous has not been planned or organized, but happens by itself, or because you suddenly feel you want to do it:  --The crowd gave a spontaneous cheer.//  --My spontaneous reaction was to run away.//\n  2 someone who is spontaneous does things without planning them first - used to show approval:  -- spontaneously adv //  --She laughed spontaneously.//  -- spontaneity/sp[hA361]ntni[hA359][hA369]ti, -ne[hA366][hA369]ti $ sp[hA35A][hA359]n-/ n  [U] //


Words: spoof
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Invented name for a game involving deception]//  a funny book, play, or film that copies something serious or important and makes it seem silly//    take-off//  spoof of/on//  --The play is a spoof on Shakespeare’s tragedy ’Julius Caesar’.//  --a spoof documentary//  -- spoof v  [T] //


Words: spook
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Dutch]//\n  1 a ghost:\n  2  especially AmE a spy:\nspook 2 v [T]  informal   to frighten someone//  --I’m not easily spooked.//


Words: spooky
Meaning:
adj  informal   strange or frightening in a way that makes you think of ghosts//  --a spooky old house//  --spooky stories//  --The candlelight created a rather spooky atmosphere.//


Words: spool
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: espole, from  Middle Dutch spoele]//  an object shaped like a wheel that you wind thread, wire etc around//


Words: spoon
Meaning:
n [C]   fork, knife, spoon//  [Language: Old English; Origin: spon  ’piece of wood split off’]//\n  1 an object that you use for eating, cooking, or serving food. It has a small bowl-shaped part and a long handle:\n  2 a spoonful:  spoon of//  --two spoons of sugar//    be born with a silver spoon in your mouth at born2 (8),  dessertspoon,  greasy spoon,  soup spoon,  wooden spoon//\nspoon 2 v [T always + adverb/preposition]   to move food with a spoon//  spoon sth into/over/onto sth//  --Spoon the mixture carefully into the bowls.//


Words: spoon-feed past tense and past participle
Meaning:
spoon-fed  v [T] \n  1 to give too much information and help to someone - used to show disapproval:  --I don’t believe in spoon-feeding students.//\n  2 to feed someone, especially a baby, with a spoon:


Words: spoonerism
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  William  Spooner (1844-1930), British university teacher who supposedly often made such mistakes]//  a phrase in which the speaker accidentally exchanges the first sounds of two words, with a funny result, for example ’sew you to a sheet’ instead of ’show you to a seat’//


Words: spoor
Meaning:
n [singular, U]  technical   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Afrikaans; Origin: Middle Dutch]//  the track of footmarks or solid waste that a wild animal leaves as it moves along//


Words: sporadic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: sporadicus, from  Greek, from  sporaden  ’scattered in different places’]//  happening fairly often, but not regularly//   intermittent//  --There has been sporadic violence downtown.//  -- sporadically/-kli/ adv //  --The fighting continued sporadically for several days.//


Words: spore
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: spora, from  Greek,  ’act of planting seeds, seed’, from  speirein  ’to plant seeds’]//  a cell like a seed that is produced by some plants such as mushrooms and can develop into a new plant//


Words: sport
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 games:\n   2 hunting:\n   3 helpful person:\n   4 a good sport:\n   5 a bad/poor sport:\n   6 man/boy:\n   7 fun:\n   8 make sport of somebody:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: disport]//\n  1 GAMES:  a)  [C] a physical activity in which people compete against each other//  --My favourite sports are tennis and swimming.//  --a sports team//  --a sports club//  --I’ve been playing sports all my life.//  --All students are encouraged to take part in a sport.//  --a sports field//  --He picked up the newspaper and turned to the sports pages.//  --They have excellent sports facilities.//  --A lot of schools don’t really encourage team sports .//  --Football is one of the most popular spectator sports  (=sports watched by a lot of people) .//  b)  [U]  BrE sports in general//  --Why is there so much sport on TV?//  --I always hated sport at school.//\n  2 HUNTING:   [C] an activity that people do in the countryside, especially hunting or fishing//  --the sport of falconry//  --a demonstration by people opposed to blood sports  (=sports that involve killing animals) //\n  3 HELPFUL PERSON:   [C usually singular]  also good sport //   old-fashioned a helpful cheerful person who lets you enjoy yourself//  be a sport (=used when asking someone to help you) //  --Be a sport and lend me your bike.//\n  4  a good sport:  someone who does not get angry when they lose at a game or sport//\n  5  a bad/poor sport:  someone who gets angry very easily when they lose at a game or sport//\n  6 MAN/BOY:   spoken //  a)  AusE used when speaking to someone, especially a man, in a friendly way//  --See you later, sport.//  b)  AmE  old-fashioned used when speaking to a boy in a friendly way//\n  7 FUN:   [U]  old-fashioned fun or amusement//  --Did she torment him merely for sport?//\n  8  make sport of sb:   old-fashioned to joke about someone in a way that makes them seem stupid//    field sports,  water sports,  winter sports//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  The uncountable use of sport is British English only: There’s too much sport on TV. In American English, the plural sports is used: He likes watching sports on TV. //  ----------//\nsport 2 v \n  1  be sporting sth:  to be wearing something or have something on your body and show it to people in a proud way//  --Eric was sporting a new camel-hair coat.//\n  2 [I]  literary to play together happily:  --the sight of dolphins sporting amidst the waves//


Words: sporting
Meaning:
adj \n  1 [only before noun] relating to sports:  --The college offers a wide range of sporting activities.//  --one of the major sporting events of the year//  --a great sporting achievement//  --Britain’s sporting heroes//  sporting goods  AmE //  --a sporting goods store//\n  2  BrE someone who is sporting behaves in a fair and generous way during a game or competition and does not try to win in an unfair way:  → unsporting//  --It was very sporting of them to wait until the rest of our team had arrived.//\n  3  sporting chance (of doing sth):  a fairly good chance of succeeding or winning//  --I think we’ve got a sporting chance of winning.//  -- sportingly adv  BrE //  --They sportingly agreed to postpone the race until our boat was repaired.//


Words: sports bra
Meaning:
n [C]   a special type of bra (=a piece of underwear that supports a woman’s breasts)  that is designed for women to wear while playing sports//


Words: sports centre
Meaning:
BrE  sports center AmE n [C]   a building where people can go to play many different types of indoor sports//


Words: sports day
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a day on which the children at a school have sports competitions//  American Equivalent:  field day//


Words: Sports Illustrated
Meaning:
trademark   a weekly US magazine with articles about different sports, teams, professional players etc//


Words: sportscast
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: sports +  broadcast]//  a television broadcast of a sports game//


Words: sportsman
Meaning:
n   plural  sportsmen /-m[hA353]n/ [C] //\n  1 a man who plays several different sports:    sportswoman//  --He’s a very keen sportsman .//  --a talented all-round sportsman//\n  2  AmE a man who enjoys outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing:


Words: sportsmanlike
Meaning:
adj   behaving in a fair, honest, and polite way when competing in sports//  → unsportsmanlike//  --As a club, we try to encourage sportsmanlike behaviour .//


Words: sportsmanship
Meaning:
n [U]   behaviour that is fair, honest, and polite in a game or sports competition//  --His sportsmanship and style of play is refreshing.//  good/bad/poor sportsmanship (=good or bad behaviour in a sport) //  --We try to teach the kids good sportsmanship.//


Words: sportsperson
Meaning:
n   plural  sportspeople /-pi[hA359]p[hA368]l/ [C]  BrE //  someone who takes part in sports or a sport//


Words: sportswear
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 clothes that you wear to play sports or when you are relaxing:\n  2  AmE clothes that are suitable for informal occasions:


Words: sportswoman
Meaning:
n   plural  sportswomen /-w[hA366]m[hA366]n/ [C] //  a woman who plays many different sports//    sportsman//  --great all-round sportswoman//


Words: sporty
Meaning:
adj  informal \n  1  especially BrE someone who is sporty likes sport and is good at it:   athletic//\n  2 sporty clothes are designed to look attractive in a bright informal way:  --a sporty jacket and skirt//\n  3 a sporty car is designed to look attractive and go fast:  --The new model is slightly more sporty.//


Words: spot
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 place:\n   2 area:\n   3 mark:\n   4 on skin:\n   5 on the spot:\n   6 put somebody on the spot:\n   7 tv/radio:\n   8 position:\n   9 weak spot:\n  10 tight spot:\n  11 bright spot:\n  12 a spot of something:\n  13 spots of rain:\n  14 five-spot/ten-spot etc:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Origin:  Perhaps from  Middle Dutch spotte]//\n  1 PLACE:  a particular place or area, especially a pleasant place where you spend time//  --a nice quiet spot on the beach//  --I chose a spot well away from the road.//  in a spot//  --a small cottage in an idyllic spot//  on a spot//  --Why do they want to build a house on this particular spot?//  the exact/same/very spot //  --the exact spot where the king was executed//  spot for//  --an ideal spot for a picnic//\n  2 AREA:  a usually round area on a surface that is a different colour or is rougher, smoother etc than the rest//   patch//  --a white cat with brown spots//  spot of//  --Two spots of colour appeared in Jill’s cheeks.//\n  3 MARK:  a small mark on something, especially one that is made by a liquid//  --There was a big damp spot on the wall.//  spot of//  --a few spots of blood//\n  4 ON SKIN:  a) a small round red area on someone’s skin that shows that they are ill//  --He had a high fever and was covered in spots.//  b)  BrE a small raised red mark on someone’s skin, especially on their face//   pimple//  --Becka was very self-conscious about her spots.//\n  5  on the spot:  a) if you do something on the spot, you do it immediately, often without thinking about it very carefully//    on-the-spot//  --He had to make a decision on the spot.//  b) if you are on the spot, you are in the place where something is happening//  --We ought to find out the views of the people on the spot.//  c)  BrE if you walk, run, or jump on the spot, you do it staying in the same place, without moving around//  American Equivalent:  in place//  --If running outside doesn’t appeal, try jogging on the spot indoors.//\n  6  put sb on the spot:  to deliberately ask someone a question that is difficult or embarrassing to answer//\n  7 TV/RADIO:  a short period of time when someone can speak or perform on radio or television//  --He was given a 30-second spot just after the news.//  --a guest spot on the Tonight Show//\n  8 POSITION:  a position in a list of things or in a competition//  --The budget has a regular spot on the agenda.//  in a spot//  --Manchester United are still in the top spot after today’s win.//\n  9  weak spot:  a) a point at which someone or something is not very good//  --I carried on with my questions, sensing a weak spot in his story.//  b)  AmE if someone has a weak spot for something, they like it very much//  --I’ve always had a weak spot for chocolate.//\n  10  tight spot:   informal a difficult situation//  --This puts the chairman in a very tight spot .//  --I hope you can help get me out of a tight spot .//\n  11  bright spot:  something that is good in a bad situation//  --The computer industry is the one bright spot in the economy at the moment.//  --The only bright spot of the evening was when the food arrived.//\n  12  a spot of sth:   BrE  informal a small amount of something//  --Do you fancy a spot of lunch?//  --I’ve been having a spot of bother  (=some problems) with my car.//\n  13  spots of rain:   BrE a few drops of rain//  --A few spots of rain began to fall.//\n  14  five-spot/ten-spot etc:   AmE  spoken a piece of paper money worth five dollars, ten dollars etc//    beauty spot,  blackspot,  blind spot,  change your spots at change1 (16),  G-spot,  high point/spot at high1 (12),  hit the spot at hit1 (28),  hot spot,  knock spots off at knock1 (19),  be rooted to the spot at root2 (5),  have a soft spot for sb at soft(16),  trouble spot//\nspot 2 S3   past tense and past participle  spotted present participle  spotting  v [T] //\n  1 to notice someone or something, especially when they are difficult to see or recognize:  --I spotted a police car behind us.//  --It can be hard for even a trained doctor to spot the symptoms of lung cancer.//  spot sb doing sth//  --Meg spotted someone coming out of the building.//  difficult/easy to spot //  --Drug addicts are fairly easy to spot.//  spot that//  --One of the station staff spotted that I was in difficulty, and came to help.//\n  2  be spotted with sth:  to have small round marks or small pieces of something on the surface//  --The windscreen was spotted with rain.//\n  3  AmE to give the other player in a game an advantage:  spot sb sth//  --He spotted me six points and he still won.//\nspot 3 adj [only before noun]   for buying or paying immediately, not at some future time//  --They won’t take credit; they want spot cash .//  --He quoted us a spot price for the goods.//


Words: spot check
Meaning:
n [C]   an examination of a few things or people from a group, to check whether everything is correct or satisfactory//  spot check on//  --spot checks on quality//  make/do/carry out etc spot checks //  --We carry out spot checks on the vehicles before they leave the depot.//  -- spot check v  [T] //  --We spot check everyone’s work.//


Words: spotless
Meaning:
adj \n  1 completely clean:    pristine//  --a spotless white handkerchief//  --The house was bright and absolutely spotless .//\n  2 if someone has a spotless reputation or record, people know or think they have never done anything bad:  --a company whose reputation was spotless until this scandal broke//  -- spotlessly adv //  --The whole house was spotlessly clean .//


Words: spotlight
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] a light with a very bright beam which can be directed at someone or something. Spotlights are often used to light a stage when actors or singers are performing:  --The yard was lit by three huge spotlights.//  under the spotlights//  --I was sweating under the spotlights.//  in/into the spotlight//  --She stepped into the spotlight and began to sing.//\n  2  the spotlight:  a lot of attention in newspapers, on television etc//  in/under the spotlight//  --Education is once again under the spotlight.//  put/turn the spotlight on sth //  --A new report has turned the spotlight on the problem of poverty in the inner cities.//\nspotlight 2   past tense and past participle  spotlighted  or  spotlit  v [T] //\n  1 to direct attention to someone or something:   highlight//  --The article spotlights the problems of the homeless.//\n  2 to shine a strong beam of light on something:  --She walked out onto the spotlit stage.//


Words: spotted
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   having small round marks of a different colour on the surface//  --a red and white spotted blouse//


Words: spotted dick
Meaning:
n [U]   a sweet food eaten in Britain, that is like a cake containing dried fruit, and is eaten hot at the end of a meal//


Words: spotter
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  bird/train etc spotter:   BrE someone who spends time watching birds, trains etc for pleasure and writes down the things that they see//\n  2 someone whose job is to look for or notice a particular type of thing:  --Football clubs send spotters to look for young talent.//  weather spotter  AmE //


Words: spotting
Meaning:
n [U]   bird-spotting/train-spotting etc//   BrE the activity of watching birds, trains etc for pleasure//


Words: spotty
Meaning:
adj \n  1  BrE  informal someone who is spotty has small raised red marks on their skin, especially on their face:  --a tall, thin, spotty youth//  --a spotty face//\n  2  AmE good only in some parts, but not in other parts:  British Equivalent:  patchy//


Words: spouse
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: espous(e), from  Latin sponsus  ’promised (in marriage)’, from  spondere;   SPONSOR1]//  a husband or wife//  --Spouses were invited to the company picnic.//  -- spousal/spa[hA35E]z[hA368]l/ adj //  --spousal abuse//


Words: spout
Meaning:
n [C]   spout//\n  1 a small pipe on the side of a container that you pour liquid out through:\n  2  spout of water/blood etc:  a sudden strong stream of liquid which comes out of somewhere very fast//    waterspout(1)//\n  3  up the spout:   BrE  informal if something is up the spout, it is completely wrong or has failed completely//  --The computer’s up the spout!//  --My plans for the weekend seem to have gone up the spout .//\nspout 2 v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: spouten]//\n  1 :  a)  [I always + adverb/preposition] if liquid or fire spouts from somewhere, it comes out very quickly in a powerful stream//   spurt//  spout from//  --Blood was spouting from the wound in her arm.//  b)  [T] to send out liquid or flames very quickly in a powerful stream//  --a volcano spouting lava//\n  2  also spout off :   [I and T]  informal to talk a lot about something in a boring or annoying way//  --My father was spouting his usual nonsense!//  --I hate it when he spouts off like that!//  spout about//  --I’m tired of listening to Jim spouting about politics.//\n  3 [I] if a whale spouts, it sends out a stream of water from a hole in its head:


Words: sprain
Meaning:
v [T]   to damage a joint in your body by suddenly twisting it//   twist//  --I fell down the steps and sprained my ankle .//  -- sprain n  [C] //  --I thought my wrist might be broken, but it was just a bad sprain.//


Words: sprawl
Meaning:
preposition]   [Language: Old English; Origin: spreawlian]//\n  1 to lie or sit with your arms or legs stretched out in a lazy or careless way:  --He sprawled out on the sofa.//  --I tripped on a stone and went sprawling on the pavement.//  --a blow which sent him sprawling //\n  2 if buildings sprawl, they spread out over a wide area in an untidy and unattractive way:  --The town seemed to sprawl for miles.//\nsprawl 2 n [singular, U]   a large area of buildings that are spread out in an untidy and unattractive way//  --We drove through miles of urban sprawl before we finally got out into the countryside.//


Words: sprawled
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   be/lie/sit sprawled (out)//  to be lying or sitting with your arms or legs stretched out in a lazy or careless way//  --He was sprawled in an armchair in front of the TV.//  --A girl lay sprawled across the bed.//


Words: spray
Meaning:
S3   v \n  1 [T] to force liquid out of a container so that it comes out in a stream of very small drops and covers an area:    squirt//  spray sb/sth with sth//  --She sprayed herself with perfume.//  spray sth on/onto/over sth//  --Someone had sprayed blue paint over his car.//  --Vandals had sprayed graffiti on the walls.//  spray crops/plants etc (=cover them with liquid to protect them from insects or disease) //  --The fruit is sprayed every four weeks.//\n  2 [I always + adverb/preposition] if liquids or small bits spray somewhere, they are quickly scattered through the air:  spray from//  --Champagne sprayed from the bottle.//\n  3  spray sb/sth with bullets:  to shoot a lot of bullets towards a person or place very quickly//  --Gunmen sprayed the crowd with bullets.//\nspray 2 n   ----------//\n   1 liquid from a container:\n   2 container:\n   3 moving liquid:\n   4 branch:\n   5 flowers:\n   6 a spray of bullets/gravel etc:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-3, 6; Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Perhaps from  Middle Dutch sprayen  ’to scatter small drops of liquid’]//  [Sense: 4-5; Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  Perhaps from an unrecorded  Old English spr[zB024]g]//\n  1 LIQUID FROM A CONTAINER:   [U and C] liquid which is forced out of a special container in a stream of very small drops//  --a new hair styling spray//  --Most farmers use pesticide sprays.//\n  2 CONTAINER:   [C] a container which forces liquid out in a stream of small drops//  --Mary took a perfume spray from her handbag.//\n  3 MOVING LIQUID:  a)  [U] water in very small drops that is blown from the sea etc or sent up by vehicles on a wet road//  --spray from the waves//  --My face was stinging from the salt spray.//  b)  [C] liquid that comes quickly from somewhere in very small drops//  spray of//  --A spray of blood came from his mouth.//\n  4 BRANCH:   [C] a small branch or stem with leaves or flowers on it, used for decoration//   sprig//  spray of//  --a spray of holly//\n  5 FLOWERS:   [C] an attractive arrangement of flowers or leaves//  spray of//  --a spray of violets and primroses//\n  6  a spray of bullets/gravel etc:  a lot of bullets or very small objects moving quickly through the air//


Words: spray gun
Meaning:
n [C]   a piece of equipment that you hold in your hand and use to spray liquid in very small drops//


Words: spray-on
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   a spray-on substance can be sprayed from a container onto a surface//  --a spray-on water repellent for clothing//


Words: sprayer
Meaning:
n [C]   a piece of equipment that is used for spraying large amounts of liquid, especially over crops//


Words: spread
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  spread //  ----------//\n   1 affect more people/places:\n   2 information/ideas:\n   3 open/arrange:\n   4 throughout an area:\n   5 soft substance:\n   6 arms/fingers etc:\n   7 over time:\n   8 share:\n   9 smile/look:\n  10 spread your wings:\n  11 :\n  12 spread seeds/manure/fertilizer:  Phrasal verbs//   spread out//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: spr[zB024]dan]//\n  1 AFFECT MORE PEOPLE/PLACES:   [I and T] if something spreads or is spread, it becomes larger or moves so that it affects more people or a larger area//  spread through//  --Fire quickly spread through the building.//  spread over//  --He watched the dark stain spread over the gray carpet.//  --The disease spread rapidly amongst the poor.//  spread (from sth) to sth//  --The cancer had spread to her liver.//  --Revolution quickly spread from France to Italy.//  --the risk of AIDS being spread through contaminated blood//\n  2 INFORMATION/IDEAS:  a)  [I] to become known about or used by more and more people//  --News of the explosion spread swiftly.//  spread to/through/over etc//  --Buddhism spread to China from India.//  --The news spread like wildfire  (=became known very quickly) .//  -- Word spread quickly and soon a crowd had gathered.//  b)  [T] to tell a lot of people about something//  spread lies/rumours/gossip //  --Andy loves spreading rumours about his colleagues.//  --They are spreading the word about the benefits of immunization.//\n  3 OPEN/ARRANGE:   also spread out //   [T] to open something out or arrange a group of things so that they cover a flat surface//  spread sth over/across/on sth//  --Papers and photos were spread across the floor.//  --He spread the map out on the desk.//  --a table spread with a white cloth//\n  4 THROUGHOUT AN AREA:   [I]  also be spread //   and spread out //  to cover or exist across a large area//  spread over//  --the forest that spread over the whole of that region//  spread throughout//  --The company has more than 2500 shops spread throughout the UK.//\n  5 SOFT SUBSTANCE:   [I and T] to put a soft substance over a surface or to be soft enough to be put over a surface//  spread sth on/over sth//  --He spread plaster on the walls.//  spread sth with sth//  --Spread the toast thinly with jam.//  --If you warm up the butter it’ll spread more easily.//  -- Spread the nut mixture evenly over the bottom.//\n  6 ARMS/FINGERS ETC:   [T] if you spread your arms, fingers or legs, you move them far apart//  --He shrugged and spread his hands.//\n  7 OVER TIME:   [T]  also spread out //  to do something over a period of time, rather than at one time//  spread sth over sth//  --Could I spread the repayments over a longer period?//  --There will be 12 concerts spread throughout the summer.//\n  8 SHARE:   [T] to share or divide something among several people or things//  spread the load/burden //  --The bills are sent out on different dates to spread the workload on council staff.//  --They want the country’s wealth to be more evenly spread .//\n  9 SMILE/LOOK:   [I always + adverb/preposition] if an expression spreads over someone’s face, it slowly appears on their face//  spread over/across//  --A slow smile spread over her face.//\n  10  spread your wings:  a) to start to have an independent life and experience new things//  --A year spent studying abroad should allow him to spread his wings a bit.//  b) if a bird or insect spreads its wings, it stretches them wide//\n  11 :  a)  be spread (too) thin/thinly//  if money, effort etc is spread thin, it is being used for many things so there is not enough for each thing//  --They complained that resources were spread too thinly.//  b)  spread yourself too thin//  to try to do too many things at the same time so that you do not do any of them effectively//\n  12  spread seeds/manure/fertilizer:  to scatter seeds, manure etc on the ground//    spread your net wide at net1 (8)//  spread out phr v//\n  1 if a group of people spread out, they move apart from each other so that they cover a wider area:  --The search party spread out to search the surrounding fields.//\n  2  spread sth → out:  to open something out or arrange a group of things on a flat surface//  --Sue spread out her notes on the kitchen table and began to write.//\n  3  also be spread out :  to cover a large area//  --The city spread out below her looked so calm.//\n  4  spread sth → out:  to do something over a period of time, rather than at one time//  spread something → out over//  --The course is spread out over four days.//\nspread 2 n   ----------//\n   1 increase:\n   2 soft food:\n   3 range:\n   4 area:\n   5 double-page spread/centre spread:\n   6 large meal:\n   7 hand/wings:\n   8 bed cover:\n   9 money:\n  10 sport:\n  11 spread of land/water:\n  12 farm:  ----------//\n  1 INCREASE:   [singular] when something affects or is known about by more people or involves a larger area//    increase//  spread of//  --an attempt to stop the spread of nuclear weapons//  --the rapid spread of cholera in Latin America//\n  2 SOFT FOOD:   [U and C] //  a) a soft substance made from vegetable oil that is used like butter//  --one slice of toast with a low-fat spread//  b) a soft food which you spread on bread//  cheese/chocolate etc spread //\n  3 RANGE:   [singular] a range of people or things//  wide/broad/good spread of sth //  --We have a good spread of ages in the department.//  --a broad spread of investments//\n  4 AREA:   [singular] the total area in which something exists//  --the geographical spread of the company’s hotels//\n  5  double-page spread/centre spread:  a special article or advertisement in a newspaper or magazine, which covers two pages or covers the centre pages//  --There’s a double-page spread in Sunday’s paper.//\n  6 LARGE MEAL:   [singular]  informal a large meal for several guests on a special occasion//  --Chris’s mum laid on a huge spread.//\n  7 HAND/WINGS:   [U] the area covered when the fingers of a hand, or a bird’s wings, are fully stretched//\n  8 BED COVER:   [C] a bedspread//\n  9 MONEY:   [C]  technical the difference between the prices at which something is bought and sold, or the interest rates for lending and borrowing money//  spread between//  --the spread between the city banks’ loan rates and deposit rates//\n  10 SPORT:   [singular]  AmE the number of points between the scores of two opposing teams//  --a four-point spread//\n  11  spread of land/water:  an area of land or water//\n  12 FARM:   [C]  AmE a large farm or ranch//    middle-aged spread at middle-aged(3)//


Words: spread betting
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 a type of betting on sports events in which someone says what they think the final score will be:\n  2 a way of buying and selling shares in which someone bets money on whether shares in a particular company will go up or down in value:  -- spread bet n  [C] //


Words: spreadsheet
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a computer program that can show and calculate financial information:\n  2 a document that contains rows and  columns of numbers that can be used to calculate something:


Words: spree
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from  Scottish English spreath  ’attack to steal cattle’, from  Scottish Gaelic spreidh  ’cattle’]//  a short period of time when you do a lot of one activity, especially spending money or drinking alcohol//  on a spree//  --They went on a drinking spree .//  --a shopping spree //


Words: sprig
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from  Low German sprick  ’small thin branch’]//  a small stem or part of a branch with leaves or flowers on it//  sprig of//  --a sprig of parsley//


Words: sprightly
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: sprite]//  an old person who is sprightly is still active and full of energy - used to show approval//  -- sprightliness n  [U] //


Words: spring
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 season:\n   2 curved metal:\n   3 water:\n   4 spring in your step:\n   5 full of the joys of spring:\n   6 sudden jump:  ----------//\n  1 SEASON:   [U and C] the season between winter and summer when leaves and flowers appear//  spring of//  --the spring of 1933//  in/during the spring//  --It’s due to open in the spring.//  late/early spring //  --It was a cold, sunny day in early spring.//  --spring flowers//  2 CURVED METAL//  a)  [C usually plural] something, usually a twisted piece of metal, that will return to its previous shape after it has been pressed down//  --an old armchair with broken springs//  b)  [U] the ability of a chair, bed etc to return to its normal shape after being pressed down//\n  3 WATER:   [C] a place where water comes up naturally from the ground//  --spring water//  --There are several hot springs in the area.//\n  4  spring in your step:  if you walk with a spring in your step, you move quickly and happily//  --As he walked into the office that morning, there was a spring in his step.//\n  5  full of the joys of spring:  happy and full of energy - used humorously//\n  6 SUDDEN JUMP:   [singular] a sudden quick movement or jump in a particular direction//   leap//\nspring 2 v   past tense  sprang /spr[zB024][hA26E]/ also  sprung /spr[hA356][hA26E]/ AmE past participle  sprung //  ----------//\n   1 move suddenly:\n   2 move back:\n   3 spring to (somebody’s) mind:\n   4 spring into action:\n   5 spring a surprise:\n   6 tears spring to/into somebody’s eyes:\n   7 spring into existence/being:\n   8 spring a trap:\n   9 spring a leak:\n  10 spring to somebody’s defence:\n  11 spring to attention:\n  12 help somebody escape:  Phrasal verbs//   spring for something//   spring from something//   spring something on somebody//   spring up//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: springan]//\n  1 MOVE SUDDENLY:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to move suddenly and quickly in a particular direction, especially by jumping//   leap//  spring out of/from//  --Tom sprung out of bed and ran downstairs.//  spring out at sb//  --Two men sprang out at me as I was walking through the park.//  --He sprang to his feet  (=stood up suddenly) and rushed after her.//  spring to sb’s aid/assistance (=move quickly to help someone) //  --One of the young policemen sprang to her assistance.//\n  2 MOVE BACK:   [I always + adverb/preposition] if something springs back, open etc, it moves quickly, suddenly and with force, especially after being pushed down or sideways//  spring back/up//  --The branch sprang back and hit him in the face.//  spring open/shut //  --The gate sprang shut behind them.//\n  3  spring to (sb’s) mind:  if someone or something springs to mind, you immediately think of them//  --Two questions spring to mind.//\n  4  spring into action:   also spring to/into life //  to suddenly become active, start moving or start working//  --They were prepared and ready to spring into action.//  --Finally the engine sprang to life.//\n  5  spring a surprise:  to do something surprising//  --Roy is unlikely to spring any surprises.//\n  6  tears spring to/into sb’s eyes:   written used to say that someone starts to cry//\n  7  spring into existence/being:  to suddenly begin to exist//  --A lot of small businesses sprang into existence during the 1980s.//\n  8  spring a trap:  a) if an animal springs a trap, it is caught by the trap//  b) to make someone say or do something by tricking them//\n  9  spring a leak:  if a boat or a container springs a leak, it begins to let liquid in or out through a crack or hole//\n  10  spring to sb’s defence:  to quickly defend someone who is being criticized//  --Charlene sprang immediately to her son’s defence.//\n  11  spring to attention:  if soldiers spring to attention, they stand suddenly upright//\n  12 HELP SOMEBODY ESCAPE:   [T + from]  informal to help someone escape from prison//  spring for [spring for sth] phr v//  to pay for something//  --I’ll spring for the beer tonight.//  spring from [spring from sth] phr v//  to be caused by something or start from something//  --behaviour which springs from prejudices//  spring on [spring sth on sb] phr v//  to tell someone something or ask them to do something when they do not expect it and are not ready for it//  --It’s not fair to spring this on her without any warning.//  spring up phr v//  to suddenly appear or start to exist//  --Fast-food restaurants are springing up all over town.//


Words: spring onion
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a strong tasting onion with a small white round part and a long green stem, usually eaten raw//  American Equivalent:  scallion//  American Equivalent:  green onion//


Words: spring roll
Meaning:
n [C]   a type of Chinese food consisting of a piece of thin rolled pastry filled with vegetables and sometimes meat and cooked in oil//  American Equivalent:  egg roll//


Words: spring tide
Meaning:
n [C]   a large rise and fall in the level of the sea at the time of the new moon and the full moon//    neap tide//


Words: spring-cleaning
Meaning:
n [U]   when you clean a house thoroughly, usually once a year//  --Judith’s busy doing the spring-cleaning .//  -- spring-clean n  [singular]  BrE //  -- spring-clean v  [I and T] //


Words: springboard
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 something that helps you to start doing something:  springboard for//  --The TV soap has been a springboard for a lot of careers.//\n  2 a strong board for jumping on or off, used when diving ( dive1(1)) or doing gymnastics:


Words: springbok
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Afrikaans; Origin: spring  ’to jump’ +  bok  ’goat’]//  a small deer that can run fast and lives in South Africa//


Words: Springsteen
Meaning:
Bruce   (1949- ) a US  rock singer and songwriter whose songs often deal with the problems faced by young  working class people in the US. He is sometimes called "the Boss". His  albums include  Born to Run and  Born in the USA.//


Words: springtime
Meaning:
n [U]   the time of the year when it is spring//  in (the) springtime//  --when the snow melts in the springtime//


Words: springy
Meaning:
adj \n  1 something that is springy is soft and comes back to its normal shape after being pressed or walked on:  --The grass was soft and springy.//\n  2  springy step/walk:  a way of walking which is quick and full of energy//  -- springily adv //  -- springiness n  [U] //


Words: sprinkle
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from  Middle Dutch sprenkelen]//\n  1 [T] to scatter small drops of liquid or small pieces of something:  sprinkle sth with sth//  --Sprinkle the top with cheese.//  sprinkle sth on/over sth//  --I sprinkled cocoa over my latte.//\n  2  be sprinkled with jokes/quotations etc:  to be full of jokes etc//  --The book is liberally sprinkled with cliches.//\n  3  it is sprinkling:   AmE if it is sprinkling, it is raining lightly//\nsprinkle 2 n [singular] \n  1 a small amount of something, especially scattered on top of something:  sprinkle of//  --Add a sprinkle of salt.//\n  2  AmE a light rain:


Words: sprinkler
Meaning:
n [C]   1 a piece of equipment used for scattering water on grass or soil//\n  2 a piece of equipment on a ceiling that scatters water if there is a fire:


Words: sprinkling
Meaning:
n [singular]   a small amount of something, especially scattered over an area//  sprinkling of//  --The hilltops were covered with a sprinkling of snow.//


Words: sprint
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  From a  Scandinavian language]//\n  1 to run very fast for a short distance:    jog//  sprint along/across/up etc//  --Bill sprinted up the steps.//\n  2 to ride, swim etc very fast for a short distance:\nsprint 2 n \n  1 [C] a short race in which the runners, riders, swimmers etc move very fast over a short distance:  --the 100 metre sprint//\n  2 [singular] a short period of running or moving very fast:  --He made a desperate sprint for the train.//


Words: Sprite
Meaning:
trademark   a type of sweet, clear, not alcoholic drink with bubbles that has a lemon and  lime taste//


Words: sprite
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: esprit, from  Latin spiritus;   SPIRIT1]//  a fairy(1)//


Words: spritz
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: German; Origin: spritzen]//   AmE to spray small amounts of a liquid on something//  -- spritz n  [C] //


Words: sprocket
Meaning:
n [C]   1  also sprocket wheel //  a wheel with teeth (=parts along the edge) that fit into and turn a bicycle chain, a photographic film with holes etc//\n  2 one of the teeth on a sprocket wheel:


Words: sprout
Meaning:
v   [Language: Old English; Origin: sprutan]//\n  1 [I and T] if vegetables, seeds, or plants sprout, they start to grow, producing shoots, buds, or leaves:  --Move the pots outside when the seeds begin to sprout.//  --Trees were starting to sprout new leaves.//\n  2 [I]  also sprout up :  to appear suddenly in large numbers//  --Office blocks are sprouting up everywhere.//\n  3 [I and T] if something such as hair sprouts or if you sprout it, it starts to grow:  --Jim seemed to have sprouted a beard.//\nsprout 2 n [C] \n  1  especially BrE a small green vegetable like a very small cabbage:   brussels sprout//\n  2 a new growth on a plant:   shoot//\n  3 [usually plural]  AmE an alfalfa seed which has grown a stem and is eaten:\n  4 [usually plural]  AmE a beansprout:


Words: spruce
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: spruce fir  ’spruce’, from  Spruce  ’Prussia’, former European country, now part of Germany  (14-17 centuries)]//  a tree that grows in northern countries and has short leaves shaped like needles//\nspruce 2 v   spruce up phr v//  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: [  From   SPRUCE3]//   informal to make yourself or something look neater and tidier//  --Paul went upstairs to spruce up before dinner.//  spruce sb/sth → up//  --The cottage had been spruced up a bit since her last visit.//\nspruce 3 adj  BrE   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Perhaps from  Spruce leather  ’leather brought from Prussia’ (15-18 centuries);   SPRUCE1]//  neat and clean//  --Mr Bailey was looking very spruce in a white linen suit.//  -- sprucely adv //


Words: sprung
Meaning:
a past tense and the past participle of spring//\nsprung 2 adj   supported or kept in shape by springs//  --a sprung mattress//


Words: spry
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from a  Scandinavian language]//  a spry old person has energy and is active//   sprightly//  --He’s still remarkably spry.//  -- spryly adv //


Words: spume
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin spuma]//   literary the mass of bubbles that forms on the top of waves when the sea is rough//   foam//


Words: spunk
Meaning:
n [U]  informal   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Probably from  spunk  ’spark’ (16-19 centuries), from  Scottish Gaelic spong  ’sponge, material for lighting fires’, from  Latin spongia;   SPONGE1]//\n  1  especially AmE courage:  --She had a lot of spunk.//\n  2  BrE  not polite  semen:


Words: spunky
Meaning:
adj  informal   having a lot of courage, energy, or determination//  --a spunky performance//  --a spunky heroine//


Words: spur
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: spura]//\n  1  on the spur of the moment:  suddenly, without any previous planning or thought//  --We would often decide what to play on the spur of the moment.//    spur-of-the-moment//\n  2 a fact or event that makes you try harder to do something:  spur to//  --It provided the spur to further research.//  --The crowd’s reaction only acted as a spur.//\n  3 a sharp pointed object on the heel of a rider’s boot which is used to encourage a horse to go faster:\n  4  earn/win your spurs:  to show that you deserve to succeed because you have the right skills//\n  5 a piece of high ground which sticks out from the side of a hill or mountain:\n  6 a railway track or road that goes away from a main line or road:\nspur 2 v   past tense and past participle  spurred present participle  spurring //\n  1 [T]  also spur sb on :  to encourage someone or make them want to do something//  --The band were spurred on by the success of their last two singles.//  spur sb (on) to do sth//  --His misfortunes spurred him to write.//  spur sb (on) to sth//  --the coach who spurred him on to Olympic success//  --It was an article in the local newspaper which finally spurred him into action .//\n  2 [T] to make an improvement or change happen faster:   encourage//  --Lower taxes would spur investment and help economic growth.//\n  3 [I and T] to encourage a horse to go faster, especially by pushing it with special points on the heels of your boots:


Words: spur-of-the-moment
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   a spur-of-the-moment decision or action is made or done suddenly without planning//


Words: spurious
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: spurius, from  Latin (noun),  ’child of unmarried parents’]//\n  1 a spurious statement, argument etc is not based on facts or good thinking and is likely to be incorrect:  --He demolished the Opposition’s spurious arguments.//\n  2 insincere:  --spurious sympathy//  -- spuriously adv //  -- spuriousness n  [U] //


Words: spurn
Meaning:
v [T]   [Language: Old English; Origin: spurnan]//   literary to refuse to accept something or someone, especially because you are too proud//  --She spurned all offers of help.//  --a spurned lover//


Words: Spurs
Meaning:
a famous English football team, whose full name is ’Tottenham Hotspur’. Their football ground is at White Hart Lane in north London.//


Words: spurt
Meaning:
v \n  1 :  a)  [I] if liquid or flames spurt from something, they come out of it quickly and suddenly//  spurt from/out of//  --Blood spurted from his nose.//  --Flames spurted through the roof.//  b)  [T] to send out liquid or flames quickly or suddenly//  --It boiled over, spurting hot water everywhere.//\n  2 [I always + adverb/preposition] to suddenly start moving more quickly, especially for a short time:  --He suddenly spurted ahead of the others.//\nspurt 2 n [C] \n  1 when an amount of liquid or flame suddenly comes quickly out of something:  spurt of//  --a sudden spurt of flame//  in spurts//  --The water came out of the tap in short spurts (=a small amount at a time) .//\n  2 a short sudden increase of activity, effort, speed, or emotion:  spurt of//  --In a sudden spurt of anger, Ellen slammed the door shut.//  growth spurt (=when a child suddenly grows quickly) //  in spurts//  --We weren’t consistent - we played in spurts.//


Words: Sputnik
Meaning:
a  satellite put into space by the former Soviet Union. There were several Sputniks, but the first of these (Sputnik I in 1957) was the first satellite ever to go around the Earth.//


Words: sputter
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Dutch; Origin: sputteren]//\n  1 [I] if something such as an engine or a fire sputters, it makes short soft uneven noises like very small explosions:   splutter//  --Suddenly the engine sputtered and stopped.//\n  2 [I and T] to talk quickly in short confused phrases, especially because you are angry or shocked:   splutter//  --’What do you mean?’ sputtered Annabelle.//  -- sputter n  [U and C] //


Words: sputum
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: spuere  ’to spit’]//   medical liquid in your mouth which you have coughed up from your lungs//    phlegm//


Words: spy
Meaning:
n   plural  spies  [C] //  someone whose job it is to find out secret information about another country, organization, or group//   secret agent//  British/Russian/foreign etc spy //  --a Soviet spy//  spy ring/network (=an organized group of spies) //  spy plane/satellite //\nspy 2 v   past tense and past participle  spied present participle  spying third person singular  spies //  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: espier]//\n  1 [I] to secretly collect information about an enemy country or an organization you are competing against:  spy on//  --He was charged with spying on British military bases.//  spy for//  --He confessed to spying for North Korea.//\n  2 [T]  literary to suddenly see someone or something, especially after searching for them:   spot//  --Ellen suddenly spied her friend in the crowd.//  spy on [spy on sb] phr v//  to watch someone secretly in order to find out what they are doing//  --She sent you to spy on me, didn’t she?//  spy out [spy sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to secretly find out information about something:\n  2  spy out the land:   BrE to secretly find out more information about a situation before deciding what to do//


Words: Spy Who Came in from the Cold
Meaning:
The   (1963) a novel by John Le Carre about a British  spy (=someone whose job it is to find out secret information about another country)  in  East Germany who wants to go back to the West//


Words: spyware
Meaning:
n [U]   computer software that secretly records information about which websites you visit. This information is then used by advertising companies, who try to sell you products.//


Words: sq.
Meaning:
also  sq BrE   the written abbreviation of Square //  --30 cm sq floor tiles//  --40 Merrion Sq., Dublin//


Words: squabble
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably from a  Scandinavian language]//  to argue about something unimportant//   quarrel//  squabble over/about//  --They’re always squabbling over money.//  squabble with//  --He’s squabbling with the referee.//  -- squabble n  [C] //  --a petty squabble//  --bitter squabbles between employers and unions//


Words: squad
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: escouade, from  escadre, from  Italian squadra  ’square’, from  Vulgar Latin exquadra;   SQUARE2]//\n  1 a group of players from which a team will be chosen for a particular sports event:  --the Italian World Cup squad//\n  2 the police department responsible for dealing with a particular kind of crime:  drugs/fraud/vice etc squad //  --A controlled explosion was carried out by bomb squad officers.//\n  3 a small group of soldiers working together as a unit:  --a drill squad//\n  4  AmE a group of cheerleaders:    death squad,  firing squad,  flying squad//


Words: squaddy
Meaning:
squaddie/skw[hA361]di $ skw[hA35A][hA359]-/ n   plural  squaddies  [C] //   BrE  informal a soldier who is not an officer//


Words: squadron
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: squadrone, from  squadra;   SQUAD]//  a military force consisting of a group of aircraft or ships//


Words: squalid
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: squalidus, from  squalere  ’to be dirty’, from  squalus  ’dirty’]//\n  1 very dirty and unpleasant because of a lack of care or money:    squalor//  --How can anyone live in such squalid conditions?//  --a tiny squalid apartment//\n  2  especially BrE immoral or dishonest:  --squalid behaviour//  --a squalid affair//


Words: squall
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably from a  Scandinavian language]//  a sudden strong wind, especially one that brings rain or snow//  --snow squalls//\nsquall 2 v [I]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  From a  Scandinavian language]//  if a baby or child squalls, it cries noisily//   bawl//


Words: squalor
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: squalere;   SQUALID]//  the condition of being dirty and unpleasant because of a lack of care or money//    squalid//  --We lived in squalor for a year and a half.//


Words: squander
Meaning:
v [T]   to carelessly waste money, time, opportunities etc//  --The home team squandered a number of chances in the first half.//  squander sth on sth//  --They squandered the profits on expensive cars.//


Words: Squanto
Meaning:
(?1585-1622) a Native American who helped the  Pilgrim Fathers, the first English people to come to America, by showing them where to hunt and fish and how to plant corn//


Words: square
Meaning:
W3S2   adj   ----------//\n   1 shape:\n   2 angle:\n   3 square metre/mile etc:\n   4 5 feet/2 metres etc square:\n   5 level:\n   6 square meal:\n   7 body:\n   8 all square:\n   9 (all) square:\n  10 square deal:\n  11 boring:\n  12 a square peg in a round hole:  ----------//\n  1 SHAPE:  having four straight equal sides and 90[hA13B] angles at the corners//  --a large square room//\n  2 ANGLE:  forming a 90[hA13B] angle, or being close to or similar to a 90[hA13B] angle//  --square corners//\n  3  square metre/mile etc:  an area of measurement equal to a square with sides a metre long, a mile long etc//  --about four square metres of ground//\n  4  5 feet/2 metres etc square:  having the shape of a square with sides that are 5 feet, 2 metres etc long//  --The room is six metres square.//\n  5 LEVEL:   [not before noun] parallel with a straight line//  square with//  --I don’t think the shelf is square with the floor.//\n  6  square meal:  a good satisfying meal//  --Children should have three square meals a day.//\n  7 BODY:  if someone’s body or a part of their body is square, it looks broad and strong//  --a square jaw//\n  8  all square:   BrE to have the same number of points as your opponent in a competition//  --The teams were all square at the end of the first half.//\n  9  (all) square:   informal if two people are square, they do not owe each other any money//  --Here’s your [hA124]10 back, so that makes us square .//\n  10  square deal:  honest and fair treatment from someone, especially in business//  --I’m not getting a square deal here.//\n  11 BORING:   informal someone who is square is boring and old-fashioned//\n  12  a square peg in a round hole:   informal someone who is in a job or situation that is not suitable for them//  -- squareness n  [U] //    win (sth)/beat sb fair and square at fair3 (1)//\nsquare 2 S2 n [C]   ----------//\n   1 shape:\n   2 in a town:\n   3 square one:\n   4 number:\n   5 in a game:\n   6 person:\n   7 tool:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: esquarre, from  Vulgar Latin exquadra, from  exquadrare  ’to make square’, from  Latin quadrare  ’to make square, fit’]//\n  1 SHAPE:  a shape with four straight equal sides with 90[hA13B] angles at the corners//    rectangle//  --First of all, draw a square.//  square of//  --a small square of cloth//\n  2 IN A TOWN:  a large open area in the centre of a town or city, usually in the shape of a square, or the buildings surrounding it//  main/market/town square //  --The hotel is just off the main square of Sorrento.//  --She lives in Hanover Square.//\n  3  square one:  the situation from which you started to do something//  be back to/at square one //  --The police are now back at square one in their investigation.//  go back to square one (=used when you start something again because you were not successful the first time) //  --Okay, let’s go back to square one and try again.//  from square one//  --I’ve had to relearn the game from square one.//\n  4 NUMBER:  the result of multiplying a number by itself//    square root//  square of//  --The square of 4 is 16.//\n  5 IN A GAME:  a space on a board used for playing a game such as chess//\n  6 PERSON:   informal someone who is considered boring and unfashionable//   nerd//\n  7 TOOL:   also set square //  a flat object with a straight edge, often shaped like an L, used for drawing or measuring 90[hA131] angles//\nsquare 3 v [T]   ----------//\n   1 multiply:\n   2 in a competition:\n   3 square your shoulders:\n   4 make something straight:\n   5 square the circle:  Phrasal verbs//   square something → away//   square off//   square up//   square with something//  ----------//\n  1 MULTIPLY:  to multiply a number by itself//\n  2 IN A COMPETITION:   BrE to win a point or game so that you have now won the same number of points or games as the other team or player//  --India won the second match to square the series at one each.//\n  3  square your shoulders:  to stand straight and push your shoulders back, usually to show your determination//\n  4 MAKE SOMETHING STRAIGHT:  to make something straight or parallel//\n  5  square the circle:  to attempt something impossible//  square away [square sth → away] phr v//  to finish something, especially by putting the last details in order//  -- Get your work squared away before you leave.//  square off phr v//\n  1  square sth → off:  to make something have neat corners//\n  2  AmE to get ready to fight someone:  square up phr v//\n  1 to pay money that you owe:  --I’ll pay for the drinks and you can square up later.//\n  2  BrE to get ready to fight someone:  square up to//  --The two lads squared up to each other.//\n  3  square up to sb/sth:  to deal with a difficult situation or person in a determined way//  square with [square with sth] phr v//\n  1  square (sth) with sth:  if you square two ideas, statements etc with each other or if they square with each other, they are considered to be in agreement//  --His story simply does not square with the facts.//  --How do you square that with your religious beliefs?//  square sth with your conscience (=make yourself believe that what you are doing is morally right) //\n  2  square sth with sb:   BrE to persuade someone to agree to something//  --I’ll take the day off if I can square it with my boss.//\nsquare 4 adv \n  1 directly and firmly:   squarely//  -- Look him square in the eye and say no.//\n  2 at 90 [hA13B] to a line:   squarely//  square to//  --Wright passed the ball square to Brown.//


Words: square bracket
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   one of the pair of signs [ ] that are used for enclosing information//  American Equivalent:  bracket//  in square brackets//  --The words in square brackets should be deleted.//


Words: square dance
Meaning:
n [C]   a type of traditional country dance in which four pairs of dancers face each other in a square, and someone calls out the movements they should do//


Words: Square Mile
Meaning:
the Square Mile//  another name for the  City of London (=the financial and banking centre of London) , used especially in news reports. It is called this because the area of the City is about one square mile. //


Words: square root
Meaning:
n [C]   the square root of a number is the number which, when multiplied by itself, equals that number//  square root of//  --The square root of nine is three.//


Words: squared
Meaning:
adj \n  1  BrE divided into squares or marked with squares:  --squared paper//\n  2  3/9/10 etc squared:  the number three, nine etc multiplied by itself//  --3 squared equals 9.//


Words: squarely
Meaning:
adv \n  1 directly and firmly:  --He turned and faced her squarely.//  --She hit him squarely on the nose.//\n  2 completely and with no doubt:  --The blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the police.//\n  3 straight on something and centrally:   square//  --Dr Soames jammed his hat squarely on his head.//\n  4 at 90[hA131] to a line:   square//


Words: squash
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 press:\n   2 small space:\n   3 stop something:\n   4 control emotion:  Phrasal verbs//   squash up//  ----------//  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: esquasser, from  Latin quassare  ’to shake’]//\n  1 PRESS:   [T] to press something into a flatter shape, often breaking or damaging it//   flatten//  --The cake got a bit squashed on the way here.//  squash sth down//  --Her hair had been squashed down by her hat.//  --Move over - you’re squashing me.//\n  2 SMALL SPACE:   [I,T always + adverb/preposition] to push yourself or something else into a space that is too small//   squeeze//  squash into//  --Seven of us squashed into the car.//  squash sth in//  --We can probably squash another couple of things in.//\n  3 STOP SOMETHING:   [T]  informal to use your power or authority to stop something//   quash//  --Her suggestions were always squashed.//  squash rumours/hopes/reports etc (=say that a rumour etc is not true) //  --The government was quick to squash any hopes of reform.//\n  4 CONTROL EMOTION:   [T] to control or ignore an emotion//   suppress//  --She felt anger rising but quickly squashed it.//  squash up phr v//  to move closer together or closer to something, especially in order to make room for someone or something else//  squash up against//  --The others squashed up against Jo.//\nsquash 2 n   ----------//\n   1 sport:\n   2 it’s a squash:\n   3 vegetable:\n   4 drink:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-2,4; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  SQUASH1(in sense 1, because of the softness of the ball)]//  [Sense: 3; Date: 1600-1700; Language: Natick; Origin:  and  Narragansett askutasquash]//\n  1 SPORT:   [U] a game played by two people who use rackets to hit a small rubber ball against the walls of a square court//  --a squash court//\n  2  it’s a squash:   BrE  spoken used to say that there is not enough space for everyone to fit in comfortably//\n  3 VEGETABLE:   [U and C] one of a group of large vegetables with solid flesh and hard skins, such as pumpkins//\n  4 DRINK:   [U]  BrE a drink made from fruit juice, sugar, and water//  --a glass of orange squash//


Words: squashed
Meaning:
adj \n  1 broken or made flat by being pressed hard:  --squashed tomatoes//\n  2 [not before noun] in a space that is too small:  --I was squashed between Jan and Dave in the back seat.//


Words: squat
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  squatted present participle  squatting  [I] //  jeans//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: esquatir, from  quatir  ’to press’, from  Vulgar Latin coactire  ’to press together’, from  Latin cogere;   COGENT]//\n  1 to sit with your knees bent under you and your bottom just off the ground, balancing on your feet:  squat down//  --He squatted down beside the little girl.//\n  2 to live in a building or on a piece of land without permission and without paying rent:\nsquat 2 adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: squat  ’in a squatting position’ (15-19 centuries), from an old past participle of   SQUAT1]//  short and thick or low and wide, especially in a way which is not attractive//  --squat stone cottages//  --a squat little old man//\nsquat 3 n   [Sense: 1-2; Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  SQUAT1]//  [Sense: 3; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: diddlysquat;   DIDDLY]//\n  1 [C] a squatting position:\n  2 [C]  BrE a house that people are living in without permission and without paying rent:  --She lives in a squat in Camden.//\n  3 [U]  AmE  informal nothing, or nearly nothing. Squat is often used in negative sentences for emphasis:  --He had a job that paid him squat.//  --You don’t know squat about it.//


Words: squatter
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who lives in an empty building or on a piece of land without permission and without paying rent//


Words: squaw
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Narragansett; Origin: squaws  ’woman’]//   old use a word for a Native American woman, now usually considered offensive//


Words: squawk
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 if a bird squawks, it makes a loud sharp angry sound:\n  2  informal to complain loudly and angrily:  -- squawk n  [C] //


Words: squeak
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 [I] to make a short high noise or cry that is not loud:  --A rat squeaked and ran into the bushes.//  --The door squeaked open.//\n  2 [I and T] to say something in a very high voice, especially because you are nervous or excited:  --’Too late!’ she squeaked.//\n  3 [I always + adverb/preposition]  informal to succeed, win, or pass a test by a very small amount so that you only just avoid failure:   scrape//  squeak through/by/past/in//  --She just squeaked through her math test.//\nsqueak 2 n [C] \n  1 a very short high noise or cry:   squeal//  squeak of//  --a squeak of alarm//  --the high-pitched squeak of a bat//\n  2  not a squeak:  if there is not a squeak from someone, they do not say anything or communicate at all//  --We didn’t hear a squeak from him in months.//


Words: squeaky
Meaning:
adj \n  1 making very high noises that are not loud:  --a squeaky voice//  --squeaky floorboards//\n  2  squeaky clean:   informal //  a) never having done anything morally wrong//  --politicians who are less than squeaky clean//  b) completely clean//  --squeaky clean hair//  -- squeakily adv //  -- squeakiness n  [U] //


Words: squeal
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 [I and T] to make a long loud high sound or cry:    scream//  squeal with/in//  --The children squealed with delight.//  --They drove off, tyres squealing.//  --’Let me go!’ she squealed.//\n  2 [I + on]  informal to tell the police or someone in authority about someone you know who has done something wrong:\nsqueal 2 n [C]   a long loud high sound or cry//    scream//  squeal of//  --She gave a squeal of laughter.//  --There was a squeal of brakes.//


Words: squeamish
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: escoymous]//\n  1 easily shocked or upset, or easily made to feel sick by seeing unpleasant things:\n  2  the squeamish [plural] people who are squeamish:  --His new novel is not for the squeamish .//  -- squeamishness n  [U] //


Words: squeegee
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from  squeege  ’to squeeze’ (18-19 centuries), from  squeeze]//  a tool with a thin rubber blade and a short handle, used for removing or spreading a liquid on a surface//


Words: Squeers
Meaning:
Wackford   a character in the book  Nicholas Nickelby (1838) by Charles  Dickens. He is the head teacher of a school called Dotheboys Hall, and he treats the children there very cruelly.//


Words: squeeze
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 press:\n   2 press out liquid:\n   3 small space:\n   4 squeeze your eyes shut:\n   5 just succeed:\n   6 limit money:  Phrasal verbs//   squeeze somebody/something → in//   squeeze something → out//   squeeze up//  ----------//  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: quease  ’to press, squeeze’ (15-17 centuries), from  Old English cwysan]//\n  1 PRESS:   [T] to press something firmly together with your fingers or hand//  --She smiled as he squeezed her hand.//  --He squeezed the trigger, but nothing happened.//\n  2 PRESS OUT LIQUID:   [T] to get liquid from something by pressing it//  --Squeeze the oranges.//  squeeze sth out//  --Try to squeeze a bit more out.//  squeeze sth on/onto sth//  --Squeeze a bit of lemon juice onto the fish.//\n  3 SMALL SPACE:   [I,T always + adverb/preposition] to try to make something fit into a space that is too small, or to try to get into such a space//   squash//  squeeze into//  --Five of us squeezed into the back seat.//  squeeze through/past//  --He had squeezed through a gap in the fence.//  squeeze sb/sth in//  --We could probably squeeze in a few more people.//\n  4  squeeze your eyes shut:  to close your eyes very tightly//\n  5 JUST SUCCEED:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to succeed, win, or pass a test by a very small amount so that you only just avoid failure//  --Greece just squeezed through into the next round.//\n  6 LIMIT MONEY:   [T] to strictly limit the amount of money that is available to a company or organization//  --The government is squeezing the railways’ investment budget.//  squeeze in [squeeze sb/sth → in] phr v//  to manage to do something although you are very busy//  --How do you manage to squeeze so much into one day?//  --I can squeeze you in at four o’clock.//  squeeze out [squeeze sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to do something so that someone or something is no longer included or able to continue:  --If budgets are cut, vital research may be squeezed out.//\n  2 to squeeze something wet in order to remove the liquid from it:  --Squeeze the cloth out first.//\n  3  squeeze sth out of sb:  to force someone to tell you something//  --See if you can squeeze more information out of them.//  squeeze up phr v//  to move close to the person next to you to make space for someone else//\nsqueeze 2 n [C] \n  1  a (tight) squeeze:  a situation in which there is only just enough room for things or people to fit somewhere//  --It’ll be a squeeze with six people in the car.//  2 an act of pressing something firmly with your fingers or hand//  --Marty gave her hand a little squeeze .//\n  3  squeeze of lemon/lime etc:  a small amount of juice obtained by squeezing a piece of fruit//\n  4 a situation in which wages, prices, borrowing money etc are strictly controlled or reduced:  squeeze on//  --cuts due to the squeeze on public sector spending//  --a credit squeeze//  --All manufacturers are feeling the squeeze  (=noticing the effects of a difficult financial situation) .//\n  5  put the squeeze on sb:   informal to try to persuade someone to do something//\n  6  sb’s (main) squeeze:   especially AmE  informal someone’s boyfriend or girlfriend//


Words: squelch
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 [I] to make a sucking sound by walking or moving in something soft and wet:  --My hair was dripping and my shoes squelched as I walked.//  squelch through/along/up//  --We squelched across the field.//\n  2 [T]  AmE to stop something from continuing to develop or spread:   squash//  --Her creativity had been squelched.//  -- squelch n  [C] //


Words: squib
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a small exploding firework:\n  2  literary a short amusing piece of writing that attacks someone:    damp squib at damp1 (2)//


Words: squid
Meaning:
n   plural  squid  or  squids  [C] //  a sea creature with a long soft body and ten arms around its mouth//


Words: squiggle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: squirm +  wriggle]//  a line with irregular curves//  --Shorthand just looks like a series of funny squiggles to me.//  -- squiggly adj //  --squiggly lines//


Words: squint
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: squint (of the eyes)  ’looking in different directions’ (16-21 centuries), from  asquint  ’across, obliquely’ (13-19 centuries)]//\n  1 to look at something with your eyes partly closed in order to see better:  --Anna squinted in the sudden bright sunlight.//  squint at//  --Stop squinting at the screen - put your glasses on.//\n  2 [not in progressive]  BrE to have each eye looking in a slightly different direction:\nsquint 2 n [singular] \n  1  especially BrE a condition of your eye muscles that makes each eye look in a slightly different direction:\n  2  have/take a squint at sth:   BrE  informal to look at something//


Words: squire
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: escuier, from  Late Latin scutarius, from  Latin scutum  ’shield’]//\n  1 [C] the man who in the past owned most of the land around a country village in England:\n  2 [C] a young man in the Middle Ages who learned how to be a knight by serving one:\n  3  BrE  old-fashioned  spoken used by some men to address a man when they do not know his name:


Words: squirm
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Perhaps copying the action]//\n  1 to twist your body from side to side because you are uncomfortable or nervous, or to get free from something which is holding you:   wriggle//  --Christine squirmed uncomfortably in her chair.//  --The boy tried to squirm free.//\n  2 to feel very embarrassed or ashamed:  squirm with//  --He made me squirm with embarrassment.//  -- squirm n  [singular] //


Words: squirrel
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: esquirel, from  Latin sciurus, from  Greek skiouros, from  skia  ’shadow’ +  oura  ’tail’]//  a small animal with a long furry tail that climbs trees and eats nuts//\nsquirrel 2 v   past tense and past participle  squirrelled present participle  squirrelling  BrE //  past tense and past participle  squirreled present participle  squirreling  AmE //  squirrel away [squirrel sth → away] phr v//  to keep something in a safe place to use later//   stash away//  --By December I had $300 squirreled away.//


Words: squirrely
Meaning:
squirrelly/skw[hA366]r[hA353]li $ skw[hA362][hA359]-/ adj  AmE  informal   not able to stay still//   restless//  --squirrely kids//


Words: squirt
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  From the sound of something being squirted]//\n  1 [I and T] if you squirt liquid or if it squirts somewhere, it is forced out in a thin fast stream:    spray//  squirt out/from/into//  --Water suddenly squirted out from a hole in the pipe.//  squirt sth into/through sth//  --Squirt some oil in the lock.//\n  2 [T] to hit or cover someone or something with a thin fast stream of liquid:    spray//  squirt sb/sth with sth//  --Mom! Chad’s squirting me with the hose!//  --Some kids squirted a water pistol in her face.//\nsquirt 2 n [C] \n  1 a fast thin stream of liquid:  squirt of//  --a squirt of water//\n  2  spoken an insulting word for a short person, especially someone who is annoying you:


Words: squish
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: squash]//\n  1 [I always + adverb/preposition] to make a soft sucking sound by moving in or through something soft and wet:\n  2 [I and T]  informal to squash something, especially something soft and wet, or to become squashed:


Words: Sr
Meaning:
BrE Sr.  AmE \n  1 the written abbreviation of senior :  --Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.//\n  2 the written abbreviation of se[hA172]or :  --Sr Lopez//\n  3 the written abbreviation of Sister , used in front of the name of a nun:  --Sr Bernadette//


Words: Sri Lanka
Meaning:
a country in southern Asia, which is an island in the Indian Ocean, southeast of India. Population: 19,409,000 (2001). Capital: Colombo. Sri Lanka was formerly called Ceylon, and it was ruled by Britain from 1798 to 1948. About 70% of the population are Sinhalese, who are mostly Buddhists. The other main group are the Tamils, who are mostly Hindus, and many of them want to become independent from Sri Lanka.//  -- Sri Lankan n  adj //


Words: SS
Meaning:
BrE  also  S.S. AmE  \n  1 the abbreviation of steamship :  --aboard the SS Great Britain//\n  2  BrE the written abbreviation of saints :  --statues of SS Augustine and Thomas//


Words: ssh
Meaning:
S3   interjection   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Natural sound]//  used to ask people to be quiet//   shush//  --Ssh! You’ll wake everybody up.//


Words: SSI
Meaning:
Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled a system of monthly payments made by the US government to adults over 65 who do not have much money, or to people of any age who are blind or  disabled//


Words: St
Meaning:
BrE  St. AmE \n  1 the written abbreviation of Street , used in addresses:  --Wall St.//\n  2 the written abbreviation of saint :  --St Luke’s Gospel//


Words: St Bernard
Meaning:
n [C]   a large strong dog that in the past was trained to help find people who were lost in the snow//


Words: St Helens
Meaning:
Mount   a  volcano in Washington State in the northwestern US, which  erupted in 1980 after a quiet period of over a hundred years, sending out  ash (=powder produced when something has been burnt)  and  lava (=hot liquid rock)  over a wide area. The large amount of ash in the air affected the weather in many northern parts of the world for some time.//


Words: St Ives
Meaning:
a small town on the coast of Cornwall in southwest England, popular with tourists and also a centre for water sports and painters//


Words: St John Ambulance
Meaning:
also  St John’s Ambulance   a British organization whose unpaid members are trained to give  first aid to anyone who is hurt or becomes ill. They often attend sports and other public events.//


Words: St Katharine’s Dock
Meaning:
a  dock on the River Thames near the Tower of London, where ships used to be loaded and unloaded. It is now a centre for sailing boats.//


Words: St Kilda
Meaning:
a rocky island in the Atlantic Ocean, west of Scotland. People used to live there, but the last people left in 1930. It is now a  nature reserve, with many interesting birds.//


Words: St Kitts-Nevis
Meaning:
a country in the east Caribbean Sea, officially called St Christopher Nevis, and consisting of three islands: St Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla. Population: 38,756 (2001). Capital: Basseterre.//


Words: St Lawrence River
Meaning:
the St Lawrence River//  a North American river which flows from Lake Ontario to the Gulf of St Lawrence and forms part of the border between the US and Canada//


Words: St Lawrence Seaway
Meaning:
the St Lawrence Seaway//  a  waterway in North America through the St Lawrence River and all the Great Lakes, which can be used by large ships. It was built by the US and Canada by digging passages out of the ground to connect the river and the lakes, and was opened in 1959.//


Words: St Leger
Meaning:
the   a well-known British horse race run in September at Doncaster. It is for three-year-old horses and was established in 1776.//


Words: St Louis
Meaning:
a city in the state of Missouri in the eastern central US, which is a port and an industrial centre. It is also famous for its  jazz and  blues music, and for the  Gateway Arch, a very large  arch built in the 1960s.//


Words: St Lucia
Meaning:
a country in the east Caribbean Sea, one of the Windward Islands, south of Martinique. Population: 158,178 (2001). Capital: Castries.//  -- St Lucian n  adj //


Words: St Martin-in-the-Fields
Meaning:
a church in London which has a small  orchestra that performs concerts there. It is also an important centre for helping people who do not have homes.//


Words: St Pancras
Meaning:
a railway station in London, next to  King’s Cross, famous for the impressive  gothic style of its buildings//


Words: St Paul
Meaning:
the capital city of the US state of Minnesota and an important industrial and business centre. It is a port on one side of the  Mississippi River, with  Minneapolis on the other side. Together, they are known as the  Twin Cities.//


Words: St Petersburg
Meaning:
a city on the Baltic Sea which was the capital of Russia from 1712 to 1918. It was called Petrograd from 1914 to 1924, then Leningrad until 1991, and then after the end of the  Soviet Union, it was given back its original name. Russia’s most famous  museum, the Hermitage, is there.//


Words: St Trinian’s
Meaning:
an imaginary British private school for girls in humorous  cartoon stories of the 1950s and later in a number of humorous films. The girls are very badly behaved and the teachers cannot control them, and they have many amusing and exciting adventures, often involving illegal activities.//


Words: St Tropez
Meaning:
a fashionable holiday town on the south coast of France, which used to be very popular with rich and famous people. It became famous in the 1960s for being one of the first holiday towns to allow women on the beach to wear nothing on their breasts. //


Words: St Vincent
Meaning:
a country in the east Caribbean Sea consisting of a main island called St Vincent, and some smaller islands called the Grenadines. Population: 115,942 (2001). Capital: Kingstown.//


Words: stab
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  stabbed present participle  stabbing //\n  1 [T] to push a knife into someone or something:    stabbing//  --He was stabbed to death in a fight.//  stab sb in the heart/arm etc //  --She had been stabbed in the chest repeatedly.//\n  2 [I and T] to make quick pushing movements with your finger or something pointed:   jab//  --He raised his voice and stabbed the air with his pen.//\n  3  stab sb in the back:  to do something that harms someone who likes and trusts you//   betray//\nstab 2 n [C] \n  1 an act of stabbing or trying to stab someone with a knife:  --severe stab wounds//  --a stab victim//  --He killed him with a stab to the heart.//\n  2  stab of fear/disappointment/pain etc:  a sudden sharp feeling of pain or a strong emotion//  --He felt a stab of guilt.//\n  3  stab at (doing) sth:   informal an attempt to do something, often not successfully//  have/make/take a stab at (doing) sth //  --I’ll have one more stab at it.//\n  4  stab in the back:  when someone you thought was a friend tries to harm you//


Words: stabbing
Meaning:
adj   a stabbing pain is sharp and sudden//\nstabbing 2 n [C]   a crime in which someone is stabbed//  --a fatal stabbing//


Words: stability
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the condition of being steady and not changing:  → instability//    stable//  --a period of relative stability//  stability of//  --It could threaten the peace and stability of the region.//\n  2  technical the ability of a substance to stay in the same state:


Words: stabilize
Meaning:
also  stabilise BrE   v [I and T]   to become firm, steady, or unchanging, or to make something firm or steady//    stable//  --The patient’s condition has now stabilized.//  --an attempt to stabilize the economy//  -- stabilization/ste[hA366]b[hA369]la[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -l[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: stabilizer
Meaning:
also  stabiliser BrE   n [C] \n  1 a chemical that helps something such as a food to stay in the same state, for example to prevent it from separating into different liquids:\n  2 a piece of equipment that helps make something such as a plane or ship steady:\n  3 [usually plural]  BrE one of a pair of small wheels that are fastened to the back wheel of a child’s bicycle to prevent it from falling over:


Words: stable
Meaning:
W3   adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: estable, from  Latin stabilis, from  stare  ’to stand’]//\n  1 steady and not likely to move or change:  → unstable//    stability//  --A wide base will make the structure much more stable.//  in a stable condition  BrE //  /in stable condition  AmE //  --He is said to be in a stable condition in hospital.//  --Children like a stable environment.//\n  2 calm, reasonable, and not easy to upset:  → unstable//  --He was clearly not a very stable person.//\n  3  technical a stable substance tends to stay in the same chemical or atomic state:  → unstable//  -- stably adv //\nstable 2 n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: estable, from  Latin stabulum, from  stare;   STABLE1]//\n  1 a building where horses are kept:\n  2  stables [plural] a place where horses are kept and that often gives riding lessons:\n  3 a group of racing horses that has one owner or trainer:\n  4 a group of people working for the same company or with the same trainer:  --actors from the same Hollywood stable//\n  5  shut/close the stable door after the horse has bolted:   BrE to try to prevent something when it is too late and harm has already been done//\nstable 3 v [T]   to put or keep a horse in a stable//


Words: stablemate
Meaning:
n [C]   sb’s/sth’s stablemate//  something produced by the same company, or someone who works for the same company//  --the Daily Mirror’s Scottish stablemate, the Daily Record//


Words: staccato
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: ’separated’]//  if music is played staccato, the notes are cut short//  -- staccato adj //


Words: stack
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old Norse; Origin: stakkr]//\n  1 [C] a neat pile of things:    heap//  stack of//  --a stack of papers//  --stacks of dirty dishes//\n  2  a stack of sth/stacks of sth:   informal  especially BrE a large amount of something//  --He’s got stacks of money.//\n  3 [C] a chimney:\n  4  the stacks [plural] the rows of shelves in a library where the books are kept:    blow your top/stack at blow1 (16)//\nstack 2 v \n  1  also stack up :   [I and T] to make things into a neat pile, or to form a neat pile//  --The assistants price the items and stack them on the shelves.//  --a stacking hi-fi system//\n  2 [T usually passive] to put neat piles of things on something:  --He went back to stacking the shelves.//  be stacked with sth//  --The floor was stacked with boxes.//\n  3  the odds/cards are stacked against sb:  used to say that someone is unlikely to be successful//\n  4  stack the cards:   BrE stack the deck  AmE  informal to arrange cards dishonestly in a game//  stack up phr v//\n  1  stack sth → up:  to make things into a neat pile//\n  2  informal used to talk about how good something is compared with something else:  stack up against//  --Parents want to know how their kids’ schools stack up against others.//\n  3 if a number of things stack up, they gradually collect or get stuck in one place:  --Traffic stacked up behind the bus.//


Words: stadium
Meaning:
n   plural  stadiums  or  stadia /-di[hA353]/ [C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek stadion  ’unit of length, racetrack’]//  a building for public events, especially sports and large rock music concerts, consisting of a playing field surrounded by rows of seats//  --the new Olympic Stadium//


Words: staff
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 workers:\n   2 stick:\n   3 music:\n   4 the staff of life:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: st[zB024]f  ’stick’]//\n  1 WORKERS:   [C also + plural verb British English] the people who work for an organization//  --The entire staff has done an outstanding job this year.//  --They employ a total of 150 staff.//  --The staff were very helpful.//  staff of 10/50 etc //  --Our department has a staff of seven.//  medical/academic/library etc staff //  --a strike by ambulance staff//  --one of our longest-serving staff members //  member of staff  BrE //  --I’d like to welcome a new member of staff.//  on the staff (of sth)//  --We were both on the staff of the British Film Institute at the time.//  on staff//   AmE //  --Joan is the only lawyer we have on staff.//  staff room/meeting (=a room or meeting for teachers in a school) //\n  2 STICK:   [C] //  plural  staves /ste[hA366]vz///  a)  old use a long thick stick to help you walk//  b) a long thick stick that an official holds in some ceremonies//\n  3 MUSIC:   [C]  especially AmE the set of five lines that music is written on//   stave//\n  4  the staff of life:   literary bread//    general staff,  ground staff//  ----------//  GRAMMAR //  In British English,  staff  can be singular or plural. //  In American English,  staff  is not used as frequently as in British English, and is never followed by a plural verb. //  !!  You never refer to a person as ’a staff’. Say  a member of staff  (BrE) or  an employee  . //  ----------//\nstaff 2 v [T usually passive]   to be or provide the workers for an organization//    overstaffed, understaffed//  --The centre is staffed mainly by volunteers.//  -- staffing n  [U] //  --staffing levels//


Words: staff sergeant
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a lower rank in the army or the US Air Force or Marines, or someone who has this rank//


Words: stag
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: stagga]//\n  1 a fully grown male deer:  American Equivalent:  buck//\n  2  go stag:   AmE  informal if a man goes stag, he goes to a party without a woman//    stag night,  stag party//


Words: stag night
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a night before a man’s wedding, which he spends with his male friends, drinking or having a party//


Words: stage
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 time/state:\n   2 part of process:\n   3 theatre:\n   4 acting:\n   5 centre stage:\n   6 place:\n   7 set the stage for something:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: estage, from  Vulgar Latin staticum, from  Latin stare  ’to stand’]//\n  1 TIME/STATE:   [C] a particular time or state that something reaches as it grows or develops//    phase, step//  stage of/in//  -- the early stages of a child’s development//  --during the later stages of the war//  --They’ve just reached the halfway stage of the project.//  --It’s a good move at this stage in his career.//  --at a crucial stage in the race//  --We’re getting to the stage where we hardly ever go out together.//  --All children go through an awkward stage at some time.//  --This treaty marks an important stage in our two countries’ relationship.//  --Let us take the discussion a stage further .//  -- At one stage , it seemed like she was ready to agree.//  --We can’t change the design at this late stage .//\n  2 PART OF PROCESS:   [C] one of the parts which something such as a competition or process is divided into//  stage of//  --The team reached the semi-final stage of the competition.//  stage 2/6 etc //  --We’re now reaching the end of stage 3 of the construction.//  --The next stage is to complete an application form.//  in stages//  --The rest of the money will be paid in stages (=a small amount at a time) .//\n  3 THEATRE:   [C] the raised area in a theatre which actors or singers stand on when they perform//    backstage//  on stage//  --She is on stage for most of the play.//  --She appeared on stage with George Michael.//\n  4 ACTING:   the stage//  acting as a profession, especially in theatres//  --I wanted to go on the stage  (=become an actor) .//  --stars of stage and screen  (=theatre and cinema) //\n  5  centre stage:  if someone or something is centre stage, it has everyone’s attention, or is very important//  --Anne’s sculpture took centre stage at the show.//  --The UN has moved to the centre stage of world politics.//\n  6 PLACE:   [singular] a place or area of activity where something important happens//  on the world/international/political etc stage //  --He’s an experienced campaigner on the world stage.//  --important figures on the European political stage//  stage for//  --Geneva has been the stage for many such conferences.//\n  7  set the stage for sth:  to prepare for something or make something possible//  --Will this agreement merely set the stage for another war?//    landing stage//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  the early/initial stages (of something) //  the later/final stages (of something) //  the halfway stage (of something) //  critical/crucial/important stage (of/in something) //  new stage (of/in something) //  reach/get to a stage //  go through a stage (of something) //  mark a stage (in something) //  go/take something/carry something a stage further //  at one stage (=at a time in the past) //  at some stage/at a later stage (=at a time in the future) //  at this stage (=now) //  at this late stage //  ----------//\nstage 2 v [T] \n  1 to organize a public event:  stage a strike/demonstration/sit-in etc //  --Activists staged a protest outside the parliament.//  --exhibitions staged in Paris//  --The candidates’ public appearances were carefully staged  (=not natural) .//\n  2  stage a comeback/recovery etc:  to start doing something again or being successful, after you had stopped or not been successful for some time//  --He staged an amazing comeback.//


Words: stage fright
Meaning:
n [U]   nervousness felt by someone who is going to perform in front of a lot of people//  --Den suffered terribly from stage fright .//  --an attack of stage fright//


Words: stage left
Meaning:
adv   on the left side of a theatre stage from the view of an actor facing the people in the audience//  --He entered stage left.//


Words: stage manager
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who is in charge of the technical parts of organizing a performance of a play, such as the lighting, scenery etc//


Words: stage right
Meaning:
adv   on the right side of a theatre stage from the view of an actor facing the people in the audience//  --She had to exit stage right.//


Words: stage whisper
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a loud whisper used by an actor in a play which the other actors on the stage seem not to hear:\n  2 a loud whisper that is intended to be heard by everyone:


Words: stage-manage
Meaning:
v [T]   to organize a public event, such as a meeting, in a way that will give you the result that you want - often used to show disapproval//  --The press conference was cleverly stage-managed.//


Words: stagecoach
Meaning:
n [C]   a vehicle pulled by horses that was used in past times for carrying passengers and letters//


Words: stagehand
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who works on a theatre stage, getting it ready for a play or for the next part of a play//


Words: stagflation
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: stagnation +  inflation]//  an economic situation in which there is inflation (=a continuing rise in prices)  but many people do not have jobs and businesses are not doing well//


Words: stagger
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: stacker  ’to stagger’ (13-19 centuries), from  Old Norse stakra, from  staka  ’to push’]//\n  1 [I always + adverb/preposition] to walk or move unsteadily, almost falling over:   stumble//  --He managed to stagger home.//  --She staggered back a step.//  --The old man staggered drunkenly to his feet.//\n  2 [T] to make someone feel very surprised or shocked:   amaze//  --What staggered us was the sheer size of her salary.//\n  3 [I]  also stagger on :  to continue doing something when you seem to be going to fail and you do not know what will happen//  --He staggered on for another two years.//  stagger from sth to sth//  --The company staggered from one crisis to the next.//\n  4 [T] to arrange people’s working hours, holidays etc so that they do not all begin and end at the same time:  --Jim and his wife stagger their work hours so one of them can be at home with the kids.//\n  5 [T] to start a race with each runner at a different place on a curved track:\nstagger 2 n [C usually singular]   an unsteady movement of someone who is having difficulty in walking//


Words: staggered
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   extremely surprised//   amazed//  --I was absolutely staggered when I saw the bill.//  staggered at/by//  --She was staggered by the directness of his question.//


Words: staggering
Meaning:
adj   extremely great or surprising//   amazing//  --The cost was a staggering $10 million.//  --The financial impact on the town was staggering.//  -- staggeringly adv //  --a staggeringly beautiful landscape//


Words: staging
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] when a play is performed on stage:  --a modern-dress staging of ’Hamlet’//\n  2 [U] a flat raised surface that is put up for a short time for people to stand and work on:


Words: staging area
Meaning:
n [C]   a place where soldiers meet and where military equipment is gathered before it is moved to another place//


Words: staging post
Meaning:
n [C]   a place where people, planes, ships etc stop on a long journey, for example to rest or get supplies//  --a staging post on the flight from Australia//


Words: stagnant
Meaning:
adj \n  1 stagnant water or air does not move or flow and often smells bad:  --a stagnant pond//\n  2 not changing or making progress, and continuing to be in a bad condition:  --a government plan to revive the stagnant economy//


Words: stagnate
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  stagnare, from  stagnum  ’area of water that is not flowing’]//  to stop developing or making progress//  --Growth is expected to stagnate next year.//  --His career had stagnated.//  -- stagnation/st[zB024]gne[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //  --economic stagnation//


Words: stagy
Meaning:
stagey/ste[hA366]d[hA360]i/ adj   behaviour that is stagy is not natural and is like the way an actor behaves on a stage//  --a very stagy manner//  -- stagily adv //


Words: staid
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  From the past participle of  stay]//  serious, old-fashioned, and boring//  --a staid old bachelor//


Words: stain
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Partly from  Old French desteindre  ’to discolor’, from  teindre  ’to give something a different color’, from  Latin tingere (  TINGE2); partly from  Old Norse steina  ’to paint’]//\n  1 [I and T] to accidentally make a mark on something, especially one that cannot be removed, or to be marked in this way:  --Be careful you don’t stain the carpet.//  --This tablecloth stains very easily.//  --Her fingers were stained yellow from years of smoking.//  stain with//  --a cowboy hat stained with dust and sweat//\n  2 [T] to change the colour of something, especially something made of wood, by using a special liquid:    dye//  --We’ve decided to stain the shelves blue.//\n  3  stain sb’s name/honour/reputation etc:   literary to damage the good opinion that people have about someone//\nstain 2 n \n  1 [C] a mark that is difficult to remove, especially one made by a liquid such as blood, coffee, or ink:  stain on//  --There was a dark red stain on the carpet.//  remove/get rid of a stain //  --White vinegar is great for removing stains.//  wine/coffee/blood etc stain //  --How do you get wine stains out of a tablecloth?//  stubborn stains (=ones that are very difficult to remove) //\n  2 [U and C] a special liquid that you use to change the colour of something, especially wood:    dye//\n  3  stain on sb’s character/name/reputation etc:  something that damages the good opinion that people have about someone//


Words: stained glass
Meaning:
n [U]   glass of different colours used for making pictures and patterns in windows, especially in a church//  --stained glass windows//


Words: stair
Meaning:
W3S2   n   banister, stair, step//  [Language: Old English; Origin: st[zB024]ger]//\n  1  stairs [plural] a set of steps built for going from one level of a building to another:    upstairs, downstairs//  up/down the stairs//  --Jerry ran up the stairs.//  the top/head of the stairs //  --I left my briefcase at the top of the stairs.//  the bottom/foot of the stairs //  --’Lisa,’ he cried from the foot of the stairs.//  --We walked up four flights of stairs  (=sets of stairs) .//\n  2 [C] one of the steps in a set of stairs:  --Lucy sat down on the bottom stair.//\n  3 [singular]  literary a staircase:\n  4  below stairs:   BrE  old-fashioned in the servants’ part of a large house, in the past//


Words: staircase
Meaning:
n [C]   banister, stair, step//  a set of stairs inside a building with its supports and the side parts that you hold on to//


Words: stake
Meaning:
W3   n   ----------//\n   1 at stake:\n   2 company/business:\n   3 have a stake in something:\n   4 money risked:\n   5 high stakes:\n   6 pointed stick:\n   7 the stake:\n   8 in the popularity/fashion etc stakes:\n   9 (be prepared to) go to the stake for/over something:\n  10 pull up stakes:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: staca  ’sharp post’]//\n  1  at stake:  if something that you value very much is at stake, you will lose it if a plan or action is not successful//  --They have to win the contract - thousands of jobs are at stake.//  --National pride is at stake in next week’s game against England.//\n  2 COMPANY/BUSINESS:   [C] if you have a stake in a business, you have invested money in it//  hold/have a stake in sth //  --He holds a 51% stake in the firm.//\n  3  have a stake in sth:  if you have a stake in something, you will get advantages if it is successful, and you feel that you have an important connection with it//  --Young people don’t feel they have a stake in the country’s future.//\n  4 MONEY RISKED:   [C] money that you risk as the result of a horse race, card game etc//  --For a dollar stake, you can win up to $1,000,000.//\n  5  high stakes:  a) if the stakes are high when you are trying to do something, you risk losing a lot or it will be dangerous if you fail//  --Climbing is a dangerous sport and the stakes are high .//  b) if the stakes are high when you are doing something such as playing a card game, you risk losing a lot of money//  --We’re playing for high stakes here.//\n  6 POINTED STICK:   [C] a pointed piece of wood, metal etc, especially one that is pushed into the ground to support something or mark a particular place//  --tent stakes//  -- Drive two stakes into the ground about three feet apart.//\n  7  the stake:  a post to which a person was tied in former times before being killed by burning//  --Suspected witches were burnt at the stake .//\n  8  in the popularity/fashion etc stakes:  used when saying how popular, fashionable etc someone or something is//  --Ben wouldn’t score very highly in the popularity stakes.//\n  9  (be prepared to) go to the stake for/over sth:   BrE to be willing to do anything to protect or defend an idea, or belief//  --That’s my opinion, but I wouldn’t go to the stake for it.//\n  10  pull up stakes:   also up stakes  BrE  informal to leave your job or home//  --We’re going to pull up stakes and move to Montana.//\nstake 2 v [T] \n  1 to risk losing something that is valuable or important to you on the result of something:  stake sth on sb/sth//  --Kevin is staking his reputation on the success of the project.//  --Jim staked his whole fortune on one card game.//\n  2  I’d stake my life on it:   spoken used when saying that you are completely sure that something is true, or that something will happen//  --I’m sure that’s Jesse - I’d stake my life on it.//\n  3  also stake up :  to support something with stakes//  --Young trees have to be staked.//\n  4  also stake off :  to mark or enclose an area of ground with stakes//  --A corner of the field has been staked off.//\n  5  stake (out) a claim:  to say publicly that you think you have a right to have or own something//  stake (out) a claim to//  --Both countries staked a claim to the islands.//  stake out [stake sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to watch a place secretly and continuously:    stakeout//  --Police officers have been staking out the warehouse for weeks.//\n  2 to mark or control a particular area so that you can have it or use it:  --We went to the show early to stake out a good spot.//\n  3 to state your opinions about something in a way that shows how your ideas are clearly separate from other people’s ideas:  --Johnson staked out the differences between himself and the other candidates.//


Words: stakeholder
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who has invested money into something, or who has some important connection with it, and therefore is affected by its success or failure:  stakeholder in//  --Citizens should be stakeholders in the society they live in.//\n  2  law someone, usually a lawyer, who takes charge of a property during a quarrel or a sale:\n  3 someone chosen to hold the money that is risked by people on a race, competition etc and to give all of it to the winner:


Words: stakeholder economy
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   an economic system in a society that citizens feel they receive advantages from and have responsibilities to//


Words: stakeout
Meaning:
n [C]   when the police watch a place secretly and continuously in order to catch someone who is doing something illegal//


Words: stalactite
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: stalactites, from  Greek stalaktos  ’falling in drops’]//  a sharp pointed object hanging down from the roof of a cave, which is formed gradually by water that contains minerals as it drops slowly from the roof//    stalagmite//


Words: stalagmite
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: stalagmites, from  Greek stalagma  ’drop’ or   stalagmos  ’falling in drops’]//  a sharp pointed object coming up from the floor of a cave, formed by drops from a stalactite//


Words: stale
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  Probably from  Old French estale  ’standing still, settled’, from  estal  ’standing place’]//\n  1 bread or cake that is stale is no longer fresh or good to eat:  → fresh//  --French bread goes stale  (=becomes stale) very quickly.//  --stale cake//\n  2 air that is stale is not fresh or pleasant:  → fresh//  --the smell of stale smoke//\n  3 not interesting or exciting any more:  --stale jokes//  --Other marriages might go stale , but not theirs.//\n  4 if you get stale, you have no new ideas, interest, or energy, because you have been doing the same thing for too long:  --If you stay in the job for more than 10 years, you get stale .//  --He was becoming stale and running out of ideas.//  -- staleness n  [U] //


Words: stalemate
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: stale  ’stalemate’ (15-18 centuries) (from  Old French estal;   STALE) +  mate (  MATE23)]//\n  1 a situation in which it seems impossible to settle an argument or disagreement, and neither side can get an advantage:   deadlock//  --an attempt to break the stalemate //  --The discussions with the miners’ union ended in stalemate .//\n  2 a position in chess in which neither player can win:  -- stalemate v  [T] //


Words: Stalin
Meaning:
Joseph   (1879-1953) a Russian politician, born in Georgia, who was leader of the former Soviet Union from the death of  Lenin (1924) until his own death. Stalin was responsible for developing farming and industry in his country, and for successfully leading it in the war against Germany (1941-45), but most people now remember his great cruelty. Thousands of political opponents were killed or sent to prisons in Siberia, and Stalin’s secret police made ordinary people live in fear.//


Words: Stalingrad
Meaning:
the old name for the city of Volgograd in the former  Soviet Union, on the River Volga. The city was almost destroyed in the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942-43 and many Russians were killed, when the German army tried unsuccessfully to take control of it.//


Words: Stalinism
Meaning:
n [U]   the political system and methods used by Joseph  Stalin when he was the leader of the former Soviet Union, or any similar political system. The main features of Stalinism were that all plans and policies were made by Stalin himself and a small group of followers, the Communist Party was the only party allowed, and violence and fear were used to prevent any opposition. //  -- Stalinist adj //


Words: stalk
Meaning:
n [C]   leaf, petal, stem, stalk//  [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from  stale  ’step of a ladder, long handle’ (11-19 centuries), from  Old English stalu]//\n  1 a long narrow part of a plant that supports leaves, fruits, or flowers:  --celery stalks//\n  2 a thin upright object:\n  3  sb’s eyes are out on stalks:   BrE  informal if your eyes are out on stalks, you are very surprised or shocked//\nstalk 2 v   [Language: Old English; Origin: bestealcian]//\n  1 [T] to follow a person or animal quietly in order to catch and attack or kill them:    shadow//  --a tiger stalking its prey//  --We know the rapist stalks his victims at night.//\n  2 [T] to follow and watch someone over a long period of time in a way that is very annoying or threatening, and that is considered a crime in some places:  --She was stalked by an obsessed fan.//\n  3 [I always + adverb/preposition] to walk in a proud or angry way, with long steps:  stalk out/off/away//  --Yvonne turned and stalked out of the room in disgust.//\n  4 [T]  literary if something bad stalks a place, you see or feel it everywhere in that place:  --Fear stalks every dark stairwell and walkway.//


Words: stalker
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who follows and watches another person over a period of time in a way that is very annoying or threatening//


Words: stalking
Meaning:
n [U]   the crime of following and watching someone over a period of time in a way that is very annoying or threatening//


Words: stalking horse
Meaning:
n [C]   someone or something that hides someone’s true purpose, especially a politician who says they want their leader’s job when the real plan is that another, more important politician should get it//


Words: stall
Meaning:
S2   n   [Sense: 1-2, 4-6; Origin: Old English steall]//  [Sense: 3; Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  STALL2]//\n  1 [C] a table or a small shop with an open front, especially outdoors, where goods are sold:  --a market stall//\n  2 [C] an enclosed area in a building for an animal such as a horse or cow:\n  3 [C usually singular] if a plane goes into a stall, its engine stops working:\n  4 [C usually plural] a seat in a row of fixed seats for priests and singers in some larger churches:  --choir stalls//\n  5  bathroom/toilet/shower stall:  a small enclosed private area for washing or using the toilet//\n  6  the stalls:   BrE the seats on the main level of a theatre or cinema//  --a good seat in the front row of the stalls//\nstall 2 v   [Sense: 1,4; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: stall  ’to put in a stall’ (14-20 centuries), from   STALL1]//  [Sense: 2-3; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: stale  ’something that leads people from the correct way’ (15-19 centuries), from  Anglo-French estale  ’something set up’]//\n  1 [I and T] if an engine or vehicle stalls, or if you stall it, it stops because there is not enough power or speed to keep it going:  --The car kept stalling.//  --An inexperienced pilot may easily stall a plane.//\n  2 [I]  informal to deliberately delay because you are not ready to do something, answer questions etc:  -- Quit stalling and answer my question!//  --He was just stalling for time .//\n  3 [T]  informal to make someone wait or stop something from happening until you are ready:  --Maybe we can stall the sale until the prices go up.//  --We’ve got to stall him somehow.//\n  4 [I] to stop making progress or developing:  --The peace process remained stalled.//  --While his career has stalled, hers has taken off.//


Words: stallion
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: estalon]//  a male horse that is fully grown, especially one that is used for breeding//    mare//


Words: Stallone
Meaning:
Sylvester   (1946- ) a US film actor, famous for appearing as strong men who are good at fighting, such as the characters of  Rocky, a  boxer, and  Rambo, a US soldier//


Words: stalwart
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who is very loyal to a particular organization or set of ideas, and works hard for them//  --old party stalwarts//  stalwart of//  --Rob’s a stalwart of the school’s chess club.//\nstalwart 2 adj   [Language: Old English; Origin: st[zB024]lwierthe  ’useful, strong’, probably from  st[zB024]l  ’place’ +  wierthe  ’worth’]//\n  1  stalwart supporter/ally etc:  a very loyal and strong supporter etc//\n  2  formal strong in appearance:  -- stalwartly adv //


Words: stamen
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ’thread’]//   technical the male part of a flower that produces pollen//


Words: Stamford Bridge
Meaning:
1 a village in northern England where the English King  Harold won a battle against the King of Norway, a short time before he was killed at the Battle of  Hastings in 1066:\n  2 the football ground of Chelsea Football Club in West London:


Words: stamina
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: , plural of  stamen  ’thread, thread of life’;   STAMEN]//  physical or mental strength that lets you continue doing something for a long time without getting tired//  --You need stamina to be a long-distance runner.//  --Elaine has the stamina and the determination to succeed.//


Words: stammer
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Language: Old English; Origin: stamerian]//  to speak with a lot of pauses and repeated sounds, either because you have a speech problem, or because you are nervous, excited etc//   stutter//  --Whenever he was angry he would begin to stammer slightly.//  --Ben stammered out an apology.//  -- stammerer n  [C] //\nstammer 2 n [C usually singular]   a speech problem which makes someone speak with a lot of pauses and repeated sounds//   stutter//  --Jeff spoke with a slight stammer.//


Words: stamp
Meaning:
S2   n [C]   ----------//\n   1 mail:\n   2 printed mark:\n   3 the stamp of something:\n   4 payment:\n   5 tax:\n   6 of ... stamp:\n   7 with foot:  ----------//\n  1 MAIL:   also postage stamp //   formal a small piece of paper that you buy and stick onto an envelope or package before posting it//  --a 29-cent stamp//  --Richard collects stamps.//  --a second-class stamp//  ink pad, stamp//\n  2 PRINTED MARK:  a tool for pressing or printing a mark or pattern onto a surface, or the mark made by this tool//  --a date stamp//  --a passport stamp//\n  3  the stamp of sth:  if something has the stamp of a particular quality, it clearly has that quality//  --The speech bore  (=had)  the stamp of authority.//\n  4 PAYMENT:   BrE a small piece of paper that is worth a particular amount of money and is bought and collected for something over a period of time//  --television licence stamps//\n  5 TAX:   BrE a piece of paper for sticking to some official papers to show that British tax has been paid//\n  6  of ... stamp:   formal someone with a particular kind of character//  --He’s clearly of a very different stamp.//\n  7 WITH FOOT:  an act of stamping, especially with your foot//  --an angry stamp//    food stamp//\nstamp 2 v   ----------//\n   1 put foot down:\n   2 walk noisily:\n   3 make a mark:\n   4 affect somebody/something:\n   5 mail:  Phrasal verbs//   stamp somebody as something//   stamp on somebody/something//   stamp something → out//  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Origin:  Probably from an unrecorded  Old English stampian  ’to crush’]//\n  1 PUT FOOT DOWN:   [I and T] to put your foot down onto the ground loudly and with a lot of force//  --The audience stamped and shouted.//  --’I will not!’ Bert yelled and stamped his foot  (=because he was angry) .//  --She stood at the bus stop stamping her feet  (=because she was cold) .//  stamp on sb/sth//   (=try to hurt or kill someone or something, by putting your foot down onto them) //  --Marta shrieked and started stamping on the cockroach.//\n  2 WALK NOISILY:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to walk somewhere in a noisy way by putting your feet down hard onto the ground because you are angry//   stomp//  stamp around/out of/off etc//  --My mother stamped off down the stairs.//\n  3 MAKE A MARK:   [T] to put a pattern, sign, or letters on something using a special tool//  --The woman at the desk stamped my passport.//  --Among the papers was a brown folder stamped ’SECRET’.//  stamp sth on sth//  --Stamp the date on all the letters.//\n  4 AFFECT SOMEBODY/SOMETHING:   [T] to have an important or permanent effect on someone or something//  --The experience remained stamped on her memory for many years.//  stamp sb with sth//  --His army years had stamped him with an air of brisk authority.//\n  5 MAIL:   [T] to stick a stamp onto a letter, parcel etc//  stamp as [stamp sb as sth] phr v//  to show that someone has a particular type of character//  --It was his manners that stamped him as a real gentleman.//  stamp on / [stamp on sb/sth] phr v//  to use force or your authority to stop someone from doing something, or stop something from happening, especially in an unfair way//  --Officers were given orders to stamp on any hint of trouble.//  stamp out [stamp sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to prevent something bad from continuing:  --We aim to stamp out poverty in our lifetimes.//\n  2 to stop a fire from burning by stepping hard on the flames:\n  3 to make a shape or object by pressing hard on something using a machine or tool:


Words: Stamp Act
Meaning:
the   a British law made in 1765 which put a tax on Britain’s  colonies in North America. According to this law, various documents had to carry a stamp, which had to be paid for. This caused a lot of anger in the colonies, and opponents of the law used the phrase "No taxation without representation", meaning that it was unfair to make them pay taxes to Britain when they did not have any representatives in the British parliament. Although the tax was removed in 1766, the Stamp Act and the anger that it caused was one of the events that led to the American Revolutionary War.//


Words: stamp collecting
Meaning:
n [U]   the practice of collecting stamps from interest or because of their financial value//  -- stamp collector n  [C] //


Words: stamp duty
Meaning:
n [U]   a tax that must be paid in Britain on particular legal documents that have to be officially checked, especially when buying a house//


Words: stamped addressed envelope
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   SAE an envelope with your name, address and a stamp on it, which you send to a person or organization so that they can send you information//


Words: stampede
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: American Spanish; Origin: estampida, from  Spanish,  ’crash’, from  estampar  ’to stamp’]//\n  1 when a group of people all want to do the same thing at the same time:  --a stampede to buy shares in high-tech companies//\n  2 when a group of large animals or people suddenly start running in the same direction because they are frightened or excited:  --a cattle stampede//\nstampede 2 v [I and T] \n  1 if a group of large animals or people stampede, they suddenly start running together in the same direction because they are frightened or excited:  --a herd of stampeding buffalo//  --Children came stampeding out of the school doors.//\n  2  be/get stampeded:  to be made frightened or worried so that you do something too quickly, without thinking enough about it//  be/get stampeded into//  --Don’t get stampeded into any rash decisions.//


Words: stance
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: estance, from  Vulgar Latin stantia, from  Latin stare  ’to stand’]//\n  1 an opinion that is stated publicly:   stand//  stance on//  --What is your stance on environmental issues?//  stance against//  --a strong stance against abortion//  take/adopt a stance //  --The President has adopted a tough stance on terrorism.//\n  2 a position in which you stand, especially when playing a sport:  --a fighting stance//


Words: stanchion
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: estanchon, from  estance;   STANCE]//  a strong upright bar used to support something//


Words: stand
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  stood /st[hA35E]d///  ----------//\n   1 be on feet:\n   2 rise:\n   3 step:\n   4 in a particular position:\n   5 in a state/condition:\n   6 not like:\n   7 accept a situation:\n   8 be good enough:\n   9 stand to do something:\n  10 not move:\n  11 height:\n  12 level/amount:\n  13 rank/position:\n  14 election:\n  15 decision/offer:\n  16 if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen:\n  17 somebody/something could stand something:\n  18 I stand corrected:\n  19 where somebody stands:\n  20 from where I stand:\n  21 know where you stand (with somebody):\n  22 stand to attention:\n  23 stand on your head/hands:\n  24 stand in line:\n  25 stand firm/stand fast:\n  26 stand pat:\n  27 stand alone:\n  28 stand still:\n  29 stand a chance/hope (of doing something):\n  30 stand in somebody’s way:\n  31 stand on your own (two) feet:\n  32 it stands to reason (that):\n  33 stand or fall by/on something:\n  34 liquid:\n  35 stand guard (over somebody/something):\n  36 stand bail:\n  37 stand trial:\n  38 stand accused (of something):\n  39 stand tall:\n  40 somebody can do something standing on their head:\n  41 be stood on its head:\n  42 not stand on ceremony:\n  43 stand somebody a drink/meal etc:  Phrasal verbs//   stand against somebody/something//   stand around//   stand by//   stand down//   stand for something//   stand in//   stand out//   stand out against something//   stand over somebody//   stand to//   stand up//   stand up for somebody/something//   stand up to somebody/something//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: standan]//\n  1 BE ON FEET:   also be standing up //   [I] to support yourself on your feet or be in an upright position//  --It looks like we’ll have to stand - there are no seats left.//  --She stood in the doorway.//  -- Stand still  (=do not move) and listen to me.//  --Don’t just stand there  (=stand and not do anything) - help me!//  stand on tiptoe/stand on your toes (=support yourself on your toes) //  --If he stood on tiptoe, he could reach the shelf.//  stand (somewhere) doing sth //  --They just stood there laughing.//  --We stood watching the rain fall.//\n  2 RISE:   also stand up //   [I] to rise to an upright position//  --Smiling, she stood and closed the blinds.//\n  3 STEP:   [I always + adverb/preposition] //  a) to step a short distance//  stand back/aside//  --She stood back to let him in.//  stand clear of sth  BrE  (=step away from something in order to be safe) //  --Stand clear of the doors, please.//  b)  BrE to accidentally step on or in something//  stand on/in//  --Don’t stand in that puddle!//\n  4 IN A PARTICULAR POSITION:   [I,T usually + adverb/preposition] to be upright in a particular position, or to put something or someone somewhere in an upright position//  --A lamp stood on the table.//  --Near the railway station stood a hotel.//  --Some remains of the original house still stand.//  stand sth on/in etc sth//  --Can you stand that pole in the corner for now?//  --I closed the lid and stood the case against the wall.//  stand sb (up) on sth//  --Stand Molly up on a chair so she can see.//\n  5 IN A STATE/CONDITION:   [linking verb] to be or stay in a particular state or condition//  --The kitchen door stood open so she went in.//  stand empty/idle (=not being used) //  --scores of derelict houses standing empty//  --I’m not too thrilled with the way things stand  (=the state that the situation is in) at the moment.//  --The evidence as it stands  (=as it is now) cannot be conclusive.//  where/how do things stand? (=used to ask what is happening in a situation) //  --Where do things stand in terms of the budget?//  --I will know within the next month or two how I stand (=what my situation is) .//  stand united/divided (=agree or disagree completely) //  --He urged the whole community to stand united and to reject terrorism.//  stand prepared/ready to do sth (=be prepared to do something whenever it is necessary) //  --We should stand ready to do what is necessary to guarantee the peace.//  --countries that have stood together  (=stayed united) in times of crisis//  stand in awe of sb (=admire them, be afraid of them, or both) //\n  6 NOT LIKE:   can’t stand//   spoken used to say that you do not like someone or something at all, or that you think that something is extremely unpleasant//   can’t bear//  --I can’t stand bad manners.//  --I know he can’t stand the sight of me.//  can’t stand (sb/sth) doing sth//  --Lily can’t stand working in an office.//  --I can’t stand people smoking around me when I’m eating.//  can’t stand to do sth//  --She can’t stand to hear them arguing.//\n  7 ACCEPT A SITUATION:   [T usually in questions and negatives] to be able to accept or deal well with a difficult situation//   tolerate//  can/could stand sth//  --I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving Danielle.//  --I’ve had about as much as I can stand of your arguing!//  --I don’t know if I can stand the waiting any longer.//  can stand sb doing sth//  --How can you stand Marty coming home late all the time?//  --She’s a strong woman who stands no nonsense from anyone.//\n  8 BE GOOD ENOUGH:   [T] to be good or strong enough to last a long time or to experience a particular situation without being harmed, damaged, etc//  --Linen can stand very high temperatures.//  --His poetry will stand the test of time  (=stay popular) .//\n  9  stand to do sth:  to be likely to do or have something//  stand to gain/lose/win/make //  --What do firms think they stand to gain by merging?//  --After the oil spill, thousands of fishermen stand to lose their livelihoods.//\n  10 NOT MOVE:   [I] to stay in a particular place without moving//    standstill//  --The car’s been standing in the garage for weeks.//  --The mixture was left to stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.//  --The train was already standing at the platform.//\n  11 HEIGHT:   [linking verb]  formal to be a particular height//  --The trophy stands 5 feet high .//  --John stood 6 feet tall .//\n  12 LEVEL/AMOUNT:   [linking verb] to be at a particular level or amount//  stand at//  --His former workforce of 1,300 now stands at 220.//  --Illiteracy rates are still thought to stand above 50 percent.//\n  13 RANK/POSITION:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to have a particular rank or position when compared with similar things or people//   rank//  --The president stands high in the public opinion polls.//  --How do their sales stand in relation to those of similar firms?//  --His book could stand alongside the best.//\n  14 ELECTION:   [I]  BrE to try to become elected to a council, parliament etc//  American Equivalent:  run//  stand for//  --She announced her intention to stand for Parliament.//\n  15 DECISION/OFFER:   [I not in progressive] if a decision, offer etc stands, it continues to exist, be correct, or be valid//  --Despite protests, the official decision stood.//  --My offer of help still stands.//\n  16  if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen:  used to tell someone that they should leave a job or situation if they cannot deal with its difficulties//\n  17  sb/sth could stand sth:  used to say very directly that it would be a good idea for someone to do something or for something to happen//  --His smile exposed teeth that could stand a good scrubbing.//  sb could stand to do sth//  --My doctor told me I could stand to lose a few pounds.//\n  18  I stand corrected:   spoken  formal used to admit that your opinion or something that you just said was wrong//\n  19  where sb stands:  someone’s opinion about something//  where somebody stands on//  --We still do not know where he stands on the matter.//  --You must decide where you stand.//\n  20  from where I stand:   spoken according to what I know or feel//  --I knew from where I stood that the stocks were practically worthless.//\n  21  know where you stand (with sb):  to know how someone feels about you, or what you are allowed to do in a particular situation//  --At least we know where we stand with Steven now.//  --I’d like to know where I stand.//  --It helps to know where you stand legally.//\n  22  stand to attention:   BrE stand at attention  AmE if soldiers stand to attention, they stand very straight and stiff to show respect//\n  23  stand on your head/hands:  to support yourself on your head or hands, with your feet in the air//\n  24  stand in line:   AmE to wait in a line of people until it is your turn to do something//  British Equivalent:  queue//  --Customers stood in line for 20 minutes at the cash register.//\n  25  stand firm/stand fast:  a) to refuse to be forced to move backwards//  --She stood firm, blocking the entrance.//  b) to refuse to change your opinions, intentions, or behaviour//  --The government continued to stand firm and no concessions were made.//  stand firm/stand fast on/against//  --He stands firm on his convictions.//\n  26  stand pat:   AmE to refuse to change a decision, plan etc//  stand pat on//  --Harry’s standing pat on his decision to fire Janice.//\n  27  stand alone:  a) to continue to do something alone, without help from anyone else//  --Some of the Pacific islands are too small to stand alone as independent states.//  b) to be much better than anything or anyone else//  --For sheer entertainment value, Kelly stood alone.//\n  28  stand still:  to not change or progress at all, even though time has passed//  --No industry can stand still.//  -- Time seems to have stood still in this lovely hotel.//\n  29  stand a chance/hope (of doing sth):  to be likely to be able to do something or to succeed//  --You’ll stand a better chance of getting a job with a degree.//  --Maybe their relationship had never really stood a chance.//\n  30  stand in sb’s way:   also stand in the way //  to prevent someone from doing something//  --I always encouraged Brian. I didn’t want to stand in his way.//  --You can’t stand in the way of progress!//\n  31  stand on your own (two) feet:  to be able to do what you need to do, earn your own money, etc without help from others//  --She’s never learned to stand on her own feet.//\n  32  it stands to reason (that):  used to say that something should be completely clear to anyone who is sensible//  --It stands to reason that you cannot find the right person to do a job unless you know exactly what that job is.//\n  33  stand or fall by/on sth:  to depend on something for success//  --The case against him will stand or fall on its own merits.//\n  34 LIQUID:   [I] a liquid that stands does not flow or is not made to move//  --standing pools of marsh water//\n  35  stand guard (over sb/sth):  to watch someone or something so that they do not do anything wrong or so that nothing bad happens to them//  --Soldiers stand guard on street corners.//  --You must stand guard over him at all times.//\n  36  stand bail:   BrE to promise to pay money if someone does not return to a court of law to be judged//\n  37  stand trial:  to be brought to a court of law to have your case examined and judged//  stand trial for/on//  --Gresham will stand trial for murder.//  --The accused was ordered to stand trial on a number of charges.//\n  38  stand accused (of sth):  a) to be the person in a court of law who is being judged for a crime//  --The former president stands accused of lying to the nation’s parliament.//  b) if you stand accused of doing something bad or wrong, other people say that you have done it//  --The radio station stands accused of racism.//\n  39  stand tall:  a) to stand with your back straight and your head raised//  --Stand tall with your feet comfortably apart.//  b)  AmE to be proud and feel ready to deal with anything//  --We will stand tall and fight for issues of concern to our community.//\n  40  sb can do sth standing on their head:   informal used to say that someone is able to do something easily//  --This is basic stuff. I can do it standing on my head.//\n  41  be stood on its head:  if something is stood on its head, it becomes the opposite of what it was before//  --One area of the business which has been stood on its head is internal communications.//\n  42  not stand on ceremony:   BrE to not worry about the formal rules of polite behaviour//  --Come on, Mal, don’t stand on ceremony here at home.//\n  43  stand sb a drink/meal etc:   BrE to pay for something as a gift to someone//  --Come on, Jack, I’ll stand you a drink if you like.//    make sb’s hair stand on end at hair(8)//    leave sb/sth standing at leave1 (15)//    not have a leg to stand on at leg1 (7)//    stand/serve/hold sb in good stead at stead(2)//    stand your ground at ground1 (7)//  stand against / [stand against sb/sth] phr v//  to oppose a person, organization, plan, decision etc//  --She hadn’t the strength to stand against her aunt’s demands.//  --There are only a hundred of them standing against an army of 42,000 troops.//  stand around phr v//  to stand somewhere and not do anything//  --We stood around saying goodbye for a while.//  stand by phr v//\n  1 to not do anything to help someone or prevent something from happening:    bystander//  --I’m not going to stand by and see her hurt.//\n  2  stand by sth:  to keep a promise, agreement etc, or to say that something is still true//  --I stand by what I said earlier.//  --He stood by his convictions.//\n  3  stand by sb:  to stay loyal to someone and support them, especially in a difficult situation//  --His wife stood by him during his years in prison.//\n  4 to be ready to do something if necessary:    standby//  --Rescue crews were standing by in case of a breakdown.//  stand by for//  --Stand by for our Christmas competition.//  stand by to do sth//  --Police stood by to arrest any violent fans.//  stand down phr v//\n  1 to agree to leave your position or to stop trying to be elected, so that someone else can have a chance:  American Equivalent:  step down//  stand down as//  --He was obliged to stand down as a Parliamentary candidate.//\n  2 to leave the witness box in a court of law:\n  3  stand (sb) down:  if a soldier stands down or is stood down, he stops working for the day//  stand for [stand for sth] phr v//\n  1 if a letter or symbol stands for something, it represents a word or idea, especially as a short form:  --What does ATM stand for?//\n  2 to support a particular set of ideas, values, or principles:  --It’s hard to tell what the party stands for these days.//\n  3  not stand for sth:   BrE to not allow something to continue to happen or someone to do something//  --She’s been lying about me, and I won’t stand for it.//  stand in phr v//  to temporarily do someone else’s job or take their place//    stand-in//  stand in for//  --Would you mind standing in for me for a while?//  stand out phr v//\n  1 to be very easy to see or notice:  --The outlines of rooftops and chimneys stood out against the pale sky.//  --She always stood out in a crowd .//  --I am sure illnesses stand out in all childhood memories.//\n  2 to be much better than other similar people or things:    standout//  stand out as//  --That day still stands out as the greatest day in my life.//  stand out from/among/above//  --Three of the cars we tested stood out among the rest.//\n  3 to rise up from a surface:  --The veins stood out on his throat and temples.//  stand out against [stand out against sth] phr v//  to be strongly opposed to an idea, plan etc//  --We must stand out against bigotry.//  stand over [stand over sb] phr v//  to stand very close behind someone and watch as they work to make sure they do nothing wrong//  --I can’t concentrate with him standing over me like that.//  stand to phr v//  to order a soldier to move into a position so that they are ready for action, or to move into this position//  stand sb → to//  --The men have been stood to.//  stand up phr v//\n  1 to be on your feet or to rise to your feet:    stand-up//  --I’ve been standing up all day.//  -- Stand up straight and don’t slouch!//  --Jim stood up stiffly.//\n  2 [always + adverb/preposition] to stay healthy or in good condition in a difficult environment or after a lot of hard use:  stand up to//  --Most of the plants stood up well to the heat.//\n  3 to be proved to be true, correct, useful etc when tested:  stand up to/under//  --The memoirs stand up well to cross-checking with other records.//  --Without a witness, the charges will never stand up in court  (=be successfully proved in a court of law) .//\n  4  stand sb up:   informal to not meet someone who you have arranged to meet//  --I was supposed to go to a concert with Kyle on Friday, but he stood me up.//\n  5  stand up and be counted:  to make it very clear what you think about something when this is dangerous or might cause trouble for you//  stand up for / [stand up for sb/sth] phr v//  to support or defend a person or idea when they are being attacked//  --It’s time we stood up for our rights.//  --Silvia is capable of standing up for herself.//  stand up to / [stand up to sb/sth] phr v//  to refuse to accept unfair treatment from a person or organization//  --He’ll respect you more if you stand up to him.//  --Cliff couldn’t stand up to bullying.//\nstand 2 n [C]   saddle, stand//  ----------//\n   1 for support:\n   2 for selling:\n   3 opinion/attitude:\n   4 oppose/defend:\n   5 the stands:\n   6 the stand:\n   7 cricket:\n   8 taxis/buses:\n   9 trees:  ----------//\n  1 FOR SUPPORT:  a piece of furniture or equipment used to hold or support something//  --a music stand//  --a cake stand//  --He adjusted the microphone stand.//  coat stand/hat stand (=for hanging coats or hats on) //\n  2 FOR SELLING:  a table or small structure used for selling or showing things//  British Equivalent:  stall//  --a hotdog stand//  --an exhibition stand//  --The shop was crowded with display stands and boxes.//  --One week three magazines hit the stands  (=became available to buy) with Peace Corps stories.//\n  3 OPINION/ATTITUDE:   [usually singular] a position or opinion that you state firmly and publicly//  stand on//  --the Republicans’ conservative stand on social and environmental issues//  --She was accused of not taking a stand on feminism or civil rights.//\n  4 OPPOSE/DEFEND:  a strong effort to defend yourself or to oppose something//  take/make/mount a stand (against sth) //  --We have to take a stand against racism.//\n  5  the stands [plural]  also  stand BrE :  a building where people stand or sit to watch the game at a sports ground//    grandstand//  --In the stands, fifty of Jess’s friends and family have come to watch her last game.//\n  6  the stand:  a witness box//  --Will the next witness please take the stand  (=go into the witness box) ?//\n  7 CRICKET:  the period of time in which two batsmen are playing together in a game of cricket, or the points that they get during this time//\n  8 TAXIS/BUSES:  a place where taxis or buses stop and wait for passengers//  --There’s a taxi stand on Glen Road.//\n  9 TREES:  a group of trees of one type growing close together//  stand of//  --a stand of eucalyptus trees//


Words: stand-in
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who does the job or takes the place of someone else for a short time:  --Gilbert failed to find a stand-in and so could not go to the party.//\n  2 someone who takes the place of an actor for some scenes in a film:  stand-in for//  --a stand-in for Tom Cruise//    stand in at stand1 //


Words: stand-offish
Meaning:
standoffish/st[zB024]nd [hA361]f[hA366][hA35D] $ -[hA361][hA359]f-/ adj  informal   rather unfriendly and formal//  --She was cold and stand-offish.//  -- stand-offishly adv //  -- stand-offishness n  [U] //


Words: standalone
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1 a standalone computer works on its own without being part of a network:\n  2 a standalone company is one that is not part of a larger company:  -- standalone n  [C] //


Words: standard
Meaning:
W2S3   n   ----------//\n   1 level of quality/achievement:\n   2 moral principles:\n   3 measurement:\n   4 song:\n   5 flag:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: estandard  ’battle-flag’]//\n  1 LEVEL OF QUALITY/ACHIEVEMENT:   [U and C] the level that is considered to be acceptable, or the level that someone or something has achieved//  standard of//  --The committee is assessing the standard of care in local hospitals.//  --parents who have very high standards //  --The rooms are of a good standard .//  --the low standard of housing//  --Students have to reach a certain standard or they won’t pass.//  --The EU should set minimum standards of employee rights.//  --imaginative ideas for raising standards in schools//  -- Standards are falling as the quality of applicants declines.//  --Safety measures failed to come up to standard .//  --The airline has rigorous safety standards .//  --These figures clearly show the difference in world living standards .//  --Many early child-rearing practices were cruel by modern standards .//\n  2 MORAL PRINCIPLES:   standards [plural] moral principles about what kind of behaviour or attitudes are acceptable//  --the recent decline in moral standards //  standards fall/slip/go down //  --Standards have slipped since I was a boy.//\n  3 MEASUREMENT:   [C] a fixed official rule for measuring weight, purity, value etc//  --an official government standard for the purity of silver//\n  4 SONG:   [C] a popular song that has been sung by many different singers//  --popular jazz standards//\n  5 FLAG:   [C]  old-fashioned a flag used in ceremonies//  --the royal standard//    double standard,  living standard//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  high/good standard //  low/poor standard //  meet/reach/attain a standard //  set a standard //  raise/improve standards //  lower standards //  maintain standards (=keep them at a good level) //  standards fall/slip/go down/decline //  up to standard (=good enough) //  below standard (=not good enough) //  stringent/rigorous/tough standards (=strict standards) //  safety/environmental standards //  academic/educational standards //  living standards //  by modern/today’s/our etc standards //  ----------//\nstandard 2 W2S3 adj \n  1 accepted as normal or usual:  --We paid them the standard rate.//  standard practice/procedure (=the usual way of doing things) //  --Searching luggage at airports is now standard practice.//  --The format is fairly standard.//\n  2 regular and usual in shape, size, quality etc:  → non-standard//  --We make shoes in standard and wide sizes.//  --All these vans are made to a standard design.//\n  3 a standard book, work etc is read by everyone studying a particular subject:\n  4 the standard form of a language is the one considered to be correct and is used by most people:  → non-standard//  --the standard spelling//  --standard English pronunciation//


Words: standard deviation
Meaning:
n [C]    technical a number in statistics that shows by how much members of a mathematical set can be different from the average set//


Words: Standard Grade
Meaning:
n [C]   a school examination in one of a range of subjects that is taken by students in Scotland usually at the age of 16//


Words: standard of living
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   the amount of wealth, comfort, and other things that a particular person, group, country etc has//   living standard//  high/low standard of living //  --a nation with a high standard of living//


Words: standard-bearer
Meaning:
n [C]  formal \n  1 an important leader in a moral argument or political group:\n  2 a soldier in past times who carried the standard (=flag)  at the front of an army:


Words: standard-issue
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a standard-issue thing is the common or usual type of that thing:\n  2 included as an ordinary part of military equipment:


Words: standardize
Meaning:
also  standardise BrE   v [T]   to make all the things of one particular type the same as each other//  --Attempts to standardize English spelling have never been successful.//  --standardized tests//  -- standardization/st[zB024]nd[hA353]da[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -d[hA353]rd[hA353]-/ n  [U] //\nstandby 1  stand-by/st[zB024]ndba[hA366]/ n   plural  standbys //\n  1  on standby:  a) ready to help immediately if you are needed//  --A special team of police were kept on standby .//  b) if you are on standby to do something, for example to travel by plane, you are on a list of people who may be allowed to do it if places become available, for example if other people cannot use their tickets//  --We can put you on standby .//    stand by(4)//\n  2 [C] something that is kept ready so that it can be used when needed:  --Powdered milk is a good standby in an emergency.//\nstandby 2 adj [only before noun]   a standby ticket is one that you can get only if places become available, for example if other people cannot use their tickets//


Words: standby time
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the time during which a person or a machine is available to work but is not able to work because they are waiting to be given a specific job to do:\n  2 the period of time that passes while you wait for a computer to do what you have asked it to do:


Words: standing
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1 permanently agreed or arranged:  --You have to pay standing charges whether or not you use the service.//  standing invitation (=permission to visit someone whenever you like) //  a standing army (=a professional permanent army) //  --A standing committee was established to coordinate the army and navy.//\n  2 done from a standing position:  --The runners set off from a standing start .//  standing ovation (=when people stand up to clap after a performance) //\n  3  standing joke:  something that happens often and that people make jokes about//  --The whole incident became a standing joke between us.//\nstanding 2 n [U] \n  1 someone’s rank or position in a system, organization, society etc, based on what other people think of them:  --Barb’s work helped to improve her standing with her colleagues.//  standing in//  --The scandal damaged the Governor’s standing in the polls.//  of high/low standing //  --a lawyer of high standing//\n  2  sth of five/many etc years’ standing:  used to show the time during which something such as an agreement has existed//  --an arrangement of several years’ standing//


Words: Standing Committee
Meaning:
n [C]   a committee of members in the British Parliament or in the US House of Representatives, whose purpose is to examine a  bill (=new law that has been suggested)  and to consider whether it needs any changes//    Select Committee//


Words: standing order
Meaning:
n [U and C]  BrE   an arrangement by which a bank pays a fixed amount of money from your account every month, year etc//    direct debit//


Words: standing room
Meaning:
n [U]   space for standing in a theatre, sports ground etc//  --There was standing room only  (=no seats were left) in the courthouse.//


Words: standout
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  AmE   used about a person or thing in a group that is much better than all the rest//  --the standout track on the album//  -- standout n  [singular] //  --He was the standout in last Saturday’s game.//


Words: standpoint
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   a way of thinking about people, situations, ideas etc//   point of view//  from a theoretical/political/economic etc standpoint //  --Let’s look at the questions from an economic standpoint.//  --a discussion of marriage from the standpoint of women//


Words: standstill
Meaning:
n [singular]   a situation in which there is no movement or activity at all//  come to a standstill/bring sth to a standstill //  --Strikers brought production to a standstill.//  at a standstill//  --Traffic was at a standstill.//


Words: Stanislavsky
Meaning:
Constantin   (1863-1938) a Russian actor and theatre  director who developed a new way of acting, called  method acting. This involves actors using their own emotions and remembering their own experiences so that they feel as if they really become the character they are playing.//


Words: Stanley Cup
Meaning:
the   a prize given to the winner of the National Hockey League, which is made up of  ice hockey teams from Canada and the US//


Words: Stanley knife
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  trademark   a very sharp knife with a small triangular blade that you use in activities such as decorating and woodwork//  American Equivalent:  exacto knife//


Words: stanza
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: ’place to stay, room, stanza’, from  Vulgar Latin stantia;   STANCE]//  a group of lines in a repeated pattern forming part of a poem//   verse//


Words: staple
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1-2; Origin: Old English stapol  ’post’]//  [Sense: 3-4; Date: 1300-1400; Origin: .    Middle Dutch stapel  ’place of trade’]//\n  1 a small piece of thin wire that is pushed into sheets of paper and bent over to hold them together:\n  2 a small U-shaped piece of metal with pointed ends, used to hold something in place:\n  3 a food that is needed and used all the time:  --staples like flour and rice//\n  4 the main product that is produced in a country:  --Bananas and sugar are the staples of Jamaica.//\nstaple 2 v [T]   to fasten two or more things together with a staple//  staple sth together//  --The handouts are all stapled together.//  staple sth to sth//  --I stapled the order form to the invoice.//\nstaple 3 adj [only before noun] \n  1 forming the greatest or most important part of something:  --Oil is Nigeria’s staple export.//  --a staple ingredient of comedy//\n  2  staple diet:  a) the food that you normally eat//  staple diet of//  --They live on a staple diet of rice and vegetables.//  b) something that is always being produced, seen, bought etc//  staple diet of//  --television’s staple diet of soap operas and quiz shows//\n  3 used all the time:  --Marty’s staple excuses //


Words: star
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 in the sky:\n   2 famous performer/player:\n   3 main person in a film/play etc:\n   4 best/most successful person:\n   5 shape:\n   6 hotels/restaurants:\n   7 the stars:\n   8 something is written in the stars:\n   9 see stars:\n  10 have stars in your eyes:\n  11 you’re a star!/what a star!:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: steorra]//\n  1 IN THE SKY:  a large ball of burning gas in space that can be seen at night as a point of light in the sky//  --I lay on my back and looked up at the stars.//  --The sky was filled with stars.//  under the stars//  --That night, we camped out under the stars  (=outdoors) .//  --The stars were all out  (=they were shining) .//  -- stars twinkling overhead (=shining in the sky and quickly changing from bright to faint) //    falling star,  shooting star//\n  2 FAMOUS PERFORMER/PLAYER:  a famous and successful actor, musician, or sports player//  movie/film/Hollywood etc star //  --His dream was to become a Hollywood star.//  pop/rock star //  --British pop star Elton John//  --By the age of twenty she was already a big star  (=very famous performer) .//  --the highest paid child star of all time//  --a rising star  (=someone who is becoming famous and successful) in the music world//  --She’s a good actress, but she lacks star quality  (=something that makes a person seem special and likely to be a star) .//  --She is a star of stage and screen .//\n  3 MAIN PERSON IN A FILM/PLAY ETC:  the person who has the main part, or one of them, in a film, play, show etc//  star of//  --Ray Grimes, the star of the television series ’Brother John’//\n  4 BEST/MOST SUCCESSFUL PERSON:  a) the person who gives the best performance in a film, play, show etc//  --Laporte, as Ebenezer Scrooge, is undoubtedly the star of the show .//  --Shamu, the killer whale, is the show’s star attraction  (=best and most popular person or thing) .//  b) the best or most successful person in a group of players, workers, students etc//  star player/performer/salesman etc //  --the team’s star player//  --the school’s star pupil//  --the star columnist of the Sunday Times//\n  5 SHAPE:  a) a shape with four or more points, which represents the way a star looks in the sky//  b) a mark in the shape of a star, used to draw attention to something written//   asterisk//  --I put a star next to the items that we still need to buy.//  c) a piece of cloth or metal in the shape of a star, worn to show someone’s rank or position - used especially on military uniforms//\n  6 HOTELS/RESTAURANTS:  a mark used in a system for judging the quality of hotels and restaurants//  three-star/four-star/five-star etc //  --a two-star hotel//\n  7  the stars:   BrE  informal a description, usually printed in newspapers and magazines, of what will happen to you in the future, based on the position of the stars and planets at the time of your birth//   horoscope//  sb’s stars//  --I never read my stars .//    star sign//\n  8  sth is written in the stars:  used to say that what happens to a person is controlled by fate (=a power that is believed to influence what happens in people’s lives) //  --Their marriage was surely written in the stars.//\n  9  see stars:  to see flashes of light, especially because you have been hit on the head//  --I felt a little dizzy and could see stars.//\n  10  have stars in your eyes:  to imagine that something you want to do is much more exciting or attractive than it really is//    starry-eyed//\n  11  you’re a star!/what a star!:   BrE  spoken said when you are very grateful or pleased because of what someone has done//  --Thanks, Mel. You’re a real star!//    four-star general,  five-star,  morning star,  shooting star,  guiding star at guiding(2),  born under a lucky/unlucky star at born2 (7),  reach for the stars at reach1 (11),  thank your lucky stars at thank(3)//\nstar 2 v   past tense and past participle  starred present participle  starring //\n  1 [I] if someone stars in a film, television show etc, they are one of the main characters in it:  star in//  --Eastwood starred in ’The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’.//  star with/opposite//  --DeVito stars opposite Dreyfuss in the movie.//  star as//  --Hugh Grant stars as the romantic hero.//  --’The Freshman’ was Brando’s first starring role  (=the most important part in a film) in ten years.//\n  2 [T] if a film, television show, or play stars someone, that person is one of the main characters in it:   feature//  --a film starring Meryl Streep//  star sb as ...//  --The movie starred Orson Welles as Harry Lime.//\n  3 [T usually passive] to put an asterisk (=a star-shaped mark)  next to something written:  --The starred items are available.//


Words: star jump
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]    BrE one of a series of exercise jumps that you do from a standing position with your arms and legs pointing out at each side//   jumping jack//


Words: Star of Bethlehem
Meaning:
the   the star which, in the Bible, appeared in the sky when Jesus was born, to show the way to the place of his birth//


Words: Star of David
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: David 10th-century BC king of Judah and Israel]//  a star with six points that represents the Jewish religion or Israel//


Words: star sign
Meaning:
also sign  n [C]   one of the 12 signs of the zodiac (=the system that uses people’s birth dates to say what will happen to them in the future) //


Words: Star Trek
Meaning:
a very popular US  science fiction television programme of the 1960s about the adventures of a group of people travelling through space in the  Starship Enterprise. The characters include Captain  Kirk,  Scotty, and Mr  Spock. There are several well-known phrases from the programme, such as ’Space - the final frontier’, ’to boldly go where no man has gone before’, and ’ beam me up, Scotty ’. There have been several new programmes based on the original idea, including  Star Trek - The Next Generation, Star Trek - Deep Space Nine,  Star Trek - Voyager, and Enterprise. There have also been several successful films based on the  Star Trek stories.//    Klingon//


Words: star turn
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   the most successful person in a group of people of the same type, especially the most successful actor, musician, or sports player//


Words: Star Wars
Meaning:
an informal name for  SDI//\nStar Wars 2   (1977) a very popular US film made by George  Lucas, about people in the future who live in a distant part of the universe. The film describes the battles between the forces led by Luke Skywalker and those led by the evil Darth Vader. The good characters in the film are helped and protected by a magic power called ’the Force’. Other films show what happened both before and after the action of this story.//


Words: star-crossed
Meaning:
adj  literary   being in a situation that prevents something happy or good happening//  -- star-crossed lovers  (=people who love each other but cannot be together) //


Words: Star-Spangled Banner
Meaning:
n \n  1  the Star-Spangled Banner:  the national anthem (=national song)  of the US//\n  2  the Star-Spangled Banner:  the national flag of the US//


Words: starboard
Meaning:
n [U]   [Language: Old English; Origin: steorbord, from  steor-  ’oar for steering’ +  bord  ’ship’s side’]//  the side of a ship or aircraft that is on your right when you are facing forwards//    port//  -- starboard adj //


Words: starch
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] a substance which provides your body with energy and is found in foods such as grain, rice, and potatoes, or a food that contains this substance:   carbohydrate//  --He eats a lot of starch.//  --Avoid fatty foods and starches.//\n  2 [U] a substance that is mixed with water and is used to make cloth stiff:\nstarch 2 v [T usually passive]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Probably from an unrecorded  Old English stercan  ’to make stiff’]//  to make cloth stiff, using starch//  --a starched tablecloth//


Words: starchy
Meaning:
adj \n  1 containing a lot of starch1(1):  -- starchy foods //\n  2  BrE very formal and correct in your behaviour - used in order to show disapproval:  --She spoke in a rather starchy manner.//  -- starchily adv //  -- starchiness n  [U] //


Words: stardom
Meaning:
n [U]   the state of being a famous performer//    fame//  --his rapid rise to stardom//  shoot/rise/zoom to stardom (=become famous very quickly) //  --Ellen shot to stardom as a model last year.//


Words: stare
Meaning:
W2S3   v [I]   [Language: Old English; Origin: starian]//\n  1 to look at something or someone for a long time without moving your eyes, for example because you are surprised, angry, or bored:  stare at//  --What are you staring at?//  stare (at sb) in disbelief/amazement/horror etc //  --She stared at me in disbelief.//  --She sat there staring into space  (=looking for a long time at nothing) .//\n  2  be staring sb in the face:  a)  informal if something is staring you in the face, it is very clear or easy to notice but you have not noticed it//  --The solution was staring me right in the face all along.//  b) to seem impossible to avoid//  --Defeat was staring us in the face.//    stark staring mad at stark2 (2)//  stare out [stare sb out] phr v//  to look at someone for so long that they start to feel uncomfortable and look away//\nstare 2 n [C]   when you look at something for a long time in a steady way//  --She gave him a long hard stare .//  --She laughed, ignoring the stares of everyone around her.//  --His pleas were met by a blank stare  (=a stare with no expression, understanding, or interest) .//


Words: starfruit
Meaning:
n   plural  starfruit  [C] //  a pale green tropical fruit that you can cut into pieces that have the shape of stars//


Words: stark
Meaning:
adj   [Language: Old English; Origin: stearc  ’stiff, strong’]//\n  1 very plain in appearance, with little or no colour or decoration:  --In the cold dawn light, the castle looked stark and forbidding.//  --the stark beauty of New Mexico//\n  2 unpleasantly clear and impossible to avoid:   harsh//  --The movie shows the stark realities of life in the ghetto.//  --The extreme poverty of the local people is in stark contrast to the wealth of the tourists.//  --We are faced with a stark choice.//  --a stark reminder of life under communist rule//  -- starkly adv //  -- starkness n  [U] //\nstark 2 adv \n  1  stark naked:  not wearing any clothes at all//  --Ben was standing there stark naked.//\n  2  stark raving mad/bonkers:   also stark staring mad  BrE completely crazy//  --He’s gone stark raving mad.//


Words: starkers
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]  BrE  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: stark (naked)]//  not wearing any clothes//   naked//


Words: starling
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: st[zB024]rlinc, from  st[zB024]r  ’starling’ +  -linc  ’-ling’]//  a common bird with shiny black feathers that lives especially in cities//


Words: Starr Report
Meaning:
the   a very long report written in 1998 by Kenneth  Starr, the lawyer responsible for finding out about the relationship between President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky and whether the President had lied in order to hide the relationship. The report was made available on the  Internet for anyone to read.//


Words: starry
Meaning:
adj \n  1 having many stars:  --a starry winter sky//\n  2 starry eyes shine brightly:\n  3 bright like a star or shaped like a star:  --white starry flowers//


Words: START
Meaning:
Strategic Arms Reduction Talks talks between the US and the former Soviet Union, which aimed to reach agreement about reducing the number of  nuclear weapons that each country kept. Two START Treaties (=official agreements) were signed, START I (1991) and START II (1993), in which each country promised to destroy several types of nuclear weapons.//    SALT//


Words: start
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 begin doing something:\n   2 begin happening:\n   3 begin in a particular way:\n   4 business/organization:\n   5 job/school:\n   6 car/engine etc:\n   7 begin going somewhere:\n   8 life/profession:\n   9 road/river/path etc:\n  10 prices/amounts:\n  11 start from scratch/zero:\n  12 deliberately begin something:\n  13 to start with:\n  14 be back where you started:\n  15 sports:\n  16 start a family:\n  17 start afresh/anew:\n  18 somebody started it!:\n  19 start something/anything:\n  20 move suddenly:\n  21 start young:\n  22 Don’t (you) start!:  Phrasal verbs//   start back//   start in//   start off//   start on somebody/something//   start out//   start over//   start up//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: styrtan  ’to jump’]//\n  1 BEGIN DOING SOMETHING:   [I and T] to do something that you were not doing before, and continue doing it//   begin//  --There’s so much to do, I don’t know where to start.//  --Have you started your homework?//  start doing sth//  --Then the baby started crying.//  start to do sth//  --It’s starting to rain.//  --He got up and started running again .//  --I’d better get started  (=start doing something) soon.//  start sb doing sth//  --What Kerry said started me thinking (=made me start thinking) .//\n  2 BEGIN HAPPENING:   [I and T]  also start off //  to begin happening, or to make something begin happening//  --What time does the film start?//  --Lightning started a fire that burned 500 acres.//  --The party was just getting started when Sara arrived.//  starting (from) now/tomorrow/next week etc //  --You have two hours to complete the test, starting now.//\n  3 BEGIN IN A PARTICULAR WAY:   [I always + adverb/preposition, T]  also start off //  to begin something in a particular way, or to begin in a particular way//  --A healthy breakfast is a good way to start the day.//  start with//  --The festivities started with a huge fireworks display.//  start as//  --The restaurant started as a small takeout place.//  start badly/well/slowly etc //  --Any new exercise program should start slowly.//  start (sth) by doing sth//  --Chao starts by explaining some basic legal concepts.//\n  4 BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION:   [T]  also start up //  to make something begin to exist//  start a business/company/firm etc //  --She wanted to start her own catering business.//\n  5 JOB/SCHOOL:   [I and T] to begin a new job, or to begin going to school, college etc//  --When can you start?//  start school/college/work //  --I started college last week.//\n  6 CAR/ENGINE ETC:   [I and T]  also start up //  if you start a car or engine, or if it starts, it begins to work//  --The car wouldn’t start this morning.//  get the car/engine etc started //  --He couldn’t get his motorbike started.//\n  7 BEGIN GOING SOMEWHERE:   [I]  also start off/out //  to begin travelling or moving in a particular direction//   set out//  --We’ll have to start early to get there by lunchtime.//\n  8 LIFE/PROFESSION:   [I always + adverb/preposition, T]  also start off/out //  to begin your life or profession in a particular way or place//  start as/in//  --She started as a dancer in the 1950s.//  --It’s difficult for new lawyers to get started in private practice.//\n  9 ROAD/RIVER/PATH ETC:   [I always + adverb/preposition] if a river, road, path etc starts somewhere, it begins in that place//  --The trail starts immediately behind the hotel.//  start in/at//  --The race will start at the town hall.//\n  10 PRICES/AMOUNTS:   [I always + adverb/preposition] if prices, amounts, or rates start at or from a particular number, that is the lowest number at which you can get or buy something//  start at/from//  --Room prices start from [hA124]25 a night.//\n  11  start from scratch/zero:  to begin doing a job or activity completely from the beginning//  --There were no textbooks, so the teachers had to start from scratch.//\n  12 DELIBERATELY BEGIN SOMETHING:   [T] to deliberately make something start happening, especially something bad//  --I started a fire to warm the place up.//  start a fight/argument //  --Oh, don’t go trying to start an argument.//  --Other girls were starting rumours about me.//\n  13  to start with:   spoken //  a) said when talking about the beginning of a situation, especially when it changes later//  --I was pretty nervous to start with, but after a while I was fine.//  b) said to emphasize the first of a list of facts or opinions you are stating//  --There are problems. To start with, neither of us likes housework.//\n  14  be back where you started:  to try to do something and fail, so that you finish in the same situation that you were in before//  --A lot of people who lose weight gain it back over time, and end up back where they started.//\n  15 SPORTS:   [I and T] if a player starts in a game, or if someone starts them, they begin playing when the game begins, especially because they are one of the best players on the team//  start for//  --Astacio started for the Dodgers on Tuesday night.//\n  16  start a family:  to have your first baby//  --We’re not ready to start a family yet.//\n  17  start afresh/anew:  to stop doing what you are doing and begin doing it again in a better or different way//  --She saw her new job as a chance to start afresh.//\n  18  sb started it!:   spoken used to say that someone else has caused an argument or problem//  --’Don’t hit her!’ ’But she started it!’//\n  19  start sth/anything:  to begin causing trouble//  --It looks like Jess is trying to start something.//\n  20 MOVE SUDDENLY:   [I] to move your body suddenly, especially because you are surprised or afraid//   jump//  --A loud knock at the door made her start.//  start from//  --Emma started from her chair and rushed to the window.//\n  21  start young:  to begin doing something when you are young, especially when it is unusual to do it//  --Woods started young, and was coached by his father.//\n  22  Don’t (you) start!:   BrE  spoken used to tell someone to stop complaining, arguing, or annoying you//  --’Mum, I don’t like this ice-cream.’ ’Oh, don’t you start!’//  start back phr v//  to begin returning to the place you came from//  start back to/down/up etc//  --I started back down the mountain to camp.//  start in phr v//\n  1 to begin doing something, especially with a lot of effort:  --I decided to just start in and see what I could do.//  start in on//  --Lilly started in on her burger.//\n  2 to begin criticizing someone or complaining to them about something:  start in on//  --Mom turned away from Rose and started in on me.//  start off phr v//\n  1 to begin something in a particular way, or to begin in a particular way:  start sth → off with sth/by doing sth//  --The theater company started off their new season with a Shakespeare play.//  start off with sth/by doing sth//  --I started off by drawing the flowers I had collected the day before.//\n  2 to be a particular thing or have a particular quality at the beginning of something, especially when this changes later:  --The puppies start off white, and get their black spots later.//  start off as//  --The games start off as a social event, but players soon become competitive.//  --I started off as a drummer.//\n  3  start sth → off:  to make something begin happening//  --We’re not sure what starts the process off.//\n  4  start sb → off:  to help someone begin an activity//  start somebody → off with//  --He started me off with some stretching exercises.//\n  5 to begin going somewhere:  --I sat in the car for a few minutes before starting off.//  start off to/towards/back etc//  --She started off to school in her new uniform.//\n  6  start sb off:   BrE  informal to make someone get angry or start laughing, by saying something//  --Don’t say that; that’ll just start him off.//  start sb off doing sth//  --He made her jump, and that started her off giggling.//  start on / [start on sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 to begin doing something or using something:  --You’d better start on your homework.//\n  2  start sb on sth:  to make someone start doing something regularly, especially because it will be good for them//  --Try starting your baby on solid foods at four months old.//\n  3  BrE  informal to begin criticizing someone or complaining to them about something:  start on somebody/something at//  --Ray’s wife started on at him about spending too much time in the pub.//  start out phr v//\n  1 to begin happening or existing in a particular way, especially when this changes later:  start out as//  --’The Star’ started out as a small weekly newspaper.//  --The leaves start out a pale green, and later get darker.//\n  2 to begin your life or profession, or an important period of time:  --When the band first started out, they played at small clubs.//  start out as//  --She started out as a model.//  start out on//  --young couples starting out on their life together//\n  3 to begin going somewhere:  --Oliver started out at five, when it was still dark.//  start over phr v//  to start doing something again from the beginning, especially because you want to do it better//  --If you make a mistake, just erase it and start over.//  start up phr v//\n  1 if you start up a business, company etc, or it starts up, it begins to exist:  --Tax breaks help new companies start up.//  start sth→ up//  --Jordan started up a band of his own.//\n  2 if an engine, car etc starts up, or you start it up, it begins working:  --The driver got back into the car and started up.//  start sth→ up//  --Rory started up the engine and got the vehicle moving.//\n  3 if a sound, activity, or event starts up, it begins to exist or happen:  --The crickets had started up now that it was evening.//\nstart 2 W3S2 n   ----------//\n   1 of an activity/event:\n   2 of a period of time:\n   3 make a start (on something):\n   4 sudden movement:\n   5 good/better/healthy etc start (in life):\n   6 where race begins:\n   7 being ahead:\n   8 for a start:\n   9 be a start:\n  10 job:\n  11 starts:\n  12 sport:  ----------//\n  1 OF AN ACTIVITY/EVENT:   [C usually singular] the first part of an activity or event, or the point at which it begins to develop//  start of//  --We arrived late and missed the start of the film.//  (right) from the start //  --We’ve had problems with this project right from the start.//  --She read the letter from start to finish without looking up.//  get off to a good/bad etc start //  --a free bottle of wine to get your holiday off to a great start (=begin well or badly) //  a rocky/shaky/slow etc start (=a bad beginning) //  --After a rocky start, the show is now very popular.//  --He wanted an early start on his election campaign.//\n  2 OF A PERIOD OF TIME:   [C usually singular] the first part of a particular period of time//   beginning//  start of//  --Since the start of 1992, the company has doubled in size.//  the start of the year/day/season //  --the start of an election year//  get off to a good/bad etc start (=begin well or badly) //  --The day got off to a bad start when I missed the train.//\n  3  make a start (on sth):  to begin doing something//  --I’ll make a start on the washing-up.//\n  4 SUDDEN MOVEMENT:   [singular] a sudden movement of your body, usually caused by fear or surprise//  with a start//  --Ted woke up with a start and felt for the light switch.//  --She said his name and Tom gave a start  (=made a sudden movement) .//\n  5  good/better/healthy etc start (in life):  if you have a good etc start, you have all the advantages or opportunities that your situation, your parents etc could provide to help you succeed//  --Good health care for the mother before birth gives babies a healthy start .//  --Naturally we want to give our kids the best possible start in life .//\n  6 WHERE RACE BEGINS:   the start//  the place where a race begins//  --The horses were all lined up at the start.//\n  7 BEING AHEAD:   [C usually singular] the amount of time or distance by which one person is ahead of another, especially in a race or competition//  start on//  --The prisoners had a three-hour start on their pursuers.//    head start(2)//\n  8  for a start:   BrE  informal used to emphasize the first of a list of facts or opinions you are stating//  --Well, for a start, the weather was horrible.//\n  9  be a start:   spoken used to say that something you have achieved may not be impressive, but it will help with a bigger achievement//  --One exercise class a week isn’t enough, but it’s a start .//\n  10 JOB:  a)  [C usually singular] the beginning of someone’s job, which they will develop in the future, especially a job that involves acting, writing, painting etc//  --Pacino got his start on the stage, before his success in films.//  --I gave you your start , so remember me when you win the Pulitzer Prize.//  b)  [C usually plural] a job that has just started, a business that has just been started, or someone who has just started a new job//  --The number of business starts plummeted 10.5% during the second half of the year.//  --a training course for new starts //\n  11  starts:   also housing starts //   [plural]  technical when people begin to build a number of new houses//\n  12 SPORT:   [C usually plural] //  a) a race or competition that someone has taken part in//  --The horse Exotic Wood was unbeaten in five starts.//  b) an occasion when a player plays when a sports match begins//  --Jackson played in 353 games, with 314 starts.//    false start//    fresh start at fresh(4)//    in/by fits and starts at fit3 (7)//


Words: starter
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE a small amount of food eaten at the start of a meal before the main part:  American Equivalent:  appetizer//  --We had soup as a starter , followed by steak.//\n  2 a person, horse, car etc that is in a race when it starts:  --Of the seven starters, only three finished the race.//\n  3 someone who gives the signal for a race to begin:  --The starter fired his gun.//  under starter’s orders (=about to begin the race) //\n  4  late starter:   BrE someone who begins doing something, especially a job, later in life than people generally do//\n  5  for starters:   spoken used to emphasize the first of a series of facts, opinions, questions etc//  --Well, for starters, you’ll need to fill out an application form.//\n  6 a starter motor:    nonstarter,  self-starter//


Words: starter pack
Meaning:
also starter kit  n [C]   the basic equipment and instructions that you need to start doing something//


Words: starting blocks
Meaning:
n [plural]  also the blocks   the pair of blocks fastened to the ground that a runner pushes their feet against at the start of a race//


Words: starting point
Meaning:
n [C usually singular] \n  1 an idea or situation from which a discussion, process etc can develop:  starting point for//  --The article provides a starting point for discussion.//\n  2 a place from where a journey starts:


Words: starting price
Meaning:
n [C usually singular] \n  1 the lowest possible price for a particular type of thing such as a car or house without any special features, or the lowest price you are willing to accept for something you are selling:\n  2  BrE the final odds that are offered just before a horse or dog race begins:


Words: startle
Meaning:
v [T]   [Language: Old English; Origin: steartlian  ’to kick your legs about’]//  to make someone suddenly surprised or slightly shocked//  --Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.//  be startled to do sth//  --I was startled to see Amanda.//  -- startled adj //  --a startled expression//


Words: startling
Meaning:
adj   very unusual or surprising//  --Paddy’s words had a startling effect on the children.//  --a startling discovery//  it is startling to do sth//  --It is startling to read that his father never visited him in hospital.//  -- startlingly adv //


Words: starvation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] suffering or death caused by lack of food:    hunger//  --people dying of starvation//\n  2  starvation diet:   informal when you eat very little food, especially to become thinner//\n  3  starvation wages:  extremely low wages//


Words: starve
Meaning:
S3   v   [Language: Old English; Origin: steorfan  ’to die’]//\n  1 [I] to suffer or die because you do not have enough to eat:  --Thousands of people will starve if food doesn’t reach the city.//  --pictures of starving children//  --They’ll either die from the cold or starve to death  (=die from lack of food) .//\n  2 [T] to prevent someone from having enough food to live:  --The poor dog looked like it had been starved.//\n  3  be starving:   also be starved  AmE to be very hungry//  --You must be starving!//  starve of [starve sb/sth of sth] phr v//  to not give something that is needed//  --The schools are starved of funding.//  --The poor kid’s just starved for attention.//  starve out [starve sb → out] phr v//  to force someone to leave a place by preventing them from getting food//  --If we can’t blast them out, we’ll starve them out!//


Words: stash
Meaning:
preposition]    informal to store something secretly or safely somewhere//  stash sth away//  --He has money stashed away in the Bahamas.//  stash in/under//  --You can stash your gear in here.//\nstash 2 n [C]   an amount of something that is kept in a secret place, especially money, weapons, or drugs//   horde//  --Mike went into the bedroom to check on his stash.//  stash of//  --a stash of drugs//


Words: Stasi
Meaning:
the secret government police of the former East Germany. The Stasi secretly watched ordinary citizens and collected information about them for the government.//


Words: stasis
Meaning:
n [U]  technical  or  formal   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek,  ’standing, stopping’, from  histasthai  ’to stand’]//  a state or period in which there is no change or development//


Words: state
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 condition:\n   2 government:\n   3 country:\n   4 part of a country:\n   5 the States:\n   6 be in a state/get into a state:\n   7 official ceremony:\n   8 state of affairs:\n   9 the state of play:\n  10 lie in state:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: estat, from  Latin  status, from the past participle of  stare  ’to stand’]//\n  1 CONDITION:   [C] the physical or mental condition that someone or something is in//  state of//  --There are fears for the state of the country’s economy.//  in a bad/terrible etc state //  --When we bought the house, it was in a terrible state.//  sb’s mental/physical/emotional state //  --Frankly, I wouldn’t trust his emotional state right now.//  --She was in an extremely confused state of mind .//  in no fit state to do sth (=should not do something because you are not in a suitable condition) //  --David’s in no fit state to drive.//  --She can’t go home now. Look at the state of her!//  be in a good/bad state of repair (=be in good condition and not need repairing, or be in bad condition) //  --The boat was in a good state of repair.//  --The country was in a state of war  (=officially fighting a war) .//  --Water exists in three states: liquid, gaseous, and solid.//    state of emergency//\n  2 GOVERNMENT:   [singular, U]  also  the State//   especially BrE the government or political organization of a country//  --The state has allocated special funds for the emergency.//  state employees/property/regulations etc  especially BrE //  --limits on salary increases for state workers//  state-owned/state-funded/state-subsidized etc (=owned, paid for etc by the government) //  --a state-funded community housing project//  matters/affairs of state (=the business of the government) //  democratic/one-party/totalitarian etc state (=with that type of government) //    police state,  welfare state//\n  3 COUNTRY:   [C] a country considered as a political organization//  --a NATO member state  (=a country belonging to NATO) //\n  4 PART OF A COUNTRY:   [C]  also  State BrE one of the areas with limited law-making powers that together make up a country controlled by a central government such as the US and Australia//    province, county, region//  --Queensland is one of the states of Australia.//  --the state of Iowa//  state employees/property/regulations etc //  --the state government//  --state and federal taxes//\n  5  the States:   spoken a word meaning the US, used especially by someone when they are outside the US//  --Which part of the States would you suggest I visit?//\n  6  be in a state/get into a state:   BrE  spoken to be or become very nervous, anxious, or excited//  --Mum and Dad were in a right state when I got in.//\n  7 OFFICIAL CEREMONY:   [U] the official ceremonies and events connected with government or rulers//  --the Queen’s first state visit here in seventeen years//  --music for state occasions  (=special public events) //\n  8  state of affairs:   formal a situation//  unsatisfactory/sad/sorry state etc of affairs //  --I must say this is a very unsatisfactory state of affairs.//\n  9  the state of play:   especially BrE //  a) the position reached in an activity or process that has not finished yet//  --What is the state of play in the current negotiations?//  b) the score in a sports game//\n  10  lie in state:  if the body of an important person who has just died lies in state, it is put in a public place so that people can go and show their respect//\nstate 2 W3S3 v [T] \n  1 to formally say or write a piece of information or your opinion:  --Please state your name and address.//  --Rembert again stated his intention to resign from Parliament.//  --The government needs to clearly state its policy on UN intervention.//  state (that)//  --The witness stated that he had not seen the woman before.//  --Fine, but aren’t you just stating the obvious here?//\n  2 if a document, newspaper, ticket etc states information, it contains the information written clearly:  --The price of the tickets is stated on the back.//


Words: state benefit
Meaning:
n [U and C]  BrE   money given by the government in Britain to people who are poor, without a job, ill etc//


Words: state court
Meaning:
n [C]   a court in the US which deals with legal cases that are concerned with state laws or a state’s constitution//


Words: State Department
Meaning:
n   the State Department//  the US government department that deals with anything connected with foreign countries//


Words: state of emergency plural
Meaning:
states of emergency  n [C]   when a government gives itself special powers in order to try to control an unusually difficult or dangerous situation, especially when this involves limiting people’s freedom//  --After declaring a state of emergency , the government arrested all opposition leaders.//


Words: State of the Union address
Meaning:
the   a speech given in January each year by the President of the US to  Congress and the nation, in which he gives his opinion of the condition of the country and explains his plans for the future//


Words: State Opening of Parliament
Meaning:
the   the occasion each year when the British queen or king officially opens the Parliament after its summer  recess (=the period when Parliament is closed) , and makes a speech saying what the government plans to do during the next year//


Words: state school
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE a British school which receives money from the government and provides free education:    public school//\n  2  AmE  informal a college or university that receives money from the US state it is in, to help pay its costs:


Words: state trooper
Meaning:
n [C]   a member of a police force that is controlled by one of the US state governments, who works anywhere in that state//


Words: state university plural
Meaning:
state universities  n [C]   a university in the US which receives money from a state to help pay its costs//


Words: State’s evidence
Meaning:
n  AmE   turn State’s evidence//  if a criminal turns State’s evidence, they give information in a court of law about other criminals//


Words: state-of-the-art
Meaning:
adj   using the most modern and recently developed methods, materials, or knowledge//  --state-of-the-art technology//  --His new laptop is state-of-the-art.//


Words: statehood
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the condition of being an independent nation:\n  2 the condition of being one of the states that make up a nation such as the US:  achieve/obtain/gain statehood //  --Utah obtained statehood in 1896.//


Words: stateless
Meaning:
adj  formal   not officially being a citizen of any country//  --Millions of refugees remain stateless.//  -- statelessness n  [U] //


Words: stately
Meaning:
adj \n  1 done slowly and with a lot of ceremony:  --the stately progress of the procession//\n  2 impressive in style and size:  --stately buildings//  -- stateliness n  [U] //


Words: stately home
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a large house in the countryside in Britain which has historical interest, especially one open to the public//


Words: statement
Meaning:
W1S2   n \n  1 [C] something you say or write, especially publicly or officially, to let people know your intentions or opinions, or to record facts:  statement on/about//  --the Prime Minister’s recent statements on Europe//  make/issue/give a statement //  --He refused to give a statement to the police.//  official/public/formal/statement //  --In an official statement, she formally announced her resignation.//  true/false statement //  --False statements on your tax form could land you in jail.//  get/take a statement (=officially write down what someone says) //  --Detective Brady took a statement from both witnesses.//  sworn statement (=that you officially declare to be true) //\n  2 [C] a record showing amounts of money paid, received, owed etc:  --the company’s annual financial statements//  --I haven’t received my bank statement for last month yet.//\n  3 [C] something you do, make, wear etc that causes people to have a certain opinion about you:  --The type of car you drive makes a statement about you.//  --a fashion statement//\n  4 [U]  formal the act of expressing something in words:  --presentation and clarity of statement//\nstatement 2 v [T]    BrE if an education authority statements a child who has special educational needs, they give a school additional money to help teach that child//


Words: Staten Island
Meaning:
an island in the US which is the smallest of the five  boroughs of New York City. A boat called the Staten Island ferry takes passengers between Manhattan and Staten Island. Many people whose family origins are Italian or Irish live there.//


Words: stateroom
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a private room or place for sleeping on a ship:\n  2 one of the large rooms in a palace:


Words: stateside
Meaning:
adj, adv  informal   in the US or relating to the US. This word is used by people when they are not in the US//  --Members of the Colombian team were competing stateside at the time.//


Words: statesman
Meaning:
n   plural  statesmen /-m[hA353]n/ [C] //  a political or government leader, especially one who is respected as being wise, and fair //  --a respected elder statesman //  -- statesmanship n  [U] //


Words: statesmanlike
Meaning:
adj   showing the qualities of a statesman - used to show approval//  --his statesmanlike handling of the crisis//


Words: statewide
Meaning:
adj, adv   affecting or involving the whole of a US state//  --a statewide poll//  --a model that could be used in towns statewide//


Words: static
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: staticus, from  Greek statikos  ’causing to stand’, from  histanai  ’to cause to stand’]//  not moving, changing, or developing//  → dynamic//  --Economists predict that house prices will remain static for a long period.//\nstatic 2 n [U] \n  1 noise caused by electricity in the air that blocks or spoils the sound from radio or TV:\n  2 static electricity:\n  3  especially AmE  informal complaints or opposition to a plan, situation, or action:  --His promotion has caused a lot of static.//  -- statically/-kli/ adv //


Words: static electricity
Meaning:
n [U]   electricity that is not flowing in a current, but collects on the surface of an object and gives you a small electric shock//


Words: statics
Meaning:
n [U]   the science dealing with the forces that produce balance in objects that are not moving//    dynamics//


Words: station
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 train/bus:\n   2 centre for a service or activity:\n   3 radio/tv:\n   4 social rank:\n   5 position:\n   6 farm:\n   7 army/navy:  ----------//  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Latin statio  ’place for standing or stopping’, from  stare  ’to stand’]//\n  1 TRAIN/BUS:   [C] a place where trains or buses regularly stop so that passengers can get on and off, goods can be loaded etc, or the buildings at such a place//    terminus//  --I want to get off at the next station.//  --Grand Central Station//  --Is there a waiting room in the station?//  train station //  /railway station  BrE //  --the city bus station//\n  2 CENTRE FOR A SERVICE OR ACTIVITY:   [C] a building or place that is a centre for a particular kind of service or activity//  --a police station//  --a fire station//  petrol station  BrE //  /gas station  AmE  (=where petrol is sold) //  polling station (=where you vote in an election) //  --an Antarctic research station //    action stations//\n  3 RADIO/TV:   [C] an organization which makes television or radio broadcasts, or the building where this is done//  --New York jazz station WBGO//  --a local TV station//\n  4 SOCIAL RANK:   [C]  old-fashioned your position in society//  --Karen was definitely getting ideas above her station  (=higher than her social rank) .//\n  5 POSITION:   [C]  formal a place where someone stands or sits in order to be ready to do something quickly if needed//  --You’re not to leave your station unless told.//\n  6 FARM:   [C] a large sheep or cattle farm in Australia or New Zealand//\n  7 ARMY/NAVY:   [C] a small military establishment//  --an isolated naval station//\nstation 2 v [T usually passive] \n  1 to send someone in the military to a particular place for a period of time as part of their military duty:   post//  --I was stationed overseas at the time.//\n  2  formal to move to a particular place and stand or sit there, especially in order to be able to do something quickly, or to cause someone to do this:  --A security guard was stationed near the door.//


Words: station break
Meaning:
n [C]   a pause during a radio or television broadcast in the US, so that local stations can give their names or broadcast advertisements//


Words: station house
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  old-fashioned   the local office of the police in a town, part of a city etc//   police station//


Words: station wagon
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a large car with extra space at the back, with a door there for loading and unloading//  British Equivalent:  estate car//


Words: stationary
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: stationarius, from  statio;   STATION1]//  standing still instead of moving//  --How did you manage to drive into a stationary vehicle?//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not confuse with stationery (=writing materials such as paper). //  ----------//


Words: stationer
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: stationarius  ’bookseller’, from  statio  ’shop’, from  Latin;   STATION1]//\n  1  stationer’s:  a shop that sells stationery//\n  2 someone in charge of a shop that sells stationery:


Words: stationery
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 paper for writing letters, usually with matching envelopes:  --a letter on hotel stationery//\n  2 materials that you use for writing, such as paper, pens, pencils etc:


Words: statistic
Meaning:
W3S2   n   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: German; Origin: statistik  ’study of political facts and figures’, from  Modern Latin statisticus  ’of politics’, from  Latin status;   STATE1]//\n  1  statistics:  a)  [plural] a set of numbers which represent facts or measurements//  --the official crime statistics //  statistics for//  --statistics for injuries at work//  -- Statistics show that 50% of new businesses fail in their first year.//  b)  [U] the science of collecting and examining such numbers//  --Statistics is a branch of mathematics.//\n  2 [singular] a single number which represents a fact or measurement:  --The statistic comes from a study recently conducted by the British government.//\n  3  a statistic:   informal if someone is just a statistic, they are just another example of someone who has died because of a particular type of accident or disease//  --We can’t let these boys become just another statistic.//  -- statistical adj //  --statistical evidence//  -- statistically/-kli/ adv //  --The variation is not statistically significant.//    vital statistics//


Words: stative
Meaning:
adj  technical   a stative verb describes a state rather than an action or event, and is not usually used in progressive1(3) forms, for example ’belong’ in the sentence ’this book belongs to me’//


Words: statue
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin statua, from  statuere;   STATUTE]//  an image of a person or animal that is made in solid material such as stone or metal and is usually large//    sculpture//  --Churchill’s statue stands outside the parliament building.//  --A bronze statue was erected in his honour.//  statue of//  --Statues of Lenin were torn down all across Eastern Europe.//


Words: Statue of Liberty
Meaning:
the Statue of Liberty//  a statue of a woman on Liberty Island, in New York Harbour, given to the US by France in 1884 to celebrate the American and French  revolutions. The woman is holding up a  torch in her right hand and represents freedom.//


Words: stature
Meaning:
n [U]  written   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin statura, from  status;   STATE1]//\n  1 the degree to which someone is admired or regarded as important:  of world/international/national stature //  --Armstrong was a musician of world stature.//  --He grew in stature  (=became more admired or popular) during the campaign.//  stature as//  --his growing stature as an artist//\n  2 someone’s height or size:  --Bernard was short in stature, with a large head.//


Words: status
Meaning:
W2   n   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin:  STATE1]//\n  1 [U and C] the official legal position or condition of a person, group, country etc:    standing//  --These documents have no legal status in Britain.//  --What is your marital status  (=are you married or not) ?//\n  2 [U] your social or professional rank or position, considered in relation to other people:  high/low status //  --low-status jobs//  --Doctors have traditionally enjoyed high social status .//\n  3 [U] respect and importance that someone or something is given:   prestige//  --the status given to education//  --Mandela’s status as a world leader//\n  4  the status of sth:  a situation at a particular time, especially in an argument, discussion etc//  --What’s the status of the trade talks?//


Words: status quo
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: ’state in which’]//  the status quo//  the state of a situation as it is//  maintain/preserve/defend the status quo (=not make any changes) //  --Will the West use its influence to maintain the status quo and not disrupt the flow of oil?//


Words: status symbol
Meaning:
n [C]   something that you have or own that you think shows high social rank or position//  --A Rolls Royce is seen as a status symbol.//


Words: statute
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: statut, from  Late Latin statutum  ’law’, from  Latin statuere  ’to set up, station’, from  status;   STATE1]//\n  1 a law passed by a parliament, council etc and formally written down:  --Protection for the consumer is laid down by statute  (=established by law) .//\n  2 a formal rule of an institution or organization:  --College statutes forbid drinking on campus.//


Words: statute book
Meaning:
n   on the statute book//  officially part of the law//  --The government would like to see this new law on the statute book as soon as possible.//


Words: statute of limitations plural
Meaning:
statutes of limitations  n [C]    law a law which gives the period of time within which action may be taken on a legal question or crime//


Words: statutory
Meaning:
adj   fixed or controlled by law//  --statutory employment rights//  --She’s below the statutory age for school attendance.//  -- statutorily adv //


Words: staunch
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: estanche, from  estancher;   STAUNCH2]//  giving strong loyal support to another person, organization, belief etc//   steadfast//  --a staunch conservative//  staunch supporter/ally/advocate //  --one of Bush’s staunchest supporters//  -- staunchly adv //  -- staunchness n  [U] //\nstaunch 2  also stanch  AmE v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: estancher, from  Vulgar Latin stanticare, from  Latin stare  ’to stand’]//  to stop the flow of liquid, especially of blood from a wound//  --He used a rag to staunch the flow of blood.//


Words: stave
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: staves]//\n  1 the set of five lines on which music is written:\n  2 one of the thin curved pieces of wood fitted close together to form the sides of a barrel:\nstave 2 v   past tense and past participle  staved  or  stove /st[hA353][hA35E]v $ sto[hA35E]v///  stave in [stave sth → in] phr v//  to break something inwards//  --The ship’s side was stove in when it went onto the rocks.//  stave off [stave sth → off] phr v//  to keep someone or something from reaching you or affecting you for a period of time//  --She brought some fruit on the journey to stave off hunger .//


Words: stay
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 in a place:\n   2 in a condition:\n   3 live somewhere:\n   4 stay put:\n   5 be here to stay:\n   6 stay after (school):\n   7 stay the course:\n   8 stay tuned:\n   9 stay!:\n  10 stay somebody’s hand:\n  11 stay an order/ruling/execution etc:  Phrasal verbs//   stay in//   stay on//   stay out//   stay up//  ----------//  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: ester  ’to stand, stay’, from  Latin stare]//\n  1 IN A PLACE:   [I] to remain in a place rather than leave//  --They stayed all afternoon, chatting.//  stay (at) home //  --I decided to stay home.//  stay for a year/ten minutes/a week etc //  --Isabel stayed for a year in Paris to study.//  stay in//  --Stay in bed and drink plenty of liquids.//  --She stayed late to finish the report.//  stay here/there //  --Stay right there! I’ll be back in a minute.//  stay to dinner/stay for lunch etc //  --Why don’t you stay for supper?//  stay behind/after//  --Some of the students stayed after class to talk (=remained after others had gone) .//  stay and do sth//  --I should stay and help.//\n  2 IN A CONDITION:   [I always + adverb/preposition, linking verb] to continue to be in a particular position, place, or state, without changing//   remain//  --Rollings will stay as chairman this year.//  stay adj//  --Eat right to stay healthy.//  --It was hard to stay awake.//  --Nine women gained weight, and four stayed the same .//  stay away/in/on etc//  --Stay away from my daughter!//  --You stay on this road for a mile before turning off.//  stay around//  --Most of her boyfriends don’t stay around (=stay with her) very long.//\n  3 LIVE SOMEWHERE:   [I] to live in a place for a short time as a visitor or guest//  --How long are they going to stay?//  stay at/with//  --My mother is staying with us this week.//  stay in//  --They’re staying in the same hotel.//  stay the night/stay overnight/stay over (=stay from one evening to the next day) //  --Did you stay the night at Carolyn’s?//\n  4  stay put:   spoken to remain in one place and not move//  --Stay put until I get back.//\n  5  be here to stay:  to become accepted and used by most people//  --Professional women’s basketball is here to stay.//\n  6  stay after (school):  to remain at school after the day’s classes are finished, often as a punishment//\n  7  stay the course:   informal to finish something in spite of difficulties//  --Dieters should try hard to stay the course.//\n  8  stay tuned:  a) to continue watching or listening to the same television  channel or radio station//  b) used to say that you should look or listen for more information about a particular subject at a later time//  --The project is still under discussion, so stay tuned.//\n  9  stay!:  used to tell a dog not to move//\n  10  stay sb’s hand:   literary to stop someone from doing something//\n  11  stay an order/ruling/execution etc:   law if a judge stays an order, ruling etc, they stop a particular decision from being used or a particular action from happening//    stay in touch at touch2 (4)//  stay in phr v//  to spend the evening at home rather than go out//  --I was tired, so I decided to stay in.//  stay on phr v//  to continue to do a job or to study after the usual or expected time for leaving//  --He resigned as chairman, but stayed on as an instructor.//  stay out phr v//\n  1 to remain away from home during the evening or night:  --He started staying out late , drinking.//\n  2  stay out of sth:   spoken to not get involved in an argument or fight//  --You stay out of it . It’s none of your business.//  stay up phr v//  to not go to bed at the time you would normally go to bed//  --We stayed up all night, talking.//  --I let the kids stay up late on Fridays.//\nstay 2 n \n  1 [C usually singular] a limited time of living in a place:  stay in/at//  --I met her towards the end of my stay in Los Angeles.//  long/short/overnight etc stay //  --a short stay in the hospital//\n  2 [U and C]  law the stopping or delay of an action because a judge has ordered it:  stay of execution (=a delay in punishing someone by killing them) //\n  3 [C] a strong wire or rope used for supporting a ship’s mast:\n  4 [C] a short piece of plastic or wire used to keep a shirt collar stiff:


Words: stay-at-home
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   staying at home, rather than working somewhere else, usually in order to take care of children//  --a stay-at-home mom//


Words: staying power
Meaning:
n [U]   the ability or energy to continue doing something difficult until it is finished//  --a team with staying power//


Words: STD
Meaning:
n [U and C]  medical   sexually transmitted disease a disease that one person passes to another through having sex, such as AIDS or herpes//


Words: stead
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: stede  ’place’]//\n  1  do sth in sb’s stead:   formal to do something that someone else usually does or was going to do//  --Pearson was appointed to go in Harrison’s stead.//\n  2  stand/serve/hold sb in good stead:  to be very useful to someone when needed//  --His years of training were standing him in good stead.//


Words: steadfast
Meaning:
adj  literary   [Language: Old English; Origin: stedef[zB024]st  ’fixed in place’]//\n  1 faithful and very loyal:  --her father’s steadfast love for her//\n  2 being certain that you are right about something and refusing to change your opinion in any way:  steadfast in//  --Dr. Faraday remained steadfast in his plea of innocence.//  -- steadfastly adv //  -- steadfastness n  [U] //


Words: steady
Meaning:
W3   adj   ----------//\n   1 continuous:\n   2 not moving:\n   3 steady job/work/income:\n   4 voice/look:\n   5 person:\n   6 steady boyfriend/girlfriend:\n   7 steady relationship:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: stead]//\n  1 CONTINUOUS:  continuing or developing gradually or without stopping, and not likely to change//  --Paul is making steady progress.//  --a steady rain//  hold/remain steady //  --Employment is holding steady at 96%.//  steady stream/flow/trickle etc //  --a steady stream of traffic//\n  2 NOT MOVING:  firmly held in a particular position and not moving or shaking//    stable//  hold/keep sth steady //  --Keep the camera steady while you take a picture.//  --It takes a steady hand to perform surgery.//\n  3  steady job/work/income:  a job or work that will definitely continue over a long period of time//  --It’s hard to find a steady, well-paying job.//\n  4 VOICE/LOOK:  if someone’s voice is steady, or they look at you in a steady way, they seem calm and do not stop speaking or looking at you//  --There were tears in her eyes, but her voice was steady.//  --He could not meet Connor’s steady gaze.//\n  5 PERSON:  someone who is steady is sensible and you can depend on them//  --a steady worker//\n  6  steady boyfriend/girlfriend:  someone that you have been having a romantic relationship with for a long time//\n  7  steady relationship:  a serious and strong relationship that continues for a long time//  -- steadily adv //  --The company’s exports have grown steadily .//  --debt was increasingly steadily //  -- steadiness n  [U] //\nsteady 2 v   past tense and past participle  steadied present participle  steadying third person singular  steadies //\n  1 [I and T] to hold someone or something so they become more balanced or controlled, or to become more balanced or controlled:  steady yourself//  --He reached the chair and steadied himself.//  --The plane steadied, and the passengers relaxed.//\n  2 [I] to stop increasing or decreasing and remain about the same:   stabilize//  --The dollar has steadied after early losses on the money markets.//\n  3 [I and T] to become calmer, or to make someone do this:  --Tamar took a deep breath to steady her nerves .//  --Jess is a steadying influence on the rest of the team.//\nsteady 3 adv   go steady (with sb)//  to have a long regular romantic relationship with someone//\nsteady 4   plural  steadies  n [C] //   AmE  old-fashioned  informal a boyfriend or girlfriend that someone has been having a romantic relationship with//\nsteady 5 interjection \n  1 used when you want to tell someone to be careful or not to cause an accident:  --Steady! You nearly knocked me over.//\n  2  Steady on!:   BrE  informal used when you think that what someone is saying or doing is too extreme//  --Steady on! That bottle’s got to last all night.//


