# dict

Words: Carry On film
Meaning:
n [C]   one of a series of very popular humorous British films made especially in the 1960s and 1970s. Many of the actors in one Carry On film also appeared in several others, and most of the jokes are  about sex. They have titles such as  Carry on Nurse (1959) and  Carry on up the Khyber (1968).//


Words: carry-out
Meaning:
n [C]    especially AmE food that you can take away from a restaurant to eat somewhere else, or a restaurant that sells food like this//  British Equivalent:  takeaway//


Words: carry-over
Meaning:
n [singular] \n  1 something you do, or something that happens now, that is the result of a situation that existed in the past:  carry-over from//  --Some of the problems schools are facing are a carry-over from the previous government’s policies.//\n  2 an amount of money that has not been used and is available to use later:  carry-over from//  --The budget includes a [hA124]7 million carry-over from last year.//    carry over at carry1 //


Words: Carson
Meaning:
Kit   (1809-68) a US hunter and soldier who also worked as a  guide for John C.  Fremont on his journeys in the western part of North America. Carson City in the state of Nevada is named after him.//\n Rachel   (1907-64) a US scientist who worked in marine biology (=the study of the creatures and plants that live in the sea) . She wrote several books, including  Silent Spring, and she was one of the first people to realize that  pesticides (=chemicals for protecting crops from insects)  were damaging the environment.//


Words: cart
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old Norse; Origin: kartr]//\n  1 a vehicle with no roof that is pulled by a horse and used for carrying heavy things:    handcart//\n  2  AmE a large wire basket on wheels that you use in a supermarket:  British Equivalent:  trolley//\n  3  AmE a small table with wheels, used for moving and serving food and drinks:  British Equivalent:  trolley//\n  4  put the cart before the horse:  to do two things in the wrong order//    upset the apple cart at upset2 (5)//\ncart 2 v [T always + adverb/preposition] \n  1 to take something somewhere in a cart, truck etc:  cart sth away//  --Household waste is carted away by the city’s Sanitation Department.//\n  2  informal to carry something somewhere, especially something that is heavy or difficult to carry:  --We carted all the furniture upstairs.//  cart off/away [cart sb off/away] phr v//  to take someone somewhere, especially to prison or hospital//  --He collapsed and had to be carted off to hospital.//


Words: carte blanche
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ’white card, document with no writing’]//  permission or freedom to do whatever you want//  --The new manager will be given carte blanche as long as she can increase the company’s profits.//  --She had carte blanche to produce a film suitable for children.//


Words: cartel
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: ’document’, from  Old Italian cartello, from  carta;   CARD1]//  a group of people or companies who agree to sell something at a particular price in order to prevent competition and increase profits//    monopoly//  --an illegal drug cartel//


Words: Carter
Meaning:
Jimmy   (1924- ) the 39th President of the US from, 1977 to 1981. Carter helped arrange the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel called the Camp David Agreement//


Words: Carthage
Meaning:
an ancient city on the north coast of Africa, near the modern city of Tunis. Carthage was involved in three wars against the ancient Romans, who eventually destroyed it in 146  BC//  -- Carthaginian n  adj //


Words: cartilage
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: cartilago]//  a strong substance that can bend, which is around the joints in your body and in your outer ear//


Words: Cartland
Meaning:
Dame Barbara   (1901-2000) a British writer who wrote hundreds of romantic novels in a rather old-fashioned style//


Words: cartography
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: cartographie, from  carte  ’card, map’ +  -graphie  ’-graphy’]//  the activity of making maps//  -- cartographer n  [C] //


Words: Carton
Meaning:
Sydney   an important character in the book A Tale of Two Cities (1859) by Charles Dickens. Carton is a London lawyer who falls in love with Lucie Manette. But Lucie marries Charles Darnay. Darnay is arrested and sentenced to death, but Carton dies by taking Darnay’s place.//


Words: carton
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: Italian cartone;   CARTOON]//\n  1 a small box made of cardboard or plastic that contains food or a drink:  carton of//  --a carton of fruit juice//  --a milk carton//\n  2  especially AmE a large container with smaller containers of goods inside it:  carton of//  --a carton of cigarettes//


Words: cartoon
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: cartone  ’pasteboard, cartoon’, from  carta;   CARD1]//\n  1 a short film that is made by photographing a series of drawings:  --cartoon characters such as Donald Duck//\n  2 a funny drawing in a newspaper or magazine, especially about politicians or events in the news:\n  3  also cartoon strip :  a set of drawings that tell a funny story, especially in a newspaper or magazine//   comic strip//\n  4  technical a drawing that an artist does before starting to do a painting:


Words: cartridge
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: cartage  ’cartridge’ (16-17 centuries), from  French cartouche  ’gun cartridge with a paper case’, from  Italian cartoccio, from  carta;   CARD1]//\n  1 a small container or piece of equipment that you put inside something to make it work:  --computer game cartridges//  --an ink cartridge for a printer//\n  2 a tube containing explosive powder and a bullet that you put in a gun:   shell//


Words: cartwheel
Meaning:
n [C]   1 a movement in which you turn completely over by throwing your body sideways onto your hands while bringing your legs over your head//  do/turn cartwheels //  --The children were doing cartwheels in the park.//\n  2 the wheel of a cart:  -- cartwheel v  [I] //


Words: Cartwright
Meaning:
Edmund   (1743-1823) a British engineer who invented machines that were used in factories to make cloth, and that did jobs which were previously done by people//


Words: Caruso
Meaning:
Enrico   (1873-1921) an Italian  opera singer who was one of the greatest  tenors of the 20th century//


Words: carve
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 make object or pattern:\n   2 cut something into a surface:\n   3 cut meat:\n   4 job/position/life:\n   5 water/wind:\n   6 reduce something:  Phrasal verbs//   carve somebody/something → up//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: ceorfan]//\n  1 MAKE OBJECT OR PATTERN:   [T] to make an object or pattern by cutting a piece of wood or stone//    carving//  carve sth out of/from sth//  --a statue carved from a single block of marble//  --carved wooden chairs//\n  2 CUT SOMETHING INTO A SURFACE:   [T] to cut a pattern or letter on the surface of something//  carve sth on/in/into sth//  --Someone had carved their initials on the tree.//\n  3 CUT MEAT:   [I and T] to cut a large piece of cooked meat into smaller pieces using a knife//  --Carve the meat into slices.//  --Who’s going to carve?//\n  4 JOB/POSITION/LIFE:   [T]  also carve out //  to succeed in getting the job, position, life etc that you want//  --He had carved a niche for himself as a photographer.//  --She carved out a very successful career in the film industry.//  --He moved to San Francisco to carve out a new life for himself.//\n  5 WATER/WIND:   [T] if a river, the wind etc carves land or rock, it removes some of it//  --The river had carved channels in the limestone rock.//    not be carved in stone at stone1 (9)//\n  6 REDUCE SOMETHING:   [T always + adverb/preposition] to reduce the size of something by removing some of it//  carve sth from sth//  --The company carved $1 million from its budget.//  carve up [carve sb/sth → up] phr v//\n  1 to divide land, a company etc into smaller parts and share it between people - used especially to show disapproval:  --The Ottoman Empire was carved up by Britain and France after World War I.//  --The two companies are attempting to carve up a large slice of America’s publishing industry between them.//\n  2  BrE  informal to drive past someone in a car and then suddenly move in front of them so that you are too close:


Words: carve-up
Meaning:
n [singular]  informal   an arrangement between two or more people, governments etc by which they divide something among themselves even though this is wrong//


Words: Carver
Meaning:
George Washington   (1860-1943) a US scientist who studied farming and crops, and was one of the first black people in the US to become an important scientist//


Words: carving
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] an object or pattern made by cutting a shape in wood or stone for decoration:    carve//\n  2 [U] the activity or skill of carving something:


Words: caryatid
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: caryatides (plural), from  Greek,  ’female priests of the goddess Artemis at Caryae, a town in ancient Greece’]//   technical a pillar in the shape of a female figure//


Words: Casablanca
Meaning:
1 the largest city in Morocco, on the Atlantic coast:\n  2 one of the most popular films in the history of the cinema, made in 1942 with Humphrey  Bogart and Ingrid  Bergman.  Casablanca is a romantic story about a man called Rick who has a cafe in Casablanca, and who helps a husband and wife escape from the Nazis:


Words: Casanova
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Giacomo Girolamo  Casanova (1725-98), Italian famous for having many lovers]//  a man who has had sexual relationships with many women//\n Giacomo   (1725-98) an Italian writer famous for having had many lovers//


Words: casbah
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Arabic qasbah]//  an ancient Arab city or the market in it//


Words: cascade
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Italian cascata, from  cascare  ’to fall’]//\n  1 a small steep waterfall that is one of several together:\n  2 something that hangs down in large quantities:  cascade of//  --Her hair fell over her shoulders in a cascade of curls.//\ncascade 2 v [I always + adverb/preposition]   to flow, fall, or hang down in large quantities//  --Her thick black hair cascaded down below her waist.//  --Gallons of water cascaded over the side of the bath.//


Words: Cascade Range
Meaning:
also the Cascades   the Cascade Range//  a group of mountains in the west of the US and Canada, which go from British Columbia in the north down to northern California, where they join with the Sierra Nevada//


Words: case
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 example:\n   2 situation:\n   3 (just) in case:\n   4 in any case:\n   5 in that case:\n   6 reason/argument:\n   7 law/crime:\n   8 box/container:\n   9 it’s a case of something:\n  10 disease:\n  11 in case of something:\n  12 grammar:\n  13 be on somebody’s case:\n  14 be on the case:\n  15 get off my case:\n  16 person:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-5, 7-16; Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: cas, from  Latin casus  ’fall, chance’, from  cadere  ’to fall’]//  [Sense: 6; Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old North French; Origin: casse, from  Latin capsa  ’box, case’, from  capere  ’to take’]//\n  1 EXAMPLE:   [C] an example of a particular situation or of something happening//  case of//  --There were 16 cases of damage to vehicles in the area.//  in the case of sth//  --The amount of fruit in fruit juices must be 6% in the case of berries and 10% in the case of other fruits.//  in some/many/most etc cases//  --In many cases standards have greatly improved.//  --Williams’ career is a case in point  (=a clear example of something that you are discussing or explaining) .//  --This is a classic case  (=typical example) of poor design.//\n  2 SITUATION:   [C usually singular] a situation that exists, especially as it affects a particular person or group//  in sb’s case//  --Like the others, he produced a written explanation, but in Scott’s case this was a 30-page printed booklet.//  --Changing men’s and women’s traditional roles is not easy, but in our case it has been helpful.//  it is the case (that)//  --It may be the case that the scheme will need more money.//  --We tend to think of these people as untrustworthy, but that is not the case.//  in this case//  --In this case, several solutions could be tried.//  in which case//  --He won’t want to eat it unless he’s really hungry, in which case he’ll eat almost anything.//\n  3  (just) in case:  a) as a way of being safe from something that might happen or might be true//  --Take an umbrella, in case it rains.//  --He had his camera ready, just in case he saw something that would make a good picture.//  b)  AmE if//  --In case I’m late, start without me.//\n  4  in any case:  whatever happens or happened//  --I don’t see why I couldn’t do it. In any case, I’m going to try.//  --He’s too young to come and in any case I want him to spend the time with Mom.//\n  5  in that case:  if that is the situation//  --’He didn’t want to talk to Sally.’ ’In that case why did he agree to meet her?’//\n  6 REASON/ARGUMENT:   [C usually singular] a set of reasons why something should happen or be done//  --Let me research the facts before I put forward a case .//  case for//  --A group of us met to make our case for more women in the cabinet.//  --There is a strong case  (=very good set of reasons) for getting parents more involved in the school’s activities.//\n  7 LAW/CRIME:   [C] //  a) a question or problem that will be dealt with by a law court//  --The case will be heard in the High Court.//  --She is keen at all costs to avoid a court case .//  --The lawyers will only be paid if they win the case .//  --He was bound to lose the case .//  case against//  --Marshall has dropped the case against us.//  b) all the reasons that one side in a legal argument can give against the other side//  --The evidence does not support the prosecution’s case.//  --The court ruled that we had a case  (=had enough good arguments to go to a law court) .//  c) an event or set of events that need to be dealt with by the police in order to find out if a crime has been committed and who committed it//  case of//  --Police are investigating a case of armed robbery.//  on the case//  --Around 50 police officers are on the case.//\n  8 BOX/CONTAINER:   [C] //  a) a large box or container in which things can be stored or moved//  --a packing case//  --a case of wine//  b) a special box used as a container for holding or protecting something//  --a jewellery case//  --Jim put his violin back in its case.//  c)  BrE a suitcase//  --Polly carried her cases upstairs to the bedroom.//    bookcase,  briefcase,  pillowcase//\n  9  it’s a case of sth:   spoken used before describing a situation//  --Everyone can learn, it’s just a case of practising.//  --It’s a case of too many people and not enough jobs.//\n  10 DISEASE:   [C] an example of a disease or a person who has a disease//  case of//  --There are thousands of new cases of AIDS in Africa every year.//\n  11  in case of sth:  used to describe what you should do in a particular situation, especially on official notices//  --In case of fire, break the glass.//\n  12 GRAMMAR:   [U and C]  technical the way in which the form of a word changes, showing its relationship to other words in a sentence//  --case endings//\n  13  be on sb’s case:   informal to be criticizing someone continuously//  --Dad’s always on my case about something or other.//\n  14  be on the case:   spoken if someone says they are on the case, they know about a problem and are going to try to solve it//\n  15  get off my case:   spoken used to tell someone to stop criticizing you or complaining about you//  --OK, OK, just get off my case!//\n  16 PERSON:   [C] someone who is being dealt with by a doctor, a social worker, the police etc//    basket-case,  nutcase//    lower case,  I rest my case at rest2 (9),  upper case//  ----------//  GRAMMAR(just) in case //  in case is followed by the simple present, the simple past, or ’should’ : Write it down in case you forget (NOT in case you will forget). |  I had a snack, just in case there was no time (NOT in case there would be no time) to eat later. |  Here’s a contact number, in case there should (NOT will/would) be a problem. //  WORD CHOICE:  in this  case, in this respect //  Do not use  in this/that case  to refer to a particular aspect of something. Use  in this/that respect : He supports the death penalty, and in that respect (NOT in that case) I think he is wrong. |  Computers can search for information much more quickly than humans, and in this respect (NOT in this case) they are more efficient. //  ----------//\ncase 2 v [T] \n  1  be cased in sth:  to be completely surrounded by a material or substance//  --The reactor will be cased in metal.//    casing//\n  2  case the joint:   informal to look around a place that you intend to steal from in order to find out information//


Words: case history
Meaning:
n [C]   a detailed record of someone’s past illnesses, problems etc that a doctor or social worker studies//


Words: case study
Meaning:
n [C]   a detailed account of the development of a particular person, group, or situation that has been studied over a period of time//


Words: case work
Meaning:
n [U]   work that a social worker does which is concerned with the problems of a particular person or family that needs help//  -- caseworker n  [C] //


Words: casebook
Meaning:
n [C]   a detailed written record kept by a doctor, social worker, or police officer of the cases they have dealt with//


Words: casement
Meaning:
n  also casement window  [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Probably from  Old North French encassement  ’frame’, from  casse;   CASE1]//  a window that opens like a door with hinges at one side//


Words: cash
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: casse  ’money box’, from  Old Italian cassa, from  Latin capsa;   CASE1]//\n  1 money in the form of coins or notes rather than cheques, credit cards etc:  --Cash was taken during a burglary of the apartment.//  in cash//  --The traffic police will accept fines in cash immediately.//  --The shop charges less if the customer pays in cash .//    hard cash,  petty cash//\n  2 money:  --Health and education need cash from the government.//  --A phone line to help children in trouble has been closed due to lack of cash.//  --Charity workers must constantly raise more cash  (=collect more money) for the needy.//  --Corporate owners often find themselves strapped for cash  (=without enough money) to pay taxes.//\n  3  cash down:   BrE cash up front  AmE if you pay for something cash down, you pay before you receive it//\n  4  cash on delivery:  COD a payment system in which the customer pays the person who delivers the goods to them//\ncash 2 S3 v [T]   cash a cheque/postal order/draft etc//  to exchange a cheque etc for the amount of money it is worth//  --Traveller’s cheques can be cashed at most hotels for a small charge.//  --Where can I get this cashed?//  -- cashable adj //  cash in phr v//\n  1 to make a profit from a situation in a way that other people think is wrong or unfair:  cash in on//  --The record company was trying to cash in on her fame by releasing early teenage recordings.//\n  2  cash sth → in:  to exchange something such as an insurance policy for its value in money//\n  3  cash in your chips:  to die - used humorously//  cash up phr v//  to add up the amount of money received in a shop in a day so that it can be checked//


Words: cash advance
Meaning:
n [C]   money that you get from a bank, using a credit card//  --It seems so easy to get a $100 cash advance every few days at a local ATM machine.//


Words: cash and carry
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a shop where customers representing a business or organization can buy large amounts of goods at cheap prices//


Words: cash crop
Meaning:
n [C]   a crop grown in order to be sold rather than to be used by the people growing it//    subsistence crop at subsistence(2)//


Words: cash discount
Meaning:
n [C]   an amount by which a seller reduces a price if the buyer pays immediately or before a particular date//


Words: cash flow n [singular
Meaning:
U]   the movement of money coming into a business as income and going out as wages, materials etc//  --We expect a rise in both our production and our cash flow.//  --The builder is unable to pay due to cash flow problems .//


Words: cash machine
Meaning:
n [C]   a machine in or outside a bank, supermarket, or other public building, from which you can obtain money with a special plastic card//


Words: cash register
Meaning:
n [C]   a machine used in shops to keep the money in and record the amount of money received from each sale//  British Equivalent:  till//


Words: cash-in-hand
Meaning:
adj   a cash-in-hand payment is made in the form of notes and coins so that there is no record of the payment//


Words: cashback
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 a way of getting money at a shop when you use a debit card to pay for the things you are buying, in which the shop gives you money which it takes from your bank account:  --I got [hA124]40 cashback.//\n  2 a way of reducing the price of a car, piece of furniture etc where the seller says what the price is and offers to give a certain amount of money back to the person who buys it:  --Price on the road - [hA124]8750. But on top of that, we’ll give you [hA124]500 cashback.//


Words: cashew
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Portuguese; Origin: caj[hA17B], from  Tupi acaj[hA17B]]//\n  1 a small curved nut:\n  2 the tropical American tree that produces the cashew nut:


Words: cashier
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Dutch; Origin: kassier, from  French, from  casse;   CASH1]//  someone whose job is to receive or pay out money in a shop//\ncashier 2 v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Dutch; Origin: casseren, from  French casser  ’to break, dismiss’]//  to force an officer to leave the army, navy etc because they have done something wrong//


Words: cashless
Meaning:
adj   done or working without using money in the form of coins and notes//  --a cashless pay system//  --the cashless society//


Words: cashmere
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: Cashmere, old spelling of  Kashmir area on the border of India and Pakistan]//  a type of fine soft wool//  --I wish I could afford a cashmere sweater.//


Words: casing
Meaning:
n [C]   an outer layer of metal, rubber etc that covers and protects something such as a wire or tyre//


Words: casino
Meaning:
n   plural  casinos  [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: casa  ’house’]//  a place where people try to win money by playing card games or roulette//  --Doesn’t that club have a casino upstairs?//


Words: cask
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: casque  ’helmet’, from  Spanish casco  ’broken piece of a pot, skull, helmet’, from  cascar  ’to break’]//  a round wooden container used for storing wine or other liquids, or the amount of liquid that it contains//  --a cask of rum//


Words: casket
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: cassette;   CASSETTE]//\n  1 a small decorated box in which you keep jewellery and other valuable objects:\n  2  AmE a coffin:


Words: Caspian Sea
Meaning:
the Caspian Sea//  the largest  inland sea in the world, between southeast Europe and Asia. It is surrounded by Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan.//


Words: Cassandra
Meaning:
in ancient Greek stories, the daughter of  Priam, King of Troy. The god  Apollo gave her the power to see what would happen in the future, but he also made sure that no one would ever believe her. People are sometimes called a "Cassandra" if they warn that something bad will happen, but no one believes them.//


Words: cassava
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Spanish; Origin: cazabe  ’cassava bread’, from  Taino ca[hA168]abi]//  a tropical plant with thick roots that you can eat, or the flour made from these roots//


Words: casserole
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ’cooking pan’, from  casse  ’big spoon, pan’, from  Greek kyathos  ’big spoon’]//\n  1 food that is cooked slowly in liquid in a covered dish in the oven:  --chicken casserole//\n  2 a deep covered dish used for cooking food in an oven:\ncasserole 2 v [T]   to cook food in a casserole//


Words: cassette
Meaning:
n [C]   label//  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: cassette  ’box’ (18-19 centuries), from  French, from  Old North French casse;   CASE1]//\n  1 a small flat plastic case containing magnetic tape, that can be used for playing or recording sound:  --Now available on cassette or CD!//\n  2 a closed container with photographic film in it, that can be fitted into a camera:


Words: cassette recorder
Meaning:
n [C]   a piece of electrical equipment used for recording sound or for playing cassettes on//   tape recorder//


Words: cassock
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: casaque  ’long coat’, probably from  Persian khazaghand, from  kazh  ’silk’ +  aghand  ’filled with soft material’]//  a long, usually black, piece of clothing worn by priests//


Words: cast
Meaning:
W3   v   past tense and past participle  cast //  ----------//\n   1 cast light on/onto something:\n   2 cast doubt(s) on something:\n   3 light and shade:\n   4 cast a shadow/cloud over something:\n   5 look:\n   6 cast an eye on/over something:\n   7 cast a vote/ballot:\n   8 cast a spell on/over somebody:\n   9 cast your mind back:\n  10 cast aspersions on something/somebody:\n  11 metal:\n  12 acting:\n  13 describe:\n  14 throw:\n  15 fishing:\n  16 send away:\n  17 cast your net (far and) wide:\n  18 skin:\n  19 cast a shoe:\n  20 cast a horoscope:  Phrasal verbs//   cast about/around for something//   cast somebody/something → aside//   cast away//   cast off//   cast on//   cast somebody/something → out//   cast something → up//  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old Norse; Origin: kasta]//\n  1  cast light on/onto sth:  to provide new information about something, making it easier to understand//  --research findings that cast new light on the origin of our universe//  --The numerous biographies of Baldwin cast little light on the subject.//\n  2  cast doubt(s) on sth:  to make people feel less certain about something//  --Her documentary casts serious doubt on Gilligan’s conviction.//\n  3 LIGHT AND SHADE:   [T]  literary to make light or a shadow appear somewhere//  cast sth over/on/across sth//  --The flames cast dancing shadows on the walls.//  --the shade cast by low-hanging branches//\n  4  cast a shadow/cloud over sth:   literary to make people feel less happy or hopeful about something//  --The allegations cast a cloud over the Mayor’s visit.//  --Her father’s illness cast a shadow over the wedding celebrations.//\n  5 LOOK:   [T]  literary to look quickly in a particular direction//  cast a look/glance at sb/sth //  --She cast an anguished look at Guy.//  cast sb a glance/look //  --The young tramp cast him a wary glance.//  --She blushed, casting her eyes down .//\n  6  cast an eye on/over sth:  to examine or read something quickly in order to judge whether it is correct, good etc//  --Mellor cast an eye over the draft for inaccuracies.//  cast a critical/expert etc eye //  --Tonight,Tim Goodman casts a cynical eye on TV ads.//\n  7  cast a vote/ballot:  to vote in an election//  --Barely one in three will bother to cast a ballot on February 26th.//  --To qualify, candidates must get at least 10% of the votes cast.//    casting vote//\n  8  cast a spell on/over sb:  a) to attract someone very strongly and to keep their attention completely//  --Hong Kong casts a spell over the visitor almost as soon as the aircraft touches down.//  b) to use magic words or acts to change someone or something//  --She’s a witch, and she’ll cast a spell on you if she catches you.//\n  9  cast your mind back:   literary to try to remember something that happened in the past//  cast your mind back to//  --Cast your mind back to your first day at school.//  cast your mind back over//  --He frowned, casting his mind back over the conversation.//\n  10  cast aspersions on sth/sb:   formal to suggest that someone is not as truthful, honest etc as they seem//  --remarks that cast aspersions on the integrity of the jury//\n  11 METAL:   [T] to make an object by pouring liquid metal, plastic etc into a mould (=hollow container) //  cast sth in/from sth//  --a statue of a horse cast in bronze//\n  12 ACTING:   [T] to choose which people will act particular parts in a play, film etc//  cast sb alongside/opposite sb//   (=choose people for the two main roles) //  --Pfeiffer was expected to be cast alongside Douglas in Basic Instinct.//  cast sb as sth//  --Coppola cast him as Sodapop in The Outsiders.//  cast sb in a role/a part/the lead //  --The producer finally cast Finsh in the male lead.//\n  13 DESCRIBE:   [T] to regard or describe someone as a particular type of person//  cast sb as sth//  --Clinton had cast himself as the candidate of new economic opportunity.//  --Clarke’s trying to cast me in the role of villain here.//\n  14 THROW:   [T always + adverb/preposition]  literary to throw something somewhere//   toss//  --Sparks leapt as he cast more wood on the fire.//\n  15 FISHING:   [I and T] to throw a fishing line or net into the water//  --There’s a trick to casting properly.//\n  16 SEND AWAY:   [T always + adverb/preposition]  literary to force someone to go somewhere unpleasant//  cast sb into prison/Hell etc //  --Memet should, in her opinion, be cast into prison.//\n  17  cast your net (far and) wide:  to consider or try as many things as possible in order to find what you want//  --We cast our net wide to get the right person for the job.//\n  18 SKIN:  when a snake casts its skin, the top layer of skin falls off slowly//   shed//\n  19  cast a shoe:  if a horse casts a shoe, the shoe falls off by accident//\n  20  cast a horoscope:  to prepare and write a horoscope for someone//    the die is cast at die2 (3),  throw in/cast your lot with sb/sth at lot2 (8),  cast pearls before swine at pearl(4)//  cast about/around for [cast about/around for sth] phr v//  to try hard to think of the right thing to do or say//  --She cast about frantically for an excuse.//  --Telecoms companies are casting around for ways of recouping huge losses.//  cast aside [cast sb/sth → aside] phr v//  to remove or get rid of someone or something because you no longer want or need them//  --When Henry became King, he cast aside all his former friends.//  cast aside inhibitions/doubts etc //  --Cast aside your fears.//  cast away phr v//  to be left alone on a lonely shore or island because your ship has sunk//  --If you were cast away on a desert island, what would you miss most?//  cast off phr v//\n  1 to untie the rope that fastens your boat to the shore so that you can sail away:\n  2  cast sb/sth → off:   literary to remove or get rid of something or someone that you no longer want or need//  --His family had cast him off without a penny.//\n  3 to finish a piece of knitting by removing the stitches from the needle to make an edge that will not come undone:  cast sth → off//  --Cast off four stitches.//  cast on phr v//  to start a piece of knitting by making the first stitches on the needle//  cast sth → on//  --Cast on 132 stitches.//  cast out [cast sb/sth → out] phr v//   literary to force someone or something to leave a place//  --God has cast out the demons from your soul.//  cast up [cast sth → up] phr v//  if the sea casts something up, it carries it onto the shore//  --A body had been cast up on the rocks.//\ncast 2 n [C]   ----------//\n   1 actors:\n   2 on arm/leg:\n   3 for making a shape:\n   4 somebody’s cast of mind:\n   5 fishing:\n   6 colour:\n   7 eye:\n   8 earth:  ----------//\n  1 ACTORS:  all the people who perform in a play, film etc//  cast of//  --Films like ’Ben Hur’ have a cast of thousands.//  --the entire cast of ’Les Miserables’//  --an all-star cast //  --a strong supporting cast  (=everyone except the main actors) //  --a member of the cast //\n  2 ON ARM/LEG:   also plaster cast //  a hard protective case that is put over your arm, leg etc because the bone is broken//  --Murray has his leg in a cast .//\n  3 FOR MAKING A SHAPE:  a mould (=hollow container)  into which you pour liquid metal, plastic etc in order to make an object of a particular shape, or the object made in this way//  cast of//  -- Make a cast of the statue.//\n  4  sb’s cast of mind:   formal the way that a person thinks and the type of opinions or mental abilities they have//  --Mary was of a far less intellectual cast of mind.//\n  5 FISHING:  the act of throwing a fishing line into the water//\n  6 COLOUR:   literary a small amount of a particular colour//  --Sage leaves have a silvery cast.//\n  7 EYE:   old-fashioned a problem with your eye which causes it to look sideways//\n  8 EARTH:  a small pile of earth that a worm produces on the surface of the ground//


Words: cast down
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]  literary   sad and disappointed//  --She could not bear to see him so miserable and cast down.//


Words: cast-iron
Meaning:
adj \n  1  a cast-iron excuse/alibi/guarantee etc:  an excuse etc that is very certain and cannot fail//\n  2 made of cast iron:  --a cast-iron frying pan//


Words: cast-offs
Meaning:
n [plural]   clothes that you do not wear any more and give to someone else//  --As the youngest of five kids I was always dressed in other people’s cast-offs.//


Words: castanets
Meaning:
n [plural]   a musical instrument made of two small round pieces of wood or plastic that you hold in one hand and knock together, used especially by Spanish dancers//


Words: caste
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Portuguese; Origin: casta  ’race’, from  casto  ’pure’, from  Latin castus;   CHASTE]//\n  1 one of the fixed social classes, which cannot be changed, into which people are born in India:  --the caste system//\n  2 a group of people who have the same position in society:


Words: castellated
Meaning:
adj  technical   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: castellatus, from  Latin castellum;   CASTLE]//  built to look like a castle//


Words: caster
Meaning:
castor/k[hA35A][hA359]st[hA353] $ k[zB024]st[hA353]r/ n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: cast  ’to turn’ (15-20 centuries);   CAST1]//\n  1 a small wheel fixed to the bottom of a piece of furniture so that it can move in any direction:\n  2  BrE a small container with holes in the top, used to spread sugar, salt etc on food:  American Equivalent:  shaker//


Words: castigate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  castigare, from  castus (  CHASTE) +  -igere (from  agere  ’to drive’)]//   formal to criticize or punish someone severely//  -- castigation/k[zB024]st[hA369]ge[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: casting
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the process of choosing the actors for a film or play:    cast//  --a casting director//\n  2 [C] an object made by pouring liquid metal, plastic etc into a mould (=specially shaped container) :\n  3  the casting couch:  a situation in which an actress is persuaded to have sex in return for a part in a film, play etc - used humorously//


Words: casting vote
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]  BrE   the vote of the person in charge of a meeting, which can be used to make a decision when there is an equal number of votes supporting and opposing a proposal//


Words: castle
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Date: 1000-1100; Language: Old North French; Origin: castel, from  Latin castellum  ’building with a defensive wall’, from  castrum  ’defended place, camp’]//\n  1  also  Castle:  a very large strong building, built in the past as a safe place that could be easily defended against attack//  --Edinburgh Castle//  --a ruined castle//\n  2 one of the pieces used in a game of chess. Each player has two castles, which start the game in the corner squares, and can move only forwards or sideways:   rook//\n  3  castles in the air:  plans or hopes that you have that are unlikely ever to become real//


Words: Castor and Pollux
Meaning:
in ancient Greek and Roman stories, two brothers who were  twins (=two children born at the same time) , and who had many adventures. The group of stars known as  Gemini or the Heavenly Twins is named after them.//


Words: castor oil
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Probably from  castor  ’substance obtained from part of a beaver’s body, used in medicines and perfumes’ (16-19 centuries), from  castor  ’beaver’ (14-19 centuries), from  Latin, from  Greek kastor; because castor oil was once used instead of castor in medicines]//  a thick oil made from the seeds of a plant and used in the past as a medicine to make the bowels empty//


Words: castrate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  castrare]//  to remove the testicles of a male animal or a man//  -- castration/k[zB024]stre[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: Castro
Meaning:
the Castro//  a fashionable area in San Francisco where many  homosexuals live//\n Fidel   (1927-) a Cuban  communist leader who led the opposition to the  dictator Batista, and forced him to leave the country in 1954. Castro then became Prime Minister of Cuba, and later its President.//


Words: casual
Meaning:
adj   ----------//\n   1 relaxed:\n   2 not formal:\n   3 work:\n   4 relationship:\n   5 without attention:\n   6 not planned:\n   7 not regular:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: casuel, from  Late Latin casualis, from  Latin casus;   CASE1]//\n  1 RELAXED:  relaxed and not worried, or seeming not to care about something//  --a casual manner//  --His eyes were angry, though he sounded casual.//  --Marsha was quite casual about appearing on TV.//  --She had a casual attitude to life.//\n  2 NOT FORMAL:  not formal or not for a formal situation//  → formal//  --Jean felt more comfortable in casual clothes .//  --a casual jacket//\n  3 WORK:  employed as a temporary worker or working for only a short period of time//  --casual labour//  --staff employed on a casual basis //  --Chris has occasional casual work but mostly he is unemployed.//\n  4 RELATIONSHIP:  knowing someone or having sex with someone without wanting a close relationship with them//  → serious//  --She will never be more than a casual acquaintance.//  --They had been conducting a casual affair for years.//  --John just wanted casual sex .//\n  5 WITHOUT ATTENTION:  without any serious interest or attention//  --He gave us a casual glance as he walked by, but didn’t stop.//  -- To the casual observer  (=to someone who is not looking carefully) Mary seemed quite calm.//\n  6 NOT PLANNED:   [only before noun] happening by chance without being planned//  --a casual conversation//  --He made some casual remark  (=one without thinking much about it) about her holiday.//\n  7 NOT REGULAR:   [only before noun] doing something or using something sometimes but not regularly or often//   occasional//  --a casual drug user//  --The museum is of great interest, both to experts and to casual visitors.//  -- casually adv //  --a casually dressed young man//  --’Where do you work?’ she asked casually.//  --He walked down the road, casually swinging his bag.//  -- casualness n  [U] //


Words: casualty
Meaning:
n   plural  casualties //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: casualitas  ’chance, bad luck, loss’, from  Late Latin casualis;   CASUAL]//\n  1 [C] someone who is hurt or killed in an accident or war:  --Our aim is to reduce road casualties .//  --thousands of civilian casualties  (=people who are not soldiers who are injured or killed) //  cause/inflict casualties //  --The rebels claim to have inflicted heavy casualties .//\n  2 [singular] someone or something that suffers as a result of a particular event or situation:  casualty of//  --The Safer City Project is the latest casualty of financial cutbacks.//\n  3 [U]  also  Casualty:   BrE the part of a hospital that people are taken to when they are hurt in an accident or suddenly become ill//  American Equivalent:  Emergency Room//  in casualty//  --Rosemary ended up in casualty last night.//


Words: CAT
Meaning:
the British Government guide to standards for the Individual Saving Accounts ( ISA) introduced in 1999. It stands for reasonable Cost, easy Access, decent Terms.  //


Words: cat
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: catt, probably from  Latin cattus,  catta]//\n  1 :  a) a small animal with four legs that people often keep as a pet. Cats sometimes kill small animals and birds//    feline//  tabby/ginger/tortoiseshell etc cat (=colours of cats) //  --a tom cat  (=a male cat) //  b)  also big cat //  a large animal such as a lion or tiger//\n  2  let the cat out of the bag:  to tell someone a secret, especially without intending to//\n  3  put/set the cat among the pigeons:  to do or say something that causes arguments, trouble etc//\n  4  play (a game of) cat and mouse (with sb):  to pretend to allow someone to do or have what they want, and then to stop them from doing or having it//  --The police played an elaborate game of cat and mouse to trap him.//\n  5  the cat’s whiskers/pyjamas:   informal something or someone that is better than everything else//  --I really thought I looked the cat’s whiskers in that dress.//\n  6  like a cat on hot bricks:   BrE like a cat on a hot tin roof //   AmE so nervous or anxious that you cannot keep still or keep your attention on one thing//\n  7  not stand/have a cat in hell’s chance (of doing sth):   informal to not have any chance of succeeding//  --His party does not have a cat in hell’s chance of ever being returned to government.//\n  8  when the cat’s away (the mice will play):  used to say that people will not behave well when the person who has authority over them is not there//\n  9  like the cat that got the cream:   BrE like the cat that ate the canary //   AmE  informal very proud or pleased because of something you have achieved or got//\n  10  look like sth the cat dragged/brought in:   BrE  informal to look very dirty or untidy//    raining cats and dogs at rain2 (1),  there’s not enough room to swing a cat at room1 (5)//


Words: cat flap
Meaning:
BrE pet door  AmE n [C]   a small hole cut into a door and covered with wood or plastic that moves to allow a pet cat to enter or leave a house//


Words: cat litter
Meaning:
also kitty litter  AmE n [U]   a substance like small grey stones that people put in boxes for cats that live indoors, and which the cats use as a toilet//


Words: CAT scanner
Meaning:
n [C]   an electronic machine used in a hospital to get an image of the inside of someone’s body//  -- CAT scan n  [C] //  --Her X-rays and CAT scans were normal.//


Words: cat’s cradle
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] a game you play by winding string around your fingers to make different patterns:\n  2 [singular] a set of lines, threads etc that form a complicated pattern:  --The searchlights wove a cat’s cradle of light.//


Words: cataclysm
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: cataclysme, from  Latin, from  Greek, from  kataklyzein  ’to flood’, from  kata-  ’down’ +  klyzein  ’to wash’]//   literary a violent or sudden event or change, such as a serious flood or earthquake//  -- cataclysmic/k[zB024]t[hA353]kl[hA366]zm[hA366]k[hA36B]/ adj  [usually before noun] //


Words: catacomb
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   [Date: 900-1000; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Catacumbas underground place in Rome where the bodies of St Peter and St Paul were said to be buried]//  an area underground where dead people are buried//   tomb//


Words: catafalque
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Italian; Origin: catafalco, from  Vulgar Latin catafalicum  ’stage, platform, scaffold’, from  Greek kata- (  CATACLYSM) +  Latin fala  ’movable wooden structure for attacking towns’]//  a decorated raised structure on which the dead body of an important person is placed before their funeral//


Words: Catalan
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Spanish; Origin: Catalu[hA172]a  ’Catalonia, area of northeast Spain’]//  a language spoken in part of Spain around Barcelona//


Words: catalogue
Meaning:
W3  also  catalog AmE   n [C] \n  1 a complete list of things that you can look at, buy, or use, for example in a library or at an art show:  --a mail order catalog//  --an online catalogue//\n  2  catalogue of mistakes/crimes/cruelty etc:  a series of mistakes, crimes etc that happen one after the other and never seem to stop//  --a catalogue of terrorist crimes//  --an appalling catalogue of errors //\ncatalogue 2  also  catalog AmE v [T] \n  1 to make a complete list of all the things in a group:  --The manuscripts have never been systematically catalogued.//\n  2 to list all the things that are connected with a particular person, event, plan etc:  --The report catalogued numerous dangerous work practices.//


Words: catalysis
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: katalysis, from  katalyein  ’to become liquid’, from  kata- (  CATACLYSM) +  lyein  ’to let go, become liquid’]//  the process of making a chemical reaction quicker by adding a catalyst//


Words: catalyst
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: catalysis, on the model of  analyst]//\n  1  technical a substance that makes a chemical reaction happen more quickly without being changed itself:\n  2 something or someone that causes an important change or event to happen:  catalyst for//  --They hope his election will act as a catalyst for reform.//  -- catalytic/k[zB024]tl[hA366]t[hA366]k[hA36B]/ adj //


Words: catalytic converter
Meaning:
n [C]   a piece of equipment fitted to a car’s exhaust system that reduces the amount of poisonous gases the engine sends out//


Words: catamaran
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Tamil; Origin: kattumaram, from  kattu  ’to tie’ +  maram  ’tree’]//  a sailing boat with two separate hulls (=the part that goes in the water) //


Words: catapult
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: catapulta, from  Greek katapaltes, from  kata- (  CATACLYSM) +  pallein  ’to throw strongly’]//\n  1 a large weapon used in former times to throw heavy stones, iron balls etc:\n  2  BrE a small stick in the shape of a Y with a thin rubber band fastened over the two ends, used by children to throw stones:  American Equivalent:  slingshot//\n  3 a piece of equipment used to send an aircraft into the air from a ship:\ncatapult 2 v \n  1 [T always + adverb/preposition] to push or throw something very hard so that it moves through the air very quickly:  --Sam was catapulted into the air by the force of the blast.//\n  2  catapult sb to fame/stardom etc:  to suddenly make someone very famous//  --A remarkable series of events catapulted her into the limelight.//


Words: cataract
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: cataracta  ’waterfall, castle gate that drops from above’, from  Greek, from  katarassein  ’to strike down’, from  kata- (  CATACLYSM) +  arassein  ’to strike’;]//  [Sense: 1; Origin:  because a cataract blocks sight like a gate coming down]//\n  1 a medical condition that causes the lens of your eye to become white, so that you slowly lose your sight:\n  2  literary a large waterfall:


Words: catarrh
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: catarrhe, from  Greek katarrhein  ’to flow down’]//  an uncomfortable condition in which your body produces a thick liquid that blocks your nose and throat//  --After a cold, many patients complain of persistent catarrh.//


Words: catastrophe
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Greek; Origin: katastrephein  ’to turn upside down’, from  kata- (  CATACLYSM) +  strephein  ’to turn’]//\n  1 [U and C] a terrible event in which there is a lot of destruction, suffering, or death:   disaster//  environmental/nuclear/economic etc catastrophe //  --The Black Sea is facing ecological catastrophe as a result of pollution.//  prevent/avert a catastrophe //  --Sudan requires food immediately to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.//\n  2 [C] an event which is very bad for the people involved:   disaster//  catastrophe for//  --If the contract is cancelled, it’ll be a catastrophe for everyone concerned.//  -- catastrophic/k[zB024]t[hA353]str[hA361]f[hA366]k[hA36B] $ -str[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //  --a catastrophic fall in the price of rice//  --The failure of the talks could have catastrophic consequences .//  -- catastrophically/-kli/ adv //


Words: catbird seat
Meaning:
n   be (sitting) in the catbird seat//   AmE  informal to be in a position where you have an advantage//


Words: catcall
Meaning:
n [C]   a loud whistle or shout expressing disapproval of a speech or performance//  --jeers and catcalls from the audience//  -- catcall v  [I] //


Words: catch
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  caught /k[hA350][hA359]t $ k[hA361][hA359]t///  ----------//\n   1 take and hold:\n   2 find/stop somebody:\n   3 see somebody doing something:\n   4 illness:\n   5 catch somebody by surprise/catch somebody off guard:\n   6 catch somebody with their pants/trousers down:\n   7 animal/fish:\n   8 catch a train/plane/bus:\n   9 not miss somebody/something:\n  10 get stuck:\n  11 catch somebody’s attention/interest/imagination etc:\n  12 not catch something:\n  13 hear:\n  14 catch you later:\n  15 do/see something:\n  16 catch a ride:\n  17 you won’t catch me doing something:\n  18 catch it:\n  19 catch a glimpse of somebody/something:\n  20 catch sight of somebody/something:\n  21 describe well:\n  22 burn:\n  23 catch somebody’s eye:\n  24 catch yourself doing something:\n  25 hit:\n  26 be caught in/without etc something:\n  27 catch your breath:\n  28 container:\n  29 shine:\n  30 catch the sun:\n  31 wind:\n  32 sport:  Phrasal verbs//   catch at something//   catch on//   catch somebody out//   catch up//   catch up with somebody//  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old North French; Origin: cachier  ’to hunt’, from  Vulgar Latin captiare, from  Latin captare  ’to try to catch’, from  capere  ’to take’]//\n  1 TAKE AND HOLD:  a)  [I and T] to get hold of and stop an object such as a ball that is moving through the air//    throw//  --Stephen leapt up and caught the ball in one hand.//  --’Pass me that pen, would you?’ ’Here you are. Catch!’//  --The kids were throwing and catching a frisbee down on the beach.//  b)  [T] to suddenly take hold of someone or something with your hand//  --He caught her elbow to steady her.//  --Miss Perry caught hold of my sleeve and pulled me back.//\n  2 FIND/STOP SOMEBODY:   [T] //  a) to stop someone after you have been chasing them and not let them get away//  --’You can’t catch me!’ she yelled, running away.//  b) to find a criminal or enemy and stop them from escaping//   capture//  --State police have launched a massive operation to catch the murderer.//  --If you go back to the city you’re bound to get caught .//\n  3 SEE SOMEBODY DOING SOMETHING:   [T] to see someone doing something that they did not want you to know they were doing//  catch sb doing sth//  --I caught him reading my private letters.//  --Gemma turned around and caught the stranger looking at her intently.//  catch sb in the act (of doing sth) (=catch someone while they are doing something illegal) //  --The gang was caught in the act of unloading the cigarettes.//  --He was caught red-handed  (=as he was doing something wrong) taking money from the cash register.//  catch sb at it//  --We knew he’d been cheating, but we’d never caught him at it before.//\n  4 ILLNESS:   [T] to get an infectious disease//  --Anton caught malaria while he was in Mali, and nearly died.//  --Many young people are still ignorant about how HIV is caught.//  catch sth from/off sb/sth//  --In these areas, typhoid and cholera are often caught from contaminated water supplies.//  --I caught chicken pox off my friend at school and had to stay home for two weeks.//  catch your death (of cold)  BrE  spoken  (=get a very bad cold) //  --Don’t stand out there in the rain. You’ll catch your death.//\n  5  catch sb by surprise/catch sb off guard:   also catch sb napping/unawares //  catch sb on the hop  BrE //  to do something or to happen when someone is not expecting it or prepared for it//  --Her question caught him off guard.//\n  6  catch sb with their pants/trousers down:  to discover that someone is doing something that they should not be doing or has not done something that they should have done//  --He’s not the first politician to be caught with his pants down, and he won’t be the last.//\n  7 ANIMAL/FISH:   [T] to trap an animal or fish by using a trap, net, or hook, or by hunting it//  --Did you catch any fish?//  --Early settlers caught rabbits and squirrels and even rats in order to survive.//\n  8  catch a train/plane/bus:  to get on a train, plane etc in order to travel on it, or to be in time to get on a train, plane etc before it leaves//  --I caught the 7.15 train to London.//  --There’s a train in now. If you run, you’ll just catch it.//  --I have to hurry - I have a bus to catch .//\n  9 NOT MISS SOMEBODY/SOMETHING:   [T] to not be too late to do something, see something, talk to someone etc//  → miss//  --I managed to catch her just as she was leaving.//  --I just caught the last few minutes of the documentary.//  --Tumours like these can be treated quite easily if they’re caught early enough.//  catch the post  BrE  (=post letters in time for them to be collected that day) //\n  10 GET STUCK:   [I and T] if your hand, finger, clothing etc catches or is caught in something, it gets stuck in it accidentally//  --His overalls caught in the engine.//  --Her microphone was forever getting caught on her clothes.//\n  11  catch sb’s attention/interest/imagination etc:  to make you notice something and feel interested in it//  --Lucie whistled sharply to catch the other girl’s attention.//  --This is a story that will catch the imagination of every child.//\n  12  not catch sth:   spoken to not hear or understand what someone says//  --I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name.//\n  13 HEAR:   [T] to manage to hear a sound//  --I caught the muffled thud of a car door slamming in the street.//\n  14  catch you later:   spoken used to say goodbye//  --’I’ll give you a call in a couple days.’ ’Okay. Catch you later.’//\n  15 DO/SEE SOMETHING:   [T]  spoken  especially AmE to go somewhere in order to do or see something//  --We could catch a movie  (=go to a movie) .//  --M Records caught his act and signed him immediately.//\n  16  catch a ride:   AmE  spoken to go somewhere in someone else’s car//  --I caught a ride as far as Columbus.//\n  17  you won’t catch me doing sth:   also you won’t catch me somewhere //   spoken used to say that you would never do something//  --I love dancing but you won’t catch me being the first on the dance floor!//\n  18  catch it:   informal to be punished by someone such as a parent or teacher because you have done something wrong//  --You’ll catch it if Dad finds out where you’ve been.//\n  19  catch a glimpse of sb/sth:  to see someone or something for a very short time//  --Fans waited for hours at the airport to catch a glimpse of their idol.//\n  20  catch sight of sb/sth:  to suddenly see someone or something that you have been looking for or have been hoping to see//  --I caught sight of her in the crowd.//\n  21 DESCRIBE WELL:   [T] to show or describe the character or quality of something well in a picture, piece of writing etc//   capture//  --a novel that catches the mood of post-war Britain//\n  22 BURN:  a)  catch fire//  if something catches fire, it starts to burn accidentally//  --Two farm workers died when a barn caught fire.//  b)  [I] if a fire catches, it starts to burn//  --For some reason the charcoal wasn’t catching.//\n  23  catch sb’s eye:  a) to attract someone’s attention and make them look at something//  --Out on the freeway, a billboard caught his eye.//  b) to look at someone at the same moment that they are looking at you//  --Every time she caught his eye, she would glance away embarrassed.//\n  24  catch yourself doing sth:  to suddenly realize you are doing something//  --Standing there listening to the song, he caught himself smiling from ear to ear.//\n  25 HIT:   [T] to hit someone in or on a particular part of their body//  --The punch caught him right in the face.//\n  26  be caught in/without etc sth:  to be in a situation that you cannot easily get out of or in which you do not have something you need//  --We got caught in a rainstorm on the way here.//  --Here’s a useful tip if you’re caught without a mirror.//\n  27  catch your breath:  a) to pause for a moment after a lot of physical effort in order to breathe normally again//  --Hang on a minute - let me catch my breath!//  b) to stop breathing for a moment because something has surprised, frightened, or shocked you//  c) to take some time to stop and think about what you will do next after having been very busy or active//  --It was an enforced absence from work, but at least it gave me a little time to catch my breath before the final push.//\n  28 CONTAINER:   [T] if a container catches liquid, it is in a position where the liquid falls into it//  --Place the baking sheet under the muffin pan to catch the drips.//\n  29 SHINE:   [T] if the light catches something or if something catches the light, the light shines on it//  --The sunlight caught her hair and turned it to gold.//\n  30  catch the sun:   informal if you catch the sun, your skin becomes red and sometimes sore because of the effects of sunlight//  --You’ve caught the sun on the back of your neck.//\n  31 WIND:   [T] if something catches the wind or the wind catches something, it blows on it//  --Gary swung the sail round to catch the light wind.//\n  32 SPORT:  a)  [T] to end a player’s innings in cricket by catching the ball that is hit off their bat before it touches the ground//  b)  [I] to be the catcher in a game of baseball//  catch at [catch at sth] phr v//  to try to take hold of something//  --She caught at his arm, ’Hang on. I’m coming with you.’//  catch on phr v//\n  1 to become popular and fashionable:  --The idea of glasses being a fashion item has been slow to catch on.//\n  2 to begin to understand or realize something:  catch on to//  --It was a long time before the police caught on to what he was really doing.//  catch out [catch sb out] phr v//\n  1 to make someone make a mistake, especially deliberately and in order to prove that they are lying:  --The interviewer may try to catch you out.//\n  2 if something unexpected catches you out, it puts you in a difficult situation because you were not expecting it or not fully prepared for it:  --Even the best whitewater rafters get caught out by the fierce rapids here.//  catch up phr v//\n  1 to improve and reach the same standard as other people in your class, group etc:  --If you miss a lot of classes, it’s very difficult to catch up.//  catch up with//  --At the moment our technology is more advanced, but other countries are catching up with us.//\n  2 to come from behind and reach someone in front of you by going faster:  catch up with//  --Drive faster - they’re catching up with us.//  catch sb up//   BrE //  --You go on ahead. I’ll catch you up in a minute.//\n  3 to do what needs to be done because you have not been able to do it until now:  catch up on//  --I have some work to catch up on.//  --I need to catch up on some sleep  (=after a period without enough sleep) .//\n  4 to spend time finding out what has been happening while you have been away or during the time you have not seen someone:  catch up on//  --The first thing I did when I got home was to phone up Jo and catch up on all the gossip.//  --I’ll leave you two alone - I’m sure you’ve got a lot of catching up to do.//\n  5  be/get caught up in sth:  to be or get involved in something, especially something bad//  --I didn’t want to get caught up in endless petty arguments.//  catch up with [catch up with sb] phr v//\n  1 to finally find someone who has been doing something illegal and punish them:  --It took six years for the law to catch up with them.//\n  2 if something bad from the past catches up with you, you cannot avoid dealing with it any longer:  --At the end of the movie his murky past catches up with him.//\ncatch 2 n \n  1 [C] an act of catching a ball that has been thrown or hit:  --Hey! Nice catch!//\n  2 [C usually singular]  informal a hidden problem or difficulty:  --This deal looks too good to be true - there must be a catch somewhere.//  the catch is (that) //  --The catch is that you can’t enter the competition unless you’ve spent $100 in the store.//\n  3 [C] a hook or something similar for fastening a door or lid and keeping it shut:\n  4 [C] a quantity of fish that has been caught at one time:\n  5 [U] a simple game in which two or more people throw a ball to each other:  --Let’s go outside and play catch.//\n  6  a catch in your voice/throat:  a short pause that you make when you are speaking because, you feel upset or are beginning to cry//  --There was a catch in Anne’s voice and she seemed close to tears.//\n  7  a (good) catch:  someone who is a good person to have a relationship with or to marry because they are rich, attractive etc - often used humorously//


Words: Catch-22
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Catch-22 book (1961) by Joseph Heller in which such situations are described]//  an impossible situation that you cannot solve because you need to do one thing in order to do a second thing, but you cannot do the second thing until you have done the first//  --It’s a Catch-22 situation - without experience you can’t get a job and without a job you can’t get experience.//


Words: Catcher in the Rye
Meaning:
The   a book by J.D.  Salinger about a boy called Holden  Caulfield who runs away from school and goes to New York. The book has been especially popular with young people because it describes the problems and experiences of  adolescence (=the time when a child is developing into an adult) . //


Words: catching
Meaning:
adj [not before noun] \n  1 an illness that is catching is easily passed to other people:   infectious//\n  2 an emotion or feeling that is catching spreads quickly among people:  --Julia’s enthusiasm was catching.//


Words: catchment area
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE the catchment area of a school, hospital etc is the area that its students, patients etc come from:\n  2  technical the area that a river or lake gets water from:


Words: catchphrase
Meaning:
n [C]   a short well-known phrase made popular by an entertainer or politician, so that people think of that person when they hear it//


Words: catchword
Meaning:
n [C]   a word or phrase that refers to a feature of a situation, product etc that is considered important//  --Variety is the catchword at our latest venue, the Beehive Club.//


Words: catchy
Meaning:
adj   a catchy tune or phrase is easy to remember//  --a catchy song //  -- catchy advertising slogans //


Words: catechism
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: catechismus, from  Greek, from  katechein;   CATECHIZE]//  a set of questions and answers about the Christian religion that people learn in order to become full members of a church//  --We were taught to recite the catechism.//


Words: categorical
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: categoricus, from  Greek, from  kategoria;   CATEGORY]//  a categorical statement is a clear statement that something is definitely true or false//  categorical denial/assurance etc //  --Can you give us a categorical assurance that no jobs will be lost?//


Words: categorically
Meaning:
adv   in such a sure and certain way that there is no doubt//  categorically deny/refuse etc sth //  --He has categorically denied his guilt all along.//  --Are you prepared to state categorically that her death was caused by lack of food?//


Words: categorize
Meaning:
also  categorise BrE   v [T]   to put people or things into groups according to the type of person or thing they are//   classify//  --The population is categorized according to age, sex, and social group.//  categorize sth/sb as sth//  --Keene doesn’t like to be categorized as a socialist.//  -- categorization/k[zB024]t[hA369]g[hA353]ra[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -r[hA353]-/ n  [U and C] //


Words: category
Meaning:
n   plural  categories  [C] //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: categoria, from  Greek, from  kategorein  ’to accuse, make a statement about’, from  kata- (  CATACLYSM) +  agora  ’public gathering’]//  a group of people or things that are all of the same type//  category of//  --There are five categories of workers.//  --people in the over-45 age category //  --Seats are available in eight of the 10 price categories .//  fall into/belong in/fit into a category //  --Voters fall into three main categories .//  --Williams’ style does not fit easily into the category of jazz.//


Words: cater
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: cater  ’someone who provides food, caterer’ (14-17 centuries), from  Anglo-French acatour, from  Old North French acater  ’to buy’]//  to provide and serve food and drinks at a party, meeting etc, usually as a business//  cater for//  --This is the biggest event we’ve ever catered for.//  --Joan has catered functions for up to 200 people.//  cater for / [cater for sb/sth] phr v//  to provide a particular group of people with the things they need or want//  --an LA bank catering to Asian businesses//  --Vegetarians are well catered for.//  --Most perfume ads cater to male fantasies.//


Words: catering
Meaning:
n [U]   the activity of providing and serving food and drinks at parties, meetings etc for money//    self-catering//  --Who did the catering?//  catering business/service etc //


Words: Caterpillar
Meaning:
n [C]  trademark   exhaust, cab, caterpillar tracks//   also Caterpillar track //  a metal belt made of short connected pieces that is fastened over the wheels of a heavy vehicle to help it to move over soft ground//  --a Caterpillar tractor (=a vehicle fitted with this belt) //


Words: caterpillar
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old North French; Origin: catepelose  ’hairy cat, caterpillar’]//  a small creature like a worm with many legs that eats leaves and that develops into a butterfly or other flying insect//


Words: caterwaul
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: cat +  waul  ’to cry out’ (15-20 centuries) (from the sound)]//  to make a loud high unpleasant noise like the sound a cat makes//  -- caterwauling n  [U] //  --the sound of drunken caterwauling coming from next door//


Words: catfish
Meaning:
n   plural  catfish  [U and C] //  a type of fish that has whiskers (=strong hairs)  around its mouth and lives in rivers or lakes//


Words: catgut
Meaning:
n [U]   strong thread made from the intestines of animals and used for the strings of musical instruments//


Words: catharsis
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek, from  kathairein  ’to make clean or pure’, from  katharos  ’pure’]//   formal the act or process of removing strong or violent emotions by expressing them through writing, talking, acting etc//  --Music is a means of catharsis for me.//


Words: cathedral
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: cathedral church  ’cathedral’ (13-21 centuries); cathedral from  Old French, from  Late Latin cathedralis, from  Latin cathedra  ’chair, bishop’s chair’;   CHAIR1]//  the main church of a particular area under the control of a bishop//  --St Paul’s Cathedral//  cathedral city  BrE  (=one with a cathedral) //


Words: Cather
Meaning:
Willa   (1876-1947), a US writer who grew up in Nebraska at the time when Europeans first went to live there. Her books include  O! Pioneers and  My Antonia.//


Words: Catherine the Great
Meaning:
also Catherine II   (1729-96) the  empress of Russian from 1762 to 1796. She greatly increased the size of the Russian  empire. //


Words: catherine wheel
Meaning:
n  BrE pinwheel  AmE [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Saint  Catherine of Alexandria (4th century), who was sentenced to be killed on a wheel]//  a round flat firework that spins around as it burns//


Words: catheter
Meaning:
n [C]  medical   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Greek, from  kathienai  ’to send down’, from  kata- (  CATACLYSM) +  hienai  ’to send’]//  a thin tube that is put into your body to remove liquids//  -- catheterize also -ise //   v  [T] //


Words: cathode
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: kathodos  ’way down’, from  kata- (  CATACLYSM) +  hodos  ’way’]//   technical the negative electrode, marked (-), from which an electric current leaves a piece of equipment such as a battery//  → anode//


Words: cathode ray tube
Meaning:
n [C]   a piece of equipment used in televisions and computers, in which electrons from the cathode produce an image on a screen//


Words: Catholic
Meaning:
adj   connected with the Roman Catholic Church//  -- Catholic n  [C] //  -- Catholicism/k[hA353][hA35F][hA361]l[hA369]s[hA366]z[hA368]m $ k[hA353][hA35F][hA35A][hA359]-/ n  [U] //


Words: catholic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: catholique, from  Late Latin, from  Greek katholikos  ’general, universal’, from  katholou  ’in general’, from  kata  ’by’ +  holos  ’whole’]//  including a very wide variety of things//  --Whoever lived here before us had catholic tastes  (=liked a lot of different things) .//  --a catholic collection of records//


Words: catkin
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Early  Dutch katteken  ’kitten’; because it looks like a cat’s tail]//   BrE a long soft flower that hangs in groups from the branches of trees such as the willow//


Words: catnap
Meaning:
n [C]    informal a very short sleep//  have/take a catnap //  --Nomes slept badly, and had to take catnaps during the day.//  -- catnap v  [I] //


Words: Cats
Meaning:
a popular  musical (=a play that uses singing and dancing to tell a story)  by Andrew Lloyd  Webber, which is based on T.S.  Eliot ’s book of poems for children,  Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. //


Words: Catseye
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  trademark   one of a line of small flat objects fixed in the middle of the road that shine when lit by car lights and guide traffic in the dark//


Words: Catskill Mountains
Meaning:
also the Catskills   the Catskill Mountains//  a group of mountains in the southeast of New York state in the US, part of the Appalachian mountain range//


Words: cattery
Meaning:
n   plural  catteries  [C] //   BrE a place where people can pay to leave their pet cats to be cared for while they are away from home//


Words: cattle
Meaning:
n [plural]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old North French; Origin: catel  ’personal property’, from  Latin capitalis;   CAPITAL2]//  cows and bulls kept on a farm for their meat or milk//  --herds of cattle//  dairy/beef cattle //  20/100 etc head of cattle (=20, 100 etc cattle) //  --a cattle rancher//


Words: cattle grid
Meaning:
BrE cattle guard  AmE n [C]   a set of bars placed over a hole in the road, so that animals cannot go across but cars can//


Words: cattle market
Meaning:
also cattle auction  AmE n [C] \n  1 a place where cattle are bought and sold:\n  2  informal a beauty competition or a social event where women are judged only by their appearance - used to show disapproval:


Words: cattle prod
Meaning:
n [C]   a type of stick that gives cattle an electric shock when it touches them, used to make them move//


Words: catty
Meaning:
adj   someone who is catty says unkind things about people//  -- cattily adv //  -- cattiness n  [U] //


Words: catwalk
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a long raised structure that models walk along in a fashion show:  American Equivalent:  runway//\n  2  the catwalk:  the business of designing clothes for fashion shows//\n  3 a narrow structure for people to walk on that is high up inside or outside a building:


Words: Caucasus
Meaning:
the Caucasus//  an area in the extreme south-east of Europe between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, which includes Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia and contains the Caucasus Mountains//


Words: Caucasus Mountains
Meaning:
the Caucasus Mountains//  a group of mountains in the Caucasus in south-east Europe, which includes Mount Elbruz, the highest mountain in Europe//


Words: caucus
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Probably from an  Algonquian language]//\n  1 a meeting of the members of a political party to choose people to represent them in a larger meeting, election etc:\n  2  AmE an organized group of people who have similar aims or interests, especially political ones:  --the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus//


Words: cauldron
Meaning:
caldron/k[hA350][hA359]ldr[hA353]n $ k[hA361][hA359]l-/ n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old North French; Origin: cauderon, from  caudiere  ’cauldron’, from  Latin caldaria  ’warm % (h’, from  calidus  ’warm’]//  a large round metal pot for boiling liquids over a fire//  --a witch’s cauldron//


Words: Caulfield
Meaning:
Holden   the main character in the book  The  Catcher in the Rye by J. D.  Salinger. Holden Caulfield has a lot of difficult experiences because he is a  teenager.//


Words: cauliflower
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: cavolfiore, from  cavolo  ’cabbage’ +  fiore  ’flower’]//  a vegetable with green leaves around a firm white centre//


Words: caulk
Meaning:
also  calk AmE   v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old North French; Origin: cauquer  ’to press down with the feet’, from  Latin calcare, from  calx  ’heel’]//  to fill the holes or cracks in a ship with an oily or sticky substance in order to keep water out//


Words: causal
Meaning:
adj \n  1 relating to the connection between two things, where one causes the other to happen or exist:    cause//  causal relationship/link/factor etc //  --a causal relationship between unemployment and crime//\n  2  technical a causal conjunction, such as ’because’, introduces a statement about the cause of something:  -- causally adv //


Words: causative
Meaning:
adj  formal   acting as the cause of something//  --Smoking is a causative factor in several major diseases.//


Words: cause
Meaning:
W1S2   n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin causa]//\n  1 [C] a person, event, or thing that makes something happen:    effect//  cause of//  --Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for American women in their forties.//  establish/investigate/discover etc the cause //  --It’s our job to establish the cause of the fire.//  root/underlying etc cause //  --The cost of the project was enormous, but it was not the fundamental cause of its failure.//  cause and effect (=the idea that one thing directly causes another) //  die of/from natural causes (=because of old age or an illness, not an accident, murder etc) //\n  2 [U] a fact that makes it right or reasonable for you to feel or behave in a particular way:   reason//  cause for//  --There is no cause for alarm .//  --The patient’s condition is giving cause for concern .//  --The present political climate gives little cause for optimism .//  have (good) cause to do sth //  --His father has good cause to be proud of him.//  with/without good cause //  --Many people are worried about the economy, and with good cause.//\n  3 [C] an organization, belief, or aim that a group of people support or fight for:  cause of//  --her lifelong devotion to the cause of women’s rights//  Nationalist/Republican etc cause //  champion/further a cause //  --Since founding Island Records, Blackwell has championed the cause of Jamaican music.//  worthy/good cause (=an organization that helps people who are ill, old etc, especially a  charity) //  --You can get fit, and at the same time raise money for a worthy cause .//  --Please give generously, it’s all in a good cause  (=done in order to help people) .//\n  4  have/make common cause (with/against sb):   formal to join with other people or groups in order to oppose an enemy//  --U.S. officials expect other Western governments to make common cause with them over the arrests.//\n  5 [C]  law a case that is brought to a court of law:    lost cause at lost2 (12)//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: cause, reason //  A  cause is something such as an action, event, or situation that makes something happen : The cause of the accident is not known.| a determination to tackle the causes of crime //  A  reason is an explanation for something : Can you think of any reason why he would behave in this way? |  There is a good reason (NOT a good cause) for my decision.  //  GRAMMAR//  Use  the cause of , not ’cause for’ or ’cause why’ : What is the cause of all this unrest? //  !! cause for  is used in some expressions such as  cause for alarm/concern/complaint/optimism/satisfaction : There is no cause for concern. |  His remarks give some cause for hope. //  Use  cause somebody to do something , not ’cause that somebody does something’ : A cat ran into the road, causing her to brake suddenly (NOT causing that she braked suddenly). //  ----------//\ncause 2 v [T]   to make something happen, especially something bad//  --Heavy traffic is causing delays on the freeway.//  --The fire caused [hA124]15,000 worth of damage.//  cause sth for sb//  --The oil spill is causing problems for coastal fisheries.//  cause concern/uncertainty/embarrassment etc //  --The policy changes have caused great uncertainty for the workforce.//  --I’m sorry if I caused any confusion .//  cause sb trouble/problems etc //  --You’ve caused us all a lot of unnecessary worry.//  --Sorry, I didn’t mean to cause offence  (=offend you) .//  cause sb/sth to do sth//  --What caused you to change your mind?//


Words: cause cel[hA169]bre
Meaning:
n   plural  causes cel[hA169]bres  (same pronunciation)  [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ’famous legal case’]//  an event or legal case that a lot of people become interested in, because it is an exciting subject to discuss or argue about//  --The case became a cause cel[hA169]bre among feminists.//


Words: causeway
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: causey  ’causeway’ (12-20 centuries) (from  Old North French caucie, from  Medieval Latin calciata  ’road with a stone surface’, from  Latin calx;   CHALK1) +  way]//  a raised road or path across wet ground or through water//


Words: caustic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: causticus, from  Greek, from  kaiein  ’to burn’]//\n  1 a caustic substance can burn through things by chemical action:  --caustic soda (=a chemical used for cleaning things) //\n  2 a caustic remark criticizes someone in a way that is unkind but often cleverly humorous:  caustic wit/comments/remark etc //  --Eliot appreciated Pound’s caustic wit.//  -- caustically/-kli/ adv //  --’I can hardly wait,’ Sir Trevor replied caustically.//


Words: cauterize
Meaning:
also  cauterise BrE   v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: cauteriser, from  Latin, from  cauterium  ’cauterizing tool’,  from  Greek, from  kaiein;   CAUSTIC]//   medical to treat a wound or a growth on your body by burning it with hot metal, a laser, or a chemical//


Words: caution
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: cautio, from  cavere  ’to be careful, be on guard’]//\n  1 [U] the quality of being very careful to avoid danger or risks:    cautious//  with caution//  --We must proceed with extreme caution .//  --The physician must exercise caution when prescribing anti-depressants.//  counsel/urge caution //  --Many parents are tempted to intervene, but most experts counsel caution.//  treat/view sth with caution (=think carefully about something because it might not be true) //  --Evidence given by convicted criminals should always be treated with the utmost caution .//    err on the side of caution at err(1)//\n  2 [C] a warning or piece of advice telling you to be careful:  --Although pleased, Henson added a caution that the team still has a long way to go.//  word/note of caution //  --A final word of caution - never try any of this without backing up your system.//\n  3  throw/cast caution to the winds:   literary to stop worrying about danger and to take a big risk//  --Throwing caution to the winds, she swung around to face him.//\n  4 [U and C]  BrE a spoken official warning given to someone who has been arrested or who has done something wrong that is not a serious crime:  --He was let off with a caution.//  under caution//  --The defendant may make a statement under caution.//\ncaution 2 v \n  1 [I and T] to warn someone that something might be dangerous, difficult etc:  caution (sb) against sth//  --Business leaders are cautioning against hasty action that would hamper flexibility.//  caution (sb) that//  --Officials were quick to caution that these remarks did not mean an end to the peace process.//  caution sb to do sth//  --He cautioned them to avoid the forest at night.//\n  2 [T]  BrE :  a) to warn someone officially that the next time they do something illegal they will be punished//  caution sb for (doing) sth//  --She was cautioned for speeding.//  b) to warn someone officially that what they say to a police officer may be used as evidence in a court of law//


Words: cautionary
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   giving a warning about what not to do//  cautionary note/comment/words etc //  --Most observers were optimistic, yet some sounded a cautionary note .//  cautionary tale (=the story of an event that is used to warn people) //  --a cautionary tale about how not to buy a computer//


Words: cautious
Meaning:
adj   careful to avoid danger or risks//    caution//  --a cautious driver//  --a cautious approach to the crisis//  --The air-pollution board has reacted with cautious optimism to the announcement.//  cautious about (doing) sth//  --Keller is cautious about making predictions for the success of the program.//  -- cautiously adv //  --The government responded cautiously to the move.//  -- cautiousness n  [U] //


Words: cavalcade
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: ’horse-ride’, from  Old Italian, from  cavalcare  ’to ride on a horse’, from  Latin caballus;   CAVALIER]//  a line of people on horses or in cars or carriages moving along as part of a ceremony//


Words: Cavalier
Meaning:
n [C]   a supporter of the King against parliament in the English Civil War of the 17th century //    Roundhead//


Words: cavalier
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Old Italian cavaliere, from  Late Latin caballarius  ’horse-rider’, from  Latin caballus  ’horse’]//  not caring enough about rules, principles, or people’s feelings//  --The club’s owner showed a cavalier attitude to the licensing laws.//


Words: cavalry
Meaning:
n [plural,U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: cavalleria, from  cavaliere;   CAVALIER]//\n  1 the part of an army that fights on horses, especially in the past:  --The Black Prince led a cavalry charge against them.//\n  2 the part of a modern army that uses tanks:


Words: cave
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin cava, from  cavus  ’hollow’]//  a large natural hole in the side of a cliff or hill, or under the ground//  --the entrance to a cave//\ncave 2 v   cave in phr v//  [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Probably from  calve  ’to cave in’ (18-19 centuries), perhaps from  Flemish inkalven; influenced by   CAVE1]//\n  1 if the top or sides of something cave in, they fall down or inwards:  cave in on//  --The roof of the tunnel caved in on them.//\n  2 to finally stop opposing something, especially because someone has persuaded or threatened you:  cave in to//  --The chairman is expected to cave in to pressure from shareholders.//


Words: cave-in
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 when the roof of something such as a mine falls in:\n  2 when someone stops opposing something:


Words: caveat
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ’let him or her beware’, from  cavere;   CAUTION1]//   formal a warning that something may not be completely true, effective etc//  caveat that//  --She will be offered treatment, with the caveat that it may not work.//


Words: caveat emptor
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin]//   law the principle that the person who buys something is responsible for checking that it is not broken, damaged etc//


Words: caveman
Meaning:
n   plural  cavemen /-men/ [C] //\n  1 someone who lived in a cave many thousands of years ago:\n  2  informal an insulting word for a man who you think is rude, violent etc:  --Are you going to give me the macho caveman act?//


Words: Cavendish
Meaning:
Henry   (1731-1810) a British scientist who discovered  hydrogen and also discovered the chemical  composition of water (=the different parts it is made from) //


Words: caver
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   someone who goes into caves deep under the ground as a sport//  American Equivalent:  spelunker//


Words: cavern
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: caverne, from  Latin caverna, from  cavus;   CAVE1]//  a large cave//


Words: cavernous
Meaning:
adj  literary   a cavernous room, space, or hole is very large and deep//  --a cavernous dining hall//


Words: caviar
Meaning:
caviare/k[zB024]vi[hA35A][hA359] $ -[hA35A][hA359]r/ n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Early  Italian caviari, from  Turkish havyar,  from  Medieval Greek kabiari]//  the preserved eggs of various large fish, eaten as a special very expensive food//  --caviare and champagne//


Words: cavil
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  cavilled present participle  cavilling  BrE //  past tense and past participle  caviled present participle  caviling  AmE  [I]  formal //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: cavillari  ’to joke, cavil’, from  cavilla  ’joking’]//  to make unnecessary complaints about someone or something//  cavil at//  --They cavilled at our calculations.//  -- cavil n  [U and C] //


Words: caving
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   the sport of going into caves deep under the ground//  American Equivalent:  spelunking//


Words: cavity
Meaning:
n   plural  cavities  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: cavite, from  Late Latin cavitas, from  Latin cavus;   CAVE1]//   formal a hole or space inside something//  --Put herbs inside the body cavity of the fish.//  --I have no cavities (=no holes in my teeth) .//


Words: cavity wall
Meaning:
n [C]   a wall consisting of two walls with a space between them to keep out cold and noise//  --cavity wall insulation//


Words: cavort
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from  curvet  ’to dance around’ (16-21 centuries), from  Italian corvettare, from  corvetta  ’jump into the air’, from  French courber  ’to curve’]//  to jump or dance around in a playful or sexual way//  cavort about/around//  --She cavorted about in the shallow water.//  cavort with//  --The photograph shows him cavorting with two young women.//


Words: caw
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  From the sound]//  the loud sound made by some types of bird, especially crows//  -- caw v  [I] //


Words: Caxton
Meaning:
William   (?1422-91) the first person in England to print books. He learned about printing in Germany, where the first books in Europe were printed, then returned to England to start a printing business there.//  --a valuable Caxton Bible//


Words: cay
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Spanish; Origin: cayo]//   AmE a very small low island formed of coral or sand//


Words: cayenne pepper
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: cayan  ’cayenne pepper’ (1700-1800), from  Tupi kyinha; influenced by  Cayenne city in French Guiana]//  the red powder made from a pepper that has a very hot taste//


Words: cayman
Meaning:
n   plural  caymans  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Spanish; Origin: caiman, probably from  Carib cayman]//  a South American animal like an alligator//


Words: Cayman Islands
Meaning:
the   a group of three islands in the Caribbean Sea, northwest of Jamaica, which are a British  dependency. Population: 36,000 (2001). Capital: George Town.//


Words: CB
Meaning:
n [U]   Citizens’ Band a type of radio communication which people can use to speak to each other over short distances, especially when they are driving//


Words: CBC
Meaning:
trademark   Canadian Broadcasting Corporation a television company that is supported by the Canadian government//


Words: CBE
Meaning:
n [C]   Commander of the British Empire an honour given to some British people for things they have done for their country//


Words: CBI
Meaning:
the   Confederation of British Industry a British organization that represents employers and managers in British businesses. It provides information about the economic situation, and tries to influence the government to make decisions that will help its members.//


Words: CBS
Meaning:
trademark   Columbia Broadcasting System one of the four main national television networks in the US. The other three are  ABC,  Fox, and  NBC.//  --a CBS news reporter//


Words: CBT
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 computer-based testing a way of taking standard tests such as the GRE on a computer:\n  2 computer-based training the use of computers to teach people to do something:  --CBT software//


Words: cc
Meaning:
1 carbon copy to used in a business letter or email to show that you are sending a copy to someone else:  --To Neil Fry, cc: Anthea Baker, Matt Fox//\n  2 the abbreviation of cubic centimetre or cubic centimetres :  --a 200cc engine//


Words: CD
Meaning:
n [C]   compact disc a small circular piece of hard plastic on which high quality recorded sound or large quantities of information can be stored//


Words: CD-R
Meaning:
n [U and C]   compact disc - recordable a type of CD that you can record music, images, or other information onto, using special equipment on your computer, and that can be recorded onto only once//


Words: CD-ROM
Meaning:
n [U and C]   compact disc read-only memory a CD on which large quantities of information can be stored to be used by a computer//


Words: CD-RW
Meaning:
n [U and C]   compact disc - rewritable a type of CD that you can record music, images, or other information onto, using special equipment on your computer, and that can be recorded onto several times//


Words: CE
Meaning:
BrE  C.E. AmE    Common Era used after a date to show it was after the birth of Christ//   AD//    BC//


Words: cease
Meaning:
W3   v [I and T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: cesser, from  Latin cessare  ’to delay’, from  cedere;   CEDE]//\n  1  formal to stop doing something or stop happening:  cease to do sth//  --He ceased to be a member of the association.//  --The things people will do for charity never cease to amaze me  (=I am always surprised by them) .//  cease doing sth//  --the decision to cease using CFCs in packaging//  --The rain ceased and the sky cleared.//  cease trading/production/operations etc (=stop operating a business) //  --The company ceased production at their Norwich plant last year.//  cease fire! (=used to order soldiers to stop shooting) //\n  2  cease and desist:   law to stop doing something//    ceasefire,  wonders will never cease at wonder2 (5)//\ncease 2 n   without cease//   formal without stopping//


Words: ceasefire
Meaning:
n [C]   an agreement to stop fighting for a period of time, especially so that a more permanent agreement can be made//  --a ceasefire agreement//  --They have called a temporary ceasefire in the region.//    armistice,  truce//


Words: ceaseless
Meaning:
adj   happening for a long time without stopping//  --the ceaseless fight against crime//  -- ceaselessly adv //  --The men worked ceaselessly through the night.//


Words: cedar
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1000-1100; Language: Old French; Origin: cedre, from  Latin, from  Greek kedros]//\n  1 [C] a large evergreen tree with leaves shaped like needles:\n  2  also cedarwood :   [U] the hard red wood of the cedar tree, which smells pleasant//


Words: cede
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: ceder, from  Latin cedere  ’to go, withdraw, give up’]//   formal to give something such as an area of land or a right to a country or person, especially when you are forced to//  cede sth to sb//  --Hong Kong was ceded to Britain in 1842.//    cession//


Words: cedilla
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Spanish; Origin: ’the letter [hA168] (an old form of the letter z)’, from  ceda  ’the letter z’ from  Late Latin zeta, from  Greek]//  a mark put under the letter ’c’ in French and some other languages, to show that it is an ’s’ sound instead of a ’k’ sound. The letter is written ’[hA168]’.//


Words: Ceefax
Meaning:
n [U]    trademark a service in which the BBC broadcasts written information on television in Britain//


Words: ceiling
Meaning:
W3S3   n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: ceil  ’to provide with a ceiling’ (16-20 centuries), probably from  Latin caelare  ’to cut into a surface’]//\n  1 the inner surface of the top part of a room:    roof//  --rooms with high ceilings//  --a light hanging from the ceiling//\n  2 the largest number or amount of something that is officially allowed:  ceiling of//  --a public spending ceiling of [hA124]240 bn//  impose/set/put a ceiling (on sth) //  --The government imposed a ceiling on imports of foreign cars.//  raise/lower the ceiling (on sth) //\n  3  technical the greatest height an aircraft can fly at or the level of the clouds:    glass ceiling//


Words: celebrant
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: , present participle of  celebrare;   CELEBRATE]//  someone who performs or takes part in a religious ceremony//


Words: celebrate
Meaning:
W3   v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  celebrare  ’to visit often, celebrate’, from  celeber  ’often visited, famous’]//\n  1 [I and T] to show that an event or occasion is important by doing something special or enjoyable:    celebration//  --It’s Dad’s birthday and we’re going out for a meal to celebrate.//  --My folks are celebrating their 50th anniversary.//  --We hope to give fans something to celebrate this season.//  celebrate Christmas/Thanksgiving etc //  --How do you usually celebrate New Year?//\n  2 [T]  formal to praise someone or something:  --poems that celebrate the joys of love//\n  3 [T] to perform a religious ceremony, especially the Christian Mass:


Words: celebration
Meaning:
S3   n \n  1 [C] an occasion or party when you celebrate something:  anniversary/birthday etc celebrations //  --the lively New Year celebrations in the city centre//\n  2 [singular, U] the act of celebrating:  in celebration of sth//  --a reception in celebration of the Fund’s 70th Anniversary//  --The show is a celebration of new young talent.//  --I think this is a cause for celebration  (=reason to celebrate) .//


Words: celebratory
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   done in order to celebrate a particular event or occasion//  --Join us for a celebratory drink in the bar.//


Words: celebrity
Meaning:
n   plural  celebrities //\n  1 [C] a famous living person:   star//  --a sporting celebrity//  --He became a national celebrity.//  --They had invited a number of minor celebrities  (=people who are not very famous) .//\n  2 [U]  formal the state of being famous:   fame//


Words: celery
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Italian dialect; Origin: seleri, from  Late Latin selinon  ’parsley’, from  Greek]//  a vegetable with long pale green stems that you can eat cooked or uncooked//  --a stick of celery //


Words: celestial
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin caelestis, from  caelum  ’sky’]//\n  1 relating to the sky or heaven:  celestial bodies (=the sun, moon, stars etc) //\n  2  literary very beautiful:


Words: celibate
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: caelibatus, from  caelebs  ’unmarried’]//  not married and not having sex, especially because of your religious beliefs//    virgin//  --Catholic priests are required to be celibate.//  -- celibate n  [C] //  -- celibacy/-b[hA353]si/ n  [U] //  --a vow of celibacy//


Words: cell
Meaning:
W1   n [C]   ----------//\n   1 body:\n   2 prison:\n   3 phone:\n   4 electric:\n   5 secret group:\n   6 religious:\n   7 insect/small animal:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: celle, from  Latin cella  ’small room’]//\n  1 BODY:  the smallest part of a living thing that can exist independently//  blood/brain/nerve cell //  --red blood cells//  --cancer cells//  --Embryos grow by cell division  (=the splitting of cells) .//  2 PRISON//  a small room in a prison or police station where prisoners are kept//  --He spent a night in the cells at the local police station.//  --the walls of his prison cell //\n  3 PHONE:   AmE a cellular phone; a telephone that you can carry around with you, that works by using a network of radio stations to pass on signals//  British Equivalent:  mobile//  --Call me on my cell if you’re running late.//\n  4 ELECTRIC:  a piece of equipment for producing electricity from chemicals, heat, or light//  --a car powered by electric fuel cells//\n  5 SECRET GROUP:  a small group of people who are working secretly as part of a larger political organization//  --a terrorist cell//\n  6 RELIGIOUS:  a small room in a monastery or convent where someone sleeps//\n  7 INSECT/SMALL ANIMAL:  a small space that an insect or other small creature has made to live in or use//  --the cells of a honeycomb//


Words: cellar
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: celer, from  Latin cellarium  ’storeroom’, from  cella;   CELL]//\n  1 a room under a house or other building, often used for storing things:   basement//  --a coal cellar//\n  2 a store of wine belonging to a person, restaurant etc:    salt cellar//


Words: cello
Meaning:
n   plural  cellos  [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: violoncello  ’cello’ (18-21 centuries), from  Italian, from  violone  ’large stringed instrument’, from  viola;   VIOLA]//  a musical instrument like a large violin that you hold between your knees and play by pulling a bow (=special stick)  across the strings//


Words: Cellophane
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Cellophane, a trademark]//   trademark a thin transparent material used for wrapping things//


Words: cellphone
Meaning:
cell phone/self[hA353][hA35E]n $ -fo[hA35E]n/ n [C]  especially AmE   a cellular telephone//  British Equivalent:  mobile phone//


Words: cellular
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: cellularis, from  cellula  ’living cell’, from  Latin cella;   CELL]//\n  1 consisting of or relating to the cells of plants or animals:\n  2 a cellular telephone system works by using a network of radio stations to pass on signals:  --a cellular network//


Words: cellular phone
Meaning:
n [C]  especially AmE   a telephone that you can carry with you and use in any place//  British Equivalent:  mobile phone//


Words: cellulite
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: cellule (from  Modern Latin cellula;   CELLULAR) +  -ite  ’-itis’]//  fat that is just below someone’s skin and makes it look uneven and unattractive//


Words: celluloid
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Celluloid, a trademark]//\n  1  on celluloid:  on cinema film//  --Chaplin’s comic genius is preserved on celluloid.//\n  2 a plastic substance made mainly from cellulose that was used in the past to make photographic film and other objects:


Words: cellulose
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: cellule;   CELLULITE]//\n  1 the material that the cell walls of plants are made of and that is used to make plastics, paper etc:\n  2  also cellulose acetate :   technical a plastic that is used for many industrial purposes, especially making photographic film and explosives//


Words: Celsius
Meaning:
n [U]  written abbreviation C   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Anders  Celsius (1701-44), Swedish scientist who invented the scale]//  a scale of temperature in which water freezes at 0[hA13B] and boils at 100[hA13B]//   Centigrade//  --12[hA13B] Celsius (=12 degrees on the Celsius scale) //  -- Celsius adj //


Words: Celt
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Celte, from  Latin Celtae (plural)]//  a member of a race of people who lived in ancient Britain and Western Europe before the Romans came, or a person living now whose ancestors were members of this race//


Words: cement
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ciment, from  Latin caementum  ’small pieces of stone used in making mortar’, from  caedere  ’to cut’]//\n  1 a grey powder made from lime and clay that becomes hard when it is mixed with water and allowed to dry, and that is used in building:    concrete//  --a bag of cement//\n  2 a thick sticky substance that becomes very hard when it dries and is used for filling holes or sticking things together:\ncement 2 v [T] \n  1  also cement over :  to cover something with cement//\n  2 to make a relationship between people, countries, or organizations firm and strong:  cement a relationship/alliance //  --They want to cement a good working relationship between the government and trade unions.//


Words: cement mixer
Meaning:
n [C]   a machine with a round drum that turns around, into which you put cement, sand, and water to make concrete//


Words: cemetery
Meaning:
n   plural  cemeteries  [C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: cimitere, from  Late Latin coemeterium, from  Greek koimeterion  ’sleeping room, burying place’, from  koiman  ’to cause to sleep’]//  a piece of land, usually not belonging to a church, in which dead people are buried//    graveyard//


Words: cenotaph
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: cenotaphe, from  Latin, from  Greek kenotaphion, from  kenos  ’empty’ +  taphos  ’tomb’]//  a monument built to remind people of soldiers, sailors etc who were killed in a war and are buried somewhere else//


Words: censor
Meaning:
n [C]   someone whose job is to examine books, films, letters etc and remove anything considered to be offensive, morally harmful, or politically dangerous//    censorship//\ncensor 2 v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: censere;   CENSUS]//  to examine books, films, letters etc to remove anything that is considered offensive, morally harmful, or politically dangerous etc//    censorship, ban//  --The information given to the press was carefully censored by the Ministry of Defence.//


Words: censorious
Meaning:
adj  formal   criticizing and expressing disapproval//  --His tone was censorious.//  -- censoriously adv //  -- censoriousness n  [U] //


Words: censorship
Meaning:
n [U]   the practice or system of censoring something//  --the censorship of television programmes//


Words: censure
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: censura, from  censere;   CENSUS]//   formal the act of expressing strong disapproval and criticism//  --a vote of censure//\ncensure 2 v [T]    formal to officially criticize someone for something they have done wrong//  --He was officially censured for his handling of the situation.//


Words: census
Meaning:
n   plural  censuses  [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: censere  ’to make a judgment about, tax’]//\n  1 an official process of counting a country’s population and finding out about the people:\n  2 an official process of counting something for government planning:  --a traffic census//


Words: cent
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ’hundred’, from  Latin centum]//\n  1 1/100th of the standard unit of money in some countries. For example, there are 100 cents in one dollar or in one euro: symbol [hA123]:\n  2  put in your two cents’ worth:   AmE to give your opinion about something, when other people do not want to hear it//    not one red cent at red1 (7)//


Words: centaur
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: Centaurus, from  Greek Kentauros]//  a creature in ancient Greek stories with the head, chest, and arms of a man and the body and legs of a horse//


Words: centenary
Meaning:
n   plural  centenaries  especially BrE  also centennial /senteni[hA353]l/ especially AmE  [C] //  the day or year exactly 100 years after a particular event//  centenary of//  --a concert to mark the centenary of the composer’s birth//


Words: Center Parcs
Meaning:
trademark   a type of holiday centre providing hotel and tourist services in the UK and in Europe, especially in attractive countryside and forest areas//


Words: Centers for Disease Control
Meaning:
the   CDC a US government organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, which works to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, and studies ways to improve people’s health//


Words: centi-
Meaning:
[in nouns]   [Language: French; Origin: Latin, from  centum;   CENT]//\n  1 a hundred:  --a centipede (=creature with 100 legs) //\n  2 a 100th part of a unit:  --a centimetre (=0.01 metres) //


Words: Centigrade
Meaning:
n [U]  written abbreviation C   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: centi- (  CENTI-) +  grade  ’step, degree’]//   Celsius//  -- Centigrade adj //


Words: centilitre
Meaning:
BrE  centiliter AmE   n [C]  written abbreviation cl   a unit for measuring an amount of liquid. There are 100 centilitres in one litre.//


Words: centime
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: cent;   CENT]//  1/100th of a franc or some other units of money//


Words: centimetre
Meaning:
S3  BrE  centimeter AmE   n [C]  written abbreviation cm   a unit for measuring length. There are 100 centimetres in one metre//


Words: centipede
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: centipeda, from  centi- (  CENTI-) +  pes  ’foot’]//  a small creature like a worm with a lot of very small legs//


Words: central
Meaning:
adj   ----------//\n   1 middle:\n   2 from one place:\n   3 important:\n   4 easy access:\n   5 party/comedy etc central:  ----------//\n  1 MIDDLE:   [only before noun, no comparative] in the middle of an area or an object//  --He lives in central London.//  --The roof is supported by a central column.//  Central America/Asia/Europe etc //\n  2 FROM ONE PLACE:   [only before noun, no comparative] used about the part of an organization, system etc which controls the rest of it, or its work//  --the party’s central office//  --the system’s central control unit//  --central planning//\n  3 IMPORTANT:  more important and having more influence than anything else//  central to//  --values which are central to our society//  --Owen played a central role in the negotiations.//  --His ideas were of central importance in the development of the theory.//  central idea/theme/concern etc //  --Education has become a central issue in public debate.//\n  4 EASY ACCESS:  a place that is central is easy to reach because it is near the middle of a town or area//  --It’s very central, just five minutes walk from the main square.//\n  5  party/comedy etc central:   informal a place where something is happening a lot//  --Tim’s house became party central for the band and their friends.//  -- centrally adv //  --Our office is centrally situated.//  --All data is held centrally.//  -- centrality/sentr[zB024]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: Central America
Meaning:
a narrow piece of land joining North and South America, and consisting of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama//


Words: central bank
Meaning:
n [C]   a national bank that does business with the government, and controls the amount of money available and the general system of banks//


Words: central government
Meaning:
n [U and C]  especially BrE   the level of government which deals with national rather than local things//    local government//


Words: central heating
Meaning:
n [U]   a system of heating buildings in which water or air is heated in one place and then sent around the rest of the building through pipes etc//  --the central heating boiler//  -- centrally heated adj //


Words: central locking
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   a system for locking the doors of a car in which all the locks are operated when you turn the key in one lock or use a remote controlled key//


Words: Central Office of Information
Meaning:
a British government organization that produces books, reports etc giving information about the activities of the various government departments//


Words: centralism
Meaning:
n [U]   a way of governing a country or controlling an organization in which one group has power and tells people in other places what to do//


Words: centralize
Meaning:
also  centralise BrE   v [T]   to organize the control of a country, organization, or system so that everything is done or decided in one place//  → decentralize//  --plans to centralize the company’s European activities//  -- centralized adj //  --a centralized database//  -- centralization/sentr[hA353]la[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -l[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: centre
Meaning:
BrE  center AmE   n   ----------//\n   1 middle:\n   2 building:\n   3 place of activity:\n   4 of a town:\n   5 involvement:\n   6 be the centre of attention:\n   7 be/take centre stage:\n   8 politics:\n   9 sport:\n  10 centre of population/urban centre:  ----------//\n  1 MIDDLE:   [C usually singular] the middle of a space, area, or object, especially the exact middle//  in the centre (of sth)//  --There was an enormous oak table in the center of the room.//  --The hotel is right in the centre of the village.//  centre of//  --Draw a line through the centre of the circle.//  --lines radiating out from the centre//  --chocolates with soft centres//\n  2 BUILDING:   [C] a building which is used for a particular purpose or activity//  centre for//  --the European Centre for Nuclear Research//  --an exhibition at the Community Arts Centre//  --a conference centre //\n  3 PLACE OF ACTIVITY:   [C] a place where there is a lot of a particular type of business, activity etc//  business/commercial/financial etc centre //  --a major banking centre//  --It’s not exactly a cultural center like Paris.//  centre of/for//  --The city became a centre for the paper industry.//  --a center of academic excellence  (=a very good place for education) //\n  4 OF A TOWN:   [C]  BrE the part of a town or city where most of the shops, restaurants, cinemas, theatres etc are//  American Equivalent:  downtown//  town/city centre //  --shops in the town centre//  --the main route into Leeds city centre//\n  5 INVOLVEMENT:   be at the centre of sth//  if a person or thing is at the centre of something that is happening, they are involved in it more than other people or things//  --He always seems to be at the centre of things.//  be at the centre of a row/dispute/controversy etc //  --the businessman at the centre of the row over political donations//\n  6  be the centre of attention:  to be the person that everyone is giving attention to//  --Betty just loves being the centre of attention.//\n  7  be/take centre stage:  if something or someone is centre stage, they have an important position and get a lot of attention//  --After his father’s death, he was able to rise to power and take centre stage.//\n  8 POLITICS:   the centre//  a moderate (=middle)  position in politics in which you do not support extreme ideas//  --The party’s new policies show a swing towards the centre.//  left/right of centre //  --Her political views are slightly left of centre.//  centre-right/centre-left //  --a centre-left government//\n  9 SPORT:   [C] a player in sports such as football and basketball who plays in or near the middle of the field or playing area//  --the Sonics’ six-foot-four-inch center//  centre forward/half/back etc (=players in different parts of the middle section of the playing area) //\n  10  centre of population/urban centre:  an area where a large number of people live//  --Nuclear installations are built well away from the main centres of population.//\ncentre 2  BrE  center AmE v [T]   to move something to a position at the centre of something else//  --The title isn’t quite centred on the page, is it?//  centre around/round [centre around/round sth] phr v//  if your thoughts, activities etc centre around something or are centred around it, it is the main thing that you are concerned with or interested in//  --In the 16th century, village life centred around religion.//  centre on/upon [centre on/upon sth] phr v//  if your attention centres on something or someone, or is centred on them, you pay more attention to them than anything else//  --The debate centred on funding for health services.//  --Much of their work is centred on local development projects.//


Words: centre forward
Meaning:
BrE  center forward AmE n [C]   an attacking player who plays in the centre of the field in British football//


Words: centred
Meaning:
BrE  centered AmE   adj \n  1  also  -centred:   [only after noun] having a particular person or group as the most important part or focus of something//  --a student-centred approach//  --family centered care//\n  2 feeling calm and in control of your life and feelings:  --Julia seems very centred nowadays.//


Words: centrefold
Meaning:
BrE  centerfold AmE   n [C] \n  1 the two pages that face each other in the middle of a magazine or newspaper:\n  2 a picture of a woman with no clothes on that covers the two pages in the middle of a magazine:


Words: centrepiece
Meaning:
BrE  centerpiece AmE   n \n  1 [singular] the most important, noticeable, or attractive part of something:  centrepiece of//  --The centrepiece of Bevan’s policy was the National Health Service.//\n  2 [C] a decoration, especially an arrangement of flowers, in the middle of a table:


Words: centrifugal force
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: centrifugus, from  centr-  ’center’ +  Latin fugere (  FUGITIVE2)]//  a force which makes things move away from the centre of something when they are moving around it//


Words: centrifuge
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: centrifuge  ’centrifugal’, from  Modern Latin centrifugus;   CENTRIFUGAL FORCE]//  a machine that spins a container around very quickly so that the heavier liquids and any solids are forced to the outer edge or bottom//


Words: centripetal force
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: centripetus, from  centr-  ’center’ +  Latin petere  ’to go to, try to find’]//   technical a force which makes things move towards the centre of something when they are moving around it//


Words: centurion
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: centurio, from  centuria;   CENTURY]//  an army officer of ancient Rome, who was in charge of about 100 soldiers//


Words: century
Meaning:
n   plural  centuries  [C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: centuria, from  centum;   CENT]//\n  1 one of the 100-year periods measured from before or after the year of Christ’s birth:  the 11th/18th/21st etc century //  --The church was built in the 13th century.//  the next/last century //  --by the beginning of the next century//  --twentieth-century art forms such as Cubism//  --the story of life on a small farm at the turn of the century  (=the beginning of the century) //\n  2 a period of 100 years:  --many centuries ago//\n  3 100 runs scored by one cricket player in an innings:


Words: ceramics
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: keramikos, from  keramos  ’(clay used for making) pots’]//\n  1 [U] the art of making pots, bowls, tiles etc, by shaping pieces of clay and baking them until they are hard:\n  2 [plural] things that are made this way:  --an exhibition of ceramics//  -- ceramic adj //  --ceramic tiles//


Words: Cerberus
Meaning:
in Greek  mythology, a dog with three heads who guarded the entrance to  Hades (=the place where the spirits of dead people are supposed to live) //


Words: cereal
Meaning:
S3   n   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: cereale, from  Latin cerealis  ’of Ceres’, from  Ceres ancient Roman goddess of grain and farming]//\n  1 [U and C] a breakfast food made from grain and usually eaten with milk:  --a bowl of breakfast cereal //\n  2 [C] a plant grown to produce grain, for example wheat, rice etc:  --cereal crops//  ----------//  HINT //  Do not confuse with serial (=a story broadcast or written in several parts). //  ----------//


Words: cerebellum
Meaning:
n   plural  cerebellums  or  cerebella /-l[hA353]/ [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: cerebrum;   CEREBRUM]//   technical the bottom part of your brain that controls your muscles//


Words: cerebral
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: cerebral, from  Latin cerebrum;   CEREBRUM]//\n  1 [only before noun]  medical relating to or affecting your brain:  --a cerebral haemorrhage  (=bleeding in the brain) //\n  2 having or involving complicated ideas rather than strong emotions:  --a cerebral film//


Words: cerebral palsy
Meaning:
n [U]   a disease caused by damage to the brain before or during birth which results in difficulties of movement and speech//


Words: ceremonial
Meaning:
adj \n  1 [usually before noun] used in a ceremony or done as part of a ceremony:  --the Mayor’s ceremonial duties//  --Native American ceremonial robes//\n  2 if a position in a country or organization is ceremonial, it gives no real power:  --the largely ceremonial post of President//\nceremonial 2 n [U and C]   a special ceremony, or special formal actions//  --an occasion for public ceremonial//


Words: ceremonious
Meaning:
adj   done in a formal serious way, as if you were in a ceremony//  -- ceremoniously adv //  --He ceremoniously burnt the offending documents.//


Words: ceremony
Meaning:
n   plural  ceremonies //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: cerymonie, from  Latin caerimonia]//\n  1 [C] an important social or religious event, when a traditional set of actions is performed in a formal way:    ceremonial//  --the wedding ceremony//  --a graduation ceremony//  --the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games//\n  2 [U] the special actions and formal words traditionally used on particular occasions:  --The queen was crowned with due ceremony.//\n  3  without ceremony:  in a very informal way, without politeness//  --He wished me good luck in the future and left without further ceremony.//    not stand on ceremony at stand1 (42)//


Words: cerise
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’cherry’, from  Late Latin ceresia;   CHERRY]//  a bright pinkish-red colour//  -- cerise adj //


Words: CERN
Meaning:
Centre Europeen de Recherche Nucleaire (European Nuclear Research Centre) a scientific organization based in Geneva, Switzerland that studies  particle physics//


Words: cert
Meaning:
n   be a (dead) cert//   BrE  informal to be certain to happen or to succeed//  --Put your money on Thorpe to win, he’s a dead cert.//


Words: certain
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Vulgar Latin certanus, from  Latin certus  ’decided, certain’, from  cernere  ’to sift, decide’]//\n  1 [not before noun] confident and sure, without any doubts:   sure//  certain (that)//  --I’m absolutely certain that I left the keys in the kitchen.//  --I felt certain that I’d passed the test.//  certain who/what/how etc//  --I’m not certain when it will be ready.//  certain about/of//  --Now, are you certain about that?//  --They were watching him. He was certain of it.//\n  2 if something is certain, it will definitely happen or is definitely true:  -- It now  seems certain that  there will be an election in May.//  --Many people  look certain to  lose their jobs. //  --It is wise to apply early to  be certain of  obtaining a place.//  -- It’s not certain where  he lived.//  -- His re-election was considered  virtually certain .//  -- It is  by no means certain  that the deal will be accepted. //  -- If they stayed in the war zone they would face  certain death .//\n  3  make certain:  a) to check that something is correct or true//   make sure//  make certain (that)//  --We need to make certain that it’s going to fit first.//  b) to do something in order to be sure that something will happen//   make sure//  make certain (that)//  --Secure the edges firmly to make certain that no moisture can get in.//\n  4  for certain:  without doubt//   for sure//  know/say (sth) for certain //  --I know for certain it’s in here somewhere.//  that’s/one thing’s for certain //  --One thing’s for certain, he won’t be back.//\n  5 [only before noun] used to talk about a particular person, thing, group of things etc without naming them or describing them exactly:  --The library’s only open at certain times of day.//  --I promised to be in a certain place by lunchtime.//  --There are certain things I just can’t discuss with my mother.//  certain kind/type/sort //  --the expectation of a certain kind of behaviour//  in certain circumstances/cases etc //  --Extra funding may be available in certain circumstances.//\n  6  a certain:  a) used to say that an amount is not great//  --You may need to do a certain amount of work in the evenings.//  to a certain extent/degree (=partly, but not completely) //  --I do agree with his ideas to a certain extent.//  b) enough of a particular quality to be noticed//  --There’s a certain prestige about going to a private school.//  c)  formal used to talk about someone you do not know but whose name you have been told//  --a certain Mr Franks//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 2 //  it is/seems certain (that) //  be/appear/look/seem certain to do something //  be certain of (doing) something //  it is not certain whether/how etc //  almost/virtually/practically certain  //  fairly certain //  by no means certain/far from certain  (=not definite) //  certain death //  ----------//\ncertain 2 pron   certain of sb/sth//   formal particular people or things in a group//  --Certain of the payments were made on Mr Maxwell’s authority.//


Words: certainly
Meaning:
adv [sentence adverb] \n  1 without any doubt:   definitely//  --I certainly never expected to become a writer.//  --They’re certainly not mine.//  it is certainly true/possible etc //  --It is certainly true that there are more courses on offer.//  --The girl was almost certainly murdered.//  --’Not smoking has made a real difference.’ ’It most certainly has.’//\n  2  spoken used to agree or give your permission:  --’I’d like a beer, please’ ’Certainly, sir.’//  --’Can I come along?’ ’Certainly.’//\n  3  certainly not:   spoken used to disagree completely or to refuse to give permission//  --’May I go?’ ’Certainly not!’//


Words: certainty
Meaning:
n   plural  certainties //\n  1 [U] the state of being completely certain:  with certainty//  --She knew with absolute certainty that he’d say no.//  --The result is impossible to predict with any degree of certainty .//\n  2 [U] the fact that something is certain to happen:  certainty of (doing) sth//  --the certainty of being caught//  certainty that//  --There’s no certainty that he’ll remember.//\n  3 [C] something that is definitely true or that will definitely happen:  --He usually does quite well, but it’s not a certainty.//  --The only certainty is that there will need to be major changes.//


Words: certifiable
Meaning:
adj \n  1  informal crazy, especially in a way that is dangerous:  --If you ask me, that man is certifiable.//\n  2  especially AmE definitely a particular thing:  --The guy’s a certifiable megastar.//\n  3  especially AmE good enough to be officially approved:  --grade A certifiable beef//


Words: certificate
Meaning:
W3S3   n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: certificat, from  Late Latin, past participle of  certificare;   CERTIFY]//\n  1 an official document that states that a fact or facts are true:  birth/death/marriage certificate (=giving details of someone’s birth, death, or marriage) //\n  2 an official paper stating that you have completed a course of study or passed an examination:  --a degree certificate//


Words: certification
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] an official document that says that someone is allowed to do a certain job, that something is of good quality etc:  --We successfully completed the certification for open water diving.//\n  2 [U] the process of giving someone or something an official document that says they are allowed to do a certain job, that something is of good quality etc:  certification of//  --certification of competence//


Words: certified mail
Meaning:
n [U]    AmE a way of sending post in which someone records that you have sent it, and the person it is sent to must sign their name to prove they have received it//  British Equivalent:  recorded delivery//


Words: certify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  certified present participle  certifying third person singular  certifies  [T] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: certifier, from  Late Latin certificare, from  Latin certus;   CERTAIN1]//\n  1 to state that something is correct or true, especially after some kind of test:  --The accounts were certified by an auditor.//  certify (that)//  --We need to certify that the repairs have been satisfactorily carried out.//  certify sb dead (=when a doctor says officially that a person is dead)  BrE //  --The driver was certified dead at the scene.//\n  2 to give an official paper to someone which states that they have completed a course of training for a profession:    certificate//  certify sb as sth//  --She was certified as a teacher in 1990.//\n  3 to officially state that someone is mentally ill:


Words: certitude
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: certitudo, from  Latin certus;   CERTAIN1]//   formal the state of being or feeling certain about something//


Words: cerulean
Meaning:
n  also cerulean blue  [U]  literary   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: caeruleus  ’dark blue’, probably from  caelum;   CELESTIAL]//  a deep blue colour like a clear sky//  -- cerulean adj //


Words: Cervantes
Meaning:
Miguel de   (1547-1616) a Spanish writer who wrote the novel  Don Quixote, one of the most important works of European literature//


Words: cervical
Meaning:
adj \n  1 related to the neck:  --cervical vertebrae (=the bones in the back of your neck) //\n  2 related to the cervix:  --cervical cancer//


Words: cervix
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: ’neck’]//  the narrow passage into a woman’s uterus//


Words: cesarean
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Julius  Caesar (100-44 BC), Roman soldier and political leader, who is said to have been born in this way]//  another spelling of caesarean//


Words: cessation
Meaning:
n [U and C]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: Latin cessatio, from  cessare;   CEASE1]//  a pause or stop//    cease//  cessation of//  --a cessation of hostilities (=when the fighting stops in a war) //


Words: cession
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Latin cessio, from  cedere;   CEDE]//  the act of giving up land, property, or rights, especially to another country after a war, or something that is given up in this way//    cede//  --Spanish cession of the territory in 1818//


Words: cesspit
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: cesperal  ’cesspool’ (1500-1600), probably from  suspiral  ’air hole’ (14-16 centuries), from  Old French souspirail, from  souspirer  ’to sigh’; influenced by  pool]//\n  1  also cesspool /sespu[hA359]l/:  a large hole or container under the ground in which waste from a building, especially from the toilets, is collected//\n  2 a place or situation in which people behave in a bad or immoral way:  --For weeks the affair threatened to be a cesspit of scandal.//


Words: cetacean
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: cetus  ’whale’, from  Greek ketos]//   technical a mammal that lives in the sea, such as a whale//  -- cetacean adj //


Words: Ceylon
Meaning:
the former name of  sri lanka. The name ’Ceylon’ is still used when talking about tea, which is an important product of Sri Lanka.//  --a cup of Ceylon tea//


Words: Cezanne
Meaning:
Paul   (1839-1906) a French  impressionist painter, who helped to develop  post-impressionism  and who influenced the development of  cubism and  abstract art//


Words: CFC
Meaning:
n [C]   chlorofluorocarbon a gas used in fridges and aerosol cans, believed to be responsible for damaging the ozone layer//


Words: CH
Meaning:
Companion of Honour a British award given for outstanding service to the nation. No more than 65 people at one time can hold the award.//


Words: cha-cha
Meaning:
n  also cha-cha-cha  [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: American Spanish; Origin: cha-cha-cha]//  a dance from South America with small, fast steps//


Words: Chad
Meaning:
a country in north central Africa, between Niger and Sudan. Population: 8,707,000 (2001) Capital: N’djamena.//


Words: chador
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Urdu; Origin: caddar, from  Persian chaddar]//  a long, usually black piece of clothing worn by Muslim women in some countries, which covers the head and body//    abaya, burqa//


Words: chafe
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chaufer  ’to warm’, from  Latin calefacere, from  calere  ’to be warm’ +  facere  ’to make’]//\n  1 [I and T] if a part of your body chafes or if something chafes it, it becomes sore because of something rubbing against it:  --Wear a T-shirt under your wetsuit to stop it chafing.//\n  2 [I] to feel impatient or annoyed:  chafe at/against/under//  --Some hunters are chafing under the new restrictions.//\n  3 [T]  BrE to rub part of your body to make it warm:


Words: chaff
Meaning:
n [U]   [Language: Old English; Origin: ceaf]//\n  1 the outer seed covers that are separated from grain before it is used as food:\n  2 dried grasses and plant stems that are used for food for farm animals:    separate the wheat from the chaff at wheat(2)//


Words: chagrin
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: chagrin  ’sad’]//  annoyance and disappointment because something has not happened the way you hoped//  to sb’s chagrin//  --The area was declared a wildlife reserve, much to the chagrin of developers.//\nchagrin 2 v   be chagrined//   formal to feel annoyed and disappointed//  --Dale was chagrined that she wasn’t impressed.//


Words: chain
Meaning:
W2S3   n   ----------//\n   1 joined rings:\n   2 connected events:\n   3 shops/hotels:\n   4 connected line:\n   5 prisoners:\n   6 buying a house:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chaeine, from  Latin catena]//\n  1 JOINED RINGS:   [U and C] a series of metal rings which are joined together in a line and used for fastening things, supporting weights, decoration etc//    link//  --She had a gold chain around her neck.//  --a length of heavy chain//  --the Mayor’s chain of office  (=a decoration worn by some British officials at ceremonies) //  pull the chain (=flush the toilet)  BrE //  a bicycle chain (=that makes the wheels turn) //\n  2 CONNECTED EVENTS:   [C] a connected series of events or actions, especially which lead to a final result//  --the chain of events that led to World War I//  --The salesmen are just one link in the chain  (=part of a process) of distribution.//  --a rather complicated chain of reasoning//    chain of command,  food chain//\n  3 SHOPS/HOTELS:   [C] a number of shops, hotels, cinemas etc owned or managed by the same company or person//  chain of//  --a chain of restaurants//  hotel/restaurant/retail etc chain //  --several major UK supermarket chains//    chain store//\n  4 CONNECTED LINE:   [C] people or things which are connected or next to each other forming a line//  mountain/island chain //  --the Andean mountain chain//  chain of atoms/molecules etc  technical //  --a chain of amino acids//  --They quickly formed a human chain  (=a line of people who pass things from one person to the next) to move the equipment.//  --They sat on the grass making daisy chains (=flowers tied together) .//\n  5 PRISONERS:   [C usually plural] metal chains fastened to the legs and arms of a prisoner, to prevent them from escaping//  in chains//  --He was led away in chains.//  ball and chain (=a chain attached to someone’s ankle at one end with a heavy metal ball at the other) //\n  6 BUYING A HOUSE:   [C usually singular]  BrE a number of people buying houses, where each person must complete the sale of their own house before they can buy the next person’s house//\nchain 2 v \n  1 [T] to fasten someone or something to something else using a chain, especially in order to prevent them from escaping or being stolen:  chain sb/sth to sth//  --a bicycle chained to the fence//  --Four activists chained themselves to the gates.//  chain sb/sth up//  --The elephants were chained up by their legs.//  chain sb/sth together//  --Their hands and feet were chained together.//\n  2  be chained to sth:  to have your freedom restricted because of something you must do//  --She felt chained to the kitchen sink.//  --I don’t want a job where I’m chained to a desk all day.//


Words: chain letter
Meaning:
n [C]   a letter sent to several people asking them to send a copy of the letter to several more people//


Words: chain mail
Meaning:
n [U]   protective clothing made by joining many small metal rings together, worn by soldiers in the past//


Words: chain of command
Meaning:
n [C]   a system in an organization by which decisions are made and passed from people at the top of the organization to people lower down//  --Symonds is third in the chain of command.//


Words: chain reaction
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  technical a chemical or nuclear reaction which produces energy and causes more reactions of the same kind:\n  2 a series of related events, each of which causes the next:  --A sudden drop on Wall Street can set off a chain reaction in other financial markets.//


Words: chain store
Meaning:
also  chainstore/t[hA35D]e[hA366]nst[hA350][hA359] $ -st[hA350][hA359]r/ n [C]   one of a group of shops, all of which are owned by one organization//   chain//


Words: chainsaw
Meaning:
n [C]   a tool used for cutting wood, consisting of a circular chain with teeth which is driven by a motor//


Words: chair
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chaiere, from  Latin cathedra, from  Greek, from  kata- (  CATACLYSM) +  hedra  ’seat’]//\n  1 [C] a piece of furniture for one person to sit on, which has a back, a seat, and four legs:  --a table and chairs//  in/on a chair//  --He was sitting in a chair.//  --He sank back into his chair.//  kitchen chair/garden chair etc //\n  2 [singular] the position of being in charge of a meeting or committee, or the person who is in charge of it:  --Address your questions to the chair, please.//  be in the chair//  --Who will be in the chair at tomorrow’s meeting?//  chair of//  --He was nominated as chair of the board of governors.//\n  3 [C] the position of being a university professor:  chair of//  --a new Chair of Medicine//\n  4  the chair:   AmE  informal the electric chair//\nchair 2 v [T]   to be the chairperson of a meeting or committee//  --The commission of inquiry was chaired by a well-known judge.//


Words: chairlift
Meaning:
also  chair lift/t[hA35D]e[hA353]l[hA366]ft $ t[hA35D]er-/ n [C]   a line of chairs hanging from a moving wire, used for carrying people up and down mountains, especially to ski//


Words: chairman
Meaning:
n   plural  chairmen /-m[hA353]n/ [C] //\n  1 someone, especially a man, who is in charge of a meeting or directs the work of a committee or an organization:    chairwoman//  chairman of//  --Potts was appointed chairman of the education committee.//  deputy/vice chairman //  --Barrett serves as vice chairman.//\n  2  BrE someone who is in charge of a large company or organization:  --the chairman of British Aerospace//  --Williams has been chairman of the board for five years.//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Many people use chairperson or chair instead, to avoid suggesting that this person must be a man. //  ----------//


Words: chairmanship
Meaning:
n [U and C]   the position of being a chairman, or the time when someone has this position//  under sb’s chairmanship//  --A committee was set up under the chairmanship of Edmund Compton.//


Words: chairperson
Meaning:
n   plural  chairpersons  [C] //  someone who is in charge of a meeting or directs the work of a committee or organization//


Words: chaise longue
Meaning:
n   plural  chaises longues  (same pronunciation)  [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’long chair’]//\n  1 a long chair with an arm only at one end, which you can sit on and stretch your legs out:\n  2  AmE a long chair with a back that can be upright for sitting, or can lie flat for lying down:


Words: chalet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Swiss French]//\n  1 a house with a steep sloping roof, common in places with high mountains and snow such as Switzerland:\n  2  BrE a small house, especially in a holiday camp:


Words: chalice
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: Latin calix]//  a gold or silver decorated cup used, for example, to hold wine in Christian religious services//


Words: chalk
Meaning:
n [U]   [Language: Old English; Origin: cealc, from  Latin calx ’  LIME12’, from  Greek chalix  ’small stone’]//\n  1 soft white or grey rock formed a long time ago from the shells of small sea animals:   limestone//  --chalk cliffs//\n  2  also chalks :   [plural] small sticks of a white or coloured substance like soft rock, used for writing or drawing//  --a box of coloured chalks//  --a piece of chalk//  --writing in chalk on the blackboard//\n  3  chalk and cheese:   BrE completely different from each other//  --The two brothers are as different as chalk and cheese .//  --They’re like chalk and cheese , those two.//    long chalk at long1 (21)//\nchalk 2 v [>T + up/on]   to write, mark, or draw something with chalk//  chalk up [chalk sth → up] phr v//\n  1 to succeed in getting something, especially points in a game:  --Seattle chalked up another win last night over Denver.//\n  2 to record what someone has done, what someone should pay etc:  chalk something → up to//  --You can chalk the drinks up to my account.//\n  3  chalk it up to experience:   informal to accept a failure or disappointment calmly and regard it as an experience that you can learn something from//


Words: chalky
Meaning:
adj   similar to chalk or containing chalk//  --white chalky soil//  --There were some chalky bits in the bottom of the drink.//  -- chalkiness n  [U] //


Words: challenge
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 something difficult:\n   2 question something:\n   3 competition:\n   4 stop:\n   5 in law:  ----------//\n  1 SOMETHING DIFFICULT:   [U and C] something that tests strength, skill, or ability, especially in a way that is interesting//  challenge of//  --The company is ready to meet the challenges of the next few years.//  the challenge of doing sth//  --I relish the challenge of rebuilding the club.//  face/take on/accept etc a challenge (=be ready to deal with one) //  --Martins now faces the biggest challenge of his career.//  meet a challenge/rise to a challenge (=successfully deal with one) //  --a new and vibrant initiative to meet the challenge of the 21st century//  intellectual/physical challenge //  --the intellectual challenge of postgraduate research//\n  2 QUESTION SOMETHING:   [C] when someone refuses to accept that someone or something is right and legal//  challenge to//  --a direct challenge to the Governor’s authority//  challenge from//  --The president faces a strong challenge from nationalists.//  pose/represent/present a challenge (to sb) //  --The strike represented a serious challenge to the government.//  mount/launch a challenge //  --They decided to mount a legal challenge to the decision.//\n  3 COMPETITION:   [C] when someone tries to win something or invites someone to try to beat them in a fight, competition etc//  challenge for//  --They are ready to mount a challenge for the championship.//  --They threw down the challenge that he couldn’t wash 40 cars in one hour (=invited him to try to do it) .//  --The Prime Minister narrowly avoided a leadership challenge last year.//\n  4 STOP:   [C] a demand from someone such as a guard to stop and give proof of who you are, and an explanation of what you are doing//\n  5 IN LAW:   [C]  law a statement made before the start of a court case that a juror is not acceptable//\nchallenge 2 W3S3 v [T]   ----------//\n   1 question something:\n   2 competition:\n   3 something difficult:\n   4 stop somebody:\n   5 in law:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chalengier  ’to accuse’, from  Latin calumniari  ’to accuse falsely’, from  calumnia;   CALUMNY]//\n  1 QUESTION SOMETHING:  to refuse to accept that something is right, fair, or legal//  --a boy with a reputation for challenging the authority of his teachers//  challenge a view/an idea/an assumption etc //  --Viewpoints such as these are strongly challenged by environmentalists.//  --They went to the High Court to challenge the decision .//  challenge sb to do sth//  --I challenge Dr. Carver to deny his involvement!//\n  2 COMPETITION:  to invite someone to compete or fight against you, or to try to win something//    challenger, dare//  challenge sb to sth//  --After lunch Carey challenged me to a game of tennis.//  challenge for//  --Liverpool are challenging for the title (=in a position where they could win) .//\n  3 SOMETHING DIFFICULT:  to test the skills or abilities of someone or something//   stimulate//  --I’m really at my best when I’m challenged.//  challenge sb to do sth//  --Every teacher ought to be challenging kids to think about current issues.//\n  4 STOP SOMEBODY:  to stop someone and demand proof of who they are, and an explanation of what they are doing//  --We were challenged by the security guard at the gate.//\n  5 IN LAW:   law to state before the start of a court case that a juror is not acceptable//  -- challenger n  [C] //  --Lewis is his main challenger for the world title.//


Words: challenged
Meaning:
adj   visually/physically/mentally etc challenged//   AmE used as a polite expression for describing someone who has difficulty doing things because they are blind etc//


Words: challenging
Meaning:
adj   difficult in an interesting or enjoyable way//  --Teaching young children is a challenging and rewarding job.//  --a challenging problem//  -- challengingly adv //


Words: chamber
Meaning:
W3   n   ----------//\n   1 enclosed space:\n   2 room:\n   3 meeting room:\n   4 parliament:\n   5 private room:\n   6 chambers:\n   7 gun:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: chambre, from  Late Latin camera, from  Latin,  ’curved roof’, from  Greek kamara]//\n  1 ENCLOSED SPACE:   [C] an enclosed space, especially in your body or inside a machine//  --a combustion chamber//  --The heart has four chambers.//\n  2 ROOM:   [C] a room used for a special purpose, especially an unpleasant one//  gas/torture chamber (=used for killing people by gas or for hurting them) //\n  3 MEETING ROOM:   [C] a large room in a public building used for important meetings//  --the council chamber//\n  4 PARLIAMENT:   [C] one of the two parts of a parliament or of the US Congress. For example, in Britain the upper chamber is the House of Lords and the lower chamber is the House of Commons//\n  5 PRIVATE ROOM:   [C] a word used in the past to mean a bedroom or private room//  --the Queen’s private chambers//\n  6  chambers [plural]  especially BrE an office or offices used by barristers or judges:\n  7 GUN:   [C] the place inside a gun where you put the bullet//


Words: chamber of commerce plural
Meaning:
chambers of commerce  n [C]   a group of business people in a particular town or area, working together to improve trade//


Words: Chamberlain
Meaning:
Neville   (1869-1940) a British politician in the  Conservative Party who was elected Prime Minister in 1937. Many people criticized him for his policy of  appeasement towards Hitler’s Germany (=agreeing to their demands) .//\n Wilt   (1936-99) a US  basketball player, sometimes called Wilt the Stilt because of his height (2.16 metres). He set several records for the number of points he won.//


Words: chamberlain
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: chamberlayn, from  Old Saxon kamera, from  Latin camera;   CHAMBER]//  an important official who managed the house of a king or queen in the past//


Words: chameleon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: camelion, from  Latin chamaeleon, from  Greek, from  chamai  ’on the ground’ +  leon  ’lion’]//\n  1 a lizard that can change its colour to match the colours around it:\n  2 someone who changes their ideas, behaviour etc to fit different situations:


Words: chamois
Meaning:
n   plural  chamois //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Late Latin camox]//\n  1 [C] a wild animal like a small goat that lives in the mountains of Europe and southwest Asia:\n  2  also chamois leather /[hA35D][zB024]mi le[hA171][hA353]r $ -[hA353]r/:   [U and C] soft leather prepared from the skin of chamois, sheep, or goats and used for cleaning or polishing, or a piece of this leather//    shammy//


Words: chamomile
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: camomilla, from  Latin chamaemelon, from  Greek, from  chamai (  CHAMELION) +  melon  ’apple’]//  another spelling of camomile//


Words: champ
Meaning:
v [I and T]  BrE   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from the sound of eating]//\n  1 to bite food in a noisy way:   chomp//\n  2  be champing at the bit:  to be unable to wait for something patiently//\nchamp 2 n [C]  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: champion]//  a champion//  --the world champ//


Words: champagne
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Champagne area of northeastern France]//  a French white wine with a lot of bubbles, drunk on special occasions//


Words: champion
Meaning:
W2   n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: Medieval Latin campio]//\n  1 someone or something that has won a competition, especially in sport:  --the world heavyweight boxing champion //  --the Olympic champion//  reigning/defending champion (=the champion at the present time) //\n  2  champion of sth/sb:  someone who publicly fights for and defends an aim or principle, such as the rights of a group of people//  --a champion of women’s rights//\nchampion 2 v [T]  written   to publicly fight for and defend an aim or principle, such as the rights of a group of people//  --She championed the cause of religious freedom.//


Words: championship
Meaning:
W2   n \n  1 [C]  also championships :   [plural] a competition to find which player, team etc is the best in a particular sport//  --the women’s figure skating championships//  --Holland won the European Championship.//\n  2 [C] the position or period of being a champion:   title//  --Warwickshire are the current holders of the cricket championship.//\n  3 [U + of]  written the act of championing something or someone:


Words: Champlain
Meaning:
Lake   a North American lake between New York and Vermont, that goes up to Quebec in Canada//\n Samuel de   (1567-1635) a French explorer and the first governor of French Canada. He  explored much of what is now Nova Scotia and established Quebec in 1608. He also was the first European to discover what is now called Lake Champlain.//


Words: Champs Elysees
Meaning:
the Champs Elysees//  an important street in Paris which leads up to the Arc de Triomphe. It is famous for its cafes, where customers sit at tables outside, and watch people passing by.//


Words: chance
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 possibility:\n   2 opportunity:\n   3 risk:\n   4 likely to succeed:\n   5 luck:\n   6 stand/have a chance (of something/of doing something):\n   7 by any chance:\n   8 any chance of ...?:\n   9 be in with a chance:\n  10 no chance!/fat chance!:\n  11 on the off chance:\n  12 chance would be a fine thing!:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Vulgar Latin cadentia  ’fall’, from  Latin cadere  ’to fall’]//\n  1 POSSIBILITY:   [U and C] how possible or likely it is that something will happen, especially something that you want//  -- There’s  always  the chance that  something will go wrong.//  chance of//  --what are the team’s chances of success?//  --She has a good chance of a successful recovery.//  --There is  little chance  of her being found alive.//  --The day will be cloudy with  a slight chance  of rain later tonight.//  --He gave the show  a fifty-fifty chance  of survival.//  --It was  a million to one chance , but it had happened.//  --The operation is performed under local anaesthetic, which lessens the chances of  infection. //  --How can we  improve  our  chances of  career development? //  -- Chances are they’ll be out when we call.//\n  2 OPPORTUNITY:   [C] a time or situation which you can use to do something that you want to do//   opportunity//  chance to do sth//  --Ralph was waiting for a chance to introduce himself.//  chance of//  --our only chance of escape//  have/get a chance (to do sth) //  --I never get a chance to relax these days.//  --I’m sorry, I haven’t had a chance to look at it yet.//  --I can explain everything if you’ll just give me a chance .//  --You should take the chance  (=use the opportunity) to travel while you’re still young.//  grab the chance/jump at the chance (=eagerly and quickly use an opportunity) //  --If someone invited me over to Florida, I’d jump at the chance.//  --Denise never misses the chance of a free meal.//  a second chance/another chance //  --He was given a second chance to prove his abilities.//  --Friday is your last chance to see the show before it closes.//  --I’ll give you one last chance and if you don’t bring it on Monday, you’ll be in trouble.//  a chance of a lifetime/a chance in a million (=a chance that you are very unlikely to have again) //  --I couldn’t pass up going to Japan; it was a chance in a million.//  --Quick! Now’s your chance to ask her, before she leaves.//  --Rick could do really well, given half a chance  (=if he were given even a small opportunity) .//\n  3 RISK:   take a chance//  to do something that involves risks//  --The rope might break, but that’s a chance we’ll have to take.//  --After losing $20,000 on my last business venture, I’m not taking any chances this time.//  take a chance on//  --He was taking a chance on a relatively new young actor.//  --He decided to take his chances in the boat.//\n  4 LIKELY TO SUCCEED:   sb’s chances//  how likely it is that someone will succeed//  --Ryan will be a candidate in next month’s elections, but his chances are not good.//  sb’s chances of doing sth//  --England’s chances of winning the series have all but disappeared.//  not fancy/not rate sb’s chances  BrE  (=think someone is unlikely to succeed) //  --I don’t really fancy their chances against such tough opposition.//\n  5 LUCK:   [U] the way some things happen without being planned or caused by people//    fate//  by chance//  --I bumped into her quite by chance in Oxford Street.//  leave sth to chance (=to not plan something but just hope that everything will happen as intended) //  --Dave had thought of every possibility, he was leaving nothing to chance.//  pure/sheer/blind chance (=not at all planned) //  --It was pure chance that they ended up working in the same office in the same town.//  -- As chance would have it , the one time I wanted to see her, she wasn’t in.//\n  6  stand/have a chance (of sth/of doing sth):  if someone or something stands a chance of doing something, it is possible that they will succeed//  --If we did move to London, I’d stand a much better chance of getting a job.//  --Ireland have an outside chance  (=slight chance) of qualifying for the World Cup.//  --He has a sporting chance of promotion (=a fairly good chance) .//  --I’ve given myself a fighting chance of getting to the finals (=a small but real chance if a great effort can be made) .//\n  7  by any chance:   spoken used to ask politely whether something is true//  --Are you Mrs Grant, by any chance?//\n  8  any chance of ...?:   spoken used to ask whether you can have something or whether something is possible//  --Any chance of a cup of coffee?//  --Any chance of you coming to the party on Saturday?//\n  9  be in with a chance:  if a competitor is in with a chance, it is possible that they will win//  --I think we’re in with a good chance of beating them.//\n  10  no chance!/fat chance!:   spoken used to emphasize that you are sure something could never happen//  --’Maybe your brother would lend you the money?’ ’Huh, fat chance!’//\n  11  on the off chance:  if you do something on the off chance, you do it hoping for a particular result, although you know it is not likely//  --I didn’t really expect her to be at home. I just called on the off chance.//    off-chance//\n  12  chance would be a fine thing!:   BrE  spoken used to mean that the thing you want to happen is very unlikely//  --’Do you think you’ll get married?’ ’Chance would be a fine thing!’//    game of chance at game1 (15)//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  there’s a chance (that) (=it is possible that) //  there’s every chance (that) (=it is very likely) //  some chance //  little chance //  no chance //  a good/fair chance (=something is likely) //  a slight/slim/outside chance (=something is unlikely) //  a fifty-fifty chance (=the possibility of something happening or not happening is equal) //  a million to one chance/a one in a million chance (=something is extremely unlikely to happen) //  lessen/minimize/reduce the chance(s) of something (=make it less likely) //  increase/improve the chance(s) of something (=make it more likely) //  chances are (=it is likely) //  WORD CHOICE: chance, chances, luck //  chance means possibility : There is a small chance he is still alive. |  You’ve got a good chance of passing.  //  chance also means opportunity : You will have the chance to meet the star of the show. //  chance also means that something happened by coincidence or was not planned : It was pure chance that we bought the same shoes.  //  Someone’s  chances  are the probability that they will do something : Her chances of finding him after all these years are slim. |  He aims to win today - what are his chances? //  !!  Use  chances of doing something, not ’chances to do something’ : Your chances of getting (NOT chances to get) a job are as good as anyone’s. //  luck is when something good happens without being planned : He won more through luck than skill. |  It was such luck that you were there to help me! //  ----------//\nchance 2 v \n  1 [T] to do something that you know involves a risk:  --I wasn’t sure if I’d got quite enough petrol to get me home, but I decided to chance it. //  --We decided not to chance our luck in the storm.//  --She’d never played before, but she was ready to chance her arm  (=take a risk by doing something which may fail) .//  chance doing sth//  --I decided to stay where I was. I couldn’t chance being seen.//\n  2 [I]  literary to happen in a way which is not expected and not planned:  chance to do sth//  --She chanced to be passing when I came out of the house.//  -- It chanced that we both went to Paris that year.//  chance on/upon/across / [chance on/upon/across sb/sth] phr v//  to find something or meet someone when you are not expecting to//  --Henry chanced upon some valuable coins in the attic.//\nchance 3 adj [only before noun]   not planned or expected//   accidental//  chance meeting/encounter/event etc //  --A chance meeting with a journalist changed everything.//  --A chance remark by one of his colleagues got him thinking.//


Words: chancel
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Late Latin cancellus  ’framework of crossed bars’, from  Latin cancer (  CANCEL); because the chancel was enclosed with such a framework]//  the part of a church where the priests and the choir (=singers)  sit//


Words: chancellery
Meaning:
n   plural  chancelleries  [C] //  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chancellerie, from  chancelier;   CHANCELLOR]//\n  1 the building in which a chancellor has his or her office:\n  2 the officials who work in a chancellor’s office:\n  3 the offices of an official representative of a foreign country:   chancery//


Words: chancellor
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Date: 1000-1100; Language: Old French; Origin: chancelier, from  Late Latin cancellarius  ’doorkeeper, secretary’, from  cancellus;   CHANCEL]//\n  1 the Chancellor of the Exchequer:\n  2 :  a) the person who officially represents a British university on special occasions//  b) the person in charge of some American universities//\n  3 the leader of the government or the main government minister of some countries:  --Helmut Kohl, the former German Chancellor//


Words: Chancellor of the Exchequer plural
Meaning:
Chancellors of the Exchequer  n [C]   the British government minister in charge of taxes and government spending//


Words: chancery
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: chancellery]//\n  1  especially BrE a government office that collects and stores official papers:\n  2 the part of the British system of law courts which deals with equity:\n  3 the offices of an official representative of a foreign country:   chancellery//


Words: chancy
Meaning:
adj   not certain, or involving a lot of risk//   risky//  --Acting professionally is a chancy business.//  -- chanciness n  [U] //


Words: chandelier
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ’candlestick’, from  Latin candelabrum;   CANDELABRA]//  a large round frame for holding candles or lights that hangs from the ceiling and is decorated with small pieces of glass//


Words: Chandler
Meaning:
Raymond   (1888-1959) a US writer of  detective stories whose most famous character is the  private detective Philip  Marlowe. His books include  The Big Sleep and  Farewell, My Lovely.//


Words: chandler
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: chandelier, from  chandelle  ’candle’, from  Latin candela;   CANDLE]//  someone who made or sold candles in the past//    ship’s chandler//


Words: change
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 become different/make something different:\n   2 start doing/using something different:\n   3 replace something:\n   4 change your mind:\n   5 change sides:\n   6 clothes:\n   7 bed:\n   8 exchange goods:\n   9 exchange money:\n  10 trains/buses/aircraft:\n  11 change hands:\n  12 change places (with somebody):\n  13 gear:\n  14 change your tune:\n  15 wind:\n  16 change your spots:  Phrasal verbs//   change something → around//   change over//  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: changier, from  Latin cambiare  ’to exchange’]//\n  1 BECOME DIFFERENT/MAKE SOMETHING DIFFERENT:   [I and T] to become different, or to make something become different//  --Susan has changed a lot since I last saw her.//  --Changing your eating habits is the best way to lose weight.//  --The rules are not going to change overnight (=change quickly) .//  --Why do the leaves on trees change colour in the autumn?//  change (from sth) to sth//  --He changed from being a nice lad to being rude and unhelpful.//  change into//  --The hissing sound gradually changed into a low hum.//  change sb/sth into sth//  --A witch had changed him into a mouse.//  change sth to sth//  --Mueller changed his name to Miller when he became a U.S. citizen.//  changing circumstances/attitudes/conditions etc //  --the changing circumstances of the family//  change drastically/radically/profoundly etc //  --Attitudes towards sexuality have radically changed.//\n  2 START DOING/USING SOMETHING DIFFERENT:   [I and T] to stop doing or using one thing, and start doing or using something else instead//   switch//  --She changed jobs in May.//  change (from sth) to sth//  --The company has recently changed to a more powerful computer system.//  --The ship changed course and headed south.//  --The company has had to change direction because of developments in technology.//  --Piper awkwardly tried to change the subject  (=talk about something else) .//\n  3 REPLACE SOMETHING:   [T] to put or use something new or different in place of something else, especially because it is old, damaged, or broken//  --Three boys were changing a tyre by the side of the road.//  --When I lost my keys, we had to change all the locks.//  change sth (from sth) to sth//  --The time of the meeting has been changed from 11 a.m. to 10:30.//  --How often do you change cars (=buy a new car and sell the old one) ?//\n  4  change your mind:  to change your decision, plan, or opinion about something//  --Her father tried to get her to change her mind.//  change your mind about//  --If you change your mind about the job, just give me a call.//\n  5  change sides:  to leave one party, group etc and join an opposing party, group etc //  --It’s quite rare for politicians to change sides.//\n  6 CLOTHES:  a)  [I and T] to take off your clothes and put on different ones//  --Francis came in while Jay was changing.//  --Change your dress - that one looks dirty.//  change into/out of//  --Sara changed into her swimsuit and ran out for a quick swim.//  --You’d better go and get changed .//  b)  [T] to put a clean nappy on a baby, or to put clean clothes on a baby or small child//  --I bathed him and changed his diaper.//  --Can you change the baby for me while I finish chopping the carrots?//\n  7 BED:   [T] to take the dirty sheets off a bed and put on clean ones//\n  8 EXCHANGE GOODS:   [T]  BrE //  a) to take back to a shop something that you have bought and get something different instead, especially because there is something wrong with it//  American Equivalent:  exchange//  change sth for sth//  --I bought these gloves for my daughter, but they’re too large. Can I change them for a smaller size?//  b) to give a customer something different instead of what they have bought, especially because there is something wrong with it//  American Equivalent:  exchange//  --I’m sure the shop will change them for you.//\n  9 EXCHANGE MONEY:   [T] //  a) to get smaller units of money that add up to the same value as a larger unit//  --Can you change a [hA124]20 note?//  b) to get money from one country for the same value of money from another country//  change sth into/for sth//  --I want to change my dollars into pesos, please.//\n  10 TRAINS/BUSES/AIRCRAFT:   [I and T] to get off one train, bus, or aircraft and into another in order to continue your journey//  change at//  --Passengers for Liverpool should change at Crewe.//  change trains/buses/planes etc //  --I had to change planes in Denver.//  all change! (=used to tell passengers to get off a train because it does not go any further) //\n  11  change hands:  if property changes hands, it starts to belong to someone else//  --The house has changed hands three times in the last two years.//\n  12  change places (with sb):  a) to give someone your place and take their place//  --Would you mind changing places with me so I can sit next to my friend?//  b) to take someone else’s social position or situation in life instead of yours//  --She may be rich, but I wouldn’t want to change places with her.//\n  13 GEAR:   [I and T] to put the engine of a vehicle into a higher or lower gear in order to go faster or slower//  change (into/out of) gear //  --Change into second gear as you approach the corner.//  change up/down//   BrE //  --Change down before you get to the hill.//\n  14  change your tune:   informal to start expressing a different attitude and reacting in a different way, after something has happened//  --The question is, will the president change his tune on taxes?//\n  15 WIND:   [I] if the wind changes, it starts to blow in a different direction//\n  16  change your spots:  to change your character completely//  --US business has changed its spots in recent years.//    chop and change at chop1 (3)//  change around [change sth → around] phr v//  to move things into different positions//  --When we’d changed the furniture around, the room looked quite different.//  change over phr v//  to stop doing or using one thing and start doing or using another//  --Complete all the exercises on one leg, then change over.//  change over to//  --We hope to change over to the new software by next month.//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: change //  to change something: alter,  adapt,  adjust,  amend,  modify,  revise,  vary //  to change a system or organization: restructure,  reorganize,  reform //  to change something completely: transform,  revolutionize //  to change facts or information, or change what someone has said: twist,  distort,  misrepresent //  easily changed: flexible,  adaptable //  impossible to change: fixed,  final,  irrevocable //  ----------//\nchange 2 n   ----------//\n   1 things becoming different:\n   2 from one thing to another:\n   3 pleasant new situation:\n   4 money:\n   5 small change:\n   6 change of clothes/underwear etc:\n   7 train/bus/aircraft:\n   8 get no change out of somebody:  ----------//\n  1 THINGS BECOMING DIFFERENT:   [U and C] the process or result of something or someone becoming different//  --Many people find it hard to cope with change.//  --scientists worried about climatic change//  change in//  --changes in the immigration laws//  --A change in personality may mean your teenager has a drug problem.//  change of//  --a change of temperature//  --No major changes were made to the book.//  change for the better/worse (=a change that makes a situation better or worse) //  --There was a change for the better in the patient’s condition.//  social/political/economic etc change //  --the sweeping political changes after the fall of communism//  --She had a change of heart  (=change in attitude) and decided to stay.//  --Family life has undergone dramatic change in recent years.//\n  2 FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER:   [C] the fact of one thing or person being replaced by another//  --The car needs an oil change.//  change of//  --a change of government//  --a change of address//  change from sth to sth//  --the gradual change from grasslands to true desert//  --The government has made some major policy changes .//\n  3 PLEASANT NEW SITUATION:   [singular] a situation or experience that is different from what happened before, and is usually interesting or enjoyable//  change from//  --The morning was cool; a welcome change from the heat of the day before.//  for a change//  --How about dinner out for a change?//  it/that makes a change (=used to say that something is better than and different from usual) //  --’Ron’s buying the drinks.’ ’That makes a change.’//  change of scene/air/pace etc (=when you go to a different place or do something different) //  --The patients benefit greatly from a change of scenery.//\n  4 MONEY:   [U] //  a) the money that you get back when you have paid for something with more money than it costs//  --Here’s your change, sir.//  make change  AmE  (=give someone change) //  --Andy was making change for a customer.//  b) money in the form of coins, not paper money//  in change//  --I have about a dollar in change.//  --Matt emptied the loose change from his pockets.//  --A beggar asked for some spare change  (=coins that you do not need) .//  c) coins or paper money that you give in exchange for the same amount of money in a larger unit//  change for [hA124]1/$10 //  --Excuse me, have you got change for a pound?//  make change  AmE  (=give someone change) //  --Can you make change for $20?//\n  5  small change:  a) coins you have that do not have a high value//  --I only had about a pound in small change.//  b) used to emphasize that something is a small amount of money when it is compared to a larger amount//  --The program costs $20 million a year, small change by Washington standards.//\n  6  change of clothes/underwear etc:  an additional set of clothes that you have with you, for example when you are travelling//\n  7 TRAIN/BUS/AIRCRAFT:   [C] a situation in which you get off one train, bus, or aircraft and get on another in order to continue your journey//  --Even with a change of trains, the subway is quicker than a cab at rush hour.//\n  8  get no change out of sb:   BrE  spoken to get no useful information or help from someone//  --I wouldn’t bother asking Richard - you’ll get no change out of him.//    ring the changes at ring2 (6)//


Words: changed
Meaning:
adj \n  1  a changed man/woman:  someone who has become very different from what they were before, as a result of a very important experience//  --Since she stopped drinking, she’s a changed woman.//\n  2 relating to a change in someone’s situation:  --All organisations need to adapt to changed circumstances.//


Words: changeling
Meaning:
n [C]    literary a baby that is believed to have been secretly exchanged for another baby by fairies//


Words: changeover
Meaning:
n [C]   a change from one activity, system, or way of working to another//  changeover (from sth) to sth//  --a changeover from military to civilian government//


Words: Changing of the Guard
Meaning:
the   a ceremony that takes place regularly outside  Buckingham Palace in London, in which the soldiers who have been guarding the palace are replaced by others//


Words: changing room
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a room where people change their clothes when they play sports, go swimming etc//  American Equivalent:  locker room//


Words: channel
Meaning:
W2S3   n [C]   ----------//\n   1 television:\n   2 for getting information/goods etc:\n   3 sea/river:\n   4 water:\n   5 radio:\n   6 in a surface:\n   7 way to express yourself:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: chanel, from  Latin canalis;   CANAL]//\n  1 TELEVISION:  a television station and all the programmes that it broadcasts//  --the news on Channel 4//  --The kids are watching cartoons on the Disney Channel.//  --What channel is ER on?//  --He changed channels to watch the basketball game.//\n  2 FOR GETTING INFORMATION/GOODS ETC:  a system or method that you use to send or obtain information, goods, permission etc//  --The United States and other countries are working through diplomatic channels to find a solution.//  --The new software will be sold through existing distribution channels .//  channel of//  --It is important that we open channels of communication with the police.//\n  3 SEA/RIVER:  a) an area of water that connects two larger areas of water//  --St George’s Channel//  b)  the Channel//   BrE the area of water between France and England//   the English Channel//  c) the deepest part of a river, harbour, or sea, especially where it is deep enough to allow ships to sail in//\n  4 WATER:  a passage that water or other liquids flow along//  --an irrigation channel//\n  5 RADIO:  a particular range of sound waves which can be used to send and receive radio messages//\n  6 IN A SURFACE:  a long deep line cut into a surface or a long deep space between two edges//   groove//  --The sliding doors fit into these plastic channels.//\n  7 WAY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF:  a way of expressing your thoughts, feelings, or physical energy//  channel for//  --Art provides a channel for the children’s creativity.//\nchannel 2   past tense and past participle  channelled present participle  channelling  BrE //  past tense and past participle  channeled present participle  channeling  AmE  v [T] //\n  1 to control and direct something such as money or energy towards a particular purpose:   direct//  channel sth into sth//  --Most of his energy was channeled into writing and lecturing.//  channel sth to sb//  --Profits are channelled to conservation groups.//  channel sth through sth//  --The famine relief money was channelled through the UN.//\n  2 to control or direct people or things to a particular place, work, situation etc:  channel sb/sth into sth//  --Women were likely to be channeled into jobs as teachers or nurses.//  --Drugs from government pharmacies were being channeled into illegal drug markets.//\n  3 to cut a long deep line in something:  --Water had channelled grooves in the rock.//\n  4 to send water through a passage:  --An efficient irrigation system channels water to the crops.//\n  5 to allow a spirit to come into your body and speak through you, to tell people a message that you have received in this way:  --She claims to channel the spirit of a 2,000-year-old hunter.//\nChannel 4   one of the five main television stations in the UK. It broadcasts a wide range of programmes.//  --a late-night talk show on Channel 4//  --the Channel 4 News//\nChannel 5   one of the five main television stations in the UK. It broadcasts popular programmes and films.//


Words: Channel Islands
Meaning:
the Channel Islands//  a group of British islands in the English Channel near the coast of France. The main islands are Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark.//


Words: channel surfing channel hopping
Meaning:
n [U]   when you change from one television channel to another, only watching a few minutes of any programme//


Words: Channel Tunnel
Meaning:
the Channel Tunnel//  a railway  tunnel which runs under the English Channel, connecting England and France//


Words: channelling
Meaning:
BrE  channeling AmE   n [U]   a practice based on the belief that dead people can communicate with living people by making their spirit enter a living person’s body and speaking through them//  -- channeller n  [C] //


Words: chant
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: chanter  ’to sing’, from  Latin cantare, from  canere]//\n  1 to repeat a word or phrase again and again:  --protestors chanting anti-government slogans//\n  2 to sing or say a religious song or prayer in a way that involves using only one note or tone:  --a priest chanting the liturgy//\nchant 2 n [C] \n  1 words or phrases that are repeated again and again by a group of people:  --Others in the crowd took up the chant (=began chanting) .//  chant of//  --chants of ’oh no, we won’t go’//\n  2 a regularly repeated tune, often with many words sung on one note, especially used for religious prayers:  -- chanter n  [C] //


Words: chantry
Meaning:
n  also chantry chapel   plural  chantries  [C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: chanterie  ’singing’, from  chanter;   CHANT1]//  a small church or part of a church paid for by someone so that priests can pray for them there after they die//


Words: chaos
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek]//\n  1 a situation in which everything is happening in a confused way and nothing is organized or arranged in order:  --The country was plunged into economic chaos.//  complete/utter/absolute etc chaos //  --There was total chaos on the roads.//  in chaos//  --The kitchen was in chaos.//\n  2 the state of the universe before there was any order:


Words: chaotic
Meaning:
adj   a chaotic situation is one in which everything is happening in a confused way//  --a chaotic mixture of images//


Words: chap
Meaning:
S3   n   [Sense: 1; Date: 1500-1600; Origin: chapman  ’traveling seller of goods’ (11-19 centuries), from  Old English ceapman, from  ceap (  CHEAP1) +  man]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1800-1900; Language: Mexican Spanish; Origin: chappareras, from  Spanish chaparro;   CHAPARRAL]//\n  1 [C]  especially BrE a man, especially a man you know and like:  --a decent sort of chap//\n  2  chaps [plural] protective leather covers worn over your trousers when riding a horse:    chapped//


Words: chaparral
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Spanish; Origin: chaparro type of small oak tree, from  Basque txapar]//   AmE land on which small oak trees grow close together//


Words: chapbook
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: chapman (  CHAP2) +  book]//   AmE a small printed book, usually consisting of writings about literature, poetry, or religion//


Words: chapel
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: chapele, from  Medieval Latin cappella, from  Late Latin cappa  ’cloak’ (  CAP1); because the cloak of St. Martin of Tours was kept in such a building]//\n  1 [C] a small church, or a room in a hospital, prison, big church etc in which Christians pray and have religious services:\n  2 [C] a building where Christians who are Nonconformists have religious services:\n  3 [U]  BrE the religious services held in a chapel:  --Bethan goes to chapel every Sunday.//\n  4 [C]  BrE the members of a union in the newspaper or printing industry:\nchaperone 1  chaperon/[hA35D][zB024]p[hA353]r[hA353][hA35E]n $ -ro[hA35E]n/ n [C] \n  1 an older woman in the past who went out with a young unmarried woman on social occasions and was responsible for her behaviour:\n  2  AmE someone, usually a parent or teacher, who is responsible for young people on social occasions:  --Three parents went on the school ski trip as chaperones.//\nchaperone 2 chaperon  v [T]   to go somewhere with someone as a chaperone//


Words: chaplain
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: chapelain, from  Medieval Latin cappellanus, from  cappella;   CHAPEL]//  a priest or other religious minister responsible for the religious needs of a club, the army, a hospital etc//  --the prison chaplain//


Words: chaplaincy
Meaning:
n   plural  chaplaincies  [C] //  the job of being a chaplain, or the place where a chaplain works//


Words: Chaplin
Meaning:
Sir Charles (Charlie)   (1889-1977) a British film actor and  director who worked mainly in the US in humorous  silent films (=films made with no sound) during the 1920s//


Words: chapped
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: chap  ’to chop, crack open’ (14-21 centuries)]//  chapped lips or hands are sore, dry, and cracked, especially as a result of cold weather or wind//  -- chap v  [T] //


Words: chapter
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: chapitre, from  Late Latin capitulum, from  Latin caput  ’head’]//\n  1 one of the parts into which a book is divided:  --Read Chapter 11 as your homework.//  --This chapter discusses power, and how people use it.//\n  2 a particular period or event in someone’s life or in history:  chapter of//  --We hope that they will join us in opening a new chapter of peace and cooperation.//  chapter in//  --the noblest chapter in our history//\n  3 all the priests belonging to a cathedral, or a meeting of these priests:\n  4 the local members of a large organization such as a club:  --the local chapter of the American Legion//\n  5  give/quote sb chapter and verse:  to give someone exact details about where to find some information//\n  6  a chapter of accidents:   BrE a series of unlucky events coming one after another//\nChapter 11   a part of the US  bankruptcy laws that allows a company with financial problems to reorganize itself so that it will not be forced to close down//  --Our competitor has filed for Chapter 11.//  --Chapter 11 proceedings//


Words: char
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  charred present participle  charring //  [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: charcoal]//\n  1 [I and T] to burn something so that its outside becomes black:  --Roast the peppers until the skin begins to char and blister.//    charred//\n  2 [I]  BrE  old-fashioned to work as a cleaner in a house, office, public building etc:\nchar 2 n \n  1 [C]  BrE  old-fashioned a charwoman:\n  2 [U]  BrE  old-fashioned tea:  --a cup of char//


Words: charabanc
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  old-fashioned   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: char-a-bancs  ’carriage with benches’]//  a large comfortable bus used for pleasure trips//


Words: character
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 all somebody’s qualities:\n   2 person:\n   3 qualities of something:\n   4 moral strength:\n   5 interesting quality:\n   6 reputation:\n   7 letter/sign:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: caractere, from  Latin character  ’mark, particular quality’, from  Greek, from  charassein  ’to make a mark in a surface’]//\n  1 ALL SOMEBODY’S QUALITIES:   [C usually singular] the particular combination of qualities that makes someone a particular type of person//    characteristic//  --He has a cheerful but quiet character.//  --Children grow up with a mixture of character traits  (=character qualities) from both sides of their family.//  --his temper and other character flaws  (=bad qualities) //  in character/out of character (=typical or untypical of someone’s character) //  --He swore, which was out of character for him.//  the English/French etc character //  --Openness is at the heart of the American character.//  character sketch (=a description of someone’s character) //\n  2 PERSON:   [C] //  a) a person in a book, play, film etc//  --Candida is the most interesting character in the play.//  main/central character //  --In the story, the main character has left his girlfriend and baby.//  --Everyone recognizes Disney’s cartoon characters .//  b) a person of a particular type, especially a strange or dishonest one//  --a couple of shady characters standing on the corner//  --I’m considered a reformed character these days (=someone who has stopped doing bad things) .//  c) an interesting and unusual person//  --Linda was something of a character.//\n  3 QUALITIES OF SOMETHING:   [singular,U] the particular combination of features and qualities that makes a thing or place different from all others//   nature//  character of//  --The whole character of the school has changed.//  --the unspoilt character of the coast//  in character//  --The southern state became more nationalist in character.//\n  4 MORAL STRENGTH:   [U] a combination of qualities such as courage, loyalty, and honesty that are admired and regarded as valuable//  --a woman of great character//  --Schools were created to teach reading and mathematics, not moral character.//  --It takes strength of character to admit you are wrong.//  --outdoor programs that are meant to be character building  (=develop good moral qualities) //\n  5 INTERESTING QUALITY:   [U] a quality that makes someone or something special and interesting//  --a red wine with a meaty character//  --suburban houses that lack character//\n  6 REPUTATION:   [U]  formal the opinion that people have about whether you are a good person and can be trusted//  --a man of previous good character //  --The campaign was accused of character assassination  (=an unfair attack on someone’s character) because of its negative ads.//  --His defence called several people as character witnesses  (=people who think that someone has a good character) .//  --Mr Wetherby wrote him a character reference  (=a statement about his good qualities) .//\n  7 LETTER/SIGN:   [C] a letter, mark, or sign used in writing, printing, or on a computer//  --the Chinese character for horse//


Words: character actor
Meaning:
n [C]   an actor who typically plays unusual characters, rather than the most important characters//


Words: characteristic
Meaning:
W2S3   n [C usually plural]   a quality or feature of something or someone that is typical of them and easy to recognize//  characteristic of//  --a baby discovering the physical characteristics of objects//  defining/distinguishing characteristic (=one that separates someone or something from others of the same type) //  --Violent images are a defining characteristic of his work.//\ncharacteristic 2 adj   very typical of a particular thing or of someone’s character//  --the highly characteristic  (=very typical) flint walls of the local houses//  characteristic of//  --the qualities that were characteristic of the Nixon administration//  -- characteristically/-kli/ adv //


Words: characterization
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 the way in which a writer makes a person in a book, film, or play seem like a real person:  --Pilcher’s books are full of humour, good characterization, and lively dialogue.//\n  2 the way in which the character of a real person or thing is described:  characterization of sb/sth as sth//  --the characterization of the enemy as ’cruel fanatics’//


Words: characterize
Meaning:
W3  also  characterise BrE   v [T] \n  1 to describe the qualities of someone or something in a particular way:   portray//  characterize sb as (being) sth//  --The group was characterized as being well-educated and liberal.//\n  2 to be typical of a person, place, or thing:  --Bright colours characterize his paintings.//


Words: charade
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Proven[hA168]al charrado  ’conversation’]//\n  1  charades [U] a game in which one person uses actions and no words to show the meaning of a word or phrase, and other people have to guess what it is:\n  2 [C] a situation in which people behave as though something is true or serious, when it is not really true:  --Unless more money is given to schools, all this talk of improving education is just a charade.//


Words: charbroil
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: charcoal +  broil]//   AmE to cook food over a very hot charcoal fire//  -- charbroiled adj //


Words: charcoal
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from  char  ’to turn’ (11-17 centuries) (from  Old English cerran) +  coal]//\n  1 [U] a black substance made of burned wood that can be used as fuel:  --cooking over a charcoal fire//\n  2 [U and C] a stick of this substance used for drawing:  --a sketch drawn in charcoal//\n  3  also charcoal grey :   [U] a dark grey colour//  -- charcoal adj //


Words: chard
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: carde, from  Latin cardus;   CARD2]//  a vegetable with large leaves//


Words: Chardonnay
Meaning:
1 a type of  grape grown for making wine:\n  2 a type of white wine made from Chardonnay grapes and produced in many countries throughout the world:


Words: charge
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 price:\n   2 control:\n   3 somebody/something you look after:\n   4 crime:\n   5 blame:\n   6 attack:\n   7 effort:\n   8 electricity:\n   9 explosive:\n  10 strength of feelings:\n  11 get a charge out of something:\n  12 an order to do something:  ----------//\n  1 PRICE:   [U and C] the amount of money you have to pay for goods or services//  --Gas charges will rise in July.//  charge of//  --an admission charge of $5//  charge for//  --There’s a 50 pence booking charge for each ticket.//  --Guided tours are provided at no charge .//  --Your order will be sent free of charge  (=at no cost) .//  --The shop will fit them for a small extra charge .//\n  2 CONTROL:   [U] the position of having control or responsibility for a group of people or an activity//  in charge (of sth)//  --He asked to speak to the person in charge.//  --the officer in charge of the investigation//  --Stern put Travis in charge of  (=gave him control of) the research team.//  --Owens came in and took charge of  (=took control of) the situation.//  --A commander in each county was to have charge of the local militia.//\n  3 SOMEBODY/SOMETHING YOU LOOK AFTER:  a)  be in/under sb’s charge//  if someone or something is in your charge, you are responsible for looking after them//  --teachers that do their best for the children in their charge//  --The files were left in your charge.//  b)  [C]  formal someone that you are responsible for looking after//  --Sarah bought some chocolate for her three young charges.//\n  4 CRIME:   [C] an official statement made by the police saying that they believe someone may be guilty of a crime//  charge against//  --He was found guilty of all six charges against him.//  --Phillips was arrested on drug charges.//  --The following morning, he was arrested  on a charge of  burglary.//  --Young appeared in court  on a  murder  charge .//  charge of//  --Higgins is  facing a charge  of armed robbery.//  --As it was his first offence, the store agreed not to  press charges .//  --Police dropped the charges against him because of insufficient evidence.//  --Nine people have  pleaded guilty to  various  charges .//  --Green was  cleared of  all  charges  against him.//\n  5 BLAME:   [C] a written or spoken statement blaming someone for doing something bad or illegal//   allegation//  charge that//  --the charge that tobacco companies target young people with their ads//  charge of//  --a charge of racial discrimination against the company//  deny/counter a charge (=say that a charge is untrue) //  --Wallace denied charges that he had lied to investigators.//  lay/leave yourself open to a charge of sth (=be likely to be blamed for something) //  --The speech laid him open to charges of political bias.//\n  6 ATTACK:   [C] an attack in which soldiers or animals move towards someone or something very quickly//\n  7 EFFORT:   lead the charge//  to make a strong effort to do something//  --It was small businesses that led the charge against health care changes.//\n  8 ELECTRICITY:   [U] electricity that is put into a piece of electrical equipment such as a battery//  on charge//   (=taking in a charge of electricity) //  --Leave the battery on charge all night.//\n  9 EXPLOSIVE:   [C] an explosive put into something such as a bomb or gun//\n  10 STRENGTH OF FEELINGS:   [singular] the power of strong feelings//  --Cases of child abuse have a strong emotional charge.//\n  11  get a charge out of sth:   AmE  spoken to be excited by something and enjoy it very much//  --I got a real charge out of seeing my niece take her first steps.//\n  12 AN ORDER TO DO SOMETHING:   [C]  formal an order to do something//  charge to do sth//  --The old servant fulfilled his master’s charge to care for the children.//    reverse the charges at reverse1 (6)//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 4 //  on a charge (of something) //  bring/press charges (=state officially that someone is guilty of a crime) //  face charges (=be accused of a crime) //  drop the charges (=decide to stop making charges) //  deny a charge //  admit a charge //  plead guilty to a charge //  be released without charge //  be cleared/acquitted of a charge (=when someone is officially not guilty at the end of a trial) //  be convicted of a charge (=when someone is found guilty at the end of a trial) //  ----------//\ncharge 2 v   ----------//\n   1 money:\n   2 crime:\n   3 blame somebody:\n   4 run:\n   5 attack:\n   6 electricity:\n   7 order somebody:\n   8 gun:\n   9 glass:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: chargier, from  Late Latin carricare, from  Latin carrus;   CAR]//\n  1 MONEY:  a)  [I and T] to ask someone for a particular amount of money for something you are selling//  --The hotel charges $125 a night.//  charge sb [hA124]10/$50 etc (for sth) //  --The restaurant charged us [hA124]40 for the wine.//  charge sth at sth//  --Calls will be charged at 44p per minute.//  charge for//  --We won’t charge for delivery if you pay now.//  charge rent/a fee/interest etc //  --The gallery charges an entrance fee.//  b)  charge sth to sb’s account/room etc//  to record the cost of something on someone’s account, so that they can pay for it later//  --Wilson charged the drinks to his room.//  --Use a courier and charge it to the department.//  c)  [T]  AmE to pay for something with a credit card//  charge sth on sth//  --I charged the shoes on Visa.//  --’How would you like to pay?’ ’I’ll charge it .’//\n  2 CRIME:   [T] to state officially that someone may be guilty of a crime//  charge sb with sth//  --Gibbons has been charged with murder.//\n  3 BLAME SOMEBODY:   [T]  formal to say publicly that you think someone has done something wrong//  charge that//  --Demonstrators have charged that the police used excessive force against them.//\n  4 RUN:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to deliberately run or walk somewhere quickly//  charge around/through/out etc//  --The boys charged noisily into the water.//\n  5 ATTACK:   [I and T] to deliberately rush quickly towards someone or something in order to attack them//  --Then, with a final effort, our men charged the enemy for the last time.//  charge at/towards/into//  --The bear charged towards her at full speed.//\n  6 ELECTRICITY:   [I and T]  also charge up //  if a  battery charges, or if you charge it, it takes in and stores electricity//  --The shaver can be charged up and used while travelling.//\n  7 ORDER SOMEBODY:   [T]  formal to order someone to do something or make them responsible for it//  charge sb with doing sth//  --The commission is charged with investigating war crimes.//\n  8 GUN:   [T]  old use to load a gun//\n  9 GLASS:   [T]  BrE  formal to fill a glass//    charged//


Words: charge account
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE an account you have at a shop that allows you to take goods away with you now and pay later//


Words: charge card
Meaning:
n [C]   a plastic card from a particular shop that you can use to buy goods there and pay for them later//    credit card//


Words: charge d’affaires
Meaning:
n   plural  charges d’affaires  (same pronunciation)  [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ’person given responsibility for affairs’]//  an official who represents a particular government during the absence of an ambassador or in a country where there is no ambassador//


Words: Charge of the Light Brigade
Meaning:
the   an unsuccessful attack made by the British  cavalry (=soldiers riding horses)  during the  Crimean War. Many British soldiers were killed because they were ordered to ride into a valley which was full of Russian soldiers with heavy guns.  Tennyson describes this battle in his poem  The Charge of the Light Brigade,//


Words: charge sheet
Meaning:
n [C]   a record kept in a police station of the names of people the police have stated may be guilty of a particular crime//


Words: chargeable
Meaning:
adj  BrE \n  1 needing to be paid for:  --Advice will be given as a chargeable service.//\n  2 something that is chargeable must have tax paid on it:  --chargeable assets//


Words: charged
Meaning:
adj   a charged situation or subject makes people feel very angry, anxious, or excited, and is likely to cause arguments or violence//  --the charged atmosphere in the room//  --a highly charged debate//


Words: charger
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a piece of equipment used to put electricity into a battery:\n  2  literary a horse that a soldier or knight rides in battle:


Words: chariot
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: char  ’vehicle with wheels’, from  Latin carrus;   CAR]//  a vehicle with two wheels pulled by a horse, used in ancient times in battles and races//


Words: charisma
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: ’favor, gift’, from  charizesthai  ’to favor’]//  a natural ability to attract and interest other people and make them admire you//  --He lacks charisma.//


Words: charismatic
Meaning:
adj \n  1 having charisma:  --Martin Luther King was a very charismatic speaker.//\n  2  charismatic church/movement:  groups of Christians who believe that God can give them special abilities, for example the ability to cure illness//


Words: charitable
Meaning:
adj \n  1 relating to giving help to the poor:  → uncharitable//    charity//  --charitable groups//  --a charitable donation//\n  2 kind and sympathetic in the way you judge people:  --a charitable view of his actions//  -- charitably adv //


Words: charity
Meaning:
W3S2   n   plural  charities //  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: charite, from  Late Latin caritas  ’Christian love’, from  Latin carus  ’dear’]//\n  1 [C] an organization that gives money, goods, or help to people who are poor, sick etc:    charitable//  --Several charities sent aid to the flood victims.//  charity event/walk/concert etc (=an event organized to collect money for a charity) //\n  2 [U] charity organizations in general:  --All the money raised by the concert will go to charity .//  for charity//  --The children raised over [hA124]200 for charity.//\n  3 [U] money or gifts given to help people who are poor, sick etc:  --refugees living on charity//  --Her pride wouldn’t allow her to accept charity .//\n  4 [U]  formal kindness or sympathy that you show towards other people:  --Mother Teresa’s works of charity//  --Newspaper reports showed him little charity .//\n  5  charity begins at home:  a phrase meaning that you should take care of your own family, country etc before you help other people//


Words: Charity Commission
Meaning:
the   a British organization that keeps records of any organization that has been officially recognized as a  charity and controls the way that charities are operated//


Words: charity shop
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a shop that sells used goods that are given to it, in order to collect money for a charity//


Words: charlady
Meaning:
n   plural  charladies  [C]  BrE  old-fashioned //  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  CHARWOMAN]//  a charwoman//


Words: charlatan
Meaning:
n [C]  literary   someone who pretends to have special skills or knowledge - used to show disapproval//


Words: Charlemagne
Meaning:
(742-814) the King of the Franks. who gained control of most of western Europe in 800 by uniting its Christian countries. The Pope gave him the title of "Holy Roman Emperor". Charlemagne had a great influence on European  civilization, by establishing a new legal system and encouraging art, literature, and education.//


Words: Charles
Meaning:
Prince   (1948-) the first son of the British queen, Elizabeth II, who is expected to become the next British king. His official royal title is the  Prince of Wales.//


Words: Charles I
Meaning:
King   (1600-49) the king of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1625 to 1649. He often disagreed with Parliament and made many unpopular political decisions, and so helped to cause the English  Civil War. As a result he was  executed in 1649.//


Words: Charles II
Meaning:
King   (1630-85) the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland who was the son of Charles I. He officially became king after his father’s death in 1649, but he did not return to England to rule until the end of the English  Civil War in 1660. He is sometimes called "the Merry Monarch"//    restoration//


Words: Charles James Fox
Meaning:
(1749-1806) a British politician who was against the slave trade and the taxing of the American colonies//\n George   (1624-91) an English religious leader who started the Christian group the Society of Friends, who are also called  Quakers//


Words: Charleston
Meaning:
1 the capital city of the US state of West Virginia:\n  2  the Charleston:  a quick dance, popular in the 1920s//


Words: charley horse
Meaning:
n [C, singular]  AmE  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Charley male name, from  Charles]//  a pain in a large muscle, for example in your leg, caused by the muscle becoming tight//   cramp//


Words: Charley’s Aunt
Meaning:
a popular  farce (=silly humorous play)  by Brandon Thomas (1856-1914) about a man who dresses up as an old lady and pretends to be his friend’s aunt//


Words: charlie
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  spoken   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  From the male first name  Charlie, from  Charles]//  a stupid person//  feel a right/proper charlie (=feel very stupid) //


Words: Charlie Brown
Meaning:
trademark   a character from the US cartoon strip called peanuts by Charles Schultz. Charlie Brown is a nice boy who is not very confident and is often unlucky. He has a pet dog called Snoopy.//


Words: charm
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: charme, from  Latin carmen  ’song’, from  canere  ’to sing’]//\n  1 [U and C] a special quality someone or something has that makes people like them, feel attracted to them, or be easily influenced by them - used to show approval:    charming//  --Robert’s boyish charm//  charm of//  --the charm of this small Southern city//  --She turned on the charm  (=used her charm) to everyone she met.//  --The room had no windows and all the charm of a prison cell (=used to say that something has no charm) .//\n  2 [C] a very small object worn on a chain or bracelet:  --a charm bracelet//  --a small gold horseshoe worn as a lucky charm //\n  3 [C] a phrase or action believed to have special magic powers:   spell//\n  4  work like a charm:  to work exactly as you had hoped//  --The new sales program has worked like a charm.//\ncharm 2 v [T] \n  1 to attract someone and make them like you, sometimes in order to make them do something for you:    charming//  --We were charmed by the friendliness of the local people.//\n  2 to please and interest someone:  --a story that has charmed generations of children//\n  3 to gain power over someone or something by using magic:


Words: charm school
Meaning:
n [C]  especially AmE   a school where young women were sometimes sent in the past to learn how to behave politely and gracefully//


Words: charmed
Meaning:
adj   have/lead a charmed life//  to be lucky all the time, so that although you are often in dangerous situations nothing ever harms you//


Words: charmed circle
Meaning:
n [singular]  written   a group of people who have special power or influence//  --politicians outside the charmed circle//


Words: charmer
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who uses their charm to please or influence people//  --Even at ten years old, he was a real charmer.//    snake charmer//


Words: charming
Meaning:
adj   very pleasing or attractive//  --a charming little Italian restaurant//  --Harry can be very charming.//  -- charmingly adv //


Words: charnel house
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: charnel, from  Medieval Latin carnale, from  Late Latin carnalis;   CARNAL]//   literary a place where the bodies and bones of dead people are stored//


Words: Charon
Meaning:
in Greek  mythology, the  ferryman who took the souls of dead people in his boat across the river  Styx to  Hades//


Words: charred
Meaning:
adj   something that is charred has been burned until it is black//  --the charred remains of a body//


Words: chart
Meaning:
W3S3   n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: charte, from  Latin charta  ’piece of papyrus, document’, from  Greek chartes]//\n  1 information that is clearly arranged in the form of a simple picture, set of figures, graph etc, or a piece of paper with this information on it:   diagram//  --a chart showing last year’s sales//  --a weather chart//  --the theatre’s seating chart//\n  2  the charts:  the lists, which come out weekly, of the most popular records//  --Her new single went straight to number one in the pop charts .//  --Brooks again topped the  charts  (=was the most popular) .//  chart hit/success/star etc //  --the Beatles’ first chart hit//\n  3 a detailed map, especially of an area of the sea or the stars:    bar chart,  flow chart,  pie chart//\nchart 2 v [T] \n  1 to record information about a situation or set of events over a period of time, in order to see how it changes or develops:  --Scientists have been charting temperature changes in the oceans.//\n  2 to make a plan of what should be done to achieve a particular result:  --Each team was responsible for making its own decisions and charting its own course.//\n  3 to make a map of an area of land, sea, or stars, or to draw lines on a map to show where you have travelled:    uncharted//


Words: chart-topping
Meaning:
adj   chart-topping record/group/hit etc//  a record, group etc that has sold the most records in a particular week//


Words: charter
Meaning:
W3   n   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: chartre, from  Medieval Latin chartula, from  Latin charta;   CHART1]//\n  1 [C] a statement of the principles, duties, and purposes of an organization:  --the freedoms embodied in the UN charter//\n  2 [U] the practice of paying money to a company to use their boats, aircraft, etc, or the boat, aircraft etc used in this way:  --boats available for charter//  --a charter service//\n  3 [C] a signed statement from a government or ruler which allows a town, organization, or university to officially exist and have special rights:  --The town’s charter was granted in 1838.//\n  4 [singular]  BrE  informal a law or official decision that seems to give someone the right to do something most people consider morally wrong:  --Reducing the number of police is just a thieves’ charter.//\ncharter 2 v [T] \n  1 to pay a company for the use of their aircraft, boat etc:  --We chartered a boat to take us to some of the smaller islands.//\n  2 to say officially that a town, organization, or university officially exists and has special rights:


Words: charter flight
Meaning:
n [C]   an aircraft journey that is arranged for a particular group or for a particular purpose, and that usually costs less than an ordinary aircraft journey//    scheduled flight//


Words: charter school
Meaning:
n [C]   a school in the US that is run by parents, companies etc rather than by the public school system, but which the state government supports//


Words: chartered
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  BrE   chartered accountant/surveyor/engineer etc//  an accountant, surveyor etc who has successfully completed special examinations//


Words: Chartists
Meaning:
the   a political group of people that was active in the UK in the 1830s and 1840s. They demanded changes such as giving all men the right to vote and the right to become Members of Parliament. Some of them were sent to prisons in Australia as a punishment.//


Words: chartreuse
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Chartreuse type of strong alcoholic drink, either green or yellow in color, from  French chartreuse  ’monastery used by a particular religious group’; because the drink is made by this religious group]//\n  1 a green or yellow alcoholic drink:\n  2 a bright yellow-green colour:


Words: charwoman
Meaning:
n   plural  charwomen /-w[hA366]m[hA366]n/ [C]  BrE  old-fashioned //  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: chare  ’work’ (14-19 centuries) (from  chare  ’turn, piece of work’ (11-17 centuries), from  Old English cerr) +  woman]//  a woman who works as a cleaner, especially in someone’s house//


Words: chary
Meaning:
adj  especially BrE   [Language: Old English; Origin: cearig  ’sad, anxious’, from  caru;   CARE1]//  unwilling to risk doing something//  chary about/of doing sth//  --Banks were chary of lending the company more money.//


Words: chase
Meaning:
S3   v   ----------//\n   1 follow:\n   2 make somebody/something leave:\n   3 try to get something:\n   4 hurry:\n   5 romance:\n   6 metal:\n   7 chase the dragon:  Phrasal verbs//   chase somebody/something → down//   chase somebody/something → up//  ----------//  [Sense: 1-5, 7; Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chacier, from  Vulgar Latin captiare;   CATCH1]//  [Sense: 6; Date: 1400-1500; Origin: enchase  ’to set (a jewel)’ (15-21 centuries), from  French ench[hA163]sser, from  ch[hA163]sse  ’case, setting’, from  Latin capsa;   CASE1]//\n  1 FOLLOW:   [I and T] to quickly follow someone or something in order to catch them//  --The dogs saw him running and chased him.//  --kids chasing around the house//  chase sb along/down/up sth etc//  --The police chased the suspect along Severn Avenue.//  chase after//  --A gang of boys chased after her, calling her names.//\n  2 MAKE SOMEBODY/SOMETHING LEAVE:   [T always + adverb/preposition] to make someone or something leave, especially by following them for a short distance and threatening them//  chase sb away/off//  --The men were chased off by troops, who fired warning shots.//  chase sb out of sth//  --Anne went to chase the dog out of the garden.//\n  3 TRY TO GET SOMETHING:   [I and T] to use a lot of time and effort trying to get something such as work or money//  --Top graduates from the university are chased by major companies.//  chase after//  --reporters chasing after a story//\n  4 HURRY:   [I always + adverb/preposition]  BrE to rush or hurry somewhere//  chase around/up/down etc//  --I was chasing around getting everything organized.//\n  5 ROMANCE:   [T] to try hard to make someone notice you and pay attention to you, because you want to have a romantic relationship with them//  --’Sometimes a girl wants to be chased,’ Amelia said.//\n  6 METAL:   [T]  technical to decorate metal with a special tool//  --chased silver//\n  7  chase the dragon:   informal to smoke the drug heroin//  chase down [chase sb/sth → down] phr v//  to find something or someone that you have been looking for//  --We had to chase down everyone we’d sold a bike to.//  chase up [chase sb/sth → up] phr v//\n  1 to remind someone to do something they promised to do for you:  --David hasn’t paid yet - you’d better chase him up.//\n  2 to try to make something happen or arrive more quickly, because it has been taking too long:  --Can you chase up those photos for me tomorrow?//\nchase 2 n \n  1 [C] the act of following someone or something quickly in order to catch them:  --a high-speed car chase //  --Police spotted the car and gave chase  (=chased it) .//\n  2 [singular] when you use a lot of time and effort trying to get something:  chase after//  --the chase after higher-paying jobs//    paper chase,  wild goose chase//


Words: chaser
Meaning:
n [C]   a weaker alcoholic drink which is drunk after a strong one, or a stronger alcoholic drink which is drunk after a weak one//  --a pint of bitter and a whisky chaser//


Words: chasm
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: chasma, from  Greek]//\n  1 [C] a very deep space between two areas of rock or ice, especially one that is dangerous:  --a rope bridge across the chasm//\n  2 [singular] a big difference between two people, groups, or things:  chasm between//  --the chasm between rich and poor//


Words: chassis
Meaning:
n   plural  chassis /-si[hA359]z/ [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: ch[hA163]ssis, from  Latin capsa;   CASE1]//\n  1 the frame on which the body, engine, wheels etc of a vehicle are built:\n  2 the landing equipment of a plane:


Words: chaste
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin castus  ’pure’]//\n  1  old-fashioned not having sex with anyone, or not with anyone except your husband or wife:    celibate, chastity//  --She led a chaste, decent life.//\n  2 not showing sexual feelings:  --a chaste kiss on the cheek//\n  3 simple and plain in style:  --a chaste nightgown//  -- chastely adv //


Words: chasten
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: chaste  ’to chasten’ (12-17 centuries), from  Old French chastier, from  Latin castigare;   CASTIGATE]//  to make someone realize that their behaviour was wrong or mistaken//  --Party workers have returned to their home towns, chastened by their overwhelming defeat.//  -- chastening adj //  --a chastening experience//


Words: chastise
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: chaste  ’to chasten’;   CHASTEN]//\n  1  formal to criticize someone severely:  --’You’re a fool,’ she chastised herself.//\n  2  old-fashioned to physically punish someone:  -- chastisement n  [U and C] //


Words: chastity
Meaning:
n [U]   the principle or state of not having sex with anyone, or not with anyone except your husband or wife//


Words: chat
Meaning:
S2   n [U and C]    especially BrE an informal friendly conversation//  chat with//  --I’ve had a long chat with Vinnie.//  chat about//  --a chat about the weather//  --She was enjoying their friendly little chat .//  --She used to drop in for a chat quite often.//    backchat//\nchat 2   past tense and past participle  chatted present participle  chatting  v [I] //  [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: chatter]//\n  1  also chat away :   especially BrE to talk in a friendly informal way, especially about things that are not important//  --John and I sat up until the early hours chatting.//  chat with/to//  --Mary was there, chatting to her mother.//  chat about//  --Susie chatted away about her social life.//\n  2 to communicate with several people in a chat room on the Internet:  chat up [chat sb → up] phr v//   BrE  informal to talk to someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them//  --I spent the evening chatting up Liz.//


Words: chat line
Meaning:
n [C]   a telephone service that people call to talk to other people who have called the same service//


Words: chat room
Meaning:
n [C]   a place on the Internet where you can write messages to other people and receive messages back from them immediately, so that you can have a conversation while you are online//


Words: chat show
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a television or radio show on which people talk about themselves in reply to questions//  American Equivalent:  talk show//  --a TV chat show host  (=person who asks the questions on the show) //


Words: chat-up line
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE something that someone says in order to start a conversation with someone they think is sexually attractive//


Words: chateau
Meaning:
n   plural  chateaux /-t[hA353][hA35E]z $ -to[hA35E]z/ [C] //  a castle or large country house in France//


Words: chatelaine
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ch[hA163]telaine, from  Latin castellana, from  castellum;   CASTLE]//   formal the female owner, or wife of the owner, of a castle or large country house in France//


Words: Chattanooga
Meaning:
an industrial city in southeast Tennessee in the US. It was the scene of fierce fighting during the American Civil War.//


Words: chattel
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chatel  ’property’, from  Latin capitalis;   CAPITAL2]//   law  old-fashioned a piece of personal property that you can move from one place to another//  --a society in which women are considered to be chattels//    goods and chattels//


Words: chatter
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1  also chatter away/on :  to talk quickly in a friendly way without stopping, especially about things that are not serious or important//  --She chattered away happily until she noticed I wasn’t listening.//  --She chattered excitedly like a child.//  chatter about//  --We were chattering about the events of last night.//\n  2 if birds or monkeys chatter, they make short high sounds:\n  3 if your teeth are chattering, you are so cold or frightened that your teeth are knocking together:\n  4  the chattering classes:   BrE educated middle-class people who like to discuss and have opinions about recent events and situations in society//  -- chatterer n  [C] //\nchatter 2 n [U] \n  1 informal talk, especially about things that are not serious or important:  chatter of//  --the excited chatter of the audience//  --Jane’s constant chatter was annoying him.//  --gossip and idle chatter //  --She was full of chatter about her new friends.//\n  2 a series of short high sounds made by some birds or monkeys:  chatter of//  --the chatter of birds//\n  3 a hard quick repeated sound made by your teeth knocking together or by machines:  chatter of//  --the chatter of the printer//


Words: chatty
Meaning:
adj \n  1 liking to talk a lot in a friendly way:  --He was in an unusually chatty mood.//\n  2 a piece of writing that is chatty has a friendly informal style:  --a chatty letter//


Words: Chaucer
Meaning:
Geoffrey   (?1340-1400) an English writer who wrote the long poem  The  Canterbury Tales, one of the most important works in English literature. It is about a group of  pilgrims travelling to Canterbury, who tell each other stories.//


Words: chauffeur
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’person attending to the fire of a steam-driven vehicle, driver’, from  chauffer  ’to heat’]//  someone whose job is to drive a car for someone else//\nchauffeur 2 v [T] \n  1 to drive a car for someone as your job:\n  2  also chauffeur sb → around :  to drive someone in your car, especially when you do not want to//  --I spent most of the day chauffeuring the kids around.//


Words: Chautauqua
Meaning:
a place in the US state of New York where many people go to enjoy special arts events during the summer, including musical performances and plays//


Words: chauvinism
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: chauvinisme, from Nicolas  Chauvin early 19th-century French soldier who strongly expressed his love for France and Napoleon]//\n  1 a belief that your own sex is better or more important than the other sex, especially if you are a man:  -- male chauvinism //\n  2 a strong belief that your country or race is better or more important than any other:  --national chauvinism//


Words: chauvinist
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone, especially a man, who believes that their own sex is better or more important than the other sex:  --He’s a bit of a male chauvinist .//  --a male chauvinist pig  (=an insulting name for a male chauvinist) //\n  2 someone who believes that their own country or race is better or more important than any other:  -- chauvinist adj //


Words: chauvinistic
Meaning:
adj \n  1 having the belief that your own country or race is better or more important than any other:  --a chauvinistic dislike of all things foreign//\n  2 having the belief that your own sex is better, or more important than the other sex, especially if you are a man:  -- chauvinistically/-kli/ adv //


Words: Chavez
Meaning:
Cesar   (1927-93) a Mexican-American who was the president of the United Farm Workers of America from 1966 to 1993. He helped poor workers win better wages and protection against the use of harmful chemicals to grow food.//


Words: Che Guevara
Meaning:
(1926-67) a  Marxist military leader, born in Argentina, who developed the method of fighting known as  guerrilla warfare. He helped Fidel  Castro gain control of Cuba in 1959. Later he left Cuba and fought in other revolutions, until he was caught by the Bolivian army and killed.//


Words: cheap
Meaning:
adj   comparative  cheaper superlative  cheapest //  ----------//\n   1 low price:\n   2 bad quality:\n   3 not expensive to use:\n   4 not deserving respect:\n   5 not generous:\n   6 cheap thrill:\n   7 life is cheap:\n   8 cheap at the price/at any price:  ----------//  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: good cheap  ’at a good price, cheaply’, from  cheap  ’trade, price’ (11-18 centuries), from  Old English ceap]//\n  1 LOW PRICE:  not at all expensive, or lower in price than you expected//  → expensive//  --cheap rail fares//  --the cheapest TV on the market//  --Property is cheaper in Spain than here.//  --a cheap shop (=one that sells goods cheaply) //  --The equipment is relatively cheap and simple to use.//  --This coat was dirt cheap informal (=very cheap) .//  cheap and cheerful  BrE  (=simple and not expensive, but of reasonable quality) //  --a cheap and cheerful Italian restaurant//\n  2 BAD QUALITY:  low in price and quality//  --Cheap wine gives me a headache.//  --cheap jewellery//  --The furniture looked  cheap and nasty .//  --a  cheap imitation  of the real thing//\n  3 NOT EXPENSIVE TO USE:  not costing much to use or to employ//   inexpensive//  cheap to run/use/maintain etc //  --Gas appliances are usually cheaper to run than electric ones.//  --For the employer, a part-time workforce means a cheap labour supply.//\n  4 NOT DESERVING RESPECT:  showing a lack of honesty, moral principles, or sincere feelings, so that you do not deserve respect//  --She felt cheap and stupid, like a naughty child caught stealing.//  --You’re lying, aren’t you? You’re so cheap.//  --His remark was a cheap shot at short people.//  --another  cheap  political  stunt //  --It was nothing but a  cheap trick  (=unkind trick) .//\n  5 NOT GENEROUS:   AmE not liking to spend money//  British Equivalent:  mean//  --She’s too cheap to take a cab.//\n  6  cheap thrill:  excitement that does not take much effort to get//  --Bella will sleep with anyone for a cheap thrill.//\n  7  life is cheap:  used to say that it is not important if people die//\n  8  cheap at the price/at any price:   BrE cheap at twice the price //  so good, useful, or desirable that the cost is not important//  -- cheaply adv //  --a cheaply furnished room//  --They lived as cheaply as possible.//  -- cheapness n  [U] //  --the relative cheapness of housing//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: words meaning cheap //  reasonable not too expensive //  economical used about cars, systems, or methods that do not cost a lot of money to use //  be good value to be well worth the price you pay //  be a bargain to be very cheap //  ----------//\ncheap 2 adv   at a low price//  --Air fares to Africa don’t come cheap  (=are expensive) .//  --I bought this house because it was going cheap  (=selling for a lower price than usual) .//  --She used to get meat cheap at the butcher’s.//  --They’re selling linen off cheap in Lewis’s.//\ncheap 3 n   on the cheap//  spending less money than is needed to do something properly//  --A clean environment cannot be had on the cheap.//  --holidaying on the cheap//


Words: cheapen
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I and T] to become or make something become lower in price or value:  --The good harvest that year cheapened the costs of some raw materials.//\n  2 [T] to make something or someone seem less deserving of respect:  --She never compromised or cheapened herself.//


Words: cheapo
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  informal   not of good quality and not costing very much//  --a cheapo camera//


Words: cheapskate
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: cheap +  skate  ’worthless person’ (19-20 centuries)]//   informal someone who spends as little money as possible - used to show disapproval//  --The cheapskate didn’t even pay for the cab.//


Words: cheat
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: cheat  ’legal removal of someone’s property’ (14-17 centuries), from  escheat]//\n  1 [I and T] to behave in a dishonest way in order to win or to get an advantage, especially in a competition, game, or examination:  --He had cheated in the test by using a calculator.//  --Don’t look at my cards - that’s cheating .//  cheat at//  --She always claimed that I cheated at chess.//\n  2 [T] to trick or deceive someone so that they do not get or keep something they have a right to have:  --Illegal workers are often cheated by employers.//  cheat sb (out) of sth//  --a woman who cheated her aged aunt out of her fortune//\n  3  feel cheated:  to feel that you have been treated wrongly or unfairly and have not got what you deserve//  --Young people often feel cheated by their parents without knowing why.//\n  4  cheat death/fate etc:  to manage to avoid death or a very bad situation even though it seemed that you would not be able to//  --The Italian ace cheated death in a spectacular 100 mph crash.//\n  5  be cheated of victory/success etc:  if you are cheated of victory, success etc, you do not achieve it because of something unfortunate that happens//  cheat on [cheat on sb] phr v//  to be unfaithful to your husband, wife, or sexual partner by secretly having sex with someone else//  --The magazine claims that almost half of Britain’s women cheat on their partners.//\ncheat 2 n [C] \n  1 someone who is dishonest and cheats:  --His addiction has turned him into a cheat and a liar.//\n  2  a cheat:  something that is dishonest or unfair//\n  3 a set of instructions given to a computer that make it easier for someone who is playing a computer game to win:


Words: Chechnya
Meaning:
a small country in the  Caucasus Mountains, south of Russia and north of Georgia. Population: about 1 million. Capital: Grozny. The people are mostly Muslim. Chechnya separated from Russia in 1994 and announced that it was an independent country. This led to a lot of fighting with Russia.//  -- Chechen n  adj //


Words: check
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 find out:\n   2 ask somebody:\n   3 not do something:\n   4 stop something:\n   5 bags/cases etc:\n   6 make a mark:\n   7 Check:  Phrasal verbs//   check in//   check something → off//   check on somebody/something//   check out//   check something/somebody → over//   check up on somebody/something//  ----------//\n  1 FIND OUT:   [I and T] to do something in order to find out whether something really is correct, true, or in good condition//  --Check the tiles carefully before you buy them.//  --A first rule in solving any mystery is to check the facts.//  --Fill in the cash book carefully and always check your calculations.//  check (that)//  --Check that all the doors are locked securely.//  check whether/how/who etc//  --Let me just check whether the potatoes are cooked.//  --They paused to check how the other climbers were getting on.//  check (sth) for sth//  --I checked the typing for errors.//  --Turn the tap on and check for leaks.//  check sth against/with sth//   (=compare something with something else to see whether they are the same) //  --You must check the evidence against other sources and decide if it is reliable.//  --Positive test results are double checked  (=looked at twice) to make absolutely sure.//\n  2 ASK SOMEBODY:   [I and T] to ask someone whether something is correct, true, or allowed//  --I’m not authorized to give you a refund - I’ll have to check first.//  check (that)//  --Make a phone call to check that you are writing to the right person.//  check whether/how/who etc//  --I’ll call the factory to check whether the beds can be delivered today.//  check with//  --It’s wise to check with your doctor before going on a diet.//\n  3 NOT DO SOMETHING:   [T] to suddenly stop yourself from saying or doing something because you realize it would be better not to//  --I had to check the urge to laugh out loud.//  check yourself//  --He grinned, and then checked himself, not wanting to upset Jack.//\n  4 STOP SOMETHING:   [T] to stop something bad from getting worse or continuing to happen//  --The police are failing to take adequate measures to check the growth in crime.//\n  5 BAGS/CASES ETC:   [T]  AmE check in  BrE //  to leave your bags at an official place so they can be put on a plane or a train, or to take someone’s bags in order to do this//  --Any luggage over five kilos must be checked.//\n  6 MAKE A MARK:   [T]  AmE to make a mark next to an answer, something on a list etc to show you have chosen it, that it is correct, or that you have dealt with it//  British Equivalent:  tick//\n  7  Check:   spoken  especially AmE say this when someone mentions each thing on a list, to tell them that you have it or have done it//  --’Passport?’ ’Check.’ ’Ticket?’ ’ Check’.//  check in phr v//\n  1 if you check in or are checked in at a hotel or airport, you go to the desk and report that you have arrived:  --You need to check in two hours before the flight.//  check in at//  --He checked in at the Europa Hotel.//  check sb → in//  --Airline employees were checking in passengers.//    check-in//\n  2  check sth → in:  to leave your bags at an official place so they can be put on a plane or a train, or to take someone’s bags in order to do this//  --I said goodbye and went to check in my suitcases.//\n  3  AmE to call someone to tell them that you are safe or where you are:  --He just called to check in and tell them how he was doing.//  check off [check sth → off] phr v//  to write a mark next to something on a list to show that you have chosen it, dealt with it, or made sure that it is correct//  --One by one he checked them off on his register.//  check on / [check on sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 to make sure that someone or something is safe, is in a satisfactory state, or is doing what they should be doing:  --Honey, can you go upstairs and check on the kids?//  --My neighbour comes in once a week to check on things and feed the fish.//\n  2 to try to find out if something is true or correct:  --He wanted to check on the girl’s story.//  check out phr v//\n  1 MAKE SURE:  a)  check sth → out//  to make sure that something is actually true, correct, or acceptable//   investigate//  --I made a phone call to check out his address.//  check something → out with//  --Check it out with your boss before you do anything.//  b) if information checks out, it is proved to be true, correct, or acceptable//  --His credit record checks out.//\n  2 LOOK AT SOMEBODY/SOMETHING:   check sb/sth → out//  to look at someone or something because they are interesting or attractive//  --If I hear about a website that sounds interesting, I check it out.//  --Hey, check out that car!//\n  3 GET INFORMATION:   check sb → out//   informal to get information about someone, especially to find out if they are suitable for something//  --I’ll check them out as potential employers.//\n  4 HOTEL:  to leave a hotel after paying the bill//  --We checked out at noon.//    checkout//\n  5 BOOKS:   check sth → out//   AmE to borrow a book from a library//  --The library allows you to check out six books at a time.//  check over [check sth/sb → over] phr v//\n  1 to look closely at something to make sure it is correct or acceptable:  --They spent the rest of the morning checking over their equipment.//\n  2 to examine someone to make sure they are healthy:  --I’d like the doctor to check you over and do a few tests.//  check up on / [check up on sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 to try to find out if someone is doing what they said they would do or what you want them to do:  --Don’t worry; no-one is going to check up on you.//\n  2 to make sure that something is true or correct:  --Dustin called me to check up on some facts.//\ncheck 2 n   ----------//\n   1 finding out:\n   2 keep/hold somebody/something in check:\n   3 a control on something:\n   4 checks and balances:\n   5 pattern:\n   6 from your bank:\n   7 in a restaurant:\n   8 coat check/hat check:\n   9 mark:\n  10 chess:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-4, 6-10; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: eschec  ’check in chess’, from  Arabic shah, from  Persian,  ’king’]//  [Sense: 5; Date: 1400-1500; Origin: checker  ’chessboard, pattern of squares’ (14-21 centuries), from  Old French eschequier, from  eschec]//\n  1 FINDING OUT:   [C] the process of finding out if something is safe, correct, true, or in the condition it should be//  check on//  --the need for tighter checks on arms sales//  --Conduct regular checks on your water quality.//  run/carry out/make a check //  --I decided to run a check on all personnel.//  --I keep a careful check on my blood pressure.//  have a check  BrE //  --Have a check in your bag first and see if it’s there.//  --the airport’s routine security checks //  -- random drug checks //  health/medical/dental etc check (=a test done to make sure you are healthy) //  spot check (=a quick check of one thing among a group of things, that you do without warning) //  --a spot check on the accounts//\n  2  keep/hold sb/sth in check:  keep someone or something under control//  --You must learn to keep your emotions in check.//  --attempts to keep global warming in check//  --He made an effort to hold himself in check.//\n  3 A CONTROL ON SOMETHING:   [C usually singular] something that controls something else and stops it from getting worse, continuing to happen etc//  check on//  --Higher interest rates will act as a check on public spending.//\n  4  checks and balances:  a system that makes it possible for some people or parts of an organization to control the others, so that no particular person or part has too much power or influence//\n  5 PATTERN:   [U and C] a pattern of squares, especially on cloth//  --a shirt with brown and black checks//  check suit/jacket etc (=made with cloth patterned with checks) //  --a blue cotton check dress//    checked//\n  6 FROM YOUR BANK:   [C] the American spelling of cheque//  check for//  --a check for $30//  by check//  --Can I pay by check?//\n  7 IN A RESTAURANT:   [C]  AmE a list that you are given in a restaurant showing what you have eaten and how much you must pay//  British Equivalent:  bill//\n  8  coat check/hat check:   AmE  [C] //  a) a place in a restaurant, theatre etc where you can leave your coat, bag etc to be guarded until you go home//  b) a ticket that you are given so you can claim your things from this place//\n  9 MARK:   [C]  AmE a mark that you put next to an answer to show that it is correct or next to something on a list to show that you have dealt with it//  British Equivalent:  tick//\n  10 CHESS:   [U] the position of the king (=most important piece)  in chess where it can be directly attacked by the opponent’s pieces//


Words: check card
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   a special plastic card, similar to a credit card, that you can use to pay for things directly from your checking account//   debit card//


Words: check-in
Meaning:
n \n  1 [singular] a place where you report your arrival at an airport, hotel, hospital etc:  --the check-in desk //  --Make sure you’re at the check-in by 5.30.//\n  2 [U] the process of reporting your arrival at an airport, hotel, hospital etc:  --Ask your travel agent about check-in times.//    check in at check1 //


Words: checker
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1-3; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  CHECK2]//  [Sense: 4; Date: 1700-1800; Origin: checker  ’chessboard’;   CHECK24]//\n  1  AmE someone who works at the checkout in a supermarket:\n  2  spell/grammar checker:  a computer program that checks whether the spelling of words or the grammar of a sentence is correct//\n  3 someone who makes sure that something is written or done correctly:\n  4  checkers [U] a game for two players using 12 flat round pieces each and a board with 64 squares, in which the purpose is to take the other player’s pieces by jumping over them with your pieces:  British Equivalent:  draughts//    Chinese chequers//


Words: checkerboard
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a board that you play checkers on, with 32 white squares and 32 black squares//  British Equivalent:  draughtboard//


Words: checkered
Meaning:
also  chequered BrE   adj \n  1 having a pattern made up of squares of two different colours:  --a red and white checkered tablecloth//  --a checkered marble floor//\n  2  have a checkered history/career/past etc:  to have had periods of failure as well as successful times in your past//  --This is an unusual building with a checkered history.//


Words: checkered flag
Meaning:
also  chequered flag BrE  n [C]   a flag covered with black and white squares that is waved at the beginning and end of a motor race//


Words: checking account
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a bank account that you can take money out of at any time, and for which you are given checks to use to pay for things//  British Equivalent:  current account//    deposit account//


Words: checklist
Meaning:
n [C]   a list that helps you by reminding you of the things you need to do or get for a particular job or activity//  --The guide contains a useful checklist of points to look for when buying a car.//


Words: checkmate
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: eschec mat, from  Arabic shah mat, from  Persian,  ’the king is left helpless’]//\n  1 the position of the king (=most important piece)  in chess at the end of the game, when it is being directly attacked and cannot escape:\n  2 a situation in which someone has been completely defeated:  -- checkmate v  [T] //  --The king is checkmated and the game is over.//


Words: checkout
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] the place in a supermarket where you pay for the goods you have collected:  --Why can’t they have more checkouts open?//  --the checkout assistant//\n  2 [U and C] the time by which you must leave a hotel room:  --Checkout is at noon.//    check out at check1 //


Words: checkpoint
Meaning:
n [C]   a place, especially on a border, where an official person examines vehicles or people//  --They had to cross five military checkpoints.//


Words: checkroom
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a place in a restaurant, theatre etc where you can leave your coat, bags etc to be guarded//  British Equivalent:  cloakroom//


Words: checkup
Meaning:
check-up/t[hA35D]ek-[hA356]p/ n [C]   a general medical examination that a doctor or dentist gives you to make sure you are healthy//  --It’s important to have regular checkups .//


Words: cheddar
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: Cheddar village in Somerset, southwest England, where the cheese was first made]//  a firm smooth yellow cheese//


Words: Chee-tos
Meaning:
trademark   a popular type of  snack food sold in bags in the US. Chee-tos are bright orange  crunchy fried sticks made from corn, and have a cheese taste. //


Words: cheek
Meaning:
W3   n   [Language: Old English; Origin: ceace]//\n  1 [C] the soft round part of your face below each of your eyes:  --Lucy stretched up to kiss his cheek.//  --Billy had rosy cheeks and blue eyes.//  --her tear-stained cheeks//  --Julie’s cheeks flushed with pleasure at the compliment.//  red-cheeked/hollow-cheeked/rosy-cheeked etc //  --a red-cheeked, plump old fellow//\n  2 [singular,U]  BrE disrespectful or rude behaviour, especially towards someone in a position of authority:  --I’ve had enough of that boy’s cheek.//  have the cheek to do sth//  --He had the cheek to make personal remarks and expect no reaction.//  --She’s got a cheek ; she just goes on till she gets what she wants.//  --It’s a bit of a cheek , asking me to do it for you.//  -- What a cheek! Of course I read the instructions!//\n  3  cheek by jowl (with sb/sth):  very close to someone or something else//  --an expensive French restaurant cheek by jowl with a cheap clothes shop//\n  4  turn the other cheek:  to deliberately avoid reacting in an angry or violent way when someone has hurt or upset you//\n  5  cheek to cheek:  if two people dance cheek to cheek, they dance very close to each other in a romantic way//\n  6 [C]  informal one of the two soft fleshy parts of your bottom:   buttock//    tongue in cheek at tongue1 (6)//    tongue-in-cheek//\ncheek 2 v [T]    BrE to speak rudely or with disrespect to someone, especially to someone older such as your teacher or parents//  American Equivalent:  sass//  --You can cheek some teachers and they just don’t do anything.//


Words: cheekbone
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   one of the two bones above your cheeks, just below your eyes//  --She had high cheekbones and green eyes.//


Words: cheeky
Meaning:
adj  BrE   rude or disrespectful, sometimes in a way that is amusing//  cheeky devil/monkey etc //  --You did that on purpose, you cheeky little devil!//  --Now don’t be cheeky to your elders, young woman.//  --a chubby five-year-old with a cheeky grin //  -- cheekily adv //  --He grinned cheekily.//  -- cheekiness n  [U] //


Words: cheep
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  From the sound]//  if a young bird cheeps, it makes a weak, high noise//  --baby birds cheeping for food//  -- cheep n  [C] //


Words: cheer
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chere  ’(expression on) the face’, perhaps from  Late Latin cara, from  Greek kara  ’head’]//\n  1 [C] a shout of happiness, praise, approval, or encouragement:  → boo//  --A great cheer went up from the crowd.//  --So let’s give a cheer to the kids who passed their exams.//  --The final whistle was greeted with triumphant cheers from players and spectators.//\n  2  three cheers for sb!:   spoken used to tell a group of people to shout three times as a way of showing support, happiness, thanks etc//  --Three cheers for the birthday girl!//\n  3 [U]  formal a feeling of happiness and confidence:  --’Hello,’ said Auguste cheerily. His good cheer was not returned.//  --Christmas cheer//\n  4 [C] a special chant (=phrase that is repeated)  that the crowds at a US sports game shout in order to encourage their team to win:    cheers//\ncheer 2 v \n  1 [I and T] to shout as a way of showing happiness, praise, approval, or support of someone or something:  --Everybody cheered when the firemen arrived.//  --The audience was shouting and cheering.//  --The spectators cheered him wildly.//\n  2 [T] to make someone feel more hopeful when they are worried:  --By late afternoon there came news that cheered them all.//  --Government policy towards higher education contains little to cheer university students.//  -- cheering adj //  --cheering news//  cheer on [cheer sb → on] phr v//  to shout encouragement at a person or team to help them do well in a race or competition//  --They gathered round the swimming pool and cheered her on.//  cheer up phr v//\n  1 to become less sad, or to make someone feel less sad:  --Cheer up! The worst is over.//  --They cheered up when they saw us coming along.//  cheer sb → up//  --Here’s a bit of news that will cheer you up.//  --You both need cheering up, I think.//\n  2  cheer sth → up:  to make a place look more attractive//  --I bought some posters to cheer the place up a bit.//


Words: cheerful
Meaning:
adj \n  1 happy, or behaving in a way that shows you are happy:  --She was feeling more cheerful than before.//  --I’m making a real effort to be cheerful despite everything.//  cheerful voice/smile/manner etc //  --’I’m Robyn,’ she said with a cheerful smile.//  --It does me good to see a cheerful young face.//\n  2 something that is cheerful makes you feel happy because it is so bright or pleasant:  --a bright, cheerful Italian restaurant//  --There was a cheerful, colourful picture on the wall.//  --The house has a cheerful atmosphere.//\n  3 tending to be happy most of the time:  --She was a cheerful and agreeable companion.//  --Before the accident he had been cheerful and confident.//\n  4 [only before noun] a cheerful attitude shows that you are willing to do whatever is necessary in a happy way:  --a cheerful approach to the job//  -- cheerfully adv //  --He smiled cheerfully.//  --’Morning!’ she called cheerfully.//  -- cheerfulness n  [U] //    cheap and cheerful at cheap1 (1)//


Words: Cheerios
Meaning:
trademark   a type of breakfast food, usually eaten with milk. Cheerios are hard circles made mainly of  oats.//


Words: cheerleader
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a member of a team of young women who encourage a crowd to cheer at a US sports game by shouting special words and dancing:  --She was a popular cheerleader at the University of Texas.//\n  2 someone who encourages other people to do something:  --She was our cheerleader, teacher, and friend.//


Words: cheerleading
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the activity of being a cheerleader:  --a cheerleading camp for girls//\n  2  AmE the act of loudly supporting an organization, idea etc and not being willing to listen to criticism of it:  --The conventions have become nothing but cheerleading rallies for the presidential campaign.//


Words: cheerless
Meaning:
adj   cheerless weather, places, or times make you feel sad, bored, or uncomfortable//   gloomy//  --This is a cold, cheerless place.//  --The day was grey and cheerless.//  -- cheerlessness n  [U] //


Words: cheers
Meaning:
interjection \n  1 used when you lift a glass of alcohol before you drink it, in order to say that you hope the people you are drinking with will be happy and have good health:\n  2  BrE  informal thank you:\n  3  BrE  informal goodbye:


Words: cheery
Meaning:
adj   happy or making you feel happy//  --She gave me a cheery smile .//  --He left them with a cheery wave .//  -- cheerily adv //


Words: cheese
Meaning:
W3S2   n [U and C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: cese]//\n  1 a solid food made from milk, which is usually yellow or white in colour, and can be soft or hard:  --half a kilo of cheese//  --a cheese sandwich//  --Sprinkle with the grated cheese.//  --a selection of English cheeses//  piece/bit/slice/lump etc of cheese //  cow’s/goat’s/sheep’s cheese (=from the milk of a cow etc) //\n  2  (say) cheese!:   spoken used to tell people to smile when you are going to take their photograph//    big cheese,  chalk and cheese at chalk1 (3)//


Words: cheese-paring
Meaning:
n [U]    BrE behaviour that shows you are unwilling to give or spend money//  -- cheese-paring adj //


Words: cheeseboard
Meaning:
n [C]   1 a board used to cut cheese on//\n  2 a variety of cheeses that are served at the end of a meal:  --The meal was finished with the cheeseboard and a dish of fruit.//


Words: cheeseburger
Meaning:
n [C]   bun, cheese, lettuce, tomato//  a hamburger cooked with a piece of cheese on top of the meat//


Words: cheesecake
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] a cake made from a mixture containing soft cheese:  --a slice of cheesecake//\n  2 [U]  old-fashioned photographs of pretty women with few clothes on:   beefcake//


Words: cheesecloth
Meaning:
n [U]   thin cotton cloth used for putting around some kinds of cheeses, and sometimes for making clothes//


Words: cheesy
Meaning:
adj \n  1 tasting like cheese or containing cheese:  --cheesy sauces//\n  2  informal cheap and not of good quality:  --a cheesy soap opera//\n  3  informal not sincere:  --a cheesy grin//


Words: cheetah
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Hindi; Origin: cita, from  Sanskrit citrakaya  ’tiger’, from  citra  ’bright’ +  kaya  ’body’]//  a member of the cat family that has long legs and black spots on its fur, and can run extremely fast//


Words: chef
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: chef de cuisine  ’head of the kitchen’]//  a skilled cook, especially the main cook in a hotel or restaurant//  --a master chef//  --a pastry chef//


Words: Chekhov
Meaning:
Anton   (1860-1904) a Russian writer of plays and short stories. His most famous plays are  The Seagull,  Uncle Vanya, and  The Cherry Orchard//  -- Chekhovian adj //


Words: Chelsea Flower Show
Meaning:
the   a large flower show which takes place in London in May every year and is visited by people from all over Britain//


Words: Chelsea pensioner
Meaning:
an old person who was once a soldier in the British army and who now lives in a special hospital in Chelsea. Chelsea pensioners wear special red clothes when they go out of the hospital.//


Words: chemical
Meaning:
W3S3   n [C]   a substance used in chemistry or produced by a chemical process//  toxic/hazardous/dangerous chemicals //  --the organic chemicals industry//  --synthetic chemicals//\nchemical 2 W3 adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: chimicus  ’alchemist’, from  Medieval Latin alchimicus, from  alchymia;   ALCHEMY]//  relating to substances, the study of substances, or processes involving changes in substances//  --the chemical composition of bleach//  --a chemical analysis of the soil//  -- chemically/-kli/ adv //  --Chemically, the substances are similar.//


Words: chemical engineering
Meaning:
n [U]   the study of machines used in industrial chemical processes//  -- chemical engineer n  [C] //


Words: chemical reaction
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a natural process in which the atoms of chemicals mix and arrange themselves differently to form new substances//  --the chemical reaction between ozone and chlorine//


Words: chemise
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: ’shirt’, from  Latin camisia]//\n  1 a piece of women’s underwear for the top half of the body:\n  2 a simple dress that hangs straight from a woman’s shoulders:


Words: chemist
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: chimiste, from  Modern Latin chimista, from  Medieval Latin alchimista  ’alchemist’, from  alchymia;   ALCHEMY]//\n  1 a scientist who has special knowledge and training in chemistry:\n  2  BrE someone trained to prepare drugs and medicines, who works in a shop:  American Equivalent:  pharmacist//\n  3  BrE a shop where you can buy medicines, beauty products etc:   pharmacy//  American Equivalent:  drugstore//


Words: chemist’s
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a shop where medicines and toiletries are sold//    pharmacy//  American Equivalent:  drugstore//


Words: chemistry
Meaning:
S2   n [U] \n  1 the science that is concerned with studying the structure of substances and the way that they change or combine with each other:    biochemistry, biology, physics//\n  2 if there is chemistry between two people, they like each other and find each other attractive:  chemistry between//  --It was obvious that there was a very real chemistry between them.//\n  3 the way substances combine in a particular process, thing, person etc:  --a person’s body chemistry//


Words: chemotherapy
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: chemo-  ’chemical’ (from  Modern Latin, from  Late Greek chemeia  ’alchemy’, probably from  chyma  ’liquid’, from  chein  ’to pour’) +  therapy]//  the use of drugs to control and try to cure cancer//


Words: chenille
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ’hairy caterpillar, chenille’, from  Latin canicula, from  canis  ’dog’]//  twisted thread with a surface like a soft brush, or cloth made from this and used for decorations, curtains etc//


Words: cheque
Meaning:
S2  BrE  check AmE   n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: check, influenced by  exchequer]//  a printed piece of paper that you write an amount of money on, sign, and use instead of money to pay for things//  cheque for//  --They sent me a cheque for [hA124]100.//  by cheque//  --Can I pay by cheque ?//  --You could write her a cheque .//  cash a cheque (=get cash in exchange for a cheque) //    blank cheque,  traveller’s cheque//


Words: cheque card
Meaning:
also cheque guarantee card  n [C]  BrE   a card given to you by your bank that you must show when you write a cheque, which promises that the bank will pay out the amount written on the cheque//    cash card, check card//


Words: chequebook journalism
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   when newspapers get material for articles by paying people a lot of money for information about crimes or the private lives of famous people - used to show disapproval//


Words: Cherbourg
Meaning:
a city and port in northwest France, one of the ports where ships bringing passengers and cars from the south coast of England arrive after crossing the English Channel//


Words: cherish
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: cherir, from  chier  ’dear’, from  Latin carus]//\n  1 if you cherish something, it is very important to you:  --He was a man who cherished his privacy.//  --I still cherish the memory of that day.//  cherish a hope/an idea/a dream etc //  --a willingness to re-examine cherished beliefs//\n  2 to love someone or something very much and take care of them well:  --In marriage, a man promises to cherish his wife.//  --his most cherished possession //


Words: Chernobyl
Meaning:
a town in Ukraine (formerly part of the Soviet Union) where in 1986 an explosion destroyed large parts of a  nuclear power station in the worst accident involving nuclear power//


Words: cheroot
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Tamil; Origin: curuttu  ’roll’]//  a small cigar with both ends cut straight//


Words: cherry
Meaning:
S3   n   plural  cherries //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old North French; Origin: cherise (taken as plural), from  Late Latin ceresia, from  Latin cerasus  ’cherry tree’, from  Greek kerasos]//\n  1 [C] a small round red or black fruit with a long thin stem and a stone in the middle:  --a bunch of cherries//  --cherry pie//\n  2 :  a)  [C]  also cherry tree //  the tree on which this fruit grows//  b)  [U]  also  cherrywood//  the wood of this tree, used for making furniture//\n  3 [U]  also  cherry red:  a bright red colour//  -- cherry adj //    another bite/a second bite at the cherry at bite2 (8)//


Words: cherrypick
Meaning:
v [I and T]   to choose the best things or people you want from a group before anyone else has the chance to take them//


Words: cherub
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 800-900; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek cheroub, from  Hebrew kerubh]//\n  1 an angel shown in works of art as a fat pretty child with small wings:\n  2  informal a young pretty child who behaves very well:\n  3 :  plural  cherubim /t[hA35D]er[hA353]b[hA366]m/one of the angels who guard the seat where God sits//  -- cherubic/t[hA35D][hA353]ru[hA359]b[hA366]k/ adj //  --a smile of cherubic innocence//


Words: chervil
Meaning:
n [U]   [Language: Old English; Origin: cerfille]//  a strong-smelling garden plant used as a herb//


Words: Chesapeake Bay
Meaning:
a  bay (=area of water connected to the sea)  on the US east coast, important for trade and shipping//


Words: Cheshire cat
Meaning:
the   a character in  Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis  Carroll, which disappears very slowly until only its big smile is left. People sometimes say someone is "grinning like a Cheshire cat" to mean that they have a big and rather silly smile on their face.//


Words: chess
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: esches, plural of  escec;   CHECK2]//  a game for two players, who move their playing pieces according to particular rules across a special board to try to trap their opponent’s king (=most important piece) //  --They meet fairly often to play chess .//


Words: chessman
Meaning:
plural  chessmen /-men/ [C] //  any of the 16 black or 16 white playing pieces used in the game of chess//


Words: chest
Meaning:
W3S2   n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: cest, from  Latin cista  ’box, basket’, from  Greek kiste  ’basket’]//\n  1 the front part of your body between your neck and your stomach:    breast//  --Her heart was pounding in her chest.//  --a hairy chest//  chest pain/infection/injury //  --He collapsed with severe chest pains.//    flat-chested//\n  2 a large strong box that you use to store things in or to move your personal possessions from one place to another:  --a large wooden chest//\n  3  get sth off your chest:  to tell someone about something that has been worrying or annoying you for a long time, so that you feel better afterwards//


Words: chest of drawers plural
Meaning:
chests of drawers  n [C]  especially BrE   handle, drawer//  a piece of furniture with drawers, used for storing clothes//  American Equivalent:  dresser//


Words: Chester
Meaning:
a town in Cheshire in northwest England, where the local government for that  county is based. It has many historical buildings, and there is a wall around the old part of the town.//


Words: chesterfield
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from a 19th-century Earl of  Chesterfield, family of English lords]//  a soft comfortable sofa, usually covered with leather//


Words: chestnut
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: chesten  ’chestnut tree’ (14-17 centuries) (from  Old French chasteigne, from  Latin castanea, from  Greek kastanea) +  nut]//\n  1 [C] a smooth red-brown nut that you can eat:  --roast chestnuts//\n  2  also chestnut tree :   [C] the tree on which this nut grows//\n  3 [U] a red-brown colour:\n  4 [C] a horse that is red-brown in colour:\n  5  an old chestnut:  a joke or story that has been repeated many times//\n  6 [C] a horse chestnut:    water chestnut//\nchestnut 2 adj   red-brown in colour//  --her chestnut hair//


Words: chesty
Meaning:
adj \n  1  BrE if you have a chesty cough, or if you are a bit chesty, you have a lot of mucus (=thick liquid)  in your lungs:\n  2  informal used to describe a woman with large breasts, when you want to avoid saying this directly:


Words: Chevrolet
Meaning:
also Chevy  informal  trademark   a type of US car, made by  General Motors and especially popular as a family car//


Words: chevron
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ’part of the wooden frame of a roof, chevron’, from  Vulgar Latin caprio]//\n  1 a pattern in a V shape:\n  2 a piece of cloth in the shape of a V which soldiers have on their sleeve to show their rank:


Words: chew
Meaning:
v   [Language: Old English; Origin: ceowan]//\n  1 [I and T] to bite food several times before swallowing it:  --This meat’s so tough I can hardly chew it!//  chew at/on//  --a dog chewing on a bone//\n  2 [I and T] to bite something continuously in order to taste it or because you are nervous:  chew on//  --We gave the dog an old shoe to chew on.//  chew your lip/nails //  --She chewed her lip and said nothing.//  chew gum/tobacco //\n  3  chew the cud:  if a cow or sheep chews the cud, it keeps biting on food it has brought up from its stomach//\n  4  chew the fat:   informal to have a long friendly conversation//    bite off more than you can chew at bite1 (10)//  chew on [chew on sth] phr v//   informal to think carefully about something for a period of time//  chew out [chew sb → out] phr v//  to talk angrily to someone in order to show them that you disapprove of what they have done//  --John couldn’t get the guy to cooperate and so I had to call and chew him out.//  chew over [chew sth → over] phr v//  to think carefully about something for a period of time//  --Let me chew it over for a few days.//  chew up [chew sth → up] phr v//\n  1 to damage or destroy something by tearing it into small pieces:  --Be careful if you use that video recorder. It tends to chew tapes up.//\n  2 to bite something many times with your teeth so that you can make it smaller or softer and swallow it:  --The dog’s chewed up my slippers again.//\nchew 2 n [C] \n  1 the act of biting something many times with your teeth:\n  2 a sweet that you chew:\n  3 a piece of tobacco that you chew but do not swallow:


Words: chewy
Meaning:
adj   food that is chewy has to be chewed a lot before it is soft enough to swallow//  --chewy toffees//


Words: Chex
Meaning:
trademark \n  1 a type of breakfast  cereal sold in the US:\n  2 Chex Party Mix :  a salty mixture made from Chex, nuts, and  pretzels, eaten as a  snack//


Words: Chiantishire
Meaning:
an area of Tuscany, in Italy, where many upper-class British people live or go to stay - used humorously//  --The Nielsens are off there, too, to Chiantishire, or Tuscany as the Italians like to call it.//


Words: chic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French]//  very fashionable and expensive, and showing good judgement of what is attractive and good style//  --Margaret was looking very chic in blue.//  --a chic restaurant//  -- chic n  [U] //  --the art of comfortable chic//


Words: Chicago
Meaning:
the third largest city in the US. It is in the state of Illinois, on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan, and is an important industrial and business centre. Chicago is sometimes called "the Windy City".//


Words: Chicago Board of Trade
Meaning:
the   an important market in Chicago, US, in which future contracts for the delivery of commodities are bought and sold//


Words: Chicago Tribune
Meaning:
The   a daily newspaper produced in Chicago and also sold in other parts of the US. It is famous for the high quality of its writing and reporting.//


Words: chicane
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: chicane name of a particular combination of cards in certain card games  (19-20 centuries), from  French, from  chicaner;   CHICANERY]//  an S-shaped bend in a straight road, especially on a track for racing cars//


Words: chicanery
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: chicanerie, from  chicaner  ’to cheat, deceive’]//  the use of clever plans or actions to deceive people//  --Clearly there is some chicanery going on.//


Words: Chicano
Meaning:
n   plural  Chicanos  [C] //  [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Mexican Spanish; Origin: Spanish mejicano  ’Mexican man’]//  a US citizen who was born in Mexico or whose family came from Mexico//    Hispanic//  -- Chicano adj //


Words: chick
Meaning:
n [C]   nest//  [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: chicken]//\n  1 a baby bird:  --a mother hen with her chicks//\n  2  informal a word meaning a young woman, that some people think is offensive:


Words: chick lit
Meaning:
n [U]  informal   books about young women and the typical problems they have with men, sex, losing weight etc, especially books written by women for women to read - used humorously//


Words: chickadee
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  From the sound it makes]//  a North American bird with a black head//


Words: chicken
Meaning:
S2   n   [Language: Old English; Origin: cicen  ’young chicken’]//\n  1 [C] a common farm bird that is kept for its meat and eggs:    hen, cock, rooster, chick//\n  2 [U] the meat from this bird eaten as food:  --roast chicken//  --fried chicken//  --chicken soup//\n  3 [C]  informal someone who is not at all brave:   coward//  --Don’t be such a chicken!//\n  4 [U] a game in which children do something dangerous, for example stand on a railway line when a train is coming, and try to be the one who continues doing it for the longest time:\n  5  which came first, the chicken or the egg?:  used to say that it is difficult or impossible to decide which of two things happened first, or which action is the cause and which is the effect//\n  6  a chicken and egg situation/problem etc:  a situation in which it is impossible to decide which of two things happened first, or which action is the cause and which is the effect//\n  7  sb’s chickens have come home to roost:  used to say that someone’s bad or dishonest actions in the past have caused the problems that they have now//    don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched at count1 (8),  spring chicken//\nchicken 2 v   chicken out phr v//  to decide at the last moment not to do something you said you would do, because you are afraid//  --You’re not chickening out, are you?//\nchicken 3 adj [not before noun]  informal   not brave enough to do something//   cowardly//  --Dave’s too chicken to ask her out.//


Words: chicken feed
Meaning:
n [U]   an amount of money that is so small that it is almost not worth having//  --The bank offered to lend us [hA124]1,000 but that’s chicken feed compared to what we need.//


Words: Chicken Little
Meaning:
a story for children in which a chicken called Chicken Little thinks that the sky is falling and persuades many other animal friends that great danger is coming//


Words: chicken pox
Meaning:
also  chickenpox/t[hA35D][hA366]k[hA369]np[hA361]ks $ -p[hA35A][hA359]ks/ n [U]   an infectious illness which causes a slight fever and spots on your skin//


Words: chicken wire
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Because it is used for making a fence around an area where chickens are kept]//  a type of thin wire net used to make fences for chickens//


Words: chickenshit
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  informal  not polite   an offensive word for someone who is not at all brave//   coward//  -- chickenshit adj //


Words: chickpea
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: chich  ’chickpea’ (14-19 centuries) (from  Old French chiche, from  Latin cicer) +  pea]//  a large brown pea which is cooked and eaten//  American Equivalent:  garbanzo//


Words: chickweed
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Because it is eaten by chickens]//  a garden weed with small white flowers//


Words: chicory
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: chicoree, from  Latin cichoreum, from  Greek kichoreia]//\n  1 a European plant whose bitter leaves are eaten in salads:\n  2 the roots of this plant, used in coffee or instead of coffee:


Words: chide
Meaning:
v [I and T]  written   [Language: Old English; Origin: cidan  ’to quarrel, chide’, from  cid  ’fighting’]//  to tell someone that you do not approve of something that they have done or said//   scold//  --’Edward, you are naughty,’ Dorothy chided.//  chide sb for (doing) sth//  --She chided him for not responding to her Christmas cards.//  --He swiftly chided himself for such thoughts.//


Words: chief
Meaning:
adj \n  1 [only before noun] highest in rank:  --He was recently appointed chief economist at the Bank of Scotland.//  --the government’s chief medical officer//\n  2 most important:   main//    chiefly//  --One of the chief causes of crime today is drugs.//  --Safety has been, and always will be, our chief concern .//  --The chief reason for this was that people were living longer.//  --his chief rival for the job//  --the prosecution’s chief witness//  --She had many reasons for taking the money, but chief among them was revenge.//\n  3  chief cook and bottle washer:  someone who does a lot of small jobs to make sure that an event is successful - used humorously//\nchief 2 W3 n [C]   ----------//\n   1 somebody in charge of an organization:\n   2 ruler of tribe:\n   3 too many chiefs and not enough Indians:\n   4 great white chief:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: ’head, chief’, from  Latin caput  ’head’]//\n  1 SOMEBODY IN CHARGE OF AN ORGANIZATION:  the most important person, or one of the most important people, in a company or organization - used especially in job titles and in news reports//  police/army/fire etc chief //  --Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams//  chief of//  --the British Chief of Defence Staff//  --Most health chiefs believe the reforms have gone too far.//  --industry chiefs//  commander-in-chief/editor-in-chief etc (=used in job titles for people with the highest rank) //  --They offered him the position of editor-in-chief.//\n  2 RULER OF TRIBE:  the ruler of a tribe//  --the Zulu leader, Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi//  --Native American tribal chiefs //\n  3  too many chiefs and not enough Indians:   BrE used to say there are too many people saying how something should be done and not enough people doing it//\n  4  great white chief:   BrE  old-fashioned the person in charge of a group of people, company, organization etc - used humorously//


Words: chief of staff plural
Meaning:
chiefs of staff  n [C] \n  1 an officer of high rank in the army, navy etc who advises the officer in charge of a particular military group or operation:\n  2 an official of high rank who advises the person in charge of an organization or government:  --the White House chief of staff//


Words: Chief Whip
Meaning:
the Chief Whip//  an important member of a British political party whose job is to make sure that members of the party elected to parliament obey party orders//


Words: chiefly
Meaning:
adv   mostly but not completely//   mainly//  --The work consists chiefly of interviewing the public.//  --I lived abroad for years, chiefly in Italy.//


Words: chieftain
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chevetain, from  Late Latin capitaneus;   CAPTAIN1]//  the leader of a tribe or a Scottish clan//


Words: chiffon
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ’piece of thin cloth, chiffon’, from  chiffe  ’old piece of dirty cloth’]//  a soft thin silk or nylon material that you can see through//  --a pink chiffon ballgown//


Words: chignon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Old French chaignon  ’chain, collar’]//  hair that is tied in a smooth knot at the back of a woman’s head//   bun//


Words: chihuahua
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Chihuahua city in Mexico]//  a very small dog with smooth hair, originally from Mexico//


Words: child
Meaning:
n   plural  children /t[hA35D][hA366]ldr[hA353]n/ [C] //  ----------//\n   1 young person:\n   2 son/daughter:\n   3 somebody influenced by an idea:\n   4 somebody who is like a child:\n   5 something is child’s play:\n   6 children should be seen and not heard:\n   7 be with child:\n   8 be heavy/great with child:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: cild]//\n  1 YOUNG PERSON:  someone who is not yet an adult//   kid//  --The hotel is ideal for families with young children.//  --Your interest and support are important to your child.//  --The film is not suitable for children under 12.//  --I was very happy as a child  (=when I was a child) .//  three-year-old child/child of eight etc //  --For a child of five this was a terrifying experience.//  --parents with pre-school children (=children who are too young to go to school) //  --an agreement to regulate child labour  (=the use of children in industry) //  child killer/victim/prostitute etc (=a child who is a killer etc) //  --the rights of the unborn child  (=a baby that is still inside its mother) //\n  2 SON/DAUGHTER:  a son or daughter of any age//  --I have five children, all happily married.//  --She lives with her husband, Paul, and three grown-up children .//  --Annie had always wanted to get married and have children.//  --Alex is an only child  (=he has no brothers or sisters) .//  youngest/eldest child  especially BrE //  --Our youngest child, Sam, has just started university.//  youngest/middle/oldest child  especially AmE //\n  3 SOMEBODY INFLUENCED BY AN IDEA:  someone who is very strongly influenced by the ideas and attitudes of a particular period of history//  child of//  --a real child of the Sixties//\n  4 SOMEBODY WHO IS LIKE A CHILD:  someone who behaves like a child and is not sensible or responsible - used to show disapproval//  --She’s such a child !//\n  5  sth is child’s play:  used to say that something is very easy to do//  --I’ve cooked for 200 people before now. So, tonight is child’s play by comparison.//\n  6  children should be seen and not heard:  an expression meaning that children should be quiet and not talk - used when you disapprove of the way a child is behaving//\n  7  be with child:   old use to be pregnant//\n  8  be heavy/great with child:   old use to be nearly ready to give birth//


Words: child molester
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who harms children by touching them in a sexual way, or trying to have sex with them//  -- child molesting n  [U] //


Words: child support
Meaning:
also maintenance  BrE n [U]   money that someone pays regularly to their former wife or husband in order to support their children//


Words: Child Support Agency
Meaning:
the   the CSA a British government department which deals with  child support. It can decide, for example, how much money a father should pay to support his children if he no longer lives with them.//


Words: childbearing
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the process of being pregnant and giving birth to children:  --the trend towards later marriage and childbearing//\n  2  childbearing age/years:  if a woman is of childbearing age or in her childbearing years, she is of an age when it is physically possible for her to have babies//


Words: childcare
Meaning:
n [U]   an arrangement in which someone who is trained to look after children cares for them while the parents are at work//  --People earning low wages will find it difficult to pay for childcare.//  --I think more women would work if there were better childcare facilities .//


Words: childhood
Meaning:
W3   n [U and C]   the period of time when you are a child//  --I had a very happy childhood.//  in/during/since (sb’s) childhood//  --Most infections occur in childhood.//  --She had been writing poems since her childhood.//  childhood home/friend/experience etc (=a home etc that you had when you were a child) //  --Last summer, Jill took me to see her childhood home.//  childhood memories (=the memories you have of your childhood) //    second childhood//


Words: childish
Meaning:
adj \n  1 [usually before noun] relating to or typical of a child:  → adult//  --a high childish laugh//  --her childish excitement//\n  2 behaving in a silly way that makes you seem much younger than you really are - used to show disapproval:   immature//  → mature//  --Don’t be so childish!//  --I wish politicians would stop this childish name-calling.//  -- childishly adv //  -- childishness n  [U] //  ----------//  HINT sense 2 //  This word is generally used to suggest someone’s behaviour is silly or immature. To talk about positive qualities connected with children, use  childlike . //  ----------//


Words: childless
Meaning:
adj   having no children//  childless couple/woman/marriage //  --It was a happy but childless marriage.//  --couples who deliberately remain childless//  -- childlessness n  [U] //


Words: childlike
Meaning:
adj   having qualities that are typical of a child, especially positive qualities such as innocence and eagerness//  childlike innocence/simplicity/directness //  --’You know I love you,’ she said with childlike simplicity.//  childlike delight/wonder/excitement //  --The sight filled her with childlike excitement.//  --Standing, she looked less childlike.//


Words: ChildLine
Meaning:
a British organization that has a telephone  helpline which children can call if they are being badly treated or if they cannot discuss their problems with their family//


Words: childminder
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   someone who is paid to look after young children while their parents are at work//  -- childminding n  [U] //


Words: childproof
Meaning:
adj   something that is childproof is designed to prevent a child from opening, damaging, or breaking it//  --a childproof lock//


Words: Children in Need
Meaning:
a British  charity organization controlled by the  BBC, which organizes special television programmes every year to collect money for children who need help in the UK and in other countries//


Words: Chile
Meaning:
a long narrow South American country between the Pacific Ocean and the  Andes mountains. Population: 15,328,000 (2001). Capital: Santiago.//  -- Chilean n, adj //


Words: chili
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Spanish; Origin: chile, from  Nahuatl chilli]//  the American spelling of chilli//


Words: chill
Meaning:
n \n  1 [singular] a feeling of coldness:  --There was a slight chill in the air .//  morning/autumnal/January etc chill //  --Suddenly aware of the morning chill, she closed the window.//  chill of//  --He sat in the chill of the evening, staring out over the city below.//  --I turned on the heater in the hall to take the chill off the house (=to heat it slightly) .//\n  2 [C] a sudden feeling of fear or worry, especially because of something cruel or violent:  --The sound of his dark laugh sent a chill through her.//  chill of fear/apprehension/disquiet etc //  --Fay felt a chill of fear as she watched Max go off with her daughter.//  --There was something in his tone that sent a chill down Melissa’s spine  (=made her very frightened) .//\n  3 :  a)  [C] an illness which causes a slight fever, headache, and shivering (=slight shaking of the body) //  --Let’s get these wet clothes off you before you catch a chill .//  b)  [C usually plural] a feeling of being cold, caused by being ill//\nchill 2 v   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: chile  ’coldness’ (11-15 centuries), from  Old English cele]//\n  1 [I and T] if you chill something such as food or drink, or if it chills, it becomes very cold but does not freeze:  --a glass of chilled white wine//  --Spoon the mixture into a pudding basin and chill for at least two hours.//  --The longer this salad chills, the better the flavour.//\n  2  also  chill out:   [I]  informal to relax completely instead of feeling angry, tired, or nervous//  --’Hold it! Just chill for a second, won’t you!’//  --I spent the afternoon chilling out in front of the TV.//\n  3 [T] to make someone very cold:  --The wind blew across her body, chilling her wet skin.//  chilled to the bone/marrow (=extremely cold) //  --Come and sit by the fire - you look chilled to the bone.//\n  4 [T]  literary to suddenly frighten someone, especially by seeming very cruel or violent:  --The anger in his face chilled her.//  chill sb to the bone/chill sb to the marrow/chill sb’s blood (=frighten somebody a lot) //  --He jerked his head round and saw something that chilled his blood.//\nchill 3 adj [usually before noun]   unpleasantly cold//  --the chill night air//  --a chill wind//


Words: chill room
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a room in a bar, office etc where people go to play games, listen to music, watch television etc so that they can relax:\n  2 a website that contains games, pictures, music etc and is designed for people who want to relax or have fun:


Words: chilli
Meaning:
BrE  chili AmE   n   plural  chillies  BrE  chilies AmE //  1 [C]  also  chilli pepper BrE //   chili pepper AmE a small thin red or green pepper with a very strong hot taste//\n  2 [U]  also  chilli con carne BrE :   chili con carne AmE /-k[hA361]n k[hA35A][hA359]ni $ -k[hA35A][hA359]n k[hA35A][hA359]rni/ AmE a spicy dish made with beans, meat, and chillies//


Words: chilling
Meaning:
adj   something that is chilling makes you feel frightened, especially because it is cruel, violent, or dangerous//  --the chilling sound of wolves howling//  -- chillingly adv //  --It was chillingly clear that he wanted revenge.//


Words: chilly
Meaning:
adj \n  1 chilly weather or places are cold enough to make you feel uncomfortable:  chilly day/night/evening etc //  --a chilly November morning//  chilly wind/breeze/air etc //  --Getting chilly, isn’t it?//  --The bathroom’s a bit chilly.//\n  2 if you feel chilly, you feel uncomfortably cold:\n  3 unfriendly:  --The speech met with a chilly reception .//  -- chilliness n  [singular, U] //


Words: Chiltern Hundreds
Meaning:
the   the job of representing a particular government area in Buckinghamshire in Britain which no longer exists. Members of Parliament apply for the Chiltern Hundreds when they want to stop working before the next  general election.//


Words: chimaera
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek chimaira  ’female goat’]//  another spelling of chimera//


Words: chime
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I and T] if a bell or clock chimes, it makes a ringing sound, especially to tell you what time it is:  --The clock in the hall chimed six.//\n  2 [I] to be the same as something else or to have the same effect:  chime with//  --Her views on life didn’t quite chime with mine.//  chime in phr v//  to say something in a conversation, especially to agree with what someone has just said//  --’We’ll miss you too,’ the children chimed in.//\nchime 2 n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chimbe  ’cymbal’, from  Latin cymbalum;   CYMBAL]//\n  1 [C] a ringing sound made by a bell or clock:\n  2  chimes [plural] a set of bells or other objects that produce musical sounds, used as a musical instrument or, for example, as a type of doorbell:    wind chimes//


Words: chimera
Meaning:
chimaera/ka[hA366]m[hA366][hA353]r[hA353], k[hA369]- $ -m[hA366]r[hA353]/ n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: chimaera, from  Greek chimaira  ’female goat, chimera’]//\n  1  formal something, especially an idea or hope, that is not really possible and can never exist:  --trying to present that chimera, ’a balanced view’//\n  2 an imaginary creature that breathes fire and has a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a snake’s tail:


Words: chimney
Meaning:
n [C]   chimney, gutter//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: cheminee, from  Late Latin caminata, from  Latin caminus  ’fireplace’, from  Greek kaminos]//\n  1 a vertical pipe that allows smoke from a fire to pass out of a building up into the air, or the part of this pipe that is above the roof:  --We can’t light a fire because the chimney hasn’t been swept.//\n  2 a tall vertical structure containing a chimney:    smokestack//  --a factory chimney//\n  3  technical a narrow opening in tall rocks or cliffs that you can climb up:\n  4  smoke like a chimney:  if someone smokes like a chimney, they smoke a lot of cigarettes or tobacco - used humorously//


Words: chimney pot
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a short wide pipe made of baked clay or metal, that is attached to the top of a chimney//


Words: chimney stack
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE \n  1 the tall chimney of a building such as a factory:  American Equivalent:  smokestack//\n  2 a group of small chimneys on a roof:


Words: chimpanzee
Meaning:
[C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Kongo; Origin: chimpenzi]//  an intelligent African animal that is like a large monkey without a tail//


Words: chin
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: cinn]//\n  1 the front part of your face below your mouth:  --He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.//\n  2  (keep your) chin up!:   spoken used to tell someone to make an effort to stay brave and confident when they are in a difficult situation//  --Chin up! It’ll be over soon.//\n  3  take sth on the chin:  to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation without complaining - used to show approval//  --One of our great strengths is our ability to take it on the chin and come out fighting.//


Words: chin-up
Meaning:
also  chinup/t[hA35D][hA366]n[hA356]p/ n [C]  AmE   an exercise in which you hang on a bar and pull yourself up until your chin is above the bar//  British Equivalent:  pull-up//


Words: China
Meaning:
the largest country in eastern Asia. Population: 1,273,000,000 (2001). Capital: Beijing. China’s population is the largest of any country in the world. In 1949 it became a Communist state, known as the People’s Republic of China (PRC). China is one of the most important economic and industrial powers in the world.//


Words: china
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Persian; Origin: chini  ’Chinese’; because it was originally made in China]//\n  1 a hard white substance produced by baking a type of clay at a high temperature:  --china teacups//\n  2  also chinaware :  plates, cups etc made of china//  --I’ll get my best china out.//


Words: China Sea
Meaning:
the China Sea//  the western part of the Pacific Ocean that goes along the coast of China and Vietnam//


Words: Chinatown
Meaning:
n [singular,U]   an area in a city where there are Chinese restaurants and shops, and where a lot of Chinese people live//


Words: chinchilla
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Spanish; Origin: Aymara or  Quechua]//\n  1 [C] a small South American animal bred for its fur:\n  2 [U] the pale grey fur of the chinchilla:


Words: Chinese
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the language used in China:\n  2  the Chinese [plural] people from China:\n  3 [singular]  BrE  informal a meal of Chinese food, or a restaurant that sells Chinese food:  --Do you fancy going out for a Chinese?//\nChinese 2 adj   relating to China, its people, or its language//


Words: Chinese chequers
Meaning:
BrE  Chinese checkers AmE n [U]   a game in which you move small balls from hole to hole on a board in the shape of a star//


Words: Chinese whispers
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   the passing of information from one person to another, and then to others, when the information gets slightly changed each time//


Words: Chingachgook
Meaning:
a character in several books by James Fenimore  Cooper, such as  The Last of the Mohicans. He is a Native American chief.//


Words: Chink
Meaning:
n [C]  taboo   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Chinese]//  a very offensive word for someone from China. Do not use this word.//


Words: chink
Meaning:
n   [Sense: 1,3; Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  chin  ’crack’ (11-16 centuries), from  Old English cine]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 [C] a small hole in a wall, or between two things that join together, that lets light or air through:   crack//  chink in//  --The sun came through a chink in the curtains.//\n  2 [C]  BrE a high ringing sound made by metal or glass objects hitting each other:   clink//  --the chink of coins//\n  3  a chink in sb’s armour:  a weakness in someone’s character or in something they have said, that you can use to attack them//\nchink 2 v [I and T]  BrE   if glass or metal objects chink, or if you chink them, they make a high ringing sound when they knock together//   clink//  --They chinked their glasses and drank a toast to the couple.//


Words: chintz
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: chints, plural of  chint  ’chintz’ (1600-1700), from  Hindi]//  smooth cotton cloth that is printed with a flowery pattern and is used for making curtains, furniture covers etc//  --pink chintz curtains//


Words: chintzy
Meaning:
adj \n  1  BrE covered with chintz:  --a chintzy sofa//\n  2  AmE  informal cheap and badly made:   cheap//  --a chintzy chest of drawers//\n  3  AmE  informal unwilling to give people things or spend money:   stingy//


Words: chip
Meaning:
W3S2   n [C]   ----------//\n   1 food:\n   2 computer:\n   3 piece:\n   4 mark:\n   5 have a chip on your shoulder:\n   6 when the chips are down:\n   7 be a chip off the old block:\n   8 game:\n   9 sport:\n  10 have had your chips:\n  11 let the chips fall (where they may):  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: cipp,  cyp  ’small piece of wood’, from  Latin cippus  ’sharp post’]//\n  1 FOOD:  a)  BrE  [usually plural] a long thin piece of potato cooked in oil//  American Equivalent:  French fry//  -- fish and chips //  --a bag of chips //  b)  AmE  [usually plural] a thin flat round piece of food such as potato cooked in very hot oil and eaten cold//  British Equivalent:  crisp//  --They gave us bags of potato chips .//\n  2 COMPUTER:  a small piece of silicon that has a set of complicated electrical connections on it and is used to store and process information in computers//  --the age of the silicon chip //  --chip technology//\n  3 PIECE:  a small piece of wood, stone, metal etc that has been broken off something//  --Wood chips covered the floor of the workshop.//  --a chocolate chip cookie (=one that contains small pieces of chocolate) //\n  4 MARK:  a small hole or mark on a plate, cup etc where a piece has broken off//  chip in//  --There’s a chip in this bowl.//\n  5  have a chip on your shoulder:  to easily become offended or angry because you think you have been treated unfairly in the past//\n  6  when the chips are down:   spoken in a serious or difficult situation, especially one in which you realize what is really true or important//  --When the chips are down, you’ve only got yourself to depend on.//\n  7  be a chip off the old block:   informal to be very similar to your mother or father in appearance or character//\n  8 GAME:   [usually plural] a small flat coloured piece of plastic used in games such as poker or blackjack to represent a particular amount of money//\n  9 SPORT:   also chip shot, chip kick //  a hit in golf, or a kick in football or rugby, that makes the ball go high into the air for a short distance//\n  10  have had your chips:   BrE  informal to be in a situation in which you no longer have any hope of improvement//\n  11  let the chips fall (where they may):   AmE to not worry about what the results of a particular action will be//  --I decided to tell her my opinion and let the chips fall where they may.//    blue chip,  cash in your chips at cash in(3)//\nchip 2 v   past tense and past participle  chipped present participle  chipping //  ----------//\n   1 accidentally break (something):\n   2 remove something:\n   3 sport:\n   4 potatoes:  Phrasal verbs//   chip away at something//   chip in//  ----------//\n  1 ACCIDENTALLY BREAK (SOMETHING):   [I and T] if you chip something, or if it chips, a small piece of it breaks off accidentally//  --Gary fell and chipped one of his front teeth.//  --He chipped a bone in his knee and was carried off the pitch.//  --These plates chip really easily.//  chip off//  --The paint had chipped off the gate.//\n  2 REMOVE SOMETHING:   [I,T always + adverb/preposition] to remove something, especially something hard that is covering a surface, by hitting it with a tool so that small pieces break off//  --Archaeologists were carefully chipping away at the rock.//  --You have to chip the rust off before you start painting.//  --Chip out the plaster with a steel chisel.//\n  3 SPORT:   [T] to hit a golf ball or kick a football or a rugby ball so that it goes high into the air for a short distance//  --United scored just before half-time when Adcock cleverly chipped the ball over the keeper.//\n  4 POTATOES:   [T]  BrE to cut potatoes into thin pieces ready to be cooked in hot oil//  chip away at [chip away at sth] phr v//  to gradually make something less effective or destroy it//  --Writers such as Voltaire and Diderot were chipping away at the foundations of society.//  --Fears about the future chipped away at her sense of well-being.//  chip in phr v//\n  1 to interrupt a conversation by saying something that adds more detail:  chip in with//  --Other committee members chipped in with suggestions.//  --’It won’t be easy,’ Jeff chipped in.//  --I’d just like to chip in, Bill, if I might.//\n  2 if each person in a group chips in, they each give a small amount of money so that they can buy something together:  --We all chipped in to buy Amy a graduation present.//  chip in (with) sth//  --52 people in the music industry each chipped in $250 apiece.//


Words: chip pan
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a deep pan with a wire basket inside used for cooking food in hot oil, especially chips//


Words: chip shop
Meaning:
also chippie, chippy  informal   n [C]  BrE   a shop that cooks and sells fish and chips and other fried food//


Words: chipmunk
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Ojibwa]//  a small American animal similar to a squirrel with black lines on its fur//


Words: chipolata
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: Italian cipollata  ’with onions’]//  a small thin sausage//


Words: chipped
Meaning:
adj   something that is chipped has a small piece broken off the edge of it//  --The nail varnish on her toes was chipped.//  --a chipped saucer//  --a chipped tooth//


Words: Chippendale
Meaning:
Chippendale furniture is made in an 18th century style famous for its graceful shapes and fine decoration, and is named after the English furniture designer Thomas Chippendale (1718-79)//  --a fine pair of Chippendale chairs//


Words: chipper
Meaning:
adj  old-fashioned informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from  English dialect kipper  ’cheerful and active’]//  happy and active//  --You’re looking very chipper this morning.//


Words: chiropodist
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: chiro- (  CHIROPRACTOR) +  Greek pod-  ’foot’ +   - IST (originally both hands and feet were treated)]//  someone who is trained to examine and treat foot injuries and diseases//   podiatrist//  -- chiropody n  [U] //


Words: chiropractic
Meaning:
n [U]   support//  the treatment of physical problems by pressing on and moving the bones in someone’s back and joints//


Words: chiropractor
Meaning:
n [C]   support//  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: chiro-  ’of the hand’ (from  Greek cheiro-, from  cheir  ’hand’) +  Greek praktikos (  PRACTICAL)]//  someone who treats physical problems using chiropractic//


Words: chirp
Meaning:
v  also chirrup  BrE   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 [I and T] if a bird or insect chirps, it makes short high sounds:\n  2 to speak in a happy high voice:  --’Yes, all finished,’ he chirped.//  -- chirp n  [C] //


Words: chirpy
Meaning:
adj   happy and active//  --You’re very chirpy this morning - have you had some good news?//  -- chirpily adv //  -- chirpiness n  [U] //


Words: chisel
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old North French; Origin: , probably from  chisoir, from  Vulgar Latin caesorium  ’cutting tool’, from  Latin caedere  ’to cut’]//  a metal tool with a sharp edge, used to cut wood or stone//\nchisel 2   past tense and past participle  chiselled present participle  chiselling  BrE //  past tense and past participle  chiseled present participle  chiseling  AmE  v [T] //  to use a chisel to cut wood or stone into a particular shape//  chisel sth into/from/in etc sth//  --Martin chiselled a hole in the door for the new lock.//


Words: chiselled
Meaning:
BrE  chiseled AmE   adj [usually before noun]   if a man has chiselled features, his chin, mouth, nose etc have a strong clear shape//  chiselled features/chin/mouth/nose etc //  --his chiselled good looks//


Words: Chisholm
Meaning:
Shirley   (1924-) a US politician who was the first black woman to be elected as a member of Congress, in 1969//


Words: Chisholm Trail
Meaning:
the Chisholm Trail//  a path used for moving millions of cattle from Texas to Kansas during the 1800s//


Words: chit
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Hindi; Origin: citthi]//\n  1 an official note that shows that you are allowed to have something:  --Take the chit to the counter and collect your books.//\n  2  old-fashioned a young woman who behaves badly and does not respect older people:


Words: chit-chat
Meaning:
n [U]  informal   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: chat]//  conversation about things that are not very important//  --boring social chit-chat//


Words: chivalrous
Meaning:
adj   a man who is chivalrous behaves in a polite, kind, generous, and honourable way, especially towards women//  -- chivalrously adv //


Words: chivalry
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chevalerie, from  chevalier;   CHEVALIER]//\n  1 behaviour that is honourable, kind, generous, and brave, especially men’s behaviour towards women:\n  2 a system of religious beliefs and honourable behaviour that knights in the Middle Ages were expected to follow:


Words: chives
Meaning:
n [plural]   the long thin green leaves of a plant with purple flowers. Chives taste like onion and are used in cooking//


Words: chivvy
Meaning:
chivy/t[hA35D][hA366]vi/ v   past tense and past participle  chivvied present participle  chivvying third person singular  chivvies  [T]  BrE  informal //  [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: Chevy Chase, place near the border between England and Scotland where a battle was fought in 1388]//  to try to make someone do something more quickly, especially in an annoying way//  chivvy sb along/up//  --Go and see if you can chivvy the kids up a bit.//


Words: chloride
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: chlorine]//  a chemical compound that is a mixture of chlorine and another substance//  --sodium chloride//


Words: chlorine
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: chloros  ’greenish yellow’]//  a greenish-yellow gas with a strong smell that is used to keep the water in swimming pools clean. It is a chemical element: symbol Cl//


Words: chlorofluorocarbon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Greek; Origin: chloro- (from  chloros;   CHLORINE) +  English fluorocarbon]//  a CFC//


Words: chloroform
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: chloroforme, from  Greek chloro- (  CHLOROFLUOROCARBON) +  French formyle  ’chemical group that contains formic acid’]//  a liquid that makes you become unconscious if you breathe it//  -- chloroform v  [T] //


Words: chlorophyll
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: chlorophylle, from  Greek chloro- (  CHLOROFLUOROCARBON) +  phyllon  ’leaf’]//  the green-coloured substance in plants//


Words: chock
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from an unrecorded  Old North French choque]//  a block of wood or metal that you put in front of the wheel of a vehicle to prevent it from moving//


Words: chock-a-block
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]  BrE   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: chock-a-block  ’with the wooden blocks of a tackle (= ropes for lifting) touching each other, so that no more can be lifted’ (1800-1900), from  chock on block; influenced by  chock-full]//  a) completely full of people or things//  chock-a-block with//  --Paris was chock-a-block with tourists.//


Words: chock-full
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from   CHOKE1]//   informal completely full of people or things//  chock-full of//  --The pond was chock-full of weeds.//


Words: chocoholic
Meaning:
chocaholic/t[hA35D][hA361]k[hA353]h[hA361]l[hA366]k $ t[hA35D][hA35A][hA359]k[hA353]h[hA361][hA359]-, t[hA35D][hA361][hA359]k-/ n [C]  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: chocolate +  -aholic]//  someone who likes chocolate very much and eats a lot of it//


Words: chocolate
Meaning:
S2   n   foil//  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Spanish; Origin: Nahuatl xocoatl]//\n  1 [U] a sweet brown food that you can eat as a sweet or use in cooking to give foods such as cakes a special sweet taste:  --a chocolate bar//  --a chocolate cake//  --a packet of chocolate biscuits//  --I prefer milk chocolate to dark chocolate .//\n  2 [C] a small sweet that is covered with chocolate:  --Would you like a chocolate?//  --a box of chocolates//\n  3 [U and C] a hot sweet drink made with milk and chocolate, or a cup of this drink:  --a mug of hot chocolate //  --Two coffees and one chocolate, please.//\n  4 [U] a dark brown colour:


Words: chocolate box
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  BrE  informal   a chocolate box place looks pretty, but in a way that is false because it seems too perfect//  --He had grown tired of the chocolate box views.//


Words: choice
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: chois, from  choisir  ’to choose’]//\n  1 [U and C] if you have a choice, you can choose between several things:    choose//  choice between//  --Voters have a choice between three main political parties.//  choice of//  --You have a choice of hotel or self-catering accommodation.//  --You have a choice - you can stay here on your own or you can come with us.//  --She was faced with an agonizing choice .//  --We must encourage children to exercise choice and make their own decisions.//  --He has to make some important choices .//  --The booklet is supposed to help parents make informed choices  (=good choices because they have the right information) for their children.//  --They gave us no choice in the matter.//  --We had no choice but to destroy the animal.//  --You have left me with no choice .//\n  2 [singular] the range of people or things that you can choose from:  --It was a small shop and there wasn’t much choice.//  choice of//  --There is a choice of four different colours.//  --We offer a wide choice of wines and beers.//  --Consumers these days are spoilt for choice  (=have a lot of things to choose from) . BrE//\n  3 [C] the person or thing that someone chooses:  choice of//  --I don’t really like her choice of jewellery.//  --I think London was a good choice as a venue.//\n  4  by choice:  if you do something by choice, you do it because you want to do it and not because you are forced to do it//  --She lives alone by choice.//\n  5  the sth of your choice:  the person or thing of your choice is the one that you would most like to choose//  --Many children are not able to go to the school of their choice.//\n  6  the sth of choice:  the thing of choice is the one that people prefer to use//  --It is the drug of choice for this type of illness.//    Hobson’s choice//\nchoice 2 adj \n  1 [only before noun]  formal choice food is of very good quality:  --choice steak//  --We select only the choicest apples for our pies.//\n  2  a few choice words/phrases:  if you use a few choice words, you say exactly what you mean in an angry way//  --He told us what he thought of the idea in a few choice words.//


Words: choir
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: cuer, from  Latin chorus;   CHORUS1]//\n  1 a group of people who sing together for other people to listen to:    choral//  --He joined a church choir at the age of eight.//\n  2 [usually singular] the part of a church in which a choir sits during religious ceremonies:


Words: choke
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: achoke  ’to choke’ (11-14 centuries), from  Old English aceocian]//\n  1 [I] to be unable to breathe properly because something is in your throat or there is not enough air:  choke on//  --He choked on a piece of bread.//  --Six people choked to death on the fumes.//\n  2 [T] if something chokes you, it makes you unable to breathe properly:  --I felt as if there was a weight on my chest, choking me.//  --The smoke was choking me.//\n  3 [T] to prevent someone from breathing by putting your hands around their throat and pressing on it:  --His hands were round her throat, choking her.//\n  4 [I and T] to be unable to talk clearly because you are feeling a strong emotion:  choke with//  --He was choking with rage.//  --I was too choked with emotion to speak.//  --Her voice was choked with rage.//\n  5 [T]  also choke sth → out :  to say something with difficulty because you are very upset or angry//  --’Get out,’ she choked.//\n  6 [ T]  also choke sth → up :  to fill a place so that things cannot move through it//  --Weeds were choking the stream.//  be choked (up) with sth//  --The gutters were choked up with leaves.//\n  7 [I]  informal to fail at doing something, especially a sport, because there is a lot of pressure on you:  --People said I choked, but I just had a bad day on the golf course.//\n  8 [T] if one plant chokes another, it kills it by growing all around it and taking away its light and room to grow:  --Weeds can quickly choke delicate garden plants.//\n  9  choke a horse:   AmE  spoken if you say that something is big enough to choke a horse, you are emphasizing that it is very big//  --a wad of bills big enough to choke a horse//  choke back [choke sth → back] phr v//  to control your anger, sadness etc so that you do not show it//  --He choked back tears as he described what had happened.//  --She choked back a sob.//  --I choked back my anger.//  choke off [choke off sth] phr v//  to prevent something from happening//  --It is feared that higher interest rates might choke off economic recovery.//  choke out [choke sth → out] phr v//  to say something with difficulty because you are very upset or angry//  --His heart hammered as he choked out the words.//  --’No!’ she choked out.//  choke up phr v//\n  1  choke sth → up:  to fill a place so that things cannot move through it//  be choked up with sth//  --The stream was choked up with weeds.//\n  2  choke sb up:  to make someone feel very upset and unable to talk//  --This song really chokes me up.//  --I was really choked up when I saw her again.//\nchoke 2 n [C] \n  1 a piece of equipment in a vehicle that controls the amount of air going into the engine, and that is used to help the engine start:\n  2 the sound that someone makes when they cannot breathe properly because something is in their throat or there is not enough air:  --She gave a little choke of laughter.//


Words: choler
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: col[hA169]re, from  Latin cholera  ’disease caused by bile’, from  Greek, from  chole  ’bile’; because bile was thought to cause anger]//   literary great anger//  --What had brought on this fit of choler?//


Words: cholera
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Latin;   CHOLER]//  a serious disease that causes sickness and sometimes death. It is caused by eating infected food or drinking infected water//


Words: cholesterol
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: chole (  CHOLER) +  stereos  ’solid’ +  English -ol  ’chemical compound’]//  a chemical substance found in your blood. Too much cholesterol in your body may cause heart disease.//


Words: chomp
Meaning:
v [I]  informal   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  CHAMP1]//  to eat something//  chomp on//  --She was chomping on a bread roll.//  chomp away//  --a boy chomping away on a banana//  --British people chomp their way through more than a billion bars of chocolate every year.//


Words: Chomsky
Meaning:
Noam   (1928-) a US  linguist whose many new ideas about language have had a great influence on the study of language. He has also written books about politics, and has often criticized the way the US uses its power.//


Words: choo-choo
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  From the sound of a steam train]//   spoken a train - used by children or when speaking to children//


Words: choose
Meaning:
v   past tense  chose /t[hA35D][hA353][hA35E]z $ t[hA35D]o[hA35E]z/past participle  chosen /t[hA35D][hA353][hA35E]z[hA368]n $ t[hA35D]o[hA35E]-/ [I and T] //  [Language: Old English; Origin: ceosan]//\n  1 to decide which one of a number of things or people you want:    choice//  --It took us ages to choose a new carpet.//  --A panel of six judges will choose the winner.//  --He chose his words carefully as he spoke.//  --I don’t mind which one we have - you choose.//  choose between//  --For pudding we could choose between strawberry ice cream and apple tart.//  choose from//  --You can choose from a wide range of vehicles.//  choose to do sth//  --I chose to learn German rather than French.//  choose sb/sth to do sth//  --They chose Donald to be their leader.//  choose sb/sth as sth//  --The company has chosen London as its base.//  choose sb/sth for sth//  --Why did you choose me for the job?//\n  2 to decide to do something because that is what you prefer to do:  choose to do sth//  --I chose to ignore his advice.//  --You can, if you choose, invest your money in the stock market.//\n  3  there is little/nothing to choose between sth:  used when you think that two or more things are equally good and you cannot decide which is better//  --There was little to choose between the two candidates.//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: choose //  similar words: select,  pick,  appoint,  nominate,  go for,  plump for,  opt for //  See also:  choice1 , selection, preference//  ----------//


Words: choosy
Meaning:
choosey/t[hA35D]u[hA359]zi/ adj  informal   someone who is choosy will only accept things that they like a lot or they consider to be very good//  choosy about//  --She’s very choosy about clothes.//


Words: chop
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  chopped present participle  chopping  [T] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from  chap;   CHAPPED]//\n  1  also chop up :  to cut something into smaller pieces//  --He went outside to chop some more wood for the fire.//  --Can you chop up some carrots for me?//  --Add two finely chopped onions and a clove of garlic.//  chop sth into pieces/chunks etc //  --Chop the meat into small cubes.//\n  2  informal to reduce an amount of money by a large amount:  --He suddenly found that his income had been chopped in half.//\n  3  chop and change:   BrE  informal to keep changing your mind//  --You can’t keep chopping and changing like this!//  chop at [chop at sth] phr v//  to hit something with a sharp tool in order to cut it//  --They chopped at the bushes with their knives.//  chop down [chop sth → down] phr v//  to make a tree fall down by cutting it with a sharp tool//  --A couple of the older trees will have to be chopped down.//  --Large areas of rainforest are being chopped down every day.//  chop off [chop sth → off] phr v//  to remove something by cutting it with a sharp tool//  --The branch had been chopped off.//\nchop 2 n [C] \n  1 a small piece of meat on a bone, usually cut from a sheep or pig:    steak//  --a grilled pork chop//  --a lamb chop//\n  2  the chop:   BrE //  a) if you get or are given the chop, you lose your job//  --Six more staff got the chop last week.//  --He was worried that he might be for the chop  (=lose his job) .//  b) if something gets or is given the chop, it is closed or stopped because people do not want to pay for it any more//  --We were worried the project might get the chop.//  --Several other factories might now be for the chop  (=likely to be closed or stopped) .//\n  3 a hard downward movement that you make with your hand:  --a karate chop//\n  4 the act of hitting something with a sharp tool in order to cut it:  --With one last chop he split the log in two.//\n  5  chops [plural]  informal the lower part of the face of a person or animal - used humorously:  --Jack was grinning all over his chops.//


Words: chop suey
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Cantonese; Origin: shap sui  ’mixed bits’]//  a Chinese dish of meat and vegetables, served with rice//


Words: chop-chop
Meaning:
interjection   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Pidgin English; Origin: chop  ’fast’;   CHOPSTICK]//  an expression used when you want someone to hurry//  --Come on! Chop-chop!//


Words: chopper
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE a large knife that you use for cutting large pieces of meat:\n  2  informal a helicopter:  --There was a police chopper waiting for us.//\n  3 a type of motorcycle on which the front wheel is further forward than the place where your hands rest:\n  4  choppers [plural]  informal teeth:  --a row of huge white choppers//


Words: chopping board
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE chopping block  AmE   a large piece of wood or plastic that you cut meat or vegetables on when you are cooking//


Words: choppy
Meaning:
adj   choppy water has a lot of waves and is not smooth to sail on//  --The small boat bobbed about on the choppy water.//


Words: chopstick
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Pidgin English; Origin: chop  ’fast’ (from  Cantonese  kap) +  English stick]//  one of the two thin sticks that you use to eat food in many countries in Asia//


Words: Chopsticks
Meaning:
a simple tune that people often play on the  piano, especially when they are learning to play the piano or are bored//


Words: choral
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: choralis, from  Latin chorus;   CHORUS1]//  related to music that is sung by a large group of people together//    choir//  --an evening of choral music//


Words: chorale
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: German; Origin: choral, from  choralgesang  ’choral song’]//  a piece of music praising God, usually sung in a church by a large group of people//


Words: chord
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1; Date: 1400-1500; Origin: accord]//  [Sense: 2-3; Date: 1500-1600; Origin: cord; influenced by  Latin chorda (  CORD) (]//  [Sense: 2; Date: (17-19 centuries); Origin: chord  ’string of a musical instrument’ )]//\n  1 a combination of several musical notes that are played at the same time and sound pleasant together:\n  2  strike/touch a chord (with sb):  to do or say something that people feel is familiar or true//  --Many of the things she says will strike a chord with other young women.//  --He knew that what he was saying had touched a chord.//\n  3  technical a straight line joining two points on a curve:  ----------//  HINT //  Do not confuse with cord (=thick string), which has the same pronunciation. //  ----------//


Words: chore
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: chare;   CHARWOMAN]//\n  1 a small job that you have to do regularly, especially work that you do to keep a house clean:  --everyday chores like shopping and housework//  --We share the domestic chores.//\n  2 something you have to do that is very boring and unpleasant:  --I find driving a real chore.//


Words: choreograph
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: choreography]//  to arrange how dancers should move during a performance//  --The show is very cleverly choreographed.//


Words: choreography
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: choreographie, from  Greek choreia  ’dance’ (from  choros;   CHORUS1) +  French -graphie  ’-graphy’]//  the art of arranging how dancers should move during a performance//  -- choreographer n  [C] //


Words: chorister
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: cueristre, from  Medieval Latin chorista, from  Latin chorus;   CHORUS1]//  a singer in a church choir//


Words: chortle
Meaning:
v [I]  formal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: chuckle +  snort]//  to laugh because you are amused or pleased about something//  --Harry chortled with delight.//  -- chortle n  [C] //


Words: chorus
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ’circular dance, chorus’, from  Greek choros]//\n  1 the part of a song that is repeated after each verse:  --Everyone joined in the chorus.//\n  2 a large group of people who sing together:   choir//  --I sing with the university chorus.//\n  3 a piece of music written to be sung by a large group of people:  --a recording of the Hallelujah Chorus//\n  4 a group of singers, dancers, or actors who act together in a show but do not have the main parts:  --New voices are needed to join the chorus for the annual festival in October.//\n  5  a chorus of thanks/disapproval/protest etc:  something that a lot of people all say at the same time//  --The minister was greeted with a chorus of boos.//  --There was a chorus of agreement from the committee.//  --More politicians have now joined in the chorus of complaints.//\n  6  in chorus:  if people say something in chorus, they say the same thing at the same time//  --’Thank you,’ they said in chorus.//\nchorus 2 v [T]   if people chorus something, they say it at the same time//  --’Hurry up!’ chorused the girls.//


Words: chorus line
Meaning:
n [C]   a group of people who stand in a straight line and sing and dance together in a show or film//


Words: chosen
Meaning:
1 the past participle of choose:\n  2  the chosen few:  a small number of people who are treated as special and better than other people//  --information made available only to the chosen few//


Words: chow
Meaning:
n   [Sense: 1; Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from  Mandarin Chinese jiao  ’meat dumpling’]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from  Cantonese kau  ’dog’]//\n  1 [U]  old-fashioned informal food:  --I ordered some chow and sat down.//\n  2  also chow chow :   [C] a type of dog with long thick fur that first came from China//\nchow 2 v   chow down phr v//  to eat//  --She had to chow down with the others in the cafeteria.//


Words: chow mein
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Mandarin Chinese; Origin: chao mian, from  chao  ’to cook in hot oil’ +  mian  ’dough’]//  a Chinese dish made with meat, vegetables, and noodles//


Words: chowder
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: chaudi[hA169]re  ’(dish made in) a cooking pot’, from  Late Latin caldaria;   CAULDRON]//  a thick soup usually made with fish, vegetables, and milk//


Words: Chretien de Troyes
Meaning:
(late 12th century) a French poet who wrote five long poems about King  Arthur and his followers, which influenced many other writers//


Words: Christ
Meaning:
n    also Jesus Christ //  the man who is worshipped by Christians as the son of God//    Christian//  --a follower of Christ//\nChrist 2 interjection   used to express annoyance or surprise. Some people think this use is offensive//  --Christ! That’s hot!//


Words: christen
Meaning:
v [T]   [Language: Old English; Origin: cristnian, from  cristen  ’Christian’, from  Latin christianus;   CHRISTIAN2]//\n  1 to officially give a child its name at a Christian religious ceremony:    baptize//  --She was christened Sarah.//\n  2 to give something or someone a name:  --His fans christened him the king of rock.//  --The new plane has been christened the Hawk.//\n  3  informal to use something for the first time:  --We haven’t christened the new garden chairs yet.//


Words: Christendom
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Language: Old English; Origin: cristendom, from  cristen;   CHRISTEN]//  all the Christian people or countries in the world//


Words: christening
Meaning:
n [C]   a Christian religious ceremony at which a child is officially given a name and becomes a member of a Christian church//    baptism//


Words: Christian
Meaning:
n [C]   a person who believes in the ideas taught by Jesus Christ//\nChristian 2 adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Latin; Origin: christianus, from  Greek, from  Christos  ’Christ’, from  chriein  ’to pour holy oil on’]//\n  1 related to Christianity:  --the Christian religion//  --the Christian church//  --a Christian minister//\n  2  also christian :  behaving in a good, kind way//  --That wasn’t a very christian thing to do!//


Words: Christian Aid
Meaning:
a Christian  charity organization that provides money, equipment, advice etc in order to help poorer countries develop their farming and industry//


Words: Christian Coalition
Meaning:
the   a  right-wing Christian political group in the US, which tries to influence government decisions, so that laws are based on traditional Christian morals. It is known for opposing  abortion and equal rights for women and  homosexuals.//


Words: Christian name
Meaning:
n [C]   a person’s first name, especially when they are given this name in a Christian religious ceremony//  --She didn’t like children to call her by her Christian name.//


Words: Christian Science
Meaning:
n [U]   a religion started in America in 1866, which includes the belief that illnesses can be cured by faith//  -- Christian Scientist n  [C] //


Words: Christian Science Monitor
Meaning:
The   a US daily newspaper, owned by the Christian Science religion, which has articles about politics, national and international news, and short stories//


Words: Christie
Meaning:
Agatha   (1890-1976) a British writer who wrote many popular novels about murders and the  detectives who try to find out who did them. Her most famous characters are Miss  Marple and Hercule  Poirot, and two of her best-known books are  Murder on the Orient Express and  Death on the Nile.//


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


Words: Christmas
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: Cristes m[zB024]sse ’Christ’s   MASS15’]//  the period of time around 25 December, the day when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ//  at Christmas//  --We’ll see you at Christmas.//  over Christmas//  --I’ll be in Scotland over Christmas.//  --Are you going home for Christmas?//  --a Christmas present//  --the Christmas holidays//  --Merry Christmas and a happy New Year everyone!//


Words: Christmas Carol
Meaning:
A   a short  novel by Charles Dickens about an unpleasant old man called  Scrooge who hates to spend money. On  Christmas Eve several  ghosts visit him to warn him about what will happen if he does not change. When he wakes up the next morning, he becomes a happy generous person, especially to his worker Bob  Cratchit and Cratchit’s sick son,  Tiny Tim.//


Words: Christmas cracker
Meaning:
n [C]   a tube of coloured paper that two people pull apart at Christmas in Britain for fun. It makes a loud sound as it is pulled apart, and usually contains a small toy//


Words: Christmas Day
Meaning:
n [U]   December 25th, the day when most Christians celebrate the birth of Christ//  --I always spend Christmas Day with my family.//  --We’ll be at home on Christmas Day.//


Words: Christmas Eve
Meaning:
n [U]   December 24th, the day before Christmas Day//  --We spent Christmas Eve cooking and getting ready for Christmas Day.//  --Unfortunately, I’ve got to work on Christmas Eve.//


Words: Christmas pudding
Meaning:
n [C]   a special sweet food that contains a lot of dried fruit and is eaten in Britain at the end of the main meal on Christmas Day//


Words: Christmas stocking
Meaning:
n [C]   a long sock which children leave in their house on Christmas Eve to be filled with presents//


Words: Christmas tree
Meaning:
n [C]   Christmas tree, present, star//  a fir tree that people put in their houses and decorate for Christmas//


Words: Christo
Meaning:
(1935-) a US artist, born in Bulgaria, who works with his wife, Jeanne-Claude. He is famous for his large temporary works that change the appearance of the land or of large buildings.//


Words: Christopher
Meaning:
Saint   (?-?250 AD) according to the Christian religion, a man who carried Christ across a river, and who became the  patron saint of travellers//


Words: Christopher Robin
Meaning:
a character in stories and poems by A. A.  Milne. He is a small boy who is a friend of  Winnie the Pooh.//


Words: chromatic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Greek; Origin: chromatikos, from  chroma  ’skin, color’]//\n  1  technical related to a musical scale which consists of semitones:  --a chromatic scale//  --chromatic harmonies//\n  2  formal related to bright colours:


Words: chrome
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: Greek chroma (  CHROMATIC); because of the green, red, and yellow colors of chromium compounds]//  a type of hard shiny metal//  --a chrome candleholder//


Words: chromium
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: French chrome;   CHROME]//  a hard blue-white metal that is used to cover metal objects with a shiny silver protective surface. It is a chemical element: symbol Cr//  --a chromium-plated handrail//


Words: chromosome
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: chroma (  CHROMATIC) +  soma  ’body’; because chromosomes easily take up coloring substances]//  a part of every living cell that is shaped like a thread and contains the genes that control the size, shape etc that a plant or animal has//


Words: chronic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: chronique, from  Greek chronikos  ’of time’, from  chronos;   CHRON-]//\n  1 a chronic disease or illness is one that continues for a long time and cannot be cured:    acute//  --chronic arthritis//  --chronic asthma//  --chronic heart disease//\n  2 a chronic problem is one that continues for a long time and cannot easily be solved:  --a period of recession and chronic unemployment//  --There is now a chronic shortage of teachers.//\n  3  chronic alcoholic/gambler etc:  someone who has behaved in a particular way for a long time and cannot stop//  --He was a chronic alcoholic and unable to hold down a job.//  --a chronic smoker//\n  4  BrE  informal extremely bad:  --The food was absolutely chronic!//  -- chronically/-kli/ adv //  --patients who are chronically ill//  --The service has been chronically underfunded for years.//


Words: chronicle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: cronicle, from  Latin chronica, from  Greek, from  chronikos;   CHRONIC]//  a written record of a series of events, especially historical events, written in the order in which they happened//  chronicle of//  --He has produced a chronicle of his life during the war years.//\nchronicle 2 v [T]   to describe events in the order in which they happened//  --His life is chronicled in a new biography published last week.//  --The book chronicles the events leading up to the war.//


Words: chronological
Meaning:
adj \n  1 arranged according to when things happened or were made:  --We arranged the documents in chronological order .//\n  2  chronological age:  a person’s chronological age is how old they actually are, rather than how old their mind or body seems//  -- chronologically/-kli/ adv //  --The paintings are displayed chronologically.//


Words: chronology
Meaning:
n   plural  chronologies //\n  1 [U] the order in which events happened in the past:  chronology of//  --It is important to establish the chronology of the events.//\n  2 [C] an account of events in the order in which they happened:  --The book includes a chronology of his life and works.//


Words: chrysalis
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: chrysallis  ’gold-colored chrysalis of some butterflies’, from  Greek, from  chrysos  ’gold’]//  a moth or butterfly at the stage of development when it has a hard outer shell and is changing into its adult form//


Words: chrysanthemum
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek chrysanthemon, from  chrysos (  CHRYSALIS) +  anthemon  ’flower’]//  a garden plant with large brightly coloured flowers//


Words: Chrysler
Meaning:
trademark \n  1 a large US company that makes cars of many different types and sizes. In 1998, Chrysler joined with the German car maker Daimler-Benz to form a new company.:\n  2 a type of car made by this company:


Words: chubby
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: chub type of fish  (15-21 centuries)]//  slightly fat in a way that looks healthy and attractive//  --a chubby six-year-old//  --a baby with round chubby cheeks//  -- chubbiness n  [U] //


Words: chuck
Meaning:
S2   v [T]  informal  especially BrE   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Perhaps from  Old French chuquer  ’to knock’]//\n  1 to throw something in a careless or relaxed way:  chuck sth on/out of/into etc sth//  --Tania chucked her bag down on the sofa.//  --I chucked a few things into a suitcase and left.//  chuck sb sth//  --Chuck me that pen, would you?//\n  2 to throw something away because you do not want it any more:  --I think I might have chucked it by mistake.//\n  3  also chuck sth → in :  to leave your job//  --You haven’t chucked your job, have you?//\n  4  BrE to end a romantic relationship with someone:  --Why did Judy chuck him?//\n  5  chuck it down:  to rain very heavily//  --It chucked it down all afternoon.//\n  6  chuck sb under the chin:  to gently touch someone under their chin in a friendly way//  chuck away [chuck sth → away] phr v//  to throw something away because you do not want it any more//  --I chucked all my old clothes away when we moved house.//  chuck off [chuck sb off sth] phr v//\n  1 to make someone leave a place or stop using something:  --He’ll chuck you off his land if he finds you.//\n  2  chuck yourself off sth:  to jump from somewhere that is very high//  --She tried to chuck herself off the bridge twice last week.//  chuck out [chuck sb/sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to throw something away because you do not want it any more:  --It was broken so I chucked it out.//\n  2 to make someone leave a place or a job:  --Their landlord chucked them out when they couldn’t pay the rent.//  chuck somebody/something → out of//  --They got chucked out of the pub for fighting.//  chuck in [chuck sth → in] phr v//  to leave your job//  --He had a job as a driver but he chucked it in.//  --I decided to chuck it all in and go to Australia.//\nchuck 2 n   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: chuck  ’large awkward-shaped piece’ (17-19 centuries), probably from  chock]//\n  1 [C] part of a machine that holds something firmly so that it does not move:\n  2 [singular]  spoken a friendly word used to address someone in some parts of Northern England:


Words: chuck wagon
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  old-fashioned   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  chuck  ’food’ (19-20 centuries), perhaps from   CHUCK2]//  a vehicle that carries food for a group of people//


Words: chuckle
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: chuck  ’to cluck’ (14-19 centuries), from the sound]//  to laugh quietly//  --What are you chuckling about?//  -- chuckle n  [C] //  --Rosie gave a little chuckle.//


Words: chuffed
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]  BrE  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Northern English dialect  chuff  ’round and fat, happy’]//  very pleased or happy//  --He’s really chuffed about passing the exam.//


Words: chug
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  chugged present participle  chugging //  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 [I always + adverb/preposition] if a car, train etc chugs somewhere, it moves there slowly, with the engine making a repeated low sound:  chug along/up/around etc//  --The boat chugged out of the harbour.//\n  2 [T]  also chug-a-lug :   AmE  informal to drink all of something in a glass or bottle without stopping//\n  3 [I always + adverb/preposition] to make slow but steady progress:  --The economy just keeps chugging along.//  -- chug n  [C usually singular] //


Words: chum
Meaning:
n   [Sense: 1; Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably from  chamber-fellow  ’someone sharing a room’]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Origin unknown]//\n  1 [C]  informal  old-fashioned a good friend:  --Freddie’s an old school chum of mine.//\n  2 [U] small pieces of oily fish, used to catch other fish:


Words: chump
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: chump  ’thick piece of wood’ (18-19 centuries), perhaps from  chunk +  lump]//\n  1  informal someone who is silly or stupid, and who is easily deceived:\n  2  chump chop/steak:   BrE a thick piece of meat with a bone in it//


Words: chunk
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  CHUCK2]//\n  1 a large thick piece of something that does not have an even shape:  --ice chunks//  chunk of//  --a chunk of bread//\n  2 a large part or amount of something:  --The rent takes a large chunk out of my monthly salary.//  chunk of//  --A huge chunk of the audience got up and left before the end of the show.//\n  3  a chunk of change:   AmE  informal a large amount of money//  --Lurie risked a pretty big chunk of change on the race.//


Words: chunky
Meaning:
adj \n  1 thick, solid, and heavy:  --chunky jewellery//\n  2 chunky food has large pieces in it:  --chunky peanut butter//\n  3 someone who is chunky has a broad, heavy body:


Words: church
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: cirice, from  Late Greek kyriakon, from  Greek kyriakos  ’of the lord’, from  kyrios  ’lord, master’]//\n  1 [C] a building where Christians go to worship:    cathedral//  --a short church service//  --church bells//\n  2 [U] the religious ceremonies in a church:  --Mrs Dobson invited us to dinner after church.//  --My parents go to church every Sunday.//  at church//  --We didn’t see you at church this morning.//\n  3 [C]  also  Church:  one of the separate groups within the Christian religion//  --the Catholic Church//\n  4 [singular, U] the institution of the Christian religion, and all the priests and other ministers who are part of it:  --the church’s attitude towards marriage//  --separation of church and state//


Words: Church of England
Meaning:
n   the Church of England//   also C of E //  the state church in England, the official leader of which is the Queen or King//


Words: Churchill
Meaning:
Sir Winston   (1874-1965) a British politician in the  Conservative Party who was Prime Minister during most of World War II and again from 1951 to 1955. Many people remember him as a great leader who made possible Britain’s victory in the war.//  -- Churchillian adj //  --a stirring Churchillian speech//


Words: churlish
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old English; Origin: ceorlic  ’of a churl’, from  ceorl  ’churl, person of low class’]//   formal not polite or friendly//  --It seemed churlish to refuse his invitation.//


Words: churn
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I] if your stomach churns, you feel sick because you are nervous or frightened:  --My stomach was churning on the day of the exam.//\n  2 [I and T]  also churn up :  if water, mud etc churns, or if something churns it, it moves about violently//  --We stood on the dock and watched the ocean churn.//\n  3 [I] if a machine, engine, wheel etc churns, it or its parts begin to move:  --I pressed the gas pedal, and slowly the wheels began to churn.//\n  4 [T] to make milk by using a churn:  churn out [churn sth → out] phr v//  to produce large quantities of something, especially without caring about quality//  --She’s been churning out novels for twenty years.//  churn up [churn sb/sth up] phr v//\n  1  churn sth → up:  to damage the surface of the ground, especially by walking on it or driving a vehicle over it//  --The lawn had been churned up by the tractor.//\n  2 to move water, mud etc around violently:  churn sth → up//  --The oars had churned up the mud, clouding the water.//\n  3  BrE to make someone upset or angry:  --Though she looked calm, in reality she was churned up inside.//\nchurn 2 n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: cyrin]//\n  1 a container used for shaking milk in order to make it into butter:\n  2  also milk churn :   BrE a large metal container used to carry milk in//


Words: chute
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’fall’, from  Old French cheoir  ’to fall’]//\n  1 a long narrow structure that slopes down, so that things or people can slide down it from one place to another:  --a rubbish chute//  --a laundry chute//  --The pool had several water chutes.//\n  2  informal a parachute:


Words: chutney
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Hindi; Origin: catni]//  a mixture of fruits, hot-tasting spices, and sugar, that is eaten especially with meat or cheese//  --mango chutney//


Words: chutzpah
Meaning:
n [U]  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Yiddish; Origin: Late Hebrew huspah]//  a lot of confidence and courage to do something, especially something that might involve being impolite to someone in authority - used to show approval//   nerve//  --It took a lot of chutzpah to talk to your boss like that.//


Words: CIA
Meaning:
n   the CIA//   the Central Intelligence Agency the department of the US government that collects information about other countries, especially secretly//


Words: ciao
Meaning:
interjection  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Italian; Origin: Italian dialect, from  schiavo  ’(I am your) slave’]//  used to say goodbye//


Words: cicada
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin]//  an insect that lives in hot countries, has large transparent wings, and makes a high singing noise//


Words: Cicero
Meaning:
Marcus Tullius   (106-43 BC) a Roman politician who was a famous  orator (=someone who is good at making speeches)  and one of the greatest Latin writers//


Words: CID
Meaning:
n   Criminal Investigation Department the department of the British police that deals with very serious crimes//


Words: cider
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: sidre, from  Late Latin sicera  ’alcoholic drink’, from  Greek, from  Hebrew shekhar]//\n  1 [U and C]  BrE an alcoholic drink made from apples, or a glass of this drink:  American Equivalent:  hard cider//\n  2 [U]  AmE  also apple cider :  a non-alcoholic drink made from apples//


Words: Cider with Rosie
Meaning:
a novel by Laurie  Lee about a boy growing up in a small country village in England during the 1920s and 1930s//


Words: cigar
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Spanish; Origin: cigarro, probably from  Mayan sik’ar  ’smoking’]//  a thick tube-shaped thing that people smoke, and which is made from tobacco leaves that have been rolled up//    cigarette//


Words: cigarette
Meaning:
W3S2   n [C]   cigarette//  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: cigare  ’cigar’, from  Spanish cigarro;   CIGAR]//  a thin tube of paper filled with finely cut tobacco that people smoke//    cigar//  --a packet of cigarettes//


Words: cigarette butt
Meaning:
n  also cigarette end  BrE [C]   the part of a cigarette that remains when someone has finished smoking it//


Words: ciggy
Meaning:
n   plural  ciggies  [C]  BrE  spoken  informal //  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: cigarette]//  a cigarette//


Words: cilantro
Meaning:
n [U]  AmE   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Spanish; Origin: Medieval Latin celiandrum, from  Latin coriandrum;   CORIANDER]//  the strong-tasting leaves of a small plant, used especially in Asian and Mexican cooking//  British Equivalent:  coriander//


Words: cinch
Meaning:
n [singular]  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Spanish; Origin: cincha  ’leather band around a horse’, from  Latin cingula]//\n  1 something that is very easy:  --’How was the exam?’ ’Oh, it was a cinch!’//  be a cinch to do sth//  --The program is a cinch to install.//\n  2  AmE something that will definitely happen, or someone who will definitely do something:  be a cinch to do sth//  --Most observers say the President is a cinch to win re-election.//\ncinch 2 v [T] \n  1 to pull a belt, strap etc tightly around something:  --a blue dress cinched at the waist by a wide belt//\n  2  AmE to make something certain to happen:  --They cinched a place in the play-off.//


Words: cinder
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   [Language: Old English; Origin: sinder; influenced by  French cendre  ’ashes’]//  a very small piece of burnt wood, coal etc//  --a cold hearth full of cinders//  --The cake was burnt to a cinder  (=completely burnt) .//


Words: cinder block
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   a large grey brick used to build houses and other buildings, made from cement and cinders//  British Equivalent:  breeze-block//


Words: Cinderella
Meaning:
1 the main character in a  fairy tale called  Cinderella. Cinderella is a beautiful young woman who is treated like a servant by her cruel  stepmother and stepsisters. When  Prince Charming invites all the young women to a  ball (=a large formal party where people dance) , Cinderella cannot go because she has only old torn clothes. Then her  fairy godmother appears and  magically changes six white mice into horses and a  pumpkin (=a large, round, yellow vegetable)  into a  carriage to take her to the ball. She then magically changes Cinderella’s old clothes into a beautiful dress and gives her a pair of glass slippers (=shoes) . Cinderella goes to the ball, but her fairy godmother tells her that she must come home before midnight, when the magic will stop working. At the ball the Prince falls in love with her. At midnight she runs away, but she loses one of her glass slippers. The Prince finds the slipper and then makes every unmarried woman in the country try it on. Cinderella puts on the slipper and marries the prince.:    Ugly Sisters, The//\n  2 a person or thing that has been ignored or treated as less important than other people or things:  of//  --Their economy was the Cinderella of the industrialized world.//  -- Cinderella adj  [only before noun] //  --Mental health care has been the Cinderella service for too long.//


Words: cinema
Meaning:
S3   n   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: cinematograph  ’movie camera, movie show’ (19-20 centuries), from  French cinematographe, from  Greek kinema  ’movement’ +  French -graphe  ’recording instrument’]//\n  1 [C]  especially BrE a building in which films are shown:  American Equivalent:  movie theater//  --It’s on at the local cinema.//\n  2  the cinema:   BrE if you go to the cinema, you go to a cinema to see a film//  --We decided to go to the cinema .//\n  3 [singular,U] the skill or industry of making films:  --a leading figure in Italian cinema//


Words: cinemagoer
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]  BrE   someone who goes to the cinema to see a film//  American Equivalent:  moviegoer//


Words: cinematography
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: cinematograph;   CINEMA]//  the skill or study of making films//  --with impressive cinematography by Robert Surtees//  -- cinematographer n  [C] //


Words: cinephile
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who likes films very much and considers them to be a form of art, not just entertainment//  --He is a complete cinephile.//


Words: cinnamon
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek kinnamon]//  a sweet-smelling brown substance used for giving a special taste to cakes and other sweet foods//  --a cinnamon roll//


Words: Cinque Ports
Meaning:
the Cinque Ports//  five sea ports in southeast England (Hastings, Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich) which, until 1685, had to provide ships for the British king or queen in order to protect the country from attack by sea//


Words: cipher cypher
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: cifre, from  Medieval Latin cifra, from  Arabic sifr  ’empty, zero’]//\n  1 [U and C]  formal a system of secret writing:   code//  --an expert in ciphers//  --messages written in cipher//\n  2 [C] someone who is not important and has no power or influence:  --At work, she was a cipher, a functionary, nothing more.//\n  3  literary  [C] the number 0:   zero//


Words: circa
Meaning:
prep  formal   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: circum;   CIRCUM-]//  used before a date to show that something happened close to but not exactly on that date//  --manuscripts dating from circa 1100//


Words: circadian
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  technical   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Latin; Origin: circa  ’around, about’ +  dies  ’day’]//  relating to a period of 24 hours, used especially when talking about changes in people’s bodies//  --the body’s circadian rhythm//


Words: Circe
Meaning:
in  classical mythology, a woman who did magic and who changed people into pigs, including the friends of Odysseus//


Words: circle
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 shape:\n   2 arranged in circle:\n   3 group of people:\n   4 theatre:\n   5 go/run around in circles:\n   6 come/go full circle:  ----------//  [Date: 1000-1100; Language: Old French; Origin: cercle, from  Latin circulus, from  circus;   CIRCUS]//\n  1 SHAPE:  a completely round shape, like the letter O//  --Draw a circle 10cm in diameter.//  --Cut the pastry into circles.//\n  2 ARRANGED IN CIRCLE:  a group of people or things arranged in the shape of a circle//  --The children stood round in a circle .//  circle of//  --a circle of chairs//\n  3 GROUP OF PEOPLE:  a group of people who know each other and meet regularly, or who have similar interests or jobs//  circle of//  --a circle of friends//  political/legal/literary etc circles //  --He’s well-known in fashionable circles .//  --Johnson was part of the president’s inner circle  (=the people who have the most influence) .//\n  4 THEATRE:   BrE the upper floor of a theatre, that has seats arranged in curved rows//  American Equivalent:  balcony//\n  5  go/run around in circles:  to think or argue about something without deciding anything or making progress//\n  6  come/go full circle:   also  turn full circle BrE to end in the same situation in which you began, even though there have been changes in the time in between//  --Sooner or later, fashion comes full circle.//    square the circle at square3 (5)//    vicious circle//\ncircle 2 v \n  1 [T] to draw a circle around something:  --Circle the correct answer.//\n  2 [I and T] to move in the shape of a circle around something, especially in the air:  --The plane circled the airport before landing.//  circle round/above/over etc//  --The pigeons circled above the terrace.//


Words: circuit
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: circuite, from  Latin circuitus, past participle of  circumire,  circuire  ’to go around’, from  circum (  CIRCUM-) +  ire  ’to go’]//\n  1 a path that forms a circle around an area, or a journey along this path:  --We did a circuit of the old city.//\n  2  BrE a track that cars, motorbikes etc race around:\n  3  the tennis/lecture/cabaret etc circuit:  all the places that are usually visited by someone who plays tennis etc//  --a well-known entertainer on the club circuit//\n  4 the complete circle that an electric current travels:  --an electrical circuit//\n  5 a regular trip around an area made by a judge or a religious leader, so that a court of law or church can meet in several different places:  --a circuit judge//  --a circuit preacher//\n  6  do circuits:   BrE  informal to do circuit training//    closed circuit television,  printed circuit,  short circuit//


Words: circuit board
Meaning:
n [C]   a board in a piece of electrical equipment that uses thin lines of metal to conduct (=carry)  electricity between different points//


Words: circuit breaker
Meaning:
n [C]   a piece of equipment that stops an electric current reaching a machine if the machine becomes dangerous//


Words: circuit court
Meaning:
n [C]   a court of law that meets in small towns within a particular area whenever a judge visits from a larger town//


Words: circuit training
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   a series of many different exercises done quickly after each other, in order to increase your fitness//


Words: circuitous
Meaning:
adj   going from one place to another in a way that is longer than the most direct way//  --a hard, circuitous hike//  -- circuitously adv //


Words: circular
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: circuler, from  Late Latin circularis, from  Latin circulus;   CIRCLE1]//\n  1 shaped like a circle:  --a circular table//\n  2 moving around in a circle:  --a circular bus route//\n  3  circular argument/logic/reasoning:  an argument or way of thinking that is not right because the statement it uses to prove that the argument is true can only be true if the original argument is already true//  -- circularity/s[hA362][hA359]kj[hA36A]l[zB024]r[hA369]ti $ s[hA362][hA359]r-/ n  [U] //\ncircular 2 n [C]   a printed advertisement, notice etc that is sent to lots of people at the same time//


Words: circular saw
Meaning:
n [C]   an electric tool with a round metal blade that has small sharp parts around the edge, used for cutting wood//


Words: circulate
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  circulare, from  circulus;   CIRCLE1]//\n  1 [I and T] to move around within a system, or to make something do this:  --Swimming helps to get the blood circulating through the muscles.//  --Ceiling fans circulated warm air around the room.//\n  2 [I] if information, facts, ideas etc circulate, they become known by many people:  -- Rumours began circulating that the Prime Minister was seriously ill.//\n  3 [T] to send goods, information etc to people:  --The group circulated petitions calling for a federal law to ban handguns.//\n  4 [I] to talk to a lot of different people in a group, especially at a party:


Words: circulation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [singular, U] the movement of blood around your body:  --Exercise improves the circulation.//  good/bad circulation //  --Doctors had to remove her leg because of bad circulation.//\n  2 [U] the exchange of information, money etc from one person to another in a group or society:  in/out of circulation//  --Police believe there are thousands of illegal guns in circulation.//  --The book was taken out of circulation.//  remove/withdraw sth from circulation //  --The Treasury Department plans to remove older coins from circulation and replace them with new ones.//\n  3 [C, usually singular] the average number of copies of a newspaper or magazine that are usually sold each day, week, month etc:  circulation of//  --The newspaper has a daily circulation of 55,000.//\n  4 [U and C] the movement of liquid, air etc in a system:  --Let’s open the windows and get some circulation in here.//\n  5  in circulation/out of circulation:   informal when someone takes part or does not take part in social activities at a particular time//  --Sandy’s out of circulation until after her exams.//


Words: circulatory
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   relating to the movement of blood around your body//  --the heart and circulatory system//


Words: circumcise
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  circumcidere, from  circum- (  CIRCUM-) +  caedere  ’to cut’]//\n  1 to cut off the skin at the end of the penis (=male sex organ) :\n  2 to cut off a woman’s clitoris (=part of her sex organs) :


Words: circumcision
Meaning:
n [U and C]   the act of circumcising someone, or an occasion when a baby is circumcised as part of a religious ceremony//


Words: circumference
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin circumferentia, from  circumferre  ’to carry around’, from  circum- (  CIRCUM-) +  ferre  ’to carry’]//  [C usually singular, U] the distance or measurement around the outside of a circle or any round shape//    diameter, perimeter, radius//  circumference of//  --the circumference of the Earth//  in circumference//  --The island is only nine miles in circumference.//


Words: circumflex
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  circumflectere  ’to bend around’, from  circum- (  CIRCUM-) +  flectere  ’to bend’]//  a mark placed above a letter in a French word to show its pronunciation, for example, [hA175]//


Words: circumlocution
Meaning:
n [U and C]  formal   the practice of using too many words to express an idea, instead of saying it directly//


Words: circumnavigate
Meaning:
v [T]   to sail, fly, or travel completely around the Earth, an island etc//  -- circumnavigation/s[hA362][hA359]k[hA353]mn[zB024]v[hA369]ge[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ s[hA362][hA359]r-/ n  [U and C] //  --circumnavigation of the world//


Words: circumscribe
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: circumscribere, from  circum- (  CIRCUM-) +  scribere  ’to write, draw’]//\n  1 [often passive]  formal to limit power, rights, or abilities:   restrict//  --The President’s power is circumscribed by Congress and the Supreme Court.//\n  2  technical to draw a line around something:  --a circle circumscribed by a square//


Words: circumspect
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  circumspicere  ’to look around, be careful’, from  circum- (  CIRCUM-) +  specere  ’to look’]//  thinking carefully about something before doing it, in order to avoid risk//   cautious//  --The governor was usually circumspect when dealing with the media.//  -- circumspectly adv //  -- circumspection/s[hA362][hA359]k[hA353]mspek[hA35D][hA368]n $ s[hA362][hA359]r-/ n  [U] //


Words: circumstance
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin circumstantia, from  circumstare  ’to stand around’, from  circum- (  CIRCUM-) +  stare  ’to stand’]//\n  1 [C usually plural] the conditions that affect a situation, action, event etc:  --The Soviet Union had been forced by circumstances to sign a pact with Nazi Germany.//  --I can’t imagine a circumstance in which I would be willing to steal.//  in ... circumstances //  --The rules can only be waived in exceptional circumstances.//  under ... circumstances //  --Prisoners can only leave their cells under certain circumstances (=if particular conditions exist) .//  --He was found dead in suspicious circumstances  (=in a way that makes you think something illegal or dishonest has happened) .//  --Unless there are extenuating circumstances , all students must be present on the day of the exam (=reasons which make you feel that it was reasonable for someone to break the usual rules) .//\n  2  under no circumstances:   also in no circumstances  BrE used to emphasize that something must definitely not happen//  --Under no circumstances are you to leave the house.//\n  3  under/given the circumstances:   also in the circumstances  BrE used to say that a particular situation makes an action, decision etc necessary, acceptable, or true when it would not normally be//  --It’s the best result that could be expected under the circumstances.//\n  4 [U]  formal the combination of facts, events etc that influence your life, and that you cannot control:  --He was a victim of circumstance .//\n  5  circumstances [plural]  formal the conditions in which you live, especially how much money you have:  economic/financial/personal etc circumstances //  --Whether or not you qualify for a loan will depend on your financial circumstances.//  --people living in difficult social circumstances//  in reduced circumstances  old-fashioned  (=with much less money than you used to have) //    pomp and circumstance at pomp//


Words: circumstantial
Meaning:
adj \n  1  law based on something that appears to be true but is not proven:  circumstantial evidence/case//  --The case against McCarthy is based largely on circumstantial evidence.//\n  2  formal including all the details:  --The book includes a long and circumstantial account of Empson’s conversation with the Queen.//  -- circumstantially adv //


Words: circumvent
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  circumvenire  ’to come around’, from  circum- (  CIRCUM-) +  venire  ’to come’]//\n  1 to avoid a problem or rule that restricts you, especially in a clever or dishonest way - used to show disapproval:  --The company opened an account abroad, in order to circumvent the tax laws.//\n  2 to avoid something by changing the direction in which you are travelling:  --We went north in order to circumvent the mountains.//  -- circumvention/-ven[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: circus
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: ’circle, circus’, perhaps from  Greek kirkos  ’ring’]//\n  1 [C] a group of people and animals who travel to different places performing skilful tricks as entertainment:  circus act (=a trick performed in a circus) //  circus ring (=a large circular area where tricks are performed) //\n  2 [singular]  informal a situation in which there is too much excitement or noise:  --The first day of school is always such a circus.//  --The trial has turned into a media circus .//\n  3 [C usually singular]  BrE a round open area where several streets join together, often used in place names:  --Piccadilly Circus//\n  4 [C] a place in ancient Rome where fights, races etc took place, with seats built in a circle:


Words: cirrhosis
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek kirrhos  ’orange-colored’; from the appearance of the diseased liver]//  a serious disease of the liver, often caused by drinking too much alcohol//


Words: Cirrus
Meaning:
trademark   a type of service that allows people to get money from their bank account by using any of the  cash machines that have a Cirrus sign on it//


Words: cirrus
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: ’curl’]//  a form of cloud that is light and shaped like feathers, high in the sky//


Words: CIS
Meaning:
n   Commonwealth of Independent States an association formed by countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union//


Words: Cistercian
Meaning:
a  monk (=member of an all-male Christian religious group)  belonging to a group that started in France in 1098. The Cistercians follow strict rules, which include little sleep, hard work, and not eating very much.//  -- Cistercian adj //  --a Cistercian monastery//


Words: cistern
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: cisterne, from  Latin cisterna, from  cista  ’box’]//  a container in which the supply of water for a building is stored inside the building//   tank//


Words: citadel
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: citadelle, from  Old Italian cittadella, from  cittade  ’city’, from  Latin civitas;   CITY]//\n  1 a strong fort (=small castle)  built in the past as a place where people could go for safety if their city was attacked:   fortress//\n  2  the citadel of sth:   literary a place or situation in which an idea, principle, system etc that you think is important is kept safe//   stronghold//  --the last citadel of freedom//


Words: citation
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  AmE a formal statement or piece of writing publicly praising someone’s actions or achievements:  citation for//  --a citation for bravery//\n  2 an official order for someone to appear in court or pay a fine for doing something illegal:  citation for//  --Turner was issued a traffic citation for reckless driving.//\n  3 a line taken from a book, speech etc:   quotation//  --The essay begins with a citation from ’Hamlet’.//


Words: cite
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: citer, from  Latin citare  ’to cause to move, excite, order to come’]//\n  1 to mention something as an example, especially one that supports, proves, or explains an idea or situation:  --The judge cited a 1956 Supreme Court ruling in her decision.//  cite sth as sth//  --Several factors have been cited as the cause of the unrest.//\n  2 to give the exact words of something that has been written, especially in order to support an opinion or prove an idea:   quote//  --The passage cited above is from a Robert Frost poem.//\n  3 to order someone to appear before a court of law:  cite sb for sth//  --Two managers had been cited for similar infractions.//\n  4  BrE to mention someone by name in a court case:  --Sue was cited in the divorce proceedings.//\n  5 to mention someone because they deserve praise:  cite sb (for sth)//  --Garcia was cited for her work with disabled children.//


Words: citizen
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: citezein, from  Old French citeien, from  cite (  CITY); probably influenced by  denizen]//\n  1 someone who lives in a particular town, country, or state:  --We need our schools to teach students to be good citizens.//  --The mayor urged citizens to begin preparing for a major storm.//    senior citizen//\n  2 someone who legally belongs to a particular country and has rights and responsibilities there, whether they are living there or not:    national//  --At the time, there were over 2000 British citizens living in Iraq.//\n  3  second-class citizen:  someone who is made to feel unimportant because of the way people treat them//


Words: Citizen Kane
Meaning:
a famous US film made in 1941 by Orson  Welles. It tells the story of the life of a very rich businessman who owned several important newspapers. Many people think it is the greatest film ever made. //


Words: citizen’s arrest
Meaning:
n [C]   when a person who is not a police officer catches someone and presents them to the police because they have done something illegal//  --Brown made a citizen’s arrest when a youth attempted to rob an elderly woman.//


Words: Citizens Advice Bureau
Meaning:
the   the CAB a British organization supported by the government which gives free advice to ordinary people about legal, financial, and other problems//


Words: citizenship
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the legal right of belonging to a particular country:    nationality//  French/US/Brazilian etc citizenship //  --I have applied for French citizenship.//  --McGuirk holds dual citizenship  (=the legal right of being a citizen in two countries) in Ireland and the US.//\n  2 the ways in which a good citizen behaves, for example being responsible and helping their community:  --The schools should be responsible for teaching our children good citizenship .//


Words: citron
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Old Proven[hA168]al, from  Latin citrus;   CITRUS]//  a fruit like a lemon but bigger//


Words: citronella
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: French citronelle  ’lemon oil’, from  citron;   CITRON]//  an oil used for keeping insects away//


Words: citrus
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Latin,  ’citron tree’]//\n  1  also citrus tree :  a type of tree that produces citrus fruits//\n  2  also citrus fruit :  a fruit with thick skin, such as an orange or lemon//  -- citrus adj //


Words: City
Meaning:
the  n  also the City of London  BrE   an area in central London where there are many large banks and financial organizations, including The  Bank of England and The  Stock Exchange. The City has an area of about one square mile (about 2.5 square kilometres), and it is sometimes called "the Square Mile", especially in newspapers. Its name is sometimes used to mean the people who work there and make important financial decisions. There is a similar area in New York City called  Wall Street//  --The City is optimistic about the outlook for inflation.//  --a firm of City stockbrokers//


Words: city
Meaning:
n   plural  cities  [C] //  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: cite, from  Latin civitas  ’citizenship, state, city of Rome’, from  civis;   CIVIC]//\n  1 a large important town:  --New York City//  --a capital city//  --The nearest big city was St. Louis.//  city dweller (=someone who lives in a city) //    inner city//\n  2 :  a)  BrE a large town, that has been given an official title by a king or queen //  --the city of Oxford//  b)  AmE a town of any size that has definite borders and powers that were officially given by the state government//  --The city of Cleveland celebrated its 200th birthday with fireworks and an outdoor concert.//\n  3 [usually singular] the people who live in a city:  --The city has been living in fear since last week’s earthquake.//\n  4  the City:   BrE the area of London which is Britain’s financial centre, and the important institutions there//  City banker/stockbroker etc (=a banker etc who works in the city) //\n  5  the city:   AmE the government of a city//  --The city is working to improve public transportation.//


Words: city desk
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE a department of a newspaper that deals with financial news:\n  2  AmE a department of a newspaper that deals with local news:


Words: city editor
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  also financial editor :   BrE a journalist responsible for the financial news in a newspaper//\n  2  AmE a newspaper editor who is responsible for local news:


Words: city hall
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U]  AmE the government of a city:  --The recycling program simply hasn’t been a high priority at City Hall.//\n  2 [C usually singular] the building a city government uses as its offices:


Words: city planning
Meaning:
n [U]  AmE   the study of the way cities work, so that roads, houses, services etc can be provided effectively//  British Equivalent:  town planning//


Words: city slicker
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  slicker from  slick  ’to deceive cleverly’ (19-20 centuries), from   SLICK1]//  someone who lives and works in a city and has no experience of anything outside it - often used to show disapproval//


Words: City Technology College
Meaning:
a type of school in Britain that receives some money from business companies and teaches young people useful technical skills //


Words: city-state
Meaning:
n [C]   an independent state that consists of a city and the surrounding country area, especially in the past//  --the city-state of Athens//


Words: cityscape
Meaning:
n [U and C]   the way a city looks, or the way it looks from a particular place//  --the gray New York cityscape//


Words: civic
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: civicus, from  civis  ’citizen’]//\n  1 relating to a town or city:  --Jackson spent the day meeting with local religious and civic leaders.//\n  2 relating to the people who live in a town or city:  --It is your civic duty to vote in the local elections.//  --The local art museum is a source of civic pride  (=people’s pride in their own city) .//


Words: civic centre
Meaning:
BrE  civic center AmE n [C] \n  1  BrE an area in a city where all the public buildings are:\n  2  AmE a large public building where events such as sports games and concerts are held:


Words: civics
Meaning:
n [U]  especially AmE   a school subject dealing with the rights and duties of citizens and the way government works//


Words: civil
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin civilis, from  civis;   CIVIC]//\n  1 [only before noun] relating to the people who live in a country:  civil war/disturbance/unrest etc (=fighting etc between different groups of people living in the same country) //    civil liberty,  civil rights//\n  2 [only before noun] relating to the ordinary people or things in a country that are not part of military, government, or religious organizations:  --They were married in a civil ceremony in May.//\n  3 [only before noun] relating to the laws about the private affairs of citizens, such as laws about business or property, rather than laws about crime:    civil law, criminal//  --Many civil cases can be settled out of court.//\n  4 polite in a formal but not very friendly way:    civility//  --Try at least to be civil.//


Words: Civil Aviation Authority
Meaning:
the CAA   a British organization that controls the operation of the air travel industry, especially by making safety rules and directing the traffic of planes in the UK. There is a similar organization in the US called  Federal Aviation Administration.//


Words: civil defence
Meaning:
BrE  civil defense AmE n [U]   the organization of ordinary rather than military people to help defend their country from military attack//


Words: civil disobedience
Meaning:
n [U]   when people, especially a large group of people, refuse to obey a law in order to protest in a peaceful way against the government//


Words: civil engineering
Meaning:
n [U]   the planning, building, and repair of roads, bridges, large buildings etc//  -- civil engineer n  [C] //


Words: civil law
Meaning:
n [U]   the area of law relating to the affairs of private citizens rather than crime//    criminal law//


Words: civil liberty
Meaning:
n [U]  also civil liberties   the right of all citizens to be free to do whatever they want while respecting the rights of other people//


Words: civil list
Meaning:
n   the civil list//  the sum of money given every year by Parliament to the King or Queen of Britain and members of their family//


Words: civil rights
Meaning:
n [plural]   the rights that every person should have, such as the right to vote or to be treated fairly by the law, whatever their sex, race, or religion//  civil rights demonstration/movement etc //  --a civil rights leader//    bill of rights//


Words: Civil Rights Act of
Meaning:
964, the   a US law which says that businesses must treat people equally whatever their colour or religion, and that they cannot refuse to employ someone because of their colour. This law also says that restaurants and hotels cannot refuse to serve someone because of their colour. //


Words: civil war
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a war in which opposing groups of people from the same country fight each other in order to gain political control//  --the Spanish civil war//


Words: civilian
Meaning:
n [C]   anyone who is not a member of the military forces or the police//  --Many innocent civilians were killed during the war.//  -- civilian adj  [only before noun] //  --It was difficult to return to civilian life after ten years in the military.//


Words: civility
Meaning:
n  formal \n  1 [U] polite behaviour which most people consider normal:    civil//  --Please have the civility to knock before you enter next time.//\n  2  civilities [plural] something that you say or do in order to be polite:  --We exchanged civilities when we were neighbours, but nothing more.//


Words: civilization
Meaning:
also  civilisation BrE   n \n  1 [U and C] a society that is well organized and developed, used especially about a particular society in a particular place or at a particular time:    civilized//  --modern American civilization//  civilization of//  --the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome//\n  2 [U] all the societies in the world considered as a whole:  --The book explores the relationship between religion and civilization.//  -- the dawn of civilization  (=the beginning of civilization) //\n  3 [U] a place such as a city where you feel comfortable, especially because it is modern:    civilized//  --After a week in the mountains all I wanted to do was get back to civilization.//


Words: civilize
Meaning:
also  civilise BrE   v [T] \n  1 to influence someone’s behaviour, making or teaching them to act in a more sensible or gentle way:  --Andrea was a great civilizing influence on her husband.//\n  2 to improve a society so that it is more organized and developed, and often more fair or comfortable:  --Ellis was credited with civilizing the Texas prison system.//


Words: civilized
Meaning:
also  civilised BrE   adj \n  1 a civilized society is well organized and developed, and has fair laws and customs:    civilization//  --Such things should not be allowed to happen in a civilized society.//\n  2 pleasant and comfortable:    civilized//  --’This is very civilized,’ she said, lying back in the sun with a gin and tonic.//\n  3 behaving in a polite sensible way instead of getting angry:  --Let’s try and be civilized about this, shall we?//\n  4  a civilized hour:  a time that is not too early in the morning//  --Can’t we have the meeting at a more civilized hour?//


Words: civvies
Meaning:
civies/s[hA366]viz/ n [plural]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: civilian]//   informal ordinary clothes, rather than military uniform//  --Sam! I didn’t recognise you in civvies.//


Words: civvy street
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE  old-fashioned  informal   ordinary life as it is lived outside the army, navy, or air force//  --I bet your family will be glad to see you when you get back to civvy street.//


Words: clack
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  From the sound]//  [I] to make a continuous short hard sound//  --the sound of high heels clacking across the courtyard//  -- clack n  [singular] //  --the clack of typewriters//


Words: clad
Meaning:
adj  literary   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  Old past participle of  clothe]//\n  1 wearing a particular kind of clothing:  clad in//  --She felt hot, despite being clad only in a thin cotton dress.//  warmly/suitably/scantily clad (=dressed warmly etc) //\n  2  snow-clad/ivy-clad etc:  covered in a particular thing//  --an armour-clad ship//


Words: cladding
Meaning:
n [U]  especially BrE   a cover of hard material that protects the outside of a building, piece of equipment etc//  --decorative timber cladding//


Words: claim
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 truth:\n   2 money:\n   3 legal right:\n   4 death:\n   5 attention:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: clamer, from  Latin clamare  ’to cry out, shout’]//\n  1 TRUTH:   [T] to state that something is true, even though it has not been proved//  claim (that)//  --The company claims that their product ’makes you thin without dieting’.//  claim to do/be sth//  --No responsible therapist will claim to cure your insomnia.//  --I don’t claim to be a feminist, but I’d like to see more women in managerial posts.//  claim to have done sth//  --Two young girls claim to have seen the fairies.//  claim responsibility/credit (for sth) (=say officially that you are responsible for something that has happened) //  --The group claimed responsibility for a series of bombings.//  --Opposition leaders will claim victory if the turnout is lower than 50%.//  claim sb/sth as sth//  --A letter appeared in The Times claiming Fleming as the discoverer of penicillin.//\n  2 MONEY:   [I and T] to officially demand or receive money from an organization because you have a right to it//  claim sth back//  --He should be able to claim the price of the ticket back.//  claim on//   BrE //  --You can claim on the insurance if you have an accident while on holiday.//  claim benefit/an allowance/damages etc //  --If you’re still not satisfied, you may be able to claim compensation .//\n  3 LEGAL RIGHT:   [T] to state that you have a right to take or have something that is legally yours//  --The majority of those who claim asylum are genuine refugees.//  --Lost property can be claimed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.//\n  4 DEATH:   [T] if a war, accident etc claims lives, people die because of it - used especially in news reports//  --The earthquake has so far claimed over 3000 lives.//\n  5 ATTENTION:   [T] if something claims your attention, you notice and consider it carefully//  --The military conflict continues to claim our undivided attention.//\nclaim 2 W1S2 n [C]   ----------//\n   1 truth:\n   2 money:\n   3 rights:\n   4 stake your claim (for something):\n   5 somebody’s/something’s claim to fame:\n   6 land:  ----------//\n  1 TRUTH:  a statement that something is true, even though it has not been proved//  claim that//  --Gould rejected claims that he had acted irresponsibly.//  false/extravagant/dubious etc claims //  --firms that make false claims about their products//  --They made claims they couln’t live up to.//  --the competing claims of scientists//  dispute/deny/reject a claim //  --The foreign affairs department has denied claims that the men were tortured.//  --Evidence to support these claims is still lacking.//  claim to do/be sth//  --his claim to be the rightful owner of the painting//  --I make no claim to understand the complexities of the situation.//\n  2 MONEY:  a) an official request for money that you think you have a right to//  claim for//  --claims for compensation//  reject/uphold/lose etc a claim //  --A disabled man has lost his claim for unfair dismissal.//  make/put in/file a claim //  --All claims should be made in writing.//  pay/wage claim (=a request from workers for more money) //  --Fill in and return the claim form as soon as it arrives.//  b) the sum of money you request when you make a claim//  --The insurance company cannot meet  (=pay) such enormous claims .//\n  3 RIGHTS:  a right to do something or to have something, especially because it belongs to you or because you deserve it//  claim to/on//  --Surely they have a rightful claim on their father’s land?//  --The Maldives pressed its claim to hold next year’s summit.//  --Philip feared Edward would lay claim to the Scottish crown.//  --the competing claims of parents and teachers//  have a claim on sb’s time/attention etc //  --A woman who has given a man children will always have some claim on his love.//\n  4  stake your claim (for sth):  to say that you have a right to own or do something, especially when other people also say they have a right to it//  --Tickets are on a ’first come, first served’ basis, so stake your claim now.//\n  5  sb’s/sth’s claim to fame:  a place or person’s claim to fame is the reason why they are famous - often used humorously to mention something that is not very important//  --My main claim to fame is that I once shook Elvis’s hand.//\n  6 LAND:  something such as a piece of land that contains valuable minerals//


Words: claimant
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who claims something, especially money, from the government, a court etc because they think they have a right to it//  --benefit claimants//


Words: clairvoyant
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: clair  ’clear’ +  voyant  ’seeing’]//  someone who says they can see what will happen in the future//  -- clairvoyance n  [U] //  --the gifts of telepathy and clairvoyance//  -- clairvoyant adj //


Words: clam
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: clam  ’two-part fastener’ (14-20 centuries), from  Old English clamm  ’chain, rope, etc. for tying something up’; from the tight shutting of a clam shell]//\n  1 a shellfish you can eat that has a shell in two parts that open up:  --clam chowder (=a type of soup) //\n  2  as happy as a clam:   AmE  informal very happy//\n  3  AmE  informal someone who does not say what they are thinking or feeling:\nclam 2 v   past tense and past participle  clammed present participle  clamming //  clam up phr v//   informal to suddenly stop talking, especially when you are nervous or shy//  --A sensitive child is likely just to clam up.//


Words: clamber
Meaning:
preposition]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from  clamb, old past tense of  climb]//  to climb or move slowly somewhere, using your hands and feet because it is difficult or steep//  clamber over/across etc//  --They clambered over the slippery rocks.//  --We all clambered aboard and the boat pulled out.//


Words: clammy
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from  clam  ’to spread something soft, stick’ (11-19 centuries), from  Old English cl[zB024]man]//  feeling unpleasantly wet, cold, and sticky//  --Get your clammy hands off me!//  -- clammily adv //  -- clamminess n  [U] //


Words: clamour
Meaning:
BrE  clamor AmE   n [singular, U] \n  1 a very loud noise made by a large group of people or animals:  --He shouted over the rising clamour of voices.//\n  2 the expression of feelings of anger and shock by a large number of people - used especially in news reports:  clamour for//  --Trouillot disregarded the growing public clamour for her resignation.//  -- clamorous adj //\nclamour 2  BrE  clamor AmE v [I] \n  1 [always + adverb/preposition] to demand something loudly:  clamour for//  --The audience cheered, clamoring for more.//  clamour to do sth//  --All his friends were clamouring to know where he’d been.//\n  2 to talk or shout loudly:  --Children clamored excitedly.//


Words: clamp
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 [always + adverb/preposition] to put or hold something in a position so that it cannot move:  --She clamped her hands over her ears.//  --Creed opened his mouth to speak, then clamped it shut .//\n  2  clamp sanctions/restrictions etc on sb:  to put limits on what someone is allowed to do//  --The President clamped sanctions on the island after the bomb attack.//\n  3 [always + adverb/preposition] to hold two things together, using a clamp:  --Clamp the two parts together until the glue dries.//\n  4  also  wheel-clamp:   [usually passive]  BrE to put a clamp on the wheel of a car so that the car cannot be driven away. This is usually done because the car is illegally parked//  American Equivalent:  boot//  --He returned, only to discover his car had been clamped.//  clamp down phr v//  to take firm action to stop a particular type of crime//  clamp down on//  --The police are clamping down on drink-driving offenders.//\nclamp 2 n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Probably from an unrecorded  Middle Dutch klampe]//\n  1 a piece of equipment for holding things together:\n  2  also  wheel clamp:   BrE a metal object that is fastened to the wheel of a car so that the car cannot be driven away. This is usually done because the car is illegally parked//  American Equivalent:  boot//


Words: clampdown
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   sudden firm action that is taken to reduce crime//  clampdown on//  --a clampdown on drug dealers//


Words: clan
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Scottish Gaelic; Origin: clann  ’family, race, clan’, from  Old Irish cland  ’new growth on a plant, offspring’, from  Latin planta;   PLANT1]//\n  1 a large group of families that often share the same name:  --the Campbell clan//  --warring clans//\n  2  informal a very large family:  --The whole clan will be here over Christmas.//


Words: clandestine
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: clandestinus, from  clam  ’secretly’]//  done or kept secret//  --a clandestine affair//  --clandestine meetings//


Words: clang
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: clangere]//  if a metal object clangs, or if you clang it, it makes a loud ringing sound//  --The gates clanged shut behind her.//  -- clang n  [singular] //


Words: clanger
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]    BrE  informal a silly or embarrassing mistake//  --I can’t help noticing the occasional clanger in war films.//  --He’s being blamed for dropping a massive political clanger  (=making a silly or embarrassing remark) .//


Words: clangour
Meaning:
clangor/kl[zB024][hA26E][hA353] $ -[hA353]r/ n [U]  literary   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: clangere;   CLANG]//  a loud sound that continues for a long time//


Words: clank
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably from the sound]//  if a metal object clanks, it makes a loud heavy sound//  --A tram clanked past.//  -- clank also clanking //   n  [C] //  --the clanking of machinery//


Words: clannish
Meaning:
adj  written   a group of people who are clannish are very close to each other, and seem unfriendly towards strangers//  --a small clannish community//


Words: clap
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  clapped present participle  clapping //  [Language: Old English; Origin: cl[zB024]ppan]//\n  1 [I and T] to hit your hands against each other many times to make a sound that shows your approval, agreement, or enjoyment:    applause//  --One man began to clap, and others joined in.//  --The couple were cheered and clapped on their arrival.//  --The audience clapped politely but without much enthusiasm.//\n  2 [T] if you clap your hands, you hit your hands together a few times to attract someone’s attention or to show that you are pleased:  --Narouz clapped his hands and a servant entered.//  --Mandy laughed and clapped her hands in delight.//\n  3 [T] to put your hand on something quickly and firmly:  --’Mick!’ She clapped her hand over her mouth. ’I’d forgotten!’//  --Ben grinned and clapped me amiably on the shoulder .//\n  4  clap eyes on sb/sth:   BrE  informal to see someone or something, especially when you did not expect to//  --Mark had loved the house from the moment he clapped eyes on it.//\n  5  clap sb in prison/jail/irons:   literary to suddenly put someone in prison or chains//  -- clapping n  [U] //  --Each song was greeted with enthusiastic clapping.//\nclap 2 n   [Sense: 1-2; Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  CLAP1]//  [Sense: 3; Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: clapoir  ’swelling on the skin’]//\n  1 [singular] the loud sound that you make when you hit your hands together many times to show that you enjoyed something:  give sb a clap  BrE //  --Come on everyone, let’s give Tommy a clap.//\n  2 [singular] a sudden loud noise:  --an ear-splitting clap of thunder //\n  3  the clap:   informal  gonorrhea//


Words: clapboard
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Part translation of  Dutch klaphout, from  klappen  ’to split’ +  hout  ’wood’]//   especially BrE a set of boards used to cover the outside of a building, or one of these boards//  --clapboard houses//


Words: clapper
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 the metal part inside a bell that hits it to make it ring:\n  2  run/go/drive etc like the clappers:   BrE  informal to run, drive etc very fast//


Words: claptrap
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: claptrap  ’something intended to make the people watching a show clap’ (18-19 centuries)]//   informal talk that is stupid or shows a lack of knowledge//  --romantic claptrap//


Words: Clare
Meaning:
a  county in the west of the Republic of Ireland, famous for its mountains and lakes and its wild land on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean//\n John   (1793-1864) a British poet, who wrote mostly about the English countryside and country life//


Words: claret
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: claret  ’white or pale-colored French wine’ (15-17 centuries), from  Old French (vin) claret  ’clear wine’, from  claret  ’clear’, from  cler;   CLEAR1]//\n  1 [U and C] red wine from the Bordeaux area of France:  --a bottle of claret//\n  2 [U] a dark red colour:  -- claret adj //


Words: clarification
Meaning:
n [U and C]  formal   the act of making something clearer or easier to understand, or an explanation that makes something clearer//  --There have been a number of official changes and clarifications.//  clarification on/of//  --Email us if you require further clarification on how to order.//  seek/ask for clarification //  --I asked for clarification on the legal position.//


Words: clarify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  clarified present participle  clarifying third person singular  clarifies  [T] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: clarifier, from  Late Latin clarificare, from  Latin clarus;   CLEAR1]//\n  1  formal to make something clearer or easier to understand:    clarification//  clarify issues/a statement/matters etc //  --Could you clarify one or two points for me?//  --Reporters asked him to clarify his position  (=say exactly what his beliefs are) on welfare reform.//  clarify how/what etc//  --The report aims to clarify how these conclusions were reached.//\n  2 to make something cleaner or purer by heating it:  --clarified butter//


Words: clarinet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: clarinette, probably from  Medieval Latin clario;   CLARION CALL]//  a musical instrument like a long black tube, that you play by blowing into it and pressing keys to change the notes//  -- clarinettist n  [C] //


Words: clarion call
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  clarion type of trumpet (used for battle signals)  1300-1400  Medieval Latin clario, from  Latin clarus;   CLEAR1]//  a strong and direct request for people to do something//  --This election is a clarion call for our country to face the challenges ahead.//


Words: clarity
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: claritas, from  clarus;   CLEAR1]//\n  1 the clarity of a piece of writing, law, argument etc is its quality of being expressed clearly:    clear//  --Letters may be edited for length and clarity.//  --a lack of clarity in the law on property rights//\n  2 the ability to think, understand, or remember something clearly:    clear//  --He had only visited the village once, but remembered it with surprising clarity.//  clarity of vision/purpose/thought etc //  --Churchill’s clarity of vision impressed all who knew him.//\n  3 the quality of being clear and easy to see or hear:    clear//  --The picture was of such clarity that it could have been a photograph.//


Words: clash
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  From the sound of sharp blows]//\n  1 [I] if two armies, groups etc clash, they start fighting - used in news reports:  --Troops clashed near the border.//  clash with//  --Police have clashed with demonstrators again today.//\n  2 [I] if two people or groups clash, they argue because they have very different beliefs and opinions - used in news reports:  clash with//  --Democrats clashed with Republicans in a heated debate.//  clash over/on//  --The two men have clashed over the report’s conclusions.//\n  3 [I] if two colours or designs clash, they look very bad together:  clash with//  --I can’t wear red - it clashes with my hair.//\n  4 [I]  especially BrE if two events clash, they happen at the same time in a way that is inconvenient:  American Equivalent:  conflict//  clash with//  --The announcement has been delayed to avoid clashing with the Prime Minister’s speech.//\n  5 [I and T] if two pieces of metal clash, or if you clash them, they make a loud ringing sound:  --The cymbals clashed.//\nclash 2 n [C] \n  1 a short fight between two armies or groups - used in news reports:  --an escalation (=increase) of armed clashes along the border//  clash between/with//  -- violent clashes between police and demonstrators//\n  2 an argument between two people or groups because they have very different beliefs or opinions - used in news reports:  clash between/with//  --The company’s expansion plans could put it in a head-on clash with environmentalists.//  personality/culture clash (=a situation in which two people or groups do not like each other) //\n  3 a sports match between two teams, players etc that is expected to be very exciting - used in sports reports:  --The heavyweight clash goes ahead in Las Vegas on 8 May.//\n  4 a situation in which two events happen at the same time in a way that is inconvenient:  --a scheduling clash on TV//\n  5 a loud sound made by two metal objects hitting each other:  --the clash of swords//\n  6 a combination of two colours, designs etc that look bad together:  --a colour clash//


Words: clasp
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] a small metal object for fastening a bag, belt, piece of jewellery etc:\n  2 [singular] a tight hold:   grip//  --the firm clasp of her hand//\nclasp 2 v [T]  written \n  1 to hold someone or something tightly, closing your fingers or arms around them:   grip//  --A baby monkey clasps its mother’s fur tightly.//  clasp your hands/arms around/behind sth //  --Fenella leaned forward, clasping her hands around her knees.//  --She stood with her hands clasped tightly together .//  clasp sb/sth in your hands/arms //  --She clasped the photograph in her hands.//  clasp sb to your chest/bosom (=hold someone tightly with your arms) //\n  2 to fasten something with a clasp:


Words: class
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 social group:\n   2 students:\n   3 teaching period:\n   4 studying:\n   5 same type of something:\n   6 train/aircraft etc:\n   7 quality:\n   8 style/skill:\n   9 university degree:  ----------//  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: classe, from  Latin classis  ’class of citizens, social class’]//\n  1 SOCIAL GROUP:  a)  [C] one of the groups in a society that different types of people are divided into according to their jobs, income, education etc//  professional/landowning/working etc class //  --a Marxist view of the ruling classes //  --a member of the landed class  (=people who own land) //  class divisions/differences etc //  -- social class inequalities//    lower class,  middle class,  upper class,  working class,  the chattering classes at chatter1 (4)//  b)  [U] the system in which people are divided into these groups//  --Defining the concept of class is not an easy task.//  class system/structure //  --The old class system is slowly disappearing.//\n  2 STUDENTS:   [C, also + plural verb British English] //  a) a group of students who are taught together//    classmate//  in a class//  --We’re in the same class for math.//  --Gary came top of the class in English.//  --My class are going to the Lake District.//  b)  AmE a group of students who finished studying together in the same year//    classmate//  --a class reunion//  the class of 1965/2001 etc (=the group of students who finished in 1965 etc) //  --The class of ’69 spent almost as much time protesting as learning.//\n  3 TEACHING PERIOD:   [U and C] a period of time during which someone teaches a group of people, especially in a school//  British Equivalent:  lesson//  geography/French/cooking etc class //  --I missed Bible class last week.//  in class//   (=during the class) //  --No talking in class!//  --Were you late for class this morning?//  have a class  AmE //  --I have physics class at 9:30 on Tuesdays.//\n  4 STUDYING:   [C] a series of classes in a particular subject//  British Equivalent:  course//  class in//  --a class in photography at night school//  dance/aerobics/Greek etc class //  --Dance classes start at 5:15.//  take/attend/do a class (=go to a series of classes) //  --Cindy’s taking a class on dealing with stress.//  --He attended evening classes at the local college.//\n  5 SAME TYPE OF SOMETHING:   [C] a group of people, animals, or things that are considered together because they are similar in some way//  class of//  --Have you passed a test for this class of vehicle?//\n  6 TRAIN/AIRCRAFT ETC:   [C usually singular] one of the different standards of seats, food etc available on a train, aircraft etc//  first/business/tourist etc class //  --We always travel first class.//\n  7 QUALITY:   [C] a group into which people or things are divided according to their quality or abilities//  nicer/better etc class of sth //  --The port now attracts a wealthier class of visitor.//  in a class of its own/in a different class (=better than everything else) //  --Its sheer versatility puts this computer in a different class.//  --He’s not in the same class  (=not as good) as her at tennis.//\n  8 STYLE/SKILL:   [U]  informal a high level of style or skill in something//    classy//  have/show class //  --The team showed real class in this afternoon’s match.//  --A fountain will give your garden a touch of class .//  class player/actress etc //  a class act  informal  (=someone who is skilful, attractive etc) //  --Laughton is a class act who’s proved his worth in the game.//    high-class,  low-class//\n  9 UNIVERSITY DEGREE:   [C]  BrE one of the three levels of a university degree//  --a second class degree//\nclass 2 v [T often passive]   to consider people, things etc as belonging to a particular group, using an official system//   classify//  class sb/sth as sth//  --Heroin and cocaine are classed as hard drugs.//


Words: class action
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a lawsuit arranged by a group of people for themselves and other people with the same problem//  -- class-action adj  [only before noun] //  --class-action lawsuits//


Words: class consciousness
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   knowledge and understanding of the class system, and of your own and other people’s social class//


Words: class struggle also class war n [singular
Meaning:
U]   in Marxist theory, political opposition and the fight for economic power between capitalists (=the owners of property, factories etc) and the proletariat (=the workers) //


Words: classic
Meaning:
W3   adj [usually before noun]   ----------//\n   1 typical:\n   2 admired:\n   3 very good:\n   4 traditional:  ----------//\n  1 TYPICAL:  having all the features that are typical or expected of a particular thing or situation//  classic example/mistake/case etc //  --Too many job hunters make the classic mistake of thinking only about what’s in it for them.//\n  2 ADMIRED:  admired by many people, and having a value that has continued for a long time//  --The Coca-Cola bottle is one of the classic designs of the last century.//  --a collection of classic cars //\n  3 VERY GOOD:  of excellent quality//  --Roy scored a classic goal in the 90th minute.//\n  4 TRADITIONAL:  a classic style of art or clothing is attractive in a simple traditional way//    classical//  --She chose a classic navy suit for the ceremony.//\nclassic 2 n [C] \n  1 a book, play, or film that is important and has been admired for a long time:  --’La Grande Illusion’ is one of the classics of French cinema.//  all-time/modern/design etc classic //  --The play has become an American classic.//\n  2 something that is very good and one of the best examples of its kind:  --What makes a car a classic?//\n  3  classics [plural] the language, literature, and history of Ancient Rome and Greece:    classicist//  --Judith studied classics at Oxford.//


Words: classical
Meaning:
W3   adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: classicus;   CLASSIC1]//\n  1 belonging to a traditional style or set of ideas:  classical ballet/dance etc //  --the classical theory of relativity//\n  2 relating to music that is considered to be important and serious and that has a value that continues for a long time:  classical music/musician/composer etc //  --a leading classical violinist//  --a classical repertoire//\n  3 relating to the language, literature etc of Ancient Greece and Rome:  --classical literature//  --a classical scholar//  --classical mythology//\n  4  also classic :  typical of a particular thing or situation//  --the classical argument against democracy//  -- classically/-kli/ adv //  --a classically trained singer//  --Classically, infection appears in the lower jaw.//


Words: classicism
Meaning:
n [U]   a style of art, literature etc that is simple, regular, and does not show strong emotions//    realism, romanticism//


Words: Classics Illustrated
Meaning:
a US series of  comics (=magazines for children with writing and pictures)  which tell well-known stories from literature//


Words: classification
Meaning:
n   [U and C] a process in which you put something into the group or class it belongs to, or the group that it belongs to//    classify//  --the classification of wines according to quality//  --There are five job classifications.//


Words: classified
Meaning:
adj   classified information, documents etc are ones which the government has ordered to be kept secret//


Words: classified ad
Meaning:
n [C]   a small advertisement you put in a newspaper to buy or sell something//  British Equivalent:  small adAmerican Equivalent:  want ad//


Words: classify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  classified present participle  classifying third person singular  classifies  [T] //\n  1 to decide what group something belongs to:    classification//  classify sth as/under sth//  --In law, beer is classified as a food product.//  --We’d classify Drabble’s novels under ’Romance’.//  --Families are classified according to the father’s occupation.//\n  2 to regard people or things as belonging to a particular group because they have similar qualities:    classification//  --As a musician, Cage is hard to classify.//  -- classifiable adj //


Words: classless
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   a classless society is one in which people are not divided into different social classes//  --Australia is the closest we have to a classless society.//  -- classlessness n  [U] //


Words: clatter
Meaning:
v   [Language: Old English; Origin: clatrian]//\n  1 [I] if heavy hard objects clatter, or if you clatter them, they make a loud unpleasant noise:  --The tray slipped and clattered to the floor.//\n  2 [I always + adverb/preposition] to move quickly and noisily:  --children clattering up and down the stairs//  -- clatter n  [singular, U] //  --the clatter of dishes//


Words: clause
Meaning:
W2S3   n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Medieval Latin clausa  ’end of a sentence’, from  Latin claudere;   CLOSE1]//\n  1 a part of a written law or legal document covering a particular subject of the whole law or document:  --A confidentiality clause was added to the contract.//\n  2  technical a group of words that contains a subject and a verb, but which is usually only part of a sentence:


Words: claustrophobia
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Latin claustrum  ’bar keeping a door closed’ (  CLOISTER) +  Modern Latin phobia  ’fear’]//  a strong fear of being in a small enclosed space or in a situation that limits what you can do//    agoraphobia//  -- claustrophobic adj //  --I get claustrophobic in elevators.//  --a claustrophobic atmosphere//


Words: clavichord
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: clavichordium, from  Latin clavis  ’key’ +  chorda  ’string’]//  a musical instrument like a piano, that was played especially in the past//


Words: clavicle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: clavicule, from  Latin clavis  ’key’; because of its shape]//   medical a collarbone//


Words: claw
Meaning:
n [C]   fur, paw, claw//  [Language: Old English; Origin: clawu]//\n  1 a sharp curved nail on an animal, bird, or some insects:  --The cat dug his claws into my leg.//  --lobster claws//\n  2  get your claws into sb:  a) if someone gets their claws into another person, they influence them in a harmful way//  --The thought of Eloise getting her claws into the child made his blood run cold.//  b) to say unpleasant things about someone in order to upset them//  --Wait till the papers get their claws into him.//\n  3 the curved end of a tool or machine, used for lifting things:  --a claw hammer//\nclaw 2 v [I and T] \n  1 to tear or pull at something, using claws or your fingers:  claw at//  --The cat keeps clawing at the rug.//  --Mary clawed at her husband’s sleeve, trying to stop him.//\n  2  claw your way:  to try very hard to reach a place or position, using a lot of effort and determination//  claw your way up/along/back etc//  --He clawed his way forward inch by inch.//  --Benson clawed his way back into the lead.//  claw back [claw sth → back] phr v//\n  1 to get back something that you had lost, by trying very hard:  --The company has managed to claw back its share of the market.//\n  2  BrE if a government or organization claws back money it has given to people, it takes it back:


