# dict

Words: breath test
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a test in which the police make a car driver breathe into a special bag to see if he or she has drunk too much alcohol//    breathalyze//


Words: breathalyze
Meaning:
also  -lyse BrE   v [T]   to make someone breathe into a special piece of equipment in order to see if they have drunk too much alcohol to be allowed to drive//


Words: breathalyzer
Meaning:
also  Breathalyser BrE  trademark   n [C]   a piece of equipment used by the police to see if a driver of a car has drunk too much alcohol//


Words: breathe
Meaning:
W3S3   v   ----------//\n   1 air:\n   2 blow:\n   3 somebody can breathe easy/easily:\n   4 breathe a sigh of relief:\n   5 be breathing down somebody’s neck:\n   6 not breathe a word:\n   7 breathe life into something:\n   8 skin:\n   9 clothes/fabric:\n  10 wine:\n  11 say something quietly:\n  12 breathe your last (breath):\n  13 breathe fire:  Phrasal verbs//   breathe in//   breathe out//  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: breath]//\n  1 AIR:   [I and T] to take air into your lungs and send it out again//  --The room filled with smoke, and it was becoming difficult to breathe.//  --People are concerned about the quality of the air they breathe.//  --Relax and breathe deeply  (=take in a lot of air) .//\n  2 BLOW:   [I and T] to blow air or smoke out of your mouth//  breathe on//  --Roy breathed on his hands and rubbed them together vigorously.//  breathe sth over sb//  --The fat man opposite was breathing garlic all over me.//\n  3  sb can breathe easy/easily:  used when saying that someone can relax because a worrying or dangerous situation has ended//  --With stocks going up, investors can breathe easily.//\n  4  breathe a sigh of relief:  to stop being worried or frightened about something//  --Once the deadline passed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.//\n  5  be breathing down sb’s neck:   informal to pay very close attention to what someone is doing in a way that makes them feel nervous or annoyed//  --How can I concentrate with you breathing down my neck all the time?//\n  6  not breathe a word:  to not tell anyone anything at all about something, because it is a secret//  --Don’t breathe a word; it’s supposed to be a surprise.//\n  7  breathe life into sth:  to change a situation so that people feel more excited or interested//  --Critics are hoping the young director can breathe new life into the French film industry.//\n  8 SKIN:   [I] if your skin can breathe, air can reach it//\n  9 CLOTHES/FABRIC:   [I] if cloth or clothing breathes, air can pass through it so that your body feels pleasantly cool and dry//\n  10 WINE:   [I] if you let wine breathe, you open the bottle to let the air get to it before you drink it//\n  11 SAY SOMETHING QUIETLY:   [T]  written to say something very quietly, almost in a whisper//  --’Wait,’ he breathed.//\n  12  breathe your last (breath):   literary to die//\n  13  breathe fire:  to talk and behave in a very angry way//    live and breathe sth at live1 (19)//  breathe in phr v//  to take air into your lungs//  --The doctor made me breathe in while he listened to my chest.//  breathe sth → in//  --Wyatt breathed in the cool ocean air.//  breathe out phr v//  to send air out from your lungs//  --Jim breathed out deeply.//  breathe sth → out//  --Lauren lit up a cigarette, then breathed out a puff of smoke.//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: breathe //  to breathe in: inhale (formal) //  to breathe out: exhale (formal) //  to breathe noisily: sniff,  snore (=when sleeping) //  snort,  sigh //  to breathe with difficulty: gasp,  pant,  wheeze,  be short of breath,  be out of breath //  to be unable to breathe: choke,  suffocate //  See also:  respiration, lung//  ----------//


Words: breather
Meaning:
n   have/take a breather//   informal to stop what you are doing for a short time in order to rest, especially when you are exercising//    heavy breather//


Words: breathing
Meaning:
n [U]   the process of breathing air in and out//  --His breathing was deep and regular.//  --When I picked up the phone all I heard was heavy breathing  (=loud breathing) .//


Words: breathing space
Meaning:
also breathing room  n [U and C] \n  1 a short time when you have a rest from doing something before starting again:  --This deal should give the company some extra breathing room before its loans are due.//\n  2 enough room to move or breathe easily and comfortably in:


Words: breathless
Meaning:
adj \n  1 having difficulty breathing, especially because you are very tired, excited, or frightened:  --The long climb left Jan feeling breathless.//  breathless with//  --They waited, breathless with anticipation.//\n  2  written excited:  --His first novel drew breathless superlatives from critics.//\n  3  at (a) breathless pace/speed:  extremely fast//\n  4  literary unpleasantly hot, with no fresh air or wind:  --the breathless heat of a midsummer night in Rome//  -- breathlessly adv //  -- breathlessness n  [U] //


Words: breathtaking
Meaning:
adj   very impressive, exciting, or surprising//  --The view from my bedroom window was absolutely breathtaking.//  --an act of breathtaking arrogance//  -- breathtakingly adv //


Words: Brecht
Meaning:
Bertolt   (1898-1956) a German writer of plays and poetry. He is famous for writing plays such as  The Threepenny Opera,  The Caucasian Chalk Circle, and  Mother Courage, which deal with political ideas and are similar in form to ancient Greek plays.//  -- Brechtian adj //  --a Brechtian style//


Words: breech
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: brec, plural of  broc  ’leg-covering’]//  the part of a gun into which you put the bullets//


Words: breech birth
Meaning:
also breech delivery  n [C]   a birth in which the lower part of a baby’s body comes out of its mother first//


Words: breed
Meaning:
S3   v   past tense and past participle  bred /bred///  [Language: Old English; Origin: bredan]//\n  1 [I] if animals breed, they mate in order to have babies:  --Eagles breed during the cooler months of the year.//\n  2 [T] to keep animals or plants in order to produce babies or new plants, especially ones with particular qualities:  --These dogs were originally bred in Scotland to round up sheep.//    crossbreed1 ,  purebred,  thoroughbred//\n  3 [T] to cause a particular feeling or condition:  --Poor living conditions breed violence and despair.//\n  4 [T] if a place, situation, or thing breeds a particular type of person, it produces that type:  --Society’s obsession with sex has bred a generation of unhappy children.//    well-bred,  born and bred at born2 (3)//\nbreed 2 n [C] \n  1 a type of animal that is kept as a pet or on a farm:  breed of//  --Spaniels are my favourite breed of dog.//\n  2 a particular kind of person or type of thing:  --Real cowboys are a dying breed  (=not many exist anymore) .//  --Dodd was one of that rare breed  (=there are not many of them) who could make the game of football look simple.//  breed of//  -- a new breed of international criminal//


Words: breeding
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 when animals produce babies:  --Open-sea fish lay several million eggs each breeding season .//\n  2 the activity of keeping animals or plants in order to produce animals or plants that have particular qualities:  --the breeding of pedigree dogs//  --Benson took great care in selecting breeding stock  (=animals you keep to breed from) .//\n  3 the fact of coming from a family of high rank and having polite social behaviour:  --The young lieutenant had an air of wealth and good breeding .//


Words: breeding ground
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a place or situation where something bad or harmful develops:  breeding ground for//  --Overcrowded slums are breeding grounds for crime.//\n  2 a place where animals go in order to breed:


Words: breeze
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: brise, perhaps from  bise  ’cold north wind’]//\n  1 a gentle wind:  --flowers waving in the breeze//\n  2  be a breeze:   informal to be very easy//  --Don’t think that learning Dutch will be a breeze.//    shoot the breeze at shoot1 (13)//\nbreeze 2 v \n  1 [I always + adverb/preposition] to walk somewhere in a calm confident way:  breeze in/into/out etc//  --She just breezed into my office and said she wanted a job.//\n  2 [T] to do very well in a test, a piece of written work etc, with very little effort:  --Don’t bother studying for the English exam - you’ll breeze it.//  breeze through [breeze through sth] phr v//  to achieve something very easily//  --He breezed through the exam.//


Words: breeze-block
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: breeze  ’small pieces of burnt coal’ (18-20 centuries), from  French braise]//  a light brick used in building, made of cement and cinders//  American Equivalent:  cinder block//


Words: breezy
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a breezy person is happy, confident, and relaxed:  --a breezy and relaxed air of confidence//\n  2 if the weather is breezy, the wind blows quite strongly:  -- breezily adv //


Words: Brer Rabbit
Meaning:
the main character in the children’s stories by Joel Chandler Harris. Brer Rabbit is a clever rabbit from the South of the US, who always manages to escape from danger or from being caught, usually by running into a  brier patch (=group of bushes with sharp points on their branches) . //


Words: brethren
Meaning:
n [plural]  old use   used to address or talk about the members of an organization or group, especially a religious group//


Words: breve
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: brief]//  a musical note which continues for twice as long as a semibreve//


Words: brevity
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: brevitas, from  brevis;   BRIEF1]//\n  1 the quality of expressing something in very few words:    brief//  --Letters published in the newspaper are edited for brevity and clarity.//\n  2 the quality of continuing for only a short time:    brief//  --the brevity of her visit//


Words: brew
Meaning:
v   [Language: Old English; Origin: breowan]//\n  1 [T] to make beer:  --Every beer on the menu was brewed locally.//\n  2 [I] if a drink of tea or coffee is brewing, the taste is getting into the hot water:  --He read the paper while the tea brewed.//\n  3 [T] to make a drink of tea or coffee:  --freshly brewed coffee//\n  4  be brewing:  a) if something unpleasant is brewing, it will happen soon//  --There’s trouble brewing in the office.//  b) if a storm is brewing, it will happen soon//  brew up phr v//  to make a drink of tea//\nbrew 2 n \n  1 [C]  especially BrE a drink that is brewed, especially tea:\n  2 [U and C]  AmE beer, or a can or glass of beer:  --a cold brew in a frosty glass//  --We grabbed a six-pack of brew and headed for the porch.//\n  3 [C usually singular] a combination of different things:  brew of//  --The band played a strange brew of rock, jazz, and country music.//    home brew//


Words: briar
Meaning:
brier/bra[hA366][hA353] $ -[hA353]r/ n   [Sense: 1; Origin: Old English brer]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: briar type of heather  (19-20 centuries), from  French bruy[hA169]re]//\n  1 [U and C] a wild bush with branches that have small sharp points:\n  2 [C] a tobacco pipe made from briar:


Words: bribe
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to illegally give someone, especially a public official, money or a gift in order to persuade them to do something for you:  --The only way we could get into the country was by bribing the border officials.//  bribe sb to do sth//  --He bribed one of the prison guards to smuggle out a note.//\n  2 to offer someone, especially a child, something special in order to persuade them to do something:  bribe sb with sth//  --Samantha wouldn’t do her homework until I bribed her with ice cream.//\nbribe 2 n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ’bread given to a beggar’]//\n  1 money or a gift that you illegally give someone to persuade them to do something for you:  --The officials said that they had been offered bribes before an important game.//  accept/take a bribe //  --A Supreme Court judge was charged with taking bribes.//\n  2 something special offered to someone, especially a child, in order to persuade them to do something:


Words: bribery
Meaning:
n [U]   the act of giving bribes//  --We tried everything - persuasion, bribery, threats.//  --He was found guilty of bribery and corruption  (=bribery and dishonest behaviour) .//


Words: bric-a-brac
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: bric-a-brac]//  small objects that are not worth very much money but are interesting or attractive//


Words: brick
Meaning:
W3S2   n   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: brique, from  Middle Dutch bricke]//\n  1 [U and C] a hard block of baked clay used for building walls, houses etc:  --a brick wall//  --a house made of brick//  --Protesters attacked the police with stones and bricks.//\n  2  bricks and mortar:  houses - used especially when talking about them as an investment//\n  3 [C]  BrE a small square block of wood, plastic etc used as a toy:\n  4 [C]  old-fashioned a good person who you can depend on when you are in trouble:    be (like) banging/bashing etc your head against a brick wall at head1 (31),  drop a brick at drop1 (27)//\nbrick 2 v   brick off [brick sth → off] phr v//  to separate an area from a larger area by building a wall of bricks//  --Some of the rooms had been bricked off.//  brick up/in [brick sth → up/in] phr v//  to fill or close a space by building a wall of bricks in it//  --The windows were bricked up.//


Words: Brick Lane
Meaning:
a road in the East End of London, which has a Sunday street market and many Indian restaurants which serve curry dishes.//


Words: brickbat
Meaning:
n [C]  written   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: brickbat  ’piece of brick (as thrown at someone)’ (16-20 centuries), from  brick +  bat  ’piece of brick’ (16-17 centuries)]//  a criticism of something//  --The plan has drawn both brickbats and praise.//


Words: bricklayer
Meaning:
informal  BrE [C]   someone whose job is to build walls, buildings etc with bricks//  -- bricklaying n  [U] //


Words: brickwork
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the bricks that have been used to build something:  --The brickwork was cracked and in need of repair.//\n  2 the work of building something with bricks:


Words: bridal
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: bridal  ’wedding ceremony’ (11-20 centuries), from  Old English brydealu, from  bryd (  BRIDE) +  ealu (  ALE)]//  relating to a wedding or a woman who is getting married//  --a bridal gown//


Words: bride
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bryd]//  a woman at the time she gets married or just after she is married//    groom//  --You may kiss the bride.//


Words: bridegroom
Meaning:
n  also groom  [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: brydguma, from  bryd (  BRIDE) +  guma  ’man’; influenced by   GROOM22]//  a man at the time he gets married, or just after he is married//


Words: Brideshead Revisited
Meaning:
a novel by Evelyn Waugh, written in 1945. It is about a rich family who live in a large house in the country, and about  upper-class young men at Oxford University in the 1920s.//


Words: bridesmaid
Meaning:
n [C]   a girl or woman, usually unmarried, who helps a bride on her wedding day and is with her at the wedding//    best man//


Words: bridge
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 over a river/road etc:\n   2 connection:\n   3 ship:\n   4 card game:\n   5 the bridge of your nose:\n   6 pair of glasses:\n   7 musical instrument:\n   8 for teeth:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-3, 5-8; Origin: Old English brycg]//  [Sense: 4; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: biritch  ’bridge’ (1800-1900), perhaps from an unrecorded  Turkish bir-u[hA168]  ’one-three’]//\n  1 OVER A RIVER/ROAD ETC:   [C] a structure built over a river, road etc that allows people or vehicles to cross from one side to the other//\n  2 CONNECTION:   [C] something that provides a connection between two things//   link//  bridge between/to//  --The training programme is seen as a bridge between school and work.//  --a scheme to build bridges  (=make a better relationship) between the police and the community//\n  3 SHIP:   [C usually singular] the raised part of a ship from which the officers control it//\n  4 CARD GAME:   [U] a card game for four players who play in pairs//\n  5  the bridge of your nose:  the upper part of your nose between your eyes//\n  6 PAIR OF GLASSES:   [C usually singular] the part of a pair of glasses that rests on your nose//\n  7 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT:   [C usually singular] a small piece of wood under the strings of a violin or guitar, used to keep them in position//\n  8 FOR TEETH:   [C] a small piece of metal that keeps false teeth in place by attaching them to your real teeth//    burn your bridges at burn1 (18),  cross that bridge when you come to it at cross1 (10),  be (all) water under the bridge at water1 (6)//\nbridge 2 v [T] \n  1 to reduce or get rid of the difference between two things:  --The differences between our two cultures can be bridged if we continue to communicate.//  --Alvin managed to  bridge the gap between ballet and modern dance.//\n  2  written to build or form a bridge over something:  --a fallen tree bridging the stream//


Words: Bridget Jones’s Diary
Meaning:
a novel by British writer Helen Fielding. The character Bridget Jones is a British woman in her 30s, who drinks wine, smokes a lot of cigarettes and writes about her troubles in her diary. //


Words: bridging loan
Meaning:
BrE bridge loan  AmE n [C]   an amount of money that a bank lends you for a short period of time until you receive money from somewhere else//


Words: bridle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bridel]//  a set of leather bands put around a horse’s head and used to control its movements//\nbridle 2 v \n  1 [I]  written to become angry and offended about something:  bridle at//  --The senator bridled at the reporter’s question.//\n  2 [T] to put a bridle on a horse:


Words: brief
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin brevis]//\n  1 continuing for a short time:  --We stopped by Alice’s house for a brief visit.//  --Let’s keep this conversation brief; I have a plane to catch.//  a brief period/moment/spell etc //  --Greene spent a brief time at Cambridge.//\n  2 using very few words or including few details:  --The President read a brief statement to reporters before boarding his plane.//  --a brief description of the film//\n  3  be brief:  to say or write something using only a few words, especially because there is little time//  --I’ll be brief; a lot of changes are going to happen.//\n  4 clothes which are brief are short and cover only a small area of your body:  --a very brief bikini//\nbrief 2 n [C] \n  1 [usually singular] official instructions that explain what someone’s job is, what their duties are etc:  --The architect’s brief is to design an extension that is modern but blends with the rest of the building.//\n  2  law a short spoken or written statement giving facts about a law case:  --The ACLU filed a brief (=gave one to the court) opposing the decision.//\n  3  BrE  law a law case that a lawyer will argue in a court:\n  4 a short report about something:\n  5  in brief:  a) in as few words as possible//  --We should, in brief, invest heavily in digital systems.//  b) without any details//  --Here again are today’s headlines in brief.//\n  6  briefs [plural] men’s or women’s underwear worn on the lower part of the body:\nbrief 3 v [T]   to give someone all the information about a situation that they will need//  brief sb on sth//  --The president has been fully briefed on the current situation in Haiti.//    debrief//


Words: Brief Encounter
Meaning:
a British film by David Lean made in 1945, from a play by Noel Coward. It is a love story, about a housewife and a doctor, who fall in love but then decide to separate. It is remembered especially for the romantic scenes in a railway station and is known for its realism and artistic filming.//


Words: Brief History of Time
Meaning:
A   a book by Stephen  Hawking in which he explains his ideas about how the universe and time began and how they have developed//


Words: briefcase
Meaning:
n [C]   handle, combination lock//  a flat case used especially by business people for carrying papers or documents//


Words: briefly
Meaning:
W3S2   adv \n  1 for a short time:  --We stopped off briefly in London on our way to Geneva.//\n  2 in as few words as possible:  --Sonia explained briefly what we had to do.//  [sentence adverb] //  --Briefly, I think we should accept their offer.//


Words: brig
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: brigantine]//\n  1 a ship with two masts (=poles) and large square sails:\n  2  AmE a military prison, especially on a ship:


Words: brigade
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Italian brigata, from  brigare  ’to fight’, from  briga  ’fighting’]//\n  1 a large group of soldiers forming part of an army:\n  2 an insulting word for a group of people who have the same beliefs:  --the anti-nuclear brigade//\n  3 a group of people who are organized to do something:  --Snowmobile brigades delivered food and medicine.//    fire brigade//


Words: brigadier
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: brigade;   BRIGADE]//  a high military rank in the British Army, or the person who has this rank//


Words: brigand
Meaning:
n [C]  literary   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Old Italian brigante, from  brigare;   BRIGADE]//  a thief, especially one of a group that attacks people in mountains or forests//


Words: bright
Meaning:
adj   comparative  brighter superlative  brightest //  ----------//\n   1 light:\n   2 sunny:\n   3 intelligent:\n   4 colours:\n   5 cheerful:\n   6 successful:\n   7 as bright as a button:\n   8 look on the bright side:\n   9 bright and early:\n  10 bright spark:\n  11 bright and breezy:\n  12 bright-eyed and bushy-tailed:\n  13 the bright lights:\n  14 bright spot:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: beorht]//\n  1 LIGHT:  shining strongly, or with plenty of light//  --Her eyes were hurting from the bright lights.//  --The buildings looked lovely in the bright sunshine.//  --a large bright room//\n  2 SUNNY:  if the weather is bright, the sun is shining and there is a lot of light//  → dull//  --The weather was bright and sunny.//  --a bright autumn day//\n  3 INTELLIGENT:  intelligent and able to learn things quickly//  --He was an exceptionally bright child.//  --a bright ambitious young man//  --He is constantly coming up with bright ideas for making money.//\n  4 COLOURS:  bright colours are strong and easy to see//  --a bright red jumper//  --I never wear bright colours.//\n  5 CHEERFUL:  happy and full of energy//  --Her voice was bright and cheerful.//  --She gave him a bright smile.//  --He looked up at me with bright eyes.//\n  6 SUCCESSFUL:  if the future looks bright, you think that something will be successful//   promising//  --The school’s future now looks very bright.//  --I’m sure the company has a bright future now.//\n  7  as bright as a button:  very intelligent and full of energy//\n  8  look on the bright side:  to see the good points in a situation that seems to be bad//  --Come on, try to look on the bright side.//\n  9  bright and early:  very early in the morning//  --He was up bright and early, keen to get started.//\n  10  bright spark:   informal someone who says or does something that they think is intelligent but is really wrong or stupid//  --Some bright spark thought the building was on fire and called the fire brigade.//\n  11  bright and breezy:  happy and confident//\n  12  bright-eyed and bushy-tailed:  happy and full of energy//\n  13  the bright lights:  the interesting exciting life in a big city//  --She missed the bright lights of London.//\n  14  bright spot:  an event or a period of time that is more pleasant when everything else is unpleasant//  --The only bright spot of the weekend was our trip to the theatre.//  -- brightly adv //  --The sun shone brightly.//  --brightly-coloured clothes//  --She smiled brightly.//  -- brightness n  [U] //


Words: brighten
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 make lighter:\n   2 make more attractive:\n   3 make more enjoyable:\n   4 become lighter/brighter:\n   5 become sunny:\n   6 become happy:  ----------//\n  1 MAKE LIGHTER:   [T]  also brighten sth → up //  to make something lighter or brighter//  --Use blonde highlights to brighten your hair.//  --The morning sunshine brightened up the room.//\n  2 MAKE MORE ATTRACTIVE:   [T]  also brighten sth → up //  to make something more colourful or attractive//  --She bought some flowers to brighten the room.//  --I want to brighten the place up a bit.//\n  3 MAKE MORE ENJOYABLE:   [T]  also brighten sth → up //  to make something more enjoyable, exciting or interesting//  --His letter brightened my day.//  --I felt I needed something to brighten up my life.//\n  4 BECOME LIGHTER/BRIGHTER:   [I] to shine more strongly, or become brighter in colour//  --The stage lights brightened to reveal a street scene.//\n  5 BECOME SUNNY:   [I]  also brighten up //  if the weather brightens, the sun begins to shine and it becomes lighter//  --The sky brightened after lunch.//  --Let’s hope the weather brightens up later.//  --It brightened up a bit in the afternoon.//\n  6 BECOME HAPPY:   [I]  also brighten up //  to become happier or more excited//  --His eyes brightened when we started talking about money.//  --She brightened up a bit when she saw us.//


Words: Brighton
Meaning:
a city on the south coast of England, which has been a popular place for holidays since the 18th century. It is famous for the Brighton Pavilion, a large building with an unusual  oriental design.//


Words: brights
Meaning:
n [plural]  AmE   car headlights when they are shining as brightly as possible//  --driving with brights on//


Words: brilliance
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 a very high level of intelligence or skill:  --He is also respected for his brilliance as an artist.//\n  2 very great brightness:  --The stars glittered with the brilliance of jewels.//


Words: brilliant
Meaning:
W3S3   adj   ----------//\n   1 bright:\n   2 clever:\n   3 excellent:\n   4 successful:  ----------//  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: , present participle of  briller  ’to shine’, from  Italian brillare, probably from  Latin beryllus;   BERYL]//\n  1 BRIGHT:  brilliant light or colour is very bright and strong//  --She closed her eyes against the brilliant light .//  --We sat outside in the brilliant sunshine .//  --She was dressed in brilliant white.//\n  2 CLEVER:  extremely clever or skilful//  --I think that’s a brilliant idea .//  --a brilliant performance//  --a brilliant young musician//\n  3 EXCELLENT:   BrE excellent//  --The film was absolutely brilliant .//\n  4 SUCCESSFUL:  very successful//  --He had a long and brilliant career .//  --The project was a brilliant success .//  -- brilliantly adv //  --The sun was shining brilliantly.//  --The goalkeeper played brilliantly.//


Words: brim
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 the bottom part of a hat that sticks out to protect you from sun and rain:  --an old straw hat with a broad brim//\n  2 the top edge of a container:  --She filled each glass to the brim.//  filled/full to the brim (=completely full) //  --The cup was filled to the brim with coffee.//\nbrim 2   past tense and past participle  brimmed present participle  brimming  v [I] //\n  1 if your eyes brim with tears, or if tears brim from your eyes, you start to cry:  brim with//  --Her eyes brimmed with tears.//  --Her tears brimmed over again as she started to speak.//\n  2  be brimming (over) with sth:  to have a lot of a particular thing, quality, or emotion//  --The flowerbeds were brimming over with flowers//  --He seemed to be brimming with confidence .//  --Rob was just brimming with enthusiasm.//


Words: brimful
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   very full of something//  brimful of//  --The team is brimful of confidence after their win last week.//  --a glass brimful of red wine//


Words: brindled
Meaning:
[Date: 1600-1700; Origin: brinded  ’brindled’ (15-19 centuries), perhaps from a  Scandinavian language]//  a brindled animal is brown and has marks or bands of another colour//  -- brindle n  [U and C] //


Words: brine
Meaning:
n [U]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bryne]//\n  1 water which contains a lot of salt and is used for preserving food:  --fish pickled in brine//\n  2 sea water:


Words: bring
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  brought /br[hA350][hA359]t $ br[hA361][hA359]t/ [T] //  [Language: Old English; Origin: bringan]//\n  1 :  a) to take something or someone with you to the place where you are now, or to the place you are talking about//    take//  --Did you bring an umbrella?//  --It was the first time Joey had ever brought a girl home .//  --They brought news of further fighting along the border.//  bring sth/sb to sth/sb//  --Is it OK if I bring some friends to the party?//  bring sb/sth with you//  --For some reason, Jesse had brought a tape recorder with him.//  b) to get something for someone and take it to them//  bring sb sth//  --Can you bring me another beer?//  --Robert asked the waiter to bring him the check.//  --While she was in prison, friends used to bring her books and writing materials.//  bring sth/sb to sth/sb//  --He expects me to bring everything to him in bed.//\n  2 :  a) to make a particular situation exist or cause a particular feeling//  --efforts to bring peace to the region//  --The strikes are expected to bring chaos.//  --The senator’s speech brought an angry response from Civil Rights groups.//  b) to cause someone or something to reach a particular state or condition//  bring sth to an end/a close/a halt/a conclusion (=make something stop) //  --The trial was swiftly brought to an end.//  --It was the war that first brought him to power  (=make someone have power over a country) .//  --So far the US has been unable to bring him to justice  (=make him be punished for his actions) .//  -- Bring the sauce to the boil  (=heat it until it boils) .//  --The country had been brought to its knees  (=caused to be in such a bad condition that it is almost impossible to continue) .//\n  3 [always + adverb/preposition] to make something move in a particular direction:  bring sth up/down/round etc//  --Bring your arm up slowly until it’s level with your shoulder.//  --He lifted the axe above his head, then brought it down with a thud on the tree trunk.//  --The storm brought the old oak tree crashing down.//\n  4 [always + adverb/preposition] if something brings people to a place, it makes them go there:  --The discovery of gold brought thousands of people to the Transvaal.//  what brings you here? (=used to ask why someone is in a particular place) //  --What brings you here on a night like this?//\n  5 to make something available for people to use, have, enjoy etc:  --The expansion of state education brought new and wider opportunities for working class children.//  bring sth to sb/sth//  --The government is launching a new initiative to bring jobs to deprived areas.//  bring sb sth//  --It’s a good sign - let’s hope it will bring us some luck.//\n  6 if a period of time brings a particular event or situation, the event or situation happens during that time:  --The 1930s brought unemployment and economic recession.//  --Who knows what the future will bring?//\n  7  bring charges/a lawsuit/a court case/a prosecution/a claim (against sb):  to begin a court case in order to try to prove that someone has done something wrong or is legally responsible for something wrong//  --Survivors of the fire later brought a billion dollar lawsuit against the company.//  --The police say they are planning to bring charges against him.//\n  8  bring a smile to sb’s lips/face:  to make someone smile//  --Her words brought a sudden smile to his lips.//\n  9  bring tears to sb’s eyes:  to make someone start to cry//  --The pain brought tears to his eyes.//\n  10  bring the total/number/score etc to sth:  used when saying what the new total etc is//  --This brings the total to 46.//\n  11  cannot/could not bring yourself to do sth:  to feel unable to do something because it would upset you or someone else too much//  --She still can’t bring herself to talk about it.//\n  12  spoken used when saying that something is the next thing that you want to talk about:  that/this/which brings me to ... //  --This brings me to the main point of today’s meeting.//\n  13 if a programme is brought to you by a particular television or radio company, they broadcast it or make it:  sth is brought to you by sb//  --This programme is brought to you by the BBC.//\n  14  bring sth to bear (on/upon sth):   formal to use something, for example your power, authority, or your knowledge, in a way that will have a big effect on something or someone//  --The full force of the law was brought to bear on anyone who criticized the government.//\n  15  bring home the bacon:   informal to earn the money that your family needs to live//  bring about [bring sth → about] phr v//  to make something happen//   cause//  --How can we bring about a change in attitudes?//  --A huge amount of environmental damage has been brought about by the destruction of the rainforests.//  bring along [bring sb/sth → along] phr v//  to take someone or something with you when you go somewhere//  --You’re welcome to bring along a friend.//  --I’ve brought some pictures along to show you.//  bring around/round [bring sb/sth around/round] phr v//\n  1  bring the conversation around/round to sth:  to deliberately and gradually introduce a new subject into a conversation//  --I’ll try to bring the conversation around to the subject of money.//\n  2 to make someone become conscious again:  --I slapped his face a couple of times to try to bring him round.//\n  3 to manage to persuade someone to do something or to agree with you:  --She won’t listen to me. Let’s see if Sue can bring her round.//  bring somebody/something around/round to//  --I’m sure I can bring him around to our point of view.//\n  4 to bring someone or something to someone’s house:  --I’ll bring the books around tomorrow.//  bring back phr v//\n  1  bring sth → back:  to start to use something again that was used in the past//   reintroduce//  --The city council has decided to bring back the old electric trams.//  --Bringing back the death penalty has done absolutely nothing to reduce crime.//\n  2  bring sth → back:  to make you remember something//  --The trip brought back a lot of happy memories .//  --Seeing those pictures on TV brought it all back to me.//\n  3  bring sth → back:  to take something or someone with you when you come back from somewhere//  bring sth back for sb//  --Don’t forget to bring something back for the kids.//  bring sb back sth//  --If you’re going to the store, could you bring me back a six-pack?//\n  4  bring sb → back:  to return someone to their previous job or position of authority//   reinstate//  --Following their latest defeat, soccer fans are urging the club to bring back the former manager.//\n  5  bring sb back to sth:  if something that is said brings you back to a particular subject, it is connected with that subject, so you will start talking about it again//  --This brings us back to the question of funding.//  bring down [bring sb/sth → down] phr v//\n  1 to reduce something to a lower level:  --The government hopes these measures will help to bring down inflation.//\n  2 to fly a plane down to the ground:   land//  --The pilot managed to bring the plane down safely.//\n  3 to make a plane, bird, or animal fall to the ground by shooting at it:  --A bomber had been brought down by anti-aircraft fire.//\n  4 to force a government or ruler to stop ruling a country:  --a crisis that could bring down the government//\n  5 to make someone fall over:  --He was brought down by the goalkeeper and awarded a penalty.//  bring down on/upon [bring sth → down on/upon sb] phr v//  to make something bad happen to someone, especially to yourself or to people connected with you//  --His recklessness brought down disaster on the whole family.//  bring forth [bring sth → forth] phr v//  to produce something or make it appear//  --a tragic love affair that brought forth only pain//  bring forward [bring sth → forward] phr v//\n  1 to change an arrangement so that something happens sooner:  bring something → forward to//  --The meeting’s been brought forward to Thursday.//\n  2  bring forward legislation/plans/policies etc:  to officially introduce plans etc for people to discuss//  --The government has brought forward new proposals to tackle the problem of increasing crime.//\n  3 to record the result of a calculation so that it can be used in a further calculation:  --The balance brought forward is [hA124]21,765.//  bring in [bring sb/sth → in] phr v//\n  1 to introduce a new law:  --Harsh anti-Trade Union laws were brought in in the early 1980s.//\n  2 to ask someone to become involved in a discussion or situation:  --I’d like to bring in Doctor Hall here and ask him his views.//  bring sb in to do sth//  --The police were brought in to investigate the matter.//\n  3 to earn a particular amount or produce a particular amount of profit:  --The sale of the house only brought in about [hA124]45,000.//\n  4 to attract customers to a shop or business:  --We’ve got to bring in more business if we want the restaurant to survive.//\n  5  bring in a verdict:  to say officially in a law court whether someone is guilty or not guilty of a crime//   return a verdict//  --The jury brought in a verdict of not guilty.//  bring into [bring sb/sth into sth] phr v//\n  1 to cause someone or something to be in a particular situation:  --Most of the land has now been brought into cultivation.//  --The work brought me into contact with a lot of very interesting people.//\n  2 to make someone become involved in a discussion or situation:  --The government is trying to bring teachers into the debate on education.//  --There is a danger that this could bring other countries into the war.//  bring off [bring sth → off] phr v//  to succeed in doing something difficult//   pull off//  --They managed to bring off the most daring jewellery robbery in history.//  bring on [bring sth → on] phr v//\n  1 to make something bad or unpleasant happen:   cause//  --Stress can bring on an asthma attack.//  --What’s brought this on? Have I upset you somehow?//\n  2 to help someone to improve or make progress:  --Teachers have to bring on the bright children and at the same time give extra help to those who need it.//\n  3 to make plants or crops grow faster:  --Keeping the young plants in a greenhouse will help bring them on.//  bring on/upon [bring sth on/upon sb] phr v//  to make something unpleasant happen to someone//  --You have brought disaster on the whole village!//  bring sth on/upon yourself//  --I’ve got no sympathy for him - he’s brought this all on himself!//  bring onto [bring sb onto sth] phr v//  if something brings you onto a particular subject, it is a good time for you to start talking about it//  --This brings me onto the question of pay rises.//  bring out [bring sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to make something easier to see, taste, notice etc:  --The spices really bring out the flavour of the meat.//  --Fatherhood seems to have brought out the caring side of him.//\n  2 to produce something that will be sold to the public:  --He’s bringing out a new album next month.//  --They’ve brought out a new perfume called ’Desire’.//\n  3 to take something out of a place:  --Jenny opened the cupboard and brought out a couple of bottles.//\n  4  bring out the best/worst in sb:  to make someone behave in the best or worst way that they can//  --Alcohol just brings out the worst in her.//\n  5  bring sb out of himself/herself:  to make someone feel more confident and able to talk to people//  --Changing schools has really brought her out of herself.//  bring out in [bring sb out in sth] phr v//  if something brings you out in spots, it makes them appear on your skin//  --Any foods containing wheat bring him out in a rash.//  bring round [bring sb/sth round] //    bring around//  bring through () [bring sb through (sth)] phr v//  to help someone to successfully deal with a very difficult event or period of time//  --Both my children have brought me through extremely difficult times since my husband died.//  bring together [bring sb → together] phr v//\n  1 to arrange for people to meet and do something together:  --We brought together researchers from three different universities to work on the project.//\n  2 to make people have a better relationship or feel closer to each other:  --Any attack by a foreign power will inevitably bring the people of a country together.//  bring up [bring sb/sth → up] phr v//\n  1 to mention a subject or start to talk about it:   raise//  --Why did you have to bring up the subject of money?//\n  2 to look after and influence a child until he or she is grown up:   raise//  --He was brought up by his grandparents.//  bring sb up to do sth//  --In my day, children were brought up to respect the law.//  be brought up (as) a Catholic/Muslim etc //  --I was brought up a Catholic.//    upbringing//\n  3 to make something appear on a computer screen:  --Can you bring up the list of candidates again?//\n  4  BrE if you bring food up, it comes back up from your stomach and out of your mouth:  --I had a sandwich for lunch and promptly brought it up again.//\n  5 to charge someone with a particular crime and make them go to a court to be judged:  bring somebody/something → up before//  --He was brought up before a magistrate, charged with dangerous driving.//\n  6  bring sb up short/with a start:  to surprise someone and make them suddenly stop talking or doing something//  --Her question brought me up short.//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: bring, take, get, fetch //  bring means to carry something or come with someone to the place where you are or to the place where you are talking about : Would you like me to bring anything to the party? | She brought her Spanish friend into class. //  take means to carry something or go with someone to another place, away from where you are or where you are talking about : Don’t forget to take your umbrella.| I’ll take you home. //  get means to go to another place and come back with something or someone : I went upstairs to get my jacket. //  In British English, you can also use  fetch : Will you fetch Susan from the airport? //  In American English, you only use  fetch  to talk about a dog getting something. //  ----------//


Words: brink
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old Norse; Origin: brekka  ’slope’]//\n  1  the brink (of sth):  a situation when you are almost in a new situation, usually a bad one//  on the brink of death/disaster/war etc //  --In October 1962 the world seemed on the brink of nuclear war.//  --The company had huge debts and was on the brink of collapse.//  to the brink (of sth)//  --managers who have taken their companies to the brink of disaster//  back from the brink (of sth)//  --He will go down in history as the leader who pulled us back from the brink (=saved us from disaster) .//\n  2  push/tip sb over the brink:  to make someone start doing crazy or extreme things//\n  3  the brink of sth:   literary the edge of a very high place such as a cliff//


Words: brinkmanship
Meaning:
AmE [U]   a method of gaining political advantage by pretending that you are willing to do something very dangerous//


Words: briny
Meaning:
adj   briny water is water that contains a lot of salt//\nbriny 2 n   the briny//   old-fashioned the sea//


Words: brioche
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: Old French brier  ’to knead’]//  a type of sweet bread made with flour, eggs, and butter//


Words: briquette
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: brique  ’brick’]//  a block of pressed coal dust, to burn in a fire or barbecue//


Words: Brisbane
Meaning:
a port and the capital city of Queensland state in the east of Australia, the third largest city in the country//


Words: brisk
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  French brusque;   BRUSQUE]//\n  1 quick and full of energy:  --a brisk walk //  --They set off at a brisk pace .//\n  2 quick, practical and showing that you want to get things done quickly:  --Her tone of voice is brisk.//\n  3 trade or business that is brisk is very busy, with a lot of products being sold:  --The public bar was already doing a brisk trade .//\n  4 weather that is brisk is cold and clear:  -- briskly adv //  --They walked briskly.//  -- briskness n  [U] //


Words: brisket
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from  Old Norse brjosk  ’cartilage’]//  meat from the chest of an animal, especially a cow//


Words: bristle
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old English; Origin: byrst  ’bristle’]//\n  1 [U and C] a short stiff hair that feels rough:  --His chin was covered with bristles.//\n  2 [C] a short stiff hair, wire etc that forms part of a brush:\nbristle 2 v [I] \n  1 to behave in a way that shows you are very angry or annoyed:  bristle with rage/indignation etc //  --John pushed back his chair, bristling with rage.//  bristle at//  --He bristled at her rudeness.//\n  2 if an animal’s hair bristles, it stands up stiffly because the animal is afraid or angry:  bristle with [bristle with sth] phr v//  to have a lot of something or be full of something//  --a battleship bristling with guns//


Words: bristly
Meaning:
adj \n  1 bristly hair is short and stiff:\n  2 a bristly part of your body has short stiff hairs on it:  --a bristly chin//


Words: Bristol Channel
Meaning:
the Bristol Channel//  an area of water between South Wales and southwest England which goes from the Atlantic Ocean to the mouth of the Severn River//


Words: Bristol Cream
Meaning:
trademark   a type of very sweet  sherry which is made by Harvey’s. It is one of the most popular types of sherry in the UK.//


Words: Brit Awards
Meaning:
the   a set of prizes given every year at a public ceremony to the best British popular musicians. There are similar prizes in the US called the  Grammy Awards.//


Words: Britannia
Meaning:
a female figure representing Britain, formerly shown on some coins. Britannia is usually shown sitting down, wearing a  helmet, and holding a  trident (=an ancient weapon with three points, which looks like a large fork) . Next to her feet she has a  shield with the design of the British flag on it. There is a popular national song called  Rule Britannia.//


Words: British
Meaning:
adj   [Language: Old English; Origin: Brettisc  ’of ancient Britain’, from  Bret  ’British person’, from a  Celtic language]//  relating to Britain or its people//  --the British government//  --a British-born scientist//  -- Britishness n  [U] //\nBritish 2 n   the British [plural] people from Britain//


Words: British Academy
Meaning:
the   a society that was started in 1901 to encourage the study of language, literature, history, economics etc. Most of its members are university teachers who have done important work in their subjects. There is a similar society for people working in scientific fields, called the  Royal Society//


Words: British Board of Film Classification
Meaning:
the   a special committee in the UK whose job is to watch new films and decide whether children or young people will be allowed to see them. They give each film a  certificate, showing which films can be shown to anyone (U), which can be seen by children if an adult goes with them (PG), and which films can only be seen by people over a particular age (12, 15, and 18). There is a similar organization in the US called the  Motion Picture association of America. //


Words: British Council
Meaning:
the   an organization that was set up in 1935 to represent the UK’s interests abroad in areas such as education and the arts//


Words: British Empire
Meaning:
the   the group of countries formerly connected with and controlled by Great Britain, which was at its largest at the time of the World War I, when it included 25 per cent of the world’s area//


Words: British Isles
Meaning:
n   the group of islands that includes Great Britain, Ireland, and the smaller islands around them//


Words: British Legion
Meaning:
the  also the Royal British Legion   a British organization which helps people who have been in the armed forces and their families. The British Legion collects money by selling  poppies for Remembrance Day.//


Words: British Library
Meaning:
the   the national library of the UK, with centres in London and in Yorkshire, which receives a copy of every book produced in the UK//


Words: British Lions
Meaning:
the   the Rugby Union team, chosen from players from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland to play in international matches//


Words: British Museum
Meaning:
the British Museum//  a famous building in London which contains a large and important collection of ancient art, writings, coins, drawings etc//


Words: British Open
Meaning:
the  also the Open   the most important British  golf competition, which is held every year in different parts of the UK//


Words: British Summer Time
Meaning:
n [U]   BST the time one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time that is used in Britain from late March to late October//    daylight saving time//


Words: Briton
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Breton  ’ancient Briton’, from  Latin Brito, from a  Celtic language]//   formal someone from Britain//  --the ancient Britons//  --the first Briton to win the championship for twenty years//


Words: Britten
Meaning:
Benjamin   (1913-76) a British musician,  composer, and  conductor (=someone who directs a group of musicians)  who wrote   A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra (1945),  A War Requiem (1962) and the  operas Peter Grimes (1951) and  Billy Budd (1951)//


Words: brittle
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old English; Origin: gebryttan  ’to break into pieces’]//\n  1 hard but easily broken:  --The branches were dry and brittle.//  --Joanna was diagnosed as having brittle bones.//\n  2 a situation, relationship, or feeling that is brittle is easily damaged or destroyed:  --He spoke with the brittle confidence of someone who, underneath, was very worried.//\n  3 showing no warm feelings:  --a brittle laugh//


Words: bro
Meaning:
n   plural  bros  [C]  spoken //  [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: brother]//\n  1 your brother:\n  2  AmE a way of greeting a friend:


Words: broach
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: broach  ’to make a hole in, stab’ (14-17 centuries), from  broach  ’tool for making holes’ (14-17 centuries), from  French broche;   BROOCH]//\n  1  broach the subject/question/matter etc:  to mention a subject that may be embarrassing or unpleasant or cause an argument//  --I broached the subject of his past.//\n  2 to open a bottle or barrel containing wine, beer etc:


Words: broad
Meaning:
adj   ----------//\n   1 wide:\n   2 including a lot:\n   3 general:\n   4 large area:\n   5 way of speaking:\n   6 broad smile/grin:\n   7 in broad daylight:\n   8 broad hint:\n   9 a broad church:\n  10 humour:\n  11 broad in the beam:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: brad]//\n  1 WIDE:  a road, river, or part of someone’s body etc that is broad is wide//  → narrow//    breadth//  --We went along a broad passage.//  --He was six feet tall, with broad shoulders.//  six feet/three metres etc broad //  --The room is three metres long and two metres broad. see usage note  wide1 //\n  2 INCLUDING A LOT:  including many different kinds of things or people//  → narrow//    breadth//  --The show aims to reach the broadest possible audience.//  broad range/spectrum //  --Students here study a broad range of subjects.//  broad category/field/area etc //  --Private pension schemes fall into two broad categories.//  --a party which lacks a broad base of political support//  --The play is a comedy, in the broadest sense of the word .//\n  3 GENERAL:  concerning the main ideas or parts of something rather than all the details//  --The client should understand, in broad terms , the likely cost of the case.//  broad consensus/agreement etc //  --The members were in broad agreement.//  broad outline/framework //  --I’ll give you a broad outline of the plan.//\n  4 LARGE AREA:  covering a large area//  --a broad expanse of water//\n  5 WAY OF SPEAKING:  a broad accent clearly shows where you come from//   strong//  --a broad Scottish accent//\n  6  broad smile/grin:  a big smile//  --Abby came in with a broad smile on her face.//\n  7  in broad daylight:  if something, especially a crime, happens in broad daylight, it happens in the daytime and in public//  --The attack happened in broad daylight, in one of the busiest parts of town.//\n  8  broad hint:  a hint (=suggestion)  that is very clear and easy to understand//  --In June he gave a broad hint that he might retire.//\n  9  a broad church:   BrE an organization that contains a wide range of opinions//  --The Labour Party has to be a broad church.//\n  10 HUMOUR:  broad humour is rather rude or concerned with sex//\n  11  broad in the beam:   informal having large or fat hips//\nbroad 2 n [C]  AmE  spoken  not polite   an offensive word for a woman//


Words: broadband
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1  technical a system of sending radio signals which allows several messages to be sent at the same time:\n  2 a system of connecting computers to the Internet and moving information, such as messages or pictures, at a very high speed:  -- broadband adj  [only before noun] //  --broadband communications//


Words: broadbrush
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   dealing only with the main parts of something, and not with the details//   general//  --a broadbrush strategy//


Words: broadcast
Meaning:
n [C]   a programme on the radio or on television//  --a news broadcast//  --CNN’s live broadcast of the trial (=sent out at the same time as the events are happening) //\nbroadcast 2 v   past tense and past participle  broadcast //\n  1 [I and T] to send out radio or television programmes:  --The interview was broadcast live across Europe.//\n  2 [T] to tell something to a lot of people:  --There was no need to broadcast the fact that he lost his job.//


Words: broadcaster
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who speaks on radio or television programmes:  --a well-known journalist and broadcaster//\n  2 a company which sends out television or radio programmes:  --the British broadcaster Channel Four//


Words: Broadcasting Standards Council
Meaning:
the   in Britain, a group of people who watch television and listen to radio programmes, and decide whether they contain too much sex or violence or are offensive or unsuitable in any way//


Words: broaden
Meaning:
v \n  1 [T] to increase something such as your knowledge, experience, or range of activities:  --The course helps school-leavers broaden their knowledge of the world of work.//  --I’d like to work abroad to broaden my horizons  (=learn, experience, or attempt new things) .//  --Travel broadens the mind  (=helps you to understand and accept other people’s beliefs, customs etc) .//\n  2 [I and T] to affect or include more people or things, or to make something affect or include more people or things:   widen, expand//  --Mr Mates said the party must broaden its appeal to younger voters.//  --Flynn’s appeal broadened as the campaign continued into the summer months.//  --I want to broaden the discussion to other aspects of the problem.//\n  3 [I and T] to make something wider or to become wider:   widen//  --Mark’s smile broadened.//  --The council decided to broaden the pavement.//  broaden out phr v//  if something, especially a river or road, broadens out, it becomes wider//   widen out//  --The river broadens out at this point.//


Words: broadly
Meaning:
adv \n  1 in a general way, relating to the main facts rather than details:  --She knows broadly what to expect.//  broadly similar/comparable/equivalent etc //  --We reached broadly similar conclusions.//  -- Broadly speaking , there are four types of champagne.//  --Independent films are, broadly defined , movies that appeal to sophisticated audiences.//\n  2  smile/grin broadly:  to have a big smile on your face which clearly shows that you are happy or amused//\n  3 including a range of different things or subjects:  --a broadly based school curriculum//  --We invest broadly to lessen the risk.//


Words: broadminded
Meaning:
broad-minded/br[hA350][hA359]dma[hA366]nd[hA369]d[hA36B] $ br[hA361][hA359]d-/ adj   willing to respect opinions or behaviour that are very different from your own//  → narrow-minded//  --Her parents were broadminded, tolerant, and liberal.//  -- broad-mindedness n  [U] //    small-minded//


Words: Broads
Meaning:
the Broads//  an area of water leading to the sea in Norfolk, which is a popular place for sailing holidays//


Words: broadside
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a strong criticism of someone or something:  --Can the government survive this latest broadside from its own supporters?//\n  2 an attack in which all the guns on one side of a ship are fired at the same time:\nbroadside 2 adv   with the longest side facing something//   sideways//  broadside to//  --I brought the boat in broadside to the beach.//\nbroadside 3 v [T]    especially AmE to crash into the side of another vehicle//


Words: Broadway
Meaning:
a street in New York City where there are many theatres. Broadway and the area around it is the centre of the city’s theatre industry//  -- The new show will open on Broadway next month.//  -- a Broadway musical//


Words: brocade
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Spanish; Origin: brocado, from  Italian broccato, from  broccare  ’to set with large-headed nails’, from  Latin broccus;   BROOCH]//  thick heavy decorative cloth which has a pattern of gold and silver threads//  --brocade curtains//  --deluxe brocades and satins//  -- brocaded adj //


Words: broccoli
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Italian; Origin: , plural of  broccolo, from  brocco  ’small nail’, from  Latin broccus;   BROOCH]//  a green vegetable that has short branch-like stems//


Words: brochure
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: brocher  ’to sew’, from  broche (  BROOCH); because the pages are sewn together]//  a thin book giving information or advertising something//  --a holiday brochure//


Words: brogue
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1; Date: 1500-1600; Language: Irish Gaelic; Origin:  and  Scottish Gaelic brog, from  Old Norse brok  ’leg-covering’]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from  Irish Gaelic barrog  ’(wrestling) hold’ (as in  barrog teangan  ’hold of the tongue, lisp’)]//\n  1 [usually plural] a thick strong leather shoe with a pattern in the leather:  --a new pair of brogues//\n  2 [usually singular] an accent, especially an Irish or Scottish accent:


Words: broil
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: bruler  ’to burn’]//\n  1 [T]  AmE to cook something under direct heat, or over a flame on a barbecue:  British Equivalent:  grill//  --broiled chicken//\n  2 [I and T]  AmE to become very hot:  --We lay broiling in the sun.//


Words: broiler
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  AmE a special area of a stove used for cooking food under direct heat:  British Equivalent:  grill//\n  2 a broiler chicken:


Words: broke
Meaning:
the past tense of break//\nbroke 2 adj [not before noun]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  An old past participle of  break]//\n  1 having no money:  --I’m fed up with being broke all the time.//  flat/stony broke (=completely broke) //\n  2  go broke:  if a company or business goes broke, it can no longer operate because it has no money//  --A lot of small businesses went broke in the recession.//\n  3  go for broke:   informal to take big risks when you try to achieve something//  --At 2-0 down with ten minutes left, you have to go for broke.//


Words: broken
Meaning:
v   the past participle of break//\nbroken 2 W3S3 adj   ----------//\n   1 piece of equipment:\n   2 object:\n   3 bone:\n   4 not continuous:\n   5 person:\n   6 broken English/French etc:\n   7 broken home:\n   8 broken marriage:\n   9 a broken heart:  ----------//\n  1 PIECE OF EQUIPMENT:  not working properly//  --The CD player’s broken again.//  --Do you know how the phone got broken  (=became broken) ?//\n  2 OBJECT:  in small pieces because it has been hit, dropped etc//  --Mind the broken glass.//  --Wrap it up well so it doesn’t get broken  (=become broken) in the mail.//\n  3 BONE:  cracked because you have had an accident//  --a badly broken leg//  --Gibbs had an X-ray which revealed no broken bones.//\n  4 NOT CONTINUOUS:  interrupted and not continuous//  --a broken white line//  --a long noisy night of broken sleep//\n  5 PERSON:  extremely weak mentally or physically because you have suffered a lot//  --He returned from the war a broken man.//\n  6  broken English/French etc:  if you speak in broken English, French etc, you speak slowly and make a lot of mistakes because you only know a little of the language//\n  7  broken home:  a family that no longer lives together because the parents have divorced//  --The majority of offenders do not come from broken homes.//\n  8  broken marriage:  a marriage that has ended because the husband and wife do not live together any more//\n  9  a broken heart:  a feeling of extreme sadness, especially because someone you love has died or left you//  --I reckon she died of a broken heart.//


Words: broken-hearted
Meaning:
adj   extremely sad, especially because someone you love has died or left you//    heartbroken//  --He was broken-hearted when she left.//


Words: brokenly
Meaning:
adv  written   if you say something brokenly, you speak in short phrases with a lot of pauses, because you are feeling a strong emotion//


Words: broker
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: brocour]//\n  1 someone who buys and sells things such as  shares in companies or foreign money for other people:    stockbroker//\n  2 someone who arranges sales or business agreements for other people:  --a real estate broker//\nbroker 2 v [T]   broker a deal/settlement/treaty etc//  to arrange the details of a deal etc so that everyone can agree to it//  --a ceasefire agreement brokered by the UN//


Words: brokerage
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the business of being a broker:\n  2 the amount of money a broker charges:\n  3  brokerage house/firm:  a company of brokers, or the place where they work//


Words: bromide
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: bromine a chemical element  (19-21 centuries), from  French brome  ’bromine’, from  Greek bromos  ’bad smell’]//\n  1 [U and C] a chemical which is sometimes used in medicine to make people feel calm:\n  2 [C]  formal a statement which is intended to make someone less angry but which is not effective:


Words: bronchial
Meaning:
adj  medical   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: bronchialis, from  bronchia  ’bronchial tubes’, from  Greek, from  bronchos  ’main brochial tube’]//  affecting the bronchial tubes//  --a bronchial infection//


Words: bronchitis
Meaning:
n [U]   an illness which affects your bronchial tubes and makes you cough//  -- bronchitic/-k[hA366]t[hA366]k/ adj //


Words: bronco
Meaning:
n   plural  broncos  [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Mexican Spanish; Origin: Spanish,  ’rough, wild’]//  a wild horse from the western US//  --a bucking bronco//


Words: Bront[hA16C]
Meaning:
the family name of three sisters from Yorkshire in the north of England, who wrote some of the most famous novels in English. Charlotte Bront[hA16C] (1816-55) wrote  Jane Eyre, Emily Bront[hA16C] (1818-48) wrote  Wuthering Heights, and Anne Bront[hA16C] (1820-49) wrote  The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.//


Words: brontosaurus
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: bronte  ’thunder’ +  sauros  ’lizard’]//  a large dinosaur with a small head and a long neck//


Words: Bronx cheer
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a sound that you make by sticking out your tongue and blowing, often considered rude//  British Equivalent:  raspberry//


Words: bronze
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Italian bronzo, perhaps from  Persian birinj  ’copper’]//\n  1 [U] a hard metal that is a mixture of copper and tin:  --a bell cast in bronze//\n  2 [U] the dark reddish brown colour of bronze:\n  3 [C] a work of art such as a statue (=model of a person) , made of bronze:  --three bronzes by Giacometti//\n  4 [U and C] a bronze medal:  --King won a bronze in the 100 metres.//\nbronze 2 adj \n  1 made of bronze:  --a bronze statuette by Degas//\n  2 having the dark reddish brown colour of bronze:


Words: Bronze Age
Meaning:
n   the Bronze Age//  the time, between about 6000 and 4000 years ago, when bronze was used for making tools, weapons etc//    Iron Age,  Stone Age//


Words: bronze medal
Meaning:
n [C]   a medal made of bronze given to the person who comes third in a race or competition//  --The bronze medal went to Nool of Estonia.//  -- bronze medallist BrE  bronze medalist AmE  n  [C] //  --an Olympic bronze medallist//    gold medal,  silver medal//


Words: brooch
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: broche  ’pointed tool, pin’, from  Vulgar Latin brocca, from  Latin broccus  ’sticking out’]//  a piece of jewellery that you fasten to your clothes, usually worn by women//  American Equivalent:  pin//


Words: brood
Meaning:
v [I] \n  1 to keep thinking about something that you are worried or upset about:  --Don’t sit at home brooding all day.//  brood over/about/on//  --There’s no point brooding over it - she’s gone.//\n  2 if a bird broods, it sits on its eggs to make the young birds break out:\nbrood 2 n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: brod]//\n  1 a family of young birds all born at the same time:\n  2 a family with a lot of children - used humorously:  brood of//  --Mary has a whole brood of grandchildren.//


Words: brooding
Meaning:
adj  literary \n  1 mysterious and threatening:  --the brooding silence of the forest//\n  2 looking thoughtful and sad:  --brooding eyes//  -- broodingly adv //


Words: broody
Meaning:
adj \n  1  BrE  informal wishing that you had a baby:  --I get broody when I see baby clothes in shop windows.//\n  2 silent because you are thinking or worrying about something:  --Damian’s been really broody lately.//\n  3 if a female bird is broody, it wants to lay eggs or to sit on them to make the young birds break out:  -- broodiness n  [U] //


Words: brook
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: broc]//  a small stream//  --a babbling brook//\nbrook 2 v   [Language: Old English; Origin: brucan  ’to use, enjoy’]//  not brook sth/brook no sth//   formal to not allow or accept something//  --He would brook no criticism, even from his beloved daughter.//


Words: Brooke
Meaning:
Rupert   (1887-1915) a British poet who was a soldier in World War I. He wrote poems about war and romantic poems about England, including  The Old Vicarage  and  Grantchester.//


Words: broom
Meaning:
n   broom//  [Language: Old English; Origin: brom  ’broom plant’;]//  [Sense: 1; Origin:  because broom branches were used for making brushes]//\n  1 [C] a large brush with a long handle, used for sweeping floors:\n  2 [U] a large bush with small yellow flowers:


Words: broomstick
Meaning:
n [C]   broomstick//  a broom with a long handle and thin sticks tied at one end that a witch is supposed to fly on in stories//


Words: Bros.
Meaning:
also  Bros BrE    the written abbreviation of Brothers , used in the names of companies//  --Warner Bros.//


Words: broth
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Language: Old English; Origin:]//  soup with meat, rice, or vegetables//  --chicken broth//    Scotch broth//


Words: brothel
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: brothel  ’worthless person, prostitute’ (14-17 centuries), from  Old English brothen  ’ruined’; influenced by  bordello]//  a house where men pay to have sex with prostitutes//


Words: brother
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: brothor]//\n  1 a male who has the same parents as you:    sister//  --I have two brothers, William and Mark.//  elder/older/younger etc brother //  --My younger brother is a doctor.//  little/kid brother (=younger brother) //  --I have to take my little brother to school.//  --My big brother  (=older brother) has always looked after me.//  --my twin brother//\n  2  spoken  informal a word meaning a black man, used especially by other black men:\n  3 a male member of a group with the same interests, religion, profession etc as you:\n  4 :  plural  brothers  or brethren //  a male member of a religious group, especially a monk//  --Brother Justin//\n  5  AmE a member of a fraternity (=a club of male university students) :\n  6  brothers in arms:   literary soldiers who have fought together in a war//    big brother,  blood brother,  half brother,  stepbrother//\nbrother 2 interjection  especially AmE   used to show you are annoyed or surprised//  --Oh, brother - I really don’t want to deal with this now.//


Words: Brother can you spare a dime
Meaning:
the title of a song written about the  Great Depression of the 1930s in the US. In the song, a man who had been rich and respected before the Depression asks people to give him money, as he is now poor. //


Words: brother-in-law
Meaning:
n [C]   plural  brothers-in-law //\n  1 the brother of your husband or wife:\n  2 the husband of your sister:\n  3 the husband of your husband or wife’s sister:   sister-in-law//


Words: brotherhood
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] a feeling of friendship between people:  --the spirit of brotherhood//\n  2 [C] an organization formed for a particular purpose, especially a religious one:  --the Franciscan brotherhood//\n  3 [C]  old-fashioned a union of workers in a particular trade:\n  4 [U] the relationship between brothers:


Words: brotherly
Meaning:
adj   showing feelings of kindness, loyalty etc that you would expect a brother to show//    sisterly//  --brotherly love//  --brotherly advice//


Words: brougham
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Lord  Brougham (1778-1868), Scottish lawyer, who invented it]//  a carriage used in the past, which had four wheels and a roof and was pulled by a horse//


Words: brouhaha
Meaning:
n [singular, U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French]//  unnecessary excitement, criticism, or activity - used especially in news reports to show disapproval//  --the pre-election brouhaha//


Words: brow
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bru]//\n  1  literary the part of your face above your eyes and below your hair:   forehead//  mop/wipe your brow (=dry your brow with your hand or a cloth because you are hot or nervous) //  your brow furrows/creases/wrinkles (=lines appear on your brow because you are thinking or are worried) //  --His brow furrowed. ’I don’t understand,’ he said.//\n  2 an eyebrow:\n  3  the brow of a hill:  the top part of a slope or hill//


Words: browbeat
Meaning:
v   past tense  browbeat past participle  browbeaten /-bi[hA359]tn/ [T] //  to try to make someone do something, especially in a threatening way//  browbeat sb into doing sth//  --She was determined to browbeat everyone into believing her.//


Words: brown
Meaning:
adj   [Language: Old English; Origin: brun]//\n  1 having the colour of earth, wood, or coffee:  --dark brown hair//\n  2 having skin that has been turned brown by the sun:  --He’d been on vacation and looked very brown.//  --He was as brown as a berry after two weeks in the sun.//\nbrown 2 n [U and C]   the colour of earth, wood, or coffee//  --This particular model is available in brown, white, or grey.//  --the browns and greens of the landscape//\nbrown 3 v [I and T] \n  1 to heat food so that it turns brown, or to become brown by being heated:  --First brown the meat in a frying pan.//\n  2 to become brown because of the sun’s heat, or to make something brown in this way:  --The children’s faces were browned by the sun.//\n  3  browned off:   BrE informal annoyed or bored//   fed up//  --They are getting browned off by the situation.//


Words: brown goods
Meaning:
n [plural]    BrE electrical goods that provide entertainment at home, such as televisions and computers//    white goods//


Words: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
Meaning:
also Brown vs Board Brown decision   a US legal case which resulted in a famous decision by the US Supreme Court in 1954. It was decided that black students should be allowed to attend the same schools and universities as white students, and this officially ended  segregation in the US education system. Following this, some children were taken by bus to different schools in order to mix blacks and whites//    Plessy v. Ferguson//


Words: brown-nose
Meaning:
v [I and T]    informal to try to make someone in authority like you by being very nice to them - used in order to show disapproval//  -- brown-noser n  [C] //  -- brown-nosing n  [U] //


Words: brownfield site
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a place, especially in a city, that is used for building homes, offices etc, where in the past there have already been buildings, industries etc//    greenfield site//


Words: Brownie
Meaning:
n \n  1  the Brownies:  the part of the Girl Guides Association that is for younger girls//\n  2 [C]  also Brownie Guide :  a member of this organization//


Words: brownie point
Meaning:
n   win/earn/score etc brownie points//   informal to get praise for something you have done after trying to make someone have a good opinion of you//  --I’m not doing it just to get brownie points.//


Words: Browning
Meaning:
Elizabeth Barrett   (1806-61) a British poet who married the poet Robert Browning in 1846//\n Robert   (1812-89) a British poet, married to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, whose poems include  The Ring and the Book  and  Home Thoughts from Abroad//


Words: browse
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from early  French brouster, from  broust  ’bud, shoot’]//\n  1 [I] to look through the pages of a book, magazine etc without a particular purpose, just looking at the most interesting parts:  browse through//  --Jon was browsing through the photographs.//\n  2 [I and T] to look at the goods in a shop without wanting to buy any particular thing:  browse around//  --The trip allows you plenty of time for browsing around the shops.//  --tourists browsing the boutiques and souvenir stalls//\n  3 [I and T] to search for information on a computer or on the Internet:  --a feature that allows you to browse your hard drive and choose the graphic you want to display//\n  4 [I] if a goat, deer etc browses, it eats plants:  -- browse n  [singular] //  --We had a quick browse around the shops.//


Words: browser
Meaning:
n [C]   a computer program that finds information on the Internet and shows it on your computer screen//  --a Web browser//


Words: Bruce
Meaning:
Lenny   (1926-66) a US  comedian who is remembered for making jokes about subjects such as sex and race//\n Robert (the)   (1274-1329) the King of Scotland from 1307 till his death. Scotland was recognized as independent under him in 1328.//


Words: Bruegel
Meaning:
Pieter  Brueghel or  Breughel  (?1525-69) a Flemish painter of  landscapes and ordinary people, also called Bruegel the Elder. His sons Pieter(Bruegel the Younger) and Jan were also painters.//


Words: bruise
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a purple or brown mark on your skin that you get because you have fallen, been hit etc:  --minor cuts and bruises//\n  2 a mark on a piece of fruit that spoils its appearance:\nbruise 2 v   [Language: Old English; Origin: brysan  ’to press so as to break, bruise’, later influenced by  Old French brisier,  bruisier  ’to break’]//\n  1 [I and T] if part of your body bruises or if you bruise part of your body, it gets hit or hurt and a bruise appears:  --She fell off her bike and bruised her knee.//\n  2 [T] to affect someone badly and make them feel less confident:  bruise sb’s pride/ego //  --The incident had bruised his pride.//\n  3 [I and T] if a piece of fruit bruises or is bruised, it gets a bruise by being hit, dropped etc:  -- bruised adj //  --a badly bruised knee//  --a bruised ego//


Words: bruising
Meaning:
n [U]   purple or brown marks that you get on your skin where you have fallen, been hit etc//  bruising to/on//  --She suffered severe bruising to her arms and legs.//\nbruising 2 adj   difficult and unpleasant, and leaving you feeling tired or emotionally harmed//  --a bruising contest//


Words: Brummell
Meaning:
Beau   (1778-1840) an English  dandy (=a man who is very interested in clothes and likes to be very fashionable) , who was a friend of George IV before George became king//


Words: Brummie
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Brummagem, old name of Birmingham]//  someone from the city of Birmingham in England//  -- Brummie adj //


Words: brunch
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: breakfast +  lunch]//  a meal eaten in the late morning, as a combination of breakfast and lunch//


Words: Brunei
Meaning:
a country in the northwest of the island of Borneo in East Asia, which is an independent member of the British  Commonwealth. Population: 343,653 (2001). Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan.//


Words: Brunel
Meaning:
Isambard Kingdom   (1806-59) an English engineer famous for his railway engines, bridges, and iron ships//


Words: brunette
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: brun  ’brown’]//  a woman with dark brown hair//


Words: Brunhilde
Meaning:
a character in the Ring of the Nibelungen who is a princess. She is usually shown as a large strong fair-haired woman in  armour.//


Words: brunt
Meaning:
n   bear/take/suffer etc the brunt of sth//  to receive the worst part of an attack, criticism, bad situation etc//  --an industry that bore the brunt of the recession//  --The car took the full brunt of the explosion.//


Words: brush
Meaning:
S3   n   ----------//\n   1 object for cleaning/painting:\n   2 trees:\n   3 movement:\n   4 touch:\n   5 :\n   6 tail:  ----------//  [Sense: 1, 3-6; Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Early  French broisse, from  Old French broce (  BRUSH12); probably because branches from bushes and trees were used to make brushes.]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: broce  ’broken branches, brushwood’]//\n  1 OBJECT FOR CLEANING/PAINTING:   [C] an object that you use for cleaning, painting, making your hair tidy etc, made with a lot of hairs, bristles, or thin pieces of plastic fastened to a handle//    broom//  --a scrubbing brush//    hairbrush,  nailbrush,  paintbrush,  toothbrush//\n  2 TREES:   [U] //  a) small bushes and trees that cover an area of land//  b) branches that have broken off bushes and trees//\n  3 MOVEMENT:   [singular] a movement in which you brush something to remove dirt, make something smooth, tidy etc//  --I’ll just give my hair a quick brush .//\n  4 TOUCH:   [singular] a quick light touch, made by chance when two things or people pass each other//  --the brush of her silk dress as she walked past//\n  5 [C] a time when you only just avoid an unpleasant situation or argument:  brush with//  --His first brush with the law came when he was arrested for disorderly behaviour.//  --A brush with death can make you appreciate life more.//\n  6 TAIL:   [C] the tail of a fox//    broadbrush,  daft as a brush at daft(1)//\nbrush 2 v   ----------//\n   1 clean/make tidy:\n   2 remove:\n   3 touch lightly:\n   4 put something on something:  Phrasal verbs//   brush somebody/something → aside//   brush somebody/something → down//   brush somebody/something → off//   brush up (on) something//  ----------//\n  1 CLEAN/MAKE TIDY:   [T] to clean something or make something smooth and tidy using a brush//    sweep//  --Don’t forget to brush your teeth.//\n  2 REMOVE:   [T always + adverb/preposition] to remove something with a brush or with your hand//  brush sth off/from etc sth//  --Ella brushed the crumbs off her jacket.//  --He brushed the tears from his eyes.//\n  3 TOUCH LIGHTLY:   [>I always + adv/prep, T] to touch someone or something lightly when passing them//  --Something brushed her shoulders.//  brush against//  --I felt her hair brush against my arm.//  brush past//  --Nell brushed past him in the doorway.//\n  4 PUT SOMETHING ON SOMETHING:   [T always + adverb/preposition] to put a liquid onto something using a brush//  brush sth with sth//  --Brush the pastry with milk.//  brush sth over/onto sth//  --Brush a little oil over the top of the pizza.//    brush sth under the carpet at sweep1 (15)//  brush aside [brush sb/sth → aside] phr v//  to refuse to listen to someone, or refuse to consider something//   dismiss//  --He simply brushed all my objections aside.//  brush down [brush sb/sth → down] phr v//\n  1 to clean something using a brush:  --He was brushing the pony down.//\n  2  brush yourself down:  to use your hands to remove dirt from your clothes, especially after you have fallen//  brush off [brush sb/sth → off] phr v//  to refuse to listen to someone or their ideas, especially by ignoring them or saying something rude//  --Corman brushed off accusations that he had acted dishonestly.//    brush-off//  brush up (on) [brush up (on) sth] phr v//  to practise and improve your skills or your knowledge of something that you learned in the past//  --I must brush up on my French before I go to Paris.//


Words: brush-off
Meaning:
n [singular]   rude or unfriendly behaviour that shows you are not interested in someone//  --She gave him the brush-off. //  --I tried to be friendly but I just got the brush-off. //    brush off at brush2 //


Words: brusque
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Italian brusco, from  Medieval Latin bruscus type of bush with sharp points]//  using very few words in a way that seems rude//   abrupt//  --a brusque manner//  -- brusquely adv //  -- brusqueness n  [U] //


Words: Brussels
Meaning:
the capital city of Belgium in the centre of the country, from which the business of the European Union and NATO is run//


Words: Brussels sprout
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: Brussels, where it was first grown]//  a small round green vegetable that looks like a very small cabbage//


Words: brutal
Meaning:
adj \n  1 very cruel and violent:  brutal murder/attack/assault //  --a brutal attack on a defenceless old man//  --a brutal man//\n  2 not pleasant and not sensitive to people’s feelings:  --He replied with brutal honesty. //  -- brutally adv //  --He was brutally murdered.//  --If I’m brutally honest, I don’t like her dress.//


Words: brutality
Meaning:
n   plural  brutalities  [U and C] //  cruel and violent behaviour, or an event involving cruel and violent treatment//  --allegations of police brutality//  brutality of//  --the brutalities of war//


Words: brutalize
Meaning:
also  brutalise BrE   v [T usually passive] \n  1 to affect someone so badly that they lose their normal human feelings:  --He was brutalized by his experiences in jail.//\n  2 to treat someone in a cruel or violent way:  --Demonstrators claimed they had been brutalized by police officers.//  -- brutalization/bru[hA359]tl-a[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -tl-[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: Brute
Meaning:
a phrase from Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, used by Caesar when he realizes that even his good friend Brutus has betrayed him and is going to kill him. The phrase goes: "Et tu, Brute?" (and you, Brutus?)//


Words: brute
Meaning:
n [C]   a man who is cruel, violent, and not sensitive//\nbrute 2 adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: brut  ’rough’, from  Latin brutus  ’heavy, stupid’]//\n  1  brute force/strength:  physical strength rather than intelligence and careful thinking//  --Discussion can be more effective than the use of brute force.//\n  2 [only before noun] simple and not involving any other facts or qualities:  --The brute fact is that the situation will not improve.//  --brute stupidity//


Words: Brutus
Meaning:
Marcus   (?85-42 BC) a Roman politician who was the chief member of the  plot to murder Julius Caesar//


Words: Bryant
Meaning:
Paul "Bear"   (1913-83) a US college football  coach (=teacher)  who set a record for winning the most games//


Words: BSc
Meaning:
B.Sc./bi[hA359] es si[hA359]/ n [C]  BrE   Bachelor of Science a first university degree in a science subject//  American Equivalent:  B.S.//  BSc in//  --He’s going to Birmingham to do a BSc in Biochemistry.//  --Catherine McBride, BSc//


Words: BSE
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: bovine spongiform encephalopathy]//  bovine spongiform encephalopathy a serious brain disease that affects cows//   mad cow disease//


Words: BSI
Meaning:
the   British Standards Institution an organization which sets standards for units of measurement, clothes sizes etc, and safety standards for electrical and other goods used in Britain//


Words: BSkyB
Meaning:
trademark   British Sky Broadcasting a company that makes television programmes and broadcasts them in the UK using  satellites. It is often referred to as Sky TV//


Words: BTEC
Meaning:
n [U and C]   Business and Technical Education Council a range of examinations that are done by students in England and Wales at different levels in a variety of subjects relating to work. BTEC courses are usually done after the age of 17.//    GNVQ//  --a BTEC Diploma in Art and Design//


Words: BTW
Meaning:
btw  the written abbreviation of by the way , often used in email or text messages on mobile phones//


Words: Bu[hA172]uel
Meaning:
Luis   (1900-83) a Spanish film director famous for his dreamlike images and humorous attacks on the Catholic Church and middle-class moral values. His films include  Le Charme Discr[hA169]t De La Bourgeoisie and Cet Obscur Objet Du Desir.//


Words: bub
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  old-fashioned   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from  brother]//  used to speak to a man, especially when you are angry//  --Hey, what do you think you’re doing, bub?//


Words: bubble
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from the sound of bubbles in liquid]//\n  1 a ball of air or gas in liquid:  --When water boils, bubbles rise to the surface.//  --soap bubbles//  --She was blowing bubbles in her milk with a straw.//\n  2 a small amount of air trapped in a solid substance:  --Examine the glass carefully for bubbles.//\n  3  a bubble of sth:   literary a small amount of a feeling//  --A bubble of anger rose in Pol’s throat.//\n  4  also speech bubble :  a circle around the words said by someone in a cartoon//\n  5  the bubble bursts:  used for saying that a very successful or happy period of time suddenly ends//  --The bubble has finally burst in the mobile phone industry.//\n  6  burst/prick sb’s bubble:  to make someone suddenly realize that something is not as good as they thought it was//\nbubble 2 v [I] \n  1 to produce bubbles:  --Heat the cheese until it bubbles.//  bubble up//  --The cola bubbled up when I unscrewed the lid.//\n  2 to make the sound that water makes when it boils:  bubble away//  --The water was bubbling away on the stove.//\n  3  also bubble over :  to be excited//  bubble with//  --Mary was bubbling over with excitement.//\n  4  also bubble away/up :  if a feeling or activity bubbles, it continues to exist//  --Resentment was still bubbling inside her.//  --Speculation has been bubbling away for months that he plans to resign.//


Words: bubble bath
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] a liquid soap that smells pleasant and makes bubbles in your bath water:\n  2 [C] a bath with this in the water:


Words: bubble wrap
Meaning:
also bubble pack  n [U]   a sheet of plastic covered with bubbles of air, used for wrapping and protecting things//


Words: bubbly
Meaning:
adj \n  1 always happy, friendly, and eager to do things:  --She has a very bubbly personality.//\n  2 full of bubbles:\nbubbly 2 n [U]  informal    champagne//  --a glass of bubbly//


Words: bubonic plague
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: bubo  ’swelling’, from  Greek boubon  ’(swelling in) the groin’]//  a very serious disease spread by rats, that killed a lot of people in the Middle Ages//    Black Death//


Words: buccaneer
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: boucanier  ’person living in the forest in the West Indies, buccaneer’, from  boucaner  ’to dry meat in a wooden frame over a fire’, from  boucan  ’wooden frame’, from  Tupi]//\n  1 someone who attacks ships at sea and steals from them:   pirate//\n  2 someone who is very successful, especially in business, but may not be honest:


Words: Buck
Meaning:
Pearl S.   (1892-1973) a US writer who lived for many years in China until 1931 and wrote several novels about that country. She won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1938.//


Words: buck
Meaning:
S1   n [C]   ----------//\n   1 dollar:\n   2 the buck stops here:\n   3 pass the buck:\n   4 animal:\n   5 feel/look like a million bucks:\n   6 man:  ----------//  [Sense: 1,4; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from  buckskin; because it was used as a unit of exchange in trade with Native Americans.]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: buck  ’object used in the card game of poker to mark the next person to play’ (19-20 centuries), from  buckhorn knife  ’knife with a handle made from a buck’s horn’ (19-20 centuries).]//  [Sense: 3, 5; Origin: Old English bucca  ’male deer or goat’]//\n  1 DOLLAR:   informal a US, Canadian, or Australian dollar//  --He owes me ten bucks.//  --The movie is about a group of men trying to make a buck  (=earn some money) as male strippers.//  big/mega bucks (=a lot of money) //  --Using celebrities in advertising is guaranteed to pull in big bucks.//  make a fast/quick buck (=make some money quickly, often dishonestly) //\n  2  the buck stops here:   also the buck stops with sb //  used to say that a particular person is responsible for something//  --The buck stops firmly with the boss.//\n  3  pass the buck:  to make someone else them responsible for something that you should deal with//\n  4 ANIMAL:  plural  buck  or bucks //  a male rabbit, deer, and some other male animals//    doe//\n  5  feel/look like a million bucks:   informal  especially AmE to feel or look very healthy, happy, and beautiful//\n  6 MAN:   old-fashioned a young man//    (get) a bigger/better etc bang for your buck at bang1 (5)//\nbuck 2 v   ----------//\n   1 horse:\n   2 move suddenly:\n   3 oppose:\n   4 make somebody happier:  Phrasal verbs//   buck for something//   buck up//  ----------//\n  1 HORSE:   [I] if a horse bucks, it kicks its back feet into the air, or jumps with all four feet off the ground//\n  2 MOVE SUDDENLY:   [I] to suddenly move up and down or backwards and forwards in an uncontrolled way//  --The plane bucked sharply.//\n  3 OPPOSE:   [T] to oppose something in a direct way//  --He was a rebel who continually bucked the system  (=opposed rules or authority) .//  --Unemployment in the area has bucked the national trend by falling over the last month.//  buck against//  --Initially he had bucked against her restraints.//\n  4 MAKE SOMEBODY HAPPIER:   [T] to make someone feel more happy, confident, or healthy//  --He was bucked by the success he’d had.//  --She gave me a tonic which bucked me a little.//  buck for [buck for sth] phr v//  to try very hard to get something, especially a good position at work//  --He’s bucking for promotion.//  buck up phr v//\n  1 to become happier or to make someone happier:  --Come on, buck up, things aren’t that bad!//  buck sb → up//  --You need something to buck you up.//\n  2  buck up!:   BrE  old-fashioned used to tell someone to hurry up//  --Buck up, John! We’ll be late.//\n  3  informal to improve, or to make something improve:  --It’ll be a long time before the situation starts to buck up.//  buck sth → up//  --a company that is looking to buck up its networking capabilities//\n  4  buck your ideas up:   BrE  informal used to tell someone to improve their behaviour or attitude//\nbuck 3 adv  AmE   buck naked//  not wearing any clothes//


Words: buck teeth
Meaning:
n [plural]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Because they are like a rabbit’s teeth]//  teeth that stick forward out of your mouth//  -- buck-toothed/b[hA35E]k tu[hA359][hA35F]t[hA36B]/ adj //


Words: buckaroo
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Spanish; Origin: vaquero  ’cowboy’; influenced by   BUCK1]//  a cowboy - used especially when talking to children//


Words: buckboard
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: buck  ’main structure of a carriage or cart’ (17-19 centuries) (perhaps from  bouk  ’body, belly’ (11-19 centuries), from  Old English buc;   BUCKET) +  board]//  a light vehicle with four wheels that is pulled by a horse, and was used in the US in the 19th century//


Words: bucket
Meaning:
S2   n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: buket, from  Old English buc  ’container for pouring liquid, belly’]//\n  1 an open container with a handle, used for carrying and holding things, especially liquids:   pail//\n  2  also bucketful :  the quantity of liquid that a bucket can hold//  bucket of//  --a bucket of water//\n  3 a part of a machine shaped like a large bucket and used for moving earth, water etc:\n  4  informal a large amount of something:  --They were drinking beer by the bucket.//  bucket of//  --They made buckets of cash on the deal.//\n  5  weep buckets:   informal to cry a lot//\n  6  in buckets:   informal if rain comes down in buckets, it is raining very hard//    kick the bucket at kick1 (20),  a drop in the bucket at drop2 (8)//\nbucket 2 v   bucket down phr v//  to rain very hard//   pour//  --It’s been bucketing down all day.//


Words: Buckingham Palace
Meaning:
also the Palace   the official home of the British royal family in London. The name of the Palace is sometimes used to mean the officials who are in charge of organizing the Queen’s public life//  --Buckingham Palace announced today that Her Majesty would be visiting Japan next year.//


Words: buckle
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 bend:\n   2 knees/legs:\n   3 do something you do not want:\n   4 fasten:  Phrasal verbs//   buckle down//   buckle up//  ----------//\n  1 BEND:   [I and T] to become bent or curved because of heat or pressure, or to make something bend or curve in this way//  --The steel pillars began to buckle.//  buckle under//  --The rails buckled under the intense heat of the fire.//\n  2 KNEES/LEGS:   [I] if your knees or legs buckle, they become weak and bend//   give way//  --John felt his knees start to buckle.//\n  3 DO SOMETHING YOU DO NOT WANT:   [I] to do something that you do not want to do because a difficult situation forces you to do it//   give in//  --To his credit, he refused to buckle.//  buckle under the pressure/strain/weight //  --A weaker person would have buckled under the weight of criticism.//\n  4 FASTEN:   [I and T] to fasten a buckle or be fastened with a buckle//  --Amy buckled the belt around her waist.//  buckle sth on/up/together//  --Lou was buckling on his revolver.//  buckle down phr v//  to start working very hard//  buckle down to//  --You’d better buckle down to some revision now.//  buckle up phr v//  to fasten your seat belt in a car, aircraft etc//\nbuckle 2 n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: bocle  ’buckle, raised part in the center of a shield’, from  buccola  ’strap for a helmet’, from  bucca  ’cheek’]//  a piece of metal used for fastening the two ends of a belt, for fastening a shoe, bag etc, or for decoration//


Words: buckwheat
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: boecweit, from  boec  ’beech’ +  weit  ’wheat’; because the grains are the same shape as beech-tree seeds]//  a type of small grain used as food for chickens, and for making flour//


Words: bucolic
Meaning:
adj  literary   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: bucolicus, from  Greek, from  boukolos  ’person who looks after cows’]//  relating to the countryside//


Words: bud
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1; Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Origin unknown.]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: buddy]//\n  1 a young tightly rolled up flower or leaf before it opens:  --rose buds//  in bud (=having buds but no flowers yet) //  come into bud (=start to produce buds) //\n  2  spoken  especially AmE  buddy:  --Hey, bud, how’s it going?//    cotton bud,  taste bud,  nip sth in the bud at nip1 (3)//\nbud 2   past tense and past participle  budded present participle  budding  v [I] //  to produce buds//


Words: Buddha
Meaning:
1  the Buddha:  (?563-?483 BC) the title given to Gautama Siddhartha, a wealthy man from northern India who gave up all his possessions and family to teach the ideas on which the religion of Buddhism is based//\n  2 [C] a  statue or picture of the Buddha:


Words: Buddhism
Meaning:
n [U]   a religion of east and central Asia, based on the teaching of Gautama Buddha//  -- Buddhist n  [C] //  -- Buddhist adj //


Words: budding
Meaning:
adj \n  1  budding artist/actor/writer etc:  someone who is just starting to paint, act etc and will probably be successful at it//\n  2 [only before noun] beginning to develop:  --a budding romance//


Words: buddy
Meaning:
n   plural  buddies  [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from  brother]//\n  1  informal a friend:  --We’re good buddies.//\n  2  AmE  spoken used to talk to a man or boy, especially one you do not know:  --Hey, buddy! This your car?//


Words: buddy list
Meaning:
n [C]   a place on a computer where you keep a list of the names of people that you regularly send instant messages to//


Words: buddy system
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   a system in which two people in a group are put together to help each other or keep each other safe//


Words: Budge
Meaning:
Donald   (1915-2000) a US tennis player who in 1938 became the first person to win the Wimbledon, US, Australian, and French  championships in one year.//


Words: budge
Meaning:
v [I,T usually in negatives]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: bouger, from  Latin bullire;   BOIL1]//\n  1 to move, or to make someone or something move:  --She leaned on the door, but it wouldn’t budge.//  budge from//  --Will hasn’t budged from his room all day.//  --The horse refused to budge an inch. //\n  2 to change your opinion, or to make someone change their opinion:  --The government has refused to budge.//  budge on//  --He won’t budge on the issue.//  budge from//  --Treacy refuses to budge from his principles.//


Words: budgerigar
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  formal   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Australian Aboriginal; Origin: gijrigaa]//  a budgie//


Words: budget
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: bougette  ’small leather bag’, from  bouge  ’leather bag’, from  Latin bulga; from the idea of bringing your spending plan out of its bag]//\n  1 the money that is available to an organization or person, or a plan of how it will be spent:  budget of//  -- a welfare program with a budget of $2 million //  budget for//  -- The budget for photography has been cut. //  --The  defence budget  was still growing. //  -- 80% of the annual  education budget  was spent on teachers’ salaries. //  -- a package of fiscal policies designed to cut the  budget deficit  //  -- the problems posed by  budget cuts  and staff shortages //  -- The project was completed  within budget . //  -- If you come in  under budget , everyone will be very impressed. //  --Feature movies always run  over budget.  //  -- We have to keep within a  tight budget . //  -- They need to save [hA124]8 million this year to  balance the budget .//\n  2  on a budget:  if you are on a budget, you do not have much money to spend//  --Travellers on a budget might prefer to camp.//  --a book which offers great ideas for decorating on a budget//  --families on a tight budget //\n  3  also  Budget:   BrE an official statement that a government makes about how much it intends to spend and what taxes will be necessary//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  defence/education/advertising etc budget (=the amount of money available for a particular activity) //  budget deficit  (=when more money has been spent than is available) //  budget cut  (=when less money becomes available) //  on/within budget (=not costing more money than planned) //  under budget (=costing less money than planned) //  over budget (=costing more money than planned) //  a tight budget  (=when there is not much money available) //  balance the budget  (=make sure only the money available is spent) //  ----------//\nbudget 2 v [I and T] \n  1 to carefully plan and control how much money you spend and what you will buy with it:  --We’ll have to budget more carefully in the future.//  --This scheme enables you to budget the cost through fixed monthly payments.//  budget for//  --We’ve budgeted for a new car next year.//\n  2 if you budget something such as time, you decide how much of it you will need:  -- budgeting n  [U] //\nbudget 3 adj [only before noun] \n  1 very low in price - often used in advertisements:   cheap//  --budget flights//\n  2  low-budget/big-budget:  used for saying how much money has been spent on doing something, especially making a film//  --low-budget movies//


Words: budgie
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: budgerigar]//  a small brightly coloured bird that people keep as a pet//


Words: Buenos Aires
Meaning:
the capital city of Argentina, an important international port and one of the largest cities in South America//


Words: buff
Meaning:
n   [Sense: 1; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: buff  ’someone very interested in going to watch fires’ (1900-2000), from the buff-colored coats worn by volunteer New York City firefighters in the early 19th century.]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1700-1800; Origin: buff  ’yellow leather made from buffalo skin’ (16-18 centuries), from  Old French buffle  ’wild cattle’, from  Old Italian bufalo;   BUFFALO]//  [Sense: 3; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: buff  ’bare skin’ (17-19 centuries), from  ’leather’;   BUFF12]//\n  1  wine/film/opera etc buff:  someone who is interested in wine, films etc and knows a lot about them//\n  2 [U] a pale yellow-brown colour:   beige//  --buff envelopes//\n  3  in the buff:   old-fashioned not wearing any clothes//   naked//  -- buff adj //\nbuff 2  also buff up  v [T]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  BUFF1; because leather was used for polishing (  BUFF12)]//  to polish something with a cloth//  --Sandra was buffing her nails.//  buff up phr v//  to exercise in order to make your muscles bigger//  --Smith buffed up for his role as Muhammad Ali.//


Words: buffalo
Meaning:
n [C]   plural  buffaloes  or  buffalo//\n  1 an African animal similar to a large cow with long curved horns:    water buffalo//\n  2 a bison:


Words: Buffalo Bill
Meaning:
(1846-1917) a  scout (=a soldier sent out to get information about the enemy)  for the US army, who was also a buffalo hunter. After leaving the army, he organized the ’Wild West Show’, in which he and people such as Annie  Oakley and  Sitting Bull showed their skill at shooting and horse-riding, and tried to give people an idea of what life was like in the American West. Buffalo Bill’s real name was William Cody.//


Words: buffer
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 protection:\n   2 railway:\n   3 buffer zone:\n   4 buffer state:\n   5 computer:\n   6 person:\n   7 for polishing:\n   8 run into/hit the buffers:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-5, 8; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: buff  ’to hit or be hit softly’ (16-19 centuries), probably from the sound.]//  [Sense: 6; Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Origin unknown]//  [Sense: 7; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  BUFF2]//\n  1 PROTECTION:  someone or something that protects one thing or person from being harmed by another//  buffer against//  --Eastern Europe was important to Russia as a buffer against the West.//  buffer between//  --She often had to act as a buffer between father and son.//\n  2 RAILWAY:  one of the two special metal springs on the front or back of a train or at the end of a railway track to take the shock if the train hits something//\n  3  buffer zone:  an area between two armies, which is intended to separate them so that they do not fight//\n  4  buffer state:  a smaller country between two larger countries, which makes war between them less likely//\n  5 COMPUTER:  a place in a computer’s memory for storing information temporarily//\n  6 PERSON:   BrE  old-fashioned an old man who is not good at managing things//  --He’s a nice old buffer.//\n  7 FOR POLISHING:  something used to polish a surface//\n  8  run into/hit the buffers:   informal an activity or plan that hits the buffers is stopped and does not succeed//\nbuffer 2 v [T] \n  1 to reduce the bad effects of something:  --Consumer spending is buffering the effects of the recession.//\n  2 if a computer buffers information, it holds it for a short while before using it:


Words: buffet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French]//\n  1 a meal at a party or other occasion, in which people serve themselves at a table and then move away to eat:  --a cold buffet//  buffet breakfast/lunch/supper //  --The price includes morning coffee, buffet lunch, and afternoon tea.//\n  2 a place in a railway station, bus station etc where you can buy and eat food or drink:\n  3  AmE a piece of furniture in which you keep the things you use to serve and eat a meal:  British Equivalent:  sideboard//\nbuffet 2   v [T usually passive]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: buffet  ’blow, hit’ (13-21 centuries), from  Old French, from  buffe  ’blow’]//\n  1 if something, especially wind, rain, or the sea, buffets something, it hits it with a lot of force:  --London was buffeted by storms last night.//\n  2  literary to treat someone unkindly:  --I was weary of being buffeted by life.//  -- buffeting n  [U and C] //  buffet about [buffet sth about] phr v//  to move something in one direction and then another, again and again, with force//  --The body was buffeted about in the waves.//


Words: buffoon
Meaning:
n [C]  old-fashioned   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: boufon, from  Old Italian buffone, probably from  buffare  ’to breathe hard, blow’]//  someone who does silly things that make you laugh//  -- buffoonery n  [U] //


Words: bug
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Perhaps from  bug  ’evil spirit, scarecrow’ (14-18 centuries)]//\n  1  informal an illness that people catch very easily from each other but is not very serious:  catch/pick up/get a bug //  --I picked up a bug last weekend.//  --There’s a nasty bug going round  (=which a lot of people have caught) .//  tummy/stomach bug (=illness affecting your stomach) //  --He’s off work with a stomach bug.//  --a 24-hour flu bug //\n  2  especially AmE a small insect:\n  3 a fault in the system of instructions that operates a computer:  --a bug in the software//    debug//\n  4 a small piece of electronic equipment for listening secretly to other people’s conversations:\n  5  informal a sudden strong interest in doing something:  the travel/sailing etc bug //  --She’s got the travel bug.//  --I had one flying lesson and immediately caught the bug  (=became very interested in flying) .//\nbug 2   past tense and past participle  bugged present participle  bugging  v [T] //\n  1  informal to annoy someone:  --It just bugs me that I have to work so many extra hours for no extra money.//  --The baby’s crying is really bugging him.//\n  2 to put a bug (=small piece of electronic equipment) somewhere secretly in order to listen to conversations:  --Do you think the room is bugged?//


Words: bugaboo
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Probably from a  Celtic language]//  something that makes people anxious or afraid//


Words: bugbear
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  bug  ’evil spirit’ (  BUG1) +   BEAR21]//  something that makes people feel annoyed or worried//  --Paperwork is our worst bugbear.//


Words: bugger
Meaning:
S2   n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: bugger  ’person who practices anal sex’ (16-21 centuries), from  French bougre  ’person who disagrees with the standard religion’, from  Medieval Latin Bulgarus  ’Bulgarian’]//\n  1  BrE  not polite an offensive word for someone who is very annoying or unpleasant:\n  2  not polite someone that you pretend to be annoyed with, although you actually like or love them:  --The poor little bugger got an awful shock.//\n  3  BrE  not polite a job or activity that is very difficult:  --The exam was a bit of a bugger.//\n  4  bugger all:   BrE  not polite nothing//  --There’s bugger all wrong with this machine.//\nbugger 2 v [T]  BrE \n  1  spoken  not polite said when you are annoyed or angry:  --Bugger it! I don’t see why I should pay for everything.//\n  2  I’m buggered/bugger me!:   spoken  not polite said when you are surprised about something//  --Well I’m buggered! I never thought you’d do that.//\n  3  bugger the ...:   spoken  not polite used to say that you do not care about the person or thing you are talking about//  --Bugger the expense, I’m going to buy it!//\n  4  taboo  or  law to have anal sex with someone:  bugger about phr v//\n  1 to behave in a stupid way or waste time:   mess about/around//  --Let’s stop buggering about and go.//\n  2  bugger sb about:  to cause unnecessary problems for someone//   mess somebody about/around//  --Don’t let Peter bugger you about.//  bugger off phr v//  to go away or leave a place//  --Tim buggered off to Australia years ago.//  --’Bugger off!’ she screamed.//  bugger up [bugger sth → up] phr v//  to ruin something or do something very badly//   cock up, mess up//  --It really buggered up our plans when the train was cancelled.//


Words: buggered
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]  BrE  spoken  not polite \n  1 extremely tired:\n  2 completely ruined or broken:  --The washing machine’s buggered.//\n  3  I’m buggered if ...:  used to say that you do not know something, will not do something, or are not able to do something//  --I’m buggered if I can remember.//


Words: buggy
Meaning:
n   plural  buggies  [C] //\n  1  BrE a light folding chair on wheels that you push small children in:   pushchair//  American Equivalent:  stroller//\n  2 a light carriage pulled by a horse:\n  3  AmE a small bed on wheels, that a baby lies in:   baby carriage//  British Equivalent:  pram//


Words: bugle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: bugle horn  ’instrument made from buffalo horn, bugle’ (13-16 centuries), from  bugle  ’buffalo’ (13-17 centuries), from  Old French, from  Latin buculus, from  bos  ’ox, cow’]//  a musical instrument like a trumpet, which is used in the army to call soldiers//  -- bugler n  [C] //


Words: build
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  built /b[hA366]lt///  ----------//\n   1 make something:\n   2 make something develop:\n   3 be built of something:\n   4 feeling:\n   5 build bridges:  Phrasal verbs//   build something around something//   build something → in//   build something into something//   build on//   build up//   build up to something//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: byldan]//\n  1 MAKE SOMETHING:   [I and T] to make something, especially a building or something large//  --The purpose is to build new houses for local people.//  --The road took many years to build.//  --They needed $3m to build the bridge.//  --It is the female birds that build the nests.//  --Developers want to build on the site of the old gas works.//  --a row of recently built houses//  build sb sth//  --He’s going to build the children a doll’s house.//\n  2 MAKE SOMETHING DEVELOP:   also build up //   [T] to make something develop or form//  --She had built a reputation as a criminal lawyer.//  --She’s been busy building her career.//  --Ross took twenty years to build up his business.//  build (up) a picture of sb/sth (=form a clear idea about someone or something) //  --We’re trying to build up a picture of what happened.//\n  3  be built of sth:  to be made using particular materials//  --The church was built of brick.//\n  4 FEELING:   also build up //   [I and T] if a feeling builds or if you build it, it increases gradually over a period of time//  --Tension began to build as they argued more frequently.//  --In order to build your self esteem, set yourself targets you can reach.//\n  5  build bridges:  to try to establish a better relationship between people who do not like each other//  --Peter needs to try and build bridges with Lizzie.//  build around [build sth around sth] phr v//  to base something on an idea or thing and develop it from there//  --Successful businesses are built around good personal relationships.//  build in [build sth → in] phr v//  to make something so that it is a permanent part of a wall, room etc//  --You could build in a wardrobe with mirrored doors.//    built-in//  build into [build sth into sth] phr v//\n  1 to make something so that it is a permanent part of a wall, room etc:  --There are three cash machines built into the wall .//\n  2 to make something a permanent part of a system, agreement etc:  --Opportunities for reviewing the timings should be built into the plan.//  build on phr v//\n  1  build sth on sth:  to base something on an idea or thing//  --Our relationship is built on trust.//\n  2  build on sth:  to use your achievements as a base for further development//  --The new plan will build on the success of the previous programme.//\n  3 to add another room to a building in order to have more space:  build sth → on//  --We’re planning to build on a conservatory.//  build up phr v//\n  1 INCREASE GRADUALLY:  if something builds up somewhere or if you build it up, it gradually becomes bigger or greater//  build sth → up//  --The museum has built up a fine art collection.//  --the rate at which the pension builds up//    build-up//\n  2 DEVELOP:   build sth → up//  to make something develop or form//  build something → up into//  --He’s built up the family firm into a multinational company.//\n  3 FEELING:  if a feeling builds up or if you build it up, it increases gradually over a period of time//  --If you don’t express your feelings, frustration and anger can build up.//  build up sth//  --You have to build up trust.//\n  4 MAKE HEALTHY:   build sb/sth → up//  to make someone well and strong again, especially after an illness//  --Taking exercise will build up your strength.//\n  5 PRAISE:   build sb/sth → up//  to praise someone or something so that other people think they are really good or so that they have more confidence//  --The coach has been building his men up before the match.//\n  6  build up sb’s hopes/build sb’s hopes up:  to unfairly encourage someone to think that they will get what they hope for//  --Don’t build your hopes up too much.//  build up to [build up to sth] phr v//  to prepare for a particular moment or event//  --I could tell she was building up to some kind of announcement.//\nbuild 2 n [singular,U]   the shape and size of someone’s body//  --a woman of  slim build  //  -- You’re a surprisingly strong swimmer for one of such a  slight build . //  --I wanted a more  athletic  and  muscular build .//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  slim/slender build //  slight build  (=a body shape that looks thin) //  stocky/sturdy build  (=a body shape that looks broad and heavy) //  muscular build //  medium/average build //  strong build //  athletic build //  ----------//


Words: build-up
Meaning:
n [C usually singular] \n  1 an increase over a period of time:  build-up of//  --a heavy build-up of traffic on the motorway//\n  2 a description of someone or something before an event in which you say they are very special or important:  --The presenter gave her a big build-up .//\n  3 the length of time spent preparing an event:  --I was running 20 miles a week in my build-up for the race.//    build up at build1 //


Words: building
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] a structure such as a house, church, or factory, that has a roof and walls:  --They need money to pay for new buildings.//  --The offices are on the top two floors of the building.//  --a farmhouse and other farm buildings//\n  2 [U] the process or business of building things:  --There is a limited supply of land for building.//  --stone, timber, and other building materials//  building of//  --The enquiry recommended the building of a tunnel.//


Words: building block
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a block of wood or plastic for young children to build things with:\n  2  building blocks [plural] the pieces or parts which together make it possible for something big or important to exist:  --Amino acids are the building blocks of protein.//


Words: building society
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a type of bank that you pay money into in order to save it and earn interest and that will lend you money to buy a house or apartment//  American Equivalent:  savings and loan association//


Words: built
Meaning:
the past tense and past participle of build//\nbuilt 2 adj   used to describe someone’s size or shape//  --She is built like a dancer.//  --a heavily-built man//


Words: built environment
Meaning:
n [singular]  especially BrE   places where there are buildings and roads, and not the countryside//  --The overall strategy involves a major improvement to the built environment.//


Words: built-in
Meaning:
adj   forming a part of something that cannot be separated from it//    inbuilt//  --a built-in microphone//


Words: built-up
Meaning:
adj   a built-up area has a lot of buildings and not many open spaces//  --He was fined for speeding in a built-up area.//


Words: Bukowski
Meaning:
Charles   (1920-94) a US writer, born in Germany, who wrote several novels, short stories, and collections of poetry. His work often shows both anger and humour.//


Words: bulb
Meaning:
n [C]   filament, thread//  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: bulbus, from  Greek bolbos  ’plant with a bulb’]//\n  1 the glass part of an electric light, that the light shines from:   light bulb//  --a 100 watt bulb//\n  2 a root shaped like a ball that grows into a flower or plant:  --tulip bulbs//


Words: Bulgaria
Meaning:
a country in southeast Europe next to the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey. Population: 7,707,000 (2001). Capital: Sofia.//  -- Bulgarian n  adj //


Words: bulge
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: bouge,  bulge  ’bag, swelling, hump’ (13-19 centuries), from  Old French bouge;   BUDGET1]//\n  1 a curved mass on the surface of something, usually caused by something under or inside it:  --The gun made a bulge under his jacket.//\n  2 a sudden temporary increase in the amount or level of something:  --a bulge in the birthrate//  -- bulgy adj //\nbulge 2 v [I]    also bulge out //  to stick out in a rounded shape, especially because something is very full or too tight//  bulge with//  --His pockets were bulging with candy.//  --He fell heavily to the floor, his eyes bulging wide with fear.//


Words: bulimia
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek boulimia  ’great hunger’, from  bous  ’ox, cow’ +  limos  ’hunger’]//  an illness in which a person cannot stop themselves from eating too much, and then vomits in order to control their weight//  -- bulimic adj //


Words: bulk
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old Norse; Origin: bulki  ’goods carried on a ship’]//\n  1  the bulk (of sth):  the main or largest part of something//  --The bulk of consumers are based in towns.//\n  2 [C usually singular] a big mass or shape of something:  --the great bulk of a building//\n  3 [U] the size of something or someone:  --The dough will rise until it is double in bulk.//\n  4  in bulk:  if you buy goods in bulk, you buy large amounts each time you buy them//\nbulk 2 adj \n  1  bulk buying/orders etc:  the buying etc of goods in large quantities at one time//\n  2 [only before noun] bulk goods are sold or moved in large quantities:  --bulk flour for commercial bakeries//\n  3  bulk mail:  if you send something bulk mail, you send large amounts of it for a smaller cost than normal//\nbulk 3 v bulk large   to be the main or most important part of something//  bulk out [bulk sth → out] phr v//  to make something bigger or thicker by adding something else//  --We can bulk out the report with lots of diagrams.//


Words: bulkhead
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: bulk  ’part that sticks out from a building’ (15-19 centuries) (perhaps from  Old Norse balkr  ’partition’) +  head]//  a wall which divides the structure of a ship or aircraft into separate parts//


Words: bulky
Meaning:
adj \n  1 something that is bulky is bigger than other things of its type and is difficult to carry or store:  --a bulky parcel//\n  2 someone who is bulky is big and heavy:  --Andrew is a bulky man.//  -- bulkiness n  [U] //


Words: bull
Meaning:
n   hoof, horn//  ----------//\n   1 male cow:\n   2 male animal:\n   3 take the bull by the horns:\n   4 nonsense:\n   5 like a bull in a china shop:\n   6 like a bull at a gate:\n   7 religion:\n   8 centre:\n   9 business:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-3, 5-6, 8-9; Origin: Old English bula]//  [Sense: 4; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: bullshit]//  [Sense: 7; Date: 1200-1300; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: bulla]//\n  1 MALE COW:   [C] an adult male animal of the cattle family//  --a herd of cows with one bull//\n  2 MALE ANIMAL:   [C] the male of some other large animals such as the elephant or whale//\n  3  take the bull by the horns:  to bravely or confidently deal with a difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant problem//  --Nora decided to take the bull by the horns and organize things for herself.//\n  4 NONSENSE:   [U]  informal nonsense or something that is completely untrue//   rubbish//  --What a load of bull!//\n  5  like a bull in a china shop:  if you are like a bull in a china shop, you keep knocking things over, dropping things, breaking things etc//\n  6  like a bull at a gate:  if you move somewhere like a bull at a gate, you move there very fast, ignoring everything in your way//\n  7 RELIGION:   [C] an official statement from the Pope//\n  8 CENTRE:   [C]  also bullseye //  the centre of a target that you are shooting at//\n  9 BUSINESS:   [C]  technical someone who buys shares because they expect prices to rise//    bear//    bull market//    cock and bull story at cock1 (4),  like a red rag to a bull at red1 (5),  shoot the bull at shoot1 (13)//\nbull 2 interjection   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  BULL12]//  used to say that you do not believe or agree with what someone has said//  --Bull! Where did you get that idea?//


Words: bull bars
Meaning:
n [plural]  BrE   a set of metal bars fixed to the front of a large vehicle such as a Jeep or Land Rover in order to protect it from damage//  -- bullbarred/b[hA35E]lb[hA35A][hA359]d $ -b[hA35A][hA359]rd/ adj //  --bullbarred vehicles//


Words: bull market
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   a stock market in which the price of shares is going up and people are buying them//


Words: bull pen
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 the area in a baseball field in which pitchers practise throwing:\n  2 the pitchers of a baseball team:


Words: Bull Run
Meaning:
the place in northeast Virginia in the US where there were two important battles in the  American Civil War which the Union forces lost to Confederate forces//


Words: bull session
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE  informal an occasion when a group of people meet to talk in a relaxed and friendly way//  --an all-night bull session//


Words: bull-headed
Meaning:
adj   determined to get what you want without really thinking enough about it//  -- bullheadedly adv //


Words: bulldoze
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from  bull +  dose]//\n  1 to destroy buildings etc with a bulldozer:\n  2 to push objects such as earth and rocks out of the way with a bulldozer:\n  3  bulldoze sb into (doing) sth:  to force someone to do something that they do not really want to do//


Words: bulldozer
Meaning:
n [C]   exhaust, cab, caterpillar tracks//  a powerful vehicle with a broad metal blade, used for moving earth and rocks, destroying buildings etc//


Words: bullet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: boulette  ’small ball’ and  boulet  ’bullet’, from  boule  ’ball’]//  a small piece of metal that you fire from a gun//    shell, shot//  --He was killed by a single bullet.//  --a bullet wound in the shoulder//  --Several bullet holes could be seen beside a window.//    plastic bullet,  bite the bullet at bite1 (9)//


Words: bullet point
Meaning:
n [C]   a thing in a list that consists of a word or short phrase, with a small printed symbol in front of it//


Words: bullet-proof
Meaning:
adj   something that is bullet-proof is designed to stop bullets from going through it//  --an inch-thick wall of bullet-proof glass//


Words: bulletin
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Italian bullettino, from  bulla  ’official announcement by the pope’, from  Medieval Latin,  ’sealed document’, from  Latin;   BILL1]//\n  1 a news report on radio or television:\n  2 an official statement that tells people about something important:\n  3 a letter or printed statement that a group or organization produces to tell people its news:


Words: bulletin board
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  AmE a board on the wall that you put information or pictures on:  British Equivalent:  noticeboard//\n  2 a place in a computer information system where you can read or leave messages:


Words: bullfight
Meaning:
n [C]   a type of entertainment popular in Spain, in which a person fights and kills a bull//  -- bullfighter n  [C] //  -- bullfighting n  [U] //


Words: bullhorn
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE  old-fashioned a piece of equipment that you hold up to your mouth to make your voice louder//  British Equivalent:  megaphone//


Words: bullion
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: ’place where money is made’, probably from  Old French boillir;   BOIL1]//  bars of gold or silver//  --gold bullion//


Words: bullish
Meaning:
adj \n  1 [not before noun] feeling confident about the future:  --He’s very bullish about the company’s prospects.//\n  2  technical in a business market that is bullish, the prices of shares are rising or seem likely to rise:    bearish//  -- bullishly adv //  -- bullishness n  [U] //


Words: bullock
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: bulluc, from  bula;   BULL1]//  a young male cow that cannot breed//


Words: bullseye
Meaning:
bull’s-eye/b[hA35E]lza[hA366]/ n [C] \n  1 the centre of a target that you try to hit when shooting or in games like darts:   bull//\n  2  BrE a large hard round sweet:


Words: bullshit
Meaning:
n [U]  spoken  not polite   something that is stupid and completely untrue//   rubbish//  --Forget all that bullshit and listen to me!//  --What he told me was a load of bullshit .//\nbullshit 2   past tense and past participle  bullshitted present participle  bullshitting  v [I and T] //  to say something stupid or completely untrue, especially in order to deceive someone or make them think you are important//  --Don’t believe him, he’s probably bullshitting.//  -- bullshitter n  [C] //


Words: bully
Meaning:
n   plural  bullies  [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: bully  ’lover, someone who controls a prostitute’ (16-19 centuries), probably from  Dutch boel  ’lover’]//  someone who uses their strength or power to frighten or hurt someone who is weaker//  --Bullies are often cowards.//\nbully 2   past tense and past participle  bullied present participle  bullying third person singular  bullies  v [T] //\n  1 to threaten to hurt someone or frighten them, especially someone smaller or weaker:\n  2 to put pressure on someone in order to make them do what you want:  bully sb into (doing) sth//  --Don’t let them bully you into working on Saturdays.//  -- bullying n  [U] //  --an attempt to tackle the problem of bullying in schools//  bully off phr v//  to start a game of hockey//  -- bully-off n  [C] //\nbully 3 adj   bully for you/him etc//   spoken used when you do not think that someone has done anything special but they want you to praise them//  --Yes, I know you’ve done all the dishes. Bully for you!//


Words: bulrush
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Probably from  bull +  rush]//  a tall plant that looks like grass and grows by water//


Words: bulwark
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: bolwerc, from  Middle Low German, from  bole  ’flat piece of wood’ +  werc  ’work’]//\n  1 something that protects you from an unpleasant situation:  bulwark against//  --a bulwark against dictatorship//\n  2  bulwarks [plural] the sides of a boat or ship above the deck:\n  3 a strong structure like a wall, built for defence:


Words: bum
Meaning:
S3   n [C]  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from  bummer  ’bum’ (19-20 centuries), perhaps from  German bummler  ’lazy person’]//\n  1  BrE the part of your body that you sit on:   bottom//\n  2  AmE someone, especially a man, who has no home or job, and who asks people for money:\n  3  beach/ski etc bum:  someone who spends all their time on the beach skiing etc without having a job//\n  4 someone who is very lazy:\n  5  get/put bums on seats:   BrE  informal to make a large number of people go to see a film, play, sports match etc//  --She’s the kind of star who will put bums on seats.//\nbum 2   past tense and past participle  bummed present participle  bumming  v [T]  BrE  informal //  to ask someone for something such as money, food, or cigarettes//   cadge//  --She bummed a little cash off me.//  bum around phr v//\n  1  also bum about :  to spend time lazily doing nothing//\n  2  bum around sth:  to travel around, living very cheaply, without having any plans//  --He spent a year bumming around Australia.//\nbum 3 adj [only before noun]  informal \n  1 bad and useless:  --The orchestra was excellent. No one played a bum note.//  --I thought Jim got a bum deal  (=unfair treatment) .//\n  2  a bum ankle/leg etc:   AmE an injured ankle, leg etc//


Words: bumble
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  bungle]//\n  1  also bumble on :  to speak in a confused way so that no one can understand you//  --What was Karl bumbling on about?//\n  2  also bumble around :  to move in an unsteady way//


Words: bumblebee
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: bumble  ’to make a low continuous sound’ (14-17 centuries) (from the sound) +  bee]//  a large hairy bee//


Words: bumbling
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   behaving in a careless way and making a lot of mistakes//  --a kind bumbling man with a gentle smile//


Words: bumf
Meaning:
bumph/b[hA356]mf/ n [U]    BrE  informal boring written information that you have to read//  --I got loads of bumf about the introduction of the Euro.//


Words: bummer
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  BUM1]//  a bummer//   informal a situation that is disappointing or annoying//  --It was a real bummer being ill on holiday.//


Words: bump
Meaning:
S3   v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 [>I always + adv/prep, T] to hit or knock against something:  bump against//  --I ran after him, bumping against people in my hurry.//  bump into//  --Tim was a clumsy boy, always bumping into the furniture.//  bump sth on sth//  --She bumped her arm on the table.//  --The roof was so low he bumped his head  (=his head hit the roof) .//\n  2 [I always + adverb/preposition] to move up and down as you move forward, especially in a vehicle:  --A police car bumped down the track.//  bump along//  --The plane was bumping along the runway.//\n  3 [T always + adverb/preposition] to push or pull something somewhere in an irregular or unsteady way:  --Flora was bumping her bags down the steps.//\n  4 [T]  informal to move someone or something into a different class or group, or to remove them from a class or group altogether:  --The flight was overbooked, and Dad was the first one to be bumped.//  bump sb up to/out of/from etc sth//  --The reforms bumped many families off the state-provided healthcare list.//\n  5 [T] to move a radio or television programme to a different time:  --’Married with Children’ will be bumped from Sundays to Saturdays.//  bump into [bump into sb] phr v//  to meet someone who you know when you were not expecting to//   run into//  --I bumped into Jean in town this morning.//  bump off [bump sb → off] phr v//  to kill someone//  bump up [bump sth → up] phr v//  to suddenly increase something by a large amount//  --Prices were bumped up by 10 percent last week.//\nbump 2 n [C] \n  1 an area of skin that is raised because you have hit it on something:    lump//  --She has a bump on the back of her head.//  --He had a few injuries, mostly bumps and bruises.//\n  2 a small raised area on a surface:  --The car hit a bump on the road.//    speed bump//\n  3 the sound or sudden movement of something hitting a hard surface:  --We heard a bump in the next room.//  fall/sit down etc with a bump //  --Rose fell, landing with a bump.//\n  4  informal a small accident in which your car hits something but you are not hurt:


Words: bumper
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE a bar fixed on the front and back of a car to protect it if it hits anything:  American Equivalent:  fender//\n  2  bumper-to-bumper:  bumper-to-bumper traffic is very close together and moving slowly//\nbumper 2 adj [only before noun]   unusually large//  bumper crop/harvest //  --We hope readers will enjoy this bumper issue of ’Homes and Gardens’.//


Words: bumper car
Meaning:
n [C]   a small electric car that you drive in a special area at a funfair and deliberately try to hit other cars//    dodgems//


Words: bumptious
Meaning:
adj   too proud of your abilities in a way that annoys other people//   arrogant//  -- bumptiously adv //  -- bumptiousness n  [U] //


Words: bumpy
Meaning:
adj   comparative  bumpier superlative  bumpiest //\n  1 a bumpy surface is flat but has a lot of raised parts so it is difficult to walk or drive on it:   uneven//  → smooth//  --a bumpy road//  --The ground is bumpy in places.//\n  2 a bumpy journey by car or plane is uncomfortable with movements up and down because of bad road or weather conditions:  → smooth//  --The plane made a bumpy landing.//\n  3  a bumpy ride/time:  having a lot of problems for a long time//  --Shareholders have had a bumpy ride.//


Words: bun
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1-3, 5; Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from  Old French bugne  ’swelling (caused by a blow), type of fritter’]//  [Sense: 4; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from  Scottish Gaelic bun;   BUNNY]//\n  1  BrE a small round sweet cake:  --a sticky bun//\n  2 a small round type of bread:  --a hamburger bun//  bun, cheese, lettuce, tomato//\n  3 if a woman has her hair in a bun, she fastens it in a small round shape at the back of her head:\n  4  buns [plural]  AmE  informal the two round parts of a person’s bottom:   buttocks//\n  5  have a bun in the oven:   BrE  informal to be pregnant - used humorously//


Words: bunch
Meaning:
S2   n   ----------//\n   1 group of things:\n   2 group of people:\n   3 the best/pick of the bunch:\n   4 large amount:\n   5 bunches:  ----------//\n  1 GROUP OF THINGS:   [C] a group of things that are fastened, held, or growing together//  bunch of//  --I’ll send her a bunch of flowers .//  --He had a bunch of keys on his belt.//  --a bunch of grapes //\n  2 GROUP OF PEOPLE:   [singular]  informal a group of people//  --The ancient Egyptians were a clever bunch.//  bunch of//  --a friendly bunch of people//\n  3  the best/pick of the bunch:  the best among a group of people or things//\n  4 LARGE AMOUNT:   [singular]  AmE a large number of people or things, or a large amount of something//  bunch of//  --There’s a whole bunch of places I want to visit.//\n  5  bunches [plural]  BrE if a girl wears her hair in bunches, she ties it together at each side of her head:    thanks a bunch at thanks(5)//\nbunch 2 v  also bunch together, bunch up \n  1 [I and T] to stay close together in a group, or to make people do this:  --The children bunched together in small groups.//  --John stopped, forcing the rest of the group to bunch up behind him.//\n  2 [I and T] to make part of your body tight or to become tight like this:  --Sean bunched his fists.//\n  3 [I and T] to pull material together tightly in folds:  --She bunched the cloth up and threw it away.//\n  4 [T] to hold or tie things together in a bunch:


Words: bundle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: bundel]//\n  1 a group of things such as papers, clothes, or sticks that are fastened or tied together:  bundle of//  --bundles of newspapers//  --a small bundle containing mostly clothing//\n  2 a number of things that belong or are dealt with together:  bundle of//  --bundles of data//\n  3 computer software and sometimes other equipment or services that are included with a new computer at no extra cost:\n  4  a bundle:   informal a lot of money//  --College evening classes cost a bundle.//  --A company can make a bundle by selling unwanted property.//\n  5  be a bundle of nerves:   informal to be very nervous//\n  6  be a bundle of laughs/fun:   BrE  informal an expression meaning a person or situation that is fun or makes you laugh, often used jokingly when they are not fun at all//  --Being a teenager isn’t a bundle of laughs.//\n  7  not go a bundle on sth/sb:   BrE  informal to not like something or someone very much//  --Jim never drank, and certainly didn’t go a bundle on gambling.//\nbundle 2 v \n  1 [T always + adverb/preposition] to quickly push someone or something somewhere because you are in a hurry or you want to hide them:  bundle sb into/through etc sth//  --They bundled Perez into the car and drove off.//\n  2 [I always + adverb/preposition]  BrE to move somewhere quickly in a group:  bundle into/through etc//  --Six of us bundled into a taxi.//\n  3 [T] to include computer software or other services with a new computer at no extra cost:  bundle sth with/into sth//  --Microsoft can bundle Windows NT at discounted prices with its popular desktop application programs.//  bundle sth together//  --The company offered customers a single computer solution, bundling together hardware and software.//  bundle off [bundle sb → off] phr v//  to send someone somewhere quickly without asking them if they want to go//  bundle up [bundle sb/sth → up] phr v//\n  1  also bundle sth → together :  to make a bundle by tying things together//  --Bundle up the newspapers and take them to the skip.//\n  2  also bundle sth → together :  to put different things together so that they are dealt with at the same time//  --The lawsuit bundles together the claims of many individuals into one big case.//\n  3 to put warm clothes on someone or yourself because it is cold:  --People sat bundled up in scarves, coats, and boots.//  bundle somebody/something → up against//  --spectators bundled up against the cold//


Words: Bundt pan
Meaning:
trademark   a type of baking pan shaped like a ring, with high sides and a hole in the middle, used for baking cakes//  --Pour the batter into a greased Bundt pan//


Words: bung
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: bonghe, probably from  Late Latin puncta  ’hole made in something’, from  Latin pungere;   PUNGENT]//\n  1 a round piece of rubber, wood etc used to close the top of a container:\n  2  BrE  informal money given to someone secretly, and usually illegally, to make them do something:\nbung 2 v [T always + adverb/preposition]  BrE  informal   to put something somewhere quickly and carelessly//  bung sth in/into etc sth//  --Can you bung these clothes in the washing machine?//  bung up [bung sth → up] phr v//\n  1 to block something, especially a hole:\n  2  be bunged up:  to find it difficult to breathe because you have a cold//


Words: bungalow
Meaning:
S2   n [C]   roof, step, window//  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Hindi; Origin: bangla  ’(house) in the Bengal style’]//\n  1  BrE a house which is all on ground level:\n  2  AmE a small house which is often on one level:


Words: bungee jumping
Meaning:
n [U]   a sport in which you jump off something very high with a long length of special rope that stretches tied to your legs, so that you go up again without touching the ground//  -- bungee jump n  [C] -- bungee jumper n  [C] //


Words: bungle
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Perhaps from a  Scandinavian language]//  to fail to do something properly, because you have made stupid mistakes - used especially in news reports//  --The whole police operation was bungled.//  -- bungled adj //  --a bungled rescue attempt//  -- bungle n  [C] //  -- bungler n  [C] //


Words: bunion
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: bunny  ’swelling’ (15-18 centuries), probably from  Old French bugne;   BUN]//  a painful lump on the first joint of your big toe//


Words: bunk
Meaning:
n   ladder, mattress//  [Sense: 1-2; Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Probably from  bunker]//  [Sense: 3; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: bunk off]//  [Sense: 4; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: bunkum]//\n  1 [C] a narrow bed that is attached to the wall, for example on a train or ship:\n  2  also bunk bed :   [often plural] one of two beds that are attached together, one on top of the other//\n  3  do a bunk:   BrE  informal to suddenly leave a place without telling anyone//\n  4 [U]  informal nonsense:   bunkum//  --What a load of bunk!//\nbunk 2  also bunk down  v [I]  informal   to sleep somewhere, especially in someone else’s house//  --You can bunk down on the sofa for tonight.//  bunk off () [bunk off (sth)] phr v//  to stay away from somewhere such as school or to leave somewhere early without permission//   skive//  --John and I used to bunk off school.//


Words: bunker
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Scottish English; Origin: bunker  ’seat with storage space inside’ (18-19 centuries), perhaps from  bank  ’long seat’ (13-18 centuries), from  Old French banc;   BANK16]//\n  1 a strongly built shelter for soldiers, usually underground:\n  2  BrE a large hole on a golf course filled with sand:  American Equivalent:  sand trap//\n  3 a place where you store coal, especially on a ship or outside a house:\nbunker 2 v [T]  BrE   to hit a golf ball into a bunker//


Words: Bunker Hill
Meaning:
the Battle of   the first main battle of the  American Revolutionary War, in Boston, Massachusetts in 1775. Although the British army won the battle, the American  colonists killed and wounded more than 1000 British soldiers, and proved that their army was more powerful and effective than the British expected them to be.//


Words: bunkum
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Buncombe county in North Carolina, whose congressman in 1820 made a long pointless speech to impress the voters there]//   bunk//


Words: bunny
Meaning:
S3   n  also bunny rabbit   plural  bunnies  [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: bun  ’rabbit’s tail, rabbit’ (16-19 centuries), from  Scottish Gaelic,  ’root, bottom’]//  a word for a rabbit, used especially by or to children//


Words: bunny slope
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   the area of a mountain where people learn to ski//  British Equivalent:  nursery slope//


Words: Bunsen burner
Meaning:
n [C]   [Origin: Robert  Bunsen (1811-99), German scientist]//  a piece of equipment that produces a hot gas flame, for scientific experiments//


Words: bunt
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: bunt  ’to hit’ (16-20 centuries), from   BUTT2]//   AmE to deliberately hit the ball a short distance in a game of baseball//  -- bunt n  [C] //


Words: Bunter
Meaning:
Billy   the main character in children’s stories by Frank Richards about life in an English  public school (=a private school where the students live as well as study) . Bunter loves eating and is always getting into trouble.//


Words: bunting
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from  German bunt  ’brightly colored’]//  small flags on strings, used to decorate buildings and streets on special occasions//


Words: Bunyan
Meaning:
John   (1628-88) an English  preacher who wrote  The Pilgrim’s Progress while he was in prison for his beliefs//\n Paul   a  giant (=an extremely large man)  in old American stories. He was a lumberjack (=someone whose job is to cut down trees)  from the forests of Canada and the north US, who travelled with a blue ox called Babe. They changed the shape of the land as they walked along, for example by making mountains and also the  Grand Canyon.//


Words: buoy
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  Probably from  Middle Dutch boye,  boeie, from  Latin boia  ’chain’; because a buoy is kept in place with a chain]//  an object that floats on the sea, a lake etc to mark a safe or dangerous area//\nbuoy 2  also buoy up  v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Spanish; Origin: boyar  ’to float’, from  boya  ’buoy’, from  Latin boia;   BUOY1]//\n  1 to make someone feel happier or more confident:  --The party is buoyed up by the latest opinion poll results.//\n  2 to keep profits, prices etc at a high level:  --Increased demand for computers buoyed their profits.//\n  3 to keep something floating:


Words: buoyancy
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the ability of an object to float:\n  2 the power of a liquid to make an object float:  --Salt water has more buoyancy than fresh water.//\n  3 a feeling of happiness and a belief that you can deal with problems easily:\n  4 the ability of prices, a business etc to quickly get back to a high level after a difficult period:


Words: buoyant
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Spanish; Origin: boyante, from  boyar;   BUOY2]//\n  1 happy and confident:  --Phil was in buoyant mood.//\n  2 buoyant prices etc tend to rise:  --a buoyant economy//\n  3 able to float or keep things floating:  --Cork is very buoyant.//  -- buoyantly adv //


Words: burble
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 [I and T] to talk about something in a confused way that is difficult to understand:  burble on/away//  --I had to listen for an hour while she burbled away.//\n  2 [I] to make a sound like a stream flowing over stones:  -- burble n  [singular] //


Words: burbs
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: suburbs]//  the burbs [plural]  AmE  informal the suburbs (=areas around a city where people live) //


Words: burden
Meaning:
W3S3   n   [Language: Old English; Origin: byrthen]//\n  1 [C] something difficult or worrying that you are responsible for:  burden of//  --The burden of taxation has risen considerably.//  burden on//  --I don’t like being a burden on other people.//  --Nothing can lift the burden from my shoulders .//  the tax/financial/debt burden //\n  2  the burden of proof:   law the duty to prove that something is true//\n  3 [C] something that is carried:   load//    beast of burden//\nburden 2 v \n  1  be burdened with/by sth:  to have a lot of problems because of a particular thing//  --a company burdened with debt//    unburden//\n  2  be burdened with sth:  to be carrying something heavy//


Words: burdensome
Meaning:
adj    formal causing problems or additional work//  --These charges are particularly burdensome for poor parents.//


Words: bureau
Meaning:
n   plural  bureaus  or  bureaux /-r[hA353][hA35E]z $ -ro[hA35E]z/ [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: ’desk, cloth covering for desks’, from  Old French burel  ’woolen cloth’, from  Latin burra  ’wool, rough cloth’]//\n  1 an office or organization that collects or provides information:  --an employment bureau//  --the Citizens Advice Bureau//\n  2 a government department or a part of a government department in the US:  --the Federal Bureau of Investigation//\n  3 an office of a company or organization that has its main office somewhere else:  --the London bureau of the Washington Post//\n  4  BrE a large desk or writing table:\n  5  AmE a piece of furniture with several drawers, used to keep clothes in:  British Equivalent:  chest of drawers//


Words: bureau de change
Meaning:
n   plural  bureaux de change /-r[hA353][hA35E]- $ -ro[hA35E]-/ [C]  BrE //  [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: ’office of exchange’]//  a shop where you can change foreign money//    exchange//


Words: Bureau of Indian Affairs
Meaning:
the   BIA a US government organization which is concerned with the  welfare and education of Native Americans and with other legal matters concerning reservations (=areas set aside for Native Americans to live on) //


Words: bureaucracy
Meaning:
n   plural  bureaucracies //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: bureaucracie, from  bureau (  BUREAU) +  -cracie  ’-cracy’]//\n  1 [U] a complicated official system which is annoying or confusing because it has a lot of rules, processes etc:    red tape//  --the reduction of unnecessary bureaucracy//\n  2 [U and C] the officials who are employed rather than elected to do the work of a government, business etc:


Words: bureaucratic
Meaning:
adj   involving a lot of complicated official rules and processes//  -- bureaucratically/-kli/ adv //


Words: burgeon
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: burgeon  ’bud’ (13-19 centuries), from  Old French burjon, from  Vulgar Latin burrio, from  Latin burra;   BUREAU]//   formal to grow or develop quickly//  --the burgeoning market for digital cameras//


Words: burger
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: hamburger]//  a flat round piece of finely cut beef, which is cooked and eaten, or one of these served in a bread bun//   hamburger//    cheeseburger,  Vegeburger//


Words: Burgess
Meaning:
Guy   (1911-1963) a British man who worked for British Intelligence, but was secretly a spy for the former Soviet Union. In 1951 he escaped to the Soviet Union with another British spy, Donald MacLean.//


Words: burgher
Meaning:
n [C]  old use   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Dutch; Origin:  or early  German burger, from  burg  ’town with a defensive wall’]//  someone who lives in a particular town//


Words: burglar
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: burgler, from  Medieval Latin burglator, from  burgare  ’to burgle’, from  Latin burgus  ’defended place’]//  someone who goes into houses, shops etc to steal things//    robber, thief//    cat burglar//


Words: burglar alarm
Meaning:
n [C]   a piece of equipment that makes a loud noise when someone tries to get into a building illegally//


Words: burglarize
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: burglar]//   AmE to go into a building and steal things//  British Equivalent:  burgle//


Words: burglary
Meaning:
n   plural  burglaries  [U and C] //  the crime of getting into a building to steal things//  --Burglaries in the area have risen by 5%.//  --He was charged with burglary .//  --Most burglaries happen at night.//


Words: burgle
Meaning:
v [T]  BrE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: burglar]//  to go into a building and steal things//  American Equivalent:  burglarize//  --We’ve been burgled three times.//


Words: burgundy
Meaning:
n   plural  burgundies //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: Burgundia, from  French Bourgogne  ’Burgundy’]//\n  1 [U and C] red or white wine from the Burgundy area of France:\n  2 [U] a dark red colour:  -- burgundy adj //  --a burgundy skirt//


Words: burial
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: burial  ’place where a body is buried’ (13-17 centuries), from  Old English byrgels]//\n  1 the act or ceremony of putting a dead body into a grave:\n  2 the act of burying something in the ground:  burial of//  --the burial of solid wastes//


Words: Burke
Meaning:
Edmund   (1729-97) a British Whig politician, born in Dublin, Ireland. He wrote many works of political  theory and was also a great speaker.//


Words: Burke’s Peerage
Meaning:
a book that gives details of all the  noble families in the UK who have special titles such as ’Duke’ or ’Earl’//


Words: Burkina Faso
Meaning:
a country in West Africa, to the north of Ghana and the east of Mali, which was formerly called Upper Volta. Population: 12,272,000 (2001). Capital: Ouagadougou.//


Words: burlesque
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Italian burlesco, from  burla  ’joke’]//\n  1 speech, acting, or writing in which a serious subject is made to seem silly or an unimportant subject is treated in a serious way:\n  2  AmE a performance involving a mixture of comedy and striptease, popular in America in the past:


Words: burly
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: burly  ’noble, impressive’ (13-17 centuries), perhaps from an unrecorded  Old English borlic  ’excellent’]//  a burly man is big and strong//  --a burly policeman//


Words: burn
Meaning:
W3S2   v   past tense and past participle  burnt /b[hA362][hA359]nt $ b[hA362][hA359]rnt/ or  burned //  ----------//\n   1 produce flames and heat:\n   2 destroy something with fire:\n   3 injure/kill somebody with fire:\n   4 sun:\n   5 food:\n   6 chemicals:\n   7 fuel:\n   8 fat/energy:\n   9 light:\n  10 feel hot and painful:\n  11 face/cheeks:\n  12 CD:\n  13 be burning with rage/desire etc:\n  14 be burning to do something:\n  15 be/get burned:\n  16 burn your fingers/get your fingers burned:\n  17 burn a hole in your pocket:\n  18 burn your bridges/boats:\n  19 burn the candle at both ends:\n  20 burn the midnight oil:\n  21 it burns somebody that/how etc:\n  22 go fast:  Phrasal verbs//   burn away//   burn down//   burn something → off//   burn out//   burn up//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: byrnan  ’to burn’ and  b[zB024]rnan  ’to cause to burn’]//\n  1 PRODUCE FLAMES AND HEAT:   [I] //  a) if a fire burns, it produces heat and flames//  --There was a fire burning in the fireplace.//  --An average household candle will burn for about six hours.//  b) if something is burning, it is producing flames and being damaged or destroyed by fire//  --Parts of the building are still burning.//\n  2 DESTROY SOMETHING WITH FIRE:   [T] to destroy or damage something with fire //  --I burnt all his old letters.//  --Cars were burned and shops were looted during the rioting.//  --The Grand Hotel had burnt to the ground .//  --Make sure the iron isn’t too hot or you’ll burn the cloth.//  --He dropped his cigarette and burnt a hole in the carpet.//\n  3 INJURE/KILL SOMEBODY WITH FIRE:   [T] to hurt yourself or someone else with fire or something hot//  --I  burned my hand  on the oven door.//  --She was badly burned in a road accident.//  --16 passengers were burned to death  (=died in a fire) .//  --A family of five were burned alive in their home last night (=died in a fire) .//  --Heretics were burnt at the stake  (=burnt in a fire as a punishment) .//\n  4 SUN:   [I and T] if the sun burns your skin, or if your skin burns, it becomes red and painful from the heat of the sun//    sunburn//  --I burn quite easily.//  --Don’t forget you can still get burnt when you’re swimming or when it’s cloudy.//  --Her face and neck were quite badly burned .//\n  5 FOOD:   [I and T] to spoil food by cooking it for too long, or to become spoiled in this way//  --I’m afraid I’ve burnt the pizza.//  burn sth to a crisp/cinder //  --The meat was burned to a crisp.//\n  6 CHEMICALS:   [T] to damage or destroy something by a chemical action//  --Quite a lot of household chemicals can burn your skin.//\n  7 FUEL:   [I and T] if you burn a fuel, or if it burns, it is used to produce power, heat, light etc//  --The boiler burns oil to produce heat.//  --greenhouse gases caused by the burning of fossil fuels//\n  8 FAT/ENERGY:   [T] if you burn fat or calories, you use up energy stored in your body by being physically active//  --Taking a brisk walk every morning is a great way to burn calories.//  --a fat-burning exercise//\n  9 LIGHT:   [I] if a light or lamp burns, it shines or produces light//  --A lamp was burning in the kitchen window.//  --The hall light was still burning.//\n  10 FEEL HOT AND PAINFUL:   [I and T] if a part of your body burns, or if something burns it, it feels unpleasantly hot//  --The whisky burned my throat as it went down.//  --My eyes were burning from the smoke.//\n  11 FACE/CHEEKS:   [I] if your face or cheeks are burning, they feel hot because you are embarrassed or upset//  --I could feel my cheeks burning as I spoke.//\n  12 CD:   [T] if you burn a CD or DVD, you record music, images, or other information onto it using special computer equipment//\n  13  be burning with rage/desire etc:  to feel a particular emotion very strongly//  --She was burning with curiosity.//\n  14  be burning to do sth:  to want to do or find out something very much//  --I was burning to know how he had got on in New York.//\n  15  be/get burned:   informal //  a) to be emotionally hurt by someone or something//  --Take things slowly this time - you don’t want to get burned again.//  b) to lose a lot of money//  --The company got badly burned in the dot.com collapse.//\n  16  burn your fingers/get your fingers burned:   informal to suffer the unpleasant results of something that you have done//  --I tried a dating agency once, but got my fingers badly burnt - I’ll never do it again.//\n  17  burn a hole in your pocket:  if money burns a hole in your pocket, you want to spend it as soon as you can//\n  18  burn your bridges/boats:   informal to do something with the result that you will not be able to return to a previous situation again, even if you want to//  --I’m really tempted to take up that job offer in Washington, but I don’t want to burn my boats with this company.//\n  19  burn the candle at both ends:   informal to get very tired by doing things until very late at night and getting up early in the mornings//\n  20  burn the midnight oil:   informal to work or study until late at night//\n  21  it burns sb that/how etc:   AmE used to say that something makes someone feel angry or jealous//  --It really burns me the way they treat us.//\n  22 GO FAST:   [I always + adverb/preposition]  informal to travel very fast//  burn along/up etc//  --a sports car burning up the motorway//  burn away phr v//  if something burns away or is burned away, it is destroyed by fire//  burn sth → away//  --All her hair had been burnt away.//  burn down phr v//\n  1 if a building burns down or is burned down, it is destroyed by fire:  --She was worried that the house might burn down while they were away.//  burn sth → down//  --The old town hall was burnt down in the 1970s.//\n  2 if a fire burns down, the flames become weaker and it produces less heat:  burn off [burn sth → off] phr v//\n  1 to remove something by burning it:  --You can use a blowlamp to burn off the old paint.//\n  2 to use energy that is stored in your body by doing physical exercise:  --I decided to go for a run to try and burn off a few calories.//  burn out phr v//\n  1 if a fire burns out or burns itself out, it stops burning because there is no coal, wood etc left:  --He left the fire to burn itself out .//\n  2  be burnt out:  if a building or vehicle is burnt out, the inside of it is destroyed by fire//  --The hotel was completely burnt out. Only the walls remained.//  --We passed several burnt out cars.//\n  3  burn sth → out:  to remove something by burning it//  --The cancer cells are burnt out using a laser beam.//\n  4 to work so hard over a period of time that you become unable to continue working because you are tired, ill, or unable to think of any new ideas:  --It’s a high-pressure job and you could burn out young.//  be/get burnt out//  --He was almost burnt out by the time he was 21.//  burn yourself out//  --She’s in danger of burning herself out.//    burnout(1)//\n  5 if an engine or electric wire burns out or is burnt out, it stops working because it has been damaged by getting too hot:  --The plugs are wired so that if one burns out, the others will still start the engine.//  burn sth → out//  --I think you’ve burnt out one of the gaskets.//\n  6 if a rocket or jet burns out, it stops working because all its fuel has been used:    burnout(2)//  burn up phr v//\n  1 if something burns up or is burnt up, it is completely destroyed by fire or heat:  --The satellite will burn up as it re-enters the earth’s atmosphere.//  burn sth → up//  --Most of the woodland has now been burnt up.//\n  2  burn sth → up:   informal to use a lot of something in a careless way//  --Most household appliances burn up loads of electricity.//  --He just burns up money!//\n  3  be burning up:   spoken if someone is burning up, they are very hot, usually because they are ill//  --Feel his forehead - he’s burning up.//\n  4  burn sb up:   AmE  informal to make someone very angry//  --The way he treats her really burns me up.//\n  5  burn sth → up:  to use energy that is stored in your body, by being physically active//  --As we get older, our body becomes less efficient at burning up calories.//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: burn //  to be burning: be on fire,  be ablaze,  be alight //  to start burning: catch fire,  burst into flames,  ignite //  to make something start burning: light,  set fire to something //  to make something stop burning: put out,  extinguish //  to hurt or damage your skin with hot liquid or steam: scald //  the crime of deliberately setting fire to buildings: arson //  ----------//\nburn 2 S3 n [C] \n  1 an injury caused by fire, heat, the light of the sun, or acid:  --His body was covered in bruises and cigarette burns.//  severe/serious burns //  --She was taken to the hospital with serious burns.//  --Several of the survivors suffered severe burns .//  --She is being treated for minor burns .//\n  2 a mark on something caused by fire or heat:  --The desk was covered with graffiti and burn marks .//\n  3 a painful mark on the skin caused by it rubbing hard against something rough:\n  4  the burn:   informal a painful hot feeling in your muscles when you exercise a lot//  --Go for the burn.//\n  5  BrE a small stream:


Words: burner
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE the part of an oven or heater that produces heat or a flame:  --a gas burner//  burner, oven, hotplate, timer//\n  2  AmE one of the round parts on the top of a cooker that produce heat:\n  3  put/leave sth on the back burner:   informal to delay doing something until a later time//  --The government quietly put the scheme on the back burner.//    Bunsen burner//


Words: Burnett
Meaning:
Frances Hodgson   (1849-1924) a US writer born in England. She wrote the children’s books  Little Lord Fauntleroy  and  The Secret Garden.//


Words: burning
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1 on fire:  --She was rescued from a burning building.//\n  2 feeling very hot:  --Claudia put her hands to her burning face.//\n  3  burning ambition/desire/need etc:  a burning ambition, desire, need etc is very strong//  --My burning ambition is to be world champion.//\n  4  burning issue/question:  a burning issue or question is very important and urgent//  --Education has become a burning issue in this election.//\n  5  written burning eyes look at you very hard or show very strong feeling:\nburning 2 adv   burning hot//  very hot//


Words: burnish
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: brunir  ’to make brown, cause to shine’, from  brun  ’brown’]//\n  1 to polish metal or another substance until it shines:\n  2 to work hard in order to improve something:  --He missed no opportunity to burnish his image.//  -- burnished adj //


Words: burnout
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the feeling of always being tired because you have been working too hard:  --Many of the teachers are suffering from burnout.//\n  2 [U and C] the time when a rocket or  jet has finished all of its fuel and stops operating:


Words: Burns
Meaning:
George   (1896-1996) a US comedian and actor who was popular in vaudeville, on radio, and on television. He was known for always smoking a cigar and for talking to the audience (=the people watching) .//\n Robert   (1759-96) a Scottish poet who wrote in the  Scots dialect and is regarded as Scotland’s national poet. He wrote about love, country life, and national pride, and his best-known poems include  Tam o’Shanter  and  To a Mouse. Scottish people all over the world celebrate his birthday on 25 January, Burns Night.//


Words: burnt
Meaning:
v  especially BrE   the past tense and past participle of burn//\nburnt 2 S3 adj \n  1 damaged or hurt by burning:  --burnt toast//\n  2  burnt offering:  a) something that is offered as a gift to a god by being burnt on an altar//  b)  BrE  humorous food that you accidentally burnt while you were cooking it//


Words: burp
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 [I] to pass gas loudly from your stomach out through your mouth:   belch//\n  2 [T] to help a baby to do this, especially by rubbing or gently hitting its back:  -- burp n  [C] //


Words: burqa
Meaning:
burka/b[hA362][hA359]k[hA353] $ b[hA362][hA359]r-/ n [C]   a long piece of clothing worn by Muslim women in some countries, which covers the head, face, and body, with only a small square to see through//    abaya, chador//


Words: burr
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1,4; Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably from a  Scandinavian language]//  [Sense: 2-3; Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Probably from the sound.]//\n  1  also bur :  the seed container of some plants, covered with sharp points that make it stick to things//\n  2  BrE a way of pronouncing English with a strong ’r’ sound:\n  3 a fairly quiet regular sound like something turning quickly:   whirr//  --the burr of a motor//\n  4 a rough spot on a piece of metal:


Words: burrito
Meaning:
n   plural  burritos  [C] //  [Date: 1900-2000; Language: American Spanish; Origin: Spanish,  ’small donkey’, from  burro;   BURRO]//  a Mexican dish made with a tortilla (=flat thin bread)  folded around meat or beans with cheese//


Words: burro
Meaning:
n   plural  burros  [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Spanish; Origin: borrico, from  Late Latin burricus  ’small horse’]//   AmE a small donkey//


Words: Burroughs
Meaning:
Edgar Rice   (1875-1950) a US writer, known for his stories about  Tarzan//\n William   (1914-97) a US writer who wrote about subjects such as drugs, death, and  homosexuality. His most famous novel is  The Naked Lunch  (1959).//


Words: burrow
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I always + adverb/preposition, T] to make a hole or passage in the ground:   dig down//  burrow into/under/through etc//  --Mother turtles burrow into the sand to lay their eggs.//\n  2 [I,T always + adverb/preposition] to press your body close to someone or under something because you want to get warm or feel safe:   nestle//  burrow into/under/down etc//  --The child stirred and burrowed deeper into the bed.//  burrow sth into/against etc sth//  --She burrowed her head into his shoulder.//\n  3 [I always + adverb/preposition] to search for something that is hidden in a container or under other things:   rummage//  burrow in/into/through etc//  --Helen burrowed in her bag for a handkerchief.//\nburrow 2 n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: borough]//  a passage in the ground made by an animal such as a rabbit or fox as a place to live//


Words: bursar
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: bursarius, from  bursa  ’bag (for money)’]//  someone at a school or college who deals with the accounts and office work//


Words: bursary
Meaning:
n   plural  bursaries  [C]  BrE //  an amount of money given to someone so that they can study at a university or college//   grant//


Words: burst
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  burst //  ----------//\n   1 break open:\n   2 be bursting with something:\n   3 move suddenly:\n   4 burst open:\n   5 be bursting to do something:\n   6 be bursting:\n   7 burst somebody’s bubble:\n   8 burst its banks:  Phrasal verbs//   burst in on/upon somebody/something//   burst into something//   burst onto/upon/on something//   burst out//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: berstan]//\n  1 BREAK OPEN:   [I and T] if something bursts or if you burst it, it breaks open or apart suddenly and violently so that its contents come out//  --The pipes had burst and the house was under two feet of water.//\n  2  be bursting with sth:  to have a lot of something or be filled with something//  --John was bursting with ideas and good humour.//  --The shops are bursting with food.//  be bursting with pride/energy/excitement etc //  --Your mum’s bursting with pride for you.//\n  3 MOVE SUDDENLY:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to move somewhere suddenly or quickly, especially into or out of a place//  burst into/through/in etc//  --Jo burst into the room.//\n  4  burst open:  to open suddenly//  --The door burst open and Tom ran into the room.//\n  5  be bursting to do sth:   informal to want to do something very much//  --Zach was bursting to tell them something.//\n  6  be bursting:  a)  BrE  informal to need to go to the toilet very soon//  b)  also be bursting at the seams //  to be so full that nothing else can fit inside//\n  7  burst sb’s bubble:   informal to destroy someone’s beliefs or hopes about something//  --Steve was so happy I couldn’t bear to burst his bubble.//\n  8  burst its banks:  if a river bursts its banks, water from it goes on to the land//    full (up) to bursting at full1 (1),  burst the bubble at bubble1 (6),  the bubble bursts at bubble1 (5)//  burst in on/upon / [burst in on/upon sb/sth] phr v//  to interrupt something by entering a room, in a way that embarrasses you or other people//  --I’m sorry to burst in on you like this.//  burst into [burst into sth] phr v//\n  1 to suddenly begin to make a sound, especially to start singing, crying, or laughing:  --Claire looked as if she were about to burst into tears .//  --Suddenly, the group burst into laughter .//  --Lydia burst into song .//\n  2  burst into flames/flame:  to suddenly start to burn very strongly//  --Their car crashed and burst into flames.//  burst onto/upon/on [burst onto/upon/on sth] phr v//  to suddenly appear and become very successful//  --The band burst onto the music scene in 1997.//  burst out phr v//\n  1  burst out laughing/crying/singing etc:  to suddenly start to laugh, cry etc//  --Everyone in the room burst out laughing.//\n  2 to suddenly say something in a forceful way:  --’I don’t believe it!’ she burst out angrily.//    outburst(1)//\nburst 2 n [C] \n  1 the act of something bursting or the place where it has burst:  --a burst in the water pipe//\n  2 :  a) a short sudden effort or increase in activity//  burst of//  --The van gave a sudden burst of speed.//  b) a short sudden and usually loud sound//  burst of//  --sharp bursts of machine gun fire//  c) a sudden strong feeling or emotion//  burst of anger/enthusiasm/temper etc //


Words: Burton
Meaning:
Richard   (1925-84) a Welsh film and theatre actor, regarded as one of the best of his time. He was married twice to Elizabeth Taylor, and the marriages attracted almost as much attention as his acting.//


Words: Burundi
Meaning:
a country with many mountains in east central Africa, surrounded by Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Population: 6,224,000 (2001). Capital: Bujumbura.//  -- Burundian n  adj //


Words: bury
Meaning:
W3   v   past tense and past participle  buried present participle  burying third person singular  buries  [T] //  ----------//\n   1 dead person:\n   2 object:\n   3 fall on something:\n   4 hidden:\n   5 feeling/memory:\n   6 bury your face/head etc (in something):\n   7 bury your face/head in your hands:\n   8 bury your head in the sand:\n   9 bury the hatchet/bury your differences:\n  10 in a surface:\n  11 bury yourself in your work/studies etc:\n  12 information:\n  13 loved one:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: byrgan]//\n  1 DEAD PERSON:  to put someone who has died in a grave//  bury sb in/at etc sth//  --He was buried in the churchyard of St Mary’s.//\n  2 OBJECT:  to put something under the ground, often in order to hide it//  --Electric cables are buried beneath the streets.//\n  3 FALL ON SOMETHING:   [usually in passive] to fall on top of someone or something, usually harming or destroying them//  be buried under/beneath etc sth//  --The skiers were buried under the snow.//  --57 miners were buried alive .//\n  4 HIDDEN:   [usually in passive] to cover something so that it cannot be found//  --His glasses were buried under a pile of papers.//\n  5 FEELING/MEMORY:  to ignore a feeling or memory and pretend that it does not exist//  --a deeply buried memory//\n  6  bury your face/head etc (in sth):  to press your face etc into something soft//  --Noel buried his face in the pillow.//\n  7  bury your face/head in your hands:  to cover your face with your hands because you are very upset//\n  8  bury your head in the sand:  to ignore an unpleasant situation and hope it will stop if you do not think about it//\n  9  bury the hatchet/bury your differences:  to agree to stop arguing about something and become friends//\n  10 IN A SURFACE:  to push something, especially something sharp, into something else with a lot of force//  bury sth in sth//  --The dog buried its teeth in my leg.//  --The bullet buried itself in the wall.//\n  11  bury yourself in your work/studies etc:  to give all your attention to something//  --After the divorce, she buried herself in her work.//\n  12 INFORMATION:  to put a fact or information somewhere in a larger document so that it is unlikely to be found or read//  --The story was buried at the back of the paper.//\n  13 LOVED ONE:   literary to have someone you love die//  --She had buried her husband, two sons, and a daughter.//    be dead and buried at dead1 (14)//


Words: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Meaning:
a book by Dee Brown which tells the story of the American West in a way that is sympathetic to the Native Americans//


Words: bus
Meaning:
n   plural  buses  also  busses especially AmE  [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: omnibus]//\n  1 a large vehicle that people pay to travel on:  --There were a lot of people on the bus this morning.//  --She  got on the bus  at Clark Street. //  -- I’ll tell you when to  get off the bus . //  -- a line of people  waiting for a bus  //  -- Sally had to run to  catch the bus . //  -- I  took the bus  to the university. //  -- Too tired to walk? Try  riding the bus  for a peso or two. //  -- Hurry up or we’ll  miss the bus ! //  by bus//  --The best way to get there is by bus.//  -- Unable to afford  bus fares , she walked to interviews. //  --I lost my glasses on the  school bus . //\n  2 a  circuit that connects the main parts of a computer so that signals can be sent from one part of the computer to another:  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  get on a bus //  get off a bus //  wait for a bus //  catch a bus //  take a bus //  ride a bus  AmE //  miss a bus  (=be too late to get on a bus) //  bus fare  (=money you pay for a bus journey) //  bus pass  (=a card you buy that allows you to make several bus journeys) //  bus ride/trip/journey //  bus route  (=the way a bus goes) //  school bus //  ----------//\nbus 2 v   past tense and past participle  bused  or  bussed present participle  busing  or  bussing //  [Sense: 1; Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  BUS1]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: busboy]//\n  1 [T usually passive] to take a person or a group of people somewhere in a bus:  bus sb to/in/into sth//  --Casey was bussed to the school.//\n  2 [T]  AmE to take away dirty dishes from the tables in a restaurant:  --Shelley had a job bussing tables .//


Words: bus shelter
Meaning:
n [C]    especially BrE a small structure with a roof that keeps people dry while they are waiting for a bus//


Words: busboy
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: omnibus  ’helper in a restaurant’ (19-20 centuries) (from  Latin;   OMNIBUS1) +  boy]//   AmE a young man whose job is to take away dirty dishes from the tables in a restaurant//


Words: Bush
Meaning:
George Herbert   (1924- ) the 41st President of the US (1989-93)//\n George W.   (1946-) the 43rd President of the US (2000-). He is the son of the former President George Bush.//


Words: bush
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: bos,  bosc  ’wood’]//\n  1 a plant with many thin branches growing up from the ground:    tree, shrub//  --a rose bush//  --The child was hiding in the bushes.//\n  2  the bush:  wild country that has not been cleared, especially in Australia or Africa//\n  3 a bush of hair is a lot of thick untidy hair:    beat about the bush at beat1 (14)//


Words: bush league
Meaning:
adj  AmE  informal   badly done or of such bad quality that it is not acceptable//  --bush league reporting//


Words: bushed
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from  bushed ’lost in the bush (  BUSH2)’  (19-20 centuries)]//   informal very tired//


Words: bushel
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: boissel]//  hide your light under a bushel//  to not tell anyone that you are good at something//


Words: Bushman
Meaning:
n   plural  Bushmen /-m[hA353]n/ [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  From early  Afrikaans boschjesman, from  boschjes  ’small forest’ (from  bosch  ’forest’) +  man]//  someone who belongs to a southern African tribe who live in the bush (=wild country) //


Words: bushwhack
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: bushwhacker  (19-21 centuries), perhaps from  Dutch boschwachter  ’forest-guard’]//  to push or cut your way through thick trees or bushes//


Words: bushy
Meaning:
adj   comparative  bushier superlative  bushiest //\n  1 bushy hair or fur grows thickly:  --a bushy tail//\n  2 bushy plants grow thickly, with a lot of branches and leaves:  -- bushiness n  [U] //


Words: business
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 buying or selling goods or services:\n   2 company:\n   3 how much work a company has:\n   4 for your job:\n   5 what someone should be involved in:\n   6 things to be dealt with:\n   7 matter:\n   8 be in business:\n   9 (go) out of business:\n  10 be back in business:\n  11 somebody was (just) minding their own business:\n  12 go about your business:\n  13 make it your business to do something:\n  14 mean business:\n  15 unfinished business:\n  16 business is business:\n  17 business as usual:\n  18 have no business doing something/have no business to do something:\n  19 not be in the business of doing something:\n  20 and all that business:\n  21 (it’s) the business:\n  22 do the business:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: busy]//\n  1 BUYING OR SELLING GOODS OR SERVICES:   [U] the activity of making money by producing or buying and selling goods, or providing services//    commerce, trade//  --Students on the course learn about all aspects of business.//  --We do business with a number of Italian companies.//  --Vanessa decided to go into business as an art-dealer.//  set up/start up in business //  --The scheme offers free advice to people wanting to set up in business.//  --In order to stay in business , you must do better than your competitors.//  the advertising/music/fashion etc business //  --Carl began in the music business by running a recording studio.//  business activities/interests etc //  --He has a wide range of business interests.//\n  2 COMPANY:   [C] an organization such as a company, shop, or factory that produces or sells goods or provides a service//  --She now has her own $25 million home-shopping business.//  --They don’t know how to run a business .//  --The company began as a small family business  (=owned and controlled by one family) .//  --Owners of small businesses  (=that employ only a few people) will be hit hardest by these tax changes.//  big business (=large and powerful companies in general) //  --Does big business have more control over our everyday lives than our elected governments?//  the business community (=people who work in business generally) //  --the international business community//\n  3 HOW MUCH WORK A COMPANY HAS:   [U] the amount of work a company does or the amount of money it makes//  --We’re now doing twice as much business as we did last year.//  --Exports account for 72% of overall business.//  business is good/bad/slow etc //  --Business is slow during the summer.//  drum up business (=try to get more work for you or your company) //  --Perot was in Europe, drumming up business for his new investment company.//\n  4 FOR YOUR JOB:   [U] work that you do as part of your job//  --She’s in New York this week on business  (=for her work) .//  --Hi Maggie! Is this phone call business or pleasure ?//  business trip/meeting etc //  --We discussed the idea over a business lunch.//  --useful business contacts //\n  5 WHAT SOMEONE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN:   [U] //  a) if something is not your business or none of your business, you should not be involved in it or ask about it//  --It was not her business, she decided, to ask where the money came from.//  --It’s none of your business how much I weigh.//  --’Who’s that girl you were with?’ ’ Mind your own business  (=Don’t ask questions about something that does not concern you) !’//  --Are you going out with Kate tonight? ’That’s my business’  (=it doesn’t concern you, so don’t ask me questions about it) .//  b) if it is someone’s business to do something, it is their duty or responsibility to do it//  it is the business of sb to do sth//  --It is the business of government to listen to the various groups within society.//\n  6 THINGS TO BE DEALT WITH:   [U] things that need to be done or discussed//  --Okay, let’s get down to business  (=start doing or discussing something) .//  --’Is there any other business ?’ the chairman asked.//\n  7 MATTER:   [singular] a situation or activity, especially one that you have a particular opinion about or attitude towards//  a serious/strange/funny etc business //  --Leon regards keeping fit as a serious business.//  --Tanya found the whole business ridiculous.//\n  8  be in business:  a) to be involved in business activities//  --The company has been in business for over thirty years.//  b)  spoken to have all that you need to start doing something//  --I’ve just got to buy the paint and then we’re in business.//\n  9  (go) out of business:  if a company goes out of business, or something puts it out of business, it stops operating, especially because of financial problems//  --Higher interest rates will drive small firms out of business.//\n  10  be back in business:  to be working or operating in a normal way again//  --The band are back in business after a long break.//\n  11  sb was (just) minding their own business:   spoken used to say that someone was not doing anything unusual or wrong at the time when something unfair or bad happened to them//  --I was driving along, minding my own business, when the police stopped my car.//\n  12  go about your business:  to do the things that you normally do//  --The street was full of ordinary people going about their business.//\n  13  make it your business to do sth:  to make a special effort to do something//  --Ruth made it her business to get to know the customers.//\n  14  mean business:   informal to be serious about doing something even if it involves harming someone//  --The border is guarded by troops who mean business.//\n  15  unfinished business:  something you need to discuss further with someone or a situation that has not yet reached a satisfactory solution//  --The sudden death of a loved one can often leave the bereaved with an agonising sense of unfinished business.//\n  16  business is business:   spoken used to say that profit is the most important thing to consider//  --We can’t afford to employ someone who isn’t good at the job - business is business.//\n  17  business as usual:  when someone or something is still working or operating normally when you think they might not be//  --Despite last night’s scare, it was business as usual in the White House today.//\n  18  have no business doing sth/have no business to do sth:  to do something you should not be doing//  --He was drunk and had no business driving.//\n  19  not be in the business of doing sth:  to not be intending to do something because you think it is a bad idea//  --I’m not in the business of selling my best players.//\n  20  and all that business:   spoken  informal and other things of the same general kind//  --She handles the publicity and all that business.//\n  21  (it’s) the business:   BrE  informal used to say that something is very good or works well//  --Have you seen David’s new car? It’s the business!//\n  22  do the business:   BrE  informal //  a) to do what you are expected to do or what people want you to do//  --Come on, then, and do the business.//  b) to have sex//    big business,  funny business at funny(3),  like nobody’s business at nobody1 (2),  monkey business at monkey1 (3),  show business//


Words: business class
Meaning:
n [U]   travelling conditions on an aircraft that are more expensive than tourist class, but not as expensive as first class//    economy class//


Words: business end
Meaning:
n   the business end (of sth)//   informal the end of a tool or weapon that does the work or causes the damage//  --the business end of a gun//


Words: business plan
Meaning:
n [C]   a document which explains what a company wants to do in the future, and how it plans to do it//


Words: businesswoman
Meaning:
n   plural  businesswomen /-w[hA366]m[hA366]n/ [C] //  desk, laptop, monitor//  a woman who works in business//


Words: busing
Meaning:
n [U]   a system in the US in which students ride buses to schools that are far from where they live, so that a school has students of different races//


Words: busman’s holiday
Meaning:
n [singular]  BrE   a holiday spent doing the same work as you do in your job - often used humorously//


Words: buss
Meaning:
v [T]  AmE  old-fashioned   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  bass  ’to kiss’ (1500-1600), from  French baiser]//  to kiss someone in a friendly rather than sexual way//  --politicians bussing babies//


Words: bust
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  bust  BrE  also  busted  especially AmE  [T] //  ----------//\n   1 break:\n   2 police:\n   3 try hard:\n   4 money:\n   5 crime-busting/union-busting/budget-busting etc:\n   6 ... or bust!:\n   7 military:  Phrasal verbs//   bust out//   bust up//  ----------//  [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: burst]//\n  1 BREAK:   informal to break something//  --I bust my watch this morning.//  --Tony busted the door down.//\n  2 POLICE:  a) if the police bust someone, they charge them with a crime//  --He was busted by U.S. inspectors at the border.//  bust sb for sth//  --Davis got busted for drugs .//  b)  informal if the police bust a place, they go into it to look for something illegal//  --Federal agents busted several money-exchange businesses.//\n  3 TRY HARD:   bust a gut//   informal  also bust your butt/ass  AmE  spoken //  to try extremely hard to do something//  --I bust a gut trying to finish that work on time.//\n  4 MONEY:   AmE  informal to use too much money, so that a business etc must stop operating//  --The trip to Spain will probably bust our budget.//\n  5  crime-busting/union-busting/budget-busting etc:   informal used with nouns to show that a situation is being ended or an activity is being stopped//  --crime-busting laws//\n  6  ... or bust!:   informal used to say that you will try very hard to go somewhere or do something//  --Idaho or bust!//\n  7 MILITARY:   especially AmE to give someone a lower military rank as a punishment//   demote//  bust out phr v//  to escape from a place, especially prison//  bust up phr v//\n  1  BrE if people bust up, they end their relationship or friendship:   break up//  --They bust up after six years of marriage.//    bust-up(1)//\n  2  bust sth → up:  to prevent an illegal activity or bad situation from continuing//   break up//  --A couple of teachers stepped in to bust up the fight.//\n  3  bust sth → up:   AmE to damage or break something//  --A bunch of bikers busted up the bar.//\n  4  AmE to start laughing a lot:   crack up//  --Elaine busted up laughing at the sight of him.//\nbust 2 n [C]   [Sense: 1-3; Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: buste, from  Italian busto, from  Latin bustum  ’place where a body is buried, statue put by such a place’]//  [Sense: 4; Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  BUST1]//\n  1 a model of someone’s head, shoulders, and upper chest, usually made of stone or metal:  bust of//  --a bust of Beethoven//\n  2 a woman’s breasts, or the part of her clothes that covers her breasts:\n  3 a measurement around a woman’s breast and back:  --a 36-inch bust//\n  4  informal a situation in which the police go into a place in order to catch people doing something illegal:  --a drug bust //    boom to bust at boom1 (1)//\nbust 3 adj [not before noun]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  From a past participle of   BUST1]//\n  1  go bust:   informal a business that goes bust cannot continue operating//\n  2  BrE  informal broken:  --The television’s bust again.//


Words: bust-up
Meaning:
n [C]  informal \n  1 the end of a relationship:  bust-up of//  --the bust-up of their marriage//    bust up at bust1 //\n  2  BrE a very bad quarrel or fight:  --Cathy and I had a real bust-up yesterday.//


Words: busted
Meaning:
adj  AmE  spoken  informal \n  1 broken:  --a busted arm//\n  2 [not before noun] caught doing something wrong and likely to be punished:  --You guys are so busted!//


Words: buster
Meaning:
n \n  1  AmE  spoken used to speak to a man who is annoying you or who you do not respect:  --You’re under arrest, buster!//\n  2  crime-buster/budget-buster/sanctions-buster etc:   informal used with nouns to mean someone or something that ends a situation or stops an activity//


Words: bustier
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: buste;   BUST2]//  a tight piece of clothing that women wear on the top half of the body, which does not cover their shoulders or arms//


Words: bustle
Meaning:
preposition]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  buskle  ’to prepare’ (16-17 centuries), from  busk  ’to get ready, prepare’ (13-21 centuries), from  Old Norse buask  ’to prepare yourself’]//  to move around quickly, looking very busy//  bustle about/round etc//  --Madge bustled round the room, putting things away.//\nbustle 2 n   [Sense: 1; Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  BUSTLE1]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Origin unknown]//\n  1 [singular] busy and usually noisy activity:  bustle of//  --a continual bustle of people coming and going//    hustle and bustle at hustle2 (1)//\n  2 [C] a frame worn by women in the past to hold out the back of their skirts:


Words: bustling
Meaning:
adj   a bustling place is very busy//  bustling with sb/sth//  --The flower market was bustling with shoppers.//


Words: busy
Meaning:
adj   comparative  busier superlative  busiest //  ----------//\n   1 person:\n   2 time:\n   3 place:\n   4 telephone:\n   5 pattern:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: bisig]//\n  1 PERSON:  if you are busy, you are working hard and have a lot of things to do//  --She’s busy now - can you phone later?//  --a busy mother of four//  busy with//  --Mr Haynes is busy with a customer at the moment.//  busy doing sth//  --Rachel’s busy studying for her exams.//  --There were lots of activities to keep the kids busy .//\n  2 TIME:  a busy period of time is full of work or other activities//  --December is the busiest time of year for shops.//  --a busy day //  --He took time out of his busy schedule to visit us.//\n  3 PLACE:  a busy place is very full of people or vehicles and movement//  --We live on a very busy road .//\n  4 TELEPHONE:   especially AmE if a telephone you are calling is busy, it makes a repeated sound to tell you that the person you are calling is talking on their telephone//  British Equivalent:  engaged//  --I called Sonya, but her line was busy.//  --I keep getting a busy signal .//\n  5 PATTERN:  a pattern or design that is busy is too full of small details - used to show disapproval//\nbusy 2   past tense and past participle  busied present participle  busying third person singular  busies  v [T] //  busy yourself with sth//  to use your time dealing with something//  --He busied himself with answering letters.//


Words: busybody
Meaning:
n   plural  busybodies  [C] //  someone who is too interested in other people’s private activities - used to show disapproval//


Words: but
Meaning:
conj   [Language: Old English; Origin: butan  ’outside, without, except’]//\n  1 used to connect two statements or phrases when the second one adds something different or seems surprising after the first one:  --It’s an old car, but it’s very reliable.//  --They rushed to the hospital, but they were too late.//  --We’ve invited the boss, but she may decide not to come.//  --an expensive but extremely useful book//  --’Has he got any experience?’ ’No, but he’s keen to learn.’//\n  2 used to introduce a statement that explains why the thing you have mentioned did not happen or is not possible:  --I’d like to go but I’m too busy.//  --They would have married sooner, but they had to wait for her divorce.//\n  3 used after a negative to emphasize that it is the second part of the sentence that is true:  --He lied to the court not just once, but on several occasions.//  --The purpose of the scheme is not to help the employers but to provide work for young people.//\n  4 except:  --What can we do but sit and wait?//  --I had no choice but to accept the challenge.//  --Not a day goes by but I think of dear old Larry (=I think of him every day) .//\n  5  but for:  a) used when you are saying that something would have happened if something or someone else had not prevented it//  --But for these interruptions, the meeting would have finished earlier.//  --The score could have been higher but for some excellent goalkeeping by Simon.//  --I might never have got to university but for you.//  b) except for something or someone//  --All was silent but for the sound of the wind in the trees.//\n  6  but then (again):   spoken //  a) used when you are adding a statement that says almost the opposite of what you have just said//  --John might be ready to help us, but then again, he might not.//  --You feel really sorry for him. But then again, it’s hard to like him.//  b) used when you are adding a statement that makes what you have just said seem less surprising//  --Dinah missed the last rehearsal, but then she always was unreliable, wasn’t she?//\n  7  spoken used when you are replying to someone and expressing strong feelings such as anger, surprise etc:  --But that’s marvellous news!//  --’They won’t even discuss the problem.’ ’But how stupid!’//\n  8  sb cannot but do sth:   formal used to say that someone has to do something or cannot stop themselves from doing it//  --I could not but admire her.//\n  9  spoken used when disagreeing with someone:  --’It was a good idea.’ ’But it didn’t work.’//\n  10  spoken used to emphasize a word or statement:  --It’ll be a great party - everyone, but everyone, is coming.//  --They’re rich, but I mean rich.//\n  11  spoken used to change the subject of a conversation:  --But now to the main question.//  --But tell me, are you really planning to retire?//\n  12  spoken used after expressions such as ’excuse me’ and ’I’m sorry’:  --Excuse me, but I’m afraid this is a no-smoking area.//\nbut 2 W3S2 prep \n  1 apart from:   except//  --I could come any day but Thursday.//  --There’s no one here but me.//  --I could still see nothing but the spirals of desert dust.//  --He was unable to swallow anything but liquids.//\n  2  the last but one/the next but two etc:   especially BrE the last or next thing or person except for one, two etc//  --Pauline and Derek live in the next house but one (=they live two houses away from us) .//\nbut 3 W3S2 adv   only//  --This is but one example of what can happen when things go badly wrong.//  --It’s going to be difficult. Anyway, we can but try.//  --We have relationships of many different sorts -- with our children, our parents, our boss and our friends, to name but a few.//\nbut 4   n   buts [plural]  spoken reasons that someone gives for not doing something or agreeing with something//  --’I don’t want to hear any buts,’ Jo snapped.//  --He is the best player - no ifs, ands, or buts about that.//


Words: butane
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: butyl type of chemical group  (19-21 centuries) (from  Latin butyrum (  BUTTER1); because it smells of butter that is no longer fresh) +  -ane  ’carbon chemical compound’]//  a gas stored in liquid form, used for cooking and heating//


Words: butch
Meaning:
adj  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Butch name given to men or boys who behave as if wanting to fight, probably from  butcher]//\n  1 a woman who is butch looks, behaves, or dresses like a man:\n  2 a man who is butch seems big and strong, and typically male:


Words: butcher
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: bouchier, from  bouc  ’male goat’]//\n  1 someone who owns or works in a shop that sells meat:\n  2  the butcher’s:  a shop where you can buy meat//\n  3 someone who has killed someone else cruelly and unnecessarily, especially someone who has killed a lot of people:\n  4  have/take a butcher’s:   BrE  spoken  informal to have a look at something//\nbutcher 2 v [T] \n  1 to kill animals and prepare them to be used as meat:\n  2 to kill someone cruelly or unnecessarily, especially to kill a lot of people:\n  3  informal to spoil something by working carelessly:  --That hairdresser really butchered my hair!//


Words: butchery
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 cruel and unnecessary killing:  --the butchery of battle//\n  2 the preparation of meat for sale:


Words: butler
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: bouteillier  ’bottle-carrier’, from  bouteille;   BOTTLE1]//  the main male servant of a house//


Words: butt
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 part of your body:\n   2 cigarette:\n   3 be the butt of something:\n   4 gun:\n   5 get your butt in/out/over etc:\n   6 work/play etc your butt off:\n   7 container:\n   8 hitting with your head:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-2, 4-6; Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Origin unknown.]//  [Sense: 3; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: but  ’target, goal, end’]//  [Sense: 7; Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: botte]//  [Sense: 8; Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  BUTT2]//\n  1 PART OF YOUR BODY:   AmE  informal the part of your body that you sit on//   buttocks//  --a baby’s soft little butt//    be a pain in the butt at pain1 (3)//\n  2 CIGARETTE:  the end of a cigarette after most of it has been smoked//\n  3  be the butt of sth:  to be the person or thing that other people often make jokes about//  --Paul quickly became the butt of everyone’s jokes.//\n  4 GUN:  the thick end of the handle of a gun//  --a rifle butt//\n  5  get your butt in/out/over etc:   AmE  spoken used to rudely tell someone to go somewhere or do something//  --Kevin, get your butt over here!//\n  6  AmE  spoken  work/play etc your butt off:  to work, play etc very hard//  --I worked my butt off in college.//\n  7 CONTAINER:   BrE a large round container for collecting or storing liquids//  --a rainwater butt//\n  8 HITTING WITH YOUR HEAD:  the act of hitting someone with your head//\nbutt 2 v [I and T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: boter  ’to push’]//\n  1 to hit or push against something or someone with your head:\n  2 if an animal butts someone, it hits them with its horns:  butt in phr v//\n  1 to interrupt a conversation rudely:  --Stop butting in!//\n  2 to become involved in a private situation that does not concern you:  butt in on//  --They don’t want outsiders butting in on their decision-making.//  butt out phr v//  used to tell someone rudely that you do not want them to be involved in a conversation or situation//  --This has nothing to do with you, so just butt out!//


Words: butte
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’small hill’, from  Old French bute  ’pile of earth’]//  a hill with steep sides and a flat top in the western US//


Words: butter
Meaning:
S2   n [U]   butter, egg, flour, sugar//  [Language: Old English; Origin: butere, from  Latin butyrum, from  Greek boutyron, from  bous  ’cow’ +  tyros  ’cheese’]//\n  1 a solid yellow food made from milk or cream that you spread on bread or use in cooking:    bread-and-butter//\n  2  butter wouldn’t melt in sb’s mouth:  used to say that someone seems to be very kind and sincere but is not really//  -- buttery adj //\nbutter 2 v [T]   to spread butter on something//  --buttered toast//  butter up [butter sb → up] phr v//   informal to say nice things to someone so that they will do what you want//  --Don’t think you can butter me up that easily.//


Words: butterfly
Meaning:
n   plural  butterflies  [C] //  antenna, wing//  [Language: Old English; Origin: buterfleoge, from  butere (  BUTTER1) +  fleoge  ’fly’; perhaps because many types of butterfly are yellow, or because people believed that butterflies steal milk and butter]//\n  1 a type of insect that has large wings, often with beautiful colours:\n  2  have/get butterflies (in your stomach):   informal to feel very nervous before doing something//  --I always get butterflies before an exam.//\n  3  the butterfly:  a way of swimming by lying on your front and moving your arms together over your head while your legs move up and down//\n  4 someone who usually moves on quickly from one activity or person to the next:  --Gwen’s a real social butterfly .//


Words: butterscotch
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from  butter +  Scotch; perhaps because it was first made in Scotland]//  a type of sweet or sauce made from butter and sugar boiled together, or the taste this has//  --butterscotch pudding//


Words: butthole
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  spoken  not polite \n  1 someone’s anus:\n  2 used to insult someone:  --You butthole!//


Words: buttock
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   [Language: Old English; Origin: buttuc]//  one of the fleshy parts of your body that you sit on//


Words: button
Meaning:
S2   n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: boton, from  boter;   BUTT2]//\n  1 a small round flat object on your shirt, coat etc which you pass through a hole to fasten it:  --small pearl buttons//  --A button was missing from his shirt.//  --She undid  (=unfastened) the buttons of her blouse.//  do up a button  BrE  (=fasten a button) //\n  2 a small part or area of a machine that you press to make it do something:  -- Press the pause button .//  --Click on the icon with the right mouse button .//\n  3 a small area on a computer screen, especially on a website, that you  click on in order to perform an action:\n  4  AmE a small metal or plastic pin with a message or picture on it:  British Equivalent:  badge//  --presidential campaign buttons//\n  5  button nose/eyes:  a nose or eyes that are small and round//\n  6  on the button:   especially AmE  informal exactly right, or at exactly the right time//  --She got to our house at two, on the button.//\n  7  press/push (all) the right buttons:  to get what you want by behaving in a clever way//  --She seemed to push all the right buttons.//\n  8  press/push sb’s buttons:  to make someone angry by doing or saying something that annoys them//  --He really knows how to push Dad’s buttons.//\n  9  at/with the push/touch of a button:  used to emphasize how easy a machine is to use because it is controlled by pushing a button//  --The instrument can gauge a distance with the push of a button.//    as bright as a button at bright(7)//\nbutton 2 v [I and T] \n  1  also button up :  to fasten clothes with buttons or to be fastened with buttons//  --Sam, make sure Nina buttons up her jacket.//\n  2  button it!:   BrE  button your lip/mouth AmE  spoken used to tell someone in a rude way to stop talking//


Words: button-down
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1 a button-down shirt or collar has the ends of the collar fastened to the shirt with buttons:\n  2 a button-down company or style is formal and traditional:  --He didn’t fit in with the button-down culture of his new boss.//


Words: buttoned-up
Meaning:
adj  informal   someone who is buttoned-up is not able to express their feelings, especially sexual feelings//


Words: buttonhole
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a hole for a button to be put through to fasten a shirt, coat etc:\n  2  BrE a flower you fasten to your clothes:  American Equivalent:  boutonniere//


Words: buttress
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: boterez, from  boter;   BUTT2]//  a brick or stone structure built to support a wall//\nbuttress 2 v [T]  formal   to support a system, idea, argument etc, especially by providing money//  --The evidence seemed to buttress their argument.//


Words: buxom
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: buxom  ’willing to obey, friendly’ (11-17 centuries), from  Old English buhsum, from  bugan  ’to bend’]//  a woman who is buxom is attractively large and healthy and has big breasts//


Words: buy
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  bought /b[hA350][hA359]t $ b[hA361][hA359]t///  [Language: Old English; Origin: bycgan]//\n  1 :  a)  [I and T] to get something by paying money for it//  → sell//  --Where did you buy that dress?//  --Ricky showed her the painting he’d bought that morning.//  buy sb sth//  --Let me buy you a drink.//  buy sth for sb/sth//  --The money will be used to buy equipment for the school.//  buy (sth) from sb//  --It’s cheaper to buy direct from the manufacturer.//  buy sth for $10/[hA124]200 etc //  --Dan bought the car for $2000.//  --It’s much cheaper to buy in bulk  (=buy large quantities of something) .//  b)  [T] if a sum of money buys something, it is enough to pay for it//  --$50 doesn’t buy much these days.//  buy sb sth//  --$15 should buy us a pizza and a drink.//\n  2  buy (sb) time:  to deliberately make more time for yourself to do something, for example by delaying a decision//  --’Can we talk about it later?’ he said, trying to buy a little more time.//\n  3 [T]  informal to believe something that someone tells you, especially when it is not likely to be true:  --’Let’s just say it was an accident.’ ’ He’ll never buy that .’//\n  4 [T]  informal to pay money to someone, especially someone in a position of authority, in order to persuade them to do something dishonest:   bribe//  --People say the judge had been bought by the Mafia.//\n  5  buy sth at the cost/expense/price of sth:  to get something that you want, but only by losing something else//  --The town has been careful not to buy prosperity at the expense of its character.//\n  6  sb bought it:   old-fashioned informal someone was killed//  buy in [buy sth → in] phr v//  to buy something in large quantities//  --Companies are buying in supplies of paper, in case the price goes up.//  buy into [buy into sth] phr v//\n  1  informal to accept that an idea is right and allow it to influence you:  --I never bought into this idea that you have to be thin to be attractive.//\n  2 to buy part of a business or organization, especially because you want to control it:  --Investors were invited to buy into state-owned enterprises.//  buy off [buy sb → off] phr v//  to pay someone money to stop them causing trouble or threatening you//   bribe//  buy out phr v//\n  1  buy sb/sth → out:  to buy someone’s share of a business or property that you previously owned together, so that you have complete control//    buyout//\n  2  buy sb out of sth:  to pay money so that someone can leave an organization such as the army before their contract has ended//  buy up [buy sth → up] phr v//  to quickly buy as much of something as possible, for example land, tickets, or goods//  --Much of the land was bought up by property developers.//\nbuy 2 n [C, usually singular] \n  1 something that is worth buying, because it is cheap, good quality, or likely to gain in value:  a good/excellent etc buy //  --The wine is a good buy at $6.50.//  --It’s worth shopping around for the best buy  (=what you want at the lowest price) .//\n  2  informal an act of buying something, especially something illegal:   deal//


Words: buyer
Meaning:
W3S3   n [C] \n  1 someone who buys something expensive such as a house or car:  → seller, vendor//  --There were several potential buyers.//  --discounts for first-time buyers //\n  2 someone whose job is to choose and buy the goods for a shop or company:  --a buyer for a chain store//


Words: buyer’s market
Meaning:
n [singular]   a situation in which there is plenty of something available, so that buyers have a lot of choice and prices tend to be low//  → seller’s market//


Words: buyout
Meaning:
n [C]   a situation in which someone gains control of a company by buying all or most of its shares//  --a management buyout//    buy out at buy1 //


Words: buzz
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 make a sound:\n   2 moving around:\n   3 excitement:\n   4 call:\n   5 thoughts:\n   6 ears:\n   7 aircraft:  Phrasal verbs//   buzz off//  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 MAKE A SOUND:   [I] to make a continuous sound, like the sound of a bee//  --a loud buzzing noise//\n  2 MOVING AROUND:   [I always + adverb/preposition] //  a) to move around in the air making a continuous sound like a bee//  --Bees were buzzing around the picnic tables.//  b) to move quickly around a place//  --Pamela buzzed around checking that everything was ready.//  --There were all sorts of rumours buzzing through the office.//\n  3 EXCITEMENT:   [I] if a group of people or a place is buzzing, there is a lot of activity or excitement//  buzz with//  --a classroom buzzing with activity //\n  4 CALL:   [I and T] //  a) to call someone by pressing a buzzer//  --Kramer buzzed at the security door, and I let him in.//  buzz for//  --Tina buzzed for her secretary.//  b) to make something happen, for example make a door or gate open or close, by pressing a buzzer//  buzz sb in/out//  --She buzzed them in and greeted them warmly.//  buzz sb through sth//  --The guard buzzed me through the gate.//\n  5 THOUGHTS:   [I] if your head or mind is buzzing with thoughts, ideas etc, you cannot stop thinking about them//  buzz with//  --My mind was buzzing with new ideas.//  --Questions started buzzing round in my head.//\n  6 EARS:   [I] if your ears or head are buzzing, you can hear a continuous low unpleasant sound//\n  7 AIRCRAFT:   [T]  informal to fly an aircraft low and fast over buildings, people etc//  --Military jets buzzed the city.//  buzz off phr v//\n  1  buzz off!:  used to tell someone in a rude way to go away//\n  2  BrE to go away:  --I’ve finished everything, so I’ll buzz off now.//\nbuzz 2 n \n  1 [C] a continuous noise like the sound of a bee:  buzz of//  --the buzz of mosquitoes//\n  2 [singular] a lot of activity, noise, and excitement:  buzz of//  --the buzz of conversation and laughter//\n  3 [singular]  informal a strong feeling of excitement, pleasure, or success, or a similar feeling from drinking alcohol or taking drugs:  --Playing well gives me a buzz .//  --Neil gets a buzz from drinking one beer.//\n  4  give sb a buzz:   informal to telephone someone//  --I’ll give you a buzz on Monday.//\n  5  the buzz:   informal unofficial news or information that is spread by people telling each other//    gossip, rumour//


Words: buzzard
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: busard, from  Latin buteo]//\n  1  BrE a type of large hawk (=hunting bird) :\n  2  AmE a type of large bird that eats dead animals:


Words: buzzer
Meaning:
n [C]   a small thing, usually shaped like a button, that buzzes when you press it//  --Press the buzzer if you know the answer.//


Words: buzzword
Meaning:
n [C]   a word or phrase from one special area of knowledge that people suddenly think is very important//  --’Multimedia’ has been a buzzword in the computer industry for years.//


Words: by
Meaning:
prep   ----------//\n   1 who/what does something:\n   2 means/method:\n   3 road/door:\n   4 taking hold:\n   5 writer/composer etc:\n   6 beside:\n   7 past:\n   8 before:\n   9 according to:\n  10 change/difference:\n  11 measurements:\n  12 quantity:\n  13 gradual change:\n  14 quick change:\n  15 light:\n  16 by day/night:\n  17 job/nature etc:\n  18 visiting:\n  19 (all) by yourself:\n  20 multiplying/dividing:\n  21 emphasis:\n  22 father:\n  23 by the by:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: be,  bi]//\n  1 WHO/WHAT DOES SOMETHING:  used especially with a passive verb to say who or what does something or makes something happen//  --I was attacked by a dog.//  --a church designed by the famous architect, Sir Christopher Wren//  --We are all alarmed by the rise in violent crime.//  --interference by the state in the affairs of the Church//  --his appointment by the BBC as a producer//\n  2 MEANS/METHOD:  used to say what means or method someone uses to do something//  --You can reserve the tickets by phone.//  --Send it by airmail.//  --Some customers prefer to pay by cheque.//  by car/train/bus/taxi etc //  --They travelled to Chicago by train.//  by air/sea/land/road/rail etc //  --All supplies are transported by air.//  by doing sth//  --She earns her living by selling insurance.//  --He was taken from his home by force.//\n  3 ROAD/DOOR:  used to say which road, entrance, door etc someone uses to get to a place//  --They came in by the back door.//  --It’s quicker to go by the country route.//\n  4 TAKING HOLD:  used to say which part of an object or of a person’s body someone takes hold of//  --He took Elaine by the arm and led her across the road.//  --She grabbed the hammer by the handle.//\n  5 WRITER/COMPOSER ETC:  used to give the name of someone who wrote a book, produced a film, wrote a piece of music etc//  --the ’New World Symphony’ by Dvorak//  --a short story by Charles Dickens//  --Who’s it by?//\n  6 BESIDE:  beside or near something//  --She stood by the window.//  --Jane went and sat by Patrick.//\n  7 PAST:  past someone or something without stopping//  --He walked right by me without even saying hello.//  --I pass by the farm every day on my way to work.//\n  8 BEFORE:  before or not later than a particular time//  --The documents need to be ready by next Friday.//  --I reckon the film should be over by 9.30.//  --By the end of the day we had sold over 2000 tickets.//  --By the time we got home we were tired and hungry.//\n  9 ACCORDING TO:  according to a particular rule, method, or way of doing things//  --You’ve got to play by the rules.//  --Profits were [hA124]6 million, but by our standards this is low.//\n  10 CHANGE/DIFFERENCE:  used to say how great a change or difference is//  --The price of oil fell by a further $2 a barrel.//  --I was overcharged by [hA124]3.//  --Godard’s first film was better by far  (=by a large amount or degree) .//\n  11 MEASUREMENTS:  used to give the measurements of a room, container etc//  --a room 15 metres by 23 metres//\n  12 QUANTITY:  used to show what unit of measurement or quantity is involved in selling, paying for, producing etc something//  --Eggs are sold by the dozen.//  --We’re paid by the hour.//  --She wanted to tear his hair out by the handful.//\n  13 GRADUAL CHANGE:  used to say that something happens gradually//  --Day by day he grew weaker.//  --Little by little I was beginning to discover the truth about Garfield.//  --One by one, the men stepped forward.//\n  14 QUICK CHANGE:  used to say that something or someone is quickly becoming worse, better etc//  --The financial crisis was growing more serious by the hour.//\n  15 LIGHT:  used to say that something happens in a particular kind of light//  --We walked through the palace gardens by moonlight.//\n  16  by day/night:  during the day or the night//  --a tour of Paris by night//\n  17 JOB/NATURE ETC:  used when you are giving information about someone’s character, job, origin etc//  --George I and George II were Germans by birth.//  --Cautious by nature, Simpkin was reluctant to interfere.//  --Robert Key was a teacher by profession.//\n  18 VISITING:  in order to visit a person or place for a short time//  --On the way, I stopped by the post office.//\n  19  (all) by yourself:  a) completely alone//  --Dave spent Christmas all by himself.//  b) without help from anyone//  --You can’t move the furniture all by yourself.//\n  20 MULTIPLYING/DIVIDING:  used between two numbers when talking about multiplying or dividing//  --What’s 48 divided by 4?//\n  21 EMPHASIS:  used when expressing strong feelings or making serious promises//  --By God, I’ll kill that boy when I see him!//\n  22 FATHER:  if a woman has children by a particular man, that man is the children’s father//  --She’s got two children by her previous husband.//\n  23  by the by:   spoken used when mentioning something that may be interesting but is not particularly important//  --By the by, Ian said he might call round tonight.//    by the way at way//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: by, with, in //  by  is used especially in passives, to say who or what does or causes something : She was hit by a truck.| a book written by Peter Carey //  Use  with  or  in after verbs which describe a state rather than an action : The room was lit with candles. |  Her house is always filled with music. |  The books were covered in dust. //  Use  with to say what tool you use to do something : I got the stain out with this brush (NOT by this brush). //  ----------//\nby 2 adv \n  1 past someone or something:  --As I was standing on the platform, the Liverpool train went whizzing by.//  --James walked by without even looking in my direction.//\n  2 used to say that time passes:  --As the summer days slipped by, it was easy to forget about the war.//  --Ten years had gone by since I had last seen Marilyn.//\n  3 beside or near someone or something:  --A crowd of people were standing by, waiting for an announcement.//\n  4 in order to visit a person or place for a short time:  --Why don’t you stop by for a drink after work?//\n  5  by and large:  used when making a general statement//  --By and large, the new arrangements have worked well.//\n  6  by and by:   old use soon//  --She will be better by and by.//


Words: by-
Meaning:
bye-/ba[hA366]/ prefix   [Origin: by]//  less important//  --a by-product (=something made in addition to the main product) //  --a by-election (=one held between regular elections) //


Words: by-election bye-election
Meaning:
n [C]    especially BrE a special election to replace a politician who has left parliament or died//    general election//


Words: by-line
Meaning:
n [C]   a line at the beginning of an article in a newspaper or magazine that gives the writer’s name//


Words: by-product
Meaning:
also  byproduct/ba[hA366]pr[hA361]d[hA356]kt $ -pr[hA35A][hA359]-/ n [C] \n  1 something additional that is produced during a natural or industrial process:  by-product of//  --a by-product of oil refining//\n  2 an unplanned additional result of something that you do:  by-product of//  --Job losses are an unfortunate byproduct of the recession.//    end product//


Words: bye
Meaning:
S1   interjection   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: goodbye]//   informal goodbye//  --Bye, Dave.//  bye for now (=used to say that you will see or speak to someone again soon) //\nbye 2 S3 n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: by]//  a situation in a sports competition in which a player or a team does not have an opponent to play against and continues to the next part of the competition//


Words: bye-bye
Meaning:
interjection  informal   goodbye - used especially when speaking to children, friends, or members of your family//  --Say bye-bye to Daddy, Tommy.//


Words: bygone
Meaning:
adj   bygone age/era/days etc//  a period of time in the past//  --The buildings reflect the elegance of a bygone era.//


Words: bygones
Meaning:
n   let bygones be bygones//  to forget something bad that someone has done to you and forgive them//


Words: bylaw
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  Probably from an unrecorded  Old Norse byl[hA177]g, from  byr  ’town’ +  l[hA177]g  ’law’]//\n  1 a law made by a local government that people in that area must obey:\n  2  AmE a rule made by an organization to control the people who belong to it:


Words: bypass
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  (heart) bypass operation/ surgery:  an operation to direct blood through new veins (=blood tubes) outside the heart because the veins in the heart are blocked or diseased//  --a triple heart bypass operation//\n  2 a road that goes around a town or other busy area rather than through it:    ring road//\n  3  technical a tube that allows gas or liquid to flow around something rather than through it:\nbypass 2 v [T] \n  1 to go around a town or other busy place rather than through it:  --Interstate 8 bypasses the town to the north.//\n  2 to avoid obeying a rule, system, or someone in an official position:  --Francis bypassed his manager and wrote straight to the director.//


Words: Byrd
Meaning:
Richard   (1888-1957) a US explorer who was important in the exploration of and research about Antarctica. He was the first to fly over both the  North Pole and the south Pole.//


Words: Byron
Meaning:
Lord   (1788-1824) an English writer of  romantic and satirical poetry, including  Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage  and  Don Juan. He is also famous for his romantic life, which included many love affairs, and for his death of fever in Greece while fighting against the Turks for Greek independence.//


Words: bystander
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who watches what is happening without taking part//   onlooker//  --Several innocent bystanders were killed by the blast.//


Words: byte
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Invented word based on   BIT25 and  bite]//  a unit for measuring computer information, equal to eight bits (=the smallest unit on which information is stored on a computer) //  --Each character requires one byte of storage space.//    gigabyte,  kilobyte,  megabyte,  terabyte//


Words: byway
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a small road or path which is not used very much:\n  2  byways [plural] the less important parts of an activity or subject:  --a scholar exploring the highways and byways of Russian music (=the important and less important parts) //


Words: byword
Meaning:
n \n  1  be a byword for sth:  to be so well known for a particular quality that your name is used to represent that quality//  --His name has become a byword for honesty in the community.//\n  2 [singular] a word, phrase, or saying that is very well known:  --Caution should be a byword for investors.//


Words: Byzantine
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Byzantinus, from  Byzantium Turkish city (now Istanbul), from  Greek Byzantion]//\n  1  also  byzantine:  complicated and difficult to understand//  --the byzantine complexity of our tax laws//\n  2 relating to the Byzantines or the Byzantine empire:  --a 5th century Byzantine church//


Words: Byzantium
Meaning:
an ancient city, centre of the Byzantine Empire. The city was renamed Constantinople by Constantine the Great, and is now called Istanbul.//


Words: C
Meaning:
c/si[hA359]/ n   plural  C’s  c’s  [U and C] //\n  1 the third letter of the English alphabet:\n  2 the first note in the musical scale of C major, or the musical key based on this note:\n  3 a mark given to a student’s work to show that it is of average quality:\n  4 the number 100 in the system of roman numerals:\nC\n  1 the written abbreviation of Celsius or Centigrade :  --Water boils at 100[hA131]C.//\n  2  written  informal a way of writing "see", used especially in emails and  text messages:  --CU (=see you)  in class!//


Words: c
Meaning:
also c. \n  1  also  C:  the written abbreviation of century //  --the economic changes of the C20th//\n  2 a written abbreviation of circa  (=about) , used especially before dates:  --c. 1830//\n  3  [hA12A]:  the written abbreviation of copyright //\n  4  AmE the written abbreviation of cup , used in cooking:


Words: C of E
Meaning:
n  BrE   the C of E//   the Church of England the official church in England, which has the queen or the king as its leader//  -- C of E adj //


Words: C-note
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: C  ’C-note’ (19-20 centuries); because the Roman letter  C (= 100) used to appear on 100 dollar bills]//  a 100 dollar note//


Words: C-SPAN
Meaning:
a  cable television station in the US which broadcasts the meetings of the US Congress and the meetings of its various committees while they are taking place//


Words: c/o
Meaning:
the written abbreviation of care of , used especially in addresses when you are sending a letter or package to someone who is living in someone else’s house//  --John Hammond, c/o Mrs Pearce, The Old Rectory, Reepham//


Words: C[hA175]te d’Azur
Meaning:
the C[hA175]te d’Azur//  a fashionable part of the Mediterranean coast in southeast France, including the cities of Nice and Cannes//


Words: C[hA175]te d’Ivoire
Meaning:
a country next to the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, between Ghana and Liberia. Population: 16,393,000 (2001). Capital: Yamoussoukro. It is sometimes called the Ivory Coast.//


Words: cab
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: cabriolet]//\n  1 a taxi:  --New York’s yellow cabs//  take/get a cab //  --I took a cab to the airport.//  call (sb) a cab (=telephone for a taxi) //  --Ralph tried to hail a cab  (=wave to get a cab to stop for you) .//\n  2 the part of a bus, train, or truck in which the driver sits:\n  3 a carriage pulled by horses that was used like a taxi in the past:


Words: cabal
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: cabale, from  Medieval Latin cabbala  ’secret knowledge’, from  Late Hebrew qabbalah  ’received (knowledge)’]//  a small group of people who make secret plans, especially in order to have political power//


Words: Caballe
Meaning:
Montserrat   (1933- ) a Spanish  opera singer, who is one of the most important  sopranos (=women with high singing voices)  of the 20th century//


Words: cabana
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Spanish; Origin: caba[hA172]a  ’small wooden building’, from  Medieval Latin capanna;   CABIN]//  a tent or small wooden structure used for changing clothes at a beach or pool//


Words: cabaret
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: ’drinking place, bar’, probably from  Late Latin camera  ’room’]//\n  1 [U and C] entertainment, usually with music, songs, and dancing, performed in a restaurant or club while the customers eat and drink:  --a cabaret singer//\n  2 [C] a restaurant or club where this is performed:  --the most famous Parisian cabaret, the Moulin Rouge//


Words: cabbage
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: caboche  ’head’]//\n  1 [U and C] a large round vegetable with thick green or purple leaves:\n  2 [C]  BrE  informal someone who cannot think, move, speak etc as a result of brain injury:   vegetable//


Words: caber
Meaning:
n [C]   a long heavy wooden pole that is thrown into the air as a test of strength in sports competitions in Scotland//


Words: cabin
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: cabane, from  Old Proven[hA168]al cabana  ’small wooden building’, from  Medieval Latin capanna]//\n  1 a small house, especially one built of wood in an area of forest or mountains:  --a log cabin //\n  2 a small room on a ship in which you live or sleep:\n  3 an area inside a plane where the passengers sit or where the pilot works:  --the First Class cabin//


Words: cabin class
Meaning:
n [U]   travelling conditions on a ship that are better than tourist class but not as good as first class//


Words: cabin crew
Meaning:
n [U]   the group of people whose job is to take care of the passengers on a plane//    flight attendant, stewardess//


Words: cabin fever
Meaning:
n [U]  informal   when you feel upset and impatient because you have not been outside for a long time//


Words: cabinet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: ’small room’, from  Old North French cabine  ’room for gambling’]//\n  1  also  Cabinet:   [also + plural verb]  BrE the politicians with important positions in a government who meet to make decisions or advise the leader of the government//  --a cabinet meeting//  --a member of the Cabinet//  2 a piece of furniture with doors and shelves or drawers, used for storing or showing things//   cupboard//  --The aspirin’s in the medicine cabinet.//


Words: Cabinet reshuffle
Meaning:
a change in the members of the British Cabinet, decided by the Prime Minister, in which some members are given different jobs, some members lose their jobs, and new members are brought in//


Words: cable
Meaning:
W3   n   [Sense: 1-3; Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old North French; Origin: Medieval Latin capulum  ’circle of rope for catching animals’, from  Latin capere  ’to take’]//  [Sense: 4; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: cablegram]//\n  1 [C] a plastic or rubber tube containing wires that carry telephone messages, electronic signals, television pictures etc:  --cables and switches for computers//  overhead/underground/undersea cable //  --overhead power cables//\n  2 [U and C] a thick strong metal rope used on ships, to support bridges etc:\n  3 [U] a system of broadcasting television by using cables, paid for by the person watching it:  on cable//  --I’ll wait for the movie to come out on cable.//  cable network/channel/programme //  --HBO, CNN and other cable networks//\n  4 [C] a telegram:\ncable 2 v [I and T]   to send someone a telegram//  cable sb sth//  --I cabled Mary the good news.//


Words: cable car
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a vehicle that hangs from a moving cable, and is used to take people up and down mountains:\n  2 a vehicle similar to a train that is pulled along by a moving cable:


Words: cable modem
Meaning:
n [C]   a modem (=piece of equipment that allows information from one computer to be sent to another)  that uses cable connections instead of telephone wires, and allows you to search the Internet very quickly//


Words: cable-ready
Meaning:
adj   a television that is cable-ready is able to receive cable television signals directly without needing any special equipment//


Words: cablecast
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: cable +  broadcast]//  a show, sports event etc that is broadcast on a cable television station//    broadcast//  --the MTV Video Awards cablecast//  -- cablecast v  [T] //


Words: cabling
Meaning:
n [U]   all the wires that are used for electrical equipment or an electrical system//  --new cabling to handle 30 Internet terminals//


Words: caboodle
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from  boodle  ’crowd, collection, lot’ (19-20 centuries), from  Dutch boedel  ’property’]//  the whole (kit and) caboodle//   informal everything//  --I think it’s time to replace the whole caboodle: computer, printer, and monitor.//


Words: caboose
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Dutch; Origin: cabuis, from  Middle Low German kabuse]//   AmE a small railway carriage at the back of a train, usually where the person in charge of it travels//  British Equivalent:  guard’s van//


Words: Cabot
Meaning:
John   (?1450-98) an Italian sailor and  explorer who worked for the English king Henry VII, and who reached the coast of North America in 1497//


Words: Cabrini
Meaning:
St Frances Xavier    also Mother Cabrini //  (1850-1917) a Roman Catholic nun (=a member of a group of religious women) , who was born in Italy but lived in the US, and who built schools, hospitals, and  convents (=buildings where nuns live)  in many US cities. She became the first US citizen to be named a  saint.//


Words: cabriolet
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: cabriolet type of carriage pulled by a horse  (18-20 centuries), from   French, from  cabriole  ’jump’; because of the way the carriage moved along]//  a car with a roof that can be folded back//   convertible//


Words: cacao
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Spanish; Origin: Nahuatl cacahuatl]//  the seed from which chocolate and cocoa are made//


Words: cache
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: cacher  ’to press, hide’, from  Vulgar Latin coacticare  ’to press together’]//\n  1 a number of things that have been hidden, especially weapons, or the place where they have been hidden:  cache of//  --a cache of explosives//  --a large arms cache //\n  2  technical a special part of a computer’s memory that helps it work faster by storing information for a short time:  --cache memory//\ncache 2 v [T] \n  1 to hide something in a secret place, especially weapons:\n  2  technical to store information in a computer’s memory for a short time:


Words: cachet
Meaning:
n [singular, U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: ’official mark pressed on to a document’, from  cacher;   CACHE1]//   formal if something has cachet, people think it is very good or special//  --It’s a good college, but lacks the cachet of Harvard.//


Words: cack-handed
Meaning:
adj  BrE  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from  Old Norse keikr  ’bent backwards’]//  careless and tending to drop things, or badly done//   clumsy//


Words: cackle
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1100-1200; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 to laugh in a loud unpleasant way, making short high sounds:\n  2 when a chicken cackles, it makes a loud high sound:\ncackle 2 n [C] \n  1 a loud high sound that a chicken makes:    cluck//\n  2 a short high unpleasant laugh:


Words: cacophony
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: kakophonia, from  kakos  ’bad’ +  phone  ’voice, sound’]//  a loud unpleasant mixture of sounds//  cacophony of//  --a cacophony of car horns//  -- cacophonous adj //


Words: cactus
Meaning:
n   plural  cacti /-ta[hA366]/ or  cactuses  [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: , thistle-like plant, from  Greek kaktos]//  a desert plant with sharp points instead of leaves//


Words: cad
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: cad  ’unskilled helper’ (1800-1900), from  caddy;   CADDY11]//   old-fashioned a man who cannot be trusted, especially one who treats women badly//


Words: cadaver
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: cadere  ’to fall, die’]//   technical a dead human body, especially one used for study//   corpse//


Words: caddy
Meaning:
n   plural  caddies  [C] //  [Sense: 1; Date: 1800-1900; Language: Scottish English; Origin: caddie  ’boy or man looking for the chance of a job’ (18-20 centuries), from  French cadet;   CADET]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1700-1800; Language: Malay; Origin: kati a unit of weight]//\n  1  also caddie :  someone who carries the golf clubs for someone who is playing golf//\n  2 a small box for storing tea:\ncaddy 2 caddie   past tense and past participle  caddied present participle  caddying third person singular  caddies  v [I + for] //  to carry golf clubs for someone who is playing golf//


Words: cadence
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Old Italian cadenza, from  cadere  ’to fall’, from  Latin;   CADAVER]//\n  1 the way someone’s voice rises and falls, especially when reading out loud:  --the cadence of my mother’s voice//\n  2 a regular repeated pattern of sounds or movements:  --the Brazilian cadences of the music//\n  3  technical a set of chords:


Words: cadenza
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin:  CADENCE]//  a difficult part of a long piece of music, which a performer plays alone in order to show his or her skill//


Words: cadet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: French dialect capdet  ’chief’, from  Late Latin capitellum, from  Latin caput  ’head’]//  someone who is training to be an officer in the army, navy, air force, or police//


Words: cadge
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Scottish English; Origin: cadger  ’carrier, trader’ (15-19 centuries), from  cadge  ’to tie’ (14-19 centuries)]//   BrE  informal to ask someone you know for something such as food, money, or cigarettes, because you do not have any or do not want to pay//  cadge sth from/off sb//  --I cadged a lift from Joanna.//


Words: Cadillac
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  trademark a very expensive and comfortable car:\n  2  AmE  informal something that is regarded as an example of the highest quality of a particular type of product:  Cadillac of//  --the Cadillac of stereo systems//


Words: cadmium
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: cadmia  ’calamine’ (  CALAMINE LOTION); because cadmium was found in the earth with calamine]//  a soft poisonous metal that is used in  batteries and in the protective shields in nuclear reactors. It is a chemical element: symbol Cd//


Words: cadre
Meaning:
n [C also + plural verb]  BrE   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: Italian quadro, from  Latin quadrum  ’square’]//  a small group of specially trained people in a profession, political party, or military force//  cadre of//  --a cadre of highly trained scientists//


Words: Caernarfon
Meaning:
Caernarvon  a small town in northwest Wales, known for its castle where the British king or queen’s oldest son is given the official royal title  Prince of Wales//


Words: Caesar
Meaning:
Julius   (100-44 BC) a Roman politician, military leader, and writer, who took control of the government of Rome and changed it from a  republic to an  empire, making himself the first Roman emperor//


Words: caesarean
Meaning:
n  also caesarean section  [C]   an operation in which a woman’s body is cut open to take a baby out//  born/delivered etc by caesarean //  --Both her children were born by caesarean section.//  --She had to have a caesarean .//


Words: caesium
Meaning:
BrE  cesium AmE   n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: caesius  ’bluish grey’]//  a soft silver-white metal that is used in photoelectric cells. It is a chemical element: symbol Cs//


Words: caesura
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ’act of cutting’, from  caedere  ’to cut’]//   technical a pause in the middle of a line of poetry//


Words: cafe
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’coffee, cafe’, from  Turkish kahve;   COFFEE]//\n  1 a small restaurant where you can buy drinks and simple meals:\n  2 a public place that is connected to a computer network, where people with similar interests discuss things by sending and receiving messages:  --an Internet cafe//


Words: cafeteria
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: American Spanish; Origin: ’coffee shop’, from  Spanish cafe  ’coffee’]//  a restaurant, often in a factory, college etc, where you choose from foods that have already been cooked and carry your own food to a table//  British Equivalent:  canteen//  --the school cafeteria//


Words: cafeti[hA169]re
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French]//  a special pot for making coffee, with a metal filter that you push down//


Words: caffeine
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: German; Origin: kaffein, from  kaffee  ’coffee’, from  French cafe]//  a substance in tea, coffee, and some other drinks that makes you feel more active//    decaffeinated//  --Avoid caffeine (=drinks with caffeine) before bedtime.//  --a caffeine-free cola//  -- caffeinated/k[zB024]f[hA369]ne[hA366]t[hA369]d/ adj //


Words: caftan
Meaning:
kaftan/k[zB024]ft[zB024]n $ k[zB024]ft[zB024]n/ n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Russian; Origin: kaftan, from  Turkish, from  Persian qaftan]//  a long loose piece of clothing, usually made of silk or cotton, and worn in the Middle East//


Words: cage
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin cavea  ’hollow place, cage’, from  cavus;   CAVE1]//  a structure made of wires or bars in which birds or animals can be kept//\ncage 2 v   [T] to put or keep an animal or bird in a cage//  --caged birds//


Words: cagey
Meaning:
adj   unwilling to tell people about your plans, intentions, or opinions//  cagey about//  --He was very cagey about the deal.//  -- cagily adv //  -- caginess n //


Words: Cagney
Meaning:
James   (1899-1986) a US film actor who appeared as a gangster (=a member of a violent group of criminals)  in films such as  The Public Enemy (1931) and  White Heat (1949)//


Words: cahoots
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from  French cahute  ’small wooden building’]//  be in cahoots (with sb)//  to be working secretly with another person or group, especially in order to do something dishonest//  --The Forest Service and the timber industry were in cahoots.//


Words: CAI
Meaning:
the   the Confederation of Australian Industry an Australian organization that helps Australia’s industries and businesses to become more successful//


Words: Cain
Meaning:
in the Old Testament of the Bible,  Adam and  Eve ’s first son, who killed his younger brother Abel//    raise Cain at raise1 (22)//


Words: cairn
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Scottish Gaelic; Origin: carn]//  a pile of stones that marks a particular place, especially at the top of a mountain//


Words: caisson
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: caisse  ’box’, from  Latin capsa;   CASE1]//\n  1 a large box filled with air, that people go into to work under water, for example when building bridges:\n  2 a large box for carrying ammunition:


Words: cajole
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: cajoler  ’to make noises like a bird in a cage, cajole’, from  Old North French gaiole  ’birdcage’, from  Latin cavea;   CAGE1]//  to gradually persuade someone to do something by being nice to them, or making promises to them//  cajole sb into doing sth//  --Aid workers do their best to cajole rich countries into helping.//


Words: Cajun
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Acadian  ’of Acadia’ (18-21 centuries), from  Acadia former French colony in eastern Canada, from  French Acadie]//\n  1 [C] someone from Louisiana in the US who has French-Canadian ancestors:\n  2 [U] a type of music played by Cajun people:  -- Cajun adj //  --Cajun cooking//


Words: cake
Meaning:
W3S2   n   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old Norse; Origin: kaka]//\n  1 [U and C] a soft sweet food made by baking a mixture of flour, butter, sugar, and eggs:  --cake and ice cream//  --chocolate cake//  birthday/wedding/Christmas cake //  --Do you want some birthday cake?//  slice/piece of cake //  --Would you like a slice of cake?//  make/bake a cake //  --Sally decided to bake him a cake.//\n  2  fish/rice/potato etc cake:  fish, rice etc that has been formed into a flat round shape and then cooked//\n  3 [C] a small block of something:  cake of//  --a cake of soap//\n  4  be a piece of cake:   spoken to be very easy//  --’How do you do that?’ ’It’s a piece of cake! Watch!’//\n  5  take the cake:   also take the biscuit  BrE  informal to be worse than anything else you can imagine//  --I’ve heard some pretty dumb ideas, but that takes the cake!//\n  6  have your cake and eat it:   BrE have your cake and eat it too  AmE  spoken to have all the advantages of something without its disadvantages//\n  7  a slice of the cake:   BrE a share of the profit, help etc that is available//  --Both companies expect to get a big slice of the cake.//    sell like hot cakes at hot cake(1)//\ncake 2 v \n  1  be caked with/in sth:  to be covered with a layer of something soft or wet that becomes thick and hard when it dries//  --Our boots were caked with mud.//\n  2 [I] if a substance cakes, it forms a thick hard layer when it dries:


Words: cake slice
Meaning:
n [C]   a piece of kitchen equipment with a handle and a wide flat end that you use for cutting and serving cakes, tarts etc//


Words: cake tin
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE a metal container in which you bake a cake:  American Equivalent:  cake pan//\n  2 a metal container with a lid, that you keep a cake in:


Words: cakewalk
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: cakewalk  ’walking competition with a cake as first prize’ (19-20 centuries)]//   AmE  informal a very easy thing to do, or a very easy victory//   piece of cake//  --The game was a cakewalk.//


Words: Cal Tech
Meaning:
California Institute of Technology a respected university in Pasadena, California, near Los Angeles. It is known for its high quality teaching and  research in science subjects.//


Words: Calais
Meaning:
an industrial city and port on the English Channel in northwest France, used especially by  ferries to and from Dover in England//


Words: calamine lotion
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  calamine  ’mineral from which zinc is obtained’ 1500-1600  French, from  Medieval Latin calamina, from  Latin cadmia, from  Greek, from  kadmeios  ’of Thebes, city in ancient Greece where the mineral was originally found’]//  a pink liquid that you put on sore, itchy or sunburned skin to make it less painful//


Words: calamity
Meaning:
n   plural  calamities  [C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: calamite, from  Latin calamitas]//  a terrible and unexpected event that causes a lot of damage or suffering//   disaster//  --It would be a calamity for the farmers if the crops failed again.//  -- calamitous adj //


Words: calcify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  calcified present participle  calcifying third person singular  calcifies  [I and T] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: calx;   CHALK1]//   technical to become hard, or make something hard, by adding lime//


Words: calcium
Meaning:
S3   n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Latin calx;   CHALK1]//  a silver-white metal that helps to form teeth, bones, and chalk. It is a chemical element: symbol Ca//


Words: calculable
Meaning:
adj [no comparative]   something that is calculable can be measured by using numbers, or studying the facts available//  → incalculable//  --clear and calculable benefits//


Words: calculate
Meaning:
W3S2   v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  calculare, from  calculus  ’stone used in counting’;   CALCULUS]//\n  1 to find out how much something will cost, how long something will take etc, by using numbers:  --These instruments calculate distances precisely.//  calculate how much/how many etc//  --I’m trying to calculate how much paint we need.//  calculate (that)//  --Sally calculated that she’d have about [hA124]100 left.//  calculate sth on sth//  --Rates are calculated on an hourly basis.//\n  2 to guess something using as many facts as you can find:  calculate (that)//  --Researchers calculated that this group was at a higher risk of heart disease.//  calculate how/what/whether etc//  --It’s difficult to calculate what effect all these changes will have on the company.//\n  3  be calculated to do sth:  to be intended to have a particular effect//  --a question calculated to embarrass him//  calculate on [calculate on sth] phr v//  if you calculate on something, you are depending on it for your plans to succeed//  --We’re calculating on an early start.//  calculate on sb/sth doing sth//  --Ken hadn’t calculated on Polson refusing his offer.//


Words: calculated
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a calculated crime or dishonest action is deliberately and carefully planned - used to show disapproval:  --a calculated attempt to deceive the American public//\n  2  a calculated risk/gamble:  something risky that you do after thinking carefully about what might happen//  --The police took a calculated risk in releasing him.//  -- calculatedly adv //


Words: calculating
Meaning:
adj   thinking carefully about how to get exactly what you want, often without caring about anyone else - used to show disapproval//  --He gave her a calculating look.//


Words: calculation
Meaning:
S2   n \n  1 [C usually plural, U] when you use numbers in order to find out an amount, price, or value:  make/do a calculation //  --Dee looked at the bill and made some rapid calculations.//  by sb’s/some/many calculations//  --By some calculations, the population will reach 8 million soon.//\n  2 [U and C] careful planning in order to get what you want, especially without caring about the effects on other people:    miscalculation//  --political calculation//\n  3 [U] when you think carefully about what the probable results will be if you do something:    miscalculation//


Words: calculus
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ’small stone, piece of mineral that forms in the body, stone used in counting’, from  calx;   CHALK1]//  the part of mathematics that deals with changing quantities, such as the speed of a falling stone or the slope of a curved line//


Words: Calcutta
Meaning:
a city and port in East India on the Hooghly River and capital of West Bengal state. The new name for Calcutta is Kolkata.//    black hole of calcutta, the//


Words: Calder
Meaning:
Alexander   (1898-1976) a US  sculptor famous for his large outdoor works of art found in many cities, and for his large  mobiles (=decorations which move when air blows around them) //


Words: Caledonia
Meaning:
an old name for Scotland, used in poetry. Caledonia was originally the Roman name for northern Britain.//  -- Caledonian adj //


Words: Caledonian Canal
Meaning:
the Caledonian Canal//  a  canal (=artificial river)  in Scotland which joins the Atlantic Ocean to a line of  lochs (=lakes) , which then connect to the North Sea//


Words: calendar
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: calender, from  Medieval Latin kalendarium, from  Latin kalendae  ’first day of an ancient Roman month’]//\n  1 a set of pages that show the days, weeks, and months of a particular year, that you usually hang on a wall:\n  2  AmE :  a) a book with separate spaces or pages for each day of the year, on which you write down the things you have to do//  British Equivalent:  diary//  --a desk calendar//  b) all the things you plan to do in the next days, months etc//  --an event that deserves a place on your calendar//\n  3 a system that divides and measures time in a particular way, usually starting from a particular event:  the Roman/Islamic/Gregorian etc calendar //  --The Islamic calendar has fewer days than the Gregorian calendar.//\n  4 all the events in a year that are important for a particular organization or activity:  golfing/sporting/racing etc calendar //  --The Derby is a major event in the racing calendar.//


Words: calendar month
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 one of the 12 months of the year:  --Salaries will be paid at the end of the calendar month.//\n  2 a period of time from a specific date in one month to the same date in the next month:


Words: calf
Meaning:
n   plural  calves /k[hA35A][hA359]vz $ k[zB024]vz/ [C] //  [Sense: 1; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old Norse; Origin: kalfi]//  [Sense: 2-3; Origin: Old English cealf]//\n  1 the part of the back of your leg between your knee and your ankle:\n  2 the baby of a cow, or of some other large animals, such as an elephant:\n  3  be in/with calf:  if a cow is in or with calf, it is going to have a baby//    kill the fatted calf at kill1 (15)//


Words: Calgary
Meaning:
a city in southern Alberta, Canada, which is next to the Bow and Elbow Rivers and has the most important  petroleum industries in the country //


Words: Caliban
Meaning:
a character in the play  The Tempest by William  Shakespeare. He is an ugly  slave owned by  Prospero and is only half human, since his mother is a  witch (=a woman who has magic powers) , but his father is a  devil (=an evil spirit) .//


Words: caliber
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: calibre, from  Old Italian calibro, from  Arabic qalib  ’block on which shoes are made’]//  the American spelling of calibre//


Words: calibrate
Meaning:
v [T]  technical \n  1 to check or slightly change an instrument or tool, so that it does something correctly:\n  2 to mark an instrument or tool so that you can use it for measuring:


Words: calibration
Meaning:
n [U]  technical \n  1 the process of checking or slightly changing an instrument or tool so that it does something correctly:  --the calibration of flight instruments//\n  2 a set of marks on an instrument or tool used for measuring, or the act of making these marks correct:


Words: calibre
Meaning:
BrE  caliber AmE   n \n  1 [U] the level of quality or ability that someone or something has achieved:  of sb’s calibre//  --Where will we find another man of his calibre?//  --The school has always attracted a high calibre of student.//  of high/the right etc calibre //  --The paintings were of the highest caliber.//  of this/that calibre//  --The city needs a hotel of this calibre (=of this high standard) .//\n  2 [C] :  a) the width of the inside of a gun or tube//  --a .22 caliber weapon//  b) the width of a bullet//


Words: calico
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Calicut]//\n  1  BrE heavy cotton cloth that is usually white:\n  2  AmE light cotton cloth with a small printed pattern:\n  3  calico cat:   AmE a cat that has black, white, and brown fur//  British Equivalent:  tortoiseshell//


Words: California
Meaning:
CA a state in the southwest of the US, next to the Pacific Ocean, whose main cities include San Francisco and Los Angeles//


Words: caliph
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: calife, from  Arabic khalifah  ’person who comes after’; because a caliph is regarded as a successor of Mohammed]//  a Muslim ruler, especially in the past//


Words: calisthenics
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: kallos  ’beauty’ +  sthenos  ’strength’]//  the American spelling of callisthenics//


Words: CALL
Meaning:
n [U]   computer-assisted language learning the use of computers to help people learn foreign languages//


Words: call
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 telephone:\n   2 describe:\n   3 have a name:\n   4 give somebody/something a name:\n   5 ask/order by speaking:\n   6 arrange:\n   7 say/shout:\n   8 call yourself something:\n   9 call the shots/tune:\n  10 call it a day:\n  11 call collect:\n  12 read names:\n  13 court:\n  14 call (something) into question:\n  15 be/feel called to do something:\n  16 call somebody/something to order:\n  17 visit:\n  18 call it [hA124]10/2 hours etc:\n  19 call it a draw:\n  20 call it/things even:\n  21 call (somebody’s) attention to:\n  22 call something to mind:\n  23 call a huddle:\n  24 call time (on somebody/something):\n  25 trains/ships:\n  26 coin:\n  27 card game:  Phrasal verbs//   call back//   call by//   call down something//   call for somebody/something//   call something → forth//   call in//   call somebody/something → off//   call on/upon somebody/something//   call out//   call up//  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old Norse; Origin: kalla]//\n  1 TELEPHONE:   [I and T] to telephone someone//  --She calls her father every couple of days.//  --I’ll call you soon.//  --What time did Tony call?//  call a doctor/the police/a cab etc (=telephone someone and ask them to come to you) //  --I think we should call a doctor.//  --I’m gonna call the cops!//\n  2 DESCRIBE:   [T] to use a word or name to describe someone or something in a particular way//  call sb sth//  --Are you calling me a liar?//  --You may call it harmless fun, but I call it pornography.//  call sb names (=use insulting names for someone) //  --The other kids used to call me names, but I tried to ignore them.//\n  3 HAVE A NAME:   [T] to have a particular name or title, or use a particular name or title for someone or something//  be called sth//  --Their eldest son is called Matthew.//  --The arrow that appears on the screen is called a cursor.//  call sb sth//  --My name’s Virginia, but my friends call me Ginny.//  --Do you want to be called Miss or Ms?//  call sb by sth//  --I prefer to be called by my middle name.//\n  4 GIVE SOMEBODY/SOMETHING A NAME:   [T]  especially BrE to give someone or something the name they will be known by in the future//  American Equivalent:  name//  --What are you going to call the new puppy?//  call sb sth//  --They’ve decided to call the baby Louise.//\n  5 ASK/ORDER BY SPEAKING:   [T] to ask or order someone to come to you//  call sb into/over/across etc//  --Peter called the waitress over and ordered a large brandy.//  --Marcie was called up to the principal’s office.//\n  6 ARRANGE:   [T] to arrange for something to happen at a particular time//  call a meeting/strike/election etc //  --The Security Council has called an emergency session to discuss the crisis.//  --According to the law, the election must be called within the next two months.//\n  7 SAY/SHOUT:   [I and T] to say or shout something loudly so that someone can hear you//  --I heard someone calling in the distance.//  --’I’m coming!’ she called down the stairs.//  --Sheila was just sneaking out when her mother called her.//  --She heard him call her name .//\n  8  call yourself sth:  to say that you are a particular type of person, although you do nothing to show this is true//  --How could Julian call himself a friend and then let me down so badly?//\n  9  call the shots/tune:   informal to be in a position of authority so that you can give orders and make decisions//  --It was a job in which she was able to call the shots.//\n  10  call it a day:   informal to decide to stop working, especially because you have done enough or you are tired//  --Come on, let’s call it a day and go home.//\n  11  call collect:   AmE to make a telephone call that is paid for by the person who receives it//  British Equivalent:  reverse the charges//\n  12 READ NAMES:   [T]  also call out //  to read names or numbers in a loud voice in order to get someone’s attention//  --When I call your name, go and stand in line.//\n  13 COURT:   [T usually passive] to tell someone that they must come to a law court or official committee//  call sb to do sth//  --They were called to give evidence at the trial.//\n  14  call (sth) into question:  to make people uncertain about whether something is right, good, or true//  --I feel that my competence is being called into question here.//\n  15  be/feel called to do sth:  to feel strongly that you should do something//  --He felt called to write to all his fellow investors, warning them of the impending crisis.//\n  16  call sb/sth to order:   formal to tell people to obey the rules of a formal meeting//\n  17 VISIT:   [I]  also call round //   BrE to stop at a house or other place for a short time to see someone or do something//  --She called round for a chat.//  call on sb//  --We thought we’d call on James on the way home.//  call (in) at sth//  --I regularly called in at his office for news.//  call into sth//  --People often call into the library while they’re out shopping.//\n  18  call it [hA124]10/2 hours etc:   spoken used to suggest a general figure rather than a more specific one, especially in order to make things simpler//  --’I owe you [hA124]10.20.’ ’Oh, call it [hA124]10!’//\n  19  call it a draw:  if two opponents in a game call it a draw, they agree that neither of them has won//    call it quits at quits(2)//\n  20  call it/things even:   spoken use this to say that someone who owes you something does not have to give you anything more than they have already given you//\n  21  call (sb’s) attention to:  a) to ask people to pay attention to a particular subject or problem//  --May I call your attention to item seven on the agenda.//  b) to make someone notice someone or something//  --I wanted to shout out to Ken, but I didn’t want to call attention to myself.//\n  22  call sth to mind:  a) to remind you of something//  --Don’t those two call to mind the days when we were courting?//  b) to remember something//  --I couldn’t call to mind where I’d seen him before.//\n  23  call a huddle:   AmE  informal to make people come together to talk about something//\n  24  call time (on sb/sth):  to say that it is time for something to finish or stop//\n  25 TRAINS/SHIPS:   [I] if a train, ship, bus etc calls at a place, it stops there for a short time//   stop//  --This train calls at all stations to Broxbourne.//\n  26 COIN:   [I and T] to guess which side of a coin will land upwards when it is thrown in the air, in order to decide who will play first in a game//  --It’s your turn to call.//\n  27 CARD GAME:   [I and T] to risk the same amount of money as the player who plays before you in a poker game//    so-called,  call sb’s bluff at bluff2 (2)//    too close to call at close2 (8)//  call back phr v//\n  1  call (sb) back:  to telephone someone again, for example because they were not at home when you telephoned last time//  --I’ll call back later.//  --Can you ask John to call me back when he gets in?//\n  2  BrE to return to a place you went to earlier:  --You could call back to collect her at noon.//  call by phr v//  to stop and visit someone when you are near the place where they live or work//  --I thought I’d call by and see how you were.//  call down [call down sth] phr v//   formal to ask for someone, especially a god, to make something unpleasant happen to someone or something//  call down something on/upon//  --He called down vengeance on them.//  call for / [call for sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 if a group of people calls for something, they ask publicly for something to be done:  --Human Rights groups are calling for the release of political prisoners.//\n  2 to need or deserve a particular type of behaviour or treatment:  --Dealing with children who are so damaged calls for immense tact and sensitivity.//  --That kind of abuse is really not called for  (=it is unnecessary and unwelcome) .//    uncalled for//\n  3  BrE to meet someone at their home in order to take them somewhere:  --I’ll call for you at 8 o’clock.//\n  4  AmE to say that a particular kind of weather is likely to happen:   predict//  --The forecast calls for more rain.//  call forth [call sth → forth] phr v//   formal to produce a particular reaction//  --Great works of classical music can often call forth a mixture of responses from the listener.//  call in phr v//\n  1  call sb/sth → in:  to ask someone to come and help you with a difficult situation//  --The government then called in troops to deal with the disturbances.//\n  2 to telephone somewhere, especially the place where you work, to tell them where you are, what you are doing etc:  --Rachael called in sick  (=telephoned to say she was too ill to come to work) .//\n  3 to telephone a radio or television show to give your opinion or to ask a question:  --Over 2000 viewers called in with complaints about the bad language used in the programme.//\n  4  call in a loan/debt:  to officially tell someone to pay back money you lent them//  --The economy slid further into bankruptcy when several foreign banks called in unpaid loans.//\n  5  BrE to visit a person or place while you are on your way to somewhere else:  call in on/at//  --Could you call in on Mum on your way home?//  call off [call sb/sth → off] phr v//\n  1 to decide that a planned event will not take place:   cancel//  --The trip to Italy might be called off.//\n  2 to officially decide that something should be stopped after it has already started:  --Rescuers had to call off the search because of worsening weather conditions.//\n  3 to order an animal or person to stop attacking or threatening someone:  --Call your dog off.//  call on/upon / [call on/upon sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 to formally ask someone to do something:  call on sb to do sth//  --The UN has called on both sides to observe the ceasefire.//\n  2 to visit someone for a short time:  --Why don’t you call on my sister when you’re in Brighton?//  call out phr v//\n  1 to say something loudly:  call sth → out//  --’Hi there!’ I called out.//  call out to//  --The firemen called out to him.//\n  2  call sb → out:  to ask or order a person or an organization to help, especially in a difficult or dangerous situation//  --The army was called out to help fight fires.//\n  3  call sb/sth → out:   BrE to order workers to go on strike//  --The transport workers were called out.//  call up phr v//\n  1  informal  especially AmE to telephone someone:  call sb → up//  --He called me up to tell me about it.//  --I’m going to call up and cancel my subscription.//\n  2  call sth → up:  if you call up information on a computer, you make the computer show it to you//  --I called up their website, but it didn’t have the information I was looking for.//\n  3  call sb → up:   BrE to officially order someone to join the army, navy, or air force//  American Equivalent:  draft//  --I was called up three months after war broke out.//\n  4  call sb → up:  to choose someone for a national sports team//    call-up//  --Hurst was called up for the game against Mexico.//\n  5  call sth → up:  to produce something or make it appear//  --Local people believe she can call up the spirits of the dead.//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: call, phone, telephone, ring //  In spoken English, it is usual to say that you  call  or  phone someone : He calls me almost every day. |  Phone me when you get there. //  In spoken British English, it is also very usual to say that you  ring someone : Have you rung Kim yet? //  It is fairly formal and not very usual in spoken English to say that you  telephone  someone. //  !!  Do not say that you ’call to’ someone : I called him (NOT called to him) to let him know. //  !!  There is no verb ’phone call’ : I need to call (NOT to phone call) Monica. //  You can also say that you  give  someone  a (phone) call  or, in British English,  give  them  a ring : Give me a call sometime. | I think I’ll give Mum a ring. //  !!  Do not say ’give someone a phone’. //  ----------//\ncall 2 n   ----------//\n   1 telephone:\n   2 be on call:\n   3 shout/cry:\n   4 visit:\n   5 request/order:\n   6 decision:\n   7 there isn’t much call for something:\n   8 there is no call for something:\n   9 at an airport:\n  10 have first call on something:\n  11 the call of something:\n  12 the call of nature:  ----------//\n  1 TELEPHONE:   [C] when you speak to someone on the telephone//  call for//  --Were there any phone calls for me while I was out?//  call from//  --There was a call from Ann for you.//  --It’s cheaper to make calls after 6pm.//  --I’ll give you a call at the weekend.//  --I  got a call  from Jane last week.//  --I’ll take the call in my office.//  --Why haven’t you returned any of my calls ?//  --You can make a local call for under 2p a minute.//  --I don’t make many long-distance calls , so my phone bill’s usually quite low.//  --This telephone only accepts incoming calls .//  --Detectives are investigating a hoax call which led to the evacuation of an office block.//  --an anonymous call to a Sunday newspaper //\n  2  be on call:  if someone such as a doctor or engineer is on call, they are ready to go and help whenever they are needed as part of their job//  --Don’t worry, there’s a doctor on call 24 hours a day.//\n  3 SHOUT/CRY:   [C] //  a) a loud sound that a particular bird or animal makes//   cry//  call of//  --I again heard the call of an owl.//  b) a shout that you make to get someone’s attention//\n  4 VISIT:   [C] a visit, especially for a particular reason//  --Sorry, Doctor Pugh is out on a call at the moment.//  pay/make a call (on sb) (=visit someone) //\n  5 REQUEST/ORDER:   [C] a request or order for something or for someone to do something//  --Members obediently answered the calls for funds.//  call for sb to do sth//  --There have been calls for the secretary to resign.//  a call to arms (=an order for people to fight against an enemy) //\n  6 DECISION:  a)  [C] the decision made by a referee in a sports game//  make a good/bad call //  --There may have been a few bad calls, but they’re making them for a reason.//  b)  [singular]  especially AmE  informal a decision//  --Don’t just say what you think I would like. It’s your call .//  make a call (=decide something) //  an easy/hard call (=an easy or difficult decision) //  judgement call (=a decision based on your personal judgement of a situation) //\n  7  there isn’t much call for sth:  used for saying that not many people want a particular thing//  --There isn’t much call for black and white televisions these days.//\n  8  there is no call for sth:   spoken used to tell someone that their behaviour is wrong and unnecessary//  --There’s no call for that kind of language! I’m doing my best!//\n  9 AT AN AIRPORT:   [C] a message announced at an airport that a particular plane will soon leave//  --This is the last call for flight BA872 to Moscow.//\n  10  have first call on sth:  a) to have the right to be the first person to use something//  b) to be the first person that you will help because they are important to you//  --Her children had first call on her time.//\n  11  the call of sth:   literary the power that a place or way of life has to attract someone//  --the call of the sea//\n  12  the call of nature:  a need to urinate (=pass liquid from your body)  - used especially humorously//    be at sb’s beck and call at beck(1),  port of call,  roll-call,  wake-up call//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  phone call //  make a call //  give somebody a call //  get/receive a call //  take a call (=speak to someone on the phone when someone else has answered) //  return a call (=telephone someone who tried to telephone you earlier) //  local call //  long-distance call //  incoming call (=a call someone makes to you) //  hoax/crank call (=a call intended to trick someone) //  anonymous call (=from an unknown person) //  ----------//


Words: call box
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE a phone box:\n  2  AmE a public telephone beside a road or freeway used to telephone for help:


Words: call centre
Meaning:
BrE  call center AmE n [C]   an office where people answer customers’ questions, make sales etc by using the telephone rather than by meeting people//


Words: call option
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   the right to buy a particular number of shares at a special price within a particular period of time//


Words: call screening
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 a special service that you can buy from your telephone company which prevents particular people from calling you:\n  2 when you let an answering machine answer your telephone calls, and you then only talk to callers that you want to speak to:


Words: call sign
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]  also call letters  especially AmE   a name made up of letters and numbers, used by people operating communication radios to prove who they are//


Words: call waiting
Meaning:
n [U]   a telephone service that allows you to receive another call when you are already talking on the telephone, without ending the first call//


Words: call-in
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a radio or television programme in which people telephone to give their opinions//  British Equivalent:  phone-in//  --a call-in talk show //


Words: call-out
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a situation in which someone is called to another person’s house or place of business to do repairs, help them etc//  --The lifeboat has had ten call-outs in the past year.//  --call-out charges//


Words: call-up
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE \n  1 an order to join the army, navy etc:  American Equivalent:  draft//  --He got his call-up papers in July.//\n  2 an opportunity or invitation to play for a professional sports team, especially a national one:  call-up to//  --Stewart’s recent call-up to the Wales squad//


Words: Callas
Meaning:
Maria   (1923-77) a US  opera singer whose parents were Greek. One of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century, she was famous for her powerful voice and for being able to act as well as sing.//


Words: caller
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone making a telephone call:  --’Could you hold for one moment?’ he asked the caller.//\n  2  old-fashioned someone who visits your house:


Words: caller display
Meaning:
BrE caller ID  AmE n [U and C]   a special service on your telephone that lets you know who is calling before you answer the telephone//


Words: calligraphy
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: kalligraphia, from  kallos  ’beauty’ +  -graphia  ’-graphy’]//  the art of producing beautiful writing using special pens or brushes, or the writing produced this way//  -- calligrapher n  [C] //


Words: calling
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a strong desire or feeling of duty to do a particular kind of work, especially religious work:   vocation//  --It wasn’t until Durant was in her thirties that she found her calling .//\n  2  formal someone’s profession or trade:


Words: calling card
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a small card with a name and often an address printed on it, that people in the past gave to people they visited//  British Equivalent:  visiting card//


Words: callipers
Meaning:
BrE  calipers AmE   n [plural] \n  1 a tool used for measuring thickness, or the distance between two surfaces, or the diameter (=inside width)  of something:\n  2  BrE metal bars that someone wears on their legs to help them walk:  American Equivalent:  brace//


Words: callisthenics
Meaning:
BrE  calisthenics AmE   n [U]   a set of physical exercises that are intended to make you strong and healthy//


Words: callous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: calleux, from  Latin callosus, from  callus;   CALLUS]//  not caring that other people are suffering//  --We were shocked at the callous disregard for human life.//  --a callous attitude//  --the callous slaughter of seals//  -- callously adv //  -- callousness n  [U] //


Words: callow
Meaning:
adj   [Language: Old English; Origin: calu  ’hairless’]//  young and without experience - used to show disapproval//   immature//  --a callow youth //


Words: callus
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin]//  an area of thick hard skin//  --the calluses on his hands//


Words: calm
Meaning:
S3   adj   comparative  calmer superlative  calmest //\n  1 relaxed and quiet, not angry, nervous, or upset:  --Glen was calm and composed at the funeral.//  remain/stay/keep calm //  --I tried to stay calm and just ignore him.//\n  2 if a place, period of time, or situation is calm, there is less activity, trouble etc than there sometimes is, or than there has been recently:  --The financial markets are calm at the moment.//  --The streets are calm again after last night’s disturbances.//\n  3 a sea, lake etc that is calm is smooth or has only gentle waves:  --The seas were dead calm .//  -- calmly adv //  -- calmness n  [U] //\ncalm 2 n [singular, U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: calme, from  Late Latin cauma  ’heat’; because everything is quiet and still in the heat of the middle part of the day]//\n  1 a situation or time that is quiet and peaceful:  calm of//  --They remained on the terrace after dinner, enjoying the calm of the evening.//  morning/afternoon/evening calm //  --A scream shattered the late afternoon calm.//  --Hindu leaders appealed for calm  (=asked that the public stay calm) after a temple was burnt to the ground.//  --The presence of soldiers helped restore calm .//  --The last five years have seen a period of relative calm .//\n  2  the calm before the storm:  a calm peaceful situation that will not continue because a big argument, problem etc is coming//\ncalm 3  also calm down  v [I and T] \n  1 to become quiet and relaxed after you have been angry, excited, nervous, or upset, or to make someone become quiet and relaxed:  --He tried to calm the frightened children.//  --Calm down and tell me what happened.//  --We have tried to calm people’s fears .//  calm yourself (down)//  --She lit a cigarette to calm herself down.//\n  2 if a situation calms down, it becomes easier to deal with because there are fewer problems and it is not as busy as it was before:  --It took about six months for things to calm down after we had the baby.//


Words: Calor gas
Meaning:
n [U]    BrE  trademark a type of gas that is sold in metal containers and used for heating and cooking where there is no gas supply//


Words: calorie
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: Latin calor  ’heat’]//\n  1 a unit for measuring the amount of energy that food will produce:  --An average potato has about 90 calories.//  --a calorie-controlled diet//  low-calorie/high-calorie //  --a low-calorie snack//  --Do you need to burn off a few calories  (=lose some weight by exercising) ?//  --My wife convinced me to finally start counting calories  (=control my weight by being careful about what I eat) .//\n  2  technical the amount of heat that is needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. It is used as a unit for measuring energy.:  -- caloric/k[hA353]l[hA361]r[hA366]k, k[zB024]l[hA353]r[hA366]k $ k[hA353]l[hA350][hA359]r[hA366]k/ adj //


Words: calumny
Meaning:
n   plural  calumnies //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: calomnie, from  Latin calumnia, from  calvi  ’to deceive’]//\n  1 [C] an untrue and unfair statement about someone that is intended to give people a bad opinion of them:\n  2 [U] when someone says things like this:


Words: Calvary
Meaning:
the Roman name for the place near Jerusalem where, according to the Bible, Jesus Christ died by being  crucified. Its Aramaic name was Golgotha.//


Words: calve
Meaning:
v [I]   [Language: Old English; Origin: cealfian, from  cealf;   CALF2]//  to give birth to a calf//


Words: Calvin
Meaning:
John   (1509-64) a French  Protestant leader and  theologian (=someone who studies religion and religious beliefs) , whose ideas strongly influenced the  Reformation (=the time when many Christians left the Catholic religion and started the Protestant religion) //


Words: Calvinism
Meaning:
n [U]   the Christian religious teachings of John Calvin, based on the idea that events on Earth are controlled by God and cannot be changed by humans//


Words: Calvinist
Meaning:
adj \n  1 following the teachings of Calvinism:\n  2  also Calvinistic /k[zB024]lv[hA369]n[hA366]st[hA366]kX/:  having strict moral standards and tending to disapprove of pleasure//   puritanical//  -- Calvinist n  [C] //


Words: calypso
Meaning:
n   plural  calypsos  [C] //  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Probably from  Efik ka isu  ’go on’]//  a type of Caribbean song based on subjects of interest in the news//


Words: calyx
Meaning:
n   plural  calyxes  or  calyces /-l[hA369]si[hA359]z/ [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek kalyx]//  the green outer part of a flower that protects it before it opens//


Words: cam
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from  French came, from  German kamm  ’comb’]//  a wheel or part of a wheel that is shaped to change circular movement into backwards and forwards movement//


Words: camaraderie
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: camarade, from  Old Spanish camarada;   COMRADE]//  a feeling of friendship that a group of people have, especially when they work together//  --the camaraderie of the women’s basketball team//


Words: Camargue
Meaning:
the Camargue//  a flat area in southern France at the  delta of the River Rh[hA175]ne. It is a national park and is famous for its white horses and its large variety of wild animals, especially birds.//


Words: camber
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: cambre, from  cambrer  ’to curve’, from  Latin camur  ’curved’]//   technical a slight curve from the centre of a road or other surface to the side, which makes water flow to the side//


Words: Cambodia
Meaning:
a country in southeast Asia between Thailand and Vietnam. Population: 12,492,000 (2001). Capital: Phnom Penh. Its former name was Kampuchea. //  -- Cambodian n  adj //


Words: Cambrian Mountains
Meaning:
the Cambrian Mountains//  a group of mountains that go from north to south through the middle of Wales//


Words: cambric
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Early  Flemish Kameryk  ’Cambrai’, city in northern France where the cloth was made]//  thin white cloth made of linen or cotton//


Words: Cambridge
Meaning:
1 a city in eastern England next to the River Cam, which is famous for its old university:\n  2  Cambridge University:  one of the two oldest and most respected universities in the UK, established in the 13th century//  -- Several government ministers went to Cambridge.  (=were students there) //  --a Cambridge graduate//    Oxford//\n  3 a city in East Massachusetts, US, which is next to the Charles River and across from Boston.  Harvard University, Radcliffe College, and  MIT are all in Cambridge.:


Words: Cambridge Certificate
Meaning:
the   an examination in the English language for speakers of other languages, set by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES)//


Words: camcorder
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: camera +  recorder]//  a type of camera that records pictures and sound on videotape//


Words: camel
Meaning:
n [C]   hump//  [Date: 900-1000; Language: Latin; Origin: camelus, from  Greek kamelos, from a  Semitic language]//  a large desert animal with a long neck and either one or two humps (=large raised parts) on its back//


Words: camellia
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Georg Josef  Kamel (in  Latin,  Camellus) (1661-1706), priest and plant scientist]//  a plant with dark green leaves and red, pink, or white flowers, or the flowers of this plant//\nCamelot 1   according to old stories about King Arthur, the place where Arthur and his  knights lived//


Words: camembert
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Camembert town in northern France]//  a soft French cheese that is white outside and yellow inside//


Words: cameo
Meaning:
n   plural  cameos  [C] //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Italian]//\n  1 a short appearance in a film or play by a well-known actor:  cameo role/appearance //  --Denholm Eliot put in a cameo appearance as a butler.//\n  2 a small piece of jewellery with a raised shape, usually a person’s face, on a flat background of a different colour:  --a cameo brooch//\n  3 a short piece of writing that gives a clear idea of a person, place, or event:


Words: camera
Meaning:
W3S2   n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: camera obscura  ’box with a hole through which an image is made to appear on the inside of the box’ (18-21 centuries), from  Modern Latin,  ’dark room’;   CHAMBER]//\n  1 a piece of equipment used to take photographs or make films or television programmes:    camcorder, video camera//  on/off camera (=while a camera is recording or not recording) //  --The crime was  caught on camera  by police.//\n  2  in camera:   law a law case that is held in camera takes place secretly or privately//


Words: cameraman
Meaning:
n   plural  cameramen /-m[hA353]n/ [C] //  someone who operates a camera for films or television//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not confuse with photographer (=person who takes still photographs). //  ----------//


Words: Cameroon
Meaning:
Cameroun  a country in West Africa, east of Nigeria and next to the Gulf of Guinea. Population: 15,803,000 (2001). Capital: Yaounde.//  -- Cameroonian n  adj //


Words: camisole
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: Spanish camisola, from  camisa  ’shirt’, from  Late Latin camisia;   CHEMISE]//  a light piece of women’s underwear that covers the chest down to the waist and has narrow bands over the shoulders//


Words: camomile
Meaning:
chamomile/k[zB024]m[hA353]ma[hA366]l/ n [U and C]   a plant with small white and yellow flowers that are sometimes used to make tea//


Words: camouflage
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: camoufler  ’to change the appearance of’, from  Italian camuffare]//\n  1 [U] a way of hiding something, especially soldiers and military equipment, by using paint, leaves etc to make it look like the things around it:  --soldiers learning camouflage technique//  --the camouflage netting over the tanks//\n  2 [U] the type of green and brown clothes, paint etc that soldiers wear to make themselves more difficult to see:  --The men were dressed  in camouflage  and carrying automatic weapons.//  --camouflage trousers//\n  3 [singular, U] the way that the colour or shape of an animal protects it by making it difficult to see in the area in which it lives:  --The whiteness of the arctic fox  acts as camouflage , hiding it from its enemies.//\n  4 [singular, U] behaviour that is designed to hide something:  camouflage for//  --Aggression is often a camouflage for insecurity.//\ncamouflage 2 v [T]   to hide something, especially by making it look the same as the things around it, or by making it seem like something else//  camouflage sth with sth//  --I saw a truck, heavily camouflaged with netting and branches.//  --The strain she was under was  well camouflaged  by skilful make-up.//


Words: camp
Meaning:
W3S3   n   ----------//\n   1 in the mountains/forest etc:\n   2 prison/labour/detention etc camp:\n   3 for children:\n   4 group of people:\n   5 military:  ----------//  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Latin campus  ’field’]//\n  1 IN THE MOUNTAINS/FOREST ETC:   [U and C] a place where people stay in tents, shelters etc for a short time, usually in the mountains, a forest etc//  --Let’s go back to camp - it’s getting dark.//  --a camp near Lake Ellen Wilson//  --The soldiers broke camp  (=took down their tents etc) and left before dawn.//  pitch/make camp (=set up a tent or shelter) //  --It was dark by the time we pitched camp.//  --We set up camp  (=made the camping place ready) at nearby Icicle Lake.//  --The expedition’s base camp  (=main camp) was 6,000 feet below the summit.//  mining/logging etc camp (=a camp where people stay when they are doing these kinds of jobs) //\n  2  prison/labour/detention etc camp:  a place where people are kept for a particular reason, when they do not want to be there//  --a refugee camp just across the border//    concentration camp//\n  3 FOR CHILDREN:   [U and C] a place where young people go to take part in activities, and where they usually stay for several days or weeks//  --The camp offers hiking, fishing, canoeing, and boating.//  --scout camp//  --Two years ago, she started a summer camp for girls aged 8 and older.//  tennis/football etc camp (=a camp where you can do one particular activity) //    day camp,  holiday camp//\n  4 GROUP OF PEOPLE:   [C] a group of people or organizations who have the same ideas or principles, especially in politics//  --the extreme right-wing camp of the party//  --At least you know that Lynne is definitely  in your camp  (=supports you rather than someone else, and agrees with your ideas) .//    have a foot in both camps at foot1 (21)//\n  5 MILITARY:   [C] a permanent place where soldiers live or train//  --Donny is stationed at Camp Pendleton.//\ncamp 2 v [I]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: camper, from  camp;   CAMP1. camp up  1900-2000 From   CAMP3]//\n  1 to set up a tent or shelter and stay there for a short time:  --We’ll camp by the river for the night, and move on tomorrow.//  camping gear/equipment //  --camping gear such as a sleeping bag, tent, and backpack//\n  2  go camping:  to visit an area, especially the mountains or a forest, and stay in a tent//  --We went camping in the San Bernardino Mountains.//  camp out phr v//\n  1 to sleep outdoors, usually in a tent:  --What he liked best about scouting was camping out.//\n  2 to stay somewhere where you do not have all the usual things that a house has:  --We’ll just have to camp out until our furniture arrives.//  camp up [camp sth up] phr v//  camp it up//  to deliberately use unnatural body or face movements, in a way that some people think is typical of a  homosexual man//\ncamp 3 adj   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Origin unknown]//\n  1 a man who is camp moves or speaks in the way that people used to think was typical of homosexuals:\n  2  also campy  AmE :  clothes, decorations etc that are camp are very strange, bright, or unusual//


Words: Camp David
Meaning:
the country home of the US President, where the President goes to relax. People remember it especially for the Camp David Agreement, which established peace between Egypt and Israel and was signed at Camp David in 1979.//


Words: Camp Fire
Meaning:
an organization in the US for girls and boys, which teaches them practical skills and helps them develop their character//


Words: camp follower
Meaning:
n [C]    especially BrE someone who supports an organization or a political party, but who is not actually a member of it//


Words: campaign
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: campagne, from  Italian campagna  ’level country, campaign’, from  Late Latin campania  ’level country’, from  Latin campus (  CAMP1); because soldiers went out into the country for military exercises]//\n  1 a series of actions intended to achieve a particular result relating to politics or business, or a social improvement:  --Florida was a key state in his campaign for re-election.//  --an anti-bullying campaign//  --an advertising campaign//  campaign for/against//  --a campaign for equal rights//  --Jones ran a good campaign .//  campaign funds/money/financing //  --He raised nearly $30 million in campaign funds.//  launch/mount a campaign (=plan, organize, and begin a campaign) //  --Police have launched a campaign to crack down on drug dealers.//\n  2 a series of battles, attacks etc intended to achieve a particular result in a war:\ncampaign 2 v [I]   to lead or take part in a series of actions intended to achieve a particular social or political result//  campaign for/against//  --a group campaigning against the destruction of the rainforests//  -- campaigner n  [C] //


Words: campanile
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Italian; Origin: campana  ’bell’, from  Late Latin;   CAMPANOLOGY]//  a high bell tower that is usually separate from any other building//


Words: campanology
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: campanologia, from  Late Latin campana  ’bell’]//  the skill of ringing bells, and the study of bells//


Words: camper
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who is staying in a tent or shelter:\n  2  also camper van  BrE a vehicle that has cooking equipment and beds in it:\n  3  AmE a special type of tent on wheels that has cooking equipment and beds in it:\n  4  AmE a child who is taking part in a camp:\n  5  happy camper:   spoken someone who seems to be happy with their situation//


Words: Campese
Meaning:
David   (1962-), an Australian rugby union player who has scored more  tries in international games than any other player..//


Words: campground
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE an area where people can camp, often with a water supply and toilets//  British Equivalent:  campsite//


Words: camphor
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: caumfre, from  Medieval Latin camphora, from  Arabic kafur, from  Malay kapur]//  a white substance with a strong smell, used especially to keep insects away//


Words: campsite
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE an area where people can camp, often with a water supply and toilets:  American Equivalent:  campground//\n  2  AmE a place, usually within a campground, where one person or group can camp:


Words: campus
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin:  CAMP1]//\n  1 the land and buildings of a university or college, including the buildings where students live:  --a beautiful campus in New England//  on/off campus//  --Most first-year students live on campus.//\n  2 the land and buildings belonging to a large company:  --the Microsoft campus outside Seattle//


Words: Camus
Meaning:
Albert   (1913-60) a French  existentialist writer and  philosopher who believed that life has no meaning, but that people can still be happy. His most famous novels are  L’[hA14A]tranger (1942) and  La Peste  (1948).//


Words: can
Meaning:
modal v    negative short form  can’t //  ----------//\n   1 ability:\n   2 requesting:\n   3 allowed:\n   4 possibility:\n   5 seeing/hearing etc:\n   6 not true:\n   7 should not:\n   8 surprise/anger:\n   9 sometimes:\n  10 giving orders:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: cunnan]//\n  1 ABILITY:  to be able to do something or to know how to do something//  --You can swim, can’t you?//  --Even a small personal computer can store vast amounts of information.//  --Gabriella can speak French fluently.//  --I’m afraid Mr Harding can’t see you now - he’s busy.//  --The police are doing all they can to find her.//\n  2 REQUESTING:   spoken used to ask someone to do something or give you something//  --Can I have a cigarette, please?//  --Can you help me lift this box?//\n  3 ALLOWED:  to be allowed to do something or to have the right or power to do something//  --You can’t park here - it’s a no parking zone.//  --’Can we go home now, please?’ ’No you can’t.’//  --Any police officer can insist on seeing a driver’s license.//\n  4 POSSIBILITY:  used to say that something is possible//  --I am confident that a solution can be found.//  --There can be no doubt that he is guilty.//  --Some packaging cartons can be stored flat.//  --Can he still be alive after all this time?//\n  5 SEEING/HEARING ETC:  used with the verbs ’see’, ’hear’, ’feel’, ’taste’, and ’smell’, and with verbs connected with thinking, to mean that someone sees something, hears something etc//  --Here they are - I can see their car.//  --Can you smell something burning?//  --I can’t understand why you’re so upset.//  --He can’t remember where he put the tickets.//\n  6 NOT TRUE:   [in negatives] used to say that you do not believe that something is true//  --This can’t be the right road.//  --It can’t be easy caring for a man and a child who are not your own.//\n  7 SHOULD NOT:   [in questions and negatives] used to say that someone should not or must not do something//  --You can’t expect the world to change overnight.//  --We can’t go on like this.//  --Jill’s left her husband, but can you blame her after the way he treated her?//\n  8 SURPRISE/ANGER:   [usually in questions and negatives]  spoken used when you are surprised or angry//  --You can’t be serious!//  --They can’t have arrived already, surely!//  --How can you be so stupid!//\n  9 SOMETIMES:  used to say what sometimes happens or how someone sometimes behaves//  --It can be quite cold here at night.//  --Peter can be really annoying.//\n  10 GIVING ORDERS:   spoken used to tell someone in an angry way to do something//  --And you can stop that quarrelling, the pair of you.//  --If you won’t keep quiet, you can get out.//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: can, could, be able to //  Use  can  and  be able to  to say that someone has the ability to do something.  Be able to is more formal : Can you swim? |  Young children are not able to open the bottle. //  Use  could to say that someone has the ability to do something, but does not do it : He could do a lot better. //  Could  is also the past form of  can . Use  could  or a past form of  be able to to say that someone had the ability to do something in the past : She could ride a bike when she was three. |  He was able to walk with a stick. //  !!  In the following cases, you cannot use  can . You must use  be able to : //  with  used to , to say that someone had the ability to do something in the past but no longer does : I used to be able to play the violin.  //  to talk about future ability. Use  will be able to : After only a few lessons, you will be able to understand basic Spanish.  //  after other verbs, for example  might ,  may ,  would ,  want , or  hope : He might be able to fix your car. |  You should be able to taste the difference.| I want her to be able to use a computer. //  ----------//\ncan 2 S2   n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: canne]//\n  1 a metal container in which food or drink is preserved without air:  --a Coke can//  can of//  --All we’ve got is a couple of cans of soup.//\n  2 a special metal container that keeps the liquid inside it under pressure. The liquid is released as a  spray when you press the button:  can of//  --a can of hairspray//\n  3  especially AmE a metal container with a lid that can be removed, used for holding liquid:  --Two large cans of paint ought to be enough.//\n  4  can of worms:  a very complicated situation that causes a lot of problems when you start to deal with it//  --I just don’t know what to do - every solution I can think of would just open up a whole new can of worms .//\n  5  in the can:   informal a film that is in the can is complete and ready to be shown//\n  6  the can:   informal //  a) a prison//  b)  AmE a toilet//    carry the can at carry1 (26)//\ncan 3   past tense and past participle  canned present participle  canning  v [T]  AmE //\n  1 to preserve food by putting it into a metal container from which all the air is removed:  British Equivalent:  tin//    canned//\n  2  informal to dismiss someone from a job:   sack//\n  3  can it!:   spoken used to tell someone to stop talking or making a noise//


Words: can’t
Meaning:
1 the short form of cannot:  --Sorry, I can’t help you.//  --You can swim, can’t you?//\n  2 used to say that something is impossible or unlikely:  --You can’t miss it - it’s a huge building.//


Words: can-do
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]    informal willing to try anything and expect that it will work//  --He has a wonderful can-do attitude towards work.//


Words: Cana
Meaning:
according to the Bible, an ancient town in  Galilee where Jesus performed his first  miracle, in which he changed water into wine//


Words: Canaan
Meaning:
the name for ancient Palestine which, according to the Bible, God promised to Abraham and his people. Because of this, Canaan is also called the  Promised Land.//


Words: Canada
Meaning:
a country in North America, north of the US, which is made up of ten  provinces. Population: 31,593,000 (2001). Capital: Ottawa. Canada is the second largest country in the world. //    Quebec//


Words: canal
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: canalis  ’pipe, channel’, from  canna;   CANE1]//  a long passage dug into the ground and filled with water, either for boats to travel along, or to take water to a place//  --We walked along by the side of the canal.//  --the Panama Canal//  by canal//  --The goods were transported by canal to London.//


Words: Canaletto
Meaning:
Antonio   (1697-1768) an Italian painter, famous for his paintings of Venice and of the River Thames in London//


Words: canalize
Meaning:
also  canalise BrE   v [T] \n  1  technical to make a river deeper or straighter, especially in order to prevent flooding:\n  2  formal to direct people’s energy or feelings towards one particular thing:


Words: canape
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’long seat’, from  Medieval Latin canopeum (  CANOPY); because the food sits on the bread as if on a seat]//  a small piece of bread with cheese, meat etc on top, which is served with drinks at a party//


Words: canard
Meaning:
n [C]  written   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: vendre des canards a moitie  ’to half-sell ducks, cheat’]//  a piece of news that is false and is told to people deliberately in order to harm someone//


Words: canary
Meaning:
n   plural  canaries  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Canary Islands, islands in the Atlantic ocean where the bird comes from]//  a small yellow bird that people often keep as a pet//


Words: Canary Islands the Canaries
Meaning:
the Canary Islands//  a group of islands near northwest Africa which belong to Spain and are popular with tourists//


Words: Canary Wharf
Meaning:
part of the  Docklands area in East London, which includes Canary Wharf Tower, the tallest building in the UK, and many other large office buildings //


Words: cancan
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French]//  a fast dance in which a line of women kick their legs high into the air//


Words: cancel
Meaning:
S2   v   past tense and past participle  cancelled present participle  cancelling  BrE //  past tense and past participle  canceled present participle  canceling  AmE //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: canceller  ’to cross out’, from  Latin cancellare  ’to make like a frame of crossed bars’, from  cancer  ’frame of crossed bars’, from  carcer  ’prison’]//\n  1 [I and T] to say that an event that was planned will not happen:  --Our flight was cancelled.//  --I’m afraid I’ll have to cancel our meeting tomorrow.//  --You’ll just have to ring John and cancel.//\n  2 [I and T] to end an agreement or arrangement that you have with someone:  --I phoned the hotel to cancel my reservation.//  --The bank agreed to cancel all the company’s debts.//\n  3 [T] to say officially that a document can no longer be used or no longer has any legal effect:  --I phoned the bank to cancel the cheque.//  cancel out [cancel sth → out] phr v//  if two things cancel each other out, they are equally important and have an opposite effect to each other, so that neither one has any effect//  --The losses in our overseas division have cancelled out the profits made in the home market.//


Words: cancellation
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 a decision that an event that was planned will not happen:  --Rail passengers are fed up with cancellations and delays.//  --Bad weather led to the cancellation of the game.//\n  2 a decision to end an agreement or arrangement that you have with someone:  --There is a cancellation fee of [hA124]20.//  --The restaurant is fully booked this evening, but we will let you know if there are any cancellations.//


Words: Cancer
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin:  CANCER]//\n  1 [U] the fourth sign of the zodiac, represented by a crab, which some people believe affects the character and life of people born between June 22 and July 23:\n  2  also Cancerian /k[zB024]ns[hA366][hA353]ri[hA353]n $ -s[hA366]r-/:   [C] someone who was born between June 22 and July 23//  -- Cancerian adj //


Words: cancer
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ’crab, cancer’]//\n  1 [U and C] a very serious disease in which cells in one part of the body start to grow in a way that is not normal:    tumour//  --A lot of cancers can now be treated successfully.//  lung/breast/stomach etc cancer //  --Smoking causes lung cancer.//  --She was told last year that she had cancer .//  --He died of cancer last month.//  cancer of//  --cancer of the womb//  --a new treatment which effectively kills cancer cells //\n  2 [C] an evil influence that affects a lot of people and is difficult to stop:  --Drug abuse is the cancer of our society.//  -- cancerous adj //  --a cancerous growth//  --cancerous cells//


Words: candelabra
Meaning:
plural  candelabra  [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: , plural of  candelabrum, from  candela;   CANDLE]//  a decorative object which holds several candles or lamps//


Words: candid
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: candide, from  Latin candidus  ’bright, white’, from  candere  ’to shine’]//  telling the truth, even when the truth may be unpleasant or embarrassing//   frank//  candid about//  --She was quite candid about the difficulties the government is having.//  candid with//  --He was remarkably candid with me.//  --It struck me as an unusually candid confession for a politician.//  -- candidly adv //    candour//


Words: candida
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Latin, feminine form of  candidus (  CANDID); because of the white marks it causes]//  an infection in the mouth and throat of children or in a woman’s vagina//


Words: candidacy
Meaning:
n   plural  candidacies  also candidature /k[zB024]nd[hA369]d[hA353]t[hA35D][hA353] $ -[hA353]r/ [U and C] //  the position of being one of the people who are competing in an election//    candidate//  candidacy for//  --The local party supported her candidacy for the post of chairman.//  announce/declare your candidacy //  --He has not yet officially announced his candidacy for the presidential election.//  --She later withdrew her candidacy .//


Words: candidate
Meaning:
W2   n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: candidatus, from  candidatus  ’dressed in white’, from  candidus (  CANDID); because someone trying to get elected in ancient Rome wore white clothes]//\n  1 someone who is being considered for a job or is competing in an election:  --a presidential candidate//  candidate for//  --There are only three candidates for the job.//\n  2  BrE someone who is taking an examination:  --Candidates are not allowed to use a calculator in this exam.//\n  3 someone or something that is likely to experience or get something:  candidate for//  --The school is an obvious candidate for extra funding.//  --The novel must be a prime candidate for the award.//


Words: Candide
Meaning:
(1759) a book by the French writer  Voltaire which is a  satire (=humorous criticism)  on the belief that "everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds". Candide is a young man who is taught to be an  optimist, but his experiences show him how bad life is, and he decides that it is best to "cultivate (=look after)  one’s own garden".//


Words: candle
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   flame, wax, wick//  [Date: 600-700; Language: Latin; Origin: candela, from  candere;   CANDID]//\n  1 a stick of wax with a string through the middle, which you burn to give light:\n  2  can’t hold a candle to sb/sth:   informal if something or someone cannot hold a candle to something or someone else, they are not as good as the other thing or person//  --No other singer can hold a candle to her.//    burn the candle at both ends at burn1 (19)//


Words: Candle in the Wind
Meaning:
a song originally written in 1973 and sung by Elton John. It was recorded again with different words in 1997, in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, and it sold more copies than any other record ever made.//


Words: candlelight
Meaning:
n [U]   the gentle light produced when a candle burns//  --The jewels sparkled in the candlelight.//  by candlelight//  --We ate by candlelight.//


Words: Candlemas
Meaning:
a Christian holy day, February 2nd, which celebrates when Jesus Christ was brought to the temple, and the purification (=making pure)  of his mother Mary//


Words: candour
Meaning:
BrE  candor AmE   n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: ’whiteness, candor’, from  candere;   CANDID]//  the quality of being honest and telling the truth, even when the truth may be unpleasant or embarrassing//    candid//  --She spoke with remarkable candour about her experiences.//


Words: candy
Meaning:
S3   n   plural  candies  [U and C] //  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: candi, from  Arabic qandi  ’covered with sugar’, from  qand  ’sugar’]//\n  1  AmE a sweet food made from sugar or chocolate:  --a box of candies//  --a candy bar//  --Do you want a piece of candy?//\n  2  mind/brain candy:   informal something that is entertaining or pleasant to look at, but which you do not approve of because you think it is not serious//  --Most video games are just brain candy.//


Words: cane
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Old Proven[hA168]al cana, from  Latin canna, from  Greek kanna, from a  Semitic language]//\n  1 [U] thin pieces of the stems of plants, used for making furniture and baskets:  --a cane chair//  --cane furniture//\n  2 [C] a long, thin stick made from the stem of a plant, used for supporting other plants in a garden:\n  3 [C] a long thin stick with a curved handle that you can use to help you walk:\n  4 [C] a stick that was used in the past by teachers to hit children with as a punishment:  --Children knew that if they misbehaved they would get the cane  (=be punished with a cane) .//\ncane 2 v [T]   to punish someone, especially a child, by hitting them with a stick//


Words: canine
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: caninus, from  canis  ’dog’]//  relating to dogs//  --canine diseases//  --her loyal canine friend//\ncanine 2 n [C] \n  1  also canine tooth :  one of the four sharp pointed teeth in the front of your mouth//\n  2  formal a dog:


Words: canister
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: canistrum  ’basket’, from  Greek kanastron, from  kanna;   CANE1]//\n  1 a round metal case that contains gas and bursts when it is thrown or fired from a gun:  --Police fired tear gas canisters into the crowd.//\n  2 a metal container for keeping something in:  --a tea canister//  --a petrol canister//


Words: canker
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old North French; Origin: cancre, from  Latin cancer;   CANCER]//\n  1 an evil influence that spreads quickly among people and is difficult to destroy:  --the canker of violence in modern society//\n  2 a disease that affects trees or plants:


Words: cannabis
Meaning:
n [U]  especially BrE   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek kannabis]//  an illegal drug that is usually smoked in cigarettes//  American Equivalent:  marijuana//


Words: canned
Meaning:
adj \n  1 canned food is preserved in a round metal container:  British Equivalent:  tinned//  --canned tomatoes//  --canned fruit//\n  2  canned music/laughter:  music or laughter that has been recorded and is used on television or in radio programmes//


Words: cannelloni
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Italian; Origin: cannello  ’small tube’, from  canna  ’cane’, from  Latin;   CANE1]//  small tubes of pasta filled with meat and sometimes cheese, and covered in a sauce//


Words: Cannes
Meaning:
a fashionable expensive town next to the Mediterranean Sea in southern France, which is famous as a holiday centre and because of the Cannes Film Festival, a yearly event when new international films are shown for the first time and are judged//


Words: cannibal
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Spanish; Origin: Canibal  ’member of the Carib people of the West Indies, who were said to eat human flesh’,  from  Arawakan Caniba,  Carib;   CARIB]//\n  1 a person who eats human flesh:\n  2 an animal that eats the flesh of other animals of the same kind:  -- cannibalism n  [U] //  -- cannibalistic/k[zB024]n[hA369]b[hA353]l[hA366]st[hA366]k[hA36B]/ adj //


Words: cannibalize
Meaning:
also  cannibalise BrE   v [T] \n  1 to take parts of one machine to use in another, for example to repair it:  --The truck was cannibalized for parts.//\n  2  technical if one of a company’s products cannibalizes another, it takes sales away from it:


Words: cannon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: canon, from  Italian cannone  ’large tube, cannon’, from  canna;   CANNELLONI]//  a large heavy powerful gun that was used in the past to fire heavy metal balls//\ncannon 2 v [I always + adverb/preposition]   to hit someone or something while moving fast//  cannon into//  --She came hurtling round the corner and cannoned straight into me.//  cannon off//  --The ball cannoned off the far post.//


Words: cannon fodder
Meaning:
n [U]   ordinary soldiers whose lives are not considered to be very important, and who are sent to fight where they are likely to get killed//


Words: cannot
Meaning:
modal v \n  1 a negative form of ’can’:  --Mrs Armstrong regrets that she cannot accept your kind invitation.//\n  2  cannot but:   formal used to say that you feel you have to do something//  --One cannot but admire her determination.//


Words: canny
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  CAN1]//\n  1 clever, careful, and not easily deceived, especially in business or politics:  --a canny political advisor//\n  2 nice, good - used in Scotland:  --a canny lass//  -- cannily adv //


Words: canoe
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Spanish canoa, from  Arawakan]//  a long light boat that is pointed at both ends and which you move along using a paddle//    paddle your own canoe at paddle2 (5)//\ncanoe 2 v [I]   to travel by canoe//  -- canoeist n  [C] //


Words: canon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1; Date: 1100-1200; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: canunie, from  Late Latin canonicus  ’person living under a rule’, from  Greek, from  kanon]//  [Sense: 2-5; Date: 800-900; Language: Latin; Origin: ’ruler, rule, standard’, from  Greek kanon]//\n  1 a Christian priest who has special duties in a cathedral:\n  2  formal a standard, rule, or principle, or set of these, that are believed by a group of people to be right and good:  canon of//  --Mapplethorpe’s pictures offended the canons of American good taste.//\n  3  formal :  a) a list of books or pieces of music that are officially recognized as being the work of a certain writer//  --the Shakespearean canon//  b) all the books that are recognized as being the most important pieces of literature//  --the literary canon//\n  4 a piece of music in which a tune is started by one singer or instrument and is copied by each of the others:\n  5 an established law of the Christian church:


Words: canonize
Meaning:
also  canonise BrE   v [T]   to officially state that a dead person is a saint//  -- canonization/k[zB024]n[hA353]na[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -n[hA353]n[hA353]-/ n  [U and C] //


Words: canoodle
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from  English dialect canoodle  ’donkey, stupid person’]//   BrE  old-fashioned if two people canoodle, they kiss and hold each other in a sexual way//


Words: canopy
Meaning:
n   plural  canopies  [C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: canopeum  ’mosquito net’, from  Greek konopion, from  konops  ’mosquito’]//\n  1 a cover made of cloth that is fixed above a bed, seat etc as a decoration or as a shelter:\n  2 the leaves and branches of trees, that make a kind of roof in a forest:  --the forest canopy//\n  3  literary something that spreads above you like a roof:  --a canopy of twinkling stars//  -- canopied adj //


Words: cant
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: cant  ’to speak, talk like a beggar trying to get money’ (16-18 centuries), from  Latin cantare;   CHANT1]//\n  1 [U] insincere talk about moral or religious principles by someone who is pretending to be better than they really are:\n  2 [U]  formal special words used by a particular group of people, especially in order to keep things secret:   slang//  --thieves’ cant//\ncant 2 v [I and T]   to lean, or make something lean//


Words: Cantab
Meaning:
used after the title of a degree from  Cambridge University//  --Jane Smith, MA (Cantab)//    Oxon//


Words: cantaloup
Meaning:
cantaloupe/k[zB024]nt[hA353]lu[hA359]p $ -lo[hA35E]p/ n [U and C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: Cantelupo former house of the pope near Rome in Italy, where it was grown]//  a type of melon with a hard green skin and sweet orange flesh//


Words: cantankerous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from  conteck  ’quarreling’ (13-17 centuries)]//  bad-tempered and complaining a lot//  --a cantankerous old man//


Words: cantata
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: Latin, from the past participle of  cantare;   CHANT1]//  a piece of religious music for singers and instruments//


Words: canteen
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: cantine, from  Italian cantina  ’wine store’, from  canto  ’corner’, from  Latin cantus;   CANT13]//\n  1  BrE a place in a factory, school etc where meals are provided, usually quite cheaply:  2 a small container in which water or other drink is carried by soldiers, travellers etc//\n  3  a canteen of cutlery:   BrE a set of knives, forks, and spoons in a box//


Words: canter
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: canterbury  ’to canter’ (1600-1700), from  Canterbury city in southeast England; from the speed at which people rode when going to Canterbury on pilgrimage]//  to ride or make a horse run quite fast, but not as fast as possible//    gallop//  -- canter n  [C] //  --She rode off at a canter.//


Words: Canterbury
Meaning:
a small city in southeast England which is famous for its 11th century cathedral, the main church of the  Church of England//


Words: Canterbury Tales
Meaning:
The   a long poem written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century, in which  pilgrims who are travelling to Canterbury tell stories//


Words: canticle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Latin; Origin: canticulum, from  canticum  ’song’, from  canere;   CHANT1]//  a short religious song usually using words from the Bible//


Words: cantilever
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Perhaps from   CANT13 +  lever]//  a long piece of metal or wood that sticks out from an upright post or wall and supports a shelf, the end of a bridge etc//  -- cantilevered adj //  --a cantilevered staircase//


Words: canto
Meaning:
n   plural  cantos  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: Latin cantus  ’song’, from  canere;   CHANT1]//  one of the parts into which a very long poem is divided//    stanza//


Words: canton
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: ’part, corner’, from  Italian cantone, from  canto;   CANTEEN]//  one of the areas that a country such as Switzerland is divided up into, that has limited political powers//


Words: cantonment
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: cantonnement, from  cantonner  ’to provide with a place to sleep and eat’, from  canton;   CANTON]//   technical a camp where soldiers live//


Words: cantor
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ’singer’, from  canere;   CHANT1]//\n  1 a man who leads the prayers and songs in a Jewish religious service:\n  2 the leader of a group of singers in a church:


Words: Canute
Meaning:
(?995-1035) the King of England from 1016 to 1035, who also became King of Denmark and Norway. According to an old story, King Canute once ordered the sea to stop moving towards the land. //


Words: canvas
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old North French; Origin: canevas, from  Latin cannabis  ’hemp’]//\n  1 [U] strong cloth used to make bags, tents, shoes etc:  --a canvas bag//  canvas, easel//\n  2 [C] a painting done with oil paints, or the piece of cloth it is painted on:  --The gallery has a canvas by Paul Cezanne.//  --’Four Women on a Bench’, oil on canvas , 1991//\n  3  a broader/wider/larger canvas:  the whole of a situation, and not just a part of it//  --These questions must be considered on a broader canvas.//\n  4  under canvas:   BrE in a tent//


Words: canvass
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: canvass  ’to throw up in the air from a canvas sheet as a game or punishment’ (16-17 centuries), from  canvas]//\n  1 [I and T] to try to persuade people to support a political party, politician, plan etc by going to see them and talking to them, especially when you want them to vote for you in an election:  --Candidates from all three parties were out canvassing in Darlington today.//  canvass for//  --Chapman spent the rest of May canvassing for votes.//  --The US has been canvassing support from other Asian states.//\n  2 [I and T] to ask people about something in order to get their opinion or to get information:  --Police canvassed the neighborhood, but didn’t find any witnesses.//\n  3 [T] to talk about a problem, suggestion etc in detail:  --A committee was set up to canvass the city’s educational options .//  -- canvasser n  [C] //  -- canvass n  [C] //


Words: canyon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: American Spanish; Origin: ca[hA172]on, from  Spanish,  ’tube, pipe’, from  ca[hA172]a  ’cane’, from  Latin canna;   CANE1]//  a deep valley with very steep sides of rock that usually has a river running through it//


Words: CAP
Meaning:
the   the Common Agricultural Policy a system of laws arranged by the  European Union to control the production of food and other farm crops. It set limits on how much farmers can grow, and provided them with financial support.//


Words: cap
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   ----------//\n   1 hat:\n   2 covering:\n   3 limit:\n   4 sport:\n   5 small explosive:\n   6 sex:\n   7 go cap in hand (to somebody):  ----------//  [Date: 900-1000; Language: Late Latin; Origin: cappa  ’covering for the head, cloak’, perhaps from  Latin caput  ’head’]//\n  1 HAT:  a) a type of flat hat that has a curved part sticking out at the front, and is often worn as part of a uniform//  --a baseball cap//  --old men in flat caps//  --a chauffeur’s peaked cap//  b) a covering that fits very closely to your head//  --a swimming cap//  --a shower cap//  c) a type of simple hat that fits very closely to your head, worn especially by women in the past//  --a white lace cap//  cap, nib//\n  2 COVERING:  a protective covering that you put on the end or top of an object//   top//  --Make sure you put the cap back on the pen.//  --a bottle cap//\n  3 LIMIT:  an upper limit that is put on the amount of money that someone can earn, spend, or borrow//  --a cap on local council spending//\n  4 SPORT:   BrE //  a) if a sports person wins a cap or is given a cap, he or she is chosen to play for their country//  --He won his first England cap against Wales in 1994.//  b) a sports person who has played for his or her country//  --Mason is one of two new caps in the team.//\n  5 SMALL EXPLOSIVE:  a small paper container with explosive inside it, used especially in toy guns//\n  6 SEX:  a contraceptive made of a round piece of rubber that a woman puts inside her vagina//   diaphragm//\n  7  go cap in hand (to sb):   BrE go hat in hand  AmE to ask for money or help in a very respectful way, from someone who has a lot more power than you//  --Elderly people should receive a heating allowance every winter, instead of having to go cap in hand to the government.//    flat cap,  ice cap,  knee cap,  mob cap,  skull cap,  toecap,  a feather in your cap at feather1 (2),  if the cap fits (, wear it) at fit1 (8),  put your thinking cap on at thinking1 (3)//\ncap 2   past tense and past participle  capped present participle  capping  v [T] //  ----------//\n   1 cover:\n   2 limit:\n   3 good/bad:\n   4 be capped by something:\n   5 sport:\n   6 to cap it all (off):\n   7 snow-capped, white-capped etc:\n   8 tooth:  ----------//\n  1 COVER:   be capped with sth//  to have a particular substance on top//  --a graceful tower capped with a golden dome//  --magnificent cliffs capped by lovely wild flowers//\n  2 LIMIT:   [often passive] to limit the amount of something, especially money, that can be used, allowed, or spent//  --the only county to have its spending capped by the government//\n  3 GOOD/BAD:  to say, do, or be something that is better, worse, or more extreme than something that has just happened or been said//  --Well, we went three nights with no sleep at all. I bet you can’t cap that!//\n  4  be capped by sth:  to have something very good or very bad at the end of an event//  --a fabulous weekend, capped by dinner in the Times Square Hotel//\n  5 SPORT:   [usually passive]  BrE to choose someone for a national sports team//  --He’s been capped three times for England.//\n  6  to cap it all (off):   BrE  spoken used before a statement to say that something is the last in a series of annoying, unpleasant, or funny events//  --To cap it all, the phones didn’t work, and there was no hot water.//\n  7  snow-capped, white-capped etc:  with snow on top, with white on top etc//  --snow-capped mountains//\n  8 TOOTH:  to cover a tooth with a special hard white substance//  --He’s had his teeth capped.//


Words: capability
Meaning:
S3   n   plural  capabilities  [C] //\n  1 the natural ability, skill, or power that makes a machine, person, or organization able to do something, especially something difficult:  --the country’s manufacturing capability//  capability to do sth//  --Does the company have the capability to change to meet market needs?//  --I can speak French, but simultaneous translation is beyond my capabilities  (=too difficult) .//\n  2 the ability that a country has to take a particular kind of military action:  military/nuclear etc capability //  --America’s nuclear capability//


Words: Capability Brown
Meaning:
(1716-83) a British garden designer, who planned many large and famous gardens in castles and large country houses in England//


Words: capable
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Late Latin capabilis, from  Latin capere  ’to take’]//\n  1  capable of (doing) sth:  having the qualities or ability needed to do something//  --I don’t think he’s capable of murder.//  --The company isn’t capable of handling an order that large.//  --I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself, thank you!//\n  2 able to do things well:  --a strong, capable woman//\n  3  capable hands:  someone who is able to do something well//  --Helen was put in the capable hands of hair stylist Daniel Herson.//  -- capably adv //


Words: capacious
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: capax, from  capere;   CAPABLE]//  able to contain a lot//  --a capacious suitcase//  -- capaciousness n  [U] //


Words: capacity
Meaning:
W2S3   n   plural  capacities //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: capacite, from  Latin capacitas, from  capax;   CAPACIOUS]//\n  1 [singular] the amount of space a container, room etc has to hold things or people:  capacity of//  --The fuel tank has a capacity of 40 litres.//  --The room had seating capacity for about 80.//  --The orchestra played to a capacity crowd  (=the largest number of people who can fit into a hall, theatre etc) .//  --All the hotels were filled to capacity  (=completely full) .//\n  2 [U and C] someone’s ability to do something:  capacity for//  --a child’s capacity for learning//  --an infinite capacity for love//  capacity to do sth//  --a capacity to think in an original way//\n  3 [singular]  formal someone’s job, position, or duty:   role//  in a professional/official etc capacity //  --Rollins will be working in an advisory capacity on this project.//  (do sth) in your capacity as sth//  --I attended the meeting in my capacity as chairman of the safety committee.//\n  4 [singular, U] the amount of something that a factory, company, machine etc can produce or deal with:  --The company has the capacity to build 1500 trucks a year.//  --The factory has been working at full capacity . (=making the most amount of things that it can) //\n  5 [singular, U] the size or power of something such as an engine:  --The tax on cars is still based on engine capacity.//


Words: cape
Meaning:
n [C]   wand, cape, top hat//  [Sense: 1; Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Late Latin cappa;   CAP1]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: cap, from  Latin caput  ’head’]//\n  1 a long loose piece of clothing without sleeves that fastens around your neck and hangs from your shoulders:\n  2 a large piece of land surrounded on three sides by water:  --Cape Cod//


Words: Cape Canaveral
Meaning:
a  cape(2) in Florida which is famous for the  Kennedy Space Center, where US spacecraft are sent into space. Cape Canaveral was formerly called Cape Kennedy.//


Words: Cape Coloured
Meaning:
also Coloured  n [C]   a South African person of mixed race with black, white, or east Asian origins//


Words: Cape Hatteras
Meaning:
a  cape(2) in North Carolina in the US, which is a popular place for tourists. It is also well known as a place where there are bad storms that have destroyed many ships.//


Words: Cape Horn
Meaning:
the extreme end of South America, which is famous for its very bad weather and dangerous ocean currents//


Words: Cape of Good Hope
Meaning:
the Cape of Good Hope//  a  peninsula (=a piece of land surrounded on three sides by water)  at the southwestern end of South Africa, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean//


Words: Cape Province
Meaning:
a province in the south of South Africa. Its full name is Cape of Good Hope Province, and it was formerly called Cape Colony.//


Words: Cape Town
Meaning:
a large city in South Africa near the Cape of Good Hope. It is built around  Table Mountain, and South Africa’s parliament building is there.//


Words: Cape Trafalgar
Meaning:
the most southwesterly point of Spain. In the sea near the cape, British ships under Nelson won an important sea battle against the French and Spanish in 1805.//


Words: Cape Verde
Meaning:
a country that consists of a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal. Population: 405,163 (2001). Capital: Praia.//


Words: caper
Meaning:
preposition]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  capriole  ’jump made by a horse’ (16-21 centuries), from  French, from  Latin caper;   CAPRICORN]//  to jump around and play in a happy excited way//\ncaper 2 n [C]   [Sense: 1; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: capparis, from  Greek kapparis]//  [Sense: 2-4; Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  CAPER1]//\n  1 a small dark green part of a flower used in cooking to give a sour taste to food:\n  2  informal a planned activity, especially an illegal or dangerous one:  --I’m too old for this sort of caper.//\n  3 behaviour or an activity that is amusing or silly and not serious:  --the comic capers of a cartoon cat and mouse//\n  4 a short jumping or dancing movement:


Words: capillary
Meaning:
n   plural  capillaries  [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: capillaire, from  Latin capillaris, from  capillus  ’hair’]//  the smallest type of blood vessel (=tube carrying blood)  in the body//


Words: capital
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 city:\n   2 money:\n   3 letter:\n   4 centre of activity:\n   5 make capital from/out of something:\n   6 building:  ----------//  [Sense: 1, 3-4; Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  CAPITAL2]//  [Sense: 2,5; Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Italian capitale, from  Latin capitalis;   CAPITAL2]//  [Sense: 6; Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old North French; Origin: capitel, from  Late Latin capitellum, from  Latin caput;   CAPITAL2]//\n  1 CITY:   [C] an important city where the main government of a country, state etc is//  --Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States//\n  2 MONEY:   [singular, U] money or property, especially when it is used to start a business or to produce more wealth//  --The government is eager to attract foreign capital.//    working capital,  venture capital//\n  3 LETTER:   [C] a letter of the alphabet written in its large form as it is, for example, at the beginning of someone’s name//    lower case, upper case//\n  4 CENTRE OF ACTIVITY:   [C] a place that is a centre for an industry, business, or other activity//  --Hollywood is the capital of the movie industry.//\n  5  make capital from/out of sth:  to use a situation or event to help you get an advantage//\n  6 BUILDING:   [C]  technical the top part of a  column (=a long stone post used in some buildings) //\ncapital 2 W3S3 adj   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Latin; Origin: capitalis, from  caput  ’head’]//\n  1 a capital letter is one that is written or printed in its large form:    lower case, upper case//  --capital ’B’//\n  2 relating to money that you use to start a business or to make more money:  --capital investments//\n  3  capital offence/crime:  an offence that is punished by death//\n  4  trouble with a capital T, fast with a capital F etc:   informal used with any word in order to emphasize that you are talking about an extreme type of something//\n  5  old-fashioned excellent:


Words: capital goods
Meaning:
n [plural]   goods such as machines or buildings that are made for the purpose of producing other goods//    consumer goods//


Words: capital-intensive
Meaning:
adj   a capital-intensive business, industry etc needs a lot of money in order to operate properly//    labour-intensive//


Words: capitalism
Meaning:
n [U]   an economic and political system in which businesses belong mostly to private owners, not to the government//    communism, socialism//


Words: capitalist
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who supports capitalism:    communist, socialist//\n  2 someone who owns or controls a lot of money and lends it to businesses, banks etc to produce more wealth:    venture capitalist at venture capital//\ncapitalist 2  also capitalistic   adj   using or supporting capitalism//    communist, socialist//  --the capitalist system//


Words: capitalize
Meaning:
also  capitalise BrE   v [T] \n  1 to write a letter of the alphabet using a capital letter:\n  2 to supply a business with money so that it can operate:\n  3  technical to calculate the value of a business based on the value of its shares or on the amount of money it makes:  -- capitalization/k[zB024]p[hA366]tl-a[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -tl-[hA353]-/ n  [U] //  capitalize on [capitalize on sth] phr v//  to use a situation or something good that you have, in order to get an advantage for yourself//  --Ecuador has capitalized on its natural beauty to attract tourism.//


Words: Capitol
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: Capitolium temple of Jupiter in ancient Rome]//\n  1  the Capitol:  the building in Washington D.C. where the US Congress meets//\n  2 [C] the building in each US state where the people who make the laws for that state meet:


Words: capitulate
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: , past participle of  capitulare  ’to divide up into named parts’, from  Late Latin capitulum (  CHAPTER); from the making of a peace agreement with several parts]//\n  1  formal to accept or agree to something that you have been opposing for a long time:   give in//  --Helen finally capitulated and let her son have a car.//\n  2  formal to accept defeat by your enemies in a war:   surrender//  -- capitulation/k[hA353]p[hA366]t[hA35D][hA36A]le[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: caplet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: capsule +  tablet]//  a small smooth pill (=solid piece of medicine) with a shape that is slightly longer and narrower than a tablet (=a small round pill) //


Words: capoeira
Meaning:
n [U]   an Afro-Brazilian mixture of dance, song, and fighting that is similar to the martial arts//


Words: capon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 900-1000; Language: Old North French; Origin: Latin capo]//  a male chicken that has had its sex organs removed to make it grow big and fat//


Words: Capone
Meaning:
Al   (1899-1947) one of the most famous US  gangsters (=criminals who belong to a violent group) . From 1925 to 1931 he was the leader of  organized crime in Chicago. Because he had a  scar on his cheek he was sometimes called Scarface.//


Words: Capote
Meaning:
Truman   (1924-84) a US writer who wrote the short story  Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which was made into a successful film, and  In Cold Blood in which he describes a true crime involving two men who murdered a whole family.//


Words: cappuccino
Meaning:
n   plural  cappuccinos  [U and C] //  [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Italian; Origin: ’Capuchin’ (= type of holy man who wears gray clothes, said to look like the coffee)]//  Italian coffee made with hot milk and with chocolate powder on top//


Words: Capra
Meaning:
Frank   (1897-1991) a US film  director, born in Italy, who made films with a gentle humour and sympathy for ordinary people, such as Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936),  Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), and It’s a Wonderful Life (1946).//


Words: caprice
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Italian capriccio  ’head with hair standing straight up, shudder’, from  capo  ’head’ +  riccio  ’hedgehog’]//\n  1 [U and C] a sudden and unreasonable change of mind or behaviour:  --the caprices of a spoilt child//\n  2 [U] the tendency to change your mind suddenly or behave in an unexpected way:


Words: capricious
Meaning:
adj \n  1 likely to change your mind suddenly or behave in an unexpected way:  --She was as capricious as her mother had been.//\n  2  literary changing quickly and suddenly:  --a capricious wind//  -- capriciously adv //


Words: Capricorn
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: Capricornus, from  caper  ’goat’ +  cornu  ’horn’]//\n  1 [U] the tenth sign of the zodiac, represented by a goat, which some people believe affects the character and life of people born between December 22 and January 20:\n  2 [C] someone who was born between December 22 and January 20:


Words: capsicum
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: , perhaps from  Latin capsa;   CASE1]//   technical a kind of pepper (=a green, red, or yellow vegetable) //


Words: capsize
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from  Spanish capuzar  ’to sink a ship front-end first’, from  cabo  ’head’ +  chapuzar  ’to dive’]//  if a boat capsizes, or if you capsize it, it turns over in the water//


Words: capstan
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old Proven[hA168]al; Origin: cabestan, from  cabestre  ’rope for leading an animal’, probably from  Latin capere  ’to take, hold’]//  a round machine shaped like a drum, used to wind up a rope that pulls or lifts heavy objects//


Words: capsule
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Latin capsula, from  capsa;   CASE1]//\n  1 a plastic container shaped like a very small tube with medicine inside that you swallow whole:    tablet//\n  2 a small plastic container with a substance or liquid inside:\n  3 the part of a spacecraft in which people live and work:  --a space capsule orbiting the Earth//    time capsule//


Words: captain
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: capitain, from  Late Latin capitaneus  ’chief’, from  Latin caput  ’head’]//\n  1 the sailor in charge of a ship, or the pilot in charge of an aircraft:  --The Captain and crew welcome you aboard.//\n  2 a military officer with a fairly high rank:    group captain//\n  3 someone who leads a team or other group of people:  captain of//  --Julie’s captain of the quiz team.//  --The Blackhawk’s team captain was the first to score.//\n  4  captain of industry:  someone who owns or has an important job in a big company//\ncaptain 2 v [T] \n  1 to lead a group or team of people and be their captain:  --The U.S. team, captained by Arthur Ashe, won the Davis Cup in 1981 and 1982.//\n  2 to be in charge of a ship, aircraft etc:


Words: Captain Hook
Meaning:
an evil  pirate (=someone who sails on the sea, attacking other ships and stealing from them)  who has a metal hook in place of one of his hands, and who is the enemy of  Peter Pan in the play and book  Peter Pan by J. M.  Barrie//


Words: captaincy
Meaning:
n   plural  captaincies  [U and C] //  the position of being captain of a team, or the period during which someone is captain//


Words: caption
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: caption  ’act of seizing or arresting, document allowing this’ (14-19 centuries), from  Latin captio  ’act of taking’, from  capere;   CAPTIVE1]//  words printed above or below a picture in a book or newspaper or on a television screen to explain what the picture is showing//    subtitle//  -- caption v  [T usually passive] //  --a photograph of the couple captioned ’rebuilding their romance’//


Words: captivate
Meaning:
v [T]   to attract someone very much, and hold their attention//  be captivated by sb/sth//  --He was captivated by her beauty.//


Words: captivating
Meaning:
adj   very attractive and interesting, in a way that holds your attention//  --a captivating smile//  --a captivating account of her childhood in Beijing//


Words: captive
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: captivus, from  captus, past participle of  capere  ’to take’]//\n  1 kept in prison or in a place that you are not allowed to leave:  --captive soldiers//  --captive animals//  --His son had been taken captive  (=became a prisoner) during the raid.//  --a pilot who was held captive  (=kept as a prisoner) for six years//\n  2  captive audience:  people who listen or watch someone or something because they have to, not because they are interested//\n  3  captive market:  the people who must buy a particular product or service, because they need it and there is only one company selling it//\n  4  be captive to sth:  to be unable to think or speak freely, because of being influenced too much by something//  --Our communities should not be captive to the mistakes of the past.//\ncaptive 2 n [C]   someone who is kept as a prisoner, especially in a war//


Words: captivity
Meaning:
n [U]   when a person or animal is kept in a prison, cage etc and not allowed to go where they want//  --The hostages were released from captivity.//  in captivity//  --animals bred in captivity//


Words: captor
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Latin captus;   CAPTIVE1]//  someone who is keeping another person prisoner//    captive//  --He managed to escape from his captors.//


Words: capture
Meaning:
W3   v [T]   ----------//\n   1 person:\n   2 place/thing :\n   3 animal:\n   4 film/record/art:\n   5 capture somebody’s imagination/attention etc:\n   6 capture somebody’s heart:\n   7 business/politics:\n   8 capture the headlines:\n   9 computer:\n  10 chess:  ----------//\n  1 PERSON:  to catch a person and keep them as a prisoner//  --Government troops have succeeded in capturing the rebel leader.//  --40 captured French soldiers//\n  2 PLACE/THING :  to get control of a place or object that previously belonged to an enemy, during a war//  --The town was captured after a siege lasting ten days.//  --The Dutch fleet captured two English ships.//\n  3 ANIMAL:  to catch an animal after chasing or following it//  --The tiger was finally captured two miles outside the village.//\n  4 FILM/RECORD/ART:  to succeed in recording, showing, or describing a situation or feeling, using words or pictures//  --These photographs capture the essence of working-class life at the turn of the century.//  --The robbery was captured on police video cameras.//\n  5  capture sb’s imagination/attention etc:  to make someone feel very interested in something//  --His stories of foreign adventure captured my imagination.//\n  6  capture sb’s heart:  to make someone love you//\n  7 BUSINESS/POLITICS:  to get something that previously belonged to one of your competitors//  --We aim to capture eight percent of the UK wine market.//  --Republicans captured three Senate seats that had been held by Democrats.//\n  8  capture the headlines:  to be talked or written about a lot in the newspapers or on television//  --Irvine Welsh first captured the headlines with his novel ’Trainspotting’.//\n  9 COMPUTER:   technical to put something in a form that a computer can use//  --The data is captured by an optical scanner.//\n  10 CHESS:  to remove one of your opponent’s pieces from the board in chess//\ncapture 2 n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Latin captura, from  captus;   CAPTIVE1]//\n  1 when you catch someone in order to make them a prisoner:  --The two soldiers somehow managed to avoid capture.//\n  2 when soldiers get control of a place that previously belonged to an enemy:  capture of//  --the capture of Jerusalem in 1099//\n  3 when you get control of something that previously belonged to one of your competitors:\n  4 when you put information into a form a computer can use:


Words: Capulets and Montagues
Meaning:
the   two families in the play  Romeo and Juliet by William  Shakespeare. The Capulets are Juliet’s family and the Montagues are Romeo’s. The two families hate each other, so Romeo and Juliet have to get married secretly.//


Words: car
Meaning:
n [C]   fog lamp, headlight, indicator, mirror//  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: car  ’carriage’ (14-19 centuries), from  Anglo-French carre, from  Latin carrus]//\n  1 a vehicle with four wheels and an engine, that can carry a small number of passengers:  --I’ve left my bag in the car.//  --I always go to work  by car .//  --Dan got out of the car and locked the door.//  --He wasn’t even old enough to drive a car .//  -- Cars  were  parked  on both sides of the road.//  --A line of parked cars ran parallel to the pavements.//  --You really ought to walk a bit more, rather than taking the car everywhere.//  --Coughlan was killed in a  car accident .//  --a high-speed car chase through the streets of London//  -- Car crime is the fastest-growing crime.//  -- Police cars occasionally circled the building.//\n  2  sleeping/dining/buffet car:  a train carriage used for sleeping, eating etc//\n  3  AmE a train carriage:\n  4 the part of a lift, balloon, or airship in which people or goods are carried:  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  by car //  get in/into a car //  get out of a car //  drive a car //  park a car //  parked car //  take the car (=drive it somewhere) //  car crash/accident //  car chase //  car crime //  police car //  company car (=a car you are given to use by your company) //  HINT sense 1 //  Do not use go in/out with ’car’. Use get in/out: She got into her car (NOT went into her car) and drove off.| ’Stop the car. I want to get out!’ (NOT go out) //  WORD FOCUS: car //  big cars: limousine,  people carrier (BrE),  gas-guzzler (AmE informal),  estate car (BrE) //  small cars: compact (AmE),  hatchback (BrE) //  other types of car: pickup,  van,  saloon (BrE) sedan (AmE),  sports car,  convertible,  SUV (AmE),  off-roader,  four-wheel drive/4x4 //  where you park your car: garage,  car park (BrE) parking lot (AmE),  multi-storey car park (BrE),  parking space,  carport //  someone who drives a car: driver,  motorist,  learner driver //  someone who drives a rich or important person’s car for them: chauffeur,  driver //  ----------//


Words: car alarm
Meaning:
n [C]   special equipment in a car that makes a loud noise if anyone tries to steal or damage the car//


Words: car park
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE \n  1 an area where people can park their cars:  American Equivalent:  parking lot//\n  2 an enclosed building in a public place where people can park their cars:  American Equivalent:  parking garage//


Words: car pool
Meaning:
carpool n [C] \n  1 a group of people who agree to travel together to work, school etc in one car and share the cost:\n  2 a group of cars that a company or organization owns for its workers or members to use:


Words: car seat
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a special seat for a baby or young child that can be used in a car:\n  2 a seat in a car:  --leather car seats//


Words: car tax
Meaning:
n [U]   money that people in Britain must pay if they want to drive a car on the roads//   road tax//


Words: carafe
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Italian caraffa, from  Arabic gharrafah, from  gharafa  ’to get water from a well’]//  a glass container with a wide neck, used for serving wine or water at meals//


Words: caramel
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Spanish caramelo]//\n  1 [U and C] a sticky brown sweet made of boiled sugar, butter, and milk:\n  2 [U] burnt sugar used for giving food a special taste and colour:\n  3 [U] a light yellow-brown colour:    cr[hA169]me caramel//


Words: caramelize
Meaning:
also  caramelise BrE   v \n  1 [I] if sugar caramelizes, it becomes brown and hard when it is heated:\n  2 [T] to cook something such as fruit or vegetables with sugar:  -- caramelized adj //  --caramelized onions//


Words: carapace
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: Spanish carapacho]//  a hard shell on the outside of some animals such as a crab or tortoise//   shell//


Words: carat
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: Arabic qirat  ’bean pod, small weight’, from  Greek keration  ’carob bean, small weight’]//\n  1  also  karat AmE a unit for measuring how pure gold is:  9/18/22/24 carat gold //  --a 22 carat gold chain//  --Pure gold is 24 carats.//\n  2 a unit for measuring the weight of jewels, equal to 200 milligrams:  --the Orloff diamond, a stone of 194.5 carats//


Words: caravan
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: caravana, from  Persian karwan]//\n  1  BrE a vehicle that a car can pull and in which people can live and sleep when they are on holiday:  American Equivalent:  trailer//  caravan site/park (=area of land where people can park their caravans) //\n  2  BrE a covered vehicle that is pulled by a horse, and in which people can live:  American Equivalent:  wagon//  --a gipsy caravan//\n  3 a group of people with animals or vehicles who travel together for safety, especially through a desert:


Words: caravanserai
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Persian; Origin: karwanserai, from  karwan (  CARAVAN) +  sarai  ’palace, place for travelers to stay in’]//  a hotel with a large open central area, used in the past in Eastern countries by groups of people and animals travelling together//


Words: caraway
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: carvi, from  Arabic karawya, from  Greek karon]//  a plant whose seeds are used in cooking//


Words: carb
Meaning:
n [C]  informal \n  1  BrE a carburettor:\n  2 [usually plural]  especially AmE a food such as rice, potatoes, or bread that contains carbohydrate:  --Before a race I eat plenty of carbs.//


Words: carbine
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: carabine, from  carabin  ’soldier with a gun’]//  a short light rifle//


Words: carbohydrate
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: carbon +  hydrate]//\n  1 [U and C]  technical a substance that is in foods such as sugar, bread, potatoes etc, which provides your body with heat and energy and which consists of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon:\n  2 [C usually plural] foods such as rice, bread, and potatoes that contain carbohydrates:


Words: carbolic acid
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: carbon +  -ol (as in  alcohol) +  -ic]//  a liquid that kills bacteria, used for preventing the spread of disease or infection//


Words: carbon
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: carbone, from  Latin carbo  ’burning coal, charcoal’]//\n  1 [U] a chemical substance that exists in a pure form as diamonds, graphite etc, or in an impure form as coal, petrol etc. It is a chemical element: symbol C:\n  2 [U and C]  carbon paper:\n  3 [C] a carbon copy(1):


Words: carbon copy
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a copy, especially of something that has been typed using carbon paper:    cc//\n  2 someone or something that is very similar to another person or thing:  carbon copy of//  --The robbery is a carbon copy of one that took place last year.//


Words: carbon dating
Meaning:
n [U]   a method of finding out the age of very old objects by measuring the amount of carbon in them//


Words: carbon dioxide
Meaning:
n [U]   the gas produced when animals breathe out, when carbon is burned in air, or when animal or vegetable substances decay//


Words: carbon monoxide
Meaning:
n [U]   a poisonous gas produced when carbon, especially in petrol, burns in a small amount of air//


Words: carbon paper
Meaning:
n [U and C]   thin paper with a blue or black substance on one side, that you put between sheets of paper when typing on a typewriter in order to make a copy onto the second sheet of paper//


Words: carbon sink
Meaning:
n [C]   a large area of forest that is believed to help the environment by taking in carbon from the air so that the effects of global warming are reduced//


Words: carbon tax
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a tax on businesses and industries which produce substances with a carbon base, that can damage the environment//  --carbon taxes on fossil fuels//


Words: carboniferous
Meaning:
adj  technical   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: carbon +  -iferous  ’containing, producing’ (from  Latin -fer)]//  producing or containing carbon or coal//  --carboniferous rocks//


Words: carbonize
Meaning:
also  ise BrE   v [I and T]   to change or make something change into carbon by burning it without air//  -- carbonized adj //  -- carbonization/k[hA35A][hA359]b[hA353]na[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ k[hA35A][hA359]rb[hA353]n[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: carbuncle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin carbunculus  ’small piece of burning coal’, from  carbo;   CARBON]//\n  1 a large painful lump under someone’s skin:\n  2 a red jewel, especially a garnet:


Words: carburettor
Meaning:
BrE  carburetor AmE   n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: carburet  ’to mix with carbon’ (19-21 centuries), from  carburet  ’compound of carbon with another chemical’ (18-19 centuries)]//  a part of an engine, especially in a car, that mixes the petrol with air so that it burns and provides power//


Words: carcass
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: carcois]//\n  1 the body of a dead animal:\n  2 the decaying outer structure of a building, vehicle, or other object:


Words: carcinoma
Meaning:
n [C]  medical   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek karkinoma  ’cancer’, from  karkinos  ’crab, cancer’]//  a cancer//


Words: card
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 information:\n   2 money:\n   3 greetings:\n   4 holiday:\n   5 stiff paper:\n   6 for writing information:\n   7 games:\n   8 football/baseball etc card:\n   9 business:\n  10 computer:\n  11 be on the cards:\n  12 play your cards right:\n  13 put/lay your cards on the table:\n  14 play/keep your cards close to your chest:\n  15 get/be given your cards:\n  16 have another card up your sleeve:\n  17 trump/best/strongest card:\n  18 somebody’s card is marked:\n  19 person:\n  20 sport:\n  21 list at sports event:\n  22 tarot:\n  23 tool:  ----------//  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: carte, from  Old Italian carta  ’sheet of paper’, from  Latin charta;   CHART1]//\n  1 INFORMATION:   [C] a small piece of plastic or paper containing information about a person or showing, for example, that they belong to a particular organization, club etc//  --Employees must show their identity cards at the gate.//  --I haven’t got my membership card yet.//\n  2 MONEY:   [C] a small piece of plastic, especially one that you get from a bank or shop, which you use to pay for goods or to get money//  --Lost or stolen cards must be reported immediately.//  --a [hA124]10 phone card//  --Every time you use your store card, you get air miles.//    charge card,  cheque card,  credit card,  debit card//\n  3 GREETINGS:   [C] a piece of folded thick stiff paper with a picture on the front, that you send to people on special occasions//  birthday/Christmas/greetings etc card //  --a Mother’s Day card//\n  4 HOLIDAY:   [C] a card with a photograph or picture on one side, that you send to someone when you are on holiday//   postcard//  --I sent you a card from Madrid.//\n  5 STIFF PAPER:   [U]  BrE thick stiff paper//    cardboard//  --Cut a piece of white card 12 [hA158] 10cm.//\n  6 FOR WRITING INFORMATION:   [C] a small piece of thick stiff paper that information can be written or printed on//  --a set of recipe cards//  --the score card from their golf game//  7 GAMES//   [C] //  a) a small piece of thick stiff paper with numbers and signs or pictures one side. There are 52 cards in a set//   playing card//  pack/deck of cards (=a complete set of cards) //  b) game in which these cards are used//  --I’m no good at cards.//  --We were having a game of cards .//  --Let’s play cards .//  --a book of card games //  c) a small piece of thick stiff paper with numbers or pictures on them, used to play a particular game//  --a set of cards for playing Snap//\n  8  football/baseball etc card:  a small piece of thick stiff paper with a picture on one side, that is part of a set which people collect//\n  9 BUSINESS:   [C] a small piece of thick stiff paper that shows your name, job, and the company you work for;//   business card//    visiting card//  --My name’s Adam Carver. Here’s my card.//\n  10 COMPUTER:   [C] the thing inside a computer that the chips are attached to, that allows the computer to do specific things//  --a graphics card//\n  11  be on the cards:   BrE be in the cards //   AmE to seem likely to happen//  --At 3-1 down, another defeat seemed to be on the cards.//\n  12  play your cards right:  to deal with a situation in the right way, so that you are successful in getting what you want//  --If he plays his cards right, Tony might get a promotion.//\n  13  put/lay your cards on the table:  to tell people what your plans and intentions are in a clear, honest way//  --What I’d like us to do is put our cards on the table and discuss the situation in a rational manner.//\n  14  play/keep your cards close to your chest:  to keep your plans, thoughts, or feelings secret//\n  15  get/be given your cards:   BrE  informal to have your job taken away from you//\n  16  have another card up your sleeve:  to have another advantage that you can use to be successful in a particular situation//\n  17  trump/best/strongest card:  something that gives you a big advantage in a particular situation//  --The promise of tax cuts proved, as always, to be the Republican Party’s trump card.//\n  18  sb’s card is marked:   BrE if someone’s card is marked, they have done something that makes people in authority disapprove of them//\n  19 PERSON:   [C usually singular]  old-fashioned  informal an amusing or unusual person//  --Old Fred’s a real card, isn’t he!//\n  20 SPORT:   [C] a small piece of stiff red or yellow paper, shown to a player who has done something wrong in a game such as football//\n  21 LIST AT SPORTS EVENT:   [C] a list of races or matches at a sports event, especially a horse race//  --a full card of 120 riders for the Veterans race//\n  22 TAROT:   [C] a small piece of thick stiff paper with a special picture on one side, that is put down in a pattern in order to tell someone what will happen in their future//\n  23 TOOL:   [C]  technical a tool that is similar to a comb and is used for combing, cleaning, and preparing wool or cotton for spinning//    hold all the cards at hold1 (30)//    play the race/nationalist/environmentalist etc card at play1 (14)//    stack the cards at stack2 (4)//\ncard 2 v [T]   [Sense: 1-2; Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  CARD1]//  [Sense: 3; Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: carder, from  Late Latin cardus  ’thistle’; because thistles were used for carding wool]//\n  1  especially AmE to ask someone to show a card proving that they are old enough to do something, especially to buy alcohol:\n  2 to show a red or yellow card to someone playing a sport such as football, to show that they have done something wrong:\n  3 to comb, clean, and prepare wool or cotton, before making cloth:


Words: card catalog
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   a box of cards that contain information about something and are arranged in order, especially the cards with book information on them in a library//  British Equivalent:  card index//


Words: card index
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a box of cards that contain information about something and are arranged in order, especially the cards with book information on them in a library//  American Equivalent:  card catalog//


Words: card vote
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a way of voting at a trade union meeting in which your vote represents the votes of all the members of your organization//


Words: card-carrying
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1  card-carrying member:  someone who has paid money to a political organization and is an official and active member of it//  --a card-carrying member of the Labour Party//\n  2 believing very strongly in something - used to show disapproval:  --One of them is a card-carrying ecology freak.//


Words: cardamom
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: cardamomum, from  Greek, from  kardamon plant with hot-tasting leaves +  amomon Indian spice plant]//  the seeds of an Asian fruit, used to give a special taste to Indian and Middle Eastern food//


Words: cardboard
Meaning:
n [U]   a stiff brown material like very thick paper, used especially for making boxes//  --We covered the hole with a sheet of cardboard.//\ncardboard 2 adj \n  1 made from cardboard:  --a cardboard box//\n  2 [only before noun] seeming silly and not real:  --a romantic novel full of cardboard characters//


Words: cardboard city
Meaning:
n [C]   an area in a large town or city where people who have no home sleep outside using cardboard boxes to try to keep warm//


Words: cardboard cut-out
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a picture drawn on cardboard so that it can stand up on a surface:\n  2 a person or character in a book, film etc who does not seem natural or real:  --the sort of movie in which the characters are just cardboard cut-outs//


Words: cardiac
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  medical   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: cardiacus, from  Greek, from  kardia;   CARDIO-]//  relating to the heart//  --cardiac surgery//  cardiac arrest/failure (=when the heart stops working) //


Words: cardigan
Meaning:
n  also cardigan sweater  AmE [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Earl of  Cardigan (1797-1868), British soldier]//  a sweater similar to a short coat, fastened at the front with buttons or a zip//


Words: cardinal
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: cardinalis, from  Late Latin (  CARDINAL2);]//  [Sense: 2; Origin:  from the color of a cardinal’s clothing]//\n  1 a priest of high rank in the Roman Catholic Church:\n  2 a North American bird. The male is a bright red colour:\n  3 a cardinal number:\ncardinal 2 adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Late Latin cardinalis, from  Latin cardo  ’hinge’ (= part that fastens something so that it can still move)]//  very important or basic//  --Having clean hands is one of the cardinal rules when preparing food.//  --an issue of cardinal importance//


Words: cardinal number
Meaning:
also cardinal  n [C]   a number such as 1, 2, or 3, that shows how many of something there are, but not what order they are in//    ordinal number//


Words: cardinal sin
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  informal something bad or stupid that you must avoid doing:  --politicians who commit the cardinal sin of ignoring public opinion//\n  2 a serious sin in the Christian religion:


Words: cardio
Meaning:
n [U]  informal   any type of exercise that makes the heart stronger and healthier, for example running//  --a combination of cardio, weight training, and kung fu//


Words: cardio-
Meaning:
prefix  medical   [Language: Greek; Origin: kardia  ’heart’]//  relating to the heart//  --a cardiograph (=machine that measures movements of the heart) //  --cardiovascular (=the heart and the tubes through which blood flows in your body) //


Words: CARE
Meaning:
Cooperative for American Relief to Everywhere a US organization that sends special boxes of food, clothing, and medicine called "CARE packages" to anywhere in the world where they are needed.//


Words: care
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 looking after somebody:\n   2 take care of somebody/something:\n   3 take care:\n   4 keeping something in good condition:\n   5 carefulness:\n   6 take care over/with something:\n   7 in care:\n   8 problem/worry:\n   9 care of somebody:\n  10 have a care!:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: caru]//\n  1 LOOKING AFTER SOMEBODY:   [U] the process of looking after someone, especially because they are ill, old, or very young//  --high standards of medical care//  --They shared the care of the children.//  --Care facilities for the elderly are inadequate.//  in sb’s care (=being looked after by someone) //  --The children had been left in the care of a babysitter.//  be under sb’s care (=be officially looked after or treated by someone) //  --Mentally ill patients will be under the care of a psychiatrist.//    day care,  health care,  intensive care,  tender loving care at tender1 (5)//\n  2  take care of sb/sth:  a) to look after someone or something//  --Who’s taking care of the dog while you’re away?//  take care of yourself//  --The children are old enough to take care of themselves.//  b) to deal with all the necessary work, arrangements etc//  --Her secretary always took care of the details.//  --Don’t worry about your accommodation - it’s all taken care of.//  c) to pay for something - used when you want to avoid saying this directly//  --We’ll take care of the fees.//\n  3  take care:  a)  spoken used when saying goodbye to family and friends//  --Take care! See you next week!//  b) to be careful//  --Take care when driving in icy conditions.//  take care to do sth//  --Take care to ensure that the ladder is steady before you climb it.//  take care (that)//  --Take care that the meat is cooked properly.//\n  4 KEEPING SOMETHING IN GOOD CONDITION:   [U] the process of doing things to keep something in good condition and working correctly//  --With proper care, the washing machine should last for years.//  --advice on skin care//\n  5 CAREFULNESS:   [U] when you are careful to avoid damage, mistakes etc//  --The note on the box said ’Fragile - handle with care ’.//  --The picture had been drawn with great care .//\n  6  take care over/with sth:  to spend a lot of time and effort making sure that something is perfect//  --Paul always takes great care over his appearance.//\n  7  in care:   BrE a child who is in care is being looked after by the government, not by their parents//  --When he was sent to prison, the children were taken into care .//\n  8 PROBLEM/WORRY:   [U and C]  literary something that causes problems and makes you anxious or sad//  --At last I felt free from my cares.//  --Alex looked as though he didn’t have a care in the world  (=had no problems or worries) .//  --a man with the cares of the world on his shoulders  (=with a lot of problems or worries) //\n  9  care of sb:   BrE in care of sb  AmE used when sending letters to someone at someone else’s address//   c/o//  --Send me the letter care of my uncle.//\n  10  have a care!:   BrE  spoken  old-fashioned used to tell someone to be more careful//\ncare 2 v [I and T] \n  1 to think that something is important, so that you are interested in it, worried about it etc:  care about//  --The only thing he seems to care about is money.//  care what/how/whether etc//  --She didn’t care what her father thought.//  --’He looked angry.’ ’ I don’t care !’//\n  2 to be concerned about what happens to someone, because you like or love them:    caring//  care about//  --I care about him and hate to see him hurt like this.//  --She felt that nobody cared.//\n  3  who cares?:   spoken used to say that something does not worry or upset you because it is not important//  --It’s rather old and scruffy, but who cares?//\n  4  see if I care!:   spoken used when you are angry or upset, to say that you do not care about what someone will do//  --Go with William, then - see if I care!//\n  5  sb couldn’t care less:   spoken used to say that someone does not care at all about something//  --I really couldn’t care less what you think!//\n  6  what does sb care?:   spoken used to say that someone does not care at all about something//  --What do I care? It’s your responsibility now!//\n  7  as if I cared!:   spoken used to say that something is not important to you at all//  --As if I cared whether he comes with us or not!//\n  8  for all sb cares:   spoken used when you are angry that someone does not seem concerned about someone or something//  --We could be starving for all they care!//\n  9  not care to do sth:   old-fashioned to not like doing something//  --She doesn’t care to spend much time with her relatives.//  --I wouldn’t care to meet him in a dark alley!//  --I’ve experienced more reorganizations than I care to remember  (=a lot of them) .//\n  10  any ... you care to name/mention:  any thing of a particular kind//  --Virtually any piece of equipment you care to name can be hired these days.//\n  11  would you care to do sth?:   spoken  formal used to ask someone politely whether they want to do something//  --Would you care to join us for dinner?//  care for / [care for sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 to look after someone who is not able to look after themselves:   take care of//  --He thanked the nurses who had cared for him while he was sick.//  --The children are being well cared for.//\n  2 to do things that keep something in good condition:  --Instructions on caring for your new sofa are included.//\n  3  would you care for sth?:   spoken formal used to ask someone politely if they would like something//  --Would you care for another drink?//\n  4  not care for sb/sth:   formal to not like someone or something//  --I don’t much care for his parents.//


Words: care package
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a package of food, sweets etc that is sent to someone living away from home, especially a student at college//


Words: careen
Meaning:
preposition]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: careen  ’to turn a ship over, especially in order to do work on its bottom’ (16-21 centuries), from  French car[hA169]ne  ’bottom of a boat’, from  Latin carina  ’nutshell’; influenced by   CAREER1]//   AmE to move forwards quickly without control, making sudden sideways movements//  British Equivalent:  career//  careen down/over/along etc//  --The car careened around the corner.//


Words: career
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: carri[hA169]re, from  Old Proven[hA168]al carriera  ’street’, from  Latin carrus;   CAR]//\n  1 a job or profession that you have been trained for, and which you do for a long period of your life:  career in//  --a career in journalism//  --a teaching career//  --He realized that his acting career was over.//  career development/advancement/progression etc //  --Career prospects within the company are excellent.//  --a physiotherapist who wanted to make a dramatic career change by becoming an author//  --Nurses want an improved career structure  (=better opportunities to move upwards in their jobs) .//\n  2  career soldier/teacher etc:  someone who intends to be a soldier, teacher etc for most of their life, not just for a particular period of time//  --a career diplomat//\n  3 the period of time in your life that you spend doing a particular activity:  --She had not had a very impressive school career up till then.//  --My career as an English teacher didn’t last long.//  --Beating the defending champion has to be the highlight of my career.//\ncareer 2 v [I always + adverb/preposition]    BrE to move forwards quickly without control, making sudden sideways movements//  American Equivalent:  careen//  career down/along/towards etc//  --The truck careered down the hill and into a tree.//


Words: career break
Meaning:
n [C]   a short period of time when you do not work in your usual job or profession, for example because you want to look after your children//


Words: career woman
Meaning:
n [C]   a woman whose career is very important to her, so that she may not want to get married or have children//  --a fiercely independent career woman//


Words: careerist
Meaning:
adj   someone who is careerist considers their career to be more important to them than anything else - often used to show disapproval//  -- careerism n  [U] //  -- careerist n  [C] //


Words: careers officer
Meaning:
also careers adviser  n [C]    BrE someone whose job is to give people advice about what jobs and professional training might be suitable for them//  American Equivalent:  career counselor//


Words: carefree
Meaning:
adj   having no worries or problems//  --He thought back to the carefree days of his childhood.//  --a carefree attitude//


Words: careful
Meaning:
adj \n  1  (be) careful!:   spoken used to tell someone to think about what they are doing so that something bad does not happen//  --Be careful - there’s broken glass on the floor!//\n  2 trying very hard to avoid doing anything wrong or to avoid damaging or losing something:  → careless//  --a careful driver//  careful to do sth//  --Be careful to dispose of your litter properly.//  careful with//  --He was being very careful with the coffee so as not to spill it.//  careful who/what/how etc//  --I’ll be more careful what I say in the future.//  careful about//  --Mara was careful about what she ate.//  careful (that)//  --We were very careful that he didn’t find out.//\n  3 paying a lot of attention to details, so that something is done correctly and thoroughly:  --Any school trip requires careful planning.//  careful consideration/attention/thought //  --Careful consideration has been given to all applications.//  careful analysis/examination/study etc //  --careful analysis of the data//\n  4  careful with money:  not spending more money than you need to//\n  5  you can’t be too careful:   spoken used to say that you should do everything you can to avoid problems or danger//  -- carefulness n  [U] //


Words: carefully
Meaning:
adv   in a careful way//  → carelessly//  --He folded the sheets up carefully.//  look/listen/think etc carefully //  --You need to think very carefully about which course you want to do.//  carefully planned/chosen/controlled etc //  --carefully chosen words//


Words: careless
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not paying enough attention to what you are doing, so that you make mistakes, damage things etc:  → careful//  --It was careless of him to leave the door unlocked.//  --a careless mistake//  --careless driving//  careless with//  --He’s careless with his glasses and has lost three pairs.//  -- Careless talk can be disastrous for a business.//\n  2 [usually before noun] natural and not done with any deliberate effort or attention:  --He ran a hand through his hair with a careless gesture.//\n  3 not concerned about something:  careless of//  --a man careless of his own safety//  --She gave a careless shrug.//  -- carelessly adv //  -- carelessness n  [U] //  ----------//  HINT //  Do not use careless to mean that someone has no worries. Use carefree : They all felt happy and carefree. //  ----------//


Words: caress
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1  especially literary to touch someone gently in a way that shows you love them:   stroke//  --His hands gently caressed her body.//\n  2  literary to touch something gently, in a way that seems pleasant or romantic:  --Waves caressed the shore.//\ncaress 2 n [C]  especially literary   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: caresse, from  Italian carezza, from  caro  ’dear’, from  Latin carus;   CHARITY]//  a gentle touch or kiss that shows you love someone//


Words: caretaker
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE someone whose job is to look after a building, especially a school:  American Equivalent:  janitor//\n  2 someone who looks after a house or land while the person who owns it is not there:\n  3  caretaker manager/government/boss etc:  a manager, government etc that is in charge for a short period of time until another manager or government is chosen//\n  4  AmE someone who looks after other people, especially a teacher, parent, nurse etc:


Words: cargo
Meaning:
n   plural  cargos  or  cargoes  [U and C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Spanish; Origin: ’load, charge’, from  cargar  ’to load’, from  Late Latin carricare;   CHARGE2]//  the goods that are being carried in a ship or plane//   freight//  cargo of//  --A ship carrying a cargo of oil has run aground.//  --a cargo plane//


Words: Caribbean Sea
Meaning:
the Caribbean Sea//   also the Caribbean //  the sea between Central America, South America, and the Caribbean islands, west of the Atlantic Ocean//


Words: caribou
Meaning:
n   plural  caribou  [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Canadian French; Origin: Micmac galipu  ’snow-digger’; because it digs in the snow to find food]//  a North American reindeer//


Words: caricature
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Italian caricatura, from  caricare  ’to load, make seem larger, worse, etc.’, from  Late Latin carricare;   CHARGE2]//\n  1 [C] a funny drawing of someone that makes them look silly:  caricature of//  --caricatures of politicians.//\n  2 [C] a description of someone or something that is only partly true and makes them seem silly:  caricature of//  --The report presents a caricature of the true situation.//\n  3 [U] the activity of drawing or writing caricatures:\ncaricature 2 v [T]   to draw or describe someone or something in a way that makes them seem silly//  caricature sb/sth as sth//  --Scientists are often caricatured as absent-minded professors.//


Words: caries
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ’decay’]//  decay in someone’s teeth//   cavity//


Words: carillon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Old French quarregnon, from  Late Latin quaternio  ’set of four’]//  a set of bells in a tower that are controlled from a piano keyboard, or a tune played on these bells//


Words: caring
Meaning:
adj \n  1 thinking about what other people need or want and trying to help them:    care//  --a warm and caring man//  --a caring attitude//  --The school aims to educate children in a caring environment.//\n  2 [only before noun] involving the job of looking after other people:  --Like many of the caring professions, nursing is very badly paid.//  --More men are taking on a caring role. //


Words: carjacking
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: car +  highjacking]//  the crime of using a weapon to force the driver of a car to drive you somewhere or give you their car//    hijacking//  -- carjacker n  [C] //  -- carjack v  [T] //


Words: carload
Meaning:
n [C]   the amount of people or things a car can hold//  carload of//  --A carload of tourists pulled up and asked for directions.//


Words: Carlyle
Meaning:
Thomas   (1795-1881) a Scottish writer on political and social subjects, who wrote a famous history of the  French Revolution//


Words: Carmen
Meaning:
an  opera written in 1875 by the French  composer Georges Bizet, about a Spanish  gypsy woman called Carmen//


Words: Carmichael
Meaning:
Stokely   (1941-98) a former member of the  Black Panthers who worked in the 1960s to achieve social and political changes for black people in the US//


Words: carmine
Meaning:
n [U]  literary   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: carmin, from  Medieval Latin carminium, from  Arabic qirmiz insect from which red color is obtained +  Latin minium (  MINIATURE2)]//  a dark red colour//  -- carmine adj //


Words: Carnaby Street
Meaning:
a street in London, world famous in the 1960s for its shops selling fashionable clothes for young people//


Words: carnage
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Medieval Latin carnaticum  ’meat, especially as given to a ruler’, from  Latin caro;   CARNAL]//  when a lot of people are killed and injured, especially in a war//  --a scene of terrible carnage//


Words: carnal
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: carnalis, from  Latin caro  ’flesh’]//\n  1 relating to sex or someone’s body:  --carnal desires//\n  2  carnal knowledge/relations:  sexual activity//  -- carnally adv //


Words: carnation
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: ’flesh-color’, from  Old Italian carnagione, from  carne  ’flesh, meat’, from  Latin caro;   CARNAL]//  a flower that smells sweet. Men often wear a carnation on their jacket on formal occasions//


Words: Carnegie
Meaning:
Andrew   (1835-1919) a US businessman and  philanthropist, born in Scotland, who helped to start many public libraries in the US. He also provided most of the money for building  Carnegie Hall.//


Words: carnet
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE a small book of tickets that you can use on trains, buses etc:\n  2 an official document that allows you to go somewhere, especially to drive across the border into another country for a limited period:    pass//


Words: carnival
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: carnevale, from  carne  ’meat’ (  CARNATION) +  levare  ’to remove’; because after Carnival people stopped eating meat for a period]//\n  1 [U and C] a public event at which people play music, wear special clothes, and dance in the streets:  --preparations for this year’s carnival//  --when it’s Carnival in Rio//  --a carnival atmosphere throughout the town//\n  2 [C]  AmE a noisy outdoor event at which you can ride on special machines and play games for prizes:  British Equivalent:  funfair//\n  3 [C]  AmE an event at a school, in which students play games for prizes:\n  4  carnival of sth:   literary an exciting mixture of things//  --Shakespeare’s carnival of images//


Words: carnivore
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: carnivorus  ’flesh-eating’, from  caro (  CARNAL) +  -vorus  ’eating’]//\n  1 an animal that eats flesh:    herbivore, omnivore//\n  2  humorous someone who eats meat:    vegetarian//  -- carnivorous/k[hA35A][hA359]n[hA366]v[hA368]r[hA353]s $ k[hA35A][hA359]r-/ adj //


Words: carob
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: carobe, from  Medieval Latin carrubium, from  Arabic kharrubah]//  the fruit of a Mediterranean tree, which tastes similar to chocolate//


Words: carol
Meaning:
n  also Christmas carol  [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: carol  ’circular dance with singing’ (13-17 centuries), from  Old French carole, probably from  Late Latin choraula  ’song for a group of singers’, from  Greek, from  choros (  CHORUS1) +  aulein ’to play a   REED2 instrument’]//  a traditional Christmas song//\ncarol 2   past tense and past participle  carolled present participle  carolling  BrE //  past tense and past participle  caroled present participle  caroling  AmE  v [I and T]  literary //  to sing or say something in a happy way//  --’Goodbye,’ carolled Boris happily.//


Words: carotid artery
Meaning:
n [C]  medical   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: carotide, from  Greek karotides  ’carotid arteries’, from  karoun  ’to make unconscious’]//  one of the two arteries in your neck that supply blood to your head//


Words: carouse
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: carousser, from  carous  ’completely’ (in  boire carous  ’to drink up’), from  German garaus]//   literary to drink a lot, be noisy, and have fun//  -- carousal n  [U and C] //


Words: carousel
Meaning:
also  carrousel AmE   n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: carrousel, from  Italian carosello]//\n  1  especially AmE a machine with wooden horses on it that turns around and around, which people can ride on for fun:\n  2 the moving belt that you collect your bags from at an airport:


Words: carp
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  From a  Scandinavian language]//  to keep complaining about something in a way that is annoying//  carp about//  --He always finds something to carp about.//\ncarp 2   plural  carp  n [C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: carpe, from  Late Latin carpa]//  a large fish that lives in lakes and rivers and can be eaten//


Words: carpenter
Meaning:
n [C]   goggles, saw, wood//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old North French; Origin: carpentier, from  Latin carpentarius  ’carriage-maker’, from  carpentum  ’carriage’]//  someone whose job is making and repairing wooden objects//


Words: carpet
Meaning:
W3S3   n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: carpite, from  Old Italian carpita, from  carpire  ’to pull out’]//\n  1 [U and C] heavy woven material for covering floors or stairs, or a piece of this material:    carpeting, rug//  --My bedroom carpet is green.//  --All the rooms had fitted carpets  (=carpets cut to fit the shape of the rooms) .//\n  2  a carpet of sth:   literary a thick layer of something on the ground//  --a carpet of flowers//\n  3  be/get called on the carpet:   AmE  informal to be criticized by someone in authority because you have done something wrong//  --He was called on the carpet by his supervisors to explain his excessive spending.//    magic carpet,  sweep/brush sth under the carpet at sweep1 (15)//\ncarpet 2 v [T] \n  1 [usually passive] to cover a floor with carpet:  --The building has been carpeted throughout.//\n  2 [usually passive]  especially BrE  informal to talk in an angry way to someone because they have done something wrong:  carpet sb for sth//  --Top officers were carpeted for bullying younger officers.//\n  3  literary if leaves, flowers etc carpet the ground, they cover it in a thick layer:  be carpeted with sth//  --The whole garden was carpeted with daffodils.//


Words: carpet-bomb
Meaning:
v [T]   to drop a lot of bombs over a small area to destroy everything in it//  -- carpet bombing n  [U] //


Words: carpetbagger
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone from the northern US who went to the southern US after the Civil War in order to make money, especially in a dishonest way:\n  2 someone who moves to a different place to try to be politically successful - used in order to show disapproval:\n  3  BrE someone who opens an account at a building society because they think that the building society will soon become a bank, and then they will receive money or shares in the bank:


Words: carpeting
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] carpets in general, or the material used for making them:  --a spacious room with wall-to-wall carpeting  (=covering the whole floor) //\n  2 [C]  BrE  informal an occasion when you talk to someone in an angry way because they have done something wrong:  --He was called to the manager’s office for a carpeting.//


Words: carpool
Meaning:
car-pool/k[hA35A][hA359]pu[hA359]l $ k[hA35A][hA359]r-/ v [I]  especially AmE   if a group of people carpool, they travel together to work, school etc in one car and share the cost//  -- carpooling n  [U] //


Words: carrel
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: carol  ’circular dance, ring’;   CAROL1]//  a small enclosed desk for one person to use in a library//


Words: Carreras
Meaning:
Jose   (1946- ) a Spanish  opera singer with a  tenor voice, who often sings with Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, two other opera singers//


Words: carriage
Meaning:
S3   n   ----------//\n   1 vehicle pulled by horse:\n   2 train:\n   3 movement of goods:\n   4 machine part:\n   5 position of body:\n   6 for moving heavy objects:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old North French; Origin: cariage, from  carier;   CARRY1]//\n  1 VEHICLE PULLED BY HORSE:   [C] a vehicle with wheels that is pulled by a horse, used in the past//\n  2 TRAIN:   [C]  BrE one of the parts of a train where passengers sit//  American Equivalent:  car//\n  3 MOVEMENT OF GOODS:   [U]  BrE  formal the act of moving goods from one place to another or the cost of moving them//  --Canals in the area were originally built for the carriage of coal.//  --It costs [hA124]45.50 including carriage.//\n  4 MACHINE PART:   [C] a moving part of a machine that supports or moves another part//  --the carriage of a typewriter//\n  5 POSITION OF BODY:   [U]  formal used when describing the position of someone’s body as they walk, stand, or sit//  --her graceful carriage//\n  6 FOR MOVING HEAVY OBJECTS:   [C] something with wheels that is used to move a heavy object, especially a gun//    baby carriage//


Words: carriageway
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE one of the two sides of a motorway or main road, for vehicles travelling in the same direction//  --the northbound carriageway of the M1//    dual carriageway//


Words: carrier
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a company that moves goods or passengers from one place to another:    carry//  --an international carrier//\n  2 a military vehicle or ship used to move soldiers, weapons etc:    aircraft carrier,  people carrier//\n  3  medical someone who passes a disease or gene to other people, especially without being affected by it themselves:    carry//  --carriers of the lung disease, TB//\n  4 something used for carrying something:    carry//  --a baby carrier//\n  5  BrE a carrier bag:\n  6  AmE a company that provides a service such as insurance or telephones:


Words: carrion
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: caroine, from  Vulgar Latin caronia, from  Latin caro;   CARNAL]//  the decaying flesh of dead animals, which is eaten by some animals and birds//


Words: Carroll
Meaning:
Lewis   (1832-98) a British writer who wrote two very famous children’s stories,  Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and  Through the Looking Glass. His real name was Charles Dodgson, and he was also a teacher of  mathematics at Oxford University.//


Words: carrot
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: carotte, from  Late Latin, from  Greek karoton]//\n  1 [U and C] a long pointed orange vegetable that grows under the ground:  --grated carrots//  --carrot juice//\n  2 [C]  informal something that is offered to someone in order to try and persuade them to do something:  --They have refused to sign the agreement despite a carrot of [hA124]140 million.//\n  3  carrot and stick:   informal a way of trying to persuade someone to do something by offering them something good if they do it, and a punishment if they do not//  --the government’s carrot and stick approach in getting young people to find jobs//


Words: carry
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  carried present participle  carrying third person singular  carries //  ----------//\n   1 lift and take:\n   2 vehicle/ship/plane:\n   3 pipe/wire etc:\n   4 move something:\n   5 have with you:\n   6 have a quality:\n   7 news/programmes:\n   8 information:\n   9 be responsible:\n  10 shop:\n  11 building:\n  12 take somebody/something:\n  13 disease:\n  14 carry insurance/a guarantee etc:\n  15 be/get carried away:\n  16 be carried along (by something):\n  17 crime:\n  18 sound:\n  19 ball:\n  20 carry something in your head/mind:\n  21 tune:\n  22 persuade:\n  23 vote:\n  24 election:\n  25 your body:\n  26 carry the can (for somebody/something):\n  27 not enough effort:\n  28 child:\n  29 carry all/everything before you:\n  30 carry something too far/to extremes/to excess:\n  31 weight:\n  32 carry a torch for somebody:\n  33 carry the torch of something:\n  34 as fast as his/her legs could carry him/her:\n  35 adding numbers:  Phrasal verbs//   carry something → forward//   carry something → off//   carry on//   carry  something → out//   carry something → over//   carry  somebody/something through//  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old North French; Origin: carier  ’to take in a vehicle’, from  car  ’vehicle’, from  Latin carrus;   CAR]//\n  1 LIFT AND TAKE:   [T] to hold something in your hand or arms, or support it as you take it somewhere//  --Gina was carrying a small bunch of flowers.//  --Angela carried the child in her arms.//  --Let me carry that for you.//  --Jack carried his grandson up the stairs.//  carry sth to sth/sb//  --The waiter carried our drinks to the table.//\n  2 VEHICLE/SHIP/PLANE:   [T] to take people or things from one place to another in a vehicle, ship, or plane//  --The ship was carrying supplies from the UN World Food Programme.//  --There are more airplanes carrying more people than ever before in the skies.//\n  3 PIPE/WIRE ETC:   [T] if a pipe, wire etc carries something such as liquid or electricity, the liquid, electricity etc flows or travels along it//  --A drain carries surplus water to the river.//  --The aim is for one wire to carry both television and telephone calls.//\n  4 MOVE SOMETHING:   [T] to cause something to move along or support something as it moves along//  --This stretch of water carries a lot of shipping.//  --The bridge carries the main road over the railway.//  --Pollution was carried inland by the wind.//\n  5 HAVE WITH YOU:   [T] to have something with you in your pocket, on your belt, in your bag etc everywhere you go//  --I don’t carry a handbag. I just carry money in my pocket.//  --All the soldiers carried rifles.//  --He says he’s got to carry a knife to protect himself.//\n  6 HAVE A QUALITY:   [T] to have something as a particular quality//  --Degree qualifications carry international recognition.//  --Few medical procedures carry no risk of any kind.//  --Older managers carry more authority in a crisis.//  --The plan is not likely to carry much weight with (=have much influence over) the authorities.//  --If the child believes in what she is saying, she will carry conviction  (=make others believe what she says is true) .//\n  7 NEWS/PROGRAMMES:   [T] if a newspaper, a television or radio broadcast, or a website carries a piece of news, an advertisement etc, it prints it or broadcasts it//  --The morning paper carried a story about demonstrations in New York and Washington D.C.//  --The national TV network carries religious programmes.//\n  8 INFORMATION:   [T] if something carries information, the information is written on it//  --All tobacco products must carry a health warning.//  --goods carrying the label ’Made in the USA’//\n  9 BE RESPONSIBLE:   [T] to be responsible for doing something//  --Each team member is expected to carry a fair share of the workload.//  --Which minister carries responsibility for the police?//  --Parents carry the burden of ensuring that children go to school.//\n  10 SHOP:   [T] if a shop carries goods, it has a supply of them for sale//  --The sports shop carries a full range of equipment.//\n  11 BUILDING:   [T] if a wall etc carries something, it supports the weight of that thing//  --These two columns carry the whole roof.//\n  12 TAKE SOMEBODY/SOMETHING:   [T] to take something or someone to a new place, point, or position//  carry sb/sth to sth//  --The president wanted to carry the war to the northern states.//  --Blair carried his party to victory in 1997.//  carry sb/sth into sth//  --Clinton carried his campaign into Republican areas.//\n  13 DISEASE:   [T] if a person, animal, or insect carries a disease, they can pass it to other people or animals even if they are not ill themselves//    carrier//  --The disease is carried by a black fly which lives in the rivers.//  --Birds and monkeys can carry disease.//\n  14  carry insurance/a guarantee etc:  to have insurance etc//  --All our products carry a 12-month guarantee.//\n  15  be/get carried away:  to be so excited, angry, interested etc that you are no longer really in control of what you do or say, or you forget everything else//  --It’s easy to get carried away when you can do so much with the graphics software.//  --I just got carried away because it was such fun.//\n  16  be carried along (by sth):  to become excited about something or determined to do something//  --The crowd were carried along on a tide of enthusiasm.//  --You can be carried along by the atmosphere of an auction and spend more than you planned.//\n  17 CRIME:   [T] if a crime carries a particular punishment, that is the usual punishment for the crime//  --Drink-driving should carry an automatic prison sentence .//  --Murder still carries the death penalty .//\n  18 SOUND:   [I] if a sound carries, it goes a long way//  --In the winter air, sounds carry clearly.//  --The songs of the whales carry through the water over long distances.//\n  19 BALL:   [I] if a ball carries a particular distance when it is thrown, hit, or kicked, it travels that distance//\n  20  carry sth in your head/mind:  to remember information that you need, without writing it down//  --Alice carried a map of the London Underground in her head.//\n  21 TUNE:   [T] to sing a tune using the correct notes//  --I sang solos when I was six because I could carry a tune.//  --The highest voice carries the melody.//\n  22 PERSUADE:   [T] to persuade a group of people to support you//  --He had to carry a large majority of his colleagues to get the leadership.//  --Her appeal to common sense was what finally carried the day  (=persuaded people to support her) .//\n  23 VOTE:   be carried//  if a suggestion, proposal etc is carried, most of the people at an official meeting vote for it and it is accepted//  --The amendment was carried by 292 votes to 246.//  --The resolution was carried unanimously  (=everyone agreed) .//  --Those in favour of the motion raise your arm. Those against? The motion is carried  (=proposal is accepted) .//\n  24 ELECTION:   [T]  AmE if someone carries a state or local area in a US election, they win in that state or area//  --Cuban Americans play an important role in whether he carries Florida in the fall campaign.//\n  25 YOUR BODY:   [T always + adverb/preposition] to stand and move in a particular way, or to hold part of your body in a particular way//  --He had a way of carrying his head on one side.//  carry yourself//  --She carried herself straight and with confidence.//\n  26  carry the can (for sb/sth):   BrE  informal to be the person who has to take the blame for something even if it was not their fault, or not their fault alone//  --He has been left to carry the can for a decision he didn’t make.//\n  27 NOT ENOUGH EFFORT:   [T] if a group carries someone who is not doing enough work, they have to manage without the work that person should be doing//  --We can’t afford to carry anyone. Every game is going to be difficult now.//\n  28 CHILD:   [I and T]  old-fashioned if a woman is carrying a child, she is pregnant (=has a baby developing inside her) //\n  29  carry all/everything before you:   literary to be completely successful in a struggle against other people//\n  30  carry sth too far/to extremes/to excess:  to do or say too much about something//  --I don’t mind a joke, but this is carrying it too far.//\n  31 WEIGHT:   [T] to weigh a particular amount more than you should or than you did//  --Joe carries only nine pounds more than when he was twenty.//\n  32  carry a torch for sb:  to love someone romantically who does not love you//  --He’s been carrying a torch for your sister for years.//\n  33  carry the torch of sth:  to support an important belief or tradition when other people do not//  --Leaders in the mountains carried the torch of Greek independence.//\n  34  as fast as his/her legs could carry him/her:  as fast as possible//  --She ran as fast as her legs could carry her.//\n  35 ADDING NUMBERS:   [T] to put a number into the next row to the left when you are adding numbers together//    card-carrying,  carrier,  cash and carry,  fetch and carry at fetch1 (3)//  carry forward [carry sth → forward] phr v//\n  1 to succeed in making progress with something:  --It will be up to the new team now to carry the work forward.//\n  2 to include an amount of money in a later set of figures or calculations:  carry off [carry sth → off] phr v//\n  1 to do something difficult successfully:  --I was flattered to be offered the job but wasn’t sure if I could carry it off.//\n  2 to win a prize:  --a film that carried off three Oscars//  carry on phr v//\n  1  especially BrE to continue doing something:  --Sorry, I interrupted you. Please carry on.//  carry on doing sth//  --You’ll have an accident if you carry on driving like that.//  carry on with//  --I want to carry on with my course.//  carry on as usual/as you are/regardless etc //  --For the time being, you’re to carry on as normal.//\n  2 to continue moving:  --He stopped and looked back, then carried on down the stairs.//  --Carry straight on until you get to the traffic lights.//\n  3  carry on sth:  if you carry on a particular kind of work or activity, you do it or take part in it//  --Mr Dean carried on his baking business until he retired.//  --It was so noisy it was hard to  carry on a  conversation .//\n  4  spoken to talk in an annoying way:  carry on about//  --I wish everyone would stop carrying on about it.//\n  5  old-fashioned to have a sexual relationship with someone, when you should not:  --Lucy confessed to carrying on behind her husband’s back.//  carry on with//  --She was carrying on with a neighbour.//  carry out [carry  sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to do something that needs to be organized and planned:  --There is a shortage of people to carry out research.//  --A survey is now being carried out nationwide.//  --Turn off the water supply before carrying out repairs.//\n  2 to do something that you have said you will do or that someone has asked you to do:  --Nicholson didn’t carry out his threat to take legal action.//  --We carried out her instructions precisely.//  --Will the government carry out its promise to reform the law?//  carry over [carry sth → over] phr v//\n  1 if something is carried over into a new situation, it continues to exist in the new situation:  --The pain and violence of his childhood were carried over into his marriage.//\n  2 to make an official arrangement to do something or use something at a later time:  --Up to five days’ holiday can be carried over from one year to the next.//  carry through [carry  sb/sth through] phr v//\n  1 to complete or finish something successfully, in spite of difficulties:  --I’m determined to carry this through.//\n  2  carry sb through (sth):  to help someone to manage during an illness or a difficult period//  --Her confidence carried her through.//\ncarry 2 n [U]    technical the distance a ball or bullet travels after it has been thrown, hit, or fired//


